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ObjectivesLong COVID, defined as diverse symptoms persisting > 3 months post-infection, remains a major post-pandemic healthcare burden. Here we investigate risk factor posed by pre-existing respiratory symptoms and illnesses for development of long COVID, with focus on individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at the primary infection, that did not require hospitalization during the primary SARS
This article explores how the humanities were imagined by UNESCO to contribute to their quest for improved international relations and worldwide peace. It analyses the negotiations on what role the humanities could play in diplomatic work by looking at the process that led to the founding of the International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies (ICPHS/CIPSH) in 1949. Despite being ingraiThis article explores how the humanities were imagined by UNESCO to contribute to their quest for improved international relations and worldwide peace. It analyses the negotiations on what role the humanities could play in diplomatic work by looking at the process that led to the founding of the International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies (ICPHS/CIPSH) in 1949. Despite being ingrai
A less studied aspect in research on globalisation and outsourced production is how work in the global value chain is infused with precarity and may even become a space of harassment and violence, including sexual abuse. This themed section seeks to contribute to the literature on gender-based violence in factories where production has been outsourced to the Global South, especially Asia. In this
This study explored how final-year psychology students experienced their initial exposure to virtual reality (VR) relaxation using a scientifically developed application designed to promote emotional well-being and stress reduction. The aim was to understand how VR is perceived as a space for emotional regulation, embodiment, and reflection within psychological education. A qualitative exploratory
Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise to Iran’s supreme leadership represents the consolidation of dynastic power within the Islamic Republic. Long operating behind the scenes through the Supreme Leader’s office and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, he has been widely viewed as the most likely successor to his father. His leadership signals continuity with the regime’s totalitarian structure and suggests a furt
BACKGROUND: The Leiden group and the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS)-MRI study group have proposed definitions for structural (SL) and active (AL) lesions typical for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) on MRI of the sacroiliac joints (MRI-SIJ).OBJECTIVES: To analyse the predictive validity of proposed SL and AL MRI-SIJ definitions in early axSpA and compare proposed AL wi
INTRODUCTION: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent healthcare-associated infection in intensive care units and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current diagnostic criteria lack specificity, leading to misclassification and unnecessary antibiotic use. Identifying patient subgroups with a common pathophysiological basis (pneumoclusters) may distinguish true VAP
BACKGROUND: Pesticides play a crucial role in pest control; however, exposure remains high, particularly among smallholder farmers in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) with little access to pesticide safety training. This study aimed to provide comparative biomarker-based evidence from Latin America and Africa and identify actionable determinants of exposure to inform context-specific
Resisting obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compulsions is a key predictor of exposure and response prevention (ERP) effectiveness, yet trauma-exposed individuals with OCD endorse more severe compulsions and are more likely to be labelled 'treatment resistant.' Among trauma-exposed individuals, compulsions are theorised to function to prevent future trauma and cope with trauma-related responses.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate a recently developed MRI technique for mapping the Mean Diffusivity of Tissue (MDT), which improves diffusion MRI imaging of the cerebral cortex by reducing partial volume effects from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As cortical lesions are common in patients with focal epilepsy, we explored the clinical value of MDT imaging in patients with drug resistant epilepsy and low-gra
Using three independent archival sources, we previously documented substantial declines in stunting and wasting in Portugal during the mid-twentieth century. This note revisits the original evidence, clarifies the descriptive scope of our analysis, and situates the observed anthropo-metric changes within the broader evolution of public health, nutrition, and social policy in Portugal. We show that
1. Grassland is an important habitat for butterflies and many other pollinating insects. Over half of the 501 European butterflies use grasslands as one of their main habitats.2. The Grassland Butterfly Index has been adopted by the EU as a key measure of progress towards the target of halting biodiversity loss, restoring nature in agro-ecosystems and reversing the decline in pollinators by 2030, 1. Grassland is an important habitat for butterflies and many other pollinating insects. Over half of the 501 European butterflies use grasslands as one of their main habitats.2. The Grassland Butterfly Index has been adopted by the EU as a key measure of progress towards the target of halting biodiversity loss, restoring nature in agro-ecosystems and reversing the decline in pollinators by 2030,
Aims ECG monitoring is often required during critical phases of illness. To evaluate the role of modern technology and advanced analytical algorithms artificial intelligence compared with standard-of care, we undertook a prospective, head-to-head comparison of a novel, cable-free, patch-based, and AI-enhanced electrocardiography system (CardioSenseSystem) with standard of care (SOC) ECG monitoring
A real-time optical imaging system has been developed and commissioned at the European Spallation Source (ESS) to monitor the high-power proton beam at the tuning beam dump, and provide machine protection. The system employs chromium-doped alumina (Chromox) luminescent screens imaged by radiation-shielded optics and a CMOS camera. Real-time FPGA-based processing extracts beam size and position, de
Background Hypochondriasis, or health anxiety disorder, is associated with increased mortality, mainly from potentially preventable causes. Substance misuse is a well-known contributor to premature death, yet its relationship with hypochondriasis remains unclear. We assessed the risk of broadly defined substance-related problems in individuals diagnosed with hypochondriasis. Methods This Swedish r
This paper examines firefighter exposure to emissions during actual firefighting in building scenarios. The focus is on actual exposure, not small-scale lab tests, to identify research gaps in light of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification of firefighting as an occupation with a heightened risk for certain types of cancer. The work is based on a systematic literatur
Characterizing the effect of pesticides on pollinators is essential in the strive to protect biodiversity while maintaining efficient food production. Metabolomics offers detailed insight into the physiological response to pesticides. The impact of pre-dissection and dissection methodology on the metabolic response remains largely unknown, as does their possible effect on the measured metabolic re
SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections (BTIs) are relatively common, but little is known in terms of differentiating responses associated with asymptomatic BTI (ABTI) versus symptomatic BTI (SBTI). Here, we investigated the impact of ABTI and SBTI on antibody and T-cell responses toward Spike. SBTI donors had significantly higher plasma anti-Spike RBD IgG titers compared to both ABTI and SARS-CoV-2 va
