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Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SM) bloodstream infections (BSIs) contribute to significant mortality in hematologic malignancy (HM) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients. A risk score to predict SM BSI could reduce time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy (TTAT) and improve patient outcomes. A single center cohort study of hospitalized adults with HM/HSCT was conducted. Patients had ≥ 1 blood culture with a Gram-negative (GN) organism. A StenoSCORE was calculated for each patient. The StenoSCORE2 was developed using risk factors for SM BSI identified via logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted. Sensitivity and specificity for the StenoSCORE and StenoSCORE2 were calculated. Thirty-six SM patients and 534 non-SM patients were assessed. A StenoSCORE ≥ 33 points was 80% sensitive, 68% specific, and accurately classified 69% of GN BSIs. StenoSCORE2 variables included acute leukemia, prolonged neutropenia, mucositis, ICU admission, recent meropenem and/or cefepime exposure. The StenoSCORE2 performed better than the StenoSCORE (ROC AUC 0.84 vs. 0.77). A StenoSCORE2 ≥ 4 points was 86% sensitive, 76% specific, and accurately classified 77% of GN BSIs. TTAT was significantly longer for patients with SM BSI compared with non-SM BSI (45.16 h vs. 0.57 h; p < 0.0001). In-hospital and 28-day mortality were significantly higher for patients with SM BSI compared to non-SM BSI (58.3% vs. 18.5% and 66.7% vs. 26.4%; p-value < 0.0001). The StenoSCORE and StenoSCORE2 performed well in predicting SM BSIs in patients with HM/HSCT and GN BSI. Clinical studies evaluating whether StenoSCORE and/or StenoSCORE2 implementation improves TTAT and clinical outcomes are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report perioperative and long-term postoperative outcomes of cystectomy patients with ileal conduit (IC) urinary diversion undergoing parastomal hernia (PSH) repair. Method: We reviewed patients who underwent cystectomy and IC diversion between 2003 and 2022 in our center. Baseline variables, including surgical approach of PSH repair and repair technique, were captured. Multivariable Cox regressionanalysis was performed to test for the associations between different variables and PSH recurrence. Results: Thirty-six patients with a median (IQR) age of 79 (73–82) years were included. The median time between cystectomy and PSH repair was 30 (14–49) months. Most PSH repairs (32/36, 89%) were performed electively, while 4 were due to small bowel obstruction. Hernia repairs were performed through open (n=25), robotic (10), and laparoscopic approaches (1). Surgical techniques included direct repair with mesh (20), direct repair without mesh (4), stoma relocation with mesh (5), and stomarelocation without mesh (7). The 90-day complication rate was 28%. In a median follow-up of 24 (7–47) months, 17 patients (47%) had a recurrence. The median time to recurrence was 9 (7–24) months. On multivariable analysis, 90-day complication following PSH repair was associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Conclusions: In this report of one of the largest series of PSH repair in the Urology literature, 47% of patients had a recurrence following hernia repair with a median follow-up time of 2 years. There was no significant difference in recurrence rates when comparing repair technique or the use of open or minimally invasive approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Investigate patient preferences in embryo selection for transfer regarding quality versus sex in IVF/ICSI cycles with PGT-A and assess associated clinical implications. Methods: Retrospective cohort study at a university fertility practice from January 2012 to December 2021. Included were patients undergoing single frozen euploid transfers with at least one embryo of each sex available. Primary outcomes were preference for embryo selection (quality vs. sex) and sex preference (male vs. female). Trends over 10 years were evaluated and clinical outcomes, including clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), sustained implantation rate (SIR), and live birth rate (LBR), were compared. Results: A total of 5,145 embryo transfer cycles were included; 54.5% chose the best-quality embryo, while 45.5% selected based on sex. Among those choosing based on sex, 56.5% chose male embryos and 43.5% chose female. Preference for quality remained consistent over the decade (p = 0.30), while male embryos were consistently favored (p = 0.64). Best-quality embryos had higher grades (p < 0.001). Clinical outcomes were similar between groups (CPR: 74.4% vs. 71.9%, p = 0.05; SIR: 64.9% vs. 63.4%, p = 0.26; LBR: 58.8% vs. 56.7%, p = 0.13), and between male and female embryo selections. Conclusions: Sex selection remains common, with 45.5% selecting embryos based on sex, predominantly favoring males. This trend persisted over 10 years, with comparable clinical outcomes regardless of selection criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management has become a major concern due to the extensive use of commodity polymers. Nowadays, one of the most widely used commodity polymers is nonwoven PP. The extensive utilization of polypropylene produces a large amount of waste, making their upcycling and recycling the biggest challenge. This research aims to develop an economical nanocomposite by upcycling nonwoven waste for utilization in the automotive and electronic sectors. A two-step melt blending technique was used to prepare polypropylene waste/silica nanocomposites. The nanocomposites formed were characterized by their morphological, mechanical, thermal, rheological, chemical, and electrical properties. From the results, it was concluded that the optimum mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistance properties were achieved for PP-01 formulation showing a 9.95% increase in heat deflection temperature, a 27.57% decrease in the rate of burning, a 5.4% increase in shore D hardness, 26.09% increase in flexural strength, 11.6% increase in melt flow index, and 66.25% increase in solvent resistance as compared to waste polypropylene. At the same time, the best electrical results were obtained at 0.5 wt.% with a 5.36% increase in the breakdown strength. The resistance value increases from 4.67 × 1012 Ω to 2 × 1013 Ω. The overall research shows that optimum mechanical and thermal properties were achieved at 1 wt.% so that the PP-01 formulation can be used effectively for automotive applications. In contrast, maximum electrical resistance was achieved at the PP-0.5 formulation so that this formulation could be effectively used for electrical insulation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teriparatide is an anabolic drug sometimes administered to patients who have atypical femoral fracture (AFF). However, whether teriparatide has beneficial effects on bone healing remains uncertain. The present study aimed to analyze the association between teriparatide and bone healing in complete AFF. A total of 59 consecutive cases (58 patients) who underwent intramedullary nailing for complete AFF were categorized based on postoperative use of teriparatide into the non-teriparatide (non-TPTD, n = 34) and teriparatide groups (TPTD, n = 25). Time-to-bone union was evaluated and compared between the two groups. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors affecting time-to-bone union. All participants were women, with a mean age of 77.6 years (range: 62–92). No significant difference in time-to-bone union was found between the non-TPTD and TPTD groups (5.5 months vs. 5.8 months, p = 0.359). Two patients in the non-TPTD group underwent reoperation (p = 0.503) due to failure caused by inadequate fixation, and both achieved bone healing after additional fixation with blocking screws. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the anterior gap of the fracture site postoperatively was a factor affecting time-to-bone union (p = 0.014). The beneficial effect of teriparatide on bone healing in complete AFF could not be confirmed. Additional randomized controlled trials are required. Nonetheless, appropriate techniques, including efforts to reduce the gap on the tensile side during the surgery, are important for reliable bone healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global trade in nonhuman primates represents a substantial threat to ecosystem health, human health, and primate conservation worldwide. Most of the primate trade involves trade for pet-keeping, consumption, or biomedical experimentation. We present an overview of international primate trade through five case studies; each describes a different facet of this trade. We draw on published scientific literature, media outlets, and open access datasets, including the CITES Trade Database to build these case studies. Case study 1 describes the role of introduced island populations of Macaca and Chlorocebus in trade for biomedical experimentation; case study 2 covers the global health threats posed by the primate trade, including zoonotic disease transmission once animals enter the trade pipeline; case study 3 addresses the ways that changing patterns of primate trade, from local markets to online, have increased the demand for primates as pets; case study 4 recognizes the role that local environmental activism can play in mitigating trade; and case study 5 shows variation between global regions in their contribution to the primate trade. We recommend greater oversight of primate trade, especially domestic trade within primate range countries, and real-time reporting to CITES to accurately track primate trade. Effective conservation-focused regulations that can minimise the negative effects of primate trade must be tailored to specific regions and species and require transparency, careful regulation, field research, and an understanding of the magnitude of this trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests that plant-based diets may reduce the risk of breast cancer (BC). However, the macronutrient composition of plant-based diets and its potential impact on BC risk has not been well explored. This analysis investigated the association of macronutrient composition with BC risk across a spectrum of plant-based diet indexes using a multidimensional approach. Design: This study followed 64,655 participants from the Etude Epidémiologique auprès de femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale (E3N) cohort from 1993 to 2014. Diets were evaluated using validated 208-item diet history questionnaires at baseline (1993) and follow-up (2005), to calculate adherence to the overall plant-based diet (PDI), healthful plant-based diet (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet (uPDI). The association of macronutrient composition with BC risk was assessed via generalized additive time-dependent Cox models across different levels of these indexes. Response surfaces were generated to visualize compositional associations at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of each index (low, moderate, and high). Results: A total of 3,932 incident BC cases were identified during the 21-year follow-up. There was a significant association between macronutrient composition and BC risk for hPDI, uPDI, and PDI (all P < 0.001). Akaike information criterion favored the hPDI model for characterizing the association between macronutrients and BC. BC risk was highest for individuals with a lower hPDI score who also consumed a diet containing lower protein (10%), lower carbohydrate (35%), and higher fat (55%). The lowest risk of BC was observed in those with higher hPDI scores with the lowest intake of protein (10%). At higher PDI and uPDI, diets containing higher protein (30%) and fat (45%) had the highest BC risk. Conclusion: These results demonstrate a complex relationship between macronutrient composition, plant-based diet quality, and BC risk. Further research is needed to examine specific foods that may be driving these associations. Registry: The protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03285230. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination of complex behavior requires knowledge of both neural dynamics and the mechanics of the periphery. The feeding system of Aplysia californica is an excellent model for investigating questions in soft body systems' neuromechanics because of its experimental tractability. Prior work has attempted to elucidate the mechanical properties of the periphery by using a Hill-type muscle model to characterize the force generation capabilities of the key protractor muscle responsible for moving Aplysia's grasper anteriorly, the I2 muscle. However, the I1/I3 muscle, which is the main driver of retractions of Aplysia's grasper, has not been characterized. Because of the importance of the musculature's properties in generating functional behavior, understanding the properties of muscles like the I1/I3 complex may help to create more realistic simulations of the feeding behavior of Aplysia, which can aid in greater understanding of the neuromechanics of soft-bodied systems. To bridge this gap, in this work, the I1/I3 muscle complex was characterized using force-frequency, length-tension, and force-velocity experiments and showed that a Hill-type model can accurately predict its force-generation properties. Furthermore, the muscle's peak isometric force and stiffness were found to exceed those of the I2 muscle, and these results were analyzed in the context of prior studies on the I1/I3 complex's kinematics in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the nervous system underlying animal motor control can shed light on how animals can adapt flexibly to a changing environment. We focus on the neural basis of feeding control in Aplysia californica. Using the Synthetic Nervous System framework, we developed a model of Aplysia feeding neural circuitry that balances neurophysiological plausibility and computational complexity. The circuitry includes neurons, synapses, and feedback pathways identified in existing literature. We organized the neurons into three layers and five subnetworks according to their functional roles. Simulation results demonstrate that the circuitry model can capture the intrinsic dynamics at neuronal and network levels. When combined with a simplified peripheral biomechanical model, it is sufficient to mediate three animal-like feeding behaviors (biting, swallowing, and rejection). The kinematic, dynamic, and neural responses of the model also share similar features with animal data. These results emphasize the functional roles of sensory feedback during feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the salience of personal ethical values for diversity work. Theory and practice of diversity management (DM) are located in a wider business ethics agenda which acknowledges the rhetorical value of the business case for diversity, but which also integrates the moral responsibilities attached to people management. Drawing on findings from a qualitative study of external diversity and inclusion (D&I) consultants in the UK, the analysis reveals the extent to which personal ethical values act as motivators for and influences on DM work. The research finds that the unique positioning of external D&I consultants facilitates a productive tension towards their work with organizations, allowing them space and opportunity to navigate ethical tensions such that they stand as particularly valuable equality practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean is a protein-rich winter legume used for food and feed. To meet the growing needs for improved cultivars of faba bean in India, long-term breeding research was conducted during 2007–2020, to develop a cultivar with superior seed yield and quality. In the first year, field screening of 55 genotypes was conducted for yield and quality, with 17 genotypes selected and used in a crossing program to generate F1 hybrids. In subsequent years, F2–F6 progenies were advanced, after continuous evaluation, rejection, and selection, with 20 superior recombinants identified as promising genotypes. These were evaluated in field trials during winter seasons of 2015–2016 and 2016–2017. Based on this testing, four genotypes; HB 14-18, HB 1-20, HB 1-32, and HB 1-21 had higher grain yield and grain protein content and were further evaluated in multi-location field trials at four locations; namely, Ambikapur, Ayodha, Hisar, and Ludhiana in India during 2017–2020. Among these four genotypes, HB 1-21 produced higher yield, 2.656 t/ha, and increased grain protein, 28.05%, an increase of more than 10% compared to national check cultivars HFB-1 (2.315 t/ha, 24.78%) and Vikrant (2.198 t/ha, 25.42%). Additionally, HB 1-21 was low in anti-nutritional content vicine-convicine and