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Natural selection has a formal definition as the natural process that results in the survival and reproductive success of individuals or groups best adjusted to their environment, leading to the perpetuation of those genetic qualities best suited to that organism's environmental niche. Within conventional Neo-Darwinism, the largest source of those variations that can be selected is presumed to be secondary to random genetic mutations. As these arise, natural selection sustains adaptive traits in the context of a 'struggle for existence'. Consequently, in the 20th century, natural selection was generally portrayed as the primary evolutionary driver. The 21st century offers a comprehensive alternative to Neo-Darwinian dogma within Cognition-Based Evolution. The substantial differences between these respective evolutionary frameworks have been most recently articulated in a revision of Crick's Central Dogma, a former centerpiece of Neo-Darwinism. The argument is now advanced that the concept of natural selection should also be comprehensively reappraised. Cognitive selection is presented as a more precise term better suited to 21st century biology. Since cognition began with life's origin, natural selection represents cognitive selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in synthetic biology have paved the way for bacteria to be used as biotherapeutics, but these systems are limited by formulation challenges. Significant advances in materials development have led to high-precision small-molecule drug delivery. Easy-to-use and inexpensive analytical techniques have enabled the development of microbial products. In the 21st century, microbial therapeutics have the potential to be as transformative as antibiotics were in the 20th century, but this will require advances in materials science, chemistry, and synthetic biology. As more is learned about the benefits of microbes, their potential to prevent and treat disease is expanding. Microbial therapeutics are less burdensome and costly to produce than traditional molecular drugs, often with superior efficacy. Yet, as with most medicines, controlled dosing and delivery to the area of need remain key challenges for microbes. Advances in materials to control small-molecule delivery are expected to translate to microbes, enabling similar control with equivalent benefits. In this perspective, recent advances in living biotherapeutics are discussed within the context of new methods for their controlled release. The integration of these advances provides a roadmap for the design, synthesis, and analysis of controlled microbial therapeutic delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large-scale naval battles during World War II, sailors sometimes sustained serious lower limb injuries when explosion blast of sea mines was transmitted from underneath through the metal deck of the ships. Some of these sailors were thrown in the air due to the blast and sustained axial trauma of the spine when they landed on the hard deck, which was thus called a deck slap by Captain Joseph Barr in 1946, among others. Nowadays, this peculiar mechanism has shifted to the civilian setting. Tourists unaware of the danger may sustain spine compression fractures when they sit at the bow of speed boats while underway on a calm sea. When the craft unexpectedly crosses the wake of another ship, tourists are thrown a few feet in the air before suffering a hard landing on their buttocks. This historical vignette is presented as a preventive message to help to reduce this poorly known yet avoidable "summer wave of vertebral fractures." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Point cloud data has a key role for Architectural heritage conservation and study. • Recent technological advances enable unprecedented formal anomaly analysis. • The research proposes a systematic column formal anomaly analysis. • The investigation tests reliability of simple procedures (mainly open-source). • It is defined a simple workflow for column formal anomaly parametrization. The research is framed in the significant development of massive data capture techniques in the 21st century, with point clouds becoming essential in various fields. In the context of architectural heritage, this topographical information is particularly useful in identifying and analysing formal anomalies, among many other applications. The study focuses on systematizing the analysis of columns, vital structural elements with diverse formal definitions, especially in historical buildings. The research proposes a simple workflow based mainly on open-source software for the systematic formal study columns. The investigation explores two types of formal anomalies, namely buckling and bulging, testing different methodological approaches. The results offer insights into the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed methods, enabling detailed parameterization of the analysed anomalies. That information is crucial from the point of view of diagnosis and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper asks how legislative elites—lawmakers serving on statehouse committees with jurisdiction over transportation and energy—set transportation policy and funding agendas and what factors matter for compelling lawmaker policy action or explaining inaction. The role of legislatures in federalist systems has broader implications for the setting of transportation policy agendas, but in this study, we focus on U.S. state legislatures. We report on five focus group discussions conducted with 23 legislative representatives from 19 different states to reveal untapped insights into committee members' perceptions and the factors that drive their attention to certain issues in contemporary U.S. transportation policy. We find that these state-level political elites almost universally see funding as the most important issue and recognize the sector's broad fiscal reliance on motor fuel taxes as structurally unsound, given growing vehicle fuel efficiency and electric vehicle adoption. We find further that, with respect to their own policymaking activities, state lawmakers understand transportation policy and energy transition as distinct issues and appear unable to meet these known challenges by crossing committees to redesign policy. We also see implications of these results more broadly for subnational and provincial governments that, regardless of country setting, must often work across multiple layers of government to set policy agendas in the context of an evolving energy and transportation landscape and that warrant greater attention from policy scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review of the scientific medical literature dedicated to clinical data, diagnosis and treatment for laryngeal tuberculosis published since the turn of the 21st century. Search of the Medline, Cochrane and Embase databases for the period 2000–2022. Selection of cohorts and case reports documenting clinical data, diagnosis and treatment for laryngeal tuberculosis. In total, 119 articles were analyzed. Immunodepression, HIV infection, history of lung tuberculosis, general symptoms suggesting tuberculosis, smoking and associated laryngeal cancer were noted in 18%, 3%, 20% and 41% of cases, respectively. No pathognomonic symptoms or signs emerged. Voice impairment, of various types and severity, isolated and/or associated with other signs, was the most frequent laryngeal symptom, in 86% of cases. All laryngeal sites were involved, with numerous and various associations. Impaired laryngeal motion and tracheotomy were noted in 6% and 1% of cases, respectively. Time to diagnosis varied from less than 1 month to 36 months, for a median 3 months, in case reports. Laryngeal tuberculosis was diagnosed bacteriologically with certainty in 28% of cases while diagnosis was based on indirect criteria and/or involvement of another site in the other 72%, with lung involvement in 54%. Treatment duration ranged from 6 to 24 months (median, 6 months), using 3 to 5 (median: 4) antitubercular antibiotics, with 4 used in 80% of cohorts and 77% of case reports. Overall rates of cure, death, treatment resistance, adverse events, and laryngeal sequelae were 99%, 0.5%, 0.5%, 6% and 5%, respectively. The clinical presentation and diagnostic difficulty in laryngeal tuberculosis did not change since the end of the 20th century. Quadritherapy is highly effective, with a low resistance rate and few adverse effects or laryngeal sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) reemerged as key players in strategic sectors, showing a renewed intention to contribute to relevant economic and societal objectives, including structural economic change, innovation, internationalisation, and industrialisation. This special issue explores the revival of SOEs in the last two decades, by identifying their specificities as compared to traditional SOEs of the 20th century. It finds that the new political-economic context has changed the mission, mandate, governance, ownership structure of SOEs. The 21st century has witnessed the rise of some emerging economies as major industrial competitors, and a process of increasing market globalisation. In addition, the