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This study applies a transformative sport service research approach to examine student-athletes' wellness within a collegiate sport setting. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were completed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the stop of play in Canada (early 2021). Findings denoted wellness was influenced by this time period as well as organizational factors which are within the purview of existing management practices. The study details the service environment to understand physical and mental well-being while taking into consideration the general and organizational environments which influence the student-athletes. Findings demonstrate that eudaimonic-related experiences (e.g., learning, development, relationship) are related to student-athletes' mental well-being. This research underpins the role of education, policies, and communication, which draws several implications for the service environment in a collegiate sport setting and the key stakeholders involved in producing an environment to enhance student-athletes' experience. The paper elaborates on the importance of the service environment and provides evidence of what student-athletes suggest management can change and focus their efforts on towards creating a transformative service environment. Theoretical implications for the transformative service research are put forward, including the co-creative aspects to determine programming which could contribute towards student-athletes wellness. Broader suggestions for change within the sport system and future research are also advanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men. Advanced disease may progress to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. In March 2022, 177Lu-vipivotide tetraxetan was U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved for patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen–positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have previously received other therapies, including androgen deprivation and taxane therapies. Methods: Although preliminary data for 177Lu-vipivotide tetraxetan has shown extension of overall survival of patients, there is little literature about realistically initiating 177Lu-vipivotide tetraxetan into non–academic-based clinical practices. Results: This article presents a multidisciplinary practice implementation workflow for 177Lu-vipivotide tetraxetan. It also highlights the challenges and considerations for initiating such a theranostics practice. Conclusion: The aim of this work is to help nontertiary medical centers improve patient accessibility for beneficial radiopharmaceutical therapies, specifically 177Lu-vipivotide tetraxetan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female breadwinner relationships (FBRs) occur when a woman earns more money than her male romantic partner. In four studies, we used diverse methods to document the threat that FBRs pose to heterosexual scripts (i.e., social conventions for heterosexual romance). First, a reflexive thematic analysis of 94 newspaper and magazine articles about FBRs identified themes concerning social stigma and feelings of gender threat (i.e., co-occurring feelings of gender nonconformity and inadequacy) that undermine well-being for FBRs, alongside themes concerning hope for a more egalitarian future. Next, two pre-registered experiments (Ns = 880 and 1612) revealed stigmatizing attitudes towards FBRs, which were perceived to be less desirable, worse quality, and less stable than male-breadwinner relationships. Finally, a cross-sectional study of married women and men (N = 511) affirmed that feelings of gender threat partially explained FBRs' poor relationship outcomes. Across all four studies, and consistent with theories of fragile masculinity, men suffered worse gender threat than women in FBRs. These findings offer novel insight into heterosexual scripts and the punishing social consequences for people who violate those scripts and suggest that social stigma about FBRs may pose a barrier to gender equality in close relationships and in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is emerging literature addressing the gendered nature of digital communication between youth, research about the everyday communications, friendships, and social relations of LGBTQ+ youth remains sparse. This study explores how 14 to 18-year-old, cisgender lesbian, bisexual, and queer girls living in the United States come to understand themselves and others in dyadic text messaging conversations of girls who were previously unknown to each other. Using grounded theory, this secondary data analysis identified the pervasiveness of heteronormative frameworks in participants' communications with each other. Findings indicate that both digitally-mediated expressions of selfhood and queer identity are dynamic processes significantly shaped by normative discourses and participants' desire to connect. Drawing on and contributing to girlhood and youth studies, this research provides insight into how queer cisgender girls construct literacies of self, sexuality, and gender, and establish connection, and how they resist heteronormativity to validate their own and each other's sexual identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adjustments to the anatomy of the facial region, such as maxillary expansion, may impact the geometry of the nasal airway and may increase nasal airway volume. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effect of maxillary dentoalveolar expansion using clear aligners on the nasal airway's volume and intermolar distance in pediatric patients. Before and after maxillary expansion treatment using clear aligners, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs were taken as part of the diagnostic and progress records of 11 children (6–13 years) with constricted maxilla (the experimental group). The CBCT scans of 7 children (7–12 years) who had no treatment were considered to be the control group. The changes in nasal airway volume and intermolar distance between the experimental and control groups were compared and analyzed. Correlation analysis between nasal airway volume and intermolar distance changes was also performed. Compared with the control group, the nasal airway volume of the patients in the experimental group showed a significant increase (1595.6 ± 804.1 mm3; p < 0.001), and the intermolar distance also increased significantly (2.4 ± 0.4 mm; p < 0.001). However, there was little correlation between the change in intermolar distance and the change in nasal airway volume in the experimental group (r = −0.029) and a negative correlation in the control group (r = −0.768). This study showed increased maxillary intermolar width and increased nasal airway volume in children with constricted maxilla who underwent orthodontic maxillary expansion using clear aligners. Further studies with larger sample sizes and long follow-ups are needed. Due to the study design and small sample size, the results should be interpreted with caution and no causal relationship can be drawn between maxillary expansion using clear aligners and obstructive sleep apnea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of hydration biomarkers in tandem with biophysical markers can offer valuable physiological insights about heat stress and related thermoregulatory response. These metrics have been challenging to achieve with wearable sensors. Here we present a closed-loop electrochemical/biophysical wearable sensing device and algorithms that directly measure whole-body sweat loss, sweating rate, sodium concentration, and sodium loss with electrode arrays embedded in a microfluidic channel. The device contains two temperature sensors for skin temperature and thermal flux recordings, and an accelerometer for real-time monitoring of activity level. An onboard haptic module enables vibratory feedback cues to the wearer once critical sweat loss thresholds are reached. Data is stored onboard in memory and autonomously transmitted via Bluetooth to a smartphone and cloud portal. Field studies conducted in physically demanding activities demonstrate the key capabilities of this platform to inform hydration interventions in highly challenging real-world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to a memory impairment among non-demented adults. It is a condition that increases the risk of dementia, notably due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). MCI is heterogeneous and there is a need for novel diagnostic approaches. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging provides robust AD biomarker characteristics, while anatomical and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer complementary information. Objective: Classify MCI and cognitively normal (CN) adults using FDG-PET images; predict individuals with MCI that convert to AD dementia; determine if MRI can achieve comparable performance to FDG-PET classification. Methods: Four ADNI cohorts were created. Cohort 1: 805 participants (MCI n = 455; CN n = 350) that underwent FDG-PET. FDG-PET images were inputs to a one-channel 3-dimensional (3D) DenseNet deep learning model. Cohort 2: 348 participants (MCI n = 174; CN n = 174) with MRI and functional MRI. Cohort 3: overlapping cases from cohorts 1 and 2 (MCI n = 70; CN n = 70). Cohort 4: 336 participants (MCI-converters n = 168; MCI-stable n = 168) with FDG-PET from cohort 1. The one/two-channel models' inputs were T1-weighted MRI and/or amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations images, with classification metrics evaluated through 10-fold cross-validation. Results: The FDG-PET model achieved 88.02%±3.82 accuracy for MCI versus CN classification, with 88.70%±4.70 sensitivity and 87.14%±5.03 specificity. Neither MRI model outperformed the FDG-PET model, as the highest MRI-based accuracy was 76.86%±1.95. The FDG-PET model achieved 63.23%±4.68 accuracy in classifying MCI-converters versus MCI-stable. Conclusions: FDG-PET images produced the highest accuracy in classifying MCI versus CN. While MRI-based approaches were inferior to FDG-PET, multi-contrast MRI still offers value for neurodegeneration classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many consider white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) to be important imaging findings in neuroborreliosis. However, evidence regarding association with WMHs is of low quality. The objective was to investigate WMHs in neuroborreliosis visually and quantitatively. Materials and methods: Patients underwent brain MRI within one month of diagnosis and six months after treatment. Healthy controls were recruited. WMHs were counted by visual rating and the volume was calculated from automatic segmentation. Biochemical markers and scores for clinical symptoms and findings were used to explore association with longitudinal volume change of WMHs. Results: The study included 74 patients (37 males) with early neuroborreliosis and 65 controls (30 males). Mean age (standard deviation) was 57.4 (13.5) and 57.7 (12.9) years, respectively. Baseline WMH lesion count was zero in 14 patients/16 controls, < 10 in 36/31, 10–20 in 9/7 and > 20 in 13/11, with no difference between groups (p = 0.90). However, from baseline to follow-up the patients had a small reduction in WMH volume and the controls a small increase, median difference 0.136 (95% confidence interval 0.051–0.251) ml. In patients, volume change was not associated with biochemical or clinical markers, but with degree of WMHs (p values 0.002–0.01). Conclusion: WMH lesions were not more numerous in patients with neuroborreliosis compared to healthy controls. However, there was a small reduction of WMH volume from baseline to follow-up among patients, which was associated with higher baseline WMH severity, but not with disease burden or outcome. Overall, non-specific WMHs should not be considered suggestive of neuroborreliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The force–length relationship is usually obtained for isometric contractions with maximal activation, but less is known about how sarcomere length affects force during submaximal activation. During submaximal activation, length-dependent alterations in calcium sensitivity, owing to changes in cross-bridge kinetics (rate of attachment and/or detachment), result in an activation-dependent shift in optimal length to longer sarcomere lengths. It is known that sarcomere length, as well as temperature and phosphorylation of the regulatory light chains of myosin, can modify Ca2⁺ sensitivity by altering the probability of cross-bridge interaction. This altered calcium sensitivity is particularly important for submaximal force levels, as it can change the shape of the length dependence of force, with peak force occurring at sarcomere lengths longer than those associated with maximal filament overlap. In athletic contexts, contractions typically do not reach maximal intensity. Therefore, understanding that the ability to produce force under both maximal and submaximal conditions can differ, and that peak force can be generated at different lengths, could influence the development of targeted training regimens optimal for each sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry which contributes significantly to meeting global protein demand. As the world population continues to increase, the aquaculture industry is expected to grow and adapt. To reduce feed input costs and environmental impacts, alternative feed ingredients can replace or supplement increasingly expensive and unsustainable fish meal and fish oil components. A promising yet underutilized replacement for fish meal may be found with spent brewer's yeast (SBY) which is a major by-product of beer production and typically contains high protein content (40–60% of dry mass) which is beneficial for some fish production. The use of SBY as a protein supplement has been extensively examined and applied in terrestrial livestock, however it is difficult to implement due to high water content and logistical challenges. Limited foundational studies have investigated the use of SBY in aquacultural applications. Analysis of amino acid profiles, potential antinutritional capacities, and economic factors indicate that the use of SBY as a protein supplement may be more suitable for aquaculture compared to terrestrial livestock raising. SBY caters well to the nutritional requirements of aquatic species, which could significantly contribute to the growth of the industry. Many criteria exist which influence the practicality of adopting a novel ingredient in aquafeed. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the nutritional profile, potential benefits, and feasibility in aquaculture production, as well as the drawbacks for the use of SBY in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Above the first lactate threshold, the steady‐state V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ is delayed or prevented due to the V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ slow component (V̇O2SC${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}{\mathrm{SC}}}}$). This phenomenon has been associated with muscle fatigue, but evidence for a causal relationship is equivocal. Moreover, little is known about the contribution of pedalling technique adjustments to V̇O2SC${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}{\mathrm{SC}}}}$ during fatiguing cycling exercise. Eleven participants completed constant power trials at 10% above the second lactate threshold. Muscle fatigue was assessed, utilizing femoral nerve stimulation and instrumented pedals, while V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$, quadriceps oxygenation, electromyography (EMG) and pedal force components were measured. Correlations between physiological and mechanical variables were estimated at group and individual levels. Group correlations revealed moderate values for V̇O2SC${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}{\mathrm{SC}}}}$ with quadriceps twitch force (r = −0.51) and muscle oxygenation (r = −0.52), while weak correlations were observed for EMG amplitude (r = 0.26) and EMG mean power frequency (r = −0.16), and with pedalling mechanical variables such as peak total downstroke force (r = −0.16), minimum total upstroke force (r = −0.16) and upstroke index of effectiveness (r = 0.16). The findings here align with prior literature reporting significant correlations between the magnitude of muscle fatigue and that of V̇O2SC${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}{\mathrm{SC}}}}$, although there was large interindividual variability for all the reported correlations. Considering the heterogeneity in the data, it is difficult to determine the relative impact of pedalling technique adjustments on V̇O2SC${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}{\mathrm{SC}}}}$ overall, but the present study opens the possibility that in some cases, increases in V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ secondary to technical adjustments may be 'superimposed' on the underlying