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The Oceania region has often been overlooked in fundamental hydrological research owing to assumptions that cultural complexities hinder such efforts. However, this perspective is somewhat naïve. Substantial evidence demonstrates that Pacific Islanders actively engage in research, contributing both local Indigenous knowledge and expert capabilities in “island hydrology.” Numerous projects and publications by Pacific Island scholars showcase this expertise. To enhance self-reliance in smaller Pacific nations, it is crucial to improve access to advanced hydrology education and secure funding to support it. Overcoming these challenges is essential to unlocking the full potential of future hydrological research in the Pacific Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deligne proved in [Extensions centrales non résiduellement finies de groupes arithmetiques, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 287 (1978) 203–208] (see also 7.1 in [R. Hill, Fractional weights and non-congruence subgroups, in Automorphic Forms and Representations of Algebraic Groups Over Local Fields, eds. H. Saito and T. Takahashi, Surikenkoukyuroku Series, Vol. 1338 (2003), pp. 71–80]) that the weights of Siegel modular forms on any congruence subgroup of the Siegel modular group of genus g > 1 must be integral or half integral. Actually he proved that for a system v (M) of complex numbers of absolute value 1 v (M) det (C Z + D) r (r ∈ ℝ) (0. 1) can be an automorphy factor only if 2 r is integral. We give a different proof for this. It uses Mennicke's result [Zur Theorie der Siegelschen Modulgruppe, Math. Ann. 159 (1965) 115–129] that subgroups of finite index of the Siegel modular group are congruence subgroups and some techniques from [Solution of the congruence subgroup problem for SL n (n ≥ 3) and Sp 2 n (n ≥ 2) , Publ. Math. Inst. Hautes Études Sci. 33 (1967) 59–137] of Bass–Milnor–Serre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a celebratory reprint of a historical paper published in STH in 1998. The original Abstract follows. The PFA-100 system is a platelet function analyzer designed to measure platelet-related primary hemostasis. The instrument uses two disposable cartridges: a collagen/epinephrine (CEPI) and a collagen/ADP (CADP) cartridge. Previous experience has shown that CEPI cartridges detect qualitative platelet defects, including acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced abnormalities, while CADP cartridges detect only thrombocytopathies and not ASA use. In this seven-center trial, 206 healthy subjects and 176 persons with various platelet-related defects, including 127 ASA users, were studied. The platelet function status was determined by a platelet function test panel. Comparisons were made as to how well the defects were identified by the PFA-100 system and by platelet aggregometry. The reference intervals for both cartridges, testing the 206 healthy subjects, were similar to values described in smaller studies in the literature (mean closure time [CT] of 132 seconds for CEPI and 93 seconds for CADP). The use of different lot numbers of cartridges or duplicate versus singleton testing revealed no differences. Compared with the platelet function status, the PFA-100 system had a clinical sensitivity of 94.9% and a specificity of 88.8%. For aggregometry, a sensitivity of 94.3% and a specificity of 88.3% were obtained. These values are based on all 382 specimens. A separate analysis of sensitivity by type of platelet defect, ASA use versus congenital thrombocytopathies, revealed for the PFA-100 system a 94.5% sensitivity in identifying ASA users and a 95.9% sensitivity in identifying the other defects. For aggregometry, the values were 100% for ASA users and 79.6% for congenital defects. Analysis of concordance between the PFA-100 system and aggregometry revealed no difference in clinical sensitivity and specificity between the systems (p > 0.9999). The overall agreement was 87.5%, with a Kappa index of 0.751. The two tests are thus equivalent in their ability to identify normal and abnormal platelet defects. Testing 126 subjects who took 325 mg ASA revealed that the PFA-100 system (CEPI) was able to detect 71.7% of ASA-induced defects with a positive predictive value of 97.8%. The overall clinical accuracy of the system, calculated from the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, was 0.977. The data suggest that the PFA-100 system is highly accurate in discriminating normal from abnormal platelet function. The ease of operation of the instrument makes it a useful tool to use in screening patients for platelet-related hemostasis defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• VLP associated RSV-F and hMPV-F immunogens properly display pre-fusion epitopes. • VLP associated immunogens induce better neutralizing responses than soluble ones. • The VLP platform benefits manifest primarily during prime immunization. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) vaccines have been long overdue. Structure-based vaccine design created a new momentum in the last decade, and the first RSV vaccines have finally been approved in older adults and pregnant individuals. These vaccines are based on recombinant stabilized pre-fusion F glycoproteins administered as soluble proteins. Multimeric antigenic display could markedly improve immunogenicity and should be evaluated in the next generations of vaccines. Here we tested a new virus like particles-based vaccine platform which utilizes the direct fusion of an immunogen of interest to the structural human immunodeficient virus (HIV) protein Gag to increase its surface density and immunogenicity. We compared, in mice, the immunogenicity of RSV-F or hMPV-F based immunogens delivered either as soluble proteins or displayed on the surface of our VLPs. VLP associated F-proteins showed better immunogenicity and induced superior neutralizing responses. Moreover, when combining both VLP associated and soluble immunogens in a heterologous regimen, VLP-associated immunogens provided added benefits when administered as the prime immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aim Terai, Robert Herber, Lutz E Pillunat Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, 01307, Germany Correspondence: Lisa Ramm, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany, Tel +49 351 458 3381, Fax +49 351 458 4335, Email [email protected] Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes different corneal changes that are associated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy. To identify the pathophysiological reasons for this, corneal tomography and optical densitometry (COD) were combined with retinal oximetry. Methods: Patients with DM and healthy subjects were included in this pilot study. Spatially resolved corneal thickness and COD were assessed using the Pentacam HR (Oculus). The pachymetry difference (PACDiff) was calculated as an indicator of an increase in the peripheral corneal thickness. Oxygen saturation (SO2) of the retinal vessels was measured using the Retinal Vessel Analyzer (Imedos Systems UG). Subsequently, the associations between corneal and retinal parameters were analyzed. Results: Data from 30 patients with DM were compared with those from 30 age-matched healthy subjects. In DM, arterial (P = 0.048) and venous (P < 0.001) SO2 levels were increased, and arteriovenous SO2 difference was decreased (P < 0.001). In patients, PACDiff was higher than that in healthy subjects (P < 0.05), indicating a stronger increase in peripheral corneal thickness. The COD was reduced in DM (P = 0.004). The PACDiff of concentric rings with a diameter of 4 mm (r = − 0.404; P = 0.033) to 8 mm (r = − 0.522; P = 0.004) was inversely correlated with the arteriovenous SO2 difference. Furthermore, PACDiff 4 mm was negatively associated with arterial SO2 (r = − 0.389; P = 0.041), and the COD of the peripheral corneal areas correlated positive with arterial SO2 (COD total 10– 12 mm: r = 0.408; P = 0.025). Conclusion: These associations might indicate a common pathogenesis of corneal and retinal changes in DM, which could be caused by reduced oxygen supply, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and cytokine effects. Plain Language Summary: Retinal changes are particularly important for ophthalmologists in the management of diabetes mellitus. These are primarily consequences of diabetic vascular changes that can lead to a lack of oxygen. However, there is also evidence of significant changes in the cornea of patients with