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City populations are particularly vulnerable to climate change, but it is difficult to reliably estimate the impact on health due to the lack of high-resolution data. We used recently developed regional climate model projections at kilometre resolution combined with demographic projections to estimate the future mortality burden associated with temperatures in the region of Brussels, Belgium. The study incorporated a time-series analysis. Based on quasi-Poisson regression with distributed-lag non-linear models for the historical temperature–mortality relationship, we derive the mortality burden for the near (2020–2044) and mid (2045–2069) future and disaggregated the contributions of demographic and climate changes. The cold-related attributable fraction of deaths is expected to decrease from 6.22% (95% empirical confidence interval: 1.76%; 10.52%) in 1994–2019 to 5.17% (1.08%; 9.09%) in 2045–2069, whereas for heat, this fraction will increase from 1.02% (0.59%; 1.47%) to 1.83% (0.82%; 2.96%), with contributions of both climate and demographic changes. In stratified analyses by age, we found that because of demographic changes, the number of cold-attributable deaths will increase for people aged above 85 years, with 6815 (95% empirical confidence interval: 1424; 12,003) deaths expected in 2045–2069 compared to 5245 (1462; 8867) deaths in 1994–2019. For people aged below 65 years, on the other hand, the number of heat-related deaths will decrease from 456 (265; 658) to 344 (154; 561) deaths. Public health policies that especially target the elderly and the summer-time period are needed to limit the impact of climate change on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil shrinkage characteristic curves are used to describe the shrinkage behavior and hydraulic properties of unsaturated soils. To construct soil shrinkage characteristic curves, a high‐data‐density measurement method is needed that relates water content to soil volume changes. We present a fully automated soil shrinkage measurement setup, based on the simplified evaporation method, to characterize the shrinkage behavior of undisturbed natural expansive clay soils. The high data density creates the opportunity to produce soil shrinkage characteristic curves without the need for a mathematical model. The technique allows for resaturation of the samples after drying, enabling differentiation between reversible and irreversible shrinkage. The setup consists of the commercialized HYPROP2 apparatus combined with optical distance sensors to measure the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the samples, yielding data on the sample volume, weight, and soil water suction. The measurement frequency is once per 10 min, and the measurement period is up to 4 weeks, providing a detailed time series of the drying and shrinkage characteristics. The setup can capture the different shrinkage phases and offers the opportunity to relate the soil shrinkage characteristic curve to soil water suction. The measurement data acquisition rate and accuracy enable detailed interpretation of soil water retention curves for nonrigid soils and are shown to be essential for understanding and quantifying the shrinkage potential of several types of deposits. Core Ideas: We present a new fully automated setup to accurately measure soil shrinkage curves of expansive soils.The method enables the construction of soil shrinkage curves without applying a mathematical model.Establishing soil water retention curves can be improved by simultaneously measuring shrinkage during drying. Plain Language Summary: Soil shrinkage is the decrease of soil volume due to lower water levels, which can damage infrastructure, cause land subsidence, and alter soil properties. To predict soil shrinkage accurately, it should be monitored either in the field or on natural samples in the lab, requiring high data density. We developed and tested a method to capture the shrinkage behavior of natural soil samples. Our results show that this method allows us to describe shrinkage without relying on mathematical models and also study the effects of soil wetting. This study enhances our ability to measure and understand soil shrinkage, which is crucial for predicting soil behavior in various environmental and engineering scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fermi -LAT has detected more than 7000 |$\gamma$| -ray sources which show emission above 50 MeV of which more than half are associated with blazars. However, the Fourth Fermi -LAT catalogue (4FGL-DR4) lists 1625 of these as blazar candidates of uncertain type. Increasing the number of classified Fermi -LAT sources is important for improving our understanding of extragalactic |$\gamma$| -ray sources and can be used to search for new classes of very high energy sources. We report on the optical spectroscopy of twelve blazar candidates with hard photon indices included in the Third Catalogue of Hard Fermi -LAT Sources during 2016 and 2017 using the SAAO 1.9-m telescope. We classify all the sources observed as BL Lac objects, and determine the potential spectroscopic redshift for seven of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At optical/ultraviolet energies, blazars display an underlying thermal (unpolarized) contribution from the accretion disc, torus, and line-emitting regions, diluting the polarized emission from the jet-component. Optical polarimetry can be used to disentangle the thermal and non-thermal components, and place constraints on the particle populations and acceleration mechanisms responsible for the non-thermal emission. We present the results of a linear optical spectropolarimetric observing campaign of 18 blazars (six BL Lac-type objects and 12 flat-spectrum radio quasars) undertaken with the Southern African Large Telescope between 2016 and 2022. This was done to observe these systems during flaring states, as well as long-term monitoring of PKS1510-089, AP Lib, and PKS 1034-293. The observations traced the frequency dependence of the degree and angle of polarization, as well as changes in the spectral line strengths. We investigated possible correlations between the polarization and other observed characteristics for the sources. While an indication of correlation was found between the frequency dependence and the average level of polarization for some sources, a correlation was not found for the population as a whole. These results highlight that continuous observations and in-depth modelling of polarization and its frequency dependence is required to obtain a more holistic view of TeV blazars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemp hull is the outer coat of the hemp seed, derived from the plant Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae. While much attention has been paid to hemp seed for its oil, protein and micronutrient content, far less attention has been given to hemp hull, a side stream of hemp processing. Hemp hull is a source of bioactive compounds, dietary fiber, minerals as well as protein, lipids and carbohydrates. Of note, two bioactive compounds, n-trans-caffeoyltyramine and n-trans-feruloyltyramine have been identified in hemp hull as key bioactive compounds that support gut health, liver function and other physiological processes. Both of these compounds were identified as agonists of the transcription factor, hepatic nuclear factor-4 alpha which has been implicated in gene expression that governs gut permeability, factors associated with inflammatory bowel diseases, and hepatic lipid homeostasis. Additionally, the dietary fibers in hemp hull have been demonstrated to be novel prebiotics, which may further amplify hemp hull's effect on gut health and metabolic health. This review article summarizes the nutritional content of hemp hull, explores the physiological effects of bioactive compounds found in hemp hull, and identifies opportunities for further research on hemp hull for human health benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Underweight children had decreased antibody response after pneumococcal vaccination. • Specific B-cell subsets were associated with pneumococcal antibody decay. • B-cells, metabolic hormones and nutritional status correlated with vaccine response. We explored the role of metabolic hormones and the B-cell repertoire in the association between nutritional status and vaccine responses. In this prospective cohort study, nested within a larger randomized open-label trial, 211 South African children received two doses of measles vaccine and two or three doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). Metabolic markers (leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin) and distribution of B-cell subsets (n = 106) were assessed at 18 months of age. Children with a weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) ≤ −1 standard deviation (SD) at booster vaccination had a decreased mean serotype-specific PCV IgG response compared with those with WHZ > −1 and <+1 SD or WHZ ≥ +1 SD at 9 months post-booster (18 months of age). (Naive) pre-germinal center B-cells were associated with pneumococcal antibody decay between one to nine months post-booster. Predictive performance of elastic net models for the combined effect of B-cell subsets, metabolic hormones and nutritional status (in addition to age, sex, and randomization group) on measles and PCV vaccine response had an average area under the receiver operating curve of 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. The combined effect of B-cell subsets, metabolic hormones and nutritional status correlated well with the vaccination response for measles and most PCV serotypes. ClinicalTrials.gov registration of parent studies: NCT02943902 and NCT03330171. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with irresectable stage III or metastatic melanoma presenting with poor prognostic factors are usually treated with a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), consisting of ipilimumab and nivolumab. This combination therapy is associated with severe immune related adverse events (irAEs) in about 60% of patients. In current clinical practice, patients are usually treated with ICIs for up to two years or until disease progression or the occurrence of unacceptable AEs. The incidence of irAEs gradually increases with duration of treatment. While durable tumour responses have been observed after early discontinuation of treatment, no consensus has been reached on optimal treatment duration. The objective of the Safe Stop IPI-NIVO trial is to evaluate whether early discontinuation of ICIs is safe in patients with irresectable stage III or metastatic melanoma who are treated with combination therapy. Methods: The Safe Stop IPI-NIVO trial is a nationwide, multicentre, prospective, single-arm, interventional study in the Netherlands. A total of 80 patients with irresectable stage III or metastatic melanoma who are treated with combination therapy of ipilimumab-nivolumab and have a complete or partial response (CR/PR) according to RECIST v1.1 will be included to early discontinue maintenance therapy with anti-PD-1. The primary endpoint is the rate of ongoing response at 12 months after start of ICI. Secondary endpoints include ongoing response at 24 months, disease control at different time points, melanoma specific and overall survival, the incidence of irAEs and health-related quality of life. Discussion: From a medical, healthcare and economic perspective, overtreatment should be prevented and shorter treatment duration of ICIs is preferred. If early discontinuation of ICIs is safe for patients who are treated with the combination of ipilimumab-nivolumab, the treatment duration of nivolumab could be shortened in patients with a favourable tumour response. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05652673, registration date: 08–12-2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tertiary chirality describes the handedness of supramolecular assemblies and relies not only on the primary and secondary structures of the building blocks but also on topological driving forces that have been sparsely characterized. Helical biopolymers, especially DNA, have been extensively investigated as they possess intrinsic chirality that determines the optical, mechanical, and physical properties of the ensuing material. Here, we employ the DNA tensegrity triangle as a model system to locate the tipping points in chirality inversion at the tertiary level by X-ray diffraction. We engineer tensegrity triangle crystals with incremental rotational steps between immobile junctions from 3 to 28 base pairs (bp). We construct a mathematical model that accurately predicts and explains the molecular configurations in both this work and previous studies. Our design framework is extendable to other supramolecular assemblies of helical biopolymers and can be used in the design of chiral nanomaterials, optically active molecules, and mesoporous frameworks, all of which are of interest to physical, biological, and chemical nanoscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the balanced pantograph equation (BPE) y ′ x + y x = ∑ k = 1 m p k y a k x , where ak, pk > 0 and ∑ k = 1 m p k = 1 . It is known that if K = ∑ k = 1 m p k ln a k ≤ 0 then, under mild technical conditions, the BPE does not have bounded solutions that are not constant, whereas for K > 0 these solutions exist. In the present paper, we deal with a BPE of mixed type, i.e., a1< 1 < am, and prove that, in this case, the BPE has a nonconstant solution y and that y(x) ~ cxσ as x → ∞, where c > 0 and σ is the unique positive root of the characteristic equation P s = 1 - ∑ k = 1 m p k a k - s = 0 . We also show that y is unique (up to a multiplicative constant) among the solutions of the BPE that decay to zero as x → ∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HESS J1832−093 is a member of the rare class of gamma-ray binaries, as recently confirmed by the detection of orbitally modulated X-ray and gamma-ray emission with a period of ∼86 d. The spectral type of the massive companion star has been difficult to retrieve as there is no optical counterpart, but the system is coincident with a near-infrared source. Previous results have shown that the infrared counterpart is consistent with an O or B-type star, but a clear classification is still lacking. We observed the counterpart twice, in 2019 and 2021, with the X-Shooter spectrograph operating on the Very Large Telescope (VLT). The obtained spectra classify the counterpart as an O6 V-type star. We estimate a distance to the source of 6.7 ± 0.5 kpc, although this estimate can be severely affected by the high extinction towards the source. This new O6 V classification for the companion star in HESS J1832−093 provides further support to an apparent grouping around a given spectral type for all discovered gamma-ray binaries that contain an O-type star. This may be due to the interplay between the initial mass function and the wind momentum–luminosity relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present numerical simulations of the light emitted by a source and scattered by surrounding electric dipoles with Zeeman splitting. We calculate the leakage of electromagnetic angular momentum to infinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global reanalyzes like ERA5 accurately capture atmospheric processes at spatial scales of O(10) $\mathcal{O}(10)$ km or larger. By downscaling ERA5 with large‐eddy simulation (LES), LES can provide details about processes at spatio‐temporal scales down to meters and seconds. Here, we present an open‐source Python package named the "Large‐eddy simulation and Single‐column model—Large‐Scale Dynamics," or (LS)2D in short, designed to simplify the downscaling of ERA5 with doubly‐periodic LES. A validation with observations, for several sensitivity experiments consisting of month‐long LESs over Cabauw (the Netherlands), demonstrates both its usefulness and limitations. The day‐to‐day variability in the weather is well captured by (LS)2D and LES, but the setup under‐performs in conditions with broken or near overcast clouds. As a novel application of this modeling system, we used (LS)2D to study surface solar irradiance variability, as this quantity directly links land‐surface processes, turbulent transport, and clouds, to radiation. At a horizontal resolution of 25 m, the setup reproduces satisfactorily the solar irradiance variability down to a timescale of seconds. This demonstrates that the coupled LES‐ERA5 setup is a useful tool that can provide details on the physics of turbulence and clouds, but can only improve on its host reanalysis when applied to meteorological suitable conditions. Plain Language Summary: Modern global weather models are accurate in predicting atmospheric processes at scales of around 10 km or larger, but are less good at predicting smaller scale processes, like for example, the interaction between solar radiation, individual clouds, and the resulting clouds shadows that are cast onto the land surface. High spatio‐temporal resolution research models are able to capture these smaller scale processes, but require a coupling to a weather model to account for the day‐to‐day variability in our weather. In this paper, we present a framework to couple large to small scale models, and demonstrate both the benefits and challenges of using this coupled model setup. The coupled setup excels in capturing the aforementioned high frequency interactions between small clouds and surface solar radiation. However, the chaotic nature of broken to overcast clouds is proven difficult to represent. The coupled model setup is published as open‐source code, and is therefore freely available to the research community. Key Points: We developed an open‐source Python package named (LS)2D, designed to downscale the ERA5 reanalysis with turbulence and cloud‐resolving large‐eddy simulation (LESs)One month long experiments with (LS)2D and MicroHH over the Netherlands demonstrate both the skill and limitations of the coupled setupCapturing high‐frequency interactions between clouds and surface solar irradiance requires high resolution (O $\mathcal{O}$(10) m) LES [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discharge current components, such as electron, ion beam, and lost-to-wall currents, are obtained as functions of azimuthal propellant inhomogeneity in a Hall thruster. Discharge characteristics are discussed based on discharge current oscillation and radial–azimuthal discharge photography. A highly oscillative operation regime is found to be accompanied by radially enlarged expansion of discharge under limited electron currents. Further increases in neutral inhomogeneity lead to quiescent discharge combined with enhanced electron currents and an azimuthally