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Introduction: Continuity and coordination‐of‐care for childhood cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions are understudied but critical for appropriate follow‐up care. Methods: From April through June 2022, 800 Childhood Cancer Survivor Study participants with two or more chronic conditions (one or more severe/life‐threatening/disabling) were emailed the "Patient Perceived Continuity‐of‐Care from Multiple Clinicians" survey. The survey asked about survivors' main (takes care of most health care) and coordinating (ensures follow‐up) provider, produced three care‐coordination summary scores (main provider, across multiple providers, patient–provider partnership), and included six discontinuity indicators (e.g., having to organize own care). Discontinuity (yes/no) was defined as poor care on one or more discontinuity item. Chi‐square tests assessed associations between discontinuity and sociodemographics. Modified Poisson regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for discontinuity risk associated with the specialty and number of years seeing the main and coordinating provider, and PRs associated with better scores on the three care‐coordination summary measures. Inverse probability weights adjusted for survey non‐participation. Results: A total of 377 (47%) survivors responded (mean age 48 years, 68% female, 89% non‐Hispanic White, 78% privately insured, 74% ≥college graduate); 147/373 (39%) reported discontinuity. Younger survivors were more likely to report discontinuity (chi‐square p =.02). Seeing the main provider ≤3 years was associated with more prevalent discontinuity (PR; 95%CI) (1.17; 1.02‐1.34 vs ≥ 10 years). Cancer specialist main providers were associated with less prevalent discontinuity (0.81; 0.66–0.99 vs. primary care). Better scores on all three care‐coordination summary measures were associated with less prevalent discontinuity: main provider (0.73; 0.64–0.83), across multiple providers (0.81; 0.78–0.83), patient–provider partnership (0.85; 0.80–0.89). Conclusions: Care discontinuity among childhood cancer survivors is prevalent and requires intervention. Childhood cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions require care from a variety of providers, but the coordination and continuity of their care is understudied. Among Childhood Cancer Survivor Study participants with two or more chronic conditions (with at least one severe/life‐threatening/disabling), nearly 40% reported discontinuity in their care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctional catalase‐peroxidase (KatG) features a posttranslational methionine‐tyrosine‐tryptophan (MYW) crosslinked cofactor crucial for its catalase function, enabling pathogens to neutralize hydrogen peroxide during infection. We discovered the presence of indole nitrogen‐linked hydroperoxyl adduct (MYW‐OOH) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG in the solution state under ambient conditions, suggesting its natural occurrence. By isolating predominantly MYW‐OOH‐containing KatG protein, we investigated the chemical stability and functional impact of MYW‐OOH. We discovered that MYW‐OOH inhibits catalase activity, presenting a unique temporary lock. Exposure to peroxide or increased temperature removes the hydroperoxyl adduct from the protein cofactor, converting MYW‐OOH to MYW and restoring the detoxifying ability of the enzyme against hydrogen peroxide. Thus, the N‐linked hydroperoxyl group is releasable. KatG with MYW‐OOH represents a catalase dormant, but primed, state of the enzyme. These findings provide insight into chemical strategies targeting the bifunctional enzyme KatG in pathogens, highlighting the role of N‐linked hydroperoxyl modifications in enzymatic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Allergen‐specific immunotherapy (AIT) is an effective treatment for allergic disease but requires long treatment duration and premature cessation is of significant concern. Drivers of premature cessation remain poorly understood and no predictive models currently exist. We hypothesized that a novel patient journey map and de novo real‐time patient electronic health status instruments (eHSIs) could effectively capture patient perceived cost, commitment, and treatment benefit to identify individual patients at risk for premature AIT cessation. Study Type: Cross‐Sectional Observational Study. Methods: A single Otolaryngology allergy immunotherapy (AIT) program was studied over 5 years. Instances of premature cessation were classified. An Otolaryngic Allergy Patient Journey Map was developed to identify and target automated, real‐time, patient‐reported, electronic health status instrument responses. Results: Data capture was robust, with 61,406 data points collected and an eHSI survey completion rate of 81.3%. However, based on correlation analysis and logistic regression alone, real‐time eHSI responses were not predictive of individual patient premature AIT cessation. A total of 597 AIT patients discontinued treatment prematurely: 64.4% stopping within the first year. Specifically, 74.0%–76.3% of subcutaneous AIT patients and 88.5%–100% of sublingual AIT patients did not complete the minimum recommended treatment duration of 3 years. Conclusion: Patient journey mapping can aid in the design of longitudinal care models and patient engagement strategies. Yet, eHSI patient responses of perception of AIT cost, benefit, and convenience did not correlate with the likelihood of premature treatment cessation. Our imperfect clinical intuition may not account for the dynamic drivers of premature AIT discontinuation. Future development of predictive tools feed by large patient‐centric data sets may be incorporated into routine practice resulting in delivery of a more streamlined and personalized approach with reduced premature AIT cessation, improved outcomes, and reduced health care expenditures. Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 134:S1–S14, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Rapid technological advancements and the biodiversity crisis have motivated efforts to document species before their extinction. However, taxonomic coverage gaps, where certain species are underrepresented in biodiversity databases, can distort our understanding of ecosystems. Here, we quantified how many of the plant species found in a hotspot are invisible, i.e. they would be excluded from studies due to insufficient occurrence data. Additionally, we identified factors influencing the invisibility of species. Location: Atlantic Forest hotspot, Brazil. Methods: We downloaded and filtered occurrence data from 15,010 plant species from online biodiversity databases. We utilized multiple thresholds, each representing a minimum required number of records, to classify species as "invisible" if their record count fell below these thresholds. We fitted logistic models to estimate how factors such as life form, presence of a vernacular name, geographical distribution, endemism, and year of taxonomic publication influence the odds of species exclusion. Results: The proportion of invisible species ranged from 14% when employing simple tools requiring just three records to as high as 64% with more demanding tools requiring at least 60 records. Species with specific characteristics are more prone to invisibility, including non‐tree species, species without vernacular names, species with restricted distributions within Atlantic Forest, endemic species, and species with names published more recently. A significant portion of these invisible species are distributed along the coastline. In contrast, the continental portion of the biome exhibits fewer taxonomic coverage gaps of known species, most likely due to lower rates of new species descriptions. Main Conclusions: Coverage gaps are shaped by the interaction of biological traits, societal preferences, limited technical support, and human activities. Studies relying on distributional data must balance the rigour of filters and thresholds to achieve both geographical reliability and taxonomic coverage, adjusting them to align with each study's specific data and goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a novel network‐based approach for reconstructing signed distance functions from fluid particles. The method uses a weighting kernel to transfer particles to a regular grid, which forms the input to a convolutional neural network. We propose a regression‐based regularization to reduce surface noise without penalizing high‐curvature features. The reconstruction exhibits improved spatial surface smoothness and temporal coherence compared with existing state of the art surface reconstruction methods. The method is insensitive to particle sampling