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Disordered molecular systems, such as amorphous catalysts, organic thin films, electrolyte solutions, and water, are at the cutting edge of computational exploration at present. Traditional simulations of such systems at length scales relevant to experiments in practice require a compromise between model accuracy and quality of sampling. To address this problem, we have developed an approach based on generative machine learning called the Morphological Autoregressive Protocol (MAP), which provides computational access to mesoscale disordered molecular configurations at linear cost at generation for materials in which structural correlations decay sufficiently rapidly. The algorithm is implemented using an augmented PixelCNN deep learning architecture that, as we previously demonstrated, produces excellent results in 2 dimensions (2D) for mono-elemental molecular systems. Here, we extend our implementation to multi-elemental 3D and demonstrate performance using water as our test system in two scenarios: (1) liquid water and (2) samples conditioned on the presence of pre-selected motifs. We trained the model on small-scale samples of liquid water produced using path-integral molecular dynamics simulations, including nuclear quantum effects under ambient conditions. MAP-generated water configurations are shown to accurately reproduce the properties of the training set and to produce stable trajectories when used as initial conditions in quantum dynamics simulations. We expect our approach to perform equally well on other disordered molecular systems in which structural correlations decay sufficiently fast while offering unique advantages in situations when the disorder is quenched rather than equilibrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Centre for Health, Independence, Economic participation and Value Enhanced care for adolescents and young adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP-ACHIEVE) is a Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), funded for 5-year by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The vision of CP-ACHIEVE is an Australia where people with cerebral palsy receive excellent healthcare throughout their lives and live in, and contribute to, supportive communities that welcome and enable their participation. CP-ACHIEVE began with the ethical commitment to bring together people with lived experience of cerebral palsy, researchers, and health professionals to develop and conduct research informed by, and relevant to, people with cerebral palsy and their allies. From inception, co-research and collaboration with (not 'to' or 'about') young people with cerebral palsy (10 to 30 years of age) and their families has been central to our work. In this paper, we describe the CP-ACHIEVE values, structure and strategy for this approach, and its implementation at each stage of the research process. We then provide an example of the strategy in action, using a qualitative exploration of CP-ACHIEVE's Participation Theme team's experiences of collaboration and involvement as co-researchers. Active participation in research for young people with lived experience of cerebral palsy and their families is a fundamental human right, based on their right to be active agents in decisions that affect them. In this paper we explore how our collaborative approach, and the integration of diverse views, has enhanced the relevance, quality, usefulness, and translation of our research. We also describe (i) the structural elements of our research group that have facilitated our work together, (ii) our challenges, and (iii) how the ownership of our research by people with cerebral palsy is driving future research directions and empowering involvement of people with lived experience beyond CP-ACHIEVE. We offer this knowledge and our experiences to assist other research teams in their journeys towards collaborative research alongside people with lived experience of disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature, many desirable properties for allocations of indivisible goods have been proposed, including envy-freeness, Pareto optimality, and maximization of either the total welfare of all agents, the welfare of the worst-off agent, or the Nash product of agents' welfares. In the two-person context, we study relationships among these properties using both analytical models and simulation in a setting where individual preferences are given by additive cardinal utilities. We provide several new theorems linking these criteria and use simulation to study how their values are related to problem characteristics, assuming that utilities are assigned randomly. We draw some conclusions concerning the relation of problem characteristics to the availabilty of allocations with particular properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess if a high-level mobility programme (HLMP) can promote sustained participation in physical activity by adolescents with cerebral palsy. Eight adolescents with cerebral palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-II, 11–16 years, participated in 24 community-based group HLMP sessions across 12 weeks. Participants set attendance, involvement, and physical performance goals, completed activity diaries over 58 weeks and undertook physical capacity tests. Measures of activity frequency and diversity (attendance) and involvement level were collected weekly across baseline (4–6 weeks), intervention (12 weeks), and nine months follow-up (including Covid lockdown). Median attendance was 23 of 24 HLMP sessions. Attendance goal/s attainment was highest during COVID lockdown. Involvement goals were consistently attained throughout all phases. Physical performance goal/s attainment was highest during intervention phase but reduced during nine months follow-up. Frequency of participation in physical activities varied greatly across study phases (range 0–33 episodes/week) with stable variety of activities and generally high 'involvement.' During the intervention, seven participants improved physical capacity and six maintained, or increased, the gains six months later. Most participants improved physical capacity post-intervention but only some had sustained attendance and involvement in physical activity, highlighting the complexity of physical activity participation. Health professionals' promotion of sustained participation in physical activity needs to consider individual preferences for frequency, diversity and duration. Supporting and measuring involvement in physical activity should be prioritised as a key outcome of an intervention. Physical activity interventions should be followed up for longer than six months to determine sustained changes in participation outcomes Measuring physical capacity and performance gains alone is insufficient to determine sustained, meaningful participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the experiences of involvement of adolescents living with cerebral palsy, and their parents, while participating in physical activity. Understanding involvement in physical activity may be used to guide future participation. Methods: Eight adolescents (mean age 13 years 11 months, SD 1 year 6 months) with cerebral palsy participated in a New Zealand-based high-level mobility programme (HLMP) focused on running skills, twice per week for 12 weeks. The adolescents and 12 parents were interviewed before, after the 12 weeks and 9-months following the HLMP. Guided by interpretative description, 38 interviews were coded, analysed, and interpreted. Results: Four themes were: "Turning up is not enough" ("There's no point being there if you're not involved"); "In it all the way", "Changes on a dime", and "What works for me." Perceptions of involvement varied between adolescents and parents. Being "very involved" related to high levels of focus, concentration, effort; but not always enjoyment. Conclusions: Focusing on enjoyment as the key experience of involvement understates the complexity and dynamic nature of involvement. "Being involved" is not always easy and may not mean the absence of discomfort or effort. Optimising the individuals' involvement continuum during physical activity may be essential to promote lifelong participation. Adolescents living with cerebral palsy and their parents have differing perspective of involvement and utilise different strategies to encourage being and staying active. Teaching adolescents living with cerebral palsy about their involvement continuum and optimal level of involvement for each activity, context and environment could promote sustained participation. To ensure adolescents are "being involved" in physical activity, opportunities for engagement, motivation and persistence are important; enjoyment is a possible, but not essential attribute of involvement. Encouraging involvement in physical activity can be a source of family conflict from a young age therefore clinicians have a role as an essential supporter, motivator and educator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas—characterized by high human densities, buildings, and impermeable surfaces—are increasing globally and represent a leading threat to wildlife by drastically altering the natural resources wildlife species are accustomed to. Prior work suggests that living in urban habitats can cause wildlife to show increased cholesterol levels. In biomedical research, elevated cholesterol is linked to disease, but the consequence of elevated cholesterol in wildlife remains unclear. We measured total cholesterol in