Bio-Based Surfactants via Borrowing Hydrogen Catalysis.

A borrowing hydrogen approach to produce bio-based surfactants is described. The process utilizes ubiquitous amino acids and common alcohols without protecting group manipulations. Surfactants are synthesized in a single step using a commercially available ruthenium-based catalyst in a waste-free manner with nearly ideal atom economy.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Links Ingestion, Homeostasis, and the Heart.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone released from enteroendocrine cells in the distal small and large intestines in response to nutrients and other stimuli, not only controls eating and insulin release, but is also involved in drinking control as well as renal and cardiovascular functions. Moreover, GLP-1 functions as a central nervous system peptide transmitter, produced by preproglucagon (PPG) neurons in the hindbrain. Intestinal GLP-1 inhibits eating by activating vagal sensory neurons directly, via GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs), but presumably also indirectly, by triggering the release of serotonin from enterochromaffin cells.

How prototypical are we compared to them? The role of the group relative prototypicality in explaining the path from intergroup contact to collective action.

In two cross-sectional and two experimental studies across both advantaged and disadvantaged group members (N = 1980 from two national contexts, UK and Italy), we explored if perceptions of group relative prototypicality may explain the association of positive and negative contact with collective action. Specifically, across studies, we investigated subgroup relative prototypicality with respect to four different common identities (national, supranational, based on humanity, humanity values). In Studies 1-2, among advantaged group members, positive contact was positively associated with collective action intentions via greater relative prototypicality of disadvantaged groups; in Study 2, we also found that negative contact was negatively associated with collective action intentions via decreased relative prototypicality of disadvantaged groups.

Expanding the Enzymatic Toolbox for Carboligation: Increasing the Diversity of the 'Split' Transketolase Sequence Space.

Transketolases (TKs) are thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzymes that catalyze the transfer of two-carbon units in a stereoselective manner, making them valuable biocatalysts for sustainable processes. Most known TKs are about 650 amino acids long; however, a second type found in Archaea and many Bacteria consists of two proteins, each of about 300 amino acids. Exploring the unique features and differences of split TKs may help in assessing their potential use in biocatalysis and for uncovering new reactivities.

Solar-Driven Conversion of Nitrogen and Water to Solid Fertilizer in an Outdoor 1 m Panel Reactor.

Harnessing solar energy to convert molecular N into nitrogen-rich chemicals (e.g., ammonia) provides a potential pathway for the manufacture of "solar fertilizers".

Simultaneous Isotropic Omnidirectional Hypersensitive Strain Sensing and Deep Learning-Assisted Direction Recognition in a Biomimetic Stretchable Device.

Omnidirectional strain sensing and direction recognition ability are features of the human tactile sense, essential to address the intricate and dynamic requirements of real-world applications. Most of the current strain sensors work by converting uniaxial strain into electrical signals, which restricts their use in environments with multiaxial strain. Here, the first device with simultaneous isotropic omnidirectional hypersensitive strain sensing and direction recognition (IOHSDR) capabilities is introduced.

Serum Type I Interferon Score predicts clinically meaningful disease progression in limited cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the value of serum Type I Interferon (IFN) score in predicting clinically meaningful progression in limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) using a novel composite endpoint adopted from the MINIMISE clinical trial.

Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal lcSSc cohort was identified within a national, multicentre observational cohort. The MINIMISE combined Morbi-mortality endpoint was used as clinical outcome for a time to clinical worsening (TTCW) design.

Psychedelic-assisted treatment for substance use disorder: A narrative systematic review.

Background And Aims: This is the first systematic review of the extant literature on all major psychedelic-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), tobacco use disorder (TUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD). We aimed to summarise the evidence for efficacy of psychedelic-assisted treatment for AUD, TUD, and SUD; to evaluate its quality; and to offer recommendations for research.

Methods: This was a prospectively registered narrative systematic review of open-label, randomised controlled trials (RCT), and observational studies of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin, ayahuasca, ketamine, ibogaine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

Interventions to reduce energy usage in an adult intensive care unit: A study protocol.

Background: Energy usage is one of the largest contributors to health care carbon emissions. By taking a strategic, targeted approach in one of the most energy-intensive units of a hospital, the potential for energy savings is real and significant.

Aim: To develop a protocol for the implementation of interventions to reduce the environmental impact of carbon emissions generated by an adult intensive care unit (AICU) in a London-based hospital setting.

Taking a step back from clinical work leads to a pathway into veterinary education.

Megan Davis describes how considering her identity outside of the veterinary profession helped improve her mental health, increased her confidence and led to a new role in education.

Alasdair MacDonald MacPherson.

