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Objective: To develop and psychometrically evaluate a questionnaire to assess attitudes towards invisible gender‐based violence (Q‐AIGV). Background: Invisible gender‐based violence is defined as discriminatory attitudes and beliefs towards women that are culturally accepted and normalised in society. Methodology: This is a cross‐sectional descriptive observational study. The development of the initial version of the questionnaire, a pilot study (N = 63) and a final validation study (N = 1264) were carried out. Reliability, validity, stability and readability were tested. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Q‐AIGV is composed of 15 items distributed in three factors. Known‐groups analysis detected significant differences in two groups with different characteristics (age and relationship duration). Criterion validity indicated the existence of a moderate and significant correlation (r = 0.469; p < 0.001) between the mean score of the Q‐AIGV and the 'Scale of Attitudes towards Gender‐based Violence'. The Q‐AIGV's content validity index (CVI‐t = 0.96) and internal consistency (α = 0.906) were excellent. Conclusion: The Q‐AIGV showed very good results for reliability, validity, stability and readability. This suggests that the Q‐AIGV could be a good tool for assessing attitudes towards invisible gender‐based violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pan‐cyclin‐dependent‐kinase (CDK) inhibitors are a new class of targeted therapies that can act on multiple CDKs, with dinaciclib being one of the most promising compounds. Although used as a monotherapy, an interesting approach could be to combine it with radiotherapy. Here, we show that dinaciclib increases radiosensitivity in some experimental models of lung and colon cancer (A549 or HCT 116) but not in others (H1299 or HT‐29). Dinaciclib did not alter serine‐protein kinase ATM signalling or cell cycle profiling after ionising‐radiation exposure, which have been described for other CDK inhibitors. Interestingly, in terms of apoptosis, although the combination renders a clear increase, no potentiation of the ionising‐radiation‐induced apoptosis was observed. Mechanistically, inhibition of CDK12 by dinaciclib diminishes BRCA1 expression, which decreases homologous recombination (HR) and probably promotes the nonhomologous end joining repair process (NHEJ), which ultimately promotes the induction of ionising‐radiation‐associated cellular senescence in a TP53‐dependent manner, explaining the lack of effect observed in some experimental models. In conclusion, our report proposes a molecular mechanism, based on the signalling axis CDK12–BRCA1, involved in this newly identified therapeutic effect of dinaciclib, although other players implicated in HR should not be discarded. In addition, our data provide a rationale for more selective and personalised chemo/radiotherapy treatment according to the genetic background of the tumour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Staphylococcus aureus can cause food poisoning and human infections and CC5 and CC398 are relevant lineages in the animal‐human interface. The objective was to determine the S. aureus prevalence in chicken‐derived food, and to study the diversity of lineages, and their antimicrobial resistance and virulence genotypes. Sixty poultry‐food samples were processed, and the S. aureus isolates obtained were characterised. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed and the presence of resistance/virulence genes, and avian mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was studied. Forty‐four non‐repetitive S. aureus isolates were obtained of 28/60 samples (46.7%), and 43 methicillin‐susceptible (MSSA) and one methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were detected. Five S. aureus isolates were multidrug‐resistant and 50% of isolates showed susceptibility to all tested antibiotics. Eighteen spa‐types, 11 sequence‐types and 8 clonal‐complexes were identified in the S. aureus collection. Three CC398 isolates (2 MSSA/1 MRSA) of spa‐type‐t1451 were detected, and MSSA‐CC398 isolates harboured the scn‐gene (absent in MRSA‐CC398). CC5 was the most frequent lineage identified (56.8%), all MSSA, and 56.7% of them contained avian‐MGEs. A high prevalence of avian‐adapted MSSA‐CC5 isolates was detected. Poultry meat has been shown to be a vehicle for CC398‐t1451 isolates, both MRSA and MSSA, showing characteristics of the animal and human clades, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a strongly coupled method for the robust simulation of linear magnetic rigid bodies. Our approach describes the magnetic effects as part of an incremental potential function. This potential is inserted into the reformulation of the equations of motion for rigid bodies as an optimization problem. For handling collision and friction, we lean on the Incremental Potential Contact (IPC) method. Furthermore, we provide a novel, hybrid explicit / implicit time integration scheme for the magnetic potential based on a distance criterion. This reduces the fill‐in of the energy Hessian in cases where the change in magnetic potential energy is small, leading to a simulation speedup without compromising the stability of the system. The resulting system yields a strongly coupled method for the robust simulation of magnetic effects. We showcase the robustness in theory by analyzing the behavior of the magnetic attraction against the contact resolution. Furthermore, we display stability in practice by simulating exceedingly strong and arbitrarily shaped magnets. The results are free of artifacts like bouncing for time step sizes larger than with the equivalent weakly coupled approach. Finally, we showcase the utility of our method in different scenarios with complex joints and numerous magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuum‐based shell models are an established approach for the simulation of thin deformables in computer graphics. However, existing research in physically‐based animation is mostly focused on shear‐rigid Kirchhoff‐Love shells. In this work we explore three‐director Cosserat (micropolar) shells which introduce additional rotational degrees of freedom. This microrotation field models transverse shearing and in‐plane drilling rotations. We propose an incremental potential formulation of the Cosserat shell dynamics which allows for strong coupling with frictional contact and other physical systems. We evaluate a corresponding finite element discretization for non‐planar shells using second‐order elements which alleviates shear‐locking and permits simulation of curved geometries. Our formulation and the discretization, in particular of the rotational degrees of freedom, is designed to integrate well with typical simulation approaches in physically‐based animation. While the discretization of the rotations requires some care, we demonstrate that they do not pose significant numerical challenges in Newton's method. In our experiments we also show that the codimensional shell model is consistent with the respective three‐dimensional model. We qualitatively compare our formulation with Kirchhoff‐Love shells and demonstrate intriguing use cases for the additional modes of control over dynamic deformations offered by the Cosserat model such as directly prescribing rotations or angular velocities and influencing the shell's curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this original research, we present the results in terms of effectiveness and safety of bimekizumab for hidradenitis suppurativa in real clinical practice. Results indicated significant improvement in all activity scores and patient‐reported outcomes at week 16, including a notable decrease in mean IHS4 from 27.1 to 15.6 (p < 0.001), HS‐PGA from 5.1 to 3.2 (p < 0.001), VAS pain from 8.3 to 4.7 (p < 0.001) and DLQI from 21.6 to 12.6 (p < 0.001). Bimekizumab, administered every 2 or 4 weeks, was well‐tolerated with no discontinuations and no new safety concerns identified. These findings corroborate the drug's effectiveness and favourable safety profile observed in phase 3 clinical trials, supporting its use in real‐world clinical practice for treating HS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we introduce Target Fisher, a consensus structure‐based target prediction tool that integrates molecular docking and machine learning with the aim to aid in the identification of potential biological targets and the optimization of the use of bioassays. Target Fisher uses per‐residue energy decomposition profiles extracted from docking poses as fingerprints to train target‐specific machine learning models. It provides predictions for a curated set of 37 protein targets, covering a diverse range of biological entities, and offers a user‐friendly interface accessible via a web server (https://gqc.quimica.unlp.edu.ar/targetfisher/). In this sense, Target Fisher is a valuable tool to aid organic and medicinal chemistry groups in target identification, drug discovery and drug repurposing. As a case study, we demonstrate the efficacy of Target Fisher by screening a small library of assorted natural products for targets relevant to neurodegenerative diseases, which resulted in the identification and experimental validation of selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase B (MAO−B). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical energy storage systems based on sulfur and lithium can theoretically deliver high energy with the further benefit of low cost. However, the working mechanism of this device involves the dissolution of sulfur to high‐molecular weight lithium polysulfides (LiPs with general formula Li2Sn, n≥4) in the electrolyte during the discharge process. Therefore, the resulting migration of partially dissociated LiPs by diffusion or under the effect of the electric field to the lithium anode, activates an internal shuttle mechanism, reduces the active material and in general leads to loss of performance and cycling stability. These drawbacks poses challenges to the commercialization of Li/S cells in the short term. In this study, we report on the decoration of reduced graphene oxide with MoO3 particles to enhance interactions with LiPs and retain sulfur at the cathode side. The combination of experiments and density functional theory calculations demonstrated improvements in binding interactions between the cathode and sulfur species, enhancing the cycling stability of the Li/S cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social cognition (SC) encompasses a set of cognitive functions that enable individuals to understand and respond appropriately to social interactions. Although focused ultrasound subthalamotomy (FUS‐STN) effectively treats Parkinson's disease (PD) clinical motor features, its impact and safety on cognitive‐behavioral interactions/interpersonal awareness are unknown. This study investigated the effects of unilateral FUS‐STN on facial emotion recognition (FER) and affective and cognitive theory of mind (ToM) in PD patients from a randomized sham‐controlled trial (NCT03454425). Subjects performed SC evaluation before and 4 months after the procedure while still under blind assessment conditions. The SC assessment included the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces task for FER, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME) test for affective ToM, and The Theory of Mind Picture Stories Task (ToM PST) (order, questions, and total score) for cognitive ToM. The active treatment group showed anecdotal‐to‐moderate evidence of no worsening in SC after FUS‐STN. Anecdotal evidence for an improvement was recognized in the SC score changes, from baseline to post‐treatment, for the active treatment group compared with sham for the RME, ToM PST order, ToM PST total, FER total, and recognition of fear, disgust, and anger. This study provides the first evidence that unilateral FUS‐STN does not impair social cognitive abilities, indicating that it can be considered a safe treatment approach for this domain in PD patients. Furthermore, the results suggest FUS‐STN may even lead to some improvement in social cognitive outcomes, which should be considered as a preliminary finding requiring further investigation with larger samples sizes. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic diseases begin early in life and are often chronic, thus creating an inflammatory environment that may precede or exacerbate other pathologies. In this regard, allergy has been associated to metabolic disorders and with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Methods: We used a murine model of allergy and atherosclerosis, different diets and sensitization methods, and cell‐depleting strategies to ascertain the contribution of acute and late phase inflammation to dyslipidemia. Untargeted lipidomic analyses were applied to define the lipid fingerprint of allergic inflammation at different phases of allergic pathology. Expression of genes related to lipid metabolism was assessed in liver and adipose tissue at different times post‐allergen challenge. Also, changes in serum triglycerides (TGs) were evaluated in a group of 59 patients ≥14 days after the onset of an allergic reaction. Results: We found that allergic inflammation induces a unique lipid signature that is characterized by increased serum TGs and changes in the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in liver and adipose tissue. Alterations in blood TGs following an allergic reaction are independent of T‐cell‐driven late phase inflammation. On the contrary, the IgG‐mediated alternative pathway of anaphylaxis is sufficient to induce a TG increase and a unique lipid profile. Lastly, we demonstrated an increase in serum TGs in 59 patients after undergoing an allergic reaction. Conclusion: Overall, this study reveals that IgG‐mediated allergic inflammation regulates lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excess body adiposity and skin irregularities represent a major problem in today's society. Currently, radiofrequency‐based devices constitute an increasingly popular medical‐aesthetic application and a powerful non‐invasive method to combat this problem. Objective: This study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of the high‐frequency device Zionic™ (Termosalud, Inc., Gijón, Spain) in reducing body contouring and improving skin appearance in the abdomen/flanks or thighs. Materials and Methods: Thirty nine individuals were treated with the Zionic™ device in the abdomen/flanks or thighs. A total of 8 sessions of 40–50 min each, 72/96 h apart were performed. At baseline, body measurements were taken including photographs, body contours, and ultrasound scans to assess dermal thickness, dermal echogenicity, and subcutaneous fat thickness. The measurements were repeated after the eight sessions for comparison and analysis. Quantitative data was complemented with a customized survey to evaluate participants satisfaction level. Results: At the follow‐up visit, a significant average reduction of 3% in abdomen/flanks circumferences and 2% in thighs contours was noticed. Abdomen/flanks and thighs subcutaneous fat layer thickness was significantly reduced by 8% and 6%, respectively. Dermal echogenicity changes, related to skin collagen content and organization, showed non‐significant increasing tendencies of 7% for abdomen/flanks and 8% for thighs. Thighs dermal thickness was significantly increased by 6%. Results were associated to a high satisfaction level (80%) and no severe adverse events. Conclusion: Zionic™ treatment is a safe, effective, and well‐tolerated noninvasive procedure for body contouring and improvement of skin properties in abdomen, flanks, and thighs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate whether primed anoestrus mares are suitable recipients for embryos produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Anoestrus was confirmed in four mares and daily doses of oestradiol benzoate (6 mg in total) over 5 days were administered; after 3 days of rest, oral altrenogest was administered at 0.088 mg/kg and embryos (1 to 5 embryos per mare; 15 in total) were transferred 3.5 days after progesterone onset. Uterine lavage was conducted 48 h after transfer. The results revealed an 80% embryo recovery rate, and among the retrieved embryos, 67% showed evident intrauterine development. Hence, ICSI‐derived embryos can be successfully transferred to primed anoestrus mares, but more studies are required to ensure further embryo development and foaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germplasm banking is a fundamental tool for the preservation of autochthonous breeds. Semen cryopreservation is effective for this task, but protocols are adapted to commercial species, and post‐thawing sperm quality could be sensitive to environmental cues. We compared the post‐thawing sperm quality in doses from the CBA‐SERIDA bank in northern Spain for the Asturiana de la Montaña (AM) and Asturiana de los Valles (AV) autochthonous cattle breeds. Doses from 23 AM and 16 AV bulls (ejaculates from at least three different seasons) were assessed for motility (computer‐assisted sperm analysis), physiology and chromatin status (flow cytometry) after thawing and after 5 h at 38°C. Data were analysed using linear mixed‐effects and cosinor models for seasonal and breed effects and by correlations with the association of sperm quality with temperature‐humidity index (THI), considering the interval of spermatogenesis plus maturation. The breed affected sperm quality, with higher motility for AV and higher apoptotic ratio, mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species, DNA fragmentation and chromatin immaturity for AM. However, seasonality effects were minimal, and THI was not associated with sperm quality. In summary, the season seems to be a minor factor in the post‐thawing quality of the AM and AV autochthonous breeds, well‐adapted to their local environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A protocol for conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) in horses using fresh semen has been described, using a prolonged incubation in FERT‐TALP medium (22 h) at 38.2°C in the presence of penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE). Our work aimed to develop a protocol that maintains quality parameters in frozen–thawed equine spermatozoa incubated for 22 h in the presence of PHE using different media (FERT‐TALP and INRA96) and incubation temperatures (30 and 38.2°C). Twelve frozen ejaculates from four stallions were thawed and then incubated in either FERT‐TALP or INRA96 with PHE at 30 or 38.2°C for 22 h. Following incubation, total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), viability and acrosome integrity were evaluated. The results showed that TM was significantly higher (p <.001) at 30°C in both media, while PM was higher for INRA96 at 30°C compared to 38°C (p <.05). Moreover, INRA96 at 30°C exhibited higher sperm