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Objective: To investigate the validity of the conclusion from Cochrane reviews and meta‐analyses that treatment with calcium supplementation during pregnancy reduces the risk for pre‐eclampsia by 55%, which has been influential in international guidelines and future research. Design: Sensitivity analysis of data from Cochrane reviews of trials evaluating high‐dose calcium supplementation (of at least 1 g/day) for reduction of pre‐eclampsia risk. Setting: Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Population: The Cochrane reviews and meta‐analyses included 13 trials enrolling a total of 15 730 women. Random‐effects meta‐analysis of these studies resulted in a mean risk ratio (RR, calcium/placebo) of 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31–0.65; p < 0.0001). Methods: We carried out a sensitivity analysis of evidence from the relevant Cochrane review, to examine the impact of study size. Main outcome measures: pre‐eclampsia. Results: In the three largest studies, accounting for 13 815 (88%) of total recruitment, mean RR was 0.92 (95% CI 0.80–1.06) and there was no evidence of heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 0). With inclusion of the smaller studies, mean RR decreased to 0.45 and I2 increased to 70%. Conclusions: In assessment of the effect of calcium supplementation on pre‐eclampsia risk, the naive focus on the mean of the random‐effects meta‐analysis in the presence of substantial heterogeneity is highly misleading. Linked article: This article is commented on by Thornton pp. 1530–1531 in this issue. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471‐0528.17805. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a low degree of energy compensation is typically reported over the 24 h following a session of exercise, the prolonged impact of a bout of exercise on energy intake remains unclear. To overcome the challenge associated with accurately measuring energy intake in a free‐living environment, this study employed the use of a meal replacement beverage to assess the 3 day impact of an exercise session on energy intake. In a randomized, crossover study, 14 participants (8 male, 6 female) completed two trials: (1) EX: 75 min exercise on a motorized treadmill (75% VO2peak); and (2) SED: 75 min sedentary control session. Each condition was followed by 3 days of exclusive ad libitum consumption of a meal replacement beverage. Appetite‐regulating hormones, subjective appetite, energy intake, and energy expenditure were assessed. Exercise transiently suppressed the orexigenic hormone acyl‐ghrelin (p < 0.05) and elevated the appetite‐supressing hepatokine GDF‐15 (p < 0.05). Despite these acute changes, overall perceived appetite was elevated over the 3 day assessment period with exercise (p < 0.05). No increase in energy intake or change in postexercise physical activity patterns were observed. One acute session of moderate to vigorous exercise is unlikely to affect short‐term, three‐day energy balance in healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating datasets from multiple sites and scanners can increase statistical power for neuroimaging studies but can also introduce significant inter‐site confounds. We evaluated the effectiveness of ComBat, an empirical Bayes approach, to combine longitudinal preclinical MRI data acquired at 4.7 or 9.4 T at two different sites in Australia. Male Sprague Dawley rats underwent MRI on Days 2, 9, 28, and 150 following moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) or sham injury as part of Project 1 of the NIH/NINDS‐funded Centre Without Walls EpiBioS4Rx project. Diffusion‐weighted and multiple‐gradient‐echo images were acquired, and outcomes included QSM, FA, and ADC. Acute injury measures including apnea and self‐righting reflex were consistent between sites. Mixed‐effect analysis of ipsilateral and contralateral corpus callosum (CC) summary values revealed a significant effect of site on FA and ADC values, which was removed following ComBat harmonization. Bland–Altman plots for each metric showed reduced variability across sites following ComBat harmonization, including for QSM, despite appearing to be largely unaffected by inter‐site differences and no effect of site observed. Following harmonization, the combined inter‐site data revealed significant differences in the imaging metrics consistent with previously reported outcomes. TBI resulted in significantly reduced FA and increased susceptibility in the ipsilateral CC, and significantly reduced FA in the contralateral CC compared with sham‐injured rats. Additionally, TBI rats also exhibited a reversal in ipsilateral CC ADC values over time with significantly reduced ADC at Day 9, followed by increased ADC 150 days after injury. Our findings demonstrate the need for harmonizing multi‐site preclinical MRI data and show that this can be successfully achieved using ComBat while preserving phenotypical changes due to TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropalliative care developed to address the needs of patients living with life‐limiting neurologic disease. One critical consideration is that disease‐related changes to cognition, communication, and function challenge illness experiences and care practices. We conducted an ethnography to understand neuropalliative care as a phenomenon; how it was experienced, provided, conceptualized. Personhood served as our conceptual framework; with its long philosophical history and important place in nursing theory, we examined the extent to which it captured neuropalliative experiences and concerns. Personhood contextualized complex losses, aligning the impact of functional and relational changes. Cognition, communication, and functional alterations stretched conceptions of personhood, insinuating it can be relational, fluid, adaptive. Although normative conceptions of personhood guided research and decision‐making, ethical considerations suggested personhood could be transformed, remade. We consider the implications of our findings through three themes. First, we examine how literature on illness experience fails to integrate the realities of people living with and dying from neurologic disease; we counter this by interrogating the concept of experience. Second, we turn to Ricoeur's work on recognition to illuminate relational conceptions of personhood to inform care practices. Finally, we reflect on how personhood can bridge the gap left by functional changes, enhance relational engagement, and promote dignity at the end of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the predictive performance for preterm birth (PTB) of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) triple test and National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines used to screen for pre‐eclampsia and examine the impact of aspirin in the prevention of PTB. Design: Secondary analysis of data from the SPREE study and the ASPRE trial. Setting: Multicentre studies. Population: In SPREE, women with singleton pregnancies had screening for preterm pre‐eclampsia at 11–13 weeks of gestation by the FMF method and NICE guidelines. There were 16 451 pregnancies that resulted in delivery at ≥24 weeks of gestation and these data were used to derive the predictive performance for PTB of the two methods of screening. The results from the ASPRE trial were used to examine the effect of aspirin in the prevention of PTB in the population from SPREE. Methods: Comparison of performance of FMF method and NICE guidelines for pre‐eclampsia in the prediction of PTB and use of aspirin in prevention of PTB. Main outcome measure: Spontaneous PTB (sPTB), iatrogenic PTB for pre‐eclampsia (iPTB‐PE) and iatrogenic PTB for reasons other than pre‐eclampsia (iPTB‐noPE). Results: Estimated incidence rates of sPTB, iPTB‐PE and iPTB‐noPE were 3.4%, 0.8% and 1.6%, respectively. The corresponding detection rates were 17%, 82% and 25% for the triple test and 12%, 39% and 19% for NICE guidelines, using the same overall screen positive rate of 10.2%. The estimated proportions prevented by aspirin were 14%, 65% and 0%, respectively. Conclusion: Prediction of sPTB and iPTB‐noPE by the triple test was poor and poorer by the NICE guidelines. Neither sPTB nor iPTB‐noPE was reduced substantially by aspirin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During its first decade of life, Physiological Reports has become a home for well‐conceived and rigorously performed exercise physiology and metabolism studies. The breadth of research within this area is impressive, covering exercise‐induced increases in skeletal muscle gene expression to the effects of exercise on the gut microbiome. The purpose of the current review is to highlight some of the impactful exercise physiology and metabolism papers published in the journal and to look ahead to what areas exercise physiology publications might address in the next 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess reproducibility of the epilepsy outcome and phenotype in a lateral fluid percussion model of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) across three study sites. Methods: A total of 525 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to lateral fluid percussion‐induced brain injury (FPI) or sham operation. Of these, 264 were assigned to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI cohort, 43 sham, 221 traumatic brain injury [TBI]) and 261 to electrophysiological follow‐up (EEG cohort, 41 sham, 220 TBI). A major effort was made to harmonize the rats, materials, equipment, procedures, and monitoring systems. On the 7th post‐TBI