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The Khanom Core Complex in Peninsular Thailand is a part of the crystalline basement of Sundaland and plays a key role in our understanding of the evolution of Thailand and SE Asia. The complex comprises ortho- and paragneisses, schists, meta-volcanics, subordinate calcsilicate rocks, and postkinematic granitoids. New petrochronological data reveal that the sedimentation and metamorphism of the paragneiss precursors (Haad Nai Phlao complex, Khao Yoi paragneisses) occurred in the Late Cambrian at the latest. A syn- to postsedimentary andesitic intrusion/extrusion in the Haad Nai Phlao complex at 495 ± 10 Ma defines a minimum age for the former event(s). In the Early Ordovician (477 ± 7 Ma), the Haad Nai Phlao complex and the Khao Yoi paragneisses were intruded by the Khao Dat Fa granite. During the Indosinian orogenic events, the Laem Thong Yang (211 ± 2 Ma) and Haad Nai Phlao (210 ± 2 Ma) granitoid plutons were intruded. Immediately afterward (ca. 208–205 Ma), the first metamorphic overprinting of the Laem Thong Yang granite and the Haad Nai Phlao complex including the Khao Dat Fa granite occurred. A second metamorphic overprinting of all lithological units and the contemporaneous intrusion of the Khao Pret granite followed in the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleogene (ca. 80–68 Ma). The tectonic formation of the core complex took place in the Eocene (

Education is intimately connected with ethics, because holistically speaking education is more than simply passing examinations and acquiring degrees. Education is character building and life long learning. Savants and philosophers throughout the history of humankind have borne testimony to this aspect of education. Today, there is a great deal of emphasis on continuous and life long learning which implies that education is a continual learning process and not merely relegated to certification. Our experience in the field of distance education indicates that the profile of distance learners varies, cutting across barriers of gender, class and caste. The distance learner may be suffering from a sense of isolation as he/she makes a return to study after a gap of time or while working. It is there that the distance educator makes a positive, ethical and interventionist role by helping the student to learn beyond the stereotypical classroom situation and can act effectively as the friend, philosopher and guide of the learner. Thus practicing what you preach is the moto of ethics in distance. Some of the more important ethical concerns associated with open and distance learning are not those that may be faced by learners. Instead, the challenges faced by those that design ODL or use it in their teaching can be seen as increasingly important. These challenges include globalization, which has emphasized instrumental rather than social aims of education, and the use of cognitive rather than affective pedagogies. For ODL designers and teachers, this has resulted in a concentration on cognitive tasks and market-driven aspects of open and distance learning at the expense of the social harmony that might otherwise be achieved. The overarching ethical concern for ODL practitioners should be to implement an appropriate pedagogy that will satisfy both instrumental and social aims. While this can be achieved, in part, through the use of the pedagogies outlined in this paper, the problem is seen as being associated with deeply interwoven social and cultural contexts. Consequently, there is a greater responsibility for all ODL practitioners to ensure that the choices that they make are ethical at all times, irrespective of the demands of any employer, institution or authority. This paper deals with ethics in general, its role in distance education and its significance to educational institutions.

Abstract We highlight the need for global completion of the field content in the M5-brane sigma-model analogous to Dirac’s charge/flux quantization, and we point out that the superspace Bianchi identities on the worldvolume and on its ambient supergravity background constrain the M5’s flux-quantization law to be in a non-abelian cohomology theory rationally equivalent to a twisted form of co-Homotopy. In order to clearly bring out this subtle point we give a streamlined re-derivation of the worldvolume 3-flux via M5 “super-embeddings”. Finally, assuming the flux-quantization law to actually be in co-Homotopy (“Hypothesis H”) we show how this implies Skyrmion-like solitons on general M5-worldvolumes and (abelian) anyonic solitons on the boundaries of “open M5-branes” in heterotic M-theory.

