While conventional technologies like Zoom have limitations in interpersonal communication and a risk-free training environment in delivering comprehensive corporate training, the Metaverse provides immersive, face-to-face, interactive, and simulated learning opportunities. However, the literature highlights significant Metaverse adoption barriers and emphasises the need for interdisciplinary research-driven competency integration solutions. Furthermore, the present study investigates essential competencies human resource development professionals need to develop to implement Metaverse-based training, as a literature research gap. Anchored in the Critical Success Factor theory, the study has utilised the Spherical Fuzzy-Bayesian Best Worst Method and Grey Influence Analysis to prioritise and analyse the influential relations of the identified competencies. The findings highlight the significance of technical and gamification competency categories and competencies related to privacy and security, content loss, scripting, playability, and ethical and social responsibility. These findings signify the competencies for implementing the Metaverse for training by the human resource development professionals.

Despite the healthful nature of plant-based diets (PBDs) there is potential for nutrient inadequacies(1). This study aimed to compare dietary intakes and nutritional adequacy in Australians following plant-based diets compared a regular meat-eating diet (RME) in a cross-sectional study of adults (n = 240) aged 30–75yrs. Participants were habitually consuming dietary patterns for ≥ 6 months; vegan, lacto-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian or RME (n = 48 per group). Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and dietitian-administered diet histories. Multivariable regression was used to adjust for potential lifestyle and demographic confounders. Compared to RMEs, vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians had significantly lower dietary intakes of protein (percentage energy intake, EN%), saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, vitamin B12, iodine, riboflavin, niacin, sodium, and long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFA), and higher carbohydrate (EN%), dietary fibre, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, iron, and n-6PUFA, whereas, pesco-vegetarians and semi-vegetarians had intermediate intakes. Individuals adhering to PBD consumed significantly more vegetables, fruit (vegan only), legumes/nuts, and less discretionary choices compared to RMEs. All dietary patterns met adequate intake for protein, exceeded for fat, were below for carbohydrate (EN%) and had adequate serves of fruit and vegetables, but not grains. Including plant-based alternatives, vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and semi-vegetarians had inadequate serves of ‘meat/poultry/eggs/beans/nuts’, and semi-vegetarians and RMEs had inadequate serves of dairy. Vegans and lacto-vegetarians had nutritional inadequacies in vitamin B12, LCn-3PUFA, iodine, and in addition calcium among vegans, pesco-vegetarians in iodine, and semi-vegetarians and RMEs in LCn-3PUFA. PBDs, specifically vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians, while significantly higher in beneficial nutrients and wholefood groups than RMEs, may lead to nutritional inadequacies if not planned appropriately.

Vegan and vegetarian dietary patterns are known to beneficially modulate risk factors for cardiovascular disease; however, the current literature does not differentiate between various plant-based diets(1). This study aimed to examine the association between various plant-based diets and plasma lipids and glycaemic indices compared to a regular meat-eating diet. A cross-sectional study of Australian adults (n = 230) aged 30–75yrs habitually consuming the following were recruited: vegan, lacto-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, or regular meat-eater. Multivariable regression analyses was used to adjust for covariates. Compared to regular meat-eaters, vegans had significantly lower total cholesterol (−0.77 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.15, −0.39, p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, −0.71 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.05, −0.38, p < 0.001), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C, −0.75 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.11, −0.39, p < 0.001), total cholesterol/HDL-C-ratio (−0.49 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.87, −0.11, p = 0.012), fasting blood glucose (FBG, −0.29 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.53, −0.06, p = 0.014), haemoglobin A1C (−1.85 mmol/mol, 95% CI −3.00, −0.71, p = 0.002) and insulin (−1.76 mU/L, 95% CI −3.26, −0.26, p = 0.021) concentrations. Semi-vegetarians had significantly lower LDL-C (−0.41 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.74, −0.08, p = 0.041) and non-HDL-C (−0.40 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.76, −0.05, p = 0.026) and lacto-ovo vegetarians had significantly lower FBG (−0.34 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.56, −0.11, p = 0.003) compared to regular meat-eaters. There were no differences in HDL-C and triglycerides between plant-based and regular-meat diets. Plasma lipaemic and glycaemic measures as a collective were more favourable among vegans, whereas among lacto-ovo vegetarians and semi-vegetarians, only some measures were favourable.