V̇O2SC${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}{\mathrm{SC}}}}$. What is the central question of this study?Is there an interplay between muscle fatigue and alterations in pedalling technique in the development of the V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ slow component during cycling?What is the main finding and its importance?There was a significant correlation between the V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ slow component and muscle fatigue, although they were not temporally aligned, and substantial individual heterogeneity existed in the strength of the association. Alterations in pedalling technique were shown to be weakly correlated with the V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ slow component across the whole group, but certain individuals showcased strong associations, suggesting that biomechanical changes may play a role in the development of the V̇O2${{\dot{V}}_{{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ slow component in some individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Supporting persons living with advanced dementia in long-term care (LTC) homes requires strong collaborative partnerships between staff, family members, and residents. Yet, relational tensions—such as differing expectations around care decisions—can inhibit the implementation of collaborative partnerships at this critical point in the trajectory of care. Objective: This study aims to explore the emotional experiences of families and staff during shared decision-making processes for individuals with advanced dementia in LTC. Method: Guided by interpretative description, this qualitative study investigated the experiences of staff (n = 12) and families (n = 16) collaborating in two Canadian LTC homes. Data was collected through semistructured interviews lasting 45–60 min, which facilitated a detailed exploration of participants' narratives. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis facilitated by a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. Results: Our analysis revealed a complex parallel process of trauma and grief including accumulated distress, isolation, and feelings of devalue that worked together to create distance between staff and families at a time when connection was critical. Our findings further suggested that a lack of time and space for reflection and validation for staff and family, resulted in a cycle whereby staff and families engaged in a push and pull dynamic with each viewing the other as adversaries rather than allies. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the critical need for reflexive opportunities in LTC homes to overcome and attend to the emotional barriers that interfere with true collaboration between staff and families. We hope that the proposed cycle serves as a preliminary framework to support staff in navigating difficult conversations and emotions, and fosters reflexive care that enhances, rather than obstructs, connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the validity of the Entralpi force plate in the assessment of finger flexor performance in rock climbers. In addition to a static force evaluation, peak force, peak impulse, and total impulse were measured during 30 all-out performance trials by 15 participants, in which force during the trials was recorded simultaneously by the Entralpi and a Pasco force plate. Agreement between devices was assessed by a variety of statistical analyses, including intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), and Bland-Altman analyses. The static force evaluation showed a mean relative error of 0.41% and excellent day-to-day reliability (ICC = 1; CV = 0.03%). Peak force, peak impulse, and total impulse from the performance trials demonstrated strong agreement (ICC ≥ 0.991, CV ≤ 1.9%, Bland-Altman mean bias ≤ 0.5%). These results illustrate that the Entralpi force plate provides accurate and reliable data for rock climbing related tasks at an affordable cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: First Contact Practitioners (FCP) have developed as a more advanced physiotherapy clinical role delivering specialist MSK services in GP practice settings. They aim to support GPs in effectively managing increasing patient workloads. As FCPs are now a more established NHS role, it is important to understand how these clinicians perceive their roles to guide and support future service development. Aims: To review the current evidence regarding the experience of FCPs in the UK. To understand how FCPs perceive their role. To gain an insight into FCP practice which can inform future primary research studies. Method: A systematic review of FCP primary qualitative research studies. Multiple database and grey literature search with screening following PRISMA guidelines. Qualitative critical appraisal and analysis used tools and frameworks from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: The review reports on 11 included studies which informed the creation of six key concepts impacting upon FCP role experience and perceptions. These were complexity, competency and role development, role understanding, job satisfaction, wellbeing and burnout and service delivery. Conclusion: FCP clinicians feel broadly positive about their roles, although they report a clear risk of burnout and associated negative impact on their wellbeing. Job satisfaction is linked to adequate training and developing the competencies required to manage patients in an environment of clinical uncertainty. Having access to regular clinical mentorship is a key requirement and FCPs must adapt to the specific demands of work in a GP practice environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communities across Aotearoa New Zealand are collaborating to reverse ecological decline, but little attention has been given to understanding the deeper relationship required with our physical and socio‐cultural landscapes. We used knowledge co‐production to develop 11 insights to support place‐based strategies that nurture a collective responsibility to revitalise both people and place. Twenty‐five subject matter experts across communities, government, industry and research drew from their collective expertise and the review of 63 local‐to‐global case study examples of farm‐to‐community‐scale place‐based approaches. A key output from this work is an Aotearoa New Zealand framework that diagrammatically represents the interdisciplinary nature of the 11 insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate clinicians' psychosocial experiences navigating interdisciplinary care for children with severe neurological impairment (SNI), for example children with a developmental epileptic encephalopathy; secondarily, to identify preferences for future interventions to support clinicians caring for children with SNI. Method: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study with interdisciplinary clinicians by using a purposeful sampling recruitment strategy. Twenty‐four participants with expertise caring for children with SNI completed in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews. We transcribed the interviews, de‐identified them, and performed inductive thematic analysis. Results: Thematic analysis elicited interrelated themes. Clinicians experienced immense professional barriers providing patient‐centred care across fragmented healthcare contexts. Physical, emotional, and psychological impacts were attributed to inadequate reflective practice training and a paucity of integrated resources to support clinicians over time. Multipronged strategies were prioritized by clinicians, incorporating psychoeducation, interdisciplinary peer mentorship, and psychological resources to build reflective practice skills for clinicians providing complex care in an advancing era of medicine. Interpretation: This study provides novel and in‐depth insight into clinicians' experiences navigating care for children with SNI. The results will be used to inform future integrated and multipronged co‐developed resources tailored for clinicians, on the basis of their recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease outbreaks are one of the key threats to great apes and other wildlife. Because the spread of some pathogens (e.g., respiratory viruses, sexually transmitted diseases, ectoparasites) are mediated by social interactions, there is a growing interest in understanding how social networks predict the chain of pathogen transmission. In this study, we built a party network from wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and used agent‐based modeling to