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The role of biomarkers in risk-based early detection of lung cancer may enable screening to become cost effective and widely accessible. EarlyCDT-Lung is an example of such a blood-based autoantibody biomarker which may improve accessibility to Low dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) screening for those at highest risk. We randomized 12 208 individuals aged 50–75 at high risk of developing lung cancer to either the test or to standard clinical care. Outcomes were ascertained from Register of Deaths and Cancer Registry. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio of the rate of deaths from all causes and lung cancer. Additional analyses were performed for cases of lung cancer diagnosed within two years of the initial test. After 5 years 326 lung cancers were detected (2.7% of those enrolled). The total number of deaths reported from all causes in the intervention group was 344 compared to 388 in the control group. There were 73 lung cancer deaths in the intervention arm and 90 in the controls (Adjusted HR 0.789 (0.636, 0.978). An analysis of cases of lung cancer detected within 2 years of randomization in the intervention group showed that there were 34 deaths from all causes and 29 from lung cancer. In the control group there were 56 deaths with 49 from lung cancer. In those diagnosed with lung cancer within 2 years of randomization the hazard ratio for all cause mortality was 0.615 (0.401,0.942) and for lung cancer 0.598 (0.378, 0.946). Further large-scale studies of the role of biomarkers to target lung cancer screening, in addition to LDCT, are likely to provide additional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical biosensors have employed at least three distinct system architectures over the last 40 years, moving from "sample in-answer out" systems to completely embedding the optical biosensor into the sample to embedding the recognition module in the sample and optically interrogating the recognition module from outside of the sample. This trends article provides an overview of the evolution of these three system architectures and discusses how each architecture has been applied to solve the measurement challenges of a wide variety of applications. A fourth biosensor system architecture, that of an "autonomous" biosensor which "takes the user out of the loop" while both detecting target analytes and responding to that measurement, is currently under development for applications initially including environmental cleanup and "smart therapeutics." As is the case in many other areas of technology, it will be profoundly interesting to observe the further development and application of elegant, simpler (optical) biosensor systems to address tomorrow's measurement needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as smoking, high alcohol intake, poor diet and physical inactivity, are key risk factors for premature mortality. How unhealthy lifestyle factors are viewed in the wider context of socioeconomic deprivation is rarely considered. Understanding key stakeholder views on lifestyle factors in the context of deprivation is critical to intervention development and reducing harm in more deprived populations. The aim of this study was to explore public, healthcare professional and policymaker views around unhealthy lifestyle factors in the context of deprivation. The aim was broad to facilitate iterative development of ideas, as the views of this wide range of stakeholders are rarely captured. Methods: Twenty‐five adult members of the public in Scotland took part in four focus groups between August 2022 and June 2023. Eighteen semi‐structured interviews were conducted with professionals: 12 primary‐care practitioners and 6 public‐health practitioners and policymakers. Reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken. Results: Four main themes were developed: (1) Evolving complexity of lifestyle factors – the number of lifestyle factors that adversely impact health has grown, with increasingly complex interactions, (2) Social determinants of lifestyle – numerous links were made between socioeconomic conditions and unhealthy lifestyle factors by all participants, (3) Poverty as a fundamental social determinant – poverty was identified as a core factor for unhealthy lifestyle factors, and (4) Agency versus structure in relation to lifestyle – individual agency to address lifestyle factors was limited by structural constraints. Among professionals, understanding the challenging social determinants of unhealthy lifestyle factors was countered by a desire to support healthy change in those affected by deprivation. Conclusion: Public and professional views around lifestyle highlight an evolving understanding of the new and growing number of lifestyle factors as well as the increasingly complex interplay between lifestyle factors. Views of the social determinants of lifestyle and structural limits to agency strengthen arguments for reduced emphasis on individual‐level responsibility for unhealthy lifestyle factors and for deeper integration of social determinants into lifestyle interventions. In addition to addressing poverty and socioeconomic inequalities directly, innovative policy, planning and legislation that incorporate wider approaches could tackle upstream determinants of numerous unhealthy lifestyle factors simultaneously. Patient or Public Contribution: Members of the public who participated in this study have made contributions by sharing their views and perspectives. The National Health Service Research Scotland Primary Care Patient and Public Involvement (NRS PPI) Group contributed to the development of this work. The NRS PPI Group was consulted as part of the preparatory work for H. M. E. F.'s doctoral thesis funding application. The findings of the qualitative work were presented to them, and they informed the interpretation of those findings and related work presented at conferences and public engagement events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian place cells are active at one or a few specific locations in the environment. First described in the rodent hippocampus, and subsequently across the mammalian evolutionary tree, place cells have now been discovered in the larval zebrafish telencephalon. Mammalian place cells are active at one or few specific locations in the environment. First described in the rodent hippocampus, and subsequently across the mammalian evolutionary tree, place cells have now been discovered in the larval zebrafish telencephalon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines technical use of Fitbit during an intervention for pulmonary hypertension (PAH)‐patients. Technical issues with the device led to data being unavailable(37.5%). During intervention objective daily physical activity (DPA) decreased and subjective DPA increased. This emphasizes that an assessment of DPA in PAH requires incorporating both objective and subjective measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although until the late 1960s women's reproductive health care had been largely the domain of Palestinian women healers, midwives, and nurse-midwives, the contemporary reproductive healthcare system in Palestine is medicalized, masculinized, and commodified in an indigenous society already suffering from the brutality of Israeli occupation. Based on interviews with eight experienced Palestinian midwives, scholarly and field research, and field knowledge, this article examines ideological and practice differences among midwives, and between some nurse-midwives and traditional midwives (dayat), largely in contemporary Jerusalem and the West Bank. It highlights sharp gendered class contradictions in midwives' relations to obstetrician-gynecologists and the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health; points to the rise and impact of a biomedical interventionist risk sensibility on the physician-led hospital shop floor; and considers the psychic and sexual dimensions of working with women seeking reproductive healthcare, including the impact of trauma and limited reproductive agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The end‐Neoproterozoic transition marked a gradual but permanent shift between distinct configurations