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Health and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People:Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study
Get PDFBackground: The literature is equivocal as to whether the predicted negative mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic came to fruition. Some quantitative studies report increased emotional problems and depression; others report improved mental health and well-being. Qualitative explorations reveal heterogeneity, with themes ranging from feelings of loss to growth and development. Objective: This study aims to analyze free-text responses from children and young people participating in the Children and Young People With Long COVID study to get a clearer understanding of how young people were feeling during the pandemic. Methods: A total of 8224 free-text responses from children and young people were analyzed using InfraNodus, an artificial intelligence–powered text network analysis tool, to determine the most prevalent topics. A random subsample of 411 (5%) of the 8224 responses underwent a manual sentiment analysis; this was reweighted to represent the general population of children and young people in England. Results: Experiences fell into 6 main overlapping topical clusters: school, examination stress, mental health, emotional impact of the pandemic, social and family support, and physical health (including COVID-19 symptoms). Sentiment analysis showed that statements were largely negative (314/411, 76.4%), with a small proportion being positive (57/411, 13.9%). Those reporting negative sentiment were mostly female (227/314, 72.3%), while those reporting positive sentiment were mostly older (170/314, 54.1%). There were significant observed associations between sentiment and COVID-19 status as well as sex (P=.001 and P<.001, respectively) such that the majority of the responses, regardless of COVID-19 status or sex, were negative; for example, 84.1% (227/270) of the responses from female individuals and 61.7% (87/141) of those from male individuals were negative. There were no observed associations between sentiment and all other examined demographics. The results were broadly similar when reweighted to the general population of children and young people in England: 78.52% (negative), 13.23% (positive), and 8.24% (neutral). Conclusions: We used InfraNodus to analyze free-text responses from a large sample of children and young people. The majority of responses (314/411, 76.4%) were negative, and many of the children and young people reported experiencing distress across a range of domains related to school, social situations, and mental health. Our findings add to the literature, highlighting the importance of specific considerations for children and young people when responding to national emergencies.</p
Rodent chronic variable stress procedures: a disjunction between stress entity and impact on behaviour
Get PDFBackground Chronic variable stress (CVS) procedures are widely used to model depression in laboratory mice and rats. In order to explore how study design might impact experimental outcomes, we systematically documented characteristics of study design in a series of published rodent CVS studies and, in a subset of studies, measured effect sizes in the behavioural tests used to evaluate the effects of CVS. We hypothesised that CVS procedures that were longer or involved more stressors would be associated with larger effect sizes in five commonly used behavioural tests: the sucrose preference test (SPT), the tail suspension test (TST), the forced swim test (FST), the open field test (OFT) and the elevated plus maze (EPM). We also hypothesised that effect sizes would positively correlate between the behavioural tests that are believed to measure the same consequences of CVS. Methods We searched PubMed for articles using CVS procedures with mice or rats and systematically documented the duration (the length of the CVS procedure), burden (the total number of stressors experienced by the animal) and diversity (the total number of different types of stressors used) of the CVS procedures used. We also systematically documented the design of the behavioural tests used to evaluate the effects of CVS in each study and calculated the effect sizes obtained in these tests. To ask whether effects sizes in these tests correlated with characteristics of the CVS procedure used, we used a linear model of the effect of duration, burden and diversity on the effect size then calculated the Euclidean distance between studies’ characteristics and correlated those with the differences in effect size between studies. To explore whether effect sizes correlated between different behavioural tests, we calculated a pairwise Pearson correlation. Results We observed that most studies used a unique CVS procedure. In contrast to our hypothesis, the most evident impact of CVS procedure design was on FST effect sizes where longer-duration CVS procedures with more diverse types of stressors were associated with a smaller effect size in behavioural tests. When exploring correlations between behavioural test effect sizes, we found a positive correlation between effects sizes in the TST and FST, and in the OFT and EPM, but the strongest positive correlations were between the EPM and TST, and between the EPM and FST.Conclusion We did not find evidence for a strong relationship between the design of CVS procedures and the effect sizes seen in the behavioural tests used to evaluate these procedures. When we explored correlations in effect sizes between different behavioural tests, we uncovered complex relationships that are not necessarily in concordance with current understanding of what these tests measure. Accordingly, our data raise scientific questions around the design of CVS procedures used and the behavioural tests used to evaluate them.<br/
