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We discuss the topic of quantum illumination, which is related to quantum radar technology and aims to outperform the optimal classical radar. The scheme we consider relies on quantum entangled resource states. We theoretically investigate the robustness of the scheme against realistic imperfections and experimentally characterize a nonlinear quantum interferometer in the microwave regime, which is a central building block of the detection unit., Wir erörtern das Thema Quantenbeleuchtung, das mit der Quantenradartechnologie zusammenhängt und darauf abzielt, das optimale klassische Radar zu übertreffen. Das von uns betrachtete Verfahren beruht auf quantenverschränkten Ressourcenzuständen. Wir untersuchen theoretisch die Robustheit des Systems gegenüber realistischen Imperfektionen und charakterisieren experimentell ein nichtlineares Quanteninterferometer im Mikrowellenbereich, das einen zentralen Baustein der Detektionseinheit darstellt.

IMPORTANCE: The prevalence, pathophysiology, and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 (post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 [PASC] or Long COVID) in children and young adults remain unknown. Studies must address the urgent need to define PASC, its mechanisms, and potential treatment targets in children and young adults. OBSERVATIONS: We describe the protocol for the Pediatric Observational Cohort Study of the NIHs REsearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative. RECOVER-Pediatrics is an observational meta-cohort study of caregiver-child pairs (birth through 17 years) and young adults (18 through 25 years), recruited from more than 100 sites across the US. This report focuses on two of four cohorts that comprise RECOVER-Pediatrics: 1) a de novo RECOVER prospective cohort of children and young adults with and without previous or current infection; and 2) an extant cohort derived from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (n = 10,000). The de novo cohort incorporates three tiers of data collection: 1) remote baseline assessments (Tier 1, n = 6000); 2) longitudinal follow-up for up to 4 years (Tier 2, n = 6000); and 3) a subset of participants, primarily the most severely affected by PASC, who will undergo deep phenotyping to explore PASC pathophysiology (Tier 3, n = 600). Youth enrolled in the ABCD study participate in Tier 1. The pediatric protocol was developed as a collaborative partnership of investigators, patients, researchers, clinicians, community partners, and federal partners, intentionally promoting inclusivity and diversity. The protocol is adaptive to facilitate responses to emerging science. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: RECOVER-Pediatrics seeks to characterize the clinical course, underlying mechanisms, and long-term effects of PASC from birth through 25 years old. RECOVER-Pediatrics is designed to elucidate the epidemiology, four-year clinical course, and sociodemographic correlates of pediatric PASC. The data and biosamples will allow

Studies of community assembly typically focus on the effects of abiotic environmental filters and stabilizing competition on functional trait dispersion within single trophic levels. Predation is a well-known driver of community diversity and composition, yet the role of functionally diverse predator communities in filtering prey community traits has received less attention. We examined functionally diverse communities of predators (fishes) and prey (epifaunal crustaceans) in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in two northern California estuaries to evaluate the filtering effects of predator traits on community assembly and how filters acting on predators influence their ability to mediate prey community assembly. Fish traits related to bottom orientation were correlated with more clustered epifauna communities, and epifauna were generally overdispersed while fishes were clustered, suggesting prey may be pushed to disparate areas of trait space to avoid capture by benthic sit-and-wait predators. We also found correlations between the trait dispersions of predator and prey communities that strengthened after accounting for the effects of habitat filters on predator dispersion, suggesting that habitat filtering effects on predator species pools may hinder their ability to affect prey community assembly. Our results present compelling observational evidence that specific predator traits have measurable impacts on the community assembly of prey, inviting experimental tests of predator trait means on community assembly and explicit comparisons of how the relative effects of habitat filters and intraguild competition on predators impact their ability to affect prey community assembly. Integrating our understanding of traits at multiple trophic levels can help us better predict the impacts of community composition on food web dynamics as regional species pools shift with climate change and anthropogenic introductions.

The BridgET Erasmus+ project (2021-1-IT02-KA220-HED-000027612) aims at filling the gap of information in the so-called white ribbon area, focusing on 3D geological mapping for a reliable integration of onshore and offshore multiscale geospatial datasets in selected coastal areas. The programme has been designed to develop innovative and inclusive learning and teaching activities through the organization of dedicated summer schools. Specifically, one of the main foci is the application of geospatial data acquisition and processing methods in order to generate seamless 3D models for coastal geohazard assessment. The second BridgET summer school was held in Catania and nearby areas from September 30th to October 11th, 2023. Here, we present preliminary results of an integrated multi-sensor dataset of Lachea Island. The result of this case study will be a seamless model, showing the island’s geomorphological variability from above to below the water surface. Offshore data was collected by Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) survey, covering a total area of about 0.33 km2 and obtaining a georeferenced point cloud with a resolution of about 580 points/m2 and a derived Digital Elevation Model of 1 m resolution. Near-surface remote sensing data was collected by Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) in the form of both, structure-from-motion photogrammetry and LiDAR surveys, obtaining point clouds at a resolution of 225 and 50 points/m2, respectively. Lachea Island is part of the Cyclopean Archipelago. The “Lachea Island and Archipelago Integral Nature Reserve” was established in 1988, to conserve and protect fauna and flora from the supralittoral to the infralittoral zones. Due to its morphological setting, the area is subject to rockfalls and slope instability processes, which limit the accessibility for tourists. Geohazard characterization is therefore highly important, particularly in the view of risk assessment and mitigation measures.

Introduction Rare diseases (RDs) collectively impact over 30 million people in Europe. Most individual conditions have a low prevalence which has resulted in a lack of research and expertise in this field, especially regarding genetic newborn screening (gNBS). There is increasing recognition of the importance of incorporating patients’ needs and general public perspectives into the shared decision-making process regarding gNBS. This study is part of the Innovative Medicine Initiative project Screen4Care which aims at shortening the diagnostic journey for RDs by accelerating diagnosis for patients living with RDs through gNBS and the use of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Our objective will be to assess expecting parent’s perspectives, attitudes and preferences regarding gNBS for RDs in Italy and Germany. Methods and analysis A mixed method approach will assess perspectives, attitudes and preferences of (1) expecting parents seeking genetic consultation and (2) ‘healthy’ expecting parents from the general population in two countries (Germany and Italy). Focus groups and interviews using the nominal group technique and ranking exercises will be performed (qualitative phase). The results will inform the treatment of attributes to be assessed via a survey and a discrete choice experiment (DCE). The total recruitment sample will be 2084 participants (approximatively 1000 participants in each country for the online survey). A combination of thematic qualitative and logit-based quantitative approaches will be used to analyse the results of the study. Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Erlangen University Ethics Committee (22–246_1-B), the Freiburg University Ethics Committee (23–1005 S1-AV) and clinical centres in Italy (University of FerraraCE: 357/2023/Oss/ AOUFe and Hospedale Bambino Gesu: No.2997 of 2 November 2023, Prot. No. _902) and approved for data storage and handling at the Uppsala University

Resilienz wird zunehmend als ein relevantes gesellschaftliches Leitmotiv etabliert. Vor dem Hintergrund zunehmender Dynamiken, Krisen und Bedrohungen gelte es, die Gesellschaft solchermaßen zu ertüchtigen, dass die Folgen zukünftiger Gefahren gelindert und besser bewältigt werden können. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick zu wesentlichen Resilienzverständnissen und unternimmt den Versuch einer Einordnung. Die Frage warum das Konzept der Resilienz in den letzten Jahren solchermaßen an Prominenz gewinnen konnte wird ebenso adressiert wie kritische Stimmen angeführt werden.