of Earth's biosphere. This interval witnessed the demise of the enigmatic Ediacaran Biota, ushering in the structured trophic webs and disparate animal body plans of Phanerozoic ecosystems. However, little consensus exists on the reality, drivers, and macroevolutionary implications of end‐Neoproterozoic extinctions. Here we evaluate potential drivers of late‐Neoproterozoic turnover by addressing recent findings on Ediacaran geochronology, the persistence of classical Ediacaran macrobionts into the Cambrian, and the existence of Ediacaran crown‐group eumetazoans. Despite renewed interest in the possibility of Phanerozoic‐style 'mass extinctions' in the latest Neoproterozoic, our synthesis of the available evidence does not support extinction models based on episodic geochemical triggers, nor does it validate simple ecological interpretations centred on direct competitive displacement. Instead, we argue that the protracted and indirect effects of early bilaterian innovations, including escalations in sediment engineering, predation, and the largely understudied impacts of reef‐building, may best account for the temporal structure and possible selectivity of late‐Neoproterozoic extinctions. We integrate these processes into a generalised model of early eumetazoan‐dominated ecologies, charting the disruption of spatial and temporal isotropy on the Ediacaran benthos as a consequence of diversifying macrofaunal interactions. Given the nature of resource distribution in Ediacaran ecologies, the continuities among Ediacaran and Cambrian faunas, and the convergent origins of ecologically disruptive innovations among bilaterians we suggest that the rise of Phanerozoic‐type biotas may have been unstoppable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to present a more balanced perspective of risk acceptability through integrating economic individualism and social constructivism and examining the impact of trust in the national and local government on citizens' attitudes toward risk and nuclear power plants, respectively. The data were gathered from surveys of local residents engaged in fierce debates on whether they agreed to accept a nuclear power plant in their local area, the city of Samcheok in South Korea. To capture the causal links among the determinants of risk acceptability of a nuclear power plant and their relationships, the authors utilized a structural equation model. Demonstrating that a shared worry about nuclear stigmatization has both a positive impact on risk perception but also a negative impact on trust in local government, our findings emphasize that risk studies of nuclear energy should pay attention to the social, cultural, and historical contexts of nuclear energy as well as its economic aspects when examining the determinants of risk acceptability. This study also enriches our understanding that national and local governments can play different roles in promoting citizens' risk acceptability of a nuclear power plant. Thus, this study contributes towards presenting a better specified causal model of risk acceptability and offers practical implications of how to promote the public's risk acceptability of nuclear power facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the care politics of El-Nadeem Center for the Psychological Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, an organization established in Cairo in 1993 by leftist politically active psychiatrists, largely women. It shows what it looks like to provide care when violence, especially torture, is immanent. El-Nadeem's practitioners quickly learned from their clients that healing often required public interventions on a client's behalf and not simply individual psychological treatment. Radical care politics is central to El-Nadeem's work and developed dialectically over decades in response to client needs and sociopolitical conditions in the Egyptian, African, and Arab contexts in which it works. The article discusses El-Nadeem's establishment and evolution, including its expansive understanding of violence and trauma; its nonabstract orientation to embodiment in its therapeutic practices and understanding of psychic, somatic, and social health as closely connected; how its treatment protocols approach the temporalities of trauma; and its public activism, which challenges the paradoxical coexistence of social normalization and disavowal of violence. The article is based on analysis of interviews I conducted in 2014 with El-Nadeem psychiatrists, organizational publications, and a 2003 Arabic-language feminist psychological handbook, The Psyche Ails and the Body Suffers , authored by one of El-Nadeem's founders. It shows that historical context and material conditions shape the forms of suffering and care politics, although context and conditions are often either evacuated or superficially addressed in feminist concepts produced in the Anglophone imperialist core. The article invites more consideration of how vulnerabilities and suffering that require care are created by extractive and repressive systems at multiple scales, including capitalism and imperialism, and more critical focus on these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study suggests that lack of adequate PPE can lead to HCP burnout, which may result in employees quitting. A pandemic preparedness plan for future pandemics or outbreaks that does not include adequate and appropriate PPE may increase health care personnel burnout and intention to leave post. Objective: The aim of the study is to explore associations among personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, workplace environment, and burnout among US healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study used an online healthcare provider (HCP) survey (December 2020–February 2021) regarding PPE confidence, availability, burnout, and workplace environment. Results: Lack of appropriate PPE was reported by 27% of 799 US HCP surveyed. Burnout, reported by 77% of HCP, was more likely among females, those with fewer years of professional experience, and those with a higher desire to quit, and less likely for those who perceived PPE was adequate or their employer took all steps to minimize workplace risks. Conclusions: This study suggests that lack of adequate PPE can lead to HCP burnout, which may result in employees quitting. A pandemic preparedness plan that includes adequate PPE is essential for HCP well-being, patient health, and employer fiscal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Organophosphates (OPs) are a major public health problem worldwide due to ease of access and high toxicity lacking effective biomarkers and treatment. Cholinergic agents such as OPs and carbamates are responsible for many pesticide-related deaths. While the inhibition of AChE is thought to be the main mechanism of injury, there are other important pathways that contribute to the overall toxicity of OPs such as mitochondrial dysfunction. An existing gap in OP poisoning are biomarkers to gauge severity and prognosis. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) are novel biomarkers that have gained increased attention as a sensitive biomarker of disease with novel use in acute poisoning. This study investigates alterations in cerebral mitochondrial function in a rodent model of chlorpyrifos poisoning with the use of cfDNA as a potential biomarker. Methods: Twenty rodents were divided into two groups: Control (n = 10) and Chlorpyrifos (n = 10). Chlorpyrifos was administered through the venous femoral line with a Harvard Apparatus 11 Elite Syringe pump (Holliston, MA, USA) at 2 mg/kg. Animals were randomized to receive chlorpyrifos versus the vehicle (10% DMSO) for 60 min which would realistically present an acute exposure with continued absorption. At the end of the exposure (60 min), isolated mitochondria were measured for mitochondrial respiration along with measures of acetylcholinesterase activity, cfDNA, cytokines and western blot. Results: The Chlorpyrifos group showed a significant decrease in heart rate but no change in the blood pressure. There was a significant increase in bulk cfDNA concentrations and overall decrease in mitochondrial respiration from brain tissue obtained from animals in the Chlorpyrifos group when compared to the