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Chiral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with monkey saddle topology are a fascinating class of negatively curved compounds. To make the monkey‐saddles valuable building blocks for chirality‐assisted synthesis (CAS) approaches, the inversion barriers between the two possible enantiomers need to be high enough to prevent interconversion under CAS conditions. By molecular editing, aza monkey saddles were converted to the corresponding chromene monkey saddles that are configurationally stable even at temperatures of 220 °C over a period of 47 days. Their structures were studied by single X‐ray diffraction and enantiomers were separated to study the chiroptical properties. Furthermore, mechanistic assumptions of the formation of the chromene monkey saddles by DFT calculations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Umbilicaria africana, hitherto only known from Africa, South America, Antarctica, and the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia is reported from the West Chukotkan sector of the Arctic and North Eurasia as whole. Morphological details of the Arctic material are provided. Umbilicaria aprina is excluded from the flora of the Chukotkan sector of the Arctic as a previous erroneous identification of the specimen of U. africana. The bipolar distribution of U. africana is discussed. Based on analyses of migratory bird species composition and their ecology in localities where arctic-alpine U. africana was collected, we suggest that the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) might play an important role in the long-distance dispersal of specific propagula (thalloconidia) of U. africana from East Africa, and the Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), the Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis), or less probably the Pechora Pipit (Anthus gustavi), from Australasia (Malay Archipelago). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoderms, bone plates in the skin, are widely but discontinuously distributed across the phylogeny of tetrapods. This and their pronounced morphological disparity has inspired many hypotheses on possible osteoderm functions. Most of these have not been systematically studied or summarised based on the published disparate literature. We provide here a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge in this field with a focus on extant non‐avian reptiles. We also discuss functions in other extant osteoderm‐bearing taxa and those inferred from the fossil record. The hypotheses are categorised into protection, lifestyle and locomotion, physiology, and visual functions. A comprehensive overview of future directions in this field is provided. With this review, we hope to encourage future research to investigate the functional aspect of osteoderms. This might inspire biomimetics and shed light on the role that osteoderm expression may have played in shaping present‐day biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The site of Iita in northwestern Greenland had near-continual occupation from 1000 CE to the mid-twentieth century, which presents an unparalleled opportunity to examine diachronic changes in the use of marine mammals for food and raw material resources by Pre-Inuit (Late Dorset) and Inuit–Inughuit—two culturally distinct Indigenous groups. Limited wood in High Arctic environments necessitated the use of antler, bone, and ivory for tool making. Choices in the selection and processing of osseous material reflect changes in the way these two groups used the same resources. However, modification of osseous material during the toolmaking process is often to such an extent that few diagnostic features remain for species identification. Here, we include Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) to identify typically indeterminate pieces of manufacturing debris from preserved collagen. The minimally destructive extraction technique using polishing films had a 99% success rate. The results suggest that selection of raw materials from certain marine mammals, particularly narwhal, by toolmakers at Iita was more frequent than previously understood through traditional faunal analysis alone. There is a paucity of narwhal from the Pre-Inuit (Late Dorset) assemblage, which contrasts starkly with the high frequency of narwhal in the Inuit–Inughuit assemblage. We demonstrate the importance of combining the analysis of bone-tool manufacturing debris with traditional dietary faunal remains to improve our understanding of resource use in coastal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundances, apparent sizes, and individual chemical compositions of chondrules, refractory inclusions, other objects, and surrounding matrix have been determined for Semarkona (LL3.00) and Renazzo (CR2) using consistent methods and criteria on X‐ray element intensity maps. These represent the non‐carbonaceous (NC, Semarkona) and carbonaceous chondrite (CC, Renazzo) superclans of chondrite types. We compare object and matrix abundances with similar data for CM, CO, K, and CV chondrites. We assess, pixel‐by‐pixel, the major element abundance in each object and in the entire matrix. We determine the abundance of "metallic chondrules" in LL chondrites. Chondrules with high Mg/Si and low Fe/Si and matrix carrying opposing ratios complement each other to make whole rocks with near‐solar major element ratios in Renazzo. Similar Mg/Si and Fe/Si chondrule–matrix relationships are seen in Semarkona, which is within 11% of solar Mg/Si but significantly Fe‐depleted. These results provide a robust constraint in support of single‐reservoir models for chondrule formation and accretion, ruling out whole classes of astrophysical models and constraining processes of chondrite component formation and accretion into chondrite parent bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of goals is crucial for effective management to conserve viable and diverse fish populations and to support harvest. Management of wild Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Snake River basin exemplifies the struggle to meet fisheries goals. Considering contemporary production of juvenile emigrants, it is imperative to determine the survival from emigration to adult (Se‐a) required to meet abundance goals. Increased anthropogenic impact on spawning and rearing habitats leads to higher Se‐a required to attain goals. Wilderness populations exhibit viability and could sustain fisheries with Se‐a lower than required elsewhere. Conversely, populations targeted for habitat restoration demand higher Se‐a to fulfill goals, indicating a need to enhance egg‐to‐smolt survival. However, Se‐a has fallen below the threshold needed for replacement in all populations, even at current low abundances. Despite these challenges, most populations still possess the potential to achieve abundance goals, emphasizing the importance of strategic interventions to bolster their resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2021 Leonard Medal was awarded to Dr. Katharina Lodders, in person, at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society in Chicago, IL, USA. This is the citation presented for Dr. Lodders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite decades of restoration efforts in the U.S. Columbia River Basin (CRB), recovery of anadromous fish remains elusive. Regional stakeholder conflicts about objectives for fish restoration complicate efforts to collaboratively develop successful governance systems. While ecological research and solutions have been primary considerations for restoration initiatives, much of the literature recognizes social complexities as the root of the problem. This research employs a qualitative approach that illuminates how sociopolitical histories and lifeways underpin stakeholders' divergent objectives that challenge the formation of good governance in the CRB. We show how sociopolitical histories and lifeways reproduce a lack of representation of tribal members in leadership