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Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry data-independent acquisition (LC-HRMS/DIA), including MSE, enable comprehensive metabolomics analyses though they pose challenges for data processing with automatic annotation and molecular networking (MN) implementation. This motivated the present proposal, in which we introduce DIA-IntOpenStream, a new integrated workflow combining open-source software to streamline MSE data handling. It provides 'in-house' custom database construction, allows the conversion of raw MSE data to a universal format (.mzML) and leverages open software (MZmine 3 and MS-DIAL) all advantages for confident annotation and effective MN data interpretation. This pipeline significantly enhances the accessibility, reliability and reproducibility of complex MSE/DIA studies, overcoming previous limitations of proprietary software and non-universal MS data formats that restricted integrative analysis. We demonstrate the utility of DIA-IntOpenStream with two independent datasets: dataset 1 consists of new data from 60 plant extracts from the Ocotea genus; dataset 2 is a publicly available actinobacterial extract spiked with authentic standard for detailed comparative analysis with existing methods. This user-friendly pipeline enables broader adoption of cutting-edge MS tools and provides value to the scientific community. Overall, it holds promise for speeding up metabolite discoveries toward a more collaborative and open environment for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a birth-cohort study, we followed offspring with prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) to investigate longitudinal associations of PCE with self-reported behavioral adjustment from early adolescence to emerging adulthood (EA). Environmental pathways (family functioning, non-kinship care, maltreatment) were specified as potential mediators of PCE. Methods: Participants were 372 (190 PCE; 47% male), primarily Black, low socioeconomic status, enrolled at birth. Internalizing and externalizing behaviors were assessed using Youth Self-Report at ages 12 and 15 and Adult Self-Report at age 21. Extended random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling was used to account for potential bidirectional relationships between internalizing and externalizing behaviors over time, examining potential mediators. Results: Adjusting for covariates, significant indirect effects were found for each mediator at different ages. For family functioning, these were both internalizing (β = 0.83, p = 0.04) and externalizing behaviors (β = 1.58, p = 0.02) at age 12 and externalizing behaviors at age 15 (β = 0.51, p = 0.03); for non-kinship care, externalizing behaviors at ages 12 (β = 0.63, p = 0.02) and 15 (β = 0.20, p = 0.03); and for maltreatment, both internalizing and externalizing behaviors at ages 15 (β = 0.64, p = 0.02 for internalizing; β = 0.50, p = 0.03 for externalizing) and 21 (β = 1.39, p = 0.01 for internalizing; β = 1.11, p = 0.01 for externalizing). Direct associations of PCE with internalizing and externalizing behaviors were not observed, nor cross-lagged relationships between internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Conclusions: Negative associations of PCE with behavioral adjustment persist into EA via environmental pathways, specifying intervention points to disrupt adverse pathways toward healthy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance and commitment therapy/training (ACT) is a transdiagnostic intervention that holds promise in improving well-being across a variety of contexts and modalities of application. The current scoping review aims to examine the literature on the use of ACT interventions in higher education. Such interventions target aspects of student well-being (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction, flexibility), academic outcomes, and knowledge of ACT processes. This scoping review includes 34 peer-reviewed empirical research articles, located across multiple databases, that applied ACT interventions with students enrolled in higher education. We found that online and in-person interventions were both widely used and were found to be effective at increasing both academic and well-being outcomes. Though these outcomes are promising, nearly half of the articles reviewed provided insufficient detail to allow for replication and reported scant demographic details. Strengths, limitations, and directions for future research involving ACT interventions in higher education are discussed, in the interest of further aligning research with the ACBS Task Force recommendations, and most important, supporting students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the chemo-mechanics of cement beams containing polypropylene (PP) functionalized using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. It is hypothesized that UV irradiation enhances the load transfer at the interface of cement and PP while facilitating the valorization of waste PP. In this study, we use UV-irradiated polypropylene (UVPP) plastic particles as an ingredient in cement paste, using the enhanced cement-UVPP interaction to improve the capacity for load transfer. Using atomic force microscopy based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) on a UVPP-cement composite, we first show that the UV bombardment of PP promoted the formation of oxygen functional groups at the interface between UVPP and cement, indicating a possible increase in the affinity of the UVPP particles toward water and thus their hydrophilicity. This in turn is expected to enable the formation of bonds between the UVPP and cement, enabling stress transfer at the interface. We further show that this stress transfer increases the work-of-fracture, ductility, and mechanical energy absorption of the notched three-point bending cement-UVPP composite beam. This is accomplished when the two fracture surfaces that form during crack propagation are bridged by the UVPP-cement interaction. Since the ductility of these beams is size dependent, we performed fracture tests on two-dimensional (2D) geometrically scaled beams of four sizes. In addition to the mechanical improvements, this work forms the foundation for future work focused on reducing the carbon footprint of structures, since the UVPP replaces some of the cement and eliminates some of the plastic waste from landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solid body of scientific evidence supports the assumption that Torque teno virus (TTV) DNA load in the blood compartment may behave as a biomarker of immunosuppression in solid organ transplant recipients; in this clinical setting, high or increasing TTV DNA levels precede the occurrence of infectious complications, whereas the opposite anticipates the development of acute rejection. The potential clinical value of the TTV DNA load in blood to infer the risk of opportunistic viral infection or immune-related (i.e., graft vs. host disease) clinical events in the hematological patient, if any, remains to be determined. In fact, contradictory data have been published on this matter in the allo-SCT setting. Studies addressing this topic, which we review and discuss herein, are highly heterogeneous as regards design, patient characteristics, time points selected for TTV DNA load monitoring, and PCR assays used for TTV DNA quantification. Moreover, clinical outcomes are often poorly defined. Prospective, ideally multicenter, and sufficiently powered studies with well-defined clinical outcomes are warranted to elucidate whether TTV DNA load monitoring in blood may be of any clinical value in the management of hematological patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modelling academic self‐concept through second‐order factors or bifactor structures is an important issue with substantive and practical implications; besides, the bifactor model has not been analysed with a Chinese sample and cross‐cultural studies in the academic self‐concept are scarce. Likewise, latent structure validity evidence using network psychometrics has not been carried out. Aims: The aim of this study is twofold: to analyse (1) the internal structure of ASC through the Self‐Description Questionnaire II‐Short (SDQII‐S) in Chinese and Spanish samples using two approaches, structural equation modelling and network psychometrics conducting an exploratory graph analysis; and (2) the measurement invariance of the best model across countries and investigate the cross‐cultural differences in ASC. Sample: The sample was composed by 651 adolescents. Seven models of ASC were tested. Results: Results supported the multi‐dimensional nature of the data as well as the reliability. The best‐fitted model for the two subsamples was the three‐factor ESEM model, but only the configural invariance of this model was supported across countries. The graph function shows that the school dimension appears more related to the verbal factor in the Spanish subsample and to the math dimension in the Chinese subsample. Likewise, the relationship between verbal and math factors in Spanish students is non‐existent, but this connection is more relevant for Chinese students. Conclusion: These two differences may be behind the difficulty in finding invariance using SEM models. It is a question of the construct's nature, less related to analytical phenomena, and deserves deeper discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our preferences and evaluations are often affected by contextual factors. One unavoidable context