bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECTS OF ICT USE ON PERSONAL MASTERY: RETIREMENT STATUS MATTERS
Authors: Ho Alvin , Li Daisy , Yeung Dannii
Published: December 2023

Internet and technology use have provided middle-aged or older adults with a new arena to regain control over their personal and social lives (McMellon & Schiffman, 2002) and improve their well-being (e.g., Sala et al., 2020; Shufford et al., 2021; Yeung et al., 2022). Still, whether such effects depend on retirement status has not been thoroughly examined. A total of 2391 middle-aged and older participants provided their retirement status (retired or not), and their use of information and communication technology (ICT) for different purposes (social, leisure, financial, and medical) and level of personal mastery were assessed. Four regression analyses were performed to test the moderating effect of retirement status on the relationship between each type of ICT use and personal mastery. Significant interaction was found between retirement and ICT use for leisure (β = .002, p = .046), financial (β = .003, p = .009), and, marginally, medical purposes (β = .002, p = .059), but not for social purpose (β = .000, p = .520). The beneficial effect of the use of ICT on personal mastery was shown to be either exclusive (for medical purpose) or significantly stronger (for leisure and financial purposes) for participants who were retired. This suggests that encouraging middle-aged and older adults to perform ICT-related activities may be particularly crucial when they are retired, presumably due to their capability to compensate for the loss of work-related control and identity.
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERISM FOR RETIREES: TYPES OF VOLUNTEERING MATTER
Authors: Lin Gloria , Chung Edwin , Yeung Dannii
Published: December 2023

A recent study has disclosed that the effects of volunteering vary as a function of types of volunteering activities (Lam et al., 2021). Volunteering is one of the major social participations among retirees. Therefore, we aim to investigate which types of volunteering activities are beneficial to the well-being of retirees. A total of 719 older Hong Kong Chinese adults (Mage = 66.31, SD = 4.18, range = 60 – 80) who were retired within ten years were invited to take part in this study. Their participation in instrumental and cognitively demanding volunteering activities, life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and cognitive functioning were assessed. In the current sample, 58.97% of the retired persons did not volunteer; and the remaining engaged in instrumental volunteering (10.15%), cognitively demanding volunteering (26.43%), or both types (4.51%). In addition, the results of ANCOVAs revealed that the retirees engaging in cognitively demanding volunteering had better cognitive functioning than those who did not volunteer at all (adj. Mdiff = .78, p = .03), while the retirees engaging in instrumental volunteering exhibited more depressive symptoms compared with those who engaged in cognitively demanding volunteering (adj. Mdiff = 2.04, p = .02) and those who did not volunteer at all (adj. Mdiff = 1.91, p = .02). These results remained significant even after controlling for sex, education, socioeconomic status, and perceived health. Our findings suggest that cognitively demanding volunteering activities should be promoted to maintain the psychological and cognitive well-being of retired persons.
THE FAITH CARE FAMILY PROJECT: A PILOT STUDY PROTOCOL
Authors: Williams Ishan , Fields Noelle , Xu Ling , Epps Fayron
Published: December 2023

The use of lay providers/trained volunteers, to address ADRD caregiver needs may provide a scalable and culturally congruent approach for bridging gaps in ADRD care, particularly for African American families. Research examining the church as a platform for raising awareness about ADRD suggests that churches are well-suited to providing support and services to families affected by ADRD. This research protocol describes the development and testing of the Faith Care Family Project (FCF), a lay provider intervention for African American family caregivers in a church setting to address caregiver burden, coping skills, and social support. Guided by the revised sociocultural stress and coping model, an explanatory sequential mixed methods design will be utilized to test the efficacy of the FCF intervention with a sample of 18 church volunteer-family caregiver dyads. Specifically, the study addresses four aims: 1) How do church members and pastors perceive the key components of the FCF and what are their recommendations for implementation? 2) Do the church volunteers gain knowledge of ADRD after the 6-hour, FCF training? 3) Do family caregivers report more knowledge of dementia, less caregiver stress and improved well-being, more social support, and better coping skills after they participate in the FCF? and 4) What are the experiences of participants with the FCF? Data are collected at baseline, mid-intervention, post- intervention, 3 months-post intervention and through qualitative interviews. These evaluation activities will allow us to determine the applicability of the FCF as an effective, lay provider intervention for African American ADRD family caregivers.
CAREGIVERS’ PERCEPTION DISCREPANCY IN THE CAREGIVING CONTEXT: THE IMPACT ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
Authors: Kim Yulri , Lee Jeong Eun , Svec Joseph , Nemmers Natasha
Published: December 2023

