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Building on research on cultural threat‐induced polarization, we investigate the effect of the individual‐level salience of cultural threats on polarization between social liberals and conservatives. In a unique survey experiment conducted with 129,000 respondents nested in 208 regions in 27 European Union (EU) member states, we manipulate the presence of two cultural threats, women's rights, and refugee immigration, to test their polarizing effects on social liberals' and social conservatives' support for traditional values. We find that priming the threat of refugee immigration polarizes conservatives and liberals equally. Yet, introducing the salience of women's rights leads to lower preferences for traditional values, particularly among more liberal respondents. Our findings demonstrate: 1) the study of backlash should distinguish individuals by their predisposition to backlash, rather than studying the population as a whole; and 2) social conservatives' backlash should be studied conjointly with social liberals' counter‐reactions to backlash. Future research may investigate why different cultural threats provoke different reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many strains from the Bacillus subtilis species complex exert strong plant growth‐promoting activities. However, their efficacy in relevant conditions is variable, due in part to their inability to establish a strong interaction with roots in stressful environmental conditions. Adaptative laboratory evolution (ALE) is a powerful tool to generate novel strains with traits of interest. Many Bacillus evolved isolates, stemming from ALE performed with plants, possess a stronger root colonization capacity. An in‐depth analysis of these isolates also allowed the identification of key features influencing the interaction with plant roots. However, many variables can influence the outcome of these assays, and thus, caution should be taken when designing ALE destined to generate better root colonizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world, threatening the persistence of many Arctic species. It is uncertain if Arctic wildlife will have sufficient time to adapt to such rapidly warming environments. We used genetic forecasting to measure the risk of maladaptation to warming temperatures and sea ice loss in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) sampled across the Canadian Arctic. We found evidence for local adaptation to sea ice conditions and temperature. Forecasting of genome‐environment mismatches for predicted climate scenarios suggested that polar bears in the Canadian high Arctic had the greatest risk of becoming maladapted to climate warming. While Canadian high Arctic bears may be the most likely to become maladapted, all polar bears face potentially negative outcomes to climate change. Given the importance of the sea ice habitat to polar bears, we expect that maladaptation to future warming is already widespread across Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Inherited cardiomyopathies are relatively rare but carry a high risk of cardiac maternal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and postpartum. However, data for risk stratification are scarce. The new CARPREG II score improves prediction of prognosis in pregnancies associated with heart disease, though its role in inherited cardiomyopathies is unclear. We aim to describe characteristics and cardiac maternal outcomes in patients with inherited cardiomyopathy during pregnancy, and to evaluate the interest of the CARPREG II risk score in this population. Methods and results: In this retrospective single‐centre study, 90 consecutive pregnancies in 74 patients were included (mean age 32 ± 5 years), including 28 cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 46 of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 11 of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and 5 of left ventricular noncompaction, excluding peripartum cardiomyopathy. The discriminatory power of several risk scores was assessed by the area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC). Median CARPREG II score was 2 [0;3] and was higher in the DCM subgroup. A severe cardiac maternal complication was observed in 18 (20%) pregnancies, mainly driven by arrhythmia and heart failure (each event in 10 pregnancies), with 3 cardiovascular deaths. Forty‐three pregnancies (48%) presented foetal/neonatal complications (18 premature delivery, 3 foetal/neonatal death). CARPREG II was significantly associated with cardiac maternal complications (P < 0.05 for all) and showed a higher AUC (0.782) than CARPREG (0.755), mWHO (0.697) and ZAHARA (0.604). Conclusions: Pregnancy in women with inherited cardiomyopathy carries a high risk of maternal cardiovascular complications. CARPREG II is the most efficient predictor of cardiovascular complications in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biallelic disease‐causing variants in the ALPK3 gene were first identified in children presenting with a severe cardiomyopathy. More recently, it was shown that carriers of heterozygous ALPK3 null variants are at risk of developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with an adult onset. Since the number of reported ALPK3 patients is small, the mutational spectrum and clinical data are not fully described. In this multi‐centric study, we described the molecular and clinical spectrum of a large cohort of ALPK3 patients. Genetic testing using targeted next generation sequencing was performed in 16 183 cardiomyopathy index cases. Thirty‐six patients carried at least one null ALPK3 variant. The five paediatric patients carried two ALPK3 variants, all presented an HCM phenotype with severe outcomes (one transplantation, one heart failure and one cardiac arrest). The 31 adult patients carried heterozygous variants and the main phenotype was HCM (n = 26/31); including 15% (n = 4) presented with an apical or a concentric form of hypertrophy. Reporting a large cohort of ALPK3 patients, this collaborative work confirmed a strong association with HCM and suggesting his screening in the context of idiopathic HCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Research on associations between knowledge and health beliefs for women at risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has focused on adults at risk for or having GDM. Gaps also exist in examining interpersonal associations with family members or peers. We examined dyadic associations between knowledge and health beliefs about the risk for GDM between and within American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) female adolescents and young adults (FAYAs) at risk for GDM and their mothers or adult female caregivers (FCs). Methods: Grounded in the Expanded Health Belief Model, we employed a cross‐sectional design using baseline data from 147 dyads of AIAN FAYAs at risk for GDM and their FCs who participated in the Stopping GDM in Daughters and Mothers trial. FAYAs were 12.0 to 24.5 years of age, and 89.1% were students. FCs had a mean (SD) age of 44.0 (9.3) years, 87.0% were AIAN, 44.9% were college educated, 19.7% had ever had GDM, and 81.0% were the FAYA's mother. FAYAs and FCs completed surveys about knowledge and health beliefs (benefits, barriers, severity, susceptibility) regarding GDM risk and prevention. Bivariate correlational analyses were performed to examine associations between and within dyad members. Dyadic associations were investigated using actor‐partner interdependence modeling (APIM) assuming distinguishable dyad members. Results: Compared with their FCs, FAYAs had lower health‐related knowledge and perceived benefits of GDM prevention and susceptibility regarding GDM risk. APIM revealed actor and partner effects of health‐related knowledge on health beliefs for dyads. In particular, positive actor effects were found for FAYAs and FCs for GDM‐related knowledge with perceived benefits (P <.001), and positive partner effects of GDM‐related knowledge for FCs were related to perceived susceptibility and severity for FAYAs (P <.05). Discussion: As shown in these AIAN dyads, FAYAs and their FCs, as members of one another's social network, may influence each other's health beliefs regarding GDM risk and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under neoliberal social provision, debt has become a primary tool for US households to pursue economic mobility and manage risk. Borrowing supports financial and non‐financial investments that, in theory, should lead to lifetime income and asset gains from which debt can be repaid. Many scholars argue, however, that reliance on credit as a welfare tool significantly increases inequality, particularly along racial lines. In this paper, I examine this process of debt‐financed asset accumulation by analyzing racial disparities in the relationship between household debt and assets. Using Survey of Consumer Finances data, I examine disparities in assets held at given debt levels across Black and White households. Results indicate that at equal debt levels, Black households' assets are between 30% and 80% lower than those of comparable White households. This suggests that White households benefit considerably more from social policies that center borrowing as a mechanism of social provision. This likely contributes to the persistence of the racial wealth gap. Racial disparities in access to credit, to homeownership, and to non‐market financial transfers like inheritances partly explain White households' higher returns, but racial gaps remain even when accounting for these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Seedling recruitment is a vital process for forest regeneration and is influenced by various factors such as stand composition, climate, and soil disturbance. We conducted a long‐term field experiment (18 years) to study the effects of these factors and their interactions on seedling recruitment. Location: Our study focused on five main species in boreal mixed woods of eastern Canada: trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), white spruce (Picea glauca), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), and white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). Methods: Sixteen 1‐m2 seedling monitoring subplots were set up in each of seven stands originating from different wildfires (fire years ranging from 1760 to 1944), with a soil scarification treatment applied to every other subplot. Annual new seedling counts were related to growing‐season climate (mean temperature, growing degree days and drought code), scarification, and stand effects via a Bayesian generalized linear mixed model. Results: Soil scarification had a large positive effect on seedling recruitment for three species (aspen, birch and spruce). As expected, high mean temperatures during the seed production period (two years prior to seedling emergence) increased seedling recruitment for all species but aspen. Contrary to other studies, we did not find a positive effect of dry conditions during the seed production period. Furthermore, high values of growing degree days suppressed conifer seedling recruitment. Except for white cedar, basal area was weakly correlated with seedling abundance, suggesting a small number of reproductive individuals is sufficient to saturate seedling recruitment. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of considering multiple factors, such as soil disturbance, climate, and stand composition, as well as their effects on different life stages when developing effective forest management strategies to promote regeneration in boreal mixed‐wood ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei is the most common holocephalan species exhibited in aquaria worldwide for introducing deep‐sea environments and raising awareness of their conservation. However, little is known about the biology of H. colliei. Current practices in aquaria allow long‐term survival of sexually mature H. colliei specimens; however, this species struggles to complete a reproductive cycle in captivity mostly because embryos do not reach the hatchling stage. The aquarists of Planet Ocean Montpellier (POM, France) have bred H. colliei for 15 years and recorded parameters suitable for this species' successful embryonic and post‐embryonic development. POM aquarists now regularly record egg‐laying events of H. colliei and use four tanks to incubate eggs and raise neonates, late hatchlings, early and intermediate juveniles, subadults, and sexually mature specimens. In this work we provide the first long‐term biometric data on H. colliei from the hatchling to the subadult stage. We also report the biotic and abiotic parameters sufficient to breed H. colliei in aquaria. We finally describe the methods used to facilitate individual monitoring of specimens along the ontogeny and several pathologies identified in this species, their putative causes, and the corresponding treatments. This work highlights the importance of ex situ research and points to the valuable outcomes of collaborative efforts between aquaria and academia in deciphering the biology of species whose study in the wild remains challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Patient navigation (PN) may benefit pregnant individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) by improving treatment adherence. We examined participant enrollment, session delivery and assessment feasibility for a PN intervention among pregnant participants and compared PN preliminary effectiveness for OUD treatment engagement with participants in usual care (UC). Design: This study was a pilot single‐blinded multi‐site randomized trial. Setting: Two academic medical centers in Pennsylvania (n = 57) and Utah (n = 45), United States participated. Participants: One hundred and two pregnant adult participants unestablished (fewer than 6 weeks) on medication for OUD (MOUD) were randomized to PN (n = 53) or UC (n = 49). Intervention: PN was composed of 10 prenatal sessions (delivered after baseline but before the prenatal assessments) and four postnatal sessions (delivered before the 2‐ and 6‐month postpartum assessments) focused upon OUD treatment and physical/mental health needs. UC involved brief case management. Measurements Feasibility assessments included consent, session delivery and assessment rates. Mixed‐effect models for intent‐to‐treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP, received six or more sessions) populations were estimated to compare outcomes of MOUD use, secondary outcomes of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment attendance and non‐prescribed opioid use, and exploratory outcome of overdose at baseline, predelivery and 2 and 6 months postpartum. Findings We consented 87% (106 of 122) of the proposed target, delivered ~60% of sessions delivered and completed ≥ 75% assessments. PN ITT and PP had better MOUD adherence, SUD treatment attendance, non‐prescribed opioid use and overdose outcomes than UC. Notable changes included good evidence for greater percentage change in days for PN PP MOUD use from baseline to 2 months postpartum [PN = 28.0 versus UC = −10.