Control group with no difference in acetylcholinesterase activity. In addition, there was a significant increase in both IL-2 and IL-12 in the Chlorpyrifos group. Conclusions: In our study, we found that the total cfDNA concentration may serve as a more accurate biomarker of OP exposure compared to acetylcholinesterase activity. In addition, there was an overall decrease in cerebral mitochondrial function in the Chlorpyrifos group when compared to the Control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess vaccine coverage rates before and after implementation of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate among Health care Personnel (HCP) and demographic characteristics associated with vaccine uptake Design, Setting, and Participants: Cohort study conducted among 10,889 hospital employees followed from Dec 16, 2020 - October 31, 2021, at a large academic hospital in Philadelphia. Main Outcome and Measures: Time to COVID-19 vaccination and vaccine series completion rates before and after implementation of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, and level of patient contact/occupational group. The vaccination series completion rate was 86.0% prior to mandate announcement, and increased to 98.7% after mandate implementation. Rates before mandate announcement were highest among Asians (96.2%), Whites (94.0%), males (89.7%), employees ≥ 65 years of age (95.2%), and employees with direct patient care (physicians, 99.0%, and nurses, 93.3%). Hospital educational initiatives (including Town Halls and discussions with Black and Hispanic employees with the lowest vaccination rates) appeared to improve uptake. The largest increase in series completion after mandate announcement occurred among Blacks, those of other/multiracial backgrounds, and Hispanics (35.6%, 22.4%, and 10.8%, respectively) as well as those with some or no direct patient contact (24.5% and 18.3%, respectively). Medical or religious exemptions were approved for 64 (<0.6%) employees and 38 (<0.4%) left their positions (8 voluntary, 30 involuntary) specifically due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. No clinically meaningful differences by age, gender, or race/ethnicity for those who were vaccinated under the mandate versus those who left their positions were noted. These results suggest that while mandates may be challenging to institutions and enforcement unpopular, they play an important role in reducing hesitancy and securing high vaccination rates among HCP, a group at high risk of COVID-19 given their employment and who can be a source of disease transmission to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated racial disparities in opioid prescribing in emergency departments and after surgical procedures. Orthopaedic surgeons account for a large proportion of dispensed opioid prescriptions, yet there are few data investigating whether racial or ethnic disparities exist in opioid dispensing after orthopaedic procedures. Questions/purposes: (1) Are Black, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian or Pacific Islander (PI) patients less likely than non-Hispanic White patients to receive an opioid prescription after an orthopaedic procedure in an academic United States health system? (2) Of the patients who do receive a postoperative opioid prescription, do Black, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian or PI patients receive a lower analgesic dose than non-Hispanic White patients when analyzed by type of procedure performed? Methods: Between January 2017 and March 2021, 60,782 patients underwent an orthopaedic surgical procedure at one of the six Penn Medicine healthcare system hospitals. Of these patients, we considered patients who had not been prescribed an opioid within 1 year eligible for the study, resulting in 61% (36,854) of patients. A total of 40% (24,106) of patients were excluded because they did not undergo one of the top eight most-common orthopaedic procedures studied or their procedure was not performed by a Penn Medicine faculty member. Missing data consisted of 382 patients who had no race or ethnicity listed in their record or declined to provide a race or ethnicity; these patients were excluded. This left 12,366 patients for analysis. Sixty-five percent (8076) of patients identified as non-Hispanic White, 27% (3289) identified as Black, 3% (372) identified as Hispanic or Latino, 3% (318) identified as Asian or PI, and 3% (311) identified as another race ("other"). Prescription dosages were converted to total morphine milligram equivalents for analysis. Statistical differences in receipt of a postoperative opioid prescription were assessed with multivariate logistic regression models within procedure, adjusted for age, gender, and type of healthcare insurance. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess for differences in the total morphine milligram equivalent dosage of the prescription, stratified by procedure. Results: Almost all patients (95% [11,770 of 12,366]) received an opioid prescription. After risk adjustment, we found no differences in the odds of Black (odds ratio 0.94 [95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.15]; p = 0.68), Hispanic or Latino (OR 0.75 [95% CI 0.47 to 1.20]; p = 0.18), Asian or PI (OR 1.00 [95% CI 0.58 to 1.74]; p = 0.96), or other-race patients (OR 1.33 [95% CI 0.72 to 2.47]; p = 0.26) receiving a postoperative opioid prescription compared with non-Hispanic White patients. There were no race or ethnicity differences in the median morphine milligram equivalent dose of postoperative opioid analgesics prescribed (p > 0.1 for all eight procedures) based on procedure. Conclusion: In this academic health system, we did not find any differences in opioid prescribing after common orthopaedic procedures by patient race or ethnicity. A potential explanation is the use of surgical pathways in our orthopaedic department. Formal standardized opioid prescribing guidelines may reduce variability in opioid prescribing. Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection causes marked tissue inflammation leading to lung destruction and morbidity. The inflammatory extracellular microenvironment is acidic, however the effect of this acidosis on the immune response to M.tb is unknown. Using RNA-seq we show that acidosis produces system level transcriptional change in M.tb infected human macrophages regulating almost 4000 genes. Acidosis specifically upregulated extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation pathways with increased expression of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which mediate lung destruction in Tuberculosis. Macrophage MMP-1 and -3 secretion was increased by acidosis in a cellular model. Acidosis markedly suppresses several cytokines central to control of M.tb infection including TNF-α and IFN-γ. Murine studies demonstrated expression of known acidosis signaling G-protein coupled receptors OGR-1 and TDAG-8 in Tuberculosis which are shown to mediate the immune effects of decreased pH. Receptors were then demonstrated to be expressed in patients with TB lymphadenitis. Collectively, our findings show that an acidic microenvironment modulates immune function to reduce protective inflammatory responses and increase extracellular matrix degradation in Tuberculosis. Acidosis receptors are therefore potential targets for host directed therapy in patients. Author summary: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death from a single infectious disease. Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis generates an immune response which causes inflammation. In some patients this inflammation controls infection but in those that develop TB this inflammation causes extensive lung tissue destruction resulting in mortality and morbidity. Lung destruction arises due to excessive production of a group of enzymes, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which degrades lung tissue. Understanding which factors promote protective, rather than tissue damaging, inflammation will identify new potential treatments. Inflammation causes tissue affected by TB to become more acidic. In this study we found that this acidity profoundly alters the immune response of infected cells to promote production of MMPs and suppresses production of key proteins required to control infection. This acidity is detected by receptors on the surface of TB infected cells (TDAG-8 and OGR-1). Drugs which target these receptors may therefore be of therapeutic benefit to help control disease and reduce tissue damage in TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cyanide exposure can occur in various settings such as industry and metallurgy. The primary mechanism of injury is cellular hypoxia from Complex IV (CIV) inhibition. This leads to decreased ATP production and increased reactive oxygen species production. The brain and the heart are the organs most affected due to their high metabolic demand. While the cardiac effects of cyanide are well known, the cerebral effects on cellular function are less well described. We investigated cerebral metabolism with a combination of brain respirometry, microdialysis, and western blotting using a rodent model of sub-lethal cyanide poisoning. Methods: Twenty rodents were divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and sub-lethal cyanide (n = 10). Cerebral microdialysis was performed during a 2 mg/kg/h cyanide exposure to obtain real-time measurements of cerebral metabolic status. At the end of the exposure (90 min), brain-isolated mitochondria were measured for mitochondrial respiration. Brain tissue ATP concentrations, acyl-Coenzyme A thioesters, and mitochondrial content were also measured. Results: The cyanide group showed significantly increased lactate and decreased hypotension with decreased cerebral CIV-linked mitochondrial respiration. There was also a significant decrease in cerebral ATP concentration in the cyanide group and a significantly higher cerebral lactate-to-pyruvate ratio (LPR). In addition, we also found decreased expression of Complex III and IV protein expression in brain tissue from the cyanide group. Finally, there was no change in acyl-coenzyme A thioesters between the two groups. Conclusions: The key finding demonstrates mitochondrial dysfunction in brain tissue that corresponds with a decrease in mitochondrial function, ATP concentrations, and an elevated LPR indicating brain dysfunction at a sub-lethal dose of cyanide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We argue that i-frame interventions can and do increase support for systemic reforms, and s-frame interventions should be pursued in parallel to address key societal issues. Without accompanying i-frame interventions, s-frame interventions can fail. We offer an operant conditioning framework to generate positive spillover effects. Behavioral scientists should develop i-frame interventions that enhance, rather than compete with, s-frame interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, using data from the National Sports and Society Survey (N = 2853), we examine U.S. women's reports of their sport consumption and self-identified sport fandom. Multiple regression analyses are used to assess associations between social structural and sociocultural antecedents of consumption and women's frequencies of watching and following sport, frequencies of attending live sport events, and the amount of money that they spend to watch and follow sport. We then investigate the relationships between women's sport consumption behaviors and their fandom. We find that women are common consumers of sport and their consumption is positively associated with their socioeconomic statuses, number of children, social relationships, sport participation experiences, and sport-related identities. We also find evidence that women's sport consumption behaviors are only modestly associated with their levels of fandom. We conclude with reflections on what these results mean for better understanding and supporting women's sport consumption and fandom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forelimb-related areas of the motor cortex communicate directly to downstream areas in the brainstem and spinal cord via axons that project to and through the pyramidal tract (PT). To better understand the diversity of the brainstem branching patterns of these pyramidal tract projections, we used MAPseq, a molecular barcode technique for population-scale sampling with single-axon resolution. In experiments using mice of both sexes, we first confirmed prior results demonstrating the basic efficacy of axonal barcode identification of primary motor cortex (M1) PT-type axons, including corticobulbar (CBULB) and corticospinal (CSPI) subclasses. We then used multiplexed MAPseq to analyze projections from M1 and M2 (caudal and rostral forelimb areas). The four basic axon subclasses comprising these projections (M1-CSPI, M1-CBULB, M2-CSPI, M2- CBULB) showed a complex mix of differences and similarities in their brainstem projection profiles. This included relatively abundant branching by all classes in the dorsal midbrain, by M2 subclasses in the pons, and by CSPI subclasses in the dorsal medulla. Cluster analysis showed graded distributions of the basic subclasses within the PT class. Clusters were of diversely mixed subclass composition and showed distinct rostrocaudal and/or dorsomedial projection biases. Exemplifying these patterns was a subcluster likely enriched in corticocuneate branches. Overall, the results indicate high yet systematic PT axon diversity at the level of brainstem branching patterns; projections of M1 and M2 appear qualitatively similar, yet with quantitative differences in subclasses and clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Session replay scripts record a user's actions while visiting a website or using a computer application. These recordings are typically sent to third party companies whose stated purpose is to analyze the recordings to help correct bottlenecks and illuminate problems that are difficult for users to navigate. We examine how session replay scripts are being marketed and how they are used by application developers. The extent of gathered data is intrusive, often going beyond the stated objectives, and often collected without users' knowledge. Using Nissenbaum's privacy as contextual integrity framework, we demonstrate how replay scripts violate the norms of both appropriateness and distribution, and hence the privacy of the user. We examine two scenarios: one where the session replay data are sent back to the application developer, and another where captured data are sent to third party companies. We compare the scenarios to two analogous situations: surveys taken at a museum and video surveillance in a brick-and-mortar store. We analyze in detail the case of FullStory, a vendor of session replay scripts. In conclusion, we offer suggestions on how to preserve private information in both scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article reviews a growing body of research on receptiveness to opposing views—the willingness to access, consider, and evaluate contradictory opinions in a relatively impartial manner. First, we describe the construct of receptiveness and consider how it can be measured and studied at the individual level. Next, we extend our theorizing to the interpersonal level, arguing that receptiveness in the course of any given interaction is mutually constituted by the dispositional tendencies and observable behaviors of the parties involved. We advance the argument that receptiveness should be conceptualized and studied as an interpersonal construct that emerges dynamically over the course of an interaction and is powerfully influenced by counterpart behavior. This interpersonal conceptualization of receptiveness has important implications for intervention design and raises a suite of novel research questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While cortical injuries, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and neocortical stroke, acutely disrupt the neocortex, most of their consequent disabilities reflect secondary injuries that develop over time. Thalamic neuroinflammation has been proposed to be a biomarker of cortical injury and of the long‐term cognitive and neurological deficits that follow. However, the extent to which thalamic neuroinflammation depends on the type of cortical injury or its location remains unknown. Using two mouse models of focal neocortical injury that do not directly damage subcortical