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Contrary to differentiated cells, cancer cells predominantly convert glucose to lactate even under conditions of adequate oxygen supply ("Warburg effect"). The initial enzyme implicated in this route is hexokinase, which transforms D‐glucose into D‐glucose‐6‐phosphate. We proposed the use of different polyphenols (resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, pterostilbene, phloretin) and their derivatives (α‐glucosides and acylated α‐glucosides) to inhibit this enzyme. For this study, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae hexokinase, whose two isoforms show high resemblance at the active site with human hexokinase HK2. To monitor the reactions, a method of anion‐exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC‐PAD) was developed. Remarkably, most of the assayed compounds inhibited the enzyme more than 50 % in the standard assay. Among them, phloretin 4'‐O‐(6"‐O‐octanoyl)‐α‐D‐glucopyranoside showed the highest inhibition and was studied in depth to determine the inhibition pattern and inhibition constant. The Ki for glucose was calculated to be 22.1±0.4 μM. Computational models of inhibition were carried out with the three molecules displaying the highest inhibition, and correlated adequately with the observed inhibitory effects on the enzyme. The inhibitory effect of several of the assayed polyphenols on hexokinase and their lack of toxicity renders them promising candidates as adjuvant drugs for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes temperature and precipitation trends in the two National Parks located in the two highest mountain ranges on the Iberian Peninsula: the Sierra Nevada (Sierra Nevada National Park, SN) and the Pyrenees (Aigüestortes i Sant Maurici National Park, ASM). Special focus is placed on analysing disparities between the lowlands and the highlands, as well as the agreement between observational data and grid data (IBERIA01 and E‐OBS). For this purpose, a quality‐controlled and homogeneity‐adjusted database of the daily maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation (SMADS database) has been generated. Regional trends in mean temperature indicate that warming in ASM (0.17°C·decade−1) was greater than in the Sierra Nevada (SN) (0.13°C·decade−1) in the longest joint period, 1930–2020. For annual precipitation, the trends over the past nine decades were negative, although not significantly. Only the summer in SN showed a significant negative trend, which has intensified in recent decades to −13.4%·decade−1 for 1975–2020. A parallel evolution was observed in the annual mean temperature of the highlands (>1500 m) and lowlands (<1500 m) of ASM, with a common trend of 0.17°C·decade−1, while in SN negative elevation‐dependent warming was detected. Differences between lowlands and highlands were also noted in precipitation trends in both mountain ranges: a positive trend in precipitation was found in the lowlands while in the highlands practically null trends (ASM) or decreasing precipitation trends (SN) were detected. The comparison of the Spanish Mountain Adjusted Daily Series (SMADS) results with the IBERIA01 and E‐OBS grid series yielded differences no greater than ±0.2°C·decade−1. No notable differences were detected between the regional trends calculated with observational series or with grid series. These results worsened when the differences in the trends detected in the individual observed temperature series were compared against the corresponding grid series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical trials showed the efficacy of 300 mg/4 weeks of omalizumab (OMA) during 6 months in patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Nevertheless, in real life, many patients require higher doses and/or longer treatment. This study assesses the real‐life performance of OMA in severe CSU and identifies factors associated with the response. Methods: CSU patients eligible for OMA were recruited prospectively. Clinical data and a blood test were collected before OMA initiation. Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) was calculated at baseline and every 3 months during OMA treatment. CSU control was defined as UAS7 <7 points. This work was partially sponsored by OMA manufacturer. Results: Eighty‐nine adults (19.1% males) with severe CSU were recruited. Median duration of CSU prior to OMA initiation was 2 years, and median severity by UAS7 at baseline was 24 points (range 10–42 points). OMA controlled 94.4% of patients, but 17.9% of responders required doses >300 mg/4 weeks. A blood basophil count >20 cells/μL (OR 13.33; 95% CI 3.32–52.63; p <.001) and the absence of hypothyroidism (OR 3.65; 95% CI 0.78–16.95; p =.099) were identified as predictive factors to achieve control with 300 mg/4 weeks. Twelve patients were able to stop OMA during the study (responders in remission, RR). RR had received OMA for a median of 29 months (12–53 months). Conversely, 32 patients had been on OMA for >29 months at the end of the study (active responders, AR). AR had received OMA for a median of 45 months (30–100 months). There were no significant differences in clinical or analytical factors between RR and AR patients. Conclusions: Low blood basophil count and the presence of hypothyroidism might serve as biomarkers for the controller dose of OMA in severe CSU patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The clinical phenotype of Huntington's disease (HD) can be very heterogeneous between patients, even when they share equivalent CAG repeat length, age, or disease burden. This heterogeneity is especially evident in terms of the cognitive profile and related brain changes. To shed light on the mechanisms participating in this heterogeneity, the present study delves into the association between Tau pathology and more severe cognitive phenotypes and brain damage in HD. Methods: We used a comprehensive neuropsychological examination to characterize the cognitive phenotype of a sample of 30 participants with early‐to‐middle HD for which we also obtained 3 T structural magnetic resonance image (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We quantified CSF levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), total Tau (tTau), and phosphorylated Tau‐231 (pTau‐231). Thanks to the cognitive characterization carried out, we subsequently explored the relationship between different levels of biomarkers, the cognitive phenotype, and brain integrity. Results: The results confirmed that more severe forms of cognitive deterioration in HD extend beyond executive dysfunction and affect processes with clear posterior‐cortical dependence. This phenotype was in turn associated with higher CSF levels of tTau and pTau‐231 and to a more pronounced pattern of posterior‐cortical atrophy in specific brain regions closely linked to the cognitive processes affected by Tau. Interpretation: Our findings reinforce the association between Tau pathology, cognition, and neurodegeneration in HD, emphasizing the need to explore the role of Tau in the cognitive heterogeneity of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research enriches the current understanding of digital marketing knowledge acquisition through game‐based learning (GBL). The study is based on a sample of 476 participants who provided data before and after playing The Ecommerce Game(™). In this serious game, players must optimize the conversion rate of an e‐commerce venture. Data on key variables measuring players' digital marketing knowledge were collected. Before playing the game, participants reported on their perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and attitude. After the game, participants' knowledge, motivation, enjoyment, and concentration were measured. The purpose of this study was to determine the positive impact of GBL on the professional development of participants. Participants reported that the skills acquired in GBL improved their professional performance. Thus, the results suggest that acceptance of a game can be an effective tool for players to acquire knowledge of digital marketing and e‐commerce. The motivation from gameplay was significant in aiding participants' learning experiences. Encouragingly, participants expressed a willingness to replay the game, emphasizing the enjoyableness of the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesion to mucosal surfaces is a critical step in many bacterial and fungal infections. Here, using a mouse model of oral infection by the human fungal pathobiont Candida albicans, we report the identification of a novel regulator of C. albicans adhesion to the oral mucosa. The regulator is a member of the regulatory factor X (RFX) family of transcription factors, which control cellular processes ranging from genome integrity in model yeasts to tissue differentiation in vertebrates. Mice infected with the C. albicans rfx1 deletion mutant displayed increased fungal burden in tongues compared to animals infected with the reference strain. High‐resolution imaging revealed RFX1 transcripts being expressed by C. albicans cells during infection. Concomitant with the increase in fungal burden, the rfx1 mutant elicited an enhanced innate immune response. Transcriptome analyses uncovered HWP1, a gene encoding an adhesion protein that mediates covalent attachment to buccal cells, as a major RFX1‐regulated locus. Consistent with this result, we establish that C. albicans adhesion to oral cells is