Search

Synthesizing uniform and high concentrations of 3He within minerals via high‐energy proton irradiation is paramount for 4He/3He thermochronology and helium diffusion kinetic studies. Proton irradiations of geological material have hitherto exclusively been routinely conducted at the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center (FHB); we thus explored alternative irradiation protocols at two European‐based facilities with the intention to improve the accessibility and efficiency in obtaining 4He/3He data. We conducted a single irradiation at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) using an approach most similar to that used at FHB (wide, high‐energy beam), and four irradiations at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) using a newly developed in‐vacuum irradiation protocol in a narrow, lower‐energy but high‐intensity beam. Internal shards of Durango apatite were irradiated in all experiments; 4He/3He release spectra and bulk 3He concentrations of PSI and HZB‐irradiated Durango shards were compared to those from FHB to assess the quality of each experiment in terms of the quantity and uniformity of synthesized 3He. While 3He was uniformly synthesized in PSI‐irradiated Durango shards, the bulk 3He concentration was below the required threshold due to limitations on the maximum allotted proton flux. Over the course of four irradiation experiments at HZB, the protocol evolved to ensure that uniform and high concentrations of 3He can be consistently induced. Furthermore, we demonstrate how HZB irradiations can be replicated using computer simulations, permitting the use of simulations to inform future modifications of the irradiation protocol in order to optimize the uniformity of the 3He distribution across all irradiated samples. Key Points: 4He/3He Thermochronology requires the synthesis of uniform and high concentrations of 3He within minerals via proton irradiationDurango apatite was irradiated at three proton irradiation facilities for quality assessment and comparisonA new in‐vacuum and high‐intensity irradiation protocol was established that has potential to improve the throughput of 4He/3He analyses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aequitas: Journal of Human Development, Disability & Social Change / Revue de Développement Humain, Handicap et Changement Social is the property of Reseau international sur le Processus de production du handicap, RIPPH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Marie-Frédéric Tremblay,1 Frédéric Leblanc,1 Étienne Laroche,1 Virginie Blanchette,2,3 Magali Brousseau-Foley1,2 1Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec affiliated to Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada; 2Department of Human Kinetics and Podiatric Medicine, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada; 3VITAM - Centre de recherche en santé durable, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, QC, CanadaCorrespondence: Magali Brousseau-Foley, Groupe de médecine familiale universitaire de Trois-Rivières, 731 Rue Sainte-Julie 2e étage, Trois-Rivières, QC, G9A 1X9, Canada, Email magali.brousseau-foley@uqtr.caObjective: Compassion and physician well-being are two key components related to quality care in health including emergency medicine. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of compassion in care on the well-being of emergency physicians. We conducted a scoping review to explore the impact of provision of compassionate care by emergency physicians on their well-being and subconcepts.Methods: Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched to find evidence related to compassion, empathy, self-compassion, and their impact on emergency physicians’ well-being. Following title and abstract review, two reviewers independently screened full-text articles, and extracted data. Data were presented using descriptive statistics and a narrative analysis.Results: A total of 803 reports were identified in databases. Three articles met eligibility criteria for data extraction. None directly examined compassion and well-being. Included studies addressed empathy and burnout in emergency medicine professionals.Conclusion: No high-quality evidence could be found on the topic in the population of interest. Literature related to the topic of compassion in physicians, especially in emergency physicians, a field known for its high demand and stress levels, is currently scarce and additional evidence is needed to better describe and understand the association between physicians’ compassion and well-being.Keywords: compassion fatigue, emergency medicine, empathy, evidence-based emergency medicine, physicians’ role

Trois études de cas en micro-diachronie de l’oral en français montréalais mettent en évidence les différences dans la structuration sociale de variables, contribuant ainsi à une meilleure compréhension de l’évolution des pratiques langagières en contexte urbain. Le modèle de diglossie évolutive proposé attribue à un changement sociétal important l’accroissement de la maîtrise et de l’utilisation du français de référence, et l’intégration de variantes associées au français de référence dans le vernaculaire.