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 9.7, 62.1] and some evidence for baseline to 6 months postpartum (PN = 45.4 versus UC = 23.4, 95% CI = −0.7, 48.2). PN PP percentage change in days for SUD treatment attendance also showed good evidence for improvements from baseline to prenatal assessment (PN = 7.4 versus UC = −21.3, 95% CI = 3.3, 53.5). PN compared to UC participants reported fewer overdoses at 2 months (PN = 11.9%/UC = 16.1%) and at 6 months postpartum (PN = 3.8%/UC = 6.2%). Conclusions: Patient navigation appears to be associated with improvements in opioid use disorder treatment engagement and overdoses during pregnancy. This pilot trial shows the feasibility of the intervention and a future large‐scale trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital mirror movements (CMM) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by involuntary movements from one side of the body that mirror voluntary movements on the opposite side. To date, five genes have been associated with CMM, namely DCC, RAD51, NTN1, ARHGEF7, and DNAL4. Objective: The aim of this study is to characterize the genetic landscape of CMM in a large group of 80 affected individuals. Methods: We screened 80 individuals with CMM from 43 families for pathogenic variants in CMM genes. In large CMM families, we tested for presence of pathogenic variants in multiple affected and unaffected individuals. In addition, we evaluated the impact of three missense DCC variants on binding between DCC and Netrin‐1 in vitro. Results: Causal pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were found in 35% of probands overall, and 70% with familial CMM. The most common causal gene was DCC, responsible for 28% of CMM probands and 80% of solved cases. RAD51, NTN1, and ARHGEF7 were rare causes of CMM, responsible for 2% each. Penetrance of CMM in DCC pathogenic variant carriers was 68% and higher in males than females (74% vs. 54%). The three tested missense variants (p.Ile164Thr; p.Asn176Ser; and p.Arg1343His) bind Netrin‐1 similarly to wild type DCC. Conclusions: A genetic etiology can be identified in one third of CMM individuals, with DCC being the most common gene involved. Two thirds of CMM individuals were unsolved, highlighting that CMM is genetically heterogeneous and other CMM genes are yet to be discovered. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart disease characterized by left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction. In 30% of cases, pathogenic variants, essentially private to each patient, are identified in at least one of almost 50 reported genes. Thus, while costly, exons capture‐based Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of a targeted gene panel appears as the best strategy to genetically diagnose DCM. Here, we report a NGS strategy applied to pools of 8 DNAs from DCM patients and validate its robustness for rare variants detection at 4‐fold reduced cost. Our pipeline uses Freebayes to detect variants with the expected 1/16 allele frequency. From the whole set of detected rare variants in 96 pools we set the variants quality parameters optimizing true positives calling. When compared to simplex DNA sequencing in a shared subset of 50 DNAs, 96% of SNVs/InsDel were accurately identified in pools. Extended to the 384 DNAs included in the study, we detected 100 variants (ACMG class 4 and 5), mostly in well‐known morbid gene causing DCM such as TTN, MYH7, FLNC, and TNNT2. To conclude, we report an original pool‐sequencing NGS method accurately detecting rare variants. This innovative approach is cost‐effective for genetic diagnostic in rare diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying genetic conservation units (CUs) in threatened species is critical for the preservation of adaptive capacity and evolutionary potential in the face of climate change. However, delineating CUs in highly mobile species remains a challenge due to high rates of gene flow and genetic signatures of isolation by distance. Even when CUs are delineated in highly mobile species, the CUs often lack key biological information about what populations have the most conservation need to guide management decisions. Here we implement a framework for CU identification in the Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis), a migratory bird species of conservation concern, and then integrate demographic modelling and genomic offset to guide conservation decisions. We find that patterns of whole genome genetic variation in this highly mobile species are primarily driven by putative adaptive variation. Identification of CUs across the breeding range revealed that Canada Warblers fall into two evolutionarily significant units (ESU), and three putative adaptive units (AUs) in the South, East, and Northwest. Quantification of genomic offset, a metric of genetic changes necessary to maintain current gene–environment relationships, revealed significant spatial variation in climate vulnerability, with the Northwestern AU being identified as the most vulnerable to future climate change. Alternatively, quantification of past population trends within each AU revealed the steepest population declines have occurred within the Eastern AU. Overall, we illustrate that genomics‐informed CUs provide a strong foundation for identifying current and future regional threats that can be used to inform management strategies for a highly mobile species in a rapidly changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why have some territories performed better than others in the fight against COVID‐19? This paper uses a novel dataset on excess mortality, trust and political polarization for 165 European regions to explore the role of social and political divisions in the remarkable regional differences in excess mortality during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. First, we investigate whether regions characterized by a low social and political trust witnessed a higher excess mortality. Second, we argue that it is not only levels, but also polarization in trust among citizens – in particular, between government supporters and non‐supporters – that matters for understanding why people in some regions have adopted more pro‐healthy behaviour. Third, we explore the partisan make‐up of regional parliaments and the relationship between political division – or what we refer to as 'uncooperative politics'. We hypothesize that the ideological positioning – in particular those that lean more populist – and ideological polarization among political parties is also linked to higher mortality. Accounting for a host of potential confounders, we find robust support that regions with lower levels of both social and political trust are associated with higher excess mortality, along with citizen polarization in institutional trust in some models. On the ideological make‐up of regional parliaments, we find that, ceteris paribus, those that lean more 'tan' on the 'GAL‐TAN' spectrum yielded higher excess mortality. Moreover, although we find limited evidence of elite polarization driving excess deaths on the left‐right or GAL‐TAN spectrums, partisan differences on the attitudes towards the European Union demonstrated significantly higher deaths, which we argue proxies for (anti)populism. Overall, we find that both lower citizen‐level trust and populist elite‐level ideological characteristics of regional parliaments are associated with higher excess mortality in European regions during the first wave of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral sotalol initiation requires a multiple‐day, inpatient admission to monitor for QT prolongation during loading. A 1‐day intravenous (IV) sotalol loading protocol was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in March 2020, but limited data on clinical use and administration currently exists. This study describes implementation of an IV sotalol protocol within an integrated health system, provides initial efficacy and safety outcomes, and examines length of stay (LOS) compared with oral sotalol initiation. Methods: IV sotalol was administered according to a prespecified initiation protocol to adult patients with refractory atrial or ventricular arrhythmias. Baseline characteristics, safety and feasibility outcomes, and LOS were compared with patients receiving oral sotalol over a similar time period. Results: From January 2021 to June 2022, a total of 29 patients (average age 66.0 ± 8.6 years, 27.6% women) underwent IV sotalol load and 20 patients (average age 60.4 ± 13.9 years, 65.0% women) underwent oral sotalol load. The load was successfully completed in 22/29 (75.9%) patients receiving IV sotalol and 20/20 (100%) of patients receiving oral sotalol, although 7/20 of the oral sotalol patients (35.0%) required dose reduction. Adverse events interrupting IV sotalol infusion included bradycardia (seven patients, 24.1%) and QT prolongation (three patients, 10.3%). No patients receiving IV or oral sotalol developed sustained ventricular arrhythmias before discharge. LOS for patients completing IV load was 2.6 days shorter (mean 1.0 vs. 3.6, p <.001) compared with LOS with oral load. Conclusion: IV sotalol loading has a safety profile that is similar to oral sotalol. It significantly shortens hospital LOS, potentially leading to large cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study of a 64‐year‐old male with a history of heart failure with left ventricular (VT) ejection fraction due to a nonischemic cardiomyopathy had undergone implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy‐defibrillator (CRT‐D) 5 years prior. Topics include terminated by anti‐tachycardia pacing, and four required high energy shocks; and intracardiac electrograms associated with the VT episode initially shows sinus rhythm with sequential atrial sensing and biventricular pacing.