month, rats were video‐EEG monitored for epilepsy diagnosis. Results: A total of 245 rats were video‐EEG phenotyped for epilepsy on the 7th postinjury month (121 in MRI cohort, 124 in EEG cohort). In the whole cohort (n = 245), the prevalence of PTE in rats with TBI was 22%, being 27% in the MRI and 18% in the EEG cohort (p >.05). Prevalence of PTE did not differ between the three study sites (p >.05). The average seizure frequency was.317 ±.725 seizures/day at University of Eastern Finland (UEF; Finland),.085 ±.067 at Monash University (Monash; Australia), and.299 ±.266 at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA; USA; p <.01 as compared to Monash). The average seizure duration did not differ between UEF (104 ± 48 s), Monash (90 ± 33 s), and UCLA (105 ± 473 s; p >.05). Of the 219 seizures, 53% occurred as part of a seizure cluster (≥3 seizures/24 h; p >.05 between the study sites). Of the 209 seizures, 56% occurred during lights‐on period and 44% during lights‐off period (p >.05 between the study sites). Significance: The PTE phenotype induced by lateral FPI is reproducible in a multicenter design. Our study supports the feasibility of performing preclinical multicenter trials in PTE to increase statistical power and experimental rigor to produce clinically translatable data to combat epileptogenesis after TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Tau pathology contributes to a bidirectional relationship between sleep disruption and neurodegenerative disease. Tau transgenic rTg4510 mice model tauopathy symptoms, including sleep/wake disturbances, which manifest as marked hyperarousal. This phenotype can be prevented by early transgene suppression; however, whether hyperarousal can be rescued after onset is unknown. Experimental approach: Three 8‐week experiments were conducted with wild‐type and rTg4510 mice after age of onset of hyperarousal (4.5 months): (1) Tau transgene suppression with doxycycline (200 ppm); (2) inactive phase rapid eye movement (REM) sleep enhancement with the dual orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant (50 mg·kg−1·day−1); or (3) Active phase non‐NREM (NREM) and REM sleep enhancement using the selective orexin 2 (OX2) receptor antagonist MK‐1064 (40 mg·kg−1·day−1). Sleep was assessed using polysomnography, cognition using the Barnes maze, and tau pathology using immunoblotting and/or immunohistochemistry. Key Results: Tau transgene suppression improved tauopathy and hippocampal‐dependent spatial memory, but did not modify hyperarousal. Pharmacological rescue of REM sleep deficits did not improve spatial memory or tau pathology. In contrast, normalising hyperarousal by increasing both NREM and REM sleep via OX2 receptor antagonism restored spatial memory, independently of tauopathy, but only in male rTg4510 mice. OX2 receptor antagonism induced only short‐lived hypnotic responses in female rTg4510 mice and did not improve spatial memory, indicating a tau‐ and sex‐dependent disruption of OX2 receptor signalling. Conclusions and Implications: Pharmacologically reducing hyperarousal corrects tau‐induced sleep/wake and cognitive deficits. Tauopathy causes sex‐dependent disruptions of OX2 receptor signalling/function, which may have implications for choice of hypnotic therapeutics in tauopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: More than one third of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) patients are resistant to current antiseizure medications (ASMs), and half experience mild‐to‐moderate adverse effects of ASMs. There is therefore a strong need to develop and test novel ASMs. The objective of this work is to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and neurological toxicity of E2730, a novel uncompetitive inhibitor of γ‐aminobutyric acid transporter‐1, and to test its seizure suppression effects in a rat model of chronic MTLE. Methods: We first examined plasma levels and adverse neurological effects of E2730 in healthy Wistar rats. Adult male rats were implanted with osmotic pumps delivering either 10, 20, or 100 mg/kg/day of E2730 subcutaneously for 1 week. Blood sampling and behavioral assessments were performed at several timepoints. We next examined whether E2730 suppressed seizures in rats with chronic MTLE. These rats were exposed to kainic acid‐induced status epilepticus, and 9 weeks later, when chronic epilepsy was established, were assigned to receive one of the three doses of E2730 or vehicle for 1 week in a randomized crossover design. Continuous video‐electroencephalographic monitoring was acquired during the treatment period to evaluate epileptic seizures. Results: Plasma levels following continuous infusion of E2730 showed a clear dose‐related increase in concentration. The drug was well tolerated at all doses, and any sedation or neuromotor impairment was mild and transient, resolving within 48 h of treatment initiation. Remarkably, E2730 treatment in chronically epileptic rats led to seizure suppression in a dose‐dependent manner, with 65% of rats becoming seizure‐free at the highest dose tested. Mean seizure class did not differ between the treatment groups. Significance: This study shows that continuous subcutaneous infusion of E2730 over 7 days results in a marked, dose‐dependent suppression of spontaneous recurrent seizures, with minimal adverse neurological effects, in a rat model of chronic MTLE. E2730 shows strong promise as an effective new ASM to be translated into clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Post‐traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is an acquired epilepsy that develops in the months or years following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can lead to substantial personal, financial, and societal burden. To date, PTE is rarely curable; current treatments are partially effective and often accompanied by adverse side effects. While research on PTE has expanded significantly in the last several years, there remain numerous challenges to identifying effective prevention and treatment strategies. In this paper, we describe advances from the CURE Epilepsy PTE Initiative, including its implementation and the emphasis on team science. Methods: The CURE Epilepsy PTE Initiative funded six research teams to link preclinical and clinical studies to engage in the validation of experimental models, characterization of pathophysiology and biological pathways, and identification of risk factors associated with PTE. Three teams had projects with both a preclinical and a clinical component; these teams focused on: targeting the epileptogenic effects of subarachnoid blood, exploring the neuropathological mechanisms of epileptogenesis, and defining the role of extracellular matrix injury. Two teams undertook entirely preclinical projects: exploring the role of vascular injury, gliosis, and neurogenesis as drivers for PTE, and identifying genetic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microRNA biosignatures to improve the prediction of PTE. One team's project was entirely clinical and investigated genetic and protein biomarkers to improve the prediction of PTE. Results: In addition to scientific discoveries including characterization of a variety of animal models and progress towards the understanding of biological underpinnings and biomarkers for PTE, significant programmatic and personnel‐related processes were incorporated, including standardized, rigorous policies and procedures to ensure quality and accountability between and within groups. Significance: We propose CURE Epilepsy's team science approach as an effective way to bring together a diverse set of investigators to explore biological mechanisms that may lead to cures for the epilepsies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing cover crops may increase land‐use efficiency while promoting sustainability. We investigated how grazing intensity affects cover crop litter quantity, quality, decomposition, and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N uptake. Cover crops were a mixture of rye (Secale cereale L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) managed as follows: no grazing +34 kg N ha−1 (NG34), no grazing +90 kg N ha−1 (NG90), heavy grazing (HG), moderate grazing (MG), and light grazing (LG). Grazed treatments received 90 kg N ha−1. After cover crop termination, above‐ and belowground litter was collected and incubated in situ for 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 days, with cotton plants sampled on the same days to estimate N recovery and synchrony between N release from litter and uptake by cotton. By Day 128, only 13% of initial NG34 aboveground biomass had disappeared, whereas 42% of HG disappeared. Nitrogen retained in aboveground litter of HG was less than NG90 (27 vs. 60 kg N ha−1), and aboveground final N stock (at Day 128) of HG was less than NG90 and LG (16, 47, and 41 kg N ha−1, respectively). Belowground litter contributed 98 kg N ha−1 versus 46 for aboveground. Belowground N disappearance from litter bags was greater from NG90 than NG34 (39 vs. 21 kg N ha−1). Cotton N uptake by Day 128 was similar across treatments (191 kg N ha−1). Grazing cover crops impact aboveground litter quantity, quality, and decomposition rates, and belowground litter plays an important role on the N cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiological Reports, a Gold Open Access journal, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The journal was established in 2013 and has since grown in scope and reputation. It publishes sound science in basic and translational physiology, with a focus on global outreach and diverse research topics. The journal has achieved high citation rates and has expanded its publication activities, including the addition of Methods articles and targeted Calls for Papers. To celebrate its anniversary, the journal will introduce a "Paper of the Year" award and a "Short Review" writing competition for early-career researchers. The journal aims to continue its success and development in the future by engaging with authors, readers, and reviewers. [Extracted from the article]

