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Background and objectives: The adverse impacts of climate change on mental health is a burgeoning area, although findings are inconsistent. The emerging concept of eco-anxiety represents distress in relation to climate change and may be related to mental health. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between eco-anxiety with validated mental health outcomes, specifically psychological distress and symptoms of major affective disorders. Design: Systematic review. Methods: EBSCO, ProQuest, and Web of Science databases were searched to February 2024 for studies of adult samples quantifying eco-anxiety (exposure, i.e. fear, worry or anxiety in relation to climate change) and symptoms of psychological distress and major affective disorders (outcomes), as assessed by validated measures. Results: Full text review of 83 studies was performed, and k = 35 studies were included in the review (N = 45 667, 61% female, Mage 31.2 years). Consistently, eco-anxiety showed small to large positive correlations with mental health outcomes of psychological distress, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress symptoms. However, results regarding post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and pathological worry were mixed. Stronger associations were observed where eco-anxiety was operationalised as 'anxiety' rather than 'worry'. Conclusions: Findings underscore that eco-anxiety is related to psychological burden. Greater consideration of eco-anxiety in assessment and treatment is needed in clinical practice and further policy development is warranted at the intersection of climate and health to address the mental health challenges posed by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of myeloid cells (granulocytes and monocytes) in neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative disorders (NDD) is indisputable. Here we discuss the roles of myeloid cells in neurodegenerative diseases, and the recent advances in biofluid and imaging myeloid biomarker research with a focus on methods that can be used in the clinic. For this review, evidence from three neurodegenerative diseases will be included, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). We discuss the potential for these biomarkers to be used in humans with suspected NDD as prognostic, diagnostic, or monitoring tools, identify knowledge gaps in literature, and propose potential approaches to further elucidate the role of myeloid cells in neurodegeneration and better utilize myeloid biomarkers in the understanding and treatment of NDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explored how Cebuano-English-speaking youth navigate language use in digital environments to shape their online identities. Using a Descriptive Phenomenology approach, the research examined the complex relationship between language preferences and digital interactions among participants. Key findings highlight the preference for using Cebuano in casual digital interactions to maintain cultural identity and foster social connections. Additionally, the study reveals the adoption of 'conyo' language--a mix of Cebuano and English--for humor and social bonding purposes. Participants also indicated a strategic preference for English in contexts where credibility and professionalism are valued, reflecting broader societal perceptions. The study emphasizes implications for educators and policymakers to support linguistic diversity online and promote inclusive language practices that celebrate native languages like Cebuano. It also identifies a research gap concerning the influence of global digital trends on local language dynamics among youth. Future studies could further explore how digital environments shape language attitudes and identity formation, informing strategies to enhance digital literacy and intercultural understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in the rationalisation of how structural changes stabilise (or destabilise) diradical systems. Demonstrated herein is that indolocarbazole (ICz) diradicals, substituted with dicyanomethylene (DCM) groups, are useful motifs for dynamic covalent chemistry by self-assembling from isolated monomers to cyclophane structures. The comparison of ICz-based systems substituted with DCM groups in para- or meta-positions (p-ICz-CN and m-ICz-CN) and their short-chain carbazole analogues (p-Cz-CN and m-Cz-CN) may identify new potential design strategies for stimuli-responsive materials. The principal objectives of this investigation are the elucidation of (i) the connection between diradical character and the cyclophane stability, (ii) the spatial disposition of the cyclophane structures, (iii) the monomer/cyclophane interconversion both in solution and solid state in response to external stimuli and (iv) the impact that the different π-conjugation and electronic communication between the DCM terminals exerts on the electronic adsorption of the diradicals and their redox behavior. The spontaneous nature of the cyclophane structure is supported by the negative relative Gibbs free energies calculated at 298 K and experimentally by UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy of the initial yellow solid powder. The conversion to monomeric species having diradical character was demonstrated by variable-temperature (VT) EPR, UV-Vis, Raman and IR measurements, resulting in appreciable chromic changes. In addition, electrochemical oxidation and reduction convert the cyclophane dimer (m-ICz-CN)2 to the monomer monocations and dianions, respectively. This research demonstrates how the chemical reactivity and physical properties of π-conjugated diradicals can be effectively tuned by subtle changes in their chemical structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this longitudinal study of students with concealable chronic health conditions (CCHCs), we applied components of interpersonal disclosure process models to investigate how illness disclosures and perceived partner responsiveness conferred health and social benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students with CCHCs and in relationships completed online surveys at the beginning, middle, and end of the academic year in which they returned to campus amid the COVID-19 pandemic (n Time1 = 101, n Time2 = 52, n Time3 = 54). Mixed models showed students with greater illness disclosures and perceived partner responsiveness had better physical health, engaged in less health-compromising behaviors, felt less worried and stressed about the COVID-19 pandemic, and experienced lower illness-related stigma, discrimination, and social isolation. Over time, students' greater illness self-disclosures predicted lower health-compromising behaviors and illness-related discrimination. Notably, perceived partner responsiveness connected greater illness self-disclosures to better health, COVID-related, and social-contextual outcomes. These findings demonstrate the health and social benefits of talking openly about concealable illnesses with partners and, in turn, feeling cared for, validated, and understood amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides new evidence on relational pathways to better social and health outcomes among those with heightened health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are increasingly recognised as important sites for biodiversity and essential for improving human-nature connections. However, urban areas are also hotspots for rats, which negatively impact biodiversity due to competition and depredation. Urban residents may undertake rat control on their properties, but the effectiveness of such volunteer initiatives for broader biodiversity outcomes has not been tested in urban environments. We conducted a comprehensive study inclusive of rat abundance, adult bird diversity, and bird breeding success. We monitored rat (Norway rat Rattus norvegicus; ship rat Rattus rattus) presence and modelled detection probabilities and occupancy in suburban residential backyards in Auckland, New Zealand. We also compared bird abundance and richness among backyards and recorded 140 nesting attempts from 15 bird species between September 2021 and February 2022. Despite rat control, rats were detected at some point in all backyards, though relative abundance was low, and fewer rats were detected in backyards with more frequent rat control. Higher bird abundance, and to a lesser extent richness, were associated with proximity to native vegetation patches and more frequent rat