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The poster showcases the Race to Space project: Human-kind is going to Mars. High school students take on the role of ESA scientists. They have just learned that neutron scattering might be useful. A tech-billionaire, Leon Tusk, wants to collaborate. The deal: Funding in exchange for scientific results. First tasks: Test of capabilities of neutron scattering before funding. Tusks sends three lead boxes with different stuff in them. Our group of scientists are to figure out what is in each box. After this, the story takes different turns and has different twists.

Calculating molecular properties using quantum devices can be done through the quantum linear response (qLR) or, equivalently, the quantum equation of motion (qEOM) formulations. Different parameterizations of qLR and qEOM are available, namely naive, projected, self-consistent, and state-transfer. In the naive and projected parameterizations, the metric is not the identity, and we show that it depends on the redundant orbital rotations. This dependency may lead to divergences in the excitation energies for certain choices of the redundant orbital rotation parameters in an idealized noise-less setting. Further, this leads to significant variance when calculations include statistical noise from finite quantum sampling.

Climate change may result in a drier climate and increased salinization, threatening agricultural productivity worldwide. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) produces highly nutritious seeds and tolerates abiotic stresses such as drought and high salinity, making it a promising future food source. However, the presence of antinutritional saponins in their seeds is an undesirable trait. We mapped genes controlling seed saponin content to a genomic region that includes TSARL1. We isolated desired genetic variation in this gene by producing a large mutant library of a commercial quinoa cultivar and screening the library for specific nucleotide substitutions using droplet digital PCR. We were able to rapidly isolate two independent tsarl1 mutants, which retained saponins in the leaves and roots for defence, but saponins were undetectable in the seed coat. We further could show that TSARL1 specifically controls seed saponin biosynthesis in the committed step after 2,3-oxidosqualene. Our work provides new important knowledge on the function of TSARL1 and represents a breakthrough for quinoa breeding.

Thiolate containing mercury(II) complexes of the general formula [Hg(SR)n]2−n have been of great interest since the toxicity of mercury was recognized. 199Hg nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a powerful tool for characterization of mercury complexes. In this work, the Hg shielding constants in a series of [Hg(SR)n]2−n complexes are therefore investigated computationally with particular emphasis on their geometry dependence. Geometry optimizations and NMR chemical shift calculations are performed at the density functional theory (DFT) level with both the zeroth-order regular approximation (ZORA) and four-component relativistic methods. The four exchange-correlation (XC) functionals PBE0, PBE, B3LYP and BLYP are used in combination with either Dyall’s Gaussian-type (GTO) or Slater-type orbitals (STOs) basis sets. Comparing ZORA and four-component calculations, one observes that the calculated shielding constants for a given molecular geometry have a constant difference of ∼1070 ppm. This confirms that ZORA is an acceptable relativistic method to compute NMR chemical shifts. The combinations of 4-component/PBE0/v3z and ZORA/PBE0/QZ4P are applied to explore the geometry dependence of the isotropic shielding. For a given coordination number the distance between mercury and sulfur is the key factor affecting the shielding constant, while changes in bond and dihedral angles and even different side groups have relatively little impact.

Personalized nutrition (PN) has gained much attention as a tool for empowerment of consumers to promote changes in dietary behavior, optimizing health status and preventing diet related diseases. Generalized implementation of PN faces different obstacles, one of the most relevant being metabolic characterization of the individual. Although omics technologies allow for assessment the dynamics of metabolism with unprecedented detail, its translatability as affordable and simple PN protocols is still difficult due to the complexity of metabolic regulation and to different technical and economical constrains. In this work, we propose a conceptual framework that considers the dysregulation of a few overarching processes, namely Carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and microbiota-derived metabolites, as the basis of the onset of several non-communicable diseases. These processes can be assessed and characterized by specific sets of proteomic, metabolomic and genetic markers that minimize operational constrains and maximize the information obtained at the individual level. Current machine learning and data analysis methodologies allow the development of algorithms to integrate omics and genetic markers. Reduction of dimensionality of variables facilitates the implementation of omics and genetic information in digital tools. This framework is exemplified by presenting the EU-Funded project PREVENTOMICS as a use case.

