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Over the past decades, ‘governing by numbers’ has taken a flight in the higher education sector. Performance-based budgeting and quality assurance schemes orient universities to new objectives, while rankings have globalised the metrified observation of higher education at large. Where previously no indicators existed, they are being introduced; where indicators already existed, they are being standardised for purposes of comparison. This thematic issue aims to work towards a more comprehensive understanding of the growing diversity of quantification-based instruments in higher education sectors in three European countries. The effects of quantification are noticed at all levels of the higher education system, from policy makers at the top of the regulatory pyramid down to students and academic staff. Yet even quantifiers outside of the regulatory system, such as ranking and metrics organisations, may have an important bearing on the operation of the university organisation and the sector at large. Thus, an entire governance landscape emerges in which actors at various levels turn to numbers for guidance. The articles in this thematic issue analyse the life cycle of such numbers, from their origins, through to their production and finally, their consequences. This editorial outlines the central questions and overarching issues addressed by the thematic issue and introduces its various contributions.

This is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in International Journal of Engine Research. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published as https://doi.org/10.1177/1468087419881535., [EN] An investigation of the interaction between the in-cylinder flow and the spray topology in two spray-guided direct injection optical engines is reported. The bulk flow field in the combustion chamber is characterized using particle image velocimetry. Geometrical parameters such as the axial penetration and the spray angle of the liquid spray are measured using Mie scatter imaging and/or diffuse back-illumination. The measured parameters are compared with data from a constant volume chamber available in the literature. For a late injection strategy, the so-called ECN Spray G standard condition, the mean values of the spray penetration do not seem to be significantly perturbed by the in-cylinder flow motion until the plumes approach the piston surface. However, spray probability maps reveal that cycle-to-cycle fluctuations of the spatial distribution of the liquid spray are affected by the magnitude of the in-cylinder flow. Particle image velocimetry during injection shows that the flow field in the vicinity of the spray plumes is heavily influenced by air entrainment, and that an upward flow in-between spray plumes develops. Consistent with previous research that demonstrated the importance of the latter flow structure for the prevention of spray collapse, it is found that increased in-cylinder flow magnitudes due to increased intake valve lifts or engine speeds enhance the spray-shape stability. Compared with cases without injection, the influence of the spray on the in-cylinder flow field is still noticeable approximately 2.5 ms after the start of injection.

[EN] In this paper, we discuss stochastic differential-algebraic equations (SDAEs) and the asymptotic stability assessment for such systems via Lyapunov exponents (LEs). We focus on index-1 SDAEs and their reformulation as ordinary stochastic differential equations (SDEs). Via ergodic theory, it is then feasible to analyze the LEs via the random dynamical system generated by the underlying SDEs. Once the existence of well-defined LEs is guaranteed, we proceed to the use of numerical simulation techniques to determine the LEs numerically. Discrete and continuous QR decomposition-based numerical methods are implemented to compute the fundamental solution matrix and to use it in the computation of the LEs. Important computational features of both methods are illustrated via numerical tests. Finally, the methods are applied to two applications from power systems engineering, including the single-machine infinite-bus (SMIB) power system model.

[EN] KM3NeT is a research infrastructure being installed in the deep Mediterranean Sea. It will house a neutrino telescope comprising hundreds of networked moorings ¿ detection units or strings ¿ equipped with optical instrumentation to detect the Cherenkov radiation generated by charged particles from neutrino-induced collisions in its vicinity. In comparison to moorings typically used for oceanography, several key features of the KM3NeT string are di¿erent: the instrumentation is contained in transparent and thus unprotected glass spheres; two thin Dyneema® ropes are used as strength members; and a thin delicate backbone tube with ¿bre-optics and copper wires for data and power transmission, respectively, runs along the full length of the mooring. Also, compared to other neutrino telescopes such as ANTARES in the Mediterranean Sea and GVD in Lake Baikal, the KM3NeT strings are more slender to minimise the amount of material used for support of the optical sensors. Moreover, the rate of deploying a large number of strings in a period of a few years is unprecedented. For all these reasons, for the installation of the KM3NeT strings, a custom-made, fast deployment method was designed. Despite the length of several hundreds of metres, the slim design of the string allows it to be compacted into a small, re-usable spherical launching vehicle instead of deploying the mooring weight down from a surface vessel. After being lowered to the sea¿oor, the string unfurls to its full length with the buoyant launching vehicle rolling along the two ropes. The design of the vehicle, the loading with a string, and its underwater self-unrolling are detailed in this paper.