Guided by the social exchange perspective, caregiving involves a reciprocal exchange in which caregiver perceptions influence a bevy of positive and negative outcomes. Positive perceptions correspond with enhanced psychological well-being (Ejem et al., 2018; Call et al., 1999). However, those who perform high levels of care but feel undervalued may experience poorer psychological well-being compared to those who perform lower levels of care but feel appreciated (Nah et al., 2022). The matrix of outcomes, contingent on the balance of performance and appreciation, highlights how perception discrepancies in the caregiving context can explain variations in psychological well-being among caregivers. In this study, we examine the psychological well-being of caregivers in four distinct groups based on their caregiving activities (high/low) and their perceived appreciation (high/low) of their efforts from care recipients. We analyze 2,096 informal caregivers who were included from Round 5 of the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC). Utilizing an analysis of covariance, the results indicate that high activity caregivers with low perceived appreciation had poorer psychological well-being than other groups. Additionally, caregivers with low caregiving activities and high perceived appreciation have higher psychological well-being than caregivers with high care activity and high perceived appreciation. These findings highlight the significance of perceived appreciation from care recipients for improving psychological well-being of caregivers.
RISE: A COMMUNITY-BASED ELDER ABUSE AND SELF-NEGLECT RESPONSE INTERVENTION ADDRESSING A CRITICAL SYSTEMS GAP
Authors: Burnes David , Pillemer Karl
Published: December 2023

Knowledge of effective interventions for elder abuse and self-neglect (EASN) is limited. Adult Protective Services (APS) represents the primary agency responsible for receiving reports and investigating suspected cases of EASN in the US. However, APS lacks a distinct, conceptually informed intervention phase to support EASN cases. Based on theory, research, and consultations with stakeholders, RISE was designed to address this intervention gap within overall EASN response systems. Informed by ecological-systems, relational, and client-centered perspectives, RISE is a community-based EASN intervention that integrates core modalities (motivational interviewing, restorative justice, teaming, supported decision making) demonstrating evidence and/or promising results in EASN and other domains. The intervention operates at Relational, Individual, Social, and Environmental levels of ecological influence. Specifically, RISE works with both older adult victims and others, including alleged harmers, their relationships, and strengthens the social supports surrounding them. RISE began as a pilot in two Maine counties, was expanded to the entire state, has been used in over 450 cases, was written into Maine’s 2023 budget, is now being implemented and tested in New Hampshire and Toronto, Canada, and is being expanded to the criminal justice system. This symposium will describe RISE’s development and conceptual underpinnings (presentation 1), findings on implementing “teaming” (social support), an intervention modality (presentation 2), a qualitative evaluation of RISE from the perspective of APS caseworkers (presentation 3), evidence of RISE reducing EASN recidivism (presentation 4), and case studies of implementing RISE (and its restorative justice modality) in the criminal justice diversion context (presentation 5). This is an Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Older Persons Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.
MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION (MBSR): TREATMENT FOR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT POST CHEMOTHERAPY (CT)
Authors: Lengacher Cecile , Reich Richie
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this R01 trial was to evaluate the efficacy of MBSR(BC) compared to the Breast Cancer Education Support program(BCES) or Usual Care(UC) regimens for improvement in cognitive functioning among breast cancer survivors(BCS) who received (CT), or CT and radiation.

Methods: BCS (212) were randomized to MBSR(BC) (n=91) or BCES(90) or UC (n = 31) with MBSR(BC) and BCES participants attending a 6-week program. Measures of neuropsychological and perceived cognitive performance, psychological and physical symptoms were collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 26 weeks. Linear mixed models assessed the MBSR(BC) effects over time. Characteristics at baseline were tested as moderators of MBSR(BC) program effects.

Results: 212 BCS had a mean age of 57, 73% were White, non-Hispanic, 78% received CT and radiation; and 22% CT alone. All BCS improved across the study on all measures. For most measures, cognitive and symptom improvement effects followed the hypothesized pattern favoring MBSR(BC), followed by BCES and UC groups. Effect sizes were generally small, particularly for measures of cognition. The largest week 26 effect sizes were observed in the physical symptom fatigue, where the MBSR(BC) group improved with a 0.45 Cohen’s d effect over BCES and 0.65 over UC. Type of CT, radiation treatment, time since treatment, and informal and formal practice techniques of MBSR(BC) moderated the effects of MBSR(BC).

Conclusions: Although effects were modest, BCS receiving the MBSR(BC) and BCES groups improved in objective and subjective cognitive functioning and symptoms compared to UC. Longer follow-up studies are needed to determine sustained effects.
MITOCHONDRIAL ENERGETICS AND PERCEIVED PHYSICAL FATIGABILITY SEVERITY IN OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Gay Emma , Qiao Yujia (Susanna) , Santanasto Adam , Goodpaster Bret , Kramer Philip , Hepple Russell , Cummings Steven , Glynn Nancy
Published: December 2023