viability and acrosome integrity (p <.001) compared to the other experimental groups. These preliminary results suggest that incubating thawed equine spermatozoa at 30°C with PHE in INRA96 successfully maintains motility, viability and acrosome integrity in equine spermatozoa, indicating its potential use for conventional equine IVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The singular BRCA1/2 mutational landscape of Asturias is updated 10 years after the first study. We analyzed BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants in 1653 index cases. In total, 238 families were identified to carry a pathogenic variant, 163 families in BRCA1 and 75 families in BRCA2. This yielded a prevalence rate of 14.4%. Seven recurrent variants were found accounting for 55% of the cases. Among them, three are widely distributed (BRCA1 c.211A>G, c.470_471del and c.3331_3334del) and four had been reported as novel in Asturias: two in BRCA1 (c.1674del and c.2901_2902dup) and two in BRCA2 (c.2095C>T and c.4040_4035delinsC). A common haplotype was established for all recurrent variants indicating a shared ancestral origin. Three splicing analyses are shown: BRCA1:c.5152+3A>C and BRCA1:c.5333‐3T>G that lead to skipping of exon 18, and 22 respectively, and BRCA1:c.5278‐1G>T giving rise to two transcripts, one lacking exon 21 (p.Ille1760Glyfs*60) and one lacking the first 8 nucleotides of exon 21 (p.Phe1761Asnfs*14), supporting pathogenicity for these variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jenkinson‐Collison Weather Typing (JC‐WT) method uses sea‐level pressure gradients to create 27 types based on the geostrophic flow and vorticity around any extratropical target location. Typically, JC‐WTs are applied over specific locations or limited domains, thus hampering the understanding of the impact of large‐scale mechanisms on regional climate. This study explores the links between regional climate variability, as represented by the JC‐WTs, and large‐scale phenomena, to describe the synoptic‐scale variability in the North Atlantic‐European region and evaluate the JC‐WT methodology. Large‐scale circulation is here characterized by major atmospheric low‐frequency modes, namely the North Atlantic Oscillation, the East Atlantic and the Scandinavian teleconnection indices, and by atmospheric blockings. Results show that JC‐WTs coherently capture the spatial and temporal variability of the large‐scale modes and yields a characteristic response to blocking events. Overall, our results underpin the exploratory potential of this method for the analysis of the near‐surface circulation. These findings endorse the use of JC‐WTs and support the reliability and utility of the JC‐WT classification for process‐based model assessments and model selection, a crucial task for climate impact studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) control pleiotropic pro-inflammatory functions that range from apoptosis to cell survival. The ability to trigger a particular function will depend on the upstream cues, association with regulatory complexes, and downstream pathways. In Drosophila melanogaster, two TNFRs have been identified, Wengen (Wgn) and Grindelwald (Grnd). Although several reports associate these receptors with JNK-dependent apoptosis, it has recently been found that Wgn activates a variety of other functions. We demonstrate that Wgn is required for survival by protecting cells from apoptosis. This is mediated by dTRAF1 and results in the activation of p38 MAP kinase. Remarkably, Wgn is required for apoptosis-induced regeneration and is activated by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced following apoptosis. This ROS activation is exclusive for Wgn, but not for Grnd, and can occur after knocking down Eiger/TNFα. The extracellular cysteine-rich domain of Grnd is much more divergent than that of Wgn, which is more similar to TNFRs from other animals, including humans. Our results show a novel TNFR function that responds to stressors by ensuring p38-dependent regeneration. Synopsis: TNF receptors (TNFR) have been associated with pleiotropic pro-inflammatory functions ranging from apoptosis to survival. This study shows that the two Drosophila TNFRs, Wengen (Wgn) and Grindelwald (Gwd), are functionally divergent, playing opposing roles in response to apoptosis. Wgn is required for cell survival independently of the TNFα/Eiger, whereas Grnd promotes TNFα/Eiger-induced apoptosis. Wgn exerts its pro-survival role by signaling through the MAPK p38 during regeneration. Wgn, but not Grnd, is regulated by ROS generated in response to damage in a non-autonomous manner. The specialization of grnd and wgn for specific biological functions is supported by phylogenetic studies on their evolutionary origin. The two Drosophila TNFRs perform opposing functions in response to apoptosis and differ in their dependence on TNFα for activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study that explores the use of Toll-like receptor ligands (TLR-L) in combination with amoxicillin (AX) to increase the sensitivity of the basophil activation test (BAT) for detecting hypersensitivity reactions to AX. The results of the study suggest that this approach may be useful in detecting AX hypersensitivity reactions. However, further research is needed to understand the function of TLR-L and activation pathways in basophils. The study found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined with AX was the most effective in activating basophils in patients with antibiotic allergies, but the effects varied among different patient groups. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: To describe the development process of a device from the conception of the idea to the first contact with the commercial environment, and to demonstrate its practical application through an interdisciplinary collaboration between nursing and engineering for the design of a protective device for peripheral venous catheters. Background: Nurses are key agents for identifying unresolved needs or problems related to nursing care. To address these needs, creative ideation processes are often triggered among nurses to seek technological answers to these challenges. Results: The ten steps to develop a device are presented: (1) detecting an unsatisfied clinical need; (2) searching for preexisting marketed products; (3) searching for patents; (4) maintaining confidentiality throughout the process; (5) obtaining institutional support; (6) forming a multidisciplinary team; (7) developing the idea; (8) applying for a patent; (9) building the prototype; (10) marketing the device. This methodology was applied to design a protective device for peripheral venous catheters in hospitalized patients. Conclusions: Nurses can play a key role in the promotion of healthcare innovation in their field to improve procedures, thanks to their direct contact with patients, and by providing their insight on devices that can enhance patient care. The successful interdisciplinary collaboration between nurses and engineers can provide a response to relevant clinical problems such as the manipulation or removal of peripheral venous catheters. Implications for nursing and/or health policy: A hospital policy is required to encourage the participation of nurses in innovative actions. Furthermore, it is important to support nurse leaders who can play a pivotal role in incorporating creativity into work environments and empowering other nurses to innovatively address clinical issues. No patient or public contribution: This article describes the process for developing a health device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: ApTOLL is an aptamer selected to antagonize toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4), a relevant actor for innate immunity involved in inflammatory responses in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. The currently available therapeutic arsenal to treat MS is composed of immunomodulators but, to date, there are no (re)myelinating drugs available in clinics. In our present study, we studied the effect of ApTOLL on different animal models of MS. Experimental Approach: The experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model was used to evaluate the effect of ApTOLL on reducing the inflammatory component. A more direct effect on oligodendroglia was studied with the cuprizone model and purified primary cultures of murine and human oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) isolated through magnetic‐activated cell sorting (MACS) from samples of brain cortex. Also, we tested these effects in an ex vivo model of organotypic cultures demyelinated with lysolecithin (LPC). Key Results: ApTOLL treatment positively impacted the clinical symptomatology of mice in the EAE and cuprizone models, which was associated with better preservation plus restoration of myelin and oligodendrocytes in the demyelinated lesions of animals. Restoration was corroborated on purified cultures of rodent and human OPCs. Conclusion and Implications: Our findings reveal a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of inflammatory and demyelinating diseases such as MS. The molecular nature of the aptamer exerts not only an anti‐inflammatory effect but also neuroprotective and remyelinating effects. The excellent safety profile demonstrated by ApTOLL in animals and humans opens the door to future clinical trials in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, the instrumental climate record shows a