European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), an urban-adapted species, across an urban and a rural site. We asked: (1) Do urban starlings have elevated cholesterol? and (2) Is elevated cholesterol correlated to negative physiological outcomes in starlings? We found that nestlings from the urban (N = 16) and rural (N = 98) sites showed similar cholesterol, but adult starlings from the urban (N = 5) habitat showed elevated cholesterol compared to rural (N = 36) birds. However, elevated cholesterol was not correlated with increased oxidative damage to DNA, lowered body condition, or increased baseline glucocorticoids across any age class, suggesting that elevated cholesterol did not come at a physiological cost to starlings. Future work is needed to explore what mechanism(s) drive variation in cholesterol across urban and rural birds, as well as whether any long-term consequences of elevated cholesterol exist. Les zones urbaines, caractérisées par de densités humaines élevées et des bâtiments et des surfaces imperméables, augmentent au niveau mondial et représentent une menace majeure pour la faune sauvage en modifiant radicalement les ressources naturelles auxquelles les espèces sont habituées. Des travaux antérieurs suggèrent que vivre dans des habitats urbains peut entraîner une augmentation des taux de cholestérol chez la faune sauvage. Dans la recherche biomédicale, un taux de cholestérol élevé est lié à la maladie, mais les conséquences d'un taux de cholestérol élevé chez la faune sauvage ne sont pas claires. Nous mesurâmes le cholestérol total chez l'étourneau sansonnet (Sturnus vulgaris), une espèce adaptée à la ville, sur un site urbain et un site rural. Nous demandâmes: (1) est-ce que les étourneaux sansonnets urbains ont un taux de cholestérol élevé? et (2) est-ce qu'un taux de cholestérol élevé est corrélé à des résultats physiologiques négatifs chez les étourneaux? Nous constatâmes que les oisillons des sites urbains (N = 16) et ruraux (N = 98) présentaient un taux de cholestérol similaire, mais que les étourneaux adultes de l'habitat urbain (N = 5) présentaient un taux de cholestérol élevé par rapport aux étourneaux adultes de l'habitat rural (N = 36). Cependant, un taux de cholestérol élevé n'était pas corrélé à une augmentation des dommages oxydatifs de l'ADN, à une condition corporelle réduite ou à une augmentation des glucocorticoïdes de base dans toutes les classes d'âge, ce qui suggère qu'un taux de cholestérol élevé n'a pas eu de coût physiologique pour les étourneaux. Des travaux futurs sont nécessaires pour explorer le(s) mécanisme(s) qui déterminent la variation du cholestérol chez les oiseaux urbains et ruraux, ainsi que pour déterminer s'il existe des conséquences à long terme d'un taux de cholestérol élevé. Mots-clés: condition corporelle, dommage à l'ADN, glucocorticoïdes, urbanisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying reliable bioindicators of population status is a central goal of conservation physiology. Physiological stress measures are often used as metrics of individual health and can assist in managing endangered species if linked to fitness traits. We analysed feather corticosterone, a cumulative physiological stress metric, of individuals from historical, translocated, and source populations of an endangered endemic Hawaiian bird, the Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis). We hypothesized that feather corticosterone would reflect the improved reproduction and survival rates observed in populations translocated to Midway and Kure Atolls from Laysan Island. We also predicted less physiological stress in historical Laysan birds collected before ecological conditions deteriorated and the population bottleneck. All hypotheses were supported: we found lower feather corticosterone in the translocated populations and historical samples than in those from recent Laysan samples. This suggests that current Laysan birds are experiencing greater physiological stress than historical Laysan and recently translocated birds. Our initial analysis suggests that feather corticosterone may be an indicator of population status and could be used as a non-invasive physiological monitoring tool for this species with further validation. Furthermore, these preliminary results, combined with published demographic data, suggest that current Laysan conditions may not be optimal for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Physical activity (PA) has multiple benefits for older adults (≥70 years old). Despite this many older adults do not undertake the World Health Organisation guideline recommended amount of PA. This systematic review examines barriers and motivators to PA in adults aged ≥70 years. Methods We analysed the quantitative literature, including observational studies and baseline data from randomised controlled trials. Studies examining specific diseases (e.g. cognitive impairment), or care home residents were excluded. Database searches of ASSIA, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science were undertaken on 7 March 2023. Quality assessment was performed using the ROBANS tool. We synthesised the results using the socioecological model. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021160503). Results We identified 37 papers, n  = 26,961, age 70–101 years (median 78), 62% female. We undertook a narrative review; meta-analysis was not possible. Overall risk of bias was low. A total of 23 studies addressed barriers, seven motivators, seven both. The most cited barriers were: concern about physical health/fitness (14 studies), lack of motivation/interest (13 studies), fear of falls/history of falling (11 studies) and environmental barriers (10 studies). Key motivators were: support from family/friends (five studies), social interaction (five studies), personal benefits (five studies) and outside facilities (five studies). Results varied across gender, age, functional ability and geographical location. Discussion To maximise PA in older adults, important modifiable factors identified in this review should be targeted: support from healthcare professionals; reducing fear of falls; and prioritising ease of access and safety of outdoor facilities. When considering future policy, a person-centred, age group appropriate approach will have the most impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is common and disproportionately impacts older adults. Moreover, cancer care of older adults is complex, and the current Canadian cancer care system struggles to address all of the dimensions. In this project, our goal was to understand the barriers and facilitators to caring for older adults with cancer from perspectives of healthcare professionals and cancer care allies, which included community groups, seniors’ centers, and other community-based supports. Methods: In collaboration with a patient advisory board, we conducted focus groups and interviews with multiple local healthcare professionals and cancer care allies in British Columbia, Canada. We used a descriptive qualitative approach and conducted a thematic analysis using NVivo software. Results: A total of 71 participants of various disciplines and cancer care allies participated. They identified both individual and system-level barriers. Priority system-level barriers for older adults included space and staffing constraints and disconnections within healthcare systems, and between healthcare practitioners and cancer care allies. Individual-level barriers relate to the complex health states of older adults, caregiver/support person needs, and the needs of an increasingly diverse population where English may not be a first or preferable language. Conclusions: This study identified key barriers and facilitators that demonstrate aligned priorities among a diverse group of healthcare practitioners and cancer care allies. In conjunction with perspectives from patients and caregivers, these findings will inform future improvements in cancer care. Namely, we emphasize the importance of connections among health systems and community networks, given the outpatient nature of cancer care and the needs of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the post‐COVID 19 environment, it has become increasingly important for healthcare services to optimise service delivery for the benefit of both patients and staff. The project purpose was to quantify and determine causes of throughput delays in a newly established outpatient angiography service in a public hospital setting. Methods: This single‐centre study obtained quantitative and qualitative data for 81 consecutive outpatient interventional radiology (IR) examinations over a 3‐month period via survey and retrospective analysis of electronic medical records. Staff participating in data collection were able to record multiple causes for delay in a single case and were also able to include comments, allowing for more detailed descriptions of the delays that occurred. Results: A total of 93 delay factors were identified in 73 of the 81 outpatient interventional examinations and grouped into six categories via thematic analysis. Availability of the IR room (40%), availability of the radiologist (28%) and insufficient documentation (18%) were identified as the most frequent causes for delay. Linear regression analysis showed that documentation (P = 0.0002) and room unavailability (P = 0.022) were independently associated with procedural starting delay. Conclusion: Delays to the IR procedural start time occurred in 90% of cases (73/81). This study identified the causes for delays in outpatient interventional procedures. This information can be used