is language. We used an evaluative conditioning (EC) paradigm (pairing neutral stimuli with emotional or neutral stimuli) to investigate whether our evaluations are equally conditioned in a first (L1) and a second language (L2). An EC effect was observed in both languages, however, if in L1 it occurred independently of recollection of the pairing of the stimuli, in second language memory seemed to play a larger role. These results were confirmed using a more implicit measure (memory confusion paradigm). Overall, the results suggest that conditioning occurs both in L1 and L2 but is weaker and more sensitive to memory of the emotional stimuli in L2. The study is the first demonstration that EC is modulated by language and converges with recent findings showing that linguistic context can modulate our behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The membrane potential (MP) controls cell homeostasis by directing molecule transport and gene expression. How the MP is set upon epithelial differentiation is unknown. Given that tissue architecture also controls homeostasis, we investigated the relationship between basoapical polarity and resting MP in three-dimensional culture of the HMT-3522 breast cancer progression. A microelectrode technique to measureMP and input resistance reveals that the MP is raised by gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC), which directs tightjunction mediated apical polarity, and is decreased by the Na+/K+/2Cl-(NKCC, encoded by SLC12A1 and SLC12A2) co-transporter, active in multicellular structures displaying basal polarity. In the tumor counterpart, the MP is reduced. Cancer cells display diminished GJIC and do not respond to furosemide, implying loss of NKCC activity. Induced differentiation of cancer cells into basally polarized multicellular structures restores widespread GJIC and NKCC responses, but these structures display the lowest MP. The absence of apical polarity, necessary for cancer onset, in the nonneoplastic epithelium is also associated with the lowest MP under active Cl- transport. We propose that the loss of apical polarity in the breast epithelium destabilizes cellular homeostasis in part by lowering the MP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international security and relations. It discusses the global COVID-19 cases and deaths reported by the World Health Organization and compares them to casualties from warfare and conflicts. The article explores prior research on the connection between pandemics and international relations, including different perspectives on the lasting effects of COVID-19. It also analyzes articles from various journals that discuss the pandemic's implications for civil liberties, democracy, and the role of international relations and security studies. The conclusion emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives and critical voices in the field to address future transnational emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of congenital rubella retinopathy (CRR) with modern fundus imaging. Methods: Single-center case series. Eleven patients (2005–2020) at the Emory Eye Center with known or presumed CRR. Trained image readers reviewed fundus imaging (color fundus photography, widefield pseudocolor imaging, near-infrared reflectance imaging, autofluorescence imaging, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography) for pre-specified features suggestive of CRR. Results: Eleven patients with confirmed (63.6%) or presumed (36.3%) CRR were identified. All were female with median (range) age of 53 (35–67) years. Six (54.5%) were born during the 1964–1965 United States rubella epidemic. All had congenital hearing loss. Two (18.2%) had a congenital heart defect. Eleven (50.0%) eyes had salt-and-pepper retinal pigmentary changes. Twenty-two eyes (100.0%) had irregularly distributed regions of speckled hypoautofluorescence. One eye (4.5%) had a presumed macular neovascularization. Conclusion: Modern fundus imaging demonstrates characteristic features of CRR, even when pigmentary changes are not readily apparent on examination. Widefield autofluorescence findings of irregularly distributed speckled hypoautofluorescence are particularly revealing. This series of newly diagnosed adults with CRR may represent the milder end of the phenotypic spectrum of this condition, highlighting imaging findings that may aid in diagnostically challenging cases of CRR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic ignited global efforts to rapidly develop testing, therapeutics, and vaccines. However, the rewards of these efforts were slow to reach many low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) across the African continent and globally. Therefore, two bead-based multiplexed serological assays were developed to determine SARS-CoV-2 exposure across four counties in Liberia. This study was conducted during the summer of 2021 on 189 samples collected throughout Grand Bassa, Bong, Margibi, and Montserrado counties. Our multiplexed immunoassay (MIA) detected elevated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and multiple variant antigens. Additionally, we detected evidence of exposure to Dengue virus serotype 2, Chikungunya virus, and the seasonal coronavirus NL63. Our multiplexed inhibition test (MINT) was developed from the MIA to observe antibody-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding to its cognate cellular receptor ACE-2. We detected inhibitory antibodies in the tested Liberian samples, which were collectively consistent with a convalescent serological profile. These complementary assays serve to supplement existing serological testing needs and may enhance the technical capacity of scientifically underrepresented regions globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Music is an integral part of our lives and is often played in public places like restaurants. People exposed to music that contained alcohol-related lyrics in a bar scenario consumed significantly more alcohol than those exposed to music with less alcohol-related lyrics. Existing methods to quantify alcohol exposure in song lyrics have used manual annotation that is burdensome and time intensive. In this paper, we aim to build a deep learning algorithm (LYDIA) that can automatically detect and identify alcohol exposure and its context in song lyrics. Methods We identified 673 potentially alcohol-related words including brand names, urban slang, and beverage names. We collected all the lyrics from the Billboard's top-100 songs from 1959 to 2020 (N = 6110). We developed an annotation tool to annotate both the alcohol-relation of the word (alcohol, non-alcohol, or unsure) and the context (positive, negative, or neutral) of the word in the song lyrics. Results LYDIA achieved an accuracy of 86.6% in identifying the alcohol-relation of the word, and 72.9% in identifying its context. LYDIA can distinguish with an accuracy of 97.24% between the words that have positive and negative relation to alcohol; and with an accuracy of 98.37% between the positive and negative context. Conclusion LYDIA can automatically identify alcohol exposure and its context in song lyrics, which will allow for the swift analysis of future lyrics and can be used to help raise awareness about the amount of alcohol in music. Highlights Developed a deep learning algorithm (LYDIA) to identify alcohol words in songs. LYDIA achieved an accuracy of 86.6% in identifying alcohol-relation of the words. LYDIA's accuracy in identifying positive, negative, or neutral context was 72.9%. LYDIA can automatically provide evidence of alcohol in millions of songs. This can raise awareness of harms of listening to songs with alcohol words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we begin the systematic study of group equations with abelian predicates in the main classes of groups where solving equations is possible. We extend the line of work on word equations with length constraints, and more generally, on extensions of the existential theory of semigroups, to the world of groups. We use interpretability by equations to establish model-theoretic and algebraic conditions, which are sufficient to get undecidability. We apply our results to (non-abelian) right-angled Artin groups and show that the problem of solving equations with abelian predicates is undecidable for these. We obtain the same result for hyperbolic groups whose abelianisation has torsion-free rank at least two. By contrast, we prove that in groups with finite abelianisation, the problem can be reduced to solving equations with recognisable constraints, and so this is decidable in right-angled Coxeter groups, or more generally, graph products of finite groups, as well as hyperbolic groups with finite abelianisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, two processes of monetary innovation have occurred simultaneously: the digitization of money and the rise of social currencies. These trends have been integrated and have led to the emergence of what we call digital social currencies. This paper has two objectives. On the one hand, we assess the advantages and disadvantages of a complete digitization of social currencies. While new technologies and digitization offer significant advantages for social currencies, such as the possibility of making them more far-reaching and efficient, they can also have several challenges and problems. Among the most important problems is the exclusion of use by individuals with little interest or digital skills. Focusing on this problem, in the second part of the paper we conduct a