progressive global warming. As one of the most sensitive elements of the Earth's climate system, the cryosphere is significantly affected by this trend. As a result, its various components are readjusting in a situation of disequilibrium with the climate through a series of dynamics. These include the thinning and retreat of glaciers that may lead to the formation of new lakes; the thawing of ground ice, leading to the deformation of terrain; the reduction of snow cover; and the occurrence of mass movements that threaten populations and infrastructures. This Special Issue contains 23 scientific papers with case studies that explore the above issues in the Arctic, Antarctic and high mountain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical restraint is applied in pediatric intensive care units to carry out certain painful procedures and to ensure the maintenance and continuity of life support devices. There is a need to analyse the factors that influence the behaviour or intention to use physical restraint. Aim: To create and test psychometrically a paediatric version of the Physical Restraint‐Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire to assess paediatric critical care nurses' intention to use physical restraint. Study Design: A psychometric study. Five medical‐surgical Paeditric Intensive care Units from five hospitals in Spain. The study took place in three phases. In phase 1, the questionnaire was adapted. In phase 2, the content validity of each item was determined, and a pilot test was conducted. In phase 3, we administered the questionnaire and determined its psychometric properties. Results: The assessment of the intention to use physical restraint was extended to all critical paediatric patients, two items were eliminated from the initial questionnaire, four new items were included, and the clinical scenarios of the intention subscale were expanded from three to six. Overall content validity index for the full instrument of 0.96 out of 1. The Paediatric Physical Restraint‐Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire is made up of four subscales (attitude, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC), and intention) subdivided into 7 factors and 51 items. The internal consistency for the attitude subscale obtained a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.80 to 0.73, for the SN it was 0.72 to 0.89, for the PBC it was from 0.80 to 0.73 and for the intention subscale it was 0.75. Conclusions: The Paediatric Physical Restraint‐Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire is an instrument composed of seven factors and 51 items that validly and reliably assesses the intention of paediatric nurses to apply PR in PICUs. Relevance for Clinical Practice: Having this instrument will help health centres move towards restraint‐free care by allowing managers to assess professionals' attitudes, beliefs, and intentions around the use of PR in PICUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to provide scientific and technical assistance on the evaluation of human‐identical milk oligosaccharides (HiMOs) as novel foods (NFs). In recent years, the number of authorisations of HiMOs as NFs has markedly increased, which may lead to situations of multiple concurrent uses. Since the safety assessment of HiMOs is based on the comparison with the 'natural' intake of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), i.e. the HMO intake from human milk in exclusively breastfed infants, a scoping literature review was outsourced to update the database of mean concentrations of single and total HMOs in human milk, and relevant HMO intakes were thus updated. It is noted that in infants up to 16 weeks of age exclusively fed with infant formula, when adding all the assessed HiMOs at their highest maximum use levels across production methods, the resulting highest daily intakes of single HiMOs and the sum of HiMOs are within the natural HMO intake range. These intakes were also estimated (DietEx) for the most exposed population groups (i.e., infants and young children) considering the highest maximum use levels in those food categories with the highest contribution to the overall HiMO intake (i.e., infant and follow‐on formulae, ready‐to‐eat meals, yoghurt and cow milk). The resulting highest P95 daily HiMO intakes were unlikely to be higher than the highest mean daily HMO intakes. However, any possible higher intake would not necessarily imply a safety concern since such natural intake estimates represent an upper end of average natural intakes. It can be concluded that currently there are no safety concerns resulting from the authorised or assessed HiMO intakes from their concurrent combined uses. Nonetheless, in consideration of the increased interest in the use of HiMOs as NFs, a simplified but realistic approach for the intake assessment is proposed in the case of new HiMOs or extensions of use of already authorised HiMOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Pneumonia and sepsis are the most common causes, turning ARDS into a critical public health problem. Despite recent advances in pharmacological strategies, clinical trials have not demonstrated a reduction in ARDS‐associated mortality. This is in part connected to the singularity of the pulmonary physiological barrier, which hampers drug delivery, specifically at distal areas. To this aim, the use of polymeric nanocarriers as a platform for the efficient delivery of therapeutics to the lungs by nebulization is introduced. Herein, poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocapsules (NCs) loaded with human serum albumin, as an inhalable nanotherapeutic are prepared. The production of stable NCs aerosols in the inhalable range is achieved using a commercial device, while the nanocarrier's physicochemical parameters are only minimally altered after nebulization. Importantly, in vivo studies with healthy and acute lung injury animals show that after inhalation, the NCs are homogeneously distributed throughout the lungs, arriving at the distal areas. The NCs are internalized by alveolar type II cells, avoiding macrophage‐mediated lung clearance. These features make the PLGA NCs excellent vehicles for noninvasive pulmonary delivery, facilitating a ready‐to‐be‐used nanomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation entails vigorous thermohaline transformations in the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean (SPNA). There, warm and saline waters originating in the (sub)tropics are converted into cooler and fresher waters by a combination of surface fluxes and sub‐surface mixing. Using microstructure measurements and a small‐scale variance conservation framework, we quantify the diapycnal and isopycnal contributions –by microscale turbulence and mesoscale eddies, respectively– to thermohaline mixing within the eastern SPNA. Isopycnal stirring is found to account for the majority of thermal (65%) and haline (84%) variance dissipation in the upper 400 m of the eastern SPNA. A simple dimensional analysis suggests that isopycnal stirring could account for O $\mathcal{O}$(5–10) Sv of diahaline volume flux, suggesting an important role of such stirring in regional water‐mass transformations. Our mixing measurements are thus consistent with recent indirect estimates in highlighting the importance of isopycnal stirring for North Atlantic overturning. Plain Language Summary: The North Atlantic hosts an ocean circulation system called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). It is often likened to a giant conveyor belt in the ocean, moving warm, salty waters from south to north and transforming them into cold, fresh waters that flow back southward at greater depth. The AMOC is a crucial element of the Earth's climate, and if it were to slow down, it could lead to major climatic changes. For a long time, scientists thought that the AMOC was mainly driven by cooling in the North Atlantic. But recently, we have discovered that the mixing of different water masses is also important. In our study, we used small‐scale measurements of ocean properties to examine the processes behind this mixing. Our findings show that large swirling flows known as mesoscale eddies, which are tens to hundreds of kilometers wide and hundreds of meters deep, play a dominant role in mixing heat and salt in the North Atlantic. This discovery helps us to better understand the AMOC and its future behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions The selection of patients who are going to be admitted to an emergency department observation unit (EDOU) is essential for the good management of these units, intended fundamentally to avoid unnecessary hospitalization of patients. This is especially important when dealing with older patients. It would be important to know what factors are associated with discharge home and to have a clinical predictive scale that appropriately selects older patients who are going to be admitted to an EDOU.A retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted of all patients ≥65 years of age assisted in 48 Spanish Emergency Departments for 7 consecutive days and were admitted to the EDOU. Demographics‐functional, vital signs data and initial laboratory results were analyzed to investigate its association with discharge home and develop and validate a prediction model for discharge home from EDOU. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to develop a prediction model, and a scoring system was created.Among 5457 patients admitted to the EDOU from the emergency room, 2508 (46%) patients were discharged home, and 2949 (54%) were admitted to the hospital. Five variables were strongly associated with discharge home: the absence of fever (adjusted OR: 3.61, 95% CI:1.53–8.54), Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 points (2.80, 1.63–4.82), absence of tachypnea (2.51, 1.74–3.64) or leukocytosis (2.07, 1.70–2.52) and oxygen saturation >94% (2.00, 1.64–2.43). The final model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.648 (IC95% = 0.627–0.668) in the development cohort and 0.635 (0.614–0.656) in the validation cohort.There are factors associated with a greater probability of discharge home of older patients admitted to EDOUs. Prediction at the individual level remains elusive, as the best model obtained in this study did not have sufficient validity to be applied in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the challenge of remediating soil impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) using an innovative and sustainable Technosol‐based approach to stabilize soil and facilitate vegetation recovery. The study assessed the effectiveness of Technosols made from recycled organic (water clarification sludge) and inorganic (siderurgical slags and red gypsum) wastes in mitigating the detrimental effects of AMD on soil properties, pore water chemistry, and plant growth through a 4‐month pot experiment. Technosols significantly improved soil health by neutralizing net acidity (296 mmol H+ kg−1), raising pH levels from extremely acidic (3.3) to mildly alkaline (7.7–8.0), and limiting the mobility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Dissolved Cu and Zn concentrations dropped from 80.21 and 72.08 mg L−1, respectively, to below 1 mg L−1 by the end of the monitoring period. The experiment identified several concomitant mechanisms of PTE retention, such as decreased dissolution of metal‐bearing minerals, precipitation reactions and adsorption onto Fe and Al (oxy)hydroxides. Aqueous speciation modelling indicated a decline in toxic metal forms (e.g. Al3+, AlSO4+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and H2AsO4−) in soil pore water after treatment, thus reducing phytotoxicity. Additionally, waste amendments enhanced nutrient availability, with nitrate concentrations reaching up to 417 mg L−1, supporting seed germination and seedling establishment. The most effective Technosol, combining water treatment sludge and white steel slag (60:40 w/w), enabled robust growth of Brassica juncea. Principal component analysis showed a strong correlation between healthy plant responses (survival rate, plant height, leaf number, biomass production) and improved soil pore water parameters (pH, PTEs, aluminium, calcium, bicarbonate and nitrate ions), highlighting the benefits of waste amendments. These findings underscore the potential of waste‐derived Technosols in stabilizing AMD‐impacted soils and promoting thriving plant growth. However, further validation in field trials with diverse plant species is recommended for real‐world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impulse control disorders and their consequences display variability among individuals, indicating potential involvement of environmental and genetic factors. In this retrospective study, we analyzed a cohort of Parkinson's disease patients treated with dopamine agonists and investigated the influence of the dopamine D4 receptor gene polymorphism, DRD4 7R+, which is linked to psychiatric disorders, impulsive traits, and addictive behaviors. We found that DRD4 7R+ is a significant genetic risk factor associated with the severity of ICD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of cancer patients with concomitant cardiovascular (CV) disease is on the rise due to improved cancer prognoses. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long‐term outcomes of cancer patients referred to a cardiology department (CD) via primary care using e‐consultation. Methods: We analysed data from cancer patients with prior referrals to a CD between 2010 and 2021 (n = 6889) and compared two care models: traditional in‐person consultations and e‐consultations. In e‐consultation model, cardiologists reviewed electronic health records (e‐consultation) to determine whether the demand could be addressed remotely or necessitated an in‐person consultation. We used an interrupted time series regression model to assess outcomes during the two periods: (1) time to cardiology consultation, (2) rates of all‐cause and CV related hospital admissions and (3) rates of all‐cause and CV‐related mortality within the first year after the initial consultation or e‐consultation at the CD. Results: Introduction of e‐consultation for cancer patients referred to cardiology care led to a 51.8% reduction (95%CI: 51.7%–51.9%) in waiting times. Furthermore, we observed decreased 1‐year incidence rates, with incidence rate ratios (iRRs) [IC95%] of.75 [.73–.77] for CV‐related hospitalizations,.43 [.42–.44] for all‐cause hospitalizations, and.87 [.86–.88] for all‐cause mortality. Conclusions: Compared to traditional in‐person consultations, an outpatient care program incorporating e‐consultation for cancer patients significantly reduced waiting times for cardiology care and demonstrated safety, associated with lower rates of hospital admissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent intestinal‐type sinonasal adenocarcinoma (ITAC) can occur several years after primary treatment and with different histology. We aimed to clarify if such recurrences could be second primary tumors and to identify actionable mutations as targets for personalized treatment of recurrent ITAC. Methods: Twelve pairs of primary and recurrent ITAC were histologically examined and analyzed by next‐generation sequencing. Results: Histological differences between primary and recurrent tumor pairs were observed in five cases. Frequent mutations included TP53, APC, TSC2, ATM, EPHA2, BRCA2, LRP1B, KRAS, and KMT2B. There was 86% concordance of somatic mutations between the tumor pairs, while four cases carried additional mutations in the recurrence. Conclusions: We found all cases to be clonal recurrences and not second primary tumors. Moreover, tumor pairs showed a remarkable genomic stability, suggesting that personalized treatment of a recurrence may be based on actionable molecular genetic targets observed in the primary tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points Heart failure (HF) is a heterogeneous condition that can be categorized according to the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) into HF with reduced (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF) EF. Although HFrEF and HFpEF share some common clinical manifestations, the mechanisms underlying each phenotype are often found to be distinct. Identifying shared and divergent pathophysiological features might expand our insights on HF pathophysiology and assist the search for therapies for each HF subtype. In this study, we evaluated and contrasted two new murine models of non‐ischaemic HFrEF and cardiometabolic HFpEF in terms of myocardial structure, left ventricular function, gene expression, cardiomyocyte calcium handling, mitochondrial polarization and protein acetylation in a head‐to‐head fashion. We found that in conditions of similar haemodynamic stress, the HFrEF myocardium underwent a more pronounced hypertrophic and fibrotic remodelling, whereas inflammation was greater in the HFpEF myocardium. We observed opposing features on calcium release, which was diminished in the HFrEF cardiomyocyte but enhanced in the HFpEF cardiomyocyte. Mitochondria were less polarized in both HFrEF and HFpEF cardiomyocytes, reflecting similarly impaired metabolic capacity. Hyperacetylation of cardiac proteins was observed in both models, but it was more accentuated in the HFpEF heart. Despite shared features, unique triggering mechanisms (neurohormonal overactivation in HFrEF vs. inflammation in HFpEF) appear to determine the distinct phenotypes of HF. The findings of the present research stress the need for further exploration of the differential mechanisms underlying each HF subtype, because they might require specific therapeutic interventions. The mechanisms underlying heart failure with either reduced (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction are often found to be different. Previous studies comparing pathophysiological traits between HFrEF and HFpEF have been conducted on animals of different ages and strains. The present research contrasted two age‐matched mouse models of non‐ischaemic HFrEF and cardiometabolic HFpEF to uncover divergent and shared features. We found that upon similar haemodynamic stress, the HFrEF heart experienced a more pronounced hypertrophic and fibrotic remodelling, whereas inflammation appeared to be greater in the HFpEF myocardium. Calcium release was diminished in the HFrEF cardiomyocyte and enhanced in the HFpEF cardiomyocyte. Mitochondria were comparably less polarized in both HFrEF and HFpEF myocytes. Hyperacetylation of proteins was common to both models, but stronger in the HFpEF heart. Casting light on common and distinguishing features might ease the quest for phenotype‐specific therapies for heart failure patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antiviral signaling, immune response and cell metabolism are dysregulated by SARS‐CoV‐2, the causative agent of COVID‐19. Here, we show that SARS‐CoV‐2 accessory proteins