control. Overall fledging success was relatively high and predation by rats was relatively low compared to previous research. Nest survival was slightly higher for introduced bird species. Daily nest survival rate increased with nest height, proximity to native vegetation patches, and when rat detection rates decreased. Although the effect was small, frequent rat control within a backyard was associated with increased fledging success and increased bird species richness and abundance. Further research is required to explore the factors that interact with backyard rat control to improve local outcomes for birds. High levels of community participation in backyard rat control are required to improve neighbourhood-wide outcomes for birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of how education research can be 'useful' is an enduring and challenging one. In recent years, this question has been approached by universities through a widespread 'impact' agenda. In this article, we explore the tensions between usefulness and impact and present six stories that reflect on research use with communities. These stories engage issues of the risk of usefulness, the time that is needed to work collaboratively for research usefulness, whether theories developed in universities can be useful to communities for understanding the problems they face, who has the power to steer research to serve their purposes, and how community collective action can enhance the usefulness of research. The article concludes with a section that reflects on the importance of continuing to engage with the debates about research use in often highly commercially oriented university environments. This article brings together diverse voices that wrestle with the politics of research use beyond the neat, linear narratives of change that impact agendas tend to portray. These illustrations of the ethical dilemmas encountered through navigating research use with communities contribute to an ongoing conversation about refusing capitalist and colonialist logics of research extraction while working within institutions often driven by such logics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Semantic intrusion errors (SIEs) are both sensitive and specific to PET amyloid-β (Aβ) burden in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Objective: Plasma Aβ biomarkers including the Aβ42/40 ratio using mass spectrometry are expected to become increasingly valuable in clinical settings. Plasma biomarkers are more clinically informative if linked to cognitive deficits that are salient to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: This study included 119 older adults enrolled in the 1Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), 45 aMCI participants scored below the established Aβ42/40 ratio cut-off of 0.160 using the Quest AD-Detect™ assay indicating Aβ positivity (Aβ+), while 50 aMCI participants scored above this cut-off indicating Aβ negative status (Aβ–). Additionally, 24 cognitively unimpaired (CU) persons scored above the cut-off of 0.160 (Aβ–). Results: The aMCI plasma Aβ+ group evidenced the greatest percentage of SIEs, followed by the aMCI Aβ–. The CU Aβ– group exhibited the lowest percentage of SIEs. After adjustment for global cognitive impairment, aMCI plasma Aβ+ continued to demonstrate greater SIEs on tests tapping the failure to recover from proactive semantic interference (frPSI) as compared to the aMCI Aβ–group. Using pre-established cut-offs for frPSI impairment, 8.3% of CU Aβ– participants evidenced deficits, compared to 37.8% of aMCI Aβ–, and 74.0% of aMCI Aβ+. Conclusions: SIEs reflecting frPSI were associated with aMCI Aβ+ status based on the Aβ42/40 ratio. Results suggest the importance of SIEs as salient cognitive markers that map onto underlying AD pathology in the blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are effective therapy for patients with end‐stage heart failure. Current VAD controllers offer improved interactivity, yet limitations of the visual, tactile, and auditory interface persist that impact patient experience and quality of life (QoL). This study explores how VAD controllers can be redesigned using a human‐centered design approach to enhance the emotional and functional experience of the device for patients. Methods: VAD patients (n = 21), caregivers (n = 4) and healthcare practitioners (n = 24) were interviewed to uncover design opportunities. From this, a series of realistic scenarios to design for emerged. A "design by analogy" method took inspiration from existing consumer products to ideate new functionality for the VAD wearable system, creating concepts for a controller interface and paired wearable device. An additional 15 patients and 2 caregivers were engaged to explore current VAD controller experiences and evaluate the future‐state concepts. Results: This research validated the need for increased automation and emergency functionality in VAD controllers, including remote monitoring of data, accurate communication of battery status, and automated medical alerts for critical device alarms. "Manage my health," "Feeling normal," "Social belonging," "Feeling safe," and "Sense of control" emerged as key patient concerns to be met by future VAD controller designs. Conclusions: The study demonstrated an innovative and relevant approach to improve usability of future VAD peripherals. By considering both emotional and functional perspectives in the design of lifesaving medical devices such as VADs, device manufacturers can uncover new opportunities to improve patient QoL through improved user experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indigenous peoples globally continue to be underrepresented in biomarker, genomic, and biobanking research. The aim of this study was to identify core components of culturally safe and ethical biomarker and genomic research with Indigenous peoples in Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Methods: A scoping review with a systematic search strategy was conducted utilising electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL and Global Health. Key search terms included 'biomarkers' and 'genomics' research involving Indigenous peoples in relation to ethical and legal principles of respect, sovereignty, governance and existing policies. Original research studies published from the year 2000 to the 1st of August 2023 were reviewed in a systematic manner. Components of culturally safe and ethical research processes were identified and synthesised descriptively. The quality of included studies was assessed using an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Appraisal Tool through an Indigenous lens. Results: Seven interrelated research components were identified from seventeen studies as core processes to enhance the cultural safety of biomarker and genomic research. These included building relationships and community engagement, learning, research coordination, logistics, consent, samples and biospecimens, biobank structures and protections and policy. The importance of ensuring self-determination, ownership and decision-making power is emphasised in processes to establish and conduct biomarker and genomic research with Indigenous peoples. Conclusions: Components that contribute to the cultural safety of biomarker and genomic research processes identified in this scoping review were assembled into a theoretical framework to guide research practice. Further evaluation is required by Indigenous peoples and communities to appropriate and adapt this framework for local use to promote the cultural safety of research processes and minimise barriers to Indigenous peoples' participation in biomarker and genomic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of United States (U.S.) troops deployed to the Middle East and Southwest Asia were exposed to toxic airborne hazards and/or open-air burn pits. Burn pit emissions contain particulate matter combined with toxic gasses and heavy metals. Ongoing research has demonstrated that exposures to the airborne hazards from military burn pits have profound and lasting health and wellness consequences. Research on the long-term health consequences of exposure to open burn pits has been limited. Work continues to understand the scope of the health impacts and the underlying pathobiology following exposures and to establish care standards. The U.S. Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was signed into law August 2022. This act expands the benefits and services to U.S. Veterans exposed to toxicants, requires the Veterans Health Administration to provide toxic exposure screening, and supports increased research, education, and treatment due to toxic occupational exposures. This review highlights the state of the science related to military burn pit exposures research with an emphasis on pulmonary health. Clinical data demonstrate areas of reduced or delayed pulmonary ventilation and lung pathologies such as small airways scarring, diffuse collagen deposition and focal areas of ossification. Identification and characterization of foreign matter deposition in lung tissues are reported, including particulate matter, silica, titanium oxides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These data are consistent with toxic exposures and with the symptoms reported by post-deployment Veterans despite near-normal non-invasive pulmonary evaluations. On-going work toward new methods for non-invasive pulmonary diagnoses and disease monitoring are described. We propose various studies and databases as resources for clinical and health outcomes research. Pre-clinical research using different burn pit modeling approaches are summarized, including oropharyngeal aspiration, intranasal inhalation, and whole-body exposure chamber inhalation. These studies focus on the impacts of specific toxic substances as well as the effects of short-term and sustained insults over time on the pulmonary systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sex differences in human brain anatomy have been well-documented, though remain significantly underexplored during early development. The neonatal period is a critical stage for brain development and can provide key insights into the role that prenatal and early postnatal factors play in shaping sex differences in the brain. Methods: Here, we assessed on-average sex differences in global and regional brain volumes in 514 newborns aged 0–28 days (236 birth-assigned females and 278 birth-assigned males) using data from the developing Human Connectome Project. We also assessed sex-by-age interactions to investigate sex differences in early postnatal brain development. Results: On average, males had significantly larger intracranial and total brain volumes, even after controlling for birth weight. After controlling for total brain volume, females showed significantly greater total cortical gray matter volumes, whilst males showed greater total white matter volumes. After controlling for total brain volume in regional comparisons, females had significantly increased white matter volumes in the corpus callosum and increased gray matter volumes in the bilateral parahippocampal gyri (posterior parts), left anterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral parietal lobes, and left caudate nucleus. Males had significantly increased gray matter volumes in the right medial and inferior temporal gyrus (posterior part) and right subthalamic nucleus. Effect sizes ranged from small for regional comparisons to large for global comparisons. Significant sex-by-age interactions were noted in the left anterior cingulate gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus (posterior parts). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that sex differences in brain structure are already present at birth and remain comparatively stable during early postnatal development, highlighting an important role of prenatal factors in shaping sex differences in the brain. Plain Language Summary: Sex differences in the human brain have attracted substantial scientific and societal interest, but less is known about whether the brain shows sex differences at birth. Studying sex differences at birth can help to understand how prenatal factors (e.g., hormone levels before birth) and early postnatal factors (e.g., exposure to the sensory environment and caregiver interactions) contribute to shaping sex differences in the brain. In this study, we investigated on-average sex differences in brain structure in a large sample of newborn infants shortly after birth. Our findings show that several on-average differences are present at birth, suggesting that factors before birth play an important role in initiating sex differences in the brain. Highlights: At birth, males on average show significantly increased total brain volumes compared to females even after accounting for sex differences in birth weight. After controlling for total brain volume, females on average show significantly increased total cortical gray matter volumes, while males show increased total white matter volumes. After controlling for total brain volume, significant on-average sex differences are observed in regions such as the corpus callosum (F > M), bilateral parietal lobes (F > M), left anterior cingulate gyrus (F > M), left caudate nucleus (F > M), and right medial and inferior temporal gyri (M > F). Fewer global and regional volumes showed significant sex-by-age interactions, except for the left anterior cingulate gyrus (F > M) and left superior temporal gyrus (M > F). Several sex differences that have previously been observed later in development are present from birth, emphasising the key role that prenatal factors play in initiating sex differences in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Semantic intrusion errors (SIEs) are both sensitive and specific to PET amyloid-β (Aβ) burden in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Objective: Plasma Aβ biomarkers including the Aβ42/40 ratio using mass spectrometry are expected to become increasingly valuable in clinical settings. Plasma biomarkers are more clinically informative if linked to cognitive deficits that are salient to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: This study included 119 older adults enrolled in the 1Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), 45 aMCI participants scored below the established Aβ42/40 ratio cut-off of 0.160 using the Quest AD-Detect™ assay indicating Aβ positivity (Aβ+), while 50 aMCI participants scored above this cut-off indicating Aβ negative status (Aβ–). Additionally, 24 cognitively unimpaired (CU) persons scored above the cut-off of 0.160 (Aβ–). Results: The aMCI plasma Aβ+ group evidenced the greatest percentage of SIEs, followed by the aMCI Aβ–. The CU Aβ– group exhibited the lowest percentage of SIEs. After adjustment for global cognitive impairment, aMCI plasma Aβ+ continued to demonstrate greater SIEs on tests tapping the failure to recover from proactive semantic interference (frPSI) as compared to the aMCI Aβ–group. Using pre-established cut-offs for frPSI impairment, 8.3% of CU Aβ– participants evidenced deficits, compared to 37.8% of aMCI Aβ–, and 74.0% of aMCI Aβ+. Conclusions: SIEs reflecting frPSI were associated with aMCI Aβ+ status based on the Aβ42/40 ratio. Results suggest the importance of SIEs as salient cognitive markers that map onto underlying AD pathology in the blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the distributed impact of severe mental health conditions (SMHCs) among people with lived experience of SMHCs, their family members, and community members. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with family key informants of people with SMHCs (n = 32), people with SMHCs (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression) (n = 10), and community members (n = 6) in rural Ethiopia. The study was nested within a long-standing population-based cohort of people with SMHCs. Interviews were conducted in Amharic and were audiotaped. We conducted a thematic analysis. Results: We identified four themes: stress and physical tolls, lost expectations, social disruption, and economic threat. Family members reported stress and hopelessness; some also tried to harm themselves. Family members reported that their relationships with each other and with the wider community were disrupted significantly. Spouses and children did not get the support they needed, leading to unmet expectations: being left alone to care for children, unable to go to school or dropping out early. The study participants with SMHCs also spoke about the impacts of their illness on other family members and the community which appeared to be a source of shame and self-isolation. Both the family and the community respondents reported the economic effect of the illness which sometimes led to selling assets, debt, unemployment, forced migration, and food insecurity. Community members emphasised the economic burden and danger related to the aggressive behavior of the person with SMHCs, while the person with the illness and their family members