Priority Areas For Research Research Articles

Potential impacts and priority areas of research of the on-going invasion of green crabs along the SW Atlantic

The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is one of the most extensively studied decapod species worldwide and it currently inhabits every continent except Antarctica. Its effects are observed across various spatio-temporal scales, impacting a wide range of taxa and environments. While extensive research has been conducted in the Northern Hemisphere, populations in the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., Argentina, Australia, and South Africa) have not been thoroughly investigated. This study has three main goals: 1) summarise and contextualise the invasion history of green crabs in the Southwest Atlantic since their initial detection in 2000, 2) present nine case studies identifying the potential ecological and economic impacts of green crabs on coastal ecosystems and to highlight priority research areas, and 3) discuss appropriate management actions in response to the species' rapid spread in the region. Our findings suggest that green crabs are likely to impact foundation species along rocky shores, alter the physical characteristics of soft-bottom environments, and affect infaunal organisms in sandy shores. Most of these impacts are either occurring or expected to occur in numerous marine protected areas. We also examine green crab interactions with other key species, highlighting its dual role as both an invasive predator and prey for native species, thus serving as a novel food resource. Furthermore, we consider their effects on commercially important species, tourism, and implications for threatened native species. Finally, we recommend prioritising prevention and rapid response strategies for managing green crab invasions, emphasising the importance of early detection and prompt action to address new incursions.

Clinical and neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections: A literature review

As is known, the issues of pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 are the most priority areas of scientific research in the modern clinic of internal diseases. The rate of emergence of new scientific data in the leading libraries PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library and eLibrary, which can potentially be important in the correction of ongoing therapy for infection and its complications, is extremely high. In turn, this dictates the need for a comprehensive discussion of the results of newly published studies. These issues include clinical and neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections. The exact mechanism by which the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the structures of the central nervous system is unknown. Thus, two pathways for the penetration of the COVID-19 pathogen are most actively discussed: the hematogenous pathway (through the systemic circulation into the vessels of the brain with a low linear blood flow velocity, which allows the virus to adhere to the surface of the endothelium and penetrate into the nervous tissue through damage to the latter) and the contact pathway (through the cribriform plate and the olfactory bulb). It should also be noted that a number of experimental works clearly demonstrate the pathogenic effect of other members of the Coronaviridae family on the neurons of the respiratory and vasomotor centers. The review presents an analysis of current literature data on the study of clinical and neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections. It is important to emphasize that patients with a severe course of COVID-19 deserve special attention, requiring observation in the intensive care unit in order to prevent the development of fatal neurological complications.

Uncovering the Potential of Two-Dimensional SrRuO3 as anode material in Li, Na, Mg, Ca, K, and Zn ion Batteries: First-Principles investigations of structural, electronic and electrochemical properties

The development of robust and efficient electrode materials is priority area in the battery research to realize large capacity, high stability, and hasty carrier mobility. In this study, first principles investigations are carried out to evaluate potential of SrRuO3 as anode material for use in rechargeable monovalent and multivalent ion batteries including Li ion batteries (LIBs), Na ion batteries (NIBs), Mg ion batteries (MIBs), Ca ion batteries (CIBs), potassium ion batteries (KIBs) and Zn ion batteries (ZIBs). The optimal anodic properties of the material are systematically examined, focusing on its structural properties, electronic characteristics, diffusion barriers, storage capabilities, and studies on adsorption sites. The layered structure of the material appeared to accommodate several atoms of different metal during charge / discharge cycles. The exothermic interactions of Li, Na, Mg, Ca, K, and Zn with the host SrRuO3 show their appropriateness for the intercalation process in the batteries. The storage capacity for the LIB, NIB, MIB, CIB, KIB, and ZIB is calculated as 1211 mAhg−1, 990 mAhg−1, 2201 mAhg−1, 1100 mAhg−1, 770 mAhg−1 and 1516 mAhg−1, respectively. The respective values of open circuit voltage are determined as 0.48 V, 0.94 V, 1.3 V, 1.15 V, 0.7 V and 1.17 V for LIB, NIB, KIB, MIB, CIB and ZIB. The minimal diffusion barrier calculated for active ion migration of Li (0.38 eV), Na (0.18 eV), K (0.35 eV), Mg (0.81 eV), Ca (0.86 eV) and Zn (0.92 eV) in the host material indicate excellent transport character for the batteries. The low values of volume expansion (%) of the host material calculated as 1.29 %, 30 %, 25 %, 5 %, 12 % and 7 % for LIB, MIB, KIB, NIB, CIB and ZIB respectively, point to good cyclic stability. Furthermore, non-equilibrium Greens function approach was employed to examine electron transport characteristics involved in solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. The findings of the study predict the excellent anodic performance of SrRuO3 for multivalent ion batteries.