This study evaluates the performance of doubles-corrected RPA and HRPA approaches in predicting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) coupling constants involving fluorine. Their performance is benchmarked against experimental data and compared with higher-level theoretical methods, specifically SOPPA and SOPPA(CCSD). Additionally, we discuss their performance relative to DFT. We find that RPA(D) is severely constrained by (near) triplet instabilities, while HRPA(D) demonstrates markedly improved stability. Statistical analysis reveals stronger patterns for carbon-fluorine couplings across the methods and systems investigated compared to fluorine-hydrogen couplings. While SOPPA-based methodologies prove to be superior in accuracy, HRPA(D) shows promising performance in reducing the computational burden of these calculations, albeit with a tendency to underestimate the coupling strength. These findings highlight the potential of HRPA(D) as a practical alternative to SOPPA methods even for such difficult properties as NMR spin-spin coupling constants involving fluorine, emphasizing its role in improving predictive accuracy and efficiency across diverse chemical environments.

This report provides field observations from the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg (Lewis-Storey assemblage), and from Wallace (Wallace assemblage) and Garner (Garner Lake intrusive complex) lakes. Fieldwork was carried out in August 2024 to collect samples for a Ph.D. project involving the nature, composition and growth of early crust of the western Superior province. Highlights of the fieldwork include findings of fuchsite-bearing quartzite in the Lewis-Storey assemblage as well as ultramafic pods within the tonalitic gneiss of the North Caribou terrane.

The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is the longest-lived vertebrate known, with an estimated lifespan of ∼ 400 years. Here, we present a chromosome-level assembly of the 6.45 Gb Greenland shark, rendering it one of the largest non-tetrapod genomes sequenced so far. Expansion of the genome is mostly accounted for by a substantial expansion of transposable elements. Using public shark genomes as a comparison, we found that genes specifically duplicated in the Greenland shark form a functionally connected network enriched for DNA repair function. Furthermore, we identified a unique insertion in the conserved C-terminal region of the key tumor suppressor p53. We also provide a public browser to explore its genome.

Model training in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) requires federated unlearning under three scenarios: (1) vehicles want to erase their historical updates to protect their privacy, (2) servers eliminate the influence of dropout vehicles, and (3) servers recover the global model from the poisoning attack launched by malicious clients. However, the existing federated unlearning methods based on retraining, such as FedRecover[1] and FedEraser[2], cannot be applied directly to the IoV scenarios. Firstly, in these schemes, the server needs to store all the local gradients uploaded by clients, resulting in significant storage space occupation. Secondly, their methods assume that all clients engaged in Federated learning (FL) from the beginning and will not exit, which does not align with the characteristics of FL in IoV where vehicles can join and leave FL at any time. To address these challenges, we propose a federated unlearning scheme suitable for IoV scenarios. We use a backtracking mechanism to achieve unlearning instead of reinitializing like other approaches. Then, we build our function over Cauchy mean value theorem to recover the performance of the global model. To reduce the storage burden of the server, we present a novel method that only saves the direction of the local updates, which can spare approximately 95% of storage overhead. The experimental results proved the effectiveness of our scheme that uses just the direction of historical gradients and historical models. Therefore, our work enables federated unlearning to be applied in practical applications in the IoV.

Based on written records and specimens of the new species, Xylopia nilotica D. M. Johnson & N. A. Murray (2018), described from Uganda and west of the Nile in Sudan and South Sudan, we have mapped the species. We find that it also occurs east of the Nile in South Sudan and in western Ethiopia. Its habitats range from open rain forest to open woodland. Modelling the potential distribution of X. nilotica suggests that it occurs in the periphery of the upper Nile basin, but it is probably undercollected. The potential distributions of X. longipetala (a Guineo-Congolian species) and X. holtzii Engl. (an East African coastal species), distinct but previously considered conspecific with X. nilotica, only marginally overlap with that of X. nilotica, which is endemic to the countries Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Ethiopia, apparently a unique pattern of endemism. The new information does not change the assessment of X. nilotica as Vulnerable (VU). Other species of Xylopia in North Eastern Tropical Africa are X. rubescens Oliver and X. thomsonii Oliver in the Equatoria region of South Sudan, and X. rubescens, X. staudtii Engl. & Diels, and X. aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. in Uganda. A record of X. aethiopica in Ethiopia is based on false label information on the only known specimen.

