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The study of active fault zones is fundamental to understanding both long‐term tectonics and short‐term earthquake behavior. Here, we integrate lidar‐enabled geomorphic‐geologic mapping and petrochronological analysis to reveal the slip‐history, tectonic evolution, and structure of the southern Alpine Fault in New Zealand. New petrographic, zircon U‐Pb and zircon trace‐element data from fault‐displaced basement units provides constraint on ∼70–90 km of right‐lateral displacement on the presently active strand of the southern Alpine Fault, which we infer is of Plio‐Quaternary age. This incremental displacement has accumulated while the offshore part of the fault has evolved within a distributed zone of plate boundary deformation. We hypothesize that pre‐existing faults in the continental crust of the Pacific Plate have been exploited as components of this distributed plate boundary system. Along the onshore southern Alpine Fault, detailed mapping of active fault traces reveals complexity in geomorphic fault expression. Our analysis suggests that the major geomorphic features of the southern Alpine Fault correspond to penetrative fault zone structures. We emphasize the region immediately south of the central‐southern section boundary, where a major extensional stepover and restraining bend are located along‐strike of each other. We infer that this geometry may reflect segmentation of the Alpine Fault between two distinct fault segments. The ends of these proposed segments meet near where several Holocene earthquake ruptures have terminated. Our new constraints on the evolution and structure of the southern Alpine Fault help contribute to improved characterization of the greatest onshore source of earthquake hazard in New Zealand. Key Points: Fiordland‐derived crystalline basement units have been dissected and dextrally displaced ∼70–90 km by the Alpine Fault since the late PlioceneThe southern Alpine Fault has evolved within a distributed fault network and may be less mature than the more northern parts of the faultStructural complexity where many Holocene earthquakes have terminated appears consistent with structural segmentation of the fault [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars and advocates are at odds about how to achieve higher levels of child safety and permanency. Calls for change include the recent upEND focus on eradication of child welfare services to a radical refocusing of the present system towards prevention/early intervention. To clarify the implications of reform over abolition, we seek to portray a future in which the abolition of child welfare has occurred, in juxtaposition to maintaining four core elements of established child maltreatment programmes around the world: (1) receiving and responding to community signals about the risk to children; (2) assessment of need coupled with a proportionate response; (3) rights protections to ensure fairness when placement outside the family is required; and (4) procedures for accountability and quality improvement. For each of these functions, we outline abolitionist advocates' positions and implications for children and parents. Across these elements, we delineate how assigning these responsibilities to communities, as suggested by upEND, would likely (1) exaggerate racial and economic inequities and (2) create structural barriers that would increase harm to children. We suggest several evidence‐informed enhancements to practice, research and policy that would mitigate these inequities while also increasing safety and permanency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desmoplastic small round blue cell tumor (DSRCT) is a highly aggressive fatal sarcoma without evidence‐based therapeutic guidelines. We present here seven patients with DSRCT including immunohistochemistry combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), next generation sequencing (NGS, n = 6) as well as OncoScan array (n = 3) analyses and show consecutive therapeutic approaches. All seven DSRCT patients presented with an extended abdominal mass; median age at diagnosis was 24.8 years. NGS analyses revealed five class 4 or 5 sequence variants. Remarkably, OncoScan and targeted analyses by FISH identified genomic gains of CCND1 in two cases. Cyclin D1 expression was present in all seven tumors as shown by immunohistochemical staining. Multimodal therapeutic concepts included systemic therapies, resection, and radiation. Six patients were treated as first‐line therapy with conventional chemotherapy. All except one patient had a dismal therapy response. Subsequent therapy lines consisted of chemotherapeutic combinations followed by targeted therapies. Due to Cyclin D1 expression, the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib was applied to four patients. The median therapy duration until disease progression in these patients was 4.5 months (range, 1.5–5 months). So, CCND1 genomic gain and Cyclin D1 expression are common features pointing to cell‐cycle deregulation as a possible therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geomorphological, geochronological and paleoenvironmental data were integrated to examine how Holocene environmental changes have influenced geomorphic responses, particularly recurrent landslides and colluvial deposition on the steep slopes of the Rio de Janeiro mountains. This study focuses on a pilot hillslope (32°) with a concave‐up topographic hollow and associated shallow translational landslides, enhancing our understanding of how extreme climatic events shaped landscape evolution in the region prior to significant human impact. Recently, the hillslope was reactivated by a shallow landslide triggered by the extreme rainfall event of January 2011, which resulted in over 3600 landslides in the region. Subsequent deep gullying exposed a deposit (>3 m) containing buried, organic‐rich colluvial layers. Comprehensive analysis was conducted on sedimentological, geochronological (AMS 14C), palynological, taphonomic and carbon isotope (δ13C) data from this deposit. The geochronological results indicate that the hillslope's evolution involves recurrent shallow translational landslides throughout the Holocene, with organic colluvial layers dating from 10 148 cal years BP at the base to 663 cal years BP at the top. Charcoal fragments of various sizes suggest frequent paleofires during the Holocene. Palynological and taphonomic analyses reveal post‐fire herbaceous‐shrubby vegetation and ferns (Asteraceae, Poaceae, Alchornea, Baccharis, Celtis and Polypodium), with predominant pollen grains and spores showing mechanical damage indicative of high transport energy and physical stress conditions. The rarefied post‐fire vegetation and pioneer forest genera identified in the deposit are associated with a hydrological and mechanical dynamics that likely created less stable conditions on the slope system, promoting the occurrence of shallow landslides throughout the Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On‐surface reactions of terminal alkynes in ultrahigh vacuum have attracted widespread attention due to their high technological promise. However, employing different precursors and substrate materials often intricate reaction schemes appear far from being well‐understood. Thus, recent investigations of alkyne coupling on noble metal surfaces suggest non‐dehydrogenative scenarios, contradicting earlier reports. Herein, the study employs noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc‐AFM) with high spatial resolution to conclusively characterize exemplary alkyne coupling products. Contrary to initial interpretations proposing dehydrogenative homocoupling on Ag(111), bond‐resolved AFM imaging reveals the expression of enyne motifs. Based on complementary, extensive density functional theory calculations, the pertaining reaction mechanisms are explored. It is proposed that enyne formation initiates with a direct carbon–carbon coupling between two alkyne groups, followed by surface‐assisted dehydrogenation‐hydrogenation processes. Thereby consecutive steps of atomic hydrogen cleavage, surface migration and recombination to a different carbon atom enable bridging via carbon–carbon double bonding. The new results shed light on subtle, but crucial surface‐mediated hydrogen transfer processes involved in the chemical bond formation, which are suggested to be of general relevance in on‐surface synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zooplankton consumption of sinking aggregates affects the quality and quantity of organic carbon exported to the deep ocean. Increasing laboratory evidence shows that small particle‐associated copepods impact the flux attenuation by feeding on sinking particles, but this has not been quantified in situ. We investigated the impact of an abundant particle‐colonizing copepod, Microsetella norvegica, on the attenuation of the vertical carbon flux in a sub‐Arctic fjord. This study combines field measurements of vertical carbon flux, abundance, and size‐distribution of marine snow and degradation rates of fecal pellets and algal aggregates. Female M. norvegica altered their feeding behavior when exposed to aggregates, and ingestion rates were 0.20 μg C ind.