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Background: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with poorer dietary habits and fewer family meals. Therefore, initiatives to empower families with a lower SES to adopt healthier meal practices are employed. The objective of this study was to evaluate a nationwide intervention "Dinner is served at 1-2-3 euros", developed by a Belgian retailer in collaboration with social organizations. It targets families with a lower SES and aims to promote more balanced and freshly cooked meals by providing recipe booklets of affordable meals at a guaranteed price of 1, 2, or 3 euros per portion. The process evaluation aimed to gain insight into the implementation process (Reach, Recruitment, Dose-delivered, Context), the satisfaction with the intervention (Dose-received), and the perceived impact of intervention participation. Methods: A mixed-methods study combining qualitative (i.e., focus groups and individual interviews) and quantitative research (i.e., surveys) was conducted. An interview with the retailer (n = 1), three focus group interviews with the involved social organizations (n = 15), and interviews with participants of "Dinner is served at 1-2-3 euros" (n = 26) were carried out, as well as surveys among these social organizations and participants. Results: Social organizations were generally satisfied with the project and appreciated the collaboration with the retailer. The main barrier to implement the project was a lack of time to help participants subscribing. Participants appreciated the inspiration from the recipe booklets, and the recipes' ease of preparation, their healthiness, and the variety. However, the recipes were sometimes deemed too exotic for participants' children. Participants also appreciated the budget friendliness, although the price guarantee mechanism of 1, 2 or 3 euros per portion was not always clear. Positive effects were mentioned in areas such as perceived healthy cooking and eating, improved cooking skills and ideas, and reduced financial concerns. Conclusions: In general, participants and social organizations were satisfied with the delivery and implementation of the intervention. Participants also noted some positive effects on their meal practices. Future research should provide insight into the intervention's effectiveness and impact on the healthiness of participants' dietary choices. Trial registration: The study protocol was pre‑registered prior to data collection at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05595551–27/10/2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem degenerative disease with extra-motor components. In ALS, there is also hyperexcitability of extra-motor areas. Habituation is defined as ‘‘a response decrement” caused by repeated stimulations. Studies on evoked potential habituation can be conducted to detect cortical excitability. This study aimed to explore lack of habituation in non-motor cortical structures in ALS.Twenty-one ALS patients and 14 controls were enrolled. Recordings were obtained in 3 and 10 consecutive blocks (each containing 100 responses) during right median somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and bilateral visual evoked potential (VEP), respectively. “Habituation” and “lack of habituation” were defined as the amount of increase or decrease in the average N20 or N75-P100 amplitude of the last blocks compared to the first blocks, respectively. Comparative analyses were performed between patient and control groups, as well as the first and last block within groups.Paired sample t-test showed that in control group N20 peak amplitude of last blocks were significantly lower than first block values (p = 0.025) that indicate the physiological habituation as expected. On the other hand, there was not such a difference in ALS group (p = 0.239) which indicated lack of habituation.Our study results suggest somatosensory hyperexcitability in line with cortical reorganization in ALS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 2022‐02‐15, solar eruptions caused one of the most intensive Solar Particle Events (SPEs) in Solar Cycle 25 observed at various heliospheric locations. This study focuses on the enhancements of energetic proton flux observed by multiple detectors located at the orbit and on the surface of Mars. We carry out the first analysis by the Mars Energetic Particle Analyzer (MEPA) instrument on board the Chinese Tianwen‐1 spacecraft (TW‐1) at Mars orbit which also serves to validate the instrument's capability to measure protons of up to 100 MeV. We reconstruct the event spectrum up to 1 GeV and further model the event doses at Mars's orbit and surface which are then validated against the corresponding dosimetry data. Our study utilizes all available radiation detectors at Mars, advances our understanding of Mars's radiation environment induced by large SPEs, and emphasizes the necessity of continuous and synergistic radiation monitoring at Mars. Plain Language Summary: There is a growing interest in exploring Mars in the coming decades. However, a significant obstacle that remains is the presence of space radiation, which poses a considerable and unavoidable threat to crew health, especially during long‐term stays in future Martian habitats. Of particular concern are sporadic energetic particle events caused by strong solar eruptions, which can increase radiation levels in deep space and near Mars to potentially dangerous levels. Notably, a SEP event on 15 February 2022 has caused the first significant radiation enhancement at Mars in Solar Cycle 25 as observed by ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter, Chinese Tianwen‐1 orbiter as well as NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft and the Curiosity rover. By combining data from measurement and modeling techniques, we reconstruct the energy spectrum of this SEP event to understand the potential radiation hazards at Mars. Key Points: A major solar particle event (SPE) was simultaneously measured by multiple detectors both on the surface and in orbit of MarsThe first analysis of a SPE at Mars measured by the Tianwen‐1 Mars orbiter serves to verify its capacity in high‐energy particle detectionWe compare the radiation measurements, both on the surface and in orbit of Mars, with results derived from data‐based models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are used to assess the functional status of somatosensory pathways during surgical procedures and can help protect patients' neurological integrity intraoperatively. This is a position statement on intraoperative SEP monitoring from the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM) and updates prior ASNM position statements on SEPs from the years 2005 and 2010. This position statement is endorsed by ASNM and serves as an educational service to the neurophysiological community on the recommended use of SEPs as a neurophysiological monitoring tool. It presents the rationale for SEP utilization and its clinical applications. It also covers the relevant anatomy, technical methodology for setup and signal acquisition, signal interpretation, anesthesia and physiological considerations, and documentation and credentialing requirements to optimize SEP monitoring to aid in protecting the nervous system during surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene and tannic acid were modified by magnetic agitation and ultrasonic dispersion. Modified graphene compounding with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) is prepared an expanded flame retardant system (AGT), which AGT was selected as the main flame retardant and sepiolite (SEP) as co-flame retardant in this work. Five modifiers including tannic acid (TA), oleic acid (YS), oleic acid amide (YSXA), thaumatin (TW) and oleyl amine (YA) were introduced to make modified SEP (SEP@M and M represents respectively TA, YS,YSXA,TW and YA). FTIR spectroscopy was performed on SEP modified by different modifiers at 1: 8, 1: 10, and 1: 15 ratios. The effect of modifier on the dispersion of SEP in Ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) adhesive and the optimum ratio of SEP modification were studied. Finally, the effect of the combination system on the flame retardant performance of EPDM/AGT/SEP@M composites was analyzed, and the smoke retardant mechanism of SEP coflame retardant and expansion flame retardant system in matrix materials was investigated. Experimental results showed that EPDM/AGT/SEP8@YS1 achieved a V-0 grade with an oxygen index of 44.92% compared to the blank control group. The thermal release rate of EPDM/AGT/SEP8@YS1 decreased by 49.8% and the smoke release rate and total smoke release rate decreased by 75.3% and 41.9%, respectively, compared to pure EPDM. In addition, the tensile and tear strength of EPDM/AGT/SEP8@YS1 was increased by 26.14% and 9.91%, respectively, compared to EPDM/AGT/SEP in mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical reactivity to