We investigate the magnon transport in ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials in-depth. Our results shed further light into the present understanding of magnon transport manipulated via a heavy metal electrode and the resulting zero-effective damping state. Most important, we find a nonreciprocal response in the widely available antiferromagnetic material hematite. This thesis provides an important step towards the detailed understanding of these systems and highlights their rich physics., Wir untersuchen den Magnonentransport in ferri- und antiferromagnetischen Materialien umfassend. Unsere Ergebnisse gewähren ein tieferes Verständnis des durch eine Schwermetallelektrode manipulierten Magnonentransports und der daraus resultierenden effektiven Dämpfungskompensation. Herauszuheben ist die Beobachtung eines nicht-reziproken Effekts in dem weit verbreiteten antiferromagnetischen Material Hämatit. Diese Arbeit stellt einen wichtigen Schritt zum detaillierten Verständnis dieser Systeme dar und beleuchtet ihre reichhaltige Physik.

Perennial plants create productive and biodiverse hotspots, known as fertile islands, beneath their canopies. These hotspots largely determine the structure and functioning of drylands worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the factors controlling fertile islands under conditions of contrasting grazing by livestock, the most prevalent land use in drylands, remain virtually unknown. Here we evaluated the relative importance of grazing pressure and herbivore type, climate and plant functional traits on 24 soil physical and chemical attributes that represent proxies of key ecosystem services related to decomposition, soil fertility, and soil and water conservation. To do this, we conducted a standardized global survey of 288 plots at 88 sites in 25 countries worldwide. We show that aridity and plant traits are the major factors associated with the magnitude of plant effects on fertile islands in grazed drylands worldwide. Grazing pressure had little influence on the capacity of plants to support fertile islands. Taller and wider shrubs and grasses supported stronger island effects. Stable and functional soils tended to be linked to species-rich sites with taller plants. Together, our findings dispel the notion that grazing pressure or herbivore type are linked to the formation or intensification of fertile islands in drylands. Rather, our study suggests that changes in aridity, and processes that alter island identity and therefore plant traits, will have marked effects on how perennial plants support and maintain the functioning of drylands in a more arid and grazed world.

In this thesis, we have investigated the magnetization dynamics of various magnetic thin films coupled to other systems. The resulting hybrid systems are of interest for the control and manipulation of the magnetization dynamics in the magnetic thin films. By coupling the magnetization dynamics to different elementary excitations of the solid-state system, various hybrid modes are generated with the overarching goal to harness the spin degree of freedom for information processing., In dieser Arbeit haben wir die Magnetisierungsdynamik verschiedener magnetischer Dünnschichten untersucht, die mit anderen Systemen gekoppelt sind. Die resultierenden hybriden Systeme sind von Interesse für die Kontrolle und Manipulation der Magnetisierungsdynamik. Durch die Kopplung der Magnetisierungsdynamik an verschiedene elementare Anregungen des Festkörpersystems werden verschiedene Hybridmoden erzeugt, um den Spin-Freiheitsgrad für die Informationsverarbeitung nutzbar zu machen.

Background: Alexithymia is an important transdiagnostic risk factor for emotion-based psychopathologies. However, it remains unclear whether alexithymia questionnaires actually measure alexithymia, or whether they measure emotional distress. Our aim here was to address this discriminant validity concern via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ). Method: United States general community adults (N = 508) completed the TAS-20, PAQ, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). EFA was used to examine the latent dimensions underlying these measures' scores. Results: Our EFA extracted two higher-order factors, an “alexithymia” factor and a “general distress” factor (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress). All PAQ scores loaded cleanly on the alexithymia factor, with no cross-loadings on the distress factor. However, for the TAS-20, Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF) facet scores cross-loaded highly on the distress factor. Limitations: Our sample consisted of general community adults; future work in clinical settings will be useful. Conclusions: Our data indicate that the PAQ has good discriminant validity. However, the TAS-20 appears to have significant discriminant validity problems, in that much of the variance in its DIF facet reflects people's current levels of distress, rather than alexithymia. The TAS-20, which has traditionally been the most widely used alexithymia questionnaire, may therefore not be the optimal alexithymia tool. Our findings add to the body of evidence supporting the validity and utility of the PAQ and suggest that, moving forward, it is a superior option to the TAS-20 for alexithymia assessments., CC BY 4.0 DEED © 2024 The Author(s)Correspondence Address: D.A. Preece; Curtin University, School of Psychology, Bentley, Kent Street, 6102, Australia; email: david.preece@curtin.edu.au; CODEN: JADIDFunding: None.

Background: Pharmacovigilance studies indicate clozapine history is marked by adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Objective: In a 2021 article, the United Kingdom (UK) had >90 % of European clozapine-related fatal outcomes in VigiBase, the World Health Organization's pharmacovigilance database. Two possibly opposing hypotheses could explain this disparity: 1) fewer reported fatal outcomes in other Western European countries mainly reflect underreporting to VigiBase, and 2) the higher number of UK reports reflects higher real relative mortality. Methods: VigiBase reports from clozapine's introduction to December 31, 2022, were studied for ADRs and the top 10 causes of fatal outcomes. The UK was compared with 11 other top reporting Western countries (Germany, Denmark, France, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). Nine countries (except Ireland and Switzerland) were compared after controlling for population and clozapine prescriptions. Results: The UK accounted for 29 % of worldwide clozapine-related fatal outcomes, Germany 2 % and <1 % in each of the other countries. The nonspecific label “death” was the top cause in the world (46 %) and in the UK (33 %). “Pneumonia” was second in the world (8 %), the UK (12 %), Ireland (8 %) and Finland (14 %). Assuming that our corrections for population and clozapine use are correct, other countries underreported only 1–10 % of the UK clozapine fatal outcome number. Conclusions: Different Western European countries consistently underreport to VigiBase compared to the UK, but have different reporting/publishing styles for clozapine-related ADRs/fatal outcomes. Three Scandinavian registries suggest lives are saved as clozapine use increases, but this cannot be studied in pharmacovigilance databases.

