Search

We use particle tracking to determine contributing areas (CAs) to wells for transient flow models that simulate cyclic domestic pumping and extreme recharge events in a small synthetic watershed underlain by dipping sedimentary rocks. The CAs consist of strike-oriented bands at locations where the water table intersects high-hydraulic conductivity beds, and from which groundwater flows to the pumping well. Factors that affect the size and location of the CAs include topographic flow directions, rock dip direction, cross-bed fracture density, and position of the well relative to streams. For an effective fracture porosity (n e ) of 10 -4 , the fastest advective travel times from CAs to wells are only a few hours. These results indicate that wells in this type of geologic setting can be highly vulnerable to contaminants or pathogens flushed into the subsurface during extreme recharge events. Increasing n e to 10 -3 results in modestly smaller CAs and delayed well vulnerability due to slower travel times. CAs determined for steady-state models of the same setting, but with long-term average recharge and pumping rates, are smaller than CAs in the models with extreme recharge. Also, the earliest-arriving particles arrive at the wells later in the steady-state models than in the extreme-recharge models. The results highlight the importance of characterizing geologic structure, simulating plausible effective porosities, and simulating pumping and recharge transience when determining CAs in fractured rock aquifers to assess well vulnerability under extreme precipitation events., (Published 2022. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

This study examines the adaptability of a Southern Ocean predator, which is dependent on Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), to potential changes in food availability. Muscle fatty acids (FAs) of the spiny icefish Chaenodraco wilsoni collected from three areas in the Bransfield Strait (BS), northern Antarctic Peninsula during February-April 2016 give a good representation of their feeding variability. The compositions of 22:6n3 (DHA) and 20:5n3 (EPA) were both higher in the Transitional Zonal Water with Bellingshausen influence (TBW)-controlled C. wilsoni than in the Transitional Zonal Water with Weddell Sea influence (TWW)-controlled fish. This was positively correlated with photoadaptation and carbon sequestration in TBW-controlled phytoplankton. Results for the FAs 16:1n7, 16:0, DHA and EPA indicate the presence of dinoflagellates in all three areas, suggesting that during late summer and early fall, there is a seasonal phytoplankton succession, where small phytoplankton become dominant, in the BS. In addition, the compositions of some long-chain FAs (>20, such as 20:0, 20:1, 22:0 and 22:1n9) and ∑18 indicated that the food chain based on flagellates and copepods was more apparent in TWW-controlled C. wilsoni, especially the effect of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the variation of prey communities in TWW-controlled areas. FA markers such as SFA/(PUFA+MUFA), ∑15 + ∑17 and ARA were more pronounced in TWW-controlled C. wilsoni, indicating a more strongly carnivorous and benthic food source. In the TBW-TWW confluence, the complex hydrological structure, including the presence of a large number of mesoscale eddies, allows rich nutrients and krill larvae to remain in it, providing a rich food source for the C. wilsoni. Overall, the FA data of this study show that the diet of C. wilsoni varies in different marine environments, aiding their survivability at the face of climate change., (© 2022 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

We present estimates of length-weight relationships (LWRs) of 55 mesopelagic fish species of 13 taxonomic families based on data collected in the eastern tropical North Atlantic (ETNA) in March/April 2015. Our data include novel records for 19 species, while for 25 species LWRs are based on the most robust sample sizes, and for 21 species they are based on the most representative size ranges available up to now. In 31 species, body lengths were within the maximum range of body lengths recorded in the area, with new records of maximum lengths for 13 species. Most values for b fell between 2.5 and 3.5 with a mean exponent b of 3.08 (median 3.12) and a mean a of 0.0172 (median 0.0113). Body shape as covariate ('elongated', 'fusiform' and 'short-deep') strongly determined the variation in log a as a function of parameter b. For the mesopelagic fish species investigated, the form factor a 3.0 indicated a significant increase of median a 3.0 from 'elongated' to 'fusiform' to 'short-deep' body shapes. Large variability existed in parameter b between species of the same taxonomic family. Isometric growth was indicated in only nine species, whereas a positive allometry was suggested in 22 species. Using segmented regression analysis, we investigated ontogenetic variation in LWRs in 30 species. Of these, 20 species showed a breakpoint in LWR, whereby nearly equal numbers exhibited an increase or a decrease in slope following the breakpoint. Seven out of nine species showed significant regional variation in the slope of the relationship of the relative condition factor K rel vs. body length between two or more regions of the ETNA [eastern and western part of the oxygen minimum zone (LO-E, LO-W), northern and central equatorial region (EQ-N, EQ-C)]. A conspicuous pattern was an increase in K rel with body size in the LO-E (in six out of eight species), whereas in the LO-W and the equatorial regions the majority of species showed a related decrease. These findings support the idea that growth patterns in mesopelagic fishes in tropical regions show species-specific ecological niche and life-history adaptations that are finely tuned to small-scale regional environmental conditions. Comparison of our data with those of other studies emphasises that, regarding the small adult sizes of many mesopelagic fish species, estimates of LWR parameters are strongly influenced by sampled size distributions., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Argulosis is a major problem that causes huge economic loss in aquaculture. In a microcosm, an infested condition was developed upon Labeo rohita with 100 ± 10 adult morphs of Argulus bengalensis per fish. Primary stress response and biochemical profiles of the host were evaluated to underscore the pathogenicity of the parasites. Significant alterations in biochemical parameters were monitored at four different post-infestation time points: days 1, 3, 6 and 9. The overall increasing trends of both plasma cortisol and plasma epinephrine indicate parasite-induced primary stress response among experimental fish. The study revealed a hyperglycaemic trend throughout the infestation period, which has been correlated with hypoxia-associated glycogenolysis. Decreasing level of plasma cholesterol has also been correlated with the development of anaemia and subsequent hypoxia among the infested fish. Plasma protein of the experimental fish initially increases as an outcome of the immediate innate immune response against Argulus infestation, whereas the decrease in plasma protein at the later period of infestation results from less-dietary protein intake due to loss of appetite, reduced digestibility and metabolic proteolysis. Plasma Na + concentration showed an overall decreasing trend throughout the infestation period, which may be due to excess production of catecholamine under stress. Nonetheless, plasma K + concentration showed an increasing trend up to day 6 of infestation, and thereafter the value declined to the control level. Plasma ionic imbalances reflect changes in cell permeability under tissue hypoxia and the wounds produced on the skin for intensive feeding activity of the parasites. Both serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase activities were significantly elevated throughout the infestation period, which indicates excess synthesis or release of those enzymes from the damaged cells of the tissues. Activities of some renal, hepatic and branchial antioxidant enzymes, viz., superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase, increased in the infested fish. The fact is explained as an effort of the fish for gaining adaptive adjustment to neutralize the oxidative stress generated under the parasitic stress. The overall experimental result points towards the generation of potential stress upon host fish by this branchiuran parasite. The biochemical alterations of the fish under argulosis are centred around the two stress-sensitive hormones, cortisol and epinephrine. The outcome of the study will be the important physiological determinants in adopting a suitable control measure as well as assessing the nutritional value of the fish under diseased condition., (© 2022 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