somatosensory inputs is common in autism spectrum disorder and carries considerable impact on downstream social communication and quality of life. While behavioral and survey work have established differences in the perception of somatosensory information, little has been done to elucidate the underlying neurophysiological processes that drive these characteristics. Here, we implemented a duration‐based somatosensory mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm to examine the role of temporal sensitivity and sensory memory in the processing of vibrotactile information in autistic (n = 30) and neurotypical (n = 30) adults. To capture the variability in responses between groups across a range of duration discrepancies, we compared the electrophysiological responses to frequent standard vibrations (100 ms) and four infrequent deviant vibrations (115, 130, 145, and 160 ms). The same stimuli were used in a follow‐up behavioral task to determine active detection of the infrequent vibrations. We found no differences between the two groups with regard to discrimination between standard and deviant vibrations, demonstrating comparable neurologic and behavioral temporal somatosensory perception. However, exploratory analyses yielded subtle differences in amplitude at the N1 and P220 time points. Together, these results indicate that the temporal mechanisms of somatosensory discrimination are conserved in adults on the autism spectrum, though more general somatosensory processing may be affected. We discuss these findings in the broader context of the MMN literature in autism, as well as the potential role of cortical maturity in somatosensory mechanisms. Lay Summary: The sense of touch is important for many different aspects of autism, including social relationships and interactions with the environment. In this study, we measured the electrical activity created by the brain in response to vibrations on the fingertips of adults with and without autism. By making some of the vibrations longer than the rest, we investigated how unexpected differences in the length of the vibration changed how the brain would respond. We also asked participants to press a button when they noticed the longer vibrations. Overall, the neurotypical and autistic groups showed similar changes in brain response when the vibrations were longer, and both groups noticed the longer vibrations equally well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with poorer dietary habits and fewer family meals. Therefore, initiatives to empower families with a lower SES to adopt healthier meal practices are employed. The objective of this study was to evaluate a nationwide intervention “Dinner is served at 1-2-3 euros”, developed by a Belgian retailer in collaboration with social organizations. It targets families with a lower SES and aims to promote more balanced and freshly cooked meals by providing recipe booklets of affordable meals at a guaranteed price of 1, 2, or 3 euros per portion. The process evaluation aimed to gain insight into the implementation process (Reach, Recruitment, Dose-delivered, Context), the satisfaction with the intervention (Dose-received), and the perceived impact of intervention participation. Methods A mixed-methods study combining qualitative (i.e., focus groups and individual interviews) and quantitative research (i.e., surveys) was conducted. An interview with the retailer (n = 1), three focus group interviews with the involved social organizations (n = 15), and interviews with participants of “Dinner is served at 1-2-3 euros” (n = 26) were carried out, as well as surveys among these social organizations and participants. Results Social organizations were generally satisfied with the project and appreciated the collaboration with the retailer. The main barrier to implement the project was a lack of time to help participants subscribing. Participants appreciated the inspiration from the recipe booklets, and the recipes’ ease of preparation, their healthiness, and the variety. However, the recipes were sometimes deemed too exotic for participants’ children. Participants also appreciated the budget friendliness, although the price guarantee mechanism of 1, 2 or 3 euros per portion was not always clear. Positive effects were mentioned in areas such as perceived healthy cooking and eating, improved cooking skills and ideas, and reduced financial concerns. Conclusions In general, participants and social organizations were satisfied with the delivery and implementation of the intervention. Participants also noted some positive effects on their meal practices. Future research should provide insight into the intervention’s effectiveness and impact on the healthiness of participants’ dietary choices. Trial registration The study protocol was pre‑registered prior to data collection at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05595551–27/10/2022).

Sequential Extraction Procedure (SEP) is a method widely used to extract metals and metalloids from Particulate Matter (PM) based on their solubility in different reaction media. This extraction procedure is used to determine the actual mobility of metals present in the environment. A detailed discussion on the significance of sequential extraction analysis is also being given in this scientific document. This review includes different aspects related to the fractions obtained (exchangeable: F1, reducible: F2, oxidizable: F3, bound to organic matter: F4, and residual fraction: F5) during the SEP. The use of each reagent involved in the fractionation process of PM is also discussed briefly. Finally, the present up-to-date information given by different researchers in various fields of atmospheric chemistry along with the possible future developments is also part of this scientific review. The current review also focuses on the relation between SEP and mathematical expressions (bioavailability, source apportionment, and health risk assessment by the USEPA method). It is revealed from the previous studies that Cd and Zn are highly enriched, mobile as well as highly bioavailable in the environment and poses more risk to the human being. The Cr and As showed carcinogenic nature and hence pose carcinogenic diseases in humans. Whereas, Mn and As are non-carcinogenic in nature for children and adults and thereby both pose a non-carcinogenic disease threat to the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wireless sensor network (WSN) is one of the most important achievements of the modern technological revolution and greatly affects human life. These networks suffer from some limitations that affect their performance, such as the limited power of their devices. Clustering technology is one of the effective power conservation techniques that improves the performance of WSNs, so this article focuses on developing aggregation technology by proposing an Energy Saving, Multi-hops, Clustering, and Hierarchy (ESMCH) protocol for homogeneous WSNs. The proposed protocol improves clustering technology in several directions. The first direction is by determining the ideal number of cluster head nodes (CHs) suitable for the network, and the second is through the perfect choice of nodes that will represent CHs. The third trend is the selection of secondary CHs. The last trend is the formation of clusters, which depends on an important parameter (distance to CHs). The proposed system uses the TDMA method to schedule the data transfer process to CHs (inside the cluster) and the CSMA method to organize the exchange of data packets between CHs (outside the clusters) for delivery to the base station. The results of simulation experiments in MATLAB R (2020 a) show that the proposed protocol extends network lifetime by 32% compared to the LEACH algorithm and by 26% compared to the SEP algorithm. The results also display that the ESMCH protocol increased the throughput of the WSN by 16.8% compared to its throughput when using the SEP algorithm and by 30% when using the LEACH algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract On 2022‐02‐15, solar eruptions caused one of the most intensive Solar Particle Events (SPEs) in Solar Cycle 25 observed at various heliospheric locations. This study focuses on the enhancements of energetic proton flux observed by multiple detectors located at the orbit and on the surface of Mars. We carry out the first analysis by the Mars Energetic Particle Analyzer (MEPA) instrument on board the Chinese Tianwen‐1 spacecraft (TW‐1) at Mars orbit which also serves to validate the instrument's capability to measure protons of up to 100 MeV. We reconstruct the event spectrum up to 1 GeV and further model the event doses at Mars's orbit and surface which are then validated against the corresponding dosimetry data. Our study utilizes all available radiation detectors at Mars, advances our understanding of Mars's radiation environment induced by large SPEs, and emphasizes the necessity of continuous and synergistic radiation monitoring at Mars.

