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• 01GSRCMVS9AF2VS6VJGQNK3KTH abstract "Background: Ultrasonography with motion analysis enables dynamic imaging of medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles and tendons during gait. This revealed pathological muscle-tendon dynamics in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) compared to typically developing (TD) children. However, wearing an ultrasound probe on the lower leg could interfere with gait and bias muscle length changes observed with ultrasound. Research question: Does wearing an ultrasound probe on the MG influence gait in children with CP and TD children?Methods: Eighteen children with spastic CP and 16 age-matched TD children walked at comfortable walking speed on an instrumented treadmill. One baseline gait condition (BASE) and two conditions with an ultrasound probe and custom-made probe holder were measured: on the mid-muscle fascicles (FAS) and on the muscle -tendon junction (MTJ). The effect of condition and group on spatiotemporal parameters, hip, knee and ankle kinematics, ankle moment, ankle power, and modeled MG muscle-tendon unit (MTU) length was assessed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA's. Statistical non-parametric mapping was applied for time-series. Post-hoc paired-samples t-tests were conducted, and the root mean square difference was calculated for significant parts.Results: Children took wider steps during FAS (CP, TD) and MTJ (TD) compared to BASE, and during FAS compared to MTJ (CP). Hip extension was lower (2.7 degrees) during terminal stance for MTJ compared to FAS for TD only. There was less swing knee flexion (FAS 4.9 degrees; MTJ 4.0 degrees) and ankle plantarflexion around toe-off (FAS 3.0 degrees; MTJ 2.4 degrees) for both ultrasound placements, with no group effect. Power absorption during loading response was slightly increased for both ultrasound placements (0.12 W/kg), with no group effect. MTU shortened less in swing for both ultrasound placements (FAS 3.6 mm; MTJ 3.7 mm), with no group effect.Significance: Wearing an ultrasound probe causes minimal lower-limb gait alterations and MTU length changes that are mostly similar in CP and TD.".
• 01GSRFQMGFQA2PY5ZCFYEAYN84 abstract "Due to their limited geographic distributions and specialized ecologies, cave species are often highly endemic and can be especially vulnerable to habitat degradation within and surrounding the cave systems they inhabit. We investigated the evolutionary history of the West Virginia Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus subterraneus), estimated the population trend from historic and current survey data, and assessed the current potential for water quality threats to the cave habitat. Our genomic data (mtDNA sequence and ddRADseq-derived SNPs) reveal two, distinct evolutionary lineages within General Davis Cave corresponding to G. subterraneus and its widely distributed sister species, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, that are also differentiable based on morphological traits. Genomic models of evolutionary history strongly support asymmetric and continuous gene flow between the two lineages, and hybrid classification analyses identify only parental and first generation cross (F1) progeny. Collectively, these results point to a rare case of sympatric speciation occurring within the cave, leading to strong support for continuing to recognize G. subterraneus as a distinct and unique species. Due to its specialized habitat requirements, the complete distribution of G. subterraneus is unresolved, but using survey data in its type locality (and currently the only known occupied site), we find that the population within General Davis Cave has possibly declined over the last 45 years. Finally, our measures of cave and surface stream water quality did not reveal evidence of water quality impairment and provide important baselines for future monitoring. In addition, our unexpected finding of a hybrid zone and partial reproductive isolation between G. subterraneus and G. porphyriticus warrants further attention to better understand the evolutionary and conservation implications of occasional hybridization between the species.".
• 01GSRV5HEM8H4M3D7Z2CDQ57GB abstract "A facile method was developed from solid precursors to obtain zinc anchored in a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (Zn-NCx) via the solid-solid thermal (SST) route. The applied method, to synthesize Zn-NCx, was completed under single-step and solvent-free conditions. Regarding the synthesis mechanism, the zeolitic-imidazole framework (ZIF-8) was first fabricated from solid mixed precursors at a low temperature of the SST process. In a continuous mode, the fabricated ZIF-8 was sacrificed at a high temperature of the SST process to obtain Zn-NCx. Detailed characterization was performed to investigate the solid-solid transformation of precursors during the SST route. This characterization confirmed that Zn-NCx consists of zinc anchored in the nitrogen-doped carbon matrix. Also, due to the high porosity and N-functionalization, Zn-NCx exhibited excellent adsorption properties for CO2 and was helpful in CO2/CH4 separation. Furthermore, the chemical properties in hierarchical porous Zn-NCx were demonstrated to act as a catalyst for CO2 fixation. Interestingly, since the current method (SST) is solvent-free, this is a promising environmental route. The procedure has the potential for upscaling, revealing vast prospect for applications based on these carbon materials.".
• 01GSRVFTG83M40GXMME0X0F429 abstract "Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures of transition metal oxides (TMOs) are promising candidates for high-performance electrochemical supercapacitors (ESCs). Herein, sub-10 nm 2D SnO2-ZnO heterostructures were constructed on Au-modified SiO2/Si wafers by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique for ESC application. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) study revealed the pseudocapacitive-type Faradaic redox reactions of the 2D SnO2- ZnO heterostructure electrode with good reversibility. The electrode exhibited high energy storage capability with a high specific capacitance (Cs) of 538.90 F g-1 at a scan rate and current density of 10 mV s-1 and 8.0 A g-1, respectively. The corresponding energy density and the power density were 14.80 Wh kg-1 and 2512.35 W kg-1, respectively, at 8.0 A g-1. The high energy storage capacity of the heterostructure electrode can be ascribed to the combination of improved infiltration and intercalation/deintercalation of electrolyte ions induced by the nanoscale thickness and enhanced redox activity of the heterostructure. Furthermore, the 2D electrode displayed excellent electrochemical robustness with a capacitance retention of 96.3% after 5000 charge/discharge cycles.".
• 01GSS72ZK6C2QQRJR0GYAPD0BR abstract "Abstract Background Women in Pakistan suffer from a high rate of depression. The stress of low-income, illiteracy, exposure to violence and living in a patriarchal society are predisposing vulnerabilities for depression, particularly during and following pregnancy. The resilience of an individual plays a significant role in promoting prenatal mental health, but this has yet to be thoroughly researched. In this article, our objective is to identify the core characteristics of resilience among pregnant women, which will then help us in developing an intervention. Methods The exploratory-descriptive study was conducted over 6 months in five different antenatal hospitals in Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted with pregnant women, purposefully selected with heterogeneous characteristics to explore diverse perspectives, while symptoms of depression were quantified by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale before the interview. Verbatim transcriptions were coded openly and merged into categories and themes. Result A total of six themes emerged from in-depth thematic analysis: 1) purpose of life, 2) dealing with emotions, 3) believing in yourself, 4) optimistic approach, 5) strengthening support and relationship and 6) spirituality and humanity. Women agreed that these characteristics could help them improve their mental health. Conclusion In conclusion, these themes were the core components of pregnant women’s resilience which ultimately could help to promote prenatal mental health. These pave a pathway towards developing culturally and contextually resilience interventions aimed at enhancing mental health of pregnant women which then may improve neonatal and family mental wellbeing. ".