Introduction In lead climbing, points are awarded for each hold held, which are then primarily decisive for the ranking. These points are awarded immediately after an attempt by a judge who observed the athlete. Competition organisers are required to make video recordings, but these are only viewed by the head referee in case of an appeal. Our work aims to enhance the objectivity of judging. Our approach is based on applying pose estimators to video footage that is recorded anyway, and a subsequent analysis that determines metrics for judging. We want to tune our approach based on the scores given by judges while considering regulations of the International Federation of Sport Climbing. Methods Our video footage was filmed by the Swiss Alpine Club for judging at the European Climbing Championships 2024 in Villar and at the Swiss Championships 2024 in Lenzburg. Initially, twenty videos (30 seconds each including the fall from the wall towards the end) were extracted. Half of the videos were cropped to focus on the athlete. Thus, a total of ten videos from Villar (outdoor) were analysed – five uncropped (five men), five with focus (women) – and ten videos from Lenzburg (indoor) – five uncropped (five women), five with focus (five men). As a first step, two pose estimators were evaluated regarding processing speed in frames per second (FPS) and percentage of frames in which a pose was detected: BlazePose from Google which has already been used for climbing research (Kim et al., 2023) and Real-Time Multi-Person Pose Estimation (RTMO) (Lu et al., 2024). Results BlazePose demonstrated a higher average processing speed compared to RTMO: 22 FPS vs. 2 FPS. In uncropped videos, BlazePose detected a pose in 5% of outdoor video footage and 33% of indoor video footage. In close-up videos, BlazePose detected poses in 99% of outdoor video footage and 93% of indoor video footage. RTMO achieved a 100% pose detection rate across all videos whereby a subsequent inspection showed that many false poses were considered as “detected”. Discussion/Conclusion An automated video assistant referee should decide quickly. RTMO seems too slow with the given hardware (AMD Ryzen 7, 3.2GHz, 16GB RAM), since pose estimation of a 5s video sequence (150 frames) would take more than a minute. The video would also have to be cropped before each pose estimation, otherwise few (BlazePose) or incorrect (RTMO) poses would be detected caused by picture content being more contrasting and larger than the athlete. Next, we will compare our scoring algorithm representing given regulations with scores awarded. The results will then be discussed at the next educational event for judges at national and international level. References Kim, J.-W., Choi, J.-Y., Ha, E.-J., & Choi, J.-H. (2023). Human pose estimation using MediaPipe pose and optimization method based on a humanoid model. Applied Sciences, 13(4), 2700. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042700 Lu, P., Jiang, T., Li, Y., Li, X., Chen, K., & Yang, W. (2024). RTMO: Towards high-performance one-stage real-time multi-person pose estimation. 2024 IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), 1491–1500. https://doi.org/10.1109/CVPR52733.2024.00148

The conjectured symmetries of M-theory famously involve (1.) brane-extended super-symmetry (the M-algebra) and (2.) exceptional duality symmetry (the e11-algebra); but little attention has been given to their inevitable combination.In this short note, we highlight (by combining results available in the literature) that the local exceptional duality symmetry (the hyperbolic involutory k1,10⊂e11) acts on the M-algebra, through the “brane-rotating symmetry” sl32, in a way which extends the known hierarchy of finite-dimensional n-exceptional tangent spaces compatibly beyond the traditional bound of n≤7 all the way to n=11.