NA, On 22 July 2021, I collected about a dozen half-ripe seedheads of the large tussock grass, tall fescue, Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort. (syn. Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.) growing in coastal pasture at Hestefaelleden near Copenhagen, Denmark (55.570881°N 12.558981°E), and brought them home in a spacious ziplock plastic bag. This is my standard procedure for collecting gall midge larvae living in grass spikelets, where they feed on the ripening fruits (caryopses) without leaving any externally visible signs of their presence. No immature gall midges appeared. Instead, after four days, the emergence of large numbers of tiny, green, metallic chalcid wasps appeared. A single male gall midge of the genus Stenodiplosis emerged as well, but not a single larva left the spikelets. The emerging wasps left neat circular exit holes in the grass glumes. Dissection of spikelets revealed partially eaten-out caryopses. The large number of bored spikelets and caryopses and the almost complete absence of other insects, as evidenced by dissecting numerous spikelets under the microscope, provide strong evidence that the wasp larvae had been feeding on the unripe grass fruits as herbivores (they could be called seed predators as they destroy their 'prey'). The reared specimens were sent to Richard R. Askew, who identified them as Mesopolobus pseudolaticornis von Rosen, 1966. Hans von Rosen described the species based on material reared from the same host plant species ('seeds of Festuca arundinacea') collected on 26 August 1963 at Lomma, Scania, Sweden, ca. 30km in a direct line from my collection site. von Rosen did not observe any other insect larvae in the grass seedheads, on which the wasp larvae could have been parasitoids. He specifically noted that 'based on the data available so far, it is not impossible, however unlikely, that M. pseudolaticornis leads a phytophagous lifestyle and produces more than one generation per year'. Gra

Information about flood-prone areas in Accra, Ghana, acting as obstacles to the main infrastructure was required as input for a transportation study. We successfully identified these areas using the hydrologic screening software Arc-Malstrøm. Earlier studies have used a digital elevation model with a spatial resolution of 30 m, which unfortunately is not a true digital terrain model as it includes elevations from ground surfaces, structures, and vegetation. However, this study shows the benefits of using a hydro-conditioned 10 m resolution digital terrain model from AirbusTM in predicting flood-prone areas. The entire investigation area covers approximately 23% of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), including the entire Odaw River basin. In this area, 5018 landscape sinks with water depths ≥ 0.1 m and volumes ≥ 5 m3 were identified. From this, 163 flood-induced roadblocks were found with maximum depths ≥ 0.3 m, rendering them impassable to normal vehicles. Beyond the adaptation of infrastructures in the hydro-conditioning process, more steps were necessary along the Odaw River’s southernmost course before its outlet into the Gulf of Guinea due to local trash accumulation reflected in the DTM. To address the unforeseen stochastic flood effects from trash piling up along the river channels, a simulation was conducted showing the upstream consequences caused by a trash barrier at the river’s outlet into the ocean. This leads to a discussion of the hazards posed by improper waste handling, coupled with increasing runoff predictions within the river’s drainage basin. Finally, we discuss local alternatives to the establishment of large central retention and detention basins to reduce flood-prone areas in GAMA during periods when stormwater-induced floods become more frequent, primarily due to uncontrolled urbanization increasing runoff volumes.

We test the performance of the Polarizable Embedding Variational Quantum Eigensolver Self-Consistent-Field (PE-VQE-SCF) model for computing electric field gradients with comparisons to conventional complete active space self-consistent-field (CASSCF) calculations and experimental results. We compute quadrupole coupling constants for ice VIII and ice IX. We find that the inclusion of the environment is crucial for obtaining results that match the experimental data. The calculations for ice VIII are within the experimental uncertainty for both CASSCF and VQE-SCF for oxygen and lie close to the experimental value for ice IX as well. With the VQE-SCF, which is based on an Adaptive Derivative-Assembled Problem-Tailored (ADAPT) ansatz, we find that the inclusion of the environment and the size of the different basis sets do not directly affect the gate counts. However, by including an explicit environment, the wavefunction and, therefore, the optimization problem becomes more complicated, which usually results in the need to include more operators from the operator pool, thereby increasing the depth of the circuit.

