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The constituent habitat use by remotely tracked tagged Short-eared Owls Asio flammeus on moorland and other dwarf shrubland–grassland mosaics was assessed in Britain and Norway. A preference for the owls to hunt over patches of graminoids within managed moorland in Britain contrasted with a tendency to hunt more over dwarf shrubs in Norway. The observed differences likely reflect the availability of small mammal prey and how this contrasts between largely single-species stands of managed heather Calluna vulgaris in Britain and more naturally diverse (species and structure) dwarf shrubland in Norway. Diurnal patterns of landscape use differed between areas, with owls in Scotland and Norway tending to hunt over ground at higher elevations at night but the reverse being observed in England. The difference demonstrates behavioural plasticity of Short-eared Owls, potentially driven by minimising risks from predation within different areas. Conservation implications include increased and proportionate priority for grassland management on British moorlands and the restoration of natural montane dwarf shrublands, both routes to enhance conditions for and the availability of small mammal prey. As a generality, site protection for Short-eared Owls and their monitoring need to acknowledge uncertainties around variations in abundance and occupation by this nomadic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Quantitative mechanical properties of biological tissues can be mapped using the shear wave elastography technique. This technology has demonstrated a great potential in various organs but shows a limit due to wave attenuation in biological tissues. An option to overcome the inherent loss in shear wave magnitude along the propagation pathway may be to stimulate tissues closer to regions of interest using alternative motion generation techniques. The present study investigated the feasibility of generating shear waves by applying a Lorentz force directly to tissue mimicking samples for magnetic resonance elastography applications. This was done by combining an electrical current with the strong magnetic field of a clinical MRI scanner. The Local Frequency Estimation method was used to assess the real value of the shear modulus of tested phantoms from Lorentz force induced motion. Finite elements modeling of reported experiments showed a consistent behavior but featured wavelengths larger than measured ones. Results suggest the feasibility of a magnetic resonance elastography technique based on the Lorentz force to produce an shear wave source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A letter to the editor is presented which is concerned with the case of a 35 year old female patient who developed autoimmune hepatitis which was induced by the drug adalimumab.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one about the diffusion of information and communication technologies in the infrastructure and services of France and another about the field of geography with links to interdisciplinary inquiries with other social sciences.

Copyright of Journal of Ornithology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Grasslands' high diversity is threatened by land-use changes, such as nitrogen fertilization, leading to productive but low-richness, fast-growing plant communities. Bryophytes are a key component of grassland diversity and react strongly to land use. However, it is unclear whether land-use effects are direct or mediated by changes in vascular plants. Increases in vascular plant cover are likely to decrease bryophyte abundance through light competition. Whether changes in vascular plant composition and richness also play a role remains unclear. We sampled bryophytes in a factorial grassland experiment manipulating nitrogen fertilization, fungicide, species richness, and functional composition of vascular plants crossed with moderate disturbances by weeding. Disturbance increased bryophyte richness and modulated treatment effects. In contrast to previous studies reporting indirect negative fertilization effects via increasing vascular plant productivity and reduced light levels, nitrogen fertilization directly reduced bryophyte cover and species richness, possibly because of toxic effects. Low vascular plant richness and dominance of fast-growing species reduced bryophyte richness. This might be because of decreased structural and resource niche heterogeneity in species-poor communities. Our results highlight novel mechanisms by which land-use intensification can affect bryophytes and suggest that a loss of vascular plant richness might have cascading effects on other taxonomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy ageing plays an important role in ageing societies in many countries, and centenarians are a sign of longevity. Longevity and its determinants have become issues of global concern and also a focus of research. Although many disciplines have conducted out a series of studies on longevity phenomena, few studies have systematically considered the impact of geographical environmental factors. Guangxi is one of the provinces with the highest centenarian ratio in mainland China, while Hechi City has the highest ratio of centenarians in Guangxi Province, and contains the world-famous longevity belt. This study took Hechi City, "the world's longevity city", as a model research area. First, the basic characteristics of the geographical environmental factors in Hechi City were analysed, and then geographical information system techniques and eXtreme Gradient Boosting machine learning methods were applied to systematically analyse the coupling relationship between the spatial distribution of the longevity population and the geographical environmental factors. In addition, the geographical environmental factors closely related to longevity were filtered and investigated. It was found that the centenarian is distributed along a belt-like pattern. It is mostly located