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International Society of Urological Pathology grade group 1 (GG 1) prostate cancer (PCa) is generally considered insignificant, with recent suggestions that it should even be considered as “noncancerous”. We evaluated outcomes for patients with GG 1 PCa on biopsy (bGG 1) and high-risk features (prostate-specific antigen [PSA] >20 ng/ml and/or cT3–4 stage) to challenge the hypothesis that every case of bGG 1 PCa has a benign disease course. We used the multi-institutional EMPaCT database, which includes data for 9508 patients with high-risk PCa undergoing surgery. We included patients with bGG 1 PCa (n = 848) in our analysis and divided them into three groups according to PSA >20 ng/ml, cT3–4 stage, or both. The estimated 10-yr cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate was 96% in the overall population, 88% in the group with both PSA >20 ng/ml and cT3–4 stage, 97% in the group with PSA >20 ng/ml alone, and 98% in the group with cT3–4 stage alone. Similar CSS outcomes were found in subgroups with GG 1 PCa on pathology (n = 502) and with GG 1 on biopsy diagnosed after 2005 (n = 253). Study limitations include the lack of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) staging and MRI-targeted biopsies. In conclusion, patients with GG 1 and either PSA >20 ng/ml or cT3–4 stage have a low risk of dying from their cancer after surgery. However, patients with GG 1 PCa and both PSA >20 ng/ml and cT3–4 stage are at higher risk of cancer-specific mortality and active treatment should be discussed for this subgroup. Patient summary: We assessed outcomes for patients diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer on biopsy who also had one or two factors associated with high risk disease. Men with both of those risk factors had a higher risk of dying from their prostate cancer. Active treatment should be discussed for this subgroup of patients.

Clearing and construction activities related to the Maya Train (Tren Maya) project resulted in potential and inevitable impacts to archaeological caves sites in largely undeveloped areas of Quintana Roo. An effort coordinated by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) involved accelerated digital documentation of two caves – via SLAM-enabled mobile LiDAR scanning and targeted photogrammetry – to facilitate prompt visualization and evaluation of terrestrial and subterranean geospatial relationships. Mobile LiDAR is well suited to the challenges of capturing the complex, multilevel morphology of caves and was readily deployed across and through priority environments. Specific archaeological features – such as ancient Maya rock art and masonry shrines – were documented via photogrammetry, and the resulting higher-resolution models co-referenced with the georeferenced mobile LiDAR-generated point clouds of each cave and the surrounding topographic context. This integrative approach contributed to a more informed decision-making process, with respect to conservation and construction, and provided baseline data for future monitoring of the affected cave sites.

This is a study of lipid metabolic gene expression patterns to discover precision medicine for sepsis.ObjectivesSepsis patients experience poor outcomes including chronic critical illness (CCI) or early death (within 14 d). We investigated lipid metabolic gene expression differences by outcome to discover therapeutic targets.Design setting and particitpantsSecondary analysis of samples from prospectively enrolled sepsis patients (first 24 hr) and a zebrafish endotoxemia model for drug discovery. Patients were enrolled from the emergency department or ICU at an urban teaching hospital. Enrollment samples from sepsis patients were analyzed. Clinical data and cholesterol levels were recorded. Leukocytes were processed for RNA sequencing and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. A lipopolysaccharide zebrafish endotoxemia model was used for confirmation of human transcriptomic findings and drug discovery.Main outcomes and measuresThe derivation cohort included 96 patients and controls (12 early death, 13 CCI, 51 rapid recovery, and 20 controls) and the validation cohort had 52 patients (6 early death, 8 CCI, and 38 rapid recovery).ResultsThe cholesterol metabolism gene 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) was significantly up-regulated in both derivation and validation cohorts in poor outcome sepsis compared with rapid recovery patients and in 90-day nonsurvivors (validation only) and validated using RT-qPCR analysis. Our zebrafish sepsis model showed up-regulation of dhcr7 and several of the same lipid genes up-regulated in poor outcome human sepsis (dhcr24, sqlea, cyp51, msmo1, and ldlra) compared with controls. We then tested six lipid-based drugs in the zebrafish endotoxemia model. Of these, only the Dhcr7 inhibitor AY9944 completely rescued zebrafish from lipopolysaccharide death in a model with 100% lethality.ConclusionsDHCR7, an important cholesterol metabolism gene, was up-regulated in poor outcome sepsis patients warranting external validation. This pathway may serve as a potential therapeutic target to improve sepsis outcomes.

