Search

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]

We present the spatially resolved relationship between the dust-to-gas mass ratio (DGR) and gas-phase metallicity (⁠|$Z_{\rm gas}$| or 12 + log(O/H)) (i.e. DGR– |$Z_{\rm gas}$| relation) of 11 nearby galaxies with a large-metallicity range (1.5 dex of 12 + log(O/H)) at (sub-)kpc scales. We used the large field-of-view (⁠|$\gtrsim$| 3 arcmin) optical pseudo-Integral Field Spectroscopy data taken by the TYPHOON/Progressive Integral Step Method survey, covering the optical size of galaxies, combining them with multiwavelength data [far-ultrviolet (UV) to far-infrared (IR), CO, and H  i 21 cm radio]. A large scatter of DGR in the intermediate-metallicity galaxies (8.0 |$\lt $| 12 + log(O/H) |$\lt $| 8.3) is found, which is in line with dust evolution models, where grain growth begins to dominate the mechanism of dust mass accumulation. In the lowest metallicity galaxy of our sample, Sextans A (12 + log(O/H) |$\lt $| 7.6), the star-forming regions have significantly higher DGR values (by 0.5–2 dex) than the global estimates from literature at the same metallicity, but aligns with the DGR values from metal depletion method from damped Lyman alpha systems and high hydrogen gas density regions of Sextans A. Using dust evolution models with a Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain approach suggests: (1) a high supernova dust yield and (2) a negligible amount of photofragmentation by UV radiation, although we note that our sample in the low-metallicity regime is limited to Sextans A. On the other hand, it is also possible that while metallicity influences DGR, gas density also plays a role, indicating an early onset of dust grain growth in the dust mass build-up process despite its low metallicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the largest Galactic neutral hydrogen H i absorption survey to date, utilizing the Australian SKA Pathfinder Telescope at an unprecedented spatial resolution of 30 arcsec. This survey, GASKAP-H i , unbiasedly targets 2714 continuum background sources over 250 square degrees in the direction of the Magellanic Clouds, a significant increase compared to a total of 373 sources observed by previous Galactic absorption surveys across the entire Milky Way. We aim to investigate the physical properties of cold (CNM) and warm (WNM) neutral atomic gas in the Milky Way foreground, characterized by two prominent filaments at high Galactic latitudes (between |$-45^{\circ }$| and |$-25^{\circ }$|⁠). We detected strong H i absorption along 462 lines of sight above the 3 |$\sigma$| threshold, achieving an absorption detection rate of 17 per cent. GASKAP-H i 's unprecedented angular resolution allows for simultaneous absorption and emission measurements to sample almost the same gas clouds along a line of sight. A joint Gaussian decomposition is then applied to absorption-emission spectra to provide direct estimates of H i optical depths, temperatures, and column densities for the CNM and WNM components. The thermal properties of CNM components are consistent with those previously observed along a wide range of Solar neighbourhood environments, indicating that cold H i properties are widely prevalent throughout the local interstellar medium. Across our region of interest, CNM accounts for |$\sim$| 30 per cent of the total H i gas, with the CNM fraction increasing with column density towards the two filaments. Our analysis reveals an anticorrelation between CNM temperature and its optical depth, which implies that CNM with lower optical depth leads to a higher temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress hyperglycaemia is common in critical illness. We have previously observed that increasing severity of respiratory failure in patients with severe COVID-19 is associated with increased insulin demand. Given previously reported direct effects of hypoxia on insulin action, we reasoned that rapid improvements in oxygenation following prone positioning may improve insulin sensitivity and increase risk of hypoglycaemia. A retrospective multi-centre service evaluation comparing blood glucose and insulin administration in patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis receiving prone mechanical ventilation, comparing the 16 h pre-prone and 16 h post-prone time periods. 155 patients were included in this analysis. Oxygenation improved significantly following prone positioning (change in SpO2/FIO2 per hour prone: 3.01 ± 0.14, P < 0.0001). Glycaemic control was similar during the supine and prone study periods, and there were no hypoglycaemic events in the prone study period. Prone positioning was associated with an unexpected modest but significant increase in insulin requirements (mean difference in total insulin dose (IU): 8.32 ± 2.14, P < 0.001) that was robust to several sensitivity analyses, and could not be explained by changes in carbohydrate intake. We did not observe an increased rate of hypoglycaemia during prone ventilation and the adequacy of glycaemic control was comparable during the supine and prone study periods. Unexpectedly, prone ventilation was associated with an increase in insulin requirements despite significant improvement in hypoxaemia. Our findings support the safety of prone ventilation with respect to glycaemic control and identify a novel relationship between ventilation position and insulin requirements in critical illness. [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 various medical 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 (ΔR2=.011, β=-.36, p <.01) as well as between maladaptive coping and distress (ΔR2=.021, β=-.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]

