Amphibians rise to flourishing under climate change on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Amphibian populations are declining globally due to climate change. However, the impacts on the geographic distribution of amphibians on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), a global biodiversity hotspot with 112 species of amphibians that is sensitive to global climate change, remains unclear. In this study, MaxEnt and barycentre shift analyses were performed to reveal the impact of climate change on the potential future habitats of amphibians on the QTP using the BCC-CSM2-MR global climate model of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects Phase 6 (CMIP6) climate pattern with three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP). In contrast to the widespread decline in the amphibian population, the future scenarios projected an increase in most amphibian habitats on the QTP, accompanied by migration to higher elevations or latitudes under three climatic projections (SSP 1-2.6, 3-7.0, and 5-8.5). Average annual precipitation was the most crucial environmental variable impacting the future distribution of amphibians. The findings indicate that amphibians would flourish under climate change on the QTP, which is of great significance for the protection of amphibians and biodiversity on the QTP.

Comprehensive Review of Future Liver Remnant (FLR) Assessment and Hypertrophy Techniques Before Major Hepatectomy: How to Assess and Manage the FLR.

BACKGROUND: The regenerative capacities of the liver and improvements in surgical techniques have expanded the possibilities of resectability. Liver resection is often the only curative treatment for primary and secondary malignancies, despite the risk of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). This serious complication (with a 50% mortality rate) can be avoided by better assessment of liver volume and function of the future liver remnant (FLR). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to understand and assess clinical, biological, and imaging predictors of PHLF risk, as well as the various hypertrophy techniques, to achieve an adequate FLR before hepatectomy. METHOD: We reviewed the state of the art in liver regeneration and FLR hypertrophy techniques. RESULTS: The use of new biological scores (such as the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index + albumin-bilirubin [APRI+ALBI] score), concurrent utilization of 99mTc-mebrofenin scintigraphy (HBS), or dynamic hepatocyte contrast-enhanced MRI (DHCE-MRI) for liver volumetry helps predict the risk of PHLF. Besides portal vein embolization, there are other FLR optimization techniques that have their indications in case of risk of failure (e.g., associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy, liver venous deprivation) or in specific situations (transarterial radioembolization). CONCLUSION: There is a need to standardize volumetry and function measurement techniques, as well as FLR hypertrophy techniques, to limit the risk of PHLF.

Corrigendum: The immunomodulatory mechanism of acupuncture treatment for ischemic stroke: research progress, prospects, and future direction.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1319863.].

Gender-Based Violence in the Context of the Future of Work: A Qualitative Review of the Literature.

Discussions about the Future of Work have become ubiquitous both in academic and international organizations' discourse. As part of these developments, the platform economy has revolutionized work practices and relationships. Despite the emergence of a burgeoning literature on platform studies, little is known about whether and to what extent platform work exacerbates the risk of gender-based violence among workers. This review article examines 39 academic articles, book chapters, reports, and conference papers published between 2016 and 2023 using qualitative content analysis to provide a preliminary understanding of empirical data on this issue. The reviewed studies were selected using relevant keywords on the basis of a database of 175 studies examining the platform economy with gender perspective, complemented with additional sources identified during the review. The main findings are: platform workers across sectors are vulnerable to gender-based violence, especially those at the intersection of several axes of subordination; platforms' socio-technological features exacerbate the risk of gender-based violence; (fear of) gender-based violence limits women's access to platform work and the economic benefits derived from it; most platforms lack effective preventative and redressal mechanisms against violence; and, faced with platforms' inaction, workers adopt individual and collective measures to address (the risk of) gender-based violence in platform work. The analysis also evidences the need for more research on intersectional vulnerabilities, particularly with regard to sexual orientation and gender expression and identity, as well as on the physical and psychological impact of gender-based violence on platform workers, which provides avenues for future research.

Assessing and Charting the Future Path : Addressing the Decline of Brain Tumor Specialists in Korea - Insights from the Korea Brain Tumor Society (KBTS) Future Strategy Committee of 2023.

