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BackgroundExercise-based treatments can worsen/exacerbate symptoms in people who were SARS-CoV-2 positive and living with post-COVID-19 condition (PL-PCC) and who have post-exertional malaise (PEM) or orthostatic intolerance (OI). Nevertheless, PEM and OI are not routinely assessed by clinicians. We estimated PEM and OI proportions in PL-PCC, as well as in people not living with PCC (PnL-PCC) and negatives (i.e., never reported a SARS-CoV-2 positive test), and identified associated factors.MethodsParticipants from the Prevalence, Risk factors, and Impact Evaluation (PRIME) post-COVID-19 condition study were included. PEM and OI were assessed using validated questionnaires. PCC was defined as feeling unrecovered after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multivariable regression analyses to study PEM and OI were stratified for sex.ResultsData from 3,783 participants were analyzed. In PL-PCC, the proportion of PEM was 48.1% and 41.2%, and the proportion of OI was 29.3% and 27.9% in women and men, respectively. Proportions were higher in PL-PCC than negatives, for PEM in women OR=4.38 [95%CI:3.01–6.38]; in men OR = 4.78 [95%CI:3.13–7.29]; for OI in women 3.06 [95%CI:1.97-4.76]; in men 2.71 [95%CI:1.75–4.21]. Associated factors were age ≤ 60 years, ≥1 comorbidities, and living alone.ConclusionHigh proportions of PEM and OI are observed in PL-PCC. Standard screening for PEM and OI is recommended in PL-PCC to promote appropriate therapies.

Abstract Background Individuals affected with autism often suffer additional co-morbidities such as intellectual disability. The genes contributing to autism cluster on a relatively limited number of cellular pathways, including chromatin remodeling. However, limited information is available on how mutations in single genes can result in such pleiotropic clinical features in affected individuals. In this review, we summarize available information on one of the most frequently mutated genes in syndromic autism the Activity-Dependent Neuroprotective Protein (ADNP). Results Heterozygous and predicted loss-of-function ADNP mutations in individuals inevitably result in the clinical presentation with the Helsmoortel–Van der Aa syndrome, a frequent form of syndromic autism. ADNP, a zinc finger DNA-binding protein has a role in chromatin remodeling: The protein is associated with the pericentromeric protein HP1, the SWI/SNF core complex protein BRG1, and other members of this chromatin remodeling complex and, in murine stem cells, with the chromodomain helicase CHD4 in a ChAHP complex. ADNP has recently been shown to possess R-loop processing activity. In addition, many additional functions, for instance, in association with cytoskeletal proteins have been linked to ADNP. Conclusions We here present an integrated evaluation of all current aspects of gene function and evaluate how abnormalities in chromatin remodeling might relate to the pleiotropic clinical presentation in individual“s” with Helsmoortel–Van der Aa syndrome.

The interface of political economy with arts and literature has become dominated by a particular image: capital's Grinch-like theft of the future. But this image overlooks the peculiar temporal structure of neoliberalism, which renews its broken promises by making up ever more excuses for the past. Contemporary bailout society requires a form of critique that acknowledges these dynamics, that targets the way capital reconstructs our relationship to the past.

Neither external nor internal to finance, the financial imagination marks out a space where the theoretical and practical aspects of finance come together in the inner life of the subject. That means there is something about financial subjectivity that escapes a functional view on the imagination. The purpose of this forum is to probe the contours of the financial imagination in terms of its perimeters and blind spots, its fantasies and delusions.

Corrected excess Gibbs energies of the liquid solutions in the ACl-ThCl4 (A = Li, Na, K), as well as revised standard enthalpies of formation and standard entropies of the intermediate phases occurring in the binary systems, are presented [...]

Abstract Live fuel moisture content (LFMC) is a key determinant of landscape ignition potential, but quantitative estimates of its effects on wildfire are lacking. We present a causal inference framework to isolate the effect of LFMC from other drivers like fuel type, fuel amount, and meteorology. We show that in California when LFMC is below a critical flammability threshold, the likelihood of fires is 1.8 times as high statewide (2.25% vs. 1.27%) and 2.5 times as high in shrubs, compared to when LFMC is greater than the threshold. This risk ratio is >2 times when LFMC is 10% less than the threshold. Between 2016 and 2021, the risk ratio was highest in 2020 (2.3 times), potentially contributing to the record‐breaking wildfire activity in 2020. Our estimates can inform several wildfire prediction and management applications, including wildfire suppression, prescribed burn planning, and public safety power shutoff implementation.

