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Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common cause of deafblindness. USH is autosomal recessively inherited and characterized by rod‐cone dystrophy or retinitis pigmentosa (RP), often accompanied by sensorineural hearing loss. Variants in >15 genes have been identified as causative for clinically and genetically distinct subtypes. Among the ultra‐rare and recently discovered genes is ARSG, coding for the lysosomal sulfatase Arylsulfatase G. This subtype was assigned as "USH IV" with a late onset of RP and usually late‐onset progressive SNHL without vestibular involvement. Here, we describe nine new subjects and the clinical description of four cases with the USH IV phenotype bearing seven novel and two known pathogenic variants. Functional experiments indicated the complete loss of sulfatase enzymatic activity upon ectopic expression of mutated ARSG cDNA. Interestingly, we identified a homozygous missense variant, p.(Arg99His), previously described in dogs with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Our study expands the genetic landscape of ARSG‐USH IV and the number of known subjects by more than 30%. These findings highlight that USH IV likely has been underdiagnosed and emphasize the need to test molecularly unresolved subjects with deafblindness syndrome. Finally, testing of ARSG should be considered for the genetic work‐up of apparent isolated inherited retinal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and early‐onset retinal degeneration (EORD) are inherited retinal diseases (IRD) characterized by early‐onset vision impairment. Herein, we studied 15 Saudi families by whole exome sequencing (WES) and run‐of‐homozygosity (ROH) detection via AutoMap in 12/15 consanguineous families. This revealed (likely) pathogenic variants in 11/15 families (73%). A potential founder variant was found in RPGRIP1. Homozygous pathogenic variants were identified in known IRD genes (ATF6, CRB1, CABP4, RDH12, RIMS2, RPGRIP1, SPATA7). We established genotype‐driven clinical reclassifications for ATF6, CABP4, and RIMS2. Specifically, we observed isolated IRD in the individual with the novel RIMS2 variant, and we found a retina‐enriched RIMS2 isoform conserved but not annotated in mouse. The latter illustrates potential different phenotypic consequences of pathogenic variants depending on the particular tissue/cell‐type specific isoforms they affect. Lastly, a compound heterozygous genotype in GUCY2D in one non‐consanguineous family was demonstrated, and homozygous variants in novel candidate genes ATG2B and RUFY3 were found in the two remaining consanguineous families. Reporting these genes will allow to validate them in other IRD cohorts. Finally, the missing heritability of the two unsolved IRD cases may be attributed to variants in non‐coding regions or structural variants that remained undetected, warranting future WGS studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since 2011, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has recommended an annual eye lens dose limit of 20 mSv for radiation workers, averaged over 5 years, with no year exceeding 50 mSv. However, limited research has been conducted on dose rate conversion coefficients (DCCs) for direct contamination of the eye. Purpose: This study aimed to accurately determine DCCs for the eye lens and cornea for ocular contamination with radionuclides used in nuclear medicine. Methods: DCCs for 37 radionuclides used in nuclear medicine were determined using two different methods. Method 1 involved conducting Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of an ICRU cylinder to determine the absorbed dose at a depth of 3 mm resulting from a point source. The accuracy of this simulation approach was validated by experimental thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements for 18F, 68Ga, 99mTc, and 177Lu. In method 2, average DCCs were calculated for the eye lens (complete and radiosensitive parts) and the cornea for both a point source and thin surface contamination centered on the cornea using MC simulations on the adult mesh‐type reference computational phantom of the eye from the ICRP (MRCP). Results: DCCs determined from TLD measurements showed excellent agreement (deviations: +1.4%, +4.7%, −3.1%, and −2.5% for 18F, 68Ga, 99mTc, and 177Lu, respectively) compared to MC simulations of the experimental set‐up. For the 37 radionuclides, DCCs of the complete eye‐lens for a point source ranged from 2.53 × 10−7 to 4.15 × 10−2 mGy MBq−1 s−1 for the adult MRCPs, being substantially smaller compared to DCCs determined via MC simulations of a ICRU cylinder. In general, point source and surface contamination showed comparable DCCs for the eye lens. Radionuclides emitting low‐energy beta radiation or conversion electrons (e.g., 177Lu, 99mTc) showed low DCCs as the radiation does not penetrate to the depth of the eye lens, while radionuclides emitting high‐energy beta radiation (e.g., 90Y) showed high DCCs. Overall, DCCs for the radiosensitive part of the eye lens were larger (up to a factor of 3) compared to the complete eye lens. DCCs for the cornea were larger than for the eye lens with a factor that strongly depended on the emitted radiation type. Especially alpha emitters (e.g., 211At, 223Ra) showed high DCCs for the cornea because of the short range of alpha radiation, leading to local maxima in the cornea and not reaching the eye lens. Conclusion: DCCs at a depth of 3 mm in an ICRU cylinder and adult MRCP DCCs for both the complete and sensitive parts of the eye lens and cornea were determined for 37 radionuclides having applications in nuclear medicine. These DCCs are highly useful in radiation safety assessments and radiation dose calculations in ocular contamination incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Pb0.96La0.04)(Zr0.95Ti0.05)0.99O3 ceramics were successfully elaborated by the solid‐sate reaction method. The pure perovskite phase was obtained, comprising both rhombohedral (R3c) and orthorhombic (Pbam) crystallographic structures, as determined by x‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy analyses. The rhombohedral and orthorhombic structures were carefully attributed to the ferroelectric (FE) and antiferroelectric (AFE) phases, respectively. The room temperature electromechanical performances of the samples were particularly investigated at the nanoscale level by using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The measurement of PFM domain patterns evidenced spontaneous piezoelectric and ferroelectric activities as well as regions with no piezoresponse, in agreement with the coexistence of FE and AFE phases. By means of the spectroscopic mode of the PFM used in on‐ and off‐field methods, very specific piezoloops were recorded. Square‐shaped hysteresis loops for phase signal and butterfly‐like shape loops for amplitude activity were obtained under and at zero bias when probing ferroelectric regions, while on‐field piezoloops displaying double hysteresis for phase signal were detected and assigned to the stable antiferroelectric phase. Finally, the signature of metastable antiferroelectric phase was also identified through in‐field and remnant loops measurements. These results further provided the phases coexistence, concurrently unveiling intricate nanoscale electrical characteristics (both stable and metastable AFE behaviors) at room temperature. Furthermore, these data suggest that PFM proves to be a robust technique for investigating local antiferroelectricity in such complex ceramic oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Biallelic variants in ABCA4 cause Stargardt disease (STGD1), the most frequent heritable macular disease. Determination of the pathogenicity of variants in ABCA4 proves to be difficult due to (1) the high number of benign and pathogenic variants in the gene; (2) the presence of many rare ABCA4 variants; (3) the presence of complex alleles for which phasing