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On August 14, 2021, a Mw 7.2 earthquake struck the Tiburon Peninsula of western Haiti triggering thousands of landslides. Three days after the earthquake on August 17, 2021, Tropical Storm Grace crossed shallow waters offshore of southern Haiti triggering more landslides worsening the situation. In the aftermath of these events, several organizations with disaster response capabilities or programs activated to provide information on the location of landslides to first responders on the ground. Utilizing remote sensing to support rapid response, one organization manually mapped initiation point of landslides and three automatically detected landslides. The 2021 Haiti event also provided a unique opportunity to test different automated landslide detection methods that utilized both SAR and optical data in a rapid response scenario where rapid situational awareness was critical. As the methods used are highly replicable, the main goal of this study is to summarize the landslide rapid response products released by the organizations, detection methods, quantify accuracy and provide guidelines on how some of the shortcomings encountered in this effort might be addressed in the future. To support this validation, a manually mapped polygon-based landslide inventory covering the entire affected area was created and is also released through this effort.

Aminoglycosides are concentration-dependent antibiotics exerting a bactericidal effect when concentrations at the site of infection are equal to or greater than 5 times the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). When administered intravenously, they exhibit poor lung penetration and high systemic renal and ototoxicity, imposing to restrict their administration to 5 days. Experimental studies conducted in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated sheep and pigs provide evidence that high doses of nebulized aminoglycosides induce a rapid and potent bacterial killing in the infected lung parenchyma. They also confirm that the alveolar-capillary membrane, either normal or injured by the infectious process, restricts the penetration of intravenous aminoglycosides in the infected lung parenchyma, precluding a bactericidal effect at the site of infection. However, injury of the alveolar-capillary membrane promotes the systemic diffusion of nebulized aminoglycosides. Based on experimental data obtained in animals with inoculation pneumonia, it challenges the classical belief that nebulization protects against systemic toxicity. Loss of lung aeration decreases the lung penetration of nebulized aminoglycosides. Nevertheless, lung tissue concentrations measured in non-aerated lung regions with severe and extended pneumonia are most often greater than 5 times the MICs, resulting in a bactericidal effect followed by a progressive pulmonary reaeration. It is likely that the penetration into the consolidated lung, results from the bronchial diffusion of nebulized aminoglycosides toward adjacent non-aerated infected alveolar spaces and their penetration into mechanical ventilation-induced intraparenchymal pseudocysts and distended bronchioles. In animals receiving nebulized aminoglycosides, epithelial lining fluid concentrations grossly overestimate lung interstitial fluid concentrations because of the bronchial contamination of the distal tip of the bronchoscope during the bronchoalveolar procedures. Lung microdialysis is the only technique able to accurately assess lung pharmacokinetics in animals with inoculation pneumonia treated by nebulized aminoglycosides. In 2024, the European Investigators Network for Nebulized Antibiotics in Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (ENAVAP) called for the creation of an international research network for Lung Microdialysis applied to Nebulized Antibiotics (LUMINA) to promote multicentered, experimental, randomized, and controlled studies addressing lung pharmacokinetics of intravenous vs. nebulized antibiotics, using different dosing and ventilator settings.

The paper deals with the problem of conflicts between fundamental rights by presenting and analysing one of the possible methods for the resolution of such conflicts. The method in question is the so-called interpretative-subsumptive method, developed by Spanish legal philosopher Juan Antonio García Amado. The interpretative-subsumptive method represents an alternative to the mainstream method used for the resolution of conflicts between fundamental rights – judicial balancing, and particularly the version developed by Robert Alexy. After the introduction, interpretative-subsumptive method is contextualised by presenting Garcia Amado’s ideas which are of relevance for the inquiry – his inclusive legal positivist views, the theory of legal interpretation he ascribes to and his understanding and typology of fundamental rights and their conflicts. After that, in the central section of the paper, the theoretical framework of the interpretative-subsumptive method is presented, along with its application to a Spanish Supreme Court case, followed by the criticism that has been raised and ending with conclusions.

The article explores overlooked aspects of judicial roles, emphasizing how judges manage caseloads and interactions within the court. It covers appellate judges' strategies for timely opinions, transitions like senior status, and the internal management of collegial norms amid court turnover. It aims to prompt further research on judicial administration dynamics.

Abstract Purpose During resuscitation in emergency situations, establishing intravascular access is crucial for promptly initiating delivery of fluids, blood, blood products, and medications. In cases of emergency, when intravenous (IV) access proves unsuccessful, intraosseous (IO) access serves as a viable alternative. However, there is a notable lack of information concerning the frequency and efficacy of IO access in acute care settings. This study aims to assess the efficacy of intraosseous (IO) access in acute care settings, especially focusing on children in a level 1 trauma center. Methods This retrospective study included patients with IO access presented in a level 1 trauma center emergency department (ED) between January 2015 and April 2020. Data regarding medication and fluid infusion was documented, and the clinical success rate was calculated. Results Of the 109,548 patients that were admitted to the ED, 25,686 IV lines were inserted. Documentation of 188 patients of which 73 (38.8%) children was complete and used for analysis. In these 188 patients, a total of 232 IO accesses were placed. Overall, 182 patients had a functional IO access (204 needles) (88%). In children (age