ORF3a, ORF9b, ORF9c and ORF10 induce a significant mitochondrial and metabolic reprogramming in A549 lung epithelial cells. While ORF9b, ORF9c and ORF10 induced largely overlapping transcriptomes, ORF3a induced a distinct transcriptome, including the downregulation of numerous genes with critical roles in mitochondrial function and morphology. On the other hand, all four ORFs altered mitochondrial dynamics and function, but only ORF3a and ORF9c induced a marked alteration in mitochondrial cristae structure. Genome‐Scale Metabolic Models identified both metabolic flux reprogramming features both shared across all accessory proteins and specific for each accessory protein. Notably, a downregulated amino acid metabolism was observed in ORF9b, ORF9c and ORF10, while an upregulated lipid metabolism was distinctly induced by ORF3a. These findings reveal metabolic dependencies and vulnerabilities prompted by SARS‐CoV‐2 accessory proteins that may be exploited to identify new targets for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of COVID‐19 on paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in Argentina and the consequences generated by the pandemic are discussed. From 2018 to 3 years after the pandemic declaration, 285 proven PCM patients were registered. No association between both diseases was documented. PCM frequency decreased to extremely low levels in 2020. Mandatory social isolation and the emotional and psychological effects generated under pandemic circumstances led to delays in diagnosis, severe disseminated cases, and other challenges for diagnosis in subsequent years. Probable underdiagnosis should be considered due to the overlap of clinical manifestations, the low index of suspicion and the lack of sensitive diagnostic tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For most terrestrial plants, regeneration depends on the ability of seeds to germinate in the most favourable climatic conditions. Understanding seed germination phenology is thus crucial for predicting plant responses to environmental changes. However, a substantial gap persists regarding how microclimatic conditions influence germination in seasonal ecosystems. Here, we investigate the germination phenology of alpine plants in snow‐related microclimates as a tool for predicting the resilience of plant communities to climate change. We conducted a continuous seasonal experiment with fresh seeds to investigate germination phenology in 54 co‐occurring species from temperate and Mediterranean alpine communities. Using long‐term field microclimatic data series, we precisely mimicked two contrasting microclimatic regimes in growth chambers: (1) windy exposed edges with a snow‐free period in winter and warmer temperatures in summer (‘fellfield’) and (2) sheltered areas with lengthy snow cover and cooler temperatures (‘snowbed’). We validated the laboratory results with field sowing experiments to provide a complete picture of germination phenology. The analysis of phenology traits demonstrated that both communities displayed similar responses to microclimatic variation. Small microclimatic differences of 2–3°C a week, accumulated across a whole year in the laboratory, resulted in a quantifiable germination phenology delay in snowbed regime, with an average of 60 and 45 days for temperate and Mediterranean alpine respectively. The results from climatic chambers under realistic microclimatic regimes were consistent with the germination phenology registered from field experiments. We also observed macroclimatic effects manifested as reduced dormancy and increased autumn germination in Mediterranean alpine species. Synthesis. This study combines novel laboratory and field experimentation to tackle the understudied topic of germination phenology in habitats with sharp microclimatic gradients. Specifically, our findings suggest a predictable phenological shift in the germination of alpine plants along microclimatic gradients. In warmer conditions with reduced snow cover, alpine species are expected to advance germination 52 days on average, with potential disrupting effects on cold‐adapted species with strict germination requirements. This highlights the role of germination phenology to determine plant‐environmental relationships in mid‐latitude ecosystems, with strong impact on plant establishment and extinction risks under local microclimatic gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusion Our aim was to investigate the impact that low‐grade intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) had on neonatal morbidities, brain volumes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born extremely preterm (EPT) and compare them with children born EPT without low‐grade IVH.This prospective cohort study was carried out in Stockholm, Sweden. It focused on 103 children born EPT from 2004 to 2007, at less than 27 weeks of gestation, without major brain injuries. The group with low‐grade IVH, defined as grades I–II, were compared with children born EPT without IVH. Around half (45%) underwent MRI scans at 10 years of age and 55% had neurodevelopmental assessments at 12 years.The low‐grade IVH group was sicker during the neonatal period than the children born EPT without IVH. They had lower gestational ages at birth, more days on mechanical ventilation, a higher incidence of necrotising enterocolitis and were more likely to need surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus. However, they did not have significantly smaller brain volumes at 10 years of age or worse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 years of age.Brain volumes or neurodevelopment were not affected in children born EPT with low‐grade IVH, compared to children born EPT without IVH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Conclusions The dynamic, reciprocal, and bidirectional relationships in encounters between infants and their caregivers are called early interactions. Evidence shows that these interactions influence cognitive, emotional, and social development beyond the early years. While some studies have examined these interactions in dyads with infants with Down syndrome, they have mostly focused on parents in small samples. This study explores these interactions by considering parental, infant, and interaction variables.A total of 128 dyads participated, with 64 infants with Down syndrome and 64 typically developing infants, matched one‐by‐one by developmental age. During home visits, socio‐demographic and developmental information was collected, development and dyadic interactions were assessed using standardised instruments. Descriptive analyses, MANOVAs, and ANOVAs were conducted comparing the group of dyads that included infants and toddler with Down syndrome and those with typical development. Infant and toddler gender showed significant differences and was included as a relevant factor in the analyses.Key findings include lower scores in parental sensitivity and non‐directiveness in dyads with children with Down syndrome. Children with Down syndrome also showed lower scores in attention to the caregiver. Interactions with children with Down syndrome exhibited less mutuality and engagement. Significant gender‐based interactions were found, showing that parents are more sensitive and less directive with girls with Down syndrome, who also show greater expression of negative affect and better attention to the caregiver.This study suggests different qualities in early interactions when a child with Down syndrome is involved. These interactions are characterised by lower sensitivity and greater directiveness, possibly in response to the lower attention towards the caregiver observed in these children. This results in less mutual interaction. The findings' alignment with previous research and implications for clinical work are discussed. Given the observed effect of the child's gender, future research should further explore this aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family members of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often experience high levels of psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or burden. Family Connections (FC) is a pioneer program designed for relatives of people with BPD, and it is the most empirically supported treatment thus far. The aim of this study was to carry out a randomized clinical trial to confirm the differential efficacy of FC versus an active treatment as usual (TAU) in relatives of people with BPD in a Spanish population sample. The sample consisted of 121 family members (82 family units) and a total of 82 patients who participated in a two‐arm randomized controlled trial (RCT). The primary outcome was burden of illness. Secondary outcomes were depression, anxiety, stress, family empowerment, and quality of life. This is the first study to evaluate relatives and patients in an RCT design comparing two active treatment conditions of similar durations. Although no statistically significant differences were found between conditions. However, the adjusted posttest means for FC were systematically better than for TAU, and the effect sizes were larger in burden, stress, depression, family functioning, and quality of life in the FC intervention. Patients of caregivers who received the FC condition showed statistically significant improvements in stress, depression, and anxiety. Results indicated that FC helped both patients and relatives pointing to the importance of involving families of patients with severe psychological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper introduces an image formation technique that realizes automatic adaptation to the illumination conditions during image capture. This adaptation takes place asynchronously in a single shot, requiring neither external control nor iterations on the exposure setting. These characteristics are especially suitable for applications such as visual robot navigation, where illumination may abruptly change and immediate decisions must be made. The equations that model the proposed technique show exposure‐time independence. Moreover, each pixel adapts itself according to the ratio between local and global illuminations. The dependence on this ratio—which is a relative rather than absolute magnitude—along with the aforementioned independence on exposure time means that, theoretically, any illumination scenario can be represented within an arbitrary signal range. We also address the CMOS implementation of this technique. An extensive set of electrical simulations confirms its auto‐exposure and high‐dynamic‐range encoding capabilities. In particular, we simulated the capture of a 118‐dB scene on a 160×120$$ 160\times 120 $$‐px array over five orders of magnitude of ambient illumination. Corner and mismatch simulations reveal strong robustness of the proposed circuitry against fabrication non‐idealities. Finally, although we aim to applications in which large image resolution is not a critical specification, strategies to minimize the impact of the required focal‐plane circuit elements on the pixel pitch are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non‐covalent functionalization of black phosphorus (BP) was studied with a scope of ten tailor‐made perylene diimides (PDIs). A combination of UV/Vis‐, fluorescence‐, as well as Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy was used to investigate the structural factors, which contribute to a pronounced PDI‐BP interaction and thus support the protection of BP nanosheets against oxidative degradation. We were able to show, that water‐soluble, amphiphilic PDIs with highly charged head groups can be used for the non‐covalent functionalization of BP in aqueous media. Here, based on the hydrophobic effect, an efficient adsorption of the respective PDI molecules takes place and leads to the formation of a passivating film, yielding a considerable stabilization of the BP flakes under ambient conditions exceeding 30 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of diradical organic compounds has garnered significant attention due to their thermally accessible spin inversion and optoelectronic properties. Yet, preparing such stable structures with high open‐shell behavior remains challenging. Herein, we report the synthesis and properties of four π‐extended, fused fluorene derivatives with high diradical character, taking advantage of a molecular design where the closed‐shell does not include any Clar sextet, comparatively to a maximum of 5 in the corresponding open‐shell state. This led to an unusual open‐shell triplet ground state with an outstanding singlet‐triplet energy difference (ΔEST) of ca. 19 kcal/mol, one of the highest values reported to date for an all‐carbon conjugated scaffold. Incorporation of dithiafulvene units at each end of the molecule (at the five‐membered rings) furnishes extended tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs) undergoing reversible oxidations to the radical cation and diradical dication. The various pro‐aromatic structures presented herein show highly localized spin density and a limited conjugation due to the confined π‐electrons in the aromatic cycles, as supported by 1H NMR, UV/Visible, EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between chemical structure and chiroptical properties is not always clearly understood. Nowadays, efforts to develop new systems with enhanced optical properties follow the trial‐error method. A large number of data would allow us to obtain more robust conclusions and guide research toward molecules with practical applications. In this sense, in this work we predict the chiroptical properties of millions of halogenated [6]helicenes in terms of the rotatory strength (R). We have used DFT calculations to randomly create derivatives including from 1 to 16 halogen atoms, that were then used as a data set to train different deep neural network models. These models allow us to i) predict the Rmax for any halogenated [6]helicene with a very low computational cost, and ii) to understand the physical reasons that favour some substitutions over others. Finally, we synthesized derivatives with higher predicted Rmax obtaining excellent correlation among the values obtained experimentally and the predicted ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reviews new ideas developed in the last two decades which play a key role for understanding the optical properties of insulating materials containing transition metal (TM) cations. Initially, this review deals with compounds involving d4 and d9 ions where the local structure of the involved MX6 complexes (M=dn cation, X=ligand) is never cubic but distorted, a fact widely ascribed to the Jahn‐Teller (JT) effect. Nevertheless, that assumption is often wrong as the JT coupling requires an orbitally degenerate ground state in the initial geometry a condition not fulfilled even if the lattice is tetragonal. For this reason, the equilibrium geometry of d4 and d9 complexes in low symmetry lattices, is influenced by two factors: (i) The effects, usually ignored, of the internal electric field, ER, due to the rest of lattice ions on the active electrons localized in the MX6 unit. (ii) The existence of structural instabilities driven by vibronic interactions that lead to negative force constants. As first examples of these ideas, we show that the equilibrium structure, electronic ground state of KZnF3:Cu2+, K2ZnF4:Cu2+ and K2CuF4 obey to different causes and only in KZnF3:Cu2+ the JT effect takes place. These ideas also explain the local structure and optical properties of CuF2, CrF2 or KAlCuF6 compounds where the JT effect is symmetry forbidden and those of layered copper chloroperovskites where the orthorhombic instability explains the red shift of one d−d transition under pressure. In a second step, this review explores stable systems involving d3, d5 or d9 cations, where the internal electric field, ER, is responsible for some puzzling phenomena. This is the case of ruby and emerald that surprisingly exhibit a different color despite the Cr3+‐O2− distance is the same. A similar situation holds when comparing the normal (KMgF3) and the inverted (LiBaF3) perovskites doped with Mn2+ having the same Mn2+‐F distance but clearly different optical spectra. The role of ER is particularly remarkable looking for the origin of the color in the historical Egyptian Blue pigment based on CaCuSi4O10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the images of the future of Spanish secondary school students (n = 252) from two perspectives. First, from the relationship between representations of the personal future and the social future. Second, the potential influence of the specific training of Geography and History teachers in education for the future on the construction of these representations. From a descriptive, predictive‐correlational and relational design, the results obtained report the existence of significant positive correlations, high effect sizes and optimal statistical power between the ways in which students conceive the social future and their own personal future. They also show the existence of statistically differential proportions between the two representations, less optimistic and progressive when thinking about the future of society. Similarly, the results report evidence of higher probabilities of obtaining positive perceptions about the social future when teachers have previous training in education for the future. The findings also show the need to rethink the concept of the future, in close connection with historical‐temporal awareness, as the core of the aims of social science teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate patterns of potential species richness (PSR) and identify shallow‐water Ophiuroidea hotspots based on their modelled distribution throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean (EP). Location: Eastern Pacific Ocean. Taxon: Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea. Methods: We compiled and analysed the occurrence of 137 shallow‐water (≤200 m) species of Ophiuroidea from the EP using Species Distribution Models (SDM; use of Maxent) and buffering for rare species to create the first maps of PSR of the class in the EP to gain insight into their patterns. Results: The highest PSR was found in mid‐latitudes, decreasing towards high latitudes, denoting a robust latitudinal pattern. All PSR hotspots were found in mid‐latitudes and correspond to northern Mexico, the area between Corinto (Nicaragua) and the Gulf of Panama, and the Galapagos Islands. The pattern is mainly linked to topographic configuration, although the models also suggest temperature and other environmental factors as important. Additionally, the pattern correlates (R = 98) with the pattern of the family Amphiuridae, suggesting that its richness can be used as a proxy for exploring Ophiuroidea richness patterns elsewhere. Main Conclusions: The richness of Ophiuroidea from the EP follows a latitudinal pattern as do other invertebrate groups. The Gulf of California, Central