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Abstract Background Advanced maternal age (AMA) has increased in many high-income countries in recent decades. AMA is generally associated with a higher risk of various pregnancy complications, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In the current study, we profiled the DNA methylome of 24 human chorionic villi samples (CVSs) from early pregnancies in AMA and young maternal age (YMA), 11 CVSs from early spontaneous abortion (SA) cases using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS), and the transcriptome of 10 CVSs from AMA and YMA pregnancies with mRNA sequencing(mRNA-seq). Single-cell villous transcriptional atlas presented expression patterns of targeted AMA-/SA-related genes. Trophoblast cellular impairment was investigated through the knockdown of GNE expression in HTR8-S/Vneo cells. Results AMA-induced local DNA methylation changes, defined as AMA-related differentially methylated regions (DMRs), may be derived from the abnormal expression of genes involved in DNA demethylation, such as GADD45B. These DNA methylation changes were significantly enriched in the processes involved in NOTCH signaling and extracellular matrix organization and were reflected in the transcriptional alterations in the corresponding biological processes and specific genes. Furthermore, the DNA methylation level of special AMA-related DMRs not only significantly changed in AMA but also showed more excessive defects in CVS from spontaneous abortion (SA), including four AMA-related DMRs whose nearby genes overlapped with AMA-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (CDK11A, C19orf71, COL5A1, and GNE). The decreased DNA methylation level of DMR near GNE was positively correlated with the downregulated expression of GNE in AMA. Single-cell atlas further revealed comparatively high expression of GNE in the trophoblast lineage, and knockdown of GNE in HTR8-S/Vneo cells significantly impaired cellular proliferation and migration. Conclusion Our study provides valuable resources for investigating AMA-induced epigenetic abnormalities and provides new insights for explaining the increased risks of pregnancy complications in AMA pregnancies. Graphical Abstract

In the flexible Swedish labour market, the concept of employability has grown important. Within a neoliberal framework, accountability for one’s possibility to successfully obtain or keep employment rests with the individual. In contrast, within a social welfare discourse the individual is offered care and support in order to gain employment. The present study combined intersectional and discourse analytical approaches with the understanding that individual employability is subjectively constructed in the exploration of labour market induction, employability constructions and categorizations in the discourse used by government agencies directly involved in the labour market integration of newly arrived migrants. Public documents comprising information on labour market entrance, employability and associated concepts such as competence building and career development were analysed. The employability constructions were often contradictory—placed at the crossroads of neoliberal and social welfare discourses—and built on tacit assumptions and influenced by stereotypes. Conveying such employability constructions further could lead to exclusion from long-term employment and have detrimental psychological and health repercussions. Instead, it is of importance to work towards reconstructing migrants’ employability in this new context without damaging influence from inflexible categorizations and stereotypes.

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A plethora of methods exist to aid decision-making in mitigating disaster risk, many of which fall into the categories of risk, vulnerability and/or resilience assessment methods. The objective of the present study is to provide an overview of these methods, with a particular focus on evidence that supports their practical implementation. A scoping study of scientific literature reveal 97 distinct methods. Despite the growing interest in publishing new methods, there seems to be a lack of focus on demonstrating their effectiveness in practice. The few contributions that do include some forms of evaluation typically do so by comparing the method's output with disaster data, by contrasting it with the output of other methods, by having experts evaluate the structure of the method, or by testing the method in practice and evaluating its usage. To further strengthen the relevance of research on this topic, increased attention should be paid to this matter. A good starting point would be to use the ways of evaluation identified in this study and systematically present evidence regarding the practical usefulness of methods for risk, vulnerability and/or resilience assessment.