This study examined the application of slim-hole nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tools to estimate hydraulic conductivity (K NMR ) in an unconsolidated aquifer that contains a range of grain sizes (silt to gravel) and high and variable magnetic susceptibilities (MS) (10 -4 to 10 -2 SI). A K calibration dataset was acquired at 1-m intervals in three fully screened wells, and compared to K NMR estimates using the Schlumberger-Doll research (SDR) equation with published empirical constants developed from previous studies in unconsolidated sediments. While K NMR using published constants was within an order of magnitude of K, the agreement, overprediction, or underprediction of K NMR varied with the MS distribution in each well. An examination of the effects of MS on NMR data and site-specific empirical constants indicated that the exponent on T 2ML (n-value in the SDR equation, representing the diffusion regime) was found to have the greatest influence on K NMR estimation accuracy, while NMR porosity did not improve the prediction of K. K NMR was further improved by integrating an MS log into the NMR analyses. A first approach detrended T 2ML for the effects of MS prior to calculating K NMR , and a second approach introduced an MS term into the SDR equation. Both were found to produce similar refinements of K NMR in intervals of elevated MS. This study found that low frequency NMR logging with short echo times shows promise for sites with moderate to elevated MS levels, and recommends a workflow that examines parameter relationships and integrates MS logs into the estimation of K NMR ., (© 2021 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Groundwater © 2021 National Ground Water Association. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Natural Resources.)

Background: The East Asia region is facing an increasing burden of overweight, obesity and related noncommunicable diseases, resulting from an ongoing nutrition transition. This study aimed to document the growing burden of overweight and obesity, and the accompanying dietary shifts, in the East Asia region and describe the policy responses to this., Methods: We present noncommunicable disease risk factor collaboration data on trends in the burden of malnutrition, and Euromonitor International data on trends in dietary purchases, in the East Asia region. We searched the NOURISHING and GINA databases to identify food and nutrition policies implemented in these countries., Results: There is an ongoing nutrition transition in the East Asia region, notably in upper-middle and lower-middle income countries. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and accompanying health conditions, purchases of ultra-processed foods and beverages, and purchasing from supermarkets, fast-food and takeaway outlets, and other convenience retailers, are increasing. The policy response to this nutrition transition is limited, with the majority of policies implemented in higher-income countries., Conclusions: East Asian countries are facing a growing burden of malnutrition, due in part to the dietary shifts occurring here. An ecological approach to policy intervention is needed to drive transformative food systems change., (© 2022 World Obesity Federation.)

With open-access publishing authors often pay an article processing charge and subsequently their article is freely available online. These charges are beyond the reach of most African academics. Thus, the trend towards open-access publishing will shift the business model from a pay-wall model, where access to literature is limited, to a pay-to-publish one, where African scholars cannot afford to publish. We explore the costs of publishing and the ability of African scholars to afford to publish via open access in top journals. Three-quarters of the 40 top ecology journals required payment for open-access publishing (average cost $3150). Paying such fees is a hardship for African scholars as grant funding is not available and it is not feasible to pay the fees themselves as salaries are low. We encourage funders and publishers to facilitate an equitable publishing model that allows African scholars to make their research available through open-access publishing., (© 2021 The Authors. Ecology Letters published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The interactions between old abandoned wellbores of suspect well integrity with hydraulic fracturing (HF), enhanced oil recovery (EOR), or salt water disposal (SWD) operations can result in upward leakage of deep aqueous liquids into overlying aquifers. This potential for upward fluid migration is largely unquantified as monitoring abandoned wells is rarely done, and leakage may go unnoticed especially when in deeper aquifers. This study performs a proximity analysis between old abandoned wells and HF, EOR, and SWD wells, and identifies commingled old abandoned wellbores, which are those wells where groundwater may flow from one aquifer to one or more other aquifers, to identify the locations with the greatest potential for upward aqueous fluid migration at three study sites in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Our analysis indicates that at all three study sites there are several locations where HF, EOR, or SWD operations are located in close proximity to a given old abandoned well. Much of this overlap occurs in formations above typically produced hydrocarbon reservoirs but below exploited potable aquifers, otherwise known as the intermediate zone, which is often connected between abandonment plugs in old abandoned wells. Information on the intermediate zone is often lacking, and this study suggests that unanticipated alterations to groundwater flow systems within the intermediate zone may be occurring. Results indicate the need for more field-based research on the intermediate zone., (© 2021 National Ground Water Association.)

Using national and international research survey data and applying a combination of models and mapping tools, this study revealed temperature and depth as the crucial environmental drivers of both the distribution and the abundance of four benthopelagic chondrichthyans inhabiting Norwegian and Icelandic waters: rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa), velvet-belly lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax), blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) and spurdog (Squalus acanthias). C. monstrosa and E. spinax seem to prefer similar spatial and ecological habitats, that is deep and cold waters. In contrast, G. melastomus and S. acanthias both prefer similar ecological habitats, that is warmer and shallower waters; nonetheless, they exhibit a different spatial distribution pattern. The species' varied habitat and spatial preferences may lead to different levels of exposure to fishing activities and associated by-catch risks. Findings of the species' spatial distributions and their driving forces are expected to inform the sustainable management of these species and the ecosystems they inhabit., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Geostatistical evaluation of the groundwater depth (GWD) in California's South Coast hydrologic region, and its sensitivity to different spatiotemporal assumptions, is presented in this paper. We obtain a pseudo-stationary representation of the groundwater depth, using the publicly available, online database from the GAMA GeoTracker project, while tracking the associated uncertainty throughout the process. We create nine different sub-datasets, using different temporal constraints, such as seasonal partitioning and different long-term variability filtering criteria. The geostatistical analysis and comparison between the different maps highlight the trade-off between spatial and temporal accuracy. For example, when moving to stricter filtering criteria, despite removing a large number of sites from the interpolation, the root mean squared error (RMSE) calculated in the analysis either decreased or only slightly increased. This suggests that the long-term variability filter is a good representation of the GWD accuracy and that the cross-validation RMSE captures both the stability effect as well as spatial density of the measurement points. We further find that the point-specific standard error is strongly correlated with the associated GWD prediction and that the mean relative error is approximately 60% of the prediction. Hence, it is highly recommended to account for such error in a forward-engineering application, by introducing a GWD distribution rather than a single value into the analysis. Finally, we analyze seasonal fluctuations in the study region and find that they are on average 2.5 m with a standard deviation of 8 m., (© 2021 National Ground Water Association.)