Cet article présente une nouvelle contribution à l’abondante littérature sur l’analyse de l’utilisation et de la particule négative ne en français contemporain (Je ne l’aime pas vs Je l’aime pas). Il présente une étude du corpus CaFé (Cartographie linguistique des féminismes), composé de 102 entretiens sociolinguistiques semi-dirigés réalisés à Montréal, Paris et Marseille en 2021 et 2022 avec des militant.es féministes et queer (2 millions de mots). Il met en lien la variabilité dans la réalisation du ne avec un facteur linguistique (type de sujet) et plusieurs facteurs discursifs (forme d’adresse, thèmes abordés, personnes connues/non connues de la chercheuse) et sociodémographiques (âge, éducation, engagement, ville). L’analyse de 25 560 négations montre que le type de sujet, l’âge, les thèmes abordés et la relation entre la chercheuse et les personnes enregistrées ont un effet significatif sur la réalisation du ne, comme l’ont montré de nombreuses études. L’originalité de notre étude tient au fait que le corpus CaFé permet une comparaison directe entre les trois villes. Cela révèle qu’il y a une variation dialectale très limitée et que les taux d’emploi du ne sont très semblables dans les trois souscorpus: 11.22 % à Paris, 10.75 % à Marseille et 8.87 % à Montréal. La variation dialectale est limitée à un contexte morphosyntaxique précis: les sujets lexicaux non redoublés par un pronom. Notre étude souligne l’importance de construire des corpus comparables pour étudier la variation sociale et dialectale.

Introduction: Cosmic ray exposure (CRE) ages are a critical tool for constraining the collisional history, orbital dynamics, and parent bodies of different meteorite classes. Accurate knowledge of stable cosmogenic nuclide (3He, 21Ne, 38Ar) production rates is needed to calculate CRE ages. Production rates are primarily a function of shielding and the chemical composition of the sample. Typically, shielding is determined by measuring cosmogenic 22Ne/21Ne [1], while the chemical composition is determined using electron microprobe (EPMA) analyses of representative mineral grains and an estimate of mineral abundances [2]. Motivation: Eugster [3] developed a series of equations for estimating cosmogenic noble gas production rates as a function of shielding depth in L chondrites, which are widely used to calculate CRE ages. To apply these production rate equations to other meteorites, a chemical correction factor 'F' is determined using the weight percentages of target elements present within the meteorite or meteorite class of interest. For cosmogenic 3He, 'F' varies only slightly across different meteorite classes (between 0.97 - 1.01), but it can vary considerably more for 21Ne (0.67 - 1) [3]. Typically, F is calculated using the chemical composition of major minerals determined by EPMA analyses and assuming mineral abundances for the bulk meteorite. However, subsamples of meteorites used for CRE measurements are often small enough that mineral abundances may differ significantly from the bulk meteorite. For example, enstatite (E) chondrites can have significant spatial variability in mineral abundances, especially with increasing petrologic grade [4]. We are exploring a method to determine subsample specific production rates of cosmogenic noble gas isotopes in meteorites by mapping the volumetric distribution of these minerals using X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT). For this initial study we focus on E chondrites, although the approach we will present could be applied to any meteorite class. Understanding the CRE history of E chondrites is important because their chemical composition suggests they formed in the innermost solar nebula, thereby providing unique insight into understanding early solar system environments and processes. MicroCT is a nondestructive technique that leverages X-ray energy attenuation as a function of density. Density variations mapped using microCT can be used to evaluate the volumes and spatial relationships of different mineral grains, inclusions, and pore space within a material. For our purposes, this enables us to determine the volumetric distribution of minerals within a meteorite subsample. E chondrites are predominantly made up of enstatite (3.1-3.3 g/cm3), kamacite (7.9 g/cm3), and anorthite/other feldspars (2.72-2.75 g/cm3). The strong density contrast between these minerals makes identifying their volumetric abundances by microCT readily feasible. Methods: We prepared subsamples of 6 enstatite (E) chondrites of varying chemical type and petrologic grade from Northwest Africa (NWA) and Caleta el Cobre (CeC) for microCT and subsequent cosmogenic noble gas analyses (CeC 024, CeC 025, CeC 028, NWA 2965, and NWA 6258 (x2)). We cut ~ 0.1 - 0.6 grams from the bulk mass, and removed any weathering crusts. First, we examined each sample to get a qualitative sense of mineral abundances using a scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Using the 3D X-ray microscope at the Purdue University 3D X-Ray Microscope Shared User Facility, we are obtaining CT scans of our specimens with µm-scale resolution. With the microCT data, we will generate 3D renderings of density variations in our samples, which will enable us to determine the volumetric distribution of minerals in each subsample. We will then calculate subsample-specific cosmogenic noble gas production rates using the mineral abundances determined by microCT alongside existing chemical information from EPMA (e.g., [5]). In cases where our subsample has different proportions of enstatite/kamacite/feldspar relative to the bulk meteorite, our microCT approach will lead to more accurate production rate estimates and CRE ages. Expected Results: Porfido et al. [6] used microCT to obtain quantitative 3D spatial distributions of different minerals in meteorites, but only for the purposes of identifying small-scale textures (i.e., vesiculation). This technique has not yet been explored as a tool for estimating