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AbstractThis study explored how mental health Clubhouses, an occupation-centered psychosocial rehabilitation model, supported wellness for members and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Data from 15 participants in Hawaiʻi were collected over five sessions through a virtual Photovoice process and analyzed using the framework method and thematic analysis. Findings illustrate how occupation-centered approaches supported higher-level growth needs during a period of collective crisis and uncertainty. This underscores the value of coupling occupation-centered approaches, such as Clubhouse, with those that meet basic needs to support belonging, identity, and purpose among people with mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mammography has poor sensitivity in dense breast tissue. Retrospective studies suggest that Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), has superior diagnostic accuracy to mammography in women with very dense breast tissue. Women's perspectives of MBI are unknown, but are crucial to understanding the feasibility of, and routes to, adoption into practice. Method: Semi-structured interviews with screened and unscreened women explored acceptability of MBI. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Four themes were generated from nineteen interviews: (1) presumed negative aspects of MBI are acceptable (2) convenience of access, (3) comfort in familiarity and (4) need for shared decisions relating to risk. Presumed negative aspects of MBI, such as radiation dose and forty-minute scan time, were acceptable provided there are benefits. Some participants were concerned about equitable access, such as parking. Participants expressed comfort in existing and familiar screening processes. Participants acknowledged that informing women of their breast density may result in increased anxiety, but it was still felt to be important to ensure women are fully informed of the risks and harms of screening. Conclusions: Women consider MBI to be an acceptable breast imaging modality. High-quality information enabling informed decision-making is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Patients commonly complain about the appearance of acne scars. While various lasers and energy-based devices can offer clinical improvement, many of them are limited in treating patients with skin of color. Concerns exist regarding efficacy and safety, including risks of scarring, prolonged dyspigmentation, necrosis, and burns. OBJECTIVE: To examine the utility of a 755-nm picosecond laser with fractionated lens array in improving the clinical appearance of acne scars in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective clinical study investigated this laser using up to 5 monthly treatments. RESULTS: Twenty-four subjects were enrolled, while 17 subjects completed a 3-month follow-up. The mean age was 33.9 years, and 95.8% of the subjects were women. Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI were represented. Assessments compared baseline to 3-month follow-up. Two of the 3 blinded reviewers agreed on identifying pretreatment and post-treatment photographs for 82.4% of the cases. For physician Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, 100% of the subjects had clinical improvement. Overall, 94.1% of subjects were satisfied with their treatment. No serious or unanticipated adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: A 755-nm picosecond laser with fractionated lens array can safely and effectively improve acne scars in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal herbs are known for their diverse immunomodulatory properties, with bioactive compounds making them potential immunoadjuvants in vaccination. This study investigated the immunoadjuvant potential of ethanolic root extract from Asparagus racemosus (AREE) in rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings, using a formalin-killed Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine. A total of 360 rohu fingerlings were randomly divided into six groups, each with three replicate tanks. The fish were immunized via intraperitoneal injection with one of the following: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), bacterin (B), bacterin combined with AREE (B + AREE), bacterin mixed with Freund’s complete adjuvant (B + FCA), FCA alone, or AREE alone. Serum, head kidney leucocytes, and head kidney tissues were collected 30 days post-immunization to assess antibody titers, antigen-specific leucocyte proliferation, and expression of immune genes (IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-2, IgM, and IgT). Thirty days after immunization, ten fish from each group were challenged with A. hydrophila, and mortality was monitored for 2 weeks to calculate survivability. The B + AREE and B + FCA groups exhibited significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) antibody titers, leucocyte proliferation, and immune gene expression compared to other groups. The post-immunization challenge revealed a significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) survivability rate in the B + AREE (66.67 ± 3.33%) and B + FCA (70 ± 5.77%) groups. These findings suggest that AREE can serve as an effective immunoadjuvant with A. hydrophila bacterin, offering similar protection to Freund’s complete adjuvant in rohu against A. hydrophila infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder causing motile ciliary dysfunction primarily affecting the respiratory and reproductive systems. However, the impact of PCD on the central nervous system remains poorly understood. Rodent models of PCD exhibit marked hydrocephalus leading to early animal mortality, however, most humans with PCD do not develop hydrocephalus for unknown reasons. We hypothesized that patients with PCD exhibit sub-clinical ventriculomegaly related to ependymal motile ciliary dysfunction. We demonstrated highly specific expression levels of known PCD-related genes in human brain multiciliated ependymal cells (p < 0.0001). To assess ventricular size, computed tomography sinus images from patients with PCD (n = 33) and age/sex-matched controls (n = 64) were analysed. Patients with PCD displayed significantly larger ventricular areas (p < 0.0001) and Evans index (p < 0.01), indicating ventriculomegaly that was consistent across all genetic subgroups. Ventricular enlargement correlated positively with increasing age in patients with PCD compared to controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, chart review demonstrated a high prevalence (39%) of neuropsychiatric/neurological disorders in adult PCD patients that did not correlate with degree of ventriculomegaly. Our findings suggest that patients with PCD may have unrecognized, mild ventriculomegaly which correlates with ageing, potentially attributable to ependymal ciliary dysfunction. Further study is required to determine causality, and whether ventricular enlargement contributes to neuropsychiatric/neurological or other morbidity in PCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexually and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) communities experience higher rates of food insecurity than their heterosexual and/or cisgender peers. LGBTQ+ people also face unique barriers to accessing healthy and nutritious food. This qualitative study aimed to examine the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nova Scotia who face food insecurity, focusing on their interactions with food support services such as food banks, meal programs, and shelters. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 self-identifying LGBTQ+ people and analyzed using Foucauldian discourse analysis. Two discursive constructions are reported. The first is discourses of safety and dignity, highlighting wariness toward religious institutions, apprehensions about data collection by food banks, and a perceived lack of staff and volunteer knowledge regarding LGBTQ+ individuals. The second discursive construction envisions queer futures by examining past experiences to inform innovative operational strategies for food support services. The insights gained are intended to guide the development of policies and practices that enhance accessibility, safety, and structural competence in these support services. Key recommendations are provided to transform food support services to more inclusive to LGBTQ+ people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDespite extensive research on the intergenerational transmission of values, the continuity of parenting practices and underlying cognitive processes of transmission have received relatively little attention. We explored the mediating role of introjected and identified internalization on the intergenerational continuity of four parenting practices related to religion (assurance, disapproval/punishment, social involvement, and encouraged skepticism). We focused on Catholicism as an important test case based on its distinctive components amongst other Christian denominations. In addition to responding to items that measured religious value internalization, 279 community members from the United States were asked to reflect on their parents' use of four religious parenting practices during their childhood, as well as the current practices they are employing with their own children. Respondents' recollections of their parents' religious parenting practices significantly predicted their own current religious parenting practices. Whereas these associations were significantly mediated through identified internalization for all four practices, only the associations between past and current social involvement and disapproval/punishment were also mediated through introjected internalization. Recollection of parenting practices predict adult children's implementation of the same practices with their own children through their level of internalization of their parents' beliefs. Importantly, the efficacy of different types of internalization appears to depend on the specific nature of the behavior to be maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and conduct problems of adolescents. The participants were 588 in-school Nigerian adolescents (male = 59.9%; mean age = 14.64 years, SD = 1.31 years). They completed measures of adverse childhood experiences–abuse domain (ACEs–AD), conduct problems, and emotional intelligence. Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro results revealed that the physical/emotional abuse and sexual abuse were positively associated with conduct problems. Test of moderation effects indicated that physical/emotional and sexual abuse was positively related to conduct problems for adolescents with low emotional intelligence but not for adolescents with moderate and high emotional intelligence. The study findings suggest higher emotional intelligence as an asset for resilient coping with ACE and reducing the risk for in-school adolescents’ conduct problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetic activity is established during chloroplast biogenesis. In this study we used 680 nm red light to overexcite Photosystem II and disrupt photosynthesis in two conditional mutants (var2 and abc1k1) which reversibly arrested chloroplast biogenesis. During biogenesis, chloroplasts import most proteins associated with photosynthesis. Some of these must be inserted in or transported across the thylakoid membrane into the thylakoid lumen. They are synthesized in the cytoplasm with cleavable targeting sequences and the lumenal ones have bi-partite targeting sequences (first for the chloroplast envelope, second for the thylakoid membrane). Cleavage of these peptides is required to establish photosynthesis and a critical step of chloroplast biogenesis. We employ a combination of Western blotting and mass spectrometry to analyze proteins in var2 and abc1k1. Under red light, var2 and abc1k1 accumulated incompletely cleaved processing intermediates of thylakoid proteins. These findings correlated with colorless cotyledons, and defects in both chloroplast morphology and photosynthesis. Together the results provide evidence for the requirement of active photosynthesis for processing of photosystem-associated thylakoid proteins and concomitantly progression of chloroplast biogenesis. Red light disrupts chloroplast biogenesis in two different photosynthesis mutants, abc1k1 and var2, and is associated with the accumulation of partially processed thylakoid preproteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBereavement scholarship predominantly examines psychological aspects of grief, which neglects the role of social, economic, and political factors that shape the space to accommodate these experiences. Responding to calls for enhancing bereavement care, this research explores bereavement accommodation for workers in precarious employment in Ontario, Canada. Drawing on critical qualitative research and feminist ethics, this study employed in-depth interviews to generate knowledge on the everyday experiences of bereaved workers in precarious employment. Participants expressed they were uninformed and unprepared for grief and practical bereavement labor, and that navigating the current context created tension, stress, exhaustion, isolation, and stigma. We argue the systemic neglect of bereavement is driven by socio-political forces that devalue relationality, stigmatize emotions, and render bereavement an individual responsibility. This research informs broad recommendations, including enhancing grief literacy, establishing safeguards for precarious workers, and creating more responsive care pathways and strategies for addressing individual and collective grief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SYNOPSISObjective. Family stories are the fabric of identity, as they anchor individuals in their familial, cultural, and societal context. However, relatively little research has examined the function of family stories in relation to sociocultural group or cultural values. Design. In the present study, we examined how emerging adult women (n = 41) engaged in retrospective storytelling of a favorite family memory based on sociocultural group (Asian American, Latina American, or European American) and familism (high or low). Results. Drawing upon narrative identity and sense-making literatures grounded within a sociocultural framework, analyses revealed that family stories consistently served to provide insight into the perspectives of others and to model positioning of relationships. Sociocultural group was associated with how family stories served as a mechanism for expressing familism values, and both sociocultural and familism groups were related to how family stories served as a source of meaning-making and identity creation. Conclusions. Our findings add to the growing literature on the nuanced ways in which sociocultural group and cultural values shape the function of family stories and have important implications for the development of identity and storytelling behaviors in emerging adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the role of social work licensure in the promotion, assessment, and oversight of professional competence in social work practice. We ground our discussion of licensure and competence within a broader conceptualization of professional competence. The article (a) presents conceptual and assessment models of a multistage competence, (b) considers the extant empirical evidence on the assessment of competence at each stage, (c) discusses the role of state regulatory and licensing bodies in credentialing and upholding entry-level and continuing competency in social work practice, and (d) presents recommendations for future empirical research to inform best practices. The article engages with contemporary debates around licensure, including evidence of structural racism in the licensure process. The unique challenges associated with articulating, assessing, and regulating competence in a broad-based, values-driven profession practiced in complex and diverse settings are considered throughout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing frequency of extreme weather events and grid disruptions highlights the urgent need for resilient energy systems. Decentralized and autonomous, community microgrids offer reliable and adaptable solutions. However, existing research often isolates components or control methods, lacking a comprehensive synthesis of their interdependencies and resilience strategies. To address this gap, this study conducts a comprehensive scoping review to synthesize the current