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Objective: Unreclaimed mine tailings sites are a worldwide problem, with thousands of unvegetated, exposed tailings piles presenting a source of contamination for nearby communities. Tailings disposal sites in arid and semiarid environments are especially subject to eolian dispersion and water erosion. Phytostabilization, the use of plants for in situ stabilization of tailings and metal contaminants, is a feasible alternative to costly remediation practices. In this review we emphasize considerations for phytostabilization of mine tailings in arid and semiarid environments, as well as issues impeding its long-term success. Data sources: We reviewed literature addressing mine closures and revegetation of mine tailings, along with publications evaluating plant ecology, microbial ecology, and soil properties of mine tailings. Data extraction: Data were extracted from peer-reviewed articles and books identified in Web of Science and Agricola databases, and publications available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the United Nations Environment Programme. Data synthesis: Harsh climatic conditions in arid and semiarid environments along with the innate properties of mine tailings require specific considerations. Plants suitable for phytostabilization must be native, be drought-, salt-, and metal-tolerant, and should limit shoot metal accumulation. Factors for evaluating metal accumulation and toxicity issues are presented. Also reviewed are aspects of implementing phytostabilization, including plant growth stage, amendments, irrigation, and evaluation. Conclusions: Phytostabilization of mine tailings is a promising remedial technology but requires further research to identify factors affecting its long-term success by expanding knowledge of suitable plant species and mine tailings chemistry in ongoing field trials.

Community engagement is foundational to building community-academic partnerships. Understanding successful strategies for building and maintaining trust in community-academic partnerships can help inform how these partnerships facilitate increased vaccine confidence and demand. The Vaccine Confidence Network (VCN) process evaluation collected progress and performance data on Prevention Research Centers' (PRCs) work to identify barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination, increase vaccine confidence and demand in populations of focus, and engage communities. Data were collected mid-cycle (November 2021) and at cycle end (December 2022). Qualitative data were also collected from July–August 2023 for a Community Engagement (CE) study via role-specific interviews with long-standing members of PRC Community Advisory Boards (CABs) and PRC Principal Investigators about creating and nurturing partnerships, trust, and COVID-19 readiness to respond. Key strategies reported by CABs and PRC investigators for building and maintaining trust in community-academic partnerships included frequent and transparent communication, active engagement of CABs in PRCs' research, ensuring partnerships are bi-directional and mutually beneficial, and investing in relationship building, including long-term commitments with partner organizations. Reported barriers to building trust included historical distrust of academic partners, competing priorities, short funding cycles, and lack of community compensation. Due to longstanding community partnerships, PRCs were seen as reliable sources of COVID-19 information in their communities and were able to help increase vaccine confidence and demand for COVID-19 vaccines through community engagement. They used a variety of strategies, including collaborative intervention development, dissemination of information through trusted messengers, and developing culturally appropriate messaging. PRCs identified having existing community partnerships as critical to PRC efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and demand. The PRC experience identified key strategies and factors related to building trusted community-academic partnerships and highlights the need to develop and validate measures to assess trust across different populations and settings. •CDC funded Prevention Research Centers to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.•Community advisory boards were vital to efforts to build trust in vaccines.•Trusted messengers are crucial for building trust and communicating effectively.•Building mutually beneficial partnerships with shared power helps increase trust.

Phytoremediation is an emerging technology for the remediation of mine tailings, a global problem for which conventional remediation technologies are costly. There are two approaches to phytoremediation of mine tailings, phytoextraction and phytostabilization. Phytoextraction involves translocation of heavy metals from mine tailings to the plant shoot biomass followed by plant harvest, while phytostabilization focuses on establishing a vegetative cap that does not shoot accumulate metals but rather immobilizes metals within the tailings. Phytoextraction is currently limited by low rates of metal removal which is a combination of low biomass production and insufficiently high metal uptake into plant tissue. Phytostabilization is currently limited by a lack of knowledge of the minimum amendments required (e.g., compost, irrigation) to support long-term plant establishment. This review addresses both strategies within the context of two specific climate types: temperate and arid. In temperate environments, mine tailings are a source of metal leachates and acid mine drainage that contaminate nearby waterways. Mine tailings in arid regions are subject to eolian dispersion and water erosion. Examples of phytoremediation within each of these environments are discussed. Current research suggests that phytoextraction, due to high implementation costs and long time frames, will be limited to sites that have high land values and for which metal removal is required. Phytostabilization, due to lower costs and easier implementation, will be a more commonly used approach. Complete restoration of mining sites is an unlikely outcome for either approach.