This study explored youth floorball players’ and coaches’ perspectives on using the injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs) Knee Control or Knee Control+ (Knee Control programmes) and how to overcome barriers to programme use. We used a qualitative design with eight semistructured focus group discussions, six with players, 11–17 years old (n =42) and two with coaches (n =12). Data analysis followed the principles of qualitative content analysis. Three main categories emerged: challenges related to preventive training, promoting factors and solutions to facilitate the use of preventive training. To overcome barriers, players and coaches gave examples of how to tailor preventive programmes, such as adding joyful sport specific components. Player-perceived improved performance, with increased strength and speed from the preventive training, could be a promoting factor to increase motivation and enable IPEP use. Players and coaches offered examples of how to adapt and progress the preventive training by progressing gradually and choosing exercises that fit the team. Coaches emphasised that preventive training is important but difficult to prioritise in time-limited training sessions. Coaches’ suggestions to overcome barriers were through collaboration and support from other coaches, to start using the IPEP at an early age, to keep it simple and motivating the players with, for example, positive role models. Players found the Knee Control exercises boring but necessary for injury prevention. Sometimes, coaches felt uncertain of their competence to use the Knee Control programmes and wished for support from the federation, club and other coaches. Players and coaches shared ideas on how to overcome barriers to IPEP use, such as to increase players’ motivation, having a good structure, setting up routines for preventive training and to tailor the preventive training to the team. These findings can be used to further develop practical workshops and recommendations for programme use for players and coaches in youth team ball sports.

The severity of COVID-19 is linked to excessive inflammation. Neutrophils represent a critical arm of the innate immune response and are major mediators of inflammation, but their role in COVID-19 pathophysiology remains poorly understood. We conducted transcriptomic profiling of neutrophils obtained from patients with mild and severe COVID-19, as well as from SARS-CoV-2 infected mice, in comparison to non-infected healthy controls. In addition, we investigated the inflammasome formation potential in neutrophils from patients and mice upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Transcriptomic analysis of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), consisting mainly of mature neutrophils, revealed a striking type I interferon (IFN-I) gene signature in severe COVID-19 patients, contrasting with mild COVID-19 and healthy controls. Notably, low-density granulocytes (LDGs) from severe COVID-19 patients exhibited an immature neutrophil phenotype and lacked this IFN-I signature. Moreover, PMNs from severe COVID-19 patients showed heightened nigericin-induced caspase1 activation, but reduced responsiveness to exogenous inflammasome priming. Furthermore, IFN-I emerged as a priming stimulus for neutrophil inflammasomes. These findings suggest a potential role for neutrophil inflammasomes in driving inflammation during severe COVID-19. Altogether, these findings open promising avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions to mitigate the pathological processes associated with the disease.

Objective To investigate whether patients with hard-to-heal ulcers in Sweden were treated according to an aetiological diagnosis and to explore ulcer healing, treatment time, ulcer-related pain and the prescription of analgesics and antibiotics.Design A national mapping of data from the patients’ medical records, between April 2021 and March 2023.Setting Data from medical records for patients with hard-to-heal ulcers from a randomised clustered sample of two units per level of care and region.Participants Patients with hard-to-heal ulcers treated in primary, community and specialist care, public or private, within units covering all 21 regions in Sweden.Outcome measures Descriptive analysis of data from the patients’ medical records.Results A total of 2470 patients from 168 units were included, of which 39% were treated in primary care, 24% in community care and 37% in specialist care. A total of 49% of patients were treated without an aetiological diagnosis. Healing occurred in 37% of patients and ulcer-related pain was experienced by 1224 patients (50%). Antibiotics were given to 56% of the patients. Amputation occurred in 5% and 11% were deceased.Conclusion Only 51% of patients with hard-to-heal ulcers had a documented aetiological ulcer diagnosis, which means that approximately 20 000 patients in Sweden might receive suboptimal treatment. Future research needs to explore why so many patients are undiagnosed and how to improve diagnosis, which could lead to faster healing and shorter treatment times.

Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the GRN gene are a common cause of frontotemporal dementia. Such mutations lead to decreased plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels of progranulin (PGRN), a neurotrophic factor with lysosomal functions. Sortilin is a negative regulator of extracellular PGRN levels and has shown promise as a therapeutic target for frontotemporal dementia, enabling increased extracellular PGRN levels through inhibition of sortilin-mediated PGRN degradation. Here we report the development of a high-affinity sortilin-binding affibody-peptide fusion construct capable of increasing extracellular PGRN levels in vitro. By genetic fusion of a sortilin-binding affibody generated through phage display and a peptide derived from the progranulin C-terminus, an affinity protein (A3-PGRNC15*) with 185-pM affinity for sortilin was obtained. Treating PGRN-secreting and sortilin-expressing human glioblastoma U-251 cells with the fusion protein increased extracellular PGRN levels up to 2.5-fold, with an EC50 value of 1.3 nM. Our results introduce A3-PGRNC15* as a promising new agent with therapeutic potential for the treatment of frontotemporal dementia. Furthermore, the work highlights means to increase binding affinity through synergistic contribution from two orthogonal polypeptide units.

