Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Handgrip strength measurement protocols in individuals with Down syndrome: a systematic review and meta-regression.

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) serves as a robust predictor of overall strength across various populations, including individuals with Down Syndrome (DS).

Objective: To analyze the HGS measurement protocols used in studies involving individuals with DS.

Methods: Primary sources were sourced from six databases: PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, Embase, ERIC, and Web of Science, spanning from inception to 23rd December 2023.

Translation and cross-cultural validation of the Lithuanian version of the sleep-related breathing disorder scale of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire.

Introduction: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is considered the second most common chronic health condition in children. Untreated SDB is associated with long-term health consequences. Our objective was to translate the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) into Lithuanian and culturally adapt and validate the translated version in order to improve the diagnosis of SDB in Lithuanian children.

Associations of reverse triiodothyronine serum levels with anxiety, depression, and health related quality of life after experiencing acute ischemic stroke.

Aim: This study intended to explore associations of reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) with emotional disturbances and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after experiencing acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Materials And Methods: Serum samples from individuals with AIS were collected on admission to three Lithuania stroke centers and investigated for free tetraiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine (fT3), rT3, and thyroid stimulating hormone levels. At discharge, emotional disturbance was evaluated using the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS), and HRQoL using the EQ-5D-5L scale.

Demographic influences on Lithuanian physicians' attitudes toward medical assistance in dying: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The topic of end-of-life decisions is important due to aging populations and the rising number of terminal illnesses like cancer. As more people experience suffering, the ethical, medical, and legal debates of these decisions become significant to healthcare policy. Understanding medical professionals' attitudes is critical for shaping responsible practices and legislation surrounding end-of-life care.

General practitioners' clinical decision-making in patients that could have cancer: a vignette study comparing the Baltic states with four Nordic countries.

Objective: Relative one-year cancer survival rates in the Baltic states are lower than the European mean; in the Nordic countries they are higher than the mean. This study investigated the likelihood of General Practitioners (GPs) investigating or referring patients with a low but significant risk of cancer in these two regions, and how this was affected by GP demographics.

Design: A survey of GPs using clinical vignettes.

Comparative toxicity of copper and zinc contaminated wastewater irrigation on growth, physiology, and mineral absorption of wheat.

A comparative pot study was performed to assess the toxic effects of copper (Cu) and/or zinc (Zn) contaminated wastewater (WW) irrigation on the growth, physiology, and element concentration of wheat grown for two months. The treatments included irrigation with uncontaminated wastewater (WW) as control, Cu-contaminated WW (CuWW), Zn-contaminated WW (ZnWW), and Cu + Zn contaminated WW (CuZnWW) in a completely randomized design. Compared to ZnWW, irrigation with CuWW or CuZnWW had severe effects on growth, physiology, and mineral absorption by wheat.

Epitaxial Electrodeposition of Zinc on Different Single Crystal Copper Substrates for High Performance Aqueous Batteries.

The aqueous zinc metal battery holds great potential for large-scale energy storage due to its safety, low cost, and high theoretical capacity. However, challenges such as corrosion and dendritic growth necessitate controlled zinc deposition. This study employs epitaxy to achieve large-area, dense, and ultraflat zinc plating on textured copper foil.

Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania.

The Aim Of This Study: to analyze lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, with a particular focus on eating habits, physical activity, social engagement and harmful habits.

Methods: The representative sample of Lithuanian population over 65 years old (1,503 individuals) was involved in the questionnaire survey, performed in January 2024.

Results: Most of the eating habits and the body weight of the older adults did not change during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania.

Interaction of human gut microbiota and local immune system in progression of colorectal adenoma (MIMICA-1): a protocol for a prospective, observational cohort study.

Introduction: The current understanding of colorectal carcinogenesis is based on the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, where genetics, intestinal microbiota changes and local immunity shifts seem to play the key roles. Despite the emerging evidence of dysbiotic intestinal state and immune-cell infiltration changes in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, early and advanced adenoma as precursors of colorectal cancer, and carcinoma as the following progression, are rather less studied. The newly colon-site adapted AI-based analysis of immune infiltrates is able to predict long-term outcomes of colon carcinoma.

Tilia species (linden) exert anti-cancer effects on MIA PaCa-2 cells through the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation.

This study investigated the anti-cancer effects of the chemically characterized Tilia species (linden) on MIA PaCa-2 cells by analyzing various cancer-triggering mechanisms, including oxidative stress and inflammation status. Extracts from the flowers, bracts, and inflorescences of T. cordata, T.

Assessment of potentially unnecessary antibiotic use for suspected urinary tract infections in nursing homes using a simplified algorithm.

Background: Nursing home (NH) residents are frequently treated with antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs), often due to overdiagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of potentially unnecessary antibiotic use for suspected UTIs in NHs across eight European countries.

Research Design And Methods: Over a three-month period (February to April 2024), NH professionals recorded information on all antibiotic treatments for UTIs using a specific registration chart.

A non-interventional biomarker study in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung treated with nintedanib plus docetaxel following progression on chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy: LUME-BioNIS.