blamed the community for the stigma and discrimination they experienced. Conclusion: SMHCs have profound consequences for the person with the illness, their family members, and the community. Future interventions for SMHCs should consider household-level interventions to address economic and care needs and mitigate the intergenerational impact. The community should be considered as a resource as well as a target for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological and clinical studies often have missing data, frequently analysed using multiple imputation (MI). In general, MI estimates will be biased if data are missing not at random (MNAR). Bias due to data MNAR can be reduced by including other variables ("auxiliary variables") in imputation models, in addition to those required for the substantive analysis. Common advice is to take an inclusive approach to auxiliary variable selection (i.e. include all variables thought to be predictive of missingness and/or the missing values). There are no clear guidelines about the impact of this strategy when data may be MNAR. Methods: We explore the impact of including an auxiliary variable predictive of missingness but, in truth, unrelated to the partially observed variable, when data are MNAR. We quantify, algebraically and by simulation, the magnitude of the additional bias of the MI estimator for the exposure coefficient (fitting either a linear or logistic regression model), when the (continuous or binary) partially observed variable is either the analysis outcome or the exposure. Here, "additional bias" refers to the difference in magnitude of the MI estimator when the imputation model includes (i) the auxiliary variable and the other analysis model variables; (ii) just the other analysis model variables, noting that both will be biased due to data MNAR. We illustrate the extent of this additional bias by re-analysing data from a birth cohort study. Results: The additional bias can be relatively large when the outcome is partially observed and missingness is caused by the outcome itself, and even larger if missingness is caused by both the outcome and the exposure (when either the outcome or exposure is partially observed). Conclusions: When using MI, the naïve and commonly used strategy of including all available auxiliary variables should be avoided. We recommend including the variables most predictive of the partially observed variable as auxiliary variables, where these can be identified through consideration of the plausible casual diagrams and missingness mechanisms, as well as data exploration (noting that associations with the partially observed variable in the complete records may be distorted due to selection bias). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we review Alice Marwick's book, The Private is Political: Networked Privacy and Social Media , published by Yale University Press in 2023. In the book, Marwick argues that the digital nature of the social media landscape fundamentally changes contemporary notions of privacy. We trace three specific elements of her argument, namely: (1) the design of networked technologies to connect and leak, (2) the subsequent differential harms on those historically marginalized, and (3) the need to shift from individualized to more contextual and structural understandings of privacy. We discuss the implications of these arguments not just for privacy, but for expression. We describe the tensions around freedom of expressions and content moderation online. Finally, we conclude with a reflection on these arguments for academic expression given the socio-technological context in which we work and the differential harms that impact academics from historically marginalized communities. Building on Marwick's arguments, we call for a social, contextual, and structural approach for responding to the targeted harassment of academics to protect and ensure academic freedom for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces and explains the key concerns that have informed and inspired this Special Issue of the Community Development Journal. It sees punishment and prisons as troubling issues for community development despite the comparative lack of attention they have received in the journal to date. The article acknowledges that the specific forms that punishment, incarceration and their alternatives take have profound implications for the lives people live in communities; but that those forms of punishment, as well as resistances to them, are also shaped by collective activism and actors operating from , on , through or on behalf of communities, both real and imagined. We reflect on changing conceptions of the carceral state, positing that 'carceral community development' is playing an increasingly prominent role in the extension, outsourcing and normalization of punishment internationally. Against such tendencies, we consider the potential for abolitionist theory and practice to contribute to a critically self-reflexive community development that is committed to anti-carceral or de-carceral futures, and to the building of concrete forms of community in the here and now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Health literacy development can help to reduce the growing noncommunicable disease burden globally. However, less is known about the health literacy needs of pregnant women and mothers necessary to guide health literacy development in this priority population group. To enhance the understanding of the health literacy needs of pregnant women and mothers, this study aimed to develop data‐informed health literacy profiles of pregnant women and mothers with children (0–8 years) in Tasmania, as well as data‐informed vignettes describing the health literacy needs of women in the different health literacy profiles. Methods: An online cross‐sectional survey was undertaken. The survey included demographic questions and the health literacy questionnaire (HLQ). The data were analysed using a cluster analysis to identify subgroups with varying health literacy needs. The clusters, in conjunction with demographic characteristics, were used to generate data‐informed vignettes representing various health literacy profiles. Results: The cluster analysis generated seven health literacy profiles and five vignettes representing diverse health literacy needs of pregnant women and mothers in Tasmania. Each vignette tells a data‐informed story of women in Tasmania experiencing diverse health literacy strengths and challenges influencing their access and use of health information and health services. This allowed deeper exploration of the health literacy needs of the subgroups within the target population. Conclusion: A better understanding of the health literacy needs of pregnant women and mothers can provide policymakers and health care providers with the key insights needed to guide the planning and development of fit‐for‐purpose solutions. This understanding can also guide the tailoring of existing health and community services, to create a health literacy‐responsive environment that is more likely to meet the diverse health needs of pregnant women and mothers. So What: We must shift away from a 'one size fits all' approach and promote the development of a health literacy‐responsive environment to improve health and equity outcomes for pregnant women and mothers in Tasmania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health literacy is a vital asset needed to empower individuals to take control of their health. An individual's health literacy is the ability to find, use and apply health information and services to manage their health. They interact with the health services and members of their community who can offer additional support. Creating the role of a health literacy mediator (HLM) may help to improve health literacy outcomes for all. For this role to be accepted by individuals within a community, the community itself should be involved in the development of the role s and associated responsibilities. The aim of this study was to engage with community members to acquire their perspectives on the potential of this role. Qualitative semi-structured online interviews were used to engage in discussions with local community members. This study implemented a constructivist epistemology with qualitative research design. Data were thematically analysed to identify evolving themes that were important to the HLM role. The analysis identified three main themes that need to be considered when adopting an HLM role: (i) health empowerment of