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Black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum)—an economically, ecologically, and culturally important shrub across the Pacific and Inland Northwest—is experiencing widespread declines in suitable habitat because of fire suppression and climate change. We tested the role of experimentally placed downed woody debris (DWD) in mitigating unsuitable habitat conditions through creating favorable abiotic microsites and promoting black huckleberry seedling survival. We planted 1‐year‐old black huckleberry seedlings at four distances (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.5 m) from DWD, on the north and south aspects of east‐to‐west‐oriented DWD, at three study sites in Northern Idaho, United States. Over one growing season (May to September), we measured seedling survival, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/fm), soil surface temperature (SST), and soil volumetric water content (VWC) monthly. Only 21% of seedlings survived the entire season, but survival on the north DWD aspect (28.3%) was twice that of the south (14.2%). Additionally, survival at the nearest distances (0 and 0.25 m; 29%) was double that of farther distances (0.5 and 1.5 m; 13.6%) for both DWD aspects. The north aspect and nearest distances were also associated with the highest Fv/fm, lowest SST, and highest VWC, confirming expected abiotic characteristics of the DWD‐associated microsite. The distinct spatial and directional effects highlight a facet of DWD microsites, which can improve best practices for microsites during restoration. We demonstrate that DWD‐facilitated microsites can be a pivotal restoration tool to ameliorate climate extremes and enhance shrub recruitment into more durable life stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the number of medical school applicants more than doubling during the past 30 years, there has been an increased need to mentor premedical undergraduate students. The Vertically Inte-grated Training Program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, was created to provide direct mentoring for college students interested in a career as a physician. Online surveys were distributed at the beginning and end of the Fall 2023 semester to gain insight into the success of the program's events from the undergraduate perspective. Data suggest a trend toward positive change in terms of increased confidence of undergraduate students regarding the process of applying to and finding success in medical school. This article reviews the development of the Vertically Integrated Training Program, evaluates the success of the program, and suggests next steps for the organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health concern that despite its prevalence, lacks a widely-effective treatment due to the complexity of AUD pathology. AUD is highly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions including anxiety and mood disorders, however it is unclear how these disorders influence each other. The underlying etiology of these comorbidities is difficult to decipher and factors including sex, stress, and the environment further complicate both diagnosis and treatment strategies. To understand more about this bidirectional relationship between AUD and comorbid psychiatric disorders, we ran male and female C57Bl/6j mice through baseline behavioral testing followed by intermittent access-two bottle choice (IA-2BC) drinking. We found no sex differences in basal anxiety-like or depressive-like behavior, however females displayed enhanced motivated feeding behavior. Females consumed more ethanol than males, at both 1hr and 24hr timepoints. Basal affective state did not predict subsequent ethanol intake in either sex, however exploratory behavior was positively correlated with drinking in males but not females. We then re-assessed negative affect behavior following chronic ethanol drinking to determine if drinking impacted subsequent affective behavior and found no relationship between ethanol intake and affective state in males or females. We also examined how chronic ethanol drinking affected central amygdala (CeA) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) neuronal activity in males and females. Ethanol-drinking females had a decrease in CeA neuronal activity, driven by reduced activity in the lateral (CeA l) sub-region, while in males there was no significant difference in CeA activity compared to water controls. Neither males or females had a significant change in BLA neuronal activity following chronic ethanol drinking. Collectively, these results demonstrate sex differences in basal motivated behavior, drinking behavior, and subregion-specific amygdala neuronal activity following chronic ethanol drinking which may inform the sex differences seen in patients diagnosed with AUD and comorbid conditions. • There were no basal sex differences in affective behavior. • Basal affective behavior did not determine future ethanol intake. • Chronic ethanol drinking did not alter subsequent affective behavior. • CeA activity was reduced in ethanol-exposed females compared to water controls. • BLA activity did not differ between male and female ethanol and water groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speaking is a highly conventional enterprise. But unusual usages are, nonetheless, frequently encountered. Some of these novelties fall flat, while others find favour, to the extent of entering common usage. He considered to say something will sound wrong to most native speakers, while The military disappeared her husband, which was more or less unsayable prior to the 1960s, has come to seem fine. Linguist Adelle E. Goldberg has recently argued that speakers display a remarkable openness to new words, phrases and even grammatical forms, when there is no current way of communicating whatever it is those novel strings serve to express. My paper exegetes Goldberg's findings to illuminate the question of poetic judgement. It proposes that there is a strong parallel between how people judge linguistic innovation in everyday speaking, and the way poets and critics judge innovative poetic diction: in both cases there is a premium on what cannot otherwise be said. The paper proceeds to deepen the analogies between these two modes of judgement. It starts by linking the lack of rules for determining the acceptability of new words and phrases in everyday speaking with the indifference to prior rules associated with aesthetic judgement in Kant's third critique, and apparent in the appraisals of many a contemporary poetry critic. It turns to consider the claim that what motivates the judgements under consideration is a preference in the human conceptual system for distinct symbols to have mutually exclusive meanings. A fourth section concerns what Construction Grammar, the broad field of Goldberg's intervention, has to reveal about the conditions under which new words and phrases can take on meaning in the first place. This too has something to suggest about why we judge certain poetic efforts poor, others landed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To prospectively determine the nature of adnexal masses diagnosed during pregnancy and investigate whether ultrasound was a reliable means of assessing these. Methods: A single-centre prospective observational cohort study was conducted in a large tertiary referral hospital in London. Pregnant women with an adnexal mass detected at or prior to the 12-week routine ultrasound received a detailed ultrasound by a level II ultrasound practitioner at the time of detection; at 12 weeks; 20 weeks; and 6 weeks postpartum. The following outcomes were recorded: subjective impression of the mass; International Ovarian Tumor Analysis simple rules classification; resolution and intervention rate; and the incidence of complications related to the mass. Results: A total of 28,683 pregnant patients were scanned and an adnexal masses was detected in 277 patients, yielding an incidence of 1%. 