Objective: Although Republic of Korea is an advanced country in medical technology with a successful treatment rate for serious diseases, such as cancer, and has improved technology for highly difficult surgery, many excellent medical doctors and physicians are struggling due to the recent unreasonable medical environment. Specialization in brain tumor surgery also faces challenges in Republic of Korea, including low financial incentives, legal threats, and limited career prospects. In response, the Korea Brain Tumor Society (KBTS) formed the Future Strategy Committee to assess these obstacles and propose solutions. Methods: A survey was conducted among the KBTS members to understand their perceptions and concerns across different career stages. Results: The findings revealed a decline in interest among chief residents in brain tumor surgery, owing to limited job opportunities and income prospects. Neurosurgical fellows expressed neutral satisfaction but highlighted challenges, such as low patient numbers and income. Faculty members with varying levels of experience echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the need for improved financial incentives and job stability. Despite these challenges, the respondents expressed dedication to the field and suggested strategies for improvement. Conclusion: The KBTS outlines a vision that focuses on practical excellence, comprehensive research, professional education, responsibilities, and member satisfaction. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts among healthcare institutions, professional societies, and policymakers to support brain tumor specialists and enhance patient care.

Understanding time perspective's influence on academic burnout and achievement in Chinese undergraduates.

University students are highly vulnerable to experiencing academic burnout due to various pressures, necessitating an exploration of its causes and effects. Time perspective theory emphasizes how individuals' perspectives of past, present, and future events shape their behavior. Yet, the relationship between time perspective, burnout, and academic achievement remains unclear. This study investigates this association in Chinese undergraduates using survey and official grade point average (GPA) data. Results indicate positive correlations between Past-Negative, Present-Hedonistic (PH), Present-Fatalistic time perspectives, and academic burnout. Additionally, only Present-Hedonistic (PH) and future time perspectives significantly predict GPA. A mediation model reveals misbehavior as a mediator between Present-Hedonistic (PH) time perspective and GPA. These findings highlight time perspective's importance in academic well-being and outcomes, shedding light on the distinct roles of future and Present-Hedonistic time perspectives.

Health IT Adoption in German Hospitals: Could We See Any Changes Between 2017 and 2023?

INTRODUCTION: Increase in health IT adoption is often driven by financial support through the state. In 2020, the German Hospital Future Law passed Parliament with a schedule to see potential effects in 2023. The research question of the present study thus was if there were differences between 2017 and 2023 in selected application areas eligible for funding by the law. METHODS: Availability and percentage of use in clinical units was measured in a panel of 172 hospitals for these areas. A linear mixed model with repeated measures yielded a significant increase in "medication management" and "discharge management". RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In "medication management", hospitals in a group as compared to single hospitals tripled the percentage of clinical units using IT systems for this purpose. Not-for-profit hospitals doubled their IT systems for "discharge management" when compared to for-profit hospitals. CONCLUSION: Whether these changes can be attributed to the Hospital Future Law is debatable due to severe delays in various fields, particularly in making funding available. There is room for speeding up particularly the administrative funding process and finally demonstrating results that are proportional to the government money invested.

Causal diagnostic model and governance strategies to reduce pollution from ship accidents in Chinese waters.

Ship transportation is a primary mode for global trade and cargo transport, yet even minor discrepancies can lead to ship accidents, causing severe secondary environmental pollution. Maritime accidents involve complex and numerous factors. Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) can identify the key contributing factors and their impact levels by eliminating homogenization factors in maritime accidents. This study constructs an innovative FCA model of ship accidents in Chinese waters, utilizing 172 ship accident reports released by the China Maritime Safety Administration. The analysis reveals seven reduced sets and 23 diagnostic rules of ship accidents. Results show that failed ship registration/security inspection, deficient nautical data and instruments, and management issues are the most critical factors. Three accident chains are identified and corresponding mitigation strategies are proposed to reduce potential pollution from ship accidents. These strategies offer significant reference value for preventing ship accidents and reducing their environmental impact in China and globally.