A study published in the BJOG journal examined the impact of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on pre-eclampsia. The study found that calcium supplementation reduced the incidence of pre-eclampsia in the second half of pregnancy, particularly among women with low baseline calcium intake. However, there was no significant effect on other primary outcomes such as stillbirth or admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. The study also highlighted the potential limitations of previous Cochrane reviews and meta-analyses on this topic. [Extracted from the article]

The combination of subsoil compaction and injudicious usage of nitrogenous fertilizers are key factors that may lower crop yields, especially in soils with a shallow hardpan. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of tillage and N application on carinata productivity in rainfed conditions. A 3‐year field study was conducted at the North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, FL, USA. Treatments were four rates of N (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg N ha−1) and three tillage methods (disking, chiseling, and no‐tillage). Maximum cone index measurements for no‐tillage occurred at 15 cm but at 20 cm soil depth for both chisel and disk tillage. A hardpan at 15 cm restricted taproot growth but promoted lateral root growth. Subsoiling and N application improved carinata growth relative to no‐tillage. Seed yield response to N application rate depended on the tillage method. The agronomic maximum seed yield occurred at 134, 128, and 125 kg N ha−1 for chisel, disk, and no‐tilled systems. Nitrogen agronomic efficiency was greatest at 45 kg N ha−1 for the chisel method and 95 kg N ha−1 for disk and no‐tillage. Tillage has a greater potential to increase yields even at relatively low N levels. When tilled, carinata produces 8%–17% greater seed yield at 45 kg N ha−1 than no‐tilled carinata grown with 135 kg N ha−1. These results indicate that tilling the subsoil and applying 90–135 kg N ha−1 are required for carinata production in soils with a hardpan. Core Ideas: Soil compaction and imprudent nitrogen application are key factors that may lower crop yields.A hardpan at 15 cm restricted carinata taproot growth but promoted lateral root growth.Subsoiling and N application improved carinata growth relative to no‐tillage.Seed yield response to N application rate depended on the tillage method.Tillage has a greater potential to increase yields even at relatively low N levels.Carinata production in soils with a hardpan requires subsoiling and application of 90–135 kg N ha−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The Care Home Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Study (CHIPPS) process evaluation hypothesized that contextual factors influenced the likelihood of deprescribing by pharmacist-independent prescribers. The aim of this paper is to test this hypothesis. Methods: From CHIPPS study data, medications deprescribed totalled 284 for 370 residents in UK care homes. Regression analysis was used to describe the relationship between the number of medicines stopped and contextual factors (number of residents cared for, pharmacist employment within associated medical practice, previous care home experience, hours active within trial, years’ experience as a pharmacist and as a prescriber). Results: Number of residents and pharmacist-independent prescriber employment within a medical practice were positive predictors of deprescribing. Conclusion: Previous experiences were not related to deprescribing likelihood. Increasing the number of residents increases the opportunity for deprescribing and therefore this relationship is intuitive. The location within a medical practice is an interesting finding that requires further exploration to understand its exact nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deuterostomes are the major division of animal life which includes sea stars, acorn worms, and humans, among a wide variety of ecologically and morphologically disparate taxa. However, their early evolution is poorly understood, due in part to their disparity, which makes identifying commonalities difficult, as well as their relatively poor early fossil record. Here, we review the available morphological, palaeontological, developmental, and molecular data to establish a framework for exploring the origins of this important and enigmatic group. Recent fossil discoveries strongly support a vermiform ancestor to the group Hemichordata, and a fusiform active swimmer as ancestor to Chordata. The diverse and anatomically bewildering variety of forms among the early echinoderms show evidence of both bilateral and radial symmetry. We consider four characteristics most critical for understanding the form and function of the last common ancestor to Deuterostomia: Hox gene expression patterns, larval morphology, the capacity for biomineralization, and the morphology of the pharyngeal region. We posit a deuterostome last common ancestor with a similar antero‐posterior gene regulatory system to that found in modern acorn worms and cephalochordates, a simple planktonic larval form, which was later elaborated in the ambulacrarian lineage, the ability to secrete calcium minerals in a limited fashion, and a pharyngeal respiratory region composed of simple pores. This animal was likely to be motile in adult form, as opposed to the sessile origins that have been historically suggested. Recent debates regarding deuterostome monophyly as well as the wide array of deuterostome‐affiliated problematica further suggest the possibility that those features were not only present in the last common ancestor of Deuterostomia, but potentially in the ur‐bilaterian. The morphology and development of the early deuterostomes, therefore, underpin some of the most significant questions in the study of metazoan evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In contrast to what is seen clinically, male mice are resistant to antipsychotic‐induced obesity. This is problematic as preclinical studies examining mechanisms of antipsychotic‐induced metabolic dysfunction might be relevant to only half the population. This study sought to determine whether housing mice at thermoneutrality and under conditions of preexisting obesity, steps that have not been previously considered, would uncover a greater obesogenic effect of the antipsychotic olanzapine (OLZ). Methods: C57BL6/J mice were fed a low‐ or high‐fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks and then switched to a control HFD or an HFD supplemented with OLZ for 6 weeks. Results: Irrespective of obesity, OLZ treatment attenuated weight gain and increased energy expenditure in male mice. In females, OLZ increased food intake and potentiated weight gain in mice with preexisting obesity. Conclusions: Despite taking steps to increase clinical translatability, this study did not unmask an obesogenic effect of OLZ in male mice. Interestingly, prior studies in female mice could have been underestimating the metabolic consequences of OLZ by not considering the importance of preexisting obesity. Uncovering the mechanisms conferring resistance to weight gain in males may provide clues for approaches to counter the metabolic side effects of antipsychotics clinically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Asturicystis' havliceki Fatka & Kordule from the middle Cambrian of Bohemia (Czech Republic) is re‐described based on its type material. Several features, including the extension of the food grooves and presence of ventral swellings suggest that 'A.' havliceki does not belong to Asturicystis, and is placed in the new genus Bohemiacinctus. To ascertain the phylogenetic position of Bohemiacinctus havliceki, we conducted Bayesian fossil tip‐dating and parsimony‐based phylogenetic analyses of 24 species spanning all major groups of cinctan higher taxa. Results show a high degree of congruence between tree topologies recovered by both tip‐dated and parsimony‐based analyses. Both methods indicate B. havliceki is phylogenetically distant from Asturicystis and is most likely to be an early representative of the family Sucocystidae. Overall, our phylogeny is broadly similar to previous estimates of cinctan relationships, including a more conventional phylogenetic position of controversial taxa such as Protocinctus. These results point to the sensitivity of small clades such as cinctans to taxon sampling effects, and highlights the importance of taxonomy and accurate morphological character descriptions in phylogenetic analyses of fossil taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to transform our current food system if we are to feed the rapidly expanding global population while maintaining planetary health. Within the island of Ireland, there is an urgent need to diversify the foods that currently contribute to our populations' protein intake. A Shared Island Innovative Food System approach is required to achieve this in a manner that is sustainable and provides benefits to producers, consumers and other supply chain participants. The Protein‐I project employs such an approach, with the paradigm focusing on production of plant food through to human health, while paying particular attention to the development of the rural bioeconomy. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the team will develop strategies to maximise sustainable plant protein production in a traceable/transparent fashion and assess the impact of changes to existing value chains and the development of new value chains for the rural economy. A smart supply chain technology solution tailored to the needs of the agri‐food industry will be developed and tested. Additionally, we will co‐design consumer‐led approaches to diversify plant protein intake, model the impact of changes at the population level and perform human interventions to demonstrate efficacy in terms of achieving adequate nutrition and improved health. Comprehensive engagement with stakeholders is embedded throughout the whole project to embrace the multi‐actor approach. Overall, the project will be a key step towards future‐proofing our food system on the island of Ireland and moving towards protecting planetary and population health, within the context of a just transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing cover crops can improve land‐use efficiency and diversification, making agricultural enterprises more resilient to market fluctuations. We investigated how grazing intensity affects cover crop forage responses and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lint yield. Cover crops were a rye (Secale cereale L.)–oat (Avena sativa L.) mixture managed as follows: no grazing + 34 kg N ha–1 (NG34), no grazing + 90 kg N ha–1 (NG90), heavy grazing (HG), moderate grazing (MG), and light grazing (LG), compared with a no cover crop control. All grazed treatments received 90 kg N ha–1. Average postgrazing herbage mass (HM) for HG, MG, and LG was 520, 1,350, and 2,120 kg dry matter ha–1, respectively. Herbage accumulation (HA) rate was greater for LG than HG, with MG being intermediate. Forage crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations decreased as the season progressed and were usually greater for HG than MG and LG. Stubble residue before cover crop termination was greatest for NG34 and NG90 in 2018 and 2020, however, in 2019 NG90 had greater stubble residue before termination than NG34 (7540 vs. 6650 kg dry matter ha–1). Heavy grazing resulted in greater weed proportion (17 vs. 6.5%) and lesser soil cover (49 vs. 70%) than nongrazed cover crops. Cotton lint yield was low and unaffected by treatment, reaching a maximum of 520 kg ha–1 in 2019. Although lint yield was not affected by cover crop fertilization or grazing during 3 yr, HG reduced soil cover and increased weed presence. Core Ideas: Herbage accumulation rate was greater for light grazing than heavy grazing.Heavy grazing resulted in lesser soil cover and greater weed proportion than no‐grazing.Forage nutritive value was greater for heavy grazing than light grazing and decreased with maturity.Applying different grazing intensities on cover crops did not affect cotton lint yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ketogenic diets (KDs) are a popular tool used for weight management. Studies in mice have demonstrated that KDs reduce food intake, increase energy expenditure and cause weight loss. These studies were completed at room temperature, a condition below the animal's thermal neutral zone which induces thermal stress. As energy intake and expenditure are sensitive to environmental temperature it is not clear if a KD would exert the same beneficial effects under thermal neutral conditions. Adherence to restrictive diets is poor and consequently it is important to examine the effects, and underlying mechanisms, of cycling from a ketogenic to an obesogenic diet. The purpose of the current study was to determine if housing temperature impacted the effects of a KD in obese mice and to determine if the mechanisms driving KD‐induced weight loss reverse when mice are switched to an obesogenic high fat diet. We demonstrate that KD‐induced reductions in food intake, increases in energy expenditure, weight loss and improvements in glucose homeostasis are not dependent upon housing temperature. KD‐induced weight loss seems to be largely explained by reductions in caloric intake while cycling mice back to an obesogenic diet following a period of KD feeding leads to hyperphagia‐induced weight gain. Collectively, our results suggest that prior findings with mice fed a KD at room temperature are likely not an artifact of how mice were housed and that initial changes in weight when transitioning from an obesogenic to a ketogenic diet or back are largely dependent on food intake. Key points: Ketogenic diets reduce food intake, increase energy expenditure and cause weight loss in rodentsPrior preclinical studies have been completed at room temperature, a condition which induces thermal stress and limits clinical translatabilityHere it is demonstrated that ketogenic diet‐induced reductions in food intake, increases in energy expenditure, weight loss and improvements in glucose homeostasis are similar in mice housed at room temperature or thermal neutralityKetogenic diet‐induced reductions in food intake appear to explain a large degree of weight loss. Similarly, switching mice from a ketogenic to an obesogenic diet leads to hyperphagia‐mediated weight gain [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the predictive performance for preterm‐pre‐eclampsia (PE) in first‐trimester screening by serum placental growth factor (PlGF) versus pregnancy associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A), in combination with maternal risk factors, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA‐PI), after adjustment for the effect of aspirin in women receiving this treatment. Design Non‐intervention multicentre screening studies for PE in singleton pregnancies. Setting: Maternity hospitals. Population Two independent prospective studies of 8775 and 16 451 women with singleton pregnancies attending for routine assessment at 11+0–13+6 weeks' gestation. Methods: The competing risks model was used to estimate patient‐specific risks of delivery with PE at <37 weeks' gestation based on maternal risk factors and combinations with MAP, UtA‐PI and either PlGF or PAPP‐A. McNemar's test was used to compare the detection rate (DR) of preterm‐PE of screening utilising PlGF versus PAPP‐A, after adjustments for the effects of aspirin. Main outcome measure: Predictive performance for preterm‐PE. Results: In the combined data of 25 226 women, including 678 (2.7%) who developed PE, there were 194(0.8%) with preterm‐PE. Addition of PlGF improved the DR of preterm‐PE, at 10% screen positive rate, by 18.4% (95% CI 12.2–24.6) in screening by maternal risk factors, by 19.9% (95% CI 13.6–26.2) in screening by maternal factors and MAP, and by 7.0% (95% CI 2.3–11.6) in screening by maternal factors, MAP and UtA‐PI. PAPP‐A did not significantly improve the DR provided by any combination of biomarkers. Conclusion: The predictive performance of first trimester PlGF for preterm‐PE is superior to that of PAPP‐A. The predictive performance for preterm pre‐eclampsia of first trimester PlGF is superior to that of PAPP‐A. Linked article: This article is commented on by Howard Cuckle, pp. 1318 in this issue. To view this minicommentary visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17099. This article includes Author Insights, a video abstract available at https://vimeo.com/bjog/authorinsights17096 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake‐/sea‐effect snow forms typically from late fall to winter when a cold air mass moves over the warmer, large water surface. The resulting intense snowfall has many societal impacts on communities living in downwind areas; hence, accurate forecasts of lake‐/sea‐effect snow are essential for safety and preparedness. Forecasting lake‐/sea‐effect snow is extremely challenging, but over the past decades the advancement of numerical forecast models and the expansion of observational networks have incrementally improved the forecasting capability. The recent advancement includes numerical forecast models with high spatiotemporal resolutions that allow simulating vigorous snowstorms at the kilometer‐scale and the frequent inclusion of radar observations in the model. This combination of more accurate weather prediction models as well as ground‐based and remotely sensed observations has aided operational forecasters to make better lake‐/sea‐effect snow forecasts. A remaining challenge is that many observations of precipitation, surface meteorology, evaporation, and heat supply from the water surface are still limited to being land‐based and the information over the water, particularly offshore, remains a gap. This primer overviews the basic mechanisms for lake‐/sea‐effect snow formation, evolution of forecast techniques, and challenges to be addressed in the future. This article is categorized under:Science of Water > Water ExtremesScience of Water > Water and Environmental ChangeScience of Water > Methods [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of faecal biomarkers in lake sediments has been used to reconstruct human population densities and animal husbandry practices in an increasing number of studies in recent years. However, terrigenous biomarkers can decompose in soils, can be stored and redeposited in colluvium and on flood‐plains prior to their ultimate deposition in lakes. These and other effects can blur and distort biomarker signals. Therefore, we analysed sediments from two maars in Westeifel to evaluate whether