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Background: Live fuel comprises a significant portion of the fuel consumed in forest and scrub crown fires. However, its flammability remains poorly understood. Although live fuel differs from dead fuel in moisture content, chemical composition, cellular structure and physiological characteristics, its higher moisture content masks the effect of other characteristics on its flammability. Aims: The aim of the study was to delineate and assess the effects of live/dead condition, moisture content and particle size on flammability of gorse (Ulex europaeus L.). Methods: Live and dead gorse material of three size classes (0–3, 3–6, and 6–10 mm in diameter) at six moisture contents (0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) was tested in a cone calorimeter to evaluate its flammability using new sample preparation and moisture conditioning techniques. Key results: On average, live fuel ignited 21% slower, reached 11% higher peak heat release rate, and had a 12% shorter burn duration than dead fuel of the same moisture content. These differences were most pronounced in coarser material. Conclusions: For gorse, fine dead fuels increase the likelihood of ignition, fine live fuels contribute to high burning intensities, and coarser live and dead fuels prolong combustion. Implications: These findings highlight the need to account for flammability differences between live and dead fuels in fire behaviour models beyond those driven by variations in moisture content. This study compares the flammability of live and dead vegetation at a range of moisture contents and particle sizes. Live fuel took longer to ignite but burned faster and more intensely than dead fuel of the same moisture content, emphasising the importance of live fuel flammability in fire prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Wildfire spread is influenced significantly by the weather variability. Wind speed and direction changes, resulting from synoptic weather systems and small-scale meteorological processes in complex terrain, can drastically alter fire intensity and spread. Aims. To investigate the use of vector wind change (VWC) integrated with the Fire Weather Index (FWI) as a new metric in fire danger. Methods. A 20-year FWI and modified FWI was calculated from weather station and gridded numerical weather simulation data. Key results. High VWC is found primarily on the South Island, inland and in areas of complex terrain. After incorporating VWC into the FWI, data from the modified FWI show spatiotemporal patterns that highlight the impact of wind variability in the fire danger. Conclusions. High VWC station data mapped with synoptic type suggest the primary factor in determining high VWC is meso- and micro-scale terrain-driven meteorology, not larger synoptic regimes. Implications. The current fire danger metric, the Fire Weather Index (FWI), does not include wind direction changes for high wind speeds. Therefore, the inclusion of VWC as an additional metric in fire danger calculations in a modified FWI could increase operational understanding of high-danger locations and terrain impacts on extreme and unpredictable fire behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification and quantification of fuel is traditionally a labour-intensive, costly and often subjective operation, especially in hazardous vegetation types, such as gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) scrub. In this study, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies were assessed as an alternative to traditional field methodologies for fuel characterisation. UAV laser scanning (ULS) point clouds were captured, and a variety of spatial and intensity metrics were extracted from these data. These data were used as predictor variables in models describing destructively and non-destructively sampled field measurements of total above ground biomass (TAGB) and above ground available fuel (AGAF). Multiple regression of the structural predictor variables yielded correlations of R2 = 0.89 and 0.87 for destructively sampled measurements of TAGB and AGAF, respectively, with relative root mean square error (RMSE) values of 18.6% and 11.3%, respectively. The best metrics for non-destructive field-measurements yielded correlations of R2 = 0.50 and 0.49, with RMSE values of 40% and 30.8%, for predicting TAGB and AGAF, respectively, indicating that ULS-derived structural metrics offer higher levels of precision. UAV-derived versions of the field metrics (overstory height and cover) predicted TAGB and AGAF with R2 = 0.44 and 0.41, respectively, and RMSE values of 34.5% and 21.7%, demonstrating that even simple metrics from a UAV can still generate moderate correlations. In further analyses, UAV photogrammetric data were captured and automatically processed using deep learning in order to classify vegetation into different fuel categories. The results yielded overall high levels of precision, recall and F1 score (0.83 for each), with minimum and maximum levels per class of F1 = 0.70 and 0.91. In conclusion, these ULS-derived metrics can be used to precisely estimate fuel type components and fuel load at fine spatial resolutions over moderate-sized areas, which will be useful for research, wildfire risk assessment and fuel management operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Complex interactions between fuel structure and fire substantially affect fire spread and spatial variability in fire behaviour. Heterogeneous arrangement of the fuel coupled with variability in fuel characteristics can impact heat transfer efficiency, preheating of unburned fuel and consequent ignition and spread. Aim. Study the influence of pre-burn fuel structure (canopy height, spatial arrangement) on fire behaviour (rate of spread, flame residence time) derived from high-resolution video of a prescribed gorse fire. Method. Rate of spread and flame residence time are calculated and mapped from high-resolution overhead visible-spectrum video, and compared with the Canopy Height Model derived from pre-burn Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) scans. Results. Geospatial analytics can provide precision observations of fire behaviour metrics. Rates of spread under high wind conditions are influenced by local changes in canopy height and may be more dependent on other fuel characteristics, while flame residence time is better correlated with canopy height. Conclusions. These observational technology and spatio-temporal analytical techniques highlight how detailed fire behaviour characteristics can be derived from these data. Implications. The results have implications for wildfire modelling and Wildland--Urban Interface (WUI) building design engineers, as the reported dataset is suitable for model validation and the analysis contributes to further understanding of gorse fire hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfire is a highly variable natural phenomenon, yet despite this, climate change is already making wildfire conditions measurably worse around the world; however, detailed knowledge about Aotearoa New Zealand's wildfire climate is currently limited. This study blends weather observations with regional climate model projections to assess Aotearoa New Zealand's 21st‐century wildfire climate. We find that in the 21st‐century, the emergence of a new—more severe wildfire climate will occur. Detailed analysis of observed and simulated wildfire weather finds that "very‐extreme" wildfire weather conditions matching