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A renewable energy scientist who resigned from his position during the Trump Administration contemplates the similarities—and differences—between his situation and what happened to Oppenheimer in the 1950s during the McCarthy era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-3α1's role in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, especially its effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) gene expression, and iron metabolism, remains largely unstudied. This research sought to elucidate these relationships. Methods: RNA-seq was conducted to investigate the impact of HIF-3α1 overexpression in CRC cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assays assessed the direct targeting of ZEB2 by HIF-3α1. Scratch assays measured changes in cell migration following HIF-3α1 overexpression and ZEB2 knockdown. The effects of HIF-3α1 overexpression on colon tumour growth and liver metastasis were examined in vivo. Iron chelation was used to explore the role of iron metabolism in HIF-3α1-mediated EMT and tumour growth. Results: HIF-3α1 overexpression induced EMT and upregulated ZEB2 expression, enhancing cancer cell migration. ZEB2 knockdown reduced mesenchymal markers and cell migration. HIF-3α1 promoted colon tumour growth and liver metastasis, increased transferrin receptor (TFRC) expression and cellular iron levels, and downregulated HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and NDRG1. Iron chelation mitigated HIF-3α1-mediated EMT, tumour growth, and survival. Conclusions: HIF-3α1 plays a critical role in colon cancer progression by promoting EMT, iron accumulation, and metastasis through ZEB2 and TFRC regulation, suggesting potential therapeutic targets in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding genetic incompatibilities and genetic introgression between incipient species are major goals in evolutionary biology. Mitochondrial genes evolve rapidly and exist in dense gene networks with coevolved nuclear genes, suggesting that mitochondrial respiration may be particularly susceptible to disruption in hybrid organisms. Mitonuclear interactions have been demonstrated to contribute to hybrid dysfunction between deeply divergent taxa crossed in the laboratory, but there are few empirical examples of mitonuclear interactions between younger lineages that naturally hybridize. Here, we use controlled hybrid crosses and high‐resolution respirometry to provide the first experimental evidence in a bird that inter‐lineage mitonuclear interactions impact mitochondrial aerobic metabolism. Specifically, respiration capacity of the two mitodiscordant backcrosses (with mismatched mitonuclear combinations) differs from one another, although they do not differ significantly from the parental groups or mitoconcordant backcrosses as we would expect of mitonuclear disruptions. In the wild hybrid zone between these subspecies, the mitochondrial cline centre is shifted west of the nuclear cline centre, which is consistent with the direction of our experimental results. Our results therefore demonstrate asymmetric mitonuclear interactions that impact the capacity of cellular mitochondrial respiration and may help to explain the geographic discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes observed in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been approved for use. The serotype distribution of pneumococcal isolates can vary between regions. To understand the potential impacts of new PCVs, we evaluated trends in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among adults in Germany at a local level using Bayesian hierarchical logistic regression. There was little spatial variation in IPD cases caused by 13-valent PCV serotypes, which dropped from 60% of IPD cases in 2006 to 30% in 2018. More than half of IPD cases in 2018 were attributable to serotypes covered by new PCVs (15-valent and 20-valent PCVs), which suggests they could further reduce the burden of IPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects two billion people across the globe, and results in 8–9 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases and 1–1.5 million deaths each year. Most patients have no known genetic basis that predisposes them to disease. Here, we investigate the complex genetic basis of pulmonary TB by modelling human genetic diversity with the Diversity Outbred mouse population. When infected with M. tuberculosis, one-third develop early onset, rapidly progressive, necrotizing granulomas and succumb within 60 days. The remaining develop non-necrotizing granulomas and survive longer than 60 days. Genetic mapping using immune and inflammatory mediators; and clinical, microbiological, and granuloma correlates of disease identified five new loci on mouse chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 16; and three known loci on chromosomes 3 and 17. Further, multiple positively correlated traits shared loci on chromosomes 1, 16, and 17 and had similar patterns of allele effects, suggesting these loci contain critical genetic regulators of inflammatory responses to M. tuberculosis. To narrow the list of candidate genes, we used a machine learning strategy that integrated gene expression signatures from lungs of M. tuberculosis-infected Diversity Outbred mice with gene interaction networks to generate scores representing functional relationships. The scores were used to rank candidates for each mapped trait, resulting in 11 candidate genes: Ncf2, Fam20b, S100a8, S100a9, Itgb5, Fstl1, Zbtb20, Ddr1, Ier3, Vegfa, and Zfp318. Although all candidates have roles in infection, inflammation, cell migration, extracellular matrix remodeling, or intracellular signaling, and all contain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), SNPs in only four genes (S100a8, Itgb5, Fstl1, Zfp318) are predicted to have deleterious effects on protein functions. We performed methodological and candidate validations to (i) assess biological relevance of predicted allele effects by showing that Diversity Outbred mice carrying PWH/PhJ alleles at the H-2 locus on chromosome 17 QTL have shorter survival; (ii) confirm accuracy of predicted allele effects by quantifying S100A8 protein in inbred founder strains; and (iii) infection of C57BL/6 mice deficient for the S100a8 gene. Overall, this body of work demonstrates that systems genetics using Diversity Outbred mice can identify new (and known) QTLs and functionally relevant gene candidates that may be major regulators of complex host-pathogens interactions contributing to granuloma necrosis and acute inflammation in pulmonary TB. Author summary: We investigated the genetic basis of susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis using Diversity Outbred mice, a mouse population suited for studying complex genotype-phenotype relationships. We found five new genetic loci and three known loci. Three loci associated with multiple correlated disease traits likely contain genes that are major regulators of host inflammatory responses which favor M. tuberculosis growth. Further, these three loci contain four gene candidates with single nucleotide polymorphisms that are predicted to have deleterious effects upon protein functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a voluminous literature on happiness and well‐being, debates have been stunted by persistent dissensus on what exactly the subject matter is. Commentators frequently appeal to intuitions about the nature of happiness or well‐being, raising the question of how representative those intuitions are. In a series of studies, we examined lay intuitions involving happiness‐ and well‐being‐related terms to assess their sensitivity to internal (psychological) versus external conditions. We found that all terms, including ‘happy’, ‘doing well’ and ‘good life’, were far more sensitive to internal than external conditions, suggesting that for laypersons, mental states are the most important part of happiness and well‐being. But several terms, including ‘doing well’, ‘good life’ and ‘enviable life’ were substantially more sensitive to external conditions than others, such as ‘happy’, consistent with dominant philosophical views of well‐being. Interestingly, the expression ‘happy’ was completely insensitive to external conditions for about two thirds of our participants, suggesting a purely psychological concept among most individuals. Overall, our findings suggest that lay thinking in this domain divides between two concepts, or families thereof: a purely psychological notion of being happy, and one or more concepts equivalent to, or encompassing, the philosophical concept of well‐being. In addition, being happy is dominantly regarded as just one element of well‐being. These findings have considerable import for philosophical debates, empirical research and public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Item difficulty and dimensionality often correlate, implying that unidimensional IRT approximations to multidimensional data (i.e., reference composites) can take a curvilinear form in the multidimensional space. Although this issue has been previously discussed in the context of vertical scaling applications, we illustrate how such a phenomenon can also easily occur within individual tests. Measures of reading proficiency, for example, often use different task types within a single assessment, a feature that may not only lead to multidimensionality, but also an association between item difficulty