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Atom probe tomography is a ubiquitous method in materials science and engineering capable of revealing the atomic-level three-dimensional composition of a plethora of materials. Beside the nature of atoms forming the analyzed material, atom probe data are also known to contain information on the crystallography. In particular, remnants of the atomic plane sets forming on the surface of the tip-shaped samples are commonly found in atom probe data sets of crystalline metallic materials. The plane remnants can be utilized to correlate the nano-scale chemical analysis that atom probe tomography provides with the crystallographic structure on the same scale. We describe a protocol to reveal and track the atomic planes systematically from raw atom probe data. We demonstrate for both metals and semiconductors that the extracted crystallographic can be used to calibrate a dynamic reconstruction of the respective data set acquired in atom probe tomography. Furthermore, we utilize the crystal planes to make precise measurements of layer thicknesses in atom probe data of semiconductor heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical race theory (CRT) is rarely discussed in LIS literature. Two principles of CRT, interest convergence and differential racialization, can possibly help us to better understand and challenge the pervasiveness and harmfulness of Whiteness in LIS. The purpose of this analysis is to demonstrate how crippling Whiteness can be to Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) library employees. Survey feedback provided insight into how BIPOC employees feel about their positions within academic libraries and LIS. Themes from the film Get Out were explored in this survey to examine if the library is the proverbial Sunken Place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sense of Agency (SoA) refers to the subjective experience of controlling one's actions and the external events resulting from those actions. This study aimed to critically evaluate the construct validity, robustness, and clinical utility of the Sense of Agency Scale (SoAS) in an Italian-speaking population, using a data-driven approach to explore potential factor structures. A sample of 992 adults completed the SoAS alongside other validated psychological measures, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the scale's psychometric properties. An iterative process of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) was implemented to assess both two-factor and bifactor models. A refined 10-item version of the SoAS was established, comprising two distinct factors: Sense of Positive Agency (SoPA, five items) and Sense of Negative Agency (SoNA, five items). The results favored a two-factor solution supported by satisfying fit indices, factor loadings, and stability. The revised scale demonstrated strong internal consistency, with McDonald's omega values of 0.79 (SoNA) and 0.87 (SoPA). This study extends the literature by providing evidence of the scale's convergent and divergent validity, with significant correlations in the expected directions with constructs such as sense of self, hopelessness, impulsiveness, psychosis-like experiences, and schizotypal traits. These findings support the revised SoAS as a reliable and valid measure for assessing the Sense of Agency and highlight its broader applicability in understanding psychological and psychopathological constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Porokeratosis variants are relatively rare and can be clinically misdiagnosed with several common papulokeratotic mimickers. Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a new technology able to explore the skin in vivo up to a depth of 500 µm. Objectives To investigate the role of LC-OCT in the diagnosis of many porokeratosis variants in a preliminary study. Method In total, 130 LC-OCT images were obtained from 98 patients, 45 affected by a porokeratosis variant (69 images) and 53 with a mimicker condition (61 images). Results We found almost perfect interobserver agreement for LC-OCT image interpretation and perfect correspondence with the findings from histological slides. In addition, a series of morphological in vivo and three-dimensional features related to the cornoid lamella were detected by LC-OCT that were not visible from the histology. Conclusions This device can be proposed to assist with rapid bedside noninvasive differentiation of porokeratosis variants from their mimickers, possibly sparing incisional biopsy in patients where the diagnosis is uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the lymph node invasion (LNI) rate in patients exhibiting complete pathological response (CR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and to test the association of CR status with lower LNI and better survival outcomes. Materials and Methods: We included patients with bladder cancer (BCa; cT2‐4a; cN0; cM0) treated with NAC and radical cystectomy (RC) + pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) at our institution between 2012 and 2022 (N = 157). CR (ypT0) and LNI (ypN+) were defined at final pathology. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association between CR and LNI after adjusting for number of lymph nodes removed (NLR). Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to assess overall survival (OS), metastasis‐free survival (MFS) and disease free‐survival (DFS) according to CR status. Results: Overall CR and LNI rates were 40.1% and 19%, respectively. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) NLR was 26 (19–36). The LNI rate was lower in patients with CR vs those without CR (2 [3.2%] vs 61 [29.8%]; P < 0.001). After adjusting for NLR, CR reduced the LNI risk by 93% (odds ratio 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01–0.25; P < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier plots depicted better 5‐year OS (69.7 vs 52.2%), MFS (68.3 vs 45.5%) and DFS (66.6 vs 43.5%) in patients with CR vs those without CR. After multivariable adjustments, CR independently reduced the risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.44, 95% CI 0.24–0.81; P = 0.008), metastatic progression (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23–0.71; P = 0.002) and disease progression (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24–0.70; P = 0.001). Conclusion: Based on these findings, we postulate that PLND could potentially be omitted in patients exhibiting CR after NAC, due to negligible risk of LNI. Prospective Phase II trials are needed to explore this challenging hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bring Your Own Book Club Plus (BYOB+) program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was a collaboration between the Undergraduate Library and the Residence Hall Libraries. BYOB+ occurred from fall 2020 to spring 2021. This program was born out of COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings on campus and the shift to online programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current models to understand the reactivity of metal/aqueous interfaces in electrochemistry, e.g., volcano plots, are based on the adsorption free energies of reactants and products, which are often small hydrophobic molecules (such as in CO2 and N2 reduction). Calculations played a major role in the quantification and comprehension of these free energies in terms of the interactions that the reactive species form with the surface. However, solvation free energies also come into play in two ways: (i) by modulating the adsorption free energy together with solute–surface interactions, as the solute has to penetrate the water adlayer in contact with the surface and get partially desolvated (which costs free energy); (ii) by regulating transport across the interface, i.e., the free energy profile from the bulk to the interface, which is strongly non-monotonic due to the unique nature of metal/aqueous interfaces. Here, we use constant potential molecular dynamics to study the solvation contributions, and we uncover huge effects of the shape and orientation (on top of the already known size effect) of small hydrophobic and amphiphilic solutes on their adsorption free energy. We propose a minimal theoretical model, the S.O.S. model, that accounts for size, orientation, and shape effects. These novel aspects are rationalized by recasting the concepts at the base of the Lum–Chandler–Weeks theory of hydrophobic solvation (for small solutes in the so-called volume-dominated regime) into a layer-by-layer form, where the properties of each interfacial region close to the metal are explicitly taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is marked by the successive emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, lineages, and sublineages that outcompete earlier strains, largely due to factors like increased transmissibility and immune escape. We propose