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This single-participant idiographic study examines the implications of a student's identity crisis in the climate classroom through the lens of existential phenomenology. The study analyses the ontological sense-making process of a mixed-race, bisexual female student reckoning with the racial dimensions of climate change during an environmental course in a liberal arts college in the Netherlands. By delving into the ontological implications of the participant's experience of the course, the analysis shows that environmental education can meaningfully impact the mind-body relationship and self-identification of students with marginalized identities. The findings challenge some of the assumptions of popular frameworks for understanding marginalization in environmental education, like intersectionality, and post-humanist perspectives. The authors conclude that attending to human sense-making in environmental education can benefit students with marginalized identities by grounding environmental education in practices that make space for these identities.

The Far-INfrarEd Spectrometer for Surface Emissivity (FINESSE) instrument combines a commercial Bruker EM27 spectrometer with a front-end viewing and calibration rig developed at Imperial College London. FINESSE is specifically designed to enable accurate measurements of surface emissivity, covering the range 400–1600 cm−1, and, as part of this remit, can obtain views over the full 360° angular range. In this part, Part 1, we describe the system configuration, outlining the instrument spectral characteristics, our data acquisition methodology, and the calibration strategy. As part of the process, we evaluate the stability of the system, including the impact of knowledge of blackbody (BB) target emissivity and temperature. We also establish a numerical description of the instrument line shape (ILS), which shows strong frequency-dependent asymmetry. We demonstrate why it is important to account for these effects by assessing their impact on the overall uncertainty budget on the level 1 radiance products from FINESSE. Initial comparisons of observed spectra with simulations show encouraging performance given the uncertainty budget.

BackgroundLimited data are available describing the effects of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections on the plasma proteome.MethodsPCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 patients, enrolled in a natural history study, underwent analysis of the plasma proteome. A prospective cohort of 66 unvaccinated and 24 vaccinated persons with different degrees of infection severity were evaluated acutely (within 40 days of symptom onset), and at three and ten months. Comparisons based on vaccination status alone and unsupervised hierarchical clustering were performed. A second cohort of vaccinated Omicron patients were evaluated acutely and at ten months.ResultsAcutely, unvaccinated patients manifested overexpression of proteins involved in immune and inflammatory responses, while vaccinated patients exhibited adaptive immune responses without significant inflammation. At three and ten months, only unvaccinated patients had diminished but sustained inflammatory (C3b, CCL15, IL17RE) and immune responses (DEFA5,TREM1). Both groups had underexpression of pathways essential for cellular function, signaling, and angiogenesis (AKT1, MAPK14, HSPB1) across phases. Unsupervised clustering, based on protein expression, identified four groups of patients with variable vaccination rates demonstrating that additional clinical factors influence the plasma proteome. The proteome of vaccinated Omicron patients did not differ from vaccinated pre-Omicron patients.ConclusionsVaccination attenuates the inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection across phases. However, at ten months after symptom onset, changes in the plasma proteome persist in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, which may be relevant to post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections associated with post-acute infection syndromes.

Objectives This study aims to show whether correlation exists between pediatric residency applicants’ quantitative scores on the United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 2 Clinical Knowledge examination and their subsequent performance in residency training based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Milestones, which are competency-based assessments that aim to determine residents’ ability to work unsupervised after postgraduate training. No previous literature has correlated Step 2 Clinical Knowledge scores with pediatric residency performance assessed by Milestones. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, the United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Scores and Milestones data were collected from all 188 residents enrolled in a single categorical pediatric residency program from 2012 - 2017. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated amongst available test and milestone data points to determine correlation between test scores and clinical performance. Results Using Pearson correlation coefficients, no significant correlation was found between quantitative scores on the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge exam and average Milestones ratings (r = -0.1 for post-graduate year 1 residents and r = 0.25 for post-graduate year 3 residents). Conclusions These results demonstrate that Step 2 scores have no correlation to success in residency training as measured by progression along competency-based Milestones. This information should limit the importance residency programs place on quantitative Step 2 scores in their ranking of residency applicants. Future studies should include multiple residency programs across multiple specialties to help make these findings more generalizable.

Abstract Background The National Health Service in England aims to implement tobacco dependency treatment services in all hospitals by 2024. We aimed to assess the uptake of a new service, adapted from the Ottawa Model of Smoking Cessation, and its impact on 6-month quit rates and readmission or death at 1-year follow-up. Methods We conducted a pragmatic service evaluation of a tobacco dependency service implemented among 2067 patients who smoked who were admitted to 2 acute hospitals in London, England, over a 12-month period from July 2020. The intervention consisted of the systematic identification of smoking status, automatic referral to tobacco dependence specialists, provision of pharmacotherapy and behavioural support throughout the hospital stay, and telephone support for 6 months after discharge. The outcomes were (i) patient acceptance of the intervention during admission, (ii) quit success at 6 months after discharge, (iii) death, or (iv) readmission up to 1 year following discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the impact of a range of clinical and demographic variables on these outcomes. Results The majority (79.4%) of patients accepted support at the first assessment. Six months after discharge, 35.1% of successfully contacted patients reported having quit smoking. After adjustment, odds of accepting support were 51–61% higher among patients of all non-White ethnicity groups, relative to White patients, but patients of Mixed, Asian, or Other ethnicities had decreased odds of quit success (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.15–0.66). Decreased odds of accepting support were associated with a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or diabetes; however, diabetes was associated with increased odds of quit success (AOR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.17–3.04). Intention to make a quit attempt was associated with a threefold increase in odds of quit success, and 60% lower odds of death, compared to patients who did not intend to quit. A mental health diagnosis was associated with an 84% increase in the odds of dying within 12 months. Conclusions The overall quit rates were similar to results from Ottawa models implemented elsewhere, although outcomes varied by site. Outcomes also varied according to patient demographics and diagnoses, suggesting personalised and culturally tailored interventions may be needed to optimise quit success.