data are absent; (4) the extensive variable expressivity of this disease and (5) reduced penetrance of hypomorphic variants. Therefore, the classification of many variants in ABCA4 is currently of uncertain significance. Here, we complemented the ABCA4 Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD) with data from ~11,000 probands with ABCA4-associated inherited retinal diseases from literature up to the end of 2020. We carefully adapted the ACMG/AMP classifications to ABCA4 incorporating ClinGen recommendations and assigned these classifications to all 2,246 unique variants from the ABCA4 LOVD to increase the knowledge of pathogenicity. In total, 1,248 variants were categorized with a likely pathogenic or pathogenic classification, whereas 194 variants were categorized with a likely benign or benign classification. This uniform and improved structured reclassification, incorporating the largest dataset of ABCA4-associated retinopathy cases so far, will improve both the diagnosis as well as genetic counselling for individuals with ABCA4-associated retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental, social and economic limits and shortcomings of the current linear model of production and consumption highlight the necessity of a rapid transition towards a sustainable paradigm. The concept of a circular economy has recently gained traction among scholars, policy‐makers and businesses as a promising alternative. Yet our understanding of how to speed up the systemic transition from a linear economy paradigm towards a circular economy paradigm is lacking. In this paper, we address this research gap by introducing the concept of 'circular disruption' and by describing how such a disruption may unfold. To do so, we build on S‐curve thinking and the concept of panarchy. Based on the resulting synthesis, we propose three phases that constitute the core of the disruption process: (1) the release phase, (2) the reorganisation phase and (3) the eruption phase. We then operationalise these three phases for different enabling innovation system functions and illustrate our observations with examples for the textile and fashion sector. We discuss how each of the three disruption phases can be accelerated to quickly create an opening for the new circular paradigm. The proposed circular disruption framework offers novel insights on socio‐technical transitions and changes and contributes to strengthening a systemic and theoretically grounded approach to circular economy research. Scholars and practitioners alike may take advantage of this work to focus circular economy efforts on speed and scale—an urgently needed focus to start tackling the sustainability challenges humankind is currently facing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores to solve a hard metaphysical problem for contemporary social ontology by turning to medieval theology and solve a problem for medieval theology by turning to social ontology. Topics include examines exotic as it may seem, the connection between the two has been noted before and in his review of an edited volume on social ontology, Wolfgang Grassl wondered why one avenue has been totally neglected from which insights may be derived.

Background: Running retraining with the use of biofeedback on an impact measure has been executed or evaluated in the biomechanics laboratory. Here, the execution and evaluation of feedback-driven retraining are taken out of the laboratory. Purpose: To determine whether biofeedback can reduce the peak tibial acceleration with or without affecting the running cadence in a 3-week retraining protocol. Study Design: Quasi-randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty runners with high peak tibial acceleration were allocated to either the retraining (n = 10, 32.1 ± 7.8 years, 10.9 ± 2.8 g) or control (n = 10, 39.1 ± 10.4 years, 13.0 ± 3.9 g) groups. They performed six running sessions in an athletic training environment. A body-worn system collected axial tibial acceleration and provided real-time feedback. The retraining group received music-based biofeedback in a faded feedback scheme. Pink noise was superimposed on tempo-synchronized music when the peak tibial acceleration was ≥70% of the runner's baseline. The control group received tempo-synchronized music, which acted as a placebo for blinding purposes. Speed feedback was provided to obtain a stable running speed of ~2.9 m·s−1. Peak tibial acceleration and running cadence were evaluated. Results: A significant group-by- feedback interaction effect was detected for peak tibial acceleration. The experimental group had a decrease in peak tibial acceleration by 25.5% (mean: 10.9 ± 2.8 g versus 8.1 ± 3.9 g, p = 0.008, d = 1.08, mean difference = 2.77 [0.94, 4.61]) without changing the running cadence. The control group had no statistically significant change in peak tibial acceleration nor in running cadence. Conclusion: The retraining protocol was effective at reducing the peak tibial acceleration in high-impact runners by reacting to music-based biofeedback that was provided in real time per wearable technology in a training environment. This reduction magnitude may have meaningful influences on injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate monitoring of vegetation stress is required for better modelling and forecasting of primary production, in a world where heatwaves and droughts are expected to become increasingly prevalent. Variability in formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations in the troposphere is dominated by local emissions of short‐lived biogenic (BVOC) and pyrogenic volatile organic compounds. BVOCs are emitted by plants in a rapid protective response to abiotic stress, mediated by the energetic status of leaves (the excess of reducing power when photosynthetic light and dark reactions are decoupled, as occurs when stomata close in response to water stress). Emissions also increase exponentially with leaf temperature. New analytical methods for the detection of spatiotemporally contiguous extremes in remote‐sensing data are applied here to satellite‐derived atmospheric HCHO columns. BVOC emissions are shown to play a central role in the formation of the largest positive HCHO anomalies. Although vegetation stress can be captured by various remotely sensed quantities, spaceborne HCHO emerges as the most consistent recorder of vegetation responses to the largest climate extremes, especially in forested regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical forests, the high proportion of trees showing irregularities at the stem base complicates forest monitoring. For example, in the presence of buttresses, the height of the point of measurement (HPOM) of the stem diameter (DPOM) is raised from 1.3 m, the standard breast height, up to a regular part of the stem. While DPOM is the most important predictor for tree aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates, the lack of harmonized HPOM for irregular trees in forest inventory increases the uncertainty in plot‐level AGB stock and stock change estimates. In this study, we gathered an original non‐destructive three‐dimensional (3D) data set collected with terrestrial laser scanning and close range terrestrial photogrammetry tools in three sites in central Africa. For the 228 irregularly shaped stems sampled, we developed a set of taper models to harmonize HPOM by predicting the equivalent diameter at breast height (DBH′) from a DPOM measured at any height. We analyzed the effect of using DBH′ on tree‐level and plot‐level AGB estimates. To do so, we used destructive AGB data for 140 trees and forest inventory data from eight 1‐ha plots in the Republic of Congo. Our results showed that our best simple taper model predicts DBH′ with a relative mean absolute error of 3.7% (R2 = 0.98) over a wide DPOM range of 17–249 cm. Based on destructive AGB data, we found that the AGB allometric model calibrated with harmonized HPOM data was more accurate than the conventional local and pantropical models. At the plot level, the comparison of AGB stock estimates with and without HPOM harmonization showed an increasing divergence with the increasing share of irregular stems (up to −15%). The harmonization procedure developed in this study could be implemented as a standard practice for AGB monitoring in tropical forests as no additional forest inventory measurements is required. This would probably lead to important revisions of the AGB stock estimates in regions having a large number of irregular tree stems and increase their carbon sink estimates. The growing use of three‐dimensional (3D) data offers new opportunities to extend our approach and further develop general taper models in other tropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play important roles at cellular, foliar, ecosystem and atmospheric levels. The Amazonian rainforest represents one of the major global sources of BVOCs, so its study is essential for understanding BVOC dynamics. It also provides insights into the role of such large and biodiverse forest ecosystem in regional and global atmospheric chemistry and climate. We review the current information on Amazonian BVOCs and identify future research priorities exploring biogenic emissions and drivers, ecological interactions, atmospheric impacts, depositional processes and modifications to BVOC dynamics due to changes in climate and land cover. A feedback loop between Amazonian BVOCs and the trends of climate and land‐use changes in Amazonia is then constructed. Satellite observations and model simulation time series demonstrate the validity of the proposed loop showing a combined effect of climate change and deforestation on BVOC emission in Amazonia. A decreasing trend of isoprene during the wet season, most likely due to forest biomass loss, and an increasing trend of the sesquiterpene to isoprene ratio during the dry season suggest increasing temperature stress‐induced emissions due to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares recent CO, NOx, NMVOC, SO2, BC, and OC anthropogenic emissions from several state‐of‐the‐art top‐down estimates to global and regional bottom‐up inventories and projections from five Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) in several regions. Results show that top‐down emissions derived in several recent studies exhibit similar uncertainty as bottom‐up inventories in some regions for certain species and even less in the case of Chinese CO emissions. In general, the largest discrepancies are found outside of regions such as the United States, Europe, and Japan where the most accurate and detailed information on emissions is available. In some regions such as China, which has recently undergone dynamical economic growth and changes in air quality regulations, the top‐down estimates better capture recent emission trends than global bottom‐up inventories. These results show the potential of top‐down estimates to complement bottom‐up inventories and to aide in the development of emission scenarios, particularly in regions where global inventories lack the necessary up‐to‐date and accurate information regarding regional activity data and emission factors such as Africa and India. Areas of future work aimed at quantifying and reducing uncertainty are also highlighted. A regional comparison of recent CO and NOx trends in the five SSPs indicate that SSP126, a strong pollution control scenario, best represents the trends from the top‐down and regional bottom‐up inventories in the United States, Europe, and China, while SSP460, a low‐pollution control scenario, lies closest to actual trends in West Africa. This analysis can be useful for air quality forecasting and near‐future pollution control/mitigation policy studies. Key Points: Top‐down emissions from several recent studies are within the range of bottom‐up inventories and exhibit a similar level of uncertainty for some regions and speciesIn China, the United States, and Europe emission trends in the last decade from SSP126 match most closely actual trends from bottom‐up and top‐down estimatesIn Western Africa and India recent emission trends from low pollution control scenarios (SSP460 and SSP370, respectively) match most closely actual trends [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spaceborne NO2 column observations from two high‐resolution instruments, Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on board Sentinel‐5 Precursor and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on Aura, reveal unprecedented NO2 decreases over China, South Korea, western Europe, and the United States as a result of public health measures enforced to contain the coronavirus disease outbreak (Covid‐19) in January–April 2020. The average NO2 column drop over all Chinese cities amounts to −40% relative to the same period in 2019 and reaches up to a factor of ~2 at heavily hit cities, for example, Wuhan, Jinan, while the decreases in western Europe and the United States are also significant (−20% to −38%). In contrast with this, although Iran is also strongly affected by the disease, the observations do not show evidence of lower emissions, reflecting more limited health measures. Key Points: Satellite NO2 data show substantial decreases by 40% on average over Chinese cities due to lockdown measures against the coronavirus outbreakWestern Europe and United States display robust NO2 decreases in 2020, 20–38% relative to the same period in 2019Satellite NO2 data above Iran, a region strongly affected by coronavirus, do not show clear evidence of lower emissions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biallelic MFSD8 variants are an established cause of severe late‐infantile subtype of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (v‐LINCL), a severe lysosomal storage disorder, but have also been associated with nonsyndromic adult‐onset maculopathy. Here, we functionally characterized two novel MFSD8 variants found in a child with juvenile isolated maculopathy, in order to establish a refined prognosis. ABCA4 locus resequencing was followed by the analysis of other inherited retinal disease genes by whole exome sequencing (WES). Minigene assays and cDNA sequencing were used to assess the effect of a novel MFSD8 splice variant. MFSD8 expression was quantified with qPCR and overexpression studies were analyzed by immunoblotting. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed on a skin biopsy and ophthalmological and neurological re‐examinations were conducted. WES revealed two novel MFSD8 variants: c.[590del];[439+3A>C] p.[Gly197Valfs*2];[Ile67Glufs*3]. Characterization of the c.439+3A>C variant via splice assays showed exon‐skipping (p.Ile67Glufs*3), while overexpression studies of the corresponding protein indicated expression of a truncated polypeptide. In addition, a significantly reduced MFSD8 RNA expression was noted in patient's lymphocytes. TEM of a skin biopsy revealed typical v‐LINCL lipopigment inclusions while neurological imaging of the proband displayed subtle cerebellar atrophy. Functional characterization demonstrated the pathogenicity of two novel MFSD8 variants, found in a child with an initial diagnosis of juvenile isolated maculopathy but likely evolving to v‐LINCL with a protracted disease course. Our study allowed a refined neurological prognosis in the proband and expands the natural history of MFSD8‐associated disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomere shortening follows a developmentally regulated process that leads to replicative senescence of dividing cells. However, whether telomere changes are involved in postmitotic cell function and aging remains elusive. In this study, we discovered that the level of the TRF2 protein, a key telomere‐capping protein, declines in human skeletal muscle over lifetime. In cultured human myotubes, TRF2 downregulation did not trigger telomere dysfunction, but suppressed expression of the mitochondrial Sirtuin 3 gene (SIRT3) leading to mitochondrial respiration dysfunction and increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Importantly, restoring the Sirt3 level in TRF2‐compromised myotubes fully rescued mitochondrial functions. Finally, targeted ablation of the Terf2 gene in mouse skeletal muscle leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and sirt3 downregulation similarly to those of TRF2‐compromised human myotubes. Altogether, these results reveal a TRF2‐SIRT3 axis controlling muscle mitochondrial function. We propose that this axis connects developmentally regulated telomere changes to muscle redox metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Diagnosis of steatitis can be challenging due to nonspecific clinical signs and ultrasonography might be a useful aid for making a diagnosis. The objective of this retrospective clinical case study was to describe history, clinical signs, ultrasonographic findings, treatment and outcome in equids with steatitis. The medical records of all equids presented to the Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Ghent University between January 2008 and December 2015 were reviewed retrospectively to identify horses suffering from steatitis. A total of 20 cases with steatitis were reviewed. History included dullness, recumbency, decreased appetite and weight loss. Fever, ventral oedema, stiff/painful gait and a painful neck were found. Low haematocrit, low vitamin E and selenium and increased levels of creatinine kinase and particularly lactate dehydrogenase were almost consistent findings. On ultrasound, ventral oedema was found. Ventral extraperitoneal, perirenal, mesenteric, coronary and caudal mediastinal fat showed homogenously increased echogenicity. The ventral extraperitoneal fat in particular was surrounded by oedema or free fluid. Increased amounts of abdominal, thoracic and pericardial fluid were often found. Fat biopsies were taken in the neck, or from the ventral extraperitoneal fat in the ventral flank. Steatitis was confirmed in all horses where a fat biopsy was taken (n = 13). Treatment consisted of selenium and vitamin E (intramuscular injection followed by oral treatment) supplementation and anti‐inflammatory treatment (dexamethasone or prednisolone parenteral or oral) for at least 1–4 weeks. A total of 15 animals (75%) survived. Full recovery took about 2–6 months. In conclusion, steatitis is an uncommon disease in young horses usually seen during winter. It may be underdiagnosed because of nonspecific clinical signs. Ultrasonography is a useful aid for the diagnosis of yellow fat disease based upon the increased echogenicity of ventral extraperitoneal, perirenal, mesenteric, coronary and caudal mediastinal fat and increased amount of surrounding fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed seasonal variation in mortality rates in adult males and females of the European adder (Vipera berus), using data collected during a 13‐year capture–recapture study (2005–2017) in a large population. We concurrently obtained quantitative information on the seasonal variation in the detectability and body condition of adders. Our results show strong seasonality in body condition, encounter, and capture rates of adult adders, and these patterns differ markedly between sexes and between breeding and nonbreeding females. Seasonal variation in mortality rates was however virtually nonexistent in males and moderately low in both breeding and nonbreeding females. In addition, we found no evidence for among‐year differences in the seasonal mortality schedules of males and females. During periods of intensive basking, both males and pregnant females are highly visible for humans, but are not subject to strong natural mortality. This low susceptibility to predation is presumably induced by various factors, including the limitation of overt exposure to short periods of time and specific microhabitats, the dorsal coloration pattern that provides cryptic protection and possibly also an aposematic warning signal, and presumed seasonal differences in the foraging behavior and food requirements of natural predators. Our data provide some evidence that female adders, but not males, are relatively vulnerable to predation during the seasonal migrations between the hibernation and feeding habitats. Mortality in the females was not much elevated during their breeding years, but was notably highest in the spring of the ensuing nonbreeding year. After giving birth, reproductive females are extremely emaciated and have a weakened general condition. They then run the risk of dying from starvation either before, during, or after hibernation. The higher mortality after giving birth, that is sustained over a period of ca. 9 months, should be considered as an indirect and delayed survival cost of reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vaccines are increasingly based on new constructs, new technologies, and new compounds. Novel immunization programs are rapidly implemented globally. In this article, we highlight selected hot topics of this highly dynamic and broad field of scientific and public health development. The first section focuses on novel vaccines including malaria, dengue, serogroup B meningococcal, and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines and antibodies. The second section is addressing emerging strategies and programmatic challenges including maternal immunization, integrated mother‐child safety monitoring, and finally coping strategies with vaccine shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper addresses the question what the fundamental nature and mode of being of institutional reality is. Besides the recent debate with Tony Lawson, Barry Smith is also one of the relatively few authors to have explicitly challenged John Searle's social ontology on this metaphysical question, with Smith's realism requirement for institutions conflicting with Searle's requirement of a one‐world naturalism. This paper proposes that an account of institutions as powers or dispositions is not only congenial to Searle's general account, but can also satisfy both the realism and the one world requirements. Searle's worry that such a dispositional account is unable to account for the deontic nature of institutions is countered by an appeal to higher‐order powers as well as Searle's notion of the gap and desire‐independent reasons for action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A major feedback between climate and atmospheric chemistry lies in the meteorological dependence of the emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), precursors of important climate forcers, aerosols, and ozone. Whereas the short‐term response of BVOC emissions to meteorological drivers is fairly well simulated by current emission models, it is yet unclear whether models can faithfully predict their response to climate change, given the scarcity of long observation records of BVOC fluxes. Here we take advantage of the high yield of formaldehyde (HCHO) in the oxidation of VOCs and use a long‐term spaceborne record of HCHO observations in combination with model simulations to show that (i) HCHO interannual variability is primarily driven by climate through its impacts on photochemistry, vegetation fire occurrence, and above all, biogenic emissions and (ii) the HCHO record validates the interannual variability of biogenic emissions calculated by the state‐of‐the‐art Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) emission model in vegetated regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the importance of large trees regarding biodiversity and carbon stock in old‐growth forests is undeniable, their annual contribution to biomass production and carbon uptake remains poorly studied at the stand level. To clarify the role of large trees in biomass production, we used data of tree growth, mortality, and recruitment monitored during 20 yr in 10 4‐ha plots in a species‐rich tropical forest (Central African Republic). Using