signals of the faecal biomarkers (5β‐stanols, bile acids) demonstrate statistically significant differences between contrasting periods in land‐use intensity. In Holzmaar, palaeoenvironmental data showed evidence for agriculture including cereal cultivation and grassland during the pre‐Roman Iron Age and Middle Ages compared with those from periods that were less influenced by land use and showed a higher abundance of broadleaf forest. However, the specific domesticated taxa of livestock in the locale from these periods remain speculative. We found statistically significantly different faecal biomarker signals, which we interpret to be related to an enhanced deposition of faeces of horses, pigs and ruminants in the core sections that represented periods of amplified land use. The analyses of grass‐ and broadleaf‐tree characteristic n‐alkanes supported the applicability of biomarkers for land‐use reconstruction. Stanol data from a core section dating to the Mesolithic showed no clear results. Analyses of two core sections from Ulmener Maar, which covered periods before and after the decline of elm in the Neolithic, indicated input of pig faeces in the younger section. This study provides important evidence that faecal biomarkers can be used for land‐use reconstruction in central European lakes with small catchment areas for time periods from the Neolithic onwards. The results underscore the importance of bile acid analyses in addition to stanol analyses for an identification of faeces inputs from different animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burgeoning global market for soil microbial inoculants for use in agriculture is being driven by pressure to increase sustainable crop production by managing pests and diseases without environmental impacts. Microbial inoculants, based predominantly on bacteria and fungi, are applied to soil as alternatives to conventional inorganic fertilizers (biofertilizers) or to carry out specific functions including biocontrol of pests and diseases (biopesticides), or for bioremediation and enhancement of soil characteristics. While some soil inoculants such as rhizobia have a long and successful history of use, others have performed inconsistently in the field and failed to live up to their promise suggested by laboratory testing. A more precise understanding of the ecology and modes of action of inoculant strains is key to optimizing their efficacy and guiding their targeted use to situations where they address key limitations to crop production. This will require greater collaboration between science disciplines, including microbiology, plant and soil science, molecular biology and agronomy. Inoculants must be produced and formulated to ensure their effective establishment in the soil and practicality of implementation alongside existing cropping practices. New approaches to strain selection and construction of beneficial microbial consortia should lead to more efficacious inoculant products. Extensive and rigorous field evaluation of inoculants under a range of soil and environmental conditions has rarely been undertaken and is urgently needed to validate emerging inoculant products and underpin successful implementation by growers, especially in a market that is largely unregulated at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antipsychotic (AP) medications, such as olanzapine (OLZ), are used in the treatment of schizophrenia and a growing number of 'off‐label' conditions. A single dose of OLZ causes robust increases in blood glucose within minutes of treatment. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether interventions that increase circulating ketone bodies (fasting, β‐hydroxybutyrate (βHB), ketone esters or a ketogenic diet (KD)) would be sufficient to protect against the acute metabolic side effects of OLZ. We demonstrate that fasting or the short‐term consumption of a KD protects against OLZ‐induced hyperglycaemia, independent of alterations in whole‐body insulin action, and in parallel with a blunted rise in serum glucagon. Interestingly, the effects of fasting and KDs were not recapitulated by acutely increasing circulating concentrations of ketone bodies through treatment with βHB or oral ketone esters, approaches which increase ketone bodies to physiological or supra‐physiological levels, respectively. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that fasting and the short‐term consumption of a KD can protect against acute AP‐induced perturbations in glucose homeostasis, whereas manipulations which acutely increase circulating ketone bodies do not elicit the same beneficial effects. Key points: Antipsychotic medications cause rapid and robust increases in blood glucose.Co‐treatment approaches to offset these harmful metabolic side effects have not been identified.We demonstrate that fasting or the consumption of a short‐term ketogenic diet, but not treatment with β‐hydroxybutyrate or oral ketone esters, protects against acute antipsychotic‐induced hyperglycaemia.The protective effects of fasting and ketogenic diets were paralleled by reductions in serum glucagon, but not improvements in whole‐body insulin action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing to personalise prescribing of certain medicines can improve patient outcomes and reduce adverse drug reactions. This article summarises the key findings of the PGx Impact study, designed to estimate the impact of pre‐emptive genetic testing on prescribing, and discusses potential ways in which pharmacogenetic testing may optimise primary care prescribing in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the cross‐sectional associations between single nutrient intakes and posteriori nutrient‐based dietary patterns and periodontal disease risk in a subset of the UK Biobank cohort. Materials and Methods: Dietary data were collected by 24‐h dietary recall on up to five separate occasions over 16 months. A touchscreen questionnaire was used to collect oral health information. Participants were considered at high risk of periodontal disease if they reported having painful gums and/or bleeding gums and/or loose teeth. Principal component analysis identified four nutrient‐based dietary patterns from 20 nutrients. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of periodontal disease risk for single nutrients and nutrient‐based dietary patterns. Results: A total of 9476 participants (mean age 56.2 years [SD 8.0]) were included in the analysis. Higher intakes of vitamin B6, B12, C, and E, folate, iron, potassium, magnesium, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and total sugar were associated with a lower risk of periodontal disease. Higher intake of saturated fat was associated with an increased risk. A dietary pattern characterized by high micronutrients and fibre intake was associated with low risk of periodontal disease. Conclusion: Within this sample of middle‐aged and older adults, a "high micronutrient and fibre" dietary pattern was associated with reduced risk of periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated activation of the beta 3 adrenergic receptor (β3AR) with the agonist CL 316,243 (CL) results in remodeling of white adipose tissue (WAT) characterized by increased mitochondrial enzymes and expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). β3AR activation also has profound acute metabolic effects including rapidly decreasing blood glucose, secondary to fatty acid‐induced increases in insulin, and increasing energy expenditure. The acute (single dose) effects of β3AR activation have largely been examined in treatment naive animals and under room temperature housing conditions. The current study examined if repeated CL treatment would lead to an attenuation of acute metabolic effects of CL treatment under thermoneutral housing conditions and if this could be rescued with cilostamide, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. We provide evidence demonstrating that the acute effects of CL to increase serum fatty acids and insulin and reduce blood glucose, but not increases in energy expenditure, are attenuated in mice following repeated treatment with CL. This occurs in parallel with reductions in indices of protein kinase A signaling in WAT including the phosphorylation of hormone sensitive lipase. The findings of attenuated serum fatty acid, insulin, and blood glucose responses were confirmed in both high‐fat fed and UCP1−/− mice repeatedly treated with CL. Desensitization to CL in mice was rescued by cilostamide. Herein, we provide evidence that the glucose lowering, but not thermogenesis inducing, effects of CL are attenuated with repeated treatment and can be rescued by cilostamide. The findings of this study point toward novel adjunct treatment approaches that could be used to maximize therapeutic, glucose lowering effects of β3AR agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: Ambient cold exposure is often regarded as a promising anti‐obesity treatment in mice.However, most preclinical studies aimed at treating obesity via cold‐induced thermogenesis have been confounded by subthermoneutral housing temperatures. Therefore, the ability of ambient cold to combat diet‐induced obesity in mice housed under humanized thermoneutral conditions is currently unknown.Moreover, mammals such as mice are rarely exposed to chronic ambient cold without reprieve, yet mice are often subjected to experimental conditions of chronic rather than intermittent cold exposure (ICE), despite ICE being more physiologically relevant.In the present study, we provide novel evidence that thermoneutral housing uncouples the effects