Search

Approximately five million students in US public schools have a home language other than English and are actively learning English (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020), indicating that a large number of students could be considered emergent bilingual (EB). Although measuring student skills in English may be informative, it does not provide a complete understanding of student skill and language development because the student's native language is not considered. Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) is often used in schools to measure student academic skills because of its utility in understanding student performance, educational decision-making, and progress monitoring. However, there is limited understanding of the extent of the empirical literature focused on CBMs in languages other than English. Results of this scoping review of the available empirical literature on CBM in other languages with linguistically diverse student populations highlight the need to further understand and expand this area of research given the rise of the emergent bilingual student population and dual-language program in US public schools.

Abstract We conducted a longitudinal randomized controlled experiment between September 2021 and May 2022 to evaluate whether anti-tobacco industry beliefs and attitudes mediate the effect of culturally tailored anti-smoking messages on quit intentions among US young adult sexual minority women (SMW) ages 18–30 who smoke. Participants were randomized to view up to a total of 20 tailored versus non-tailored messages over one month. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and one-month follow-up. We fit a structural equation model testing the effect of LGBTQ + community-tailored, anti-smoking messages on quit intentions and mediating roles of anti-industry attitudes and beliefs (n = 966). Anti-industry beliefs (indirect effect size = 0.024, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.040, 0.056]) and attitudes (indirect effect size = 0.034, 95% CI = [0.006, 0.077]) significantly mediated the effect of the tailored condition on quit intentions. These findings suggest that LGBTQ + -tailored cues in anti-smoking messaging may promote quit intentions indirectly through influencing young adult SMW’s beliefs and attitudes about the tobacco industry. Future campaigns to promote quitting among young adult SMW who smoke should consider incorporating themes to change their beliefs and attitudes about the tobacco industry. Trial registration This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04812795) on 24/03/2021.

Abstract We aimed to identify and characterise behavioural profiles in patients at high risk of SCD, by using deep representation learning of day-to-day behavioural recordings. We present a pipeline that employed unsupervised clustering on low-dimensional representations of behavioural time-series data learned by a convolutional residual variational neural network (ResNet-VAE). Data from the prospective, observational SafeHeart study conducted at two large tertiary university centers in the Netherlands and Denmark were used. Patients received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) between May 2021 and September 2022 and wore wearable devices using accelerometer technology during 180 consecutive days. A total of 272 patients (mean age of 63.1 ± 10.2 years, 81% male) were eligible with a total sampling of 37,478 days of behavioural data (138 ± 47 days per patient). Deep representation learning identified five distinct behavioural profiles: Cluster A (n = 46) had very low physical activity levels and a disturbed sleep pattern. Cluster B (n = 70) had high activity levels, mainly at light-to-moderate intensity. Cluster C (n = 63) exhibited a high-intensity activity profile. Cluster D (n = 51) showed above-average sleep efficiency. Cluster E (n = 42) had frequent waking episodes and poor sleep. Annual risks of malignant ventricular arrhythmias ranged from 30.4% in Cluster A to 9.8% and 9.5% for Clusters D-E, respectively. Compared to low-risk profiles (D-E), Cluster A demonstrated a three-to-four fold increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias adjusted for clinical covariates (adjusted HR 3.63, 95% CI 1.54–8.53, p

Abstract Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial immune cells for tissue repair and regeneration. However, their potential as a cell-based regenerative therapy is not yet fully understood. Here, we show that local delivery of exogenous Tregs into injured mouse bone, muscle, and skin greatly enhances tissue healing. Mechanistically, exogenous Tregs rapidly adopt an injury-specific phenotype in response to the damaged tissue microenvironment, upregulating genes involved in immunomodulation and tissue healing. We demonstrate that exogenous Tregs exert their regenerative effect by directly and indirectly modulating monocytes/macrophages (Mo/MΦ) in injured tissues, promoting their switch to an anti-inflammatory and pro-healing state via factors such as interleukin (IL)-10. Validating the key role of IL-10 in exogenous Treg-mediated repair and regeneration, the pro-healing capacity of these cells is lost when Il10 is knocked out. Additionally, exogenous Tregs reduce neutrophil and cytotoxic T cell accumulation and IFN-γ production in damaged tissues, further dampening the pro-inflammatory Mo/MΦ phenotype. Highlighting the potential of this approach, we demonstrate that allogeneic and human Tregs also promote tissue healing. Together, this study establishes exogenous Tregs as a possible universal cell-based therapy for regenerative medicine and provides key mechanistic insights that could be harnessed to develop immune cell-based therapies to enhance tissue healing.

Abstract Formative research is an important component of health communication campaign development. Rapid message testing approaches are useful for testing new messaging quickly and efficiently during public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, when guidance and recommendations are rapidly changing. Wiki surveys simultaneously collect quantitative message testing data and qualitative feedback on potential social media campaign messages. Philly CEAL used wiki surveys to test messages about COVID-19 vaccinations for dissemination on social media. A cross-sectional survey of Philadelphia residents (N = 199) was conducted between January and March 2023. Wiki surveys were used to assess the perceived effectiveness of messages promoting the updated COVID-19 booster and child vaccination. In each wiki survey, participants were presented with two messages and asked to select the one that they perceived as most effective. Participants could alternatively select “can’t decide” or submit their own message. A score estimating the probability of selection was calculated for each message. Participant-generated messages were routinely reviewed and incorporated into the message pool. Participants cast a total of 32,281 votes on messages seeded by the research team (n = 20) and participants (n = 43). The highest scoring messages were those that were generated by participants and spoke to getting your child vaccinated to protect them against serious illness and getting the booster to protect your health and that of your community. These messages were incorporated into social media posts disseminated by Philly CEAL’s social media accounts. Wiki surveys are a feasible and efficient method of rapid message testing for social media campaigns.