modulated by RFX1 in an HWP1‐dependent manner. Our findings expand the repertoire of biological processes controlled by the RFX family and illustrate a mechanism whereby C. albicans can adjust adhesion to the oral epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper develops a systematic procedure for formulating finite elements on manifolds. The theoretical developments give rise to a modular computational framework for composing coordinate transformations and manifold parameterizations. The procedure is demonstrated with the Cosserat rod model furnishing a novel finite element formulation that rectifies the lack of objectivity of existing finite elements without violating the director constraints or compromising the symmetry of the tangent stiffness at equilibrium. The framework is element‐independent, allowing its implementation as a wrapper to existing element libraries without modification of the element state determination procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Older adults with cancer facing competing treatments must prioritize between various outcomes. This study assessed health outcome prioritization among older adults with cancer starting chemotherapy. Methods: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial addressing vulnerabilities in older adults with cancer. Patients completed three validated outcome prioritization tools: 1) Health Outcomes Tool: prioritizes outcomes (survival, independence, symptoms) using a visual analog scale; 2) Now vs. Later Tool: rates the importance of quality of life at three times—today versus 1 or 5 years in the future; and 3) Attitude Scale: rates agreement with outcome‐related statements. The authors measured the proportion of patients prioritizing various outcomes and evaluated their characteristics. Results: A total of 219 patients (median [range] age 71 [65–88], 68% with metastatic disease) were included. On the Health Outcomes Tool, 60.7% prioritized survival over other outcomes. Having localized disease was associated with choosing survival as top priority. On the Now vs. Later Tool, 50% gave equal importance to current versus future quality of life. On the Attitude Scale, 53.4% disagreed with the statement "the most important thing to me is living as long as I can, no matter what my quality of life is"; and 82.2% agreed with the statement "it is more important to me to maintain my thinking ability than to live as long as possible". Conclusion: Although survival was the top priority for most participants, some older individuals with cancer prioritize other outcomes, such as cognition and function. Clinicians should elicit patient‐defined priorities and include them in decision‐making. In this secondary analysis of 219 older participants (median age 71 years) from a randomized trial addressing vulnerabilities in older adults with cancer, 61% prioritized survival over other outcomes such as maintaining their independence or being free from symptoms. Clinicians should elicit patient‐defined priorities and include them in decision‐making when discussing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adversity within low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) poses severe threats to neurocognitive development, which can be partially mitigated by high‐quality early family experiences. Specifically, maternal scaffolding and home stimulation can buffer cognitive development in LMIC, possibly by protecting underlying neural functioning. However, the association between family experiences and neural activity remains largely unexplored in LMIC contexts. This study explored the relation of early family experiences to later cognitive skills and absolute gamma power (21–45 Hz), a neural marker linked to higher‐order cognitive skills. Drawing data from the PEDS trial, a longitudinal study in rural Pakistan, we examined maternal scaffolding at 24 months and home stimulation quality at 18 months as predictors of verbal IQ, executive functions, and absolute gamma at 48 months for 105 mother‐child dyads (52 girls). Maternal scaffolding interacted with gender to predict absolute gamma power, such that higher maternal scaffolding was related to higher gamma more strongly for girls. Maternal scaffolding also interacted with absolute gamma to predict executive functions, such that higher gamma was related to better executive functions only when maternal scaffolding was average to high. Individual differences in early family experiences may partially buffer the neural underpinnings of cognitive skills from adversity in LMIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) is the gold standard treatment for end‐stage chronic osteoarthritis pain, yet many patients report chronic postoperative pain after TKR. The search for preoperative predictors for chronic postoperative pain following TKR has been studied with inconsistent findings. Methods: This study investigates the predictive value of quantitative sensory testing (QST) and PainDETECT for postoperative pain 3, 6 and 12 months post‐TKR. We assessed preoperative and postoperative (3 and 6 months) QST measures in 77 patients with knee OA (KOA) and 41 healthy controls, along with neuropathic pain scores in patients (PainDETECT). QST parameters included pressure pain pressure threshold (PPT), pain tolerance threshold (PTT), conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation (TS) using cuff algometry, alongside mechanical hyperalgesia and temporal summation to repeated pinprick stimulation. Results: Compared to healthy controls, KOA patients at baseline demonstrated hyperalgesia to pinprick stimulation at the medial knee undergoing TKR, and cuff pressure at the calf. Lower cuff algometry PTT and mechanical pinprick hyperalgesia were associated with preoperative KOA pain intensity. Moreover, preoperative pinprick pain hyperalgesia explained 25% of variance in pain intensity 12 months post‐TKR and preoperative neuropathic pain scores also captured 30% and 20% of the variance in postoperative pain at 6 and 12 months respectively. A decrease in mechanical pinprick hyperalgesia from before surgery to 3 months after TKR was associated with lower postoperative pain at the 12 months post‐TKR follow‐up. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that preoperative pinprick hyperalgesia and neuropathic‐like pain symptoms show predictive value for the development of chronic post‐TKR pain. Significance Statement: This study's findings hold significant implications for chronic pain management in knee osteoarthritis patients, particularly those undergoing total knee replacement surgery (TKR). Mechanical hyperalgesia and neuropathic pain‐like characteristics predict postoperative pain 1 year after TKR, emphasizing the importance of understanding pain phenotypes in OA for selecting appropriate pain management strategies. The normalization of hyperalgesia after surgery correlates with better long‐term outcomes, further highlighting the therapeutic potential of addressing abnormal pain processing mechanisms pre‐ and post‐TKR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 18F‐sodium fluoride (18F‐NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) has been validated as a useful imaging technique in the racehorse fetlock. The use of 18F‐NaF PET in the nonracehorse fetlock has not been reported. Objectives: To describe 18F‐NaF PET findings in nonracehorse fetlocks, to compare with computed tomography (CT) findings and to compare PET findings between horses with and without fetlock pain. Study design: Retrospective observational study. Methods: All horses undergoing 18F‐NaF PET and CT imaging of the fetlock between October 2016 and March 2021 were included in the study. Medical records were reviewed for associated lameness information. Results: Thirty‐six fetlocks (33 front and 3 hind) from 25 horses were included. The interobserver agreement for PET [0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.65)] was higher than for CT [0.47 (95% CI 0.43–0.51)]. Increased 18F‐NaF uptake was most common in the medial subchondral bone of the proximal phalanx (23/36), the dorsomedial (20/36) and dorsosagittal (16/36) metacarpal/metatarsal distal subchondral bone, whereas sclerosis was identified on CT in these areas in 22 of 36 (p > 0.9), 33 of 36 (p = 0.001) and 23 of 36 (p = 0.15), respectively. Significant correlations were found between PET grades and both subchondral sclerosis and resorption CT grades (p < 0.001, Spearman r = 0.19 and 0.21, respectively). Abnormal 18F‐NaF uptake in the proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) was identified in 12 of 36 of the fetlocks, which was more common than CT abnormalities (3/36, p = 0.02). Periarticular increased uptake was seen in 7 of 36 fetlocks, whereas osteophytosis was recognised on CT in 20 of 36 (p = 0.1). Maximal standardised uptake values (SUVmax) were significantly higher in painful than in nonpainful fetlocks (22.0 and 11.9, respectively, p = 0.038). Main limitations: Retrospective study and limited sample size. Conclusions: Overall PET and CT findings follow a similar distribution in their location. PET identified more abnormalities in the PSBs than CT. SUVmax is a pertinent factor to take into consideration for the assessment of the clinical significance of findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2022, the European Commission adopted a new European Union (EU) Solar Energy Strategy [1] aiming to ensure that solar energy achieves its full potential in