the levels observed in Australia's 2019/2020 "Black Summer" bushfires are possible in regions formerly unaffected. While the extent of emergence is dependent on future emissions, the frequency of very‐extreme conditions for the areas affected can occur at any time and is independent of projected 21st‐century climate changes. Our findings have significant implications for many rural fire authorities, forest managers and investors, and climate mitigation and afforestation programs. Plain Language Summary: Combining highly detailed climate simulations with daily observations of weather and wildfire conditions, we simulate Aotearoa New Zealand's current and future wildfire weather conditions. We find that wildfire weather conditions will increase on average, both in wildfire season length and in the intensity of fires that may take hold, with the most severe wildfire dangers in the central‐south inland areas of the South Island. We find that the wildfire weather conditions will become noticeably worse for many regions than current conditions. For the first time, we find that very‐extreme conditions that led to the devastating 2019–2020 "Black‐Summer" fires in Australia can occur in Aotearoa every 3–20 year for areas of the South Island (Mackenzie Country, Upper Otago, and Marlborough). Our findings have important implications for communities near pine forests, the Government's tree planting plan to tackle climate change, and financial investment stored in plantation forests. Key Points: In the 21st‐century, the emergence of a new—more severe wildfire climate will occurWe discover that "very‐extreme" wildfire weather conditions are possible in regions formerly unaffectedWhile the extent of emergence is dependent on future emissions, the frequency of very‐extreme conditions is independent [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents two new remote sensing approaches that can be used to derive rate of spread and flaming zone velocities of a wildfire at very high spatiotemporal resolution. Time sequential image tracking from thermal or visible video collected on uncrewed aerial vehicles is used to estimate instantaneous spatial rate of spread of a surface fire. The techniques were developed using experimental wheat‐stubble burns carried out near Darfield, New Zealand, in March 2019. The thermal tracking technique is based on Thermal Image Velocimetry, which tracks evolving temperature patterns within an infrared video. The visible tracking technique uses colour thresholding, and tracks fire perimeter progression through time at pixel resolution. Results show that the visible perimeter tracking creates a higher mean rate of spread compared to thermal image velocimetry. The visible perimeter tracking provides rate of spread measurements for fire front progression whereas the thermal tracking techniqueis computationally more expensive, but can resolve velocities of thermal structures within the flaming zone and provides spatiotemporal rate of spread measurements. Both techniques are available as open‐source code and providevital scientific data for new studies concerning e.g. fire–atmospheric interactions or model validation. They may be adapted for operational purposes providing rate of spread at high spatiotemporal resolution. We present two new algorithms that can retrieve rate of spread and flaming velocities of fires from uncrewed aerial vehicles. The thermal tracking is well suited for studying fire–atmospheric interactions whereas the visible image tracking estimates the fire perimeter. Both techniques are available open‐source and may be adapted for operational purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the magnitude of climate change effects is crucial for informing national economic strategies, forest management and offsetting increasing carbon emissions. This study synthesizes predicted climate change impacts and future biosecurity threats to New Zealand's plantation forests. Projected productivity increases for radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don), the main commercial forest species in New Zealand, are slight due to changing climatic conditions. However including photosynthetic effects from increasing CO2, productivity gains across New Zealand averaged 19 per cent by 2040 and 37 per cent by 2090. This increased productivity results in marked increases in wind risk due to trees becoming taller and more slender. The average season length with 'very high and extreme' climatic fire risk increases by 71 per cent up to 2040 and by 83 per cent up to 2090. Currently, the most significant biotic disturbances in New Zealand plantations come from two needle cast diseases, for which climate projections show slight increases or decreases depending on the disease and region. Although insect pests currently cause little damage to New Zealand plantations, damage may increase in the future with projected increases in population and host susceptibility. It has not been possible to fully account for the effects of any new introductions of pests and pathogens and evidence from other countries with a significant resource of planted forests suggest this should not be underestimated. Potentially invasive weedy and damaging tree species are likely to expand their range under climate change and compete more strongly with plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Port Hills fire of February 2017 was New Zealand's most devastating wildfire of recent times. Occurring on the outskirts of Christchurch city, it burned 1660 hectares, destroyed 9 homes and damaged 5 others, and resulted in the evacuation of more than 1400 residents from 450 households. If it were not for the efforts of firefighting agencies, the losses could have been very much greater. It is however worrying, when considered in the context of other significant rural-urban interface wildfires during the 2016/17 fire season, the trend of increasing house loss in New Zealand, and projections for future fire risk with climate change, that the Port Hills wildfire could become the norm that New Zealand fire agencies have to deal with. Now is the time to re-think the use of planning controls and homeowner education to mitigate future fire losses at the rural-urban interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activation energy associated with bulk electrical conduction in functional materials is an important quantity which is often determined by impedance spectroscopy using an Arrhenius-type equation. This is achieved by linear fitting of bulk conductivity obtained from complex (Z*) impedance plots versus T−1 which gives an activation energy Ea(σ) or by linear fitting of the characteristic frequency fmax obtained from the large Debye peak in M′′–log f spectroscopic plots against T−1 which gives an activation energy Ea(fmax). We report an analysis of Ea(σ) and Ea(fmax) values for some typical non-ferroelectric and ferroelectric materials and employ numerical simulations to investigate combinations of different conductivity–temperature and permittivity–temperature profiles on the log fmax–T−1 relationship and Ea(fmax). Results show the log fmax–T−1 relationship and Ea(fmax) are strongly dependent on the permittivity–temperature profile and the temperature range measured relative to Tm (temperature of the permittivity maximum). Ferroelectric materials with a sharp permittivity peak can result in non-linear log fmax–T−1 plots in the vicinity of Tm. In cases where data are obtained either well above or below Tm, linear log fmax–T−1 plots can be