−1 d−1 on marine snow and 0.11 μg C ind.−1 d−1 on intact krill fecal pellets, corresponding to 48% and 26% of the females' body carbon mass. Due to high sea surface abundance of up to ~ 50 ind. L−1, the population of M. norvegica had the potential to account for almost all the carbon removal in the upper 50 m of the water column, depending on the type of the aggregate. Our observations highlight the potential importance of abundant small‐sized copepods for biogeochemical cycles through their impact on export flux and its attenuation in the twilight zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: QSM provides insight into healthy brain aging and neuropathologies such as multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, and neurodegenerative diseases. Phase data for QSM are usually acquired from 3D gradient‐echo (3D GRE) scans with long acquisition times that are detrimental to patient comfort and susceptible to patient motion. This is particularly true for scans requiring whole‐brain coverage and submillimeter resolutions. In this work, we use a multishot 3D echo plannar imaging (3D EPI) sequence with shot‐selective 2D CAIPIRIHANA to acquire high‐resolution, whole‐brain data for QSM with minimal distortion and blurring. Methods: To test clinical viability, the 3D EPI sequence was used to image a cohort of MS patients at 1‐mm isotropic resolution at 3 T. Additionally, 3D EPI data of healthy subjects were acquired at 1‐mm, 0.78‐mm, and 0.65‐mm isotropic resolution with varying echo train lengths (ETLs) and compared with a reference 3D GRE acquisition. Results: The appearance of the susceptibility maps and the susceptibility values for segmented regions of interest were comparable between 3D EPI and 3D GRE acquisitions for both healthy and MS participants. Additionally, all lesions visible in the MS patients on the 3D GRE susceptibility maps were also visible on the 3D EPI susceptibility maps. The interplay among acquisition time, resolution, echo train length, and the effect of distortion on the calculated susceptibility maps was investigated. Conclusion: We demonstrate that the 3D EPI sequence is capable of rapidly acquiring submillimeter resolutions and providing high‐quality, clinically relevant susceptibility maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) remodeling is vital for cellular organization. ER-phagy, a selective autophagy targeting ER, plays an important role in maintaining ER morphology and function. The FAM134 protein family, including FAM134A, FAM134B, and FAM134C, mediates ER-phagy. While FAM134B mutations are linked to hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy in humans, the physiological role of the other FAM134 proteins remains unknown. To address this, we investigate the roles of FAM134 proteins using single and combined knockouts (KOs) in mice. Single KOs in young mice show no major phenotypes; however, combined Fam134b and Fam134c deletion (Fam134b/c dKO ), but not the combination including Fam134a deletion, leads to rapid neuromuscular and somatosensory degeneration, resulting in premature death. Fam134b/c dKO mice show rapid loss of motor and sensory axons in the peripheral nervous system. Long axons from Fam134b/c dKO mice exhibit expanded tubular ER with a transverse ladder-like appearance, whereas no obvious abnormalities are present in cortical ER. Our study unveils the critical roles of FAM134C and FAM134B in the formation of tubular ER network in axons of both motor and sensory neurons. Synopsis: Combined deletion of Fam134b and Fam134c in mice results in rapid axonal degeneration, highlighting the critical role of FAM134 proteins in preserving axonal architecture and function by controlling tubular ER organization in vivo. Combined deletion of Fam134b and Fam134c (Fam134b/c dKO ) in mice leads to growth retardation, neurological defects, and premature death. Fam134b/c dKO mice exhibit sensory and motor axonal degeneration without showing defects in the neuronal cell bodies. Fam134b and Fam134c play critical roles in shaping the tubular ER network along axons. Combined deletion of Fam134b and Fam134c in mice results in rapid axonal degeneration, highlighting the critical role of FAM134 proteins in preserving axonal architecture and function by controlling tubular ER organization in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree hollows are important structural habitat features for secondary cavity‐nesting birds, however, there has been limited research on how fire severity and frequency affect hollow abundance. Following a mega‐fire on Kangaroo Island during the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, we conducted an opportunistic post‐fire assessment of the fate of 144 monitored hollows in Eucalyptus cladocalyx and Eucalyptus leucoxylon trees used by endangered glossy black‐cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus) and yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos (Zanda funerea). We investigated the relationship between burn severity, inter‐fire interval, tree species and landscape position on the likelihood of tree hollow loss. We also compared the occupancy of nest boxes by both cockatoo species in fire‐affected catchments pre‐fire (2015–2017; 59 nest boxes) and post‐fire (2020–2022; 52 nest boxes). Surveys revealed that 64.4% of monitored tree hollows within the burnt area were destroyed, as were the trees that contained them. Most monitored tree hollows (76.9%) were in areas that had not experienced fire in >50 years prior to the 2019–2020 fires. Tree hollow loss in 2020 was 29 times greater than the mean annual loss of 1.6% recorded in the 22 years prior. Burn severity, inter‐fire interval, landscape matrix and tree species were poor predictors of hollow loss. However, increasing distance from forest edge slightly increased the probability of hollow loss. Post‐fire, the proportion of nest boxes used for nesting by glossy black‐cockatoos per annum increased to 0.70 ± 0.09, compared to 0.50 ± 0.03 pre‐fire. However, the proportion of nest boxes used for nesting by yellow‐tailed black‐cockatoos per annum remained similar (post‐fire 0.32 ± 0.12; pre‐fire 0.28 ± 0.05). The mega‐fires on Kangaroo Island in 2019–2020 resulted in tree hollow loss on a much larger scale than recorded in the 22 years prior, and subsequently, nest boxes have become an important resource for the endangered glossy black‐cockatoo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring adverse effects on honey bees and their colonies requires a suitable methodology. For example, due to the large number of bees in a hive and the foraging activity, measuring the mortality of individuals is a difficult task that has not yet been adequately addressed. Knowing the natural daily mortality rate of a bee colony would be of great benefit in assessing whether and to what extent external influences and stress factors affect mortality. More precise mortality data could in turn help refining specific protection goals for regulatory purpose. The European Food Safety Authority recently published a document that estimated such mortality rates