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Although quantum dot light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs) are extensively studied nowadays, their charge transport mechanism remains a subject of ongoing debate. Here, the hole transport in blue quantum dots (QDs) (CdZnSe/ZnSe/ZnS/CdZnS/ZnS based) is investigated by combining current‐voltage and transient electroluminescence measurements. The study demonstrates that the hole transport in QD thin films is characterized by a trap‐free space‐charge‐limited current with a zero‐field room temperature mobility of 4.4 × 10−11 m2 V−1 s−1. The zero‐field hole mobility is thermally activated with an activation energy of 0.30 eV. Applying the Extended Gaussian Disorder model provides a consistent description of the QD hole current as a function of voltage and temperature. The QD hole mobility is characterized by a hopping distance of 2.8 nm in a Gaussian broadened density of states with a width of 0.12 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters potentially can provide organic light‐emitting diodes with 100% internal quantum efficiency by harvesting triplet excitons. Generally, TADF emitters are small molecules that are not applicable for solution processability. The addition of tert‐butyl groups to the periphery of TADF emitters has proven to improve their solubility in various organic solvents, reduce aggregation‐induced quenching, and enhance the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). This article studies the photophysical influence of the tert‐butyl group attached to an emitter with a carbazole acceptor and a triazine donor. The resulting t3CzTrz‐F is a blue–green TADF emitter, in which the addition of a tert‐butyl group increases the rate of reverse intersystem crossing (rISC), while simultaneously decreasing the nonradiative decay rate substantially. In addition, dilution of t3CzTrz‐F in a host matrix in film results in an enhanced PLQY, which is associated with a decrease in the nonradiative decay constant, while there is no change in the rISC rate. Through a solid‐state NMR study, the change in rISC and nonradiative rate upon tert‐butylation by enlarged intermolecular spacing and reduced vibrational and rotational freedom is rationalized, resulting in improved photophysical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Europe, opioid use has surged, largely due to prescriptions for chronic non‐malignant pain (CNMP). General practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacists (CPs) play a major role in opioid prescribing for non‐malignant pain. Exploring their personal beliefs and practices might reveal underlying mechanisms to identify measures that could halt the further escalation of opioid use. Methods: Guided by the health belief model, a survey was designed and distributed nationwide to examine the practices and beliefs of GPs and CPs in the domains: threats, benefits, barriers and self‐efficacy. The results of GPs and CPs were compared at the statement level using chi‐square analysis. Results: Of 214 GPs and 212 CPs who completed the survey, the majority agreed that too many opioids are used in the treatment of chronic non‐malignant pain (66.8% GPs and 66.5% CPs). Furthermore, they were concerned about the addictive potential of opioids (83.1% GPs and 71.7% CPs). In general, both professions have concerns about opioid use. GPs report a slightly higher degree of self‐efficacy and perceive fewer benefits from opioids in treating CNMP. GPs and CPs valued the recommended measures to reduce opioid prescribing, yet less than half actively implement these strategies in their clinics. Conclusion: GPs and CPs believe that opioids are being used too frequently to treat CNMP. However, both professions lack the actions to improve opioid‐related care. GPs and CPs require education, collaboration and tools to implement guidelines on non‐malignant pain and opioids. Significance: This study, guided by the health belief model, reveals that general practitioners and community pharmacists have serious concerns about opioid use in chronic non‐malignant pain. Despite shared concerns, both professions differ in their beliefs about opioid benefits and perceived self‐efficacy. Both professions have in common that they value recommended measures to reduce opioid prescribing. Also, they both struggle to implement strategies, emphasizing the urgent need for education, collaboration and tools to align practices with guidelines on non‐malignant pain and opioids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify neurodevelopmental disorders in children with obesity, and investigate associations to cognitive functions as well as parents' self‐reported neurodevelopmental problems. Methods: Eighty children were included at two outpatient obesity clinics in Sweden 2018–2019. Of these, 50 children without previously diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders were screened, and so were their parents. Children who screened positive for neurodevelopmental problems were referred to a specialised psychiatry unit for further diagnosis. Test results of cognitive functioning were compared with the norm and between study groups by neurodevelopmental diagnoses. Results: Of the screened families, 17/50 children were diagnosed by the psychiatric unit with attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 15/82 parents screened positive for neurodevelopmental problems. Having a mother who screened positive for neurodevelopmental problems was associated with child ADHD (p < 0.05). The children's full‐scale intelligence quotient (92.86 ± 12.01, p < 0.001) and working memory index (90.62 ± 12.17, p < 0.001) were lower than the norm. Working memory index was lower in children with ADHD compared to without ADHD: 84.76 ± 9.58 versus 94.09 ± 12.29 (p ≤ 0.01). Executive constraints were associated with verbal deviances. Conclusion: Increased awareness is needed about the overlap between neurodevelopmental problems and obesity in obesity clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, energy balance, modulation of stress, and inflammatory responses, acting as a critical link between the brain and the body's peripheral regions, while also offering promising potential for novel therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, in humans, pharmacological inhibitors of different ECS enzymes have led to mixed results in both preclinical and clinical studies. As the ECS has been highly conserved throughout the eukaryotic lineage, the use of invertebrate model organisms like the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis may provide a flexible tool to unravel unexplored functions of the ECS at the cellular, synaptic, and behavioral levels. In this study, starting from the available genome and transcriptome of L. stagnalis, we first identified putative transcripts of all ECS enzymes containing an open reading frame. Each predicted