state of knowledge on community microgrids, focusing on their types, components, operational strategies, control methods, and performance indicators. The research identifies key microgrid subtypes, such as islanded, hybrid, multi-energy, and autonomous systems, and evaluates the role of critical components like energy storage systems and distributed energy resources in enhancing resilience. It also highlights performance indicators, including reliability, stability, and flexibility, that serve as benchmarks for resilience. A novel framework is proposed, integrating microgrid design and operational aspects into a cohesive model for resilience enhancement. This framework provides actionable insights for practitioners to optimize microgrid design, for policymakers to create adaptive regulations, and for researchers to address knowledge gaps in the field. The findings underscore the critical role of advanced control methodologies in improving adaptability and efficiency under diverse operational conditions. By addressing the lack of an integrated approach in the existing literature, this study contributes to advancing resilient energy systems, supporting the energy transition, and promoting energy security. Future research should validate the proposed framework through empirical studies and explore scalable, cost-effective solutions to enable widespread adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data-driven technologies in smart buildings offer significant opportunities to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability, and occupant comfort. However, the existing literature often lacks a holistic examination of the technological advancements, adoption barriers, and business models necessary to realize these benefits. To address this gap, this scoping review synthesizes current research on these technologies, identifies factors influencing their adoption, and examines supporting business models. Inspired by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a structured search of the literature across four major databases yielded 112 relevant studies. The key technologies identified included big data analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, Wireless Sensor Networks, Edge and Cloud Computing, Blockchain, Digital Twins, and Geographic Information Systems. Energy optimization is further achieved through integrating renewable energy resources and advanced energy management systems, such as Home Energy Management Systems and Building Energy Management Systems. Factors influencing adoption are categorized into social influences, individual perceptions, cost considerations, security and privacy concerns, and data quality issues. The analysis of business models emphasizes the need to align technological innovations with market needs, focusing on value propositions like cost savings and efficiency improvements. Despite the benefits, challenges such as high initial costs, technical complexities, security risks, and user acceptance hinder their widespread adoption. This review highlights the importance of addressing these challenges through the development of cost-effective, interoperable, secure, and user-centric solutions, offering a roadmap for future research and industry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boundary contraction and extension are two types of scene transformations that occur in memory. In extension, viewers extrapolate information beyond the edges of the image, whereas in contraction, viewers forget information near the edges. Recent work suggests that image composition influences the direction and magnitude of boundary transformation. We hypothesize that selective attention at encoding is an important driver of boundary transformation effects, selective attention to specific objects at encoding leading to boundary contraction. In this study, one group of participants (N = 36) memorized 15 scenes while searching for targets, while a separate group (N = 36) just memorized the scenes. Both groups then drew the scenes from memory with as much object and spatial detail as they could remember. We asked online workers to provide ratings of boundary transformations in the drawings, as well as how many objects they contained and the precision of remembered object size and location. We found that search condition drawings showed significantly greater boundary contraction than drawings of the same scenes in the memorize condition. Search drawings were significantly more likely to contain target objects, and the likelihood to recall other objects in the scene decreased as a function of their distance from the target. These findings suggest that selective attention to a specific object due to a search task at encoding will lead to significant boundary contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at increased risk for bleeding complications following surgery. However, the approach to the preoperative risk assessment and risk reduction, if feasible, in ESRD patients undergoing nonelective abdominal surgery has not been comprehensively studied. We aim to determine the prevalence and risk factors for perioperative bleeding in patients on dialysis undergoing nonelective abdominal surgery. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005-2017 database, we identified patients on dialysis who underwent a variety of nonelective abdominal surgeries by Current Procedural Terminology code. Rates of major perioperative bleeding, defined as bleeding requiring red blood cell transfusion within 72 h after surgery, were calculated and stratified by procedure type. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for major perioperative bleeding. Thirty-day mortality rates were compared between those who had a major perioperative bleed and those who did not. Of 9102 patients on dialysis undergoing nonelective abdominal surgery, 2793 (30.7%) experienced major perioperative bleeding requiring transfusion and 2002 (22.0%) died within 30 d of surgery. By multivariable logistic regression, patients who were female, independent or partially dependent in activities of daily living, ventilator dependent, had disseminated cancer, or had chronic steroid use at baseline were found to be at elevated risk for major perioperative bleeding. Elevated partial thromboplastin time, blood urea nitrogen, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia were also associated with higher odds of major bleeding. Compared to patients undergoing herniorrhaphy (lowest risk), the odds of major perioperative bleeding were highest for patients undergoing hepatic surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 18.09), splenic surgery (OR = 10.86), and pancreatic surgery (OR = 9.59). Major perioperative bleeding was associated with increased 30-d mortality (34.0% versus 16.7%, P < 0.001). Patients with ESRD experience high rates of bleeding requiring transfusion following emergent abdominal surgery. Derangements in preoperative laboratories and baseline patient characteristics may be useful in assessing bleeding risk in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predicting fibrostenotic complications prior to endoscopy in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is challenging and esophageal strictures and narrowing are commonly missed on endoscopy. Aim: To develop and validate a score to predict fibrostenosis in EoE patients prior to endoscopy. Methods: We leveraged a large database of newly diagnosed EoE patients. Fibrostenosis was defined as esophageal stricture, luminal narrowing, or dilation performed during the diagnostic endoscopy. Patients were randomly divided into a development and validation set. We compared features between patients with and without fibrostenosis to inform the initial model and assess predictive ability, as measured by area under curve (AUC). We tested the model in the independent validation set and generated a score to predict low, medium and high fibrostenosis risk. Results: In 655 newly diagnosed EoE patients in the development set, fibrostenosis was associated with age ≥ 18 years (OR 10.64; 95% CI 5.61–20.17), symptoms for ≥ 5 years prior to diagnosis (OR 2.07; 1.32–3.24), dysphagia (OR 3.72; 1.68–8.22), food impaction (OR 1.68; 1.07–2.62), and lack of abdominal pain (OR 0.28; 0.14–0.60). The model predicted fibrostenosis (AUC = 0.841). In the