It has been hypothesized that lower skeletal muscle energetics may contribute to onset of age-related perceived fatigability. Consistent with this idea, previous research found that maximal ATP production (ATPmax) was associated with higher perceived exertion (i.e., fatigability) measured in older adults with the Borg Scale at the end of a slow walking task. We extend this work to SOMMA examining skeletal muscle energetics (ATPmax and maximal complex I&II supported oxidative phosphorylation [maxOXPHOS]) with perceived physical fatigability using the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS, range 0-50, higher=greater). PFS captures fatigue perception anchored to activities of varying intensity and duration. We assessed ATPmax in vivo by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy following an acute knee extensor exercise bout. maxOXPHOS was quantified ex vivo in permeabilized fiber bundles by high-resolution spectroscopy. Participants (N=721 with PFS and ≥1 energetics measure) were aged 76.4±5.0 years, 56.7% women, 86.7% White. Lower ATPmax (r=-0.21) and maxOXPHOS (r=-0.29) correlated with higher PFS scores (both p<0.001). Linear regressions adjusted for age, sex, technician, and total daily accelerometry-derived physical activity revealed that each one SD lower ATPmax (0.15 mM/sec) was associated with 1.15 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.79) higher PFS scores; each one SD lower maxOXPHOS (18.5 pmol/(sec*mg)) was associated with 1.79 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.45) higher PFS scores. Impaired skeletal muscle energetics may be implicated in the etiologic pathway of age-related fatigability. Next steps will examine the longitudinal association between changes in skeletal muscle energetics and age-related fatigability.
Everyday Challenges for Individuals Aging With Vision Impairment: Technology Implications
Authors: Remillard Elena T , Koon Lyndsie M , Mitzner Tracy L , Rogers Wendy A
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives

There are growing numbers of older adults with long-term vision impairment who are likely to experience everyday activity challenges from their impairment in conjunction with age-related changes. Technology has potential to support activity engagement. To develop effective technologies and interventions, we need to understand the context of activity challenges and identify unmet support needs.

Research Design and Methods

The Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) study is a mixed-method approach to explore everyday challenges of people aging with long-term disabilities. Participants included 60 adults aging with long-term vision impairment (63% female; M age = 67, SD = 4.6) who completed in-depth, structured interviews exploring the nature of everyday challenges and their unmet support needs for activity engagement. We conducted a content analysis using a deductive and inductive approach to build a detailed coding scheme of challenge codes and subcodes.

Results

The analyses provided detailed insights about the nature of challenges people aging with vision impairment experience when performing specific instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in the context of home maintenance, transportation, shopping/finance, and managing health. Vision-related challenges and participation restrictions were identified for several activities that require reading, navigation, and identification (e.g., shopping, medication management, public transportation). Emergent challenge themes for performing IADLs included personal limitations (e.g., physical, cognitive, financial) and environmental barriers (e.g., accessibility, technology, transportation).

Discussion and Implications

Contextual examples of IADL challenges among individuals aging with vision impairment highlight opportunities for technology design and innovation to support participation in everyday activities.
Time-dependent and spatio-temporal statistical analysis of seismicity: application on the complete data set of the 2010 Beni–Ilmane earthquake sequence
Authors: Rahmani Sofiane Taki-Eddine , Abacha Issam , Boulahia Oualid , Yelles-Chaouche Abdelkarim , Crespo-Martín Cristina , Roubeche Khaled
Published: December 2023

The Beni–Ilmane (BI) seismic sequence, situated in the north-central region of Algeria, began on 2010 May 14 with a main shock of ML 5.4 followed by two other shocks on May 16 and 23 of ML 5.3 for both. Using the complete data set from May 14 to August 31 and the Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequences (ETAS) model to separate background from aftershocks contribution gave a first insight around the uncertainty that surrounds the causes and mechanisms of the seismicity. According to our findings, two phases have been determined, the first one, beginning from May 14, shows low b- and p-values with most of the seismicity being self-triggered. In contrast, the second phase, beginning from May 23, demonstrates an increase of both the b- and p-values with a high number of background events. In the second phase, the background contribution involves 53 per cent of all seismic activity after May 23’s peak which is high compared to typical main shock–aftershocks sequences. A possible explanation is that the main shocks began or assisted aseismic processes in addition to causing aftershocks. A sealed source at depth may have been broken by the third main shock, opening the way for the following incursion of highly pressurized fluids (hydrocarbures) confirmed by a high Vp/Vs ratios.
A systems science leverage point analysis of climate change advocacy
Authors: Green Celia , Joyce Andrew , Hutton Rebecca Willow-Anne , Dembek Krzysztof , Carey Gemma
Published: December 2023

Failure of governments across the world to address climate change has fuelled social movements focused on climate-related policy and action. Research analysing these movements has focused mainly on the types of strategies employed including blockades and occupations, marches and petitions, divestment, boycotts and litigation as well as how groups are framing climate change as a problem. What has been largely missed are the ways these groups are framing the change they want to see, that is their demands to governments. Not all demands and actions have the same potential to create the changes needed to mitigate climate change. Used in public health and health promotion, the systems science Intervention Level Framework (ILF) is a tool that can help analyse to what extent different demands have the leverage to create change in a system. We use the ILF to analyse 131 demands from 35 different climate-related advocacy groups in Australia. Results show demands are more focused on lower system leverage points, such as stopping particular projects, rather than on more impactful leverage points, such as the governance structures that determine climate-related policy and decision-making mechanisms. Further, the results highlight the lack of attention on public health related topics of transport and food systems. This paper shows how a systems science framework used in health promotion, the ILF, could enable climate advocacy groups to more effectively target demands to achieve more impactful outcomes from governments, corporations and the public.
Fidelity, adaptation and integration of whole-school health promotion within Dutch schools: a cross-sectional survey study
Authors: Vennegoor Gerjanne , van Assema Patricia , Molleman Gerard R M , van Empelen Pepijn , Dieleman Joyce , Jansen Maria W J
Published: December 2023

Implementing comprehensive health promotion programs in the school setting can be challenging, as schools can be considered complex adaptive systems. As a first step towards understanding what works in improving implementation for which schools and under which conditions, this study aimed to examine the degree of implementation of health promoting school (HPS) programs, in terms of five dimensions of fidelity (adherence, dose, participant responsiveness, quality of delivery and program differentiation), and the dimensions of adaptation and integration. The HPS Implementation Questionnaire was distributed among ± 2400 primary, secondary, secondary vocational and special needs schools in the Netherlands. Employees of 535 schools (22.3%) filled out the questionnaire. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests. The average degree of implementation was 2.55 (SD = 0.58, range = 0.68–3.90; scaled 0–4). The lowest scores were achieved for participant responsiveness and adherence, and the highest for integration and adaptation. Schools that identified as HPS reported significantly higher overall degree of implementation, adherence, dose, participant responsiveness, program differentiation and adaptation than schools that didn’t. Primary schools achieved a significantly higher degree of implementation, dose, participant responsiveness, quality of delivery and integration than other school types. In conclusion, many schools work on student health and well-being to some extent, but the vast majority have much room for improvement. Higher implementation scores for schools that identified as HPS underline the value of HPS programs. A broader perspective on health and more insight into conditions for effectiveness and implementation in secondary and secondary vocational schools are needed.
Strategies to support midlife women to reduce their alcohol consumption: an Australian study using human-centred design
Authors: Miller Mia , Kuntsche Sandra , Kuntsche Emmanuel , Cook Megan , Wright Cassandra J C
Published: December 2023

Alcohol consumption is causally associated with long-term health-related consequences, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, and short-term harms, such as accidents and injuries. Alcohol consumption has increased among midlife women (aged 40–65) over the last two decades in high-income countries. This study aimed to centre women’s voices by using co-design methodologies to investigate what women identify as strategies that could assist them and other women their age to reduce their alcohol consumption. Human-centred design workshops were undertaken with 39 women, and conventional qualitative content analysis was used to analyse information from written workshop materials to develop categories in the data and count their occurrence. Six categories, or strategies, emerged, listed here from most to least represented: ‘Participate in alternative activities to drinking alcohol’, ‘Track alcohol consumption and set goals’, ‘Seek support from family and friends’, ‘Drink alcohol-free beverages’, ‘Reduce supply of alcohol in the home’ and ‘Seek professional support’. Our findings identify strategies that are realistic and feasible to midlife women; our sample, however, likely reflects a more affluent subsection of this group, and as such, any focus on individual-level strategies must be complemented by policies that increase equitable access to healthcare and act on the social and commercial determinants of health. An intersectional approach to alcohol and other drug research is required to examine how the interplay of gender and other markers of social identities shape alcohol consumption.
Multimorbidity and 11-year mortality in adults: a prospective analysis using the Chilean National Health Survey
Authors: Nazar Gabriela , Díaz-Toro Felipe , Petermann-Rocha Fanny , Lanuza Fabián , Troncoso Claudia , Leiva-Ordóñez Ana María , Concha-Cisternas Yeny , Celis-Morales Carlos
Published: December 2023

Research on morbidity and mortality often emphasizes individual diseases over the cumulative effects of multimorbidity, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to analyze the association between multimorbidity and all-cause mortality in a representative sample of the Chilean population. This longitudinal study used data from 3701 subjects aged ≥15 years who participated in the Chilean National Health Survey conducted between 2009 and 2010. We included 16 self-reported highly prevalent morbidities. All-cause mortality data from an 11-year follow-up were collected from the Chilean Civil Registry. The Cox proportional hazard model, adjusted for confounders, determined the association between multimorbidity categories and all-cause mortality. Of the total sample, 24.3% reported no morbidity, while 50.4% two or more. After adjustment, participants with four or more morbidities had a 1.66 times higher mortality risk [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–2.67] than those without morbidities. The mortality risk increased by 10% for each additional morbidity [HR: 1.09 (CI: 1.04–1.16)]. Multimorbidity was common in the Chilean population and increased the mortality risk, which greatly challenges the health system to provide an integral and coordinated approach to healthcare.
Barriers to school-based health programs implementation in basic schools in Ghana: education stakeholders’ perspective
Authors: Adomako Gyasi P , Zhou L , Chen Z , Numawoseh E. E , Opoku-Agyemang A. S
Published: December 2023

