Distribution Patterns of Urban Spontaneous Vegetation Diversity and Their Response to Habitat Heterogeneity: A Case Study of Five Cities in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Spontaneous vegetation is an important component of urban biodiversity and an excellent agent for exploring the mutual feedback mechanism between urbanization and urban ecosystems. Rapid urbanization has had a significant impact on the composition, structure, and distribution patterns of urban spontaneous vegetation diversity. Studying the diversity distribution patterns and causes of urban plant communities is beneficial for understanding the formation and maintenance mechanisms of plant diversity in specific urban habitats.

Multi-Scale Study of a Phase Change Material on a Tropical Island for Evaluating Its Impact on Human Comfort in the Building Sector.

Our study explores the utilization of a phase change material (PCM) to optimize energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings in tropical climates. Employing a comprehensive multi-scale approach, this research encompasses both microscopic and macroscopic analyses to rigorously evaluate the PCM's performance under various environmental conditions. It evaluates the effect of PCMs on ambient conditions in the face of temperature variations and high humidity, utilizing experimental methods at different scales (microscopic and macroscopic).

Cytokine release syndrome after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors: an observational cohort study of 2672 patients from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are linked to diverse immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Rare irAEs surface first in clinical practice. Here, we systematically studied the rare irAE, cytokine-release syndrome (CRS), in a cohort of 2672 patients treated with ICIs at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

Online Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Dementia in Brazil and India: Acceptability, Feasibility, and Lessons for Implementation.

Background: Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is an evidence-based, group psychosocial intervention for people with dementia, and it has a positive impact on cognition and quality of life. CST has been culturally adapted for use globally. It was developed as a face-to-face intervention but has recently been adapted for online delivery.

Estimating the total utilization of take home naloxone during an unregulated drug toxicity crisis: A Bayesian modeling approach.

Background: British Columbia (BC) Canada has a large take-home naloxone (THN) program, implemented as part of the provincial response to the ongoing toxic unregulated drug supply emergency. Ascertaining the rate of use of THN kits is vital to understanding the full impact of the program. However, this is a challenging problem due to under-reporting of kit distribution.

Dual Challenge-Response Systems of a Three-Dimensional "Bionic" Fluorescent Physically Unclonable Function Label.

Inspired by the light and dark variations observed in natural cloud clusters under sunlight, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) "bionic" fluorescent physically unclonable function (PUF) label. The minimalist preparation process eliminates the need for expensive traditional instruments, thus offering new insight into the widespread adoption of 3D PUF labels. The Eu(CCA)(HO) powder, which is the first to propose its secondary building unit, was chosen as the fluorescent material.

Transitional care clinics for patients discharged from hospital without a primary care provider: A systematic review.

Background: The transition from hospital to home is a high-risk period. Timely follow-up care is essential to reducing avoidable harms such as adverse drug events, yet may be unattainable for patients who lack attachment to a primary care provider. Transitional care clinics (TCCs) have been proposed as a measure to improve health outcomes for patients discharged from hospital without an established provider.

Characterizing the impact of thermoregulation in patients after cardiac arrest: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Core body temperature has been extensively investigated as a thereuptic target in care after cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, the integrity of thermoregulation in patients after cardiac arrest has not been well studied. We sought to evaluate whether low spontaneous body temperature after cardiac arrest is associated with increased death and a worse neurologic outcome, and whether patients with low spontaneous body temperature exhibit features suggestive of impaired thermoregulation.

Structural stigma within inpatient care for people who inject drugs: implications for harm reduction.

Background: Individuals suffering with addiction have historically experienced disproportionally high levels of stigma. The process of inpatient care for those with substance abuse disorder (SUD) is multifaceted, shaped by the interplay of human interactions within the healthcare team and overarching structural factors like policy. While existing literature predominantly addresses personal and interpersonal stigma, the influence of structural stigma on care delivery practices remains understudied.

Reassuring pregnancy outcomes in women with mild COL4A3-5-related disease (Alport syndrome) and genetic type of disease can aid personalized counseling.

Individualized pre-pregnancy counseling and antenatal care for women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) require disease-specific data. Here, we investigated pregnancy outcomes and long-term kidney function in women with COL4A3-5 related disease (Alport Syndrome, (AS)) in a large multicenter cohort. The ALPART-network (mAternaL and fetal PregnAncy outcomes of women with AlpoRT syndrome), an international collaboration of 17 centers, retrospectively investigated COL4A3-5 related disease pregnancies after the 20th week.

Factors associated with obtaining prescribed safer supply among people accessing harm reduction services: findings from a cross-sectional survey.

Background: With growing rates of unregulated drug toxicity death and concerns regarding COVID-19 transmission among people who use drugs, in March 2020, prescribed safer supply guidance was released in British Columbia. This study describes demographic and substance use characteristics associated with obtaining prescribed safer supply and examines the association between last 6-month harm reduction service access and obtaining prescribed safer supply.

Methods: Data come from the 2021 Harm Reduction Client Survey administered at 17 harm reduction sites across British Columbia.

Physically Unclonable Holographic Encryption and Anticounterfeiting Based on the Light Propagation of Complex Medium and Fluorescent Labels.