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to review the clinical data and outcomes of patients that suffered ectopic cilium (EC). Animals studied: One hundred and twelve dogs from multiple private practices in France, with a clinical diagnosis of EC were included in the study. Results: The mean age of affected dogs was 2.3 years. There were 64 females and 48 males. The most represented breeds were the Shi Tzu, the French Bulldog, the English Bulldog and the Chihuahua. Eleven dogs were affected bilaterally. The upper eyelid was implicated in 93.5% of the cases, with the median portion being the most affected. No statistical difference was observed between the right and the left eye. EC were associated with distichiasis in 50% of the cases. Pigmentation of the conjunctiva at the point of exit of the EC was present in 58% of the cases. EC were short in 75% and long in 25% of the cases. Corneal complications were statistically associated with short EC. The corneal lesions associated with EC were keratitis (94%), corneal granuloma (0.8%), corneal fibrosis (2.7%), corneal degeneration (0.8%), superficial corneal ulcer (68.7%), deep corneal ulcer (8%) and perforating corneal ulcer (0.8%). The surgeries which consisted of the removal of the hair follicle was successful in 88.4% of the cases. Conclusion: EC is a rare condition which can be treated successfully by the removal of the hair follicles. It must be suspected in cases of corneal lesions unresponsive to medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several Peronospora species are carried by wind over short and long distances, from warmer climates where they survive on living plants to cooler climates. In eastern Canada, this annual flow of sporangia was thought to be the main source of Peronospora destructor responsible for onion downy mildew. However, the results of a recent study showed that the increasing frequency of onion downy mildew epidemics in eastern Canada is associated with warmer autumns, milder winters, and previous year disease severity, suggesting overwintering of the inoculum in an area where the pathogen is not known to be endogenous. In this study, genotyping by sequencing was used to investigate the population structure of P. destructor at the landscape scale. The study focused on a particular region of southwestern Québec—Les Jardins de Napierville—to determine if the populations were clonal and regionally differentiated. The data were characterized by a high level of linkage disequilibrium, characteristic of clonal organisms. Consequently, the null hypothesis of random mating was rejected when tested on predefined or nonpredefined populations, indicating that linkage disequilibrium was not a function of population structure and suggesting a mixed reproduction mode. Discriminant analysis of principal components performed with predefined population assignment allowed grouping P. destructor isolates by geographical regions, while analysis of molecular variance confirmed that this genetic differentiation was significant at the regional level. Without using a priori population assignment, isolates were clustered into four genetic clusters. These results represent a baseline estimate of the genetic diversity and population structure of P. destructor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting genotype‐to‐phenotype correlations from genomic variants has been challenging, particularly for genes that have a complex balance of dominant and recessive inheritance for phenotypes. Variants in NMDA receptor components GRIN1, GRIN2A, and GRIN2B cause a myriad of dominant disease phenotypes, with the most common being epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. Starting from the analysis of a variant of uncertain significance (VUS, GRIN2A G760S), we realized the need for tools to map dominant variants for the components of the NMDA receptor. Some variants within GRIN1, GRIN2A, and GRIN2B exert dominant epilepsy and developmental delay, yet other amino acid variants are conserved and predicted to alter protein function but do not have dominant phenotypes. Common variant annotation tools are not powered to determine pathogenic dominant outcomes. To address this gap, we integrated sequence and structural analyses for GRIN1, GRIN2A, and GRIN2B. Using this approach, we determined that paralog homology mapping and topology can segregate dominant variants, with an elevation of intermolecular contacts between the subunits. Furthermore, demonstrating the general utility of our methodology, we show that 25 VUS within ClinVar also reach a dominant variant annotation, including the GRIN2A G760S variant. Our work suggests paralog homology and protein topology as a powerful strategy within the receptor complex to resolve dominant genetic variants relative to variants that would fit a recessive inheritance, requiring two damaging variants. These strategies should be tested in additional dominant genetic disorders to determine the broader utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal refuges in rivers are becoming a critical habitat for ectotherm fish, including Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). In this study, two statistical modelling approaches were used to estimate the areas of potential thermal refuges: generalized additive models (GAM) and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). This allowed for the first development of a reliable statistical model that uses a few relevant predictors (air temperature, river discharge, main river, and tributary temperatures) to estimate tributary plume thermal refuge surface areas. GAM and MARS models were fitted independently for four sites on the Ste‐Marguerite River, (Quebec, Canada). Model performances were evaluated using the leave‐one‐out cross validation (LOOCV) approach and the following criteria: the Akaike information criterion (AIC), root‐mean‐square error (RMSE), relative root‐mean‐square error (rRMSE), Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NASH), and finally the bias (BIAS). Using an array of thermographs deployed at the confluence of a cold tributary and the warmer main river stem, refuges were delineated at a daily time step. Model results indicate that the estimated areas are similar to the refuge surfaces interpolated using temperature measurements, with both models and for all sites. Results suggest that MARS performs better than GAM in terms of forecasting and estimating the variability of the area of thermal refuges at all study‐stations. This relatively simple approach will be of use to water resources managers faced with the challenge of protecting thermal refuges for fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ungulate herbivory is a key natural disturbance in many ecosystems. In forest ecosystems, ungulate herbivory often co‐occurs with other disturbances yet there are few studies looking at the cumulative impacts of ungulates and other natural disturbances on forest dynamics.We report on an 18‐year experiment to investigate the combined effects of introduced, non‐native moose and native spruce budworm herbivory on balsam fir forest recruitment and regeneration. Specifically, we measured inputs into early life‐history components of balsam fir dominant boreal forest ecosystems such as seed density, seedbed quality, seedling and sapling height and density, as well as adult density in eight paired moose exclosure and control sites across a spruce budworm disturbance gradient (i.e. no outbreak, recent outbreak, old outbreak) that resulted in closed, partially open and open canopies.Piecewise structural equation models (SEMs) revealed a strong negative effect of spruce budworm disturbance on balsam fir adult density and indirect effects of this budworm disturbance on balsam fir seedling and sapling density mediated through adult density. We observed a similar pattern of budworm disturbance effects on balsam fir seed density with the lowest densities in sites with open canopy, then partially open and closed canopies. As expected, the SEM showed a positive effect of bryophyte seedbed cover on balsam fir seedling density. The SEM showed support for a positive effect of moose exclusion on balsam fir sapling height and density. Specifically, saplings were on average taller and denser in exclosure than control plots and these differences are most pronounced at sites with partially open canopies created by spruce budworm disturbance and undisturbed or closed canopy sites. Overall, we show evidence for cumulative and interactive effects of spruce budworm and moose herbivory on all life stages of balsam fir and such effects are negatively affecting regeneration of balsam fir forests.Human activities are creating conditions that facilitate the expansion and increased impacts of herbivores on boreal ecosystem functioning. A greater understanding of how ungulate herbivory interacts with other disturbances is needed to improve our predictions of forest ecosystem dynamics under global change. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether maternal vitamin D affects offspring socioemotional development in early childhood has been underexplored. Objectives: This study examined associations between maternal vitamin D during in the 3rd trimester and offspring socioemotional development between 30 and 59 months. Methods: Data from 87 maternal‐offspring pairs enrolled in the National Children's Study were used. Total plasma maternal vitamin D (25‐hydroxyergocalciferol + 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol) was measured between 28 and 35 gestational weeks and categorised as quartiles (Q). Multivariable regression models, adjusting for maternal race/ethnicity, education, and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI [kg/m2]), were used to estimate the association between vitamin D and offspring scores on the Brief Infant‐Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA). Results: The mean (standard deviation) vitamin D concentration was 86.5 (27.8) nmol/L. The median (range) BITSEA problem score was 6.0 (0.0‐30.0), and competence score was 19.0 (7.0‐22.0). Maternal vitamin D was inversely related to offspring problem scores. Compared to offspring of women with 25(OH)D in Q1, offspring problem scores were −4.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] −8.29, −1.33) units lower for Q2 vs Q1, −5.64 (95% CI −9.60, −1.68) units lower for Q3 vs Q1, and −4.70 (95% CI −8.59, −0.82) units lower for Q4 vs Q1. Vitamin D was not associated with offspring competence score. Conclusions: Higher maternal vitamin D was associated with lower offspring behaviour problems and not associated with socioemotional competence. These data indicate the association of maternal vitamin D and offspring development may be dependent on the specific developmental component being investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Plants that successfully acclimate to stress can resume growth under stressful conditions. The grass Brachypodium distachyon can grow a cold‐adaptive morphology during cold acclimation. Studies on transcriptional memory (TM) have revealed that plants can be primed for stress by adjusting their transcriptional responses, but the function of TM in stress acclimation is not well understood. We investigated the function of TM during cold acclimation in B. distachyon.Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), RNA‐seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR analyses were performed on plants exposed to repeated episodes of cold to characterize the presence and stability of TM during the stress and growth responses of cold acclimation.Transcriptional memory mainly dampened stress responses as growth resumed and as B. distachyon became habituated to cold stress. Although permanent on vernalization gene VRN1, TMs were short‐term and reversible on cold‐stress genes. Growing under cold conditions also coincided with the acquisition of new and targeted cold‐induced transcriptional responses.Overall, TM provided plasticity to cold stress responses during cold acclimation in B. distachyon, leading to stress habituation, acquired stress responses, and resumed growth. Our study shows that chromatin‐associated TMs are involved in tuning plant responses to environmental change and, as such, regulate both stress and developmental components that characterize cold‐climate adaptation in B. distachyon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a complex disease where genetics interplay with extrinsic factors. This study aims to compare the phenotype, management, and outcome of familial DCM (FDCM) and non‐familial (sporadic) DCM (SDCM) across Europe. Methods and results: Patients with DCM that were enrolled in the prospective ESC EORP Cardiomyopathy & Myocarditis Registry were included. Baseline characteristics, genetic testing, genetic yield, and outcome were analysed comparing FDCM and SDCM; 1260 adult patients were studied (238 FDCM, 707 SDCM, and 315 not disclosed). Patients with FDCM were younger (P < 0.01), had less severe disease phenotype at presentation (P < 0.02), more favourable baseline cardiovascular risk profiles (P ≤ 0.007), and less medication use (P ≤ 0.042). Outcome at 1 year was similar and predicted by NYHA class (HR 0.45; 95% CI [0.25–0.81]) and LVEF per % decrease (HR 1.05; 95% CI [1.02–1.08]. Throughout Europe, patients with FDCM received more genetic testing (47% vs. 8%, P < 0.01) and had higher genetic yield (55% vs. 22%, P < 0.01). Conclusions: We observed that FDCM and SDCM have significant differences at baseline but similar short‐term prognosis. Whether modification of associated cardiovascular risk factors provide opportunities for treatment remains to be investigated. Our results also show a prevalent role of genetics in FDCM and a non‐marginal yield in SDCM although genetic testing is largely neglected in SDCM. Limited genetic testing and heterogeneity in panels provides a scaffold for improvement of guideline adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Surveillance of Helicobacter pylori resistance to antibiotics was carried out in France in 2014, 2016, and 2018. We report here the results of the 2018 survey as well as the evolution over the 5‐year period. Materials and Methods: In this observational study, gastric biopsies were obtained by 62 gastroenterologists randomly selected in 5 regions of France and sent to a central laboratory where culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and a real‐time PCR were performed in order to detect H pylori and its mutations associated with clarithromycin resistance. Results and Conclusion: During the year 2018, 951 patients were included: 55.3% women, mean age: 52.4 years ± 15.7, 71.6% born in France. Among them, 359 patients were H pylori positive by both culture and real‐time PCR, and 7 more by PCR only. There were 244 naive patients, 110 previously treated patients, and unknown for 5. Primary resistance to clarithromycin was 20.9% [16.3‐26.4], to levofloxacin 17.6% [13.4‐22.9], and to metronidazole 58.6% [52.3%‐64.6%]. Secondary resistance for these antibiotics was 56.4%, 22.7%, and 87.3%, respectively. There was no resistance to amoxicillin and tetracycline and very low resistance to rifampicin (1.2%) in both naive and treated patients. Primary resistance to clarithromycin decreased from 22.2% to 20.3% between 2014 and 2016, and appears to be stable since then. This can be linked to a stable consumption of macrolides over the 3‐year time period. Primary levofloxacin resistance was relatively stable while metronidazole resistance increased. Interestingly, in both naive and treated patients, amoxicillin and rifampicin