• 01GSSBHPQTFVRACCSC6N74G2YS abstract "Developing LSTM neural networks that can accurately predict the future trajectory of ongoing cases and their remaining runtime is an active area of research in predictive process monitoring. In this work a novel complete remaining trace prediction (CRTP) LSTM is proposed. This model is trained to directly predict the complete remaining trace and runtime of cases in contrast to single event prediction as is considered in previously published research on this topic. This makes the CRTP-LSTM robust in terms of utilizing all available attributes of previously observed events for prediction, consequently it can be considered natively data aware. In an extensive experimental assessment the authors show that CRTP-LSTMs consistently outperform other considered approaches for both remaining trace and runtime prediction. Furthermore, the authors show that including all available information contained in previously observed events has a positive impact on the performance of the CRTP-LSTM model. This indicates that valuable information can be extracted from attributes of events in order to make more accurate trace and runtime predictions. This opens up interesting avenues for future research including the incorporation of inter-case features into a modeling setup when predicting the remaining trace and runtime of cases.".
• 01GSSEWPWEM0F5HNB4VDH4VBZ4 abstract "INTRODUCTION With the current development of ambient ionization platforms, sample analysis procedures are becoming faster and easier. And yet, sacrificing sample preparation and separation techniques in favor of short analytical run times allows matrix effects to resurface unabated, leading to a decrease in sensitivity accompanied by repeatability and reproducibility issues. In this study, we introduce electrospun polymeric fibrous membranes (MetaSAMPs) for the sampling and direct analysis of biofluids using the established laser-assisted rapid evaporative mass spectrometry (LA-REIMS) methodology (Plekhova et al., Nat.Prot., 2021). By applying customized MetaSAMPs® as a sampling tool and direct substrate for LA-REIMS analysis, we aim to increase the short- and long-term preservation of the metabolome, reduce the impact of macromolecules during analysis while improving metabolome coverage and reproducibility. METHODS Polymeric fibrous sampling membranes (MetaSAMP) were developed by electrospinning with their composition individually optimized for three commonly addressed in light of clinical biochemistry biofluids, i.e. stool, urine and saliva. During validation experiments, pooled biological samples were analyzed as such or impregnated on the MetaSAMP® membranes to compare LA-REIMS signal intensity, metabolome coverage, and reproducibility. Next, the short- and long-term stability were examined by storing the impregnated MetaSAMP® membranes and crude biofluids at 4°C and 20° for 48 hours, or at -20°C and -80°C for up to six weeks. Finally, the clinical applicability of the three biofluid-specific MetaSAMPs® was verified in different pediatric cohorts, i.e. OPERA (n = 95, saliva, 6-16y) and MetaBEAse (n = 76, stool, 6-12y) studying adolescent and childhood obesity and CMA (n = 70, urine, 6 months-3y) studying infant food allergy. PRELIMINARY DATA Based on metabolome coverage, reproducibility and fiber network quality, the optimal urinary MetaSAMP® composition was determined to be a blend of 70/20/10 Polystyrene (PS)/Polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)/Polyacrylonitrile(PAN)%, enabling extraction of a broad range of metabolites (log P = -5 to 13). The addition of an outer 10% (w/w) nanofiber PAN coating promoted urine absorption while simultaneously acting as a filter to reduce macromolecule biofouling. Similarly, the optimal compositions of the salivary and rectal MetaSAMPs® were determined as 90/10 PS/PVP and 60/40 PVP/PS, respectively, both with PAN coating. In subsequent validation experiments, impregnated MetaSAMPs showed a higher number of detected metabolic features compared to the crude biofluids whilst maintaining good repeatability with 97%, 66% and 65% of features ≤ 30% CV threshold for the urinary, salivary and rectal MetaSAMP®. After 48h storage, mimicking the maximum transportation time from the patient's home or physician’s office to the laboratory, more metabolic features showed better stability when stored impregnated on the samplers as compared to the raw biofluids, as estimated by the interclass correlation coefficients (ICC). For example, 107 and 732 features detected in urine after storage at 20°C and 4°C, respectively, correlated well between 0 and 48h (ICC > 0.4), while urine impregnated on the MetaSAMP stored at the same conditions generated 1597 and 1851 features with ICCs > 0.4. A similar trend was observed following 6 weeks of storage, as urinary MetaSAMPs still retained 1206 highly correlated features at -20°C, while in urine only 780 remained stable. Lastly, the clinical validation in three independent cohorts showed better predictive power of multivariate OPLS-DA models based on metabolic fingerprints obtained with the MetaSAMPs® , e.g. Q2Y= 0.65 and p-value = 1.3e-11 for urinary MetaSAMP® whereas Q2 Y = 0.52 and p-value = 3.6e-7 for the analysis of crude urinary samples. NOVEL ASPECT Polymeric nanofibrous samplers (MetaSAMPs®) promote biofluid metabolome stability during storage while increasing metabolome coverage and reproducibility following LA-REIMS-based metabotyping.".
• 01GSSG03KWN73EZB7N9ZD2YGRK abstract "Missense and truncating variants in the X-chromosome-linked CLCN4 gene, resulting in reduced or complete loss-of-function (LOF) of the encoded chloride/proton exchanger ClC-4, were recently demonstrated to cause a neurocognitive phenotype in both males and females. Through international clinical matchmaking and interrogation of public variant databases we assembled a database of 90 rare CLCN4 missense variants in 90 families: 41 unique and 18 recurrent variants in 49 families. For 43 families, including 22 males and 33 females, we collated detailed clinical and segregation data. To confirm causality of variants and to obtain insight into disease mechanisms, we investigated the effect on electrophysiological properties of 59 of the variants in Xenopus oocytes using extended voltage and pH ranges. Detailed analyses revealed new pathophysiological mechanisms: 25% (15/59) of variants demonstrated LOF, characterized by a "shift" of the voltage-dependent activation to more positive voltages, and nine variants resulted in a toxic gain-of-function, associated with a disrupted gate allowing inward transport at negative voltages. Functional results were not always in line with in silico pathogenicity scores, highlighting the complexity of pathogenicity assessment for accurate genetic counselling. The complex neurocognitive and psychiatric manifestations of this condition, and hitherto under-recognized impacts on growth, gastrointestinal function, and motor control are discussed. Including published cases, we summarize features in 122 individuals from 67 families with CLCN4-related neurodevelopmental condition and suggest future research directions with the aim of improving the integrated care for individuals with this diagnosis.".
• 01GSSG9ZVV84SM129NJCCP5WFJ abstract "This paper explores the differences between rural and urban practices in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing aspects such as management of patient flow, infection prevention and control, information processing, communication and collaboration. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected through the online PRICOV-19 questionnaire sent to general practices in 38 countries. Rural practices in our sample were smaller than urban-based practices. They reported an above-average number of old and multimorbid patients and a below-average number of patients with a migrant background or financial problems. Rural practices were less likely to provide leaflets and information, but were more likely to have ceased using the waiting room or to have made structural changes to their waiting room and to have changed their prescribing practices in terms of patients attending the practices. They were less likely to perform video consultations or use electronic prescription methods. Our findings show the existence of certain issues that could impact patient safety in rural areas more than in urban areas due to the underlying differences in population profile and supports. These could be used to plan the organization of care for similar future pandemic situations.".