Mating system and the evolution of recombination rates in seed plants
No full textMeiotic recombination is a central mechanism underlying sexual reproduction among eukaryotes. In many species, the recombination rate is strongly constrained by chromosome size, as the number of crossovers per chromosome generally ranges between one and no more than a few (around three to five). Yet, recombination rates are variable and can evolve between species, in particular when they differ in their reproductive system. According to theory, indirect selection towards higher recombination rates is expected to be stronger in inbred populations, such as selfing species compared with randomly mating species. To test for the impact of the mating system on the evolution of recombination rates, we leveraged a dataset with genetic maps, genome sizes, chromosome numbers, and life history traits in 200 seed plant species. After controlling for the chromosome size effect, the phylogeny, and map quality, we found a joint positive effect of the mating system and longevity on recombination rates, with higher recombination rates in mixed-mating and selfing species. We also found that mixed-mating and selfing species had a significantly higher number of crossovers in larger chromosomes than outcrossing species, suggesting selection for relaxed crossover interference in these former species. Our results point to the mating system as an important factor potentially shaping the evolution of recombination despite mechanical constraints acting on the number of crossovers per chromosome
Jugular Foramen Syndrome: Concurrent Neurological Deficits, Advanced Imaging Findings, Underlying Diagnoses, and Outcomes in 14 Dogs (2016–2024)
No full textBackground: Jugular foramen syndrome (JFS), dysfunction of cranial nerves (CNs) IX, X, and XI caused by lesions involving the jugular foramen (JF), is rarely reported in dogs.Objective: Describe presenting complaints, neurologic findings, advanced imaging findings, underlying diagnoses, and outcomes in dogs with JFS.Animals: Fourteen client-owned dogs.Methods: Retrospective, multicenter study of dogs diagnosed with JFS using advanced imaging between 2016 and 2024.Results: Affected dogs were older (median age, 9.9years; range, 7.9–14.5 years) and presented with chronic progressive clinical signs (median duration, 135days; range, 5–720days). Common presenting complaints included coughing (7/14), retching (6/14), head tilt (5/14), and laryngeal stridor (4/14). Neurologic abnormalities were noted in 11/14 dogs, with CN deficits (10/11), including unilateral laryngeal paralysis (5/10) and tongue atrophy (4/10), being the most common finding. Additional signs included head tilt (7/11) and postural reaction deficits (5/11). Intracranial lesions were identified in 10/14 dogs, with meningioma being the most frequent radiologic or histopathologic diagnosis. In dogs with extracranial lesions (4/14), thyroid carcinoma was common. Median survival time was 218days (range, 16–477days).Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Neoplastic or suspected neoplastic causes of JFS are common and lesions often extend beyond the JF by the time of diagnosis. As such, neurologic deficits in dogs with JFS often reflect involvement of multiple CNs, not limited to CNs IX, X, and XI. Advanced imaging of the head should be considered in dogs with clinical signs consistent with JF
Four Principles of Transformative Adaptation to Climate Change‐Exacerbated Hazards in Informal Settlements
No full textResidents of urban informal settlements are among the most at-risk of climate change-exacerbated hazards. Yet, traditional approaches to adaptation have failed to reduce risk sustainably and equitably. In contrast, transformative adaptation recognizes the inextricable nature of complex climate risk and social inequality, embedding principles of social justice in pathways to societal resilience. Its potential for impact may be greatest in informal settlements, but its application in this context introduces a new set of challenges and remains largely aspirational. To address this missed opportunity, in this focus article we provide clarity on how transformative adaptation can manifest in informal settlements. Although context-dependency precludes the formulation of specific guidelines, we identify four principles which are foundational to its deployment in these settings. Acknowledging constraints, we define levels of achievement of the principles and suggest how they might be reached in practice. Achieving transformative adaptation in informal settlements is complex, but we argue that it is already achievable and could represent a prime opportunity to accelerate the rate of adaptation to build a climate resilient society
Development of a Built Environment Ontology Lookup Service (BE-OLS) with a New Ontology Evaluation
