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The escalating stress epidemic in modern society has raised concerns about its impact on physical and mental health, prompting the need for effective interventions. Yoga, a multifaceted mind–body practice, has gained recognition for its potential in mitigating perceived stress. Our meta-analysis aimed to estimate yoga’s impact on lowering perceived stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. We identified 36 studies meeting inclusion criteria and found a statistically significant moderate effect of yoga on reducing perceived stress (g = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.29-0.66). Our analysis uncovered substantial heterogeneity (Q = 117.33, p < .001), with 74.90% of the variation in effect sizes attributed to study characteristics. In planned moderator analyses, we hypothesised that yoga with breathwork, relaxation, high stress symptoms, greater number of hours practiced, and studies conducted in India would yield larger effects. Stress severity was shown to be statistically significant. However, the remaining hypotheses were not supported. Additionally, we examined five exploratory moderator variables, which did not yield significant results. Further research is needed to elucidate the source of heterogeneity across studies and reveal recommendations for specific populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual selection, one of the central pillars of evolutionary theory, has powerful effects on organismal morphology, behaviour, and population dynamics. However, current knowledge about geographical variation in this evolutionary mechanism and its underlying drivers remains highly incomplete, in part because standardised data on the strength of sexual selection is sparse even for well-studied organisms. Here, we use information on mating systems—including the incidence of polygamy and extra-pair paternity—to estimate the intensity of sexual selection in 10,671 (>99.9%) bird species distributed worldwide. We show that avian sexual selection varies latitudinally, peaking at higher latitudes, although the gradient is reversed in the world's most sexually selected birds—specialist frugivores—which are strongly associated with tropical forests. Phylogenetic models further reveal that the strength of sexual selection is explained by temperature seasonality coupled with a suite of climate-associated factors, including migration, diet, and territoriality. Overall, these analyses suggest that climatic conditions leading to short, intense breeding seasons, or highly abundant and patchy food resources, increase the potential for polygamy in birds, driving latitudinal gradients in sexual selection. Our findings help to resolve longstanding debates about spatial variation in evolutionary mechanisms linked to reproductive biology and also provide a comprehensive species-level data set for further studies of selection and phenotypic evolution in the context of global climatic change. Sexual selection has powerful effects on organismal morphology, behavior and population dynamics, but how does it vary geographically, and what are the underlying drivers? This study of 10,671 bird species distributed worldwide reveals that avian sexual selection varies latitudinally, and is explained by temperature seasonality coupled with a suite of climate-associated factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a frequent differential diagnostic consideration in patients with rapidly progressive dementia (RPD). Fortunately, in the last 2 decades there has been substantial cumulative improvements in sCJD biomarkers, particularly those based on imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interrogation. Brain MRI is a very frequently employed investigation in patients with RPD, often utilized quite early in the evaluation and thereby offering a potentially key role in prompting initial concerns for sCJD. Extant conventional MRI criteria for sCJD diagnosis are relatively stringent, requiring fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) or diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) high signal changes in 2 or more cortical regions (excluding frontal) or in both the caudate and putamen. Challenging these conventional criteria, a recent publication described improved sensitivity and unchanged specificity if MRI criteria were arguably less rigorous, requiring DWI high signal changes in only 1 or more of 7 discrete brain regions: frontal, parietal, occipital or temporal cortices, as well as the caudate, putamen or thalamus. The aim of the current study was to test the diagnostic performance of this proposed change in MRI criteria in the Australian context and compare it with conventional criteria, as well as 2 other stringent sets of criteria, predicting that a similar improved sensitivity with unchanged specificity would be observed when the proposed criteria were utilized. Sixty-five definite sCJD cases were compared with 63 age- and sex-matched controls. Radiological review of all MRIs applying the different sets of MRI criteria was undertaken by a blinded neuroradiologist, very experienced in CJD interpretation, with independent assessment of 71 MRIs performed by a second blinded neuroradiologist less experienced in sCJD imaging findings. Our study found the sensitivity of the recently proposed MRI criteria (92.3%) to be comparable to that originally reported (90–95%) and also equivalent to the conventional MRI diagnostic criteria (92.3%), while the specificities were also quite similar between the conventional MRI criteria (87.3%) and proposed criteria (85.7%), with the latter lower than previously reported. Negative predictive values and positive predictive values were also very similar between the conventional and proposed MRI criteria. Other MRI criteria assessed were associated with unacceptably low sensitivity for clinical use. Inter-rater reliability as assessed by intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) revealed moderate reliability for the conventional and proposed MRI criteria, modestly better in the former and when the frontal lobe was retained versus excluded in comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND. Most GWAS of plasma proteomics have focused on White individuals of European ancestry, limiting biological insight from other ancestry-enriched protein quantitative loci (pQTL). METHODS. We conducted a discovery GWAS of approximately 3,000 plasma proteins measured by the antibody-based Olink platform in 1,054 Black adults from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) and validated our findings in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The genetic architecture of identified pQTLs was further explored through fine mapping and admixture association analysis. Finally, using our pQTL findings, we performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) across 2 large multiethnic electronic health record (EHR) systems in All of Us and BioMe. RESULTS. We identified 1,002 pQTLs for 925 protein assays. Fine mapping and admixture analyses suggested allelic heterogeneity of the plasma proteome across diverse populations. We identified associations for variants enriched in African ancestry, many in diseases that lack precise biomarkers, including cis-pQTLs for cathepsin L (CTSL) and Siglec-9, which were linked with sarcoidosis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, respectively. We found concordant associations across clinical diagnoses and laboratory measurements, elucidating disease pathways, including a cis-pQTL associated with circulating CD58, WBC count, and multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS. Our findings emphasize the value of leveraging diverse populations to enhance biological insights from proteomics GWAS, and we have made this resource readily available as an interactive web portal. FUNDING. NIH K08 HL161445-01A1; 5T32HL160522-03; HHSN268201600034I; HL133870. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived quality has been studied as a predictor of satisfaction and revisit intention in hospitality and tourism research. However, few studies have used these variables to segment attendee data over a multi-year period. Using the annual Double Decker Art, Music, and Food Festival in Oxford, Mississippi, this study compares and analyzes the differences between attendees clustered using satisfaction, perceived quality, demographic characteristics, and consumer expenditures. Three clusters were determined from the data, with one cluster exhibiting the highest levels of repeat visitation and willingness to spend more. This study demonstrates that attendees can be successfully segmented into homogenous groups, with implications for the festival along with future research endeavors emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perinatal depression (PND) is a debilitating condition affecting maternal well‐being and child development. Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is important to perinatal neuroplasticity, however its relationship with depression severity and postpartum structural brain volume is unknown. Method: We examined perinatal temporal dynamics and bidirectional associations between ALLO and depression severity and the association between these variables and postpartum gray matter volume, using a random intercept cross‐lagged panel model. Results: We identified a unidirectional predictive relationship between PND severity and ALLO concentration, suggesting greater depression severity early in the perinatal period may contribute to subsequent changes in ALLO concentration (β = 0.26, p = 0.009), while variations in ALLO levels during the perinatal period influences the development and severity of depressive symptoms later in the postpartum period (β = 0.38, p = 0.007). Antepartum depression severity (Visit 2, β = 0.35, p = 0.004), ALLO concentration (Visit 2, β = 0.37, p = 0.001), and postpartum depression severity (Visit 3, β = 0.39, p = 0.031), each predicted the right anterior cingulate volume. Antepartum ALLO concentration (Visit 2, β = 0.29, p = 0.001) predicted left suborbital sulcus volume. Antepartum depression severity (Visit 1, β = 0.39, p = 0.006 and Visit 2, β = 0.48, p < 0.001) predicted the right straight gyrus volume. Postpartum depression severity (Visit 3, β = 0.36, p = 0.001) predicted left middle‐posterior cingulate volume. Conclusion: These results provide the first evidence of bidirectional associations between perinatal ALLO and depression severity with postpartum gray matter volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study at a commercial dairy farm in Queensland, Australia, evaluated the effects of a lactic acid bacteria-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on periparturient dairy cows. A total of 150 Holstein cows were divided into control and DFM groups, with the latter receiving a basal diet supplemented with three strains of bacteria from the genus formerly known as Lactobacillus but recently assigned to the new Lentilactobacillus and Lacticaseibacillus genera. Blood samples were collected to assess metabolic profiles, revealing higher serum glucose, NEFA, and chloride levels in the DFM cows. The DFM cows showed higher pre- and post-calving glucose levels and greater body weight. While milk production was slightly higher in DFM cows, the milk protein percentage was higher in the control cows. Overall, DFM supplementation positively influenced the cows' metabolic profiles, potentially enhancing milk production and body weight postpartum. This study was conducted at a commercial dairy farm in Queensland, Australia to evaluate the effects of feeding a lactic acid bacteria-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) during gestation on the metabolic profile of periparturient dairy cows and its effects on milk production and body weight. A total of 150 multiparous Holstein cows were randomly selected based on parity (2.3) and days in milk (130 DIM) and divided into two groups of 75 cows each (control and DFM). The control cows were assigned to a basal diet consisting of a silage-based partial mixed ration (PMR), concentrate fed in the dairy twice a day, and ad libitum pasture. The DFM group received the same basal diet supplemented with three strains of Lactobacillus top-dressed in the feed. The DFM supplementation continued during both the dry period and the subsequent lactation. A subset of 82 cows (40 control and 42 DFM) were monitored during the calving season (March to July 2022) to assess the metabolic profile and postpartum performance. Blood samples were collected during the periparturient period (−4 to −2 w prepartum, around calving, and at weeks 1, 3, and 6 postpartum) to measure the levels of metabolites, enzymes, and minerals. Overall, the serum glucose, NEFA, and chloride levels were higher, while protein and urea were lower in cows supplemented with the DFM (p < 0.005). The pre-calving levels of glucose were higher and the total bilirubin, urea, and BHB were lower in cows supplemented with DFM than in the control (p < 0.05). The post-calving levels of glucose and Mg were also higher in the DFM cows than in the control cows (p < 0.05). Average milk production at 110 DIM was significantly higher in the DFM cows compared to control cows (p = 0.03). Although the total milk production over 305 days was numerically greater in the DFM cows, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3), whereas the milk protein percentage was higher in the control cows (p = 0.03). The body weight of the DFM cows was greater during the periparturient period (p = 0.001) than that of the control cows. In the DFM cows, glucose levels had a positive correlation (r = 0.16) with milk yield, at 110 DIM, while serum total protein had a positive correlation with body weight (r = 0.32) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding Lactobacillus-based DFM during gestation can positively influence the metabolic profile of periparturient cows, which, in turn, may affect the milk production and body weight of postpartum dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triarchic model of psychopathy emerged with the aim of reconciling and accommodating previous descriptive accounts of psychopathy. The dimensions of this model, operationalized through the triarchic psychopathy measure (TriPM; Patrick, 2010), have shown adequate correlations with respect to other psychopathy measures in adult incarcerated population, but more research is needed with justice-involved youth. The general goal of this research was to analyze the convergent validity of the TriPM, using self- and clinician-rated psychopathy measures, in seventy-two 14–22 years old males (M = 18.17; SD = 1.18) who were under the most restrictive custodial measure of the Catalonia’s justice system (Spain). The results showed that TriPM shows adequate convergent validity in reference to the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV), the Clinical Assessment of Prosocial Emotions (CAPE), the Youth Psychopathy Traits Inventory (YPI) and the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits (ICU), specially when using same informants and assessment approaches. The findings provided evidence that the TriPM is an adequate measure to study psychopathy in juvenile justice context and can contribute to elaborate prevention and treatment programs. Nonetheless, further research employing multimethod approaches is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is high prognostic uncertainty but growing evidence that recovery of independence is possible. Nevertheless, families are often asked to make decisions about withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WLST) within days of injury. The range of potential outcomes for patients who died after WLST (WLST+) is unknown, posing a challenge for prognostic modeling and clinical counseling. We investigated the potential for survival and recovery of independence after acute TBI in patients who died after WLST. We used Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI (TRACK-TBI) data and propensity score matching to pair participants with WLST+ to those with a similar probability of WLST (based on demographic and clinical characteristics), but for whom life-sustaining treatment was not withdrawn (WLST−). To optimize matching, we divided the WLST− cohort into tiers (Tier 1 = 0-11%, Tier 2 = 11-27%, Tier 3 = 27-70% WLST propensity). We estimated the level of recovery that could be expected in WLST+ participants by evaluating 3-, 6-, and 12-month Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) and Disability Rating Scale outcomes in matched WLST− participants. Of 90 WLST+ participants (80% male, mean [standard deviation; SD] age = 59.2 [17.9] years, median [IQR] days to WLST = 5.4 [2.2, 11.7]), 80 could be matched to WLST− participants. Of 56 WLST− participants who were followed at 6 months, 31 (55%) died. Among survivors in the overall sample and survivors in Tiers 1 and 2, more than 30% recovered at least partial independence (GOSE ≥4). In Tier 3, recovery to GOSE ≥4 occurred at 12 months, but not 6 months, post-injury. These results suggest a substantial proportion of patients with TBI and WLST may have survived and achieved at least partial independence. However, death or severe disability is a common outcome when the probability of WLST is high. While further validation is needed, our findings support a more cautious clinical approach to WLST and more complete reporting on WLST in TBI studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination directed towards individuals based on their age, such as perceptions that someone is "too old" for certain activities. Ageism directed at older people is prevalent; over 90% of older people in the United States report that they regularly experience ageism, such as when others assume they are forgetful or need assistance because of their age. Experiencing ageism is associated with poorer health outcomes, reduced cognitive performance, and increased healthcare costs. Reducing ageism requires a multifaceted approach, including strengthening anti-ageism laws and reframing societal narratives about what it means to grow older. Growing older should not be presented as a problem but as a fundamental part of the human journey. Ageism can also be reduced through positive intergenerational interactions and educational initiatives. Reducing