America, and Galapagos Islands are confirmed as hotspots of Ophiuroidea richness. However, other significant areas include the west coast of southern Baja California, Chiapas, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. PSR patterns are influenced by diverse environmental variables and the distribution patterns of the most conspicuous families. SDMs are useful for understanding large‐scale distribution patterns. This work is the first PSR assessment of marine invertebrates from the EP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The improvement of controllers of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology supporting heart failure (HF) patients has enormous impact, given the high prevalence and mortality of HF in the population. The use of reinforcement learning for control applications in LVAD remains minimally explored. This work introduces a preload‐based deep reinforcement learning control for LVAD based on the proximal policy optimization algorithm. Methods: The deep reinforcement learning control is built upon data derived from a deterministic high‐fidelity cardiorespiratory simulator exposed to variations of total blood volume, heart rate, systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular end‐systolic elastance, and left ventricular end‐systolic elastance, to replicate realistic inter‐ and intra‐patient variability of patients with a severe HF supported by LVAD. The deep reinforcement learning control obtained in this work is trained to avoid ventricular suction and allow aortic valve opening by using left ventricular pressure signals: end‐diastolic pressure, maximum pressure in the left ventricle (LV), and maximum pressure in the aorta. Results: The results show controller obtained in this work, compared to the constant speed LVAD alternative, assures a more stable end‐diastolic volume (EDV), with a standard deviation of 5 mL and 9 mL, respectively, and a higher degree of aortic flow, with an average flow of 1.1 L/min and 0.9 L/min, respectively. Conclusion: This work implements a deep reinforcement learning controller in a high‐fidelity cardiorespiratory simulator, resulting in increases of flow through the aortic valve and increases of EDV stability, when compared to a constant speed LVAD strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic led to school closures, potentially impairing children's behaviours and health. We aimed to explore the effects of school closure on lifestyle behaviours (dietary habits, physical activity) and health outcomes (adiposity, fitness, self‐esteem, self‐concept) in children. Methods: We measured 247 children before school closure (October–November 2019) and after school reopening (October–November 2021) (COVID‐19 group). To distinguish the changes due to school closure from changes due to growth, we included 655 age‐matched children with cross‐sectional measurements in October–November 2019 (control group). The response of this group (i.e., differences between children with 2 years of difference) was considered the expected response to growth. Two‐way ANOVA was used to test age‐by‐group interactions, indicating an effect of school closure. Results: In 7‐to‐9‐year‐old children, the COVID‐19 group had larger‐than‐expected decreases in physical activity (by 0.4 points), resulting in higher physical inactivity prevalence (by 19 percent points) at 9 years. This was accompanied by larger‐than‐expected increases in fat percentage (by 6.1 percent point). In 8‐to‐10‐year‐old children, the COVID‐19 group had higher physical inactivity prevalence at 10 years (by 20 percent points). This was accompanied by larger‐than‐expected increases in fat percentage (by 8.3 percent points), z‐score BMI (by 0.90 units), and waist circumference (by 6.1 cm). In 9‐to‐11‐year‐old children, the COVID‐19 group had larger‐than‐expected decreases in physical activity (by 0.3 points) and increases in self‐concept (by 0.2 points). The response in dietary habits, fitness, or self‐esteem was not different between groups. Conclusion: Overall, school closure negatively impacted physical activity and adiposity, particularly in the youngest children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its coinage ca. 1850 AD by Philip Barker Webb, the biogeographical region of Macaronesia, consisting of the North Atlantic volcanic archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira with the tiny Selvagens, the Canaries and Cabo Verde, and for some authors different continental coastal strips, has been under dispute. Herein, after a brief introduction on the terminology and purpose of regionalism, we recover the origins of the Macaronesia name, concept and geographical adscription, as well as its biogeographical implications and how different authors have positioned themselves, using distinct terrestrial or marine floristic and/or faunistic taxa distributions and relationships for accepting or rejecting the existence of this biogeographical region. Four main issues related to Macaronesia are thoroughly discussed: (i) its independence from the Mediterranean phytogeographical region; (ii) discrepancies according to different taxa analysed; (iii) its geographical limits and the role of the continental enclave(s), and, (iv) the validity of the phytogeographical region level. We conclude that Macaronesia has its own identity and a sound phytogeographical foundation, and that this is mainly based on three different floristic components that are shared by the Macaronesian core (Madeira and the Canaries) and the outermost archipelagos (Azores and Cabo Verde). These floristic components are: (i) the Palaeotropical‐Tethyan Geoflora, formerly much more widely distributed in Europe and North Africa and currently restricted to the three northern archipelagos (the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries); (ii) the African Rand Flora, still extant in the coastal margins of Africa and Arabia, and present in the southern archipelagos (Madeira, the Canaries and Cabo Verde), and (iii) the Macaronesian neoendemic floristic component, represented in all the archipelagos, a result of allopatric diversification promoted by isolation of Mediterranean ancestors that manage to colonize Central Macaronesia and, from there, the outer archipelagos. Finally, a differentiating floristic component recently colonized the different archipelagos from the nearest continental coast, providing them with different biogeographic flavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This systematic review with meta‐analysis aimed to examine the effect of blood flow restriction resistance training (BFR‐RT) on strength gains in untrained limbs (remote strength transfer [RST]). Literature Survey: A search for studies was performed using six databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and ScienceDirect) up to February 2024. Methodology: Studies that assessed the RST phenomenon following BFR‐RT and measured muscle strength were included. Meta‐analyses of standardized mean differences (SMDs) were performed using a random‐effects model to determine the effect of BFR‐RT on RST. Synthesis: Eight studies were included in this systematic review, of which six were involved in the meta‐analyses. BFR‐RT was not found to enhance RST in comparison with RT (SMD 0.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.02 to 0.56; p =.07). These findings did not vary when the comparison was examined in upper limbs or measured using an isometric contraction. Conclusions: BFR‐RT does not enhance RST in comparison with traditional RT at the same load according to the meta‐analyses. Therefore, the usage of BFR is not recommended for RST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical profile, associated events and safety of vericiguat in a real‐world cohort of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: This study is a prospective and observational cohort study of patients with HFrEF and recent HF worsening episodes requiring intravenous therapy who initiated vericiguat in an HF outpatient clinic. A subanalysis of patients with ≥6 months' follow‐up was performed separately. Results: Out of 103 patients initially included, 52 had a follow‐up of at least 6 months (median follow‐up of 303 days). At baseline, the mean age was 71.3 ± 9.4 years, 27.2% were women, the median left ventricular ejection fraction was 34% (28%–39%) and 99% were taking beta‐blockers, 96.1% sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, 95.1% sacubitril–valsartan, 90.3% aldosterone antagonists and 93.2% loop diuretics. During follow‐up, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class improved (from 67.3% and 32.7% in classes III and II, respectively, to 22.4% and 75.5% at study end; P < 0.001), as did the EuroQol‐5D (EQ‐5D) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores (from 0.83 ± 0.13 to 0.87 ± 0.12, P = 0.032, and from 60 to 79, P = 0.005, respectively). Vericiguat was well tolerated (13.5% had symptomatic hypotension, and 11.5% had discontinued treatment), and 78.8% of patients achieved the target dose of 10 mg. The number of HF‐related hospitalizations/decompensations within the previous 12 months was 2.3 ± 1.4 and decreased with vericiguat to 0.79 ± 1.14 (P < 0.001). At study end, 7.7% died (50% for HF). Conclusions: In clinical practice, treatment with vericiguat is associated with substantial improvements in functional class and quality of life and a reduction in hospitalizations for HF, with a low risk of adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]