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AbstractBackgroundMethodResultsConclusionIn addition to peripheral neuropathy of various kinds, diabetes can also cause central neuropathy, which among other things can manifest itself as premature cognitive dysfunction, often linked to vascular dysfunction. Although the link between diabetes and cognitive dysfunction was discovered more than 100 years ago and has important clinical implications, this diabetes complication remains relatively unknown. Recent years have seen research that has clarified cerebral insulin resistance and defective insulin signaling as examples of pathogenic factors behind this cognitive impairment in diabetes.We provide a narrative review of select and contemporary publications with relevance for the interface between diabetes/prediabetes and cognitive function.Recently published studies show that physical activity can reverse insulin resistance in the brain as well as cognitive impairment and pathological appetite regulation. Pharmacological interventions with, for example, nasal insulin, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, or PPAR-γ agonists have also shown promising results.Optimization of lifestyle factors (e.g. physical activity), as well as several pharmaceutical agents already in clinical use against diabetes, have shown promising results in improving cognitive function in diabetic patients. An important task for primary health care, where most patients with type 2 diabetes are diagnosed, treated, and followed, is to increase awareness and early detection of cognitive dysfunction in these patients for optimizing risk factor control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a theological reflection on the leadership discourse of four senior evangelical leaders in the Church of England. The justification for a discourse-led approach within the discipline of practical theology is that discourse is itself a socially informed practice. Discourse is constructive for meaning-making and has ongoing constituting effect for practice. Thus, any theological bias found in evangelical discourse is of interest since that discourse has a practice-shaping effect. Using the method of content analysis, I undertake an audit of four leadership texts to find out how often God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are referenced. The content analysis reveals a quantitative disparity. The Person of the Spirit is referenced far less, and any references to Spirit are qualitatively limited. These quantitative results offer evidence to suggest that a full account of the Divine Move that is Spirit, and the leading activity of the Spirit, fails to be disclosed in these texts. I suggest that these findings indicate an imbalance in the discourse which I hope prompts evangelicals to further reflect on, and explore, the place of the Spirit in their theology and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine whether nicotine mouth spray provides rapid and prolonged relief of urges to vape and measure the steady‐state plasma nicotine levels during vaping and ad libitum mouth spray usage in e‐cigarette users. Design: Randomized, parallel group, double‐blind trial. Setting: Single site at Hammersmith Medicines Research Ltd (HMR), London, UK. Participants: 216 (25.9% females, average age 27.6 ± 7.63 [standard deviation, SD]) exclusive vapers who used their e‐cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up and had vaped about 2 years on average. Interventions: Two sprays of 1 mg nicotine mouth spray (Nicorette QuickMist Freshmint, n = 109), or placebo (identical in appearance and presentation, n = 107). Measurements Urge to vape was rated on a 100 mm visual analogue scale before and repeatedly for 2 hours after administration. The primary outcome measured average change from baseline in urges to vape ratings during the first hour. Findings Nicotine mouth spray achieved statistically significantly greater reductions in urges to vape than placebo from the first assessment point at 30 seconds to 1 hour, when the estimated mean treatment difference was 11.90 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.86–16.95, P < 0.001). The integrated urge to vape over 11 hours ad libitum usage showed a statistically significant benefit compared with placebo (2.00 [0.88 SD] vs 2.51 [0.84 SD], P < 0.001). Mean steady‐state plasma nicotine concentrations were lower after nicotine mouth spray usage compared with vaping (6.22 [4.70 SD] ng/ml vs 9.91 [7.59 SD] ng/ml, respectively). Adverse events were more commonly reported in the nicotine mouth spray group and were mostly mild. Conclusions: Among regular e‐cigarette users, nicotine mouth spray provided statistically significant and fast relief of urges to vape one hour after dosing. Nicotine mouth spray showed statistically significant reductions in urges to vape as soon as 30 seconds and up to 2 hours after dosing compared with placebo, and nicotine mouth spray was well‐tolerated and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Efficient capture and use of resources is critical for optimal plant growth and productivity. Both shoot and root growth are essential for resource acquisition, namely light and CO2 by the shoot and water and mineral nutrients by roots. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], one of the most valuable crops world-wide, uses an additional strategy, symbiotic N fixation (SNF), for N acquisition. SNF relies on development of specialized root organs known as nodules, which represent a distinct C sink. The genetic diversity of C partitioning in N fixing soybean to shoots, roots, and nodules has not been previously investigated but is valuable to better understand consequences of differential C allocation and to develop genetic resources, including identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Results: A diversity panel of 402 soybean genotypes was phenotyped outdoors in a deep-tube system without addition of mineral N to measure allocation of biomass to the shoot, root, and nodules, as well as to determine nodule number, mean nodule biomass, and total shoot N accumulation. Wide ranges in phenotypes were observed for each of these traits, demonstrating extensive natural diversity in C partitioning and SNF in soybean. Using a set of 35,647 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, we identified 121 SNPs tagging 103 QTLs that include both 84 novel and 19 previously identified QTLs for the eight examined traits. A candidate gene search identified 79 promising gene models in the vicinity of these QTLs. Favorable alleles of QTLs identified here may be used in breeding programs to develop elite cultivars with altered C partitioning. Conclusions: This study provides novel insights into the diversity of biomass allocation in soybean and illustrates that the traits measured here are heritable and quantitative. QTLs identified in this study can be used in genomic prediction models as well as for further investigation of candidate genes and their roles in determining partitioning of fixed C. Enhancing our understanding of C partitioning in plants may lead to elite cultivars with optimized resource use efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a compact microstrip patch antenna design for 5G applications, which operates in 25 GHz, 28 GHz, and 32 GHz frequency bands and provides triple-band functionality. The proposed antenna has a compact volume of 15.4 × 12.8 × 1 mm, contributing to its miniaturization, which is crucial for 5G communication systems. To optimize return loss characteristics, a line slot is introduced on the patch. The slot width is optimized using an XGBoost prediction model, which serves as an objective function for a Coati optimization technique. This optimization aims to achieve an optimal slot length that results in a superior return loss of -30 dB. The proposed antenna shows a peak gain of 7.3 dB at 28 GHz and exhibits an exceptional radiation efficiency of 98 %. The design and manufacture of this antenna validates its high gain and superior return loss in the specified triple bands, making it suitable for reliable and efficient 5G communication systems. The combination of compact size, high gain, and efficient return loss optimization ensures that this antenna meets the demanding requirements of modern 5G technology. The use of advanced optimization techniques, such as the XGBoost prediction model and Coati optimization, highlights the innovative approach of this design. This methodology not only improves the antenna's performance but also ensures that it can be effectively integrated into compact 5G devices, providing robust and high-quality communication capabilities. The success of this design underlines its potential for widespread application in the rapidly evolving field of 5G communications and offers a promising solution for future wireless technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the utility of punctuated equilibrium (PE) theory in explaining revolutionary organizational change in the public sector and its effects on policy implementation, with a focus on the United States Coast Guard. We illustrate our model using data from in‐depth interviews with current and former senior Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel, as well as secondary sources such as historical accounts and budget data. Through content analysis, we argue that PE theory begins with a change in the public sector organization's external environment, which then affects organizational strategy, structure, power distribution, and outputs. Punctuated equilibrium theory proves to be a valuable lens for understanding policy outputs in relation to organizational change. Related Articles: Kwon, Sung‐Wook, and Sylvia Gonzalez‐Gorman. 