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High-Performance Computing (HPC) platforms are required to solve the most diverse large-scale scientific problems in various research areas, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and health sciences. Researchers use a multitude of scientific softwares, which have different requirements. These include input and output operations, which directly impact performance due to the existing difference in processing and data access speeds. Thus, supercomputers must efficiently handle mixed workload when storing data from the applications. Understanding the set of applications and their performance running in a supercomputer is paramount to understanding the storage system's usage, pinpointing possible bottlenecks, and guiding optimization techniques. This research proposes a methodology and visualization tool to evaluate a supercomputer's data storage infrastructure's performance, taking into account the diverse workload and demands of the system over a long period of operation. As a study case, we focus on the Santos Dumont supercomputer, identifying inefficient usage, problematic performance factors, and providing guidelines on how to tackle those issues.

The ability to freely control the polarization of X-rays enables measurement techniques relying on circular or linear dichroism, which have become indispensable tools for characterizing the properties of chiral molecules or magnetic structures. Therefore, the demand for polarization control in X-ray free-electron lasers is increasing to enable polarization-sensitive dynamical studies on ultrafast time scales. The soft X-ray branch Athos of SwissFEL was designed with the aim of providing freely adjustable and arbitrary polarization by building its undulator solely from modules of the novel Apple X type. In this paper, the magnetic model of the linear inclined and circular Apple X polarization schemes are studied. The polarization is characterized by measuring the angular electron emission distributions of helium for various polarizations using cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy. The generation of fully linear polarized light of arbitrary angle, as well as elliptical polarizations of varying degree, are demonstrated.

Educar na sociedade contemporânea implica enfrentar desafios complexos. Assim, este estudo visa investigar o encontro da teoria da sociedade do risco na formação de professores de biologia, especificamente no contexto do Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID). Ao longo de 18 meses utilizamos diferentes instrumentos para a produção dos dados: formulário investigativo, cartas reflexivas, sequências didáticas e portfólios. A análise foi realizada utilizando a abordagem da análise temática, em que identificamos três eixos analíticos, permitindo investigar diferentes dimensões desse encontro. Os resultados indicam a importância de incorporar as noções de risco e complexidade na formação de futuros educadores para lidar com as incertezas do mundo atual, problematizando os modos como ensinamos biologia em uma sociedade de riscos.

People have influenced Earth’s biodiversity for millennia, including numerous introductions of domestic and wild species to islands. Here, we explore the origins and ecology of the Santa Catalina Island ground squirrel (SCIGS; Otospermophilus beecheyi nesioticus), one of only five endemic terrestrial mammals found on California’s Santa Catalina Island. We synthesized all records of archaeological/palaeontological SCIGS, conducted radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis of the potentially earliest SCIGS remains and performed genetic analysis of modern SCIGS. Squirrels were not identified in island palaeontological deposits, but at least 12 island archaeological sites contain SCIGS bones, including some that are butchered or burned. All directly dated SCIGS bones are Late Holocene in age and younger than approximately 1290 cal BP. The first mitochondrial genome for modern Otospermophilus beecheyi and 15 modern SCIGS mitogenomes document at least one introduction of squirrels. Stable isotope data indicate variable SCIGS diets and potential subsidies from marine environments to terrestrial plants consumed by some individuals. We cannot rule out a natural overwater dispersal, but the earliest SCIGS remains post-date the earliest evidence for people by several millennia and, along with other lines of evidence, support a human-assisted translocation of squirrels during the Late Holocene. These data illustrate the important role of Indigenous people in shaping and enhancing island biodiversity and ecology around the world.

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o potencial de um modelo didático tátil de uma serpente do Cerrado voltado para alunos com Deficiência Visual (DV). Realizamos entrevistas com professores da Sala de Recursos Multifuncionais (SRM) específica para estudantes com DV de uma escola pública, a fim de avaliar o modelo produzido e sua aplicabilidade, bem como entender melhor o funcionamento da SRM. Foi feita uma observação com três alunos da SRM para que eles avaliassem o modelo junto a um professor da sala. No geral, o modelo demonstrou ser adequado para discentes com DV, sendo avaliado positivamente tanto pelos professores quanto pelos alunos, com algumas ressalvas quanto à adequação para estudantes com baixa visão e quanto ao entendimento apenas pela descrição.