As part of energy transition, marine renewable energy devices (MRED) are currently expanding in developed countries inducing the deployment of dense networks of submarine power cables. Concern has thus raised about the cable magnetic emissions (direct or alternating current) because of potential interference with the sensorial environment of magneto-sensitive species, such as sharks and rays. This study sought to assess the short-term behavioural responses of juvenile thornback rays (Raja clavata) (n = 15) to direct and alternating (50 Hz) uniform 450-μT artificial magnetic fields using 1 h focal-sampling design based on a detailed ethogram. Careful control of magnetic fields' temporal and spatial scales was obtained in laboratory conditions through a custom-made Helmholtz coil device. Overall, qualitative or quantitative behavioural responses of juvenile rays did not significantly vary between control vs. exposed individuals over the morning period. Nonetheless, rays under direct current magnetic field increased their activity over the midday period. Synchronisation patterns were also observed for individuals receiving alternating current exposure (chronologic and qualitative similarities) coupled with a high inter-individual variance. Further studies should consider larger batches of juveniles to address the effect of long-term exposure and explore the sensitivity range of rays with dose-response designs., (© 2021 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Since overdiagnosis of beta-lactam (BL) allergy is common in the pediatric population, delabeling is a critical part of antimicrobial stewardship. Undesirable consequences of inaccurate BL allergy labeling can be handled by incorporating traditional delabeling or newer risk-based strategies into antibiotic stewardship programs. Conventional assessment of BL allergy relies upon a stepwise algorithm including a clinical history with skin testing followed by drug provocation tests (DPTs). However, a growing number of studies highlighted the suboptimal diagnostic value of skin testing in children. Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in the practice of BL allergy assessment due to recent challenging data which emphasize the safety and accuracy of direct DPTs in children with a suspicion of non-immediate mild cutaneous reactions such as maculopapular eruption, delayed urticaria, and possibly also for benign immediate reactions such as urticaria/angioedema. Identifying low-risk BL allergy patients, in whom skin tests can be skipped and proceeding directly to DPTs could be safe, has become a hot topic in recent years. New risk stratification and predictive modeling studies that have the potential to better predict BL allergy risk status have recently been introduced into the field of drug allergy, particularly in adults. However, in contrast to adults, risk assessment studies in children are rare, and optimal risk definitions are controversial. In the coming years, promising potential methods to elucidate the predictors of BL allergy in children will require multidimensional approaches that may include predictive analytics, artificial intelligence techniques, and point-of-care clinical decision tools., (© 2022 EAACI and John Wiley and Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.)

Health literature shows that unemployment has a gendered effect on health. However, whether men or women are more affected and why remains unclear. We assume that unemployment harms women less than men because of two mechanisms: social roles theories and health selection. First, the availability and centrality in individuals' lives of roles other than employment may reduce the detrimental effect of unemployment for women. Second, the gendered impact of unemployment on health results from the different ways selection mechanisms operate across genders. Moreover, these two mechanisms may operate differently in different contexts - for example, across different gender regimes. We investigate this by pursuing a three-step comparative approach. The analysis relies on EU-SILC data covering Italy and Sweden for 2004 to 2015 and SOEP data for Germany (1995-2017) and applies correlated dynamic random-effects probit models. While we find weak support for the role of health selection in shaping the relations between unemployment, health, and gender, our empirical results are in line with the hypothesis of a larger gendered effect in older (vs younger) cohorts, western (vs eastern) Germany and Italy (vs. Sweden). Future empirical research needs to directly address the role of gender regimes in moderating such complex relationships., (© 2022 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for SHIL (SHIL).)

Design research methods, including user-centered design, human-centered design, and design thinking, are iterative processes and frameworks that engage stakeholders to inform the design of initiatives, programs, or research interventions. Design research methods are not yet widely applied in healthcare. To date, there is a limited understanding of how design research methodologies can be applied to develop client-centered weight loss interventions. This scoping review explores the extent, range, and nature of research projects that used design research methods to guide the development of an obesity treatment intervention. A systematic search of eight databases identified projects that used design research methods to develop a weight loss intervention or strategy. The method and practical application of design research processes for each eligible article were extracted and explored. Design research methods were used to generate ideas or guide the development of a mobile application (n = 6), mHealth device (n = 1), eHealth solution (n = 1), health promotion program (n = 1), or patient-clinician communication tools (n = 2). There was considerable variation in the application of design research processes between studies. Design research methods may provide an iterative, flexible framework to facilitate the development of client-centered, inclusive interventions and strategies. Design research methods may support research teams to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach to obesity treatment., (© 2021 World Obesity Federation.)

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is reported to be a risk factor for drug hypersensitivity. However, there are conflicting data about true prevalence of drug hypersensitivity in children with CF., Methods: The suspicious drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) of children with CF were enquired by the European Network for Drug Allergy (ENDA) questionnaire, and skin tests and/or drug provocation tests were performed according to the established guidelines., Results: Two hundred and nineteen children (48.9% boys; median [IQR] age, 8.4 years [4.8-12.4 years]) with cystic fibrosis were included in the study, among which 22 patients with 24 suspected DHRs were evaluated. Most of the suspected DHRs were of non-immediate (n = 16, 66.6%) type, and the offending drugs were amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (n = 7), macrolides (n = 4), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (n = 2), piperacillin-tazobactam (n = 1), pancrelipase (n = 1), and ursodeoxycholic acid (n = 1). Eight (33.3%) of the DHRs were classified as immediate (ceftriaxone [n = 2], ceftazidime [n = 2], meropenem [n = 1], AmBisome [n = 2], and vancomycin [n = 1]). The main clinical presentations were maculopapular eruption (41.6%) and urticaria (37.5%), accompanied by angioedema (8.3%), flushing (12.5%), and vomiting (8.3%). Nine skin tests (with beta-lactam protocol in 6 patients) and 24 DPTs were performed, and none of the skin tests revealed a positive result; however, 2 DPTs with TMP/SMX were positive., Conclusion: Actual drug hypersensitivity was demonstrated in 2 of 219 patients (0.9%) with non-beta-lactam antibiotics. These results conflict with previous researches that showed higher drug hypersensitivity rates but are consistent with some recent studies. Allergological diagnostic workup is mandatory in patients with cystic fibrosis in case of a suspicious DHR., (© 2021 EAACI and John Wiley and Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.)

