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People surviving COVID‐19 may experience social stigma related to their condition even after clinical recovery. This study aimed to: (1) investigate COVID‐19‐related experienced discrimination and internalized stigma, and (2) explore their association with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia. We conducted an online survey of people who survived COVID‐19. Perception of stigma was assessed using the COVID‐19 Experienced Discrimination Scale and the COVID‐19 Internalized Stigma Scale. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were assessed using, respectively, the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, the General Anxiety Disorder Scale‐7, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Multivariable logistic regression analyses for each psychopathological domain were performed. A total of 579 participants participated in this study. Overall, 25% reported some degree of experienced discrimination, and 23% reported some degree of internalized stigma. Adjusted odds ratio showed that scoring higher on internalized stigma related significantly to higher symptoms of depression (2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35–3.39), anxiety (2.30; 95% CI, 1.48–3.59), and insomnia (2.54; 95% CI, 1.64–3.95), whereas experienced discrimination was associated to anxiety (1.55; 95% CI, 1.06–2.28) and insomnia (1.82; 95% CI, 1.24–2.69). Experiences of social stigmatization are frequent among people surviving COVID‐19 and seem to be associated with levels of psychological disturbances. Further research is required to elucidate the direction of these relationships to implement effective treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bartonella quintana is a body louse-borne bacterium causing bacteremia and infective endocarditis. We aimed to describe B. quintana detection among arthropods and their hosts. Methods: We searched databases in PubMed Central/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1, 1915 (the year of B. quintana discovery) to January 1, 2024, to identify publications containing specific search terms relating to B. quintana detection among arthropods. Descriptive statistics and meta-analysis of pooled prevalence using random-effects models were performed for all arthropods and body and head lice. Results: Of 1265 records, 62 articles were included, describing 8839 body lice, 4962 head lice, and 1692 other arthropods, such as different species of fleas, bedbugs, mites, and ticks. Arthropods were collected from 37 countries, of which 28 had arthropods with B. quintana DNA. Among articles that reported B. quintana detection among individual arthropods, 1445 of 14,088 (0.1026, 95% CI [0.0976; 0.1077]) arthropods tested positive for B. quintana DNA, generating a random-effects model global prevalence of 0.0666 (95% CI [0.0426; 0.1026]). Fifty-six studies tested 8839 body lice, of which 1679 had B. quintana DNA (0.1899, 95% CI [0.1818; 0.1983]), generating a random-effects model pooled prevalence of 0.2312 (95% CI [0.1784; 0.2843]). Forty-two studies tested 4962 head lice, of which 390 head lice from 20 studies originating from 11 different countries had B. quintana DNA (0.0786, 95% CI [0.0713; 0.0864]). Eight studies detected B. quintana DNA exclusively on head lice. Five studies reported greater B. quintana detection on head lice than body lice; all originated from low-resource environments. Conclusions: Bartonella quintana is a vector-borne bacterium with a global distribution, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations. Bartonella quintana DNA has been detected in many different arthropod species, though not all of these arthropods meet criteria to be considered vectors for B. quintana transmission. Body lice have long been known to transmit B. quintana. A limited number of studies suggest that head lice may also act as possible vectors for B. quintana in specific low-resource contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass spectrometry-based omics technologies are increasingly used in perturbation studies to map drug effects to biological pathways by identifying significant molecular events. Significance is influenced by fold change and variation of each molecular parameter, but also by multiple testing corrections. While the fold change is largely determined by the biological system, the variation is determined by experimental workflows. Here, it is shown that memory effects of prior subculture can influence the variation of perturbation profiles using the two colon carcinoma cell lines SW480 and HCT116. These memory effects are largely driven by differences in growth states that persist into the perturbation experiment. In SW480 cells, memory effects combined with moderate treatment effects amplify the variation in multiple omics levels, including eicosadomics, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics. With stronger treatment effects, the memory effect was less pronounced, as demonstrated in HCT116 cells. Subculture homogeneity was controlled by real-time monitoring of cell growth. Controlled homogeneous subculture resulted in a perturbation network of 321 causal conjectures based on combined proteomic and phosphoproteomic data, compared to only 58 causal conjectures without controlling subculture homogeneity in SW480 cells. Some cellular responses and regulatory events were identified that extend the mode of action of arsenic trioxide (ATO) only when accounting for these memory effects. Controlled prior subculture led to the finding of a synergistic combination treatment of ATO with the thioredoxin reductase 1 inhibitor auranofin, which may prove useful in the management of NRF2-mediated resistance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To establish an analysis pipeline for the volumetric evaluation of the osteotomy site after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). Patients and methods: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed before, directly after BSSO, and 6–12 months after surgery. Image segmentations of each osteotomy gap data set were performed manually by four physicians and were compared to a semi-automatic segmentation approach. Results: Five patients with a total of ten osteotomy gaps were included. The mean interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of individual patients was 0.782 and the standard deviation 0.080 when using the manual segmentation approach. However, the mean ICC of the evaluation of anatomical sites and time points separately was 0.214, suggesting a large range of deviation within the manual segmentation of each rater. The standard deviation was 0.355, further highlighting the extent of the variation. In contrast, the semi-automatic approach had a mean ICC of 0.491 and a standard deviation of 0.365, which suggests a relatively higher agreement among the operators compared to the manual segmentation approach. Furthermore, the volume of the osteotomy gap in the semi-automatic approach showed the same tendency in every site as the manual segmentation approach, but with less deviation. Conclusion: The semi-automatic approach developed in the present study proved to be valid as a standardised method with high repeatability. Such image analysis methods could help to quantify the progression of bone healing after BSSO and beyond, eventually facilitating the earlier identification of patients with retarded healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is rapidly spreading in Europe, posing an increasing threat because of its high vector competence for chikungunya and dengue virus. An integrative and eco-friendly control of these populations is required to prevent mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. Traditionally-used insecticides or other chemical control agents are often expensive, harmful to the environment, strictly controlled or completely banned in several countries. Additionally, insecticide resistance is a potential threat. One possibility for biological control agents is the use of native aquatic beetles as natural predators of mosquitoes to boost Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) interventions. Thirty predatory aquatic beetle taxa were caught in Belgium and kept at the Institute of Tropical Medicine's insectary to test predation rate and prey choice on Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758. Predation rates suggest at least four efficient dytiscid predators that are known to inhabit small, temporary habitats in Europe. Further experiments on prey choice reveal a clear preference for Aedes albopictus over alternative larval prey (Culex pipiens, Daphnia sp., Chaoboridae). We found a strong ecological overlap of the feeding niche of A. albopictus and the hunting zone of dytiscid predators in the benthic layer of small waterbodies. Our findings on the efficacy are very encouraging to further assess the potential of native predacious diving beetles as a biological control agent against the invasive A. albopictus in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: European epidemic intelligence (EI) systems receive vast amounts of information and data on disease outbreaks and potential health threats. The quantity and variety of available data sources for EI, as well as the available methods to manage and analyse these data sources, are constantly increasing. Our aim was to identify the difficulties encountered in this context and which innovations, according to EI practitioners, could improve the detection, monitoring and analysis of disease outbreaks and the emergence of new pathogens. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study to identify the need for innovation expressed by 33 EI practitioners of national public health and animal health agencies in five European countries and at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). We adopted a stepwise approach to identify the EI stakeholders, to understand the problems they faced concerning their EI activities, and to validate and further define with practitioners the problems to address and the most adapted solutions to their work conditions. We characterized their EI activities, professional logics, and desired changes in their activities using NvivoⓇ software. Results: Our analysis highlights that EI practitioners wished to collectively review their EI strategy to enhance their preparedness for emerging infectious diseases, adapt their routines to manage an increasing amount of data and have methodological support for cross-sectoral analysis. Practitioners were in demand of timely, validated and standardized data acquisition processes by text mining of various sources; better validated dataflows respecting the data protection rules; and more interoperable data with homogeneous quality levels and standardized covariate sets for epidemiological assessments of national EI. The set of solutions identified to facilitate risk detection and risk assessment included visualization, text mining, and predefined analytical tools combined with methodological guidance. Practitioners also highlighted their preference for partial rather than full automation of analyses to maintain control over the data and inputs and to adapt parameters to versatile objectives and characteristics. Conclusions: The study showed that the set of solutions needed by practitioners had to be based on holistic and integrated approaches for monitoring zoonosis and antimicrobial resistance and on harmonization between agencies and sectors while maintaining flexibility in the choice of tools and methods. The technical requirements should be defined in detail by iterative exchanges with EI practitioners and decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of advanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, this study explores the electrochemical performance of a high-entropy oxide (HEO) with a unique spinel structure. The equiatomic composition of CrMnFeCoCu was synthesized and subjected to a comprehensive materials characterization process, including X-ray diffraction and microscopy techniques. The multicomponent alloy exhibited a multiphase structure, comprising two face-centered cubic (FCC) phases and an oxide phase. Upon oxidation, the material transformed into a spinel oxide with a minor presence of CuO. The resulting high-entropy oxide demonstrated excellent electrochemical behavior when utilized as an anode material. Cyclic voltammetry revealed distinctive reduction peaks attributed to cation reduction and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formation, while subsequent cycles showcased high reversibility. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated a decrease in charge transfer resistance during cycling, emphasizing the remarkable electrochemical performance. Galvanostatic charge/discharge tests displayed characteristic voltage profiles, with an initial irreversible capacity attributed to SEI layer formation. The HEO exhibited promising rate capability, surpassing commercial graphite at higher current densities. The battery achieved 80% (275 mAh g−1) of its initial stable capacity at a current density of 500 mA g−1 by the 312th cycle. Post-mortem analysis revealed structural amorphization during cycling, contributing to the observed electrochemical behavior. This research highlights the potential of HEOs as advanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, combining unique structural features with favorable electrochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen in Europe where it represents a new public health threat. While climate change has been cited as a potential driver of its spatial expansion on the continent, a formal evaluation of this causal relationship is lacking. Here, we investigate the extent to which WNV spatial expansion in Europe can be attributed to climate change while accounting for other direct human influences such as land-use and human population changes. To this end, we trained ecological niche models to predict the risk of local WNV circulation leading to human cases to then unravel the isolated effect of climate change by comparing factual simulations to a counterfactual based on the same environmental changes but a counterfactual climate where long-term trends have been removed. Our findings demonstrate a notable increase in the area ecologically suitable for WNV circulation during the period 1901–2019, whereas this area remains largely unchanged in a no-climate-change counterfactual. We show that the drastic increase in the human population at risk of exposure is partly due to historical changes in population density, but that climate change has also been a critical driver behind the heightened risk of WNV circulation in Europe. West Nile Virus is emerging as an important pathogen in Europe, likely driven by recent climate and land-use changes. Here, the authors estimate the extent of the climate change-driven impact by modelling the change in West Nile Virus ecological suitability across the continent in the absence of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFEL) are cutting-edge pulsed x-ray sources, whose extraordinary pulse parameters promise to unlock unique applications. Several new methods have been developed at XFELs; however, no methods are known, which allow ab initio atomic level structure determination using only a single XFEL pulse. Here, we present experimental results, demonstrating the determination of the 3D atomic structure from data obtained during a single 25 fs XFEL pulse. Parallel measurement of hundreds of Bragg reflections was done by collecting Kossel line patterns of GaAs and GaP. To the best of our knowledge with these measurements, we reached the ultimate temporal limit of the x-ray structure solution possible today. These measurements open the way for obtaining crystalline structures during non-repeatable fast processes, such as structural transformations. For example, the atomic structure of matter at extremely non-ambient conditions or transient structures formed in irreversible physical, chemical, or biological processes may be captured in a single shot measurement during the transformation. It would also facilitate time resolved pump-probe structural studies making them significantly shorter than traditional serial crystallography. X-ray Free Electron Lasers allow fast structure determination. Here, the authors push the temporal limit of atomic level structure determination to 25 fs, the length of a single pulse, paving the way to the study of fast, non-repeatable processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of older people in prison is growing. As a result, there will also be more prisoners suffering from dementia. The support and management of this population is likely to present multiple challenges to the prison system. Objectives: To examine the published literature on the care and supervision of people living in prison with dementia and on transitioning into the community; to identify good practice and recommendations that might inform the development of prison dementia care pathways. Methods: A scoping review methodology was adopted with reporting guided by the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews checklist and explanation. Results: Sixty-seven papers were included. Most of these were from high income countries, with the majority from the United Kingdom (n = 34), followed by the United States (n = 15), and Australia (n = 12). One further paper was from India. Discussion: The literature indicated that there were difficulties across the prison system for people with dementia along the pathway from reception to release and resettlement. These touched upon all aspects of prison life and its environment, including health and social care. A lack of resources and national and regional policies were identified as important barriers, although a number of solutions were also identified in the literature, including the development of locally tailored policies and increased collaboration with the voluntary sector. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive and inclusive review of the literature on dementia care pathways in prison to date. It has identified a number of important areas of concern and opportunities for future research across the prison system, and its operations. This will hopefully lead to the identification or adaptation of interventions to be implemented and evaluated, and facilitate the development of dementia care pathways in prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The JUNGFRAU detector is a well-established hybrid pixel detector developed at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) designed for free-electron laser (FEL) applications. JUNGFRAU features a charge-integrating dynamic gain switching architecture, with three different gain stages and 75 µ m pixel pitch. It is widely used at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL), a facility which produces high brilliance X-ray pulses at MHz repetition rate in the form of bursts repeating at 10 Hz. In nominal configuration, the detector utilizes only a single memory cell and supports data acquisition up to 2 kHz. This constrains the operation of the detector to a 10 Hz frame rate when combined with the pulsed train structure of the EuXFEL. When configured in so-called burst mode, the JUNGFRAU detector can acquire a series of images into sixteen memory cells at a maximum rate of around 150 kHz. This acquisition scheme is better suited for the time structure of the X-rays as well as the pump laser pulses at the EuXFEL. To ensure confidence in the use of the burst mode at EuXFEL, a wide range of measurements have been performed to characterize the detector, especially to validate the detector alibration procedures. In particular, by analyzing the detector response to varying photon intensity (so called 'intensity scan'), special attention was given to the characterization of the transitions between gain stages. The detector was operated in both dynamic gain switching and fixed gain modes. Results of these measurements indicate difficulties in the characterization of the detector dynamic gain switching response while operated in burst mode, while no major issues have been found with fixed gain operation. Based on this outcome, fixed gain operation mode with all the memory cells was used