CRNDE is considered an oncogene expressed as long non-coding RNA. Our previous paper is the only one reporting CRNDE as a micropeptide-coding gene. The amino acid sequence of this micropeptide (CRNDEP) has recently been confirmed by other researchers. This study aimed at providing a mass spectrometry (MS)-based validation of the CRNDEP sequence and an investigation of how the differential expression of CRNDE(P) influences the metabolism and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer (OvCa) cells. We also assessed cellular localization changes of CRNDEP, looked for its protein partners, and bioinformatically evaluated its RNA-binding capacities. Herein, we detected most of the CRNDEP sequence by MS. Moreover, our results corroborated the oncogenic role of CRNDE, portraying it as the gene impacting carcinogenesis at the stages of DNA transcription and replication, affecting the RNA metabolism, and stimulating the cell cycle progression and proliferation, with CRNDEP being detected in the centrosomes of dividing cells. We also showed that CRNDEP is located in nucleoli and revealed interactions of this micropeptide with p54, an RNA helicase. Additionally, we proved that high CRNDE(P) expression increases the resistance of OvCa cells to treatment with microtubule-targeted cytostatics. Furthermore, altered CRNDE(P) expression affected the activity of the microtubular cytoskeleton and the formation of focal adhesion plaques. Finally, according to our in silico analyses, CRNDEP is likely capable of RNA binding. All these results contribute to a better understanding of the CRNDE(P) role in OvCa biology, which may potentially improve the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the reliability of descending neurogenic evoked potentials (DNEP) monitoring in spinal deformity surgery under inhaled anesthesia. A total of 180 consecutive patients who underwent spinal deformity surgery in our scoliosis center from July 2014 to August 2016 were reviewed. Intraoperative monitoring including somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), motor evoked potentials (MEP), and DNEP was conducted routinely throughout operation. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to anesthesia methods: group A (n = 72, inhaled anesthesia, SEP/DNEP) and group B (n = 108, total intravenous anesthesia, SEP/MEP/DNEP). Intraoperative monitoring data were collected and analyzed. Positive alerts were observed in 26 patients (14.5%), of whom 18 (10%) were confirmed as true-positive events in the study population. No false-negative events were recorded. In group A, the sensitivity and specificity of SEP and DNEP were 100% and 93.8% and 100% and 98.5%, respectively. For group B, the sensitivity and specificity of SEP/MEP and DNEP were 100% and 95.9% and 100% and 98%, respectively. DNEP monitoring seemed to be effective for the detection and prevention of iatrogenic neurologic deficits during spinal deformity surgery. This study indicates that DNEP was an effective alternative in spinal deformity surgery under inhaled anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the importance of professional support following very preterm delivery (VP) is established, the parental experience of support still warrants deeper understanding. Evaluation of a Dutch one-year post-discharge responsive parenting intervention following VP suggested that parents with lower educational levels benefitted less from the program. This idiographic phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of two mothers with differing educational backgrounds receiving professional support during hospitalization and post-discharge. In-depth interviews with the mothers were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. We formulate three impressions: (1) How the mothers made sense of their experiences resonated with the findings of research on class differences in parenting. (2) The mothers valued professionals who struck a personalized balance between supporting their maternal agency and attending to their vulnerability and needs for help and perspective. (3) The mothers experienced greater trust in professionals who could suspend pre-conceived assumptions and take their personal characteristics into consideration. Practice suggestions are extrapolated for social work professionals. The study has relevance to educational diversity and recommends an overarching sensitivity to positionality in professional work with parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense solar energetic particle (SEP) events can be observed by neutron monitors (NMs) as so-called ground-level enhancements (GLEs). High-altitude polar NMs have high sensitivity for SEP due to the reduced atmospheric energy cutoff and very low geomagnetic rigidity cutoff compared to other NMs. There is a special class of sub-GLE events, viz. events that are weaker than standard GLEs and can only be observed by high-altitude polar NMs. So far, only one sub-GLE and three candidates are known, all in the period 2012 – 2015. In this work, we inspected the period from March 1964 to December 1969 in the data of the South Pole and Vostok high-altitude polar NMs on the Antarctic Plateau in search of possible sub-GLEs. We found two previously unknown events from 09 June 1968 and 27 February 1969 that formally match the definition of sub-GLE. They were associated with significant enhancements in the integral SEP intensity J (> 60 MeV) measured by space-borne particle detectors, as well as with strong X-class solar flares from the western part of the solar disk. The identified sub-GLEs were analyzed and the corresponding SEP characteristics were estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The temporal features of somatosensory processing can be assessed using EEG. • Mismatch negativity was not elicited between vibrations of 100 ms and 115 ms. • Mismatch negativity was elicited between vibrations of 100 ms and 130, 145 or 160 ms. Duration is an amodal feature common to all sensory experiences, but low-level processing of the temporal qualities of somatosensation remains poorly understood. The goal of the present study was to evaluate electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli to better understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. This research used a somatosensory mismatch negativity (sMMN) paradigm to evaluate electrophysiological sensitivity to differences in the duration of vibrotactile stimuli in healthy young adults. Specifically, a 100 ms standard vibration was presented 80% of the time while the remaining 20% of presentations were made up of deviant stimuli with one of the following durations: 115, 130, 145, or 160 ms. When a deviation from the anticipated tactile input is detected, the distinct electrophysiological signature of the sMMN is present. A companion behavioral task assessed individual thresholds for cognizant awareness of the standard and deviant vibrotactile stimuli. The results of the present study demonstrated a sMMN response when deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms, but not when they were 115 ms. This suggests that on average the participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between the 100 and 115 ms. Future work may apply this paradigm to better understand atypical tactile sensitivity in various clinical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constant increase in energy demand and the need to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment has put countries in a race against time, looking for alternative resources or ways to supply this need. One of the main resources is solar radiation, which can be used to generate energy, initially on a small scale, but in recent years has been directed towards supplying large cities. The economic, political, and social investment must respond to planning and expansion criteria in order to generate feasible proposals. Through simulation of a real electrical system, the voltage instability was determined, which was corrected at software level by entering a photovoltaic solar plant, being this dimensioned from the PV curve obtained. Finally, the optimal location for the development of a solar photovoltaic plant among four possible scenarios was obtained through the application of an optimization algorithm. This approach was converted into an alternative applicable to different geographical locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cervical radiculopathy is defined as a pathological process affecting the cervical nerve root(s). Electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are frequently used to evaluate spinal cord and nerve root function. Objective To evaluate the sensitivity of different SEP components in detecting cervical nerve root lesions, as well as to test the NCS, and EMG, in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Methods In this case control study, 41 patients with cervical radiculopathy and 40 healthy volunteers took part. Sensory and motor NCS of the ulnar and median nerves, EMG of the deltoid, biceps brachii, and abductor brevis, and SSEP of the median nerve were performed on each participant. Results There was no difference in the motor and sensory NCS data between the study groups. The EMG of the muscles