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ABSTRACT Background Ageing is associated with a gradual loss of muscle strength, which in the end may have consequences for survival. Whether muscle strength and mortality risk associate in a gradual or threshold‐specific manner remains unclear. This study investigates the prospective association of muscle strength with all‐cause mortality in the oldest old. Methods We included 1890 adults aged ≥ 90 years (61.6% women, mean age 91.0 ± 1.5 years) from 27 European countries and Israel participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) study. Muscle strength was assessed using handgrip dynamometry (unit: kilogram). Using time‐varying Cox regression with restricted cubic splines, we determined the prospective association of muscle strength with mortality, controlling for age, sex, smoking, BMI, marital status, education, geographical region and self‐perceived health. Results Over a mean follow‐up of 4.2 ± 2.4 years, more than half of the participants died (n = 971, 51.4%). The mean handgrip strength was 20.4 ± 8.0 kg for all participants, with men (26.7 ± 7.5 kg) showing significantly higher strength than women (16.4 ± 5.4 kg) (p

Abstract Aim To develop a conceptual framework for nurses' protocol‐based care decision‐making. Design Miles & Huberman's bottom‐up approach to developing conceptual frameworks was followed, using data collected from a multiple embedded case study examining protocol‐based decision‐making by nurses in three hospital wards within a university hospital in northern Spain. Methods The qualitative data from the case study, obtained through documentary analysis, observations, and interviews, underwent a secondary analysis consisting of four steps: data reduction, data display, comparison, and drawing conclusions. Results The framework for protocol‐based care decision‐making comprises four components: (1) protocol‐based care, as a balance between standardisation and individualised care, (2) the process, (3) the context, and (4) the elements of protocol‐based care decision‐making. These components and their relationship as a context‐dependent, linear, variable and multifactorial process, directly influenced by the perception of risk, are described and illustrated. Conclusions This study provides a rigorous bottom‐up framework for nurses' protocol‐based care decision‐making. The framework could be a valuable resource for managers, clinical nurses, educators, and researchers to guide and evaluate nurses' decision‐making, leading to improved care quality and reduced variability in clinical practice. Furthermore, the framework lays a foundation for further research and practical applications. Impact This study addressed the problem of understanding nurses' protocol‐based care decision‐making and the need for a specific conceptual framework. The main findings of the study contribute to the development of a rigorous bottom‐up framework comprising four components of protocol‐based care decision‐making. The framework has the potential to improve care quality, reduce variability, enhance patient safety, and increase healthcare efficiency by guiding nurses' decision‐making in various healthcare settings. No Patient or Public Contribution Patient or public contribution was not applicable since the study focused on nurses' decision making.

Abstract Aim To translate and culturally adapt the FRAIL scale into Spanish and perform a preliminary test of diagnostic accuracy in patients admitted to intensive care units. Design Cross‐sectional diagnostic study. Methods Five intensive care units (ICU) in Spain were participated. Stage 1: Three native Spanish‐speaking bilingual translators familiar with the field of critical care translated the scale from English into Spanish. Stage 2: Three native English‐speaking bilingual translators familiar with critical care medicine. Stage 3: Authors of the original scale compared the English original and back‐translated versions of the scale. Stage 4: Five nurses with more than 5 years of ICU experience and five critical care physicians assessed the comprehension and relevance of each of the items of the Spanish version in 30 patients of 3 different age ranges (65 years). Results The FRAIL scale was translated and adapted cross‐culturally for patients admitted to intensive care units in Spain. The process consisted of four stages: translation, back translation, comparison and pilot test. There was good correspondence between the original scale and the Spanish version in 100% of the items. The participating patients assessed the relevance (content validity) and comprehensibility (face validity) of each of the items of the first Spanish version. The relevance of some of the items scored low when the scale was used in patients younger than 65 years. Conclusions We have cross‐culturally adapted the FRAIL scale, originally in English, to Spanish for its use in the critical care medical setting in Spanish‐speaking countries. Implications for Professionals Physicians and nurses can apply the new scale to all patients admitted to the intensive care units. Nursing care can be adapted according to frailty, trying to reduce the side effects of admission to these units for the most fragile patients. Reporting Method The manuscript's authors have adhered to the EQUATOR guidelines, using the COSMIN reporting guideline for studies on the measurement properties of patient‐reported outcome measures. Patient or Public Contribution In a pilot clinical study, we applied the first version of the FRAIL‐Spain scale to intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Five nurses with more than 5 years of ICU experience and five critical care physicians assessed the relevance (content validity) and comprehensibility (face validity) of the five items of the first Spanish version. Relevance was assessed using a 4‐point Likert scale ranging from 1 (no relevance) to 4 (high relevance), and comprehensibility was assessed as poor, acceptable or good. Each health professional applied the scale to three patients (total number of patients = 30) of three different age ranges (65 years) and recorded the time of application of the scale to each patient. Although the frailty scales were initially created by geriatricians to be applied to the elders, there is little experience with their application in critically ill patients of any age. Therefore, more information is needed to determine the relevance of using this scale in critical care patients. In this pilot study, we considered that nurses and critical care physicians should evaluate frailty using this adapted scale in adult patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units.

