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Neutron imaging combined with in-line mass spectrometry is used to perform an operando study of hydrogen adsorption and ethene hydrogenation over a powdered 5 wt % Pd/Al2O3 catalyst contained within a stainless-steel reactor. The approach adopted enables the partitioning of hydrogen throughout the catalyst bed to be examined as reaction conditions are varied. Aspects of the catalyst activation procedure are examined including drying and reduction stages. Spatially resolved temporal profiles indicate how hydrogen is partitioning throughout the length of the reactor during these catalyst pretreatments. For the case of hydrogen exposure to the as-received catalyst at 293 K, while the mass spectrometer detects hydrogen breakthrough after 20 min, the neutron intensity profiles for 5 spatially distinct regions along the catalyst bed map out the progression of hydrogen along the length of the bed throughout and beyond the 20-min period, allowing the spatially resolved varying rates of adsorption to be assessed, and showing that hydrogen adsorption is fastest at the top of the catalyst bed. These neutron imaging profiles are discussed in terms of coincident reduction and drying events. Addressing matters of reaction engineering, the ethene hydrogenation experiments performed at 333 K examine how hydrogen supply affects the reactor/catalyst combination. Operational conditions are varied from hydrogen-excess to hydrogen-lean regimes. Hydrogen starvation experiments are used to assess the durability of the activated catalyst. The complete recovery of catalytic activity following reinstatement of hydrogen supply following a period of ethene-only feed demonstrates the reversibility of the hydrogenation process over this catalyst. The operando neutron imaging approach outlined here provides a new perspective on how hydrogenous entities pass through an extended catalyst bed.

Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is a congenital heart disorder involving tricuspid valve dysplasia and right heart abnormalities resulting in severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Multiple techniques assess regurgitation severity, but their correlation with EA severity markers remains unclear. To compare MRI techniques for quantifying TR and regurgitant volume (RVol) in adults with EA. Retrospective. Thirty-three adult patients with EA (15 males/18 females). 3T or 1.5-Tesla, 2D-phase contrast (2D-PC gradient echo) and 4D-flow (gradient echo). RVol was measured using three methods: (1) 2D-indirect: subtraction of systolic pulmonary artery (PA) forward flow (2D-PC) from functional right ventricular stroke volume (fRVSV); (2) 4D-indirect: subtraction of PA systolic forward flow from tricuspid diastolic forward flow using 4D-flow; (3) 4D-direct: direct jet measurement with 4D-flow. Correlations were evaluated between RVol and severity markers (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], functional right ventricular end-diastolic volume [fRVEDV], fRV/LV ratio, severity index volume, total right/left volume index, fRVEF). Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05) significant. The 4D-direct method had the highest correlation with the mean RVol (2D-indirect: r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.93, 4D-indirect: r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.93; 4D-direct: r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.95) and with severity markers: total right/left volume index (0.84, 0.64, 0.87), the fRVEDV (0.66, 0.58, 0.71), fRV/LVratio (0.81, 0.75, 0.87), and severity index volume (0.45, 0.59, 0.66). 4D-flow enables intrinsic RVol quantification independent of fRV segmentation, with the direct jet method outperforming indirect approaches. Stage 2. Ebstein's anomaly is a birth defect affecting the heart's right side and tricuspid valve, causing blood to leak backward. MRI scans are used to measure how severe this leakage is, but there are different ways to do the calculation. Three MRI methods were compared in 33 adult patients to see which worked best. A newer 4D&#x2010;flow technique that directly measures the leaking blood jet was found to be the most accurate and correlated best with other severity markers. This matters because the 4D&#x2010;flow method avoids difficult measurements of heart chamber size, making diagnosis easier and more reliable for patients with this condition.