SoTL has been embraced as a viable approach to professional development for higher education faculty. Workshops and programs of various types and lengths have offered guidance and provided mentorship for SoTL novices. Many books, manuals, and websites describe how to undertake a SoTL investigation, but far fewer sources of advice exist for those assisting faculty beginning in SoTL. In this article, two Carnegie scholars reflect on their experiences and lessons learned helping others join the SoTL community. They discuss common characteristics of the new scholars they encountered and the types of assistance, both intellectual and institutional, that the scholars needed. They offer advice and suggest resources for working with new SoTL scholars and describe some of the benefits that accrue from this work.

Objective: To describe the health characteristics, condition-specific measures, chronic disease risk factors, and healthcare and medication use over time of individuals with musculoskeletal conditions awaiting orthopaedic surgical consultation. Study importance: Musculoskeletal conditions are highly prevalent in the general population and often coexist with chronic diseases. However, little is documented about the overall health of this group. This study describes the health of these individuals, with particular emphasis on modifiable risk factors of chronic disease. Study type: A repeated measures longitudinal cohort study of individuals referred for orthopaedic consultation across three time points (2014, 2015 and 2016). Methods: This study was undertaken in the orthopaedic outpatient service of a public tertiary referral hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Participants were aged 18 years and older and were referred for and awaiting orthopaedic surgical consultation for a musculoskeletal condition (back, neck, hand or wrist pain, or hip or knee osteoarthritis). Measures included patient demographics, condition-specific indicators (e.g. pain, disability, quality of life [QoL]) and chronic disease risk factors (e.g., excess weight, smoking). Results: The mean age of participants was 57.7 years, and 7.3% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Back (43.1%) and knee (35.0%) pain were the most prevalent conditions. At baseline (N = 1052), participants reported moderate pain (mean numerical pain rating scale score of 6.4, standard deviation [SD] 2.4) and QoL (Physical Component Score of 32.7, SD 10.7; Mental Component Score of 46.6, SD 13.3). Chronic disease risk factors were highly prevalent, with 74.6% of participants having three or more. For most measures, there were only small changes over time. Conclusion: Individuals with musculoskeletal conditions who are awaiting orthopaedic surgical consultation have a complex clinical picture and numerous chronic disease risk factors. Given the modifiable nature of many of these risk factors, identifying and addressing them before or while awaiting consultation may improve the health of these individuals.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of Real-Time Prescription Benefits (RTPB), a tool integrated into electronic health records (EHRs), on patient out-of-pocket costs in an academic institution. RTPB provides prescribers with alternative, less expensive medications based on insurance plans. The primary measure was cost-savings, defined as the difference between the out-of-pocket cost of the prescribed medication and its alternative. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prescriptions from outpatient clinics in a university-based health system was conducted between May 2020 and July 2021. Prescriptions were analyzed at the 2nd level of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. Costs were standardized to a 30-day supply. Standardized cost and total cost per prescription, and overall savings for the top 20 medication classes at the 2nd ATC level were calculated. The overall impact of RTPB was estimated based on selecting the least expensive alternative suggested by RTPB. Results: The study found that RTPB information was provided for 22% of prescriptions, with suggested alternatives for 1.26%. Among prescriptions with an alternative selected, the standardized average cost saving was $38.83. The study realized $15,416 in patient total cost savings. If the least expensive RTPB-suggested alternative were chosen for all prescriptions, an estimated $276,386 could have been saved. Psychoanaleptic and psycholeptic medications were the most prescribed with an alternative, with most savings in specialty drugs like anthelmintic and immunostimulant medications. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of RTPB in reducing patient costs. It reports patient cost-savings with RTPB in prescribing decisions. Future research could explore the impact of RTPB on medication adherence using pharmacy claims data.

Background Pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cardiovascular risk factors have been associated with an increased risk of complications following hospitalisation with COVID-19, but their impact on the rate of recovery following discharge is not known.Objectives To determine whether the rate of patient-perceived recovery following hospitalisation with COVID-19 was affected by the presence of CVD or cardiovascular risk factors.Methods In a multicentre prospective cohort study, patients were recruited following discharge from the hospital with COVID-19 undertaking two comprehensive assessments at 5 months and 12 months. Patients were stratified by the presence of either CVD or cardiovascular risk factors prior to hospitalisation with COVID-19 and compared with controls with neither. Full recovery was determined by the response to a patient-perceived evaluation of full recovery from COVID-19 in the context of physical, physiological and cognitive determinants of health.Results From a total population of 2545 patients (38.8% women), 472 (18.5%) and 1355 (53.2%) had CVD or cardiovascular risk factors, respectively. Compared with controls (n=718), patients with CVD and cardiovascular risk factors were older and more likely to have had severe COVID-19. Full recovery was significantly lower at 12 months in patients with CVD (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.62, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.89) and cardiovascular risk factors (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.86).Conclusion Patients with CVD or cardiovascular risk factors had a delayed recovery at 12 months following hospitalisation with COVID-19. Targeted interventions to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in patients with cardiovascular disease remain an unmet need.Trail registration number ISRCTN10980107.