Abstract The multi-staged XENON program at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso aims to detect dark matter with two-phase liquid xenon time projection chambers of increasing size and sensitivity. The XENONnT experiment is the latest detector in the program, planned to be an upgrade of its predecessor XENON1T. It features an active target of 5.9 tonnes of cryogenic liquid xenon (8.5 tonnes total mass in cryostat). The experiment is expected to extend the sensitivity to WIMP dark matter by more than an order of magnitude compared to XENON1T, thanks to the larger active mass and the significantly reduced background, improved by novel systems such as a radon removal plant and a neutron veto. This article describes the XENONnT experiment and its sub-systems in detail and reports on the detector performance during the first science run.

Abstract Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key immune regulators that have shown promise in enhancing cardiac repair post-MI, although the mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that rapidly increasing Treg number in the circulation post-MI via systemic administration of exogenous Tregs improves cardiac function in male mice, by limiting cardiomyocyte death and reducing fibrosis. Mechanistically, exogenous Tregs quickly home to the infarcted heart and adopt an injury-specific transcriptome that mediates repair by modulating monocytes/macrophages. Specially, Tregs lead to a reduction in pro-inflammatory Ly6CHi CCR2+ monocytes/macrophages accompanied by a rapid shift of macrophages towards a pro-repair phenotype. Additionally, exogenous Treg-derived factors, including nidogen-1 and IL-10, along with a decrease in cardiac CD8+ T cell number, mediate the reduction of the pro-inflammatory monocyte/macrophage subset in the heart. Supporting the pivotal role of IL-10, exogenous Tregs knocked out for IL-10 lose their pro-repair capabilities. Together, this study highlights the beneficial use of a Treg-based therapeutic approach for cardiac repair with important mechanistic insights that could facilitate the development of novel immunotherapies for MI.

Background In the USA, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people report higher rates of tobacco use than non-LGBTQ+ people due to diverse factors, from anti-LGBTQ stigma to targeted marketing by the tobacco industry. There is an opportunity to support behavioural changes by delivering evidence-based health communication campaigns through community-based organisations (CBOs), but an insufficient evidence base and organisational resource restrictions limit this potential. Our previous research with CBO staff and leaders serving LGBTQ+ communities identified gaps in evidence-based campaigns, such as insufficient centering of LGBTQ+ communities in campaign development and execution. This qualitative study explores opportunities to improve the products and services supporting the dissemination of evidence-based health communication campaigns for LGBTQ+ audiences.Methods We conducted key informant interviews between January and June 2021 with individuals who direct or run health promotion programmes in CBOs serving LGBTQ+ populations in the USA (n=26 individuals from 22 organisations). Using critical and constructivist perspectives, we leveraged the analysis team and advisory committee’s diverse research, lived and practice expertise related to LGBTQ+ health. We employed a team-based, reflexive thematic analysis approach.Results We identified two key opportunities. Theme 1—show us your work: participants requested (a) details about the evidence-based campaigns, including underlying values and extent of community engagement, and (b) information about campaign mechanisms and impact. Theme 2—support us in our work: participants suggested that evidence-based campaigns should (a) be designed for flexibility and adaptation, (b) offer tools and guidance for adaptation and (c) share granular data and relevant resources. Participants nominated dissemination products and processes to address gaps, including supports to integrate campaigns into multi-level action, data collection tools for adaptation and engagement with campaign developers.Conclusions The findings highlight the potential for CBOs to be integral partners in the development and dissemination of evidence-based health communication campaigns that address tobacco-related inequities among LGBTQ+ communities.

Porokeratosis ptychotropica (PP) is a rare and unusual variant of porokeratosis. There is a dearth of information on the natural history, epidemiology, and optimal treatment options. This study aimed to characterize the worldwide distribution, epidemiology, clinical features, and treatments attempted for all reported cases of porokeratosis ptychotropica. A total of 59 cases of porokeratosis ptychotropica have been reported, with most cases originating from the United States. The median age of patients affected with porokeratosis ptychotropica was 49 years. The most involved body locations are the buttocks and gluteal cleft. The risk of malignant transformation in porokeratosis ptychotropica is approximately 1.7% but there is significant bias in estimating rare occurrences in rare diseases. In conclusion, PP is an important but under-recognized variant of porokeratosis, with a likely low risk of malignant transformation. The best available treatment modality remains uncertain; however, the use of topical lovastatin/cholesterol cream appears promising. Long-term surveillance appears prudent for porokeratosis ptychotropica due to a risk of cancerization.

Abstract Background and Aim Various deep learning models, based on convolutional neural network (CNN), have been shown to improve the detection of early esophageal neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus. Vision transformer (ViT), derived from natural language processing, has emerged as the new state‐of‐the‐art for image recognition, outperforming predecessors such as CNN. This pilot study explores the use of ViT to classify the presence or absence of early esophageal neoplasia in endoscopic images of Barrett's esophagus. Methods A BO dataset of 1918 images of Barrett's esophagus from 267 unique patients was used. The images were classified as dysplastic (D‐BO) or non‐dysplastic (ND‐BO). A pretrained vision transformer model, ViTBase16, was used to develop our classifier models. Three ViT models were developed for comparison based on imaging modality: white‐light imaging (WLI), narrow‐band imaging (NBI), and combined modalities. Performance of each model was evaluated based on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, confusion matrices, and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results The ViT models demonstrated the following performance: WLI‐ViT (Accuracy: 92%, Sensitivity: 82%, Specificity: 95%), NBI‐ViT (Accuracy: 99%, Sensitivity: 97%, Specificity: 99%), and combined modalities‐ViT (Accuracy: 93%, Sensitivity: 87%, Specificity: 95%). Combined modalities‐ViT showed greater accuracy (94% vs 90%) and sensitivity (80% vs 70%) compared with WLI‐ViT when classifying WLI images on a subgroup testing set. Conclusion ViT exhibited high accuracy in classifying the presence or absence of EON in endoscopic images of Barrett's esophagus. ViT has the potential to be widely applicable to other endoscopic diagnoses of gastrointestinal diseases.