separated ionization region. An axial one-dimensional classical view of electron flow is found to explain the observed electron current evolution only until moderate propellant inhomogeneity occurs. Through discharge image analysis, it is shown that plasma inhomogeneity increases linearly with respect to the input neutral particle inhomogeneity. The evolution of the inhomogeneity does not capture a stepwise increase in the electron current during discharge mode changes; however, the monotonic increase featured in each discharge regime shows that the azimuthal gradient of plasma properties can contribute to increased electron current. Lastly, the weakened magnetic barrier to electron flow resulting from axial–azimuthal variation in plasma structures is presented as another possible cause of increased electron current in nonuniform propellant operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Toxicity evaluations of Southern African plants used to treat pain and inflammation are reviewed. • Only 117 of the >500 plants traditionally used to treat pain and inflammation have been screened for toxicity. • Cell-based and brine shrimp lethality assays were identified as the most frequently used assay models. • Few species have been tested using more than one assay and substantially more study is required. • Of the plants that have been screened for toxicity, >80% were reported to be nontoxic. The harmful side effects associated with conventional anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals has focussed attention on medicinal plants as alternative therapeutics. However, the use of medicinal plants is predominantly based on ethnobotanical knowledge and often lacks toxicity data and safety validation. A comprehensive review of the toxicity and phytochemical properties of southern African medicinal plants used for inflammation and pain-related ailments was undertaken. Various ethnobotanical books and search engines including Science direct, Sci-Finder, Google Scholar and Scopus were used to determine which medicinal plants have been screened for toxicity. A total of 117 medicinal plants have previously been evaluated by toxicity screening. The predominant toxicity test used was the MTT reduction assay (109 species), followed by the brine shrimp lethality assay (57 species), and the XTT assay (24 species). The Ames test, which was used to screen 20 species, was the most frequently used assay to determine mutagenic properties of the plant extracts. The top five most commonly screened cell lines were Vero monkey kidney cells (46 plant extracts), RAW 264.7 macrophages (23 extracts), human breast cancer cells (MCF-7, 12) (21 extracts), mouse fibroblast (3T3) (18 extracts) and Graham cells (HEK-293) (17 extracts). Over 80% of the tested medicinal plant extracts were found to be non-toxic. Although many species have been evaluated for their toxicity properties, plant extracts are often tested using one or two assays and also lack diversity in terms of choice of cell lines used for screening. Phytochemical studies remain scarce and substantial further work is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this first-in-human study was to evaluate the effect of a polycarbonate anatomical meniscus prosthesis system, including the surgical procedure, on knee pain and describe potential adverse events in patients with post-meniscectomy pain syndrome. Methods: Eleven patients with post-meniscectomy pain syndrome and limited underlying cartilage damage were enrolled in the study. Five received a medial polycarbonate urethane meniscus prosthesis which was clicked onto 2 titanium screws fixated at the native horn attachments on the tibia. The KOOS score was planned to be collected at baseline and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months following the intervention including radiographs at 6, 12 and 24 months. MRI scans were repeated after 12 and 24 months. Results: The surgical technique to select an appropriately sized implant and correct positioning of the fixation screws and meniscus prosthesis onto the tibia was demonstrated to be feasible and reproducible. Inclusion stopped after 5 patients because of serious adverse device-related events. All patients reported knee joint stiffness and slight effusion in their knee at 6 months follow-up. In 3 patients the implant was removed because of implant failure and in 1 patient the implant was removed because of persistent pain and extension limitation. In none of the patients did the KOOS score improve in the first 6 months after surgery. However, in the patient who still has the implant in situ, PROMs started to improve 1 year after surgery and this improvement continued through 2 years of follow-up. The KOOS Pain, symptoms and ADL were close to the maximal 100 points. KOOS QoL and sport did improve but remained suboptimal. Conclusion: This first version of the meniscus prosthesis led to impaired knee function and failed in four out of five patients. The patients where the prosthesis was removed were salvable and the PROMs returned to pre-study levels. The results in the patient where the device is still in place are promising. Level of evidence: Level II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct childhood nature experiences have decreased rapidly over the last generations. Similar to the shifting baseline syndrome where new generations accept impoverished biodiversity as a new point of reference, we are at risk not only of having fewer childhood nature experiences, but also of accepting these diminished opportunities to connect with nature as the norm. This paper examines children's experiences in, and perception of, nature in their day-to-day context. To this end, 1532 Dutch school children's drawings of their favourite place for playing outdoors were analysed, including the elements that they indicated in their drawings as nature. The study shows that for Dutch children, these favourite places are often playgrounds in built environments and that, in order to counter this decrease in direct day-to-day childhood nature experiences, provision should be made for more natural areas in which children can play without adult supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effect of temperature on the thermal magnetic noise signal of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) systems as models for non-interacting macrospins. An analytical expression for the amplitude of the fluctuations in a magnetic field is derived for the Brownian and the Néel fluctuation mechanisms and compared with numerical results at different temperatures. To experimentally validate our findings, magnetic noise spectra of two commercially available polydisperse MNP systems (Ferucarbotran and Perimag) were measured at different, biomedically relevant temperatures. A distinctive effect of temperature on the power spectral noise densities is measurable already for 5 K temperature differences and, within the bandwidth of the experiment, higher noise amplitudes are found for lower temperatures. However, a crossing of the spectra at higher frequencies is revealed in simulations so that the total fluctuation amplitude is conserved. These findings contribute to a profound understanding of temperature influences on MNP fluctuation and relaxation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of supplementary trace mineral (TM) form—inorganic salts (STM; Co, Cu, Mn, Zn sulfates, and Na selenite) or organic (OTM; Co, Cu, Mn, Zn proteinates, and selenized yeast)—in the prepartum diet on quantity and quality of colostrum, passive immunity, antioxidant biomarkers, cytokine responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), health, and growth of newborn calves. Pregnant heifers (n = 100) and cows (n = 173) were enrolled at 45 d before calving, blocked by parity and body condition score, and allocated randomly to STM (50 heifers; 86 cows) or OTM (50 heifers; 87 cows) supplementation. Cows in both treatments were fed the same diet, except for the source of supplementary TM. Within 2 h of calving, dams and calves were separated, colostrum was harvested, the yield was measured, and a sample was saved for posterior analyses of colostrum quality. A subgroup of calves (n = 68) had a blood sample collected before colostrum feeding. After colostrum feeding, all samples and data collection were limited to 163 calves (STM = 82; OTM = 81) fed 3 L of good quality (Brix% >22) maternal colostrum via nipple bottle minutes after harvesting. Concentration of IgG in colostrum and serum was determined 24 h after colostrum feeding using radial immunodiffusion. Concentration of TM in colostrum and serum were performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Activity of glutathione peroxidase, ferric reducing ability of plasma, and concentration of superoxide dismutase were evaluated in plasma by colorimetric assays. Ex vivo whole blood stimulation with LPS was performed on d 7 of life to evaluate cytokine responses in a subgroup of 66 calves. Health events were recorded from birth to weaning, and body weight was recorded at birth (all calves) and on d 30 and 60 (heifers only). Continuous variables were analyzed by ANOVA and binary responses were analyzed by logistic regression. Complete replacement of STM by OTM in prepartum diet resulted in greater concentration of Se (461 vs. 543 ± 7 μg/g; ± SEM) but did not alter the concentration or total mass of other TM and IgG in colostrum. Female