individuals, organizations and communities, (ii) meeting the needs of the community and (iii) addressing the existing barriers in navigating and accessing the healthcare system. Those working in the health promotion space must adopt novel and innovative ways to improve HL on both a local and an international scale. This study concluded that for the role of a HLM to be accepted, it would need to encompass these attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the critical need for documented adaptation progress in mountain regions by reviewing recently implemented or ongoing adaptation solutions collected from the Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal (A@A Solution Portal). Using a data driven approach, the research explores the characteristics, feasibility, and transformative potential of these solutions. Findings reveal a predominant focus on addressing droughts and floods, aligning with the IPCC’s emphasis on water-related impacts in mountains. Notably, watershed management practices emerge as popular solutions, showcasing their capacity to address multiple concerns beyond climate impacts. Education and awareness, along with land use practices, dominate the types of solutions, reflecting their positive impact on project acceptability and low associated risk of maladaptation. Agricultural land and forests are the main ecosystems where solutions are reported, with an evident association with education and awareness and land use change solutions. Most SDGs and Sendai targets are found to be addressed by the solutions emphasising the importance of documenting project experiences as way to bridge previously reported gaps between policy frameworks and on-the-ground implementation. Despite community involvement being high in many of the solutions, challenges such as gender inequality persists. While solutions often demonstrate local relevance and depth of change, upscaling remains challenging, with limited evidence of mainstreaming and replication. Sustainability criteria are moderately met, incorporating inclusive decision-making but with uncertainty regarding long-term plans. Furthermore, findings underscore the significance of co-developing and maintaining adaptation solution portals, illustrating how this approach enriches our understanding of adaptation progress in mountains. Moreover, this research contributes to broadening the scope of systematic adaptation assessments by providing a nuanced perspective that integrates local needs and diverse knowledge systems. In essence, this study makes a valuable contribution to the evolving landscape of adaptation research, emphasizing the importance of practical insights and collaborative efforts to address the complex challenges posed by climate-related impacts and corresponding adaptation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The phase 3 NEURO-TTRansform trial showed eplontersen treatment for 65 weeks reduced transthyretin (TTR), halted progression of neuropathy impairment, and improved quality of life (QoL) in adult patients with hereditary TTR-mediated amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN), vs. historical placebo. Methods: NEURO-TTRansform enrolled patients with ATTRv-PN. A subset of patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous inotersen 300 mg weekly (Weeks 1–34) and subsequently switched to subcutaneous eplontersen 45 mg every 4 weeks (Weeks 37–81). Change in serum TTR and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were evaluated through Week 85. Effects on neuropathy impairment, QoL, and nutritional status were also evaluated. Results: Of 24 patients randomized to inotersen, 20 (83%) switched to eplontersen at Week 37 and four discontinued due to AEs/investigator decision. Absolute change in serum TTR was greater after switching from inotersen (−74.3%; Week 35) to eplontersen (−80.6%; Week 85). From the end of inotersen treatment, neuropathy impairment and QoL were stable (i.e., did not progress) while on eplontersen, and there was no deterioration in nutritional status. TEAEs were fewer with eplontersen (Weeks 37–85; 19/20 [95%] patients) compared with inotersen (up to Week 35; 24/24 [100%] patients). Mean platelet counts decreased during inotersen treatment (mean nadir reduction ‒40.7%) and returned to baseline during eplontersen treatment (mean nadir reduction, ‒3.2%). Conclusions: Switching from inotersen to eplontersen further reduced serum TTR, halted disease progression, stabilized QoL, restored platelet count, and improved tolerability, without deterioration in nutritional status. This supports a positive benefit-risk profile for patients with ATTRv-PN who switch from inotersen to eplontersen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United Kingdom, the management of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) challenges the coexistence of people and wildlife. Control of this cattle disease is hindered by transmission of its causative agent, Mycobacterium bovis, between cattle and badgers Meles meles.Badger culling has formed an element of bTB control policy for decades, but current government policy envisions expanding badger vaccination. Farming leaders are sceptical, citing concerns that badger vaccination would be impractical and potentially ineffective.We report on a 4‐year badger vaccination initiative in an 11 km2 area which, atypically, was initiated by local farmers, delivered by scientists and conservationists, and co‐funded by all three. Participating landholders cited controversies around culling and a desire to support neighbours as their primary reasons for adopting vaccination.The number of badgers vaccinated per km2 (5.6 km−2 in 2019) exceeded the number culled on nearby land (2.9 km−2 in 2019), and the estimated proportion vaccinated (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 40%–137%) exceeded the 30% threshold predicted by models to be necessary to control M. bovis. Farmers were content with how vaccination was delivered, and felt that it built trust with wildlife professionals.The percentage of badgers testing positive for M. bovis declined from 16.0% (95% CI 4.5%–36.1%) at the start of vaccination to 0% (95% CI 0%–9.7%) in the final year. With neither replication nor unvaccinated controls, this small‐scale case study does not demonstrate a causal link between badger vaccination and bTB epidemiology, but it does suggest that larger‐scale evaluation of badger vaccination would be warranted.Farmers reported that their enthusiasm for badger vaccination had increased after participating for 4 years. They considered vaccination to have been effective, and good value for money, and wished to continue with it.Synthesis and applications: Although small‐scale, this case study suggests that badger vaccination can be a technically effective and socially acceptable component of bTB control. A wider rollout of badger vaccination is more likely if it is led by the farming community, rather than by conservationists or government, and is combined with scientific monitoring. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COP26 Climate Summit held in Glasgow in November 2021 was expected to attract mass protests. Given the climate crisis and the increase in direct action in the UK, the police anticipated huge numbers with the potential for significant disorder. Despite this, Police Scotland insisted that they were committed to facilitating peaceful protest. Drawing on ethnographic observation and interviews with both police and protestors, this paper offers analysis of a contentious event during the large set-piece demonstration on Saturday 6 November. It focuses on the containment of a small group of Young Communists to ask what this tells us about 'facilitation', crowd theory, and police-protestor relations. Whilst fairly insignificant in terms of numbers, we argue that the YCL containment offers valuable insights into protest policing and facilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public Value Theory (PVT) emerged within a broader public administration paradigm that called for the recentering of the state in the identification and management of public activities in response to the attempts of neoliberal politicians to marginalize it. PVT's advocates remained nonetheless ambivalent about the role of the state in the production of goods and services necessary to create public value. In the decades since, public sector outsourcing has grown in scale and scope, particularly in Anglo-Saxon economies. PVT is unable to account for the implications of this mode of public