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ABSTRACT A region's growth trajectory is influenced by the economic circumstances of other regions in its proximity. While proximity is often understood in a geographic sense, economic connectivity can take many different forms. In particular, shock transmission processes between regions are inherently asymmetric and heterogeneous, which is not captured by geographic proximity measures. As a potential channel for economic dependencies, we consider cross‐regional commuter flows. Commuters, who spend a substantial portion of their income in a different place from where they earn it, connect peripheral regions to economic centers. In an econometric framework, we estimate time‐space dynamic panel models with German county‐level data. Given those estimates, we demonstrate a considerable variation in the spatial distribution of shock responses from using alternative proxies for spatial dependency, which is hidden by the traditional focus on average marginal effects. Local spatial multipliers differ depending on the nature and origin of the shock and the assumed network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as the only lipid‐associated envelope protein of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) acts as cellular attachment and entry mediator of HBV making it the main target of neutralizing antibodies to provide HBV immunity after infection or vaccination. Despite its central role in inducing protective immunity, there is however a surprising lack of comparative studies examining different HBsAgs and their ability to detect anti‐HBs antibodies. On the contrary, various time‐consuming complex HBsAg production protocols have been established, which result in structurally and functionally insufficiently characterized HBsAg. Here, we present an easy‐to‐perform, streamlined and robust method for recombinant S‐HBsAg virus‐like particle (VLP) production by transient expression in mammalian cells and purification from the cell lysate with the aim of displaying uniform antigenic epitopes on the surface to improve serological detection of anti‐HBs antibodies. We not only compare assembly status and particle composition by transmission electron microscopy and mass photometry of our S‐HBsAg and of commonly used HBsAg reference samples, but also assess their antigenic quality and functional suitability for anti‐HBs antibody detection to identify the best performing sample for serological screenings. While we found that serum‐isolated and recombinant HBsAg VLPs are assembled differently, our S‐HBsAg VLPs detected anti‐HBs antibodies with the highest sensitivity and specificity in multiplex serology when compared to yeast or serum HBsAg making it the most suitable antigen for analysis of HBV immunity through anti‐HBs serostatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hatching dynamics is key to population structure of annual fishes in temporary wetlands. Given the risk of false starts due to unpredictable hydroperiods, annual fish may employ risk‐spreading strategies in their hatching patterns consistent with bet hedging (such as the partial hatching of their egg bank and variable number of hatching cues) after being exposed to floods. However, the extent to which annual fish resort to bet hedging (as well as their potential drivers) over a wet–dry cycle is poorly understood. We assessed the hatching patterns of a South American killifish (Matilebias cyaneus; Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) collected at different hydrological phases of a temporary wetland to test for variation in bet hedging over a wet–dry cycle. We incubated wild eggs of M. cyaneus obtained from male–female pairings separately reared in tanks originating in the 'early‐wet', 'drying' and 'late‐wet' phases of a temporary wetland and examined hatching patterns across a sequence of hydration trials under common‐garden conditions. We found variation in (i) the number of hatched and unhatched eggs and (ii) the number of hatched eggs across hydration trials among clutches from each phase (while controlling for parentage). Our results show that M. cyaneus variably commit to bet‐hedging hatching strategies over a wet–dry cycle, and suggest that the environmental conditions at specific periods of the year and the parental age at which eggs are produced drive annual fish hatching patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common problem of trace element measurements by LA‐ICP‐MS is the existence of interferences that cannot be resolved instrumentally. The software G.O.Joe is developed to calculate trace element mass fractions in solid samples analysed by LA‐ICP‐MS, offering the opportunity to correct for isobaric interference (including mass bias) and abundance sensitivity. Designed as a platform‐independent web application, G.O.Joe is written in the Dart programming language and runs on all web browsers supported by Flutter (i.e., Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox) without the need for installation. G.O.Joe is freely accessible from any computer with an internet connection to facilitate immediate data evaluation and the efficient processing of large datasets (> 400 analyses). G.O.Joe features an intuitive user interface that simplifies the selection of peak and background signals, import of instrument settings and reference material compositions to convert the measured raw signals into element mass fractions. Key functions of G.O.Joe are presented by processing the analysis of tungstates and silicates (i.e., scheelite and garnet) including specific correction methods to demonstrate their large effect on interfered masses/isotopes achievable with only little effort. This study introduces G.O.Joe as a simple, time‐efficient and flexible software to significantly improve data quality in various trace element studies utilising LA‐ICP‐MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar freshwater ecosystems are sensitive to climate change, facing increasing temperatures and its consequences such as glacier retreat. Phosphorus and/or fixed nitrogen are widely expected to limit primary production in most freshwater environments, however the role of micronutrients is largely un‐characterized. We measured dissolved nitrate and nitrite, phosphate, cobalt, iron, manganese and zinc in a selection of Greenland and Antarctic lakes, and report the first evaluation of cobalt regulating phytoplankton growth in these systems using bioassay incubations. Results showed cobalt potentially co‐limited phytoplankton in three of the eight sites tested. A time‐series of dissolved cobalt measured in Kobbefjord (southwest Greenland) runoff corroborated low cobalt availability during summer. This was in contrast to manganese and iron which remained at high concentrations throughout summer. We hypothesize that high manganese:cobalt and/or zinc:cobalt ratios in runoff, may impede cellular cobalt acquisition, meaning cobalt co‐limitation of primary production is plausible in many polar freshwater environments. Plain Language Summary: Primary production in aquatic environments relies on supplies of bio‐accessible nitrogen and phosphorus in addition to light availability. Glacier melt and permafrost degradation have accelerated worldwide over the past two decades, inducing changes in these resources with ensuing ecological impacts. The potential ecological role of bio‐essential metals such as cobalt has however been sparsely tested in polar aquatic environments. Here we conducted nutrient addition bioassay incubations in a selection of Greenland and Antarctic lakes, and found phytoplankton growth was potentially co‐limited by dissolved cobalt availability in three of the eight tested sites. Manganese, zinc and cobalt can compete for cellular uptake, therefore we further analyzed dissolved concentrations in runoff across a multi‐year time‐series, finding that the ratios of these elements are potentially conducive to inhibition of cobalt uptake. We hypothesize that cobalt may more broadly co‐limit aquatic primary production as a result of high manganese:cobalt and/or zinc:cobalt ratios, with potential impacts on microbial community composition. Key Points: Concentrations of macro‐ and micro‐nutrients in a selection of Greenland and Antarctic lakes indicated cobalt deficiency for phytoplanktonBioassay incubation results showed cobalt potentially co‐limited phytoplankton in three of the eight sites testedA time‐series of measurements in Greenland runoff suggested high manganese:cobalt and zinc:cobalt ratios could impede cellular cobalt acquisition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To assess the suitability of genome sequencing (GS) as the second step in the diagnostics of patients with the features of 11p15.5‐associated imprinting disorders (ImpDis: Silver–Russell syndrome [SRS], Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome [BWS]), we performed short‐read GS in patients negatively tested for imprinting disturbances. Obtaining a genetic diagnosis