Rationale: Acute caustic ingestion from suicidal intent is not usual in emergency departments in developed countries. One of the substances commonly ingested by suicidal patients, phosphoric acid, tends to cause multi-system derangements. Patient’s Concern: A 41-year-old male patient presented with complaints of throat discomfort, severe generalized abdominal pain, and multiple episodes of hematemesis after ingesting a restroom cleaning solution. Diagnosis: Poisoning by acute caustic ingestion (containing

Abstract Background The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has prompted the development of numerous ethical guidelines, while the involvement of patients in the creation of these documents lags behind. As part of the European PROFID project we explore patient perspectives on the ethical implications of AI in care for patients at increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Aim Explore perspectives of patients on the ethical use of AI, particularly in clinical decision-making regarding the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Methods Semi-structured, future scenario-based interviews were conducted among patients who had either an ICD and/or a heart condition with increased risk of SCD in Germany (n = 9) and the Netherlands (n = 15). We used the principles of the European Commission’s Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI to structure the interviews. Results Six themes arose from the interviews: the ability of AI to rectify human doctors’ limitations; the objectivity of data; whether AI can serve as second opinion; AI explainability and patient trust; the importance of the ‘human touch’; and the personalization of care. Overall, our results reveal a strong desire among patients for more personalized and patient-centered care in the context of ICD implantation. Participants in our study express significant concerns about the further loss of the ‘human touch’ in healthcare when AI is introduced in clinical settings. They believe that this aspect of care is currently inadequately recognized in clinical practice. Participants attribute to doctors the responsibility of evaluating AI recommendations for clinical relevance and aligning them with patients’ individual contexts and values, in consultation with the patient. Conclusion The ‘human touch’ patients exclusively ascribe to human medical practitioners extends beyond sympathy and kindness, and has clinical relevance in medical decision-making. Because this cannot be replaced by AI, we suggest that normative research into the ‘right to a human doctor’ is needed. Furthermore, policies on patient-centered AI integration in clinical practice should encompass the ethics of everyday practice rather than only principle-based ethics. We suggest that an empirical ethics approach grounded in ethnographic research is exceptionally well-suited to pave the way forward.

Abstract In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells establish oncogenic niches within the bone marrow by engaging the NF-κB pathway to nurture their survival while they accumulate pro-proliferative mutations. Under these conditions, many cases eventually develop genetic abnormalities endowing them with constitutive NF-κB activation. Here, we find that sustained NF-κB/p52 levels resulting from such mutations favours the recruitment of enhancers beyond the normal B-cell repertoire. Furthermore, through targeted disruption of p52, we characterise how such enhancers are complicit in the formation of super-enhancers and the establishment of cis-regulatory interactions with myeloma dependencies during constitutive activation of p52. Finally, we functionally validate the pathological impact of these cis-regulatory modules on cell and tumour phenotypes using in vitro and in vivo models, confirming RGS1 as a p52-dependent myeloma driver. We conclude that the divergent epigenomic reprogramming enforced by aberrant non-canonical NF-κB signalling potentiates transcriptional programs beneficial for multiple myeloma progression.

Abstract Background Over half of the youth population in the United States, aged 6 months to 17 years, have not received the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. Given parents’ central role in vaccinating their children, we examined associations between parents’ trust of the federal oversight of COVID-19 vaccine safety and their willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Methods This cross-sectional study included 975 parents of minor children residing in Philadelphia who completed the online survey between September 2021 and February 2022. Trust was measured using a four-point Likert scale ranging from ‘do not trust’ to ‘fully trust’ for two variables: (1) trust in federal oversight of COVID-19 vaccine safety for children and (2) trust in federal oversight of COVID-19 vaccine safety for the general public. A multiple logistic regression evaluated associations between trust and parents’ willingness to vaccinate their children, which was measured on a five-point Likert scale ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree.’ The analysis was adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender, education, insurance, and parents’ vaccination status. Results Analyses included 975 parents whose children had not previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 (mean age 36.79, standard deviation 6.4; 42.1% racial/ethnic minorities; 93.2% heterosexual; and 73.7% with a college degree). Greater trust regarding federal oversight of COVID-19 vaccine safety for children [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13–2.04] and for the public (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.17–2.14) were each associated with increased willingness to have their child vaccinated against COVID-19. Unvaccinated parents had decreased willingness compared to parents who had received at least one dose of the vaccine (aOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.04–0.41). College-graduate parents exhibited increased willingness compared to those without a college degree (aOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.52–2.81). Non-heterosexual parents showed increased willingness compared to heterosexual parents (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.20–4.76). Conclusions Trust in federal COVID-19 vaccine oversight was associated with parental willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 among parents whose children have not yet been vaccinated. Identifying and addressing causes of mistrust are crucial next steps to promote child vaccination. Intervention efforts to address trust gaps should remain a public health priority.

Abstract Background The optimal timing for reimplantation for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has not been established and varies from a few weeks to several months. The aim of this study was to assess the commendable time between implant removal and reimplantation in patients who underwent two-stage exchange arthroplasty for PJI. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 361 patients who were treated with two-stage exchange arthroplasty for hip and knee chronic PJI at our institution between January 2000 and December 2018. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, surgical variables, microbiology data, and time to reimplantation were recorded. All patients were followed for a minimum of one year. Treatment failure was defined by Delphi criteria. Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate survival rates and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of treatment failure. Results In final analysis, 27 (7.5%) had treatment failure. Factors related to treatment failure including interim spacer exchange (OR, 3.13; confidence interval (CI), 1.04–9.09, p = 0.036), higher ESR level at reimplantation (OR, 1.85; CI, 1.05–3.57; p = 0.04), and time to reimplantation (OR, 1.00; CI, 1.003–1.005, p = 0.04). Performing revision arthroplasty surgery from 16 to 20 weeks had highest successful rate. The reimplantation over 24 weeks had a lower successful rate. However, no statistical significance in comparing each interval group. Conclusion Our study emphasized the importance of timely reimplantation in achieving successful outcomes. Factors such as ESR levels, spacer exchange, and the duration of time to reimplantation influenced the likelihood of treatment failure in two-stage exchange arthroplasty for hip and knee PJI.