value production, and why it may undermine the state's ability to create public value over time. In this article, we argue that the disembedding of the state from the production of public value undermines its capacity for learning and adapting organizations, which are critical if the state is to respond to changing needs and demands. Because what constitutes public value evolves, so too must the resources and capabilities for producing public value be reconfigured. In other words, public value creation is contingent on innovating the means of public value production. We make the case for re-embedding the state in public value production and for public sectors to move beyond outsourcing the delivery of core services and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bushfire maps are an important tool in public decision-making during bushfire events; however, they are understudied in the global literature. Aims and methods: This study uses qualitative data from three locations in Australia in 2022 and 2023 to understand how maps are used during a bushfire event by members of the public. Key results: The results show that maps provide an array of information during bushfires including information on the bushfire itself, traffic, and the weather. This information helped individuals form risk assessments. However, the trustworthiness and credibility of maps were questioned by participants owing to a lack of perceived timely updates and inconsistency between information sources. Participants expressed a desire for maps to convey more detailed information on the bushfire and related events; however, prior evidence suggests that people may misinterpret complex maps. Conclusions: This study found that it is important that bushfire maps are updated in a timely manner, clearly display their time and date of issue, and include relevant information, with an understanding that including too much or complex information may be problematic for comprehension. Implications: These findings have implications for how bushfire maps should be designed and disseminated to the public to ensure comprehension. We conducted interviews with three bushfire-affected populations in Australia to understand how they used bushfire maps during a bushfire event. Maps were commonly used amongst our sample; however, challenges surrounding the level of information they provided and comprehension of the maps indicate that bushfire map design can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) is highly aggressive primary hepatic malignancy with an increasing incidence. Objective: This study aimed to develop machine learning-based radiomic clustering using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in IHCC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed pretreatment F-18 FDG PET/CT scans of 60 IHCC patients who underwent surgery without neoadjuvant treatment between January 2008 and July 2020. Radiomic features such as first order, shape, and gray level were extracted from the scans of 52 patients and analyzed using unsupervised hierarchical clustering. Results: Of the 60 patients, 36 experienced recurrence and 31 died during follow-up. Eight patients with a negative FDG uptake were classified as Group 0. The unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis divided the total cohort into three clusters (Group 1: n = 27; Group 2: n = 23; Group 3: n = 2). The Kaplan–Meier curves showed significant differences in RFS and OS among the clusters (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses showed that the PET radiomics grouping was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.03, p = 0.001) and OS (HR = 2.39, p = 0.030). Oxidative phosphorylation was significantly activated in Group 1, and the KRAS, P53, and WNT β-catenin pathways were enriched in Group 2. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that machine learning-based PET radiomics clustering can preoperatively predict prognosis and provide valuable information complementing the genomic profiling of IHCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS) is a debilitating, complex, multisystem illness. Developing a comprehensive understanding of the multiple and interconnected barriers to optimal care will help advance strategies and care models to improve quality of life for people living with ME in Canada. Objectives: To: (1) identify and systematically map the available evidence; (2) investigate the design and conduct of research; (3) identify and categorize key characteristics; and (4) identify and analyse knowledge gaps related to healthcare system barriers for people living with ME in Canada. Methods: The protocol was preregistered in July 2022. Peer‐reviewed and grey literature was searched, and patient partners retrieved additional records. Eligible records were Canadian, included people with ME/CFS and included data or synthesis relevant to healthcare system barriers. Results: In total, 1821 records were identified, 406 were reviewed in full, and 21 were included. Healthcare system barriers arose from an underlying lack of consensus and research on ME and ME care; the impact of long‐standing stigma, disbelief, and sexism; inadequate or inconsistent healthcare provider education and training on ME; and the heterogeneity of care coordinated by family physicians. Conclusions: People living with ME in Canada face significant barriers to care, though this has received relatively limited attention. This synthesis, which points to several areas for future research, can be used as a starting point for researchers, healthcare providers and decision‐makers who are new to the area or encountering ME more frequently due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key content: Endometriosis affects up to 10% of women. While many regard endometriosis as a benign (non‐cancerous) disease, there are well‐established links to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).Proposed mechanisms for malignant transformation include chronic inflammation, hyperestrogenism and oxidative stress. Mutations in the tumour suppressor gene ARID1A have also been implicated in the development of endometriosis‐associated ovarian cancer (EAOC).Endometriosis is reported to almost double a woman's background risk of ovarian cancer.Risk reduction strategies are effective in reducing the incidence of EAOC. These include tubal ligation, excision of endometriosis and combined hormonal contraception.Novel therapies targeting tumour suppressor gene mutations present in EAOC are undergoing phase I & II clinical trials. Learning objectives: To increase knowledge of the association between endometriosis and EOC.To understand the updated evidence for screening, risk and risk reduction strategies.To be informed of potential novel therapies currently in the clinical trial stage of development. Ethical issues: Increased public awareness and improved clinician knowledge may lead to more and earlier‐stage disease detection.Women are more informed, necessitating clinicians to deliver evidence‐based counselling to meet their informational needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the need for equitable access to menopause care for women, as they often experience inequitable healthcare. The British Menopause Society aims for every primary healthcare team to have a clinician with a special interest in menopause. The menopause can have a significant impact on women's physical and psychological well-being, and it is important to prioritize access to quality menopause care. The article describes a pilot project in central Liverpool that aims to improve patient access to specialist menopause care and reduce waiting times for appointments. The project involves collaboration between primary care networks and the local menopause service. The article also highlights the importance of women's health hubs, which can bridge the gap between primary and secondary care and provide quicker access to specialists. The funding model for the pilot project involves paying the primary care network per appointment attended. The article concludes by discussing the benefits of this model, including financial sustainability, improved access for patients, and potential capacity for other services. Overall, the pilot project aims to provide cost-effective and accessible menopause care for women in the region. [Extracted from the article]

