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Background: Youth with a family history of bipolar disorder (BD) may be at increased risk for mood disorders and for developing side effects after antidepressant exposure. The neurobiological basis of these risks remains poorly understood. We aimed to identify biomarkers underlying risk by characterizing abnormalities in the brain connectome of symptomatic youth at familial risk for BD. Methods: Depressed and/or anxious youth (n = 119, age = 14.9 ± 1.6 years) with a family history of BD but no prior antidepressant exposure and typically developing controls (n = 57, age = 14.8 ± 1.7 years) received functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an emotional continuous performance task. A generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis was performed to compare their brain connectome patterns, followed by machine learning of topological metrics. Results: High‐risk youth showed weaker connectivity patterns that were mainly located in the default mode network (DMN) (network weight = 50.1%) relative to controls, and connectivity patterns derived from the visual network (VN) constituted the largest proportion of aberrant stronger pairs (network weight = 54.9%). Global local efficiency (Elocal, p =.022) and clustering coefficient (Cp, p =.029) and nodal metrics of the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG) (Elocal: p <.001; Cp: p =.001) in the high‐risk group were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects, and similar patterns were also found in the left insula (degree: p =.004; betweenness: p =.005; age‐by‐group interaction, p =.038) and right hippocampus (degree: p =.003; betweenness: p =.003). The case–control classifier achieved a cross‐validation accuracy of 78.4%. Conclusions: Our findings of abnormal connectome organization in the DMN and VN may advance mechanistic understanding of risk for BD. Neuroimaging biomarkers of increased network segregation in the SFG and altered topological centrality in the insula and hippocampus in broader limbic systems may be used to target interventions tailored to mitigate the underlying risk of brain abnormalities in these at‐risk youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Though the use of Hepatitis B viremic (HBV) donor kidneys may be a safe alternative to improve access to transplantation, there has not been wide acceptance of this practice. In this study, we determined the safety and effectiveness of HBV NAT (+) donor kidneys in a protocolized manner in an older adult population. Methods: Over a 3‐year period, 16 decreased donor kidney transplants were performed with HBV NAT+ kidneys. Recipients of HBV NAT+ kidneys were treated with entecavir started pre‐operatively and continued for 52 weeks. Results: HBV NAT+ kidneys were preferentially used in older (68 ± 5 vs. 64 ± 9 years; p =.01) recipients with less dialysis time (93.8% < 5 years vs. 67% <5 years; p =.03). In this cohort, 3/16 had detectable HBV PCR 1‐week post‐transplant, but all were negative at 9‐ and 12‐months. Calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was slightly decreased 12‐months post‐transplant. Post‐transplant outcomes in an age‐matched cohort showed no difference in rates of delayed graft function, readmission within 30 days, and graft loss or death within 6 months of transplant (p >.05). Conclusion: Transplants with HBV NAT+ donor kidneys in a pre‐emptive treatment protocol allow for increased safe access to transplantation in older adult recipients with little or no dialysis time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) fully vaccinated against COVID‐19 have substantial morbidity and mortality related to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection compared with the general population. However, little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID‐19 vaccination series in pediatric KTRs. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective observational study was performed across nine pediatric transplantation centers. Eligible KTRs fully vaccinated against COVID‐19 were enrolled and data were collected pertaining to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection incidence and severity, graft outcomes and post‐vaccination safety profile, as well as overall patient survival. Results: A total of 247 patients were included in this investigation with a median age at transplantation of 11 years (IQR 5–15). SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was observed in 30/110 (27.27%) of fully vaccinated patients, tested post‐transplant, within the defined follow‐up period. Of these patients, 6/30 (18.18%) required hospitalization and 3/30 (12.12%) required reduction in immunosuppression, with no reported deaths. De novo donor‐specific antibodies (DSAs) were found in 8/86 (9.30%) of DSA‐tested patients with two experiencing rejection and subsequent graft loss. The overall incidence of rejection and graft loss among the total cohort was 11/247 (4.45%) and 6/247 (3.64%), respectively. A 100% patient survival was observed. Conclusions: Observationally, infectious outcomes of SARS‐CoV‐2 in fully vaccinated pediatric KTRs are excellent, with a low incidence of infection requiring hospitalization and no associated deaths. Though de novo DSAs were observed, there was minimal graft rejection and graft loss reported in the total cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines corporate governance's influence on corporate Sustainability in South Asian firms. Recent developments in social injustice, environmental issues and economic turmoil in South Asian countries have motivated the authors. The study used the GMM unbalanced panel data estimation on top South Asian listed firms. The time‐period of the sample taken is of ten years (2012–2022). This study reveals that among South Asian nations, companies listed in the Indian and Bangladesh stock markets have a high percentage of sustainability disclosure reporting. The study's findings show that Board size, independence, and qualification positively impact environmental sustainability reporting performance. In contrast, CEO Duality significantly negatively influences social, environmental, and economic sustainability. The study has implications for the companies and policymakers of South Asian countries and encouraged the firms to restructure the board to enhance its effectiveness to monitor better and support all aspects of corporate sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the nexus of the entrepreneurial education (EE) framework shapes education policies and promotes entrepreneurial opportunities to achieve global sustainable development goals, studies on the potential mechanisms by which the ecosystem dimension of entrepreneurial education (EEE) influences entrepreneurial behavior are still scarce. To address these lacunae, this research study investigates the interaction between EEE elements (institutional environment, course curriculum, and academic incubators) and sustainable entrepreneurial intention (SEI) and in addition, examines the role of attitude towards sustainability (ATS) as a mediator from the resource dependence perspective, deploying the theories of planned behavior and social cognitive career. Furthermore, we examine the moderating role of sustainable entrepreneurial orientation (SEO) in the relationship between ATS and SEI. We developed and tested a model on a sample of 402 university and academic institution students with diverse academic backgrounds using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results indicate that ecosystem elements of EE and attitudinal attributes are crucial factors in promoting SEI. The indirect impact of EEE involves fostering ATS, which in turn augment SEI. The results also reveal that SEO is a moderator that shapes attitudes and career intentions towards sustainable entrepreneurship. In sum, the present empirical study sheds light on the pathway to build sustainable entrepreneurial careers through analyzing the ecosystem framework of entrepreneurship education. Implications, limitations, and future research avenues are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fasting before elective anesthesia care is a standardized practice worldwide. The aim is to decrease the risk of aspiration leading to pulmonary complications such as aspiration pneumonitis during anesthesia care. There are different guidelines for elective preoperative fasting in children. However, there is insufficient literature measuring gastric emptying time after breast milk or formula milk feeding in infants. Objective: This study used gastric ultrasound to determine the gastric emptying time for breast milk and formula milk in children below 6 months of age. We also compared the calculated gastric volumes among breast‐fed and formula milk‐fed based on Schmitz's and Spencer's formula. Materials and methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center in India between November (2017–2019). A total of 52 infants less than 6 months of age were recruited. The study population was divided into two groups (breast‐fed and formula milk‐fed) of 26 patients each. Ultrasound was