DeepAutoCoV, an unsupervised deep learning anomaly detection system, to predict future dominant lineages (FDLs). We define FDLs as viral (sub)lineages that will constitute >10% of all the viral sequences added to the GISAID, a public database supporting viral genetic sequence sharing, in a given week. DeepAutoCoV is trained and validated by assembling global and country-specific data sets from over 16 million Spike protein sequences sampled over a period of ~4 years. DeepAutoCoV successfully flags FDLs at very low frequencies (0.01%–3%), with median lead times of 4–17 weeks, and predicts FDLs between ~5 and ~25 times better than a baseline approach. For example, the B.1.617.2 vaccine reference strain was flagged as FDL when its frequency was only 0.01%, more than a year before it was considered for an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, DeepAutoCoV outputs interpretable results by pinpointing specific mutations potentially linked to increased fitness and may provide significant insights for the optimization of public health 'pre-emptive' intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia and myosteatosis are common in patients with cirrhosis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of these muscle changes, their interrelations and their prognostic impact over a 12-month period. We conducted a prospective multicentre study involving 433 patients. Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were evaluated using computed tomography scans. The 1-year cumulative incidence of relevant events was assessed by competing risk analysis. We used a Fine-Gray model adjusted for known prognostic factors to evaluate the impact of sarcopenia and myosteatosis on mortality, hospitalization, and liver decompensation. At enrolment, 166 patients presented with isolated myosteatosis, 36 with isolated sarcopenia, 135 with combined sarcopenia and myosteatosis and 96 patients showed no muscle changes. The 1-year cumulative incidence of death in patients with either sarcopenia and myosteatosis (13.8%) or isolated myosteatosis (13.4%) was over twice that of patients without muscle changes (5.2%) or with isolated sarcopenia (5.6%). The adjusted sub-hazard ratio for death in patients with muscle changes was 1.36 (95% CI 0.99–1.86, p = 0.058). The cumulative incidence of hospitalization was significantly higher in patients with combined sarcopenia and myosteatosis than in patients without muscle changes (adjusted sub-hazard ratio 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.35). The cumulative incidence of liver decompensation was greater in patients with combined sarcopenia and myosteatosis (p = 0.018) and those with isolated sarcopenia (p = 0.046) than in patients without muscle changes. Lastly, we found a strong correlation of function tests and frailty scores with the presence of muscle changes. Myosteatosis, whether alone or combined with sarcopenia, is highly prevalent in patients with cirrhosis and is associated with significantly worse outcomes. The prognostic role of sarcopenia should always be evaluated in relation to the presence of myosteatosis. This study investigates the prognostic role of muscle changes in patients with cirrhosis. The novelty of this study is its multicentre, prospective nature and the fact that it distinguishes between the impact of individual muscle changes and their combination on prognosis in cirrhosis. This study highlights the prognostic role of myosteatosis, especially when combined with sarcopenia. On the other hand, the relevance of sarcopenia could be mitigated when considered together with myosteatosis. The implication from these findings is that sarcopenia should never be evaluated individually and that myosteatosis may play a dominant role in the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis. [Display omitted] • Sarcopenia is closely associated with myosteatosis in patients with cirrhosis. • The combination of sarcopenia and myosteatosis is an independent predictor of worse outcomes. • Isolated myosteatosis is a risk factor for decline in muscle function and is associated with patient survival. • Muscle function tests are clinical surrogates for sarcopenia and myosteatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acral melanocytic lesions often pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for many clinicians. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is an imaging technique widely used for the assessment of skin cancers. The aim of this review is to explore the applicability of RCM for the diagnosis of nevi and melanoma on the acral sites. Methods: Study selection was conducted based on the application of RCM for acral melanocytic lesions. All types of articles (original articles, short reports, and single case reports) were included in the analysis following PRISMA updated guidelines. Results: The search retrieved 18 papers according to the selection criteria; after removing duplicate records and additional articles by one or more of the exclusion criteria, a total of seven studies were carefully evaluated. Conclusions: RCM seems a valuable and useful additional tool for the diagnosis of acral melanocytic lesions, and its use may decrease the need for invasive procedures to some extent. Visualization of deeper layers may be achieved through mechanical removal of the superficial stratum corneum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperation amongst natural resource users is key to manage ecosystems sustainably and achieve environmental goals proposed by policy and regulations. This paper focuses on the impact that livestock farming can have on the quality of a water body and investigates farmers' willingness to cooperate to preserve water quality under two different sources of uncertainty and four different degrees of uncertainty. The first source relates to the level of water quality that must be guaranteed in a river catchment to avoid irreversible deterioration of aquatic ecosystems (threshold uncertainty, i.e. with catastrophic consequences). The second source relates to the financial losses that farmers will experience in the long run if they fail to cooperate (impact uncertainty). To this end, a lab‐in‐the‐field experiment was conducted with livestock farmers of Northern Ireland. A local public good game with threshold uncertainty was framed around an agri‐environmental scheme designed to create ungrazed buffer zones for water quality preservation. Results indicate that uncertainty generally hampers farmers' cooperation and the provision of information geared to reduce uncertainty enhances it. Impact uncertainty has a milder negative impact on cooperation than threshold uncertainty. Risk preferences and probability weighting do not influence cooperation, while loss aversion has an influence on cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Check-Mate 274 has demonstrated the disease-free survival (DFS) benefit of adjuvant nivolumab in surgically treated muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Since immunotherapy represents an expensive treatment with potential side effects, a better understanding of patient-specific risks of disease progression might be useful for clinicians when weighing the indication for adjuvant nivolumab. Objective: To identify the criteria for risk stratification of disease progression among MIBC patients eligible for adjuvant nivolumab. Materials and methods: A single-institution, prospectively maintained database was queried to identify patients eligible for adjuvant nivolumab according to Check-Mate 274 criteria. To account for immortal bias, patients who died or were lost to follow-up within 3 months of undergoing a radical cystectomy (RC) were excluded. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses addressed DFS, defined as the time frame from diagnosis to the first documented recurrence or death from any cause, whichever occurred first. Regression tree analysis was implemented to identify criteria for risk stratification. Results: Between 2011 and 2022, 304 patients were identified, with a median follow-up of 50 (IQR 24–72) months. After multivariable adjustment, including NAC as a potential confounder, higher CCI (HR 1.56, 95%CI 1.10–2.21, p = 0.013), T stage (HR 2.06, 95%CI 1.01–4.17, p = 0.046), N stage (HR 1.73, 95%CI 1.26–2.38, p = 0.001) and presence of LVI (HR 1.52, 95%CI 1.07–2.15, p = 0.019) increased the risk of disease recurrence or death. Finally, a two-tier classification was developed. Here, five-year DFS rates were 56.1% vs. 18.1 for low vs. high risk (HR: 2.54, 95%CI 1.79–3.62, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The current risk classification, if externally validated on larger samples, may be useful when weighing the risk and benefit of adjuvant nivolumab treatment and making patients more aware about their disease and about the need for additional treatment after RC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Endometriosis has been associated with sleep disorders. • Hyperarousal is involved in pathogenesis of sleep disorder. • Hyperarousal is involved in pathogenesis of endometriosis. • Investigating hyperarousal in Endometriosis patients is useful. • CBT is effective in improving hyperarousal and sleep disorders. Endometriosis has been associated with sleep disorders, and hyperarousal appears to be involved in their pathogenesis; however, the presence of hyperarousal in the endometriosis population was never investigated. We conducted a case-control survey study by sending a questionnaire to all endometriosis patients followed up at our Centers. Controls were recruited among the general population. The questionnaire included demographic information, symptoms and history of endometriosis, the Hyperarousal Scale (H-Scale), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). A total of 847 women completed the questionnaires: 430 (50.8 %) had endometriosis, and 417 (49.2 %) were controls. Endometriosis was associated with higher H-scale score (OR 2.9, 95 % CI 2.4–3.8, p = 0.000), higher PSQI score (OR 4.3, 95 % CI 3.2–5.7, p = 0.000), and higher ISI score (OR 4.6, 95 % CI 3.5–6.1, p = 0.000) in multivariable ordinal logistic regressions analysis. With path analysis, hyperarousal (H-Scale) reported a partial mediating role in the association between endometriosis and sleep disorders. The mediation effect represented 22.3–27.8 % of the entire association between endometriosis and sleep disturbances. Endometriosis patients complaining sleep disorders may benefit by investigating the presence of hyperarousal given cognitive behavioral therapy was reported effective in improving hyperarousal and associated sleep disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the accuracy of available classification systems (Folpe, modified Folpe, Bennet, and Schoolmester) in predicting the behavior of uterine Perivascular Epithelioid Cell tumors (PEComas). We reviewed the pathology registry to identify all uterine PEComas treated at our center. We conducted a systematic literature review searching electronic databases from inception to November 2023. We included all references reporting at least one case of uterine PEComa; cases associated with tuberous sclerosis complex were excluded. Patient-level data were extracted by identified records. Survival analysis was used to assess the accuracy of all proposed classification systems to classify uterine PEComas as malignant versus non-malignant. Six uterine PEComas were treated at our center. The literature search identified 101 uterine PEComas from 32 studies. Eighty-five out of 107 PEComas (28 studies and our series) reported enough follow-up data and details to apply all four classifications. The modified Folpe classification demonstrated the highest hazard ratio (HR) for relapse (HR:8.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.06–36.1) and death due to PEComa (HR:6.8, 95%CI:0.89–51.6) for malignant versus non-malignant PEComas. Changing the cut-off of PEComa size to ≥8 cm and mitotic figures per 50 high power fields to ≥5, the HR for recurrence lowered (HR:6.26; 95% CI 2.20–17.80), but HR for death increased (HR:10.3; 95% CI 1.35–77.80). The modified Folpe classification was the most accurate in predicting the PEComa behavior. Changing the cut-off of PEComa size and number of mitotic figures may improve the accuracy in predicting death due to disease. • Uterine PEComas not associated with tuberous sclerosis complex are rare mesenchymal tumors. • Uterine PEComas have heterogeneous clinical presentation overlapping with uterine leiomyomas. • Uterine PEComas are often diagnosed after hysterectomy, and proposed adjuvant treatments are inconstant and heterogeneous. • The modified Folpe classification was the most accurate in predicting the malignant versus non-malignant behavior of PEComas. • Changing the PEComa size to ≥8 cm and number of mitotic figures per 50 high power fields to ≥5 may increase the accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmon-mechanical resonators are frequently employed in sensor development. Here, I report the coupling of plasmon and mechanical modes in a multilayer architecture. In the experiment, the multilayer comprised indium tin oxide (ITO) and silver (Ag) mirrors placed on the top and bottom of a SiO2 substrate. By activating a Fabry–Pérot hybrid mode and surface plasmon polariton in a Kretschmann configuration, I demonstrated the generation of a hybrid plasmon-mechanical mode by plasmonic dispersion and through strong coupling, which resulted in mechanical distortion at multiple frequencies. Adsorption of rhodamine G6 on Ag modifies the optomechanical spectrum; it causes eigenmodes to split, resulting in a coupling rate greater than the optical decay rate (κ ∗ < g). Besides, the excitonic modes were observed to interact with plasmon-mechanical modes, especially on-resonance, where the plasmon-mechanical modes exhibited the higher intensity. For example, the out-of-phase flexural mode (iii, g 0 = 427 × 2 π kHz) became active because of the coupling of the dye. Meanwhile, after dye absorption, the strong in-phase compressional mode (iv, g 0 = 560 × 2 π kHz) exhibited the widest splitting and an increase in the side peaks, which merged when the pump power was raised. The system was then analyzed to determine the ideal experimental settings for detecting mass by the oscillator in a controlled experiment. The mass sensor responsivity was evaluated to be F = 10 17 Hz g − 1 . Advantages and disadvantages of this approach are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the advancements in target therapy for chronic arthritis, focusing on the use of biologic and synthetic disease-modifying drugs to manage inflammatory arthritis. While these treatments have shown efficacy and safety, there are still unmet needs in areas such as pre-clinical phase management, difficult-to-treat patients, and disease activity assessment. Studies on biomarkers and predictors of therapeutic response are ongoing, contributing to the development of precision medicine. The editorial also touches on dual biologic therapies, highlighting concerns about serious adverse events and the need for further research in this area. [Extracted from the article]

The acute hypoxic ventilatory response is a critical chemoreflex originating at the carotid bodies. This study investigates the impact of low-dose i.v. esketamine on the ventilatory response to 20 min of isocapnic hypoxia to test the hypothesis that esketamine does not affect hypoxic ventilation. In this open-label study, 18 healthy subjects received a 3-h escalating i.v. infusion of esketamine, totalling 1.0 mg kg−1. Before the esketamine infusion (control condition) and during the last 30 min of infusion, the ventilatory response to 20 min of isocapnic hypoxia (oxygen saturation ∼80%) was measured. We assessed the increase in ventilation from baseline to its peak during the first 5 min of isocapnic hypoxia (hypoxic ventilatory response) and the increase in ventilation from baseline to 20 min of isocapnic hypoxia (sustained hypoxia). Haemodynamics and acute brain function were also measured. Independent of hypoxia, a small excitatory effect of ketamine on isocapnic ventilation was observed: the mean increase in ventilation (95% confidence interval) was 3.1 (2.4–3.7) L min−1 (P <0.0001). Esketamine had no effect on the isocapnic ventilatory response to acute and sustained hypoxia but increased MAP (+10 mm Hg) and heart rate (+10 beats min−1), similarly during normoxia and hypoxia. Esketamine increased anxiety and alertness and affected external perception. I.V. esketamine up to 1 mg kg−1 does not affect the ventilatory response to hypoxia, but affects haemodynamics and acute brain function. Increases in anxiety and alertness could be a cause of the sustained ventilatory response to hypoxia during esketamine infusion. The trial was registered at the ISRCTN registry on June 27, 2023 under identifier ISRCTN 42617929 (https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN42617929). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Steam pretreatment of manure solids improved the BMP by up to 40%. • Pretreatment of manure thin slurry decreased the BMP. • Proteins suffered most from thermal decomposition during pretreatment. Manure is a renewable feedstock, whose theoretical potential for biogas production is scarcely deployed due to modest methane yields that prevent economic feasible operation of anaerobic digestion plants. Steam explosion pretreatment has the potential to improve the digestibility of manure, however it is energy intensive, and the optimal conditions depend on the feedstock. In this work, the solid and the liquid fraction of separated dairy cattle manure were pretreated between 130 and 210 °C for 5 to 40 min by steam explosion to individually determine the optimal conditions for each fraction. Additionally, mass balances for volatile solids (VS), cellulose, hemicellulose and proteins were performed to better understand the effects of the pretreatment. For the manure solids, a pretreatment at 130 °C for 20 min was most effective, the biomethane potential (BMP) improved by 40 %. In contrast, the BMP of the liquid fraction could not be improved at any pretreatment condition. The mass balances showed that at more severe conditions up to 18 % of the VS were lost by decomposition and/or evaporation, with the proteins being the most thermolabile fraction. Based on the observation, that a pretreatment of the liquid phase can be omitted, a heat integrated plant concept is suggested where the necessary heat input is only as large as in conventional anaerobic digestion. Taken together, this work underlined the benefits of steam explosion pretreatment of manure and identified the prevention of VS loss as a promising avenue for further improving the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the strategies used in some countries to contain the COVID-19 epidemic has been the test-and-isolate policy, generally coupled with contact tracing. Such strategies have been examined in several simulation models, but a theoretical analysis of their effectiveness in simple epidemic model is, to our knowledge, missing. In this paper, we present four epidemic models of either SIR or SEIR type, in which it is assumed that at fixed times the whole population (or a part of the population) is tested and, if positive, isolated. We find the conditions for an epidemic to go extinct under such a strategy; for these types of models we provide an appropriate definition of R 0 , that can be computed either analytically or numerically. Finally, we show numerically that the final-size relation of SIR models approximately holds for the four models, over a large parameter range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The projective variety of square-zero elements in the six-dimensional minimal supersymmetry algebra is isomorphic to P 1 × P 3 . We use this fact, together with the pure spinor superfield formalism, to study supermultiplets in six dimensions, starting from vector bundles on projective spaces. We classify all multiplets whose derived invariants for the supertranslation algebra form a line bundle over the nilpotence variety; one can think of such multiplets as being those whose holomorphic twists have rank one over Dolbeault forms on spacetime. In addition, we explicitly construct multiplets associated to natural higher-rank equivariant vector bundles, including the tangent and normal bundles as well as their duals. Among the multiplets constructed are the vector multiplet and hypermultiplet, the family of O (n) -multiplets, and the supergravity and gravitino multiplets. Along the way, we tackle various theoretical problems within the pure spinor superfield formalism. In particular, we give some general discussion about the relation of the projective nilpotence variety to multiplets and prove general results on short exact sequences and dualities of sheaves in the context of the pure spinor superfield formalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special issue of Intercultural Education focuses on Complex Instruction (CI), a pedagogical approach aimed at fostering equity and participation in diverse classrooms. Researchers from various countries came together to discuss CI and its implementation in different educational contexts. The articles in this issue address contemporary topics related to CI, highlighting its potential for creating equitable, excellent, and democratic classrooms across Europe, North America, and South America. The issue features research on the successful implementation of CI components, efforts to adopt CI in various countries, and the impact of CI on student diversity within classrooms. [Extracted from the article]

We study a generalization of the multi-marginal optimal transport problem, which has no fixed number of marginals N and is inspired of statistical mechanics. It consists in optimizing a linear combination of the costs for all the possible N’s, while fixing a certain linear combination of the corresponding marginals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engagement with nature is crucial for child development and kindergarten educators' pedagogical beliefs about nature play significantly affect children's access to and experiences of nature in kindergarten. This study examines the role of nature play in children's holistic development, engaging 12 Chinese kindergarten educators through in-depth interviews. The results demonstrated a consensus among participating educators regarding the significance of nature play in child development. Our analysis further revealed a prominent discrepancy: while most educators see nature play primarily for personal development and aesthetic appreciation of nature, very few recognise it as a strategic tool for environmental education in young children, which includes ecological literacy and sustainability. Their limited exposure to environmental education during their teacher education results in a skewed understanding of nature-based play pedagogy. These underpinnings may unintentionally narrow their holistic perspective on the wider scope of environmental education. The findings suggest the need to foster educators' richer understanding of environmental education in nature play through teacher training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking and poor mental health in youth represent important public health priorities. This study aimed to (i) compare tobacco-related behaviors and mental health in two educational settings with high smoking rates: vocational education and training (VET) schools and preparatory basic education (PBE) schools, and (ii) examine associations between smoking at school start and mental health 5 months later. Methods: Data were obtained from baseline (N = 1843) and follow-up (N = 1039) assessments conducted as part of a school-based trial in two rounds (baseline in August 2018 and August 2019). Students' characteristics were presented by adjusted prevalences. Logistic regression analyses assessed associations between smoking and measures of mental health: school-related well-being, overall loneliness, and stress. Results: More PBE students than VET students reported daily smoking (40% vs. 27%), nicotine dependence, perceived benefits of smoking (e.g., stress reduction: 41% vs. 33%), low smoking-related self-efficacy (e.g., ability to resist smoking if offered by a friend: 20% vs. 32%), school-related loneliness, and low school connectedness (25% vs. 11%). Daily smokers at VET and PBE schools had lower odds of school-related loneliness (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.35–0.74) and higher odds of stress (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 2.00–3.80). Smoking was associated with better classmate relations in VET schools but not in PBE schools. Conclusions: Our study suggested that students in PBE schools constitute a more vulnerable group in terms of smoking and mental health compared with students in VET schools. Smoking seemed to prevent loneliness in school but was associated with heightened stress levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine mastitis is the most impacting disease of dairy industry, and it is characterized by a complexity of causal agents, which have revealed a geographical variation among regions and countries. The mastitis-related pathogens have been traditionally classified as contagious or environmental, based on habits of the microorganisms and transmission routes. Besides, the severity of mammary infections has been associated with the virulence of the pathogens, and immune and nutritional status of the hosts. Considering this scenario, we investigated the etiological pattern, clinical severity scores, and days in milk (DIM) data in 4,273 clinical cases of bovine mastitis among ten large-dairy farms located in Brazil. Streptococcus dysgalactiae (283/4,273 = 6.6%), Escherichia coli (190/4,273 = 4.4%), Prototheca spp. (112/4,273 = 2.6%), and Streptococcus uberis (95/4,273 = 2.2%) were the predominant pathogens isolated. Among 4,273 clinical cases, clinical severity score was available in 43.8% (1,871/4,273) animals. From these, 69.8% (1,306/1,871), 27.3% (510/1,871), and 2.9% (55/1,871) were scored as mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. Pathogens were observed mainly in samples obtained during the first 100 days in milk, and clinical severity scored mainly as mild. Our results contributed to the etiological identification, clinical severity scoring, and milking aspects of mastitic cows in dairy farms with a history of clinical mammary infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic interest in scientists who regularly appear in the media dates back to Rae Goodell's seminal book "The visible scientists", in which she lists distinct characteristics of visible scientists, including being