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on care-experienced people has been the subject of research, but important gaps remain in our understanding of how care-experienced people felt their mental health and well-being were affected by the pandemic. Care-experienced adults from across the UK were invited to complete a survey and submit a diary during the first lockdown. Responses were received from 140 people, aged eighteen to sixty-nine years. Most respondents reported that their mental health deteriorated due to the pandemic and lockdown. However, a substantial minority thought that either there had been no change or the lockdown had helped them make positive improvements. Improvements were attributed to stable housing and employment, support from services and transferable skills they had learnt in care. A minority of respondents referred to their care status in their diaries. Most diarists presented their experiences as being common to other, non-care-experienced, people. This article showcases the resilience of many care-experienced people, including some who made explicit reference to the benefits of coping strategies developed while in care. The findings of this study reveal that when provided with the right support, the care system can assist people to develop important life skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people worldwide and is responsible for about 52,000 deaths annually in children and adolescents aged 5–19 years. Familial, social, psychological, and behavioral factors play important roles in suicide risk. As traumatic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to suicidal behaviors in young people, there is a need to understand the current status of suicide in adolescents, including its epidemiology, associated factors, the influence of the pandemic, and management initiatives. Data sources: We investigated global and regional suicide mortality rates among children and adolescents aged 5–19 years using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. The suicide mortality rates from 1990 to 2019 were examined in 204 countries and territories across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions. Additionally, we utilized electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus, and employed various combinations of terms such as "suicide", "adolescents", "youth", "children", "risk factors", "COVID-19 pandemic", "prevention", and "intervention" to provide a narrative review on suicide within the pediatric population in the post-pandemic era. Results: Despite the decreasing trend in the global suicide mortality rate from 1990 to 2019, it remains high. The mortality rates from suicide by firearms or any other specified means were both greater in males. Additionally, Southeast Asia had the highest suicide rate among the six WHO regions. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to contribute to suicide risk in young people; thus, there is still a strong need to revisit appropriate management for suicidal children and adolescents during the pandemic. Conclusions: The current narrative review integrates up-to-date knowledge on suicide epidemiology and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, risk factors, and intervention strategies. Although numerous studies have characterized trends in suicide among young people during the pre-pandemic era, further studies are required to investigate suicide during the pandemic and new strategies for suicide prevention in the post-pandemic era. It is necessary to identify effective prevention strategies targeting young people, particularly those at high risk, and successful treatment for individuals already manifesting suicidal behaviors. Care for suicidal children and adolescents should be improved with parental, school, community, and clinical involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervention by members of the public during an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHAC) including resuscitation attempts and accessible automated external defibrillator (AED) has been shown to improve survival. This study aimed to investigate the OHCA and AED knowledge and confidence, and barriers to intervention, of the public of North East England, UK. This study used a face-to-face cross-sectional survey on a public high street in Newcastle, UK. Participants were asked unprompted to explain what they would do when faced with an OHCA collapse. Chi-Square analysis was used to test the association of the independent variables sex and first aid trained on the participants' responses. Of the 421 participants recruited to our study, 82.9% (n = 349) reported that they would know what to do during an OHCA collapse. The most frequent OHCA action mentioned was call 999 (64.1%, n = 270/421) and 58.2% (n = 245/421) of participants reported that they would commence CPR. However, only 14.3% (n = 60/421) of participants spontaneously mentioned that they would locate an AED, while only 4.5% (n = 19/421) recounted that they would apply the AED. Just over half of participants (50.8%, n = 214/421) were first aid trained, with statistically more females (57.3%, n = 126/220) than males (43.9%, n = 87/198) being first aiders (p = 0.01 χ2 = 7.41). Most participants (80.3%, n = 338/421) knew what an AED was, and 34.7% (n = 326/421) reported that they knew how to use one, however, only 11.9% (n = 50/421) mentioned that they would actually shock a patient. Being first aid trained increased the likelihood of freely recounting actions for OHCA and AED intervention. The most common barrier to helping during an OHCA was lack of knowledge (29.9%, n = 126/421). Although most participants reported they would know what to do during an OHCA and had knowledge of an AED, low numbers of participants spontaneously mentioned specific OHCA and AED actions. Improving public knowledge would help improve the public's confidence of intervening during an OHCA and may improve OHCA survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If asked what "arms manufacturer" first brings to mind, few people would likely answer "women's rights." And yet, each International Women's Day (IWD), leading global arms manufacturers present themselves as working to help bring about gender equality. "Gender washing" refers to corporate social responsibility communications aimed at presenting a corporation as empowering to women and girls, even while their own products, supply chains, or employment practices harm them. In this article, we show how arms manufacturers use social media communications about IWD to gender wash their images, positioning themselves as progressive and caring. Bringing into conversation feminist work in Security Studies and International Political Economy, we identify new varieties of gender washing specific to war and martial violence: client military and government partnerships, and constructive silence. We also expand the global hierarchy of publics targeted by gender washing communications, reflecting the fact that unlike other transnational corporations, arms manufacturers are not concerned with garnering "brand loyalty" amongst the general public. Rather, they communicate both to and with Global North governments and militaries. Thus, what is at stake in these representations, we argue, is not simply the reputation of the individual corporations concerned, but a broader process of gender washing war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research suggests that recurrent seizures may lead to neuronal injury. Neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels increase in cerebrospinal fluid and blood in response to neuroaxonal damage, and they have been hypothesized as potential biomarkers for epilepsy. We examined plasma NfL and GFAP levels and their diagnostic utility in differentiating patients with epilepsy from those with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and other nonepileptic disorders. Methods: We recruited consecutive adults admitted for video‐electroencephalographic monitoring and formal neuropsychiatric assessment. NfL and GFAP levels were quantified and compared between different patient groups and an age‐matched reference cohort (n = 1926) and correlated with clinical variables in patients with epilepsy. Results: A total of 138 patients were included, of whom 104 were diagnosed with epilepsy, 22 with PNES, and 12 with other conditions. Plasma NfL and GFAP levels were elevated in patients with epilepsy compared to PNES, adjusted for age and sex (NfL p =.04, GFAP p =.04). A high proportion of patients with epilepsy (20%) had NfL levels above the 95th age‐matched percentile compared to the reference cohort (5%). NfL levels above the 95th percentile of the reference cohort had a 95% positive