Pancreatic Ductal Cell Heterogeneity: Insights into the Potential for β-Cell Regeneration in Diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a significant and fast-growing health problem worldwide. Cost, donor shortages, and immune rejection limit current treatment strategies. While considerable progress has been made in creating β-cells in vitro with remarkable morphological and functional resemblance to those in primary pancreatic islets, exploring alternative sources for β-cell replacement is crucial.

Implantable hydrogels as pioneering materials for next-generation brain-computer interfaces.

Use of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is rapidly becoming a transformative approach for diagnosing and treating various brain disorders. By facilitating direct communication between the brain and external devices, BCIs have the potential to revolutionize neural activity monitoring, targeted neuromodulation strategies, and the restoration of brain functions. However, BCI technology faces significant challenges in achieving long-term, stable, high-quality recordings and accurately modulating neural activity.

Relationships Among Sex, Sexual Orientation, Dark Triad Traits, Sociosexuality, and Sexual Excitation/Inhibition.

Subclinical narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism are a cluster of manipulative, callous, and entitled traits known as the Dark Triad (DT). These traits have been repeatedly linked to short-term mating strategies and a tolerance for uncommitted sexual behavior (i.e.

Pilot Study Exploring the Perspectives of Canadian Clients Who Received Digitally Delivered Psychotherapies Utilized for Trauma-Affected Populations.

The digital delivery of mental health services became increasingly common following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is still much to learn regarding tailoring interventions for trauma-affected populations (military members, Veterans, public safety personnel). Through the current pilot study, we explored the perceptions of digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations, as reported by Canadian military members, Veterans, and public safety personnel who completed such interventions.

Health System Implementation Is a Non-Linear System of Systems.

Health systems globally are struggling with. common issues such as access, wait times, and the delivery of new models of care such as team-based care. While it has been argued that addressing our health crisis involves better implementation of known solutions, we argue that mindset is an overly simplified representation of health system implementation.

A morphological cell atlas of the freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri with key insights from targeted single-cell transcriptomes.

How animal cell types, tissues, and regional body plans arose is a fundamental question in EvoDevo. Many current efforts attempt to link genetic information to the morphology of cells, tissues and regionalization of animal body plans using single-cell sequencing of cell populations. However, a lack of in-depth understanding of the morphology of non-bilaterian animals remains a considerable block to understanding the transitions between bilaterian and non-bilaterian cells and tissues.

Embryological incubation temperature modulates behaviour in larval white sturgeon (Acispencer transmontanus).

White sturgeon inhabit large rivers and estuaries along the Pacific coast of North America and play important ecological and cultural roles. As with other poikilotherms, the expected rise in global temperatures will create physiological challenges for sturgeon, including direct effects on physiological rates, and may also cause changes in behaviour that impact survival. In this study, we investigated 'carryover effects' in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) by incubating fish at one of three embryological temperatures (12 °C, 15 °C, or 18 °C) from fertilization to hatch, and then holding them at 15 °C for the following 30 days post-hatch (dph).

Palm phytoliths in subarctic Canada imply ice-free winters 48 million years ago during the late early Eocene.

Background And Aims: Phytoliths are microscopic siliceous structures produced in specific tissues by many plant families. The morphological features of phytoliths are diagnostic for many plant taxa, and given their inorganic composition often become part of the fossil record. We use phytolith remains from lacustrine sediments to document the conclusive presence of Arecaceae (palms) in subarctic Canada during the late early Eocene (48 Ma).

Fluid balance and clinical outcomes in patients with aortic dissection: a retrospective case-control study based on ICU databases.

Objectives: Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening condition that requires intensive care and management. This paper explores the role of fluid management in the clinical care of AD patients, which has been unclear despite the substantial existing research that has been conducted on the treatment of AD.

Design: A retrospective case-control study using data for AD patients from public databases.

Tasteful Play: Christian Artists, Ambiguity and the Theo-politics of Taste.

Émile Durkheim (1912) argues that art is an essential part of religious life-it 'refreshes a spirit worn down by all that is overburdening in day-to-day labor' (385). For Durkheim, making art in religious contexts is akin to sacred play. We explore how contemporary Christian artists use play, frivolity and experimentation to intentionally, and more often unintentionally, challenge, or at least, reveal various social and theo-political dynamics within their religious communities.

Heart Morphogenesis Requires Smyd1b for Proper Incorporation of the Second Heart Field in Zebrafish.

Abnormal development of the second heart field significantly contributes to congenital heart defects, often caused by disruptions in tightly regulated molecular pathways. , a gene encoding a protein with SET and MYND domains, is essential for heart and skeletal muscle development. Mutations in SMYD1 result in severe cardiac malformations and misregulation of expression in mammals.