Advancing terrestrial ecology by improving cross-temporal research and collaboration

Abstract Ecology spans spatial and temporal scales and is inclusive of the history of life on Earth. However, research that occurs at millennial timescales or longer has historically been defined as paleoecology and has not always been well integrated with modern (neo-) ecology. This bifurcation has been previously highlighted, with calls for improved engagement among the subdisciplines, but their priority research areas have not been directly compared. To characterize the research agendas for terrestrial ecological research across different temporal scales, we compared two previous studies, Sutherland and colleagues (2013; neoecology) and Seddon and colleagues (2014; paleoecology), that outlined priority research questions. We identified several themes with potential for temporal integration and explored case studies that highlight cross-temporal collaboration. Finally, a path forward is outlined, focusing on education and training, research infrastructure, and collaboration. Our aim is to improve our understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes by promoting an inclusive and integrative approach that treats time as a foundational concept in ecology.

Inclusive, needs-based research for addressing Health Literacy in Parents with immigrant backgrounds

Abstract Research indicates that parental health literacy is associated with child health outcomes. A 2021 study by the Norwegian Public Health Department found that certain immigrant groups struggle with health literacy due to language barriers, cultural differences in understanding of health and illness, and unfamiliarity with the Norwegian health system and services. To reduce differences in health literacy and better support parents with immigrant backgrounds to make health promoting choices for their children, and navigate the Norwegian health and social systems effectively, we need knowledge about their resources, challenges, and needs. This knowledge makes it possible to design strategies to promote parental health literacy and make health services more responsive to the needs of the population. Optimising health literacy amongst parents with immigrant backgrounds (OPAL) is a research collaboration between Oslo Metropolitan University and the Bjerke City District, one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse districts in Oslo. Applying the Optimising Health Literacy and Access (Ophelia) process, parents health professionals, and researchers work systematically together to develop knowledge of parents’ health literacy, identify priority areas for research, design and implement effective solutions in primary health care. In this presentation, we will describe how OPAL is rooted in the strategic priorities of the city district, how the project applies methods for needs identification and involves users and stakeholders at all stages. We will share experiences from planning and conducting inclusive data collection, preliminary results and describe how results will be used in development of targeted health literacy actions.

Bringing it all together: science priorities for improved understanding of Earth system change and to support international climate policy