predictive value for epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy who had NfL levels above the 95th percentile were younger than those with lower levels (37.5 vs. 43.8 years, p =.03). Significance: An elevated NfL or GFAP level in an individual patient may support an underlying epilepsy diagnosis, particularly in younger adults, and cautions against a diagnosis of PNES alone. Further examination of the association between NfL and GFAP levels and specific epilepsy subtypes or seizure characteristics may provide valuable insights into disease heterogeneity and contribute to the refinement of diagnosis, understanding pathophysiological mechanisms, and formulating treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-cultural differences in the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers are not well understood. This study aimed to (1) compare depressive symptoms and frequency of reported apathy across diagnostic groups of participants with normal cognition (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia, as well as ethnic groups of Hispanic Americans (HA) and European Americans (EA); (2) evaluate the relationship between depression and apathy with Aβ deposition and brain atrophy. Statistical analyses included ANCOVAs, chi-squared, nonparametric tests, correlations, and logistic regressions. Higher scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were reported in the MCI and dementia cohorts, while older age corresponded with lower GDS-15 scores. The frequency of apathy differed across diagnoses within each ethnicity, but not when comparing ethnic groups. Reduced volume in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) significantly correlated with and predicted apathy for the total sample after applying false discovery rate corrections (FDR), controlling for covariates. The EA group separately demonstrated a significant negative relationship between apathy and superior frontal volume, while for HA, there was a relationship between rostral ACC volume and apathy. Apathy corresponded with higher Aβ levels for the total sample and for the CN and HA groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension, a disease with known sexual dimorphism, accelerates aging-associated arterial stiffening, partly because of the activation of matrix remodeling caused by increased biomechanical load. In this study, we tested the effect of biological sex and the role of the matrix remodeling enzyme lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) in hypertension-induced arterial stiffening. Hypertension was induced by angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion via osmotic minipumps in 12- to 14-wk-old male and female mice. Blood pressure and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured noninvasively. Wire myography and uniaxial tensile testing were used to test aortic vasoreactivity and mechanical properties. Aortic wall composition was examined by histology and Western blotting. Uniaxial stretch of cultured cells was used to evaluate the effect of biomechanical strain. LOXL2's catalytic function was examined using knockout and inhibition. ANG II infusion-induced hypertension in both genotypes and sexes. Wild-type (WT) males exhibited arterial stiffening in vivo and ex vivo. Aortic remodeling with increased wall thickness, intralamellar distance, higher LOXL2, and collagen I and IV content was noted in WT males. Female mice did not exhibit increased PWV despite the onset of hypertension. LOXL2 depletion improved vascular reactivity and mechanics in hypertensive males. LOXL2 depletion improved aortic mechanics but worsened hypercontractility in females. Hypertensive cyclic strain contributed to LOXL2 upregulation in the cell-derived matrix in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) but not endothelial cells. LOXL2's catalytic function facilitated VSMC alignment in response to biomechanical strain. In conclusion, in males, arterial stiffening in hypertension is driven both by VSMC response and matrix remodeling. Females are protected from PWV elevation in hypertension. LOXL2 depletion is protective in males with improved mechanical and functional aortic properties. VSMCs are the primary source of LOXL2 in the aorta, and hypertension increases LOXL2 processing and shifts to collagen I accumulation. Overall, LOXL2 depletion offers protection in young hypertensive males and females. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: We examined the effect of sex on the evolution of angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced hypertension and the role of lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), an enzyme that catalyzes matrix cross linking. While ANG II led to hypertension and worsening vascular reactivity in both sexes, aortic remodeling and stiffening occurred only in males. LOXL2 depletion improved outcomes in males but not females. Thus males and females exhibit a distinct etiology of hypertension and LOXL2 is an effective target in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews into universal interventions to improve help seeking in young people focus on specific concepts, such as behaviour, do not differentiate between interpersonal and intrapersonal help seeking, and often report on statistical significance, rather than effect size. The aim of this review was to address the gaps highlighted above, to investigate the impact of universal, school-based interventions on help-seeking in children and young people, as well as to explore longer term impact. Four databases were searched. Data were extracted on country of origin, design, participant, school, and intervention characteristics, the help-seeking concept measured (e.g. knowledge, attitude/intention, behaviour), the duration between baseline and each follow-up (if applicable) and effect sizes at each follow-up. Quality assessment of the studies was undertaken using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool. Overall, 14 different interventions met inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies were rated low in the quality assessment. Three constructs were most frequently reported a) intrapersonal attitudes towards help-seeking, b) interpersonal attitudes towards help-seeking and c) intrapersonal intended help-seeking. Findings around intervention effect were mixed. There was tentative evidence that interventions impacting interpersonal attitudes produced small effect sizes when measured between 3 and 6 months post intervention and that when effect sizes were initially observed intrapersonal attitudes, this remained at 3–6 month follow-up. Further work should pay attention to implementation factors, understanding the core ingredients needed to deliver effective interventions and whether embedding mental health education could help sustain or top up effect sizes from help-seeking interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cognitive remediation (CR) can reduce the cognitive difficulties experienced by people with psychosis. Adapting CR to be delivered remotely provides new opportunities for extending its use. However, doing so requires further evaluation of its acceptability from service users' views. We evaluate the acceptability of therapist-supported remote CR from the perspectives of service users using participatory service user-centred methods. Method: After receiving 12 weeks of therapist-supported remote CR, service users were interviewed by a service user researcher following a semi-structured 18-question interview guide. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with themes and codes further validated by a Lived Experience Advisory Panel and member checking. Results: The study recruited 26 participants, almost all of whom reported high acceptability of remote CR, and some suggested improvements. Four themes emerged: (1) perceived treatment benefits, (2) remote versus in-person therapy, (3) the therapist's role, and (4) how it could be better. Conclusions: This study used comprehensive service user involvement methods. For some participants, technology use remained a challenge and addressing these difficulties detracted from the therapy experience. These outcomes align with existing research on remote therapy, suggesting that remote CR can expand choice and improve access to treatment for psychosis service users once barriers are addressed. Future use of remote CR should consider technology training and equipment provision to facilitate therapy for service users and therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]