274 participants were included in the analysis. Subjective impression was as follows: simple 75.9%; dermoid 29.1%; endometrioma 6.6%; haemorrhagic 3.3%; para-ovarian 2.6%; torted simple 0.7%; decidualized endometrioma 0.4%; fibroma 0.4%; theca luteal 0.4%; and borderline ovarian tumour: 0.7%. There was a significant reduction in the volume at each scan (p < 0.0001). Approximately 74.2% of the masses resolved spontaneously. Surgery was performed in 14/274: 2 antenatally, 6 at caesarean section, and 6 postpartum. In 5/247 (2%), there were complications due to the mass. Using IOTA simple rules, 272/274 (99.3%) (p < 0.0001) were classifiable. Only 1/274 (0.4%) had malignant features as per IOTA (p = 0.05). As there were no confirmed malignancies, the accuracy of IOTA simple rules could not be calculated. Conclusions: Adnexal masses in pregnancy are uncommon and the majority spontaneously resolve. Malignancy is rare, as are complications. In the absence of concerns regarding malignancy or cyst accident, there is no need for additional monitoring of these masses during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations in wearable technology and artificial intelligence have enabled consumer devices to process and transmit data about human mental states (cognitive, affective, and conative) through what this paper refers to as "cognitive biometrics." Devices such as brain-computer interfaces, extended reality headsets, and fitness wearables offer significant benefits in health, wellness, and entertainment through the collection and processing and cognitive biometric data. However, they also pose unique risks to mental privacy due to their ability to infer sensitive information about individuals. This paper challenges the current approach to protecting individuals through legal protections for "neural data" and advocates for a more expansive legal and industry framework, as recently reflected in the draft UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology, to holistically address both neural and cognitive biometric data. Incorporating this broader and more inclusive approach into legislation and product design can facilitate responsible innovation while safeguarding individuals' mental privacy. Biometric data relating to human cognitive, affective, and conative states ("cognitive biometrics") are not adequately protected under existing privacy laws. The authors argue for an expansive approach that would treat neural and cognitive biometric data holistically as categories of "sensitive data" and provide them with analogous privacy protections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the jewelry industry is deeply rooted in traditional tools and techniques, generative artificial intelligence (AI) must be recognized today as a revolutionary tool to assist jewelers. The intersection between AI and the creative arts is especially controversial, and the use of generative AI in jewelry design is no different. This paper examines how generative AI creates designs based on text and image prompts, comparing five of the more common AI programs (Midjourney, DALL.E, Stable Diffusion, Leonardo, and Firefly) with a focus on generating realistic jewelry images. It addresses the ethical, legal, and regulatory questions that have arisen around AI-generated art. Lastly, it explores how this new technology can best be used by jewelry designers to enhance creative expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple explosion mechanisms have been proposed to explain type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Empirical modelling tools have also been developed that allow for fast, customized modelling of individual SNe and direct comparisons between observations and explosion model predictions. Such tools have provided useful insights, but the subjective nature with which empirical modelling is performed makes it difficult to obtain robust constraints on the explosion physics or expand studies to large populations of objects. Machine learning accelerated tools have therefore begun to gain traction. In this paper, we present riddler , a framework for automated fitting of SNe Ia spectral sequences up to shortly after maximum light. We train a series of neural networks on realistic ejecta profiles predicted by the W7 and N100 explosion models to emulate full radiative transfer simulations and apply nested sampling to determine the best-fitting model parameters for multiple spectra of a given SN simultaneously. We show that riddler is able to accurately recover the parameters of input spectra and use it to fit observations of two well-studied SNe Ia. We also investigate the impact of different weighting schemes when performing quantitative spectral fitting and show that best-fitting models and parameters are highly dependent on the assumed weighting schemes and priors. As spectroscopic samples of SNe Ia continue to grow, automated spectral fitting tools such as riddler will become increasingly important to maximise the physical constraints that can be gained in a quantitative and consistent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay of positive and negative species interactions controls species assembly in communities. Dryland plant communities, such as savannas, are important to global biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Sandhill oaks in xeric savannas of the southeastern United States can facilitate longleaf pine by enhancing seedling survival, but the effects of oaks on recruitment and growth of longleaf pine have not been examined. We censused, mapped, and monitored nine contiguous hectares of longleaf pine in a xeric savanna to quantify oak-pine facilitation, and to examine other factors impacting recruitment, such as vegetation cover and longleaf pine tree density. We found that newly recruited seedlings and grass stage longleaf pines were more abundant in oak-dominated areas where densities were 230% (newly recruited seedlings) and 360% (grass stage) greater from lowest to highest oak neighborhood densities. Longleaf pine also grew faster under higher oak density. Longleaf pine recruitment was lowest under longleaf pine canopies. Mortality of grass stage and bolt stage longleaf pine was low (~1.0% yr−1) in the census interval without fire. Overall, our findings highlight the complex interactions between pines and oaks—two economically and ecologically important genera globally. Xeric oaks should be incorporated as a management option for conservation and restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When plants die, neighbours escape competition. Living conspecifics could disproportionately benefit because they are freed from negative intraspecific processes; however, if the negative effects of past conspecific neighbours persist, other species might be advantaged, and diversity might be maintained through legacy effects. We examined legacy effects in a mapped forest by modelling the survival of 37,212 trees of 23 species using four neighbourhood properties: living conspecific, living heterospecific, legacy conspecific (dead conspecifics) and legacy heterospecific densities. Legacy conspecific effects proved nearly four times stronger than living conspecific effects; changes in annual survival associated with legacy conspecific density were 1.5% greater than living conspecific effects. Over 90% of species were negatively impacted by legacy conspecific density, compared to 47% by living conspecific density. Our results emphasize that legacies of trees alter community dynamics, revealing that prior research may have underestimated the strength of density dependent interactions by not considering legacy effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Built heritage has been both subject and product of a gaze that has been sustained through moments of colonial fixation on ruins and monuments, technocratic examination and representation, and fetishisation by a global tourist industry. We argue that the recent proliferation of machine learning and vision technologies create new scopic regimes for heritage: storing and retrieving existing images from vast digital archives, and further imparting their own distortions upon this gaze. We introduce the term ' machinic gaze ' to conceptualise the reconfiguration of heritage representation via artificial intelligence (AI) models. To explore how this gaze reframes heritage, we deploy an image-text-image pipeline that reads, interprets, and resynthesizes images of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Employing two concepts from media studies— heteroscopia and anamorphosis —we describe the reoriented perspective that machine vision systems introduce. We propose that the machinic gaze highlights the artifice of the human gaze and its underlying assumptions and practices that combine to form established notions of heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic and discrete-trait evolutionary inference depend heavily on an appropriate characterization of the underlying character substitution process. In this paper, we present random-effects substitution models that extend common continuous-time Markov chain models into a richer class of processes capable of capturing a wider variety of substitution dynamics. As these random-effects substitution models often require many more parameters than their usual counterparts, inference can be both statistically and computationally challenging. Thus, we also propose an efficient approach to compute an approximation to the gradient of the data likelihood with respect to all unknown substitution model parameters. We demonstrate that this approximate gradient enables scaling of sampling-based inference, namely Bayesian inference via Hamiltonian Monte Carlo, under random-effects substitution models across large trees and state-spaces. Applied to a dataset of 583 SARS-CoV-2 sequences, an HKY model with random-effects shows strong signals of nonreversibility in the substitution process, and posterior predictive model checks clearly show that it is a more adequate model than a reversible model. When analyzing the pattern of phylogeographic spread of 1441 influenza A virus (H3N2) sequences between 14 regions, a random-effects phylogeographic substitution model infers that air travel volume adequately predicts almost all dispersal rates. A random-effects state-dependent substitution model reveals no evidence for an effect of arboreality on the swimming mode in the tree frog subfamily Hylinae. Simulations reveal that random-effects substitution models can accommodate both negligible and radical departures from the underlying base substitution model. We show that our gradient-based inference approach is over an order of magnitude more time efficient than conventional approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether serum placental growth factor (PlGF) at 19–23 weeks of gestation can improve the identification of risk for adverse outcomes. Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Two English maternity units. Population: Unselected singleton pregnancies attending routine ultrasound at 19–23 weeks of gestation. Methods: Outcomes ascertained by health record review. Diagnostic test properties evaluated clinical risk factors for pre‐eclampsia (according to National Institute of Care Excellence) or fetal growth restriction (according to Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists), low PlGF at 19–23 weeks of gestation (<5th percentile) or both. Main outcome measures: Pre‐eclampsia, gestational hypertension, stillbirth, birthweight below third percentile or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission for ≥48 h. Results: In 30 013 pregnancies, risk factors were present in 9941 (33.1%), low PlGF was present in 1501 (5.0%) and both ('two‐stage' screening) were present in 547 (1.8%) pregnancies. Risk factors detected 41.7%–54.7% of adverse outcomes, and could not meaningfully revise the risk (all positive likelihood ratios, +LR, <5.0; all negative likelihood ratios, −LR, ≥0.2). Low PlGF detected 8.5%–17.4% of adverse outcomes, but meaningfully increased risks (other than NICU admission) associated with delivery <37 weeks of gestation (+LR = 5.03–15.55); all −LRs were ≥0.2. 'Two‐stage' screening detected 4.2%–8.9% of adverse outcomes, with meaningful +LRs (6.28–18.61) at <37 weeks of gestation, except for NICU admission of ≥48 h, which had an +LR of 7.56 at <34 weeks of gestation; all −LRs were ≥0.2. No screening strategy meaningfully increased or decreased the detection of adverse outcome risk at term. Conclusions: Clinical risk factor screening has a high screen‐positive rate and a poor detection of adverse outcomes. False positives cannot be reduced by PlGF testing at 19–23 weeks of gestation; therefore, this cannot be recommended as a useful strategy on its own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims In this study, we evaluated the phenotypic virulence characteristics of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler breeders with colibacillosis in Mississippi. Also, the relationship between phenotypic and genotypic virulence patterns was determined. Methods and Results Twenty-eight APEC isolated from lesions of broiler breeders diagnosed with colibacillosis were used for embryo lethality assay and chick challenge study. The percentage of embryo mortality following embryo lethality assay and pathogenicity score following the chick challenge study were used to categorize the isolates based on virulence. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between embryo mortality, chick pathogenicity, and the presence of virulence-associated genes in the isolates. Overall, 39.3% of the isolates were highly virulent and 3.5% were avirulent, following both assays. There existed a positive correlation between embryo mortality and chick pathogenicity (r  = 0.73, P  < .01), as well as percentage embryo mortality and pathogenicity score with the presence of some virulence genes. Conclusions Even though all the APEC were isolated from lesions of diseased breeders, the virulence potential varied from being avirulent to highly virulent. Further, we identified a positive relationship between phenotypic virulence and the frequency of virulence-associated genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printing is an essential technology for clinical decision-making, affording significant improvements over conventional imaging alone. Product usefulness surveys offer potential in measuring the quality and impact of 3DP to assist clinical decision-making and patient communication. A narrative literature review (Scoping Review articles only) frames the benefits and limitations of 3D print surgical workflow and user experiences. A usability survey was co-designed with a company to measure the impact of their 3D prints on surgical practice, and secondary data analysis was conducted of to understand the effectiveness and usefulness of the technology in a real-world healthcare setting. Three categories of usefulness and relevance were identified. High-value relevance (positive Likert scores over 70%) related to pre-operative planning, clinical communication, and the value of the technology. Moderate scores (50% to 69%) related to time saving with pre-operative surgery, and effectiveness of patient care and diagnosis. Minor relevance (less than 50%) included direct cost savings, physical resource efficiencies, time in intra-operative surgery, or intra-operative risks. This research considers 3D printings relationship to medical error prevention, limitations and future recommendations for usability surveys of this type and it identified issues around gender inclusion in Design for Health research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birth-death models play a key role in phylodynamic analysis for their interpretation in terms of key epidemiological parameters. In particular, models with piecewise-constant rates varying at different epochs in time, to which we refer as episodic birth-death-sampling (EBDS) models, are valuable for their reflection of changing transmission dynamics over time. A challenge, however, that persists with current time-varying model inference procedures is their lack of computational efficiency. This limitation hinders the full utilization of these models in large-scale phylodynamic analyses, especially when dealing with high-dimensional parameter vectors that exhibit strong correlations. We present here a linear-time algorithm to compute the gradient of the birth-death model sampling density with respect to all time-varying parameters, and we implement this algorithm within a gradient-based Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) sampler to alleviate the computational burden of conducting inference under a wide variety of structures of, as well as priors for, EBDS processes. We assess this approach using three different real world data examples, including the HIV epidemic in Odesa, Ukraine, seasonal influenza A/H3N2 virus dynamics in New York state, America, and Ebola outbreak in West Africa. HMC sampling exhibits a substantial efficiency boost, delivering a 10- to 200-fold increase in minimum effective sample size per unit-time, in comparison to a Metropolis-Hastings-based approach. Additionally, we show the robustness of our implementation in both allowing for flexible prior choices and in modeling the transmission dynamics of various pathogens by accurately capturing the changing trend of viral effective reproductive number. Author summary: Epidemic control and forecasting relies on accurate quantification of transmission and recovery dynamics. This quantification is achievable through the analysis of phylogenetic relationships among pathogen strains obtained from infected individuals. As a key analytical tool for such inference, we concentrate on the study of the episodic birth-death-sampling (EBDS) models. These models define a probability distribution on time-calibrated phylogenies that enable estimation of time-varying rates of pathogens' transmission, recovery, and sampling. Advances in sequencing technology, however, have led to an increasing amount of genetic data collected from these pathogens. Consequently, the traditional computational methods for analyzing these large-scale data under EBDS models have become inadequate due to their high computational load. We aimed to break this computational bottleneck by developing a new approach, based on the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo sampling, that considerably accelerates inference of all rate parameters compared to the traditional random-walk Metropolis-Hasting method. Our method greatly improves the ability to explore the complex distributions that arise when we want to understand disease dynamics at a more granular temporal resolution. This advancement delivers value to public health as it helps rapid data-driven decision-making during outbreaks and enhances our understanding of the spread of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals' beliefs about their opinion-related tendencies should interest public opinion researchers for at least two reasons. First, these beliefs could influence opinion-related behaviors. Second, they are likely to indicate tendencies that transcend specific situations and pertain to a wide range of subjects for which opinions can be held. This study investigates the associations of demographic characteristics, material and social resources, and subjective experiences with the belief that one tends to develop independent opinions (i.e. opinion autonomy) and expresses one's minority opinions (i.e. expressed autonomy). Effects are estimated through analyses of three waves of data collected from a sample of the U.S. adult population. Education, age, community rank, financial stress, and shame are revealed to have effects of similar magnitude on expressed autonomy and opinion autonomy. Gender is the only variable