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Background: The global incidence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly rising, particularly among migrants in developed countries. Migrants bear a significant burden of diabetes. However, this study is the only to evaluate the effects of a culturally appropriate diabetes intervention for these migrants on diabetes knowledge and health outcomes, adding a novel perspective to the existing literature. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on diabetes knowledge, HbA1c, and self-rated health of a previously developed, culturally appropriate diabetes education model, based on individual beliefs about health and illness, underpinned by knowledge, and conducted through focus group discussions. Methods: Observational study evaluating the intervention using a pre-test-post-test design. It involved structured interviews and HbA1c measurements before, immediately after, and three months post-participation in the group-based intervention. The study included 22 migrants from the Middle East and Africa, divided into eight focus groups. The group education was conducted by a multi-professional team, led by a diabetes specialist nurse, in primary healthcare settings. Descriptive and analytical statistics applied in analysing data. Results: The findings showed that participation in the diabetes education significantly improved the knowledge levels, led to an initial change and possible short-term improvement in HbA1c (better immediate post-intervention), albeit statistically insignificant, but no change in glycaemic control over time and in self-rated health (SRH). Conclusions: The findings supported the hypothesis of improved knowledge. Moreover, the findings showed a possible initial change in glycaemic control, but no overall effect. The study showed no change in self-rated (perceived) health. Further studies involving other populations and long-term follow-ups are needed. This study highlights the importance of culturally tailored diabetes educational programmes in our multicultural society. By recognising individual beliefs about health and illness, this education programme can significantly increase knowledge and thereby contribute to improved self-care and thus, overall health. Furthermore, it is recommended for daily practice in primary healthcare, supporting healthcare professionals with a proven strategy to increase knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boreal forests, which account for one-third of the world’s forested areas, play a crucial role in global climate regulation and provide significant ecological, economic, and cultural benefits. However, boreal ecosystems face substantial threats from climate change, leading to increased disturbances such as wildfires, insect outbreaks, and disease. In response, reforestation emerges as a vital strategy for maintaining and restoring forest cover. In this perspective paper, we summarize some recent research on plantation establishment in boreal ecosystems of eastern North America and Scandinavia, emphasizing the effectiveness of mechanical site preparation (MSP), species-specific responses, and soil nutrient dynamics. We suggest key areas for future research, including the long-term sustainability of MSP, the development of adaptive strategies to climate variability, species-specific optimization of planting techniques, and integration of technological advances. Addressing these research needs will support the development of adaptive silviculture practices that enhance boreal stands resilience and productivity, helping to meet reforestation objectives and mitigate the impacts of climate change. We aim to stimulate regional, national, and international research initiatives, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of boreal ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-processed foods (UPF), per the NOVA Classification, provide a major source of calories within modern food systems and are associated with poor health outcomes related to chronic inflammation. Dietary antioxidants play a key role in preventing disease; however, the relationship between the NOVA Classification and the total antioxidant content (TAC) of foods is not well characterised. We hypothesised that TAC would be highest in minimally processed food (MPF), lower in processed food (PRF) and lowest in UPF. TAC data for 3137 animal-based, mixed and plant-based food items were obtained from a published dataset. After data cleaning, 1946 food items and their TAC values were analysed using two hierarchal linear models (alpha: P < 0·05). MPF had the highest mean TAC (10·79 (sem 0·87) mmol/100 g) and were 11·31-fold and 10·72-fold higher than PRF and UPF, respectively (P = 0·023). Plant-based and mixed foods had a higher mean TAC (8·55 (sem 0·68) and 1·12 (sem 0·11) mmol/100 g, respectively) and were 22·67-fold and 2·98-fold higher compared with animal-based foods (P < 0·001). Food processing did not change mean TAC in mixed and animal-based foods; however, plant-based MPF had a higher mean TAC (11·49 (sem 0·93) mmol/100 g) and were 9·88-fold and 15·12-fold higher compared with plant-based PRF and UPF, respectively (P < 0·001). Mean TAC differed between NOVA processing groups for three categories of food: vegetables, beverages and beans, nuts and seeds (P < 0·001). Across all food items, and especially plant-based foods, mean TAC decreased with food processing. The lower TAC of UPF may at least partially explain why their consumption promotes inflammatory chronic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reciprocal structure–function relationships underlie both healthy and pathological behaviours in complex neural networks. Thus, understanding neuropathology and network dysfunction requires a thorough investigation of the complex interactions between structural and functional network reconfigurations in response to perturbation. Such adaptations are often difficult to study in vivo. For example, subtle, evolving changes in synaptic connectivity, transmission and the electrophysiological shift from healthy to pathological states, for example alterations that may be associated with evolving neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's, are difficult to study in the brain. Engineered in vitro neural networks are powerful models that enable selective targeting, manipulation and monitoring of dynamic neural network behaviour at the micro‐ and mesoscale in physiological and pathological conditions. In this study, we engineered feedforward cortical neural networks using two‐nodal microfluidic devices with controllable connectivity interfaced with microelectrode arrays (mMEAs). We induced P301L mutated tau protein to the presynaptic node of these networks and monitored network dynamics over three weeks. Induced perturbation resulted in altered structural organization and extensive axonal retraction starting in the perturbed node. Perturbed networks also exhibited functional changes in intranodal activity, which manifested as an overall decline in both firing rate and bursting activity, with a progressive increase in synchrony over time and a decrease in internodal signal propagation between pre‐ and post‐synaptic nodes. These results provide insights into dynamic structural and functional reconfigurations at the micro‐ and mesoscale as a result of evolving pathology and illustrate the utility of engineered networks as models of network function and dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nocturnal enuresis is a very common and socially distressing condition among children. There are qualitative studies published in children with bowel and bladder problems with a focus on health-related quality of life and the burden of the condition, but there is a lack of knowledge of the experience of managing the treatment procedures at home. From a clinical viewpoint, it can be assumed that the procedures entail a lot of work and have an impact on everyday life apart from the disorders per se, but the actual voices of the children have not been heard. Purpose: To explore children's and their parents' experiences of labor-intensive procedures in the management of enuresis. Design and methods: A qualitative interview study. Semi-structured interviews were held with fourteen children with enuresis six to nine years of age, together with their parents in Sweden between April 2020 and February 2021. Data were analyzed inductively with qualitative content analysis. Results: The major findings showed both favorable strategies and challenges in labor-intensive management. The results are described in four categories: 1) experiences of how to manage; 2) managing procedures