Migration of clay fines can be a concern when less saline fluids are injected into brine-saturated sandstone formations containing clays. If the salinity near fluid injection wells decreases below a critical value, the clay fines near the injection may detach, start migrating, and finally clog the pores. This effect can cause permeability decline near the well and may rapidly reduce the well injectivity. The focus of this work is on evaluating the impacts of clay fines migration on permeability decline in the field, using a numerical model and pressure buildup data collected during successive variable-rate water injections in a deep sandstone reservoir. The numerical model accounts for the mixing of low-salinity water with native brine and the migration of clay fines with the detachment and pore-clogging processes. The model interpretation of the pressure buildup data implies that the observed reduction in well injectivity is mainly associated with the clay fines migration and related pore clogging near the well. The model reasonably well represents the pressure buildup data during the injections. Our simulations demonstrate that the permeability near the well can rapidly decline within the first hour of injection. The measured pressure buildup in post-injection periods appears to decay more rapidly, compared to the simulation results of the model that assume irreversible permeability damage. This raises the question whether the permeability damage may be partly reversible near the well by backflow of brine after the injection of low-salinity water., (© 2021 National Ground Water Association.)

Food environments are directly linked to diets and health outcomes such as overweight, obesity, and noncommunicable diseases. The digitalization of food environments is becoming a central issue in public health, yet little is known about this emerging field. We performed a systematic scoping review to map the research on the digital food environment and investigate how the eight dimensions of the food environment, according to an established framework (availability, prices, vendor and product properties, marketing and regulation, accessibility, affordability, convenience, and desirability), might be shifting in the context of a digital society. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2000 and 2019, using search terms covering digital technology and food environment, which yielded 13,580 unique records. Our analysis of 357 studies shows that digitalization is taking place in all dimensions of the food environment, and enabling the emergence of new forms of buying and selling food, such as online grocery shopping and online food delivery, which may be changing availability of foods and affecting the physical distance to shops and time allocated for shopping. Systematic reviews identified indicated that digital food marketing and social media can influence food choices, preferences and consumption. Our findings suggest that digital and physical food environments are interconnected and influencing one another, but the impact of the digital on health and nutrition is yet unclear., (© 2021 The Authors. Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

Mature albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) are expected to have high energy requirements at the time of breeding. However, there are no descriptions of the diet of albacore in the Mediterranean Sea that can help us to understand if such requirements can be obtained from feeding during reproduction. In this study, we analysed the stomach contents of reproductively active albacore captured from 2010 to 2015 in the oligotrophic waters of the western Mediterranean Sea, one of their main spawning grounds. Estimates of stomach fullness revealed intense feeding activity, and prey composition indicated important consumption of mesopelagic fish, including barracudinas, myctophids and small pelagic crustaceans. Plastic debris occurred in 25%-53% of the stomachs sampled across all years. Prey composition was not different between males and females. However, females fed at higher rates and had higher hepatosomatic index values than males, suggesting that increased feeding could contribute to meet their higher energy demand associated with offspring production. We observed a diet shift from small crustaceans to fish prey along fish size. During the spawning period, albacore showed a specialist feeding behaviour by preying on aggregations of vertically migrating myctophids and small crustaceans, probably when they were near the surface. This study provides information and biological data to support ecosystem modelling and to increase the understanding of albacore ecology., (© 2021 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Women in the English National Health Service facing pre-viability second trimester pregnancy loss through foetal death, premature labour or termination of pregnancy for foetal anomaly find themselves in a particular trajectory of care. This usually involves the requirement to labour and birth the foetal body and may involve undergoing feticide in cases of termination. Drawing on ethnographic research investigating women's experiences of second trimester pregnancy loss, I argue that the determining factor affecting care trajectories for the pregnant body is the biomedically diagnosed status of the foetal body. Foetal size, non-viability and the potential for live birth during terminations all structure the healthcare options for the woman facing pregnancy loss in the second trimester. As such, the diagnostic classification of the foetal body in the context of gestational time determines the medical care afforded to the pregnant body. This results in specific consequences for women, whose experiences of, and choices around, second trimester pregnancy loss are constrained by diagnostic and classificatory decisions around the status of the foetal being before legal viability., (© 2021 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for SHIL (SHIL).)

Background: Although well described in adults, there are scarce and heterogeneous data on the diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria (CU) in children (0-18 years) throughout Europe. Our aim was to explore country differences and identify the extent to which the EAACI/GA²LEN/EDF/WAO guideline recommendations for pediatric urticaria are implemented., Methods: The EAACI Task Force for pediatric CU disseminated an online clinical survey among EAACI pediatric section members. Members were asked to answer 35 multiple choice questions on current practices in their respective centers., Results: The survey was sent to 2,773 physicians of whom 358 (13.8%) responded, mainly pediatric allergists (80%) and pediatricians (49.7%), working in 69 countries. For diagnosis, Southern European countries used significantly more routine tests (eg, autoimmune testing, allergological tests, and parasitic investigation) than Northern European countries. Most respondents (60.3%) used a 2 nd -generation antihistamine as first-line treatment of whom 64.8% updosed as a second line. Omalizumab was used as a second-line treatment by 1.7% and third line by 20.7% of respondents. Most clinicians (65%) follow EAACI/WAO/GA2LEN/EDF guidelines when diagnosing CU, and only 7.3% follow no specific guidelines. Some clinicians prefer to follow national guidelines (18.4%, mainly Northern European) or the AAAAI practice parameter (1.7%)., Conclusions: Even though most members of the Pediatric Section of EAACI are familiar with the EAACI/WAO/GA2LEN/EDF guidelines, a significant number do not follow them. Also, the large variation in diagnosis and treatment strengthens the need to re-evaluate, update, and standardize guidelines on the diagnosis and management of CU in children., (© 2021 EAACI and John Wiley and Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.)

It is paramount that any child or adolescent with a suspected difference or disorder of sex development (DSD) is assessed by an experienced clinician with adequate knowledge about the range of conditions associated with DSD and is discussed with the regional DSD service. In most cases, the paediatric endocrinologist within this service acts as the first point of contact but involvement of the regional multidisciplinary service will also ensure prompt access to specialist psychology and nursing care. The underlying pathophysiology of DSD and the process of delineating this should be discussed with the parents and affected young person with all diagnostic tests undertaken in a timely fashion. Finally, for rare conditions such as these, it is imperative that clinical experience is shared through national and international clinical and research collaborations., (© 2021 The Authors. Clinical Endocrinology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The roughskin dogfish Centroscymnus owstonii, a deep-sea shark, has a patchy global distribution, with most knowledge stemming from incidentally captured specimens. Using a deep-sea remote lander video system, we observed multiple C. owstonii individuals alive on the footage at 1054 m off Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, Western Atlantic Ocean, marking, to our knowledge, the first record of the species in the Greater Antilles, central Caribbean Sea, while also adding a new species locality record for the Cayman Islands. This study expands our knowledge of the distribution of the roughskin dogfish in the region, and highlights the utility of video lander systems for enhancing and expanding our understanding of the biology and diversity of deep-sea sharks., (© 2024 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Aim: Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) is a complication after Fontan surgery, and a common cause of liver tumors and cirrhosis. However, no diagnostic criteria for FALD have been established, leading to an underestimation of its prevalence., Methods: We conducted a national survey to elucidate the characteristics of FALD by collecting data from high-volume centers managing patients who had undergone the Fontan surgery in Japan. In total, 1168 patients were enrolled in the study. First, we examined typical liver findings on ultrasonography after the Fontan surgery. Next, we proposed diagnostic criteria for FALD and advanced FALD based on blood tests, imaging, liver tumors, and pathological examinations. We investigated the sensitivity of histologically diagnosed FALD and advanced FALD based on criteria for blood or imaging tests., Results: Hepatomegaly, hepatic venous dilatation, caudate lobe enlargement, splenomegaly, liver atrophy, ascites, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatic tumors other than hepatocellular carcinoma were observed in 37.7%, 29.9%, 18.4%, 33.2%, 3.2%, 6.0%, 0.85%, and 10.0% of patients, respectively. Typical ultrasound findings of FALD included hepatomegaly, hepatic vein dilatation, and splenomegaly, reflecting liver congestion. With the progression of fibrosis, caudate lobe enlargement and splenomegaly became more prominent. Based on these findings, we proposed diagnostic criteria for FALD. Using these criteria, FALD was diagnosed in 1014 (86.8%) of the patients, and all patients with a pathological diagnosis of FALD were successfully identified. Eight patients were found to have pathological cirrhosis, and all were diagnosed with advanced FALD using our criteria based on blood tests or imaging., Conclusion: Our diagnostic criteria facilitate detection of FALD or advanced FALD after the Fontan surgery. The accuracy of these criteria should be further evaluated., (© 2024 The Author(s). Hepatology Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Society of Hepatology.)