Background: Alexithymia is an important transdiagnostic risk factor for emotion-based psychopathologies. However, it remains unclear whether alexithymia questionnaires actually measure alexithymia, or whether they measure emotional distress. Our aim here was to address this discriminant validity concern via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ). Method: United States general community adults (N = 508) completed the TAS-20, PAQ, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). EFA was used to examine the latent dimensions underlying these measures' scores. Results: Our EFA extracted two higher-order factors, an “alexithymia” factor and a “general distress” factor (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress). All PAQ scores loaded cleanly on the alexithymia factor, with no cross-loadings on the distress factor. However, for the TAS-20, Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF) facet scores cross-loaded highly on the distress factor. Limitations: Our sample consisted of general community adults; future work in clinical settings will be useful. Conclusions: Our data indicate that the PAQ has good discriminant validity. However, the TAS-20 appears to have significant discriminant validity problems, in that much of the variance in its DIF facet reflects people's current levels of distress, rather than alexithymia. The TAS-20, which has traditionally been the most widely used alexithymia questionnaire, may therefore not be the optimal alexithymia tool. Our findings add to the body of evidence supporting the validity and utility of the PAQ and suggest that, moving forward, it is a superior option to the TAS-20 for alexithymia assessments., CC BY 4.0 DEED © 2024 The Author(s)Correspondence Address: D.A. Preece; Curtin University, School of Psychology, Bentley, Kent Street, 6102, Australia; email: david.preece@curtin.edu.au; CODEN: JADIDFunding: None.

Background: Pharmacovigilance studies indicate clozapine history is marked by adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Objective: In a 2021 article, the United Kingdom (UK) had >90 % of European clozapine-related fatal outcomes in VigiBase, the World Health Organization's pharmacovigilance database. Two possibly opposing hypotheses could explain this disparity: 1) fewer reported fatal outcomes in other Western European countries mainly reflect underreporting to VigiBase, and 2) the higher number of UK reports reflects higher real relative mortality. Methods: VigiBase reports from clozapine's introduction to December 31, 2022, were studied for ADRs and the top 10 causes of fatal outcomes. The UK was compared with 11 other top reporting Western countries (Germany, Denmark, France, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). Nine countries (except Ireland and Switzerland) were compared after controlling for population and clozapine prescriptions. Results: The UK accounted for 29 % of worldwide clozapine-related fatal outcomes, Germany 2 % and <1 % in each of the other countries. The nonspecific label “death” was the top cause in the world (46 %) and in the UK (33 %). “Pneumonia” was second in the world (8 %), the UK (12 %), Ireland (8 %) and Finland (14 %). Assuming that our corrections for population and clozapine use are correct, other countries underreported only 1–10 % of the UK clozapine fatal outcome number. Conclusions: Different Western European countries consistently underreport to VigiBase compared to the UK, but have different reporting/publishing styles for clozapine-related ADRs/fatal outcomes. Three Scandinavian registries suggest lives are saved as clozapine use increases, but this cannot be studied in pharmacovigilance databases.

The 2⁺₂ state in ¹³²Te is identified as the one-phonon MSS in a projectile Coulomb excitation experiment presenting a firm example of a MSS in unstable, neutron rich nuclei. The results of shell-model calculations based on the low-momentum interaction Vlow-k are in good agreement with experiment demonstrating the ability of the effective shell-model interaction to produce states of mixed-symmetry character.

The 2⁺₂ state in ¹³²Te is identified as the one-phonon MSS in a projectile Coulomb excitation experiment presenting a firm example of a MSS in unstable, neutron rich nuclei. The results of shell-model calculations based on the low-momentum interaction Vlow−k are in good agreement with experiment demonstrating, the ability of the effective shell-model interaction to produce states of mixed symmetry character.

Plant sap feeding insects like psyllids are known to be vectors of phloem dwelling bacteria ('Candidatus Phytoplasma' and 'Ca. Liberibacter'), plant pathogens which cause severe diseases and economically important crop damage. Some univoltine psyllid species have a particular life cycle, within one generation they alternate two times between different host plant species. The plum psyllid Cacopsylla pruni, the vector of European Stone Fruit Yellows (ESFY), one of the most serious pests in European fruit production, migrates to stone fruit orchards (Prunus spp.) for mating and oviposition in early spring. The young adults of the new generation leave the Prunus trees in summer and emigrate to their overwintering hosts like spruce and other conifers. Very little is known about the factors responsible for the regulation of migration, reasons for host alternation, and the behavior of psyllids during their phase of life on conifers. Because insect feeding behavior and host acceptance is driven by different biotic factors, such as olfactory and gustatory cues as well as mechanical barriers, we carried out electrical penetration graph (EPG) recordings and survival bioassays with C. pruni on different conifer species as potential overwintering hosts and analyzed the chemical composition of the respective plant saps. We are the first to show that migrating psyllids do feed on overwintering hosts and that nymphs are able to ingest phloem and xylem sap of coniferous trees, but cannot develop on conifer diet. Analyses of plant saps reveal qualitative differences in the chemical composition between coniferous trees and Prunus as well as within conifer species. These differences are discussed with regard to nutritional needs of psyllid nymphs for proper development, overwintering needs of adults and restriction of 'Ca. P. prunorum' to Prunus phloem.

A comment on Holdo & Nippert (2023): ‘Linking resource- and disturbance-based models to explain tree–grass coexistence in savannas’

Archaeological systematics, together with spatial and chronological information, are commonly used to infer cultural evolutionary dynamics in the past. For the study of the Palaeolithic, and particularly the European Final Palaeolithic and earliest Mesolithic, proposed changes in material culture are often interpreted as reflecting historical processes, migration, or cultural adaptation to climate change and resource availability. Yet, cultural taxonomic practice is known to be variable across research history and academic traditions, and few large-scale replicable analyses across such traditions have been undertaken. Drawing on recent developments in computational archaeology, we here present a data-driven assessment of the existing Final Palaeolithic/earliest Mesolithic cultural taxonomy in Europe. Our dataset consists of a large expert-sourced compendium of key sites, lithic toolkit composition, blade and bladelet production technology, as well as lithic armatures. The dataset comprises 16 regions and 86 individually named archaeological taxa (‘cultures’), covering the period between ca. 15,000 and 11,000 years ago (cal BP). Using these data, we use geometric morphometric and multivariate statistical techniques to explore to what extent the dynamics observed in different lithic data domains (toolkits, technologies, armature shapes) correspond to each other and to the culture-historical relations of taxonomic units implied by traditional naming practice. Our analyses support the widespread conception that some dimensions of material culture became more diverse towards the end of the Pleistocene and the very beginning of the Holocene. At the same time, cultural taxonomic unit coherence and efficacy appear variable, leading us to explore potential biases introduced by regional research traditions, inter-analyst variation, and the role of disjunct macroevolutionary processes. In discussing the implications of these findings for narratives of cultural change and diver

Calving of iceberg at ice shelves and floating glacier tongues is a poorly understood process, hence a physically motivated calving law is not yet existing. The demands on developing appropriate models for calving is large, as calving rates are needed for large scale ice sheet models that simulate the evolution of ice sheets. Here, we present a new approach for simulating fracture in ice. Our model is based on a finite strain theory for a viscoelastic Maxwell material, as the large simulation time leads to high strains. The fracturing process is simulated using a fracture phase field model that takes into account the elastic strain energy. We conduct simulations for a typical calving front geometry, with ice rises governing the formation of cracks. To represent the stress state adequately, we first conduct a spin-up to allow the viscous contribution to develop before the fracture phase field is computed. The analysis comprises the assessment of the crack path in comparison to observations, the influence of the spin-up, as well as elastic versus viscous strain contributions based on Hencky strain. Additionally, an estimate of released energy based on high resolution optical imagery of a Greenlandic calving front is presented.

Impairments in sleep and affect regulation are evident across a wide range of mental disorders. Understanding the sleep factors that relate to affect regulatory difficulties will inform mechanistic understanding and aid in treatment. Despite rising interest, some research challenges in this area include integrating across different clinical and non-clinical literatures investigating the role of sleep architecture (measured with polysomnography) and experimentally manipulated sleep, as well as integrating more explicit versus implicit affect regulation processes. In this comprehensive review, we use a unifying framework to examine sleep's relationship with implicit-automatic regulation and explicit-controlled regulation, both of which are relevant to mental health (e.g., PTSD and depression). Many studies of implicit-automatic regulation (e.g., fear extinction and safety learning) demonstrate the importance of sleep, and REM sleep specifically. Studies of explicit-controlled regulation (e.g., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) are less consistent in their findings, with results differing depending on the type of affect regulation and/or way that sleep was measured or manipulated. There is a clear relationship between objective sleep and affect regulation processes. However, there is a need for 1) more studies focusing on sleep and explicit-controlled affect regulation; 2) replication with the same types of regulation strategies; 3) more studies experimentally manipulating sleep to examine its impact on affect regulation and vice versa in order to infer cause and effect; and 4) more studies looking at sleep's impact on next-day affect regulation (not just overnight change in affect reactivity)., CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Corresponding author: 4150 Clement St. (116P), San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA. E-mail address: laura.straus@ucsf.edu (L.D. Straus).LDS is supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Science Research and Development Award: IK2CX002032. P.S. was supported by research grants from Emil Aaltonen Foundation (Finland), Alfred Kordelin Foundation (Finland), and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. MtB was supported by research fellowships from the National Science Foundation, P.E.O. International, and the American Association of University Women. PJC is supported by Veterans Affairs RR&D Merit Award 1 I01 RX003623-01.

In theory, it can be strategically advantageous for competitors to make themselves unpredictable to their opponents, for example, by variably mixing hostility and friendliness. Empirically, it remains open whether and how competitors make themselves unpredictable, why they do so, and how this conditions conflict dynamics and outcomes. We examine these questions in interactive attacker–defender contests, in which attackers invest to capture resources held and defended by their opponent. Study 1, a reanalysis of nine (un)published experiments (total N = 650), reveals significant cross-trial variability especially in proactive attacks and less in reactive defense. Study 2 (N = 200) shows that greater variability makes both attacker’s and defender’s next move more difficult to predict, especially when variability is due to occasional rather than (in)frequent extreme investments in conflict. Studies 3 (N = 27) and 4 (N = 106) show that precontest testosterone, a hormone associated with risk-taking and status competition, drives variability during attack which, in turn, increases sympathetic arousal in defenders and defender variability (Study 4). Rather than being motivated by wealth maximization, being unpredictable in conflict and competition emerges in function of the attacker’s desire to win “no matter what” and comes with significant welfare cost to both victor and victim.

Im Hinblick auf die Klimaziele der Bundesrepublik Deutschland konzentriert sich das Projekt Diggi Twin auf die nachhaltige Gebäudeoptimierung. Grundlage für eine ganzheitliche Gebäudeüberwachung und -optimierung bildet dabei die Digitalisierung und Automation im Sinne eines Smart Buildings. Das interdisziplinäre Projekt der FH Aachen hat das Ziel, ein bestehendes Hochschulgebäude und einen Neubau an klimaneutrale Standards anzupassen. Im Rahmen des Projekts werden bekannte Verfahren, wie das Building Information Modeling (BIM), so erweitert, dass ein digitaler Gebäudezwilling entsteht. Dieser kann zur Optimierung des Gebäudebetriebs herangezogen werden, sowie als Basis für eine Erweiterung des Bewertungssystems Nachhaltiges Bauen (BNB) dienen. Mithilfe von Sensortechnologie und künstlicher Intelligenz kann so ein präzises Monitoring wichtiger Gebäudedaten erfolgen, um ungenutzte Energieeinsparpotenziale zu erkennen und zu nutzen. Das Projekt erforscht und setzt methodische Erkenntnisse zu BIM und digitalen Gebäudezwillingen praxisnah um, indem es spezifische Fragen zur Energie- und Ressourceneffizienz von Gebäuden untersucht und konkrete Lösungen für die Gebäudeoptimierung entwickelt.

L’irruzione di una catastrofe nella vita dei soggetti introduce elementi di forte discontinuità nelle loro esistenze, esponendoli a inedite forme di fragilità. Tali considerazioni assumono maggior pregnanza in caso di cronicità in cui l’instabilità della situazione emergenziale deve essere conciliata con le incombenze per la gestione della malattia. L’imprevisto, infatti, comporta per il soggetto con cronicità continui sforzi e responsabilità nel compito di allineare e stabilizzare i molteplici elementi individuali, sociali e materiali che caratterizzano l’autogestione e che l’emergenza sovverte o rende indisponibili, con rilevanti conseguenze sulla sopravvivenza e sulla qualità della vita dei soggetti. A partire dai risultati di una ricerca empirica sugli impatti formativi dell’autogestione del diabete, il contributo intende effettuare una rilettura pedagogica dell’esperienza di cronicità nei contesti emergenziali per poi riflettere sul ruolo della pedagogia nel supportare il soggetto in tale condizione. Essa può promuovere la resilienza del soggetto e della comunità di appartenenza attraverso l’individuazione di strategie che, valorizzando risorse e potenzialità trasformative, consentano loro di riconfigurarsi reciprocamente per affrontare l’emergenza. Inoltre, il rafforzamento dei legami individuo-comunità favorisce un aumento della resistenza del soggetto nell’affrontare le difficoltà che il vivere la malattia in una situazione emergenziale comporta.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.M. (Ana Moradell) and A.G.-C.; methodology, A.M. (Ana Moradell) and A.G.-C.; validation, A.M. (Asier Mañas) and E.G.; formal analysis, A.M. (Ana Moradell) and A.G.-C.; investigation, A.M. (Ana Moradell), A.G.-C., A.M. (Asier Mañas), E.G. and J.P.-G.; resources, A.M. (Ana Moradell), A.G.-C., A.M. (Asier Mañas), E.G., M.G.-G., J.P.-G., J.A.C., G.V.-R. and I.A.; data curation, A.M. (Ana Moradell) and A.G.-C.; writing—original draft preparation, A.M. (Ana Moradell) and A.G.-C.; writing—review and editing, A.M. (Asier Mañas), E.G., M.G.-G., J.P.-G., J.A.C., G.V.-R. and I.A.; visualization, A.M. (Ana Moradell), A.G.-C., A.M. (Asier Mañas), E.G., M.G.-G., J.P.-G., J.A.C., G.V.-R. and I.A.; supervision, G.V.-R. and I.A.; project administration, G.V.-R. and I.A.; funding acquisition, J.A.C., M.G.-G., G.V.-R. and I.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript., Aging leads to physiological changes affecting body composition, mediated by lifestyle. However, the effectiveness of organized physical activities (OPAs) in attenuating or delaying these age-related transformations remains an area of limited understanding. The primary objectives of this study were threefold: (I) to comprehensively assess the evolution of body composition in a cohort of Spanish older adults over an 8-year period; (II) to compare this evolution in the different age groups; and (III) to investigate the influence of active engagement in OPAs on these age-related changes. From a sample of 3136 Spanish older adults recruited in 2008, 651 agreed to participate in the 8-year follow-up. Anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance data were included for 507 females (70.3 ± 4.4 years) and 144 males (77.8 ± 4.5 years). Age groups were categorized as follows: youngest (65–69 years), mid (70–74 years), and oldest (≥75 years). The engagement in OPA was recorded before and after the follow-up. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate the 8-year changes. Males increased in hip (98.1 ± 9.3 vs. 101.5 ± 10.2 cm) and waist circumferences (101.2 ± 6.6 vs. 103.2 ± 6.1 cm), specifically in the youngest group (p < 0.05). Females decreased in weight (67.6 ± 10.0 vs. 66.6 ± 10.5 kg) and fat mass percentage (39.3 ± 5 vs. 38.8 ± 5.4%) and increased in hip circumference (104.4 ± 9.0 vs. 106.5 ± 9.7 cm); these effects were the most remarkable in the oldest group (all p < 0.05). OPA engagement seemed to slow down fat-free mass loses in males, but not in females (grouped by time, p < 0.05). Body composition changes caused by aging seem to happen earlier in males than in females. Moreover, participating in OPAs does not prevent fat-free mass due to aging., Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales (España), Universidad de Zaragoza, Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad (España), Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (España), Depto. de Didáctica de las Lenguas, Artes y Educación Física, Fac. de Educación, TRUE, pub