Abstract A large number of non‐native trees (NNTs) have been introduced globally and widely planted, contributing significantly to the world's economy. Although some of these species present a limited risk of spreading beyond their planting sites, a growing number of NNTs are spreading and becoming invasive leading to diverse negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and human well‐being. To help minimize the negative impacts and maximize the economic benefits of NNTs, Brundu et al. developed eight guidelines for the sustainable use of NNTs globally—the Global Guidelines for the Use of NNTs (GG‐NNTs). Here, we used an online survey to assess perceptions of key stakeholders towards NNTs, and explore their knowledge of and compliance with the GG‐NNTs. Our results show that stakeholders are generally aware that NNTs can provide benefits and cause negative impacts, often simultaneously and they consider that their organization complies with existing regulations and voluntary agreements concerning NNTs. However, they are not aware of or do not apply most of the eight recommendations included in the GG‐NNTs. We conclude that effectively managing invasions linked to NNTs requires both more communication efforts using an array of channels for improving stakeholder awareness and implementation of simple measures to reduce NNT impacts (e.g. via GG‐NNTs), and a deeper understanding of the barriers and reluctance of stakeholders to manage NNT invasions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Abstract The interaction of magnetic order and spontaneous polarization is a fundamental coupling with the prospect for the control of electronic properties and magnetism. The connection among magnetic order, charge localization and associated metal-insulator transition (MIT) are cornerstones for materials control. Materials that combine both effects are therefore of great interest for testing models that claim the occurrence of spontaneous polarization from magnetic and charge order. One class of materials proposed to combine these functionalities is the family of RNiO3 (R: Lanthanide or Yttrium), whose members show a clear MIT and an antiferromagnetic ground state and for which an electric polarization has been predicted. Here, using resonant magnetic x-ray scattering with circular polarization and an applied electric field we show that YNiO3 possess a magnetic structure containing domains of spin-rotations that are consistent with an electric polarization. We show a reversal of the magnetic structure with the applied electric field confirming that charge ordered RNiO3 are magnetoelectric type II multiferroics with a MIT.

Abstract Flux quantization of the C-field in 11d supergravity is arguably necessary for the (UV-)completion of the theory, in that it determines the torsion charges carried by small numbers N ≪ ∞ of M-branes. However, hypotheses about C-field flux-quantization (“models of the C-field”) have previously been discussed only in the bosonic sector of 11d supergravity and ignoring the supergravity equations of motion. Here we highlight a duality-symmetric formulation of on-shell 11d supergravity on superspace, observe that this naturally lends itself to completion of the theory by flux quantization, and indeed that 11d super-spacetimes are put on-shell by carrying quantizable duality-symmetric super-C-field flux; the proof of which we present in detail.

Abstract Staying engaged is necessary to maintain goal-directed behaviors. Despite this, engagement exhibits continuous, intrinsic fluctuations. Even in experimental settings, animals, unlike most humans, repeatedly and spontaneously move between periods of complete task engagement and disengagement. We, therefore, looked at behavior in male macaques (macaca mulatta) in four tasks while recording fMRI signals. We identified consistent autocorrelation in task disengagement. This made it possible to build models capturing task-independent engagement. We identified task general patterns of neural activity linked to impending sudden task disengagement in mid-cingulate gyrus. By contrast, activity centered in perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) was associated with maintenance of performance across tasks. Importantly, we carefully controlled for task-specific factors such as the reward history and other motivational effects, such as response vigor, in our analyses. Moreover, we showed pgACC activity had a causal link to task engagement: transcranial ultrasound stimulation of pgACC changed task engagement patterns.

To understand the success of invasive alien species, it is necessary to evaluate the site-specific eco-evolutionary challenges they face in their new environments. We explored whether the rearrangement of genetic diversity is linked to the invasiveness of Prosopis juliflora by (i) comparing different stages of invasion (founding vs invasive populations) in two invaded areas (Afar Region, Ethiopia and Baringo County, Kenya) to evaluate whether different stages are dominated by different genetic attributes (e.g., characteristic genotypes or levels of genetic diversity) and by (ii) evaluating if landscape features affected dispersal between invasive populations in the two invaded areas. We hypothesised that different invasion stages would have unique genetic characteristics due to either site-specific demographic and/or dispersal dynamics. We also compared the genetic characteristics at an ‘invasive–non-invasive congener’ level by studying the non-invasive P. pallida, introduced to Baringo County, and assessed whether it hybridises with P. juliflora. In the Afar Region, the establishment and spread of P. juliflora were characterised by extensive gene flow that homogenised genetic diversity across all populations. In contrast, in Baringo County, invasive populations had lower genetic diversity than founders, and genetic differentiation was lower between invasive populations than between invasive and founder populations. In both invaded areas, we found no evidence that dispersal was hampered by geographic distance, bioclimatic conditions, or distance to roads, rivers and villages, at least at the spatial scales of our study; indicating frequent long-distance dispersal. Allelic richness was higher in P. juliflora than P. pallida founders and hybrids were mainly planted trees probably resulting from the sympatric cultivation of the two species following their introduction. Thus, management actions on Prosopis invasion in eastern Africa should consider site-specific dynamics occurring during the invasion.