Objectives: The InVITE study, starting in August 2021, was designed to examine the immunogenicity of different vaccine regimens in several countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Liberia, and Mali. Prevaccination baseline samples were used to obtain estimates of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in the study population. Methods: Adult participants were enrolled upon receipt of their initial COVID-19 vaccine from August 2021 to June 2022. Demographic and comorbidity data were collected at the time of baseline sample collection. SARS-CoV-2 serum anti-Spike and anti-Nucleocapsid antibody levels were measured. Results: Samples tested included 1016, 375, 663, and 776, from DRC, Guinea, Liberia, and Mali, respectively. Only 0.8% of participants reported a prior positive SARS-CoV-2 test, while 83% and 68% had anti-Spike and anti-Nucleocapsid antibodies, respectively. Conclusions: Overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 86% over the accrual period, suggesting a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Low rates of prior positive test results may be explained by asymptomatic infections, limited access to SARS-CoV-2 test kits and health care, and inadequate surveillance. These seroprevalence rates are from a convenience sample and may not be representative of the population in general, underscoring the need for timely, well-conducted surveillance as part of global pandemic preparedness.

Abstract Background In Scotland, and in several other countries, most second-hand smoke exposure now occurs in low-income households, where housing constraints and sole parenting often make it harder to create a smoke-free home. This pilot study provided people who smoke with a free 12-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy through local community pharmacies to reduce smoking indoors. Methods Twenty-five parents/caregivers who smoked in the home and cared for children at least weekly were recruited via Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic. Air quality (PM2.5) was monitored in participant homes for seven days before their first pharmacy visit and 12 weeks later. Qualitative interviews (N = 14) were conducted with 13 participants who completed the study and one who withdrew part-way through. The interviews explored views/experiences of using nicotine replacement therapy to help create a smoke-free home. Another participant took part in a shorter telephone discussion at their request, with detailed notes taken by the interviewer, because of their speech disorder. Results Three participants reported smoking outdoors only, one of whom subsequently quit smoking. Six participants reported reduced cigarette consumption by 50% in the home, four reported no (sustained) reduction and one reported increased smoking indoors. Self-reported outcomes were not always consistent with PM2.5 readings. Participants’ experiences of accessing nicotine replacement therapy through community pharmacies varied. Some suggested ongoing support to use nicotine replacement products could better assist behavioural change, and that access could be streamlined by posting products to the home. Several suggested that focusing on changing home smoking behaviours using nicotine replacement therapy might facilitate a future quit attempt. Conclusion Access to free nicotine replacement therapy for temporary use indoors may support some people who smoke to reduce children’s exposure to second-hand smoke. Our findings confirm the need to modify the intervention before undertaking a definitive trial to assess the effectiveness of this approach. This work is now underway.

The rise of mRNA as a novel vaccination strategy presents new opportunities to confront global disease. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is an impurity byproduct of the in vitro transcription reaction used to manufacture mRNA that may affect the potency and safety of the mRNA vaccine in patients. Careful quantitation of dsRNA during manufacturing is critical to ensure that residual dsRNA is minimized in purified mRNA drug substances. In this work, we describe the development and implementation of a sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to quantitate nanogram quantities of residual dsRNA contaminants in mRNA process intermediates using readily available commercial reagents. This sandwich ELISA developed in this study follows a standard protocol and can be easily adapted to most research laboratory environments. Additionally, a liquid handler coupled with an automated robotics system was utilized to increase assay throughput, improve precision, and reduce the analyst time requirement. The final automated sandwich ELISA was able to measure