for patients with the features of these syndromes is challenging due to the clinical and molecular heterogeneity and overlap, and many patients remain undiagnosed after the currently suggested stepwise diagnostic workup. GS was conducted in 48 patients (SRS features: n = 37 and BWS features: n = 11). The detection rate differed markedly between the ImpDis: although a genetic cause could be identified in 51% of patients referred with SRS features, no pathogenic variants were detected in patients with BWS features. Thus, GS substantially improves the diagnostic yield and broadens the spectrum of overlapping disorders with SRS features. Obtaining a precise molecular diagnosis provides the basis for a personalized clinical management. Our findings support the use of GS as a second‐tier diagnostic tool for patients with growth disturbances, as it addresses all currently known variant types and shortens the diagnostic odyssey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrosynthesis of alkyl carboxylic acids upon activating stronger alkyl chlorides at low‐energy cost is desired in producing carbon‐rich feedstock. Carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, has been recognized as an ideal primary carbon source for those syntheses, and such events also mitigate the atmospheric CO2 level, which is already alarming. On the other hand, the promising upcycling of polyvinyl chloride to polyacrylate is a high energy‐demanding carbon‐chloride (C−Cl) bond activation process. Molecular catalysts that can efficiently perform such transformation under ambient reaction conditions are rarely known. Herein, we reveal a nickel (Ni)‐pincer complex that catalyzes the electrochemical upgrading of polyvinyl chloride to polyacrylate in 95 % yield. The activities of such a Ni electrocatalyst bearing a redox‐active ligand were also tested to convert diverse examples of unactivated alkyl chlorides to their corresponding carboxylic acid derivatives. Furthermore, electronic structure calculations revealed that CO2 binding occurs in a resting state to yield an η2‐CO2 adduct and that the C−Cl bond activation step is the rate‐determining transition state, which has an activation energy of 19.3 kcal/mol. A combination of electroanalytical methods, control experiments, and computational studies were also carried out to propose the mechanism of the electrochemical C−Cl activation process with the subsequent carboxylation step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combating climate change and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are two important challenges facing humanity. Natural climate solutions (NCSs) can contribute to the achievement of these two commitments but can also generate conflicting trade‐offs. Here, we reviewed the literature and drew on expert knowledge to assess the co‐benefits of and trade‐offs between 150 SDG targets and NCSs within 12 selected ecosystems. We demonstrate that terrestrial, coastal, and marine NCSs enable the attainment of different sets of SDG targets, with low redundancy. Implementing NCSs in various ecosystems would therefore maximize achievement of SDG targets but would also induce trade‐offs, particularly if best practices are not followed. Reliance on NCSs at large scales will require that these trade‐offs be taken into consideration to ensure the simultaneous realization of positive climate outcomes and multiple SDG targets for diverse stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Summary: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in the fair‐skinned population and its incidence continues to rise. An update of the S2k guideline with the participation of all specialist societies familiar with the clinical picture and previous literature research is of great importance for the quality of care for affected patients. In addition to epidemiology, diagnostics and histology are discussed. After risk stratification, therapy is divided into topical, systemic and radiation therapy. Surgical removal remains the treatment of first choice in most cases. The approval of anti‐PD1 inhibitors for locally advanced and metastatic tumors has opened up a new option in second‐line therapy (after hedgehog inhibitors). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pathological mechanism of the gastrointestinal forms of food allergies is less understood in comparison to other clinical phenotypes, such as asthma and anaphylaxis Importantly, high‐IgE levels are a poor prognostic factor in gastrointestinal allergies. Methods: This study investigated how high‐IgE levels influence the development of intestinal inflammation and the metabolome in allergic enteritis (AE), using IgE knock‐in (IgEki) mice expressing high levels of IgE. In addition, correlation of the altered metabolome with gut microbiome was analysed. Results: Ovalbumin‐sensitized and egg‐white diet‐fed (OVA/EW) BALB/c WT mice developed moderate AE, whereas OVA/EW IgEki mice induced more aggravated intestinal inflammation with enhanced eosinophil accumulation. Untargeted metabolomics detected the increased levels of N‐tau‐methylhistamine and 2,3‐butanediol, and reduced levels of butyric acid in faeces and/or sera of OVA/EW IgEki mice, which was accompanied with reduced Clostridium and increased Lactobacillus at the genus level. Non‐sensitized and egg‐white diet‐fed (NC/EW) WT mice did not exhibit any signs of AE, whereas NC/EW IgEki mice developed marginal degrees of AE. Compared to NC/EW WT mice, enhanced levels of lysophospholipids, sphinganine and sphingosine were detected in serum and faecal samples of NC/EW IgEki mice. In addition, several associations of altered metabolome with gut microbiome—for example Akkermansia with lysophosphatidylserine—were detected. Conclusions: Our results suggest that high‐IgE levels alter intestinal and systemic levels of endogenous and microbiota‐associated metabolites in experimental AE. This study contributes to deepening the knowledge of molecular mechanisms for the development of AE and provides clues to advance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In‐situ dissolved organic matter (DOM) monitoring frequencies have often been chosen for convenience or based on perceived wisdom, without fully assessing their impact on representation of DOM dynamics. To address this gap, we collected 5‐min fluorescence data in an urban headwater and resampled it at coarser intervals to investigate the impact of monitoring frequencies on the detectability of DOM dynamics during storms. Expecting hydrometeorological conditions to modify the impact of monitoring frequency, we categorized 85 storm events into groups: Group A (low intensity, short duration), Group B (high intensity, short duration), and Group C (low intensity, long duration). Surprisingly, our analysis indicated that monitoring frequency has minimal influence on commonly used biogeochemical indexes (e.g., maximum, hysteresis and flushing index), which are employed to characterize solute behavior, regardless of storm type. To facilitate a direct comparison between monitoring frequencies, we back‐interpolated coarser data into 5‐min intervals and calculated mean squared errors by comparing them with original high‐resolution data. Our findings indicated that in colder periods with predominately Type A and C storms, a coarser monitoring frequency (>30 min) can capture DOM dynamics. Conversely, in warmer periods when Type B storms dominate, a finer frequency (≤15 min) is necessary to capture key solute chemograph processes (e.g., first flush and dilution). Generally, we suggest a 15‐min monitoring frequency as optimal for similar urban headwater systems, and advocate an adaptive approach based on seasonal variations to improve efficiency, especially when power, data transfer, and storage are constraints. Key Points: High frequency monitoring (5 min) of fluorescence peaks were undertaken in an urban headwater stream and resampled at coarser intervalsCommonly used biogeochemical indices (e.g., maximum, hysteresis and flushing index) were insensitive to variations in monitoring frequencyChemograph shape was sensitive to changes in monitoring frequency and hydrometeorological conditions with implications for event monitoring [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and adolescents demonstrate diverse patterns of symptom change and disorder remission following cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders. To better understand children who respond sub‐optimally to CBT, this study investigated youths (N = 1,483) who continued to meet criteria for one or more clinical anxiety diagnosis immediately following treatment or at any point during the 12 months following treatment. Methods: Data were collected from 10 clinical sites with assessments at pre‐and post‐treatment and at least once more at 3, 6 or 12‐month follow‐up. Participants were assigned to one of three groups based on diagnostic status for youths who: (a) retained an anxiety diagnosis from post to end point (minimal responders); (b) remitted