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Abstract There is a vast literature evaluating the empirical association between stay-at-home policies and crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these academic efforts have primarily focused on the effects within specific cities or regions rather than adopting a cross-national comparative approach. Moreover, this body of literature not only generally lacks causal estimates but also has overlooked possible heterogeneities across different levels of stringency in mobility restrictions. This paper exploits the spatial and temporal variation of government responses to the pandemic in 45 cities across five continents to identify the causal impact of strict lockdown policies on the number of offenses reported to local police. We find that cities that implemented strict lockdowns experienced larger declines in some crime types (robbery, burglary, vehicle theft) but not others (assault, theft, homicide). This decline in crime rates attributed to more stringent policy responses represents only a small proportion of the effects documented in the literature.

Abstract ACCEPT-AI is a framework of recommendations for the safe inclusion of pediatric data in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) research. It has been built on fundamental ethical principles of pediatric and AI research and incorporates age, consent, assent, communication, equity, protection of data, and technological considerations. ACCEPT-AI has been designed to guide researchers, clinicians, regulators, and policymakers and can be utilized as an independent tool, or adjunctively to existing AI/ML guidelines.

Introduction: We report the full analysis of the COMMANDS trial assessing efficacy and safety of luspatercept versus epoetin alfa (EA) in ESA-naive patients with LR-MDS. Methods: 363 patients (aged ≥18 y, with transfusion-dependent LR-MDS, serum erythropoietin

Abstract Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data are well‐suited for change detection over agricultural fields, owing to high spatiotemporal resolution and sensitivity to soil and vegetation. The goal of this work is to evaluate the science algorithm for the NASA ISRO SAR (NISAR) Cropland Area product using data collected by NASA's airborne Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle SAR (UAVSAR) platform and the simulated NISAR data derived from it. This study uses mode 129, which is to be used for global‐scale mapping. The mode consists of an upper (129A) and lower band (129B), respectively having bandwidths of 20 and 5 MHz. This work uses 129A data because it has a four times finer range resolution compared to 129B. The NISAR algorithm uses the coefficient of variation (CV) to perform crop/noncrop classification at 100 m. We evaluate classifications using three accuracy metrics (overall accuracy, J‐statistic, Cohen's Kappa) and spatial resolutions (10, 30, and 100 m) for crop/noncrop delineating CV thresholds (CVthr) ranging from 0 to 1 in 0.01 increments. All but the 10 m 129A product exceeded NISAR's mission accuracy requirement of 80%. The UAVSAR 10 m data performed best, achieving maximum overall accuracy, J‐statistic, and Kappa values of 85%, 0.62, and 0.60. The same metrics for the 129A product respectively are: 77%, 0.40, 0.36 at 10 m; 81%, 0.55, 0.49 at 30 m; 80%, 0.58, 0.50 at 100 m. We found that using a literature recommended CVthr value of 0.5 yielded suboptimal accuracy (65%) at this site and that optimal CVthr values monotonically decreased with decreasing spatial resolution.

Large peatlands exist at high latitudes because flooded conditions and cold temperatures slow decomposition, so the presence of (sub)tropical peat is enigmatic. Here the authors show that low-latitude peat is preserved due to lower carbohydrate and greater aromatic content resulting in chemical recalcitrance.

The γ-ray strength functions and nuclear level densities of 138La and 139La have been measured below the neutron separation energies. These new data were used to calculate astrophysical Maxwellian-averaged (n,γ) cross-sections to investigate the production and destruction of the p-nucleus 138La in the photodisintegration process. The results confirm the underproduction of 138La in the p-process with respect to the observed abundances and strongly support the ν-process through νe capture on 138Ba as the main contributor to the synthesis of 138La in Type II supernovae. Keywords: γ-ray strength functions, Nuclear level densities, Maxwellian averaged cross-sections