Introduction: The time elapsed from diagnosis to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is influenced by numerous factors. In Brazil, patients using the public health system are also dependent on the availability of HSCT-specific beds in the hematology ward. Objective and Methods: We conducted a cohort study of listed patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT at a Brazilian public hospital to investigate the impact of the waitlist time on post-HSCT survival. Results: The median time from diagnosis to HSCT was 19 months (IQR, 10 - 43), of which 6 months (IQR, 3 - 9) were spent on the waitlist. The time on the waitlist for HSCT appeared to influence mainly the survival of adult patients (≥ 18 years), with an increasing risk according to this time (RR, 3.53 and 95%CI, 1.81 - 6.88 for > 3 and ≤ 6 months; RR 5.86 and 95%CI, 3.26 - 10.53 for > 6 and ≤ 12 months, and; RR 4.24 and 95%CI, 2.32 - 7.75 for > 12 months). Conclusion: Patients who remained on the waitlist for less than 3 months had the highest survival (median survival, 856 days; IQR, 131 - 1607). The risk of reduced survival was about 6-fold higher (95%CI, 2.8 - 11.5) in patients with malignancies.

A partir da escrita deste artigo, objetivamos apresentar como foi a participação das professoras da Educação Infantil no IX Seminário Nacional de Histórias e Investigações em aulas de Matemática (IX SHIAM) e como o referido Seminário trouxe subsídios para o desenvolvimento/construção da Identidade Profissional (IP) delas por meio da escrita narrativa. Para tal, trazemos as vozes das professoras da Educação Infantil por meio de suas narrativas referentes à participação nesse evento. Percebemos que o envolvimento foi significativo tanto para serem escutadas como professoras que desenvolvem habilidades matemáticas com as crianças como para conhecerem outras realidades. Todo esse processo, principalmente a forma reflexiva como construíram as narrativas, contribuiu para a construção/desenvolvimento da IP. Assim, percebemos a necessidade de repensar a forma de pesquisar, tendo uma postura insubordinada criativamente ao dar voz às professoras da Educação Infantil, reconhecendo seus saberes da prática como conhecimentos científicos e constituintes da IP.

Abstract Idiopathic popliteal artery pseudoaneurysms are exceedingly rare, posing significant diagnostic challenges due to their elusive etiology. This report presents the case of a 78-year-old female with no history of trauma or orthopedic procedures who was diagnosed with a large pulsatile mass in the right popliteal fossa. Arteriography confirmed a popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm. Despite extensive clinical evaluation, no causative factors were identified, suggesting an idiopathic diagnosis. The patient underwent open surgical repair using a posterior approach, during which the popliteal artery defect was closed using a bovine pericardium patch. Postoperative follow-up revealed proximal patch stenosis, necessitating angioplasty. This case underscores the need for comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of atypical pseudoaneurysm presentations and highlights the complexities involved in managing idiopathic cases, emphasizing the importance of postoperative follow-up to address potential complications.

BackgroundTo ensure adequate treatment, individuals with delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) need to be differentiated reliably from those with dementia only (DO). Therefore, we aimed to examine the clinical indicators of DSD by assessing motor subtypes, cognitive performance and neuropsychiatric symptoms in DSD and DO patients.MethodsCross-sectional design with the Delirium-Motor-Subtyping Scale (DMSS), Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE), Clock-Drawing-Test (CDT), DemTect, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory assessed after admission to an acute hospital.Results94 patients were included, 43 with DSD (78 ± 7 years, MMSE = 11 ± 9) and 51 with DO (79 ± 7 years, MMSE = 9 ± 8). DMSS “no subtype” was more common in the DO group (26% vs. 10%, p = .04). The DSD group showed lower CDT scores (DSD: M = 4 ± 3 vs. DO: M = 6 ± 1; p < .001) and higher anxiety (DSD: MED = 3 ± 8 vs. DO: MED = 3 ± 4; p = .01) and sleep/night-time behavior disturbances (DSD: MED = 0 ± 6 vs. DO: MED = 0 ± 0; p = .02).ConclusionsSleep/night-time behavior disturbances appear to be a clinical indicator of DSD. Motor subtypes can identify cases at increased risk of developing delirium or unrecognized delirium.Clinical trial registrationhttps://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00025439, identifier DRKS00025439.

