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Leaf decomposition is a key process in stream ecosystems within forested catchments; it is driven by microbial communities, particularly fungi and bacteria. These microorganisms make nutrients and energy bound in leaves available for wider parts of the food web. Leaf‐associated microorganisms are subjected to anthropogenic pressures, such as the increased exposure to nutrients and fungicides associated with land‐use change. We assessed the sensitivity of leaf‐associated microbial communities with differing exposure histories, namely, from pristine (P) streams, and streams impacted by wastewater (W) and agricultural run‐off (vineyards; V). In the laboratory, microbial communities were exposed to elevated nutrient (NO3‐N: 0.2–18.0 mg/L, PO4‐P: 0.02–1.8 mg/L) and fungicide concentrations (sum concentration 0–300 µg/L) in a fully crossed 3 × 4 × 4‐factorial design over 21 days. Leaf decomposition and exoenzyme activity were measured as functional endpoints, and fungal community composition and microbial abundance served as structural variables. Overall, leaf decomposition did not differ between fungicide treatments or exposure histories. Nonetheless, substantial changes in the fungal community composition were observed after exposure to environmentally relevant fungicide concentrations. Elevated nutrient concentrations assisted leaf decomposition, and the effect size depended on the exposure history. The observed changes in the fungal community composition support the principle of functional redundancy, with highly efficient decomposers maintaining leaf decomposition. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1300–1311. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, surface wettability measurements are an underutilized segment of the characterization toolkit, in part due to the redundancy inherent in manual analysis. Even so, there have been numerous advances in contact angle data collection and analysis methods. The emergence of inexpensive and powerful hardware in increasingly small form-factors and the development of robust and versatile software packages would enable interrogation of wetting phenomena across a range of platforms. Here, we introduce DropPy, an open-source Python implementation of the classic axisymmetric drop shape analysis technique to fit droplet profiles from images while providing an easy interface through which casual users may interpret their findings.

The conservation of marine biodiversity is firmly embedded in national and international policy frameworks. However, the difficulties associated with conducting broad-scale surveys of oceanic environments restrict the evidence base available for applied management in pelagic waters. For example, the Oceanic Shoals Australian Marine Park (AMP) was established in 2012 in a part of Australia’s continental shelf where unique topographic features are thought to support significant levels of biodiversity, yet where our understanding of ecological processes remains limited. We deployed mid-water baited remote underwater video systems (mid-water BRUVS) in the Oceanic Shoals AMP to provide the first non-extractive baseline assessment of pelagic wildlife communities in the area. We used these observations and high-resolution multibeam swaths of the seafloor to explore potential relationships between prominent geomorphological features and the (i) composition, (ii) richness, and (iii) relative abundance of pelagic communities. We documented 32 vertebrate species across three sampling areas, ranging from small baitfish to large sharks and rays, and estimated that up to nearly twice as many taxa may occur within the region as a whole. This highlights the Oceanic Shoals AMP as a reservoir of biodiversity comparable to other documented offshore oceanic hotspots. Our results also confirm the AMP as a possible distant foraging destination for IUCN red listed sea turtles, and a potential breeding and/or nursing ground for a number of charismatic cetaceans. Model outputs indicate that both species richness and abundance increase in proximity to raised geomorphic structures such as submerged banks and pinnacles, highlighting the influence of submarine topography on megafauna distribution. By providing a foundational understanding of spatial patterns in pelagic wildlife communities throughout a little studied region, our work demonstrates how a combination of non-destructive sampling techniques and predictive models can provide new opportunities to support decision-making under data shortage.

Background:. To assess clinical outcomes based on established rating scales in patients who underwent treatment for rhytids using laser resurfacing with and without facial plastic surgery. Methods:. Retrospective case review of 48 patients treated by the senior author (J.E.B) between 2009 and 2016. Three reviewers assigned ratings to a total of 48 patients using estimated age and Fitzpatrick, Modified Fitzpatrick, and Glogau scales. Reviewers were blinded to patient demographics and before and after photographs. Patients elected to receive laser-only treatment or combination laser plus facial plastic surgery. Participants included forty-eight patients were selected on the basis that they had either laser treatment alone or laser plus facial plastic surgery and pre- and postoperative photographs. Results:. Patients with higher Fitzpatrick scores had a greater reduction in Glogau score (ß = 1.66; SE = 0.59; P < 0.01). With respect to modified Fitzpatrick scores after surgery, patients with higher Glogau scores of 3 or 4 before surgery (P < 0.01) had higher scores after surgery ((ß = 0.07; SE = 0.02; P < 0.01). For estimated age, the average change was -1.7 years after laser resurfacing (P = 0.038; 95% CI, 2.96–3.06 years) and -2.07 years when combined with surgery (P = 0.01; 95% CI, 2.89–3.19 years). Conclusions:. Patients with Fitzpatrick scores of 3, 4, 5, younger patients, and those with less rhytids before surgery tended to have lower Glogau scores after surgery. These findings provide insight on an approach to treating ethnic skin and aging face concerns.