Abstract. We review how the international modelling community, encompassing integrated assessment models, global and regional Earth system and climate models, and impact models, has worked together over the past few decades to advance understanding of Earth system change and its impacts on society and the environment and thereby support international climate policy. We go on to recommend a number of priority research areas for the coming decade, a timescale that encompasses a number of newly starting international modelling activities, as well as the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) and the second UNFCCC Global Stocktake. Progress in these priority areas will significantly advance our understanding of Earth system change and its impacts, increasing the quality and utility of science support to climate policy. We emphasize the need for continued improvement in our understanding of, and ability to simulate, the coupled Earth system and the impacts of Earth system change. There is an urgent need to investigate plausible pathways and emission scenarios that realize the Paris climate targets – for example, pathways that overshoot 1.5 or 2 °C global warming, before returning to these levels at some later date. Earth system models need to be capable of thoroughly assessing such warming overshoots – in particular, the efficacy of mitigation measures, such as negative CO2 emissions, in reducing atmospheric CO2 and driving global cooling. An improved assessment of the long-term consequences of stabilizing climate at 1.5 or 2 °C above pre-industrial temperatures is also required. We recommend Earth system models run overshoot scenarios in CO2-emission mode to more fully represent coupled climate–carbon-cycle feedbacks and, wherever possible, interactively simulate other key Earth system phenomena at risk of rapid change during overshoot. Regional downscaling and impact models should use forcing data from these simulations, so impact and regional climate projections cover a more complete range of potential responses to a warming overshoot. An accurate simulation of the observed, historical record remains a fundamental requirement of models, as does accurate simulation of key metrics, such as the effective climate sensitivity and the transient climate response to cumulative carbon emissions. For adaptation, a key demand is improved guidance on potential changes in climate extremes and the modes of variability these extremes develop within. Such improvements will most likely be realized through a combination of increased model resolution, improvement of key model parameterizations, and enhanced representation of important Earth system processes, combined with targeted use of new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques. We propose a deeper collaboration across such efforts over the coming decade. With respect to sampling future uncertainty, increased collaboration between approaches that emphasize large model ensembles and those focussed on statistical emulation is required. We recommend an increased focus on high-impact–low-likelihood (HILL) outcomes – in particular, the risk and consequences of exceeding critical tipping points during a warming overshoot and the potential impacts arising from this. For a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of Earth system change, including impacts arising directly as a result of climate mitigation actions, it is important that spatially detailed, disaggregated information used to generate future scenarios in integrated assessment models be available for use in impact models. Conversely, there is a need to develop methods that enable potential societal responses to projected Earth system change to be incorporated into scenario development. The new models, simulations, data, and scientific advances proposed in this article will not be possible without long-term development and maintenance of a robust, globally connected infrastructure ecosystem. This system must be easily accessible and useable by modelling communities across the world, allowing the global research community to be fully engaged in developing and delivering new scientific knowledge to support international climate policy.

Expert consensus on the application of big data on rehabilitation medicine (2024 edition)

With the development and progress of technology, the transformation of biomedical models, and the application of digital technology, the field of rehabilitation medicine has also generated massive and diversified big data. However, the current level of utilization of rehabilitation medicine is relatively low. Empowering the development of rehabilitation medicine through big data is crucial. In order to better promote the standardized development of rehabilitation big data in China, the Rehabilitation Big Data Working Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medical Association organized an expert plan on the concept, significance, and necessity of rehabilitation big data; Rehabilitation big data source; Priority areas for rehabilitation big data application research; Basic research methods for rehabilitation big data; The standards and principles for establishing a rehabilitation database; Consensus has been developed on six aspects of clinical application scenarios for rehabilitation big data, providing reference for healthcare workers and researchers related to rehabilitation big data.

The system of international legal norms and principles – the basis of legal regulation of the activities of national law enforcement bodies

It is indicated that the introduction of advanced international and European norms regarding the functioning of law enforcement agencies into Ukrainian legislation is a key indicator that the country not only declares a sustainable course for the democratization of all aspects of public life, but also takes concrete measures for its implementation. Ukraine has made significant progress in this direction, but there are still a number of challenges, the legal analysis of which will contribute to the further approximation of the domestic system of law enforcement agencies to global and European standards. In this context, one of the priority areas of scientific research is the justification of the need to update and improve the ethical codes of conduct of law enforcement officers based on international standards. This task becomes particularly relevant in view of the need for constant improvement of professional ethics and standards of behavior in the law enforcement sphere. This approach will not only improve the efficiency of law enforcement agencies, but also strengthen public trust in them, which is crucial for building the rule of law and civil society. In addition, it will allow Ukraine to demonstrate its commitment to the principles of the rule of law and the protection of human rights in the international arena. The article examines the system of international legal norms and principles that form the basis of legal regulation of the activities of national law enforcement agencies. Two groups of international standards are distinguished. The first group includes international legal acts that declare human rights and freedoms, primarily those that may be violated by the unethical behavior of law enforcement officers as representatives of state bodies. The second group represents international legal standards of professional and ethical behavior of employees of a specific law enforcement agency, the norms of which directly indicate the proper behavior of law enforcement officers in a specific area of law enforcement activity (judicial, prosecutorial, police, investigative, etc.). The main emphasis is on the need to cover the rules of professional ethical behavior of employees of all law enforcement agencies without exception, including those legally endowed with special rights and competence.

Enhancing Clinical Data Quality to Improve Patient Care in Rural Health Facilities

WHO recognizes that high-quality research is not just a scientific pursuit but a crucial factor in achieving global health, health equity, and economic development. It is not just about the numbers but about the lives we can save and improve. In this context, four research priority areas have been identified: prioritizing health needs, building research capacity, ensuring good research practice, and ensuring good evidence is translated into practice. Local health research tailored to local needs remains an important global health goal, with the potential to revolutionize patient care in rural health facilities. Researchers and policymakers in low- and middle-income countries have expressed serious concerns about the limited access to high-quality data, a fundamental requirement for reliable and valid research. The assessment of data quality is typically categorized into five key areas: availability, usability, dependability, relevance, and presentation quality. This concept is further clarified by demonstrating how a robust healthcare data environment can enhance patient management through research efforts. The term ‘health data environment' encompasses the entire process of gathering, storing, managing, analysing, and utilizing health-related data to improve patient care and healthcare policies through informed decision-making. In this context, we present the challenges that undermine the quality of research data and propose solutions. Specifically, we identify the lack of adequate human resources, reliance on paper-based records systems, and the high costs of internet connectivity as the primary barriers to collecting and sharing high-quality data for research in low-resource settings. To tackle these challenges, we advocate for governments and funding institutions to invest in data management and communication systems, recruit and train data management staff to support clinicians, and reduce connectivity costs. Furthermore, we propose the deployment of a decentralized system as a cost-effective and less labor-intensive solution that only requires data entry staff at health facilities in resource-limited settings. This article explores current data collection, storage, and interpretation challenges and proposes innovative improvement solutions. It emphasizes the transformative potential of digitization, standardization, and staff training to enhance data quality. It further addresses the impact of quality data on evidence-based practice, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. Focusing on rural healthcare facilities sheds light on the unique barriers these settings face, proposing tailored strategies that can bridge the gap between urban and rural health service delivery. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers, healthcare administrators, and practitioners striving to improve patient care in rural areas through data-driven strategies.

Establishing consensus on biopsychosocial factors associated with pediatric chronic pain: A modified Delphi study

A variety of factors are associated with the development and maintenance of chronic pain in children. Identifying modifiable factors associated with pediatric chronic pain is important to use them as target outcomes in the development and evaluation of interventions for the prevention and management of chronic pain. This study aimed to reach expert consensus on factors associated with pediatric chronic pain and their modifiability and population-level effect. Pediatric pain experts were questioned using a web-based two-round modified Delphi method. Two rounds of questions with Likert scaling were used to identify influencing factors (Round 1) and to reach consensus on each factor (Round 2) in terms of: 1) strength of association with chronic pain in children; 2) modifiability; and 3) population-level effect. An inductive approach was used to derive categories (ranging from ‘very low’ to ‘very high’) and subcategories (ranging from ‘low’ to ‘high’). In total, 48 experts from 14 different countries completed Round 1, and 31 completed Round 2. A list of 47 factors was considered to be associated with pediatric chronic pain. Four factors (physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), pain-related school absence, and pain concept/knowledge of the child) were considered highly modifiable and three factors having a high population-level effect (PA, SB, and the child’s depressive or negative emotional feelings). Expert consensus was established about modifiable and population-level factors associated with pediatric chronic pain through this web-based modified Delphi study, guiding target outcomes for its prevention and management. PerspectiveThis article presents the results of a modified Delphi study with pediatric pain experts to gain consensus on factors associated with pediatric chronic pain. Relationship strength, modifiability, and population-level effect of associated factors were rated to identify areas of research priority and interventions aiming to reduce the development and maintenance of chronic pain in children.