Background Guidelines on the management of depression recommend that practitioners use patient-reported outcome measures for the follow-up monitoring of symptoms, but there is a lack of evidence of benefit in terms of patient outcomes. Objective To test using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 questionnaire as a patient-reported outcome measure for monitoring depression, training practitioners in interpreting scores and giving patients feedback. Design Parallel-group, cluster-randomised superiority trial; 1 : 1 allocation to intervention and control. Setting UK primary care (141 group general practices in England and Wales). Inclusion criteria Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a new episode of depressive disorder or symptoms, recruited mainly through medical record searches, plus opportunistically in consultations. Exclusions Current depression treatment, dementia, psychosis, substance misuse and risk of suicide. Intervention Administration of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 questionnaire with patient feedback soon after diagnosis, and at follow-up 10–35 days later, compared with usual care. Primary outcome Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, symptom scores at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, scores at 26 weeks; antidepressant drug treatment and mental health service contacts; social functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale) and quality of life (EuroQol 5-Dimension, five-level) at 12 and 26 weeks; service use over 26 weeks to calculate NHS costs; patient satisfaction at 26 weeks (Medical Informant Satisfaction Scale); and adverse events. Sample size The original target sample of 676 patients recruited was reduced to 554 due to finding a significant correlation between baseline and follow-up values for the primary outcome measure. Randomisation Remote computerised randomisation with minimisation by recruiting university, small/large practice and urban/rural location. Blinding Blinding of participants was impossible given the open cluster design, but self-report outcome measures prevented observer bias. Analysis was blind to allocation. Analysis Linear mixed models were used, adjusted for baseline depression, baseline anxiety, sociodemographic factors, and clustering including practice as random effect. Quality of life and costs were analysed over 26 weeks. Qualitative interviews Practitioner and patient interviews were conducted to reflect on trial processes and use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 using the Normalization Process Theory framework. Results Three hundred and two patients were recruited in intervention arm practices and 227 patients were recruited in control practices. Primary outcome data were collected for 252 (83.4%) and 195 (85.9%), respectively. No significant difference in Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, score was found at 12 weeks (adjusted mean difference –0.46, 95% confidence interval –2.16 to 1.26). Nor were significant differences found in Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd Edition, score at 26 weeks, social functioning, patient satisfaction or adverse events. EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version, quality-of-life scores favoured the intervention arm at 26 weeks (adjusted mean difference 0.053, 95% confidence interval 0.013 to 0.093). However, quality-adjusted life-years over 26 weeks were not significantly greater (difference 0.0013, 95% confidence interval –0.0157 to 0.0182). Costs were lower in the intervention arm but, again, not significantly (–£163, 95% confidence interval –£349 to £28). Cost-effectiveness and cost–utility analyses, therefore, suggested that the intervention was dominant over usual care, but with considerable uncertainty around the point estimates. Patients valued using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to compare scores at baseline and follow-up, whereas practitioner views were more mixed, with some considering it too time-consuming. Conclusions We found no evidence of improved depression management or outcome at 12 weeks from using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, but patients’ quality of life was better at 26 weeks, perhaps because feedback of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores increased their awareness of improvement in their depression and reduced their anxiety. Further research in primary care should evaluate patient-reported outcome measures including anxiety symptoms, administered remotely, with algorithms delivering clear recommendations for changes in treatment. Study registration This study is registered as IRAS250225 and ISRCTN17299295. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 17/42/02) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 17. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information. Plain language summary Depression is common, can be disabling and costs the nation billions. The National Health Service recommends general practitioners who treat people with depression use symptom questionnaires to help assess whether those people are getting better over time. A symptom questionnaire is one type of patient-reported outcome measure. Patient-reported outcome measures appear to benefit people having therapy and mental health care, but this approach has not been tested thoroughly in general practice. Most people with depression are treated in general practice, so it is important to test patient-reported outcome measures there, too. In this study, we tested whether using a patient-reported outcome measure helps people with depression get better more quickly. The study was a ‘randomised controlled trial’ in general practices, split into two groups. In one group, people with depression completed the Patient Health Questionnaire, or ‘PHQ-9’, patient-reported outcome measure, which measures nine symptoms of depression. In the other group, people with depression were treated as usual without the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We fed the results of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 back to the people with depression themselves to show them how severe their depression was and asked them to discuss the results with the practitioners looking after them. We found no differences between the patient-reported outcome measure group and the control group in their level of depression; their work or social life; their satisfaction with care from their practice; or their use of medicines, therapy or specialist care for depression. However, we did find that their quality of life was improved at 6 months, and the costs of the National Health Service services they used were lower. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 can improve patients’ quality of life, perhaps by making them more aware of improvement in their depression symptoms, and less anxious as a result. Future research should test using a patient-reported outcome measure that includes anxiety and processing the answers through a computer to give practitioners clearer advice on possible changes to treatment for depression. Scientific summary Some text in this chapter has been adapted from the study protocol published as: Kendrick T, Moore M, Leydon G, et al. Patient-reported outcome measures for monitoring primary care patients with depression (PROMDEP): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2020;21:441. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04344-9. This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article unless otherwise stated. Background Depression is common and costly. It can lead to chronic disability, poor quality of life, suicide, and high service use and costs. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines recommend different treatments for more severe and less severe depression, but general practitioners, who treat more the majority of people with depression in primary care, are often inaccurate in their global clinical assessments of depression severity, and treatment is not targeted to patients most likely to benefit. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that practitioners consider using validated patient-reported outcome measures to inform treatment at diagnosis and follow-up of people with depression, but there is insufficient evidence that these measures improve depression management and outcomes for patients in primary care. Aim and objectives The aim of the study was to answer the research question: What is the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of assessing primary care patients with depression or low mood soon after diagnosis and again at follow-up 10–35 days later, using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 combined with patient feedback and practitioner guidance on treatment? The objectives were to (1) carry out a cluster-randomised controlled trial to compare the intervention with usual care; (2) provide intervention arm patients with written feedback on their Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores, indicating evidence-based treatments relevant to the level of severity of depression to discuss with practitioners; (3) train practitioners to interpret Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores and their implications for choice of treatment, taking into account contextual factors; (4) follow up participants for 26 weeks, with research assessments at 12 and 26 weeks; (5) determine the primary outcome of depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, at 12-week follow-up; (6) examine secondary outcomes, including depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, at 26 weeks, and social functioning and quality of life at both 12- and 26-week follow-ups; (7) measure patient satisfaction, adverse events, antidepressant treatment, secondary care contacts, service use, and costs over 26 weeks’ follow-up, and perform cost-effectiveness and cost–utility analyses; and (8) carry out a qualitative process analysis to explore participants’ reflections on the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the potential for implementing it in practice. Methods The study design was a parallel-group, cluster-randomised superiority trial with 1 : 1 allocation to intervention and control arms. The setting was UK primary care (141 group general practices in England and Wales). Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years with a new episode of depressive disorder or symptoms. Patients were recruited mainly through regular medical records searches but also opportunistically at consultations for new episodes of depression. Exclusion criteria were current treatment for depression; dementia; psychosis; substance misuse; or a significant risk of suicide. The intervention was administration of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 questionnaire as a PROM soon after diagnosis and at follow-up 10–35 days later. Patients were given written feedback on their Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores and potential treatments to discuss with their general practitioners. Practitioners were trained in interpreting Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores and taking them into account in treatment decisions. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, scores at 26 weeks; social functioning (on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale) and quality of life (on the EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level) at 12 and 26 weeks; service use including antidepressant treatment and primary and secondary care contacts over 26 weeks to calculate NHS costs; and patient satisfaction at 26 weeks (on the Medical Informant Satisfaction Scale). For our sample size calculation, we assumed a baseline mean Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, score of 24.0 with a standard deviation of 10.0 (derived from a feasibility study), and mean scores at 12-week follow-up of 14.0 in the intervention arm and 17.0 in the control arm. The anticipated difference of 3.0 points (effect size of 0.3) represented the minimum clinically important difference on the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition. At the 5% level of significance, to have 90% power to detect that difference we calculated we needed 235 patients analysed per arm. We aimed to recruit a mean of six patients per practice and assumed an intracluster correlation coefficient of 0.03 (from the feasibility study), which gave a cluster design effect of 1.15, meaning we needed 270 per arm. We assumed a 20% loss to follow-up at 12 weeks, so the total sample size needed was 270 × 2/0.8 and our original target sample size was a total of 676 patients recruited, from 113 practices, by three recruitment centres (the University of Southampton, the University of Liverpool and University College London). We subsequently revised the target sample size on finding a significant correlation coefficient of > 0.5 between baseline and follow-up values for the primary outcome, which meant that we needed only 222 patients analysed per arm and, therefore, a target sample size of 554 patients recruited (revised 10 June 2021). Cluster randomisation of practices to intervention and control arms was carried out remotely by a Clinical Trials Unit statistician using computerised sequence generation, with minimisation by recruiting centre, size of practice and urban or rural location. Blinding of participating practitioners and patients to allocation was impossible given the nature of the intervention and the cluster-randomised design, but self-report outcome measures were used to prevent researcher rating bias, and statistical analysis was blind to allocation. Differences between intervention and control arms in the outcomes of depressive symptoms, social functioning and quality of life measured at 12- and 26-week follow-up were analysed using linear mixed models, adjusting for baseline depression; duration of depression; history of depression; baseline anxiety; sociodemographic factors (gender, age, socioeconomic position, housing, education, marital status and dependants), and clustering including a random effect for practice. Patient satisfaction, quality of life (quality-adjusted life-years) and costs were compared between the arms over the 26 weeks’ study follow-up period. Differences between the arms in the process of care for depression were also analysed, including patients’ self-reported use of antidepressants at the 12- and 26-week follow-up points, and medication and contacts with mental health services (community mental health nurses, counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, other therapists and social workers) recorded in practice medical records over the 26 weeks’ follow-up. A health economic evaluation was undertaken from an NHS and Personal Social Services perspective. The outcomes were expressed as incremental cost per point improvement in the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, clinical outcome (cost-effectiveness analysis), and incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained (cost–utility analysis). The primary analysis at 26 weeks used a generalised linear mixed model to estimate the differences in costs and quality-adjusted life-years (using the EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level to calculate patient utilities), adjusted for baseline quality of life; baseline anxiety; sociodemographic factors; and practice as a random effect. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve were generated using non-parametric bootstrapping. Qualitative interviews with participating practitioners and patients in both arms were conducted to reflect on their involvement in the trial and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Intervention arm participants were asked about barriers, facilitators, benefits and problems related to using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, including questions derived from the normalisation process theory framework. Results Practices and patients As the number of patients recruited per practice was smaller than anticipated, we recruited significantly more than our target of 113 practices, eventually reaching a total of 189, but 48 practices subsequently withdrew (24 in each arm), so the final number of active practices was 141: 72 intervention and 69 control (28 above our original target). Practice characteristics were well balanced by arm. Of 11,468 patients approached in consultations or through mailed invitations, 1058 (9.2%) returned reply slips about the study: 574 (10.6% of those approached) in the intervention arm and 484 (8.0% of those approached) in the control arm. After the exclusion of patients declining to participate, ineligible at screening or uncontactable, 529 patients were assessed at baseline: 302 (5.5% of those approached) in the intervention arm and 227 (3.8% of those approached) in the control arm. The ratio of intervention to control arm patients recruited was, therefore, 1.3 to 1, which may have reflected lower motivation to take part among control arm practices. Of 529 patients recruited, 453 (85.6%) were followed up at 12 weeks: 254 intervention arm (84.1%) and 199 control arm (87.7%) patients. At the 26-week point, 414 patients (78.3%) were followed up: 230 intervention arm (76.2%) and 184 control arm (81.1%). Medical records data were collected for 259 intervention arm patients (85.8%) and 201 control arm patients (88.5%). The mean BDI-II score for depressive symptoms at baseline was higher in the intervention arm, at 24.1 (standard deviation 8.89) than in the control arm, at 22.4 (standard deviation 9.52). Baseline anxiety and quality-of-life scores were also worse in the intervention arm. Control arm patients were more likely to have had two or more previous depressive episodes. Demographic characteristics were relatively well balanced. Clinical outcomes At the 12-week follow-up, the mean Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, score was 18.5 (standard deviation 10.2) in the intervention arm and 16.9 (standard deviation 10.3) in the control arm. The adjusted mean score was slightly lower in the intervention arm, but this was not statistically significant (mean adjusted difference –0.46, 95% confidence interval –2.16 to 1.26; p = 0.60). At 26 weeks, the mean Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, scores were 15.1 (standard deviation 10.8) in the intervention arm and 14.7 (standard deviation 10.6) in the control arm (mean adjusted difference –1.63, 95% confidence interval –3.48 to 0.21; p = 0.08). Social functioning on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale and Medical Informant Satisfaction Scale satisfaction with care scores favoured the intervention, but the differences found were not statistically significant. A post hoc analysis at 26 weeks showed similar proportions improving by ≥ 50% on the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition, in the intervention and control arms (45.1% vs. 37.3%), but the proportion remitting to a score of