Physically unclonable function (PUF) methods have high security, but their wide application is limited by complex encoding, large database, advanced external characterization equipment, and complicated comparative authentication. Therefore, we creatively propose the physically unclonable holographic encryption and anticounterfeiting based on the light propagation of complex medium and fluorescent labels. As far as we know, this is the first holographic encryption and anticounterfeiting method with a fluorescence physically unclonable property.

Motivators of and barriers to drug checking engagement in British Columbia, Canada: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Responding to increasing rates of illicit drug toxicity mortality in British Columbia, regional health authorities introduced various types and models of drug checking services starting in 2016. Uptake has been gradual yet consistent, but motivators and barriers of service use have not been well-described.

Methods: The British Columbia Harm Reduction Client Survey is a cross-sectional survey conducted at harm reduction sites across British Columbia.

Associations with experience of non-fatal opioid overdose in British Columbia, Canada: a repeated cross sectional survey study.

Introduction: Lives lost in North America due to the unregulated drug poisoning emergency are preventable and those who survive an opioid overdose may suffer long-term disability. Rates of opioid overdose more than doubled following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada.

Materials And Methods: Our analytical sample was comprised of 1447 participants from the 2018, 2019, and 2021 Harm Reduction Client Survey who responded yes or no to having experienced an opioid overdose in the past 6 months.

Nationwide emergency department visits for pediatric traumatic spinal cord injury in the United States, 2016-2020.

Introduction: Traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) is a debilitating neurological condition resulting in lifelong disability for many individuals. The primary objectives of our study were to describe national trends in incident emergency department (ED) visits for tSCI among children (less than 21 years) in the United States, and to determine the proportion of visits that resulted in immediate hospitalization each year, including stratified by age and sex. Secondary objectives were to examine associations between select characteristics and hospitalization following tSCI, as well as to assess sports-related tSCIs over time, including by individual sport and geographic region.

BNT162b2 versus mRNA-1273 Third Dose COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients with CKD and Maintenance Dialysis Patients.

Background: There is a lack of randomized controlled trial data regarding differences in immunogenicity of varying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccine regimens in CKD populations.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial at three kidney centers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, evaluating the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody response after third dose vaccination. Participants ( n =273) with CKD not on dialysis or receiving dialysis were randomized 1:1 to third dose 30- µ g BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) or 100- µ g mRNA-1273 (Moderna).

A systematic review of psychosocial interventions for people with intellectual disabilities and dementia.

Objectives: As the life expectancy of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) continues to increase, there is an increased risk of developing dementia. While psychosocial interventions are gaining prominence, evidence is limited for people with both dementia and ID. This review discusses the effectiveness of direct psychosocial interventions and adaptations to facilitate delivery within this population.

Preferred stimulant safer supply and associations with methamphetamine preference among people who use stimulants in British Columbia: Findings from a 2021 cross-sectional survey.

Background: As safer supply programs expand in Canada, stimulant safer supply is often overlooked despite the harms and criminalization faced by people who use stimulants.

Methods: The 2021 Harm Reduction Client Survey was administered at 17 harm reduction sites around British Columbia, Canada. The survey included a question about what specific substance participants would want to receive as stimulant safer supply.

To Use or Not to Use? Quantifying the Benefit of Microcatheter Use in Adrenal Vein Sampling.

Adrenal vein sampling is a technically difficult procedure with reported sampling success rates as low as 41%. Routine microcatheter use has been suggested by some to improve sampling adequacy. This study is a single-institution retrospective review of adrenal vein sampling procedures performed from 2014 to 2021 to quantify sample selectivity and adequacy with and without the use of a microcatheter.

Electrically tunable polarized luminescence from guest-host composites interaction between rare earth complexes and liquid crystals.

Polarized luminescence has many applications in energy saving, displays, communication and other fields. Here, electrically tunable polarized luminescence of aligned Eu(tta)phen/E7 composites is successfully obtained based on the interaction between liquid crystal (LC) hosts and rare earth (RE) complex guests. The generation mechanism of the polarization effect is thoroughly explored from three different aspects.

Smoking identified as preferred mode of opioid safe supply use; investigating correlates of smoking preference through a 2021 cross-sectional study in British Columbia.

Background: The increasing number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in British Columbia (BC) has led to calls for a regulated (pharmaceutical grade) supply of substances ("safe supply"). In order to inform safe supply recommendations, we aimed to identify why people currently smoke opioids and assess the preferred mode of consumption if people who use opioids were provided with opioid safe supply.

Methods: The BC Harm Reduction Client Survey (HRCS) is an annual survey that gathers information about people who use drugs' (PWUD) substance use characteristic with the goal of contributing to evidence-based policy.

Awareness, predictors and outcomes of drug alerts among people who access harm reduction services in British Columbia, Canada: findings from a 2021 cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: To assess the awareness and predictors of seeing/hearing a drug alert in British Columbia (BC) and subsequent drug use behaviour after seeing/hearing an alert.

Methods: This study analysed the 2021 BC harm reduction client survey (HRCS)-a cross-sectional self-reported survey administered at harm reduction sites throughout the province and completed by participants using the services.

Results: In total, n=537 respondents participated and n=482 (89.