helping to meet the European Green Deal's climate and energy targets. A goal of the strategy is to reach nearly 600 GW of installed solar photovoltaics (PV) capacity by 2030. While Europe is a pioneer in the definition of new policy requirements to ensure the circularity and sustainability of PV products, its manufacturing capabilities are limited. The EU mostly imports PV modules from China, which for the last decade has remained the global leader in PV manufacturing across the supply chain. This article aims to provide insight into the solar PV industry and the surrounding policy context, focusing on the manufacturing phase and its climate impact. It provides a comparative overview of the key players in the European and Chinese PV markets with an overview of the whole supply chain (i.e. production of polysilicon, cells, wafers and modules). Having in mind the net‐zero commitments across the globe, and a central role of the solar PV in the energy transition, the demand for PV products is expected to grow exponentially in the next decades. With this in mind, the authors look into environmental impacts from the PV manufacturing. A simplified analysis concludes on the suitability of the PV manufacturing process today and indicates the opportunities for the net‐zero transition in the future. While the focus is on the carbon impacts of the solar PV industry, the authors also identify other relevant aspects (such as circularity), laying the ground for a future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of hydrogen flow as a carrier gas on silicon oxycarbide thin films produced via hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) using tetraethyl orthosilicate as a precursor. Systematically varying the hydrogen flow rates, the influence on thin film composition, microstructure, and optical properties is investigated. Employing diverse characterization techniques, such as X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometry, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, it is revealed that there is a correlation between hydrogen flow rate and thin film elemental composition. Higher hydrogen flow rates result in increased silicon content and reduced contributions of oxygen and carbon. FE‐SEM images show agglomerates with improved homogeneity at higher flow rates. FTIR spectra highlight distinctive vibrational modes, including Si–H bonds. XPS confirms the emergence of Si–H bonds at elevated hydrogen flow rates. Ellipsometry indicates increased thickness and refractive index. PL spectra exhibit a broadband across the visible spectrum, influenced by hydrogen‐related defects and electronic transitions. This study provides findings for optimizing HWCVD parameters to tailor thin films for specific applications, emphasizing the important role of hydrogen flow as a carrier gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current outcome measures in digital mental health lack granularity, especially for single‐session interventions. This study aimed to address this by utilising natural language processing (NLP) methods to create a clear and relevant outcome measure. This paper describes the development of the Adult Session Wants and Needs Outcome Measure (Adult SWAN‐OM), a novel outcome measure for the Qwell digital mental healthcare platform to understand service user (SU) needs engaging in single‐session therapy (SST). Methods: The research employs a multi‐phased approach combining NLP methods with the typical stages of outcome measures development as follows: (1) assumption definition and validation with SUs and clinicians; (2) transcript theme extraction using the RoBERTa large language model (LLM) in conjunction with topic modelling to extract themes from 254 single‐session transcripts from 192 SUs; (3) clinical item refinement focus group; (4) content validity with clinicians and SUs to improve the relevance and clarity of the items; and (5) outcome measure finalisation in a workshop held with clinicians to consolidate the final wording. Results: Ninety‐six potential wants and needs were generated and distilled into 12 measure items. The outcome measure was shown to be relevant and clear to both SUs and clinicians when used in the context of SST. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of combining NLP approaches with co‐creation methods in single‐session outcome measure development. We argue that the incorporation of clinical expertise and SU experience ensures the clarity and applicability of such measures and that this approach to capturing single‐session wants and needs promises novel insights for supporting digital mental health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resurgence can be defined as increases in previously reinforced and subsequently extinguished target responding when conditions for an alternative response worsen. Worsening of alternative conditions, such as extinction, has been linked to relapse of clinically relevant behavior. Preclinical researchers have evaluated whether punishing target responses while differentially reinforcing an alternative response could reduce resurgence when conditions are worsened with extinction, with mixed results. In the present investigation, we systematically replicated this line of research with human participants recruited via crowdsourcing, using response cost as punishment. During Phase 1, we reinforced target responses with 100 points per delivery, exchangeable for money. During Phase 2, we reinforced alternative responses, discontinued point reinforcement for target responses, and parametrically manipulated across groups the magnitude of point loss (1, 100, 320, or 1,000 points) contingent on target responses. During Phase 3, we tested for resurgence by extinguishing target and alternative responses. Added punishment systematically decreased target responding during Phase 2 but did not influence resurgence during Phase 3. With a meta‐analysis, we compared our findings with existing research examining a range of punishers and species. The results of the meta‐analysis comport with the present findings, suggesting that the inclusion of punishment reduces target responding during DRA but, overall, has no systematic effects on resurgence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims Design, setting and participants Measurements Findings Conclusions Research examining how alcohol consumption changed across different socio‐demographic groups during the pandemic has largely relied upon convenience samples recruited after the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to measure whether the pandemic shifted alcohol consumption in different gender, age and income groups in Australia.This was a longitudinal study using four waves (2017–20) of the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey to compare pre‐pandemic consumption (2017–19) with consumption in 2020. A total of 11 636 participants in Australia aged 15 years and older took part.Participants were asked annually about their alcohol consumption, demographics and income.There was a statistically significant increase in alcohol consumption during the first year of the pandemic [incident rate ratio (IRR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1, 1.1], largely driven by changes in drinking frequency. We found a significant difference in consumption change from pre‐COVID‐19 to during COVID‐19 for participants aged under 55 years compared with those aged over 55 years. In addition, participants aged 15–34 reported less alcohol consumption during the pandemic than those aged 35 years and older. No significant differences were identified across gender and income groups.Alcohol consumption in Australia increased during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Survey participants aged 55 years and over seemed to be the least impacted by the public health measures introduced during the pandemic, such as the closure of licensed premises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) exhibit high levels of reactive oxygen species and low plasma levels of lipophilic antioxidants, which may contribute to end‐organ damage and disease sequelae. Apolipoprotein A1, the major apolipoprotein of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), is mainly secreted by the intestine and liver in the form of monomeric ApoA1 (mApoA1) present in plasma. Cholesterol and α‐tocopherol are delivered to ApoA1 via the ATP‐binding cassette transporter, subfamily A, member 1 (ABCA1). We measured cholesterol, mApoA1, ApoA1, and lipophilic antioxidants in the plasma of 17 patients with SCD and 40 healthy volunteers. Mean HDL cholesterol (‐C) levels in SCD patients and healthy subjects were 59.3 and 48.1 mg/dL, respectively, and plasma lutein, zeaxanthin, and α‐tocopherol were 64.0%, 68.7%, and 9.1% lower, respectively. To compare SCD to healthy subjects with similar HDL‐C, we also performed subgroup analyses of healthy subjects with HDL‐C above or below the mean. In SCD, the mApoA1 level was 30.4 μg/mL; 80% lower than 141 μg/mL measured in healthy volunteers with similar HDL‐C (56.7 mg/dL). The mApoA1 level was also 38.4% greater in the higher versus lower HDL‐C subgroups (p = .002). In the higher HDL‐C subgroup, lutein and zeaxanthin transported by HDL were 48.9% (p = .01) and 41.9% (p = .02) higher, respectively, whereas α‐tocopherol was 31.7% higher (p = .003), compared to the lower HDL‐C subgroup. Plasma mApoA1 may be a marker of the capacity of HDL to capture and deliver liposoluble