anxiety diagnoses at post but relapsed by end point (relapsed responders); and (c) retained a diagnosis at post but remitted to be diagnosis free at end point (delayed responders). Growth curve models assessed patterns of change over time for the three groups and examined predictors associated with these patterns including demographic, clinical and parental factors, as well as treatment factors. Results: Higher primary disorder severity, being older, having a greater number of anxiety disorders, having social anxiety disorder, as well as higher maternal psychopathology differentiated the minimal responders from the delayed and relapsed responders at the baseline. Results from the growth curve models showed that severity of the primary disorder and treatment modality differentiated patterns of linear change only. Higher severity was associated with significantly less improvement over time for the minimal and relapsed response groups, as was receiving group CBT, when compared to the delayed response group. Conclusions: Sub‐optimal response patterns can be partially differentiated using variables assessed at pre‐treatment. Increased understanding of different patterns of change following treatment may provide direction for clinical decision‐making and for tailoring treatments to specific groups of clinically anxious youth. Future research may benefit from assessing progress during treatment to detect emerging response patterns earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity analyses are important components of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model development and are required by regulatory agencies for PBPK submissions. They assess the impact of parametric uncertainty and variability on model estimates, aid model optimization by identifying parameters requiring calibration, and enable the testing of assumptions within PBPK models. One‐at‐a‐time (OAT) sensitivity analyses quantify the impact on a model output in response to changes in a single parameter while holding others fixed. Global sensitivity analysis (GSA) methods provide more comprehensive assessments by accounting for changes in all uncertain or variable parameters, though at a higher computational cost. This tutorial article presents a software package for conducting both OAT and GSA of PBPK models built in the Open Systems Pharmacology (OSP) Suite. The tool is accessible through either an R script or a graphical user interface, and the outputs consist of sensitivity metrics of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters, such as Cmax and AUC, evaluated with respect to model input parameters. Results are formatted according to regulatory standards. The OAT analysis methods comprise two‐way local sensitivity analyses and probabilistic uncertainty analyses, whereas the GSA methods include the Morris, Sobol, and EFAST methods. These analyses can be conducted on single PBPK models or pairs of models for the evaluation of the sensitivity of PK parameter ratios in drug–drug interaction studies. The practical application of the package is demonstrated through three illustrative case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apremilast is a relatively new oral treatment for psoriasis, which reduces expression of pro‐inflammatory factors, including tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNFα), critical to the immune control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for apremilast no new cases of active tuberculosis (TB) were identified, thus, screening for latent TB infection (LTBI) is not currently recommended prior to apremilast initiation. We describe a case of M.tuberculosis reactivation shortly after commencement of apremilast for psoriasis. We are recommending clinicians perform LTBI risk assessment in all patients, and appropriate LTBI screening in select populations prior to apremilast initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) has been linked to neurocardiac dysfunction mediated by autonomic nervous system dysregulation, which increases mortality. We aimed to assess if heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback could improve neurocardiac function in CIP. Methods: We randomly allocated (1:1) patients with electrophysiologically confirmed CIP undergoing early inpatient neurological rehabilitation to additional HRV or sham biofeedback over 14 days. We evaluated neurocardiac function via standard deviation of normal‐to‐normal intervals (SDNN) as the primary outcome, as well as HRV frequency domains, sympathetic cutaneous sudomotor and vasomotor functions and disability at baseline, post intervention and 4 weeks later. The study is registered on the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00028911). Results: We included 30 patients with CIP (40% females, median [interquartile range] age 64.6 [56, 72] years). We observed an increase in SDNN and the predominantly parasympathetic high frequency domain post intervention (ß = 16.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2, 32.6 [p = 0.047] and ß = 1179.2, 95% CI 119.9, 2158.5 [p = 0.018]), which was sustained at the 4‐week follow‐up (ß = 25.7, 95% CI 6.0, 45.4 [p = 0.011] and ß = 25.7, 95% CI 6.0, 45.4 [p = 0.011]). Patients who underwent HRV biofeedback displayed a higher adjusted Barthel index, indicating less severe disability 4 weeks after the intervention compared to those in the sham group (ß = 23.3, 95% CI 5.5, 41.1 [p = 0.014]). Low frequency and sympathetic skin functions did not differ between groups (p = nonsignificant). Conclusions: Our study provides pilot data suggesting that, in patients with CIP, HRV biofeedback can improve neurocardiac function with a predominant effect on the parasympathetic nervous system and has a beneficial effect on functional recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In ovo MR presents a promising and viable alternative to traditional in vivo small animal experiments. Sodium MRI complements proton MRI by providing potential access to tissue cellular metabolism. Despite its abundance, sodium MRI is challenged by lower MR sensitivity and faster relaxation times compared to proton MRI. Ensuring a high signal‐to‐noise ratio and effective B0 shimming is essential. Double‐tuned coils combining 23Na and 1H are frequently employed to achieve structural imaging and efficient shim adjustment. Purpose: This study introduces a novel, highly optimized, double‐tuned coil design, specifically for MR scans of chick embryos. Methods: A tapered‐spiral, double‐tuned coil was designed and constructed following careful consideration of design parameters. The performance of the coil was rigorously assessed through bench tests, and final validation was conducted on a 7 T MRI scanner using a chick embryo. Results: Bench tests demonstrated that the return losses for both 1H and 23Na coils were better than − 30 dB, and isolation factors were better than − 21 dB, indicating that the double‐tuned coil was well‐set, with negligible coupling between channels. MR images of chick embryos, obtained using the coil, validated the feasibility of utilizing the design concept for in ovo applications. Conclusions: The innovative design of the proposed double‐tuned coil, characterized by its unique arrangement, offers improved performance. This design has the potential to significantly enhance the quality of in ovo1H and 23Na measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been hypothesized that one's ability to control impulses aids in sustaining effort despite experiencing painful physical sensations. Physical exercise has been used extensively as an intervention to strengthen the inhibitory control system and protect an individual's cognitive plan of action. It is unclear, however, whether the high levels of exercise tolerance could facilitate inhibitory control under varied stressors. The present study explored the relationship between subjective exercise tolerance and psychophysiological characteristics that indicate reactivity capacity when exposed to the cold pressor test. Thirty‐six participants were divided into two groups based on their subjective exercise tolerance profiles. During the test, participants' psychophysiological reactivity was monitored via heart rate variability. Participants were also required to answer questions about their perceptual and affective states at the beginning and immediately after the stress test. The study revealed insights into dominance perception and emotional states among individuals with varying subjective exercise tolerance levels. High‐tolerant individuals endured physical discomfort longer (~50 s) and exhibited higher perceived dominance at the outset of the test when compared to their low‐tolerant counterparts. Despite differences in task performance, both groups experienced more positive affective states post‐task, potentially as a result of a heightened sense of self‐accomplishment. Notably, both groups showed similar levels of psychophysiological reactivity, suggesting a protective effect of physical tolerance on ensuing biological responses. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex relationship between exercise tolerance, dominance perception, and psychophysiological reactivity during physically demanding tasks, enriching our understanding of how developing physical tolerance may impact inhibitory control under stress. Subjective exercise tolerance is hypothesized to facilitate resistance to various forms of physical stress. The primary objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between subjective exercise tolerance and psychophysiological reactivity during the cold pressor test. The findings of this study indicate that individuals with high subjective exercise tolerance tend to feel more dominant during the initial stages of the stress test. This sense of dominance appears to shield their emotional states, protect their cognitive plan of action, and optimize performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic researchers face an ethical dilemma regarding feedback of individual results generated from genomic studies. In the African setting, genomic research is still not widely implemented and, coupled with this, the limited African‐specific guidelines on how to feedback on individual research findings. A qualitative study was performed to assess participants' expectations and preferences regarding the feedback of secondary findings from genomic research. Participants were parents of children with a developmental disorder, enrolled in the Deciphering Developmental Disorders in Africa (DDD‐Africa) research project, and were purposefully selected. Three deliberative focus group discussions were conducted with 14 participants. Each deliberative focus group consisted of two separate audio‐recorded interviews and presented different case scenarios for different types of secondary findings that could be theoretically detected during genomic research. We aimed to explore participants' preferences for the extent, nature, timing, and methods for receiving individual study results, specifically pertaining to secondary findings. Thematic content analysis was done, with a deductive approach to coding. Four themes emerged which included participants' perception of readiness to receive secondary findings, queries raised around who has access to research findings and feedback of findings consent, responsibilities of the researcher, and reasons for not wanting/wanting secondary findings. Overall, participants expressed that they want to receive feedback on secondary findings irrespective of disease severity and treatment availability. Lifestyle changes, early prevention or treatment, impact on future generations, and preparedness were strong motivations for wanting feedback on results. Participants felt that when the research involved minors, it was the parents' right to receive results on behalf of their children. This study provides new insights into participants' preferences around feedback on genomic research results and could serve as an important basis for creating guidelines and recommendations for feedback on genomic results in the African context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we explore the intricacies of veteran care and show how care practices come to incorporate veterans' 'self‐performances' to raise political attention and funding for future rehabilitation activities. By bringing into dialogue theories of care and theories of performance and representation, we illustrate how a seemingly classic form of care—veteran rehabilitation—takes the form of representative performance. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with the Danish Invictus Games team, we demonstrate how politics, research and TV documentaries are integrated into veteran care practices. Through this integration, mentally wounded veterans, while performing 'themselves' for shifting audiences with shifting agendas, come to assume the roles of both caregivers and care receivers. Crucially, we highlight that wounded veterans, while undertaking their personal rehabilitation journey, are curated into and (un)willingly positioned as representatives of others. By showing how caring for wounded veterans goes hand in hand with caring for fictive, future wounded veterans and for political, research and media agendas, this article offers new ways of thinking of and with care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent imaging studies identified a brain network associated with clinical improvement following deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD), the PD response network. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of neuromodulation on PD motor symptoms by targeting this network noninvasively using multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Methods: In a prospective, randomized, double‐blinded, crossover trial, 21 PD patients (mean age 59.7 years, mean Hoehn & Yahr [H&Y] 2.4) received multifocal tDCS targeting the a‐priori network. Twenty‐minute sessions of tDCS and sham were administered on 2 days in randomized order. Movement Disorder Society‐Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale—Part III (MDS‐UPDRS‐III) scores were assessed. Results: Before intervention, MDS‐UPDRS‐III scores were comparable in both conditions (stimulation days: 37.38 (standard deviation [SD] = 12.50, confidence interval [CI] = 32.04, 42.73) vs. sham days: 36.95 (SD = 13.94, CI = 30.99, 42.91), P = 0.63). Active stimulation resulted in a reduction by 3.6 points (9.7%) to 33.76 (SD = 11.19, CI = 28.98, 38.55) points, whereas no relevant change was observed after sham stimulation (36.43 [SD = 14.15, CI = 30.38, 42.48], average improvement: 0.5 [1.4%]). Repeated‐measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed significance (main effect of time: F(1,20)=4.35, P < 0.05). Tukey's post hoc tests indicated MDS‐UPDRS‐III improvement after active stimulation (t [20] = 2.9, P = 0.03) but not after sham (t [20] = 0.42, P > 0.05). In a subset of patients that underwent DBS surgery later, their DBS response correlated with tDCS effects (R = 0.55, P(1) = 0.04). Conclusion: Noninvasive, multifocal tDCS targeting a DBS‐derived network significantly improved PD motor symptoms. Despite a small effect size, this study provides proof of principle for the successful noninvasive neuromodulation of an invasively identified network. Future studies should investigate repeated tDCS sessions and their utility for screening before DBS surgery. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of thermal history on grain boundary (GB) energy and the grain growth behavior of SrTiO3 at 1425°C. Two thermal profiles were explored: (1) a single‐step sintering at 1425°C for 1 h and (2) a two‐step profile with sintering completed at 1425°C for 1 h with an additional 10 h at 1350°C. Electron backscattered diffraction and atomic force microscopy were utilized to measure the grain size and GB energy distributions, respectively, for the samples before and after grain growth at 1425°C for 10 h. The two‐step profile exhibits fewer abnormal grains and a slower growth rate at 1425°C than the single‐step profile. Additionally, the two‐step sample comprises few high‐energy GBs and a narrow GB energy distribution, which suggests that it had a lower driving force for subsequent grain growth. The thermal profile was able to sufficiently change the growth rate such that the two‐step sample results in a finer grain size than observed for the single‐step sample after 10 h at 1425°C despite being exposed to elevated temperatures for almost twice as long. These results suggest that GB energy engineering through thermal profile modification can be used to control the grain growth rate and abnormal grain growth likelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