based on a systematic literature review, but none of these rates were assessed from continuous monitoring of colonies. Currently, bee mortality is routinely evaluated with various types of dead bee traps that prevent deceased bees from being removed from the colony. Both the literature review and the dead bee traps are relevant to regulatory risk assessment, but in our opinion are not describing the total mortality. Bee counters capable of precisely determining daily loss rates meet the above points and combine them with generating automated and continuous monitoring data. Lately, the field has gained a lot of importance in research and technological advances offer new possibilities in regulatory risk assessment. We will highlight these possibilities and discuss their future application in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eighteen lightning flash rate parameterization schemes (FRPSs) were investigated in a Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry cloud‐resolved simulation of the 29–30 May 2012 supercell storm system observed during the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field campaign. Most of the observed storm's meteorological conditions were well represented when the model simulation included both convective damping and lightning data assimilation techniques. Newly‐developed FRPSs based on DC3 radar observations and Lightning Mapping Array data are implemented in the model, along with previously developed schemes from the literature. The schemes are based on relationships between lightning and various kinematic, structural, and microphysical thunderstorm characteristics (e.g., cloud top height, hydrometeors, reflectivity, and vertical velocity) available in the model. The results suggest the model‐simulated graupel and snow/ice hydrometeors require scaling factors to more closely represent proxy observations. The model‐simulated lightning flash trends and total flashes generated by each scheme over the simulation period are compared with observations from the central Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array. For this supercell system, 13 of the 18 schemes overpredicted flashes by >100% with the group of FRPSs based on storm kinematics and structure (particularly updraft volume) performing slightly better than the hydrometeor‐based schemes. During the storm's first 4 hr, the upward cloud ice flux FRPS, which is based on the combination of vertical velocity and hydrometeors, well represents the observed total flashes and flash rate trend; while, the updraft volume scheme well represents the observed flash rate peak and subsequent sharp decline in flash rate. Plain Language Summary: Accurate lightning forecasts are important for daily activities. They are also important because lightning produces nitrogen oxide, which affects the distribution of atmospheric trace gases that have significant roles in influencing our climate (e.g., ozone). Lightning is recreated in weather models using already determined relationships between observed lightning and thunderstorm characteristics (e.g., hydrometeors and vertical velocity). Lightning prediction is also highly dependent on how well the model represents current conditions, like thunderstorm location and strength. Eighteen lightning‐thunderstorm relationships, or schemes, were investigated in a cloud‐resolved Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry to simulate the 29–30 May 2012 supercell storm system observed during the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field campaign and to identify the best scheme associated with the event. Modifications to the model‐simulation were first required to better represent the observed convection before comparing the observed and model‐simulated lightning. Generally, the schemes based on storm kinematics and structure perform slightly better for this case study than the microphysical schemes. Two schemes (i.e., upward cloud ice flux and updraft volume) well represent the supercell system's lightning activity. The upward cloud ice flux scheme was used in follow‐on lightning chemistry and trace gas analyses. Key Points: Thirteen of eighteen flash rate parameterization schemes overestimated the observed number of flashes by more than 100%Upward cloud ice flux and updraft volume schemes well represent lightning activity in the early and later stages of the storm, respectivelyFlash rate prediction is highly dependent on how schemes are applied in cloud‐resolved models and on accurate simulation of storm variables [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cloud‐resolved storm and chemistry simulation of a severe convective system in Oklahoma constrained by anvil aircraft observations of NOx was used to estimate the mean production of NOx per flash in this storm. An upward ice flux scheme was used to parameterize flash rates in the model. Model lightning was also constrained by observed lightning flash types and the altitude distribution of flash channel segments. The best estimate of mean NOx production by lightning in this storm was 80–110 mol per flash, which is smaller than many other literature estimates. This result is likely due to the storm having been a high flash rate event in which flash extents were relatively small. Over the evolution of this storm a moderate negative correlation was found between the total flash rate and flash extent and energy per flash. A longer‐term simulation at 36‐km horizontal resolution with parameterized convection was used to simulate the downwind transport and chemistry of the anvil outflow from the same storm. Convective transport of low‐ozone air from the boundary layer decreased ozone in the anvil outflow by up to 20–40 ppbv compared with the initial conditions, which contained stratospheric influence. Photochemical ozone production in the lightning‐NOx enhanced convective plume proceeded at a rate of 10–11 ppbv per day in the 9–11 km outflow layer over the 24‐hr period of downwind transport to the Southern Appalachians. Photochemical production plays a large role in the restoration of upper tropospheric ozone following deep convection. Plain Language Summary: Nitrogen oxides are important precursors for tropospheric ozone, an important greenhouse gas. The global amount of nitrogen oxides produced by lightning remains highly uncertain, primarily because of uncertainty in the amount produced per flash. In this paper we use an approach that involves cloud‐resolved modeling with chemistry, constrained by observed flash rates and aircraft measurements of nitrogen oxides, to make an estimate of the mean production per flash for an observed severe storm over Oklahoma. We estimate that the mean production rate was 80–110 mol per flash for this high flash rate storm, which is at the lower end of the range reported in the literature. We use a regional model to follow the outflow of the Oklahoma storm downwind to estimate the amount of ozone produced in the upper tropospheric outflow plume by the lightning‐generated nitrogen oxides. Our estimate is in the range found in previous studies, and we note that the ozone production by photochemistry is an important process in restoring upper tropospheric ozone following storms that lofted low values of ozone from the layer of air near the surface. Key Points: Mean lightning NOx production was 80–110 mol flash−1 for a high flash rate storm, based on a model constrained by flash and NOx observationsNet O3 production in the upper outflow of a high flash rate storm was at a rate of 10–11 ppbv day−1 during 24 hr of downwind transportProduction of O3 due to lightning NOx contributed to the recovery of upper tropospheric O3 following reductions due to convective transport [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: COASY, the gene encoding the bifunctional enzyme CoA synthase, which catalyzes the last two reactions of cellular de novo coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis, has been linked to two exceedingly rare autosomal recessive disorders, such as COASY protein‐associated neurodegeneration (CoPAN), a form of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA), and pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 