Journals
2025 EN
Gaze Mark N. · Beldjoudi Guillaume · Carrie Christian
+16 more
ABSTRACT In 2005, the Paediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS), a multi‐professional association to promote radiotherapy for children and young people, was created. Its mission has been to educate those involved in this field, and to improve the standards of radiation oncology care for children, adolescents, and young adults across the globe, not least in less privileged settings where the majority of the world's children, and most with cancer, live. Through regular congresses, and joint meetings with the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), PROS has facilitated a focus on this treatment modality, and advocated on behalf of those who might benefit from it.
Journals
2025 EN
Gamliel ReutChen · Rubin Osnat · Alon Raaya
ABSTRACT School counselors play a pivotal role in supporting the resilience of students and staff; however, scant attention has been given to their own resilience during times of crisis. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, this study constructs a multidimensional model of resilience among school counselors operating under wartime conditions. Data were gathered from 181 Israeli school counselors, spanning all grade levels and ranging from one to 36 years of experience, via an online questionnaire with open‐ended items, administered during the third week of the Swords of Iron War (November–December 2023). Data analysis proceeded through open, axial, and selective coding, culminating in the development of the Counseling Resilience Circle model. This model delineates two central components ‐ counselor efficacy and a distinct professional identity—structured within three domains: personal (emotional processing, personal and professional life experiences, motivation for professional growth), organizational (collegial support, proactive work, professional autonomy), and spiritual (beliefs, optimism, sense of meaning and mission). The findings illuminate the dynamic interplay of personal, professional, and spiritual mechanisms of resilience, offering insights for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing counselors' capacity to navigate crises. Practical implications for counselor preparation, institutional support, and policy formulation are discussed, providing a foundation for bolstering resilience among school counselors in times of crisis.
Journals
2025 DE
Jordan Stefan
Zusammenfassung Die Gaia‐Mission der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation hat die Astrometrie revolutioniert, indem sie über zehneinhalb Jahre extrem präzise Positionen, Bewegungen und Entfernungen von fast zwei Milliarden Himmelsobjekten gemessen hat. In dieser Zeit sammelte Gaia Daten, die bedeutende Fortschritte in nahezu allen Bereichen der Astrophysik ermöglichten, darunter die Erforschung der Milchstraße, die Identifikation und Interpretation von Weißen Zwergen und Schwarzen Löchern sowie die Verfeinerung kosmologischer Modelle. Trotz des Endes der Datenerfassung im Januar 2025 wird die Mission mit der umfangreichen Analyse und Veröffentlichung weiterer Datenkataloge mindestens bis 2030 fortgesetzt.
Journals
2025 EN
Stevens Courtney J. · Bobak Carly A. · Morrissette Kali J.
+8 more
ABSTRACT Background Leaders in the field have called for exercise counseling to become standard of care by 2029. An Affect‐based exercise prescription (Affect‐Rx) may be a viable strategy for supporting this effort. Aims Guided by the ORBIT Model for developing behavioral treatments, this Phase 1b study evaluated breast cancer survivors' perceived acceptability of Affect‐Rx. Additionally, the feasibility of trial methods and opportunities for protocol refinements were assessed. Method Participants were 36 stage 0–III breast cancer survivors within 5 years of completing primary cancer treatment. Demographics were collected at baseline and via medical record review. Affect‐Rx was delivered in conjunction with a low‐touch, physical activity promotion intervention over videoconference call. At end‐of‐study, participants rated Affect‐Rx using the Treatment Acceptability and Preferences (TAP) Measure. Participants responded to the Stanford L‐Cat at baseline and end‐of‐study. ActiGraph wGT3X‐BT accelerometers measured moderate‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over 10‐day periods at baseline and follow‐up. Results Affect‐Rx was rated acceptable (TAP overall M = 3.30, SD = 0.53). Study retention and accelerometer measurement completion was ≥ 80% across time. L‐Cat scores were discordant from accelerometer‐measured MVPA at baseline. Conclusions Affect‐Rx warrants further testing. The trial methods were feasible; however, physical inactivity verification procedures along with targeted recruitment efforts are needed to support future work. The field needs intervention strategies that can be deployed with limited resources and at low cost to offer survivors exercise counseling support in line with the new National Standards for Cancer Survivorship Care, the affect‐based exercise prescription is designed to serve this mission. Trial Registration The study protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov prior to the initiation of participant recruitment NCT04903249