Abstract Obesity is one of the diseases with severe health consequences and rapidly increasing worldwide prevalence. Understanding the complex network of food intake and energy balance regulation is an essential prerequisite for pharmacological intervention with obesity. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are among the main modulators of metabolism and energy balance. They, for instance, regulate appetite and satiety in certain hypothalamic neurons, as well as glucose and lipid metabolism and hormone secretion from adipocytes. Mutations in some GPCRs, such as the melanocortin receptor type 4 (MC4R), have been associated with early-onset obesity. Here, we identified the adhesion GPCR latrophilin 1 (ADGRL1/LPHN1) as a member of the regulating network governing food intake and the maintenance of energy balance. Deficiency of the highly conserved receptor in mice results in increased food consumption and severe obesity, accompanied by dysregulation of glucose homeostasis. Consistently, we identified a partially inactivating mutation in human ADGRL1/LPHN1 in a patient suffering from obesity. Therefore, we propose that LPHN1 dysfunction is a risk factor for obesity development.

O artigo busca traçar um panorama da formação de professores da Educação Infantil e Anos Iniciais do Ensino Fundamental proposta pela Universidade Feevale, situada em Novo Hamburgo, no sul do Brasil, e sua Escola de Aplicação. A pesquisa trata-se de uma análise feita por professores atuantes nos âmbitos envolvidos - curso de Pedagogia, a Coordenação Pedagógica e corpo docente da Escola de Aplicação - no ano de 2023, trazendo dados sobre como acontecem as práticas pedagógicas dos professores em formação do curso de Pedagogia, no que diz respeito à quantidade de horas e do processo em si, e fazendo um breve paralelo com a formação de professores praticada na Finlândia. Verificou-se que, apesar de a Universidade Feevale ter uma Escola de Aplicação à disposição para os estudantes de Pedagogia, não há vínculo direto entre elas. Por outro lado, percebe-se potencial e possibilidades para que ambas se qualifiquem. Conclui-se que há necessidade de um esforço conjunto da Escola de Aplicação e da Universidade, visto que pertencem a mesma instituição de ensino, para qualificar e ampliar as discussões, desde a grade curricular até as teorias e as práticas aplicadas em ambos os espaços.

Este estudo investiga a presença e abordagem da Educação Ambiental (EA) nos currículos dos cursos de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas no Brasil que possuem nota máxima no Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes até 2021. Utilizando uma abordagem qualitativa, realizamos uma análise documental dos Projetos Pedagógicos de Curso (PPCs) de 18 instituições brasileiras. A metodologia envolveu a identificação e análise das informações relacionadas à EA nos PPCs, com foco na presença de disciplinas específicas e no tratamento transversal do tema ao longo do currículo. Os resultados destacam lacunas na inclusão e tratamento da EA nos currículos de formação inicial de professores, apontando para a necessidade de mudanças na configuração das disciplinas, inclusão de disciplinas obrigatórias, formação continuada dos professores e abordagem interdisciplinar e transversal da EA. Essa pesquisa ressalta a importância da EA crítica na formação de professores e estudantes como agentes transformadores diante dos desafios ambientais contemporâneos, visando um futuro mais justo e sustentável.

O processamento de imagens obtidas por Veículos Aéreos não Tripulados (VANTs), com o avanço na técnica Structure from Motion – Multi-View Stereo (SfM-MVS), vem se popularizando nos estudos da área da Geociências, tendo diversas aplicações pelo seu baixo custo, rapidez e praticidade do método. A praticidade faz que usuários menos experientes utilizem o método e, por muitas vezes, a precisão cartográfica é negligenciada. A precisão e acurácia dos modelos obtidos com VANTs têm sido alvos de pesquisas recentes, mas carecendo ainda de estudos aprofundados no mapeamento de áreas escarpadas onde a amplitude altimétrica pode interferir na qualidade do modelo. A presente pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar a variação do erro médio quadrático (RMSE) de acordo com a influência do número de Ground Control Points (GCPs) e estimar uma quantidade ideal de pontos de controle que devem ser utilizados para produzir resultados acurados em uma área de extração de basalto a céu aberto em forma de patamares no estado do Rio Grande do Sul com uma variação altimétrica de aproximadamente 50m. Com um número de 10 a 16 GCPs foi observada uma estabilização do erros na área de estudo, mas outros fatores além do número dos GCPs se mostraram importantes na variação do erro, como distribuição dos pontos, iluminação, taxa de sobreposição das imagens e variação da escala devido à altura da foto.