of ICE on glucose and energy homeostasis suggesting that ICE, despite improving glucose tolerance, is not an effective obesity treatment when mice are housed under humanized thermoneutral conditions. The present study examines whether a physiologically relevant model of ambient cold exposure, intermittent cold exposure (ICE), could ameliorate the metabolic impairments of diet‐induced obesity in male and female mice housed under humanized thermoneutral conditions. Male and female C57BL/6J mice housed at thermoneutrality (29°C) were fed a low‐fat diet or high‐fat diet for 6 weeks before being weight matched into groups that remained unperturbed or underwent ICE for 4 weeks (4°C for 60 min day–1; 5 days week–1) when being maintained on their respective diets. ICE induced rapid and persistent hyperphagia exacerbating rather than attenuating high‐fat diet‐induced obesity over time. These ICE‐induced increases in adiposity were found to be energy intake‐dependent via pair‐feeding. Despite exacerbating high‐fat diet‐induced obesity, ICE improved glucose tolerance, independent of diet, in a sex‐specific manner. The effects of ICE on glucose tolerance were not attributed to improvements in whole‐body insulin tolerance, tissue specific insulin action, nor differences in markers of hepatic insulin clearance or pancreatic beta cell proliferation. Instead, ICE increased serum concentrations of insulin and C‐peptide in response to glucose, suggesting that ICE may improve glucose tolerance by potentiating pancreatic glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. These data suggest that ICE, despite improving glucose tolerance, is not an effective obesity treatment in mice housed under humanized conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (LICs) have demonstrated benefits for students' learning and development in medical education globally. The model emphasises importance with respect to continuity and time in the workplace for learners. There is a need to explore how LICs become a viable training model for learners. An amalgamative LIC model was drawn upon to inform the design of a placement for trainee pharmacists on a hospital ward. This study sought to determine the local viability of a longitudinal placement for trainee pharmacists, using communities of practice learning theory to interpret findings. Methods: A design‐based research approach informed study design. A longitudinal placement was implemented on two hospital wards for 13 weeks. Trainees (n = 3) were interviewed four times over a 14‐week period. Ward staff (n = 14) were interviewed at week 14. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Qualitative longitudinal analysis, using the trajectory approach, was conducted using abductive analysis. The coded data were organised into a framework and subthemes were created. Results: Trainees acquired membership within the multi‐disciplinary ward team over time. This led to an enriched learning experience and the trainee's professional development improved as they attained more responsibilities. This enabled them to make a greater contribution to patient care; more medication consultations occurred, and discharge times improved. Discussion The local viability of the longitudinal placement appears to be linked to the trainee's ability to acquire membership within the ward community of practice. Membership gave trainee's access to learning opportunities, supporting their development, and they earnt the trust of staff, leading to more responsibilities for providing patient care. Further research into developing longitudinal placements that support trainee healthcare professionals to acquire membership within communities of practice is warranted. This paper highlights the importance of healthcare trainees acquiring membership within healthcare teams to enhance their learning experience, advance their professional development and improve patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All academic medical specialties have the obligation to continuously create new knowledge that will improve patient care and outcomes. Emergency medicine (EM) is no exception. Since its origins over 50 years ago, EM has struggled to fulfill its research mission. EM ranks last among clinical specialties in the percentage of medical school faculty who are National Institutes of Health (NIH)‐funded principal investigators (PIs; 1.7%) and the percentage of medical school departments with NIH‐funded PIs (33%). Although there has been a steady increase in the number of NIH‐funded projects and total NIH dollars, the slowing growth in the number of NIH‐funded PIs and lack of growth in the number of EM departments with NIH‐funded PIs is cause for concern. In response, the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM) Research Task Force proposes a set of 2030 strategic goals for the EM research enterprise that are based on sustaining historic growth rates in NIH funding. These goals have been endorsed by the AACEM Executive Committee and the boards of Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM). The 2030 strategic goals include 200 NIH‐funded projects led by 150 EM PIs in at least 50 EM departments with over $100M in annual funding resulting in over 3% of EM faculty being NIH‐funded PIs. Achieving these goals will require a targeted series of focused strategies to increase the number of EM faculty who are competitive for NIH funding. This requires a coordinated, intentional effort with investments at the national, departmental, and individual levels. These efforts are ideally led by medical school department chairs, who can create the culture and provide the resources needed to be successful. The specialty of EM has the obligation to improve the health of the public and to fulfill its research mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers have been interested in using foliar‐applied nutrient products to increase soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield since at least the 1970s, despite limited evidence that these products offer consistent yield increases when used prophylactically. Recently, interest in foliar fertilizer products for soybean production has been renewed, likely related to elevated soybean prices. Over the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons (46 site‐years), agronomists in 16 states collaborated to test six foliar nutrient treatments (commercial mixtures of macro‐ and micro‐nutrients) on soybean grain yield and composition. Soybean grain yield and composition differed among sites but not among foliar fertilizer treatments. Results show that prophylactic foliar fertilization is likely to decrease the profitability of soybean production. Foliar fertilizer products tested in this study and similar products should not be recommended to U.S. soybean farmers in the absence of visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency. Core Ideas: The tested prophylactic foliar fertilizers did not increase soybean yield.Foliar fertilizers did not change grain composition.Prophylactic foliar fertilizers tested decreased profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatty acid profile of oilseed (Brassica carinata A. Braun) has prompted interest as a renewable fuel feedstock due to the high proportions of erucic acid (C22:1) in its seed. In addition, B. carinata produces sulfur (S)-rich secondary metabolites called glucosinolates (GSLs) that protect the plant from pests and disease but it could also reduce the palatability and nutritional value of animal feed when the seed meal is used as a protein supplement. In B. carinata, it is not clear how S availability could be used to reduce total GSL content (TGC) or its possible effects on yield or oil productivity and quality. In this study, we evaluated the effects of S fertility on seed yield and components important to meal quality like TGC, crude protein content (CPC), and factors affecting oil quality including total oil content (TOC) and erucic acid content (EAC). We compared three B. carinata genotypes with varying seed TGC and one low GSL, B. napus L., grown under a semicontrolled greenhouse environment. A 2-yr study found that increasing S fertility of deficient plants increased seed yield, TGC, EAC, and CPC without significantly affecting TOC. Seed TGC can be reduced by limiting S but with some potential for yield penalties. Only 'Avanza 641' and 'AAC A120' produced seed at the 0% S rate, indicating an increased efficiency for S acquisition compared with other genotypes. This study shows that S requirements may be similar between oilseed Brassica regardless of seed GSLs, that limiting S can reduce TGC but to the detriment of seed yield, and a positive relationship between TGC to EAC, providing an opportunity for improving oil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who idiopathically toe‐walk (ITW) habitually operate at greater plantarflexion angles and thus, at shorter muscle‐tendon unit (MTU) lengths than typically developing (TD) children. Therefore, it is often assumed that habitual use of the gastrocnemius muscle in this way will cause remodelling of the muscle‐tendon architecture compared to TD children. However, the gastrocnemius muscle architecture of children who ITW has never been measured. It is essential that we gain a better understanding of these muscle‐tendon properties, to ensure that appropriate clinical interventions can be provided for these children. Five children who ITW (age 8 ± 2 years) and 14 TD children (age 10 ± 2 years) participated in this study. Ultrasound was combined with isokinetic dynamometry and surface electromyography, to measure muscle architecture at common positions and passive lengthening properties of the gastrocnemius muscle and tendon across full range of motion. Regardless of which common condition groups were compared under, both the absolute and normalised to MTU muscle belly and fascicle lengths were always longer, and the Achilles tendon length was always shorter in children who ITW than TD children (p < 0.05; large effect sizes). The passive lengthening properties of the muscle and tendon were not different between groups (p > 0.05); however, passive joint stiffness was greater in children who ITW at maximum dorsiflexion (p = 0.001) and at a joint moment common to all participants (p = 0.029). Consequently, the findings of this pilot study indicate a remodelling of the relative MTU that does not support the concept that children who ITW commonly experience muscle shortening. Therefore, greater consideration of the muscle and tendon properties are required when prescribing clinical interventions that aim to lengthen the MTU, and treatments may be better targeted at the Achilles tendon in children who ITW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Findings: What is the central question of this study?What are the in vivo operating lengths of the gastrocnemius muscle in children who idiopathically toe‐walk?What is the main finding and its importance?Children who idiopathically toe‐walk operate at more plantarflexed positions but at longer fascicle lengths than typically developing children during gait. However, these ranges utilised during gait correspond to where children who idiopathically toe‐walk are optimally strong. This should be considered when prescribing clinical treatments to restore typical gait. Children who idiopathically toe‐walk (ITW) habitually operate at greater plantarflexion angles than typically developing (TD) children, which might result in shorter, sub‐optimal gastrocnemius fascicle lengths. However, currently no experimental evidence exists to substantiate this notion. Five children who ITW and 14 TD children completed a gait analysis, whilst gastrocnemius fascicle behaviour was simultaneously quantified using ultrasound. The moment–angle (hip, knee and ankle) and moment–length (gastrocnemius) relationships were determined from isometric maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) on an isokinetic dynamometer combined with ultrasound. During gait, children who ITW operated at more plantarflexed angles (Δ = 20°; P = 0.013) and longer muscle fascicle lengths (Δ = 12 mm; P = 0.008) than TD children. During MVC, no differences in the peak moment of any joint were found. However, peak plantarflexor moment occurred at significantly more plantarflexed angles (−16 vs. 1°; P = 0.010) and at longer muscle fascicle lengths (44 vs. 37 mm; P = 0.001) in children who ITW than TD children. Observed alterations in the moment–angle and moment–length relationships of children who ITW coincided with the ranges used during gait. Therefore, the gastrocnemius muscle in children who ITW operates close to the peak of the force–length relationship, similarly to TD children. Thus, this study indicates that idiopathic toe‐walking is truly an ankle joint pathology, and children who ITW present with substantial alterations in the gastrocnemius muscle functional properties, which appear well adapted to the characteristic demands of equinus gait. These findings should be considered when prescribing clinical treatments to restore typical gait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical analysis of cobalt(III) protoporphyrin IX (CoP), synthesis and characterization of CoP nanoparticles, and signal amplification for biosensor development is presented. CoP was self‐assembled into nanoparticles and then released to produce over 1000 electrochemically‐detectable molecules for each protein target of interest, in this case monoclonal rabbit antibody. Anodic stripping voltammetry was utilized for quantitative and sensitive detection of CoP which correlated to target protein concentration. The CoP limit of detection was 4 nM and target protein was detected at 100 pM. This combination of nanoparticle and electrochemical signal amplification could allow for sensitive, inexpensive, and portable detection of protein biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems, mineral N is the most managed nutrient because of its mobility and therefore optimal use of N is an important goal for sustainable management of cotton. Soil characteristics influence the availability of N for plant growth and therefore spatial variability in soil should be considered for optimal N fertilization. The study was established in a 4‐yr rotation with 2 yr of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flueggé) followed by peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and cotton. A 2‐yr study was conducted to develop zone‐specific in‐season N recommendations based on soil electrical conductivity (EC) variations captured by Veris MSP3. Each year, nitrogen calibration strips (NCS) were established in the cotton quadrant to inform in‐season N fertilization rate decisions. The NCS informed in‐season N rates varied from 34 to 101 kg N ha–1 for two EC zones. In 2019, NCS informed N rate (34 kg N ha–1) was a 50% reduction from the standard N rate of 67 kg ha–1 with no loss in cotton lint yield in zone 1. In zone 2, in‐season N application was reduced to 50 kg N ha–1 from the standard N rate with no loss in cotton lint yield. Nitrogen calibration strips have the potential to be used as an on‐farm tool to assist growers in making optimal in‐season N application decisions. Core Ideas: Variability within a field is captured based on soil electrical conductivity (EC).Differential response of N is captured by establishing nitrogen calibration strips (NCS).Nitrogen calibration strips consist of incremental rates of N established at planting.Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and visual quality ratings (VQR) were used to evaluate N response.Strip informed in‐season N application rates were 25–50% lower than standard rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carinata (Brassicacarinata) is an oilseed crop which, because of its non‐edible oil composition and favorable fatty acid profile, is proposed as a "green" sustainable aviation fuel. It can be grown as a winter crop in the southeastern USA or as a summer annual crop in northern latitudes. No crop models exist for carinata because it is a relatively new crop. The CROPGRO model is a mechanistic crop simulation of daily crop growth and development as a function of daily weather, soil properties, crop management, and species parameters. We adapted the CROPGRO model to simulate carinata based on growth analysis data collected over two seasons at three sites: Quincy, FL, Jay, FL, and Shorter, AL. The adaptation process required literature knowledge as well as optimization against field observations. The parameterization of model sensitivities to climatic factors is presented. The adapted model gave good simulations of carinata growth dynamics compared to observed growth during different seasons and locations and in response to N fertilization. While additional testing is appropriate, the model is sufficiently ready to be used for various applications. An example application is presented for the effect of sowing date on carinata yield and maturity over long‐term weather in the Southeastern USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica carinata or Ethiopian mustard, a non‐edible oilseed brassica, is a low carbon, purpose‐grown, and none‐to‐low indirect land‐use change bioenergy feedstock for the production of drop‐in sustainable aviation fuel, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and a suite of value‐added coproducts. Carinata oil converted to drop‐in fuel using an American Society for Testing and Materials approved Catalytic Hydrothermolysis process has been successfully tested in commercial and military aviation. Carinata meal, the residue after oil extraction, is a high‐protein feed supplement for livestock, poultry, and swine, and can also yield specialty products. The Southeast Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC) is a public–private partnership formed with a twofold mission: (1) Removing physical, environmental, social, and economic constraints that prevent regional intensification of carinata production as a low‐carbon feedstock for renewable fuel and coproducts and (2) demonstrating enhanced value across the entire value chain by mitigating risk to farmers and other stakeholders. The partnership's goal is to energize the US bioeconomy through sustainable agriculture and thus contribute to energy security and economic diversification. SPARC relies on a combination of cutting‐edge multidisciplinary research and active industry engagement to facilitate adoption of the crop. This involves informing stakeholders along the entire supply chain, from producers to end‐users, policymakers, influencers, and the public, about the opportunities and best practices related to carinata. This article provides context and background concerning carinata commercialization as a winter cash crop in the Southeast US for renewable fuels and bioproducts. The advances made to date in the areas of feedstock development, fuel and coproduct development, meal valorization, supply chain logistics, and stakeholder engagement are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica carinata is a non‐food, low‐carbon, none‐to‐low indirect land‐use change impact oilseed feedstock grown for sustainable biofuels, bioproducts, and high protein seed meal. Understanding