[EN] The KM3NeT research infrastructure is currently under construction at two locations in the Mediterranean Sea. The KM3NeT/ORCA water-Cherenkov neutrino detector off the French coast will instrument several megatons of seawater with photosensors. Its main objective is the determination of the neutrino mass ordering. This work aims at demonstrating the general applicability of deep convolutional neural networks to neutrino telescopes, using simulated datasets for the KM3NeT/ORCA detector as an example. To this end, the networks are employed to achieve reconstruction and classification tasks that constitute an alternative to the analysis pipeline presented for KM3NeT/ORCA in the KM3NeT Letter of Intent. They are used to infer event reconstruction estimates for the energy, the direction, and the interaction point of incident neutrinos. The spatial distribution of Cherenkov light generated by charged particles induced in neutrino interactions is classified as shower- or track-like, and the main background processes associated with the detection of atmospheric neutrinos are recognized. Performance comparisons to machine-learning classification and maximum-likelihood reconstruction algorithms previously developed for KM3NeT/ORCA are provided. It is shown that this application of deep convolutional neural networks to simulated datasets for a large-volume neutrino telescope yields competitive reconstruction results and performance improvements with respect to classical approaches.

[EN] The potential of oxide-supported rhodium single atom catalysts (SACs) for heterogeneous hydroformylation was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Using high-level domain-based local-pair natural orbital coupled cluster singles doubles with perturbative triples contribution (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) calculations, both stability and catalytic activity were investigated for Rh single atoms on different oxide surfaces. Atomically dispersed, supported Rh catalysts were synthesized on MgO and CeO2. While the CeO2-supported rhodium catalyst is found to be highly active, this is not the case for MgO, most likely due to increased confinement, as determined by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), that diminishes the reactivity of Rh complexes on MgO. This agrees well with our computational investigation, where we find that rhodium carbonyl hydride complexes on flat oxide surfaces such as CeO2(111) have catalytic activities comparable to those of molecular complexes. For a step edge on a MgO(301) surface, however, calculations show a significantly reduced catalytic activity. At the same time, calculations predict that stronger adsorption at the higher coordinated adsorption site leads to a more stable catalyst. Keeping the balance between stability and activity appears to be the main challenge for oxide supported Rh hydroformylation catalysts. In addition to the chemical bonding between rhodium complex and support, the confinement experienced by the active site plays an important role for the catalytic activity.

[EN] The recent demand for fluorescent-labeled materials (FLMs) in forensic security concepts such as latent fingerprints (LFs) that encode information for anti-counterfeiting and encryption of confidential data makes necessary the development of building new and innovative materials. Here, novel FLMs based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) functionalized with fluorophores via "click" reactions have been successfully synthesized and fully characterized. A comprehensive study of their photophysical properties has displayed large Stokes's shift together with good photostability in all cases, fulfilling the fundamental requisites for any legible LF detection on various surfaces. The excellent performance of the hetero-bifunctional FLM in the visualization of LF is emphasized by their legibility, selectivity, sensitivity and temporal photostability. In this study, development mechanisms have been proposed and the overall concept constitute a novel approach for vis-a-vis forensic investigations to trace an individual's identity.