Sustainability science calls for new methodologies and collaborations that go beyond disciplinary boundaries. This points to a new role for sustainability science communication. Here, we explore how science communication can employ aesthetic formats (e.g., storytelling, performance, artistic installations) to promote transdisciplinary collaborations. We conducted a series of experiments in a master-level science communication course at the University of Copenhagen, engaging students, practitioners and researchers in experimental collaborations and qualitative data collection. Through thematic analysis of classroom observations and interviews, five elements of transdisciplinarity emerged: Acknowledgement of disciplinary identities, negotiation of diverse vocabularies, disruption of hierarchical structures, experience of novel insights and evident learning processes among participants. These moments challenged direct observation but became discernible through post hoc analysis. We suggest they constitute a sequence that together describes a transdisciplinary moment. We thus conclude that the aesthetic formats we employed were instrumental in disrupting conventional boundaries and enhancing collaboration across disciplines. However, we also acknowledge the complexities of achieving transdisciplinary moments and emphasize the importance of reflective practice.

The application of monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments with the advent of recombinant antibody technology has made notable progress in clinical trials to provide a regulated drug release and extra targeting to the special conditions in the function site. Modification of antibodies has facilitated using mAbs and antibody fragments in numerous models of therapeutic and detection utilizations, such as stimuli-responsive systems. Antibodies and antibody derivatives conjugated with diverse stimuli-responsive materials have been constructed for drug delivery in response to a wide range of endogenous (electric, magnetic, light, radiation, ultrasound) and exogenous (temperature, pH, redox potential, enzymes) stimuli. In this report, we highlighted the recent progress on antibody-conjugated stimuli-responsive and dual/multi-responsive systems that affect modern medicine by improving a multitude of diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Adaptation to heat stress and hypoxia are relevant for athletes participating in Tour de France or similar cycling races taking place during the summertime in landscapes with varying altitude. Both to minimize detrimental performance effects associated with arterial desaturation occurring at moderate altitudes in elite athletes, respectively reduce the risk of hyperthermia on hot days, but also as a pre-competition acclimatization strategy to boost blood volume in already highly adapted athletes. The hematological adaptations require weeks of exposure to manifest, but are attractive as an augmented hemoglobin mass may improve arterial oxygen delivery and hence benefit prolonged performances. Altitude training camps have in this context a long history in exercise physiology and are still common practice in elite cycling. However, heat acclimation training provides an attractive alternative for some athletes either as a stand-alone approach or in combination with altitude. The present paper provides an update and practical perspectives on the potential to utilize hypoxia and heat exposure to optimize hematological adaptations. Furthermore, we will consider temporal aspects both in terms of onset and decay of the adaptations relevant for improved thermoregulatory capacity and respiratory adaptations to abate arterial desaturation during altitude exposure. From focus on involved physiological mechanisms, time-course and responsiveness in elite athletes, we will provide guidance based on our experience from practical implementation in cyclists preparing for prolonged stage races such as the Tour de France.

Context: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes synovitis. Vitamin D deficiency is common in rheumatoid arthritis. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether vitamin D supplementation affects the inflammatory and clinical outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on the basis of randomized clinical trials. Data Sources: A literature search was performed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar for articles published until May 2022. Data Extraction: The studies were selected according to PRISMA guidelines, and the risk of bias was assessed for randomized controlled trials. Data Analysis: A random effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Of 464 records, 11 studies were included from 3049 patients. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation did not significantly reduce C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), or the health assessment questionnaire score; however, the response to supplementation was highly heterogeneous. The pooled analysis showed that vitamin D significantly reduced the pain–visual analogue scale (VAS) weighted mean difference (WMD¼ –1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] [–2.34, 27], P = .01), DAS28–CRP (WMD = –.58, 95% CI [–.86, –.31], P < .0001), and DAS28–ESR (WMD = –.58, 95% CI [–.86, –.31], P = .0001). Subgroup analysis for vitamin D doses (>100 mg per day versus <100 mg per day) showed that the higher doses had a more significant effect on CRP than the lower doses (P < .05). Conclusions: There was no significant difference between the effect of 2 vitamin D doses on ESR and DAS28. To minimize the high heterogeneity among studies in this meta-analysis, other confounding factors such as baseline vitamin D, age, dietary

Laser weeding may contribute to less dependency on herbicides and soil tillage. Several research and commercial projects are underway to develop robots equipped with lasers to control weeds. Artificial intelligence can be used to locate and identify weed plants, and mirrors can be used to direct a laser beam towards the target to kill it with heat. Unlike chemical and mechanical weed control, laser weeding only exposes a tiny part of the field for treatment. Laser weeding leaves behind only ashes from the burned plants and does not disturb the soil. Therefore, it is an eco-friendly method to control weed seedlings. However, perennial weeds regrow from the belowground parts after the laser destroys the aerial shoots. Depletion of the belowground parts for resources might be possible if the laser continuously kills new shoots, but it may require many laser treatments. We studied how laser could be used to destroy the widespread and aggressive perennial weed Elymus repens after the rhizomes were cut into fragments. Plants were killed with even small dosages of laser energy and stopped regrowing. Generally, the highest efficacy was achieved when the plants from small rhizomes were treated at the 3-leaf stage.

There exists a generalization of the concept named "completely bounded", which we denote "Jordan bounded". Grothendieck's non commutative inequality shows that a bounded bilinear form on a pair of C*-algebras is always Jordan bounded.

Determining the properties of molecules and materials is one of the premier applications of quantum computing. A major question in the field is how to use imperfect near-term quantum computers to solve problems of practical value. Inspired by the recently developed variants of the quantum counterpart of the equation-of-motion (qEOM) approach and the orbital-optimized variational quantum eigensolver (oo-VQE), we present a quantum algorithm (oo-VQE-qEOM) for the calculation of molecular properties by computing expectation values on a quantum computer. We perform noise-free quantum simulations of BeH2 in the series of STO-3G/6-31G/6-31G* basis sets, H4 and H2O in 6-31G using an active space of four electrons and four spatial orbitals (8 qubits) to evaluate excitation energies, electronic absorption, and for twisted H4, circular dichroism spectra. We demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can reproduce the results of conventional classical CASSCF calculations for these molecular systems.

We explore Davidson methods for obtaining excitation energies and other linear response properties within quantum self-consistent linear response (q-sc-LR) theory. Davidson-type methods allow for obtaining only a few selected excitation energies without explicitly constructing the electronic Hessian since they only require the ability to perform Hessian-vector multiplications. We apply the Davidson method to calculate the excitation energies of hydrogen chains (up to H10) and analyze aspects of statistical noise for computing excitation energies on quantum simulators. Additionally, we apply Davidson methods for computing linear response properties such as static polarizabilities for H2, LiH, H2O, OH−, and NH3, and show that unitary coupled cluster outperforms classical projected coupled cluster for molecular systems with strong correlation. Finally, we formulate the Davidson method for damped (complex) linear response, with application to the nitrogen K-edge X-ray absorption of ammonia, and the C6 coefficients of H2, LiH, H2O, OH−, and NH3.

The project began in 2013 with a dual purpose: to promote more apple trees in the Danish landscape and to develop robust apple cultivars for organic growers. We collected 10.000 open-pollinated apple-seeds from 52 robust and tasty old Danish apple cultivars from our National apple gene-bank. Then we invited volunteers to sow the seeds in their private farms/gardens. More than 100 volunteered to the project in 2013. In 2019, we followed up on the trees. Approximately 50 volunteers had succeeded to grow about 2000 apple-seedlings. Since 2019, we are evaluating the robustness of the trees, disease tolerance (Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), Apple mildew (Podosphaera leuchotricha), Apple canker (Neonectria ditissima) and Elsinoe fruit and leaf spot (Elsinoe piri)) and the quality of the fruits, as soon as the trees are fruiting. In 2020-23 we have selected for further investigations: 74 dessert apples, 17 ornamental apples, 6 cider apples, 1 columnar apple and 1 rootstock. In total 99 interesting new apples. The preliminary results of our screening of robustness and fruit quality are described.

Linear response (LR) theory is a powerful tool in classic quantum chemistry crucial to understanding photo-induced processes in chemistry and biology. However, performing simulations for large systems and in the case of strong electron correlation remains challenging. Quantum computers are poised to facilitate the simulation of such systems, and recently, a quantum linear response formulation (qLR) was introduced. To apply qLR to near-term quantum computers beyond a minimal basis set, we here introduce a resource-efficient qLR theory using a truncated active-space version of the multi-configurational self-consistent field LR ansatz. Therein, we investigate eight different near-term qLR formalisms that utilize novel operator transformations that allow the qLR equations to be performed on near-term hardware. Simulating excited state potential energy curves and absorption spectra for various test cases, we identify two promising candidates dubbed ``proj LRSD'' and ``all-proj LRSD''.

We formulate and implement the Variational Quantum Eigensolver Self Consistent Field (VQE-SCF) algorithm in combination with polarizable embedding (PE), thereby extending PE to the regime of quantum computing. We test the resulting algorithm, PE-VQE-SCF, on quantum simulators and demonstrate that the computational stress on the quantum device is only slightly increased in terms of gate counts compared to regular VQE-SCF. On the other hand, no increase in shot noise was observed. We illustrate how PE-VQE-SCF may lead to the modeling of real chemical systems using a simulation of the reaction barrier of the Diels-Alder reaction between furan and ethene as an example.

Tectonic plate motions are a prime constraint on lithosphere dynamics and on the torques acting upon plates. Researchers typically test hypotheses on the controlling torques via forward computer models, which allow accepting or rejecting hypotheses on the basis of the fit of model–output plate velocities to kinematic reconstructions. Such models typically require a significant amount of input information (e.g., tectonic boundaries, structure of the lithosphere, lateral variations of rheology, among others) to appropriately model the tectonic system, and obtain sufficiently–realistic realizations of plate motions. Alternatively, the inverse problem approach takes the difference between the plate torque–balance at two distinct moments in time. This results in an equation in which (a) torques that have not varied through time are canceled out and (b) torques that instead have varied through time are linked to the resulting plate–motion change through a term that accounts for the plate shape and the rheology of the underlying asthenosphere. This approach sacrifices the capability to describe the different individual forces/torques acting upon a plate. Instead, it focuses on determining torque temporal variations, which significantly reduces the amount of input knowledge required. In this technical note we introduce MYRIAM, an open–source software that implements such an inverse approach. MYRIAM takes plate–motion temporal changes, and outputs an estimate of the torque variation required upon a plate to generate the input kinematic change. MYRIAM is released as an open–source repository hosted at GitHub, complete with source code and executable files for Windows and Unix–based operating systems.

Docent, fil. dr. Inga Hedberg (Fig. 1) died in Uppsala on the 13th of January 2024, at the age of 96 years. Together with her husband, Olov Hedberg, she has been a central and tireless figure in a range of important international projects on African botany, probably with the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea (1980-2009) as the most remarkable.

Finetuning is a useful method for adapting Transformer-based text encoders to new tasks but can be computationally expensive for structured prediction tasks that require tuning at the token level. Furthermore, finetuning is inherently inefficient in updating all base model parameters, which prevents parameter sharing across tasks. To address these issues, we propose a method for efficient task adaptation of frozen Transformer encoders based on the local contribution of their intermediate layers to token representations. Our adapter uses a novel attention mechanism to aggregate intermediate layers and tailor the resulting representations to a target task. Experiments on several structured prediction tasks demonstrate that our method outperforms previous approaches, retaining over 99% of the finetuning performance at a fraction of the training cost. Our proposed method offers an efficient solution for adapting frozen Transformer encoders to new tasks, improving performance and enabling parameter sharing across different tasks.

The world needs equitable and democratic dialogue. As a global society, we face numerous so-called “wicked problems” related to the unsustainable use of the Earth’s resources. The notion of wicked problems, developed by Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber in 1973, describes problems that are ill-defined and rely on value judgments for resolution – and are never truly solved. Today, such problems include climate disruption, the biodiversity crisis, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. The process of tackling these problems is exacerbated by the widespread atmosphere of science scepticism and denialism along with delay tactics and misinformation. From a science communication perspective, the situation can seem overwhelming. Often, it is difficult to see how constructive space can be created for the discussions that are necessary to address the challenges we face.In this paper, I will consider the role science centres, science and technology museums, natural history museums, and other public science communication institutions can play in creating inclusive spaces to address these challenges. As I discuss in the paper, science museums have the resources, the expertise, and the social presence to counteract mis- and disinformation and to engage a diversity of stakeholders in co-creating responses to the problems we face., The world needs equitable and democratic dialogue. As a global society, we face numerous so-called “wicked problems” related to the unsustainable use of the Earth’s resources. The notion of wicked problems, developed by Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber in 1973, describes problems that are ill-defined and rely on value judgments for resolution – and are never truly solved. Today, such problems include climate disruption, the biodiversity crisis, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. The process of tackling these problems is exacerbated by the widespread atmosphere of science scepticism and denialism along with delay tactics and misinformation. From a science communication perspective, the situation can seem overwhelming. Often, it is difficult to see how constructive space can be created for the discussions that are necessary to address the challenges we face. In this paper, I will consider the role science centres, science and technology museums, natural history museums, and other public science communication institutions (referred to collectively as science museums) can play in creating inclusive spaces to address these challenges. As I discuss in the paper, science museums have the resources, the expertise, and the social presence to counteract mis- and disinformation and to engage a diversity of stakeholders in co-creating responses to the problems we face.

BACKGROUND: Multiple and simultaneous attacks by pathogens and insect pests frequently occur in nature. Plants respond to biotic stresses by activating distinct defense mechanisms, but little is known about how plants cope with multiple stresses. The focus of this study was the combined interaction of fungal infection caused by Leptosphaeria maculans (synonym Plenodomus lingam) and arthropod infestation by the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). We hypothesized that infection by the fungal pathogen L. maculans could alter oilseed rape palatability to P. xylostella-chewing caterpillars. Feeding preference tests were complemented with analyses of defense gene transcription, and levels of glucosinolates (GLSs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in L. maculans-inoculated and non-inoculated (control) leaves to determine possible causes of larval choice. RESULTS: Caterpillars preferred true leaves to cotyledons, hence true leaves were used for further experiments. True leaves inoculated with L. maculans were more palatable to caterpillars over control leaves during the early stage of infection at 3 days post inoculation (dpi), but this preference disappeared in the later stages of infection at 7 dpi. In parallel, genes involved in the salicylic acid and ethylene pathways were up-regulated in L. maculans-inoculated leaves at 3 and 7 dpi; L. maculans increased the level of total aliphatic GLSs, specifically glucobrassicanapin, and decreased the level of glucoiberin at 3 dpi and altered the content of specific VOCs. A group of 55 VOCs with the highest variability between treatments was identified. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the P. xylostella preference for L. maculans-inoculated leaves in the early stage of disease development could be caused by the underlying mechanisms leading to changes in metabolic composition. Further research should pinpoint the compounds responsible for driving larval preference and evaluate whether the be

Pomelo fruit is naturally rich in health-promoting components. However, few studies have quantified phytic acid (PA), which is both an antioxidant compound and an antinutrient that limits mineral bioavailability. In this study, we analyzed the temporospatial changes in fruit PA, total phenolic, total flavonoid, estimated mineral bioavailabilities, and their response to fertilization strategies. Compared to pulp, pomelo peel contained higher PA, total phenolic, total flavonoid and most minerals concentrations (except for P) but lower estimated mineral bioavailabilities (Mg, Zn and Fe). The concentrations of PA, total flavonoid, and minerals (P, Ca, Mg, Zn) and Fe estimated bioavailability in pulp gradually decreased with ripening. Total phenolic concentrations and the estimated bioavailabilities of Ca, Mg and Zn in pulp decreased in the early fruit expansion stage but subsequently increased markedly until maturity. Reduced chemical fertilization while supplementing Mg simultaneously increased estimated mineral bioavailabilities in pulp through reduced PA as an antinutrient, and increased bioactives concentrations in peel through increased PA as an antioxidant together with total phenolic and total flavonoid. Overall, our results indicate that reducing NPK while supplementing Mg fertilization in pomelo orchards with acidic and Mg-deficient soil is the most beneficial approach for achieving biofortification of the edible pulp parts and integrated fruit quality enhancement.

Walking-based locomotion techniques in virtual reality (VR) can use redirection to enable walking in a virtual environment larger than the physical one. This results in a mismatch between the perceived virtual and physical movement, which is known to cause VR sickness. However, it is unclear if different types of walking techniques (e.g., resetting, reorientation, or self-overlapping spaces) affect VR sickness differently. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 96 papers published in 2016–2022 that measure VR sickness in walking-based locomotion. We find different VR sickness effects between types of redirection and between normal walking and redirection. However, we also identified several problems with the use and reporting of VR sickness measures. We discuss the challenges in understanding VR sickness differences between walking techniques and present guidelines for measuring VR sickness in locomotion studies.

The “doorway effect” predicts that crossing an environmental boundary affects memory negatively. In virtual reality (VR), we can design the crossing and the appearance of such boundaries in non-realistic ways. However, it is unclear whether locomotion techniques like teleportation, which avoid crossing the boundary altogether, still induce the effect. Furthermore, it is unclear how different appearances of a doorway act as a boundary and thus induce the effect. To address these questions, we conducted two lab studies. First, we conceptually replicated prior doorway effect studies in VR using natural walking and teleportation. Second, we investigated the effect of five doorway visualizations, ranging from doors to portals. The results show no difference in object recognition performance due to the presence of a doorway, locomotion technique, or doorway visualization. We discuss the implications of these findings on the role of boundaries in event-based memory and the design of boundary interactions in VR.

In this study, the performance of the doubles-corrected higher random-phase approximation (HRPA(D)) has been investigated in calculations of NMR spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) for 58 molecules with the experimental values used as the reference values. HRPA(D) is an approximation to the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA), and is therefore computationally less expensive than SOPPA. HRPA(D) performs comparable and sometimes even better than SOPPA, and therefore when calculating SSCCs it should be considered as an alternative to SOPPA. Furthermore, it was investigated whether a CCSD(T) or MP2 geometry optimization was optimal for a SOPPA and a HRPA(D) SSCCs calculation for 8 smaller molecules. CCSD(T) is the optimal geometry optimization for the SOPPA calculation, and MP2 was optimal for the HRPA(D) SSCC calculations.

The Anthropocene signifies the start of a no-analogue trajectory of the Earth system that is fundamentally different from the Holocene. This new trajectory is characterized by rising risks of triggering irreversible and unmanageable shifts in Earth system functioning. We urgently need a new global approach to safeguard critical Earth system regulating functions more effectively and comprehensively. The global commons framework is the closest example of an existing approach with the aim of governing biophysical systems on Earth upon which the world collectively depends. Derived during stable Holocene conditions, the global commons framework must now evolve in the light of new Anthropocene dynamics. This requires a fundamental shift from a focus only on governing shared resources beyond national jurisdiction, to one that secures critical functions of the Earth system irrespective of national boundaries. We propose a new framework—the planetary commons—which differs from the global commons framework by including not only globally shared geographic regions but also critical biophysical systems that regulate the resilience and state, and therefore livability, on Earth. The new planetary commons should articulate and create comprehensive stewardship obligations through Earth system governance aimed at restoring and strengthening planetary resilience and justice.

In recent years, large-scale tree mortality events linked to global change have occurred around the world. Current forest monitoring methods are crucial for identifying mortality hotspots, but systematic assessments of isolated or scattered dead trees over large areas are needed to reduce uncertainty on the actual extent of tree mortality. Here, we mapped individual dead trees in California using sub-meter resolution aerial photographs from 2020 and deep learning-based dead tree detection. We identified 91.4 million dead trees over 27.8 million hectares of vegetated areas (16.7-24.7% underestimation bias when compared to field data). Among these, a total of 19.5 million dead trees appeared isolated, and 60% of all dead trees occurred in small groups ( ≤ 3 dead trees within a 30 × 30 m grid), which is largely undetected by other state-level monitoring methods. The widespread mortality of individual trees impacts the carbon budget and sequestration capacity of California forests and can be considered a threat to forest health and a fuel source for future wildfires.