in rocky mountainous areas with low elevations, small to medium undulations, medium slopes and brown calcareous soils, but is rarely found near the non-ferrous mining industry. This work provides a scientific basis for identifying the mechanisms that contribute to regional longevity and theoretical references for improving the health level of the elderly population according to local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic habitats provide a bridge for influenza transmission among wild and domestic species. However, water sources pose highly variable physicochemical and ecological characteristics that affect avian influenza virus (AIV) stability. Therefore, the risk of survival or transmissibility of AIV in the environment is quite variable and has been understudied. In this study, we determine the risk of waterborne transmission and environmental persistence of AIV in a wild/domestic bird interface in the Central Mexico plateau (North America) during the winter season using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). A total of 13 eco-epidemiological factors were selected from public-access databases to develop the risk assessment. The MCDA showed that the Atarasquillo wetland presents a higher persistence risk in January. Likewise, most of the backyard poultry farms at this wild-domestic interface present a high persistence risk (50%). Our results suggest that drinking water may represent a more enabling environment for AIV persistence in contrast with wastewater. Moreover, almost all backyard poultry farms evidence a moderate or high risk of waterborne transmission especially farms close to water bodies. The wildlife/domestic bird interface on the Atarasquillo wetland holds eco-epidemiological factors such as the presence of farms in flood-prone areas, the poultry access to outdoor water, and the use of drinking-water troughs among multiple animal species that may enhance waterborne transmission of AIV. These findings highlight the relevance of understanding the influence of multiple factors on AIV ecology for early intervention and long-term control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocoalescence is a valuable phenomenon for merging droplets and is widely used in various applications such as the demulsification of crude oil, chemical or biological reaction using a small volume and so on. The 'non-coalescence' or 'partial coalescence' regimes, at which the droplet pair does not completely merge, appear under particular conditions, and researchers figured out these conditions using an equal-sized droplet pair. However, actual applications involve the merging of an unequal-sized droplet pair; the conditions for the non-coalescence or partial coalescence of unequal-sized droplet pair have not been clearly established. In this study, we evaluated the electrocoalescence behavior of a droplet pair with varying the droplet radius ratio, the initial distance between droplets, and the strength of electric fields, and found the conditions when non-coalescence and partial coalescence occur for unequal- and equal-sized droplet pairs. We discovered that unequal-sized droplet pair demonstrates non-coalescence and partial coalescence more frequently than equal-sized pair. Additionally, non-coalescence and partial coalescence occurred for lower strength of electric field as droplet size ratio and initial distance between droplets increased. Finally, we demonstrate that the unequal formation of the cone angle for unequal-sized droplet pair causes different electrocoalescence behaviors compared with equal-sized droplet pair. We anticipate that this study will contribute to the identification of an appropriate electric field range for diverse electrocoalescence applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Utilizing regional health data goes hand in hand with challenges: can they be used for health planning, are they applicable to the relevant topics? The study explores current data utilization and needs of stakeholders working in regional health services planning. Methods: We conducted 16 semi-structured expert-interviews with stakeholders of regional health planning in Brandenburg, a federal state in the north-east of Germany, by telephone or online-meeting tools between 05/2022 and 03/2023. The data were analysed according to qualitative content analysis. Results: Utilization of data sources depends on individual knowledge and personnel resources instead of being guided by standardized procedures. Interviewees primarily use internal data; some use many different platforms, studies and reports. Regional health-related data are used for reliable health planning, to prepare resolutions, draft contracts, but also for events and requests from policy makers or the press. Challenges exist in terms of availability, awareness, and acceptance of the data, perceived applicability, the ability to use it and the utilization itself. Many regional health planners indicated they would appreciate a regional integrated cross-organizational data source if the benefits for health planning outweighed the efforts. Discussion: Actors in health planning primarily utilized their own data for planning; additional data sources are not available or the level of aggregation is too high, not known by them or are often not used due to a lack of time. A standardized regional monitoring would require the definition of indicators as well as the strengthening of cross-sectoral planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cell migration, a hallmark of cancer malignancy, plays a critical role in cancers. Improperly initiated or misdirected cell migration can lead to invasive metastatic cancer. Migrasomes are newly discovered vesicular cellular organelles produced by migrating cells and depending on cell migration. Four marker proteins [NDST1 (bifunctionalheparan sulfate N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase 1), EOGT (Epidermal growth factor domains pecific O-linked N-acetylglucosaminetransferase), CPQ (carboxypeptidase