to improve service delivery in IR departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HFO-1234ze (E) is proposed as a near zero global warming propellant for use in metered dose inhaled (MDI) products. This paper describes the non-clinical safety assessment in mice, rats, and dogs and supplements previously reported data (genetic toxicology, short-term toxicology, and reproductive toxicology). In all species, HFO-1234ze (E) was only detectable in blood for a short period after dosing with no evidence of accumulation. HFO-1234ze (E) was without any toxicological effects at very high doses in subchronic (13-week mouse) and chronic (39-week dog) studies. Chronic (26-week) administration to rats at very high doses was associated with an exacerbation of rodent progressive cardiomyopathy, a well-documented background finding in rodents. In a 2-generation study, extremely high doses were associated with the early euthanasia of some lactating female rats. This finding was considered to be significantly influenced by a state of negative energy balance, reflecting the specific vulnerability of rats during lactation. These findings are considered to not pose a risk to humans with typical MDI use given they occurred at doses which far exceed those expected in patients. Overall, the nonclinical safety data for HFO-1234ze (E) support its further development as an MDI propellant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is internationally defined as chest compressions and rescue breaths, and is a subset of resuscitation. First used for out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest, CPR is now frequently used for in‐hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) with different causes and outcomes. Aims: This paper aims to describe clinical understanding of the role of in‐hospital CPR and perceived outcomes for IHCA. Methods: An online survey of a secondary care staff involved in resuscitation was conducted, focussing on definitions of CPR, features of do‐not‐attempt‐CPR conversations with patients and clinical case scenarios. Data were analysed using a simple descriptive approach. Results: Of 652 responses, 500 were complete and used for analysis. Two hundred eleven respondents were senior medical staff covering acute medical disciplines. Ninety‐one percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that defibrillation is part of CPR, and 96% believed CPR for IHCA included defibrillation. Responses to clinical scenarios were dissonant, with nearly half of respondents demonstrating a pattern of underestimating survival and subsequently showing a desire to offer CPR in similar scenarios with poor outcomes. This was unaffected by seniority and level of resuscitation training. Conclusions: The common use of CPR in hospital reflects the broader definition of resuscitation. Recapturing the CPR definition for clinicians and patients as only chest compressions and rescue breaths may allow clinicians to better discuss individualised resuscitation care to aide meaningful shared decision‐making around patient deterioration. This may involve reframing current in‐hospital algorithms and uncoupling CPR from wider resuscitative measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective single centre study considers the predictive value of specific ultrasound features of sub-chorionic haemorrhage (SCH) as potential indicators of adverse pregnancy outcome. Ultrasound reports and images were reviewed for 160 participants presenting to an early pregnancy assessment unit from January 2018 to January 2019. Participants were selected based upon the presence of SCH within the first trimester. The outcome of each pregnancy and the features of SCH, including the size, location and echogenicity were recorded and multinominal logistic regression was used to establish predictive value. The majority of participants were asymptomatic and delivered healthy babies. 24% miscarried prior to delivery or had stillborn babies; the features of bleed within this group revealed an increased prevalence of adverse outcome in the presence of moderate sized haemorrhage (p = 0.02). 61% of miscarried pregnancies presented with "wrapping" SCH, in which haemorrhage encased the gestation sac, suggesting wrapping posed a probable risk (p = 0.01). 71% of miscarriages occurred within 5 + 0–10 + 0 weeks gestation. Persistent SCH was of greater incidence within those participants with adverse outcome (57%). There was no association between fetal abnormality and miscarriage. Jaundice babies and premature delivery occurred more frequently (p = 0.001) and may be a secondary finding following SCH. There was a strong correlation between presence of SCH in early pregnancy and rate of miscarriage. Specific ultrasound features of SCH, most notably a wrapping location with moderate size, may be indicative of increased risk of miscarriage or post-natal complications. Jaundice and premature births may have an association with placental compromise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The need to balance pain management and radiographic image quality is at the forefront of patient care in diagnostic radiography. This study aimed to identify the decision‐making that radiographers employ when undertaking planar diagnostic imaging for pain‐afflicted adult trauma patients and the factors that influence these decisions. Methods: A virtual focus group interview was undertaken with six experienced Australian radiographers using a realistic scenario and questions based on it. Thematic analysis was employed to explore how radiographers approached planar diagnostic imaging of trauma patients and what influenced decisions regarding patient movement. Results: Five key factors in radiographers' decision‐making were identified: assistance from the multidisciplinary team, understanding the patient, pain reduction methods, the patient being informed and radiographer competence. Radiographers were found to further utilise professional knowledge of image interpretation and anatomy and physiology, in conjunction with interpersonal capabilities, to undertake radiographic examinations. Conclusion: The decision‐making process that informs the movement of pain‐afflicted adult trauma patients is multifactorial, aligning with the broad healthcare principles of multidisciplinary teamwork, holistic management of the patient and professional knowledge and practice. Further research is needed to explore correlations with different patient groups to validate this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article primarily delves into the equitable division of indivisible items among two parties, elucidating seven core fairness principles and their coexistence. It addresses the intricacies of allocating items such as divorce property, explores the interaction between principles like envy-freeness, Pareto-optimality, and maximality, and concludes by contrasting the perspectives of utilitarian theorist Jeremy Bentham and maximin advocate John Rawls on equitable allocation.

The use of an incomplete information game model to explore the strategic characteristics of the carrot and stick approach to coercive diplomacy shows that the dynamics of this manipulative bargaining tactic are much more nuanced than standard atheoretical accounts suggest. One unexpected finding is that when information is incomplete, there always exists a deterrence equilibrium under which no attempt is made to overturn the status quo. An all-out conflict or an unsuccessful fait accompli is also possible, but only when information about preferences is not common knowledge. Incomplete information, then, is a double-edged sword, sometimes enhancing the prospects for peace and at other times making conflict more likely. We use a special case of the Carrot and Stick Game model to shed theoretical light on the Munich crisis of 1938, a manufactured crisis if there ever was one. Hitler's last-minute about-face was motivated by his newfound belief that the British, French, and Czechs intended to resist his planned military invasion of the Sudetenland and his preference to avoid an all-out war. While his preference was unchanged in 1939, his beliefs were not; as our model suggests, the consequences were more than predictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study is to longitudinally examine the coping strategies used by older cancer survivors (≤60 years of age) during COVID-19. Methods: An interpretive descriptive approach was used to collect and analyse qualitative data collected via 1:1 telephone interviews at three timepoints: June/July 2020, January 2021, and March 2021. Main Findings: Coping strategies used by older adults reflected the resources available to them, and their agency in self-triaging and deciding on resources to support their coping. These decisions were impacted by pandemic-imposed restrictions and necessitated readjustment over time. Three themes were developed to describe coping strategies (including any changes): adapting means and methods to connect with others; being intentional about outlook; and taking actions toward a brighter future. Conclusion: Older adults used a variety of coping strategies, though their reliance on resources beyond themselves (e.g., family/friends) indicates a need to add tailored resources to existing professional services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop and test a computational framework to study heat exchange in interacting, nonequilibrium open quantum systems. Our iterative full counting statistics path integral (iFCSPI) approach extends a previously well-established influence functional