density and robustly handles thin features, isolated particles, and sharp edges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hippocampus is important for social behavior and exhibits unusual structural plasticity in the form of continued production of new granule neurons throughout adulthood, but it is unclear how adult neurogenesis contributes to social interactions. In the present study, we suppressed neurogenesis using a pharmacogenetic mouse model and examined social investigation and aggression in adult male mice to investigate the role of hippocampal adult‐born neurons in the expression of aggressive behavior. In simultaneous choice tests with stimulus mice placed in corrals, mice with complete suppression of adult neurogenesis in adulthood (TK mice) exhibited normal social investigation behaviors, indicating that new neurons are not required for social interest, social memory, or detection of and response to social olfactory signals. However, mice with suppressed neurogenesis displayed decreased offensive and defensive aggression in a resident‐intruder paradigm, and less resistance in a social dominance test, relative to neurogenesis‐intact controls, when paired with weight and strain‐matched (CD‐1) mice. During aggression tests, TK mice were frequently attacked by the CD‐1 intruder mice, which never occurred with WTs, and normal CD‐1 male mice investigated TK mice less than controls when corralled in the social investigation test. Importantly, TK mice showed normal aggression toward prey (crickets) and smaller, nonaggressive (olfactory bulbectomized) C57BL/6J intruders, suggesting that mice lacking adult neurogenesis do not avoid aggressive social interactions if they are much larger than their opponent and will clearly win. Taken together, our findings show that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays an important role in the instigation of intermale aggression, possibly by weighting a cost–benefit analysis against confrontation in cases where the outcome of the fight is not clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is a crucial source of food, protein, and oil worldwide that is facing challenges from biotic stresses. Infestation of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) stands out as detrimentally affecting plant growth and grain production. Understanding soybean responses to T. urticae infestation is pivotal for unravelling the dynamics of mite–plant interactions. We evaluated the physiological and molecular responses of soybean plants to mite infestation after 5 and 21 days.We employed visual/microscopy observations of leaf damage, H2O2 accumulation, and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, the impact of mite infestation on shoot length/dry weight, chlorophyll concentration, and development stages was analysed. Proteomic analysis identified differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) after early (5 days) and late (21 days) infestation. Furthermore, GO, KEGG, and protein–protein interaction analyses were performed to understand effects on metabolic pathways.Throughout the analysed period, symptoms of leaf damage, H2O2 accumulation, and lipid peroxidation consistently increased. Mite infestation reduced shoot length/dry weight, chlorophyll concentration, and development stage duration. Proteomics revealed 185 and 266 DAPs after early and late mite infestation, respectively, indicating a complex remodelling of metabolic pathways. Photorespiration, chlorophyll synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and Krebs cycle/energy production were impacted after both early and late infestation. Additionally, specific metabolic pathways were modified only after early or late infestation.This study underscores the detrimental effects of mite infestation on soybean physiology and metabolism. DAPs offer potential in breeding programs for enhanced resistance. Overall, this research highlights the complex nature of soybean response to mite infestation, providing insights for intervention and breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nascent polypeptide‐Associated Complex (NAC) family is among the largest plant‐specific TF families and plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress responses.NAC TFs have been extensively studied in plants such as rice and Arabidopsis; however, their characterization, functions, evolution, and expression patterns in Manihot esculenta (cassava) under environmental stress remain largely unexplored. Here, we used bioinformatic analyses and biotic stress responses to investigate the physicochemical properties, chromosome location, phylogeny, gene structure, expression patterns, and cis‐elements in promoter regions of the NAC TFs in cassava.We identified 119 M. esculenta NAC (MeNAC) gene families, unevenly distributed on 16 chromosomes. We investigated expression patterns of all identified MeNAC TFs under Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam) infection, strain CHN11, at different time points. Only 20 MeNAC TFs showed expression of significant bacterial resistance. Six MeNACs (MeNAC7, 26, 63, 65, 77, and 113) were selected for functional analysis. qRT‐PCR assays revealed that MeNAC7, 26, 63, 65, 77, and 113 were induced in response to XamCHN11 infection and may participate in the molecular interaction of cassava and bacterial blight. Interestingly, MeNAC26, MeNAC63, MeNAC65, and MeNAC113 responded to XamCHN11 infection at 3 h post‐inoculation. Furthermore, we identified 13 stress‐related cis‐elements in promoter regions of the MeNAC genes that are involved in diverse environmental stress responses. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MeNAC genes with similar structures and motif distributions were grouped.This study provides valuable insights into the evolution, diversity, and characterization of MeNAC TFs. It lays the groundwork for a better understanding of their biological roles and molecular mechanisms in cassava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computational thinking is derived from arguments that the underlying practices in computer science augment problem‐solving. Most studies investigated computational thinking development as a function of learners' factors, instructional strategies and learning environment. However, the influence of the wider community such as educational policies on computational thinking remains unclear. Objectives: This study examines the impact of basic and technology‐related educational policies on the development of computational thinking. Methods: Using supervised machine learning, the computational thinking achievements of 31,823 eighth graders across nine countries were analysed. Seven rule‐based and tree‐based classification models were generated and triangulated to determine how educational policies predicted students' computational thinking. Results and conclusions: Predictions show that students have a higher propensity to develop computational thinking skills when schools exercise full autonomy in governance and explicitly embed computational thinking in their curriculum. Plans to support students, teachers and schools with technology or introduce 1:1 computing have no discernible predicted influence on students' computational thinking achievement. Implications: Although predictions deduced from these attributes are not generalizable, traces of how educational policies affect computational thinking exist to articulate more fronts for future research on the influence of educational policies on computational thinking. Lay description: What is already known about this topicComputational thinking (CT) is a problem‐solving skill.Inquiries on CT focus on learners' factors such as age, gender and attitudes.Also, the choice of instructional strategies and learning environment influence CT development. What this paper addsArticulated how the wider community structures influence the development of CT.Educational policies affect the development of computational thinking. Implications for practicesStudents have a higher predicted propensity to develop CT when schools exercise full autonomy in governance and embed CT in the curriculum explicitly.Plans to support students, teachers and schools with technology or plans to introduce 1:1 computing have no discernible influence on students' CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of manmade foodstuffs in the environment may significantly alter the diets, behavior and health of wild animals and the ecosystems ecology. One of the principal problems faced by urban populations of capuchin monkeys is their contact with household refuse, which may provoke a number of impacts on the health of these animals. The present study tested the use of feeding platforms as a strategy