12 (PCH12). We aimed to expand the phenotypic spectrum and gain insights into the pathogenesis of COASY‐related disorders. Methods: Patients were identified through targeted or exome sequencing. To unravel the molecular mechanisms of disease, RNA sequencing, bioenergetic analysis, and quantification of critical proteins were performed on fibroblasts. Results: We identified five new individuals harboring novel COASY variants. While one case exhibited classical CoPAN features, the others displayed atypical symptoms such as deafness, language and autism spectrum disorders, brain atrophy, and microcephaly. All patients experienced epilepsy, highlighting its potential frequency in COASY‐related disorders. Fibroblast transcriptomic profiling unveiled dysregulated expression in genes associated with mitochondrial respiration, responses to oxidative stress, transmembrane transport, various cellular signaling pathways, and protein translation, modification, and trafficking. Bioenergetic analysis revealed impaired mitochondrial oxygen consumption in COASY fibroblasts. Despite comparable total CoA levels to control cells, the amounts of mitochondrial 4′‐phosphopantetheinylated proteins were significantly reduced in COASY patients. Interpretation: These results not only extend the clinical phenotype associated with COASY variants but also suggest a continuum between CoPAN and PCH12. The intricate interplay of altered cellular processes and signaling pathways provides valuable insights for further research into the pathogenesis of COASY‐associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuations in dissolved oxygen (DO) contents in natural waters can become intense during cyanobacteria blooms. In a reconnaissance study, we investigated DO concentrations and stable isotope dynamics during a laboratory experiment with the cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens in order to obtain insights into primary production under specific conditions. This observation was extended to sub‐daily timescales with alternating light and dark phases. Dissolved oxygen concentrations and its isotopes (δ18ODO) ranged from 0.02 to 0.06 mmol · L−1 and from +9.6‰ to +23.4‰. The δ18ODO proved to be more sensitive than concentration measurements in response to metabolic variation and registered earlier shifts to dominance by respiration. Oxygen (O2) contents in the headspace and its isotopes (δ18OO2) ranged from 2.62 to 3.20 mmol · L−1 and from +9.8‰ to +21.9‰. Headspace samples showed less fluctuations in concentration and isotope trends because aquatic processes were hardly able to alter signals once the gas had reached the headspace. Headspace δ18OO2 values were corrected for gas–water equilibration and were determined to be higher than the mean δ18OH2O of −8.7‰. This finding suggests that counteracting respiration was important even during the highest photosynthetic activity. Additionally, headspace analyses led to the definition of a fractionation factor for respiration (αR) of this cyanobacterium with a value of 0.980. This value confirms the one commonly used for cyanobacteria. Our findings may become important for the management of water bodies where decreases in DO are caused by cyanobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to improve the image quality of diffusion-weighted images obtained with a single RF transmit channel 7 T MRI setup using time-resampled frequency-offset corrected inversion (TR-FOCI) pulses to refocus the spins in a twice-refocused spin-echo readout scheme. Methods: We replaced the conventional Shinnar-Le Roux-pulses in the twice refocused diffusion sequence with TR-FOCI pulses. The slice profiles were evaluated in simulation and experimentally in phantoms. The image quality was evaluated in vivo comparing the Shinnar-LeRoux and TR-FOCI implementation using a b value of 0 and of 1000 s/mm². Results: The b0 and diffusion-weighted images acquired using the modified sequence improved the image quality across the whole brain. A region of interest-based analysis showed an SNR increase of 113% and 66% for the nondiffusion-weighted (b0) and the diffusion-weighted (b=1000 s/mm²) images in the temporal lobes, respectively. Investigation of all slices showed that the adiabatic pulses mitigated B+1 inhomogeneity globally using a conventional single-channel transmission setup. Conclusion: The TR-FOCI pulse can be used in a twice-refocused spin-echo diffusion pulse sequence to mitigate the impact of B+1 inhomogeneity on the signal intensity across the brain at 7 T. However, further work is needed to address SAR limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial models enable understanding potential redistribution of marine resources associated with ecosystem drivers and climate change. Stock assessment platforms can incorporate spatial processes, but have not been widely implemented or simulation tested. To address this research gap, an international simulation experiment was organized. The study design was blinded to replicate uncertainty similar to a real‐world stock assessment process, and a data‐conditioned, high‐resolution operating model (OM) was used to emulate the spatial dynamics and data for Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). Six analyst groups developed both single‐region and spatial stock assessment models using an assessment platform of their choice, and then applied each model to the simulated data. Results indicated that across all spatial structures and platforms, assessments were able to adequately recreate the population trends from the OM. Additionally, spatial models were able to estimate regional population trends that generally reflected the true dynamics from the OM, particularly for the regions with higher biomass and fishing pressure. However, a consistent population biomass scaling pattern emerged, where spatial models estimated higher population scale than single‐region models within a given assessment platform. Balancing parsimony and complexity trade‐offs were difficult, but adequate complexity in spatial parametrizations (e.g., allowing time‐ and age‐variation in movement and appropriate tag mixing periods) was critical to model performance. We recommend expanded use of high‐resolution OMs and blinded studies, given their ability to portray realistic performance of assessment models. Moreover, increased support for international simulation experiments is warranted to facilitate dissemination of methodology across organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The German Retina.net ROP registry and its Europe‐wide successor, the EU‐ROP registry, collect data from patients treated for ROP. This analysis compares input parameters of these two registries to establish a procedure for joint analyses of different registry data using exemplary datasets from the two registries. Methods: Exemplary datasets from the two databases over a 1‐year period each (German Retina.net ROP Registry, 2011, 22 infants; EU‐ROP Registry, 2021, 44 infants) were compared. The parameters documented in the two databases were aligned and analysed regarding demographic parameters, treatment modalities, complications within first 24 h and retreatments. Results: The current analysis showed that data can be aligned for joint analyses with some adjustments within the data structure. The registry with more detailed data collection (EU‐ROP) needs to be reduced regarding granularity in order to align the different registries, as the registry with lower granularity determines the level of analyses that can be performed in a comparative approach. In the exemplary datasets, we observed that the overall most common ROP severity in both registries was zone II, 3+ (2011: 70.5%; 2021: 65%), with decreasing numbers of clock hours showing preretinal neovascularisations (2011: 10–12 clock hours in 29% of cases, 2021: 4–6 clock hours in 38%). The most prevalent treatment method was laser coagulation in 2011 (75%) and anti‐VEGF therapy in 2021 (86.1%). Within the anti‐VEGF group, all patients were treated with bevacizumab in 2011 and with ranibizumab in 2021. Retreatment rates were comparable in 2011 and 2021. Conclusion: Data from two