validation set (n = 654), AUC was preserved (0.831). A scoring system was generated, with scores of ≤ 2 being low risk (< 10% chance of stricture), 2.5–4.5 medium risk (10–50% stricture), and 5–6 high risk (> 50%). Conclusions: We developed and validated the PICK-UP-STRICS score to increase suspicion and detection of fibrostenotic disease in EoE using readily available clinical features prior to endoscopy. This score may guide clinical decisions on the need of endoscopic dilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document discusses the importance of culturally responsive family engagement in education, particularly for students of color with disabilities and those from historically underserved communities. It highlights the challenges educators face in engaging diverse families and emphasizes the need for asset-based approaches that focus on cultural responsiveness. The document also presents eight competences to advance equitable family engagement, emphasizing the importance of building trusting relationships, embracing equity, and advocating for systems change. Overall, the text provides insights and strategies for educators to improve student outcomes through culturally sustaining practices and collaborative partnerships with families. [Extracted from the article]

The importance of strong family partnerships has long been considered essential to supporting the success of student with exceptionalities. Research indicates that building school-wide relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse families continues to prove challenges for administrators and other school personnel (Fowler, Coleman, Bogdan, 2019). The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) both emphasize the critical importance of family engagement. Due to the national professional standards which undergird special education teacher preparation programs, special educators are uniquely positioned to enhance school-wide family engagement strategies. The focus of this practitioner-based manuscript is to provide building-level school administrators with planning tools to implement culturally responsive family-engagement for families of children with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF), caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a highly contagious disease with devastating effects on the global pig industry. This warrants the development of effective control strategies, such as vaccines. However, previously developed inactivated vaccines have proven ineffective, while live‐attenuated vaccines carry inherent safety risks. The use of mRNA vaccines eliminates these risks offering a safe, cost‐effective, and efficient vaccine strategy against ASFV. In this study, a reverse vaccinology approach was used to design a multiepitope pan‐proteomic mRNA vaccine against ASFV. Various bioinformatics tools were employed to predict epitopes for cytotoxic T lymphocytes, helper T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes. A 50S ribosomal L7/L12 protein adjuvant, 5′ cap, poly(A) tail, signal peptide, and MHC‐I‐targeting domain were incorporated into the design using appropriate linkers to increase immunogenicity, stability, and recognition efficiency. The physicochemical properties of the final construct were evaluated, and docking analyses were done with Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) 3, 4, and 7 to evaluate binding affinity. A molecular dynamics simulation was then performed to determine binding stability, while immune simulations evaluated host's immune response. Based on 100 ASFV proteomes, six epitopes that induce cytotoxic T‐cell responses, five epitopes that induce helper T‐cell responses, and four epitopes that induce antibody production were predicted. The designed vaccine construct was found to be nonallergenic, antigenic, and stable when bound to TLR4 while the binding pocket analyses of the vaccine construct to TLR3 and TLR7 indicate high translation efficiency. Immune simulations demonstrated successful induction of immune responses and generation of antigen‐specific memory cells. In conclusion, this study introduces an mRNA vaccine construct as a potential disease control strategy against ASF for in vitro confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of moisture in the soil can significantly influence hot extremes, such as heatwaves and droughts, through various direct and indirect mechanisms. This study examines the impact of soil moisture initialisation on the simulations of the 2009 heatwave event over India using the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) model. Multiple initial conditions were produced by modifying actual soil moisture in ERA-5 reanalysis. The impact of soil moisture on the intensity and spatial extension of heatwave is studied, and physical mechanisms are examined in detail. The control simulations have reasonably simulated spatial patterns of soil moisture and maximum temperature when compared with gridded observations. Our results show that an increase (decrease) in initial soil moisture simulates a heatwave with reduced (enhanced) magnitude and spatial extent. Interestingly, an increase in soil moisture does have more influence on heat waves than a decrease in soil moisture. In wet simulations, we see a greater increase in latent heat flux when compared to a decrease in sensible heat. Additionally, wet simulations shift soil moisture-temperature coupling from a dry regime to a transitional regime. An overall increase in net radiation is observed in wet simulations through water vapour and cloud feedback. Reduced soil moisture enhances the high-pressure system associated with heatwaves through positive feedback on geopotential height in the mid-troposphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hand injuries sometimes cause significant loss of function with psychological and functional consequences. The national status on dedicated specialised hand surgery units, hand surgery fellowship programmes, and outcome of operative hand surgery cases is generally lacking. Aims: To determine the current state of hand surgery practice in south eastern Nigeria and identify the major challenges to its practice and proffer realistic solutions. Methods: This was a prospective and cross-sectional study conducted amongst accredited hospitals for plastic surgery training in south eastern Nigeria amongst plastic surgery senior residents. Data were collected using a well-structured online questionnaire validated by a panel of investigators created as a Google form. Data analysis was carried out using Statistical package for Social Sciences by IBM, version 22. Ethical approval was obtained from the health, research, and ethical committee of the University of Enugu Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Results: There was a 70.59% response rate with 24 residents filling and submitting the questionnaire. Lack of fellowship training opportunities in hand surgery represents the most important challenge of hand surgery practice, followed by lack of appropriate facilities in government institutions in contrast to a lack of funding in private ones. Other major challenges include lack of adequate funding, lack of facilities, late presentation of cases, and lack of appropriate follow-up physiotherapy protocol. Availability of competent hand surgery specialists was significantly correlated with the frequency of hand surgery cases in the facilities (P = 0.000; χ2 = 20.400). Conclusion/Recommendation: The current state of hand surgery practice in south eastern Nigeria is not yet optimal. The creation of more hand fellowship trainings and courses bagged first place in recommended solutions by nearly half of the respondents. Provision of modern facilities, creation of dedicated hand surgical units, and better funding to the specialty were other suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. population has become more racially and ethnically diverse over time. The Latinx population growth makes Spanish the most common language encountered in non-native English-speaking populations such as Texas. The research objective of this study was to examine if implementing a One-Way Dual Language Education (DLE) Program could result in positive outcomes on the reported reading performance of Latinx bilinguals as indicated by