En el siguiente trabajo se desarrolla el entorno Hardware in the Loop (HIL) del control y las comunicaciones de un parque fotovoltaico, teniendo en cuenta los valores reales de impedancia de todas las líneas, valores asignados de los equipos de electrónica de potencia, transformadores, etc, dicho de otro modo, se han tenido en cuenta para la realización del modelo todos los parámetros eléctricos de los elementos de potencia. Para realizar el trabajo se ha utilizado la plataforma de control en tiempo real Opal-RT 5600 en la cual, mediante el software Matlab/Simulink se ha emulado la planta fotovoltaica para ser ejecutada en tiempo real, además esta plataforma se comunica con un ordenador externo mediante el protocolo de comunicación Modbus, con el fin de recibir y enviar los datos necesarios para un funcionamiento lo más realista posible, conformando el entorno HIL. Con los datos recibidos por Modbus se realiza un control droop de la tensión en el punto de conexión de la instalación (POI), enviando de vuelta hacia la plataforma la consigna de potencia reactiva necesaria en dicho punto cerrando el bucle del entorno HIL. El trabajo nace a raíz de la necesidad de ciberseguridad de las plantas de energía renovable debido a que están conectadas a Internet y son susceptibles a ataques a través de la red, al mismo tiempo que se está produciendo una perpetración masiva de plantas de este tipo en el sistema eléctrico, sirviendo este trabajo como inicio de banco de pruebas para el análisis y ensayos de técnicas de ciberseguridad para plantas de energía renovable. Asegurando el correcto funcionamiento de los métodos desarrollados sobre ciberseguridad antes de la prueba real en la misma planta fotovoltaica. Por otra parte, en este trabajo se halla la descripción de la configuración necesaria para conectar la plataforma Opal-RT con cualquier dispositivo por el protocolo Modbus, así mismo se presenta un maestro de la comunicación programado en Python para validar el idóneo funcion, In this work is developed the Hardware In the Loop (HIL) environment for the control and communications of a photovoltaic park, in the model is used the real values of impedance of all lines, assigned values of power electronic equipment, transformers, etc, in other word, all electrical power elements have been considered for the model. In order to do the work, the real-time control platform Opal-RT 5600 have been used, in which the photovoltaic plant has been simulated using Matlab/Simulink software to be execute in real time. Additionally, this platform communicates with an external computer with Modbus communication protocol, to send and receive the necessary data for the most realistic operation possible, building the HIL environment. With the receive data, a droop control of the voltage at the Point Of Interconnection (POI) of the installation is performed, sending back the necessary reactive power setpoint to the platform, closing the HIL environment loop. The work was born from the need for cybersecurity in renewable energy plants due to their connection to the Internet and susceptibility to network attacks, while there is a massive proliferation of such plants in the electrical system. The work serves as a starting point for a testbed for the analysis and testing of cybersecurity techniques for renewable energy plants, ensuring the correct functioning of the developed cybersecurity methods before real-world testing on the photovoltaic plant. Besides, this document includes a description of the configuration needed to connect the Opal-RT platform with any device using the Modbus protocol, as well a communication master programmed un Python to validate the proper operation of the communication.

Introduction: Pear decline (PD) is one of the most devastating diseases of Pyrus communis in Europe and North America. It is caused by the pathogen ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ and transmitted by pear psyllids (Cacopsylla pyri, C. pyricola, and C. pyrisuga). Identifying attractant and repellent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could improve the development of alternative plant protection measurements like push-pull or attract-and-kill strategies against pear psyllids. Our objective was to investigate which chemical cues of the host plant could influence the host-seeking behavior of pear psyllids, and if cedarwood (CWO) and cinnamon bark (CBO) essential oils could serve as repellents. Results and discussion: Based on the literature, the five most abundant VOCs from pear plants elicited EAG responses in both C. pyri and C. pyrisuga psyllid species. In Y-olfactometer trials, single compounds were not attractive to C. pyri. However, the main compound mixture was attractive to C. pyri and C. pyrisuga females. CWO and CBO were repellent against C. pyri, and when formulated into nanofibers (NF), both were repellent in olfactometer trials. However, CBO nanoformulation was ineffective in masking the odors of pear plants. In a field trial, attractive, repellent CWO and blank formulated NF were inserted in attractive green sticky traps. C. pyri captures in traps with CWO NF were statistically lower than in traps with the attractive mixture. Nevertheless, no statistical differences in the numbers of caught specimens were observed between CWO NF and those captured in green traps baited with blank NF. Transparent traps captured fewer psyllids than green ones. In a second field study with a completed different design (push-and-count design), dispensers filled with CBO were distributed within the plantation, and attractive green sticky traps were placed around the plantation. The numbers of trapped pear psyllids increased significantly in the border of the treated plantation, sho