resistance to diseases Alternaria blight and root rot disease. This genotype, HB 14-21 has all desirable traits of increased yield and quality and has been recommended for commercial release as a new cultivar in the plain zones of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airway distensibility is defined as the ease whereby airways are dilating in response to inflating lung pressure. If measured swiftly and accurately, airway distensibility would be a useful readout to parse the various elements contributing to airway wall stiffening, such as smooth muscle contraction, surface tension, and airway remodeling. The goal of the present study was to develop a method for measuring airway distensibility in mice. Lungs of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice from either sex were subjected to stepwise changes in pressure. At each pressure step, an oscillometric perturbation was used to measure the impedance spectrum, on which the constant-phase model was fitted to deduce a surrogate for airway caliber called Newtonian conductance (GN). The change in GN over the change in pressure was subsequently used as an index of airway distensibility. An additional group of mice was infused with methacholine to confirm that smooth muscle contraction changes airway distensibility. GN increased with increasing steps in pressure, suggesting that the extent to which this occurs can be used as an index of airway distensibility. Airway distensibility was greater in BALB/c than C57BL/6 mice, and its variation by sex was mouse strain dependent, being greater in female than male in BALB/c mice with an inverse trend in C57BL/6 mice. Airway distensibility was also decreased by methacholine. This novel method swiftly measures airway distensibility in mice. Airway distensibility was also shown to vary with sex and mouse strain and to be sensitive to the contraction of smooth muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of ChatGPT, a Generative AI program, has sparked discussions about its teaching and learning value, and concerns about academic integrity in higher education (HE). An extant review of the literature indicates that a scarcity of research exists on GenAI, specifically a synthesis of the official views, guidelines and articles of top-ranked universities on the use, limitations, challenges, and opportunities brought by ChatGPT in the early phase when ChatGPT was released in 2022 until early May 2023, which can offer insights into the concerns and recommendations for educators. Using the corpus assisted discourse analysis approach, this study identified the key themes and emotions elicited by evaluations of the ChatGPT situation from a self-built corpus containing 151 articles from 47 top-ranked U.S. universities and 34 U.K. ones. Our findings indicated three prominent themes discussed on official websites, including ChatGPT as a text and content generator, use of ChatGPT in teaching and learning, and potential implications and opportunities of using ChatGPT in HE. Further examination revealed that bias, concern, worry, threat, fear, and trust were the prevailing emotions relating to ChatGPT. Illustrated with examples collected from our corpus, this paper offers an in-depth discussion of universities' first responses to the use of ChatGPT. The insights gained have some pedagogical implications for academics, researchers and educators and may inform policy and practice in HE on the use of GenAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Booster vaccinations are recommended to improve protection against severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection. With primary vaccinations involving various adenoviral vector and mRNA-based formulations, it remains unclear if these differentially affect the immune response to booster doses. We examined the effects of homologous (mRNA/mRNA) and heterologous (adenoviral vector/mRNA) vaccination on antibody and memory B cell (Bmem) responses against ancestral and Omicron subvariants. Healthy adults who received primary BNT162b2 (mRNA) or ChAdOx1 (vector) vaccination were sampled 1-month and 6-months after their 2nd and 3rd dose (homologous or heterologous) vaccination. Recombinant spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) proteins from ancestral, Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 variants were produced for ELISA-based serology, and tetramerized for immunophenotyping of RBD-specific Bmem. Dose 3 boosters significantly increased ancestral RBD-specific plasma IgG and Bmem in both cohorts. Up to 80% of ancestral RBD-specific Bmem expressed IgG1+. IgG4+ Bmem were detectable after primary mRNA vaccination, and expanded significantly to 5–20% after dose 3, whereas heterologous boosting did not elicit IgG4+ Bmem. Recognition of Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 by ancestral RBD-specific plasma IgG increased from 20% to 60% after the 3rd dose in both cohorts. Reactivity of ancestral RBD-specific Bmem to Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 increased following a homologous booster from 40% to 60%, but not after a heterologous booster. A 3rd mRNA dose generates similarly robust serological and Bmem responses in homologous and heterologous vaccination groups. The expansion of IgG4+ Bmem after mRNA priming might result from the unique vaccine formulation or dosing schedule affecting the Bmem response duration and antibody maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical imaging tools to probe aggressiveness of renal masses are lacking, and T2-weighted imaging as an integral part of magnetic resonance imaging protocol only provides qualitative information. We developed high-resolution and accelerated T2 mapping methods based on echo merging and using k-t undersampling and reduced flip angles (TEMPURA) and tested their potential to quantify differences between renal tumour subtypes and grades. Methods: Twenty-four patients with treatment-naïve renal tumours were imaged: seven renal oncocytomas (RO); one eosinophilic/oncocytic renal cell carcinoma; two chromophobe RCCs (chRCC); three papillary RCCs (pRCC); and twelve clear cell RCCs (ccRCC). Median, kurtosis, and skewness of T2 were quantified in tumours and in the normal-adjacent kidney cortex and were compared across renal tumour subtypes and between ccRCC grades. Results: High-resolution TEMPURA depicted the tumour structure at improved resolution compared to conventional T2-weighted imaging. The lowest median T2 values were present in pRCC (high-resolution, 51 ms; accelerated, 45 ms), which was significantly lower than RO (high-resolution; accelerated, p = 0.012) and ccRCC (high-resolution, p = 0.019; accelerated, p = 0.008). ROs showed the lowest kurtosis (high-resolution, 3.4; accelerated, 4.0), suggestive of low intratumoural heterogeneity. Lower T2 values were observed in higher compared to lower grade ccRCCs (grades 2, 3 and 4 on high-resolution, 209 ms, 151 ms, and 106 ms; on accelerated, 172 ms, 160 ms, and 102 ms, respectively), with accelerated TEMPURA showing statistical significance in comparison (p = 0.037). Conclusions: Both high-resolution and accelerated TEMPURA showed marked potential to quantify differences across renal tumour subtypes and between ccRCC grades. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03741426. Registered on 13 November 2018. Relevance statement: The newly developed T2 mapping methods have improved resolution, shorter acquisition times, and promising quantifiable readouts to characterise incidental renal masses. Key points: • T2-weighted sequences are used for evaluation of renal masses, offering qualitative information. • This high-resolution and accelerated T2 mapping revealed quantitative differences in renal tumours. • Shorter acquisition times for T2 mapping enhance potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the use of carbonized Himalayan Chir Pine Biomass, known as Chir Pine Activated Carbon (CPAC), as an eco-friendly and cost-effective adsorbent for efficient industrial dye removal, with a focus on environmental sustainability. By applying different additive treatments, four adsorbents (C1, C2, C3, and C4) were formulated. CPAC was synthesized through pyrolysis and characterized using various analytical techniques including FE-SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The adsorption capacity of CPAC was evaluated using Malachite Green (MG) dye as a model contaminant. FE-SEM images revealed high porosity (~ 10 µm) and a high surface area (119.886 m2/g) as confirmed by BET testing. CPAC effectively removed MG dye within 30 min at a solution pH of 7. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models indicated both monolayer and multilayer adsorption, while kinetic models suggested chemisorption. The regeneration efficiency was assessed using 0.1 N HCl over five consecutive cycles, with C4 demonstrating a high regeneration tendency of 85% and only a 9% reduction in adsorption ability after the fifth cycle. The developed CPAC shows excellent potential for use in the textile, paper, and leather industries for industrial dye adsorption, contributing to the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, CPAC can be utilized in other water and air purification applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a firm announces a product recall it typically incurs a market penalty in the form of a decline in its stock price. But a specific recall announcement often happens among recalls by other firms in the industry. Could recent recalls by other firms in the industry impact the market penalty for a new recall announcement? To capture and test this effect, the authors conceptualize recall environment intensity. Using salience theory, they identify the dimensions of the recall environment intensity construct, confirm these dimensions using interviews and a survey, and develop a measure for the construct. The authors then develop hypotheses for the effect of recall environment intensity on the stock penalty for a new recall announcement and propose boundary conditions for the effect. The hypotheses are tested using data from the automobile industry to show that a firm that announces a recall in a high intensity recall environment will have a smaller decline in stock price, though the effect varies with the reliability reputation of the brand and the age of the recalled products. The study provides a nuanced understanding of the stock market response to recall announcements and offers guidance on how to conceptualize and measure recall environment intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore whether profiles derived from self-reported quality of life were associated with receipt of, and interest in, advice from a healthcare professional in people with a stoma. Methods: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional national survey data from England of 4487 people with a stoma from colorectal cancer. The survey assessed quality of life using various scales, receipt and interest in various forms of advice, and physical activity. A three-step latent profile analysis was conducted to determine the optimum number of profiles. Multinomial regression explored factors associated with profile membership. A series of logistic regression models examined whether profile membership was associated with interest in advice. Results: Five profiles were identified; ‘consistently good quality of life’, ‘functional issues’, ‘functional and financial issues’, ‘low quality of life’ and ‘supported but struggling’. Individuals in the ‘functional and financial issues’ and ‘low quality of life’ profiles were more likely to have received financial advice compared to the ‘consistently good quality of life’ profile. When compared to the ‘consistently good quality of life’ profile, all other profiles were more likely to report wanting advice across a range of areas, with the strongest associations in the ‘low quality of life’ profile. Conclusion: Findings indicate that people with a stoma are not a homogenous group in terms of quality of life. Participants in profiles with quality of life concerns report wanting more advice across various categories but findings suggest there is scope to explore how this can be tailored or adapted to specific groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Unraveling genetic markers for MYMIV resistance in urdbean, with 8 high-confidence marker-trait associations identified across diverse environments, provides crucial insights for combating MYMIV disease, informing future breeding strategies. Globally, yellow mosaic disease (YMD) causes significant yield losses, reaching up to 100% in favorable environments within major urdbean cultivating regions. The introgression of genomic regions conferring resistance into urdbean cultivars is crucial for combating YMD, including resistance against mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV). To uncover the genetic basis of MYMIV resistance, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using three multi-locus models in 100 diverse urdbean genotypes cultivated across six individual and two combined environments. Leveraging 4538 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, we identified 28 unique significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) for MYMIV resistance, with 8 MTAs considered of high confidence due to detection across multiple GWAS models and/or environments. Notably, 4 out of 28 MTAs were found in proximity to previously reported genomic regions associated with MYMIV resistance in urdbean and mungbean, strengthening our findings and indicating consistent genomic regions for MYMIV resistance. Among the eight highly significant MTAs, one localized on chromosome 6 adjacent to previously identified quantitative trait loci for MYMIV resistance, while the remaining seven were novel. These MTAs contain several genes implicated in disease resistance, including four common ones consistently found across all eight MTAs: receptor-like serine-threonine kinases, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, pentatricopeptide repeat, and ankyrin repeats. Previous studies have linked these genes to defense against viral infections across different crops, suggesting their potential for further basic research involving cloning and utilization in breeding programs. This study represents the first GWAS investigation aimed at identifying resistance against MYMIV in urdbean germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Multifocal disease in PTC is associated with an increased recurrence rate. Multifocal disease (MD) is underdiagnosed with the current gold standard of pre-operative ultrasound staging. Here, we evaluate the use of EMI-137 targeted molecular fluorescence-guided imaging (MFGI) and spectroscopy as a tool for the intra-operative detection of uni- and multifocal papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) aiming to improve disease staging and treatment selection. Methods: A phase-1 study (NCT03470259) with EMI-137 was conducted to evaluate the possibility of detecting PTC using MFGI and quantitative fiber-optic spectroscopy. Results: Fourteen patients underwent hemi- or total thyroidectomy (TTX) after administration of 0.09 mg/kg (n = 1), 0.13 mg/kg (n = 8), or 0.18 mg/kg (n = 5) EMI-137. Both MFGI and spectroscopy could differentiate PTC from healthy thyroid tissue after administration of EMI-137, which binds selectively to MET in PTC. 0.13 mg/kg was the lowest dosage EMI-137 that allowed for differentiation between PTC and healthy thyroid tissue. The smallest PTC focus detected by MFGI was 1.4 mm. MFGI restaged 80% of patients from unifocal to multifocal PTC compared to ultrasound. Conclusion: EMI-137-guided MFGI and spectroscopy can be used to detect multifocal PTC. This may improve disease staging and treatment selection between hemi- and total thyroidectomy by better differentiation between unifocal and multifocal disease. Trial registration: NCT03470259 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic shock is the leading cause of preventable death with most patients dying within the first six hours from arriving to the hospital. This underscores the importance of prehospital interventions, and growing evidence suggests prehospital transfusion improves survival. Optimizing transfusion triggers in the prehospital setting is key to improving outcomes for patients in hemorrhagic shock. Our objective was to identify factors associated with early in-hospital transfusion requirements available to prehospital clinicians in the field to develop a simple algorithm for prehospital transfusion, particularly for patients with occult shock. Methods: We included trauma patients transported by a single critical care transport service to a level I trauma center between 2012 and 2019. We used logistic regression, Fast and Frugal Trees (FFTs), and Bayesian