The quality and access to healthcare systems depend on community health resources, infrastructure, and funding; however, a significant disparity in these resources persists globally. The effectiveness of national health systems depends on a balanced approach to health spending, access to facilities and a skilled local health workforce. What accounts for country-level differences in those critical community and societal health resources? We proposed and tested a model that leverages political and socioeconomic factors to predict various health resources and services in countries. Data, including community health training, research, and support, universal health coverage, healthcare infrastructure, and per capita health expenditure, were collected and analysed by statistical methods, like bivariate correlations and hierarchical multiple linear regressions from 105 countries. Countries with more grassroots activism, fiscal decentralisation, freedom, and globalisation and less perceived corruption and inequality had more community and societal health resources. In multivariate analyses, stronger community health training and research is associated with the globalisation index, freedom score, government fiscal decentralisation, and income inequality. The strongest predictor of health insurance coverage and hospital beds was the country's population education index, and of nurses and midwives-per-capita and health expenditures-per-capita was GDP-per-capita. These insights could guide policymaking to reduce global health inequalities., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

The presence of cryptic species can hinder effective conservation planning and implementation, as has been the case for speciose groups of freshwater fishes that are difficult to differentiate due to conserved morphologies. The West Texas shiner Notropis megalops and the Texas shiner Notropis amabilis are a cryptic pair of leuciscids (minnows) that co-occur in spring-fed tributaries of the Rio Grande in Texas and Mexico. Both N. megalops and N. amabilis are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Notropis amabilis is widespread and listed as apparently secure by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department whereas N. megalops has a very limited distribution and has not been ranked by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department because of data deficiency. Morphological differences between these species have been described; however, proper identification in situ remains problematic. Furthermore, given their range of overlap there is potential for hybridization, and limited genetic data have been collected comparing the species. Therefore, reduced representation genomic and mitochondrial sequencing data were used to reassess the distinctness of the species, screen for hybridization, and characterize their relative frequencies throughout their range of overlap. Genomic analyses recovered two distinct genetic groups corresponding to the species (F' CT  = 0.89) with no evidence of admixture or introgression. The species were found to co-occur at three sampling locations, two in the Devils River and one in the Pecos, but not in equal frequencies. Overall, these results provide data and tools for further research on N. megalops needed for accurate conservation policies and management practices., (© 2024 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Novel introductions of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, often cause negative impacts on endemic populations of prey fishes and interspecific competitors. Although many studies have investigated trophic interactions between M. salmoides and smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, few have included chain pickerel, Esox niger, as a competitor despite similarities in their habitat use. We used stable isotope analysis to investigate the trophic ecology of a recently introduced population of M. salmoides in the Wolastoq|Saint John River. Specifically, we measured carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotopes to describe isotopic niches and infer resource use of introduced M. salmoides, M. dolomieu, E. niger, and native yellow perch, Perca flavescens, at various life stages. Our results showed that isotopic niche overlap occurred between M. salmoides and other study species, indicative of resource competition. However, resource use plasticity, as demonstrated by a wide variety of resources (marine, terrestrial, littoral, and pelagic) used by all study species, could potentially reduce interspecific competition. Our findings indicate that competition is highest between adult M. salmoides and E. niger, but the presence of a seasonal marine resource can provide important contributions to diets and potentially reduce competition. Further research should focus on monitoring of long-term trends to identify the dynamics of all study species as M. salmoides populations become further established and dispersed., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Fish Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Congenital heart disease (CHD) has an incidence of approximately 1%. Over the last decade, sequencing studies including large cohorts of individuals with CHD have begun to unravel the genetic mechanisms underpinning CHD. This includes the identification of variants in cyclin-dependent kinase 13 (CDK13), in individuals with syndromic CHD. CDK13 encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase. The cyclin partner of CDK13 is cyclin K; this complex is thought to be important in transcription and RNA processing. Pathogenic variants in CDK13 cause CDK13-related disorder in humans, characterised by intellectual disability and developmental delay, recognisable facial features, feeding difficulties and structural brain defects, with 35% of individuals having CHD. To obtain a greater understanding for the role that this essential protein kinase plays in embryonic heart development, we have analysed a presumed loss of function Cdk13 transgenic mouse model (Cdk13 tm1b ). The homozygous mutants were embryonically lethal in most cases by E15.5. X-gal staining showed Cdk13 expression localised to developing facial regions, heart and surrounding areas at E10.5, whereas at E12.5, it was more widely present. In the E15.5 heart, staining was seen throughout. RT-qPCR showed significant reduction in Cdk13 transcript expression in homozygous compared with WT and heterozygous hearts at E10.5 and E12.5. Detailed morphological 3D analysis of embryonic and postnatal hearts was performed using high-resolution episcopic microscopy, which affords a more detailed analysis of structures such as cardiac valve leaflets and endocardial cushions, compared with more traditional histological techniques. We show that both the homozygous and heterozygous Cdk13 tm1b mutants exhibit a range of CHD, including ventricular septal defects, bicuspid aortic valve, double outlet right ventricle and atrioventricular septal defects. 100% (n = 4) of homozygous hearts displayed CHD. Differential expression was seen in Cdk13 tm1b homozygous mutants for two genes known to be necessary for normal heart development. The types of defects, and the presence of CHD in heterozygous mice (17.02%, n = 8/47), are consistent with the CDK13-related disorder phenotype in humans. This study provides important insights into the effects of reduced function of CDK13 in the mouse heart and contributes to our understanding of the mechanism behind this disorder as a cause of CHD., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.)