protein possessed a high degree of sequence conservation to known orthologues of other invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. Sequences were confirmed by qualitative PCR and sequencing. Then, we investigated the transcriptional effects induced by different stress conditions (i.e., bacterial LPS injection, predator scent, food deprivation, and acute heat shock) on the expression levels of the enzymes of the ECS in Lymnaea's central ring ganglia. Our results suggest that in Lymnaea as in rodents, the ECS is involved in mediating inflammatory and anxiety‐like responses, promoting energy balance, and responding to acute stressors. To our knowledge, this study offers the most comprehensive analysis so far of the ECS in an invertebrate model organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the association between chronic urticaria (CU) and serological biomarkers, as well as the effects of omalizumab (OMZ) treatment on these biomarkers. The study found that CU is linked to elevated concentrations of MMP9 and CCL18, which are involved in skin ECM degradation and basophil migration, respectively. OMZ treatment was found to decrease vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and alter the homeostasis of type I, IV, and VI collagens. The study also observed changes in the concentration of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in CU patients after OMZ treatment. These findings suggest potential candidates for further research in CU management. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: There is no validated symptom scale for Swedish children with gastrointestinal disorders. Our aim was to validate the Swedish version of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) gastrointestinal symptoms scale and symptoms module. Methods: Families were recruited from two hospitals in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1 March 2021 to 31 October 2022. The instruments were completed by 115 children with functional, congenital or organic acquired gastrointestinal disorders and 149 of their parents. These were the gastrointestinal symptoms scales, symptoms module and the 4.0 Generic core scale. Data were analysed for feasibility, construct validity and reliability, including internal consistency, re‐test reliability and child–parent agreement. Results: Feasibility was good, with a failure to respond of ≤5%. Construct validity showed strong correlation in the PedsQL gastrointestinal symptoms module. The known‐group validity agreed with the expectations associated with the disease characteristics (p < 0.05). Cronbach's alpha was 0.96, which indicated excellent internal reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the child self‐report and parent‐proxy report was 0.74, which indicated good agreement. Conclusion: The Swedish PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scales, the symptoms module provided acceptable measurement properties and can be used to evaluate symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders and quality of life during clinical work or research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sulfonated tris(1‐phenylpyrazolato)iridium(III) complex ([Ir(sppz)3]3−) serves as a proof‐of‐concept non‐emissive enhancer of the widely used ECL detection system of tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)3]2+) with tri‐n‐propylamine (TPrA) co‐reactant, acting through electrocatalysis of TPrA oxidation and efficient chemi‐excitation of the luminophore. Using self‐interference ECL spectroscopy, we show that the enhancer extends diffusion of the required electrogenerated precursors from the electrode surface. Previously reported enhancement through these pathways has been confounded by the inherent ECL of the enhancer, but the increase in [Ru(bpy)3]2+ ECL intensity using [Ir(sppz)3]3− was obtained without its concomitant emission. The most prominent enhancement (11‐fold) occurred at low potentials associated with the ‘indirect’ co‐reactant ECL pathway, which translated to between 2‐ and 6‐fold enhancement when the luminophore was immobilised on microbeads as a general model for enhanced ECL assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aimed to determine the association between serum interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) concentrations and new‐onset heart failure (HF) in persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods and results: We performed a case–control study nested in the Diabetes Care System Cohort, a prospective cohort of persons with T2D in primary care. We included 724 participants, of whom 141 developed HF during 5 years of follow‐up and 583 were age‐ and sex‐matched controls. IL‐6 was measured at baseline and categorized into four groups: Group 1 was composed of participants with IL‐6 below the detection limit of 1.5 pg/mL, and the remainder were divided into tertiles. We performed logistic regression analyses with categorized IL‐6 or continuous IL‐6 as the determinant and new‐onset HF as the outcome adjusted for follow‐up time, age, sex, glycated haemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin/creatinine ratio, and cardiovascular disease at baseline. Effect modification by sex was tested. Participants were 70.7 ± 9.0 years, and 38% were women. In comparison with Group 1, all tertiles were associated with an increased risk of HF with odds ratios of 2.1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–2.9], 2.8 (95% CI: 2.0–3.7), and 2.1 (95% CI: 1.3–3.0), respectively, for Tertiles 1–3. Continuous IL‐6 was associated with the development of HF with an odds ratio of 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0–1.5). No effect modification by sex was observed. Conclusions: Higher IL‐6 levels are associated with the development of HF in persons with T2D. Further research should determine whether IL‐6‐lowering interventions could prevent the development of HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Care for people with spina bifida can be improved. This may be done by evaluating mortality rates and causes of death. Methods: Between 1973 and 2021, 1735 people with spina bifida appeared in registers of the Swedish population. Survival rates and causes of death were calculated according to age and decade. Results: Over almost 50 years, the prevalence of spina bifida decreased from 5.2 to 1.2 per 10 000 births. Mortality fell sharply during the first year of life, with survival rising from 75% to 94%. For children aged 2–18 years and adults, mortality rates were low and differences between decades were minimal. Causes of childhood deaths were congenital abnormalities, hydrocephalus and infections, the latter two also in adults. Adult causes also included self‐inflicted injuries and substance abuse, with suicidal or unclear intent, both more common than in the general population. Bladder malignancies were also more frequent, although after reconstructive