Summary: Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) were advised to tightly adhere to government recommendations to curb the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) because of a high risk of morbidity and mortality and decreased immunogenicity after vaccination. The aim of this study was to analyse the change in adherence to preventive measures after vaccination and awareness of antibody response, and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: In this large-scale, national questionnaire study, questionnaires were sent to 3531 KTRs enrolled in the Dutch RECOVAC studies, retrospectively asking for adherence to nine preventive measures on a 5-point Likert scale before and after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and after awareness of antibody response. Blood samples were collected 28 days after the second vaccination. Antibody response was categorised as non-responder (≤50 BAU/mL), low-responder (>50 ≤ 300 BAU/mL) or high-responder (>300 BAU/mL), and shared with participants as a correlate of protection. Participants of whom demographics on sex and age, blood samples and completed questionnaires were available, were included. Our study took place between February 2021 and January 2022. The primary outcome of adherence before and after vaccination was assessed between August and October 2021 and compared via the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between antibody response and non-adherence, and adherence on acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04841785). Findings: In 2939 KTRs (83%) who completed the first questionnaire on adherence to preventive measures, adherence was higher before than after vaccination (4.56, IQR 4.11–4.78 and 4.22, IQR 3.67–4.67, p

BackgroundNon-cholesterol sterols are validated markers for fractional intestinal cholesterol absorption (cholestanol) and endogenous cholesterol synthesis (lathosterol). This study's objective was to evaluate markers for cholesterol synthesis and absorption in children exposed to two different intravenous lipid emulsions that rapidly change serum plant sterol concentrations as part of their parenteral nutrition (PN).MethodsSerum samples from two different studies were used: (1) nine PN-dependent children with intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) whose soy-based, plant sterol-rich lipid (SO) was replaced with a fish-based, plant sterol-poor (FO) lipid; and (2) five neonates prescribed SO after birth. In the first study, samples were collected at baseline (prior to FO initiation) and after 3 and 6 months of FO. In study 2, samples were collected at 1 and 3 weeks of age.ResultsIn study 1, a 7-fold reduction in campesterol, a 12-fold reduction in sitosterol, and a 15-fold reduction in stigmasterol was observed 6 months after switching to FO. Serum cholesterol concentrations did not change, but cholesterol-standardized lathosterol increased (3-fold) and cholesterol-standardized cholestanol decreased (2-fold). In study 2, after 3 weeks of SO, sitosterol and campesterol concentrations increased 4-5 fold. At the same time, cholesterol-standardized lathosterol increased 69% and cholesterol-standardized cholestanol decreased by 29%.ConclusionBased on these finding we conclude that changes in serum plant sterol concentrations might have direct effects on endogenous cholesterol synthesis, although this needs to be confirmed in future studies. Moreover, we speculate that this changed synthesis subsequently affects intestinal cholesterol absorption.

Abstract ApoE is the major lipid and cholesterol carrier in the CNS. There are three major human polymorphisms, apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4, and the genetic expression of APOE4 is one of the most influential risk factors for the development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroinflammation has become the third hallmark of AD, together with Amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated aggregated tau protein. This review aims to broadly and extensively describe the differential aspects concerning apoE. Starting from the evolution of apoE to how APOE's single-nucleotide polymorphisms affect its structure, function, and involvement during health and disease. This review reflects on how APOE's polymorphisms impact critical aspects of AD pathology, such as the neuroinflammatory response, particularly the effect of APOE on astrocytic and microglial function and microglial dynamics, synaptic function, amyloid-β load, tau pathology, autophagy, and cell–cell communication. We discuss influential factors affecting AD pathology combined with the APOE genotype, such as sex, age, diet, physical exercise, current therapies and clinical trials in the AD field. The impact of the APOE genotype in other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by overt inflammation, e.g., alpha- synucleinopathies and Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis, is also addressed. Therefore, this review gathers the most relevant findings related to the APOE genotype up to date and its implications on AD and CNS pathologies to provide a deeper understanding of the knowledge in the APOE field.