Health data generated by apps and devices are increasingly popular and expected to affect various aspects of doctor-patient relationships. No longer confined to medically authorised and certified health technologies, a range of biomedical data-from heart rate to blood pressure or oxygen saturation-are captured and processed by consumer health devices. This article outlines different responses of physicians to patients collecting data with popular consumer devices and considers how the data may challenge or reify medical authority. Based on semi-structured interviews with doctors and chronically ill patients in Germany from 2021 to 2023, we compare cases from diabetes, sleep disorders, cardiovascular conditions, obesity and ME/CFS and explore when, how and for what reasons different medical specialists consider patient-generated data (PGD) from consumer devices in outpatient settings. Their response registers vary: whereas some physicians reject PGD that seem to compete with their diagnostic activities, others tolerate the data (collection), whereas still others more readily include them into their diagnostic practices. This suggests nuanced strategies for navigating the demarcation between accepting or rejecting 'uninvited' participation through PGD from consumer apps and devices., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) populations in the South Atlantic Ocean are listed as vulnerable under the IUCN. In fact, this species is classified as critically endangered in Brazil under the Ministry of the Environment. The present study reports the first opportunistic sighting of an aggregation of 250-300 silky sharks in the Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge. Aggregation sites are important in the life cycle of silky sharks, and identifying these sites is essential for conservation efforts., (© 2024 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of mindful-based interventions (MBIs) on changes in obesogenic eating behaviors. Seven databases (CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Sociological Abstracts) were searched. Random-effects models were performed to estimate the pooled effects, and mixed-effects models were used to explore potential moderators of MBIs on eating behavioral changes. The significant effects on mindless eating habits included controlled eating (Hedge's g = 0.23, p = 0.005), external eating (g = -0.62, p = 0.001), fullness awareness (g = 0.64, p < 0.001), hunger eating (g = -0.69, p = 0.032), energy intake (g = -0.60, p = 0.003), sweet intake (g = -0.39, p < 0.001), and impulsive food choice (g = -0.43, p = 0.002). However, small and insignificant effects were noted for stress-related eating habits like emotional eating (g = -0.27; p = 0.070) and binge eating (g = -0.35, p = 0.136). The long-term effects were significantly sustained on hunger eating (g = -0.50, p = 0.007) but insignificant on emotional eating (g = -0.22, p = 0.809). MBIs delivered in clinical settings were more effective for decreasing emotional eating compared with those in school settings. Our findings support the effectiveness of MBIs. The pooled effects on improving mindless eating habits were stronger than the modification of stress-related eating habits., (© 2024 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

Analytical and semi-analytical models for stream depletion with transient stream stage drawdown induced by groundwater pumping are developed to address a deficiency in existing models, namely, the use of a fixed stream stage condition at the stream-aquifer interface. Field data are presented to demonstrate that stream stage drawdown does indeed occur in response to groundwater pumping near aquifer-connected streams. A model that predicts stream depletion with transient stream drawdown is developed based on stream channel mass conservation and finite stream channel storage. The resulting models are shown to reduce to existing fixed-stage models in the limit as stream channel storage becomes infinitely large, and to the confined aquifer flow with a no-flow boundary at the streambed in the limit as stream storage becomes vanishingly small. The model is applied to field measurements of aquifer and stream drawdown, giving estimates of aquifer hydraulic parameters, streambed conductance, and a measure of stream channel storage. The results of the modeling and data analysis presented herein have implications for sustainable groundwater management., (© 2024 National Ground Water Association.)

This article identifies the health of the worker as a third source of labour power indeterminacy to be added to the indeterminacy of labour effort and the indeterminacy of labour mobility. The paper clearly differentiates worker health from effort as a distinct source of labour power indeterminacy-something that cannot be guaranteed and that varies for an individual over time. It considers the relationship between worker health as a new source of indeterminacy and the two extant sources of labour power indeterminacy, focussing on the way in which health moderates the relationship between effort and output. The paper also considers the way in which worker health investment moderates the indeterminacy of labour effort and labour mobility, independently of its impact on the health of the worker. The paper documents the potential value of worker health investment to the organisation and also considers the boundary conditions for investment in worker health., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

There is a significant need to develop decision support tools capable of delivering accurate representations of environmental conditions, such as ground and surface water solute concentrations, in a timely and computationally efficient manner. Such tools can be leveraged to assess a large number of potential management strategies for mitigating non-point source pollutants. Here, we assess the effectiveness of the impulse-response emulation approach to approximate process-based groundwater model estimates of solute transport from MODFLOW and MT3D over a wide range of model inputs and parameters, with the goal of assessing where in parameter space the assumptions underlying this emulation approach are valid. The impulse-response emulator was developed using the sensitivity analysis utilities in the PEST++ software suite and is capable of approximating MODFLOW/MT3D estimates of solute transport over a large portion of the parameter space tested, except in cases where the Courant number is above 0.5. Across all runs tested, the highest percent errors were at the plume fronts. These results suggest that the impulse-response approach may be suitable for emulation of solute transport models for a wide range of cases, except when high-resolution outputs are needed, or when very low concentrations at plume edges are of particular interest., (Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

In groundwater modeling studies, accurate spatial and intensity identification of water sources and sinks is of critical importance. Precise construction data about wells (water sinks) are particularly difficult to obtain. The collection of well log data is expensive and laborious, and government records of historic well log data are often imprecise and incomplete with respect to the precise location or pumping rate. In many groundwater modeling studies, such as groundwater quality assessments, a precise representation of the horizontal and vertical distribution of well screens is required to accurately estimate contaminant breakthrough curves. The number of wells under consideration may be very large, for example, in the assessment of nonpoint source pollution. In this paper, we propose an imputation framework that allows for proper reconstruction of missing well data. Our approach exploits available information and tolerates data gaps and imprecisions. We demonstrate the value of this method for a subregion of the Central Valley aquifer (California, USA). We show that our framework imputes missing values that preserve statistical properties of available data and that remain consistent with the known spatial distribution of well screens and pumping rates in the three-dimensional aquifer system., (© 2024 The Author(s). Groundwater published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Ground Water Association.)