under investigation differed significantly between the two groups in terms of both duration and amplitude, with the exception of the abductor brevis muscle, which did not exhibit any differences. SEP data indicates that the patient's N9, N13, P14, and N20 latencies were all increased, as well as the patient's N13-N9, N20-N13, and N20-N9 interpeak latencies. The N13 and P14 latencies exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion SEPs are more sensitive in identifying mild posterior column dysfunction in patients with cervical radiculopathy, which is at least imperceptible on routine NCS. SEP testing is an essential adjunctive diagnostic method for evaluating the spinal cord and nerve roots electrophysiologically. The N13 and P14 components have the highest sensitivity and specificity when comparing the patient and control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, are the leading cause of mortality in the world. This invisible epidemic is an under-appreciated cause of poverty and hinders the economic development of many countries. The burden is growing -- the number of people, families, and communities afflicted is increasing. Aim: To determine the efficacy of the stroke empowerment program (SEP) on knowledge among caregivers of patients with stroke. To associate the knowledge of stroke with the demographic variables of caregivers. Methods: A quantitative research method was adopted. Caregivers of patients with stroke who fulfill eligibility criteria were chosen. The sample size was 85 caregivers in the study, and 85 caregivers in the control groups were recruited by the lottery method. SEP was implemented for the study group caregivers. The posttest assessments were taken on the 30th, 90th, and 180th days for both groups. Results: The comparison of knowledge on stroke between the study and control group caregivers during the pretest, the mean scores were 6.35 in the study group and 6.89 in the control group, and statistically, there was no significant difference in the pretest. The posttest knowledge mean score was 11.46, 11.68, and 11.52 in the study group and 7.42, 7.58, and 7.48 in the control group during posttests I, II, and III, respectively. The mean score was higher in the study group than the control group caregivers during posttests and was statistically significant at the P < 0.01 level. Conclusion: Findings concluded that the combination of interventions like structured teaching, an information booklet on "Life after stroke," telephonic reminders, and reinforcement has a positive impact on stroke knowledge among caregivers of stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La llegada de las Misiones Culturales a tierras chiapanecas fue un poco tardía. La organización de Institutos de Acción Social en los municipios de Huixtla, San Cristóbal de las Casas y Tuxtla Gutiérrez, entre julio y octubre de 1927, resultó ser un evento que reunió no solo a profesores federales y estatales de la localidad y sus alrededores, sino también a alumnos y pobladores. Inscrito en un estudio de educación rural, este artículo desarrolla, mediante el análisis de los informes de trabajo que los misioneros enviaban a la SEP y que podemos consultar en el Fondo de dicha Secretaría del AGN, los nombres de los especialistas, cómo fue su labor, qué actividades realizaron, con qué materiales, quiénes participaron y los retos que enfrentaron en Chiapas, un territorio de características particulares, como su importante población indígena, su difícil geografía, el poder de los finqueros y la carencia de recursos.

Astronauts will be facing many risks when they are away from Earth's environment, among which radiation is one of the most vital and troublesome issues. Space radiation exposure from energetic particles of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) and Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) can adversely impact the Central Nervous System (CNS) by inducing acute (i.e., mission critical) and chronic (i.e., post‐mission) effects, respectively. Recently, Brain Response Functions (BRFs) based on a realistic brain structure have been developed to model cosmic‐ray induced dose in the brain (Khaksarighiri et al., 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2020.07.003). In this study, to quantify the radiation induced dose and evaluate the radiation risk to the CNS of the astronauts on the surface of Mars and Moon and in deep space, we use GCR/SEP spectral models together with Mars/Moon radiation transport codes to obtain the radiation field to which astronauts are exposed, and derive the absorbed dose in the brain with BRFs. Our calculations show that GCR induced absorbed dose per month in the brain does not reach the 30‐day limit for CNS (500 mGy) as defined by NASA on either Martian or lunar surface. Based on the spectra and frequency of historical extreme SEP events recorded at Earth as ground‐level enhancement events over past five solar cycles, our results suggest that the CNS of astronauts will be generally "safe" on the Martian surface, but those on the lunar surface or in deep space may face radiation risks in their CNS if not well shielded during such extreme events. Plain Language Summary: Among various concerns for the health of future astronauts exploring the Moon and Mars, space radiation‐induced health risks cause one of the most urgent and vital problems for future missions. The astronauts will be exposed to the Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) as background radiation and sporadic while potentially more hazardous Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs), which would leave energy and deposit dose in the human body of astronauts who may consequently suffer from a series of acute or post‐mission health issues. Here we study the dose deposited in the brain when exposed in deep space or the lunar/Martian radiation environment induced by the above GCR and SEP radiation sources. In particular, the surface radiation environment of the Moon or Mars could be different from that in deep space due to particle interactions with the planetary atmosphere and/or regolith, which can be derived from the Monte‐Carlo simulations. Finally, we calculate the resulting dose in a model with a realistic head structure. Our calculations suggest that during extreme SEP events, astronauts' CNS may face radiation risks in deep space or on the lunar surface if not well shielded, but it is generally "safe" for their brains on the Martian surface. Key Points: We model the dose in the head exposed to the Martian and lunar surface radiation environmentWe analyze the "brain" dose correlation between the Martian and lunar resultsWe evaluate the space radiation risks for "brains" of future Martian and lunar explorers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately, there have been several multi-jurisdiction litigations involving SEPs. In large part this is because of the complexity of executing FRAND licenses for SEP portfolios. This work focuses on, and explains, some of the issues that arise in the context of FRAND licensing-including, the problem of over-declaration by SEP holders, the possibility of patent hold-out, difficulties associated in court determination of terms of a global FRAND license for SEP portfolios, lack of awareness regarding the nuances of SEP/FRAND space, and the intrinsic informational imbalances that exist in any FRAND negotiation. The issues discussed here are by no means exhaustive and many of them do not have easy answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRNDE is considered an oncogene expressed as long non-coding RNA. Our previous paper is the only one reporting CRNDE as a micropeptide-coding gene. The amino acid sequence of this micropeptide (CRNDEP) has recently been confirmed by other researchers. This study aimed at providing a mass spectrometry (MS)-based validation of the CRNDEP sequence and an investigation of how the differential expression of CRNDE(P) influences the metabolism and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer (OvCa) cells. We also assessed cellular localization changes of CRNDEP, looked for its protein partners, and bioinformatically evaluated its RNA-binding capacities. Herein, we detected most of the CRNDEP sequence by MS. Moreover, our results corroborated the oncogenic role of CRNDE, portraying it as the gene impacting carcinogenesis at the stages of DNA transcription and replication, affecting the RNA metabolism, and stimulating the cell cycle progression and proliferation, with CRNDEP being detected in the centrosomes of dividing cells. We also showed that CRNDEP is located in nucleoli and revealed interactions of this micropeptide with p54, an RNA helicase. Additionally, we proved that high CRNDE(P) expression increases the resistance of OvCa cells to treatment with microtubule-targeted cytostatics. Furthermore, altered CRNDE(P) expression affected the activity of the microtubular cytoskeleton and the formation of focal adhesion plaques. Finally, according to our in silico analyses, CRNDEP is likely capable of RNA binding. All these results contribute to a better understanding of the CRNDE(P) role in OvCa biology, which may potentially improve the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease.

