Three-dimensional vegetation structure drives patterns of seed dispersal by African hornbills.

Three-dimensional (3D) vegetation structure influences animal movements and, consequently, ecosystem functions. Animals disperse the seeds of 60%-90% of trees in tropical rainforests, which are among the most structurally complex ecosystems on Earth. Here, we investigated how 3D rainforest structure influences the movements of large, frugivorous birds and resulting spatial patterns of seed dispersal.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in osteoporosis: a review of its phytochemistry, traditional clinical uses and preclinical studies (2014-2024).

Osteoporosis becomes a global public health concern due to its rising prevalence and substantial impact on life quality. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, SM) has been firstly recorded in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic, and is frequently prescribed in conjunction with other herbs for the management of osteoporosis. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze the recent advances of SM on osteoporosis in traditional Chinese clinical uses and preclinical investigations.

Challenges in assessing the effects of environmental governance systems on conservation outcomes.

Effective governance is crucial for the success of conservation projects aimed at protecting wildlife populations and supporting human well-being. However, few large-scale, comprehensive syntheses have been conducted on the effects of different environmental governance types on conservation outcomes (i.e.

Pragmatic randomised trial assessing the impact of peer comparison and therapeutic recommendations, including repetition, on antibiotic prescribing patterns of family physicians across British Columbia for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a personalised audit and feedback prescribing report (AF) and brief educational summary (ES) on empiric treatment of uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) by family physicians (FPs).

Design: Cluster randomised control trial.

Setting: The intervention was conducted in British Columbia, Canada between 23 September 2021 and 28 March 2022.

Nurse practitioner medication abortion providers in Canada: results from a national survey.

Background: In 2017, nurse practitioners (NPs) became the first non-physician healthcare providers authorised to independently provide medication abortion (MA) in Canada. We aimed to report on demographic and clinical characteristics of NPs providing mifepristone/misoprostol MA in Canada and to identify context-specific barriers and enablers to NP provision of mifepristone/misoprostol MA in Canada among MA providers and non-providers.

Methods: From August 2020 to February 2021, we invited Canadian NPs to complete a national, web-based, bilingual (English/French) survey.

Emotional difficulties mediate the impact of adverse childhood experiences on compulsive buying-shopping problems.

Background: Compulsive buying-shopping is recognised as a significant mental health concern, yet its aetiology is largely understudied. A known risk factor for compulsive buying-shopping is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs are also associated with greater problems regulating emotions, as well as depression and anxiety.

Transcriptome Analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Early Gene Expression in Human Gingival Keratinocytes.

Aim: Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (PgLPS) is a significant virulence factor and a driver of early innate immune responses in epithelial cells. The presence of PgLPS in immediate proximity to gingival epithelium induces significant inflammatory responses. In primary human gingival keratinocytes (HGK), we utilized transcriptome analysis to elucidate the change in early gene expression induced by PgLPS.

Pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for functional cognitive disorder after concussion.

Background: Functional cognitive disorder (FCD) may be common after a concussion, and no evidence-based treatment options are available. The current study evaluated the feasibility of a novel cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) protocol tailored to FCD after concussion.

Methods: Participants were randomised to CBT (n=11) or the current standard of care, cognitive rehabilitation (n=13).

Exome variant prioritization in a large cohort of hearing-impaired individuals indicates IKZF2 to be associated with non-syndromic hearing loss and guides future research of unsolved cases.

Although more than 140 genes have been associated with non-syndromic hereditary hearing loss (HL), at least half of the cases remain unexplained in medical genetic testing. One reason is that pathogenic variants are located in 'novel' deafness genes. A variant prioritization approach was used to identify novel (candidate) genes for HL.

Prescribing strength training for stroke recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Objective: To examine the effects of strength training on patient-important outcomes of stroke recovery and to quantify the influence of the exercise prescription on treatment effects.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Eight electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, AMED, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) and two clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.

Engaging with discursive complexities in mental health accessibility: Implications for acquired brain injury.

The psychosocial needs of people with acquired brain injury (ABI) have been neglected based on ableist assumptions of incapability to participate in mental health treatment. Although people without disabilities benefit from evidence-based mental health supports, these treatments remain inaccessible for those with disabilities after ABI. Discursive simplifications used in dominant conceptualisations of health and disability may maintain this inaccessibility.

Comparison of ocular biometric measurements and intraocular lens power calculation using different methods in eyes with implantable collamer lenses.

This prospective cohort study included 80 healthy candidates for Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) implantation who underwent biometric assessments with Scheimpflug imaging (the Pentacam-AXL) and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT; the IOLMaster-700), both before and 3 months after surgery. The main outcome measures were mean keratometry, anterior chamber depth, axial length, and various intraocular lens (IOL) calculation formulas (Haigis, SRK/T, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, Barrett Universal 2, and Olsen). The interchangeability of the devices was assessed by generating 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) and associated Bland-Altman plots.

Screening, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of developmental dysplasia of the hip in Brazilian population: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) includes a spectrum of clinical and imaging findings at birth or early infancy. The circumstances in which this condition is detected and managed may be heterogeneous in Brazil owing to its large territory and regional socio-economic differences. Mapping DDH perspectives in a country is fundamental for designing guidelines and strategies for public policy.

Altmetric and impact analysis of randomized clinical trials in dentistry.

Objectives: This study investigated altmetrics, citations, and field-normalized impact of dental articles reporting randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published within a one-year period.

Methods: Data were collected in 2024 from PubMed-indexed RCTs published in 2019. Dependent variables included Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS), PlumX citations, and Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI).