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Summary: Adolescence is a high‐risk life stage for obesity. Digital strategies are needed to prevent and manage obesity among adolescents. We assessed if digital health interventions are contributing to disparities in obesity outcomes and assessed the adequacy of reporting of digital health equity criteria across four levels of influence within the digital environment. The systematic search was conducted on 10 major electronic databases and limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cluster‐RCTs for prevention or management of obesity among 10–19 year olds. Primary outcome was mean body mass index (BMI), or BMI z‐score change. The Adapted Digital Health Equity Assessment Framework was applied to all studies. Thirty‐three articles (27 unique studies with 8483 participants) were identified, with only eight studies targeting adolescents from disadvantaged populations. Post‐intervention, only three studies reported significantly lower BMI outcomes in the intervention compared to control. Of the 432 digital health equity criteria assessed across 27 studies, 82% of criteria were "not addressed." Studies are not addressing digital health equity criteria or inadequately reporting information to assess if digital health interventions are contributing to disparities in obesity outcomes. Enhanced reporting is needed to inform decision‐makers and support the development of equitable interventions to prevent and manage obesity among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background and Aims: Diminished quality of life has been well characterized in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH); however, the full spectrum of unmet needs is unclear. We hypothesized that there is a high burden of health‐related unmet needs in patients with AIH, and this burden differs by socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Members of the Autoimmune Hepatitis Association were invited online and by email to complete a modified version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient Needs Questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data were also captured. Low SES was defined as annual household income <30 k, education level below high school, or moderate–high concern for transportation, food or housing. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between unmet health‐related needs and SES. Results: There were 433 participants; 89.8% identified as women, 16.2% lived outside the US, and 25.6% were classified as low SES. Over 70% of respondents reported at least one moderate–high need in the health‐related unmet need domains. In multivariable logistic regression, patients in the low‐SES group reported significantly higher odds of unmet needs compared to the moderate–high‐SES group: for adequate information about side effects (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.06–2.53, p = 0.026), opportunity to speak with others with AIH (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.50–3.66, p < 0.001), healthcare professionals acknowledging patient emotions (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.56–3.74, p < 0.001) and being taken seriously by medical providers (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.34–3.28, p = 0.001). Conclusion: There is a high burden of health‐related unmet needs in all patients with AIH that is exacerbated by low SES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms that regulate multi‐annual population dynamics of rodent pest species of cereal crops is often unknown. Better knowledge of such aspects can aid pest management and in turn improve food security and human health. The patterns and processes of the population dynamics of Rattus argentiventer, in rice fields of Indonesia, and Rattus tanezumi, in rice fields of the Philippines were assessed in this article. RESULTS: The meta‐analysis of trapping data over 20 years in Indonesia, and 16 years in the Philippines indicated that rodent populations in rice fields did not show a regular multi‐annual pattern. Rattus argentiventer populations in Indonesia responded to less rainfall from the current year. Rattus tanezumi populations in the Philippines responded positively to both rainfall and rainfall anomaly with a 1‐year time lag. CONCLUSIONS: Our study of long‐term population data indicates that certain combinations of rainfall parameters could be useful to predict years when there is higher rodent abundance in rice fields. The key rodent pest species in rice fields in Indonesia (R. argentiventer) and the Philippines (R. tanezumi) differ, and the populations of each species respond differently to rainfall anomalies. Other factors such as crop cover and water availability may also be important and should be considered in future work. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing in America, contributing to various health risks. Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) receptor agonists have bloomed in popularity due to their efficacy and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for weight loss, igniting popularity on social media. This study focuses on the role of TikTok™ (ByteDance, Haidian, Beijing, China), a popular social media platform, in disseminating understandable and actionable information about the side effects of weight loss medications. Methods: The study analyzed the top 50 TikTok videos for each of the following hashtags: #ozempicsideeffects, #semaglutidesideeffects, #mounjarosideeffects, and #wegovysideeffects. Videos were evaluated based on their understandability and actionability using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) for audio‐visual (AV) products. PEMAT‐AV scores and popularity of videos were compared between hashtags utilizing one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA). An alpha of 0.05 was used, with Bonferroni correction. Results: A total of 165 videos were reviewed for PEMAT‐AV understandability and actionability scores. The total visibility of the videos reached over 19.4 million views. A majority of the videos were personal experiences (89%), with only 5% being health care education videos. The average understandability and actionability scores for all videos were 43% and 20%, respectfully. The data presented a difference between searched hashtags for both evaluation scores, p‐values of <0.001 and 0.093, respectively. Conclusion: TikTok videos covering weight loss medication side effects have poor understandability and actionability scores. This study highlights the opportunity for more educational videos produced by health care professionals on TikTok, and a potential need for health care organizations and/or colleges of pharmacy to provide education to health care providers on how to create quality content for medication education on social media‐based platforms. Further research is needed to evaluate the credibility of content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies identified increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) as a promising biomarker for parkinsonian disorders, suggesting a compensation to dying dopaminergic neurons. A correlation with 123I‐FP‐CIT‐SPECT (DaT‐SPECT) imaging could shed light on this link. Objective: The objective is to assess the relationship between CSF DDC levels and DaT‐SPECT binding values. Methods: A total of 51 and 72 Parkinson's disease (PD) subjects with available DaT‐SPECT and CSF DDC levels were selected from the PPMI and Biopark cohorts, respectively. DDC levels were analyzed using proximity extension assay and correlated with DaT‐SPECT striatal binding ratios (SBR). All analyses were corrected for age and sex. Results: CSF DDC levels in PD patients correlated negatively with DaT‐SPECT SBR in both putamen and caudate nucleus. Additionally, SBR decreased with increased DDC levels over time in PD patients. Conclusion: CSF DDC levels negatively correlate with DaT‐SPECT SBR in levodopa‐treated PD. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoplasmic reticulum stress triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR) to promote cell survival or apoptosis. Transient endoplasmic reticulum stress activation has been reported to trigger megakaryocyte production, and UPR activation has been reported as a feature of megakaryocytic cancers. However, the role of UPR signaling in megakaryocyte biology is not fully understood. We studied the involvement of UPR in human megakaryocytic differentiation using PMA (phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate)‐induced maturation of megakaryoblastic cell lines and thrombopoietin‐induced differentiation of human peripheral blood‐derived progenitors. Our results demonstrate that an adaptive UPR is a feature of megakaryocytic differentiation and that this response is not associated with ER stress‐induced apoptosis. Differentiation did not alter the response to the canonical endoplasmic reticulum stressors DTT or thapsigargin. However, thapsigargin, but not DTT, inhibited differentiation, consistent with the involvement of Ca2+ signaling in megakaryocyte differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the efficacy of aspirin use for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with incident atherosclerotic CVD and mortality in high‐risk type 2 diabetes. Method s : In this post hoc analysis, we included participants in the ACCORD trial without CVD at baseline. The association between aspirin use and the primary outcome (a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke or cardiovascular [CV] death) and all‐cause mortality was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusting for demographics, CV risk factors and comorbidities. Results: Eligible participants (n = 6330) were aged 62.8 ± 5.9 years at baseline, 43.8% of the participants were female, and 3026 (47.8%) used aspirin. Over a median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 4.9 (4.1–5.7) years, the number (%) of primary outcome and all‐cause mortality events in those who used aspirin (vs. those who did not), was 196 (6.5) versus 229 (6.9) and 146 (4.8) versus 147 (4.5), respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) associated with aspirin use for the primary outcome and all‐cause mortality were 0.94 (0.77–1.14) and 1.08 (0.85–1.36), respectively. Conclusion: In high‐risk individuals with type 2 diabetes, the use of aspirin for primary prevention was not associated with a decreased risk of incident CVD or all‐cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores cognitive place associations; conceptualised as a place‐based mental model that derives subconscious links between geographic locations. Utilising a large corpus of online discussion data from the social media website Reddit, we experiment on the extraction of such geographic knowledge from unstructured text. First we construct a system to identify place names found in Reddit comments, disambiguating each to a set of coordinates where possible. Following this, we build a collective picture of cognitive place associations in the United Kingdom, linking locations that co‐occur in user comments and evaluating the effect of distance on the strength of these associations. Exploring these geographies nationally, associations were shown to be typically weaker over greater distances. This distance decay is also highly regional, rural areas typically have greater levels of distance decay, particularly in Wales and Scotland. When comparing major cities across the UK, we observe distinct distance decay patterns, influenced primarily by proximity to other cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Native Americans and Latinos have higher COVID‐19 infection and mortality rates and may have limited access to diagnostic testing. Home‐based testing may improve access to care in rural and underserved populations. This study tests the effect of community health worker (CHW) support on accessibility, feasibility, and completion of COVID‐19 home testing among Native American and Latino adults living on the Flathead Reservation in Montana and in Yakima Valley, Washington. Methods: A two‐arm, multisite, pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted using block randomization stratified by site and participant age. Active arm participants received CHW assistance with online COVID‐19 test kit registration and virtual swabbing support. The passive arm participants received standard‐of‐care support from the kit vendor. Logistic regression modeled the association between study arm and test completion (primary outcome) and between study arm and test completion with return of valid test results (secondary outcome). Responses to posttest surveys and interviews were summarized using deductive thematic analysis. Findings: Overall, 63% of participants (n = 268) completed COVID‐19 tests, and 50% completed tests yielding a valid result. Active arm participants had higher odds of test completion (odds ratio: 1.66, 95% confidence interval [1.01, 2.75]). Differences were most pronounced among adults ≥60 years. Participants cited ease of use and not having to leave home as positive aspects, and transportation and mailing issues as negative aspects of home‐based testing. Conclusions: CHW support led to higher COVID‐19 test completion rates, particularly among older adults. Significant testing barriers included language, educational level, rurality, and test kit issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The under‐representation of non‐European cohorts in neurodegenerative disease genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) hampers precision medicine efforts. Despite the inherent genetic and phenotypic diversity in these diseases, GWAS research consistently exhibits a disproportionate emphasis on participants of European ancestry. This study reviews GWAS up to 2022, focusing on non‐European or multi‐ancestry neurodegeneration studies. We conducted a systematic review of GWAS results and publications up to 2022, focusing on non‐European or multi‐ancestry neurodegeneration studies. Rigorous article inclusion and quality assessment methods were employed. Of 123 neurodegenerative disease (NDD) GWAS reviewed, 82% predominantly featured European ancestry participants. A single European study identified over 90 risk loci, compared to a total of 50 novel loci in identified in all non‐European or multi‐ancestry studies. Notably, only six of the loci have been replicated. The significant under‐representation of non‐European ancestries in NDD GWAS hinders comprehensive genetic understanding. Prioritizing genomic diversity in future research is crucial for advancing NDD therapies and understanding. Highlights: Eighty‐two percent of neurodegenerative genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) focus on Europeans.Only 6 of 50 novel neurodegenerative disease (NDD) genetic loci have been replicated.Lack of diversity significantly hampers understanding of NDDs.Increasing diversity in NDD genetic research is urgently required.New initiatives are aiming to enhance diversity in NDD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is defined by β‐amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tau, but Lewy bodies (LBs; 훼‐synuclein aggregates) are a common co‐pathology for which effective biomarkers are needed. METHODS: A validated α‐synuclein Seed Amplification Assay (SAA) was used on recent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 1638 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants, 78 with LB‐pathology confirmation at autopsy. We compared SAA outcomes with neuropathology, Aβ and tau biomarkers, risk‐factors, genetics, and cognitive trajectories. RESULTS: SAA showed 79% sensitivity and 97% specificity for LB pathology, with superior performance in identifying neocortical (100%) compared to limbic (57%) and amygdala‐predominant (60%) LB‐pathology. SAA+ rate was 22%, increasing with disease stage and age. Higher Aβ burden but lower CSF p‐tau181 associated with higher SAA+ rates, especially in dementia. SAA+ affected cognitive impairment in MCI and Early‐AD who were already AD biomarker positive. DISCUSSION: SAA is a sensitive, specific marker for LB‐pathology. Its increase in prevalence with age and AD stages, and its association with AD biomarkers, highlights the clinical importance of α‐synuclein co‐pathology in understanding AD's nature and progression. Highlights: SAA shows 79% sensitivity, 97% specificity for LB‐pathology detection in AD.SAA positivity prevalence increases with disease stage and age.Higher Aβ burden, lower CSF p‐tau181 linked with higher SAA+ rates in dementia.SAA+ impacts cognitive impairment in early disease stages.Study underpins need for wider LB‐pathology screening in AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumour hypoxia promotes poor patient outcomes, with particularly strong evidence for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). To effectively target hypoxia, therapies require selection biomarkers and preclinical models that can accurately model tumour hypoxia. We established 20 patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) and cell line‐derived xenograft (CDX) models of HNSCC that we characterised for their fidelity to represent clinical HNSCC in gene expression, hypoxia status and proliferation and that were evaluated for their sensitivity to hypoxia‐activated prodrugs (HAPs). PDX models showed greater fidelity in gene expression to clinical HNSCC than cell lines, as did CDX models relative to their paired cell lines. PDX models were significantly more hypoxic than CDX models, as assessed by hypoxia gene signatures and pimonidazole immunohistochemistry, and showed similar hypoxia gene expression to clinical HNSCC tumours. Hypoxia or proliferation status alone could not determine HAP sensitivity across our 20 HNSCC and two non‐HNSCC tumour models by either tumour growth inhibition or killing of hypoxia cells in an ex vivo clonogenic assay. In summary, our tumour models provide clinically relevant HNSCC models that are suitable for evaluating hypoxia‐targeting therapies; however, additional biomarkers to hypoxia are required to accurately predict drug sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ∼173–164 Ma Papudo‐Quintero plutonic complex near 32.5°S in central Chile records three deformation events that provide insight into the tectonic development of the early Andean margin. The first event (D1) includes: (a) high‐temperature (>600°C), coaxial‐dominated strain along NE‐ to N‐striking subvertical shear zones; (b) widespread emplacement of granitic dikes that dip gently to steeply NE; and (c) development of narrow (<10 cm thick) strike‐slip and oblique‐reverse shear zones. These D1 structures record NW‐SE to WNW‐ESE transpressional shortening with a component of sinistral shear parallel to the N‐S trending magmatic arc. Zircon and apatite U‐Pb dates and cross‐cutting relations constrain most D1 deformation to ∼166–164 Ma. The second event (D2) occurred during postmagmatic cooling in the Late Jurassic and was characterized by development of pervasive E‐W‐striking veins with alteration halos and minor strike‐slip and normal faults that record N‐S extension in a transtensional regime. Structures associated with the last deformation event (D3) include Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous mafic dikes, veins, and conjugate strike‐slip faults that record NW‐SE to N‐S shortening in a strike‐slip regime. D1 deformation is consistent with studies from other areas that document NW‐SE shortening ± sinistral transpression along the arc throughout the Jurassic, suggesting this deformation was regional in scale and driven by oblique subduction convergence. Deformation associated with oblique convergence was localized within the active magmatic arc, which was an important process in the early Andean orogeny. As the arc migrated eastward, D2 and D3 structures formed in a low‐stress regime in an arc margin or forearc setting. Key Points: Three deformation events (D1, D2, and D3) are recorded in the ∼173–164 Ma Papudo‐Quintero plutonic complex in central ChileD1 records ductile NW‐SE transpressional shortening in the Middle Jurassic; D2 and D3 record brittle transtension or strike‐slip deformationD1 is consistent with regional oblique subduction convergence and localization of plate‐driven strain in the active magmatic arc [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are important sites for societal transitions towards sustainability, which is increasingly recognised around the issue of biodiversity conservation and protection. However, cities are often characterised by the need to develop and grow. Furthermore, efforts to promote sustainable development have been criticised as failing to address the fundamental causes of environmental destruction. In this article, based on interviews with bureaucrats and documentary analysis, I explore urban planning and biodiversity protection at four Swedish municipalities. Biodiversity protection has been an official goal in Sweden for 30 years. As such, my research aim is to explore how Swedish bureaucrats represent efforts to balance imperatives to develop cities and protect biodiversity. Taking an institutional approach, I identify what information is included and excluded. In assessing municipal discourse, I utilise the theory of sociocultural viability, which provides an analytical typology of four worldviews. I identify that within respondents' discourse, biodiversity primarily emerges as a product of a hierarchical view of reality, as a measurable object; an indicator; a characteristic; and as a provider that is both engineerable and replaceable. This was despite numerous respondents articulating an egalitarian desire for more holistic interpretations of biodiversity in urban planning, appreciative of its inherent worth. This suggests that biodiversity has largely been integrated into extant hierarchical conceptualisations of public administration. According to cultural theory, addressing wicked policy problems effectively requires insight from several of the typology's worldviews. As such, current practice may reiterate dominant contemporary views on nature rather than innovation towards a radically different society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A leading concern about single IRB (sIRB) review for multisite studies, as is now required by federal policies, is whether and how sIRBs consider local context in their review. While several types of local context considerations have been proposed, there is no shared agreement among those charged with the ethics oversight of human subjects research as to the goals and content of local context review, nor the types of research studies for which sIRB review might be inappropriate. Through a scoping review of published scholarship, public comments, and federal guidance documents, we identified five assumed goals for local context review: protecting the rights and welfare of local participants; ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies; assessing feasibility; promoting the quality of research; and promoting procedural justice. While a variety of content was proposed to be relevant, it was largely grouped into four domains: population/participant‐level characteristics; investigator and research team characteristics; institution‐level characteristics; and state and local laws. Proposed characteristics for exclusion from sIRB requirements reflected both protection‐ and efficiency‐based concerns. These findings can inform ongoing efforts to assess the implications of policies mandating sIRB review, and when exceptions to those policies might be appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education is a key global market and considerable literature has focused on investigating the determinants of international student mobility (ISM). However, less is known about the extent to which the relative influence of these factors is moderated by local conditions and vary across origin countries. Drawing on a unique data set of undergraduate applications from the UK Colleges and Admissions Service, we analyse variations in the contextual determinants of ISM flows to the United Kingdom across countries of origin over a 10‐year period (2009–2019). We run a suite of negative binomial gravity models to understand the key influences of ISM and uncover the spatial heterogeneity of these influences. Our findings reveal a nonlinear relationship between the level of development of origin countries and ISM flows. Although countries from higher development levels are more likely to send students to the United Kingdom, there appears to be a dip in applications at the mid‐levels of development. Given the nonlinearity of this relationship, we seek to understand how countries across different levels of development respond to the typical factors that are seen to influence flows of international students. We also see substantial heterogeneity of the influence of different factors for origin countries, with some countries being influenced by employment opportunities and others by cultural and linguistic ties. However, this variation is not necessarily determined by the countries' level of development. Our findings have implications for policy makers, educators and researchers seeking to navigate and influence global student mobility trends. Our study highlights the need for tailored strategies to attract and retain international students from specific origin countries, recognising the multifaceted nature of ISM determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field courses are widely regarded as integral to geography degree programmes, providing students with opportunities for experiential learning, often in unfamiliar international environments. Yet, this key area of pedagogy appears increasingly unsustainable and complex for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within the context of the urgent need for decarbonisation, increasing financial costs, and the institutional challenges of comprehensively embedding necessary Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) considerations into these activities. Here, we report on a national‐level workshop (April 2024) that brought together a wide range of HE practitioners to discuss the future of UK field course pedagogy, using the fieldwork principles adopted by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) (RGS‐IBG) in 2020 as a basis for framing future discourse. Using a Three Horizons approach to guide our conversations, we critically explored the (un)sustainability of current academic and institutional practices, alongside future directions and 'disrupting' (innovative) practices for promoting transformative change in this area of education. Here, we argue for two sector‐wide discussions that require collaborative engagement with practitioners, institutions and students. Firstly, we highlight the urgent need for transparent and critical reflection on the challenges and hypocrisy of aeromobility in academia and the need for more widespread adoption of low‐carbon ('slower') modes of travel. Secondly, we call for the immediate reconceptualization of field course pedagogy to place EDI considerations at the core of field course design and practice, aiding a transition towards Universal Design for Learning (UDL). As such, we call on the geography community in higher education to engage in critical reflection on how we take meaningful and urgent action to address the disconnect between our stated educational values around environmental sustainability and EDI, and our actual educational practices. Geography field course pedagogy in UK HE appears