Since its conception in 2016, the Exploring Slave Trade in Asia (ESTA) project has been working towards solidifying research on the slave trade in the Indian Ocean region and Maritime Asia world by means of a collaborative database. This article briefly discusses ESTA’s roots and goals, showcasing the first results that its database yielded. We discuss and evaluate the database’s structure and content up until this point, as well as its ramifications, aspirations, and challenges. Based on the first observations, this article further signifies the value of the ESTA database for comparative slave trade research, taking its first steps towards a reconstruction of the Indian Ocean and Maritime Asia slave trade by connecting global long-distance slave trade with local systems of slavery and forced labour.

Introduction Digital technologies can be used as part of paediatric motor rehabilitation to remediate impairment, promote recovery and improve function. However, the uptake of digital technologies in this clinical field may be limited.The aim of this study is to describe and explain digital technology use for paediatric motor rehabilitation. The specific objectives will be: (1) to describe the access to, acceptance of and use of digital technologies as a function of individual factors related to professionals practicing motor rehabilitation with children, and of environmental factors related to paediatric rehabilitation practice and (2) to explain digital technology use with a causal model based on the ‘unified theory of acceptance and use of technology’.Methods and analysis RehaTech4child (Rehabilitation Technologies For children) is a cross-sectional study involving an online survey, that is sponsored by the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD). The survey protocol follows the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and CHERRIES (Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys) guidelines. The survey includes 43 questions about (1) respondents’ individual and environmental characteristics; (2) the ease of access to digital technologies, and the frequency, type and purpose of use of those technologies and (3) acceptance of technologies and barriers to their use. The survey is intended for professionals involved in paediatric motor rehabilitation. It is disseminated across Europe by the EACD network in 20 languages. Participation is anonymous and voluntary. We aim to include 500 respondents to ensure sufficient precision for the description of study outcomes and to perform stratified analyses by the main determinants.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was waived by the Brest CHRU Institutional Review Board. The study is conducted according to current French legislation (loi Jardé (n°2012-300)) and the survey is GDPR compliant. Study findings will be presented at national and international meetings and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration number NCT05176522.

Abstract Automated segmentation of human cardiac magnetic resonance datasets has been steadily improving during recent years. Similar applications would be highly useful to improve and speed up the studies of cardiac function in rodents in the preclinical context. However, the transfer of such segmentation methods to the preclinical research is compounded by the limited number of datasets and lower image resolution. In this paper we present a successful application of deep architectures 3D cardiac segmentation for rats in preclinical contexts which to our knowledge has not yet been reported. We developed segmentation models that expand on the standard U-Net architecture and evaluated models separately trained for systole and diastole phases (2MSA) and a single model trained for all phases (1MSA). Furthermore, we calibrated model outputs using a Gaussian process (GP)-based prior to improve phase selection. The resulting models approach human performance in terms of left ventricular segmentation quality and ejection fraction (EF) estimation in both 1MSA and 2MSA settings (Sørensen-Dice score 0.91 ± 0.072 and 0.93 ± 0.032, respectively). 2MSA achieved a mean absolute difference between estimated and reference EF of 3.5 ± 2.5%, while 1MSA resulted in 4.1 ± 3.0%. Applying GPs to 1MSA enabled automating systole and diastole phase selection. Both segmentation approaches (1MSA and 2MSA) were statistically equivalent. Combined with a proposed cardiac phase selection strategy, our work presents an important first step towards a fully automated segmentation pipeline in the context of rat cardiac analysis.

Abstract Background Medical students are expected to translate the theoretical knowledge gained during their study to practical knowledge during the clerkships. A surgical educational platform with standardized videos may be the solution. However, the effects of a structured online video-based platform in addition to the standard curriculum on students’ self-reported and tested surgical knowledge during the surgical clerkship must be assessed. Methods Fourth-year medical students (n = 178) participated in a 6-week course of theoretical and practical training followed by a 10-week in-hospital clerkship in the Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), Rotterdam, The Netherlands and 11 affiliated general hospitals. Ninety students followed the usual surgical curriculum (control group), followed by 88 students who were given voluntary access to a video-based surgical educational platform of Incision Academy (video group). At the start (T0) and end (T1) of the clerkship, both groups filled out a surgical knowledge test and a survey regarding their self-reported surgical knowledge and their access to available study sources. Supervisors were blinded and surveyed concerning students’ performance and their acquired knowledge. We analyzed the data using paired and unpaired student t-tests and linear regression. Results At the end of the clerkship, students in the video group indicated that they had better resources at their disposal than the control group for surgical procedures (p = 0.001). Furthermore, students in the video group showed a greater increase in self-reported surgical knowledge during their clerkship (p = 0.03) and in more objectively tested surgical knowledge (p