[EN] The KM3NeT Collaboration runs a multi-site neutrino observatory in the Mediterranean Sea. Water Cherenkov particle detectors, deep in the sea and far off the coasts of France and Italy, are already taking data while incremental construction progresses. Data Acquisition Control software is operating off-shore detectors as well as testing and qualification stations for their components. The software, named Control Unit, is highly modular. It can undergo upgrades and reconfiguration with the acquisition running. Interplay with the central database of the Collaboration is obtained in a way that allows for data taking even if Internet links fail. In order to simplify the management of computing resources in the long term, and to cope with possible hardware failures of one or more computers, the KM3NeT Control Unit software features a custom dynamic resource provisioning and failover technology, which is especially important for ensuring continuity in case of rare transient events in multi-messenger astronomy. The software architecture relies on ubiquitous tools and broadly adopted technologies and has been successfully tested on several operating systems.

[EN] The gSeaGen code is a GENIE-based application developed to efficiently generate high statistics samples of events, induced by neutrino interactions, detectable in a neutrino telescope. The gSeaGen code is able to generate events induced by all neutrino flavours, considering topological differences between track-type and shower-like events. Neutrino interactions are simulated taking into account the density and the composition of the media surrounding the detector. The main features of gSeaGen are presented together with some examples of its application within the KM3NeT project. Program summary Program Title: gSeaGen CPC Library link to program files: http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/ymgxvy2br4.1 Licensing provisions: GPLv3 Programming language: C++ External routines/libraries: GENIE [1] and its external dependencies. Linkable to MUSIC [2] and PRO-POSAL [3]. Nature of problem: Development of a code to generate detectable events in neutrino telescopes, using modern and maintained neutrino interaction simulation libraries which include the state-of-the-art physics models. The default application is the simulation of neutrino interactions within KM3NeT [4]. Solution method: Neutrino interactions are simulated using GENIE, a modern framework for Monte Carlo event generators. The GENIE framework, used by nearly all modern neutrino experiments, is considered as a reference code within the neutrino community. Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: The code was tested with GENIE version 2.12.10 and it is linkable with release series 3. Presently valid up to 5 TeV. This limitation is not intrinsic to the code but due to the present GENIE valid energy range. References: [1] C. Andreopoulos at al., Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A614 (2010) 87. [2] P. Antonioli et al., Astropart. Phys. 7 (1997) 357. [3] J. H. Koehne et al., Comput. Phys. Commun. 184 (2013) 2070. [4] S. Adrián-Martínez et al., J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 43 (2016) 084001.

[EN] During the first weeks of abstinence, alcohol craving in patients may increase or "incubate." We hypothesize that Naltrexone (NTX) blocks this incubation effect. Here, we compared NTX effects on neural alcohol cue reactivity (CR) over the first weeks of abstinence and on long-term clinical outcomes to standard treatment. Male alcohol-dependent patients (n = 55) and healthy controls (n = 35) were enrolled. Participants underwent baseline psychometric testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assessment of mesolimbic alcohol CR. Patients participated in a standard treatment program with the option of adjuvant NTX. They received another scan after 2 weeks of treatment. We found higher CR in several brain regions in patients versus healthy controls. CR significantly increased over 2 weeks in the standard treatment group (n = 13) but not in the NTX group (n = 22). NTX significantly attenuated CR in the left putamen and reduced relapse risk to heavy drinking within 3 months of treatment. Additionally, increased CR in the left putamen and its course over time predicted both NTX response and relapse risk. Carrier status for the functional OPRM1 variant rs1799971:A > G was considered but had no effect on NTX efficacy. In conclusion, NTX was most effective in patients with high CR in the left putamen. While the results from our naturalistic study await further confirmation from prospective randomized trials, they support a potential role of neural CR as a biomarker in the development of precision medicine approaches with NTX.

[EN] Polysaccharides are widely used as building blocks of scaffolds and hydrogels in tissue engineering, which may require their chemical modification to permit crosslinking. The goal of this study was to generate a library of oxidized alginate (oALG) and oxidized hyaluronic acid (oHA) that can be used for in situ gelling hydrogels by covalent reaction between aldehyde groups of the oxidized polysaccharides (oPS) and amino groups of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) through imine bond formation. Here, we studied the effect of sodium periodate concentration and reaction time on aldehyde content, molecular weight of derivatives and cytotoxicity of oPS towards 3T3-L1 fibroblasts. It was found that the molecular weights of all oPs decreased with oxidation and that the degree of oxidation was generally higher in oHA than in oALG. Studies showed that only oPs with an oxidation degree above 25% were cytotoxic. Initial studies were also done on the crosslinking of oPs with CMC showing with rheometry that rather soft gels were formed from higher oxidized oPs possessing a moderate cytotoxicity. The results of this study indicate the potential of oALG and oHA for use as in situ gelling hydrogels or inks in bioprinting for application in tissue engineering and controlled release.