Conventional perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm fails to track global maximum power point (GMPP) under complex partial shading conditions (PSC) in photovoltaic (PV) system. While many of the latest maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms are designed to handle simpler PSCs with fewer peaks, their capability to handle highly complex PSCs remains uncertain. This study presented more practical, challenging, and complex PSCs that have over five peaks and extremely close peak values. A new deterministic peak hopping (PH)-based MPPT algorithm with simple mechanisms is proposed to address these complex PSCs. An agent is utilized to scan and hop between the lower and higher duty cycle regions of P-V curve with optimum step size, thereby effectively narrowing down the tracking region, moving towards the GMPP. Additionally, the proposed algorithm utilizes an adjustable sampling time during scanning and hopping process to accelerate the convergence. Extensive simulation studies have revealed the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in tracking GMPP. Moreover, the proposed algorithm outperforms five of the latest MPPT algorithms. In experimental setup, the proposed algorithm is successfully implemented into real-time TI C2000 microcontroller and performed robustly using ITECH IT6012C-800-40 PV simulator, achieving tracking time shorter than 0.83s and tracking accuracy over 98.70%.

The development of efficient energy management for nanogrid (NG) systems, while reducing both the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and power generation cost, is achievable through the effective utilization of available energy sources. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimal energy management strategy for grid-connected NG systems, which incorporates PV arrays and battery storage devices (BSDs), to reduce operating costs and CO2 emission simultaneously over a 24-hour scheduling period. This strategy, which is based on the improved pelican optimization algorithm (IPOA), involves the development of a multi-objective optimization (MOA) equation with several constraints, while taking into account the Malaysian grid purchasing and selling prices. An innovative IPOA-derived technique is developed to facilitate the NG’s optimal energy management operation in multi-objective situations. The proposed algorithm is tested on three distinct scenarios to affirm its efficacy. It is assumed that (a) power exchange between the NG and the main grid is limitless, (b) power interchange between the NG and main grid has a predetermined limit and (c) operating at the maximum capacity of PV array. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, The outcomes of the simulation are juxtaposed with results obtained from the initial Pelican Optimisation Algorithm (POA), the Bat Algorithm, and the Improved Differential Evolutionary (IDE) Algorithm. The simulation reveals that the suggested IPOA algorithm exhibited the most economical performance and the lowest CO2 emissions. Moreover, in the second scenario, operational costs decreased by 9.5%, and CO2 emissions were reduced by 15%. Conversely, in Scenario 3, there was a 2% decrease in cost and 23% reduction in CO2 emissions as against the first scenario.

Abstract Xenon dual-phase time projections chambers (TPCs) have proven to be a successful technology in studying physical phenomena that require low-background conditions. With $$40\,\textrm{t}$$ 40 t of liquid xenon (LXe) in the TPC baseline design, DARWIN will have a high sensitivity for the detection of particle dark matter, neutrinoless double beta decay ( $$0\upnu \upbeta \upbeta $$ 0 ν β β ), and axion-like particles (ALPs). Although cosmic muons are a source of background that cannot be entirely eliminated, they may be greatly diminished by placing the detector deep underground. In this study, we used Monte Carlo simulations to model the cosmogenic background expected for the DARWIN observatory at four underground laboratories: Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) and SNOLAB. We present here the results of simulations performed to determine the production rate of $${}^{137}$$ 137 Xe, the most crucial isotope in the search for $$0\upnu \upbeta \upbeta $$ 0 ν β β of $${}^{136}$$ 136 Xe. Additionally, we explore the contribution that other muon-induced spallation products, such as other unstable xenon isotopes and tritium, may have on the cosmogenic background.

Coverless image steganography typically extracts feature sequences from cover images to map information. Once the extracted features have high similarity, it is challenging to construct a complete mapping sequence set, which places a heavy burden on the underlying storage and computation. In order to improve database utilization while increasing the data-hiding capacity, we propose a coverless steganography model based on low-similarity feature selection in the DCT domain. A mapping algorithm is presented based on an 8000-dimensional feature termed CS-DCTR extracted from each image to convert into binary sequences. The high feature dimension leads to a high capacity, ranging from 8 to 25 bits per image. Furthermore, scrambling is employed for feature mapping before building an inverted index tree, considerably enhancing security against steganalysis. Experimental results show that CS-DCTR features exhibit high diversity, averaging 49.3% complete mapping sequences, which indicates lower similarity among CS-DCTR features. The technique also demonstrates resistance to normal operations and benign attacks. The information extraction accuracy rises to 96.7% on average under typical noise attacks. Moreover, our technique achieves excellent performance in terms of hiding capacity, image utilization, and transmission security.