iFLOW is a free, open‐source, and python‐based framework and graphical user interface to visualize and analyze temperature time series, and extract one dimensional thermal velocity, vT, and bulk effective thermal diffusivity, ke. Information of thermal properties of the sediment‐water mixture (bulk) and water allows quantifying the one‐dimensional Darcian flux, q, and seepage velocity, v, from vT. Available software packages were developed to quantify q and ke only based on a specific mathematical model or focused on specific data processing or parameter estimation techniques, and all these steps were lumped together preventing users to identify potential source of errors. iFLOW proposes a novel organizational philosophy with a modular framework that parses the analysis process into three fundamental steps: (a) the mathematical model, (b) signal processing, and (c) parameter estimation. iFLOW houses a suite of models and analysis techniques. This suite can be readily added to and expanded through its modular framework. iFLOW contains a wizard to guide users through the selection process with respect to the three fundamental steps. Users can analyze and visualize intermediate results to identify problematic issues in the time series data and improve data interpretation. Here, we present iFLOW and summarize its performance using a set of one‐dimensional synthetic heat transport simulations. Plain Language Summary: iFLOW is a free, open‐source computer application to help users visualize and analyze temperature data. It calculates the water velocity within sediment along with thermal diffusivity from measured temperature data. Unlike other applications, iFLOW is flexible, allowing users to check for errors by breaking down the analysis into three parts: mathematical model selection, signal processing, and estimating parameters. It includes various models and methods that users can easily expand on. iFLOW also guides users through the analysis and in choosing options for these three analysis stages. We introduce iFLOW through a set of examples with simulated heat transport data. Key Points: iFLOW is a novel framework for temperature time series analysisiFLOW helps users estimate advective flux and effective thermal diffusivity with their uncertaintyThe analysis is parsed into the mathematical model selection, signal processing, and parameter estimation steps [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of carbazole‐based self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) as a hole transport layer (HTL) has led to the efficiency advancement in p–i–n perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, PSCs with SAM HTL display a large spread in device performance even on small‐area substrates owing to poor SAM surface coverage and dewetting of the perovskite ink. Efforts to improve the uniformity in device performance of SAM‐based PSCs have been confined to spin‐coating method, which lacks high‐throughput capabilities and leads to excessive material wastage. Herein, a scalable bilayer HTL stack with sputtered NiO and blade‐coated SAM is utilized to achieve improved SAM coverage and accomplish uniform coating of perovskite absorber on 5 cm × 5 cm substrates. Fully scalable p–i–n PSCs with efficiency close to 19% with a minimal spread in device performance are achieved. To showcase the upscaling potential, near‐infrared‐transparent perovskite mini‐modules with efficiency close to 15% and 13% are achieved on an aperture area of 2.56 and 12.96 cm2. Together with low‐bandgap (1.0–1.1 eV) Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) mini‐modules, the first fully scalable 4‐terminal perovskite‐CIGS tandem mini‐module with an efficiency of 20.5% and 16.9% on an aperture area of 2.03 and 10.23 cm2 is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MC1R protein is a receptor found in melanocytes that plays a role in melanin synthesis. Mutations in this protein can impact hair color, skin tone, tanning ability, and increase the risk of skin cancer. The MC1R protein is activated by the alpha‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH). Previous studies have shown that mutations affect the interaction between MC1R and α‐MSH; however, the mechanism behind this process is poorly understood. Our study aims to shed light on this mechanism using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze the Asp84Glu and Asp294His variants. We simulated both the wild‐type (WT) protein and the mutants with and without ligand. Our results reveal that mutations induce unique conformations during state transitions, hindering the switch between active and inactive states and decreasing cellular levels of cAMP. Interestingly, Asp294His showed increased ligand affinity but decreased protein activity, highlighting that tighter binding does not always lead to increased activation. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of MC1R mutations on protein activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The VIDIAC score, a prospectively developed universal classification for videolaryngoscopy, has shown excellent diagnostic performance in adults. However, there is no reliable classification system for videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation in children. We aimed to develop and validate a multivariable logistic regression model and easy‐to‐use score to classify difficult videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation in children and to compare it with the Cormack and Lehane classification. A secondary aim was to externally validate the VIDIAC score in children. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study within a structured universal videolaryngoscopy implementation programme. We used C‐MAC™ videolaryngoscopes in all children undergoing tracheal intubation for elective surgical procedures. We validated the VIDIAC score externally and assessed its performance. We then identified eligible co‐variables for inclusion in the PeDiAC score, developed a multivariable logistic regression model and compared its performance against the Cormack and Lehane classification. Results: We studied 809 children undergoing 904 episodes of tracheal intubation. The VIDIAC score outperformed the Cormack and Lehane classification when classifying the difficulty of videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95%CI 0.73–0.87) vs. 0.69 (95%CI 0.62–0.76), respectively, p = 0.018. Eight eligible tracheal intubation‐related factors, that were selected by 100‐times repeated 10‐fold cross‐validated least absolute shrinkage selector operator regression, were used to develop the PeDiAC model. The PeDiAC model and score showed excellent diagnostic performance and model calibration. The PeDiAC score achieved significantly better diagnostic performance than the Cormack and Lehane classification, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.97 (95%CI 0.96–0.99) vs. 0.69 (95%CI 0.62–0.76), respectively, p < 0.001. Conclusion: We developed and validated a specifically tailored classification for paediatric videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation with excellent diagnostic performance and calibration that outperformed the Cormack and Lehane classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochemical CO2 reduction using ubiquitous sunlight akin to natural photosynthesis is an effective approach for conversion of renewable energy into useful chemical feedstock. Driven by the need for earth‐abundant, inexpensive, and sustainable photocatalysts with practical applicability, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a new generation of molecularly defined semiconductors with tunable optoelectronic properties. These reticular frameworks with highly ordered, porous and crystalline structures can be tailor‐made by covalently combining organic building blocks to target specific functions. To date, numerous COFs have been reported, which show promising activity for photocatalytic CO2 reduction allowing to derive structure–property–function relationships. In this review, the different reported strategies are comprehensively analyzed and categorized for active site engineering in COF photocatalysts and the synthetic rationale and resulting catalytic activity for each approach are discussed. The recent advancements in terms of tailored photocatalyst design are then critically assessed, aspects of advanced materials characterization are analyzed, and future perspectives and challenges for the field are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A role for metabolically active adipose tissue in pulmonary hypertension (PH) pathogenesis is emerging. Alterations in cellular metabolism in metabolic syndrome are triggers of PH‐related vascular dysfunction. Metabolic reprogramming in proliferative pulmonary vascular cells causes a metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. PDE3A and PDE3B subtypes in the regulation of metabolism in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) are poorly understood. We previously found that PDE3A modulates the cellular energy sensor, AMPK, in human PASMC. We demonstrate that global Pde3a knockout mice have right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, elevated RV systolic pressures, and metabolic dysfunction with elevated serum free fatty acids (FFA). Therefore, we sought to delineate Pde3a/Pde3b regulation of metabolic pathways in PASMC. We found that PASMC Pde3a deficiency, and to a lesser extent Pde3b deficiency, downregulates AMPK, CREB and PPARγ, and upregulates pyruvate kinase dehydrogenase expression, suggesting decreased oxidative phosphorylation. Interestingly, siRNA Pde3a knockdown in adipocytes led to elevated FFA secretion. Furthermore, PASMC exposed to siPDE3A‐transfected adipocyte media led to decreased α‐SMA, AMPK and CREB phosphorylation, and greater viable cell numbers compared to controls under the same conditions. These data demonstrate that deficiencies of Pde3a and Pde3b alter pathways that affect cell growth and metabolism in PASMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: [177Lu]Lu–PSMA‐617 (177Lu‐PSMA‐617) plus protocol‐permitted standard of care (SOC) prolonged overall survival (OS) and radiographic progression‐free survival (rPFS) versus SOC in patients with prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–positive metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in the phase 3 VISION study, in addition to beneficial effects on symptomatic skeletal events (SSEs) and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: Post hoc analyses used the full analysis set from the VISION study (N = 831) overall and by randomized treatment arm (177Lu‐PSMA‐617 plus SOC, n = 551; SOC, n = 280). Correlations were determined between OS and rPFS and between rPFS or OS and time to SSE or to worsening HRQOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Prostate [FACT‐P] and 5‐level EQ‐5D [EQ‐5D‐5L]). Correlation analyses used an iterative multiple imputation copula‐based approach (correlation coefficients [rho] of <0.3 were defined as weak, ≥0.3 and <0.5 as mild, ≥0.5 and <0.7 as moderate, and ≥0.7 as strong). Results: In the overall population, rPFS correlated strongly with OS (rho, ≥0.7). Correlations between rPFS or OS and time to SSE without death were weak or mild. Time to worsening in the FACT‐P total score and emotional and physical well‐being domains correlated mildly or moderately with rPFS and moderately with OS. Correlation coefficients for time‐to‐worsening EQ‐5D‐5L scores were mild to moderate for both rPFS and OS. Correlation coefficients were similar between treatment arms. Conclusions: In this analysis of the VISION study, rPFS correlated strongly with OS but not with time to SSE or worsening HRQOL. These findings require further investigation. In patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer participating in the VISION randomized phase 3 trial, radiographic progression‐free survival correlated strongly with overall survival but not with time to a first symptomatic skeletal event or worsening health‐related quality of life or pain. There were no clear or consistent differences in the strengths of correlation between the two treatment groups ([177Lu]Lu‐PSMA‐617 plus protocol‐permitted standard of care vs. standard of care alone). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We hypothesise that PTNS is a safe and effective treatment for OAB. Overactive bladder (OAB) is estimated to affect 11.8% of women worldwide, causing diminished quality of life. Lifestyle modifications, muscarinic receptor antagonist and beta‐adrenoreceptor agonist remain the mainstay of treatment but are limited by their efficacy and adverse effects. Access to third‐line therapies of intravesical botulinum toxin type A or sacral neuromodulation is limited by their invasive nature. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) has emerged as a non‐invasive treatment option for OAB. Methods: This study was a single‐arm trial of women requesting third‐line treatment for OAB. The primary treatment outcome was patient‐reported visual analogue score (VAS) improvement of at least 50%. Secondary outcome measures were Urinary Distress Inventory Short Form (UDI‐6) score and two‐day bladder diary. Patients also provided feedback on adverse effects encountered. Results: In the 84 women recruited, initial treatment protocol showed a success rate of 77.2% among those who completed treatment based on VAS, with a statistically significant improvement in mean UDI‐6 score of 20.13 (P < 0.01, standard deviation: 12.52). Continued success following tapering protocol of 60.8% and a mean maintenance protocol of 14.2 months was achieved. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: The results from this study are in concordance with previously published literature on the effectiveness and safety of PTNS as a treatment modality for OAB. Further randomised controlled trials to evaluate the optimal treatment protocol are warranted to establish a standardised regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group‐hunting animals have been shown to engage their prey in long pursuits (kms) to increase capture success, but the evidence for this is limited to a few terrestrial species. This predation strategy may be effective in the open‐ocean, where group‐hunts are characterised by large predator–prey size ratios and there are few places for prey to hide.However, recording the attack rates, capture rates and capture success probabilities of grouping predators during long‐distance pursuits through the open ocean, remains a significant challenge.Here we use a combination of underwater and aerial video to assess the attack and capture behaviour of striped marlin, Kajikia audax, in relation to the movement of their schooling prey ('stationary' and 'mobile' movement states) during group hunts.We found that the attack rate was higher when the prey school was 'stationary' and, during these times, individual marlin could make longer sequences of uninterrupted attacks on the prey school, effectively monopolising the prey resource for short periods over conspecifics.When the prey school was 'mobile', the attack pattern changed and individual marlin alternated their attacks on the prey school more frequently. Capture success probability (likelihood of capture per attack) was not affected by prey movement state. However, attacks on 'mobile' schools resulted in more prey fish becoming isolated from the school, and these isolated prey were easily captured—not by the attacker but by conspecifics swimming nearby.The likelihood of a prey becoming isolated from a 'mobile' school was predicted by prey school speed, with a 0.1 m s−1 increase leading to an 18.01% increase in the chance of isolation.Altogether this meant the capture rate at the group level was highest when the prey school was 'mobile' rather than 'stationary' because the predators that were pursuing the 'mobile' prey school had an increased availability of isolated and easy to capture prey.This mechanism provides evidence for a by‐product mutualism selecting for conspecific group formation and we discuss our findings in consideration of the social structure of the hunting group and the type of prey. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begomoviruses cause losses in several crops around the world. Whiteflies of the Bemisia tabaci cryptic species MEAM1 and MED are efficient vectors of begomoviruses. MEAM1 has been the predominant species in Brazil since the mid‐1990s. MED was detected in Brazil in 2014, and since then, high insect infestations have been reported, mainly in greenhouse production of solanaceous crops. In this study, we compared the transmission efficiency of the begomoviruses tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) and tomato rugose mosaic virus (ToRMV) to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) by a population of MEAM1 and four populations of MED. B. tabaci MEAM1 efficiently transmitted ToSRV and ToRMV to tomato and BGMV to common bean. B. tabaci MED populations did not transmit ToSRV and ToRMV to tomato. Only one population of B. tabaci MED transmitted BGMV with an efficiency of 3%. PCR analysis indicated that B. tabaci MED can acquire ToSRV, ToRMV and BGMV after a 24 h acquisition access period. Furthermore, some greenhouse tomato plantings from São Paulo state were surveyed for the presence of viruses and whiteflies, and B. tabaci MED were predominant, whereas begomoviruses were absent. Our results demonstrate that populations of MED from São Paulo state are inefficient vectors of begomoviruses, being able to acquire the virus but not transmit it to plants. Understanding this interaction is important and suggests that the spread of B. tabaci MED could change the epidemiological scenario of begomoviruses in areas where this insect predominates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability and the demand for eco‐friendly practices have led to a surge in interest in natural products, particularly natural dyes, across industries, including textiles. Curcumin, extracted from the turmeric plant, has gained widespread application not only for its vibrant colour characteristics but also for numerous therapeutic properties, serving as an antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory agent, and promoting wound‐healing effects. This study aims to understand the physical and chemical phenomena associated with the adsorption and desorption of turmeric extract and its active principles on cotton and polyamide fibres through mathematical models, with the goal of expanding textile applications. Dyeing experiments revealed adsorption equilibrium times of less than 25 min for both fibres, with the pseudo‐second‐order model providing the best fit for dyeing kinetics, suggesting control through the chemisorption process. The Freundlich model better suited cotton adsorption isotherms (R2 = 0.778), while the Langmuir model fit well for polyamide (R2 = 0.981). Thermodynamic parameters indicated non‐spontaneous interactions between curcumin and cotton, with an endothermic process, and an exothermic and spontaneous process for polyamide. Friction and water tests indicated greater colour resistance for polyamide, with grades exceeding 4. Desorption tests in 100% ethanol solution showed a total