transition from a unipolar to a multipolar international order is increasing political rivalry among States, which is reflected in the increasing competition in strategic sectors such as natural resources, high technologies, and control of infrastructure and trade routes. SOEs have evolved in the 21st century to suit these challenges by becoming policy-driven but also efficient and competitive. In fact, they are increasingly investing in strategic sectors, while at the same time relying on models of corporate governance that ensure operational efficiency. This model has allowed the presence of private shareholders alongside the State, and the need for SOEs' industrial strategies to reconcile both public and private objectives. To address this theme, the special issue has selected studies on contemporary SOEs of both advanced and emerging economies – including China, Indonesia, Italy, Singapore, Vietnam – operating in strategic sectors – such as energy, transport, infrastructure and logistics, banking and high-tech. The special issue comprises both quantitative and qualitative studies that shed light on the nexus between changes in corporate governance and industrial strategies at different stages of economic development and political contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and opioid use disorder (OUD) comprise twin plagues causing considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. As interactions between TBI and OUD are to our knowledge uncharted, we review the possible mechanisms by which TBI may stimulate the development of OUD and discuss the interaction or crosstalk between these two processes. Central nervous system damage due to TBI appears to drive adverse effects of subsequent OUD and opioid use/misuse affecting several molecular pathways. Pain, a neurological consequence of TBI, is a risk factor that increases the likelihood of opioid use/misuse after TBI. Other comorbidities including depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and sleep disturbances are also associated with deleterious outcomes. We examine the hypothesis that a TBI "first hit" induces a neuroinflammatory process involving microglial priming, which, on a second hit related to opioid exposure, exacerbates neuroinflammation, modifies synaptic plasticity, and spreads tau aggregates to promote neurodegeneration. As TBI also impairs myelin repair by oligodendrocytes, it may reduce or degrade white matter integrity in the reward circuit resulting in behavioral changes. Along with approaches focused on specific patient symptoms, understanding the CNS effects following TBI offers a promise of improved management for individuals with OUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents growing up in the 21st century face novel challenges that affect today's adolescents differently compared with previous generations. Adolescents' prosocial values and social engagement can contribute in unique ways to combatting societal challenges. Participatory research provides tools to transform adolescents' prosocial motivations into drivers for societal change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a refined Mesolithic chronocultural sequence as a result of matching data provided by the set of archaeological research conducted at Cueva de la Cocina (Valencia, Spain) in the 20th and 21st centuries and the new radiocarbon dates record. Because available data are of different quality, we apply a methodological framework based on Bayesian modelling approaches. To do this, we systematically order each one of the archaeological registers and then combine the information in a unitary general chronology. Our novel approach introduces Bayesian modelling from a double analytical procedure: using Bayesian chronological models applied to the stratigraphic sequence of Pericot's excavation in Cocina cave we build a general phase model using data from multiple years of archaeological fieldwork. One the most reliable layers have been defined, we use this information to define the rest of the sequence through a Predictive Bayesian approach. This approach sheds light on evolutionary questions from a macroscale regarding the socioecological dynamics of the last hunter-gatherers and their role for explaining the subsequent agricultural spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality and distribution in time and space of available atmospheric observations are crucial for the accuracy of semi-empirical thermosphere models. However, datasets can be inconsistent, and their qualities and resolutions are often unequal. The main thermospheric density datasets of this century are briefly described and then compared to each other when possible in order to quantify differences. Total mass densities used in the comparisons include all high-resolution CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE data, Swarm A, daily-mean Stella, global daily mean TLE densities, and the SET HASDM density database. The temperature data from TIMED-SABER are also reviewed. The recently updated daily-mean TLE densities (TLE2021) are 2–10 % smaller on average than the previous version (TLE2015). The differences are not constant offsets per altitude level, but fluctuations of up to 5 % are present. Compared to HASDM densities for 6 altitudes from 250 to 675 km, TLE2021 is 15–20 % smaller at 250 km, and then the difference diminishes with altitude to reach the same average value at 575 km. These mean differences also fluctuate by a few percent on time scales of months, to 10 % over half a solar cycle at 575 km. The TLE2021 and HASDM densities are larger than the accelerometer-inferred CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE densities and average offsets are 10–15 % and 10–20 %, respectively. The comparison to Swarm-A and Swarm-B showed mean offsets of 10 % and less, with significant positive trends seen in the comparison with HASDM. Finally, largest differences are found for Stella and HASDM at 800 km, up to 45 % with strong semiannual variations. This study clearly shows that the available density data cannot be simply assimilated or combined without first accurately calibrating the data. The HASDM database is a valuable asset due to its considerable coverage in space and time, but its uncertainty and true resolution are not well understood and are still being evaluated. Data compatibility requires employing physically accurate and harmonized aerodynamic force models in the density derivation procedure, which is presently not achieved. The accuracy of the procedure, independent of the quality of the instrument (GNSS receiver, ground-based orbit determination, or accelerometer), inevitably decreases with altitude due to weakening of the drag signal to noise ratio. The TIMED-SABER instrument provides measurements of pressure and temperature in the lower thermosphere. SABER temperature uncertainty is well-known. The SABER dataset now exceeds twenty years and has been continuously operating that entire time. It was ingested in NRLMSIS 2.0 and comparisons show the much-improved fit in comparison with NRLMSISE-00. The lower thermosphere temperatures significantly modify density at higher altitudes, and its measurement is essential for modeling and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crick's Central Dogma has been a foundational aspect of 20th century biology, describing an implicit relationship governing the flow of information in biological systems in biomolecular terms. Accumulating scientific discoveries support the need for a revised Central Dogma to buttress evolutionary biology's still-fledgling migration from a Neodarwinian canon. A reformulated Central Dogma to meet contemporary biology is proposed: all biology is cognitive information processing. Central to this contention is the recognition that life is the self-referential state, instantiated within the cellular form. Self-referential cells act to sustain themselves and to do so, cells must be in consistent harmony with their environment. That consonance is achieved by the continuous assimilation of environmental cues and stresses as information to self-referential observers. All received cellular information must be analyzed to be deployed as cellular problem-solving to maintain homeorhetic equipoise. However, the effective implementation of information is definitively a function of orderly information management. Consequently, effective cellular problem-solving is information processing and management. The epicenter of that cellular information processing is its self-referential internal measurement. All further biological self-organization initiates from this obligate activity. As the internal measurement by cells of information is self-referential by definition, self-reference is biological self-organization, underpinning 21st century Cognition-Based Biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a prediction of the amplitude of the 25th cycle of solar activity based on the analysis of data on 24 previous solar cycles, which relate to the statistical relationship between the rate of increase in the number of sunspots in the phase of the growth curve and the amplitude of the cycle. It turned out that the forecasting result depends on several initial assumptions, in