structures—controlled cortical impact and photothrombotic ischemic stroke—we found that chronic neuroinflammation in the thalamic region mirrors the functional connections with the injured cortex, and that sensory corticothalamic regions may be more likely to sustain long‐term damage than nonsensory circuits. Currently, heterogeneous clinical outcomes complicate treatment. Understanding how thalamic inflammation depends on the injury site can aid in predicting features of subsequent deficits and lead to more effective, customized therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine factors associated with return to work in US diplomats injured during a work assignment in Cuba. Methods: In this case series work ability was determined at each visit. Questionnaires used included the Symptom Score Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Quality-of-Life Inventory, and Patient Health Questionnaire. Results: Of the 45 employees referred to Occupational Medicine, the mean age was 42.5 years, 60% were men, 68% were never out of work, 22% were out of work for some period, and 15% remain out of work. Vestibular, cognitive, hearing, sleep, and visual symptoms, and a higher initial symptom score were significantly associated with work inability while psychiatric symptoms were not. Conclusions: This exposure resulted in prolonged illness with cognitive impairment and other clinical manifestations associated with work inability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine environmental health literacy of childcare providers about outdoor air quality alert resources, the connection between air pollution and asthma and determine if childcare providers would use the resource to benefit children in their care. Methods: We designed a free outreach program about asthma prevalence, dangers of poor air quality, and air quality alert resources for staff at childcare centers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during summer and fall of 2015-2017. Pre-surveys were administered to evaluate baseline understanding. Post-surveys were administered at 4 weeks and returned within 4-12 weeks. Summary statistics were calculated, and pre/post knowledge compared using a paired t-test. Results: 258 staffers at 45 childcare centers attended the presentations. 214 completed both pre/post surveys. 74% reported never/rarely using air quality alerts before the program. Post-survey, 40% reported signing up for alerts. Post-survey there was an 8% mean increase in knowledge score (95% CI: 6.3-9.5%, Conclusions: This easily administered program using freely available information was useful to childcare providers and increased their environmental health literacy to benefit children in their care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactate is the main product generated at the end of anaerobic glycolysis or during the Warburg effect and its role as an active signalling molecule is increasingly recognised. Lactate can be released and used by host cells, by pathogens and commensal organisms, thus being essential for the homeostasis of host-microbe interactions. Infection can alter this intricate balance, and the presence of lactate transporters in most human cells including immune cells, as well as in a variety of pathogens (including bacteria, fungi and complex parasites) demonstrates the importance of this metabolite in regulating host-pathogen interactions. This review will cover lactate secretion and sensing in humans and microbes, and will discuss the existing evidence supporting a role for lactate in pathogen growth and persistence, together with lactate's ability to impact the orchestration of effective immune responses. The ubiquitous presence of lactate in the context of infection and the ability of both host cells and pathogens to sense and respond to it, makes manipulation of lactate a potential novel therapeutic strategy. Here, we will discuss the preliminary research that has been carried out in the context of cancer, autoimmunity and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loneliness, the subjective experience of social isolation, represents one of the largest risk factors for physical illness and early death in humans. However, the mechanisms by which loneliness leads to adverse health outcomes are not well understood.Purpose: In this study, we examined altered parasympathetic nervous system function as a potential pathway by which chronic loneliness and state loneliness may "get under the skin" to impact cardiovascular physiology.Methods: In a controlled laboratory setting, vagally mediated resting heart rate variability (HRV), HRV reactivity to an induction of state loneliness, and HRV reactivity to a cognitive challenge task were assessed in a sample of 316 healthy women (18-28 years).Results: Greater chronic loneliness in women predicted lower resting HRV, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, after controlling for demographic, psychosocial, and health behavior covariates. Furthermore, women higher in chronic loneliness experienced significantly larger increases in HRV to state loneliness and reported significantly higher levels of negative affect immediately following state loneliness, compared with their less chronically lonely counterparts. Chronic loneliness also predicted blunted HRV reactivity-a maladaptive physiological response-to cognitive challenge.Conclusions: The current findings provide evidence that chronic loneliness is associated with altered parasympathetic function (both resting HRV and HRV reactivity) in women, and that the immediate experience of state loneliness is linked to a proximate increase in HRV among chronically lonely women. Results are discussed in terms of implications for cardiovascular health and the evolutionary functions of loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People readily perceive and react to the body odors of other people, which creates a wide range of implications for affective, cognitive, and behavioral responses. In this article, we provide an overview of recent research in this area. We summarize the process by which people associate body odors with different kinds of interpersonally relevant information, briefly review two lines of research on responses to strangers' body odors (research on olfactory cues and emotions, research on olfactory cues and impression formation), and review new research on the psychological consequences of smelling loved ones' odors—including consequences for stress reduction and sleep enhancement. We conclude with a discussion of emerging research questions and methodological considerations that may help guide future inquiry into the various ways that the odors of other people influence one's emotions, cognitions, relationships, and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐industrial shrinking cities contain abundant vacant land and are increasingly recognized for their pollinator conservation potential. At the same time, the industrial legacies of these urban ecosystems have resulted in elevated levels of heavy metals in surface soils, which could negatively affect bee populations.We investigated whether foraging within heavy metal contaminated landscapes represents a fitness cost for the common Eastern bumblebee Bombus impatiens, by placing colonies in residential backyards along an urban to rural gradient extending south and east from the city of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Bees foraged in the landscape for 3 weeks, after which time we counted the total number of workers and larvae present in the colony and analysed castes for the presence of heavy metals. We then assessed the relationship between landscape composition, heavy metal loads and caste abundance.Colonies located in urban landscapes were more likely to be exposed to lead (Pb). Elevated concentrations of Pb within workers were negatively correlated with both the number of workers and the number of larvae present.Synthesis and applications. Our findings raise concern that lead (Pb) contamination could represent a significant challenge to bee conservation in cities. To elucidate risks posed by this pollutant, we highlight a need to quantify lethal and sub‐lethal effects of Pb exposure using laboratory and field‐based studies. Further, identifying routes of exposure and landscape factors that influence exposure risk is necessary to implement mitigation strategies as part of urban conservation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of visual information by dragonflies to calculate prey-interception trajectories guided by proportional navigation. Topics discussed include the impact of the error-correction component on fovea location, speeds of the model dragonfly and prey; and the potential of the biological dragonfly system to inspire a man-made system.