Longitudinal effects of peer victimization on adolescents' future educational and work expectations: Depressive symptoms as a mechanism.

Leveraging six waves of data, this study examined the effects of ninth-grade peer victimization on adolescents' future work and education expectations 2 years later, testing depressive symptoms as a mechanism. Participants (N = 388, Mage = 14.05; 61% female, 35% male, 3% non-binary, trans, or other gender; 46% White, 19% Black, 17% Asian, 6% AMENA, 6% Multiracial, 6% other race) completed surveys from ninth through 11th grade. Results indicated that adolescents who experienced more frequent relational, but not overt, peer victimization in ninth grade were subsequently more pessimistic about their educational and occupational prospects beyond high school; depressive symptoms mediated this link. The findings suggest that relational victimization and its psychological harm may undermine adolescents' confidence in achieving postsecondary success.

Comparison of percutaneous microwave/radiofrequency ablation liver partition and portal vein embolization versus transarterial chemoembolization and portal vein embolization for planned hepatectomy with insufficient future liver remnant.

BACKGROUND: In China, both percutaneous microwave/radiofrequency ablation liver partition plus portal vein embolization (PALPP) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus portal vein embolization (PVE) have been utilized in planned hepatectomy. However, there is a lack of comparative studies on the effectiveness of these two techniques for cases with insufficient future liver remnant (FLR). METHODS: Patients were categorized into either the PALPP group or the TACE + PVE group. Clinical data, including FLR growth rate, complications, secondary resection rate, and overall survival rate, were compared and analyzed for both groups retrospectively. RESULTS: Between December 2014 and October 2021, a total of 29 patients underwent TACE + PVE (n = 12) and PALPP (n = 17). In the TACE + PVE group, 7 patients successfully underwent two-stage hepatectomy, while in the PALPP group, 13 patients underwent the procedure (two-stage resection rate: 58.3% vs. 76.5%, P = 0.42). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications of one-stage procedures (11.8% vs. 8.3%, P > 0.05) and second-stage resection complication (0% vs. 46.2%, P = 0.05) between the TACE + PVE and PALPP groups. However, the PALPP group demonstrated a shorter time to FLR volume growth for second-stage resection (18.5 days vs. 66 days, P = 0.001) and KGR (58.5 ml/week vs. 7.7 ml/week, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TACE + PVE, PALPP results in a more significant increase in FLR volume and a higher rate of two-stage resection without increasing postoperative complications.

A qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study on the past, present, and future of vaginal delivery: Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The current study focused on predicting future trends in obstetrics by examining obstetricians' approaches to specific challenging vaginal delivery that require special experience, such as breech presentation, macrosomic fetus, twin pregnancy, and vacuum use, compared with their residency training experience. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases. The first phase was qualitative and the second phase was quantitative. The "interview" and "survey" techniques served as data collection tools. In total, 20 obstetricians participated in the interviews, and 400 obstetricians took part in the survey. Data from the interviews were analyzed using the Maxqda 2020 qualitative data analysis program, and survey data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. RESULTS: Over the past 2 decades, there has been a gradual shift from vaginal deliveries to cesarean deliveries in cases involving breech presentation, macrosomic fetus, twin pregnancy, and vacuum use. While medicolegal concerns are undeniable, the prevalent belief among obstetricians that cesarean delivery is safer than vaginal delivery significantly influences this trend. Comparatively, young obstetricians often complete their residency training without acquiring sufficient knowledge and skills in vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: Young obstetricians currently lack adequate experience in managing vaginal deliveries for breech presentation, macrosomic fetus, twin pregnancy, and vacuum use. This experience is at risk of disappearing entirely within the next decade as senior obstetricians retire. Policymakers should take this into consideration when shaping future healthcare policies.