particular, which section of the growth curve is taken into account for forecasting, as well as whether all 24 cycles are considered, or only the odd ones. The assumption of a monotonic or non-monotonic growth curve also plays an important role. Regarding the latter, the cluster analysis showed that until the 35th month of the cycle, there are no visible signs of non-monotonicity of the growth curve, similar to the one that was in the 24th cycle. We conclude that the maximum smoothed number of sunspots in the 25th cycle W max (25), most likely, should be equal to 185 ± 18 units in the new system, which corresponds to the average power of the solar cycle, with the implementation of the Hnievyshev-Ohl rule. With such parameters of this cycle, there are no signs of approaching the deep minimum of the age cycle in the middle 21st century. This does not exclude the fact that this deep age minimum can occur suddenly and sharply immediately after the 25th cycle, as was the case, for example, in the Dalton minimum. A possible sign of the upcoming age cycle may be the abnormally long decline phase of the current 25th cycle, about 10 years, as it was in the 4th cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With robots being of far-ranging public and academic interest, attempts are made to set these into relation to earlier self-moving machines. Automata from European Enlightenment, especially in the 18th century, are such machines being referenced. The debate revolves around the question whether the design and the purpose of the construction of these automata can be viewed as antedating epistemological conceptualizations formulated with regards to the scientific employment of robotics as a synthetic modeling practice in contemporary life sciences. This paper reflects on a claim made in this context, namely that the construction of 18th century automata and 21st century robots share the epistemic role of simulating the core processes of living organisms and are thus indicative of an epistemological continuity in how organisms are conceived as machines. To philosophically investigate whether such a statement is taking changes in material, political, and technological conditions into account, a case study of Kempelen's Sprechmaschine from 1791 is done. The paper asserts that it should be historicized what makes a machine fit the concept of an automaton––and thus also poses the broader question what extent of caution must be taken in identifying automata with robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure synthesis routes enable the access to a broad variety of novel nitride-based materials with properties far beyond that of the state of the art. The ultimate goal of our studies is to advance the knowledge and understanding of inorganic nitrides, oxynitrides and nitride-based (nano)composites synthesized under high-pressure and high temperature conditions. The discovery of novel nitrides will open space for new fundamental materials science studies on the one hand and application-oriented research on the other hand. Our research is part of the materials driven technology, which is an essential requirement for the future demands with respect to the development of new technologies. Binary, ternary and multinary nitrides or oxynitrides are in the focus of our studies. Theoretical predictions of novel metal or non-metal nitride solid-state structures guide the experimental studies. The use of a large volume press allows to produce new materials in amounts suitable for further mechanical and functional characterization. Molecular single source precursors are synthesized and transformed to inorganic solid nitrides as starting materials. Special emphasis is placed on (i) fundamental questions regarding pressure-temperature phase relations, (ii) nitrides, which have been predicted but not synthesized yet, and (iii) nitride-based (nano)composites which combine at least two binary high-pressure phases in one material. The novel nitrides are evaluated in terms of their challenging and technologically relevant properties including (i) thermodynamic stability/metastability and (ii) structural (hardness) as well as functional (optoelectronic) properties. Finally, our research contributes to extend the "Nitride World" and to deliver perspective materials based on the inorganic nitride family with advanced functionality and exceptional levels of performance for application in the key technologies of the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of geochemical and cosmochemical research is based upon observations and, in particular, upon the acquisition, processing and interpretation of analytical data from physical samples. The exponential increase in volumes and rates of data acquisition over the last century, combined with advances in instruments, analytical methods and an increasing variety of data types analysed, has necessitated the development of new ways of data curation, access and sharing. Together with novel data processing methods, these changes have enabled new scientific insights and are driving innovation in Earth and Planetary Science research. Yet, as approaches to data-intensive research develop and evolve, new challenges emerge. As large and often global data compilations increasingly form the basis for new research studies, institutional and methodological differences in data reporting are proving to be significant hurdles in synthesising data from multiple sources. Consistent data formats and data acquisition descriptions are becoming crucial to enable quality assessment, reusability and integration of results fostering confidence in available data for reuse. Here, we explore the key challenges faced by the geo- and cosmochemistry community and, by drawing comparisons from other communities, recommend possible approaches to overcome them. The first challenge is bringing together the numerous sub-disciplines within our community under a common international initiative. One key factor for this convergence is gaining endorsement from the international geochemical, cosmochemical and analytical societies and associations, journals and institutions. Increased education and outreach, spearheaded by ambassadors recruited from leading scientists across disciplines, will further contribute to raising awareness, and to uniting and mobilising the community. Appropriate incentives, recognition and credit for good data management as well as an improved, user-oriented technical infrastructure will be essential for achieving a cultural change towards an environment in which the effective use and real-time interchange of large datasets is common-place. Finally, the development of best practices for standardised data reporting and exchange, driven by expert committees, will be a crucial step towards making geo- and cosmochemical data more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable by both humans and machines (FAIR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally considered that rising inflation is a negative development. However, in the case of investments in stock markets (regulated and unregulated), this situation is not so obvious and clear-cut. Rising prices in global commodity markets are generally accompanied by an increase in investor activity in over-the-counter markets. It can therefore be anticipated that the rise in global inflation is a phenomenon that drives the pro-investment activities of OTC investors. However, is this correlation so obvious and invariable over time? The study is focused on the research of the relations between financial investors activities and the changes in prices on the global commodity markets in the 21st century. The study conducted a correlation (correlation and regression) analysis for global inflation and OTC investment from 2005 to 2022, showing that the period analyzed was not uniform. The main tool used during the research is econometric model estimation with use feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• Reviews the looming global problem of PV waste generation in near future. • Identifies issues in the PV modules which contribute to early failure. • Two configurations are experimentally compared in light of PV reliability. • Proposes ways to mitigate high-volume of PV waste due to early failures. • The inclusion of bypass circuit verification test is recommended in IEC 61215. The global installed capacity of photovoltaic (PV) plants is increasing exponentially since the beginning of the 21st century. And as the early installations have started nearing their end-of-life, presently, PV waste management has started raising concerns amongst environmental researchers. The cumulative PV waste generation is estimated to reach 8 million tonnes by 2030, however, interestingly, this humungous volume may be reduced by 79% if early failures could be averted. And one of the major contributors to the early failure of the PV modules is the hotspot generation under partial shading and other mismatch conditions. Various innovative array configurations have been proposed in the past to minimize power loss under partial shading conditions, however, the performance of those from the perspective of hotspot formation and PV reliability is neglected. In the present work, the efficacy of