to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foodstuffs by these animals and analyzed the influence of this measure on the activity patterns and social interactions of the study groups. For this, we verified the patterns of use of a feeding platform by a capuchin group in an urban park in Goiânia, central Brazil, and compared this study population with those of other parks where alternative feeding protocols are implemented, ranging from continuous provisioning to no intervention whatsoever. Behavioral data were collected using scan sampling. The data analysis was divided into two steps: (i) comparison of the different conditions found in the populations with varying types of feeding platform usage and (ii) comparison of the time budget among sites in the context of seasonal variation. The presence of feeding platforms effectively reduced the consumption of refuse in the study groups, although it did also cause an increase in agonism in the animals and altered their activity patterns, leading to a greater dependence on provisioned resources. The results of this study highlight the complex interaction between human activities and the local wildlife in the urban setting, and the need for more detailed studies, to develop more effective management strategies. Summary: Our research focused on the efficacy of feeding platforms as a strategy to prevent capuchin monkeys from ingesting waste.It has been demonstrated that feeding platforms are successful in decreasing the intake of processed foods, not only within a single population but also when comparing different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents letter to the editor focuses on the validation of a modified Nijmegen method for detecting cross-reactivity of human factor VIII antibodies to recombinant porcine factor VIII in patients with acquired hemophilia A and hemophilia A with inhibitors. Topics include laboratory testing of cross-reactivity using imidazole buffer and factor VIII-deficient plasma, and the clinical implications of antibody cross-reactivity on recombinant porcine factor VIII treatment.

The article explores the impact of food (inter)activism in the Marquesas, French Polynesia, on planetary health, justice, and cultural sovereignty. It discusses how Western interventions have disrupted traditional foodways and Indigenous systems of planetary health, leading to health and environmental challenges. The Marquesans are adapting to global health advocacy while preserving their cultural traditions through revitalizing traditional foodways and engaging in food (inter)activism. The article highlights the complex interplay between cultural identity, health, and environmental justice in the Marquesas, emphasizing the importance of local approaches to global health and environmental initiatives. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To investigate pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD; urinary incontinence (UI), faecal incontinence (FI) and prolapse) ≥20 years after childbirth and their association with delivery mode history and demographic characteristics. Design: Cohort study with long‐term follow‐up. Setting: Maternity units in Aberdeen and Birmingham (UK) and Dunedin (NZ). Population: Women giving birth in 1993/1994. Methods: Postal questionnaires at 20 (New Zealand) or 26 (United Kingdom) years after index birth (n = 6195). Regression analyses investigated associations between risk factors and UI, FI and prolapse symptoms. Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of self‐reported UI, FI, 'something coming down' from or in the vagina (SCD), and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse‐Symptom Score, and relationships with delivery method. Results: Thirty‐seven per cent (n = 2270) responded at 20/26 years, of whom 61% reported UI (59% of whom reported more severe UI), 22% FI and 17% prolapse symptoms. Having only caesarean section (CS) was associated with a significantly lower risk of UI (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46–0.85), FI (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42–0.96) and SCD (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27–0.74) compared to only spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVDs). Having any forceps delivery was associated with reporting FI compared to only SVDs (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.00–1.66), but there was no association for UI (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.76–1.19) or SCD (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.80–1.38). Higher current BMI was associated with all PFD outcomes. Conclusions: Prevalence of PFD continues to increase up to 26 years following index birth, and differences were observed according to delivery mode history. Exclusive CS was associated with less risk of UI, FI and any prolapse symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the immune‐mediated nature of non‐infectious cutaneous vasculitis, skin biopsy specimens are often submitted for direct immunofluorescence (DIF) testing when vasculitis is considered clinically. However, evidence regarding the clinical value of DIF has not been rigorously appraised. Objective: In this scoping review, we aimed to systematically evaluate the peer‐reviewed literature on the utility of DIF in vasculitis to assist with the development of appropriate use criteria by the American Society of Dermatopathology. Methods: Two electronic databases were searched for articles on DIF and vasculitis (January 1975–October 2023). Relevant case series involving more than or equal to three patients, published in English, and with full‐text availability were included. Additional articles were identified manually via reference review. Due to study heterogeneity, findings were analyzed descriptively. Results: Of 255 articles identified, 61 met the inclusion criteria. Cumulatively representing over 1000 DIF specimens, several studies estimated DIF sensitivity to be 75%. While vascular immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits on DIF were associated with renal disease, other systemic associations were inconsistent. Vascular IgG deposition may be overrepresented in ANCA‐associated vasculitis. Granular vascular and epidermal basement membrane zone Ig deposition differentiated hypocomplementemic from normocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis. Few studies have assessed the added value of DIF over routine microscopy alone in vasculitis. Conclusions: This scoping review discovered that DIF testing for vasculitis has been performed not only for diagnostic confirmation of vasculitis but also for disease subtype classification and prediction of systemic associations. Future studies on test sensitivity of DIF compared to that of histopathology are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dexmedetomidine, an α2‐adrenergic agonist, reduces propofol and remifentanil requirements when used as an adjunct to total intravenous anesthesia in adults, but studies in a pediatric population are sparse. This study investigates the magnitude of dose‐sparing effects of a postinduction dexmedetomidine bolus on propofol and remifentanil requirements during pediatric surgery. Methods: In this randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial, children aged 2–10 years undergoing elective dental surgery were assigned to one of four groups: placebo, 0.25 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine, 0.5 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine, and 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine. Maintenance with fixed‐ratio propofol and remifentanil total intravenous anesthesia followed a bispectral index (BIS)‐guided algorithm designed to maintain a stable depth of anesthesia. The primary outcomes were time‐averaged maintenance infusion rates of propofol and remifentanil. Secondary outcomes in the postanesthetic care unit included sedation scores, pain scores, and time to discharge. Results: Data from 67 patients were available for analysis. The median [interquartile range] propofol infusion rate was lower in the 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine group (180 [164–185] mcg/kg/min) versus placebo (200 [178–220] mcg/kg/min): percent change −10.0%; 95% CI −2.4 to −19.8; p = 0.013. The remifentanil infusion rate was also lower in the 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine group (0.089 [0.080, 0.095] mcg/kg/min) versus placebo (0.103 [0.095, 0.106] mcg/kg/min): percent change, −13.7%; 95% CI −5.47 to −21.0; p =.022. However, neither propofol nor remifentanil infusion rates were significantly different in the 0.25 or 0.5 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine groups. In the postanesthesia care unit, there were no differences in pain or sedation scores, and time to discharge was not significantly prolonged in any dexmedetomidine group. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg reduced the propofol and remifentanil requirements during maintenance of anesthesia in children when administered as a postinduction bolus. Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03422978, date of registration 2018‐02‐06. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is no clear evidence on the risk of gestational weight loss (GWL) for individuals with obesity. Our study aimed to assess the association between GWL and adverse perinatal outcomes among individuals with obesity. Methods: This population‐based retrospective cohort study examined individuals with prepregnancy BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 who had a singleton pregnancy, using Ontario, Canada, birth registry data from 2012 to 2020. The primary outcome was a composite of adverse outcomes, including perinatal death and neonatal morbidity. The association between GWL and risk of adverse perinatal outcomes was estimated using generalized estimating equation models and restricted cubic spline regression analysis. Stratified analysis was conducted by obesity class. Results: Of the 157,205 individuals with obesity, 6.1% experienced GWL. Compared with adequate gestational weight gain, GWL was associated with an increased risk of a composite of adverse perinatal outcomes (adjusted risk ratio: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.22–1.39). Similar results were observed in the stratified analysis. Restricted cubic spline regression analysis revealed that average weekly gestational weight changes displayed a nonlinear U‐shaped association, with a higher risk of a composite of adverse perinatal outcomes noted in the extremities, particularly toward GWL and excessive weight gain. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that GWL may increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes across all obesity classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between sleep and feeding behaviors are critical for adaptive fitness. Diverse species suppress sleep when food is scarce to increase the time spent foraging. Postprandial sleep, an increase in sleep time following a feeding event, has been documented in vertebrate and invertebrate animals. While interactions between sleep and feeding appear to be highly conserved, the evolution of postprandial sleep in response to changes in food availability remains poorly understood. Multiple populations of the Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, have independently evolved sleep loss and increased food consumption compared to surface‐dwelling fish of the same species, providing the opportunity to investigate the evolution of interactions between sleep and feeding. Here, we investigate the effects of feeding on sleep in larval and adult surface fish, and in two parallelly evolved cave populations of A. mexicanus. Larval surface and cave populations of A. mexicanus increase sleep immediately following a meal, providing the first evidence of postprandial sleep in a fish model. The amount of sleep was not correlated to meal size and occurred independently of feeding time. In contrast to larvae, postprandial sleep was not detected in adult surface or cavefish, which can survive for months without food. Together, these findings reveal that postprandial sleep is present in multiple short‐sleeping populations of cavefish, suggesting sleep‐feeding interactions are retained despite the evolution of sleep loss. These findings raise the possibility that postprandial sleep is critical for energy conservation and survival in larvae that are highly sensitive to food deprivation. Summary: Laval Astyanax mexicanus increases sleep following feeding.Postprandial sleep occurs across the circadian cycle.Postprandial sleep was not identifiable in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multiplayer, first‐person shooter games like Counter‐Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), coordinated movement is a critical component of high‐level strategic play. However, the complexity of team coordination and the variety of conditions present in popular game maps make it impractical to author hand‐crafted movement policies for every scenario. We show that it is possible to take a data‐driven approach to creating human‐like movement controllers for CS:GO. We curate a team movement dataset comprising 123 hours of professional game play traces, and use this dataset to train a transformer‐based movement model that generates human‐like team movement for all players in a "Retakes" round of the game. Importantly, the movement prediction model is efficient. Performing inference for all players takes less than 0.5 ms per game step (amortized cost) on a single CPU core, making it plausible for use in commercial games today. Human evaluators assess that our model behaves more like humans than both commercially‐available bots and procedural movement controllers scripted by experts (16% to 59% higher by TrueSkill rating of "human‐like"). Using experiments involving in‐game bot vs. bot self‐play, we demonstrate that our model performs simple forms of teamwork, makes fewer common movement mistakes, and yields movement distributions, player lifetimes, and kill locations similar to those observed in professional CS:GO match play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability in drug effectiveness and provider prescribing patterns have been reported in different racial and ethnic populations. We sought to evaluate antihypertensive drug effectiveness and prescribing patterns among self‐identified Hispanic/Latino (Hispanic), Non‐Hispanic Black (Black), and Non‐Hispanic White (White) populations that enrolled in the NIH All of Us Research Program, a US longitudinal cohort. We employed a self‐controlled case study method using electronic health record and survey data from 17,718 White, Hispanic, and Black participants who were diagnosed with essential hypertension and prescribed at least one of 19 commonly used antihypertensive medications. Effectiveness was determined by calculating the reduction in systolic blood pressure measurements after 28 or more days of drug exposure. Starting systolic blood pressure and effectiveness for each medication were compared for self‐reported Black, Hispanic, and White participants using adjusted linear regressions. Black and Hispanic participants were started on antihypertensive medications at significantly higher SBP than White participants in 13 and 7 out of 19 medications, respectively. More Black participants were prescribed multiple antihypertensive medications (58.46%) than White (52.35%) or Hispanic (49.9%) participants. First‐line HTN medications differed by race and ethnicity. Following the 2017 American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association High Blood Pressure Guideline release, around 64% of Black participants were prescribed a recommended first‐line antihypertensive drug compared with 76% of White and 82% of Hispanic participants. Effect sizes suggested that most antihypertensive drugs were less effective in Hispanic and Black, compared with White, participants, and statistical significance was reached in 6 out of 19 drugs. These results indicate that Black and Hispanic populations may benefit from earlier intervention and screening and highlight the potential benefits of personalizing first‐line medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Additively‐Manufactured, System‐Integrated Tip (AMSIT) project is leveraging the flexibility of 3D printing to integrate several technologies in a wind turbine blade tip, while reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) produced. The design integration is demonstrated for a 200‐kW–scale turbine with 13‐m blades, with the outer 15% of the blade replaced with a 3D‐printed design. Aerodynamic performance is enhanced without increasing swept area through inclusion of a winglet and surface texturing, both challenging for traditional manufacturing. Longevity and durability are improved through integrated lightning and leading edge erosion protection. Increased power, reduced repair frequency, and ease of repair through blade modularity all contribute to reduced LCOE. The analysis is also extended to modern MW‐scale designs to estimate the impact of the technology at scale, demonstrating the potential to reduce LCOE significantly for modern onshore turbines, with even higher potential savings offshore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Population density is a fundamental parameter in ecology and conservation, and taxonomic and geographic patterns of population density have been an important focus of macroecological research. However, population density data are time‐consuming and costly to collect, so their availability is limited. Leveraging decades of research, TetraDENSITY 1.0 was developed as a global repository containing over 18,000 population density estimates for > 2100 terrestrial vertebrate species, aiding researchers in investigating patterns of population density, its intrinsic and extrinsic drivers, and for developing predictive models. Here we present a substantially expanded version of the database, which now includes marine tetrapods and encompasses over 54,300 estimates for 3717 species associated with error estimates and geographical coordinates when available, hence enabling meta‐analytical approaches and better spatial matching of estimates with environmental conditions. Main Types of Variables Contained: Population density estimates and associated errors, time and location of data collection, taxonomic information, estimation method. Spatial Location: Global. Time Period and Grain: 1925–2024. Major Taxa and Level of Measurement: Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia. Estimates reported at the population level. Software Format:.csv. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many next‐generation materials for Li‐ion batteries are limited by material instabilities. To stabilize these materials, ultrathin, protective coatings are needed that conduct both lithium ions and electrons. Here, we demonstrate a hybrid chemistry combining molecular layer deposition (MLD) of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and p‐hydroquinone (HQ) with oxidative molecular layer deposition (oMLD) of molybdenum pentachloride (MoCl5) and HQ to enable vapor‐phase molecular layer growth of poly(p‐hydroquinone) (PHQ)—a mixed electron and lithium ion conducting polymer. We employ quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) studies to understand the chemical mechanism and demonstrate controlled linear growth with a 0.5 nm/cycle growth rate. Spectroscopic characterization indicates that this hybrid MLD/oMLD chemistry polymerizes surface HQ monomers from the TMA‐HQ chemistry to produce PHQ. The polymerization to PHQ improves air stability over MLD TMA‐HQ films without crosslinking. Electrochemical measurements on hybrid MLD/oMLD films indicate electronic conductivity of ~10−9 S/cm and a Li‐ion conductivity of ~10−4 S/cm. While these coatings show promise for Li‐ion battery applications, this work focuses on establishing the coating chemistry and future studies are needed to examine the stability, structure, and cycling performance of these coatings in full Li‐ion cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal biotechnology offers a promising platform for the sustainable production of diverse renewable bioactive compounds. The key distinction from other microbial bioprocesses lies in the critical role that light plays in cultures, as it serves as a source of environmental information to control metabolic processes. Therefore, we can use these criteria to design a bioprocess that aims to stimulate the accumulation of target molecules by controlling light exposure. We study the effect on biochemical and photobiological responses of Golenkinia brevispicula FAUBA‐3 to the exposition of different spectral irradiances (specifically, high‐fluence PAR of narrow yellow spectrum complemented with low intensity of monochromatic radiations of red, blue, and UV‐A) under prestress and salinity stress conditions. High light (HL) intensity coupled to salinity stress affected the photosynthetic activity and photoprotection mechanisms as shown by maximal quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and non‐photochemical quenching (NPQmax) reduction, respectively. HL treatments combined with the proper dose of UV‐A radiation under salinity stress induced the highest carotenoid content (2.75 mg g dry weight [DW]−1) composed mainly of lutein and β‐carotene, and the highest lipid accumulation (35.3% DW) with the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid content (alpha‐linolenic acid (C18:3) and linoleic acid (C18:2)). Our study can guide the strategies for commercial indoor production of G. brevispicula for high‐value metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Data regarding the effectiveness of prophylactic systemic antibiotics (PSA) in lacrimal surgery is scarce. Therefore, we determined the postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) rate in lacrimal surgery without PSA. Methods: We retrospectively analysed files of patients who underwent external (extDCR) or endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (endoDCR). We excluded patients with incomplete data (n = 68), acute a priori infection with the need for antibiotics (n = 15) and PSA post‐operatively for other reasons (n = 28). Indications for surgery were canalicular stenosis (n = 51, 18.6% endoDCR vs n = 131, 19.5% extDCR), nasolacrimal duct obstruction (n = 118, 43.2% endoDCR vs n = 480, 64.3% extDCR) and mucocele/chronic dacryocystitis (n = 52, 19.0% endoDCR vs n = 187, 25.0% extDCR). Results: In this study, 1020 DCR surgeries were performed in 899 patients. Postoperative SSI was diagnosed in eight patients (0.8%); exclusively after extDCR (1.1% of all extDCR). No SSIs were found in endoDCR cases. The prevalence between SSI in extDCR versus endoDCR did not prove significant (n = 8/747 0.8% vs n = 0/273 0%, p = 0.13). All patients diagnosed with SSI were successfully treated with systemic oral antibiotics. Conclusion: The prevalence of SSI after DCR is low and was effectively treated with oral antibiotics. In our study, SSI occurred rarely after extDCR and was not observed after endoDCR. We conclude that lacrimal surgery is safe without the routine administration of PSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and primary psychiatric disorders (PPD), such as mood, psychotic, and autism spectrum disorders, share similar clinical characteristics of behavior and social cognition. Better understanding of clinical progression in bvFTD and PPD is essential for adequate disease monitoring and trial design. Methods: In this longitudinal study (N = 89), patients with bvFTD and PPD with at least one follow‐up assessment were included from the Social Brain Project of the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam. Behavioral change and social cognitive decline were assessed via informant‐rated questionnaires (Cambridge Behavioral Inventory–Revised, Frontal Behavioral Inventory [FBI], Stereotypy Rating Inventory, Frontotemporal Dementia Rating Scale, Revised Self‐Monitoring Scale [RSMS]‐caregiver) and patient assessment (Ekman 60‐Faces Test, RSMS‐patient, Emotional Contagion Scale). Clinical trajectories (median = 1.4 years, interquartile range = 1.0–2.2) were examined using linear mixed models. In a subsample, associations with baseline serum neurofilament light (sNfL) were examined. Results: At baseline, behavioral and social cognitive symptoms were similar between diagnosis groups, except for poorer emotion recognition in bvFTD. Over time, behavioral symptoms worsened in bvFTD, whereas most measures remained stable and the FBI improved in PPD. Regarding social cognition, emotion recognition and caregiver‐reported socioemotional sensitivity worsened in bvFTD and remained stable in PPD. Patient‐reported social cognitive measures did not change over time. Higher sNfL was associated with faster behavioral change. Conclusions: Trajectories of behavior and social cognition differentiate bvFTD from PPD, provided that social cognition is not patient‐reported. Therefore, we stress the need to optimize longitudinal social cognitive assessment in bvFTD. sNfL may be a useful prognostic marker of behavioral progression in neuropsychiatric populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The RUNT‐related transcription factor RUNX2 plays a critical role in osteoblast differentiation, and alterations to gene dosage cause distinct craniofacial anomalies. Uniquely amongst the RUNT‐related family, vertebrate RUNX2 encodes a polyglutamine/polyalanine repeat (Gln23‐Glu‐Ala17 in humans), with the length of the polyalanine component completely conserved in great apes. Surprisingly, a frequent 6‐amino acid deletion polymorphism, p.