2019. "Influence of Local Political Institutions on Policy Punctuation in Three Policy Areas." Politics & Policy 47(2): 300–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12295. Neill, Katharine A., and John C. Morris. 2012. "A Tangled Web of Principals and Agents: Examining the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill through a Principal–Agent Lens." Politics & Policy 40(4): 629–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00371.x. Peng, Peiwen, and Tangzhe Cao. 2023. "Attention, Institutional Friction, and Punctuated Equilibrium in China's Budget: Changes in Social Security and Employment Expenditure." Politics & Policy 51(2): 256–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12523. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq) is the most common approach to observe global binding of proteins to DNA in vivo. The occupancy of transcription factors (TFs) from ChIP-seq agrees well with an alternative method, chromatin endogenous cleavage (ChEC-seq2). However, ChIP-seq and ChEC-seq2 reveal strikingly different patterns of enrichment of yeast RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). We hypothesized that this reflects distinct populations of RNAPII, some of which are captured by ChIP-seq and some of which are captured by ChEC-seq2. RNAPII association with enhancers and promoters - predicted from biochemical studies - is detected well by ChEC-seq2 but not by ChIP-seq. Enhancer/promoter-bound RNAPII correlates with transcription levels and matches predicted occupancy based on published rates of enhancer recruitment, preinitiation assembly, initiation, elongation, and termination. The occupancy from ChEC-seq2 allowed us to develop a stochastic model for global kinetics of RNAPII transcription which captured both the ChEC-seq2 data and changes upon chemical-genetic perturbations to transcription. Finally, RNAPII ChEC-seq2 and kinetic modeling suggests that a mutation in the Gcn4 transcription factor that blocks interaction with the NPC destabilizes promoter-associated RNAPII without altering its recruitment to the enhancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to diverse peers can expand children's experiences and skillsets, and these positive effects linger beyond childhood. Yet, little is known about the ethnic/racial, gender, and age diversity in children's peer groups and how it may shift over time. Even less is known about these patterns among US nonwhite children. In the present study, we thus explored how diversity (with regard to ethnicity/race, gender, and age) in ethnically minoritized children's peer groups change from infancy through early childhood and tested whether the diversity of early peer groups remained stable across time. Over a 6‐year period we followed 234 children (ages 1–6; 115 girls) from three large ethnic/racial minority groups in the United States: African American, Dominican American, and Mexican American. With age, children's peer groups increased in ethnic/racial diversity but decreased in gender and age diversity. Moreover, children's early peer diversity (at/around age 2–4) positively predicted the diversity of their later peer groups (at/around age 6) across all three types of diversity. This study provides novel insights into how children's peer groups change and grow in early development, particularly focusing on children from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in psychological science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women raise children within cultural ideologies that enforce gendered standards for caregiving. In market‐driven societies, working mothers face the 'intensive mothering ideology', which demands self‐sacrifice for children while promoting self‐interest at work. Fathers are primarily framed as breadwinners. We know little about how ethnically and racially diverse, low‐SES mothers construct ideas of good and bad parenting. In this study, we examined Dominican, African American and Mexican US‐based mothers' perspectives on ideal qualities of mothers and fathers (N = 193, daughters = 51.3%, MAge = 26.27). Using semantic and latent coding, we analysed the content and framing of mothers' responses, which fell into 28 themes, emphasising idealised parenting as providing basic needs, emotional support, education and embodying desired traits. Our latent analyses captured the frequencies of qualities mentioned by mothers, whether they centered children or parents, the presence or absence of qualities and performed actions or embodied characteristics. Our findings highlight the social constructions of mothering and fathering and offer a foundation for future mixed‐methods research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the implementation of the university-as-a-service (UaaS) paradigm in higher education. Through qualitative research, it examines student and stakeholder experiences to inform the redesign of university programmes. The UaaS model aims to enhance university engagement with the business ecosystem and meet the demands of the digital economy. Services within the UaaS framework include research, international programmes, sustainable development, consulting, Center of Excellence establishment, and startup support. The study highlights the importance of developing an action plan and prioritising tasks, balancing collaboration and customisation. Integration of Design Thinking principles is crucial for equipping students with essential skills. Aligning university programmes with the evolving needs of the digital economy is emphasised. This research provides practical guidance for universities to enhance their engagement, fostering economic growth and social progress. Future efforts should refine and optimise the UaaS framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whole virion (attenuated) vaccine (Covaxin) and m-RNA of whole Spike protein (Covishield) were used as emergency measures in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aim & Objective: To evaluate the antigenicity of both vaccines by measuring the quantum of antibodies. Methods and Material: Periodic antigenicity of both the vaccines post-vaccination i.e. after 5-6 and 11-12 months was undertaken in two categories; those who were not infected and vaccinated and secondly infected and vaccinated and got re-infected (after vaccination). Results: Both the categories of patients showed similar quantum of IgA/IgG/ IgM and Neutralizing antibodies generated by Covaxin. In subjects, vaccinated by Covishield, the recipients of single dose of vaccine showed higher titre of antibodies than double dose vaccinated. Less antigenicity of Covishield vaccine in infected vaccinated was seen compared to un-infected vaccinated subjects. Conclusions: Paper reports antigenic strength of both the vaccines during 5-6 and 11-12 months' post-vaccination and also the important point that antibodies titre was higher among cohort of single vaccinated as compared to those who received two doses of vaccines. The paper further sensitises the issue that both the vaccines were developed on the Wuhan strain whereas the virus has mutated twice, generating two new subsequent strains namely Delta and Omicron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient optimization method for locally Lipschitz continuous multiobjective optimization problems from Gebken and Peitz (J Optim Theory Appl 188:696–723, 2021) is extended from finite-dimensional problems to general Hilbert spaces. The method iteratively computes Pareto critical points, where in each iteration, an approximation of the Clarke subdifferential is computed in an efficient manner and then used to compute a common descent direction for all objective functions. To prove convergence, we present some new optimality results for nonsmooth multiobjective optimization problems in Hilbert spaces. Using these, we can show that every accumulation point of the sequence generated by our algorithm is Pareto critical under common assumptions. Computational efficiency for finding Pareto critical points is numerically demonstrated for multiobjective optimal control of an obstacle problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precoding is a critical signal processing technique used in wireless communication systems to enhance transmission performance. This paper initially provides a brief overview of various conventional precoding algorithms. The exploration includes various nonlinear precoding algorithms which outperform linear techniques in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scenarios. Moreover, the paper delves into practical considerations and provides insights into selecting the most suitable technique for specific communication scenarios. The deep learning-based hybrid precoder is designed using the MDL-AltMin algorithm and simulated results show a spectral efficiency of (SE) 40.96 dB compared with different precoding algorithms. The precoder model is modified with a Hybrid Precoding Net algorithm with a spectral efficiency of 21.07 dB for high values of SNR such as −30 and again compared with deep learning precoders. The HPNet model is proposed with a spectral efficiency of 23.04 dB with and without CSI (Channel State Information) at the transmitter. Furthermore, the HPNet model is compared with optimal digital precoders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar photovoltaic system suffers from varied environmental condition and causes power losses. This paper presents a Modified Artificial Rabbit Optimization based algorithm for MPPT. The performance of the Artificial Rabbit Optimization algorithm is improved by replacing the hidden parameter in the random hiding stage with levy flight strategy. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with particle swarm optimization, slap swarm optimization and artificial rabbit optimization under varying environmental conditions like change in uniform irradiance to partial shaded condition to uneven shaded condition and load variation. The simulation and experimental result gives a promising result by outperforming the particle swarm optimization, slap swarm optimization and artificial rabbit optimization algorithm in terms of quick convergence and decreasing oscillation towards maximum power points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces an innovative four-port millimeter-wave (mm-wave) Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna tailored for 5 G applications. Fabricated with a compact size of 25 mm x 25 mm, the antenna employs Rogers RT Duroid 5880 material, which has a thickness of 0.8 mm. This research introduces a high-gain, compact MIMO antenna addressing limitations discussed in related literature, operating at 37–39 GHz and ideal for mm-wave applications due to its small size, low profile, and efficient radiation capability. The antenna operates in the range of 37–39 GHz, with an impressive 10 dB impedance bandwidth. Impressively, the isolation among antenna elements reaches 25 dB, achieved by maintaining an edge-to-edge distance between elements of just 5.45 mm and employing orthogonal arrangements. Through rigorous experimentation, the antenna demonstrates substantial performance metrics, achieving directivity and gain of up to 8 dB and 5 dB, respectively. The fabricated antenna undergoes thorough measurement, and all results are found to be well-correlated with simulated results. This emphasizes the reliability and accuracy of the proposed design. The study establishes the antenna as a suitable contender for future mm-wave applications, providing valuable insights into the potential of compact MIMO configurations in the high-frequency spectrum. The achieved performance metrics and reliable measurements position the proposed design as a promising candidate for advancing communication systems and emerging technologies in the mm-wave domain [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established confrontations between two different fungi, i.e., the maize anthracnose and stalk rot pathogen Colletotrichum graminicola, and the ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, and different biocontrol species, i.e., Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus velezensis, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. In all fungus–bacterium confrontations tested, growth arrest and, thus, distance inhibition was observed on solid substrata. LC–MS/MS analyses of culture filtrates suggested formation of several metabolites only synthesized in confrontations. Interestingly, microscopy of fungal hyphae grown in liquid medium showed protrusions and color changes occurred only in media harboring fungus-bacterium confrontations. These observations indicate metabolic re-programming and suggest formation of putative secondary metabolites in interactions involving microbial biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Siberian Arctic is warming rapidly, causing permafrost to thaw and altering the biogeochemistry of aquatic environments, with cascading effects on the coastal and shelf ecosystems of the Arctic Ocean. The Lena River, one of the largest Arctic rivers, drains a catchment dominated by permafrost. Baseline discharge biogeochemistry data is necessary to understand present and future changes in land-to-ocean fluxes. Here, we present a high-frequency, 4.5-year-long dataset from a sampling program of the Lena River's biogeochemistry, spanning April 2018 to August 2022. The dataset comprises 587 sampling events and measurements of various parameters, including water temperature, electrical conductivity, stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes, dissolved organic carbon concentration and 14C, coloured and fluorescent dissolved organic matter, dissolved inorganic and total nutrients, and dissolved elemental and ion concentrations. Sampling consistency and continuity and data quality were ensured through simple sampling protocols, real-time communication, and collaboration with local and international partners. The data is available as a collection of datasets separated by parameter groups and periods at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.913197 (Juhls et al., 2020b). To our knowledge, this dataset provides an unprecedented temporal resolution of an Arctic river's biogeochemistry. This makes it a unique baseline on which future environmental changes, including changes in river hydrology, at temporal scales from precipitation event to seasonal to interannual, can be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Pre‐admission viral screening is used only in exceptional situations such as pandemics. We therefore evaluated pre‐admission screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza during the COVID‐19 pandemic, comparing epidemiology and clinical features of admitted children. Methods: Children were screened at a paediatric emergency department from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022 by nasopharyngeal sampling and polymerase chain reaction kit. We retrospectively retrieved positive results from the laboratory and scrutinised charts of admitted children. Results: Out of 15 927 screened children, 522, 127 and 572 were positive and admitted with RSV, influenza A or SARS‐CoV‐2, respectively. Of these, 29 (5.6%), 26 (24.1%) and 245 (44.8%) were incidental findings, lacking symptoms of infection. RSV and influenza A were initially absent but re‐emerged in the autumn of 2021. The rate of COVID‐19 rose when the Omicron variant emerged in December 2021. The median age of children with RSV was 0.3 years, of those with influenza A 6.7 years and of those with COVID‐19 1.6 years. Major complications were rare. Conclusion: Frequent incidental detections of SARS‐CoV‐2 likely reflected widespread presence of a mild infection. Clinically, COVID‐19 was like other viral respiratory infections in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which covered seven serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (PCV7), was introduced in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2007. It was replaced by a 13‐valent vaccine (PCV13) in 2011. We previously reported a decreased incidence of pneumonia and sinusitis among young children 4 years after the introduction of the PCV7. This study followed the incidence of pneumonia, sinusitis, mastoiditis and meningitis for four more years. Methods: We studied validated hospital registry data covering children up to 17 years of age, who were hospitalised in the Stockholm region from 2003 to 2016, when the child population peaked at 485 687. All 11 115 cases diagnosed with pneumonia, coded as bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, mastoiditis, bacterial meningitis or empyema, were identified. The controls had viral pneumonia or pyelonephritis. Results: The incidence rates for children under 2 years of age hospitalised for sinusitis, mastoiditis and meningitis decreased significantly by 61%–79% during the eight‐year post‐vaccination period. Hospitalisations for bacterial pneumonia decreased by 19%–25% in the same age group. These changes were probably due to both the vaccines and changes in diagnosis routines. Conclusion: The effect of vaccination on children under 2 years of age was sustained 8 years after the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The genetic architecture of symbiotic N fixation and related traits was investigated in the field. QTLs were identified for percent N derived from the atmosphere, shoot [N] and C to N ratio. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is cultivated worldwide and is the most abundant source of plant-based protein. Symbiotic N2 fixation (SNF) in legumes such as soybean is of great importance; however, yields may still be limited by N in both high yielding and stressful environments. To better understand the genetic architecture of SNF and facilitate the development of high yielding cultivars and sustainable soybean production in stressful environments, a recombinant inbred line population consisting of 190 lines, developed from a cross between PI 442012A and PI 404199, was evaluated for N derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa), N concentration ([N]), and C to N ratio (C/N) in three environments. Significant genotype, environment and genotype × environment effects were observed for all three traits. A linkage map was constructed containing 3309 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. QTL analysis was performed for additive effects of QTLs, QTL × environment interactions, and QTL × QTL interactions. Ten unique additive QTLs were identified across all traits and environments. Of these, two QTLs were detected for Ndfa and eight for C/N. Of the eight QTLs for C/N, four were also detected for [N]. Using QTL × environment analysis, six QTLs were detected, of which five were also identified in the additive QTL analysis. The QTL × QTL analysis identified four unique epistatic interactions. The results of this study may be used for genomic selection and introgression of favorable alleles for increased SNF, [N], and C/N via marker-assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early life factors may predict cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the pathways are still unclear. There is emerging evidence of an association of early life factors with apolipoproteins, which are linked to CVD. The study objective was to assess the associations between birth variables and adult apolipoproteins (apoA1 and apoB, and their ratio) in a population-based cohort. Methods: The LifeGene Study is a prospective cohort comprising index participants randomly sampled from the general population. Blood samples were collected between 2009 and 2016. In this sub-study, we used birth variables, obtained from a national registry for all participants born 1973 or later, including birth weight and gestational age, while adult CVD risk factors included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), lipids, and smoking history. We employed univariate and multivariate general linear regression to explore associations between birth variables, lipid levels and other adult CVD risk factors. The outcomes included non-fasting apoA1 and apoB and their ratio, as well as total cholesterol and triglycerides. A total of 10,093 participants with both birth information and lipoprotein levels at screening were included. Of these, nearly 42.5% were men (n = 4292) and 57.5% were women (n = 5801). Results: The mean (standard deviation) age of men was 30.2 (5.7) years, and for women 28.9 (5.8) years. There was an increase of 0.022 g/L in apoA1 levels per 1 kg increase in birth weight (p = 0.005) after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, gestational age, and smoking history. Similarly, there was a decrease of 0.023 g/L in apoB levels per 1 kg increase in birth weight (p<0.001) after adjusting for the same variables. There were inverse associations of birth weight with the apoB/apoA1 ratio. No independent association was found with total cholesterol, but with triglyceride levels (ẞ-coefficient (95% Confidence Interval); -0.067 (-0.114, -0.021); p-value 0.005). Conclusions: Lower birth weight was associated with an adverse adult apolipoprotein pattern, i.e., a higher apoB/apoA1 ratio, indicating increased risk of future CVD manifestations. The study highlights the need of preconception care and pregnancy interventions that aim at improving maternal and child outcomes with long-term impacts for prevention of cardiovascular disease by influencing lipid levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsatellites are widely used in population genetics, but their evolutionary dynamics remain poorly understood. It is unclear whether microsatellite loci drift in length over time. This is important because the mutation processes that underlie these important genetic markers are central to the evolutionary models that employ microsatellites. We identify more than 27 million microsatellites using a novel and unique dataset of modern and ancient Adélie penguin genomes along with data from 63 published chordate genomes. We investigate microsatellite evolutionary dynamics over 2 timescales: one based on Adélie penguin samples dating to ∼46.5 ka and the other dating to the diversification of chordates aged more than 500 Ma. We show that the process of microsatellite allele length evolution is at dynamic equilibrium; while there is length polymorphism among individuals, the length distribution for a given locus remains stable. Many microsatellites persist over very long timescales, particularly in exons and regulatory sequences. These often retain length variability, suggesting that they may play a role in maintaining phenotypic variation within populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the final guidance for industry titled Pathology Peer Review in Nonclinical Toxicology Studies: Questions and Answers. The stated purpose of the FDA guidance is to provide information to sponsors, applicants, and nonclinical laboratory personnel regarding the management and conduct of histopathology peer review as part of nonclinical toxicology studies conducted in compliance with good laboratory practice (GLP) regulations. On behalf of and in collaboration with global societies of toxicologic pathology and the Society of Quality Assurance, the Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee (SRPC) of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) initiated a review of this FDA guidance. The STP has previously published multiple papers related to the scientific conduct of a pathology peer review of nonclinical toxicology studies and appropriate documentation practices. The objectives of this review are to provide an in-depth analysis and summary interpretation of the FDA recommendations and share considerations for the conduct of pathology peer review in nonclinical toxicology studies that claim compliance to GLP regulations. In general, this working group is in agreement with the recommendations from the FDA guidance that has added clear expectations for pathology peer review preparation, conduct, and documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basal crevasses threaten the stability of ice shelves through the potential to form rifts and calve icebergs. Furthermore, it is important to determine the dependence of crevasse stability on temperature due to large vertical temperature variations on ice shelves. In this work, considering the vertical temperature profile through ice viscosity, we compare (1) the theoretical crack depths and (2) the threshold stress causing the transition from basal crevasses to full thickness fractures in several fracture theories. In the Zero Stress approximation, the depth-integrated force at the crevassed and non-crevassed location are unbalanced, violating the volume-integrated Stokes equation. By incorporating a Horizontal Force Balance (HFB) argument, recent work showed analytically that the threshold stress for rift initiation is only half of that predicted by the Zero Stress approximation. We generalize the HFB theory to show that while the temperature profile influences crack depths, the threshold rifting stress is insensitive to temperature. We compare with observations and find that HFB best matches observed rifts. Using HFB instead of Zero Stress for cracks in an icesheet model would substantially enlarge the predicted fracture depth, reduce the threshold rifting stress and potentially increase the projected rate of ice shelf mass loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance limitations of traditional computer architectures have led to the rise of brain‐inspired hardware, with optical solutions gaining popularity due to the energy efficiency, high speed, and scalability of linear operations. However, the use of optics to emulate the synaptic activity of neurons has remained a challenge since the integration of nonlinear nodes is power‐hungry and, thus, hard to scale. Neuromorphic wave computing offers a new paradigm for energy‐efficient information processing, building upon transient and passively nonlinear interactions between optical modes in a waveguide. Here, an implementation of this concept is presented using broadband frequency conversion by coherent higher‐order soliton fission in a single‐mode fiber. It is shown that phase encoding on femtosecond pulses at the input, alongside frequency selection and weighting at the system output, makes transient spectro‐temporal system states interpretable and allows for the energy‐efficient emulation of various digital neural networks. The experiments in a compact, fully fiber‐integrated setup substantiate an anticipated enhancement in computational performance with increasing system nonlinearity. The findings suggest that broadband frequency generation, accessible on‐chip and in‐fiber with off‐the‐shelf components, may challenge the traditional approach to node‐based brain‐inspired hardware design, ultimately leading to energy‐efficient, scalable, and dependable computing with minimal optical hardware requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parenteral (intravenous) nutrition is lifesaving for patients with intestinal failure, but long-term use of parenteral nutrition often leads to liver disease. SEFA-6179 is a synthetic medium-chain fatty acid analogue designed to target multiple fatty acid receptors regulating metabolic and inflammatory pathways. We hypothesized that SEFA-6179 would prevent hepatosteatosis and