path integral method, by going beyond reduced system dynamics to provide the cumulant generating function of heat exchange. The method is straightforward; we implement it for the nonequilibrium spin boson model to calculate transient and long-time observables, focusing on the steady-state heat current flowing through the system under a temperature difference. Results are compared to perturbative treatments and demonstrate good agreement in the appropriate limits. The challenge of converging nonequilibrium quantities, currents and high order cumulants, is discussed in detail. The iFCSPI, a numerically exact technique, naturally captures strong system-bath coupling and non-Markovian effects of the environment. As such, it is a promising tool for probing fundamental questions in quantum transport and quantum thermodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternity services have limited formalised guidance on planning new services such as midwifery group practice for vulnerable women, for example women with a history of substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs), mental health challenges, complex social issues or other vulnerability. Continuity of care through midwifery group practice is mostly restricted to women with low-risk pregnancies and is not universally available to vulnerable women, despite evidence supporting benefits of this model of care for all women. The perception that midwifery group practice for vulnerable women is a high-risk model of care lacking in evidence may have in the past, thwarted implementation planning studies that seek to improve care for these women. We therefore aimed to identify the barriers and enablers that might impact the implementation of a midwifery group practice for vulnerable women.Methods: A qualitative context analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was conducted at a single-site tertiary health facility in Queensland, Australia. An interdisciplinary group of stakeholders from a purposeful sample of 31 people participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using manual and then Leximancer computer assisted methods. Themes were compared and mapped to the Framework.Results: Themes identified were the woman's experience, midwifery workforce capabilities, identifying "gold standard care", the interdisciplinary team and costs. Potential enablers of implementation included perceptions that the model facilitates a relationship of trust with vulnerable women, that clinical benefit outweighs cost and universal stakeholder acceptance. Potential barriers were: potential isolation of the interdisciplinary team, costs and the potential for vicarious trauma for midwives.Conclusion: There was recognition that the proposed model of care is supported by research and a view that clinical benefits will outweigh costs, however supervision and support is required for midwives to manage and limit vicarious trauma. An interdisciplinary team structure is also an essential component of the service design. Attention to these key themes, barriers and enablers will assist with identification of strategies to aid successful implementation. Australian maternity services can use our results to compare how the perceptions of local stakeholders might be similar or different to the results presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate if children with cerebral palsy have sustained attendance and involvement in physical activities after completing physical activity interventions. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Seven databases were searched for the period 2001–2020 with hand-searching of pertinent reference lists. Criteria for study inclusion were participants aged 0–18 years and ≥50% with cerebral palsy; follow-up ≥1 month beyond completion of the physical activity intervention; and measurement of attendance and/or involvement in any physical activity post-intervention. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessments (Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) or tool for non-randomised studies) were completed independently by paired reviewers. Results were compiled by narrative synthesis. Thirteen studies were included (11 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), two non-randomised case series; intervention sample sizes: 6–34). All study participants had cerebral palsy and were aged 4–16.7 years. PEDro scores for the RCTs ranged from 5 to 10; 10 did not blind one or more therapist, participant, or assessor. Two case series showed high risk of bias. Twelve studies reported on attendance, with positive changes in three studies. At 4–14 weeks post-intervention, two studies demonstrated positive changes were maintained. Four studies included involvement outcomes; one reporting positive changes in physical activity involvement four weeks after intervention completion. Physical activity attendance may be influenced by physical activity interventions in the short term, but more robust research designs are required to investigate whether gains can be sustained. Activity involvement, which may influence ongoing participation, is under-researched. Positive changes in attendance and involvement following physical activity interventions appear short term at best. Physical activity interventions should have longer follow-up periods to determine the effect on sustained physical activity participation. Careful selection and reporting of attendance and involvement outcome measures is required. The optimal physical activity intervention to increase attendance or involvement in physical activities remains uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of assessment rubrics in the higher education sector is now widespread in a number of disciplines. Typically, these rubrics are constructed by teachers who also tend to be the main users of the rubrics throughout the grading process. In recent years, questions have been raised about this teacher-directed approach and some educators have begun to explore an alternate approach to rubric construction; that is, engaging students in collaboration with their teachers to co-construct assessment rubrics. This paper outlines the processes employed in a project that investigated the co-construction of rubrics within six different contexts. The project aimed to engage students in collaboration with their teachers to co-construct rubrics which are co-owned by teacher and student. A mixed methods approach was utilized to explore the effectiveness of the strategy. Questionnaires, interviews and focus groups were utilized to gather data from both the teacher-participants and student-participants regarding their experiences of being involved in the study. Findings are presented from the perspectives of both students and teachers, relating their views of rubrics and the activity of rubric co-construction. The paper concludes with recommendations for practical approaches to rubric co-construction and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biliary tract cancers, including intra- and extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma as well as gallbladder cancer, are associated with poor prognosis and the majority of patients present with advanced-stage, non-resectable disease at diagnosis. Biliary tract cancer may develop through an accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations and can be influenced by microbial exposure. Furthermore, the liver and biliary tract are exposed to the gastrointestinal microbiome through the gut–liver axis. The availability of next-generation sequencing technology has led to an increase in studies investigating the relationship between microbiota and human disease. In particular, the interplay between the microbiome, the tumour micro-environment and response to systemic therapy is a prospering area of interest. Given the poor outcomes for patients with biliary tract cancer, this emerging field of research, through which new biomarkers may be identified, offers potential as a tool for early diagnosis, prognostication or even as a future therapeutic target. This review summarises the available evidence on the microbiome environment in patients with biliary tract cancer, including a discussion around confounding factors, implications for therapy and proposed future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biliary tract cancers, including intra- and extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma as well as gallbladder cancer, are associated with poor prognosis and the majority of patients present with advanced-stage, non-resectable disease at diagnosis. Biliary tract cancer may develop through an accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations and can be influenced by microbial exposure. Furthermore, the liver and biliary tract are exposed to the gastrointestinal microbiome through the gut-liver axis. The availability of next-generation sequencing technology has led to an increase in studies investigating the relationship between microbiota and human disease. In particular, the interplay between the microbiome, the tumour micro-environment and response to systemic therapy is a prospering area of interest. Given the poor outcomes for patients with biliary tract cancer, this emerging field of research, through which new biomarkers may be identified, offers potential as a tool for early diagnosis, prognostication or even as a future therapeutic target. This review summarises the available evidence on the microbiome environment in patients with biliary tract cancer, including a discussion around confounding factors, implications for therapy and proposed