Managing visitor conflict is an important task in protected areas. This study used public participation GIS (PPGIS) mapping and a visitor survey to research conflicts between mountain bikers and ...horse riders, and other groups frequenting trails for tourism and recreation in national parks in northern Sydney (Australia). The goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PPGIS for determining conflict locations, and to integrate stated reasons and conflict resolution measures in a model. The survey showed that 42% of mountain bikers and 69% of horse riders had experienced conflicts, with each other, motorbike riders, walkers/hikers and dog walkers. PPGIS effectively mapped concurrent usage intensity to predict potential conflict locations over a reasonably large study area thereby identifying trails of the greatest concern. PPGIS also offered high-quality GIS visualisation options, and the novelty of the PPGIS increased participant engagement. We evaluated PPGIS compared to questionnaire-based surveying, direct visitor observations, GPS tracking, traffic counters and cameras. Because visitor conflict occurs within a spatial context, conflict management will require greater spatial knowledge of visitor activity, which can be obtained through the innovative PPGIS mapping. A conflict model is presented that integrates this study's empirical findings on conflict reasons and resolutions with existing conflict theory.
Spatially-explicit participatory planning is a relatively new approach for managing visitors to protected areas. In this study we used public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) ...mapping and global positioning system (GPS) tracking to monitor mountain bikers frequenting national parks for tourism and recreation in Northern Sydney, Australia. PPGIS was implemented using both an internet application and with hardcopy maps in the field. Our research addressed two fundamental questions for park planning: (1) What is the spatial distribution of visitor activities and location-specific reasons for riding; and (2) What location-specific actions are needed to improve riding experiences? The spatial distributions of riding activities generated in PPGIS showed strong correlation with the GPS tracking results, with riding locations being related to the reasons for track selection. Riders proposed a broad range of management actions to improve riding experiences. PPGIS mapping provides a cost-effective approach to facilitate spatial decision making, allowing park agencies to prioritise future visitor management actions. We discuss the strengths and limitations of these research methods.
•We evaluated the utility of public participation GIS (PPGIS) in park tourism planning.•Our method was effective for engaging mountain bikers in complex spatial planning.•Insights were gained on rider distributions, underlying reasons and management actions.•We used GPS tracking to validate and surveys to complement PPGIS mapping data.•We discuss the benefits of mixed PPGIS delivery modes (field vs. online data).
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition associated with numerous comorbidities, but there has been no broad-spectrum investigation into the dermatological comorbidities ...that are associated with HS using nationally representative data. We therefore analysed the 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample for adult patients with and without HS and used multivariable logistic regression to determine correlations between HS and 25 dermatological conditions, adjusting for age, ethnicity and race, sex and insurance type. As seen previously, HS is more likely to affect women and Black people. The prevalence of having any of the 25 dermatological conditions was higher in patients with HS than without (24.60% vs. 5.30%, P < 0.001) and HS was specifically associated with 18 of the 25 dermatological conditions. This research confirms anecdotal disease relationships and identifies novel correlations between HS and dermatological conditions using a national patient population.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) often presents more severely in African Americans (AAs) and with greater involvement of extensor areas. To investigate immune signatures of AD in AAs with moderate to severe ...pruritus, lesional and non-lesional punch biopsies were taken from AA patients along with age-, race-, and sex-matched controls. Histology of lesional skin showed psoriasiform dermatitis and spongiotic dermatitis, suggesting both Th2 and Th17 activity. Gene Set Variation Analysis showed upregulation of Th2 and Th17 pathways in both lesional versus non-lesional and lesional versus control (p < 0.01), while Th1 and Th22 upregulation were observed in lesional versus control (p < 0.05). Evidence for a broad immune signature also was supported by upregulated Th1 and Th22 pathways, and clinically may represent greater severity of AD in AA. Furthermore, population-level analysis of data from TriNetX, a global federated health research network, revealed that AA AD patients had higher values for CRP, ferritin, and blood eosinophils compared to age-, sex-, and race-matched controls as well as white AD patients, suggesting broad systemic inflammation. Therefore, AA AD patients may feature broader immune activation than previously thought and may derive benefit from systemic immunomodulating therapies that modulate key drivers of multiple immune pathways.
Wrinkling is the hallmark of skin ageing. We previously reported that perioral wrinkling is more severe in females; however, the molecular basis is unknown. This study assessed sex differences in the ...molecular expression of key ageing regulators in perioral skin. Twelve subjects (n = 6 male/female) were enrolled in this cross‐sectional study and biopsies were taken from the perioral and periocular regions. RNA expression of collagen I, collagen III, cysteine‐rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) was assessed by qPCR. There was no difference between females' and males' Griffith's grades (6 and 5.67, respectively, p = 0.092) or periocular wrinkling grades (3.2 and 2.6, p = 0.421), but females had more severe perioral wrinkling grades than males (6.2 and 2.8, p = 0.020). Females not only expressed significantly more CYR61 (p = 0.018) in the perioral region than malesm but also expressed more collagen III (p = 0.016). There was no difference in collagen I (p = 0.115) or IGF‐1 (p = 0.124) expression in the perioral region between sexes. In the periocular region, there were no significant differences between sexes in the expression of all four markers. The significant molecular differences in the perioral region between the sexes may contribute to the greater perioral skin wrinkling seen clinically in females.