Introduction: Bottom ash (BA) constitutes a significant by-product obtained during the incineration of municipal solid waste in waste-to-energy (WtE) plants. BA is a heterogeneous material made of different fractions, glass, minerals, metals, and unburned residual organic matter. Due to the non-hazardous nature of the unburned material, BA can be effectively recycled, becoming a valuable resource. However, BA displays a high content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) within its finer grain size. The presence of these elements raises concerns regarding the potential toxicity associated with BA.Materials and methods: The release of PTEs in the smaller fraction (0.063–0.2 mm; 0.3–0.5 mm; 2–4 mm; bulk

A few years after their bilateral vestibular loss, patients usually show a motor repertoire that is almost back to normal. This recovery is thought to involve an upregulation of the visual and proprioceptive information that compensates for the lack of vestibular information. Here, we investigated whether plantar tactile inputs, which provide body information relative to the ground and to the Earth vertical, contribute to this compensation. More specifically, we tested the hypothesis that somatosensory cortex response to electric stimulation of the plantar sole in standing adults will be greater in humans (n = 10) with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (VH) than in an age-matched healthy group (n = 10). Showing significantly greater somatosensory evoked potentials (i.e., P1N1) in VH than in control subjects, the electroencephalographic recordings supported this hypothesis. Furthermore, we found evidence that increasing the differential pressure between both feet, by adding a 1-kg mass at each pendant wrist, enhanced the internal representation of body orientation and motion relative to a gravitational reference frame. The large decrease in alpha power in the right posterior parietal cortex (and not in the left) is in line with this assumption. Finally, behavioral analyses showed that trunk oscillations were smaller than head oscillations in VH and showed a reverse pattern for healthy participants. These findings are consistent with a tactile-based postural control strategy in the absence of vestibular input and a vestibular-based control strategy in healthy participants where the head serves as a reference for balance control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domain of SEPs is highly engrossed with multitude of issues, as it is generally understood. Most of the issues come from patent holders' anti-competitive behavior, which includes unilateral rejection to license, patent ambushes, patent holdups, strategic injunctive relief, royalty staking, and breach of F/RAND Commitments, both inside and outside of SSOs (national & international). One of the key tenets of standards is that they be universally recognized and applied once they have been approved. Suppliers view standards as a way to meet consumer needs while also offering a chance to pave the way for innovation through compatibility, complementarily and interoperability. Standards thus have an impact on both innovation and the dissemination of technology since they create a technological infrastructure with a significant public benefit component. The previous article provided the readers with a comprehensive introduction to SEPs and their implications in the modern intellectual property landscape. This issue of this yearlong series will take the baton further to dwell on the issues circumventing around this domain of SEPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superimposing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on voluntary muscle contractions has shown the potential to improve motor performance even more than voluntary exercise alone. Nevertheless, the neurophysiological and neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this technique are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute responses in spinal excitability and brain activity following three conditions: NMES superimposed on isometric contractions (NMES þ ISO), passive NMES, and voluntary isometric contractions (ISO). Each condition involved 15 intermittent ankle plantar-flexions at submaximal level. Before and after each condition, tibial nerve stimulation was used to elicit H-reflexes, which represent a measure of spinal excitability, and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), which index the activity of subcortical and cortical somatosensory areas. Hreflex amplitudes increased after NMES þ ISO and decreased after passive NMES compared with baseline values, whereas they remained unaltered after ISO. Subcortical lemniscal activity remained unaltered after the three conditions. Activity in both primary and secondary somatosensory cortices (S1 and S2) increased after NMES þ ISO and decreased after the ISO condition, whereas no differences emerged after NMES. At later stages of S2 processing, ISO induced no changes in cortical activity, which, conversely, increased after NMES and NMES þ ISO. These findings indicate that the beneficial effects of NMES may be mediated by potentiation of the reflex pathways at the spinal level. At the brain level, peripheral input representation in the brain stem was not influenced by the experimental conditions, which, conversely, altered cortical activity by affecting synaptic efficiency through the somatosensory pathway. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on voluntary contractions (NMES þ ) is effective to improve motor performance in several populations. Here, we investigated the changes in cortical activation and reflex response following three acute conditions, including NMES þ . Our results show that NMES þ has a greater excitatory effect at both spinal and cortical levels compared with passive stimulation and voluntary exercise alone. These results open up original perspectives for the implementation of NMES þ in neurorehabilitation and training environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SEPALLATA (SEP) gene, as a 'glue' for the 'floral quartets model', plays an important role in floral organ development by forming tetramers with class A-, B-, and C- genes. The functional differentiation of class E genes has been reported in different species. Carnation (Dianthus spp.) is a world-famous economic flower that has been extensively used in landscaping, but the roles of SEP genes in carnation are unclear. Here, we found that the class E genes of D. chinensis cultivar 'L' showed different expression patterns during floral organ primordium development by transcriptome analysis. Combined with quantitative real-time PCR, its tissue and specific stage expression patterns were also different in different subclades. In addition, a yeast two-hybrid experiment was carried out to explore the interaction patterns of class E genes with other class A-, B-, and C- genes. Only DcSEP3s and DcSEP4s proteins interacted with all three classes of A-, B-, and C- proteins, and interestingly, is that DcSEP3-1 only interacted with the DcAP1 protein of class A, while the DcSEP3-2 protein only interacted with DcFUL1. Transgenic experiments showed that overexpression of DcSEP3-2 genes in Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering, smaller rosettes, dwarfism and abnormal floral organs. The transgenic line overexpressing of DcSEP3-1 only showed an early flowering phenotype. All these results indicated that the two DcSEP3s of class E genes in D. chinensis may undergo sub-functionalization. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of flower development in carnation.

An intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) enhances the performance of a wireless channel by controlling the phase of signals reflected by them. This paper investigates an IRS-aided single input single output wireless communication system. Owing to the closely spaced placement of the IRS elements, the channels between the IRS and the transmitter, as well as the channels between the IRS and the receiver, are considered to be spatially correlated. Assuming optimal phase configuration at the IRS, correlated Nakagami- $m$ random vectors are used to model the magnitude of the channel coefficient vectors between the IRS and the transmitter as well as between the IRS and the receiver. A statistical approximation of the distribution of composite channel is obtained as a Gamma distribution. The parameters of the approximated Gamma distribution are derived in terms of the scale parameter and spread parameter of Nakagami- $m$ random vectors. The approximated Gamma distribution is validated using Monte-Carlo simulations and found to be closely following the actual distribution of the composite channel coefficient. Using the approximation, closed form expressions of the performance metrics such as symbol error probability (SEP), outage probability and average channel capacity are derived and validated.

Quantized constant envelope (QCE) transmission is a popular and effective technique to reduce the hardware cost and improve the power efficiency of 5G and beyond systems equipped with large antenna arrays. It has been widely observed that the number of quantization levels has a substantial impact on the system performance. This paper aims to quantify the impact of the number of quantization levels on the system performance. Specifically, we consider a downlink single-user multiple-input-single-output (MISO) system with $M$-phase shift keying (PSK) constellation under the Rayleigh fading channel. We first derive a novel bound on the system symbol error probability (SEP). Based on the derived SEP bound, we characterize the achievable diversity order of the quantized matched filter (MF) precoding strategy. Our results show that full diversity order can be achieved when the number of quantization levels $L$ is greater than the PSK constellation order $M,$ i.e., $L>M$, only half diversity order is achievable when $L=M$, and the achievable diversity order is 0 when $L< M$. Simulation results verify our theoretical analysis.

La rascasse épineuse équatorienne, Trachyscorpia verai, est formellement signalée pour la première fois au Pérou. Le signalement est fait à partir de cinq spécimens capturés lors de relevés au chalut de fond utilisant la méthode de l'aire balayée au large de Punta Sal-Tumbes (Pérou, Pacifique tropical oriental). Il s'agit de la deuxième espèce de Trachyscorpia reconnue au Pérou et de la troisième du Pacifique Sud-Est (SEP). Des informations sont fournies sur la biologie de cette espèce peu connue, en particulier sur le régime alimentaire, le parasitisme et la maturité des gonades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of the pan-European project "URban GEochemistry (URGE) in Europe - Soil, children, health", pedological and geochemical investigations of the soils of the city of Sisak and its adjacent surroundings were carried out, and three urban and two rural soil profiles were examined. The mineralogical composition and concentration of selected potentially toxic elements (PTEs) Or, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the soil were determined. The Community Reference Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure (SEP) of these PTEs was undertaken and the potential risk to human health and the environment was assessed. The concentrations of Cr and Ni are generally similar in urban and rural soil profiles, while the concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in soil horizons/layers are higher in urban profiles. The extracted fractions of PTEs gave the following general distribution: in urban soil profiles residual (RES) > reducible (ORG) or oxidisable (FEMN) > exchangeable (CARB), except for Cu where ORG > RES > FEMN > CARB, while in rural soil profiles RES > FEMN or ORG > CARB, except for Pb where FEMN > RES or ORG > CARB. The differences between soils in urban and rural profiles depend mainly on the historical land use, i.e. on the duration and intensity of anthropogenic influences on the soil and, to a lesser extent, on the geogenic origin of the parent material and the pedogenic processes. The studied elements in the urban soil profiles are predominantly of anthropogenic origin, indicating a possible influence of the ancient settlements of Segestica and Siscia and of heavy industry in the 20th century. The anthropogenic influences on the rural profiles are low and geogenic influences dominate. Risks to the environment were assessed in the soil profiles based on PTE concentrations in the CARB fraction and the sum of the CARB, ORG and FEMN fractions from BCR SEP. All calculated risks to human health and the environment were rated as no-risk, very low risk and low risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart farming is becoming the need of the hour nowadays in an effort to boost productivity and protect the crops. This can be done using sensors and internet enabled devices in the farm. The underlying wireless sensor network can sense various environmental parameters and can pass data to the internet enabled devices to support smart farming. The sensor nodes are, however, powered by smaller batteries and have limited lifetime. Therefore, this paper presents a clustering protocol which aims at increasing the lifetime of the sensor nodes. These sensors are considered to be pressure sensors which are deployed in the network and whenever any animal encroaches the farm, a signal can be passed to the internet enabled alarm system which can help the farmer to fend off the animals and protect his crops. The sensor network is considered to have three level of energy heterogeneity among the nodes and the cluster head is selected in such a way that the cluster formed by the head consists of more number of high energy nodes. The proposed protocol has been simulated in MATLAB environment and compared with Stable Election Protocol (SEP), Distributed Energy Efficient Clustering (DEEC) and Improved Stable Election Protocol (ISEP) based on network lifetime and throughput. The network lifetime for proposed protocol was 6567 rounds which was higher than others with network going dead at 5472 for ISEP, at 2495 for DEEC and at 2316 for SEP. The protocol has shown better performance against these existing protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head positioning in carotid surgery represents an often overlooked but sensitive period in the surgical plan. A 53-year-old male presented a significant decrement in median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (mSEP) following head and neck positioning for carotid