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Artificial intelligence-driven metabolomics of retinal nerve fibre layer to profile risks of mortality and cardiometabolic diseases
No full textRetinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) is a non-invasive structural biomarker of cardiometabolic health, yet its biological underpinnings remain unknown. Here, we integrate advanced retinal optical biopsy and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms with two complementary metabolomic assays across ethnically diverse cohorts to elucidate the metabolic basis underlying RNFL degeneration and its link to cardiometabolic disease (CMD) in Western cohort and Eastern cohort (Guangzhou Diabetic Eye Study, GDES). We identify 26 metabolic biomarkers significantly associated with RNFL thickness, most of which (ranging from 19 to 26) are linked to HDL composition and lipid transport, mediating a substantial proportion of the RNFL-CMD association (e.g., 63.7% for type 2 diabetes and 44.7% for myocardial infarction). AI-driven RNFL metabolic state model stratifies CMD risk with up to 21.8-fold enrichment between risk deciles and augments prediction while translating into clinical utility across genetic and demographic strata, particularly within socially vulnerable populations. This integrated approach highlights RNFL metabolic states as a shared basis underlying retinal-cardiometabolic connections and as early indicators that inform equitable CMD management
Parental perspectives on early life screening and genetic testing for ASD: a systematic review
No full textAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition for which no prenatal or early life screening tests exist. Early life recognition of ASD is key to accessing behavioral intervention when brain plasticity is at its peak. The purpose of our study was to systematically review the literature researching parental perspectives around early life screening for autism and specifically genetic testing. A total of 30 studies were included and coded against the following variables: parental characteristics, child characteristics, research design, data collection and data analysis methods, type of early screening, and parental perspectives towards early life screening and genetic testing. The outcomes of the review showed that caregivers need more knowledge about ASD genetic testing, they are in general in favor of early life screening, and they prefer to access ASD genetic testing and early behavioral intervention as early as possible. As emerging genetic tests are likely to increase diagnostic accuracy for ASD in the near future, it is of paramount importance for research and practice to embrace parental needs and preferences. Healthcare providers can be pivotal in empowering parents to make informed decisions through clear, compassionate communication and counseling. Future research should seek to fill in an essential gap in the literature, which is to capture parental views from a diverse population.<br/
Constructing victimhood: beyond innocence and guilt in transitional justice
No full textThis book seeks to go ‘beyond innocence and guilt’ to expand the criminological, victimological, and transitional justice imagination with regard to who we ‘see’ as victims, what we ‘hear’ as experiences of victimisation, and who makes these determinations. The book argues that the construction, reproduction, and politicisation of victimhood is structured not only by notions of innocence and guilt and the existence of complex victims, but by larger questions concerning the existence of hierarchies of victimhood, the exercise of voice and agency, the role of silence and the silencing of certain variants of victimhood, the presence of victimhood in the physical landscape, and the haunting impact of unresolved legacies of violent conflict. By failing to cast the transitional justice gaze more widely, this book argues that it is not only the ‘voices in the cracks’ that will be collapsed but entire experiences of victimhood and victimisation. Moreover, if transitional justice is to live up to its claims of being ‘victim-centred’, widening its conceptual and practical boundaries to recognise the multiple and overlapping variables that construct and reproduce understandings of victimhood is essential. Pursing this line of enquiry, this book aims to make a step-change in the understanding of victimhood in post-conflict and transitional contexts.<br/
Election results can decrease intergroup threat and through that positively affect intergroup relations
No full textPrevious research has established that intergroup threat is pivotal to intergroup relations in divided societies. We used the Northern Ireland Assembly Elections in 2022 as a unique chance to investigate how elections can affect feelings of threat and intergroup relations between communities with a history of violent intergroup conflict. We argued that because of their conflicting goals, if Sinn Féin (i.e., a Republican party that promotes a united Ireland) gains more votes than the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP, i.e., a party promoting Northern Ireland’s union with the United Kingdom), would threaten DUP supporters and vice versa. We assessed whether participants supported Sinn Féin or DUP relatively to each other, intergroup threat, and intergroup bias before and after the elections (N = 285). Following an election outcome where Sinn Féin gained more votes than DUP, Sinn Féin supporters showed decreased feelings of threat which in turn decreased their intergroup bias. DUP supporters, the party that received fewer votes, showed no changes in their feelings of threat or intergroup bias. This research highlights how electoral results affect intergroup relations in post conflict societies