ageism can promote healthier aging trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As populations in small and medium-sized Canadian communities steadily decline, migration is increasingly seen as the solution. While government programs promoting migration to smaller centres exist at both the federal and provincial levels, the long-term integration of newcomers to smaller communities remains a challenge. This tendency could be connected to the notable social, economic and political differences that have been described between larger and smaller centres which can be overlooked by theories of integration derived from empirical work conducted in larger, heavily urban centres. This article explores three theories of integration – assimilation, transnationalism and the whole-of-community approach – and their applicability to the study of small centres medium-sized centres. It suggests that the whole-of-community’s emphasis on local context, multilevel governance and dynamic view of culture provides a useful framework for theorizing integration in small centres and develops a sketch of factors relevant to their study in the Canadian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which editor discusses various articles within the issue on topics including public attitudes toward immigrants; provision of settlement services such as language training and role of leisure culture in the social inclusion and retention of newcomers.

Red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen and make up 40–45% of blood by volume in large vessels down to 10% or less in smaller capillaries. Because of their finite size and large volume fraction, they are heterogeneously distributed throughout the body. This is partially because RBCs are distributed or partitioned nonuniformly at diverging vessel bifurcations where blood flows from one vessel into two. Despite its increased recognition as an important player in the microvasculature, few studies have explored how the endothelial surface layer (ESL; a vessel wall coating) may affect partitioning and RBC dynamics at diverging vessel bifurcations. Here, we use a mathematical and computational model to consider how altering ESL properties, as can occur in pathological scenarios, change RBC partitioning, deformation, and penetration of the ESL. The two-dimensional finite element model considers pairs of cells, represented by interconnected viscoelastic elements, passing through an ESL-lined diverging vessel bifurcation. The properties of the ESL include the hydraulic resistivity and an osmotic pressure difference modeling how easily fluid flows through the ESL and how easily the ESL is structurally compressed, respectively. We find that cell–cell interaction leads to more uniform partitioning and greatly enhances the effects of ESL properties, especially for deformation and penetration. This includes the trend that increased hydraulic resistivity leads to more uniform partitioning, increased deformation, and decreased penetration. It also includes the trend that decreased osmotic pressure increases penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global carbon and iron cycles are intimately linked as redox-sensitive iron oxides readily bind organic carbon in a variety of environmental settings, including marine and lacustrine sediments. While these iron-organic carbon complexes sequester vast quantities of organic carbon, the composition of the organic matter within them remains unknown for lacustrine environments. Here we present C K 1s and Fe L 3,2 edge Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectra of surface sediments and authigenic iron complexes from adjacent basins of a pristine boreal lake located in Québec, Canada, with contrasting oxygen exposure regimes. We demonstrate differences in organic carbon speciation in sediments from both basins, as well as co-localization of organic carbon and iron on a sub-micron scale in 100 nm thick samples. Differences in redox cycling across these two basins allow for a direct comparison of the effect of oscillating redox conditions on the composition of organic carbon sequestered by iron. Our results suggest that reactive organic molecules, which may be polysaccharides, were found preferentially associated with iron in the perennially oxic sediments compared to more phenol rich organics in the seasonally anoxic sediments, highlighting the importance of iron oxides in the protection and preservation of labile organic compounds. Traces of aliphatic carbon were observed in sediments from the anoxic basin, alongside carboxyl and aromatic functionalities. This carboxyl-rich aliphatic material could possibly interact with the sediment mineral matrix either through a ligand exchange mechanism between the mineral phases and the carboxyl functionalities, or via non-specific hydrophobic interactions involving the aliphatic moieties. Finally, our work also shows that OC:Fe ratios should be used with caution when inferring a binding mechanism between OC and iron oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Method Results Conclusion Policy changes in Australia mean that psychedelic‐assisted therapy (PAT) is now available to consumers outside of clinical trials. Yet, the regulatory frameworks guiding the practice of PAT are underdeveloped, and the evidence base for guiding clinical practice is diverse and emerging, resulting in anticipated challenges in translation to community practice. Mental health clinicians who have experience delivering PAT in clinical trials are likely to be at the forefront of community practice and training, and influential in discussions about implementation. Yet little is known of their perspectives, preferences, and practices associated with the implementation of PAT.Interviews with 11 clinicians working on clinical trials of PAT were thematically analysed.Four themes were identified, describing the therapeutic frames that interviewees used to understand PAT and shaped their views on its interface with the mental health system: (1) therapeutic eclecticism, (2) enhanced reflexivity for PAT providers, (3) legitimisation of extra‐medical perspectives in mental health, and (4) what might be lost in translation?We argue that clinicians' perspectives on PAT are reflective of existing tensions between a medical model of mental health care and other psychosocial, relational models. Therapists' ideals for the delivery of PAT can be conceptualised as a sort of ‘enhanced care’ approach, but workforce development and economic constraints are likely to challenge the accessible and impactful translation of this vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) is usually the most significant HIV conference of the year in terms of basic and clinical scientific output. CROI 2024 in Denver, USA, felt very much back to ‘business as usual’ following COVID‐19 disruptions that had impacted preceding years, but also felt more global and outward‐ facing. The British HIV Association supports a working group to attend CROI annually and deliver feedback in the UK. This article summarizes the highlights from that meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, academics are encouraged to facilitate teaching excellence. Many business schools use teaching excellence awards to recognize exceptional efforts toward students’ learning, foster pedagogical innovation, and improve faculty motivation. However, prior literature has noted that many business schools lack clear and transparent criteria for TE awards, which can hinder the process and potentially reduce the motivational effects. Research has yet to fully incorporate student voices across a global setting into the evaluation criterion. As a result, this study seeks to identify universal criteria for TE awards based on a large-scale survey of 2,775 business students across eleven countries and five continents intending to capture global student perspectives. First, we reveal whether the possession of a TE award for an educator has any importance from students’ perspectives. Second, we find that students across the globe have a general agreement regarding the criteria for awarding an excellent educator by identifying 30 criteria for TE awards students noted across our global sample. Third, we reveal 15 criteria that are specific to some countries but not globally. Lastly, we explore the differences in TE award criteria across different study levels. Overall, our study makes a significant contribution by identifying global criteria based on student voice to inform the development of teaching excellence award criteria in business education or by higher education providers and professional bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of countries are adopting net‐zero‐emissions targets requiring large‐scale removal of CO2‐e through ecological restoration. Are these plans feasible, and will they transform the realm of restoration ecology? We use Australia's plan for net‐zero emissions as a test case. Widespread degradation across Australia's ecoregions, from savannas to seagrasses, provide opportunities for restoration, producing "negative emissions." The basic science on carbon stocks and flows is available. However, large gaps in the existing measurement methods obscures failure, or fails to incentivize action and the potential for emissions reductions is unknown. Other countries intentions for emissions coverage is currently unknown and extensive use of land for carbon abatement could cause leakage of Australia's agricultural emissions offshore. A key risk is the permanence of ecosystem carbon under a changing climate. Considering its heavy reliance on ecological restoration, these risks and unknowns suggest that Australia's plan is not, or at least not yet, feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preoperative opioid use has been well-studied in elective spinal surgery and correlated with numerous postoperative complications including increases in immediate postoperative opioid demand (POD), continued opioid use postoperatively, prolonged length of stay (LOS), readmissions, and disability. There is a paucity of data available on the use of preoperative opioids in surgery for spine trauma, possibly because there are minimal options for opioid reduction prior to emergent spinal surgery. Nevertheless, patients with traumatic spinal injuries are at a high risk for adverse postoperative outcomes. This study investigated the effects of preoperative opioid use on POD and LOS in spine trauma patients. 