pseudoaneurysm repair before skin incision. Neurophysiological monitoring was performed with mSEP and electroencephalography early during the patient's preparation and surgery. Within five minutes after rotation and extension of the head to properly expose the surgical field, the contralateral m-SEP significantly decreased in both cortical (N20/P25) and subcortical (P14/N18) components. Partial neck correction led to m-SEP improvement, allowing to proceed with the carotid repair. We discuss possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for these changes and highlight the relevance of an early start on monitoring to avoid neurological deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many legal questions are currently being discussed in the - globalized - world of enforcing standard essential patents (SEP). However, one important question is often overlooked: Who decides on these SEP issues and on what basis? In other words: Are alternative dispute resolution mechanisms the (only) solution for global FRAND disputes or are courts of law the proper avenue to decide these cases? If so, which court has or should have jurisdiction over the dispute? At the moment, national courts of different nationalities (can) consider themselves competent to rule on the same FRAND matter. This leads to forum shopping, to a race to the courts and to parallel proceedings. Parties are fighting to secure jurisdictions for a judicially determined portfolio FRAND licence by seeking anti-suit-injunctions or anti-anti-suitinjunctions (and so on). Courts are fighting for sovereignty by issuing anti-suit-injunctions or anti-anti-suit-injunctions (and so on). There are cross-border constellations and conflicts of jurisdiction. Therefore, legal scholars are demanding comity from the national courts and wishing for an international FRAND tribunal. Before establishing an entirely new tribunal, however, it is necessary to discuss the instruments that are already in place to solve conflicts of jurisdiction: International civil procedure law and principles of international jurisdiction. In this article I point out the challenges arising from the large number of national courts that have international jurisdiction for the same global FRAND dispute. From a German perspective, which is strongly shaped by EU law, I describe how these challenges are currently addressed in international civil procedure law and propose a different de lege lata approach. Then, I briefly examine the expected impact of the UPCA on global FRAND disputes. Since the impact will be minimal, I discuss new approaches to address the remaining challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless Sensor networks contain sensor nodes with specialized infrastructure for the purpose of inspection of certain physical conditions at very divergent environments. Usually, physical characteristics of the environment including temperature, humidity, pressure etc. are examined by the sensor nodes. These nodes are generally small sized and light weight. Because of their small size, power supply is very much limited. Careful usage of the limited power supply is a very important factor to be considered during communication of data in the network. With the aim of achieving effective energy usage, several techniques have been applied for the routing of information packets. One such technique is clustering of sensor nodes within the network. It implicates that the nodes organize themselves into groups to form several clusters where each group has a leader of the cluster group called the cluster head. The routing using this clustering technique does not always involve direct transmission. Rather, multi-hop transmission happens usually, with the data firstly being transferred from sensor nodes to their corresponding cluster heads and then later from cluster heads to the sink (Base Station). The cluster head is designated arbitrary or by taking into account various factors which differ according to the different routing protocols. In this paper, a new routing algorithm QBCR (Quadrangle based Clustering Routing Protocol) has been proposed which entails clustering process for routing the data to the base station. This protocol exhibits improvement over conventional routing protocols like LEACH, SEP and DEEC. In this clustering algorithm, division of the zones (clusters) based on the energy levels of the nodes has been carried out in form of quadrangle shaped clusters. The proposed protocol exhibits significant enhancement in the lifetime of the network, stability interval, rate of packet transfer (throughput), and the average energy of the network. The proposed protocol shows an improvement of atleast 50% in all parameters (lifetime of the network, stability interval, rate of packet transfer (throughput) and the average energy of the network) in comparison to the conventional protocols. This proposed protocol is a clear choice over the standard routing protocols wherever it is possible to deploy nodes uniformly in different zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many legal questions are currently being discussed in the – globalized – world of enforcing standard essential patents (SEP). However, one important question is often overlooked: Who decides on these SEP issues and on what basis? In other words: Are alternative dispute resolution mechanisms the (only) solution for global FRAND disputes or are courts of law the proper avenue to decide these cases? If so, which court has or should have jurisdiction over the dispute? At the moment, national courts of different nationalities (can) consider themselves competent to rule on the same FRAND matter. This leads to forum shopping, to a race to the courts and to parallel proceedings. Parties are fighting to secure jurisdictions for a judicially determined portfolio FRAND licence by seeking anti-suit-injunctions or anti-anti-suitinjunctions (and so on). Courts are fighting for sovereignty by issuing anti-suit-injunctions or anti-anti-suit-injunctions (and so on). There are cross-border constellations and conflicts of jurisdiction. Therefore, legal scholars are demanding comity from the national courts and wishing for an international FRAND tribunal. Before establishing an entirely new tribunal, however, it is necessary to discuss the instruments that are already in place to solve conflicts of jurisdiction: International civil procedure law and principles of international jurisdiction. In this article I point out the challenges arising from the large number of national courts that have international jurisdiction for the same global FRAND dispute. From a German perspective, which is strongly shaped by EU law, I describe how these challenges are currently addressed in international civil procedure law and propose a different de lege lata approach. Then, I briefly examine the expected impact of the UPCA on global FRAND disputes. Since the impact will be minimal, I discuss new approaches to address the remaining challenges.

