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The EU-GEI Project was funded by grant agreement Health-F2-2010-241909 from the European Community’s Seventh Framework program. The Brazilian study was funded by grant 2012-0417-0 from the São Paulo Research Foundation, D'Andrea, Giuseppe; Lal, Jatin; Tosato, Sarah;Gayer-Anderson, Charlotte;Jongsma, Hannah E.;Stilo, Simona A.; van der Ven, Els;Quattrone, Diego;Velthorst, Eva;Berardi, Domenico;Rossi Menezes, Paulo; Arango, Celso; Parellada, Mara; Lasalvia, Antonio; La Cascia, Caterina; Ferraro, Laura; La Barbera, Daniele; Sideli, Lucia; Bobes, Julio; Bernardo, Miguel; Sanjuan, Julio; Santos, Jose Luis; Arrojo, Manuel; Marta Del-Ben, Cristina; Tripoli, Giada; Llorca, Pierre-Michel; de Haan, Lieuwe; Selten, Jean-Paul; Tortelli, Andrea; Szoke, Andrei; Muratori, Roberto; Rutten, Bart P.; van Os, Jim; Jones, Peter B.; Kirkbride, James B.; Murray, Robin M.; di Forti, Marta; Tarricone, Ilaria; Morgan, Craig

Experimental studies suggest that the fracture toughness of rocks increases with the confining pressure. Among many methods to quantify this dependency, a so-called burst experiment (Abou-Sayed, 1978) may be the most widely applied in practice. Its thick wall cylinder geometry leads to a stress state resembling the subsurface condition of a pressurized wellbore with bi-wing fractures. The fracture toughness of a sample, under a given confinement pressure, can be recovered from the critical pressure upon which the bi-wing cracks propagate. Traditionally, this critical pressure is thought to correspond to a sudden drop in injection pressure. However, as the standard configuration was deliberately designed to obtain stable fracture growth at the onset, propagation can take place well before this drop in pressure, and one may overestimate the fracture toughness from measured pressures. Here, we study crack stability in the burst experiment and propose modifications to the experimental design which promotes unstable fracture growth and makes the critical pressure less ambiguous to interpret. We found that experiments with the original, stable design can lead to inconsistent measurement of fracture toughness under confining pressure, while results from unstable configurations are more consistent. Our claim on the stability was also supported by the recorded acoustic emissions from both stable and unstable experiments.

This research is a Classroom Action Research which aims to enhance physics learning outcomes through a problem-based learning model. 39 students from class X at TKJ 2 SMK Negeri 1 Lhokseumawe in the odd semester of the academic year served as the subjects of this study. The research was carried out over two cycles and included the following four activities: arranging, executing activities, observing and reflecting. There were two meetings in Cycle I, and there were three meetings in Cycle II. This study used an observation sheet to collect information about teaching and learning situations as well as data on students' physics learning outcomes from the tests taken for each cycle. The results of the quantitative analysis using the learning outcomes test in the evaluation of physics subjects in cycle I revealed that 14 students achieved scores above the Minimum Completeness Criteria (KKM), or 35.90 percent. There were 32 students in cycle II who scored higher than the KKM, or 82.05 percent. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that using the Problem-Based Learning Model can improve the physics learning outcomes of grade X students of TKJ 2 SMK Negeri 1 Lhokseumawe on the work and energy lesson

This research seeks to ascertain how Class X TE students at SMK Negeri 1 Lhokseumawe can improve their learning outcomes in physics for Temperature and Heat topic using simple visual aids during the even semester of the 2019–2020 academic year. This type of research includes descriptive research with an action research approach. The subjects in this study were students of class X TE of SMK Negeri 1 Lhokseumawe in the academic year 2019/2020, with a total of 28 students. Determination of the subject was obtained based on the results of the investigation of the class to be studied and based on the results of referrals from the Principal. The results of the descriptive analysis revealed that with the following data: Cycle I, the average learning achievement for Physics was 69 with a percentage of completeness of 89%, and in cycle II, the average learning achievement for Mathematics increased to 77 with a percentage of 100%. The percentage of activeness students in the class are as follows: Cycle I, average percentage of student learning activeness from 56.2% to 84.2%. Therefore, it is possible to draw the conclusion that Class X TE students at SMK Negeri 1 Lhokseumawe's Physics learning outcomes of Temperature and Heat lesson can benefit from simple teaching aids. In order to properly accomplish learning goals, the authors advise teachers to use simple visual aids in Physics lessons, particularly when covering the topic of temperature and heat

Purpose Even if migraine is not fatal, it is a common and challenging disease with adverse effects on individuals' lives. The lack of objective diagnostic tools causes delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation. The primary aim of this study is to reveal the diagnostic value of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) in acute migraine. To this aim, we compared the serum CGRP and PTX-3 levels of migraine patients with acute attacks to those in healthy individuals. Material and method A total of 135 individuals (85 patients with migraine attacks with or without aura and 50 healthy controls) participated in the study. Serum CGRP and PTX-3 levels were measured with ELISA analysis. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results Serum CGRP [146.70 (21.52-413.67) vs. 65.90 (3.80-256.60) pg/mL] and PTX-3 levels [12.71 (0.62-33.97) vs. 1.01 (0.06-9.48) ng/mL] were higher in patients with migraine attack than the control group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). ROC analysis showed that the cutoff value for serum CGRP was 121.39 pg/mL (AUC: 0.751, Sen:%61, Spe:%64) whereas the cutoff value for PTX-3 was 4,06 ng/mL (AUC:0.876, Sen:%73, Spe:%76). Serum CGRP levels were positively correlated with pain intensity. Serum CGRP and PTX-3 levels did not differ across gender groups and presence of aura in subgroup analysis. Conclusion Patients with acute migraine attacks have higher serum CGRP and PTX-3 levels than controls. Both biomarkers show high potential for the diagnosis of a migraine attack.

How can we get Japanese university students to give longer answers in spoken English? Longer answers come from being comfortable with using the target language. In this study, first I review some of the previous literature about increasing speaking output. Then, I will report on my own research. Two sections of the same class were taught by the same teacher for both 1st and 2nd year university students. The target independent variable was use of the Flipgrid website for oral submissions as well as reviewing other submissions. The working hypothesis is that being able to practice and being able to hear other submissions will lead to students giving longer oral responses during speaking tests. The two test groups used the Flipgrid website throughout the semester, and the two control groups did not.'Using Flipgrid'means to upload a submission as well as review at least two others for each of 6 assignments. Beginning and end-of-semester oral exams were given to 4 groups of students. The number of words per response for every student were calculated, and the results are presented in this study. I will reflect upon how the results of my study compare with what the previous literature on the topic says, and hope to use the results in future classes.

ObjectiveTo identify the determinants of uncontrolled allergic rhinitis (UCAR) in a hospital setting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.MethodsHospital-based cross-sectional study of 153 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). The diagnosis of AR was based on clinical grounds according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) criteria. Categorization into controlled AR (CAR) and UCAR was based on the visual analog scale (VAS with cut off point of 5). Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with UCAR.ResultsPatients with UCAR (60.1%) proportionally outnumbered those with CAR (39.9%). There were significantly more patients younger than 30 years of age among patients with UCAR. Factors significantly associated with UCAR were age below 30 years (OR = 3.31; 95% CI: 1.49–7.36; p = 0.003), low serum vitamin D level (OR = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.72–8.68; p = 0.001), persistent form (OR = 3.11; 95% CI: 1.39–6.98; p = 0.006) and moderate to severe form of AR (OR = 4.31; 95% CI: 1.77–10.49; p = 0.001).ConclusionsFactors associated with UCAR in this study population were younger age less than 30 years, low vitamin D level, and persistent as well as moderate to severe AR. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms favoring the occurrence of these factors.

Oscillatory activity in the cerebellum and linked networks is an important aspect of neuronal processing and functional implementation of behavior. So far, it was challenging to quantify and study cerebellar oscillatory signatures in human neuroscience due to the constraints of non-invasive cerebellar electrophysiological recording and interventional techniques. The emerging cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation technique (CB-tACS) is a promising tool, which may partially overcome this challenge and provides an exciting non-invasive opportunity to better understand cerebellar physiology. Several studies have successfully demonstrated that CB-tACS can modulate the cerebellar outflow and cerebellum-linked behavior. In the present narrative review, we summarize current studies employing the CB-tACS approach and discuss open research questions. Hereby, we aim to provide an overview on this emerging electrophysiological technique and strive to promote future research in the field. CB-tACS will contribute in the further deciphering of cerebellar oscillatory signatures and its role for motor, cognitive, or affective functions. In long term, CB-tACS could develop into a therapeutic tool for retuning disturbed oscillatory activity in cerebellar networks underlying brain disorders.