Almost nothing is known about whether exposure to the scent of loved ones influences sleep. In the current study, 155 participants spent 2 nights with their partner's scent and 2 nights with a control scent (in random order). Sleep was measured in two ways: sleep efficiency (via actigraphy) and perceived sleep quality (via self-report). Sleep efficiency was higher when participants were exposed to their partner's scent. This increase occurred regardless of participants' beliefs about the origin of the scent. Perceived sleep quality was higher when participants believed that they were smelling their partner's scent. Exposure to a partner's scent led sleep efficiency to increase by more than 2% on average, an improvement similar in magnitude to the effect of melatonin on sleep. The current work speaks to the critical role of olfaction in communication and reveals that social scents can impact sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: TNFAIP8 and TIPE2 belong to TNFa-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8/TIPE) family. They control apoptosis and direct leukocyte migration. Nucleus pulposus cell loss is a hallmark of intervertebral disc degeneration in response to injury, and inflammation may cause pain. Here, we examined the effects of TNFAIP8/TIPE2 deficiency on the intervertebral discs in mice with these genes deleted. Design: Tail intervertebral discs in Tnfaip8 or Tipe2 single and double knockout mice (Tnfaip8−/− , Tipe2−/− , and Tnfaip8/Tipe2 dko), and wild-type controls were injured. The spine motion segments were stained with safranin O to reveal proteoglycans. Macrophages were identified by immunostaining, and selected inflammatory marker and collagen gene expression was examined by Real Time PCR. Results: The injured tail intervertebral discs of Tnfaip−/− , Tipe2−/− , and Tnfaip8/Tipe2 dko mice all displayed higher levels of proteoglycans than wild-type controls. Fewer macrophages were found in the injured intervertebral discs of Tipe2−/− and Tnfaip8/Tipe2 dko mice than wild type. Il6, Adam8, and Col1 gene expression was downregulated in the injured intervertebral discs of Tnfip8/Tipe2 dko mice. Conclusions: TNFAIP8 and TIPE2 loss of function ameliorated proteoglycan loss and inflammation in the injured intervertebral discs. They may serve as molecular targets to preserve disc structure and reduce inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manual stretchers cause more injuries than hydraulic stretchers in workers who transport patients. Objective: To evaluate the impact of introducing motorized stretchers on transporter injuries and resultant workers' compensation costs. Methods: The number of transporters who sustained injuries related to stretcher manipulation, and associated workers' compensation costs, before and after the introduction of motorized stretchers, was determined. The Wilcoxon Rank Sum test was used to examine costs and lost and restricted workdays. Results: The number of injuries and restricted work days decreased after motorized stretchers were introduced. Transporters incurred less lost work days (median 24.5 vs 7 days, P  = 0.050). Conclusions: Motorized stretchers were associated with decreased injuries and lost work days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Emergency Medicine Milestone Project, a framework for assessing competencies, has been used as a method of providing focused resident feedback. However, the emergency medicine milestones do not include specific objective data about resident clinical efficiency and productivity, and studies have shown that milestone‐based feedback does not improve resident satisfaction with the feedback process. We examined whether providing performance metric reports to resident physicians improves their satisfaction with the feedback process and their clinical performance. Methods: We conducted a three‐phase stepped‐wedge randomized pilot study of emergency medicine residents at a single, urban academic site. In phase 1, all residents received traditional feedback; in phase 2, residents were randomized to receive traditional feedback (control group) or traditional feedback with performance metric reports (intervention group); and in phase 3, all residents received monthly performance metric reports and traditional feedback. To assess resident satisfaction with the feedback process, surveys using 6‐point Likert scales were administered at each study phase and analyzed using two‐sample t‐tests. Analysis of variance in repeated measures was performed to compare impact of feedback on resident clinical performance, specifically patient treatment time (PTT) and patient visits per hour. Results: Forty‐one residents participated in the trial of which 21 were randomized to the intervention group and 20 in the control group. Ninety percent of residents liked receiving the report and 74% believed that it better prepared them for expectations of becoming an attending physician. Additionally, residents randomized to the intervention group reported higher satisfaction (p = 0.01) with the quality of the feedback compared to residents in the control group. However, receiving performance metric reports, regardless of study phase or postgraduate year status, did not affect clinical performance, specifically PTT (183 minutes vs. 177 minutes, p = 0.34) or patients visits per hour (0.99 vs. 1.04, p = 0.46). Conclusions: While feedback with performance metric reports did not improve resident clinical performance, resident physicians were more satisfied with the feedback process, and a majority of residents expressed liking the reports and felt that it better prepared them to become attending physicians. Residency training programs could consider augmenting feedback with performance metric reports to aide in the transition from resident to attending physician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms in possession of a frondose body plan are amongst the oldest and most enigmatic members of the soft‐bodied Ediacaran macrobiota. Appraisal of specimens from the late Ediacaran Ediacara Member of South Australia reveals that the frondose taxon Arborea arborea probably possessed a fluid‐filled holdfast disc, the size and form of which could vary within populations. Mouldic preservation of internal anatomical features provides evidence for tissue differentiation, and for bundles of tubular structures within the stalk of the organism. These structures connect in a fascicled arrangement to individual lateral branches, before dividing further into individual units housed on those branches. The observed fascicled branching arrangement, which seemingly connects individual units to the main body of the organism, is consistent with a biologically modular construction for Arborea, and raises the possibility of a colonial organization. In conjunction with morphological characters previously recognized by other authors, including apical‐basal and front‐back differentiation, we propose that to the exclusion of all alternative known possibilities, Arborea can be resolved as a total group eumetazoan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Heat stress is an occupational hazard. Exposed workers may suffer heat-related illness, disease exacerbation, increased injuries, and reduced productivity. Response strategies include mitigation policies and preparedness. Methods: Frequency of heat-related illness and workers' compensation costs before and after implementation of a voluntary Heat Stress Awareness Program were evaluated retrospectively in outdoor workers from 2009 to 2017. The program consisted of training, acclimatization, and medical monitoring as outlined in NIOSH's Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments. Results: Of the 604 workers assessed, those