The mass balance of lake-terminating glaciers responds to annual atmospheric variations, while calving-induced ice loss at the front is driven by local ice–water interactions. The current glaciological studies underestimate glacier response by neglecting the significant annual ice loss at the terminus through calving processes. This study integrates field measurements with remote sensing data to investigate the glaciological characteristics and proglacial lake evolution of the Gepang Gath glacier in the Chandra basin, Western Himalaya, India. Long-term observations reveal a continuous expansion of the proglacial lake from 0.21 ± 0.06 km2 (1962) to 1.21 ± 0.05 km2 (2023), along with terminus retreat of ∼2.76 km, attributed to calving at the ice–water interface. The glacier’s surface exhibits complex debris cover, with thicknesses up to 35 cm, creating significant spatial variations in surface mass balance. In-situ, glaciological measurements reveal a highly negative glacier-wide mass balance of −0.90 ± 0.30 m w.e. a−1 between the years 2014 and 2023. The geodetic estimates also reveal a negative mass balance of −0.61 ± 0.1 m w.e. a−1 over the past decade (2013–2023). The frontal area change (0.42 km2) and geodetic mass balance show a total volumetric ice loss of −21.77 × 106 m3 w.e. during the same period. Overall, the yearly frontal ice loss exacerbates the mass loss by 17–22%. These findings suggest that the presence of proglacial lakes plays a significant role in intensifying ice mass loss from Himalayan glaciers, strongly regulating their overall evolution.

Objectives/Goals: This study aims to understand the prevalence of trauma in young adults and what sociodemographic factors influence trauma exposure and type of trauma. It also seeks to explore functional connectivity and neural network patterns associated with trauma by analyzing resting state magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Methods/Study Population: Sociodemographic data will be analyzed from participants aged 18–25 years, such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, and highest level of education completed. Trauma exposure will be assessed based on the DSM-5 criteria of trauma through phone screenings and clinical interviews. The data will be categorized based on trauma type and statistical analyses will be conducted to explore potential sociodemographic patterns related to trauma. Additionally, resting-state MRI data will be utilized to identify potential neural correlates of trauma exposure. Results/Anticipated Results: It is anticipated that sociodemographic factors such, race and ethnicity, and highest level of school completed may influence the likelihood of experiencing traumatic events. It is predicted that in the resting-state MRI analysis that there will be altered functional connectivity in trauma exposed young adults in regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex since those regions are implicated in emotional regulation and stress response. Some changes may also be seen in the default mode network and salience network. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Trauma exposure can alter neural circuitry, leading to emotional processing difficulties and heightened stress response, with lasting effects on mental health and brain development. Prevention efforts and targeted treatments can be guided by identification of affected brain networks and sociodemographic factors that increase trauma risk.

Round gourd is sensitive to low temperature (March), high temperature (May–June), high humidity (July–August), and whitefly-transmitted begomovirus diseases (July–September), thereby restricting its fruit availability period in North-Western Indian Plains. Mulches extend the growing season by modifying soil temperature and reducing the incidence of viral diseases. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of sowing time, mulching and their interaction on performance of round gourd crop so as to identify the best mulch at different sowing times. The field trials were conducted in a split-plot design during 2021 and 2022. The main plot consisted of six sowing dates, i.e., the first week of March (DS1), April (DS2), May (DS3), June (DS4), July (DS5) and August (DS6). The sub-plot comprised bare soil (BS) and three mulching treatments, viz., silver-black plastic mulch (SBPM), black plastic mulch (BPM) and paddy straw mulch (6 t/ha) (PSM). The BPM and SBPM increased the seasonal soil temperature over BS by 3.1–4.1°C and 2.1–3.1°C, respectively, whereas the PSM reduced the seasonal soil temperature by 2.3–3.5°C. The SBPM produced the best crop performance, followed by BPM and PSM in all sowing dates except DS5 in which the PSM outperformed BPM. The DS1 and DS2 were the best sowing times, and the crop performance gradually declined with each successive sowing time, except that the crop performed better in DS6 compared with DS5. The SBPM or BPM in DS2 and DS1 were the best treatment combinations for round gourd cultivation in the study area.

Our systematic review aims to synthesise the evidence on interventions targeting improvement in patient adherence to psychological treatments for common mental disorders. A search was conducted on six electronic databases using search terms under the following concepts: common mental disorders, adherence, psychological treatments and controlled trial study design. Due to the heterogeneity in intervention content and outcomes evaluated in the included studies, a narrative synthesis was conducted. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Version 2 tool for randomised controlled trials and the Cochrane ROBINS-I tool for non-randomised controlled trials. The search yielded 23 distinct studies with a total sample size of 2,779 participants. All studies were conducted in high-income or upper-middle-income countries. Interventions to improve patient adherence to psychological treatments included reminders and between-session engagement (e.g., text messages), motivational interviewing, therapy orientation (e.g., expectation-setting) and overcoming structural barriers (e.g., case management). Interventions from 18 out of 23 studies were successful in improving at least one primary adherence outcome of interest (e.g., session attendance). Some studies also reported an improvement in secondary outcomes – six studies reported an improvement in at least one clinical outcome (e.g., depression), and three studies reported improvements in at least one measure of well-being or disability (e.g., days spent in in-patient treatment). By incorporating these interventions into psychological treatment services, therapists can better engage with and support their patients, potentially leading to improved mental health outcomes and overall well-being.

Complex tumour ecosystem comprising tumour cells and its associated tumour microenvironment (TME) constantly influence the tumoural behaviour and ultimately impact therapy failure, disease progression, recurrence and poor overall survival of patients. Crosstalk between tumour cells and TME amplifies the complexity by creating metabolic changes such as hypoxic environment and nutrient fluctuations. These changes in TME initiate stem cell-like programmes in cancer cells, contribute to tumoural heterogeneity and increase tumour robustness. Recent studies demonstrate the multifaceted role of autophagy in promoting fibroblast production, stemness, cancer cell survival during longer periods of dormancy, eventual growth of metastatic disease and disease resistance. Recent ongoing studies examine autophagy/mitophagy as a powerful survival strategy in response to environmental stress including nutrient deprivation, hypoxia and environmental stress in TME. It prevents irreversible senescence, promotes dormant stem-like state, induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and increases migratory and invasive potential of tumour cells. The present review discusses various theories and mechanisms behind the autophagy-dependent induction of cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. Given the role of autophagic functions in CSC aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance, various mechanisms and studies based on suppressing cellular plasticity by blocking autophagy as a powerful therapeutic strategy to kill tumour cells are discussed.

We settle the noninner automorphism conjecture for finite p-groups ($p> 2$) with certain conditions. Also, we give an elementary and short proof of the main result of Ghoraishi [‘On noninner automorphisms of finite nonabelian p-groups’, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 89(2) (2014) 202–209].

Prosecutors in adversarial systems are simultaneously expected to be impartial ministers of justice and partisan advocates. Leaving this tension unaddressed can result in poor-quality prosecutorial decision-making. This article develops a novel “dynamic” framework for prosecutors to navigate between and prioritize these competing considerations, which can be used to understand, evaluate, and improve prosecutorial performance. Under this framework, the prioritization should depend on which function the prosecutor is exercising at any given time. The article then deploys primary data collected in Delhi, through court observation and interviews with judges, lawyers, victims, and victim-support persons, to exemplify and justify the framework.

Natural resources such as soil and water are essential to agriculture, especially in arid and semi-arid rain-fed areas, yet the impacts of managing these crucial natural resources on farm technical efficiency are little known. Using data from 400 households with 1031 plots, we examined the impacts of soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) on the technical efficiency of farmers in the semi-arid Bundelkhand (central India). We estimated stochastic production frontiers, considering potential self-selection bias stemming from both observable and unobservable factors in the adoption of SWCMs at the farm level. The farm technical efficiency for adopters of SWCMs ranged from 0.68 to 0.72, and that for non-adopters ranged from 0.52 to 0.65, depending on how biases were controlled for. As the average efficiency is consistently higher for adopter farmers than the control group, promoting SWCMs could help to increase input use efficiency, especially in resource-deprived rain-fed systems in the semi-arid tropics.