Smiling is an embodied and complex social act. Smiling is presented as facilitating individual health and wellbeing, but the value placed on smiling raises questions about structural conditions acting on the body. While smiling has been considered sociologically, psychologically and historically, we argue that further exploration of the embodied smile offers fruitful avenues for future research. This article attempts to advance understanding of the smile and its importance by: (I) Bringing together literature on smiling as a social act and smiling as embodied. (II) Systematically identifying key themes, which recognise sociological insights and the relevance of oral health. (III) Pointing to useful directions for future sociological research into smiling. In this article, we review literature on body techniques; impression management and social interaction; gender, race and smiling; and emotional, aesthetic and affective labour. We move on to embodiment, considering the mouth as a body project and in relation to the ageing body, before reflecting on the significance of oral health and dentistry. We highlight future directions for sociological research on smiling, building on eight interrelated and cross-cutting themes: norms and expectations, aesthetic ideals, self and identity, health and wellbeing, body work, commodification and labour, inclusion and exclusion and resistance., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on ethnically minoritised and other marginalised communities, yet little is known about the impacts of long COVID-19 (LC) on this group. Living with LC takes its toll both physically, emotionally and financially and even more so when a diagnosis is hard to come by. By using qualitative interviews centring the view of undiagnosed and marginalised communities already classed as 'underserved' in the medical literature, we show the range of barriers and impacts faced by these groups in the UK, and the strategies of resilience they use. Whether trapped on a 'diagnostic odyssey' at the level of primary care, struggling to maintain employment and businesses, or managing family commitments, we argue many minoritised communities are caught in a liminal space of misrecognition, invalidation and ambiguity. We show how these impacts are generated by tensions and challenges in the process and categorisation of diagnosis, and how this effects the daily lives of many individuals already on the receiving end of health inequity. We also offer some examples and suggestions for best practices., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

Community-based policy, systems, and environmental interventions have the potential to reduce modifiable risk factors for obesity early in life. The purpose of this scoping review was to characterize the breadth, generalizability, and methodological quality of community-based diet and obesity-related policy, system, and environmental interventions during the first 1000 days of life, from pregnancy to 24 months of age. Eight databases were searched, and 83 studies (122 references) were included. Data were extracted for breadth (intervention characteristics), generalizability (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance), and study quality (Downs and Black Checklist). Systems and environmental approaches were common (> 80%), relative to policy approaches (39%). The majority (60-69%) occurred in the prenatal period and early infancy (0-3 months), assessed breastfeeding or child growth/obesity (53% for both), and included people with lower income (80%) or racial and/or ethnic minority groups (63%). Many interventions reported positive outcomes (i.e., in the expected direction) for child diet, breastfeeding, and feeding practices (> 62%). Few reported intervention maintenance or spanned the full 1000 days. Most studies were classified as good (32%) or fair (56%) methodological quality. The interventions mainly addressed pregnancy and early infancy. Rigorous and representative investigation is needed to improve intervention reach, sustainability, and application in toddlerhood., (© 2024 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

Objective: Medical treatments that aim to modify the appearance of the genitals in children who are born with a difference of sex development/intersex (DSD/I*) condition are highly controversial. Human Rights bodies worldwide have argued that such treatments are conflicting with the child's right of personal autonomy and should be legally restricted to the unique situation where the child's physical health is in danger., Design: We here review the current status of legal initiatives in Europe that have addressed the issue of medical treatments in minors who have a DSD for which they have not been able to give personal informed consent due to their young age., Patients: The management of a 3 years old child who has congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and grows up with atypical-looking genitals is discussed., Results: In spite of extensive psychosocial support to the child and family from birth onwards, and good medical control of CAH, the child develops signs of emotional distress, suspected to be attributable to the genital difference. Our discussions include perspectives from the multidisciplinary DSD team caring for the child, a human rights specialist, and an intersex activist. From our discussions, we conclude that with evolving medical care, new ethical and human rights challenges are raised. A truly holistic human rights approach should not only consider physical but also mental health and psychosocial and psychosexual adaptation of the child to the medical condition, when reflecting on the acceptability of medical treatments in minors for which no personal informed consent can be obtained due to their young age. In addition it is paramount to include the meaningful participation of the child in the clinical management at the earliest possible stage., Conclusions: Continued convergence of clinical management and the human rights framework can be realised based on constructive discussions involving all stakeholders, and with the best interest of the child - and adult that they will become - as a common goal., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Sharks occupy all living environments of the marine realm as well as some freshwater systems. They display varied and flexible feeding behaviours, but understanding their diet remains challenging due to their elusive ecology and the invasiveness of stomach content analyses in regard of their threatened status. As a potential alternative, we discuss the variability in δ 44/42 Ca values recorded in the tooth enamel of size-graded individuals belonging to three species of large sharks with distinct diets (Isurus oxyrinchus, Hexanchus griseus and Carcharodon carcharias). The preliminary results highlight shifts in diet linked to ontogeny (I. oxyrinchus and H. griseus) and spatial distribution (C. carcharias) characterizing feeding behaviour in these species at individual and population level. These outcomes agree with the results of traditional stomach analyses supporting that nontraditional stable isotopes thus represent new perspectives for the study of modern and extinct shark ecology. In addition, for the first time, the Sr/Ca elemental ratios measured in H. griseus reflect sexual differences that could be interpreted in terms of spatial segregation or physiological heterogeneities., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Class-based perspectives on the persistent social gradients in health within modern welfare states largely focus on the adverse consequences of unfettered neoliberalism and entrenched meritocratic socioeconomic selection. Namely, neoliberal-driven economic inequality has fuelled resentment and stress among lower-status groups, while these groups have become more homogeneous with regard to health behaviours and outcomes. We synthesise several sociological and historical literatures to argue that, in addition to these class-based explanations, socioeconomic inequality may contribute to persistent social gradients in health due to elite class self-interest-in particular elites' preferences for overdiagnosis, overprescription and costly high-technology medical treatments over disease prevention, and for increased tolerance for regulatory capture. We demonstrate that this self-interest provides parsimonious explanations for several contemporary trends in U.S. health inequality including (A) supply-side factors in drug-related deaths, (B) longitudinal trends in the social gradients of obesity and chronic disease mortality and (C) the immigrant health advantage. We conclude that sociological theories of elite class self-interest usefully complement theories of the psychosocial effects of neoliberalism and of meritocratic social selection while answering recent calls for research on the role advantaged groups play in generating inequalities in health, and for research that moves beyond technological determinism in health sociology., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a paradigmatic case for childhood medicalisation. Critical studies of medicalisation have pointed to the increasing clinical role of schools, with teachers tending to rely on medical treatment of students with ADHD and are perceived as a primary source of diagnostic information. Based on 27 semi-structured interviews with teachers working in two Israeli elementary and middle schools, this research explored how teachers mediate the medicalisation process and understand their responsibilities in the classroom amidst the emphasis on inclusion in contemporary Israel. We found that teachers offer a wide range of explanations of the disorder and its prevalence, and their attitudes to medication are ambivalent. We argue that teachers develop pedagogical (lay) expertise in the field of ADHD in parallel with and in opposition to medical solutions. Such expertise is based on practical experience and close interaction with students. A top-down ideological imperative of inclusion, combined with uncertainty about ADHD, has generated a bottom-up set of preformative practices of 'containment' of troubled students. Teachers' emerging knowledge and practices raise questions about the relationship between medicalisation, policy, expertise and the pragmatic value of medical categories when applied outside the medical establishment., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL) for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted up to September 15, 2022. Thirty studies involving 1751 patients were included. At 12 months post-implantation, the reduction in body mass index (BMI) was 4.8 kg/m 2 (95% CI 4.1, 5.5), with an excess weight loss of 41.3% (95% CI 33.4%,49.2%) and a total weight loss of 13.1% (95% CI 10.1%, 16.0%). Significant decrease was observed in HbA1c and fasting glucose, with a standardized mean difference of - 0.72 (95% CI - 0.95, - 0.48) and - 0.62 (95% CI - 0.82, - 0.42), respectively. However, these improvements in weight loss and glycemic control were only partially sustained after explantation. In situ, DJBL significantly improves blood pressure and lipid levels. The pooled early removal rate was 19%, and the incidence of severe adverse events was 17%, including device migration (6%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (4%), device obstruction (4%), and hepatic abscess (2%). DJBL offers significant improvement in weight loss and glycemic control, as well as cardiovascular parameters while in situ. Further studies are warranted to better understand the long-term efficacy and safety of DJBL. The benefits of DJBL need to be carefully weighed against the risks in clinical decision-making., (© 2024 World Obesity Federation.)