Abstract Background Research into the genetic diversity of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations has become increasingly significant in recent decades, primarily due to population declines attributed to human activities and climate change. As a species of great importance, breeding programs that leverage understanding of genomic diversity could offer solutions to mitigate these challenges. The objective of this study was to examine the genomic diversity and population structure of Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) using the Illumina SNP chip on a large honey bee sample collected from Central and South-Eastern European countries. The study also aims to offer recommendations for future breeding programs. Results Our analysis involved Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), heterozygosity, admixture analysis, fixation indices (FST), Neighbour-Joining tree, gene flow and Isolation-by-distance analysis. DAPC indicated distinct separation between the Carniolan and Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) populations, whereas the admixture analysis revealed varying levels of gene flow and genetic admixture within the Carniolan honey bee populations, demonstrating closer relationships between specific geographic regions (confirmed by Isolation-by-distance analysis). Furthermore, the research of heterozygosity, genomic inbreeding, pairwise FST values, and Neighbour-Joining tree provided insights into the patterns of genetic differentiation and similarity among the populations of Carniolan honey bee within its natural habitat. We have observed genetic homogeneity of the Carniolan honey bee population when considered in a broader genetic/geographical context. However, the Carniolan honey bee has sufficient genetic diversity in its geographical home range that needs to be carefully monitored and maintained. Conclusions This study provides important insights into the genetic composition, differentiation, and relationships among Carniolan honey bee populations in Central and South-Eastern European countries. The findings are crucial for conservation efforts, breeding programs, and sustainable beekeeping practices. They emphasise the importance of considering genetic factors and population structure in the breeding and management of honey bees. By understanding these genetic relationships, we can develop strategies to preserve genetic diversity, improve breeding outcomes, and ensure the resilience of honey bee populations in the face of environmental changes and challenges. This knowledge can also inform policy makers and stakeholders on best practices to maintain healthy bee populations, which are vital for ecosystem services and agricultural productivity.

El artículo presenta los alcances e implicaciones de los discursos que ofrecen respuesta a la pregunta de si todos, algunos o ningún aplicador del derecho deberían ser competentes para realizar ponderaciones como forma de crear una excepción a una norma o realizar un distinguish a un precedente. Asimismo, analiza cuáles son los riesgos que deben evaluarse para determinar: i) quiénes deben tener la competencia para resolver una laguna axiológica; y ii) si debe ser una competencia limitada o no (y qué tipo de límites regular). Para ello, presenta en qué tipo de casos se emplea la ponderación, qué quiere decir que un aplicador del derecho es competente para ponderar, qué riesgos produce dicha competencia y, finalmente, propone modelos de administración de riesgos en función a cómo se diseñe la norma que otorga competencia para ponderar.

Mountains are important suppliers of freshwater to downstream areas, affecting large populations in particular in High Mountain Asia (HMA). Yet, the propagation of water from HMA headwaters to downstream areas is not fully understood, as interactions in the mountain water cycle between the cryo-, hydro- and biosphere remain elusive. We review the definition of blue and green water fluxes as liquid water that contributes to runoff at the outlet of the selected domain (blue) and water lost to the atmosphere through vapor fluxes, that is evaporation from water, ground, and interception plus transpiration (green) and propose to add the term white water to account for the (often neglected) evaporation and sublimation from snow and ice. We provide an assessment of models that can simulate the cryo-hydro-biosphere continuum and the interactions between spheres in high mountain catchments, going beyond disciplinary separations. Land surface models are uniquely able to account for such complexity, since they solve the coupled fluxes of water, energy, and carbon between the land surface and atmosphere. Due to the mechanistic nature of such models, specific variables can be compared systematically to independent remote sensing observations – providing vital insights into model accuracy and enabling the understanding of the complex watersheds of HMA. We discuss recent developments in spaceborne earth observation products that have the potential to support catchment modeling in high mountain regions. We then present a pilot study application of the mechanistic land surface model Tethys & Chloris to a glacierized watershed in the Nepalese Himalayas and discuss the use of high-resolution earth observation data to constrain the meteorological forcing uncertainty and validate model results. We use these insights to highlight the remaining challenges and future opportunities that remote sensing data presents for land surface modeling in HMA.

The advancement of pharmaceutical science has resulted in the development of numerous tailor-made compounds, i.e., pharmaceuticals, tuned for specific drug targets. These compounds are often characterized by their low biodegradability and are commonly excreted to a certain extent unchanged from the human body. Due to their low biodegradability, these compounds represent a significant challenge to wastewater treatment plants. Often, these compounds end up in effluents in the environment. With the advancement of membrane technologies and advanced oxidation processes, photocatalysis in particular, a synergistic approach between the two was recognized and embraced. These hybrid advanced water treatment processes are the focus of this review, specifically the removal of pharmaceuticals from water using a combination of a photocatalyst and pressure membrane process, such as reverse osmosis or nanofiltration employing photocatalytic nanocomposite membranes.

Abstract Background Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is prevalent, associated with long-term adversities, and often undetected. Primary care settings offer a unique opportunity to identify CAN and facilitate referrals, when warranted. Electronic health records (EHR) contain extensive information to support healthcare decisions, yet time constraints preclude most providers from thorough EHR reviews that could indicate CAN. Strategies that summarize EHR data to identify CAN and convey this to providers has potential to mitigate CAN-related sequelae. This study used expert review/consensus and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to develop and test a lexicon to characterize children who have experienced or are at risk for CAN and compared machine learning methods to the lexicon + NLP approach to determine the algorithm’s performance for identifying CAN. Methods Study investigators identified 90 CAN terms and invited an interdisciplinary group of child abuse experts for review and validation. We then used NLP to develop pipelines to finalize the CAN lexicon. Data for pipeline development and refinement were drawn from a randomly selected sample of EHR from patients seen at pediatric primary care clinics within a U.S. academic health center. To explore a machine learning approach for CAN identification, we used Support Vector Machine algorithms. Results The investigator-generated list of 90 CAN terms were reviewed and validated by 25 invited experts, resulting in a final pool of 133 terms. NLP utilized a randomly selected sample of 14,393 clinical notes from 153 patients to test the lexicon, and .03% of notes were identified as CAN positive. CAN identification varied by clinical note type, with few differences found by provider type (physicians versus nurses, social workers, etc.). An evaluation of the final NLP pipelines indicated 93.8% positive CAN rate for the training set and 71.4% for the test set, with decreased precision attributed primarily to false positives. For the machine learning approach, SVM pipeline performance was 92% for CAN + and 100% for non-CAN, indicating higher sensitivity than specificity. Conclusions The NLP algorithm’s development and refinement suggest that innovative tools can identify youth at risk for CAN. The next key step is to refine the NLP algorithm to eventually funnel this information to care providers to guide clinical decision making.

The harvesting time of olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit, which significantly affects the characteristics of virgin olive oil, is mainly determined empirically based on the fruit’s skin color. Developing objective methods such as electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for assessing ripeness is essential. This study aimed to explore the potential of EIS as a rapid and objective technique for detecting the harvesting time of olives. Olive fruits from two varieties, ‘Picholine’ and ‘Buža momjanska’, were harvested in two periods and sorted into four color groups. EIS was applied to each color group to establish a relationship between fruit color and electrochemical properties. The distance of the coordinate at the top of the circular arc of the Cole–Cole plot from the origin (LTO) indicated tissue degradation. The LTO values varied depending on the olive variety, fruit color, and harvest date. The LTO values decreased from green to black fruits in both varieties, indicating textural changes in the olive fruit tissue. This study contributes to the knowledge and understanding of the electrical properties of olive fruit tissue during ripening. EIS shows potential as an innovative tool for determining the harvesting time of olives and for ‘in-field’ olive ripeness assessment.

The food industry is developing intensively, and products that, with their characteristics, enrich the food taste and aroma are widely used in the culinary arts. White wine vinegar is often used as a food condiment and as dressing in salads. This research aims to explore the impact of the maceration of selected aromatic plants on the organoleptic properties, bioactive compounds, and sensory profile of white wine vinegar. The plants selected for white wine (cv ‘Malvazija istarska’) vinegar aromatization were rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) dried leaves and black elder (Sambucus nigra L. ssp. nigra) flowers (elderflowers). Vinegar flavored with rosemary had more pronounced pinewood and herbal aromas, while spicy aromas dominated the vinegar with thyme. The elderflower-flavored vinegar, on the other hand, was characterized by a floral and fruity aroma. Among the analyzed vinegars, white wine vinegar flavored with elderflower had the highest polyphenolic content.

Aims: We examined the cardiovascular effects of celiac disease (CeD) in a humanized mouse model, with a focus on vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Methods and results: NOD.DQ8 mice genetically predisposed to CeD were subjected to a diet regime and oral gavage to induce the disease (gluten group vs. control). We tested vascular function, confirmed disease indicators, and evaluated inflammation and oxidative stress in various tissues. Plasma proteome profiling was also performed.CeD markers were confirmed in the gluten group, indicating increased blood pressure and impaired vascular relaxation. Pro-inflammatory genes were upregulated in this group, with increased CD11b+ myeloid cell infiltration and oxidative stress parameters observed in aortic and heart tissue. However, heart function remained unaffected. Plasma proteomics suggested the cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A) as a link between gut and vascular inflammation. Cardiovascular complications were reversed by adopting a gluten-free diet. Conclusion: Our study sheds light in the heightened cardiovascular risk associated with active CeD, revealing a gut-to-cardiovascular inflammatory axis potentially mediated by immune cell infiltration and IL-17A. These findings augment our understanding of the link between CeD and cardiovascular disease providing clinically relevant insight into the underlying mechanism. Furthermore, our discovery that cardiovascular complications can be reversed by a gluten-free diet underscores a critical role for dietary interventions in mitigating cardiovascular risks associated with CeD.

Transportation noise is a ubiquitous urban exposure. In 2018, the World Health Organization concluded that chronic exposure to road traffic noise is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. In contrast, they concluded that the quality of evidence for a link to other diseases was very low to moderate. Since then, several studies on the impact of noise on various diseases have been published. Also, studies investigating the mechanistic pathways underlying noise-induced health effects are emerging. We review the current evidence regarding effects of noise on health and the related disease-mechanisms. Several high-quality cohort studies consistently found road traffic noise to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that road traffic and railway noise may increase the risk of diseases not commonly investigated in an environmental noise context, including breast cancer, dementia, and tinnitus. The harmful effects of noise are related to activation of a physiological stress response and nighttime sleep disturbance. Oxidative stress and inflammation downstream of stress hormone signaling and dysregulated circadian rhythms are identified as major disease-relevant pathomechanistic drivers. We discuss the role of reactive oxygen species and present results from antioxidant interventions. Lastly, we provide an overview of oxidative stress markers and adverse redox processes reported for noise-exposed animals and humans. This position paper summarizes all available epidemiological, clinical, and preclinical evidence of transportation noise as an important environmental risk factor for public health and discusses its implications on the population level.