obtained but overestimate or underestimate the activation energy for conduction, respectively. It is therefore not recommended to use Ea(fmax) to obtain the activation energy for bulk conduction in ferroelectric materials, instead Ea(σ) should be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shrubland fire behaviour dataset was assembled using data from experimental studies in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and South Africa. The dataset covers a wide range of heathlands and shrubland species associations and vegetation structures. Three models for rate of spread are developed using 2-m wind speed, a wind reduction factor, elevated dead fuel moisture content and either vegetation height (with or without live fuel moisture content) or bulk density. The models are tested against independent data from prescribed fires and wildfires and found to predict fire spread rate within acceptable limits (mean absolute errors varying between 3.5 and 9.1 mmin[sup -1]). A simple model to predict dead fuel moisture content is evaluated, and an ignition line length correction is proposed. Although the model can be expected to provide robust predictions of rate of spread in a broad range of shrublands, the effects of slope steepness and variation in fuel quantity and composition are yet to be quantified. The model does not predict threshold conditions for continuous fire spread, and future work should focus on identifying fuel and weather factors that control transitions in fire behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Weather Research and Forecasting mesoscale atmospheric model was used to investigate fire weather conditions during the 2009-10 New Zealand wildland fire season. The analysis considered New Zealand's version of the Fire Weather Index used in the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, the Haines Index (HI) and the Continuous Haines Index (CHI). This represents the first investigation in New Zealand of the HI and CHI, which rate the potential for extreme fire behaviour or large fire growth based on the lower tropospheric atmospheric stability and humidity. The wildland fire activity during the 2009-10 fire season was typical of New Zealand, and there was considerable spatial and temporal variability in the fire weather conditions. The most frequent severe fire weather conditions as quantified by the fire weather indices occurred to the east of the dividing mountain ranges in both the North Island and South Island, and were associated with the hot, dry and windy north-westerly foehn winds that commonly affect New Zealand. The 36 wildland fires greater in area than 5 ha during the 2009-10 fire season occurred under a range of fire weather conditions, and no correlation was found between the wildland fire size and each individual weather variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model was used to simulate the fire weather conditions for the 2009-10 wildland fire season in New Zealand. The suitability of WRF to simulate the high-end fire weather conditions for this period was assessed through direct comparison with observational data taken from 23 surface and two upper-air stations located across New Zealand. The weather variables and fire weather indices considered in the verification were the 1200 hours NZST air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, 24-h rainfall, New Zealand Fire Weather Index (FWI) and Continuous Haines Index (CHI). On observed high-end fire weather days, the model under-predicted the air temperatures and relative humidities, and over-predicted the wind speeds and 24-h rainfall at most weather stations. The results demonstrated that although WRF is suitable for modelling the air temperatures, there are issues with modelling the wind speeds and rainfall quantities. The model error in the wind speeds and 24-h rainfall contributed significantly towards the model under-prediction of the FWI on observed high-end fire weather days. In addition, the model was not suitable for predicting the number of high-end fire weather days at most weather stations, which represents a serious operational limitation of the WRF model for fire management applications. Finally, the modelled CHI values were only in moderate agreement with the observed values, principally due to the model error in the dew point depression at 850 hPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Ultra Deep Survey (UDS), the deepest degree-scale near-infrared survey to date, to investigate the clustering of star-forming and passive galaxies to z ∼ 3.5. Our new measurements include the first determination of the clustering for passive galaxies at z > 2, which we achieve using a cross-correlation technique. We find that passive galaxies are the most strongly clustered, typically hosted by massive dark matter haloes with Mhalo > 5 × 1012 M⊙ irrespective of redshift or stellar mass. Our findings are consistent with models in which a critical halo mass determines the transition from star-forming to passive galaxies. Star-forming galaxies show no strong correlation between stellar mass and halo mass, but passive galaxies show evidence for an anticorrelation; low-mass passive galaxies appear, on average, to be located in the most massive haloes. These results can be understood if the termination of star formation is most efficient for galaxies of low stellar mass in very dense environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of a comprehensive study of the relationship between galaxy size, stellar mass and specific star formation rate (sSFR) at redshifts 1.3 < z < 1.5. Based on a mass-complete (M⋆ ≥ 6 × 1010 M⊙), spectroscopic sample from the UK Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Ultradeep Survey, with accurate stellar-mass measurements derived from spectro-photometric fitting, we find that at z ≃ 1.4 the location of massive galaxies on the size–mass plane is determined primarily by their sSFR. At this epoch, we find that massive galaxies which are passive (sSFR ≤ 0.1 Gyr−1) follow a tight size–mass relation, with half-light radii a factor of fg = 2.4 ± 0.2 smaller than their local counterparts. Moreover, amongst the passive sub-sample we find no evidence that the off-set from the local size–mass relation is a function of stellar population age. In contrast, we find that massive star-forming galaxies at this epoch lie closer to the local late-type size–mass relation and are only a factor of fg = 1.6 ± 0.2 smaller than observed locally. Based on a sub-sample with dynamical-mass estimates, which consists of both passive and star-forming objects, we also derive an independent estimate of fg = 2.3 ± 0.3 for the typical growth in half-light radius between z ≃ 1.4 and the present day. Focusing on the passive sub-sample, we conclude that to produce the necessary evolution predominantly via major mergers would require an unfeasible number of merger events and overpopulate the high-mass end of the local stellar-mass function. In contrast, we find that a scenario in which mass accretion is dominated by minor mergers can comfortably produce the necessary evolution, whereby an increase in stellar mass of only a factor of ≃2, accompanied by size growth of a factor of ≃3.5, is required to reconcile the size–mass relation at z ≃ 1.4 with that observed locally. Finally, we note that a significant fraction (44 ± 12 per cent) of the passive galaxies in our sample have a disc-like morphology, providing additional evidence that separate physical processes are responsible for the quenching of star