No Austrians in South Tyrol? Why the German-speaking community in Italy’s South Tyrol (Alto Adige) province is not usually called an Austrian minority The article discusses the question why the German-speakers in Northern Italy’s South Tyrol province are only very rarely referred to as an Austrian minority, in spite of the fact that they were split off from Austria, and not Germany, in the aftermath of World War I. An analysis of the naming of German-speaking South Tyroleans in German, Austrian, Italian and English-speaking news media, which demonstrates a preference for terms such as “German-speaking minority” or “German minority” over “Austrian minority and equivalents, is followed by a discussion of three hypotheses to account for the situation. The author shows how the question of how to name the German-speaking South Tyroleans is closely intertwined with the issue of Austrian national identity and its re-orientation away from Germany in the aftermath of the Second World War. The author comes to the conclusion that the minority is not usually referred to as Austrian both due to the fact that it is difficult to include them in the young (civic) Austrian nation in a logically consistent manner, and due to the German-speaking South Tyroleans’ own inconsistent self-identification as Austrians. Nie ma Austriaków w Tyrolu Południowym? Dlaczego niemieckojęzyczna wspólnota we włoskiej prowincji Tyrol Południowy (Alto Adige) zwykle nie jest nazywana mniejszością austriacką Artykuł podejmuje kwestię, dlaczego niemieckojęzyczna ludność północnowłoskiej prowincji Tyrol Południowy rzadko bywa nazywana mniejszością austriacką, pomimo tego że w efekcie I wojny światowej odłączona została ona od Austrii, a nie od Niemiec. Analiza nazewnictwa odnoszonego do niemieckojęzycznej ludności Tyrolu Południowego, które występuje w informacyjnych środkach przekazu: niemiecko-, austriacko-, włosko- i anglojęzycznych pozwala stwierdzić, że preferowane są określenia takie jak „mniejszość niemieckojęzyczna” lub „mniejszość niemiecka”, zamiast „mniejszość austriacka” i terminy ekwiwalentne. Następnie omówione został trzy hipotezy mogące wyjaśnić tę sytuację. Autor ukazuje, jak ściśle współzależą od siebie kwestia nazewnictwa niemieckojęzycznej ludności Tyrolu Południowego i kwestia austriackiej tożsamości narodowej oraz jej odchodzenia od Niemiec w następstwie II wojny światowej. Autor dochodzi do wniosku, że omawiana tu mniejszość zwykle nie jest uznawana za austriacką zarówno z tego powodu, iż trudno jest umiejscowić ją w młodym (obywatelskim) narodzie austriackim w sposób logicznie konsekwentny, jak i z racji własnej niekonsekwentnej samoidentyfikacji niemieckojęzycznych Tyrolczyków Południowych jako Austriacy.