(Ala84_Ala89)del, occurs in humans (termed 11A allele), and a previous association study (Cuellar et al. Bone137:115395;2020) reported that the 11A variant was significantly more frequent in non‐syndromic sagittal craniosynostosis (nsSag; allele frequency [AF] = 0.156; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.126–0.189) compared to non‐syndromic metopic craniosynostosis (nsMet; AF = 0.068; 95% CI 0.045–0.098). However, the gnomAD v.2.1.1 control population used by Cuellar et al. did not display Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, hampering interpretation. To re‐examine this association, we genotyped the RUNX2 11A polymorphism in 225 individuals with sporadic nsSag as parent–child trios and 164 singletons with sporadic nsMet, restricting our analysis to individuals of European ancestry. We compared observed allele frequencies to the non‐transmitted alleles in the parent–child trios, and to the genome sequencing data from gnomAD v.4, which display Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Observed AFs (and 95% CI) were 0.076 (0.053–0.104) in nsSag and 0.082 (0.055–0.118) in nsMet, compared with 0.062 (0.042–0.089) in non‐transmitted parental alleles and 0.065 (0.063–0.067) in gnomAD v.4.0.0 non‐Finnish European control genomes. In summary, we observed a non‐significant excess, compared to gnomAD data, of 11A alleles in both nsSag (relative risk 1.18, 95% CI 0.83–1.67) and nsMet (relative risk 1.29, 95% CI 0.87–1.92), but we did not replicate the much higher excess of RUNX2 11A alleles in nsSag previously reported (p = 0.0001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Managing pest species of eusocial insects, such as leaf‐cutting ants, poses significant challenges. Controlling them requires understanding of how toxic plant substrates and ant baits are recognized by foragers, transported to the nest, shared among workers and managed by gardeners cultivating the symbiont fungus garden. Despite this, little is known about how unsuitable resources might impact social interactions within ant colonies. This study aims to investigate whether the provision of a suitable substrate (copperleaf) and a toxic substrate (nasturtium leaves) affects the social network dynamics within colonies of two leaf‐cutting ant species: Acromyrmex molestans and Acromyrmex subterraneus. The interactions between castes were recorded and subjected to social network analyses. RESULTS: Initial foraging duration increased for A. subterraneus provided with copperleaf, although no difference was observed for the other species and resource combinations. The social network structure was similar for both species when copperleaf leaves were provided as a substrate. However, notable alterations occurred with nasturtium leaf provision, leading to higher integration of gardeners in interactions and noticeable changes in the generalist worker network centrality, particularly in A. subterraneus. DISCUSSION: The observed changes in social interactions, particularly in A. subterraneus, suggest that increasing gardener interactions with other castes expedites the movement of the substrate within the colony. This maximizes the potential toxic effect on the colony. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ex vivo perfusion of transplant‐declined human organs has emerged as a promising platform to study the response of an organ to novel therapeutic strategies. However, to fully realize the capability of this platform for performing translational research in human organ pathophysiology, there is a need for robust assays to assess organ function and disease. State‐of‐the‐art research methods rely on analyses of biopsies taken during perfusion, which both damages the organ and only provides localized information. Developing non‐invasive, whole organ methods of assessment is critical to the further development of this research platform. Methods: We use ex vivo cold infusion scanning (EXCIS) with contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) to quantify perfusion in kidneys preserved ex vivo. EXCIS‐CT computes three complementary metrics for whole organ assessment: a dynamic assessment of contrast filling, a measure of vascular network anatomical structure, and a static assessment of perfusion heterogeneity. Results: These metrics were applied to a series of six transplant‐declined human kidneys, which demonstrated a range of anatomies and perfusion. Lastly, two transplant‐declined human kidneys were imaged before and after a 1‐h period of ex vivo normothermic perfusion (NMP). We found variable responses to NMP, with one kidney maintaining the vascular network and hemodynamics and the other showing significant changes in vessel size and spatial perfusion profile. Conclusions: EXCIS‐CT provides metrics that can be used to characterize whole organ perfusion and vascular function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The psychological and cardiovascular health impacts on family members of patients who have been diagnosed with cancer have not been well characterized. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a family member's cancer diagnosis influences the risk of psychological illness and cardiovascular disease in first‐degree relatives and spouses of patients affected by cancer. Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis evaluated the risk of psychological illness and cardiovascular disease in first‐degree relatives and spouses of patients diagnosed with a genitourinary cancer between 1990 and 2015 compared to relatives of those not diagnosed with a genitourinary cancer. The Utah Population Database was used and familial linkage was determined. Follow‐up included 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year intervals. Patients residing outside of Utah and first‐degree relatives and spouses with psychological or cardiovascular disease diagnosed before a family member's cancer diagnosis were excluded. Results: A total of 49,284 patients with a genitourinary cancer were identified with 77,938 first‐degree relatives and spouses. A matched control group included 246,775 patients with 81,022 first‐degree relatives and spouses. Via Cox proportional hazards models, a 10% increased risk of developing a psychological illness (hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00–1.20) and a 28% increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.17–1.41) at 1 year after a family member's cancer diagnosis were found. Conclusions: This study provides population‐level evidence to support the hypothesis that cancer diagnoses will lead to adverse health outcomes for family members of patients with cancer. Increased clinical attention and support are needed to reduce the harm to families caused by cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a family member's cancer diagnosis influences the risk of psychological illness and cardiovascular disease in first‐degree relatives and spouses of patients affected by cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senescence impairs liver physiology, mitochondrial function and circadian regulation, resulting in systemic metabolic dysregulation. Given the limited research on the effects of combined exercise on an ageing liver, this study aimed to evaluate its impact on liver metabolism, circadian rhythms and mitochondrial function in senescence‐accelerated mouse‐prone 8 (SAMP8) and senescence‐accelerated mouse‐resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice. Histological, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and immunoblotting analyses were conducted, supplemented by transcriptomic data sets and AML12 hepatocyte studies. Sedentary SAMP8 mice exhibited decreased muscle strength, reduced mitochondrial complex I levels and increased lipid droplet accumulation. In contrast, combined exercise mitigated muscle strength loss, upregulated proteins involved in mitochondrial complexes (CIII, CIV, CV) and increased Bmal1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the liver. These molecular adaptations are associated with healthier liver phenotypes and may influence metabolic function and cellular longevity. Notably, elevated lipid content in aged mice was reduced post‐exercise, indicating liver benefits even after a relatively short intervention. The combined exercise regimen did not improve aerobic capacity, likely due to the low volume and brief duration of running. Moreover, no significant effects were observed in SAMR1 mice, possibly because the training intensity was insufficient for younger, healthier animals. These findings underscore the potential of combined strength and endurance exercise to attenuate age‐related liver dysfunction, particularly in ageing populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloidosis are a group of diseases in which soluble proteins aggregate and deposit in fibrillar conformation extracellularly in tissues. The effectiveness of therapeutic strategies depends on the specific protein involved, being crucial to accurately determine its nature. Moreover, following the diagnosis, the search for the mutation within relatives allows the clinical advice. Here we report the precise diagnosis and explored the possible reasons of the structural pathogenicity for a renal amyloidosis related to a fibrinogen Aα‐chain variant. Whole‐exome sequencing and GATK calling pipeline were leveraged to characterize the protein variant present in a patient with kidney failure. Bioinformatics strategies were applied to suggest potential explanations of the variants aggregation. Our pipeline allowed the identification of a single‐point variant of fibrinogen Aα‐chain, which opened the possibility of curative transplantation. In silico structural analysis suggested that the pathogenicity of the variant may be attributed to a heightened susceptibility to yield a peptide prone to deposit as an oligomer with a β‐sheet structure. Exploiting the comprehensive coverage of whole‐genome sequencing, we managed to fill a vacant stage in the diagnosis of hereditary amyloidosis and to stimulate the advancement in biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are motivated by the field of air quality control, where one goal is to quantify the impact of uncertain inputs such as meteorological conditions and traffic parameters on pollutant dispersion maps. Sensitivity analysis is one answer, but the majority of sensitivity analysis methods are designed to deal with scalar or vector outputs and are badly suited to an output space of maps. To address this problem, we propose a generic approach to sensitivity analysis of set‐valued models. This approach can be applied to the case of maps. We propose and study three different types of sensitivity indices. The first ones are inspired by Sobol' indices but adapted to sets based on the theory of random sets. The second ones adapt universal indices defined for a general metric output space. The last set of indices uses kernel‐based sensitivity indices adapted to sets. The proposed methods are implemented and tested to perform an uncertainty analysis for a toy excursion set problem and for time‐averaged concentration maps of pollutants in an urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Established ecological theory has focused on unitary organisms, and thus its concepts have matured into a form that often hinders rather than facilitates the ecological study of modular organisms. Here, we use the example of filamentous fungi to develop concepts that enable integration of non‐unitary (modular) organisms into the established community ecology theory, with particular focus on its spatial aspects. In doing so, we provide a link between fungal community ecology and modern coexistence theory (MCT). We first show how community processes and predictions made by MCT can be used to define meaningful scales in fungal ecology. This leads to the novel concept of the unit of community interactions (UCI), a promising conceptual tool for applying MCT to communities of modular organisms with indeterminate clonal growth and hierarchical individuality. We outline plausible coexistence mechanisms structuring fungal communities, and show at what spatial scales and in what habitats they are most likely to act. We end by describing challenges and opportunities for empirical and theoretical research in fungal competitive coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the apical cells of the hematopoietic system, giving rise to cells of the blood and lymph lineages. HSCs reside primarily within bone marrow niches that contain matrix and cell‐derived signals that help inform stem cell fate. Aspects of the bone marrow microenvironment have been captured in vitro by encapsulating cells within hydrogel matrices that mimic native mechanical and biochemical properties. Hydrogel microparticles, or microgels, are increasingly being used to assemble granular biomaterials for cell culture and noninvasive delivery applications. Here, we report the optimization of a gelatin maleimide hydrogel system to create monodisperse gelatin microgels via a flow‐focusing microfluidic process. We report characteristic hydrogel stiffness, stability, and swelling characteristics as well as encapsulation of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and mesenchymal stem cells within microgels. Microgels support cell viability, confirming compatibility of the microfluidic encapsulation process with these sensitive bone marrow cell populations. Overall, this work presents a microgel‐based gelatin maleimide hydrogel as a foundation for future development of a multicellular artificial bone marrow culture system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is a serious concern for tomato culture, affecting both yield and quality parameters. Although some genes involved in tomato salt tolerance have been identified, their genetic diversity has been rarely studied. In the present study, we assessed salt tolerance‐related traits at juvenile and adult stages in a large core collection and identified salt tolerance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) by genome‐wide association study (GWAS). The results suggested that a major QTL is involved in leaf sodium accumulation at both physiological stages. We were able to identify the underlying candidate gene, coding for a well‐known sodium transporter, called SlHKT1.2. We showed that an eQTL for the expression of this gene in roots colocalized with the above ground sodium content QTL. A polymorphism putatively responsible for its variation was identified in the gene promoter. Finally, to extend the applicability of these results, we carried out the same analysis on a test‐cross panel composed of the core collection crossed with a distant line. The results indicated that the identified QTL retained its functional impact even in a hybrid genetic context: this paves the way for its use in breeding programs aimed at improving salinity tolerance in tomato cultivars. Summary Statement: The genetic diversity of sodium accumulation in tomato shoot under salt stress is associated with an expression QTL of SlHKT1.2. This gene, already identified as involved in tomato salinity tolerance, has been differentially selected during domestication and is of interest for the development of salinity‐tolerant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether physical function and quality of life was influenced by discharge on the same‐day after a total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Design: Multicentre non‐inferiority randomised controlled trial. Setting: Five teaching hospitals and two university hospitals in the Netherlands. Population: Patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign or premalignant disease. Methods: Following informed consent, participants were allocated 1:1 either to same‐day discharge (SDD) or next‐day discharge (NDD). Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was physical function at 7 days after surgery measured by the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function short Form 10A. Secondary outcomes were physical function and quality of life at 1 and 3 days and 6 weeks after surgery measured with PROMIS short Form 10A and the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ‐5D‐5L). Results: Two hundred and five patients were included of whom 105 were allocated to SDD and 100 to NDD. Physical function 7 days after surgery was 35.95 in the SDD group and 35.63 in the control group (mean difference 0.32; 95% CI [0.07–0.57]). As the upper limit of the 95% CI does not exceed the non‐inferiority margin of 4 points, non‐inferiority of SDD could be demonstrated. No difference in physical function nor quality of life on Days 1 and 3 and 6 weeks could be found. Conclusion: This research demonstrates same‐day discharge after laparoscopic hysterectomy is non‐inferior to next day discharge in physical function 7 days after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Certain species in the Brassicaceae family exhibit high photosynthesis rates, potentially providing a valuable route toward improving agricultural productivity. However, factors contributing to their high photosynthesis rates are still unknown.We compared Hirschfeldia incana, Brassica nigra, Brassica rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana, grown under two contrasting light intensities.Hirschfeldia incana matched B. nigra and B. rapa in achieving very high photosynthesis rates under high growth‐light condition, outperforming A. thaliana. Photosynthesis was relatively more limited by maximum photosynthesis capacity in H. incana and B. rapa and by mesophyll conductance in A. thaliana and B. nigra. Leaf traits such as greater exposed mesophyll specific surface enabled by thicker leaf or high‐density small palisade cells contributed to the variation in mesophyll conductance among the species. The species exhibited contrasting leaf construction strategies and acclimation responses to low light intensity. High‐light plants distributed Chl deeper in leaf tissue, ensuring