• 01GSSH29ZDNWN5EGMYY1R54BFD abstract "For antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, it is important not only to detect AMR genes, but also to determine their plasmidic or chromosomal location, as this will impact their spread differently. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is increasingly used for AMR surveillance. However, determining the genetic context of AMR genes using only short-read sequencing is complicated. The combination with long-read sequencing offers a potential solution, as it allows hybrid assemblies. Nevertheless, its use in surveillance has so far been limited. This study aimed to demonstrate its added value for AMR surveillance based on a case study of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). ESBL genes have been reported to occur also on plasmids. To gain insight into the diversity and genetic context of ESBL genes detected in clinical isolates received by the Belgian National Reference Center between 2013 and 2018, 100 ESBL-producing Shigella and 31 ESBL-producing Salmonella were sequenced with MiSeq and a representative selection of 20 Shigella and six Salmonella isolates additionally with MinION technology, allowing hybrid assembly. The bla CTX-M-15 gene was found to be responsible for a rapid rise in the ESBL Shigella phenotype from 2017. This gene was mostly detected on multi-resistance-carrying IncFII plasmids. Based on clustering, these plasmids were determined to be distinct from the circulating plasmids before 2017. They were spread to different Shigella species and within Shigella sonnei between multiple genotypes. Another similar IncFII plasmid was detected after 2017 containing bla CTX-M-27 for which only clonal expansion occurred. Matches of up to 99 % to plasmids of various bacterial hosts from all over the world were found, but global alignments indicated that direct or recent ESBL-plasmid transfers did not occur. It is most likely that travellers introduced these in Belgium and subsequently spread them domestically. However, a clear link to a specific country could not be made. Moreover, integration of bla CTX-M in the chromosome of two Shigella isolates was determined for the first time, and shown to be related to ISEcp1. In contrast, in Salmonella, ESBL genes were only found on plasmids, of which bla CTX-M-55 and IncHI2 were the most prevalent, respectively. No matching ESBL plasmids or cassettes were detected between clinical Shigella and Salmonella isolates. The hybrid assembly data allowed us to check the accuracy of plasmid prediction tools. MOB-suite showed the highest accuracy. However, these tools cannot replace the accuracy of long-read and hybrid assemblies. This study illustrates the added value of hybrid assemblies for AMR surveillance and shows that a strategy where even just representative isolates of a collection used for hybrid assemblies could improve international AMR surveillance as it allows plasmid tracking.".
• 01GSSHS4Q4CVXCXS2YY7JHHZQ3 abstract "Previous research has focused on a private equity (PE) firm's role as principal in its relationship with an investee, but few studies have looked into their role as agents for their investors. We examine how a PE firm's relationship as agent for limited partners (LPs) and banks influences its incentives to resolve financial distress in the investee. We examine the effect of PE fundraising reputation, PE fundraising activity, and PE bank affiliation on the likelihood of a financially distressed buyout ending in bankruptcy. We build a unique data set of 338 distressed buyouts in the United Kingdom to test our hypotheses.".
• 01GSSKB6SS5MWJXJMCNHN5JQG9 abstract "This article explores the impact of private equity (PE) firms on human resource management practices in buy-outs using data drawn from the first representative pan-European survey into this issue. The findings suggest the overall impact of PE on high-performance work practices (HPWP) is affected more by length of the investment relationship than the countries where PE is going to or is coming from. PE investment results in the increased use of HPWP in buy-outs the longer the anticipated time to exit. With respect to the PE firms country of origin, buy-outs backed by Anglo-Saxon PE firms are as likely to introduce new HPWP (and are specifically more likely to extend performance-related pay schemes) as those backed by non-Anglo-Saxon PE firms, suggesting some adaptation to the local host country contexts of buy-outs.".
• 01GSSKDJ98CYTH1WXSPW27NJ8G abstract "Agency theory has focused on buyouts as a governance and control device to increase profitability, organizational efficiency, and limited attention to growth. A strategic entrepreneurship view of buyouts incorporates upside incentives for value creation associated with growth as well as efficiency gains. In this paper, we develop the complementarity between agency theory and strategic entrepreneurship perspectives to examine the performance implications for different types of buyouts. Further, we study how the involvement of private equity (PE) firms is related to the performance of the post–buyout firm. These issues are examined for a sample of 238 PE–backed buyouts in the UK between 1993 and 2003. Implications for theory and practice are suggested.".
• 01GSSNK6XB7CDBBX3HGZB5WBH4 abstract "Smart Urban Mobility: Transport Planning in the Age of Big Data and Digital Twins explores the data-driven paradigm shift in urban mobility planning and examines how well-established practices and strong data analytics efforts can be better aligned to fit transport planning practices and "smart" mobility management needs. The book provides a comprehensive survey of the major big data and technology resources derived from smart cities research which are collectively poised to transform urban mobility. Chapters highlight the important aspects of each data source affecting applicability, along with the outcomes of smart mobility measures and campaigns.Transport planners, urban policymakers, public administrators, city managers, data scientists, and consulting companies managing smart city interventions and data-driven urban transformation projects will gain a better understanding of this up-and-coming research from this book’s detailed overview and numerous practical examples and best practices for operational deployment.".
• 01GSSPB0B3T0SHFXTT2ASDDME0 abstract "We investigated the effect of increased pH induced by acid suppressants on the viability of non-Helicobacter pylori helicobacters (NHPHs) within parietal cell intracellular canaliculi and fundic glandular lumina by immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, quantitative PCR, urea breath tests, and using a bilayer culture system. Three months before the experiment, mice were infected with the NHPH H. suis and then treated with famotidine (2 mg/kg body weight [BW], once daily), lansoprazole (30 mg/kg BW, once daily), or vonoprazan (20 mg/kg BW, once daily) for 3 days. Immunohistochemical studies using the TUNEL method, quantitative PCR analysis, and urea breath tests were performed. PCR analysis showed a decrease in the NHPH quantity after vonoprazan treatment. Urea breath tests revealed a significant decrease in the NHPH urease activity after vonoprazan, lansoprazole, and famotidine treatments for 3 days; however, 4 days after the treatment, urease activity reversed to the pretreatment level for each treatment group. Electron microscopy revealed an increase in the damaged NHPH after vonoprazan treatment. The TUNEL method revealed apoptotic NHPH within parietal cells after vonoprazan treatment. The bilayer culture results demonstrated that NHPH moved more quickly at a pH of 4.0 than at a pH of 3.0, 5.0, and 6.5, and electron microscopy revealed a change from the spiral form to the coccoid form under near-neutral pH conditions. We thus proposed that acid suppressants, especially vonoprazan, induce NHPH damage by altering pH.".
• 01GSSPB482NZRFDVPZRD1VQJ9Q abstract "From coupled-cluster singles and doubles model including connected triples corrections [CCSD(T)] calculations on the water dimer and B97D/CC on the water-circumcoronene complex at a large number of randomly generated conformations, interaction potentials for the physisorption of water on graphene are built, accomplishing almost sub-chemical accuracy. The force fields were constructed by decomposing the interaction into electrostatic and van der Waals contributions, the latter represented through improved Lennard-Jones potentials. Besides, a Chemistry at Harvard Macromolecular Mechanics (CHARMM)-like term was included in the water–water potential to improve the description of hydrogen bonds, and an induction term was added to model the polarization effects in the interaction between water and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or graphene. Two schemes with three and six point charges were considered for the interactions water–water and water-PAH, as Coulomb contributions are zero in the water-graphene system. The proposed fitted potentials reproduce the ab initio data used to build them in the whole range of distances and conformations and provide results for selected points very close to CCSD(T) benchmarks. When applied to the water-graphene system, the obtained results are in excellent agreement with p-CCSD(T), revised symmetry-adapted perturbation theory based on density functional theory monomer properties (DFT-SAPT), and diffusion Monte Carlo reference values. Furthermore, the stability of the various conformers water-PAH and water-graphene, as well as the different trends observed between these systems are rationalized in terms of the modifications of the electrostatic contribution.".