Finger millet is a key food security crop widely grown in eastern Africa, India and Nepal. Long considered a 'poor man's crop', finger millet has regained attention over the past decade for its climate resilience and the nutritional qualities of its grain. To bring finger millet breeding into the 21st century, here we present the assembly and annotation of a chromosome-scale reference genome. We show that this ~1.3 million years old allotetraploid has a high level of homoeologous gene retention and lacks subgenome dominance. Population structure is mainly driven by the differential presence of large wild segments in the pericentromeric regions of several chromosomes. Trait mapping, followed by variant analysis of gene candidates, reveals that loss of purple coloration of anthers and stigma is associated with loss-of-function mutations in the finger millet orthologs of the maize R1/B1 and Arabidopsis GL3/EGL3 anthocyanin regulatory genes. Proanthocyanidin production in seed is not affected by these gene knockouts.

Clostridioides difficile is a One Health pathogen found in humans, animals, and environment, with food representing a potential transmission route. One Health studies are often limited to single country or selected reservoirs and ribotypes. This study provides a varied and accessible collection of C. difficile isolates and sequencing data derived from human, animal, and food sources across thirteen European countries. A total of 441 strains (human hospital and community associated cases n = 280, animal n = 96, food n = 65) were analysed by ribotyping, toxinotyping and whole genome sequencing (WGS). We detected 83 sequence types (STs), with ST11 (n = 80 isolates) and ST1 (n = 54 isolates) being the most represented. Several STs included strains originating from all source combinations. Further genomic analysis confirmed close genetic relatedness in some of the STs. Additionally, genomic analysis identified ten strains from cryptic clades (C-I to C-III) and four of them were mono-toxigenic possessing only a variant form of tcdA gene. Amongst 106 ribotypes, ten were shared between all three sources and 68 were source specific. Some ribotypes were only found at intersection of human and food source (RT023, RT027), or between human and animal source (RT009, RT045, RT046). C. difficile ribotypes and STs in Europe were diverse. In this collection some ribotypes showed potential association with food or animal transmission routes. C. difficile strains from divergent clades CI-III, currently emerging in human population, were rare and mostly food associated.

Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen, able to reside in a broad range of niches within the human body. Even though C. albicans systemic infection is associated with high mortality, the fungus has historically received relatively little attention, resulting in a lack of optimized molecular and fluorescent tools. Over the last decade, some extra focus has been put on the optimization of fluorescent proteins (FPs) of C. albicans. However, as the FPs are GFP-type, they require an aerobic environment and a relatively long period to fully mature. Recently, we have shown the application of a novel type of fluorogen-based FP, with an improved version of fluorescence activating and absorption shifting tag (iFAST), in C. albicans. Due to the dynamic relation between iFAST and its fluorogens, the system has the advantage of being reversible in terms of fluorescence. Furthermore, the combination of iFAST with different fluorogens results in different spectral and cellular properties, allowing customization of the system.