even distribution of photosynthesis capacity, unlike low‐light plants.Leaf anatomy of H. incana, B. nigra and B. rapa facilitated effective CO2 diffusion, efficient light use and provided ample volume for their high maximum photosynthetic capacity, indicating that a combination of adaptations is required to increase CO2‐assimilation rates in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a rare inflammatory disorder mediated by excessive proinflammatory cytokine signaling, most notably by interleukin 6 (IL‐6). IL‐6‐induced extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) has been reported in murine models of iMCD. Herein we present four cases of iMCD with EMH in humans. Case Series: The index case is a 24‐year‐old white woman who presented with pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and diffuse lymphadenopathy (LAD) with EMH in core lymph node biopsies. We then searched ACCELERATE, a Castleman disease (CD) natural history registry, and identified three additional CD cases with EMH reported in biopsies: A 23‐year‐old Asian man with fatigue, edema, LAD, and splenomegaly; a 20‐year‐old white man with fever, dyspnea, LAD, and hepatosplenomegaly; and a 50‐year‐old white man with constitutional symptoms, LAD, and myelodysplastic syndrome in bone marrow with a KRAS mutation. Results: All four patients presented with thrombocytopenia and fever and/or markedly elevated C‐reactive protein. Patient 1 had iMCD‐NOS (not otherwise specified) with severe thrombocytopenia, reticulin fibrosis in bone marrow, small volume LAD and organomegaly but no anasarca. The other three patients had iMCD‐TAFRO (thrombocytopenia, anasarca, reticulin fibrosis, renal dysfunction, organomegaly). Two had mixed CD and two had hypervascular CD in lymph nodes. All four had bone marrow hypercellularity and megakaryocyte hyperplasia and two had reticulin fibrosis. Conclusions: This case series demonstrates that EMH can be seen in CD, particularly in iMCD‐TAFRO. Given the similarity of this finding to previous murine models of IL‐6‐induced marrow and lymph node changes we hypothesize that this is an IL‐6‐mediated phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with intellectual disability (ID) demonstrate persistent challenges around developing life skills. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is gaining interest as a tool for training life skills as it enables individuals to engage in hands‐on learning in a safe, controlled and repeatable environment. However, there are concerns about the potential drawbacks of IVR, such as cybersickness and practical challenges with using the equipment, which may hinder its widespread adoption in educational settings. The current study aimed to compare the effectiveness of training in IVR and a non‐immersive virtual environment for improving real‐world skills in people with ID. Methods: In the present study, 36 adults (16 female, 20 male) with ID were recruited from a disability organisation. Participants completed a real‐world assessment of waste management skills before and after training in either the IVR or non‐immersive group. Results: Consistent with our hypotheses, the IVR group scored significantly higher in the real‐world assessment after virtual training (d = 1), and at the 1‐week follow‐up (d = 1.12), compared with the non‐immersive group. Further analyses showed that the IVR group, but not the non‐immersive group, significantly improved performance in the real‐world assessment across timepoints. Conclusions: The findings indicate that IVR was more effective for improving and retaining real‐world waste management skills. This study supports IVR as a viable tool for professionals and caregivers to develop skills for independent living among people with ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pro‐resolving molecules may curb disease caused by viruses without altering the capacity of the host to deal with infection. AP1189 is a melanocortin receptor‐biased agonist endowed with pro‐resolving and anti‐inflammatory activity. We evaluated the preclinical and early clinical effects of treatment with AP1189 in the context of COVID‐19. Methods: C57BL/6j mice were infected intranasally with MHV‐A59 or hK18‐ACE2 mice with SARS‐CoV‐2. AP1189 (10 mg·kg−1, BID, s.c.) was given to the animals from day 2 and parameters evaluated at day 5. Human PBMCs from health donors were infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 in presence or absence of AP1189 and production of cytokines quantified. In the clinical study, 6 patients were initially given AP1189 (100 mg daily for 14 days) and this was followed by a randomized (2:1), placebo‐controlled, double‐blind trial that enrolled 54 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients needing oxygen support. The primary outcome was the time in days until respiratory recovery, defined as a SpO2 ≥ 93% in ambient air. Results: Treatment with AP1189 attenuated pulmonary inflammation in mice infected with MHV‐A59 or SARS‐CoV‐2 and decreased the release of CXCL10, TNF‐α and IL‐1β by human PBMCs. Hospitalized COVID‐19 patients already taking glucocorticoids took a median time of 6 days until respiratory recovery when given placebo versus 4 days when taking AP1189 (P = 0.017). Conclusion: Treatment with AP1189 was associated with less disease caused by beta‐coronavirus infection both in mice and in humans. This is the first demonstration of the effects of a pro‐resolving molecule in the context of severe infection in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There is relatively scarce data regarding the association between primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and incident diabetes in large population‐based longitudinal studies. We aimed to evaluate the risk of incident diabetes in individuals with and without PHPT and investigate the association between serum calcium concentrations and the risk of incident diabetes in patients with PHPT. Methods: We included 2749 PHPT patients and 13,745 age, sex and index year matched non‐PHPT individuals during 2000–2019. We used Cox regression models to compare the risk of incident diabetes in individuals with and without PHPT, and the risk of incident diabetes in PHPT patients with serum calcium concentration above and below the median value. The association between serum calcium concentrations and the risk of incident diabetes was examined by restricted cubic spline analyses in patients with PHPT. Results: During a median follow‐up time of 5.17 years (IQR 2.17, 9.58), 433 patients (15.75%) with PHPT and 2110 individuals (15.35%) without PHPT developed diabetes, respectively. Patients with PHPT had a higher incidence rate of diabetes compared to non‐PHPT individuals (27.60 [95% CI 25.00, 30.30] vs. 23.90 [95% CI 22.80, 24.90] per 1000 person‐years, log‐rank test p =.007]. Crude Cox regression model showed PHPT was associated with a 15% higher risk of incident diabetes (HR 1.15, 95%CI 1.04, 1.28). In patients with PHPT, a 44% higher risk of incident diabetes was found in patients with serum calcium concentrations above the median value (2.63 mmol/L), compared to those below the median value (HR 1.44, 95%CI 1.08, 1.90). Restricted cubic spline analyses confirmed a positive linear association between serum calcium concentrations and the risk of incident diabetes in those with PHPT (p‐value for nonlinear =.751) Conclusions: Patients with PHPT had a higher risk of incident diabetes compared to non‐PHPT individuals. A positive linear association was found between serum calcium concentrations and the risk of incident diabetes in patients with PHPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental cues that predict increased risk of herbivory can prime plant defenses; however, few studies have explored how such cues elicit broader plant responses, including potential effects on plant growth and other resource allocations that may affect tolerance to herbivore damage. We exposed goldenrod plants (Solidago altissima) to varying concentrations of the putative sex pheromone of a gall‐inducing herbivore, which has previously been implicated in defense priming. In experiments with two plant genotypes and three herbivore populations, any level of exposure to the pheromone enhanced tolerance of galling, rescuing flower production to levels observed for ungalled plants. Exposure to low doses of the pheromone elicited greater resistance to galling than exposure to high doses, with unexposed plants exhibiting intermediate resistance, suggesting a nonlinear relationship between exposure and defense priming. These findings suggest plant responses to environmental cues associated with biotic stressors are broader and more complex than previously appreciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]