the hotspot prevention mechanism is investigated, both in an experimental setup and in real installations. The results revealed that the extant mechanism is ineffective in preventing the occurrence of hotspots in total cross-tied (TCT) array configuration, which is hailed as the best performing one in the literature, when studied from the perspective of mismatch power loss only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of pharmaceutical dosage forms relies heavily on the characteristics of the excipients that are incorporated into the drug product during the manufacturing process. Therefore, it is imperative that formulators are able to accurately and completely specify the key chemical and physical properties of those excipients. Current approaches to describing excipients are outdated and inadequate for the needs of the 21st century and in this article we highlight the benefits of a more systematic and comprehensive approach to specifying and controlling excipient properties. We hope that this will prompt the users, suppliers, and manufacturers of excipients to take a careful look at current approaches and develop tangible proposals for attaining an enhanced future state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies conducted in the United Kingdom have shown long-term associations between paternal involvement in childcare and adolescents' mental health issues. However, findings were inconsistent, and similar epidemiologic studies have not been conducted in other countries in Europe or Asia. Thus, we aimed to examine this association using Japanese population-based cohort study data. The Japanese Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the 21st Century commenced in 2001. Data from 18,568 16-year-olds enrolled in the survey were analyzed. Poor psychological well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 Well-being Index. Paternal involvement in childcare—in tasks such as changing diapers—was assessed at the children's 6 months of age. We created four groups from least involvement to most active involvement based on the frequency of fathers' performing the tasks. The risk of poor psychological well-being was lower among more active involvement groups compared with the least involvement group, after adjusting for potential confounders (risk ratios = 0.90 [95 % confidence intervals: 0.85, 0.95] for the most active group). Due to 16 years of follow-up, loss to follow-up may have caused a selection bias. Our study is the first in Asian countries to show that fathers' active involvement in childcare is associated with poor psychological well-being in adolescence. Encouraging fathers' involvement in childcare may ameliorate prevalent issues of school refusals and withdrawals in the long term in Japan. • Fathers' childcare involvement is associated with adolescents' mental well-being. • Active childcare involvement is protective against poor psychological well-being. • Active childcare involvement may ameliorate children's mental health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating habits must change substantially in order to address the urgent societal challenges of personal, public and planetary health. Research surrounding various facets of the dietary transition remains siloed, hindering breakthroughs. We argue the scientific case for transdisciplinary research centered around the transition to healthy, sustainable, and acceptable diets. This transition requires tackling the broad societal challenges of engaging consumers in the diet transition, improving nutritional health and achieving environmental sustainability of foods and food systems. The crucial synergies and trade-offs from addressing single challenges in isolation are discussed, as well as obstacles when considering the collaboration between the multiple scientific disciplines concerned with the dietary transition. Currently, interactions between these challenges remain understudied and/or ambiguous, in part due to a lack of interoperable data and standards. Intersectional research entry points acting at the intersection of the three challenges are explored: food taste and texture reformulation, food pricing strategies and food literacy. The implementation of such cross-cutting interventions urgently requires both the generation of new data and exploitation of the breadth of existing data. Researchers must therefore be facilitated to find, access and use interoperable data to model and measure food intake and all its determinants. The dietary transition requires underpinning by a research infrastructure that supports access to transdisciplinary data, facilities and research tools, alongside training and capacity building. Filling these unmet data, tools and training needs is the first step towards delivering breakthrough innovations to foods and food environments, mobilizing consumers to engage in the dietary transition. • Current research on healthy and sustainable diets ignores critical synergies and trade-offs between research domains. • The challenge for research on the diet transition is to address inter- and trans -disciplinary research entry points. • Fragmented data, methods and training require a transdisciplinary research infrastructure addressing the diet transition. • A transdisciplinary research infrastructure needs underpinning by permissive policy environments and research agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the performance of the first thoracic spinal anaesthetic in early 1908 many anaesthetists have gained interest in this unorthodox neuraxial anaesthetic technique. The main rationale justifying its use is to prevent complications related to general anaesthesia in high-risk patient populations. There is, however, significant debate regarding this practice around the world. The main concerns are fear of iatrogenic injury to the spinal cord, cephalad spread of local anaesthetic causing a complete spinal block, and haemodynamic instability owing to blockade of cardioaccelerator sympathetic fibres. The purpose of this narrative review is to appraise the literature critically regarding thoracic spinal anaesthesia, to synthesise the available information, and to provide a summary of evidence justifying its use in modern anaesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What does it mean today to study a problem from a computational point of view? We focus on parameterized complexity and on Column 16 "Graph Restrictions and Their Effect" of D.S. Johnson's Ongoing guide, where several puzzles were proposed in a summary table with 30 graph classes as rows and 11 problems as columns. Several of the 330 entries remain unclassified into Polynomial or NP -complete after 35 years. We provide a full dichotomy for the Steiner Tree column by proving that the problem is NP -complete when restricted to Undirected Path graphs. We revise Johnson's summary table according to the granularity provided by the parameterized complexity for NP -complete problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2122, IChemE - Institution of Chemical Engineers – will celebrate its bicentenary. This article presents as a retrospective the years 2022–2122 and summarizes the progresses (to be) made in the field of particle technology until 2122, i.e. during the second century in the life of the yet young IChemE. A century earlier, in 2008, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced the grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century. The list has been compiled by a committee under the chair of William Perry 1 1 he has been former U.S. secretary of defense and professor of engineering at Stanford but has never written an engineering handbook and comprises a series of challenges to which particle technology will obviously make a sound contribution, such as ... • Make solar energy affordable • Provide energy from fusion • Develop carbon sequestration methods • Provide access to clean water • Engineer better medicines • Engineer the tools for scientific discovery Particles are everywhere, be it due to natural or human activities and their formulation, production, handling and characterization has a major influence on the quality of many aspects of life. We summarized the visions of leading scientists and practitioners in the field of particle technology (and around) in order to discover their opinions summarizing the progresses in this field (to be) made in the 21st century – and the societal impact related to these. We allowed them to dream, to wish, to be forward-looking, to be optimistic 2 2 Optimism, according to Merriam-Webster "a doctrine that this world is the best possible world", being probably not the predominant mindset in 2022. in the framework of a bicentenary. • IChemE will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2122. • Powder Technology contributed to solve many problems before this birthday – and will continue to do so!. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic review of the scientific literature dedicated to treatment modalities and results for aural tuberculosis published since the start of the 21st century. Search of the Medline, Cochrane and Embase databases for the period 2000 - 2020. Selection of articles in English, French and Spanish devoted to clinical cases and series documenting treatment of auricular tuberculosis. Extraction of data on pre-established files documenting treatment modalities and results. Reading of articles by two authors. Analysis performed according to SWiM guidelines, evaluating cure, tuberculosis-related death, treatment-related complications, improvement in facial palsy, and hearing sequelae rates. One hundred and twenty eight articles: 118 case reports (159 patients) and 10 cohorts (177 patients) from 42 countries were analyzed. Female/male sex ratio was 1.2 with ages ranging from 1 month to 87 years. Medical treatment consisted in 5 to 24 months' antitubercular antibiotic treatment using 2 to 8 antibiotics. Mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty and facial nerve decompression were associated to medical treatment in 64.7%, 17.4% and 6.2% of cases, respectively. Overall rates of cure, death, treatment-related complications, facial sequelae and hearing sequelae were 96.8%, 2%, 9.5%, 35.8% and 75.5%. In case reports, BCG vaccination did not appear to protect against facial palsy and severe intracranial complications (P > 0.6). There was no significant correlation (P > 0.3) between death and the clinical variables tested, and facial nerve decompression did not appear to influence outcome for facial function (P = 0.4). Medical treatment is very effective but not without risk of death, complications and sequelae. It is the same as for pulmonary tuberculosis. Indications for and benefit of major auricular surgery during medical treatment deserve further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review of the scientific literature dedicated to clinical data and diagnosis modalities for aural tuberculosis published since the start of the 21st century. Search of the Medline, Cochrane and Embase databases for the period 2000–2020. Selection of articles in English, French and Spanish devoted to clinical cases and series documenting clinical data and diagnosis for aural tuberculosis of articles by two authors. Analysis performed according to SWiM guidelines. Extraction of data on pre-established files documenting clinical and diagnostic data. In total, 173 articles: 163 case reports (228 patients) and 10 cohorts (177 patients) from 49 countries were analyzed. Female/male sex ratio was 1.05, with ages ranging from less than 1 month to 87 years. Tuberculosis involved another site in 35.1% of cases. Aural involvement was bilateral in 19.7% of cases. Clinical presentation corresponded to otitis media (prior antibiotic treatment and auricular surgery in 41.4% and 10.1% of cases, respectively) without any pathognomonic symptoms or signs. Associated severe locoregional complications were seen in 32% of cases, with 23.2% and 13% incidence of peripheral facial palsy and severe intracranial complications, respectively. Time to diagnosis ranged from less than 1 month to 384 months, and was longer than 12 months in 26.5% of case reports, without significant correlation (P = 0.29) with severe revelatory locoregional complications. Incidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection ranged from 33.4% of documented cases in auricular secretions to 64.6% in polyps, granulomas, and/or biopsies. In the case reports, diagnosis with certainty was done in 58.3% of cases, while it was based on involvement of another site and on indirect criteria or positive clinical progression after treatment in the other 10.1% and 31.6%, respectively. Aural tuberculous must always be considered in case of unfavorable progression of otitis. Definitive diagnosis is based on multiple auricular sample sites, polymerase chain reaction, and γ interferon blood assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China's new media industry has attracted more and more investors' attention with its rapid development. However, its stock market has consistently shown unstable performances in recent years. In this study, we explore the interconnections between new-media stocks by conducting liquidity risk and liquidity spillover analysis between individual stocks and markets. We find that the instability of China's new media stocks stems from the volatility of idiosyncratic risks and high systemic correlation across markets, which collectively contribute to higher liquidity risk spillover effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military neurosurgery has played a crucial role in the development of neurosurgery over time. Much of this progress is due to war-related experiences. Owing to the number and severity of war injuries and the limitations caused by war, surgeons have had to examine different methods and design special protocols for patient management. Given that in recent decades most wars have taken place in the Middle East, many lessons can be learned by reviewing the experiences of neurosurgeons in these wars. Wars in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Yemen have been the largest and longest conflicts in the Middle East since the beginning of the 21st century, and a number of studies reported the experiences of surgeons in these wars. In this study, we reviewed the experience of military surgeons in managing war neurosurgical injuries in these areas within the last 2 decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research around sport-related concussion (SRC) has made great advances during the twenty-first century. However, few studies have systematically analyzed the published SRC research. A bibliometric analysis was conducted of data from articles from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze publication trends, most productive countries, institutions, authors, journals, research fields, and references with the highest citation number. VOSviewer software was used to perform network visualization and keywords co-occurrence analysis. CiteSpace software was used to perform reference co-citation analysis. 1) The number of publications and number of citations of research in SRC progressively increased between 2000 and 2021; 2) the United States was the leading country in research in SRC; 3) extensive cooperation among countries, institutions, and investigators was prevalent in SRC research; 4) P. McCrory, M. McCrea, and K.M. Guskiewicz were the 3 most prolific and influential authors; 5) research in SRC involved multidisciplinary perspectives and approaches; 6) research in SRC mainly covered aspects of primary prevention, diagnosis, and management, and the latter two have gained more attention in recent years; and 7) specific questions about "education," "predictors," "youth," "exercise," "reliability," "validity," and "baseline" were the research frontiers of SRC. Attention to research in SRC has rapidly increased in recent years. Our work is a holistic overview that summarizes the hotspots, frontiers, and prospects of SRC, thus providing valuable information and guidance concerning research directions for those who are interested in or are dedicated to SRC research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Compare to normal day, the risk of non-accidental mortality increased by 17.82 during CHDEs. • Females, the elderly, and people living in humid area were more vulnerable to CHDEs. • The CHDEs-related non-accidental mortality will substantially increase in the future. Global warming has provoked more co-occurrence of hot extreme and dry extreme, namely compound hot-dry events (CHDEs). However, their health impacts have seldom been investigated. This study aimed to characterize CHDEs and assess its mortality burden in China from 1990 to 2100. CHDEs were defined as a day when daily maximum temperature > its 90th percentile and Standardized Precipitation Index < its 50th percentile. A two-stage approach, including a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) and a multivariate meta -analysis, was used to estimate exposure–response associations of CHDEs with mortality in 358 counties/districts during 2006–2017 in China, which was then applied to assess the national mortality burden attributable to CHDEs from 1990 to 2100. We observed a significant increasing trend of CHDEs in China until mid-21st century, and then flatted, while the duration and intensity of CHDEs continuously increased across the 21st century. CHDEs were much riskier (ER=17.82 %, 95 %CI: 14.17 %-21.60 %) than independent hot events (ER=5.86 %,95 %CI: -0.04 %,12.45 %) or dry events (ER=0.07 %,95 %CI: -1.22 %, 1.38 %), and there was significantly additive interaction between hot events and dry events (AP=0.10,95 %CI: 0.04, 0.16). Females (ER=24.28 %, 95 %CI: 19.21 %-29.56 %), the elderly (ER=23.28 %, 95 %CI: 18.23 %-28.55 %), and people living in humid area (ER=18.98 %, 95 %CI: 15.08 %–23.02 %) had higher mortality risks than their counterparts. Mortality burden attributed to CHDEs significantly increased during historical observation and became stable since mid-21st century in China. CHDEs would significantly increase mortality with higher risk for females, the elderly and people living in humid areas. Mortality burden has significantly increased during historical observation and will keep relatively steady since mid-21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising rates of obesity-associated cardiometabolic disorders allied to ageing