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Disentangled ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene ( d -UHMWPE) solves the problem of the difficult processing of traditional UHMWPE caused by entanglements between molecular chains. In this review, we look into the innovative realm of nascent disentangled UHMWPE, concentrating on the recent advances achieved through the in situ polymerization of ethylene by single-site catalysts. The effect of single-site catalysts and polymerization conditions on the molecular characteristics is discussed in detail from the perspective of mechanism and DFT calculations. The key factors to low entanglement are revealed, which have instructive implications for the development of new single-site catalytic systems that can generate d -UHMWPE more efficiently and become closer to industrial production. The progress in the preparation for nascent d -UHMWPE with homogeneous and heterogeneous single-site catalysts is systematically reviewed. Rheology and DSC can be used to characterize the degree of entanglement. High-modulus and high-strength biaxial films, tapes, and fibers are obtained by the solid-state processing of these nascent d -UHMWPE.

This study applied cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis to evaluate trends in operative time and blood loss, It aims to identify key milestones in mastering extraperitoneal single-site robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (ss-RARP). A cohort of 100 patients who underwent ss-RARP, performed by a single surgeon at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between March 2021 and June 2023, was retrospectively analyzed. To evaluate the learning curve, the CUSUM (Cumulative Sum Control Chart) technique was applied, revealing the progression and variability over time. A cubic polynomial model was utilised to fit the non-linear data trends accurately. Key perioperative outcomes, such as operative duration and estimated blood loss, were assessed and compared between distinct learning stages to identify improvements and transitions during the surgeon's proficiency development. A total of 100 patients were included, with a mean age of 71.44 ± 5.46 years. The median operative time was 119.53 min (94, 144), and the best-fit equation for the CUSUM learning curve of operative time was y = 387.0373  - 3.4334x  - 0.2982x 2  + 0.003x 3 (R 2  = 0.898), reaching its peak at the 11th case. The median blood loss was 49.9 ml (20, 50), and the best-fit equation for the CUSUM learning curve of blood loss was y = 444.9362 + 23.6787x  - 0.7719x 2  + 0.0049x 3 (R 2  = 0.957), reaching its peak at the 27th case. The learning curve was divided into a learning phase (1-27 cases) and a proficient phase (28 cases onward). Intraoperative blood loss significantly decreased from 75.93 ± 79.19 mL to 40.27 ± 35.27 mL in the proficient phase (P < 0.05), while operative time remained similar between phases (P > 0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in pelvic drainage tube placement time, drainage volume, positive surgical margin rate, hospital stay duration, or postoperative pain scores (P > 0.05). The findings suggest that proficiency in ss-RARP is typically achieved after approximately 27 cases, indicating a manageable and safe learning curve. These insights can inform the design of surgical training programmes, optimising early learning and improving clinical outcomes for novice surgeons., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: Di Gu affirms that there are no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Organic linker-based luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs) have received extensive studies due to the unlimited species of emissive organic linkers and tunable structure of MOFs. However, the multiple-step organic synthesis is always a great challenge for the development of LMOFs. As an alternative strategy, in situ "one-pot" strategy, in which the generation of emissive organic linkers and sequential construction of LMOFs happen in one reaction condition, can avoid time-consuming pre-synthesis of organic linkers. In the present work, we demonstrate the successful utilization of in situ "one-pot" strategy to construct a series of LMOFs via the single-site modification between the reaction of aldehydes and o-phenylenediamine-based tetratopic carboxylic acid. The resultant MOFs possess csq topology with emission covering blue to near-infrared. The nanosized LMOFs exhibit excellent sensitivity and selectivity for tryptophan detection. In addition, two component-based LMOFs can also be prepared via the in situ "one-pot" strategy and used to study energy transfer. This work not only reports the construction of LMOFs with full-color emissions, which can be utilized for various applications, but also indicates that in situ "one-pot" strategy indeed is a useful and powerful method to complement the traditional MOFs construction method for preparing porous materials with tunable functionalities and properties., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Different forms of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) have shown strong potential as Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. We hypothesized that p-tau proteoforms simultaneously phosphorylated at two different sites may have an increased diagnostic value compared with tau phosphorylated at a single site. Here, we developed two immunoassays detecting CSF and plasma tau simultaneously phosphorylated at both T181 and T231 (p-tau181&231) and at T217 and T231 (p-tau217&231). Subsequently, we measured CSF and plasma p-tau181&231, p-tau217&231, p-tau181, p-tau217, and p-tau231 levels in two cohorts across the AD continuum and