controversial, articulate, colorful, and reputable as a scientist. Visible scientists thus share relevant media-related characteristics that stand out in their portrayal as a group and are reminiscent of other celebrities' characteristics. However, questions arise: what is special about the celebrity being a scientist? How many and what types of scientists fall into this category? What are the peers' and the public's expectations towards the social role of the visible scientist? To date, work on visible scientists has focused on theorizing them in the context of the relationship between science and its publics and empirical studies have mainly sought to characterize visible scientists and focused on single countries. This paper fills research gaps on the public perception of and expectations towards visible scientists as well as comparative studies by surveying publics in Germany and South Africa. Our data shows that Goodell's criteria also apply to how respondents see and expect visible scientists to be. Interestingly though, a majority of non-responses to the request to name up to three visible scientists currently living in the respective country demonstrates that, overall, scientists are rather invisible to the public. Visible scientists remain a rare phenomenon despite changing media environments and a recent pandemic. In conclusion, we suggest that "visibility" (rather than "celebrity") is the more appropriate term to refer to the temporary phenomenon of scientists who become visible in the public sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococcus faecalis is responsible for numerous serious infections, and treatment options often include ampicillin combined with an aminoglycoside or dual beta-lactam therapy with ampicillin and a third-generation cephalosporin. The mechanism of dual beta-lactam therapy relies on the saturation of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Ceftobiprole exhibits high affinity binding to nearly all E. faecalis PBPs, thus suggesting its potential utility in the treatment of severe E. faecalis infections. The availability of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for ampicillin and ceftobiprole has prompted the use of this drug combination in our hospital. Due to the time-dependent antimicrobial properties of these antibiotics, an infusion administration longer than indicated was chosen. From January to December 2020, twenty-one patients were admitted to our hospital for severe E. faecalis infections and were treated with this approach. We retrospectively analyzed their clinical characteristics and pharmacological data. Most patients achieved an aggressive PK/PD target (T > 4–8 minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC) when this alternative drug combination regimen was used. Our analysis included the study of E. faecalis biofilm production, as well as the kinetics of bacterial killing of ceftobiprole alone or in combination with ampicillin. Time-kill experiments revealed strong bactericidal activity of ceftobiprole alone at concentrations four times higher than the MIC for some enterococcal strains. In cases where a bactericidal effect of ceftobiprole alone was not evident, synergism with ampicillin and bactericidal activity were demonstrated instead. The prolonged infusion of ceftobiprole, either alone or with ampicillin, emerges as a valuable option for the treatment of severe invasive E. faecalis infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Spinal orthoses are the most viable conservative treatment for scoliosis, and additive manufacturing techniques have shown huge perspective in producing patient-specific braces, reducing material waste, and production times. This pilot study aimed at determining whether 3D-printed braces could induce advantages or disadvantages compared to conventional braces in terms of mobility and gait, and at quantitatively evaluating the effects of braces on mobility and gait. Methods: Ten participants were included in the study, eight with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and two with osteogenesis imperfecta. Participants were asked to perform Timed-Up and Go (TUG) tests wearing a triaxial accelerometer under three conditions: unbraced, wearing a conventional (i.e., thermoformed) brace, and wearing a 3D-printed brace. After segmenting each TUG test in sub-phases, metrics quantifying gait and mobility were computed, and Friedman tests among all conditions were performed. Results: No significant differences in scoliotic patients mobility and gait between conventional and 3D-printed brace conditions were found, potentially suggesting that 3D-printed braces are as effective as conventional ones. Conversely, Stand flexion amplitude and Sit extension amplitude were lower in both conventional and 3D-printed brace conditions compared to the unbraced, meaning that braces limited the trunk range of motion. As for gait parameters, no significant differences in Walk Cadence and Walk Velocity among the three conditions were found, indicating that braces did not affect gait, at least during TUG tests. Trial registration: The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (Study ID NCT04282408, Date of Registration February 11th, 2020). Significance: In summary, these preliminary results may help to depict 3D-printed braces as a viable alternative to conventional braces for scoliotic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During meiosis, pairing between homologous chromosomes is stabilized by the assembly of the synaptonemal complex (SC). The SC ensures the formation of crossovers between homologous chromosomes and regulates their distribution. However, how the SC regulates crossover formation remains elusive. We isolated an unusual mutation in Caenorhabditis elegans that disrupts crossover interference but not SC assembly. This mutation alters the unique C terminal domain of an essential SC protein, SYP-4, a likely ortholog of the vertebrate SC protein SIX6OS1. We use three-dimensional stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (3D-STORM) to interrogate the molecular architecture of the SC from wild-type and mutant C. elegans animals. Using a probabilistic mapping approach to analyze super-resolution image data, we detect changes in the organization of the synaptonemal complex in wild-type animals that coincide with crossover designation. We also found that our syp-4 mutant perturbs SC architecture. Our findings add to growing evidence that the SC is an active material whose molecular organization contributes to chromosome-wide crossover regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article explores the role of food in terrorist insurgencies, focusing on the cases of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. Building on the research on food weaponization and resource mobilization, it shows how food is a key dimension of insurgencies. Terrorist groups leverage it to increase compliance from the population and weaken state forces. However, despite enabling militants to achieve operational objectives, food-centered tactics can cause long-term disruptions decreasing their access to resources and their capabilities. Such dynamics have major humanitarian consequences on the ground, showing the need for more comprehensive security strategies addressing local vulnerabilities while building resilience against terrorism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies have been investigating the co-occurrence of posttraumatic symptoms and dissociation in trauma-exposed samples. As traumatized refugees are particularly susceptible to developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PTSD and dissociation in a traumatized refugee sample. Cross-sectional data from a clinical refugee sample (N = 526) were collected. Latent class analysis (LCA) examined different classes of PTSD, based on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) items. Subsequently, it was examined whether cumulative trauma, sexual trauma and general psychopathology predicted class membership. The LCA identified five classes. The classes were summarized as (1) “High PTSD,” (2) “Moderate PTSD,” (3) “High PTSD with high loss of interest,” (4) “High PTSD with moderate loss of interest,” and (5) “PTSD-DS.” PTSD DS (10% of the sample) was characterized by high PTSD symptoms, as well as high depersonalization and derealization symptoms. The majority (61.4%) of this group has been exposed to sexual trauma. Overall endorsement of PTSD symptoms was extremely high in this clinical sample of refugees. A group evidencing the PTSD dissociative subtype was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental impact linked to the use of solvents is a recurring criticism of the development of sustainable chemical processes. The possibility of recovering the reaction medium is a key aspect to simplify the isolation of the desired target material. At the same time, it may also allow the minimization of additional