during two experiments at EuXFEL, namely in serial femtosecond protein crystallography and Kossel lines measurements. The positive outcome of these two experiments validates the good results previously obtained, and opens the possibility for a wider usage of the detector in burst operation mode, although compromises are needed on the dynamic range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector‐borne pathogens pose risks for animal and human health, underlining the importance of surveillance activities and mapping efforts to support risk assessments. As part of a living risk assessment project, EFSA‐Animal disease profiles were developed to visualize the current knowledge on vector status of 36 selected pathogens of relevance for EFSA. To keep these profiles up‐to‐date, the current report aimed to review the vector status of species of mosquitoes, ticks, sand flies and biting midges. To this end, two systematic literature reviews were conducted, both focusing on the different criteria that determine the vector status of a species. For the first review, data were collected on the detection of the 36 selected pathogens in field collected mosquitoes, sand flies, biting midges and ticks. The second review looked for vector competence and host infection studies under laboratory conditions. Publications were collected from Web of Science using an extended search term with a temporal delineation from 2016‐2022. Publications from 1950‐2016 were extracted from an earlier review, handling a similar research question. Of the first systematic literature review, a total of 5727 records were included from 447 publications. Of the second literature review, 591 records from 122 publications were included. While combining these two data sets allowed to determine the vector status of species occurring on a global scale. In total, 187 individual species‐pathogen combinations were found and estimates of the vector status were made. In the end, this review not only discloses potential risks, but also highlights the gaps in the current knowledge regarding this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a life-threatening neglected tropical disease, is targeted for elimination from Nepal by the year 2026. The national VL elimination program is still confronted with many challenges including the increasingly widespread distribution of the disease over the country, local resurgence and the questionable efficacy of the key vector control activities. In this study, we assessed the status and risk of Leishmania donovani transmission based on entomological indicators including seasonality, natural Leishmania infection rate and feeding behavior of vector sand flies, Phlebotomus argentipes, in three districts that had received disease control interventions in the past several years in the context of the disease elimination effort. Methods: We selected two epidemiologically contrasting settings in each survey district, one village with and one without reported VL cases in recent years. Adult sand flies were collected using CDC light traps and mouth aspirators in each village for 12 consecutive months from July 2017 to June 2018. Leishmania infection was assessed in gravid sand flies targeting the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene of the parasite (SSU-rRNA) and further sequenced for species identification. A segment (~ 350 bp) of the vertebrate cytochrome b (cytb) gene was amplified from blood-fed P. argentipes from dwellings shared by both humans and cattle and sequenced to identify the preferred host. Results: Vector abundance varied among districts and village types and peaks were observed in June, July and September to November. The estimated Leishmania infection rate in vector sand flies was 2.2% (1.1%–3.7% at 95% credible interval) and 0.6% (0.2%–1.3% at 95% credible interval) in VL and non-VL villages respectively. The common source of blood meal was humans in both VL (52.7%) and non-VL (74.2%) villages followed by cattle. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the risk of ongoing L. donovani transmission not only in villages with VL cases but also in villages not reporting the presence of the disease over the past several years within the districts having disease elimination efforts, emphasize the remaining threats of VL re-emergence and inform the national program for critical evaluation of disease elimination strategies in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organisation declared the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Since then, the world has been firmly in its grip. At the time of writing, there were more than 767,972,961 million confirmed cases and over 6,950,655 million deaths. While the main policy focus has been on controlling the virus and ensuring vaccine roll-out and uptake, the population mental health impacts of the pandemic are expected to be long-term, with certain population groups affected more than others. Methods: The overall objectives of our 'Coronavirus: Mental Health and the Pandemic' study were to explore UK adults' experiences of the Coronavirus pandemic and to gain insights into the mental health impacts, population-level changes over time, current and future mental health needs, and how these can best be addressed. The wider mixed-methods study consisted of repeated cross-sectional surveys and embedded qualitative sub-studies including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the wider UK adult population. For this particular inequalities and mental health sub-study, we used mixed methods data from our cross-sectional surveys and we carried out three Focus Group Discussions with a maximum variation sample from across the UK adult population. The discussions covered the broader topic of 'Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK' and took place online between April and August 2020. Focus Groups transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis in NVIVO. Cross-sectional survey data were analysed using STATA for descriptive statistics. Results: Three broad main themes emerged, each supporting a number of sub-themes: (1) Impacts of the pandemic; (2) Moving forward: needs and recommendations; (3) Coping mechanisms and resilience. Findings showed that participants described their experiences of the pandemic in relation to its impact on themselves and on different groups of people. Their experiences illustrated how the pandemic and subsequent measures had exacerbated existing inequalities and created new ones, and triggered various emotional responses. Participants also described their coping strategies and what worked and did not work for them, as well as support needs and recommendations for moving forward through, and out of, the pandemic; all of which are valuable learnings to be considered in policy making for improving mental health and for ensuring future preparedness. Conclusions: The pandemic is taking a long-term toll on the nations' mental health which will continue to have impacts for years to come. It is therefore crucial to learn the vital lessons learned from this pandemic. Specific as well as whole-government policies need to respond to this, address inequalities and the different needs across the life-course and across society, and take a holistic approach to mental health improvement across the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemic Intelligence (EI) encompasses all activities related to early identification, verification, analysis, assessment, and investigation of health threats. It integrates an indicator-based (IBS) component using systematically collected surveillance data, and an event-based component (EBS), using non-official, non-verified, non-structured data from multiple sources. We described current EI practices in Europe by conducting a survey of national Public Health (PH) and Animal Health (AH) agencies. We included generic questions on the structure, mandate and scope of the institute, on the existence and coordination of EI activities, followed by a section where respondents provided a description of EI activities for three diseases out of seven disease models. Out of 81 gatekeeper agencies from 41 countries contacted, 34 agencies (42%) from 26 (63%) different countries responded, out of which, 32 conducted EI activities. Less than half (15/32; 47%) had teams dedicated to EI activities and 56% (18/34) had Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place. On a national level, a combination of IBS and EBS was the most common data source. Most respondents monitored the epidemiological situation in bordering countries, the rest of Europe and the world. EI systems were heterogeneous across countries and diseases. National IBS activities strongly relied on mandatory laboratory-based surveillance systems. The collection, analysis and interpretation of IBS information was performed manually for most disease models. Depending on the disease, some respondents did not have any EBS activity. Most respondents conducted signal assessment manually through expert review. Cross-sectoral collaboration was heterogeneous. More than half of the responding institutes collaborated on various levels (data sharing, communication, etc.) with neighbouring countries and/or international structures, across most disease models. Our findings emphasise a notable engagement in EI activities across PH and AH institutes of Europe, but opportunities exist for better integration, standardisation, and automatization of these efforts. A strong reliance on traditional IBS and laboratory-based surveillance systems, emphasises the key role of in-country laboratories networks. EI activities may benefit particularly from investments in cross-border collaboration, the development of methods that can automatise signal assessment in both IBS and EBS data, as well as further investments in the collection of EBS data beyond scientific literature and mainstream media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a very promising platform for quantum information processing, as it can host room temperature solid state defect quantum bits. These room temperature quantum bits are realized by paramagnetic silicon vacancy and divacancy defects