1 Background Parameningeal Rhabdomyosarcomas (PM-RMS) in children are challenging to treat. While ten-year Event Free Survival (EFS) of 62% have been reported from High-Middle Income Countries (HMICs) for localized disease, data is limited from Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs). We studied the clinical profile, outcomes, and prognostic factors in PM-RMS. 2 Materials and Methods Children≤15 years with PM-RMS treated on a uniform chemotherapy protocol from January 2013-December 2021 were retrospectively analysed. Local therapy at 10-12weeks of induction was radiotherapy (RT)+/-surgery where possible with early RT for intracranial extension (ICE). 3 Results Seventy-six patients with a median age of 6.7years (range,3.2-15years), male to female ratio of 1.8:1 formed the study cohort. Eleven patients (14.5%) had metastasis (lungs-8, bone-2, bone marrow-1) and ICE seen in 46.1%(n=35). Twenty-five patients (49.0%) had alveolar histology with PAX3/7 positive in 17/59 (28.8%). Median tumor size(t size) at baseline was 5.2cm(range,1.2-12.8cm). Seventy-one patients received RT, 5 also underwent surgery. At a median follow-up of 65months (range,53-76months) 4year EFS, OS of the whole cohort were 47.3%(95%CI:34.8%-58.8%), 51.7%(95%CI:38.0%-64.0%) respectively. Four-year EFS, OS of localized and metastatic cohort were 54.7%(95%CI:41.3%-68.1%), 56.0%(95%CI:42.0%-70.0%) and 9.1%(95%CI:0%-26.5%), 18.2%(95%CI:0%-47.8%) respectively. Metastases (HR-3.38,95%CI:1.57-7.26,p=0.002), t size (HR-1.17,95%CI:1.02-1.34,p=0.026) were prognostic for survival on multivariate analysis. 4 Conclusions Survival of children with localized PM-RMS in our study is relatively fair compared to the reported literature probably due to application of RT in all despite higher proportion of larger tumors, unfavorable sites of primary and intracranial extension. Identification of high-risk subsets and optimizing current treatment strategies, both systemic and local therapy may partly improve outcomes.

Plants share their habitats with a multitude of different microbes. This close vicinity promoted the evolution of inter-organismic interactions between plants and many different microorganisms that provide mutual growth benefits both to the plant and the microbial partner. The symbiosis of Arabidopsis thaliana with the beneficial root colonizing endophyte Serendipita indica represents a well-studied system. Co-colonization of Arabidopsis roots with S. indica significantly promotes plant growth. Due to the notable phenotypic alterations of fungus-infected root systems, the involvement of a reprogramming of plant hormone levels, especially that of indole-3-acetic acid, has been suggested earlier. However, until now, the molecular mechanism by which S. indica promotes plant growth remains largely unknown. This study used comprehensive transcriptomics, metabolomics, reverse genetics, and life cell imaging to reveal the intricacies of auxin-related processes that affect root growth in the symbiosis between A. thaliana and S. indica. Our experiments revealed the essential role of tightly controlled auxin conjugation in the plant–fungus interaction. It particularly highlighted the importance of two GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 ( GH3) genes, GH3.5 and GH3.17, for the fungus infection-triggered stimulation of biomass production, thus broadening our knowledge about the function of GH3s in plants. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the transcriptional alteration of the PIN2 auxin transporter gene in roots of Arabidopsis seedlings infected with S. indica and demonstrate that this transcriptional adjustment affects auxin signaling in roots, which results in increased plant growth.

A case report of an oral hemangioma with unusual features

IntroductionPorcelain aorta refers to the extensive circumferential or near-circumferential calcification of the ascending aorta, which reflects an underlying atherosclerotic process 1. It is observed in 2.3% to 9.3% of patients prior to elective coronary bypass grafting (CABG) 2 and in 0.7% to 7.5% of patients requiring cardiac surgery 3-6, making the ascending aorta harder to manoeuvre.Because of this, it has been considered a challenge in cardiac surgery by difficulting the cannulation artery, clamping the aorta artery, and performing aortocoronary bridges 1. Furthermore, it has been associated with an increased rate of mortality and cardiovascular disease 1. Besides, it has also been associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially because of the increased perioperative stroke risk 7,8.To deal with this problem and operate on these cases in patients with porcelain aorta and valve disease, several strategies depending on the type of valve surgery have been proposed, including replacement of the mitral or aortic valves without aortic clamping or “no-touch” strategies, deep hypothermia ventricular fibrillation with circulatory arrest and gradually clamping and unclamping of the aorta among others2. Even though these techniques have been described, they are not free of complications.