Islamic bioethics is a recent, albeit growing, academic discipline. Despite commendable contributions, the field remains critically limited. Most notably, its methodology of strict application of Islamic law to ethical analyses and recommendations often lacks sufficient moral analysis, intellectual engagement, or social context. The practice's emphasis on religio-legal rulings- without an investigation of their underpinning moral values- has resulted in a field of inquiry devoid of robust normative foundations and dependent upon ineffective and unsubstantiated claims. This paper calls for a revival of Islamic philosophical discourse to enrich Islamic bioethical practice. Although once popularized by Medieval Muslim philosophers like Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Ibn Rushd (Averroes), philosophical discourse has fallen out of favor in the Muslim world, largely due to a perceived tension with religion. This work highlights the rich tradition of philosophical discourse in the Medieval Muslim world, disproving claims of an inherent conflict between philosophy and Islam. Following an Islamic philosophical framework, three goals for Islamic bioethics are established. First, theoretical rigor aimed at continually re-assessing and re-understanding concepts integral to the practice of bioethics such as personhood, dignity, futility, autonomy, and justice. Second, a shift from essentialist understandings of the Quran- and other sources of Islamic law- to more contextual examinations in the formulation of ethical opinions. Third, an active and interdisciplinary collaboration between Muslim scholars in the determination of Islamic rulings on medical matters. Only when these goals are met is the practice of Islamic bioethics capable of meeting the needs of Muslim patients and clinicians.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus affecting the respiratory system in all ages. The study's objective was to obtain RSV-related health utility values for older adults and their caregivers from the Japanese population. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among Japanese adults (&#x2265;18&#x2009;years) between April - June 2023 to quantify the burden of RSV. Participants completed an online survey with six vignettes describing RSV-related health states for patients and caregivers: severe lower respiratory tract infection (sLRTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Using a time trade-off (TTO) approach, respondents indicated the number of days they would trade to avoid these health states. Quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) losses were then estimated. Of 1,770 participants, 1,529 were excluded, leaving 241 for analysis (45 with caregiving experience). Median discounted TTO values were 73, 22, and 7&#x2009;days for sLRTI, LRTI, and URTI, respectively, and 31, 16, and 3&#x2009;days to avoid caregiving burden. QALY losses were 0.200, 0.060, and 0.018 for patients and 0.086, 0.043, and 0.008 for caregivers. Japanese individuals are willing to trade a significant number of days from the end of their life to avoid an RSV episode or its caregiver burden. Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common infection that affects people of all ages and can cause serious illness in the lungs. This study aimed to understand how much people in Japan value avoiding RSV illness in older adults and the impact it has on their caregivers.What we did: Between April and June 2023, adults in Japan took part in an online survey. The survey described three levels of RSV illness: severe lower respiratory tract infection (sLRTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Caregiver experiences were also included. Participants were asked how many days from the end of their life they would be willing to give up to avoid these health problems. This method helps estimate &#x2018;quality-adjusted life years&#x2019; (QALYs), a way of adjusting quantity of time to quality of life.What we found: On average, participants were willing to trade more days to avoid severe illness compared to mild illness. The study showed meaningful losses in quality of life due to RSV for both patients and caregivers.Why this matters: The findings highlight the significant burden of RSV on patients and caregivers in Japan.KEYWORDS: Respiratory syncytial virus; health utilities; quality-adjusted life years; caregiver burden; Japan.

Aging is marked by a decline in cellular functions accompanied by widespread changes in mRNA and protein abundance, yet whether aging broadly remodels subcellular protein localization and concentration-and why some proteins change while others remain stable-remains unclear. This gap matters because cellular function depends not only on expression levels but also on correct spatial organization. Using yeast replicative aging as a model, we built a robotic pipeline to enrich old cells from 5,661 strains, acquired 90 million single-cell 3D images, and applied machine learning to map proteome-wide changes in localization, concentration, and aggregation throughout aging. This age-resolved single-cell atlas uncovers widespread proteome remodeling and rewiring of protein interaction networks. Moreover, structural analysis reveals biophysical determinants of age-sensitive proteome remodeling across ages and species. Together, these results reveal a structure-encoded intrinsic principle underlying spatial proteome breakdown during aging and provide a resource to dissect mechanistic links among aging hallmarks.

Cannabis use initiation during adolescence has increased globally, raising concerns about neurodevelopmental consequences during this critical period when the brain undergoes extensive remodeling in cannabinoid receptor-rich regions. This systematic review examines neurodevelopmental consequences of adolescent cannabis use, focusing on structural brain changes, cognitive impacts, addiction vulnerability, and long-term outcomes. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (2000-2025) for studies examining cannabis effects in adolescent populations. Following PRISMA guidelines, two reviewers screened 3,421 records and assessed 156 full-text articles, including studies with neuroimaging, cognitive assessments, or longitudinal follow-up. Thirty-six studies involving 8,432 participants met criteria: 23 longitudinal cohorts (62.2%), 8 cross-sectional (22.2%), 4 RCTs (11.1%), and 1 case-control study (2.8%). Neuroimaging revealed dose-dependent alterations including reduced prefrontal cortical and hippocampal/amygdala volumes, accelerated cortical thinning in longitudinal studies, and impaired white matter connectivity correlating with initiation age. Cognitive findings were mixed - some showed persistent deficits after prolonged abstinence in adolescent-onset users, others found no effects after controlling for confounders. Epidemiological studies consistently showed elevated addiction risk (ORs 3.9-7.2) in adolescents versus adults. Long-term associations included educational difficulties, mental health problems, and functional impairment, though causal relationships remained unclear. Adolescent cannabis use associates with structural brain changes, elevated addiction risk, and variable cognitive effects, suggesting greater vulnerability versus adult-onset use. However, methodological limitations including confounders, heterogeneous definitions, and observational designs limit causal inference. Findings support age-specific prevention and specialized interventions while highlighting needs for rigorous longitudinal research establishing causality. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifierCRD420251165329.