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

Few studies examining the patient outcomes of concurrent neurological manifestations during acute COVID-19 leveraged multinational cohorts of adults and children or distinguished between central and peripheral nervous system (CNS vs. PNS) involvement. Using a federated multinational network in which local clinicians and informatics experts curated the electronic health records data, we evaluated the risk of prolonged hospitalization and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 21 healthcare systems across 7 countries. For adults, we used a federated learning approach whereby we ran Cox proportional hazard models locally at each healthcare system and performed a meta-analysis on the aggregated results to estimate the overall risk of adverse outcomes across our geographically diverse populations. For children, we reported descriptive statistics separately due to their low frequency of neurological involvement and poor outcomes. Among the 106,229 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (104,031 patients ≥18 years; 2,198 patients

Background Out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest survival rates have improved over time. This study established whether improvements were similar for women and men, and to what extent resuscitation characteristics or in‐hospital procedures contributed to sex differences in temporal trends. Methods and Results This retrospective cohort study included 3386 women and 8564 men from North Holland, the Netherlands, who experienced an out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest from a cardiac cause in 2005 to 2017. Yearly rates of 30‐day survival and secondary outcomes were calculated. Sex differences in temporal trends were evaluated with age‐adjusted Poisson regression analysis, including interaction for sex and out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest year. Resuscitation characteristics and in‐hospital procedures were added to the model, and a spline at 2013 was considered. During the study period, the average 30‐day survival was 24.9% in men and 15.7% in women. The 30‐day survival rate increased in men (20% to 27.2%; P

Aim: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major health problem, and the overall survival rate is low (4.6%–16.4%). The initiation of the current chain of survival depends on the presence of a witness of the cardiac arrest, which is not present in 29.7%–63.4% of the cases. Furthermore, a delay in starting this chain is common in witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This project aims to reduce morbidity and mortality due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by developing a smartwatch-based solution to expedite the chain of survival in the case of (un)witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: Within the ‘Beating Cardiac Arrest’ project, we aim to develop a demonstrator product that detects out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using photoplethysmography and accelerometer analysis, and autonomously alerts emergency medical services. A target group study will be performed to determine who benefits the most from this product. Furthermore, several clinical studies will be conducted to capture or simulate data on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases, as to develop detection algorithms and validate their diagnostic performance. For this, the product will be worn by patients at high risk for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, by volunteers who will temporarily interrupt blood flow in their arm by inflating a blood pressure cuff, and by patients who undergo cardiac electrophysiologic and implantable cardioverter defibrillator testing procedures. Moreover, studies on psychosocial and ethical acceptability will be conducted, consisting of surveys, focus groups, and interviews. These studies will focus on end-user preferences and needs, to ensure that important individual and societal values are respected in the design process.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the transformation process of 1Cr13 steel under quenching condition. The DSC curves were measured from 1 050 °C to room temperature at the cooling rate of 10, 20, 30, 50 °C /min, respectively. The Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method was used to obtain the activation energy of the transformation process of 1Cr13 steel under quenching condition. The kinetic mechanism functions of the transformation process of 1Cr13 steel under quenching condition were also investigated by Criado-Ortega methods. The results show that the activation energy is related to the phase transition fraction. It means the transformation process of 1Cr13 steel under quenching condition is not a simple one-step reaction but a complex multi-step reaction.

The austenitizing of steel plays an important role in improving its properties. Studying the kinetics of austenitizing of steel has certain theoretical significance for practical production. In this article, the Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) was used to measurement the enthalpy change for the austenitizing process of 1Cr13 steel at different heating rates. The kinetic parameters were obtained based on the data of the enthalpy change for the austenitizing process of 1Cr13 steel. The result is shown that the activation energy of austenitizing process of 1Cr13 steel is dependence of the phase transition fraction. The kinetics mechanism function of the austenitizing process is nucleation and growth model, [–ln(1–α)]2/3. The value of the pre-exponential factors is 8,617*1080s-1.

Abstract Background Preclinical models are often used for cancer studies and evaluation of novel therapeutics. The relevance of these models has vastly improved with mice bearing a human immune system, especially in the context of immunotherapy. Nonetheless, cancer is an age-related disease, and studies often overlook the effects of aging. Here we have established a humanized mouse model of human immune aging to investigate the role of this phenomenon on liver tumor dynamics. Methods Multiple organs and tissues (blood, thymus, lung, liver, spleen and bone marrow) were harvested from NOD-scid IL2rγ −/− (NIKO) mice reconstituted with human immune cells, over a period of 60 weeks post-birth, for immune profiling. Young and aging immune cells were compared for transcriptomic changes and functional differences. Effect of immune aging was investigated in a liver cancer humanized mouse model. Results Focusing on the T cell population, which is central to cancer immunosurveillance and immunotherapy, we showed that the proportion of naïve T cells declined while memory subsets and senescent-like cells increased with age. RNA-sequencing revealed that downregulated genes were related to immune responses and processes, and this was corroborated by reduced cytokine production in aging T cells. Finally, we showed faster liver tumor growth in aging than younger humanized mice, which could be attributed to specific pathways of aging T cell exhaustion. Conclusion Our work improves on existing humanized (immune) mouse model and highlights the importance of considering immune aging in liver cancer modeling.

Abstract The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Southeast Asia is a significant concern, yet there is limited research on the gut resistome and its correlation with lifestyle and environmental factors in the region. This study aimed to profile the gut resistome of 200 individuals in Malaysia using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and investigate its association with questionnaire data comprising demographic and lifestyle variables. A total of 1038 antibiotic resistance genes from 26 classes were detected with a mean carriage rate of 1.74 ± 1.18 gene copies per cell per person. Correlation analysis identified 14 environmental factors, including hygiene habits, health parameters, and intestinal colonization, that were significantly associated with the resistome (adjusted multivariate PERMANOVA, p

Abstract LEDs offer a wide range of spectral output with high efficiencies. However, the efficiencies of solid-state LEDs with green and yellow wavelengths are rather low due to the lack of suitable direct bandgap materials. Here, we introduce and develop perylene-enhanced green LEDs that produce a higher wall-plug efficiency of 48% compared to 38% for a solid-state green LED. While the wall-plug efficiency of the perylene-enhanced red LED is still lower than that of a solid-state red LED, we demonstrate that remote phosphor colour converters are effective solutions for targeted spectral tuning across the visible spectrum for horticultural lighting. In this work, we retrofit existing white LEDs and augment photosynthesis via spectral output tuning to achieve a higher red-to-blue ratio. Our results show a significant improvement in plant growth by up to 39%, after a 4-month growth cycle. We observe no visible degradation of the colour converter even under continuous illumination with a current of 400 mA. This opens up new opportunities for using perylene-based colour converters for tuneable illumination with high brightness.