130 patients were grouped into two groups for primary comparison: Group 1 (preoperative opioid use, N = 16) and Group 2 (no opioid use, N = 114). Two subgroups of Group 2 were used for secondary analysis against Group 1: Group 3 (no substance abuse, N = 95) and Group 4 (other substance abuse, N = 19). Multivariable analysis was used to determine if there were significant differences in POD and LOS. Primary analysis demonstrated that preoperative opioid users required an estimated 97.5 mg/day more opioid medications compared to non-opioid users (P < 0.001). Neither primary nor secondary analysis showed a difference in LOS in any of the comparisons. Preoperative opioid users had increased POD compared to non-opioid users and patients abusing other substances, but there was no difference in LOS. We theorize the lack of difference in LOS may be due to the enhanced perioperative recovery protocol used, which has been demonstrated to reduce LOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This collection of articles explores the interrelationships between migration, social reproduction, and the reproduction of capitalism. Authors aim to shed light on the dynamics in which contemporary regimes of accumulation generate migration as both a response and solution to crises that confront ordinary people in their mundane efforts to meet the material and non-material needs of kin and community. Contributors in this special issue subscribe to the tradition of political economy and Marxism. So, their efforts are dedicated toward addressing how social reproduction and the reproduction of capital are entwined in a dialectical relationship, specifically in this case, through the lens of migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively little work has focused on why we are motivated to learn words. In adults, recent experiments have shown that intrinsic reward signals accompany successful word learning from context. In addition, the experience of reward facilitated long‐term memory for words. In adolescence, developmental changes are seen in reward and motivation systems as well as in reading and language systems. Here, in the face of this developmental change, we ask whether adolescents experience reward from word learning, and how the reward and memory benefit seen in adults is modulated by age. We used a naturalistic reading paradigm, which involved extracting novel word meanings from sentence context without the need for explicit feedback. By exploring ratings of enjoyment during the learning phase, as well as recognition memory for words a day later, we assessed whether adolescents show the same reward and learning patterns as adults. We tested 345 children between the ages of 10–18 (N > 84 in each 2‐year age‐band) using this paradigm. We found evidence for our first prediction: children aged 10–18 report greater enjoyment for successful word learning. However, we did not find evidence for age‐related change in this developmental period, or memory benefits. This work gives us greater insight into the process of language acquisition and sets the stage for further investigations of intrinsic reward in typical and atypical development. Research Highlights: We constantly learn words from context, even in the absence of explicit rewards or feedback.In adults, intrinsic reward experienced during word learning is linked to a dopaminergic circuit in the brain, which also fuels enhancements in memory for words.We find adolescents also report enhanced reward or enjoyment when they successfully learn words from sentence context.The relationship between reward and learning is maintained between the ages of 10 and 18.Unlike in adults, we did not observe ensuing memory benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the prevalence of sensory symptoms in people with cerebral palsy (CP) across the lifespan. In this cross-sectional study, the self-reported Sensory Processing Scale Inventory (SPS-I) was administered via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) between February 1, 2022, and August 15, 2022, to people with CP or their caregivers enrolled in the online MyCP Community Registry. We determined the association between SPS-I scores and age (Pearson correlation) and functional status as assessed using five validated functional classification systems for CP (analysis of variance [ANOVA]). We hypothesized that sensory symptoms would differ between younger and older individuals with CP. Of 155 responses (28% response rate, age one to 76 years, 34% male), 97% reported at least one bothersome sensory symptom. Total sensory symptoms decreased with age (R2 = 0.12, P < 0.0001), driven by decreases in hyposensitivity symptoms (R2 = 0.32, P < 0.0001), primarily tactile hyposensitivity (R2 = 0.29, P < 0.0001). Sensory symptoms increased with greater functional impairment across all functional domains (ANOVA, P < 0.0001). However, the age-specific decrease in hyposensitivities was most pronounced in people with the greatest gross motor functional impairment (R2 = 0.70, P = 0.0004). Our findings suggest that hyposensitivity, primarily tactile sensitivity, decreases with age in people with CP. Future work should assess whether decreased hyposensitivity contributes to other age-related changes in CP like increased pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-controlled type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is characterized by inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, thus constituting a suitable model of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). miR-199b-5p overexpression in murine CVD has shown proatherosclerotic effects. We hypothesized that miR-199b-5p would be overexpressed in subclinical CVD yet downregulated following metformin therapy. Inflammatory and vascular markers were measured in 29 individuals with T1DM and 20 matched healthy controls (HCs). miR-199b-5p expression in CFU-Hill's colonies was analyzed from each study group, and correlations with inflammatory/vascular health indices were evaluated. Significant upregulation of miR-199b-5p was observed in T1DM, which was significantly downregulated by metformin. miR-199b-5p correlated positively with vascular endothelial growth factor-D and c-reactive protein (CRP: nonsignificant). ROC analysis determined miR-199b-5p to define subclinical CVD by discriminating between HCs and T1DM individuals. ROC analyses of HbA1c and CRP showed that the upregulation of miR-199b-5p in T1DM individuals defined subclinical CVD at HbA1c > 44.25 mmol and CRP > 4.35 × 106 pg/mL. Ingenuity pathway analysis predicted miR-199b-5p to inhibit the target genes SIRT1, ETS1, and JAG1. Metformin was predicted to downregulate miR-199b-5p via NFATC2 and STAT3 and reverse its downstream effects. This study validated the antiangiogenic properties of miR-199b-5p and substantiated miR-199b-5p overexpression as a biomarker of subclinical CVD. The downregulation of miR-199b-5p by metformin confirmed its cardio-protective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenomenological research has focused on embodiment. This paper examines how the body is experienced in passive contemplation, understood as a finite province of meaning in Alfred Schutz's sense. The six features characteristic of any province of meaning (epoché, form of spontaneity, tension of consciousness, sense of self, temporality, and sociality) function distinctively in each province of meaning and alter one's experience of one's body. In the foundational province of pragmatic everyday life, one transforms deliberately and bodily the surrounding world, but this experience undergoes modifications in the religious/spiritual contemplative province. To clarify passive contemplation, the paper develops, as a contrast, active contemplation, the active, restless pursuit of chains of appresentational symbols and images. In passive contemplation, one separates from everyday life, orients toward