quantitative analysis, using multilevel logistic models and data from the Global Findex survey, to discern which part of the population are less susceptible to the use digital money. Knowing which population groups might be excluded from digital social currencies can be used to develop and design public policies aimed at improving financial and digital inclusion for the entire population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We performed a prospective one-year multi-imaging study to assess the clinical outcomes and rate of disc resorption in acute lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients undergoing inflammation-preserving treatment (i.e. no NSAIDS, steroids). Methods: All patients received gabapentin to relieve leg pain, 12 sessions of acupuncture. Repeat MRI was performed, every 3 months, after 12 sessions of treatment continued for those without 40% reduction in herniated disc sagittal area. Disc herniations sizes were measured on sagittal T2W MRI sequences, pre-treatment and at post-treatment intervals. Patients were stratified to fast, medium, slow, and prolonged recovery groups in relation to symptom resolution and disc resorption. Results: Ninety patients (51% females; mean age: 48.6 years) were assessed. Mean size of disc herniation was 119.54 ± 54.34 mm2, and the mean VAS-Leg score was 6.12 ± 1.13 at initial presentation. A total of 19 patients (21.1%) improved at the time of the repeat MRI (i.e. within first 3 months post-treatment). 100% of all patient had LDH resorption within one year (mean: 4.4. months). There was no significant difference at baseline LDH between fast, medium, slow, and prolonged resorption groups. Initial LDH size was weakly associated with degree of leg pain at baseline and initial gabapentin levels. Surgery was avoided in all cases. Conclusion: This is the first study to note inflammation-preserving treatment, without conventional anti-inflammatory and steroid medications, as safe and effective for patients with an acute LDH. Rate of disc resorption (100%) was higher than comparative recent meta-analysis findings (66.7%) and no patient underwent surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study examines the cognitive effects of placing icons in unexpected spatial locations within websites. Background: Prior research has revealed evidence for cognitive conflict when web icons occur in unexpected locations (e.g., cart, top left), generally consistent with a dynamical systems models. Here, we compare the relative strength of evidence for both dual and dynamical systems models. Methods: Participants clicked on icons located in either expected (e.g., cart, top right) or unexpected (e.g., cart, top left) locations while mouse trajectories were continuously recorded. Trajectories were classified according to prototypes associated with each cognitive model. The dynamical systems model predicts curved trajectories, while the dual-systems model predicts straight and change of mind trajectories. Results: Trajectory classification revealed that curved trajectories increased (+11%), while straight and change of mind trajectories decreased (−12%) when target icons occurred in unexpected locations (p <.001). Conclusion: Rather than employing a single cognitive strategy, users shift from a primarily dual-systems to dynamical systems strategy when icons occur in unexpected locations. Application: Potential applications of this work include the assessment of cognitive impacts such as mental workload and cognitive conflict during real-time interaction with websites and other screen-based interfaces, personalization and adaptive interfaces based on an individual's cognitive strategy, and data-driven A/B testing of alternative interface designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, and the special issue, seek to unpack the gendered nature of entrepreneurial pathways, specifically in relation to the role of social policies. We achieve this aim by first conceptualising gender, entrepreneurship, and social policy, to highlight the need to generate a stronger research agenda on the role of social policy within gender and tourism entrepreneurship research. We next outline an overarching framework for delineating the intersection of gender, entrepreneurship, and social policy, based on a critical review of existing studies, as well as by situating the papers in this special issue. We present this discussion through three thematic framings: (1) gender and entrepreneurship, (2) gender and social policy and (3) entrepreneurship and social policy. In conclusion, we discuss the implications for social policy and practice, and in doing so call for a research agenda that situates social policy more centrally within considerations of gender and tourism entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The evidence regarding the treatment of open retrograde stenting of innominate artery (IA) or common carotid artery stenosis (CCA) is limited, and is suspected to carry a high risk of stroke and death. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of such hybrid procedures. Methods: A retrospective, monocentric study of all patients who underwent retrograde stenting of proximal IA and CCA stenosis via surgical cutdown of the CCA, with or without concomitant CEA, between 2016 and 2023 was performed. Results: Overall, 33 patients were treated. A total of 15 patients (45.5%) were male, with the mean age being 67 ± 9.1 years, and 58% (n = 19) of the patients presented with neurological symptoms. Open retrograde stenting was performed in 67% (n = 22) in ACC, and in 33% (n = 11) in IA stenosis. A total of 20 patients (61%) underwent retrograde stenting with synchronous ipsilateral CEA for concomitant stenosis of the carotid bifurcation. There was no 30-day mortality. The perioperative stroke rate was 3% (n = 1) with complete symptom recovery. During the follow up at 32 months (95% CI: 24–39), three late deaths (9.1%) and one symptomatic stent occlusion were observed and, in five patients (15.2%), re-intervention for restenosis was necessary. Conclusions: Open retrograde stenting for of proximal IA or CCA stenosis with or without CEA, in case of tandem carotid lesions, can be performed safely with a low rate of early adverse events. Continuous follow up examinations are necessary due to relevant instent re-stenosis rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surcharging or preloading is one of the oldest and most widely used in situ ground improvement techniques to strengthen weak compressible clays and to remove undesirable settlements prior to erection of permanent infrastructure. Recently, the ground improvement technique has been adopted in combination with many other techniques. The current design methodology for surcharging based on the concept of average degree of consolidation is inadequate, as all the primary consolidation settlement to be induced by the permanent load is not eliminated by the surcharging process. The problem is quantitatively analysed using Terzaghi's one-dimensional consolidation theory. The proportion of residual primary consolidation settlement is quantified, and the starting time of the re-occurrence of primary consolidation on exertion of the permanent load is determined. The effect of a change in surcharging duration on the proportion of residual settlement is quantified. The results are presented in design charts to facilitate application of the results by practicing geotechnical engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) are devastating conditions that can develop without noticeable symptoms, causing irreversible damage to neurons before any signs become clinically evident. NDs are a major cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Currently, there are no cures or treatments to halt their progression. Therefore, the development of early detection methods is urgently needed to delay neuronal loss as soon as possible. Despite advancements in Medtech, the early diagnosis of NDs remains a challenge at the intersection of medical, IT, and regulatory fields. Thus, this review explores "digital biomarkers" (tools designed for remote neurocognitive data collection and AI analysis) as a potential solution. The review summarizes that recent studies combining AI with digital biomarkers suggest the possibility of identifying pre-symptomatic indicators of NDs. For instance, research utilizing convolutional neural networks for eye tracking has achieved significant diagnostic accuracies. ROC-AUC scores reached up to 0.88, indicating high model performance in differentiating between PD patients and healthy controls. Similarly, advancements in facial expression analysis through tools have demonstrated significant potential in detecting emotional changes in ND patients, with some models reaching an accuracy of 0.89 and a precision of 0.85. This review follows a structured approach to article selection, starting with a comprehensive database search and culminating in a rigorous quality assessment and meaning for NDs of the different methods. The process is visualized in 10 tables with 54 parameters describing different approaches and their consequences for understanding various mechanisms in ND changes. However, these methods also face challenges related to data accuracy and privacy concerns. To address these issues, this review proposes strategies that emphasize the need for rigorous validation and rapid integration into clinical practice. Such integration could transform ND diagnostics, making early detection tools more cost-effective and globally accessible. In