Human-ocean relationships: Exploring alignment and collaboration between ocean literacy research and marine conservation

In recent years, global attention on marine conservation and sustainability has surged. Understanding the relationship between society and the ocean is crucial for achieving conservation targets, ocean sustainability, and community well-being. Toward these ends, the UN Ocean Decade recognizes ocean literacy as a transformative mechanism to reshape society-ocean relationships. Ocean literacy seeks to empower global communities to better understand, value, and care for the ocean in ways that support, restore, and ensure ocean-human health and well-being. By extension, ocean literacy research is an emergent transdisciplinary field of inquiry that explores diverse dimensions, drivers, and impacts of human-ocean relationships. It considers these relations across different socio-cultural, economic, political, and geographic contexts and perspectives. In this article, we position ocean literacy research and the wider concept of ocean literacy as a framework for exploring the relational aspects of marine conservation to inform effective policy and conservation. We begin by situating ocean literacy and ocean literacy dimensions, research priorities, and community alongside broader ocean conservation efforts. We next share insights gleaned from the third edition of the Ocean Literacy Dialogues series, led by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition and the Marine Social Sciences Network, with support from IOC-UNESCO, held during the fifth International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, in early 2023. Through a series of participatory sessions, we explored the application of ocean literacy research in supporting future marine conservation and management. Drawing on insights co-developed through this process, we outline potential agenda alignment between IMPAC5 marine conservation themes and co-identified ocean literacy research priority areas. We lastly speak to the importance of ongoing collaborative initiatives like the Ocean Literacy Dialogues series to foster global collaborations, dialogue, and capacity sharing to advance ocean literacy, marine conservation, and policy efforts.

Vegetation Dynamics Studies Based on Ellenberg and Landolt Indicator Values: A Review

Understanding the dynamics and system of interrelationships between habitats and plant communities is key to making reliable predictions about sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation and the risks of environmental crises. At the same time, assessing the complex of environmental factors that determine the composition, structure and dynamics of plant communities is usually a long, time-consuming and expensive process. In this respect, the assessment of habitats on the basis of the indicator properties of the plants is of great interest. The aim of our study was to carry out a comprehensive review of vegetation dynamics studies based on the Ellenberg and Landolt indicator values in the last five years (2019–2023). We identified their strengths and priority areas for further research, which will contribute to improving the ecological indicator values for studying vegetation dynamics. The analysis of publications was carried out based on the recommendations of PRISMA 2020 and the VOSviewer software(version 1.6.18). The wide geographical range and high reliability of Landolt and Ellenberg indicator values for the study of different plant communities and variations in their dynamics are demonstrated. At the same time, the application of these environmental indicator values has its peculiarities. For example, the Ellenberg indicator values show a wider research geography and are more often used to study the dynamics of forest ecosystems than the Landolt indicator values, which are more often used to study disturbed landscapes and the dynamics of individual species. However, these methods have been used with almost the same frequency for grasslands, wetlands and coastal vegetation. The citation analysis confirmed the high interest in the environmental indicator values and their widespread use in research, but also revealed the weak development of a network of relationships. This suggests that modern researchers are not well aware of, and rarely use, the results of research carried out in recent years, especially if they are based on indicator values other than those used by them. At the same time, a number of unresolved issues are clearly identified, which require additional research and a consolidation of research teams if they are to be addressed more successfully. We hope that the results of this meta-analysis will provide the impetus for further development of the concept of environmental indicators and help researchers to overcome the current questions around applying indicator values in the study of vegetation dynamics, as well as help researchers to understand the strengths of this methodology.

A rapid review of nutrition and exercise approaches to managing unintentional weight loss, muscle loss, and malnutrition in cancer.

This narrative review summarizes the evidence for nutrition, exercise, and multimodal interventions to maintain weight and muscle mass and prevent malnutrition from meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials published within the last 5 years, and in comparison to future research priority areas identified by international guidelines. Dietary counseling with oral nutrition support (ONS), escalated to enteral nutrition if weight loss continues, is the gold standard treatment approach to maintaining weight and preventing malnutrition. Recent ONS trials with dietary counseling show promising findings for weight maintenance, extending the literature to include studies in chemoradiotherapy, however, change in body composition is rarely evaluated. Emerging trials have evaluated the impact of isolated nutrients, amino acids, and their derivatives (ie, β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate) on muscle mass albeit with mixed effects. There is insufficient evidence evaluating the effect of exercise interventions on unintentional weight loss, muscle mass, and malnutrition, however, our knowledge of the impact of multimodal nutrition and exercise interventions is advancing. Prehabilitation interventions may attenuate weight and muscle loss after surgery, particularly for patients having gastrointestinal and colorectal surgery. Multimodal trials that commence during treatment show mixed effects on weight and muscle mass when measured. This review highlights that the evidence for preventing unintentional weight loss and malnutrition from cancer treatment is strong within nutrition. Multimodal interventions are emerging as effective interventions to prevent unintentional weight loss. Promising interventions are demonstrating improvements in muscle mass, however further exploration through studies designed to determine the effect on muscle is required.