Q), and PIGK (phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis, class K)] of migrasomes were successfully identified. There are three marker proteins (NDST1, PIGK, and EOGT) of migrasome expressed in cancer. In this review, we will discuss the process of migrasome discovery, the formation of migrasome, the possible functions of migrasome, and the differences between migrasomes and exosomes, especially, the biological functions of migrasome marker proteins in cancer, and discuss some possible roles of migrasomes in cancer. We speculate that migrasomes and migracytosis can play key roles in regulating the development of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All over the world, peatlands have been drained, often for agricultural purposes, resulting in CO2 emissions, soil subsidence and biodiversity loss. To combat these negative effects, drained peatlands are being rewetted, but knowledge of the effects of rewetting on peat biogeochemistry is still incomplete, especially since a variety of rewetting methods and rewetting degrees exists. We conducted a mesocosm experiment in which we exposed 100 intact agricultural fen peat cores (80 cm, 20 cm Ø) to five different water levels (0, 20, 40, 60 cm and variable—surface), two nutrient application levels to mimic continued agricultural use, and two water origins. Over an eight-month period, we harvested above-ground plant biomass five times and sampled pore water at two depths each month. Samples were analysed for nutrients. Our results show increased phosphate and ammonium availability upon fully rewetting (0 cm—surface) and less so under partially rewetted circumstances (20 cm—surface). Above-ground biomass was strongly affected by nutrient application, especially in the high water level treatments. Vegetation was primarily N-limited, and N in the vegetation decreased with increasing water levels, indicating stronger nitrogen limitation upon rewetting. We conclude that nature restoration under fully rewetted conditions will likely be challenging as a result of the large release of nutrients from the system which may also affect surrounding nature areas. Furthermore, we conclude that partial rewetting combined with low-intensity agricultural use can be a solution to slow down the adverse effects of drainage, although this will lead to decreased agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine circovirus (CanineCV) is an emerging pathogen in domestic dogs, detected in multiple countries in association with varying clinical and pathological presentations including diarrhoea, vasculitis, granulomatous inflammation, and respiratory signs. Understanding the pathology of CanineCV is confounded by the fact that it has been detected in asymptomatic dogs as well as in diseased dogs concurrently infected with known pathogens. Recombinantly expressed self-assembling Virus-like particles (VLPs) lack viral genomic material but imitate the capsid surface conformations of wild type virion, allowing arrays of biological applications including subunit vaccine development and immunodiagnostics. In this study, full length CanineCV capsid gene was expressed in Escherichia coli followed by two-step purification process to yield soluble capsid protein in high concentration. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the capsid antigen self-assembled into 17–20 nm VLPs in glutathione S-transferase (GST) buffer, later utilised to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). The respective sensitivity and specificity of the proposed iELISA were 94.10% and 88.40% compared with those obtained from Western blot. The mean OD450 value for western blot positive samples was 1.22 (range 0.12–3.39) and negative samples was 0.21 (range 0.07–0.41). An optimal OD450 cut-off of 0.35 was determined by ROC curve analysis. Median inter-assay and intra-assay validation revealed that the iELISA test results were reproducible with coefficients of variation 7.70 (range 5.6–11.9) and 4.21 (range 1.2–7.4). Our results demonstrated that VLP-based iELISA is a highly sensitive method for serological diagnosis of CanineCV infections in dogs, suitable for large-scale epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is one of the main nutrients for all plants, including grasses. However, sources of P fertilizer are not renewable, are not evenly distributed and overfertilization can lead to serious environmental degradation. Smart combinations of grasses may be able to more efficiently take up P from soils through complementarity. In a two-year field mesocosm experiment, we compared the performance of Lolium perenne L. and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. in monocultures and in combination, as well as a mixture of both species with a tetraploid variety of Lolium perenne L and Phleum pratense L. Plants were grown in an unfertilized low P soil and in P fertilized soil for two growing seasons. We measured biomass production, root traits, nutrient uptake, microbial biomass and enzymatic activities. In the unfertilized plots the combination of Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea generated the highest cumulative yields (25,951 ± 4059 kg ha−1), relative total yield (> 1) and P nutrition index (0.79). We related this to the complementarity found in root traits and lower intraspecific competition of Festuca arundinacea and Lolium perenne diploid. Festuca arundinacea produced higher root biomass than Lolium perenne diploid at deeper soil layers (98 vs. 44 g m−2; p < 0.05). On the other hand, Lolium perenne diploid had significantly finer roots than Festuca arundinacea both at topsoil and bottom layers (0.19 vs. 0.22 mm and 0.19 vs. 0.23 mm at top and bottom layers respectively). The 4 species combination did not result in higher yields. Our results show that, in low P soils, combinations of grass species with contrasting root traits could lead to significantly higher yields than monocultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Ornithology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Ornithology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Ornithology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Jagdwissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Ornithology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In East African savannas, in the rainy season, an elephant dung bolus is usually transformed into a flat mat of dung residue within a few hours. We extracted the coprophilous beetles of a dung mat from a 1 kg bolus after a one-night exposure and counted 13,699 specimens, most of them aphodiine dung beetles. This is the largest number of dung beetles per kilogram of mammal dung ever counted. Given that an elephant produces an average of 160 kg of feces per day, we extrapolate that one adult elephant provides food for 2.12 million dung beetles on any given day. The elephant population in the Laikipia-Samburu ecosystem in central Kenya, an elephant-rich environment, can sustain, by sheer extrapolation, 14.3 billion dung beetles in an area of 55,000 km2, which translates to ca. 260,000 dung beetles/km2. The decline or extinction of elephants, at least in East African grasslands, may have a massive cascade effect on the populations of coprophagous beetles and the biota dependent on or gaining an advantage from them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture in Alpine regions plays an important role for multiple ecosystem services (ES) supplied from permanent grassland (PG). This paper investigates the feasibility of sward renewal, overseeding, and rising plate meters on PG for the Swiss Alpine region and analyses their expected effects on ES supply. Sward renewal and overseeding are management options implemented in response to a decline of grassland yields and nutritive value or sward damage. Rising plate meters focus on increased grass utilisation for improving profitability of grassland farms in a sustainable manner. The aim was to improve the understanding which of these three PG management practices could be promoted to deliver a wide range of agricultural and non-agricultural ESs in the Swiss Alpine region. Through interviews with 75 farmers (including organic and intensive/extensive non-organic farmers) and a Delphi-methodology on a panel of experts (N = 10 experts with different expertise), we found that sward renewal is perceived to have negative effects on biodiversity, carbon storage, flood control, prevention of soil erosion, and prevention of loss of organic matter in Alpine regions. Therefore, sward renewal should not be promoted, although about half of the farmers interviewed had already carried out the practice on plots following severe sward damage in Alpine regions. Overseeding is perceived to have positive effects on biodiversity, prevention of soil erosion, and grass production. Thus, the high level of overseeding that is currently practiced in the Swiss Alpine region is probably sustainable. Rising plate meters do not play a significant role in PG management in the Alpine region because calibration in PG with diverse grassland botanical composition in the Alpine region is too difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nano and microfluidic technologies have shown great promise in the development of controlled drug delivery systems and the creation of microfluidic devices with logic-like functionalities. Here, we focused on investigating a droplet-based logic gate that can be used for automating medical diagnostic assays. This logic gate uses viscoelastic fluids, which are particularly relevant since bio-fluids exhibit viscoelastic properties. The operation of the logic gate is determined by evaluating various parameters, including the Weissenberg number, the Capillary number, and geometric factors. To effectively classify the logic gates operational conditions, we employed a deep learning classification to develop a reduced-order model. This approach accelerates the prediction of operating conditions, eliminating the need for complex simulations. Moreover, the deep learning model allows for the combination of different AND/OR branches, further enhancing the versatility of the logic gate. We also found that non-operating regions, where the logic gate does not function properly, can be transformed into operational regions by applying an external force. By utilizing an electrical induction technique, we demonstrated that the application of an electric field can repel or attract droplets, thereby improving the performance of the logic gate. Overall, our research shows the potential of the droplet-based logic gates in the field of medical diagnostics. The integration of deep learning classification algorithms enables rapid evaluation of operational conditions and facilitates the design of complex logic circuits. Additionally, the introduction of external forces and electrical induction techniques opens up new possibilities for enhancing the functionality and reliability of these logic gates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the relationship between industrial sectors and spatial effects at a microgeographic level using Tunisian data over the period 1996–2018. The novelty of this research lies in examining the factors that affect the location of economic activities along with the spatial effects. The spatial panel data models are used to determine the relationship between a range of information which are organized into three determinants. The empirical results helped to identify the agglomeration of industrial activities. Additionally, it highlighted the significant influences of spatial factors in determining the location of economic activities. The study, too, outlines the new components of the Tunisian growth policy that will correct the existing economic inequalities and assist regions that have been less favored by nature and history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a theoretical development of the gravitational model through an econophysical approach and physical tools. Therefore, this