Terrestrial plants sequester carbon through photosynthesis, and that carbon is eventually returned to the atmosphere through respiration by plants and soil microbes. Here the authors show a large, unexpected gap in estimations of these two carbon fluxes.

Aim: To explore the effect of a 4‐week structured power wheelchair skills training programme (WSTP) intervention on mobility skills and participation in children and young people (CYP) with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: This was a one‐group, repeated‐measures study; baseline, intervention, and retention phases, each lasting 4 weeks, were used. Twelve participants (three females, nine males) with a mean age of 15 years 11 months (SD = 3 years 6 months) classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V participated in the study. To be included in the study, individuals had to be aged 6 to 21 years and currently using a power wheelchair. Participants received 12 WSTP training sessions of 45 minutes, 3 times per week. Power mobility skills were assessed using the Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) before baseline, before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the follow‐up; mobility‐related participation was assessed with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Generalized mixed models with Bonferroni correction were used to assess the differences between the assessment points (p < 0.05). Results: Statistical analysis showed a 10.4% (12.5) increase in WST total scores (p < 0.001) after the intervention compared to before the intervention, and a 1‐point (0.9) increase in the COPM performance subdomain (p = 0.002). Interpretation: Power mobility skills and mobility‐related participation improved after a 4‐week WSTP intervention in CYP with CP. Thus, task‐based power mobility skills training based on the WSTP, and in line with individualized needs and capabilities, taking place in a natural environment, should be recommended. Power mobility skills training needs to be structured and individualized; the training interventions must consider the individual, the task, and the environment. This original article is commented by Best and Kirby on pages 1540–1541 of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Water potential' is the biophysically relevant measure of water status in vegetation relating to stomatal, canopy and hydraulic conductance, as well as mortality thresholds; yet, this cannot be directly related to measured and modelled fluxes of water at plot‐ to landscape‐scale without understanding its relationship with 'water content'. The capacity for detecting vegetation water content via microwave remote sensing further increases the need to understand the link between water content and ecosystem function. In this review, we explore how the fundamental measures of water status, water potential and water content are linked at ecosystem‐scale drawing on the existing theory of pressure‐volume (PV) relationships. We define and evaluate the concept and limitations of applying PV relationships to ecosystems where the quantity of water can vary on short timescales with respect to plant water status, and over longer timescales and over larger areas due to structural changes in vegetation. As a proof of concept, plot‐scale aboveground vegetation PV curves were generated from equilibrium (e.g., predawn) water potentials and water content of the above ground biomass of nine plots, including tropical rainforest, savanna, temperate forest, and a long‐term Amazonian rainforest drought experiment. Initial findings suggest that the stored water and ecosystem capacitance scale linearly with biomass across diverse systems, while the relative values of ecosystem hydraulic capacitance and physiologically accessible water storage do not vary systematically with biomass. The bottom‐up scaling approach to ecosystem water relations identified the need to characterise the distribution of water potentials within a community and also revealed the relevance of community‐level plant tissue fractions to ecosystem water relations. We believe that this theory will be instrumental in linking our detailed understanding of biophysical processes at tissue‐scale to the scale at which land surface models operate and at which tower‐based, airborne and satellite remote sensing can provide information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using retailer scanner data, we investigate how a sharp and abrupt depreciation of the exchange rate affects consumers' cost of living. We find that the marginal cost of imported goods increased, whereas their retail markups decreased compared to domestic products. There was also a surge in the entry and exit of both foreign and local product varieties post‐depreciation. Wealthier consumers, who spend more on imports, are hit harder by higher marginal costs but benefit from reduced markups and increased product diversity, unlike their less affluent counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]