bladder surgery, mortality rates were similar. Conclusion: Survival in the first year of life increased in children with spina bifida, whereas there was no difference in survival rates between adults born between 1973 and 1999. For adults, proactive prevention methods regarding self‐inflicted injury, substance abuse and bladder cancer are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Youth with a family history of bipolar disorder (BD) may be at increased risk for mood disorders and for developing side effects after antidepressant exposure. The neurobiological basis of these risks remains poorly understood. We aimed to identify biomarkers underlying risk by characterizing abnormalities in the brain connectome of symptomatic youth at familial risk for BD. Methods: Depressed and/or anxious youth (n = 119, age = 14.9 ± 1.6 years) with a family history of BD but no prior antidepressant exposure and typically developing controls (n = 57, age = 14.8 ± 1.7 years) received functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an emotional continuous performance task. A generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis was performed to compare their brain connectome patterns, followed by machine learning of topological metrics. Results: High‐risk youth showed weaker connectivity patterns that were mainly located in the default mode network (DMN) (network weight = 50.1%) relative to controls, and connectivity patterns derived from the visual network (VN) constituted the largest proportion of aberrant stronger pairs (network weight = 54.9%). Global local efficiency (Elocal, p =.022) and clustering coefficient (Cp, p =.029) and nodal metrics of the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG) (Elocal: p <.001; Cp: p =.001) in the high‐risk group were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects, and similar patterns were also found in the left insula (degree: p =.004; betweenness: p =.005; age‐by‐group interaction, p =.038) and right hippocampus (degree: p =.003; betweenness: p =.003). The case–control classifier achieved a cross‐validation accuracy of 78.4%. Conclusions: Our findings of abnormal connectome organization in the DMN and VN may advance mechanistic understanding of risk for BD. Neuroimaging biomarkers of increased network segregation in the SFG and altered topological centrality in the insula and hippocampus in broader limbic systems may be used to target interventions tailored to mitigate the underlying risk of brain abnormalities in these at‐risk youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complement system is a proteolytic cascade triggered by pathogen and danger‐associated molecular patterns, with resultant outcomes of inflammation, cellular activation, and opsonization of material for removal by phagocytosis. While first discovered as an activity in serum, it is now recognized that complement components play important roles at local and individual cell‐intrinsic levels. In particular, apart from the extracellular serum activities of complement, it is now believed that complement also acts intracellularly, as part of a cellular signal transduction cascade that can stimulate cellular survival and activation, and individual immune cell phenotypes, via effects on cellular metabolism. This review will describe what is currently known about how complement functions in intracellular signal transduction, and outline the functional advantages of a compartmentalized and intracellular complement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying hybrid zones that form between morphologically cryptic taxa offers valuable insights into the mechanisms of cryptic speciation and the evolution of reproductive barriers. Although hybrid zones have long been the focus of evolutionary studies, the awareness of cryptic hybrid zones increased recently due to rapidly growing evidence of biological diversity lacking obvious phenotypic differentiation. The characterization of cryptic hybrid zones with genome‐wide analysis is in its early stages and offers new perspectives for studying population admixture and thus the impact of gene flow. In this study, we investigate the population genomics of the Myotis nattereri complex in one of its secondary contact zones, where a putative hybrid zone is formed between two of its cryptic lineages. By utilizing a whole‐genome shotgun sequencing approach, we aim to characterize this cryptic hybrid zone in detail. Demographic analysis suggests that the cryptic lineages diverged during the Pliocene, c. 3.6 million years ago. Despite this ancient separation, the populations in the contact zone exhibit mitochondrial introgression and a considerable amount of mixing in nuclear genomes. The genomic structure of the populations corresponds to geographic locations and the genomic admixture changes along a geographic gradient. These findings suggest that there is no effective hybridization barrier between both lineages, nevertheless, their population structure is shaped by dispersal barriers. Our findings highlight how such deeply diverged cryptic lineages can still readily hybridize in secondary contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic missense variants in TNNI3K, encoding troponin‐I interacting kinase, have been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and observed in families with supraventricular tachycardias (SVT). Previously, a family harboring the TNNI3K‐c.1615A > G (p.Thr539Ala) variant presented with congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia (CJET), an arrhythmia that arises from the atrioventricular (AV) node and His bundle. However, this was a relatively small four‐generational family with limited genetic testing (N = 3). We here describe a multigenerational family with CJET harboring a novel ultra‐rare TNNI3K variant: TNNI3K‐c.1729C > T (p.Leu577Phe). Of all 18 variant carriers, 13 individuals presented with CJET, resulting in a genetic penetrance of 72%. In addition, CJET is reported in another small family harboring TNNI3K‐c.2225C > T (p.Pro742Leu). Similar to the previously published CJET family, both TNNI3K variants demonstrate a substantial reduction of kinase activity. Our study contributes novel evidence supporting the involvement of TNNI3K genetic variants as significant contributors to CJET, shedding light on potential mechanisms underlying this cardiac arrhythmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing ocean temperature will speed up physiological rates of ectotherms. In fish, this is suggested to cause earlier spawning due to faster oocyte growth rates. Over time, this could cause spawning time to become decoupled from the timing of offspring food resources, a phenomenon referred to as trophic asynchrony. We used biological data, including body length, age, and gonad developmental stages collected from >125,000 individual Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) sampled between 59 