The degradation of organic matter (OM) by microorganisms in thawing permafrost produces greenhouse gases. Terrestrial OM is transported into fjords through hydrological runoff, but it is unclear whether the microbial mechanisms of OM degradation on land persist after soils enter marine environments, which differ greatly in conditions and microbial communities. This question is particularly relevant for low-OM soils, which dominate Arctic landscapes and are more exposed to oxidants. Here, we compared OM-degrading capacity in permafrost-affected active layer soils and adjacent fjord sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, focusing on carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), which target some of the most abundant types of organic matter in soils. Using multi-omics approaches-metagenomics, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), metabolomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics-we examined CAZyme presence, distribution, and activity. Despite environmental differences, both soils and sediments harbored diverse glycoside hydrolases and polysaccharide lyases, most of which showed evidence of activity. Verrucomicrobia expressed the highest number of CAZyme transcripts, indicating that they dominated active carbohydrate degradation in fjord sediments, while Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were more active in soils. Notably, CAZymes in fjord sediments targeted primarily soil-derived OM, and the proportions of enzymes degrading terrestrial OM, marine OM, and microbial necromass-remnants of dead microbial cells were similar across both environments. These results suggest that microbial communities in both soils and fjord sediments are equipped to degrade carbohydrates, and that burial of terrestrial-derived OM in fjord sediments may not protect it from microbial breakdown under Arctic warming.IMPORTANCEPermafrost thaw may be a critical climate feedback because microbial degradation of organic matter (OM) can release greenhouse gases. While fjords serve as major carbon burial sites, our results show that burial of terrestrial-derived OM in these sediments does not ensure protection from microbial degradation. Microbial communities in both active layer soils and fjord sediments harbor a broad arsenal of carbohydrate-active enzymes, with evidence of activity across diverse taxa. This functional continuity indicates that once terrestrial material is washed into fjords, it remains vulnerable to microbial breakdown despite different environmental conditions. Understanding these cross-system continuities in microbial function is essential for predicting the fate of OM in a rapidly warming Arctic and highlights the importance of including fjord sediments in global carbon cycle models.

Brain blood perfusion is typically characterized through regional cerebral blood flow metrics. However, recent research demonstrates that the distribution of blood transit times through the capillary network also plays a significant role in physiological processes. Here, we introduce a novel kinetic model, called the Outflow model, to quantify this distribution and calculate capillary transit time heterogeneity. The model is tailored to account for transport across the blood&#x2012;brain barrier and tissue-binding and is applicable for both for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron emission Tomography scenarios. The model was employed across three methodologies: (1) contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging; (2) dynamic long axial field-of-view Positron Emission Tomography imaging using the radiotracers O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine and (3) 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoroglucose. The temporal resolution was optimized (1-2&#xa0;s) to capture the bolus passages. Tissue curves were derived from the putamen, thalamus, frontal white matter, and regions of malignancy for comparative analysis. For the PET data the Outflow model was compared with a conventional 3-compartment model for validation. For Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the capillary transit time heterogeneity ranged from 0.5 to 1&#xa0;s, the extraction fraction ranged from 0.03 to 0.07%, and the unidirectional influx constant ranged from 0.01 to 0.2&#xa0;ml/min/100&#xa0;ml. For O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine, the capillary transit time heterogeneity ranged from 1.5 to 3&#xa0;s, with an extraction fraction of 5.4% to 7.8% and the unidirectional influx constant ranging from 1.6 to 3.2&#xa0;ml/min/100&#xa0;ml, aligning closely with the anticipated parameters. For 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoroglucose obtain from the basal ganglia, capillary transit time heterogeneity was around 2&#xa0;s, extraction fraction 40.2%, and cerebral metabolic rate of glucose consumption was 44&#xa0;&#xb5;mol/100&#xa0;ml/min. Both the outflow model and the 3-compartment model gave excellent fit to data and for the comparable metrics the two models gave results in reasonable agreement. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that calculating capillary transit time heterogeneity in the brain via the proposed new tracer kinetic model is feasible for both MRI and PET data. The model adeptly addresses scenarios where tracers or contrast agents undergo bidirectional transport across the BBB.