test: (i) whether individual attributes (sex, age) predict individual centrality (i.e., whether it is more or less socially connected); (ii) whether individual centrality affects an individual's role in the chain of pathogen transmission; and, (iii) whether the basic reproduction number (R0) and infectious period modulate the influence of centrality on pathogen transmission. We show that sex and age predict individual centrality, with older males presenting many (degree centrality) and strong (strength centrality) relationships. As expected, males are more central than females within their network, and their centrality determines their probability of getting infected during simulated outbreaks. We then demonstrate that direct measures of social interaction (strength centrality), as well as eigenvector centrality, strongly predict disease dynamics in the chimpanzee community. Finally, we show that this predictive power depends on the pathogen's R0 and infectious period: individual centrality was most predictive in simulations with the most transmissible pathogens and long‐lasting diseases. These findings highlight the importance of considering animal social networks when investigating disease outbreaks. Summary: Older male Chimpanzees are the most central within their network, and their centrality determines their probability of getting infected during simulated outbreaks.Direct measures of social interaction (strength centrality), as well as eigenvector centrality, strongly predict disease dynamics in the chimpanzee community.This predictive power depends on the pathogen's R0 and infectious period: individual centrality was most predictive in simulations with the most transmissible pathogens and long‐lasting diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive compounds have been shown to promote healthy human development and protect against certain diseases including some cancers. Tropical pumpkins bred for consumption, such as calabaza (Cucurbita moschata), possess these compounds, though concentrations vary considerably between varieties. Bioactive compound quantification methods can be expensive, complex, and generate considerable hazardous waste. A predictive tool utilizing the relationship between extrinsic properties and tristimulus colorimetry values of calabaza would allow for significantly higher throughput with lower requirements for equipment, training, and laboratory consumables. Therefore, this study examined correlations between flesh color and bioactive compound quantities of several calabaza germplasm lines to assess the utility of a sustainable and portable predictive tool. CIEL* a* b* values of pumpkin flesh were assessed using a colorimeter and compared to bioactive compound concentrations determined analytically. Redness was found to correlate with increased ascorbic acid and total soluble solids content. Yellowness correlated with β-carotene equivalent carotenoids and ascorbic acid content. These results suggest that colorimetry may be a viable pre-screening technique for quantifying bioactive compounds in C. moschata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccination education module to improve vaccine expectations and behaviors among college freshmen. Participants: The participants were 177 college freshmen at one private Utah university. Participants were eligible for this study if admitted as new freshmen during the 2019–2020 school year. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional pre- and post-education evaluation assessing vaccine expectations and behaviors using Likert-type and open-ended questions. Results: After completing the vaccination education module, participants' vaccine expectations and behavioral intentions improved. Participants reported they were more likely to be up-to-date on personal vaccines and more likely to expect other students to be up-to-date on their vaccinations. Participants were more likely to ask other students to vaccinate and were also more likely to ask their family members to be vaccinated. Conclusions: This online vaccination education module effectively improved participants' vaccine expectations and behavioral intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 46th meeting of the Upper Midwest Neuro-Ophthalmology Group (UMNOG), held on July 26, 2024, and hosted by Northwestern University at Chicago, brought together a group of neuro-ophthalmologists, researchers, and trainees. This conference served as a forum for presenting research findings, illustrating challenging cases in clinical practice, and discussing them from an expert viewpoint. Key topics included visual outcomes following the treatment of various optic neuropathies, and advancements in diagnostic techniques, including the integration of machine learning. Case demonstrations covered a wide range of afferent and efferent neuro-ophthalmological conditions, primarily related to systemic illnesses and novel treatments. The proceedings aimed to disseminate valuable knowledge and foster further research, offering comprehensive insights into the discussion held during the meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Arctic plants survived the Pleistocene glaciations in unglaciated refugia. The number, ages, and locations of these refugia are often unclear. We use high‐resolution genomic data from present‐day and Little‐Ice‐Age populations of Arctic Bell‐Heather to re‐evaluate the biogeography of this species and determine whether it had multiple independent refugia or a single refugium in Beringia. Location: Circumpolar Arctic and Coastal British Columbia (BC) alpine. Taxon: Cassiope tetragona L., subspecies saximontana and tetragona, outgroup C. mertensiana (Ericaceae). Methods: We built genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) libraries using Cassiope tetragona tissue from 36 Arctic locations, including two ~250‐ to 500‐year‐old populations collected under glacial ice on Ellesmere Island, Canada. We assembled a de novo GBS reference to call variants. Population structure, genetic diversity and demography were inferred from PCA, ADMIXTURE, fastsimcoal2, SplitsTree, and several population genomics statistics. Results: Population structure analyses identified 4–5 clusters that align with geographic locations. Nucleotide diversity was highest in Beringia and decreased eastwards across Canada. Demographic coalescent analyses dated the following splits with Alaska: BC subspecies saximontana (5 mya), Russia (~1.4 mya), Europe (>200–600 kya), and Greenland (~60 kya). Northern Canada populations appear to have formed during the current interglacial (7–9 kya). Admixture analyses show genetic variants from Alaska appear more frequently in present‐day than historic plants on Ellesmere Island. Conclusions: Population and demographic analyses support BC, Alaska, Russia, Europe and Greenland as all having had independent Pleistocene refugia. Northern Canadian populations appear to be founded during the current interglacial with genetic contributions from Alaska, Europe and Greenland. We found evidence, on Ellesmere Island, for continued recent gene flow in the last 250–500 years. These results suggest that a re‐analysis of other Arctic species with shallow population structure using higher resolution genomic markers and demographic analyses may help reveal deeper structure and other circumpolar glacial refugia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primates show large interindividual variability in the character and quantity of interactions between mothers and their immature offspring. Multiple studies have documented associations between maternal behavior and the occurrence or frequency of certain behaviors among offspring, but it remains unclear whether and how early maternal interactions generally affect behavioral development in offspring. We followed two wild groups of Japanese macaques on Yakushima island and investigated the relationship between maternal behavior and several types of behavior performed by 35 juvenile offspring. We further asked if the impact of maternal behavior on juvenile behavior persists regardless of the distance between mother and offspring, testing whether the influence extends beyond cases when the mother is nearby. We found that juveniles whose mothers frequently rejected them approached and played with others more often, independent of their mother's presence. Juveniles of more protective mothers were in proximity to fewer other individuals and played less, but only if their mothers were nearby. Maternal rejection appears to exert a generalized effect on offspring behavior that