and 73° N in 1980–2019. Combined with experimental data on oocyte growth rates, our analyses show that cod spawned progressively earlier by about a week per decade, partly due to ocean warming. It also appears that spawning time varied by more than 40 days, depending on year and spawning location. The significant plasticity in spawning time seems to be fine‐tuned to the local phytoplankton spring bloom phenology. This ability to partly overcome thermal drivers and thus modulate spawning time could allow individuals to maximize fitness by closely tracking local environmental conditions important for offspring survival. Our finding highlights a new dimension for trophic match–mismatch and should be an important consideration in models used to predict phenology dynamics in a warmer climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate effects of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women on factors associated with metabolic flexibility related to whole‐body parameters including fat oxidation, resting energy expenditure, body composition and plasma concentrations of fatty acids, glucose, insulin, cortisol, and lipids, and for the mitochondrial level, including mitochondrial content, respiratory capacity, efficiency, and hydrogen peroxide emission. Methods: 22 postmenopausal women were included. 11 were undergoing estradiol and progestin treatment (HT), and 11 were matched non‐treated controls (CONT). Peak oxygen consumption, maximal fat oxidation, glycated hemoglobin, body composition, and resting energy expenditure were measured. Blood samples were collected at rest and during 45 min of ergometer exercise (65% VO2peak). Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest and immediately post‐exercise. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity, efficiency, and hydrogen peroxide emission in permeabilized fibers and isolated mitochondria were measured, and citrate synthase (CS) and 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) activity were assessed. Results: HT showed higher absolute mitochondrial respiratory capacity and post‐exercise hydrogen peroxide emission in permeabilized fibers and higher CS and HAD activities. All respiration normalized to CS activity showed no significant group differences in permeabilized fibers or isolated mitochondria. There were no differences in resting energy expenditure, maximal, and resting fat oxidation or plasma markers. HT had significantly lower visceral and total fat mass compared to CONT. Conclusion: Use of hormone therapy is associated with higher mitochondrial content and respiratory capacity and a lower visceral and total fat mass. Resting energy expenditure and fat oxidation did not differ between HT and CONT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meniscus‐guided coating (MGC) is a promising method that offers predictable fabrication of highly crystalline thin films. For the integration of molecular semiconductors into large‐area electronic devices with high efficiency and reliability, homogeneous and highly ordered film morphologies are required. The solution processing of such defect‐free film structures requires comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between molecular crystallization, fluid dynamics, and meniscus shape. In this work, the role of the meniscus shape on fluid dynamics in the coating bead and the crystallization process of the low molecular weight semiconductor 6,13‐bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS‐pentacene) during zone‐casting is systematically investigated. Depending on meniscus shape and coating velocity, four morphological subregimes are found: stick‐slip morphology, unidirectional homogenous crystal stripes, spherulitic morphology, and directional branched morphology; of which the second exhibits the highest crystallinity with a reduced trap density in the thin film, resulting in improved saturation and effective mobilities in field‐effect transistors (FET). Numerical simulation of fluid dynamics explains the observed morphological trends, which are correlated with the electrical behavior of the devices. This work provides a fundamental basis for upscaling MGC methods for the application of functional thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the association of plasma metabolites with incident and prevalent chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people with type 2 diabetes and establish whether this association is causal. Materials and Methods: The Hoorn Diabetes Care System cohort is a large prospective cohort consisting of individuals with type 2 diabetes from the northwest part of the Netherlands. In this cohort we assessed the association of baseline plasma levels of 172 metabolites with incident (Ntotal = 462/Ncase = 81) and prevalent (Ntotal = 1247/Ncase = 120) CKD using logistic regression. Additionally, replication in the UK Biobank, body mass index (BMI) mediation and causality of the association with Mendelian randomization was performed. Results: Elevated levels of total and individual branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs)—valine, leucine and isoleucine—were associated with an increased risk of incident CKD, but with reduced odds of prevalent CKD, where BMI was identified as an effect modifier. The observed inverse effects were replicated in the UK Biobank. Mendelian randomization analysis did not provide evidence for a causal relationship between BCAAs and prevalent CKD. Conclusions: Our study shows the intricate relationship between plasma BCAA levels and CKD in individuals with type 2 diabetes. While an association exists, its manifestation varies based on disease status and BMI, with no definitive evidence supporting a causal link between BCAAs and prevalent CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the role of teacher behaviors in toddlers' executive function development. Teachers' (N = 215) emotional and behavioral support and instructional support were observed through classroom observations when children were 2 years old. Selective attention, verbal short‐term memory, and visuospatial working memory of children (N = 876, 48.4% female) were assessed at age 2 (Mage = 28.60 months, SD = 2.83) and 3 (Mage = 42.38 months, SD = 2.47). Teachers' instructional support positively predicted growth in selective attention, but not verbal short‐term memory or visuospatial working memory. Teachers' emotional and behavioral support did not predict the growth in executive function measures. Findings have implications for understanding the role of teacher‐child interactions in executive function development in toddlerhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Collaborations between patient organisations (POs) and the pharmaceutical industry can help identify and address the unmet needs of people living with a disease. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the scale and complexity of the current unmet needs call for a broad and cross‐sectoral collaboration, including people living with Alzheimer's (PLWA), their care partners and the wider research community. Objective: This study aimed to describe learnings from the Finding Alzheimer's Solutions Together (F.A.S.T.) Council, a collaboration between POs and Roche, convened to better understand the unmet needs of PLWA and their care partners. Results: 1. Learnings from the collaboration, including clarifying objectives and members' expectations upfront, and establishing a set of guiding values and engagement principles. 2. Insights and recommendations for improving care in AD, including a wide range of unmet needs and potential solutions, systematically captured throughout the PLWA journey. These have resulted in several published reports and other outcomes, including (1) 'Portraits of care', highlighting the role of care partners, and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on care; (2) Clinical trial guidebook, recommending how PLWA and care partner experience can be incorporated into trial design; (3) 'Commitments Catalogue', highlighting progress by governmental organisations in achieving their commitments; and (4) a report to guide policy on improving diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical trials. Conclusions: Close collaboration between POs and the pharmaceutical industry in AD can enable effective research, in which PLWA and care partners are engaged as 'experts through experience' to help identify key unmet needs and co‐create solutions with the wider AD research community. This paper and the work undertaken by the F.A.S.T. Council may act as a blueprint for meaningful collaboration between POs and the pharmaceutical industry. Patient or Public Contribution: The paper reports the collaboration between POs, the F.A.S.T. Council and Roche to progress towards a future in which PLWA can live fulfilling lives with their disease managed well. Clinical Trial Registration: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emitter 9,9′,9′'‐(5‐(4,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)benzene‐1,2,3‐triyl)tris(9H‐carbazole) (3CzTRZ) seems an ideal candidate for efficient single‐layer blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). It combines trap‐free electron and hole transport with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) for triplet harvesting. However, in spite of the absence of charge trapping defects, neat films of 3CzTRZ suffer from a low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of only 40%. Time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements reveal that the low PLQY results from the fact that next to fast intersystem crossing the rate for reverse intersystem crossing is very slow and nearly similar to the rate of non‐radiative recombination of triplet excitons to the ground state. This loss process of non‐radiative triplet decay is even more pronounced in OLEDs due to the 75% direct triplet‐exciton formation, resulting in a low external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 4.5%. By diluting 3CzTRZ in a large bandgap host, the triplet lifetime is increased by at least an order of magnitude, resulting in an enhanced PLQY of 70% and a more than three‐fold enhancement of the EQE to 15% in a single‐layer blue OLED. Device simulations confirm that the increased EQE can be ascribed to an elongated triplet lifetime upon dilution of the emitter in a host matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erosion‐control measures in rivers aim to provide sufficient navigation width, reduce local erosion, or to protect neighboring communities from flooding. These measures are typically devised to solve a local problem. However, local channel modifications trigger a large‐scale channel response in the form of migrating bed level and sediment sorting waves. Our objective is to investigate the large‐scale channel response to such measures. We consider the lower Rhine River from Bonn (Germany) to Gorinchem (the Netherlands), where numerous erosion‐control measures have been implemented since the 1980s. We analyze measured bed level data (1999–2020) around four erosion‐control measures, comprising scour filling, bendway weirs, and two fixed beds. To get further insight on the physics behind the observed behavior, we set up an idealized one‐dimensional numerical model. Finally, we study how the geometry and spacing of the measures affect channel response. We show that erosion‐control measures reduce the sediment flux due to (a) lack of erosion over the measure and (b) sediment trapping upstream of the measure, resulting in downstream‐migrating incision waves that travel tens of kilometers at decadal timescales. When the measures are in close proximity, their downstream effects may be amplified. We conclude that, despite fulfilling erosion‐control goals at the local scale, erosion‐control measures may worsen large‐scale channel‐bed incision. Key Points: Erosion‐control measures reduce upstream incision and enhance downstream incision in an overall‐incising river systemThe net amount and extent of enhanced downstream incision are larger than the reduced incision upstreamFor multiple erosion‐control measures, the enhanced downstream incision increases with reduced spacing between measures [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the lack of detection of aluminum-reactive T-lymphocytes in patients with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)-induced granulomas. Aluminum contact allergy is commonly seen in children with itching vaccination granulomas, but it can also occur in adults following SCIT. The traditional method of detecting sensitization to aluminum is patch testing, but it has limitations. The study investigates the use of the blood in vitro lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) as an alternative to patch testing. The results suggest that there may be few or no circulating aluminum-reactive cells in adults with SCIT-induced granulomas, and both patch testing and LPT may have low sensitivity for detecting aluminum contact allergy in adults. [Extracted from the article]