While both Urbach tails and dangling bonds are known to be present in a-Si films, the current literature lacks parametrization that simultaneously accounts for both types of defects using only transmittance spectra, reflectance spectra, or spectroscopic ellipsometry. To address this issue, we performed parametrizations of three magnetron-sputtered a-Si thin films deposited on glass substrates at different low pressures of argon gas, using only their measured UV-Vis-NIR transmittance spectra T(&#x3bb; = [300, 2500] nm) and different dispersion models. We preprocessed T(&#x3bb;) by suppressing both general and bandpass noise to yield the spectrum Td(&#x3bb;). The films were parametrized from Td(&#x3bb;) using two versions of the Tauc-Lorentz-Urbach dispersion model and the universal dispersion model (UDM) of Franta. The most accurate parametrization was achieved employing UDM including Urbach tail and three subgap oscillators. JDOS and the dielectric function &#x3b5;(E) were computed by this UDM, and it was concluded that these three oscillators correspond to electron transitions via two bands of dangling bonds. The respective DOS is similar to the DOS previously reported for a-Si:H, but not to a-Si, indicating a relatively low density of dangling bonds in our a-Si films. Record low parametrization errors are achieved, which confirms the accuracy of these results.

Magnons, the quanta of spin angular momentum, can be excited in magnetic insulators by spin-flip scattering processes induced by currents applied to a heavy-metal overlayer. The efficiency of generating nonequilibrium magnons is characterized by the interface spin current jsint, whose magnitude is considered to depend on the thermal magnon population. Here, we investigate nonlinear magnetoresistance phenomena in Pt arising from current-driven nonequilibrium magnons in Y3Fe5O12 (YIG). Remarkably, we find that spin-flip scattering processes are dominated by subthermal magnons at room temperature, resulting in a large modulation of jsint with the magnetic field and YIG thickness. Concretely, reducing the YIG thickness from 100 to 10 nm increases jsint by a factor &#x223c;20, while increasing the magnetic field exponentially suppresses the magnon generation efficiency. These findings challenge the current understanding on jsint and indicate that electrically driven magnonic effects such as damping compensation and magnon condensation can be largely boosted through device miniaturization.

Air pollution is a risk factor for dementia, but its role in early cognitive dysfunction is not clear. We aimed to investigate the association of air pollution with cognitive function, and the role of cardiovascular risk factors and greenspace in this association. The CAHHM (Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds Cohort Study) is a cohort of Canadian adults recruited between 2014 and 2018, for whom averages of exposures to NO2 and fine particulate matter were estimated for 5 years before recruitment. Outcomes included the Montr&#xe9;al Cognitive Assessment and Digit Symbol Substitution Test for cognitive function, and magnetic resonance imaging-measured covert vascular brain injury. Generalized linear mixed models assessed pollutant associations with outcomes in this cross-sectional analysis. A total of 6878 adults participated in the study, with a mean age of 57.6 years (SD=8.8), and 55.6% were women. Mean (SD; range) 5-year pollutant concentrations preceding enrollment for fine particulate matter were 6.9 &#x3bc;g/m3 (2.0 [1.8-11.2]), and for NO2 were 12.9 parts per billion (5.9 [0.9-33.9]). In adjusted models, a 5 &#x3bc;g/m3 higher fine particulate matter concentration was associated with 0.44 points lower Montr&#xe9;al Cognitive Assessment (95% CI, -0.62 to -0.25) and 1.31 points lower Digit Symbol Substitution Test (95% CI, -2.41 to -0.22) scores. A 5 parts per billion higher NO2 concentration was associated with 0.12 points lower Montr&#xe9;al Cognitive Assessment (95% CI, -0.17 to -0.07) and 0.38 points lower Digit Symbol Substitution Test (95% CI, -0.70 to -0.05) scores. A 5 parts per billion higher NO2 concentration was associated with higher odds of covert vascular brain injury (adjusted odds ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.00-1.17]). Cardiovascular risk factors and greenspace did not change these associations. Fine particulate matter and NO2 were associated with lower cognitive function scores in middle-aged adults living in Canada, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Our results warrant longitudinal follow-up to study the impact of air pollution on cognitive decline.