solvents necessary for the purification and ultimately minimize all the contributions to the waste generated. Electrochemical processes are of high interest in modern organic synthesis. Anyway, most electrochemical processes nowadays feature the use of unrecoverable solvents or solvent mixtures in high amounts (dilution). The consequent high environmental impact of such procedures is easily understood. Aiming at the definition of effective waste-minimized synthetic protocols, herein, we report our study towards the development of an electrochemical reductive amination protocol employing an acetonitrile–water azeotrope as the recoverable reaction medium. Through the use of gram-scale synthesis and comprehensive sustainability and environmental assessments, we present an efficient management of solvents and electrolytes in an electrochemical methodology for a widely useful chemical transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a dual role in the biology of developmental plasticity in mammals, including humans—HPA axis activity not only provides the input for, but is also a target of, offspring developmental plasticity. To investigate the understudied effects of exposure timing, this study quantified maternal HPA axis activity during each half of gestation as well as during early lactation and assessed its effect on offspring HPA axis activity in a cross-sectional sample of infant, juvenile and adult Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis). To add ecological validity to experimental studies under laboratory conditions, macaques were studied in the wild. Increased maternal faecal glucocorticoid (GC) metabolite levels experienced early in gestation, but not postnatal exposure during lactation were associated with increased offspring HPA axis activity from infancy into adulthood. Building on prior findings, this study indicates that significant timing effects not only influence the presence, magnitude and direction, but also the consistency of maternal GC effects on offspring HPA axis function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media influencers engage in masspersonal communication to build relationships with their audiences, and their followers reciprocate that engagement. These bidirectional interactions can provide the SMI with feelings of support yet may instead elicit psychological harm when interactions are negative. This study tests a masspersonal approach to understanding the effects of negative communication on influencers (N = 229), manipulated in a 2 (valence: positive vs negative) x 2 (accessibility: high vs low) x 2 (personalization: high vs medium) between-subjects factorial design experiment. Valence of communication impacted outcomes, such that those in the positive condition experienced significantly more positive mood and increased likelihood of “liking” or writing a response to the audience communication. Interestingly, job satisfaction was significantly higher for those who viewed negative communication. Highly accessible communication (e.g. comments) were more likely to receive a written response, however, masspersonal factors did not impact any other outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has revolutionized disease management and has transformed CML from a life-threatening disease to a chronic condition for many patients. However, overcoming resistance, particularly related to leukemic stem cells (LSC) that can persist even when the bulk of the leukemic cells are eliminated, remains a significant challenge. Methods: K562 and KU812 cell lines were treated in vitro with the TKI Imatinib (IM). Gene expression, protein analysis, and metabolomic screening were conducted to investigate the ability of the drug to enhance stem cell (SC) features. Moreover, a gene ontology analysis was performed on different available datasets, to further consolidate our data. Results: 48 h of IM treatment can significantly increase the expression of genes related to SC self-renewal, particularly SOX2 and OCT 3/4. Interestingly, these modulations occur in cells that remain alive after drug treatment and that displayed features consistent with leukemia stem-like CML cells, suggesting that SC genes levels are crucial even in cell population survived upon TKI treatment. Moreover, after in silico analysis of available data, we observed an enrichment of SOX2/NANOG and OCT 3/4 signatures after TKI treatment, thus strengthening our results. Conclusions: Our results confirmed the relevance of LSC features after TKI treatment, highlighting the need for more effective and potentially curative strategies targeting LSCs to overcome resistance in CML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum are major parasitic nematodes affecting the pulmonary arteries of dogs. In Italy, these two parasites have recently changed their distribution patterns and have been detected in areas where their presence was previously unexpected. The present study has updated available data on the distribution and prevalence of D. immitis and A. vasorum in canine populations living in selected regions of Central and Southern Italy. The results indicate that both parasites occur stably in the investigated territories and that increased awareness and surveillance methods are of utmost importance. Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum are major parasitic nematodes of dogs. Many environmental and phenological changes have recently modified their geographic patterns in many countries; thus, this study has updated the distribution of D. immitis and A. vasorum in dog populations of selected regions of Central and Southern Italy. Also, collateral data on other endoparasites affecting the study population have been collected. Blood and fecal samples collected from 2000 dogs were tested using Knott's test and copromicroscopy (i.e., Baermann's and fecal flotation tests), respectively. Binomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate statistically significant associations between positivity for D. immitis and/or A. vasorum and potential risk factors. Overall, 35 (1.7%) and 62 (3.1%) dogs were positive for microfilariae of D. immitis and first stage larvae (L1) of A. vasorum, respectively, while 3 (0.1%) were co-infected by both nematodes. Microfilariae of Dirofilaria repens were found in 148 (7.4%) dogs, while at the flotation, eggs of Ancylostomatidae, Trichuris vulpis, and ascarids were found in the feces of 323 (16.5%), 249 (12.4%), and 172 (8.6%), dogs, respectively. Overall, 217 (10.8%) and 44 (2.2%) dogs were positive for eggs of Capillaria aerophila and Capillaria boehmi. The presence of cardiorespiratory clinical signs or non-specific signs, history of travel, and an age of >4 years old were significantly associated with positivity for D. immitis, while A. vasorum was significantly recorded in dogs with cardiorespiratory signs, or with a history of mollusk ingestion or permanent outdoor housing. These results confirm that D. immitis is enzootic in the investigated regions of Central and Southern Italy, even where it was rare/undetected until recently. Indeed, although some dogs positive for D. immitis had a history of travel in enzootic areas, the majority of them were never moved, indicating that they acquired the parasite in the region where they live. Additionally, A. vasorum is stably enzootic in the study areas, as also are other extraintestinal nematodes (i.e., D. repens and C. aerophila) that are more frequently detected today than in the past. A high level of vigilance and routine parasitological screening are necessary, considering the high prevalence of intestinal parasites in owned dogs that are also co-infected by respiratory parasites. The implementation of chemoprevention against D. immitis in dogs living in the examined area should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