The adoption of dietary patterns emphasising higher intakes of plant foods and lower intakes of animal foods (plant-based diets, PBDs), continue to rise worldwide. PBDs have been associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as well as major risk factors such as overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes. Evidence regarding the dietary profile and disease risk associated with various PBDs in comparison to traditional meat-eating diets are scarce within the Australian population. The aim of this study is to investigate the 5-year and 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Australians habitually following various PBDs compared to a regular meat diet (RMD). The Plant-based Diet (PBD) Study is a cross-sectional study consisting of healthy adults between aged 30-75 years from the Hunter Region (NSW) between 2021-2023. A validated FFQ was used to assess eligibility and categorise individuals who were habitually consuming one of five dietary patterns for at least 6 months into the following groups: vegan (nil animal products), lacto-vegetarian (LOV, including eggs and dairy), pesco-vegetarian (PV, including seafood with/without dairy and eggs), semi-vegetarian (SV, minimal consumption of animal products) or RMDs (including animal meat daily or multiple times/day)(1). 5-year and 10-year CVD risk was quantified using the Framingham Risk Equation(2) and the Australian Absolute CVD risk calculator, respectively. CVD risk and other quantitative measures was compared using One-way ANOVA or Kruskal Wallis, and Chi-square or Fisher’s Exact for qualitative data. Directed acyclic graphs displayed confounding variables and mediators and a regression model was used to adjust for these. A total of 240 participants (median age 55(16), 77.5% female) with 48 participants in each group showed a significant difference in predicted 5-year risk of CVD (P<0.05), however 10-year risk did not significantly differ across groups. 5-year CVD risk was significantly lower in the vegan group (1%) compared to the RMD, SV, PV, and LOV diet groups (all 2%). In comparison to a vegan diet, crude association showed those consuming a RMD had a 2.4% (95% CI 0.7, 4.1) higher 5-year risk of developing CVD, followed by 1.7% in LOV (95% CI 0.6, 2.9), 1.8% in PV (95% CI 0.5, 3), and 1.1% in SV (95% CI 0.2, 2.1). Significance was lost after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity levels and BMI. This is the first study to purposefully sample Australians habitually following PBD, presenting novel population-based evidence for CVD risk. These findings suggest more restrictive PBDs such as vegan diets when compared to RMD may lead to lower CVD risk, however population-based longitudinal studies primary investigating the development of CVDs in the context of PBDs are warranted.

This study investigates the geodetic mass balance of nearly all glaciers in the Ladakh region, which are crucial for local water security. Utilizing multiple digital elevation models from 2000 and 2021, we estimate glacier mass balances. Climatic drivers of glacier mass balances are explored using ERA5-Land reanalysis data, evaluated by in situ climate data. The study also examines the role of nonclimatic (morphological) variables on glacier mass balances. Results indicate Ladakh glaciers experienced negative mass balances during 2000–2021, with significant spatial variability. Western Ladakh glaciers lost slightly higher mass (−0.35 ± 0.07 to −0.37 ± 0.07 m w.e. a−1) than eastern Ladakh glaciers (−0.21 ± 0.07 to −0.33 ± 0.05 m w.e. a−1). While warming is the main driver of widespread mass loss in Ladakh, the spatial variability in mass loss is attributed to changes in regional precipitation and glacier morphological settings. Eastern Ladakh glaciers, being smaller and at higher elevations, experience lower mass loss, whereas western Ladakh glaciers, larger and at lower elevations, are more susceptible to the impact of temperature, resulting in higher mass loss. The study underscores the potentially greater vulnerability of western Ladakh glaciers to a warming climate compared to their eastern counterparts.

Data related to psychiatric manifestations in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is currently available only in the form of isolated case reports. In this systematic review, we evaluated the spectrum of psychiatric manifestations and their impact on the course and outcome of SSPE. Data were obtained from 4 databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar), with the most recent search conducted on March 27, 2023. The PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the PROSPERO registration number for the protocol is CRD42023408227. SSPE was diagnosed using Dyken’s criteria. Extracted data were recorded in an Excel spreadsheet. To evaluate the quality of the data, the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool was employed. Our search resulted in 30 published reports of 32 patients. The mean age was 17.9 years. Schizophrenia, catatonia, and poorly characterized psychotic illnesses were the 3 most common psychiatric presentations that were seen in 63% (20/32) of cases. Catatonia was seen in 4 patients. Affective disorders, mania, and depression were reported among 22% (7/32) cases. In approximately 81% (26/32) cases, the course of SSPE was acute fulminant. Treatment with antipsychotic drugs had poor or no response. Out of 17 patients, who received antipsychotic drugs, 6 patients noted severe extrapyramidal adverse effects. SSPE often masquerades as a psychiatric disorder. Unresponsive psychiatric symptoms, early extrapyramidal signs, and progressive encephalopathy indicate SSPE.