in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients (discovery n = 55, validation n = 118). CSF and plasma p-tau217&231, p-tau181, p-tau217, and p-tau231 and CSF, but not plasma, p-tau181&231 were significantly elevated in all AD continuum groups vs. Neurological Disease Control group. Notably, plasma p-tau217&231 consistently showed an improved diagnostic performance compared with single-site phosphorylation assays – p-tau217 or p-tau231. The differences observed between CSF and plasma measurements suggest matrix-specific protein processing, underscoring the need for further research on the dynamics of tau phosphorylation pattern along the AD continuum. Cerebrospinal fluid tau simultaneously phosphorylated at two distinct sites (p-tau181&231 or p-tau217&231) provide high diagnostic accuracy as Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. In plasma, a similar diagnostic accuracy was obtained only for p-tau217&231. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In single-site validations, site-pixel, synthetic pixel and footprint-integrated methods are commonly used to validate evapotranspiration (ET) retrieval at the pixel scale. To reveal the reliability of these methods, this study analysed the performance of the three methods for ET retrieval validation based on eddy-covariance observations at the Daman site which is numerously used for validation in Heihe Watershed Allied Telemetry Experimental Research (HiWATER). The analysis at different spatial scales in different seasons showed that the validation results of the site-pixel method were more similar that of the footprint-integrated method than the synthetic pixel method. However, the validation results of the site-pixel method showed significant discrepancies from those of the footprint-integrated method, especially in summer at the 480 M scale which is near to the spatial resolution of MODIS with a large difference of more than 125.65 W M−2. This error is due to aggregation and high spatial heterogeneity. The use of synthetic pixel can avoid this error. Normally, the error probably appears when the wind direction is 270°–360°, usually in summer, autumn and winter. In addition, the different aggregation methods had a slight effect on the ET estimation results. This study is helpful in determining the reliability of different single-point validation methods and provides a reliable way to select a validation method for single-site validation of remote sensing retrieval of ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes, surgical workflow, and patient satisfaction following small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) performed with the VisuMax 800 in one eye and the VisuMax 500 in the contralateral eye (both Carl Zeiss Meditec). Methods: This was a prospective, single-site clinical study of patients undergoing SMILE for myopia and myopic astigmatism between February 2022 and August 2023. Each patient underwent bilateral treatment using the VisuMax 800 (VM800 group) in one eye and the VisuMax 500 (VM500 group) in the contralateral eye. Intraoperative docking time, suction time, laser time, and surgical time were noted. Patient satisfaction and laser preference was evaluated immediately after treatment. Visual and refractive outcomes, contrast sensitivity, and quality of vision were assessed at the 3-month postoperative visit. Results: A total of 30 patients undergoing bilateral SMILE were included. The mean docking time and surgical time were significantly lower in the VM800 group (46.53 ± 11 sec and 4.52 ± 2.33 min, respectively) compared to the VM500 group (68.25 ± 15 sec and 6.22 ± 2.04 min, respectively) (P <.001). No significant differences were observed at the 1-day or 3-month visit for uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent, higher order aberrations, Objective Scatter Index, modulation transfer function, and contrast sensitivity. Patient scores regarding subjective symptoms were comparable. However, overall satisfaction with the surgical experience was rated significantly better in the VM800 group, with 80% of patients preferring the VM800 eye. No complications occurred for eyes in either group. Conclusions: No significant differences were observed in clinical outcomes between the two laser systems. However, the surgical workflow and patient-reported intraoperative experience favored the VisuMax 800. [J Refract Surg. 2025;41(1):e14–e21.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoids are commonly used in the management of patients with hematological and solid malignancies. However, their use may be associated with impaired glycemic metabolism and increased treatment-related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a nurse-led model of care (MOC) for screening and managing glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia (GIH) in non-diabetic patients requiring high-dose glucocorticoid (HDG) therapies, as well as patients' and health professionals' experiences with the MOC. This study was a single-site feasibility study. Patients with hematological or oncological malignancies who were >18 years of age, receiving a chemotherapy regimen including HDGs, had no prior diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes, and were not at the end of life were considered eligible for this study. Participants were recruited from a district hospital's Cancer Centre in Australia. All consenting participants were screened for diabetes and were provided with a blood glucose meter to monitor their blood glucose levels (BGLs) four times a day on the days of glucocorticoid therapy (GT) plus one extra day following GT, for the first four cycles of their treatment, to screen for the presence of GIH. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using rates of consent, study completion, and staff and patient surveys. Forty-eight percent (35/74) of patients approached consented to participate in the study and had screening tests for preexisting diabetes. None were diagnosed with diabetes. Six out of 35 patients withdrew, and 10/29 patients did not complete the recommended BGL monitoring. Thirteen percent (4/29) of patients developed GIH. The most common reasons for non-participation and study withdrawal were related to the self-monitoring of BGLs. While clinical stakeholders found the MOC feasible and acceptable, the results of this study suggest that alternative methods for encouraging self-monitoring of BGL and monitoring the presence of GIH during high-dose chemotherapy need to be explored to address issues associated with adherence and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke registers are recommended as a key priority by the Lancet Neurology World Stroke Organization Commission for Stroke, 2023, and the African Stroke Leaders' Summit, 2022. Aims: This scoping review aims to map where stroke registers have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The article then compares and critiques the methods and definitions used and summarizes key results from the registers. The scoping review searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CABI Global Health databases and included all studies with a prospective longitudinal design in SSA, where adult acute stroke was the primary condition studied. Articles were screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria independently by two authors. Summary: We identified 42 unique stroke registers from 48 individual studies. The registers were located in 19 countries, with 19 from East Africa, 15 West Africa, 6 Central Africa, and 2 from Southern Africa. Cumulatively, the registers recruited 12,345 participants with stroke, the median number of participants was 183 (interquartile range (IQR): 121–312), and the range was 50–1018. Only one study was a population-based register, and 41 were hospital-based registers. Of the hospital-based registers, 29 were single site, 10 were conducted at two sites, and 2 at three sites. Twenty-three (54.7%) of the registers were located in the capital city of their respective country, and only one of the hospital-based registers was in a self-described rural area. Length of recruitment ranged from 4 months to 6 years; the median length of recruitment was 12 months. Methodology and definitions were heterogenous between the registers. Only seven (19.4%) registers referenced the WHO STEPwise approach to implementing stroke registers. Twenty-seven (64.3%) registers used the WHO definition of stroke. The mean neuroimaging rate was 84%, and ranged from 0% to 100%. Stroke severity was measured using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in 22 (52.4%) registers, four registers used the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), two registers used the miniNIHSS, one used the Scandinavian Stroke Scale, one modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and 11 registers did not report a stroke severity measure. Seventeen (40.5%) registers used the mRS to measure function, six registers used Barthel Index alone, and three registers used both mRS and Barthel Index. Only two registers included a quality-of-life measure, the EQ-5D. Eight registers included a quality-of-care measure, and 26 (61.9%) registers recorded socioeconomic status or a socioeconomic status proxy, most frequently educational attainment. Conclusions: This scoping review found high heterogeneity of methods and definitions used by stroke registers, with low uptake of the WHO stepwise method of stroke surveillance. A drive to standardize methodology would improve the comparability of stroke data in SSA. The shared use of educational attainment by registers in our review may enable future meta-analyses of inequities in stroke in SSA. Incorporating health-related quality-of-life measures, such as EQ-5D, into stroke registers should be encouraged, bringing a patient perspective, and allow the estimation of quality-adjusted life years lost to stroke. Agreement on a standardized register methodology or further promotion and uptake of the WHO stepwise method is essential to produce comparable data to improve stroke prevention and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While bipolar disorder is not uncommon in primary care, collaborative care models for bipolar depression treatment are underdeveloped. Our aim was to compare initial pharmacological treatment patterns for an episode of bipolar depression in different care models, namely primary care (PC), integrated behavioral health (IBH), and mood specialty clinic (SC). A retrospective study of adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder who received outpatient care in 2020 was completed. Depressive episodes were captured based on DSM-5 criteria, ICD codes, or de novo emergent symptom burden (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). Pharmacological strategies were classified as 1) continuation of current regimen, 2) dose increase or 3) augmentation 4) switch to monotherapy or 5) a combination of more than two different strategies. Logistic regression was applied. A total of 217 encounters (PC = 32, IBH = 53, SC = 132) representing 186 unique patients were identified. PC was significantly more likely to continue the current regimen, while combination strategies were significantly more likely recommended in IBH and SC. Mood stabilizers were significantly more utilized in IBH and SC. There were no significant group differences in antidepressant use. Retrospective study design at a single site. This study provides evidence of