diabetes. In the present study, the associations between changes in corneal thickness profile, optical density of the cornea, and oxygen saturation of retinal vessels in diabetes mellitus were demonstrated for the first time. Therefore, this study could contribute to clarifying the possible causes of corneal changes in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a finite classical group generated by transvections, i.e., one of SL n (q) , SU n (q) , Sp 2 n (q) , or O 2 n ± (q) (q even) , and let X be a generating set for G containing at least one transvection. Building on work of Garonzi, Halasi, and Somlai, we prove that the diameter of the Cayley graph Cay (G , X) is bounded by (n log ⁡ q) C for some constant C. This confirms Babai's conjecture on the diameter of finite simple groups in the case of generating sets containing a transvection. By combining this with a result of the author and Jezernik it follows that if G is one of SL n (q) , SU n (q) , Sp 2 n (q) and X contains three random generators then with high probability the diameter Cay (G , X) is bounded by n O (log ⁡ q). This confirms Babai's conjecture for non-orthogonal classical simple groups over small fields and three random generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological data on extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales are most often based on microbiological laboratory isolates and do not consider important clinical data such as infection or colonisation, treatment, and outcome. This study aimed to assess prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales as the cause of infection in patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department based on clinical data. It also examined the number of patients with suspected sepsis who had ESBL-producing pathogens, comparing estimates that were based on laboratory data versus a combination of laboratory and clinical data. Patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department at Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden were included consecutively. Data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Of the 764 included patients, 223 patients had growth of Enterobacterales in any specimen (i.e. colonisation or infection according to laboratory data), while 191 patients had Enterobacterales detected in the blood or in the suspected focus of infection (i.e. an infection according to clinical and laboratory data). Eighteen patients had ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in any clinical specimen, 11 of whom had an infection with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, resulting in a prevalence of infections with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in infected patients with suspected sepsis of 1.8%. The number of patients with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales was not significantly different when infection was defined using laboratory data alone versus a combination of laboratory and clinical data [18/223 (8.1%) vs 11/191 (5.8%), p = 0.36]. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales infections among patients with suspected sepsis is low in an acute care setting in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate pain course over time and to identify baseline and 3-month predictors of unacceptable pain with or without low inflammation in early RA. Methods A cohort of 275 patients with early RA, recruited in 2012–2016, was investigated and followed for 2 years. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–100 mm). Unacceptable pain was defined as VAS pain >40, and low inflammation as CRP <10 mg/l. Baseline and 3-month predictors of unacceptable pain were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results After 2 years, 32% of patients reported unacceptable pain. Among those, 81% had low inflammation. Unacceptable pain, and unacceptable pain with low inflammation, at 1 and 2 years was significantly associated with several factors at 3 months, but not at baseline. Three-month predictors of these pain states at 1 and 2 years were higher scores for pain, patient global assessment, and the health assessment questionnaire, and more extensive joint tenderness compared with the number of swollen joints. No significant associations were found for objective inflammatory measures. Conclusion A substantial proportion of patients had unacceptable pain with low inflammation after 2 years. Three months after diagnosis seems to be a good time-point for assessing the risk of long-term pain. The associations between patient reported outcomes and pain, and the lack of association with objective inflammatory measures, supports the uncoupling between pain and inflammation in RA. Having many tender joints, but more limited synovitis, may be predictive of long-term pain despite low inflammation in early RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological mechanisms involved in perceiving and processing sensory information likely influence how sexual selection acts on mate choice signals. Two such mechanisms are habituation and neural adaptation. Both are nearly universal, and doubtless affect female perception and analysis of male mate choice signals, thus potentially affecting male reproductive success. Habituation may be especially important because it affects the female's attention. Both likely favor greater variation in mate choice signals, contrary to many typological models of mate choice based on "the" male display behavior of a species. They may favor variation in the sites on the female's body that are stimulated by male somatosensory stimuli, as well as signal intensity and rates and patterns of repetition. Both habituation and neural adaptation are advantageous under natural selection and could provide original, naturally selected biases in female responses that lead to Fisherian runaway evolution under sexual selection by female choice. The multiplicity of mechanisms affecting habituation and neural adaption may help explain the general evolutionary trend for male mate choice signals to diverge rapidly. Avoidance of female habituation and sensory adaptation may explain the previously unremarked but widespread trend in vertebrates and arthropods for male genitalia to make rhythmic, repetitive movements during copulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orb-web construction behaviour, a classic example of 'innate' behaviour, is highly flexible. Determining which cues guide construction behaviour is complicated by the strong correlations between some variables, and the difficulty of manipulating of some web variables in biologically realistic ways. This study utilized a new experimental technique, adding sticky lines to webs during construction, to examine cues that guide sticky spiral spacing. Deflections and subsequent reductions in spacing produced by experiments that involved relatively long radii resembled the reduced spacing pattern on short radii in control webs; radius length was thus not the cue eliciting reduced spacing in control webs. An alternative, that smaller inter-radius distances elicited reduced spacing, was supported by experimentally removing radii to increase the distances between radii. The new technique also elicited variation in responses that suggested that spiders may use mental cues such as memories or expectations of line positions to guide sticky spiral placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied whether the function of presynaptic inhibitory cannabinoid CB1 receptors on the sympathetic nerve fibres innervating resistance vessels is increased in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) like in deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)–salt hypertension. An increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was induced by electrical stimulation of the preganglionic sympathetic neurons or by phenylephrine injection in pithed SHR and normotensive Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKY). The electrically (but not the phenylephrine) induced increase in DBP was inhibited by the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55940, similarly in both groups, and by the endocannabinoid reuptake inhibitor AM404 in SHR only. The effect of CP55940 was abolished/reduced by the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (in both groups) and in WKY by endocannabinoid degradation blockade, i.e., the monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitor MJN110 and the dual fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)/MAGL inhibitor JZL195 but not the FAAH inhibitor