A Pollen-Based Assisted Migration for Rapid Forest Adaptation.

Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to forest ecosystems, necessitating innovative adaptation strategies. Traditional assisted migration approaches, while promising, face challenges related to environmental constraints, forestry practices, phytosanitary risks, economic barriers, and legal constraints. This has sparked debate within the scientific community, with some advocating for the broader implementation of assisted migration despite these limitations, while others emphasize the importance of local adaptation, which may not keep pace with the rapid rate of climate change.

PIM1 instigates endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition to aggravate atherosclerosis.

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a cellular reprogramming mechanism by which endothelial cells acquire a mesenchymal phenotype. Endothelial cell dysfunction is the initiating factor of atherosclerosis (AS). Increasing evidence suggests that EndMT contributes to the occurrence and progression of atherosclerotic lesions and plaque instability.

Biomarker discovery and development of prognostic prediction model using metabolomic panel in breast cancer patients: a hybrid methodology integrating machine learning and explainable artificial intelligence.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Although the important role of metabolism in the molecular pathogenesis of BC is known, there is still a need for robust metabolomic biomarkers and predictive models that will enable the detection and prognosis of BC. This study aims to identify targeted metabolomic biomarker candidates based on explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) for the specific detection of BC.

Leaf functional traits highlight phenotypic variation of two tree species in the urban environment.

Urbanization is transforming landscapes globally, altering environmental conditions that affect ecosystem functioning, particularly in urban areas where trees are crucial for regulating microclimates, improving air quality, and sustaining biodiversity. This study investigates the environmental differences and tree leaf structure and morphology in urban and suburban sites in the Chicago Metropolitan Region. The leaf functional traits of Norway Maple and Little - leaved Linden were studied in three locations in the summer of 2023: an urban park (University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL), a suburban park (Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL), and a suburban residential site (Lombard, IL).

Streamlining Global Germplasm Exchange: Integrating Scientific Rigor and Common Sense to Exclude Phantom Agents from Regulation.

This collaborative work by over 180 researchers from 40+ countries addresses the challenges posed by "phantom agents"-putative pathogenic agents named in literature without supporting data on their existence. Those agents remain on regulatory lists, creating barriers in trade and plant certification. Historically identified based solely on symptoms, these agents lack isolates or sequence data, making reliable detection or risk assessment impossible.

Exploring Early Kinetic Profiles of CEA, ctDNA and cfDNA in Patients With RAS-/BRAF-Mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Introduction: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) respond differently to first-line chemotherapy. Early identification of patients with limited or no clinical benefit could prompt a timelier introduction of second-line therapy and potentially lead to improved overall outcomes. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is currently the only blood-based marker in clinical use for disease control monitoring in mCRC.

In situ detection of PD1-PD-L1 interactions as a functional predictor for response to immune checkpoint inhibition in NSCLC.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed lung cancer treatment, yet their effectiveness appears restricted to certain patient subsets. Current clinical stratification based on PD-L1 expression offers limited predictive value. Given the mechanism of action, directly detecting spatial PD1-PD-L1 interactions might yield more precise insights into immune responses and treatment outcomes.

Does birth weight or preterm birth predict worse pain prognosis in adulthood? A Northern Finland Birth Cohort Study followed up to 46 years of age.

Although pain is a highly common symptom, only a subset of individuals develops chronic and disabling conditions. Delving into the predictors for poor musculoskeletal pain (MSK) outcomes in adulthood may help identify those needing early prevention and intervention. This study aimed to evaluate whether birth weight or preterm birth predicts worse prognosis of MSK pain in adulthood.

Growth and metabolic performance of house fly and black soldier fly larvae differ across densities and waste-based growth substrates.

Large scale production of insect larvae is considered a sustainable way to upcycle various organic waste- and by-products into more valuable food and feed products. The sustainability of insect larvae production depends on the substrates and species being used, but comparative studies that include both growth and efficiency are lacking. Here we compare larval fitness, including survival, development time, weight, substrate conversion efficiency, substrate reduction, and metabolic parameters across different combinations of densities and waste- and by-product-based substrates on the two fly species, the house fly (Musca domestica) and the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens).

Calcaneal bone mineral assessment in elite female trail runners.

This study aimed to assess the calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD) of elite female trail runners and evaluate its reliability using a novel DXA method. It also examined the relationship between calcaneal BMD and other regions of interest to better understand bone health in this specific population. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 35 elite female trail runners from the Spanish national team.

How to Optimize Deimplementation of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy?

Background: The omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy in low-risk elderly breast cancer patients has been introduced in several guidelines. Despite evidence to support its safety, this recommendation has not been implemented by many clinicians. We have examined two aspects of this recommendation that may explain why sentinel lymph node biopsy continues to be performed in most of these patients.

Conference 2024: Building an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health.

The Conference 2024 provides a platform to promote the development of an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health. The four key components - Technology, Research (Biology), Academic journals, and Social media - form a synergistic ecosystem. Advanced technologies drive biological research, which generates novel insights that are disseminated through academic journals.

Effect of Variations of Amine Content and Network Branching on Thermomechanical Properties of Epoxy Systems.

In thermosetting epoxies, thermomechanical properties can be enhanced by conscious selection of curing agents. Full cross-linking leads to a maximum in the glass- transition temperature. However, the relation between the glass transition temperature and the epoxy matrix depends on several factors beyond the cross-linking degree, such as the molecular weight of the polymers, network organization, amount of branching, and the presence of hydrogen bonds.