resistance were rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diastolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is common, but its assessment is difficult using conventional echocardiography. Aims: To assess left atrial (LA) function in HCM by longitudinal strain and determine its role in understanding of symptoms. Methods: We studied 144 patients divided into 3 age‐ and sex‐matched groups: 48 consecutive patients with HCM, 48 control subjects, and 48 athlete subjects. We assessed LA function by conventional echocardiographic parameters and by longitudinal atrial strain (early‐diastolic left atrial strain during reservoir phase [LASr]; end‐diastolic left atrial strain during conduit phase; end‐systolic peak of the left atrial strain during contraction phase). Results: NYHA classification was as follows in HCM group: I in 46%, II in 31%, III in 19%, and IV in 4%. Conventional echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function were depressed in the HCM group as compared to the control and athlete groups, but not related to symptoms. All longitudinal atrial strain parameters were significantly reduced in HCM group as compared to two groups (P <.0001). LASr was significantly correlated to peak VO2 (r = 0.44, P =.01) and was the best parameter for detecting symptomatic patients presenting with HCM, with a cutoff value of 15%: Sensitivity was 71%, specificity was 79%, PPV was 77%, and NPV was 73%. Conclusion: Assessment of LA function in HCM is feasible using longitudinal strain, and this technique is more reliable than conventional echocardiographic parameters for the understanding of determinants of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Little is known about cardiac hemodynamics in the fetus with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum (TGA‐IVS). Better understanding of the fetal physiology in TGA‐IVS would help to provide insights into specific clinical complications observed after birth, in particular neonatal hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac hemodynamics in fetuses with TGA‐IVS by performing systematic longitudinal echocardiographic follow‐up from diagnosis to delivery. Methods: This was a longitudinal retrospective study of fetuses referred between 2010 and 2018 to the Sainte‐Justine University Hospital Centre. Complete assessment of cardiac hemodynamics was performed in fetuses with TGA‐IVS at 18–22, 28–32 and 35–38 weeks' gestation, which were compared with normal fetuses matched for gestational age. The maximum diameter of the foramen ovale was measured using two‐dimensional echocardiography under the guidance of color Doppler echocardiography. Fetal cardiac hemodynamics were analyzed according to postnatal preductal transcutaneous oxygen saturation (TcSO2) < 65% or ≥ 65%, as a neonatal outcome, in fetuses with TGA‐IVS. Results: In total, 59 fetuses with TGA‐IVS and 160 normal fetuses were included. Global cardiac output was significantly higher in fetuses with TGA‐IVS than in controls, mainly owing to higher global pulmonary output, while global systemic cardiac output did not differ between TGA‐IVS fetuses and controls throughout pregnancy. Aortic flow (right ventricular output in fetuses with TGA‐IVS, left ventricular output in controls) was significantly higher in fetuses with TGA‐IVS than in normal fetuses. Ductal flow was significantly lower in fetuses with TGA‐IVS at every timepoint, and this difference increased considerably after 28–32 weeks. In parallel, the diameter of the foramen ovale was significantly smaller in fetuses with TGA‐IVS at 28–32 and 35–38 weeks, with a stagnation in growth after 28 weeks, compared with continuous growth in normal fetuses. Most of these cardiac hemodynamic anomalies in fetuses with TGA‐IVS were already present at 18–22 weeks, and the differences became greater at 28–32 weeks' gestation. TGA‐IVS neonates with TcSO2 < 65% had lower fetal left ventricular output, higher diastolic ductal retrograde flow and smaller foramen ovale at 28–32 weeks, compared with fetal values in those with postnatal TcSO2 ≥ 65%. Conclusions: Compared with normal fetuses, those with TGA‐IVS undergo a complex redistribution of blood flow during the second half of pregnancy, with higher global pulmonary flow, lower ductal flow (with negative diastolic flow at the end of pregnancy) and a smaller foramen ovale. In addition, fetal cardiac hemodynamic anomalies observed at 28–32 weeks' gestation were associated with lower postnatal TcSO2. These observations may provide a better understanding of premature closure of the foramen ovale and postnatal hypoxia that are specific to TGA‐IVS physiology. © 2019 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AgI‐promoted reaction of thiolactams with N‐Boc amino acids yields an N‐(α‐aminoacyl) lactam that can rearrange through an acyl transfer process. Boc‐deprotection results in convergence to the ring‐expanded adduct, thereby facilitating an overall insertion of an amino acid into the thioamide bond to generate medium‐sized heterocycles. Application to the site‐specific insertion of amino acids into cyclic peptides is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While wideband segmented, breath‐hold late gadolinium‐enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been shown to suppress image artifacts associated with cardiac‐implanted electronic devices (CIEDs), it may produce image artifacts in patients with arrhythmia and/or dyspnea. Single‐shot LGE is capable of suppressing said artifacts. We sought to compare the performance of wideband single‐shot free‐breathing LGE against the standard and wideband‐segmented LGEs in CIED patients. Methods and Results: We retrospectively identified all 54 consecutive patients (mean age: 61 ± 15 years; 31% females) with CIED who had undergone CMR with standard segmented, wideband segmented, and/or wideband single‐shot LGE sequences as part of quality assurance for determining best clinical practice at 1.5 T. Two raters independently graded the conspicuity of myocardial scar or normal myocardium and the presence of device artifact level on a 5‐point Likert scale (1: worst; 3: acceptable; 5: best). Summed visual score (SVS) was calculated as the sum of conspicuity and artifact scores (SVS ≥ 6 defined as diagnostically interpretable). Median conspicuity and artifact scores were significantly better for wideband single‐shot LGE (F = 24.2, p <.001) and wideband‐segmented LGE (F = 20.6, p <.001) compared to standard‐segmented LGE. Among evaluated myocardial segments, 72% were deemed diagnostically interpretable—defined as SVS ≥ 6—for standard‐segmented LGE, 89% were deemed diagnostically interpretable for wideband‐segmented LGE, and 94% segments were deemed diagnostically interpretable for wideband single‐shot LGE. Conclusions: Wideband single‐shot LGE and wideband‐segmented LGE produced similarly improved image quality compared to standard LGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many social scientists, government intervention is linked to low levels of social trust and corruption, while others associate it with high trust and low corruption. We aim to reconcile these contrasting views by distinguishing the opposing effects of trust on two alternative types of government intervention: regulation and redistribution. We argue that distrusting individuals demand more governmental regulation (H1) but less government redistribution (H2), and this could be one of the mechanisms explaining why countries with low levels of trust tend to both overregulate and under‐redistribute. And the effects of trust on policy preferences are conditional on the quality of institutions. The higher the level of quality of government in a particular region, the more high‐trusting individuals will like government redistribution and dislike government regulation that restricts the operations of free markets (H3). We test these hypotheses with data from the latest round of the European Quality of Government Index (EQI) survey, which covers 77,000 individuals from 185 regions of 21 EU member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders that increase the risk for atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of AF, anticoagulation management, and risk of stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in patients with cardiomyopathy. Methods and results: Three thousand two hundred eight consecutive adult patients with cardiomyopathy (34.9% female; median age: 55.0 years) were prospectively enrolled as part of the EURObservational Research Programme Cardiomyopathy/Myocarditis Registry. At baseline, 903 (28.2%) patients had AF (29.4% dilated, 27.5% hypertrophic, 51.5% restrictive, and 14.7% arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, P < 0.001). AF was associated with more advanced New York Heart Association class (P < 0.001), increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and co‐morbidities, and a history of stroke/TIA (P < 0.001). Oral anticoagulation was administered in 71.7% of patients with AF (vitamin K antagonist: 51.6%; direct oral anticoagulant: 20.1%). At 1 year follow‐up, the incidence of cardiovascular endpoints was as follows: stroke/TIA 1.85% (AF vs. non‐AF: 3.17% vs. 1.19%, P < 0.001), death from any cause 3.43% (AF vs. non‐AF: 5.39% vs. 2.50%, P < 0.001), and death from heart failure 1.67% (AF vs. non‐AF: 2.44% vs. 1.31%, P = 0.033). The independent predictors for stroke/TIA were as follows: AF [odds ratio (OR) 2.812, P = 0.005], history of stroke (OR 7.311, P = 0.010), and anaemia (OR 3.119, P = 0.006). Conclusions: The study reveals a high prevalence and diverse distribution of AF in patients with cardiomyopathies, inadequate anticoagulation regimen, and high risk of stroke/TIA in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several recent studies show that citizens' identification with Europe is one of the most important determinants of support for EU integration, that may also hold the key to greater economic solidarity and support for international redistribution. This article proposes a multidimensional conception of European identity, and that citizens' support for redistribution within the EU is highly contingent not only on the level of identification with Europe but also on the nature of their feeling of belonging to the community. In particular, we suggest that citizens who feel European, based on civic ties, are more likely to support redistribution than those who instead identify with Europe on the basis of religion and in particular, Christianity. Using unique and newly collected regional‐level data, we found support for these claims. Thus, not only if, or how much, but also why citizens identify with Europe matters for the level of social solidarity across borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of training interventions have been designed to improve executive functions and inhibitory control (IC) across the lifespan. Surprisingly, no study has investigated the structural neuroplasticity induced by IC training from childhood to late adolescence, a developmental period characterized by IC efficiency improvement and protracted maturation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) subregions involved in IC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavioral and structural changes induced by a 5‐week computerized and adaptive IC training in school‐aged children (10‐year‐olds) and in adolescents (16‐year‐olds). Sixty‐four children and 59 adolescents were randomly assigned to an IC (i.e. Color‐Word Stroop and Stop‐Signal tasks) or an active control (AC) (knowledge‐ and vocabulary‐based tasks) training group. In the pre‐ and posttraining sessions, participants performed the Color‐Word Stroop and Stop‐signal tasks, and an anatomical resonance imaging (MRI) was acquired for each of them. Children's IC efficiency improved from the pre‐ to the posttraining session in boys but not in girls. In adolescents, IC efficiency did not improve after IC training. Similar to the neuroplastic mechanisms observed during brain maturation, we observed IC training‐related changes in cortical thickness and cortical surface area in several PFC subregions (e.g. the pars opercularis, triangularis, and orbitalis of the inferior frontal gyri) that were age‐ and gender‐specific. Because no correction for multiple comparisons was applied, the results of our study provide only preliminary evidence of the complex structural neuroplastic mechanisms at the root of behavioral changes in IC efficiency from pre‐ to posttraining in school‐aged children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2.1.1 Les technologies, les données et leurs applications La vision technologique de l'avenir prévoit de plus en plus d'objets munis d'émetteurs-récepteurs (Petrolo et al. [62]). De même, certains auteurs venant du monde de l'ingénierie se questionnent sur la protection des données privées, sur la nécessité de tout connecter (Alcaraz et al. [4]) et sur des aspects pratiques concernant l'entretien de systèmes complexes, l'usure des équipements, la pollution qu'ils créent, et la compilation de données de qualité parfois douteuse (Chen [24]; Al Nuaimi et al. [3]). 2.2.6 Surveillance, vie privée et marchandisation des données Laissant de côté l'appropriation illégale de données ou le contrôle illégitime de réseaux, des questions se posent tout de même sur l'utilisation des données et sur la vie privée (Tene et Polonestky [78]; Marinica et al. [52]). 3.1 IdO, Big Data et algorithmes en zone rurale: l'exemple du secteur agricole L'IdO, le Big Data et les capteurs d'information, ces technologies qui sont au coeur de la ville intelligente, sont aussi amplement déployées en région. Ceci fait partie d'un mouvement plus large de création de données via le I crowdsourcing. i Ces auteurs, comme les auteurs critiques de la ville intelligente, ne sous-estiment pas les avantages du partage et de l'intégration des données et des nouvelles technologies. [Extracted from the article]

Payday loans are a high‐cost form of credit, yet they remain a popular financial tool used by a significant proportion of Americans. Use of these loans varies significantly across social groups. Black households in particular are more than twice as likely to use payday lending as white households. Explanations for households' decision to use payday loans remain disputed. Some scholars argue that poor financial literacy is a major driver of payday borrowing. Others propose instead that payday loans are a form of credit of last resort used after depleting higher quality sources of credit. In this article, I argue these explanations are incomplete and miss the racialized nature of payday lending. Payday lending is a form of predatory inclusion: it provides households experiencing exclusion from consumer credit markets with a needed source of credit but under conditions that jeopardize long‐term benefits of access. Given historical and contemporary patterns of financial exclusion, this process entails disproportionate reliance on payday lending by black households. Models using data from the Survey of Consumer Finances provide support for both the predatory inclusion and the credit exhaustion explanations. Predatory inclusion, however, explains the largest portion of racial disparities in payday loan use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of nonstationary frequency analysis models is gaining popularity in the field of hydro‐climatology. Such models account for nonstationarities related to climate change and climate variability but at the price of added complexity. It has been debated if such models are worth developing considering the increase in uncertainty inherent to more complex models. However, the uncertainty associated to nonstationary models is rarely studied. The objective of this article is to compare the uncertainties in stationary and nonstationary models based on objective criteria. The study is based on observed rainfall data in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where strong nonstationarities were observed. In this study, a nonstationary frequency analysis introducing covariates into the distribution parameters was carried out for total and maximum annual rainfalls observed in the UAE. The generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution was used to model annual maximum rainfalls and the gamma (G) distribution was used to model total annual rainfalls. A number of nonstationary models, using time and climate indices as covariates, were developed and compared to classical stationary frequency analysis models. Two climate oscillation patterns having strong impacts on precipitation in the UAE were selected: the Oceanic Niño Index and the Northern Oscillation Index. Results indicate that the inclusion of a climate oscillation index generally improves the fit of the models to the observed data and the inclusion of two covariates generally provides the overall best fits. Uncertainties of estimated quantiles were assessed with confidence intervals (CIs) computed with the parametric bootstrap method. Results show that for the small sample sizes in this study, the width of the CIs can be very large for extreme nonexceedance probabilities and for the most extreme values of the climate index covariates. The weaknesses of nonstationary models revealed by the bootstrap uncertainties are discussed and words of caution are formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimentelle Resultate, die in verschiedenen Laboren weltweit von Wissenschaftlern mithilfe der oberflächenverstärkten Raman‐Streuung (SERS, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering) erhalten wurden, können beträchtlich voneinander abweichen. Wir, ein internationales Team von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern mit langjähriger SERS‐Expertise, präsentieren hier unsere Sichtweise auf dieses Thema mit Betrachtungen hinsichtlich verlässlichem und quantitativem SERS. Die zentrale Idee dieses Gemeinschaftsunterfangens ist es, auf die oft in der Literatur anzutreffenden Schlüsselparameter und Stolperfallen hinzuweisen. Im Hinblick darauf bieten wir Empfehlungen zu folgenden Themen an: a) die Charakterisierung von festen und kolloidalen SERS‐Substraten durch korrelative Elektronen‐ und optische Mikroskopie und Spektroskopie, b) zur Bestimmung des SERS‐Verstärkungsfaktors (EF, enhancement factor) inklusive geeigneter Raman‐Reporter/Sonden‐Moleküle und schließlich c) zur guten analytischen Praxis. Die Autorinnen und Autoren hoffen, dass sowohl Newcomer als auch Spezialisten von diesen Empfehlungen profitieren, um die Inter‐Labor‐Vergleichbarkeit von experimentellen SERS‐Resultaten zu erhöhen und zur weiteren Etablierung von SERS als einer analytischen Methode beizutragen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental results obtained in different laboratories world‐wide by researchers using surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can differ significantly. We, an international team of scientists with long‐standing expertise in SERS, address this issue from our perspective by presenting considerations on reliable and quantitative SERS. The central idea of this joint effort is to highlight key parameters and pitfalls that are often encountered in the literature. To that end, we provide here a series of recommendations on: a) the characterization of solid and colloidal SERS substrates by correlative electron and optical microscopy and spectroscopy, b) on the determination of the SERS enhancement factor (EF), including suitable Raman reporter/probe molecules, and finally on c) good analytical practice. We hope that both newcomers and specialists will benefit from these recommendations to increase the inter‐laboratory comparability of experimental SERS results and further establish SERS as an analytical tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Towards the continuous improvement of its inspection system, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is developing an Establishment‐based Risk Assessment model for Hatcheries to allocate inspection resources based on the food safety risk associated with the Canadian hatcheries falling under its jurisdiction. The objectives of the current study were to identify and select critical food safety‐related risk factors that would be included in this model, with a main focus on Salmonella. A literature review was used to develop a comprehensive list of risk factors that could potentially contribute to the food safety risk attributed to Canadian hatcheries operating in all production streams (breeders, layers, broilers, turkeys, waterfowl and game birds). The development of this list used a selection process that was conducted according to the availability of data sources, the clarity of definition and the measurability of the selected risk factors. A panel of experts reviewed and adjusted the identified risk factors. A final list of 29 risk factors was generated; 20 originated from the scientific literature and nine from the expert panel. Risk factors were grouped in three clusters according to whether they pertained to the inherent risk (nine factors identified), risk mitigation (nine factors identified) or compliance of a hatchery with its preventive control plan and regulatory requirements (11 factors identified). Criteria for assessing each risk factor were defined based on common practices used in the Canadian hatchery industry. This comprehensive list of risk factors and criteria represents useful information to support the design and implementation of a Canadian risk assessment model for hatcheries, but could also be used by like‐minded food safety authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light‐level geolocator tags use ambient light recordings to estimate the whereabouts of an individual over the time it carried the device. Over the past decade, these tags have emerged as an important tool and have been used extensively for tracking animal migrations, most commonly small birds.Analysing geolocator data can be daunting to new and experienced scientists alike. Over the past decades, several methods with fundamental differences in the analytical approach have been developed to cope with the various caveats and the often complicated data.Here, we explain the concepts behind the analyses of geolocator data and provide a practical guide for the common steps encompassing most analyses – annotation of twilights, calibration, estimating and refining locations, and extraction of movement patterns – describing good practices and common pitfalls for each step.We discuss criteria for deciding whether or not geolocators can answer proposed research questions, provide guidance in choosing an appropriate analysis method and introduce key features of the newest open‐source analysis tools.We provide advice for how to interpret and report results, highlighting parameters that should be reported in publications and included in data archiving.Finally, we introduce a comprehensive supplementary online manual that applies the concepts to several datasets, demonstrates the use of open‐source analysis tools with step‐by‐step instructions and code and details our recommendations for interpreting, reporting and archiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disappointed by the numerous failures of anticorruption reforms, international organisations, scholars and policy makers increasingly place their hopes on measures aimed at enhancing gender equality and in particular increasing the inclusion of female representatives in elected assemblies. Yet most studies to date focus on aggregate measures of corruption and fail to explain why the correlation between women's representation and levels of corruption occurs. Using newly collected regional‐level, non‐perception‐based measures of corruption, this study distinguishes between different forms of corruption and shows that the inclusion of women in local councils is strongly negatively associated with the prevalence of both petty and grand forms of corruption. However, the reduction in corruption is primarily experienced among women. This suggests that female representatives seek to further two separate political agendas once they attain public office: the improvement of public service delivery in sectors that tend to primarily benefit women; and the breakup of male‐dominated collusive networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]