Background: The present study determined whether or not the regular intake of red wine causes any significant changes in testicular and body weight parameters, given the simmering controversy over the effect of alcoholic beverages on health system. Methods: Ten male albino Wistar rats –experimental model with average body weight of 140 g were divided into two groups, A and B, (n=5 each). Group A received distilled water being the control while group B was administered a single daily dose of 5 ml/kg body weight of red wine (Carlo Rossi) for 21 days. An electronic weighing scale (G&G® Neuss, Germany) was used to take record of the initial and final body weights. The animals were anesthetized with isoflurane on the 22nd day to enable collection of the testes which were also weighed and thereafter fixed in 10% neutral formalin for routine histological studies. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used with the ‘R’ software to analyze the statistical data, while P Results: The micro-anatomical investigation revealed enhanced perfusion of the tissue and normal morphology of the seminiferous tubules with constituent spermatogenic cells at different stages of maturation. The biometric assessment of the organ (testis) weight showed no significant difference; whereas there was a statistically significant increase in the final body weight of the treated-experimental model when compared with the control. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the intake of red wine at the investigated amount may maintain the integrity of the primary reproductive structure and lead to body weight gain in males.

This study investigated the spatiotemporal changes, including long-term trends and abrupt changes in the heatwave (HW)-related climatic characteristics of Turkey, such as the heatwave number (HWN), duration (HWD), frequency (HWF), magnitude (HWM), and amplitude (HWA). Heatwave-related indices in Turkey based on 88 meteorological stations were calculated considering the 90th percentile of the daily minimum air temperature (Tn90p) and the 90th percentile of the daily maximum air temperature (Tx90p). Trend analysis of the heatwave characteristics indicated that Turkey has experienced more frequent, longer, and hotter heatwaves since 1950. The most significant increasing trends observed in the series of HWNs, HWFs, and HWDs and the Tn90p series were characterized generally with greater trend values. Geographically, the largest changes in the heatwave characteristics of Turkey were detected to occur after the middle of the 1990s in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean coasts, which are in agreement with previous studies performed for various regions of the Mediterranean basin. Long-term trends in almost all country-based heatwave indices of Turkey, except trends in the Tn90p series of HWM values, particularly the Tn90p and Tx90p time series of HWN, HWF, and HWD, and the Tn90p time series of HWA values are statistically significant at the 0.000 level. Statistical comparisons of the means and variances of the Tn90p and Tx90p time series of HWN, HWF, and HWD between the periods of 1950-1984 and 1985-2018 are statistically significant at the 0.005 level. These results indicate abrupt changes towards increased heatwave conditions after the year 1984.

Background: Longitudinal changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are seldom studied. Furthermore, data on biomarker gradient between lumbar (L-) and ventricular (V-) compartments seems to be discordant. Objective: To examine alteration of CSF biomarkers reflecting Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related amyloid-beta (A beta) aggregation, tau pathology, neurodegeneration, and early synaptic degeneration by CSF shunt surgery in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) in relation to AD-related changes in brain biopsy. In addition, biomarker levels in L- and V-CSF were compared. Methods: L-CSF was collected prior to shunt placement and, together with V-CSF, 3-73 months after surgery. Thereafter, additional CSF sampling took place at 3, 6, and 18 months after the baseline sample from 26 iNPH patients with confirmed A beta plaques in frontal cortical brain biopsy and 13 iNPH patients without A beta pathology. CSF Amyloid-beta(42) (A beta(42)), total tau (T-tau), phosphorylated tau (P-tau(181)), neurofilament light (NFL), and neurogranin (NRGN) were analyzed with customized ELISAs. Results: All biomarkers but A beta(42) increased notably by 140-810% in L-CSF after CSF diversion and then stabilized. A beta(42) instead showed divergent longitudinal decrease between A beta-positive and -negative patients in L-CSF, and thereafter increase in A beta-negative iNPH patients in both L- and V-CSF. All five biomarkers correlated highly between V-CSF and L-CSF (A beta(42) R = 0.87, T-tau R = 0.83, P-tau R = 0.92, NFL R = 0.94, NRGN R = 0.9; all p < 0.0001) but were systematically lower in V-CSF (A beta(42) 14 %, T-tau 22%, P-tau 20%, NFL 32%, NRGN 19%). With APOE genotype-grouping, only A beta(42) showed higher concentration in non-carriers of allele epsilon 4. Conclusion: Longitudinal follow up shows that after an initial post-surgery increase, T-tau, P-tau, and NRGN are stable in iNPH patients regardless of brain biopsy A beta pathology, while NFL normalized toward its pre-shunt levels. A beta(42) as biomarker seems to be the least affected by the surgical procedure or shunt and may be the best predictor of AD risk in iNPH patients. All biomarker concentrations were lower in V-than L-CSF yet showing strong correlations.

The subject of the research is the theoretical, methodological principles, and practical proposals for increasing the agricultural enterprises’ competitiveness based on improving its components accounting, evaluation, and modeling. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the increase of agricultural enterprises’ competitiveness and managing it through improving accounting, evaluation, and modeling of its quantitative indices and indicators. The methodological basis of the article is the fundamentals of economic theory, business economics, and accounting; works of leading scientists on competitiveness issues; legal regulations on various aspects of agricultural enterprises and markets development. The historical and monographic methods and methods of system-structural analysis and synthesis, rating evaluation and ranking, accounting, model of competitive space are used. The results of the article. The essence of agricultural enterprises’ competitiveness is generalized, the problems of its formation are revealed and directions of improving its management are offered based on building the model of competitive space taking into account indicators of financial and economic sustainability of agribusiness, market share, and products competitiveness, and involvement of the marketing plan as well. Field of application of results. The results obtained should be used in the management of agribusiness enterprises; in the educational process of the faculties of economics and management of higher education institutions. Conclusions. Modeling of increasing the agricultural enterprises’ competitiveness and its forward-looking management is based on improving the accounting and evaluation of indicators of its factors and components. Its result can be a three-factor model of competitive space based on the following indicators: the level of competitiveness of products, the level of financial and economic sustainability, the market share size. The key to increasing the competitiveness of agricultural entities depending on the model chosen and strategies of functioning in the market space is called innovation, compliance with specialization, marketing plans.

Old-growth forests have an important role in maintaining animal and plant diversity, are important carbon (C) reservoirs and are privileged sites to study long-term plant physiological responses, long-term forest dynamics and climate change impact on forest ecosystems. Several studies have highlighted how old-living trees undergo age-related declines with hydraulic limitations and reduction in photosynthesis, though some recent works have suggested that such a decline is not always observed. Our study aims at understanding the role of atmospheric CO2 increase on tree C uptake and stomatal conductance (gs) in old-living trees by analysing the long-term patterns of tree growth and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) in three old-growth forests in the Balkans (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro), using dendrochronology and isotopic analysis. We hypothesised a long-term increase in iWUE in the studied old-growth forests, mostly related to enhanced photosynthesis rather than reduced stomatal conductance. Tree cores were sampled from dominant silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) trees in each forest. Tree-ring widths were measured and basal area increments (BAI) were assessed for each sampled tree and, from the six longest chronologies, five decades were chosen for cellulose extraction, its isotopic analysis (δ13C, δ18O), iWUE and leaf water 18O evaporative enrichment above the source water (Δ18OL) determination. We observed a continuous and significant increase in iWUE from 1800 to 2010 in the sampled dominant trees at all the three old-growth forests. Our BAI data and our estimates of Δ18OL across the study period support the idea that enhanced photosynthesis rather than reduced stomatal conductance is the major driver of the measured iWUE increase. Thus, our results support some recent findings challenging the hypothesis that iWUE in forests is primarily the result of a CO2-induced reduction in stomatal conductance as well as the so called hydraulic limitation hypothesis.