Caregivers' Perceived Threat Of Sickle Cell Disease Complications And Its Association With Hydroxyurea Use Among Children With Sickle Cell Disease In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Purpose: Tanzania is the fifth country with the highest sickle cell disease (SCD) prevalence globally. Although hydroxyurea (HU) is available, only 25% of persons with SCD are reported to use it in Tanzania. Perceived disease threat is associated with medication usage in patients with chronic diseases.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Bicruciate Multiligament Versus Single Cruciate Multiligament Knee Injuries.

Background: Multiligament knee injuries (MLKIs) are heterogeneous, and bicruciate knee ligament injuries are considered a serious form of this injury. The current literature tends not to distinguish between single and bicruciate MLKI when reporting outcomes.

Purpose: To investigate patient-reported outcomes after surgical treatment of MLKI comparing single cruciate MLKI with bicruciate MLKI.

The powerless bosses: the working day experience of bicycle messengers and its impact on their identities and wellbeing.

Background: Bicycle messengers in the online food delivery sector typically work on an on-demand basis, have digitally mediated relationships with their employer, and have very limited labor rights. In this study, we explore how bicycle messengers themselves experience their workday and how platform work influences their identity and wellbeing.

Method: We conducted qualitative interviews with ten bicycle messengers working for Foodora and Wolt in Bergen and Oslo, Norway.

"It's a delicate balance": clinicians' experiences of providing heroin-assisted treatment.

Background: Little attention has been paid to the experiences of clinicians and health personnel who provide heroin-assisted treatment (HAT). This study provides the first empirical findings about the clinicians' experiences of providing HAT in the Norwegian context.

Methods: 23 qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 clinicians shortly after HAT clinics opened in Norway's two largest cities: Oslo and Bergen.

Impaired coagulation parameters in early RA are restored by effective antirheumatic therapy: a prospective pilot study.

Objectives: To assess the effect of treatment on haemostatic parameters in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed RA started methotrexate and were randomised to additional conventional treatment, certolizumab pegol, abatacept or tocilizumab. Several biomarkers for haemostasis were analysed including parameters of the two global haemostatic assays-overall haemostatic potential (OHP) and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), as well as single haemostatic factors-fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), D-dimer, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and clot lysis time (CLT) in 24 patients at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after the start of the treatment.

The association between posttraumatic stress symptoms and hope following intensive care unit discharge: Findings from a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Hope is essential for mental health in general and for recovery following severe illness. However, the associations between posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and hope among intensive care unit (ICU) survivors has not been investigated.

Objectives: To assess hope at 3, 6 and 12 months after ICU admission and examine possible associations between hope and selected demographic data, clinical characteristics, and 3-month PTSS-levels among ICU patients.

Incorporating spatial information in deep learning parameter estimation with application to the intravoxel incoherent motion model in diffusion-weighted MRI.

In medical image analysis, the utilization of biophysical models for signal analysis offers valuable insights into the underlying tissue types and microstructural processes. In diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), a major challenge lies in accurately estimating model parameters from the acquired data due to the inherently low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signal measurements and the complexity of solving the ill-posed inverse problem. Conventional model fitting approaches treat individual voxels as independent.

Subtypes of brain change in aging and their associations with cognition and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.

Structural brain changes underlie cognitive changes and interindividual variability in cognition in older age. By using structural MRI data-driven clustering, we aimed to identify subgroups of cognitively unimpaired older adults based on brain change patterns and assess how changes in cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume relate to cognitive change. We tested (1) which brain structural changes predict cognitive change (2) whether these are associated with core cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, and (3) the degree of overlap between clusters derived from different structural modalities in 1899 cognitively healthy older adults followed up to 16 years.

Cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP) regulation in severe mental disorders.

Background: People with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) show abnormalities in the biological stress system and low-grade inflammation. However, whether the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-immune regulation is disrupted in SZ and BD, is yet to be determined.

Methods: Cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in blood samples collected at or before 10 am in participants with SZ (N = 257), BD (N = 153), and healthy controls (N = 40).

More Than the Sum of Its Parts: Disrupted Core Periphery of Multiplex Brain Networks in Multiple Sclerosis.

Disruptions to brain networks, measured using structural (sMRI), diffusion (dMRI), or functional (fMRI) MRI, have been shown in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), highlighting the relevance of regions in the core of the connectome but yielding mixed results depending on the studied connectivity domain. Using a multilayer network approach, we integrated these three modalities to portray an enriched representation of the brain's core-periphery organization and explore its alterations in PwMS. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we selected PwMS and healthy controls with complete multimodal brain MRI acquisitions from 13 European centers within the MAGNIMS network.

Evaluation of the Development, Implementation, Maintenance, and Impact of 3 Digital Surveillance Tools Deployed in Malawi During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Modified Delphi Expert Consensus Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of strengthening national monitoring systems to safeguard a globally connected society, especially those in low- and middle-income countries. Africa's rapid adoption of digital technological interventions created a new frontier of digital advancement during crises or pandemics. The use of digital tools for disease surveillance can assist with rapid outbreak identification and response, handling duties such as diagnosis, testing, contact tracing, and risk communication.