Baylor School

In the chapter, Geospatial Analysis for Deforestation Monitoring, the authors examine how combining emerging geospatial technologies and intelligent components to monitor deforestation is a game changer for sustainable forest management in Industry 6.0. Deforestation is a key driver of environmental destruction. These intelligent systems, using remote sensing data and artificial intelligence can identify certain patterns concerning deforestation, forecast those trends, and provide actionable insights to policy-makers and conservationists. The chapter addresses some critical issues, including data quality, challenges within the monitoring environment, and ethical issues associated with environmental monitoring. This chapter highlights how geospatial analysis can contribute key insights to the conservation of biodiversity, the advancement of reforestation activities and the promotion of sustainable land management practices by bridging technology and sustainable development.

Abstract Background Co-infections with multiple respiratory viruses may increase the severity of illness in young children, introducing a greater healthcare burden compared to single respiratory virus infections. Methods We conducted a national cohort study of Medicaid-enrolled children aged 0-24 months presenting for outpatient or inpatient care and tested by multiplex RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2022 using the Merative® MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid Database. ICD-10-CM and procedure codes were used to identify clinical diagnoses and the date of clinical testing. We compared the odds of outpatient encounters returning for additional outpatient care, receiving nebulizer treatment, and requiring hospitalization and the odds of inpatient encounters developing pneumonia, receiving noninvasive/invasive ventilation, or requiring critical care by co-infection status using Firth’s penalized logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) controlled for infant sex, age, week of diagnosis, and underlying health conditions. Results Among 40,527 outpatient encounters, 13,230 (33%) were positive for a respiratory virus: 5,621 (14%) for SARS-CoV-2 only, 5,030 (12%) for RSV only, 2,230 (5.5%) for influenza only, and 349 (0.9%) for multiple viruses. Among 954 inpatient encounters, 310 (32%) were positive for a respiratory virus: 211 (22%) for RSV only, 70 (7.3%) for SARS-CoV-2 only, 15 (1.6%) for influenza only, and 14 (1.5%) for multiple viruses. The most common co-infection was SARS-CoV-2 and RSV for outpatient (n=215/349; 62%) and inpatient co-infections (n=8/14; 57%)(Figure). The odds of returning to outpatient care (aOR: 2.16; 95%CI 1.64, 2.84), receiving nebulizer treatment (aOR: 6.33; 95%CI 3.36, 11.21), and hospitalization (aOR: 3.41; 95%CI 1.59, 6.56) were higher among SARS-CoV-2 co-infections compared to SARS-CoV-2 only (Table). In-hospital outcomes did not differ by co-infection status. Conclusion Children with an outpatient-attended SARS-CoV-2 or influenza co-infection, which were mostly attributed to RSV, more frequently required hospitalization and additional medical care. Given the burden of RSV and co-infections, RSV prevention remains a priority and a possibility through maternal vaccine and monoclonal antibodies. Disclosures Annette Regan, PhD, MPH, Moderna: DSMB Membership Stacey Rowe, PhD, MPH, CSL Seqirus: Advisor/Consultant Flor M. Munoz, MD, Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Sheena G. Sullivan, PhD, Astra-Zeneca: Advisor/Consultant|CSL Behring and CSL Seqirus: Advisor/Consultant|GSK: Advisor/Consultant|Moderna: Advisor/Consultant|Novavax: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Sanofi: Advisor/Consultant

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-025-02507-4.

Advancements in pediatric heart failure management and mechanical circulatory support devices necessitate evaluating survival outcomes for children on the heart transplant waiting list. This study examines survival rates of pediatric patients (ages 0-18) on the heart transplant waiting list from 1987-2023. A retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was conducted for survival of pediatric candidates (ages 0-18) listed for heart transplant from 1987 to 2023. Patients over 18 and combined transplant candidates were excluded, resulting in a total of 18,536 candidates studied. These candidates were followed from listing to death, transplantation, or clinical improvement warranting removal from the waitlist. Analysis involved unadjusted and adjusted survival rates, with Kaplan-Meier survival curves and competing risk analysis models used to assess survival. For competing risk analysis, the primary outcome was waitlist mortality, while transplantation and removal from the waiting list due to improvement were competing outcomes. Variables analyzed include demographic data, body mass index (BMI), dialysis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), use of ventricular assist devices (VADs), and functional status at listing. One-year survival for pediatric waitlist candidates improved from 21.1% in 1987-1990 to 70.5% in 2021-2023 (P < .05). Adjusted analyses showed a reduction in mortality risk across eras. Survival for pediatric heart transplant candidates has significantly improved over time. Policy changes in allocation and mechanical support advancements have contributed to enhanced outcomes. Future research should refine pediatric transplant criteria and further investigate assist devices' role in improving waitlist survival.

The Hippo pathway controls organ development, homeostasis, and regeneration primarily by modulating YAP/TEAD-mediated gene expression. Although emerging studies report Hippo-YAP dysfunction after viral infection, it is largely unknown in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we analyzed RNA sequencing data from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and SARS-CoV-2-infected human lung samples, and observed a decrease in YAP target gene expression. In screening SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural proteins, we found that nonstructural protein 13 (NSP13), a conserved coronavirus helicase, inhibits YAP transcriptional activity independent of the upstream Hippo kinases LATS1/2. Consistently, introducing NSP13 into cardiomyocytes suppresses an active form of YAP (YAP5SA) in vivo . Subsequent investigations on NSP13 mutants revealed that NSP13 helicase activity, including DNA binding and unwinding, is crucial for suppressing YAP transactivation. Mechanistically, TEAD4 serves as a platform to recruit NSP13 and YAP. NSP13 likely inactivates the YAP/TEAD4 transcription complex by remodeling chromatin to recruit proteins, such as transcription termination factor 2 (TTF2), to bind the YAP/TEAD/NSP13 complex. These findings reveal a novel YAP/TEAD regulatory mechanism and uncover molecular insights into Hippo-YAP regulation after SARS-CoV-2 infection.