populations are driving increases in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These adverse trends present challenges for healthcare systems that are struggling to prevent and manage the burgeoning cardiometabolic nexus of multiple long-term conditions. While potent new medications and non-pharmacological interventions have ushered in a promising new therapeutic era, translating clinical trial data to real-world clinical practice is often suboptimal. Postgraduate training and narrowly focused clinical specialisations reflect the traditional siloed approach to managing cardiovascular-metabolic disease that appears increasingly outmoded in the 21st century. It is our contention that greater inter-disciplinary collaboration allied to increased awareness of the continuum of cardiometabolic disease should enable clinicians to address this global public health threat more effectively. With this aim in mind, we have established an International Cardiometabolic Working Group. It is our hope to stimulate the interest of clinicians and clinical researchers across a range of medical specialties who share the vision of better care for people living with cardiometabolic diseases. [Display omitted] • Cardio-renal-metabolic diseases represent an unprecedented challenge to healthcare systems across the world. • These disorders cluster as multiple long-term conditions spanning across traditional medical specialties. • Prevention and management of cardio-renal-metabolic disorders are often inconsistent and suboptimal. • There is an unmet need for greater clinical awareness allied to more effective inter-disciplinary collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Perceived creativity had a positive impact on mathematical creative thinking. • Computational thinking significantly influenced mathematical creative thinking. • Creative self-efficacy showed a negative association on mathematical creative thinking. • Computational thinking plays a mediating role, connecting perceived creativity and creative self-efficacy to mathematical creative thinking. In the field of education, research has consistently emphasized mathematical creative thinking as a crucial component of 21st-century skills. Thus, this cross-sectional study examines the predictors of such thinking by specifically focusing on the roles of perceived creativity, creative self-efficacy, and computational thinking. The participants consisted of 896 secondary school students (52.9 % female; 47.1 % male) in Indonesia who were asked to complete a series of online questionnaires and tests. For analysis, structural equation modeling was employed, demonstrating satisfactory construct validity and instrument reliability. Based on the results, there was a positive association between computational thinking and mathematical creative thinking. In addition, perceived creativity had a positive impact on mathematical creative thinking, whereas creative self-efficacy showed a negative association. As for the empirical model, it revealed that computational thinking plays a mediating role, connecting perceived creativity and creative self-efficacy to mathematical creative thinking. The findings suggest that incorporating these skills and related variables into the mathematics curriculums in schools is essential for preparing students for success in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect of various educational interventions on complex skills learning was meta-analyzed in this study. • Complex skills learning had a moderate positive overall effect. • Both thinking skills and operational skills showed moderate positive effects, and the 4C/ID model is more suitable for thinking skills learning. • Different instructional interventions can play a positive role in promoting the learning of complex skills. • Different technologies can have a high effect on learning of complex skills. In the 21st century, the requirements for talent abilities are becoming increasingly diversified. Traditional skill learning methods cannot meet this demand, while complex learning can adapt to this demand for talent. In complex learning systems, various factors such as instructional theory, instructional interventions, and technology work together to facilitate the acquisition of complex thinking or operational skills. However, the effectiveness of instructional factors in complex skills learning remains unknown. To find out the effects of these factors on the acquisition of different complex skills, this meta-analysis includes 60 empirical studies and the effectiveness of 4C/ID model, instructional interventions and technical support on different complex learning are investigated. Complex skills learning had a moderate positive overall effect in acquiring complex skills: g = 0.67, 95% CI [0.49, 0.85]. Both thinking skills (g = 0.69, 95% CI [0.44, 0.94], k = 40) and operational skills (g = 0.64, 95% CI [0.38, 0.89], k = 20) showed moderate positive effects, and there was small but not statistically significant difference in the effect sizes between the two groups. Funnel plot, Egger's test and Rank Correlation Test results show that the findings were likely not to be affected by publication bias. We conclude that: compared to traditional learning, (1) the 4C/ID model is more suitable for thinking skills learning and has a significant large positive promotion effect. (2) Different instructional interventions can play a positive role in promoting the learning of complex skills. Learning scaffolding and learning platforms and tools are more suitable for operational skills learning, while thinking skills learning can benefit more from the adjustment of instructional models. (3) A variety of technologies can have a high effect on facilitating complex thinking and operational skills. These results show that different instructional interventions and technical support play a vital role in the learning of complex skills. In practical application, we need to make reasonable selection and application according to the specific educational situation and complex skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Climate variability explains 30–90% of flood variability across Sub-Saharan Africa. • East/southern African flood variability mainly driven by Pacific and Indian Oceans. • West/central African flood variability mainly driven by Atlantic and Mediterranean. • Flood occurrences could vary by ± 10–50 % from 2015 to 2100 due to climate variability. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is strongly affected by flood hazards, endangering human lives and economic stability. However, the role of internal climate modes of variability in driving fluctuations in SSA flood occurrence remains poorly documented and understood. To address this gap, we quantify the relative and combined contribution of large-scale climate drivers to seasonal and regional flood occurrence using a new 65-year daily streamflow dataset, sea-surface temperatures derived from observations, and 12 Single Model Initial-condition Large Ensembles (SMILEs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phases 5 and 6. We find significant relationships between floods and large-scale climate variability across SSA, with climatic drivers accounting for 30–90 % of the variability in floods. Notably, western, central, and the summer-rain region of southern Africa display stronger teleconnections to large-scale climate variability in comparison to East Africa and the winter-rain region of South Africa, where regional circulation patterns and human activities may play a more important role. In southern and eastern Africa, floods are mainly influenced by teleconnections with the Pacific and Indian Oceans, while in western and central Africa, teleconnections with the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea play a larger role. We also find that the number of floods is projected to fluctuate by ± 10–50 % during the 21st century in response to different sequences of key modes of climate variability. We also note that the relative contributions of large-scale climate variability to future flood risks are generally consistent across all SMILEs. Our findings thus provide valuable information for long-term disaster risk reduction and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound drought and heatwave events (CDHWs) have severe impacts on both humans and ecosystems, and climate change is gradually increasing their frequency. Therefore, it is crucial to deeply analyze the relative impacts of droughts, heatwaves, and their coupling in CDHWs to better understand the extent to which individual events and their interactions contribute to CDHWs formation. The analysis of Earth System Models (ESMs) simulations indicates that the frequency and intensity of CDHWs increased significantly during the historical period (1941–2014), showing a notable rise after 1990 and remaining in a state of high fluctuation. Their total frequency and cumulative heat reveal a decreasing trend after reaching their maximum in the middle of the 21st century, with the greatest rate of decline occurring in the SSP585 scenario. Furthermore, the duration of each CDHWs occurrence will continue to increase, particularly for the SSP370 and SSP585 scenarios, which have a maximum