• 01GSSPPG2PHH12SEA3FYQCADX8 abstract "Background In recent decades, cities worldwide are increasingly adopting vehicle access policies and technologies to alleviate the negative externalities related to high car use in the urban built environments. As such, car-oriented infrastructures and mobility policies implemented post-World War II are giving way to sustainable mobility strategies that aim to make cities healthier, more livable and more inclusive for all. Purpose Most of these strategies are considered as stand-alone cases related to a specific environmental, political and social urban context. However, similarities and patterns between different strategies can provide information on the replicability of mobility strategies in other urban contexts. Methods Through a literature review, this paper illustrates the wide range of urban vehicle access regulations (UVAR) applied within sustainable mobility strategies. In addition, we critically examine the process from ideation over design and implementation to operation phase for 12 West-European cities and define what measures are combined to end up with a sustainable mobility strategy. Results This results in a taxonomy of UVAR interventions, subdivided in three categories: spatial interventions, pricing aspects and regulatory measures. We also highlight a number of complementary supportive measures implemented to counter the often restrictive nature of UVAR. Results The paper shows that the strategies highlighted in the case studies are an amalgam of different UVAR and supportive measures. As such, deconstructing various sustainable mobility strategies enables us to shed light on the available UVAR options cities can combine to define consistent and robust sustainable mobility strategies.".
• 01GSSPSFT60D0649V51K1VCHTK abstract "EMILIN1 (elastin-microfibril-interface-located-protein-1) is a structural component of the elastic fiber network and localizes to the inter-face between the fibrillin microfibril scaffold and the elastin core. How EMILIN1 contributes to connective tissue integrity is not fully understood. Here, we report bi-allelic EMILIN1 loss-of-function variants causative for an entity combining cutis laxa, arterial tortuosity, aneurysm formation, and bone fragility, resembling autosomal-recessive cutis laxa type 1B, due to EFEMP2 (FBLN4) deficiency. In both humans and mice, absence of EMILIN1 impairs EFEMP2 extracellular matrix deposition and LOX activity resulting in impaired elasto-genesis, reduced collagen crosslinking, and aberrant growth factor signaling. Collagen fiber ultrastructure and histopathology in EMILIN1-or EFEMP2-deficient skin and aorta corroborate these findings and murine Emilin1-/- femora show abnormal trabecular bone formation and strength. Altogether, EMILIN1 connects elastic fiber network with collagen fibril formation, relevant for both bone and vascular tissue homeostasis.".
• 01GSSQW1W69EWCCTCCCZYHD0W2 abstract "Biallelic variants of the gene encoding for the zinc-finger protein 142 (ZNF142) have recently been associated with intellectual disability (ID), speech impairment, seizures, and movement disorders in nine individuals from five families. In this study, we obtained phenotype and genotype information of 26 further individuals from 16 families. Among the 27 different ZNF142 variants identified in the total of 35 individuals only four were missense. Missense variants may give a milder phenotype by changing the local structure of ZF motifs as suggested by protein modeling; but this correlation should be validated in larger cohorts and pathogenicity of the missense variants should be investigated with functional studies. Clinical features of the 35 individuals suggest that biallelic ZNF142 variants lead to a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder with mild to moderate ID, varying degrees of delay in language and gross motor development, early onset seizures, hypotonia, behavioral features, movement disorders, and facial dysmorphism. The differences in symptom frequencies observed in the unpublished individuals compared to those of published, and recognition of previously underemphasized facial features are likely to be due to the small sizes of the previous cohorts, which underlines the importance of larger cohorts for the phenotype descriptions of rare genetic disorders.".
• 01GSSQY48MQRHK3VV2ZKAQ9EF4 abstract "The increasing mainstream adoption of immersive virtual reality (iVR) in education has triggered research about key variables explaining acceptance of iVR by teachers. In this study we adopted the UTAUT2 acceptance model as a theoretical framework enriched with the variable personal innovativeness. 379 Flemish secondary education teachers watched a video about iVR learning experiences, after which an online survey concerning their perceptions was administered. General linear modeling was performed to test the hypotheses. Results indicate performance expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation and personal innovativeness to be significantly associated with behavioural intention to use. No moderating effect of age, gender or experience was observed. The results account for 54% of the variance in behavioural intention to use. The findings help to understand which factors are key in the acceptance of mobile iVR by secondary education teachers and might help defining successful iVR implementation strategies.".
• 01GSSQZWPD2A88GG1H6NHZPA0W abstract "Background Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has increased over the last decades and has been associated with multiple adverse events and potentially even overall survival. Aims We aimed to investigate the association between proton pump inhibitor maintenance use and all-cause and cause-specific mortality, addressing confounding by indication and duration of use. Methods This Swedish population-based cohort study included all adult (N = 935,236) PPI and histamine-2 receptor antagonist maintenance users (>= 180 days use) during 2005-2014. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all-cause and cause-specific mortality comparing the risk among PPI/H2RA users to that of the Swedish background population, stratified by age, sex, calendar period, indication and duration of use. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to compare PPI use to H2RA use, expressed as incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results PPI and histamine-2 receptor antagonist use were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (SMR = 1.35; 1.34-1.36; SMR = 1.31; 1.27-1.36, respectively). The highest SMRs were found in the youngest age groups. In direct comparison, PPI use showed a higher mortality risk than histamine-2 receptor antagonist use (incidence rate ratios = 1.42; 1.38-1.46). PPIs were related to increased cancer (SMR = 1.21; 1.20-1.22), and cardiovascular mortality (SMR = 1.36; 1.35-1.37). Increased SMRs were observed for most indications. Longer duration of use was associated with a higher mortality among PPI users but not among histamine-2 receptor antagonist users. Conclusion Maintenance PPI use was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, and the risk increased with prolonged duration.".
• 01GSSQZWPMN3DETTYR5HYQ002J abstract "Background The net effect of menopausal hormone therapy on the risk of death is understudied, and current evidence is conflicting. Our aim was to investigate the association between menopausal hormones and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer-specific mortality, based on the Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry and National Patient Registry. Methods This Swedish population-based matched cohort study included all women, 40 years or older, who had received at least one prescription of systemic menopausal hormone therapy between 2005-2014 (n = 290,186), group level matched 1:3 to non-users (n = 870,165). Multivariable conditional logistic regression models estimated the relative risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, adjusting for several clinical factors and comorbidities. Results Ever-use of menopausal hormones was associated with a slightly lower overall odds of all-cause (OR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.95-0.98) and cardiovascular (OR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.95-0.99) mortality, whilst 30% lower overall odds of cancer-related mortality (OR = 0.70, 95%CI 0.68-0.72) was shown. The odds of all-cause and cancer-related mortality were consistently reduced among women who began menopausal hormone therapy <= 60 years, whereas the association with cardiovascular mortality was inconsistent. In contrast, oestrogen-only therapy was associated with elevated odds of all-cause (OR = 1.14, 95%CI 1.11-1.16) and cardiovascular mortality (OR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.01-1.06) among women who began treatment at >= 70 years. Among current users, oestrogen-only therapy was associated with higher odds of all-cause (OR = 1.48, 95%CI 1.44-1.52) and cardiovascular mortality (OR = 1.24, 95%CI 1.20-1.28), whereas past use of oestrogen-only therapy suggested lower odds of mortality. Conclusions Our generalisable data suggest that early menopausal hormone treatment initiation does not increase the odds of mortality. However, the role of oestrogens in particularly cardiovascular mortality remains to be investigated.".