the contribution of different mineral abundances for production rate calculations of cosmogenic noble gases. We anticipate having microCT constraints will improve production rate estimates and therefore CRE age determinations in E-chondrites, which will have applications for other meteorite classes with compositional variance at the subsample level (e.g., lodranites and alcapulcoites [7]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the level of adherence to best-practice guidelines of interprofessional teams with acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) compared to interprofessional teams without ACNPs., Design: A retrospective observational study was conducted in 2023., Method: A retrospective cohort was created including 280 patients who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft and/or a valve repair and hospitalised in a cardiac surgery unit of a university affiliated hospital in Québec (Canada) between 1 January 2019 to 31 January 2020. The level of adherence to best-practice guidelines was measured from a composite score in percentage. The composite score was created from a newly developed tool including 99 items across six categories (patient information, pharmacotherapy, laboratory tests, post-operative assessment, patient and interprofessional teams' characteristics). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were computed to examine the effect of interprofessional teams with ACNPs on the level of adherence to best-practice guidelines., Results: Most of the patients of the cohort were male and underwent a coronary artery bypass graft procedure. Patients under the care of interprofessional teams with ACNP were 1.72 times more likely to reach a level of adherence higher than 80% compared to interprofessional teams without ACNPs and were 2.29 times more likely to be within the highest quartile of the scores for the level of adherence to best-practice guidelines of the cohort., Impact: This study provides empirical data supporting the benefits of ACNP practice for patients, interprofessional teams and healthcare organisations., Relevance for Practice: Our findings identify the important contributions of interprofessional teams that include ACNPs using a validated instrument, as well as their contribution to the delivery of high quality patient care., Reporting Method: This study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: Guidelines for reporting observational studies guidelines., Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Fibromyalgia and chronic primary low back pain are two chronic pain conditions with a significant biopsychosocial burden. Recently, the International Association for the Study of Pain has grouped them under the term chronic primary pain. To further explore similarities and differences between these two conditions, the objective of this scoping review is to explore the pain-related, physiological and psychological outcomes in individuals with fibromyalgia and low back pain., Methods: The following databases were used to find relevant studies, using the PRISMA guidelines: Medline, Psycinfo, and CINAHL. Studies were included if they encompassed both participants with fibromyalgia or low back pain, with the objective to compare pain-related, physiological and/or psychological outcomes., Results: Nineteen studies were selected for extraction. Among the 2801 participants, 968 had fibromyalgia (mean age 48.56 ± 7.97 years, with 94% being female) and 896 had low back pain (mean age 47.48 ± 8.15 years, with 80% being female). Pain sensitivity, physical dysfunction, illness perception, psychological distress, alexithymia, depression, and anxiety were generally more severe in participants with fibromyalgia. Most studies found similar levels of pain intensity, kinesiophobia, quality of pain, quality of life, impact of pain, suicidal risk, anger, and social support comparing individuals with fibromyalgia and individuals with low back pain., Discussion: This scoping review highlights that although both conditions show similar pain intensity and impact on quality of life, fibromyalgia is associated with greater overall severity than low back pain, especially in sensitivity to pain and depression/anxiety., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Police officers are increasingly tasked with responding to people in crisis (PIC), often resulting in transfers to emergency departments (EDs) where they can encounter challenges like long wait times, safety concerns, and conflicting perspectives between the medical and legal systems. This qualitative study explores the experiences of police officers during the transfer of PIC to ED nurses and staff. Eleven police officers were recruited and interviewed, providing contextual information about ED transfers in the greater Montreal area. The findings revealed that police officers face varied challenges in transferring PIC to different EDs, influenced by each hospital's unique characteristics, staffing, security, and organizational issues. Relationships with nurses significantly impact these experiences, ranging from positive interactions to tension and conflict influenced by staff biases and differing perceptions of the PIC. Effective communication between police and ED nurses is critical for accurate clinical evaluation and decision-making, yet often hindered by inconsistent information transfer and procedural gaps. Role confusion, divergent philosophies between police officers and ED nurses, and 'grey zones' further complicate transfers, emphasizing the need for clear communication and mutual understanding to ensure safe and effective care. The results underscore the need to ameliorate ED transfers through enhanced joint training for police officers and nurses, establishing hospital-precinct committees, and other intersectoral initiatives to promote collaboration. Such measures are essential to ensure effective and compassionate care of people in crisis while prioritizing safety for all involved.