future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adults with cancer are amongst the most vulnerable population to be negatively impacted by COVID-19 due to their likelihood of comorbidities and compromised immune status. Considering the longevity of the pandemic, understanding the subjective perceptions and psychosocial concerns of this population may help ameliorate the psychological aftermath. In this review, we systematically analyze the literature surrounding the psychosocial impact and coping strategies among older adults with cancer within the context of COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a rapid review of literature following PRISMA guidelines between January 2020 to August 2021 using (1) MEDLINE, (2) Embase, (3) CINAHL, and (4) PsychINFO and keyword searches for "cancer" and "COVID-19" focused on adults 65 years or older. Results: Of the 6597 articles screened, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Based on the included articles, the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 was reported under four domains, (1) impact of COVID-19 on quality of life (QoL), (2) concerns related to COVID-19, (3) coping with the impact of COVID-19, and (4) recommendations for future care. Results pertaining to perceived quality of life were inconsistent across the included articles. The most common concerns related to: contracting COVID-19, survivorship transitions, and feelings of isolation. Coping strategies reported by older adults included: spiritual care, lived experience, acceptance, and positive reinterpretation. Conclusions: We found many psychosocial impacts of the pandemic on older adults with cancer. The findings from this review can inform interventions related to shared decision-making and tailored patient care in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weighted scoring rules, perhaps the most common procedures for multi-candidate, single-winner elections, are defined by score vectors, of which the Borda Count is the best known example. The concept of Borda dominance identifies candidates who cannot win under any score vector; we assess its usefulness in the context of single-winner elections. We propose several families of score vectors that can accommodate any number of candidates, asking whether any of them can improve on Borda Count. Using large-scale simulation, we compare score vectors on Condorcet efficiency, or ability to find a Condorcet winner when one exists, on resilience to ballot truncation, and on ability to maximize the Copeland score using both complete and uniformly truncated ballots. Borda performs well on criteria related to Condorcet winner and Copeland score but, depending on the preference model, may not be optimal. Convex score vectors are the most resilient to ballot truncation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the electrical conductance G and the thermopower S of single-molecule junctions and reveal signatures of different transport mechanisms: off-resonant tunneling, on-resonant coherent (ballistic) motion, and multi-step hopping. These mechanisms are identified by studying the behavior of G and S while varying molecular length and temperature. Based on a simple one-dimensional model for molecular junctions, we derive approximate expressions for the thermopower in these different regimes. Analytical results are compared to numerical simulations, performed using a variant of Buttiker's probe technique, the so-called voltage-temperature probe, which allows us to phenomenologically introduce environmentally induced elastic and inelastic electron scattering effects, while applying both voltage and temperature biases across the junction. We further simulate the thermopower of GCrich DNA sequences with mediating A:T blocks and manifest the tunneling-to-hopping crossover in both the electrical conductance and the thermopower, in accord with measurements by Li et al. [Nat. Commun. 7, 11294 (2016)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend the Landauer-Buttiker probe formalism for conductances to the high bias regime and study the effects of environmentally induced elastic and inelastic scattering on charge current in single molecule junctions, focusing on high-bias effects. The probe technique phenomenologically incorporates incoherent elastic and inelastic effects to the fully coherent case, mimicking a rich physical environment at trivial cost. We further identify environmentally induced mechanisms which generate an asymmetry in the current, manifested as a weak diode behavior. This rectifying behavior, found in two types of molecular junction models, is absent in the coherent-elastic limit and is only active in the case with incoherent-inelastic scattering. Our work illustrates that in the low bias-linear response regime, the commonly used "dephasing probe" (mimicking only elastic decoherence effects) operates nearly indistinguishably from a "voltage probe" (admitting inelastic-dissipative effects). However, these probes realize fundamentally distinct I-V characteristics at high biases, reflecting the central roles of dissipation and inelastic scattering processes on molecular electronic transport far-from-equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social interactions are ubiquitous across the animal kingdom. A variety of ecological and evolutionary processes are dependent on social interactions, such as movement, disease spread, information transmission, and density‐dependent reproduction and survival. Social interactions, like any behaviour, are context dependent, varying with environmental conditions. Currently, environments are changing rapidly across multiple dimensions, becoming warmer and more variable, while habitats are increasingly fragmented and contaminated with pollutants. Social interactions are expected to change in response to these stressors and to continue to change into the future. However, a comprehensive understanding of the form and magnitude of the effects of these environmental changes on social interactions is currently lacking. Focusing on four major forms of rapid environmental change currently occurring, we review how these changing environmental gradients are expected to have immediate effects on social interactions such as communication, agonistic behaviours, and group formation, which will thereby induce changes in social organisation including mating systems, dominance hierarchies, and collective behaviour. Our review covers intraspecific variation in social interactions across environments, including studies in both the wild and in laboratory settings, and across a range of taxa. The expected responses of social behaviour to environmental change are diverse, but we identify several general themes. First, very dry, variable, fragmented, or polluted environments are likely to destabilise existing social systems. This occurs as these conditions limit the energy available for complex social interactions and affect dissimilar phenotypes differently. Second, a given environmental change can lead to opposite responses in social behaviour, and the direction of the response often hinges on the natural history of the organism in question. Third, our review highlights the fact that changes in environmental factors are not occurring in isolation: multiple factors are changing simultaneously, which may have antagonistic or synergistic effects, and more work should be done to understand these combined effects. We close by identifying methodological and analytical techniques that might help to study the response of social interactions to changing environments, highlight consistent patterns among taxa, and predict subsequent evolutionary change. We expect that the changes in social interactions that we document here will have consequences for individuals, groups, and for the ecology and evolution of populations, and therefore warrant a central place in the study of animal populations, particularly in an era of rapid environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Winning the coin toss at the end of a tied soccer game gives a team the right to choose whether to kick either first or second on all five rounds of penalty kicks, where each team is allowed one kick per round. There is considerable evidence that the right to make this choice, which is usually to kick first, gives a team a significant advantage. To make the outcome of a tied game fairer, we suggest a rule that handicaps the team that kicks first (A), requiring it to succeed on one more penalty kick than the team that kicks second (B). We call this the m − n rule and, more specifically, propose (m , n) = (5 , 4) : For A to win, they must successfully kick 5 goals before the end of the round in which B kicks its 4th; for B to win, it must succeed on 4 penalty kicks before A succeeds on 5. If both teams reach (5 , 4) on the same round—when they both kick successfully at (4 , 3) —then the game is decided by round-by-round "sudden death," in which the winner is the first team to score in a subsequent round when the other team does not. We show that this rule is fair in tending to equalize the ability of each team to win a tied game in a penalty shootout. We also discuss a sequential rule that precludes the teams from reaching (5 , 4) at the same time, obviating the need for sudden death and extra rounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate that a simple phenomenological approach can be used to simulate electronic conduction in molecular wires under thermal effects induced by the surrounding environment. This "Landauer-Büttiker's probe technique" can properly replicate