Abstract A low-energy electronic recoil calibration of XENON1T, a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber, with an internal $${}^{37}$$ 37 Ar source was performed. This calibration source features a 35-day half-life and provides two mono-energetic lines at 2.82 keV and 0.27 keV. The photon yield and electron yield at 2.82 keV are measured to be ( $$32.3\,\pm \,0.3$$ 32.3 ± 0.3 ) photons/keV and ( $$40.6\,\pm \,0.5$$ 40.6 ± 0.5 ) electrons/keV, respectively, in agreement with other measurements and with NEST predictions. The electron yield at 0.27 keV is also measured and it is ( $$68.0^{+6.3}_{-3.7}$$ 68 . 0 - 3.7 + 6.3 ) electrons/keV. The $${}^{37}$$ 37 Ar calibration confirms that the detector is well-understood in the energy region close to the detection threshold, with the 2.82 keV line reconstructed at ( $$2.83\,\pm \,0.02$$ 2.83 ± 0.02 ) keV, which further validates the model used to interpret the low-energy electronic recoil excess previously reported by XENON1T. The ability to efficiently remove argon with cryogenic distillation after the calibration proves that $${}^{37}$$ 37 Ar can be considered as a regular calibration source for multi-tonne xenon detectors.

Müllerian ducts are paired embryonic tubes that give rise to the female reproductive tract. In humans, the Müllerian ducts differentiate into the Fallopian tubes, uterus and upper portion of the vagina. In birds and reptiles, the Müllerian ducts develop into homologous structures, the oviducts. The genetic and hormonal regulation of duct development is a model for understanding sexual differentiation. In males, the ducts typically undergo regression during embryonic life, under the influence of testis-derived Anti-Müllerian Hormone, AMH. In females, a lack of AMH during embryogenesis allows the ducts to differentiate into the female reproductive tract. In the chicken embryo, a long-standing model for development and sexual differentiation, Müllerian duct development in females in asymmetric. Only the left duct forms an oviduct, coincident with ovary formation only on the left side of the body. The right duct, together with the right gonad, becomes vestigial. The mechanism of this avian asymmetry has never been fully resolved, but is thought to involve local interplay between AMH and sex steroid hormones. This mini-review re-visits the topic, highlighting questions in the field and proposing a testable model for asymmetric duct development. We argue that current molecular and imaging techniques will shed new light on this curious asymmetry. Information on asymmetric duct development in the chicken model will inform our understanding of sexual differentiation in vertebrates more broadly.

Breast cancer metastasis is initiated by invasion of tumor cells into the collagen type I-rich stroma to reach adjacent blood vessels. Prior work has identified that metabolic plasticity is a key requirement of tumor cell invasion into collagen. However, it remains largely unclear how blood vessels affect this relationship. Here, we developed a microfluidic platform to analyze how tumor cells invade collagen in the presence and absence of a microvascular channel. We demonstrate that endothelial cells secrete pro-migratory factors that direct tumor cell invasion toward the microvessel. Analysis of tumor cell metabolism using metabolic imaging, metabolomics, and computational flux balance analysis revealed that these changes are accompanied by increased rates of glycolysis and oxygen consumption caused by broad alterations of glucose metabolism. Indeed, restricting glucose availability decreased endothelial cell-induced tumor cell invasion. Our results suggest that endothelial cells promote tumor invasion into the stroma due, in part, to reprogramming tumor cell metabolism.

Abstract People vary both in their embrace of their society’s traditions, and in their perception of hazards as salient and necessitating a response. Over evolutionary time, traditions have offered avenues for addressing hazards, plausibly resulting in linkages between orientations toward tradition and orientations toward danger. Emerging research documents connections between traditionalism and threat responsivity, including pathogen-avoidance motivations. Additionally, because hazard-mitigating behaviors can conflict with competing priorities, associations between traditionalism and pathogen avoidance may hinge on contextually contingent tradeoffs. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a real-world test of the posited relationship between traditionalism and hazard avoidance. Across 27 societies (N = 7844), we find that, in a majority of countries, individuals’ endorsement of tradition positively correlates with their adherence to costly COVID-19-avoidance behaviors; accounting for some of the conflicts that arise between public health precautions and other objectives further strengthens this evidence that traditionalism is associated with greater attention to hazards.

Background: Observational studies using large-scale databases and biobanks help improve prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) but the lack of guidance on data protection issues in this setting may harm patients’ rights and the research enterprise itself. This qualitative study explored the ethical aspects of observational SCA research, as well as solutions. Methods: European experts in SCA research, medical ethics and health law reflected on this topic through semi-structured interviews (N = 29) and a virtual roundtable conference (N = 18). The ESCAPE-NET project served as a discussion case. Findings were coded and thematically analysed. Results: The first theme concerned the potential benefits and harms (at individual and group level) of observational data-based SCA studies and included the following sub-themes: societal value, scientific validity, data privacy, disclosure of genetic findings, stigma and discrimination, and medicalisation of sudden death. The second theme involved governance through ‘privacy by design’, ‘privacy by policy’ and associated regulation and oversight. Sub-themes were: de-identification of data, informed consent (broad and deferred), ethics review, and harmonisation. Conclusions: Researchers and scientific societies should be aware that ethico-legal issues may arise during data-driven studies in SCA and other emergencies. These can be mitigated by combining technical data protection safeguards with appropriate informed consent policies and proportional ethics oversight. To ensure responsible conduct of data research in emergency medicine, we recommend the establishment of ‘codes of conduct’ which should be developed in interdisciplinary groups and together with patient representatives.