used to measure the antral cross‐sectional area of the stomach and to calculate the gastric volume using the two classical formulas (Schmitz and Spencer's). Gastric emptying was reported when the bull's eye appearance of the gastric antrum was seen or when the antral cross‐sectional area was less than 3.07 cm2. Results: The number of breast‐fed children whose antral cross‐sectional was greater than 3.07 cm2 (cut‐off value for aspiration risk) beyond 1 h was 14/26 (53.84%) while none (0) children went beyond 3 h. The number of formula‐fed children whose antral cross‐sectional was greater than 3.07 cm2 beyond 1 h was 17/26 (65.38%) while one child (3.84%) went beyond 3 h. Using Schmitz's formula, mean (SD) gastric emptying times were 0.35 ± 0.68 h (95% CI 0.35 ± 0.185, range 0.165–0.535) for breast‐fed patients and 0.35 ± 0.69 h (95% CI 0.35 ± 0.188, range 0.162–0.538) for formula‐fed patients, and were thus neither clinically nor statistically different (p =.73) Using Spencer's formula, the mean gastric emptying times were 0.12 ± 0.33 h (95% CI 0.12 ± 0.09, range 0.03–0.21) for breast‐fed patients and 0.04 ± 0.20 h (95% CI 0.04 ± 0.05, range −0.01 to 0.09) for formula‐fed patients, and were also neither clinically nor statistically different p =.13. Conclusion: In our series, the gastric emptying times in breast‐fed and formula‐fed infants less than 6 months old were similar. Our results support the fasting guidelines of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care 2022, that is, 3 h for breastfeeding and 4 h for formula milk feeding. In addition, this shows that the Schmitz's and Spencer's formulae used to calculate the gastric volume based on ultrasound measurement of the antral cross‐sectional area are not comparable in infants less than 6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work presented in the manuscript describes a simple strategy for transforming thermally activated delayed fluorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (TADF OLEDs) compound 10‐(dibenzo[a,c]phenazin‐11‐yl)‐10H‐phenoxazine (DPZ‐PXZ) into type I photosensitizer 10‐(dibenzo[a,c]phenazin‐11‐yl)‐10H‐phenothiazine (DPZ‐PHZ) by strategically introducing sulfur atom in the photosensitizing core. The synthesized compound DPZ‐PHZ exhibits aggregation‐induced enhancement (AIE) and through‐space charge transfer (TSCT) characteristics and generates red emissive assemblies in mixed aqueous media. The original compound DPZ‐PXZ exhibits well‐separated HOMO and LUMO levels and is reported to have highly efficient reverse intersystem crossing (RISC). In comparison, the incorporation of sulfur atom in the phenothiazine donor regulates the electronic communication between donor and acceptor units and promotes the intersystem crossing (ISC) in DPZ‐PHZ molecules. Interestingly, compound DPZ‐PHZ exhibits rapid activation of aerial oxygen for instant generation of superoxide radical anion. Backed by excellent type I photosensitizing activity, DPZ‐PHZ assemblies have high catalytic potential for the synthesis of benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles and quinazolines derivatives under mild reaction conditions. The work presented in the manuscript provides an insight into the combination of heavy atom approach and TSCT for achieving adequate electronic communication between donor and acceptor units, balanced RISC/ISC, and stabilized‐charge separated state for the development of efficient type I photosensitizing assemblies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to comprehensively explore the biochemical profile of the novel halotolerant microalgae strain, biogas laboratory scenedesmus (BGLRS), previously isolated from waterlogged regions in the southwest zone of Punjab, India. To achieve this, three distinct drying methods viz. freeze‐drying, oven‐drying, and shade‐drying were employed and biochemical composition and antioxidant analyses on the microalgal biomass were conducted. Utilizing advanced analytical techniques, including high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP‐AES), and gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy (GC‐MS) on freeze‐dried biomass, its carbohydrate profile, micronutrient composition, and presence of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic and nutraceutical significance were sought to unravel. Among the drying methods evaluated, freeze‐drying exhibited the most promising experimental results, prompting its selection for further investigation. Notably, ICP‐AES unveiled elevated concentrations of essential elements such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus in BGLRS, with negligible traces of heavy metals, underscoring its safety for human consumption. GC‐MS analysis further divulged the existence of numerous biologically active compounds, indicating potential applications in medical and nutraceutical fields. Through molecular identification using sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, a close taxonomic resemblance between BGLRS and Scenedesmus sp. MKB was established, solidifying its unique position within the microalgal taxonomy. The deposition of ITS sequences into the NCBI GenBank, obtaining accession number MN796425, attests to the rigor and transparency of this research. Overall, these findings strongly suggest that microalgae BGLRS possesses high‐quality biochemical attributes of significant therapeutic and nutraceutical importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended sequences for 13 HLA alleles were found which had limited coverage previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed‐breed mesocephalic male dog, weighing 25 kg, was presented with a medical history of nasal leeches (Dinobdella ferox) affecting both nostrils with the symptoms of laboured breathing, reverse sneezing, intermittent epistaxis and a reduced appetite. The dog underwent a standard clinical examination, haematological and biochemical assessments and radiographic studies to systematically diagnose any anomalies and evaluate its suitability for general anaesthesia. A Karl Storz video‐otoscope featuring a 15 Fr instrument channel was used to conduct anterior rhinoscopy under general anaesthesia. The endoscope was introduced sequentially into each nostril to visualise the nasal cavities and pinpoint the presence of leeches therein. Grasping forceps, guided through the endoscope's integrated instrument channel, were used to extract the leeches from both nasal cavities within a brief timeframe (18 leeches in 16 min) and without encountering substantial challenges. Following the leech removal, a post‐retrieval minor capillary bleeding within the nasal cavities, which was seen from both the nostrils, was controlled by flushing the nostrils with a 1:10,000 adrenaline tartrate solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient management of protected areas (PAs) is important to ensure conservation and long‐term sustenance of threatened species. It is therefore essential to understand the vulnerability of PAs in a multi‐pronged approach by considering the cumulative effects of species, climatic, and anthropogenic attributes. We assessed the overall vulnerability of PAs in the Central Indian Highlands (CIH), which is a landscape of high biodiversity value. Over 81% of PAs experienced medium to high vulnerability due to anthropogenic pressures, and 68.75% of PAs faced medium to high vulnerability due to climate change and conservation status of species within the PA. Our categorization of PAs revealed that 50% of PAs were vulnerable to all 3 attributes. Further, there was a strong correlation between species and anthropogenic vulnerability indices in the PAs of the CIH landscape. Our results may help local policy makers in prioritizing the optimal and cost‐effective conservation management of existing PAs, which can be extended for cost‐effectiveness and efficient resource allocation of PAs, through this multipronged approach, beyond the CIH landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children at high risk for prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) after liver transplantation (LT) need to be identified early to optimize pulmonary support, allocate resources, and improve surgical outcomes. We aimed to develop and validate a metric that can estimate risk for Prolonged Ventilation After LT (PROVE‐ALT). Methods: We identified preoperative risk factors for PMV by univariable analysis in a retrospective cohort of pediatric LT recipients between 2011 and 2017 (n = 205; derivation cohort). We created the PROVE‐ALT score by mapping multivariable logistic regression coefficients as integers, with cutoff values using the Youden Index. We validated the score by C‐statistic in a retrospectively collected separate cohort of pediatric LT recipients between 2018 and 2021 (n = 133, validation cohort). Results: Among total 338 patients, 21% (n = 72) were infants; 49% (n = 167) had cirrhosis; 8% (n = 27) required continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT); and 32% (n = 111) required management in hospital (MIH) before LT. Incidence of PMV post‐LT was 20% (n = 69) and 3% (n = 12) required tracheostomy. Independent risk