calves of the OTM group had greater concentration of Se in serum at birth (0.23 vs. 0.37 ± 0.05 μg/mL), were lighter in weight at birth (40.9 vs. 38.8 ± 0.6 kg) and weaning (93.2 vs. 89.7 ± 1.6 kg) than those of the STM group. Maternal treatments did not affect passive immunity or antioxidant biomarkers. On d 7, basal concentrations (log 10 of concentration in pg/mL) of IFNγ (0.70 vs. 0.95 ± 0.083) and LPS-stimulated concentrations of CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2; 2.45 vs. 2.54 ± 0.026), CC chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3; 2.63 vs. 2.76 ± 0.038), IL-1α (2.32 vs. 2.49 ± 0.054), and IL-1β (3.62 vs. 3.86 ± 0.067) were greater in OTM than in STM. Supplementation with OTM in pregnant heifers, but not in pregnant cows, reduced the incidence of preweaning health problems in their calves (36.4 vs. 11.5%). Complete replacement of STM by OTM in the prepartum diet did not cause major changes in colostrum quality, passive immunity, and antioxidant capacity, but increased cytokine and chemokine responses to LPS on d 7 of life and benefited preweaning health of calves born to primiparous cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), response to immunotherapy is difficult to predict from pre-treatment information. Given the toxicity of immunotherapy and its financial burden on the healthcare system, we set out to identify patients for whom treatment is effective. To this end, we used mutational signatures from DNA mutations in pre-treatment tissue. Single base substitutions, doublet base substitutions, indels, and copy number alteration signatures were analysed in m = 101 patients (the discovery set). We found that tobacco smoking signature (SBS4) and thiopurine chemotherapy exposure-associated signature (SBS87) were linked to durable benefit. Combining both signatures in a machine learning model separated patients with a progression-free survival hazard ratio of 0.40 - 0.17 + 0.28 on the cross-validated discovery set and 0.24 - 0.14 + 0.31 on an independent external validation set ( m = 56 ). This paper demonstrates that the fingerprints of mutagenesis, codified through mutational signatures, select advanced NSCLC patients who may benefit from immunotherapy, thus potentially reducing unnecessary patient burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A high sedentary time is associated with increased mortality risk. Previous studies indicate that replacement of sedentary time with light- and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity attenuates the risk for adverse outcomes and improves cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with cardiovascular disease are more sedentary compared to the general population, while daily time spent sedentary remains high following contemporary cardiac rehabilitation programmes. This clinical trial investigated the effectiveness of a sedentary behaviour intervention as a personalised secondary prevention strategy (SIT LESS) on changes in sedentary time among patients with coronary artery disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation. Methods: Patients were randomised to usual care (n = 104) or SIT LESS (n = 108). Both groups received a comprehensive 12-week centre-based cardiac rehabilitation programme with face-to-face consultations and supervised exercise sessions, whereas SIT LESS participants additionally received a 12-week, nurse-delivered, hybrid behaviour change intervention in combination with a pocket-worn activity tracker connected to a smartphone application to continuously monitor sedentary time. Primary outcome was the change in device-based sedentary time between pre- to post-rehabilitation. Changes in sedentary time characteristics (prevalence of prolonged sedentary bouts and proportion of patients with sedentary time ≥ 9.5 h/day); time spent in light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; step count; quality of life; competencies for self-management; and cardiovascular risk score were assessed as secondary outcomes. Results: Patients (77% male) were 63 ± 10 years and primarily diagnosed with myocardial infarction (78%). Sedentary time decreased in SIT LESS (− 1.6 [− 2.1 to − 1.1] hours/day) and controls (− 1.2 [ ─1.7 to − 0.8]), but between group differences did not reach statistical significance (─0.4 [─1.0 to 0.3]) hours/day). The post-rehabilitation proportion of patients with a sedentary time above the upper limit of normal (≥ 9.5 h/day) was significantly lower in SIT LESS versus controls (48% versus 72%, baseline-adjusted odds-ratio 0.4 (0.2–0.8)). No differences were observed in the other predefined secondary outcomes. Conclusions: Among patients with coronary artery disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation, SIT LESS did not induce significantly greater reductions in sedentary time compared to controls, but delivery was feasible and a reduced odds of a sedentary time ≥ 9.5 h/day was observed. Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register: NL9263. Outcomes of the SIT LESS trial: changes in device-based sedentary time from pre-to post-cardiac rehabilitation (control group) and cardiac rehabilitation + SIT LESS (intervention group). SIT LESS reduced the odds of patients having a sedentary time >9.5 hours/day (upper limit of normal), although the absolute decrease in sedentary time did not significantly differ from controls. SIT LESS appears to be feasible, acceptable and potentially beneficial, but a larger cluster randomised trial is warranted to provide a more accurate estimate of its effects on sedentary time and clinical outcomes. CR: cardiac rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future green hydrogen economy requires reliable and affordable composite pressure vessels. These vessels are expensive to manufacture, for a large part due to the high cost of carbon fibers in the composite layup. This study minimizes the thickness (and cost) of a composite pressure vessel layup without a reduction of its reliability. The study applies a multiphysics and multiscale uncertainty quantification framework that predicts the nondeterministic vessel burst pressure. A thermomechanical curing simulation accounts for cure-induced stress. It shows a good qualitative agreement with experimental measurements. A previously validated nondeterministic mechanical burst simulation accounts for experimentally measured spatial material variability of fiber misalignment, fiber volume fraction, and fiber strength. The workflow is coupled with a global optimization strategy that minimizes the layup thickness and retains the same 1% probability of failure pressure as a baseline pressure vessel. The optimization varies the number of layers in the layup, and their winding angle. A 27.3% thickness reduction is achieved. • Validated cure simulation of composite pressure vessel. • Validated vessel burst simulation with material defects. • Optimization accounts for burst reliability. • Reduced layup thickness from 10.692 mm to 8.1 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges of diagnosing inflammation in critically ill immunocompromised patients and proposes the use of [18F] FDG PET/CT as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. This imaging technique can help identify infectious foci or guide more invasive diagnostics, potentially leading to adjustments in antibiotic therapy. While [18F] FDG PET/CT is not commonly used in the ICU, advancements in technology may increase its utility in critically ill patients. The authors emphasize the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach and suggest exploring the role of [18F] FDG PET/CT in directly imaging organ-specific inflammatory responses. [Extracted from the article]

For the first time in two decades, a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the medicinal and ritual plants of southern Africa is presented. This data is analysed and compared with a previous survey done in 2002. The main aim is to update the checklist of medicinal and ritual plants of southern Africa and to determine the number of new records since 2002. We also provide a high-level perspective on the selection of medicinal and ritual plant species in southern Africa, a taxonomic analysis of the new checklist as well as a chronological perspective on the citation of medicinal and ritual species before and after 2002. The most recently published medicinal and ritual plants checklist for southern Africa was reviewed and updated. A wide range of ethnobotanical literature, including books, field guides and electronic journals, was used. All calculations were done by using formulas and functions in Microsoft Excel and R Studio. 