unity rather than dialogue with God, refrains from following appresentative chains, and relaxes one's tension of the consciousness/body (e.g., through breathing), single-mindedly attending to God's presence. One can trace passive contemplation genetically to a primordial entwinement with one's mother's body, in which subjective/objective boundaries are blurred (as in Merleau-Ponty's "flesh"). In passive contemplation, one assumes an often-wordless social role (child, lover) toward God and abides tranquilly in the present rather than moving distractedly toward any future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study of the effects of the sodium salt of poly(methacrylic acid) (Na-PMAA) on non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation (NPLIN) of sodium acetate crystals is presented. Seeding of supersaturated aqueous solutions with anhydrous (AH) seeds always produced trihydrate (TH) crystals, with or without polymer additive. Using NPLIN, with no Na-PMAA and at low Na-PMAA concentrations (0.25% w/w) AH sodium acetate was produced, firstly as plate-like form IV, but subsequently growing needles, likely to be form I. At high Na-PMAA concentrations (0.73% w/w) we observe formation mostly of stable bubbles. In all samples at low laser peak power densities (<26 MW cm−2) we show for the first time using NPLIN that both crystals and bubbles can be nucleated with a single laser pulse. Measurements of the dependence of bubble or crystal count on laser pulse power indicate a common mechanistic origin for nucleation, which is cavitation due to laser heating of impurity nanoparticles. The bubbles observed are attributed to laser heating of the nanoparticles to high temperatures, resulting in gas formed by thermochemical reactions or gas that was previously dissolved in the solution. Our results provide new insight into the particle-heating mechanism for NPLIN, but whether stable bubbles play a defining role in the nucleation of crystals remains to be resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unspecific Peroxygenases (UPOs) are increasingly significant enzymes for selective oxygenations as they are stable, highly active and catalyze their reactions at the expense of only hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. Their structural similarity to chloroperoxidase (CPO) means that UPOs can also catalyze halogenation reactions based upon the generation of hypohalous acids from halide and H2O2. Here we show that the halogenation and oxygenation modes of a UPO can be stimulated at different pH values. Using simple aromatic compounds such as thymol, we show that, at a pH of 3.0 and 6.0, either brominated or oxygenated products respectively are produced. Preparative 100 mg scale transformations of substrates were performed with 60–72 % isolated yields of brominated products obtained. A one‐pot bromination‐oxygenation cascade reaction on 4‐ethylanisole, in which the pH was adjusted from 3.0 to 6.0 at the halfway stage, yielded sequentially brominated and oxygenated products 1‐(3‐bromo‐4‐methoxyphenyl)ethyl alcohol and 3‐bromo‐4‐methoxy acetophenone with 82 % combined conversion. These results identify UPOs as an unusual example of a biocatalyst that is tunable for entirely different chemical reactions, dependent upon the reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the concept of pangenomics and its relevance to the study of human fungal pathogens. Pangenomes are the total collection of genes within a given phylogenetic group, consisting of a core genome and an accessory genome. The accessory genome is hypothesized to be involved in fungal adaptation to the host or environment, as well as in communication, pathogenicity, and antifungal resistance. Pangenomes can help analyze genomic differences between strains of the same species and provide a reference for experimental studies. They also reduce bias introduced by single reference genomes and elucidate phenotypic variation within a species. The article highlights the importance of functional annotation and experimental characterization of accessory genes, as well as the challenges of genomic data availability and quality, and the lack of a methodological "gold standard" and data curation. Overall, fungal pangenomes have the potential to reveal novel insights into the evolution, pathogenesis, and phenotypic heterogeneity of human fungal pathogens. [Extracted from the article]

The emergence of new infectious diseases poses a major threat to humans, animals, and broader ecosystems. Defining factors that govern the ability of pathogens to adapt to new host species is therefore a crucial research imperative. Pathogenic bacteria are of particular concern, given dwindling treatment options amid the continued expansion of antimicrobial resistance. In this review, we summarize recent advancements in the understanding of bacterial host species adaptation, with an emphasis on pathogens of humans and related mammals. We focus particularly on molecular mechanisms underlying key steps of bacterial host adaptation including colonization, nutrient acquisition, and immune evasion, as well as suggest key areas for future investigation. By developing a greater understanding of the mechanisms of host adaptation in pathogenic bacteria, we may uncover new strategies to target these microbes for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases in humans, animals, and the broader environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper entwines the voices of art historian Dr. Fionna Barber and Artist Scholar Prof. Jools Gilson to propose the critical importance of textile art in contemporary debates about the climate emergency. Framed in collaborative counterpoint to previous work on femininity and water (notably Neimanis 2012, 2017), this discussion focuses on three textile-based projects through two meteorological exhibitions; Mapping Climate Change: The Knitting Map & The Tempestry Project at the Berman Museum of Art in Pennsylvannia, US and Strange Attractors at Tate St. Ives, UK, both 2021. The paper proposes The Knitting Map as a way of thinking about textiles and climate, as well as an artwork. It visits Cork City, the Irish bog, and Cornwall, traversing tropes of landscape, weather and national identity as it tangles textiles, analysis, and story. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) for sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) in children and young people (CYP) can result in multiple health outcomes; however, adherence to NIV can be challenging. Suboptimally treated SDB may increase the risk of adverse consequences. Placing children's and parents' goals at the core of their SDB treatment may support adherence to NIV. To identify these health outcomes, it is necessary to gain a greater understanding of CYP's experiences of using NIV, whether they perceive any benefits from NIV use, as well as the outcomes that their parents and NIV staff identify as important. Methods: Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted with nine CYP (aged 4–16 + years), 13 parents and nine healthcare professionals (HCPs); verbatim transcripts were analysed using Framework Analysis. Results: CYP predominantly reported an improvement in levels of energy, focus and ability to concentrate whereas parents also identified outcomes of mood and behaviour. The majority of children showed understanding of the reasons for being prescribed NIV. A subset of children did not notice their SDB. The health outcomes identified by HCPs and parents that could result from improved overnight gas exchange are subjective measures that rely on parent and child report. Measuring these health outcomes focussed on the impact of improved sleep rather than measuring improved sleep itself. Conclusions: It is important for HCPs administering NIV to ascertain whether CYP have noticed any of their sleep‐disordered breathing symptoms and any improvements from using NIV, including the relationship between benefits and side effects. Focussing on promoting understanding for CYP who are unable to link their wellbeing to their previous night's sleep may be futile and HCP strategies should concentrate on the process of tolerating the device. Parents, CYP and HCPs should collaborate to identify treatment goals specifically tailored for the child and monitor any progress against these goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavior therapy is a well-established and empirically supported treatment for tic disorders (TDs). However, concerns have been expressed about the negative effects of behavioral interventions, such as tic worsening, tic substitution, and excessive effort. This study explored perceived negative effects of tic management strategies in adults with TDs and predictors of these experiences. Participants (N = 72) completed semi-structured interviews 11 years after receiving behavior therapy or supportive therapy in a randomized clinical trial. We examined responses to interview questions about managing tics and predictors of reported negative effects. Most participants did not experience tic worsening (84%) or tic substitution (75%) from tic management strategies. The majority felt they could manage tics while participating