conclusion, this review underscores the urgent need to incorporate validated digital health tools into mainstream medical practice. This integration could indicate a new era in the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, potentially altering the trajectory of these conditions for millions worldwide. Thus, by highlighting specific and statistically significant findings, this review demonstrates the current progress in this field and the potential impact of these advancements on the global management of NDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquity of digital technology has facilitated detailed recording of human behaviour. Ambient technology has been used to capture behaviours in a broad range of applications ranging from healthcare and monitoring to assessment of cooperative work. However, existing systems often face challenges in terms of autonomy, usability, and privacy. This paper presents a portable, easy-to-use and privacy-preserving system for capturing behavioural signals unobtrusively in home or in office settings. The system focuses on the capture of audio, video, and depth imaging. It is based on a device built on a small-factor platform that incorporates ambient sensors which can be integrated with the audio and depth video hardware for multimodal behaviour tracking. The system can be accessed remotely and integrated into a network of sensors. Data are encrypted in real time to ensure safety and privacy. We illustrate uses of the device in two different settings, namely, a healthy-ageing IoT application, where the device is used in conjunction with a range of IoT sensors to monitor an older person's mental well-being at home, and a healthcare communication quality assessment application, where the device is used to capture a patient–clinician interaction for consultation quality appraisal. CUSCO can automatically detect active speakers, extract acoustic features, record video and depth streams, and recognise emotions and cognitive impairment with promising accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulated by the increasing interest in ion adsorption effects on electrocatalytic reactions and by recent more detailed reports on the potential dependent adlayer structures formed on Ru(0001) in pure HClO4 and H2SO4 electrolytes, we revisited the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on structurally well‐defined Ru(0001) single crystal surfaces prepared under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. We demonstrate that the complex, potential‐dependent activity both for the ORR and for H2O2 formation is closely related to potential‐dependent changes in the composition and structure of the adlayer. Our results demonstrate the enormous effects adsorbed species can have on the ORR reaction characteristics, either by surface blocking, e. g., by (co‐)adsorbed bisulfate species, or by participation in the reaction, e. g., by *H transfer from adsorbed H or OH to O2. The comparison with results obtained on polycrystalline Ru, which differ significantly from Ru(0001) data, furthermore underlines the importance of using structurally well‐defined surfaces as a reference system for future theoretical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ADP-ribosyltransferases PARP1 and PARP2 play a major role in DNA repair mechanism by detecting the DNA damage and inducing poly-ADP-ribosylation dependent chromatin relaxation and recruitment of repair proteins. Catalytic PARP inhibitors are used as anticancer drugs especially in the case of tumors arising from sensitizing mutations. Recently, a study showed that Histone PARylation Factor (HPF1) forms a joint active site with PARP1/2. The interaction of HPF1 with PARP1/2 alters the modification site from Aspartate/Glutamate to Serine, which has been shown to be a key ADP-ribosylation event in the context of DNA damage. Therefore, disruption of PARP1/2-HPF1 interaction could be an alternative strategy for drug development to block the PARP1/2 activity. In this study, we describe a FRET based high-throughput screening assay to screen inhibitor libraries against PARP-HPF1 interaction. We optimized the conditions for FRET signal and verified the interaction by competing the FRET pair in multiple ways. The assay is robust and easy to automate. Validatory screening showed the robust performance of the assay, and we discovered two compounds Dimethylacrylshikonin and Alkannin, with µM inhibition potency against PARP1/2-HPF1 interaction. The assay will facilitate the discovery of inhibitors against HPF1-PARP1/2 complex and to develop potentially new effective anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep supports the consolidation of episodic memory. It is, however, a matter of ongoing debate how this effect is established, because, so far, it has been demonstrated almost exclusively for simple associations, which lack the complex associative structure of real-life events, typically comprising multiple elements with different association strengths. Because of this associative structure interlinking the individual elements, a partial cue (e.g., a single element) can recover an entire multielement event. This process, referred to as pattern completion, is a fundamental property of episodic memory. Yet, it is currently unknown how sleep affects the associative structure within multielement events and subsequent processes of pattern completion. Here, we investigated the effects of post-encoding sleep, compared with a period of nocturnal wakefulness (followed by a recovery night), on multielement associative structures in healthy humans using a verbal associative learning task including strongly, weakly, and not directly encoded associations. We demonstrate that sleep selectively benefits memory for weakly associated elements as well as for associations that were not directly encoded but not for strongly associated elements within a multielement event structure. Crucially, these effects were accompanied by a beneficial effect of sleep on the ability to recall multiple elements of an event based on a single common cue. In addition, retrieval performance was predicted by sleep spindle activity during post-encoding sleep. Together, these results indicate that sleep plays a fundamental role in shaping associative structures, thereby supporting pattern completion in complex multielement events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preclinical and early clinical data suggest that the irreversible ErbB family blocker afatinib may be effective in urothelial cancers harbouring ERBB mutations. Methods: This open-label, phase II, single-arm trial (LUX-Bladder 1, NCT02780687) assessed the efficacy and safety of second-line afatinib 40 mg/d in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma with ERBB1-3 alterations. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival rate (PFS6) (cohort A); other endpoints included ORR, PFS, OS, DCR and safety (cohorts A and B). Cohort A was planned to have two stages: stage 2 enrolment was based on observed antitumour activity. Results: Thirty-four patients were enroled into cohort A and eight into cohort B. In cohorts A/B, PFS6 was 11.8%/12.5%, ORR was 5.9%/12.5%, DCR was 50.0%/25.0%, median PFS was 9.8/7.8 weeks and median OS was 30.1/29.6 weeks. Three patients (two ERBB2-amplified [cohort A]; one EGFR-amplified [cohort B]) achieved partial responses. Stage 2 for cohort A did not proceed. All patients experienced adverse events (AEs), most commonly (any/grade 3) diarrhoea (76.2%/9.5%). Two patients (4.8%) discontinued due to AEs and one fatal AE was observed (acute coronary syndrome; not considered treatment-related). Conclusions: An exploratory biomarker analysis suggested that basal-squamous tumours and ERBB2 amplification were associated with superior response to afatinib. Clinical trial registration: NCT02780687. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally as well as in Sweden, diseases that are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits are the most common causes of death and disability. Even though there are guidelines that oblige all health-care professionals to counsel patients about lifestyle, studies have shown that it is not prioritized within healthcare. One reason for this among nurses has been shown to be lack of confidence in knowledge and counselling skills. This study aimed to develop, and quality assess the psychometric properties of an instrument to measure self-efficacy in lifestyle counselling. Methods: An instrument inspired by an American instrument, following Bandura's recommendations for development of self-efficacy measures, was developed according to Swedish national guidelines for disease-prevention. The instrument was revised after cognitive interviews with nursing students, university teachers within health sciences, and clinical experts, then administrated to 310 nursing students at different levels in their education. The instrument was tested with Rasch Measurement Theory, with focus on dimensionality, local dependency, targeting, reliability, response category functioning, Rasch model fit, and differential item functioning by age, gender, educational level and previous health care education. Results: The development of the instrument resulted in 20 + 20 items, 20 items about self-efficacy in knowledge, and 20 items about self-efficacy in ability to counsel persons about their lifestyle. The analyses showed that knowledge and ability are two different, but related, constructs, where ability is more demanding than knowledge. The findings provide support (considering