investigated associated with only one form of autonomy—expressed autonomy. The findings are interpreted through the lenses of identity and affect control theories. Processes related to maintaining authenticity, perceived self-worthiness, and confidence in oneself as an independent thinker and agent are theorized as underlying the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the largest contributors to grassland restoration projects in the United States is the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a program that converts marginal farmlands to perennial grassland, resulting in grassland restoration in an agricultural landscape matrix. Invasive weeds are a particular challenge of restoration in this context due to an abundance of propagule sources and pathways, high levels of soil disturbance, elevated nutrients, and legacies of past agricultural activities. Using edge-of-field surveys, we examined the prevalence of two invasive weedy species, Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary-grass) and Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip), and related their prevalence to CRP contract parameters and vegetation factors to understand which factors improve biotic resistance to invasion during grassland restoration. We found the strongest correlates of weed presence were related to plant cover. High grass cover and forb cover were both strongly correlated with reduced P. arundinacea presence, and high forb cover was correlated to reduced P. sativa presence. High grass species richness was also correlated with lower P. arundinacea presence, but grass and forb richness were not significantly correlated with P. sativa presence. CRP contract parameters were not strong predictors of invasive presence; P. arundinacea was more frequent and P. sativa was less frequent in Wetland Conservation Practices, likely due to hydrology and soil moisture. Grassland restoration age was not a significant predictor for either species. We recommend practices that rapidly increase native plant cover during grassland restoration as a means to improve biotic resistance to weed invasion in an agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tacrolimus is widely reported to display diurnal variation in pharmacokinetic parameters with twice‐daily dosing. However, the contribution of chronopharmacokinetics versus food intake is unclear, with even less evidence in the pediatric population. The objectives of this study were to summarize the existing literature by meta‐analysis and evaluate the impact of food composition on 24‐hour pharmacokinetics in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. For the meta‐analysis, 10 studies involving 253 individuals were included. The pooled effect sizes demonstrated significant differences in area under the concentration–time curve from time 0 to 12 hours (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03‐0.52) and maximum concentration (SMD, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.35‐1.15) between morning and evening dose administration. However, there was significant between‐study heterogeneity that was explained by food exposure. The effect size for minimum concentration was not significantly different overall (SMD, −0.09; 95% CI, −0.27 to 0.09) or across the food exposure subgroups. A 2‐compartment model with a lag time, linear clearance, and first‐order absorption best characterized the tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in pediatric participants. As expected, adding the time of administration and food composition covariates reduced the unexplained within‐subject variability for the first‐order absorption rate constant, but only caloric composition significantly reduced variability for lag time. The available data suggest food intake is the major driver of diurnal variation in tacrolimus exposure, but the associated changes are not reflected by trough concentrations alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize artificial stones used for research in endourology in terms of radiological properties and hardness, based on stone fragmentation, and to compare them with real stones. Materials and Methods: We built artificial stones using BegoStone Plus™ powder (BEGO, Lincoln, RI), with powder (g)–water (mL) ratios ranging from 15:03 to 15:12. The CT Gemstone Spectral Imaging Software® (GE Medical Systems, LLC, Waukesha, WI) was used to evaluate the radiological density in HU and spectral properties. Stone fragmentation was assessed in an in vitro experimental setting. These properties of artificial stones were compared with real urinary calculi. Results: Regarding radiological density in terms of HUs, 15:03 artificial calculi showed similar results when compared with real stones comprising calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The 15:03 and 15:04 artificial stones showed similar spectral property results to calcium pyrophosphate stones. The 15:11 artificial stones showed similar stone fragmentation results to real stones comprising uric acid, and 15:03 artificial calculi showed similar results to apatite and cystine stones. Conclusions: Artificial stones are useful for research in endourology. Stones with a powder (g)–water (mL) ratio of 15:03 proved to mimic real hard stones in terms of HUs, atomic number, and stone fragmentation in our study and could be used as artificial hard stones, and 15:11 stones showed similar stone fragmentation to uric acid stones. Our study might suggest that standard Bego stones are useful to investigate different areas in endourology, but not radiological properties because radiological homogeneity is not ensured unless more sophisticated mixing methods are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magee, MK, Fields, JB, Jagim, AR, and Jones, MT. Fat-free mass index in a large sample of National Collegiate Athletic Association men and women athletes from a variety of sports. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): 311-317, 2024--Fat-free mass index (FFMI) can be used to categorize fat-free mass (FFM) relative to height. Normative values have been established in a variety of sports, as has suggested lower and upper thresholds of FFMI. However, FFMI has not been reported in a large sample of athletes, representing both sexes and multiple sport types. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in FFMI and establish normative values across a large sample of collegiate sports. A total of 1,961 athletes (men: n 5 596, 10 sports; women: n 5 1,365, 8 sports) participated. Height and mass were measured using a stadiometer and calibrated digital scale, respectively. Fat-free mass was assessed with air displacement plethysmography and used to calculate FFMI. Kruskal-Wallis test and one-way analysis of variance evaluated differences in FFMI in women's and men's sports, respectively. When collapsed across sport type and stratified by sex, men had a higher FFMI (21.5 6 1.9 kg·m22 vs. 17.9 6 1.8 kg·m22; p, 0.001). Differences occurred in FFMI across sport. In women, basketball athletes had the highest FFMI (18.9 kg·m22) and highest 99th percentile for FFMI, whereas rowers had the lowest (16.9 kg·m22). In men, throwers had the highest FFMI (25.7 kg·m22) and highest 99th percentile, whereas volleyball athletes had the lowest (19.9 kg·m22). Differences in FFMI may be attributable to dietary habits and physiological demands of respective sports. These results can provide information relative to differences in FFMI values across sports. In addition, sport-specific normative values can be used as benchmarks and targets for training, nutrition, and goal setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose stands as the primary cause of acute liver failure in the United States. APAP hepatotoxicity involves hepatic glutathione (GSH) depletion and mitochondrial damage. To counteract the toxicity of APAP, the nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) activates the expression of genes responsible for drug detoxification and GSH synthesis. In this study, we present evidence that the elimination of hepatocyte small heterodimer partner, a critical transcriptional repressor for liver metabolism, results in Nrf2 activation and protects mice from APAP-induced acute liver injury. Initial investigations conducted on wildtype (WT) mice revealed a swift downregulation of Shp mRNA within the first 24 h after APAP administration. Subsequent treatment of hepatocyte-specific Shp knockout (Shp Hep−/−) mice with 300 mg/kg APAP for 2 h exhibited comparable bioactivation of APAP with that observed in the WT controls. However, a significant reduction in liver injury was observed in Shp Hep−/− after APAP treatment for 6 and 24 h. The decreased liver injury correlated with a faster recovery of GSH, attributable to heightened expression of Nrf2 target genes involved in APAP detoxification and GSH synthesis. Moreover, in vitro studies revealed that SHP protein interacted with NRF2 protein, inhibiting the transcription of Nrf2 target genes. These findings hold relevance for humans, as overexpression of SHP hindered APAP-induced NRF2 activation in primary human hepatocytes. In conclusion, our studies have unveiled a novel regulatory axis involving SHP and NRF2 in APAP-induced acute liver injury, emphasizing SHP as a promising therapeutic target in APAP