a random block design, three different silvicultural treatments, control, logged, and logged + thinned, were applied in the 10 plots. Annual biomass gains and losses were analyzed in relation to the relative biomass abundance of large trees and by tree size classes using a spatial bootstrap procedure. Although large trees had high individual growth rates and constituted a substantial amount of biomass, stand‐level biomass production decreased with the abundance of large trees in all treatments and plots. The contribution of large trees to annual stand‐level biomass production appeared limited in comparison to that of small trees. This pattern did not only originate from differences in abundance of small vs. large trees or differences in initial biomass stocks among tree size classes, but also from a reduced relative growth rate of large trees and a relatively constant mortality rate among tree size classes. In a context in which large trees are increasingly gaining attention as being a valuable and a key structural characteristic of natural forests, the present study brought key insights to better gauge the relatively limited role of large trees in annual stand‐level biomass production. In terms of carbon uptake, these results suggest, as already demonstrated, a low net carbon uptake of old‐growth forests in comparison to that of logged forests. Tropical forests that reach a successional stage with relatively high density of large trees progressively cease to be carbon sinks as large trees contribute sparsely or even negatively to the carbon uptake at the stand level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: Composite disease burden measures such as disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALY) have been widely used to quantify the population‐level health impact of disease or injury, but application has been limited for the estimation of the burden of adverse events following immunization. Our objective was to assess the feasibility of adapting the DALY approach for estimating adverse event burden. Methods: We developed a practical methodological framework, explicitly describing all steps involved: acquisition of relative or absolute risks and background event incidence rates, selection of disability weights and durations, and computation of the years lived with disability (YLD) measure, with appropriate estimation of uncertainty. We present a worked example, in which YLD is computed for 3 recognized adverse reactions following 3 childhood vaccination types, based on background incidence rates and relative/absolute risks retrieved from the literature. Results: YLD provided extra insight into the health impact of an adverse event over presentation of incidence rates only, as severity and duration are additionally incorporated. As well as providing guidance for the deployment of DALY methodology in the context of adverse events associated with vaccination, we also identified where data limitations potentially occur. Conclusions: Burden of disease methodology can be applied to estimate the health burden of adverse events following vaccination in a systematic way. As with all burden of disease studies, interpretation of the estimates must consider the quality and accuracy of the data sources contributing to the DALY computation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specificity of plant use by aphids is related to symbiont diversity of some aphid models. Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae, Aphidini) is a well-known aphid that feeds on species of Fabaceae, but has also been recorded recently on Amaranthus species (Amaranthaceae) in Gabon (Africa). Aphis craccivora strains used in this study were originally collected fromcrop Vigna unguiculata L.Walp. (Fabaceae) from Togba in Benin (Africa) and Amaranthus hybridus L. from Libreville in Gabon, for a comparative study of symbionts. Saliva composition, potentially including bacterial proteins, also contributes to the phytotoxic effect of aphid attacks. Both, endosymbiont bacteria and saliva protein diversity should be targeted to investigate the feeding behavior of aphids and to explain plant-aphid interactions. Bacteria-targeted PCR was conducted on six symbionts in A. craccivora. The obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola Munson et al. (Enterobacteriaceae) was identified in all aphids collected. In comparison, the facultative symbiont Serratia symbiotica Moran et al. (Enterobacteriaceae) was only found in A. craccivora from Gabon, whereas Rickettsia sp. (Rickettsiaceae) was only found in aphids from Benin. Using nano-LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry), some proteins were only found in solid or soluble saliva, whereas others originated from S. symbiotica. Two of the identified proteins are involved in plant-pathogen interactions: calmodulin and elongation factor Tu. This information on endosymbionts and related salivary proteomes from A. craccivora in Gabon helps improve our understanding of aphid-plant interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Existing dimensionless expressions that represent the incipient motion of sediments are based on studies of non‐cohesive sediments. Because of the complex behaviour of cohesive sediments, many simulators also assume non‐cohesiveness when simulating the erosion of cohesive sediments. However, studies show that the critical shear force needed for entrainment is much higher for consolidated cohesive sediments than for similarly sized non‐cohesive sediments. Treating cohesive sediments as non‐cohesive sediments thus will introduce a significant error with regard to quantifying the eroded sediment mass. On the other hand, the existing expressions of non‐cohesive sediments require relatively detailed hydraulic calculations to estimate the shear velocity or the bed shear stress and thus cannot be used with simplified simulators. Therefore, it is essential to have a versatile simple explicit method that estimates the incipient motion condition of both the consolidated cohesive and non‐cohesive sediments whenever needed. In this paper, explicit analytical expressions are proposed that simulate the incipient motion of consolidated cohesive and non‐cohesive sediments, based on the critical erosion curves of the Hjulström–Sundborg–Miedema diagram. The new method reproduces the latter diagram with high precision. It also mimics the critical incipient condition of non‐cohesive sediments determined by a well‐known analytical method for other experimental data sets and for the East Fork River without the need of an iterative solution. The new approach provides essential information for estimating the entrainment condition of pebbles or finer sediments. Besides, the use of the mean flow velocity and the flow depth as predictors of incipient condition allows for its easy and efficient implementation in conceptual simulators that do not perform detailed hydraulic calculations and for use by modelers that are not familiar with the hydrotechnical literature. It also reduces the computation time required for simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a review of new concepts and trends to push silicon power MOSFETs beyond their switching boundaries. The multiple issues encountered when increasing switching power loss and slew rate are thoroughly explained. Afterwards, a large variety of solutions are proposed in silicon technologies, all of them being experimentally proven and elucidated by physics-based simulations. Among these solutions, co-integrated snubbers, induced avalanche operation, local charge balance, tapered trenches, and cascoded configuration are suggested for low- and high-voltage power MOSFETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Assessments of carbon monoxide emissions through inverse modeling are dependent on the modeled abundance of the hydroxyl radical (OH) which controls both the primary sink of CO and its photochemical source through hydrocarbon oxidation. However, most