The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is the most widely expressed G protein-coupled receptor in the brain, with high concentrations in the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Predominantly localized in presynaptic terminals, CB1R modulates synaptic transmission through retrograde endocannabinoid signaling. Its expression follows an ontogenetic trajectory, with region- and age-specific patterns that are particularly dynamic during adolescence. This developmental window is characterized by marked neuroplasticity and heightened impulsivity, a trait closely associated with increased vulnerability to substance use disorders (SUDs). While the prefrontal cortex has traditionally been viewed as the primary locus of self-control, growing evidence supports a broader regulatory network involving CB1R-rich subcortical structures. In particular, the hippocampus and cerebellum contribute to the modulation of impulsive behavior through their connectivity with prefrontal and limbic circuits. CB1R signaling in these regions influences decision-making, reward sensitivity, and response inhibition—all processes critical to the emergence of impulsive traits and drug-seeking behavior. This review integrates preclinical and clinical evidence to propose a distributed CB1R-regulated neurocircuit that underlies impulsivity and mediates risk for SUDs. We highlight adolescence as a critical period during which CB1R ontogeny may transiently unbalance inhibitory control systems, creating a neurobiological substrate for risky behaviors. Furthermore, we identify key knowledge gaps, including the underexplored ontogeny of CB1R in the cerebellum and its functional implications in addiction vulnerability. Understanding the dynamic role of CB1R across development and brain regions offers a more comprehensive model of impulsivity and its pathological escalation into substance use. This perspective may inform translational strategies targeting the endocannabinoid system for early prevention.

Abandoned mine tailings sites in semiarid regions remain unvegetated for extended periods of time and are subject to eolian dispersion and water erosion. This study examines the potential phytostabilization of a lead-zinc mine tailings site using a native, drought-tolerant halophyte, quailbush [Atriplex lentiformis (Torr.) S. Wats.]. In a greenhouse study germination, growth, and metal uptake was evaluated in two compost-amended mine tailings samples, K4 (pH 3) and K6 (pH 6) at 75, 85, 90, 95, and 100% mine tailings, and two controls, off-site and compost. Microbial community changes were monitored by performing MPN analysis of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as well as heterotrophic plate counts. Results demonstrate that germination is not a good indicator for phytostabilization since it was only inhibited in the unamended K4 treatment. Plant growth was significantly reduced in 95 and 100% mine tailings, while growth in 75, 85, and 90% treatments was similar to the off-site control. Quailbush accumulated elevated levels of the nutrient metals Na, K, Mn, and Zn in the shoot tissues; however, metal accumulation was generally below the domestic animal toxicity limit. Initially, autotrophic population estimates were four to six logs higher than heterotrophic counts, indicating extremely stressed conditions. However, post-harvest, heterotrophic bacterial counts increased to normal levels (approximately 10⁶ CFU g⁻¹ dry tailings) and dominated the rhizosphere. Therefore, with compost amendment, quailbush has good potential as a native species candidate for phytostabilization of mine tailings in semiarid environments.