which inhibits the formation of good governance. This has significant implications for the process and outcomes of participatory governance and how governance processes can meaningfully integrate diverse voices in an intentional way to facilitate a just and equitable outcome for humans and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first-principles theoretical approach to the effective dielectric permittivity of a nanocomposite, which contains nanoinclusions dispersed in a host dielectric enclosed between two parallel metallic electrodes, is developed. The inclusions are modeled by spheroids, and their response to the external electric field is found using the point dipole approximation and Green's function approach. As a result, besides the mutual interactions between the induced dipoles, the local field in the nanocomposite contains also a contribution from the dipole field reflected from the capacitor electrodes. It is shown that the nanocomposite dielectric permittivity is determined by an average inclusion polarizability density, and its dependence on the aspect ratio and orientations of inclusions is found analytically and investigated. The theoretical predictions derived in the paper are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data and can be used for a proper design of nanocomposite capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidative formation of N−N bonds from primary amides has been recently reported and then retracted in the journal Nature Communications by Kathiravan, Nicholls, and co‐authors, utilizing a hypervalent iodane reagent. Unfortunately, the authors failed to recognize the Curtius reaction taking place under the described reaction conditions. Thus, the claimed N−N coupling products were not formed. Instead, the Curtius rearrangement urea coupling products were obtained. We demonstrate this herein by means of NMR and x‐ray analysis, as well as with the support of an alternative synthetic route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in the tool use of non-human primates and humans are subject of ongoing debate. In humans, representations of object functions underpin efficient tool use. Yet, representations of object functions can lead to functional fixedness, which describes the fixation on a familiar tool function leading to less efficient problem solving when the problem requires using the tool for a new function. In the current study, we examined whether chimpanzees exhibit functional fixedness. After solving a problem with a tool, chimpanzees were less efficient in solving another problem which required using the same tool with a different function compared to a control group. This fixation effect was still apparent after a period of nine months and when chimpanzees had learned about the function of a tool by observation of a conspecific. These results suggest that functional fixedness in our closest living relatives likely exists and cast doubt on the notion that stable function representations are uniquely human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability in how individuals respond to pathogens is a hallmark of infectious disease, yet the basis for individual variation in host response is often poorly understood. The titer of infectious virus among individual mosquitoes infected with arboviruses is frequently observed to vary by several orders of magnitude in a single experiment, even when the mosquitoes are highly inbred. To better understand the basis for this titer variation, we sequenced populations of Sindbis virus (SINV) obtained from individual infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that, despite being from a highly inbred laboratory colony, differed in their titers of infectious virus by approximately 10,000-fold. We observed genetic differences between these virus populations that indicated the virus present in the midguts of low titer mosquitoes was less fit than that of high titer mosquitoes, possibly due to founder effects that occurred during midgut infection. Furthermore, we found dramatic differences in the specific infectivity or SI (the ratio of infectious units/viral genome equivalents) between these virus populations, with the SI of low titer mosquitoes being up to 10,000-fold lower than that of high titer mosquitoes. Despite having similar amounts of viral genomes, low titer mosquitoes appeared to contain less viral particles, suggesting that viral genomes were packaged into virions less efficiently than in high titer mosquitoes. Finally, antibiotic treatment, which has been shown to suppress mosquito antiviral immunity, caused an increase in SI. Our results indicate that the extreme variation that is observed in SINV infectious titer between individual Ae. aegypti mosquitoes is due to both genetic differences between virus populations and to differences in the proportion of genomes that are packaged into infectious particles. Author summary: Individual hosts typically respond differently to virus infection. These differences are usually attributed to genetic variation between hosts or differences between virus strains. However, when highly inbred mosquitoes are infected with an arbovirus, individual mosquitoes still often vary widely in titer of infectious virus. We examined the virus populations in individual Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Sindbis virus that differed by approximately 10,000-fold in the amount of infectious virus. Based on our experiments, we have made two important findings. First, we found genetic differences between these virus populations, suggesting that viruses in low titer mosquitoes were less fit than those in high titer mosquitoes, potentially due to genetic founder effects. Second, we also found that the amounts of viral genomes did not vary significantly between low and high titer mosquitoes, despite huge differences in the amount of infectious virus. Furthermore, the proportion of viral genomes packaged into infectious particles was improved by feeding the mosquitoes antibiotics, which has been shown to suppress antiviral immunity. These findings have important implications regarding our understanding of the transmission of arboviral disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper magnitude limits and scaling with basin size for post-wildfire floods are unknown. An envelope curve was estimated defining post-wildfire flood upper limits as a function of basin area. We show the importance of separating peak flows by floods versus debris flows. Post-wildfire flood maxima are a constant 43 m3 s-1 km-2 for basins from 0.01 to 23 to 34 km2 and then declining with added basin area according to a power law relation. Intense rainfall spatial scaling may cause the envelope curve threshold at 23 to 34 km2. Post-wildfire flood maxima are smaller than unburned flood maxima for similar basin area. Rainstorm comparisons indicate that post-wildfire floods are triggered by smaller precipitation depths than unburned floods. Post-wildfire exceptional floods are driven by extreme rainfall rates, in contrast to post-wildfire debris flows. Runoff rates for post-wildfire envelope floods are consistent with infiltration-excess runoff. Future increases in precipitation intensity or wildfire frequency and extent could increase post-wildfire flood upper limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over decades of robotics research, cooperative object transportation has been studied as a meaningful model problem for robotic networks because it possesses a variety of crucial challenges. Although these challenges are demanding, the cooperation of multiple robots has the potential to solve automation problems that are beyond the scope of an individual robot. So far, the model problem has mostly been addressed by explicitly controlling the robots' positions. However, the position-based approach suffers from some intrinsic detriments, for example, the lack of explicit feedback between robots and object. Moreover, it remains an open question how many robots shall be employed to ensure a successful transportation. This paper's purpose is to overcome these challenges using a novel force-based approach taking into account the robots' actual manipulation capabilities, that is, the exerted forces. Using cost-efficient hardware, the interaction forces are measured and, what is more, explicitly controlled by a highly responsive onboard controller. Employing a tailored software architecture, the novel force-based scheme, useful for robotic manipulation beyond the benchmark problem, is probably the most flexible of its kind regarding the number of robots and the object's shape. The controller's functionality and performance as well as the scheme's versatility are demonstrated by several hardware experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study evaluates the comparative analysis in patients with diaphyseal fractures of the humerus in the adults operated with dynamic compression plating and intramedullary interlocking nailing with focus on their functional outcome results using DASH score and complications. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedics, Government general Hospital, Rangaraya medical college, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India for, a period of two years. The study subjects consisted of n = 38 adult patients of fracture shaft of the humerus with indications for surgical management. Results: Among n = 38 subjects, n = 10 (26.31%) cases showed excellent results, n = 12 (31.57%) good, n = 10 (26.31%) fair and n = 6 (15.78%) poor results. Among n = 10 subjects with excellent results, n = 8 (44.44%) were of plating group and 2 (10%) interlocking nailing. In intramedullary nailing group, 6 (30%) patients showed good results, 8 (40%) fair and 4 (20%) poor results. In patients treated by plate fixation, 6 (33.33%) cases showed good results, 2 (11.11%) fair and, 2 (11.11%) poor results. For all the subjects, DASH scoring was in the range of 21-30 in 50% subjects followed by 10 - 20 in 32.14%, 51 - 60 in 10.72% and 31 - 40 in 7.14% cases. In this series, both the methods of treatment (i.e., dynamic compression plating and interlocking nailing showed good functional outcome results. Conclusion: We prefer dynamic compression plating method as the complications are less compared to the interlocking nailing method and also concerning pain and function of the shoulder joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is an inner ear disorder with a heterogeneous etiology, often linked to preceding infections, head injuries, or vestibular neuronitis. While it is commonly observed in the elderly, its occurrence in the pediatric population is rare. To our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of BPPV in patients younger than 5 years. Case Presentation: A 4.5-month-old female infant was admitted with episodes of paroxysmal nystagmus. Parents reported fast horizontal eye movements lasting up to 30 s, with one episode accompanied by vomiting. Comprehensive differential diagnosis was considered from epileptic nystagmus to intoxications and both central and peripheral vestibular etiologies. During the observation on ward, connection between the baby's positioning and nystagmus was identified. The diagnostic roll test confirmed a transient positional geotropic nystagmus. The diagnosis aligned with BPPV characteristics, pointing to the right lateral semicircular canal canalolithiasis. A successful Lempert roll maneuver was performed with prompt effect. To further support the diagnosis and research, we introduced a semiautomatic video-oculography method. Conclusion: This case highlights a rare instance of BPPV in an infant. The clinical findings combined with the effectiveness of the repositioning maneuvers support the diagnosis of right lateral semicircular canal lithiasis. Despite the rarity of this condition in such a young-age group, the need for thorough diagnostic evaluations is emphasized. In order to document the case, we also present a semiautomatic video analysis pipeline for analyzing abnormal eye movements in a home setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General‐purpose mechanisms can perform a broad range of tasks but are usually rather heavy and expensive. If only particular movements need to be executed, more efficient special‐purpose mechanisms can be employed. However, they typically require an expert to design the system based on manual inspection of simulations and experimental results. This procedure is not only time‐consuming, but the outcome also depends on the expert's experience. Hence, the design process stems from subjective criteria while only a limited number of structurally different mechanisms can be considered. In contrast, a design assistant can consider a broad range of mechanisms and leverage multi‐objective optimization to retrieve optimal designs for the given task. Due to the systems being synthesized based on mathematical functions rather than individual experience, the assistant allows a more transparent development of optimal problem‐specific mechanisms compared to the conventional process. Experts can then fine‐tune and analyze the proposed designs to compose the final system. In recent years, neural networks have been utilized to directly learn the inverse mapping from a trajectory to a mechanism design. This requires some parameterization of the trajectory to be fed into the network. In this work, we evaluate various preprocessing methods for the trajectory on a simple mechanism design model problem. We assess multiple configurations such as different neural network sizes, applying input‐output normalization, and varying the number of features. Consequently, we investigate and compare the trends and robustness of the implemented methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motion planning and control of non‐holonomic systems is challenging. Only very recently, it has become clear how model predictive controllers for such systems can be generally furnished in the driftless case, where the key is to design a cost function conforming to the geometry arising from the non‐holonomic constraints. However, in some applications, one cannot neglect drift since the time needed to accelerate is non‐negligible, for example, when operating vehicles with high inertia or at high velocities. Therefore, this contribution extends our previous work on the class of driftless non‐holonomic systems to systems with simple kinds of actuator dynamics that allow to represent the boundedness of acceleration in the model. Moreover, we show in a prototypical example of a simple boat‐like vehicle model that a similar procedure can also work for systems that are not non‐holonomic but still under‐actuated. While the contribution is rather technical in nature, to the knowledge of the authors, it is the first time that MPC controllers with theoretical guarantees are proposed for these kinds of models. Moreover, we expect that the resulting controllers are directly of practical value since even the simpler driftless models are employed successfully in various approaches to motion planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various cranioplasty techniques exist for the reconstruction of cranial bone defects. Patient-specific implants can be produced in-house using a recently developed 3D printer-assisted cranioplasty technique. However, the resulting cosmetic outcomes from the patient’s perspective are underreported. With our case series, we aim to present the clinical outcome, morbidity rate, patient-reported cosmetic results, and cost-effectiveness of patient-specific3D printer-assisted cranioplasty technique. This is a consecutive retrospective case series of adult patients undergoing cranioplasty using the patient-specific 3D printer-assisted technique. As primary endpoint, the functional outcome based on modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge and follow-up was assessed. A prospective telephone survey was conducted to collect and provide patient-reported outcomes. Thirty-one patients underwent patient-specific 3D printer-assisted