O presente trabalho propõe realizar uma análise bibliométrica com trabalhos relacionados à erosão do solo e utilização de modelos hidrológicos, dando destaque ao modelo SIMWE e na sequência ranquear os mais relevantes por meio de método estatístico. Para a realização do trabalho, utilizou-se das bases Scopus e Web of Science para obter dados, que foram manipulados em ferramentas de um pacote de programação em linguagem R, o qual também permitiu a plotagem dos dados em gráficos e tabelas. Em termos de resultados, foram encontrados 373 trabalhos, com destaque para o maior número de produções na última década. Isso se deve aos avanços no manuseio de dados e a possibilidade de geração de modelos por meio de softwares, muitos deles de código aberto. Em relação à aplicação do modelo SIMWE, possui importante aplicação em áreas de vinhas no Mediterrâneo, com condições de solo e relevo suscetíveis a processos de erosão acelerada. O ranqueamento das publicações, utilizando o Methodi Ordinatio, permitiu conhecer as publicações mais relevantes da busca com base no ano de publicação, número de citações e fator de impacto da revista. A modelagem hidrológica tem se expandido bastante, permitindo a compreensão da dinâmica de processos e a geração de cenários.

Summary: Background: Proper hand hygiene (HH), which includes sanitizing with alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) (or handwashing with soap and water if ABHR is unavailable), is key for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAI), including COVID-19. Understanding drivers of HH is key to improving adherence. Aim: This study aims to explore drivers and barriers to HH practice at two hospitals in the Dominican Republic in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to inform development of HH behaviour change interventions. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 hospital staff during September 2021. We used the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour) model to explore HH experiences and preferences. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analysed using a thematic approach. Results: A total of 11 parent codes and 27 sub-codes were identified, and 1145 coded segments were analysed. Use of handwashing with soap and water and/or sanitizing with ABHR was reported by all participants; handwashing was generally preferred. Participants expressed knowledge of proper HH methods (capability), but inconsistent supplies and lack of time presented HH challenges (opportunity). Interviewees described practicing HH to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19 and other infections (reflective motivation) or out of habit (automatic motivation). Discussion: By understanding and addressing underlying factors affecting HH, hospitals can decrease the risk of HCAIs. Our findings suggest that interventions implemented to improve HH in these hospitals should target motivation and opportunity. These findings informed a multimodal intervention to increase ABHR access and implement message-tested communications campaigns; end-point assessments will provide insights into the intervention's impact.

Abstract The association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and low-grade inflammation has been explored in children but rarely in adults. Inflammation is characteristic of some, but not all, patients with ADHD and might be influenced by ADHD medication but also lifestyle factors including nutrition, smoking, and stress. It is also still unclear if any specific symptoms are related to inflammation. Therefore, we assessed 96 inflammatory proteins in a deeply phenotyped cohort of 126 adult ADHD participants with a stable medication status using OLINK technology. A data-based, unsupervised hierarchical clustering method could identify two distinct biotypes within the 126 ADHD participants based on their inflammatory profile: a higher inflammatory potential (HIP) and a lower inflammatory protein potential (LIP) group. Biological processes that differed strongest between groups were related to the NF-κB pathway, chemokine signaling, IL-17 signaling, metabolic alterations, and chemokine attraction. A comparison of sample characteristics revealed that the HIP group was more likely to have higher levels of chronic stress (p

Abstract Prebiotics are defined as non-digestible dietary components that promote the growth of beneficial gut microorganisms. In many cases, however, this capability is not systematically evaluated. Here, we develop a methodology for determining prebiotic-responsive bacteria using the popular dietary supplement inulin. We first identify microbes with a capacity to bind inulin using mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with inulin. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of sorted cells revealed that the ability to bind inulin was widespread in the microbiota. We further evaluate which taxa are metabolically stimulated by inulin and find that diverse taxa from the phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria respond to inulin, and several isolates of these taxa can degrade inulin. Incubation with another prebiotic, xylooligosaccharides (XOS), in contrast, shows a more robust bifidogenic effect. Interestingly, the Coriobacteriia Eggerthella lenta and Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens are indirectly stimulated by the inulin degradation process, expanding our knowledge of inulin-responsive bacteria.