antioxidants, and treatments which raise HDL may benefit patients with high oxidative stress as exemplified by SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Method Results Interpretation To examine the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow‐Up (M‐CHAT‐R/F), with follow‐up screening and diagnostic outcomes for children born preterm. A secondary aim was to examine diagnostic evaluation attendance after screening to inform clinical practice.Using a cross‐sectional design, 9725 toddlers (4951 males; 4774 females) whose gestational age was reported were screened at 15‐month, 18‐month, or 24‐month well‐child visits; screen‐positive children were invited for an autism evaluation. Screening measure performance and diagnostic outcomes were evaluated according to preterm classification (Screening: nExtPreterm = 111; nVeryPreterm = 186; nModPreterm = 1122; nFullTerm = 8306; Evaluation: nExtPreterm = 27; nVeryPreterm = 21; nModPreterm = 86; nFullTerm = 301).Screen‐positive rates were highest for children born extremely preterm (51.35%) and lowest for children born at term (6.95%). Evaluation attendance for screen‐positive cases did not differ according to preterm classification. Rates of autism diagnoses differed depending on preterm birth status: for children born extremely preterm, it was 16.05%; for children born very preterm, it was 2.00%; for children born moderately preterm, it was 2.89%; and for children born at term, it was 1.49%. M‐CHAT‐R/F sensitivity decreased with increasing gestational age, whereas specificity improved with increasing gestational age. Positive predictive value was highest for children born extremely preterm and children born at term. Negative predictive value was consistently strong across all groups. The likelihood ratio for positive screening increased with gestational age.The sensitivity and specificity of the M‐CHAT‐R/F are acceptable in toddlers born preterm. Autism screening‐positive rates and prevalence increased with earlier preterm birth. Those born extremely preterm showed the greatest likelihood of an autism diagnosis; screening should not be delayed based on adjusted age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze the criterion‐related validity and the reliability of the standing long jump test (SLJ) for evaluating the lower‐body explosive muscular strength in adults. A total of 410 adults participated in this study. Sociodemographic, anthropometric measurements, laboratory lower‐body muscular strength tests, and the field‐based SLJ were performed. In validity analysis, stepwise regression analysis showed that maximal horizontal power, sex, percentage of body fat, maximal horizontal force, and lean mass were significantly associated with the SLJ distance (R2 = 0.78; p < 0.001). Reliability analysis showed significant differences between test–retest in the SLJ test, with an overestimation of the second measurement compared to the first [12.14 ± 14.46 cm, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.94 (0.75–0.97), p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.31]. The coefficient of variation (CV) was 7.06% and the minimal detectable change (MDC90) was 29 cm. After a learning period, higher reliability values were found [0.45 ± 1.04 cm, ICC = 1.00 (0.99–1.00); p = 0.001; CV = 0.53 %; MDC90 = 1 cm]. The SLJ test may be a valid tool to assess lower‐body explosive muscular strength in the adult population. A learning period may be necessary to provide reliability on the SLJ test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass production of µLEDs requires an upscaling approach on 200 mm wafers, which implies the deployment of a technology that achieves zero defectivity without liftoff. In this report, Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) processing is successfully optimized for nanostructuring GaN‐based Silicon‐On‐Insulator (SOI) substrates. The etching of SiO2/GaN/AlN/Si/SiO2 layers using different plasmas is conducted and multi‐layer nanopillars 100–200 mm in diameter are fabricated. This approach generates zero‐defect arrays of pillars, which is particularly advantageous for the growth process. In addition, the SiO2 at the bottom of the pillar allows it to twist during the subsequent GaN regrowth, as this layer becomes soft at the growth temperature >1000 °C. This ability to deform enables a coalescence of pillars into layers with reduced dislocation density. As a result, high‐quality GaN microplatelets and µLEDs are grown via a bottom‐up approach based on pendeoepitaxy using metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). The fabricated µLEDs have a very smooth surface with a roughness of 0.6 nm which facilitated the implementation of an easy and simple transfer protocol. Adhesive tape and metalmetal bonding, are used to bond the µLEDs onto a metal‐coated silicon substrate. The reported findings offer exciting new insights into the development of high‐performance displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart polymers undergo significant physical or chemical changes in response to stimuli like temperature and pH. Achieving a narrow molecular weight distribution is crucial for their sensitivity. Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) in ionic liquids is an effective method for synthesizing such polymers due to its favorable kinetics and environmental benefits. Most studies use imidazolium ionic liquids, while pyridinium ionic liquids are less common despite their easy synthesis. This study reports the first successful RAFT copolymerization of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMEMA) and methyl methacrylate in N‐hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate ([HPY][PF6]). Both linear and hyperbranched copolymers (Mn > 25,000) with narrow molecular weight distribution were synthesized, showing observable temperature responses and biocompatibility. The linear copolymers had a desirable dispersity (Ð) of less than 1.10, while the hyperbranched copolymer had a Ð of 2.034. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the copolymers were close to or below the LCST of PDEGMEMA (26°C). This study indicates that pyridinium ionic liquids can be explored as a suitable solvent for synthesizing methacrylate‐based smart polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Biofortification of green leafy vegetables with pro‐vitamin A carotenoids, such as β‐carotene, has remained challenging to date. Here, we combined two strategies to achieve this goal. One of them involves producing β‐carotene in the cytosol of leaf cells to avoid the negative impacts on photosynthesis derived from changing the balance of carotenoids and chlorophylls in chloroplasts. The second approach involves the conversion of chloroplasts into non‐photosynthetic, carotenoid‐overaccumulating chromoplasts in leaves agroinfiltrated or infected with constructs encoding the bacterial phytoene synthase crtB, leaving other non‐engineered leaves of the plant to sustain normal growth. A combination of these two strategies, referred to as strategy C (for cytosolic production) and strategy P (for plastid conversion mediated by crtB), resulted in a 5‐fold increase in the amount of β‐carotene in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Following several attempts to further improve β‐carotene leaf contents by metabolic engineering, hormone treatments and genetic screenings, it was found that promoting the proliferation of plastoglobules with increased light‐intensity treatments not only improved β‐carotene accumulation but it also resulted in a much higher bioaccessibility. The combination of strategies C and P together with a more intense light treatment increased the levels of accessible β‐carotene 30‐fold compared to controls. We further demonstrated that stimulating plastoglobule proliferation with strategy P, but also with a higher‐light treatment alone, also improved β‐carotene contents and bioaccessibility in edible lettuce (Lactuca sativa) leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Methods Findings Conclusion Implications for nursing practice Propósito Métodos Hallazgos Conclusión Implicaciones para la práctica de enfermería This study has two objectives: (1) to identify the indicators of the nursing outcome “Knowledge: Wound management (3209)” related to the evaluation of knowledge about the care of surgical wounds; (2) to translate and culturally adapt the nursing outcome “Knowledge: Wound management (3209)” into Brazilian Portuguese and Colombian Spanish.This is a methodological study with two steps. Initially, a scoping review was conducted based on the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Subsequently, the translation and cultural adaptation of the outcome were performed by adapting Beaton's recommendations, which included the label, definition, indicators, and measurement scale.The review identified 31 indicators to evaluate knowledge about surgical wound care. Of these, 16 are described in the original outcome, and 15 new indicators are proposed to be included in the classification. Following this, the label, definition, indicators, and outcome measurement scale were reviewed, translated, and adapted with appropriate terminology for the cultural contexts of Brazil and Colombia.The outcome “Knowledge: Wound management (3209)” for evaluating the knowledge of surgical wounds consists of 31 indicators, all supported by scientific literature. The translated and adapted versions into Brazilian Portuguese and