in SiC that are typically introduced by irradiation techniques. However, irradiation techniques often introduce unwanted defects near the target quantum bit defects that can be detrimental for the operation of quantum bits. Here, we demonstrate that by adding aluminum precursor to the silicon and carbon sources, quantum bit defects are created in the synthesis of SiC without any post treatments. We optimized the synthesis parameters to maximize the paramagnetic defect concentrations—including already established defect quantum bits—monitored by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the absence of written records, the main source of information available to analyze gender inequalities in early complex societies is the human body itself. And yet, for decades, archaeologists have struggled with the sex estimation of poorly preserved human remains. Here we present an exceptional case study that shows how ground-breaking new scientific methods may address this problem. Through the analysis of sexually dimorphic amelogenin peptides in tooth enamel, we establish that the most socially prominent person of the Iberian Copper Age (c. 3200–2200 BC) was not male, as previously thought, but female. The analysis of this woman, discovered in 2008 at Valencina, Spain, reveals that she was a leading social figure at a time where no male attained a remotely comparable social position. Only other women buried a short time after in the Montelirio tholos, part of the same burial area, appear to have enjoyed a similarly high social position. Our results invite to reconsider established interpretations about the political role of women at the onset of early social complexity, and question traditionally held views of the past. Furthermore, this study anticipates the changes that newly developed scientific methods may bring to prehistoric archaeology and the study of human social evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC NPs) are promising inorganic molecular-sized fluorescent biomarkers. It is imperative to develop methods to functionalize SiC NPs for certain biological applications. One possible route is to form amino groups on the surface, which can be readily used to attach target biomolecules. Here, we report direct amino-termination of aqueous SiC NPs. We demonstrate the applicability of the amino-terminated SiC NPs by attaching bovine serum albumin as a model for functionalization. We monitor the optical properties of the SiC NPs in this process and find that the fluorescence intensity is very sensitive to surface termination. Our finding may have implications for a few nanometers sized SiC NPs containing paramagnetic color centers with optically read electron spins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment can become more sustainable by gradually replacing building components with circular ones. Kitchens are a logical component to be made circular, given their relatively short lifespan, product-based nature, and affordable prototypes. Since various designs for circular kitchens can be developed, understanding the feasibility of these designs is crucial for their successful implementation. This knowledge, however, remains limited. Therefore, this article aimed to determine which types of circular kitchens are feasible. Circular kitchens available or announced in the Dutch housing sector within the past five years were compared using an adapted version of the CBC generator, a comprehensive design framework for circular building components. The comparison included the Circular Kitchen (CIK), developed as part of an international research project. Data were sourced from manufacturers' websites and online publications supplemented by interviews with two outliers to verify the results. The analysis encompassed seven circular kitchens, with two developed by established manufacturers and five by start-ups. The manufacturers mostly communicated about their kitchen's physical design. The established manufacturers' circular kitchens were found to be more similar to their non-circular kitchens, while start-ups applied more radical innovations. Furthermore, the kitchens that had a frame structure using technical materials or a panel-based structure using biological materials were more likely to be feasible. These findings can facilitate future circular kitchen development by improving these kitchens' feasibility, thus aiding the transition to a more circular built environment. Furthermore, this research contributes scientifically by adapting a comprehensive design framework (the CBC generator) to compare circular designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) have a long and successful history in industrial firefighting operations due to their unique properties allowing rapid knock-down of fires and efficient vapor suppression from large fuel surfaces preventing (re)ignition. However, all AFFF foams available on the market contain per- and polyfluorinated compounds which are expected to phase out in near future due to ongoing regulation. This paper summarizes foam testing of alcohol resistant AFFF (AFFF-AR) and fluorine-free alternatives (FFF-AR) in our company since 2001. It can be concluded that AFFF-AR foams' performance has decreased in the past while at the same time, FFF-AR foams' performance has significantly increased and some can be seen as replacements for AFFF-AR if correct application can be guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term 'affordable housing' has been rapidly gaining currency over the last decade across Europe, both in policy and research circles. While it is often used as a synonym or close relative of the term 'social housing', more recently it is finding its own definition and policy instruments in specific cities and countries. However, boundaries between both concepts remain unclear. To shed light on recent developments of each of these terms, this paper presents findings from a study commissioned by the European Investment Bank, which investigated current trends in definitions, programmes and policies both in social housing and affordable housing. This paper focuses on findings for England, Italy, Poland and The Netherlands. Methods used included desk research and interviews with key informants in each of the four countries. In addition, in-depth information about Italy and The Netherlands was gathered through stakeholder workshops carried out between September and November 2016. Findings show that affordable housing in all four countries is becoming a more distinct field, in parallel to developments in social housing. In addition, the paper describes some innovative policies undertaken to develop affordable housing solutions. The paper concludes with a reflection on scenarios for future policy developments and an agenda for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is a precursor material that plays a key role in polymorph selection and crystallization of carbonates. It is involved in the formation of the cryogenic carbonate ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O), but the role of ACC during the transformation of this room-temperature-metastable material is poorly understood. We report the occurrence of two ACC types that differ in their mode of formation, morphology, particle size, water content and stability. ACC precipitated in solution below 5 °C, referred to as ACC (I), is amorphous, forms as ∼100 nm sized spheres, and contains 1.12 mol adsorbed and 0.26 mol chemically bonded water. Aging of ACC (I) for 25 min under cold conditions forms euhedral ikaite, whereas calcite forms within 10 min at room temperature. Our findings suggest that ACC (I) is the same precursor phase for both crystalline forms and their selection can be controlled by temperature alone. Rapid dehydration of ikaite by organic solvents and vacuum pumping at room temperature and by increasing the temperature from 5 to 30 °C within 1 min forms amorphous carbonate, referred to as ACC (II). ACC (II) consists of micron-sized, porous grains that preserve the ikaite grain morphology and contains 0.42 mol physically adsorbed and 0.35 mol chemically bonded water. Temperature-dependent investigations performed between 25 and 350 °C indicate that ACC (I) is more stable than ACC (II) despite its higher water content. At 300–350 °C ACC (I) can be dehydrated to an amorphous material containing 0.03 mol water, which crystallizes to calcite without a transitional anhydrous phase. The different ACC types can be attractive for materials science applications. The finding of an amorphous phase during the ikaite → calcite transition suggests the alteration of the original geochemical signal and thus has implications for interpreting paleoclimatological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second most malaria-affected country in the world with 21,608,681 cases reported in 2019. The Kongo Central (KC) Province has a malaria annual incidence of 163 cases/per 1000 inhabitants which are close to the national average of 153.4/1000. However, the malaria prevalence varies both between and within health zones in this province. The main objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and transmission of malaria among children aged 0 to 10 years in the 4 highest endemic health areas in Kisantu Health Zone (HZ) of KC in DRC. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2017 using multi-stage sampling. A total of 30 villages in 4 health areas in Kisantu HZ were randomly selected. The prevalence of malaria was measured using a thick blood smear (TBS) and known predictors and associated outcomes were assessed. Data are described and association determinants of malaria infection were analysed. Results: A total of 1790 children between 0 and 10 years were included in 30 villages in 4 health areas of Kisantu HZ. The overall prevalence in the study area according to the TBS was 14.8% (95% CI: 13.8–16.6; range: 0–53). The mean sporozoite rate in the study area was 4.3% (95% CI: 2.6–6.6). The determination of kdr-west resistance alleles showed the presence of both L1014S and L1014F with 14.6% heterozygous L1014S/L1014F, 84.4% homozygous 1014F, and 1% homozygous 1014S. The risk factors associated with malaria infection were ground or wooden floors aOR: 15.8 (95% CI: 8.6–29.2), a moderate or severe underweight: 1.5 (1.1–2.3) and to be overweight: 1.9 (95% CI: 1.3–2.7). Conclusion: Malaria prevalence differed between villages and health areas within the same health zone. The control strategy activities must be oriented by the variety in the prevalence and transmission of malaria in different areas. The policy against malaria regarding long-lasting insecticidal nets should be based on the evidence of metabolic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment can be made more circular by gradually replacing building components with more circular components during construction, renovation, or maintenance. However, many different design options can be seen as circular. Although there is a growing number of studies about circular design options, research on what makes these options feasible or not feasible in practice is limited. This type of research requires intensive, long-term involvement with practitioners. Therefore, this article presents a longitudinal case study of an exemplary circular building component: the circular kitchen. The researchers actively engaged in a co-creation with industry partners to develop a circular kitchen design, supply chain model, and business model. All the choices made from initiative to market implementation were documented. Five lessons were drawn from an analysis of the stakeholder choices that can aid the future development of feasible circular building components: about ambition, aesthetics, design scale, participation, and focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito species belonging to the genus Aedes have attracted the interest of scientists and public health officers because of their capacity to transmit viruses that affect humans. Some of these species were brought outside their native range by means of trade and tourism and then colonised new regions thanks to a unique combination of eco-physiological traits. Considering mosquito physiological and behavioural traits to understand and predict their population dynamics is thus a crucial step in developing strategies to mitigate the local densities of invasive Aedes populations. Here, we synthesised the life cycle of four invasive Aedes species (Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus) in a single multi-scale stochastic modelling framework which we coded in the R package dynamAedes. We designed a stage-based and time-discrete stochastic model driven by temperature, photo-period and inter-specific larval competition that can be applied to three different spatial scales: punctual, local and regional. These spatial scales consider different degrees of spatial complexity and data availability by accounting for both active and passive dispersal of mosquito species as well as for the heterogeneity of the input temperature data. Our overarching aim was to provide a flexible, open-source and user-friendly tool rooted in the most updated knowledge on the species' biology which could be applied to the management of invasive Aedes populations as well as to more theoretical ecological inquiries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is a parasitosis caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania and is transmitted by Phlebotominae sand flies. An entomological survey was carried out in different localities of Zagora Province. Our work allowed us to establish an inventory of sand flies to study potential vectors of leishmaniasis and to compare the composition and the specific abundance of different endemic stations. The sand flies were collected using CDC miniature light traps during the month of July 2019 in the ten studied villages. The results indicate the presence of thirteen species, belonging to the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Phlebotomus papatasi was the predominant species (46.65%) followed by Ph. alexandri (17%), Ph. longicuspis (11.55%), Ph. bergeroti (1.53%) and Ph. sergenti (1.27%). Phlebotomus kazeruni (0.03%) was rare, and only one female was captured in Ifred. Sergentomyia schwetzi (8.69%) was the most prevalent species in the Sergentomyia genus followed closely by Se. fallax (6.84%). Sergentomyia africana was present with a proportion of (3.86%) followed by Se. clydei (1.96%). Sergentomyia dreifussi (0.46%), Se. antennata (0.08%), and Se. minuta (0.08%) were very limited. Phlebotomus papatasi, Ph. alexandri, Ph. bergeroti, Ph. longicuspis, Ph. sergenti, Se. schwetzi, Se. clydei, and Se. fallax are constant species, being present at least in 50% of the stations (occurrence> 50%). Common species (25%-49%) were Se. minuta and Se. africana and rare species were Ph. kazeruni and Se. antennata with a very limited distribution (occurrence <12%). The greatest species richness was found in Ksar Mougni and Ifred with the occurrence of 11 species, but overall, it was high (>9 species) in most of the villages. The Shannon-Wiener index was high (H' > 1) in eight localities (Ksar Mougni, Tassaouante, Bleida, ZaouiteLeftah, Ifred, Timarighine, Ait Oulahyane, and Ait Ali Ouhassou). The high value of this index is in favor of the ZaouiteLeftah locality (Shannon-Wiener index = 1.679) which is explained by the presence of a stand dominated by Ph. papatasi. In order to avoid exposure to infections, a good epidemiological surveillance and vector with rodent control measures must be well maintained. Awareness campaigns are also required and must be conducted for better knowledge of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito species belonging to the genus Aedes have attracted the interest of scientists and public health officers because of their capacity to transmit viruses that affect humans. Some of these species were brought outside their native range by means of trade and tourism and then colonised new regions thanks to a unique combination of eco-physiological traits. Considering mosquito physiological and behavioural traits to understand and predict their population dynamics is thus a crucial step in developing strategies to mitigate the local densities of invasive Aedes populations. Here, we synthesised the life cycle of four invasive Aedes species (Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus) in a single multi-scale stochastic modelling framework which we coded in the R package dynamAedes. We designed a stage-based and time-discrete stochastic model driven by temperature, photo-period and inter-specific larval competition that can be applied to three different spatial scales: punctual, local and regional. These spatial scales consider different degrees of spatial complexity and data availability by accounting for both active and passive dispersal of mosquito species as well as for the heterogeneity of the input temperature data. Our overarching aim was to provide a flexible, open-source and user-friendly tool rooted in the most updated knowledge on the species' biology which could be applied to the management of invasive Aedes populations as well as to more theoretical ecological inquiries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mosquito Aedes koreicus (Edwards, 1917) is a recent invader on the European continent that was introduced to several new places since its first detection in 2008. Compared to other exotic Aedes mosquitoes with public health significance that invaded Europe during the last decades, this species' biology, behavior, and dispersal patterns were poorly investigated to date. Methodology/Principal findings: To understand the species' population relationships and dispersal patterns within Europe, a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI or COX1) gene was sequenced from 130 mosquitoes, collected from five countries where the species has been introduced and/or established. Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing techniques were combined to generate the first complete nuclear and mitochondrial genomic sequences of Ae. koreicus from the European region. The complete genome of Ae. koreicus is 879 Mb. COI haplotype analyses identified five major groups (altogether 31 different haplotypes) and revealed a large-scale dispersal pattern between European Ae. koreicus populations. Continuous admixture of populations from Belgium, Italy, and Hungary was highlighted, additionally, haplotype diversity and clustering indicate a separation of German sequences from other populations, pointing to an independent introduction of Ae. koreicus to Europe. Finally, a genetic expansion signal was identified, suggesting the species might be present in more locations than currently detected. Conclusions/Significance: Our results highlight the importance of genetic research of invasive mosquitoes to understand general dispersal patterns, reveal main dispersal routes and form the baseline of future mitigation actions. The first complete genomic sequence also provides a significant leap in the general understanding of this species, opening the possibility for future genome-related studies, such as the detection of 'Single Nucleotide Polymorphism' markers. Considering its public health importance, it is crucial to further investigate the species' population genetic dynamic, including a larger sampling and additional genomic markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium-doped spinel crystals show long-lasting emissions in the near-infrared wavelength region. The emission can be activated by X-ray or ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible) light. Such properties make this material a promising candidate for background-free deep-tissue bioimaging, photodynamic or photon-induced therapy, and other applications. Here, we apply hydrothermal synthesis for the preparation of Cr-doped zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) nanoparticles of small sizes with around 10 nm in diameter, which has the potential to be intravenously introduced to patients. We find that annealing of the as-prepared nanoparticles at 800 °C yields an order of magnitude increase in the emission intensity in the near-infrared wavelength region upon X-ray exposure with favorable long-lasting photoluminescence, which may be directly employed for