• 01GSSQZWPWM4APWB053762TZED abstract "Background In search of an ideal cosmesis, transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via vestibular approach (TOETVA) has recently been introduced to avoid a visible scar. Although ambulatory thyroid surgery is considered safe in carefully selected patients, this remains unclear for TOETVA. Methods All consecutive adult patients who underwent ambulatory TOETVA or open thyroid surgery at a French university hospital were prospectively enrolled from 12/2020 until 11/2021. The primary outcome was postoperative morbidity (recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, re-intervention for bleeding, wound morbidity, or hospital readmission). The secondary outcome was quality of life (QoL), measured by a survey including a validated questionnaire (SF-12) and a modified thyroid surgery questionnaire six weeks after surgery. Results Throughout the study period, 374 patients underwent a unilateral lobectomy or isthmectomy in ambulatory setting, of which 34 (9%) as TOETVA (including 21 (62%) for a possible malignancy). In the TOETVA group, younger age (median 40 (IQR 35-50) vs. 51 (40-60) years, P < 0.001) and lower BMI (median 23.1 (20.9-25.4) vs. 24.9 (22.1-28.9) kg/m(2), P = 0.001) were noted. No cases were converted to open cervicotomy. TOETVA was at least as good as open cervicotomy with nil versus four (1%) re-interventions for bleeding, one temporary (5%) versus 13 (4%) (temporary) RLN palsies, and one (<1%) wound infection (open cervicotomy group). No hospital readmissions occurred in all ambulatory surgery patients. No differences were found in physical (P = 0.280) and mental (P = 0.569) QoL between TOETVA and open surgery. Conclusions In carefully selected patients, the feasibility and safety of ambulatory TOETVA are comparable to open surgery.".
• 01GSSQZWQ0TDF39M6GS0D9BMHA abstract "Background Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects women in reproductive age and represents an unfavourable risk factor for several pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Despite, no guidelines or pharmaceutical strategies for treating PCOS during pregnancy are available. The aim of this study is to determine the association between polycystic ovary syndrome with or without metformin and the pregnancy, perinatal outcomes as well as the risk of obesity in children born to these mothers. Methods In this nationwide population-based cohort study based in Swedish population, all singleton births (n = 1,016,805) from 686,847 women since 2006 up to 2016 were included. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression modelling with odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals were used to study the association between the exposure of maternal PCOS, metformin during pregnancy (or the combination of both) and: 1) Pregnancy outcomes: preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, caesarean section, and acute caesarean section, 2) Perinatal outcomes: preterm birth, stillbirth, low birth weight, macrosomia, Apgar < 7 at 5 min, small for gestational age and large for gestational age, and 3) Childhood Obesity. Results PCOS in women without metformin use during pregnancy was associated with higher risks of preeclampsia (OR = 1.09, 1.02-1.17), gestational diabetes (OR = 1.71, 1.53-1.91) and caesarean section (OR = 1.08, 1.04-1.12), preterm birth (OR = 1.30, 1.23-1.38), low birth weight (OR = 1.29, 1.20-1.38), low Apgar scores (OR = 1.17, 1.05-1.31) and large for gestational age (OR = 1.11, 1.03-1.20). Metformin use during pregnancy (in women without PCOS) was associated with a 29% lower risks of preeclampsia (OR = 0.71, 0.51-0.97), macrosomia and large for gestational age. Obesity was more common among children born to mothers with PCOS without metformin (HR = 1.61, 1.44-1.81); and those with metformin without PCOS (HR = 1.67, 1.05-2.65). PCOS with metformin was not associated with any adverse outcome. Conclusion PCOS was associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes and childhood obesity. Metformin appears to reduce these risks in mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome and their children; but may increase the risk of childhood-obesity in children form women without PCOS.".
• 01GSSQZWQ4VYTMH4SVT67R0KTB abstract "Background: The effects of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) on the infant microbiome remain unclear. Swedish pilot cohort study to assess the longitudinal effect of long-term PPI on the infant gut microbiome, including ten newborn infants operated for esophageal atresia exposed to PPIs (mean 57 weeks), compared to healthy one-year-old controls. All children were born vaginally and were otherwise healthy. Within- and between sample diversity of the fecal microbiome was assessed using untargeted whole genome Shotgun metagenomics which sequences all the DNA in the sample and can capture genes rather than a taxonomic fingerprint. Results: A longer duration of PPI-use was associated with considerable changes in evenness and high variation on diversity within samples compared to a shorter duration of use. The limited difference between baseline samples and controls suggests that this shift was most likely due to the drug exposure and not the underlying alterations on the microbiome. We found no associations with the number of antibiotic treatment episodes among the PPI-users. Conclusion: Prolonged PPI-use may alter the early infant gut microbiome composition, especially those with the most prolonged duration of use.".
• 01GSSQZWQBGT33EZBYX63S0M5T abstract "Sweden was well equipped to prevent the pandemic of COVID-19 from becoming serious. Over 280 years of collaboration between political bodies, authorities, and the scientific community had yielded many successes in preventive medicine. Sweden's population is literate and has a high level of trust in authorities and those in power. During 2020, however, Sweden had ten times higher COVID-19 death rates compared with neighbouring Norway. In this report, we try to understand why, using a narrative approach to evaluate the Swedish COVID-19 policy and the role of scientific evidence and integrity. We argue that that scientific methodology was not followed by the major figures in the acting authorities-or the responsible politicians-with alternative narratives being considered as valid, resulting in arbitrary policy decisions. In 2014, the Public Health Agency merged with the Institute for Infectious Disease Control; the first decision by its new head (Johan Carlson) was to dismiss and move the authority's six professors to Karolinska Institute. With this setup, the authority lacked expertise and could disregard scientific facts. The Swedish pandemic strategy seemed targeted towards "natural" herd-immunity and avoiding a societal shutdown. The Public Health Agency labelled advice from national scientists and international authorities as extreme positions, resulting in media and political bodies to accept their own policy instead. The Swedish people were kept in ignorance of basic facts such as the airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission, that asymptomatic individuals can be contagious and that face masks protect both the carrier and others. Mandatory legislation was seldom used; recommendations relying upon personal responsibility and without any sanctions were the norm. Many elderly people were administered morphine instead of oxygen despite available supplies, effectively ending their lives. If Sweden wants to do better in future pandemics, the scientific method must be re-established, not least within the Public Health Agency. It would likely make a large difference if a separate, independent Institute for Infectious Disease Control is recreated. We recommend Sweden begins a self-critical process about its political culture and the lack of accountability of decision-makers to avoid future failures, as occurred with the COVID-19 pandemic.".
• 01GSSQZWQJA2JWEWVPGKK64Y58 abstract "Background: Approximately half of all women suffer from heartburn at some stage during pregnancy. The most effective treatment is proton pump inhibitors, but the safety of use during pregnancy cannot be guaranteed. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of proton pump inhibitors on the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, an Apgar score at 5 min below 7, and a child being small or large for its gestational age. Methods: This Swedish population-based study included 1,089,514 live singleton deliveries between July 2006 and December 2016 in Sweden. Multiple logistic regression was used to model the outcomes as a function of the covariates. Results were presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: In 1.4% of all pregnancies, the mother used proton pump inhibitors in the period from 3 months before the last menstrual period up to delivery. The use of proton pump inhibitors was associated with higher odds of pre-eclampsia (odds ratio = 1.19, 1.10-1.29), gestational diabetes mellitus (odds ratio = 1.29, 1.16-1.43), preterm birth (odds ratio = 1.23, 1.14-1.32), and small for gestational age (odds ratio = 1.27, 1.16-1.40) and lower odds of large for gestational age (odds ratio = 0.84, 0.77-0.91). No significant association was found with a low Apgar score 5 min after birth. Conclusions: Proton pump inhibitor use was associated with a higher risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and being born small for gestational age.".
