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Scientific collaboration yields many advantages, especially in fields that require interdisciplinary approaches, as it fosters the sharing of knowledge and resources and is essential for the implementation of complex projects. The concept of scientific internationalism emerged around the 1900s, emphasizing that science surpasses national boundaries and promotes global peace and collaboration. International scientific cooperation is halted by geopolitical tensions and conflicts, such as World War II and the Cold War. Nevertheless, many examples show that scientific collaboration can surpass conflicts and bring scientific and society development, such as in the cases of the Tick-borne Encephalitis vaccine, the Apollo-Soyuz test project and more recently the international endeavour for COVID-19 vaccine development. In this contest, UN and WHO have an imporant role to promote peace and scientific cooperation, examplified by the 16th Sustainable Development Goal, to “Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies”.

Abstract: The three-dimensional coordinates of 13 soft-tissue landmarks on the ears were obtained by a computerized digitizer in 28 subjects with Down''s syndrome aged 12–45 years, and in 449 sex, age and ethnic group matched controls. From the landmarks, left and right linear distances (ear width and length), ratios (ear width-to-ear length), areas (ear area), angles (angle of the auricle versus the facial midplane) and the three-dimensional symmetry index were calculated. For both males and females, all linear dimensions and areas were significantly (Analysis of Variance, P <0.001) larger in the reference subjects than in the subjects with Down''s syndrome. All values significantly increased as a function of age (P <0.05); the increment was larger in the reference subjects than in the subjects with Down''s syndrome. On both sides of the face, the subjects with Down''s syndrome had larger ear width-to-ear length ratios, and larger angles of the auricle versus the facial midplane than the reference subjects. The three-dimensional symmetry index was significantly larger in the reference subjects and in the older persons. In conclusion, ear dimensions, position and shape significantly differed in subjects with Down''s syndrome when compared to sex, age and ethnic group matched controls. Some of the differences were sex and age related. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]