[EN] Ruthenium MOF [Ru-3(BTC)(2)Y-y] . G(g) (BTC=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate; Y=counter ions=Cl-, OH-, OAc-; G=guest molecules=HOAc, H2O) is modified via a mixed-linker approach, using mixtures of BTC and pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (PYDC) linkers, triggering structural defects at the distinct Ru-2 paddlewheel (PW) nodes. This defect-engineering leads to enhanced catalytic properties due to the formation of partially reduced Ru-2-nodes. Application of a hydrogen pre-treatment protocol to the Ru-MOFs, leads to a further boost in catalytic activity. We study the benefits of (1) defect engineering and (2) hydrogen pre-treatment on the catalytic activity of Ru-MOFs in the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reaction and the isomerization of allylic alcohols to saturated ketones. Simple solvent washing could not avoid catalyst deactivation during recycling for the latter reaction, while hydrogen treatment prior to each catalytic run proved to facilitate materials recyclability with constant activity over five runs.

[EN] Realizing the full potential of oxide-supported single-atom metal catalysts (SACs) is key to successfully bridge the gap between the fields of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Here we show that the one-pot combination of Ru-1/CeO2 and Rh-1/CeO2 SACs enables a highly selective olefin isomerization-hydrosilylation tandem process, hitherto restricted to molecular catalysts in solution. Individually, monoatomic Ru and Rh sites show a remarkable reaction specificity for olefin double-bond migration and anti-Markovnikov alpha-olefin hydrosilylation, respectively. First-principles DFT calculations ascribe such selectivity to differences in the binding strength of the olefin substrate to the monoatomic metal centers. The single-pot cooperation of the two SACs allows the production of terminal organosilane compounds with high regio-selectivity (>95 %) even from industrially-relevant complex mixtures of terminal and internal olefins, alongside a straightforward catalyst recycling and reuse. These results demonstrate the significance of oxide-supported single-atom metal catalysts in tandem catalytic reactions, which are central for the intensification of chemical processes.

[EN] This article proposes adaptive iterative splitting methods to solve Multiphysics problems, which are related to convection-diffusion-reaction equations. The splitting techniques are based on iterative splitting approaches with adaptive ideas. Based on shifting the time-steps with additional adaptive time-ranges, we could embedded the adaptive techniques into the splitting approach. The numerical analysis of the adapted iterative splitting schemes is considered and we develop the underlying error estimates for the application of the adaptive schemes. The performance of the method with respect to the accuracy and the acceleration is evaluated in different numerical experiments. We test the benefits of the adaptive splitting approach on highly nonlinear Burgers' and Maxwell-Stefan diffusion equations.

[EN] Multi-omic studies combine measurements at different molecular levels to build comprehensive models of cellular systems. The success of a multi-omic data analysis strategy depends largely on the adoption of adequate experimental designs, and on the quality of the measurements provided by the different omic platforms. However, the field lacks a comparative description of performance parameters across omic technologies and a formulation for experimental design in multi-omic data scenarios. Here, we propose a set of harmonized Figures of Merit (FoM) as quality descriptors applicable to different omic data types. Employing this information, we formulate the MultiPower method to estimate and assess the optimal sample size in a multi-omics experiment. MultiPower supports different experimental settings, data types and sample sizes, and includes graphical for experimental design decision-making. MultiPower is complemented with MultiML, an algorithm to estimate sample size for machine learning classification problems based on multi-omic data.