School health has been identified as a neglected aspect of primary health care in Ghana, leading to compromised health, well-being and life satisfaction among students. To address this concern, this study identified the barriers hindering the implementation of school-based health programs in Ghana. It employed a qualitative approach, including 116 respondents who participated in interviews. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis with the aid of NVivo software. In line with the research objective, findings show that the implementation of school-based health programs faces several teething challenges that serve as barriers to the success and sustainability of the programs. These barriers included resource constraints; a lack of adequate parental and community participation and a lack of adequate collaboration between stakeholders’ management and leadership issues, governance issues and political issues. The findings from the study have a relevant and innovative contribution to achieving good health and well-being and quality education as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and shaping primary healthcare management in the context of a developing country. It recommends that policymakers and health practitioners pay special attention to school-based health programs as a key strategy for primary health care management in developing countries.
Harnessing natural killer cell effector function against cancer
Authors: Blunt Matthew D , Khakoo Salim I
Published: December 2023

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells that participate in anti-tumour and anti-viral immune responses. Their ability to rapidly destroy abnormal cells and to enhance the anti-cancer function of dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells, and macrophages makes them an attractive target for immunotherapeutic strategies. The development of approaches that augment NK-cell activation against cancer is currently under intense preclinical and clinical research and strategies include chimeric antigen receptor NK cells, NK-cell engagers, cytokines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we highlight recent advances in NK-cell therapeutic development and discuss their potential to add to our armamentarium against cancer.
Detecting Residual Chronic Salmonella Typhi Carriers on the Road to Typhoid Elimination in Santiago, Chile, 2017–2019
Authors: Lagos Rosanna M , Sikorski Michael J , Hormazábal Juan Carlos , Fernandez Alda , Duarte Sergio , Pasetti Marcela F , Rasko David A , Higginson Ellen , Nkeze Joseph , Kasumba Irene N , Dougan Gordon , Maes Mailis , Lees Andrew , Tennant Sharon M , Levine Myron M
Published: December 2023

Background

In Santiago, Chile, where typhoid had been hyperendemic (1977–1991), we investigated whether residual chronic carriers could be detected among household contacts of non-travel-related typhoid cases occurring during 2017–2019.

Methods

Culture-confirmed cases were classified as autochthonous (domestically acquired) versus travel/immigration related. Household contacts of cases had stool cultures and serum Vi antibody measurements to detect chronic Salmonella Typhi carriers. Whole genome sequences of acute cases and their epidemiologically linked chronic carrier isolates were compared.

Results

Five of 16 autochthonous typhoid cases (31.3%) were linked to 4 chronic carriers in case households; 2 cases (onsets 23 months apart) were linked to the same carrier. Carriers were women aged 69–79 years with gallbladder dysfunction and Typhi fecal excretion; 3 had highly elevated serum anti-Vi titers. Genomic analyses revealed close identity (≤11 core genome single-nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] differences) between case and epidemiologically linked carrier isolates; all were genotypes prevalent in 1980s Santiago. A cluster of 4 additional autochthonous cases unlinked to a carrier was identified based on genomic identity (0-1 SNPs). Travel/immigration isolate genotypes were typical for the countries of travel/immigration.

Conclusions

Although autochthonous typhoid cases in Santiago are currently rare, 5 of 16 such cases (31.3%) were linked to elderly chronic carriers identified among household contacts of cases.
CODA: an open-source platform for federated analysis and machine learning on distributed healthcare data
Authors: Mullie Louis , Afilalo Jonathan , Archambault Patrick , Bouchakri Rima , Brown Kip , Buckeridge David L , Cavayas Yiorgos Alexandros , Turgeon Alexis F , Martineau Denis , Lamontagne François , Lebrasseur Martine , Lemieux Renald , Li Jeffrey , Sauthier Michaël , St-Onge Pascal , Tang An , Witteman William , Chassé Michaël
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Distributed computations facilitate multi-institutional data analysis while avoiding the costs and complexity of data pooling. Existing approaches lack crucial features, such as built-in medical standards and terminologies, no-code data visualizations, explicit disclosure control mechanisms, and support for basic statistical computations, in addition to gradient-based optimization capabilities.

Materials and methods

We describe the development of the Collaborative Data Analysis (CODA) platform, and the design choices undertaken to address the key needs identified during our survey of stakeholders. We use a public dataset (MIMIC-IV) to demonstrate end-to-end multi-modal FL using CODA. We assessed the technical feasibility of deploying the CODA platform at 9 hospitals in Canada, describe implementation challenges, and evaluate its scalability on large patient populations.