Abstract Nanodisc technology has dramatically advanced the analysis of molecular interactions for membrane proteins. A nanodisc is designed as a vehicle for membrane proteins that provide a native-like phospholipid environment and better thermostability in a detergent-free buffer. This enables the determination of the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of small molecule binding by surface plasmon resonance. In this study, we generated a nanodisc specific anti-MSP (membrane scaffold protein) monoclonal antibody biND5 for molecular interaction analysis of nanodiscs. The antibody, biND5 bound to various types of nanodiscs with sub-nanomolar to nanomolar affinity. Epitope mapping analysis revealed specific recognition of 8 amino acid residues in the exposed helix-4 structure of MSP. Further, we performed kinetics binding analysis between adenosine A2a receptor reconstituted nanodiscs and small molecule antagonist ZM241385 using biND5 immobilized sensor chips. These results show that biND5 facilitates the molecular interaction kinetics analysis of membrane proteins substituted in nanodiscs.

Abstract Wildfire alters the hydrologic cycle, with important implications for water supply and hazards including flooding and debris flows. In this study we use a combination of electrical resistivity and stable water isotope analyses to investigate the hydrologic response during storms in three catchments: one unburned and two burned during the 2020 Bobcat Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains, California, USA. Electrical resistivity imaging shows that in the burned catchments, rainfall infiltrated into the weathered bedrock and persisted. Stormflow isotope data indicate that the amount of mixing of surface and subsurface water during storms was similar in all catchments, despite higher streamflow post-fire. Therefore, both surface runoff and infiltration likely increased in tandem. These results suggest that the hydrologic response to storms in post-fire environments is dynamic and involves more surface-subsurface exchange than previously conceptualized, which has important implications for vegetation regrowth and post-fire landslide hazards for years following wildfire.

Presented data includes two datasets named RealSAR-RAW and RealSAR-IMG. The first one contains unprocessed (raw) radar data obtained using Ground Based Synthetic Aperture Radar (GBSAR), while the second one contains images reconstructed using Omega-K algorithm applied to raw data from the first set. The GBSAR system moves the radar sensor along the track to virtually extend (synthesize) the antenna aperture and provides imaging data of the area in front of the system. The used sensor was a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar with a central frequency of 24 GHz and a 700 MHz wide bandwidth which in our case covered the observed scene in 30 steps with 1 cm step size. The measured (recorded) scenes were made on combinations of three test objects (bottles) made of different material (aluminum, glass, and plastic) in different positions. The aim was to develop a small dataset of GBSAR data useful for classification applications focused on distinguishing different materials from sparse radar data.

Abstract Perovskite BiFe0.9Co0.1O3 with electric‐field‐induced magnetization reversal is a promising material for low‐power non‐volatile memory devices because spontaneous magnetization perpendicular to the electric polarization can be reversed by out‐of‐plane polarization reversal. In this study, magnetic and ferroelectric domain changes in BiFe0.9Co0.1O3 after applying an in‐plane electric field with counter electrodes fabricated by lithography is investigated. Electric poling can be performed up to 100 times via 71° polarization switching without disrupting the ferroelectric domains. It is determined that the correlation between the ferroelectric and magnetic domains is preserved, while in‐plane 71° polarization switching without reconstructing the ferroelectric domains does not change its out‐of‐plane magnetization. Lastly, possible differences in the antiferromagnetic spin vector and magnetization direction for in‐plane and out‐of‐plane 71° switching is discussed.

IMPORTANCE:. The interhospital transfer (IHT) of patients with sepsis to higher-capability hospitals may improve outcomes. Little is known about patient and hospital factors associated with sepsis IHT. OBJECTIVES:. We evaluated patterns of hospitalization and IHT and determined patient and hospital factors associated with the IHT of adult patients with sepsis. DESIGN:. Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS:. A total of 349,938 adult patients with sepsis at 329 nonfederal hospitals in California, 2018–2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:. We evaluated patterns of admission and outward IHT between low sepsis-, intermediate sepsis-, and high sepsis-capability hospitals. We estimated odds of IHT using generalized estimating equations logistic regression with bootstrap stepwise variable selection. RESULTS:. Among the cohort, 223,202 (66.4%) were initially hospitalized at high-capability hospitals and 10,870 (3.1%) underwent IHT. Nearly all transfers (98.2%) from low-capability hospitals were received at higher-capability hospitals. Younger age (< 65 yr) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.54; 95% CI, 1.40–1.69) and increasing organ dysfunction (aOR 1.22; 95% CI, 1.19–1.25) were associated with higher IHT odds, as were admission to low-capability (aOR 2.79; 95% CI, 2.33–3.35) or public hospitals (aOR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.09–1.66). Female sex (aOR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.84–0.91), Medicaid insurance (aOR 0.59; 95% CI, 0.53–0.66), home to admitting hospital distance less than or equal to 10 miles (aOR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87–0.97) and do-not-resuscitate orders (aOR 0.48; 95% CI, 0.45–0.52) were associated with lower IHT odds, as was admission to a teaching hospital (aOR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.72–0.96). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:. Most patients with sepsis are initially hospitalized at high-capability hospitals. The IHT rate for sepsis is low and more likely to originate from low-capability and public hospitals than from high-capability and for-profit hospitals. Transferred patients with sepsis are more likely to be younger, male, sicker, with private medical insurance, and less likely to have care limitation orders. Future studies should evaluate the comparative benefits of IHT from low-capability hospitals.