Understanding the cues used by insects to select their hosts is essential for developing sustainable control strategies, particularly for plant disease vectors. Pear psyllids (Cacopsylla pyri) are vectors of the bacterial disease pear decline caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’. Yellow sticky traps are typically used to monitor pest insects, but they are non‐specific and capture many beneficial insects, too. Against the background of improving visual traps, this research aimed to investigate the colour choice behaviour of C. pyri. Our first approach was to screen insect colour preferences by performing choice assays with different LED colour wavelengths in a small‐scale choice arena under controlled conditions. Over six LEDs tested, there was a strong significant preference of C. pyri for green 1 (532 nm) followed by green 2 (549 nm). Yellow (576 nm), orange (593 nm), red 1 (619 nm) and red 2 (633 nm) were less attractive than green. Subsequently, the trapping of pear psyllids was tested in the field using newly developed traps covered with transparent‐coloured PVC sheets with a similar wavelength of the preferred LEDs. Red and completely transparent traps have been used as control and combined in randomized blocks in a pear orchard. Field trials revealed that green traps ranging from 525 to 537 nm attracted significantly more pear psyllids than longer wavelength green (543 nm), red and transparent ones. The construction of specific green‐coloured sticky traps seems promising for improving psyllid trapping, especially during an early infestation at low population densities. Thus, these visual traps should be considered in future and integrated into psyllid monitoring as part of integrated pest management.

High‐resolution optical camera systems are opening new opportunities to study fractures in ice. Here, we present data obtained from the Modular Aerial Camera System camera system operated onboard of Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) polar aircraft in northeast Greenland in 2022. In addition, we are using optical and radar satellite imagery. The study area is the 79°N Glacier (Nioghalvfjerdsbræ, 79NG), an outlet glacier of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream. We found that crack tips are exhibiting additional isolated cracks ahead of the main crack. Subsequent crack propagation is starting from those isolated cracks, leading to an advance of the crack, with bridges between crack faces. The bridges provide information of the episodic crack propagation. Fractures have typically a length scale of kilometers and the distance of crack faces is in the order of meters to tenths of meters. Fracture modes will be inferred from stress fields computed by an inverse modeling approach using the Ice Sheet and Sea Level System Model. To this end, a surface velocity field derived from satellite remote sensing is used for the optimal control method that constrains model parameters, for example, basal friction coefficient or rheology.

BackgroundEnd-of-life (EOL) care patterns may differ by physician age given differences in how physicians are trained or changes associated with aging. We sought to compare patterns of EOL care delivered to older Americans according to physician age.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of a 20% sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥66 years who died in 2016-2019 (n = 487,293). We attributed beneficiaries to the physician who had >50% of primary care visits during the last 6 months of life. We compared beneficiary-level outcomes by physician age (<40, 40-49, 50-59, or ≥60) in two areas: (1) advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care; and (2) high-intensity care at the EOL.ResultsBeneficiaries attributed to younger physicians had slightly higher proportions of billed ACP (adjusted proportions, 17.1%, 16.1%, 15.5%, and 14.0% for physicians aged <40, 40-49, 50-59, and ≥60, respectively; p-for-trend adjusted for multiple comparisons <0.001) and palliative care counseling or hospice use in the last 180 days of life (64.5%, 63.6%, 61.9%, and 60.8%; p-for-trend <0.001). Similarly, physicians' younger age was associated with slightly lower proportions of emergency department visits (57.4%, 57.0%, 57.4%, and 58.1%; p-for-trend <0.001), hospital admissions (51.2%, 51.1%, 51.4%, and 52.1%; p-for-trend <0.001), intensive care unit admissions (27.8%, 27.9%, 28.2%, and 28.3%; p-for-trend = 0.03), or mechanical ventilation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (14.2, 14.9%, 15.2%, and 15.3%; p-for-trend <0.001) in the last 30 days of life, and in-hospital death (20.2%, 20.6%, 21.3%, and 21.5%; p-for-trend <0.001).ConclusionsWe found that differences in patterns of EOL care between beneficiaries cared for by younger and older physicians were small, and thus, not clinically meaningful. Future research is warranted to understand the factors that can influence patterns of EOL care provided by physicians, including initial and continuin

The self-organization of cells relies on the profound complexity of protein-protein interactions. Challenges in directly observing these events have hindered progress toward understanding their diverse behaviors. One notable example is the interaction between molecular motors and cytoskeletal systems that combine to perform a variety of cellular functions. In this work, we leverage theory and experiments to identify and quantify the rate-limiting mechanism of the initial association between a cargo-bound kinesin motor and a microtubule track. Recent advances in optical tweezers provide binding times for several lengths of kinesin motors trapped at varying distances from a microtubule, empowering the investigation of competing models. We first explore a diffusion-limited model of binding. Through Brownian dynamics simulations and simulation-based inference, we find this simple diffusion model fails to explain the experimental binding times, but an extended model that accounts for the ADP state of the molecular motor agrees closely with the data, even under the scrutiny of penalizing for additional model complexity. We provide quantification of both kinetic rates and biophysical parameters underlying the proposed binding process. Our model suggests that a typical binding event is limited by ADP state rather than physical search. Lastly, we predict how these association rates can be modulated in distinct ways through variation of environmental concentrations and physical properties.

BACKGROUND: Improving shared decision-making using a treat-to-target approach, including the use of clinical outcome measures, is important to providing high quality care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We developed an Electronic Health Record (EHR) integrated, patient-facing sidecar dashboard application that displays RA outcomes, medications, and lab results for use during clinical visits (RA PRO dashboard). The purpose of this study was to assess clinician perceptions and experiences using the dashboard in a university rheumatology clinic. METHODS: We conducted focus group (FG) discussions with clinicians who had access to the dashboard as part of a randomized, stepped-wedge pragmatic trial. FGs explored clinician perceptions towards the usability, acceptability, and usefulness of the dashboard. FG data were analyzed thematically using deductive and inductive techniques; generated themes were categorized into the domains of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). RESULTS: 3 FG discussions were conducted with a total of 13 clinicians. Overall, clinicians were enthusiastic about the dashboard and expressed the usefulness of visualizing RA outcome trajectories in a graphical format for motivating patients, enhancing patient understanding of their RA outcomes, and improving communication about medications. Major themes that emerged from the FG analysis as barriers to using the dashboard included inconsistent collection of RA outcomes leading to sparse data in the dashboard and concerns about explaining RA outcomes, especially to patients with fibromyalgia. Other challenges included time constraints and technical difficulties refreshing the dashboard to display real-time data. Methods for integrating the dashboard into the visit varied: some clinicians used the dashboard at the beginning of the visit as they documented RA outcomes; others used it at the end to justify changes to therapy; and a few shared it only with stable patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides valu