The Haloferacaceae are a family of extremely halophilic archaea with many species producing enzymes and products beneficial for industrial biotechnology. They are, however, relatively under-characterised with regards to genetics and gene products. This study aims to use existing sequence data to highlight genetic diversity, create pangenomes for three genera, and provide secondary metabolite and pathway analysis. This will establish current knowledge and identify key gaps in research. We show that the Haloferacaceae have significant genetic diversity between genera, with numerous gene gain and loss events in key genera. It also found that the model genus, Haloferax, has relatively low identified secondary metabolites compared to other genera within the family. Additionally, this study has identified potential biotechnology targets for heterologous expression in model organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein copy numbers constrain systems-level properties of regulatory networks, but proportional proteomic data remain scarce compared to RNA-seq. We related mRNA to protein statistically using best-available data from quantitative proteomics and transcriptomics for 4366 genes in 369 cell lines. The approach starts with a protein's median copy number and hierarchically appends mRNA–protein and mRNA–mRNA dependencies to define an optimal gene-specific model linking mRNAs to protein. For dozens of cell lines and primary samples, these protein inferences from mRNA outmatch stringent null models, a count-based protein-abundance repository, empirical mRNA-to-protein ratios, and a proteogenomic DREAM challenge winner. The optimal mRNA-to-protein relationships capture biological processes along with hundreds of known protein-protein complexes, suggesting mechanistic relationships. We use the method to identify a viral-receptor abundance threshold for coxsackievirus B3 susceptibility from 1489 systems-biology infection models parameterized by protein inference. When applied to 796 RNA-seq profiles of breast cancer, inferred copy-number estimates collectively re-classify 26–29% of luminal tumors. By adopting a gene-centered perspective of mRNA–protein covariation across different biological contexts, we achieve accuracies comparable to the technical reproducibility of contemporary proteomics. Synopsis: A simple, data-driven method links transcript abundance from RNA-seq to per-cell protein abundance from mass spectrometry. Pinferna outperforms existing approaches, accurately parameterizes systems biology models, and reclassifies tumor subtypes. Pinferna uses three quantitative formalisms that capture measured RNA-protein relationships for 4366 human genes in 369 cancer cell lines. Pinferna consistently yields a more accurate inferred proteome than random sampling of existing proteomes. Using Pinferna-derived initial conditions, a systems-biology model correctly predicts a viral-receptor abundance threshold for infectability. Pinferna reclusters canonical subtypes of breast cancer and predicts new abundance dependencies for a cyclin-dependent kinase that are experimentally validated. A simple, data-driven method links transcript abundance from RNA-seq to per-cell protein abundance from mass spectrometry. Pinferna outperforms existing approaches, accurately parameterizes systems biology models, and reclassifies tumor subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Relatives of patients who have experienced an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) experience confusion and distress during resuscitation. Clear information from ambulance clinicians and the opportunity to witness the resuscitation helps them navigate the chaotic scene. However, UK-based evidence concerning relatives' experiences of unsuccessful resuscitation attempts and interactions with ambulance clinicians is lacking. This qualitative study explores those experiences to inform ambulance clinician practice. Methods: Two ambulance services in the UK identified OHCA events attended by their clinicians within the previous two weeks. After a minimum of three months relatives of non-survivors of these events were invited to participate in either a remote or face-to-face interview. Interviews focussed on their experiences of the resuscitation attempt and interactions with ambulance clinicians, their feelings at the time, and their reflections on the event afterwards. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 relatives of OHCA non-survivors. Thematic analysis identified four themes. Cardiac arrest is a traumatic event for relatives, with chaotic noisy scenes increasing their distress. Many described feelings symptomatic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder since the event. During resuscitation, participants needed information from clinicians about what was happening, and provided information about their relatives' wishes. Participants needed reassurance from clinicians that everything possible was done to save their relative and were reassured when they could witness some of the resuscitation. Participants were surprised how long resuscitation seemed to last; some were distressed that it lasted so long. Conclusion: Relatives' experiences highlight two key challenges for ambulance clinicians: (1) being aware of the tension relatives feel between needing reassurance that the crew is doing everything to save the patient and wanting to avoid prolonged and ultimately futile resuscitation attempts; and (2) having ongoing conversations with those present to inform clinical decision-making whilst managing the resuscitation attempt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Geohazard' has become one of the classic terms of engineering geology, a contraction of the term geological hazard. It seems that everyone knows what a geohazard is, but then seems to offer examples that betray significant differences of opinion. In this paper, we examine how the almost parallel