was a favorable experience; 3) managing procedures made it complicated and 4) problematic to remember. Conclusion: Managing the treatment of enuresis at home can be challenging. There were procedures that children did not like and new routines that were difficult to remember. However, the study can suggest strategies in how to manage and overcome these difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The advent of biosimilars may increase the frequency of dose escalation with biologics in psoriasis. Objective: To explore the frequency and outcomes of dose escalation with adalimumab etanercept, and ustekinumab. Methods: Data were extracted from DermaReg-Pso, a psoriasis register in Stockholm, Sweden. The main exposure was treatment, and the main outcome was dose escalation. We describe outcomes with dose escalation by estimating drug survival and changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Results: 554 patients had 946 treatment episodes with adalimumab, etanercept, or ustekinumab. The cumulative incidence of dose escalation was 4.1 per 100 treatment years. The Hazard Ratios (HRs) for dose escalation with ustekinumab vs adalimumab and ustekinumab vs etanercept were 1.93 (95% CI: 1.25-2.98), and 2.20 (95% CI: 1.42-3.41), respectively. After dose escalation, the HRs for treatment discontinuation with adalimumab and etanercept compared with ustekinumab were 3.10 (95% CI: 1.56-6.18) and 7.15 (95% CI: 3.96-12.94), respectively. PASI was higher after compared to before dose escalation for etanercept (p = 0.036), but not for adalimumab (p = 0.832) or ustekinumab (p = 0.300). Conclusions: Dose escalation was comparatively more frequent with ustekinumab than with adalimumab or etanercept; however, treatment discontinuation after dose escalation was more common with adalimumab and etanercept than ustekinumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Antiplatelet therapy after emergent carotid stenting (eCAS) represents a challenge in balancing the risk of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) and in-stent thrombosis (IST). Post-procedural platelet function monitoring may guide antiplatelet therapy and could potentially improve outcomes due to fewer post-procedural complications. Methods: Consecutive eCAS patients (2019–2021) were included in a single-center retrospective observational study. Patients treated with eCAS received peri-procedural eptifibatide followed by dual antiplatelet treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel. The effect of platelet ADP inhibition by clopidogrel was monitored using the Multiplate® Analyzer (Roche). Clopidogrel non-responders were changed to ticagrelor treatment. The primary outcome was defined as a favorable outcome at 90 days using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0–2 versus 3–6. Safety outcomes included ICH, IST, and mortality. Data were analyzed and compared in clopidogrel- and ticagrelor-treated patients using Fischer's exact test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 105 patients had eCAS, and 28 patients (27%) were clopidogrel non-responders and were changed to treatment with ticagrelor. The favorable outcome was more frequent in ticagrelor-treated patients, 23 (82%), than in clopidogrel-treated patients, 44 (57%), p = 0.036. Numerically, ICH, IST, and mortality were more frequent in clopidogrel-treated patients, but none of the differences were statistically significant. In multivariate analyses, ticagrelor treatment was significantly associated with the favorable outcome, OR = 3.89 (95% CI: 1.09–13.86), p = 0.036. Conclusions: One in four eCAS patients were clopidogrel non-responders. This study suggests that personalized antiplatelet treatment therapy was safe, and that changing treatment to ticagrelor in clopidogrel non-responders was associated with better outcomes in eCAS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in neural engineering have opened new ways to investigate the impact of topology on neural network function. Leveraging microfluidic technologies, it is possible to establish modular circuit motifs that promote both segregation and integration of information processing in the engineered neural networks, similar to those observed in vivo. However, the impact of the underlying topologies on network dynamics and response to pathological perturbation remains largely unresolved. In this work, we demonstrate the utilization of microfluidic platforms with 12 interconnected nodes to structure modular, cortical engineered neural networks. By implementing geometrical constraints inspired by a Tesla valve within the connecting microtunnels, we additionally exert control over the direction of axonal outgrowth between the nodes. Interfacing these platforms with nanoporous microelectrode arrays reveals that the resulting laminar cortical networks exhibit pronounced segregated and integrated functional dynamics across layers, mirroring key elements of the feedforward, hierarchical information processing observed in the neocortex. The multi-nodal configuration also facilitates selective perturbation of individual nodes within the networks. To illustrate this, we induced hypoxia, a key factor in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, in well-connected nodes within the networks. Our findings demonstrate that such perturbations induce ablation of information flow across the hypoxic node, while enabling the study of plasticity and information processing adaptations in neighboring nodes and neural communication pathways. In summary, our presented model system recapitulates fundamental attributes of the microcircuit organization of neocortical neural networks, rendering it highly pertinent for preclinical neuroscience research. This model system holds promise for yielding new insights into the development, topological organization, and neuroplasticity mechanisms of the neocortex across the micro- and mesoscale level, in both healthy and pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myocardial work is a novel echocardiographic measure that offers detailed insights into cardiac mechanics. We sought to characterize cardiac function by myocardial work in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We prospectively enrolled 757 patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD and 174 age- and sex-matched controls. Echocardiographic pressure-strain loop analysis was performed to acquire the global work index (GWI). Linear regressions were performed to investigate the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) to GWI. Results: Patients with CKD had a mean age of 57 years, 61% were men, and median eGFR was 42 mL/min/1.73 m2. Overall, no difference in GWI was observed between patients and controls (1879 vs. 1943 mmHg%, p = 0.06). However, a stepwise decline in GWI was observed for controls vs. patients with CKD without left ventricular hypertrophy vs. patients with CKD and left ventricular hypertrophy (GWI, 1943 vs. 1887 vs. 1789 mmHg%; p for trend = 0.030). In patients with CKD, eGFR was not associated with GWI by linear regression. However, diabetes modified this association (p for interaction = 0.007), such that per 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 decrease in eGFR, GWI decreased by 22 (9–35) mmHg% (p = 0.001) after multivariable adjustments in patients without diabetes, but with no association between eGFR and GWI in patients with diabetes. No association was observed between UACR and GWI. Conclusion: Patients with CKD and left ventricular hypertrophy exhibited lower myocardial work compared to matched controls. Furthermore, decreasing eGFR was associated with decreasing myocardial work only in patients without diabetes. No association to UACR was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted in a mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand at the Jädraås Experimental Forest in Central Sweden (60.82° N, 16.50° E). A fully randomized experimental design was used, with nine treatments and four replicates per treatment. The treatments included different regeneration methods (planting, direct seeding, and natural regeneration), site preparation techniques (disc trenching and wheel tracks), seed sources (seed orchard vs. local seeds), fertilization of seed trees, and tree species (Scots pine vs. lodgepole pine). The goal was to evaluate the impact of these treatments on regeneration success and growth. Results indicated that planting produced significantly greater height growth than both direct seeding and natural regeneration, likely due to the initial height advantage of the planted seedlings. After disc trenching, no significant height differences were observed between direct seeding and natural regeneration. Disc trenching improved natural regeneration, leading to a higher number of trees per hectare and taller trees compared to areas prepared with wheel tracks, which provided insufficient soil disturbance to expose mineral soil effectively. Fertilizing seed trees did not significantly affect tree density. Both Scots pine and lodgepole pine showed similar height growth and tree density, when comparing planted and sown trees, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbidity is increasingly acknowledged as a significant health concern, particularly among older individuals. It is associated with a decline in quality of life and psychosocial well-being as well as an increased risk of being referred to multiple healthcare providers, including more frequent admissions to emergency departments. Person-centered care interventions tailored to individuals with multimorbidity have shown promising results in improving patient outcomes. Research is needed to explore how work practices within integrated care models are experienced from Registered Nurse Case Managers' (RNCMs) perspective to identify areas of improvement. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe RNCMs' work experience with a person-centered collaborative healthcare model (PCCHCM). Methods: This study used an inductive design. The data were collected through individual interviews with 11 RNCMs and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Data analysis resulted in four generic categories: 'Being a detective, 'Being a mediator', 'Being a partner', and 'Being a facilitator of development' which formed the basis of the main category 'Tailoring healthcare, and social services to safeguard the patient's best.' The findings showed that RNCMs strive to investigate, identify, and assess older persons' needs for coordinated care. They worked closely with patients and their relatives to engage them in informed decision-making and to implement those decisions in a personalized agreement that served as the foundation for the care and social services provided. Additionally, the RNCMs acted as facilitators of the development of the PCCHCM, improving collaboration with other healthcare professionals and enhancing the possibility of securing the best care for the patient. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that RNCMs tailor healthcare and social services to provide care in various situations, adhering to person-centered care principles and continuity of care. The findings underline the importance of implementing integrated care models that consider the unique characteristics of each care context and adapt different case managers' roles based on the patient's individual needs as well as on the specific needs of the local setting. More research is needed from the patients' and their relatives' perspectives to deepen the understanding of the PCCHCM concerning its ability to provide involvement, security, and coordination of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study elaborates on the concept of loyalty. Strategic work to increase loyalty such as loyalty programs is increasingly being questioned. Using a relational perspective, viewing loyalty as an ongoing process of social exchanges, the paradoxical relationship between loyalty strategies and customer loyalty is underlined. The empirical data comprised qualitative interviews with eight key managers in Swedish retail companies. The result shows that loyalty programs foster rational shopping behaviours, misinterpreted by the retailers as loyalty. Thus, the concrete nature of loyalty programs make the customers less loyal only returning the concrete resources given. Particular resources will not be given by customers if none are offered by retailers. From the perspective of social exchanges, a shift from tangible rewards to forming meaningful emotional bonds is needed in order to achieve customer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth in the US experience high rates of sexual violence. Historically, adults design and deliver preventive initiatives, with youth limited to participants and recipients. The use of community-based participatory research and other participatory approaches can expand the reach and impact of adolescent sexual violence prevention initiatives by positioning youth as leaders and co-researchers. This systematic review explores both adolescent violence prevention programs and research projects that take a participatory, youth-engaged, or youth-led approach. This review aims to understand what activities youth are involved in and how they are equipped for their roles. Following PRISMA guidelines, the review located eight eligible articles that involved high school youth or younger as more than data, focused on adolescent sexual or dating violence prevention, and whose programs or studies were conducted in the United States. I reviewed each article for programmatic and study specifics, with special attention to which stages youth participated in and how capacity-building was incorporated. The results revealed that youth can participate in a variety of activities, though they are involved in certain stages more than others, and that capacity-building ranged in breadth and frequency. I call researchers to detail youth activities and training, and explain clearly their participatory approach and decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) has higher early growth rates than Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.). To help efforts to understand possible reasons for this difference and identify appropriate regeneration methods, we labeled seedlings with 15N in the nursery to probe nitrogen (N) uptake and retranslocation in Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings at both harsh and fertile sites in southern and northern Sweden. For this, 15N dilution was measured during the first two years after planting. We also examined the potential N2-fixation capacity in fine roots after 5–7 growing seasons. Use of 15N-labeled seedlings enabled clear discernment of contributions of uptake of new N and retranslocation of old N to new foliage. Scots pine seedlings had higher proportions of N derived from uptake (Ndfu) than Norway spruce seedlings, and higher growth. Scots pine seedlings were less responsive to site preparation treatments compared to Norway spruce that has a greater need for appropriate silvicultural measures to grow well. After the second growing season, the contribution of N derived from retranslocation (Ndfr) to N in new foliage had diminished to 10–20% at all except the harshest site, where both species were more dependent on Ndfr. The potential N2-fixation capacity in fine roots of the two species differed, but in both cases the contribution of N2-fixation to N-acquisition was negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common half-cell measurements deliver oxygen reduction activities linked to the chosen scan rate, limiting their value for fundamental and comparative studies on platinum. Here we show a deconvolution of the intrinsic kinetics from the effect of surface oxygen on platinum. We find an electronic effect of the surface oxygen, substantiate a Tafel slope of ~120 mV/decade, obtain an exchange current density of 13 ± 4 µA/cm2, and an activity of 7 mA/cm2 at 900 mV. Eventually, we broaden the scope of this analysis to the effects of surface rearrangement, alloying, and supported Pt nanoparticles, the latter providing insight into discrepancies between half-cell and fuel cell measurements. We find through computational methods that binding energies of intermediates would be weakened by the presence of highly coordinated oxygen atoms. Finally, we obtain a phenomenological rate equation for the oxygen reduction and evolution reaction, suggesting that both reactions follow a shared mechanism. Catalyzing the splitting and formation of oxygen on noble metal surfaces are key reactions developing materials for electrolysis. Here, authors show on platinum that the state of a surface oxidation process is a key descriptor for the kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/Background: The Consensus Sleep Diary (CSD) is widely used to assess subjective sleep. Psychometric evaluations and focus-groups support its validity and clinical usefulness, but further research into its validity is needed. The aim of the study was to evaluate a Swedish translation of the CSD regarding test content and response processes in patients with insomnia. Patients/Methods: In connection with translating the CSD into Swedish, we used cognitive interviewing to evaluate test content and the response process, that is, how people make decisions when responding to survey items. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 13 primary health care patients with insomnia disorder (mean age, 49 years; SD 15.5). Iterative, reparative analysis was used to investigate test content. Descriptive deductive analysis was used to investigate interview transcripts for the themes of the cognitive model: comprehension, retrieval, decision process, and judgement. Together, the themes explain the response process when responding to a patient-reported outcome measure. Results: The overall comprehension of the CSD could be affected by poor adherence to the instructions (comprehension). Patients had difficulty with recall if they did not complete the diary immediately in the morning and just before bedtime (retrieval). They could have problems deciding how to respond to certain items because they imbued sleep-related concepts with extra meaning (decision process), and had trouble finding response alternatives nuanced enough to describe their experience of sleep and tiredness (judgement). Conclusions: This study contributes knowledge on how the instrument is perceived and used by care-seeking patients with insomnia. In this context, the CSD exhibits known flaws such as memory lapses if the diary is not filled in directly in the morning. To increase the accuracy of patients' responses, therapists should support patients in reading the instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal hypothyroidism in pregnancy has been proposed to increase the risk of preeclampsia, but uncertainties persist regarding the underlying causal mechanisms. Thus, it remains unclear if an increased risk of preeclampsia in hypothyroid pregnant women is caused by the lack of thyroid hormones or by the autoimmunity per se. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of two pregnancy cohorts in the Danish population. The nationwide cohort (n = 1,014,775) was register-based and included all singleton pregnancies in Denmark from 1999–2015. The regional cohort (n = 14,573) included the biochemical measurement of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), and thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab) (ADVIA Centaur XPT, Siemens Healthineers) among pregnant women in The North Denmark Region from 2011–2015 who had a blood sample drawn in early pregnancy as part of routine prenatal screening for chromosomal anomalies. The associations between diagnosed and biochemically assessed hypothyroidism and a diagnosis of preeclampsia were evaluated using logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI)) adjusting for potential confounders, such as maternal age, diabetes, and parity. Results: In the nationwide cohort, 2.2% of pregnant women with no history of hypothyroidism (reference group (ref.)) were diagnosed with preeclampsia, whereas the prevalence was 3.0% among pregnant women with hypothyroidism (aOR 1.3 (95% CI: 1.2–1.4)) and 4.2% among women with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism in the pregnancy (aOR 1.6 (95% CI: 1.3–2.0)). In the regional cohort, 2.3% of women with early pregnancy TSH < 2.5 mIU/L (ref.) were diagnosed with preeclampsia. Among women with TSH ≥ 6 mIU/L, the prevalence was 6.2% (aOR 2.4 (95% CI: 1.1–5.3)). Considering thyroid autoimmunity, preeclampsia was diagnosed in 2.2% of women positive for TPO-Ab (> 60 U/mL) or Tg-Ab (> 33 U/mL) in early pregnancy (aOR 0.86 (95% CI: 0.6–1.2)). Conclusions: In two large cohorts of Danish pregnant women, maternal hypothyroidism was consistently associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia. Biochemical assessment of maternal thyroid function revealed that the severity of hypothyroidism was important. Furthermore, results did not support an association between thyroid autoimmunity per se and preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Thyroid function tests are common biochemical analyses, and agreement between the routinely used immunoassays is important for diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease. Efforts are continuously made to align the biochemical assays, and we aimed to evaluate the agreement between immunoassays used in a clinical laboratory setting among non‐pregnant and pregnant adults. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Participants: Serum samples were obtained from 192 blood donors (non‐pregnant adults) and from 86 pregnant women in the North Denmark Region with no known thyroid disease. Measurements: Each sample was used for measurement of thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) with the routinely used automatic immunoassays in the regional Departments of Clinical Biochemistry (Alinity, Abbott Laboratories, Cobas, Roche Diagnostics, and Atellica, Siemens Healthineers) and reported as the median with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: In nonpregnant adults, the level of TSH was higher with Cobas and Atellica than with Alinity as reflected by median (Alinity: 1.39 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.30–1.51 mIU/L); Cobas: 1.57 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.48–1.75 mIU/L); Atellica: 1.74 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.61–1.83 mIU/L)). Similarly, a trend was seen towards higher median TSH with Cobas than with Alinity among pregnant women (Alinity: 1.90 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.37–2.82 mIU/L); Cobas: 2.33 mIU/L (95% CI: 1.69–3.62 mIU/L)). Conclusion: Results of thyroid function tests obtained with different immunoassays were not interchangeable when evaluated among pregnant and non‐pregnant adults. The distinct differences are relevant for clinical decision making and emphasize the necessity of clinical laboratory information when different assays are used for diagnosis and monitoring of patients with thyroid disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe who seeks care and for what reasons at a nurse‐led primary healthcare walk‐in center in an immigrant‐dense area. Studies evaluating the use of nurse‐led walk‐in centers in primary healthcare, emphasizing migrants, are limited. Due to language difficulties and a healthcare system based on telephone consultations, access to care is limited/problematic for the care seeker and the healthcare provider. The center aims to provide migrants and Swedish‐born persons equal access to primary healthcare. Care was integrated into a healthcare center with a multi‐professional environment, offering Arabic and Somali interpreters. Design: Cross‐sectional descriptive registry study. Sample: All consecutive patients visiting during 1‐month. Results: Most individuals (70%) seeking care at the nurse‐led walk‐in center were non‐European migrants from Syria, Iraq and Somalia, but Swedish‐born persons (30%) also consulted the clinic. Women, middle‐aged, and lower‐educated patients dominated. Reasons for seeking care included different kinds of pain, ear/nose/throat issues, and skin problems. Migrants prioritized non‐specific pain and dizziness/headaches, while Swedes sought help primarily for upper respiratory tract infections. About 25% of the migrants needed interpreters, mostly females. Conclusion: The nurse‐led walk‐in center provides accessible care in a multi‐professional team, if needed, serving migrants and Swedish‐born persons, promoting equal healthcare for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are substantial in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), guideline-directed treatment of cardiovascular risk factors remains a challenge. Methods Observational, cross-sectional study including patients aged 30–75 years with CKD stage 1–5 without kidney replacement therapy from a tertiary hospital outpatient clinic. Data were obtained through patient interview, clinical examination, biochemical work-up, and evaluation of medical records and prescription redemptions. Guideline-directed treatment was evaluated as pharmacological interventions: antihypertensive and lipid-lowering therapy including adverse effects and adherence estimated as medication possession ratio (MPR); and non-pharmacological interventions: smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity. Results The cohort comprised 741 patients, mean age 58 years, 61.4% male, 50.6% CKD stage 3, 61.0% office blood pressure ≤140/90 mmHg. Antihypertensives were prescribed to 87.0%, median number of medications 2 (IQR 1;3), 70.1% received renin–angiotensin system inhibition, 25.9% reported adverse effects. Non-adherence (MPR < 80%) was present in 23.4% and associated with elevated blood pressure (OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.03;2.27)) and increased urinary albumin excretion, P  < 0.001. Lipid-lowering