For single‐layer OLEDs to achieve efficiencies approaching those of multilayer devices, balanced charge transport is a prerequisite. We demonstrate a single‐layer blue‐emitting OLED with unity internal quantum efficiency and an external quantum efficiency of 27.7% with minor roll‐off at high brightness. These findings lay the foundations for efficient solution‐processed OLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgeon‐performed ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (SUS‐FNA) reduces the time to diagnosis and treatment of head and neck pathology. Although it has been validated in the investigation of thyroid pathology, there is a paucity of evidence to support its use in lateral neck masses. This study aims to determine the accuracy and adequacy of SUS‐FNA in the investigation of lateral neck masses. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of patients who underwent a SUS‐FNA for lateral neck mass between June 2018 and October 2022 at a single institution. Pathologist reports were reviewed to determine the rate of FNA sample adequacy. A comparison was made between FNA cytology results and final histopathological diagnosis following surgical excision in a subset of patients to determine FNA accuracy. Results: A total of 110 SUS‐FNAs were performed on lateral neck masses. Diagnostic adequacy of SUS‐FNA was determined to be 91% (100/110). When analysing the subset of patients who proceeded to surgical excision, the diagnostic accuracy of SUS‐FNA was determined to be 88% (38/43). Conclusion: SUS‐FNA results in high adequacy rates with good diagnostic accuracy in the investigation of lateral neck masses. This tool has great potential in reducing treatment delay in the management of head and neck cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation of Wingless and Int‐1 (Wnt) signaling has been strongly associated with development and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we set out to investigate the independent effects of either mechanical stress (MS) or inflammation on Wnt signaling in human neocartilage pellets, and to relate this Wnt signaling to OA pathophysiology. OA synovium‐conditioned media (OAS‐CM) was collected after incubating synovium from human end‐stage OA joints for 24 h in medium. Cytokine levels in the OAS‐CM were determined with a multiplex immunoassay (Luminex). Human neocartilage pellets were exposed to 20% MS, 2% OAS‐CM or 1 ng/mL Interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). Effects on expression levels of Wnt signaling members were determined by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, the expression of these members in articular cartilage from human OA joints was analyzed in association with joint space narrowing (JSN) and osteophyte scores. Protein levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor α, and granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor positively correlated with each other. MS increased noncanonical WNT5A and FOS expression. In contrast, these genes were downregulated upon stimulation with OAS‐CM or IL‐1β. Furthermore, Wnt inhibitors DKK1 and FRZB decreased in response to OAS‐CM or IL‐1β exposure. Finally, expression of WNT5A in OA articular cartilage was associated with increased JSN scores, but not osteophyte scores. Our results demonstrate that MS and inflammatory stimuli have opposite effects on canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling in human neocartilage. Considering the extent to which MS and inflammation contribute to OA in individual patients, we hypothesize that targeting specific Wnt pathways offers a more effective, individualized approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of a flow cytometry version of the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) as a potential alternative to intradermal tests (IDT) and drug provocation tests (DPT) for diagnosing non-immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (NIDHRs). The study found that stimulation with culprit drugs produced a higher stimulation index (SI) of drug-specific cells in patients who tested positive on IDT compared to those who tested negative. The study also found that culprit-reactive Th2 helper and NK cells showed cytolytic activity and produced granzyme B, indicating an inflammatory phenotype. The results suggest that analyzing drug-specific cytokine production by Th and NK cells could be a promising method for predicting in vivo skin reactivity to drugs and could potentially be used as a supplement or alternative to IDT for diagnosing NIDHRs. [Extracted from the article]

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Aims: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is frequently caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Characteristic for these virus‐positive (VP) MCC is MCPyV integration into the host genome and truncation of the viral oncogene Large T antigen (LT), with full‐length LT expression considered as incompatible with MCC growth. Genetic analysis of a VP‐MCC/trichoblastoma combined tumour demonstrated that virus‐driven MCC can arise from an epithelial cell. Here we describe two further cases of VP‐MCC combined with an adnexal tumour, i.e. one trichoblastoma and one poroma. Methods and results: Whole‐genome sequencing of MCC/trichoblastoma again provided evidence of a trichoblastoma‐derived MCC. Although an MCC‐typical LT‐truncating mutation was detected, we could not determine an integration site and we additionally detected a wildtype sequence encoding full‐length LT. Similarly, Sanger sequencing of the combined MCC/poroma revealed coding sequences for both truncated and full‐length LT. Moreover, in situ RNA hybridization demonstrated expression of a late region mRNA encoding the viral capsid protein VP1 in both combined as well as in a few cases of pure MCC. Conclusion: The data presented here suggest the presence of wildtype MCPyV genomes and VP1 transcription in a subset of MCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide attempts are a possible consequence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), although their prevalence varies across different epidemiological studies. Suicide attempt is a significant predictor of death by suicide, highlighting its importance in understanding and preventing tragic outcomes. Researchers are increasingly recognizing the need to study the differences between males and females, as several distinctions emerge in terms of the characteristics, types and motivations of suicide attempts. These differences emphasize the importance of considering gender‐specific factors in the study of suicide attempts and developing tailored prevention strategies. We conducted a network analysis to represent and investigate which among multiple neurocognitive, psychosocial, demographic and affective variables may prove to be a reliable predictor for identifying the 'suicide attempt risk' (SAR) in a sample of 81 adults who met DSM‐5 criteria for MDD. Network analysis resulted in differences between males and females regarding the variables that were going to interact and predict the SAR; in particular, for males, there is a stronger link toward psychosocial aspects, while for females, the neurocognitive domain is more relevant in its mnestic subcomponents. Network analysis allowed us to describe otherwise less obvious differences in the risk profiles of males and females that attempted to take their own lives. Different neurocognitive and psychosocial variables and different interactions between them predict the probability of suicide attempt unique to male and female patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Insomnia is common, and causes substantial individual suffering