[EN] The two-scale asymptotic homogenization method is used to find closed-form formulas for effective properties of periodic multi-phase fiber-reinforced composites where constituents have complexvalued transport properties and parallelogram unit cells. An antiplane problem relevant to linear elasticity is formulated in the frame of transport properties. The application of the method leads to the need of solving some local problems whose solution is found using potential theory and shear effective coefficients are explicitly obtained for nphase fiber-reinforced composites. Simple formulae are explicitly given for three- and four-phase fiber-reinforced composites. The broad applicability, accuracy and generality of this model is determined through comparison with other methods reported in the literature in relation to shear elastic moduli and several transport problems of multi-phase fiber-reinforced composites in their realm, such as conductivity in a biological context and permittivity leading to gain and loss enhancement of dielectrics. Also, the example of gain enhancement of inertial mass density is looked into. Good agreement with other theoretical approaches is obtained. The formulas may be useful as benchmarks for checking experimental and numerical results.

[EN] Already moderate alcohol consumption has detrimental long-term effects on brain function. However, how alcohol produces its potent addictive effects despite being a weak reinforcer is a poorly understood conundrum that likely hampers the development of successful interventions to limit heavy drinking. In this translational study, we demonstrate widespread increased mean diffusivity in the brain gray matter of chronically drinking humans and rats. These alterations appear soon after drinking initiation in rats, persist into early abstinence in both species, and are associated with a robust decrease in extracellular space tortuosity explained by a microglial reaction. Mathematical modeling of the diffusivity changes unveils an increased spatial reach of extrasynaptically released transmitters like dopamine that may contribute to alcohol's progressively enhanced addictive potency

[EN] Quantum-gravity corrections (in the form of a minimal length) to the Feynman propagator for a free scalar particle in R-D are shown to be the result of summing over all dimensions D '>= D of R-D ', each summand taken in the absence of quantum gravity

[EN] Plastids, the defining organelles of plant cells, undergo physiological and morphological changes to fulfill distinct biological functions. In particular, the differentiation of chloroplasts into chromoplasts results in an enhanced storage capacity for carotenoids with industrial and nutritional value such as beta-carotene (provitamin A). Here, we show that synthetically inducing a burst in the production of phytoene, the first committed intermediate of the carotenoid pathway, elicits an artificial chloroplast-to-chromoplast differentiation in leaves. Phytoene overproduction initially interferes with photosynthesis, acting as a metabolic threshold switch mechanism that weakens chloroplast identity. In a second stage, phytoene conversion into downstream carotenoids is required for the differentiation of chromoplasts, a process that involves a concurrent reprogramming of nuclear gene expression and plastid morphology for improved carotenoid storage. We hence demonstrate that loss of photosynthetic competence and enhanced production of carotenoids are not just consequences but requirements for chloroplasts to differentiate into chromoplasts.

[EN] The notions of two-dimensional area, Killing fields and matter flux are introduced in the setting of causal fermion systems. It is shown that for critical points of the causal action, the area change of two-dimensional surfaces under a Killing flow in null directions is proportional to the matter flux through these surfaces. This relation generalizes an equation in classical general relativity due to Ted Jacobson setting of causal fermion systems.

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis inInternational Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials on AUG 08 2020, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00914037.2019.1616197", [EN] Nanocomposites based on poly(glycerol sebacate) with silica nanoparticles were synthesized to explore their potential use in the biomedical field. The nanoparticles were two distinct polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), both used at 5% wt/wt concentration, specifically methacrylisobutyl POSS and methacryl POSS. These materials were investigated for their possible application as coatings as well as with regenerative purposes in dental engineering, and their viability for this application was assessed. Thus, pure PGS and nanohybrids thereof were obtained as scaffolds (that is, porous structures, designed with regenerative purposes) and as films (intended for coatings and to be used as controls).