Experimental methods capable of selectively probing water at the DNA minor groove, major groove, and phosphate backbone are crucial for understanding how hydration influences DNA structure and function. Chiral-selective sum frequency generation spectroscopy (chiral SFG) is unique among vibrational spectroscopies because it can selectively probe water molecules that form chiral hydration structures around biomolecules. However, interpreting chiral SFG spectra is challenging since both water and the biomolecule can produce chiral SFG signals. Here, we combine experiment and computation to establish a theoretical framework for the rigorous interpretation of chiral SFG spectra of DNA. We demonstrate that chiral SFG detects the N-H stretch of DNA base pairs and the O-H stretch of water, exclusively probing water molecules in the DNA first hydration shell. Our analysis reveals that DNA transfers chirality to water molecules only within the first hydration shell, so they can be probed by chiral SFG spectroscopy. Beyond the first hydration shell, the electric field-induced water structure is symmetric and, therefore, precludes chiral SFG response. Furthermore, we find that chiral SFG can differentiate chiral subpopulations of first hydration shell water molecules at the minor groove, major groove, and phosphate backbone. Our findings challenge the scientific perspective dominant for more than 40 years that the minor groove "spine of hydration" is the only chiral water structure surrounding the DNA double helix. By identifying the molecular origins of the DNA chiral SFG spectrum, we lay a robust experimental and theoretical foundation for applying chiral SFG to explore the chemical and biological physics of DNA hydration., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Lobstering industry workers are known to have poor overall health and low safety records, but there is still a gap in information concerning Canadian lobster fishers. This study aimed to report occupational health and safety characteristics of an Atlantic Canada community of lobster fishers and to assess differences between captains and deckhands. Twenty-eight participants (10 captains, 18 deckhands) were questioned and self-reported on lifestyle, general health status, work-related musculoskeletal disorders and traumatic injuries. The data collected reveal both groups' high prevalence of cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal health issues. Captains reported more occupational exposition and health issues, and showed poorer lifestyle habits than deckhands. Fishers reported potential solutions to reduce occupational risks, presented as three types: lifestyle, working behaviours and leadership. This study evaluated a community of Canadian lobster fishers regarding their occupational health and safety. Potential avenues for mitigating occupational risk specific to this community will nurture future implementation.