This paper studies consensus of linear multi-agent systems with binary-valued measurements and switching topologies. Unlike the existing consensus of multi-agent systems with binary-valued measurements, Markovian switching topology is introduced in this paper. A new algorithm is proposed to improve the consensus speed of multi-agent systems, with constant gains in both estimation and control, instead of time-varying gains. By analyzing the estimation error and the consensus error simultaneously, we prove that the proposed algorithm can make agents achieve consensus in a bouned range, and the consensus speed is negative exponential under certain conditions, which is faster than that in existing literature. Finally, simulation results are given to demonstrate the theoretical results.

Background: The study examines critical role of school teachers in executing National Deworming Day (NDD) and their awareness of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting. The study aims to evaluate teachers’ knowledge and attitudes on ADR reporting to improve pharmacovigilance during NDD, ensuring children’s safety during preventative chemotherapy with Albendazole. Method: After prior approval from Institutional Ethics Committee, a total of 164 participants were selected from 20 cluster heads overseeing 94 schools. The study utilized a validated questionnaire, scored on a binary system (0-10). Employing a prospective quasi-experimental one group pre-test and post- test research design, the primary aim was to evaluate the impact of the awareness program, with secondary objectives focused on demographic correlations with program effectiveness. Results: The study shows a significant improvement in participants’ scores from the pre-test (mean score of 5.60) to the post-test (mean score of 8.28), resulting in a mean deviation of -2.681 (t = -19.7, p < .001), suggesting that the intervention significantly enhanced outcomes. Additionally, the results indicate that the mean post-test score was slightly higher among urban participants compared to rural participants, with mean scores of 8.45 and 8.10, respectively. Conclusion: The sensitisation programme significantly improved awareness among school teachers engaged in NDD regarding ADR reporting, as evidenced by the substantial increase in post-test scores compared to pre-test scores. However, further studies with larger sample size are needed to corroborate these findings.

The performance of industrial strains has gradually improved with the rapid development of synthetic biotechnology. The production efficiency of traditional batch and fed-batch culture is limited and product quality varies since both are dynamic processes, whereas multi-stage continuous culture can maximise the production efficiency of specific fermentation processes and achieve consistent product quality. However, each single-stage fermentation under multi-stage continuous fermentation requires accurate steady-state control, and a model with adequate accuracy is required for designing and controlling a multi-stage continuous fermentation process. At present, there are few reports on kinetic models for the control of multi-stage continuous fermentation. In this work, we constructed a hybrid model for Saccharomyces cerevisiae multi-stage continuous culture, taking both oxygen limitation and Crabtree effect. The accuracy of the model was ~ 80%, advantages and limitations of the model are discussed and potential improvement strategy is proposed.

Here, we assessed resting respiratory sinus arrythmia (rRSA) and RSA reactivity (ΔRSA) as common and distinct emotion-adjustment mechanisms for affective and anxiety disorders and their treatments. We recruited samples of healthy controls and patients with anxiety and affective disorders, assessed rRSA during baseline and ΔRSA as RSA-change from baseline to viewing emotional films. Patients then underwent disorder-specific Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Although both patient groups exhibited lower rRSA than controls, depression-, but not anxiety-symptomatology was transdiagnostically associated with less rRSA and ΔRSA. Complementing these depression-specific results, better ΔRSA predicted better treatment-outcome in depression, but not anxiety. Our data confirm RSA as a transdiagnostic marker for mood and anxiety, support recent attempts towards transdiagnostic, dimensional classification systems (HiToP, RDoC) and provide evidence for a more robust association of RSA with depression-symptomatology and -treatment. They thus suggest rRSA and ΔRSA as potential markers to assess common and distinct mechanisms associated with depression and anxiety.