Amateur football coaches play a key role in preventing, assessing and treating pain among their players, as they are often the first point of contact and may be the main source of advice and guidance. The objective of this study was to explore amateur football coaches’ perceptions of pain during sports participation and their approach to pain management. We conducted a qualitative interview study with 20 amateur football coaches from a strategically selected sample of male and female, and junior and senior teams. A semistructured interview guide and conventional qualitative content analysis were used. One overall theme emerged: To play or not to play—coaches navigating difficult terrain with limited resources. The theme included four main categories: How can pain be understood?; Can pain be avoided?; How to manage players with pain?; What resources do we need? Different ways of understanding pain emerged, and coaches described that players have different pain thresholds. Pain was seen as a part of the game that cannot be completely avoided. In general, there was a restrictive attitude regarding pain medication, though actual consumption was not known. Coaches emphasised shared responsibility with players to achieve adequate training loads, a positive communication climate surrounding pain, and a need for education and competence. In conclusion, coaches expressed various interpretations of pain during sports participation and pain management, where they need to take on great responsibility despite limited medical competence. Coaches believed that adequate pain management is important, and their keys to reducing the risk of pain included structured and customised training, a well-balanced training load and recovery, and a positive communication climate in the team. Coaches often decide whether players experiencing pain can participate in team training and match play, emphasising the need for education support and access to medical competence.

Abstract Background The current standard of care (SoC) for the initial treatment of unresectable or metastatic well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NET) requires initiation of first-generation somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) therapy, octreotide and lanreotide, which provide safe and efficacious tumour/symptom control in most patients. However, disease progression can occur with SoC SRL treatment and the optimal dose response of SRL remains unknown. Octreotide subcutaneous depot (CAM2029) is a novel, long-acting, high-exposure formulation that has shown greater bioavailability and improved administration than octreotide long-acting release (LAR) with a well-tolerated safety profile. Retrospective data have highlighted a potential benefit of high-exposure SRL for improved disease control in patients who did not adequately respond to the current SoC SRL treatment. This trial will investigate the efficacy and tolerability of CAM2029 compared to the current SoC, including octreotide LAR and lanreotide autogel (ATG). Methods SORENTO is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, active-controlled, open-label phase 3 trial aiming to demonstrate superiority of treatment with 20 mg octreotide subcutaneous depot (CAM2029) every 2 weeks (Q2W) compared to treatment with the Investigator’s choice of SRL therapy at standard doses for tumour control (octreotide LAR 30 mg or lanreotide ATG 120 mg every 4 weeks [Q4W]) as assessed by progression-free survival (PFS) in approximately 300 patients with unresectable/metastatic and well-differentiated GEP-NET. Upon confirmation of disease progression (determined by a Blinded Independent Review Committee [BIRC] and defined as per RECIST 1.1), patients may enter an open-label extension treatment period with once weekly dosing, to investigate the effects of higher frequency dosing. Overall survival follow-up will end a maximum of 2 years after primary analysis. The primary endpoint will be analysed after 194 confirmed PFS events. Discussion This is the first trial investigating the efficacy of CAM2029 versus SoC SRL therapy using a head-to-head, superiority trial design. It is expected to be the first trial to investigate the efficacy of increased dosing frequency of a high-exposure SRL. A BIRC will limit bias and measurement variability and ensure high-quality efficacy data. Additionally, inclusion of patients with well-differentiated Grade 3 NET may elucidate treatment strategies for this rarely investigated patient population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05050942. Registered on 21st September 2021.