• 01GSSQZWQP22APNX4N2TQZR2AE abstract "Objectives To assess the impact of gestational antibiotics on the risk of preterm birth, since a healthy maternal microbiome may be protective. Methods Population-based cohort study including all first pregnancies in Sweden (2006-16). The association between gestational and recent pre-conception systemic antibiotics and preterm birth was assessed by multivariable logistic regression presented as ORs and 95% CIs, adjusted for comorbidities (hypo- and hyperthyroidism, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus pre-gestation), trimester, antibiotic class and treatment duration. Results Compared with non-users, antibiotic exposure was associated with increased risks of preterm birth in mothers with comorbidities (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.18-1.48) and without (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.06-1.13). Pre-conception use showed no association, while risk was increased for first and second trimester use and decreased for third trimester use. The increased risks were seen for the following antibiotic groups in mothers without and with comorbidities, respectively: macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins (OR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.45-1.83; OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.72-3.56); quinolones (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.32-1.94; OR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.12-4.03); non-penicillin beta-lactams (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.24; OR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.07-1.83); other antibacterials (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.14; 1.38, 95% CI 1.16-1.63); and penicillins (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08; 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.40). Antibiotic indications were not available, which could also affect preterm birth. Conclusions Antibiotic use during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, especially in mothers with chronic diseases.".
• 01GSSQZWQT3ESC856BVCYPZNM8 abstract "Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasing evidence links the vaginal microbiome to the risk of spontaneous preterm labour that leads to preterm birth. The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to investigate the association between the vaginal microbiome, defined as community state types (CSTs, i.e. dominance of specific lactobacilli spp, or not (low-lactobacilli)), and the risk of preterm birth. Systematic review using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane library was performed. Longitudinal studies using culture-independent methods categorizing the vaginal microbiome in at least three different CSTs to assess the risk of preterm birth were included. A (network) meta-analysis was conducted, presenting pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI); and weighted proportions and 95% CI. All 17 studies were published between 2014 and 2021 and included 38-539 pregnancies and 8-107 preterm births. Women presenting with "low-lactobacilli" vaginal microbiome were at increased risk (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.15-2.49) for delivering preterm compared to Lactobacillus crispatus dominant women. Our network meta-analysis supports the microbiome being predictive of preterm birth, where low abundance of lactobacilli is associated with the highest risk, and L. crispatus dominance the lowest.".
• 01GSSQZWQXPEB2YK4K0Y1E3W3N abstract "A high-fat diet can lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis, chronic intestinal inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. Notably, resulting phenotypes, such as glucose and insulin levels, colonic crypt cell proliferation, and macrophage infiltration, exhibit sex differences, and females are less affected. This is, in part, attributed to sex hormones. To investigate if there are sex differences in the microbiota and if estrogenic ligands can attenuate high-fat diet-induced dysbiosis, we used whole-genome shotgun sequencing to characterize the impact of diet, sex, and estrogenic ligands on the microbial composition of the cecal content of mice. We here report clear host sex differences along with remarkably sex-dependent responses to high-fat diet. Females, specifically, exhibited increased abundance of Blautia hansenii, and its levels correlated negatively with insulin levels in both sexes. Estrogen treatment had a modest impact on the microbiota diversity but altered a few important species in males. This included Collinsella aerofaciens F, which we show correlated with colonic macrophage infiltration. In conclusion, male and female mice exhibit clear differences in their cecal microbial composition and in how diet and estrogens impact the composition. Further, specific microbial strains are significantly correlated with metabolic parameters.".
• 01GSSQZWR89XFBAW7Q7VBXVA8N abstract "A two-phase survey of epilepsy was conducted in selected villages in Mundri West and East Counties (26 June-8 July, 2021), an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Western Equatoria State in South Sudan. In the first phase, households were visited by a trained research team to identify persons suspected to have epilepsy. In the second phase, persons suspected to have epilepsy were interviewed and examined by a clinician to confirm the diagnosis. A total of 364 households agreed to participate in the survey, amounting to 2588 individuals. The epilepsy screening questionnaire identified 91 (3.5%) persons with suspected epilepsy, of whom the diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed by a clinician in 86 (94.5%). The overall prevalence of confirmed epilepsy was 3.3% (95% CI: 2.7-4.1%), and of nodding syndrome was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6-1.4%). In 61 (16.8%) households there was at least one person with epilepsy. Only 1212 (46.9%) of 2583 people took ivermectin during the last distribution round in 2021. The annual epilepsy incidence was 77.3/100,000 (95% CI: 9.4-278.9/100,000) and the annual epilepsy mortality was 251.2/100,000 (95% CI: 133.8-428.7/100,000). In conclusion, a high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy was observed in villages in Mundri. Urgent action is needed to prevent children from developing onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy by strengthening the local onchocerciasis-elimination programme.".
• 01GSSQZWRC3H9ZDRE64PX3Y4Y5 abstract "Purpose The Swedish Maternal Microbiome (SweMaMi) project was initiated to better understand the dynamics of the microbiome in pregnancy, with longitudinal microbiome sampling, shotgun metagenomics, extensive questionnaires and health registry linkage. Participants Pregnant women were recruited before the 20th gestational week during 2017-2021 in Sweden. In total, 5439 pregnancies (5193 unique women) were included. For 3973 pregnancies (73%), samples were provided at baseline, and for 3141 (58%) at all three timepoints (second and third trimester and postpartum). In total, 38 591 maternal microbiome samples (vaginal, faecal and saliva) and 3109 infant faecal samples were collected. Questionnaires were used to collect information on general, reproductive and mental health, diet and lifestyle, complemented by linkage to the nationwide health registries, also used to follow up the health of the offspring (up to age 10). Findings to date The cohort is fairly representative for the total Swedish pregnant population (data from 2019), with 41% first-time mothers. Women with university level education, born in Sweden, with normal body mass index, not using tobacco-products and aged 30-34 years were slightly over-represented. Future plans The sample and data collection were finalised in November 2021. The next steps are the characterisation of the microbial DNA and linkage to the health and demographic information from the questionnaires and registries. The role of the microbiome on maternal and neonatal outcomes and early-childhood diseases will be explored (including preterm birth, miscarriage) and the role and interaction of other risk factors and confounders (including endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diet, drug use). This is currently among the largest pregnancy cohorts in the world with longitudinal design and detailed and standardised microbiome sampling enabling follow-up of both mothers and children. The findings are expected to contribute greatly to the field of reproductive health focusing on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.".
