A multinational cohort study of trends in survival following dementia diagnosis

Background: Information on the survival of people living with dementia over time and across systems can help policymakers understand the real-world impact of dementia on health and social care systems. This multinational cohort study examines the trends in relative mortality risk following a dementia diagnosis. Methods: A common protocol was applied to population-based data from the UK, Germany, Finland, Canada (Ontario), New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Individuals aged 60+ with an incident dementia diagnosis recorded between 2000 and 2018 were followed until death or the end of the study period. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the association of mortality in dementia patients with the year of dementia diagnosis. Results: Data from 1,272,495 individuals, with the mean age at diagnosis ranging from 76.8 years (South Korea) to 82.9 years (Germany), show that the overall median length of survival following recorded diagnosis ranges from 2.4 years (New Zealand) to 7.9 years (South Korea). Hazard ratios (HRs) estimated from Cox proportional hazard models decline consistently over the study period in the UK, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, which accounted for 84% of all participants. For example, the HR decreases from 0.97 (95% CI: 0.92–1.02) in 2001 to 0.72 (0.65–0.79) in 2016 in comparison to year 2000 in the UK. Conclusions: This study shows a steady trend of decreasing risk of mortality in five out of eight databases, which signals the potential positive effect of dementia plans and associated policies and provides reference for future policy evaluation

Contemporary Anglophone Collections of Ukrainian Poetry: The Editor as a Strategic and Creative Partner to the Translator

This article presents a typology of editorial positioning in translation publications, examines editorial practices in contemporary Anglophone anthologies of Ukrainian poetry, and analyzes the efficacy of such collaborations within the Anglophone intercultural space. While translators, under the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1979), secure copyright for their translations, it is the editors who dictate the strategic trajectory of Ukrainian literature’s entry into the Anglophone, and thus, global market. This study is grounded in the analysis of Anglophone editions of Ukrainian poetry published within the last decade (2014–2024) in the UK, Canada, and the USA, with a particular focus on a comparative analysis of two editorial practices in Anglophone editions of Natalka Bilotserkivets’ poetry. Consequently, the editorial practices of E. Kinsella and Dzv. Orlovska for the 2021 collection (in their own translations) and M. Naydan for the 2022 edition, which united a range of translators, are analyzed. It is outlined that their practices give a representative example of two key editorial tendencies: the “reconstructive,” which mirrors the structure of original editions (M. Naydan), and the “recontextualizing,” where editors conceptually reshape the structure and presentation of translated works for a new linguistic audience (E. Kinsella and Dzv. Orlovska). Two crucial criteria for editorial positioning are identified: 1) the selection and presentation of translated texts; 2) the approach to paratextual preparation. The article emphasizes that editors of translated anthologies not only provide linguistic-technical control but also act as strategic curators and cultural advocates, shaping the interpretive space and determining the potential reception of translations in the literary market and society

Linking behaviour change techniques to mechanisms of action: Using the Theory and Techniques Tool alongside the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology: [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]

Background: Understanding how interventions work requires clear hypotheses, rigorous testing, and accurate reporting of links between behaviour change techniques (BCTs)—the smallest replicable active components of interventions—and mechanisms of action (MoAs), the processes through which behaviour changes. The Theory and Technique Tool (TaTT) provides a grid of likely BCT-MoA links to guide intervention design, based on literature synthesis and expert consensus. Recently, the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology development team introduced detailed, computer-readable lower-level ontologies for BCTs and MoAs, but limited guidance exists on integrating the BCT-MoA links proposed by the TaTT with these ontologies. This study aimed to map BCTs and MoAs from the TaTT to corresponding classes (i.e., categorisations or groupings) in the Behaviour Change Technique Ontology (BCTO) and Mechanism of Action (MoA) Ontology. // Methods: Three researchers mapped the classes from the BCTO onto 74 BCTs within the TaTT, using their definitions. Similarly, two researchers mapped classes from the MoA Ontology onto the 26 MoAs within the TaTT. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion with senior researchers. Subsequent updates to the BCT and MoA Ontologies necessitated a researcher updating the mappings, with the revisions being verified by the research team. // Results: From the BCTO, 85 BCTs were mapped to the 74 BCTs present in the TaTT, while 56 MoAs from the MoA Ontology were mapped to the 26 MoAs present in the TaTT. Subclasses of these 85 BCTs and 56 MoAs provide additional specificity and can be found by further engaging with these ontologies. // Discussion: Mapping the TaTT to the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology enhances clarity and precision in selecting and reporting BCT-MoA links, enabling integration of data across frameworks. Future work should maintain these mappings as ontologies evolve and users provide more feedback and evidence on BCTs, MoAs, and their links, ensuring they remain relevant and user-friendly