The chemistry of 4d and 4f metals was investigated at the undergraduate level in an effort to incorporate f-element chemistry in the curriculum. This was accomplished through microwave-assisted synthesis of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) coordination compounds [Eu(phen)(subscript 3)](PF[subscript 6])[subscript 3] and [Ru(phen)(subscript 3)](PF[subscript 6])[subscript 2], and embedding the coordination compounds in polystyrene (PS) beads. Through a combination of 1-D/2-D spectroscopic techniques, the metal-phen coordination compounds in solution and in the solid state were probed. It was validated that the strong interaction between the phen ligand and Ru[superscript 2+] is due to the diffuse nature of the 4d orbitals. The interaction resulted in a low energy MLCT band, which provides opportunities for excitation at lower energies using 4d metals. In contrast, the phen ligand and core Eu[superscript 3+] 4f orbitals exhibited a weak interaction. This was supported by variable-temperature NMR (VT-NMR) measurements, which revealed relatively well-separated proton resonances with minimal differences in chemical shifts for the phen ligand at 25°C and the [Eu(phen)(subscript 3)](PF[subscript 6])[subscript 3] compound at -42°C, indicating a weak Eu-N interaction. The weak interaction resulted in the formation of an aqua-containing complex in solution evidenced by emission lifetime measurements. Despite the weak interaction, selective excitation (via ligand [pi]-[pi]* versus direct f-f) of the Eu[superscript 3+] compound allowed for color tuning, leading to the generation of a cool white light. Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of the metal-embedded PS beads indicated relatively monodispersed distribution of the metal complexes in the polymer.

Horses are often stabled in individual boxes, a method that does not meet their natural needs and may cause psychical and musculoskeletal diseases. This problem is particularly evident in Iceland, where horses often spend the long winter periods in cramped boxes. The aim of this study was to analyze the suitability of a group housing system in Iceland, but the results are also applicable to horses of other regions. Eight Icelandic horses were observed in an active stable system, and their behavior and time budget were recorded. Movement and lying behavior were studied with ALT (Activity, Lying, Temperature detection) pedometers. The effect of an automatic concentrate feeding station (CFS) on the horses’ behavior was examined. In the first period of investigation, the horses were fed concentrates manually, and in the second period, they were fed with the CFS. Additional behavioral observations and a determination of social hierarchy occurred directly or by video surveillance. The physical condition of the horses was recorded by body weight (BW) measurement and body condition scoring (BCS). The results showed a significant increase between the first and second trial periods in both the activity (P < 0.001) and the lying time (P = 0.003) of the horses with use of the CFS. However, there was no significant change in BW during the first period without the CFS (P = 0.884) or during the second period with the CFS (P = 0.540). The BCS of the horses was constant at a very good level during both trial periods, and the horses showed a low level of aggression, a firm social hierarchy and behavioral synchronization. This study concludes that group housing according to the active stable principle is a welfare-friendly option for keeping horses and is a suitable alternative to conventional individual boxes.

The aim of the performed work was to verify the hypothesis that different milking equipments have different influence on the blood circulation in the milk gland during milking. This influence was investigated by measuring the surface temperature of the milk gland using thermography. The influence was monitored of 5 different milking units in total, out of them 2 AMS, on the teat temperature which was scanned and evaluated in the teat tip centre and on the teat base at the same time with the surface temperature of the udder, always at the instant closely preceding the cluster application and then after its removal. It was ascertained that the average temperature of the teat tip after milking was increased in comparison with the temperature before milking practically in all the milking units monitored. At the same time, the average temperature of the teat tip in the milking equipment in parlours increased by about 1.7°C-2.7°C (6.1%-9.0%) as compared to the temperature before milking. At milking in AMS, the temperature rise of the teat tip was smaller and reached only 0.9°C-1.7°C (2.9%-6.0%). At the same time, the temperature of other parts of the milk gland grew commensurately. It was also found that differences exist between different milking units with respect to their influence on the temperature fluctuation of the milk gland. From the monitoring performed up to now and from the results acquired it is possible to apprehend that the monitoring of the teat temperature before and after milking with the help of thermography can become an indicator of the working quality of the milking equipment and its influence on the milk gland. The confirmation of this hypothesis requires, however, further detailed and extensive measuring to be carried out.