4120 medicinal and ritual taxa and 3784 medicinal and ritual species have been recorded. Compared with the 2002 checklist, there are 1239 new taxa (1228 new species). A strong correlation between available taxa and selected medicinal taxa exists on order level, which corresponds with the results of an analysis done in 2008. The top 10 species-rich medicinal plant families of southern Africa are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asphodelaceae, Malvaceae, Lamiaceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae and Rubiaceae. Different patterns of plant family representation can be seen across certain cultural healing systems of southern Africa. The species popularity (number of citations) of Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C.A.Mey. Has increased substantially after 2002. Other medicinal and ritual plant species have been consistently researched, such as Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd., Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L.Bolus, Aloe ferox Mill., Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. and Gunnera perpensa L. The numerous new medicinal and ritual plant records that have been reported in the last two decades provide evidence of an incompletely documented ethnobotanical heritage that urgently requires documentation. Patterns of taxonomic diversity on family level indicate distinctive differences between cultural healing systems. Signs of the adaptability and dynamics of traditional healing systems in southern Africa can be seen in the changes in the citation of species over time. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive, up-to-date medicinal plant species list is presented. • 3784 plant species with medicinal uses in southern Africa are listed. • Ca. 1200 new medicinal plant species recorded, compared to a survey of 2002. • Asteraceae and Fabaceae are the most dominant medicinal plant families. • Plant family representation differs between cultural healing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present simulations of cumulus convection over land with shortwave radiation computed by a Monte Carlo ray tracer coupled to the flow solver. Ray tracing delivers very realistic in‐cloud heating rates and global horizontal irradiance fields. The necessary performance of the ray tracer has been enabled by the raw power of graphics processing unit computing and from techniques for accelerating data lookup and ray tracer convergence. We used a case study over a grassland in the Netherlands to compare simulations with a coupled ray tracer to those with a conventional two‐stream solver, and to test ray tracer convergence. We demonstrate that the simulated cloud evolution is insensitive to the convergence of the ray tracing across a wide range of samples per pixel per spectral quadrature point. Furthermore, simulations with a coupled ray tracer produce surface irradiance patterns that resemble observations and that strongly feed back to the evolution of clouds via locally enhanced surface heat fluxes. Plain Language Summary: Clouds absorb and reflect solar radiation and create spatial patterns at the land surface of cloud shadows interspersed with sunny regions. These patterns are currently largely simplified in most weather models because radiation computations cost a lot of computer power. We have developed a fast and realistic numerical radiation model that runs on a modern computer graphics card. By doing so, we can do simulations that produce radiation patterns that closely resemble reality and study how these patterns affect clouds. This enables us to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between clouds, solar radiation, and the Earth's surface. Key Points: We present graphics processing unit‐accelerated cloud‐resolving simulations with a coupled ray tracerSimulated cloud statistics are insensitive to ray tracer convergence across a wide range of sample sizesStrong coupling between surface irradiance patterns and cloud evolution underlines need for coupled 3D radiative transfer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licensed behavioral health providers (LBHPs) were integrated into 5 pediatric primary care practices in southeast and east Texas from October 2018 through March 2020. LBHPs Licensed behavioral health providers across the sites were 3 licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), 1 psychologist, and 1 nurse practitioner (NP). Practices provided data for 6 to 15 months. Overall, 2769 units of behavioral health services were provided to 746 children over 2243 hours. Across 4 sites, 44.3% of behavioral health patients were diagnosed with trauma disorders, 22.1% with anxiety, 19.3% with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, 15.1% with depression, and 10.9% with disruptive behavior disorders. Overall, the model was financially successful at 2 sites (LCSWs) and unsuccessful at 1 site (NP). The other 2 sites demonstrated potential for financial sustainability with increased behavioral health patient volume. Overall, this model is a financially viable option for pediatric primary care practices with adequate patient volumes to provide integrated behavioral health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an assessment of the potential of model predictive control (MPC) of a Dutch polder system. The system drains to the Linge river and includes 13 weirs, 4 hydraulic gates and 4 large pumping stations each equipped with multiple pumps, managed by the Water Board Rivierenland. The management of the system must comply with several goals: keep the water levels within the bounds of safety, pump out the excess water at minimum cost or CO 2 emission, but always have enough water for irrigation and shipping. To achieve these goals there are weirs regulating the water level in different pools, pumping stations to pump water in and out and gates to let water in and out by free flow when possible. These pumping stations consume large amounts of energy. We propose multi-objective mixed-integer optimization by using goal programming to prioritize different operational objectives. For the control of the pumps mixed-integer optimization is used, which makes it possible to not only model the energy consumption of the pumps while in operation, but also to model if the pumps are turned on or off. The control system is implemented using RTC-Tools, an open-source software tool to implement MPC. It is demonstrated that the proposed control system implementation can comply with the operational goals of the water board: keeping the water levels within the bounds while reducing the operational costs. The proposed control system has been tested numerically on data from the year 2013, and it is shown that it highly outperforms the current operation. • A case study on minimization of operational costs of pumps in a polder system • Mathematical optimization and MPC lead to significantly lower operational costs • Resulting insights in optimized control of pumps can also be used in manual operation • RTC-Tools toolbox is used to enable sustainable operational water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While online learning for faculty development has grown substantially over recent decades, it has been further accelerated in the face of the worldwide pandemic. The effectiveness of online learning has been repeatedly established through systematic reviews and meta-analyses, yet questions remain about its cost-effectiveness. This study evaluates how synchronous online supervision training workshops and their cost-effectiveness might work, and in what contexts. We conducted preliminary realist economic evaluation including qualitative (13 realist interviews), and quantitative approaches (cost Ingredients method). We developed a cost-optimised model based on identified costs and cost-sensitive mechanisms. We identified 14 recurring patterns (so-called demi-regularities) illustrating multiple online workshop outcomes (e.g. satisfaction, engagement, knowledge), generated by various mechanisms (e.g. online technology, mixed pedagogies involving didactic and active/experiential learning, peer learning), and triggered by two contexts (supervisor experience levels, and workplace location). Each workshop cost $302.92 per learner, but the optimised model including senior facilitators cost $305.70. Our initial realist program theories were largely supported and refined. Although findings were largely concordant with previous literature, we illustrate how online workshop costs compare favourably with face-to-face alternatives. We encourage program developers to consider synchronous online learning for faculty development especially for remote learners, and in resource-constrained environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856 consists of an O6V((f)) type star and an unknown compact object, and shows orbitally modulated emission from radio to very high energy gamma rays. The X-ray light curve shows a maximum around the same phase as the GeV emission, but also a secondary maximum between phases ϕ = 0.2 and 0.6. A clear solution to the binary system is important for understanding the emission mechanisms occurring within the system. In order to improve on the existing binary solution, we undertook radial velocity measurements of the optical companion using the Southern African Large Telescope, as well as analysed publicly available X-ray and GeV gamma-ray data. A search for periodicity in Fermi -LAT data found an orbital period of P  = 16.5507 ± 0.0004 d. The best-fitting solution to the radial velocities, held at this new period, finds the system to be more eccentric than previous observations, e  = 0.531 ± 0.033 with a longitude of periastron of 151.2 ± 5.1°, and a larger mass function f  = 0.00432 ± 0.00077 M⊙. We propose that the peaks in the X-ray and gamma-ray light curves around phase 0 are due to the observation of the confined shock formed between the pulsar and stellar wind pointing towards the observer. The secondary increase or strong rapid variations of the X-ray flux at phases 0.25 to 0.75 is due to the interaction of multiple randomly oriented stellar wind clumps/pulsar wind interactions around