carinata growth and development is critical to the development of best management practices for maximum productivity and profitability of double‐cropped farming systems. Field experiments were conducted during 2017–2018 (Year 1) and 2018–2019 (Year 2) winter–spring growing seasons in Quincy, Florida, to quantify the total aboveground dry matter accumulation (TDM), allocation, growth, nutrient uptake, and seed quality. The two carinata cultivars Avanza 641 and AX17012 accumulated 10826 and 9343 kg TDM ha−1 in Year 1 and 9655 and 10,642 kg TDM ha−1 in Year 2, respectively, at harvest maturity. The proportion of DM in the vegetative parts such as leaves and stems decreased, and the DM in reproductive structures such as silique walls and seeds increased with maturity. Seed yield (SY) was similar between cultivars but differed between years with Year 1 (2732 kg ha−1), producing 29% greater SY than Year 2 (1929 kg ha−1). Carinata primary stem has 17–20 leaf nodes, with 75%–88% of the axillary meristems producing primary and secondary branches. Crop growth rate (CGR) increased from vegetative to pod development for both cultivars in Year 1, while in Year 2, AX17012 and Avanza 641 attained maximum CGR at the pod development and bolting/flowering stages, respectively. Maximum seasonal nutrient uptake in leaves, stems, and siliques generally occurred in the early, mid, and late season, respectively, in both years. Seed weight, oil, monounsaturated fatty acids, C18:3, C20:1, and C22:1 concentrations increased with plant age, whereas protein, glucosinolate, polyunsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, C18:1, and C18:2 concentrations decreased with plant maturity. These results can be used for crop modeling to predict growth, development, and yield and aid in developing in‐season decision support tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Pharmacogenetics (PGx) in the UK is currently implemented in secondary care for a small group of high‐risk medicines. However, most prescribing takes place in primary care, with a large group of medicines influenced by commonly occurring genetic variations. The goal of this study is to quantitatively estimate the volumes of medicines impacted by implementation of a population‐level, pre‐emptive pharmacogenetic screening programme for nine genes related to medicines frequently dispensed in primary care in 2019. Methods: A large community pharmacy database was analysed to estimate the national incidence of first prescriptions for 56 PGx drugs used in the UK for the period 1 January–31 December 2019. These estimated prescription volumes were combined with phenotype frequency data to estimate the occurrence of actionable drug–gene interactions (DGI) in daily practice in community pharmacies. Results: In between 19.1 and 21.1% (n = 5 233 353–5 780 595) of all new prescriptions for 56 drugs (n = 27 411 288 new prescriptions/year), an actionable drug–gene interaction (DGI) was present according to the guidelines of the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group and/or the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium. In these cases, the DGI would result in either increased monitoring, guarding against a maximum ceiling dose or an optional or immediate drug/dose change. An immediate dose adjustment or change in drug regimen accounted for 8.6–9.1% (n = 2 354 058–2 500 283) of these prescriptions. Conclusions: Actionable drug–gene interactions frequently occur in UK primary care, with a large opportunity to optimise prescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the results of a post-hoc analysis of the StopPRE trial, which examined the use of aspirin in pregnant individuals at high risk for preterm pre-eclampsia (PE). The trial found that discontinuing aspirin treatment at 24-28 weeks of gestation was non-inferior to continuing treatment in preventing preterm PE in individuals with normal biomarker levels or uterine artery Doppler. However, the authors challenge the conclusion, arguing that the study had insufficient power and that a larger study is needed to determine the effect of aspirin discontinuation. [Extracted from the article]

A new design for microtracked concentrating photovoltaics (mCPVs) published by one of us in Nature Energy has the same form factor as PV. This paper analyzes the cost below which it would compete with PV in behind‐the‐meter applications for commercial electricity customers in four cities in southern United States, assuming that the only significant differences between mCPV and PV are mCPV's higher efficiency and mCPV's inability to utilize sunlight that is either diffuse or has a high angle of incidence. The analysis first optimizes PV and mCPV microgrids and then selects the battery capacity that maximizes the internal rate of return (IRR) and selects a target mCPV installed cost for which the optimal mCPV IRR matches the optimal PV IRR. The result for projects starting in 2020 is $1.2/W in Lancaster, CA and Las Vegas, cities with similar ratios of direct to total irradiance. Modesto, CA and Kansas City have target mCPV installed costs of $1.07/W and $0.94/W, respectively. The electricity tariff and battery costs impact both PV and mCPV and have a minimal effect on the mCPV cost at which the two technologies compete. mCPV occupies 33.2% less area per watt than PV reducing some components of installed cost. In 2020, target mCPV module costs are $0.33/W in Lancaster and Las Vegas, $0.25/W in Modesto, and $0.17/W in Kansas City. These target costs decline by on average 9.6% per year for projects starting 2021–2025, similar to the 9.3% rate of decline in projected PV module costs over this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica carinata, a nonfood oilseed crop, is used to produce renewable fuels because of its high oil content and favorable fatty acid profile. Production in the southeastern United States is relatively new, and information on agronomic management practices to optimize growth and yield is limited. Since optimal seeding rate may depend on the land preparation method for this small‐seeded crop, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage system (conventional, no‐till, broadcast‐disc, and ripper‐roller) and seeding rate (1.12, 5.60, 10.09, and 14.57 kg seed ha−1) on the performance of B. carinata. A randomized complete block design with a strip‐plot restriction on randomization and four replications was implemented in Headland, AL, Jay, FL, and Quincy, FL, over five site‐years during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 growing seasons. Data were collected on soil residue cover; plant population; soil penetrometer resistance and moisture; biomass (including carbon and nitrogen); stalk diameter; yield and yield components; seed oil, protein, and glucosinolates concentration; and oil composition. Soil penetrometer resistance was significantly affected by tillage system, with the ripper‐roller consistently having the lowest penetration resistance values across all site‐years. Ripper‐roller tillage had the highest oil content and lowest protein and glucosinolate contents. Yield response to tillage system was variable. Among seeding rate treatments, yield was lowest at 1.12 kg seed ha−1 and similar among 5.60, 10.09, and 14.57 kg seed ha−1 at all site‐years. There was no tillage by seeding rate interaction for yield. Results indicate that among seeding rate treatments used, 5.6 kg seed ha−1 rate was optimal at all site‐years regardless of land preparation method and is thus the recommended seeding rate for commercial carinata production in the Southeastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental consequences of using nonrenewable fossil fuels have motivated a global quest for sustainable alternatives from renewable sources. Carinata has been developed as a low carbon intensity, non‐food oilseed biomolecular platform to produce advanced drop‐in renewable fuels, meal, and co‐products. The crop is widely adaptable to grow in the humid subtropical and humid continental climatic regions of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia as a spring or winter crop. Carinata is heat tolerant, resistant to diseases and seed shattering with lower water‐use requirements than other oilseed brassicas. Adopting carinata in double‐cropping systems would require continuing research to integrate crop biology with agronomy, to understand growth and development and its interaction with agricultural inputs and management. Site‐specific best management agronomic practices and crop improvement research to develop frost‐tolerant, early‐maturing, nutrient use‐efficient, and high yielding varieties with desirable oil content and fatty acid profile will enhance the crop's adaptability and economic viability. The exploitation of intra‐ and interspecific and intra‐ and intergeneric diversity will further enhance carinata productivity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review attempts to present a comprehensive description of carinata's biology, beginning with its origin and current state of distribution, availability of genetic and genomic resources, and a discussion of its morphology, phenology, and reproduction. A detailed analysis of the agronomy of the crop, including planting and germination and management practices, is presented in the context of crop growth and development. This will facilitate global adoption, sustainable production, and commercialization of carinata as a dedicated biofuel oilseed crop in diverse cropping systems and growing regions of the world, including the Southeast United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]