• 01GSSQZWRFZ9HJHTDMCZ7D2AZA abstract "Background Countries making up the Nordic region - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden - have minimal socioeconomic, cultural, and geographical differences between them, allowing for a fair comparative analysis of the health policy and economy trade-off in their national approaches towards mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study utilized publicly available COVID-19 data of the Nordic countries from January 2020 to January 3, 2021. COVID-19 epidemiology, public health and health policy, health system capacity, and macroeconomic data were analysed for each Nordic country. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to identify changes in temporal trends using average monthly percent change (AMPC) and average weekly percent change (AWPC). Results Sweden's health policy, being by far the most relaxed response to COVID-19, was found to have the largest COVID-19 incidence and mortality, and the highest AWPC increases for both indicators (13.5, 95% CI = 5.6, 22.0, P < 0.001; 6.3, 95% CI = 3.5, 9.1, P < 0.001). Den-mark had the highest number of COVID-19 tests per capita, consistent with their approach of increased testing as a preventive strategy for disease transmission. Iceland had the second-highest number of tests per capita due to their mass-testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation response. Only Norway had a significant increase in unemployment (AMPC = 2.8%, 95% CI = 0.7-4.9, P < 0.009) while the percentage change in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was insignificant for all countries. Conclusions There was no trade-off between public health policy and economy during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Nordic region. Sweden's relaxed and delayed COVID-19 health policy response did not benefit the economy in the short term, while leading to disproportionate COVID-19 hospitalizations and mortality.".
• 01GSSQZWRKW3WWSNB3X2M41VVR abstract "Background: Chemoprevention for biliary tract cancers (BTC), which comprise intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA), and gallbladder cancer, is controversial. We examined associations between low-dose aspirin, statins, NSAIDs, and metformin with BTC risk. Methods: We used a population-based cohort of 5.7 million persons over age 18 without personal history of cancer (except nonmelanoma skin cancer), receiving at least one commonly prescribed drug between July 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012, from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using age-scaled multivariable-adjusted Cox models. Results: 2,160 individuals developed BTC. Low-dose aspirin was not associated with BTC risk [HR, 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.81-1.07], iCCA (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.93-1.57), eCCA (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.60-1.07), or gallbladder cancer (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.71-1.06). Statins were associated with lower risk ofBTC (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.56-0.78), iCCA (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.95), eCCA (HR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.38-0.76), and gallbladder cancer (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57-0.91). For all BTC subtypes, combined low-dose aspirin and statinswere not associatedwithlower risk than statins alone. NSAIDs were associated with higher risk of BTC and its subtypes. Metformin was not associated with BTC risk (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.82-1.18), iCCA (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.77-1.48), eCCA (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.82-1.61), or gallbladder cancer (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.63-1.11). Conclusions: Statins were associated with a decreased risk of BTC and its subtypes. Low-dose aspirin alone was not associated with a decreased risk, and use of both was not associated with further decrease in risk beyond statins alone. Impact: Statins were most consistently associated with a decreased risk of BTC and its subtypes.".
• 01GSSRC2XR74PRGBABNHKW4TXH abstract "The Dunkl–Dirac symmetry algebra is an associative subalgebra of the tensor product of a Clifford algebra and the faithful polynomial representation of a rational Cherednik algebra. In previous work, the finite-dimensional representations of the Dunkl–Dirac symmetry algebra in three dimensions linked with a dihedral group were given. We give here the necessary results to proceed to the same construction when the Clifford algebra in the tensor product has negative signature.".
• 01GSSRRT111G3T3MQE77BSZ7MR abstract "We introduce CenDerNet, a framework for 6D pose estimation from multi-view images based on center and curvature representations. Finding precise poses for reflective, textureless objects is a key challenge for industrial robotics. Our approach consists of three stages: First, a fully convolutional neural network predicts center and curvature heatmaps for each view; Second, center heatmaps are used to detect object instances and find their 3D centers; Third, 6D object poses are estimated using 3D centers and curvature heatmaps. By jointly optimizing poses across views using a render-and-compare approach, our method naturally handles occlusions and object symmetries. We show that CenDerNet outperforms previous methods on two industry-relevant datasets: DIMO and T-LESS .".
• 01GSSSPGHT0YBZ6HCCJQSDJ762 abstract "Congenital hearing loss has an impact on almost every facet of life. In more than 50% of cases, a genetic cause can be identified. Currently, extensive genetic testing is available, although the etiology of some patients with obvious familial hearing loss remains unknown. We selected a cohort of mutation-negative patients to optimize the diagnostic yield for genetic hearing impairment. In this retrospective study, 21 patients (17 families) with negative molecular diagnostics for non-syndromic hearing loss (gene panel analysis) were included based on a positive family history with a similar type of hearing loss. Additional genetic testing was performed using a whole exome sequencing panel (WESHL panel v2.0) in four families with the strongest likelihood of genetic hearing impairment. In this cohort (n = 21), the severity of hearing loss was most commonly moderate (52%). Additional genetic testing revealed pathogenic copy number variants in the STRC gene in two families. In summary, regular re-evaluation of hearing loss patients with presumably genetic etiology after negative molecular diagnostics is recommended, as we might miss newly discovered deafness genes. The switch from gene panel analysis to whole exome sequencing or whole genome sequencing for the testing of congenital hearing loss seems promising.".
• 01GSST1TR91WCZ3RRZ5KBRRVAX abstract "ABCC6 promotes ATP efflux from hepatocytes to bloodstream. ATP is metabolized to pyrophosphate, an inhibitor of ectopic calcification. Pathogenic variants of ABCC6 cause pseudoxanthoma elasticum, a highly variable recessive ectopic calcification disorder. Incomplete penetrance may initiate disease heterogeneity, hence symptoms may not, or differently manifest in carriers. Here, we investigated whether incomplete penetrance is a source of heterogeneity in pseudoxanthoma elasticum. By integrating clinical and genetic data of 589 patients, we created the largest European cohort. Based on allele frequency alterations, we identified two incomplete penetrant pathogenic variants, c.2359G>A (p.Val787Ile) and c.1171A>G (p.Arg391Gly), with 6.5% and 2% penetrance, respectively. However, when penetrant, the c.1171A>G (p.Arg391Gly) manifested a clinically unaltered severity. After applying in silico and in vitro characterization, we suggest that incomplete penetrant variants are only deleterious if a yet unknown interacting partner of ABCC6 is mutated simultaneously. The low penetrance of these variants should be contemplated in genetic counseling.".
• 01GSSVK99FFW5T46Z118HEP9HH abstract "This paper looks into the principle of legality under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) with regard to measures restricting the individual in his fundamental right to liberty of movement, imposed in view of the corona (COVID-19) crisis. COVID-19 has created an exceptional global health crisis, which has given rise to an amount of exceptional measures taken by the affected States. These measures can be questioned as to their compliance with our fundamental rights, especially the right to freedom of movement. Numerous measures adopted by these States (severally) interfere with the right to free movement, either directly (e.g. distancing measures, curfews, residence requirements), or indirectly (e.g. restrictions or prohibitions on gathering or demonstration). Although it is in particular the proportionality of these measures that was often under discussion, important questions also arise in view of their legality. The legality principle is a fundamental principle, stemming from the rule of law and a key value in preventing arbitrary state interference, thus well deserving further examination. Furthermore, not all States have taken the same path when it comes to the legal basis for these measures. Some States, such as Belgium, have relied on already existing, ordinary legal options for restricting fundamental rights, such as the right to free movement. Other States, on the contrary, have opted for introducing (some kind of) a state of emergency or an exceptional legal framework for emergency situations. This is for instance the case for France resp. the Netherlands. Does or should this have consequences for the content of the legality principle with regard to freedom-restricting measures in crisis times? Does or should the presence of a crisis make a difference in the intensity of (judicial) review of these measures? To what extent does or should factors such as the passage of time or the increase in knowledge and expertise, play a role as to the requirements with which the legal basis must comply? In short, how is the legality principle with regard to freedom-restricting measures shaped - or should it be shaped - from a European human rights viewpoint in times of crisis? These and other questions are addressed in this contribution, with the aim of drawing some lessons from the corona pandemic regarding the legality principle applied to freedom-restricting measures in crisis times. To that end, this contribution outlines the general principles applied by the European Court of Human Rights as to the right to free movement and the legality principle. It compares these principles to the freedom-restricting measures imposed in Belgium to tackle the corona virus, where questions arise about their legality. In order to find some inspiration for this legality, but also for potential future legislation on freedom-restricting measures in crisis times in Belgium or in other State parties, this contribution will also compare where useful with the prevailing law on this issue in the Netherlands and France.".