release of only 0.88% and 0.97% for polyamide and cotton, respectively, sustained for 12 h, fitting the Higuchi mathematical model, indicating a purely diffusive release process. These results demonstrate the potential of curcumin dye for achieving high dye exhaustion percentages in natural and synthetic fabrics and sustained release properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Nachrichten aus der Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Adolescents faced with chronic stressors (e.g., financial instability, interpersonal violence) are at heightened risk for developing mental health problems, likely due in part to stressors that interfere with effective emotion regulation. Although mindfulness may help to act as a buffer against the deleterious effects of life stressors, a relatively untested assumption is that adolescents can maintain mindfulness during periods of stress. This paper explores this assumption by investigating the real‐time, dynamic relationships among life stressors, mindfulness, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents exposed to chronic stressors. Eighty‐one participants who were 10–18 years old (M = 14.33; SD = 2.20; 56% male; 57% Non‐Hispanic White) completed ecological momentary assessments (EMA) three times a day for 7 days and contributed a total of 1186 EMA reports. Multilevel structural equation modelling revealed that the presence (vs. absence) of stressors was associated with lower momentary mindfulness and greater momentary emotion regulation difficulties concurrently and prospectively. Stressors with greater severity were also concurrently, but not prospectively, associated with lower momentary mindfulness and greater momentary emotion regulation difficulties. Findings highlight that exposure to life stressors may degrade momentary mindfulness and emotion regulation. Given that mindfulness and emotion regulation are closely associated with mental health, these results also demonstrate one way that stressors may contribute to health disparities at the micro‐level. Going forward, it will be important to investigate methods of helping adolescents learn to maintain mindfulness and adaptive emotion regulation in the face of stressful events. This study was preregistered (NCT04927286). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Fungal endocarditis is a rare but potentially fatal infection with significant diagnostic and management challenges. Antifungal therapy and surgical debridement are the preferred treatments in these cases. Antimicrobial therapy with multiple antifungal agents may be required in high‐risk patients presenting with prolonged fever suspected of having fungal endocarditis. Recurrent fungal endocarditis, particularly involving Candida parapsilosis, is a rare and challenging clinical entity with limited management guidelines. We present the case of a 44‐year‐old female with a history of intravenous drug use and treatment‐resistant chronic hepatitis C who developed recurrent Candida parapsilosis endocarditis. Initially, she presented with native aortic valve fungal endocarditis, which was managed with antifungal therapy and surgical aortic valve replacement. Despite this intervention, she experienced a subsequent episode of prosthetic valve Candida parapsilosis endocarditis, further complicated by prolonged fungemia. This case underscores the complexities of managing recurrent fungal endocarditis and highlights the need for ongoing research to refine treatment strategies for this challenging condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Although videolaryngoscopy has been proposed as a default technique for tracheal intubation in children, published evidence on universal videolaryngoscopy implementation programmes is scarce. We aimed to determine if universal, first‐choice videolaryngoscopy reduces the incidence of restricted glottic views and to determine the diagnostic performance of the Cormack and Lehane classification to discriminate between easy and difficult videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubations in children. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study within a structured universal videolaryngoscopy implementation programme. We used C‐MAC™ (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) videolaryngoscopes in all anaesthetised children undergoing elective tracheal intubation for surgical procedures. The direct and videolaryngoscopic glottic views were classified using a six‐stage grading system. Results: There were 904 tracheal intubations in 809 children over a 16‐month period. First attempt and overall success occurred in 607 (67%) and 903 (> 99%) tracheal intubations, respectively. Difficult videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation occurred in 47 (5%) and airway‐related adverse events in 42 (5%) tracheal intubations. Direct glottic view during laryngoscopy was restricted in 117 (13%) and the videolaryngoscopic view in 32 (4%) tracheal intubations (p < 0.001). Videolaryngoscopy improved the glottic view in 57/69 (83%) tracheal intubations where the vocal cords were only just visible, and in 44/48 (92%) where the vocal cords were not visible by direct view. The Cormack and Lehane classification discriminated poorly between easy and difficult videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubations with a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.68 (95%CI 0.59–0.78) for the videolaryngoscopic view compared with 0.80 (95%CI 0.73–0.87) for the direct glottic view during laryngoscopy (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Universal, first‐choice videolaryngoscopy reduced substantially the incidence of restricted glottic views. The Cormack and Lehane classification was not a useful tool for grading videolaryngoscopic tracheal intubation in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diurnal and seasonal variations in soil and surface temperature measured with the HP3 ${\mathrm{H}\mathrm{P}}^{3}$ thermal probe and radiometer of NASA's InSight Mars mission are reported. At a representative depth of 10–20 cm, an average temperature of 217.5 K was found, varying by 5.3–6.7 K during a sol and by 13.3 K during the seasons. From the damping of the temperature variation with depth and the phase shift, a thermal diffusivity of (3.93 ± $\pm $ 0.39) × 10−8 ${10}^{-8}$m2 ${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$/s was derived for the upper ∼ ${\sim} $10 cm from the diurnal temperature variation and of (3.63 ± $\pm $ 0.53) × 10−8 ${10}^{-8}$m2 ${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$/s for the ∼ ${\sim} $40 cm depth range of the mole from the annual temperature variation. Using published thermal conductivity and inertia values together with the diffusivities, soil densities of 1,470 and 1,730 kg/m3 ${m}^{3}$ were derived for these depths. The temperatures allow the deliquescence of thin films of brine, the efflorescence of which may explain the cemented duricrust observed. Plain Language Summary: Temperature is an important factor in understanding the physical properties of Martian soil. It determines how quickly physical processes and chemical reactions occur, including the transport of heat and materials. Temperature is crucial to astrobiology because it affects the habitability of the soil and the potential for water or brine to support microbial life. We measured the temperature in the soil during several Martian days and over a Martian year using the NASA InSight Mars mission's Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package. The average temperature was −56°C (217.5 K) over the depth extent of the thermal probe, which was about 40 cm. The temperature varied by 5–7° during the day, which is only a tenth of the daily surface temperature variation. It varied by 13° during the seasons. The temperature is subfreezing for water, but it allows the formation of thin films of salty brine for 10 hr or more during a Martian day. The solidification of the brine is a likely explanation for the observed few tens of centimeters thick duricrust, a layer of consolidated, cohesive sand, which is thought to have hampered the penetration to greater depth of the mission's thermal probe. Key Points: We measured the temperature and its diurnal and annual variations in the top 40 cm of the Martian soil at the InSight landing siteThe soil thermal diffusivity was calculated from the diurnal and seasonal surface and soil temperature variationsThe soil temperature allows the formation of thin films of brine; their efflorescence may explain the formation of the observed duricrust [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay introduces contributions to a special section, which documents and extends a debate on the proposition “Social Science is Explanation or it is Nothing” held at the London School of Economics on October 13th, 2022. It discusses the history of the “Group for Theoretical Debates in Anthropology” led by Tim Ingold, Peter Wade and Soumhya Venkatesan, which has handed down a list