microRNA-22 (miR-22) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of metabolic processes and has emerged as a therapeutic target in metabolic disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic-associated liver diseases. While miR-22 exhibits context-dependent effects, promoting or inhibiting metabolic pathways depending on tissue and condition, current research highlights its therapeutic potential, particularly through inhibition strategies using chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides. This review examines the dual regulatory functions of miR-22 across key metabolic pathways, offering perspectives on its integration into next-generation diagnostic and therapeutic approaches while acknowledging the complexities of its roles in metabolic homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate vegetation mapping is essential for monitoring biodiversity and managing habitats, particularly in the context of increasing environmental pressures and conservation needs. Ground truthing plays a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy of supervised remote sensing maps, as it provides the high-quality reference data needed for model training and validation. However, traditional ground truthing methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming and restricted in spatial coverage, posing challenges for large-scale or complex landscapes. The advent of drone technology offers an efficient and cost-effective solution to these limitations, enabling the rapid collection of high-resolution imagery even in remote or inaccessible areas. This study proposes an approach to enhance the efficiency of supervised vegetation mapping in complex landscapes, integrating Multivariate Functional Principal Component Analysis (MFPCA) applied to the Sentinel-2 time series with drone-based ground truthing. Unlike traditional ground truthing activities, drone truthing enabled the generation of large, spatially balanced reference datasets, which are critical for machine learning classification systems. These datasets improved classification accuracy by ensuring a comprehensive representation of vegetation spectral variability, enabling the classifier to identify the key phenological patterns that best characterize and distinguish different vegetation types across the landscape. The proposed methodology achieves a classification accuracy of 92.59%, significantly exceeding the commonly reported thresholds for habitat mapping. This approach, characterized by its efficiency, repeatability and adaptability, aligns seamlessly with key environmental monitoring and conservation policies, such as the Habitats Directive. By integrating advanced remote sensing with drone-based technologies, it offers a scalable and cost-effective solution to the challenges of biodiversity monitoring, enabling timely updates and supporting effective habitat management in diverse and complex environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Here we demonstrate for the first time that an antibody-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)–polymer conjugate thin-film biosensor can easily be fabricated to selectively capture Tau protein. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are employed as sensing elements, thus capitalizing on their propensity to undergo assembly or disassembly in response to the adsorption or conjugation of various biomolecules on their surface, thereby forming robust interactions with the target analyte. We show that the Tau protein in its different aggregation phases can be detected, by restricting the reaction area on the solid thin polymer film and thus reducing the diffusion effects usually encountered in immunosensors. A limit of detection (LOD) of 460 pg/mL was reached, demonstrating a great potential for detecting Tau in aggregation states. This sensor based on thin polymer film could open new routes for sensing and monitoring Tau protein in biological assays and biomedical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Australia and internationally, it is men who predominately die by suicide. Men are less likely than women to seek help for their mental health difficulties and this may contribute to their higher suicide rates. We created a 4-minute music video encouraging Australian men to seek help for mental health difficulties (Boys Do Cry). We aimed to assess in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) whether the Boys Do Cry video increased men's intentions to seek help for mental health difficulties from baseline (T1) to post-intervention (1 week = T2). Methods: We conducted an online single-blind, two-arm RCT comparing the effects of Boys Do Cry against a control video. Analyses were undertaken on an intent-to-treat basis using linear mixed effects models with variables for trial arm, occasion of measurement and their interaction. Intervention effectiveness was assessed by comparing the mean difference between arms in change of the total score on the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ) from T1 to T2. Results: 476 participants were randomised (intervention = 243; control = 233). At T1, GHSQ means were similar (intervention = 45.28; control = 45.70). After viewing the videos, GHSQ means increased in both arms (intervention = 47.33; control = 46.59), with no evidence of a difference in scores at T2 (modelled mean difference = 0.62, 95% CI -1.11 to 2.35, p = 0.485). Similar results were observed for all secondary outcomes. No adverse events were observed. Conclusions: Boys Do Cry demonstrated some evidence of a positive effect on help-seeking intentions among Australian men; however, so too did the control video, and no significant difference was observed. Trial registration: ANZCTR No. 2,621,001,008,819. Registered 30 July 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is the first cause of cancer-related death. Awake lung resection is a new frontier of the concept of minimally invasive surgery. Our purpose is to demonstrate the feasibility of this technique for lobar and sublobar lung resection in NSCLC patients. Methods: We retrospective reviewed all the medical charts of patients who underwent awake lung resection in our center between March 2018 and March 2024, focusing on patients with NSCLC, and we compared our results with the ones found in literature. Results: Among 45 patients treated with awake lung resections, we selected 15 patients with NSCLC and finally analyzed the results of 12 patients who underwent VATS awake lung resection, 3 lobectomies and 9 wedge resections. The median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 3 and we had 5 patients (41.67%) with a CCI ≥ 4 and a median FEV1 of 56%. We report only 2 conversions to general anesthesia (16.67%) and no conversion to open thoracotomy. We used a nebulizator for the atomization of lidocaine on the lung surface to reduce the cough reflex. Our post-operative results are in line with literature, with a low complication rate (2 patients, 16.67%) and a median length of stay of 5 days. We safely performed a proper lymph node dissection in all 3 lobectomies. Median Overall Survival and Disease-Free Survival were 11 months. Conclusions: Awake lung resections are a feasible way to perform a minimally invasive surgical procedure in NSCLC patients, with low risk of conversion to open surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many organizations are faced with growing numbers of employees who combine their jobs with informal caregiving responsibilities. To support working caregivers in maintaining a good balance between work, private life and informal care, a workplace participatory approach (PA) intervention was implemented in four Dutch organizations. This study's aims were to evaluate the degree of PA implementation, contextual factors influencing implementation, and stakeholder experiences with the PA. Methods: A mixed methods process evaluation was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial among three stakeholder groups: caregiving employees, their supervisors, and trained occupational professionals who acted as PA process facilitators. The implementation frameworks of Steckler and Linnan (2002) and Carrol et al. (2007) were applied to evaluate recruitment, reach, dosage, fidelity and context, as well as stakeholders' satisfaction, experiences and perceived intervention outcomes. Data were collected after PA implementation (4–7 months) using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, checklists and research logs. Results: Of the 57 caregivers in the intervention group, 48 participated in the stepwise intervention. Among them, 20 (42%) completed all seven steps of the PA, and 30 (63%) involved their supervisors. PA implementation and supervisor involvement varied based on personal factors (e.g. a need for balance-related improvements; preference to keep caregiving private), interpersonal factors (e.g. caregiver-supervisor relationship quality), and organizational factors (high work demands; a supportive workplace culture for caregivers). Caregivers, supervisors, and process facilitators reported positive experiences with the PA, finding it valuable for addressing informal caregiving, receiving support and working on balance-related changes in multiple life domains. Some caregivers, however, needed more than the standard 3 PA meetings to identify key issues and implement solutions. Conclusions: Stakeholders found the PA helpful in addressing working caregivers' work-life balance, but PA implementation can be further stimulated by creating a supportive organizational culture in which it is encouraged and safe to discuss informal care. Moreover, to better support working caregivers in the long term, the PA should be viewed as an ongoing and iterative process taking into account their evolving balance and circumstances. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15363783 (Registration date 21 November 2022; Retrospectively registered). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large elderly population has naturally led to an increase in the number of orthopedic surgeries, such as hip replacement, highlighting the need to develop machining manufacturing technologies that meet the quality requirements of the prosthesis. ABNT 316L austenitic stainless steel is used in the manufacture of joint prostheses and, although it is considered a material with low machinability, it is an economical alternative to the application of other biomaterials such as titanium alloys and ceramics. This work presents the optimization of the turning of femoral heads for a total hip prosthesis. To this end, it has used the response surface methodology and the robust parameters design to model and optimize the main process responses: roughness and sphericity. The experiments were carried out based on a combined array considering three control variables: cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut, and two noise variables: fixed length of the workpiece and cutting fluid flow. As quality characteristics, the surface finish and the sphericity of the femoral heads were analyzed using the mean roughness and total circularity deviation, respectively. Robust optimization was performed by combining mean square error and normal boundary intersection techniques. Therefore, the formulation of the optimization problem was to minimize the roughness in the turning process of ABNT 316L, limiting the sphericity to 10 µm. From the results obtained in this investigation, it was possible to generate components with surface and shape quality simultaneously. The noise variables had significant effects on the evaluated responses leading to their robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-makers not listening to First Nations are taking risks failing to prepare young people for accelerating climate changes. In 2022, three families – one Yamatji Nation, and two settler families across Widjabul / Wia-bal Country and Boonwurrung Country – tuned into the concepts of Country, Climate and Childhood while communicating onto a bodyplaceblog. Ngan’gikurunggurr peoples call to listen to other perspectives as, ‘Dadirri’ (deep listening), and Boonwurrung peoples’ define a listening as fleeting – ‘Yama-bul ngarnga-dha’ – so you better listen up! Listening first to First Nations lands and voices, an allied posthuman performative play produced streams of words and images as families composed contributions that applied agency to the concepts of Country, Climate and Childhood during rising and falling floodwaters. Some attentive conversations surfaced care for children’s ways of knowing, being and doing, glimpsing the climate of a childhood on Country in the climate era. During rising and falling floodwaters, the bodyplaceblog produced rafts of words and images that highlighted childhood’s inclination to ebb, flow, go deep, become still, and sometimes surface attention to more ethical futures among other things. while accompanying children through Country’s climatehood era, children’s companions can commit to notice ‘Country’ everyday, beginning by asking: How am I Country-conscious? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings on early childhood educators’ perceptions, training, and practices regarding consent education. Responses revealed widespread agreement that consent education is appropriate and necessary for children aged 3–5 years. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three major themes: (a) conceptualisations of consent; (b) barriers to consent education; and (c) effective delivery considerations for consent education in early childhood settings. Findings highlight the necessity for further research into overcoming barriers to consent education to enable its effective delivery in early childhood settings. This initial analysis of early childhood consent education highlights its importance and suitability for early childhood while stressing the need for greater support for childhood educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Implications for Practice Conclusion This practice paper exemplifies a systematic approach used to learn about existing mental well‐being programs for youth 11–14 years to inform curriculum development for after‐school settings.We reviewed 3389 mental well‐being programs from publicly accessed databases and conducted a content analysis using inductive and deductive coding to explore the domains each program addressed.Through our content analysis of the final eight programs, we found strong alignment with the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) core social–emotional competencies: self‐awareness, self‐management, social awareness, relationship skills, and decision‐making.Although using established processes (e.g., PICO, CFIR) to review public databases is an effective research strategy, engaging in research‐intensive endeavors is time consuming and may not be practical for after‐school administration. The benefits of community–academic partnerships, such as EMPOWER, are highlighted as an approach, and opportunity, to promote evidence‐based research practices to inform programming in community organizations.Enhancing youth social emotional competencies is an important means to supporting youth mental well‐being. Incorporating a systematic approach to select youth mental well‐being programs provides a structure, for our EMPOWER project, that can steer the choice of curricula to meet the needs of after‐school program contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to improved treatment options, more SMA patients reach childbearing age. Currently, limited data on pregnant SMA patients is available, especially in relation to disease-modifying therapies (DMT). This case report helps to elucidate new approaches for future guidelines in the management of pregnancy and SMA. Case Report: A 33-year-old wheelchair-bound patient with SMA type 3 (sitter) became pregnant following 36 months of Nusinersen treatment. The last dose was administered in the third gestational week. After pregnancy was confirmed, therapy was stopped immediately. A healthy child was born in the 34th gestational week by caesarean section. After a short nursing period, Nusinersen was restarted 6 weeks after the expected gestational date. At this time, the patient reported deteriorated motor functions, which stabilized at a lower level compared to pre-pregnancy in the 2-year follow-up, despite restarting Nusinersen treatment. Discussion: So far, only few cases of successful pregnancies of SMA patients on DMT have been reported. In natural history, the majority of patients experienced an increased deterioration of motor function while fetal outcome was not impaired. Our case shows that although Nusinersen treatment was applied in the third gestational week prior to proof of pregnancy, outcome was positive for mother and child. Future studies will have to determine whether ongoing treatment with Nusinersen during pregnancy should be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Diabetes is a well-recognised factor inducing a plethora of corneal alterations ranging from dry eye to reduced corneal sensibility, epithelial defects, and reduced cicatrisation. This cohort study aimed to assess the efficacy of a novel ophthalmic solution combining cross-linked hyaluronic acid (CHA), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and inositol (INS) in managing diabetes-induced corneal alterations. Specifically, it evaluated the solution's impact on the tear breakup time (TBUT), the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and corneal sensitivity after three months of treatment. Additionally, the solution's potential to promote wound healing was examined. Methods: Two different populations were retrieved from the database; the first one was composed of 20 diabetic subjects treated for three months with the ophthalmic CAH-CS (OPHTAGON srl, Rome, Italy), while the second group was composed of 20 diabetic subjects who did not want to use any eye lubricant or other treatment. The outcome measures were the TBUT, the OSDI score, and the corneal sensitivity measured using a Cochet–Bonnet aesthesiometer. To investigate the wound-healing properties, in vitro tests were conducted using two cell lines, comparing the results of scratch tests with and without the solution. Results: The results indicate that CHA-CS significantly improved the tear film stability, as evidenced by an increased TBUT and a reduction in dry eye symptoms reflected by lower OSDI scores. Moreover, the solution was associated with an enhanced corneal sensitivity in treated patients. In wound-healing assays, CHA-CS promoted cell motility, suggesting a supportive role in tissue repair compared to untreated cells. Conclusions: Collectively, the results suggest that CHA-CS could serve as an innovative tool for the treatment of diabetic patients with corneal alterations and delayed corneal sensitivity. Clinical trial registration number: Clinical Trial.gov NCT06573606. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]