and costs for society. The recommended first‐line treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT‐I), which is under‐used partly due to a lack of trained providers. To train providers is thus important, but what is the current situation regarding CBT‐I training? A systematic search of databases was conducted to identify scientific peer‐reviewed papers describing CBT‐I training with regards to: existing amounts of training, proposed curricula, trainees, delivery context, content of training, modes of delivery, evaluation of the training from a trainee perspective, and effects on patients. This systematic review shows that research on training in CBT‐I is an emerging field, with the literature presenting a limited number of papers, with varying objectives. One group of papers investigate the amount of training that exists in a region or educational context and/or propose training curricula; and another group evaluate training initiatives and describe CBT‐I training trainees, context, content, modes of delivery, and outcomes on trainees and on treated patients. The studies show that little training is currently provided and proposed curricula vary, and evaluations present promising results: training is feasible in different contexts and modes, digital training may be used to disseminate training efforts at a large scale, trainees' skills increase and positive effects on patients can be seen. To move the field forward, more high‐quality studies on CBT‐I training are needed, and we propose that training in CBT‐I should be targeted towards varying levels of expertise, matching a stepped‐care model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sesame is a significant food allergen causing severe and even fatal reactions. Given its increasing prevalence in western diet, sesame is listed as an allergenic food requiring labeling in the United States and EU. However, data on the population reaction doses to sesame are limited. Methods: All sesame oral food challenges (OFCs), performed either for diagnosis or for threshold identification before the beginning of sesame oral immunotherapy (OIT) between November 2011 and July 2021 in Shamir medical center were analyzed for reaction threshold distribution. Safe‐dose challenges with 90–120 min intervals were also analyzed. Results: Two hundred and fifty patients underwent 338 positive OFCs, and additional 158 safe‐dose OFCs were performed. The discrete and cumulative protein amounts estimated to elicit an objective reaction in 1% (ED01) of the entire cohort (n = 250) were 0.8 mg (range 0.3–6.3) and 0.7 mg (range 0.1–7.1), respectively, and those for 5% of the population (ED05) were 3.4 mg (range 1.2–20.6) and 4.5 mg (range 1.2–28.8), respectively. Safe‐dose OFCs showed similar values of ED01 (0.8, 0.4–7.5 mg) and ED05 (3.4, 1.2–22.9 mg). While doses of ≤1 mg sesame protein elicited oral pruritus in 11.6% of the patients, no objective reaction was documented to this amount in any of the challenges, including safe‐dose OFCs. Conclusions: This study provides data on sesame reaction threshold distribution in the largest population of allergic patients studied, with no right or left censored data, and with validation using a safe‐dose OFC. It further supports the current methods for ED determination as appropriate for establishing safety precautions for the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we aimed to clarify variation in prospective poor decoders by studying the development of their word decoding skills during the first 1½ years of formal reading education and their unique pre‐reading profiles before the onset of formal reading education. Using structural equation modelling and a factorial mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA), we found autoregression and growth in the word decoding efficiency of prospective poor decoders (n = 90) and matched prospective adequate decoders (n = 90) in first and second grade. However, the gap between the two groups widened over time. Next, we zoomed in on the group of poor decoders by retrospectively studying their individual variation regarding cognitive and linguistic pre‐reading skills. Using latent profile analysis, we found three distinct pre‐reading profiles: (1) Poor PA, Letter Knowledge, RAN, and Verbal STM; (2) Poor PA and Letter Knowledge; and (3) Poor RAN. Together, these findings suggest that reading difficulties emerge at the intersection of multiple risk factors which can be detected in kindergarten, and that these reading problems persist throughout early reading education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an exact replication of Experiment 2 from Kovács and Mehler's 2009 study, which showed that 7‐month‐old infants who are raised bilingually exhibit a cognitive advantage. In the experiment, a sound cue, following an AAB or ABB pattern, predicted the appearance of a visual stimulus on the screen. The stimulus appeared on one side of the screen for nine trials and then switched to the other side. In the original experiment, both mono‐ and bilingual infants anticipated where the visual stimulus would appear during pre‐switch trials. However, during post‐switch trials, only bilingual children anticipated that the stimulus would appear on the other side of the screen. The authors took this as evidence of a cognitive advantage. Using the exact same materials in combination with novel analysis techniques (Bayesian analyses, mixed effects modeling and cluster based permutation analyses), we assessed the robustness of these findings in four babylabs (N = 98). Our results did not replicate the original findings: although anticipatory looks increased slightly during post‐switch trials for both groups, bilingual infants were not better switchers than monolingual infants. After the original experiment, we presented additional trials to examine whether infants associated sound patterns with cued locations, for which we did not find any evidence either. The results highlight the importance of multicenter replications and more fine‐grained statistical analyses to better understand child development. Highlights: We carried out an exact replication across four baby labs of the high‐impact study by Kovács and Mehler (2009).We did not replicate the findings of the original study, calling into question the robustness of the claim that bilingual infants have enhanced cognitive abilities.After the original experiment, we presented additional trials to examine whether infants correctly associated sound patterns with cued locations, for which we did not find any evidence.The use of novel analysis techniques (Bayesian analyses, mixed effects modeling and cluster based permutation analyses) allowed us to draw better‐informed conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the effects of underwater noise on aquatic animals is a research field that is receiving rapidly increasing attention. Despite this, surprisingly few