of credible candidates for issues that had a chance of engaging every anthropologist, including students and those with interdisciplinary interests. It raises questions about the specific affordances of debates as forms of academic engagements. It argues that the chosen proposition concerning explanation invites a discussion about the contributions of the social sciences at a time when impulses from science and technology studies as well as fruitful exchanges across the boundary between “theory” and “method” have helped us moved beyond the older question as to whether or not sociology is “a science”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil's diplomatic stance on the Ukraine War should be understood within the context of broader geopolitical tensions. Brazil's position goes beyond geopolitical hedging and represents a strategic alignment with the global South based on a vision aimed at stimulating economic development through cooperation. This article highlights Brazil's reluctance to criticise Russia, articulates its grievances with the West and explains the Brazilian government's conviction that a stronger alliance with the global South can result in economic gain. Ultimately, Brazil's new foreign policy is shifting from its historical commitment to non‐alignment and pragmatism and reveals a growing inclination to challenge liberal international norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with chronic laryngopharyngeal symptoms, with or without pathologic reflux, frequently have poor response to standard therapies, which may be a result of overlapping cognitive‐affective processes. Therefore, the aims of this study included measuring psychosocial distress and laryngeal‐specific cognitive distress in patients with chronic laryngopharyngeal symptoms (LPS) as well as comparing these among laryngeal symptomatic patients with and without conclusive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: This prospective, single‐center study enrolled adults with chronic LPS from 9/22 to 6/23. Patients completed eight questionnaires on quality of life, symptom burden, and psychosocial distress. The laryngeal cognitive affective tool (LCAT) assessed laryngeal‐specific hypervigilance and anxiety; LCAT scores ≥33 were elevated. All patients underwent objective testing with endoscopy and/or ambulatory reflux monitoring and were categorized as proven GERD (GER+) or no proven GERD (GER−). Key Results: One hundred twenty‐nine patients were included: 66% female, mean age 54.1 (17.5) years, mean BMI 27.6 (6.8) kg/m2, 66% Caucasian, 57% with an elevated LCAT, and 53% GER+. Moderate‐to‐severe anxiety was found in 39% and moderate‐to‐severe depression in 19%. An elevated LCAT alone or with an elevated anxiety/depression score was found in 58%. Patient‐reported outcomes scores, including LCAT scores (32.9 (13.8) GER− vs. 33.1 (12.6) GER+, p = 0.91), were similar between patients with and without GER+. Conclusions and Inferences: Patients with chronic LPS experience heightened levels of hypervigilance, symptom‐specific anxiety, and psychosocial distress, regardless of the presence of pathologic GER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the intraindividual relation between an individual's speed and ability in testing scenarios is essential to assure a fair assessment. Different approaches exist for estimating this relationship, that either rely on specific study designs or on specific assumptions. This paper aims to add to the toolbox of approaches for estimating this relationship. We propose the intraindividual speed‐ability‐relation (ISAR) model, which relies on nonstationarity of speed and ability over the course of the test. The ISAR model explicitly models intraindividual change in ability and speed within a test and assesses the intraindividual relation of speed and ability by evaluating the relationship of both latent change variables. Model estimation is good, when there are interindividual differences in speed and ability changes in the data. In empirical data from PISA, we found that the intraindividual relationship between speed and ability is not universally negative for all individuals and varies across different competence domains and countries. We discuss possible explanations for this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that acts as endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). Few studies have investigated the effects of Cd exposure on metabolic dysfunctions, such as type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM). Thus, we assessed whether subacute Cd exposure at occupational levels causes abnormalities in white adipose tissue (WAT), liver, pancreas, and skeletal muscle. We administered cadmium chloride (CdCl2) (100 ppm in drinking water for 30 days) to female rats and evaluated Cd levels in serum and metabolic organs, morphophysiology, inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and gene expression. High Cd levels were found in serum, WAT, liver, pancreas, and skeletal muscle. Cd‐exposed rats showed low adiposity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress compared to controls. Cd exposure reduced adipocyte size, hyperleptinemia, increased cholesterol levels, inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis in WAT. Cd‐exposed rats had increased liver cholesterol levels, insulin receptor beta (IRβ) and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma coactivator‐1alpha (PGC1α) expression, karyomegaly, inflammation, and fibrosis. Cd exposure reduced insulin levels and pancreatic islet size and increased inflammation and fibrosis. Cd exposure reduced skeletal muscle fiber diameter and increased IR expression and inflammation. Finally, strong positive correlations were observed between serum, tissue Cd levels, abnormal morphology, tissue inflammation and fibrosis. Thus, these data suggest that subacute Cd exposure impairs WAT, liver, pancreas and skeletal muscle function, leading to T1DM and T2DM features and other complications in female rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a debilitating, inflammatory skin condition characterized by infiltrating immune cells. Available treatments are limited to improving the signs and symptoms. There is an unmet need to develop therapies that target disease‐driving pathways upstream of mast cell activation to inhibit or delay the progression of CSU and associated comorbidities. Here, we aim to define disease modification due to a treatment intervention and criteria that disease‐modifying treatments (DMTs) must meet in CSU. We have defined disease modification in CSU as a favorable treatment‐induced change in the underlying pathophysiology and, therefore, the disease course, which is clinically beneficial and enduring. A DMT must fulfil the following criteria: (1) prevents or delays the progression of CSU, (2) induces long‐term, therapy‐free clinical remission, which is the sustained absence of CSU signs and symptoms without the need for treatment, and (3) affects the underlying mechanism of CSU, as demonstrated by an effect on disease‐driving signals and/or a biomarker. DMTs in CSU should slow disease progression, achieve long‐lasting disease remission, target disease‐driving mechanisms, reduce mast cell‐activating IgE autoantibodies, target cytokine profile polarization, and normalize the gut microbiome and barrier. Treating CSU at the immune system level could provide valuable alternatives to pharmacotherapy in CSU management. Specific DMTs in CSU are yet to be developed, but some show potential benefits, such as inhibitors of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase, IL‐4 and IL‐13. Future therapies could prevent CSU signs and symptoms, achieve long‐term clinical benefits after discontinuing treatment, and prevent associated concomitant disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health threat, and alternatives to antibiotic therapy are urgently needed. Immunotherapy, particularly the blockade of inhibitory immune checkpoints, is a leading treatment option in cancer and autoimmunity. In this study, we used a murine model of Salmonella Typhimurium infection to investigate whether immune checkpoint blockade could be applied to bacterial infection. We found that the immune checkpoint T‐cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) was significantly upregulated on lymphocytes during infection, particularly on CD4+ T cells, drastically limiting their proinflammatory function. Blockade of TIGIT in vivo using monoclonal antibodies was able to enhance immunity and improve bacterial clearance. The efficacy of anti‐TIGIT was dependent on the capacity of the antibody to bind to Fc (fragment crystallizable) receptors, giving important insights into the mechanism of anti‐TIGIT therapy. This research suggests that targeting immune checkpoints, such as TIGIT, has the potential to enhance immune responses toward bacteria and restore antibacterial treatment options in the face of antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]