Towards (global) food equity – the role of intellectual property and trade
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted global food systems, aggravating vulnerabilities in consumption, production, hygiene, and access. These disruptions intensified economic instability and reduced the production capacity of small and medium-sized agribusinesses, widening the gap between food supply and demand and contributing to a dramatic rise in global undernourishment. Economic fallout and price inflation compounded these issues, particularly affecting low-income countries and exacerbating social inequities. The recent escalation in global food crises, exacerbated by events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and climate change, underscores the urgent need for a transformative approach to food ecosystems. This article examines the critical role of intellectual property (IP) and trade in fostering equitable food governance, particularly within the post-pandemic and post-crisis global legal order. It assesses how IP and trade mechanisms might bridge gaps in food security and advance the right to food as part of a broader human rights framework. Using equity as a guiding concept, this article analyzes ongoing initiatives at the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization, focusing on recent developments in trade negotiations and the International Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Traditional Knowledge. Through these lenses, the article evaluates the potential of IP and trade instruments to support sustainable, inclusive, and equitable food governance, highlighting how these tools can address emerging challenges in agri-food innovation, food sovereignty, and climate resilience.<br/
Near-field localization with extremely large scale antenna arrays in the presence of mutual coupling
No full textExtremely large scale antenna arrays (ELAAs) will be a key technology in sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems. Due to the large near-field region of ELAAs, sources can easily fall within this area. Hence, a near-field localization algorithm that accounts for the electromagnetic effects of ELAA elements, such as mutual coupling (MC), is essential for proper 6G wireless communication systems design. The three-dimensional (3D) multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm can be used to estimate the near-field source location in the presence of MC. However, this method suffers from a high computational load due to the requirement to perform 3D-based search steps. Recently, to address this issue, an iterative method based on an oblique projection operator (IMOP) has been presented. However, IMOP’s computational load can still be high, particularly for ELAA-related scenarios. In this paper, we address this issue by using one sub-array of ELAA which holds far-field assumptions to estimate the direction of arrival (DOA). The DOA estimation relies on an one-dimensional (1D) MUSIC-based algorithm, drastically reducing the computational load. Then, the MC coefficients are calculated using the estimated DOAs. Finally, another 1D MUSIC step is used to estimate the ranges corresponding to the estimated DOA and MC coefficients. Our representative simulation results verify the superiority of the proposed near-field source localization in the presence of MC in terms of computational load, while offering comparable accuracy with the IMOP method.<br/
Impact of dementia and mild cognitive impairment on bone health in older people
No full textMild cognitive impairment, dementia and osteoporosis are common diseases of ageing and, with the increasingly ageing global population, are increasing in prevalence. These conditions are closely associated, with shared risk factors, common underlying biological mechanisms and potential direct causal pathways. In this review, the epidemiological and mechanistic links between mild cognitive impairment, dementia and skeletal health are explored. Discussion will focus on how changes in brain and bone signalling can underly associations between these conditions, and will consider the molecular and cellular drivers in the context of inflammation and the gut microbiome. There is a complex interplay between nutritional changes, which may precede or follow the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, and bone health. Polypharmacy is common in patients with MCI or dementia, and there are difficult prescribing decisions to be made due to the elevated risk of falls associated with many drugs used for associated problems, which can consequently increase fracture risk. Some medications prescribed for cognitive impairment may directly impact bone health. In addition, patients may have difficulty remembering medication without assistance, meaning that osteoporosis drugs may be prescribed but not taken. Cognitive impairment may be improved or delayed by physical activity and exercise, and there is evidence for the additional benefits of physical activity on falls and fractures. Research gaps and priorities with the aim of reducing the burden of osteoporosis and fractures in people with MCI or dementia will also be discussed
Factors to consider when designing post-hospital interventions to support critical illness recovery: systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis
No full textBackground:Survivors of intensive care unit (ICU) admission experience significant deficits in health-related quality of life due to long-term physical, psychological, and cognitive sequelae of critical illness, which may persist for many years. There has been a proliferation of post-hospital interventions in recent years which aim to support ICU-survivors, however there is currently limited evidence to inform optimal approach. We therefore aimed to synthesise factors which impacted the implementation of these interventions from the perspective of healthcare providers, patients, and their carers, and to compare different intervention designs.Methods:We conducted a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative evidence using four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science) which were searched from inception to May 2024. The extraction and synthesis of factors which impacted intervention implementation was informed by the domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist.Results:Thirty-seven studies were included, reporting on a range of interventions including follow-up clinics and rehabilitation programmes. We identified some overarching principles and specific intervention component and design factors which may support in the design of future strategies to improve outcomes for ICU survivors. For each intervention characteristic, various patient, staff, and setting factors were found to impact implementation. Considering how the intervention will rely on and integrate with existing outpatient and community resources is likely to be important.Conclusion:This review provides a framework to future research examining the optimal approach to supporting ICU survivor recovery following hospital discharge.<br/
The Calicophoron daubneyi genome provides new insight into mechanisms of feeding, eggshell synthesis and parasite-microbe interactions
No full textBackgroundThe rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi, is the major paramphistome species infecting ruminants within Europe. Adult flukes reside within the rumen where they are in direct contact with a unique collection of microorganisms. Here, we report a 1.76-Gb draft genome for C. daubneyi, the first for any paramphistome species.ResultsSeveral gene families have undergone specific expansion in C. daubneyi, including the peptidoglycan-recognition proteins (PGRPs) and DM9 domain-containing proteins, which function as pattern-recognition receptors, as well as the saposin-like proteins with putative antibacterial properties, and are upregulated upon arrival of the fluke in the microbe-rich rumen. We describe the first characterisation of a helminth PGRP and show that a recombinant C. daubneyi PGRP binds to the surface of bacteria, including obligate anaerobes from the rumen, via specific interaction with cell wall peptidoglycan. We reveal that C. daubneyi eggshell proteins lack L-DOPA typically required for eggshell crosslinking in trematodes and propose that C. daubneyi employs atypical eggshell crosslinking chemistry that produces eggs with greater stability. Finally, although extracellular digestion of rumen ciliates occurs within the C. daubneyi gut, unique ultrastructural and biochemical adaptations of the gastrodermal cells suggest that adult flukes also acquire nutrients via uptake of volatile fatty acids from rumen fluid.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that unique selective pressures, associated with inhabiting a host environment so rich in microbial diversity, have driven the evolution of molecular and morphological adaptations that enable C. daubneyi to defend itself against microorganisms, feed and reproduce within the rumen.<br/
6G-enabled integrated sensing and communications to tackle climate change: the geothermal sensing and monitoring model and its implications
No full textClimate change-induced natural disasters are seriously affecting the planet's ecosystem and disrupting the socio-economic development of humanity. This exigent issue leads to the developing of novel technologies and methodologies to utilize sustainable energy sources such as geothermal. However, geothermal reservoirs are highly location-specific, and identifying the potential zones is a daunting task for reservoir engineers. Moreover, the geothermal energy density of a place can change over time due to various environmental factors; therefore, it is crucial to monitor and assess its changes periodically. Concurrently, the accelerating advancements in the research of sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks and their possible disruptive technologies, such as integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), have recently received much attention from the broader research communities. In this article, we envision and introduce the general concept of a generalized geothermal sensing and monitoring (GeoSM) model and explore the role of the ISAC system in the localization and periodic monitoring of geothermal energy. Specifically, we illustrate the envisioned system architecture for the GeoSM model, present a general framework of the 6G-enabled ISAC system, and suggest possible enabling technologies to facilitate the distributed sensing and monitoring of the geothermal energy zones. Then, we describe the geothermal heat network as a prospective use case of the GeoSM model. Following that, we present a preliminary case study on the waveform optimization of our proposed ISAC framework of the envisioned GeoSM model for a specific application scenario. Finally, we outline the open research challenges and discuss possible future research directions.<br/