treatment was prescribed to 54.0% of eligible patients, 11.1% reported adverse effects, and 28.5% were non-adherent, which was associated with higher LDL cholesterol, P  = 0.036. Overall, 19.2% were current smokers, 16.7% overconsumed alcohol according to Danish health authority recommendations 69.3% had BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, and 38.3% were physically active <4 hours/week. Among patients prescribed antihypertensives, 51.9% reported having received advice on non-pharmacological interventions. Conclusions Improved management of cardiovascular risk in patients with CKD entails intensified medical treatment and increased focus on patient adherence and non-pharmacological interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated the associations between cardiac parameters and aetiologies of CKD in an exploratory study. Methods: The study population consisted of 883 participants, 174 controls and 709 patients with aetiologies of CKD including diabetic nephropathy/renovascular KD in diabetes mellitus, hypertensive/renovascular nephropathy, tubulointerstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis/vasculitis, polycystic KD (PKD), and CKD of unknown origin. Echocardiographic measures included left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, global longitudinal, area, and radial strain, E/e' ratio, and LV mass index. These were compared between each aetiological group and controls in unadjusted and adjusted analysis. Results: In unadjusted analysis, patients with diabetic nephropathy/renovascular KD in diabetes mellitus, had impaired LV ejection fraction (Median [IQR]: 56% [49.9,60.69] vs. 60.8% [57.7,64.1]), global longitudinal (mean ± SD: 13.1 ± 3.5% vs. 15.5 ± 2.6%), area (24.1 ± 5.8% vs. 28.5 ± 4.2%), and radial strain (36.2 ± 11.2% vs. 44.1 ± 9.7%), and increased LV mass index (89.1 g/m2 [71.8,104.9] vs. 69,0 g/m2 [57.9,80.8]) and E/e' ratio (10.6 [8.5,12.6] vs. 7 [5.8,8.3], p < 0.001 for all) compared with controls. Associations were similar for CKD of unknown origin. Patients with hypertensive/renovascular nephropathy had impaired global longitudinal and area strain, and higher E/e' ratio. Patients with glomerulonephritis/vasculitis had higher LV mass index, while patients with PKD had better global longitudinal strain than controls. All findings remained significant in adjusted analysis, except for the impaired global longitudinal strain in hypertensive/renovascular nephropathy. Conclusion: Glomerulonephritis/vasculitis, hypertensive/renovascular nephropathy, CKD of unknown origin, and diabetic nephropathy/renovascular KD in diabetes mellitus were increasingly associated with adverse cardiac findings, while PKD and tubulointerstitial nephritis were not. Aetiology might play a role regarding the cardiac manifestations of CKD. A graphical summary of the study population and main results. Abbreviations: DN = Diabetic nephropathy and renovascular kidney disease in diabetes mellitus, PKD = Polycystic kidney disease, CKDu = Chronic kidney disease of unknown origin, LVEF = Left ventricular ejection fraction, LVMi = Left ventricular mass index, E/e' ratio = Early mitral inflow velocity to mitral annular early diastolic velocity ratio, GLS = Global longitudinal strain, GAS = Global area strain, GRS = Global radial strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction (ANSD), for which presently no treatment exists, has a negative impact on prognosis in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Periosteal pressure sensitivity (PPS) on sternum may be a measure of autonomic nervous system dysfunction (ANSD). We tested if a non-pharmacological PPS-feedback-guided treatment program based on non-noxious sensory nerve stimulation, known to reduce PPS, changed empowerment, treatment satisfaction, and quality of life in people with T2D, compared to usual treatment. Patients and Methods: Analysis of secondary endpoints in a single center, two-armed, parallel-group, observer-blinded, randomized controlled trial of individuals with T2D. Participants were randomized to non-pharmacological intervention as an add-on to treatment as usual. Endpoints were evaluated by five validated questionnaires: Diabetes specific Empowerment (DES-SF), Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction (DTSQ), quality of life (QOL) (WHO-5), clinical stress signs (CSS), and self-reported health (SF-36). Sample size calculation was based on the primary endpoint HbA1c. Results: We included 144 participants, 71 allocated to active intervention and 73 to the control group. Active intervention compared to control revealed improved diabetes-specific empowerment (p = 0.004), DTSQ (p = 0.001), and SF-36 self-reported health (p=0.003) and tended to improve quality of life (WHO-5) (p = 0.056). The findings were clinically relevant with a Cohen's effect size of 0.5 to 0.7. Conclusion: This non-pharmacological intervention, aiming to reduce PPS, and thus ANSD, improved diabetes-specific empowerment, treatment satisfaction, and self-reported health when compared to usual treatment. The proposed intervention may be a supplement to conventional treatment for T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ongoing global migration has led to multicultural societies, with many migrants who do not speak the official language in the host country. This could contribute to communication problems with staff in healthcare and a risk to patient safety. Research on patient safety in medication use in migrants is an under-researched area. The aim was to explore diverse foreign-born people's experiences and perceptions of self-management of medication and determine if home-based practice patterns have implications on medication safety, and what factors may support safe medication use. Methods: A qualitative explorative study, with individual semi-structured interviews and participant observations in the patients' home. Qualitative content analysis was applied. Results: A purposeful sample of 15 foreign-born persons identified by healthcare staff as having language difficulties in Swedish that may pose a safety risk in connection with medication use at home, was selected. Three categories were identified. The first category showed respondents being dependent on another person, having experiences of not receiving information about their medications due to language barriers, having difficulties getting access to the healthcare centre and feeling distrusted/misunderstood. The second category showed respondents being independent and self-motivated Although they struggled, they managed to get access/contact with the healthcare centre themselves and felt understood/listened to by the staff. The last category concerned factors that facilitating medication use; such as having a medication list in the respondents' own language and offering a choice of language on the answering machine at the healthcare centre. Although they knew it was impossible to get an interpreter at the pharmacy, they felt safe knowing there was always a solution for receiving understandable information. Conclusion: The findings highlighted that language barriers can complicate the communication between migrants and the healthcare, which can affect the medication safety. Understanding of this group is essential to improve the cooperation between patients and staff, leading to culturally congruent care. This knowledge should be used in healthcare to understand the gap in communication to increase patient safety. Further research from other angles, e.g. pharmacy/healthcare staff and relatives is needed to identify and evaluate facilitation to improve the outcome of the intended medication treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree pathogens threaten the survival of many forest foundation tree species worldwide. However, there is limited knowledge of how dieback of foundation tree species may threaten other components of forest ecosystems, such as soil biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions. Kauri (Agathis australis), threatened by the root-borne pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida, are culturally and ecologically significant tree species that exert great influence on soil properties. We aimed to characterise soil mesofauna community structure and energy fluxes in kauri forests and assess the potential threat that tree pathogens such as P. agathidicida pose to belowground ecosystems. We sampled soil mesofauna communities and identified specimens to functional feeding groups at 24 pairs of kauri and adjacent broadleaf trees in sites across the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, Aotearoa -- New Zealand. We attributed kauri canopy health