dimensionality and local dependency) for that all 20 items within the knowledge construct as well as the 20 items within the ability construct can be summed, achieving two separate but related total scores, where knowledge (reliability 0.81) is a prerequisite for ability (reliability 0.84). Items represented lower self-efficacy than reported by the respondents. Response categories functioned as expected, Rasch model fit was acceptable, and there was no differential item functioning. Conclusions: The SELC 20 + 20 was found to be easy to understand with an acceptable respondent burden and the instrument showed good measurement properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we present a method for functionalizing C60 through a Rh‐catalyzed cyclization reaction with 1,6‐enynes, resulting in the formation of a fused bicyclic structure. Additionally, fullerene derivatives are further functionalized through regioselective photooxygenation reactions. Our DFT calculations reveal two distinct reaction pathways: one involving rhodium‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of the enyne followed by Diels‐Alder with C60, and the other featuring a rhodium‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of enyne and C60 followed by isomerization. Surprisingly, both pathways exhibit nearly identical energy barriers. However, experimental tests indicate that the predominant pathway varies depending on the substitution motifs of the substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of hierarchically structured materials as catalysts has been finding increasing application in the past years. For these catalytic systems, not only the nano‐scale matters: a high degree of order across multiple length scales, along with its control and analytical assessment, is of paramount importance to obtain innovative properties that can find application in catalysis. Most reviews dealing with hierarchically structured materials are concerned with the "bottom‐up" transfer of structural information along the different length scales, with special emphasis on the transmission of chirality. Due to their mesoscale size together with their complex behaviour, these systems are often susceptible to feel the effects of macroscopic forces, that can exert a "top‐down" control of their catalytic properties, so that an external stimulus, acting at the level of the supramolecular architecture of the catalyst, can ultimately determine the outcome of the catalyzed reaction at the molecular level. We review in this paper some recent reports that deal with the experimental implementation of this concept, either by using a mechanical force in a full range direct transmission to the reaction coordinate, or by means of a stepwise relay transmission from the macroscopic level (purely supramolecular chirality) to the nanoscopic one. We focus in this review on these multi‐length scale communication control effects, identifying the different mechanisms that are affecting the catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of caves and/or rock shelters as a refugee for herds was a common practice in the Mediterranean area since the early Neolithic. Shepherds move the herds to pastures in higher altitudes, away from the settlements where the animals graze nearby the shelters where livestock is regrouped. Dung and residues produced during the occupation of these shelters were generally heaped and burnt to clean the site and prepare it for new usage, forming a characteristic deposit known as fumier. Fumier deposits are a great source of information to understand past herding practices including the animal's stabled, the management of the residues, the landscape, and the use of plants. In addition, they can provide a better understanding of site formation and postdepositional processes of archaeological sediments in caves and shelters including the impact of fire. Specific microarchaeological analyses are usually utilized to study fumier deposits. Here we present a multi-proxy approach that includes phytoliths, spherulites, ash pseudomorphs, and FTIR analyses, applied to the Neolithic levels of San Cristóbal, Los Husos II (Álava, Spain) and El Mirador (Burgos, Spain), located in the upper Ebro and Duero basins. This area in the north of the Iberian Peninsula constitutes a strategic location for the spread of the productive economy to the north, west, and interior of the Iberian Peninsula. Except for the lower Level XIII of San Cristóbal, where domestic activities were documented, our results showed similar behavior for the three studied sites, with no significant differences neither in terms of plant presence nor in the formation processes of the deposits. Up to seven and two possible complete stabling episodes were identified: three and two possible ones in San Cristóbal, and four in Los Husos II. Among the plants identified grasses of the C 3 Pooideae subfamily were dominant, probably representing local grasses. The combining presence of thermally altered phytoliths, spherulites, and ash pseudomorphs points that the stabling episodes burned for several hours with temperatures ranging between 500 °C and 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The densely packed electronic components in electronic devices emit electromagnetic (EM) radiations, and the interaction of the emitted EM radiations with external EM signals of neighboring components leads to device malfunctions and also creates health issues in human beings. Particularly, in aircraft, EM interference is a serious threat that leads to disastrous outcomes. The shielding of electronic components is an ideal way to reduce the pollution of electromagnetic interference (EMI). The mechanism of EMI shielding efficiency is discussed elaborately in this article. The factors associated with the EMI shielding of materials are discussed in detail. The EMI shielding by reflection and absorption are two possible routes to improve the shielding performance of the shielding materials. This article also highlights the EMI shielding mechanisms by reflection and absorption. However, the risk of secondary EM pollution is associated with the reflection of EM waves. This review also outlines the methods to improve the absorption‐based shielding performance of the materials. The significance of the microstructure of the shielding materials in enhancing the absorption‐dominant shielding efficiency is also presented with a detailed analysis. This helps to fabricate the absorption‐dominant EMI shielding materials with suitable microstructures. The EM loss is associated with the magnetic, dielectric, and conduction losses according to EM theory. Highlights: This article highlights the recent progress in epoxy‐based EMI shielding materials.EMI shielding mechanisms by reflection and absorption are discussed elaborately.Reviewed the methods to improve the absorption‐based shielding performance in detail.Materials with EMI shielding efficiency greater than 30 dB are highly preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANETs) is referred to as the mobile wireless nodes that make up ad hoc networks. The network topology may fluctuate on a regular basis due to node mobility. Each node serves as a router, passing traffic throughout the network, and they construct the network’s infrastructure on their own. MANET routing protocols need to be able to store routing information and adjust to changes in the network topology in order to forward packets to their destinations. While mobile networks are the main application for MANET routing techniques, networks with stationary nodes and no network infrastructure can also benefit from using them. In this paper, we proposed a Self Adaptive Tasmanian Devil Optimization (SATDO) based Routing and Data Aggregation in MANET. The first step in the process is clustering, where the best cluster heads are chosen according to a number of limitations, such as energy, distance, delay, and enhanced risk factor assessment on security conditions. In this study, the SATDO algorithm is proposed for this optimal selection. Subsequent to the clustering process, routing will optimally take place via the same SATDO algorithm introduced in this work. Finally, an improved kernel least mean square-based data aggregation method is carried out to avoid data redundancy. The efficiency of the suggested routing model is contrasted with the conventional algorithms via different performance measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although various surgical techniques have been utilized in the reconstruction of severely resorbed alveolar bone, its regeneration is still regarded as a major challenge. Most of the surgical techniques used in advanced ridge augmentation have the disadvantages of prolonging the patient's edentulous healing and increasing the need for surgical revisits because simultaneous implant placement is not allowed. This report presents a new and simplified method for advanced ridge augmentation, which utilizes a vertical tenting device. Case Presentation: The first case presented the reconstruction of the mandibular posterior region with severely resorbed alveolar bone due to peri-implantitis using tenting pole abutment for ridge augmentation. The second and third cases presented three-dimensional ridge augmentations in severely resorbed ridges due to periodontitis. The last case presented horizontal ridge augmentation using a vertical tenting device. All cases were performed under local anesthesia. Implants were simultaneously placed in the bone defect area. A vertical tensioning device was then connected to the