Phototoxicity plays an important role in tattoo toxicology due to the skin's daily exposure to sunlight and the permanent deposition of pigments in skin. Here, we investigated in chemico reactive oxygen species generation using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and in vitro phototoxicity towards skin fibroblasts based on the OECD Test Guideline 432.Proficiency substances, titanium dioxide (TiO2, anatase 30 nm, anatase 100 nm, rutile 30 nm), pigment red 22 (PR 22) with and without purification and carbon black (CB) were investigated. Phototoxic properties of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were investigated with and without adsorption to CB. Pigments were characterised by dynamic light scattering.All proficiency substances except for norfloxacin were predicted successfully and only TiO2 anatase exhibited phototoxicity in the cell-based approach. B[a]P showed the expected phototoxicity in contrast to B[a]P bound to carbon black. Upon UVA irradiation, only TiO2 pigment anatase and PR 22 generated ROS in the cell-free assay. DLS measurements showed a high degree of polydispersity/agglomeration.OECD Test Guideline 432 should be applied with an incubation time of 24 h when testing highly insoluble pigments. The in chemico ROS assay introduced below might serve as a quick screening test but may be further adapted to predict the in vitro outcome.

Abstract Clinical gait analysis is a crucial step for identifying foot disorders and planning surgery. Automating this process is essential for efficiently assessing the substantial amount of gait data. In this study, we explored the potential of state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) algorithms to automate all various steps involved in gait analysis for six specific foot conditions. To address the complexity of gait data, we manually created new features, followed by recursive feature elimination using Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Random Forests (RF) to eliminate low-variance features. SVM, RF, K-nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Logistic Regression (LREGR) were compared for classification, with a Majority Voting (MV) model combining trained models. KNN and MV achieved mean balanced accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 score of 0.87. All models were interpreted using Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanation (LIME) method and the five most relevant features were identified for each foot condition. High success scores indicate a strong relationship between selected features and foot conditions, potentially indicating clinical relevance. The proposed ML pipeline, adaptable for other foot conditions, showcases its potential in aiding experts in foot condition identification and planning surgeries.

Anthropogenic ammonia (NH3) emissions are primarily derived from agricultural activities. NH3 emissions from synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers are associated with the annual consumption of various N fertilizers. In this study, the annual consumption of different types of synthetic N fertilizers in the EU countries, derived from the database of the International Fertilizer Association, was analyzed, and the implementation of mitigation measures for NH3 emissions at the national level was assessed. NH3 emissions were estimated using the emission factors of different N fertilizers in cool, temperate and hot climates, and low- and high-pH soils, as the European Environment Agency proposed. The results revealed that the annual consumption of various synthetic N fertilizers (average values from 2016 to 2020) varied markedly in different EU countries. France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom had the largest annual consumption of synthetic N fertilizers. NH3 emissions from urea-based fertilizers are the highest in most EU countries. The annual NH3 emissions were associated with the type of synthetic N fertilizer consumed. For example, although the annual synthetic N fertilizer consumption in Germany was 38% and 41.5% higher than those in Spain and Italy, the annual NH3 emissions in Germany were 63% and 20% lower than those in Spain and Italy, respectively, due to the high proportion of urea-based fertilizers with the highest emission factor among the synthetic N fertilizers in Spain and Italy. Thus, mitigation strategies should be tailored to specific types of N fertilizers with high emission factors and proportions to minimize NH3 emissions. Since the NH3 emissions from urea-based fertilizers are the highest in the EU countries, especially in the top five countries, we recommend the addition of urease inhibitors to urea fertilizers as one important strategy for mitigating NH3 emissions.