different transport mechanisms, phase coherent nonresonant tunneling, ballistic behavior, and hopping conduction. Specifically, our simulations with the probe method recover the following central characteristics of charge transfer in molecular wires: (i) the electrical conductance of short wires falls off exponentially with molecular length, a manifestation of the tunneling (superexchange) mechanism. Hopping dynamics overtakes superexchange in long wires demonstrating an ohmic-like behavior. (ii) In off-resonance situations, weak dephasing effects facilitate charge transfer, but under large dephasing, the electrical conductance is suppressed. (iii) At high enough temperatures, kBT/ B > 1/25, with B as the molecular-barrier height, the current is enhanced by a thermal activation (Arrhenius) factor. However, this enhancement takes place for both coherent and incoherent electrons and it does not readily indicate on the underlying mechanism. (iv) At finite-bias, dephasing effects may impede conduction in resonant situations. We further show that memory (non-Markovian) effects can be implemented within the Landauer-Büttiker's probe technique to model the interaction of electrons with a structured environment. Finally, we examine experimental results of electron transfer in conjugated molecular wires and show that our computational approach can reasonably reproduce reported values to provide mechanistic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A discrete acyl carrier protein (ACP) bearing a photolabile nonhydrolysable carba(dethia) malonyl pantetheine cofactor was chemoenzymatically prepared and utilised for the trapping of biosynthetic polyketide intermediates following light activation. From the in vitro assembly of the polyketides SEK4 and SEK4b, by the type II actinorhodin "minimal" polyketide synthase (PKS), a range of putative ACP‐bound diketides, tetraketides, pentaketides and hexaketides were identified and characterised by FT‐ICR‐MS, providing direct insights on active site accessibility and substrate processing for this enzyme class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whakaari is New Zealand's most active volcano, and its last major magmatic eruption occurred during a protracted episode between 1976 and 2000. This eruption episode involved a sustained phase of heightened unrest, punctuated by regular, and small-volume, phreatic, magmatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions. We examine the scoria sample suite erupted throughout this period to develop a model for the storage conditions and the underlying cause of this long-lived activity. From our analysis of the major element composition of minerals, groundmass glass and phenocryst-hosted melt inclusions, along with the volatile content of melt inclusions, Whakaari magmas are relatively hot and dry arc andesites when compared globally. Based on a combination of plagioclase hygrometry, volatile contents of phenocryst-hosted melt inclusions and thermodynamic modelling, we conceptualize a distributed magmatic system that is dominated by andesite. We find that the 1976–2000 eruption episode was largely driven by volatile poor andesite-dacite magma that was periodically intruded by a relatively primitive mafic magma throughout this period. This andesite-dacite crustal magma reservoir (to at least 9 km) is capped by a shallow storage reservoir at ~1- to 2-km depth, where magmas stalled before erupting. Mafic magma/s periodically intruded the andesite-dacite reservoir providing heat, melt, volatiles, and mafic minerals, including olivine, into the system. Finally, we show that the volatile budget during this small-volume eruption episode released significant S and Cl into the atmosphere, similar in scale to large basaltic eruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whakaari/White Island is a partially submerged, offshore andesite island volcano, located at the northern end of the Taupō Volcanic Zone. Since the late 1960s, volcanic activity has alternated between quiescence, unrest, and eruption on short timescales. For this review we compiled extensive observational records, examined the rich scientific literature, and use newly acquired data, to understand the broad volcanic history and system dynamics. Based on recent bathymetry data, we propose a distinction exists between the Whakaari edifice and Te Paepae o Aotea/Volkner Rocks, which were previously considered to be part of the same edifice. Geochemical analyses of scoria samples from the island have been used to build a magma system model where dominantly andesitic-dacitic magma is periodically intruded by basalt. More dynamic processes are recorded in the hydrothermal system, where the location and activity of fumarolic features have been ephemeral and the crater lake has varied in scale over short time intervals. Eruptions of the dominantly andesitic magma have historically been small and range from phreatomagmatic through to magmatic, largely depositing ash and scoria to a restricted distance that is confined to the main crater floor. Phreatic eruptions are the most common eruption style, based on recently observed and monitored activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of the graph model, a matrix formulation is developed to model and analyze conflicts in which decision makers (DMs) may have reciprocal preferences. Specifically, matrix expressions are employed to represent DMs' reciprocal preference relations, unilateral movements (UMs) and fuzzy unilateral improvements (FUIs), as well as joint UMs and joint FUIs for a coalition of two or more DMs. Furthermore, a matrix methodology is provided to calculate whether a state in a conflict model, or scenario, is stable for a particular DM under various solution concepts, or stability definitions, that reflect the diversity of possible behavioral patterns for a DM in a conflict when preferences can be reciprocal. Five solution concepts associated with reciprocal preferences, Fuzzy Nash Stability, Fuzzy Symmetric Metarationality, Fuzzy General Metarationality, Fuzzy Sequential Stability, and Fuzzy Symmetric Sequential Stability, are redefined for matrix representations of both two-DM and multiple-DM conflict models. To illustrate how the matrix representation can be conveniently employed in practice, it is applied to two real-world conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel hierarchical graph model is developed to analyze conflicts interrelated on three levels. As an extension of the two-level hierarchical graph model, this new structure contains several smaller graph models, called local graphs, nested at three levels. Decision makers (DMs), states, moves, and preference relations in the three-level hierarchical graph model (3LHGM) are defined. The interrelationships between stabilities in local graph models and the overall graph model are investigated and utilized in developing algorithms to calculate stabilities in the hierarchical graph model. This novel methodology is then illustrated using a generic model of hierarchical climate change governance disputes. Stability calculations can uncover profitable courses of action. The 3LHGM aims to provide insightful resolutions for DMs with a broader vision of the hierarchical conflict they are participating in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhaled route is still a relatively novel route for delivering biologics and poses additional challenges to those encountered with inhaled small molecules, further complicating the design and interpretation of toxicology studies. A working group formed to summarize the current knowledge of inhaled biologics across industry and to analyze data collated from an anonymized cross-industry survey comprising 12 inhaled biologic case studies (18 individual inhalation toxicity studies on monoclonal antibodies, fragment antibodies, domain antibodies, oligonucleotides, and proteins/peptides). The output of this working group provides valuable insights into the issues faced when conducting toxicology studies with inhaled biologics, including common technical considerations on aerosol generation, use of young and sexually mature nonhuman primates, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling, exposure and immunogenicity assessment, maximum dose setting, and no observed adverse effect levels determination. Although the current data set is too small to allow firm conclusions, testing of novel biologics remains an active area and is likely to remain so for molecules where delivery via the inhaled route is beneficial. In the future, it is hoped others will continue to share their experiences and build on the conclusions of this review to further improve our understanding of these complex issues and, ultimately, facilitate the safe introduction of inhaled biologics into clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about the immune regulatory metabolites are key features of the tumor microenvironment. It mentions a study that profiled tumor and T cells from tumor and ascites of patients with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) to uncover the metabolomes of these distinct TME compartments.