deep-tissue cancer treatments when combined with IR700-mAb conjugate drug agents. We discuss the effect of annealing on the structural changes and the evolution of Cr defects of 10 nm Cr-doped zinc gallate nanoparticles by imaging techniques and monitoring their magneto-optical signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is targeted for elimination as a public health problem in Nepal by 2023. For nearly three decades, the core vector control intervention in Nepal has been indoor residual spraying (IRS) with pyrethroids. Considering the long-term use of pyrethroids and the possible development of resistance of the vector Phlebotomus argentipes sand flies, we monitored the susceptibility status of their field populations to the insecticides of different classes, in villages with and without IRS activities in recent years. Methodology/Principal findings: Sand flies were collected from villages with and without IRS in five VL endemic districts from August 2019 to November 2020. The WHO susceptibility test procedure was adopted using filter papers impregnated at the discriminating concentrations of insecticides of the following classes: pyrethroids (alpha-cypermethrin 0.05%, deltamethrin 0.05%, and lambda-cyhalothrin 0.05%), carbamates (bendiocarb 0.1%) and organophosphates (malathion 5%). Pyrethroid resistance intensity bioassays with papers impregnated with 5× of the discriminating concentrations, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist-pyrethroid bioassays, and DDT cross-resistance bioassays were also performed. In the IRS villages, the vector sand flies were resistant (mortality rate <90%) to alpha-cypermethrin and possibly resistant (mortality rate 90–97%) to deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, while susceptibility to these insecticides was variable in the non-IRS villages. The vector was fully susceptible to bendiocarb and malathion in all villages. A delayed knockdown time (KDT50) with pyrethroids was observed in all villages. The pyrethroid resistance intensity was low, and the susceptibility improved at 5× of the discriminating concentrations. Enhanced pyrethroid susceptibility after pre-exposure to PBO and the DDT-pyrethroid cross-resistance were evident. Conclusions/Significance: Our investigation showed that P. argentipes sand flies have emerged with pyrethroid resistance, suggesting the need to switch to alternative classes of insecticides such as organophosphates for IRS. We strongly recommend the regular and systematic monitoring of insecticide resistance in sand flies to optimize the efficiency of vector control interventions to sustain VL elimination efforts in Nepal. Author summary: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), transmitted by P. argentipes sand flies, is endemic in South-East Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, and is on the verge of elimination as a public health problem in Nepal by 2023. As part of the WHO Global Vector Control Response, entomological surveillance including insecticide resistance monitoring is one of the four main pillars of this strategy. In the early 1990s, the historical use of DDT for sand fly vector control was replaced with deltamethrin or alpha-cypermethrin, which have now been in use for almost three decades in Nepal. Suspecting that this long-term use of pyrethroids might have selected resistance in sand fly populations which would jeopardize control efforts, we conducted the first comprehensive survey to generate contemporary evidence of insecticide resistance in Nepal. For this, we performed WHO susceptibility tests in five VL endemic districts and found strong evidence of pyrethroid resistance in vector populations from the areas receiving IRS. Resistance mechanisms involved would probably be kdr mutations and monooxygenase. This study also endorses regular insecticide resistance monitoring to inform evidence-based decisions on insecticide use for vector control and to maintain the effectiveness of vector control measures as a core intervention in the fight against VL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive mosquito species (IMS) and their associated mosquito-borne diseases are emerging in Europe. In Belgium, the first detection of Aedes albopictus (Skuse 1894) occurred in 2000 and of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald 1901) in 2002. Early detection and control of these IMS at points of entry (PoEs) are of paramount importance to slow down any possible establishment. This article reviews the introductions and establishments recorded of three IMS in Belgium based on published (2007–2014) and unpublished (2015–2020) data collected during several surveillance projects. In total, 52 PoEs were monitored at least once for the presence of IMS between 2007 and 2020. These included used tyre and lucky bamboo import companies, airports, ports, parking lots along highways, shelters for imported cutting plants, wholesale markets, industrial areas, recycling areas, cemeteries and an allotment garden at the country border with colonised areas. In general, monitoring was performed between April and November. Mosquitoes were captured with adult and oviposition traps as well as by larval sampling. Aedes albopictus was detected at ten PoEs, Ae. japonicus at three PoEs and Aedes koreicus (Edwards 1917) at two PoEs. The latter two species have established overwintering populations. The percentage of PoEs positive for Ae. albopictus increased significantly over years. Aedes albopictus is currently entering Belgium through lucky bamboo and used tyre trade and passive ground transport, while Ae. japonicus through used tyre trade and probably passive ground transport. In Belgium, the import through passive ground transport was first recorded in 2018 and its importance seems to be growing. Belgium is currently at the invasion front of Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus. The surveillance and control management actions at well-known PoEs associated to long-distance introductions are more straightforward than at less-defined PoEs associated with short-distance introductions from colonised areas. These latter PoEs represent a new challenge for IMS management in Belgium in the coming years. Aedes albopictus is expected to become established in Belgium in the coming years, hence increasing the likelihood of local arbovirus transmission. The implementation of a sustainable, structured and long-term IMS management programme, integrating active and passive entomological surveillance, vector control and Public Health surveillance is therefore pivotal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arterial stiffness is a potential biomarker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, its relation with other CV risk evaluation tools in T1D has not been elucidated yet. This study aimed to evaluate arterial stiffness in T1D patients free from known CVD, and compare it to other CV risk evaluation tools used in T1D. Methods: Cross-sectional study in adults with a T1D duration of at least 10 years and without established CVD. Patients were categorized in CVD risk groups based on 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, and the STENO T1D risk engine was used to estimate 10-year risk for CV events. Arterial stiffness was evaluated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score was assessed and carotid ultrasound was performed. Ambulatory 24-h blood pressure and central hemodynamic parameters were evaluated. Data on renal function and diabetic kidney disease was retrieved. Results: 54 patients (age: 46 ± 9.5 years; T1D duration: 27 ± 8.8 years) were included. One-fourth of patients showed prematurely increased aortic stiffness based on cf-PWV (24%). Cf-PWV was significantly associated with CAC score, carotid intima-media thickness, central hemodynamic parameters and diabetic kidney disease. Based on STENO, 20 patients (37%) were at low, 20 patients (37%) at moderate, and 14 patients (26%) at high 10-year risk for CV event. Cf-PWV was strongly associated with the STENO score (rs = + 0.81; R2 = 0.566, p < 0.001), increasing with each higher STENO group (p < 0.01). However, cf-PWV was not significantly different between the two CV risk groups (high versus very high) based on ESC criteria, and ESC criteria compared to STENO classified 10 patients more as having > 10% 10-year risk for CV events (n = 44/54; 81.5% versus n = 34/54; 63%). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a substantial proportion of long-standing T1D patients free from known CVD show premature arterial stiffening. Cf-PWV strongly associates with the STENO risk score for future CV events and with cardiovascular imaging and function outcomes, thereby illustrating the clinical importance of arterial stiffness. The data, however, also show considerable heterogeneity in CV risk and differences in risk categorisation between the STENO tool and ESC criteria.There is a need for refinement of CV risk classification in T1D, and future studies should investigate if evaluation of arterial stiffness should be implemented in T1D clinical practice and which patients benefit the most from its assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey reports on the DNA identification and occurrence of Culex torrentium and Cx. pipiens s.s. in Belgium. These native disease-vector mosquito species are morphologically difficult to separate, and the biotypes of Cx. pipiens s.s. are morphologically indistinguishable. Culex torrentium and Cx. pipiens s.s. were identified using the COI and ACE2 loci. We recorded 1248 Cx. pipiens s.s. and 401 Cx. torrentium specimens from 24 locations in Belgium (collected between 2017 and 2019). Culex pipiens biotypes pipiens and molestus, and their hybrids, were differentiated using fragment-size analysis of the CQ11 locus (956 pipiens and 227 molestus biotype specimens, 29 hybrids). Hybrids were observed at 13 out of 16 sympatric sites. These results confirm that both species are widespread in Belgium, but while Cx. torrentium revealed many COI haplotypes, Cx. pipiens s.s. showed only one abundant haplotype. This latter observation may either reflect a recent population-wide demographic or range