factors (OR [95% CI]) for PMV were cirrhosis (3.8 [1–14], p =.04); age <1‐year (8.2 [2–30], p =.001); need for preoperative CRRT (6.3 [1.2–32], p =.02); and MIH before LT (12.4 [2.1–71], p =.004). PROVE‐ALT score ≥8 [Range = 0–21] accurately predicted PMV in the validation cohort with 73% sensitivity and 80% specificity (AUC: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.71–0.91). Conclusion: PROVE‐ALT can predict PMV after pediatric LT with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Once externally validated in other centers, PROVE‐ALT will empower clinicians to plan patient‐specific ventilation strategies, provide parental anticipatory guidance, and optimize hospital resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysine acetylation is a common reversible post‐translational modification of proteins that plays a key role in regulating gene expression. Nuclear receptors (NRs) include ligand‐inducible transcription factors and orphan receptors for which the ligand is undetermined, which together regulate the expression of genes involved in development, metabolism, homeostasis, reproduction and human diseases including cancer. Since the original finding that the ERα, AR and HNF4 are acetylated, we now understand that the vast majority of NRs are acetylated and that this modification has profound effects on NR function. Acetylation sites are often conserved and involve both ordered and disordered regions of NRs. The acetylated residues function as part of an intramolecular signalling platform intersecting phosphorylation, methylation and other modifications. Acetylation of NR has been shown to impact recruitment into chromatin, co‐repressor and coactivator complex formation, sensitivity and specificity of regulation by ligand and ligand antagonists, DNA binding, subcellular distribution and transcriptional activity. A growing body of evidence in mice indicates a vital role for NR acetylation in metabolism. Additionally, mutations of the NR acetylation site occur in human disease. This review focuses on the role of NR acetylation in coordinating signalling in normal physiology and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The mechanisms underlying COVID-19-associated pulmonary mucormycosis (CAPM) remain unclear. We use a transcriptomic analysis of the innate immune cells to investigate the host immune and metabolic response pathways in patients with CAPM. Patients and Methods: We enrolled subjects with CAPM (n = 5), pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) without COVID-19 (n = 5), COVID-19 (without mucormycosis, n = 5), healthy controls (n = 5) without comorbid illness and negative for SARS-CoV-2. Peripheral blood samples from cases were collected before initiating antifungal therapy, and neutrophils and monocytes were isolated. RNA sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeqX from monocytes and neutrophils. Raw reads were aligned with HISAT-2 pipeline and DESeq2 was used for differential gene expression. Gene ontology (GO) and metabolic pathway analysis were performed using Shiny GO application and R packages (ggplot2, Pathview). Results: The derangement of core immune and metabolic responses in CAPM patients was noted. Pattern recognition receptors, dectin-2, MCL, FcR receptors and CLEC-2, were upregulated, but signalling pathways such as JAK-STAT, IL-17 and CARD-9 were downregulated; mTOR and MAP-kinase signalling were elevated in monocytes from CAPM patients. The complement receptors, NETosis, and pro-inflammatory responses, such as S100A8/A9, lipocalin and MMP9, were elevated. The major metabolic pathways of glucose metabolism--glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, HIF signalling and iron metabolism-ferroptosis were also upregulated in CAPM. Conclusions: We identified significant alterations in the metabolic pathways possibly leading to cellular iron overload and a hyperglycaemic state. Immune responses revealed altered recognition, signalling, effector functions and a pro-inflammatory state in monocytes and neutrophils from CAPM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to (1) characterize healthcare professionals' (HCPs') experiences related to the prevention and management of pressure injuries (PIs) and (2) explore the educational needs of individuals with a past or current history of PIs and their caregivers from the perspective of HCPs. This is a qualitative descriptive study. HCPs (n = 18) were interviewed using a semi‐structured interview guide. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded using NVivo. Three overarching themes encompassing various dimensions were identified: (1) Facilitators related to PI prevention and management, (2) Challenges related to PI prevention and management and (3) Recommendations for improving patient and caregiver PI education. HCPs identified a greater number of challenges than facilitators related to PI care. This study emphasizes the importance of a patient‐centred and interprofessional approach to patient education for PI prevention and management. Meaningful interventions focused on the patient may improve health literacy and empower patients and caregivers in PI care. Investing in preventive measures and raising awareness are crucial to reducing PI incidence. The findings have implications for HCPs and researchers seeking to enhance patient care and promote effective PI prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MRI‐detected white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), a marker of cerebrovascular‐pathology, are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRDs). In stroke, WMH‐volume was found to correlate most with stroke risk‐factors in the anterior cerebral arterial‐territory. Since the relationship between WMHs and arterial‐territories remains unexplored in the ADRDs, we systematically investigated WMHs' spatial distribution (1) in 8 ADRDs relative to cognitively unimpaired (CU), and (2) across arterial‐territories per ADRD. Methods: The extensive CCNA‐COMPASS‐ND cohort (N = 927) allowed us to investigate 9 clinical categories: CU, subjective (SCI) and mild (MCI) cognitive impairment, vascular MCI (V‐MCI), AD, vascular AD (V‐AD), Lewy‐body dementia (LBD), fronto‐temporal dementia (FTD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) (Fig.1A). FLAIR and T1w MRI‐scans were used to segment WMHs (Dadar et al.,2017). Following registration to standard space, an arterial‐territory atlas (Schirmer et al.,2019) was used to calculate WMH‐volumes in 10 regions (Fig.1B). Statistical analyses were run on whole‐brain‐WMH‐volume and regional‐WMH‐ratios (region‐size‐normalized‐WMH‐volume/whole‐brain‐WMH‐volume). Data‐analyses used a series of linear models accounting for clinical category, age, and sex – followed by pairwise group‐comparisons corrected for multiple comparisons. Results: 1)Relative to CU: Whole‐brain‐WMH‐volumes were higher for V‐MCI, V‐AD, and FTD. WMH‐ratios were higher in MCA and LMCA for 2 ADRDs (SCI;V‐MCI) and lower in PCA, LPCA, and RPCA for SCI. WMH‐ratios were higher in ACA or LACA andlower in PCA, LPCA, or RPCA for 4 ADRDs (V‐MCI;V‐AD;FTD;PD) (Fig.1C). Sex‐analyses: Men's WMH‐volumes were higher in whole‐brain (CU;V‐MCI;FTD), while their WMH‐ratios were higherin LMCA (CU), but lower in ACA (SCI;MCI), LACA (MCI), and RACA (SCI). 2) MCA contained higher WMH‐ratios than ACA and PCA in all clinical categories. Relative to PCA, ACA's WMH‐ratio was higher in 2 ADRDs (V‐MCI;V‐AD) and lower in 4 (CU;MCI;AD;PD). Pairwise‐group comparisons between all left/right arterial‐territories demonstrated consistent results (Fig.2). Asymmetry‐analyses: The right arterial side had higher WMH‐ratios in ACA (CU;V‐MCI), MCA (CU;SCI;MCI;V‐MCI;AD;V‐AD;PD), and PCA (MCI;AD). Conclusion: We identified arterial‐territories of increased susceptibility to WMH‐formation per ADRD. The two most prevalent ADRDs (AD;V‐AD) were found to accumulate WMHs in a territory‐specific manner – higher WMH‐ratios in ACA for V‐AD and PCA for AD. Overall, the arterial‐territory‐specific WMH‐signatures identified may improve ADRD‐diagnosis accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemithioindigos were designed as topoisomerase inhibitors, synthesized, and evaluated for their anticancer properties against lung (A549) and breast (MDA‐MB‐468 and MCF7) cancer cell lines. Among all the synthetics, three compounds exerted potential anticancer effects on A549 (lung) and MCF7 (breast) cancer cell lines at low micromolar concentrations. The results revealed that two of these compounds blocked the cancer cells at the G1/S phase, while the third compound showed moderate G2/M inhibition, leading to necrotic cell death. Finally, the topoisomerase inhibition assays revealed their potent Topo I/II inhibitory actions as one of the primary anticancer mechanisms. Molecular docking studies further corroborated these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transplantation is a high‐risk, high‐cost treatment for end‐stage diseases and is the most strictly regulated area of healthcare in the United States. Thus, achieving success for patients and the program requires skillful and collaborative leadership. Various