studies have addressed the potential impacts of noise in a marine animal husbandry setting. In this regard, the behaviour of fish in public aquariums can be used as an indicator of well‐being, and noise is known to cause behavioural changes. This case study investigates the behaviour of cod (Gadus morhua) and saithe (Pollachius virens) in a large public aquarium when exposed to increased noise levels originating from an aquarium renovation carried out by construction divers. Swimming behaviour, group formation and vertical distribution, along with yawning and scratching frequencies of the fish, were analysed from video recordings made before, during and after the exposure to increased noise levels. The same parameters were also analysed to evaluate potential effects of the presence of divers when not making renovation noise, compared to fish behaviour prior to the renovation. There was a slight change in the depth distribution of both species and a decrease in the number of scratches in cod due to the presence of divers that were not making renovation noise. In the presence of construction noises in the tank, however, both cod and saithe showed a wider array of behavioural changes, including increased swimming speed, changes in depth distribution and increased yawning frequencies. The results from this case study demonstrate that an underwater renovation with increased noise levels impacts fish behaviour and suggests that underwater noise should be considered during the management of aquatic environments, including public aquaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At the beginning of the 21st century, international adoptions of children with cleft lip and/or palate increased dramatically in Sweden. Many children arrived partially or totally unoperated, despite being at an age when palatoplasty has usually been performed. To date, the speech development of internationally adopted (IA) children has been described up to age 7–8 years, but later development remains unstudied. Aims: To investigate speech development between ages 5 and 10 years in children born with cleft lip and palate (CLP) adopted from China and to compare them with non‐adopted (NA) children with CLP. A secondary aim was to compare the frequencies of secondary palatal surgery and number of visits to a speech and language pathologist (SLP) between the groups. Methods & Procedures: In a longitudinal study, 23 IA children from China were included and matched with 23 NA children born in Sweden. Experienced SLPs blindly reassessed audio recordings from routine follow‐ups at ages 5 and 10 years. Velopharyngeal function (VPF) was assessed with the composite score for velopharyngeal competence (VPC‐Sum) for single words and rated on a three‐point scale (VPC‐Rate) in sentence repetition. Target sounds in words and sentences were phonetically transcribed. Per cent correct consonants (PCC) were calculated at word and sentence levels. For in‐depth analyses, articulation errors were divided into cleft speech characteristics (CSCs), developmental speech characteristics (DSCs) and s‐errors. Information on secondary palatal surgery and number of visits to an SLP was collected. Outcomes & Results: VPF differed significantly between the groups at both ages when assessed with VPC‐Sum, but not with VPC‐Rate. Regardless of the method for assessing VPF, a similar proportion in both groups had incompetent VPF but fewer IA than NA children had competent VPF at both ages. IA children had lower PCC at both ages at both word and sentence levels. More IA children had CSCs, DSCs and s‐errors at age 5 years, and CSCs and s‐errors at age 10. The development of PCC was significant in both groups between ages 5 and 10 years. The proportion of children receiving secondary palatal surgery did not differ significantly between the groups, nor did number of SLP visits. Conclusions & Implications: CSCs were more persistent in IA children than in NA children at age 10 years. Interventions should target both cleft and DSCs, be comprehensive and continue past the pre‐school years. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: At the beginning of the 21st century, IA children with cleft lip and/or palate arrived in Sweden partially or totally unoperated, despite being at an age when palatoplasty has usually been performed. Studies up to age 7–8 years show that adopted children, compared with NA peers, have poorer articulation skills, demonstrate both cleft‐related and developmental articulation errors, and are more likely to have velopharyngeal incompetence. Several studies also report that adopted children more often require secondary palatal surgery due to fistulas, dehiscence or velopharyngeal incompetence compared with NA peers. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This longitudinal study provides additional knowledge based on longer follow‐ups than previous studies. It shows that the proportion of children assessed to have incompetent VPF was similar among IA and NA children. It was no significant difference between the groups regarding the proportion that received secondary palatal surgery. However, fewer IA children were assessed to have a competent VPF. Developmental articulation errors have ceased in most IA and all NA children at age 10 years, but significantly more adopted children than NA children still have cleft‐related articulation errors. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Speech and language therapy should target both cleft‐related and developmental articulation errors. When needed, treatment must be initiated early, comprehensive, and continued past the pre‐school years, not least for adopted children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma‐informed care is emerging as a promising good practice to recognise, treat and prevent trauma in young children. The use of trauma‐informed care in childcare organisations might have a positive impact on children who suffer from child maltreatment. The current study organised desk research and focus group discussions with professional experts in Latvia, Italy, Hungary and Belgium to assess if trauma‐informed care is known, applied or taught. The joint conclusions of the desk research and the focus group discussions demonstrated that childcare professionals currently lack the knowledge, skills and attitude to engage in trauma‐informed care. Even though they have ways to prevent and tackle trauma, these ways are often based on gut feeling or experience and are not formalised or explicitly addressed. This lack of conscious knowhow is an issue that possibly leads to underreporting of situations of child maltreatment and a lack of attuned responses to children suffering from child maltreatment. Overall, there were no training initiatives focused on trauma‐informed care for childcare professionals, which might explain why these good practices do not reach the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]