Melanoma is the most invasive and deadly skin cancer, which causes most of the deaths from skin cancer. It has been demonstrated that the mechanical properties of tumor tissue are significantly ...altered. However, data about characterizing the mechanical properties of
melanoma tissue are extremely scarce. In addition, the viscoelastic or viscous properties of melanoma tissue are rarely reported. In this study, we measured and quantitated the viscoelastic properties of human melanoma tissues based on the stress relaxation test, using the indentation-based mechanical analyzer that we developed previously. The melanoma tissues from eight patients of different ages (57-95), genders (male and female patients), races (White and Asian), and sites (nose, arm, shoulder, and chest) were excised and tested. The results showed that the elastic property (i.e., shear modulus) of melanoma tissue was elevated compared to normal tissue, while the viscous property (i.e., relaxation time) was reduced. Moreover, the tissue thickness had a significant impact on the viscoelastic properties, probably due to the amount of the adipose layer. Our findings provide new insights into the role of the viscous and elastic properties of melanoma cell mechanics, which may be implicated in the disease state and progression.
T cell cytokines contribute to immunity against Staphylococcus aureus, but the predominant T cell subsets involved are unclear. In an S. aureus skin infection mouse model, we found that the IL- 17 ...response was mediated by γδ T cells, which trafficked from lymph nodes to the infected skin to induce neutrophil recruitment, proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF, and host defense peptides. RNA-seq for TRG and TRD sequences in lymph nodes and skin revealed a single clonotypic expansion of the encoded complementarity-determining region 3 amino acid sequence, which could be generated by canonical nucleotide sequences of TRGV5 or TRGV6 and TRDV4. However, only TRGV6 and TRDV4 but not TRGV5 sequences expanded. Finally, Vγ6⁺ T cells were a predominant γδ T cell subset that produced IL-17A as well as IL-22, TNF, and IFNγ, indicating a broad and substantial role for clonal Vγ6⁺Vδ4⁺ T cells in immunity against S. aureus skin infections.
Background
Visible light (VL) induces varying photobiological responses between skin types, likely influenced by inherent melanization. Individual typology angle (ITA) objectively measures skin ...types. We hypothesize that epidermal melanin content and distribution determine VL response.
Objectives
This study describes clinical and histologic responses to VL and examines the potential role of melanin in the underlying mechanistic pathways.
Methods
We grouped enrolled participants by ITA (Light = 5, Intermediate = 4, Dark = 7) per colorimetry (CR‐400, Konica Minolta). Photoprotected sites were exposed daily to 480 J/cm2 of VL (Fiber‐Lite High Intensity Illuminator, Series 180, Dolan Jenner Industries Inc.) for 4 days (total = 1920 J/cm2), as tolerated. Treated and control sites were biopsied 96 h after first exposure. We used hematoxylin and eosin and Fontana‐Mason to assess histological changes and melanin deposition, respectively. p53 and Ki67 immunohistochemical stains were done to assess DNA damage and proliferation. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1 expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence microscopy.
Results
Darker skin did not tolerate the full VL regimen with blistering occurring in most subjects at doses of 220–880 J/cm2. Intermediate and Dark skin showed tanning. Light skin developed erythema. p53 counts were highest in Intermediate, followed by Light skin, although this was not statistically significant. VL treatment led to MMP‐1 expression and nuclear localization in keratinocytes in Dark and Intermediate but not in Light skin, however differences between groups were not statistically significant.
Conclusions
Skin types demonstrate unique biological responses to VL. The role of melanin in photoprotection is well‐defined. However, given the pro‐apoptotic function of nuclear MMPs, we suggest a potential mechanism by which melanin may mediate VL‐induced phototoxicity.
In vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) provides noninvasive monitoring of bacterial burden in animal models of orthopaedic implant-associated infection (OIAI). However, technical limitations have ...limited its use to mouse and rat models of OIAI. The goal of this study was to develop a larger, rabbit model of OIAI using in vivo BLI to evaluate the efficacy of an antibiotic-releasing implant coating.
A nanofiber coating loaded with or without linezolid-rifampin was electrospun onto a surgical-grade locking peg. To model OIAI in rabbits, a medial parapatellar arthrotomy was performed to ream the femoral canal, and a bright bioluminescent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain was inoculated into the canal, followed by retrograde insertion of the coated implant flush with the articular surface. In vivo BLI signals were confirmed by ex vivo colony-forming units (CFUs) from tissue, bone, and implant specimens.
In this rabbit model of OIAI (n = 6 rabbits per group), implants coated without antibiotics were associated with significantly increased knee width and in vivo BLI signals compared with implants coated with linezolid-rifampin (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). On day 7, the implants without antibiotics were associated with significantly increased CFUs from tissue (mean and standard error of the mean, 1.4 × 10 ± 2.1 × 10 CFUs; p < 0.001), bone (6.9 × 10 ± 3.1 × 10 CFUs; p < 0.05), and implant (5.1 × 10 ± 2.2 × 10 CFUs; p < 0.05) specimens compared with implants with linezolid-rifampin, which demonstrated no detectable CFUs from any source.
By combining a bright bioluminescent MRSA strain with modified techniques, in vivo BLI in a rabbit model of OIAI demonstrated the efficacy of an antibiotic-releasing coating.
The new capability of in vivo BLI for noninvasive monitoring of bacterial burden in larger-animal models of OIAI may have important preclinical relevance.
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