factors, such as outcomes, volume, and financial health, may measure the success of a transplant program. Strong collaboration between clinical and administrative leaders is key to achieving and maintaining success in those three categories. Clinical leaders of adult programs, such as medical and surgical directors, bear the primary responsibility for a program's volume, outcomes, and patient safety, while administrative directors are focused on business intelligence and regulatory compliance. This paper aims to provide readers with insights into the critical role of collaborative leadership in running a successful program, with a focus on clinical, business, and regulatory perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using recently published chromosome‐length genome assemblies of two damselfly species, Ischnura elegans and Platycnemis pennipes, and two dragonfly species, Pantala flavescens and Tanypteryx hageni, we demonstrate that the autosomes of Odonata have undergone few fission, fusion, or inversion events, despite 250 million years of separation. In the four genomes discussed here, our results show that all autosomes have a clear ortholog in the ancestral karyotype. Despite this clear chromosomal orthology, we demonstrate that different factors, including concentration of repeat dynamics, GC content, relative position on the chromosome, and the relative proportion of coding sequence all influence the density of syntenic blocks across chromosomes. However, these factors do not interact to influence synteny the same way in any two pairs of species, nor is any one factor retained in all four species. Furthermore, it was previously unknown whether the micro‐chromosomes in Odonata are descended from one ancestral chromosome. Despite structural rearrangements, our evidence suggests that the micro‐chromosomes in the sampled Odonata do indeed descend from an ancestral chromosome, and that the micro‐chromosome in P. flavescens was lost through fusion with autosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Metaheuristic techniques have gained the attention of many researchers in the last few years. These techniques are used to solve real‐world optimization problems as well as for feature selection. This work proposes a lévy flight and disrupt operator‐based elephant herding optimization algorithm (LDEHO). In the proposed algorithm, opposition based‐learning is utilized to commence with better initial positions. Lévy flight and matriarch mean are introduced to update the positions of clan individuals. In addition, the disruption phenomenon is introduced to generate new individuals for replacing the worst clan individuals. Further, an elitism scheme is introduced to preserve the best search agents in consecutive iterations. The performance of the proposed LDEHO algorithm is validated on 97 benchmark functions. A comparative analysis of the proposed LDEHO algorithm with fourteen state‐of‐the‐art algorithms has been made. Results show the high potential of the LDEHO algorithm in solving the benchmark functions. Further, Friedman's mean rank test and multiple comparison tests are applied to demonstrate the statistically significant difference between the algorithms. Moreover, a binary version of the proposed LDEHO algorithm is introduced for feature selection to classify the medical datasets. The performance of the binary LDEHO is validated on 15 medical datasets and compared with six state‐of‐the‐art algorithms. Results show the supremacy of the binary LDEHO for feature selection to classify the medical data. Friedman's test proves that the proposed binary LDEHO algorithm is statistically different and better than other algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frugivorous carnivores like civets consume fruits of many species and play an important role in their seed dispersal by virtue of depositing their scats farther away from the parent tree. This study was conducted to understand the role of the common palm civet in affecting the seed germination rate of three plant species (i.e. Syzygium cumini, Phoenix sylvestris and Ficus racemosa) in a tropical moist deciduous forest. We collected scats of common palm civets in Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India, and monitored the germination rate of these species for 90 days. Further, to understand the patterns of seed selection (if there are any), for seeds of a specific size, we compared the length, width, and mass of the civet‐ingested seeds with those of the control seeds. We had to discard the analyses on F. racemosa as none of its seeds in any treatment group germinated even after 50 days. Our results show a differential impact of gut passage: civet‐ingested P. sylvestris seeds experienced a higher germination percentage compared to the control seeds, while gut passage did not alter the seed germination of S. cumini. However, seed germination speed (proportion of seeds germinated per day) for both species, P. sylvestris and S. cumini, was faster for civet‐ingested seeds compared to their respective controls. Our findings also showed that civets preferred seeds that were shorter in length and width, and weighed less, in the case of P. sylvestris; however, no such statistically significant difference was found for seed selection in the case of S. cumini. Thus, our study shows that civets act as a legitimate seed disperser of plant species and exert a differential impact in altering the germination rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Vitamin D deficiency is a global concern for vegetarians as most of the vitamin D‐enriched foods are of animal origin. Pleurotus florida is an excellent source of ergosterol, which gets converted into vitamin D2 under UV exposure. The objective of this study was to optimise UV‐B intensity (1.00–2.50 W/cm2) and exposure time (20–120 min) for maximum ergosterol conversion to vitamin D2. The optimisation studies indicated that exposure with intensity (2.00 W/cm2) for 60 min showed maximum vitamin D formation. The analysis of different nutritional parameters revealed no significant impact on total soluble proteins while a significant increase in total phenolic and total flavonoid contents was observed. On the contrary, a significant reduction was observed in riboflavin content of P. florida. Overall, P. florida exposure to UV‐B is a sustainable approach to enhance the vitamin D content for the development of fortified mushroom products or dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laryngeal atresia is a rare congenital anomaly that is usually diagnosed by antenatal ultrasound, however, if undiagnosed presents with desaturation after birth. A term neonate presented with airway obstruction after birth with multiple failed attempts at intubation and was rescued by proseal laryngeal mask airway (LMA). An esophagoscopy using an Ambuscope utilizing a modified connector assembly revealed an opening on the anterior wall of the esophagus with no esophageal atresia, leading to a diagnosis of H‐type tracheo‐esophageal fistula (TEF) with laryngeal atresia. The ability to ventilate the neonate via LMA with an absent glottic opening raised the possibility of TEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and tuberculoma are two distinct medical conditions. Nonetheless, they can be related in very rare cases. The purpose of this case report is to consider screening tests such as IGRA (interferon gamma release assay) and TST (tuberculin skin test), for tuberculosis in CKD patients with a risk of infection, thereby increasing the awareness of tuberculoma in CKD and ensuring early treatment which would eventually decrease the morbidity and mortality rates in such patients. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with tuberculoma represents one of the rarest conditions occurring worldwide. Among tuberculous patients, only 1% show central nervous system involvement. We present a case of a 45‐year‐old male with CKD who presented with a seizure and was diagnosed to have tuberculoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Restrictive lung disease leading to abnormal lung function in kidney transplant recipients is commonly associated with noninfectious complications or medications used for post‐transplant immunosuppression. Herein, we report an interesting case of pediatric kidney transplant recipient with weight loss and abnormal spirometry who was diagnosed to have late‐onset Pneumocystis pneumonia. Case Report: A 17‐year‐old male patient with a history of allergic rhinitis, mild persistent asthma, and deceased donor kidney transplant, performed 18 months prior, presented for routine evaluation of his asthma to the pulmonology clinic. He was clinically asymptomatic except for a weight loss of 8 kg over 6‐month period prior to presentation. Patient's spirometry was suggestive of a restrictive pattern and further investigation using a high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest showed bilateral diffuse ground‐glass reticulonodular opacities with subpleural sparing suggestive of interstitial pneumonitis. A bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage revealed organisms consistent with