Global species richness is a key biodiversity metric. Concerns continue to grow over its decline due to overexploitation and habitat destruction by humans. Despite recent efforts to estimate global species richness, the resulting estimates have been highly uncertain and often logically inconsistent. Estimates lower down either the taxonomic or geographic hierarchies are often larger than those above. Further, these estimates have been typically represented in a wide variety of forms, including intervals (a, b), point estimates with no uncertainty, and point estimates with either symmetrical or asymmetrical bounds, making it difficult to combine information across different studies. Here, we develop a Bayesian hierarchical approach to estimate global species richness (we estimate 22.02 m species; 95% highest posterior density (HPD) interval (10.43 million, 35.28 million)) that combines 50 estimates from published studies. The data mix of intervals and point estimates are reconciled using techniques from symbolic data analysis. This approach allows us to recover interval estimates at each species level, even when data are partially or wholly unobserved, while respecting logical constraints, and to determine the effects of estimation on the whole hierarchy of obtaining future estimates for particular taxa at various levels in the hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infinitary propositional logic of here-and-there is important for the theory of answer set programming in view of its relation to strongly equivalent transformations of logic programs. We know a formal system axiomatizing this logic exists, but a proof in that system may include infinitely many formulas. In this note we describe a relationship between the validity of infinitary formulas in the logic of here-and-there and the provability of formulas in some finite deductive systems. This relationship allows us to use finite proofs to justify the validity of infinitary formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the question why the German-speakers in Northern Italy's South Tyrol province are only very rarely referred to as an Austrian minority, in spite of the fact that they were split off from Austria, and not Germany, in the aftermath of World War I. An analysis of the naming of German-speaking South Tyroleans in German, Austrian, Italian, and Englishspeaking news media, which demonstrates a preference for terms such as "German-speaking minority" or "German minority" over "Austrian minority" and equivalents, is followed by a discussion of three hypotheses to account for the situation. The author shows how the question of how to name the German-speaking South Tyroleans is closely intertwined with the issue of Austrian national identity and its re-orientation away from Germany in the aftermath of World War II. The author comes to the conclusion that the minority is not usually referred to as Austrian both due to the fact that it is difficult to include them in the young (civic) Austrian nation in a logically consistent manner, and due to the German-speaking South Tyroleans' own inconsistent self-identification as Austrians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing interest in nanostructured thin films produced by glancing angle deposition (GLAD), it becomes increasingly important to understand their overall growth mechanics and nanocolumn structure. We present a new method of isolating the individual nanocolumns of GLAD films, facilitating automated measurement of their broadening profiles. Data collected for α = 81° TiO2 vertical nanocolumns deposited across a range of substrate rotation rates demonstrates that these rates influence growth scaling parameters. Further, individual posts were found in each case that violate predicted Kardar-Parisi-Zhang growth scaling limits. The technique's current iteration is comparable to existing techniques in speed: though data were studied from 10,756 individual objects, the majority could not be confidently used in subsequent analysis. Further refinement may allow high-throughput automated film characterization and permit close examination of subtle growth trends, potentially enhancing control over GLAD film broadening and morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the full potential of nanopillar electrode based devices, such as next-generation solar cells, catalyst supports, and sensors, requires axial resistivity measurements to optimize electronic performance. Here, the authors demonstrate a technique for direct measurement of the ensemble electrical properties of nanopillar thin films along the structure's longitudinal axis. A cross-bridge Kelvin resistor architecture is adapted to accommodate an indium tin oxide (ITO) nanopillar thin film fabricated by glancing angle deposition (GLAD). As-deposited GLAD ITO nanopillars were found to have a measured resistivity of (1.1 ± 0.3) × 10-2 Ω cm using our technique. Planar ITO films deposited at near normal incidence were found to have a resistivity of (4.5 ± 0.5) × 10-3 Ω cm, determined by the standard four-point-probe technique. These measurements demonstrate the viability of this modified technique for nanopillar characterization, and identify experimental limitations related to device size and edge defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare absorbable gelatin sponge (AGS) with an injectable esterified hyaluronic acid (EHA) as middle ear packing material after mucosal trauma., Study Design: Randomized, blinded, and controlled study., Setting: Tertiary university-based hospital., Subjects and Methods: Twenty-three guinea pigs underwent middle ear surgery with mucosal trauma performed on both ears and one ear packed with either EHA or AGS. Contralateral ears were used as nonpacked paired controls. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were measured preoperatively and repeated at 1, 2, and 6 weeks postoperatively. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis measured inflammatory reaction in each group., Results: ABR threshold changes from baseline in the EHA and both control groups were minor. Threshold levels were higher in the AGS group compared with the AGS control group. This trend was seen in each frequency tested at each time interval. Macroscopic analysis showed tympanic membrane perforation was rare, effusions were common in the AGS group, mucosal edema was most frequent in the AGS group, and unabsorbed packing was usually detected in the AGS group with little EHA detectable at 6 weeks. Microscopic analysis showed normal mucosal healing in all groups. Two AGS ears demonstrated excessive middle ear packing with exuberant osteoneogenesis., Conclusions: Middle ear function and mucosal healing after surgery occurred similarly between the EHA control group and the EHA group. In contrast, the AGS group demonstrated worse hearing and a greater level of osteoneogenesis compared with the AGS control group. These results support EHA as an alternative middle ear packing material in otologic surgery.