analysis to identify factors associated with early in-hospital blood transfusion as a potential trigger for prehospital transfusion. Results: We included 2,157 patients transported from the scene or emergency department (ED) of whom 207 (9.60%) required blood transfusion within four hours of admission. The mean age was 47 (IQR = 28 – 62) and 1,480 (68.6%) patients were male. From 13 clinically relevant factors for early hospital transfusions, four were incorporated into the FFT in following order: 1) SBP, 2) prehospital lactate concentration, 3) Shock Index, 4) AIS of chest (sensitivity = 0.81, specificity = 0.71). The chosen thresholds were similar to conventional ones. Using conventional thresholds resulted in lower model sensitivity. Consistently, prehospital lactate was among most decisive factors of hospital transfusions identified by Bayesian analysis (OR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.55 – 3.37). Conclusions: Using an ensemble of frequentist statistics, Bayesian analysis and machine learning, we developed a simple, clinically relevant prehospital algorithm to help identify patients requiring transfusion within 4 h of hospital arrival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nasal cavity of living mammals is a unique structural complex among tetrapods, acquired along a series of major morphological transformations that occurred mainly during the Mesozoic Era, within the Synapsida clade. Particularly, non-mammaliaform cynodonts document several morphological changes in the skull, during the Triassic Period, that represent the first steps of the mammalian bauplan. We here explore the nasal cavity of five cynodont taxa, namely Thrinaxodon, Chiniquodon, Prozostrodon, Riograndia, and Brasilodon, in order to discuss the main changes within this skull region. We did not identify ossified turbinals in the nasal cavity of these taxa and if present, as non-ossified structures, they would not necessarily be associated with temperature control or the development of endothermy. We do, however, notice a complexification of the cartilage anchoring structures that divide the nasal cavity and separate it from the brain region in these forerunners of mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To study the reproducibility of 23Na magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements from breast tissue in healthy volunteers. Methods: Using a dual-tuned bilateral 23Na/1H breast coil at 3-T MRI, high-resolution 23Na MRI three-dimensional cones sequences were used to quantify total sodium concentration (TSC) and fluid-attenuated sodium concentration (FASC). B1-corrected TSC and FASC maps were created. Two readers manually measured mean, minimum and maximum TSC and mean FASC values using two sampling methods: large regions of interest (LROIs) and small regions of interest (SROIs) encompassing fibroglandular tissue (FGT) and the highest signal area at the level of the nipple, respectively. The reproducibility of the measurements and correlations between density, age and FGT apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were evaluatedss. Results: Nine healthy volunteers were included. The inter-reader reproducibility of TSC and FASC using SROIs and LROIs was excellent (intraclass coefficient range 0.945−0.979, p < 0.001), except for the minimum TSC LROI measurements (p = 0.369). The mean/minimum LROI TSC and mean LROI FASC values were lower than the respective SROI values (p < 0.001); the maximum LROI TSC values were higher than the SROI TSC values (p = 0.009). TSC correlated inversely with age but not with FGT ADCs. The mean and maximum FGT TSC and FASC values were higher in dense breasts in comparison to non-dense breasts (p < 0.020). Conclusions: The chosen sampling method and the selected descriptive value affect the measured TSC and FASC values, although the inter-reader reproducibility of the measurements is in general excellent. Relevance statement: 23Na MRI at 3 T allows the quantification of TSC and FASC sodium concentrations. The sodium measurements should be obtained consistently in a uniform manner. Key points: • 23Na MRI allows the quantification of total and fluid-attenuated sodium concentrations (TSC/FASC). • Sampling method (large/small region of interest) affects the TSC and FASC values. • Dense breasts have higher TSC and FASC values than non-dense breasts. • The inter-reader reproducibility of TSC and FASC measurements was, in general, excellent. • The results suggest the importance of stratifying the sodium measurements protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People regularly read multi-line texts in different formats and publishers, internationally, must decide how to present text to make reading most effective and efficient. Relatively few studies have examined multi-line reading, and fewer still Chinese multi-line reading. Here, we examined whether texts presented in single or double columns, and either left-justified or fully-justified affect Chinese reading. Text format had minimal influence on overall reading time; however, it significantly impacted return-sweeps (large saccades moving the eyes from the end of one line of text to the beginning of the next). Return-sweeps were launched and landed further away from margins and involved more corrective saccades in single- than double-column format. For left- compared to fully-justified format, return-sweeps were launched and landed closer to margins. More corrective saccades also occurred. Our results showed more efficient return-sweep behavior for fully- than left-justified text. Moreover, there were clear trade-off effects such that formats requiring increased numbers of shorter return-sweeps produced more accurate targeting and reduced numbers of corrective fixations, whereas formats requiring reduced numbers of longer return-sweeps caused less accurate targeting and an increased rate of corrective fixations. Overall, our results demonstrate that text formats substantially affect return-sweep eye movement behavior during Chinese reading without affecting efficiency and effectiveness, that is, the overall time it takes to read and understand the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation of electron-acoustic waves in a collisionless unmagnetized plasma composed of hot electrons obeying the Cairns–Gurevich (CG) distribution, inertial cold electrons and stationary ions are considered. The basic field equations of the above described plasma is re-examined through the use of the modified Poincare–Lighthill–Kuo (PLK) method. Introducing the strained coordinates and expanding the field quantities into the parameter , a set of differential equations is obtained. The lowest order term in the perturbation expansion is governed by the modified KdV equation, whereas the second order term is governed by the modified linearized KdV equation with nonhomogeneous term. Then, studying the localized travelling wave solution for the evolution equations, the strained coordinates for this order is determined so as to remove the possible secularities that might occur in the solution. It is observed that the ratio of the second order term to the first order term in the perturbation expansion is negative and not so small. This is equivalent to saying that the contribution of second order term decreases the wave amplitude. In other words, retaining only the first order term in the perturbation expansion overestimates the real value of the field quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Previous systematic reviews on mental health in athletes have found athletes to be at a potentially increased risk for mental health diagnoses compared to the public. Multiple cross-sectional studies have examined suicide behaviour within different athlete populations, but there is a need for a comprehensive review to synthesize and identify risk factors and epidemiology regarding suicide behaviour in the elite athlete population, especially as it compares to the general population. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science from 1990 to January 2023. Inclusion criteria included original peer-reviewed research articles examining suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or suicide completion within elite athlete populations. Exclusion criteria included athletes participating in high-school or Paralympic level sports, studies that did not report results regarding elite athletes and non-athletes separately, and non-peer reviewed work. All studies were screened for inclusion by two independent reviewers. The primary outcome variables extracted from included studies included rates, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide behaviour. The study quality and risk of bias was evaluated for each study using the Joanna-Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Results: Of the 875 unique studies identified, 22 studies, all of which were cross-sectional in nature, met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies evaluated previous athletes, 13 studies evaluated current athletes, and two studies included a combination of previous and current athletes. Seven studies involved varsity college athletes, nine involved professional athletes of various sports, and six focused on international or Olympic level athletes. The rate of suicidal ideation in professional athletes ranged from 6.9 to 18% across four studies, while the rate in collegiate athletes ranged from 3.7 to 6.5% across three studies. Ten studies compared athletes to the general population, the majority of which found athletes to be at reduced risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide completion. Only one study found athletes to have increased rates of suicide compared to matched non-athletes. Risk factors for suicide behaviour identified across multiple studies included male sex, non-white race, older age, and depression. Player position, athletic level, sport played, and injuries showed trends of having limited effect on suicide behaviour risk. Conclusion: This review suggests that elite athletes generally demonstrate reduced risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide completion compared to the general population. Coaches should remain aware of specific factors, such as male sex, non-white race, and higher athletic level, in order to better identify at-risk athletes. Limitations of this review include the heterogeneity in the methodology and athlete populations across the included studies. Therefore, future targeted research is essential to compare suicide behaviour between sports and identify sport-specific suicide risk factors. Trial Registration: PROSPERO Registration: CRD42023395990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on enhancing the wear resistance of EN8 steel, commonly used in agricultural implements by applying WC-12Co and WC-10Co-4Cr coatings using the high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spraying technique. The microstructural characterization, EDS mapping, microhardness, fracture toughness, slurry abrasion, and dry sliding of all coated and uncoated samples were evaluated. Results demonstrate that coated specimens outperform the uncoated EN8 steel in terms of wear resistance. Slurry abrasion tests reveal that the coatings hardness and fracture toughness contribute to their excellent performance. In dry sliding tests, the coated specimens exhibit lower friction coefficients and less mass loss, further emphasizing their better wear resistance. Further, wear mechanisms were found to be different between the materials, with EN8 steel exhibiting ductile wear, primarily due to plastic deformation and chipping, while the coated specimens display brittle wear characteristics, with the detachment of hard coating material and abrasive interactions contributing to wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from concentric primary flow to non-tangential secondary flow of blood was investigated using experimental steady shear rheometry and numerical modelling. The aims were to: assess the difference in secondary flow in a Newtonian versus shear-thinning blood analogue; and measure the secondary flow in the blood. Both experiments and numerical modelling showed that the transition from primary to secondary flow was the same in a Newtonian fluid and a shear-thinning blood analogue. Experiments showed whole blood transitioned to secondary flow at lower modified Reynolds numbers than the Newtonian fluid; and transition was haematocrit dependent with higher RBC concentrations transitioning at lower modified Reynolds numbers. These results indicate that modelling blood as a purely shear-thinning fluid does not predict the correct secondary flow fields in whole blood; non-Newtonian effects beyond shear-thinning behaviour are influential, and incorporating effects such as multiphase contributions and viscoelasticity, yield stress and thixotropy is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Diabetic neuropathy is a debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It is characterized by nerve damage resulting from prolonged exposure to high blood glucose levels. Diabetic neuropathy may cause a range of symptoms, including pain, numbness, muscle weakness, autonomic dysfunction, and foot ulcers, potentially causing significant impairment to the quality of life for those affected. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy. The etiology of diabetic neuropathy will be discussed, including risk factors, predisposing conditions, and an overview of the complex interplay between hyperglycemia, metabolic dysregulation, and nerve damage. Additionally, we will explore the molecular mechanisms and pathways of diabetic neuropathy, including the impact of hyperglycemia on nerve function, abnormalities in glucose metabolism, the role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and inflammatory and immune-mediated processes. We will provide an overview of the various nerve fibers affected by diabetic neuropathy and explore the common symptoms and complications associated with diabetic neuropathy in the pain medicine field. Recent Findings: This review highlights advances in understanding the pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy as well as reviews potential novel therapeutic strategies and promising areas for future research. Summary: In conclusion, this review article aims to shed light on the pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy, its far-reaching consequences, and the evolving strategies for prevention and management. In understanding the mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy and the ongoing research in this area, healthcare professionals can better serve patients with diabetes, ultimately improving well-being and reducing complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research work was planned to explore the nutraceutical composition of sweet orange varieties during different developmental stages for fresh fruit consumption and industrial purposes. Five sweet orangeswere analysed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) along with the antioxidant capacity by four different assays viz. DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl ion (OH–) activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total reducing power (TRP), some major flavanone like hesperidin and other like naringin. The outcomes of the research work revealed more pronounced antioxidant readings in Early Gold peel (90 days after fruit set, DAFS), while the phenolics were found maximum in the Ruby Nucellar peel; TPC at 90 DAFS (15.4 mg GAE g–1 dry wt) and TFC at 150 DAFS (2.23 mg RE g–1 dry wt). Whereas greater concentrations of hesperidin (7.25 mg g–1 dry wt) and naringin (4.52 mg g–1 dry wt) were detected in Itaborai at 90 DAFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, I examine whether public attention to a natural disaster affects the likelihood of firms using external financing (only debt, only equity, or a mix of debt and equity) following the disaster. The helpful (or harmful) view of public attention predicts that increasing public attention to the disaster can help companies to use (or hinder them from using) external financing following the disaster. For this investigation, I construct two indices: (1) an index of public attention to natural disasters and (2) an index of natural disaster intensity. Consistent with the prediction of the helpful view, the likelihood of using a combination of debt and equity financing in the aftermath of a severe disaster is higher when people pay more attention to it. By contrast, when people pay less attention to severe disasters, firms are more likely to use only debt or equity financing, which confirms the harmful view. I provide evidence that the moderating effect of public attention on the relationship between the likelihood of using external financing and natural disaster intensity varies across types of natural disasters and types of online information sources (websites, online news, images, and YouTube videos). Furthermore, smaller firms that often face difficulties obtaining external financing are more likely to benefit from increased public attention to disasters when they want to use only debt financing and less likely to benefit when using equity financing. Finally, I provide evidence that the substitution of internal funding sources for external sources in the aftermath of a disaster depends on the level of public attention to the disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), since their introduction in 1990, have revolutionized the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Newer DMARDs have recently been approved, influencing treatment patterns and clinical guidelines. Objective: To update the current prescribing patterns of DMARDs in the pharmacotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to include the pandemic era. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional multi-year study. Using Optum's Clinformatics® Data Mart Database, we summarized trends in the prevalence of DMARD use in the USA from 2016 to 2021 by year for adult patients ≥ 18 years old with at least one medical RA claim and one pharmacy/medical claim of a DMARD medication. Trends included type of DMARD, class of DMARD (conventional (csDMARDs), biologics [tumor necrosis factor (TNFi) and Non-TNFi), and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKs)], and triple therapy [methotrexate (MTX), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), sulfasalazine (SUL)] used. Results: The total sample from 2016 to 2021 was 670,679 commercially insured patients. The average age was 63.7 years (SD 13.6), and 76.7% were female and 70% were White. csDMARDs remain the most prescribed (ranging from 77.2 to 79.2%). Although JAKs were the least prescribed DMARD class, their proportion more than doubled from 2016 (1.5%) to 2021 (4%). MTX utilization declined from 40% in 2016 to 34% in 2021. In contrast, HCQ use increased during the pandemic era from < 25% in 2018 to 30% in 2021. Although there is evidence of the therapeutic benefit of triple therapy, its use was very low (~ 1%) compared to biologics only (~ 17%) or biologics+MTX (~ 10%). Conclusion: About half of patients with RA were on DMARDs. As expected, csDMARDs were highly used consistently. The COVID-19 pandemic might have influenced the use of HCQ and infusion DMARDs. Triple therapy use remains low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The impact of age on optimal management of glioblastoma remains unclear. A recent combined analysis of two randomised trials, GEINO14-01 and EX-TEM, found no benefit from extending post-radiation temozolomide in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Here, we explore the impact of age. Methods: Relevant intergroup statistics were used to identify differences in tumour, treatment and outcome characteristics based on age with elderly patients (EP) defined as age 65 years and over. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method. Results: Of the combined 205 patients, 57 (28%) were EP. Of these, 95% were ECOG 0–1 and 65% underwent macroscopic resection compared with 97% and 61% of younger patients (YP) respectively. There were numerically less MGMT-methylated (56% vs. 63%, p = 0.4) and IDH-mutated (4% vs. 13%, p = 0.1) tumours in EP vs. YP. Following surgery, EP were more likely to receive short course chemoradiation (17.5% vs. 6%, p = 0.017). At recurrence, EP tended to receive or best supportive care (28.3% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.09) or non-surgical options (96.2% vs. 84.6%, p = 0.06), but were less likely to receive bevacizumab (23.1% vs. 49.5%, p < 0.01). Median PFS was similar at 9.3months in EP and 8.5months in YP, with similar median OS at 20months. Conclusion: In this trial population of predominantly fit EP, survival was similar to YP despite a proportion receiving less aggressive therapy at diagnosis and recurrence. Advancing age does not appear to be an adverse prognostic factor for glioblastoma when patients are fit for treatment, and a less aggressive approach in selected patients may not compromise outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the relationships between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and risk of mortality due to chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) overall, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Methods: A total of 96,607 participants aged 55 years and over were included from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer trial. Dietary intake was measured using food frequency questionnaire. Cox regression was fitted to estimate the risk of all-cause mortality and mortality due to CRDs overall, COPD and lung cancer associated with UPF intake. Competing risk regression was used to account for deaths from other causes and censoring. Results: During the follow-up of 1,379,655.5 person-years (median 16.8 years), 28,700 all-cause, 4092 CRDs, 2015 lung cancer and 1,536 COPD mortality occurred. A higher intake of UPF increased the risk of mortality from CRDs overall by 10% (HR 1.10; 95% CI 1.01, 1.22) and COPD by 26% (HR 1.26; 95% CI 1.06, 1.49) but not associated with lung cancer mortality risk (HR 0.97; 95% CI 0.84, 1.12). However, the risk of lung cancer increased by 16% (HR 1.16; 95% CI 1.01, 1.34) in the highest UPF intake after multiple imputation. Dose–response relationships existed for CRDs and COPD mortality but not lung cancer. Conclusion: UPF consumption was associated with an increased risk of CRD mortality. The association between UPF consumption and lung cancer mortality is inconclusive and only significant when multiple imputation was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using scoring systems in discreet microbiologic cohorts in a serial fashion to identify unique phenotypes of sepsis remains unknown. Single-center, retrospective study that screened adults who triggered the hospital's SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) based sepsis alert into culture positive (Cx +) and culture negative (Cx−) groups. Subgroups were based on the location where the SIRS alert fired. SIRS scores and a novel score called SEP were calculated at t = 0 and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h before and after t = 0. Primary outcome was a difference in SIRS/SEP scores in Cx + or Cx− groups over time. Secondary outcomes were differences in total SIRS/SEP scores and the components constituting SIRS/SEP scores at various locations over time. The study contained 7955 patients who met inclusion criteria. Cx + and Cx− groups had increases in SIRS/SEP scores and at similar rates starting 6 hours before t = 0. Both culture groups had decreasing SIRS/SEP scores, at varying gradients compared to the change in SIRS/SEP scores seen prior to t = 0. This pattern in SIRS/SEP scores before and after t = 0 was consistent in all location subgroups. Statistically significant differences were seen in the overall SIRS/SEP scores for Cx + and Cx− groups at hours 6, 12, and 24 after t = 0, in the ED group at t = 24 h after t = 0, the floor group at t = 0 h, and in the step-down group at t = 3 h after t = 0 h. Microbiological cohorting and serial assessments may be an effective tool to identify homogenous phenotypes of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humidity sensors are used in various applications to provide suitable environmental conditions. High-performance humidity sensors require highly sensitive active sites to detect water molecules. In this study, a nanopillar-array-based electrode (NAE) was developed, which has a large specific surface area and is applicable to various humidity-sensing materials. The NAE, which was fabricated via photo-lithography and soft lithography, exhibited superior electrochemical capacitance and diffusion behavior compared to flat electrodes. The NAE-based humidity sensor exhibited a high sensitivity and linearity, low hysteresis error, and long-term stability for a duration of 25 days. Moreover, the humidity sensor maintained a consistent impedance signal in a mechanically bent state. Furthermore, the real-time monitoring performance of the humidity sensor was demonstrated by measuring humidity changes during plant transpiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative scar formation remains a morbidity for patients even with the advent of minimally invasive techniques. Furthermore, the significant difference between the Asian and Caucasian skin results in poorer postoperative scar outcomes in Asians, supporting the need for an evidence-based scar management protocol. Methods: Following a literature review of the PubMed and the Cochrane databases over the past 10 years, we constructed a novel postoperative scar management protocol for the Asian skin, utilized in a Singaporean tertiary healthcare institution. Results: We describe a timeline-based scar protocol from the point of skin closure to a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. We support the use of intraoperative botulinum toxin for selected high-risk individuals upon skin closure with a follow-up regimen in the postoperative setting. For recalcitrant keloids, we have described a multimodal therapy comprising elements of intralesional steroids, botulinum toxin, lasers, surgery, and radiotherapy. Conclusions: A consolidated postoperative scar management protocol provides the necessary guidance for improved scar outcomes in the Asian skin. There is inherent potential in expanding the protocol to include post-traumatic and burn wounds or support other skin types including the Caucasian skin. No Level Assigned: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the interplay between perceived employability (PE), mental health, and equity group membership amongst students at a large public urban university in Australia. The article reports from a study conducted between 2017 and 2022, during which students self-assessed their PE. Differences in PE by equity group membership were assessed using responses to structured fields in the questionnaire (n = 24,329). Custom measures were constructed using student responses to open-ended fields to proxy student wellbeing based on sentiment analysis and mention of mental health or synonymous terms (n = 12,819). Analyses included two-way tests of differences between groups and multivariate analyses considering the effect of equity group membership and mental health concerns on employability beliefs. Results indicate that students with a disability, with English as a second language, or with wellbeing concerns report lower perceived employability. Of all the PE dimensions, academic self-efficacy is most consistently affected by equity group membership and wellbeing concerns. Further, wellbeing concerns are more prevalent for students with disabilities. The findings strengthen support for policy and institutional initiatives focusing on student wellbeing in general but also specifically for equity groups that are already associated with poorer employability beliefs. In particular, students with disabilities appear to have poorer self-esteem and academic self-efficacy and are more likely to have mental health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Multi-environmental characterization of flag leaf morphology traits in the US winter wheat revealed nine stable genomic regions for different flag leaf-related traits including a major region governing flag leaf angle. Flag leaf in wheat is the primary contributor to accumulating photosynthetic assimilates. Flag leaf morphology (FLM) traits determine the overall canopy structure and capacity to intercept the light, thus influencing photosynthetic efficiency. Hence, understanding the genetic control of these traits could be useful for breeding desirable ideotypes in wheat. We used a panel of 272 accessions from the hard winter wheat (HWW) region of the USA to investigate the genetic architecture of five FLM traits including flag leaf length (FLL), width (FLW), angle (FLANG), length–width ratio, and area using multilocation field experiments. Multi-environment GWAS using 14,537 single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified 36 marker-trait associations for different traits, with nine being stable across environments. A novel and major stable region for FLANG (qFLANG.1A) was identified on chromosome 1A accounting for 9–13% variation. Analysis of spatial distribution for qFLANG.1A in a set of 2354 breeding lines from the HWW region showed a higher frequency of allele associated with narrow leaf angle. A KASP assay was developed for allelic discrimination of qFLANG.1A and was used for its independent validation in a diverse set of spring wheat accessions. Furthermore, candidate gene analysis for two regions associated with FLANG identified seven putative genes of interest for each of the two regions. The present study enhances our understanding of the genetic control of FLM in wheat, particularly FLANG, and these results will be useful for dissecting the genes underlying canopy architecture in wheat facilitating the development of climate-resilient wheat varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diverse set of 275 rice germplasm lines including 159 lines from global rice diversity panel, 10 Oryza glaberrima Steud accessions; 22 basmati and non-basmati varieties, 67 aromatic germplasm lines and 17 advanced breeding lines were screened along with susceptible and resistant checks for foot rot disease caused by Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon through artificial inoculation. The screening was conducted in trays under less humid condition (50% RH) in April 2019 (referred as E1) and in the field under high humid condition (72% RH) in July 2019 (referred as E2). The susceptible plants showed stunting in E1 and elongation in E2. Based on screening in E1 and E2, thirty-three lines including eighteen of global rice diversity panel, five of O. glabberrima, two aromatic and ten released varieties showed complete resistance to foot rot. Multi-locus GWAS using 159 lines of global rice diversity panel identified 11 QTLs on seven different chromosomes. In the 11 QTL regions, 40 putative genes were identified based on stringent filtering and relevance to the disease. The QTL present on chromosome 1 (qbk1) that co-localized with many studies is proposed for further studies. In addition, the expression analysis of GA-related genes, viz. OsXTH8, OsGAE1, EUI, G-alpha-(D1), GID1, GID2 and SLR1, showed no association with foot rot resistance/susceptibility. However, 24 DAS was identified as the most important stage for expression analysis. The highly resistant lines are suggested to use in the rice breeding program particularly basmati rice. Besides, the genomic region flanking the associated SNPs and the candidate genes within them could be studied further to identify underlying genes and markers associated with foot rot resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Until 12 January 2000, the UK Armed Forces retained a policy of discharging all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender personnel under exemptive military laws. The so-called 'gay ban' was enforced with the rationale that homosexuality was incompatible with military service. Little research has explored the experiences of LGBT + veterans or the impact of the 'gay ban' policy. Methods: In 2021, 15 LGBT + veterans who had been affected by the 'gay ban' participated in semi-structured interviews lasting around 90 minutes. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five overarching themes were identified in exploring the experiences and impact of the 'gay ban' policy: LGBT + identity struggle; camouflage; intense investigative process; extraction, exclusion and loss; and the personal impact. Conclusions: Serving in the UK Armed Forces during this homosexuality ban policy affected the social, health and well-being of LGBT + veterans. The necessity for LGBT + veterans to hide their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, the impact of investigations, loss of careers and alienation have led to long-term experiences of social isolation, loneliness due to barriers to connecting to others and difficulties around health and well-being. Policy Implications: LGBT + veteran vulnerability and traumatic experiences need to be understood in the context of help-seeking behaviour and service provision. The implications for policy change include achieving health and social care equity in relation to access to support services. Support services need to ensure that there is an awareness of the impact of serving under the discriminatory 'gay ban' policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]