Results

The CODA platform was designed, developed, and deployed between January 2020 and January 2023. Software code, documentation, and technical documents were released under an open-source license. Multi-modal federated averaging is illustrated using the MIMIC-IV and MIMIC-CXR datasets. To date, 8 out of the 9 participating sites have successfully deployed the platform, with a total enrolment of >1M patients. Mapping data from legacy systems to FHIR was the biggest barrier to implementation.

Discussion and conclusion

The CODA platform was developed and successfully deployed in a public healthcare setting in Canada, with heterogeneous information technology systems and capabilities. Ongoing efforts will use the platform to develop and prospectively validate models for risk assessment, proactive monitoring, and resource usage. Further work will also make tools available to facilitate migration from legacy formats to FHIR and DICOM.
The evolution of fentanyl-related substances: Prevalence and drug concentrations in postmortem biological specimens at the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department
Authors: Martinez Jocelyn , Gonyea Jennifer , Zaney M Elizabeth , Kahl Joseph , Moore Diane M
Published: December 2023

Since 2014, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department (MDME) has observed a drastic increase in the number of fentanyl and fentanyl analog (fentanyl-related substances (FRSs)) fatalities since its introduction into the heroin and cocaine supply. Due to the prevalence of FRS in Miami-Dade County, the MDME toxicology laboratory began documenting each case in which fentanyl and/or a fentanyl analog was identified. Additional information monitored included demographics (age, race and sex), other drugs identified, cause of death (COD) and manner of death (MOD). From 2014 to 2022, the MDME toxicology laboratory analyzed a total of 1,989 cases that tested positive for FRS, of which 1,707 had detectable and/or quantifiable fentanyl concentrations in postmortem cases. The majority of decedents were white males (62%), and the predominant age range was 25–34 years. The most prevalent MOD was accident (93%) with the most common COD listed as acute combined drug toxicity of fentanyl in combination with other drugs (79%). Other drugs found in combination with fentanyl included heroin, cocaine (most prevalent), synthetic cathinones and ethanol. Of all FRS cases, 9% (170 cases) involved fentanyl alone as a COD, while 2% (38 cases) included only fentanyl analogs. Fentanyl concentrations ranged from 1.0 to 1,646 ng/mL in peripheral blood, 1.2 to 449 ng/mL in central blood, 3.2 to 28 ng/mL in donor blood (obtained during tissue harvesting), 1.1 to 108 ng/mL in antemortem blood, 8.5 to 1,130 ng/g in liver and 2.0 to 471 ng/g in brain. Drug concentrations were also reported for an additional eight fentanyl analogs. Considering the prevalence, high potency and constant evolution of FRS, it is important to continuously monitor trends and report drug concentrations in complex medical examiner casework in an effort to educate pathologists, law enforcement and local governments.
Vomeronasal organ volume increases with body size and is dissociated with the loss of a visual signal in Sceloporus lizards
Authors: Erudaitius Anastassia P , Pruett Jake A , Campos Stephanie M , Ossip-Drahos Alison G , Lannoo Susan J , Zúñiga-Vega J Jaime , Vital-García Cuauhcihuatl , Hews Diana K , Martins Emília P , Romero-Diaz Cristina
Published: December 2023

Many organisms communicate using signals in different sensory modalities (multicomponent or multimodal). When one signal or component is lost over evolutionary time, it may be indicative of changes in other characteristics of the signalling system, including the sensory organs used to perceive and process signals. Sceloporus lizards predominantly use chemical and visual signals to communicate, yet some species have lost the ancestral ventral colour patch used in male–male agonistic interactions and exhibit increased chemosensory behaviour. Here, we asked whether evolutionary loss of this sexual signal is associated with larger vomeronasal organ (VNO) volumes (an organ that detects chemical scents) compared with species that have retained the colour patch. We measured VNO coronal section areas of 7–8 adult males from each of 11 Sceloporus species (4 that lost and 7 that retained the colour patch), estimated sensory and total epithelium volume, and compared volumes using phylogenetic analysis of covariance, controlling for body size. Contrary to expectations, we found that species retaining the ventral patch had similar relative VNO volumes as did species that had lost the ancestral patch, and that body size explains VNO epithelium volume. Visual signal loss may be sufficiently compensated for by increased chemosensory behaviour, and the allometric pattern may indicate sensory system trade-offs for large-bodied species.
Microgeographic speciation in a complex of Anatolian bush crickets facilitated by fast evolution of reproductive isolation
Authors: Ortego Joaquín , Kaya Sarp , Çıplak Battal , Lacey Knowles L
Published: December 2023