scores, measured tree diameter, slope, forest floor depth, and soil carbon dioxide efflux. We also analysed soil samples for P. agathidicida presence, total carbon, and total nitrogen. We constructed soil mesofauna food webs associated with kauri and broadleaf trees, and assessed the uniqueness of food webs associated with kauri and the impacts of P. agathidicida on density, biomass, mean body mass, and energy fluxes of mesofauna taxonomic and trophic groups. We found omnivores with larger body mass at kauri where P. agathidicida was detected (i.e., P. agathidicida-positive soils). Compared to broadleaf trees, mesofauna density and biomass were lower in soils under kauri, and body masses of Symphyla and omnivores were smaller in soils under kauri. Differences in mesofauna community response variables between tree types were mainly modulated by the soil C:N ratio, which had positive effects under broadleaf and neutral to negative effects under kauri. Energy fluxes to detritivores and fungivores were greater under larger trees, regardless of tree type or P. agathidicida detection status. Our findings suggest that kauri support soil mesofauna food webs that are distinctly different from those found under broadleaf trees in the same habitat. A decreased presence of this foundation species may be linked to future impacts on soil mesofauna in this forest ecosystem with increasingly advanced stages of kauri dieback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hylastes species are known to cause damage to conifers in plantations in northern Sweden, and in recent years an increase in seedling damage has been observed in southern Sweden. However, there are few studies on Hylastes spp and the damage it can cause, so there is a lack of knowledge regarding pest management. In order to investigate an eventual interaction between damage by Hylastes spp and the more well-known Hylobius abietis (L) we registered damage by these species. Unprotected spruce seedlings were compared with seedlings protected from Hylobius abietis by a mechanical coating or with an insecticide. The effect of mechanical site preparation (MSP) was studied, with half of the seedlings being planted in unprepared soil and the other half after MSP. Both seedling protection and MSP significantly reduced the level of damage caused by Hylastes spp. MSP reduced the proportion of affected and killed seedlings and reduced the level of damage at the root collar. Protecting the seedlings reduced the level of damage, and no difference was found between seedlings treated with an insecticide and those provided with a coating. Similar responses were observed with both containerized and plug plus seedlings. In conclusion, measures against Hylobius abietis seem to also prevent damage by Hylastes spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes and analyses Swedish research on suicide among Sami over the past 25 years. It focuses on how two studies published in 2004 and 2005, which showed that the Sami had no excess mortality in suicide, were subsequently reinterpreted during the 2010s, whereby they came to support researcher-driven knowledge production that showed excess mortality by suicide among the Sami linked to mental illness, colonial oppression and historical trauma. In both research and social debate there was even talk of a “suicide wave” among the Sami, and research projects that referred to “alarming” scientific reports concerning suicide among the Sami were initiated. However, in the early 2020s, new empirically thorough studies showed that the concern was unjustified with respect to mental illness (concerning Sami in general) and reindeer-herding Sami, the subcategory identified as particularly affected by suicide. What had long been perceived as an accepted truth, supported by research, was thus no longer valid. This article argues that the 2010s’ researcher-driven knowledge production about widespread mental illness and high suicide rates among the Sami was partly an expression of the impact of the international ideology of indigenism. One of its ideological cornerstones is victimhood and vulnerability, but also the indigenous collective mobilisation that can emerge from this position. Here influential researchers inserted their results and interpretations into indigenism and the social force it represents. In addition to the ideological influence, there was, at the scientific system level, excessive written knowledge production paired with poorly functioning peer reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective/Background: The Consensus Sleep Diary (CSD) is widely used to assess subjective sleep. Psychometric evaluations and focus-groups support its validity and clinical usefulness, but further research into its validity is needed. The aim of the study was to evaluate a Swedish translation of the CSD regarding test content and response processes in patients with insomnia. Patients/Methods: In connection with translating the CSD into Swedish, we used cognitive interviewing to evaluate test content and the response process, that is, how people make decisions when responding to survey items. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 13 primary health care patients with insomnia disorder (mean age, 49 years; SD 15.5). Iterative, reparative analysis was used to investigate test content. Descriptive deductive analysis was used to investigate interview transcripts for the themes of the cognitive model: comprehension, retrieval, decision process, and judgement. Together, the themes explain the response process when responding to a patient-reported outcome measure. Results: The overall comprehension of the CSD could be affected by poor adherence to the instructions (comprehension). Patients had difficulty with recall if they did not complete the diary immediately in the morning and just before bedtime (retrieval). They could have problems deciding how to respond to certain items because they imbued sleep-related concepts with extra meaning (decision process), and had trouble finding response alternatives nuanced enough to describe their experience of sleep and tiredness (judgement). Conclusions: This study contributes knowledge on how the instrument is perceived and used by care-seeking patients with insomnia. In this context, the CSD exhibits known flaws such as memory lapses if the diary is not filled in directly in the morning. To increase the accuracy of patients' responses, therapists should support patients in reading the instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions are large structural variants in the mitochondrial genome that accumulate in metabolically active tissues with age and have been investigated in various diseases. We applied the Splice-Break2 pipeline (designed for high-throughput quantification of mtDNA deletions) to human RNA-Seq datasets and describe the methodological considerations for evaluating common deletions in bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics datasets. A robust evaluation of 1570 samples from 14 RNA-Seq studies showed: (i) the abundance of some common deletions detected in PCR-amplified mtDNA correlates with levels observed in RNA-Seq data; (ii) RNA-Seq library preparation method has a strong effect on deletion detection; (iii) deletions had a significant, positive correlation with age in brain and muscle; (iv) deletions were enriched in cortical grey matter, specifically in layers 3 and 5; and (v) brain regions with dopaminergic neurons (i.e., substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and caudate nucleus) had remarkable enrichment of common mtDNA deletions. A methods application study demonstrates that the Splice-Break2 pipeline can detect large mitochondrial DNA deletions in RNA-Seq data. Analyses includes GTEx and GEO datasets and demonstrate differences across tissues, brain regions, and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abortion is a highly contested issue and one where the fault lines are often drawn along religious lines. In the United States, the most famous and timely example, anti-abortion attitudes and activism are strongly identified with conservative Christian values. But what is the role of religion in abortion debates in a more secularised context? Does religion 'work' as a justification for opposing abortion rights in such contexts? We analyse debates in the Finnish parliament regarding two Citizen's Initiatives concerning abortion. Using discourse analysis and descriptive statistics of speech patterns and voting behaviour, we draw three conclusions from the parliamentary material: (1) religious discourse is rarely used; (2) it is not effective, and its use is considered inappropriate; and (3) voting patterns in abortion cases are better explained by instrumental than religious concerns. Although the Finnish political system is not particularly secularist, the secularisation of political culture means that religion is marginalised as a source for justifying politics. In other words, religion is a troublesome resource for political legitimation in the Finnish context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on reliable methods for measuring the use of resources determining the extent or amount of skin used in Inuit garments. A collection of parkas of known provenance dating from approximately 1830 to 1940 CE currently housed at the National Museum of Denmark was measured using three quantitative metric methods: 3D-measurement with a FaroArm (Method 1), tape measurement (Method 2), and 2D-measurement of digital images (Method 3). Methods 1 and 3 produced statistically reliable results, while Method 2 failed. This research is a sub-study within a project that aims to reconnect Inuit garments that are currently only provisionally numbered with their original provenance information by applying measuring methods. The hypothesis supporting this study posits that three parameters: 1) design, 2) animal species, and 3) material resource usage, provide sufficient data to categorise unidentified items geographically and identify the gender for whom the garments were earmarked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to support or refute the clinical suspicion of cranial giant cell arteritis (GCA), a supplemental imaging modality is often required. High-resolution black blood Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BB MRI) techniques with contrast enhancement can visualize artery wall inflammation in GCA. We compared findings on BB MRI without contrast enhancement with findings on 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/low-dose computed tomography (2-[18F]FDG PET/CT) in ten patients suspected of having GCA and in five control subjects who had a 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT performed as a routine control for malignant melanoma. BB MRI was consistent with 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in 10 out of 10 cases in the group with suspected GCA. In four out of five cases in the control group, the BB MRI was consistent with 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT. In this small population, BB MRI without contrast enhancement shows promising performance in the diagnosis of GCA, and might be an applicable imaging modality in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis has many advantages, its commercialization is impeded by the low alkaline stability of most AEM, due to the fragility of quaternary ammonium groups. Ion solvating membranes (ISM) can be an alternative, but so far require high alkaline concentrations. Here, it is shown that sulfonation of polybenzimidazole results in ISM which swell strongly in 1 m KOH. Crosslinking with dibromoxylene controls the swelling, and after activation conductivities of >100 mS cm−1 can be reached in 1 m KOH. Stability in 1 m KOH at 80 °C is excellent: Conductivity remains unchanged and tensile strength and Young's modulus remains high over the test period of a half year. In an electrolyzer operating with 1 m KOH feed solution at 80 °C, a stable performance is achieved for over 500 h test without failure, suggesting that the high alkaline stability observed in ex situ tests is also achieved in the electrolyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro and animal studies have shown that carrot juice containing bioactive natural products, such as falcarinol (FaOH) and falcarindiol (FaDOH), can affect inflammation. The present study was designed to test whether oral intake of carrot juice containing the bioactive acetylenic oxylipins FaOH and FaDOH affects mediators of acute inflammation or the innate immune response in human blood. Carrot juice (500 mL) was administered orally to healthy volunteers, and blood samples were drawn before and 1 h after juice intake. Next, the blood samples were split in two, and one sample was stimulated ex vivo with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. The concentrations of 44 inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were examined using multiplex electrochemiluminescence analysis. In blood samples not stimulated with LPS, a significant increase in IL-15 was measured 1 h after carrot juice intake. Cytokines like IFN-ɣ, IL-12/IL-23(p40), IL-23, IL-17A, IL-17B, IL-17D, and IL-22 were significantly increased in LPS-stimulated blood samples after carrot juice intake. The upregulation of the immunostimulating cytokines belonging to the IL-23/IL-17 Th17 axis suggests that carrot juice intake could benefit diseases where inflammation plays a role, like in the early stages of diabetes or cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insomnia, sleep apnoea and sleep loss are risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Most research on sleep disturbances includes patients with heart failure, while the role of sleep in sudden cardiac arrest survivors (SCA) has been only partially investigated and understood. Sleep‐related breathing disorders and obstructive sleep apnoea increase illness and mortality in the aftermath of SCA. Also, post‐traumatic stress is evident in SCA survivors, where sleep disruptions are some of the main symptoms of the condition. Consequently, it is important to identify sleep problems in SCA survivors at an early stage to avoid unnecessary suffering. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate registered nurses' perceptions of SCA survivors' sleep, both in hospital and after discharge. Study Design: This was an explorative interview study with a phenomenographic approach. Nineteen registered nurses (RNs) varying in age, sex and years in the profession participated. Findings: The nurses' perceptions of SCA survivors' sleep were categorized as: "The observer – noticing behaviours, emotions and habits of the patient that affect sleep", "The oblivious witness – attitudes that hinder the ability to recognise sleep behaviours", and "The practitioner – advising and medicating for sleep". The outcome space showed that the nurses detected both obvious and subtle signs relating to patients' sleep. However, attitudes hindering the recognition of sleep behaviours were independent of acting as an observer or practitioner. If nothing unforeseen was observed, or if the patient did not spontaneously raise the subject, sleep was considered less important than other health problems in SCA survivors. Conclusions: Although the nurses knew that SCA survivors suffered from poor sleep, they failed to reflect on the consequences for the patient. Nurses' feelings of insufficient knowledge about sleep, as well as their omittance of sleep in the follow‐up documentation could leave sleep issues unaddressed and cause unnecessary patient suffering. Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses need increased knowledge and training to enable them to detect subtle signs of sleep problems in SCA survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral ischemic stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. However, the mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke injury remain poorly understood. Here, it is found that deficiency of the ubiquitin‐specific protease USP25 significantly aggravate ischemic stroke injury in mice. USP25 has no impact on neuronal death under hypoxic conditions, but reduced ischemic stroke‐induced neuronal loss and neurological deficits by inhibiting microglia‐mediated neuroinflammation. Mechanistically, USP25 restricts the activation of NF‐κB and MAPK signaling by regulating TAB2. As a deubiquitinating enzyme, USP25 removeds K63‐specific polyubiquitin chains from TAB2. AAV9‐mediated TAB2 knockdown ameliorates ischemic stroke injury and abolishes the effect of USP25 deletion. In both mouse and human brains, USP25 is markedly upregulated in microglia in the ischemic penumbra, implying a clinical relevance of USP25 in ischemic stroke. Collectively, USP25 is identified as a critical inhibitor of ischemic stroke injury and this data suggest USP25 may serve as a therapeutic target for ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐fluorinated ion exchange membranes with high proton selectivity and conductivity are sought as separators for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) to substitute the typically used perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer membranes. Polybenzimidazole based membranes offer a promising non‐fluorinated alternative due to their excellent