Journals
2025 EN
Lebel Sophie · Chu Alanna · Gourgues Florence
+16 more
ABSTRACT Objectives Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is the number one unmet psychosocial need of cancer survivors. Fortunately, several interventions have demonstrated their efficacy in reducing FCR in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including the Fear of Recurrence Therapy (FORT) intervention, a 6‐week, cognitive‐existential group therapy. However, few interventions are implemented in routine clinical care. The present study aims to document pre‐implementation facilitators and barriers from the perspectives of clinicians and decision‐makers to prepare the implementation of FORT in Canadian cancer centers. Methods This mixed‐methods comparative case study evaluated the process of implementing FORT in 5 Canadian clinical sites. Prior to implementation, we conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with clinicians and decision‐makers at each site, based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), to uncover barriers and facilitators of implementation. Content analysis was performed on the interviews using the NVivo template provided by the CFIR. Results We interviewed 20 managers/decision‐makers and clinicians who reported facilitators common to all sites: (1) an awareness of the need for an FCR intervention; (2) the perceived benefit of FORT's group format to reduce waitlists for individual FCR services; and (3) that offering an evidence‐based intervention was within the mission of their institution. All sites identified staff shortage and concerns for equitable access to FORT as the main barriers. Each site had additional unique barriers. Conclusion This analysis of facilitators and barriers will directly contribute to the selection of site‐specific strategies and tools to optimize the implementation of FORT.
Journals
2025 EN
Querol i Mercadé Joaquim · FernandezLlamazares Álvaro · Garnatje Teresa
+3 more
Societal Impact Statement The phenomenon of “Plant Awareness Disparity”—often defined as people's inability to notice, recognize, and appreciate plants and their significance—has been described as one of the greatest challenges that botanists face in our joint mission to address the social‐ecological crisis of our time. Encouraging plant awareness will entail a transformative and sustained shift across sectors in how plants and their multiple contributions to humans are recognized, affirmed, and valued. Working with traditional knowledge holders in rural areas offers an opportunity to explore pathways through which the nexus between people and plants can be nurtured and strengthened. Summary This study explores the intangible relations between local ethnobotanical knowledge holders and plants at three levels—communal, familial, and individual—by considering diverse aspects of expressive culture such as stories, songs, and personal recollections anchored in lived experiences. We propose a methodological approach to document and characterize these intangible connections with plants and recognize them in the study of plant awareness disparity (PAD). In‐depth interviews were conducted with 22 recognized ethnobotanical knowledge keepers in the Alt Ter valley (Catalan Pyrenees, northeastern Spain). Exhibiting high plant awareness, local knowledge keepers reported myriads of cultural, familial, and individual expressions of their bonds with the collective botanical heritage of the valley, including 36 distinct sayings, 53 narratives, 27 traditions, and 30 family customs about plants. Our findings cast light on the intricate relations between humans and plants in rural communities, underpinned mainly by strong emotional connections and a shared sense of cultural identity. These findings hold significant implications for studies aimed at gauging plant awareness and quantifying PAD levels, as they underscore the breadth and depth of humans' intangible relationships with the plant worlds around them.