The effects of ditch water management regimes on water tables are examined for two test sites in England, Halvergate in the Broads and Southlake Moor in the Somerset Levels and Moors Environmentally Sensitive Areas. It is observed that in some fields the effects of water management are only poorly transferred from the ditch to the field centre, especially where the hydraulic conductivity of the subsoil is small. Where there are large variations in the ditch water levels, reflecting the influence of major ditches subject to pump drainage, field soil water regimes differ significantly. Nevertheless, the effects of even quite small changes in the ditch regime cam be noticeable. Simple modelling studies show that much greater effects can be achieved by increasing the frequency of ditches within wetlands.

Permafrost thaw is a major potential feedback source to climate change as it can drive the increased release of greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and methane (CH4 ). This carbon release from the decomposition of thawing soil organic material can be mitigated by increased net primary productivity (NPP) caused by warming, increasing atmospheric CO2 , and plant community transition. However, the net effect on C storage also depends on how these plant community changes alter plant litter quantity, quality, and decomposition rates. Predicting decomposition rates based on litter quality remains challenging, but a promising new way forward is to incorporate measures of the energetic favorability to soil microbes of plant biomass decomposition. We asked how the variation in one such measure, the nominal oxidation state of carbon (NOSC), interacts with changing quantities of plant material inputs to influence the net C balance of a thawing permafrost peatland. We found: (1) Plant productivity (NPP) increased post-thaw, but instead of contributing to increased standing biomass, it increased plant biomass turnover via increased litter inputs to soil; (2) Plant litter thermodynamic favorability (NOSC) and decomposition rate both increased post-thaw, despite limited changes in bulk C:N ratios; (3) these increases caused the higher NPP to cycle more rapidly through both plants and soil, contributing to higher CO2 and CH4  fluxes from decomposition. Thus, the increased C-storage expected from higher productivity was limited and the high global warming potential of CH4 contributed a net positive warming effect. Although post-thaw peatlands are currently C sinks due to high NPP offsetting high CO2 release, this status is very sensitive to the plant community's litter input rate and quality. Integration of novel bioavailability metrics based on litter chemistry, including NOSC, into studies of ecosystem dynamics, is needed to improve the understanding of controls on arctic C stocks under continued ecosystem transition.

Euro-Ficoll and bovine serum albumin (BSA) are two of the most commonly used density gradient media for the purification of pancreatic islets. Euro-Ficoll is based upon Euro-Collins, a cold storage medium, and must, therefore, be used at 4°C. The ionic composition of BSA, however, is likely to contribute to hypothermic cellular swelling, and this may influence the efficiency of islet purification using this medium at 4°C. Experience in this laboratory also suggested that batch-to-batch variation in islet purity using BSA was related to differences in BSA osmolality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of gradient medium temperature and osmolality on the purification of human and porcine islets using BSA. Pancreata were collagenase-digested, and islets were purified on continuous linear density gradients of BSA. The distribution of insulin and amylase in each gradient was assayed, and used to calculate the median density of islets and exocrine tissue, and the efficiency of islet purification (%amylase contamination at a fixed insulin yield), using: 1) gradient osmolalities of 300, 400, and 500 mOsm/kg H 2 O (seven porcine pancreata), and 2) gradients at 4°C and at 22°C (eight human and seven porcine pancreata). Increase in density gradient osmolality produced increases in porcine exocrine tissue density which exceeded changes in islet density, resulting in improved islet purity, maximal at a BSA osmolality of 400 mOsm/kg H 2 O. For human pancreata there was no significant change in pancreatic tissue densities nor islet purity with temperature. For porcine pancreata the densities of exocrine tissue and islets were lower at 4°C than at 22°C. This reduction in density with temperature was greater for exocrine tissue, resulting in lesser islet purity at 4°C compared to 22°C (p = 0.036). In conclusion, islet purification using BSA is influenced by density gradient temperature and osmolality. For porcine pancreata, a temperature of 22°C, and an osmolality of 400 mOsm/kg H 2 O are optimal.