Recent progress in microbial biosurfactants production strategies: Applications, technological bottlenecks, and future outlook.

Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds produced by numerous microorganisms. They have gained significant attention due to their wide applications in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and environmental remediation. The production efficiency and yield of microbial biosurfactants have improved significantly through the development and optimization of different process parameters. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of recent trends and developments in microbial biosurfactant production strategies, including submerged, solid-state, and co-culture fermentation. Additionally, review discusses biosurfactants' applications, challenges, and future perspectives. It highlights their advantages over chemical surfactants, emphasizing their biodegradability, low toxicity, and diverse chemical structures. However, the critical challenges in commercializing include high production costs and low yield. Strategies like genetic engineering, process optimization, and downstream processing, have been employed to address these challenges. The review provides insights into current commercial producers and highlights future perspectives such as novel bioprocesses, efficient microbial strains, and exploring their applications in emerging industries.

Italian university students' future time perspective and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, young adults worldwide showed signs of distress as they were affected in their specific developmental tasks, including the construction of personal and professional futures. Methods: The present study aimed to assess the situational future time perspective of Italian university students during the second pandemic wave, as measured by an ad hoc constructed instrument, to explore its interaction with some dispositional traits relevant in future construction, such as optimism, sense of life, aggression, and dispositional future time perspective, and to test their effect on psychological well-being. The total sample consisted of 389 subjects (18-35 years, M = 23.5, SD = 4.4). Results and discussion: The results indicated that the pandemic experience, assessed by surveying specific indicators, negatively affected the future time perspective of students, particularly those dispositionally optimistic and convinced that life has meaning. However, awareness of the negative impact that the pandemic brought to the vision of the future seems to have dampened the levels of depression and stress, while anxiety was found to be related only to dispositional traits. The results also suggested the need for educational and economic policies that help young adults develop confidence in the future and in their ability to build it.

Effects of climate change and deep fertilization on the growth and yield of winter wheat in the Loess Plateau of China.

BACKGROUND: Global temperature is projected to rise continuously under climate change, negatively impacting the growth and yield of winter wheat. Optimizing traditional agricultural measures is necessary to mitigate potential winter wheat yield losses caused by future climate change. This study aims to explore the variations in winter wheat growth and yield on the Loess Plateau of China under future climate change, identify the key meteorological factors affecting winter wheat growth and yield, and analyze the differences in winter wheat yield and root characteristics under different fertilization depths. RESULTS: Meteorological data from 20 General Circulation Models were applied to drive the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer model, simulating the future growth characteristics of winter wheat under various fertilization depths. The Random Forest model was used to determine the relative importance of meteorological factors influencing winter wheat yield, root length density and leaf area index. The results showed that temperature and high emission concentration were primary factors influencing crop yield under future climate change. The temperature increase projected from 2021 to 2100 would be anticipated to shorten the phenology period of winter wheat by 2-16 days and reduce grain yield by 2.9-12.7% compared to the period from 1981 to 2020. Conversely, the root length density and root weight of winter wheat would increase by 1.2-10.9% and 0.2-24.1%, respectively, in the future, and excessive allocation of root system resources was identified as a key factor contributing to the reduction in winter wheat yield. Compared with the shallow fertilization treatment (N5), the deep fertilization treatments (N15 and N25) increased the proportion of roots in the deep soil layer (30-60 cm) by 2.7-10.2%. Because of the improvement in root structure, the decline in winter wheat yield under deep fertilization treatments in the future is expected to be reduced by 1.2% to 6.5%, whereas water use efficiency increases by 1.1% to 2.4% compared to the shallow fertilization treatment. CONCLUSION: The deep fertilization treatment can enhance the root structure of winter wheat and increase the proportion of roots in the deep soil layer, thereby effectively mitigating the decline in winter wheat yield under future climate change. Overall, optimizing fertilization depth effectively addresses the reduced winter wheat yield risks and agricultural production challenges under future climate change. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Rethinking clinical trials in restless legs syndrome: A roadmap.