La prevención de riesgos laborales es un derecho básico de los trabajadores, por su evidente conexión con el derecho a la vida y a la salud. Su relevancia y complejidad jurídica merecen conocer cómo se regula el deber de seguridad en el ordenamiento jurídico chileno, cuáles son sus características más relevantes y cuál es el alcance de esta obligación empresarial The prevention of occupational hazards is a basic right of workers, connected with the right to life. It is important to know how it is regulated in the Chilean law, and analyze its most important characteristics. Universidad Pablo de Olavide

El taller tropical es un proyecto arquitectónico planteado para la comunidad del barrio Moravia en la ciudad de Medellín – Antioquia, el cual cuenta con una gran diversidad de culturas dado que su crecimiento se dio en forma de invasión ya que este era el antiguo basurero de la ciudad y los desplazados por la violencia encontraron entre los desechos una luz de esperanza para un nuevo comienzo, pero este crecimiento se dio muy acelerado y sin ningún tipo de planificación, provocando que en estos momentos el sector carezca de espacios adecuados para la interacción social, equipamientos educativos, espacios públicos, zonas verdes entre otras. Es por esto que la comunidad adecuo un lugar provisional en el cual ubicaron un taller tropical en el que desarrollan toda clase de actividades para dar a conocer sus diferentes culturas, pero este se encuentra ubicado en una de las terrazas de una vivienda, la cual no pueden seguir arrendando, además que el lugar es demasiado pequeño para la cantidad de habitantes del sector. Por ello se empieza la búsqueda de un nuevo lote donde ubicarse de forma definitiva y brindarle a los habitantes de Moravia y turistas zonas en las cuales se sientan ajusto y puedan dar a conocer un poquito de sus raíces. Se toma uno de los pocos lotes sin habitar y se plantea un proyecto en el cual se le regale a la comunidad la mayor parte para espacio publico y zonas verdes. Pero igual brindándoles espacios amplios y diversos donde puedan desarrollar toda clase de actividades y muestras culturales. The Taller Tropical is an architectural project proposed for the community of the Moravia neighborhood in Medellin - Antioquia city, which has a great diversity of cultures, since its growth was by invasion since this was the old dump of the city, and those displaced by violence found in the waste a light of hope for a new beginning, but this growth was very accelerated and without any planning, causing that in this time the sector does not have adequate spaces for social interaction, educational facilities, public spaces, green areas and others. That is why the community adapted a provisional place in which they located a Taller Tropical in which they develop all kinds of activities to divulge their different cultures, but this is located on one of the terraces of a house, which cannot continue to pay rent, plus the place is too small for the number of population of the sector. For this reason, we are looking for a new place where we can settle down definitively and offer the population of Moravia and tourists areas in which they feel comfortable and can show a little bit of their cultural roots. One of the few uninhabited places is taken and a project is planned in which the community is given most of the public space and green areas. But in the same way we offer them wide and diverse spaces where they can develop all kinds of activities and show their cultures. Pregrado

Background The current study aims to identify the relationships between coagulation factors and plasma thrombin generation in a large population-based study by comparing individuals with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis to cardiovascular healthy individuals. Methods This study comprised 502 individuals with a history of arterial disease, 195 with history of venous thrombosis and 1402 cardiovascular healthy individuals (reference group) from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Calibrated Automated Thrombography was assessed and coagulation factors were measured by means of BCS XP Systems. To assess the biochemical determinants of TG variables, a multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex and antithrombotic therapy, was conducted. Results The lag time, the time to form the first thrombin, was mainly positively associated with the natural coagulant and anti-coagulant factors in the reference group, i.e. higher factors result in a longer lag time. The same determinants were negative for individuals with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis, with a 10 times higher effect size. Endogenous thrombin potential, or area under the curve, was predominantly positively determined by factor II, VIII, X and IX in all groups. However, the effect sizes of the reported associations were 4 times higher for the arterial and venous disease groups in comparison to the reference group. Conclusion This large-scale analysis demonstrated a stronger effect of the coagulant and natural anti-coagulant factors on the thrombin potential in individuals with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis as compared to healthy individuals, which implicates sustained alterations in the plasma coagulome in subjects with a history of thrombotic vascular disease, despite intake of antithrombotic therapy.

What role do immigrants play in firms’ ability to absorb and apply foreign knowledge? Based on a matched employer–employee dataset from Danish manufacturing firms over the period 2001–2011, this study examines the impact of foreign knowledge accessible by firms’ immigrant employees on firm-level total factor productivity (TFP). We construct various firm-specific absorbable foreign knowledge measures that link firms’ immigrant employees to the technological knowledge base of their country of origin. The empirical results suggest that firms employing immigrant employees have higher firm-level TFP outcomes and a higher probability of new firm-level patent applications. The average productivity gain associated with the hiring of one immigrant employee is about 1.5% in the year following the firm’s hiring decision. Additional results show that the estimated productivity increase varies with the level of education and the occupational positions of the immigrant employees. The results are robust to the inclusion of a large range of firm-specific controls and various sensitivity checks.

Prepublication peer review is a cornerstone of science. Overburdened reviewers invest millions of hours in this voluntary activity. In this scoping review, we aimed at identifying motivations for performing prepublication peer review of scholarly manuscripts. Original research studies investigating actual peer reviewers' motivations were included. We excluded modeling studies, studies related to other types of peer review, guidelines, peer review processes in particular journals. Medline, WoS, and Scopus were searched in February 2016, with no language or time limitations, and the search was updated in July 2019. The search yielded 5,250 records, and 382 were chosen for full text analysis, out of which 10 were appropriate for synthesis. Reference snowballing identified one eligible study. Eleven studies were appropriate for synthesis: four qualitative, four mixed qualitative/quantitative, and three qualitative studies, published from 1998 to 2018, involving 6,667 respondents. Major internal incentive was "communal obligations and reciprocity." Major external incentives were "career advancement," "being recognized as an expert," and "building relationships with journals and editors." Major disincentive was the "lack of time." Editors could incentivize peer review process by choosing highest quality articles, improving communication with peer reviewers, in order to make the process of peer review as short and efficient as possible. The gaps in research concern disincentives to review.

The subject of research is the theoretical and practical aspects of the definition and implementation of innovations, forms and directions of innovation in order to increase the competitiveness of rural green tourism enterprises. The aim of the work is to identify innovative sources of increasing the competitiveness of rural green tourism enterprises and substantiate the factors, components and tools for innovation in a knowledge economy, digital technologies, non-cash payments, high-speed Internet. The methodological basis of the article were the theoretical and methodological provisions of modern business economics, historical and monographic methods of scientific knowledge, as well as system-structural analysis and synthesis of the study of phenomena and processes, problem-based approach in justifying types, forms and directions of innovation. Results of work. The sources and offered components, directions and tools of introduction of innovations in work of the enterprises of rural green tourism, including in the form of organizational and administrative, marketing, product groups of them are revealed; in the form of IT startups, touring and digital systems and backup networks; timesharing, clustering, strategic alliances and clubs; smart Internet projects, software organization and management of the actual agro-villages and tourist enterprises in the countryside to increase their competitiveness. Field of application of results. Conclusions and results can be used in the work of rural green tourism enterprises, rural communities, public organizations, local governments; in the educational and scientific process of economic faculties of universities, colleges of tourist specialization, other institutions of higher education. Conclusions. Innovative activity in the system of strategic goals, priorities and guidelines for increasing the competitiveness of rural green tourism enterprises in the era of knowledge economy and digitalization will take a leading place. The realization of their important socio-economic functions, as well as other subjects of social life is becoming increasingly associated with an innovative type of development. In turn, it is based on a continuous and purposeful process of finding, preparing and implementing innovations. The possibility and motivation to obtain higher incomes and the need to increase the efficiency of financial and investment resources forces the participants of the tourism business in the countryside to purposefully create new tastes, interests and needs, introduce fundamentally new products, products, services and technologies. All this is also connected with the acceleration of innovation processes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: This paper presents the relationship between islet autoantibodies, precursors of type 1 diabetes, and the development of persistent asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema. METHODS: A total of 2159 newborns who had a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes and selected HLA genotypes were followed until the youngest participant reached 10 years of age. Islet cell antibodies (ICA) were detected using indirect immunofluorescence. Autoantibodies to insulin (IAA), GAD (GADA), the tyrosine phosphatase-related insulinoma-associated 2 molecule (IA-2A) and zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8A) were quantified with the use of specific radiobinding assays. As an ancillary study, the incidence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema was assessed in 1106 of these children using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core questionnaire when the children were 9–11 years old. HRs with 95% CIs were calculated to depict the incidence of these diseases following seroconversion to autoantibody positivity. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis and persistent asthma were 22%, 9% and 7.5%, respectively, by 9–11 years of age. The occurrence of diabetes-related autoantibodies showed a protective association with subsequently reported incidence of asthma and eczema. The incidence of rhinitis was not significantly related to the occurrence of IAA or GADA (statistical power was limited), but demonstrated the same inverse relationship as did the other diseases with ICA or when multiple autoantibodies first appeared together. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The findings add evidence to the relationships between these atopic diseases and diabetes-related autoimmunity and also suggest that, for eczema, the interaction depends upon which autoantibody appeared first. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00179777

In the conditions of insufficient and unstable moisture in the Rostov Region, unilateral application of mineral fertilizers for winter wheat is not always justified due to a lack of moisture in the soil. In this regard, at present, one of the promising directions is the additional use of water-soluble biological products to mineral fertilizers for the treatment of seeds and vegetative plants. Therefore, in 2016–2017 there were conducted the special experiments to study the effect of various biological products on the productivity and grain quality of the new winter wheat variety “Niva Stavropoliya” sown in a weedfree fallow and the variety “Victoriya 11” sown after oilseed flax. In the field trials there were studied such promising biological products for the southern agricultural area of the Rostov Region as “Extrasol”, “Rostok”, “Aquamix”, “Aquarin 5” and “Aquarin 9”. The effect of the mentioned products was evaluated on the mineral nutrition backgrounds optimal for winter wheat. When the grain crop was sown in weedfree fallow, there were used P60K40 before sowing, + N30 in the tillering phase, + N30 in the phase of head formation. When the grain crop was sown after oilseed flax, nitro-gen was additionally added at a dose of N60 to this fertilizer rate in the period of main tillage. It was established that the most effective results were under the compound use of biological products “Aquamix” (0.1 kg/t) in seed treatment + “Aquarin 5” (2 kg/ha) + “Aquarin 9” (2 kg/ha) in the treatment of plants in the tillering phase and the phase of head formation. At the same time, the yield increase to the background variant was 22.7% for the variety “Niva Stavropoliya” and 21.5% for the variety “Victoriya 11”.

This article synthesizes recent findings on antecedents of healthy eating. We discuss consumer-related and environment-related forces that influence consumers’ healthy food choices and emphasize the duality of these forces so that they can facilitate but also prevent healthy eating. Specifically, our review documents how consumer lay beliefs, goals, and habits shape eating patterns. We further document the impact of environment-related forces on healthy consumption—focusing on intervention strategies and environmental changes (i.e., the trend towards online retail channels). Finally, we discuss three salient tensions (i.e., an innate craving for unhealthy food, a focus on single decisions, and a selective focus on self-control dilemmas) that emerge when taking a holistic view on existing research.

Background As hospitals have a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), hospitalization abroad indicates for travellers an increased risk of acquiring MDRO—and carrying the strains home. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates are highest in the (sub)tropics, whereas Europe is considered a lower risk region. Since AMR prevalences vary within Europe, we aimed to gather country-specific data on the risks for hospitalized travellers. Methods At hospitals of the Helsinki and Uusimaa district in Finland, patients hospitalized abroad over the past 12 months are systematically screened for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE), carbapenemase-producing bacteria and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE). Among patients screened 2010–19, we selected those hospitalized in Europe, recorded their MDRO findings, infections and mortality, and analysed MDRO-associated risk factors. Results Of the 1772 patients treated in 41 European countries, 16.6% (295) carried MDRO, 12.5% (221) ESBL-PE, 7.8% (138) solely ESBL-E. coli, 2.6% (46) MRSA, 2.2% (30) of those screened VRE and 2.2% (39) carbapenem-resistant Gram-negatives. Among those colonized, 9.8% (29) had symptomatic MDRO infections and 0.3% (one) died. Colonization was most frequently recorded for those treated in eastern and southern Europe, with Bulgaria, Cyprus and the Russian Federation scoring highest. MDRO colonization was associated with antibiotic treatment and showed a negative correlation with time from discharge to screening. Conclusions After hospitalization in European countries, ESBL-PE carriage was relatively common (12.5%), while other MDROs proved less frequent (

Background Physical inactivity has contributed to the current prevalence of many age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Peer coach physical activity intervention are effective in increasing long term physical activity in community dwelling older adults. Linking peer coach physical activity interventions to formal care could therefore be a promising novel method to improve health in inactive older adults to a successful long-term physical activity intervention. Methods We evaluated the effects of linking a peer coach physical activity intervention in Leiden, The Netherlands to primary care through an exercise referral scheme from July 2018 to April 2020. Primary care practices in the neighborhoods of three existing peer coach physical activity groups were invited to refer patients to the exercise groups. Referrals were registered at the primary care practice and participation in the peer coach groups was registered by the peer coaches of the exercise groups. Results During the study, a total of 106 patients were referred to the peer coach groups. 5.7% of patients participated at the peer coach groups and 66.7% remained participating during the 1 year follow up. The number needed to refer for 1 long term participant was 26.5. The mean frequency of participation of the referred participants was 1.2 times a week. Conclusion Linking a peer coach physical activity intervention for older adults to a primary care referral scheme reached only a small fraction of the estimated target population. However, of the people that came to the peer coach intervention a large portion continued to participate during the entire study period. The number needed to refer to engage one older person in long term physical activity was similar to other referral schemes for lifestyle interventions. The potential benefits could be regarded proportional to the small effort needed to refer.

Background While 20–80% of regular visitors to (sub)tropical regions become colonised by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE), those hospitalised abroad often also carry other multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria on return; the rates are presumed to be highest for interhospital transfers. Aim This observational study assessed MDR bacterial colonisation among patients transferred directly from hospitals abroad to Helsinki University Hospital. We investigated predisposing factors, clinical infections and associated fatalities. Methods Data were derived from screening and from diagnostic samples collected between 2010 and 2019. Risk factors of colonisation were identified by multivariable analysis. Microbiologically verified symptomatic infections and infection-related mortality were recorded during post-transfer hospitalisation. Results Colonisation rates proved highest for transfers from Asia (69/96; 71.9%) and lowest for those within Europe (99/524; 18.9%). Of all 698 patients, 208 (29.8%) were colonised; among those, 163 (78.4%) carried ESBL-PE, 28 (13.5%) MDR Acinetobacter species, 25 (12.0%) meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 25 (12.0%) vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, 14 (6.7%) carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and 12 (5.8%) MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 46 strains tested carbapenemase gene-positive. In multivariable analysis, geographical region, intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and antibiotic use abroad proved to be risk factors for colonisation. Clinical MDR infections, two of them fatal (1.0%), were recorded for 22 of 208 (10.6%) MDR carriers. Conclusions Colonisation by MDR bacteria was common among patients transferred from foreign hospitals. Region of hospitalisation, ICU treatment and antibiotic use were identified as predisposing factors. Within 30 days after transfer, MDR colonisation manifested as clinical infection in more than 10% of the carriers.

Old world vultures are the most threatened group of raptors globally. Supplementary feeding sites (SFS) are a popular conservation tool, widely used to assist vulture populations. Despite their popularity, the impact of SFS on vultures remains largely unstudied. A lack of knowledge on the number, distribution and management of SFS is a key factor hindering such research. In this study, we compile records of SFS in South Africa and conduct questionnaires with SFS managers to characterize SFS. We identify 143 currently active SFS. Our data suggest that SFS numbers have been stable over the last decade. The average provisioning rate for all SFS was 64.6 kg day(-1). Overall SFS provide an estimated 3301 tonnes of food to scavengers each year, the equivalent of 83% of the energetic needs of all vultures in the region. This contribution was highly skewed, however, with just 17% of active SFS sites providing 69% of all food. Furthermore, these resources were not equally distributed, with SFS in Limpopo, North West and Kwazulu-Natal provinces providing 83% of the total meat provisioned. The three most common meat types provided at SFS were beef (39%), pork (33%) and game (19%). Worryingly, we found that 68% and 28% of SFS managers were unaware of the potential harmful effects of lead and veterinary drugs, respectively, which highlights potential poisoning risks associated with SFS. Examining exposure to SFS by different vulture species, we found that whilst SFS are accessible across the distribution range of vultures with large home ranges (e.g. African white-backed and Cape vultures), those species with smaller home ranges have relatively poor accessibility. With this study, we demonstrate the potential importance, but also associated risks, of SFS to vultures in South Africa, and provide the information base to assess the impacts of this popular but as yet largely unassessed conservation tool.

Well-characterized genetic resources are fundamental to maintain and provide the various genotypes for pre-breeding programs for the production of new cultivars (e.g., wild relatives, unimproved material, landraces). The aim of the current article is to provide protocols for the characterization of the genetic resources of two lupin crop species: the European Lupinus albus and the American Lupinus mutabilis. Intelligent nested collections of lupins derived from homozygous lines (single-seed descent) are being developed, established, and exploited using cutting-edge approaches for genotyping, phenotyping, data management, and data analysis within the INCREASE project (EU Horizon 2020). This will allow us to predict the phenotypic performance of genotyped lines, and will further boost research and development in lupins. Lupins stand out due to their high-quality seed protein (∼40% of seed dry weight) and other primary components in the seeds, which include fatty acids, dietary fiber, and minerals. The potential of lupins as a crop is highlighted by the multiple benefits of plant-based food in terms of food security, nutrition, human health, and sustainable production. The use of lupins in foods, along with other well-studied and widely used food legumes, will also provide a greatly diversified plant-based food palette to meet the Global Goals for Sustainable Development to improve people’s lives by 2030.

Neurological soft signs (NSS) represent minor neurological features and have been widely studied in psychiatric disease. The assessment is easily performed. Quantity and quality may provide useful information concerning the disease course. Mostly, NSS scores differ significantly between patients and controls. However, literature does not give reference values. In this pilot study, we recruited 120 healthy women and men to build a cross-sectional, census-based sample of healthy individuals, aged 20 to >70 years, subdivided in 10-year blocks for a close approach to the human lifeline. Testing for NSS and neurocognitive functioning was performed following the exclusion of mental and severe physical illness. NSS scores increased significantly between ages 50+ and 60+, which was primarily accountable to motor signs. Gender and cognitive functioning were not related to changes of scores. Although the number of individuals is small, study results may lay a foundation for further validation of NSS in healthy individuals.

The ten provinces of Zambia were surveyed to determine number and size of game ranches situated in these areas up to the end of 2012/early 2013. Three classes of game ranches were developed as: 1) ≥500 hectares as game ranch proper, 2) ≥50 - per year for the period 1980-2012. The largest number was ornamental 98 (49%); large game ranches were 75 (38%) and the least was game farms 27 (14%). Thirty-seven species of large mammals were recorded, of which, 15 were the most abundant with impala topping the list with 21,000 individuals (34%). It was found that of the ten provinces, Luapula, Western and Northern Provinces despite being largely rural with low population densities except for Luapula did not have any game ranch. The provinces with the largest number were Lusaka 71(36%), Southern 59 (30%), Central 31(16%), Copperbelt 19 (10%), Eastern and Northwestern 9 (4.5% each) and Muchinga was the least with 2 (1%). The rapid increase in the number of ornamental categories is mainly attributed to the rise in the development of tourist accommodation facilities and high cost residential properties. This growth provides an opportunity to convert to game ranching schemes abandoned farmlands which are not currently useful to agriculture due to loss of fertility and other forms of land degradation. Similarly, parcels of land with natural ecological limitations should also be considered for such schemes. The game ranching sector in Zambia has the potential to increase as human population density is still low (17/km2 in 2012). To achieve good growth rates in each province, there should be provision of technical information and services. Rehabilitation of degraded land through ranching could also enhance carbon sequestration, a factor critical in minimizing carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases.

Background Noise pollution is increasingly recognised as a public health hazard, yet limited evidence is available from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), particularly for specific sources. Here, we investigated the association between day-night average (Ldn) aircraft noise and the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) at small-area level around São Paulo‘s Congonhas airport, Brazil during the period 2011–2016. Methods We selected 3259 census tracts across 16 districts partially or entirely exposed to ≥50 dB aircraft noise levels around the Congonhas airport, using pre-modelled 5 dB Ldn noise bands (≤50 dB to > 65 dB). We estimated the average noise exposure per census tract using area-weighting. Age, sex and calendar year-specific death counts for CVD, stroke and CHD were calculated by census tract, according to the residential address at time of death. We fitted Poisson regression models to quantify the risk associated with aircraft noise exposure, adjusting for age, sex, calendar year and area-level covariates including socioeconomic development, ethnicity, smoking and road traffic related noise and air pollution. Results After accounting for all covariates, areas exposed to the highest levels of noise (> 65 dB) showed a relative risk (RR) for CVD and CHD of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.94; 1.20) and 1.11 (95%CI: 0.96; 1.27), respectively, compared to those exposed to reference noise levels (≤50 dB). The RR for stroke ranged between 1.05 (95%CI: 0.95;1.16) and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.78;1.11) for all the noise levels assessed. We found a statistically significant positive trend for CVD and CHD mortality risk with increasing levels of noise (p = 0.043 and p = 0.005, respectively). No significant linear trend was found for stroke. Risk estimates were generally higher after excluding road traffic density, suggesting that road traffic air and noise pollution are potentially important confounders. Conclusions This study provides some evidence that aircraft noise is associated with increased risk of CVD and CHD mortality in a middle-income setting. More research is needed to validate these results in other LMIC settings and to further explore the influence of residual confounding and ecological bias. Remarkably, 60% of the study population living near the Congonhas airport (~ 1.5 million) were exposed to aircraft noise levels > 50 dB, well above those recommended by the WHO (45 dB), highlighting the need for public health interventions.

After steadily increasing rates of suicide in colleges each year, this article was produced in order to gain a deeper understanding of prevention and intervention practices as clinicians. Through evidence-based research, this article allows for possible solutions to such as devastating issue.

BackgroundAlthough the incidence of thyroid cancer had been increasing until a few years ago, a decrease has been observed in the last years, probably due to the reduction of the screening tests in Korea. Childhood thyroid cancer has been increasing in the past with the same trend as in adults, but there have been few reports on recent trends. We analyzed the trends of thyroid cancer in Korean children and related factors.MethodsFrom national statistics and cancer register database, the data of age-specific incidence rate in Korean childhood thyroid cancer from 1999 to 2017 was obtained, and levels of seaweed intake, the number of computed tomography (CT) and neck ultrasonography (US), obesity prevalence rate, and smoking and alcohol consumption rates in children were analyzed.ResultsThe age-specific incidence of thyroid cancer in Korean children has increased in both genders between 1999 and 2017 (2.0 in 1999 vs. 7.2 in 2017, per population of 100,000), especially in the age group of 14-18 years (1.5 in 1999 vs. 5.5 in 2017, per population of 100,000). During the same period, levels of seaweed intake, number of CT scans and neck US, and prevalence of obesity in children increased significantly, while childhood smoking and alcohol consumption rates decreased.ConclusionUnlike the adult thyroid cancer in Korea, childhood thyroid cancer continues to increase, and the cause might be accompanied by actual increases due to the environmental factors such as excessive iodine intake, exposure to medical radiation, and increased obesity prevalence as well as the screening effect.

La Vitamina D ha alcanzado gran protagonismo en los últimos tiempos debido al hecho de que se ha descubierto que su insuficiencia participa en el desarrollo de diversas enfermedades, entre ellas las respiratorias. Con el objetivo de elucidar las causas de la pandemia provocada por la COVID-19, se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica que aúna la evidencia científica en relación a la Vitamina D y su impacto en los pacientes positivos para la enfermedad causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2, así como de si los valores insuficientes de dicha vitamina suponen un factor de riesgo para padecer la dolencia. Los resultados mostraron que en la mayoría de estudios se afirma la asociación entre la hipovitaminosis y una mayor incidencia de la enfermedad, así como su relación con la exposición solar y determinadas comorbilidades como la hipertensión, la obesidad o la diabetes. Como consecuencia, se ha evidenciado que el déficit de Vitamina D es un factor de riesgo para la enfermedad de COVID-19, y se relaciona con su pronóstico y severidad. La suplementación con Vitamina D como coadyuvante al tratamiento farmacológico podría mejorar el pronóstico de la dolencia, por lo que es pertinente realizar ensayos clínicos en el futuro. La Vitamina D ha aconseguit gran protagonisme en els últims temps a causa del fet que s'ha descobert que la seva insuficiència participa en el desenvolupament de diverses malalties, entre elles les respiratòries. Amb l'objectiu d'elucidar les causes de la pandèmia provocada per la COVID-19, s'ha realitzat una revisió bibliogràfica que conjumina l'evidència científica en relació a la Vitamina D i el seu impacte en els pacients positius per a la malaltia causada pel virus SARS-CoV-2, així com de si els valors insuficients d'aquesta vitamina suposen un factor de risc per a patir la malaltia. Els resultats van mostrar que en la majoria d'estudis s'afirma l'associació entre la hipovitaminosis i una major incidència de la malaltia, així com la seva relació amb l'exposició solar i determinades comorbilidades com la hipertensió, l'obesitat o la diabetis. Com a conseqüència, s'ha evidenciat que el dèficit de Vitamina D és un factor de risc per a la malaltia de COVID-19, i es relaciona amb el seu pronòstic i severitat. La suplementació amb Vitamina D com a coadjuvant al tractament farmacològic podria millorar el pronòstic de la malaltia, per la qual cosa és pertinent realitzar assajos clínics en el futur. Vitamin D has gained great prominence in recent times due to the fact that its insufficiency has been found to be involved in the development of several diseases, including respiratory diseases. In order to elucidate the causes of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, a bibliographic review has been carried out that brings together the scientific evidence in relation to Vitamin D and its impact on patients positive for the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as whether insufficient values of this vitamin are a risk factor for suffering from the disease. The results showed that most studies affirm the association between hypovitaminosis and a higher incidence of the disease, as well as its relationship with sun exposure and certain comorbidities such as hypertension, obesity or diabetes. As a consequence, it has been shown that Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for COVID-19 disease, and is related to its prognosis and severity. Vitamin D supplementation as a coadjuvant to pharmacological treatment could improve the prognosis of the disease, so it is pertinent to carry out clinical trials in the future.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a picornavirus that exhibits an extremely acid sensitive capsid. This acid lability is directly related to its mechanism of uncoating triggered by acidification inside cellular endosomes. Using a collection of FMDV mutants we have systematically analyzed the relationship between acid stability and the requirement for acidic endosomes using ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), an inhibitor of endosome acidification. A FMDV mutant carrying two substitutions with opposite effects on acid-stability (VP3 A116V that reduces acid stability, and VP1 N17D that increases acid stability) displayed a rapid shift towards acid lability that resulted in increased resistance to NH4Cl as well as to concanamicyn A, a different lysosomotropic agent. This resistance could be explained by a higher ability of the mutant populations to produce NH4Cl-resistant variants, as supported by their tendency to accumulate mutations related to NH4Cl-resistance that was higher than that of the WT populations. Competition experiments also indicated that the combination of both amino acid substitutions promoted an increase of viral fitness that likely contributed to NH4Cl resistance. This study provides novel evidences supporting that the combination of mutations in a viral capsid can result in compensatory effects that lead to fitness gain, and facilitate space to an inhibitor of acid-dependent uncoating. Thus, although drug-resistant variants usually exhibit a reduction in viral fitness, our results indicate that compensatory mutations that restore this reduction in fitness can promote emergence of resistance mutants, Comunidad de Madrid co-financed with ECFEDER funds (P2018/BAA-4370). Work in F.S.’s laboratory was also funded by Grants from MINECO/MICINN-FEDER EU (AGL2017-84097-C2-1-R; PID2020-113184RB-C21), and through the Spanish National Reserarch Council (CSIC), grant CONEXIONES-Vida/202120E47. Work in E.D.´s laboratory was also funded by MICIN/-FEDER

Adipose tissue eosinophils (ATEs) are important in the control of obesity-associated inflammation and metabolic disease. However, the way in which ageing impacts the regulatory role of ATEs remains unknown. Here, we show that ATEs undergo major age-related changes in distribution and function associated with impaired adipose tissue homeostasis and systemic low-grade inflammation in both humans and mice. We find that exposure to a young systemic environment partially restores ATE distribution in aged parabionts and reduces adipose tissue inflammation. Approaches to restore ATE distribution using adoptive transfer of eosinophils from young mice into aged recipients proved sufficient to dampen age-related local and systemic low-grade inflammation. Importantly, restoration of a youthful systemic milieu by means of eosinophil transfers resulted in systemic rejuvenation of the aged host, manifesting in improved physical and immune fitness that was partially mediated by eosinophil-derived IL-4. Together, these findings support a critical function of adipose tissue as a source of pro-ageing factors and uncover a new role of eosinophils in promoting healthy ageing by sustaining adipose tissue homeostasis.

Under the current African vulture crisis, supplementary feeding sites (SFS), which provide carrion resources, have become a popular conservation tool to address vulture declines. In South Africa, this practice is unregulated and the context in which SFS operate and their adherence to best management practices is currently unknown. In this study, we conducted a survey with SFS managers regarding the management of their SFS to evaluate potential conservation implications of different practices. Half of the SFS surveyed were associated with livestock farming. Overall, most managers (84%) perceived some benefit from running an SFS, largely attributed to cleaning services provided by vultures. Over half of the managers perceived no disadvantages from running SFS. We found a positive correlation between numbers of vultures seen at SFS and the amount of food provided there. Despite unintentional and intentional poisoning being identified by experts as the most critical threats to vultures in Southern Africa, only 47 and 24% of managers, respectively, listed these as potential threats to vultures, highlighting limited understanding of current vulture conservation issues. Most managers (85%) vetted carcasses for provisioning suitability based on whether they had been treated with veterinary drugs, but relatively few managers (10%) did the same for lead (Pb) contamination. Only 30% of managers considered threats to vultures when they decided on a location for their SFS. Overall, this study unveils that at many SFS, safety conditions are not met and vultures may be exposed to risks, such as the ingestion of toxic substances (e.g., Pb) or electrocution by energy infrastructure. To minimize unintended negative consequences from SFS, it will be essential to increase the interaction between SFS managers and conservation practitioners, to increase the flow of information on best management practices and enforce stringent and clear guidelines that minimize any risks to vultures.

Brain structure and many brain functions are known to be genetically controlled, but direct links between neuroimaging measures and their underlying cellular‐level determinants remain largely undiscovered. Here, we adopt a novel computational method for examining potential similarities in high‐dimensional brain imaging data between siblings. We examine oscillatory brain activity measured with magnetoencephalography (MEG) in 201 healthy siblings and apply Bayesian reduced‐rank regression to extract a low‐dimensional representation of familial features in the participants' spectral power structure. Our results show that the structure of the overall spectral power at 1–90 Hz is a highly conspicuous feature that not only relates siblings to each other but also has very high consistency within participants' own data, irrespective of the exact experimental state of the participant. The analysis is extended by seeking genetic associations for low‐dimensional descriptions of the oscillatory brain activity. The observed variability in the MEG spectral power structure was associated with SDK1 (sidekick cell adhesion molecule 1) and suggestively with several other genes that function, for example, in brain development. The current results highlight the potential of sophisticated computational methods in combining molecular and neuroimaging levels for exploring brain functions, even for high‐dimensional data limited to a few hundred participants.