delays in depression care in bipolar disorder. This is the first study to compare treatment recommendations for bipolar depression in different clinical settings. Future studies are encouraged to better understand this gap and to guide future clinical practice, regardless of care model, emphasizing the potential benefits of decision support tools and collaborative care models tailored for bipolar depression. • Psychiatrists chose more combination pharmacological strategies for bipolar depression (BD). • Primary care physicians were likely to continue the current regimen for BD. • Antidepressant use was common across all physician types for BD. • Psychiatrists were likely to utilize mood stabilizers for BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorine (Cl2) is one of the most important commodity chemicals that has found widespread utility in chemical industry. Most Cl2 is currently produced via the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) at the anode of chlor–alkali electrolyzers, for which platinum group‐metal (PGM)‐based mixed metal oxides (MMOs) have been used for more than half a century. However, MMOs suffer from the use of expensive and scarce PGMs and face selectivity problems due to the parasitic oxygen evolution reaction. Over the last decade, the field of CER catalysis has seen dramatic advances in both the theory and discovery of new catalysts. Theoretical approaches have enabled a fundamental understanding of CER mechanisms and provided catalyst design principles. The exploration of new materials has led to the discovery of CER catalysts other than MMOs, including non‐PGM oxides, atomically dispersed single‐site catalysts, and organic molecules, with some of which following novel reaction pathways. This minireview provides an overview of the recent advances in CER electrocatalyst research and suggests future directions for this revitalized field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work on ruination has explored the capacity of ruins to embody multiple and contradictory meanings within a single site. This paper considers the capacity of ruined sites of memory to disrupt the relationship between past and present, celebration and shame, Self and Other. Ruins produce new expressions of time and space that transcend the intentions of either architect or spectator. Restoration, however, may attempt to overwrite this ambivalence with a single, dominant narrative. As a case study, this paper turns to the garden of tropical agronomy, a palimpsestic ruin in the Parisian suburbs that gives material form to both the imperial past and the process of forgetting the empire. It traces the history of the garden, and various unsuccessful attempts to restore it, before considering the successful renovation of the Tunisian Pavilion in 2020. Drawing from Actor-Network Theory, it analyses these interventions as acts of translation that alternately attempt to impose a singular meaning on the garden and enrich to its multi-layered form. Despite the intentions of human actants, throughout its recent history the garden's uneasy multivocality has endured. Amidst conflicting and overlapping narratives, the garden haunts post-imperial Paris and undermines its attempts to consign empire to the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) is a rehabilitation service delivery model initially articulated in a seminal article featured in the 2013 Special Issue of Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation. Over the past decade, the ICAP model has experienced a notable surge in prominence, leading to a burgeoning research base and worldwide implementation in clinical practice. Aim: This special issue serves as a comprehensive exploration of how the theoretical underpinnings of the ICAP components manifest in contemporary practice by presenting recent outcomes from active clinical ICAPs. The primary objective of this introduction is to establish a contextual framework for the articles comprising this special issue. Main Contribution: The introduction delineates the fundamental components of the ICAP model, offering succinct summaries of the relevant literature that catalyzed the conceptualization of these components by Rose and colleagues. Conclusions: This introduction along with the collective works within this issue, positions the ICAP model within the broader aphasia rehabilitation continuum of care. Furthermore, it serves as a pivotal starting point for shaping the ICAP research agenda for the next decade. Specific expansions to the evidence are imperative, including single-site and multi-site randomized controlled trials featuring consistent outcome measures that include discourse measures and follow-up data points, investigations into cost-effectiveness and sustainability, and systematic examinations of the active ingredients of therapeutic elements within the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine whether nicotine mouth spray provides rapid and prolonged relief of urges to vape and measure the steady‐state plasma nicotine levels during vaping and ad libitum mouth spray usage in e‐cigarette users. Design: Randomized, parallel group, double‐blind trial. Setting: Single site at Hammersmith Medicines Research Ltd (HMR), London, UK. Participants: 216 (25.9% females, average age 27.6 ± 7.63 [standard deviation, SD]) exclusive vapers who used their e‐cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up and had vaped about 2 years on average. Interventions: Two sprays of 1 mg nicotine mouth spray (Nicorette QuickMist Freshmint, n = 109), or placebo (identical in appearance and presentation, n = 107). Measurements Urge to vape was rated on a 100 mm visual analogue scale before and repeatedly for 2 hours after