Colombian Spanish were found to be equivalent to the original. It is inferred that the identified indicators and the translated versions of the outcome will provide nursing professionals with an accurate assessment of knowledge about surgical incision wound care in daily practice.This study reviews the scientific literature on the outcome “Knowledge: Wound management (3209),” facilitating the comprehensive measurement of specific knowledge about the care of surgical wounds in practice, education, or research. Additionally, it makes available the translated and adapted versions of the outcome in Brazilian Portuguese and Colombian Spanish.Este estudio tiene dos objetivos: (1) Identificar los indicadores del resultado de enfermería “Knowledge: Wound Management (3209)” relacionados a la evaluación del conocimiento sobre el cuidado de las heridas quirúrgica; (2) traducir y adaptar culturalmente el resultado de enfermería “Knowledge: Wound Management (3209)” al portugués de Brasil y al español de Colombia.Estudio metodológico de dos pasos. Inicialmente, fue realizada una revisión de alcance orientados en la metodología de la Joanna Briggs Institute. Posteriormente, se realizó la traducción y adaptación cultural del resultado adaptando las recomendaciones de Beaton e incluyó la etiqueta, definición, indicadores y escala de medición.En la revisión fueron identificados 31 indicadores para evaluar el conocimiento sobre el cuidado de las heridas quirúrgicas. De los 31 indicadores, 16 son descritos en el resultado y 15 nuevos indicadores propuestos para ser incluidos en la clasificación. A continuación, la etiqueta, definición, indicadores y escala de medición del resultado fueron revisados, traducidas y adaptados con la terminología adecuada para los entornos culturales de Brasil y Colombia.El resultado “Knowledge: Wound Management (3209)” para el cuidado de las heridas quirúrgicas está compuesto por 31 indicadores todos sustentados con la literatura científica. Las versiones traducidas y adaptadas al portugués de Brasil y al español de Colombia del resultado fueron equivalentes al original. Se infiere que los indicadores identificados y las versiones traducidas del resultado le proporcionaran al profesional de enfermería una evaluación precisa del conocimiento sobre el cuidado de las heridas quirúrgicas en la práctica diaria.Este estudio revisa la literatura científica del resultado “Knowledge: Wound Management (3209)” favoreciendo la medición integral del conocimiento específico sobre el cuidado de las heridas quirúrgicas en la práctica, educación o investigación. Además, pone a disposición la versión traducida y adaptada del resultado en portugués de Brasil y en español de Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report from the International Union of Crystallography Commission on Magnetic Structures outlining the recommendations for communicating commensurate magnetic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial cells (ECs) form the inner lining of blood vessels and play crucial roles in angiogenesis. While it has been known for a long time that there are considerable differences among ECs from lymphatic and blood vessels, as well as among arteries, veins and capillaries, the full repertoire of endothelial diversity is only beginning to be elucidated. It has become apparent that the role of ECs is not just limited to their exchange functions. Indeed, a multitude of organ‐specific functions, including release of growth factors, regulation of immune functions, have been linked to ECs. Recent years have seen a surge into the identification of spatiotemporal molecular and functional heterogeneity of ECs, supported by technologies such as single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq), lineage tracing and intersectional genetics. Together, these techniques have spurred the generation of epigenomic, transcriptomic and proteomic signatures of ECs. It is now clear that ECs across organs and in different vascular beds, but even within the same vessel, have unique molecular identities and employ specialized molecular mechanisms to fulfil highly specialized needs. Here, we focus on the molecular heterogeneity of the endothelium in different organs and pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK Met Office state‐of‐the‐art, deterministic, convection‐permitting, coupled land‐atmosphere, regional weather forecasting system, known as the UKV or UK Variable resolution model (Tang et al. Meteorological Applications, 2013; 20:417–426), has been operational since 2015. Science updates are regularly made to the UKV land surface data assimilation scheme when those updates improve predictions of screen temperature and humidity, since these quantities have a direct impact on atmospheric states and weather forecasts. Less attention has been paid to whether UKV soil moisture analyses are close to independent, in‐situ soil moisture observations, partly because it is difficult to make meaningful comparisons between 1.5 km2 gridded model outputs and traditional point sensor measurements. Soil moisture is recognized to be important when hydrological forecasts for runoff and rivers are required. This is because soil moisture controls the extent to which rainfall can infiltrate the soil, and the amount of surface runoff affects the timing of peak river flows (Ward & Robinson, Principles of Hydrology. McGraw‐Hill Publishing Company; 2000; Singh et al. Water Resources Research, 2021, 57, e2020WR028827). Gómez et al. (Remote Sensing, 2020; 12:3691) report benefits to river flow forecasts when using soil moisture data assimilation in the UKV system instead of a daily downscaled product from the Met Office global model. The Met Office measures soil temperature and soil moisture at Cardington (Osborne & Weedon, Journal of Hydrometeorology, 2021, 22:279–295); there is no other UK Met Office site at which soil moisture is measured. In this study, we use field‐scale (~200 m radius) soil moisture measurements from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology's (UKCEH's) COSMOS‐UK network to provide independent verification and analysis of UKV soil moisture during summer 2018, an unusually dry period in the United Kingdom. We find that the match to COSMOS‐UK soil moisture observations is generally good, and that changes made to the land data assimilation approach during a recent operational upgrade had a generally beneficial impact on UKV soil moisture analyses under very dry conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of incorporating Indigenous science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into wildlife management in North America. The authors highlight the need for collaboration and inclusivity in studying and managing wildlife, including the perspectives of Indigenous communities, wildlife managers, researchers, and academics. The article reviews a book titled "Wildlife Stewardship on Tribal Lands: Our Place is in Our Soul," which explores the complex topic of Tribal wildlife stewardship in North America through essays, interviews, articles, poems, and artwork. The book covers various topics such as legal rights of sovereign Tribes, co-management of natural resources, and the reintroduction of threatened species on Tribal lands. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and respecting Indigenous cultures and knowledge in wildlife management. The book provides valuable insights and promotes ethical collaboration between Tribal and non-Tribal entities in wildlife stewardship. [Extracted from the article]

Cognitive processes deal with contradictory demands in social contexts. On the one hand, social interactions imply a demand for cooperation, which requires processing social signals, and on the other, demands for selective attention require ignoring irrelevant signals, to avoid overload. We created a task with a humanoid robot displaying irrelevant social signals, imposing conflicting demands on selective attention. Participants interacted with the robot as a team (high social demand; n = 23) or a passive co‐actor (low social demand; n = 19). We observed that theta oscillations indexed conflict processing of social signals. Subsequently, alpha oscillations were sensitive to the conflicting social signals and the mode of interaction. These findings suggest that brains have distinct mechanisms for dealing with the complexity of social interaction and that these mechanisms are activated differently depending on the mode of the interaction. Thus, how we process environmental stimuli depends on the beliefs held regarding our social context. We investigated the impact of social interaction on cognition, specifically the conflicting demands of social signals while suppressing irrelevant information using a human–robot handover task. Our results revealed that these demands interactively influence neural processes, and we identified the timing of this interaction. These findings have implications for sociocognitive neuroscience, illustrating how the brain handles complex social interactions. They also have relevance for robotics, emphasizing the negative impact of irrelevant robot behaviors on human cognitive processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high‐performance materials for electrochemical energy storage devices such as batteries, and supercapacitors is a significant topic in material chemistry‐based research. The high consumption and limited availability of numerous materials used in energy devices lead