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III-nitride materials, such as GaN and its alloys, are essential for modern microelectronics and optoelectronics due to their unique properties. Focused ion beam (FIB) techniques play a crucial role in their prototyping and characterization at the micro- and nanoscale. However, conventional FIB milling with Ga ions presents challenges, including surface amorphization and point defect introduction, prompting the exploration of alternative ion sources. Xenon-based inductively coupled plasma or plasma FIB has emerged as a promising alternative, offering reduced damage and better sample property preservation. Despite extensive research on FIB-induced damage in GaN, systematic comparisons between Ga and Xe ion milling on the luminescence characteristics of GaN remain limited. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating and comparing the extent of FIB-induced damage caused by Ga and Xe ions in wurtzite and zincblende GaN through cathodoluminescence measurements. Our findings indicate that Xe ion milling yields higher integrated intensities compared to Ga ion milling, attributed to shallower implantation depths and reduced lattice disorder. We also observe a decrease in integrated intensity with increasing ion beam acceleration voltage for both wurtzite and zincblende GaN layers. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing FIB-based sample preparation techniques for III-nitride materials, with implications for enhancing device performance and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Between 2015 and 2019 the Chronic Headache Education and Self-management Study (CHESS) developed and tested a supportive self-management approach that aimed to improve outcomes for people with chronic migraine or chronic tension type headache with/without episodic migraine. However, a paucity of qualitative research which explored the lived experiences of people with chronic headache was evidenced. In response, we undertook to explore the experiences of living with chronic headaches of people who participated in the CHESS study. Methods: We adopted qualitative methodologies, inviting participants in the CHESS study to participate in semi-structured interviews. In phase 1 (feasibility study), a thematic analysis was conducted. In phase 2 (main CHESS trial), interviews were informed by topic guides developed from our learning from the phase 1 interviews. Pen portrait methodology and thematic analysis was employed allowing us to explore the data longitudinally. Results: Phase 1, 15 interviews (10 female) age range 29 to 69 years (median 47 years) revealed the complexities of living with chronic headache. Six overarching themes were identified including the emotional impact and the nature of their headaches. Phase 2, included 66 interviews (26 participants; median age group 50s (range 20s-60s); 20 females. 14 were interviewed at three points in time (baseline, 4 and 12 months) Through an iterative process four overlapping categories of headache impact emerged from the data and were agreed: i) 'I will not let headaches rule my life'; ii) 'Headaches rule my life'; iii) 'Headaches out of control—something needs to change'; and iv) 'Headaches controlled—not ruling my life'. One of these categories was assigned to each pen portrait at each timepoint. The remaining 12 participants were interviewed at two time points during a year; pen portraits were again produced. Analysis revealed that the headache impact categories developed above held true in this sample also providing some validation of the categories. Conclusions: These data give an insight into the complexities of living with chronic headache. Chronic headache is unpredictable, permeating all aspects of an individual's life; even when an individual feels that their headache is controlled and not interfering, this situation can rapidly change. It shows us that more work needs to be done both medically and societally to help people living with this often-hidden condition. Trial registration: ISRCTN79708100 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutral hydrogen (H i) bubbles and shells are common in the interstellar medium (ISM). Studying their properties provides insight into the characteristics of the local ISM as well as the galaxy in which the bubbles reside. We report the detection of magnetic fields associated with superbubbles in the nearby irregular galaxy, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Using the Polarisation Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism (POSSUM) pilot survey, we obtain a high-density grid (⁠|$\approx 25 \, \rm sources\, deg^{-2}$|⁠) of Faraday rotation measure (RM) from polarized sources behind the SMC. This provides a sufficiently large number of RM measurements to study the magnetic properties of three of the largest H i shells previously identified in the SMC. The RM profiles as a function of distance from the shell centre show characteristic patterns at angular scales comparable to the shell size. We demonstrate that this can be explained by magnetohydrodynamic simulation models of bubbles expanding in magnetized environments. From the observations, we estimate the line-of-sight magnetic field strength at the edges of the shells is enhanced by |$\sim 1\, \rm \mu G$| with respect to their centres. This is an order of magnitude larger than the field strength in the ambient medium (⁠|$\sim 0.1\, \rm \mu G$|⁠) estimated based on the expansion velocity of the shells. This paper highlights the power of densely mapped RM grids in studying the magnetic properties of galactic substructures beyond the Milky Way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the poems of James Ryman (fl. 1492), a Franciscan friar at Canterbury. With reference to their mise-en-page in the sole surviving manuscript, the partial holograph Cambridge, University Library, MS Ee.1.12, it focuses on Ryman's habit of repeating both scriptural and liturgical quotations and word blocks of his own composition across multiple poems, arguing that such repetitions are not failures of technical skill but traces of his writing process. First, it contrasts Ryman's repetitions with those of a number of his contemporaries, positing that his have been experienced as problematic because they do not necessarily respond to attempts to link form with content. Second, by demonstrating how he builds on established mnemonic techniques, it shows that his repeated words and phrases serve as mental building blocks which not only facilitate composition but constitute his subject matter. It thus sets out a new way of reading Ryman, with a focus on praxis rather than product; finally, it considers what such an approach contributes to recent debates around the critical usefulness of "lyric" as a genre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustained attention, a key cognitive skill that improves during childhood and adolescence, tends to be worse in some emotional and behavioural disorders. Sustained attention is typically studied in non-affective task contexts; here, we used a novel task to index performance in affective versus neutral contexts across adolescence (N = 465; ages 11–18). We asked whether: (i) performance would be worse in negative versus neutral task contexts; (ii) performance would improve with age; (iii) affective interference would be greater in younger adolescents; (iv) adolescents at risk for depression and higher in anxiety would show overall worse performance; and (v) would show differential performance in negative contexts. Results indicated that participants performed more poorly in negative contexts and showed age-related performance improvements. Those at risk of depression performed more poorly than those at lower risk. However, there was no difference between groups as a result of affective context. For anxiety there was no difference in performance as a function of severity. However, those with higher anxiety showed less variance in their reaction times to negative stimuli than those with lower anxiety. One interpretation is that moderate levels of emotional arousal associated with anxiety make individuals less susceptible to the distracting effects of negative stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRi) or mitogen-activated kinase (MEKi) induce a folliculitis in 75–90% of patients, the pathobiology of which remains insufficiently understood. Objectives To characterize changes in the skin immune status and global transcriptional profile of patients treated with EGFRi; to investigate whether EGFRi affects the hair follicle's (HF) immune privilege (IP); and to identify early proinflammatory signals induced by EGFRi/MEKi in human scalp HFs ex vivo. Methods Scalp biopsies were taken from patients exhibiting folliculitis treated long term with EGFRi ('chronic EGFRi' group, n = 9) vs. healthy scalp skin (n = 9) and patients prior to commencing EGFRi treatment and after 2 weeks of EGFRi therapy ('acute EGFRi' group, n = 5). Healthy organ-cultured scalp HFs were exposed to an EGFRi (erlotinib, n = 5) or a MEKi (cobimetinib, n = 5). Samples were assessed by quantitative immunohistomorphometry, RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and in situ hybridization. Results The 'chronic EGFRi' group showed CD8+ T-cell infiltration of the bulge alongside a partial collapse of the HF's IP, evidenced by upregulated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, β2-microglobulin (B2 M) and MHC class II, and decreased transforming growth factor-β1 protein expression. Healthy HFs treated with EGFRi/MEKi ex vivo also showed partial HF IP collapse and increased transcription of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A, HLA-DR and B2 M transcripts. RNAseq analysis showed increased transcription of chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL13, CCL18, CCL3, CCL7) and interleukin (IL)-26 in biopsies from the 'chronic EGFRi' cohort, as well as increased IL-33 and decreased IL-37 expression in HF biopsies from the 'acute EGFRi' group and in organ-cultured HFs. Conclusions The data show that EGFRi/MEKi compromise the physiological IP of human scalp HFs and suggest that future clinical management of EGFRi/MEKi-induced folliculitis requires HF IP protection and inhibition of IL-33. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sex hormone changes during menopausal transition contribute to declining skin health. However, how menopause and its treatment by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) impact the skin barrier and immune system is unclear. Objectives To examine how menopause and HRT affect the skin barrier and immune cell composition in postmenopausal women following irritant challenge. Methods Two cohorts of postmenopausal women were recruited to the study. The first cohort consisted of 10 untreated women [HRT–; mean (SEM) age 56.5 (1.6) years (range 48–63)] and the second was composed of 8 women receiving HRT [HRT+; mean (SEM) age 54.0 (2.1) years (range 48–63)]. Skin irritation was induced by applying topical sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) 1.25% to occluded buttock skin for 48 h. Clinical assessment was conducted after 24 h, followed by biopsy of both SLS-challenged and unchallenged skin for analysis of skin barrier proteins and immune cell distribution using immunofluorescence. Results Clinically, there were no significant differences in skin irritant responses between those taking or not taking HRT (including increased skin redness and blood flow). In response to SLS challenge a significant increase in transepidermal water loss (P < 0.05), filaggrin deposition and cytokeratin 10 (K10)+ cell layers (P < 0.01) was observed in individuals receiving HRT compared with the HRT– group. Following SLS challenge in individuals taking HRT, a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in CD207+ cells in the epidermis was observed, accompanied by an increase of CD207+ cells in the dermis, indicative of migrating Langerhans cells (LCs). Significantly fewer migrating LCs were found in those who were not receiving HRT (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the numbers of dermal dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and CD11c+CD206– and CD68+CD206– subsets were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in those taking HRT following SLS challenge. Conclusions Individuals receiving HRT displayed enhanced skin barrier response to SLS challenge with thicker filaggrin and increased K10+ epidermal cell layers. Following challenge, HRT users exhibited elevated LC, inflammatory DC and macrophage counts in the dermis. These may render skin both more prone to inflammation and more capable of resolving it, while also promoting skin repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media celebrities can exert significant influence on societal change, and adolescents are the most vulnerable population to such influence given that this is a period when personal identity-seeking starts to become increasingly important. However, there is a lack of research examining the factors that contribute to adolescents' vulnerability to celebrity worship. The present study investigated the relationship between neuroticism, avoidant identity style, and celebrity worship among adolescents with a particular focus on mediating the role of the need to belong among a convenience sample of Iranian adolescents (N = 396; girls = 68%; age = 15.76 ± 1.99). Structural equation modeling showed that the association between avoidant identity style and celebrity worship was partially mediated by the need to belong, while the latter fully mediated the relationship between neuroticism and celebrity worship. The findings draw attention to the need to belong as an important factor underlying celebrity worship. Limitations and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infants of women with histories of problematic alcohol and other drug use are among the most vulnerable children known to statutory child protection services, which they enter at a younger age, and in which they remain longer. The net results include overwhelmed child protection systems and the birth of subsequent children conceived to ease women's grief at the loss their infants. Without adequate and appropriate support to the mother and her family, the pattern repeats. Obstetric services have an important role to play in the assessment of risk and protective factors in the perinatal period and in determining pathways to service provision. A comprehensive assessment considers the availability and quality of informal support prior to activation of formal systems of support, both statutory, where engagement is mandated, and non‐statutory, where support is offered on a voluntary basis. This paper uses quantitative methods to explore the social networks of women with problematic substance use in the transition to motherhood and the relationship between formal and informal support systems and infant outcomes. Surveys were held with two counsellors from the Women's Alcohol and Drug Service (WADS), a specialist obstetric clinic in Melbourne, Australia, and with 18 child protection workers. In addition, the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (Norbeck, 1984; Norbeck et al., 1983) was administered with 20 participating mothers to measure levels of formal and informal support, as well as the type and quality of support available to mothers over a 12‐month period, and to consider the provision of social support against known outcomes for infants. The findings demonstrate that WADS counsellors made several referrals for most women but that there was little in the way of long‐term follow‐up by non‐statutory service providers, with most women experiencing a dramatic drop in support over the 12‐month period. Women whose main informal support was from a domestically violent partner, and those who had been in out‐of‐home care in their own childhood, were particularly vulnerable to losing the care of their infant. The role of child protection varied markedly across the 12‐month period, particularly in relation to the extent that a relationship between formal and informal systems of support for mothers and their infants could be established. Overall, the study findings demonstrate that mothers experienced diminishing formal and informal support over time and that the quality of social support available to the mother was more important in terms of outcomes for women and their infants than the quantity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plate anchors have been recognized as an attractive option for floating offshore structures due to their low cost and high effectiveness. The prediction of anchor pullout capacity often assumes a homogeneous sand with uniform properties over the entire soil mass. However, natural soils typically exhibit significant spatial variability due to their geological history of soil formation. To account for this inherent spatial variability, this paper has proposed an analytical approach to probabilistically estimate the pullout capacity of strip plate anchors in sand. The soil friction angle was represented by a random field, and the first two moments and the probability density function of the anchor breakout factor were determined analytically using a local average theory. The proposed analytical approach was validated by the random finite-element method (RFEM) over a wide range of soil and anchor parameters. The findings suggest that the anchor embedment depth ratio has a limited effect on the estimated anchor failure probability, whereas the coefficient of variation and correlation length of the soil friction angle have a significant influence. This confirms the importance of sufficient site investigation for cost-effective and reliable anchor design. Overall, the proposed analytical framework can be regarded as a reliable and practical alternative to the computationally intensive RFEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural soils often exhibit significant spatial variability due to their geological history of soil formation. As an attractive anchoring solution for floating offshore structures, this paper has investigated the pullout capacity of strip plate anchors in clay considering the inherent soil spatial variability. In this study, the soil properties were represented by random fields, and an analytical framework was developed to estimate the first two moments and the probability density function of the pullout capacity factor for shallowly and deeply embedded anchors. The analytical approach was validated by the random finite element method (RFEM) over a wide range of soil and anchor parameters. The results show that the coefficient of variation and correlation length of the soil significantly affect the prediction of anchor pullout capacity, providing evidence that sufficient site investigation is of great importance for cost-effective and reliable anchor design. Probabilistic charts were also developed to aid in the probabilistic analysis of anchor pullout capacity. Overall, the developed analytical framework can be used as a good approximation to the computationally intensive RFEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study of comprehensive satisfaction with healthcare is still limited due to nonstandard measurement tools of patient satisfaction for the Chinese population. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify the validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of the revised Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-R) and conducted network analysis among a sample of the Chinese population. Methods: A cross-sectional study using telephone surveys was conducted from April 2022 to August 2022. A total of 1377 participants who had been hospitalized completed the survey (481 males [34.9%], mean age = 49.4 years [SD ± 19.0]). Results: Four factors ('satisfaction with medical staff', 'satisfaction with hospital', 'satisfaction with medical costs', and 'satisfaction with medical insurance premiums'), were verified through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and had good equivalence across genders. The 'satisfaction with medical staff' and 'satisfaction with hospital' factors had the strongest edge intensity in the factor-level network. Conclusions: The 18-item (four-factor) PSQ-R has good validity, reliability, and measurement invariance. The four dimensions appear to describe patient satisfaction well among the Chinese population who had been hospitalized. To effectively enhance patient satisfaction, the quality of healthcare service and medical staff skills should both be improved, medical insurance premiums should be increased, and medical costs should be decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common understanding in surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is that the excitation pulse should be kept much shorter than the NMR relaxation times for an effective excitation. We present analytic, numerical, and experimental evidence demonstrating that this need not be so, and surface NMR signals can be retrieved even for absurdly long excitation pulses. We solve the Bloch equations in the limit of infinitely long excitation and use this result to demonstrate that a measurable magnetization can be obtained with long excitation pulses. We perform numerical simulations of the Bloch equations incorporating effects of relaxation‐during‐pulse, and our results suggest that long excitation pulses can be used to increase the depth of investigation, but that the spatial resolution of long pulse excitation is low. Data collected in Kompedal, Denmark using up to 3 s long excitation pulses provide experimental proof for the feasibility of long pulse surface NMR. Plain Language Summary: Surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is the only non‐invasive geophysical method with a direct sensitivity to groundwater. A surface NMR measurement is carried out by pulsing a resonant current in a large coil laid out on the surface. This generates an electromagnetic field, which perturbs the nuclear spin of hydrogen nuclei in groundwater. The subsequent relaxation of the nuclear spins gives rise to a measurable signal with an amplitude proportional to the amount of groundwater and NMR relaxation times controlled by the host material of the water. The common understanding is that the excitation pulse should be much shorter than the NMR relaxation times for effective excitation. We present analytic, numerical, and experimental evidence demonstrating that this need not be so, and signals can be retrieved even for absurdly long excitation pulses. A numerical analysis of long pulse excitation suggests that this can be used to increase the depth of investigation. Experimental proof is given by a field data set where we retrieve NMR signals with a 200 ms relaxation time following excitation with a 3 s long pulse. Key Points: The influence of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) excitation pulse duration in surface NMR is investigated in the long pulse limitEven if the NMR excitation pulse is much longer than the NMR relaxation times, surface NMR signals from groundwater can still be detectedThe depth of investigation in surface NMR measurements can be increased using long excitation pulses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Abortion influences the composition and size of population. Estimating the overall and type-specific abortion rates, the reasons to choose the abortion can be helpful in designing and implementing preventive intervention. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the: (i) prevalence of abortion, (ii) attitude of married women of reproductive age towards abortion, and (iii) reasons for choosing abortion by married women of reproductive age in Qazvin province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2023, and comprised married women of reproductive age (N = 1571) referred to urban and rural comprehensive health centers in five cities of Qazvin province. Utilizing multi-stage proportional sampling process, data for the survey (including demographic and fertility information, reasons for choosing abortion, and attitudes toward abortion) were collected online. Results: The lifetime prevalence of abortion was 18.6% (among the total sample). The past-year prevalence was 22.3% (among those who reported having had an abortion). Of those reporting having had an abortion, 73.6% reported it was their first one, and 65.1% reported it was non-spontaneous. Women's reasons for choosing abortion fell into one of three main clusters: (i) couple's behavior, health and relationship problems, (ii) fertility-related stressful experiences, and (iii) family economic situations. The main reported reason to choose abortion was a couple's behavior (e.g., drug use), health (e.g., physical disease, psychological problems), and relationship problems (e.g., sexual infidelity, divorce) explaining 27% of the variance. Also, pro-abortion attitude was the most important attitude towards non-spontaneous abortion explaining 26.33% of variance. The variables that increased the likelihood of non-spontaneous abortion included choosing a reason for abortion vs. having no reason (OR = 1.77, p = 0.05), having poor vs. good mental health (OR = 1.74, p = 0.03), having a pro-abortion attitude (OR = 1.09, p = 0.09), and having ≥ 3 children vs. having no children (OR = 0.53, p = 0.06). Conclusion: Women in high-risk groups for non-spontaneous abortion (i.e., those aged over 35 years, those married for more than five years, those with an infertility history, those with a lower number of children, those living in rural areas, and those having poor mental health status) should be assessed by primary healthcare services during preconception and have early prenatal counseling to help in decisions regarding abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen isotopes (δ18O) are the most commonly utilized speleothem proxy and have provided many foundational records of paleoclimate. Thus, understanding processes affecting speleothem δ18O is crucial. Yet, prior calcite precipitation (PCP), a process driven by local hydrology, is a widely ignored control of speleothem δ18O. Here we investigate the effects of PCP on a stalagmite δ18O record from central Vietnam, spanning 45 – 4 ka. We employ a geochemical model that utilizes speleothem Mg/Ca and cave monitoring data to correct the δ18O record for PCP effects. The resulting record exhibits improved agreement with regional speleothem δ18O records and climate model simulations, suggesting that the corrected record more accurately reflects precipitation δ18O (δ18Op). Without considering PCP, our interpretations of the δ18O record would have been misleading. To avoid misinterpretations of speleothem δ18O, our results emphasize the necessity of considering PCP as a significant driver of speleothem δ18O. This study finds that in-cave processes affect speleothem oxygen isotope records. Correcting for these processes improves agreement with other regional records and climate models, providing a more accurate reflection of past hydroclimate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A) have promising validity and reliability when assessing symptoms of gaming disorder among young adults. However, validity and reliability properties of the two scales have not been established among a Vietnamese population. Objective: The present study translated the GDT and GADIS-A into Vietnamese and examined their factor structures, measurement invariance, convergent validity, concurrent validity, and divergent validity among university students. Methods: A total of 610 young adults (mean age = 21.09 years; 63.4% females) were recruited using convenience sampling and who completed a paper-and-pencil survey between April and June 2023. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire, GDT, GADIS-A, and six standardized scales related to gaming disorder, social media addiction, smartphone addiction, and psychological distress. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency testing, and Pearson's correlations were performed. Results: CFA showed that the GDT had a one-factor structure and the GADIS-A had a two-factor structure. The internal consistency was excellent for both scales among this population. Moreover, both GDT and GADIS-A showed convergent, concurrent, and divergent validity with other standardized scales. Conclusion: The Vietnamese versions of the GDT and GADIS-A have good psychometrics, which may be utilized in future research regarding gaming disorder among Vietnamese populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peru is a low-endemic transmission area for malaria, where the majority (84%) of incident malaria cases are localized to the department of Loreto, which is composed of several geographically isolated rural communities. Recent intervention efforts targeting at-risk Indigenous populations that live in riverine communities in Loreto place emphasis on preventive behaviours to decrease transmission. However, malaria related behaviour change is often dependent upon local knowledge, beliefs, and practices, especially in areas where malaria is viewed an embedded and unavoidable aspect of life. Methods: This exploratory case study used semi-structured interviews conducted in Spanish between February and March of 2019 to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to malaria prevention among the Indigenous Maijuna people of Sucusari, Loreto, Peru. Participants who consented were also administered a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) upon the time of interview. Results: A total of 33 community members were interviewed, and 31 were tested via malaria rapid diagnostic tests, with RDT filter paper subsequently tested using PCR. All test results were negative for malaria. Themes that emerged included: varying knowledge of methods to prevent malaria, reports of observed changes in malaria incidence over time, confusion surrounding malaria transmission, treatment-seeking as a common behaviour, the belief that medications are effective, and the acceptance of bed nets which were viewed as a lifestyle norm. Conclusion: These shared narratives should be used as a foundation for further studies and health interventions among communities in the Peruvian Amazon with limited access to health services where culturally resonant, community-based health programming is essential to improving health. Takeaways regarding confusion surrounding malaria transmission should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: On January 31st, 2023, the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, was granted a federal exemption allowing adults (aged 18 +) to possess up to 2.5 g of select illicit drugs. The exemption will be in place for three years (2023–2026), marking the first formal decriminalization of illicit drug policy reform in Canada. BC's decriminalization initiative is premised on several goals. This project seeks to evaluate each of these goals and their individual and combined contributions to determine the overall success of this policy. Methods: The following protocol paper provides a detailed outline of a five-year (2022-2027) national evaluation of BC's decriminalization initiative, as well as the specific objectives, methodologies, and planned analyses for eight interrelated sub-studies that comprise the evaluation. These sub-studies fall under the following five topical areas of research: 1) people who use drugs (PWUD), 2) the police and the criminal justice system, 3) the general public, 4) the health services system, and 5) an economic analysis. Additional research activities may also be explored. Results: The overall evaluation and specific sub-study designs were informed by intensive stakeholder engagement. The evaluation was developed in collaboration with an international expert committee who came together to undertake a nominal group technique to decide on the final evaluation design and corresponding logic model. The evaluation will also employ an advisory board and individual sub-study working groups comprised of experts and PWUD who will oversee the development and implementation of the overall evaluation as well as each sub-study. Discussion: This evaluation will draw on implementation science research practices to evaluate and understand the full impacts of this novel drug policy experiment. Results will be widely disseminated through manuscripts, reports, presentations, and infographics, which will be adapted and tailored for specific audiences. The protocol identifies several anticipated challenges and limitations. This evaluation's evidence-based findings will be poised to offer pivotal insights that can shape and refine the discourse on drug policy and will serve as a critical resource for understanding the multifaceted impacts of decriminalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cohorts are now known to be associated with increased rates of clonal hematopoiesis (CH). We sort to characterize the hematopoietic compartment of patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) given our recent population level analysis reporting evolving rates of secondary leukemias. The advent of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has dramatically changed our understanding of cancer biology and has altered the standards of care for patients. However, the impact of ICB on hematopoietic myeloid clonal expansion remains to be determined. We studied if exposure to ICB therapy affects hematopoietic clonal architecture and if their evolution contributed to altered hematopoiesis. Blood samples from patients with melanoma and NSCLC (n = 142) demonstrated a high prevalence of CH. Serial samples (or post ICB exposure samples; n = 25) were evaluated in melanoma and NSCLC patients. Error-corrected sequencing of a targeted panel of genes recurrently mutated in CH was performed on peripheral blood genomic DNA. In serial sample analysis, we observed that mutations in DNMT3A and TET2 increased in size with longer ICB exposures in the melanoma cohort. We also noted that patients with larger size DNMT3A mutations with further post ICB clone size expansion had longer durations of ICB exposure. All serial samples in this cohort showed a statistically significant change in VAF from baseline. In the serial sample analysis of NSCLC patients, we observed similar epigenetic expansion, although not statistically significant. Our study generates a hypothesis for two important questions: (a) Can DNMT3A or TET2 CH serve as predictors of a response to ICB therapy and serve as a novel biomarker of response to ICB therapy? (b) As ICB-exposed patients continue to live longer, the myeloid clonal expansion may portend an increased risk for subsequent myeloid malignancy development. Until now, the selective pressure of ICB/T-cell activating therapies on hematopoietic stem cells were less known and we report preliminary evidence of clonal expansion in epigenetic modifier genes (also referred to as inflammatory CH genes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental complexity hypothesis suggests that cognition evolves to allow animals to negotiate a complex and changing environment. By contrast, signal detection theory suggests cognition exploits environmental regularities by containing biases (e.g. to avoid dangerous predators). Therefore, two significant bodies of theory on cognitive evolution may be in tension: one foregrounds environmental complexity, the other regularity. Difficulty in reconciling these theories stems from their focus on different aspects of cognition. The environmental complexity hypothesis focuses on the reliability of sensors in the origin of cognition, while signal detection theory focuses on decision making in cognitively sophisticated animals. Here, we extend the signal detection model to examine the joint evolution of mechanisms for detecting information (sensory systems) and those that process information to produce behaviour (decision-making systems). We find that the transition to cognition can only occur if processing compensates for unreliable sensors by trading-off errors. Further, we provide an explanation for why animals with sophisticated sensory systems nonetheless disregard the reliable information it provides, by having biases for particular behaviours. Our model suggests that there is greater nuance than has been previously appreciated, and that both complexity and regularity can promote cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present study examined the moderating effects of sleep quality in the relationship between coping and distress among medical college students. Present study was conducted to ensure the mental health of medical students and to dig out the reasons behind their disturbed health which can directly impact their performance at work. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey and was distributed to students at variousmedical institutions in the Punjab province of Pakistan from October 2019 to June 2020. The sample comprised 369 participants (120 males; 32.5%). The survey included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Kessler Scale of Psychological Distress (K10), Brief Cope Scale, and Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale. Results: The results showed there was a significant relationship between coping and distress. More specifically, adaptive coping and distress were negatively associated (r=-.24), and maladaptive coping and distress were positively associated (r=.46). Moreover, the present study found that poor sleep quality was a significant positive predictor of distress. Moderation analysis showed that sleep quality was a significant moderator in the relationship between adaptive coping and distress (DR2=.011, b=-.36, p<.01) as well as between maladaptive coping and distress (DR2=.021, b=-.17, p<.01). Conclusion: The study's findings clearly showed that sleep quality is a significant moderator in the relationship between coping (both adaptive and maladaptive) and distress among medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainforests provide vital ecosystem services that are underpinned by plant-soil interactions. The forests of Borneo are globally important reservoirs of biodiversity and carbon, but a significant proportion of the forest that remains after large-scale agricultural conversion has been extensively modified due to timber harvest. We have limited understanding of how selective logging affects ecosystem functions including biogeochemical cycles driven by soil microbes. In this study, we sampled soil from logging gaps and co-located intact lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Borneo. We characterised soil bacterial and fungal communities and physicochemical properties and determined soil functioning in terms of enzyme activity, nutrient supply rates, and microbial heterotrophic respiration. Soil microbial biomass, alpha diversity, and most soil properties and functions were resistant to logging. However, we found logging significantly shifted soil bacterial and fungal community composition, reduced the abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi, increased the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and reduced soil inorganic phosphorous concentration and nitrate supply rate, suggesting some downregulation of nutrient cycling. Within gaps, canopy openness was negatively related to ectomycorrhizal abundance and phosphomonoesterase activity and positively related to ammonium supply rate, suggesting control on soil phosphorus and nitrogen cycles via functional shifts in fungal communities. We found some evidence for reduced soil heterotrophic respiration with greater logging disturbance. Overall, our results demonstrate that while many soil microbial community attributes, soil properties, and functions may be resistant to selective logging, logging can significantly impact the composition and abundance of key soil microbial groups linked to the regulation of vital nutrient and carbon cycles in tropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) relies on symptoms reported by patients during infrequent outpatient clinic visits. These reports are often incomplete and inaccurate due to poor recall, leading to suboptimal treatment decisions and outcomes. Asking people to track symptoms in-between visits and integrating the data into clinical pathways may improve this. However, knowledge on how to implement this into practice and its impact on services and outcomes remains scarce in RA. Therefore, we evaluate the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of integrated symptom tracking in people with RA over and above usual care, while generating insights on factors for successful implementation. Methods: In this superiority stepped wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial with continuous recruitment short exposure design, 16 rheumatology outpatient departments (clusters) recruit a total of 732 people with active RA. They initially offer clinic visits according to standard of care before switching in pairs to visits with integrated symptom tracking. Clusters switch in randomized order every 3 weeks. Integrated symptom tracking consists of (1) a mobile app for patients to track their symptoms daily and other RA aspects weekly/monthly, and (2) an interactive dashboard visualizing the app data, which healthcare professionals access from their electronic health record system. Clinic visits happen according to usual practice, with tracked symptom data only reviewed during visits. Our primary outcome is a difference in marginal mean disease activity score at 12 ± 3 months between standard of care and integrated symptom tracking, after accounting for baseline values, cluster, and other covariates. Secondary outcomes include patient-reported disease activity, quality of life and quality-adjusted life-years, medication/resource use, consultation and decision-making experience, self-management, and illness perception. We also conduct interviews and observations as part of a parallel process evaluation to gather information on implementation. Discussion: Our trial will generate high-quality evidence of comparative and cost-effectiveness of integrated symptom tracking compared to standard of care in people with RA, with our process evaluation delivering knowledge on successful implementation. This optimizes the chances of integrated symptom tracking being adopted more widely if we find it is (cost-) effective. Trial registration: Registered 4-Jun-2024 on https://www.isrctn.com/, ISRCTN51539448. Trial open science framework repository: https://osf.io/sj9ha/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainforests provide vital ecosystem services that are underpinned by plant-soil interactions. The forests of Borneo are globally important reservoirs of biodiversity and carbon, but a significant proportion of the forest that remains after large-scale agricultural conversion has been extensively modified due to timber harvest. We have limited understanding of how selective logging affects ecosystem functions including biogeochemical cycles driven by soil microbes. In this study, we sampled soil from logging gaps and co-located intact lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Borneo. We characterised soil bacterial and fungal communities and physicochemical properties and determined soil functioning in terms of enzyme activity, nutrient supply rates, and microbial heterotrophic respiration. Soil microbial biomass, alpha diversity, and most soil properties and functions were resistant to logging. However, we found logging significantly shifted soil bacterial and fungal community composition, reduced the abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi, increased the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and reduced soil inorganic phosphorous concentration and nitrate supply rate, suggesting some downregulation of nutrient cycling. Within gaps, canopy openness was negatively related to ectomycorrhizal abundance and phosphomonoesterase activity and positively related to ammonium supply rate, suggesting control on soil phosphorus and nitrogen cycles via functional shifts in fungal communities. We found some evidence for reduced soil heterotrophic respiration with greater logging disturbance. Overall, our results demonstrate that while many soil microbial community attributes, soil properties, and functions may be resistant to selective logging, logging can significantly impact the composition and abundance of key soil microbial groups linked to the regulation of vital nutrient and carbon cycles in tropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread adoption of large language models (LLMs) makes it important to recognize their strengths and limitations. We argue that to develop a holistic understanding of these systems, we must consider the problem that they were trained to solve: next-word prediction over Internet text. By recognizing the pressures that this task exerts, we can make predictions about the strategies that LLMs will adopt, allowing us to reason about when they will succeed or fail. Using this approach--which we call the teleological approach--we identify three factors that we hypothesize will influence LLM accuracy: the probability of the task to be performed, the probability of the target output, and the probability of the provided input. To test our predictions, we evaluate five LLMs (GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Claude 3, Llama 3, and Gemini 1.0) on 11 tasks, and we find robust evidence that LLMs are influenced by probability in the hypothesized ways. Many of the experiments reveal surprising failure modes. For instance, GPT-4's accuracy at decoding a simple cipher is 51% when the output is a high-probability sentence but only 13% when it is low-probability, even though this task is a deterministic one for which probability should not matter. These results show that AI practitioners should be careful about using LLMs in low-probability situations. More broadly, we conclude that we should not evaluate LLMs as if they are humans but should instead treat them as a distinct type of system--one that has been shaped by its own particular set of pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a contaminated liquid evaporates from within a porous material, the impurities or dirt accumulate and deposit within the pore space. This occurs during the cleaning of filters and fouling of textiles, and is related to the 'coffee-ring' problem. To investigate how and where dirt is deposited in the pore space, we present a model for the motion of an evaporation front through a porous material, and the related accumulation, transport, and deposition of dirt, assuming that the liquid remains stationary. For physically relevant parameters, vapour transport out of the porous material is quasi-steady and we derive a single ordinary differential equation describing the