value exceeding 18 days. The intensity of these events is expected to continue to increase in the future. The relative contribution of heatwaves to CDHWs averages above 40%, which is the dominant contribution. This can rise to 80% in some areas in the SSP585 scenario, while the relative contribution of droughts to CDHWs is only about half that of heatwaves. Nonetheless, the relative contribution of drought-heatwave coupling effects to CDHWs should not be overlooked, particularly in North Asia and North Africa, where the contribution is more pronounced. In addition, the results of the ESMs analyses indicate that the likelihood of drought and heatwave occurrence is significantly higher under anthropogenic disturbances, and that the coupling effect between them is stronger. This trend is generalized to all regions of the globe and is particularly evident in drylands. Attribution analyses indicate that anthropogenic forcing is the primary cause of the increases in CDHWs. The above findings emphasize that we are facing a serious threat from CDHWs and should take timely action to address the impacts of climate change. • The frequency and duration of CDHWs will alter significantly under climate change. • Future CDHWs are projected to be dominated by heatwaves with a high relative contribution. • Anthropogenic factors have likely heightened the occurrences of CDHWs, especially in drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal locations around the world face the multifaceted challenge of rising sea levels, posing threats to coastal communities, particularly during storm surges and high wave conditions. We have examined the dynamics of sea-level fluctuations along Denmark's coastline, with focus on wave-induced phenomena, such as wave setup. We analysed wave data from DMI's operational model spanning from 2006 to 2022, as well as climate projections that extend until the middle of the 21st century. We conducted an analysis of the 2% exceedance of the significant wave height maxima during specific time frames (denoted "storm days") and "storm surge conditions" (the maximum sea level within a 30-year period). We found that the impact of climate change on extreme wave events was insignificant when focusing solely on the wave component, but heightened wave setup during "storm surge conditions" along the north-western coasts of Jutland. In this area, there is a notable increase in wave setup due to longer swells, ranging from 5 to 10 cm, by the mid-century, which is double the current wave setup in the region. Interestingly, other parts of the country did not show significant changes in wave setup. This regional variation highlights the nuanced impact of wave-induced processes on sea level dynamics and underscores the need for tailored adaptation strategies targeting specific vulnerable zones. • Study highlights Denmark's coastal vulnerabilities, urging tailored strategies. • Jutland coast sees wave setup double, posing future risks. • Study aids climate planning with insights on coastal wave dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study introduces a taxonomically revised and credible occurrence dataset of Stachytarpheta in Brazil, including 4843 different specimens covering 90 species. • Stachytarpheta exhibit remarkable species richness and endemism particularly in the campos rupestres and savannas of the Espinhaço Range and Chapada dos Veadeiros. • A strong correlation exists between specimen occurrences and proximity to roads. Rarefaction curves show ongoing potential for species discovery in Tocantins state. • Temporal analysis shows an upward trend in occurrence records from 1970 to 2010 but declines in funding for scientific initiatives may have impeded recent collection efforts. Stachytarpheta (Verbenaceae) encompasses approximately 120 species distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, with Brazil boasting the highest species richness (90 spp.) and endemism (82 spp.). This study introduces an updated, taxonomically revised, and credible occurrence dataset focusing on Stachytarpheta species in Brazil, comprising 4,843 records. This dataset results from expert revision of herbarium collections and integration with global repositories alongside national repositories in Brazil. It facilitates a thorough exploration of the temporal, geographical, and taxonomic patterns of Stachytarpheta across diverse regions and landscapes in Brazil. Stachytarpheta species and their occurrence records are concentrated in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Goiás, particularly in the campo rupestre and savanna formations of the Espinhaço Range and Chapada dos Veadeiros. Analysis of potential biases within our dataset revealed a correlation between specimen occurrences and proximity to roads. Rarefaction curves indicate ongoing potential for species discovery within the Cerrado and Caatinga domains, with the Tocantins state emerging as a particularly promising area for novel findings; therefore, presenting opportunities for exploration. The majority of the specimens are housed in Brazilian herbaria, particularly at RB, HUEFS, and CESJ. Temporal analysis of occurrence records showed an upward trend during the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century, which can be attributed to the efforts of generalist collectors working mostly in Eastern and Central Brazil. Most collection efforts were carried out through Brazilian and European initiatives, often supported by local funding, especially during the mid-20th century. However, funding for scientific initiatives in Brazil has waned since the mid-2010s, potentially affecting recent trends in species recording. Our dataset serves as a resource enabling subsequent analysis delving into the systematics, biogeography, and conservation of this remarkable genus from open vegetation formations in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equality in regional development, as a trend in urban development worldwide, is an inevitable way to create a coordinated and sustainable human society. Assessing and resolving regional development inequality has become an issue that has attracted much attention from policy makers and scholars. However, traditional socioeconomic statistical data and daytime visible remote sensing images suffer from significant time lags and ignored social and economic attributes. In this communication, the regions across the Taiwan Strait Region (TSR), covering Fujian in mainland China and Taiwan were selected as research area to analyze inequality of urban development and influencing factors by adopting methods such as time series decomposition, inequality analysis and ridge regression model from 2000 to 2020. We found that TSR's urbanization exhibited spatial disparities and periodic characteristics, urbanization level in coastal areas is higher than that in inland areas, and gradual dispersion from urban to suburbs. TSR and Taiwan's urbanization evolution are divided into fluctuating development (2000–2007), accelerated growth (2008–2014) and slow growth (2015–2020), while Fujian directly entered a period of rapid development after experiencing fluctuating development. TSR's urban development tends to be more equitable. Though the equality of Fujian's urban development lags behind that of Taiwan, its mitigation trend growing is growing much faster. Urbanization is important influences on the inequality of urban development. • The Nighttime Light Development Index was used to measure the inequality of urbanization development. • The nighttime brightness of TSR is significant skewed and periodic characteristics. • Urban development of TSR is trending towards greater equitability. • Urbanization level is the main influencing factor on the inequality of urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine whether the rise in neurological death rates over the 21st century are solely explained by the Gompertzian hypothesis. We examine two data-sets. First, Office of National Statistics (ONS, 2022) for nineteen mortality categories in England/Wales, including Alzheimer's, Dementias and Parkinson's Disease. Secondly, WHO (2020) Combined Neurological Mortality (CNM), from WHO Global mortality categories, Nervous Disease Deaths, and Alzheimer's & Other Dementias. Based on ONS data we investigate trends in Age-Standardised Mortality Rates (ASMR) of CNM 2000–2022. Based on WHO data we examine rates of Early Deaths (55–74) and ASMR, for CNM between 2000 and 2015 in the ten Major 'Western' economies: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, UK, and the USA. In England & Wales death rates have increased 348% for Alzheimer's, 235% for Dementias, and 105% for Parkinson's Disease in contrast with falls in most other cause mortality. Early Adults Deaths CNM rates increased in eight countries, an average of 19%. Neurological ASMR rose in every country, averaging 43%, the highest was the UK 95%. We reject the Gompertzian hypothesis as an all-encompassing explanation for these marked increases in ASMR. Increases in early adult neurological deaths suggests this cannot be solely explained by an aging population. Furthermore, increases in mortality could be related to an increased prevalence of neurological conditions in this age group. Action