Optical manipulation of magnetism holds promise for future ultrafast spintronics, especially with lanthanides and their huge, localized 4f magnetic moments. These 4f moments interact indirectly by spin polarizing the conduction electrons (the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida exchange interaction), influenced by interatomic orbital overlap, and the conduction electron's susceptibility around the Fermi level. Here, we study this influence in a series of 4f antiferromagnets, GdT_{2}Si_{2} (T = Co, Rh, Ir), using ultrafast resonant x-ray diffraction. We observe a twofold increase in the ultrafast intersublattice angular momentum transfer rate between the materials, originating from modifications in the conduction electron susceptibility, as confirmed by first-principles calculations.

In the developing chick hindlimb, pathfinding by sensory axons is affected by their interactions with other axons entering the limb. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) expressed on the growing axons are likely to influence these interactions. Accordingly, to elucidate how CAMs affect sensory axon pathfinding, we injected antibodies that block the functions of NCAM, G4/L1, or N-cadherin into the hindlimb, starting at St. 25, when all motoneuron axons but only a few sensory axons had entered the plexus. In each case, the segmental pattern of projections was assessed 9-3 days later by retrogradely labeling individual peripheral nerves. With all perturbations, the gross anatomical nerve pattern developed normally; that is, some sensory axons formed cutaneous nerves while other sensory axons projected to muscles. However, the segmental pattern of sensory projections was changed when either G4/L1 or N-cadherin function was blocked in that fewer sensory axons crossed the anterior-posterior axis of the plexus. A likely reason for this effect is that anti-G4/L1 and anti-N-cadherin each decreased the amount of fasciculation and that sensory axons are less able to travel across the plexus when they are defasciculated. Anti-G4/L1 affected both cutaneous and muscle sensory projections while anti-N-cadherin affected cutaneous but not muscle sensory projections, in accord with known differences in the expression of these two CAMs on sensory and motoneuron axons. Although anti-NCAM did not appear to alter sensory projections, when polysialic acid (PSA) was enzymatically removed from NCAM, there was a marked increase in cutaneous projections from the most proximate DRG, although muscle sensory projections were unchanged. PSA removal may cause an increase in fasciculation that forces sensory axons to track along neighboring axons. Thus, without PSA, cutaneous axons project more in accord with the relative anterior-posterior positions they had as they entered the plexus. Taken together, these studies suggest that axonal fasciculation mediated by CAMs and regulated by PSA influences the ability of sensory growth cones to navigate through the plexus and project along the correct peripheral nerves.

Abstract Quantifying the dynamics of normal modes and how they interact with other excitations is of central importance in condensed matter. Spin-lattice coupling is relevant to several sub-fields of condensed matter physics; examples include spintronics, high-T c superconductivity, and topological materials. However, experimental approaches that can directly measure it are rare and incomplete. Here we use time-resolved X-ray diffraction to directly access the ultrafast motion of atoms and spins following the coherent excitation of an electromagnon in a multiferroic hexaferrite. One striking outcome is the different phase shifts relative to the driving field of the two different components. This phase shift provides insight into the excitation process of such a coupled mode. This direct observation of combined lattice and magnetization dynamics paves the way to access the mode-selective spin-lattice coupling strength, which remains a missing fundamental parameter for ultrafast control of magnetism and is relevant to a wide variety of materials.