expansion, or a recent bottleneck, possibly linked to a Wolbachia infection. Finally, new evidence is provided for the asymmetric but limited introgression of the molestus biotype into the pipiens biotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the onset of resistance, ovarian cancer cells display almost unpredictable adaptive potential. This may derive from the tumor genetic ancestry and can be additionally tailored by post translational protein modifications (PTMs). In this study, we took advantage of high-end (phospho)-proteome analysis combined with multiparametric morphometric profiling in high-grade serous (OVCAR-3) and non-serous (SKOV-3) ovarian carcinoma cells. For functional experiments, we applied two different protocols, representing typical conditions of the abdominal cavity and of the growing tumor tissue: on the one side hypoxia (oxygen 1%) which develops within the tumor mass or is experienced during migration/extravasation in non-vascularized areas. On the other hand, fluid shear stress (250 rpm, 2.8 dyn/cm2) which affects tumor surface in the peritoneum or metastases in the bloodstream. After 3 hours incubation, treatment groups were clearly distinguishable by PCA analysis. Whereas basal proteome profiles of OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells appeared almost unchanged, phosphoproteome analysis revealed multiple regulatory events. These affected primarily cellular structure and proliferative potential and consolidated in the proteome signature after 24h treatment. Upon oxygen reduction, metabolism switched toward glycolysis (e.g. upregulation hexokinase-2; HK2) and cell size increased, in concerted regulation of pathways related to Rho-GTPases and/or cytoskeletal elements, resembling a vasculogenic mimicry response. Shear stress regulated proteins governing cell cycle and structure, as well as the lipid metabolism machinery including the delta(14)-sterol reductase, kinesin-like proteins (KIF-22/20A) and the actin-related protein 2/3 complex. Independent microscopy-based validation experiments confirmed cell-type specific morphometric responses. In conclusion, we established a robust workflow enabling the description of the adaptive potential of ovarian cancer cells to physical and chemical stressors typical for the abdominal cavity and supporting the identification of novel molecular mechanisms sustaining tumor plasticity and pharmacologic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To develop and validate two new standardised measures assessing, respectively, experienced discrimination (Covid-19 Experienced DISCrimination scale, CEDISC) and internalised stigma (COvid-19 INternalised Stigma scale, COINS) in people who had been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or had developed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) disease. Methods: Both the CEDISC and the COINS were developed in Italian and tested for ease of use, comprehension, acceptability, the relevance of items and response options within a focus group session. Online cross-sectional validation survey was conducted among adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 or who developed Covid-19 disease, members of a closed Facebook discussion group in Italy. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Promax oblique rotation; the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy and the Bartlett's test of sphericity were used to assess the suitability of the sample for factor analysis. Reliability was assessed as internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and as test–retest reliability using weighted kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Precision was examined by Kendall's tau-b coefficient. Results: Overall, 579 participants completed the CEDISC, 519 also completed the COINS, 155 completed the retest for both scales after two weeks. The 12 items of the CEDISC converged over a 2-factor solution ('social life' and 'close relations') accounting for 49.2% of the variance (KMO = 0.894; Bartlett's test p < 0.001); the 13 items of the COINS converged over a 3-factor solution ('self-perception', 'close relations' and 'social life') accounting for 67.7% (KMO = 0.827; Bartlett's test p < 0.001). Cronbach's α was 0.848 for the CEDISC, and 0.837 for the COINS. The CEDISC showed three items (25%) with kappa between 0.61 and 0.80 and seven (58.4%) between 0.41 and 0.60, with only two items scoring 0.21 and 0.40; the COINS had ten items (76.9%) with kappa ranging from 0.41 to 0.60, and three items below 0.31. ICC was 0.906 (95% CI, 0.871–0.932) for the, CEDISC and 0.860 (95% CI, 0.808–0.898) for the COINS. Kendall's tau-b ranged from 0.360 to 0.556 (p < 0.001) for the CEDISC and from 0.290 to 0.606 (p < 0.001) for the COINS. Conclusions: Both the CEDISC and the COINS are two valid and reliable scales to be used in studies examining the role of stigma and discrimination of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 patients, and in research evaluating interventions designed to mitigate stigma in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Želeč I stratified site (Želeč na Hané cadastral area, Prostějov District), located in the area of the Ondratice sand mine, has been systematically surveyed since 2009 (Mlejnek et al. 2016). In 2022, the research of this Early Paleolithic site was financially supported by the Visegrad Fund, enabling the continuation of investigation in the Zel_4a trench (Fig. 27). An additional area of 9 m2 was excavated, and the sediment was sampled for paleobotanical (charcoal and phytolith) and geoarchaeological (geochemical and micromorphological) analyses, as well as for radiocarbon and OSL dating. All these samples were analysed in 2023 and the final results will be published in 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in health and social care research is increasingly prevalent and is promoted in policy as a means of improving the validity of research. This also applies to people living in prison and using social care services. Whilst evidence for the effectiveness of PPI was limited and reviews of its application in prisons were not found, the infancy of the evidence base and moral and ethical reasons for involvement mean that PPI continues to be advocated in the community and in prisons. Objectives: To conduct a review of the literature regarding the involvement of people or persons living in prison (PLiP) in health and social care research focused on: (i) aims; (ii) types of involvement; (iii) evaluations and findings; (iv) barriers and solutions; and (v) feasibility of undertaking a systematic review. Methods: A systematic scoping review was undertaken following Arksey and O'Malley's (International Journal of Social Research Methodology 8: 19-32, 2005) five-stage framework. A comprehensive search was conducted involving ten electronic databases up until December 2020 using patient involvement and context related search terms. A review-specific spreadsheet was created following the PICO formula, and a narrative synthesis approach was taken to answer the research questions. PRISMA guidelines were followed in reporting. Results: 39 papers were selected for inclusion in the review. The majority of these took a 'participatory' approach to prisoner involvement, which occurred at most stages during the research process except for more 'higher' level research operations (funding applications and project management), and only one study was led by PLiPs. Few studies involved an evaluation of the involvement of PLiP, and this was mostly PLiP or researcher reflections without formal or independent analysis, and largely reported a positive impact. Barriers to the involvement of PLiP coalesced around power differences and prison bureaucracy. Conclusion: Given the very high risk of bias arising from the available 'evaluations', it was not possible to derive firm conclusions about the effectiveness of PLiP involvement in the research process. In addition, given the state of the evidence base, it was felt that a systematic review would not be feasible until more evaluations were undertaken using a range of methodologies to develop the field further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To guide implementation of vector control interventions in Europe, a stronger evidence base of their efficacy and effectiveness is needed. Currently, epidemiological endpoints are used to demonstrate the public health value of a vector control intervention. This systematic literature review aimed to help assess whether entomological endpoints (such as mosquito abundance, infection rates, inoculation rates, parity rate as proxy for longevity, or others) can be used on their own as evidence of efficacy of vector control interventions against vector‐borne diseases. We searched electronic bibliographic databases (The Cochrane Library, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE and Web of Science) for intervention trials where vector control interventions were evaluated and extracted epidemiological and entomological effect size estimates. The selection process resulted in 31 studies (extracted from 35 publications) for which both types of endpoints were available. The final database included studies on malaria (n=16), dengue (n=9), leishmaniasis (n=5) and tick‐borne diseases (n=1). Epidemiological and entomological effect sizes often pointed in the same direction (i.e. both favouring intervention or favouring control). However, based on the statistical inference (whether the effect size estimate is significantly different from no‐effect) of the results, we observed some disagreement between endpoints, though we rarely saw complete disagreement in effect estimates. This review illustrates the complex relation between entomological and epidemiological endpoints. Based on this review, it is concluded that evaluating interventions on entomological endpoints only is insufficient to understand their potential epidemiological impact. To better asses the value of entomological endpoints for the assessment of efficacy of vector control intervention, there is a need for studies to be powered for both epidemiological and entomological endpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika are among the most important emerging infectious vector-borne diseases worldwide. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), increases in cases of dengue and outbreaks of yellow fever and chikungunya have been reported since 2010. The main vectors of these arboviruses, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, have been reported in DRC, but there is a lack of detailed information on their presence and spread to guide disease control efforts. Methods: In 2018, two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Kinshasa province (DRC), one in the rainy (January/February) and one in the dry season (July). Four hundred houses were visited in each of the four selected communes (N'Djili, Mont Ngafula, Lingwala and Kalamu). Within the peri-domestic area of each household, searches were conducted for larval habitats, which were then surveyed for the presence of Aedes larvae and pupae. A subset of the immature specimens were reared to adults for morphological identification followed by DNA barcoding of the specimens to validate identifications. Results: The most rural commune (Mont Ngafula) had the highest pupal index (number of Aedes spp. pupae per 100 inspected houses) at 246 (20) pupae/100 houses, and Breteau index (BI; number of containers positive for immature stages of Aedes spp. per 100 households) at 82.2 (19.5) positive containers/100 houses for the rainy (and dry) season, respectively. The BI was 21.5 (4.7), 36.7 (9.8) and 41.7 (7.5) in Kalamu, Lingwala and N'Djili in the rainy (and dry) season, respectively. The house index (number of houses positive for at least one container with immature stages of Aedes spp. per 100 inspected houses) was, on average, across all communes, 27.5% (7.6%); and the container index (number of containers positive for immature stages of Aedes spp. per 100 inspected containers) was 15.0% (10.0%) for the rainy (and dry) season, respectively. The vast majority of Aedes-positive containers were found outside the houses [adjusted odds ratio 27.4 (95% confidence interval 14.9–50.1)]. During the dry season, the most productive containers were the ones used for water storage, whereas in the rainy season rubbish and tires constituted key habitats. Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were found. Anopheles larvae were found in different types of Aedes larval habitats, especially during the rainy season. Conclusions: In both surveys and in all communes, the larval indices (BI) were higher than the arbovirus transmission threshold values established by the World Health Organization. Management strategies for controlling Aedes in Kinshasa need to target the key types of containers for Aedes larvae, which are mainly located in outdoor spaces, for larval habitat destruction or reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mental health system in Indonesia comprises attempts to modernise a colonial relic. There is still a disconnect between available services and help-seeking behaviours at the grassroots level. This study aims to explore the perceptions of Javanese people on the aetiology of mental illness and their ideas on how to deal with individuals who may have mental illness. Methods: This qualitative study involves semi-structured interviews, embedded in a cluster randomised trial examining the clinical and cost-effectiveness of primary mental health services. Interviews were conducted with Indonesian and Javanese. The recruitment procedure was aligned to the trial. Participants were primary care patients recruited from 21 sites across Yogyakarta province. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts. Results: 75 participants took part in the study: 51 women (68%) and 24 men (32%). Key themes emerged around perceived causes of mental health problems (including 'extrinsic factors'; 'intrinsic factors'; and 'spiritual factors'), and perceived appropriate pathways of care ('modern medical science'; 'social support and activities'; and 'religious or spiritual interventions'). Gender potentially influenced some of the responses. Conclusions: Themes indicate the variety of preconceptions towards mental health problems and assumptions regarding the best management pathways. Some of these preconceptions and assumptions support the utility of modern medical care, while the rest promote spiritual or religious healers. Participants' ideas of the appropriate care pathways largely correspond to their perception of what the symptoms are caused by. Despite hints to some understanding of the bio-psycho-social model of mental illness, most participants did not capture the complexity of mental health and illness, indicating the importance of contextual (especially culturally and religiously-aligned) public education around mental health, illness and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at identifying the members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex (Diptera: Culicidae) occurring in Belgium. Therefore, the second internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS2) and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) loci were sequenced in 175 and 111 specimens, respectively, collected between 2007 and 2019. In parallel, the suitability of two species‐diagnostic PCR‐RFLP assays was tested. The identified specimens included: An. maculipennis s.s. (N = 105), An. daciae (N = 62), An. atroparvus (N = 6) and An. messeae (N = 2). Each species was characterized by unique ITS2 haplotypes, whereas COI only supported the monophyly of An. atroparvus, a historical malaria vector in Belgium. Species identification results were further supported by unique PCR‐RFLP banding patterns. We report for the first time An. daciae in Belgium, where it was found to co‐occur with An. maculipennis s.s. The latter was the most prevalent in the collection studied (60%) and appears to have the widest distribution in Belgium. As in other studies, An. daciae and An. messeae appeared the most closely related species, up to the point that their species status remains debatable, while their ecological differences, including vector competences, need further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a clinically established modality for treatment of lung tumors. A challenge with existing application of MWA, however, is local tumor progression, potentially due to failure to establish an adequate treatment margin. This study presents a robust simulation‐based treatment planning methodology to assist operators in comparatively assessing thermal profiles and likelihood of achieving a specified minimum margin as a function of candidate applied energy parameters. Methods: We employed a biophysical simulation‐based probabilistic treatment planning methodology to evaluate the likelihood of achieving a specified minimum margin for candidate treatment parameters (i.e., applied power and ablation duration for a given applicator position within a tumor). A set of simulations with varying tissue properties was evaluated for each considered combination of power and ablation duration, and for four different scenarios of contrast in tissue biophysical properties between tumor and normal lung. A treatment planning graph was then assembled, where distributions of achieved minimum ablation zone margins and collateral damage volumes can be assessed for candidate applied power and treatment duration combinations. For each chosen power and time combination, the operator can also visualize the histogram of ablation zone boundaries overlaid on the tumor and target volumes. We assembled treatment planning graphs for generic 1, 2, and 2.5 cm diameter spherically shaped tumors and also illustrated the impact of tissue heterogeneity on delivered treatment plans and resulting ablation histograms. Finally, we illustrated the treatment planning methodology on two example patient‐specific cases of tumors with irregular shapes. Results: The assembled treatment planning graphs indicate that 30 W, 6 min ablations achieve a 5‐mm minimum margin across all simulated cases for 1‐cm diameter spherical tumors, and 70 W, 10 min ablations achieve a 3‐mm minimum margin across 90% of simulations for a 2.5‐cm diameter spherical tumor. Different scenarios of tissue heterogeneity between tumor and lung tissue revealed 2 min overall difference in ablation duration, in order to reliably achieve a 4‐mm minimum margin or larger each time for 2‐cm diameter spherical tumor. Conclusions: An approach for simulation‐based treatment planning for microwave ablation of lung tumors is illustrated to account for the impact of specific geometry of the treatment site, tissue property uncertainty, and heterogeneity between the tumor and normal lung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria "hotspots" have been proposed as potential intervention units for targeted malaria elimination. Little is known about hotspot formation and stability in settings outside sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: Clustering of Plasmodium infections at the household and hotspot level was assessed over 2 years in 3 villages in eastern Cambodia. Social and spatial autocorrelation statistics were calculated to assess clustering of malaria risk, and logistic regression was used to assess the effect of living in a malaria hotspot compared to living in a malaria-positive household in the first year of the study on risk of malaria infection in the second year.Results: The crude prevalence of Plasmodium infection was 8.4% in 2016 and 3.6% in 2017. Living in a hotspot in 2016 did not predict Plasmodium risk at the individual or household level in 2017 overall, but living in a Plasmodium-positive household in 2016 strongly predicted living in a Plasmodium-positive household in 2017 (Risk Ratio, 5.00 [95% confidence interval, 2.09-11.96], P < .0001). There was no consistent evidence that malaria risk clustered in groups of socially connected individuals from different households.Conclusions: Malaria risk clustered more clearly in households than in hotspots over 2 years. Household-based strategies should be prioritized in malaria elimination programs in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]