increasingly unsustainable and complex for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). We report on a national‐level workshop (April 2024) that brought together a wide range of HE practitioners to discuss the future of UK field course pedagogy. We highlight important and urgent debates and actions required to transform field course pedagogy within the context of environmental sustainability and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of working from home patterns in England using data from the 2021 Census to understand (1) how patterns of working from home (WFH) in England have shifted since the COVID‐19 pandemic and (2) whether human mobility indicators, specifically Google Community Mobility Reports, provide a reliable proxy for WFH patterns recorded by the 2021 Census, providing a formal evaluation of the reliability of such datasets, whose applications have grown exponentially over the COVID‐19 pandemic. We find that WFH patterns recorded by the 2021 Census were unique compared with previous UK censuses, reflecting an unprecedented increase likely caused by persistent changes to employment during the COVID‐19 pandemic, with a clear social gradient emerging across the country. We also find that Google mobility in 'Residential' and 'Workplace' settings provides a reliable measurement of the distribution of WFH populations across Local Authorities, with varying uncertainties for mobility indicators collected in different settings. These findings provide insights into the utility of such datasets to support population research in intercensal periods, where shifts may be occurring, but can be difficult to quantify empirically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UK‐wide multivariate neighbourhood classifications have been built using small area population data following every census since 1971, and have been built using Output Area geographies since 2001. Policy makers in both the public and private sectors find such taxonomies, typically arranged into hierarchies of Supergroups, Groups and Subgroups, useful across a wide range of applications in business and service planning. Recent and forthcoming releases of small area census statistics pose new methodological challenges. For example, the 2022 Scottish Census was carried out a year after those in other UK nations, and some of the variables now collected across different jurisdictions do not bear direct comparison with one another. Here we develop a methodology to accommodate these issues alongside the more established procedures of variable selection, standardisation, transformation, class definition and labelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research letter discusses a novel model for low vision screening and evaluation in hospitalized older adults. The study was conducted at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System (RHJVAHCS) Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) unit, where comprehensive visual assessments and interventions were provided at the bedside. The study found that a high percentage of patients benefited from visual impairment identification and intervention, highlighting the importance of addressing visual health in the acute care setting. The study also identified barriers and challenges to implementing this model and provided recommendations for improvement. [Extracted from the article]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a global health challenge, yet historically studies of PD have taken place predominantly in European populations. Recent genetics research conducted in non‐European populations has revealed novel population‐specific genetic loci linked to PD risk, highlighting the importance of studying PD globally. These insights have broadened our understanding of PD etiology, which is crucial for developing disease‐modifying interventions. This review comprehensively explores the global genetic landscape of PD, emphasizing the scientific rationale for studying underrepresented populations. It underscores challenges, such as genotype–phenotype heterogeneity and inclusion difficulties for non‐European participants, emphasizing the ongoing need for diverse and inclusive research in PD. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:831–842 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supporting student interest in science is critical for broadening participation in the field because interest, even more than achievement, is associated with pursuing future science education and careers. In this study, we explore the conjecture that equitable classroom cultures can support interest in science. Specifically, we examine the idea that science classroom cultures that equitably reflect collective enterprise (where students engage collaboratively in scientific sensemaking) and care (where students believe that they are valued and respected members of the classroom community) support students, particularly those from historically marginalized populations, to develop interest in science. The study is part of a field test of a new middle school science curriculum called OpenSciEd. Data consist of survey responses from 847 students across 34 teachers located in nine states. Our analysis employed mixedeffects models to accommodate the nested structure of the data. We found that classrooms vary substantially in the degree to which they reflect collective enterprise and care, indicating that classroom culture is a perceptible and consequential feature of the shared classroom environment. Student background did not predict reports of collective enterprise or care, providing evidence that classrooms in our sample were equitable along these dimensions. Critically, collective enterprise and care are both strongly associated with student-reported interest in science. These findings underscore the importance of attending to classroom culture and the relational aspects of science learning as we seek to expand interest in science, particularly for students from historically marginalized populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an inverted u‐shaped relationship between age and wages in most labor markets, but the effects of age on productivity are often unclear. We use panel data in a market of high earners, professional footballers (soccer players) in North America, to estimate age‐productivity and age‐wage profiles. We find stark differences; wages increase for several years after productivity has peaked, before dropping sharply at the end of a career. This poses the question: why are middle‐aged workers seemingly overpaid? We investigate a range of possible mechanisms that could be responsible, only finding evidence that tentatively supports a talent discovery theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is an early feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Damaging coding variants in Glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) are a genetic risk factor for RBD. Recently, a population-specific non-coding risk variant (rs3115534) was found to be associated with PD risk and earlier onset in individuals of African ancestry. Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether the GBA1 rs3115534 PD risk variant is associated with RBD in persons with PD. Methods: We studied 709 persons with PD and 776 neurologically healthy controls from Nigeria. All DNA samples were genotyped and imputed, and the GBA1 rs3115534 risk variant was extracted. The RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ) was used to assess symptoms of possible RBD. Results: RBD was present in 200 PD (28.2%) and 51 (6.6%) controls. We identified that the non-coding GBA1 rs3115534 risk variant is associated with possible RBD in individuals of Nigerian origin (β, 0.3640; standard error [SE], 0.103, P = 4.093e(04), as well as in all samples after adjusting for PD status (β, 0.2542; SE, 0.108; P = 0.019) suggesting that although noncoding, this variant may have the same downstream consequences as GBA1 coding variants. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the non-coding GBA1 rs3115534 risk variant is associated with an increasing number of RBD symptoms in persons with PD of Nigerian origin. Further research is needed to assess if this variant is also associated with polysomnography-defined RBD and with RBD symptoms in DLB. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article consists of an introduction to the theory of nonassociative geometric classical and quantum information flows defined by star products with R‐flux deformations in string gravity. Corresponding nonassociative generalizations of the concepts of classical Shannon entropy, quantum von Neumann entropy, Rényi entropy are formulated. The fundamental geometric and quantum information objects are computed following the Grigori Perelman statistical thermodynamic approach to Ricci flows and gravity theories generalized for phase spaces modeled as (co) tangent Lorentz bundles. Nonassociative parametric deformations and nonholonomic thermo‐geometric versions of statistical generating functions, their quantum analogues as density matrices are considered for deriving the entropy, energy and fluctuation functionals. This allows us to define and compute respective classical and quantum relative and conditional entropies, mutual information and nonassociative entanglement and thermodynamic information variables. The principles of nonassociative quantum geometric and information flow theory, QGIF, and study the basic properties of such quasi‐stationary models related to modified gravity theories are formulated. Applications are considered for nonassociative deformed and entangled couples of four‐dimensional (4‐d), wormholes (defined by respective spacetime and/or momentum type coordinates) and nonassociative QGIFs of 8‐d phase space generalized wormholes configurations. Finally, phase space black holes and wormholes being transversable for nonassociative qubits, quantum channels and entanglement witness are speculated; thought and laboratory experiments are discussed; and perspectives for quantum computer modeling and tests of nonassociative geometric flow and gravity theories are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 4 (SCA4) is an autosomal dominant ataxia with invariable sensory neuropathy originally described in a family with Swedish ancestry residing in Utah more than 25 years ago. Despite tight linkage to the 16q22 region, the molecular diagnosis has since remained elusive. Objectives: Inspired by pathogenic structural variation implicated in other 16q‐ataxias with linkage to the same locus, we revisited the index SCA4 cases from the Utah family using novel technologies to investigate structural variation within the candidate region. Methods: We adopted a targeted long‐read sequencing approach with adaptive sampling on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platform that enables the detection of segregating structural variants within a genomic region without a priori assumptions about any variant features. Results: Using this approach, we found a heterozygous (GGC)n repeat expansion in the last coding exon of the zinc finger homeobox 3 (ZFHX3) gene that segregates with disease, ranging between 48 and 57 GGC repeats in affected probands. This finding was replicated in a separate family with SCA4. Furthermore, the estimation of this GGC repeat size in short‐read whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of 21,836 individuals recruited to the 100,000 Genomes Project in the UK and our in‐house dataset of 11,258 exomes did not reveal any pathogenic repeats, indicating that the variant is ultrarare. Conclusions: These findings support the utility of adaptive long‐read sequencing as a powerful tool to decipher causative structural variation in unsolved cases of inherited neurological disease. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Why only half of the idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (IPN) patients develop neuropathic pain remains unknown. By conducting a proteomics analysis on IPN patients, we aimed to discover proteins and new pathways that are associated with neuropathic pain. Methods: We conducted unbiased mass‐spectrometry proteomics analysis on blood plasma from 31 IPN patients with severe neuropathic pain and 29 IPN patients with no pain, to investigate protein biomarkers and protein–protein interactions associated with neuropathic pain. Univariate modeling was done with linear mixed modeling (LMM) and corrected for multiple testing. Multivariate modeling was performed using elastic net analysis and validated with internal cross‐validation and bootstrapping. Results: In the univariate analysis, 73 proteins showed a p‐value <.05 and 12 proteins showed a p‐value <.01. None were significant after Benjamini–Hochberg adjustment for multiple testing. Elastic net analysis created a model containing 12 proteins with reasonable discriminatory power to differentiate between painful and painless IPN (false‐negative rate 0.10, false‐positive rate 0.18, and an area under the curve 0.75). Eight of these 12 proteins were clustered into one interaction network, significantly enriched for the complement and coagulation pathway (Benjamini–Hochberg adjusted p‐value =.0057), with complement component 3 (C3) as the central node. Bootstrap validation identified insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), complement factor H‐related protein 4 (CFHR4), and ferritin light chain (FTL), as the most discriminatory proteins of the original 12 identified. Interpretation: This proteomics analysis suggests a role for the complement system in neuropathic pain in IPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationships between natural resources, foreign direct investment (FDI) and the quality of national institutions, also known as "the rules of the game". Using a data set of 69 developing countries over the period 1970–2015 to estimate a dynamic panel data model, we find negative and significant effects of natural resources use or extraction on the development of national institutions. We focus on legal and property rights, but these findings also apply to the quality of some other national institutions. Our results align with a theory that abundant natural resources lead to weakened institutions because of the potential for firms to secure monopoly rents. Furthermore, we find that the effects of FDI inflows on institutional development are not robust to controlling for natural resources rents. This suggests that the latter tend to erode institutions regardless of whether those resources are exploited alongside increased foreign investment into the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID–19 pandemic has greatly affected college students nationwide. Recent research suggests that the COVID–19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted African–American young adults. The infection case rates, hospitalizations, and death rates in African–American populations are 2–5 times higher than among White populations. The intergenerational trauma and systemic racism that African–Americans have faced in past and present times have fomented conditions that lead to vulnerability within this historically resilient community. These stresses and losses increase the risks of anxiety and substance use. This study examined the relationship between COVID‐19‐related anxiety and substance use, and how adaptive coping and optimism influence this relationship in African–Americans young adults. Results reveal that COVID‐related anxiety predicts alcohol and drug use. Optimism and adaptive coping are related to lower pandemic‐related anxiety, alcohol, and drug use among African–American young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging adults experience increased health vulnerability and compromised abilities to cope with stressors, which are the clinical manifestations of frailty. Frailty is complex, and efforts to identify biomarkers to detect frailty and pre‐frailty in the clinical setting are rarely reproduced across cohorts. We developed a predictive model incorporating biological and clinical frailty measures to identify robust biomarkers across data sets. Data were from two large cohorts of older adults: "Invecchiare in Chianti (Aging in Chianti, InCHIANTI Study") (n = 1453) from two small towns in Tuscany, Italy, and replicated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) (n = 6508) from four U.S. communities. A complex systems approach to biomarker selection with a tree‐boosting machine learning (ML) technique for supervised learning analysis was used to examine biomarker population differences across both datasets. Our approach compared predictors with robust, pre‐frail, and frail participants and examined the ability to detect frailty status by race. Unique biomarker features identified in the InCHIANTI study allowed us to predict frailty with a model accuracy of 0.72 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66–0.80). Replication models in ARIC maintained a model accuracy of 0.64 (95% CI 0.66–0.72). Frail and pre‐frail Black participant models maintained a lower model accuracy. The predictive panel of biomarkers identified in this study may improve the ability to detect frailty as a complex aging syndrome in the clinical setting. We propose several concrete next steps to keep research moving toward detecting frailty with biomarker‐based detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the impact of rodents on agriculture, health, and biodiversity, with a particular focus on Africa. It acknowledges that while rodents make up a significant portion of mammalian species, only a small percentage of them have negative effects. The article highlights the 7th International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management, which concentrated on rodent biology and biodiversity in African highlands and mountains. It discusses the shift in focus from previous conferences, including increased research on fertility control of rodents and a greater emphasis on the One Health approach to rodent-borne diseases. The article covers various topics related to rodent biology and management, such as reducing flea and rodent populations simultaneously to prevent disease transmission and efforts in New Zealand to eradicate invasive rodents for the conservation of endemic wildlife. It also explores adaptations of rodent sensory systems, developments in rodent taxonomy, strategies for dealing with dietary toxins, and the use of African giant pouched rats for tasks like landmine detection and disease detection. The article underscores the importance of long-term population studies in understanding rodent populations and their impact on agriculture and human health. It concludes by acknowledging the contributions of researchers in the field and announcing the next International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management in 2025. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Gene therapy is now a reality for individuals with haemophilia, yet little is known regarding the quality‐of‐life impact of factor correction. As few data exist, and recognizing the analogy to liver transplantation (OLTX), we identified OLTX+ and OLTX‐ men in the ATHNdataset to compare post‐OLTX factor VIII and IX on quality of life (QoL) by Haem‐A‐QoL and PROMIS‐29. Methods: OLTX‐ were matched to OLTX+ by age, race, and haemophilia type and severity. Deidentified demographic data, including post‐transplant factor levels, genotype and target joint disease were analysed by descriptive statistics. Haem‐A‐Qol and PROMIS‐29 were compared in OLTX+ and OLTX‐ by student's t‐test and univariate regression models. Results: Of 86 people with haemophilia A (HA) or haemophilia B (HB) cared for at 10 haemophilia treatment centers (HTCs), 21 (24.4%) OLTX+ and 65 (75.6%) OLTX‐ were identified. OLTX+ and OLTX‐ had a similar frequency of target joint disease (p =.806), HA genotypes, null versus non‐null (p =.696), and HIV infection (p =.316). At a median 9.2 years post‐OLTX, median FVIII,.63 IU/mL [IQR 0.52–0.97] and FIX,.91 IU/mL [IQR.63–1.32], Haem‐A‐QoL, PROMIS‐29, and HOT scores were comparable. Severe HA/HB had lower post‐OLTX 'dealing with haemophilia' scores (p =.022) and higher 'sports and leisure' (p =.010) and 'view of yourself' scores (p =.024) than OLTX+ non‐severe participants. Non‐caucasian OLTX+ had significantly lower scores in sports and leisure (p =.042), future expectations (p =.021) and total score (p =.010). Conclusion: Nine years after OLTX, QoL is comparable to OLTX–, but significantly better in OLTX+ with severe than non‐severe disease and in caucasians than non‐caucasians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaningful participation in science and engineering practices requires that students make their thinking visible to others and build on one another's ideas. But sharing ideas with others in small groups and classrooms carries social risk, particularly for students from nondominant groups and communities. In this paper, we explore how students' perceptions of classrooms shape their contributions to classroom knowledge building in science across a wide range of classrooms. We examine the claim that when students feel a sense of belonging in class, they contribute more and perceive their ideas to be more influential in knowledge building. Data comes from classroom exit tickets (n = 10,194) administered in 146 classrooms as part of a 10‐state field test of a new middle‐school science curriculum, OpenSciEd, which were analyzed using mixed effects models. We found that students' sense of belonging predicted the degree to which they contributed ideas out loud in class (Odds ratio = 1.57) as well as the degree to which they perceived their contributions as influencing others (Odds ratio = 1.53). These relationships were particularly strong for students who reported a lower a sense of belonging. We also found significant differences by both race and gender in whether students said they contributed and believed their ideas influenced those of others. These findings suggest that a learner's sense of belonging in class and willingness to contribute may be mutually reinforcing, highlighting the need to promote content‐specific strategies to foster belonging in ways that support collaborative knowledge building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tau pathology is strongly associated with clinical symptoms, possibly (partly) through the manifestation of neurodegeneration. However, independent pathways between tau pathology and clinical symptoms have been suggested. Longitudinal studies investigating the role of tau vs neurodegeneration on cognitive and behavioral changes across the AD clinical spectrum are relatively lacking. Method: We included n = 482 individuals from the Swedish‐BioFINDER‐2‐study who had undergone longitudinal neuropsychological assessments and [18F]RO948‐tau‐PET and 3T‐MRI, of whom n = 157 were amyloid‐beta positive (A+) cognitively unimpaired (CU), and n = 326 A+ cognitively impaired (CI) individuals, and calculated SUVRs and cortical thickness in multiple regions(i.e. medial‐temporal, lateral‐temporal, medial‐parietal, lateral‐parietal, frontal, occipital, whole‐brain). Mean follow‐up time was 1.63(1.29) years. Linear‐Mixed‐Effects‐models with random‐intercepts and fixed‐slopes were performed, adjusting for age, sex, and education, applying FDR‐correction, with both baseline and rate‐of‐change in tau‐PET or MRI (the annualized difference between baseline and 2 year follow‐up) as predictors and MMSE, mPACC5 or the Mild Behavioral Inventory (MBI) as outcomes. Post‐hoc analyses included corrections for the other modality and serial mediation analyses (n = 1000 bootstrap iterations). Result: Linear‐Mixed‐Effects‐models with baseline tau‐PET or MRI as predictors showed stronger associations between tau‐PET and cognitive and behavioral changes over time than cortical thickness, which were more pronounced in CI than CU individuals (Figure 1). Analyses with rate‐of‐change in tau‐PET or MRI as predictors showed stronger associations for tau‐PET in CU individuals, but superiority of MRI in CI individuals, which was confirmed when correcting for the other modality, i.e. assessing independent effects (Figure 2). No significant associations were found between rate‐of‐change in tau‐PET or MRI and longitudinal MBI (all p>0.05; data not shown). Serial mediation analyses revealed no mediating effect of rate‐of‐change in tau‐PET or MRI between baseline tau‐PET and cognition over time in CU, while in CI, rate‐of‐change in MRI did show a significant mediating effect (p = 0.002; Figure 3). Conclusion: Tau‐PET showed stronger associations with cognitive and behavioral changes over time than cortical thickness at baseline across the AD clinical spectrum. However, assessing rate‐of‐change, MRI showed superiority over tau‐PET in CI individuals, suggesting differential contributions of tau pathology vs neurodegeneration in different disease stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetics and omics studies of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia subtypes enhance our understanding of underlying mechanisms and pathways that can be targeted. We identified key remaining challenges: First, can we enhance genetic studies to address missing heritability? Can we identify reproducible omics signatures that differentiate between dementia subtypes? Can high‐dimensional omics data identify improved biomarkers? How can genetics inform our understanding of causal status of dementia risk factors? And which biological processes are altered by dementia‐related genetic variation? Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning approaches give us powerful new tools in helping us to tackle these challenges, and we review possible solutions and examples of best practice. However, their limitations also need to be considered, as well as the need for coordinated multidisciplinary research and diverse deeply phenotyped cohorts. Ultimately AI approaches improve our ability to interrogate genetics and omics data for precision dementia medicine. Highlights: We have identified five key challenges in dementia genetics and omics studies.AI can enable detection of undiscovered patterns in dementia genetics and omics data.Enhanced and more diverse genetics and omics datasets are still needed.Multidisciplinary collaborative efforts using AI can boost dementia research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (hTTP) is an ultra‐rare disorder resulting from an inherited deficiency of ADAMTS13, a von Willebrand factor (VWF)‐cleaving metalloprotease. The plasma‐derived factor VIII/VWF Koate (FVIII/VWFKoate) has been shown to contain ADAMTS13, allowing for its use to treat hTTP at home by the patient/caregiver. Aim: Based on prior demonstration of safe and effective use of FVIII/VWFKoate in eight patients with hTTP, we conducted a retrospective study to gather additional data regarding the use of FVIII/VWFKoate for hTTP. Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective, noninterventional chart review of patients who had received FVIII/VWFKoate for the management of hTTP. Data collected included demographics, medical history, relevant family history, past use and tolerability of fresh frozen plasma, and details regarding FVIII/VWFKoate therapy. Results: The cohort included 11 patients (seven males, four females) with hTTP, ranging in age at study entry from 2 to 28 years. The average duration of FVIII/VWFKoate therapy was 4.8 years (range, 0.5–6.5 years). Among nine patients using FVIII/VWFKoate as prophylaxis, the normalized annual rate of breakthrough TTP episodes ranged from 0.2 to 1.1 episodes/year. All nine patients who received FVIII/VWFKoate prophylaxis had thrombocytopenia recorded at baseline, while eight (88.9%) did not have thrombocytopenia after using FVIII/VWFKoate. There was one AE (unspecified) attributed to FVIII/VWFKoate. Conclusion: These data suggest that FVIII/VWFKoate is a safe and well‐tolerated source of the missing ADAMTS13 enzyme in patients with hTTP, producing a marked reduction in thrombocytopenia prevalence, low frequency of TTP episodes, and with the added benefit of self‐ or caregiver‐administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amyloid‐β, phosphorylated tau (p‐tau), and total tau (t‐tau) in cerebrospinal fluid are established biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), these biomarkers have also been found to be altered, and the molecular mechanisms responsible for these alterations are still under investigation. Moreover, the interplay between these mechanisms and the diverse underlying disease states remains to be elucidated. Objective: To investigate genetic contributions to the AD biomarkers and assess the commonality and heterogeneity of the associations per underlying disease status. Methods: We conducted genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) for the AD biomarkers on subjects from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative, the Fox Investigation for New Discovery of Biomarkers, and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, and meta‐analyzed with the largest AD GWAS. We tested heterogeneity of associations of interest between different disease statuses (AD, PD, and control). Results: We observed three GWAS signals: the APOE locus for amyloid‐β, the 3q28 locus between GEMC1 and OSTN for p‐tau and t‐tau, and the 7p22 locus (top hit: rs60871478, an intronic variant for DNAAF5, also known as HEATR2) for p‐tau. The 7p22 locus is novel and colocalized with the brain DNAAF5 expression. Although no heterogeneity from underlying disease status was observed for the earlier GWAS signals, some disease risk loci suggested disease‐specific associations with these biomarkers. Conclusions: Our study identified a novel association at the intronic region of DNAAF5 associated with increased levels of p‐tau across all diseases. We also observed some disease‐specific genetic associations with these biomarkers. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex pheromone lures are effective tools for monitoring and potentially controlling populations of pest click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae). To date, these lures are genus‐specific (e.g., Limonius spp.) or species‐specific (e.g., Agriotes lineatus Linnaeus). However, if sympatric heterogeners were not to be repelled by each other's pheromones, trap lures effective for multiple elaterid genera could be developed, improving cost efficiency in elaterid pest management programs. In both western and eastern North America, several species of Agriotes spp. and Limonius spp. co‐occur and inflict similar crop damage. We investigated whether the sex pheromones of these species can be combined in a mixed lure without reducing its attractiveness to all target species. In western Canada, we show that the pheromones of A. lineatus (geranyl butanoate & geranyl octanoate) and Limonius spp. [(E)‐4‐ethyloct‐4‐enoic acid (limoniic acid)] can be combined without significantly reducing captures of male A. lineatus, L. canus (LeConte), L. californicus (Mannerheim) and L. infuscatus (Motschulsky) relative to traps baited with species‐specific lures for A. lineatus and Limonius spp.. Similarly, the pheromone of A. obscurus (Linnaeus) (geranyl hexanoate & geranyl octanoate) and limoniic acid can be combined without significantly reducing trap captures of male L. canus, L. infuscatus and L. californicus but reduced A. obscurus captures relative to traps baited only with the A. obscurus pheromone. In eastern Canada, combining pheromones for Agriotes mancus (Say) (geranyl butanoate & geranyl hexanoate) and limoniic acid reduced captures of A. mancus but not A. pubescens (Melsheimer) and A. sputator (Linnaeus). These data imply that pheromones of select elaterid heterogeners can be combined in a 'catch‐more' pheromone lure to effectively monitor for, or possibly control, multiple elaterid pests, but that such mixed lures should be evaluated for each species combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: AVEIR‐VR leadless pacemaker (LP) was recently approved for clinical use. Although trial data were promising, post‐approval real world data with regard to its effectiveness and safety is lacking. To report our early experience with AVEIR‐VR LP with regard to its effectiveness and safety and compare it with MICRA‐VR. Methods: The first 25 patients to undergo AVEIR‐VR implant at our institution between June and November 2022, were compared to 25 age‐ and sex‐matched patients who received MICRA‐VR implants. Results: In both groups, mean age was 73 years and 48% were women. LP implant was successful in 100% of patients in both groups. Single attempt deployment was achieved in 80% of AVEIR‐VR and 60% of MICRA‐VR recipients (p = 0.07). Fluoroscopy, implant, and procedure times were numerically longer in the AVEIR‐VR group compared to MICRA‐VR group (p > 0.05). No significant periprocedural complications were noted in both groups. Incidence of ventricular arrhythmias were higher in the AVEIR‐VR group (20%) compared to the MICRA‐VR group (0%) (p = 0.043). At 2 and 8 weeks follow‐up, device parameters remained stable in both groups with no device dislodgements. The estimated battery life at 8 weeks was significantly longer in the AVEIR‐VR group (15 years) compared to the MICRA‐VR group (8 years) (p = 0.047). With 3−4 AVEIR‐VR implants, the learning curve for successful implantation reached a steady state. Conclusion: Our initial experience with AVEIR‐VR show that it has comparable effectiveness and safety to MICRA‐VR. Larger sample studies are needed to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Silent myocardial infarction (SMI) on electrocardiogram (ECG) is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but the relationship between SMI on ECG and coronary artery calcium (CAC) remains poorly understood. Objective: Characterize the relationship between SMI on ECG and CAC. Methods: Eligible participants from the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis study had ECG and CAC scoring at study enrollment (2000–2002). SMI was defined as ECG evidence of myocardial infarction in the absence of a history of clinical cardiovascular disease. CAC was modeled both continuously and categorically. The cross‐sectional relationships between SMI on ECG and CAC were assessed using logistic regression and linear regression. Results: Among 6705 eligible participants, 178 (2.7%) had baseline SMI. Compared to participants without SMI, those with SMI had higher CAC (median [IQR]: 61.2 [0–261.7] vs. 0 [0–81.5]; p <.0001). Participants with SMI were more likely to have non‐zero CAC (74% vs. 49%) and were more likely to have CAC ≥ 100 (40% vs. 23%). In a multivariable‐adjusted logistic model, SMI was associated with higher odds of non‐zero CAC (odds ratio 2.17, 95% CI 1.48–3.20, p <.0001) and 51% higher odds of CAC ≥ 100 (odds ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.06–2.16, p =.02). Conclusion: An incidental finding of SMI on ECG may serve to identify patients who have a higher odds of significant CAC and may benefit from additional risk stratification to further refine their cardiovascular risk. Further exploration of the utility of CAC assessment in this patient population is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove forests, benefitting millions of people, experience significant degradation. Global recognition of the urgency of halting and reversing this trend have initiated numerous restoration activities. Restoration success is typically evaluated by estimating mangrove survival and area restored, while diversity and structure of vegetation, as proxies for functional forests, are rarely considered. Here we assess mangrove species richness along sea‐landward transects and evaluate restoration outcomes by comparing number of mangrove species, relative species abundance, biomass, diameter, and canopy cover in "Monoculture Reforestation", "Mixed Species Regeneration" and adjacent "Reference" forest stands, 14 (Tiwoho site) and 16 years (Likupang site) after restoration activities took place. In the "Monoculture Reforestation" plots, mangrove diversity and structure still closely reflected the original restoration actions, with only one and two "new" species having established among the originally densely planted "foundation" species. In contrast, the "Mixed Species Regeneration" plots were more similar to the "Reference" plots in terms of tree diameter and canopy coverage, but species number, abundance and biomass were still lower. The trajectory of the "Mixed Species Regeneration" plots suggests their similarity with the "Reference" stands will increase over time, whereas such "smooth" transition is unlikely to happen in the planted "Monoculture Reforestation" stands, in the foreseeable