While pesticide use is subject to strict regulatory oversight worldwide, it remains a main concern for environmental protection, including biodiversity conservation. This is partly due to the current regulatory approach that relies on separate assessments for each single pesticide, crop use, and non-target organism group at local scales. Such assessments tend to overlook the combined effects of overall pesticide usage at larger spatial scales. Integrative landscape-based approaches are emerging, enabling the consideration of agricultural management, the environmental characteristics, and the combined effects of pesticides applied in a same or in different crops within an area. These developments offer the opportunity to deliver informative risk predictions relevant for different decision contexts including their connection to larger spatial scales and to combine environmental risks of pesticides, with those from other environmental stressors. We discuss the needs, challenges, opportunities and available tools for implementing landscape-based approaches for prospective and retrospective pesticide Environmental Risk Assessments (ERA). A set of “building blocks” that emerged from the discussions have been integrated into a conceptual framework. The framework includes elements to facilitate its implementation, in particular: flexibility to address the needs of relevant users and stakeholders; means to address the inherent complexity of environmental systems; connections to make use of and integrate data derived from monitoring programs; and options for validation and approaches to facilitate future use in a regulatory context. The conceptual model can be applied to existing ERA methodologies, facilitating its comparability, and highlighting interoperability drivers at landscape level. The benefits of landscape-based pesticide ERA extend beyond regulation. Linking and validating risk predictions with relevant environmental impacts under a solid science-based approach will support the setting of protection goals and the formulation of sustainable agricultural strategies. Moreover, landscape ERA offers a communication tool on realistic pesticide impacts in a multistressors environment for stakeholders and citizens.

Caffeine consumption outcomes on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) including progression, survival and cognition remain poorly defined and may depend on its metabolization influenced by genetic variants. 378 ALS patients with a precise evaluation of their regular caffeine consumption were monitored as part of a prospective multicenter study. Demographic, clinical characteristics, functional disability as measured with revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R), cognitive deficits measured using Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS), survival and riluzole treatment were recorded. 282 patients were genotyped for six single nucleotide polymorphisms tagging different genes involved in caffeine intake and/or metabolism: CYP1A1 (rs2472297), CYP1A2 (rs762551), AHR (rs4410790), POR (rs17685), XDH (rs206860) and ADORA2A (rs5751876) genes. Association between caffeine consumption and ALSFRS-R, ALSFRS-R rate, ECAS and survival were statistically analyzed to determine the outcome of regular caffeine consumption on ALS disease progression and cognition. No association was observed between caffeine consumption and survival (p = 0.25), functional disability (ALSFRS-R; p = 0.27) or progression of ALS (p = 0.076). However, a significant association was found with higher caffeine consumption and better cognitive performance on ECAS scores in patients carrying the C/T and T/T genotypes at rs2472297 (p-het = 0.004). Our results support the safety of regular caffeine consumption on ALS disease progression and survival and also show its beneficial impact on cognitive performance in patients carrying the minor allele T of rs2472297, considered as fast metabolizers, that would set the ground for a new pharmacogenetic therapeutic strategy.

Immune-checkpoint-inhibitor (ICI)-associated myotoxicity involves the heart (myocarditis) and skeletal muscles (myositis), which frequently occur concurrently and are highly fatal. We report the results of a strategy that included identification of individuals with severe ICI myocarditis by also screening for and managing concomitant respiratory muscle involvement with mechanical ventilation, as well as treatment with the CTLA4 fusion protein abatacept and the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib. Forty cases with definite ICI myocarditis were included with pathologic confirmation of concomitant myositis in the majority of patients. In the first 10 patients, using recommended guidelines, myotoxicity-related fatality occurred in 60%, consistent with historical controls. In the subsequent 30 cases, we instituted systematic screening for respiratory muscle involvement coupled with active ventilation and treatment using ruxolitinib and abatacept. The abatacept dose was adjusted using CD86 receptor occupancy on circulating monocytes. The myotoxicity-related fatality rate was 3.4% (1/30) in these 30 patients versus 60% in the first quartile (P < 0.0001). These clinical results are hypothesis-generating and need further evaluation.SignificanceEarly management of respiratory muscle failure using mechanical ventilation and high-dose abatacept with CD86 receptor occupancy monitoring combined with ruxolitinib may be promising to mitigate high fatality rates in severe ICI myocarditis. See related commentary by Dougan, p. 1040. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1027.