This study employed a longitudinal model to investigate the reciprocal relationships between interpersonal citizenship behavior (OCB-I) and absenteeism at the team level. The research utilized four waves of data from a sample comprising over 5,000 employees in 168 teams within a large Canadian public organization. Drawing upon the focus theory of normative conduct and the collective identity perspective, our findings indicated that a positive change in OCB-I, which encompasses helping behaviors, led to a subsequent decrease in team absenteeism. In addition, emphasizing the identity perspective and allocation of time perspective, our study demonstrated that increased absenteeism within a given period was associated with a subsequent reduction in team OCB-I., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Health professionals are regularly confronted with patients suffering from a fear of movement-related pain (unknown as kinesiophobia). The fear-avoidance attitudes and beliefs of healthcare professionals are likely to play a key role in their patients' therapeutic approach. However, kinesiophobia among health professionals is a relatively young topic. This scoping review aims to explore and catalogue the extent of scientific research that identifies the causes and consequences of kinesiophobia among health professionals while they perform their interventions. The review was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute manual and the PRISMA method for a scoping review. The research was conducted in May 2024 using CINHAL, Medline and Sportdiscus databases with the search terms "fear-avoidance", "kinesiophobia", "pain-related" and "physical therapist". Out of 2,162 potential studies, thirteen articles were included. No study directly mentioned kinesiophobia among health professionals, but it was studied through fear-avoidance beliefs. Two-thirds of the articles indicate that professionals with fear-avoidance beliefs tend to refer their patients to other specialists less frequently and limit their patients' activity, despite treatment guidelines. Most of the studies found were physiotherapists' interventions for chronic back pain patients. The current review emphasizes the need for additional studies involving more healthcare professionals and diverse health conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Doutre et al.)

Objectives: To conduct a systematic literature search to identify currently used classifications of acute non-contact muscle injuries in sporting adults., Designs: Scoping review., Methods: A systematic literature search from January 1, 2010 to April 19, 2022 of Medline and SPORTDiscus yielded 13,426 articles that were screened for eligibility. Findings from included studies were qualitatively synthesized. Classifications and their grading, as well as outcomes and definitions were extracted., Results: Twenty-four classifications were identified from the 37 included studies, most of which had low evidence study designs. Majority (57 %) of classifications were published after 2009 and were mostly developed for hamstring or other lower limb injuries. The six most cited classifications accounted for 70 % of the reports (BAMIC, modified Peetrons, Munich, Cohen, Chan and MLG-R). Outcome reporting was sparse, making it difficult to draw conclusions. Still, significant relationships between grading and time to return to play were reported for the BAMIC, modified Peetrons, Munich and Cohen classifications. Other classifications either had a very low number of reported associations, reported no associations, reported inconclusive associations, or did not report an assessment of the association. Other outcomes were poorly investigated., Conclusions: There is no agreed-upon use of muscle classification, and no consensus on definitions and terminology. As a result, reported outcomes and their relationship to severity grading are inconsistent across studies. There is a need to improve the generalizability and applicability of existing classifications and to refine their prognostic value. High-level evidence studies are needed to resolve these inconsistencies., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Tremblay, M, Anderson Sirois, S, Verville, W, Auger, M, Abboud, J, and Descarreaux, M. Acute upper-body and lower-body neuromuscular fatigue effect on baseball pitchers' velocity: A pilot study. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): 1447-1452, 2024-The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the acute effect of upper-body and lower-body neuromuscular fatigue protocols on baseball pitchers' velocity. Sixteen baseball pitchers were recruited, and a crossover design was used to meet the study purpose. Pitchers were tested twice, 7 days apart, with their upper-body and lower-body explosiveness, pitching velocity, and muscle soreness perception of their throwing arm (forearm flexors, biceps, anterior deltoid, and upper trapezius muscles) assessed before and after an upper-body and lower-body neuromuscular fatigue protocol. Two-way analysis of variances and paired t tests ( p < 0.05) were used to identify and compare prescores and postscores. Following both fatigue protocols, results revealed a significant decrease in time for pitching velocity ( p = 0.005, ηp 2 = 0.462), and increases in muscle soreness perception of the forearm flexors ( p = 0.005, ηp 2 = 0.470), anterior deltoid ( p = 0.045, ηp 2 = 0.274), and upper trapezius ( p = 0.023, ηp 2 = 0.339) muscles. Paired t test results showed a significant decrease in preneuromuscular and postneuromuscular fatigue protocol in the upper-body ( p < 0.01) and lower-body ( p < 0.01) explosiveness scores. These pilot study results show the impact of different exercise protocols on pitchers' explosiveness, velocity, and muscle soreness perception emphasizing the need for further investigation into the acute effect of exercise targeting the upper or lower-body on pitching performance, specifically at the pitcher's position., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

There are currently no prophylactic vaccines licensed to protect against Lassa fever caused by Lassa virus (LASV) infection. The Emergent BioSolutions (EBS) vaccine candidate, EBS-LASV, is being developed for the prevention of Lassa fever. EBS-LASV is a live-attenuated recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV)-vectored vaccine encoding the surface glycoprotein complex (GPC) from LASV and has two attenuating vector modifications: a gene shuffle of the VSV N gene and a deletion of the VSV G gene. Preclinical studies were performed to evaluate EBS-LASV's neurovirulence potential following intracranial (IC) injection and to determine the biodistribution and vector replication following intramuscular (IM) inoculation in mice. In addition, the potential EBS-LASV toxicity was assessed using repeated-dose IM EBS-LASV administration to rabbits. All mice receiving the IC injection of EBS-LASV survived, while mice administered the unattenuated control vector did not. The vaccine was only detected in the muscle at the injection site, draining lymph nodes, and the spleen over the first week following IM EBS-LASV injection in mice, with no detectable plasma viremia. No toxicity was observed in rabbits receiving a three-dose regimen of EBS-LASV. These studies demonstrate that EBS-LASV is safe when administered to animals and supported a first-in-human dose-escalation, safety, and immunogenicity clinical study.