Journals
2025 EN
Chitwood Daniel H. · Delaye Luis · DomínguezCastro Cristina
+4 more
Societal Impact Statement The cultural significance of the grapevine is undeniable. However, we fail to acknowledge how the grapevine has and continues to influence the most pressing political questions of our time. From the beginning of the Conquest, Indigenous peoples were forced to plant the vine, Spain burned the vines Miguel Hidalgo used to teach the poor, and César Chávez and the Delano grape strike demanded justice for agricultural laborers. From the Grito de Dolores to Sí se puede , we demonstrate how the continuing relationship between Mexico and the grapevine influences debates surrounding labor, immigration, and human rights in the United States and throughout the world. To enhance the reach of this work, a Spanish language version of the paper is available in the Supporting Information (see Translation_ES). Summary The wild grapevine species ( Vitis spp.) that comprise the pedigrees of rootstocks, the Americas as the source (and solution) to the Phylloxera crisis that decimated European vineyards, and California as a premier wine‐growing region are the topics that usually frame the history of grapes in North America. This Anglo‐American perspective ignores that domesticated grape varieties were first introduced to North America in what is now Mexico and the singular contributions of Mexican labor to the California wine economy that continue to influence politics. Here, we highlight the neglected history of grapevines in Mexico and argue that the politics of labor that played out during the Conquest never ceased and still shape debates surrounding immigration. Beginning with Hernán Cortés, Indigenous peoples were forced to plant grapevines and when they were successful, they were abruptly forbidden by Spain to grow grapes. This interference influenced Miguel Hidalgo, who taught the poor viticulture as a trade and who would lead the Mexican War of Independence and pay with his life. The grapevine continued its journey north to California, where Franciscans established the missions and cultivated the Mission grapes, which had lasting impacts on the genetics of grapevine varieties. Finally, it was the Delano grape strike that coalesced César Chávez and the United Farm Workers to demand justice for agricultural laborers that is the foundation of the California wine economy and still shapes the current political debate of immigration, labor, and human rights between the United States and Mexico.
Journals
2025 EN
Lawson Christopher · Grady Siobahn · Walker Patrice
ABSTRACT This paper describes the founding, mission, and early outcomes of the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) center for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER), the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) research center established at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Established in January 2025 with $ million in support from Google.org , IAIER represents a bold commitment to equitable AI literacy, ethical research, and community engagement. We describe programming development, such as Soaring Conversations and seed grants, share survey results from pilot learning sessions, and reflect on participant growth in understanding their interest in AI tools. This initiative models how underrepresented institutions can lead national conversations about AI through inclusive, human‐centered practices.
Journals
2025 EN
Addo Margaret · Apaame Sule · Ghanney Michael Abbey
+3 more
ABSTRACT Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from hepatitis B, a serious, potentially fatal liver infection brought on by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although vaccines are available for HBV, infections continue to persist in Ghana. This study reports the prevalence of HBV infections in outpatients and pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Seventh‐day Adventist (SDA) Hospital in Gbawe, Ghana. This retrospective cohort study involved the review of de‐identified medical records of outpatients and pregnant women who visited the hospital between 2022 and 2024. Data on their HBV infection status, sex and age were analysed using R version 4.4.1. A total of 531 outpatients and 768 pregnant women visited the hospital during the study period. The prevalence of HBV infection was 7.5% in outpatients and 3.9% in pregnant women. It was observed that outpatients were more likely to be hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive (OR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.24–3.28, p = 0.005). It was also seen that HBV prevalence increased from 2022 to 2023 and decreased in 2024. There is a need for more educational campaigns to raise awareness of HBV infections, especially in pregnant women due to the risk of mother‐to‐child transmission. Furthermore, vaccinations need to be made affordable and easily accessible to the general population to ensure maximum coverage within the country.
Journals
2025 EN
Gong Feng · Hu Gexi · Xu Wentao
+2 more
ABSTRACT Mission reliability evaluation of high‐performance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms faces significant challenges because of their tightly coupled mission profiles, dynamic reconfiguration mechanisms, and heterogeneous node interactions. Traditional reliability models fail to capture these complexities, particularly the impact of mission reconstruction on the UAV swarm adaptability. To address this gap, we propose a novel mission reliability evaluation framework that integrates an effective mission loop analysis and dynamic network reconfiguration. First, we analyzed the system composition and interaction of high‐performance UAV swarms and designed a mission reliability evaluation model based on effective mission loops. Second, we developed a dynamic reconstruction algorithm to autonomously reconfigure the swarm topology in response to node/edge failures, ensuring sustained operational capability. Third, by integrating the reliability evaluation model with the reconstruction algorithm, we built a high‐performance UAV swarm mission reliability evaluation method that explicitly incorporates mission reconstruction. A case study of a 10‐UAV swarm strike mission validated the proposed framework. The results demonstrate its effectiveness in mission reliability evaluation of high‐performance UAV swarms, with potential extensions to heterogeneous aviation systems.