chemistry transport models (CTMs) fall short of reproducing constraints on hemispherically averaged OH levels derived from methylchloroform (MCF) observations. Here we construct five different OH fields compatible with MCF‐based analyses, and we prescribe those fields in a global CTM to infer CO fluxes based on Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) CO columns. Each OH field leads to a different set of optimized emissions. Comparisons with independent data (surface, ground‐based remotely sensed, aircraft) indicate that the inversion adopting the lowest average OH level in the Northern Hemisphere (7.8 × 105 molec cm−3, ∼18% lower than the best estimate based on MCF measurements) provides the best overall agreement with all tested observation data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolution and population genetic structure of marine species across the Caribbean Sea are shaped by two complex factors: the geological history and the present pattern of marine currents. Characterizing and comparing the genetic structures of codistributed species, such as host-parasite associations, allow discriminating the relative importance of environmental factors and life history traits that influenced gene flow and demographic events. Using microsatellite and Cytochrome Oxidase I markers, we investigated if a host-parasite pair (the heart urchin Meoma ventricosa and its parasitic pea crab Dissodactylus primitivus) exhibits comparable population genetic structures in the Caribbean Sea and how the observed patterns match connectivity regions from predictive models and other taxa. Highly contrasting patterns were found: the host showed genetic homogeneity across the whole studied area, whereas the parasite displayed significant differentiation at regional and local scales. The genetic diversity of the parasitic crabs (both in microsatellites and COI) was distributed in two main groups, Panama-Jamaica-St Croix on the one hand, and the South-Eastern Caribbean on the other. At a smaller geographical scale, Panamanian and Jamaican parasite populations were genetically more similar, while more genetic differentiation was found within the Lesser Antilles. Both species showed a signature of population expansion during the Quaternary. Some results match predictive models or data from previous studies (e.g., the Western-Eastern dichotomy in the parasite) while others do not (e.g., genetic differentiation within the Lesser Antilles). The sharp dissimilarity of genetic structure of these codistributed species outlines the importance of population expansion events and/or contrasted patterns of gene flow. This might be linked to differences in several life history traits such as fecundity (higher for the host), swimming capacity of larval stages (higher for the parasite), and habitat availability (higher for the host). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are important virulence tools of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), but other biological functions of these nanostructures are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that modulation of OMV production enables EHEC to resist the intrahost environment during infection by investigating if simulated human gastrointestinal conditions affect OMV production in EHEC O157:H7 and O104:H4. All the conditions tested including a low pH, simulated ileal and colonic media, presence of mucin, intestinal epithelial cell lysate or antimicrobial peptides, as well as iron limitation, significantly increased OMV production by these pathogens. Accordingly, a maximum vesiculation in EHEC O104:H4 was observed immediately after its isolation from a patient's intestine, and rapidly decreased during passages in vitro. Most of the simulated intrahost conditions also upregulated the OMV-associated Shiga toxin 2a (Stx2a), the major EHEC virulence factor, and, as a result, OMV cytotoxicity. The data indicates that upregulation of OMV production by the human gastrointestinal milieu contributes to EHEC survival and adaptation within the host during infection. Moreover, the intrahost increase of vesiculation and OMV-associated Stx2a may augment EHEC virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Helicobacter suis is a very fastidious microorganism associated with gastritis, gastric ulcers, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in humans. In vitro isolation of this agent from human patients has so far been unsuccessful. Materials and methods A probe-based real-time PCR ( RT- PCR) for the rapid detection of H. suis in gastric biopsies was developed. Secondly, a mouse-passage-based protocol was optimized for isolation of low numbers of viable H. suis bacteria. Mice were inoculated with different numbers of viable H. suis (102-108) and kept for 4 weeks to allow multiplication of this pathogen. Results The probe-based real-time PCR ( RT- PCR) exhibited a high degree of diagnostic specificity and analytical sensitivity, high linear correlations ( r2 between 0.995 and 0.999), and high amplification efficiencies (>90%) for H. suis. No cross-reactivity was detected with human, porcine, non-human primate, and murine DNA nor with DNA from other bacteria including Helicobacter spp. and Campylobacter spp. H. suis was successfully re-isolated from the stomach of mice inoculated with at least 104 viable H. suis, using a biphasic medium ( pH 5), consisting of Brucella agar with Brucella broth on top, both supplemented with vitox supplement, Campylobacter-selective supplement, amphotericin (5 μg/mL), HCl (0.05%), fetal bovine serum (20%), and linezolid (5 μg/mL). Linezolid was necessary to inhibit proliferation of contaminants, including lactobacilli. Conclusion The methods described above can be implemented for detection or isolation of H. suis from human gastric biopsies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT One potential major role of social economy organizations in sustainability transitions is the creation and mobilization of social capital. Yet, the social economy gathers very distinct organizational models which may be associated with different types and levels of social capital. Accordingly, the objective of this article is to explore whether, and if so how, the type and level of social capital differ between mutual benefit organizations - which essentially seek to meet their members' needs - and public benefit organizations - which seek to enhance the well-being of a broader community or the society as a whole. The study draws on an econometric analysis of different forms of social capital in two renewable energy cooperatives which are located in Flanders but have clearly divergent orientations toward mutual versus public benefit. The results show that, as compared with an orientation toward public benefit, an orientation toward mutual benefit is associated with lower social identification with the cooperative and weaker ties between members. Our study explores the underlying explanatory mechanisms behind these relationships. Its findings contribute to understanding the potential roles played by cooperatives in sustainability transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most common numerical solutions used in CSTR-based in-stream water quality simulators are susceptible to instabilities and/or solution inconsistencies. Usually, they cope with instability problems by adopting computationally expensive small time steps. However, some simulators use fixed computation time steps and hence do not have the flexibility to do so. This paper presents a novel quasi-analytical solution for CSTR-based water quality simulators of an unsteady system. The robustness of the new method is compared with the commonly used fourth-order Runge-Kutta methods, the Euler method and three versions of the SWAT model (SWAT2012, SWAT-TCEQ, and ESWAT). The performance of each method is tested for different hypothetical experiments. Besides the hypothetical data, a real case study is used for comparison. The growth