implant platform to minimize the collapse of the bone graft during the bone regeneration period due to the contraction of the soft tissue matrix. A sticky bone graft was transplanted onto the exposed surface of the implant and on top of the vertical tensioning device. After covering with an absorbable barrier membrane, the soft tissues were sutured without tension. Conclusions: In all cases, prosthetic restorations were provided to patients after a bone grafting period of 5–6 months, leading to a rapid restoration of masticatory function. Results tracked for up to 6 years revealed observed stable reconstruction of the alveolar bone. The use of a vertical tenting device can prevent the collapse of biomaterials in the augmented ridge during the healing period, leading to predictable outcomes when achieving three-dimensional ridge augmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychosocial factors are modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). One mechanism linking psychosocial factors to AD risk may be through biological measures of brain amyloid; however, this association has not been widely studied. Objective: To determine if mid-life measures of social support and social isolation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study cohort are associated with late life brain amyloid burden, measured using florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: Measures of social support and social isolation were assessed in ARIC participants (visit 2: 1990–1992). Brain amyloid was evaluated with florbetapir PET standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs; visit 5: 2012–2014). Results: Among 316 participants without dementia, participants with intermediate (odds ratio (OR), 0.47; 95% CI, 0.25–0.88), or low social support (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.22–0.83) in mid-life were less likely to have elevated amyloid SUVRs, relative to participants with high social support. Participants with moderate risk for social isolation in mid-life (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.14–0.74) were less likely to have elevated amyloid burden than participants at low risk for social isolation. These associations were not significantly modified by sex or race. Conclusions: Lower social support and moderate risk of social isolation in mid-life were associated with lower odds of elevated amyloid SUVR in late life, compared to participants with greater mid-life psychosocial measures. Future longitudinal studies evaluating mid-life psychosocial factors, in relation to brain amyloid as well as other health outcomes, will strengthen our understanding of the role of these factors throughout the lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ADP-ribosyltransferases PARP1 and PARP2 play a major role in DNA repair mechanism by detecting the DNA damage and inducing poly-ADP-ribosylation dependent chromatin relaxation and recruitment of repair proteins. Catalytic PARP inhibitors are used as anticancer drugs especially in the case of tumors arising from sensitizing mutations. Recently, a study showed that Histone PARylation Factor (HPF1) forms a joint active site with PARP1/2. The interaction of HPF1 with PARP1/2 alters the modification site from Aspartate/Glutamate to Serine, which has been shown to be a key ADP-ribosylation event in the context of DNA damage. Therefore, disruption of PARP1/2-HPF1 interaction could be an alternative strategy for drug development to block the PARP1/2 activity. In this study, we describe a FRET based high-throughput screening assay to screen inhibitor libraries against PARP-HPF1 interaction. We optimized the conditions for FRET signal and verified the interaction by competing the FRET pair in multiple ways. The assay is robust and easy to automate. Validatory screening showed the robust performance of the assay, and we discovered two compounds Dimethylacrylshikonin and Alkannin, with µM inhibition potency against PARP1/2-HPF1 interaction. The assay will facilitate the discovery of inhibitors against HPF1-PARP1/2 complex and to develop potentially new effective anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food safety is a critical factor in promoting public health and nutrition, especially in developing countries like India, which experience several foodborne disease outbreaks, often with multidrug-resistant pathogens. Therefore, implementing regular surveillance of enteric pathogens in the human-animal-environment interface is necessary to reduce the disease burden in the country. Objective: To establish a network of laboratories for the identification of major food and waterborne pathogens prevailing in the northeast region of India through integrated surveillance of animal, food, human, and environment and investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the pathogens of public health significance. Methods: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has identified FoodNet laboratories; based on their geographical location, inclination to undertake the study, preparedness, proficiency, and adherence to quality assurance procedures, through an 8-step process to systematically expand to cover the Northeastern Region (NER) with comprehensive diagnostic capacities for foodborne pathogens and diarrhea outbreak investigations. Network initiated in the NER given the unique food habits of the ethnic population. Findings: This surveillance network for foodborne enteric pathogens was established in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Sikkim, and expanded to other four states, i.e., Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, thereby covering the entire NER by including nine medical and three veterinary centers. All these centers are strengthened with periodic training, technical support, funding, capacity building, quality assurance, monitoring, centralized digital data management, and website development. Results: The ICMR-FoodNet will generate NER-specific data with close to real-time reporting of foodborne disease and outbreaks, and facilitate the updating of food safety management protocols, policy reforms, and public health outbreak response. During 2020-2023, 13,981 food samples were tested and the detection of enteric pathogens ranged from 3 to 4%. In clinical samples, the detection rate of the pathogens was high in the diarrheal stools (8.9%) when 3,107 samples were tested. Thirteen outbreaks were investigated during the study period. Conclusion: Foodborne diseases and outbreaks are a neglected subject. Given the frequent outbreaks leading to the deaths of children, it is crucial to generate robust data through well-established surveillance networks so that a strong food safety policy can be developed for better public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results The study addressed whether specific linguistic variables used by adoptive parents were associated with ratings of the adoptee's relationship with their birth mothers.Parents transmit their beliefs and values to children through verbal and nonverbal communication. The ways in which adoptive parents discuss their child's adoption and birth family can influence the child's adoptive identity development and satisfaction with their adoption arrangements.Participants included mothers, fathers, and adolescents (M age = 15.7 years) in 177 adoptive families of children who were adopted domestically as infants by same‐race parents. The Linguistic Analysis and Word Count 2015 (LIWC2015) program was used to code adoptive parents' interviews regarding their thoughts and feelings about adoption and their child's birth family. Adolescents' views of birth mothers were coded from their interviews.There were significant differences in linguistic patterns when adoptive parents discussed adoption generally compared to when they discussed their child's birth family. Specific linguistic variables used by adoptive mothers and fathers were significantly associated with adopted adolescents' perceptions and feelings towards their birth mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concurrent diagnoses of Buruli ulcer (BU) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a phenomenon not previously described, despite the fact that both conditions are highly prevalent in Australia. This report presents an intriguing case of concurrent diagnoses, with clues alluding to more than one skin condition being present. The case involves a 73-year-old man with BU diagnosed on the scalp, an atypical location, which led to the consideration of malignancy, ultimately revealing concurrent SCC. This case highlights the importance of considering both conditions in patients with epidemiological risk factors, necessitating multiple lines of investigation for accurate diagnosis. Medical practitioners must remain vigilant and incorporate this possibility into their diagnostic algorithms for suspicious skin lesions to optimize treatment and outcomes. This is the first recorded instance of simultaneous diagnosis, underlining the need for enhanced awareness and attention to these unique cases. Author summary: Buruli ulcer (BU) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) can coexist in the same lesion. SCC and other cutaneous malignancies may act as a portal of entry for the mycobacteria. Clinical differentiation is challenging, and biopsy should be performed, with tissue sent for histopathological evaluation as well as Mycobacterium ulcerans PCR. Consider the possibility of underlying malignancy if a Mycobacterium ulcerans lesion occurs in an unusual body site (for example: on the scalp) or does not heal as expected, despite appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Heart Association created a new 2024 Impact Goal with health equity at its core, in recognition of the increasing health disparities in our country and the overwhelming evidence of the damaging effect of structural racism on cardiovascular and stroke health. Concurrent with the announcement of the new Impact Goal was the release of an American Heart Association presidential advisory on structural racism, recognizing racism as a fundamental driver of health disparities and directing the American Heart Association to advance antiracist strategies regarding science, business operations, leadership, quality improvement, and advocacy. This policy statement builds on the call to action put forth in our presidential advisory, discussing specific opportunities to leverage public policy in promoting overall well-being and rectifying those long-standing structural barriers that impede the progress that we need and seek for the health of all communities. Although this policy statement discusses difficult aspects of our past, it is meant to provide a forward-looking blueprint that can be embraced by a broad spectrum of stakeholders who share the association’s commitment to addressing structural racism and realizing true health equity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) face confusion and uncertainty about treatment options. The objective of this study was to determine whether there are differences in decisional conflict about treatment by age and race/ethnicity. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of women (age ≥ 18) diagnosed with DCIS enrolled at Kaiser Permanente of Southern California. The Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) measured personal perceptions of decision uncertainty, values clarity, and effective decision-making. We used a multivariable regression to study whether age, race, and ethnicity were associated with patient-reported DCS. Results: 45% (N = 1395) of women who received the online survey, participated. The mean age was 56 (± 9.6) years, the majority were white. Compared to women younger than 50, women aged 60–69 reported lower overall DCS scores (-5.4; 95% CI -1.5 to -9.3). Women > 70 had lower values clarity scores (-9.0; 95% CI -2.8 to -15.2) about their treatment compared to women aged 50–59 and 60–69 (-7.1; 95% CI -2.9 to -11.3 and − 7.2; 95% CI -2.9 to -11.5) and likewise, lower effective decision-making scores (-5.4; 95% CI -1.7 to -9.2 and − 5.2; 95% CI -1.4 to -9.0) compared to women < 50. Compared to whites, blacks reported lower decision conflict (-4.4; 95% CI 0.04 to -8.8) and lower informed decision (-5.2; 95% CI -0.18 to -10.3) about DCIS treatment. Conclusion: Younger women reported higher decisional conflict about DCIS treatment, compared to older women (> 70). Age based tailored discussions about treatment options, health education, and supportive decision-making interventions/tools may reduce decision conflict in future DCIS patients. Trade registration: The IRB number is 10678. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several long-accepted terms are widely misused in ornithology and have led to a misperception of important concepts in the ecology of Nearctic--Neotropical migratory birds. The term "North America" (and its ancillary terms "North American species," "North American habitats," etc.) is widely used to refer to the United States and Canada, when in fact it should include all of the continent from the Arctic through Panama. In a similar vein, the terms "wintering" and "over-wintering" (whether used to describe the status of individual birds or species, or as a modifier for terms like habitats, ecology, or behavior), "spring migration" and "fall migration" are inappropriate for Nearctic--Neotropical migrants because they explicitly reference conditions in the temperate zone of the continent, even as most such species spend the majority of their annual cycle elsewhere, where these terms are inaccurate and unhelpful. We discuss the pitfalls of using these terms and suggest several alternatives and replacements. In particular, we urge more precision in the use of the term "North America"; for Nearctic--Neotropical migratory species (especially long-distance migrants), we suggest retiring the terms "wintering" and "over-wintering" in favor of "nonbreeding"; and for the same group of species we suggest retiring the terms "spring migration" and "fall migration" in favor of "pre-breeding," "post-breeding," or "post-natal" migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-of-the-art SAT solvers are nowadays able to handle huge real-world instances. The key to this success is the Conflict-Driven Clause-Learning (CDCL) scheme, which encompasses a number of techniques that exploit the conflicts that are encountered during the search for a solution. In this article, we extend these techniques to Integer Linear Programming (ILP), where variables may take general integer values instead of purely binary ones, constraints are more expressive than just propositional clauses, and there may be an objective function to optimize. We explain how these methods can be implemented efficiently and discuss possible improvements. Our work is backed with a basic implementation showing that, even in this far less mature stage, our techniques are already a useful complement to the state of the art in ILP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telomeres are essential for the integrity of chromosome ends during cell division and their involvement in different processes linked to aging has been established. These chromosome components are involved in spermatogenesis and seem to play an important role in fertilization and embryo development. Telomere length is shortened with each cell division. Recently, short sperm telomere length has been proposed as a potential biomarker of male infertility. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies exploring the association between spermatozoa and/or leukocyte telomere length with sperm quality parameters and different infertility conditions. Material and methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted with studies from Medline‐PUBMED and Cochrane Library databases until May 2022. Eligible studies included cohort, cross‐sectional and case–control studies, and telomere length in spermatozoa and/or leukocytes cells was defined as the exposure. Semen quality parameters or infertility conditions (e.g., oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, or other spermatogenic impairment combinations) were defined as the outcomes. Results: Twenty‐three observational studies were included. In the qualitative analysis, high heterogeneity was observed between studies regarding the associations between telomere length and semen parameters in different normozoospermic/fertile and oligozoospermic/infertile populations. In the meta‐analysis, spermatozoa and leukocyte telomere length were shorter in infertile individuals than in fertile individuals (mean difference [95% confidence interval]: –1.43 [–1.66 to –1.21], p‐value <0.001 and –1.67 [–2.02 to –1.31], p‐value <0.001, respectively). Moreover, in terms of sperm telomere length, these differences were also significant between individuals with a normal seminogram and individuals with a low quantity of spermatozoa in the ejaculate (–0.97 [–1.32, –0.61], p‐value <0.001). Conclusion: The current systematic review and meta‐analysis suggests the potential role of spermatozoa or leukocyte telomere length as a reliable biomarker of semen quality, which may help distinguish between infertility conditions beyond the routine semen analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minorities. Medical students were also particularly impacted as they coped with increased stressors due to delayed medical training and a high prevalence of mental health conditions. This study investigates mental health disparities of underrepresented in medicine (URM) students at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine (SLUSOM). An anonymous online survey was distributed to first- and second-year medical students at SLUSOM in February 2021. The survey queried demographic information, lifestyle factors, and pandemic-related and institutional concerns. Mental health was assessed via the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Statistical tests were run with SPSS, version 27. A convenience sample of 87 students responded to the survey. Students who were categorized as URM were significantly more likely to be at risk of major depressive disorder during the pandemic. Concern about a lack of financial support was significantly greater among students categorized as URM. Concerns regarding a lack of financial support, mental health support, and decreased quality of medical training significantly predicted PHQ-9 scores. Our findings revealed several key factors that may exacerbate mental health disparities among URM students during the pandemic. Providing adequate financial and academic resources for URMs may improve mental health outcomes for similar adverse events in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporotic pelvic ring fractures show a continuously increasing incidence. In addition to the fracture morphology, the clinical situation of the patients is also crucial for therapy. The osteoporotic fracture working group of the spine section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) has developed a score for the treatment decision that is based on the OF-Pelvis classification