overdose-induced hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on a social determinants of health framework, death records and Medicaid data were linked at the individual and family level to examine mental health outcomes among secondary homicide survivors in the 12 months following a homicide of a loved one. Results indicate secondary homicide survivors are significantly more likely to have a mental health diagnosis in the 12 months following a homicide—particularly youth family members. Violence prevention in local communities must be aligned with the provision of critical victims' services and access to mental health care to protect all residents exposed to the harmful ripple effects of homicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrative data analysis (IDA) was used to derive developmental models of depression, externalizing problems, and self-regulatory processes in three prevention trials of the Family Check-Up and one longitudinal, community-based study of girls over a 10-year span covering early to late adolescence (N = 4,773; 74.9% female, 41.7% white). We used moderated nonlinear factor analysis to create harmonized scores based on all available items for a given participant in the pooled dataset while accounting for potential differences in both the latent factor and the individual items as a function of observed covariates. We also conducted latent growth model analyses to examine developmental trajectories of risk. Results indicated a bidirectional relationship between depression and externalizing problems, with greater baseline externalizing problems and depression predicting growth in inhibitory control difficulties. Furthermore, initial level of inhibitory control difficulties was associated with growth in depression. We did not, however, find a relationship between early inhibitory control difficulties and growth in externalizing problems. This work illustrates the utility of IDA techniques to harmonize data across multiple studies to identify risk factors for the development of depression and externalizing problems that can be targeted by prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong gravitational lensing of supernovae is exceedingly rare. To date, only a handful of lensed supernovae are known. Despite this, lensed supernovae have emerged as a promising method for measuring the current expansion rate of the Universe and breaking the Hubble tension. We present an extensive search for gravitationally lensed supernovae within the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) public survey, covering 15 215 transients with good light curves discovered during 4 yr of observations. We cross-match a catalogue of known and candidate lens galaxies with our sample and find three coincident sources, which were due to chance alignment. To search for supernovae magnified by unknown lenses, we test multiple methods suggested in the literature for the first time on real data. This includes selecting objects with extremely red colours, those that appear inconsistent with the host galaxy redshift, and those with bright absolute magnitudes inferred from the host galaxy redshift. We find a few hundred candidates, most of which are due to contamination from activate galactic nuclei, bogus detections, or unlensed supernovae. The false positive rate from these methods presents significant challenges for future surveys. In total, 132 unique transients were identified across all of our selection methods that required detailed manual rejection, which would be infeasible for larger samples. Overall, we do not find any compelling candidates for lensed supernovae, which is broadly consistent with previous estimates for the rate of lensed supernovae from the ZTF public survey alone and the number expected to pass the selection cuts we apply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early observations of transient explosions can provide vital clues to their progenitor origins. In this paper, we present the nearby Type Iax (02cx-like) supernova (SN), SN 2020udy, that was discovered within hours (∼7 h) of estimated first light. An extensive data set of ultra-violet, optical, and near-infrared observations was obtained, covering out to ∼150 d after explosion. SN 2020udy peaked at −17.86 ± 0.43 mag in the r band and evolved similarly to other 'luminous' SNe Iax, such as SNe 2005hk and 2012Z. Its well-sampled early light curve allows strict limits on companion interaction to be placed. Main-sequence companion stars with masses of 2 and 6 M⊙ are ruled out at all viewing angles, while a helium-star companion is allowed from a narrow range of angles (140–180° away from the companion). The spectra and light curves of SN 2020udy are in good agreement with those of the 'N5def' deflagration model of a near Chandrasekhar-mass carbon–oxygen white dwarf. However, as has been seen in previous studies of similar luminosity events, SN 2020udy evolves slower than the model. Broad-band linear polarization measurements taken at and after peak are consistent with no polarization, in agreement with the predictions of the companion-star configuration from the early light-curve measurements. The host galaxy environment is low metallicity and is consistent with a young stellar population. Overall, we find the most plausible explosion scenario to be the incomplete disruption of a CO white dwarf near the Chandrasekhar-mass limit, with a helium-star companion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for fertility treatments has led to the rise of private clinics offering complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. The most frequently offered CAM infertility treatment is acupuncture. However, there is no good evidence to support the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating infertility. This study evaluates the scope of information provided by CAM fertility clinics in the UK. A content analysis was conducted on 200 websites of CAM fertility clinics in the UK that offer acupuncture as a treatment for infertility. Of the 48 clinics that met the eligibility criteria, the majority of the websites did not provide sufficient information on the efficacy, risks and success rates of acupuncture for infertility. This has the potential to infringe on patient autonomy, provide false hope and reduce the chances of pregnancy ever being achieved as fertility declines during the time course of ineffective acupuncture treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive resting metabolic rate (RMR) equations are widely used to determine total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). However, it remains unclear whether these predictive RMR equations accurately predict TDEE in the athletic populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of 10 commonly used RMR prediction equations (Cunningham, De Lorenzo, Freire, Harris-Benedict, Mifflin St. Jeor, Nelson, Owen, Tinsley, Watson, Schofield) in collegiate men and women athletes. One-hundred eighty-seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III men (n = 97) and women (n = 90) athletes were recruited to participate in one day of metabolic testing. RMR was measured using indirect calorimetry and body composition was analyzed using air displacement plethysmography. A repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc analyses was selected to determine mean differences between measured and predicted RMR. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the accuracy of each RMR prediction method (p<0.05). All prediction equations significantly underestimated RMR (p<0.001), although there was no difference between the De Lorenzo and Watson equations and measured RMR (p = 1.00) for women, only. In men, the Tinsley and Freire equations were the most agreeable formulas with the lowest root-mean-square prediction error value of 404 and 412 kcals, respectively. In women, the De Lorenzo and Watson equations were the most agreeable equations with the lowest root-mean-squared error value of 171 and 211 kcals, respectively. The results demonstrate that such RMR equations may underestimate actual energy requirements of athletes and thus, practitioners should interpret such values with caution. Highlights All prediction equations significantly underestimated RMR in men athletes. All prediction equations, except for the De Lorenzo and Watson equations, significantly underestimated RMR in women athletes. Although a significant underestimation of RMR in men athletes, the Freire and Tinsley equations were the most agreeable prediction equations. In women athletes, the De Lorenzo and Watson equations were the most agreeable prediction equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fostemsavir, a prodrug of the first‐in‐class HIV‐1 attachment inhibitor temsavir, is approved for the treatment of multidrug‐resistant HIV‐1 in adults; its use in pediatric populations is currently being studied. Population pharmacokinetic modeling across pediatric weight bands was used to guide pediatric fostemsavir dose selection. Dosing simulations demonstrated that twice‐daily fostemsavir 600‐mg (adult dose) and 400‐mg doses met safety and efficacy criteria for 35 kg or greater and 20 or greater to less than 35 kg pediatric weight bands, respectively. Temsavir relative bioavailability of 2 low‐dose fostemsavir extended‐release formulations (3 × 200 mg; formulations A and B) and reference formulation (600 mg extended release) was assessed in a 2‐part, open‐label, randomized, crossover study in healthy adults. Part 1 (N = 32) compared single‐dose temsavir relative bioavailability, and Part 2 (N = 16) evaluated the impact of fed versus fasted conditions using the selected low‐dose formulation. Temsavir geometric mean ratios for the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity and maximum concentration for formulation B were bioequivalent to the reference formulation. Temsavir maximum concentration for formulation B was similar in fed and fasted states, but area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity geometric mean ratio was increased under fed conditions, consistent with previous results in adults. These analyses demonstrated efficient pediatric dose selection using a model‐based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport participation can offer migrants a modality to connect with dominant cultural norms and potentially foster interculturalism, yet it is often fraught with exclusion. Little is known about how informal sports that migrants have introduced into countries of resettlement affect their (non)belonging. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork over a 14-month period, this article examines how Hazara men's involvement in the ethno-specific informal sport of sangarag influences their post-migration experiences of (non)belonging in Australia. The findings indicate that Hazara men's construction of sangarag as a space and resource for belonging needs to be understood as a response to the challenging circumstances they experience in their settlement journeys. The overt and subtle politics of belonging that govern sangarag reinforce intra-group differentiations, most notably in relation to gender and ability. Further tensions stem from sangarag's marginal status outside of the Australian sports system, leaving participants to feel unsupported and misrecognised by local institutions. Implications for policy include the need to recognise and support the value that informal sports can have for migrants' ability to (re)claim a sense of belonging and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A finite group G is called C-quasirandom (by Gowers) if all non-trivial irreducible complex representations of G have dimension at least C. For any unit ℓ 2 function on a finite group we associate the quantum probability measure on the group given by the absolute value squared of the function. We show that if a group is highly quasirandom, in the above sense, then any Cayley graph of this group has an orthonormal eigenbasis of the adjacency operator such that the quantum probability measures of the eigenfunctions put close to the correct proportion of their mass on suitably selected subsets of the group that are not too small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is the fear of consequences of anxiety-related sensations, and has been linked to the development of panic symptoms. Distress tolerance (DT) encompasses one's behavioral or self-perceived ability to handle aversive states. We examined whether higher DT buffers the relationship between AS and changes in panic symptoms across two timepoints, spaced ∼three weeks apart. At Time 1, 208 participants completed questionnaires and a physical DT task (breath-holding duration), a cognitive DT task (anagram persistence), and a self-report measure of DT (perceived DT). Panic symptoms were assessed at both timepoints. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate two models in which AS and DT predicted changes in panic. Contrary to hypotheses, for those with longer breath-holding duration (higher physical DT), higher fears of physical anxiety-related sensations (higher physical AS) were associated with worse panic outcomes over time. Findings suggest that those with lower physical DT may have been less willing to engage with difficult tasks in the short-term. Although disengagement in the short-term may provide temporary relief, it is possible that averse psychopathological consequences stemming from rigid or habitual avoidance of distressing states may develop over longer periods of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Loss of control over eating (LOC) during pregnancy impacts prenatal health and often co‐occurs with depressive symptoms. However, the role of depression history as a risk factor for LOC prior to pregnancy is unclear; information that is essential for effective prenatal health promotion. We examined the association between trajectories of depressive symptoms from childhood to first pregnancy and preconception LOC. Method: Participants (N = 1031) were predominantly Black, first‐time mothers enrolled in the population‐based Pittsburgh Girls Study. LOC and depressive symptoms were measured annually. Pre‐pregnancy height and weight, and gestational weight gain data were abstracted from medical records. Results: There was a significant difference in age of first conception for Black and White individuals (t = 8.73, df = 976, p <.001). Latent class analysis revealed four and three classes of depressive symptom trajectories for Black and White individuals, respectively. In the entire sample, the high‐changing and moderate‐decreasing classes of depressive symptoms were each associated with lifetime, in preconception year and not in preconception year, LOC (X2 = 56.7, p <.001). Discussion: High levels of lifetime depressive symptoms may increase vulnerability to future LOC prior to first pregnancy, suggesting potential targets for interventions to improve maternal health. Public Significance: Both depression history and disordered eating behaviors are known to influence prenatal health. The present study revealed associations between high levels of depressive symptoms from childhood through first pregnancy and loss of control over eating that included the year prior to conception. Results highlight potential targets for preconception interventions with relevance for future prenatal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the performance at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation of screening for delivery with pre‐eclampsia (PE) at various timepoints, using one of three approaches: placental growth factor (PlGF) concentration, soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) to PlGF concentration ratio, or the competing‐risks model, which combines maternal risk factors with biomarkers to estimate patient‐specific risk. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of women attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation at one of two maternity hospitals in England between 2016 and 2022. During the visit, maternal demographic characteristics and medical history were recorded and serum PlGF, serum sFlt‐1 and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured. Detection rates (DRs) were evaluated for delivery with PE (defined as per American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2019 criteria) within 1 week, within 2 weeks or at any time after screening, using the following strategies: (i) low PlGF (< 10th percentile); (ii) high sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio (> 90th percentile); or (iii) the competing‐risks model, in which maternal factors were combined with multiples of the median values of PlGF ('single test'), PlGF and sFlt‐1 ('double test') or PlGF, sFlt‐1 and MAP ('triple test'). Risk cut‐offs corresponded to a screen‐positive rate of 10%. DRs were compared between tests. Results: Of 34 782 pregnancies, 831 (2.4%) developed PE. In screening for delivery with PE at any time from assessment, the DR at 10% screen‐positive rate was 47% by low PlGF alone, 54% by the single test, 55% by high sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio, 61% by the double test and 68% by the triple test. In screening for delivery with PE within 2 weeks from assessment, the respective values were 67%, 74%, 74%, 80% and 87%. In screening for delivery with PE within 1 week from assessment, the respective values were 77%, 81%, 85%, 88% and 91%. For prediction of PE at any time, the DR was significantly higher with the triple test compared to PlGF alone or the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio, with a DR difference (95% CI) of 20.1% (16.7–23.0%) and 12.4% (9.7–15.3%), respectively. Similar results were seen for prediction of PE within 2 weeks (20.6% (14.9–26.8%) and 12.9% (7.7–17.5%), respectively) and prediction of PE within 1 week (13.5% (5.4–21.6%) and 5.4% (0.0–10.8%), respectively). The double test was superior to the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio and the single test was superior to PlGF alone in the prediction of PE within 2 weeks and at any time from assessment, but not within 1 week of assessment. Conclusion: At 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation, the performance of screening for PE by the competing‐risks model triple test is superior to that of PlGF alone or the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio for the development of disease within 1 week, within 2 weeks and at any time from screening. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our Political Editor discusses how the Northern Ireland devolved government plans to tackle the waiting lists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firearm violence is considered a public health crisis in the United States. Firearm violence spatially concentrates within neighborhoods and is associated with community factors; however, little is understood about the geographic differences in gunshot wound mortality and associated neighborhood social processes. Applying a public health approach through the Haddon's Matrix, the results demonstrate systematic differences in social and physical features associated with gunshot mortality. These findings have important implications to improve neighborhood physical and social conditions, police transporting gunshot victims, and police-public health partnerships to improve data collection on nonfatal shootings and shots fired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health issue, particularly in nursing home residents. Objective This review critically summarizes the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in nursing home residents worldwide. In addition, it outlines the effect of vitamin D intervention, alone or in combination with other nutrients or therapies, on improving vitamin D status and associated health outcomes in nursing home residents. Data Sources, Extraction, and Analysis Searches were conducted of electronic databases for articles published from 2010 to May 2021. After screening of the 366 papers initially identified, 58 articles were included. Conclusions A paucity of observational studies in nursing homes suggests a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ranging from 8% [25(OH)D <25 nmol/L], up to 94% [25(OH)D <50 nmol/L] in some cohorts where supplement use was low. Reported factors associated with deficiency and suboptimal vitamin D status include lack of sunlight exposure, poor dietary intake of vitamin D, limited vitamin D food fortification, frailty, poor renal function, and low use of vitamin D supplements. Residents who are severely deficient, deficient, or insufficient in vitamin D require remedial vitamin D supplementation prior to maintenance supplementation at doses >800 IU/day. High-dose vitamin D supplementation may reduce respiratory illness; however, supportive data are limited. Oral nutritional supplements, in combination with exercise, may benefit physical function and performance, whereas supplementation with vitamin D– and calcium-fortified foods has been associated with improved quality of life and reduced bone resorption. Globally, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in nursing home residents. There is an urgent need for standardized dietary and supplementation guidelines to prevent deficiency in this vulnerable group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive deficits are common, although often mild, in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Prevalence and severity of cognitive deficits on discharge from acute hospital, however, are not systematically assessed in clinical practice, and not frequently reported in scientific literature, potentially hindering the development of appropriate follow-up care pathways for these patients. We hereby present data from a consecutive case series of 75 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients discharged from our hospital over a period of 16 months; for 46 of them we were able to obtain a cognitive profile around the time of discharge from hospital, with 37 of them experiencing cognitive deficits, ranging from mild to severe. Memory, verbal fluency and cognitive flexibility were the areas more frequently impaired. The patients we were able to assess did not differ for age, cerebral performance category score and time to return of spontaneous circulation from those we were unable to assess. Cognitive deficits were not associated with duration of "no/low blood flow" during cardiac arrest or with age. Our results suggest that cognitive deficits in the immediate aftermath of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are common; however, these may be missed due to lack of systematic assessment and use of poorly sensitive cognitive tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the current study was to examine differences in neurocognitive processes across groups marked by binge drinking and depression to identify patterns of cognitive and affective processing impairments. Undergraduate students (N = 104; 64% female) were recruited based on self-reported symptoms of depression and alcohol use. They completed an emotional Go/No-Go task while undergoing EEG. Mean amplitudes for N2 and P3 components were examined with 2 (Depressed/Non-depressed) X 2 (Binge/Non-binge drinkers) X 4 (Happy/Sad/Angry/Calm) X 3 (Left/Middle/Right) X 2 (Go/No-Go) repeated measures ANOVAs. There were significant Trial Type X Valence X Depression X Binge Drinking interactions for N2 (F (3, 80) = 6.62, p <.01) and P3 (F (3, 80) = 4.65, p <.01) components. There was a significant Valence X Depression X Binge Drinking interaction for response bias (F (3, 65) = 3.11, p <.05). The source of our sample may be a limitation, as all participants were university students, potentially making the results less generalizable. Further, we cannot be certain that social desirability did not interfere with honest reporting of alcohol use in this population. Differences in early inhibitory control were observed across emotions based on trial type among depressed non-binge drinkers, and these differences were attenuated in the presence of binge drinking. Further, the effects of depression on later inhibitory control were specific to non-binge drinkers. Results help to clarify the nature of underlying patterns of neurocognitive and affective risk processes that could be targeted by prevention and intervention programs. • In early stages of processing, depressed non-binge drinkers required greater attentional engagements, as evidence by enhanced N2 amplitudes on Go trials. • In early stages of processing, the effects of depression were attenuated among binge drinkers, suggesting that emerging adults may use alcohol to regulate affect. • During later stages of processing, attenuated P3 amplitudes were observed in the context of depressive symptoms and absence of binge drinking, suggesting depression-related impairments in the processing of emotional stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let Γg be the fundamental group of a closed connected orientable surface of genus g ≥ 2. We develop a new method for integrating over the representation space Xg,n = Hom(Γg, Sn), where Sn is the symmetric group of permutations of {1,...,n}. Equivalently, this is the space of all vertex-labeled, n-sheeted covering spaces of the closed surface of genus g. Given ∅ ∈ Xg,n and γ ∈ Γg, we let fixγ (∅) be the number of fixed points of the permutation ∅(γ). The function fixγ is a special case of a natural family of functions on Xg,n called Wilson loops. Our new methodology leads to an asymptotic formula, as n → ∞, for the expectation of fixγ with respect to the uniform probability measure on Xg,n, which is denoted by Eg,n [fixγ]. We prove that if γ ∈ Γg is not the identity and q is maximal such that γ is a qth power in Γg, then Eg,n fixγ = d(q) + o(n−1) as n → ∞, where d (q) is the number of divisors of q. Even the weaker corollary that Eg,n [fixγ] = o(n) as n → ∞ is a new result of this paper. We also prove that Eg,n [fixγ] can be approximated to any order o(n-M ) by a polynomial in n−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs) arise in successive waves during ontogeny, and their properties change significantly throughout life. Ontological changes in HSCs/MPPs underlie corresponding changes in mechanisms of pediatric leukemia initiation. As HSCs and MPPs progress from fetal to neonatal, juvenile and adult stages of life, they undergo transcriptional and epigenetic reprogramming that modifies immune output to meet age-specific pathogenic challenges. Some immune cells arise exclusively from fetal HSCs/MPPs. We propose that this layered immunity instructs cell fates that underlie a parallel layered leukemogenicity. Indeed, some pediatric leukemias, such as juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, myeloid leukemia of Down syndrome, and infant pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, are age-restricted. They only present during infancy or early childhood. These leukemias likely arise from fetal progenitors that lose competence for transformation as they age. Other childhood leukemias, such as non-infant pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, have mutation profiles that are common in childhood but rare in morphologically similar adult leukemias. These differences could reflect temporal changes in mechanisms of mutagenesis or changes in how progenitors respond to a given mutation at different ages. Interactions between leukemogenic mutations and normal developmental switches offer potential targets for therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant individuals are susceptible to maternal mpox (monkeypox) infection and are eligible for treatment. Although transplacental transmission of mpox is possible, this case did not result in fetal infection. BACKGROUND: An mpox (formerly "monkeypox") outbreak began in 2022, leading to infection in special populations, including pregnant individuals. CASE: We present a case of an individual who presented with a labial ulcer and subsequent papular rash at 31 weeks of gestation. She was diagnosed with mpox infection and was treated with tecovirimat. She had an uncomplicated induction of labor at 39 2/7 weeks of gestation and delivered a healthy neonate. The neonate had a positive immunoglobulin G test result for orthopoxvirus but did not have skin lesions or positive molecular test results suggestive of infection. CONCLUSION: Transplacental transmission of mpox is possible, but, in this case, the neonate did not have clinical findings suggestive of active or antenatal mpox infection. Treatment with tecovirimat in gestational cases of mpox may be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that persons with disabilities comprise, according to current statistics, a significant portion of conflict-affected communities and are disproportionately affected by armed conflict, the lack of inclusion in accountability mechanisms for acts amounting to crimes under international law is notable. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provides a framework for mainstreaming inclusive investigation practices and promoting greater accountability, through application of the principles of autonomy, non-discrimination and accessibility. This article makes suggestions for the operationalization of this CRPD framework through specific recommendations for accountability mechanisms, alongside legal opportunities for recognition of crimes affecting persons with disabilities and crimes resulting in disability. A case study of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and persons with disabilities in Iraq is used to illustrate the application of recommendations to ensure that persons with disabilities are no longer the "forgotten victims of armed conflict". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospital pharmacy dispensaries are busy work environments where staff are involved in a variety of work‐related tasks. The proportion of time spent on daily tasks, task prioritisation, multitasking, and interruptions remains largely unknown. Aim: To examine the tasks performed and proportion of time pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in a hospital pharmacy inpatient dispensary spend on various work‐related activities. Method: Pharmacists and technicians working in the inpatient dispensary of a large metropolitan health service were directly observed by trained researchers. Tasks were recorded using Work Observation Method By Activity Timing (WOMBAT), a validated technique developed for direct observation studies of health professionals. Timed tasks were allocated to domains detailing the task performed, who performed it, who they interacted with, and where the task was performed. Data were analysed descriptively with independence of 95% confidence intervals (CI) demonstrating statistical significance. Results: Twelve pharmacists and 13 technicians were observed for 107.4 h. Tasks that contributed the greatest proportion of time were: the preparation of discharge prescriptions: pharmacists 32.1% (95% CI 29.9–34.3%) and technicians 21.0% (95% CI 18.3–23.7%); inpatient medication supply 22.5% (95% CI 21.5–23.5%) and 49.3% (95% CI 47.3–51.3%) and; inter‐professional communication 13.6% and 14.7% (non‐significant [NS]). Tasks were completed independently 89.6% (pharmacists) and 88.9% (technicians) of the time. Pharmacists and technicians were interrupted 6.7 and 5.1 times per hour (p < 0.05), respectively; 8.6% and 9.5% (NS) of the time was spent undertaking at least two tasks simultaneously. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine task time distribution within a hospital inpatient dispensary. Pharmacists and technicians spend the greatest proportion of time on direct medication dispensing‐related activities. This study demonstrates a high frequency of multitasking and interruptions, both of which are known risks for dispensing errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines Michael Tsegaye's series Future Memories and Chasms of the Soul, underscoring not just the socio-political context of the work, but the possibilities of photography itself. Addressing the displacement occurring when neighborhoods and cemeteries were razed to accommodate urban redevelopment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the photographs tell the stories of these events, making present absences; in doing so, they open up present moments. Visually analyzing the photographs and drawing on theories of presence, place, absence, and memorialization, I center my argument on the temporal possibilities of the photographic moment. To argue this, I offer realignments in how presence and the present might be conceptualized in photography to enable a "being present". Such reorientation is dependent upon the relation of the photographer to the subject matter and the viewer to the photograph, as well as the photograph's relation to time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness (PDOC) resulting from severe acquired brain injury can lead to complex disabilities that make diagnosis challenging. The role of machine learning (ML) in diagnosing PDOC states and identifying intervention strategies is relatively under-explored, having focused on predicting mortality and poor outcome. This study aims to: (a) apply ML techniques to predict PDOC diagnostic states from variables obtained from two non-invasive neurobehavior assessment tools; and (b) apply network analysis for guiding possible intervention strategies. Methods: The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) is a well-established tool for assessing patients with PDOC. More recently, music has been found to be a useful medium for assessment of coma patients, leading to the standardization of a music-based assessment of awareness: Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness (MATADOC). CRS-R and MATADOC data were collected from 74 PDOC patients aged 16–70 years at three specialist centers in the USA, UK and Ireland. The data were analyzed by three ML techniques (neural networks, decision trees and cluster analysis) as well as modelled through system-level network analysis. Results: PDOC diagnostic state can be predicted to a relatively high level of accuracy that sets a benchmark for future ML analysis using neurobehavioral data only. The outcomes of this study may also have implications for understanding the role of music therapy in interdisciplinary rehabilitation to help patients move from one coma state to another. Conclusions: This study has shown how ML can derive rules for diagnosis of PDOC with data from two neurobehavioral tools without the need to harvest large clinical and imaging datasets. Network analysis using the measures obtained from these two non-invasive tools provides novel, system-level ways of interpreting possible transitions between PDOC states, leading to possible use in novel, next-generation decision-support systems for PDOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The birth-death model is commonly used to infer speciation and extinction rates by fitting the model to phylogenetic trees with exclusively extant taxa. Recently, it was demonstrated that speciation and extinction rates are not identifiable if the rates are allowed to vary freely over time. The group of birth-death models that have the same likelihood is called a congruence class, and there is no statistical evidence to favor one model over the other. This issue has led researchers to question if and what patterns can reliably be inferred from phylogenies of only extant taxa and whether time-variable birth-death models should be fitted at all. We explore the congruence class in the context of several empirical phylogenies as well as hypothetical scenarios. For these empirical phylogenies, we assume that we inferred the true congruence class. Thus, our conclusions apply to any empirical phylogeny for which we robustly inferred the true congruence class. When we summarize shared patterns in the congruence class, we show that strong directional trends in speciation and extinction rates are shared among most models. Therefore, we conclude that the inference of strong directional trends is robust. Conversely, estimates of constant rates or gentle slopes are not robust and must be treated with caution. Interestingly, the space of valid speciation rates is narrower and more limited in contrast to extinction rates, which are less constrained. These results provide further evidence and insights that speciation rates can be estimated more reliably than extinction rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We welcome the Comment of Alves et al. ([3]) as an opportunity to further discuss the stratigraphic record of continental break-up, offshore NW Australia. However, it is important to note that the statement by Alves et al. ([3]) at least partly emanates from analyses of the Iberia margin, where the proximal domain was situated >100-350 km from the locus of breakup (e.g. Alves & Cunha, [2]; Soares et al., [24]). REFERENCES 1 Alves, T., Fetter, M., Busby, C., Gontijo, R., Cunha, T. A., & Mattos, N. H. (2020). 3 Alves, T. M., Fetter, M., Busby, C., Cunha, T. A., & Mattos, N. (2022). [Extracted from the article]