the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) standardized assessment. This study aimed to investigate the possible impact the one-way dual language program may have on bilingual learners' (BLs) reading assessment scores compared to other second language learners in Texas. The study analyzed the standardized state assessment reading scores in both English and Spanish of over 1100 BLs in a one-way DLE program and found that the BLs in the dataset demonstrated a positive trajectory in the mean scale scores as they progressed through elementary grades. The results provide a significant contribution to the research that supports the effectiveness of DLE programs, especially for Latinx BLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puppy play is a kink activity, in which people dress as, take on the role of, and mimic the physical and emotional behaviours of young canines or pups. We explore how the pup identity, depicted in cellphilms by queer men who are part of the pup community, influences men's body image perceptions using multimodal critical discourse analysis. Participants expressed feelings of dissonance, shame, and self-rejection when viewing themselves as humans, but conveyed excitement, pleasure, and self-celebration when viewing themselves as pups. Participants depicted their body images being transformed by way of puppy gear, puppy spaces, handlers, and playmates, which was said to foster more (self-)acceptance, playfulness, and freedom. This study highlights the potential for puppy play to provide a transformative experience for individuals, allowing participants to explore, re-signify, and embrace their bodies as pups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualifying social work education is recognised as playing a critical role in equipping practitioners with the skills and interest to develop a 'research minded' approach to practice, yet in the UK context, the profession continues to grapple with questions about how to support practitioners to sustain and develop these skills post-qualification. This article reflects on the experiences of social work educators and students involved in a pilot research internship scheme based at a higher education provider in England (one of the four UK nations). Drawing on analysis of interviews with participating students and the reflective notes of the social work educators who led the scheme (the authors), we report on three key themes: 1. Students tended to have an idealised view of research. 2. Internships afforded opportunities to learn and work with people in new ways. 3. Post-project, students reflected on how to mobilise their learning but were conscious that they had only been afforded a 'window' onto the research 'world'. We discuss the limitations of the internship model and highlight that, despite its strengths, more fundamental change is required if a 'research minded' workforce is to be developed and sustained. We question how realistic this change is in the current educational and professional context. We further discuss the complexities and contradictions that professional education programmes face in seeking to develop 'research minded' or 'research active' professionals whilst also protecting and nurturing alternative forms of professional knowledge and wisdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about how patients make decisions about and prioritize therapies and disease management in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We aimed to systematically identify and characterize patient perspectives and attitudes that influence decision making for EoE management. METHODS: To understand the diverse attitudes and values of patients with EoE, we designed a study using the Q-method. We iteratively developed 31 statements related to EoE disease management. Participants sorted statements by ranking from 14 (most agree) to 24 (most disagree). By-person factor analysis, using 2-factor and 3-factor rotation, revealed distinct preference archetypes. RESULTS: Thirty-four adults with EoE (mean age 40.9 years, 51.4% male, 82.9% White) were recruited from gastroenterology and allergy clinics from a single center. We identified 2 treatment-centered archetypes: Medication preference, driven by symptoms and the desire to minimize risk of complications and Natural treatment preference, focusing on identifying trigger foods and diet adherence. Three-factor analysis revealed an additional archetype: Treatment ambivalent, a view of EoE as a mild and episodic (not chronic) disease with low priority to treat. Comparison by factor revealed 54% of those in the natural preference archetype were recategorized as treatment ambivalent, suggesting that they see natural treatment as a less complicated or milder strategy and may be at risk of nonadherence and reduced treatment uptake. DISCUSSION: We identified 3 distinct treatment preference archetypes among individuals with EoE, underscoring the need for personalized treatment strategies, especially for those favoring natural approaches but masking ambivalence, and may be at risk of nonadherence or loss to follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the approval of a novel premixed budesonide oral suspension (BOS) as the first oral therapy for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) in the United States. BOS has shown efficacy in inducing histologic, symptom, and endoscopic responses in patients with EoE, with a good safety profile. Clinicians may face challenges in prescribing and securing BOS due to insurance coverage limitations, but patient assistance programs are available to help mitigate costs. Ongoing questions include dosing considerations, long-term maintenance therapy, and implications for patients transitioning from other budesonide formulations. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Rare coexistence of disease or pathology Background: Transplant lithiasis may be rare but poses significant risk to the renal graft function of the recipient. Immediate management is necessitated upon first detection, to prevent further complications. Case Reports: We report 2 cases of transplant lithiasis that were not treated immediately upon first detection. The first patient was a 42-year-old man that received a living-donor kidney from his mother, which was complicated by ureterovesical anastomotic stenosis, BK polyomavirus infection, and oliguria. He had a renal stone and 4 ureteric stones in his right allograft. The second patient was a 39-year-old man that finally received a suitable deceased donor kidney after 6 years of dialysis. A 2-3-mm stone was first detected 6 months after transplantation but was managed conservatively. He required management 8 years after transplantation, due to the presence of 2 renal stones and 4 ureteric stones in the left allograft that led to acute renal failure. Both patients required emergent percutaneous nephrolithotomy for decompression, followed by elective antegrade flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Boot stirrups were used throughout all procedures to facilitate access to the lower-positioned transplant kidney. Complete stone clearance was achieved, as detected by a 1-month postoperative follow-up computed tomography scan. Conclusions: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy and antegrade flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy was a safe and effective approach for complex transplant lithiasis. Very low lithotomy with boot stirrups improved accessibility to the transplant kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a narrative overview of the history, mission, and activities of the BABEL Working Group (2004–21), a collective of scholars working in medieval studies who cultivated cross-disciplinary alliances between the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and fine arts in order to develop a more present-minded medieval studies and a more historically minded cultural studies. In addition to this overview, the article shares an oral history including nearly forty scholars who participated in BABEL-sponsored events, some of whom were also involved in BABEL's governance and leadership. Nearly fifty scholars in total participated in the oral history, and all of the responses, unabridged, will be published online as a companion to this article. The responses