Purpose Floodwaters contain a mixture of organic contaminants which affect both the water and soil quality within flooded regions. This study is the first to describe the chemical behavior of organic contaminants mobilized during the 2010 flooding event of the Rio Grande. The study compares two sites: one directly impacted by outfall from municipal sources and one primarily impacted by rural runoff. Materials and methods This study characterized the in situ cycling of organic contaminants (triclosan, ciprofloxacin, and atrazine), their depositional mechanisms, and the post-flood dynamics within riparian soils over 6 months. Water quality (pH, salinity, alkalinity, turbidity, N, and P) of the Rio Grande at four sites within Webb County, TX, was monitored for 3 months pre-flooding and 6 months post-flooding in order to determine contaminant levels along the Webb County border. Soil physicochemical properties (pH, CEC, and EC) were assessed for 6 months at two sites post-flooding: within the municipal area of both Laredo, TX, USA, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico (LCC site), and upstream of the site near the edge of Laredo, TX (MR site). Results and discussion Low levels of contaminants were detected in the watershed year-round with levels increasing during the flood. Floodwaters had a lower pH than nonflooding conditions, resulting in greater partitioning of both triclosan and ciprofloxacin to particles within the water column with no change detected in atrazine behavior. Soil samples (0–2-cm depth) showed an increase in clay-sized particles (up to 6–14 %) and contaminant concentrations similar to that of water column particles. Organic contaminants were uniform in concentration throughout the soil profile (2–30 cm), demonstrating the impact of infiltration. Both triclosan and atrazine decayed away at rates of 23 ± 2 and 16 ± 1 days, respectively, with no decay of ciprofloxacin detected. Vertical mobility of contaminants within soils was not detected. Conclusions This study was able to distinguish the influx of contamination contributed by particle deposition from that due to infiltration of the contaminated floodwaters. Further, our data indicates that outfall/effluent contaminants, such as ciprofloxacin, may persist in riparian soils post-flooding. Agricultural management should consider potential exposure and accumulation of floodwater contaminants in crops.

Like history, mythology legitimises the status quo by celebrating the hegemony of the ruling class. Revisionist literature exposes the dominant power structures by narrating mythology from the perspective of the subaltern who is either silenced or vilified in conventional narratives. Anand Neelakantan's novel Asura: Tale of the Vanquished fills in the gaps and silences of the traditional narrative of the Ramayana by portraying the Asuras and other indigenous people as the victims of the 'heroic' Devas who destroyed their culture and portrayed them as demons. It shows a clash between two people and the violent genesis of present Indian society through their eventual amalgamation. The present scrutiny intends to look at the novel through the perspective of settler colonial studies. The novel traces the metamorphosis of a casteless and sexually liberal society to a caste ridden and patriarchal one by juxtaposing the narrative voices of the Ravana, the Asura king and Bhadra, a common Asura farmer. Bhadra's perspective highlights the necessity of taking class into consideration while analysing the impact of settler colonialism upon the lives of the natives. The twin evils of colourism, untouchability and patriarchy in India are the legacy of the Deva hegemony in the Indian subcontinent.

We report two patients that developed severe thrombocytopenia after Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. The first patient had 1000 platelets/μL and died after multiple hemorrhages. The second patient had 2000 platelets/μL, had melena and ecchymoses, and recovered after receiving intravenous immunoglobulin. ZIKV may be associated with immune-mediated severe thrombocytopenia.

The mechanisms responsible for establishing correct target innervation during organ development are largely unknown. Sympathetic nerves follow blood vessels—typically arteries—to reach their endorgans, suggesting the existence of vascular guidance cues that direct axonal extension. The sinoatrial node and the ventricle of the heart receive sympathetic innervation from the stellate ganglia (STG). Here we show that STG axons follow veins, specifically the superior vena cavae and sinus venosus, to reach these targets. We find that election of these routes is determined by venous endothelium-derived endothelin-1, acting through its specific receptor Ednra expressed within a subpopulation of STG neurons. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Edn1–Ednra signalling is essential for functional regulation of the heart by sympathetic nerves. Our findings present venous Edn1 as a sympathetic guidance cue, and show how axon guidance mechanisms are coordinated with endorgan morphogenesis. The innervation of the mouse heart by synaptic nerve terminals during development is critical for proper heart function. Here, Manousiouthakis et al. show that sympathetic axons follow veins to reach and innervate specific areas of the ventricular myocardium and that vascular-derived endothelins have a role as axon guidance cues in this process.