endures when mothers are absent. In contrast, effects of maternal protectiveness may be temporary and/or reflect direct maternal influences, such as active intervention in offspring interactions, or effects of the mother's own social relationships on offspring interactions. Our results suggest that understanding how maternal behavior affects offspring development requires paying attention to the context of juvenile behavior, including the mother's distance from her offspring. Research Highlights: Maternal rejection and protectiveness are associated with a decrease in the time juveniles spent in proximity with adults, but only in maternal presence.The more rejective their mother is, the more juveniles approach others regardless of maternal presence, and the more they play when the mother is not around.The more protective their mother is, the more juveniles scratch themselves when she is not around, and the less they play in maternal presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct an upper ocean (0–1000 m) North Atlantic heat budget (26°–67°N) for the period 1950–2020 using multiple observational datasets and an eddy-permitting global ocean model. On multidecadal time scales, ocean heat transport convergence controls ocean heat content (OHC) tendency in most regions of the North Atlantic with little role for diffusive processes. In the subpolar North Atlantic (45°–67°N), heat transport convergence is explained by geostrophic currents, whereas ageostrophic currents make a significant contribution in the subtropics (26°–45°N). The geostrophic contribution in all regions is dominated by anomalous advection across the time-mean temperature gradient although other processes make a significant contribution, particularly in the subtropics. The time scale and spatial distribution of the anomalous geostrophic currents are consistent with a simple model of basin-scale thermal Rossby waves propagating westward/northwestward in the subpolar gyre, and multidecadal variations in regional OHC are explained by geostrophic currents periodically coming into alignment with the mean temperature gradient as the Rossby wave passes through. The global ocean model simulation shows that multidecadal variations in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation are synchronized with the ocean heat transport convergence consistent with modulation of the west–east pressure gradient by the propagating Rossby wave. Significance Statement: The purpose of the work is to understand why the North Atlantic Ocean warms up and cools down on time scales of about 40 years. The key finding is that the temperature fluctuations are caused by an oceanic wave pushing the ocean surface up and down and causing ocean currents to change direction, pushing heat into and out of different parts of the ocean, and drawing down or emitting heat to the atmosphere. The findings matter because the warm and cool periods affect the climate of the countries surrounding the North Atlantic. Climate models need to account for this oceanic wave process to correctly predict how it will change in the future and affect the large-scale climate in a warming world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced prisons into extended lockdowns, people-in-prison have been increasingly reliant on remote access technologies such as videoconferencing to interact with the outside world from their carceral context. During the pandemic, both corrective services and criminal courts found that these communication technologies could adequately facilitate court appearances, legal conferencing, health services and visitations. Now, despite the lessening panic regarding COVID-19, there are suggestions that authorities are keen to continue, if not increase, the usage of video links meaning that people-in-prison will experience decreasing human contact. The argument is that COVID-19 "successes" are being used as an excuse to cement remote hearings and visits. This points to a future of absolute confinement uninterrupted by "inconvenient" physical court attendance or human visitors. This article will focus on the "digital vulnerability" of people-in-prison, that is, the intersection between the vulnerabilities of incarcerated people with the use of remote communication technologies such as videoconferencing or video links, and the digital inequalities that may be provoked or solved. The article will draw on qualitative research – fieldwork interviews with judicial officers, lawyers and associated criminal justice professionals – that reveal critical perspectives on the impacts of digital transformation on vulnerable people-in-prison. For instance, when asked about the vulnerabilities of people-in-prison, one defence lawyer (DL1) expressed the view that "no one cares about defendants" or their vulnerabilities, nor their abilities to engage with video links, comprehend or play any role in their own remote legal matters. We analyse our source materials through a framework of vulnerability theory and the developing concept of digital vulnerability. In this way, we seek to offer new knowledge regarding prison digital transformation, specifically the relationship between digital technologies in correctional environments and the vulnerable incarcerated population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of skeletal muscle fatigue in response to cycling exercise is commonly done in isometric conditions, potentially limiting its ecological validity, and creating challenges in monitoring the time course of muscle fatigue across an exercise bout. This study aimed to determine if muscle fatigue could be reliably assessed by measuring quadriceps twitch force evoked while pedaling, using instrumented pedals. Nine participants completed three laboratory visits: a step incremental test to determine power output at lactate threshold, and on separate occasions, two constant‐intensity bouts at a power output 10% above lactate threshold. Femoral nerve electrical stimulation was applied to elicit quadriceps twitch force both while pedaling (dynamic) and at rest (isometric). The test–retest reliability of the dynamic twitch forces and the agreement between the dynamic and isometric twitch forces were evaluated. Dynamic twitch force was found to have excellent reliability in an unfatigued state (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.920 and mean coefficient of variation (CV) = 7.5%), and maintained good reliability at task failure (ICC = 0.846 and mean CV = 11.5%). When comparing dynamic to isometric twitch forces across the task, there was a greater relative decline in the dynamic condition (P = 0.001). However, when data were normalized to the 5 min timepoint when potentiation between conditions was presumed to be more similar, this difference disappeared (P = 0.207). The reliability of this method was shown to be commensurate with the gold standard method utilizing seated isometric dynamometers and offers a new avenue to monitor the kinetics of muscle fatigue during cycling in real time. Highlights: The measurement of skeletal muscle fatigue during cycling exercise typically requires stopping the exercise task, potentially confounding the measurement, and limiting the frequency at which measurements can be madeWe have developed a novel method of assessing skeletal muscle fatigue which can be done while allowing cycling exercise to continue uninterruptedThe reliability of this method was shown to be commensurate with the gold standard method utilizing seated isometric dynamometers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mosquito vector research and population control strategies are supported by the rearing of species like Aedes aegypti, commonly known for propagating yellow fever. Colonies of Ae. aegypti are typically reared on fresh animal bloods to supply nutrients including iron, sodium chloride, and albumin necessary for reproduction. However, fresh animal blood is difficult to handle, store, and transport, and its use in rearing is limited to two weeks post-collection. The present study reports on the identification of an inexpensive, shelf-stable spray-dried porcine blood (SDPB) product containing accessible hemoglobin that demonstrated usefulness in a simple mosquito alternative meal (AM) formulation. Quantitative evidence that the phagostimulant in SDPB is hemoglobin was obtained through chromatography assays and the elimination of other feeding stimulants as potential candidates. Ae. aegypti observably engorged upon and produced eggs when fed the AM, which was also shown to sustain multiple colony generations with offspring