is urgently needed to investigate factors - whether environmental, lifestyle or health systems - that could explain these findings. • Neurological diseases as a cause of death rose significantly in all major Western countries over the last decades. • Increases neurological death cannot be explained by an ageing population alone – the Gompertzian hypothesis can therefore be rejected. • The causes are likely be environmental - the exact nature unknown. We call for urgent investigation to avoid further deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have offered several reasons for the mixed minority threat-sentencing literature including diverse dependent variables, heterogenous threat conceptualizations, and incongruent threat measurements. An overlooked potential explanation, however, is the heavy reliance on cross-sectional snapshots. If minority threat effects vary over time, then past works showing differing results may not "contradict," but rather reflect substantive temporal shifts in minority threat effects. Against this backdrop, the current study "zooms out" and considers the evidence for minority threat theory in sentencing throughout the 21st century. Using data spanning nearly 20 years, we examine the effects of minority population size (static threat) and change (dynamic threat) on federal sentence length outcomes at multiple time points – both overall and specifically for minority defendants. In doing so, we produce 40 tests of minority threat theory ranging from 2000 to 2018. Findings indicate that support for minority threat theory in sentencing is meager, but conclusions about the theory's predictive validity often depend on the time point, racial/ethnic group, and threat measurement examined. Results suggest that inquiries into whether support for minority threat exists may be too simplistic. Instead, researchers may be better off asking "when does support for minority threat theory exist?" • Support for minority threat theory in sentencing is meager. • Two studies reporting different minority threat effects do not inherently contradict. • Minority threat evidence is contingent on the time period examined. • Threat effects depend on how the phenomena is conceptualized and operationalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing importance of mathematical creativity, it is still largely unclear which variables contribute to performance in mathematical creativity tasks. While there is some evidence that mathematical achievement is positively related to creativity, our understanding of the relevance of personality traits and creative self-beliefs is limited. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between mathematical creativity, mathematical abilities, personality traits, and creative self-beliefs among 167 university students. The findings revealed that mathematical creativity was positively associated with arithmetic fluency, creative self-efficacy, and self-rated mathematical creativity skills. The assessed variables could explain 27 % of the variance. Personality traits did not exhibit significant associations, contrary to expectations based on domain-general creativity research. Notably, the correlation between creative self-beliefs and creativity measures was higher when self-beliefs were assessed after the creativity measure. This study contributes to our understanding of mathematical creativity but underscores that further research in this area is necessary. Creativity has been recognized as a key competence and one of the most important skills for success in the 21st century, especially creativity in the domain of mathematics. This study examined which factors can explain individual differences in mathematical creativity. Evaluating the relevance of mathematical abilities, personality traits, and creative self-beliefs, we found that some aspects of mathematical abilities (i.e., arithmetic fluency) and creative self-beliefs (i.e., self-rated creativity) were positively associated with mathematical creativity while several personality traits were not important. Understanding mathematical creativity and its relations is the first step toward fostering mathematical creativity in education. • Assessed variables could explain 27 % of variance in mathematical creativity. • Predictors of creativity in mathematics are different from other domains. • Several personality traits are not related to mathematical creativity. • Significant predictors were arithmetic fluency and self-rated creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integrated multi-source satellite data and stochastic modeling for Lower Yellow River planform evolution. • Forecasted long-term flood period channel adjustments to reservoir operations using AI methods. • Quantified spatially differentiated channel migration dynamics and informing adaptive management. • Developed a generalizable methodological framework for studying human-nature fluvial dynamics. • Identified priority locations for channel training works based on morphological evolution predictions. This study investigates the stable diffusion-evolution tendencies of the Lower Yellow River (LYR) corridor during floods in the 21st century following Xiaolangdi Reservoir's operation. While previous studies have assessed short-term, cross-sectional channel adjustments in the LYR, our understanding remains limited regarding the long-term, centennial-scale planform morphological responses to Xiaolangdi Reservoir's operation, as field data are limited and multi-spatiotemporal information is difficult to obtain. We integrate multi-source satellite data to extract typical river morphology information. A stochastic channel-forming relationship model based on hydraulic geometry theory links water–sediment inputs with channel adjustments. The data-model integration effectively captures the dynamics of key channel morphology variables. Long-term forecasts of flood period flows and incoming sediment loads are generated using a GradientBoosted Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) machine learning approach. The channel centerline evolution is numerically simulated by incorporating the forecasted inputs into a physically based meander migration model and representatively analyzed through clustering and gradient descent regression after Monte Carlo simulation. The spatially differentiated analysis and quantification of channel evolution dynamics fill existing knowledge gaps by providing important insights for developing adaptive channel maintenance and corridor management strategies. The integrated methodologies advance understanding of river channel dynamics under complex human-nature interactions in large plains watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Climate change impact on runoff is informed by multiple CMIP6 GCMs under four SSPs. • An advanced SHA is initiatively proposed for comparing the competence of GCMs. • Bias correction has considerable impact on the climate change signals of specific runoff indicators. • The precipitation and evaporation shows an ascending trend from SSP1-2.6 to SSP5-8.5 in the next 80 years. • Increases during the wet period and reductions during the dry period in extreme runoff are projected. In this study, we initiatively employed the improved Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) to evaluate and compare the competencies of multiple Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase Six (CMIP6) General Circulation Models (GCMs). The selected GCM outputs were bias-corrected by the non-parametric quantile mapping (QM) method. The calibrated and validated data were then used to run the XAJ (Xin'anjiang) model to assess long-term climate variation impacts on runoff under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5), where the results were compared with the baseline period (1976–2000). Overall, the CNRM-CM6-1-HR, FIO-ESM-2–0, INM-CM5-0 and NorESM2-MM models reconstructed better spatio-temporal evolutionary trends related to historical precipitation and evaporation, and were applied as selected GCMs for reliable runoff projection applications. The intensification amplitudes of precipitation and evaporation produced by selected GCMs gradually spread from SSP1-2.6 to SSP5-8.5 throughout the 21st century. Compared to the baseline period (257 m3/s), the extreme streamflow during the wet periods is likely to increase for SSP5-8.5 (288 ∼ 298 m3/s), SSP3-7.0 (276 ∼ 294 m3/s), and SSP2-4.5 (222 ∼ 280 m3/s), whereas SSP1-2.6 decreases to varying degrees (178 ∼ 255 m3/s). Meanwhile, during the dry periods, the extreme streamflow is projected to decrease by 28 ∼ 73 m3/s (SSP5-8.5), 32 ∼ 38 m3/s (SSP3-7.0), 8 ∼ 31 m3/s (SSP2-4.5), and 5 ∼ 33 m3/s (SSP1-2.6) from historical levels (62 m3/s). The overwhelming majority of increasing trends in the wet periods and vastly decreasing trends in the dry seasons indicate that the basin will face some floods and water shortage risks in the mid to late 21st century. The findings broaden the efficacious applications of SHA in the performance selection of GCMs and QM method in bias correction. The conclusions provide a reference for flood and drought mitigation planning and water resources policymaking in the Yellow River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]