and dimensionality. Using a latent regression strategy, we demonstrate through simulations and empirical analysis how associations between dimensionality and difficulty yield a nonlinear reference composite where the weights of the underlying dimensions change across the scale continuum according to the difficulties of the items associated with the dimensions. We further show how this form of curvilinearity produces systematic forms of misspecification in traditional unidimensional IRT models (e.g., 2PL) and can be better accommodated by models such as monotone‐polynomial or asymmetric IRT models. Simulations and a real‐data example from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten are provided for demonstration. Some implications for measurement modeling and for understanding the effects of 2PL misspecification on measurement metrics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is currently and will continue impacting human health, however, beliefs about the level of threat vary by demographics, region, and ideology. The purpose of this study was to assess factors related to climate change and health beliefs using cross-sectional data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Data from 5,075 respondents in the 2022 iteration of HINTS was used for this study. Chi-square tests were used to evaluate demographic differences among those who believe climate change will harm health a lot compared to some, a little, or not at all. Generalized ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between the belief that climate change will harm health and independent variables regarding trust in scientists, health recommendations from experts, and demographic characteristics. Female, Black, Hispanic, and college graduate respondents had higher odds and people in the Southern U.S. those aged 35–49, 50–64, and 75years or older had significantly lower odds of believing climate change would harm their health. Those who trust information about cancer from scientists and those that believe health recommendations from experts conflict or change had higher odds of believing climate change would harm health. Our analysis highlights factors that impact climate change and health beliefs, which may provide targets for tailoring public health messages to address this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sharp rise over the past decade in young children's access to various forms of screen media (e.g., smartphones, tablets, TVs) has posed new and significant challenges to caregivers in managing children's use of this type of media. For caregivers of young children with externalizing behavior problems, managing children's time with screen media is especially important and challenging. In this article, we summarize evidence of bidirectional links between early externalizing behavior problems and unhealthy screen media use in young children and discuss the extent to which prior interventions have responded to the needs of caregivers of children with these problems. We propose a conceptual model for an intervention to promote healthy screen media use for children with externalizing behavior problems that leverages current behavioral parenting interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quararibea floribunda, a species endemic to Brazil, is poorly studied taxonomically, and little is known about its ecology and conservation status. Since its publication in 1842, only a few studies have reported on its morphological circumscription, thus remaining as a complex in the taxonomy of Quararibea. In addition, little is known about its geographic distribution, which, according to most authors, is restricted to the Cerrado Biome, characterized mainly by its dry forests. Therefore, we herein review and clarify the morphological circumscription and distribution of Q. floribunda in different vegetation types, designate a lectotype, and recognize its conservation status as vulnerable (VU). The present study is based on analysis of protologues and further pertinent literature. Several herbaria were consulted, both in person and online. Fieldwork was done between 2017 and 2020 in different locations of midwestern and southeastern Brazil, mainly in dry forests of the Cerrado Biome. We confirm that Q. floribunda also occurs in the Atlantic Forest Biome and that it is not exclusive to the Cerrado Biome, as previously thought. All known populations in this biome inhabit humid habitats, and as such, they are closer to the vegetation of the Atlantic Forest Biome than the typical Cerrado dry forests. In addition to assessing the conservation status of Q. floribunda, we evaluate its nomenclatural history, leading to the designation of a lectotype, finally highlighting vegetative and floral diagnostic characters. A distribution map is provided, as well as a morphological comparative analysis between species with foliar domatia in extra‐Amazonian Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Urban Trees Ecophysiology Network (UTEN) held its inaugural workshop in Athens, GA, USA, bringing together 40 specialists from various disciplines to study the physiological functioning of urban trees. The workshop aimed to understand how the urban environment affects tree health and functioning, as well as how trees impact the microclimate of cities. Urban trees provide numerous benefits, such as reducing air pollution, improving mental health, lowering temperatures, and mitigating climate change. However, there are disparities in tree distribution, with low-income areas having less tree cover and experiencing higher temperatures. The workshop discussed methods for data management, research design, and communication with stakeholders, and proposed the installation of informative panels and QR codes on monitored trees for public engagement. The network plans to establish a global urban tree monitoring network and expand its nodes to currently underrepresented regions. [Extracted from the article]

Vascular rings are arterial malformations that lead to the compression of the trachea and/or esophagus. While "tight" rings often produce symptoms and require surgery, "loose" rings rarely produce symptoms. Given advances in fetal echocardiography, this diagnosis is now more often made prenatally. This poses a new conundrum in the management of asymptomatic patients, leading to practice variation and creating a target for clinical system improvement. Hence, we conducted this survey aiming to demonstrate the practice variation existing in current evaluation and management of these patients. An anonymous web-based survey was distributed to several listservs for pediatric cardiologists and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons. Survey questions targeted respondent practice characteristics, testing obtained, and indications for testing or surgical referral. In total 61 responses were received, predominantly from pediatric cardiologists (95%) in the United States (97%). About 60% of clinicians reported frequently diagnosing patients with vascular rings by fetal echocardiogram, with only about 20% diagnosing them frequently on evaluation of symptoms. Computed tomography angiography and echocardiogram were the most common imaging modalities employed. Most clinicians obtained cross-sectional imaging at the time of diagnosis and referred to surgery once patients had at least occasional symptoms. Respondents demonstrated a low degree of agreement (Krippendorf's alpha 0.48). Few statistically significant patterns were identified between respondents based on their practice characteristics. This study identified significant variation between clinicians regarding the evaluation and management of vascular rings. Further research or expert opinions may help to standardize practice, saving costs and improving the quality of care for affected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, a deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) model forecasted seizure risk using retrospective seizure diaries with higher accuracy than random forecasts. The present study sought to prospectively evaluate the same algorithm. Methods: We recruited a prospective cohort of 46 people with epilepsy; 25 completed sufficient data entry for analysis (median = 5 months). We used the same AI method as in our prior study. Group‐level and individual‐level Brier Skill Scores (BSSs) compared random forecasts and simple moving average forecasts to the AI. Results: The AI had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of.82. At the group level, the AI outperformed random forecasting (BSS =.53). At the individual level, AI outperformed random in 28% of cases. At the group and individual level, the moving average outperformed the AI. If pre‐enrollment (nonverified) diaries (with presumed underreporting) were included, the AI significantly outperformed both comparators. Surveys showed most did not mind poor‐quality LOW‐RISK or HIGH‐RISK forecasts, yet 91% wanted access to these forecasts. Significance: The previously developed AI forecasting tool did not outperform a very simple moving average forecasting in this prospective cohort, suggesting that the AI model should be replaced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: Leptomeningeal enhancement (LME) on post-contrast FLAIR is described as a potential biomarker of meningeal inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we report an assessment of the impact of MRI field strength and acquisition timing on meningeal contrast enhancement (MCE). Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study of 95 participants with MS and 17 healthy controls (HC) subjects. Each participant underwent an MRI of the brain on both a 7 Tesla (7T) and 3 Tesla (3T) MRI scanner. 7T protocols included a FLAIR image before, soon after (Gd+ Early 7T FLAIR), and 23 minutes after gadolinium (Gd+ Delayed 7T FLAIR). 3T protocol included FLAIR before and 21 minutes after gadolinium (Gd+ Delayed 3T FLAIR). Results: LME was seen in 23.3% of participants with MS on Gd+ Delayed 3T FLAIR, 47.4% on Gd+ Early 7T FLAIR (p = 0.002) and 57.9% on Gd+ Delayed 7T FLAIR (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). The count and volume of LME, leptomeningeal and paravascular enhancement (LMPE), and paravascular and dural enhancement (PDE) were all highest for Gd+ Delayed 7T FLAIR and lowest for Gd+ Delayed 3T FLAIR. Non-significant trends were seen for higher proportion, counts, and volumes for LME and PDE in MS compared to HCs. The rate of LMPE was different between MS and HCs on Gd+ Delayed 7T FLAIR (98.9% vs 82.4%, p = 0.003). MS participants with LME on Gd+ Delayed 7T FLAIR were older (47.6 (10.6) years) than those without (42.0 (9.7), p = 0.008). Conclusion: 7T MRI and a delay after contrast injection increased sensitivity for all forms of MCE. However, the lack of difference between groups for LME and its association with age calls into question its relevance as a biomarker of meningeal inflammation in MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During D-T fusion operations the capture, purification, and recycling of unburned tritium will be crucial, as the formation of tritium containing molecules require additional processing. Removing the tritium can require costly processing to be unbound from the tritium-containing molecules and improvements to these processes will be necessary moving forward. Existing techniques using sorbent material beds to remove tritium-containing molecules from process gas streams undergo repeated high-heat cycling which leads to diminished bed lifespans, necessitating replacement and associated downtime. This work demonstrates the capture and isotopic exchange technique of deuterated ammonia (ND 3), used as a surrogate for tritium, at ambient temperature using a Pt catalyst-loaded 13X molecular sieve. Unmodified 13X molecular sieve is capable of adsorbing and retaining the ND 3 however, incorporation of a catalyst facilitates the isotopic exchange of the hydrogen isotopes. The effluent gas streams were analyzed in conjunction with desorbed ammonia isotopologues post-exchange to verify these results. Isotopically exchanging and removing heavier hydrogen isotopes using this technique provides an alternative to traditional removal methods. • Hydrogen isotopes successfully exchanged at ambient temperature with Pt catalyst present on support material. • Pt-loaded 13X demonstrates higher capacity for ND 3 when compared to 13X • Pt-loaded 13X requires lower temperatures for full desorption of ND 3 when compared to 13X [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal ontogeny of xenarthrans is poorly known, especially because of the paucity of study specimens from distinct developmental stages. Here, we investigate morphometric aspects of the mandible ontogeny in the two-toed sloths, Choloepus spp. We examined mandibles of infant, juveniles and subadult sloths that were present in kill assemblages of harpy eagles, Harpia harpyja, and complemented our study with adult museum specimens. We carried out uni- and multivariate linear morphometric analyzes to assess the growth pattern of the mandible. Harpy eagles did not prey on adult two-toed sloths, preferring younger individuals. We found an overall strong correlation between the total length of the mandible and other mandibular measurements across age classes, with some of them scaling isometrically, and others presenting allometric growth. Also, morphometric data correlated with patterns of symphysial fusion across ontogenetic stages, rendering the latter a reliable indicator of the animal’s age category. Although it was necessary to complement our sample with museum material, individuals obtained from the harpy eagle kill assemblage proved to be a valuable complementary source of specimens to be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Conclusions Alcohol is a major public health issue and the ACEM funds regular ‘snapshot’ surveys of the prevalence of alcohol‐related presentations in EDs. The present study uses these data to investigate ED occupancy and alcohol‐ and methamphetamine‐related presentations at the time of the COVID‐19 pandemic.Survey‐based point prevalence study of EDs in Australia and New Zealand conducted at 02:00 hours local time on the Saturday of the weekend before Christmas in 2019–2022. Primary outcomes were ED occupancy, the number of alcohol‐related presentations and methamphetamine‐related presentations in each ED at the time of survey.Seventy eight of a possible 152 hospitals answered all four surveys (51%, 95% confidence interval 43–59, individual yearly response rates ranged from 70.5% to 83.3%). The mean number of alcohol‐related presentations in EDs at the snapshot time was 4.2 (95% confidence interval 3.2–5.2) in the 2019 survey and 3.8 (3.1–4.6) in 2022 with no significant variation over time. There was also no change in methamphetamine‐related presentations which occurred at a lower level. There was a major increase in reported total ED occupancy – from 31.4 to 43.5 in Australia (P < 0.0001, paired t test) and from 22.8 to 38.7 in New Zealand (P = 0.0001). Subgroup analysis showed that both the number being treated and the number waiting to be seen increased, with little change in the number in observation units.The present study demonstrates that the COVID‐19 pandemic did not affect summer alcohol‐related ED presentations in Australasia but was associated with an unsustainable increase in ED crowding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ultrasound abnormalities in the Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, and plantar fascia among a large cohort of collegiate student-athletes. Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Setting: Three Division I institutions. Participants: 243 student-athletes participated in this study. Exclusion criteria included those younger than 18 years or who underwent prior surgery/amputation of structures, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgeries with patellar tendon grafts. Interventions: Ultrasound examination of the Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, and plantar fascia of each leg was performed. An experienced sonographer reviewed each tendon video in a blinded manner, with a separate experienced sonographer separately reviewing to establish inter-rater reliability. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measured was the presence of any sonographic abnormality including hypoechogenicity, thickening, or neovascularity. Results: Ultrasound abnormalities were identified in 10.1%, 37.2%, and 3.9% of all Achilles tendons, patellar tendons, and plantar fasciae, respectively. Abnormalities were significantly associated with the presence of concurrent pain for all structures (P < 0.01). Specifically, athletes with sonographic abnormalities were approximately 4 times [relative risk (RR) = 4.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.05-8.84], 6 times (RR = 5.69; 95% CI, 2.31-14.00), and 5 times (RR = 5.17; 95% CI, 1.76-15.25) more likely to self-report pain in the Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, and plantar fascia, respectively. Conclusions: This multi-institutional study completed at 3 Division I institutions is the largest study of its kind to identify the prevalence of sonographic abnormalities in the Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, and plantar fascia among collegiate student-athletes of various sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular malformations are structural abnormalities that are thought to result from errors in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during embryogenesis. Vascular malformations of the scalp present unique management challenges due to aesthetic and functional implications. This review examines the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management techniques for six common types of vascular malformations of the face and scalp: infantile hemangioma, capillary malformations, venous malformations, lymphatic malformations, arteriovenous malformations, and arteriovenous fistulas. These lesions range from common to rare, and have very different natural histories and management paradigms. There has been increasing understanding of the molecular pathways that are altered in association with these vascular lesions and these molecular targets may represent novel strategies of treating lesions that have historically been approached from a structural perspective only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane Number (MN) is a fuel rating technique for gaseous fuels analogous to Octane Number. This study establishes and shares a repeatable and reproducible method for MN determination of a gaseous fuel using a modified Cooperative Fuel Research Engine (CFR). Adaptations required to convert a CFR engine for use in the MN test procedure are identified. The investigation includes allowable environmental parameters and operating variation limits. An essential aspect of the MN method involves identifying and quantifying Knock Intensity (KI) during engine operation. CFR engines, originally designed for gasoline testing, come equipped with their own knock measurement systems utilizing a capacitive detonation sensor. The original system is compared with a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) approach that uses a piezoelectric pressure transducer. Quantification of methane number requires an accurate assessment of the reference fuel blend (CH4 + H2). A comparison is carried out between dynamic blending using mass flow meters and bracketing using certified gas bottles containing various CH4/H2 blends from a gas supplier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement of nutritional status, which is a vital pre-condition for good health. The prevalence of childhood malnutrition and the potential long-term health risks associated with obesity in Ethiopia have recently increased globally. The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the quantiles of under-five children's BMI in Ethiopia. Methods: Data on 5,323 children, aged between 0-59 months from March 21, 2019, to June 28, 2019, were obtained from the Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey (EMDHS, 2019), based on the standards set by the World Health Organization. The study used a Bayesian quantile regression model to investigate the association of factors with the quantiles of under-five children's body mass index. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) with Gibbs sampling was used to estimate the country-specific marginal posterior distribution estimates of model parameters, using the Brq R package. Results: Out of a total of 5323 children included in this study, 5.09% were underweight (less than 12.92 BMI), 10.05% were overweight (BMI: 17.06 – 18.27), and 5.02% were obese (greater than or equal to 18.27 BMI) children's. The result of the Bayesian quantile regression model, including marginal posterior credible intervals (CIs), showed that for the prediction of the 0.05 quantile of BMI, the current age of children [ β = -0.007, 95% CI :(-0.01, -0.004)], the region Afar [ β = - 0.32, 95% CI: (-0.57, -0.08)] and Somalia[ β = -0.72, 95% CI: (-0.96, -0.49)] were negatively associated with body mass index while maternal age [ β = 0.01, 95% CI: (0.005, 0.02)], mothers primary education [ β = 0.19, 95% CI: (0.08, 0.29)], secondary and above [ β = 0.44, 95% CI: (0.29, 0.58)], and family follows protestant [ β = 0.22, 95% CI: (0.07, 0.37)] were positively associated with body mass index. In the prediction of the 0.95 (or 0.85?) quantile of BMI, in the upper quantile, still breastfeeding [ β = -0.25, 95% CI: (-0.41, -0.10)], being female [ β = -0.13, 95% CI: (-0.23, -0.03)] were negatively related while wealth index [ β = 0.436, 95% CI: (0.25, 0.62)] was positively associated with under-five children's BMI. Conclusions: In conclusion, the research findings indicate that the percentage of lower and higher BMI for under-five children in Ethiopia is high. Factors such as the current age of children, sex of children, maternal age, religion of the family, region and wealth index were found to have a significant impact on the BMI of under-five children both at lower and upper quantile levels. Thus, these findings highlight the need for administrators and policymakers to devise and implement strategies aimed at enhancing the normal or healthy weight status among under-five children in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School choice initiatives–which empower parents to choose which schools their children attend–are built on the assumptions that parents know what features of a school are most important to their family and that they are capable of focusing on the most important features when they make their decisions. However, decades of psychological research suggest that decision makers lack metacognitive knowledge of the factors that influence their decisions. We sought to reconcile this discrepancy between the policy assumptions and the psychological research. To do so, we asked participants to complete Choice-Based Conjoint surveys in which they made series of choices between different hypothetical schools. We then asked participants to self-report the weight they placed on each attribute when making their choices. Across four studies, we found that participants did not know how much weight they had placed on various school attributes. Average correlations between stated and revealed weights ranged from r =.34–.54. Stated weights predicted different choices than revealed weights in 16.41–20.63% of decisions. These metacognitive limitations persisted regardless of whether the participants were parents or non-parents (Study 1a/1b), the nature of the attributes that participants used to evaluate alternatives (Study 2), and whether or not decision makers had access to school ratings that could be used as metacognitive aids (Study 3). In line with prior psychological research–and in contract to policy assumptions–these findings demonstrate that decision makers do not have particularly strong metacognitive knowledge of the factors that influence their school choice decisions. As a result, parents making school choice decisions are likely to seek out and use the wrong information, thus leading to suboptimal school choices. Future research should replicate these results in more ecologically valid samples and test new approaches to school choice that account for these metacognitive limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghana's Disability Fund aims to build the capacity of persons with disabilities, particularly those outside of formal employment, to engage in livelihood generation activities as a way to reduce poverty. The objective of this paper is to investigate the kind of knowledge that exists on the District Assemblies Common Fund program, understand the experience of beneficiaries when they access the program, and examine the benefits on beneficiaries' livelihoods. The research consisted of five focus group discussions with 35 beneficiaries, key informant interviews with six member organizations of Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, and interviews with eleven Disability Fund Management Committees members. This research found the experiences of beneficiaries on the program are varied yet the program on the whole has had a positive outcomes on their livelihoods. Persons with disabilities who participated in this study demonstrated knowledge of the program. Beneficiaries further described issues relating to the quality of purchased items, the procurement process, as well as reductions and changes to requested items. Disability-specific issues in accessing the funds were also noted. These limited the effectiveness of the Fund to meet its stated goals. The findings of the study can inform the Common Fund Secretariat efforts to improve the performance of the fund as well as the advocacy of the disability movement. The findings are also relevant to the design and implementation of other social protection programmes in low-and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laboratory mouse has served as the premier animal model system for both basic and preclinical investigations for over a century. However, laboratory mice capture only a subset of the genetic variation found in wild mouse populations, ultimately limiting the potential of classical inbred strains to uncover phenotype-associated variants and pathways. Wild mouse populations are reservoirs of genetic diversity that could facilitate the discovery of new functional and disease-associated alleles, but the scarcity of commercially available, well-characterized wild mouse strains limits their broader adoption in biomedical research. To overcome this barrier, we have recently developed, sequenced, and phenotyped a set of 11 inbred strains derived from wild-caught Mus musculus domesticus. Each of these "Nachman strains" immortalizes a unique wild haplotype sampled from one of five environmentally distinct locations across North and South America. Whole genome sequence analysis reveals that each strain carries between 4.73–6.54 million single nucleotide differences relative to the GRCm39 mouse reference, with 42.5% of variants in the Nachman strain genomes absent from current classical inbred mouse strain panels. We phenotyped the Nachman strains on a customized pipeline to assess the scope of disease-relevant neurobehavioral, biochemical, physiological, metabolic, and morphological trait variation. The Nachman strains exhibit significant inter-strain variation in >90% of 1119 surveyed traits and expand the range of phenotypic diversity captured in classical inbred strain panels. These novel wild-derived inbred mouse strain resources are set to empower new discoveries in both basic and preclinical research. Author summary: Inbred laboratory mouse strains are integral tools for both preclinical and basic research. However, laboratory mice capture a small fraction of the genetic diversity found in wild mouse populations, a consideration that necessarily constrains the scope of possible discovery in studies restricted to lab mice. Further, laboratory mice were developed through programs of intense artificial selection for increased breeding performance, docility, and other traits of interest. Consequently, the genetic control of many complex traits in lab mice may not accurately reflect the mechanisms of their regulation in nature. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new inbred mouse strain resource founded from wild-caught mice subject to minimal laboratory selection. We show that strains in this "Nachman panel" harbor millions of genetic variants absent from current laboratory mouse models, including predicted deleterious alleles and gene-spanning structural variants. Paralleling this genetic diversity, we show that Nachman strains capture striking phenotypic variation across a multitude of disease-relevant biochemical, neurobehavioral, physiological, morphological, and metabolic traits, expanding the range of trait variation recovered in lab strains alone. Overall, our strain survey emphasizes the collective potential of the Nachman strains to advance discoveries into multiple disease areas and basic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional approaches to the modeling of multiple‐choice item response data (e.g., 3PL, 4PL models) emphasize slips and guesses as random events. In this paper, an item response model is presented that characterizes both disjunctively interacting guessing and conjunctively interacting slipping processes as proficiency‐related phenomena. We show how evidence for this perspective is seen in the systematic form of invariance violations for item slip and guess parameters under four‐parameter IRT models when compared across populations of different mean proficiency levels. Specifically, higher proficiency populations tend to show higher guess and lower slip probabilities than lower proficiency populations. The results undermine the use of traditional models for IRT applications that require invariance and would suggest greater attention to alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is compelling evidence that exercise must be part of main line therapy for people with Parkinson's disease. In this viewpoint, we outline the four key components of exercise: aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, flexibility exercise, and neuromotor exercises (posture, gait, balance, and agility) that can improve both motor and non-motor symptoms of the disease and, in the case of aerobic exercise, may delay the disease. We outline guidelines on how to change and optimize the exercise prescription at different stages of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite intensive research on preventing and treating vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), mortality and morbidity rates remain high. Early brain injury (EBI) has emerged as possibly the major significant factor in aSAH pathophysiology, emphasizing the need to investigate EBI-associated clinical events for improved patient management and decision-making. This study aimed to identify early clinical and radiological events within 72 h after aSAH to develop a conclusive predictive EBI score for clinical practice. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 561 consecutive patients with aSAH admitted to our neurovascular center between 01/2014 and 09/2022. Fourteen potential predictors occurring within the initial 72 h after hemorrhage were analyzed. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 6 months, discretized to three levels (0–2, favorable; 3–5, poor; 6, dead), was used as the outcome variable. Univariate ordinal regression ranked predictors by significance, and forward selection with McFadden's pseudo-R2 determined the optimal set of predictors for multivariate proportional odds logistic regression. Collinear parameters were excluded, and fivefold cross-validation was used to avoid overfitting. Results: The analysis resulted in the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Associated Early Brain Injury Outcome Prediction score (SHELTER-score), comprising seven clinical and radiological events: age (0–4 points), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (0–2.5 points), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (2 points), mydriasis (1–2 points), midline shift (0.5–1 points), early deterioration (1 point), and early ischemic lesion (2 points). McFadden's pseudo-R2 = 0.339, area under the curve for death or disability 0.899 and 0.877 for death. A SHELTER-score below 5 indicated a favorable outcome (mRS 0–2), 5–6.5 predicted a poor outcome (mRS 3–5), and ≥ 7 correlated with death (mRS 6) at 6 months. Conclusions: The novel SHELTER-score, incorporating seven clinical and radiological features of EBI, demonstrated strong predictive performance in determining clinical outcomes. This scoring system serves as a valuable tool for neurointensivists to identify patients with poor outcomes and guide treatment decisions, reflecting the great impact of EBI on the overall outcome of patients with aSAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes as its starting point a repertoire of protective texts and practices articulated as ritual therapeutics in the early twentieth century by the well-known Burmese scholar-monk, the Ledi Sayadaw. Through an exploration of meditation-practice, meditation-teaching, and meditation-performance contexts in postcolonial Burma and India, I demonstrate the ways in which such texts and practices were adapted and refigured within the teaching models of two important twentieth-century Vipassanā meditation masters, Sayagyi U Ba Khin and S. N. Goenka. I argue that these protective texts and practices are constitutive aspects of the meditation modalities developed by these two teachers. I conclude with an exploration of the history of the Black American theologian and student of U Ba Khin, Leon E. Wright. In reflecting on Wright's case, I consider the ways in which modern scholarly practices within Buddhist (modernism) studies continue to participate in the erasure of historically marginalized worlds and persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioenergetics models for fishes are useful for understanding ecological processes (e.g., survivorship, growth, and reproduction) and can also inform fisheries management. Yet, current bioenergetics models are unable to ascertain direct energetic costs associated with standard and active metabolism for wild, free-swimming fishes. The use of telemetry with accelerometer sensors, calibrated in the laboratory using swim tunnel respirometers, have made it possible to estimate field metabolic activity in wild fish. Our objectives were to determine seasonal thermal habitat use and habitat-dependent metabolic costs associated with standard, active, and maximum metabolism in a ~1400 ha multibasin lake in Québec, Canada. We implanted 47 wild, free-swimming Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) with either acoustic transmitters equipped with temperature and depth sensors or an acceleration sensor. Three sets of water temperature loggers (one set for each basin) were deployed at 2, 4, 6, 10, and 18 or 20 m to measure seasonally available thermal habitat. Thermal profiles of lake water temperature varied among basins with the thermocline being ~5 m in the smallest basin (north basin) and ~7.5 m in the largest basin (east basin). Thermal habitat used by Lake Trout varied seasonally, coupled with seasonal and basin differences in standard and maximum metabolism. Daily active metabolism loosely followed seasonal changes in thermal habitat use but was largely unaffected by differences in thermal habitat use among capture basins. The theoretical scope-for-activity followed seasonal trends and was estimated to range between 47% and 74% of theoretical aerobic scope. Our observations suggest that available thermal habitats influence Lake Trout thermal habitat use, and thus metabolic costs associated with swimming. These changes in thermal habitats could have metabolic consequences for individuals in a population, resulting in altered fitness metrics (i.e., survival, growth, and/or reproduction). Reductions in the volume and availability of optimal thermal habitats for Lake Trout are likely to occur under climate change scenarios. Our study indicates that the species can adjust metabolic costs throughout the year even when thermal habitats appear to be limiting, which may inform future evidence-based management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) plays a prominent role in diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, but imaging individual RPE cells is challenging due to their high absorption and low autofluorescence emission. The RPE lies beneath the highly reflective photoreceptor layer (PR) and contains absorptive pigments, preventing direct backscattered light detection when the PR layer is intact. Here, we used near-infrared autofluorescence adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (NIRAF AOSLO) and transscleral flood imaging (TFI) in the same healthy eyes to cross-validate these approaches. Both methods revealed a consistent RPE mosaic pattern and appeared to reflect a distribution of fluorophores consistent with findings from histological studies. Interestingly, even in apparently healthy RPE, we observed dynamic changes over months, suggesting ongoing cellular activity or alterations in fluorophore distribution. These findings emphasize the value of NIRAF AOSLO and TFI in understanding RPE morphology and dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distinction has recently been drawn between surface distortions and deep distortions in false memory, where the former are conventional errors of commission and the latter are illogical relations among multiple memories of items. The deep distortions that have been studied to date are violations of the logical rules that govern incompatibility