Female-age-dependent changes in the lipid fingerprint of the mammalian oocytes.

Can oocyte functionality be assessed by observing changes in their intracytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) profiles? Lipid profile changes can reliably be detected in human oocytes; lipid changes are linked with maternal age and impaired developmental competence in a mouse model. In all cellular components, lipid damage is the earliest manifestation of oxidative stress (OS), which leads to a cascade of negative consequences for organelles and DNA. Lipid damage is marked by the accumulation of LDs. We hypothesized that impaired oocyte functionality resulting from aging and associated OS could be assessed by changes in LDs profile, hereafter called lipid fingerprint (LF). To investigate if it is possible to detect differences in oocyte LF, we subjected human GV-stage oocytes to spectroscopic examinations. For this, a total of 48 oocytes derived from 26 young healthy women (under 33 years of age) with no history of infertility, enrolled in an oocyte donation program, were analyzed. Furthermore, 30 GV human oocytes from 12 women were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To evaluate the effect of oocytes' lipid profile changes on embryo development, a total of 52 C57BL/6 wild-type mice and 125 Gnpat+/- mice were also used. Human oocytes were assessed by label-free cell imaging via coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS). Further confirmation of LF changes was conducted using spontaneous Raman followed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies and TEM. Additionally, to evaluate whether LF changes are associated with developmental competence, mouse oocytes and blastocysts were evaluated using TEM and the lipid dyes BODIPY and Nile Red. Mouse embryonic exosomes were evaluated using flow cytometry, FTIR and FT-Raman spectroscopies. Here we demonstrated progressive changes in the LF of oocytes associated with the woman's age consisting of increased LDs size, area, and number. LF variations in oocytes were detectable also within individual donors. This finding makes LF assessment a promising tool to grade oocytes of the same patient, based on their quality. We next demonstrated age-associated changes in oocytes reflected by lipid peroxidation and composition changes; the accumulation of carotenoids; and alterations of structural properties of lipid bilayers. Finally, using a mouse model, we showed that LF changes in oocytes are negatively associated with the secretion of embryonic exosomes prior to implantation. Deficient exosome secretion disrupts communication between the embryo and the uterus and thus may explain recurrent implantation failures in advanced-age patients. Due to differences in lipid content between different species' oocytes, the developmental impact of lipid oxidation and consequent LF changes may differ across mammalian oocytes. Our findings open the possibility to develop an innovative tool for oocyte assessment and highlight likely functional connections between oocyte LDs and embryonic exosome secretion. By recognizing the role of oocyte LF in shaping the embryo's ability to implant, our original work points to future directions of research relevant to developmental biology and reproductive medicine. This research was funded by National Science Centre of Poland, Grants: 2021/41/B/NZ3/03507 and 2019/35/B/NZ4/03547 (to G.E.P.); 2022/44/C/NZ4/00076 (to M.F.H.) and 2019/35/N/NZ3/03213 (to Ł.G.). M.F.H. is a National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) fellow (GA ULM/2019/1/00097/U/00001). K.F. is a Diamond Grant fellow (Ministry of Education and Science GA 0175/DIA/2019/28). The open-access publication of this article was funded by the Priority Research Area BioS under the program "Excellence Initiative - Research University" at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. The authors declare no competing interest. N/A.