in their environment (87%) and did not report life interference from tic management (77%). About half (45%) felt less present when managing tics. Treatment non-responders in the original trial were more likely to report negative effects of tic management strategies. No differences in reported negative consequences were found between those who received behavior therapy versus supportive therapy, suggesting that behavior therapy specifically does not lead to such adverse effects. These findings could reduce misconceptions about behavior therapy for TDs and enhance its acceptability and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Strong patient interest in the use of medicinal cannabis to treat various clinical indications has sparked global legislative changes. Practitioners are vital in implementing regulatory changes and facilitating patient access to medicinal cannabis, however, little is currently known about the factors influencing practitioners' uptake. Recent rapid increases in practitioner applications to prescribe medicinal cannabis in Australia provides a unique backdrop to examine the current factors influencing prescribing behaviours. This qualitative study examined Australian practitioners' perspectives on prescribing medicinal cannabis to provide a comprehensive exploration of the potential factors influencing uptake in clinical practice. Methods: Seventeen semi‐structured interviews were conducted with Australian health‐care practitioners. Transcripts were analysed using the Framework approach to thematic analysis and cross‐mapped to appropriate domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. Results: We identified four themes related to the barriers and facilitators to prescribing medicinal cannabis: (i) clinical capabilities needed to prescribe; (ii) prescribing an unapproved therapeutic good; (iii) negative attitudes towards prescribers in the medical community; and (iv) divergent beliefs about clinical utility. Discussion and Conclusions: Practitioners face multiple pervasive barriers to prescribing medicinal cannabis. Beliefs about clinical utility appear to be highly influential in shaping prescribing behaviours. Moreover, our findings suggest that a medicinal cannabis 'specialisation' has emerged within the Australian medical community. Findings demonstrate that a range of complex and multifaceted factors influence practitioners' medicinal cannabis prescribing behaviours. We highlight several considerations for policy and practice to support safe and appropriate patient access to medicinal cannabis in this emerging area of clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging and sex are major risk factors for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Compared to men, women experience worse neuropathological burden and cognitive decline despite living longer with the disease. Similarly, male 3xTg-AD mice, developed to model Alzheimer's disease, no longer consistently exhibit standard Alzheimer's neuropathology yet experience higher rates of mortality - providing a unique opportunity to further elucidate this dichotomy. We hypothesized that sex differences in the biological aging process yield distinct pathological and molecular Alzheimer's disease signatures in males and females, which could be harnessed for therapeutic and biomarker development. Methods: We aged male and female, 3xTg-AD and B6129 control mice across their respective lifespans (n = 3–8 mice per sex, strain, and age group) and longitudinally assessed neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, markers of hepatic inflammation, splenic mass and morphology, as well as plasma cytokine levels. We conducted RNA sequencing analysis on bulk brain tissue and examined differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 3xTg-AD and B6129 samples and across ages in each sex. We also examined DEGs between clinical Alzheimer's and control parahippocampal gyrus brain tissue samples from the Mount Sinai Brain Bank study in each sex. Results: 3xTg-AD females significantly outlived 3xTg-AD males and exhibited progressive Alzheimer's neuropathology, while 3xTg-AD males demonstrated progressive hepatic inflammation, splenomegaly, circulating inflammatory proteins, and minimal Alzheimer's neuropathological hallmarks. Instead, 3xTg-AD males experienced an accelerated upregulation of immune-related gene expression in the brain relative to females. Our clinical investigations revealed that individuals with Alzheimer's disease develop similar sex-specific alterations in neuronal and immune function. In diseased males of both species, we observed greater upregulation of complement-related gene expression, and lipopolysaccharide was predicted as the top upstream regulator of DEGs. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that chronic inflammation and complement activation are associated with increased mortality, indicating that age-related changes in immune response contribute to sex differences in Alzheimer's disease trajectories. We provide evidence that aging and transgene-driven disease progression trigger a widespread inflammatory response in 3xTg-AD males, which mimics the impact of lipopolysaccharide stimulation despite the absence of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the National Arts Festival held in Makhanda, South Africa from June 22-July 2, 2023, which focused on smaller-scale, local stories, particularly emphasizing work by Black feminist artists.

Purpose: Obesity and preeclampsia share similar patho-mechanisms and can both affect placental pathology. We aimed to investigate pregnancy outcomes in correlation with placental pathology among pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia in three different maternal body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) groups. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, medical and pathological records of patients with preeclampsia and a singleton pregnancy delivered between 2008 and 2021 at a single tertiary medical center were reviewed. Study population was divided into three BMI groups: BMI < 22.6 kg/m2 (low BMI group), 22.7 ≤ BMI ≤ 28.0 kg/m2 (middle-range BMI group), and BMI > 28.0 kg/m2 (high BMI group). Data regarding maternal characteristics, neonatal outcomes, and placental histopathological lesions were compared. Results: The study groups included a total of 295 patients diagnosed with preeclampsia—98, 99, and 98 in the low, middle-range, and high BMI groups respectively. Neonatal birth weight was significantly decreased in the low maternal BMI group compared to both middle and high BMI groups (p = 0.04) with a similar trend seen in placental weight (p = 0.03). Villous changes related to maternal malperfusion were more prevalent in the low and high BMI groups compared to middle-range BMI group (p < 0.01) and composite maternal vascular malperfusion lesions were also more prevalent in the groups of BMI extremities compared to the middle-range BMI group (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Maternal BMI might influence neonatal outcomes and placental pathology in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Both extremes of BMI were associated with higher rates of placental maternal vascular malperfusion. Balanced BMI in women at risk for preeclampsia may reduce the incidence of placental lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aims of this study were to: (1) explore perspectives of university students' and academics' regarding disordered eating, eating disorders and body image in relation to pedagogy and curricula and (2) to evaluate a co‐designed student seminar and an academic workshop on these topics. Methods: A participatory action research approach was employed whereby an educational intervention was co‐created by academics and students. An online seminar was presented to students and a 1‐h workshop was presented to academic staff. Evaluation was conducted via a post‐seminar anonymous survey for students and a pre‐ and post‐anonymous workshop survey for academics with a mix of Likert‐scale questions and open text boxes. Qualitative data were open coded, both deductively and inductively, and quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Results: One hundred and seventeen students attended the voluntary education seminar. Six themes were identified from student qualitative data which included feeling safe, empowered, inspired, connected, emotional and reflective. Problematic aspects of pedagogy and curricula were identified by students and included: using personal data for teaching, demonising language to describe food/bodies and not always feeling safe or supported to discuss disordered eating. Twenty academics shared divergent perspectives—some reported feeling concerned and challenged by the content (exploring disordered eating with students), others noted the complexity of the area, and others reported low/moderate confidence or indifference in the space and felt this content outside of their scope as educators. Conclusion: Curricula interventions that reduce triggering and shaming and increase space and support for strengthening students' relationships with food and their bodies are valued by nutrition and dietetics