The number of large clinical trials of restless legs syndrome (RLS) have decreased in recent years, this coincides with reduced interest in developing and testing novel pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) formed a task force of global experts to examine the causes of these trends and make recommendations to facilitate new clinical trials. In our article, we delve into potential complications linked to the diagnostic definition of RLS, identify subpopulations necessitating more attention, and highlight issues pertaining to endpoints and study frameworks. In particular, we recommend developing alternative scoring methods for more accurate RLS diagnosis, thereby improving clinical trial specificity. Furthermore, enhancing the precision of endpoints will increase study effect sizes and mitigate study costs. Suggestions to achieve this include developing online, real-time sleep diaries with high-frequency sampling of nightly sleep latency and the use of PLMs as surrogate markers. Furthermore, to reduce the placebo response, strategies should be adopted that include placebo run-in periods. As RLS is frequently a chronic condition, priority should be given to long-term studies, using a randomized, placebo-controlled, withdrawal design. Lastly, new populations should be investigated to develop targeted treatments such as mild RLS, pregnancy, hemodialysis, or iron-deficient anemia.

Perceptions of the Future and Health Behavior in Adulthood.

Engagement in healthier lifestyle behaviors often is motivated by a focus on the future. However, there is limited research on the associations between health behavior and future time perspective, defined as people's tendency to perceive their future as expansive or as limited. Data came from a survey of U.S. adults (N = 805, 49.3% female; M = 50 years, range: 19 to 85 years). Participants completed measures of perceptions of future opportunities and time and health behavior. Opportunities and time factors were uniquely associated with health behavior. While the perceived opportunities factor was strongly associated with better health behavior, the time factor was associated with poorer health behavior. However, this latter association was dependent on individual demographic and health status differences. These findings suggest that perceptions of future opportunities can play an important role in health behavior engagement and thus represent an important target for health promotion.

Mapping Ixodes pacificus and Borrelia burgdorferi Habitat Suitability Under Current and Mid-Century Climate in the Pacific Northwest (BC and WA).

Introduction: Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and Canada. The primary vector for the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, in the Pacific Northwest is the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus. Materials and Methods: Using active tick surveillance data from British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA, habitat suitability models using MaxEnt (maximum entropy) were developed for I. pacificus to predict its current and mid-century geographic distributions. Passive surveillance data both from BC and WA were also visualized. Results: According to the constructed models, the number of frost-free days during the winter is the most relevant predictor of its habitat suitability, followed by summer climate moisture, ecoregion, and mean minimum fall temperature. The ensemble geographic distribution map predicts that the coastal regions and inland valleys of British Columbia and the Puget Lowlands of Washington State provide the most suitable habitats for I. pacificus. The density map of ticks submitted from passive surveillance data was overlaid on the current distribution map and demonstrates the correlation between numbers of submissions and habitat suitability. Mid-century projections, based on current climate change predictions, indicate a range expansion, especially of low and moderate suitability, from current distribution. Regarding Lyme disease risk, I. pacificus identified from both active and passive surveillance and tested positive for B. burgdorferi were found to be in areas of moderate to very high suitability for I. pacificus. Conclusion: According to developed models, the total suitable habitat area for I. pacificus will expand in the interior regions of British Columbia and Washington State. However, the risk remains small given relatively low infection rates among I. pacificus. Further studies are required to better understand how this might change in the future.

Cell-cultivated aquatic food products: emerging production systems for seafood.