URB597. MJN110 and JZL195 tended to enhance the effect of CP55940 in SHR. In conclusion, the function of presynaptic inhibitory CB1 receptors depends on the hypertension model. Although no differences occurred between SHR and WKY under basal experimental conditions, the CB1 receptor function was better preserved in SHR when the endocannabinoid tone was increased by the inhibition of MAGL or the endocannabinoid transporter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current criteria help differentiate cluster headache from migraine. However, children may have overlapping features making it difficult to distinguish the 2 conditions, which may delay diagnosis. Differentiating cluster headache from migraine is important regarding treatment as well as diagnostic workup of secondary headache etiologies. Methods: Cases at a single pediatric children's hospital from 2015 to 2023 diagnosed with cluster headache before the age of 18 years were reviewed. Results: Twenty-five cases were identified of which 22 cases met criteria for either chronic, episodic, or probable cluster headache. Three cases were diagnosed with cluster headache by their provider, but documentation was insufficient to meet criteria for cluster headache. There were 16 females and 9 males between ages 6 and 17 years. Five cases were identified as symptomatic, 2 cases as chronic, 7 cases as episodic, and 13 cases as probable cluster headache. Symptomatic etiologies include Graves disease, optic neuritis, prolactinoma, hypothalamic pilocytic astrocytoma with carotid stenosis, and congenital right eye blindness. Migrainous features were common, including 76% with nausea, 36% with vomiting, 68% with photophobia, and 56% with phonophobia. Patients with cluster headache also had an independent diagnosis of migraine in 64%. Conclusion: Children with cluster headache have a high frequency of migrainous symptoms and co-occurrent diagnosis of migraine. A careful history may differentiate cluster headache from migraine and treated accordingly. Children with cluster headache features should undergo screening for secondary causes with appropriate imaging and other studies. Except for prolactinoma, the symptomatic associations noted in this case series have not been reported before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new panoramic tower on the Tromm The new panoramic tower on the mountain Tromm (Odenwald) since his opening in summer 2022, has become a highly frequented attraction for families, hikers and sportspeople. The eye‐catching inclined shape, leaning towards South‐West traces back to the arrangement of the flights of stairs – in series and not in tiers. The steepness evokes the idea of a Himmelsleiter (stairway to heaven). The lightweight timber‐clad steel‐structure is anchored in the bedrock from granite. At its top it carries a circular spectators platform and an antenna for data transmission. In face of low Eigen‐frequencies and a low building mass the dynamic behavior became an important issue. Theoretical serviceability checks were verified also with complementing field experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The checklist comprises 208 species and two varieties of Lycopodiopsida and Polypodiopsida. All historic literature records, mainly from Brause & Hieronymus (1910) and Pichi Sermolli (1983, 1985) have been revised. The pteridological results of 39 years of botanical exploration of the flora of Rwanda by Eberhard Fischer, have been added. Two new varieties (Pleopeltis macrocarpa var. dichotoma and P. macrocarpa var. pinnatiloba are validated. Citation: Fischer E. & Lobin W. 2024: Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda. – Willdenowia 53: 149–172. Version of record first published online on 10 January 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great Lakes coastlines are mosaics of wetland, stream, and lake habitats, characterized by a high degree of spatial heterogeneity that may facilitate the co-occurrence of seemingly incompatible biogeochemical processes due to variation in environmental factors that favor each process. We measured nutrient limitation and rates of N2 fixation and denitrification along transects in 5 wetland–stream–lake ecotones with different nutrient loading in Lakes Superior and Huron. We hypothesized that rates of both processes would be related to nutrient limitation status, habitat type, and environmental characteristics including temperature, nutrient concentrations, and organic matter quality. We found that median denitrification rates (914 μg N m−2 h−1) were 166 × higher than N2 fixation rates (5.5 μg N m−2 h−1), but the processes co-occurred in 48% of 83 points measured across all 5 transects and habitat types. N2 fixation occurred on sediment and macrophyte substrate, while denitrification occurred mostly in sediment. Nutrient-diffusing substrate experiments indicated that biofilm chlorophyll-a was limited by N and/or P at 55% and biofilm AFDM was limited at 26% of sample points. N2 fixation and denitrification rates did not differ significantly with differing nutrient limitation. Predictive models for N2 fixation and denitrification rates both included variables related to the composition of dissolved organic matter, while the model for N2 fixation also included P concentrations. These results demonstrate the potential for heterogeneity in habitat characteristics, nutrient availability, and organic matter composition to lead to biogeochemical complexity at the local scale, despite overall N removal at broader scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on neoadjuvant immunotherapy for deficient mismatch-repair (dMMR) rectal cancer. Topics include the emergence of immunotherapy as a treatment option, its efficacy in dMMR colorectal cancer based on trials like Checkmate 142 and KEYNOTE-177, and the outcomes of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in case reports and limited-sized trials for locally advanced dMMR rectal cancer.

Quantum Chromodynamics, the theory of quarks and gluons, whose interactions can be described by a local SU(3) gauge symmetry with charges called "color quantum numbers", is reviewed; the goal of this review is to provide advanced Ph.D. students a comprehensive handbook, helpful for their research. When QCD was "discovered" 50 years ago, the idea that quarks could exist, but not be observed, left most physicists unconvinced. Then, with the discovery of charmonium in 1974 and the explanation of its excited states using the Cornell potential, consisting of the sum of a Coulomb-like attraction and a long range linear confining potential, the theory was suddenly widely accepted. This paradigm shift is now referred to as the November revolution. It had been anticipated by the observation of scaling in deep inelastic scattering, and was followed by the discovery of gluons in three-jet events. The parameters of QCD include the running coupling constant, α s (Q 2) , that varies with the energy scale Q 2 characterising the interaction, and six quark masses. QCD cannot be solved analytically, at least not yet, and the large value of α s at low momentum transfers limits perturbative calculations to the high-energy region where Q 2 ≫ Λ QCD 2 ≃ (250 MeV) 2 . Lattice QCD (LQCD), numerical calculations on a discretized space-time lattice, is discussed in detail, the dynamics of the QCD vacuum is visualized, and the expected spectra of mesons and baryons are displayed. Progress in lattice calculations of the structure of nucleons and of quantities related to the phase diagram of dense and hot (or cold) hadronic matter are reviewed. Methods and examples of how to calculate hadronic corrections to weak matrix elements on a lattice are outlined. The wide variety of analytical approximations currently in use, and the accuracy of these approximations, are reviewed. These methods range from the Bethe–Salpeter, Dyson–Schwinger coupled relativistic equations, which are formulated in both Minkowski or Euclidean spaces, to expansions of multi-quark states in a set of basis functions using light-front coordinates, to the AdS/QCD method that imbeds 4-dimensional QCD in a 5-dimensional deSitter space, allowing confinement and spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking to be described in a novel way. Models that assume the number of colors is very large, i.e. make use of the large N c -limit, give unique insights. Many other techniques that are tailored to specific problems, such as perturbative expansions for high energy scattering or approximate calculations using the operator product expansion