emergence of the term through different disciplines, such as geography (disaster management), geology (environmental and urban geology) and geotechnical engineering, has led to a wide diversity of perspectives. We describe the diversity of geohazard classification and discuss how geohazards should be best viewed in the context of risk (the potential for undesirable consequences). Attention is drawn to the way in which geohazards are addressed in current guidance, notably IAEG C25 and Eurocode 7. In conclusion, we present the key points underpinning the concept of a geohazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The creation of new practice learning environments for healthcare students promotes the development of professional judgement skills and decision-making. Through the modelling of established practices across other subject disciplines, Healthcare Technicians designed and created the Clinical Skills Lounge to support student learning outside of scheduled classes. Design/methodology/approach: The design and development of a new learning and simulation space for healthcare students was created following feedback from students. Using a model of learning support for students across the creative subject disciplines, the creation of the Clinical Skills Lounge provided an opportunity to create a space where practical techniques could be practiced and support provided by Technicians. Findings: Student feedback highlights the importance and flexibility of the Clinical Skills Lounge design and opportunities to learn and practice key skills outside of timetabled sessions. Greater confidence and opportunities to further develop decision-making skills were reported by students who use this space. Originality/value: This particular type of learning environment promotes greater reflection, provides the opportunity for students to learn alongside their peers and encourages inter-professional learning. The opportunities for greater decision-making, confidence building and preparation for clinical placements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecast verification is critical for continuous improvement in meteorological organizations. The Jive verification system was originally developed to assess the accuracy of public weather forecasts issued by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. It started as a research project in 2015 and gradually evolved to be a Bureau operational verification system in 2022. The system includes daily verification dashboards for forecasters to visualize recent forecast performance and "Evidence Targeted Automation" dashboards for exploring the performance of competing forecast systems. Additionally, Jive includes a Jupyter Notebook server with the Jive Python library, which supports research experiments, case studies, and the development of new verification metrics and tools. This paper describes the Jive verification system and how it helped bring verification to the forefront at the Bureau of Meteorology, leading to more accurate, streamlined forecasts. Jive has provided evidence to support forecast automation decisions and has helped to understand the evolving role of meteorologists in the forecast process. It has given operational meteorologists tools for evaluating forecast processes, including identifying when and how manual interventions lead to superior predictions. Work on Jive led to new verification science, including novel metrics that are decision-focused, including diagnostics for extreme conditions. Jive also provided the Bureau with an enterprise-wide data analysis environment and has prompted a clarification of forecast definitions. These collective impacts have resulted in more accurate forecasts, ultimately benefiting society and building trust with forecast users. These positive outcomes highlight the importance of meteorological organizations investing in verification science and technology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We describe how the Jive verification system helped transform weather forecasting operations at the Bureau of Meteorology. The project highlighted the role humans play in the weather forecast process and aided in streamlining the forecast production process while improving accuracy. New tools, data, dashboards, and novel verification science have allowed operational meteorologists to deeply embed verification activities into their daily forecast process. These activities have allowed operational meteorologists to create evidence-based strategies for modifying automated gridded forecasts before issuing forecasts to the public. Jive has also been used as a tool to run and evaluate retrospective experiments to support forecast system development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managerial cognition research is becoming more prevalent in the corporate sustainability literature, providing insights as to how functioning of the mind impacts decision‐making. As we witness catastrophic decline of the planet's natural capital, entering the sixth wave of mass extinction, this study investigates decision‐making related to natural resource consumption through interviews with 32 decision‐makers in the construction/infrastructure and manufacturing industries. Drawing on mindset theory and interview data, we develop the concept of an operational mindset and a societal mindset. The study also identifies the occurrence of individuals switching between operational and societal mindsets when asked to consider the sustainability of key natural resources for the interviewees' organisations. While similarities exist with the prominent business case and paradoxical cognitive frames concept, a number of differences are identified by drawing on the foundations of mindset theory and extensive empirical research from its application in other business disciplines. [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 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]