(1) Background: Fluorescein sodium (Na-Fl) has been described as a safe and useful neurosurgical adjunct in adult neurooncology. However, its use has yet to be fully established in children. We designed a study to investigate the use of intraoperative Na-Fl in pediatric brain tumor surgery. (2) Methods: This is a single-institution study for pediatric brain tumor patients managed by the Neurosurgical Service, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Inclusion criteria consists of patients undergoing surgery for suspected brain tumors from 3 to 19 years old. A predefined intravenous dose of 2 mg/kg of 10% Na-Fl is administered per patient. Following craniotomy, surgery is performed under alternating white light and YELLOW-560 nm filter illumination. (3) Results: A total of 21 patients with suspected brain tumours were included. Median age was 12.1 years old. For three patients (14.3%), there was no significant Na-Fl fluorescence detected and their final histologies reported a cavernoma and two radiation-induced high grade gliomas. The remaining patients (85.7%) had adequate intraoperative fluorescence for their lesions. No adverse side effects were encountered with the use of Na-Fl. (4) Conclusions: Preliminary findings demonstrate the safe and efficacious use of intraoperative Na-Fl for brain tumors as a neurosurgical adjunct in our pediatric patients.

Injectable biomimetic hydrogels hold significant promise for tissue engineering applications. Here, the authors present a hybrid myoglobin:peptide hydrogel to overcome a critical oxygen shortage following neural stem cell transplantation, thus increasing cell survival and integration.

Abstract The XENON collaboration has published stringent limits on specific dark matter – nucleon recoil spectra from dark matter recoiling on the liquid xenon detector target. In this paper, we present an approximate likelihood for the XENON1T 1 t-year nuclear recoil search applicable to any nuclear recoil spectrum. Alongside this paper, we publish data and code to compute upper limits using the method we present. The approximate likelihood is constructed in bins of reconstructed energy, profiled along the signal expectation in each bin. This approach can be used to compute an approximate likelihood and therefore most statistical results for any nuclear recoil spectrum. Computing approximate results with this method is approximately three orders of magnitude faster than the likelihood used in the original publications of XENON1T, where limits were set for specific families of recoil spectra. Using this same method, we include toy Monte Carlo simulation-derived binwise likelihoods for the upcoming XENONnT experiment that can similarly be used to assess the sensitivity to arbitrary nuclear recoil signatures in its eventual 20 t-year exposure.

Abstract The use of extended antibiotic (EA) prophylaxis (> 24 h) remains controversial in aseptic revision arthroplasty. We sought to determine whether EA prophylaxis reduces the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in aseptic revision hip and knee arthroplasty. A total of 2800 patients undergoing aseptic revision hip and knee arthroplasty at five institutional databases from 2008 to 2017 were evaluated. One to two nearest-neighbor propensity score matching analysis was conducted between patients who did and did not receive extended antibiotic prophylaxis. The matching elements included age, sex, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, hospital distribution, year of surgery, joint (hip or knee), surgical time, CRP, preoperative hemoglobin, albumin, and length of stay. The primary outcome was the development of PJI, which was assessed at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year following revision and analyzed separately. A total of 2467 (88%) patients received EA prophylaxis, and 333 (12%) patients received standard antibiotic (SA) prophylaxis (≤ 24 h). In the propensity-matched analysis, there was no difference between patients who received EA prophylaxis and those who did not in terms of 30-day PJI (0.3% vs. 0.3%, p = 1.00), 90-day PJI (1.7% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.62) and 1- year PJI (3.8% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.109). For revision hip, the incidence of PJI was 0.2% vs 0% at 30 days (p = 0.482), 1.6% vs 1.4% at 90 days (p = 0.837), and 3.4% vs 5.1% at 1 year (p = 0.305) in the EA and SA group. For revision knee, the incidence of PJI was 0.4% vs 0.9% at 30 days (p = 0.63), 1.8% vs 3.4% at 90 days (p = 0.331), and 4.4% vs 7.8% at 1 year (p = 0.203) in the EA and SA group. A post hoc power analysis revealed an adequate sample size with a beta value of 83%. In addition, the risks of Clostridium difficile and resistant organism infection were not increased. This multi-institutional study demonstrated no difference in the rate of PJIs between patients who received extended antibiotic prophylaxis and those who did not in aseptic revision arthroplasty. The risk of C. difficile and resistant organism infection was not increased with prolonged antibiotic use.

The cutting mechanical properties of impregnated diamond bit depend on the performance of its cutting elements. Aiming at the factors affecting the cutting element performance of impregnated diamond bit, the laboratory rock breaking experiment of impregnated micro bit is carried out. The results show that the breaking work ratio and unit wear first decrease and then increase with the increase of diamond particle size and concentration when drilling sandstone; the rock breaking efficiency and wear resistance are the highest when the concentration is 125 %. The breaking work ratio first decreases and then increases with the increase of diamond particle size when drilling limestone; the rock cutting efficiency is the highest when the concentration is 100 %. With the increase of diamond particle size, the breaking work ratio increases and the unit wear decreases when drilling granite; the rock cutting efficiency and wear resistance are the highest when the concentration is 150 %.