are discussed. The very powerful effective field theory techniques that are successful for low energy nuclear systems (chiral effective theory), or for non-relativistic systems involving heavy quarks, or the treatment of gluon exchanges between energetic, collinear partons encountered in jets, are discussed. The spectroscopy of mesons and baryons has played an important historical role in the development of QCD. The famous X,Y,Z states – and the discovery of pentaquarks – have revolutionized hadron spectroscopy; their status and interpretation are reviewed as well as recent progress in the identification of glueballs and hybrids in light-meson spectroscopy. These exotic states add to the spectrum of expected q q ¯ mesons and qqq baryons. The progress in understanding excitations of light and heavy baryons is discussed. The nucleon as the lightest baryon is discussed extensively, its form factors, its partonic structure and the status of the attempt to determine a three-dimensional picture of the parton distribution. An experimental program to study the phase diagram of QCD at high temperature and density started with fixed target experiments in various laboratories in the second half of the 1980s, and then, in this century, with colliders. QCD thermodynamics at high temperature became accessible to LQCD, and numerical results on chiral and deconfinement transitions and properties of the deconfined and chirally restored form of strongly interacting matter, called the Quark–Gluon Plasma (QGP), have become very precise by now. These results can now be confronted with experimental data that are sensitive to the nature of the phase transition. There is clear evidence that the QGP phase is created. This phase of QCD matter can already be characterized by some properties that indicate, within a temperature range of a few times the pseudocritical temperature, the medium behaves like a near ideal liquid. Experimental observables are presented that demonstrate deconfinement. High and ultrahigh density QCD matter at moderate and low temperatures shows interesting features and new phases that are of astrophysical relevance. They are reviewed here and some of the astrophysical implications are discussed. Perturbative QCD and methods to describe the different aspects of scattering processes are discussed. The primary parton–parton scattering in a collision is calculated in perturbative QCD with increasing complexity. The radiation of soft gluons can spoil the perturbative convergence, this can be cured by resummation techniques, which are also described here. Realistic descriptions of QCD scattering events need to model the cascade of quark and gluon splittings until hadron formation sets in, which is done by parton showers. The full event simulation can be performed with Monte Carlo event generators, which simulate the full chain from the hard interaction to the hadronic final states, including the modelling of non-perturbative components. The contribution of the LEP experiments (and of earlier collider experiments) to the study of jets is reviewed. Correlations between jets and the shape of jets had allowed the collaborations to determine the "color factors" – invariants of the SU(3) color group governing the strength of quark–gluon and gluon–gluon interactions. The calculated jet production rates (using perturbative QCD) are shown to agree precisely with data, for jet energies spanning more than five orders of magnitude. The production of jets recoiling against a vector boson, W ± or Z, is shown to be well understood. The discovery of the Higgs boson was certainly an important milestone in the development of high-energy physics. The couplings of the Higgs boson to massive vector bosons and fermions that have been measured so far support its interpretation as mass-generating boson as predicted by the Standard Model. The study of the Higgs boson recoiling against hadronic jets (without or with heavy flavors) or against vector bosons is also highlighted. Apart from the description of hard interactions taking place at high energies, the understanding of "soft QCD" is also very important. In this respect, Pomeron – and Odderon – exchange, soft and hard diffraction are discussed. Weak decays of quarks and leptons, the quark mixing matrix and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are processes which are governed by weak interactions. However, corrections by strong interactions are important, and these are reviewed. As the measured values are incompatible with (most of) the predictions, the question arises: are these discrepancies first hints for New Physics beyond the Standard Model? This volume concludes with a description of future facilities or important upgrades of existing facilities which improve their luminosity by orders of magnitude. The best is yet to come! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a general version of bundle trust region method for minimizing convex functions. The trust region is constructed by generic p -norm with p ∈ [ 1 , + ∞ ] . In each iteration the algorithm solves a subproblem with a constraint involving p -norm. We show the convergence of the generic bundle trust region algorithm. In implementation, the infinity norm is chosen so that a linear programming subproblem is solved in each iteration. Preliminary numerical experiments show that our algorithm performs comparably with the traditional bundle trust region method and has advantages in solving large-scale problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy instruments—such as regulation, financial incentives, and agricultural extension—are commonly applied by governments to promote sustainable agricultural practices and tackle ecosystem degradation. Despite substantial investment, little data are available to gauge the impact of evolving policy mixes. We constructed a Bayesian network model to explore relationships between policy instruments, contextual factors, and adoption. Applying a series of scenarios, we present examples of how different instruments influence adoption and how their effectiveness is shaped by contextual factors. Scenarios highlight that the effect of policy instruments is often modest, and constrained by diverse practice and population characteristics. These findings allow us to reflect on the role of policy instruments, and the conditions necessary to support practice change. For example, our findings raise questions about the role of financial benefits versus financial capacity, and highlight the potential importance of concepts such as mental bandwidth in shaping both motivation and capacity to adopt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seit mehreren Jahrzehnten können zum Zweck des Therapeutischen Drug Monitoring Medikamentenkonzentrationen im Blut gemessen werden. Heutzutage wird ein viel breiteres Spektrum von Biomarkern eingesetzt, die das individuelle Therapieansprechen vorhersagen oder widerspiegeln, wodurch eine Pharmakotherapie weit besser personalisiert gesteuert werden kann. Die Entwicklung neuer Techniken und die Anwendung von Software und mathematisch-statistischen Computermodellen tragen maßgeblich zu diesem Fortschritt bei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the normal and abnormal pericallosal artery (PCA) by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography and Doppler technologies. Additionally, it describes a systematic method on how to acquire and manipulate volumes for the precise demonstration of the PCA. Methods: With the use of the glass body mode (grayscale ultrasound and color or power Doppler), 3D ultrasound permits precise imaging of the fetal PCA, an important anatomic landmark of the corpus callosum. This rendering mode enables us to demonstrate sonographically the origin, course, and branching patterns of the PCA with the callosomarginal artery (CMA) as well as other fetal cerebral blood vessels and venous sinuses. Results: A step-by-step systematic approach to identifying the cerebral vasculature from ultrasonographic volume data sets was developed. The volumes were rotated into a standard anatomic orientation in the multiplanar display, and then, by systematic navigation, the PCA with its main branches was demonstrated. Conclusion: The use of 3D power Doppler sonoangiography enables the precise demonstration of the normal variants of the fetal brain vessels and provides knowledge about anatomical variations and the diversity of human brain anatomy. The knowledge of normal variants helps to detect pathological forms of brain vascularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the