formation and morphological transformation in massive galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Spasticity is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is a major contributor to disability. Sativex®, an oromucosal spray containing cannabis-based medicinal products, has been found to be effective in reducing spasticity symptoms.Objective: Our objective was to estimate the cost effectiveness of Sativex® plus oral anti-spasticity medicines compared with the current standard treatment for moderate or severe spasticity in MS in the UK.Methods: A Markov model was used to assess the costs and benefits of Sativex® plus oral anti-spasticity medicines or current standard treatment based on their effects on the quality of life of patients. The main outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in terms of costs per additional QALY gained over 5 years of treatment. One-way, multi-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the impact of uncertainties on the findings.Results: In the base case, Sativex® plus oral anti-spasticity medicines resulted in incremental costs of £7600 and a QALY gain of 0.15 per person over 5 years (ICER = £49 300 per QALY).[year 2009 data for costs]. Findings were sensitive to the costs of Sativex® (price and dose) and differences in utilities between responders and non-responders.Conclusions: Using a willingness-to-pay threshold of £30 000 per QALY, Sativex® appears unlikely to be considered cost effective by UK funders of healthcare for spasticity in MS. This is unfortunate, since it appears that Sativex® use is likely to benefit some patients in the management of this common consequence of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present spectroscopic confirmation of 10 highly luminous ( L≥ 2 L★) Lyα emitters (LAEs) in the redshift range 6.01 < z < 6.49 (nine galaxies and one active galactic nucleus), initially drawn from a sample of 14 zphot≥ 6 Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) selected from an area of 0.25 deg2 within the UK Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Ultra-Deep Survey (UDS). Overall, our high rate of spectroscopic confirmation (≥71 per cent) and low rate of contamination provides a strong vindication of the photometric redshift analysis used to define the original sample. By considering star formation rate estimates based on the Lyα and ultraviolet continuum luminosity we conclude that our sample is consistent with a Lyα escape fraction of ≃25 per cent. Moreover, after careful consideration of the potential uncertainties and biases, we find that 40-50 per cent of our sample of L≥ 2 L★ galaxies at 6.0 < z < 6.5 display strong Lyα emission (rest-frame equivalent width ≥25 Å), a fraction which is a factor of ≃2 higher than previously reported for L≤ L★ galaxies at z≃ 6. Our results suggest that, as the epoch of reionization is approached, it is plausible that the LAE fraction amongst luminous ( L≥ 2 L★) LBGs shows a similarly sharp increase to that observed in their lower luminosity ( L≤ L★) counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nineteen wheat cultivars, released from 1934 to 2000, were grown at two organic and two non-organic sites in each of 3 years (2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07). Assessments included grain yield, grain protein concentration, protein yield, disease incidence and green leaf area (GLA). The superiority of each cultivar (the sum of the squares of the differences between its mean in each environment and the mean of the best cultivar there, divided by twice the number of environments; CS) was calculated for yield, grain protein concentration and protein yield, and ranked in each environment. The yield and grain protein concentration CS were more closely correlated with cultivar release date at the non-organic sites than at organic sites. This difference may be attributed to higher yield levels with larger differences among cultivars at the non-organic sites, rather than to improved stability (i.e. similar ranks) across sites. The significant difference in the correlation of protein yield CS and cultivar age between organic and non-organic sites would support evidence that the ability to take up mineral nitrogen (N) compared to soil N has been a component of the selection conditions of more modern cultivars (released after 1989). This is supported by assessment of GLA, where more modern cultivars in the non-organic systems had greater late-season GLA, a trend that was not identified in organic conditions. This effect could explain the poor correlation between age and protein yield CS in organic compared to non-organic conditions where modern cultivars are selected to benefit from later nitrogen (N) availability which includes the spring nitrogen applications tailored to coincide with peak crop demand. Under organic management, N release is largely based on the breakdown of fertility-building crops incorporated (ploughed-in) in the previous autumn. The release of nutrients from these residues is dependent on the soil conditions, which includes temperature and microbial populations, in addition to the potential leaching effect of high winter rainfall in the UK. In organic cereal crops, early resource capture is a major advantage for maximizing the utilization of nutrients from residue breakdown. It is concluded that selection of cultivars under conditions of high agrochemical inputs selects for cultivars that yield well under maximal conditions in terms of nutrient availability and pest, disease and weed control. The selection conditions for breeding have a tendency to select cultivars which perform relatively better in non-organic compared to organic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Thirty shrimp, marine fish, freshwater fish, and canned fish composite samples collected and prepared as part of the Canadian Total Diet Study were analysed for 39 different veterinary drug residues. The analyses were undertaken to obtain baseline data that could be used to estimate the dietary exposure of Canadians to these residues. The most frequently observed residue was AOZ (four out of 30 samples), the metabolite of furazolidone, at a range of 0.50 to 2.0 ng g-1 wet weight. Other residues detected included enrofloxacin (three samples; 0.3–0.73 ng g-1), leucomalachite green (three samples; 0.73–1.2 ng g-1), oxolinic acid (two samples; 0.3–4.3 ng g-1), AMOZ (the metabolite of furaltadone; one sample; 0.40 ng g-1), chloramphenicol (one sample; 0.40 ng g-1), and SEM (the metabolite of nitrofurazone; one sample; 0.8 ng g-1). The results of this survey indicate that Canadians are exposed to low ng g-1 concentrations of some banned and unapproved veterinary drug residues via the consumption of certain fish and shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine whether women's perceptions of their infant remain stable between late pregnancy and the early postnatal period, and to examine the effect of women's expectations and evaluations of their infant on the mother-baby bond. Participants completed questionnaires at 39 weeks gestation and 3 weeks after birth. Questionnaires measured demographic details, expected/actual infant characteristics, symptoms of anxiety and depression and the mother-baby bond (postpartum only). It was found that there was a significant difference between expectations and evaluations, with infants being perceived as less fussy, more adaptable and dull than they were expected to be. Both expectations of the baby and evaluation of the baby had a significant effect on the mother-baby bond. Women who expected their infant to have a more difficult temperament and then evaluated them, similarly reported a poorer mother-baby bond postpartum. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in pregnancy were unrelated to expectations of the baby, or to the postnatal mother-baby bond. The effects of parity and postnatal anxiety and depression were also examined. The results are discussed, suggesting that a subgroup of women who have negative perceptions of their infant before and after birth may be at risk of mother-infant attachment problems and long-term mother-infant difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s44162-023-00022-x.Correction: J Rare Dis 2, 18 (2023)https://doi.org/10.1007/s44162-023-00022-xThe original publication of this article [[1]] contained incorrect funding information. The incorrect and correct information is listed in this correction article, the original article has been updated.Incorrect fundingNo funding was received.Correct fundingHM is a Medical Research Council Clinical Doctoral Training Fellow - (MR/V028723/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom)By Helen Pearce and Holly MabillardReported by Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of sibling family structure —including the number of children, age gaps, presence of a twin, sibling position, and gender composition — on emotion understanding and its development in children aged 5–6 years. A total of 409 preschoolers participated. Emotion understanding was assessed using The Test of Emotion Comprehension at the baseline and then again at a 1-year follow-up. In addition to the primary variables, executive functions (comprising visual and verbal working memory and cognitive flexibility) and non-verbal intelligence were controlled for in the analysis. We used the Dimensional Change Card Sort task to assess cognitive flexibility, the Sentence Repetition and Memory for Designs subtests of NEPSY-II to measure verbal and visual working memory, respectively, and Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices to assess non-verbal intelligence. Sibling data were obtained from the parent surveys, while psychological assessments were administered to children by psychologists. While sibling family structure influences emotion understanding, it does not significantly affect its development over a year. A more advanced reflective emotional understanding is associated with higher cognitive flexibility and having a younger sibling, compared to other sibling positions. The results of this study offer additional knowledge for parents, educators, family therapists, and child psychologists seeking a deeper understanding of emotional development in children. These professionals can design interventions and programs that leverage sibling and peer relationships to foster emotional development, encourage collaboration through age-diverse activities, and promote caregiving roles to enhance family and group dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ageing process is associated with an increased probability of accumulating health deficits, chronic conditions and geriatric syndromes, leading to a growing prevalence of multimorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions (of which, at least one physical condition). One of the most frequent and direct consequences of multimorbidity, especially amongst older adults, is polypharmacy, a condition characterized by the concomitant use of five or more drugs per day. Polypharmacy is one of the main risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes, including drug-drug interactions and adverse drug reactions, also resulting in increased hospitalizations, morbidity, and increased use of healthcare resources, with considerable implications for healthcare costs. Deprescribing is one of potential approaches to reduce inappropriate prescribing and it is defined as the stopping or dose reduction of medications that are either inappropriate or unnecessary, especially among patients with polypharmacy. In this review, the major issues associated with polypharmacy among older people, the current guidelines for the management of polypharmacy and the strategies to implement deprescribing in different settings (i.e., hospital setting, nursing homes and general practice) are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high performance of novel three-component composites with 2–1–2 connectivity is reported and discussed. Layers of the composites are parallel-connected, and each layer contains the ferroelectric (FE) component. The layer of the first type (LFT) represents domain-engineered single crystal poled along either [0 0 1] or [0 1 1]. The layer of the second type is described as a system of long FE ceramic rods that have the shape of an elliptic cylinder and are aligned in a polymer medium. Piezoelectric coefficients d 3 j ∗ and g 3 j ∗ and sets of figures of merit (FOM) (energy-harvesting d 3 j ∗ g 3 j ∗ , modified F 3 j ∗ σ for a stress-driven harvester and modified F 3 j ∗ ξ for a strain-driven harvester) are analyzed to show their large values and specifics of the anisotropy when varying volume fractions of components and a rotation angle of the ceramic rod bases. For the first time, the studied parameters are compared in two directions: (i) the composite based on [0 0 1]-poled single crystal versus the composite based on [0 1 1]-poled single crystal and (ii) the lead-free composite versus the lead-containing composite (both based on [0 0 1]-poled single crystals). The advantages of the high-performance lead-free composite are discussed. The 2–1–2 composites put forward in this paper are of interest as advanced materials suitable for piezoelectric sensors, actuators and energy-harvesting systems operating at constant stress or strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which devastated the global economy and healthcare system. The infection caused an unforeseen rise in COVID-19 patients and increased the mortality rate globally. This study gives an overall idea about host-pathogen interaction, immune responses to COVID-19, recovery status of infection, targeted organs and complications associated, and comparison of post-infection immunity in convalescent subjects and non-infected individuals. The emergence of the variants and episodes of COVID-19 infections made the situation worsen. The timely introduction of vaccines and precautionary measures helped control the infection's severity. Later, the population that recovered from COVID-19 grew significantly. However, understanding the impact of healthcare issues resulting after infection is paramount for improving an individual's health status. It is now recognised that COVID-19 infection affects multiple organs and exhibits a broad range of clinical manifestations. So, post COVID-19 infection creates a high risk in individuals with already prevailing health complications. The identification of post-COVID-19-related health issues and their appropriate management is of greater importance to improving patient's quality of life. The persistence, sequelae and other medical complications that normally last from weeks to months after the recovery of the initial infection are involved with COVID-19. A multi-disciplinary approach is necessary for the development of preventive measures, techniques for rehabilitation and strategies for clinical management when it comes to long-term care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness and social isolation, which are significant determinants of both mortality and illness, demand immediate attention. They are critical public health and policy subjects, particularly for older people in long-term care institutions. This review delves into the profound impact of these feelings, such as loneliness, depressive symptoms, and social isolation, on their overall well-being. The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive examination of the characteristics associated with these feelings among older people residing in long-term facilities, drawing attention to this frequently disregarded subject matter. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive scoping review of articles published between 2010 and 2023 was conducted. Six databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Oxford Academic) were searched for relevant articles about loneliness in nursing homes and long-term facilities. The final review, a comprehensive examination of 71 qualitative and quantitative studies, has resulted in seven main themes: sociodemographic factors, physical and mental health well-being, social network, the COVID-19 pandemic, meaningful activities, and loss of autonomy. These findings provide a robust foundation for understanding and addressing loneliness and social isolation among older people in long-term facilities. This scoping review has highlighted six themes, providing evidence and incentive for you, as healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, to take a leading role in promoting person-centred care and educating your peers about the consequences of loneliness and social isolation. It is crucial to involve family, friends, and other multidisciplinary team members in care planning and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts. Most importantly, it would be best to empower older adults to maintain their autonomy, engage in enjoyable activities, and socialise with other service users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers revolutionary design capabilities but introduces cybersecurity vulnerabilities due to its digital integration. While existing research focuses on cyber threats, a significant gap exists in addressing physical and cyber risks. The current research focuses on cyber threats, but more attention needs to be paid to addressing physical and cyber risks. This paper proposes a new risk assessment framework that considers both physical and cyber threats quantitatively and qualitatively and helps safeguard the AM supply chain. The framework identifies, analyses, and prioritises potential threats based on their characteristics. It also considers the trustworthiness of data and the frequency of reported threats to estimate the likelihood of each threat. The risks are then prioritised based on a combined impact-likelihood score. The framework has been validated on the standard benchmark MITRE CVEs dataset and has proven effective in identifying critical vulnerabilities. This approach empowers manufacturers to proactively deal with security concerns and navigate the complexities of the rapidly evolving AM landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application programming interface (API) misuse refers to misconceptions or carelessness in the anticipated usage of APIs, threatening the software system's security. Moreover, API misuses demonstrate significant concealment and are challenging to uncover. Recent advancements have explored enhanced LLMs in a variety of software engineering (SE) activities, such as code repair. Nonetheless, the security implications of using LLMs for these purposes remain underexplored, particularly concerning the issue of API misuse. In this paper, we present an empirical study to observe the bug‐fixing capabilities of LLMs in addressing API misuse related to monitoring resource management (MRM API misuse). Initially, we propose APImisRepair, a real‐world benchmark for repairing MRM API misuse, including buggy programs, corresponding fixed programs, and descriptions of API misuse. Subsequently, we assess the performance of several LLMs using the APImisRepair benchmark. Findings reveal the vulnerabilities of LLMs in repairing MRM API misuse and find several reasons, encompassing factors such as fault localization and a lack of awareness regarding API misuse. Additionally, we have insights on improving LLMs in terms of their ability to fix MRM API misuse and introduce a crafted approach, APImisAP. Experimental results demonstrate that APImisAP exhibits a certain degree of improvement in the security of LLMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neoCRT) followed by surgery has markedly enhanced the quality of survival in patients suffering from local advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Enhancing this treatment requires a deep understanding of its underlying mechanism. The heterogeneous nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly impacts therapeutic responses, presenting complex therapeutic challenges. Methods: In this comprehensive study, we explored the intricate cellular and molecular shifts within the TME of LARC after neoCRT administration. Using single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we meticulously examined 32,417 cells sourced from six samples, each representing different tumor regression grades (TRG: 0 versus 2). This detailed analysis enabled us to characterize the various cell subpopulations, encompassing epithelial cells, lymphocytes, myeloid cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Additionally, we identified their marker genes for deconvolution calculation in the READ cohort of the TCGA project. And we obtain their marker genes for deconvolution calculation in the READ cohort of the TCGA project. Results: Through cluster analysis and pathway comparisons of malignant tumor cells, we discerned that samples with poor tumor regression exhibit enhanced metabolic versatility and adaptability, enabling them to counteract the impacts of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Interestingly, within the TRG2 cohort, we observed a predominant immunosuppressive state in the TME, characterized by the activation of CD4 + regulatory T cells, maintained CD8 + T cell functionality, and a heightened M1 to M2 macrophage ratio. Moreover, the differing outcomes of neoCRT were reflected in the varying interaction dynamics between macrophages (M1 and M2) and CD4+/CD8 + T cells. Furthermore, our data reveal that neoCRT intricately modulates fibroblasts and endothelial cells, primarily through the extracellular matrix remodeling pathway, which orchestrates tumor angiogenesis. All changes were validated through immunofluorescence staining on intraoperative samples before and after treatment. To summarize, our investigation presents a comprehensive exploration of the cellular and molecular metamorphoses within the TME post-neoCRT. Conclusions: By unveiling the sophisticated interaction between the multifaceted cells within the TME and their respective reactions to neoCRT, we establish a robust platform for ensuing future investigations. This study paves the way for novel therapeutic strategies that leverage these insights to bolster the efficacy of neoCRT in managing LARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explores how having pets influences Chinese university students' attitudes and willingness to buy animal welfare certified products. It finds that students from households with pets are more empathetic toward animals and show a greater willingness to support animal welfare