lipotoxicity in a murine model of parenteral nutrition-induced hepatosteatosis. Methods: Two in vivo experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, six-week-old male mice were provided an ad lib fat-free high carbohydrate diet (HCD) for 19 days with orogastric gavage of either fish oil, medium-chain triglycerides, or SEFA-6179 at a low (0.3mmol/kg) or high dose (0.6mmol/kg). In the second experiment, six-week-old mice were provided an ad lib fat-free high carbohydrate diet for 19 days with every other day tail vein injection of saline, soybean oil lipid emulsion, or fish oil lipid emulsion. Mice then received every other day orogastric gavage of medium-chain triglyceride vehicle or SEFA-6179 (0.6mmol/kg). Hepatosteatosis was assessed by a blinded pathologist using an established rodent steatosis score. Hepatic lipid metabolites were assessed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Effects of SEFA-6179 on fatty acid oxidation, lipogenesis, and fatty acid uptake in human liver cells were assessed in vitro. Results: In the first experiment, mice receiving the HCD with either saline or medium-chain triglyceride treatment developed macrovesicular steatosis, while mice receiving fish oil or SEFA-6179 retained normal liver histology. In the second experiment, mice receiving a high carbohydrate diet with intravenous saline or soybean oil lipid emulsion, along with medium chain triglyceride vehicle treatment, developed macrovescular steatosis. Treatment with SEFA-6179 prevented steatosis. In each experiment, SEFA-6179 treatment decreased arachidonic acid metabolites as well as key molecules (diacylglycerol, ceramides) involved in lipotoxicity. SEFA-6179 increased both β- and complete fatty oxidation in human liver cells, while having no impact on lipogenesis or fatty acid uptake. Conclusions: SEFA-6179 treatment prevented hepatosteatosis and decreased toxic lipid metabolites in a murine model of parenteral nutrition-induced hepatosteatosis. An increase in both β- and complete hepatic fatty acid oxidation may underlie the reduction in steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Worldwide, approximately 35 million individuals are affected by substance use disorder (SUD). SUD is one of the most stigmatized health conditions. Stigma within the healthcare system creates barriers that make it difficult for a stigmatized individual to access healthcare. This study assessed the attitudes (emotions, beliefs, and behaviors) toward individuals with SUD among dental hygienists (DHs) and explored their contributing factors. Methods: A non-probabilistic convenience sample of clinical DHs completed the online survey (n = 264). Stigma levels were measured using the Attribution Questionnaire-Substance Use Disorder (AQ-SUD) scale, which has four subscales: 1) negative emotions; 2) assessment of responsibility; 3) social disengagement; and 4) lack of empathy. Results: Of 264 participants accessing the survey, 76% (n=201) completed the survey and were utilized for analysis. Overall, DHs had lower stigma levels on the three subscales of stigma that could be analyzed (negative emotions, assessment of responsibility, and lack of empathy). In addition, regression models for the three stigma subscales and the predictors of "do you have a friend or family member with SUD?" and "do you think SUD is a medical condition?" were found to be statistically significant (p < .001). Conclusion: To maintain lower levels of stigma, it will be important for healthcare professionals (HPs) to identify SUD as a medical condition and build connections with individuals with SUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique system that offers traffic management, mobility management, and proactive vulnerability identification is the vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). With the use of efficient deep learning algorithms, intrusion prevention practices can improve their reliability. Many assaults, like Sybil, Blackhole, Wormhole, DoS attack, etc. expose them to risk. These intrusions compromise efficiency and dependability by taking advantage of network connectivity. The use of amazingly precise learning models to anticipate a variety of threats in VANET has not yet been thoroughly explored. To categorize numerous attacks on the VANET scenario, we develop a novel efficient integrated Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) paradigm. The system employs the Panthera Leo Hunting Optimization (PLHO) method to modify the hyper-parameters of the systems to enhance the LSTM model’s detection rate under different threat situations. SUMO-OMNET++and Veins, two well-known modeling programs were utilized to gather the various VANET variables for both normal and malicious scenarios. The improved LSTM model was evaluated using actual information that had been recorded. The outcomes from the various learning models were merged with performance measures to show the algorithm’s efficiency and individuality. As the space between nearer vehicles reduces abruptly, a collision happens. So, to provide a realistic collision prevention system, it is necessary to collect exact and detailed information on the distance between every vehicle and all of the nearby vehicles. We suggest using a Carbon Nanotube Network (CNT) combined with the other Nanodevices to achieve reliability on the scale of millimeters. Modeling findings that the proposed novel approach succeeded with strong recognition capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three generations of the Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS) have flown on small satellites with the goal "to explore the energy distribution of soft X-ray (SXR) emissions from the quiescent Sun, active regions, and during solar flares, and to model the impact on Earth's ionosphere and thermosphere." The primary science instrument is the Amptek X123 X-ray spectrometer that has improved with each generation of the MinXSS experiment. This third-generation MinXSS-3 has a higher energy resolution and larger effective area than its predecessors and is also known as the Dual-zone Aperture X-ray Solar Spectrometer (DAXSS). It was launched on the INSPIRESat-1 satellite on 2022 February 14, and INSPIRESat-1 has successfully completed its 6 month prime mission. The INSPIRESat-1 is in a dawn–dusk, Sun-synchronous orbit and therefore has had 24 hr coverage of the Sun during most of its mission so far. The rise of Solar Cycle 25 has been observed by DAXSS. This paper introduces the INSPIRESat-1 DAXSS solar SXR observations, and we focus the science results here on a solar occultation experiment and multiple flares on 2022 April 24. One key flare result is that the reduction of elemental abundances appears greatest during the flare impulsive phase, thus highlighting the important role of chromospheric evaporation during flares to inject warmer plasma into the coronal loops. Furthermore, these results are suggestive that the amount of chromospheric evaporation is related to flare temperature and intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 created a havoc worldwide, causing high morbidity, serious complications and mortality. The ORF1ab of SARS-CoV-2 has 16 non-structural proteins which are required for genome replication and transcription. All of these are druggable targets, of which NSP12 (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase), was selected as a potential target for drug molecules. Remdesivir is a recommended drug for SARS-CoV-2 and it targets the RdRp protein. Although Remdesivir was given to COVID-19 patients based on their clinical manifestations, yet the transmission and spread of the virus continued and to add to its pandemicity, new variants emerged from time to time. This necessitates the need for molecular modification of existing antiviral drugs so that more precise targets for halting viral replication can be selected. For this, the approach used was repurposing of the existing drugs. In the present study, ten FDA-approved drugs were chosen on the basis of their properties of inhibiting the RdRp protein. These drugs were subjected for checking the docking score with the target protein. Of these, Remdesivir, Ribavirin, Favipiravir and Baloxavir were taken for further analysis on the basis of their best scores. These drugs were then modified to check the efficiency to inhibit the RdRp and to stop the replication rate of the virus. We docked the modified drugs with the macrodomain of RdRp by using the CB-Dock web server and checked the binding affinity and amino acid contact residues. The modified drugs were also checked for bioactivity in the Molinspiration cheminformatics online tool. Our results showed increased affinity for RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 when compared to the original compound. We also checked the synthetic accessibility of the drugs using the SwissADME tool. The study showed promising results when modified. The findings reported need further confirmation through wet lab studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present PoseEdit, a new, interactive frontend of the popular pose visualization tool PoseView. PoseEdit automatically produces high-quality 2D diagrams of intermolecular interactions in 3D binding sites calculated from ligands in complex with protein, DNA, and