Identifying the drivers of microgeographic speciation (i.e., speciation over small, local geographic scales) is key to understand the origin of speciose groups. Here, we use genomic data to infer the demographic processes underlying diversification in Poecilimon luschani (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), a species complex belonging to the most diverse genus of bush crickets from the Mediterranean region (>170 taxa) that comprises three recognized subspecies with small allopatric distributions in the topographically complex Teke Peninsula, southwestern Anatolia. Phylogenomic reconstructions that include all other taxa within the species group confirmed that subspecies of P. luschani originated from a common ancestor during the Pleistocene, supporting recent (<1 Ma) diversification within a small geographical area (ca. 120 × 80 km). Genetic clustering analyses corroborated the distinctiveness of each subspecies and the cohesiveness of their respective populations, with abrupt genetic discontinuities coinciding with contemporary range boundaries. Indeed, our analyses uncovered the presence of two sympatric cryptic sister lineages that diverged <300 ka ago and do not admix despite being co-distributed. Collectively, these results support that all lineages within the complex represent independently evolving entities corresponding to full-fledged species. Statistical evaluation of alternative models of speciation strongly supports a scenario of divergence in isolation followed by a period of limited gene flow during the last glacial period, when all lineages experienced marked expansions according to demographic reconstructions. Our study exemplifies how localized allopatric divergence and fast evolution of reproductive isolation can promote microgeographic speciation and explain the high rates of endemism characterizing biodiversity hotspots.
Positive selection has shaped the evolution of Argentine ant immune genes both in native and introduced supercolonies
Authors: Holmberg Ida , Tolonen Lassi , Paviala Jenni , Pedersen Jes Søe , Helanterä Heikki , Viljakainen Lumi
Published: December 2023

The highly invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) started its colonisation from the species’ native range in South America approximately 150 years ago and has since become one of the major pests in the world. We investigated how the shifts into new ranges have affected the evolution of Argentine ants’ immune genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first broadscale population genetic study focusing on ants’ immune genes. We analysed comprehensive targeted-seq data of immune and non-immune genes containing 174 genes from 18 Argentine ant supercolonies covering the species’ native and introduced ranges. We predicted that the immune gene evolution of introduced supercolonies differs from that of the native supercolonies and proposed two different, non-mutually exclusive hypotheses for this: 1) the enemy release hypothesis and 2) the higher pathogen pressure hypothesis – both of which seem to explain the observed evolutionary patterns on their behalf. Our results show that the introduced supercolonies were targeted by weaker selection than natives, but positive selection was evident among supercolonies of both ranges. Moreover, in some cases, such as the antiviral RNAi genes, introduced range supercolonies harboured a higher proportion of positively selected genes than natives. This observation was striking, knowing the recent demographic history and the detected generally lower selection efficacy of introduced supercolonies. In conclusion, it is evident that pathogen pressure is ubiquitous and strongly affects the immune gene evolution in Argentine ants.
Body size evolution in otters distinguished from terrestrial mustelids
Authors: Harano Tomohiro , Kutsukake Nobuyuki
Published: December 2023

Some taxa of mammals live in water, all of which evolved from land-dwelling ancestors. In the family Mustelidae (Mammalia: Carnivora), most species live on land, while otters, comprising the subfamily Lutrinae, inhabit aquatic environments, which include the almost exclusively aquatic sea otters (Enhydra lutris). Thus, the transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic lifestyle has occurred within this family. Despite potentially different selection pressures on body size in aquatic and terrestrial habitats, no divergence in the evolutionary pattern of body size between otters and other mustelids has previously been shown using models of trait evolution on a phylogeny. We applied models that explicitly incorporated lineage-specific directional selection to the evolution of body mass in living mustelids. Using a simulation-based likelihood and approximate Bayesian computation approach, we demonstrated lineage-specific directional selection for larger body mass in otters, which is distinct from other mustelids. There was no evidence of a difference between sea otters and other otters in the strength of directional selection for larger body mass. Additionally, our analyses supported no difference in the rate at which body mass evolves in both directions between otters and other mustelids. These findings suggest that the evolution of body mass in otters is associated with selective advantages of larger size rather than the relaxation of constraints on body size in aquatic habitats, like other aquatic mammals such as sirenians, cetaceans, and pinnipeds.
Dealing with AI-generated works: lessons from the CDPA section 9(3)
Authors: Atilla Söğüt
Published: December 2023

This article aims to provide some input for revising the text of section 9(3) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA), without proposing a new provision. Specifically, it addresses the question of how this provision should be construed vis-à-vis Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated outputs. Although numerous options have been discussed in literature, so far none of them has comprehensively looked at the broader context in which users of generative AI models give instructions and how these prompts could impact issues of subsistence in AI-generated outputs. This article aims to fill that gap. Before suggesting a new framework for reconsidering the provision of section 9(3) CDPA, this contribution briefly revisits the originality, fixation and human authorship requirements, and explains how these are met when AI is involved in creative processes. Next, it questions whether the copyright regime is the appropriate form of protection for AI-generated outputs. Lastly, it provides an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of section 9(3). This article supports the human-centred approach of the CDPA towards authorship of AI-generated works. However, it also suggests that a more nuanced approach should be adopted. Specifically, it contends that under section 9(3), AI-generated works should belong to the user of the AI model giving instructions only as long as such directions to create are sufficiently original themselves for the purposes of copyright protection. Furthermore, de lege ferenda, this distinction should be expressly included in the text of section 9(3).
Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758) Tongue Morphology and Adaptive Herbivorous Implications
Authors: Melo Lucas Inácio dos Santos , Matias de Oliveira Radan Elvis , Freitas Caetano de Sousa Ana Caroline , de Oliveira Rysónely Maclay , Lima Mariana Almeida , Fragoso Ana Bernadete Lima , Silva Flávio José de Lima , Attademo Fernanda Loffler Niemeyer , Luna Fábia de Oliveira , Pereira Alexsandra Fernandes , de Oliveira Moacir Franco
Published: December 2023