The eukaryotic genome is organized and regulated in the form of nucleosomes - the fundamental unit of chromatin composed of ~147 base pairs of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer core. Accessing the DNA wrapped around nucleosomes is central to all DNA-based processes. A class of enzymes known as ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to catalyze transformations to the nucleosome that alter DNA accessibility. This thesis explores the unique mechanisms of INO80, a 15-subunit remodeler that transforms the nucleosome by sliding a histone octamer core along DNA. INO80 has been linked to various biological processes including DNA damage repair, replication, and transcription. How INO80 uses its biochemical activity to influence nucleosome organization at these various genomic loci remains an open question. This thesis will use biochemical and biophysical techniques to explore INO80's mechanism, specifically its (1) hexasome sliding activity and (2) assembly. In Chapter 2, we explore INO80's activity on hexasomes, subnucleosomal particles missing an H2A-H2B dimer that can form, for example in the wake of transcription. Prior to this work, our lab showed that INO80 prefers to slide hexasomes over nucleosomes. Here, we explore this mechanism further by using a combination of cryo-EM and biochemistry using (sub)nucleosomal substrates with DNA containing single base gaps. We solved high-resolution structures of S. cerevisiae INO80 bound to a hexasome and nucleosome. Surprisingly, we found that INO80 reorients to position its core Ino80 ATPase subunit at superhelical location (SHL) -2 on a hexasome compared to engaging with the nucleosome at SHL-6. This nearly 180º rotation positions INO80 with dramatically different interactions between its core subunits and the nucleosomal DNA and histones. Interestingly, we show that single base gaps, which block DNA translocation, near SHL-2 inhibit INO80's activity on both hexasomes and nucleosomes. We prop

Novel methods for sampling and characterizing biodiversity hold great promise for re-evaluating patterns of life across the planet. The sampling of airborne spores with a cyclone sampler, and the sequencing of their DNA, have been suggested as an efficient and well-calibrated tool for surveying fungal diversity across various environments. Here we present data originating from the Global Spore Sampling Project, comprising 2,768 samples collected during two years at 47 outdoor locations across the world. Each sample represents fungal DNA extracted from 24 m3 of air. We applied a conservative bioinformatics pipeline that filtered out sequences that did not show strong evidence of representing a fungal species. The pipeline yielded 27,954 species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Each OTU is accompanied by a probabilistic taxonomic classification, validated through comparison with expert evaluations. To examine the potential of the data for ecological analyses, we partitioned the variation in species distributions into spatial and seasonal components, showing a strong effect of the annual mean temperature on community composition.

Nearly 540 million people world-wide have facial flushing and an increased heart rate after consuming alcohol. Known as the alcohol flushing response, this reaction to alcohol is a result of a genetic variant in an enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), known as ALDH2*2. Mainly carried by those of East Asian descent, the genetic variant is likely the most common genetic variant carried in the world. Carrying this ALDH2*2 genetic variant has important health implications with respect cancer risk which is increased when carriers of the ALDH2*2 genetic variant frequently use of alcohol or tobacco products. This comic explains the alcohol flush response and the health risks associated with alcohol and tobacco use for those who carry an ALDH2*2 variant.

BACKGROUND: Equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) infection in horses is associated with upper respiratory disease, neurological disease, abortions, and neonatal death. REVIEW QUESTION: Does pharmacological therapy decrease either the incidence or severity of disease or infection caused by EHV-1 in domesticated horses? METHODS: A systematic review was preformed searching AGRICOLA, CAB Abstracts, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, and WHO Global Health Index Medicus Regional Databases to identify articles published before February 15, 2021. Selection criteria were original research reports published in peer reviewed journals, and studies investigating in vivo use of therapeutic agents for prevention or treatment of EHV-1 in horses. Outcomes assessed included measures related to clinical outcomes that reflect symptomatic EHV-1 infection or virus infection. We evaluated risk of bias and performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. RESULTS: A total of 7009 unique studies were identified, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria. Two studies evaluated valacyclovir or small interfering RNAs, and single studies evaluated the use of a Parapoxvirus ovis-based immunomodulator, human alpha interferon, an herbal supplement, a cytosine analog, and heparin. The level of evidence ranged between randomized controlled studies and observational trials. The risk of bias was moderate to high and sample sizes were small. Most studies reported either no benefit or minimal efficacy of the intervention tested. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Our review indicates minimal or limited benefit either as a prophylactic or post-exposure treatment for any of the studied interventions in the mitigation of EHV-1-associated disease outcome.

BACKGROUND: Equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) infection in horses is associated with respiratory and neurologic disease, abortion, and neonatal death. HYPOTHESIS: Vaccines decrease the occurrence of clinical disease in EHV-1-infected horses. METHODS: A systematic review was performed searching multiple databases to identify relevant studies. Selection criteria were original peer-reviewed research reports that investigated the in vivo use of vaccines for the prevention of disease caused by EHV-1 in domesticated horses. Main outcomes of interest included pyrexia, abortion, neurologic disease, viremia, and nasal shedding. We evaluated risk of bias, conducted exploratory meta-analyses of incidence data for the main outcomes, and performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for each vaccine subtype. RESULTS: A total of 1018 unique studies were identified, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. Experimental studies accounted for 31/35 studies, with the remainder being observational studies. Eight vaccine subclasses were identified including commercial (modified-live, inactivated, mixed) and experimental (modified-live, inactivated, deletion mutant, DNA, recombinant). Risk of bias was generally moderate, often because of underreporting of research methods, and sample sizes were small leading to imprecision in the estimate of the effect size. Several studies reported either no benefit or minimal vaccine efficacy for the primary outcomes of interest. Meta-analyses revealed significant heterogeneity was present, and our confidence in the quality of evidence for most outcomes was low to moderate. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Our review indicates that commercial and experimental vaccines minimally reduce the incidence of clinical disease associated with EHV-1 infection.

Strategies to prevent or delay Alzheimers disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) are urgently needed, and blood pressure (BP) management is a promising strategy. Yet the effects of different BP control strategies across the life course on AD/ADRD are unknown. Randomized trials may be infeasible due to prolonged follow-up and large sample sizes. Simulation analysis is a practical approach to estimating these effects using the best available existing data. However, existing simulation frameworks cannot estimate the effects of BP control on both dementia and cardiovascular disease. This manuscript describes the design principles, implementation details, and population-level validation of a novel population-health microsimulation framework, the MIchigan ChROnic Disease SIMulation (MICROSIM), for The Effect of Lower Blood Pressure over the Life Course on Late-life Cognition in Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites (BP-COG) study of the effect of BP levels over the life course on dementia and cardiovascular disease. MICROSIM is an agent-based Monte Carlo simulation designed using computer programming best practices. MICROSIM estimates annual vascular risk factor levels and transition probabilities in all-cause dementia, stroke, myocardial infarction, and mortality in a nationally representative sample of US adults 18+ using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MICROSIM models changes in risk factors over time, cognition and dementia using changes from a pooled dataset of individual participant data from 6 US prospective cardiovascular cohort studies. Cardiovascular risks were estimated using a widely used risk model and BP treatment effects were derived from meta-analyses of randomized trials. MICROSIM is an extensible, open-source framework designed to estimate the population-level impact of different BP management strategies and reproduces US population-level estimates of BP and other vascular risk factors levels, their change over time, and incident

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is a highly prevalent and frequently pathogenic infection of equids. The most serious clinical consequences of infection are abortion and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). The previous consensus statement was published in 2009 and considered pathogenesis, strain variation, epidemiology, diagnostic testing, vaccination, outbreak prevention and control, and treatment. A recent survey of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine large animal diplomates identified the need for a revision to this original consensus statement. This updated consensus statement is underpinned by 4 systematic reviews that addressed key questions concerning vaccination, pharmaceutical treatment, pathogenesis, and diagnostic testing. Evidence for successful vaccination against, or effective treatment of EHV-1 infection was limited, and improvements in experimental design and reporting of results are needed in future studies of this important disease. This consensus statement also updates the topics considered previously in 2009.