Fluid biomarkers of chronic traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of long-term disability across the world. Evidence for the usefulness of imaging and fluid biomarkers to predict outcomes and screen for the need to monitor complications in the acute stage is steadily increasing. Still, many people experience symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive and motor dysfunction in the chronic phase of TBI, where objective assessments for brain injury are lacking. Consensus criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, a clinical syndrome possibly associated with the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which iscommonly associated with sports concussion, have been defined only recently. However, these criteria do not fit all individuals living with chronic consequences of TBI. The pathophysiology of chronic TBI shares many similarities with other neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions, such as Alzheimer disease. As with Alzheimer disease, advancements in fluid biomarkers represent one of the most promising paths for unravelling the chain of pathophysiological events to enable discrimination between these conditions and, with time, provide prediction modelling and therapeutic end points. This Review summarizes fluid biomarker findings in the chronic phase of TBI (≥6 months after injury) that demonstrate the involvement of inflammation, glial biology and neurodegeneration in the long-term complications of TBI. We explore how the biomarkers associate with outcome and imaging findings and aim to establish mechanistic differences in biomarker patterns between types of chronic TBI and other neurodegenerative conditions. Finally, current limitations and areas of priority for future fluid biomarker research are highlighted.

Perspective: Food Access at Dollar Stores and Its Implications for Public Health—Report of a Workshop on Identifying Research Priorities

The rapid growth of dollar stores as retail sources of food in the United States is a phenomenon with implications for diets, nutrition, and well-being. We convened a broadly interdisciplinary group of researchers and experts from government and academia at the 2-day Food Access at Dollar Stores (FADS) workshop, held in Boston, MA in 2022. The event brought together economists, social scientists, public health researchers, and advocates to discuss the concerns and research questions raised by the growth of dollar stores and their increased role in food retail and access. In-person, moderated discussions on day 2 of the workshop generated a range of topics considered important for future research. A subsequent survey, using a modified Delphi approach, identified priority research areas. Nine research area categories emerged as a result of discussion at the FADS workshop and received prioritization from the experts: Local community impacts; Health and nutrition impacts; Policy and programs; Systemic issues – racism, poverty, and food access; Store offerings and locations; Shoppers and customers; Employees and employment; Corporate distribution, strategy, and marketing; and Dollar stores compared with other food sources. The growth of dollar stores as food retailers remains an under-researched area of study for food access and nutrition that requires interdisciplinary expertise and collaboration to understand.

Stakeholder Consultation to Establish Research Priorities for Specialist Dementia Nursing in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom, there are a growing number of specialist dementia nurses called Admiral Nurses. Admiral Nurses, supported in their professional development and clinical supervision by the charity Dementia UK, work with families affected by dementia using a relationship-centred approach. Given the growing need for this type of support, Dementia UK is committed to research that will expand the evidence base for Admiral Nursing. This article describes a stakeholder consultation to identify research priorities for Admiral Nursing for the next 3 years (2023-2026). We adopted a participatory approach using an adapted Nominal Group Technique and priority-setting workshop. All elements of the process were designed in consultation with a steering group comprising a range of stakeholders, including people with dementia, carers, Admiral Nurses, Dementia UK staff and researchers. Stakeholders were identified as those who were likely to be affected by or interested in the emerging research priorities. Nominal groups were held both face-to-face and online. A total of 144 people shared their research priorities. Data generated through each nominal group were thematically analysed and then ranked in order of priority. Four themes reflecting research priority areas were taken to a priority-setting workshop for consideration. This resulted in three research priorities for Admiral Nursing: (1) people with dementia who live alone and carers who provide support from a distance; (2) people living with young onset and rarer dementia and their families; and (3) people living with multiple health conditions alongside dementia, including mental health problems. Risk, diversity and the effectiveness of Admiral Nursing were strands that ran throughout these themes. We identified shared research priorities for Admiral Nursing using a rigorous, consensus-driven approach involving key stakeholders. These priorities reflect a desire to ensure that Admiral Nursing services reach the most vulnerable people living with dementia and their families and respond to the widening health and social care inequalities faced by this group. People with dementia and carers were involved in the design of this process as members of our steering group and through consultation on our initial plans with Dementia UK's Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP). People living with dementia and carers also participated in consultation groups to share their views on research priorities. All stakeholders were invited to share feedback on the themes as part of the analysis and interpretation of the priorities, and a meeting was held with LEAP to discuss the emerging priorities.