Background/objective: This study aimed to explore physical literacy (PL) using the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy, second edition (CAPL-2), adapt it to the Spanish context and provide evidence of its validity for use in Spanish children aged 8-12., Methods: A total of 280 students (150 girls, mean age 10.5±0.9 years) from Extremadura (Spain) completed the CAPL-2. Means and SDs were used to present CAPL-2 scores according to age and sex, as well as frequencies to place participants at different PL levels. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to establish the best model fit for the data., Results: The median PL of Spanish children was progressing, and girls had a lower PL than boys for all ages except 12 years. The results supported a four-domain model for the CAPL-2 Spanish version and reported good fit indices after CFA (χ 2 per df ratio=1.118; P (χ 2 )=0.256; root mean square error of approximation=0.021; comparative fit index=0.987; Tuker-Lewis index=0.991; normed fit index=0.895)., Conclusion: The CAPL-2 model is a valid and reliable instrument for Spanish children aged 8-12. It represents the first tool that assesses PL in Spanish children, covering the domains of motivation and confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding, and daily behaviour. It may be relevant for all professionals related to physical activity, education and the health field., Competing Interests: None declared., (Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The PAROLE-Onco program was introduced in the province of Quebec, Canada in 2019. It integrates accompanying patients (APs), i.e., people who have been affected by cancer, into the clinical team as full members. These APs use their experiential knowledge with people undergoing treatment and with clinical teams. The aim of this paper is to evaluate, within the framework of two university medical centers, the perceptions of breast cancer patients who receive support from APs, particularly in terms of their active involvement in their care trajectory., Methods: A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with accompanied patients was performed. Fourteen individual interviews were conducted between July and September 2021 with women presenting different profiles in terms of age, education, professional status, type of treatment, family situation, and clinical background. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, focusing on patients' perceptions of APs' contributions and suggested improvements for accessing AP support., Results: Three themes emerged from the semi-structured interviews: communication modalities used to connect patients with their APs, the characteristics of the support provided by APs, and the perceived effects of this support on the patients. Patients expressed a preference for telephone communication, highlighting its convenience and accessibility. The support provided by APs included emotional and informational support, neutrality, and adaptability. This relationship improved patient communication, reduced anxiety, helped regain control, and enhanced overall quality of life. The results emphasized the added value of APs in complementing the support offered by healthcare professionals. Patients noted the critical role of APs in helping them navigate the healthcare system, better understand their treatment processes, and manage their emotions. The ability of APs to provide practical advice and emotional reassurance was particularly valued. Overall, the findings underscored the significant impact of AP support on patients' experiences and highlighted areas for enhancing this service., Conclusion: This study highlights, during the care trajectory of people affected by breast cancer, APs' contribution to patients' emotional well-being because they improve, in particular, the management of emotions and communication with health professionals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic positioned healthcare systems in North America at the epicentre of the crisis, placing inordinate stress on clinicians. Concurrently, discussions about structural racism, social justice and health inequities permeated the field of medicine, and society more broadly. The confluence of these phenomena required rapid action from continuing professional development (CPD) leaders to respond to emerging needs and challenges., Methods: In this qualitative study, researchers conducted 23 virtual semistructured interviews with CPD leaders in Canada and the USA. Interview audiorecordings were transcribed, deidentified and thematically analysed., Results: This study revealed that the CPD leaders attributed the pandemic as illuminating and exacerbating problems related to clinician wellness; equity, diversity and inclusion; and health inequities already prevalent in the healthcare system and within CPD. Analysis