Morphological study of the tongue is an interesting way of understanding evolutionary processes associated with feeding habits. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe the tongue morphology of the Antillean manatee and to understand possible morphological relationships with its way of capturing food. Macroscopic dissections and light and scanning electron microscopy analyses of seven manatee tongues were performed. The tongue in Antillean manatees is a muscular and robust organ, divided into apex, body, and root. It is firmly adhered to the floor of the oral cavity. Lingual papillae were distributed over the entire tongue surface. They were identified as filiform papillae concentrated in the apex. Fungiform papillae were present on the apex and lateral regions. Foliate papillae were located on the dorsolateral portion of the root. Lentiform papillae were located across the dorsal tongue surface. The mucosa was lined by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium presenting compound tubuloacinar glands and taste buds in the foliate papillae. The tongue of the Antillean manatee is similar to other Sirenia species, both of which share a completely herbivorous diet.
Analysis of Kozai cycles in equal-mass hierarchical triple supermassive black hole mergers in the presence of a stellar cluster
Authors: Hao Wei , Kouwenhoven M B N , Spurzem Rainer , Amaro-Seoane Pau , Mardling Rosemary A , Xu Xiuming
Published: December 2023

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) play an important role in galaxy evolution. Binary and triple SMBHs can form after galaxy mergers. A third SMBH may accelerate the SMBH merging process, possibly through the Kozai mechanism. We use N-body simulations to analyse oscillations in the orbital elements of hierarchical triple SMBHs with surrounding star clusters in galaxy centres. We find that SMBH triples spend only a small fraction of time in the hierarchical merger phase (i.e. a binary SMBH with a distant third SMBH perturber). Most of the time, the enclosed stellar mass within the orbits of the innermost or the outermost SMBH is comparable to the SMBH masses, indicating that the influence of the surrounding stellar population cannot be ignored. We search for Eccentric Kozai–Lidov (EKL) oscillations for which (i) the eccentricity of the inner binary and inclination are both oscillate and are antiphase or in-phase and (ii) the oscillation period is consistent with EKL time-scale. We find that EKL oscillations are short-lived and rare: the triple SMBH spends around 3 per cent of its time in this phase over the ensemble of simulations, reaching around 8 per cent in the best-case scenario. This suggests that the role of the EKL mechanism in accelerating the SMBH merger process may have been overestimated in previous studies. We follow-up with three-body simulations, using initial conditions extracted from the simulation, and the result can to some extent repeat the observed EKL-like oscillations. This comparison provides clues about why those EKL oscillations with perturbing stars are short-lived.
Black hole–neutron star mergers: using kilonovae to constrain the equation of state
Authors: Mathias L W P , Di Clemente F , Bulla M , Alessandro D
Published: December 2023

The merging of a binary system involving two neutron stars (NSs), or a black hole (BH) and an NS, often results in the emission of an electromagnetic (EM) transient. One component of this EM transient is the epic explosion known as a kilonova (KN). The characteristics of the KN emission can be used to probe the equation of state (EoS) of NS matter responsible for its formation. We predict KN light curves from computationally simulated BH–NS mergers, by using the 3D radiative transfer code possis. We investigate two EoSs spanning most of the allowed range of the mass–radius diagram. We also consider a soft EoS compatible with the observational data within the so-called 2-families scenario in which hadronic stars co-exist with strange stars. Computed results show that the 2-families scenario, characterized by a soft EoS, should not produce a KN unless the mass of the binary components are small (MBH ≤ 6 M⊙ and MNS ≤ 1.4 M⊙) and the BH is rapidly spinning (χBH ≥ 0.3). In contrast, a strong KN signal potentially observable from future surveys (e.g. the Vera Rubin Observatory) is produced in the 1-family scenario for a wider region of the parameter space, and even for non-rotating BHs (χBH = 0) when MBH = 4 M⊙ and MNS = 1.2 M⊙. We also provide a fit that allows for the calculation of the unbound mass from the observed KN magnitude, without running timely and costly radiative transfer simulations. Findings presented in this paper will be used to interpret light curves anticipated during the fourth observing run (O4), of the advanced LIGO, advanced Virgo, and KAGRA interferometers and thus to constrain the EoS of NS matter.