A man of faith, he was a lay preacher whose community outreach was important. As a vet, he used the experiences gained in practice in his role as a divisional veterinary officer in Scotland.

Message from the President.

Liz Mullineaux describes how BVA and BVA members are working hard to combat some of the negative narrative that has emerged about the veterinary profession recently.

Recorded Loneliness and Adverse Outcomes in Older Acute Care Inpatients Receiving Psychiatric Assessment.

Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of loneliness recorded during assessment of general hospital inpatients by older adult liaison psychiatry services and its associations with level of subsequent hospitalisation, emergency presentation and mortality.

Methods: Data were drawn from a large south London mental healthcare provider of older adult liaison psychiatry services to four acute general hospitals. The sample comprised all patients receiving assessments from these services from 2007-2017.

Competition and Markets Authority investigation: next steps.

Amelia Findon, BVA's director of policy and governance, talks through the latest updates and what happens next.

Experiences and Perceptions of People With Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers of Shared Decision-Making in Palliative Cancer Care.

Aim: To explore the experiences and perceptions of people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers of shared decision-making, including how they and nurses are involved.

Design: Exploratory interview study.

Methods: Semistructured, individual interviews conducted in 2023 were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Edward Bryan Davies.

A vet who worked in large animal practice before moving into the areas of animal disease, public health and food hygiene. After retirement he pursued a wide variety of interests.

BVA Live in 2025.

BVA Live is back for two more action-packed days with top-quality CPD, the latest industry updates, and plenty of chances to connect.

Research Review: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people with pre-existing mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions - a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Background: Systematic reviews have suggested mixed effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people. However, most included studies focused on the general population and were cross-sectional. The long-term impact on those with pre-existing mental health and/or neurodevelopmental conditions remains unclear.

Genome-wide analysis of Smad and Schnurri transcription factors in demonstrates widespread interaction and a function in collagen secretion.

Smads and their transcription factor partners mediate the transcriptional responses of target cells to secreted ligands of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family, including those of the conserved bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family, yet only a small number of direct target genes have been well characterized. In the BMP2/4 ortholog DBL-1 regulates multiple biological functions, including body size, via a canonical receptor-Smad signaling cascade. Here, we identify functional binding sites for SMA-3/Smad and its transcriptional partner SMA-9/Schnurri based on ChIP-seq peaks (identified by modEncode) and expression differences of nearby genes identified from RNA-seq analysis of corresponding mutants.

Predicting individual traits from models of brain dynamics accurately and reliably using the Fisher kernel.

Predicting an individual's cognitive traits or clinical condition using brain signals is a central goal in modern neuroscience. This is commonly done using either structural aspects, such as structural connectivity or cortical thickness, or aggregated measures of brain activity that average over time. But these approaches are missing a central aspect of brain function: the unique ways in which an individual's brain activity unfolds over time.

Body Shapes of Multiple Anthropometric Traits and All-cause and Cause-specific Mortality in the UK Biobank.

Background: Individual traditional anthropometric measures such as body mass index and waist circumference may not fully capture the relation of adiposity to mortality. Investigating multitrait body shapes could overcome this limitation, deepening insights into adiposity and mortality.

Methods: Using UK Biobank data from 462,301 adults (40-69 years at baseline: 2006-2010), we derived four body shapes from principal component analysis on body mass index, height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio.

Supporting endocrine therapy adherence in women with breast cancer: findings from the ROSETA pilot fractional factorial randomized trial.

Background: Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) in women with breast cancer is poor. Multicomponent intervention packages are needed to address adherence barriers. Optimizing these packages prior to definitive evaluation can increase their effectiveness, affordability, scalability, and efficiency.

Supralinear dendritic integration in murine dendrite-targeting interneurons.

Non-linear summation of synaptic inputs to the dendrites of pyramidal neurons has been proposed to increase the computation capacity of neurons through coincidence detection, signal amplification, and additional logic operations such as XOR. Supralinear dendritic integration has been documented extensively in principal neurons, mediated by several voltage-dependent conductances. It has also been reported in parvalbumin-positive hippocampal basket cells, in dendrites innervated by feedback excitatory synapses.

Validation of the PANAMA-Score for Survival and Benefit of Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer After Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

Aim: To validate the prognostic value of the PAncreatic NeoAdjuvant MAssachusetts (PANAMA)-score and to determine its predictive ability for survival benefit derived from adjuvant treatment in patients after resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) following neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

Background: The PANAMA-score was developed to guide prognostication in patients after neoadjuvant therapy and resection for PDAC. As this score focuses on the risk for residual disease after resection, it might also be able to select patients who benefit from adjuvant after neoadjuvant therapy.