Rad se bavi antinomijama između ustavnih načela analizirajući odvagivanje kao jednu od metoda za rješavanje problema. Konkretno, autor je usredotočen na odvagivanje u kontekstu testa razmjernosti (proporcionalnosti) i pitanje „težine“ prava. Strukturno, u radu se prvo analiziraju pojmovi ustavnih načela i antinomija. Zatim se navedeni pojmovi kontekstualiziraju u pravnom poretku Republike Hrvatske na primjeru sukoba između zaštite osobnog i obiteljskog života, dostojanstva, ugleda i časti (čl. 35. Ustava Republike Hrvatske) i slobode mišljenja i izražavanja misli (čl. 38. Ustava Republike Hrvatske). Analizirajući praksu Ustavnog suda Republike Hrvatske i Europskog suda za ljudska prava u rješavanju navedenog sukoba, u radu se iznose teorijski zaključci vezani uz odvagivanje i pitanje „težine“ prava. Rad ima dva cilja: prvi je ukazati na probleme prisutne u odvagivanju koji se odnose na ideju „težine“ prava; drugi je iznijeti prijedloge koji bi mogli doprinijeti jasnijem shvaćanju navedenih pojmova.

Due to the increased honeybee colony losses, the demands for honeybee colonies are growing annually. To regain the lost colonies or to increase the apiary size, the beekeepers need to purchase the new colonies or to prepare the new ones during the season. The aim of this study was to investigate the technological and economic efficiency of the three different methods of honeybee colony production, deploying one, two, or four combs of capped brood with the adhering bees and a mated queen. The study was conducted in northeastern Croatia from May 2019 to April 2020. At the end of the first season, there were no significant differences between the groups in the number of combs occupied with the brood and the bees. The production of colonies with one brood comb provides the beekeeper with an opportunity to multi ply more colonies, while the colonies established using four brood combs during an early season produced honey during the main summer nectar flow. All three methods of colony production have scored a positive economic result and have demonstrated positive profitability rates.

Insulin resistance has many deleterious effects on the central nervous system, including the initiation and potentiation of neurodegeneration. While the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease has been extensively researched with many insights into the effects of amyloids and neurofibrillary tangles, the connection between the two pathogenic entities has not yet been fully elucidated. Gangliosides are commonly found in neuronal membranes and myelin, specifically in lipid rafts that have been linked to pathological amyloidogenesis. In this study, 64 Sprague Dawley rats with equal sex distribution were separated into four sex-specific groups, as follows: control group on standard diet; group on high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFHSD); group on HFHSD treated with metformin; and group on HFHSD treated with liraglutide. Free-floating immunohistochemistry of the rat hippocampi was performed to analyze group-specific and sex-specific changes in the composition of the four most common gangliosides found in neuronal membranes and myelin sheaths, GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b. The groups on HFHSD showed glucose tolerance impairment and body weight increase at the end of the experiment, whereas the groups treated with pharmacotherapeutics had better insulin sensitivity and decreases in body weight by the end of the experiment. Most changes were observed for GM1 and GD1b. Positive immunoreactivity for GM1 was observed in the male group treated with liraglutide in regions where it is not physiologically found. The changes observed following HFHSD and liraglutide treatment were suggestive of ganglioside restructuring that might have implications on pathological amyloidogenesis. Metformin treatment did not significantly alter the hippocampal ganglioside composition in either sex.

Supraglacial debris in High-Mountain Asia is extensively thin and its supply rate from local topography increases with the temperature and slope of debris-supply slopes, according to analyses of remote sensing data from over 4600 glaciers.

Abstract Honeybee health and the species’ gut microbiota are interconnected. Also noteworthy are the multiple niches present within hives, each with distinct microbiotas and all coexisting, which we termed “apibiome”. External stressors (e.g. anthropization) can compromise microbial balance and bee resilience. We hypothesised that (1) the bacterial communities of hives located in areas with different degrees of anthropization differ in composition, and (2) due to interactions between the multiple microbiomes within the apibiome, changes in the community of a niche would impact the bacteria present in other hive sections. We characterised the bacterial consortia of different niches (bee gut, bee bread, hive entrance and internal hive air) of 43 hives from 3 different environments (agricultural, semi-natural and natural) through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Agricultural samples presented lower community evenness, depletion of beneficial bacteria, and increased recruitment of stress related pathways (predicted via PICRUSt2). The taxonomic and functional composition of gut and hive entrance followed an environmental gradient. Arsenophonus emerged as a possible indicator of anthropization, gradually decreasing in abundance from agriculture to the natural environment in multiple niches. Importantly, after 16 days of exposure to a semi-natural landscape hives showed intermediate profiles, suggesting alleviation of microbial dysbiosis through reduction of anthropization.

In recent years, the development of intelligent sensor systems has experienced remarkable growth, particularly in the domain of microwave and millimeter wave sensing, thanks to the increased availability of affordable hardware components. With the development of smart Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar (GBSAR) system called GBSAR-Pi, we previously explored object classification applications based on raw radar data. Building upon this foundation, in this study, we analyze the potential of utilizing polarization information to improve the performance of deep learning models based on raw GBSAR data. The data are obtained with a GBSAR operating at 24 GHz with both vertical (VV) and horizontal (HH) polarization, resulting in two matrices (VV and HH) per observed scene. We present several approaches demonstrating the integration of such data into classification models based on a modified ResNet18 architecture. We also introduce a novel Siamese architecture tailored to accommodate the dual input radar data. The results indicate that a simple concatenation method is the most promising approach and underscore the importance of considering antenna polarization and merging strategies in deep learning applications based on radar data.