Pneumocystis jirovecii on gomori‐methenamine‐silver (GMS) staining. Beta‐d‐glucan testing in serum revealed a level of >500 pg/mL (normal 0‐59 pg/mL) further supportive of Pneumocystis jirovecii infection. Patient was treated with a 6‐week course of trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole. His weight loss and beta‐d‐glucan levels improved over a course of 6 months, and he continues to be on trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis. Conclusion: Late‐onset Pneumocystis jirovecii infection in kidney transplant recipients can have an atypical presentation. Treating physicians should consider PJP in the differential diagnosis of unexplained weight loss in pediatric kidney transplant recipients, especially those receiving a large cumulative burden of immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Ayurveda is a traditional medicine that originated in the Indian subcontinent, and its use remains widespread in the Indian subcontinent, especially for managing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). It is also becoming increasingly popular in the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries as complementary and alternative medicine. Qualitative research studies have been conducted in various OECD countries to explore the experiences, perceptions, and perspectives of Ayurvedic practitioners and patients with NCDs regarding the usage of Ayurveda for managing these conditions. However, to date, no systematic review on this topic has been published. Therefore, this systematic review aims to synthesize the experiences, perceptions, and perspectives of Ayurvedic practitioners and patients with NCDs on the usage of Ayurveda for managing these conditions in OECD countries. Methods: The systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the joanna briggs institute systematic review guideline on qualitative evidence. We will include qualitative research studies conducted among Ayurvedic practitioners or adult patients with NCDs in any OECD member country to explore experiences, perceptions, or perspectives regarding the usage of Ayurveda for managing NCDs. MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), AMED, and Web of Science will be searched to identify published studies. EthOS and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses will be searched to identify unpublished studies. No date or language restrictions will be applied. Initially, a narrative synthesis will be conducted. Where possible, study findings will be pooled using the meta‐aggregation approach. Key points: Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical systems in the world.The spread of Ayurveda is partially a result of the migration of individuals from the Indian subcontinent to other countries.Ancient texts on Ayurveda have vividly described the management of several noncommunicable disease (NCD).Systematic reviews of clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of Ayurveda for managing NCDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore filtered diffusion‐weighted imaging (fDWI), in comparison with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), as a predictor for long‐term locomotor and urodynamic (UD) outcomes in Yucatan minipig model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Additionally, electrical conductivity of neural tissue using D‐waves above and below the injury was measured to assess correlations between fDWI and D‐waves data. Methods: Eleven minipigs with contusion SCI at T8‐T10 level underwent MRI at 3T 4 h. post‐SCI. Parameters extracted from region of interest analysis included Daxial from fDWI at injury site, fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity from DTI above the injury site along with measures of edema length and cord width at injury site from T2‐weighted images. Locomotor recovery was assessed pre‐ and weekly post‐SCI through porcine thoracic injury behavior scale (PTIBS) and UD were performed pre‐ and at 12 weeks of SCI. D‐waves latency and amplitude differences were recorded before and immediately after SCI. Results: Two groups of pigs were found based on the PTIBS at week 12 (p < 0.0001) post‐SCI and were labeled "poor" and "good" recovery. D‐waves amplitude decreased below injury and increased above injury. UD outcomes pre/post SCI changed significantly. Conventional MRI metrics from T2‐weighted images were significantly correlated with diffusion MRI metrics. Daxial at injury epicenter was diminished by over 50% shortly after SCI, and it differentiated between good and poor locomotor recovery and UD outcomes. Interpretation: Similar to small animal studies, fDWI from acute imaging after SCI is a promising predictor for functional outcomes in large animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To understand the moral distress experienced by health‐care workers (HCWs) in the COVID paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We also aimed to assess the psychological well‐being and the coping mechanisms used by HCWs. Methods: A prospective observational cross‐sectional study was conducted from July to September 2021, involving all HCWs who worked in the COVID PICU. Moral distress using Moral Distress for Health‐care Professionals (MMD‐HPs) scale, psychological well‐being using Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ) and coping strategies adopted by HCWs using Brief‐COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) were measured. Results: One hundred and eighty‐four HCW data were examined. The most common causes of moral distress among HCWs were compromised patient care caused by a lack of resources and caring for more patients than they could safely handle. Moral distress was the same regardless of the HCWs' job profile, marital status, number of children or age. The TSQ revealed psychological stress in 23.3% of HCWs with Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder, significantly higher in HCWs under the age of 30 and without children. Few HCWs turned to substance use, self‐blame or denial as coping mechanisms; instead, acceptance, self‐distraction and emotional support were the most frequently used. Conclusion: The most common reasons for moral and psychological distress perceived by participants were insufficient staff and organisational support. Younger HCWs and those without children experienced higher levels of psychological distress. HCWs' typical coping mechanisms are constructive, such as seeking help and support from others, reframing situations and meditation. Health‐care administrators must develop a framework to assist HCWs in dealing with such serious issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landmark NUTRIREA‐2 and NUTRIREA‐3 trials compared the route and dose of nutrition, respectively, in critically ill patients with circulatory shock. The results of both trials support a "less‐is‐more" paradigm shift in the early acute phase of critical illness. In this review, the authors outline and appraise the results of the NUTRIREA‐2 and NUTRIREA‐3 trials, introduce the concept of identifying the "sweet spot" for nutrition dose based on severity of illness/nutrition risk and nutrition dose, and identify the unintended consequences of delivering full‐dose nutrition in sicker critically ill patients during the early acute phase of critical illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the world health organization report, brain cancer has the highest death rate. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting brain tumours is adopted these days due to several advantages over other detection techniques. This paper presents a novel methodology to classify MR images based on texture and deep features, z‐score normalization, and, Comprehensive learning elephant herding optimization (CLEHO) based feature optimization and classification. Deep features of brain MR images have been extracted through DenseNet121 convolutional neural network and texture features have been extracted by using the Gabor 2D filter, Haralick texture feature, edge continuity texture feature, first order statistical texture feature, local binary pattern feature, difference theoretic texture feature, and spectral texture feature techniques. Normalization has been done using three normalization techniques that is, z score, mean median absolute deviation (MMAD), and Tanh‐based after aggregating the features extracted from the previous step. z‐score normalization has been suggested for feature normalization after comparing the results attained from the three techniques. Lastly, binary CLEHO has been proposed for selecting an optimal feature set and also optimizing the 'k' value of the k‐NN classifier. The outcome of this proposed work is compared with other state‐of‐the‐art methods for a publicly available magnetic resonance image Fighshare dataset of 3064 slices from 233 patients. The proposed work has a brain tumour average classification accuracy of 98.97%, which is better than the other state‐of‐the‐art methods. The proposed work can be used to assist the radiologist in the screening of multi‐class brain tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen genetically diverse inbred