[EN] NiFe-carbon magnetic nanocomposites prepared using hybrid sebacate intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as precursors are shown to be of interest as supercapacitors. Here, the low-temperature formation mechanism of these materials has been deciphered by means of a combined study using complementaryin situ(temperature-dependent) techniques. Specifically, studies involving X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry coupled to mass spectrometry (TG-MS), statistical Raman spectroscopy (SRS), aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) have been carried out. The experimental results confirm the early formation of FeNi(3)nanoparticles atca.200-250 degrees C, preceding the concerted collapse of the starting NiFe-LDH laminar structure over just 50 degrees C (from 350 to 400 degrees C). At the same time, the catalytic interactions between the metallic atoms and the organic molecules permit the concomitant formation of a graphitic carbon matrix leading to the formation of the final FeNi3-carbon nanocomposite. Furthermore,in situtemperature-dependent experiments in the presence of the intrinsic magnetic field of the STEM-EELS allow observing the complete metal segregation of Ni and Fe even at 400 degrees C. These results provide fundamental insights into the catalytic formation of carbon-based nanocomposites using LDHs as precursors and pave the way for the fine-tuning of their properties, with special interest in the field of energy storage and conversion

[EN] The substitution of catalytic metals by p-block main elements has a tremendous impact not only in the fundamentals but also in the economic and ecological fingerprint of organic reactions. Here we show that few-layer black phosphorous (FL-BP), a recently discovered and now readily available 2D material, catalyzes different radical additions to alkenes with an initial turnover frequency (TOF0) up to two orders of magnitude higher than representative state-of-the-art metal complex catalysts at room temperature. The corresponding electron-rich BP intercalation compound (BPIC) KP6 shows a nearly twice TOF0 increase with respect to FL-BP. This increase in catalytic activity respect to the neutral counterpart also occurs in other 2D materials (graphene vs. KC8) and metal complex catalysts (Fe-0 vs. Fe2- carbon monoxide complexes). This reactive parallelism opens the door for cross-fertilization between 2D materials and metal catalysts in organic synthesis.

Background and aims: Since its emergence in the mid-20th century, invasion biology has matured into a productive research field addressing questions of fundamental and applied importance. Not only has the number of empirical studies increased through time, but also has the number of competing, overlapping and, in some cases, contradictory hypotheses about biological invasions. To make these contradictions and redundancies explicit, and to gain insight into the field’s current theoretical structure, we developed and applied a Delphi approach to create a consensus network of 39 existing invasion hypotheses. Results: The resulting network was analysed with a link-clustering algorithm that revealed five concept clusters (resource availability, biotic interaction, propagule, trait and Darwin’s clusters) representing complementary areas in the theory of invasion biology. The network also displays hypotheses that link two or more clusters, called connecting hypotheses, which are important in determining network structure. The network indicates hypotheses that are logically linked either positively (77 connections of support) or negatively (that is, they contradict each other; 6 connections). Significance: The network visually synthesizes how invasion biology’s predominant hypotheses are conceptually related to each other, and thus, reveals an emergent structure – a conceptual map – that can serve as a navigation tool for scholars, practitioners and students, both inside and outside of the field of invasion biology, and guide the development of a more coherent foundation of theory. Additionally, the outlined approach can be more widely applied to create a conceptual map for the larger fields of ecology and biogeography.

We demonstrate visible pump soft X-ray probe near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy measurements at the carbon K edge on thin molecular films in the laboratory. This opens new opportunities through the use of laboratory equipment for chemical speciation. We investigate the metal-free porphyrin derivative tetra(tert-butyl)porphyrazine as an ideal model system to elucidate electronic properties of tetrapyrroles like chlorophyll or heme. In contrast to measurements in gas or liquid state, the investigation of thin films is of high interest in the field of optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices though challenging due to the low damage thresholds of the samples upon excitation. With a careful pre-characterization using optical techniques, successful measurements were performed using a NEXAFS spectrometer based on a laser-produced plasma source and reflection zone plates with a resolving power of 1000 and a time resolution of 0.5 ns. In combination with density functional theory calculations, first insights into a long-lived excitonic state are gained and discussed.