shared in the article are organized by theme: Disruption, Conviviality, Coterie, (Alternative Critical) Community, Personal Reflections, Conflict/Contradiction, Dissolution, and Influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Railway disasters cause huge loss of life and resources. A triple train collision occurred at 7 PM on 2nd June 2023 at Bahanaga, Balasore, Odisha. It was the third deadliest train accident in India with 288 deaths and more than 900 injured. This study aimed to bring out the experience and capture the emotions of the personnel involved in body management of this major accident. Materials and methods: This qualitative questionnaire-based study was done between 13/07/2023 and 29/01/2024, involving 47 personnel (including faculty, residents, staff, and students) who managed the deceased bodies. Six open-ended questions dealing with the experiences of the body management team were analyzed using thematic analysis framework method. Quirkos software was used to generate themes and subthemes. Another six questions about self-reported satisfaction levels of the personnel were graded on a Likert scale of 1 to 5. Results: Qualitative analysis identified six themes and twelve subthemes. It highlighted critical aspects such as lack of training in managing mass tragedies, inadequate flow of essential supplies, emergency preparedness, and defined standard operating procedures (SOP). Excellent teamwork (91.4% of participants expressed high satisfaction with the teamwork) and on-the-spot decision-making were heralded as strengths. The Likert scale showed that 87.2% of participants rated the overall dead body management at 4 or 5. Furthermore, 93.6% (44/47) of participants gave a score 4 or 5 for Tagging and Embalming. Conclusions: Teamwork and proper embalming were identified as the top-rated contributors towards effective body management. Recommendations suggested were mock drills and refresher courses in body management for all stakeholders and psychological support to handle the emotional toll of managing mass tragedy. The identification and embalming of dead bodies are an essential humanitarian service and it helped bereaved families to say a final farewell to their loved ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of water resources by organic pollutants presents significant environmental and health challenges. Therefore, it is urgent to develop highly efficient and green approach for treating organic water pollutants. Bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) has gained attention due to its high photoactivity. In this work, we report a modification to improve its photocatalytic activity. BiOBr were prepared using a capping agent, benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, to tune the morphology of the compound. The resulting BiOBr shows nanosheet morphology, which provides a high surface-to-volume ratio and a larger conduction band compared to bulk BiOBr. As a result, the BiOBr nanosheets show the highest efficiency for photodegradation of Rhodamine B, compared to benchmark TiO2 and bulk BiOBr catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction/Aims Methods Results Discussion Skeletal muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a validated noninvasive tool to assess Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) progression. There is interest in finding DMD biomarkers that decrease the burden of clinical trial participation, such as wearable devices. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between activity, via accelerometry, and skeletal muscle MRI, particularly T2 mapping.DMD children and young adults completed skeletal muscle MRI and were asked to wear an accelerometer on the dominant wrist for 7 days. MRI data included fat‐suppressed transverse relaxation time (T2) mapping of the calves and longitudinal relaxation time (T1) mapping. Activity was assessed as vector magnitudes (VMs) and fraction of time (FOT) in activity groups (sedentary 1 or 2, low 1 or 2, moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA)).Participants (n = 22; median age 11.4 years, 41% ambulatory) wore the accelerometer for a median of 7 days. Longer T2 in multiple lower extremity muscles was negatively correlated with VMs per minute (tibialis posterior Spearman's rho = −0.68, p < 0.001), even when accounting for age, ambulatory status, or glucocorticoid use. Longer T2 of the tibialis posterior was positively correlated with FOT in sedentary 1 (rho = 0.49, p = 0.02) and negatively correlated with FOT in higher activity levels (low 1 (rho = −0.58, p = 0.004), low 2 (rho = −0.67, p = 0.002), MVPA (rho = −0.7, p < 0.001)).In individuals with DMD, longer T2 on skeletal muscle MRI of the calves moderately correlated with lower activity levels indicating the potential use of home accelerometry as a future clinical trial biomarker of skeletal muscle health and progression in DMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a plasmonics-enhanced spikey nanorattle-based biosensor for direct surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of mRNA cancer biomarkers. Early detection of cancers such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is critical for improving patient outcomes in regions with limited access to traditional diagnostic methods. Our method targets Keratin 14 (KRT14), a promising diagnostic mRNA biomarker for HNSCC, using a sandwich hybridization approach with magnetic beads and SERS spikey nanorattles (SpNR). We synthesized SpNR with a core-gap-shell structure to enhance SERS signals, achieving a limit of detection of 90 femtomolar. A pilot study using clinical samples demonstrated the efficacy of our biosensor in distinguishing between tissue with positive or negative diagnosis for HNSCC, highlighting its potential for rapid and sensitive cancer diagnostics in low-resource settings. This plasmonic assay offers a promising avenue for portable and high-specificity detection of nucleic acid biomarkers, with implications for early cancer detection and improved patient care, especially in middle and low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan (CS)/bioactive glass (BG) nanoparticle composites were fabricated by the freeze-drying technique for bone tissue engineering. The physiochemical properties of the developed PCL/CS/BG scaffolds were studied using FTIR, XRD, EDX and SEM. Furthermore, the swelling degree, porosity, water retention ability, compression strength, in vitro biodegradation, bioactivity and biocompatibility of the scaffolds were examined. The PCL/CS/BG scaffolds with 4 wt. % of BG content presented adequate pore size (106 μm), porosity (156%), water swelling degree (128%), water retention ability (179%), compressive strength (3.7 MPa) and controlled degradation behavior, which could be ideal for bone tissue engineering. The PCL/CS/BG composite scaffolds showed good antimicrobial activity against both test bacteria and fungi. The MTT assay demonstrated the biocompatibility of PCL/CS/BG scaffolds against C3H10T1/2 cell line. The Alizarin red staining assay confirmed the osteogenic activity of the PCL/CS/BG scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Patients with rheumatic immune-mediated diseases (rheumatic-IMID) and latent tuberculosis (LTBI) are at an increased risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB); therefore, screening is recommended before starting biological treatment. The aims of this study were as follows: (i) to assess the prevalence of LTBI, (ii) to determine the importance of using a booster test in TST-negative patients, (iii) to compare the tuberculin skin test (TST) with the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), (iv) to perform a review of the prevalence of LTBI. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital study was performed, including patients diagnosed with rheumatic-IMID who underwent a TST and/or IGRA during the period 2016–2020. If the first TST was negative, a new TST (booster) was performed. Results: A total of 1117 patients were included. The overall prevalence of LTBI was estimated to be 31.7% (95% confidence interval, 29.74–33.66). The LTBI prevalence ranged from 38.5% for vasculitis to 14% for sarcoidosis. The booster test was positive in 22.9% of 817 patients with a negative or indeterminate IGRA. The IGRA was positive in 3.8% of 793 patients with a negative booster.The adjusted Cohen's kappa coefficient between TST (+booster) and IGRA was 0.62. Conclusions: LTBI is frequent in patients with rheumatic-IMID. IGRA and TST (+booster) show a moderate, fair grade of agreement. Therefore, performing both tests before biological therapy should be highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous gamification research has explored intrinsic motivation, goal setting, and performance separately. This study bridges the gap by investigating how gamification affects intrinsic motivation and task performance, especially with varying goal difficulty levels. To address these research questions, the literature review delves into three key inquiries: (1) Are external interventions capable of affecting intrinsic motivation? (2) Gamification of PMS: Does it matter? (3) Does combining goal setting with gamification make sense? The study employs an experimental framework utilising a between-subjects design of 2 × 3. Participants are drawn from the IT sector, and they are divided into groups exposed to gamification (experimental) and those not exposed to it (control). Additionally, the study investigates the moderating role of goal difficulty by classifying participants into categories of easy, difficult, and impossible goals. The findings of this study emphasize that goals should be challenging but still achievable for gamification to effectively fulfil its intended purpose. These findings integrate the concepts of goal setting and intrinsic motivation to provide a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of gamification. The study's implications for practical application and potential avenues for future research are also explored and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory skin disease characterized by keratinized epithelial tunnels that grow deeply into the dermis. Here, we examined the immune microenvironment within human HS lesions. Multi-omics profiling and multiplexed imaging identified tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) near HS tunnels. These TLSs were enriched with proliferative T cells, including follicular helper (Tfh), regulatory (Treg), and pathogenic T cells (IL17A + and IFNG +), alongside extensive clonal expansion of plasma cells producing antibodies reactive to keratinocytes. HS fibroblasts express CXCL13 or CCL19 in response to immune cytokines. Using a microfluidic system to mimic TLS on a chip, we found that HS fibroblasts critically orchestrated lymphocyte aggregation via tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-CXCL13 and TNF-α-CCL19 feedback loops with B and T cells, respectively; early TNF-α blockade suppressed aggregate initiation. Our findings provide insights into TLS formation in the skin, suggest therapeutic avenues for HS, and reveal mechanisms that may apply to other autoimmune settings, including Crohn's disease. [Display omitted] • TLSs near tunnel epithelium of HS lesional skin support local immune cell proliferation • Extensive clonal expansion of plasma cells producing antibodies against keratinocytes • HS fibroblasts promote lymphocyte aggregation through TNF-α-CXCL13 and TNF-α-CCL19 loops • TNF-α blockade is more effective at the initiation of lymphocyte aggregation Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a severe chronic inflammatory disease without effective treatment options. Yu et al. identify and characterize tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in HS, highlighting fibroblast-driven TLS formation via cytokine feedback loops with immune cells and lymphocyte clonal expansion and antibody production against keratinocytes. Their findings have implications for autoimmune pathogenesis and treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has significantly impacted the environment and urban life, with urban green spaces playing a crucial role in enhancing sustainability and public health. Urban Green Spaces (UGS) offer benefits such as temperature regulation, ecological services, and improved thermal comfort, while providing entertainment, culture, disaster avoidance, and ecological services. This study evaluates the cooling effects of UGS in mitigating the Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) phenomenon in Delhi, India, using satellite imagery to assess the Land Surface Temperature (LST) of 24 parks. We calculated the Park Cooling Intensity (PCI) by applying the mono-window algorithm. We found that parks larger than 1.55 hectares with dense vegetation and water bodies significantly reduced surrounding temperatures by up to 8.28 °C. The PCI effect was significantly influenced by park size, vegetation density, and the presence of water bodies, with larger parks and denser vegetation and water bodies demonstrating enhanced cooling capacity. These findings highlight the importance of integrating green spaces into urban planning as vital infrastructure for enhancing urban resilience, reducing heat-related health risks, and ensuring equitable access to public health benefits. The study also highlights the importance of addressing socio-economic disparities in park accessibility, which have significant implications for equitable urban development. This study emphasized the importance of formulating a strategic urban planning approach that focuses on green spaces' growth, conservation, and equitable allocation, thereby fostering eco-friendly, habitable, and robust urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the inaugural instance of N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi)‐coordinated copper amide emitters (2–5). These complexes exhibit thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and singlet‐triplet dual emission in anaerobic conditions. The NHSi‐Cu‐diphenylamide (2) complex demonstrates TADF with a very small ΔEST gap (0.01 eV), an absolute quantum yield of 11 %, a radiative rate of 2.55×105 s−1, and a short τTADF of 0.45 μs in the solid state. The dual emissive complexes (3–5) achieve an absolute quantum yield of up to 20 % in the solid state with a kISC rate of 1.82×108 s−1 and exhibit room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with lifetimes up to 9 ms. The gradual decrease in the intensity of the triplet state of complex 3 under controlled oxygen exposure demonstrates its potential for future oxygen‐sensing applications. Complexes 2 and 3 have been further utilized to fabricate converted LEDs, paving the way for future OLED production using newly synthesized NHSi‐Cu‐amides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally occurring radionuclides in soil, water, and plants, including spices, pose potential health risks. Given the widespread use of spices in culinary practices, it is crucial to assess the potential health risks associated with their natural radionuclides content. This study determines the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in locally processed and imported spices from markets in Delta and Ogun States, Nigeria, using gamma spectrometry. Monte Carlo simulations estimated the probabilistic distribution of cancer risk over a lifetime of exposure. The results revealed significant variability in the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th among the spice samples. The mean committed effective doses due to ingestion were 10.56 µSv/y, 9.82 µSv/y, and 6.87 µSv/y for locally produced and imported spices, respectively. Both deterministic and probabilistic analyses show that the cancer risk values fall within the acceptable range of 10-6 to 10-4, indicating minimal risk from ingestion of natural radionuclides in spices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4 (TR4) severely affects banana production worldwide. Thus, specific PCR primers have been developed to rapidly diagnose and monitor Foc TR4-related fusarium wilt outbreaks in bananas. However, evaluation of these primers revealed room for improvement in the accuracy. This study aimed to design highly specific PCR primers based on genome data for Foc TR4 downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. The specificity of the primers was assessed using Foc TR4, Foc races 1 and 2, and 15 other formae speciales strains. The utility of the primers was verified by correctly detecting Foc TR4 in 7 out of 86 isolates of Fusarium spp. obtained from