Background: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. These patients face unique challenges due to the complexity of GVHD which can affect multiple organ systems, and the toxicity of treatments. Despite the known impact on quality of life (QOL), qualitative data within the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) literature is rare, and there has been no qualitative work exploring patient experience of specialist healthcare provision for GVHD in the United Kingdom.Methods: We conducted a primary explorative qualitative study of the experience of QOL issues and multidisciplinary care in patients with chronic GVHD following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Eight patients were identified using convenience sampling from specialist BMT outpatient clinics. Following consent, patients were interviewed individually via telephone. Transcripts of interviews were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach.Results: Mean participant age was 61-years-old (range 45-68), with a mean time post-transplant of 3 years at time of interview (range 3 months-15 years). Five key QOL themes were identified: (1) 'Restricted as to what I can do'; (2) Troubling symptoms-'you can sort of get GVHD anywhere'; (3) Confusion/uncertainty over GVHD symptoms-'Is this the GVHD?'; (4) Unpredictable course and uncertainty about the future; and (5) Adapting to the sick role. In addition, four themes related to experience of service provision were identified: (1) personal care and close relationship with BMT nurses; (2) efficiency versus long waits-'On the case straight away'; (3) information provision-'went into it with a bit of a rosy view'; and (4) the role of support groups.Conclusions: These qualitative data reflect the heterogeneity of experiences of the GVHD patient population, reflecting the need for a flexible and nuanced approach to patient care with emphasis on comprehensive information provision. We have identified the key role that BMT specialist nurses within the multidisciplinary team play in supporting patients. We advocate future research should focus on ways to meet the complex needs of this patient group and ensure that the personal care and close relationships are not lost in service redesigns embracing remote consultations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of the graph model for conflict resolution, the concept of coalition improvement is generalized, resulting in new definitions of Nash, general metarational, symmetric metarational, and sequential stability applicable to coalitions. To illustrate how these generalized stability definitions can be applied to a real conflict, they are used to analyze an offshore oil exploration dispute that occurred in the South China Sea in 2014. The novel approach reveals which coalitions can upset a noncooperative equilibrium or support new cooperative equilibria, and which decision makers can benefit from joining a coalition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This systematic review used the COSMIN methodology to identify PROMs for use in GVHD. • Twenty-seven PROMs were identified with varying levels of supportive psychometric evidence. • Three PROMs had evidence to support reliability, responsiveness, and validity for chronic GVHD. • Few PROMs had psychometric validation for acute GVHD. • Future research should include comprehensive psychometric testing of PROMs for GVHD. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. These patients face a unique challenge due to the complexity of GVHD and the toxicity of treatments received. GVHD has significant impact on quality of life (QOL), but this is not routinely evaluated formally. Despite the availability of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess QOL, there is currently no consensus regarding the optimal PROMs that should be used to evaluate the impact of GVHD. We undertook a systematic review to determine the current evidence for the use of PROMs in assessment of QOL, symptom burden, and disease severity of patients with GVHD. A comprehensive systematic review based on the COSMIN guidelines was conducted to identify studies using PROMs (including those for QOL and symptom burden) in acute and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) patients. The following databases were searched: OVID Medline, AMED, CINAHL, Embase, PROQOLID, ProQuest, PsychINFO, and Social Sciences Citation Index from inception to May 2018. Hand searches updated the search to December 2018. Articles were screened by 2 independent reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by a third independent reviewer. Included articles were critically appraised using the COSMIN Risk of Bias tool, and relevant data on measurement properties for the included PROMs were extracted from within the target population. A total of 4545 articles were identified, and 64 articles reporting on 27 PROMs were included in this review. PROMs were separated into 5 groups; generic patient-reported measures (n = 7), cancer-specific measures (n = 4), bone marrow transplant–specific measures (n = 2), cGVHD-specific measures (n = 4), and dimension-specific measures (n = 10). Three PROMs (Human Activity Profile, Lee Symptom Scale, National Institutes of Health Eleven Point Scale) had evidence to support strong reliability (including internal consistency), responsiveness, and aspects of validity within the cGVHD population. Only 5 included PROMs were used in patients with acute GVHD. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the use of 27 included PROMs in the context of GVHD. The choice of the most optimal PROM depends on the clinical or research context of use. Future research should comprehensively validate these tools in the GVHD population, including the testing and possible development of a PROM for use in acute GVHD, which remains a current critical gap in the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the politics of digital tools are predominantly discussed in terms of the data they collect, analyze, and circulate. Through my analysis of electronic ankle monitors' visual characteristics, I widen the scope of investigation to consider how the visuality of digital tools' form factor – the size and shape of computing hardware – also contributes to their politics. I discuss five major impacts the visuality of electronic ankle monitors' physical form has upon their wearers' lives: (1) lack of differentiation in the aesthetics of monitors across different types of wearers (spanning from criminal justice to immigration detention) leads wearers to be considered "dangerous criminals," by default; (2) monitors limit wearers' ability to "pass" in society; (3) monitors expand the set of surveillors beyond government officials to also include the public; (4) monitors compromise wearers' privacy; (5) monitors associate wearers with older practices of visually marking people normative society has labeled dangerous. Based on this analysis, I argue two points. First, that the visuality of electronic ankle monitors' form factor expands the harms wearers experience beyond those engendered by the device's primary use as a remote geo-temporal tracking tool used by government organizations. Second, the case study of electronic ankle monitors evidences the need to develop laws and policies that seek to regulate the visual properties of digital tools as well as the data they generate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Numbers of academic medicine trainees have been declining internationally. Many countries have taken differing approaches to improving recruitment, with some having established pathways. In the UK, the academic foundation programme (AFP) is one such pathway aimed towards those interested in an academic medical career. Variation exists amongst universities with respect to application and success rates. As a group of AFP doctors, we aimed to explore these issues. Numbers of academic medicine trainees have been declining internationally Methods: We created and implemented a 1‐day national course, comprising lectures and small group workshops, geared towards informing applicants about the AFP. It was evaluated via pre‐ and post‐course questionnaires using a Likert scale, ranging from 1 to 5. We created and implemented a 1‐day national course, comprising lectures and small group workshops, geared towards informing applicants about the AFP Results: A total of 150 attendees were present from 16 different medical schools; 95% (143/150) of the attendees filled in both questionnaires. Attendees appeared unaware of the stages involved in the application process and felt underprepared. Following the course, learners reported median scores (with interquartile limits) that demonstrated increased overall knowledge, from 2 (1) to 4 (1) (p < 0.01), and increased preparedness, from 2 (1) to 3 (1) (p < 0.01). Discussion: Our findings indicate that recruitment remains challenging, even in countries with established pathways. In the UK, the awareness of these pathways appears to be poor and courses such as ours may remedy that. Further exploration into the most effective methods to increase recruitment is necessary. The effect of institutional disparities in research culture and impact on application success needs investigation. Perhaps medical schools should introduce students to the prospect of academic careers earlier in training. Globally, efforts still need to be concentrated largely towards establishing integrated pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggressive behavior is common in many species and is often adaptive because it enables individuals to gain access to limited resources. However, aggression is also highly plastic and the degree of plasticity could be influenced by factors such as resource limitation and the social environment. In this study, we examined how the effects of social experience and resource limitation could persist to affect future aggressive interactions. Using naturally inbred strains of Drosophila melanogaster that differ in aggressiveness, we manipulated the level of