In 2022, Colombia reported 13.7 cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 females. Given the persistently low coverage of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among girls (51%), alternative interventions are being considered. We assessed the population-level impact of switching from a quadrivalent to a nonavalent vaccine, as well as increasing vaccination coverage to the World Health Organization's target of 90% (&#x2265;1 dose). We developed a dynamic model of carcinogenic HPV transmission and vaccination in the population of Colombia aged 15+ years, stratified by health state, sex, age, sexual activity, and HPV vaccination status, accounting for latency. The model was calibrated to HPV prevalence data from Colombia and all Latin America. We evaluated gender-neutral and girl-only routine one-dose vaccination (<15 years) under current Colombian coverage levels and 90% coverage. We estimated age-standardised HPV prevalence, and the relative reduction in HPV prevalence and cervical cancer incidence over 2013-2100. Both vaccines reduced age-standardised HPV prevalence, with greater reductions observed at 90% coverage, under a gender-neutral scenario, and with a nonavalent vaccine. Switching to a nonavalent vaccine at current levels could reduce HPV prevalence by 39% (range: 33%-46%) in females by 2100, compared to 8% (range: 1%-17%) when only increasing quadrivalent vaccine coverage to 90% in a gender-neutral vaccination strategy. Only a nonavalent vaccine strategy reduced projected age-standardised cervical cancer incidence rates to below 4 cases per 100,000 females as early as 2058. Switching to a nonavalent vaccine will accelerate the reduction of HPV infections, thereby expediting progress toward cervical cancer elimination. Fonds de recherche du Qu&#xe9;bec-Sant&#xe9; and the Division of Cancer Epidemiology at McGill University.

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The present case report describes the case of a 76-year-old diabetic female patient operated on for ischemic heart disease and aortic valve stenosis. The patient suffered from acute kidney injury related to hypotension secondary to the use of anti-hypertensive drugs. The present case report also discusses the need for greater caution in treating hypertension in elderly patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, drawing on the available literature. Patients should be encouraged to measure their blood pressure at home, and written blood pressure target values should be provided to both the patient and their caregivers. It is important to note that hypotension, similar to hypertension, may lead to complications such as falls, acute kidney injury and hospitalization. Furthermore, the adverse events that develop following simultaneous coronary artery bypass graft and surgical aortic valve replacement surgery in the elderly are discussed in an aim to provide further insight on this matter.

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a core neuroimaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Sleep apnoea (SA) is a recognized vascular risk factor, but its associations with regional WMH burden, short-interval WMH change and cognitive performance in population-based cohorts remain incompletely defined. We examined these associations in the UK Biobank imaging cohort. We conducted cross-sectional analyses with an exploratory longitudinal subset in propensity score-matched cohorts excluding major neurologic and cerebrovascular disease before imaging. SA was identified from hospital records and self-reports prior to brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Head-size-normalized WMH volumes were analysed on the log1p scale using multivariable linear regression with robust standard errors. Total WMH was the primary outcome; periventricular WMH (PWMH), deep WMH (DWMH) and cognitive measures were secondary outcomes. Mediation analyses evaluated WMH as a mediator of SA-cognition associations. In cross-sectional analyses (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;12,890; mean age, 67.4&#x2009;years; 27.2% women), SA was associated with greater WMH burden. Total WMH volume was 10.7% higher among participants with SA (95% CI, 5.0%-16.6%; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). PWMH and DWMH volumes were 10.0% (95% CI, 4.7%-15.7%; q&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) and 15.7% (95% CI, 7.1%-25.1%; q&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) higher, respectively. SA was associated with modestly worse cognitive performance, with effect estimates attenuated after adjustment for WMH burden and cardiometabolic conditions. Mediation analyses indicated that WMH burden, particularly PWMH, mediated associations between SA and cognitive performance. In the longitudinal subset (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;698; median follow-up, 2.26&#x2009;years), no significant between-group differences were observed in annualized WMH change. In this large population-based imaging cohort, SA was associated with higher WMH burden, a key neuroimaging marker of CSVD. Cognitive differences were modest, but WMH burden, particularly PWMH, consistently mediated associations between SA and cognitive performance. Longer term studies are needed to clarify temporal relationships and potential treatment effects.