Biological invasions are a global consequence of an increasingly connected world and the rise in human population size. The numbers of invasive alien species – the subset of alien species that spread widely in areas where they are not native, affecting the environment or human livelihoods – are increasing. Synergies with other global changes are exacerbating current invasions and facilitating new ones, thereby escalating the extent and impacts of invaders. Invasions have complex and often immense long-term direct and indirect impacts. In many cases, such impacts become apparent or problematic only when invaders are well established and have large ranges. Invasive alien species break down biogeographic realms, affect native species richness and abundance, increase the risk of native species extinction, affect the genetic composition of native populations, change native animal behaviour, alter phylogenetic diversity across communities, and modify trophic networks. Many invasive alien species also change ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services by altering nutrient and contaminant cycling, hydrology, habitat structure, and disturbance regimes. These biodiversity and ecosystem impacts are accelerating and will increase further in the future. Scientific evidence has identified policy strategies to reduce future invasions, but these strategies are often insufficiently implemented. For some nations, notably Australia and New Zealand, biosecurity has become a national priority. There have been long-term successes, such as eradication of rats and cats on increasingly large islands and biological control of weeds across continental areas. However, in many countries, invasions receive little attention. Improved international cooperation is crucial to reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods. Countries can strengthen their biosecurity regulations to implement and enforce more effective management

In Germany, libraries or public training centers offer education programs for different target groups to foster digital participation. Yet, those programs often do not meet the requirements of people with intellectual disabilities, their formal caregivers or social institutions. A high degree of personal and organizational effort, lack of caregivers’ knowledge and expenditure of time materialize as barriers for caregivers in social institutions to support their clients to achieve digital literacy. However, the desires of people with intellectual disabilities to improve their digital skills have risen steadily in the last years. This article addresses the question of how education programs should be designed to meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities, their formal caregivers, and social institutions. Therefore, requirements were derived from a secondary analysis of 24 semi-structured interviews with formal caregivers in social organizations, focus groups containing 50 people with intellectual disabilities, and an additional interview study with five experts form research and practice. As a result, a guideline with ten main points for designing education programs for people with disabilities, caregivers and social institutions is presented in this article.

Universalism has become a lead idea of global social politics, and of global social security in particular, first voiced in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and renewed in recent calls for “Social Security for All” and “Universal Health Coverage,” and in the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals launched by the World Bank and the International Labour Organization in 2016. This article analyses the idea of a universal right to social protection, as recently articulated by international organizations. According to J. W. Meyer’s neo-institutionalist theory of world society (Krücken & Drori, 2009; Meyer, 2007), universalism is a world-cultural norm, and international organizations are proponents of world culture. This article is based on the assumption that the meaning of universalism is not fixed, but that international organizations construct the norm in changing ways to secure worldwide acceptance and applicability, considering that states have very diverse socio-economic conditions and socio-cultural backgrounds. Accordingly, the article analyses how international organizations construct the cultural idea of universalism as well as institutional models of universal social protection. The finding is that the recent calls for universalism represent a new interpretation of universalism that refers to individual entitlements to benefits rather than collective development, and that this global consensus was reached by constructing the norm in a way to leave room for interpretation and adaptation. However, the price of consensus is the attenuation of the norm, by allowing particularistic interpretations and by weakening the content of the right to social protection. The article also seeks to explain the rise of the new global consensus and identify its limitations.

Nanostructured silica (SiO2)-based materials are attractive carriers for the delivery of bioactive compounds into cells. In this study, we developed hollow submicrometric particles composed of SiO2 capsules that were separately loaded with various bioactive molecules such as dextran, proteins, and nucleic acids. The structural characterization of the reported carriers was conducted using transmission and scanning electron microscopies (TEM/SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Moreover, the interaction of the developed carriers with cell lines was studied using standard viability, proliferation, and uptake assays. The submicrometric SiO2-based capsules loaded with DNA plasmid encoding green fluorescence proteins (GFP) were used to transfect cell lines. The obtained results were compared with studies made with similar capsules composed of polymers and show that SiO2-based capsules provide better transfection rates on the costs of higher toxicity.