Academic burnout reduction handbook: Brief introduction and coping guide

In the contemporary educational setting, academic pressure is on the rise, and students confront various expectations from school, family, and society. This persistent stress can lead to academic burnout, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of inadequacy. Academic burnout not only hampers students’ academic performance but can also profoundly affect their mental health and future prospects. This executive summary outlines 13 key principles covering the definition, causes, effects, and intervention strategies of academic burnout, aiming to provide readers with a clear and concise overview. We hope this simplified guide helps readers quickly grasp the core points of managing academic burnout and provides practical guidance for students, parents, and practitioners (such as teachers, school psychologists, education administrators, and community workers). For a more in-depth analysis and specific implementation methods, please refer to the detailed version

The Impact of Explainable AI on Teachers’ Trust and Acceptance of AI EdTech Recommendations: The Power of Domain-specific Explanations

Trust is crucial for teachers’ adoption of AI-enhanced educational technologies (AI-EdTech), yet how this trust is formed and maintained remains poorly understood. An aspect of the system design that seems profoundly related to trust is transparency, which can be achieved through explainable AI (XAI) approaches. The present study seeks to explore the dynamic nature of teachers’ trust in AI EdTech systems, how it relates to understandability, and XAI’s role in enhancing it. Building upon Hoff and Bashir’s ‘trust in automation’ model (2015), we propose a theoretical model that connects these factors. We validated the applicability of the proposed model to AI in Education context using a mixed-method, within-subject design that measured understandability, trust, and acceptance of AI recommendations among 41 in-service chemistry teachers. The results showed a significant positive correlation between the three factors, as anticipated by the model, and demonstrated the heterogeneous understandability of different XAI schemes, with domain-driven schemes superior to data-driven ones. In addition, the study reveals two additional factors influencing teachers’ adoption of AI-EdTech: pedagogical perspectives and workload reduction potential. The study provides a theoretical explanation of how different XAI schemes impact trust through understandability. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for greater attention to XAI, which fosters trust and facilitates the acceptance of AI-EdTech

Single-molecule localisation microscopy approaches reveal envelope glycoprotein clusters in single-enveloped viruses: a potential functional role?

Understanding how viruses enter and fuse with host cells is crucial for developing effective antiviral therapies. The process of viral entry and fusion involves a series of complex steps that allow the virus to breach the host cell membrane and deliver its genetic material inside, with viral fusogens often co-operating to attain the required energy for successful membrane fusion. This co-operative clustering of fusogens in viral envelopes is similar to receptor clustering in cellular systems, where receptors aggregate to initiate signalling cascades. Single-molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) approaches have emerged as powerful tools to study these intricate mechanisms, allowing the observation of proteins with unprecedented levels of detail. These technologies provide unparalleled insights into the dynamics of viral entry and fusion at a molecular level, revealing how the co-ordinated action of fusogens facilitates membrane fusion. By employing the newest advances in SMLM techniques, such as DNA-PAINT and MINFLUX, we anticipate that precise information on the key steps of viral fusion can be revealed with high spatial and temporal resolutions, identifying critical points in the process that can be targeted by antiviral strategies

Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis as prevention of STIs – the golden bullet?