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]

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) frequently have multiple and complex needs that may contribute to interpersonal difficulties that affect their relationships with services. As a result, professionals working in frontline homelessness services are frequently exposed to primary trauma (e.g. workplace aggression, crisis situations) and secondary trauma (e.g. hearing about service users' traumatic experiences). This cross-sectional study explored organizational and individual factors in relation to three related but distinct facets of work-related distress: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), secondary traumatic stress (STS), and burnout. A sample of 139 frontline workers in UK homelessness services completed an inventory of 15 possible distressing workplace experiences and four psychometric questionnaires. Results clearly evidence that frontline workers are exposed to high levels of potentially traumatic incidents at work and that this is associated with significant distress, with 23% of the sample meeting the threshold for PTSD diagnosis. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses identified trauma exposure and the use of "maladaptive" cognitive coping strategies as strong predictors of PTSD and STS, while organizational culture and compassion satisfaction were protective against burnout. These findings have important service implications, and recommendations are made regarding trauma- and psychologically informed approaches that organizations can implement to effectively support their employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your knowledge of tools commonly used for breaking bad news to patients and families • To read about the challenges of breaking bad news to patients and families in major trauma care • To reflect on your own experiences of breaking bad news to patients and families. Breaking bad news is a challenging yet essential part of the role of healthcare professionals who care for major trauma patients and their families. This service evaluation investigated healthcare professionals’ attitudes and experiences regarding breaking bad news in the context of major trauma. Healthcare professionals were recruited from the South Wales Trauma Network and their views collected via an online survey based on the Breaking Bad News Attitudes Scale. The survey was completed by 149 healthcare professionals and the responses demonstrated a range of experiences of breaking bad news in major trauma care, with challenges such as the environment, building rapport and setting expectations. [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]

Despite many diagnostic and therapeutic advances, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women in the United States. Alarmingly, for reasons currently unknown, the demographics of this disease have shifted towards a younger population. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC initiation and progression and leveraging these findings for therapeutic purposes remains a priority. Here, we review critically the evidence that canonical and noncanonical actions of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) play important roles in CRC evolution. Rho GEF GTPases, which switch between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound states, are commonly overexpressed and activated in a variety of cancers, including CRC, and may be tractable therapeutic targets. In addition to comprehensively reviewing this field, we focus on Rho/Rac GEFs that are involved in regulating key functions of normal and neoplastic cells like cell polarity, vesicle trafficking, cell cycle regulation, and transcriptional dynamics. Prime examples of such Rho/Rac GEFs include βPak-interacting exchange factor (βPix), a Rho family GEF for Cdc42/Rac1, Tiam1, GEF-H1, RGNEF, and other GEFs implicated in CRC development and progression. Throughout this analysis, we explore how these findings fill key gaps in knowledge regarding the molecular basis of colon carcinogenesis and how they may be leveraged to treat advanced CRC. Lastly, we address potential future directions for research into the role of GEFs as CRC biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In this regard, leveraging the noncanonical actions of GEFs appears to provide a relatively unexplored opportunity requiring further investigation. [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]