apastron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased human presence in the Arctic may affect its vulnerable ecosystems. Effects on arctic and red foxes provide notable examples. Both have been documented to take anthropogenic subsidies when available, which can change diet and ranging patterns in complex ways that can either benefit or harm populations, depending on the situation. Understanding this complexity requires new tools to study impacts of increasing human presence on endemic mammals at high latitudes. We propose that dental ecology, specifically tooth wear and breakage, can offer important clues. Based on samples of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758)) trapped prior to (n = 78) and following (n = 57) rapidly growing human presence on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, we found that foxes trapped recently in proximity to human settlement had significantly less tooth wear and breakage. This is likely explained by a dietary shift from consumption of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) carcasses including bone to softer human-derived foods, especially when preferred smaller prey (e.g., West Siberian lemmings, Lemmus sibiricus (Kerr, 1792), and arctic lemmings, Dicrostonyx torquatus (Pallas, 1778)) are unavailable. These results suggest that tooth wear and breakage can be a useful indicator of the consumption of anthropogenic foods by arctic foxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to assess whether different voxel sizes in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) affected surface area measurements of dehiscences and fenestrations in the mandibular anterior buccal region. Materials and methods: Nineteen dry human mandibles were scanned with a surface scanner (SS). Wax was attached to the mandibles as a soft tissue equivalent. Three-dimensional digital models were generated with a CBCT unit, with voxel sizes of 0.200 mm (VS200), 0.400 mm (VS400), and 0.600 mm (VS600). The buccal surface areas of the six anterior teeth were measured (in mm2) to evaluate areas of dehiscences and fenestrations. Differences between the CBCT and SS measurements were determined in a linear mixed model analysis. Results: The mean surface area per tooth was 88.3 ± 24.0 mm2, with the SS, and 94.6 ± 26.5 (VS200), 95.1 ± 27.3 (VS400), and 96.0 ± 26.5 (VS600), with CBCT scans. Larger surface areas resulted in larger differences between CBCT and SS measurements (− 0.1 β, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001). Deviations from SS measurements were larger with VS600, compared to VS200 (1.3 β, SE = 0.05, P = 0.009). Fenestrations were undetectable with CBCT. Conclusions: CBCT imaging magnified the surface area of dehiscences in the anterior buccal region of the mandible by 7 to 9%. The larger the voxel size, the larger the deviation from SS measurements. Fenestrations were not detectable with CBCT. Clinical relevance: CBCT is an acceptable tool for measuring dehiscences but not fenestrations. However, CBCT overestimates the size of dehiscences, and the degree of overestimation depends on the actual dehiscence size and CBCT voxel size employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of complete replacement of supplementary inorganic salts of trace minerals (STM) by organic trace minerals (OTM) in both pre- and postpartum diets on feeding behavior, ruminal fermentation, rumination activity, energy metabolism, and lactation performance in dairy cows. Pregnant cows and heifers (n = 273) were blocked by parity and body condition score and randomly assigned to either STM or OTM diets at 45 ± 3 d before their expected calving date. Both groups received the same diet, except for the source of trace minerals (TM). The STM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn sulfates and Na selenite, whereas the OTM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn proteinates and selenized yeast. Treatments continued until 156 days in milk and pre- and postpartum diets were formulated to meet 100% of recommended levels of each TM in both treatments, taking into consideration both basal and supplemental levels. Automatic feed bins were used to assign treatments to individual cows and to measure feed intake and feeding behavior. Rumination activity was monitored by sensors attached to a collar from wk −3 to 3 relative to calving. Blood metabolites were evaluated on d −21, −10, −3, 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 23, and 65 relative to calving. Ruminal fluid samples were collected using an ororuminal sampling device on d −21, 23, and 65 relative to calving, for measurement of ruminal pH and concentration of volatile fatty acids. Cows were milked twice a day and milk components were measured monthly. Cows supplemented with OTM tended to have longer daily feeding time (188 vs. 197 min/d), and greater dry matter intake (DMI; 12.9 vs. 13.3 kg), and had a more positive energy balance (3.6 vs. 4.2 Mcal/d) and shorter rumination time per kg of dry matter (DM; 40.1 vs. 37.5 min/kg of DM) than cows supplemented with STM during the prepartum period. In the postpartum period, OTM increased DMI in multiparous cows (24.1 vs. 24.7 kg/d) but not in primiparous cows (19.1 vs. 18.7 kg/d). The difference in DMI of multiparous cows was more evident in the first 5 wk of lactation, when it averaged 1 kg/d. Milk yield was not affected by treatment in multiparous cows (44.1 vs. 44.2 kg/d); however, primiparous cows supplemented with OTM had lesser yields than primiparous cows supplemented with STM (31.9 vs. 29.8 kg/d). Cows supplemented with OTM had a greater percentage of protein in milk (3.11 vs. 3.17%), reduced concentration of nonesterified fatty acids in serum (0.45 vs. 0.40 mmol/L), and rumination activity (30.1 vs. 27.8 min/kg of DM) than cows supplemented with STM. At the end of the transition period, cows supplemented with OTM had reduced molar proportion of acetate, reduced pH, and tended to have a greater concentration of total volatile fatty acids in ruminal fluid. In conclusion, complete replacement of STM by OTM caused modest changes in rumen fermentation, feeding behavior, energy metabolism, and performance of dairy cows, improving postpartum DMI in multiparous cows and reducing circulating levels of nonesterified fatty acids. The pre-absorptive effects of TM source and the parity specific responses on performance warrant further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colostrum stimulates gastrointestinal development. Similar to colostrum, transition milk (TM; the first few milkings after colostrum) contains elevated nutrient levels and bioactive components not found in milk replacer (MR), albeit at lower levels than the first colostrum. We hypothesized that feeding neonatal calves TM, compared with MR, for 4 d following colostrum at birth would further stimulate intestinal development. Holstein bull calves were fed 2.8 L of colostrum within 20 min of birth, allocated to 1 of 11 blocks based on birth date and body weight (BW), randomly assigned to MR (n = 12) or TM (n = 11) treatments within block, and fed treatments 3 times per day. Milk from milkings 2, 3, and 4 (TM) of cows milked 2 times daily was pooled by milking number and fed at 1.89 L per feeding; milking 2 was fed at feedings 2 through 5, milking 3 at feedings 6 through 8, and milking 4 at feedings 9 through 12. TM was not pasteurized and contained 17% solids, 5% fat, 7% protein, 4% lactose, and 20 g of IgG per liter on average, whereas MR (as fed) contained 15% solids, 4% protein, 3% fat, 6% carbohydrate, and no IgG. Refusals were similar, so calves fed TM consumed 1.0 Mcal of metabolizable energy per day more than those fed MR. On the morning of d 5, calves were injected i.v. with 5 mg of bromodeoxyuridine per kg of BW and slaughtered 130 min later; then, intestinal sections were excised. Feeding TM, instead of MR, doubled villus length, villus width, villus to crypt ratio, and mucosal length in all intestinal sections, increased submucosal thickness 70% in the proximal and mid jejunum, and tended to increase submucosal thickness in duodenum and ileum. Mucosal surface area was also increased in both the ileum and mid jejunum when feeding TM by 19 and 36%, respectively. Treatment did not alter crypt depth. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling was increased 50% by TM compared with MR in the cells along the epithelium of the crypts and within the villi of all sections, indicating that TM increased cell proliferation compared with MR. Calves fed TM gained more BW than calves fed MR and had improved cough, fecal, nose, and ear scores. We conclude that feeding TM for 4 d following an initial feeding of colostrum stimulates villus, mucosal, and submucosal development in all sections of the small intestine in the first few days of life and improves health and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials are essential for many advanced engineering applications, but numerical quantification of strength variability can be computationally expensive. This paper proposes a novel methodology that drastically reduces the number of finite element simulations required to characterise composite material strength variability using the concept of vine copulas. This concept provides a flexible tool for the representation of high-dimensional dependencies. The methodology considers spatial scatter of three material variabilities: fibre volume fraction, fibre misalignment and fibre strength. First, the cross-correlation between stress, fibre volume fraction and fibre misalignment is fitted by a vine copula using results from a limited number of finite element simulations. Next, the vine copula is used to predict new conditional stress realisations when given realisations for the fibre volume fraction and fibre misalignment. This effectively replaces the finite element simulations with a vine copula that is much faster to evaluate. The methodology is verified by predicting the tensile failure load of a unidirectional composite coupon. Predictions are very similar to an exclusively finite element-based approach, while reducing the number of finite element simulations by a factor of 200. • Measurement-based fibre misalignment, volume fraction and fibre strength variability. • Vine copula replaces stochastic finite element strength homogenisation. • Spatial material variability reduces UD coupon tensile strength by 3.