and on essential clinical parameters. The score includes the clinical parameters of mobilization ability, pain situation, fracture-related neurological deficits and risk factors for an increased surgical complication rate. In addition, the fracture morphology is determined according to the OF-Pelvis classification including the fracture modifiers. For each parameter, points are awarded or deducted depending on the characteristics and the total is then calculated. If a parameter cannot be determined, no point are awarded. A score below 8 means a recommendation for conservative therapy, while a score above 8 means a recommendation for surgical therapy. If there are exactly 8 points, conservative or surgical treatment is possible. The OF-Pelvis score was evaluated retrospectively in 5 trauma centers based on records and imaging in 107 patients and compared with the therapy actually carried out. There was an overall agreement of 91 % between the therapy recommendation of the OF-Pelvis score and the therapy actually carried out (conservative versus surgical). Collecting the score took about 5 minutes. The OF-Pelvis score is an easy-to-use decision-making aid for determining the indication for conservative or surgical treatment of osteoporotic pelvic ring fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future communication, 5G, medical, and IoT systems need compact, green, efficient wideband sensors, and antennas. Novel linear and dual-polarized antennas for 5G, 6G, medical devices, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and healthcare monitoring sensors are presented in this paper. One of the major goals in the evaluation of medical, 5G, and smart wireless communication devices is the development of efficient, compact, low-cost antennas and sensors. Moreover, passive and active sensors may be self-powered by connecting an energy-harvesting unit to the antenna to collect electromagnetic radiation and charge the wearable sensor battery. Wearable sensors and antennas can be employed in smart grid applications that provide communication between neighbors, localized management, bidirectional power transfer, and effective demand response. A low-cost wearable antenna may be developed by etching the printed feed and matching the network on the same substrate in the printed antenna. Active modules may be placed on the same dielectric board. The antenna design parameters and a comparison between the computation and measured electrical performance of the antennas are presented in this paper. The electrical characteristics of the new compact antennas in the vicinity of the patient's body were simulated by using electromagnetic simulation techniques. Fractal and metamaterial efficient antennas and sensors were evaluated to maximize the electrical characteristics of smart communication and medical devices. The dual- and circularly polarized antennas developed in this paper are crucial to the evaluation of wideband and multiband compact 5G, 6G, and IoT advanced systems. The new efficient sensors and antennas maximize the system's dynamic range and electrical characteristics. The new efficient wearable antennas and sensors are compact, wideband, and low-cost. The operating resonant frequency of the metamaterial antennas with circular split-ring resonators (CSRRs) may be 5% to 9% lower than the resonant frequency of the sensor without CSRRs. The directivity and gain of the metamaterial fractal antennas with CSRRs may be up to 3 dB higher than the antennas without CSRRs. The directivity and gain of the metamaterial fractal passive sensors with CSRRs may be up to 8.5 dBi. This study presents new wideband active meta-fractal antennas and sensors. The bandwidth of the new sensors is around 9% to 20%. At 2.83 GHz, the receiving active sensor gain is 13.5 dB and drops to 8 dB at 3.2 GHz. The receiving module noise figure with TAV541 LNA is around 1dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data-driven most powerful tests are statistical hypothesis decision-making tools that deliver the greatest power against a fixed null hypothesis among all corresponding data-based tests of a given size. When the underlying data distributions are known, the likelihood ratio principle can be applied to conduct most powerful tests. Reversing this notion, we consider the following questions. (a) Assuming a test statistic, say T, is given, how can we transform T to improve the power of the test? (b) Can T be used to generate the most powerful test? (c) How does one compare test statistics with respect to an attribute of the desired most powerful decision-making procedure? To examine these questions, we propose one-to-one mapping of the term "most powerful" to the distribution properties of a given test statistic via matching characterization. This form of characterization has practical applicability and aligns well with the general principle of sufficiency. Findings indicate that to improve a given test, we can employ relevant ancillary statistics that do not have changes in their distributions with respect to tested hypotheses. As an example, the present method is illustrated by modifying the usual t-test under nonparametric settings. Numerical studies based on generated data and a real-data set confirm that the proposed approach can be useful in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has found that the TAM protein family, activated by the GAS6 and PROS ligands, plays a role in liver diseases such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The TAM system is involved in liver cell damage, liver fibrosis, and regulation of inflammation. Soluble TAM-related proteins, particularly soluble AXL, may serve as an early serum marker for disease progression. The TAM system is an interesting topic for future biomedical research in liver pathology and a potential target for treatment. [Extracted from the article]

Most tropical forests are now severely degraded and their ability to recover is highly dependent on frugivores which ensure seed dispersal for most woody plants. The global collapse of large vertebrates therefore raises major concerns about tropical forest succession, but few field studies have been conducted to disentangle recruitment limitations during disrupted succession.This study took place on Réunion (Mascarenes) where all large native frugivores have been extinct since human colonisation in 1665 and where multiple invasions threaten native ecosystems. We set up 20 experimental blocks on a lava flow dated back to 1800, in plant‐impoverished post‐defaunation vegetation bordered by old‐growth forests. We assessed fecundity, seed dispersal and seedling recruitment of the complete fleshy‐fruited plant community and used Bayesian analyses to disentangle the impact of multiple factors on these key processes. In the same blocks, we sowed four native trees assumed to be disperserless to test their capacity to establish, controlling for two additional post‐dispersal limitations (seed predation and competition with invasive plants).On the flow, small‐seeded native plants were fairly dispersed but did not recruit, probably due to strong competition with invasive plants; the few native species that recruited somehow were mostly medium‐seeded plants that were still dispersed; large‐seeded plants were absent from seed rain (which shows that invasive frugivores did not replace extinct ones) and subsequently from spontaneous recruitment. Instead, some alien plants, notably the tiny‐seeded highly dispersed Clidemia hirta and the medium‐seeded Psidium cattleianum largely dominated seedling recruitment. Native plants recruited better at the forest margin, including some large‐seeded species nearby mother trees.Sown large‐seeded species were able to emerge and survive in all plots whatever the treatment, which demonstrates that dispersal loss was the primary cause of regeneration failure on the flow.Synthesis. The strong modulation of the establishment capacity of native plants by seed mass shows that invasive plants win by forfeit of large‐seeded plants after native frugivores loss. Our study emphasises the fundamental role of dispersal loss and competition with invasive plants in the disruption of ecological succession, as well as the urgency of restoring seed dispersal and strengthening biosecurity regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterozygous, de novo, loss-of-function variants of the CHD8 gene are associated with a high penetrance of autism and other neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Identifying the neurodevelopmental functions of high-confidence autism risk genes like CHD8 may improve our understanding of the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that underlie autism spectrum disorders. Over the last decade, a complex picture of pleiotropic CHD8 functions and mechanisms of action has emerged. Multiple brain and non-brain cell types and progenitors appear to be affected by CHD8 haploinsufficiency. Behavioural, cellular and synaptic phenotypes are dependent on the nature of the gene mutation and are modified by sex and genetic background. Here, I review some of the CHD8-interacting proteins and molecular mechanisms identified to date, as well as the impacts of CHD8 deficiency on cellular processes relevant to neurodevelopment. I endeavour to highlight some of the critical questions that still require careful and concerted attention over the next decade to bring us closer to the goal of understanding the salient mechanisms whereby CHD8 deficiency causes neurodevelopmental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]