Background: Plasmacytomas are tumors involving plasma cells that can be either osseous or extraosseous. Solitary extraosseous plasmacytomas are rarely found in the head and neck region. Various pathological, immuno-histochemistry, and radiological investigations must be done to distinguish it from multiple myeloma. Case: A 41-year-old female presented with a progressively increasing mass in right submandibular region for 1 year. She also had complaints of dysphagia and dyspnea for 3 months. Histopathological examinations showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and possibility of plasma cell neoplasm was suspected. On further investigations like immunohistochemistry, bone marrow biopsy, quantitative immunoglobulin, immunoelectrophoresis, and urine analysis, diagnosis of extraosseous plasmacytoma was made. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan did not show any distant foci of the disease. The patient received definitive radiotherapy to the primary region and tolerated well. The patient is asymptomatic after 1 month of radiotherapy and is on regular follow-up. Conclusions: Extraosseous plasmacytoma of the submandibular region is very rare but radiosensitive tumor. Multiple myeloma must be ruled out prior to start of any treatment. Long term follow ups are required to comment on disease progression, dissemination, or recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessing hand sensation in stroke patients is necessary; however, current clinical assessments are time-consuming and inaccurate. Objective: This study aimed to explore the nature of light touch sensation and two-point discrimination (2-PD) of different hand sites in convalescent stroke patients based on somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). Methods: Light touch sensation and 2-PD of the thumb, the index finger, the little finger, thenar, and hypothenar were measured (n = 112) using sensory measurement tools. Sensory differences among the hand sites were then compared. The correlation analysis between SEP and the hemiplegic hand function was made. Sensory functions were divided into three levels: sensory intactness, sensory impairment, and sensory loss. Results: Light touch sensations were mainly associated with sensory impairment in the finger and palm region. The 2-PD of the finger region was mainly sensory loss and that of the palm region was mainly sensory impairment. There was no statistical difference in the light touch sensation among the sites of the hand. The correlation coefficients between the 2-PD and SEP N20 amplitudes differed. The correlation coefficients of the thenar and hypothenar were the smallest, and that of the finger was the largest. Light touch sensation and 2-PD in patients with stroke were related to the hemiplegic hand function. Conclusion: Any site on the hand could be selected as the measurement site for light touch sensation. The little finger and hypothenar may be appropriate sites when screening for 2-PD. To improve the patient's recovery they could receive more sensory stimulation of the hand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disease that causes disability in the nervous system, which reduces the quality of life (QoL). Studies have shown positive effects of therapeutic exercise with supplementation on motor- and cognitive function, fatigue, and QoL in individuals with MS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of home-based aerobic training (AT) and vitamin D (Vit D) supplementation on fatigue and QoL in patients with MS during the COVID-19 outbreak. We recruited 40 females (20–40 years) with MS (EDSS: 3–5). The subjects were then randomly assigned to one of four groups: AT (n = 9; 50–75 percent, 20–40 minutes per day, three days per week), Vit D supplementation (Vit D; n = 9; 50,000 IU one day per week), AT plus Vit D supplementation (AT + Vit D; n = 10), and sedentary control (C; n = 10 placebo). The data were analyzed using paired t -test and one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test using SPSS 26 at a significance level of P < 0.05. After eight weeks of intervention, fatigue grade markedly reduced in the AT + Vit D, AT, and Vit D groups); However, fatigue increased in the control group. QoL increased significantly in AT + Vit D, AT, and Vit D compared to C. Also, the results show that the AT + Vit D had significantly higher QoL than AT and Vit D. These findings suggest that therapeutic AT and Vit D supplementation effectively reduces fatigue and improves the QoL in female MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents measurements of the radiocarbon (14C) concentration in sub-annual tree rings. Samples of earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) from dendrochronologically dated tree rings (English oak, Quercus robur) from Kujawy, near Kraków (Poland), spanning the years of 990–997 CE, are extracted and their 14C content is measured at the Center for Applied Isotope Studies at the University of Georgia, USA. The EW and LW data show a gradual increase in the Δ14C values between 991–995 CE, which are similar to those observed by Rakowski et al. (2018). An increase of 10.3 ± 2.6‰ in Δ14C for the EW data, and 8.6 ± 2.6‰ for the LW data has been recorded for this period. Using this data, it is possible to estimate the time period for when a major historical event occurred, which seems to have been in the late summer (September –2/+1 month) of 993 CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A signal of rapid changes in 14C production is logged in annual series of 14C derived from tree rings, which can be associated with diverse effects of cosmic-ray fluxes, including solar burst and supernova events. These 14C signatures may vary in time and space. The intensity and structure of the 14C signal is multifaced, which complicates understanding of the forcing and attribution of the underlying astrophysical events. It was suggested that Δ14C in 1052/53 CE and 1054/55 CE signatures at a 4‰–6‰ range over two years could be caused by the Crab Nebula supernova (SN1054) or/and solar perturbation. The temporal incoherence of the signals in published 14C series is investigated with dynamic time warping (DTW), novel approach for matching time-behavioral patterns in multiple 14C datasets. DTW analysis of four 14C signatures from tree rings of California, Finland and England suggests that 14C spikes between 1052 CE and 1055 CE can be caused by a single event. The flickering fingerprint may result from cross-dating inconformity. Cross-checking of tree-ring records from distant locations is impossible sometimes due to large difference in environmental conditions limiting tree growth. The methodology helps to align the signals and can be applied to other 14C datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensory memory traces are assessed via oddball paradigms in which deviant (infrequent) stimuli are interspersed into a string of standard (frequent) stimuli. Once a memory trace for the standard is established, the deviant spurs a change detection response measured via the resulting event related potential (ERP). Response magnitude is sensitive to the differences in stimuli properties or categories and influenced by individual experience. The goal of the present study was to use ERPs to test the relation between individual digits in the somatosensory cortex and the extent to which digit representations are influenced by individual differences in experience such as independent mobility and playing video games. The present study of 60 undergraduates utilized a passive tactile oddball paradigm, stimulating the thumb, middle, and little fingers. The oddball paradigm was fully matched with each digit serving as the standard and deviant. A temporal principal component analysis (tPCA) identified factors that matched three a priori ERP components: N80, somatosensory mismatch negativity (sMMN), and P300. Analyses confirmed the anticipated differences between standards and deviants and provided some support for prior ERP work suggesting the thumb is in a different functional category than the other digits. Independent control of individual digits (such as the little finger) was positively related to only one aspect of the ERP (P3a) while video game experience was not associated with ERP differences. Cumulatively, these results provide a more nuanced examination of tactile oddball paradigms and how ERP methods can shed light on the relations between different digits. • Examined the role of experience in neural representations of three fingers. • In a tactile oddball paradigm, all stimulus sites were standards and deviants. • A tPCA was successfully used to identify ERP components N80, sMMN, and P300. • ERP evidence suggested a different role for the thumb in relation to other digits. • Independent digit mobility influenced the ERP response to digit pair stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Equity in healthcare service access and use are national goals and principal indicators of health system performance. Whilst it is important to understand how healthcare costs, socioeconomic position (SEP), and children's well-being are associated, limited literature explores how these covary. Aims: To explore the associations between families' SEP and (1) children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from 4 to 13 years; and (2) healthcare costs from 0 to 13 years; as well as (3) contributing factors that influence children's HRQoL and healthcare costs. Methods: Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). We used the parent-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 to measure children's HRQoL from 4 to 13 years. Healthcare costs to government from 0 to 13 years were measured using the government administrative data (Medicare) which includes records of both medical and pharmaceutical service utilisation. We used a composite of income, parental education, and occupation to measure SEP. We used linear and mixed effects modelling to explore associations between families' SEP and children's HRQoL or government healthcare costs, including the effects of predictors for these associations. Analyses were weighted and accounted for the survey design. Results: Compared to children from high SEP families, those from low SEP families had lower HRQoL (from age 6–13 years, p = 0.001) and their families incurred higher government healthcare costs (from birth to 13 years). This association was confirmed using the mixed effects model (p = 0.054). Child special healthcare needs, being a single-parent or having parental stress were related to poorer children's HRQoL and higher government healthcare costs. Living in regional and remote areas was related to lower government healthcare costs. Conclusion: Up to 13 years of age, children with low SEP used more health services but had lower HRQoL than those from high SEP families. These findings highlight a need to support children from low SEP families to improve their health and wellbeing.