Objectives Implementation of injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs) in sports is challenging, and behaviour change among players and coaches is essential for success. The aim was to describe players’ and coaches’ motivation and coaches’ goal pursuit when using IPEPs in amateur and youth football across a season. A secondary aim was to describe players’ motivation to engage in IPEP use in relation to presence or absence of injury.Methods The study was based on questionnaires to amateur and youth, male and female football players and coaches at baseline, mid-season and post-season in a three-armed randomised trial in 2020 in Sweden. Questionnaires were based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model with questions about the motivational phase when intention for change is created (players and coaches) and a goal-pursuit phase when intention is translated into action (coaches).Results In total, 455 players (126 male), mean age 20.1 years (SD±5.8, range 14–46) and 59 (52 male) coaches took part. Players generally gave positive answers in the HAPA motivational phase (Likert 6–7 on a 1–7 Likert scale). Differences in ratings between injured and uninjured players were minor. Coaches had positive or neutral ratings (Likert 4–6) in the motivational and goal-pursuit phases. Ratings deteriorated across the season, with less positive responses from 40% of players and 38-46% of coaches post-season.Conclusion Positive ratings in the HAPA motivational phase indicated fertile ground for IPEP use. Neutral ratings by coaches and deterioration across the season in players and coaches suggest a need for ongoing support for IPEP use.Trial registration number NCT04272047.

Protein folding processes are a vital aspect of molecular biology that is hard to simulate with conventional computers. Quantum algorithms have been proven superior for certain problems and may help tackle this complex life science challenge. We analyze the resource requirements for simulating simplified yet computationally challenging protein folding models on a quantum computer, assessing the feasibility of these existing approaches in the current and near-future technological landscape. We calculate the minimum number of qubits, interactions, and two-qubit gates necessary to build a heuristic quantum algorithm with the specific information of a folding problem. Particularly, we focus on the resources needed to build quantum operations based on the Hamiltonian linked to the protein folding models for a given amino acid count. Such operations are a fundamental component of these quantum algorithms, guiding the evolution of the quantum state for efficient computations. Specifically, we study coarse-grained folding models on the lattice and the fixed backbone side-chain conformation model and assess their compatibility with the constraints of existing quantum hardware given different bit encodings. We conclude that the number of qubits required falls within current technological capabilities. However, the limiting factor is the high number of interactions in the Hamiltonian, resulting in a quantum gate count unavailable today.

Abstract Background Injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs) efficaciously reduce injuries. However, it is challenging to achieve sufficient adherence across a season. The main aim was to describe adherence to IPEPs in three groups of coaches and players partaking in a cluster randomised trial. Secondary aims were to describe perceptions of IPEPs, use of programme material, and overall preventive strategies. Methods This is a sub-study analysing data from a three-armed randomised trial with teams randomised to use either a comprehensive IPEP (extended Knee Control) or an adductor strength programme, and non-randomised teams that already used a self-chosen IPEP regularly at study start (comparison group). Teams were instructed to use their respective intervention across the 2020 football season. Male and female, adolescent (≥ 14 years of age), and adult amateur players took part. Coaches and players responded to weekly and end-of-season questionnaires. Data were presented descriptively. Results Weekly player data were reported by 502 players (weekly response rate 65%), 289 (58%) responded to end-of-season questionnaires. Teams in the extended Knee Control and comparison group used their respective IPEP in 483/529 (91%) and 585/641 (91%) of training sessions, and teams in the adductor group in in 199/315 (63%) sessions. Regarding utilisation fidelity, 42–52% of players in each group used 1–10 repetitions per exercise. Seven out of 17 teams in the adductor group had progressed as recommended in terms of number of repetitions. Two teams (10%) in the extended Knee Control group, and 7/24 of comparison teams used the same exercises across the season. Coaches accessed the IPEPs by different means (printed material, films, workshops, etc.), but half did not use the provided digital material. The players appreciated that the IPEPs could reduce injury risk and that they improved their exercise performance, but disliked that they had less time for football and that the exercises were boring. Forty-nine players had experienced pain during IPEP performance. Conclusions Adherence with the IPEPs was generally high. To meet different coach needs, programme material should be available via different digital and printed resources. The number of players reporting pain during IPEP performance is a noteworthy finding. Trial registration Clinical Trials gov identifier: NCT04272047. Registered February 17, 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04272047 .