viable through the larval and pupal stages. SDPB-based AMs may develop into platforms for studying the rearing of hematophagous insects with the potential to expand the capabilities of resource-intensive population control strategies. Research into mosquito-borne illnesses faces hurdles because feeding fresh animal blood to rear female mosquitoes presents logistical, economic, and safety challenges. In this study, a shelf-stable additive (spray-dried porcine blood; SDPB) hypothesized to supply accessible hemoglobin was evaluated within an alternative meal (AM) containing whey powder and PBS for rearing the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. LC–MS/MS proteomics, microbial assays, and particle reduction techniques confirmed and characterized the functionality of hemoglobin in SDPB, while engorgement, fecundity, egg viability, and meal stability bioassays assessed AM performance. Chemical assays supported hemoglobin as the phagostimulant in SDPB with aggregates partially solubilized in the AM that can be more accessible via particle reduction. Unpaired two-tailed t-tests indicate that the AM stimulates oogenesis (t11 = 13.6, p = 0.003) and is stable under ambient (1+ y; t12 = 0.576, p = 0.575) and aqueous (14 d; t12 = 0.515, p = 0.639) conditions without decreasing fecundity. Egg hatch rates for the ninth generation of AM-reared Ae. aegypti were 50–70+%. With further development, this meal may serve as a platform for mass rearing or studying effects of nutritional additives on mosquito fitness due to its low cost and stability. Future work may examine tuning spray drying parameters and resulting impacts on hemoglobin agglomeration and feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed using comprehensive behavioral information. Neuroimaging offers additional information but lacks clinical utility for diagnosis. This study investigates whether multi-forms of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast can be used individually and in combination to produce a categorical classification of young individuals with ASD. MRI data were accessed from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE). Young participants (ages 2–30) were selected, and two group cohorts consisted of 702 participants: 351 ASD and 351 controls. Image-based classification was performed using one-channel and two-channel inputs to 3D-DenseNet deep learning networks. The models were trained and tested using tenfold cross-validation. Two-channel models were twinned with combinations of structural MRI (sMRI) maps and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) or fractional ALFF (fALFF) maps from resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). All models produced classification accuracy that exceeded 65.1%. The two-channel ALFF-sMRI model achieved the highest mean accuracy of 76.9% ± 2.34. The one-channel ALFF-based model alone had mean accuracy of 72% ± 3.1. This study leveraged the ABIDE dataset to produce ASD classification results that are comparable and/or exceed literature values. The deep learning approach was conducive to diverse neuroimaging inputs. Findings reveal that the ALFF-sMRI two-channel model outperformed all others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Post-acute COVID syndrome (PACS) is a growing concern, given its impact on mental health and quality of life. However, its effects on cerebral white matter remain poorly understood, particularly in non-hospitalized cohorts. The goals of this cross-sectional, observational study were to examine (1) whether PACS was associated with distinct alterations in white matter microstructure, compared to symptom-matched non-COVID viral infection; and (2) whether microstructural alterations correlated with indices of post-COVID emotional health. Methods: Data were collected for 54 symptomatic individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 (mean age 41 ± 12 yrs., 36 female) and 14 controls who tested negative for COVID-19 (mean age 41 ± 14 yrs., 8 female), with both groups assessed an average of 4-5 months after COVID testing. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data were collected, and emotional health was assessed via the NIH emotion toolbox, with summary scores indexing social satisfaction, well-being and negative affect. Results: Despite similar symptoms, the COVID-19 group had reduced mean and axial diffusivity, along with increased mean kurtosis and neurite dispersion, in deep white matter. After adjusting for social satisfaction, higher levels of negative affect in the COVID-19 group were also correlated with increased mean kurtosis and reduced free water in white matter. Discussion: These results provide preliminary evidence that indices of white matter microstructure distinguish PACS from symptomatic non-COVID infection. Moreover, white matter effects seen in PACS correlate with the severity of emotional sequelae, providing novel insights into this highly prevalent disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirulina is a highly nutritious microalgae commonly used as a food additive. During fermentation, different adjuncts are incorporated to act as a nutrient source for yeast and fortify or modify the sensory attributes of the final product. In this study, the effect of Spirulina on the characteristics of controlled yeast fermentation and the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was analyzed. Spirulina was added to malted barley during mashing and fermented under standard conditions. An unaltered mash (negative control) and yeast extract (positive control) were also fermented. The addition of Spirulina resulted in an increased fermentation rate (~14% faster) and bigger yeast cells (~34% larger) in comparison to the negative control. There were differences in color (determined as SRM) between treatments; however, there were only minor differences in VOCs, with no statistical differences observed between chemical compound groups. No differences were observed in the pH, total number of yeast cells, or final attenuation between treatments. The primary mechanism for the observed differences is believed to be an increase in amino acids available to yeast that were contributed by the Spirulina. This shows both that Spirulina has a high potential as a fermentation adjunct and that the amino acid profile of an adjunct can significantly impact fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theoretical literature on the meaning of qualification standards depicts a variety of definitions. Some definitions describe properties of examinees, whilst others rely on cohort-level or system-level characteristics. Different definitions can be compatible or contradictory. In this study, stakeholders' views of the meaning of qualification standards in Scotland were collected, using focus groups (82 participants) and a questionnaire (918 participants). Almost 60% of questionnaire participants responded that standards tell us about performances on the assessment (criterion-referencing) and approximately 40% responded that they tell you about an underlying ability (construct-referencing). Few participants considered that maintaining statistical grade distributions every year were important. Discrepancies in views raise questions regarding how an examination board manages the political and technical process of maintaining public confidence in standards. Based upon this Scottish case, the authors argue that social settlements regarding qualification standards are a social contract, and a solely technocratic view of standards is conceptually inadequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment of cerebral perfusion is vital for understanding the hemodynamic processes involved in various neurological disorders and guiding clinical decision‐making. This guidelines article provides a comprehensive overview of quantitative perfusion imaging of the brain using multi‐timepoint arterial spin labeling (ASL), along with recommendations for its acquisition and quantification. A major benefit of acquiring ASL data with multiple label durations and/or post‐labeling delays (PLDs) is being able to account for the effect of variable arterial transit time (ATT) on quantitative perfusion values and additionally visualize the spatial pattern of ATT itself, providing valuable clinical insights. Although multi‐timepoint data can be acquired in the same scan time as single‐PLD data with comparable perfusion measurement precision, its acquisition and postprocessing presents challenges beyond single‐PLD ASL, impeding widespread adoption. Building upon the 2015 ASL