lines comprising of four genic male sterile lines and 10 often pollinated lines as testers were crossed following 'line × tester' mating design to generate 40 F1s. These F1s, parents and check 'CH‐27' were evaluated in α‐lattice square design, replicated thrice during summer seasons of 2020 and 2021. The male sterile line DPChMS 9‐2 was good general combiner for marketable fruit yield and eight other component traits while testers namely, DPCh 10, PBC 535, VVG, Him Palam Mirch‐2 and DPCh 40 showed significant GCA for majority of yield related traits. The hybrids DPChMS 9‐2 × HPM‐2, DPChMS 9‐2 × DPCh 40, DPChMS 9‐2 × DPCh 101, DPChMS 9‐2× VVG and DPChMS 26‐1× HPM‐1 were the most desirable based on specific combining ability (SCA) and economic heterosis for fruit yield and other important traits. Heterosis was positively correlated with SCA indicating prediction of potential hybrids can be made based on both these parameters simultaneously. Present study provides an opportunity to exploit top hybrids for stability and commercial cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long coronavirus disease (COVID) is emerging as a common clinical entity in the current era. Autonomic dysfunction is one of the frequently reported post‐COVID complications. We hypothesize a bi‐directional relationship between the autonomic function and the COVID course. This postulation has been inadequately addressed in the literature. A retrospective cohort (pre and post‐comparison) study was conducted on 30 young adults whose pre‐COVID autonomic function test results were available. They were divided into case and control groups based on whether they tested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction positive for COVID‐19. Autonomic function tests were performed in both the case and control groups. COVID infection in healthy young adults shifts the sympatho–vagal balance from the pre‐disease state. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome was present in 35% of the COVID‐affected group. COVID course parameters were found to be associated with parasympathetic reactivity and the baroreflex function. Baseline autonomic function (parasympathetic reactivity represented by Δ heart rate changes during deep breathing and 30:15 ratio during lying‐to‐standing test) was also associated with the COVID course, the post‐COVID symptoms and the post‐COVID autonomic function profile. Additionally, multiple regression analysis found that the baseline parasympathetic reactivity was a very important determinant of the clinical course of COVID, the post‐COVID symptoms and the post‐COVID autonomic profile. Sympatho–vagal balance shifts to parasympathetic withdrawal with sympathetic predominance due to COVID infection in healthy young adults. There is a bi‐directional relationship between the autonomic function and the COVID course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Galectins are β‐galactoside‐binding proteins. Galectin‐4 has shown an effect on cancer progression/metastasis, especially in cancers of the digestive system. This can be attributed to altered glycosylation pattern of cell membrane molecules, which is a characteristic attribute of oncogenesis. The aim of this paper is to systematically review galectin‐4 in different cancers and its role in disease progression. Methods: The study was designed on the basis of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct were used to search relevant literature with keywords "galectin‐4 AND cancer", "galectin‐4", "LGALS4", and "LGALS4 AND cancer". Inclusion criteria for study selection were availability of full‐text articles, articles in English language and articles relevant to current topic, that is, galectin‐4 and cancer. Exclusion criteria were studies that investigated other disease conditions, interventions unrelated to cancer or galectin‐4 and bias outcome. Results: A total of 73 articles were retrieved after removing duplication from databases, out of which 40 studies were included in the review that followed the inclusion criteria, including low to moderate bias. These included 23 studies in digestive system, 5 in reproductive system, 4 in respiratory system, and 2 in brain and urothelial cancers. Conclusions: A differential expression of galectin‐4 was observed in different cancer stages/ and types. Furthermore, galectin‐4 was found to modulate disease progression. A meta‐analysis and comprehensive mechanistic studies, pertaining to different aspects of galectin‐4 biology, could give statistically driven correlations, elucidating multifaceted role of galectin‐4 in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a highly perishable crop with a shelf‐life of a few days under refrigerated conditions. Solar drying is one of the economical, hygienic and eco‐friendly methods of food preservation. During this study, fresh coriander was pre‐treated in a solution of 0.1% magnesium chloride, 0.1% sodium bicarbonate and 2.0% KMS for 15 min before solar or open sun drying. There were two types of solar dryers used, namely: PAU advanced domestic solar dryer and PAU domestic solar dryer. Solar dryers were evaluated and compared with open sun drying for drying kinetics, thermal efficiency, and product quality. The quality parameters determined were total color difference, total flavonoid content, total chlorophyll content, and ascorbic acid content. For drying of coriander, ADSD achieved the maximum thermal efficiency (18.56%) and minimum solar energy input (12.56 MJ/kg) out of the various drying systems under consideration. Additionally, ADSD samples had the highest quality retention in terms of the highest total flavonoid content (1.23 mg/100 g), total chlorophyll content (24.14 mg/100 g) and ascorbic acid content (24.29 mg/100 g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With data demonstrating benefit, the prevalence of home enteral nutrition (HEN) has increased significantly over the last few decades. Despite this increase, there remains a paucity of data regarding real‐world use of HEN including clinical outcomes and complications. Methods: Descriptive analysis of prospectively maintained database of our specialized HEN program was undertaken. Patients who received care in our program with HEN initiation date between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, were included in the analysis. Data regarding demographic information, anthropometrics, enteral nutrition (EN) regimen, electrolytes, and nutrition therapy history were included and tracked until July 31, 2021. Results: During the study period, 1600 patients initiated HEN treatment under our care. Majority of the study population needed EN therapy due to malignancy and its complications, including malignant dysphagia or mechanical obstruction (60.6%) followed by neurodegenerative diseases (7.5%). By the end of the study period, a majority of the patients (82%) stopped HEN treatment. Of these, 44.2% achieved EN goals and/or oral autonomy. Patients continued HEN treatment for a median of 100 (interquartile range, 32–301) days. Overall, 53.2% of patients experienced/reported at least one HEN‐related complication that was clinically managed by the HEN team. Complications included tube‐related, enteral feeding intolerance (EFI), and electrolyte shifts. Conclusion: In our study population, HEN was most utilized to manage malignancy‐related complications, including dysphagia. Unfortunately, complications, including EFI and tube‐related complications, remained quite prevalent. Further evaluation regarding risk factors for complications and preventive mechanisms, such as increased education, is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty assessment is an important marker of the older adult's fitness for cancer treatment independent of age. Pretreatment geriatric assessment (GA) is associated with improved mortality and morbidity outcomes but must occur in a time sensitive manner to be useful for cancer treatment decision making. Unfortunately, time, resources and other constraints make GA difficult to perform in busy oncology clinics. We developed the Cancer and Aging Interdisciplinary Team (CAIT) clinic model to provide timely GA and treatment recommendations independent of patient's physical location. Methods: The interdisciplinary CAIT clinic model was developed utilizing the surge in telemedicine during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The core team consists of the patient's oncologist, geriatrician, registered nurse, pharmacist, and registered dietitian. The clinic's format is flexible, and the various assessments can be asynchronous. Patients choose the service method—in person, remotely, or hybrid. Based on GA outcomes, the geriatrician provides recommendations and arrange interventions. An assessment summary including life expectancy estimates and chemotoxicity risk calculator scores is conveyed to and discussed with the treating oncologist. Physician and patient satisfaction were assessed. Results: Between May 2021 and June 2022, 50 patients from multiple physical locations were evaluated in the CAIT clinic. Sixty‐eight percent was 80 years of age or older (range 67–99). All the evaluations were hybrid. The