administration. The primary outcome measured average change from baseline in urges to vape ratings during the first hour. Findings Nicotine mouth spray achieved statistically significantly greater reductions in urges to vape than placebo from the first assessment point at 30 seconds to 1 hour, when the estimated mean treatment difference was 11.90 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.86–16.95, P < 0.001). The integrated urge to vape over 11 hours ad libitum usage showed a statistically significant benefit compared with placebo (2.00 [0.88 SD] vs 2.51 [0.84 SD], P < 0.001). Mean steady‐state plasma nicotine concentrations were lower after nicotine mouth spray usage compared with vaping (6.22 [4.70 SD] ng/ml vs 9.91 [7.59 SD] ng/ml, respectively). Adverse events were more commonly reported in the nicotine mouth spray group and were mostly mild. Conclusions: Among regular e‐cigarette users, nicotine mouth spray provided statistically significant and fast relief of urges to vape one hour after dosing. Nicotine mouth spray showed statistically significant reductions in urges to vape as soon as 30 seconds and up to 2 hours after dosing compared with placebo, and nicotine mouth spray was well‐tolerated and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the performance of breast cancer screening by category of breast density and age in a UK screening cohort. Methods: Raw full-field digital mammography data from a single site in the UK, forming a consecutive 3-year cohort of women aged 50 to 70 years from 2016 to 2018, were obtained retrospectively. Breast density was assessed using Volpara software. Examinations were grouped by density category and age group (50–60 and 61–70 years) to analyse screening performance. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between density categories and age groups. Volumetric breast density was assessed as a binary classifier of interval cancers (ICs) to find an optimal density threshold. Results: Forty-nine thousand nine-hundred forty-eight screening examinations (409 screen-detected cancers (SDCs) and 205 ICs) were included in the analysis. Mammographic sensitivity, SDC/(SDC + IC), decreased with increasing breast density from 75.0% for density a (p = 0.839, comparisons made to category b), to 73.5%, 59.8% (p = 0.001), and 51.3% (p < 0.001) in categories b, c, and d, respectively. IC rates were highest in the densest categories with rates of 1.8 (p = 0.039), 3.2, 5.7 (p < 0.001), and 7.9 (p < 0.001) per thousand for categories a, b, c, and d, respectively. The recall rate increased with breast density, leading to more false positive recalls, especially in the younger age group. There was no significant difference between the optimal density threshold found, 6.85, and that Volpara defined as the b/c boundary, 7.5. Conclusions: The performance of screening is significantly reduced with increasing density with IC rates in the densest category four times higher than in women with fatty breasts. False positives are a particular issue for the younger subgroup without prior examinations. Clinical relevance statement: In women attending screening there is significant underdiagnosis of breast cancer in those with dense breasts, most marked in the highest density category but still three times higher than in women with fatty breasts in the second highest category. Key Points: Breast density can mask cancers leading to underdiagnosis on mammography. Interval cancer rate increased with breast density categories 'a' to 'd'; 1.8 to 7.9 per thousand. Recall rates increased with increasing breast density, leading to more false positive recalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of two different ways of stopping incubator humidification on episodes of hypothermia, hyperthermia, hyponatraemia, hypernatraemia, or skin injury. The design is a single site, two-armed, parallel, randomised, clinical trial conducted between April 2019 and March 2022. The setting was a quaternary referral and teaching hospital in Queensland, Australia. There were 140 extremely preterm infants, born < 28 weeks gestational age (GA). Intervention groups were (1) cease humidity: incubator humidification turned from 80% to off at 00.01am on day 8 of life (n = 70); or (2) gradually reduce humidity: incubator humidification reduced by 5% at 00:01 of each day from day 8 until ceased on day 14 (n = 70). The primary outcome was episodes of temperature instability: defined as either hypothermia < 36.5 °C or hyperthermia > 37.5 °C. Secondary outcomes included episodes of hyponatraemia: hypernatraemia or skin injury. One hundred forty infants were enrolled, 70 in each group. No statistically significant differences for any outcomes. Hyperthermia: 77% (n = 54) in the cease group and 73% (n = 51) in the gradual reduction group (P = 0.70). Hypothermia: 53% (n = 37) in the cease group and 37% (n = 26) in the gradual reduction group (P = 0.09). The number of hyponatraemic events was similar for both groups (P = 0.73), as for hypernatraemic events (P = 0.3). Skin injury in week 2 of life: 63% in the cease group and 67% in the gradual reduction group (P = 0.72). Conclusions: Ceasing or gradually reducing incubator humidification after day 7 of life had no effect on the number of episodes of hypothermia or hyperthermia in this cohort of extremely preterm infants (EPTI). There was also no effect on the number of episodes of hyponatraemia or hypernatraemia. Trial registration: ANZCTR.org.au (Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry). ACTRN 1261 9000 266167 Registered 21/2/2019. What is Known: • Incubator humidification is a widely accepted and routine practice in the management of EPTI as it influences transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and