S-boxes are the only source of non-linearity in many symmetric primitives. While they are often defined as being functions operating on a small space, some recent designs propose the use of much larger ones (e.g., 32 bits). In this context, an S-box is then defined as a subfunction whose cryptographic properties can be estimated precisely. We present a 64-bit ARX-based S-box called Alzette, which can be evaluated in constant time using only 12 instructions on modern CPUs. Its parallel application can also leverage vector (SIMD) instructions. One iteration of Alzette has differential and linear properties comparable to those of the AES S-box, and two are at least as secure as the AES super S-box. As the state size is much larger than the typical 4 or 8 bits, the study of the relevant cryptographic properties of Alzette is not trivial. We further discuss how such wide S-boxes could be used to construct round functions of 64-, 128- and 256-bit (tweakable) block ciphers with good cryptographic properties that are guaranteed even in the related-tweak setting. We use these structures to design a very lightweight 64-bit block cipher (Crax) which outperforms SPECK-64/128 for short messages on micro-controllers, and a 256-bit tweakable block cipher (Trax) which can be used to obtain strong security guarantees against powerful adversaries (nonce misuse, quantum attacks).

Leo-III is an automated theorem prover for (polymorphic) higher-order logic which supports all common TPTP dialects, including THF, TFF and FOF as well as their rank-1 polymorphic derivatives. It is based on a paramodulation calculus with ordering constraints and, in tradition of its predecessor LEO-II, heavily relies on cooperation with external (mostly first-order) theorem provers for increased performance. Nevertheless, Leo-III can also be used as a stand-alone prover without employing any external cooperation. In addition for its HOL reasoning capabilities, Leo-III supports reasoning in many higher-order quantified modal logics.

Background & Aims: The relationship between acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is poorly understood. Specifically, the prevalence and prognosis of ACLF in the context of AVB is unclear, while the role of trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management in patients with ACLF has not been described to date. Methods: A multicenter, international, observational study was conducted in 2,138 patients from 34 centers between 2011 and 2015. ACLF was defined and graded according to the EASL-CLIF consortium definition. Placement of pre-emptive TIPS (pTIPS) was based on individual center policy. Patients were followed-up for 1 year, until death or liver transplantation. Cox regression and competing risk models (Gray's test) were used to identify independent predictors of rebleeding or mortality. Results: At admission, 380/2,138 (17.8%) patients had ACLF according to EASL-CLIF criteria (grade 1: 38.7%; grade 2: 39.2%; grade 3: 22.1%). The 42-day rebleeding (19% vs. 10%; p<0.001) and mortality (47% vs. 10%; p<0.001) rates were higher in patients with ACLF and increased with ACLF grades. Of note, the presence of ACLF was independently associated with rebleeding and mortality. pTIPS placement improved survival in patients with ACLF at 42 days and 1 year. This effect was also observed in propensity score matching analysis of 66 patients with ACLF, of whom 44 received pTIPs and 22 did not. Conclusions: This large multicenter international real-life study identified ACLF at admission as an independent predictor of rebleeding and mortality inpatients with AVB. Moreover, pTIPS was associated with improved survival in patients with ACLF and AVB. Lay summary: Acute variceal bleeding is a deadly complication of liver cirrhosis that results from severe portal hypertension. This study demonstrates that the presence of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is the strongest predictor of mortality in patients with acute variceal bleed

The fate of polymer-coated Eu-and Bi-doped GdVO4 nanoparticles (NPs) of cubic shape upon cellular internalization was investigated. After having been endocytosed by cells, the cubic Eu-and Bi-doped GdVO4 NP cores were partly dissolved and reshaped to rounded structures, which in control experiments could be ascribed to the acidic conditions present in endosomes/lysosomes. With progress of time, there was a significant reduction in the amount of internalized NPs per cell due to proliferation. This was of higher extent than NP exocytosis. Data of the study are compatible with the scenario that endosomal/lysosomal enzymes may partly digest the polymer shell around the NP cores, with enhanced exocytosis of the polymer fragments as compared to the NP cores.