Abstract Outcomes of weed biological control projects are highly variable, but a mechanistic understanding of how top-down and bottom-up factors influence the success of weed biological control is often lacking. We grew Rumex obtusifolius, the most prominent native weed in European grasslands, in the presence and absence of competition from the grass Lolium perenne and subjected it to herbivory through targeted inoculation with root-boring Pyropteron spp. To explore whether the interactive effects of competition and inundative biological control were size-dependent, R. obtusifolius was planted covering a large range of plant sizes found in managed grasslands. Overall, competition from the grass sward reduced aboveground biomass and final root mass of R. obtusifolius about 62- and 7.5-fold, respectively, and increased root decay of R. obtusifolius from 14 to 58%. Herbivory alone increased only root decay. However, grass competition significantly enhanced infestation by Pyropteron spp. and, as a consequence, enhanced the impact of herbivory on aboveground biomass and final root mass. The synergistic effect was so strong that R. obtusifolius plants grown from initially smaller roots did no longer develop. Inoculating R. obtusifolius with Pyropteron species in grasslands should be further pursued as a promising inundative biological control strategy in the weed’s native range.

An extension of the dynamic Smgarorinsky model (DSM) is presented. In the so-called dynamic mixed model (DMM), the Leonard stress (i.e., the resolved part of the Reynolds stress) is no longer parameterized in the test filter range by the Smagorinsky model. Instead, it is modeled by the so-called similarity model, which assumes close self-similarity of the resolved and unresolved flow. This implementation is derived first in general and then specifically for spectral models. In the latter case, spectral cut-off filters allow a simple reformulation of the basic tensor equation of the DSM, requiring only the modification of a particular term to obtain the DMM version of the turbulence model.The DMM is then examined in the Kühlungsborn Mechanistic general Circulation Model (KMCM), a spectral CGM, where, starting from the same initial condition, the flow fields are compared in a model run with the DMM and in a control run with the DSM on day zero and day eight. Although most of the results are comparable, there is, already at day zero, a significant difference at the poles: with the DSM, there are certain locations with large values of the Smagorinsky parameter that are not present in the DMM run. This can be explained mathematically by the fact that the convergence of the associated Legendre polynomials in the spectral representation is worse at the poles. Therefore, numerical errors can occur in the spectral transformation, which cancel out in the DMM due to its formulation, allowing the increase of the time steps.

AIM: Until the year 2000, allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) was the standard treatment for young and fit chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients. CML was the main indication for allogeneic HCT. The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors changed the treatment of CML patients dramatically. Allogeneic HCT was rapidly replaced by tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line treatment for CML, and the indication shifted to the treatment of non-responders, patients intolerant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and patients whose CML is transforming to the accelerated phase and blast crisis. This paper describes changes in the use of transplantation technology for CML patients in the face of rapid drug development. METHODS: All patients receiving a transplant for CML between 1997 and 2021 in Switzerland were included in the study. For the purpose of this analysis, time periods were analysed in quinquennia, 1997–2001 (Q1), 2002–2006 (Q2), 2007–2011 (Q3), 2012–2016 (Q4) and 2017–2021 (Q5), as the observation period spanned 25 years. RESULTS: Overall, 239 patients received a transplant. These included 96 in Q1, 56 in Q2, 25 in Q3, 34 in Q4 and 28 in Q5. Patient characteristics changed over time: recent patients were older and had a longer interval from diagnosis to transplantation because of tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. However, the proportions of patients receiving transplants during an early versus advanced disease stage differed little. Transplant technology changed, as well. Patients received intensive conditioning regimens less often due to higher age and more commonly had peripheral blood as opposed to bone marrow transplants. However, the type of stem cell donor selected did not differ. In a univariable analysis, there were no significant differences in survival, progression-free survival, non-relapse mortality, relapse incidence or incidences of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease among the five quinquennia. In a multivariable analysis, older age, donors other than HLA-identical siblings and more advanced disease stage, but not the quinquennium, were associated with higher risk of death. CONCLUSION: Since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors haematopoietic cell transplantation has been used less frequently to treat CML. Patients in recent cohorts received transplants at an older age and later in the disease course; despite these higher risks, the outcome of allogeneic HCT has not worsened over time but has not improved, either. As the outcome is worse in advanced phases, it is important to conduct transplants before disease progression. Therefore, patients with advanced disease should be monitored closely and receive transplants in time.