with two or more risk factors reported a heat-related illness at greater frequency, which decreased after program implementation. Median workers' compensation costs decreased by 50%. Discussion: Heat-related illness prevention programs can be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of these occupational injuries as well as associated costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem engineers can radically reshape ecosystems by modulating the availability of resources to other organisms through modifying either physical or biological aspects of the environment. The introduction or removal of ecosystem engineers from otherwise stable ecosystems can impact the diversity of co‐occurring species, such as driving local extinctions of native taxa. While these impacts are well established over ecological timescales for a wealth of taxa, the macroevolutionary implications of the onset of ecosystem engineering behaviours are less clear. Despite this uncertainty, ecosystem engineering has been implicated in several major transitions in Earth history including the appearance of extensive bioturbation during the Cambrian substrate revolution and associated Ediacaran–Cambrian turnover, and the Great Oxygenation Event. Whether ecosystem engineers are frequently associated with turnover and extinction in deep time is not known. Here we investigate this with an eco‐evolutionary simulation framework in which we assign lineages the ability to impact the fitness of co‐occurring taxa through phenotype–environment feedback. We explore numerous conditions, including how frequently such feedback occurs, and whether ecosystem engineers modify or create niches. We show that there is no general expected outcome from the introduction of ecosystem engineers. In a minority of runs, ecosystem engineering lineages completely dominate, rendering all others extinct, but in others they persist (but do not dominate), or die out. We suggest that ecosystem engineers have complex impacts, but possess the capacity to profoundly shape diversity, and it is appropriate to consider them alongside other exogenous extinction drivers in deep time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The resuscitation and critical care unit is a novel emergency department-intensive care unit designed to provide early critical care to emergency department patients for ≤24 h.Objectives: This study sought to identify clinical variables associated with short intensive care unit (ICU) stays in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), who commonly require ICU-level care.Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study of DKA patients ≥18 years of age who presented to an academic, urban hospital emergency department over 16 months. Patient demographics and clinical variables extracted from medical records were compared between prolonged ICU stay patients of ≥24 h versus short ICU stay patients (SSPs) of <24 h. ICU care was defined as treatment in the resuscitation and critical care unit or inpatient ICU.Results: One hundred sixty-eight emergency department visits with a primary diagnosis of DKA were analyzed. There were 53 prolonged ICU stay patients, 58 SSPs, and 57 patients required no ICU time. SSPs had significantly higher initial serum bicarbonate (13.0 vs. 9.0 mEq/L, p = 0.01) and shorter anion gap closure time (9.8 vs. 14.4 hours, p = 0.003). Medication nonadherence was a significantly more frequent precipitant in SSPs (67.2% vs. 47.2%, p = 0.03). Initial anion gap, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and severity of illness scores were not significantly different between groups. After multivariate logistic regression adjusting for variables significant from univariate analysis, higher initial bicarbonate (p = 0.04) and medication nonadherence (p = 0.03) remained significantly associated with SSPs.Conclusions: Patients with DKA with short ICU stays have higher initial bicarbonate levels and are more likely to have medication nonadherence than patients requiring prolonged critical care. These variables may identify patients with DKA who are best treated in an emergency department-intensive care unit to potentially reduce inpatient ICU use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses a feminist spatial approach attentive to masculine affect and difference to analyze the language, cultural production, and practices of the two largest Ultras football fan groups in Egypt – White Knights (affiliated with Zamalek Sporting Club) and Ahlawy (affiliated with Al-Ahly Sporting Club) – both established in 2007. Egyptian Ultras cultivate embodied passion, joy, love and anger. By excluding girls and women, the Ultras reflect the sexism that permeates Egyptian social and political life. However, sexism does not appear to be the most important reason for Ultras homosociality and misogyny is not particularly relevant to their practices and cultural oeuvre. The Ultras do not encourage sexual attacks on girls and women, let alone boys and men, and explicitly discourage sectarianism and racism. Ultras groups in Egypt, I contend, offer a masculine alternative to a government that represents itself as a militarist 'factory of men'. As they battle state efforts to control space and reinforce the dominant order, their practices challenge rationality/affect and mind/body binaries, as well as divisions between street/stadium and corporate/commons. Informed by fieldwork in Egypt, the article uses semiotic and discursive methods to analyze hundreds of Ultras' images, songs, chants, Facebook pages, and live performances on multiple sites, as well as scholarly sources in Arabic and English and a book-length Arabic account about the Ultras in Egypt by the founder of the Ultras White Knights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous findings on the relationship between smartphone use and well-being have been mixed. This may be partially due to a reliance on cross-sectional study designs and self-reported smartphone usage. In the current study, we collected screen time data by directly tracking participants' (N = 325, ages 14−80 years, 58% women) smartphone usage over a period of 6 days. We combined this tracking with ecological momentary assessment, asking participants three times per day about their psychological well-being and feelings of social connectedness. Smartphone screen time was determined for the hour directly before each assessment. Results revealed that at times when participants used their smartphone more in the hour before an assessment, they reported lower psychological well-being and lower social connectedness. A bidirectional relationship emerged between smartphone screen time and social connectedness, suggesting a potential "vicious cycle" whereby smartphone usage leads to reduced social connectedness, which promotes more smartphone usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established that the amount eaten by other people affects how much we eat, but unanswered questions exist regarding how much the food choices of other people affect the types of food that we choose. Past research on food choice modeling has primarily been conducted in controlled laboratory situations and has focused on snack foods. The current research examines the extent to which food choice modeling of a main dish occurs in a real-life context and whether people are aware of being influenced by others. The lunch orders of café patrons were surreptitiously tracked and participants were recruited after they paid for their lunch. Participants were asked what they ordered, whether they were influenced by the prior order, and what their relationship was to the person ahead of them in line. We analyzed the data of participants who were not acquainted with the person ahead of them (N = 174). As hypothesized, participants' main-dish lunch orders matched the choice of the person ordering ahead of them in line at rates significantly higher than chance. A significant modeling effect was observed even among participants who reported that their order was not influenced by the prior order. This research provided evidence of main-dish choice modeling occurring in real-life eating situations and outside of conscious awareness - demonstrating a powerful social influence on eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of death from infection in developed countries. There is evidence of an association between improved survival from infection and statin use. The possible beneficial effects of statins are complicated by the common use of macrolide antibiotics for pneumonia, with current guidance suggesting that concurrent macrolide and statin use is contraindicated. We conducted an observational study of statin use in patients with CAP. Of 2,067 patients with CAP, 30.4% were on statin therapy at admission. Statin users were more likely to survive the admission (p<0.001). In addition, we conducted a survey of doctors and found that knowledge regarding concurrent macrolide and statin use was lacking. These data suggest a potential role of statins in the management of CAP. Further research using high-dose statins is required to assess their safe use in subjects with mild to moderate infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to use social support to regulate stress is critical to mental and physical health. Here, we posit that the oxytocin system contributes to the variability in individual responses to social support. We first review the evidence that oxytocin is related to both social functioning and stress regulation. We focus on results from molecular genetics suggesting that individual variations in both of these functions are associated with natural variations in the oxytocin receptor gene ( OXTR). We then describe research that exploits this natural variation to directly and experimentally test relationships between the oxytocin system, social support, and stress regulation in both infants and adults. On the basis of our findings, we propose a novel theoretical model of how biological processes might interact with psychological beliefs about relationships-even in infants-to affect long-term patterns of social regulation of stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care facilities are increasingly converting paper medical records to electronic health records. This study investigates the perception of privacy health care personnel have of electronic health records. Methods: A pilot tested, anonymous survey was administered to a convenience sample of health care personnel. Standard summary statistics and Chi-square analysis were used to assess differences in perception. Results: Of the 93% (96/103) who responded, 65% were female and 43% white. The mean age was 44.3 years. Most (94%) felt that Medical Record privacy was important and one-third reported they would not seek care at their workplace if Electronic Health Records were used. Conclusion: Efforts to assure and communicate the integrity of electronic health records are essential toward reducing deterrents for health care personnel to access geographically convenient and timely health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a stressful condition. Mental health comorbidity is common. Stress can increase the risk of depression, reduce quality of life (QOL), and possibly exacerbate disease activity in MS. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) may help, but has been little studied in MS, particularly among more disabled individuals.Methods: The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and likely effectiveness of a standard MBSR course for people with MS. Participant eligibility included: age > 18, any type of MS, an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Results: Fifty participants were recruited and randomised (25 per group). Trial retention and outcome measure completion rates were 90% at post-intervention, and 88% at 3 months. Sixty percent of participants completed the course. Immediately post-MBSR, perceived stress improved with a large effect size (ES 0.93; p < 0.01), compared to very small beneficial effects on QOL (ES 0.17; p = 0.48). Depression (ES 1.35; p < 0.05), positive affect (ES 0.87; p = 0.13), anxiety (ES 0.85; p = 0.05), and self-compassion (ES 0.80; p < 0.01) also improved with large effect sizes. At three-months post-MBSR (study endpoint) improvements in perceived stress were diminished to a small effect size (ES 0.26; p = 0.39), were negligible for QOL (ES 0.08; p = 0.71), but were large for mindfulness (ES 1.13; p < 0.001), positive affect (ES 0.90; p = 0.54), self-compassion (ES 0.83; p < 0.05), anxiety (ES 0.82; p = 0.15), and prospective memory (ES 0.81; p < 0.05).Conclusions: Recruitment, retention, and data collection demonstrate that a RCT of MBSR is feasible for people with MS. Trends towards improved outcomes suggest that a larger definitive RCT may be warranted. However, optimisation changes may be required to render more stable the beneficial treatment effects on stress and depression.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02136485 ; trial registered 1st May 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deuterostomes are characterized by some of the most widely divergent body plans in the animal kingdom. These striking morphological differences have hindered efforts to predict ancestral characters, with the origin and earliest evolution of the group remaining ambiguous. Several iconic Cambrian fossils have been suggested to be early deuterostomes and hence could help elucidate ancestral character states. However, their phylogenetic relationships are controversial. Here, we describe new, exceptionally preserved specimens of the discoidal metazoan Rotadiscus grandis from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota of China. These reveal a previously unknown double spiral structure, which we interpret as a chordate-like covering to a coelomopore, located adjacent to a horseshoe-shaped tentacle complex. The tentacles differ in key aspects from those seen in lophophorates and are instead more similar to the tentacular systems of extant pterobranchs and echinoderms. Thus, Rotadiscus exhibits a chimeric combination of ambulacrarian and chordate characters. Phylogenetic analyses recover Rotadiscus and closely related fossil taxa as stem ambulacrarians, filling a significant morphological gap in the deuterostome tree of life. These results allow us to reconstruct the ancestral body plans of major clades of deuterostomes, revealing that key traits of extant forms, such as a post-anal region, gill bars, and a U-shaped gut, evolved through convergence. [Display omitted] • Exceptionally preserved fossils of the discoidal animal Rotadiscus are described • Rotadiscus exhibits a combination of ambulacrarian and chordate characters • Phylogenetic analyses recover Rotadiscus as a stem ambulacrarian • Major deuterostome characters evolved through convergence Li et al. describe exceptionally preserved fossils of the enigmatic animal Rotadiscus from the Chengjiang biota of China. This reveals new anatomical details, including a chordate-like covering to a coelomopore. Rotadiscus and closely related species are recovered as stem ambulacrarians, demonstrating that convergence is rife among deuterostomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal removal is a significant task that protects our water resources. Fluidized-bed homogeneous granulation process (FBHGP) was used to treat nickel containing wastewaters by recovering nickel in the form of nickel carbonate hydroxide granules with low moisture content rather than soft sludge. This study investigated nickel removal and recovery through HFBGP by determining the effects of varying influent nickel concentrations, [CO 3 2− : Ni 2+ ] molar ratios, and pH of the precipitant. This was conducted in a continuous process using a laboratory scale fluidized-bed reactor that determined the effects driven by supersaturation. The best operating conditions that resulted in a 98.8% nickel removal and 97.8% granulation efficiency were 200 mg L −1 influent nickel concentration, 2.0 M R of [CO 3 −2 :Ni +2 ], and 10.7 pH of precipitant. Based on SEM analysis, the granules formed have sizes between 0.50 mm and 0.15 mm. EDS results showed that the atomic percentages of nickel carbon, and hydrogen were ∼50%, ∼9–12%, and ∼35% respectively, representing the nickel carbonate compound. The XRD results showed the low symmetry of the granules formed that confirmed the characteristics of nullaginite mineral of Ni 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]