Peptic ulcer disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder. The current treatment for gastric ulcers (GUs) is pharmacological interventions including antacids, mucosal defensive agents, H2-receptor blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) as well as antibiotics targeting H. pylori infections. Additionally, there has been an increasing focus on the application of natural treatments, such as pomegranate extracts, which have significant potential in the prevention and management of GUs. The therapeutic effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) on GUs include its ability to inhibit ulcer formation, reduce gastric acidity, and promote the healing of gastric mucosal lesions. This is attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of the active constituents in pomegranate such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins. The results of this study showed that pomegranate extracts could significantly suppress gastric ulceration, reduce tissue lipid peroxidation, and enhance the levels of antioxidative enzymes. Pomegranate exerts its anti-inflammatory effects through the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Additionally, pomegranate extracts increase the production of gastric mucosal protective factors such as PGE2 and NO, and have antimicrobial activity against H. pylori. Overall, while pomegranate showed promise as a natural remedy for the prevention and management of GUs, further research is needed to optimize its therapeutic efficacy.

This study sought to analyze the impact of Metabolic Syndrome (MeS) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) on metabolism and their relationship of Body Mass Index (BMI) and to identify potential predictive protein biomarkers for MeS and T2DM. The proteomes of saliva and blood, clinical parameters were analyzed in 103 adult individuals from the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a mixed-race population. Healthy individuals were sorted by their Body Mass Index (BMI) in normal (n=29), overweight (n=25) and obese (n=15) and were compared with individuals with MeS (n=23) and T2DM (n=11). Random forest predictive model revealed that 3 clinical variables, BMI, HOMA-IR, and fasting blood glucose, are most important for predicting MeS and T2DM. A total of 6 plasmatic proteins (ABCD4, LDB1, PDZ, Podoplanin, Lipirin-alpha-3 and WRS) and 6 salivary proteins (Hemoglobin subunit beta, POTE ankyrin domain family member E, T cell receptor alpha variable 9-2, Lactotransferrin, Cystatin-S, Carbonic anhydrase 6), are enhanced in T2DM and in MeS. Salivary and plasmatic proteomes, in a population of brazil, demonstrates that the physiopathological conditions associated with abnormal weight gain, T2DM, and MeS share similar modifications in protein composition, offering potential predictive biomarkers, potentially mitigating the adverse health consequences of these metabolic disorders.

The geographical distribution and diversity of viruses can differ between cultivated areas and adjacent natural environments, raising questions about the interplay between plant diversity and the species richness and prevalence of the phytoviruses. As both the amplification and the dilution of viral species richness due to increasing host diversity have been theorized and observed, a deeper understanding of how plant-viruses interact in natural environments is needed to explore how host availability conditions viral diversity and distributions. This study explores interactions of viruses from the Mastrevirus genus (family Geminiviridae) with hosts from the Poaceae family across ten sites from three contrasting ecosystems on La Réunion. Among 273 plant pools, representing 61 Poales species, 15 Mastrevirus species were characterized from 22 hosts. We find a strong association of mastreviruses with hosts from agro-ecosystems and the absence of mastreviruses in subalpine areas, dominated by native plants. This suggests that all detected mastreviruses likely originated from viruses introduced through agricultural activities rather than being native to La Réunion. Analyses of the structure of the host plant-mastrevirus interaction network revealed a pattern of increasing viral richness with increasing host richness. Accounting for variations in the diversity of hosts across sites, we observed increasing viral niche occupancies with increasing host species richness. Virus realized richness at any given site is conditioned on the global capacity of the plant populations to host diverse mastreviruses. Whether this tendency is driven by synergy between viruses, or by an interplay between vector population and plant richness, remains to be established.

Background For over 70 years the addition of fluoride to public water with intent to prevent dental caries continues to be controversial and risks are seldom included in monetary evaluations. Objectives To estimate an economic cost-benefit-risk of Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) using 2021 USA dollars Per Person Per Year (PPPY), with the inclusion of two risks: dental fluorosis and lower income resulting from developmental neurotoxicity as measured with lower IQ. Methods Published operational costs and benefits of CWF are used. Published and clinical experience treating dental fluorosis are utilized to estimate treatment costs of patient perceived dental fluorosis, and lost wages from lower IQ. Patients of record provided consent for photographs. Results: Published estimated caries averted, less operational costs, were calculated at $8 PPPY and estimates of compensation for functional and cosmetic dental fluorosis were $126 PPPY. Lower earnings from presumed harm of developmental neurotoxicity $438 PPPY. Net loss from CWF is estimated at $556 PPPY. Conclusions Previous economic evaluations of CWF have estimated caries averted and costs of operations. Few evaluations include the costs of treating harm. CWF is not cost effective if the cost of harm is included. Policy Implications Alternatives for the prevention of dental caries should be promoted and the cessation of CWF is indicated.