to the development of alternative, effective, and cost‐effective materials exhibiting superior electrochemical chemical performance. A porous activated carbon, derived from polyaniline (PANI) synthesized through chemical oxidative polymerization, can be considered a viable solution in this context. In this study, the electrochemical window of the nitrogen‐doped porous activated carbon was enhanced through a combined synthesis process involving the carbonization and activation of PANI nanotubes with KOH. Moreover, alternations in surface area and porosity were evaluated using BET analysis for the samples having PANI to KOH ratios 1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2. The results revealed a significant improvement in surface area and pore volume, increasing from 18 to 3535 m2/g from pure PANI to chemically treated samples. Among those materials, the PANI to KOH ratio of 1:1 exhibited the highest surface area of 3535 m2/g and the highest pore volume of 0.7131 cm3/g. Subsequently, the electrochemical performance of all materials was evaluated using a three‐electrode cell system and a symmetrical coin‐cell device. Electrodes fabricated with PANI to KOH ratio of 1:1 by weight showed better electrochemical performance in an aqueous electrolyte (6 M KOH) in both systems. This material exhibited the highest capacitance of 378 F/g (at 0.5 A/g) in the three‐electrode system and 143 F/g (at 0.5 A/g) in the SCCD. The SCCD achieved a maximum energy density of 23 Wh/kg with a power density of 544 W/kg. Additionally, these supercapacitors provided a good Coulombic efficiency of about 99% with capacitance retention of 97% at 7 A/g current density after 10 000 charge–discharge cycles. Further, this study expanded by investigating variations of electrochemical performance across various electrolytes, including aqueous, organic, and ionic liquids in coin‐cell supercapacitors. The findings reveal promising results, suggesting potential commercial applications for this facile approach to synthesize nitrogen‐doped activated carbon, especially for supercapacitors with aqueous electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating cell‐free nucleic acids are considered a promising source of biomarkers for diseases and cancer. Liquid biopsy biomarkers for brain tumours represent a major, still unmet, clinical need. In plasma, nucleic acids can be free or be associated with extracellular vesicles (EVs). Here we report an easy and reproducible method to analyse cell‐free nucleic acids in plasma and EVs by conventional flow cytometry easy to translate into the clinics. Nucleic acids associated with the EVs or present in plasma samples are stained by Pyronin Y, which is a fluorescent dye that is preferably binding double‐stranded nucleic acids. Fluorescent staining of EVs isolated from cell‐conditioned media is suitable for DNA and RNA detection by flow cytometry. The nucleic acids are partially protected from degradation by the EVs' membrane. Additionally, DNA and RNA can be stained in plasma samples and plasma‐derived EVs. Remarkably, analysis of plasma from patients and healthy individuals reveals a difference in their nucleic acid profiles. Taken together, our results indicate that the proposed methodology, which is based on conventional direct flow cytometry, is a promising easy tool for plasma nucleic acid analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Efforts to address the shortage of donor organs include increasing the use of renal allografts from donors after circulatory death (DCD). While warm ischemia time (WIT) is thought to be an important factor in DCD kidney evaluation, few studies have compared the relationship between WIT and DCD kidney outcomes, and WIT acceptance practices remain variable. Methods: We conducted a single‐center retrospective review of all adult patients who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from 2000 to 2021. We evaluated the impact of varied functional warm ischemia time (fWIT) in controlled DCD donors by comparing donor and recipient characteristics and posttransplant outcomes between high fWIT (>60 min), low fWIT (≤60 min), and kidneys transplanted from donors after brain death (DBD). Results: Two thousand eight hundred eleven patients were identified, 638 received low fWIT DCD, 93 received high fWIT DCD, and 2080 received DBD kidneys. There was no significant difference in 5‐year graft survival between the DCD low fWIT, high fWIT, and DBD groups, with 84%, 83%, and 83% of grafts functioning, respectively. Five‐year patient survival was 91% in the low fWIT group, 92% in the high fWIT group, and 90% in the DBD group. An increase in kidney donor risk index (KDRI) (HR 3.37, 95% CI = 2.1–5.7) and high CIT compared to low CIT (HR 2.12, 95% CI = 1.4–3.1) have higher hazard ratios for 1‐year graft failure. Conclusions: Increased acceptance of kidneys from selected DCD donors with prolonged fWIT may present an opportunity to increase kidney utilization while preserving outcomes. Our group specifically prioritizes the use of kidneys from younger donors, with lower KDPI, and without acute kidney injury, or risk factors for underlying chronic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the relationship between drought processes and crop yields in Moldova, together with the effects of possible future climate change on crops. The severity of drought is analyzed over time in Moldova using the Standard Precipitation Index, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, and their relationship with crop yields. In addition, rainfall variability and its relationship with crop yields are examined using spectral analysis and squared wavelet coherence. Observed station data (1950–2020 and 1850–2020), ERA5 reanalysis data (1950–2020), and climate model simulations (period 1970–2100) are used. Crop yield data (maize, sunflower, grape), data from experimental plots (wheat), and the Enhanced Vegetation Index from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellites were also used. Results show that although the severity of meteorological droughts has decreased in the last 170 years, the impact of precipitation deficits on different crop yields has increased, concurrent with a sharp increase in temperature, which negatively affected crop yields. Annual crops are now more vulnerable to natural rainfall variability and, in years characterized by rainfall deficits, the possibility of reductions in crop yield increases due to sharp increases in temperature. Projections reveal a pessimistic outlook in the absence of adaptation, highlighting the urgency of developing new agricultural management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Data on the prognostic impact of residual tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after tricuspid transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair (T‐TEER) are scarce. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate 2‐year survival and symptomatic outcomes of patients in relation to residual TR after T‐TEER. Methods and results: Using the large European Registry of Transcatheter Repair for Tricuspid Regurgitation (EuroTR registry) we investigated the impact of residual TR on 2‐year all‐cause mortality and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class at follow‐up. The study further identified predictors for residual TR ≥3+ using a logistic regression model. The study included a total of 1286 T‐TEER patients (mean age 78.0 ± 8.9 years, 53.6% female). TR was successfully reduced to ≤1+ in 42.4%, 2+ in 40.0% and 3+ in 14.9% of patients at discharge, while 2.8% remained with TR ≥4+ after the procedure. Residual TR ≥3+ was an independent multivariable predictor of 2‐year all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.30–3.26, p = 0.002). The prevalence of residual TR ≥3+ was four times higher in patients with higher baseline TR (vena contracta >11.1 mm) and more severe tricuspid valve tenting (tenting area >1.92 cm2). Of note, no survival difference was observed in patients with residual TR ≤1+ versus 2+ (76.2% vs. 73.1%, p = 0.461). The rate of NYHA functional class ≥III at follow‐up was significantly higher in patients with residual TR ≥3+ (52.4% vs. 40.5%, p < 0.001). Of note, the degree of TR reduction significantly correlated with the extent of symptomatic improvement (p = 0.012). Conclusions: T‐TEER effectively reduced TR severity in the majority of patients. While residual TR ≥3+ was associated with worse outcomes, no differences were observed for residual TR 1+ versus 2+. Symptomatic improvement correlated with the degree of TR reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We propose an empirical framework to measure the real‐time weakness of the global economy. This framework relies on nonlinear factor models to identify recessionary and expansionary episodes, fitted to several macroeconomic variables, for the largest advanced and emerging economies. The country‐specific inferences are then combined to construct both a Global Weakness Index and a Global Intensity Index. As new economic data become available from different regions, this information is continually updated to provide high‐frequency, real‐time insights into (i) the strength of the global economy, (ii) the economic regions supporting this strength, (iii) country‐specific and global risk assessments, and (iv) the intensity of recessionary and expansionary episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are among patients with highest