students. We encourage academics to consider pedagogical approaches and expand discourse in this space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Insulin bolus doses derive from glucose levels and planned carbohydrate intake, although fat and protein impact glycemic excursions. We examined the impact of macronutrients and number of daily meals/snacks on glycemic outcomes in youth with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Youth (N = 136, ages 8–17) with type 1 diabetes completed 3-day food records, wore 3-day masked continuous glucose monitoring, and had A1c measurements every 3 months for 1 year. Diet data were analyzed using Nutrition Data System for Research. Longitudinal mixed models assessed effects of macronutrient intake and number of meals/snacks on glycemic outcomes. Results: At baseline, youth (48% male) had mean age of 12.8 ± 2.5 years and diabetes duration of 5.9 ± 3.1 years; 73% used insulin pumps. Baseline A1c was 8.1% ± 1.0%, percent time in range 70–180 mg/dL (%TIR) was 49% ± 17%, % time below range <70 mg/dL (%TBR) was 6% ± 8%, % time above range >180 mg/dL (%TAR) was 44% ± 20%, and glycemic variability as coefficient of variation (CV) was 41% ± 8%; macronutrient intake included 48% ± 5% carbohydrate, 36% ± 5% fat, and 16% ± 2% protein. Most youth (56%) reported 3–4 meals/snacks daily (range 1–9). Over 1 year, greater carbohydrate intake was associated with lower A1c (P = 0.0003), more %TBR (P = 0.0006), less %TAR (P = 0.002), and higher CV (P = 0.03). Greater fat intake was associated with higher A1c (P = 0.006), less %TBR (P = 0.002), and more %TAR (P = 0.005). Greater protein intake was associated with higher A1c (P = 0.01). More daily meals/snacks were associated with lower A1c (P = 0.001), higher %TIR (P = 0.0006), and less %TAR (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Both fat and protein impact glycemic outcomes. Future automated insulin delivery systems should consider all macronutrients for timely insulin provision. The present research study derived from secondary analysis of the study registered under NCT00999375. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An osteocyte is a bone cell situated inside a hard bone matrix in an interstice (lacuna). It has many dendritic structures called cellular processes that radiate outward from the cell through the bone matrix via cylindrical openings (canaliculi). Osteocytes can sense stress and strain applied by the interstitial fluid flow and respond by releasing biochemical signals that regulate bone remodeling. In vitro experiments have suggested that the stress and strain typically experienced at the macroscale tissue level have to be amplified 10× in order for osteocytes to have a significant response in vivo. This stress and strain amplification mechanism is not yet well understood. Previous studies suggest that the processes are the primary sites for mechanosensation thanks to the tethering elements that attach the process membrane to the canalicular wall. However, there are other potential factors which may also contribute to stress and strain amplification, such as canalicular wall geometry and osteocyte-associated proteins in the interstitial space called pericellular matrix. In this work, we perform computational studies to study how canalicular wall roughness affects stress and strain amplification. Our major finding is that the wall roughness induces significantly greater wall shear stress (WSS) on the process when the wall roughness increases flow resistance; and the roughness has relatively smaller influence on the WSS when the resistance remains the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent and debilitating condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Physiotherapy is a noninvasive intervention that is effective in managing knee osteoarthritis symptoms by aiming to reduce pain, improve function, and enhance quality of life. The main interventions are exercise therapy, including strength training, aerobic exercise, and neuromuscular training, and patient education about self-management strategies, such as weight loss, activity modification, and pain coping skills. Research on the benefits of biomechanical interventions is limited, but walking aids (e.g., canes, crutches, frames, wheeled walkers) are generally considered to be effective in reducing mechanical loading through the knee, relieving pain, improving balance and function, and enhancing independence and safety; evidence of the benefit of shoe inserts is mixed. There is also a lack of high-quality research on the benefits of adjunct therapies such as heat or ice, low-level laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasonography, manual therapy, and acupuncture, but they may be conditionally recommended based on patient preference if they are used in combination with exercise. Individualized and patient-centred care in physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis is important, and tailored interventions that take into account patient preferences and goals are needed. A combination of several interventions, depending on patient preference, is recommended for optimal outcomes in managing knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently burned boreal forests have lower aboveground fuel loads, generating a negative feedback to subsequent wildfires. Despite this feedback, short‐interval reburns (≤20 years between fires) are possible under extreme weather conditions. Reburns have consequences for ecosystem recovery, leading to enduring vegetation change. In this study, we characterize the strength of the fire‐fuel feedback in recently burned Canadian boreal forests and the weather conditions that overwhelm resistance to fire spread in recently burned areas. We used a dataset of daily fire spread for thousands of large boreal fires, interpolated from remotely sensed thermal anomalies to which we associated local weather from ERA5‐Land for each day of a fire's duration. We classified days with >3 ha of fire growth as spread days and defined burned pixels overlapping a fire perimeter ≤20 years old as short‐interval reburns. Results of a logistic regression showed that the odds of fire spread in recently burned areas were ~50% lower than in long‐interval fires; however, all Canadian boreal ecozones experienced short‐interval reburning (1981–2021), with over 100,000 ha reburning annually. As fire weather conditions intensify, the resistance to fire spread declines, allowing fire to spread in recently burned areas. The weather associated with short‐interval fire spread days was more extreme than the conditions during long‐interval spread, but overall differences were modest (e.g. relative humidity 2.6% lower). The frequency of fire weather conducive to short‐interval fire spread has significantly increased in the western boreal forest due to climate warming and drying (1981–2021). Our results suggest an ongoing degradation of fire‐fuel feedbacks, which is likely to continue with climatic warming and drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vermeule argues that law should uphold community morality, and critiques originalists and progressivists for losing sight of this. Though his critique is powerful, the book shares those problems Vermeule diagnoses in the work of others. As with the originalists, Vermeule's theory of interpretation is not yet able to provide guidance. We need to know more about its content and its moral base to evaluate its attractions. Additionally, Vermeule underplays strong similarities between progressivists and his own scholarship. Acknowledging these similarities draws attention to a pair of shared institutional problems. First, the moral cost in taking decisions away from individuals and passing them to state institutions: using law to regulate an issue runs the risk of error, and may produce morally significant side-effects by coercively limiting people's options. Secondly, morality speaks to the institutional process by which decisions are produced as well as their substance: the way we decide is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) is an essential tool in some marine science fields. However, financial costs and racial disparities in swimming participation can be a barrier to entry for many aspiring marine scientists of color. Scientific diving programs could improve access to scientific diving training by offering training as part of their standard undergraduate curriculum and by maintaining a stock of scuba gear for use during courses. Similarly, the American Academy of Underwater Scientists (AAUS) could make training more accessible by re-envisioning components of the swim test and by building water safety skills into AAUS training--all without compromising safety. Combined, these two actions would expand pathways for students of color to careers in marine science, adding much needed diversity to the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Misoprostol is a well-studied medical treatment for early pregnancy loss (EPL), with success rates ranging between 70 and 90%. However, treatment failure is associated with major patient discomfort, including the need for surgical intervention to evacuate the uterus. It was previously reported that medical treatment was especially successful among women who conceived after in vitro fertilization (IVF). We aimed to study if there is a difference in rates of medical treatment failures for EPL between pregnancies conceived by IVF and spontaneous pregnancies. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included all women who underwent medical treatment for EPL at our institute between 07/2015 and 12/2020. Treatment outcome was compared between IVF and spontaneous pregnancies. Treatment failure was defined as a need for surgical intervention, namely, dilation & curettage (D&C) and/or hysteroscopy, due to retained products of conception, which was defined as a gestational sac or endometrial thickness greater than 15 mm in a TVS scan. Results: Overall, 775 patients were included, of which 195 (169/775 = 25.1%) ultimately required surgical intervention. There was no difference between the study groups in the rate of treatment failure. However, among IVF pregnancies, the rate of emergency D&C was lower (3.6% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.001), compared to spontaneous group. Conclusion: In cases of medical treatment for EPL, IVF pregnancies had no differences in rates of treatment failure compared to spontaneous pregnancies. That being said, IVF pregnancies have lower chances to undergo emergency D&C, compared to spontaneous pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large quantities of 'negative emissions' will be required to meet the 1.5°C temperature target under the Paris agreement. As nations consider more ambitious emissions reductions goals, policy makers, carbon market participants and environmental advocates need to estimate the potential scale of nature-based climate solutions (NCS), against the opportunity cost of current land use. In this study we construct a simple linear regression model of the relationship between carbon abatement potential and agricultural profitability, the latter a proxy for opportunity cost, to describe the total set of options for NCS on the Australian continent. Sampling these same two variables at the sites of over 800 land-based offset projects accredited since 2015 shows how the market selected from these abatement options. The model demonstrates that offset projects, under a range of crediting methodologies, were typically selected where the ratio of abatement potential to opportunity cost is maximized. These results, produced from two readily available spatial variables, provide an empirically derived framework for those with an interest in the structure of the long-run supply curve for land-based carbon abatement. This modelling approach could be applied in any geographic region where similar spatial variables for agricultural profitability and abatement potential are available. We find a strong positive correlation between the quantity of abatement potential on a land parcel and its potential opportunity cost, the latter represented by agricultural profitability. The lowest cost abatement will be obtained by policies, including market mechanisms, that optimize these two factors rather than prioritizing one over the other. Policies that direct projects to 'marginal' agricultural land may lead to a more costly emissions reduction pathway. Our modelling approach is a key input to the development of a long-run supply curve for land-based abatement, essential to any strategy that relies heavily on negative emissions. Understanding the drivers of land-based abatement projects can help to predict the land use policy impacts of a higher offset requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a structural heart defect that has been associated with generation of arrhythmias in the population and is a cause of sudden cardiac death with severe systolic dysfunction and fatal arrhythmias. LVNC has gained increasing acknowledgment with increased prevalence. We conducted a systematic review of reported electrocardiogram (ECG) results for pediatric LVNC patients. EMBASE database query was performed, yielding 4531 articles related to LVNC between 1990 and December 2023. Patient age ranged from prenatal to 18 years of age. Qualitative analyses were performed to characterize individual arrhythmias, and summative interpretation of ECG evaluations was gathered for the entire cohort. Systematic review of 57 LVNC cases and ECG presentation revealed many waveform consistencies, including abnormal left ventricular, atrioventricular node, and interventricular septal patterns, and specifically a high incidence of Mobitz type II and Wolff–Parkinson–White waveforms. This review of ECG analysis reinforces the clinical and etiologic significance of pediatric LVNC. While LVNC in pediatric populations may not always present as acute clinical cases, further investigation into the electrophysiology of the disease supports the need for further evaluation and risk stratification for patients with suspected LVNC and/or ventricular arrhythmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to explore levels of adherence to dietary guidelines, and factors associated with dietary guideline adherence, among rural Australian cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken. We recruited a convenience sample of adults with cancer who attended the chemotherapy day unit or allied health appointments at a rural hospital in Baw Baw Shire, Victoria, Australia, between August 2017 and December 2021. Dietary guideline adherence was assessed by cross-referencing participants’ responses to an adapted version of the Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies with dietary recommendations in Australian dietary guidelines. Binary logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with dietary guideline adherence for fruits and whole red meats. Results: There were 107 rural cancer survivors (median age, 67 years). Dietary guideline adherence was highest for alcohol (88%) followed by whole red meats (63%), fruits (56%), processed red meats (24%), cereals/breads/grains (7%), and vegetables (4%). Relative to those aged < 65 years, 65–74-year-olds had 5.7-fold greater odds (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.91–17.17) of adhering to the dietary guideline for fruits. Relative to those who had completed/ceased treatment, participants who were currently receiving treatment had 78% lower odds (aOR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.09–0.59) of adhering to the dietary guideline for fruits. Conclusion: This study contributes preliminary data on adherence to dietary guidelines and associated factors among rural Australian cancer survivors. Dietary guideline adherence varied across food groups and was mostly low, albeit not markedly worse than Australia’s national population for the fruits and vegetables groups. The mostly low adherence in our sample suggests a potential need to increase provision of dietary information, supportive care screening, and, wherever necessary, dietetics referrals, assessments, and interventions among rural cancer survivors. Larger, longitudinal studies of adherence to dietary guidelines and/or tailored, cancer-specific dietary recommendations should be undertaken in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students with disabilities may demonstrate high rates of off-task behavior, resulting in poor academic achievement. To decrease students' off-task behavior, teachers can identify student-guided supportive strategies to limit the amount of time they dedicate to behavior management. Moreover, when teachers use effective student-guided strategies that reflect high social validity, ease of use, and low intrusiveness, benefits are maximized and students will maintain their use of the strategy. This article provides step-by-step procedures for designing a technology-based self-monitoring (TBSM) strategy that increases the acceptability and continued use of standard self-monitoring procedures. Necessary adjustments to typical self-monitoring strategies considering technology-based delivery methods, including selecting and evaluating mobile applications, are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that a common method of predicting individuals' race in administrative records, Bayesian Improved Surname Geocoding (BISG), produces misclassification errors that are strongly correlated with demographic and socioeconomic factors. In addition to the high error rates for some racial subgroups, the misclassification rates are correlated with the political and economic characteristics of a voter's neighborhood. Racial and ethnic minorities who live in wealthy, highly educated, and politically active areas are most likely to be misclassified as white by BISG. Inferences about the relationship between sociodemographic factors and political outcomes, like voting, are likely to be biased in models using BISG to infer race. We develop an improved method in which the BISG estimates are incorporated into a machine learning model that accounts for class imbalance and incorporates individual and neighborhood characteristics. Our model decreases the misclassification rates among non-white individuals, in some cases by as much as 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]