Introduction:About 0.3% to 0.5% of gastrointestinal malignancies are duodenal adenocarcinomas, an uncommon gastrointestinal malignancy that was first described by Hamburger in 1746. Due to the vague nature of duodenal adenocarcinoma symptoms, most patients arrive with advanced disease and a poor prognosis with high morbidity and death rates. Although it can originate anywhere in the duodenum, including the duodenal bulb, duodenal adenocarcinoma most frequently affects the descending duodenum (D2) [1, 2]. Here, we present a case report of an extremely rare location of duodenal adenocarcinoma in a patient with complex medical comorbidities. We also provide a comprehensive literature review on duodenal adenocarcinoma, focusing on their occurrence in the duodenal bulb.

Objective: Vocal fold immobility (VFI) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the paediatric population. Laryngoscopy is the current first-line investigation for patients with suspected VFI. Laryngeal ultrasound (LUS) has recently emerged as an alternative method of identifying VFI. Compared to laryngoscopy, LUS is less invasive, does not require anaesthesia, and can be performed by non-otolaryngologists. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate LUS as a diagnostic method for the identification of unilateral VFI in a cohort of paediatric patients in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). The secondary objective is to estimate the frequency of use of LUS in the paediatric population around the world. Methods: A retrospective, single-centre cohort study was performed on all paediatric patients who had undergone laryngoscopy and LUS at Starship Children’s Health between 2020 to 2023 in Auckland, NZ. An eight-question survey was also developed and distributed to better understand clinicians’ use of LUS to diagnose paediatric VFI globally. Results: Twenty-three paediatric patients met the inclusion criteria. LUS demonstrated high sensitivity (100%), specificity (63%), positive predictive value (83%), and negative predictive value (100%) for detecting unilateral VFI within our patient population. Out of the eighty-seven respondents to the survey, nearly half utilise LUS in their clinical practice in the paediatric population. The main barrier for those who do not is lack of expertise, equipment, and training. Conclusions: These findings support the use of LUS as a safe and accurate diagnostic tool for the detection of unilateral VFI. Further studies in non-surgical populations and standardised guidelines for LUS technique and reporting are required.

Potatoes play a significant role in Bangladesh’s agriculture, ranking third after rice and wheat, and contributing substantially to the nation’s economy. However, leaf diseases pose significant challenges to potato growth and quality despite Bangladesh being a major global potato producer. Detecting diseases in a timely manner is essential for enhancing productivity and advancing agricultural digitization. This study aims to utilize machine-learning algorithms on a limited dataset of potato leaf images for disease detection. The research focuses on classifying potato leaves into distinct disease groups using The Plant Village Dataset. A novel framework called “MultiNet” is introduced, which employs transfer learning to effectively categorize various potato leaf diseases. “MultiNet” facilitates rapid and accurate diagnostics through two multi-class classifications: (1) Early Blight, Late Blight, and Healthy (3 classes); and (2) Early Blight Normal, Early Blight Serious, Late Blight, Healthy, Insect infected, LeafRoll Virus infected, and Virus infected (7 classes). The system integrates three pre-trained models—ResNet50, DenseNet-201, and VGG16—to extract features from images, followed by concatenation to create a hybrid structure. The results demonstrate an impressive overall classification accuracy of 99.83% for three classes and 98% for seven classes. These findings underscore the potential impact and usefulness of the “MultiNet” framework in agriculture, suggesting promising applications within the sector.

Objectives: To compare outcomes of patients with benign neoplasms undergoing superficial parotidectomy, with or without facial nerve dissection, the latter a surrogate for extracapsular dissection technique. Methods: Retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) database providing 30-day postoperative outcome data from 676 sites nationwide. Inclusion criteria were primary diagnosis of benign salivary neoplasm, age 18-89 years, primary procedure superficial parotidectomy either with (CPT 42415 (SPwFND)) or without (CPT 42410 (SPwoFND)) facial nerve dissection between 2012-2019. We analyzed demographics, operative time, length of stay, perioperative complications, readmission, and reoperation rates between the two procedure groups. NSQIP contained no information on postoperative facial paralysis or estimated blood loss. Results: In total, 2651 patients underwent SPwFND while 764 underwent SPwoFND. Operative time was shorter (111.59 +/- 63.417) for SPwoFND than for SPwFND (135.05 +/- 64.313, p<;0.0001). Fewer patients undergoing SPwoFND required overnight stay than those undergoing SPwFND (41.5% vs 59.4%, p<0.001). There were no significant differences between rates of reoperation, unplanned readmission, or perioperative complications between the groups. Conclusion: SPwoFND nerve dissection had a shorter operative time and led to fewer postoperative overnight stays than SPwFND, with no significant differences in rates of reoperation, unplanned readmission, or perioperative complications. This suggests that for appropriately selected patients, SPwoFND may be a comparable treatment option with the benefit of lower resource utilization than SPwFND.