Neurodegenerative diseases are often referred to as diseases of old age, and with the aging population, they are gaining scientific and medical interest. Environmental stressors, most notably traffic noise and air pollution, have recently come to the forefront, and have emerged as disease risk factors. The evidence for a connection between environmental risk factors and neurodegenerative disease is growing. In this review, the most common neurodegenerative diseases and their epidemiological association with traffic noise and air pollution are presented. Also, the most important mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative disease development, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation are highlighted. An overview of the in vivo findings will provide a mechanistic link between noise, air pollution, and neurodegenerative pathology. Finally, the importance of the direct and indirect pathways, by which noise and air pollution cause cerebral damage, is discussed. More high-quality data are still needed from both epidemiological and basic science studies in order to better understand the causal connection between neurodegenerative diseases and environmental risk factors.

Aim: The aims of this study were to identify patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) in Croatia and to analyze their clinical characteristics. Patients and methods: Patients with SM treated at eight hospitals in Croatia were retrospectively identified and their clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Twenty patients were included, median age was 40.5years (range 24-77), and most were females (n=12) . Patients with indolent SM (ISM, n=11) predominated, followed by aggressive SM (ASM, n=4), smoldering SM (SSM, n=3) and SM with an associated hematological neoplastic disorder (SM-AHND, n=2). Only one patient (with ASM) did not have cutaneous involvement, and a significant proportion of SM patients had dyspepsia, allergic diathesis, bone pains and osteoporosis. Antihistamines were administered in the majority of the patients, whereas ten patients needed cytoreductive treatment (ISM, n=3, SSM n=2, ASM, n=4, SM-AHND, n=1). Most SM patients in need for cytoreduction received interferon alpha-2a (two ISM, one SSM and three ASM), two received steroids (one ISM and one SM-AHND), one received imatinib (SSM) and the last patient was treated with cladribine (ASM). All patients treated first-line with interferons and cladribine achieved partial remission, whereas two patients treated with imatinib and steroid were refractory. None of the patients discontinued interferon due to drug-related side-effects. After a median follow-up of 33 months, three patients died, one with ASM and two with SM-AHND.The median survival of ISM/SSM patients was higher than in ASM/SM-AHND patients in whom it was 105 months (p=0.009). Conclusion: Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of SM patients in Croatia are comparable to those from large international centers. The most commonly administered cytoreductive drug in Croatia was interferon alpha-2a which was shown to be safe and effective.

In comparison to bulk sequencing or single cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics preserves the spatial information in tissue slices and can even be mapped to immunofluorescent stainings, allowing translation of gene expression information into their spatial context. This enables to unravel complex interactions of neighboring cells or to link cell morphology to transcriptome data. The 10× Genomics Visium platform offers to combine spatial transcriptomics with immunofluorescent staining of cryo-sectioned tissue slices. We applied this technique to fresh frozen mouse brain slices and developed a protocol that still protects RNA quality while improving buffers for immunofluorescent staining. We investigated the impact of various parameters, including fixation time and buffer composition, on RNA quality and antibody binding. Here, we propose an improved version of the manufacturer protocol, which does not alter RNA quality and facilitates the use of multiple additional antibodies that were not compatible with the manufacturer protocol before. Finally, we discuss the influence of various staining parameters, which contribute to the development of application specific staining protocols.

In order to investigate the relationship between the occurrence of the “grubby” sensory defect caused by olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi)) infestation and the resulting volatile composition, virgin olive oils were extracted from olives of the Leccino cultivar with 0%, 50%, and 100% olive fly infestations and subjected to analysis of the basic chemical quality parameters, fatty acids and volatiles, and sensory analysis by the Panel test. A 100% olive fly infestation reduced the basic chemical quality of the oil, while the fatty acid composition was not affected in any case. The overall sensory quality score and intensity of the positive sensory attributes decreased, while the intensity of the “grubby” defect increased proportionally to the degree of infestation. The occurrence and intensity of this defect were clearly causally related to the concentrations of 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylbutanal, β-ocimene, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, dimethyl sulfoxide, 4-methyl-5H-furan-2-one, α-farnesene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 1-octanol, E-2-nonen-1-ol, benzeneacetaldehyde, heptanal, and octanal, implying that the perception of “grubby“ comes from their joint contribution to the overall olive oil flavour. In addition to contributing to the understanding of the chemical origin of “grubby”, the results obtained could potentially be used to develop strategies to support sensory analysis in the classification of olive oil quality and the confirmation of the presence of this sensory defect in oil samples.

During the last two decades, large epidemiological studies have shown that the physical environment, including noise, air pollution or heavy metals, have a considerable impact on human health. It is known that the most common cardiovascular risk factors are all associated with endothelial dysfunction. Vascular tone, circulation of blood cells, inflammation, and platelet activity are some of the most essential functions regulated by the endothelium that suffer negative effects as a consequence of environmental pollution, causing endothelial dysfunction. In this review, we delineate the impact of environmental risk factors in connection to endothelial function. On a mechanistic level, a significant number of studies suggest the involvement of endothelial dysfunction to fundamentally drive the adverse endothelium health effects of the different pollutants. We focus on well-established studies that demonstrate the negative effects on the endothelium, with a focus on air, noise, and heavy metal pollution. This in-depth review on endothelial dysfunction as a consequence of the physical environment aims to contribute to the associated research needs by evaluating current findings from human and animal studies. From a public health perspective, these findings may also help to reinforce efforts promoting the research for adequate promising biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases since endothelial function is considered a hallmark of environmental stressor health effects.