Background: Anti-angiogenic agents, such as nintedanib and ramucirumab, when combined with docetaxel, are subsequent treatment options in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have failed on first-line chemotherapy or immunochemotherapy. However, to date, there are no validated predictive biomarkers for efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapies in this setting. The aim of this study was to explore whether genetic or genomic markers, alone or combined with clinical covariates, could be used to predict overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC who are eligible for treatment with nintedanib plus docetaxel.

Digital dietary interventions for healthy adolescents: A systematic review of behavior change techniques, engagement strategies, and adherence.

Background: Adolescence is a crucial phase for developing healthy eating habits with lifelong health implications. Digital interventions, such as smartphone apps and web platforms, have emerged as promising strategies to promote healthy eating habits among adolescents by using behavior change techniques (BCTs). This study aims to systematically review internet-based dietary interventions targeting adolescents, focusing on the analysis of BCTs employed, their delivery modes, and their impact on adolescents' adherence and engagement.

Surviving prematurity: retrospective longitudinal study of multisystem consequences in preterm-born individuals from infancy to adolescence.

Background: Prematurity is linked to diverse and significant health outcomes, but a comprehensive understanding of its long-term multisystem impacts remains limited.

Methods: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study on 417 preterm children born between 2000 and 2015 explores the incidence, dynamics, and interrelationships of health conditions from infancy to adolescence. Data on 1818 diagnoses, categorised by birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA) and documented according to ICD-10, were analysed using non-parametric tests and negative binomial regression models.

Ethics and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgery: a snapshot of insights from the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA) survey.

Background: Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) surgery is a complex specialty and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications have the potential to improve pre- intra- and postoperative outcomes of HPB surgery. While ethics guidelines have been developed for the use of AI in clinical surgery, the ethical implications and reliability of AI in HPB surgery remain specifically unexplored.

Methods: An online survey was developed by the Innovation Committee of the E-AHPBA to investigate the current perspectives on the ethical principles and trustworthiness of AI in HPB Surgery among E-AHPBA membership.

Electrochemical UV-SERS of adenine on cobalt electrode.

The combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in the ultraviolet spectral region (UV-SERS) with resonance Raman scattering enhancement, referred to as UV-SERRS, enables ultrasensitive and reliable detection of biomolecules because of the strong electronic transition of many biologically important compounds in UV region. Adenine solution studies by UV-Raman spectroscopy revealed pre-resonant enhancement of various modes by 2-16 times at 325 nm excitation wavelength. Adsorption and structural properties of adenine on a cobalt electrode were probed by UV-SERS.

Genomic reanalysis of a pan-European rare-disease resource yields new diagnoses.

Genetic diagnosis of rare diseases requires accurate identification and interpretation of genomic variants. Clinical and molecular scientists from 37 expert centers across Europe created the Solve-Rare Diseases Consortium (Solve-RD) resource, encompassing clinical, pedigree and genomic rare-disease data (94.5% exomes, 5.

Programming of synthetic regulatory DNA for cell-type targeting in humans.

In a recent study in Nature, Gosai et al. introduce a framework to engineer and validate synthetic DNA regulatory elements showing cell-type-specific activity in human cell lines, closing the distance to the machine-driven design of functional regulatory sequences with therapeutic applications in humans.

Unpacking the green potential: How does supply chain digitalization affect corporate carbon emissions? - Evidence from supply chain innovation and application pilots in China.

The impact of supply chain digitalization (SCD) on carbon dioxide emissions is an emerging area of research, particularly in China, which is the world's largest carbon emitter. This study uses micro-level data on listed companies from 2010 to 2021 to systematically verify the impact and mechanism of SCD on corporate carbon emissions (CCE) through the difference-in-differences model. We determined that SCD can significantly reduce CCE and its implementation path involves three aspects: promoting technological innovation, reducing financing constraints, and increasing market attention.

Multiple, Single Trait GWAS and Supervised Machine Learning Reveal the Genetic Architecture of Fraxinus excelsior Tolerance to Ash Dieback in Europe.

Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is under intensive attack from the invasive alien pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, causing ash dieback at epidemic levels throughout Europe. Previous studies have found significant genetic variation among genotypes in ash dieback susceptibility and that host phenology, such as autumn yellowing, is correlated with susceptibility of ash trees to H. fraxineus; however, the genomic basis of ash dieback tolerance in F.

Increased mortality risk in people with schizophrenia in Lithuania 2001-2020.

The aim of this study was to assess mortality risk in people with schizophrenia in Lithuania from 2001 and 2020. Cause-specific and all-cause mortality risk among patients with schizophrenia was assessed using a retrospective cohort study design. The cohort identified all patients with schizophrenia diagnosis (ICD-10 code F20) who were admitted to the Vilnius Republican Psychiatric Hospital from 1 January, 2001 to December 31, 2020.

Psychometric Properties of the Anxiety About Aging Scale (AAS) in Lithuanian Adults.

The Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS) was developed by Lasher and Faulkender emphasizing a multidimensional approach to aging anxiety and addressing conceptual and psychometric issues of similar tools. Today this scale is one of the most used measures that allow to assess aging anxiety among younger and older populations. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of the AAS.