relations, such as additivity and countable additivity. Because that work is confined to laboratory word-list tasks, it is subject to the ecological validity criticism that memory for everyday facts may not exhibit such phenomena. We report evidence that memory for everyday facts displays the same deep distortions as laboratory tasks. We developed a version of the conjoint-recognition paradigm that measures memory for incompatible general knowledge facts, similar to those found on the quiz program Jeopardy! In experiments with university participants, four deep distortions were detected (violations of the additivity, countable additivity, universal set, and compensation rules), with participants consistently remembering more than what is logically possible. The distortions were more robust than in laboratory experiments, and memories of incompatible facts (e.g., Jupiter and Saturn cannot both be the largest planet in the solar system) did not suppress each other. These patterns were replicated in subsequent experiments with older and more diverse participant samples. Consistent with the notion that deep distortions are by-products of gist memory, conjoint-recognition modeling analyses revealed that memory for everyday facts was even more reliant on gist than memory for word lists, and that verbatim memory was near-floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of mycotoxins (MT) without or with the inclusion of yeast cell wall extract (YCWE, Mycosorb®, Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA) on laying hen performance. A total of 25 trials were collected from a literature search, and data were extracted from 8 of these that met inclusion criteria, for a total of 12 treatments and 1774 birds. Laying hens fed MT had lower (p < 0.05) body weight (BW) by −50 g, egg production by −6.3 percentage points, and egg weight by −1.95 g than control fed hens (CTRL). Inclusion of YCWE during the mycotoxin challenges (YCWE + MT) resulted in numerically greater (p = 0.441) BW by 12.5 g, while egg production and egg weight were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher by 4.2 percentage points and 1.37 g, respectively. Furthermore, economic assessment calculations indicated that YCWE may not only support hen performance but also resulted in a positive return on investment. In conclusion, mycotoxins can play a role in negatively impacting laying hen performance and profitability. Inclusion of YCWE in feed with mycotoxin challenges provided benefits to egg production and egg weight and may support profitability. As such, the inclusion of YCWE could play an important role in minimizing mycotoxin effects and in turn aid farm efficiency and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains unresolved for many people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). While highly effective modulator therapy improves quality‐of‐life and symptom severity, the impact of this intervention and other factors associated with pursuing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) remains understudied. Methods: Adult PwCF + CRS were enrolled into a prospective, observational, multi‐institutional study. Participants completed validated outcome measures to evaluate respiratory symptom severity, depression, headache, and sleep quality, as well as nasal endoscopy, sinus computed tomography (CT), and olfactory testing. Bivariate comparisons and regression modeling evaluated treatment cofactors, disease characteristics, and outcome measures associated with pursuing ESS. Results: Sixty PwCF were analyzed, including 24 (40%) who elected ESS. Pursuing ESS was associated with worse SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) total, rhinologic, psychological, and sleep dysfunction domain scores; worse Patient Health Questionnaire‐9‐Revised depression scores; worse Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total scores; worse weight, role, emotion, and eating domain scores on the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire‐Revised; more severe disease on nasal endoscopy; and lack of modulator therapy (all p < 0.050). Multivariable regression identified that worse SNOT‐22 total score was associated with electing ESS (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.16, p = 0.015) and elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) treatment (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.004–0.34, p = 0.004) was associated with pursing medical therapy. Conclusions: Worse sinonasal symptom burden, lack of ETI treatment, sleep quality, depression, and nasal endoscopy scores were associated with electing ESS, while lung disease severity and sinus CT scores were not. ETI use was associated with lower odds of pursuing ESS independent of sinonasal symptom burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of sinonasal malignancies (SNMs) on quality of life (QOL) at presentation is poorly understood. The Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) and University of Washington Quality of Life (UWQOL) are validated QOL instruments with distinctive subdomains. This study aims to identify factors impacting pretreatment QOL in SNM patients to personalize multidisciplinary management and counseling. Methods: Patients with previously untreated SNMs were prospectively enrolled (2015–2022) in a multicenter observational study. Baseline pretreatment QOL instruments (SNOT‐22, UWQOL) were obtained along with demographics, comorbidities, histopathology/staging, tumor involvement, and symptoms. Multivariable regression models identified factors associated with reduced baseline QOL. Results: Among 204 patients, presenting baseline QOL was significantly reduced. Multivariable regression showed worse total SNOT‐22 QOL in patients with skull base erosion (p = 0.02). SNOT‐rhinologic QOL was worse in women (p = 0.009), patients with epistaxis (p = 0.036), and industrial exposure (p = 0.005). SNOT extranasal QOL was worse in patients with industrial exposure (p = 0.016); worse SNOT ear/facial QOL if perineural invasion (PNI) (p = 0.027). Squamous cell carcinoma pathology (p = 0.037), palate involvement (p = 0.012), and pain (p = 0.017) were associated with worse SNOT sleep QOL scores. SNOT psychological subdomain scores were significantly worse in patients with palate lesions (p = 0.022), skull base erosion (p = 0.025), and T1 staging (p = 0.023). Low QOL was more likely in the presence of PNI on UW health (p = 0.019) and orbital erosion on UW overall (p = 0.03). UW social QOL was worse if palatal involvement (p = 0.023) or PNI (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a negative impact on baseline QOL in patients with SNMs and suggest sex‐specific and symptom‐related lower QOL scores, with minimal histopathology association. Anatomical tumor involvement may be more reflective of QOL than T‐staging, as orbital and skull base erosion, PNI, and palate lesions are significantly associated with reduced baseline QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Epilepsy management employs self‐reported seizure diaries, despite evidence of seizure underreporting. Wearable and implantable seizure detection devices are now becoming more widely available. There are no clear guidelines about what levels of accuracy are sufficient. This study aimed to simulate clinical use cases and identify the necessary level of accuracy for each. Methods: Using a realistic seizure simulator (CHOCOLATES), a ground truth was produced, which was then sampled to generate signals from simulated seizure detectors of various capabilities. Five use cases were evaluated: (1) randomized clinical trials (RCTs), (2) medication adjustment in clinic, (3) injury prevention, (4) sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) prevention, and (5) treatment of seizure clusters. We considered sensitivity (0%–100%), false alarm rate (FAR; 0–2/day), and device type (external wearable vs. implant) in each scenario. Results: The RCT case was efficient for a wide range of wearable parameters, though implantable devices were preferred. Lower accuracy wearables resulted in subtle changes in the distribution of patients enrolled in RCTs, and therefore higher sensitivity and lower FAR values were preferred. In the clinic case, a wide range of sensitivity, FAR, and device type yielded similar results. For injury prevention, SUDEP prevention, and seizure cluster treatment, each scenario required high sensitivity and yet was minimally influenced by FAR. Significance: The choice of use case is paramount in determining acceptable accuracy levels for a wearable seizure detection device. We offer simulation results for determining and verifying utility for specific use case and specific wearable parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Multiplex molecular diagnostic panels have greatly enhanced detection of gastrointestinal pathogens. However, data on the impact of these tests on clinical and patient-centered outcomes are limited. Methods We conducted a prospective, multicenter, stepped-wedge trial to determine the impact of multiplex molecular testing at 5 academic children's hospitals on children presenting to the emergency department with acute gastroenteritis. Caregivers were interviewed on enrollment and 7–10 days after enrollment to determine symptoms, risk factors, subsequent medical visits, and impact on family members. During the pre-intervention period, diagnostic testing was performed at the clinician's discretion. During the intervention period, multiplex molecular testing was performed on all children, with results available to clinicians. The primary outcome was return visits to a healthcare provider within 10 days of enrollment. Results Potential pathogens were identified by clinician-ordered tests in 19 of 571 (3.3%) in the pre-intervention period compared with 434 of 586 (74%) in the intervention period; clinically relevant pathogens were detected in 2.1% and 15%, respectively. In the multivariate model, the intervention was associated with a 21% reduction in the odds of any return visit (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval,.70–.90) after adjusting for potential confounders. Appropriate treatment was prescribed in 11.3% compared with 19.6% during the intervention period (P =.22). Conclusions Routine molecular multiplex testing for all children who presented to the ED with acute gastroenteritis detected more clinically relevant pathogens and led to a 21% decrease in return visits. Additional research is needed to define patients most likely to benefit from testing. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02248285. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methodological studies of response time on noncognitive assessments have separately demonstrated the relevance of content trait level and response styles as predictive factors. In this paper we examine the simultaneous relevance of both factors as well as the potential for omitted predictor bias when ignoring either factor. Using response time data from several different noncognitive assessments, we demonstrate how a multilevel regression model that attends simultaneously to content and response style factors leads to consistent findings that support the simultaneous relevance of both factors. The average effects of response style consistently emerge as stronger, although also show greater respondent-level variability, possibly due to the multiple different underlying causes of response style behavior. Some implications for the use of response times in noncognitive measurement are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an annual late-summer raptor survey along a 53-km route around Henrys Lake Flats, Idaho, from 1994 to 2022, and pooled the resulting data with similar published information collected from 1974 to 1993. A mean of 36 Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), 13 Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo regalis), and 16 Swainson's Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) were observed each year along this route. The counts of Ferruginous Hawks declined significantly (P < 0.001) over the combined study period and were almost 10 times lower from 2013–2022 compared to 1974–1983. The counts of Red-tailed Hawks also declined significantly (P = 0.04), whereas no significant variation was evident for Swainson's Hawks over the combined 49-yr study period. Summer precipitation levels and hawk numbers were not correlated. The observed numbers of Ferruginous Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks were correlated throughout the study period, suggesting similar responses to local environmental and/or land-use factors. Obvious changes in the study area during the corresponding 49 yr include conversion of some pastures to center-pivot-irrigated agriculture and a substantial expansion of all-terrain vehicle trails and recreational activity. Because 88% of Ferruginous Hawks breeding in the Columbia Basin funnel through the upper Snake River Plain and adjacent areas on their way to post-breeding ranges in the Great Plains, expanded surveys in these areas in late August/early September could effectively monitor this intermountain population. Realizamos un censo anual de rapaces en el final del verano a lo largo de una ruta de 53 km alrededor de las planicies del Lago Henrys, Idaho, desde 1994 hasta 2022, y combinamos los datos obtenidos con información similar publicada colectada entre 1974 y 1993. Se observó un promedio de 36 individuos de Buteo jamaicensis, 13 de B. regalis y 16 de B. swainsoni cada año a lo largo de esta ruta. Los conteos de B. regalis disminuyeron significativamente (P < 0.001) durante el período de estudio combinado y fueron casi 10 veces más bajos entre 2013–2022 en comparación con 1974–1983. Los conteos de B. jamaicensis también disminuyeron significativamente (P = 0.04), mientras que no se observó variación significativa en el caso de B. swainsoni durante el período de estudio combinado de 49 años. Los niveles de precipitación en verano y el número de individuos de Buteo no estuvieron correlacionados. Los números observados de B. regalis y B. jamaicensis estuvieron correlacionados durante todo el período de estudio, lo que sugiere respuestas similares a factores locales ambientales y/o de uso del suelo. Los cambios evidentes en el área de estudio durante los 49 años analizados incluyen la conversión de algunos pastizales a agricultura con sistemas de riego de pivote central y una expansión sustancial de caminos para vehículos todo terreno y actividad recreativa. Dado que el 88% de los individuos de B. regalis que se reproducen en la Cuenca de Columbia pasan por la parte alta de la planicie del Río Snake y áreas adyacentes en su camino a las áreas post reproductivas en las Grandes Llanuras, la ampliación de los censos en estas áreas a finales de agosto/principios de septiembre podrían permitir un seguimiento efectivo de esta población inter-montana. [Traducción del equipo editorial] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HEMT improves multiple measures of sinusitis through 2 years of therapy in adults. • Sinus CT scans analyzed via machine learning methods and sinus symptoms improved. • Health utility increased and productivity loss decreased with 24 months of HEMT. • HEMT initiated in adulthood did not fully resolve chronic rhinosinusitis in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PHACE (posterior fossa malformations, hemangiomas, arterial anomalies, cardiac anomalies, eye anomalies) association has many recognized clinical features. A link between PHACE and non‐vascular intracranial lesions has not been well‐described. We report three pediatric patients with PHACE and non‐vascular intracranial lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Global Health Impact, Nicole Hassoun joins the ranks of those defending a right to health. Unlike the World Health Organization, which views this right expansively, Hassoun would limit the right to the health needed to enjoy a minimally good life. This essay argues that this right is difficult to specify and insufficient to support the policies Hassoun defends. The essay sketches an alternative view of the obligations of institutions to address health problems that derives from imperfect individual duties to aid those who are doing badly or who are at risk of harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) have chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). CRS requires additional management beyond that of pulmonary disease and leads to increased utilization of healthcare resources. Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) is a highly effective modulator therapy that has been shown to improve CRS in PwCF. However, the impact of ETI on rhinologic healthcare utilization is understudied. Objective: To compare rates of rhinologic healthcare utilization and procedures among PwCF prior to and after initiating ETI therapy. Methods: A single-center, cohort study investigating adult PwCF was performed in January 2023. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and data related to CF treatment were retrospectively abstracted. Characteristics of the cohort were compared over 2 periods: the 12-months prior to ETI initiation and the 12-months after ETI initiation. Post-ETI data were linearly extrapolated if a subject had not yet completed the full 12 months of ETI. Paired t-testing, Wilcoxon signed rank testing, and regression analysis were performed. Results: Of 126 PwCF, 98 (77.8%) were on ETI therapy and 35 (27.7%) were both on ETI and concurrently followed by the rhinology service (ETI-ENT). Rhinology clinic visits (P =.007) and frequency of obtaining nasal cultures (P =.046) decreased for the ETI-ENT cohort after initiating ETI treatment. There were no significant changes in the number of endoscopic sinus surgeries (P =.452) performed. Beyond ETI use, regression analysis did not identify any factors associated with changes in utilization. Conclusion: Aspects of rhinology healthcare utilization by PwCF decreased after initiation of ETI therapy. Additional studies are needed to determine rhinologic healthcare requirements for PwCF who remain on ETI for the long-term and to evaluate larger cohorts of PwCF on ETI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fung Ming Chip (馮明秋, b. 1951) is a contemporary artist based in Hong Kong who practices shufa (書法, lit. "the way of writing"). Traditionally, shufa is the art of writing Chinese characters with a brush on paper or silk; it is deeply connected to the arts of poetry and painting. However, the theories of making and viewing that undergird traditional shufa, as well as the stakes of its contemporary practice, remain largely unknown to Western audiences. This essay is a response to Fung's latest solo exhibition, entitled NumberS Series. It considers how Fung Ming Chip's latest works have moved beyond traditional shufa practice and language itself to examine the relationship between art and time. Unlike previous critical works that contextualize Fung's art with respect to Euro–North American art and art history, this article uses Fung's writings and early Chinese theories of aesthetics and ontology to establish that his art works in a distinctly non-Western manner that has its own relevance and perspective for a contemporary, global audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Patients with sinonasal malignancy (SNM) present with significant sinonasal quality of life (QOL) impairment. Global sinonasal QOL as measured by the 22‐item Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT‐22) has been shown to improve with treatment. This study aims to characterize SNOT‐22 subdomain outcomes in SNM.Patients diagnosed with SNM were prospectively enrolled in a multi‐center patient registry. SNOT‐22 scores were collected at the time of diagnosis and through the post‐treatment period for up to 5 years. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify drivers of variation in SNOT‐22 subdomains.Note that 234 patients were reviewed, with a mean follow‐up of 22 months (3 months–64 months). Rhinologic, psychological, and sleep subdomains significantly improved versus baseline (all p < 0.05). Subanalysis of 40 patients with follow‐up at all timepoints showed statistically significant improvement in rhinologic, extra‐nasal, psychological, and sleep subdomains, with minimal clinically important difference met between 2 and 5 years in sleep and psychological subdomains. Adjuvant chemoradiation was associated with worse outcomes in rhinologic (adjusted odds ratio (5.22 [1.69–8.66])), extra‐nasal (2.21 [0.22–4.17]) and ear/facial (5.53 [2.10–8.91]) subdomains. Pterygopalatine fossa involvement was associated with worse outcomes in rhinologic (3.22 [0.54–5.93]) and ear/facial (2.97 [0.32–5.65]) subdomains. Positive margins (5.74 [2.17–9.29]) and surgical approach—combined versus endoscopic (3.41 [0.78–6.05])—were associated with worse psychological outcomes. Adjuvant radiation (2.28 [0.18–4.40]) was associated with worse sleep outcomes.Sinonasal QOL improvements associated with treatment of SNM are driven by rhinologic, extra‐nasal, psychological, and sleep subdomains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study argues that the bond between ‘secularization’ and ‘de-legitimation’ is not only borne out in debates over grand historical narratives relating to the status of modernity, as argued by Hans Blumenberg, but in debates over the appraisal of specific modern philosophical programs as well. It does this by examining how the category of ‘secularization' is used to delegitimize Martin Heidegger's thought, from both theological and secular perspectives, by two of his former students, Hans Jonas and Karl Löwith. By analysing their interpretation of Heidegger and their understanding of secularization, legitimacy, and the philosophy-theology relationship, this study sheds light on the intellectual projects of these three thinkers – master and two students – and demonstrates the application of secularization as a hermeneutical category of de-legitimization on the basis of ‘insufficiency’ – either insufficiently secular or insufficiently religious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1) offer potential therapeutic advantages in the treatment of neuropathic pain and addiction by avoiding the adverse effects associated with orthosteric CB1 activation. Here, molecular modeling and mutagenesis were used to identify residues central to PAM activity at CB1. Six putative allosteric binding sites were identified in silico, including novel sites previously associated with cholesterol binding, and key residues within each site were mutated to alanine. The recently determined ZCZ011 binding site was found to be essential for allosteric agonism, as GAT228, GAT229 and ZCZ011 all increased wild-type G protein dissociation in the absence of an orthosteric ligand; activity that was abolished in mutants F191A3.27 and I169A2.56. PAM activity was demonstrated for ZCZ011 in the presence of the orthosteric ligand CP55940, which was only abolished in I169A2.56. In contrast, the PAM activity of GAT229 was reduced for mutants R220A3.56, L404A8.50, F191A3.27 and I169A2.56. This indicates that allosteric modulation may represent the net effect of binding at multiple sites, and that allosteric agonism is likely to be mediated via the ZCZ011 site. This study underlines the need for detailed understanding of ligand receptor interactions in the search for pure CB1 allosteric modulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The evolution of acoustic neuroma (AN) care continues to shift focus on balancing optimized tumor resection and control with preservation of neurological function. Prior learning curve analyses of AN resection have demonstrated a plateau between 20 and 100 surgeries. In this study of 860 consecutive AN surgeries, we investigate the presence of an extended learning curve tail for AN resection. Methods A retrospective cohort study of AN resections by a single interdisciplinary team between 1988 and 2018 was performed. Proportional odds models and restricted cubic splines were used to determine the association between the timing of surgery and odds of improved postoperative outcomes. Results The likelihood of improved postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) scores increased in the first 400 procedures, with HB 1 at 36% in 1988 compared with 79% in 2004. While the probability of a better HB score increased over time, there was a temporary decrease in slope of the cubic spline between 2005 and 2009. The last 400 cases continued to see improvement in optimal HB outcomes: adjusted odds of HB 1 score were twofold higher in both 2005 to 2009 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38–3.22, p < 0.001) and 2010 to 2018 (aOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.49–3.19, p < 0.001). Conclusion In contrast to prior studies, our study demonstrates the steepest growth for learning, as measured by rates of preservation of facial function outcomes (HB 1), occurs in the first 400 AN resections. Additionally, improvements in patient outcomes continued even 30 years into practice, underlining the importance of lifelong learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In a recent trial, moral reconation therapy (MRT)—a cognitive–behavioral intervention for criminal recidivism—was not more effective than usual care (UC) for veterans in behavioral health treatment. To determine for whom treatments of recidivism are most effective, we tested if recency of criminal history or psychopathic traits moderated MRT's effects on outcomes. Method: In a multisite trial, 341 veterans (95.3% male; 57.8% White/Non-Hispanic) with a criminal history who were admitted to behavioral health treatment programs were randomly assigned to UC or UC + MRT and followed at 6- and 12-months. Incarceration (yes/no) or criminal conviction (yes/no) in the year prior to enrollment and psychopathic traits at baseline (median split) were prespecified as moderators of treatment effects on primary (criminal thinking, criminal associations) and secondary outcomes (legal, employment, and family/social problems; substance use problems and days of use). Results: Among veterans incarcerated in the year prior to enrollment, MRT (vs. UC) was associated with greater reductions in criminal associations (6 months) and days drinking or using drugs (12 months). Among those convicted in the year prior to enrollment, MRT (vs. UC) was associated with greater reductions in employment problems (12 months) and days drinking or using drugs at each follow-up. For those high in psychopathic traits, MRT (vs. UC) was associated with greater reductions in days drinking or using drugs at each follow-up. Conclusions: For veterans in behavioral health treatment with recent criminal histories and high in psychopathic traits, MRT may be effective for reducing risk for criminal recidivism. What is the public health significance of this article?: This study found that for veterans in behavioral health treatment programs with a criminal history, a group treatment aimed at reducing risk for criminal recidivism is effective for those with more recent criminal histories and those with greater psychopathic tendencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs) are challenging lesions to treat via both open surgical and endovascular techniques. Presently, there are 3 intrasaccular devices available to address many of the limitations of prior techniques, all of which are at different phases of approval for human use around the world. These devices include the Woven EndoBridge (WEB ®) made by MicroVention, the Artisse™ Embolization Device made by Medtronic, and the Contour Neurovascular System™ made by Cerus Endovascular. Although heterogenous in design, these devices rely on the principle of using fine mesh overlying the aneurysm neck to slow blood inflow, promoting stagnation and thrombosis that ultimately leads to healing across the neck and exclusion from the circulation. While our understanding improves as long-term occlusion rates from these devices continue to be studied, the safety profiles and short-term success rates demonstrated in recent studies provide optimism for these innovative intrasaccular devices for the treatment of WNBAs. In this paper, we review these 3 intra-saccular flow disruption devices for use in WNBAs and summarize recent literature and studies of their effectiveness and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]