factors we derived as stability measures for the different methods and the R-factor-considered as a consistency measure-turned out to be very useful for determining the most robust method. The new method outperformed all the numerical methods used in the hypothetical comparisons. The application for the Zenne River (Belgium) shows that the new method provides stable and consistent BOD simulations whereas the SWAT2012 model is shown to be unstable for the standard daily computation time step. The new method unconditionally simulates robust solutions. Therefore, it is a reliable scheme for CSTR-based water quality simulators that use first-order reaction formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suspended sediment plays an important role in the distribution and transport of many pollutants (such as radionuclides) in rivers. Pollutants may adsorb on fine suspended particles (e.g. clay) and spread according to the suspended sediment movement. Hence, the simulation of the suspended sediment mechanism is indispensable for realistic transport modelling. This paper presents and tests a simple mathematical model for predicting the suspended sediment transport in river networks. The model is based on the van Rijn suspended load formula and the advection-diffusion equation with a source or sink term that represents the erosion or deposition fluxes. The transport equation is solved numerically with the discontinuous finite element method. The model evaluation was performed in two steps, first by comparing model simulations with the measured suspended sediment concentrations in the Grote Nete-Molse Nete River in Belgium, and second by a model intercomparison with the sediment transport model NST MIKE 11. The simulations reflect the measurements with a Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency of 0.6, while the efficiency between the proposed model and the NST MIKE 11 simulations is 0.96. Both evaluations indicate that the proposed sediment transport model, that is sufficiently simple to be practical, is providing realistic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irregularly shaped trees including trees with buttresses, flutes or stilt roots are frequent in tropical forests. The lack of an international standard to measure the diameter of such trees leads to high uncertainties in biomass estimation, tree growth and carbon budget monitoring., In this study, we developed a new method based on terrestrial close-range photogrammetry for measuring and modelling irregular stems. This approach is cheap and easy to implement in the field as it only requires a camera and a graduated rod. We validated the approach with destructive cross-section measurements along the stem of three buttressed trees. To demonstrate the broader utility of this method, we extended the validated approach to 43 additional trees belonging to two species: Celtis mildbraedii (Ulmaceae) and Entandophragma cylindricum (Meliaceae). Based on the three dimensional models, we computed shape indices for each tree, and we analysed the stem morphology of the two species. Finally, we analysed some standardized predictors for the estimation of above-ground biomass., We found a high concordance between diameters derived from the photogrammetric process and destructive diameter measurements along the stem for the three calibration trees. We found that C. mildbraedii develop much stronger irregularities than E. cylindricum. We also identified a large intraspecific variation in trunk morphology for E. cylindricum. The basal area at 1·3 m height ( Darea130) seems to be a more robust predictor for biomass estimates (lowest Akaike information criterion and relative squared error) than diameter measured above buttresses ( DAB) or diameter at breast height estimated from available taper model. Finally, Darea130 might be estimated with a good precision [root mean square error (RMSE) < 5%] with linear model based on the field measurements DAB and the perimeter of the convex hull of the buttresses at 1·3 m height ( Dconvhull130)., In this study, we showed the high potential of the photogrammetry for measuring and modelling irregular stems. Photogrammetry could then be used as a non-destructive measurement tool to produce correction factors for standardizing the diameter of irregular stems at a reference height which is a key issue in tree growth monitoring and biomass change estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiolabeled amino acids as metabolic tracers are increasingly important for imaging and therapy applications. There are only a few reports on 99mTc-labeled amino acids that have been evaluated in vivo. In this work we coupled a small and highly potent chelator for the fac-[99mTc(CO)3]+ core to l-tyrosine through a poly(ethylene glycol) linker and investigated the in vivo biodistribution of the 99mTc-labeled l-tyrosine derivative. In vivo evaluation and biodistribution in mice bearing C6-tumor xenografts revealed little tumor and pancreas uptake. The microSPECT images showed rapid clearance from the blood pool. Fast uptake into the gallbladder and an extended residence time makes this labeled tyrosine suitable for gallbladder imaging and associated dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Helicobacter heilmannii is a zoonotic bacterium associated with gastric disease in humans. We recently showed that H. heilmannii binds to human gastric mucins and epithelial cells and highlighted a potential role for the murine Muc13 mucin in gastric Helicobacter colonization. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of the H. heilmannii hof gene locus encoding HofH/F/E/G/C/D in adhesion to the gastric mucosa and induction of increased gastric Muc13 expression. Methods Bacterial hof gene and host gene expression experiments, Helicobacter binding assays and experimental infection studies in mice were performed. H. pylori and its Δ hofF mutant were included for comparison. Results Helicobacter heilmannii strains lacking HofE or HofF showed a clear decrease in binding to gastric mucins and epithelial cells as well as a lower gastric colonization level in the stomach of Balb/c mice at 4 and 9 weeks post-infection compared to the H. heilmannii wildtype strain. Interestingly, H. heilmannii Δ hofE and Δ hofF and H. pylori Δ hofF did not induce an increased expression of MUC13 in human gastric epithelial cells and of Muc13 in the stomach of mice. Finally, we demonstrated that IL-1β is induced in the stomach as a response to Helicobacter colonization which on its turn is involved in the expression of MUC13/Muc13 in the gastric epithelium. Conclusion These novel results in Helicobacter research identified H. heilmannii HofE and HofF as adhesins and suggest an important role of H. heilmannii HofE and HofF and H. pylori HofF in IL-1β-induced gastric MUC13/Muc13 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do children experience a participatory TV cultural policy project and, related to that, which views do they share on cultural policy matters? These questions guided a case study on a TV show aired on the Flemish children's public service channel, which staged children as cultural experts. Although the programme was presented as a participatory project, we found that the children's views were minimally involved in the production process. The children also expressed concerns about how (their) art and cultural practices were represented. Yet, from a cultural policy perspective, the children accepted adults’ authority in art and cultural matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemolytic anaemia is one of the characteristics of life-threatening extraintestinal complications in humans during infection with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Shiga toxins (Stxs) of EHEC preferentially damage microvascular endothelial cells of the kidney and the brain, whereby occluded small blood vessels may elicit anaemia through mechanical erythrocyte disruption. Here we show for the first time