There is a misconception that pictures are easy to comprehend, which is problematic in pedagogical practices that include pictures. For example, if a child has difficulties with verbal narration to picture sequences, it may be interpreted as specific to spoken language even though the child may have additional difficulties with comprehension of visual narratives in the form of picture sequences. The purpose of the present study was therefore to increase our understanding of semantic processing in the pictorial domain in relation to semantic processing in the verbal domain, focusing on 9–13 years-old children with typical language development. To this end, we measured electrical brain responses (event related potentials, ERPs) in 17 children to (i) pictures (panels) that were predicted versus unpredicted in sequences of panels that conveyed visual narratives and (ii) words that were predicted versus unpredicted in sentences that conveyed verbal narratives. Results demonstrated similarities as there were no significant difference in the magnitude of the N400 effect across domains. The only difference between domains was the predicted difference in distribution, that is, a more posterior N400 effect in the verbal domain than in the pictorial domain. The study contributes to an increased understanding of the complexity of processing of visual narratives and its shared features with processing of verbal narratives, which should be considered in pedagogical practices.

Abstract Background Youth participation in team ball sports is associated with a risk of both acute and gradual onset injuries but today there are several efficacious injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs). However, there is limited research about how to implement those programmes and the perceived barriers and facilitators among end-users. Objective To investigate perceptions of the IPEP Knee Control and facilitators and barriers to programme use among coaches and youth floorball players, and explore factors associated with planned maintenance of Knee Control. Methods This cross-sectional study is a sub-analysis of data from the intervention group of a cluster randomised controlled trial. Perceptions about Knee Control and facilitators and barriers to programme use were evaluated with surveys pre-intervention and post-season. 246 youth floorball players aged 12–17 years, and 35 coaches that reported no use of IPEPs during the preceding year were included. Descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression models were undertaken with the dependent variables: coaches’ planned maintenance and players’ opinions of maintenance of Knee Control. Independent variables were perceptions, facilitators and barriers regarding use of Knee Control and other potential influencing factors. Results 88% of the players believed that Knee Control can reduce injury risk. Common facilitators to Knee Control use among coaches were support, education and high player motivation, and common barriers were that injury prevention training was time-consuming, lack of space to execute the exercises and lack of player motivation. Players who planned to maintain use of Knee Control had higher outcome expectancies and belief in one’s ability to use Knee Control (action self-efficacy). Coaches who planned to maintain Knee Control had higher action self-efficacy and to a lesser extent considered that Knee Control takes too much time. Conclusions Support, education, and high player motivation are key facilitators, while lack of time and space for injury prevention training and boring exercises are key barriers for coaches and players to use Knee Control. High action self-efficacy among coaches and players seems to be a prerequisite for maintained use of IPEPs.

In recent years, excessive body weight has become one of the most serious psychological, biological and social problems. According to forecasts by the World Health Organization, obesity and overweight will continue to increase among both adults and children in the coming years. Poland ranks sixth in Europe in this respect. In 2021, almost 58% of Poles had above-average body weight (overweight or obesity). In Poland, 29% of women are overweight, and 21% of women are obese. Body dissatisfaction, depression, and anxiety disorder are indicated as consequences of high BMI in women. Reducing excess body weight improves psychosocial functioning and changes body assessment. The most lasting effects of weight reduction are achieved by a properly selected diet combined with increased physical activity. This results in a change in lifestyle, changes in the levels of metabolic indicators, and changes in one’s body image and mental health. Objective: Our objective was to assess changes in body image and mental health among Polish women and their dependence on the weight reduction method used (type of diet and physical activity). Comparative studies involving 122 women were conducted. These women were selected from 1000 volunteers based on BMI criteria. The effects of diet therapy were compared with the effects of diet therapy combined with physical activity. Research tools: The GHQ-12 scale was used to measure mental health, and the Body Esteem Scale was used to measure body image. The study lasted four years. The results showed changes in body image, general mental health index, and BMI in women who dieted and in those who dieted and exercised. In women using a diet combined with physical activity, greater positive changes in mental condition and stronger positive changes in body image, namely in the assessment of satisfaction with sexual attractiveness, physical condition, and body weight control, were observed compared to women using diet therapy alone.