USE OF 3D EXOSCOPE FOR FREE FLAPS MICROANASTOMOSIS

In the North-west of Sierra Leone, customary land access hinges on “Bora” – a system tied to respect and social obligations, not formal ownership. While “Bora” plays a crucial role in rural women’s livelihoods, their land rights remain precarious. This study examines how the emergence of “Respect Money” – a cash payment replacing traditional obligations – challenges and reinforces gendered inequalities in land access. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative methods, the research investigates the shifting dynamics, how “Respect Money” alters traditional power structures and customary gender roles related to land. Livelihood impacts on the consequences of commodified land access for women’s agricultural practices, income, and food security. Social implications on the potential erosion of communal values and increased risk of land dispossession for women under the “Respect Money” system. Empowerment or exploitation? whether “Respect Money” presents an opportunity for women’s agency or contributes to their further marginalization within land governance. The case study design employ both qualitative and quantitative data analysis that reveals how the monetization of customary land access, while offering some flexibility, can exacerbate existing gender inequalities. Key informant interviews from women’s group, civil society organizations, land advocates, traditional leaders couple with Focus group discussion with communities and Biographic survey of various women to understand lived experiences from those that are constraint to land access due to ‘’Bora” compare to those from landowning families that benefit more from land access. The result of the study sheds light on the complex interplay between cash, tradition, and gender in shaping land rights.The need for inclusive land governance frameworks that recognize and protect women’s customary rights alongside formal structures. The study highlight the need for alternative strategies for securing women’s livelihoods and ensuring equitable access to land in resource-constrained settings. This study contributes to ongoing debates about gender, land rights, and the evolving nature of customary practices in the face of economic and social transformations. It recommends that policymakers and development practitioners to consider the nuances of “Bora” beyond the lens of mere monetization and advocate for solutions that truly empower rural women in land ownership and management.

Introduction: Measurements in endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) are usually obtained with variable accuracy. We aimed to validate endoscopic multipoint integrated laser systems (EIMLS) for use in ESS, which can acquire measurements within one-hundredth of a millimetre. Methods: 4.4mm flexible endoscopic EIMLS projecting 49 laser points into the view was used to assess simulated anterior skullbase defects. Antero-posterior and lateral measurements were obtained and repeated twenty times by two surgeons. These were compared to measurements with surgical calipers. Intra and inter-observer reliability was assessed. Results: 80 measurements were obtained of simulated skullbase defects by each otolaryngology surgeon and compared to manual measurements. The mean difference shown was 0.56cm. Bland-Altman plot shows low bias (0.044) but wide 95% limits of agreement (-1.8 – 1.9). Conclusion: EIMLS allows reliable and easy to obtain measurements within a simulated ESS environment. Translation of this technology offers promise in a future clinical setting but will require further refinement to improve accuracy.