PURPOSEThe study reports on the current perception of medical and radiation oncologists regarding teleconsultation in the Philippines. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of telemedicine was not widespread. With movement restrictions imposed during the pandemic, physicians were compelled to use telemedicine. It is uncertain whether physicians will still adopt its use in practice in the post–COVID-19 era. This study gives insight into the possible adaptation of this mode of consultation in the future, especially in areas with limited health care resources.MATERIALS AND METHODSWe conducted a national survey among medical oncologists and radiation oncologists in the Philippines. A 43-item online survey was developed, validated, and administered to the oncologists. The demographics and data from categorical questions were reported as frequencies and percentages.RESULTSA total of 142 responses were gathered from 82 medical oncologists and 60 radiation oncologists. There was agreement among participants that, during the pandemic, teleconsultation could be used for the first visit, diagnostic workup request, treatment explanation, follow-up care, and chronic disease management. There was disagreement whether cancer diagnosis disclosure and cancer prognosis revelation could be performed via teleconsultation, and there was agreement that emergency consultation and physical examination would warrant a face-to-face consultation. After the COVID-19 pandemic, 78.7% intend to continue using teleconsultation except for emergency consultations, first visits, physical examination, diagnosis disclosure, and cancer prognosis revelation.CONCLUSIONTeleconsultation was perceived by oncologists as an acceptable method of providing cancer care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Oncologists also intend to use teleconsultation in the post–COVID-19 era in certain aspects of patient care.

Consumers often use their food choices as an impression management strategy to signal desirable aspects about themselves to others, especially in public places like restaurants and cafeterias, where the presence of others can promote certain consumption choices and preference patterns. In mating contexts, people prefer gender-typical traits and characteristics in a potential partner. Food options can also be classified according to their gender typicality, with certain alternatives perceived as feminine (e.g., salad, seafood) and with other options perceived as more masculine (e.g., steak, burger). Drawing on impression management theories from the drinking and dining domain and literature on sex differences in human mate preferences, we present a high-powered experiment investigating whether consumers’ preferences for masculine or feminine foods depend on the social setting in which the food consumption takes place: dining with an attractive date (mating) or meeting and eating with friends (non-mating). Participants (N = 162, 46.9% females, 53.1% males; age M = 41.8 years, SD = 14.5) were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental conditions (mating vs. non-mating) and were asked to indicate their food preferences for 15 dishes that differed markedly in perceived femininity/masculinity. Consistent with our theorizing, females (males) generally had a stronger preference for foods perceived as more feminine (masculine), thereby supporting the gender-typicality thesis at the aggregate level. Furthermore, females in the mating condition—but not females in the non-mating condition—reported significantly stronger preferences for more feminine food alternatives. However, in direct contrast to our theorizing, males preferred more masculine meals in the non-mating condition (i.e., when dining with friends), whereas this gender-typical tendency did not emerge in the mating condition (i.e., when dining with an attractive date). We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and present a set of fruitful avenues for future research.

Despite the abundance of research evaluating working memory training outcomes in children, few studies have examined the underlying cognitive mechanisms. This study aimed to contribute understanding by exploring whether working memory capacity (maximum span) and/or efficiency (basic and cognitive processing speeds), two proposed cognitive mechanisms, are associated with children’s working memory performance immediately and 6-months post-intervention. We used data from a previous trial in primary school children (7–11 years) who completed working memory training (n = 52) or an active control (n = 36), comprising 10 sessions (each 20-minutes) in class over two weeks. Children completed five working memory measures at baseline, immediately and 6-months post-intervention: two Backwards Span and two Following Instructions measures (same paradigms as training activities), and one n-back measure (different paradigm). Maximum span, basic and cognitive processing speeds, and performance were calculated for each measure. Associations between change in maximum span, processing speeds and change in performance on the working memory measures from baseline to immediately and 6-months post-intervention did not differ between groups (all p < .05). Maximum span, processing speeds and performance on working memory measures did not differ between groups. Findings provide little evidence that the studied capacity or efficiency processes contribute to understanding working memory training outcomes in primary school children. Furthermore, working memory training did not have benefits for children’s working capacity, efficiency or performance up to 6-months post-intervention. It is of interest for future studies to explore cognitive mechanisms, including strategy use, maximum span and information processing, in datasets where training effects are observed.

It is of great theoretical significance to study the solidification kinetics of metal materials for improving the microstructure and properties. In this paper, the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the enthalpy change of solidification process of 1035 steel at different cooling rates. The activation energy of the solidification process was determined by the equal conversion method based on the data of enthalpy. The mechanism function of the solidification process was also determined. It is shown that the value of the activation energy of solidification process varied with the solidification fraction, and the mechanism functions of solidification process are different in different temperature ranges, which are –ln(1– α) for 1 504-1 502 °C –ln(1–α)1/2 for 1 500-1 942 °C and –ln(1– α)2/5 for_1 490 °C respectively.

In this paper, the enthalpy change of 1035 steel during phase transformation at different cooling rates was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The activation energy of the phase transformation process was calculated by the equal conversion method, and the mechanism function of the process was also determined. The results shown that the value of the activation energy of phase transformation process varied with the transformation fraction, and the mechanism functions of transformation process are different in different temperature ranges, which are –ln(1–α)1/3 for ≥ 645 °C –ln(1–α) 1/2 for 660-655 °C and –ln(1–α) for 650-645 °C respectively.

Abstract The selection of low-radioactive construction materials is of the utmost importance for rare-event searches and thus critical to the XENONnT experiment. Results of an extensive radioassay program are reported, in which material samples have been screened with gamma-ray spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and $$^{222}$$ 222 Rn emanation measurements. Furthermore, the cleanliness procedures applied to remove or mitigate surface contamination of detector materials are described. Screening results, used as inputs for a XENONnT Monte Carlo simulation, predict a reduction of materials background ( $$\sim $$ ∼ 17%) with respect to its predecessor XENON1T. Through radon emanation measurements, the expected $$^{222}$$ 222 Rn activity concentration in XENONnT is determined to be 4.2 ( $$^{+0.5}_{-0.7}$$ - 0.7 + 0.5 ) $$\upmu $$ μ Bq/kg, a factor three lower with respect to XENON1T. This radon concentration will be further suppressed by means of the novel radon distillation system.