The present study aims to test the importance of belonging to religious communities to the frequency of using religious strategies for coping with stress, taking into account the moderating role of identity status and gender. This study used Polish adaptations of two questionnaires: The Religious Coping Questionnaire and the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale. Participants in this study were adolescent and young adult Polish Catholic girls and boys, belonging and not belonging to religious communities. The survey was carried out using the pencil–paper method on a sample of 407 young people with varying degrees of involvement in religious practice. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that the frequency of using positive religious coping strategies differs significantly between groups of people belonging to and not belonging to a religious community. As a result of the study, the interaction of the variable belonging to a religious community and the variable identity status in deciding on the frequency of using positive religious strategies for coping with stress was recognized (F = 2.448; p = 0.033). However, the interaction of these variables with gender did not reach the level of statistical significance (F = 0.655; p = 0.658). Multiple regression analysis indicates that the identity dimension Identification with Commitment explains 14.7% of the frequency of using the Cooperation with God strategy. Belonging to religious communities is significant for the frequency of use of selected religious coping strategies and the intensity of all dimensions of identity development. The results of the statistical analysis showed that identity status is a moderator of the relationship between belonging to religious communities and the intensity of positive religious coping strategies. It was found that the frequency of use of religious coping strategies and the intensity of identity dimensions differed between Polish Catholic girls and boys.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to evaluate the impact of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) on bilateral trade in agri-food products and domestic food market of Ukraine during the first five years after the entry into force of this DCFTA. Methodology / approach. Analysis of the impact of DCFTA with EU on the agricultural trade is based on the cost-benefit approach. The results of the implementation of the DCFTA agreement are evaluated in terms of benefits and losses for the main stakeholders (players) in agricultural trade – Ukrainian agricultural exporters, domestic agri-food producers, consumers, and the government sector. Based on the methods of analyzing the structure of the sectoral market, a list of criteria for evaluating the results of the implementation of the Agreement was determined. A comparison method was used to evaluate the impact of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (hereinafter Agreement or AA) on agricultural trade and the domestic market of agri-food products of Ukraine. To study the DCFTA’s impact, the five-year period (2009–2013) before its implementation was compared with the five-year period after the entry into force of the DCFTA bilaterally (2016–2020). Since Ukraine lost control over part of its territories after the start of the Agreement’s implementation, relative indicators were used to assess the impact of the EU-Ukraine DCFTA on the domestic market of agri-food products. The research was conducted based on the data of the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, UN Comtrade Trade Statistics Database, Eurostat Database. Results. The analysis demonstrates the undoubted benefits of DCFTA for Ukrainian exporters of agricultural goods: (1) after the implementation of the DCFTA, there was an increase in both Ukraine’s agricultural exports to the EU and imports of agricultural products from the EU to Ukraine, and the resulting positive balance in agricultural trade in 2020 was 5.5 times higher than in 2009. (2) the average growth rate of Ukraine’s agricultural exports to the EU during the first 5 years of the Agreement (10.3 %) exceeded the average growth rate of agricultural imports from the EU to Ukraine (7.2 %). (3) during 2016–2020, Ukraine’s exports of agricultural goods to the EU grew faster than agricultural exports to the rest of the World, which indicates the high effectiveness of bilateral liberalization of foreign trade regimes. (4) the DCFTA with the EU has not yet resulted in significantly reduce of the share of agricultural raw materials (or low value-added primary goods) in Ukraine’s exports to the EU. (5) the potential for exports of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU, including those produced by small and medium-sized agrobusinesses, has not been fully realized due to the low levels of tariff rate quotas, high level of EU import duty rates applied to quantities imported from Ukraine outside tariff quotas and long duration and high costs of the certification procedures for the export to the EU. (6) during the first 5 years of DCFTA implementation, there was no significant expansion of imports of agri-food products to the domestic market of Ukraine. This happened not so much because of the high competitiveness of domestic producers, but because of the low purchasing power of the population. (7) the implementation of the Agreement did not have a significant downward impact on domestic prices for agri-food products in Ukraine. (8) the lowering of the tariff protection of the domestic market did not significantly influenced the domestic production of agri-food products which remained stable, except for the production of grape wines, which decreased during 2016–2020. (9) due to the implementation of the Agreement, the EU has increased its share in the import of agri-food products to Ukraine. However, for some commodity groups there was both absolute and relative decrease in imports. This happened due to competition from other importers, as well as due to import substitution processes. Originality / scientific novelty. The originality of the study is the specification (adaptation) of cost-benefit analysis methods to identify the DCFTA impact on the main stakeholders in agricultural trade of Ukraine with European Union – exporters, domestic producers, consumers, government sector. Practical value / implications. The practical use of the study consists of identification of the positive and negative consequences of the DCFTA for Ukraine’s agricultural trade stakeholders, as well as factors of these consequences, that allows developing practical agricultural trade policy recommendations, including periodic time-to-time review of trade provisions of the Agreement.