risk of adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outcomes. Objective: We compared clinical outcomes in post‐HSCT patients with COVID‐19 before and during the Omicron period. Study Design: This was a retrospective study including patients post‐HSCT with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection from April 2020 to March 2023 at Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City. We describe their clinical characteristics and report the variables associated with severe clinical disease, hospitalization, and death. Results: Fifty‐three patients were included; 31 (58.5%) from the pre‐Omicron period and 22 (41.5%) from the Omicron period. Median age was 42‐years old (interquartile range 26–53), and 31 patients (59%) were men. Only four patients (16%) had received a vaccine prior to COVID‐19 diagnosis in the pre‐Omicron period versus 20 (91%) in the Omicron period (p < 0.001). COVID‐19 severe cases were more common before Omicron: seven patients (23%) versus two patients (9%). Only one patient (3%) received an antiviral in the pre‐Omicron period compared to 11 patients (50%) during the Omicron period (p < 0.01). COVID‐19‐associated mortality was almost double in the pre‐Omicron period (16% vs. 9%, p = 0.6). Conclusions: This study reports patients with a high proportion of severe outcomes during the first 2 years of the pandemic. Outcomes improved during Omicron with better access to vaccines and antivirals and no in‐hospital cases. Variables associated with worse outcomes were similar to other reports. Strengthening infection control measures in the hospital and better access to preventive strategies and therapeutic options are mandatory in these high‐risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural elements of bifacial photovoltaic (PV) systems, such as module frames, module supports, and torque tubes, affect module rear irradiance profiles through both shading and reflection. Standard bifacial energy yield models represent racking effects as a flat rear irradiance de‐rate factor; however, this neglects 1) the impact of racking reflection, and 2) the variation of racking effects over time. In this work, a differential irradiance approach is presented to quantify the effect of racking shading and reflection on bifacial rear irradiance. Using this method, racking effects on system energy yield, irradiance mismatch losses, and bifacial gain are calculated. This is applied to a single‐axis‐tracked 2‐in‐portrait bifacial PV system in Livermore, California with 74.5% reflective racking using bifacial_radiance ray tracing software. Racking reflection counteracts the irradiance reduction and mismatch losses caused by racking shading. Racking reflection reduces average rear irradiance shading by up to 19.2% per timestamp and 9.1% per year compared to absorptive racking. Racking effects vary diurnally, seasonally, and with respect to albedo. In a single day, the impact of racking on rear irradiance varies up to 14.6%. Applying this method will improve energy yield modeling accuracy of bifacial PV systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), except hyaluronan (HA), are sulfated polysaccharides that are covalently attached to core proteins to form proteoglycans (PGs). This article summarizes key biological findings for the most widespread GAGs, namely HA, chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS), keratan sulfate (KS), and heparan sulfate (HS). It focuses on the major processes that remain to be deciphered to get a comprehensive view of the mechanisms mediating GAG biological functions. They include the regulation of GAG biosynthesis and postsynthetic modifications in heparin (HP) and HS, the composition, heterogeneity, and function of the tetrasaccharide linkage region and its role in disease, the functional characterization of the new PGs recently identified by glycoproteomics, the selectivity of interactions mediated by GAG chains, the display of GAG chains and PGs at the cell surface and their impact on the availability and activity of soluble ligands, and on their move through the glycocalyx layer to reach their receptors, the human GAG profile in health and disease, the roles of GAGs and particular PGs (syndecans, decorin, and biglycan) involved in cancer, inflammation, and fibrosis, the possible use of GAGs and PGs as disease biomarkers, and the design of inhibitors targeting GAG biosynthetic enzymes and GAG–protein interactions to develop novel therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An original concerted antarafacial mechanism for the addition of diorganosilyl‐zinc reagents across the C−C triple bond of ynamides is computationally investigated using DFT calculations. This concerted mechanism, leading to a trans‐product in only one step, results in the formation of a Si−C and a Zn−C σ‐bond on opposite sides of the π‐system. We demonstrate that the mechanism going through a η2‐vinyl intermediate and the proposal of a radical chain pathway are energetically unsustainable. The retained concerted antarafacial pathway is tested on experimental selectivities: the regioselectivity, in favor of the silyl β‐addition in ynamide, and stereoselectivity, which is cis‐ with (Me2PhSi)2Zn but trans‐ with [(Me3Si)3Si]2Zn, are well reproduced by DFT calculations. The regio‐ and stereoselectivity are discussed using the activation strain model and a chemical bonding analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miniproteins constitute an excellent basis for the development of structurally demanding functional molecules. The engrailed homeodomain, a three‐helix‐containing miniprotein, was applied as a scaffold for constructing programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐1/PD‐L1) interaction inhibitors. PD‐L1 binders were initially designed using the computer‐aided approach and subsequently optimized iteratively. The conformational stability was assessed for each obtained miniprotein using circular dichroism spectroscopy, indicating that numerous mutations could be introduced. The formation of a sizable hydrophobic surface at the inhibitor that fits the molecular target imposed the necessity for the incorporation of additional charged amino acid residues to retain its appropriate solubility. Finally, the miniprotein effectively binding to PD‐L1 (KD = 51.4 nM) that inhibits PD‐1/PD‐L1 interaction in cell‐based studies with EC50 = 3.9 μM, was discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the existence of the obesity paradox in patients with COVID‐19 admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods: This was a multicentric retrospective cohort study including individuals aged 18 years or older admitted to the intensive care unit with SARS‐CoV‐2. Data were obtained from electronic medical records. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. Multiple logistic regression and restricted cubic splines analyses were conducted to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Results: From March 2020 to December 2021, 977 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 868 were included in the analysis. Obesity was identified in 382 patients (44%). Patients with obesity more often underwent prone positioning (42% vs. 28%; p < 0.001), although they used less vasoactive medications (57% vs. 68%; p < 0.001). The overall in‐hospital mortality was 48%, with 44% observed in the subgroup of individuals with obesity and 50% in those without obesity (p = 0.06). Patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 had the highest mortality. Conclusions: Obesity was not associated with higher mortality rates in critically ill patients with COVID‐19. Moreover, patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 had a higher mortality rate compared with those in higher BMI categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental education continuously strives to provide students with positive and meaningful learning experiences. Developing or improving a curriculum usually encompasses three main phases: design, implementation, and evaluation. Most research on curriculum development in dental education has focused on the last two phases. Our commentary addresses this gap by describing a new model for curriculum design that effectively guided the design phase of the complete overhaul of the four‐year Doctor of Dental Surgery curriculum at the School of Dentistry, University of Alberta. Built on the strengths of pre‐existing curriculum design models, the new model provided enough structure and rigour to support the complexity required during a complete curriculum redesign whilst still allowing sufficient consultation and flexibility to encourage stakeholder engagement. The steps of the new 4P's model (preparation, planning, prototyping, and piloting) and main actions within each step are described. Challenges observed in each step and strategies to address them are reported. Other institutions embarking on renewing or redesigning a curriculum at a program level may benefit from using a curriculum design process similar to the 4P's model. Recommendations are discussed including the inclusion of educational consultants in the curriculum renewal committee, the importance of a leadership that effectively supports curriculum reform, purposeful engagement of stakeholders during each step of the design phase and ensuring that project and change management occur concurrently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the evidence supporting the