A considerable proportion of shift workers have work schedule-related insomnia and/ or excessive sleepiness, a phenomenon described as shift work disorder (SWD). There is yet a lack of evidence on whether or not employees recover from symptoms of SWD between work shifts. We studied whether SWD and its subtypes are associated with insomnia and excessive sleepiness during weekly non-work days and with 24-h sleep time. Hospital employees answered a survey on SWD, insomnia and excessive sleepiness on weekly non-work days, and 24-h sleep. To identify shift workers with night shifts (n=2,900, 18% with SWD) and SWD, we linked survey responses to employers’ register on working hours. SWD included three subtypes: insomnia only (SWD-I, 4%, n=102), excessive sleepiness only (SWD-Es, 8%, n=244), and both insomnia and excessive sleepiness (SWD-IEs, 6%, n=183). Based on regression analyses, SWD was associated with excessive sleepiness on non-work days (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.07–1.88) and with insomnia on non-work days (0.53, 0.31–0.91). SWD-I was associated with excessive sleepiness on non-work days (2.25, 1.31–3.87) and with shorter sleep (7–7.5 h: 1.96, 1.06–3.63; ≤6.5h: 2.39, 1.24–4.59; reference: ≥8 h). The results sug-gest that especially employees with SWD-I may need longer time to overcome excessive sleepiness than allowed by their roster. publishedVersion

Recent studies have shown that temperature and precipitation in the Mediterranean are expected to change, contributing to longer and more intense summer droughts that even extend out of season. In connection to this, the frequency of forest fire occurrence and intensity will likely increase. In the present study, the changes in future fire danger conditions are assessed for the different regions of Greece using the Canadian fire weather index (FWI). Gridded future climate output as estimated from three regional climate models from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment are utilized. We use three representative concentration pathways (RCPs) consisting of an optimistic emissions scenario where emissions peak and decline beyond 2020 (RCP2.6), a middle-of-the-road scenario (RCP4.5) and a pessimistic scenario, in terms of mitigation where emissions continue to rise throughout the century (RCP8.5). Based on established critical fire FWI threshold values for Greece, the future change in days with critical fire danger were calculated for different areas of Greece domains. The results show that fire danger is expected to progressively increase in the future especially in the high-end climate change scenario with southern and eastern regions of Greece expected to have up to 40 additional days of high fire danger relative to the late 20th century, on average. Crete, the Aegean Islands, the Attica region, as well as parts of Peloponnese are predicted to experience a stronger increase in fire danger.

Substantial amounts of annual radiocarbon (14C) data have recently been produced with the purpose of increasing the time resolution of 14C records used for constructing the calibration curve and for studying the occurrence of abrupt cosmic-ray events. In this study, we investigate if it is possible to resolve sub-annual scale changes in the atmospheric 14C content by measuring radiocarbon in early-wood and late-wood fractions from Danish oak. The tree-ring samples span the period 1954–1970 CE, hereby covering the peak of the bomb pulse. A least squares test comparing the atmospheric 14C content and the new sub-annual 14C record from Danish tree rings reveals that by measuring early-wood and late-wood fractions, it may be possible to resolve sub-annual variations in past atmospheric 14C levels.

Tissue advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a measure of cumulative metabolic and oxidative stress and cytokine-driven inflammatory reactions. AGEs are thought to contribute to the cardiovascular complications of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Skin autofluorescence (SAF) is related to the tissue accumulation of AGEs and rises with age. SAF is one of the strongest prognostic markers of mortality in these patients. The content of AGEs is high in barbecue food. Due to the location in northern Sweden, there is a short intense barbecue season between June and August. The aim of this study was to investigate if seasonal variations in SAF exist in HD patients, especially during the barbecue season. SAF was measured noninvasively with an AGE Reader in 34 HD-patients (15 of those with diabetes mellitus, DM). Each time the median of three measures were used. Skin-AF was measured before and after each one HD at the end of February and May in 31 patients (22 men/9 women); the end of May and August in 28 (20 m/8 w); the end of August and March in 25 (19 m/6 w). Paired statistical analyses were performed during all four periods (n = 23, 17 m/6 w); as was HbA1c of those with DM. There was at a median 5.6% increase in skin-AF during the winter period (February-May, P = 0.004) and a 10.6% decrease in the skin-AF during the summer (May-August, P

Background Overnight international travels made by Finns more than doubled during 1995–2015. To estimate risks and observe trends of travel-related notifiable sexually transmitted and food- and water-borne infections (STIs and FWIs) among travellers, we analysed national reports of gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis A, shigellosis, campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis cases and related them to travel statistics. Method Cases notified as travel-related to the Finnish infectious diseases register were used as numerators and overnight stays of Statistics Finland surveys as denominator. We calculated overall risks (per 100,000 travellers) and assessed trends (using regression model) in various geographic regions. Results Of all travel-related cases during 1995–2015, 2304 were STIs and 70,929 FWIs. During 2012–2015, Asia-Oceania showed highest risk estimates for gonorrhoea (11.0; 95%CI, 9.5–13), syphilis (1.4; 0.93–2.1), salmonellosis (157; 151–164), and campylobacteriosis (135; 129–141), and Africa for hepatitis A (4.5; 2.5–7.9), and shigellosis (35; 28–43). When evaluating at country level, the highest risks of infections was found in Thailand, except for hepatitis A ranking Hungary the first. During 2000–2011, significantly decreasing trends occurred for most FWIs particularly in the European regions and for STIs in Russia-Baltics. Conclusions Our findings can be used in targeting pre-travel advice, which should also cover those visiting Thailand or European hepatitis A risk areas.

En este documento se analiza el sector industrial de la comercialización de bandas transportadoras en el mercado colombiano. Se efectúa partiendo del estudio de la participación relativa en importaciones y ventas de las cinco empresas más representativas en este sector. La metodología comprende las pruebas de hacinamiento sobre cuatro indicadores financieros y el análisis de industria. El resultado entrega información nueva y útil a los grupos de interés, recomendaciones a los comercializadores y mayor comprensión del sector industrial y su entorno, con lo anterior se pone a disposición de toda la cadena de valor los elementos de alta consideración para la toma de decisiones para los objetivos de perdurabilidad, crecimiento y rentabilidad. This document analyzes the industrial sector of the commercialization of conveyor belts in the Colombian market. It is carried out based on the study of the relative participation in imports and sales of the five most representative companies in this sector. The methodology includes overcrowding tests on four financial indicators and industry analysis. The result provides new and useful information to stakeholders, recommendations to marketers and greater understanding of the industrial sector and its environment, with the above being made available to the entire value chain the elements of high consideration for decision making for the objectives of durability, growth and profitability. Magíster Administración - MBA http://unidadinvestigacion.usta.edu.co

El presente trabajo, titulado “alternativas estratégicas para la sostenibilidad competitiva de la Mipyme “IAR PROYECTOS SAS”, surge como una necesidad en el campo de la administración, para impulsar y promover el crecimiento empresarial; en la empresa de servicios de consultoría en ingeniería denominada IAR PROYECTOS SAS . En primera instancia, el documento planteará el análisis estratégico, en el que se definen las principales características que se tienen en las diferentes áreas a nivel interno y externo. Se parte de la misión y visión organizacional para poder hacer una alineación coherente con las propuestas que se puedan presentar. Luego, aplicando las herramientas de la planeación estratégica, se procederá a identificar las estrategias más convenientes que la empresa “IAR PROYECTOS SAS” podrá́ utilizar, teniendo en cuenta sus condiciones tanto internas como externas, planteando estrategias para el tipo de organización que desarrolla bienes y servicios equivalentes a la consultoría, que permiten la viabilización de proyectos y sus condicionamientos. Finalmente se presenta dentro del proyecto final un plan de actuación a seguir de tal forma, que la alta dirección de la empresa logre desarrollar el método propuesto, siguiendo objetivos y ejerciendo un control permanente que le permita interactuar para alcanzar los objetivos empresariales. Todo esto, se construirá para cada área de la empresa en tiempos de corto, mediano y largo plazo, obteniendo resultados evaluativos tanto cuantitativos como cualitativos, lo que redundará en beneficio del desarrollo y crecimiento de la Mipyme cuestión del estudio. This paper, entitled "strategic alternatives for the competitive sustainability of the MSME "IAR PROYECTOS SAS", arises as a need in the field of management, to boost and promote business growth in the engineering consulting services company called IAR PROYECTOS SAS. In the first instance, the document will present the strategic analysis, in which the main characteristics of the different internal and external areas are defined. It starts from the organizational mission and vision in order to make a coherent alignment with the proposals that may be presented. Then, applying the tools of strategic planning, we will proceed to identify the most convenient strategies that the company "IAR PROYECTOS SAS" will be able to use, taking into account its internal and external conditions, proposing strategies for the type of organization that develops goods and services equivalent to consulting, which allow the feasibility of projects and their conditions. Finally, the final project presents an action plan to be followed so that the company's top management can develop the proposed method, following objectives and exercising a permanent control that allows them to interact to achieve the company's objectives. All this will be built for each area of the company in the short, medium and long term, obtaining both quantitative and qualitative evaluative results, which will benefit the development and growth of the MSME in question. Magister Administración - MBA http://unidadinvestigacion.usta.edu.co