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analytical method for detecting and quantifying micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is evolving and continuously refined. The requirement for accurate analytical methods faces challenges during method validation due to the scarcity of relevant reference materials. Additionally, the wide array of polymer types and their diverse characteristics further complicate this validation process. This study evaluated the impact of using diverse polystyrene (PS) standards with different molecular weights, polydispersity indexes, tacticity, endcapping, and chain branching, on quantifying the mass concentration of PS in various products. The results for the PS-based products showed inconsistencies across different standards, indicating that the measurements for a single product varied substantially when different polystyrene (PS) standards were applied. The influence of sample quantity on pyrolysis revealed differences in the ratios of pyrolysis products among various PS standards and different sample amounts. This research emphasizes the complexities involved in the precise quantification of polymers using Py-GC-MS. It provides valuable insights crucial for quantitative MNP analysis, highlighting the need for refined calibration strategies and standardised reference materials to improve the reliability of the MNP analysis method. [Display omitted] • Precise calibration strategies are crucial for micro and nanoplastic analysis using Py-GC-MS. • Discrepancies in polystyrene characteristics between calibration standards and samples result in over- or underestimation. • Varying sample quantities influence pyrolysis product ratios across different polystyrene standards. • Standardised reference materials are essential to maintain measurement consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three species recognised, A. amatymbica Eckl. and Zeyh., A. cordifolia B.-E.van Wyk and A. macowanii Dümmer • A. amatymbica var. aquatica and A. amatymbica var. microbracteata reduced into synonymy with A. amatymbica • Alepidea amatymbica , ' ikhathazo' , ' iqwili' or ' lesoko' in medicinal literature, could refer to either one of the following species: A. amatymbica, A. cordifolia or A. macowanii • Alepidea amatymbica is not the most widely utilized species of ' ikhathazo' • Alepidea cordifolia clarified as the more extensively utilized species of ' ikhathazo' • The three species are threatened by harvesting pressure for the traditional medicine trade • Lectotypes are designated for four names A taxonomic revision of the Alepidea amatymbica group is presented. The species in this group are readily distinguished by the predominantly glabrous fruit and the well-developed rhizomes. It is these well-developed rhizomes which are known and traded under the local isiZulu name ' ikhathazo' and reported to be one of the most frequently utilized medicinal plants in southern Africa. Three species are recognised, A. amatymbica Eckl. and Zeyh., A. cordifolia B.-E.van Wyk and A. macowanii Dümmer. Two taxa, A. amatymbica var. aquatica and A. amatymbica var. microbracteata , are reduced into synonymy with A. amatymbica. The repeated misconception that A. amatymbica is the most widely utilized medicinal species within the genus is exposed in the ethnobotanical overview and refuted. Rather, A. cordifolia is clarified as the more extensively utilized species, validated by its much wider geographical range. A key to the species, updated nomenclature, typifications, complete descriptions, illustrations and the known geographical distributions for all three species are presented. Lectotypes are designated for four names (A. amatymbica, A. amatymbica var. microbracteata, A. aquatica and A. macowanii). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The features of an unexpected, large event that arises spontaneously during a basic heat transport experiment are presented. It consists of the sudden collapse of the radial plasma pressure profile, akin to disruption events observed in toroidal magnetic confinement devices. The experiment is performed on the Large Plasma Device at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). It uses a LaB6 thermionic emitter of annular shape to induce off-axis heating of a cold, afterglow plasma, in a linear magnetic geometry. The temporal evolution consists of three regimes. During an early, quiescent period, classical heat transport along and across the magnetic field arises from Coulomb collisions. After significant pressure gradients develop, drift-Alfvén waves become unstable. Upon reaching large amplitude, they trigger avalanche events that flatten the outer part of the heated region, which, in turn, quenches the instability. Due to the sustained heating, the pressure profile rebuilds and the process repeats, leading to a relatively long, second regime that displays multiple avalanches, but suddenly, the annular pressure profile is observed to collapse. After this collapse, the system enters a third regime with large fluctuations. Before the collapse, a rapid, runaway heating environment arises whose time evolution exhibits a self-similar dependence on the applied voltage. The time evolution, morphology, and scaling of the collapse event are presented, and an examination is made of the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional three-electrode Velocity Map Imaging (VMI) electrostatic lens developed by Eppink and Parker has proven to be a useful tool in a wide range of applications in molecular dynamics, including photodissociation experiments taking place in a molecular beam. However, in some other cases, such as crossed molecular beam experiments, the large diameter (typically ∼70 mm) of this conventional VMI lens can be inconvenient. We describe here a VMI lens with a much smaller diameter (down to ∼20 mm) using tubular electrodes. The performance is evaluated by imaging O+ fragments produced by the photodissociation of O2 at around 225 nm, and by inelastic scattering of NO with Ar. Our results suggest that the recorded images are of acceptable quality compared to those from a standard lens while achieving a fourfold reduction of the VMI lens diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Our objectives were to evaluate the endometrial responsiveness of dairy heifers to an intrauterine infusion of recombinant bovine interferon-tau (rbIFN-τ) and to associate endometrial responses to rbIFN-τ with subsequent reproductive performance. In experiments 1 and 2, cyclic heifers were enrolled in a program for synchronization of the estrous cycle, and blood sampling and ultrasonography examinations were performed on d 0, 4, 7, 11, and 14 of the estrous cycle. In experiment 1, heifers were randomly assigned to receive an intrauterine infusion containing 2 µg of rbIFN-τ (rbIFN-τ = 19) or saline control (CTRL = 19) into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum (CL) on d 14 of the estrous cycle. Then, 6 hours after the infusion, the infused uterine horn was flushed for sampling of the uterine luminal fluid (ULF) for composition analysis, and the endometrium was biopsied for transcriptomics. In experiment 2, 100 heifers received an intrauterine infusion of rbIFN-τ, and the same procedures for uterine sample collection were performed as described in experiment 1. After the intrauterine test, heifers were enrolled in a breeding program and classified as highly fertile (HF; pregnant at first AI) or subfertile (SF; not pregnant at first AI). Statistical analyses were performed using regression models, which included the effects of treatment (experiment 1: CTRL vs. rbIFN-τ) or fertility group (experiment 2: HF vs. SF) and block of samples. Intrauterine infusion of rbIFN-τ increased the expression of classical interferon-stimulated genes in the endometrium (e.g., ISG15, MX1, OAS2, IRF9 , and USP18), and an antiviral response was predicted to be the main downstream effect of the transcriptome changes. In addition, rbIFN-τ increased the abundance of cholesterol, glycerol, and the overall concentration of oxylipins in the ULF. Analysis of endometrial transcriptome between HF and SF heifers revealed important differences in the expression of genes associated with cell signaling, metabolism, attachment, and migration, with a large representation of genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins. In general, differentially expressed genes were expected to be