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]

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 guideline was developed according to the British Society for Rheumatology Guidelines Protocol by a Guideline Development Group comprising healthcare professionals with expertise in SSc and people with lived experience, as well as patient organization representatives. It is an update of the previous 2015 SSc guideline. The recommendations were developed and agreed by the group and are underpinned by published evidence, assessed by systematic literature review and reinforced by collective expert opinion of the group. It considers all aspects of SSc including general management, treatment of organ-based complications, including cardiopulmonary, renal and gastrointestinal tract manifestations, as well as broader impact of disease. Whilst it is focused on adults with SSc we expect that the guideline will be relevant to people of all ages and expert input and review by paediatric rheumatologists and other relevant specialists considered where the guideline was, or may not be, applicable to young people with SSc and juvenile-onset disease. In addition to providing guidance on disease assessment and management the full guideline also considers service organization within the National Health Service and future approaches to audit of the guideline. The lay summary that accompanies this abstract can be found in Supplemental information 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This guideline was developed according to the British Society for Rheumatology Guidelines Protocol by a Guideline Development Group comprising healthcare professionals with expertise in SSc and people with lived experience, as well as patient organization representatives. It is an update of the previous 2015 SSc guideline. The recommendations were developed and agreed by the group and are underpinned by published evidence, assessed by systematic literature review and reinforced by collective expert opinion of the group. It considers all aspects of SSc including general management, treatment of organ-based complications, including cardiopulmonary, renal and gastrointestinal tract manifestations, as well as broader impact of disease. Whilst it is focused on adults with SSc we expect that the guideline will be relevant to people of all ages and expert input and review by paediatric rheumatologists and other relevant specialists considered where the guideline was, or may not be, applicable to young people with SSc and juvenile-onset disease. In addition to providing guidance on disease assessment and management the full guideline also considers service organization within the National Health Service and future approaches to audit of the guideline. The lay summary that accompanies this abstract can be found in Supplemental information 1. [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]

We introduce NPKGRIDS, a new geospatial dataset, providing for the first time data on application rates for all three main plant nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P, in terms of phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5) and potassium (K, in terms of potassium oxide, K2O) across 173 crops as of 2020, with a geospatial resolution of 0.05° (approximately 5.6 km at the equator). Development of NPKGRIDS adopted a data fusion approach to integrate crop mask information with eight published datasets of fertilizer application rates, compiled from either georeferenced data or national and subnational statistics. Furthermore, the total applied mass of N, P2O5, and K2O were benchmarked against the country level information from FAO and the International Fertilizers Association (IFA) and validated against data available from National Statistical Offices (NSOs). NPKGRIDS can be used in global modelling, and decision and policy making to help maximize crop yields while reducing environmental impacts. [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]

Problematic social media use (PSMU) has become an increasingly researched area in the general population, specifically among adolescents. Due to its association with poor well-being and negative consequences, it is important to have assessment instruments that are valid and reliable in evaluating PSMU. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) is the most widely used scale to assess PSMU. The present study analyzed the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the BSMAS among Spanish adolescents. The sample comprised 688 adolescents from Spain (54% girls), aged 12 to 18 years (M = 14.23 years) who completed a number of self-report questions and psychometric scales. The reliability, construct validity, concurrent validity, and criterion validity of the BSMAS were evaluated. Additionally, the measurement invariance by gender and age group was also calculated. The results indicated good reliability indices (coefficients' range = 0.75–0.83). Moreover, PSMU was positively associated with problematic smartphone use, frequency of social networking site use, depression, anxiety, and loneliness and negatively associated with self-esteem and flourishing (r range = -0.16–0.65). Furthermore, configural, metric, and scalar invariance was established among boys and girls, and younger and older adolescents. The study provides preliminary evidence indicating that the Spanish BSMAS is a reliable and valid instrument to assess PSMU among Spanish-speaking adolescents. [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: 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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]