certified products, even if it means paying a premium. The research highlights the important role of pet ownership in shaping ethical attitudes toward animals and suggests that this background could be valuable for promoting animal welfare more broadly across society. Additionally, the study emphasizes that policies, businesses, and education should work together to raise awareness about animal welfare and encourage ethical consumption. As global awareness of animal welfare continues to rise, it has become essential to understand the factors that shape individual attitudes and consumption behaviors related to animal welfare. This study empirically investigates how pet ownership influences attitudes towards animal welfare and related consumption intentions among Chinese university students. Findings demonstrate that students from pet-owning households exhibit significantly more favorable attitudes and behaviors concerning animal empathy, awareness of animal welfare, willingness to purchase animal welfare certified products, and the willingness to pay a premium for animal welfare labels. Pet ownership fosters emotional resonance, enhancing empathy and perceptions regarding animal welfare, and influences preferences for animal welfare certified products through simulated consumer choices. By applying propensity score matching (PSM) to mitigate endogeneity concerns, this research advances theoretical discussions surrounding animal welfare attitudes and consumption behaviors. Looking ahead, the promotion of animal welfare should involve coordinated efforts across educational institutions, policy frameworks, and market mechanisms to cultivate a broader understanding and adoption of animal welfare principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The benefits of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) have become increasingly popular. While there is an emerging evidence base on the effectiveness of applying positive psychology in curriculum as preventive, early mental health intervention for higher education students, little is known about the content and pedagogy in these promising courses. Objective: This article describes (a) the rationale for and development of a positive psychology course embedded into the curriculum that aims to foster posttraumatic growth, psychological flexibility, and socio-emotional competencies for higher education students; and (b) a mixed-method non-randomised pre-post study to evaluate the effectiveness of the positive psychology course in achieving positive participant outcomes. Methods: Higher education students from different disciplines will be enrolled to a general education course, "Positive Psychology and Personal Growth", where they will learn progressive topics and complete summative assessments related to key areas in positive psychology. In addition to lectures, participants will engage in constructivist-based experiential activities that are guided by research on PPIs, life-design interventions and constructivist learning principles. The primary outcome is posttraumatic growth, and the secondary outcomes are psychological flexibility, and socio-emotional competencies. Expected results: We hypothesised that after the curriculum-embedded PPI, participants will have significantly higher levels of posttraumatic growth, psychological flexibility, and socio-emotional competencies. Results derived from the questionnaire survey will be supported by corroborating evidence identified from qualitative analysis of participants' summative assessments and follow-up semi-structured interviews on their perceptions of the present course. Discussion: The current study will fill in a gap in existing intervention research and practise in curriculum-embedded PPIs and promote research transparency and pedagogical advancement. The intervention provides guidance and recommendations for educators to consider embedding positive psychology into the formal curriculum as cost-effective, low-intensity, structured, and sustainable educational interventions for higher education students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global Forest Fire Emissions Prediction System (GFFEPS) is a model that estimates biomass burning in near-real time for global air quality forecasting. The model uses a bottom-up approach, based on remotely sensed hotspot locations, and global databases linking burned area per hotspot to ecosystem-type classification at a 1 km resolution. Unlike other global fire emissions models, GFFEPS provides dynamic estimates of fuel consumption, fire behaviour and fire growth based on the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, plant phenology as calculated from daily global weather and burned-area estimates using near-real-time Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite-detected hotspots and historical burned-area statistics. Combining forecasts of daily fire weather and hourly meteorological conditions with a global land classification, GFFEPS produces fuel consumption and emission predictions in 3 h time steps (in contrast to non-dynamic models that use fixed consumption rates and require a collection of burned area to make post-burn estimates of emissions). GFFEPS has been designed for use in operational forecasting applications as well as historical simulations for which data are available. A study was conducted showing GFFEPS predictions through a 6-year period (2015–2020). Regional annual total smoke emissions, burned area and total fuel consumption per unit area as predicted by GFFEPS were generated to assess model performance over multiple years and regions. The model's fuel consumption per unit area results clearly distinguished regions dominated by grassland (Africa) from those dominated by forests (boreal regions) and showed high variability in regions affected by El Niño and deforestation. GFFEPS carbon emissions and burned area were then compared to other global wildfire emissions models, including the Global Fire Assimilation System (GFAS), the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED4.1s) and the Fire INventory from NCAR (FINN 1.5 and 2.5). GFFEPS estimated values lower than GFAS and GFED (80 % and 74 %) and had values similar to FINN 1.5 (97 %). This was largely due to the impact of fuel moisture on consumption rates as captured by the dynamic weather modelling. Model evaluation efforts to date are described – an ongoing effort is underway to further validate the model, with further developments and improvements expected in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy has become a mainstay treatment for HNSCC, with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval of the anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) nivolumab and pembrolizumab in 2016. Five drugs/combinations have received FDA breakthrough designation and are undergoing expedited development in HNSCC. Despite these advances, primary or acquired resistance to ICIs and the FDA-approved EGFR targeting agent cetuximab reduces patient survival, underscoring the need for the development of improved agents and strategies. Areas covered: Here we describe novel agents, their mechanism(s) of action, preclinical results, and ongoing clinical trials in HNSCC. Expert opinion: Established therapeutic targets in HNSCC include EGFR (cetuximab) and PD-1 (pembrolizumab and nivolumab). Despite the detection of many other possible targets in HNSCC cell lines and patient tumors, no other therapies have successfully advanced to date. Identification of predictive biomarkers