thermomechanical properties, low vanadium crossover, and ionic conductivity in acidic media. In this work, a series of polybenzimidazole‐polyvinylchloride polymer blends were cast and decorated with different quaternary ammonium functionalities. The polymer blends were systematically studied with respect to the blend composition and chemical structure of the quaternary ammonium groups. Assessment of relevant membrane properties for use in an aqueous acidic flow battery was conducted through a combination of VRFB single cell testing, permeability measurements, water/electrolyte uptake, and infrared spectroscopy. The blend with a polybenzimidazole content of 90 % decorated with DABCO (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) was found to combine low polarization resistance with low swelling and high stability. The performance was found to be similar to that of a benchmark polybenzimidazole membrane despite being three times thicker. This led to the conclusion that quaternary ammonium functionalized polybenzimidazole‐polyvinylbenzylchloride systems is an excellent candidate for further modification or fabrication of thinner membranes to further reduce the membrane resistance without compromising on vanadium blocking properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the most important questions in the sociology of religion? And how would scholars answer them? This article explores what people consider the most important questions in the field. Sociologists tend to study what we can readily answer with data, but the questions that elicit the most interest turn out to be quite different. They are bigger, broader, and harder to answer empirically. A crowd-sourced poll identified what people consider the most important questions in the sociology of religion, which were then posed to scholars in the field. They provided nuanced and complex answers revealing a diversity of approaches involved in the study of religion. This unorthodox article invites the reader to listen in on dynamic conversations that bring scholars into dialogue with one another, revealing points of consensus, ongoing debate, areas where there are more questions than answers, and directions for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers critical and complementary commentary on the new book Urban Secularism: Negotiating Religious Diversity in Europe by Julia Martínez-Ariño. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of biologics for diseases affecting the central nervous system has been less successful compared to other disease areas, in part due to the challenge of delivering drugs to the brain. The most well-investigated and successful strategy for increasing brain uptake of biological drugs is using receptor-mediated transcytosis over the blood–brain barrier and, in particular, targeting the transferrin receptor-1 (TfR). Here, affibody molecules are selected for TfR using phage display technology. The two most interesting candidates demonstrated binding to human TfR, cross-reactivity to the murine orthologue, non-competitive binding with human transferrin, and binding to TfR-expressing brain endothelial cell lines. Single amino acid mutagenesis of the affibody molecules revealed the binding contribution of individual residues and was used to develop second-generation variants with improved properties. The second-generation variants were further analyzed and showed an ability for transcytosis in an in vitro transwell assay. The new TfR-specific affibody molecules have the potential for the development of small brain shuttles for increasing the uptake of various compounds to the central nervous system and thus warrant further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of experiencing oneself as seeing and seen is essential to the experience of humanity. This applies not least to patients who find themselves in difficult and complicated life situations in a hospital. In this study, a Human Related Conversation (HRC) was conducted at a diaconal epilepsy hospital in Denmark. The article explores what characterizes the interaction between the parties in such a conversation. Data consists of 15 semi-structured conversations between nurses and patients, as well as the patients’ feedback on the conversations. Data is analyzed based on reflexive thematic analysis and the emerging findings perspective from the understanding of diakonia in conviviality and Hartmut Rosa’s resonance theory. It is concluded that in HRC there is a shift from hospital-rooms to everyday-spaces, which in this case means that the interaction between the participants in HRC is characterized by a respectful attitude, a human meeting and an equal reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on integrated pest management (IPM) in historical interiors, where authenticity is an important part of the audience's experience. The brown carpet beetle Attagenus smirnovi Zhantiev (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) and the Berlin beetle Trogoderma angustum Solier (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) have been permanently present for two decades in the National Museum of Denmark's exhibition The Victorian Home, located in central Copenhagen. Pest control is increasingly challenged in the old flat, originally furnished in 1890. The most recent measures, i.e. treating the premises with diatomaceous earth (DE), provided encouraging results. Using blunder traps, a reduction of A. smirnovi and T. angustum was demonstrated. In rooms where the application of DE was difficult due to heavy, hardly movable furniture, the effect of DE was reduced. A promising plan for future pest control was described for the premises. In addition, a short introduction to The Victorian Home is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulvar cancer is rare, but causes substantial morbidity in affected patients. A subset of vulvar cancers is caused by high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), which primarily exerts its oncogenic effect through upregulation of tumor suppressor protein p16. Tumors positive for both hrHPV and p16 (double positive) are assumed to be HPV‐driven, but only few large studies have investigated the combined prevalence of hrHPV and p16 positivity in vulvar cancer over time. In this Danish cross‐sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of p16 positivity and double positivity for hrHPV and p16 in a large sample of vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (VSCCs) diagnosed during 1990 to 2017. In a nationwide register, we identified VSCCs from 13 hospitals across Denmark, and collected archival tumor tissue for hrHPV testing with INNO‐LiPA and immunohistochemical p16 staining. We calculated the prevalence of hrHPV, p16 positivity and double positivity according to time, age and histological subtype and evaluated time trends through estimated annual percentage changes. We included 1278 VSCCs. Overall, 35.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.4‐37.6) were positive for p16 and 31.0% (95% CI: 28.4‐33.5) were positive for both hrHPV and p16. The prevalence of p16 positivity and double positivity increased over time, both in women aged ≤59 and ≥60 years. The double positive prevalence was higher in nonkeratinizing (60.7%) and warty/basaloid VSCCs (67.5%) than in keratinizing (16.1%) and verrucous VSCCs (5.0%). These results indicate that approximately one‐third of vulvar cancers were caused by hrHPV infection, supporting a substantial preventive potential of the HPV vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To systematically analyse and synthesize studies investigating job satisfaction (including turnover and turnover intention) and wellbeing (physical, social and psychological including work stress, acculturation stress and sick leave) among migrant care workers in nursing homes. Design: An integrated review was conducted. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute's manual guided the analysis of qualitative data (n = 31). Quantitative data (n = 17) were summarized and integrated with the qualitative findings. Results: Migrants described high job demands, limited control and social support, and stress possibly related to acculturation. Although, compared to natives (born in the country), inconsistent results were reported about wellbeing and job satisfaction, migrant care workers reported enjoying the relational aspects of work and feeling pride when providing care. A satisfying work environment for migrant care workers enables them enjoying working in elderly care with pride. Public Contribution: Help managers to promote an inclusive working life in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]