Background: Little is known about the quality and impact of Canadian-produced research relative to that of other developed nations. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of Canadian authors to the orthopedic literature globally and nationally as well as Canada's research productivity in orthopedics. We hypothesized that Canada ranks among the most impactful countries in terms of orthopedic research productivity. Methods: We performed a bibliometric analysis to identify articles published between 2001 and 2020 in the category of orthopedics. We identified Canada's global rank in terms of overall productivity and assessed the contributions of individual Canadian authors. We also examined the quality of publications as determined by category normalized citation impact (CNCI) and publication in the top quartile of journals (%Q1) in terms of impact factor. In addition, we calculated the percentage of Canadian publications that were in orthopedics. Results: We identified 10821 orthopedic publications from 2001 to 2020. Canada placed sixth globally in terms of productivity in orthopedic research. The annual productivity of Canadian orthopedic researchers increased over the study period by a factor of 3.2. In terms of research quality, with a %Q1 of 36.5% and a CNCI of 1.22, Canada outperformed Asian countries and the United States; the latter country had a %Q1 of 35.3% and a CNCI of 1.14 over the study period. Conclusion: The body of Canadian orthopedic literature has grown consistently over the past 20 years. Despite the overall leadership of the United States and other developed nations such as China and Japan, Canada ranks among the most influential countries in terms of the quality and quantity of orthopedic research. Contexte: On en sait peu sur la qualité et les retombées de la recherche menée au Canada par rapport à celles des autres pays industrialisés. Cette étude avait pour but de déterminer la contribution des auteurs canadiens à la littérature mondiale et nationale en orthopédie, et la productivité en recherche dans ce domaine au Canada. Selon notre hypothèse, le Canada se classe parmi les pays ayant le plus d'impact pour ce qui est de la productivité en recherche orthopédique. Méthodes: Nous avons procédé à une analyse bibliométrique pour recenser les articles en orthopédie publiés entre 2001 et 2020. Nous avons vérifié le classement mondial du Canada au plan de la productivité globale et évalué les contributions canadiennes individuelles. Nous avons aussi mesuré la qualité des publications à partir de l'impact normalisé des citations selon la discipline (INCD) et les publications se situant dans le quartile supérieur des revues (%Q1) pour le facteur d'impact. Nous avons aussi calculé le pourcentage des publications canadiennes concernant l'orthopédie. Résultats: Nous avons recensé 10821 publications en orthopédie entre 2001 et 2020. Le Canada s'est classé sixième au monde au plan de la productivité en recherche orthopédique. La productivité annuelle des chercheurs canadiens en orthopédie a augmenté au cours de la période de l'étude selon un facteur de 3,2. Au plan de la qualité de la recherche, avec un indice %Q1 de 36,5% et un INCD de 1,22, le Canada s'est mieux classé que les pays asiatiques et les Etats-Unis, ce dernier ayant obtenu un indice %Q1 de 35,3% et un INCD de 1,14 pour la période de l'étude. Conclusion: Au cours des 20 dernières années, le corpus canadien de littérature orthopédique a régulièrement augmenté. Malgré le leadership global exercé par les Etats-Unis et les autres pays industrialisés, comme la Chine et le Japon, le Canada se classe parmi les pays ayant le plus d'influence aux plans quantitatif et qualitatif en recherche orthopédique., Abibliometric analysis is both a quantitative and a qualitative review of the scientific literature. A number of factors have been described to assess academic productivity using this model, in terms [...]

Abstract Settlement is a critical period in the life cycle of marine invertebrates with a planktonic larval stage. For reef-building invertebrates such as oysters and corals, settlement rates are predictive for long-term reef survival. Increasing evidence suggests that marine invertebrates use information from ocean soundscapes to inform settlement decisions. Sessile marine invertebrates with a planktonic stage are particularly reliant on environmental cues to direct them to ideal habitats. As gregarious settlers, oysters prefer to settle amongst members of the same species. It has been hypothesized that oyster larvae from species Crassostrea virginica and Ostrea angasi use distinct conspecific oyster reef sounds to navigate to ideal habitats. In controlled laboratory experiments we exposed Pacific Oyster Magallana gigas larvae to anthropogenic sounds from conspecific oyster reefs, vessels, combined reef-vessel sounds as well as off-reef and no speaker controls. Our findings show that sounds recorded at conspecific reefs induced higher percentages of settlement by about 1.44 and 1.64 times compared to off-reef and no speaker controls, respectively. In contrast, the settlement increase compared to the no speaker control was non-significant for vessel sounds (1.21 fold), combined reef-vessel sounds (1.30 fold), and off-reef sounds (1.18 fold). This study serves as a foundational stepping stone for exploring larval sound feature preferences within this species.