that Stx2a, the major virulence factor of EHEC, is also capable of direct targeting developing human erythrocytes. We employed an ex vivo erythropoiesis model using mobilized CD34+ haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from human blood and monitored expression of Stx receptors and Stx2a-mediated cellular injury of developing erythrocytes. CD34+ haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were negative for Stx2a receptors and resistant towards the toxin. Expression of Stx2a-binding glycosphingolipids and toxin sensitivity was apparent immediately after initiation of erythropoietic differentiation, peaked for basophilic and polychromatic erythroblast stages and declined during maturation into orthochromatic erythroblasts and reticulocytes, which became highly refractory to Stx2a. The observed Stx-mediated toxicity towards erythroblasts during the course of erythropoiesis might contribute, although speculative at this stage of research, to the anaemia caused by Stx-producing pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Episodic Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) discharges effectively control the ecological status of receiving water bodies. Hydrodynamic models like the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) are often used to model the CSO events. However, such detailed models are computationally demanding especially when a long-term simulation of a complex system is required. Considering this, we developed an alternative simple continuous simulation model (COSIMAT) using the SIMULINK™ module in MATLAB™ as a means of solving the issue of computational time associated with the detailed models. The COSIMAT model was tested against a detailed model set up on the SWMM. The Paruck collector - one of the major Collector of the Brussels' sewer system was used as an example case. Results showed that the accuracy of the simplified COSIMAT model was comparable to that of the detailed hydrodynamic model (SWMM) with a significant reduction of computational time by a factor of 8. We believe such alternative approaches would be useful to replace a computationally demanding model component of an integrated modelling system of a complex sewer system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a severe autosomal-recessive retinal dystrophy leading to congenital blindness. A recently identified LCA gene is NMNAT1, located in the LCA9 locus. Although most mutations in blindness genes are coding variations, there is accumulating evidence for hidden noncoding defects or structural variations (SVs). The starting point of this study was an LCA9-associated consanguineous family in which no coding mutations were found in the LCA9 region. Exploring the untranslated regions of NMNAT1 revealed a novel homozygous 5′UTR variant, c.-70A>T. Moreover, an adjacent 5′UTR variant, c.-69C>T, was identified in a second consanguineous family displaying a similar phenotype. Both 5′UTR variants resulted in decreased NMNAT1 mRNA abundance in patients' lymphocytes, and caused decreased luciferase activity in human retinal pigment epithelial RPE-1 cells. Second, we unraveled pseudohomozygosity of a coding NMNAT1 mutation in two unrelated LCA patients by the identification of two distinct heterozygous partial NMNAT1 deletions. Molecular characterization of the breakpoint junctions revealed a complex Alu-rich genomic architecture. Our study uncovered hidden genetic variation in NMNAT1-associated LCA and emphasized a shift from coding to noncoding regulatory mutations and repeat-mediated SVs in the molecular pathogenesis of heterogeneous recessive disorders such as hereditary blindness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivorous insects can cause severe cellular changes to plant foliage following infestations, depending on feeding behaviour. Here, a proteomic study was conducted to investigate the influence of green peach aphid ( Myzus persicae Sulzer) as a polyphagous pest on the defence response of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh after aphid colony establishment on the host plant (3 days). Analysis of about 574 protein spots on 2- DE gels revealed 31 differentially expressed protein spots. Twenty out of these 31 differential proteins were selected for analysis by mass spectrometry. In 12 of the 20 analysed spots, we identified seven and nine proteins using MALDI- TOF- MS and LC- ESI- MS/ MS, respectively. Of the analysed spots, 25% contain two proteins. Different metabolic pathways were modulated in Arabidopsis leaves according to aphid feeding: most corresponded to carbohydrate, amino acid and energy metabolism, photosynthesis, defence response and translation. This paper has established a survey of early alterations induced in the proteome of Arabidopsis by M. persicae aphids. It provides valuable insights into the complex responses of plants to biological stress, particularly for herbivorous insects with sucking feeding behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model for predicting vapor cloud explosion blast loads is described extending a previously developed model. The model considers the contribution of a Primary Explosion Site (PES) as well as the bulk effect of the total flammable cloud. The model results are then compared with historical accidents and other commonly used models considering a single PES. Four historical events are examined: the Flixborough accident of 1974, the Texas City accident of 2005, the Phillips 66 accident of 1989, and the Buncefield incident of 2005. It is found that the combined model produced pressure and impulse values consistent with the damage observed. If the contribution of the total cloud is not considered, the far field pressure, which included overpressures up to 0.35 bar, was underpredicted and impulse was significantly underpredicted. The other methods, produced, in general, significantly lower overpressures and impulses when compared with the damage indicators seen in the explosion accidents. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 34: 147-153, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the forecasting performance of models that have been proposed for forecasting in the presence of structural breaks. They differ in their treatment of the break process, the model applied in each regime and the out-of-sample probability of a break. In an extensive empirical evaluation, we demonstrate the presence of breaks and their importance for forecasting. We find no single model that consistently works best in the presence of breaks. In many cases, the formal modeling of the break process is important in achieving a good forecast performance. However, there are also many cases where rolling window forecasts perform well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiolabeling allows noninvasive imaging by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) for assessing the biodistribution of nanostructures. Herein, the synthesis of a new coating ligand for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and quantum dots (QDs) is reported. This ligand is multifunctional; it combines the metal chelate with conjugating functions to biological vectors. The concept allows the coupling of any targeting function to the chelator; an example for the prostate specific membrane antigen is given. Derivatized NPs can directly be labeled in one step with [99mTc(OH2)3(CO)3]+. AuNPs in particular are highly stable, a prerequisite for in vivo studies excluding misinterpretation of the biodistribution data. AuNPs with differing sizes (7 and 14 nm core diameter) were administered intravenously into nude NMRI mice bearing LNCaP xenografts. MicroSPECT images show for both probes rapid clearance from the blood pool through the hepatobiliary pathway. The 7 nm AuNPs revealed a significantly higher bone uptake than the 14 nm AuNPs. The high affinity towards bone mineral is further confirmed in vitro with hydroxyapatite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]