consensus article, this work highlights the protocol distinctions specific to multi‐timepoint ASL and provides robust recommendations for acquiring high‐quality data. Additionally, we propose an extended quantification model based on the 2015 consensus model and discuss relevant postprocessing options to enhance the analysis of multi‐timepoint ASL data. Furthermore, we review the potential clinical applications where multi‐timepoint ASL is expected to offer significant benefits. This article is part of a series published by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Perfusion Study Group, aiming to guide and inspire the advancement and utilization of ASL beyond the scope of the 2015 consensus article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated how social environmental factors (i.e., supportive behaviors of coaches and parents) are associated with thriving in sport amongst a youth population, influencing important outcomes of sport participation (i.e., intention to continue sport and subjective well-being in sport). Two-wave data was collected within a three-month time span to help determine the relationship of social environmental factors with intention to continue and subjective well-being. One hundred fifty-nine Japanese youth sport participants (Mage = 15.81) completed the questionnaires twice. Autonomy supportiveness of coaches and parents was positively related to thriving three months later. In contrast, only the relationship between autonomy support from coaches and thriving was mediated by the change in basic psychological need satisfaction. Moreover, autonomy support from coaches was related to intention to continue sport and subjective well-being in sport through the changes in basic psychological needs satisfaction and thriving individually and in sequence. The results indicate the importance of both the parent and coach in the role of nurturing the young athletes, while the influence was more robust for coaches. The findings indicate a need for stakeholders to focus on educating and promoting their role in creating supportive environments aimed at increasing retention and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical training theory postulates that performance fatigability following a training session should be proportional to the total work done (TWD); however, this notion has been questioned. This study investigated indices of performance and perceived fatigability after primary sessions of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and constant work rate (CWR) cycling, each followed by a cycling time-to-task failure (TTF) bout. On separate days, 16 participants completed an incremental cycling test, and, in a randomized order, (i) a TTF trial at 80% of peak power output (PPO), (ii) an HIIT session, and (iii) a CWR session, both of which were immediately followed by a TTF trial at 80% PPO. Central and peripheral aspects of performance fatigability were measured using interpolated twitch technique, and perceptual measures were assessed prior to and following the HIIT and CWR trials, and again following the TTF trial. Despite TWD being less following HIIT (P = 0.029), subsequent TTF trial was an average of 125 s shorter following HIIT versus CWR (P < 0.001), and this was accompanied by greater impairments in voluntary and electrically evoked forces (P < 0.001), as well as exacerbated perceptual measures (P < 0.001); however, there were no differences in any fatigue measure following the TTF trial (P ≥ 0.149). There were strong correlations between the decline in TTF and indices of peripheral (r = 0.70) and perceived fatigability (r ≥ 0.80) measured at the end of HIIT and CWR. These results underscore the dissociation between TWD and performance fatigability and highlight the importance of peripheral components of fatigability in limiting endurance performance during high-intensity cycling exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

POLR3‐related hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (POLR3‐HLD) is a rare inherited neurological disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in specific genes encoding subunits of RNA polymerase III (Pol III). Here, we report the third patient worldwide with pathogenic variants in POLR3K and clinical features consistent with POLR3‐HLD. The female patient presented with mild intellectual and behavioural disturbances in childhood, as well as growth delay, with brain MRI revealing diffuse hypomyelination and a pattern consistent with POLR3‐HLD. In adolescence, she manifested minor motor dysfunction. Next‐generation sequencing revealed a paternally inherited missense variant in POLR3K (c.322G>T; p.D108Y) and a maternally inherited large deletion, spanning approximately 17.8 kb from chr16:30,362‐48,162. The missense variant is located at the C‐terminus position of the protein and is predicted to impair residue interactions and cause steric interference in enzyme conformational changes. The large deletion encompasses the third and last exon of POLR3K, leading to a likely amorphic truncated protein product lacking the final 42 amino acids from the total 108 amino acid–length protein. Studies of RNA‐level expression showed a significant reduction in the levels of POLR3K RNA in the patient compared to the control. In considering whether the transcriptional function of Pol III was affected, the expression of several Pol III‐transcribed RNAs was measured, where the levels of several distinct tRNAs were significantly reduced in the patient while the expression of other RNA transcripts was not decreased, suggesting that Pol III retains partial function. This study provides further evidence for the association of pathogenic variants in POLR3K with POLR3‐HLD, expanding the spectrum of pathogenic variants in genes encoding for Pol III subunits associated with this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell-based interception and precision medicine is a novel approach aimed at improving healthcare through the early detection and treatment of diseased cells. Here, we describe our recent progress towards developing cell-based interception and precision medicine to detect, understand, and advance the development of novel therapeutic approaches through a single-cell omics and drug screening platform, as part of a multi-laboratory collaborative effort, for a group of neurodegenerative disorders named leukodystrophies. Our strategy aims at the identification of diseased cells as early as possible to intercept progression of the disease prior to severe clinical impairment and irreversible tissue damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing need to understand the potential ecological impacts of contaminants in offshore oil and gas infrastructure, especially if that infrastructure is to be left in situ as a decommissioning option. Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) is one type of contaminant found in solid deposits on internal surfaces of infrastructure that poses potential ecological harm if released into the marine environment. Microbes are important components of marine sediment ecosystems because they provide ecosystem services, yet the impacts of NORM contamination to these communities are not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the response of benthic microbial communities to NORM‐contaminated scale, collected from an offshore oil and gas system, via controlled laboratory microcosm studies. Changes to microbial communities in natural sediment and sediments spiked with NORM at radium‐226 activity concentrations ranging from 9.5 to 59.8 Bq/kg (in partial equilibria with progeny) over 7 and 28 days were investigated using high‐throughput sequencing of environmental DNA extracted from experimental sediments. There were no significant differences in microbial community composition between control and scale‐spiked sediments over 7 and 28 days. However, we observed a greater presence of Firmicutes in the scale‐mixed treatment and Chloroflexi in the scale‐surface treatments after 28 days. This could suggest selection for species with contaminant tolerance or potential resilience to radiation and metal toxicity. Further research is needed to explore microbial tolerance mechanisms and their potential as indicators of effects of radionuclide‐contaminated sediments. The present study demonstrated that microcosm studies can provide valuable insights about the potential impacts of contamination from oil and gas infrastructure to sediment microbial communities. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1648–1661. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of Florida ranks third in the United States in beer production by volume, yet does not boast a commercially viable barley crop. This presents a potential market for Florida-grown barley. Despite similarities between the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones of Florida and traditional barley-growing regions, there persists a lack of best management practices for the successful cultivation and establishment of a barley crop in Florida. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential viability of eight spring-type barley varieties grown in Florida by comparing crop yields, extract, fermentability, and volatile compounds. Barley is not a typical crop grown in Florida, however, the inclusion would provide welcome diversification options for Florida farmers to grow over winter. This study is an initial investigation into the use of Florida barley as an ingredient in beer production. The average yields of the eight varieties ranged from 31.5 ± 6.8 to 42.9 ± 11.8 bushels per acre (1,695–2,308 kg/ha) for the optimal planting dates, which are comparable to similar growing regions. Fine Grind (f.g.) extract concentrations were highest in Copeland, Esma, Pinnacle, and Opera barley varieties, ranging from 68.4 to 73.6% dry basis (d.b.). Concerning fermentability, Copeland and Esma had the lowest final attenuation among the Florida-grown barleys (1.51 and 1.92°P, respectively). There were minor differences in volatile compounds between the control and experimental barleys. The results of this study support the possible viability of Florida-grown barley for brewing applications that prioritize using local ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study examined the process and outcome of Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma (DCTCT) with seven couples. DCTCT is a novel form of couple therapy designed to address complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology and couple‐level distress in trauma survivors and their partners. These couples showed statistically significant improvements in overall trauma symptoms, emotion regulation capacities, and reductions in attachment‐related anxiety. These results suggest that DCTCT may be a promising approach to intervention. Future directions include the development of a sequential care model, because resource limitations may not allow for all couples to receive the full treatment model over 40 weeks; it will also be important to address measurement issues in relation to mentalizing, to allow for observational coding across the course of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the "impact agenda" continues to gain prominence internationally, a key challenge is enabling academics and policymakers to interact so that they can learn effectively from and with each other. There is an ethical position that, if we could contribute to policy change impacting on work, society, and environment, then some of our resource and effort should be focused in this way, to bring the benefits of our research to the world of policy and practice and to gain insights about the use and potential direction of our research. We argue that there are significant cultural incompatibilities between academia and policymaking, but we propose an approach that establishes a learning zone in which key cultural rules are suspended (not "solved") and groups can contribute input and extract learning insights as if they were collaborating with shared understanding, when this may only partially be the case. We explore the theoretical grounds and design principles for this new kind of learning zone,which we termthe "paradox box." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the neuropathology of bipolar disorder (BD). Higher circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA), generally reflecting poorer mitochondrial health, has been associated with greater symptoms severity in BD. The current study examines the association of serum ccf-mtDNA and brain structure in relation to youth BD. We hypothesized that higher ccf-mtDNA will be associated with measures of lower brain structure, particularly in the BD group. Methods: Participants included 40 youth (BD, n = 19; Control group [CG], n = 21; aged 13–20 years). Serum ccf-mtDNA levels were assayed. T1-weighted brain images were acquired using 3T-MRI. Region of interest (ROI) analyses examined prefrontal cortex (PFC) and whole brain gray matter, alongside exploratory vertex-wise analyses. Analyses examined ccf-mtDNA main-effects and ccf-mtDNA-by-diagnosis interaction effects controlling for age, sex, and intracranial volume. Results: There was no significant difference in ccf-mtDNA levels between BD and CG. In ROI analyses, higher ccf-mtDNA was associated with higher PFC surface area (SA) (β = 0.32 p < 0.001) and PFC volume (β = 0.32 p = 0.002) in the overall sample. In stratified analyses, higher ccf-mtDNA was associated with higher PFC SA within both subgroups (BD: β = 0.39 p = 0.02; CG: β = 0.24 p = 0.045). Higher ccf-mtDNA was associated with higher PFC volume within the BD group (β = 0.39 p = 0.046). In vertex-wise analyses, higher ccf-mtDNA was associated with higher SA and volume in frontal clusters within the overall sample and within the BD group. There were significant ccf-mtDNA-by-diagnosis interactions in three frontal and parietal clusters, whereby higher ccf-mtDNA was associated with higher neurostructural metrics in the BD group but lower neurostructural metrics in CG. Conclusions: Contrasting our hypothesis, higher ccf-mtDNA was consistently associated with higher, rather than lower, regional neuralstructural metrics among youth with BD. While this finding may reflect a compensatory mechanism, future repeated-measures prospective studies evaluating the inter-relationship among ccf-mtDNA, mood, and brain structure across developmental epochs and illness stages are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of space is becoming more feasible, and with this comes the possibility of performing fermentations in microgravity. Our study explores the potential effects of microgravity on a standard brewing model fermentation. As the fermentation of barley wort has been studied for centuries, there is an established foundation of knowledge with which to compare any changes that occur under microgravity. A modified ASBC miniature fermentation protocol (Yeast-14) was conducted within a Yuri 2.0 microgravity chamber to examine the response of Saccharomyces pastorianus to simulated microgravity conditions. Our findings reveal that yeast exhibited accelerated growth rates under microgravity compared to standard conditions. Additionally, the microgravity environment led to significantly lower levels of volatile compounds such as isoamyl acetate and 2-phenethyl acetate in the final product. Further genetic analysis showed significant downregulation of the ATF2 gene in the control group, potentially the mechanism behind the observed decrease in volatile compounds. These results show that while fermentation under microgravity is likely to eventually be commonplace, there may be changes in rate and gene expression that are beneficial or detrimental to the final product depending upon the desired characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berries and their products can enhance the antioxidant profile, color, and sensory characteristics of beverages, resulting in competitive, value-added products. However, a complete overview of how fermentation affects these compounds is lacking. The American black elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, is an excellent candidate for studying how berry juices are affected during fermentation due to high concentrations of color compounds, anthocyanins, and volatile compounds. Gravity, pH, titratable acidity, total anthocyanins, color, and GC-MS analyses were performed on two varieties of elderberries to examine the physical and chemical qualities of elderberry juice before and after wine fermentation. A commercial product with elderberry adjuncts added post fermentation was also analyzed. The concentration of anthocyanins degraded by ~40% as the color of the elderberry wine shifted from blue to red after fermentation. Products that added elderberries post fermentation did not see the same degradation, however, also did not incorporate the same changes to volatile compounds as observed in the fermented wine. The fermentation industry can use this study's findings to decide how best to use fruits to improve commercial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]