Introduction Effective communication can help optimise healthcare interactions and patient outcomes. However, few interventions have been tested clinically, subjected to cost-effectiveness analysis or are sufficiently brief and well-described for implementation in primary care. This paper presents the protocol for determining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a rigorously developed brief eLearning tool, EMPathicO, among patients with and without musculoskeletal pain.Methods and analysis A cluster randomised controlled trial in general practitioner (GP) surgeries in England and Wales serving patients from diverse geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. GP surgeries are randomised (1:1) to receive EMPathicO e-learning immediately, or at trial end. Eligible practitioners (eg, GPs, physiotherapists and nurse practitioners) are involved in managing primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain. Patient recruitment is managed by practice staff and researchers. Target recruitment is 840 adults with and 840 without musculoskeletal pain consulting face-to-face, by telephone or video. Patients complete web-based questionnaires at preconsultation baseline, 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months later. There are two patient-reported primary outcomes: pain intensity and patient enablement. Cost-effectiveness is considered from the National Health Service and societal perspectives. Secondary and process measures include practitioner patterns of use of EMPathicO, practitioner-reported self-efficacy and intentions, patient-reported symptom severity, quality of life, satisfaction, perceptions of practitioner empathy and optimism, treatment expectancies, anxiety, depression and continuity of care. Purposive subsamples of patients, practitioners and practice staff take part in up to two qualitative, semistructured interviews.Ethics approval and dissemination Approved by the South Central Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee on 1 July 2022 and the Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales on 6 July 2022 (REC reference 22/SC/0145; IRAS project ID 312208). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed academic publications, conference presentations and patient and practitioner outlets. If successful, EMPathicO could quickly be made available at a low cost to primary care practices across the country.Trial registration number ISRCTN18010240.