Актуальность работы вызвана необходимостью оптимизации ключевых элементов технологии возделывания чечевицы на обыкновенных черноземах Ростовской области. Опыты проводились на стационаре ФРАНЦ в 2018-2019 гг. Цель исследований - оптимизация способа основной обработки почвы и фона удобрений для повышения продуктивности чечевицы в богарных условиях. Установлена примерная равнозначность способов обработки почвы - отвальной вспашки на 25-27 см и комбинированной (поверхностная на 12-14 см и щелевание на 40-45 см). Более высокая урожайность отмечена при отвальной вспашке. Однако разница соответствующих показателей при отвальной и комбинированной обработках не превышала 0,1-0,4 ц/га, или 0,7-2,3%. Лучшая урожайность получена на варианте с отвальной вспашкой и нормой удобрений N30Р80К80 - 17,2 ц/га. Наиболее эффективное использование удобрений отмечено на среднем фоне минерального питания (N15Р40К40), независимо от способа основной обработки почвы. Самый высокий показатель получен на варианте комбинированной обработки почвы, составив 3,26 кг дополнительной продукции на кг внесённых удобрений

Установлено, что эффективность применения разных способов основной обработки почвы и фонов удобрений яровых пшеницы и тритикале в богарных условиях Ростовской области в значительной степени зависит от тепловлагообеспеченности их вегетационных периодов. При возделывании яровой пшеницы более высокая средняя продуктивность культуры получена в условиях отвальной вспашки. Однако на вариантах комбинированной обработки почвы снижение урожайности не превышало 2,9-3,6%. В абсолютном значении лучший показатель получен на варианте с нормой удобрений N80Р80К80 и отвальной вспашкой, составив 38,0 ц/га. Наиболее эффективное использование удобрений обеспечивалось средним фоном минерального питания (N40Р40К40) при отвальной вспашке 6,21 кг дополнительной продукции на кг внесенных удобрений. Более высокая средняя продуктивность яровой тритикале также отмечена в условиях отвальной вспашки. При этом снижение урожайности на вариантах с чизельной основной обработкой не превысило 2,0-3,6 %. Самая высокая средняя урожайность отмечена на варианте отвальной вспашки с нормой удобрений N80Р80К80 27,45 ц/га. Лучшая отдача от применения удобрений получена на среднем фоне (N40Р40К40) после чизельной основной обработки, составив 4,58 кг/кг.

Knowledge of the factors influencing foraging efficiency in top predators can provide insights into the effects of environmental variability on their populations. Seabirds are important marine predators foraging in a highly temporally and spatially variable environment. While numerous studies have focussed on search time and its effects on foraging energetics in seabirds, relatively little is known about the factors influencing capture success and prey profitability in these predators. In the present study, animal-borne cameras were used to investigate the chase durations, capture success, handling durations and profitability of prey consumed by Australasian gannets (Morus serrator) (n=95) from two breeding colonies in south-eastern Australia exposed to different oceanographic conditions. Capture success was generally lower when individuals foraged alone. However, foraging in multi-species groups and in high prey densities increased chase time, while larger prey elicited longer handling times. While prey type influenced profitability, high prey density and foraging in multi-species groups was found to lower prey profitability due to increased time expenditure. While previous studies have found group foraging reduces search time, the increased profitability explains why some animals may favour solitary foraging. Therefore, future studies should combine search time and the currently found factors., Summary: In this study, bird-borne cameras were used to investigate the factors influencing capture success, chase and handling time, and prey profitability in Australasian gannets.

Сследования проводили с целью изучения влияния биопрепаратов и стимуляторов роста на поражённость растений сои пероноспорозом и септориозом, а также формирование урожая культуры в условиях Приморья. Работу выполняли в 2018-2019 гг в Приморском крае. Объекты исследований - растения сорта сои Приморская 86. Сравнивали эффективность различных комбинаций биопрепаратов на основе штаммов бактерий Bacillus subtilis Бактофит, Гамаир и регуляторов роста Циркон, Мивал-Агро. Изучаемые средства применяли для обработки семян и опрыскивания вегетирующих растений. Схема опыта включала следующие варианты: без обработки (контроль); обработка семян (30 г/т) и опрыскивание растений (60 г/га) препаратом Гамаир; обработка семян препаратом Гамаир (30 г/т) + опрыскивание растений Цирконом (50 мл/га); обработка семян Гамаиром (30 г/т) + опрыскивание растений Мивал-Агро (15 г/га); обработка семян (2 кг/т) и опрыскивание растений (2 кг/га) препаратом Бактофит; обработка семян Бактофитом (2 кг/т) + опрыскивание растений Цирконом (50 мл/га); обработка семян Бактофитом (2 кг/га) + опрыскивание растений Мивал-Агро (15 г/га). Максимальная в опыте эффективность (29,7 %) против септориоза отмечена в варианте Гамаир + Мивал-Агро. Против пероноспороза лучшие результаты обеспечивало сочетание Бактофит + Циркон, биологическая эффективность которого составила 26,1 %. Все препараты положительно влияли на рост и развитие растений сои. При их использовании масса 1000 семян достоверно увеличивалась, по сравнению с контролем (176,2 г), на 13,5.22,0 %. Наибольшая урожайность отмечена в варианте с применением Бактофита и Мивал-Агро (2,75 т/га), прибавка к контролю (1,84 т/га) составила 50 %.

Purpose: to determine the influence of various factors on the yield and water consumption of spring wheat in rainfed conditions in Priazov zone Rostov region. Materials and methods. The place and time of the research is the experimental station of Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Rostov Agrarian Scientific Center”, 2017–2019. Studied: the methods of primary tillage (moldboard, combined, surface); fertilizer backgrounds (high – N80P80K80, medium – N40P40K40, without fertilizers); features of spring wheat water consumption in different years of heat and moisture. When conducting field observations and research, the generally accepted methods of B. A. Dospekhov, A. N. Kostyakov and A. F. Vadyunina were used. Results. It was revealed that the best conditions for the Donela M variety are created with a moldboard plowing of 25–27 cm and a background of N80P80K80 fertilizers, providing a yield of 36.9 c/ha. In a similar variant of the combined tillage (surface treatment on 14–16 cm BDT-3 + slitting on 40–45 cm Sch-2), a decrease in yield by 1.5 c/ha, or 4.1 %, was observed. The greatest efficiency in the use of fertilizers was noted in the variant with an average supply background and a moldboard tillage, amounting to 6.33 kg of additional products per 1 kg of NPK added. In a favorable for heat and moisture supply (hydrothermic coefficient HTC = 0.85) year the efficiency of fertilizer application was 1.66 times higher than in a dry year with HTC= 0.20. The lowest coefficient of water consumption was obtained during moldboard plowing, amounting to 575 cubic meters per ton. Conclusions. Under the conditions of resource shortage, along with cultivating spring wheat by moldboard plowing + N80P80K80 fertilizer background, it is possible to use resource-saving combined tillage and an average N40P40K40 background, which can reduce energy costs and get the best return on fertilizer application.

The Earth is experiencing climatic changes globally, influencing issues such as reduced water availability, loss of native habitats for flora and fauna, increased resource demand and consumption by humans, continued dependency on carbon-based energy, rapid population growth and rising global temperatures. In order to combat and mitigate these issues, changes to our design habits will be required. Historically, golf courses have been viewed negatively with regard to environmental impacts, due to excessive water use, reliance on herbicides and pesticides and the carbon footprint associated with mowing. However, recent studies have shown that golf courses have the potential to positively impact their environment by recreating native habitats and providing on-site stormwater management to reduce water needs (Kohler, Poole, Reicher, & Turco, 2004) (Hodgkison, Hero, & Warnken, 2007). Recent changes in the culture of golf course management have led to a shift toward becoming environmental stewards. One of the areas most affected by climate changes is the Upper Mountain/West region that includes Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming.