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At a time of uncertainty Arts Education continues to offer powerful learning possibilities for being in, and with, the world. While it is crucial to research these possibilities in our own communities, clearly, engaging and collaborating with colleagues from various global contexts and cultures offers great potential. These interactions can develop our understandings of common and disparate issues related to arts education from a range of perspectives and allow us greater impact in the work we do. The Arts Education Research for Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development network is an international think tank and part of the UNESCO UNITWIN program supporting arts education academics to collaborate and engage in interdisciplinary discussions and research initiatives. In this article we outline the distillation of previous and current research from this group and affiliates to identify four key areas of arts education research that have global relevance and significance. We argue that these four "imperatives"--decolonisation; cultural resilience; inclusion, agency, and wellbeing; and the post-digital age--not only represent a snapshot of current research in arts education but provide a focus for future research and collaborations critical in a pandemic and post-pandemic world. We invite arts education scholars to join us in the discussion.

At the 2016 Commission in Birmingham, I reported on a Quality Music Education Framework that Dr Emily Wilson and I had developed for the Victorian Department of Education, which was to become a framework for the delivery of "quality" music education across the State of Victoria for the school years, Foundation to Year 10. In this address I review the outcomes of this framework, which was launched in 2018, against a more recent music policy development -- a curriculum for the senior years of high school for implementation in 2023 that is assessed by a high stakes external examination. These developments highlight for me enduring questions about how and why archaic teaching practices continue to flourish, and who holds the real power for positive change?

The paper explores the relationship between the regulatory requirements to be registered to teach and the provisions to meet these requirements in the initial teacher education programs in Australia. This is part of a broader study of the regulatory requirements for music and art teachers in primary and secondary schools in Australia, and only the music component will be reported in the paper. The statutory regulatory authorities (often referred to as teaching institutes) in each educational jurisdiction mandate the professional and academic requirements for registration to teach. These authorities outline the amount of study required to be registered to teach in primary and secondary schools across Australia. The actual requirements differ between the various States and Territories. To teach in primary schools a graduate is required to demonstrate an ability to cover the eight key learning areas (including the Arts) and specifically in literacy and numeracy. For teaching in secondary schools a graduate must evidence of successful study in two designated teaching areas (often across two learning areas). Across Australia, over the last decade there have been moves from undergraduate degrees in Education (with specialist/major studies) to undergraduate degrees followed by two-year Master of Teaching degrees. The registration authorities recognise both initial teacher education pathways into the profession. The universities have been regularly criticised for their reduced provision (and delivery) of specific discipline content in the initial teacher education programs, and continue to respond that they are delivering what is required by the registration requirements of the regulators. This ongoing response has resulted in significantly reduced time for areas such as Music, which is included in the broader Arts key learning area, with an expectation that a student will be exposed to a range of the disciplines in the Arts and not focus on one discipline. This continues to have a significant impact on teaching and learning in Music as well as the ability, confidence and preparation of future music educators.

Abstract Background The intensification of the agricultural practices in Europe over the last decades has drastically transformed the agroecosystems. The simplification of the landscape, the loss of semi-natural habitats and the application of chemicals on crops led to biodiversity decline in agricultural landscapes, raising substantial concerns about the loss of essential ecosystem services, such as pollination or pest control. Depending on the location, the scale and the regional context, different indicator species groups (ISGs) are regularly surveyed to assess the state and trend of biodiversity changes in agroecosystems. Although the high diversity of these ISGs allows assessing different biodiversity aspects (e.g., trophic levels, bio-physical compartments, scale of indication), it complicates the interpretation of the results and thus their practical application. In addition, species diversity metrics are various, from simple species counts to more complex measurements of diversity indices, sometimes with antagonistic responses. Here, to meet the pressing need for synthesis in this complex topic, we follow a standardized systematic map protocol to collect and summarize the literature reporting field evidence of the effects of the main agricultural management practices (AMPs) in arable crops, grasslands and ecological infrastructures on a set of ISGs in European lowland farming areas. Methods Searches of literature were made using online publication databases, search engine and specialist websites in English. Gathered publications were screened for relevance following inclusion/exclusion criteria published in a prior protocol. We extracted and mapped information about experimental design, monitoring methods, ISGs and AMPs studied and the diversity measures presented in each included publication. These parameters are structured in available data coding sheets. Results The search gathered 20,162 references from which 1208 remained after full text eligibility screening. Main areas studied are in Western Europe, and the number of studies increased exponentially from 1984 to 2022. Most publications are experimental and on-farm studies which assess AMPs effects at the field scale. Main studied AMPs are fertilization, grazing, organic farming, tillage, mowing and herbicide application. Most ISGs used to study their impacts are flora, carabids, spiders, birds, bees and annelids, often combined with other ISGs. The combinations between AMPs and ISGs studied are detailed as well as monitoring methods. The most used diversity measures are abundance, species richness, Shannon index, evenness, and community composition. Conclusions We identified several knowledge clusters: (1) organic farming, fertilization, tillage, grazing and mowing impact on a wide range of ISGs, (2) flora response to agricultural practices, (3) annelids response to agronomic interventions that impact soil structure (e.g., tillage, fertilization, crop rotation, crop residue management), (4) butterflies and orthopterans response to mowing and grazing effects in grasslands, (5) the use of bird monitoring for the impact for assessing the efficiency of AES implementation at the landscape scale. We highlight that further research should be conducted on ISGs that are until now poorly studied regarding agricultural practices, such as amphibians, reptiles, gastropods, millipedes and centipedes. More field evidence of the effects of diversification practices such as intercropping, undersowing, intermediate cropping, and agroforestry are needed to draw conclusions on their benefits on biodiversity.

Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is being rapidly adopted into many different branches of medicine. Although research has started to highlight the impact of AI on health care, the focus on patient perspectives of AI is scarce. This scoping review aimed to explore the literature on adult patients’ perspectives on the use of an array of AI technologies in the health care setting for design and deployment. Methods: This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley’s framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). To evaluate patient perspectives, we conducted a comprehensive literature search using eight interdisciplinary electronic databases, including grey literature. Articles published from 2015 to 2022 that focused on patient views regarding AI technology in health care were included. Thematic analysis was performed on the extracted articles. Results: Of the 10,571 imported studies, 37 articles were included and extracted. From the 33 peer-reviewed and 4 grey literature articles, the following themes on AI emerged: (i) Patient attitudes, (ii) Influences on patient attitudes, (iii) Considerations for design, and (iv) Considerations for use. Conclusions: Patients are key stakeholders essential to the uptake of AI in health care. The findings indicate that patients’ needs and expectations are not fully considered in the application of AI in health care. Therefore, there is a need for patient voices in the development of AI in health care. (J Patient Cent Res Rev. 2024;11:51-62.)

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are commonly not prepared to properly communicate with D/deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) patients. The resulting communication challenges reinforce the existing barriers to accessing and benefiting from quality of care in these populations. In response, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a capacity-building intervention for HCWs to raise their awareness of D/deaf and HoH individuals’ experiences in healthcare and improve their capacity to communicate with these populations. Methods This study featured a participatory action research design using qualitative and quantitative methods. The intervention was developed and tested through 4 iterative phases. Reactions (i.e., satisfaction and perception of the intervention content, quality, appropriateness and usefulness) were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively after the intervention, whereas perceived knowledge and self-efficacy in communicating with D/deaf and HoH patients and organizational payoffs (use frequency of basic rules and tools improving communication) were quantitatively assessed before, after and 6-month post-intervention. Results Main qualitative and quantitative findings showed that the final version of the intervention reached high levels of satisfaction among participants. Next, perceived knowledge and self-efficacy scores obtained after receiving the intervention and 6 months later were significantly higher than those yielded in the initial assessment, although both scores significantly decreased at 6 months (compared to the scores obtained just after the intervention). Finally, findings showed no significant changes in organizational payoffs after receiving the intervention. Echoing these results, main qualitative findings documented that after receiving the intervention, participants felt more confident yet not more equipped to communicate with D/deaf and HoH patients. Conclusions Findings suggest that the capacity-building intervention is a promising means to sustainably increase HCWs’ perceived knowledge and self-efficacy on how communicating with D/deaf and HoH patients, although complementary approaches and follow-up intervention reminders may be necessary to enable practice changes in the working environment.

Background With no approved therapies for pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) in Europe, we surveyed clinician perceptions on PH-ILD management and unmet need to understand current real-world practices. Methods An online clinician survey on PH-ILD management was conducted in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Results 55 clinicians (78% pulmonologists), each managing a median 20 PH-ILD patients (interquartile range (IQR) 10–50), participated. Upon PH suspicion, clinicians referred a median 50% (IQR 20–73%) of patients for echocardiography alone and 35% (IQR 20–78%) for echocardiography, followed by right heart catheterisation. Upon diagnosis, a median 20% (IQR 9–30%), 40% (IQR 20–50%) and 35% (IQR 20–55%) of patients fell under the pulmonary arterial pressure ranges of 21–24 mmHg, 25–34 mmHg and >35 mmHg, respectively. 50% of patients received off-label treatment for their PH and, of those, off-label phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5i), endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) and prostacyclin analogues were prescribed first-line by 78%, 9% and 7% of clinicians, respectively. Upon PDE-5i non-response, 35% of clinicians proceed with an ERA, 35% with no further therapy. 55% of clinicians used dual-therapy. Yearly median inpatient admissions and emergency visits were 2.0 (IQR 1.3–2.9) and 1.5 (IQR 1.0–2.0), respectively (n=31 responses). Most clinicians (69%) highlighted lack of efficacy or evidence for current therapies as a key gap in PH-ILD management. Conclusions This study gives insight into real-world European PH-ILD diagnosis and management. With significant use of off-label treatment, there is a large unmet need due to lack of approved therapies. Despite updated guidelines, more evidence is needed to standardise PH-ILD management.

Ecosystem services and biodiversity are frequently measured by field-scale indicators. Yet, many important agricultural and economic drivers as well as agri-environmental policies operate at larger sales, to which field-scale indicators first need to be upscaled. Therefore, this perspective is focussed on upscaling approaches from field to farm or to landscape scale. To understand how ecosystem services and biodiversity are affected by farm-scale drivers and to inform future decision- and policy-making while exploiting existing data sources, these need to be upscaled and analysed at farm scale. However, how this is done best for different types of indicators for ecosystems services and biodiversity received little attention so far.In this work, we propose and discuss different options for upscaling ecosystem service and biodiversity indicators from field to farm scale. We base our novel conceptual work on a large body of literature and demonstrate that before deciding on an upscaling approach, different aspects of the indicators and the purpose of the assessment need to be considered. Our propositions start at the point where field-scale data is available for aggregation at farm scale. Such an aggregation needs to consider the relationship between ecosystem service supply and the benefit provided, i.e., the supply-benefit relationship, which describes how a change in supply affects the resulting benefit for farmers and/or society. We argue that this relationship can also be conceptualized for biodiversity, with benefit being the value of a field or farm for biodiversity conservation.Because benefit does often not continuously increase with supply, but can exhibit breaking points defined by thresholds in supply, the shape of the supply-benefit relationship varies among different ecosystem services and biodiversity components. For example, for upscaling biodiversity indicators, a conservation value needs to consider that conservation benefit might non-linearly change with supply, i.e., habitat quality and quantity, and becomes marginal below certain thresholds. Only when such potential thresholds are considered, a suitable upscaling approach can be chosen from the approaches that we present in this work. While some indicators can be upscaled using a simple area-weighted total or average, for others, thresholds in supply are of great relevance for determining the best upscaling approach. We conclude that upscaling indicators to the farm scale holds untapped potential to inform agri-environmental assessments and future policies. By presenting and discussing suitable approaches for different types of indicators, we hope to facilitate upscaling as a tool to support agri-environmental decision-making in the future.

Abstract Introduction Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is increasingly being legalised internationally. In Australia, all six states have now passed such laws, with Victoria being the first in 2019. However, early research in Victoria on the patient experience of seeking VAD shows that finding a connection to the VAD system is challenging. This study analyses the causes of this ‘point of access’ barrier. Methods We conducted semi‐structured qualitative interviews with family caregivers and a person seeking VAD, with participants recruited via social media and patient interest groups. Data were thematically analysed. We also undertook documentary analysis (content and thematic) of publicly available reports from the oversight body, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. Results We interviewed 32 family caregivers and one patient across 28 interviews and analysed six Board reports. Finding a point of access to the VAD system was reported as challenging in both interviews and reports. Four specific barriers to connecting with the system were identified: (1) not knowing VAD exists as a legal option; (2) not recognising a person is potentially eligible for VAD; (3) not knowing next steps or not being able to achieve them in practice; and (4) challenges with patients being required to raise the topic of VAD because doctors are legally prohibited from doing so. Conclusion Legal, policy and practice changes are needed to facilitate patients being able to find a connection to the VAD system. The legal prohibition on doctors raising the topic of VAD should be repealed, and doctors and institutions who do not wish to be involved in VAD should be required to connect patients with appropriate contacts within the system. Community awareness initiatives are needed to enhance awareness of VAD, especially given it is relatively new in Victoria. Patient or Public Contribution Families and a patient were the focus of this research and interviews with them about the experience of seeking VAD were the primary source of data analysed. This article includes their solutions to address the identified point of access barriers. Patient interest groups also supported the recruitment of participants.

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension (PH) adds a substantial disease burden, including higher mortality, when associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD), a severe, chronic, progressive condition. Yet little is known of the lived experiences, perspectives, priorities, and viewpoints of patients and carers living with PH‐ILD. The Voice of the Patient meeting at the center of this qualitative research study aims to provide these difficult‐to‐obtain insights from a European perspective for the first time. The multistakeholder approach brought together four PH‐ILD patients, three primary caregivers, two patient associations, clinical experts, sponsor representatives, and a facilitator. Of the six major themes identified in the thematic analysis, symptoms, and physical limitations were the most impactful. Shortness of breath was the most bothersome symptom affecting patients daily. Further symptoms included fatigue, cough, dizziness, syncope, edema, and palpitations. Physical limitations focused on reduced mobility, impacting patients’ ability to perform daily tasks, hobbies, sports, and to enjoy travel. Existing antifibrotic and pulmonary arterial hypertension‐targeted treatments were perceived as beneficial. However, despite advances in treatment, severe disease burdens and high unmet medical needs persist from the perspectives of patients. Most meaningful to patients’ daily wellbeing was supplemental oxygen, enabling greater mobility. Patients and carers reported difficulties and barriers in navigating the healthcare system and obtaining adequate information to reduce their considerable uncertainties, documenting the substantial challenges that rare and complex conditions such as PH‐ILD pose for routine clinical practice beyond PH expert centers and indicating an urgent need for high‐quality patient‐ and clinician‐directed information to support patient‐centered care.

En 2021, la brochure Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des apprentissages des élèves a été éditée par le canton de Neuchâtel (Suisse). L’article présente le processus d’écriture de ce texte. À la suite de modifications apportées par la rénovation structurelle du cycle 3, de nombreux questionnements sur l’évaluation ont émergé de la part d’enseignant∙es du secondaire 1. Pour y répondre, le groupe de travail mandaté par le département cantonal, constitué de responsables de l’enseignement, de membres de direction et de représentant∙es des syndicats des enseignant∙es, ont corédigé un texte visant à accompagner les pratiques évaluatives au cycle 3. Avec la volonté politique de redéfinir le cadre général de l’évaluation en repositionnant l’évaluation dans sa fonction pédagogique comme levier pour soutenir les élèves de la 1e à la 11e année, le texte initialement destiné au cycle 3 a été adapté et étendu à l’ensemble de la scolarité. Les Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des apprentissages des élèves cherche à développer une culture commune prenant en compte le passage à une évaluation des compétences, à encourager l’évaluation pour soutenir les apprentissages et à adapter l’évaluation en fonction des apprentissages des élèves ayant des besoins éducatifs particuliers. Pour que les démarches évaluatives des enseignant·es puissent être en adéquation avec les principes de la politique cantonale décrits, il semble nécessaire de poursuivre la dynamique de formation « en continu » dans les établissements sur des thématiques liées à l’évaluation, de revoir les règlements cantonaux et de poursuivre le développement d’outils exemplifiant des pratiques évaluatives.

Background: Cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most prevalent skin cancers in western countries. Surgery is the standard of care for these cancers and conventional external radiotherapy (CONV-RT) with conventional dose rate (0.03–0.06 Gy/sec) represents a good alternative when the patients or tumors are not amenable to surgery but routinely generates skin side effects. Low energy electron FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is a new form of radiotherapy exploiting the biological advantage of the FLASH effect, which consists in delivering radiation dose in milliseconds instead of minutes in CONV-RT. In pre-clinical studies, when compared to CONV-RT, FLASH-RT induced a robust, reproducible and remarkable sparing of the normal healthy tissues, while the efficacy on tumors was preserved. In this context, we aim to prospectively evaluate FLASH-RT versus CONV-RT with regards to toxicity and oncological outcome in localized cutaneous BCC and SCC. Methods: This is a randomized selection, non-comparative, phase II study of curative FLASH-RT versus CONV-RT in patients with T1-T2 N0 M0 cutaneous BCC and SCC. Patients will be randomly allocated to low energy electron FLASH-RT (dose rate: 220–270 Gy/s) or to CONV-RT arm. Small lesions (T1) will receive a single dose of 22 Gy and large lesions (T2) will receive 30 Gy in 5 fractions of 6 Gy over two weeks.The primary endpoint evaluates safety at 6 weeks after RT through grade ≥ 3 toxicity and efficacy through local control rate at 12 months. Approximately 60 patients in total will be randomized, considering on average 1–2 lesions and a maximum of 3 lesions per patients corresponding to the total of 96 lesions required. FLASH-RT will be performed using the Mobetron® (IntraOp, USA) with high dose rate functionality.LANCE (NCT05724875) is the first randomized trial evaluating FLASH-RT and CONV-RT in a curative setting.

Abstract Background In June 2016, Canada legalized medical assistance in dying (MAiD). From the outset, some healthcare institutions (including faith-based and non-faith-based hospitals, hospices, and residential aged care facilities) have refused to allow aspects of MAiD onsite, resulting in patient transfers for MAiD assessments and provision. There have been media reports highlighting the negative consequences of these “institutional objections”, however, very little research has examined their nature and impact. Methods This study reports on findings from 48 semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with MAiD assessors and providers, MAiD team members (working to coordinate care and lead MAiD programs in institutions and health authorities), and family caregivers on their experiences with institutional objection. Participants were recruited from the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Themes identified were: (1) basis for institutional objection (with objections commonly rooted in religious values and a particular philosophy of palliative care); (2) scope of objection (demonstrating a wide range of practices objected to); (3) lack of transparency regarding institutional position; (4) impacts on patients; (5) impacts on health practitioners; and (6) catalysts for change. Participants reported that many institutions’ objections had softened over time, lessening barriers to MAiD access and adverse impacts on patients and health practitioners. Participants attributed this positive change to a range of catalysts including advocacy by health practitioners and family members, policymaking by local health authorities, education, and relationship building. Nevertheless, some institutions, particularly faith-based ones, retained strong objections to MAiD, resulting in forced transfers and negative emotional and psychological impacts on patients, family members, and health practitioners. Conclusions This paper adds to the limited evidence base about the impacts of institutional objection and can inform practical and regulatory solutions in Canada and abroad. Reform is needed to minimize the negative impacts on patients, their caregivers, and health practitioners involved in MAiD practice.

Abstract Clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most prevalent kidney cancers, which is often asymptomatic and thus discovered at a metastatic state (mRCC). mRCC are highly heterogeneous tumors composed of subclonal populations that lead to poor treatment response rate. Several recent works explored the potential of ccRCC tumoroids culture derived from patients. However, these models were produced following a scaffold-based method using collagen I or Matrigel that exhibit lot variability and whose complexity could induce treatment response modifications and phenotypic alterations. Following the observation that ccRCC tumoroids can create their own niche by secreting extracellular matrix components, we developed the first scaffold-free tumoroid model of ccRCC tumors. Tumoroids from mice as well as from human tumors were generated with high success rate (≥90%) using a magnetic suspension method and standard culture media. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed their self-organization capacities to maintain multiple tumor-resident cell types, including endothelial progenitor cells. Transcriptomic analysis showed the reproducibility of the method highlighting that the majority of gene expression patterns was conserved in tumoroids compared to their matching tumor tissue. Moreover, this model enables to evaluate drug effects and invasiveness of renal cancer cells in a 3D context, providing a robust preclinical tool for drug screening and biomarker assessment in line with alternative ex vivo methods like tumor tissue slice culture or in vivo xenograft models.

IntroductionDigital health interventions, particularly mobile health platforms, have shown promise in supporting patients with respiratory conditions, but their application in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains limited. We aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical benefit of the novel PAHcare™ digital platform as a patient-centred intervention for PAH management through a prospective, single-arm, multicenter pilot study conducted on 53 patients diagnosed with PAH who used the platform for 6 months.MethodsThe primary objective was to assess the impact on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) through questionnaires. Secondary objectives included evaluating clinical outcomes, including disease progression, PAH signs and symptoms, the 6-min walking test, and the patient’s symptom perception. Additionally, we assessed patient satisfaction and engagement with the PAHcare™ platform, interaction with health coaches, retention, costs and healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU), and safety through monitoring device incidents.ResultsMinimal changes in HRQoL and clinical outcomes were observed over 6 months. A noteworthy 92.4% of patients actively used the platform in the first month, maintaining high usage throughout the study. Patient satisfaction was substantial, with more than half of the patients expressing excellence in service quality, willingness to reuse the platform, and fulfilment of their needs. Health coach interaction was high, with 76% of patients initiating contact within the first week. User retention rates were 70%, with prevalent ongoing usage and interaction with healthcare professionals even after the study. In terms of HCRU and costs, the study showed no significant changes in PAH-related hospital admissions, clinical visits, or tests. Finally, the low number of device-related incidents indicated platform safety.ConclusionThis pilot study provides compelling evidence supporting the feasibility and acceptability of the PAHcare™ digital platform to empower patients to manage their disease and significantly enhance their overall experience with PAH.

Summary: Although the involvement of protein kinase CK2 in cancer is well-documented, there is a need for selective CK2 inhibitors suitable for investigating CK2 specific roles in cancer-related biological pathways and further exploring its therapeutic potential. Here, we report the discovery of AB668, an outstanding selective inhibitor that binds CK2 through a bivalent mode, interacting both at the ATP site and an allosteric αD pocket unique to CK2. Using caspase activation assay, live-cell imaging, and transcriptomic analysis, we have compared the effects of this bivalent inhibitor to representative ATP-competitive inhibitors, CX-4945, and SGC-CK2-1. Our results show that in contrast to CX-4945 or SGC-CK2-1, AB668, by targeting the CK2 αD pocket, has a distinct mechanism of action regarding its anti-cancer activity, inducing apoptotic cell death in several cancer cell lines and stimulating distinct biological pathways in renal cell carcinoma.

The valleys in the northern part of Los Glaciares National Park, Southern Patagonia, Argentina, are highly dynamic due to glacier shrinkage. To improve our understanding of slope instability in deglaciated environments, we generated and analyzed a Landslide Susceptibility Map (LSM). The proposed methodology includes remote sensing, interpretation of geological maps, both performed in a Geographic Information System (GIS), and finally a Frequency Ratio Model (FRM). Factors included in the slope instability analysis were lithology, geomorphology, land cover/land use, slope, aspect, elevation, curvature, distance to geologic fault, and distance to roads and trails. Slope instability events identified in the inventory include moraine landslides, debris flows, and rockfalls. The area is modeled by glacial action and has numerous geographic features related to erosional and depositional processes of glaciofluvial, cryogenic, and paraglacial origin. According to their high frequency ratio values, geomorphology, land cover and land use, lithology, and elevation are the most influential predisposing factors. The three best performing classes are Quaternary deposits, ice-contact topography, and the innermost lateral moraines on the western side of the study area, which surround glaciers and proglacial lakes. The performance and accuracy of the LSM was evaluated and verified using the Area Under Curve (AUC) with an accuracy of 0.804. The study provides knowledge of the deglaciated environment and landslide-prone areas in the study area. In this way it will help to provide tools for action to prevent and manage potential hazards to infrastructure, residents and/or tourists.

This exploratory study investigates the evolution of illegal caviar trade in Switzerland from 1998 to 2021, considering the interplay of supply, demand, and regulations. Through a case study approach, interviews with eight experts in wildlife and caviar trades are analysed using a general inductive analysis methodology, guided by the market reduction approach and transaction cost theory. The study identifies two distinct periods in the evolution of the illegal caviar trade in Switzerland: the ''conservation problem'' period (1998–2010) and the ''regulatory problem'' period (2011–2021). Applying the CAPTURED model, the attractiveness of caviar as an illicit commodity is analyzed. The findings also highlight two key factors that contributed to Switzerland’s shift from a potential caviar trade hub to a country with limited customs seizures for private travelers: market dynamics (demand and supply shifts) and regulatory changes. Whereas import regulations played a crucial role in curbing the illicit caviar market by increasing control and detection risks, shift in demand may have contributed to the self-perish of wild caviar trade, while shift in supply may have grown criminal interest toward selling wrongly labelled rather than openly poached caviar. The study also considers the presence of undetected organized crime groups and the challenge of using seizures as an indicator of illegal trade. Given the potential for changes in market structure and regulatory frameworks, ongoing and vigilant monitoring of the caviar trade is emphasized as necessary. This research highlights the importance of effective regulatory measures and consumer awareness in combating this crime against the environment.

Benefitting from a taste for everything French in the Danish-Norwegian absolute monarchy, La Beaumelle circulated in Copenhagen news and ideas from the French Enlightenment in a handwritten journal which content has never been studied before. The ideas and rhetorical strategies of his journalistic input are analysed and contextualised in the Danish political agenda and in the larger frame of the circulation of semi-private news and the intellectual history of the Enlightenment. Brilliant and irreverent, the author discussed moderate and subversive ideas along with much gossip from Paris. This article is the first study of what was written in the Gazette and connects intellectual networks and the history of the press, by focusing on the relationship between French thinkers and the kingdom of Denmark-Norway.

Despite its established neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic neurons and encouraging phase I results, intraputaminal GDNF administration failed to demonstrate significant clinical benefits in Parkinson’s disease patients. Different human GDNF doses were delivered in the striatum of rats with a progressive 6-hydroxydopamine lesion using a sensitive doxycycline-regulated AAV vector. GDNF treatment was applied either continuously or intermittently (2 weeks on/2 weeks off) during 17 weeks. Stable reduction of motor impairments as well as increased number of dopaminergic neurons and striatal innervation were obtained with a GDNF dose equivalent to 3- and 10-fold the rat endogenous level. In contrast, a 20-fold increased GDNF level only temporarily provided motor benefits and neurons were not spared. Strikingly, oxidized DNA in the substantia nigra increased by 50% with 20-fold, but not 3-fold GDNF treatment. In addition, only low-dose GDNF allowed to preserve dopaminergic neuron cell size. Finally, aberrant dopaminergic fiber sprouting was observed with 20-fold GDNF but not at lower doses. Intermittent 20-fold GDNF treatment allowed to avoid toxicity and spare dopaminergic neurons but did not restore their cell size. Our data suggest that maintaining GDNF concentration under a threshold generating oxidative stress is a pre-requisite to obtain significant symptomatic relief and neuroprotection.

Abstract Background Voluntary assisted dying became lawful in Victoria, the first Australian state to permit this practice, in 2019 via the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic). While conscientious objection by individual health professionals is protected by the Victorian legislation, objections by institutions are governed by policy. No research has been conducted in Victoria, and very little research conducted internationally, on how institutional objection is experienced by patients seeking assisted dying. Methods 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 family caregivers and one patient about the experience of 28 patients who sought assisted dying. Participants were interviewed during August-November 2021. Data from the 17 interviews (all with family caregivers) which reported institutional objection were analysed thematically. Results Participants reported institutional objection affecting eligibility assessments, medication access, and taking the medication or having it administered. Institutional objection occurred across health settings and was sometimes communicated obliquely. These objections resulted in delays, transfers, and choices between progressing an assisted dying application and receiving palliative or other care. Participants also reported objections causing adverse emotional experiences and distrust of objecting institutions. Six mediating influences on institutional objections were identified: staff views within objecting institutions; support of external medical practitioners and pharmacists providing assisted dying services; nature of a patient’s illness; progression or state of a patient’s illness; patient’s geographical location; and the capability and assertiveness of a patient and/or caregiver. Conclusions Institutional objection to assisted dying is much-debated yet empirically understudied. This research found that in Victoria, objections were regularly reported by participants and adversely affected access to assisted dying and the wider end-of-life experience for patients and caregivers. This barrier arises in an assisted dying system that is already procedurally challenging, particularly given the limited window patients have to apply. Better regulation may be needed as Victoria’s existing policy approach appears to preference institutional positions over patient’s choice given existing power dynamics.

Background and purpose: Automation in radiotherapy treatment planning aims to improve both the quality and the efficiency of the process. The aim of this study was to report on a clinical implementation of a Deep Learning (DL) auto-planning model for left-sided breast cancer. Materials and methods: The DL model was developed for left-sided breast simultaneous integrated boost treatments under deep-inspiration breath-hold. Eighty manual dose distributions were revised and used for training. Ten patients were used for model validation. The model was then used to design 17 clinical auto-plans. Manual and auto-plans were scored on a list of clinical goals for both targets and organs-at-risk (OARs). For validation, predicted and mimicked dose (PD and MD, respectively) percent error (PE) was calculated with respect to manual dose. Clinical and validation cohorts were compared in terms of MD only. Results: Median values of both PD and MD validation plans fulfilled the evaluation criteria. PE was

Floral plantings are promoted to foster ecological intensification of agriculture through provisioning of ecosystem services. However, a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of different floral plantings, their characteristics and consequences for crop yield is lacking. Here we quantified the impacts of flower strips and hedgerows on pest control (18 studies) and pollination services (17 studies) in adjacent crops in North America, Europe and New Zealand. Flower strips, but not hedgerows, enhanced pest control services in adjacent fields by 16% on average. However, effects on crop pollination and yield were more variable. Our synthesis identifies several important drivers of variability in effectiveness of plantings: pollination services declined exponentially with distance from plantings, and perennial and older flower strips with higher flowering plant diversity enhanced pollination more effectively. These findings provide promising pathways to optimise floral plantings to more effectively contribute to ecosystem service delivery and ecological intensification of agriculture in the future.

Family relations and women’s destinies are two recurrent themes in the novels of two prominent figures of the French-speaking Swiss literature, Anne-Lise Grobéty (1949–2010) and Rose-Marie Pagnard (1943–). Although depicting different universes, more politicized in the first and more poetic in the second, a cross-reading of their works allows to observe a similarity in the treatment of the evolution of the feminine cause within the family unit. Two novels from the 1970–1990 period, «Pour mourir en février» (1970) by Grobéty and «La Leçon de Judith» (1993) by Pagnard, attest to the young girl’s difficulty in building her own identity within her family. The female friendship is presented in both works as a prerequisite for the personal fulfilment of female figures. However, it is rejected by the family who perceives it as a threat to the established patriarchal order. On the other hand, filiation novels of the 2000’s, «La Corde de mi» (2006) by Grobéty and «J’aime ce qui vacille» (2018) by Pagnard, reveal an appeasement of the relations between the young girl and her family, in particular the father figure. The sorority is accepted and even recognised as an aid to the reconstruction of the family bond.

As this introduction and the following contributions will show, family in its many forms continues to be an essential element of social life as well as of literary plots. With regard to Swiss literature, the family in its diversity intersects with a multi-lingual corpus, opening up a new view of the relationship between social precon-ditions and literary reflection.

As this introduction and the following contributions will show, family in its many forms continues to be an essential element of social life as well as of literary plots. With regard to Swiss literature, the family in its diversity intersects with a multilingual corpus, opening up a new view of the relationship between social preconditions and literary reflection.

Understanding how order emerges in active matter may facilitate macroscopic control of microscopic objects. Here, Williams et al. show how to control the transport of passive microscopic particles in presence of motile algae in conjunction with boundary-induced accumulation of microswimmers.

Abstract Background The intensification of the agricultural practices in Europe over the last decades has drastically transformed the agroecosystems. The simplification of the landscape, the loss of semi-natural habitats and the application of chemicals on crops are known to have led to biodiversity decline in agricultural landscapes, raising substantial concerns about the loss of essential ecosystem services, such as pollination or pest control. Depending on the location, the scale and the regional context, different indicator species groups (ISGs) are often surveyed to assess the state and trend of biodiversity changes in agroecosystems. Although the high diversity of these ISGs allows a broad overview of the biodiversity, it complicates the interpretation of the results and thus their application. In addition, species diversity metrics are various, from simple species counts to more complex measurements of diversity indices, sometimes with antagonistic responses. Here, to meet the pressing need for synthesis in this complex topic, we will follow a standardized systematic map protocol to collect and summarize the literature reporting the effects of the main European lowland agricultural management practices (AMPs) on a set of ISGs. Methods Following the systematic evidence synthesis standards, we developed the question to address in the systematic map using the PICO framework. We established a preliminary search string by combining search terms for the categories Population (ISGs), Intervention (AMPs) and Outcome (species diversity), as well as with two additional groups (Environment—to focus on lowland crop and grassland—and Location—to restrict the study area to Europe). We will conduct a comprehensive literature search of relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature using Web of Science and CABI platforms, Google Scholar, specialized websites and through our professional collaborator network. The comprehensiveness of the search will be assessed by comparing the literature collected to a test-list of ninety relevant articles. The repeatability of the literature screening process will be ensured by a list of inclusion/exclusion criteria and inter-reviewer consistency statistical tests. Data extraction will be organized in three complementary tables (article references, study characteristics, species diversity), on which we will perform queries to produce the tables, figures and maps that will compose the systematic map.

Biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes due to intensification of agriculture and degradation and loss of semi-natural habitats is a major issue that life cycle assessment (LCA) methods intend to address. No current LCA method is able to assess and compare impacts on the biodiversity of vegetable production systems as a function of farming practices and the local context. Based on a literature review and consultation with experts, the SALCA-BD expert system, originally designed to assess impacts on the biodiversity of cropland and grassland at field, rotation, and farm levels, was adapted to vegetable production systems. SALCA-BD is based on an inventory of the habitats found on a farm and a list of practices that can be implemented in these habitats. We distinguished an open field and a greenhouse as two distinct “level I” habitats, as a habitat’s openness favours the exchange of species with surrounding habitats. These two habitats were subdivided into “level II” habitats that corresponded to vegetable crops. Given the many types of vegetables, we used a clustering method to create a few categories that grouped vegetables that had similar potential to host biodiversity. We created a category for intercropped vegetables for fields in which multiple vegetables are grown at the same time, which is common on microfarms. We tested the expert system at field and farm levels using scenarios and a farm case study. We quantified effects of changes to individual practices and practice intensities at the field level on biodiversity. The results highlighted the importance of semi-natural habitats for preserving biodiversity, in addition to low-intensity practices, which indicates that assessment at the farm level is more informative than that at the field level. Because it considers habitats and practices in detail, SALCA-BD is useful for assessing biodiversity at field and farm levels and for comparing farming systems with the same land use and type of management (organic or conventional), which other LCA methods for assessing biodiversity cannot do. Field size, which is a driver of biodiversity, is considered indirectly only when semi-natural habitats are included. As SALCA-BD does not consider impacts of the background system, combining SALCA-BD with comprehensive methods for assessing impacts on biodiversity is a promising perspective for more complete assessment.