supports thermoregulation. However, weaning practices remain varied and inconsistent across the globe. • There remains a paucity of data to inform specific evidenced-based humidification practices. What is New: • Ceasing or gradually reducing incubator humidification after 7 days had no effect on temperature stability, serum sodium levels, or frequency of skin injury in this cohort of EPTI between day 8 and day 14. • There is no apparent benefit in prolonging incubator humidity beyond day 7 of life in these EPTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric mood disorder that is solely diagnosed based on clinical symptoms. These symptoms often overlap with other psychiatric disorders. Efforts to use machine learning (ML) to create predictive models for BD based on data from brain imaging are expanding but have often been limited using only a single modality and the exclusion of the cerebellum, which may be relevant in BD. In this study, we sought to improve ML classification of BD by combining information from structural, functional, and diffusion-weighted imaging. Participants (108 BD I, 78 control) with BD type I and matched controls were recruited into an imaging study. This dataset was randomly divided into training and testing sets. For each of the three modalities, a separate ML model was selected, trained, and then used to generate a prediction of the class of each test subject. Majority voting was used to combine results from the three models to make a final prediction of whether a subject had BD. An independent replication sample was used to evaluate the ability of the ML classification to generalize to data collected at other sites. Combining the three machine learning models through majority voting resulted in an accuracy of 89.5 % for classification of the test subjects as being in the BD or control group. Bootstrapping resulted in a 95 % confidence interval of 78.9 %–97.4 % for test accuracy. Performance was reduced when only using 2 of the 3 modalities. Analysis of feature importance revealed that the cerebellum and nodes of the emotional control network were among the most important regions for classification. The machine learning model performed at chance on the independent replication sample. BD I could be identified with high accuracy in our relatively small sample by combining structural, functional, and diffusion-weighted imaging data within a single site but not generalize well to an independent replication sample. Future studies using harmonized imaging protocols may facilitate generalization of ML models. • Machine learning of brain imaging variables may aid in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder • We used machine learning to classify bipolar disorder versus controls • Nodes within the cerebellum and emotional control network were important for classification • Multi-modal MR imaging features enhance the ability to differentiate bipolar disorder versus controls [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verruca vulgaris (VV) is a common viral disease in children. Treatment options are often not well tolerated in children due to pain or adverse effect risk. Nonthermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP), which generates reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, is well tolerated and without adverse effects. Determine efficacy of NTAP as compared to standard of care (SOC) therapy for VV in children. This prospective open-label study randomized lesions 1:1 to receive NTAP or SOC (cryotherapy). Patients were treated at 4-week intervals for a maximum of 3 treatments. They were evaluated 4 weeks postfinal treatment for sustained response. Primary outcome was lesion response. One hundred twelve VV lesions in 14 patients were enrolled. Patients were mostly White (92.9%) males (71.4%) with mean age of 9.5 [±2.5] years. Responses of SOC- and NTAP-treated lesions, respectively, included no response (5.4%, 7.1%); partial response (33.9%, 41.1%); and complete resolution (60.7%, 51.8%; P value =.679). Patients were more likely to report pain in SOC lesions post-treatment (P value <.001). No significant adverse events (AEs) occurred. Limitations include single-site, maximum of 3 treatments, and short post-treatment follow-up. NTAP is an efficacious, safe intervention for treatment of VV in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examines the implementation and performance of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practices in the Pokhara Regional International Airport Project (PRIAP), a key public infrastructure initiative in Nepal. Given airports' significance to Nepal's economy, particularly for tourism and trade, the research highlights the unique safety challenges in airport construction, addressing gaps in OHS management in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach: A case study methodology focused on the PRIAP enabled a thorough analysis of safety practices. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires from various stakeholders. The Cronbach's alpha and relative importance index (RII) were used to assess response reliability and ranked factors affecting safety performance. Findings: The study identifies both strengths and weaknesses in the project's OHS practices. While plant and equipment handling and financial aspects, such as budget allocation for safety measures and accident compensation, were deemed satisfactory, significant deficiencies were found in hazard identification and the investigation of near misses. These results suggest that improvements are needed in proactive safety management, particularly in worker-management communication. Research limitations/implications: This study provides valuable insights but is limited by its single-site focus and use of descriptive statistics. Future research should employ advanced statistical methods, like ANOVA, and include multiple construction sites to capture a broader range of OHS challenges. Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of proposed interventions is also essential. Addressing these limitations will enhance the development of comprehensive safety management strategies tailored to the specific needs of construction projects in developing countries. Practical implications: This study provides practical recommendations for improving OHS practices in airport construction and similar large-scale projects in developing countries. Enhanced hazard identification and improved communication among stakeholders can help reduce accidents and boost project efficiency. Social implications: Improving safety regulations and culture can reduce workplace injuries, enhancing workers' well-being and quality of life. This research supports stronger public policies, helping lower economic burdens from accidents, promoting social stability and increasing public trust in regulatory bodies. Originality/value: This research contributes to the limited literature on OHS in airport construction projects in developing countries, particularly in Nepal. The case study methodology provides a detailed examination of safety practices and offers a framework for improving OHS in similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left atrial (LA) myopathy is thought to be associated with silent brain infarctions (SBI) through changes in blood flow hemodynamics leading to thrombogenesis. 4D‐flow MRI enables in‐vivo hemodynamic quantification in the left atrium (LA) and LA appendage (LAA). Purpose: To determine whether LA and LAA hemodynamic and volumetric parameters are associated with SBI. Study Type: Prospective observational study. Population: A single‐site cohort of 125 Participants of the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA), mean age: 72.3 ± 7.2 years, 56 men. Field Strength/Sequence: 1.5T. Cardiac MRI: Cine balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) and 4D‐flow sequences. Brain MRI: T1‐ and T2‐weighted SE and FLAIR. Assessment: Presence of SBI was determined from brain MRI by neuroradiologists according to routine diagnostic criteria in all participants without a history of stroke based on the MESA database. Minimum and maximum LA volumes and ejection fraction were calculated from bSSFP data. Blood stasis (% of voxels <10 cm/sec) and peak velocity (cm/sec) in the LA and LAA were assessed by a radiologist using an established 4D‐flow workflow. Statistical Tests: Student's t test, Mann–Whitney U test, one‐way ANOVA, chi‐square test. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression with automatic forward and backward selection. Significance level P < 0.05. Results: 26 (20.8%) had at least one SBI. After Bonferroni correction, participants with SBI were significantly older and had significantly lower peak velocities in the LAA. In multivariable analyses, age (per 10‐years) (odds ratio (OR) = 1.99 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30–3.04)) and LAA peak velocity (per cm/sec) (OR = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81–0.93)) were significantly associated with SBI. Conclusion: Older age and lower LAA peak velocity were associated with SBI in multivariable analyses whereas volumetric‐based measures from cardiac MRI or cardiovascular risk factors were not. Cardiac 4D‐flow MRI showed potential to serve as a novel imaging marker for SBI. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Night-shift work causes circadian misalignment and impairs glucose metabolism. We hypothesise that food intake during night shifts may contribute to this phenomenon. Methods: This open-label, multi-arm, single-site, parallel-group controlled trial involved a 6 day stay at the University of South Australia's sleep laboratory (Adelaide, SA, Australia). Healthy, non-shift-working adults without obesity (N=55; age 24.5 ± 4.8 years; BMI 24.8 ± 2.8 kg/m2) were assigned to the next available run date and cluster randomised (1:1:1) to fasting-at-night (N=20), snack-at-night (N=17), or meal-at-night (N=18) conditions. One participant withdrew from each group, prior to starting the study. Due to study design, neither participants nor people collecting their measurements could be blinded. Statistical and laboratory staff were concealed to study allocation. Participants were fed at calculated energy balance, with the macronutrient composition of meals being similar across conditions. The primary outcomes were a linear mixed-effects model of glucose, insulin and NEFA AUC in response to a 75 g OGTT that was conducted prior to and after 4 consecutive nights of shift work plus 1 night of recovery sleep. Insulin sensitivity, insulinogenic and disposition indexes were also calculated. Results: Night-shift work impaired insulin sensitivity, as measured by insulin AUC (p=0.035) and the insulin sensitivity index (p=0.016) across all conditions. Insulin secretion, as measured by the insulinogenic index, was increased in the fasting-at-night condition only (p=0.030), resulting in a day×condition interaction in glucose AUC (p<0.001) such that glucose tolerance was impaired in the meal-at night (+2.00 [95% CI 1.45, 2.56], p<0.001) and snack at-night (+0.96 [0.36, 1.56], p=0.022) conditions vs the fasting-at-night (+0.34 [–0.21, 0.89]) condition. A day×condition interaction was also observed in NEFA AUC (p<0.001), being higher in the meal-at-night (+0.07 [0.03, 0.10]. p=0.001) and snack-at-night (0.01 [–0.03, 0.05], p=0.045) conditions vs the fasting-at-night condition (–0.02 [–0.06, 0.01]). No adverse events occurred. Conclusions/interpretation: The timing of food intake has a critical effect on glucose metabolism during simulated night-shift work, which was readily amendable to a meal re-timing intervention. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12616001556437 Funding: This work was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), APP1099077. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyalomma ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting human and animal health. This study aimed to assess the outputs of three molecular markers (16S, 12S rRNA, and COI) for accurate tick species molecular identification, genetic diversity assessment, and phylogenetic positioning of Hyalomma tick specimens from Tunisia. A total of 20 tickspecimens were collected from different hosts including cattle, camels, and turtles in nine Tunisian governorates. Morphological diagnosis confirmed five Hyalomma species: H. scupense, H. marginatum, H. excavatum, H. aegyptium, and H. dromedarii. Molecular analysis confirmed species’ identification and revealed varying levels of genetic diversity within each species. Within the H. scupense and H. aegyptium species, low genetic diversity was observed, with no variable sites detected in the 16 S and 12 S rRNA markers, except for a single site in H. aegyptium’s COI marker. H. marginatum isolates showed moderate diversity, with no variable sites in the 16S and 12S rRNA markers, and four variable sites in the COI marker. In contrast, H. excavatum and H. dromedarii isolates exhibited higher diversity, with variable sites identified in all three markers (16S, 12S rRNA, and COI). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that, with the exception of H. scupense, the COI marker exhibited superior discriminatory power compared to the 16 S and 12 S rRNA markers. This enabled the discernment of distinct genetic clusters within each species. These findings underscore the importance of utilizing multiple molecular markers for confirming morphological diagnosis and specifically highlight the significance of the COI marker in assessing the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Hyalomma ticks. By employing these markers, particularly COI, valuable insights into the evolutionary dynamics and epidemiological significance of Hyalomma ticks can be gained, facilitating targeted control measures against tick-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Different forms of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) have shown strong potential as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. We hypothesized that p-tau proteoforms simultaneously phosphorylated at two different sites may have an increased diagnostic value compared with tau phosphorylated at a single site. Here, we developed two immunoassays detecting CSF and plasma tau simultaneously phosphorylated at both T181 and T231 (p-tau181&231) and at T217 and T231 (p-tau217&231). Subsequently, we measured CSF and plasma p-tau181&231, p-tau217&231, p-tau181, p-tau217, and p-tau231 levels in two cohorts across the AD continuum and in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients (discovery n = 55, validation n = 118). CSF and plasma p-tau217&231, p-tau181, p-tau217, and p-tau231 and CSF, but not plasma, p-tau181&231 were significantly elevated in all AD continuum groups vs. Neurological Disease Control group. Notably, plasma p-tau217&231 consistently showed an improved diagnostic performance compared with single-site phosphorylation assays – p-tau217 or p-tau231. The differences observed between CSF and plasma measurements suggest matrix-specific protein processing, underscoring the need for further research on the dynamics of tau phosphorylation pattern along the AD continuum.

Abstract Background While early intervention in psychosis (EIP) programs have been increasingly implemented across the globe, many initiatives from Africa, Asia and Latin America are not widely known. The aims of the current review are (a) to describe population-based and small-scale, single-site EIP programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America, (b) to examine the variability between programs located in low-and-middle income (LMIC) and high-income countries in similar regions and (c) to outline some of the challenges and provide recommendations to overcome existing obstacles. Methods EIP programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America were identified through experts from the different target regions. We performed a systematic search in Medline, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Web of Science and Scopus up to February 6, 2024. Results Most EIP programs in these continents are small-scale, single-site programs that serve a limited section of the population. Population-based programs with widespread coverage and programs integrated into primary health care are rare. In Africa, EIP programs are virtually absent. Mainland China is one of the only LMICs that has begun to take steps toward developing a population-based EIP program. High-income Asian countries (e.g. Hong Kong and Singapore) have well-developed, comprehensive programs for individuals with early psychosis, while others with similar economies (e.g. South Korea and Japan) do not. In Latin America, Chile is the only country in the process of providing population-based EIP care. Conclusions Financial resources and integration in mental health care, as well as the availability of epidemiological data on psychosis, impact the implementation of EIP programs. Given the major treatment gap of early psychosis in Africa, Latin America and large parts of Asia, publicly funded, locally-led and accessible community-based EIP care provision is urgently needed.