paper attempts to answer the following research question: "Can physics still contribute to the development of the gravitational model in economics?". To tackle the question, this paper begins with an overview of the basic concepts of Newton's universal gravitational theory, which was first applied in economics by the distinguished American scientist Isard (1954). Then the concepts and formulas of gravitational fields in physics will be translated into economics, thus reviving Isard's original multilateralism through the elaboration of an extension of his model apt to describe the multilateralism and multi-country exchanges which characterize international trade. In this regard, the superposition principle of vector is used to offer vector analysis as a tool for mapping the interactions between the economic forces produced by the individual gravitational fields of different countries. A representation of the gravitational field of the European market will be provided. The field concept will extend the analysis from bilateral flows to the analysis of markets in two dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In Spain, fire is a tool used for management in rural landscapes but also wildfires can play a disruptive socio-ecological role. Therefore, its spatial structure analysis and spatial resilience quantification to wildfire is useful for territorial planning and management. Objectives: We evaluate the relationship between the spatial structure of Spanish rural landscapes with the historical wildfire frequency. We develop and calculate indices of spatial resilience to wildfires and large wildfires. Methods: We followed a stratified sampling based on the biogeoclimatic classes grouping by ecoregions. We calculated landscape metrics with Fragstats and collected wildfires occurrence from a national wildfire database. Spatial resilience was estimated with a self-elaborated index, using wildfires data and landscape structure subjected to a MANOVA and to a linear regression model. Results: The Northwest region suffered more wildfires and large wildfires than the other ecoregions. The differences in frequency of large wildfires were small and low in. Some landscape metrics were positively related to wildfire frequency (forest plantations and scrublands) and other negatively ("dehesas" and crops). Spatial resilience to wildfires and large wildfires was lower in the Northwest area but for large wildfires were also low in the Mediterranean Littoral and Central region. Conclusions: The relationship between the frequency of the two types of wildfires and landscape structure determines differences in spatial resilience indices. Large wildfires are positively related to shrubland abundance, whereas small wildfires are positively related to heterogeneous agricultural areas. Therefore, spatial resilience indices could be used as early warning tools to prevent wildfires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial monolayers play an important role in a broad range of physiological and pathological processes, such as embryonic development and wound healing. Epithelial monolayers become crowded during cell proliferation and growth, however, their mechanical properties entities remain obscure. This paper presents a novel and efficient method utilizing the structural stiffness matrix-based computational method (SMM) to investigate the mechanical characteristics of an epithelial monolayer as it undergoes varying degrees of crowding. Both D1-type extrusion, representing the extrusion of live cells, and D2-type extrusion, describing the extrusion of apoptotic cells, are examined. Our simulations reveal that the epithelial monolayer exhibits linear elastic behavior under slight crowding and nonlinear elastic behavior in response to overcrowding. These mechanical properties are significantly influenced by the strength of cellular cytoskeleton and the mode of cell extrusion. Moreover, our analysis indicates that the linear deformation of these monolayers is predominantly born by the variation in cell orientation, while the nonlinear deformation originates from the existence of the microtubules. This study further deepens our understanding of the relationship between the mechanical properties of cytoskeleton, individual cells and their monolayers, and may shed light on linking cell behavior to the patterning and morphogenesis of tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Theoretical & Applied Climatology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Theoretical & Applied Climatology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the northern forelands of the Alps, farmers report an increase of Jacobaea aquatica in production grasslands. Due to its toxicity, the species affects grassland productivity and calls for costly control measures. We are investigating the extent to which management practices or climatic factors are responsible for the increase of the species and how the situation will change due to climate change. We tested for effects of management intensity, fertilization, agri-environmental measures, and soil disturbance, and modeled the occurrence of the species under rcp4.5 and rcp8.5 scenarios. The main determinants of the occurrence of the species are soil type and summer rainfall. A high risk is associated with wet soils and > 400 mm of rain between June and August; an influence of the management-related factors could not be detected. Under the climate-change scenarios, the overall distribution decreases and shifts to the wetter alpine regions. Thus, the current increase is rather a shift in the occurrence of the species due to the altered precipitation situation. Under future climatic conditions, the species will decline and retreat to higher regions in the Alps. This will decrease the risk of forage contamination for production grassland in the lowlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many individuals, both in the public and within the field of psychology, often perceive aging as a burden that negatively