Background: Lower fitness is a predictor of adverse outcomes after radical cystectomy. Lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic affected daily physical activity. We hypothesised that lockdown during the pandemic was associated with a reduction in preoperative aerobic fitness and an increase in postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Methods: We reviewed routine preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) data collected prior to the pandemic (September 2018 to March 2020) and after lockdown (March 2020 to July 2021) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Differences in CPET variables, Postoperative Morbidity Survey (POMS) data, and length of hospital stay were compared. Results: We identified 267 patients (85 pre-lockdown and 83 during lockdown) who underwent CPET and radical cystectomy. Patients undergoing radical cystectomy throughout lockdown had lower ventilatory anaerobic threshold (9.0 [7.9–10.9] vs 10.3 [9.1–12.3] ml kg−1 min−1; P=0.0002), peak oxygen uptake (15.5 [12.9–19.1] vs 17.5 [14.4–21.0] ml kg−1 min−1; P=0.015), and higher ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide (34.7 [31.4–38.5] vs 33.4 [30.5–36.5]; P=0.030) compared with pre-lockdown. Changes were more pronounced in males and those aged >65 yr. Patients undergoing radical cystectomy throughout lockdown had a higher proportion of day 5 POMS-defined morbidity (89% vs 75%, odds ratio [OR] 2.698, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.143–6.653; P=0.019), specifically related to pulmonary complications (30% vs 13%, OR 2.900, 95% CI 1.368–6.194; P=0.007) and pain (27% vs 9%, OR 3.471, 95% CI 1.427–7.960; P=0.004), compared with pre-lockdown on univariate analysis. Conclusions: Lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with a reduction in fitness and an increase in postoperative morbidity among patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

2022 marked the third consecutive La Niña and extended the longest consecutive stretch of negative Oceanic Niño Index since 1998-2001. While physical and biological conditions in winter and spring largely adhered to prior La Niña conditions, summer and fall were very different. Similar to past La Niña events, in winter and spring coastal upwelling was either average or above average, temperature average or below average, salinity generally above average. In summer and fall, however, upwelling and temperature were generally average or slightly below average, salinity was close to average and chlorophyll a was close to average. Again, as during prior La Niña events, biomass of northern/southern copepods was above/below average off Oregon in winter, and body size of North Pacific krill in northern California was above average in winter. By contrast, later in the year the abundance of northern krill dropped off Oregon while southern copepods increased and body sizes of North Pacific krill fell in northern California. Off Oregon and Washington abundances of market squid and Pacific pompano (indicators of warm, non-typical La Niña conditions) were high. In the 20th century, Northern anchovy recruitment tended to be high during cold conditions, but despite mostly warm conditions from 2015-2021 anchovy populations boomed and remained high in 2022. Resident seabird reproductive success, which tended in the past to increase during productive La Niña conditions was highly variable throughout the system as common murre and pelagic cormorant, experienced complete reproductive failure at Yaquina Head, Oregon while Brandt’s cormorant reproduction was average. At three sampling locations off central California, however, common murre reproduction was close to or above average while both pelagic and Brandt’s cormorant were above average. California sealion reproduction has been above average each year since 2016, and pup weight was also above average in 2022, likely in response not to La Niña or El Niño but continuous high abundance of anchovy. The highly variable and often unpredictable physical and biological conditions in 2022 highlight a growing recognition of disconnects between basin-scale indices and local conditions in the CCE. “July-December 2022 is the biggest outlier from individual “strong” La Niña (events) ever going back to the 50s.” – Nate Mantua

IntroductionOver the last decade, there have been significant advances in treatments for anterior ischemic stroke, most notably endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Despite the success of EVT on overall outcomes, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an important post-procedure complication, often associated with mortality and disability. Hence, predicting the risk of ICH can inform EVT decision making. The ASPECT score is used globally to predict patients' prognosis post-reperfusion therapy. Our objective is to perform a systematic review to collect and synthesize data on the association between ASPECT scores on CT, CTP and DWI-MRI (CT-ASPECT, CTP-ASPECT, and DWI-ASPECT) and the risk of symptomatic ICH after EVT for anterior circulation strokes.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a broad search of various electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) to identify studies published after January 1st, 2012 (commonly accepted as the beginning of the modern EVT era based on availability of stent-retrievers). Two independent reviewers will screen and include studies evaluating associations between symptomatic ICH after thrombectomy and baseline CT-ASPECT, CTP-ASPECT and DWI-ASPECT scores. Data will be extracted to quantify the risk of sICH after EVT based on the ASPECT scoring.Trial registrationPROSPERO registration number: CRD42023459860.

BackgroundReversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a syndrome of recurrent thunderclap headaches and reversible vasoconstriction of the cerebral arteries on neuroimaging within 3 months of onset. Initial non-contrast computed tomography (CT) can reveal abnormalities such as ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can be present in patients with RCVS and may delay diagnosis.AimsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of imaging abnormalities on initial non-contrast CT head in adult patients with RCVS.Data sources & eligibility criteriaWe searched electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials from inception to August 2, 2022. Eligible studies included articles reporting the prevalence of non-contrast CT abnormalities on initial neuroimaging in patients with RCVS, aged 18 and older. Case series, observational studies and clinical trials were included. Data was extracted directly from included papers using a standardized data charting form.ResultsThe search yielded 722 titles with duplicates removed. Twenty studies that included 379 patients with RCVS met inclusion criteria. We classified non-contrast CT abnormalities as either ischemic stroke, ICH, or SAH. We pooled prevalence data using a random effects model with the inverse-variance weighted method. The most common imaging finding was SAH with a pooled prevalence of 24% (95% CI:17%-33%), followed by ICH at 14% (95% CI:8%-22%), and ischemic stroke at 10% (95% CI:7%-14%). The pooled prevalence of any of these imaging abnormalities on initial non-contrast CT was 31% (95% CI:23%-40%). Risk of bias was moderate to very-high-risk for case-series and low-risk for observational studies.ConclusionOur review demonstrates that one-third of patients with RCVS will have an abnormality on initial non-contrast CT head, including either an ischemic stroke, ICH, or SAH. These findings highlight the diagnostic challenges of RCVS imaging and contribute to our understanding of this disease.

Re-excavation of Ha Makotoko and Ntloana Tšoana rock-shelters in western Lesotho, produced abundant faunal remains (both macro and micro) from people using the Robberg technocomplex during the late Pleistocene (Ha Makotoko and Ntloana Tšoana (15.4–13.4 kcal. BP) and early Holocene (Ntloana Tšoana 11.1–10.2 kcal. BP). This faunal material allows us to identify the subsistence strategies they employed, using the unbiased Simpson's evenness index (1-D′), and Shannon's evenness index to track diet breadth. Detailed analyses of the sites' microfauna indicates that eagle owls and/or small carnivores — not humans — were responsible for introducing them into the deposits. A chi-squared test comparing diet breadth across the sites identifies hunting strategy, focused on size 2 and 3 migratory ungulates (equids, suids, and bovids), supplemented with size 1 and 4 bovids. Comparing the evenness values from Ha Makotoko and Ntloana Tšoana to published data from other Robberg-associated sites in the wider Maloti-Drakensberg region (Sehonghong, Rose Cottage Cave and Tloutle) allows variability in subsistence strategies to be addressed. A chi-squared test comparing ungulate size classes, small mammals and fish with the evenness index reveals two important statistical differences: the warm period occupation (16.5–14.3 kcal. BP) at Rose Cottage Cave presents a narrow diet heavily focused on size 3 ungulates (with a lack of fish). At the other end of the climate spectrum, cold conditions at Sehonghong immediately before the Last Glacial Maximum were associated with a narrow diet focused on intensive fishing, with lower-than-expected numbers of size 3 ungulates. The deposits at Ntloana Tšoana, Ha Makotoko, and Tloutle, along with the Younger Dryas-associated assemblage from Sehonghong, on the other hand, present broad diets. Fish and small mammals make more of a contribution to the expanding diet in the highlands. Our approach demonstrates the flexibility that makers of Robberg tools displayed in adapting to the changing climatic and ecological conditions of this high-elevation region in the interior of southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stage 2 and across the Pleistocene/Holocene transition.

Many seabird populations are declining, with fisheries bycatch as one of the greatest threats. Explicit risk criteria should be used to identify whether bycatch is a problem for particular species and fisheries, but these are often poorly defined. A variety of methods are used to determine the risk that a specific fishery is having an unsustainable impact on a seabird population. Up until October 2022, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) applied a general semi-quantitative productivity susceptibility analysis (PSA), a tool that has also been used widely by other management agencies for diverse taxa. Given the need to ensure fisheries risk assessments are robust and consistent, we examined how general PSAs perform when applied in 2 situations with good information on both the seabird population and fisheries bycatch rates and compare the outputs with those from 2 accessible and more quantitative tools: potential biological removal and population viability analysis. We found that risk scoring using the previous MSC version of the PSA was less robust and precautionary than using other approaches, given the steep declines observed in some seabird breeding populations. We make recommendations on how to select attributes for species-specific PSAs and, depending on the data available, identify the most appropriate risk assessment method to achieve a given objective. These should help ensure more consistent assessment and prioritisation of seabird bycatch issues, and improved ecosystem-based management of fisheries.

Abstract Older adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have unique challenges and needs. In this mixed-methods study, we explored the impact of isolation during a pandemic on diabetes management and overall quality of life in this population. Older adults (age ≥ 65 years) with T1D receiving care at a tertiary care diabetes center participated in semi-structured interviews during COVID-19 pandemic isolation between June and August 2020. A multi-disciplinary team coded transcripts and conducted thematic analysis. Thirty-four older adults (age 71 ± 5 years, 97% non-Hispanic white, diabetes duration of 38 ± 7 years, A1C of 7.4 ± 0.9% (57.3 ± 10.1 mmol/mol) were recruited. Three themes related to diabetes self-care emerged regarding impact of isolation on: (1) diabetes management and self-care behaviors (how isolation prompted changes in physical activity and dietary habits); (2) emotional stress and anxiety (related to isolation and lack of support system, economic concerns); and (3) concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic (impact on timely medical care and access to information). Our findings identify modifiable barriers and challenges faced by older adults with T1D during isolation. As this population has a higher risk of decline in physical and psychosocial support even during non-pandemic times, clinicians will benefit from understanding these issues to improve care of this population.