cranioplasty, mostly to reconstruct frontotemporoparietal (61.3%) and frontotemporal defects with orbital involvement (19.4%). Good functional outcome (mRS ≤ 2) at discharge and during the last follow-up was achieved in 54.8% (n = 17) and 58.1% (n = 18) patients. Overall, the rate of clinically relevant surgery-related complications was 35.5% (n = 11). Postoperative epidural hematoma/collection (16.1%) and infections (12.9%) were the most frequent complications. Permanent morbidity occurred in one patient (3.2%) with postoperative acute ipsilateral vision loss after frontotemporal cranioplasty with orbital involvement. No surgery-related mortality occurred. The mean patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction score was 7.8 ± 1.5, with 80% of patients reporting satisfying or very satisfying cosmetic results. No significant differences were seen between the different defect localization regarding the cosmetic outcome. The mean manufacturing costs of a patient-specific 3D printer-assisted implant ranged from 748 to 1129 USD. Based on our case series, patient-specific 3D printer-assisted cranioplasty is cost-effective and leads to satisfying cosmetic results, especially in large defects and/or defects with complex geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driver assistance systems are designed to increase comfort and safety by automating parts of the driving task. At the same time, modern in-vehicle information systems with large touchscreens provide the driver with numerous options for entertainment, information, or communication, and are a potential source of distraction. However, little is known about how driving automation affects how drivers interact with the center stack touchscreen, i.e., how drivers self-regulate their behavior in response to different levels of driving automation. To investigate this, we apply multilevel models to a real-world driving dataset consisting of 31,378 sequences. Our results show significant differences in drivers' interaction and glance behavior in response to different levels of driving automation, vehicle speed, and road curvature. During automated driving, drivers perform more interactions per touchscreen sequence and increase the time spent looking at the center stack touchscreen. Specifically, at higher levels of driving automation (level 2), the mean glance duration toward the center stack touchscreen increases by 36% and the mean number of interactions per sequence increases by 17% compared to manual driving. Furthermore, partially automated driving has a strong impact on the use of more complex UI elements (e.g., maps) and touch gestures (e.g., multitouch). We also show that the effect of driving automation on drivers' self-regulation is greater than that of vehicle speed and road curvature. The derived knowledge can inform the design and evaluation of touch-based infotainment systems and the development of context-aware driver monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile robots are a key component for the automation of many tasks that either require high precision or are deemed too hazardous for human personnel. One of the typical duties for mobile robots in the industrial sector is to perform trajectory tracking, which involves pursuing a specific path through both space and time. In this paper, an iterative learning-based procedure for highly accurate tracking is proposed. This contribution shows how data-based techniques, namely Gaussian process regression, can be used to tailor a motion model to a specific reoccurring reference. The procedure is capable of explorative behavior meaning that the robot automatically explores states around the prescribed trajectory, enriching the data set for learning and increasing the robustness and practical training accuracy. The trade-off between highly accurate tracking and exploration is done automatically by an optimization-based reference generator using a suitable cost function minimizing the posterior variance of the underlying Gaussian process model. While this study focuses on omnidirectional mobile robots, the scheme can be applied to a wide range of mobile robots. The effectiveness of this approach is validated in meaningful real-world experiments on a custom-built omnidirectional mobile robot where it is shown that explorative behavior can outperform purely exploitative approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraventricular neuroendoscopy has evolved into an essential adjunct in neurosurgery and is used across all age groups for various indications. However, studies comparing neuroendoscopic procedures between children and adults are scarce. The aim of this study is to compare various aspects between adults and children undergoing neuroendoscopy. We retrospectively analyzed the data from consecutive patients dichotomized into 2 cohorts, pediatric (age <18 years) and adult (age ≥18 years) groups, in whom intracranial neuroendoscopy was performed between 2013 and 2020 (pediatric group) and 2010 and 2020 (adult group). Of 132 patients who underwent intracranial neuroendoscopic surgery, 47 (35.6%) were children and 85 (64.4%) were adults. The most common indications for the children and adults were intraventricular or paraventricular tumors (23.4%) and aqueduct stenosis (40%), respectively. Their clinical condition at the last follow-up was unchanged or improved for 90.5% of the children and 92.1% of the adults. An increased endoscopic third ventriculostomy success score was predictive of endoscopic third ventriculostomy success in the pediatric cohort (odds ratio, 1.073; P = 0.043). The postoperative rates of transient (pediatric, 23.4%; adult, 18.8%) and permanent (pediatric, 0%; adult, 1.2%) complications were comparable. The rate of secondary surgery was higher for the pediatric cohort (38.3%) than for the adult cohort (17.6%). The indications for neuroendoscopy vary between adults and children, although the long-term clinical outcome is comparable. The rate of secondary surgery is significantly higher for pediatric patients, especially for those aged <1 year. Because neuroendoscopy is considerably more frequent in pediatric patients, including pediatric neurosurgeons in adult neuroendoscopic cases could potentially help lower the complication rates and increase the success rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creeping thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop, is one of the most common weeds in temperate climates. Frequently classified as an invasive species, it is the cause of massive herbicide and tillage use. Especially in organic systems, the plant is hard to manage. Little is known about creeping thistle being entirely edible and having diverse medicinal properties. Additionally, it has potential to be used as food preservative and provides essential ecosystem services. This systematic literature review provides evidence of creeping thistle uses from 56 peer-reviewed journals and 37 popular media references. It discusses potential uses and phytochemical properties of specific plant parts. Findings identify the stem as the most promising part for food use. Creeping thistle has elevated flavonoid (flower) and inulin (root) contents, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic properties respectively. The discussion contrasts the potential of creeping thistle of becoming a multi-purpose crop with its classification as a noxious weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insertion of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures. Whether the weaning method (gradual or rapid) influences the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion rate has not been conclusively established. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic literature review and conduct a meta-analysis of studies comparing gradual with rapid EVD weaning regarding VPS insertion rate. Articles were identified by searching the Pubmed/Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases throughout October 2022. Two independent researchers assessed the studies for inclusion and quality. We included randomized trials, prospective cohort studies, and retrospective cohort studies, which compared gradual and rapid EVD weaning. The primary outcome was VPS insertion rate, whereas secondary outcomes were EVD-associated infection (EVDAI) rate and length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU). Four studies directly comparing rapid versus gradual EVD weaning, with 1337 patients suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage, were identified and included in the meta-analysis. VPS insertion rate was 28.1% and 32.1% in patients with gradual and rapid EVD weaning, respectively (relative risk 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.49–1.46, p = 0.56). Further, the EVDAI rate was comparable between the groups (gradual group 11.2%, rapid group 11.5%, relative risk 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.24–1.89, p = 0.45), whereas length of stay in the ICU and hospital were significantly shorter in the rapid weaning group (2.7 and 3.6 days, respectively; p < 0.01). Rapid EVD weaning seems comparable to gradual EVD weaning concerning VPS insertion rates and EVDAI, whereas hospital and ICU length of stay is significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In free space, electrons undergo inelastic scattering in the presence of ponderomotive potentials generated by light pulses and standing light waves. The resulting modulated electron energy spectrum can exhibit the formation of discrete energy sidebands when multiple light beams are employed. Here, we demonstrate the inelastic scattering of slow-electron wavepackets at a propagating Hermite-Gaussian light beam. The pulsed Hermite-Gaussian beam thus forms a ponderomotive potential for the electron with sufficient momentum components, leading to the inelastic scattering and subsequent formation of discrete energy sidebands. We show that the resulting energy-gain spectra after the interaction are strongly influenced by the self-interference of the electrons in this ponderomotive potential. This effect is observable across various wavelengths, and the energy modulation can be controlled by varying the electron velocity and light intensity. By utilizing the vast landscape of structured electromagnetic fields, this effect introduces an additional platform for manipulating electron wavepackets. Inelastic interactions between electrons and light occur in free space through the presence of ponderomotive potentials generated by light. Here, the authors demonstrate that the use of a single spatially structured traveling light beam modulates the final electron energy spectrum, exhibiting the formation of discrete energy sidebands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concussions can impact cognitive processes necessary for driving. Young adults, a group who are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, have limited driving experience and a higher rate of motor vehicle collisions; they may be at higher risk for driving impairment after concussion. There are no clear guidelines for return-to-driving following a concussion. We sought to examine the simulated driving performance of young drivers after receiving medical care following a concussion, compared with a similar control population, to examine the association of driving performance with performance on neuropsychological tests. We evaluated 47 drivers, 16- to 25-year-old, within 3 weeks of sustaining a concussion and 50 drivers with similar characteristics who had not sustained concussions. Participants completed demographic questionnaires, the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-5 (SCAT-5), and a brief set of neurocognitive tests, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox Cognition Battery and the Trail Making Test, and a simulated driving assessment. At various times during simulated driving, participants were asked to respond to tactile stimuli using the tactile detection response task (TDRT), a validated method of testing cognitive load during simulated driving. The concussion group reported significantly higher symptoms on the SCAT-5 than the comparison group. Performance on crystallized neurocognitive skills was similar between groups. Performance on fluid neurocognitive skills was significantly lower in the concussion than comparison group, although scores were in the normal range for both groups. Simulated driving was similar between groups, although there was a small but significant difference in variation in speed as well as TDRT miss rate, with worse performance by the concussion group. Symptom report on the SCAT-5 was significantly associated with TDRT miss rate. In addition, neurocognitive test scores significantly predicted TDRT reaction time and miss count with medium to large effect sizes. Results suggest that neurocognitive screening may be a useful tool for predicting capacity to return to drive. However, further research is needed to determine guidelines for how neuropsychological tests can be used to make return to driving recommendations and to evaluate effects of concussion on real world driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first-principles theory of electrical breakdown in nanocomposite capacitors, which considers the trapping and scattering (extinction) of electrons originating from the presence of nanoinclusions in the polymer matrix, is developed. The breakdown strength relative to its value for a neat polymer is expressed in terms of two parameters, one of which is determined by the volume density of the nanoinclusion polarizability and the other one is proportional to the electron trap surface density around an inclusion, while the effect of electron scattering is shown to be insignificant. A comparison of the theoretical predictions with diverse experimental data demonstrates an excellent agreement and suggests an effective tool for the design of nanocomposite capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Capacitation is a set of physiological changes sperms undergo to acquire fertilizing capacity. In vivo, this process is directly associated with high calcium levels in sperm cytoplasm. Calcitriol, the vitamin D hypercalcemic metabolite, is related to human sperm motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. This work aimed to study the effect of calcitriol on bull sperm quality parameters and capacitation. Methods: One million freezethawed spermatozoa were obtained from different bulls and treated with 20 nM of calcitriol for 30 min. Untreated cells (negative control) and treated ones with calcitriol or heparin (100 μg/mL, positive capacitation control) were evaluated for motility, viability, and functional parameters. Menadione (70 μM, 30 min) treatment was included as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) positive sperm agent. Results: The results elucidated that sperm exposed to 20 nM calcitriol showed higher viability, vigor, and capacitation than their positive and negative controls. The percentage of sperm with intact plasma and acrosome membranes, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and phosphatidylserine externalization was similar in all the conditions evaluated, while ROS production was higher with heparin and menadione-treated groups than the calcitriol group or negative control. Conclusion: Our results indicate that calcitriol induces the capacitation of thawed bull spermatozoa and maintains acceptable values of progressive motility, viability, and vigor without altering key biological parameters such as redox status, ΔΨm, and cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) used for treating cancer relies on the generation of highly reactive oxygen species, for example, singlet oxygen 1O2, by light‐induced excitation of a photosensitizer (PS) in the presence of molecular oxygen, inducing DNA damage in close proximity of the PS. Although many precious metal complexes have been explored as PS for PDT and received clinical approval, only recently, the potential of photoactive complexes of non‐noble