may guide the use of targeted agents and combination therapies. Clinical trials supported by strong preclinical data in relevant models are more likely to advance treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Android devices become more prevalent, their security risks extend beyond software vulnerabilities to include critical hardware weaknesses. This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of hardware-related vulnerabilities in Android systems, which can bypass even the most sophisticated software defenses. We compile and analyze an extensive range of reported vulnerabilities, introducing a novel categorization framework to facilitate a deeper understanding of these risks, classified by affected hardware components, vulnerability type, and the potential impact on system security. The paper addresses key areas such as memory management flaws, side-channel attacks, insecure system-on-chip (SoC) resource allocation, and cryptographic vulnerabilities. In addition, it examines feasible countermeasures, including hardware-backed encryption, secure boot mechanisms, and trusted execution environments (TEEs), to mitigate the risks posed by these hardware threats. By contextualizing hardware vulnerabilities within the broader security architecture of Android devices, this review emphasizes the importance of hardware security in ensuring system integrity and resilience. The findings serve as a valuable resource for both researchers and security professionals, offering insights into the development of more robust defenses against the emerging hardware-based threats faced by Android devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leukemia is a prevalent pediatric life-threatening hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis. Targeting immune checkpoints (ICs) to reverse T cell exhaustion is a potentially effective treatment for leukemia. Tissue resident memory T (TRM) cells have been found to predict the efficacy of programmed death receptor-1 inhibitor (anti-PD-1) therapy in solid tumors. However, the IC characteristics of TRM cells in leukemia and their relationship with prognosis remain unclear. Methods: We employed multi-color flow cytometry to evaluate the frequencies of CD103+CD4+ and CD103+CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood (PB) of patients with acute myeloid leukemia and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared to healthy individuals. We examined the expression patterns of PD-1 and T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) within the circulating CD103+ T cell subsets affected by leukemia. To further elucidate the immunological landscape, we assessed the differentiation status of CD103+ T cells across various disease states in patients with leukemia. Results: Our findings showed a significant increase in the frequency of CD103+CD8+ T cells in the PB of patients with leukemia who had achieved complete remission (CR) compared to those in the de novo (DN) and relapsed/refractory (RR) stages. This increase was accompanied by a notable decrease in the expression levels of PD-1 and TIGIT in CD103+CD8+ T cells in the CR stage. Additionally, our analysis revealed a higher proportion of CD103+CD8+ T cells in the central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM) subsets of the immune profile. Notably, the proportions of CD103+ naïve T cells, CD103+ TEM, and CD103+ terminally differentiated T cells within the CD8+ T cell population were significantly elevated in patients with CR compared to those in the DN/RR stages. Conclusion: The data indicate that circulating higher frequency of CD103+CD8+ T cells with lower expression of PD-1 and TIGIT are associated with favorable outcomes in patients with leukemia. This suggests a potential role of TRM cells in leukemia prognosis and provides a foundation for developing targeted immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aging of the global population, the incidence of musculoskeletal diseases has been increasing, seriously affecting people's health. As people age, the microenvironment within skeleton favors bone resorption and inhibits bone formation, accompanied by bone marrow fat accumulation and multiple cellular senescence. Specifically, skeletal stem/stromal cells (SSCs) during aging tend to undergo adipogenesis rather than osteogenesis. Meanwhile, osteoblasts, as well as osteocytes, showed increased apoptosis, decreased quantity, and multiple functional limitations including impaired mechanical sensing, intercellular modulation, and exosome secretion. Also, the bone resorption function of macrophage-lineage cells (including osteoclasts and preosteoclasts) was significantly enhanced, as well as impaired vascularization and innervation. In this study, we systematically reviewed the effect of aging on bone and the within microenvironment (including skeletal cells as well as their intracellular structure variations, vascular structures, innervation, marrow fat distribution, and lymphatic system) caused by aging, and mechanisms of osteoimmune regulation of the bone environment in the aging state, and the causal relationship with multiple musculoskeletal diseases in addition with their potential therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) belong to electro-active polymers having high stretchability, rapid response, high energy density, etc. which makes them suitable candidature for the fabrication of soft electromechanical devices. In real application properties of DEs deteriorates due to internal heating and thermal environment. In this work, to realize the rate dependent behavior in thermal environment, material model is modified by using Maxwell elements and hyperelastic equilibrium spring. Formulation is based on the theory of multiplicative split of the deformation gradient and consequently non-linear evolution laws are applicable to study time-dependent material behavior. Further, modified material model is validated well with existing data for one-dimensional thermal environment at different strain rate and stretch, under loading and unloading conditions. Obtained results from modified model shows higher accuracy as compared to existing model and will be helpful for the researchers to evaluate the material behavior for soft robotic components at various range of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of porosity into ferroelectric ceramics can decrease the effective permittivity, thereby enhancing the open circuit voltage and electrical energy generated by the direct piezoelectric effect. However, the decrease in the longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient (d33) with increasing porosity levels currently limiting the range of pore fractions that can be employed. By introducing aligned lamellar pores into (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3, this paper demonstrates an unusual 22–41% enhancement in the d33 compared to its dense counterpart. This unique combination of high d33 and a low permittivity leads to a significantly improved voltage coefficient (g33), energy harvesting figure of merit (FoM33) and electromechanical coupling coefficient (k332$k_{33}^2$). The underlying mechanism for the improved properties is demonstrated to be a synergy between the low defect concentration and high internal polarizing field within the porous lamellar structure. This work provides insights into the design of porous ferroelectrics for applications related to sensors, energy harvesters, and actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]