banana farms in the Philippines. The primers allowed for rapid detection in experimentally diseased tissues. We concluded that this novel primer set enables the simplified diagnosis of fusarium wilt caused by Foc TR4 in bananas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the inaugural instance of N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi)‐coordinated copper amide emitters (2–5). These complexes exhibit thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and singlet‐triplet dual emission in anaerobic conditions. The NHSi‐Cu‐diphenylamide (2) complex demonstrates TADF with a very small ΔEST gap (0.01 eV), an absolute quantum yield of 11 %, a radiative rate of 2.55×105 s−1, and a short τTADF of 0.45 μs in the solid state. The dual emissive complexes (3–5) achieve an absolute quantum yield of up to 20 % in the solid state with a kISC rate of 1.82×108 s−1 and exhibit room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with lifetimes up to 9 ms. The gradual decrease in the intensity of the triplet state of complex 3 under controlled oxygen exposure demonstrates its potential for future oxygen‐sensing applications. Complexes 2 and 3 have been further utilized to fabricate converted LEDs, paving the way for future OLED production using newly synthesized NHSi‐Cu‐amides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the location of objects relative to ourselves is essential for interacting with the world. Neural activity in the retina is used to form a vision-independent model of the local spatial environment relative to the body. For example, when an animal navigates through a forest, it rapidly shifts its gaze to identify the position of important objects, such as a tree obstructing its path. This seemingly trivial behavior belies a sophisticated neural computation. Visual information entering the brain in a retinocentric reference frame must be transformed into an egocentric reference frame to guide motor planning and action. This, in turn, allows the animal to extract the location of the tree and plan a path around it. In this review, we explore the anatomical, physiological, and computational implementation of retinocentric-to-egocentric reference frame transformations — a research area undergoing rapid progress stimulated by an ever-expanding molecular, physiological, and computational toolbox for probing neural circuits. We begin by summarizing evidence for retinocentric and egocentric reference frames in the brains of diverse organisms, from insects to primates. Next, we cover how distance estimation contributes to creating a three-dimensional representation of local space. We then review proposed implementations of reference frame transformations across different biological and artificial neural networks. Finally, we discuss how an internal egocentric model of the environment is maintained independently of the sensory inputs from which it is derived. By comparing findings across a variety of nervous systems and behaviors, we aim to inspire new avenues for investigating the neural basis of reference frame transformation, a canonical computation critical for modeling the external environment and guiding goal-directed behavior. Visual input reaches the brain in retina-centered coordinates but is transformed into new reference frames to support spatial cognition and behavioral outputs. Martins et al. review the neural circuit and computational implementations of this transformation in the nervous systems of diverse animal species and discuss future avenues for experimental investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Use of heart failure-exacerbating medications (HFEMs) may lead to preventable episodes of acute decompensated heart failure (HF). HFEMs use is common in patients with HF, and there may be opportunities to reduce their use from the emergency department (ED). Methods: We performed an observational study on patients with HF presenting to EDs within a healthcare system between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020. Patients with chronic HF were identified using diagnostic codes within the electronic health record. The cohort was restricted to ambulatory (i.e., discharged to home) ED encounters. Medications, either ordered in the ED or prescribed at ED discharge, were extracted from the medication administration record and identified as potential HFEMs based on the 2016 American Heart Association Scientific Statement. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the prevalence of HFEM use during ambulatory ED encounters. Exploratory analyses to identify correlates of HFEM use were performed. Results: The study cohort included 23,907 ED encounters. ED administration or prescription of HFEMs occurred during 20% of ambulatory ED encounters. HFEM administration in the ED (17%) was more common than HFEM prescription at ED discharge (6%). The most common HFEMs administered in the ED included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (11%) and albuterol (7%). Conclusion: HFEM use is common in patients with HF seeking ED care, occurring in roughly one-fifth of ambulatory ED encounters. There may be opportunities to optimize medication use among patients with HF in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of invasive alien species (IAS) affects the conservation of tropical forest ecosystems. This study assessed the effect of Prosopis juliflora, an invasive species, on the tree diversity in the southern tropical thorn forest of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), a protected area in the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. The results showed a significant difference in the diversity of mature tree species between invaded and uninvaded areas. The P. juliflora invaded area has less tree diversity than P. juliflora non-invaded area only in the mature tree phase. Examining the relationship between the abundance of P. juliflora and tree diversity (r = -0.59), the study revealed a negative relationship between the biotic components. There is a need to eradicate P. juliflora from CWS for the conservation of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of advanced curation is important for existing astromaterials collections, which includes samples returned by space missions, and meteorites and cosmic dust samples that have been recovered from here on Earth. In order to maximize the scientific return of the samples, contamination needs to be minimized at all stages of sample collection, preliminary examination, classification, and curation. Utilizing best practice methods, a detailed acquisition and curation plan was implemented during the UK's first two expeditions to collect Antarctic meteorites from two new blue icefields, Hutchison Icefields and Outer Recovery Icefields. This article documents the design and execution of the procedures used during the project's curation and classification processes. It describes two case studies showing the processes applied to the recovered meteorites, and reviews our experiences and lessons learned for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test the accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) in neonates 12 h after discontinuing phototherapy. Study design: In a prospective study of 91 neonates at ≥35 weeks of gestation, paired measurements of total serum bilirubin (TSB) and TcB were obtained 12 h after discontinuation of phototherapy. TcB measurements were obtained on the uncovered skin of the sternum and the covered skin of the lower abdomen. Bland–Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement between TSB and TcB. Results: TcB was found to systematically underestimate TSB on both covered and uncovered skin. The smallest but statistically significant difference between TSB and TcB was found on the covered lower abdomen (–1.03, p <.0001) compared with the uncovered skin of the sternum (–1.44, p <.0001). The correlation between TSB and TcB was excellent on both covered (r = 0.86, p <.001) and uncovered skin (r = 0.90, p <.001). Bland and Altman plots showed poor agreement between TcB and TSB. Conclusions: This study demonstrated excellent correlation between TcB and TSB 12 h after phototherapy but poor TcB–TSB agreement. TcB cannot be reliably used in neonates exposed to phototherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]