The purpose of our study was to investigate methods of short-term storage that allow preservation, transport and retrieval of genetic information contained in honeybee queen’s spermatheca. Genotyping of the honeybee colony requires well ahead planned sample collection, depending on the type of data to be acquired. Sampling and genotyping of spermatheca’s content instead of individual offspring is timesaving, allowing answers to the questions related to patriline composition immediately after mating. Such procedure is also cheaper and less error prone. For preservation either Allprotect Tissue Reagent (Qiagen) or absolute ethanol were used. Conditions during transportation were simulated by keeping samples 6–8 days at room temperature. Six different storing conditions of spermathecas were tested, complemented with two DNA extraction methods. We have analysed the concentration of DNA, RNA, and proteins in DNA extracts. We also analysed how strongly the DNA is subjected to fragmentation (through amplification of genetic markers ANT2 and tRNAleu-COX2) and whether the quality of the extracted DNA is suitable for microsatellite (MS) analysis. Then, we tested the usage of spermatheca as a source of patriline composition in an experiment with three instrumentally inseminated virgin queens and performed MS analysis of the extracted DNA from each spermatheca, as well as queens’ and drones’ tissue. Our results show that median DNA concentration from spermathecas excised prior the storage, regardless of the storing condition and DNA extraction method, were generally lower than median DNA concentration obtained from spermathecas dissected from the whole queens after the storage. Despite the differences in DNA yield from the samples subjected to different storing conditions there was no significant effect of storage method or the DNA extraction method on the amplification success, although fewer samples stored in EtOH amplified successfully in comparison to ATR storing reagent. However, we recommend EtOH as a storing reagent due to its availability, low price, simplicity in usage in the field and in the laboratory, and capability of good preservation of the samples for DNA analysis during transport at room temperature.

Abstract Ice cliff distribution plays a major role in determining the melt of debris‐covered glaciers but its controls are largely unknown. We assembled a data set of 37,537 ice cliffs and determined their characteristics across 86 debris‐covered glaciers within High Mountain Asia (HMA). We find that 38.9% of the cliffs are stream‐influenced, 19.5% pond‐influenced and 19.7% are crevasse‐originated. Surface velocity is the main predictor of cliff distribution at both local and glacier scale, indicating its dependence on the dynamic state and hence evolution stage of debris‐covered glacier tongues. Supraglacial ponds contribute to maintaining cliffs in areas of thicker debris, but this is only possible if water accumulates at the surface. Overall, total cliff density decreases exponentially with debris thickness as soon as the debris layer reaches a thickness of over 10 cm.

Worldwide, up to 8.8 million excess deaths/year have been attributed to air pollution, mainly due to the exposure to fine particulate matter (PM). Traffic-related noise is an additional contributor to global mortality and morbidity. Both health risk factors substantially contribute to cardiovascular, metabolic and neuropsychiatric sequelae. Studies on the combined exposure are rare and urgently needed because of frequent co-occurrence of both risk factors in urban and industrial settings. To study the synergistic effects of PM and noise, we used an exposure system equipped with aerosol generator and loud-speakers, where C57BL/6 mice were acutely exposed for 3d to either ambient PM (NIST particles) and/or noise (aircraft landing and take-off events). The combination of both stressors caused endothelial dysfunction, increased blood pressure, oxidative stress and inflammation. An additive impairment of endothelial function was observed in isolated aortic rings and even more pronounced in cerebral and retinal arterioles. The increase in oxidative stress and inflammation markers together with RNA sequencing data indicate that noise particularly affects the brain and PM the lungs. The combination of both stressors has additive adverse effects on the cardiovascular system that are based on PM-induced systemic inflammation and noise-triggered stress hormone signaling. We demonstrate an additive upregulation of ACE-2 in the lung, suggesting that there may be an increased vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. The data warrant further mechanistic studies to characterize the propagation of primary target tissue damage (lung, brain) to remote organs such as aorta and heart by combined noise and PM exposure.

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent health problem with complex pathophysiology that is not clearly understood. Prior work has implicated the hippocampus in MDD, but how hippocampal subfields influence or are affected by MDD requires further characterization with high-resolution data. This will help ascertain the accuracy and reproducibility of previous subfield findings in depression as well as correlate subfield volumes with MDD symptom scores. The objective of this study was to assess volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields between MDD patients globally and healthy controls (HC) as well as between a subset of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients and HC using automatic segmentation of hippocampal subfields (ASHS) software and ultra-high field MRI.MethodsThirty-five MDD patients and 28 HC underwent imaging using 7-Tesla MRI. ASHS software was applied to the imaging data to perform automated hippocampal segmentation and provide volumetrics for analysis. An exploratory analysis was also performed on associations between symptom scores for diagnostic testing and hippocampal subfield volumes.ResultsCompared to HC, MDD and TRD patients showed reduced right-hemisphere CA2/3 subfield volume (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.31 and p = 0.3, η2 = 0.44, respectively). Additionally, negative associations were found between subfield volumes and life-stressor checklist scores, including left CA1 (p = 0.041, f2 = 0.419), left CA4/DG (p = 0.010, f2 = 0.584), right subiculum total (p = 0.038, f2 = 0.354), left hippocampus total (p = 0.015, f2 = 0.134), and right hippocampus total (p = 0.034, f2 = 0.110). Caution should be exercised in interpreting these results due to the small sample size and low power.ConclusionDetermining biomarkers for MDD and TRD pathophysiology through segmentation on high-resolution MRI data and understanding the effects of stress on these regions can enable better assessment of biological response to treatment selection and may elucidate the underlying mechanisms of depression.