generated two themes: (1) From heroes to humans: the shifting view of clinicians and (2) Melding of crises: an opportunity for systemic change in CPD., Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic increased recognition of burn-out and health inequities creating momentum in the field to prioritise and restrategise to address these converging public health crises. There is an urgent need for CPD to move beyond mere discourse on these topics towards holistic and sustainable actionable measures., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Poor postural control has been reported in people with Parkinson's disease, which could be explained by the changes in muscular activation patterns related to antigravitational muscles. This study aims to measure the muscle activation of antigravitational muscles during balance tasks in individuals, with and without Parkinson's., Methods: Sixteen (16) participants (9 with Parkinson's), aged ≥65 yrs., performed 2 × 30-s trials of 4 balance tasks (bipodal and semi-tandem opened eyes and closed eyes) on a force platform (center of pressure measurement); while surface electromyography measurements were obtained bilaterally on the multifidus at L5, biceps femoris and medialis gastrocnemius. Electromyography amplitude analysis was processed by the Root Mean Square (250 ms window epochs) and normalized by the peak of activation during the balance task, to determine each muscle's activity level., Findings: The Parkinson's group reported lower muscle activation than control across tasks (in mean for multifidus = 8%, biceps femoris = 16%, gastrocnemius = 7%), although not statistically significant. Parkinson's reported significantly poorer postural control than control, mainly for the center of pressure sway ellipse area (p = 0.016) from challenge balance tasks such as semi-tandem., Interpretation: Poor postural control was confirmed in the Parkinson's group, but not significantly associated by the changes from muscle activation of trunk and lower limbs, during balance performance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Notable thermal shifts in diselenides have been documented in 77 Se NMR for more than 50 years, but no satisfactory explanation has been found. Here, five hypotheses are considered as possible explanations for the large temperature dependence of the 77 Se chemical shifts of diaryl and dialkyl diselenides compared to monoselenides and selenols. Density functional theory calculations are provided to bolster hypotheses and better understand the effects of barrier height and dipole energies. It is proposed that the temperature dependence of diselenide 77 Se NMR chemical shifts is due to rotation around the Se-Se bond and sampling of twisted conformers at higher temperatures. The molecular twisting is solvent dependent; here, DMSO- d 6 and toluene- d 8 were evaluated. No correlation was established between para -substituents on diaryl diselenides and the magnitude of the change in the 77 Se NMR shift (Δδ) with temperature.

Background: The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) necessitated a rapid transition to virtual care for chronic pain treatment., Objective: This study examined experiences of patients and caregivers who received virtual multidisciplinary pain treatment (MDT) for pediatric chronic pain between March 2020 and August 2021., Methods: A mixed methods design was implemented using qualitative interviews and quantitative satisfaction surveys. Satisfaction surveys were administered to a convenience sample of patients (aged 8 to 18; N = 20) and their caregivers (N = 20) who received MDT through an outpatient hospital pediatric chronic pain program. Interviews were conducted with a subset of these patients and their caregivers (n = 6)., Results: Analysis of interviews revealed four themes: 1) benefits of virtual care; 2) challenges of virtual care; 3) recommendations and evaluation of virtual care; and 4) patient preferences. Analysis of the satisfaction survey data revealed that while patients and caregivers were satisfied with many aspects of virtual care, 65% (n = 13) of patients reported a preference for in-person appointments, with caregivers showing equal preference for in-person and virtual appointments, though this was a non-significant difference ( p = .37). Overall, both patients and caregivers stated a stronger preference for in-person physiotherapy sessions but were willing to have psychology sessions provided virtually. Finally, the most reported preference was for a hybrid model of care incorporating at least some in-person contact with providers., Conclusion: This study provides a rich exploration of virtual care for multidisciplinary pediatric chronic pain treatment. The current results may inform the future development of guidelines for virtual care delivery with pediatric chronic pain populations.