downregulated by IFN-τ but seemed to fail to be downregulated in SF heifers, resulting in higher expression in SF compared with HF heifers. Subfertile heifers had lower concentrations of glycerol and an altered profile of oxylipins in the ULF, with a lower abundance of oxylipins derived from arachidonic acid and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and a greater abundance of oxylipins derived from linoleic acid. Measurements of ovarian function did not differ between groups and, therefore, did not influence the observed results in uterine biology. Overall, the endometrial responsiveness to IFN-τ is variable among individuals and associated with subsequent fertility of heifers, indicating that communication between conceptus and endometrium is critical for the uterine receptivity and survival of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Realist Analysis Methods Conclusions Qualitative realist analysis is gaining in popularity in health professions education research (HPER) as part of theory‐driven program evaluation. Although realist approaches such as syntheses and evaluations typically advocate mixed methods, qualitative data dominate currently. Various forms of qualitative analysis have been articulated in HPER, yet realist analysis has not. Although realist analysis is interpretive, it moves beyond description to explain generative causation employing retroductive theorising. Ultimately, it attempts to build and/or ‘test’ (confirm, refute or refine) theory about how, why, for whom, when and to what extent programs work using the context‐mechanism‐outcome configuration (CMOC) heuristic. This paper aims to help readers better critique, conduct and report qualitative realist analysis.We describe four fundamentals of qualitative realist analysis: (1) simultaneous data collection/analysis; (2) retroductive theorising; (3) configurational analysis (involving iterative phases of identifying CMOCs, synthesising CMOCs into demi‐regularities and translating demi‐regularities into program theory); and (4) realist analysis quality (relevance, rigour, richness). Next, we provide a critical analysis of realist analyses employed in 15 HPER outputs—three evaluations and 12 syntheses. Finally, drawing on our understandings of realist literature and our experiences of conducting qualitative realist analysis (both evaluations and syntheses), we articulate three common analysis challenges (coding, consolidation and mapping) and strategies to mitigate these challenges (teamwork, reflexivity and consultation, use of data analysis software and graphical representations of program theory).Based on our critical analysis of the literature and realist analysis experiences, we encourage researchers, peer reviewers and readers to better understand qualitative realist analysis fundamentals. Realist analysts should draw on relevant realist reporting standards and literature on realist analysis to improve the quality and reporting of realist analysis. Through better understanding the common challenges and mitigation strategies for realist analysis, we can collectively improve the quality of realist analysis in HPER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a method to establish the dynamic model of the Shooter-weapon system when firing based on Lagrange's theorem and the theory of multibody system dynamics, in which the influence of the human body was taken into account. In the dynamic model, the influence of the gunner is solved by using elastic-damping links in the x, y and z axes. The dynamic model is created for a portable gas-operated submachine gun and contains three solids with seven degrees of freedom. The 7.62 mm AKM submachine gun has been used for the model simulation and experimental verification. The dynamic simulation was conducted and then the results were compared with the corresponding experimental data. The model simulation results are very close to the experimental results. This study aims to survey the influence of various parameters on gun stability in the shooting. It is possible to apply these results to portable automatic guns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For older people living in densely populated urban neighbourhoods, walking is an important mode of everyday mobility: it allows to engage in neighbourhood social life and can mitigate physiological decline, which is emphasised in healthy ageing discourses. However, walking is also a means through which meanings about the places of one's everyday life are (re)produced and, hence, contributes to feelings of illbeing and wellbeing. In this paper, we provide a phenomenological account of older adults' place-making practices through walking. In examining this topic, we draw on twelve walking interviews with older adults living independently in two urban neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. Our findings reveal that although our respondents developed a sense of 'insideness' through their spatial and social routes and routines, these same routes and routines also acted as exclusionary mechanisms. We argue that these 'meaningful movements', characterised by ambivalence, remain underexposed in healthy ageing discourses. Paying attention to these feelings and experiences would allow for a better understanding of the facilitators and impediments of walking in later life and its effect on social and emotional wellbeing. This paper concludes by providing implications for policy and planning practice in developing age-friendly and walkable neighbourhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Face masks, also referred to as half masks, are essential to protect healthcare professionals working in close contact with patients with COVID-19-related symptoms. Because of the Corona material shortages, healthcare institutions sought an approach to reuse face masks or to purchase new, imported masks. The filter quality of these masks remained unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the quality of sterilized and imported FFP2/KN95 face masks. Methods: A 48-minute steam sterilization process of single-use FFP2/KN95 face masks with a 15 minute holding time at 121°C was developed, validated and implemented in the Central Sterilization Departments (CSSD) of 19 different hospitals. Masks sterilized by steam and H2O2 plasma as well as new, imported masks were tested for particle filtration efficiency (PFE) and pressure drop in a custom-made test setup. Results: The results of 84 masks tested on the PFE dry particle test setup showed differences of 2.3±2% (mean±SD). Test data showed that the mean PFE values of 444 sterilized FFP2 face masks from the 19 CSSDs were 90±11% (mean±SD), and those of 474 new, imported KN95/FFP2 face masks were 83±16% (mean±SD). Differences in PFE of masks received from different sterilization departments were found. Conclusion: Face masks can be reprocessed with 121 °C steam or H2O2 plasma sterilization with a minimal reduction in PFE. PFE comparison between filter material of sterilized masks and new, imported masks indicates that the filter material of most reprocessed masks of high quality brands can outperform new, imported face masks of unknown brands. Although the PFE of tested face masks from different sterilization departments remained efficient, using different types of sterilization equipment, can result in different PFE outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study spontaneous electron to ion root transitions in TJ-II using Langmuir probes. By scanning the probe position on a shot to shot basis, we reconstruct a spatiotemporal map of the evolution of important turbulent quantities in the plasma edge region. We pay particular attention to the evolution of the cross phase between transport-relevant variables, showing the spatiotemporal evolution of this quantity for the first time, revealing the outward propagation of the changes associated with the transition. We also compute the intermittence parameter, which allows us to conclude that the turbulence, although its amplitude increases, condenses in a reduced number of dominant modes and becomes less bursty. The causal relationship between variables is studied using the transfer entropy, clarifying the interactions between the main variables and offering a rather complete picture of the complex evolution of the plasma across the confinement transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inertia amplification is a mechanism coupling degrees of freedom within a vibrating structure. Its goal is to achieve an apparent high dynamic mass and, accordingly, a low resonance frequency. Such structures have been described for use in locally resonant metamaterials and phononic crystals to lower the starting frequency of a bandgap without adding mass to the system. This study shows that any non-linear kinematic coupling between translational or rotational vibrations leads to the appearance of amplitude-dependent damping. The analytical derivation of the equation of motion of a resonator with inertia amplification creates insight in the damping process and shows that the vibration damping increases with its amplitude. The theoretical study is validated by experimental evidence from two types of inertia-amplification resonators. Finally, the importance of amplitude-dependent damping is illustrated when the structure is used as a tuned mass damper for a cantilever beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]