Abstract Background Frailty, a syndrome characterized by decreased reserve and resistance to stressors across multiple physiologic systems, is highly prevalent in people living with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), independent of age or disability level. Frailty in MS is strongly associated with adverse clinical outcomes, such as falls, and may aggravate MS-related symptoms. Consequently, there is a pressing necessity to explore and evaluate strategies to reduce frailty levels in pwMS. The purpose of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multimodal exercise training program to reduce frailty in pwMS. Methods A total of 24 participants will be randomly assigned to 6 weeks of multimodal exercise or to a waitlist control group with a 1:1 allocation. PwMS aged 40–65 years and living with frailty will be eligible. The multimodal exercise program will consist of cognitive-motor rehabilitation (i.e., virtual reality treadmill training) combined with progressive, evidence-based resistance training. At baseline and post-intervention, participants will complete the Evaluative Frailty Index for Physical Activity (EFIP), measures of fall risk, and quality of life. Frailty-related biomarkers will also be assessed. In addition, the feasibility of the multimodal exercise program will be systematically and multidimensionally evaluated. Discussion To date, no RCT has yet been conducted to evaluate whether targeted exercise interventions can minimize frailty in MS. The current study will provide novel data on the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of multimodal exercise training as a strategy for counteracting frailty in pwMS. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06042244 (registered in September 2023).

In archaeological soil and sediment micromorphology, research is grounded in observations made with petrographic microscopes. These observations are recorded using standardised terms and microphotographs. The two-pillar database system allows a user-friendly recording of these observations with I-GEOARCHrec and the possibility to link these data to field pictures and microphotographs publicly available in I-GEOARCHive.

This study examines how different migration backgrounds-non-migrants, newly-arrived migrants, first-generation migrants, and second-generation migrants-affect the mental and social wellbeing of adolescents. Data from two cross-sectional surveys in 2022 in Flanders, Belgium, included 17,639 adolescents (52% boys; aged 11–19). We analysed the association between migration background and four outcomes: depression symptoms (WHO-5 Wellbeing Index), and general-, social-, and emotional-loneliness (Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale), whilst accounting for age and sex differences. Our findings indicate that migration background significantly influences all four outcomes. Newly-arrived migrants showed the highest likelihood of experiencing depression (OR = 2.08) and loneliness (general OR = 2.12; social OR = 2.32; emotional OR = 2.89), when compared to their non-migrant peers. Similarly, non-newcomer first-generation and second-generation migrants also faced a higher risk of depression and loneliness compared to non-migrants. This study highlights the persistent challenges that migration poses for adolescents’ social and mental wellbeing, and the extreme vulnerability of newly-arrived migrants.

Background: Metabolic derangements in sepsis influence phosphate levels, which may predict mortality outcomes. We investigated the association between initial phosphate levels and 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with sepsis. Initial (first 24 hours) phosphate levels were divided into phosphate quartile groups for comparisons. We used repeated-measures mixed-models to assess differences in 28-day mortality across the phosphate groups, adjusting for other predictors identified by the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator variable selection technique.Results: A total of 1,855 patients were included with 13% overall 28-day mortality (n=237). The highest phosphate quartile (>4.0 milligrams per deciliter [mg/dL]) had a higher mortality rate (28%) than the three lower quartiles (P