impacts intellectual and mental health. Our present study aims to challenge this notion by identifying the crucial components of positive mental health in later life. These components not only promote positive mental health but also actively contribute to it, even under difficult circumstances. To accomplish this, we first offer a concise review of well-being and mental health models that highlight the psychological aspects of flourishing in late life. We then introduce a psychological competence-based model for positive mental health, which aligns with the concept of positive aging. Subsequently, we present a measurement tool suitable for practical applications. Finally, we provide a comprehensive overview of positive aging, drawing on methodological guidelines and existing research findings concerning sustainable positive mental health in later life. We examine the evidence indicating that psychological resilience (the capacity to adapt and recover from adversity or stress) and competence (skills and abilities to effectively cope with challenges across various life domains) significantly contribute to slowing down biological aging processes. Furthermore, we discuss insights into the relationship between psychological factors and aging derived from research on Blue Zones (regions characterized by a higher proportion of individuals experiencing longer, healthier lives). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers the vector tomography problem of reconstructing a three-dimensional vector field based on the values of unweighted (normal and longitudinal) and weighted Radon transforms. Using the detailed decomposition of vector fields obtained in the paper, connections are established between the unweighted and weighted Radon transforms acting on vector fields and the Radon transform acting on functions. In particular, the kernels of tomographic integral operators acting on vector fields are described. Some statements of tomography problems for the reconstruction of vector fields are considered, and inversion formulas for their solution are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a critical analysis of theoretical concepts, the article substantiates the essence, "generic" features, prerequisites, and conditions for ensuring spatial integration of the regional economy. It is shown that integration is often interpreted as a synonym for the convergence of territories; however, based on an analysis of the interaction between the municipalities of the Republic of Karelia and Finland, it has been proved that, in practice, it does not always ensure convergence. Considering integration as a process that develops over time and across spheres, using the law of one price, as well as the "flow" approach to assessment, the features of integration processes in the markets of goods and factors of production (labor) of the northern regions were studied. The institutional, legal, and infrastructural aspects of spatial integration are analyzed, as well as the barriers to and problems of its implementation at the intra- and interregional levels. The priorities of state policy to ensure unity of the country's economic space are substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Although struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) is mostly considered to be a novel phosphorus (P) fertiliser, it does contain a significant amount of nitrogen (N). Yet, relatively little is known about the soil N dynamics in struvite-amended soils. Here, we focus on how struvite application impacts emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O), in relation to soil P status. Methods: We conducted a 54-day greenhouse pot experiment on two similar soils with different P status ("low-P soil"; "high-P soil") seeded with Lolium perenne L. We applied seven fertiliser treatments (Control; Struvite granules; Struvite powder; Urea; Triple superphosphate (TSP); TSP + Struvite granule; TSP + Urea). Except for the unfertilised Control and the TSP treatments, N application rate was 150 kg N‧ha−1. Nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes, aboveground yield, plant N and P uptake and readily plant-available soil N and P contents were measured. Results: In the low-P soil, none of the fertiliser treatments induced a significant increase in N2O emission compared to the control. In the high-P soil, struvite application resulted in lower emissions than urea application, statistically not different from the control treatment. Struvite powder significantly increased both plant N and P uptake compared to granular struvite and the resulting yield was similar to conventional fertilisation (TSP and Urea). Any struvite application also resulted in lower readily plant-available soil nitrate contents than urea. Conclusion: Our results suggest that struvite fertilisation can reduce the risk of gaseous N losses without compromising agronomic performance. Pulverizing struvite granules further promotes its dissolution, which could be useful for crops with early nutrient needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science and technology parks (STPs) are non-spontaneous agglomerations aimed at encouraging the formation and growth of on-site technology and knowledge-based firms. STPs have diffused worldwide, attracting significant, and often public, investment. However, there are contrasting evidence and insights on the effectiveness of these local development, technology and innovation policy tools. This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of the STP literature (221 papers, 1987–2021), focusing especially on quantitative papers aimed at assessing the park effect on tenant's performance. We perform an in-depth quantitative analyses, which allows us to go beyond the inconclusiveness reported in previous review papers, showing that the likelihood of finding positive STP effects increases considerably with sample size. We discuss the limitations of this literature and offer some suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]