Challenges and Resiliency: Social Determinants of Health, COVID-19, and the Disproportionate Impact on Immigrants and Refugees Living with HIV.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic is a global public health and social justice issue. HIV continues to disproportionately affect marginalized populations, including immigrants and refugees living with HIV (IRLHIV). This study investigated and captured the experiences of IRLHIV using the social determinants of health framework.

Exploring the Perspectives of Canadian Clinicians Regarding Digitally Delivered Psychotherapies Utilized for Trauma-Affected Populations.

Many clinical sites shifted towards digital delivery of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is still much to learn regarding tailoring digitally delivered interventions for trauma-affected populations. The current study examined the perceptions of Canadian mental health clinicians who provided digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations.

Correctional officers and the ongoing health implications of prison work.

Correctional Service Providers (CSP), including Correctional officers (COs), are key front-line figures in prisons globally, with responsibility for a wide range of daily prison operations. Over the past decade, research on prison staff has massively grown. However, the portrait this scholarship draws is concerning.

Brief exposure to (-) THC affects zebrafish embryonic locomotion with effects that persist into the next generation.

Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs, and yet an understanding of its impact on the human brain and body is inconclusive. Medicinal and recreational use of cannabis has increased in the last decade with a concomitant increase in use by pregnant women. The major psychoactive compound in cannabis, Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), exists in different isomers, with the (-) trans isomer most common.

Establishing patient partners' roles on research teams: a scoping review.

Background: There are a myriad of ways patient partners can enact their roles on research teams. International guidelines emphasize the need for a collaborative approach to determining these roles to try to improve research impact and positive patient partner experience. The aims of this review were to: (1) describe how patient partners' roles as co-researchers in health research are determined; and (2) identify factors that influence how these decisions are made.

Amylopectin-based Hydrogel Probes for Brain-machine Interfaces.

Implantable neural probes hold promise for acquiring brain data, modulating neural circuits, and treating various brain disorders. However, traditional implantable probes face significant challenges in practical applications, such as balancing sensitivity with biocompatibility and the difficulties of in situ neural information monitoring and neuromodulation. To address these challenges, this study developed an implantable hydrogel probe capable of recording neural signals, modulating neural circuits, and treating stroke.

From colours to cravings: Exploring conditioned colour preference to ethanol in zebrafish.

Conditioned preference paradigms like conditioned colour preference tests (CCP) can be used to investigate addictive drug seeking in zebrafish (Danio rerio), but many aspects of this procedure require further study. Conditioned preference can be tested with either biased or unbiased conditioning methods, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The present study used unbiased stimuli to test seeking behaviour in ethanol-exposed zebrafish at different durations of drug withdrawal.

Interventions employed to address vaccine hesitancy among Black populations outside of African and Caribbean countries: a scoping review.

Background: Black people are disproportionately affected by structural and social determinants of health, resulting in greater risks of exposure to and deaths from COVID-19. Structural and social determinants of health feed vaccine hesitancy and worsen health disparities.

Objective: This scoping review explored interventions that have been employed to address vaccine hesitancy among Black population outside of African and Caribbean countries.

Narrative Coherence and Relational Agency: Unraveling Transitions Into and Out of Alberta Correctional Facilities for People Living With HIV.

Incarcerated populations in Canada face significant health and social challenges during transitions into and out of correctional facilities. These transitions around facilities pose disproportionate barriers to care for people living with HIV. Further research is crucial to comprehend these challenges and reimagine care concepts for people who experience structural marginalization.

Loneliness and cannabis use among older adults: findings from a Canada national survey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Cannabis use has been increasing among older adults in Canada, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine the association between loneliness and cannabis use among older Canadians during the pandemic.

Methods: Quantitative data analyses were performed based on 2,020 participants aged 55 years and older from the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6, 2021: Substance Use and Stigma During the Pandemic.

Healthcare system navigation difficulties among informal caregivers of older adults: a logistic regression analysis of social capital, caregiving support and utilization factors.

Background: Informal caregivers of older adults play a vital role in improving the degree to which older adults access community and healthcare services in a seamless and timely manner. They are fulfilling important navigation and support roles for their older care recipients. However, there is still little knowledge of the most significant facilitators and barriers to effective and efficient system navigation among caregivers.

Mental health challenges of recent immigrants in precarious work environments - a qualitative study.

Introduction: Recent immigrants from racialized minority backgrounds and those who are not proficient in the local language are some of the most vulnerable members of society. Despite having postsecondary educational qualifications and permanent residency status, many are engaged in precarious employment. There is a scarcity of research that has explicitly focused on the work experiences and mental health challenges faced by these immigrants.