BackgroundGenetic mutations underlying familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) were identified decades ago, but the field is still in search of transformative therapies for patients. While mouse models based on overexpression of mutated transgenes have yielded key insights in mechanisms of disease, those models are subject to artifacts, including random genetic integration of the transgene, ectopic expression and non-physiological protein levels. The genetic engineering of novel mouse models using knock-in approaches addresses some of those limitations. With mounting evidence of the role played by microglia in AD, high-dimensional approaches to phenotype microglia in those models are critical to refine our understanding of the immune response in the brain.MethodsWe engineered a novel App knock-in mouse model (AppSAA) using homologous recombination to introduce three disease-causing coding mutations (Swedish, Arctic and Austrian) to the mouse App gene. Amyloid-β pathology, neurodegeneration, glial responses, brain metabolism and behavioral phenotypes were characterized in heterozygous and homozygous AppSAA mice at different ages in brain and/ or biofluids. Wild type littermate mice were used as experimental controls. We used in situ imaging technologies to define the whole-brain distribution of amyloid plaques and compare it to other AD mouse models and human brain pathology. To further explore the microglial response to AD relevant pathology, we isolated microglia with fibrillar Aβ content from the brain and performed transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses and in vivo brain imaging to measure energy metabolism and microglial response. Finally, we also characterized the mice in various behavioral assays.ResultsLeveraging multi-omics approaches, we discovered profound alteration of diverse lipids and metabolites as well as an exacerbated disease-associated transcriptomic response in microglia with high intracellular Aβ content. The AppSAA knock-in mouse model recapitulates key pathological features of AD such as a progressive accumulation of parenchymal amyloid plaques and vascular amyloid deposits, altered astroglial and microglial responses and elevation of CSF markers of neurodegeneration. Those observations were associated with increased TSPO and FDG-PET brain signals and a hyperactivity phenotype as the animals aged.DiscussionOur findings demonstrate that fibrillar Aβ in microglia is associated with lipid dyshomeostasis consistent with lysosomal dysfunction and foam cell phenotypes as well as profound immuno-metabolic perturbations, opening new avenues to further investigate metabolic pathways at play in microglia responding to AD-relevant pathogenesis. The in-depth characterization of pathological hallmarks of AD in this novel and open-access mouse model should serve as a resource for the scientific community to investigate disease-relevant biology.

Although internationally there is a growing interest in strategic human resource management (SHRM) in the educational context, few studies explored SHRM in schools. This qualitative study explores if five common human resource management (HRM) practices (i.e. recruitment and selection, assignment, evaluation, rewards, and development) are aligned with schools' strategic planning and individual teacher needs. The analysis is based on 194 semi-structured interviews with school leaders and school team members in 24 schools in Flanders (Belgium). After a within-case analysis, a classification was made for each school for each HRM practice under investigation based on a classification scheme indicating the strategic focus per HRM practice. The cross-case analysis shows that for some HRM practices the alignment with school's strategic planning and individual teacher needs is identified in more schools (e.g. for 'professional development') than for other practices (e.g. for 'rewards'). The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of SHRM within the education sector and provide schools with tools to invest in SHRM.

Self-efficacy is a perceived judgment that one has the ability to execute a course of action that brings about a desired result. While a growing body of research demonstrates the importance of self-efficacy by school leaders, little is known about the different sources of principals' self-efficacy. This qualitative study investigates the relevance of Bandura's sources of self-efficacy and on potential additional sources. The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with 23 primary school principals in Flanders (Belgium). The results reveal that mastery experiences prove to be the most powerful source of principal self-efficacy although they are mainly small successes and do not refer to extraordinary achievements or excellent results. This study also emphasizes the importance of verbal or social persuasion and gaining knowledge. Suggestions for further research, limitations and implications of this study are discussed.