Introduction: Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (‘doxyPEP’) is an emerging strategy to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Users take 200 mg of doxycycline up to 72 hours after condomless sex, and data from randomized controlled trials and real-world implementation have shown doxyPEP to be effective in preventing syphilis, chlamydia, and to a lesser extent gonorrhea, in gay, bisexual, and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (GBMSM) and transgender women. // Areas covered: We discuss the potential benefits, risks, and important considerations for doxyPEP implementation, drawing on published literature and our own perspectives. // Expert opinion: Is doxyPEP the golden bullet? DoxyPEP provides significant benefits through STI prevention and holistic improvements in sexual health and wellbeing. Concerns over emergent antimicrobial resistance need to be weighed against STI-related morbidity and contextualized within society’s overuse of antibiotics. Inequities in the doxyPEP evidence-base and implementation will undermine its ability to end the syphilis epidemic and reduce chlamydia associated morbidity in cisgender women. Moreover, contexts in which doxyPEP proves effective for gonorrhea prevention initially are unlikely to see a long-lasting impact. Rather than a golden bullet, doxyPEP is a bridge to the next set of STI prevention tools

Introduction to the special issue on: Advances in soundscape: Emerging trends and challenges in research and practice

This editorial introduces the special issue “Advances in Soundscape: Emerging Trends and Challenges in Research and Practice” published jointly by The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA) and JASA Express Letters. Marking over a decade since the last dedicated issue on soundscape research in JASA, this collection highlights the rapid evolution and diversification in the field. It features 28 peer-reviewed articles from international research teams, showcasing advances in methodology, technological applications, theoretical developments, and real-world implementations across various acoustic environments. We categorize the contributions thematically, identify emerging trends and ongoing challenges, and offer perspectives for future research and practice

EASL-ERN Clinical Practice Guidelines on Wilson's disease

Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism which affects the liver, brain and other organs. Diagnosis is based on: clinical features; biochemical tests, including plasma ceruloplasmin concentration, 24-h urinary copper excretion, copper content in the liver; and molecular analysis. Leipzig score and additionally relative exchangeable copper determination are recommended for diagnosis. Pharmacological therapy comprises chelating agents (penicillamine, trientine) and zinc salts, while only chelators are recommended for significant liver disease. Monitoring is based on clinical symptoms, liver tests and copper metabolism (urinary copper excretion, exchangeable copper) to detect poor compliance and over/under-treatment. Acute liver failure is challenging as making a diagnosis is difficult and pharmacological therapy may not be sufficient to save life. Liver transplantation has a well-defined role in Wilsonian acute hepatic failure but may also be considered in neurological disease

The associations of preterm birth and low birth weight with childhood growth curves between birth and 12 years: a SITAR-based longitudinal analysis

Background: Children born preterm grow differently from those born at term. Aim: To compare growth in length/height, weight, and BMI of preterm- and term-born children, grouped by birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA). Subjects and Methods: Longitudinal data of 950 children (birth to 12 years) were collected retrospectively. Growth trajectories were modelled using SITAR (Superimposition by Translation and Rotation) by sex, with three groups each for GA and BW. Results: SITAR summarised growth patterns from birth to 12 years and explained 76–79% of height variance, 90–92% for weight, and 72–75% for BMI. Early preterm and low BW groups were shorter, lighter and thinner on average than their term or normal BW peers, with late preterm and low-normal BW groups intermediate. Effects were larger for BW than GA, e.g. early preterm girls/boys were 0.3/0.8 kg lighter, 0.9/0.9 cm shorter and 0.8/0.8 kg/m2 thinner, while low BW girls/boys were 0.5/1.0 kg lighter, 1.5/1.4 cm shorter and 0.8/0.9 kg/m2 thinner. Moreover, faster growth rates were associated with lower BW. Conclusion: Both BW and GA significantly impacted growth, but low BW more so than early preterm birth. This underscores the need for targeted interventions for low BW children to address potential long-term growth challenges