metals as PS has been discovered. Using the DNA origami technology that can absolutely quantify DNA strand break cross sections, we assessed the potential of the luminescent transition metal complex [Cr(ddpd)2]3+ (ddpd=N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐dipyridine‐2‐ylpyridine‐2,6‐diamine) to damage DNA in an air‐saturated aqueous environment upon UV/Vis illumination. The quantum yield for strand breakage, that is, the ratio of DNA strand breaks to the number of absorbed photons, was determined to 1–4 %, indicating efficient transformation of photons into DNA strand breaks by [Cr(ddpd)2]3+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maltol (MT) and ethyl maltol (EM) are flavoring compounds that release vapors into headspace, exerting antimicrobial effects and extending food shelf-life. This study investigated biodegradable films for packaged bakery quality. Biodegradable films (40 % polybutylene adipate terephthalate and 60 % thermoplastic starch) were produced via extrusion for films with varying MT and EM contents (1, 3, and 5 %). Scanning electron microscopy revealed smoother and more homogeneous film cross-sections with MT/EM, indicating reduced surface wrinkling. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis suggested modified O H and C H stretching due to hydrogen bonding between TPS and EM/MT. The XRD pattern showed sharp MT crystallization, modifying crystal polymorphs of starch and PBAT. EM and MT films exhibited against Staphylococcus aureus after 24 h. Moreover, EM/MT films effectively delayed fungal growth in butter cake, inhibiting mold growth in butter cake more than twofold. These findings suggest that volatile compounds like MT/EM have promising potential for incorporation into PBAT/TPS films, creating active bakery packaging. • Ethyl maltol and maltol improved the homogeneity of the PBAT/TPS blend films. • The release of ethyl maltol and maltol ≥3 % from the films effectively inhibited microbial growth. • Active films extended the shelf life of butter cake by delaying fungal growth and hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous hepatic melphalan perfusion (PHMP) is a last-line treatment of inoperable primary or secondary liver tumors. Selective perfusion and saturation (chemosaturation) of the liver with the chemotherapeutic agent melphalan is performed via catheterization of the hepatic artery without affecting the rest of the body with its cytotoxic properties. Using an extracorporeal circulation and balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava, the venous hepatic blood is filtered and returned using a bypass procedure. During the procedure, considerable circulatory depression and coagulopathy are frequent. The purpose of this article is to review the anesthesiological and postprocedural management of patients undergoing PHMP with consideration of the pitfalls and special circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geopolitical U.S. Northern Great Plains encompass the state areas of Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. While other parts of the United States have seen considerable outmigration from rural areas, this region has widely maintained its rural population due to favorable employment, education, food security, and relatively low poverty levels. Currently, the expansion of large-scale agriculture, often poor food environments, and demographic trends, as well as external factors such as climate change, may affect population densities, livelihoods, and the vitality of the rural U.S. Northern Great Plains. We suggest a strong role of the food system in shaping these developments. For our study, we processed socioeconomic and food-system-related data from demographic databases in descriptive statistics to explore the impact of the food system on demographic and socioeconomic parameters. Specifically, we present data on how selected parameters of demography, employment, education, poverty, agriculture, food security, food accessibility, and health have changed during the past four decades in the U.S. Northern Great Plains, specifically its rural parts. We later discuss how these changes may contribute to future demographic and livelihood developments. We aim to offer our readers an understanding of the complex and interacting developments affecting rural residents of the U.S. Northern Great Plains and the important role the food system plays in the present and future of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the successful management of ivermectin‐induced status epilepticus in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) with intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy. Case Summary: A 5‐week‐old, female intact guinea pig was presented to an emergency hospital for status epilepticus 24 hours after oral administration of ivermectin. Approximately 48 hours after exposure, ILE therapy was administered. Within 12–16 hours after ILE therapy, seizures had stopped and the patient's mentation returned to normal. The definitive diagnosis was based on owner history, clinical presentation, and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals poison control guidelines. New or Unique Information Provided: The use of intralipid therapy has been widely documented as a treatment option for numerous toxicities. Its efficacy in treatment for toxicities in both veterinary and human medicines has been well described in various case reports and studies. However, its use and success in small mammals have yet to be documented. In this case report, intralipid therapy is used to successfully treat a seizuring guinea pig that was administered a severely toxic dose of ivermectin. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the successful use of intralipids in a guinea pig from ivermectin toxicosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: 4D flow MRI enables quantitative assessment of helical flow. We sought to generate normal values and elucidate changes of helical flow (duration, volume, length, velocities and rotational direction) and flow jet (displacement, flow angle) as well as wall shear stress (WSS). Methods: We assessed the temporal helical existence (THEX), maximum helical volume (HVmax), accumulated helical volume (HVacc), accumulated helical volume length (HVLacc), maximum forward velocity (maxVfor), maximum circumferential velocity (maxVcirc), rotational direction (RD) and maximum wall shear stress (WSS) as reported elsewhere using the software tool Bloodline in 86 healthy volunteers (46 females, mean age 41 ± 13 years). Results: WSS decreased by 42.1% and maxVfor by 55.7% across age. There was no link between age and gender regarding the other parameters. Conclusion: This study provides age-dependent normal values regarding WSS and maxVfor and age- and gender-independent normal values regarding THEX, HVmax, HVacc, HVLacc, RD and maxVcirc. Key Points: • 4D flow provides numerous new parameters; therefore, normal values are mandatory. • Wall shear stress decreases over age. • Maximum helical forward velocity decreases over age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The β titanium alloys are key materials in lightweight and biomedical applications, due to the combination of excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, the Binder-based Powder Technologies such as Metal-Injection-Molding (MIM), Binder-Jetting and Fused-Filament-Fabrication, normally introduce three major processing-related defects in the as-sintered Ti-parts: (i) residual porosity, (ii) high impurity level and (iii) coarse-grained structure. The previous studies revealed that these processing defects invariably tend to be even more severe in β titanium alloys than in α/β Ti-6Al-4V alloy, all fabricated by powder metallurgical route. In this work, these processing defects and their likely origins in MIM β titanium alloys are analysed. Furthermore, the influence of these defects on damage tolerance and fracture mechanisms of MIM β titanium alloys under either static or dynamic loading is investigated. Based on the studies, strategic technical improvements in the processing to improve the reliability of MIM β titanium alloys products are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is one of the most common procedures in neurosurgery. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of drainage suction in the surgical treatment of cSDH on the recurrence rate. Post hoc analysis was conducted on two randomized controlled trials (cSDH-Drain-Trial and TOSCAN trial) stratifying a total of 581 patients into active or passive drain type. Of the 581 patients, 359 (61.8%) and 220 (37.9%) were stratified into the active and passive drainage groups, respectively. The reoperation rate following postoperative recurrence was 23.1% and 14.1% in the active and passive drainage groups, respectively (p < 0.011). After propensity score matching, the differences in recurrence rate remained significant (26.6% versus 15.6%, p = 0.012). However, the functional outcome (mRS) at 6–12 months did not differ significantly (median [IQR]) between the 2 groups (passive drainage group 0.00 [0.00, 2.00], active drainage group 1.00 [0.00, 2.00], p = 0.431). Mortality was comparable between the groups (passive drainage group 12 (5.5%), active drainage group 20 (5.6%), p = 0.968). In the univariate analysis, active drainage, short (<48 h) duration of drainage, and early (<48 h) postoperative mobilization were significantly associated with a higher recurrence rate. However, the multivariate logistic regression model could not confirm that any of these parameters were significantly associated with recurrence. Our post hoc analysis proposes that using a passive instead of an active drain might be associated with a reduced recurrence rate after evacuation of a cSDH. We suggest gathering further evidence by means of a randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article correcting an error in a previously published reference, specifically referencing the correct article for a comparison of accelerated 4D-fow sequences for aortic flow quantification.

Background: MPV17‐related mitochondrial DNA maintenance defect (MPV17 deficiency) is a rare, autosomal recessive mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome with a high mortality rate in infancy and early childhood due to progression to liver failure. Liver transplantation for children with MPV17 deficiency has been considered controversial due to uncertainty about the potential progression of extrahepatic manifestations following liver transplantation. Methods: We describe our institution's experience for two infants diagnosed with infantile MPV17 deficiency who presented in acute on chronic liver failure, but with normal development and normal neurological status who successfully underwent liver transplantation. Results: Both patients underwent successful liver transplantation with normal development and neurological status at 3 years and 16 months post‐transplant, respectively. Conclusions: In this rare disease population, we describe two infants with MPV17 deficiency who underwent liver transplantation for acute on chronic liver failure who continue to have normal development, without progression of neurological disease. MPV17 deficiency should not be considered a contraindication to liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The membrane surface of enveloped viruses contains dedicated proteins enabling the fusion of the viral with the host cell membrane. Working with these proteins is almost always challenging because they are membrane-embedded and naturally metastable. Fortunately, based on a range of different examples, researchers now have several possibilities to tame membrane fusion proteins, making them amenable for structure determination and immunogen generation. This review describes the structural and functional similarities of the different membrane fusion proteins and ways to exploit these features to stabilise them by targeted mutational approaches. The recent determination of two herpesvirus membrane fusion proteins in prefusion conformation holds the potential to apply similar methods to this group of viral fusogens. In addition to a better understanding of the herpesviral fusion mechanism, the structural insights gained will help to find ways to further stabilise these proteins using the methods described to obtain stable immunogens that will form the basis for the development of the next generation of vaccines and antiviral drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An important initial phase of arguably most homology search and alignment methods such as required for genome alignments is seed finding. The seed finding step is crucial to curb the runtime as potential alignments are restricted to and anchored at the sequence position pairs that constitute the seed. To identify seeds, it is good practice to use sets of spaced seed patterns, a method that locally compares two sequences and requires exact matches at certain positions only. Results: We introduce a new method for filtering alignment seeds that we call geometric hashing. Geometric hashing achieves a high specificity by combining non-local information from different seeds using a simple hash function that only requires a constant and small amount of additional time per spaced seed. Geometric hashing was tested on the task of finding homologous positions in the coding regions of human and mouse genome sequences. Thereby, the number of false positives was decreased about million-fold over sets of spaced seeds while maintaining a very high sensitivity. Conclusions: An additional geometric hashing filtering phase could improve the run-time, accuracy or both of programs for various homology-search-and-align tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrohalides of Lewis bases may act as halogen bond (XB) acceptors and combine two directional interactions, namely, hydrogen bonds (HB) and XBs in the same solid. 3‐(1,3,5‐Trimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)acetylacetone (C11H16N2O2, HacacMePz) was protonated with HX (X = Cl or Br) to afford the hydrohalides, C11H17N2O2+·X− or H2acacMePz+·X− (1, X = Cl; 2, X = Br). Hydrohalides 1 and 2 are isomorphous and adopt a classical dipole packing. Consistent with the observation for most β‐diketones, the enol form with an intramolecular HB is observed. Additional noteworthy interactions are HBs of the protonated pyrazolium towards the X− anion at donor–acceptor distances of 2.9671 (17) Å for 1 and 3.159 (4) Å for 2. Cocrystallization of hydrobromide 2 with the XB donor tetrafluorodiiodobenzene (TFDIB) leads to the adduct C11H17N2O2+·Br−·0.5C6F4I2·H2O or (H2acacMePz+·Br−)2·(H2O)2·TFDIB (3), in which the XB donor TFDIB is situated on a crystallographic centre of inversion. Classical HBs link organic cations, water molecules and Br− anions into chains along [010]. Almost orthogonal to this interaction, XBs with Br...I = 3.2956 (4) Å connect neighbouring chains along [102] into two‐dimensional sheets in the (10) plane. Assisted by their negative charge, halide anions represent particularly good nucleophiles towards XB donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia spicata are economically and ecologically relevant brown seaweeds that recently have been classified as members of two separated families within Laminariales (kelps). Here we describe for the first time the Macrocystis pyrifera x Lessonia spicata hybridization in the wild (Chiloe Island, Southeastern Pacific), where populations of the two parents exist sympatrically. Externally, this hybrid exhibited typical features of its parents M. pyrifera (cylindrical and flexible distal stipes, serrate frond margins and presence of sporophylls) and L. spicata (rigid and flat main stipe and first bifurcation), as well as intermediate features between them (thick unfused haptera in the holdfast). Histological sections revealed the prevalence of mucilage ducts within stipes and fronds (absent in Lessonia) and fully developed unilocular sporangia in the sporophylls. Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of the two parental genotypes for ITS1 nrDNA and the M. pyrifera genotype for two predominantly maternally inherited cytoplasmic markers (COI and rbcLS spacer) in the tissue of the hybrid. A metabolome-wide approach revealed that this hybrid is more chemically reminiscent to M. pyrifera. Nevertheless, several hits were identified as Lessonia exclusive or more remarkably, not present in any of the parent. Meiospores developed into apparently fertile gametophytes, which gave rise to F1 sporophytes that reached several millimeters before suddenly dying. In-vitro reciprocal crossing of Mar Brava gametophytes from both species revealed that although it is rare, interfamilial hybridization between the two species is possible but mostly overcome by pseudogamy of female gametophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the pandemic the employees of the public library in Weinheim created a digital school for wizards. This offer ensured children in Weinheim despite of all the restrictions a varied and exciting summer. On every other day they had to solve a magical task to get points for their house. At the end every kid won a price – if not the house cup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The malaria hypothesis predicts local, balancing selection of deleterious alleles that confer strong protection from malaria. Three protective variants, recently discovered in red cell genes, are indeed more common in African than European populations. Still, up to 89% of the heritability of severe malaria is attributed to many genome-wide loci with individually small effects. Recent analyses of hundreds of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in humans suggest that most functional, polygenic variation is pleiotropic for multiple traits. Interestingly, GWAS alleles and red cell traits associated with small reductions in malaria risk are not enriched in African populations. We propose that other selective and neutral forces, in addition to malaria prevalence, explain the global distribution of most genetic variation impacting malaria risk. In malaria-endemic populations, the malaria hypothesis predicts balancing selection on protective loci that interfere with red blood cell (RBC) function. Novel variants in the RBC genes PIEZO1 , ATP2B4 , and GYPA/GYPB are associated with strong protection from severe malaria and are more common in Africans than Europeans, consistent with the malaria hypothesis. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) attribute most of the heritability of severe malaria risk to many loci with small effects spread across the genome. African populations are not enriched for small-effect alleles associated with protection from severe malaria. Similarly, healthy RBC traits associated with reduced Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro are not positively associated with African ancestry. Pervasive pleiotropy may limit adaptation in complex traits. Therefore, host variation that impacts malaria may not necessarily conform to the malaria hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of the effective dielectric function of a nanocomposite dielectric disposed between the metallic electrodes in a capacitor is developed from first principles. Following the Maxwell Garnett approach, the spherical nanosized inclusions in the dielectric are modeled by point dipoles and the electromagnetic field of the induced dipoles reflected from the electrodes is taken into account using the dyadic Green's function. The developed theory substitutes the Maxwell Garnett approximation for nanocomposites in the subwavelength regime, which is realized in electrical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of molecular dynamics simulation, we investigate the interaction of picosecond-duration compression pulses excited by a flat impactor with flat and nano-structured rear surfaces of copper and aluminum samples. It is shown that protrusions on the rear surface can increase the threshold value of the impact velocity, leading to spallation. As the shock wave reaches the perturbed rear surface, an unloading on the lateral surfaces of the protrusions begins; it leads to an intensive plastic deformation in the surface layer of metal. A part of the compression pulse energy is spent on the plastic deformation that restricts the rarefaction wave amplitude and suppresses the spall fracture. An increase in threshold velocity can be observed for all investigated thicknesses of the targets. The increase is substantial with respect to comparability between the protrusion height and the compression pulse width (the impactor thickness). Another condition is the ratio of the protrusion cross-section to the total surface area, which should be neither small nor large-approximately 0.3-0.4 for the best case. At high protrusion heights (higher than the compression pulse width), as well as at large protrusion cross sections, instability develops on the rear surface of the target and is accompanied by mass ejection. The instability violates the rear surface integrity and restricts the threshold velocity, although the loss of integrity in this case goes through mass ejection, not spallation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains the treatment of choice for kidney stones larger than 2 cm. Few studies have examined the reasons why some urologists obtain their own PCNL access while others prefer to have interventional radiology (IR) obtain access. The objective of this study was to investigate what factors influence this decision. Methods: A survey was posted to the American Urological Association's (AUA) Young Urologist Community. Descriptive statistics and exploratory analyses were used to summarize practice trends and motivating factors. Results: All 99 respondents began practicing within the past 11 years. Ninety-two currently perform PCNLs and 47% of them obtain their own access. Endourology fellowship-trained physicians were more likely to currently obtain their own access (75%) compared to urologists who completed non-endourology fellowships (75% vs. 23%, p=0.58) and non-fellowship-trained urologists (75% vs. 45%, p=0.01). Logging >50 cases during training also predicted physicians obtaining their own access and having a larger annual number of PCNL cases. The most common motivator for obtaining one's own access was preference to control their own access point (95%). Conclusions: Urologist-obtained PCNL access was associated with greater training experience (endourology fellowship) and current annual PCNL case volume. Urologist-reported factors that influenced the decision to obtain one's own access include control of access, comfort level, and both physician and patient convenience. By identifying the factors that influence practice patterns, we may better address barriers, improve education to make urologistobtained PCNL access feasible even without fellowship training, and ultimately improve outcomes and quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloroplasts play a pivotal role in the metabolism of leaf mesophyll cells, functioning as a cellular hub that orchestrates molecular reactions in response to environmental stimuli. These organelles contain complex protein machinery for energy conversion and are indispensable for essential metabolic pathways. Proteins located within the chloroplast envelope membranes facilitate bidirectional communication with the cell and connect essential pathways, thereby influencing acclimation processes to challenging environmental conditions such as temperature fluctuations and light intensity changes. Despite their importance, a comprehensive overview of the impact of envelope-located proteins during acclimation to environmental changes is lacking. Understanding the role of these proteins in acclimation processes could provide insights into enhancing stress tolerance under increasingly challenging environments. This review highlights the significance of envelope-located proteins in plant acclimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]