future. Implementing frequent small‐scale disturbances in restored forest management would increase stand structure and diversity, accelerating the establishment of a more natural, and likely more functional and resilient forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheat wireworm, Agriotes mancus (Coleoptera: Elateridae), is a predominant elaterid pest species in the Nearctic region, with a life history and morphology similar to those of Agriotes obscurus, Agriotes lineatus and Agriotes sputator, three Palearctic pest elaterids invasive in North America. Here, we report the identification and field testing of the sex pheromone of A. mancus.We collected headspace volatiles from female beetles on Porapak Q, and analysed aliquots of Porapak extract by gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) and by GC‐mass spectrometry. In GC‐EAD recordings, two esters—geranyl butanoate and geranyl hexanoate—elicited antennal responses from A. mancus males. In field experiments, trap lures containing both geranyl butanoate and geranyl hexanoate afforded large captures of A. mancus males, which were—on average—approximately 30‐fold higher than captures in traps baited with a single ester.Traps baited with geranyl butanoate as a single‐component lure captured a significant number of Palearctic A. sputator, indicating the establishment of A. sputator in its invaded Nearctic range.With the A. mancus sex pheromone now known, it can be included in the development of pheromone‐based programmes to monitor and manage native and invasive Agriotes pests in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, decreased quality of life, increased length of hospital stay and higher treatment costs. Prevalence rates in Australian hospitals is reported between 30% and 50%. Trauma patients experience significant periods of restricted oral intake resulting from pre‐operative fasting for complex and frequent surgical procedures. In addition, they have elevated nutritional requirements for recovery resulting in significant accrued nutritional deficits. The present study hypothesised that not having hot meals available outside of the hospital food service system was contributing to increased nutritional deficits. The study aimed to investigate the impact of providing flexible frozen meals and snacks in a trauma ward, on nutritional intake, cost and duration of perioperative fasting. Methods: This was a pre‐ and post‐interventional study examining 40 fasting experiences of hospitalised patients in a trauma ward. Frozen meals and snack bags were readily accessible to nursing staff to provide to patients out of kitchen service hours. Nutritional intake and fasting times were measured from patient records and interviews. Results: Implementing flexible food items increased patient nutritional intake by 28% (15%–43%) on the day of fasting. Fasting duration was not significantly reduced (1.73 h); however, when patient fasting was ceased, food was provided more responsively. Nursing staff showed improved satisfaction with project implementation. Conclusions: The present study has demonstrated that provision of food items outside of regular meal service hours is a low cost intervention that improves nutritional intake, provides nutrition more responsively and is well received by nursing staff. Highlights: Fasting times for surgical patients in a trauma ward far exceed recommended fasting guidelines as advised by governing bodies.Nutritional intake of a surgical patient on a day of fasting meets approximately 15% of estimated nutrition requirements. This can lead to hospital acquired malnutrition.Hospital foodservice systems are often too rigid to provide adequate meals and nutrition to surgical patients, often leading to patient dissatisfaction.A low cost initiative of providing flexible meals to surgical patients improves patient nutrition intake and satisfaction, and is more responsive to patients diet code status. It did not reduce fasting times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Early diagnosis of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is challenging due to symptomatic overlap with primary psychiatric disorders (PPD). As emotion recognition deficits are early and key features of bvFTD, the aim was to explore processes driving social cognition deficits that may aid in the differentiation between bvFTD and PPD. Methods: The total sample (N = 51) included 18 patients with bvFTD, 11 patients with PPD (mood, autism spectrum and psychotic disorders) and 22 controls from the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam of the Amsterdam UMC. Emotion recognition was assessed with the Ekman 60 Faces test, during which eye tracking metrics were collected in the first 5 s a face was presented. Group differences in dwell time on the total image as well as the circumscribed eyes area and mouth area were analysed using ANOVA, with post hoc comparisons. Results: Patients with bvFTD scored lowest, patients with PPD scored intermediate and controls scored highest on emotion recognition. During facial processing, patients with bvFTD spent less dwell time on the total image than controls (mean difference 11.3%, F(2, 48) = 6.095, p = 0.004; bvFTD−controls p = 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] −892.64, −239.70). Dwell time on the eyes area did not differ between diagnostic groups, whilst patients with bvFTD spent less dwell time on the mouth area than PPD patients (mean difference 10.7%; F(2, 48) = 3.423, p = 0.041; bvFTD−PPD p = 0.022, 95% CI −986.38, −79.47) and controls (mean difference 7.8%; bvFTD−controls p = 0.043, 95% CI −765.91, −12.76). Conclusions: In bvFTD, decreased emotion recognition may be related to reduced focus on facial hallmarks. These findings suggest a valuable role for biometrics in social cognition assessment and the differentiation between bvFTD and PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potentially powerful alternatives to conventional antibiotics in combating multidrug resistance, given their broad spectrum of activity. They mainly interact with cell membranes through surface electrostatic potentials and the formation of secondary structures, resulting in permeability and destruction of target microorganism membranes. Our earlier work showed that two leading AMPs, MSI-78 (4-20) and pardaxin (1-22), had potent antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria. It is known that the attachment of moderate-length lipid carbon chains to cationic peptides can further improve the functionality of these peptides through enhanced interactions with the membrane lipid bilayer, inducing membrane curvature, destabilization, and potential leakage. Thus, in this work, we aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity, oligomerization propensity, and lipidmembrane binding interactions of a range of N-terminal lipidated analogs of MSI-78 (4-20) and pardaxin (1-22). Molecular modeling results suggest that aggregation of the N-lipidated AMPs may impart greater structural stability to the peptides in solution and a greater depth of lipid bilayer insertion for the N-lipidated AMPs over the parental peptide. Our experimental and computational findings provide insights into how N-terminal lipidation of AMPs may alter their conformations, with subsequent effects on their functional properties in regard to their self-aggregation behavior, membrane interactions, and antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Acute postoperative pain is common, distressing and associated with increased morbidity. Targeted interventions can prevent its development. We aimed to develop and internally validate a predictive tool to pre‐emptively identify patients at risk of severe pain following major surgery. We analysed data from the UK Peri‐operative Quality Improvement Programme to develop and validate a logistic regression model to predict severe pain on the first postoperative day using pre‐operative variables. Secondary analyses included the use of peri‐operative variables. Data from 17,079 patients undergoing major surgery were included. Severe pain was reported by 3140 (18.4%) patients; this was more prevalent in females, patients with cancer or insulin‐dependent diabetes, current smokers and in those taking baseline opioids. Our final model included 25 pre‐operative predictors with an optimism‐corrected c‐statistic of 0.66 and good calibration (mean absolute error 0.005, p = 0.35). Decision‐curve analysis suggested an optimal cut‐off value of 20–30% predicted risk to identify high‐risk individuals. Potentially modifiable risk factors included smoking status and patient‐reported measures of psychological well‐being. Non‐modifiable factors included demographic and surgical factors. Discrimination was improved by the addition of intra‐operative variables (likelihood ratio χ2 496.5, p < 0.001) but not by the addition of baseline opioid data. On internal validation, our pre‐operative prediction model was well calibrated but discrimination was moderate. Performance was improved with the inclusion of peri‐operative covariates suggesting pre‐operative variables alone are not sufficient to adequately predict postoperative pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]