This common statement of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) provides an update of the 2012 published guidelines on food challenges. The guidelines equally address food challenges in the research and the clinical settings. They first address the diagnostic tests which can guide the decision to conduct a challenge. Safety of food challenges is prime, and the various procedures and safety issues as well as medications potentially involved in challenges are extensively discussed. Challenges are suggested to be conducted with semi-logarithmic incremental doses based on the protein content, typically for IgE-mediated food allergy with intervals of 20-30 min between doses. Specific protocols for other types of reactions such atopic dermatitis or gastrointestinal food allergy are detailed separately. Proper stopping criteria are essential in order to reduce the risk of false-positive diagnoses, but also severe reactions. The guidelines recommend criteria based on "go on," "stop," or "observation." These revised guidelines will clearly provide much needed guidance for food challenges in the research and clinical settings. They will continue to evolve with new diagnostic tests or new needs in the field of food allergy., (© 2024 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis is characterised by the existence of major functional changes from its establishment in fetal life until the end of puberty. The assessment of serum testosterone and gonadotrophins and semen analysis, typically used in the adult male, is not applicable during most of infancy and childhood. On the other hand, the disorders of gonadal axis have different clinical consequences depending on the developmental stage at which the dysfunction is established. This review addresses the approaches to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in the newborn, during childhood and at pubertal age., Design: We focused on the hormonal laboratory and genetic studies as well as on the clinical signs and imaging studies that guide the aetiological diagnosis and the functional status of the gonads., Results: Serum gonadotrophin and testosterone determination is useful in the first 3-6 months after birth and at pubertal age, whereas AMH and inhibin B are useful biomarkers of testis function from birth until the end of puberty. Clinical and imaging signs are helpful to appraise testicular hormone actions during fetal and postnatal life., Conclusions: The interpretation of results derived from the assessment of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular in paediatric patients requires a comprehensive knowledge of the developmental physiology of the axis to understand its pathophysiology and reach an accurate diagnosis of its disorders., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Female hypogonadism (FH) is a relatively common endocrine disorder in women of premenopausal age, but there are significant uncertainties and wide variation in its management. Most current guidelines are monospecialty and only address premature ovarian insufficiency (POI); some allude to management in very brief and general terms, and most rely upon the extrapolation of evidence from the studies relating to physiological estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women. The Society for Endocrinology commissioned new guidance to provide all care providers with a multidisciplinary perspective on managing patients with all forms of FH. It has been compiled using expertise from Endocrinology, Primary Care, Gynaecology and Reproductive Health practices, with contributions from expert patients and a patient support group, to help clinicians best manage FH resulting from both POI and hypothalamo-pituitary disorders, whether organic or functional., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical Endocrinology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Salmonid fishes are a widespread and economically important group of fishes that are strongly affected by anthropogenic environmental degradation. Consequently, studies on their behavior and ecology are essential for their conservation. Wild Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) were observed in an unimpacted Alaskan river using underwater video observations for two consecutive summers (2015 and 2016). Foraging, aggressive behavior, and position held by individual fish were quantified. Fish held focal positions in the water column most of the time (mean = 81%), active foraging was observed for 14% of the observation periods, and antagonistic interactions occurred during 5% of the time. The analysis of intraspecific aggression revealed that aggressive interactions occurred between conspecifics of similar sizes (±100 mm), although the winners of bouts were significantly larger than the losers. Notably, initiators emerged as more successful in these bouts compared to receivers, irrespective of body length. These findings underscore the significance of conducting field studies to gain valuable insights into the behavior of fish in their natural stream environments., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Fish Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Little is known regarding the future reproductive decision-making of parents of children with rare genetic conditions. Our research draws on data from an online survey and qualitative photo-elicitation interviews with families living with Noonan Syndrome. We demonstrate how genetic knowledge and prenatal genetic testing become embedded in reproductive practices. Yet the idea of using selective genetic technologies to influence reproductive outcomes remains highly emotive. Our analysis reveals that for these parents, the rationalities of reproduction, although technologised and biomedicalised, remain centred on caring for their disabled child. Genetic subjectivities become entangled with responsibilities of care-giving and emotion tied to the realities of living with disability. We argue that for these parents, reproductive decisions are relational and affective, situated within families and communities and shaped by access to emotional, financial, physical and temporal resources. Our findings provide new insights into the ontologies of selective genetic technologies and reproductive governance in families living with disability., (© 2024 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.)

The Zambezian Lowveld Ecoregion (ZLE) is one of the 22 freshwater ecoregions covering southern Africa. This ecoregion covers ~520,418 km 2 and extends from south of the Zambezi Delta in the north to the uMngeni River basin in the south. This study aimed to compile a comprehensive synthesis of the available information on the diversity and distribution of freshwater fishes in this ecoregion based on natural history collection holdings by reviewing the published scientific literature. In total, 105 native species belonging to 39 genera and 17 families were recorded from the ZLE. An important proportion, 20 (19%), of the species are considered to be narrow-range endemics. Nevertheless, the majority of them (81%) are considered to have broad geographic ranges, with some even extending into adjacent ecoregions. However, recent and ongoing studies indicate that the current taxonomy often underestimates the species diversity and therefore overestimates the distribution ranges of the latter group of freshwater fishes concerned. The present synthesis brings to the fore existing knowledge gaps in species diversity and distribution ranges of freshwater fishes of this ecoregion and highlights the need for the use of integrative approaches to address the prevailing taxonomic conflicts., (© 2024 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)