The COVID-19 pandemic had an immense impact on the labor market in California and the U.S., with unemployment reaching highs not seen since the Great Depression. The regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) system, as well as federal legislation that created supplemental UI programs and benefit extensions, played a fundamental role in the country’s economic and public health response. Individual-level data on who applied for and received UI benefits can provide crucial insights into understanding how the crisis evolved, how well the government’s response worked, and what the implications are for future crises. The pandemic also brought to the forefront more fundamental issues with our nation’s UI system, such as pervasive inequities in which workers actually receive benefits and large differences in benefit amounts and durations. While some of these issues have persisted for decades, a lack of access to individual-level UI data has prevented a deeper understanding of the extent of the inequities. The crisis also revealed that even the most fundamental statistics that policymakers rely on have important flaws, and basic information on which workers benefit from some of the core UI programs is completely missing, despite the data being collected every day by UI agencies as they pay benefits. The California Policy Lab (CPL) partnered with the California Employment Development Department (EDD), which manages unemployment insurance in California, to help bring greater clarity to policymakers about the impact of the crisis in California. CPL’s first analysis was published in April 2020, and through this unique relationship, CPL was able to use anonymized claims data to track the labor market crisis in close to real-time and to provide in-depth, detailed insights on the federal government’s response. Through a series of 19 reports, CPL generated new findings about a range of issues in the California UI system. CPL’s research also shed light on which demographic groups and types of workers benefited the most from the different program extensions during the pandemic and which workers fell through the cracks and were unable to access vital UI benefits. By working directly with complicated claims data for more than two years, CPL developed new, more accurate and timely measures of how many people were relying on the UI system as compared to the measures that policymakers and the media typically have relied on. This work directly demonstrated for state and federal policymakers how the measures they had historically relied on provided a distorted view of the labor market during the crisis. For example, a 2020 GAO report cited CPL’s research, finding that published claims data were likely inflated (Government Accountability Office, 2020). This report highlights ten key insights about the UI system and the labor market that are based on CPL’s unique partnership with EDD and the unique data access this partnership provided. The report focuses on six insights on equity and disparities in access to unemployment insurance benefits during the pandemic. It then documents four insights on measurement issues in the publicly available data and how access to California’s administrative records allows CPL to overcome these issues. We also share how these improved measurements can inform policy choices to improve equity. This work has been supported, in part, by the University of California Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives grants MRP-19-600774 and M21PR3278

Objective: To study the clinical use of elagolix in ovarian stimulation and its effect on premature ovulation in a cohort of women undergoing oocyte donation. Design: A prospective cohort study with the use of historical controls. Setting: A private reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic. Patient(s): Seventy-five oocyte donors and 75 historical donors, aged 21–30 years, who had each passed Food and Drug Administration and American Society for Reproductive Medicine-approved oocyte donor screening. Intervention(s): Administration of elagolix 200 mg orally every night at bedtime with development of a follicular size of ≥14 mm for ovulation suppression compared with ganirelix 250 μg every night at bedtime. Main Outcome Measure(s): Premature ovulation rate, total oocytes, mature oocytes, maximum estradiol, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone levels. Result(s): Oocytes were available in all retrievals because there were no instances of premature ovulation in either the elagolix or ganirelix groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in baseline demographics. Both groups had the same amounts of gonadotropins consumed and days of stimulation. The average number of total oocytes was similar between the control group and elagolix group (30.55 vs. 30.31). Furthermore, the average number of mature oocytes was similar between the control and study groups (25.42 vs. 24.73). An analysis of the 580 fresh oocytes in the elagolix group and the 737 fresh oocytes in the ganirelix group showed similar outcomes with fertilization rates of 79.7% and 84.6%, respectively. Blastocyst development rates were also similar: 62.9% in the elagolix group and 57.3% in the ganirelix group. Conclusion(s): Compared with a historical control group using ganirelix, patients receiving elagolix demonstrated a similar number of oocytes and mature oocytes with on average 4.2 fewer injections per cycle and average per-cycle patient savings of $289.10. Clinical Trial Registration Number: Western IRB Pr. No.: 20191163, April 11, 2019. First enrollment June 20, 2019.