median days between receiving a referral and having the appointment was 8. GA detected multiple unidentified impairments. About half of the patients (52%) went on to receive chemotherapy (24% standard dose, 28% with dose modifications). The rest received radiation (20%), immune (12%) or hormonal (4%) therapies, 2% underwent surgery, 2% chose alternative medicine, 8% were placed under observation, and 6% enrolled in hospice care. Feedback was extremely positive. Conclusions: The successful development of the CAIT clinic model provides strong support for the potential dissemination across services and institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of neurodegenerative diseases is emerging with the increase in life expectancy. It is a great challenge to develop effective methods of preventing these diseases and to treat them. Quinoline and its derivatives have numerous biological effects. They show significant anti‐neurodegenerative activity. Quinoline compounds are used to develop various anti‐neurodegenerative drugs as they have demonstrated fantastic effects through numerous mechanisms of action. A lot of quinoline compounds have been studied till now for their anti‐neurodegenerative properties. Quinoline scaffold among all heterocyclic compounds has emerged as a critical building block for the production of a variety of novel medications. Many heterocyclic substituent quinoline derivatives with good anti‐neurodegenerative activity are discussed in this review. Such as PBT2 that has shown potential to reduce cerebrospinal fluid Aβ, and improve cognitive functions, quinoline‐chromenone and acridine‐chromenone hybrids that act as anti AChE agents. Further molecules like coumarin‐quinoline derivatives, 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐2,3,4‐trione 3‐oximes and Clioquinol has been discussed as a possible anti‐Neurodegeneration medication. The efficacy of quinoline derivatives to cure neurodegenerative diseases and save the central nervous system in early stage has nurtured the interest of researchers to increase the search in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quadriflagellate genus Chlainomonas frequently dominates red snow globally. It is unusual in several respects, with two separated pairs of flagella, apparent cell division via extrusion of cytoplasmic threads, and being nested phylogenetically within the biflagellate genus Chloromonas. Here, we showed that the austral species Chloromonas (Cr.) rubroleosa, originally described from Antarctic red snow, is a close biflagellate relative of Chlainomonas, challenging the monophyly of Chlainomonas as currently conceived. Sequences of the 18S rRNA gene robustly linked Cr. rubroleosa with near‐identical environmental sequences from Antarctic red snow and Chlainomonas from North America, Japan, and Europe. Furthermore, the 18S rRNA and rbcL gene sequences of Cr. rubroleosa were almost identical to New Zealand and North American collections of Chlainomonas. Cr. rubroleosa and New Zealand Chlainomonas are separated by only a single‐base substitution across the ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 rRNA loci (and according to ITS2, the North American collection is the next closest relative). This again raises the possibility that Chlainomonas is a life‐cycle stage of vegetatively biflagellate organisms, although this remains confounded by the scarcity of biflagellates in field populations, the apparent cell division by quadriflagellates, and the absence of Chlainomonas‐type cells in cultures of Cr. rubroleosa. The latter species is broadly similar to Chlainomonas, being poor at swimming, with similar pigment, chloroplast arrangement and ultrastructure, and is relatively large. Increased size is a feature of the wider clade of "Group D" snow algae. A synthesis of field and laboratory investigations may be needed to unravel the life cycle and correct the systematics of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowers are an important niche for microbes, and microbes in turn influence plant fitness. As flower morphology and biology change rapidly over time, dynamic niches for microbes are formed and lost. Floral physiology at each life stage can therefore influence arrival, persistence and loss of microbial species; however, this remains little understood despite its potential consequences for host reproductive success. Through internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) community profiling, we characterized the effect of transitioning through five floral stages of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), from immature bud to spent flower, and subsequent allocation to seed, on the flower‐inhabiting fungal community. We found nectar‐consuming yeasts from Aureobasidium and Vishniacozyma genera and functionally diverse filamentous fungi from the Cladosporium genus dominated the anthosphere. The candidate core microbiota persisted across this dynamic niche despite high microbial turnover, as observed in shifts in community composition and diversity as flowers matured and senesced. The results demonstrated that floral stages are strong drivers of anthosphere fungal community assembly and dynamics. This study represents the first detailed exploration of fungi through floral development, building on fundamental knowledge in microbial ecology of healthy flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional metagenomics is an attractive culture‐independent approach for functional screening of diverse microbiomes to identify known and novel genes. Since functional screening can involve sifting through tens of thousands of metagenomic library clones, an easy high‐throughput screening approach is desirable. Here, we demonstrate a proof‐of‐concept application of a low‐cost, high‐throughput droplet based microfluidic assay to the selection of antibiotic resistance genes from a soil metagenomic library. Metagenomic library members encapsulated in nanoliter volume water‐in‐oil droplets were printed on glass slides robotically, and cell growth in individual drops in the presence of ampicillin was imaged and quantified to identify ampicillin‐resistant clones. From the hits, true positives were confirmed by sequencing and functional validation. The ease of liquid handling, ease of set‐up, low cost, and robust workflow makes the droplet‐based nano‐culture platform a promising candidate for screening and selection assays for functional metagenomic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bald Eagle Search optimization (BES) is introduced recently, which mimics the bald eagles' hunting and food searching behaviour. The capability of a BES algorithm is enhanced in this paper by avoiding local optima stagnation and premature convergence problems. The BES algorithm is modified to enhance the performance of the algorithm and the modified algorithm is called the Self Adaptive Bald Eagle Search (SABES) algorithm. Dynamic‐opposite Learning (DOL) method is invoked in the initialization phase to increase the population diversity and convergence speed. To find better global solutions, the exploitation capability of the SBES algorithm is enhanced by considering the dynamic‐opposite solutions. In addition, the algorithmic parameter values of the BES algorithm have been determined using the linear and non‐linear time‐varying adaption strategy to create a balance between the search abilities which promotes the overall performance of the algorithm. The performance of the SABES algorithm is validated by comparing the results of 50 benchmark functions and CEC2017 functions with different erstwhile algorithms. The proposed algorithm achieves the best results in 80% of the benchmark functions, whereas the BES only gets the best results in 56% of functions. For the CEC2017, the SABES algorithm achieves optimal results for 20 functions which are highest in comparison to state‐of‐the‐art algorithms. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm are checked using the 15 CEC2020 competition real‐world single‐objective constrained optimization problems. The SABES achieves a 100% success rate and 100% feasibility rate in comparison to other well‐regarded algorithms. The statistical significance of the algorithm has been proved using Friedman's mean rank and Wilcoxon sign rank test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal failure (IF) is a rare disease that requires ongoing intravenous supplementation to sustain growth and health. Advancements in parenteral nutrition (PN) and central venous access in the 1960s and 1970s transformed a life‐limiting disease to a chronic one in which patients are able to administer hydration, electrolytes, micronutrients, and macronutrients in the comfort of their home. However, despite ongoing advancements in the field of home PN (HPN), complications—whether related to central venous catheters or PN itself—remain common and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Central venous access can be associated with thrombosis, central line–associated bloodstream infection, or damage and can result in loss of access over time. PN can be associated with IF‐associated liver disease or hyperglycemia. The key to preserving central venous access and quality of life and maintaining health for patients with chronic IF (CIF) is education focused on prevention and prompt management of CIF complications as they arise. This education typically takes place at the time of initiation of HPN, either in the hospital setting or in the patient's home. The present manuscript describes the historical progression of HPN, prevalence and characteristics of CIF, and an in‐depth discussion of the most common catheter‐related and PN‐related complications and their management, along with a discussion of our education and training process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species are increasingly threatening ecosystems and agriculture by rapidly expanding their range and adapting to environmental and human‐imposed selective pressures. The genomic mechanisms that underlie such rapid changes remain unclear, especially for agriculturally important pests. Here, we used genome‐wide polymorphisms derived from native, invasive, and intercepted samples and populations of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, to gain insights into population genomics processes that have promoted the successful global invasion of this polyphagous pest. Our analysis demonstrated that BMSB exhibits spatial structure but admixture rates are high among introduced populations, resulting in similar levels of genomic diversity across native and introduced populations. These spatial genomic patterns suggest a complex invasion scenario, potentially with multiple bridgehead events, posing a challenge for accurately assigning BMSB incursions to their source using reduced‐representation genomic data. By associating allele frequencies with the invasion status of BMSB populations, we found significantly differentiated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in close proximity to genes for insecticide resistance and olfaction. Comparing variations in allele frequencies among populations for outlier SNPs suggests that BMSB invasion success has probably evolved from standing genetic variation. In addition to being a major nuisance of households, BMSB has caused significant economic losses to agriculture in recent years and continues to expand its range. Despite no record of BMSB insecticide resistance to date, our results show high capacity for potential evolution of such traits, highlighting the need for future sustainable and targeted management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment of a multiphysics multimodel ensemble (MPMME) strategy is provided to simulate the critical aspects of the Indian summer monsoon and its intraseasonal variability. Using various physics combinations of Climate Forecast System (CFS) and its atmospheric component Global Forecast System (GFS), a 15‐year hindcast for May–October is generated. Three different convective parametrizations, simplified Arakawa–Shubert (sas), revised deep‐convection sas (nsas), and revised sas with modified shallow‐convection (nsas_sc) are coupled with two microphysics schemes Zhao and Carr (zc) and Ferrier. Spatiotemporal characteristics of predicted Indian summer monsoon climatology and 20–70‐day periodic intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) are evaluated using observations. MPMME members reproduce the overall characteristics of the seasonal mean, but they have significant biases over different regions. Pattern correlations reveal that CFS_nsaszc performs best among MPMME in simulating the observed characteristics of rainfall ISOs and providing significant ISO forecast up to pentad 3 lead. A diagnostic based on the vorticity budget equation during strong convective events (SCEs) associated with ISOs is used to understand better the mechanism of northward‐propagating ISOs and the responsible factors that develop a vorticity tendency to the north of convection maxima. The tilting term in the vorticity equation shows northward propagation and leads precipitation maxima by about a week over the Bay of Bengal. Vertical shear of mean zonal winds and meridional gradients of vertical winds are found to be essential in developing vorticity tendency. SCEs are better represented in CFS than in GFS. Notably, along with CFS_nsaszc, two CFS_sas members capture the occurrence of SCEs reasonably well. However, errors in vertical shear of mean zonal winds are remarkably high after pentad 2 lead in CFS_sas and GFS, explaining their relative weakness in simulating ISOs during June–September. This study demonstrates that the MPMME strategy could utilize individual physical schemes' strengths to provide better subseasonal forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slack exists when entities hold resources in excess of those required to support current operations. "Sticky" spending is a specific type of slack spending that occurs when a firm reduces spending by less when sales fall than it increases spending when sales rise by an equivalent amount. Changes in a firm's environment affect its propensity to engage in sticky spending. We examine how competition influences sticky spending, positing two hypotheses. First, we hypothesize that competition will be positively associated with firms' investment in sticky spending both for cost of goods manufactured (COGM) and selling, general, and administrative (SG&A). Second, we hypothesize that competition moderates the relation between sticky spending and firm performance. Utilizing variations of tariff rates as exogenous shocks to reflect competition, we measure sticky spending in the firm's COGM and SG&A spending. To empirically verify our hypotheses, we draw data from three different sources, industry‐level tariff data, Compustat, and the Hoberg–Phillips data library, for firms in the manufacturing sector from 1974 through 2017. Our regression analyses confirm that managers maintain more stickiness in spending as competition increases. The market's assessment of firm performance (as measured by Tobin's Q) is largely positively associated with sticky spending as competition increases. This expectation of higher performance is evidenced by immediate improvements in the firm's return on assets (ROA) when we consider COGM spending, but not when we consider SG&A spending. Highlights: As competition increases, both COGM and SG&A spending exhibit stickiness; that is, firms decrease their spending less when sales decrease than they increase this spending when sales increase.Sticky spending is largely associated with higher Tobin's Q ratios for both COGM and SG&A as competition increases.Sticky COGM spending results in immediate performance benefits, as measured by return on assets (ROA) in the period immediately following the window over which sticky spending is measured, while the benefits of sticky SG&A spending take longer to manifest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Band gap and photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated for flame‐synthesized carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) of four different particle size distributions. The particles were collected by varying the flow rates of fuel and oxidizer in a controllable co‐flow diffusion flame. The results indicated the possibility of both direct and indirect band gaps in the synthesized CNPs. The band gaps were found to increase with a decrease in the particle size, thereby exhibiting the quantum confinement effect. The PL properties observed with the pure powdered sample showed strong emission in the green region. However, for samples dispersed in isopropyl alcohol, the emission wavelength shifts towards the blue region, showing strong solvent dependence. The particle size of CNPs, however, only affects the emission peak intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As cities expand, understanding how urbanization affects biodiversity is a key ecological goal. Yet, little is known about how host‐associated microbial diversity responds to urbanization. We asked whether communities of microbial (bacterial and fungal) in floral nectar and sugar‐water feeders and vectored by nectar‐feeding birds—thus forming a metacommunity—differed in composition and diversity between suburban and rural gardens. Compared to rural birds, we found that suburban birds vectored different and more diverse bacterial communities. These differences were not detected in the nectar of common plant species, suggesting that nectar filters microbial taxa and results in metacommunity convergence. However, when considering all the nectar sources present, suburban beta diversity was elevated compared to rural beta diversity due to turnover of bacterial taxa across a plant species and sugar‐water feeders. While fungal metacommunity composition and beta diversity in nectar were similar between suburban and rural sites, alpha diversity was elevated in suburban sites, which mirrored the trend of increased fungal alpha diversity on birds. These results emphasize the interdependence of host, vector, and microbial diversity and demonstrate that human decisions can shape nectar microbial diversity in contrasting ways for bacteria and fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]