last 34 years, three-dimensional (3D) sonography has undergone enormous development in prenatal diagnostics. On the one hand, this concerns transducer technology, and on the other hand, optimization in ultrasound device ergonomics. Advances in computer technology have also made it possible to accelerate the computational steps required for 3D sonography in ultrasound devices. The different 3D display modes that are available today offer enormous additional potential in prenatal diagnostics, especially for the examiner experienced in two-dimensional (2D) sonography. In this way, 2D planes can be controlled in a targeted manner, and unclear or complex structures, as well as axis deviations, can be spatially displayed. Fetal malformations can thus be precisely depicted from different angles or specifically excluded. In particular, surface defects can thus be clearly demonstrated to the parents-to-be. The aim of this publication is to provide an overview of the development and potential of 3D ultrasound technology in prenatal diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpentinites play an important role in the delivery of water into subduction zones. In addition, serpentinites also contain ferric Fe and can transport significant redox potential. We present high-pressure and high-temperature experiments and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements on natural lizardite and antigorite samples equilibrated at various oxygen fugacities in order to quantify the relationship between the oxygen fugacity f (O2) and the Fe3+/Fetot ratio in these two phases. In antigorite, Fe3+ partitions into the octahedral site and is charge balanced by tetrahedral Al. In lizardite, tetrahedral Fe3+ is observed only at low temperature as well as under high f (O2), whereas Fe3+ prefers the octahedral site at temperatures exceeding 500 °C and at 3 to 5 GPa. Although metastable, lizardite remains in redox equilibrium in our experiments at conditions above the lizardite to antigorite phase transformation at 300 °C and demonstrates a similar stability to antigorite. The Al concentration of lizardite is found to be temperature dependent, and it was possible to reequilibrate the Fe3+/Fetot ratio of lizardite from 0.1 to 0.9 by using redox buffers such as Fe metal, graphite, graphite–calcite, Re–ReO2 and Ru–RuO2. Our experiments on antigorite demonstrate that antigorite does not adjust its Al concentration on experimental time scales. Since Fe3+ is charge balanced by Al, it was also not possible to manipulate the Fe3+/Fetot ratio of antigorite. The coexisting phases, however, show chemical equilibration with this antigorite composition. We have retrieved the standard Gibbs energy for Fe3+- and Al-endmembers of antigorite and lizardite and calculated the metamorphic evolution of subducting serpentinites. The lizardite to antigorite transformation does not cause a decrease in the bulk Fe3+/Fetot ratio under f (O2) buffered conditions, in contrast to observations from some natural settings, but does result in the formation of additional magnetite due to antigorite having a lower Fe3+/Fetot ratio than lizardite at equilibrium. If the f (O2) of antigorite serpentinite is buffered during subduction, such as due to the presence of graphite and carbonate, the bulk Fe3+/Fetot ratio decreases progressively. On the other hand, in a closed system where the bulk serpentinite Fe3+/Fetot ratio remains constant, the f (O2) increases during subduction. In this scenario, the f (O2) of an antigorite serpentinite with a typical Fe3+/Fetot ratio of 0.4 increases from the fayalite–magnetite–quartz to the hematite–magnetite f (O2) buffer during dehydration. These f (O2) results confirm earlier inferences that fluids produced by antigorite dehydration may not contain sufficient oxidised sulphur species to oxidise the mantle wedge. Sufficiently high levels of f (O2) to mobilise oxidised sulphur species may be reached upon antigorite dehydration, however, if closed system behaviour maintains a high bulk redox potential across the lizardite to antigorite phase transformation. Alternatively, oxidation of the mantle wedge might be achieved by oxidising agents from sources in subducted oceanic crust and sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Largely unknown just a few decades ago, computational systems biology is now a central methodology for biological and medical research. This amazing ascent raises the question of what the community should do next. The article outlines our personal vision for the future of computational systems biology, suggesting the need to address both mindsets and methodologies. We present this vision by focusing on current and anticipated research goals, the development of strong computational tools, likely prominent applications, education of the nextgeneration of scientists, and outreach to the public. In our opinion, two classes of broad research goals have emerged in recent years and will guide future efforts. The first goal targets computational models of increasing size and complexity, aimed at solving emerging health-related challenges, such as realistic whole-cell and organ models, disease simulators and digital twins, in silico clinical trials, and clinically translational applications in the context of therapeutic drug development. Such large models will also lead us toward solutions to pressing issues in agriculture and environmental sustainability, including sufficient food availability and life in changing habitats. The second goal is a deep understanding of the essence of system designs and strategies with which nature solves problems. This understanding will help us explain observed biological structures and guide forays into synthetic biological systems. Regarding effective methodologies, we suggest efforts toward automated data pipelines from raw biomedical data all the way to spatiotemporal mechanistic model. These will be supported by dynamic methods of statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and streamlined strategies of dynamic model design, striking a fine balance between modeling realistic complexity and abstracted simplicity. Finally, we suggest the need for a concerted, community-wide emphasis on effective education in systems biology, implemented as a combination of formal instruction and hands-on mentoring. The educational efforts should furthermore be extended toward the public through books, blogs, social media, and interactive networking opportunities, with the ultimate goal of training in state-of-the-art technology while recapturing the lost art of synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the case of Chile to analyze the effectiveness of a spatially blind employment relief program (hereafter referred to as the LPE program) established by the Chilean government and implemented during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Chile is an interesting case because on the one hand its nonpharmaceutical interventions were spatially driven by health indicators based on small geographical areas; hence, producing sizeable regional and temporal variation of the local conditions induced by the COVID‐19 pandemic. On the other hand, the LPE program was designed and implemented nationally without distinction of local labor market or pandemic conditions, and each firm could decide whether to enroll in the program. By exploiting the spatial‐temporal variation of exogenously imposed lockdowns and using a difference‐in‐differences panel data framework, we find that the LPE program was only effective for a group of regions in the country but, more importantly, that the LPE program was less effective during lockdowns. Moreover, the requirements of the LPE program were vague and did not target specific populations or entities. Consequently, our results suggest that women, informal and small firm workers, and most economic sectors throughout the country were less able to take advantage of the benefits of this program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astrocytes perform multiple essential functions in the brain showing morphological changes. Hypertrophic astrocytes are commonly observed in cognitively healthy aged animals, implying a functional defense mechanism without losing neuronal support. In neurodegenerative diseases, astrocytes show morphological alterations, such as decreased process length and reduced number of branch points, known as astroglial atrophy , with detrimental effects on neuronal cells. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a non–human primate that, with age, develops several features that resemble neurodegeneration. In this study, we characterize the morphological alterations in astrocytes of adolescent (mean 1.75 y), adult (mean 5.33 y), old (mean 11.25 y), and aged (mean 16.83 y) male marmosets. We observed a significantly reduced arborization in astrocytes of aged marmosets compared to younger animals in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. These astrocytes also show oxidative damage to RNA and increased nuclear plaques in the cortex and tau hyperphosphorylation (AT100). Astrocytes lacking S100A10 protein show a more severe atrophy and DNA fragmentation. Our results demonstrate the presence of atrophic astrocytes in the brains of aged marmosets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Possible functions of several species-specific, sexually dimorphic male structures and of the male genitalia of Lytta eucera were deduced from observations of behaviour in the field and captivity, and were used to test theories of sexual selection. The male rubbed and tapped on the female's antennae with sexually dimorphic segments of his antennae, and on her elytra with brushes of setae on his hind tarsi. He forcefully grasped the female's prothorax and at least occasionally perforated the female's prothoracic membranes with his modified middle tibiae, and her relatively uniform, membranous vaginal lining with his strong aedeagal teeth. His aedeagal teeth snagged her vaginal lining, and his gonostyli usually pressed against a featureless external female intersegmental membrane. None of these male structures was used as a weapon or in threat displays. No female structure fitted tightly in a "lock-and-key" manner with any of the male structures, nor was any female structure capable of selectively impeding their use, thus ruling out some hypotheses explaining their species-specificity in males. Female resistance to males, including occasional violent "tantrum" displays, was energetic, persistent, and highly effective; the functional significance of this resistance is unclear. If females distinguish the stimuli produced by species-specific traits of male genitalia, as supposed by some hypotheses, they likely use higher-level analyses in the central nervous system rather than the locations of the particular sense organs that are stimulated. The functional morphology of species-specific genital and nongenital sexually dimorphic traits of male Lytta eucera beetles was deduced using behavioural and morphological data. Two nongenital male traits function exclusively to stimulate females during courtship. Two other nongenital male traits may have mixed functions; one is unique in Meloidae in serving to grasp the female prothorax in a tong-like fashion. The traits were compared with predictions of hypotheses that have been proposed to explain species-specificity. No nongenital or genital trait fit well with mechanical versions of the species isolation or the sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC) hypothesis. Inconsistency in the points of male–female genital contact indicated that stimulation versions of the cryptic female choice and SAC hypotheses could not be true unless female analyses of male stimuli occur not at the receptors themselves, but deeper in the female's nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spaceborne Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers have become ubiquitous sensors for spacecraft navigation, especially in Low Earth Orbits (LEOs), often also supporting science endeavors or as acting dedicated science payloads. Due to the large number of space-capable GNSS receiver models available, spacecraft designers, as well as scientists, may find it difficult to have or gain an overview of suitable state-of-the-art models for their purposes and constraints. Based on a literature review that included more than 90 different receiver models, this paper aims to provide an overview of space-capable GNSS receivers that have a heritage in space missions. It analyses trends from the collected data and provides an outlook on miniaturized GNSS receiver models, which have a high potential of being used in future space missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread occurrence of phenotypic plasticity across all domains of life demonstrates its evolutionary significance. However, how plasticity itself evolves and how it contributes to evolution is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the predatory nematode Pristionchus pacificus with its feeding structure plasticity using recombinant-inbred-line and quantitative-trait-locus (QTL) analyses between natural isolates. We show that a single QTL at a core developmental gene controls the expression of the cannibalistic morph. This QTL is composed of several cis-regulatory elements. Through CRISPR/Cas-9 engineering, we identify copy number variation of potential transcription factor binding sites that interacts with a single intronic nucleotide polymorphism. Another intronic element eliminates gene expression altogether, mimicking knockouts of the locus. Comparisons of additional isolates further support the rapid evolution of these cis-regulatory elements. Finally, an independent QTL study reveals evidence for parallel evolution at the same locus. Thus, combinations of cis-regulatory elements shape plastic trait expression and control nematode cannibalism. This study shows that the synergistic effect of multiple cis-regulatory elements at a core developmental gene controls the switch rate of mouth-form plasticity in the free-living nematode Pristionchus pacificus, shedding light on how phenotypic plasticity is genetically controlled in natural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME) produced from methanol are considered as potential substitutes of Diesel fuel. Emissions of formaldehyde and other components have been observed, particularly under cold-start conditions in engine test-bench experiments with OME fuel. In this study, the reactivity of OME3 (CH3O(CH2O)3CH3) and its decomposition products was studied in the temperature range 80–450 °C in a model gas test bench over V2O5/WO3/TiO2 and Cu-CHA SCR catalysts, a platinum-coated V2O5/WO3/TiO2 ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) and two diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), based on platinum and platinum-palladium. Already at 80 °C, OME3 was largely hydrolyzed to methanol and formaldehyde over all catalysts. At temperatures above 150 °C, V2O5/WO3/TiO2 oxidized methanol and formaldehyde to CO via formic acid as intermediate. The platinum ASC showed a similar behavior but oxidized the decomposition products to CO2. Whereas Cu-CHA hydrolyzed OME3 quantitatively to methanol and formaldehyde, it did not show oxidation activity in the studied temperature range. The data indicate that the release of significant amounts of OME from a catalytic converter can be virtually ruled out under cold start conditions, but also that low temperature hydrolysis produces formaldehyde and methanol emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider competitive algorithms for adaptive group testing problems. In the first part of the paper, we develop an algorithm with competitive constant c < 1. 452 thus improving the up to now best known algorithms with constants 1. 5 + ϵ from 2003. In the second part, we prove the first nontrivial lower bound for competitive constants, namely that c is always larger than 1.31. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical coral reefs, as prominent marine diversity hotspots, are in decline, and long-term studies help to improve understanding of the effects of global warming, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, deterioration of water quality, and disease. Here, we evaluated relative coral abundance and reef accretion rates over the past 9000 years in Belize barrier and atoll reefs, the largest reef system in the Atlantic Ocean. Acropora palmata and Orbicella spp. have been the most common corals. The abundance of competitive, fast-growing acroporids was constant over multi-millennial timescales. A decline in A. cervicornis abundance, however, and three centennial-scale gaps in A. palmata occurrence, suggest that the modern decline in acroporids was not unprecedented. Stress-tolerant corals predominate at the beginning of Holocene successions. Following the improvement of environmental conditions after inundation of the reef pedestal, their abundance has decreased. The abundance of weedy corals has increased during the Holocene underlining the importance of fecundity for the coral community. Reef-accretion rate, as calculated based on 76 new U-series age dates, has decreased over the Holocene and the mean value of 3.36 m kyr−1 is at the lower end of global reef growth compilations and predicted future rates of rise in sea level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has been suggested by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for assessing the exercise limitations of apparently healthy individuals, but data on elite athletes regarding this test are scarce. (2) Methods: We analyzed CPET in elite (n = 43, 21.9 ± 3.7 years) and recreational (n = 40, 34.7 ± 13.0 years) athletes with persistent subjective exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise (PEM) after COVID-19 infection. The primary outcome was the point prevalence of the adequate cardiopulmonary response (ACPR), defined by the presence of all of the following ESC criteria for apparently healthy individuals: (1) >100% of predicted peak oxygen consumption (predVO2peak), (2) VE/VCO2 < 30, (3) no exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV), and (4) heart rate recovery of ≥12 beats/minute 1 min after exercise termination (HRR1). Results: ACPR occurred more frequently in elite athletes than in recreational athletes (70.0% vs. 39.5%; p = 0.005), mainly driven by the lower VE/VCO2 (<30: 97.7% vs. 65%, p < 0.001). Elite (11.6%) and recreational athletes (22.5%) showing a plateau of O2 pulse did not display ACPR. Conclusions: ACPR was not observed in all recreational and elite athletes with PEM. In particular, perturbed VE/VCO2 and the plateauing of O2 pulse are suitable for quantifying exercise limitations and may identify a high-risk population with long-COVID-19 syndrome who require their training intensities to be adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determine the multipliers M (X , Y) where X, Y ∈ { w 0 , w , w ∞ } , and we apply these results to the solvability of both the (SSIE) of the form F ⊂ E + w x , where F ∈ { w 0 , w , w ∞ } , and the (SSIE) w ⊂ E + W x 0 and w ⊂ E + W x . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under exacerbated environmental conditions due to climate change and more frequent and more severe disturbances the establishment of forest stands has become a challenge for forest managers. This study aims at comparing stand establishment methods on a European scale. We differentiated between five biogeographic regions to detect similarities and differences regarding current practices as well as trends considering the climatic background using an expert survey. Our results allowed identifying two clusters, one boreal cluster and one European mainland cluster. In both cases mechanical soil preparation and measures against drought are seen as key factors. Experts from the boreal region give high importance to appropriate plant material and fertilization for growth acceleration, and consider insects and fungi as a primary threat. In the mainland cluster, experts rely mainly on silvicultural measures and expect damage by game to be highly detrimental for stand establishment. Across Europe the preferable countermeasure to face drought is not irrigation but a combination of strategies related to mechanical site preparation, plant material, planting method, and silviculture. This study identifies three focal areas for forest practitioners to consider when establishing new forest stands: (1) careful selection of the plant material; (2) suitable site preparation and (3) prudent deliberation on beneficial silvicultural options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds seek daily returns equal to fixed multiples of indexes' returns, but the ensuing rebalancing costs create a tension between a high correlation with the index and a low average deviation from the leveraged index' performance. With proportional trading costs, we find that the optimal replication policy is robust to the index' dynamics and obtain a sufficient statistic for index replication performance, the implied spread, which is insensitive to risk-premia and enables comparisons of funds tracking different factors of an index. Overall, the impact of trading costs on replication performance is comparable to or higher than the effect of management fees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conduct a theory-guided experiment where subjects are matched in groups of three and vote on a morally questionable decision. We find that the frequency of votes for this decision increases with the number of votes required for it (threshold effect). This effect persists even when only considering pivotal voters, who cannot rely on sufficiently many votes for the decision by other group members (thereby reaping a benefit without own moral costs). Our design allows us to attribute the threshold effect to guilt sharing. A series of novel treatments then identifies shared responsibility and a preference for group consensus as independent motives contributing to guilt sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several traits of adult female Allocyclosa bifurca, including the forms and the colours of the dorsal and the ventral sides of the abdomen that match bumpy and smooth surfaces and associated colours of the two sides of the egg sac, the colours and positions of the spider's legs and the spiders' prey wrapping behaviour and their orientation of prey packages while they feed all increase the match with the overall shapes and colours of the egg sacs, visually camouflaging the spider at the hub of its orb. This camouflage is partially broken in two contexts: apparent attempts to avoid overheating in direct sunlight, and feeding. Neither a predatory bird nor a parasitoid wasp showed signs of being fooled by the camouflage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transversal in an n×n$n \times n$ latin square is a collection of n$n$ entries not repeating any row, column, or symbol. Kwan showed that almost every n×n$n \times n$ latin square has (1+o(1))n/e2n$\bigl ((1 + o(1)) n / e^2\bigr)^n$ transversals as n→∞$n \rightarrow \infty$. Using a loose variant of the circle method we sharpen this to (e−1/2+o(1))n!2/nn$(e^{-1/2} + o(1)) n!^2 / n^n$. Our method works for all latin squares satisfying a certain quasirandomness condition, which includes both random latin squares with high probability as well as multiplication tables of quasirandom groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Newtonian fluids, microswimmers need to perform a non-reciprocal shape change to move forward. However, this is no longer required in biological fluids with their viscoelastic properties. In this work, we investigate an oscillating two-sphere swimmer in a weakly viscoelastic fluid and show that the swimmer moves toward the smaller sphere. We use the flow fields generated by the individual spheres. Since they contain a viscoelastic contribution quadratic in the sphere velocities, the forces needed to expand and contract the swimmer differ from each other. This causes a non-zero net displacement during one cycle. We also find that the mean flow field generated by the two-sphere swimmer is the one of a contractile force dipole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Keeping your head above water - Supervisory experiences with the conception of Foulkes" describes the supervisory experiences with the conception of S.H. Foulkes, a founder of group analysis. The article sheds light on various dimensions of supervisory work, such as the matrix, shared beliefs, and defense processes in supervised teams. The role of language and nonverbal signals in supervision is emphasized. The aim of supervision is to enable differentiated development and integrate topics of common interest. The text also deals with various aspects of reflective competence and the role of conflicts in team and group supervision. It is recommended to initiate new actions to reduce complex situations and increase complexity. The author discusses Foulkes' views on change in group analysis and argues for a pragmatic solution orientation and the use of techniques from other disciplines. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with high mortality and negative consequences for patients with Alzheimer's disease or dementia and their caregivers. Memory clinics play an important role in enabling early dementia diagnosis and providing support for patients and their caregivers. Objective: This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions on patients of a memory clinic and their caregivers between March 2020 and March 2021. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-center, questionnaire-based, observational study to assess consequences and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotion, cognitive function, social living, areas of care, and information retrieval. Results: Results of 255 participants' (mean age 76.78, SD 8.9; 12% cognitively intact, 33% mild cognitive impairment, 55% dementia) and 203 caregivers' COVID-19 questionnaires (valid response rate 71%) could be included in the study. Participants reported a prevalence of psychological symptoms associated with the pandemic between 3-20%. Caregivers living outside compared to those living with the participant reported higher rates of new onset or worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in participants since pandemic onset. Patients with dementia showed the lowest use of digital communication before (15.7%) and after (17.1%) pandemic onset in the diagnostic groups. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic frequently led to social isolation and reduced cognitive stimulation due to restrictions in elderly persons with cognitive deficits resulting in negative effects on emotional and social levels. We hypothesize that the implementation and sensitization with digital communication in clinical routine could provide a useful tool to counteract these negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Digital radiography has long been established in veterinary clinics, leading to increased use of digital systems in reptile species as well. In this study, we used different digital radiography systems on cadavers of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). We aimed to examine the impact of a radiation dose reduction on the image quality and the assessment of defined skeletal structures. We employed a blinded assessment and a defined scoring system to evaluate the techniques tested. Our results demonstrate that both a 50% and a 75% reduction in the radiation dose significantly decreased image assessments. These findings highlight the need for correct radiation dose protocols to produce high-quality radiographs in reptile species. Three different digital detector systems were used to study the effect of a defined radiation dose reduction on the image quality of digital radiographs in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). A series of radiographs of seven bearded-dragon cadavers with a body mass ranging from 132 g to 499 g were taken in dorsoventral projection. The digital systems employed included two computed radiography systems (CR) (one system with a needle-based and one with a powdered-based scintillator) and one direct radiography system (DR). Three levels of the detector dose were selected: A standard dose (defined based on the recommended exposure value of the CRP, D/100%), a half dose (D/50%), and a quarter dose (D/25%). Four image criteria and one overall assessment were defined for each of four anatomic skeletal regions (femur, rib, vertebra, and phalanx) and evaluated blinded by four veterinarians using a predefined scoring system. The results were assessed for differences between reviewers (interobserver variability), radiography systems, and dosage settings (intersystem variability). The comparison of the ratings was based on visual grading characteristic (VGC) analysis. Dose reduction led to significantly lower scores in all criteria by every reviewer, indicating a linear impairment of image quality in different skeletal structures in bearded dragons. Scores did not differ significantly between the different systems used, indicating no advantage in using a computed or direct radiography system to evaluate skeletal structures in bearded dragons. The correlation was significant (p ≤ 0.05) for interobserver variability in 100% of the cases, with correlation coefficients between 0.50 and 0.59. While demonstrating the efficacy of the use of digital radiography in bearded dragons and the similar quality in using different computed or direct radiography systems, this study also highlights the importance of the appropriate level of detector dose and demonstrates the limits of post-processing algorithm to compensate for insufficient radiation doses in bearded dragons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling plastic is an excellent way to reduce the environmental impact of its production and use. In a circular economy, recycling of recycled plastic is necessary. Most plastic bags are made of thermoplastic, like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a melting point of 130°C, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). In contrast, recycled plastic bags are made up of many different unknown substances. In this study, the melting of used plastic bags containing 80% unknown recycled material was investigated. FTIR analysis showed that the bags consisted mainly of HDPE. The bags were melted at 160°C, 200°C, and 250°C for 30 min. GC-FID and HP-SPME GCMS analyses showed that the bags released flammable gases (methane, ethylene, and alkane/alkene hydrocarbons) but little acetylene. Aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons eluded from the bags at 10% of the gas volume at 250°C. Long-chain alkanes, mostly hexadecane, were the dominant compound, amounting to 28% at 160°C and increasing to 43% at 250°C. On the other hand, alkenes decreased with a rising temperature (23% at 160°C to 3% at 250°C), as they were transformed into alkanes. Methylated compounds, for example, methylated alkanes at 10%, were present at all temperatures. Methane and methylated compounds are released from plastic and contamination of the bags with organic matter. The bags released small amounts of toxic phthalates. The results show that melting recycled plastic bags for remoulding is promising if safety precautions that ensure sufficient ventilation are utilised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analyze the impact of information and communication on misreporting of performance in teams of two. • Both team members get the same payoff but report independently. • Informing players 2 about the reports of players 1 reduces misreporting. • Letting players 1 send messages to players 2 reduces misreporting by players 2. • Information transmission and communication thus reduce misreporting. We extend the experimental analysis of misreporting performance in real effort tasks (cheating) to situations where two members of a team perform the task sequentially and decide independently on their potentially inflated reports. We vary three factors in our experiment: whether no players, only players 2, or both players can misreport; whether players 2 learn the report of players 1; and whether players 1 can send a message to players 2 requesting honest or dishonest behavior. Our data yield two main insights. First, higher reports by players 1 lead to higher reports by players 2, i.e. misreporting is reinforcing. Second, allowing players 1 to send a message suggesting that players 2 either report honestly or a minimum number of correct solutions reduces misreporting by players 2. There are two channels for this. First, most players 1 request an honest report. Second, players 2 misreport far less when they receive the honest message, but, compared to the treatments without messages, hardly change their reports when they are asked to report a minimum number of correct solutions. We find a similar, though less pronounced, asymmetric response when players 2 learn the reports of players 1. These findings suggest that communication and information transmission can reduce cheating, and that there are notable spillover effects of honesty even in anonymous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnostic ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology has experienced a fantastic evolution during the past seven decades. Initial steps with A-mode technology were followed by B-mode and B-mode real-time imaging, then by Doppler and colour Doppler ultrasound, and finally by 3D/4D ultrasound. Other evolutionary steps were the development of high-resolution transabdominal and transvaginal transducers providing high quality images in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, as well as in gynaecology and breast imaging. The progression from two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional ultrasound (3D) and 3D real-time imaging (4D) has brought new options in displaying anatomical structures. In comparison with CT or MRI, it is not a static but functional technique, cheap and safe, and applicable at any time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]