No full textRecent years have seen a surge in development of formal ontologies within the domain of built environment. Yet, experts like novices face difficulties in locating relevant ontologies, hampering the use of ontologies. Besides, these ontologies demonstrate a range of development maturity. This highlights a gap: the need for a continuously updated repository to help users in discovering, evaluating and (re)using ontologies. This paper presents the Ontology Lookup Service for the Built Environment: BE-OLS, which allows to easily find and consult existing ontologies. It also enables researchers to find gaps or redundancies to help bring some order to the current state of the field
Networks in trade - Evidence from the legacy of the Hanseatic League
Get PDFWe study trade networks following the decline of the Hanseatic League, using a novel trade data set that covers cities and captains in Northern Europe over 190 years. By the time of its dissolution in 1669, trade on former Hansa routes is within predictions from a gravity framework. However, the Hansa continue to shape the composition of trade: Trade between cities in the Hanseatic network continues to be facilitated by Hanseatic captains for centuries. Our paper highlights the long-run stability of commercial and social networks, which persist when other economic effects do not
Unmet need, under-met need and public financing of home care in England
Get PDFDespite the recognized importance of older adults ageing in their own homes, the role of public financing in mitigating unmet and under-met home care needs remains under-explored. This study addresses this gap by examining the impact of public financing on home care adequacy among English adults aged over 50, utilizing data from waves 6–9 (2013–2019) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Longitudinal fixed effects and pooled cross-sectional modelling are used to explore the impact of public financing of home care on the unmet and under-met needs of older people. Findings show that individuals with greater limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), as well as those experiencing cognitive decline, are more likely to receive home care. Importantly, while receipt of publicly financed care is associated with a reduction in unmet needs, it does not necessarily translate to fully met needs, resulting in under-met need and highlighting a crucial distinction between access to and adequacy of care. Comparatively, transitioning from use of publicly financed home care to exclusively informal care is linked with lower odds of reporting under-met needs, suggesting variance in the quality of care provided across funding types. This study not only enriches the existing literature by describing the specific impact of different home care financing mechanisms (publicly financed care versus other types of care) on the unmet and under-met needs of older adults but also underscores the need for policies that ensure care adequacy, not just accessibility
Insights into endometriosis symptom trajectories and assessment of surgical intervention outcomes using longitudinal actigraphy
Get PDFEndometriosis is a common, chronic condition associated with debilitating pain, fatigue, and heterogeneous symptom presentation. In this exploratory study, 68 participants with confirmed endometriosis were monitored for up to three 4–6-week smartwatch cycles. We collected daily self-reports of pain and fatigue as well as retrospective questionnaires assessing quality of life, and we extracted daily measures of physical activity (PA), sleep, and diurnal rhythms from wrist-worn actigraphy data. We found that daily PA was strongly negatively correlated with self-reported fatigue (repeated measures correlations ) and that participants with more severe or variable symptom trajectories displayed lower levels of PA, greater sleep disturbance, and more disrupted sleep and activity rhythms (Spearman’s ). Lastly, we found evidence of sleep and PA changes following surgery for endometriosis that reflected change in self-reported symptoms. Collectively, our findings suggest that passive data collection using wrist-worn wearables in endometriosis could facilitate individualized objective insights into symptom trajectories
Successful management of presumed reactivation of Neospora caninum following immunosuppression for immune thrombocytopenia in an adult Doberman
Get PDFA 5-year old, vaccinated, untravelled and neutered female Doberman with occasional exposure to raw food presented for investigation of severe thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Extensive investigations led to a diagnosis of non-associative immune thrombocytopenia, with secondary bleeds resulting in anaemia. Management with repeated packed red blood cell transfusions, vincristine (0.02 mg/kg single intravenous injection), prednisolone (50 mg/m 2/day) and mycophenolate (10 mg/kg twice daily) allowed normalisation of haematology parameters. Scheduled reassessment 10 days after discharge revealed lethargy, ataxia, wide-based stance and marked generalised muscle wastage. Platelet count remained normal, but biochemistry was supportive of muscle damage. Neospora caninum antibodies were elevated (indirect fluorescence antibodies > 1600). Rapid tapering of prednisolone alongside clindamycin (20 mg/kg twice daily) allowed a complete recovery. Mycophenolate was slowly tapered and discontinued after 12 weeks, as was antibiotic therapy. This case describes the successful management of a dog with presumed neuromuscular neosporosis, suspected secondary to reactivation of the parasite from immunosuppression, and absence of long-term complications. </p
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