The demand for fish protein continues to increase and currently accounts for 17% of total animal protein consumption by humans. About 90% of marine fish stocks are fished at or above maximum sustainable levels, with aquaculture propagating as one of the fastest growing food sectors to address some of this demand. Cell-cultivated seafood production is an alternative approach to produce nutritionally-complete seafood products to meet the growing demand. This cellular aquaculture approach offers a sustainable, climate resilient and ethical biotechnological approach as an alternative to conventional fishing and fish farming. Additional benefits include reduced antibiotic use and the absence of mercury. Cell-cultivated seafood also provides options for the fortification of fish meat with healthier compositions, such as omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients through scaffold, media or cell approaches. This review addresses the biomaterials, production processes, tissue engineering approaches, processing, quality, safety, regulatory, and social aspects of cell-cultivated seafood, encompassing where we are today, as well as the road ahead. The goal is to provide a roadmap for the science and technology required to bring cellular aquaculture forward as a mainstream food source.

A repeated cross-sectional pilot study of the relationship between perceived a community with shared future for doctor-patient and benefit finding: the mediating role of health self-consciousness and moderating role of anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: Since January 8, 2023, China has managed COVID-19 as a Class-B infectious disease, marking the epidemic's transition to a low-level stage. This study analyzes the relationship between the public's perceived a community with shared future for doctor-patient (PCSF), health self-consciousness, benefit finding, and anxiety in this stage. Additionally, it compares changes in these variables across different stages of COVID-19. METHODS: Using a repeated cross-sectional design, three surveys were conducted respectively in three different stages of COVID-19 in China. Specifically, the first survey was conducted in Beijing, Dalian, Zhengzhou, Heihe, and Shangrao from November 13 to 20, 2021 in the outbreak stage of COVID-19, yielding 1,252 valid responses out of 1,534 collected questionnaires. The second survey was conducted in Dalian, Zhengzhou, Heihe, Shangrao, and Lanzhou from December 1 to 19, 2021 in the stable stage of COVID-19, with 872 valid responses obtained from 1,075 collected questionnaires. The third survey was conducted in Beijing, Dalian, Zhengzhou, Heihe, Shangrao, Lanzhou, and Chengdu from January 29 to February 4, 2023 in the low epidemic level stage of COVID-19, achieving 2,113 valid responses from the 2,461 questionnaires collected. RESULTS: Unlike in the outbreak stage but similar to the stable stage, the public's anxiety, health self-consciousness and benefit finding decreased while PCSF was improved in the low epidemic level stage. Consistent with both the outbreak and stable stage, PCSF, health self-consciousness, benefit finding, and anxiety showed positive correlations in the low epidemic level stage, with health self-consciousness partially mediating the positive impact of PCSF on benefit finding. Unlike in the stable stage but similar to the outbreak stage, anxiety did not moderate the relationship between PCSF and health self-consciousness in the low epidemic level stage. CONCLUSIONS: The public's health self-consciousness, benefit finding, and anxiety decreased, while PCSF increased in the low epidemic level stage. Furthermore, PCSF had a greater impact on benefit finding, and anxiety's impact on health self-consciousness was significantly reduced. Across different stages of COVID-19, PCSF directly increased benefit finding and also enhanced benefit finding by improving health self-consciousness. Thus, comprehensive intervention measures are beneficial in the low epidemic level stage.

The association between perceived social support and future decent work perception: A moderated mediation model.

This study examined the relationship between perceived social support, career exploration, and future decent work perception among undergraduate teacher education students in Fujian Province, China. The research focused mainly on the moderating role of proactive personality in these relationships. Data from 542 valid questionnaires revealed that perceived social support significantly influenced career exploration, impacting students' perceptions of future decent work. More importantly, our analysis showed that proactive personality intensified the positive effects of social support on career exploration activities, enhancing students' outlook on their future careers. These findings confirmed social cognitive theory's relevance in understanding career development processes and highlighted the potential of proactive personality traits to leverage social resources more effectively. Given the evolving educational demands and the current socio-economic conditions in China, our study suggested that educational programs should emphasize nurturing proactive behaviors and strengthening social support systems to better prepare students for future professional challenges. These insights were crucial for educators aiming to enhance the quality and effectiveness of teacher education programs, promoting a more robust entry into the workforce for future educators.