Molecular responses of seaweeds to biotic interactions: A systematic review.

Seaweed farming is the single largest aquaculture commodity with >30 million tonnes produced each year. Furthermore, the restoration of lost seaweed forests is gaining significant momentum, particularly for kelps in warming temperate areas. Whether in aquaculture settings, following restoration practices, or in the wild, all seaweeds undergo biotic interactions with a diverse range of co-occurring or cocultured organisms. To date, most research assessing such biotic interactions has focused on the response of the organism interacting with seaweeds, rather than on the seaweeds themselves. However, understanding how seaweeds respond to other organisms, particularly on a molecular scale, is crucial for optimizing outcomes of seaweed farming or restoration efforts and, potentially, also for the conservation of natural populations. In this systematic review, we assessed the molecular processes that seaweeds undergo during biotic interactions and propose priority areas for future research. Despite some insights into the response of seaweeds to biotic interactions, this review specifically highlights a lack of characterization of biomolecules involved in the response to chemical cues derived from interacting organisms (four studies in the last 20 years) and a predominant use of laboratory-based experiments conducted under controlled conditions. Additionally, this review reveals that studies targeting metabolites (70%) are more common than those examining the role of genes (22%) and proteins (8%). To effectively inform seaweed aquaculture efforts, it will be crucial to conduct larger scale experiments simulating natural environments. Also, employing a holistic approach targeting genes and proteins would be beneficial to complement the relatively well-established role of metabolites.

Experimental investigations of the wear behaviour of railway brake block raw materials

Abstract Passenger and freight transport by rail is gaining ground not only in Europe, but in many countries around the world. At the same time, due to the increased traffic, the need to investigate the effects of rail transport on the environment and to reduce the harmful effects is also increasing. One of the recurring problems is the reduction of the noise that occurs during the braking of railway cars, as well as the mitigation of particles released during braking and, as a result, the reduction of their health-damaging effects. In more and more European countries, the so-called Noise Differentiated Track Access Charges (NDTAC) is being introduced, where the cost depends on the amount of noise emitted during braking. For this reason, the examination of the friction conditions of the materials used in railway brakes and the finding of materials with the most favourable properties is a priority area of research. In this paper, the initial investigations of a recently started research project on the subject are presented, the aim of which is to develop and test new layered composite materials that may be used in the future to produce railway brake blocks. The paper presents the main objectives of the project, the principles, and tools of the friction tests to be applied, as well as the test measurements carried out, during which the friction characteristics of copper alloy and aluminium control materials along with the currently used cast iron and composite brake blocks were examined.

FEATURES AND PROSPECTS OF STUDYING ARABOGRAPHIC PEDIGREES OF THE MANUSCRIPT FUND OF THE IIYAL UFIC RAS

Arabographic lists of the Bashkir shezheres are important primary sources of information in the study of the history, language and literature of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The publication of transliterated texts of genealogies with translations into Russian raise interest in scientific community. Archeographic and textual research of the Bashkir pedigrees was started in the middle of the XIX century by such Bashkir enlighteners as G. Sokryi G., M. Umetbaev, R. Fakhretdinov, G. Kiikov, etc. At the beginning of the XX century, the research was continued by S. Mirasov, who published three Bashkir shezheres belonging to the kypsak, jurmati, tabyn ancestries. The purpose of the article is to show the history of the study of arabographic Bashkir shezheres of the Manuscript Fund of the IHLL UFRC RAS, to note the contribution of R.G. Kuzeev, G.B. Khusainov, R.M. Bulgakov, M.KH. Nadergulov and other scientists to the study and popularization of the Bashkir shezheres. The article highlights the results of the study of pedigrees, identifies priority areas of current and future research. The relevance and significance of the problem is due to the need to systematize very disparate ideas about the arabographic Bashkir shezhers of the IHLL Manuscript Fund of the UFRC RAS. The study of genealogical records was carried out on the basis of descriptive, narrative and analytical methods, the issues of transliteration of Arabic texts of Bashkir shezheres were raised.