Food-webs are a critical feature of ecosystems and help us understand how communities will respond to climate change. The Southern Ocean is facing rapid and accelerating changes due to climate change. Though having evolved in an isolated and somewhat extreme environment, Southern Ocean biodiversity and food-webs are among the most vulnerable. Here, we review 1) current knowledge on Southern Ocean food-webs; 2) methods to study food-webs; 3) assessment of current and future impacts of climate change on Southern Ocean food-webs; 4) knowledge gaps; and 5) the role of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in future studies. Most knowledge on Southern Ocean food-webs come from the pelagic environment, both at macro- and microbial levels. Modelling and diet studies of individual species are major contributors to the food-web knowledge. These studies revealed a short food-web, predominantly sustained by Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba). Additionally, alternative pathways exist, involving other krill species, fish, and squid, which play equally important roles in connecting primary producers with top predators. Advantages and disadvantages of several techniques used to study Southern Ocean food-webs were identified, from the classical analyses of stomach contents, scats, or boluses to the most recent approaches such as metabarcoding and trophic-biomarkers. Observations show that climate change can impact the food-web in different ways. As an example, changes to smaller phytoplankton species can lengthen the food-web, increasing assimilation losses and/or changing nutrient cycles. Future studies need to focus on the benthic-dominated food-webs and the benthopelagic coupling. Furthermore, research during the winter season and below the ice-shelves is needed as these areas may play a crucial role in the functioning of this ecosystem. ECRs can play a significant role in advancing the study of Southern Ocean food-webs due to their willingness for

Many of the global challenges that confront humanity are interlinked in a dynamic complex network, with multiple feedback loops, nonlinear interactions and interdependencies that make it difficult, if not impossible, to consider individual threats in isolation. These challenges are mainly dealt with, however, by considering individual threats in isolation (at least in political terms). The mitigation of dual climate and biodiversity threats, for example, is linked to a univariate 1.5°C global warming boundary and a global area conservation target of 30% by 2030. The situation has been somewhat improved by efforts to account for interactions through multidimensional target setting, adaptive and open management and market-based decision pathways. But the fundamental problem still remains—that complex systems such as those formed by the network of global threats have emergent properties that are more than the sum of their parts. We must learn how to deal with or live with these properties if we are to find effective ways to cope with the threats, individually and collectively. Here, we argue that recent progresses in complex systems research and related fields have enhanced our ability to analyse and model such entwined systems to the extent that it offers the promise of a new approach to sustainability. We discuss how this may be achieved, both in theory and in practice, and how human cultural factors play an important but neglected role that could prove vital to achieving success. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

To combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, new antimicrobial strategies are urgently needed. Here, I describe a strategy and mechanism that combines antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with histones, which can be used to treat pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and Aspergillus fumigatus fungi. When combined in Gram-negative bacteria, AMPs target the outer membranes of bacteria and enable histones to pass the lipopolysaccharide-rich outer membrane. Here, histones can increase the number and size of membrane pores by targeting bacterial membranes that have significantly less lipopolysaccharide, including the bacterial inner membrane and inner leaflet of the outer membrane, and contribute to bacterial membrane damage from the inside. Consistent with this, histones increase the efficacy of the antibiotic and AMP polymyxin B to treat P. aeruginosa. Altogether, this strategy of combining histones with antimicrobial peptides is an effective alternative antimicrobial mechanism against Gram-negative bacteria and can also be extended to clinically-relevant Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. This research can be used to improve the efficacy of current antimicrobials and guide the development of novel antibiotic strategies against various microbes.

Intracellular transport is the process by which cargoes, such as organelles, travel to their needed locations within the cell in a timely manner via cytoskeletal filaments. This process involves the cargo that needs to be transported, motor proteins such as kinesin, and a filament, such as the microtubule. The process is broken down into several sub-processes, two of which are the focus in this study: the binding process (in which the cargo-motor protein ensemble binds to the microtubule) and processivity (where the cargo-motor ensemble walks on the microtubule). It is known which structures in the cell are used in intracellular transport, such as motor proteins, microtubules, and tubulin C terminal tails (CTTs); however, it is unclear how their properties affect the entire process. In this study, we use mathematical modeling and computational simulations to explain perplexing details of experimental data. Specifically, we show that motor diffusion alone cannot explain binding times measured from optical trap studies. Through computational analysis, we suggest that ADP release from the motor head may be an integral component of the binding process. We also propose the contribution CTTs provide to motor proteins processivity, where we believe CTTs help motor heads that are searching for microtubule binding sites by holding them near the microtubule, thus allowing for quicker steps. By combining modeling and simulations with experimental data, we can tune physical parameters that have the most potential of explaining the data, which in turns allow us a deeper understanding of intracellular transport.

Fungi are among the most diverse and ecologically important kingdoms in life. However, the distributional ranges of fungi remain largely unknown as do the ecological mechanisms that shape their distributions1,2. To provide an integrated view of the spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi, we implemented a globally distributed standardized aerial sampling of fungal spores3. The vast majority of operational taxonomic units were detected within only one climatic zone, and the spatiotemporal patterns of species richness and community composition were mostly explained by annual mean air temperature. Tropical regions hosted the highest fungal diversity except for lichenized, ericoid mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi, which reached their peak diversity in temperate regions. The sensitivity in climatic responses was associated with phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that large-scale distributions of some fungal groups are partially constrained by their ancestral niche. There was a strong phylogenetic signal in seasonal sensitivity, suggesting that some groups of fungi have retained their ancestral trait of sporulating for only a short period. Overall, our results show that the hyperdiverse kingdom of fungi follows globally highly predictable spatial and temporal dynamics, with seasonality in both species richness and community composition increasing with latitude. Our study reports patterns resembling those described for other major groups of organisms, thus making a major contribution to the long-standing debate on whether organisms with a microbial lifestyle follow the global biodiversity paradigms known for macroorganisms4,5.

As reproductive and sexual health education declines in the United States, adolescents may turn to television shows and movies for this education. There is an opportunity to create informed edutainment with this in mind. However, there is no content analysis for the content already in the world. This paper serves as a preliminary content analysis for content containing menstrual themes from 1970 to 2024. Researchers examined the context in which menstruation is shown or discussed and collected data to analyze gender concordance between the character menstruating or mentioning menstruation, the director, and the topline writer of the media. There was not enough evidence to show that menstruation content is less distressing or is shown in a more nuanced way, but there is evidence that gender concordance has increased over time, particularly into the 2020s.