motion of the evaporation front in time. Model solutions exhibit spatially non-uniform profiles of the deposited dirt-layer thickness through the porous material. The dirt accumulation and evaporation problems are coupled: deposited dirt hinders vapour transport through the porous material, slowing the evaporation. We identify two scenarios in which the porous material becomes clogged with dirt. Accumulation of suspended dirt at the evaporating interface along with slow dirt diffusion results in the deposited dirt layers clogging the pores at the evaporating interface, halting the drying and trapping liquid in the porous material. Alternatively, slow dirt deposition results in the suspended dirt being pushed far into the porous material by the evaporation, eventually leaving only dirt (with no liquid) in the pore space. We investigate the dynamics of both clogging scenarios, characterising the parameter regimes for which each occurs. Both clogging scenarios must be avoided in practice since they may be detrimental to future filter efficacy or textile breathability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review examines the existing research on crowdfunding for renewable energy (RE) projects, with the purpose of identifying the factors that influence the need and the success of such crowdfunding campaigns, and the findings discuss the potential role of the public sector, and offer future research directions. The review synthesizes and analyses findings from 33 peer‐reviewed articles published between 2016 and 2023 in leading journals like the Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy Economics, and Journal of Business Research. The results show that crowdfunding can be an effective source of financing for RE projects, particularly in developing countries where traditional financing options are limited. The review identifies financial characteristics, communication and marketing strategies, media coverage, project category, and message framing as key factors that influence the success of crowdfunding campaigns for RE projects. The potential role of the public sector in supporting crowdfunding is also discussed, including creating an enabling environment, providing funding and technical assistance, promoting the benefits of RE and crowdfunding, addressing regulatory and information barriers, and collaborating with other stakeholders. Finally, the review identifies compelling areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous evidence has demonstrated a relationship between insecure attachment and the development of emotional dependence towards an individual's partner. However, the possibility that this relationship may be indirect and mediated by individual factors such as difficulties in emotional regulation has not previously been explored. Consequently, the objectives of the present study were to analyze the (i) differences in emotional dependence on an individual's partner and difficulties in emotional regulation capacity according to secure, preoccupied or dismissing attachment style and (ii) mediating role of difficulties in emotional regulation in the relationship between both insecure attachment styles and emotional dependence on an individual's partner. The sample comprised 741 participants ranging in age from 18 to 30 years (M = 21.32, SD = 2.93). The mediations were tested with linear regressions with the macro PROCESS v4.0. The results showed that emotional dependence on a partner and difficulties in emotional regulation were greater among individuals who had developed a dismissing attachment compared those with secure or preoccupied attachment. Likewise, the mediation model confirmed the mediating role of difficulties in the capacity for emotional regulation in the relationship between dismissing attachment and emotional dependence, with rejection of negative or discomfort-generating emotions predominating. The findings provide preliminary evidence that rejection of negative emotional experiences may play an important role in the relationship between insecure dismissing attachment style and emotional dependence on an individual's partner. Consequently, it is recommended that emotional dependence intervention programs include of the management of intolerance to negative emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially cultivated Prunus species are commonly grown in adjacent or mixed orchards and can be infected with unique or commonly shared viruses. Apple (Malus domestica), another member of the Rosacea and distantly related to Prunus, can share the same growing regions and common pathogens. Pollen can be a major route for virus transmission, and analysis of the pollen virome in tree fruit orchards can provide insights into these virus pathogen complexes from mixed production sites. Commercial honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollination is essential for improved fruit sets and yields in tree fruit production systems. To better understand the pollen-associated virome in tree fruits, metagenomics-based detection of plant viruses was employed on bee and pollen samples collected at four time points during the peak bloom period of apricot, cherry, peach, and apple trees at one orchard site. Twenty-one unique viruses were detected in samples collected during tree fruit blooms, including prune dwarf virus (PDV) and prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) (Genus Ilarvirus, family Bromoviridae), Secoviridae family members tomato ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), tobacco ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), prunus virus F (genus Fabavirus), and Betaflexiviridae family member cherry virus A (CVA; genus Capillovirus). Viruses were also identified in composite leaf and flower samples to compare the pollen virome with the virome associated with vegetative tissues. At all four time points, a greater diversity of viruses was detected in the bee and pollen samples. Finally, the nucleotide sequence diversity of the coat protein regions of CVA, PDV, and PNRSV was profiled from this site, demonstrating a wide range of sequence diversity in pollen samples from this site. These results demonstrate the benefits of area-wide monitoring through bee pollination activities and provide new insights into the diversity of viruses in tree fruit pollination ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For student teachers and teachers with disabilities, determining whetherto disclose their disability (that is, self-report) or the extent of it in learning and employment contexts can be a complex dilemma. Before a student teacher or teacher decides to disclose or conceal their disability, they must consider a range of potential responses and disclosure outcomes, including whether they will be considered "ready and fit to teach". Research provides evidence of disabled teachers facing this dilemma from when they apply to enter initial teacher education (ITE) programmes through to when they seek and secure employment as qualified teachers (see, for example, Bellacicco & Demo, 2023; Griffiths et al., 2023a; Ware et al., 2022). The issue of disability disclosure among student teachers and teachers with disabilities in the early childhood education (ECE) sector has received limited attention in Aotearoa New Zealand. This article offers a step towards addressing this lack by looking at the complexities of disclosure decisions among student teachers and teachers with disabilities in their ITE programmes and ECE workplaces, respectively. The article also offers recommendations to address barriers, facilitate disclosure and support inclusion for this group of students and teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of people with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), with reports of maladaptive coping mechanisms, reduced mental health support and quality of life. In this study, the authors examine the impact of COVID‐19 lockdown and post‐lockdown period on acute psychiatric admission rates in an NHS Trust in people diagnosed with EUPD. In addition, the authors analyse whether patient profiles and the seasonal pattern of admission were impacted by COVID‐19 in this population. The study highlights the need for preventative clinical care pathways with increased access and service responsiveness, adjusted to fit local needs at times of confinement policies and additionally more research into seasonal patterns of admission in those with EUPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prescribing testosterone for gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) has been increasing in Australia with much of this practice done by general practitioners (GPs) and there are current AusPATH guidelines on how this can be done appropriately. There has been limited data collected from GPs about how well these patients are monitored and the adverse effects (AEs) that are experienced by this population of patients. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to collect data about monitoring and adverse effects of GAHT provided in GP settings. Methods: The PUSH! Audit was a cross-sectional study that collected data from 9 GP Clinics across 5 Australian cities who provided GAHT with testosterone. Data was also collected about cisgender men who were prescribed testosterone for testosterone deficiency (TD) as a comparison group (n = 209). Results: The patients in the GAHT group (n = 277) tended to be younger (29.8 vs 54.9), with significant prevalence of smoking (21.8%) and anxiety/depression (37.2%) although this was not significantly higher that the comparison group. Most of the GAHT group had a testosterone level recorded in their file (90.6%) and the most common route of administration of testosterone was by intra-muscular injection (89.9%). The testosterone levels were mainly in the target range for males (75.7%) with only a small percentage registering levels above the target range (5.6%). Of the measured AEs, whilst there were significant prevalence of liver abnormalities and hypercholesterolemia, this was not significantly different to the TD group. The hypertension prevalence was lower in the GAHT group. Of the reported AEs, acne (10.1%) and balding (4.7%) were the only two AEs that were significantly reported. Conclusion: This study shows that GAHT with testosterone can be provided effectively in general practice with high levels of success and very low levels of AEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two main goals of peatland restoration are habitat improvement and climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from damaged peatlands and providing a net carbon sink. The biodiversity of specialist peatland species is threatened because of habitat destruction and the large heath butterfly Coenonympha tullia has become a flagship species for peatland ecosystem restoration, with a species reintroduction programme currently underway on a peatland restoration site within Chat Moss, Greater Manchester, UK. The aim of this study was to improve our quantitative understanding of C. tullia habitat resource requirements to optimise habitat restoration for further reintroduction attempts. We monitored butterfly micro-distribution and dispersal during the first three flight seasons (2020, 2021 and 2022) of the reintroduction using high-accuracy GPS, combined with a distance-bearing protocol. Analysis of butterfly flight points and rest points in relation to plant species distribution and abundance, identified the most important habitat resources. Using logistic regression, treatment-response curves were constructed, enabling us to identify critical thresholds for the abundance of these important habitat resources. The break of slope near the top of the logistic curve was identified using segmented regression, giving an estimate of the near-optimal abundance; fourteen Eriophorum vaginatum tussocks per 2 m quadrat and 13.4% Erica tetralix cover. Implications for insect conservation: During ecosystem restorations, prior to the reintroduction of species with specialist habitat requirements, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the abundance of the important habitat resources that need to be provided. The quantitative approach we describe defines the most significant environmental factors and habitat resources, then uses segmented regression to estimate the near-optimal habitat resource requirements; increasing the likelihood of reintroduced populations thriving and reintroduction programmes achieving long-term success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal erosion and sea level rise has become a significant threat to coastal heritage due to climate change. Management bodies are monitoring the risks posed by undertaking studies, ranging from Rapid Coastal Zone Assessments to much larger government and research council funded studies. These studies have incorporated varying techniques and datasets such as environmental sampling, LiDAR, GPS, and UAV surveys. However, these approaches rarely combine study of historic shoreline change with physical susceptibility modeling. This paper presents a combined methodology, utilizing LiDAR and survey data collected by the Climate, Heritage, Environments of Reefs, Islands and Headlands (CHERISH) project, along with historic mapping and aerial photography to produce a risk assessment for the heritage assets located on Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island), North Wales. By constructing an Historic Erosion Model and an Erosion Susceptibility Model using ESRI's ArcGIS 10.5.1. with the DSAS Plugin and combining them with the LiDAR-derived spatial extents of archaeological features on the island, this project has shown that using both methodologies alongside each other can create a more complete overview of coastal environment change for the creation of vulnerability indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nature-based solutions (NBSs) for hazard mitigation is increasing. In this study, we review the use of NBSs for flood mitigation using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis framework for commonly used NBSs. Approaches reviewed include retention and detention systems, bioretention systems, landcover and soil management, river naturalisation and floodplain management, and constructed and natural wetlands. Existing tools for identification and quantification of direct benefits and co-benefits of NBSs are then reviewed. Finally, approaches to the modelling of NBSs are discussed, including the type of model and model parameterisation. After outlining knowledge gaps within the current literature and research, a roadmap for development, modelling, and implementation of NBSs is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advances in analytics, as well as scientific and regulatory knowledge and experience gained from biosimilar development/approvals over the last decade, enabled the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 to revise its guidelines on the evaluation of biosimilars. Among the revisions, there is more reliance on analytical and functional aspects to prove similarity (and likely fewer clinical requirements). WHO international reference standards for biosimilars provide additional confidence to regulators looking for evidence‐ and data‐based regulatory convergence in scientific and technical measures of quality attributes. These standards serve as a benchmark for harmonizing the bioactivity or potency of biosimilars, ensuring their future sustainability. This article discusses the availability and role of WHO international reference standards throughout the product life cycle of biosimilars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The patterns of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in populations may be influenced by the sexual mixing within the population. We aimed to investigate the assortative sexual mixing pattern by bisexuality in male-male partnerships. Methods. This was a retrospective repeated crosssectional study of men with mostly regular male partners attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between 2011 and 2019. Data on sexual practices, including their sexual practices, presence of other male/female sex partners and the gender of sexual partners in the previous 3 and 12 months, were collected using computer-assisted self-interview. We calculated the proportion of male partnerships where at least one man in the partnership reported a female sex partner. Results. A total of 2056 male-male partnerships (i.e. 4112 individuals) with a median age of 29 years (IQR 25 to 35) were included. Overall, in 94.4% (1941/2056) of male-male partnerships both men had male partners only; however, in 5.5% (113/2056) of partnerships, one man had both male and female partners, and in 0.1% (2/2056) partnerships, both men had both male and female partners. No assortative relationship was found on the sexual mixing by bisexuality in male-male partnerships due to the low assortativity coefficient (r = 0.006, 95% CI: -0.004 to 0.016). Conclusion. One in 20male-male partnerships had at least one man who had both male and female partners within the preceding year. Individuals were not selective by bisexuality, suggesting that partnerships of bisexual individuals are mixed proportionately to the distribution of their characteristics. Still, these sexual mixing practices may affect STI transmission dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Eye-gaze technology offers professionals a range of feedback tools, but it is not well understood how these are used to support decision-making or how professionals understand their purpose and function. This paper explores how professionals use a variety of feedback tools and provides commentary on their current use and ideas for future tool development.Methods and Materials: The study adopted a focus group methodology with two groups of professional participants: those involved in the assessment and provision of eye-gaze technology (n = 6) and those who interact with individuals using eye-gaze technology on an ongoing basis (n = 5). Template analysis was used to provide qualitative insight into the research questions.Results: Professionals highlighted several issues with existing tools and gave suggestions on how these could be made better. It is generally felt that existing tools highlight the existence of problems but offer little in the way of solutions or suggestions. Some differences of opinion related to professional perspective were highlighted. Questions about automating certain processes were raised by both groups.Conclusions: Discussion highlighted the need for different levels of feedback for users and professionals. Professionals agreed that current tools are useful to identify problems but do not offer insight into potential solutions. Some tools are being used to draw inferences about vision and cognition which are not supported by existing literature. New tools may be needed to better meet the needs of professionals and an increased understanding of how existing tools function may support such development. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Professionals sometimes make use of feedback tools to infer the cognitive and/or visual abilities of users, although the tools are not designed or validated for these purposes, and the existing literature does not support this. Some eye-gaze feedback tools are perceived as a "black box", leaving professionals uncertain as to how to usefully interpret and apply the outputs. There is an opportunity to improve tools that provide feedback on how well an eye-gaze system is working or how effectively a user can interact with this technology. Professionals identified that tools could be better at offering potential solutions, rather than simply identifying the existence of problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Little is known about how children learn to control eye-gaze technology, and clinicians lack information to guide decision-making. This paper examines whether typically developing 2–3 year olds can infer for themselves the causal mechanisms by which eye-gaze technology is controlled, whether a teaching intervention based on causal language improves performance and how their performance compares to the same task accessed via a touchscreen. Methods and materials: Typically developing children's (n = 9, Mean Age 28.7 months) performance on a cause and effect game presented on eye-gaze and touchscreen devices was compared. The game was presented first with no specific instruction on how to control the devices. This was followed by a subsequent presentation with explicit instruction about how the access methods worked, using a causal language approach. A final presentation examined whether children had retained any learning. Results: Performance in the eye-gaze condition without instruction (42.5% successful trials) was significantly below performance in the corresponding touchscreen condition (75%). However, when causal language instruction was added, performance with both access methods rose to comparable levels (90.7% eye-gaze and 94.6% touchscreen success). Performance gains were not retained post-intervention. Conclusions: Although 2–3 years in the study could make use of eye-gaze technology with support, this study found no evidence that these children could infer the causal mechanisms of control independently or intuitively. The lack of spatial contiguity and the comparative lack of feedback from eye-gaze devices are discussed as possible contributory factors. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: There are challenges in young children inferring for themselves the causal link between eye movements and control of an eye-gaze device. Explicit instruction may improve children's performance in a specific task, but it is debatable whether this translates to the establishment of causal mechanisms for control of the device. Clinicians should be cautious of making assumptions about what children are learning from activities claiming to teach cause and effect or other foundational eye-gaze control skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylation profiles of animals are known to differ by age and disease status. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), a complex infectious disease, primarily affects calves and has significant impact on animal welfare and the cattle industry, due to production losses, increased veterinary costs as well as animal losses. BRD susceptibility is multifactorial, influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. We have performed a pilot study to investigate the epigenetic profile of BRD susceptibility in six calves (three healthy versus three diagnosed with BRD) and age-related methylation differences between healthy calves and adult dairy cows (three calves versus four adult cows) using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS). We identified 2537 genes within differentially methylated regions between calves and adults. Functional analysis revealed enrichment of developmental pathways including cell fate commitment and tissue morphogenesis. Between healthy and BRD affected calves, 964 genes were identified within differentially methylated regions. Immune and vasculature regulatory pathways were enriched and key candidates in BRD susceptibility involved in complement cascade regulation, vasoconstriction and respiratory cilia structure and function were identified. Further studies with a greater sample size are needed to validate these findings and formulate integration into breeding programmes aiming to increase animal longevity and disease resistance. Epigenetic profiling using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing provides preliminary insights into the role of DNA methylation in ageing and bovine respiratory disease in UK dairy cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid dependence lead to significant morbidity and mortality, yet treatment retention, crucial for the effectiveness of medications like buprenorphine‐naloxone, remains unpredictable. Our objective was to determine the predictability of 6‐month retention in buprenorphine‐naloxone treatment using electronic health record (EHR) data from diverse clinical settings and to identify key predictors. Design: This retrospective observational study developed and validated machine learning‐based clinical risk prediction models using EHR data. Setting and cases: Data were sourced from Stanford University's healthcare system and Holmusk's NeuroBlu database, reflecting a wide range of healthcare settings. The study analyzed 1800 Stanford and 7957 NeuroBlu treatment encounters from 2008 to 2023 and from 2003 to 2023, respectively. Measurements Predict continuous prescription of buprenorphine‐naloxone for at least 6 months, without a gap of more than 30 days. The performance of machine learning prediction models was assessed by area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC‐AUC) analysis as well as precision, recall and calibration. To further validate our approach's clinical applicability, we conducted two secondary analyses: a time‐to‐event analysis on a single site to estimate the duration of buprenorphine‐naloxone treatment continuity evaluated by the C‐index and a comparative evaluation against predictions made by three human clinical experts. Findings Attrition rates at 6 months were 58% (NeuroBlu) and 61% (Stanford). Prediction models trained and internally validated on NeuroBlu data achieved ROC‐AUCs up to 75.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 73.6–78.0). Addiction medicine specialists' predictions show a ROC‐AUC of 67.8 (95% CI = 50.4–85.2). Time‐to‐event analysis on Stanford data indicated a median treatment retention time of 65 days, with random survival forest model achieving an average C‐index of 65.9. The top predictor of treatment retention identified included the diagnosis of opioid dependence. Conclusions: US patients with opioid use disorder or opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine‐naloxone prescriptions appear to have a high (∼60%) treatment attrition by 6 months. Machine learning models trained on diverse electronic health record datasets appear to be able to predict treatment continuity with accuracy comparable to that of clinical experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present initial results from the Polarization Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism (POSSUM), analysing 22 817 Faraday rotation measures (RMs) with median uncertainties of 1.2 rad m |$^{-2}$| across 1520 deg2 to study magnetized gas associated with 55 nearby galaxy groups (⁠|$z\lesssim 0.025$|⁠) with halo masses between |$10^{12.5}$| and |$10^{14.0}$| M |$_\odot$|⁠. We identify two distinct gas phases: the intragroup medium (IGrM) within 0–2 splashback radii and the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) extending from 2 to 7 splashback radii. These phases enhance the standard deviation of residual (i.e. Galactic foreground RM-subtracted) RMs by |$6.9\pm 1.8$| rad m |$^{-2}$| and |$4.2 \pm 1.2$| rad m |$^{-2}$|⁠ , respectively. Estimated magnetic field strengths are several μ G within the IGrM and 0.1–1 μ G in the WHIM. We estimate the plasma |$\beta$| in both phases, and show that magnetic pressure might be more dynamically important than in the ICM of more massive clusters or sparse cosmic web filaments. Our findings indicate that 'missing baryons' in the WHIM likely extend beyond the gravitational radii of group-mass haloes to Mpc scales, consistent with large-scale, outflow-driven 'magnetized bubbles' seen in cosmological simulations. We demonstrate that RM grids are an effective method for detecting magnetized thermal gas at galaxy group interfaces and within the cosmic web. This approach complements X-ray and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect methods, and when combined with fast radio burst dispersion measures, data from the full POSSUM survey – comprising approximately a million RMs – will allow direct magnetic field measurements to further our understanding of baryon circulation in these environments and the magnetized universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]