The present study focuses on how elementary-level student teachers reacted to difficulties during their first internship experience. More specifically, we analysed how their self-efficacy was affected by (a) their perception of failure during the internship, (b) the importance they assigned to their teacher self-aspect, and (c) the interaction between these two constructs. Using a quantitative design (N = 124), we measured their self-efficacy both before and after a 2-week internship. Results showed an overall increase in self-efficacy, but no such increase for participants with high teacher self-aspect who reported high failure experience, which indicated an amplifying moderation effect of teacher self-aspect in the relation between failure experience and change in self-efficacy. We discuss the profile of these "high-importance/high-failure" students and the support that can be given to them.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed the 2022 post‐market environmental monitoring (PMEM) report on the cultivation of Cry1Ab‐expressing maize event MON 810. Overall, the 2022 PMEM report provides no evidence of adverse effects of maize MON 810 cultivation. It shows a high level of compliance with refuge requirements by Spanish and Portuguese farmers growing maize MON 810, but uncertainty remains on compliance in areas where the clustered surface of maize MON 810 farms exceeds 5 ha. There are no signs of practical resistance to Cry1Ab in the field in corn borer populations collected in north‐eastern Spain in 2022, although a decrease in Cry1Ab susceptibility in Mediterranean corn borer populations from this area cannot be excluded. Information retrieved through farmer questionnaires in Spain and from the scientific literature reveals no unanticipated adverse effects on human and animal health or the environment arising from the cultivation of maize MON 810. Uncertainties remain on whether ‘very highly’ and ‘extremely’ sensitive non‐target lepidoptera are potentially exposed to harmful amounts of MON 810 pollen. EFSA notes that several recommendations made in the frame of the assessment of previous PMEM reports remain unaddressed and identified additional shortcomings in the 2022 PMEM report that require further consideration by the consent holder in future annual PMEM reports. Particularly, EFSA emphasises the urgent need to increase the sensitivity of the insect resistance monitoring strategy and implement mitigation measures to ensure that the exposure of non‐target lepidoptera to maize MON 810 pollen is reduced to levels of no concern.

Robotic devices have recently enhanced cochlear implantation by improving precision resulting in reduced intracochlear damage during electrode insertion. This study aimed to gain first insights into the expected dimensions of the cone-like workspace from the posterior tympanotomy towards the round window membrane.This retrospective chart review analyzed ten postoperative CT scans of adult patients who were implanted with a CI in the past ten years. The dimensions of the cone-like workspace were determined using four landmarks (P1–P4). In the anteroposterior range, P1 and P2 were defined on the edge of the bony layer over the facial nerve and chorda tympani nerve, respectively. In the inferosuperior range, P3 was defined on the bony edge of the incus buttress and P4 was obtained at a distance of 0.45 mm between the facial nerve and the chorda tympani nerve. After selecting the landmarks, the calculations of the dimensions of the surgical access space were done in a standardized coordinate system and presented using descriptive statistics.The cone-like space is limited by two maximal angles, α and β. The average angle α of 19.84 (±3.55) degrees defines the angle towards the round window membrane between P1 and P2. The second average angle β of 53.56 (±10.29) degrees defines the angle towards the round window membrane between P3 and P4. Based on the angles the mean anteroposterior range of 2.25 (±0.42) mm and mean inferosuperior range of 6.73 (±2.42) mm. The distance from the posterior tympanotomy to the round window membrane was estimated at 6.05 (±0.71) mm.These findings present data on the hypothetical maximum workspace in which a future robotically steered insertion tool can be positioned for an optimal automated electrode insertion. A larger sample size is necessary before generalizing these dimensions to a population. Further research including preoperative CT scans is needed for planning robotic-steered cochlear implantation.

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy plays a crucial role when studying dynamic properties of complex photochemical systems. Nevertheless, the analysis of measured time decays and the extraction of exponential lifetimes often requires either the experimental assessment or the modeling of the instrument response function (IRF). However, the intrinsic nature of the IRF in the measurement process, which may vary across measurements due to chemical and instrumental factors, jeopardizes the results obtained by reconvolution approaches. In this paper, we introduce a novel methodology, called blind instrument response function identification (BIRFI), which enables the direct estimation of the IRF from the collected data. It capitalizes on the properties of single exponential signals to transform a deconvolution problem into a well-posed system identification problem. To delve into the specifics, we provide a step-by-step description of the BIRFI method and a protocol for its application to fluorescence decays. The performance of BIRFI is evaluated using simulated and time-correlated single-photon counting data. Our results demonstrate that the BIRFI methodology allows an accurate recovery of the IRF, yielding comparable or even superior results compared with those obtained with experimental IRFs when they are used for reconvolution by parametric model fitting.