Abstract Background The oral anti‐janus kinase 1 inhibitor upadacitinib has shown a good efficacy–safety profile in the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in clinical trials; however, few data from real clinical practice have been published so far. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of upadactinib in clinical practice. Methods An observational and multicentric study was conducted. Inclusion criteria consisted of patients who had previously received upadacitinib in the clinical trial M19‐850 and continued treatment with upadacitinib (15 mg or 30 mg) under daily clinical practice conditions for 12 months. Demographic data, characteristics of AD, treatment response and adverse events were recorded. Preliminary results at 24‐week follow‐up are herein presented. Results A total of 26 patients (61.54% males, mean age: 35.58 years) were included in the study; of these, 92.31% received upadacitinib 30 mg at baseline. At 24 weeks, mean values of Eczema Area and Severity Index and body surface area were 2.26 and 2.37%, respectively, 82.35% of the patients reached the Investigator's Global Assessment 0/1 and the mean value of peak pruritus numerical rating scale was 1.74. Adverse events were present in 19.23% of the cases, causing one definitive treatment interruption (due to herpes zoster) and two temporary treatment discontinuations (due to temporary elevation of creatine kinase). Conclusions These data support the maintenance of the efficacy of upadacitinib at 24‐week posttrial follow‐up, with no unexpected safety concerns. More real‐world data are needed to confirm these results.

Abstract Microclimatic and macroclimatic data differ, and microclimatic data are most useful at short time intervals (30‐min scales rather than daily/monthly scales). We developed an end‐to‐end system to acquire such data at a high temporal resolution, transfer them to a server through an Internet of Things network using low‐cost technologies, and make them available with dynamic graphical visualizations and download capabilities. The system has been used for 2 years to monitor environmental variables in contrasting agroecosystems in France, Bolivia and Kenya. It has been proven to be reliable and supports the mismatch between macro‐ and microclimates. This low‐cost Internet of Things system can capture the microclimate in contrasting environments with accuracy comparable to commercial solutions, and great flexibility in data processing. It thus constitutes a possible solution in an academic context and has the potential to be used by a broad audience of scientists interested in capturing environmental variables in real time and at a high temporal frequency.

Abstract The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence‐based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian declines, there remain knowledge gaps and disconnects between science and action that hamper our ability to advance conservation efforts. Using input from participants at the ninth World Congress of Herpetology, a U.S. Geological Survey Powell Center symposium, amphibian on‐line forums for discussion, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Gamete Biobanking group, and respondents to a survey, we developed a list of 25 priority research questions for amphibian conservation at this stage of the Anthropocene. We identified amphibian conservation research priorities while accounting for expected tradeoffs in geographic scope, costs, and the taxonomic breadth of research needs. We aimed to solicit views from individuals rather than organizations while acknowledging inequities in participation. Emerging research priorities (i.e., those under‐represented in recently published amphibian conservation literature) were identified, and included the effects of climate change, community‐level (rather than single species‐level) drivers of declines, methodological improvements for research and monitoring, genomics, and effects of land‐use change. Improved inclusion of under‐represented members of the amphibian conservation community was also identified as a priority. These research needs represent critical knowledge gaps for amphibian conservation although filling these gaps may not be necessary for many conservation actions.

Abstract Sorghum currently contributes to the species portfolio that is supporting bioenergy production including anaerobic digestion. Although agro‐morphological ideotypes maximizing biogas production have been recently proposed, there is a crucial need to refine our understanding of the impacts of the stem composition and structure on this processing trait in order to ensure genetic gains in the mid to long terms. This study aims to assess the potential of Sorghum bicolor ssp bicolor stem genetic diversity to maximize genetic gains for biogas production and define a biogas stem ideotype. In this context, a panel of 57 genotypes, encompassing most of the stem composition variability available in cultivated sorghum, was characterized over five sites. Simultaneous histological and biochemical characterizations were performed. A high broad sense heritability associated with a moderate genetic variability was detected for stem biogas potential ensuring significant genetic gains in the future. In addition, the development of a stem histological phenotyping pipeline made it possible to describe the genetic diversity available for the internode anatomy and the repartition of key cell wall components. Consistently with previous studies, moderate to high heritability was observed for stem biochemical components. Genetic correlation, hierarchical clustering, and multiple stepwise regression analyses identified soluble sugar content as the first main driver of biogas potential genetic variability. Nevertheless, breeding programs should anticipate that biogas yield improvement will also rely on the monitoring of the cell wall components and their distribution in the stem jointly with the soluble sugar content. According to the assets of sorghum in terms of adaptation to environmental stresses and the present results regarding the identification of stem ideotypes suitable for different value chains, this species will surely play a key role to optimize the economic and environmental sustainability of the agrosystems that are currently facing the effects of climate change.

Abstract At high altitudes, amphibians brumate (over winter) during the winter months, an adaptation that provides protection from harsh weather and minimizes metabolic demand when food resources are scarce. However, brumation in ex situ populations is often avoided due to concerns regarding slow growth rates, compromised immunity, and increased morbidity, and to accelerate growth and sexual maturation. Running counter to these ideas is the hypothesis that husbandry that mimics the environmental conditions under which a species evolved may benefit animal health and reproduction. This may be particularly critical for animals slated for release into the wild. Here, we evaluated the effects of brumation on juvenile southern mountain yellow‐legged frogs (Rana muscosa) in a conservation breeding and release program. Growth measurements, (weight and snout‐urostyle length [SUL]), were examined in three experimental groups: Nonbrumated, 1 or 3‐month brumation. Postrelease survival was also analyzed and compared between nonbrumated and 3‐month brumated frogs. This study indicates that brumated R. muscosa juveniles grow to sizes and weights similar to controls within 3 to 4 months following brumation. Mark‐recapture models suggested that short‐term postrelease survival was not lower and in fact, may be higher in brumated compared to nonbrumated frogs. Results of this study indicate that although brumation entails short‐term costs to growth, this species possesses compensatory growth mechanisms following brumation which allow them to attain similar body size to nonbrumated conspecifics in time for the next winter and that for frogs destined for translocation to the wild, brumation could improve survival outcomes.