COVID-19 accelerated continuing professional development (CPD) delivered online. We aimed to compare the impact of in-person versus online CPD courses on medical specialists' behavioural intentions and subsequent behaviour. In this comparative before-and-after study, medical specialists attended in-person courses on nine clinical topics. A second group attended an adapted online version of these courses. Behavioural intention and its psychosocial determinants were measured before and immediately after the courses. Behaviour change was measured six months later. Generalised estimating equation (GEE) models were used to compare the impact of course formats. A total of 82/206 in-person registrants (mean age: 52±10 years; 50% men) and 318/506 on-line registrants (mean age: 49±12 years; men: 63%) participated. Mean intention before in-person courses was 5.99±1.31 and 6.43±0.80 afterwards (average intention gain 0.44, CI: 0.16-0.74; p =0.003); mean intention before online courses was 5.53±1.62 and 5.98±1.40 afterwards (average intention gain of 0.45, CI: 0.30-0.58; p <0.0001). Difference in intention gain between groups was not statistically significant. Behaviour reported six months later was not significantly associated with post-course intention in either group. However, the intention difference increased significantly among those who said they had adopted the targeted behaviour (paired wilcoxon test: n = 40 and p -value=0.002) while it did not increase significantly in the group of those who had not adopted a targeted behaviour (paired wilcoxon test: n = 16 and p -value=0.223). In conclusion, the increase in intention of specialists after CPD courses was similar whether the course was in-person or online. Also, an increase in intention in both groups signalled more likelihood of adoption., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Background: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a monumental shift in the field of continuing professional development (CPD). Prior to this, the majority of CPD group-learning activities were offered in-person. However, the pandemic forced the field to quickly pivot towards more novel methods of learning and teaching in view of social distancing regulations. The purpose of this study was to obtain the perspectives of CPD leaders on the impact of the pandemic to elucidate trends, innovations, and potential future directions in the field., Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between April-September 2022 with 23 CPD leaders from Canada and the USA. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and de-identified. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data and generate themes., Results: Participants characterised COVID-19 as compelling widespread change in the field of CPD. From the interviews, researchers generated six themes pertaining to the impact of the pandemic on CPD: (1) necessity is the mother of innovation, (2) the paradox of flexibility and accessibility, (3) we're not going to unring the bell, (4) reimagining design and delivery, (5) creating an evaluative culture, and (6) a lifeline in times of turmoil., Conclusion: This qualitative study discusses the impact of the pandemic on the field of CPD and leaders' vision for the future. Despite innumerable challenges, the pandemic created opportunities to reform design and delivery. Our findings indicate a necessity to maintain an innovative culture to best support learners, to improve the healthcare system, and to prepare for future emergencies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Microglia contribute to the outcomes of various pathological conditions including Parkinson's disease (PD). Microglia are heterogenous, with a variety of states recently identified in aging and neurodegenerative disease models. Here, we delved into the diversity of microglia in a preclinical PD model featuring the G2019S mutation in LRRK2, a known pathological mutation associated with PD. Specifically, we investigated the 'dark microglia' (DM) and the 'disease-associated microglia' (DAM) which present a selective enrichment of CLEC7A expression. In the dorsal striatum - a region affected by PD pathology - extensive ultrastructural features of cellular stress as well as reduced direct cellular contacts, were observed for microglia from old LRRK2 G2019S mice versus controls. In addition, DM were more prevalent while CLEC7A-positive microglia had extensive phagocytic ultrastructural characteristics in the LRRK2 G2019S mice. Furthermore, our findings revealed a higher proportion of DM in LRRK2 G2019S mice, and an increased number of CLEC7A-positive cells with age, exacerbated by the pathological mutation. These CLEC7A-positive cells exhibited a selective enrichment of ameboid morphology and tended to cluster in the affected animals. In summary, we provide novel insights into the occurrence and features of recently defined microglial states, CLEC7A-positive cells and DM, in the context of LRRK2 G2019S PD pathology., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)