heritability and genetic basis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Data Source: Records were extracted from PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Review Methods: The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022357389) and includes a systematic review on the genetic contribution to SSNHL. The search strategy yielded 1.483 articles from electronic databases. After quality assessment, 34 records were selected, including 369.650 patients with SSNHL from nine prevalence studies, two familial aggregation studies, one twin study, and 22 genetic studies. The prevalence of SSNHL was calculated from data on its incidence from population‐based studies (period prevalence). To evaluate the heritability of SSNHL, the sibling recurrence risk ratio (λs) was calculated, by comparing the prevalence of SSNHL among siblings within the same generation to the estimated prevalence in the overall population. Genetic variants were grouped, based on the pathological mechanism related to SSNHL. Results: The prevalence of SSNHL ranged from 0.1% to 0.0003% in America to 0.12%–0.0093% in Asia. The estimated sibling recurrence risk ratio for SSNHL (λs = 20.8–83.3) supports a significant familial aggregation. Although several genetic variants were reported to be associated with SSHL in controlled studies, neither was replicated in an independent cohort. Conclusions: Evidence supporting heritability of SSNHL is limited to epidemiological studies showing prevalence differences across different populations and familial aggregation. Genetic studies are of low quality and they lack replication cohort to confirm their findings. According to its low prevalence, exome or genome sequencing familial‐based studies are needed to identify rare genetic variants in SSNHL. Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 134:3447–3457, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis is the consequence of chronic liver injury in the presence of an inflammatory component. Although the main executors of this activation are known, the mechanisms that lead to the inflammatory process that mediates the production of pro‐fibrotic factors are not well characterized. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in hepatocytes is essential for the regenerative processes of the liver; however, its potential role in regulating the fibrotic niche is not yet clear. Our group generated a mouse model that expresses an inactive truncated form of the EGFR specifically in hepatocytes (ΔEGFR mice). Here, we have analyzed the response of WT and ΔEGFR mice to chronic treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), which induces a pro‐inflammatory and fibrotic process in the liver. The results indicated that the hallmarks of liver fibrosis were attenuated in CCl4‐treated ΔEGFR mice when compared with CCl4‐treated WT mice, coinciding with a faster resolution of the fibrotic process and ameliorated damage. The absence of EGFR activity in hepatocytes induced changes in the pattern of immune cells in the liver, with a notable increase in the population of M2 macrophages, more related to fibrosis resolution, as well as in the population of lymphocytes related to eradication of the damage. Transcriptome analysis of hepatocytes, and secretome studies of extracellular media from in vitro experiments, allowed us to elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms regulated by EGFR that mediate hepatocyte production of both pro‐fibrotic and pro‐inflammatory mediators; these have consequences for the deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, as well as for the immune microenvironment. Overall, our study uncovered novel mechanistic insights regarding EGFR kinase‐dependent actions in hepatocytes that reveal its key role in chronic liver damage. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development and implementation of a multiple unmanned aerial vehicle system focused on coverage path planning on multiple separated areas capable of re‐planning the collective mission in case of unexpected events. For this purpose, we present a distributed‐centralized architecture that uses heuristic and computationally efficient methods to perform the planning/re‐planning and decision‐making tasks during the control of the mission execution. We performed a computational evaluation of the algorithms, comparing them with other proposals, together with experiments in simulated and real flights. The results show that the system can distribute tasks equitably among the aircraft in an efficient way, even in the middle of the flight, when facing unexpected events; and show a higher computational efficiency when compared to multiple proposals in the state of the art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gradient‐index (GRIN) lenses have long been recognized for their importance in optics as a result of their ability to manipulate light. However, traditional GRIN lenses are limited on a scale of tens of microns, impeding their integration into nanoscale optical devices. This study presents a groundbreaking self‐assembled method that overcomes this limitation, allowing for constructing GRIN lenses at an extremely small dimension. The self‐assembly process offers several advantages, including creating highly precise, scalable, cost‐effective, and complex structures that eliminate the need for intricate and time‐consuming manual assembly. By engineering densely packed arrays of metallic nanoparticles, exceptional control over the local refractive index has been achieved. This is accomplished by layer‐by‐layer assembly of gold nanoparticles of different sizes over silica beads. A GRIN lens light‐sink is built where light is preferentially directed toward the center, which is corroborated by measuring the fluorescence of Rhodamine B (RhB) in the inside. Unlike traditional bulky macroscopic GRIN lenses, light‐sinks boast a size under 2.5 µm. Notably, the self‐focusing effects of this design allowed us to track the growth of single‐nanoparticle layers using SERS (Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy). These results pave the way for designing and developing lens‐like devices at the nanoscale, allowing unprecedented light manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Methods Results Discussion and Conclusions Scientific Significance Limited research has examined how discrimination in young adulthood relates to substance use. We examined how multiple and specific types (e.g., race‐based) of experiences of unfair treatment are related to problematic alcohol and cannabis use.We analyzed cross‐sectional data from a diverse cohort of young adults (mean age 24.7) predominantly residing in southern California (n = 2303) to examine associations of multiple (count) and specific experiences (race‐, sexual orientation‐, gender‐based) of perceived everyday discrimination with self‐reported alcohol and cannabis use outcomes (consequences, use disorders, and solitary use). We also tested interactions between the three specific discrimination experiences and sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., race‐based discrimination × race/ethnicity).In this diverse sample (e.g., 47% Latinx/o and 22% Asian; 22% sexual/gender diverse; 56% female) of young adults, about 46% reported up to four different discrimination experiences and 27% reported race‐, 26% gender‐, and 5% sexual orientation‐based discrimination. Race‐ and gender‐based discrimination and experiencing more types of discrimination were associated with worse cannabis use outcomes. Race‐based discrimination was associated with fewer alcohol consequences and lower Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Associations with sexual orientation‐based discrimination and the interactions were not significant.Findings build on limited research on associations of discrimination with cannabis use in young adults. More work is needed to understand the mechanisms by which discrimination influences drinking behaviors.This study advances the field by examining the unique contributions of specific and multiple types of discrimination experiences in young adulthood, a critical developmental period in which substance use peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues for a broad definition of philosophical sources and how Indigenous traditional knowledge fits that definition. It concludes by showing how, following the previous two points, an Indigenous document such as the Huarochirí Manuscript can be considered a philosophical source by academic philosophers. The paper has three sections: the first deals with the methodological point of addressing what can be considered as philosophy. This section presents a conversational approach to philosophy. This approach, although broad, properly captures the practices of inquiring about philosophical issues as is commonly done in Western academic circles, but without excluding the practices of non‐Western cultures from being labelled as philosophical. The second section argues for the analytical distinction between a philosophical source, a philosophical text, and a philosophical insight. It shows that what makes a philosophical source such are the philosophical insights that it can provide. The final section shows how the Huarochirí Manuscript has merits making it worthy of being considered a philosophical source and thus a relevant academic source for those working in the field of philosophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]