In this study, we investigated the effect of queen caging on honey bee colonies’ post-treatment development and the optimal timing of method application on honey production during the main summer nectar flow. We conducted the study in nine apiaries (N = 9) across six Mediterranean countries, with a total of 178 colonies. The colonies were divided into three test groups: QC1, QC2, and C. The QC1 group involved queens caged for a total of 28 days before the expected harvesting day. In the QC2 group, queens were caged for 28 days, but only 14 days before the expected harvesting day. The C group consisted of queens that were not caged, and the colonies received common local treatments. In both the QC1 and QC2 groups, the colonies were treated with a 4.2% oxalic acid (OA) solution by trickling after the queen release. Our findings revealed no significant adverse effects (p > 0.05) on colony strength at the end of the study resulting from queen caging. However, significantly lower amounts of honey were extracted from the QC1 group compared to both the QC2 group (p = 0.001) and the C group (p = 0.009). Although there were no initial differences in Varroa destructor infestation between the groups, ten weeks later, a significantly higher infestation was detected in the C group compared to both the QC1 group (p < 0.01) and the QC2 group (p = 0.003). Overall, our study demonstrates that queen caging, in combination with the use of OA, is an effective treatment for controlling V. destructor. However, the timing of caging plays a crucial role in honey production outcomes.

Microplastics (MPs) are detected in the water, sediments, as well as biota, mainly as a consequence of the degradation of plastic products/waste under environmental conditions. Due to their potentially harmful effects on ecosystems and organisms, MPs are regarded as emerging pollutants. The highly problematic aspect of MPs is their interaction with organic and inorganic pollutants; MPs can act as vectors for their further transport in the environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ageing on the changes in physicochemical properties and size distribution of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as well as to investigate the adsorption capacity of pristine and aged PET MPs, using pharmaceutical diclofenac (DCF) as a model organic pollutant. An ecotoxicity assessment of such samples was performed. Characterization of the PET samples (bottles and films) was carried out to detect the thermooxidative aging effects. The influence of the temperature and MP dosage on the extent of adsorption of DCF was elucidated by employing an empirical modeling approach using the response surface methodology (RSM). Aquatic toxicity was investigated by examining the green microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. It was found that the thermooxidative ageing process resulted in mild surface changes in PET MPs, which were reflected in changes in hydrophobicity, the amount of amorphous phase, and the particle size distribution. The fractions of the particle size distribution in the range 100–500 μm for aged PET are higher due to the increase in amorphous phase. The proposed mechanisms of interactions between DCF and PET MPs are hydrophobic and π–π interactions as well as hydrogen bonding. RSM revealed that the adsorption favors low temperatures and low dosages of MP. The combination of MPs and DCF exhibited higher toxicity than the individual components.

To produce high-quality crops, not only excellent cultivation techniques but also accurate nutrient management techniques are important. In recent years, many nondestructive tools such as the chlorophyll meter “SPAD” and the leaf nitrogen meter “Agri Expert CCN” have been developed for measuring crop leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen contents. However, such devices are still relatively expensive for individual farmers. In this research, we developed a low-cost and small-size camera with built-in LEDs of several specific wavelengths for evaluating the nutrient status of fruit trees. A total of 2 camera prototypes were developed by integrating 3 independent LEDs of specific wavelengths (Camera 1: 950 nm, 660 nm and 560 nm; Camera 2: 950 nm, 660 nm and 727 nm) into the device. In addition, a simple software tool was developed to enable the camera to capture leaf images under different LED lighting conditions. Using the prototypes, we acquired images of apple leaves and investigated the possibility of using the images to estimate the leaf nutrient status indicator SPAD (chlorophyll) and CCN (nitrogen) values obtained using the above-mentioned standard tools. The results indicate that the Camera 1 prototype is superior to the Camera 2 prototype and can potentially be applied to the evaluation of nutrient status in apple leaves.

We investigate the prospects for the direct detection of dark matter (DM) particles, incident on the upper atmosphere. A recent work relating the burst-like temperature excursions in the stratosphere at heights of ≈38–47 km with low speed incident invisible streaming matter is the motivation behind this proposal. As an example, dark photons could match the reasoning presented in that work provided they constitute part of the local DM density. Dark photons emerge as a U(1) symmetry within extensions of the standard model. Dark photons mix with real photons with the same total energy without the need for an external field, as would be required, for instance, for axions. Furthermore, the ionospheric plasma column above the stratosphere can resonantly enhance the dark photon-to-photon conversion. Noticeably, the stratosphere is easily accessible with balloon flights. Balloon missions with up to a few tons of payload can be readily assembled to operate for months at such atmospheric heights. This proposal is not limited to streaming dark photons, as other DM constituents could be involved in the observed seasonal heating of the upper stratosphere. Therefore, we advocate a combination of different types of measurements within a multi-purpose parallel detector system, in order to increase the direct detection potential for invisible streaming constituents that affect, annually and around January, the upper stratosphere.

The importance of noise exposure as a major environmental determinant of public health is being increasingly recognized. While in recent years a large body evidence has emerged linking environmental noise exposure mainly to cardiovascular disease, much less is known concerning the adverse health effects of noise on the brain and associated neuropsychiatric outcomes. Despite being a relatively new area of investigation, indeed, mounting research and conclusive evidence demonstrate that exposure to noise, primarily from traffic sources, may affect the central nervous system and brain, thereby contributing to an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders such as stroke, dementia and cognitive decline, neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, and anxiety disorder. On a mechanistic level, a significant number of studies suggest the involvement of reactive oxygen species/oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, among others, to fundamentally drive the adverse brain health effects of noise exposure. This in-depth review on the cerebral consequences of environmental noise exposure aims to contribute to the associated research needs by evaluating current findings from human and animal studies. From a public health perspective, these findings may also help to reinforce efforts promoting adequate mitigation strategies and preventive measures to lower the societal consequences of unhealthy environments.