M2-like macrophages promote tumor growth and cancer immune evasion. This study used an in vitro model to investigate how hypoxia and tumor metabolism affect macrophage polarization. Liver cancer cells (HepG2 and VX2) and macrophages (THP1) were cultured under hypoxic (0.1% O2) and normoxic (21% O2) conditions with varying glucose levels (2 g/L or 4.5 g/L). Viability assays and extracellular pH (pHe) measurements were conducted over 96 hours. Macrophages were exposed to the tumor-conditioned medium (TCM) from the cancer cells, and polarization was assessed using arginase and nitrite assays. GC-MS-based metabolic profiling quantified TCM meta-bolites and correlated them with M2 polarization. The results showed that pHe in TCMs decreased more under hypoxia than normoxia (p < 0.0001), independent of glucose levels. The arginase assay showed hypoxia significantly induced the M2 polarization of macrophages (control group: p = 0.0120,0.1%VX2-TCM group: p = 0.0149, 0.1%HepG2-TCM group: p < 0.0001, 0.1%VX2-TCMHG group: p = 0.0001, and 0.1%HepG2-TCMHG group: p < 0.0001). TCMs also induced M2 polarization under normoxic conditions, but the strongest M2 polarization occurred when both tumor cells and macrophages were incubated under hypoxia with high glucose levels. Metabolomics revealed that several metabolites, particularly lactate, were correlated with hypoxia and M2 polarization. Under normoxia, elevated 2-amino-butanoic acid (2A-BA) strongly correlated with M2 polarization. These findings suggest that targeting tumor hypoxia could mitigate immune evasion in liver tumors. Lactate drives acidity in hypoxic tumors, while 2A-BA could be a therapeutic target for overcoming immunosuppression in normoxic conditions.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits provided a lifeline to workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. However, access to these benefits has been uneven across communities and states (Edwards, 2020). Identifying and documenting these disparities is an important step to addressing them and to rendering the UI system more equitable. Utilizing a conceptual framework of unemployment claims, we developed three metrics to measure access to UI benefits across the claim lifecycle. We then analyzed these measures to provide insight into differential access to UI benefits across U.S. states and across counties within California.   The first measure of access is the First Payment Rate and corresponds to the earliest part of the claim lifecycle. It measures the share of people who file their first claim and who subsequently receive a UI payment. After the First Payment Rate, the primary measure of access in the report is the Recipiency Rate. The recipiency rate measures the share of unemployed or underemployed workers who are actually receiving UI benefits. This is the traditional measure (Wittenberg et al., 1999) of UI access, and reflects access in the middle of the claim lifecycle. The final measure of access is the Exhaustion Rate, which corresponds to the final part of the claim lifecycle. It measures the share of claimants who have exhausted eligibility for both regular and extended UI benefits.   We calculated these metrics in each state by using publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Labor reports and by county in California using tabulations based on individuallevel claims data from the California Employment Development Department. The additional information available in the California claims data allows us to improve and further segment our measures of access, allowing us to identify new facts and patterns from the data. We generated these metrics for the year 2020 and focused our analysis from the beginning of the pandemic in March through December 2020, just prior to the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, we compared these to the corresponding values in December 2019 as a pre-pandemic benchmark.   We use these measures to analyze disparities in access to UI benefits during and before the pandemic and identify community attributes and policy choices that are associated with differential access. This analysis cannot identify causal relationships, however, across metrics, there is a pattern of correlations showing that workers in states with more generous labor and UI policies have greater access to benefits, potentially indicating the importance of policy choices in shaping UI access. The correlations also show a pattern by which less affluent areas and areas with a higher share of disadvantaged social groups are associated with lower access to UI benefits. Additional research is needed to identify the causal mechanisms between policies and UI access.Along with research on the effects of rules of the UI and other state and federal programs, we conclude the report by providing further recommendations on future data collection and research funding priorities.This work has been supported, in part, by the University of California Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives grants MRP-19-600774 and M21PR3278

Abstract Background This project aims to investigate the effects of a student-led journal club on students’ critical thinking and clinical application skills in the academic field of aging and physical activity. Methods A pre-post design analysis with data collected in four successive cohorts of the program M.Sc. Sport and Movement Gerontology was conducted. Each student assigned himself/herself to a study, and then led the journal club discussion and published a summary of the journal club via graphical abstract on social media. The students rated their perceived confidence in the beginning (T0) and after the semester (T1) via questionnaire and 5-point Likert scales addressing their ability to review and summarize the evidence, to present it in a journal club and to lead the discussion. Results 41 students (32 women, M = 25 years SD 1.9 years) were included. The journal club was rated as “very good” (median 2, IQR 1). Students’ confidence on participating, leading the journal club and transferring the results into clinical practice improved significantly (r ≥ 0.6, p

Abstract X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) are state-of-the-art scientific tools capable to study matter on the scale of atomic processes. Since the initial operation of X-ray FELs more than a decade ago, several facilities with upgraded performance have been put in operation. Here we present the first lasing results of Athos, the soft X-ray FEL beamline of SwissFEL at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. Athos features an undulator layout based on short APPLE-X modules providing full polarisation control, interleaved with small magnetic chicanes. This versatile configuration allows for many operational modes, giving control over many FEL properties. We show, for example, a 35% reduction of the required undulator length to achieve FEL saturation with respect to standard undulator configurations. We also demonstrate the generation of more powerful pulses than the ones obtained in typical undulators. Athos represents a fundamental step forward in the design of FEL facilities, creating opportunities in FEL-based sciences.