RNA. The PoseView diagrams have been improved in several aspects, most notably in their interactivity. Thanks to the easy-to-use 2D editor of PoseEdit, the diagrams are extensively editable and extendible by the user, can be merged with other diagrams, and even be created from scratch. A large variety of graphical objects in the diagram can be moved, rotated, selected and highlighted, mirrored, removed, or even newly added. Furthermore, PoseEdit enables a synchronized 2D-3D view of macromolecule-ligand complexes simplifying the analysis of structural features and interactions. The representation of individual diagram objects regarding their visualized chemical properties, like stereochemistry, and general graphical styles, like the color of interactions, can additionally be edited. The primary objective of PoseEdit is to support scientists with an enhanced way to communicate ligand binding mode information through graphical 2D representations optimized with the scientist's input in accordance with objective criteria and individual needs. PoseEdit is freely available on the ProteinsPlus web server (https://proteins.plus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uspanteko is an endangered Mayan language spoken in Guatemala. Unstressed vowels in Uspanteko often delete, though deletion is variable within and across speakers. Deletion appears to be phonological: it is sensitive to foot structure, morphology, and certain phonotactics, and it occurs in slow, careful speech. But deletion also has characteristics more typical of a phonetic process: it is intertwined with a pattern of gradient vowel reduction and is insensitive to most phonotactics. Electroglottography data shows that even ‘deleted’ vowels may contribute voicing to [C̥(V)C̥] intervals when flanked by voiceless consonants. This suggests that ‘deleted’ vowels are represented in the input to speech production, even when they are acoustically masked by articulatory overlap with adjacent segments. We conclude that vowel deletion is grammatically controlled gestural overlap, consistent with the claim that phonological representations encode information about the relative timing and coordination of articulatory gestures (e.g. Browman & Goldstein 1986, Gafos 2002). At a minimum, language-specific phonetic processes must have access to more fine-grained, abstract grammatical information than is usually assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the early stages of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented strong anti-infection mitigations. In the United States and Canada, these measures affected the training regimens of Thoroughbred racehorses—pandemic mitigations meant that 'normal' training schedules could not be followed. These circumstances led to a natural experiment: many 2-year-old Thoroughbreds, who would normally have begun intensive preparation for starting their racing careers in early 2020, had the beginning of their training delayed. Meanwhile, horses aged 3 years and older also experienced an interruption to their normal or expected training programmes. On full analysis of the 2020 annual statistics on behalf of The Jockey Club, an increase in the number of fatal musculoskeletal injuries among 2-year-old horses compared to previous years was observed. No similar increase was seen among horses aged 3 years and older in 2020. In 2020, 2-year-olds were the age group with the highest risk of fatal injury. In 2021 and 2022, the incidence of fatalities in 2-year-old horses returned to the previous trend. In all previous (to 2020) and the two subsequent years, the risk of fatal musculoskeletal injury has been lowest in 2-year-old horses, compared with 3- and 4+-year-olds. This result emphasises the importance of racehorses following a suitable training schedule, especially for racehorses at the beginning of their career. Racehorse training and racing schedules in many parts of the United States and Canada were interrupted or otherwise reduced during the first three to six months of 2020. This was an indirect consequence of mitigations to prevent the spread of the pandemic virus COVID-19. Data from the Equine Injury Database, a census-level survey of all race starts made in the USA and Canada, were used to analyse the incidence of fatalities in 2009–2022 among three age cohorts of racehorses within each year. There was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of musculoskeletal fatalities among 2-year-old Thoroughbreds in 2020, compared to the period 2009–2019. In 2021 and 2022, the training schedules of 2-year-old horses returned to pre-2020 levels, as did the incidence of fatalities. The delayed start to training for 2-year-old horses was associated with an increase in risk of fatal musculoskeletal injury for those horses during 2020, but the risk for the same horses in 2021—when they were 3 years old—was not significantly different to the risk for 3-year-olds in any other year. The increased risk of fatal musculoskeletal injury in 2020 was only found among horses that were 2 years old in 2020—horses aged 3 years or more in 2020 were not at increased risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG), trigeminal ganglia (TG), other sensory ganglia, and autonomic ganglia may be injured by some test article classes, including anti-neoplastic chemotherapeutics, adeno-associated virus-based gene therapies, antisense oligonucleotides, nerve growth factor inhibitors, and aminoglycoside antibiotics. This article reviews ganglion anatomy, cytology, and pathology (emphasizing sensory ganglia) among common nonclinical species used in assessing product safety for such test articles (TAs). Principal histopathologic findings associated with sensory ganglion injury include neuron degeneration, necrosis, and/or loss; increased satellite glial cell and/or Schwann cell numbers; and leukocyte infiltration and/or inflammation. Secondary nerve fiber degeneration and/or glial reactions may occur in nerves, dorsal spinal nerve roots, spinal cord (dorsal and occasionally lateral funiculi), and sometimes the brainstem. Ganglion findings related to TA administration may result from TA exposure and/or trauma related to direct TA delivery into the central nervous system or ganglia. In some cases, TA-related effects may need to be differentiated from a spectrum of artifactual and/or spontaneous background changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain biopharmaceutical products consistently affect dorsal root ganglia, trigeminal ganglia, and/or autonomic ganglia. Product classes targeting ganglia include antineoplastic chemotherapeutics, adeno-associated virus-based gene therapies, antisense oligonucleotides, and anti-nerve growth factor agents. This article outlines "points to consider" for sample collection, processing, evaluation, interpretation, and reporting of ganglion findings; these points are consistent with published best practices for peripheral nervous system evaluation in nonclinical toxicity studies. Ganglion findings often occur as a combination of neuronal injury (e.g., degeneration, necrosis, and/or loss) and/or glial effects (e.g., increased satellite glial cell cellularity) with leukocyte accumulation (e.g., mononuclear cell infiltration or inflammation). Nerve fiber degeneration and/or glial reactions may be seen in nerves, dorsal spinal nerve roots, spinal cord, and occasionally brainstem. Interpretation of test article (TA)-associated effects may be confounded by incidental background changes or experimental procedure-related changes and limited historical control data. Reports should describe findings at these sites, any TA relationship, and the criteria used for assigning severity grades. Contextualizing adversity of ganglia findings can require a weight-of-evidence approach because morphologic changes of variable severity occur in ganglia but often are not accompanied by observable overt in-life functional alterations detectable by conventional behavioral and neurological testing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in the ANZ Journal of Surgery presents a surgical technique for managing chronic gastrocutaneous fistulas, which can be performed under local anesthesia. The procedure involves creating a circumferential incision around the fistula, thinning out the fibrous tract, and clipping it with Hem‐o‐lok or titanium Haemostatic clips. This approach has been successful in closing fistulas in all cases and is easily reproducible, making it a valuable option for surgeons dealing with such complications. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) has been associated with respiratory tract infections in children. We aimed at retrospectively describing patient characteristics, seasonality, pre‐existing medical conditions, codetections, clinical manifestations and complications of HBoV1 infection in relation to viral load in the child population in Stockholm, with the overarching aim of elucidating the clinical significance of HBoV1. Methods: We included all hospitalised children 0—17 years testing positive for HBoV1 by real‐time polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal aspirates 1 July 2008—30 June 2019. Patients with HBoV1 single detection, high viral load expressed as an HBoV1‐DNA cycle threshold (Ct) < 25, or both, were separately analysed. We retrieved information on pre‐existing conditions and clinical course from the medical records. Results: We found 768 episodes in 727 children, 496 (64.6%) male and 441 (60.7%) previously healthy. The median age was 17.6 months. Most (476/768, 62.0%) episodes occurred during December–March. HBoV1 was in 549 episodes (71.5%) codetected with other viruses. Ct < 25 was independently associated with young age, single detection of HBoV1 and presentation early in the epidemic season. We saw few differences in clinical manifestations between the subgroups. Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with primary HBoV1 infection causing mild‐to‐severe respiratory tract manifestations in young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming and related drivers of soil thermal change in the Arctic are expected to modify the distribution and dynamics of carbon contained in perennially frozen grounds. Thawing of permafrost in the Mackenzie River watershed of northwestern Canada, coupled with increases in river discharge and coastal erosion, triggers the release of terrestrial organic matter (OMt) from the largest Arctic drainage basin in North America into the Arctic Ocean. While this process is ongoing and its rate is accelerating, the fate of the newly mobilized organic matter as it transits from the watershed through the delta and into the marine system remains poorly understood. In the framework of the European Horizon 2020 Nunataryuk programme, and as part of the Work Package 4 (WP4) Coastal Waters theme, four field expeditions were conducted in the Mackenzie Delta region and southern Beaufort Sea from April to September 2019. The temporal sampling design allowed the survey of ambient conditions in the coastal waters under full ice cover prior to the spring freshet, during ice breakup in summer, and anterior to the freeze-up period in fall. To capture the fluvial–marine transition zone, and with distinct challenges related to shallow waters and changing seasonal and meteorological conditions, the field sampling was conducted in close partnership with members of the communities of Aklavik, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, using several platforms, namely helicopters, snowmobiles, and small boats. Water column profiles of physical and optical variables were measured in situ, while surface water, groundwater, and sediment samples were collected and preserved for the determination of the composition and sources of OMt, including particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC), and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), as well as a suite of physical, chemical, and biological variables. Here we present an overview of the standardized datasets, including hydrographic profiles, remote sensing reflectance, temperature and salinity, particle absorption, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, particulate organic nitrogen, CDOM absorption, fluorescent dissolved organic matter intensity, suspended particulate matter, total particulate carbon, total particulate nitrogen, stable water isotopes, radon in water, bacterial abundance, and a string of phytoplankton pigments including total chlorophyll. Datasets and related metadata can be found in (10.1594/PANGAEA.937587). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapidly and efficiently identifying critically ill infants for whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a costly and challenging task currently performed by scarce, highly trained experts and is a major bottleneck for application of WGS in the NICU. There is a dire need for automated means to prioritize patients for WGS. Methods: Institutional databases of electronic health records (EHRs) are logical starting points for identifying patients with undiagnosed Mendelian diseases. We have developed automated means to prioritize patients for rapid and whole genome sequencing (rWGS and WGS) directly from clinical notes. Our approach combines a clinical natural language processing (CNLP) workflow with a machine learning-based prioritization tool named Mendelian Phenotype Search Engine (MPSE). Results: MPSE accurately and robustly identified NICU patients selected for WGS by clinical experts from Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego (AUC 0.86) and the University of Utah (AUC 0.85). In addition to effectively identifying patients for WGS, MPSE scores also strongly prioritize diagnostic cases over non-diagnostic cases, with projected diagnostic yields exceeding 50% throughout the first and second quartiles of score-ranked patients. Conclusions: Our results indicate that an automated pipeline for selecting acutely ill infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) for WGS can meet or exceed diagnostic yields obtained through current selection procedures, which require time-consuming manual review of clinical notes and histories by specialized personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammary gland tumours are the most frequent tumours in intact female dogs and surgery remains the main treatment modality. Surgery is traditionally performed according to the lymphatic drainage of the mammary glands, but robust evidence is still lacking on what surgical dose is the smallest and results in the best outcome. The objective of the study was to investigate whether choice of surgical dose influences treatment outcome in dogs with mammary tumours and to identify current gaps in research that need to be filled in future studies for identifying the smallest surgical dose with the best possible outcome. Articles for entrance into the study were identified in online databases. Information regarding outcome following use of different surgical doses was extracted for analysis. Also, known prognostic factors were mapped for each study to discuss their impact on treatment outcome. Twelve articles were identified and included. Surgical dose applied ranged from lumpectomy to radical mastectomy. Radical mastectomy was most often analysed [11/12 (92%) articles]. Less invasive surgical doses were used less often in decreasing order of invasiveness. Outcomes analysed were most often survival time [7/12 (58%) articles], frequency of recurrences [5/12 (50%) studies] and time to recurrence [5/12 (42%) studies)]. No studies demonstrated any significant association between surgical dose and outcome. Gaps in the research could be categorised as data that was not available for extraction, for example known prognostic factors. Other factors related to study design were also identified, for example small groups of dogs included into the study. No studies showed a clear benefit of choosing one surgical dose over the other. Choice of surgical dose should be based on known prognostic factors and risks for complications rather than on lymphatic drainage. In future studies all prognostic factors should be included when investigating how choice of surgical dose influences treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash (CFA), an anthropogenic waste generated from the combustion of coal, is in research focus for the potential it holds in extracting critical metals. Within the classification of critical metals, includes a group of 16 commercially significant metals known as rare earth elements (REEs). The supply of REEs is touted as one of the building blocks of the 21st century to realize a sustainable future. High demand projections for the future coupled with market monopolization, provide an impetus to extract REEs from secondary resources such as CFA. In this study, three Victorian brown CFA samples were examined, quantifying 41 metals and 16 REEs. All three CFA samples had an outlook coefficient (i.e., ratio of the relative amount of critical REE to the relative amount of excess REE) > 0.7, with an observed light REE enrichment and Eu anomaly, implicating the samples as a suitable feedstock for REE extraction. Quantification studies rendered Loy Yang CFA, from the largest power station in Australia, to be rich with REEs with a total metal concentration of 418 mg/kg, followed by CFA from other power stations (Yallourn: 73.6 mg/kg and Morwell: 36.1 mg/kg). A comparative study for different methods of calibration during inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry analysis (and external vs internal calibration), depicted the reproducible nature of results while using an internal standard. Subsequently an in-house developed multi-element standard addition method is proposed, within an accuracy of 2–50 %. A new sequential extraction method for studying modes of occurrences in CFA, depicting REE association with larger fractionation, is explored, with results rendering REE association with: aluminosilicate bound (∼ 61.2 %) > acid soluble fraction (23.1 %) > crystalline Fe bound (5.9 %) > organic matter bound (5.3 %) > amorphous Fe bound (3.5 % TREE) > Mn-oxide bound (0.9 % TREE) > water soluble mineral bound (0.1 % TREE). This underpins the strong REE association in the residual and acid soluble fraction in brown CFA. [Display omitted] • Quantification of 57 metals in Victorian brown coal (VBC) fly ash. • Rare earth elements (REE) detected and their modes of occurrence analysed. • Method developed for ICP-MS calibration for REEs in VBC fly ash. • Loy Yang VBC fly ash was found to be richest REE carrier with 418 mg/kg. • The major REE carrier in VBC is in the aluminosilicate fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Autonomous Train (AT) operations, predicting future movements of trains to ensure the safety and efficiency of this public transport, is a critical task performed in the yard and terminal stations or between the source station/terminal and destination. Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) analyse their surroundings and make informed decisions based on the collected information. AVs learn their surroundings through perceptual motion, and predict the movements of various agents, such as humans, bicycles, and animals, through the prediction phase. If the predictions are accurate, AVs take proactive measures, making travel safer for everyone. However, the uncertainty in predicting agent/object's behaviour remains substantially difficult, despite significant research being conducted in this area. The objective of this study is to investigate the optimisation of AT Operations during Transmission (ATOT), with the goal of reducing wait times and ensuring safety even in the presence of obstacles, particularly animals. Quantum Lévy flight optimisation (QLFO) addresses these concerns on operational scalability of ATs. It generates real-time spatial data to make these operations efficient and to reduce the average waiting times. The YoLoV5 object recognition identifies the potential risks, such as individuals traversing rails or animals lying along the way and either rerouting or halting ATs to prevent crashes. The QLFO detects problems either before or after the train arrives at a junction or terminus and takes proactive measures using YoLov5 evaluation on the satellite image captured over the rail track. Evaluation experiments show that the proposed ATOT achieves a 9.3% reduction in the average waiting time spent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout Volume 24 (2023) of Health Promotion Practice, we presented responses to our Call for content addressing the question, "What is Anti-Racism in Health Promotion Practice?" With Editorial Board colleagues, Aditi Srivastav Bussells and Carlos Rodríguez-Diaz, we (Keon L. Gilbert and Kathleen M. Roe) sought frameworks for action and practical examples that would catalyze, support, and (re)invigorate the field in response to the urgent need to eliminate racism as a cause of inequalities in health. This conversation with artist Wriply Bennett concludes the series. We invite scholars and practitioners to review all 17 contributions to the series and to continue to ask – and address – the question 'What is anti-racism in our practice, scholarship, and lives?" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the key enzyme mediating ribonucleotide excision repair, RNase H2 is essential for the removal of single ribonucleotides from DNA in order to prevent genome damage. Loss of RNase H2 activity directly contributes to the pathogenesis of autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases and might further play a role in ageing and neurodegeneration. Moreover, RNase H2 activity is a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in several types of cancer. Until today, no method for quantification of RNase H2 activity has been validated for the clinical setting. Herein, validation and benchmarks of a FRET-based whole-cell lysate RNase H2 activity assay are presented, including standard conditions and procedures to calculate standardized RNase H2 activity. Spanning a wide working range, the assay is applicable to various human cell or tissue samples with overall methodological assay variability from 8.6% to 16%. Using our assay, we found RNase H2 activity was reduced in lymphocytes of two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and one with systemic sclerosis carrying heterozygous mutations in one of the RNASEH2 genes. Implementation of larger control groups will help to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of clinical screening for RNase H2 activity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental ethnotheories shape socialization beliefs around childrearing more broadly, and children's friendships more specifically. While prior work has examined aspects of parental socialization of friendships among school‐aged children and adolescents, no studies have examined beliefs held around the function of friendships among ethnically diverse mothers of toddlers from low‐socioeconomic contexts. Toddlerhood marks a point in development when the concept of "friendship" gains impact and relevance due to leaps in children's social, cognitive, and motor skills, as well as children's increasing access to contexts where they organically encounter peers. Toddlerhood is also a time when caregivers may initially consider the influence of peers on their children, beliefs that could eventually guide and shift how they navigate socialization practices around friendship. In the present study, we document U.S. Dominican American, African American, and Mexican American mothers' socialization beliefs around functions of friendship for their 2‐year‐old children. We found that mothers emphasized a variety of friendship functions, including learning of social skills and morality, and communicating and experiencing emotions. A majority of mothers viewed their children's friendships as unidirectional, and framed their children as undiscerning in their engagement with social information from peers. Findings are discussed in relation to mothers' orientation to children and "childhood" via cultural and developmental beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloroplast ATP synthases consist of a membrane-spanning coupling factor (CFO) and a soluble coupling factor (CF1). It was previously demonstrated that CONSERVED ONLY IN THE GREEN LINEAGE160 (CGL160) promotes the formation of plant CFO and performs a similar function in the assembly of its c-ring to that of the distantly related bacterial Atp1/UncI protein. Here, we show that in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) the N-terminal portion of CGL160 (AtCGL160N) is required for late steps in CF1-CFO assembly. In plants that lacked AtCGL160N, CF1-CFO content, photosynthesis, and chloroplast development were impaired. Loss of AtCGL160N did not perturb c-ring formation, but led to a 10-fold increase in the numbers of stromal CF1 subcomplexes relative to that in the wild type. Co-immunoprecipitation and protein crosslinking assays revealed an association of AtCGL160 with CF1 subunits. Yeast two-hybrid assays localized the interaction to a stretch of AtCGL160N that binds to the DELSEED-containing CF1-β subdomain. Since Atp1 of Synechocystis (Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803) could functionally replace the membrane domain of AtCGL160 in Arabidopsis, we propose that CGL160 evolved from a cyanobacterial ancestor and acquired an additional function in the recruitment of a soluble CF1 subcomplex, which is critical for the modulation of CF1-CFO activity and photosynthesis. The green-lineage specific N-terminal domain of CGL160 recruits coupling factor 1 and its lack affects chloroplast development, photosynthesis and thylakoid ATP synthase assembly in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major global cause of neonatal death and lifelong disability. Large animal translational studies of hypoxic ischemic brain injury, such as those conducted in fetal sheep, have and continue to play a key role in furthering our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of injury and developing new treatment strategies for clinical translation. At present, the quantification of neurons in histological images consists of slow, manually intensive morphological assessment, requiring many repeats by an expert, which can prove to be time-consuming and prone to human error. Hence, there is an urgent need to automate the neuron classification and quantification process. In this article, we present a 'Gradient Direction, Grey level Co-occurrence Matrix' (GD-GLCM) image training method which outperforms and simplifies the standard training methodology using texture analysis to cell-classification. This is achieved by determining the Grey level Co-occurrence Matrix of the gradient direction of a cell image followed by direct passing to a classifier in the form of a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). Hence, avoiding all texture feature computation steps. The proposed MLP is trained on both healthy and dying neurons that are manually identified by an expert and validated on unseen hypoxic-ischemic brain slice images from the fetal sheep in utero model. We compared the performance of our classifier using the gradient magnitude dataset as well as the gradient direction dataset. We also compare the performance of a perceptron, a 1-layer MLP, and a 2-layer MLP to each other. We demonstrate here a way of accurately identifying both healthy and dying cortical neurons obtained from brain slice images of the fetal sheep model under global hypoxia to high precision by identifying the most minimised MLP architecture, minimised input space (GLCM size) and minimised training data (GLCM representations) to achieve the highest performance over the standard methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]