Nucleosome profiling from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) represents a potential approach for cancer detection and classification. Here, the authors develop Griffin, a computational framework for tumour subtype classification based on cfDNA nucleosome profiling that can work with ultra-low pass sequencing data.

Pain is one of the most common complaints and interferes with the quality of life of cancer patients. Several studies recommend multimodal interventions that combine pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. Acupuncture therapy is one of the non-pharmacological treatment options that could be considered. This evidence-based case report aimed to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in reducing pain intensity in patients with cancer pain. Literature searching was performed on three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Embase). The keywords used are cancer pain, malignant pain, acupuncture, acupuncture therapy, pain intensity, pain assessment, pain scale. The critical review was carried out using guidelines from the University of Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine. Four articles relevant to the clinical question were included in the study. Acupuncture therapy has been consistently shown to reduce pain intensity, shorter pain onset time, reduced dose and number of analgesics used, and better quality of life with minimal side effects, compared to drug therapy alone. Acupuncture therapy should be considered as a complementary therapy in the management of cancer pain, but not to replace standard regiment of pain protocols. Clinical decisions in applying acupuncture therapy need to assess patient preferences, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.

This article investigates the practices of naming and describing bodies in plus-size women’s fashion blogs. Building on Jeffries’ (2007) work on the construction of bodies and bodily processes in women’s magazines, I explore how bloggers use language to construct their identities through references to bodily characteristics. I investigate terms the bloggers use to describe the plus-size body, as well as the connotative features of these terms. In addition, I analyse the use of three terms that were used to describe bodies that are not plus-size: thin, slim, and skinny. The results demonstrate that, while the bloggers build counter-discourse to the mainstream media discourses that construct fatness as a negative characteristic, they also maintain particular hegemonic discourses on beauty, sexuality and gender.

This article explores and compares two similar debates in Germany and Sweden during the 1980s, in which feminists blamed the Hebrew Bible, or ‘Old Testament’, for being the origin of the patriarchy. In Germany, the psychologist and pedagogue Gerda Weiler articulated the discourse in several writings, which led to a scholarly debate on anti-Jewish tendencies within Christian femi­nist theology. In Sweden, the debate mainly became a media event, initiated by the author Birgitta Onsell. Instead of criticising the discourse, as in the German debate, other actors reinforced it, for example by highlighting Jesus as a feminist and a contrast to the Old Testament religion. The article further examines ideological consequences of the discourse, including the interdiscursive link to the notion of Judaism as responsible for the patriarchal moral that enabled the Holocaust, also expressed in the public sphere in Germany and Sweden.

Truong Nguyen, Kant, Van den Broeck et al. report the SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Finland in 2020. Phylogeographic analysis suggests that 42 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions into Finland occurred, with a single introduction seeding one third of cases in the spring.

Multiple introductions of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 and BA.1.1. lineages to Finland were detected in early December 2021. Within 3 weeks, Omicron overtook Delta as the most common variant in the capital region. Sequence analysis demonstrated the emergence and spread through community transmission of a large cluster of BA.1.1 virus.