available resources by varying fly density (two treatments: high and low per capita resources) and group composition by varying strain frequency (five treatments: homogeneous strains, or mixed at 1:3, 1:1 or 3:1 ratios of the more aggressive to less-aggressive strain). For each treatment group, we measured aggression before and after flies were placed through a 4-day period of fixed resources. There was no consistent effect of resource competition on aggression. Instead, changes in aggression depended on resource availability in combination with group composition. In homogeneous groups made up of only one strain, all males became more aggressive following the fixed-resource period, regardless of fly density. In mixed-strain treatments at high density, we observed plastic shifts in aggression of males from both strains, but the direction of plastic responses depended on social composition. Our results show that aggression may not only be influenced by the intensity of previous competitive experiences caused by resource limitation, but also through social effects caused by the composition of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple algorithm for robust and unsupervised peak detection by determining a noise threshold in isotopically resolved mass spectrometry data. Solving this problem will greatly reduce the subjective and time-consuming manual picking of mass spectral peaks and so will prove beneficial in many research applications. The Autopiquer approach uses autocorrelation to test for the presence of (isotopic) structure in overlapping windows across the spectrum. Within each window, a noise threshold is optimized to remove the most unstructured data, whilst keeping as much of the (isotopic) structure as possible. This algorithm has been successfully demonstrated for both peak detection and spectral compression on data from many different classes of mass spectrometer and for different sample types, and this approach should also be extendible to other types of data that contain regularly spaced discrete peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photolabile carba(dethia) malonyl N‐acetylcysteamine derivative was devised and prepared for the trapping of biosynthetic polyketide intermediates following light activation. From the lasalocid A polyketide assembly in a mutant strain of the soil bacterium Streptomyces lasaliensis, a previously undetected cyclised intermediate was identified and characterised, providing a new outlook on the timing of substrate processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1990s, the township of Pōkeno was held up as an example of a declining rural Aotearoa/New Zealand. By‐passed from the national state highway, it lost its status as a service hub and drastic measures were introduced to revitalise the town, including renaming the town "Jenniferann.com." Pōkeno has since undergone an unlikely transformation, with foreign investment and its location within an extended Auckland commuter zone meaning that the township has grown exponentially. This article describes the transformation of Pōkeno and uncovers what has been missing from discussions about Pōkeno's reinvention, namely, the place of mana whenua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional mass spectrometry (2D MS) is a data-independent tandem mass spectrometry technique in which precursor and fragment ion species can be correlated without the need for prior ion isolation. The behavior of phase in 2D Fourier transform mass spectrometry is investigated with respect to the calculation of phase-corrected absorption-mode 2D mass spectra. 2D MS datasets have a phase that is defined differently in each dimension. In both dimensions, the phase behavior of precursor and fragment ions is found to be different. The dependence of the phase for both precursor and fragment ion signals on various parameters (e.g., modulation frequency, shape of the fragmentation zone) is discussed. Experimental data confirms the theoretical calculations of the phase in each dimension. Understanding the phase relationships in a 2D mass spectrum is beneficial to the development of possible algorithms for phase correction, which may improve both the signal-to-noise ratio and the resolving power of peaks in 2D mass spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baseline variations in trout‐perch energy use (growth, gonad size) and energy storage (condition, liver size) were characterized between 2009 and 2015 in 8 reaches of the Athabasca River (AB, Canada), including 2 reaches upstream of the city of Fort McMurray (AB, Canada) and 6 reaches downstream of Fort McMurray among existing oil sands operations. Generalized linear models, used to account for background variation, indicated that fork length, gonad size, and liver size decreased, whereas body weight increased, in relation to river discharge, for both male and female trout‐perch. Air temperature was positively correlated with liver size and negatively correlated with gonad size and body weight for females, but only positively correlated with gonad weight for males. These linear models explained approximately 20 to 25% of the variation in adjusted body size, and upward of 80% of the variation in adjusted body weight, liver weight, and gonad weight. Residuals from linear models were used to estimate normal ranges of variation for each of the fish population performance measures. Combined, the models and normal ranges can be used to assess subsequent monitoring data, providing potential triggers for follow‐up monitoring activities. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:0–0. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1890–1901. © 2019 SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The surface mining of oil sands deposits requires the removal of groundwater to stabilize the deposit (depressurization) and make it safe for mining. The chemistry and toxicity of deep groundwaters (from 45 to 144 m below an active mining operation) were characterized to determine if the release of groundwaters would pose a risk to a receiving aquatic environment. Concentrations of conventional chemicals such as nutrients and metals were generally below CCME chronic guidelines. Concentrations of oil sands naphthenic acids (NAs) varied depending on the method of measurement and were routinely >1 mg L−1. Groundwaters rarely caused lethality to fish and invertebrates in standard acute and chronic toxicity tests. Algal cell production was negatively correlated with chlorides and potentially negatively with NAs. Other chronic toxicity variations were less obviously correlated with measured chemistry. The groundwaters had moderately-high oxygen demand (2 to 33 mg L−1), likely associated with nutrients and organic substances, and thus have the potential to enrich receiving surface water environments if left untreated and depending on the receiving environment. This paper presents for the first time a comprehensive (3 year) pairing of water chemistry and toxicity data on groundwaters collected from aquifer depressurization wells below an active oil sands operation. These data will contribute to a better understanding of the environmental risk these waters potentially pose, and ultimately, to the improvement of water management strategies and the reduction of the overall surface mining footprint of oil sands operations. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Oil sands groundwaters were collected from nine wells at between 45 and 119 m depth. • Groundwaters were generally non-acutely toxic. • Sublethal responses best explained by conventional substances (chlorides). • Groundwaters pose modest risk of local eutrophication to surface waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Postnatal screening rates to detect type two diabetes following gestational diabetes are low. The quality of communication is an important element to consider in developing targeted strategies that support women in completing recommended follow-up care.Aims: To explore the communication perspectives, practices and preferences of women, hospital clinicians and general practitioners, to determine strategies that may promote completion of recommended postnatal GDM follow-up, in Queensland Australia.Method: We used an exploratory, three-phase, mixed-methods approach, interpreted through intergroup communication theory. Phase one: convergent interviews explored perspectives of the communication experience in GDM care among new mothers (n = 13), hospital clinicians (n = 13) and general practitioners (n = 16). Phase two: a retrospective chart audit assessed current practice in postnatal discharge summaries of women (n = 86). Phase three: an online survey identified the preferences of general practitioners and hospital clinicians who provide maternity care in Queensland. Triangulation of the findings from the interviews, audit and surveys was used to clarify results and increase the robustness of the findings.Results: Three themes: Seeking information, Written hospital discharge summary (discharge summary) and Clarity of follow-up requirements, provide direction for pragmatic strategies to promote follow-up. Practical recommendations include continued discussion about care with women from the point of GDM diagnosis into the postnatal period; discharge summaries that give primacy to diagnosis and ongoing treatment; and provision of explicit directions for recommended testing and timing.Implications: This research informs seven practical recommendations to help promote completion of recommended postnatal GDM follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]