Abstract Investigation of Homo sapiens’ palaeogeographic expansion into African mountain environments are changing the understanding of our species’ adaptions to various extreme Pleistocene climates and habitats. Here, we present a vegetation and precipitation record from the Ha Makotoko rockshelter in western Lesotho, which extends from ~60,000 to 1,000 years ago. Stable carbon isotope ratios from plant wax biomarkers indicate a constant C3-dominated ecosystem up to about 5,000 years ago, followed by C4 grassland expansion due to increasing Holocene temperatures. Hydrogen isotope ratios indicate a drier, yet stable, Pleistocene and Early Holocene compared to a relatively wet Late Holocene. Although relatively cool and dry, the Pleistocene was ecologically reliable due to generally uniform precipitation amounts, which incentivized persistent habitation because of dependable freshwater reserves that supported rich terrestrial foods and provided prime locations for catching fish.

Abstract Parameterization of mesoscale eddies in coarse resolution ocean models is necessary to include the effect of eddies on the large‐scale oceanic circulation. We propose to use a multiple‐scale Quasi‐Geostrophic (MSQG) model to capture the eddy dynamics that develop in response to a prescribed large‐scale flow. The MSQG model consists in extending the traditional quasi geostrophic (QG) dynamics to include the effects of a variable Coriolis parameter and variable background stratification. Solutions to this MSQG equation are computed numerically and compared to a full primitive equation model. The large‐scale flow field permits baroclinically unstable QG waves to grow. These instabilities saturate due to non‐linearities and a filtering method is applied to remove large‐scale structures that develop due to the upscale cascade. The resulting eddy field represents a dynamically consistent response to the prescribed background flow, and can be used to rectify the large‐scale dynamics. Comparisons between Gent‐McWilliams eddy parameterization and the present solutions show large regions of agreement, while also indicating areas where the eddies feed back onto the large scale in a manner that the Gent‐McWilliams parameterization cannot capture. Also of interest is the time variability of the eddy feedback which can be used to build stochastic eddy parameterizations.

Abstract Introduction Equipoise, generally defined as uncertainty about the relative effects of the treatments being compared in a trial, is frequently referenced as an ethical standard for the conduct of randomized clinical trials. However, it seems to be defined in several different ways and may be used differently by different individuals. We explored how clinical researchers, chairs of research ethics boards, and philosophers of science define and reason with this term. Methods We completed semi-structured interviews about clinical trial ethics with 15 clinical researchers, 15 research ethics board chairs, and 15 philosophers of science/bioethicists. Each participant was asked a standardized set of 10 questions, 4 of which were specifically about equipoise. All interviews were conducted telephonically and transcribed. Responses were grouped and analysed via a modified grounded theory method. Results Forty-three respondents defined equipoise in 7 logically distinct ways, and 2 respondents could not explicitly define it. The most common definition, offered by 14 respondents (31%), defined “equipoise” as a disagreement at the level of a community of physicians. There was significant variability in definitions offered between and within groups. When asked how they would “operationalize” equipoise — i.e. check or test for its presence — respondents provided 7 alternatives, the most common being in relation to a literature review (15/45, 33%). The vast majority of respondents (35/45, 78%) felt the concept was helpful, though many acknowledged that the lack of a clear definition or operationalization was problematic. Conclusion There is significant variation in definitions of equipoise offered by respondents, suggesting that parties within groups and between groups may be referring to different concepts when they reference “equipoise”. This non-uniformity may impact fairness and transparency and opens the door to potential ethical problems in the evaluation of clinical trials — for instance, a patient may understand equipoise very differently than the researchers enrolling her in a trial, which could cause her agreement to participate to be based upon false premises.

We perform a novel comparative analysis between optically and mechanically derived pulse transit time (PTT) that is universally employed technique for cuffless blood pressure (BP) estimation. For data collection two inline photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors were mounted at the distal and proximal phalanxes of the index finger of each subject and top each PPG sensor fixture a finger ballistocardiogram (BPP) sensors were clamped. The clamped stacking of the BPP sensors over the PPG sensors provided vertical aligned acquisition of the blood flow waveform through the radial artery for both sensors. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) between PTT derived from the BPP and PPG sensors resulted in a statistically significant difference at $p < 0.05$ . The PTT derived from the BPP sensors showed higher values,17.8 milliseconds on average, than the PTT derived from the PPG sensors. Higher accuracy PTT values will improve the estimation of cuffless BP and thus has the potential to revolutionize the technology.

Abstract The subsistence practices of Later Stone Age (LSA) foragers and herders living in Namaqualand South Africa are often difficult to differentiate based on their archaeological signatures but characterizing their dietary choices is vital to understand the economic importance of domesticates. However, ethnohistoric accounts have provided information on the cooking/boiling of marine mammal fat, mutton, plants, and milk by early herders and foragers across the Western Cape. To further investigate these reports, we use lipid residue analysis to characterize 106 potsherds from four open-air LSA sites, spanning in time from the early first millennium to the late second millennium AD. Two sites (SK2005/057A, SK2006/026) are located on the Atlantic coast whereas sites Jakkalsberg K and Jakkalsberg M are located further inland on the southern bank of the Orange River. Notably, at the coastal sites, the presence of marine biomarkers suggests the intensive and/or specialized processing of marine products in many vessels. The dominance of ruminant carcass products at inland sites and probable sheep remains confirms the importance of stockkeeping. Furthermore, and in good agreement with ethnohistoric accounts for its use, our results provide the first direct chemical evidence for the use of dairy products in LSA western South Africa.