different ROP registries can be aligned and jointly analysed. The analysis reveals a paradigm shift in treatment modalities, from predominantly laser to anti‐VEGF, and within the anti‐VEGF group from bevacizumab to ranibizumab in Germany. In addition, there was a trend towards earlier treatment in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface acoustic wave spectroscopy has been established as non‐destructive and fast method for characterization of mechanical properties of surfaces and bulk materials in both research and industry. The present work shows that by application of a novel and robust aluminum nitride (AlN) coated piezoelectric contact sensor the advantages of the method can be extended from room temperature to at least 600°C. An overview of sensor concepts and applications of the method is discussed first, followed by theoretical and practical considerations for design and coating of a novel temperature stable contact sensor. After fabrication of such a sensor using magnetron sputtering, it was tested in a modified surface acoustic wave spectroscopy setup with an incorporated heating table concerning signal amplitude and frequency range. The AlN coated sensor was found to perform well up to 600°C, with temperature limited by the specification of the heating table. At room temperature, performance was acceptable when compared with a conventional contact sensor using a PVDF piezoelectric foil. Application of the high temperature capabilities of the setup was demonstrated by measuring temperature stability of hydrogen‐free amorphous carbon coatings (a‐C and ta‐C) depending on their sp3 carbon ratio. In another example, high precision temperature dependent measurement of Young's modulus for ultrasonic fatigue test specimen was taken, achieving an accuracy better than 1%. Use of the developed sensor opens up new possibilities in material science for in situ study of temperature depending mechanical properties for coatings and surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products are attractive components to tailor environmentally friendly advanced new materials. We present surface‐confined metallosupramolecular engineering of coordination polymers using natural dyes as molecular building blocks: indigo and the related Tyrian purple. Both building blocks yield identical, well‐defined coordination polymers composed of (1 dehydroindigo : 1 Fe) repeat units on two different silver single crystal surfaces. These polymers are characterized atomically by submolecular resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy, bond‐resolving atomic force microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. On Ag(100) and on Ag(111), the trans configuration of dehydroindigo results in N,O‐chelation in the polymer chains. On the more inert Ag(111) surface, the molecules additionally undergo thermally induced isomerization from the trans to the cis configuration and afford N,N‐ plus O,O‐chelation. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the coordination polymers of the cis‐isomers on Ag(111) and of the trans‐isomers on Ag(100) are energetically favoured. Our results demonstrate post‐synthetic linker isomerization in interfacial metal‐organic nanosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spasticity attributable to exaggerated stretch reflex pathways, particularly affecting the ankle plantar flexors, often impairs overground walking in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury. Compelling evidence from rodent models underscores how exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) can provide a unique medium to induce spinal plasticity in key inhibitory pathways mediating stretch reflex excitability and potentially affect spasticity. In this study, we quantify the effects of a single exposure to AIH on the stretch reflex in able‐bodied individuals. We hypothesized that a single sequence of AIH will increase the stretch reflex excitability of the soleus muscle during ramp‐and‐hold angular perturbations applied to the ankle joint while participants perform passive and volitionally matched contractions. Our results revealed that a single AIH exposure did not significantly change the stretch reflex excitability during both passive and active matching conditions. Furthermore, we found that able‐bodied individuals increased their stretch reflex response from passive to active matching conditions after both sham and AIH exposures. Together, these findings suggest that a single AIH exposure might not engage inhibitory pathways sufficiently to alter stretch reflex responses in able‐bodied persons. However, the generalizability of our present findings requires further examination during repetitive exposures to AIH along with potential reflex modulation during functional movements, such as overground walking. What is the central question of this study?Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) has been shown to enhance walking performance in persons with spinal cord injury but might also trigger changes affecting dysregulated stretch reflex pathways, leading to spasticity. We examined the effect of AIH on stretch reflex excitability in able‐bodied individuals.What is the main finding and its importance?We did not find significant changes in reflex responses after AIH nor changes in reflex scaling from passive to active conditions. This study provides a crucial insight that enhances our understanding of AIH engagement of key inhibitory pathways that affect reflex excitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological intensification (EI) of agriculture aims to optimize soil conservation, crop diversity and nutrient management. Despite growing interest in EI, its impact on soil properties, compared with conventional farming practice (FP), remains poorly understood as a result of limited field evidence. This study, conducted over eight seasons in southern Brazil as part of the 'Global Maize Project' of the International Plant Nutrition Institute, evaluated EI compared with FP, and FP with silage (FPS) using a split‐plot design. Four nitrogen application rates (0, 70, 140 and 210 kg ha−1) were applied to subplots with four replicates. Soil properties were measured to a depth of 1 m. The trial systems consisted of a maize–soybean rotation under no‐till during summer and cover crops and fertilizer application during winter. In the FP system, black oats and wheat were cultivated, while FPS utilized white oats and ryegrass. In the EI system, peas (without N application) and wheat were cultivated. In the 4‐years preceding the trial, the area was cultivated in a no‐till system with maize–soybean during summer and black oat–wheat in winter. Our results reveal distinct differences in soil properties among the systems, with FPS demonstrating greater soil acidity (pH of 4.4 at 0–5 cm) caused by higher N application than FP and EI systems. The lower soil pH altered soil nutrient dynamics, with decreased available Ca, Mg and K and increased Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. Furthermore, nutrient availability varied, with EI having more inorganic N and DON at 0–40 cm compared with FP, but less in deeper soil (40–100 cm). Notably, EI system had more soil carbon (175 Mg ha−1) compared with FP (161 Mg ha−1), a relative annual increase of 1.8 Mg ha−1 year−1 over 8 years. These findings underscore the potential of EI to promote soil carbon, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and soil health improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the use of intrinsic and highly insulating ZnO buffer layers to achieve high conversion efficiencies in CdSeTe/CdTe solar cells is reported. The buffer layers are deposited on commercial SnO2:F coated soda‐lime glass substrates and then fabricated into arsenic‐doped CdSeTe/CdTe devices using an absorber and back contact deposited by First Solar. The ZnO thickness is varied from 30 to 200 nm. The devices incorporating a 50 nm ZnO buffer layer achieved an efficiency of 21.23% without an anti‐reflection coating. An improved efficiency of 21.44% is obtained on a substrate with a multilayer anti‐reflection coating deposited prior to device fabrication. The highly efficient ZnO based devices are stable and do not develop anomalous J‐V behavior following environmental tests. High resolution microstructural analysis reveals the formation of a high‐quality ZnO/CdSeTe interface. Unusually, chlorine is not detected as a discrete layer at the interface, these observations point to a high‐quality interface. The extrapolation of Voc to 0 K indicates that interface recombination dominates, suggesting that further improvement is possible. Using device modeling, an attempt is made to understand how this type of device performs so well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ultra‐high field (UHF) provides improved SNR which greatly benefits SNR starved imaging techniques such as perfusion imaging. However, transmit field (B1+) inhomogeneities commonly observed at UHF hinders the excitation uniformity. Here we show how replacing standard excitation pulses with parallel transmit pulses can improve efficiency of velocity selective labeling. Methods: The standard tip‐down and tip‐up excitation pulses found in a velocity selective preparation module were replaced with tailored non‐selective kT‐points pulse solutions. Bloch simulations and experimental validation on a custom‐built flow phantom and in vivo was performed to evaluate different pulse configurations in circularly polarized mode (CP‐mode) and parallel transmit (pTx) mode. Results: Tailored pTx pulses significantly improved velocity selective labeling fidelity and signal uniformity. The transverse magnetization normalized RMS error was reduced from 0.489 to 0.047 when compared to standard rectangular pulses played in CP‐mode. Simulations showed that manipulation of time symmetry in the tailored pTx pulses is vital in minimizing residual magnetization. In addition, in vivo experiments achieved a 44% lower RF power output and a shorter pulse duration when compared to using adiabatic pulses in CP‐mode. Conclusion: Using tailored pTx pulses for excitation within a velocity selective labeling preparation mitigated transmit field artifacts and improved SNR and contrast fidelity. The improvement in labeling efficiency highlights the potential of using pTx to improve robustness and accessibility of flow‐based sequences such as velocity selective spin labeling at ultra‐high field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical pharmacology and drug development is akin to the dawning of a new era. Previously dismissed as merely technological hype, these approaches have emerged as promising tools in different domains, including health care, demonstrating their potential to empower clinical pharmacology decision making, revolutionize the drug development landscape, and advance patient care. Although challenges remain, the remarkable progress already made signals that the leap from hype to reality is well underway, and AI promises to offer clinical pharmacology new tools and possibilities for optimizing patient care is gradually coming to fruition. This review dives into the burgeoning world of AI and machine learning (ML), showcasing different applications of AI in clinical pharmacology and the impact of successful AI/ML implementation on drug development and/or regulatory decisions. This review also highlights recommendations for areas of opportunity in clinical pharmacology, including data analysis (e.g., handling large data sets, screening to identify important covariates, and optimizing patient population) and efficiencies (e.g., automation, translation, literature curation, and training). Realizing the benefits of AI in drug development and understanding its value will lead to the successful integration of AI tools in our clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics armamentarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rather than confining the categories health and sickness to a biomedical conception of the biological organism, there is growing recognition of epistemological and ontological multiplicity in the realm of diagnosis and, indeed, in the very realm of disease itself. In short, the empirical manifestations of health and illness as well as the processes thought to cause them are now understood to assume a much wider variety of both biological and other forms. This essay considers the underlying epistemological and ontological opportunities and challenges of taking what we are calling this diffusion of diagnosis seriously. By diffusion we mean the movement from a concentrated understanding of diagnostic authority as confined to scientific biomedicine to a less concentrated appreciation of the diverse approaches to diagnosis throughout the world. We consider the extent to which, and the manner in which, we as sociologists of diagnosis might not only critique these various processes but perhaps also take them seriously in an ethnographic sense as locally produced, evaluated and legitimated forms of health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printable inks for the preparation of magnetic hydrogel actuators are difficult to formulate because magnetic nanoparticles tend to aggregate without stabilization through other ink components. At the same time, such inks need to be shear‐thinning and recover their high viscosity state sufficiently fast to be suitable for the printing process. Here, the use of chitosan as dispersing agent for Fe2O3 nanoparticles is reported. Combined with Pluronic F127 as a rheology modifier and acrylamide as the base monomer, thermoresponsive and shear‐thinning magnetic inks containing well‐dispersed particles are obtained. The ink viscosity is tuned over two orders of magnitude by varying the chitosan and Pluronics F127 content. 3D‐printed shapes with good shape fidelity are obtained at a print bed temperature of 50 °C, where aggregation of the Pluoronics F127 micelles occurs. This leads to a fast recovery of the high viscosity state of the material, so that the printed shape can then be locked in by UV cross‐linking. This treatment yielded magneto‐responsive prototypes which are promising for soft robotics applications. Thanks to the simplicity of the ink formulation, it is easily transferable also to nonspecialist laboratories, and the concept is potentially applicable also to other types of nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of polymeric membranes are critical factors for a successful and durable application in water treatment technologies. Fabricating membranes with optimal mechanical properties require delicate balancing between material, additives, processing conditions, porosity, and many other variables. Several variables to be optimized demands detailed experimental and computational investigations. The design of experiments (DOEs) technique using a validated framework with a computational model for the prediction of the elastic behavior can lower the number of conducted experiments for optimal membrane fabrication conditions. In this study, optimization of the elastic modulus of polymeric membranes is performed using DOE with computational modeling and validated with experiments. The optimum storage modulus of polymeric nano‐filled membranes is determined at an operating temperature of 35°C. DOE is employed with a three‐factor–three‐level problem. The Taguchi DOE is utilized to obtain the experiments scheme, followed by the prediction of the storage modulus and fabrication of the polymeric nano‐filled membrane with the optimum modulus. Predicted results demonstrate that the modulus of polyether sulfone (PES) reinforced with 0.3 wt.% halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) is the optimum combination. The fabricated PES/0.3 wt.% HNT membrane is in good agreement with the predicted modulus with a percentage error of 3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the COVID‐19 pandemic, we study how a public health authority may allocate vaccines from a limited stockpile to different jurisdictions over time. We propose an epidemiological model with time‐varying contact rates determined by a stylized behavioral feedback mechanism to reflect multi‐wave transmission dynamics. We evaluate the performance of various information‐sensitive allocation policies (e.g., allocation proportional to local incidence) as alternatives to the widely used pro‐rata policy. We also obtain optimized allocation strategies under the proposed epidemiological model with fairness and implementable freeze‐period constraints. For the case of a multi‐wave epidemic as represented by our compartmental model with behavioral feedback, we find that none of the alternative policies offers consistently more efficient allocations than a simple pro‐rata policy across a broad range of behavioral parameter settings. In fact, in some cases the alternative policies may actually result in less efficient allocations than the pro‐rata policy. Thus our results support the conclusion that the widely used pro‐rata policy can be well justified because it is simple to explain/implement and does not cause unexpected adverse effects. However, if policy makers are willing to invest in more tailored strategies based on numerical optimization, then the identified optimized strategies are a more favorable option as they allow for a more efficient allocation of vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some bacteria can degrade organic micropollutants (OMPs) as primary carbon sources. Due to typically low OMP concentrations, these bacteria may benefit from supplemental assimilation of natural substrates present in the pool of dissolved organic matter (DOM). The biodegradability of such auxiliary substrates and the impacts on OMP removal are tightly linked to biotransformation pathways. Here, we aimed to elucidate the biodegradability and effect of different DOM constituents for the carbofuran degrader Novosphingobium sp. KN65.2, using a novel approach that combines pathway prediction, laboratory experiments, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Pathway prediction suggested that ring hydroxylation reactions catalysed by Rieske‐type dioxygenases and flavin‐dependent monooxygenases determine the transformability of the 11 aromatic compounds used as model DOM constituents. Our approach further identified two groups with distinct transformation mechanisms amongst the four growth‐supporting compounds selected for mixed substrate biodegradation experiments with the pesticide carbofuran (Group 1: 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde; Group 2: p‐coumaric acid, ferulic acid). Carbofuran biodegradation kinetics were stable in the presence of both Group 1 and Group 2 auxiliary substrates. However, Group 2 substrates would be preferable for bioremediation processes, as they showed constant biodegradation kinetics under different experimental conditions (pre‐growing KN65.2 on carbofuran vs. DOM constituent). Furthermore, Group 2 substrates were utilisable by KN65.2 in the presence of a competitor (Pseudomonas fluorescens sp. P17). Our study thus presents a simple and cost‐efficient approach that reveals mechanistic insights into OMP‐DOM biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading comprehension is contingent upon the integration of various reading skills, including word reading, reading fluency, and comprehension strategies. Students who encounter challenges in both word reading and reading comprehension present an opportunity for growth across multiple reading‐related domains. Recent intervention data, as demonstrated by Vaughn et al. (2022), underscores the effectiveness of employing multicomponent reading interventions that target diverse reading skills, yielding positive outcomes for elementary students. This article aims to furnish educators with essential insights and resources to design and implement tailored multicomponent interventions for students with reading difficulties or learning disabilities. By incorporating these targeted interventions, teachers can provide personalized support, thus facilitating growth in the students' reading‐related skills. Moreover, the article offers practical methodologies for progress monitoring, allowing teachers to accurately track students' reading‐related growth and make data‐driven adjustments to optimize their learning experiences. Empowering teachers with such evidence‐based approaches can have a profound impact on students' reading comprehension and overall academic success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our society has the habit of writing about exemplars after they are no longer with us; this is certainly important and beneficial but misses the opportunity to engage them in a personal reflection on their lives and the contributions/lessons they most want to share. This essay is intended to address this common oversight by sharing the marvelous 61‐year career of Charles Goodsell, by first recounting his still active professional journey and closing with his own personal advice to academics, practitioners, and students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The neural control of gastrointestinal muscle relies on circuit activity whose underlying motifs remain limited by small‐sample calcium imaging recordings confounded by motion artifact, paralytics, and muscle dissections. We present a sequence of resources to register images from moving preparations and identify out‐of‐focus events in widefield fluorescent microscopy. Methods: Our algorithm uses piecewise rigid registration with pathfinding to correct movements associated with smooth muscle contractions. We developed methods to identify loss‐of‐focus events and to simulate calcium activity to evaluate registration. Key Results: By combining our methods with principal component analysis, we found populations of neurons exhibit distinct activity patterns in response to distinct stimuli consistent with hypothesized roles. The image analysis pipeline makes deeper insights possible by capturing concurrently calcium dynamics from more neurons in larger fields of view. We provide access to the source code for our algorithms and make experimental and technical recommendations to increase data quality in calcium imaging experiments. Conclusions: These methods make feasible large population, robust calcium imaging recordings and permit more sophisticated network analyses and insights into neural activity patterns in the gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diel vertical migration (DVM) is a widespread phenomenon in aquatic environments. The primary hypothesis explaining DVM is the predation‐avoidance hypothesis, which suggests that zooplankton migrate to deeper waters to avoid detection during daylight. Copepods are the predominant mesozooplankton undergoing these migrations; however, they display massive morphological variation. Visual risk also depends on a copepod's morphology. In this study, we investigate hypotheses related to morphology and DVM: (H1) as size increases visual risk, increases in body size will increase DVM magnitude and (H2) if copepod transparency can reduce visual risk, increases in transparency will reduce DVM magnitude. In situ copepod images were collected across several cruises in the Sargasso Sea using an Underwater Vision Profiler 5. Copepod morphology was characterized from these images and a dimension reduction approach. Although in situ imaging offers challenges for quantifying mesozooplankton behavior, we introduce a robust method for quantifying DVM. The results show a clear relationship in which larger copepods have a larger DVM signal. Darker copepods also have a larger DVM signal, however, only among the largest group of copepods and not smaller ones. These findings highlight the complexity of copepod morphology and DVM behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) can be classified into transcription factor‐based subtypes (ASCL1, NeuroD1, POU2F3). While in‐vitro studies suggest intratumoral heterogeneity in the expression of these markers, how SCLC subtypes vary over time and among locations in patients remains unclear. Methods and results: We searched a consecutive series of patients at our institution in 2006–22 for those with greater than one available formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded SCLC sample in multiple sites and/or time‐points. Immunohistochemistry for ASCL1, NeuroD1 and POU2F3 was performed and evaluated using H‐scores, with subtype assigned based on the positive marker (H‐score threshold >10) with the highest H‐score. The 179 samples (75, lung; 51, lymph nodes; 53, non‐nodal metastases) from 84 patients (74 with two, 10 with more than two samples) included 98 (54.7%) ASCL1‐dominant, 47 (26.3%) NeuroD1‐dominant, 15 (8.4%) POU2F3‐dominant, 17 (9.5%) triple‐negative and two (1.1%) ASCL1/NeuroD1 co‐dominant samples. NeuroD1‐dominant subtype was enriched in non‐lung locations. Subtype concordance from pairwise comparison was 71.4% overall and 89.7% after accounting for ASCL1/NeuroD1‐dual expressors and technical factors including <500 cells/slide, H‐score thresholds and sample decalcification. No significant difference in subtype concordance was noted with a longer time lapse or with extrathoracic versus intrathoracic samples in this cohort. Conclusions: After accounting for technical factors, transcription factor‐based subtyping was discordant among multiple SCLC samples in ~10% of patients, regardless of sample locations and time lapse. Our findings highlighted the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of SCLC in clinical samples and potential challenges, including technical and biological factors, that might limit concordance in SCLC transcription factor‐based subtyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU crystalline silicon (c‐Si) PV manufacturing industry has faced strong foreign competition in the last decade. To strive in this competitive environment and differentiate itself from the competition, the EU c‐Si PV manufacturing industry needs to (1) focus on highly performing c‐Si PV technologies, (2) include sustainability by design, and (3) develop differentiated PV module designs for a broad range of PV applications to tap into rapidly growing existing and new markets. This is precisely the aim of the 3.5 years long H2020 funded HighLite project, which started in October 2019 under the work program LC‐SC3‐RES‐15‐2019: Increase the competitiveness of the EU PV manufacturing industry. To achieve this goal, the HighLite project focuses on bringing two advanced PV module designs and the related manufacturing solutions to higher technology readiness levels (TRL). The first module design aims to combine the benefits of n‐type silicon heterojunction (SHJ) cells (high efficiency and bifaciality potential, improved sustainability, rapidly growing supply chain in the EU) with the ones of shingle assembly (higher packing density, improved modularity, and excellent aesthetics). The second module design is based on the assembly of low‐cost industrial interdigitated back‐contact (IBC) cells cut in half or smaller, which is interesting to improve module efficiencies and increase modularity (key for application in buildings, vehicles, etc.). This contribution provides an overview of the key results achieved so far by the HighLite project partners and discusses their relevance to help raise the EU PV industries' competitiveness. We report on promising high‐efficiency industrial cell results (24.1% SHJ cell with a shingle layout and 23.9% IBC cell with passivated contacts), novel approaches for high‐throughput laser cutting and edge re‐passivation, module designs for BAPV, BIPV, and VIPV applications passing extended testing, and first 1‐year outdoor monitoring results compared with benchmark products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender‐based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental‐leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental‐leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental‐leave policies and women's political representation partially explained cross‐national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender‐egalitarian parental‐leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross‐national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross‐national variations in women's (rather than men's) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender‐egalitarian policies (linked to men's higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men's leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature anomalies and mortality events in marine communities: Insights on factors behind differential mortality impacts in the NW Mediterranean. Population collapse of habitat-forming species in the Mediterranean: A long-term study of gorgonian populations affected by recurrent marine heatwaves. [Extracted from the article]

The boundaries between tissues with different magnetic susceptibilities generate inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field which change over time due to motion, respiration and system instabilities. The dynamically changing field can be measured from the phase of the fMRI data and corrected. However, methods for doing so need multi‐echo data, time‐consuming reference scans and/or involve error‐prone processing steps, such as phase unwrapping, which are difficult to implement robustly on the MRI host. The improved dynamic distortion correction method we propose is based on the phase of the single‐echo EPI data acquired for fMRI, phase offsets calculated from a triple‐echo, bipolar reference scan of circa 3–10 s duration using a method which avoids the need for phase unwrapping and an additional correction derived from one EPI volume in which the readout direction is reversed. This Reverse‐Encoded First Image and Low resoLution reference scan (REFILL) approach is shown to accurately measure B0 as it changes due to shim, motion and respiration, even with large dynamic changes to the field at 7 T, where it led to a > 20% increase in time‐series signal to noise ratio compared to data corrected with the classic static approach. fMRI results from REFILL‐corrected data were free of stimulus‐correlated distortion artefacts seen when data were corrected with static field mapping. The method is insensitive to shim changes and eddy current differences between the reference scan and the fMRI time series, and employs calculation steps that are simple and robust, allowing most data processing to be performed in real time on the scanner image reconstruction computer. These improvements make it feasible to routinely perform dynamic distortion correction in fMRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) survivors deal with long‐term health problems, which negatively affect their quality of life (QoL). Nutritional and exercise intervention could prevent the decline of muscle mass and physical functioning which occurs during critical illness. Despite the growing amount of research, robust evidence is lacking. Methods: For this systematic review, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched. The effect of protein provision (PP) or combined protein and exercise therapy (CPE) during or after ICU admission on QoL, physical functioning, muscle health, protein/energy intake and mortality was assessed compared to standard care. Results: Four thousand nine hundred and fifty‐seven records were identified. After screening, data were extracted for 15 articles (9 randomised controlled trials and 6 non‐randomised studies). Two studies reported improvements in muscle mass, of which one found higher independency in activities of daily living. No significant effect was found on QoL. Overall, protein targets were seldom met and often below recommendations. Conclusion: Evidence for the effect of PP or CPE on patient‐reported outcomes in ICU survivors is limited due to study heterogeneity and lack of high‐quality studies. Future research and clinical practice should focus on adequate protein delivery with exercise interventions to improve long‐term outcomes. Highlights: Combining protein provision (PP) with exercise therapy may attenuate loss of muscle loss and functioning in critical illness survivors.Due to study heterogeneity and a lack of high‐quality studies, sound evidence for the effect of PP or combined protein and exercise therapy is lacking.Interdisciplinary collaboration of intensive care unit professionals, dietitians and physical therapists is essential to improve nutritional status and patient‐reported outcomes after critical illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]