The present study investigates the feasibility and initial efficacy of the Unified Protocol (UP) for anxiety and depressive symptoms in Turkish university students with a pretest-posttest control group research design. Thirty-four undergraduate students with high levels of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms were randomly assigned to one of two study conditions: an intervention group based on the UP (n=17) or a waitlist control group (n=17). To determine the effectiveness of treatment, a 2 (intervention-control group) x 2 (pre-post test) mixed measures variance analysis was applied for the primary outcome measures: degree of anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as positive and negative affect and psychological well-being. The analyses revealed a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment scores on all outcome measures in the intervention group; these improvements were also significantly greater than those in the control group. In other words, participants receiving the Unified Protocol reported lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, decreased negative affect, higher levels of positive affect, and improved psychological well-being compared to the control condition. The findings of this study provide preliminary support for the efficacy of the Unified Protocol in a Turkish sample. The study findings are evaluated in light of the relevant literature and within the scope of the study’s limitations, and suggestions for academic and clinical applications are presented.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses an enormous threat to public health worldwide. Many retrospective studies and case reports to date have shown associations between severe COVID-19 and multi-organs. However, the research on the causal mechanisms behind this phenomenon is neither extensive nor comprehensive. We conducted a proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) study using summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of severe COVID-19 and diseases related to seven organs: lung, spleen, liver, heart, kidney, testis, and thyroid, based on the European ancestry. We filtered the data using multi-organ proteomic data from autopsies of COVID-19 cases from previous studies. The primary analytical method used is the radial inverse variance-weighted (radial IVW) method, supplemented with the inverse variance-weighted (IVW), weighted-median (WM), MR-Egger methods. Our findings have confirmed the association between severe COVID-19 and multiple organ-related diseases, such as Hypothyroidism, strict autoimmune (HTCBSA), Thyroid disorders (TD), and Graves’ disease (GD). However, we did not find correlations between severe COVID-19 and certain organ-related diseases that have been clinically established. And we’ve also identified some proteins that are associated with organ-related disease.

The development of advanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries that can provide high specific capacity and stable cycle performance is of paramount importance. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing molecular-level homogeneous carbon integration to porous SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2@C NPs) tailored to enhance their electrochemical activities for lithium-ion battery anode. By varying the ratio of the precursors for sol-gel reaction of (phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)), the carbon content and porosity within SiO2@C NPs is precisely controlled. With a 4:6 PTMS and TEOS ratio, the SiO2@C NPs exhibit a highly mesoporous structure with thin carbon and the partially reduced SiOx phases, which balances ion and charge transfer for electrochemical activation of SiO2@C NPs resulting remarkable capacity and cycle performance. This study offers a novel strategy for preparing affordable high capacity SiO2-based advanced anode materials with enhanced electrochemical performances.

Printed electronics (PE) technology shows huge promise for the realisation of low-cost flexible electronics. Here, we demonstrate the use of Electro-Static Inkjet (ESJET) printing technology to deposit silver nanoparticle (Ag nps) inks for fabrication of grid electrodes for non-vacuum processed Cu(In,Ga)S2 (CIGS) solar cells to bridge the gap of additive printing between high viscosity screen printed materials and low viscosity inkjet processes. The effect of printing parameters and the sintering condition of the ESJET printed Ag grids were investigated by the measurement of photovoltaic performance parameters of CIGS solar cells. It was found that sintering temperatures of 220°C caused a significant loss of performance in the CIGS cell however, sintering of the Ag grids at temperatures up to 160°C produced a cells with good performance and efficiency comparable to the test cells using thermal evaporated Ag grids. Results from stability test (ISOS-D-1) shows the efficiency of the CIGS solar cells with ESJET printed Ag grids decreased from 11.14% to 10.44%, which is around 0.6% efficiency after 3 months in air without any encapsulation. ESJET printing is a viable method for production of PV metal grids which can minimize material waste and enable significant cost reduction of thin film solar cells.

Cedrela odorata is considered the second most invasive tree species of the Galapagos Islands. Although it is listed in CITES Appendix II and there are population losses in mainland Ecuador, in Galapagos it is paradoxically a species of concern due to its invasive potential. Genetic studies can shed light on the invasion history of introduced species causing effects on unique ecosystems like the Galapagos. We analyzed nine microsatellite markers in C. odorata individuals from Galapagos and mainland Ecuador to describe the genetic diversity and population structure of C. odorata in the Galapagos and to explore the origin and invasion history of this species. The genetic diversity found for C. odorata in Galapagos (He = 0.55) was lower than reported in the mainland (He = 0.81), but higher than other invasive insular plant species, which could indicate multiple introductions. Our results suggest that Ecuador’s northern Coastal region is the most likely origin of the Galapagos C. odorata, although further genomic studies are needed to confirm this finding. Moreover, according to our proposed pathway scenarios, C. odorata was first introduced to San Cristobal and/or Santa Cruz from mainland Ecuador. After these initial introductions, C. odorata appears to have arrived to Isabela and Floreana from either San Cristobal or Santa Cruz. Here, we report the first genetic study of C. odorata in the Galapagos and the first attempt to unravel the invasion history of this species. The information obtained in this research could support management and control strategies to lessen the impact that C. odorata has on the islands’ local flora and fauna.