• 01GSSX6SARRJZZNTNZ1AG2QWRW abstract "The objective of this study was to examine associations between daily fluctuations in work-family conflict (i.e. work-to-family interference [WFI] and family-to-work interference [FWI]) and daily fluctuations in toddler parenting (i.e. controlling parenting practices), thereby investigating day-to-day feelings of parental emotional exhaustion as an underlying mechanism. Both mothers and fathers participated in a five-day diary study when their child was in the first year of kindergarten (N = 118, 53.39% fathers). At the between-person level, work-family conflict (both WFI and FWI) was significantly related to controlling parenting practices. Further, an indirect effect was found between work-family conflict (both WFI and FWI) and controlling parenting via parental emotional exhaustion. At the within-person level, work-family conflict (both WFI and FWI) was not directly related to controlling parenting practices but was indirectly related to controlling parenting via feelings of emotional exhaustion. The findings highlight the importance of balancing work and family life, both in terms of parents' mental health (i.e. parental emotional exhaustion) as in terms of the quality of parenting.".
• 01GSSY93969VAHH43X3974219R abstract "Even though each adolescent is unique, some ingredients for development may still be universal. According to Self-Determination Theory, every adolescent's well-being should benefit when parents provide warmth and autonomy. To rigorously test this idea that each family has similar mechanisms, we followed 159 Dutch parent-adolescent dyads (parent: M-age = 45.34, 79% mothers; adolescent: M-age = 13.31, 62% female) for more than three months, and collected 100 consecutive daily reports of parental warmth, autonomy support, positive and negative affect. Positive effects of parental warmth and autonomy support upon well-being were found in 91-98% of the families. Preregistered analysis of 14,546 daily reports confirmed that effects of parenting differed in strength (i.e., some adolescents benefited more than others), but were universal in their direction (i.e., in fewer than 1% of families effects were in an unexpected direction). Albeit stronger with child-reported parenting, similar patterns were found with parent-reports. Adolescents who benefited most from need-supportive parenting in daily life were characterized by higher overall sensitivity to environmental influences. Whereas recent work suggests that each child and each family have unique developmental mechanisms, this study suggests that need-supportive parenting promotes adolescent well-being in most families.".
• 01GSSYVED73H4QYHGVD4XSX4E2 abstract "Dynamic lot-sizing has typically been studied in the context of optimizing the physical flow of goods to minimize supply chain costs, assuming that there is always enough cash to finance operations. In practice, small-and medium-sized firms are more likely to be financially constrained and find themselves making sub-optimal production and inventory decisions. We consider a supply chain with two capital-constrained firms - a supplier and a manufacturer - and present a model to jointly optimize lot-sizing, initial endowment and short-term amounts to borrow, the capital to subscribe from shareholders, and deposits to invest. The objective is to maximize the net present value of supply chain cash flows subject to operational and financial constraints. Structural properties of the optimal solution are derived, and a dynamic programming algorithm is developed to solve the supply chain problem. Through numerical experiments on available data and a case study from the literature, we compare the profitability and planning decisions of a coordinated supply chain, in which the production and financial decisions of the supplier and manufacturer are jointly optimized, with those of an uncoordinated supply chain, in which the supplier and manufacturer locally optimize their decisions. The results indicate that there is an added value of supply chain coordination for financially constrained stages, and that the traditional profit-maximizing production plan which assumes financially unconstrained stages may result in an important deterioration of the objective value. It is found that considering financial decisions and constraints with lot -sizing increases the number of setups and decreases the average inventory. This results in higher short-term loans and lower capital subscriptions and deposits. For financially constrained supply chains, coordinating production plans leads to fewer setups without increasing the supply chain's average inventory. Furthermore, financial and operational parameters have a smaller impact on production and financial plans when the supply chain is coordinated.".
• 01GSSZ8TPW1VVKE6CQHHA6AABP abstract "The Multidimensional Overprotective Parenting Scale (MOPS) is a 35-item questionnaire assessing two dimensions of parental overprotection. Given its substantial length, the present research presents the development and psychometric properties of a short version of the MOPS (S-MOPS). Four independent samples were used (Sample 1, N = 315 Swiss adolescents; Sample 2, N = 377 Belgian adolescents and young adults; Sample 3, N = 312 Georgian young adults; Sample 4, N = 467 Swiss parents). Item selection based on factor analysis resulted in a 16-item version, comprising 10 items for anxious overprotection and 6 for ego-enhancing overprotection. The psychometric properties of the S-MOPS were similar to those of the MOPS across samples with high reliability, a stable two-factor structure, and very similar associations with theoretically relevant parenting and adjustment variables. Overall, the S-MOPS appears to be a promising instrument for use in cross-national research and research with a multi-informant approach.".
• 01GSSZ8TQ5NKQR7GKP3ZFQFTEN abstract "Although it has been hypothesized that gifted students are at risk for adopting a fixed mind-set, research revealed inconsistent results. We aimed to clarify this by differentiating between two operationalizations of giftedness (high cognitive ability and formal identification as gifted) and how these relate to students' beliefs about intelligence and effort. Also, we examined the role of parental antecedents on students' beliefs. Participants were 3,329 seventh-grade students and their parents. Only being labeled as gifted was related to adopting a fixed mind-set. Regarding parental antecedents, parents' intelligence and effort beliefs were related to students' corresponding beliefs. Furthermore, parental feedback was associated with students' beliefs, which was most pronounced when student-reports of feedback were used. In particular, person-oriented feedback related positively to a fixed mind-set and negatively to students' appreciation of the role of effort in academic performance, while process-oriented feedback showed the opposite pattern. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.".
• 01GSSZ8TQASYAPXB8WCH08VF2Z abstract "Objective. Parental academic conditional regard is a socialization strategy in which parents' displays of appreciation increase (conditional positive regard; PACPR) or decrease (conditional negative regard; PACNR) depending on the children's academic achievement. Little is known about how adolescents perceive combinations of conditional positive and negative regard and how within-person combinations of them relate to developmental outcomes. Design. This study uses a person-oriented approach to examine within-person combinations of PACPR and PACNR and their different associations with individuals' motivation and adjustment. Three different samples reported on perceived PACPR and PACNR: adolescent students (N = 3,891), university freshmen (N = 556), and parents (N = 760). We conducted confirmatory latent profile analyses and investigated associations between profiles and outcome measures (basic need satisfaction, self-esteem level and contingency, ability self-concept, achievement goal orientation, test anxiety, and depressive symptoms). Results. The results supported a 3-class solution in all samples: low (44.4%-61.4%) or high (14.5%-24.5%) on both, and only high on PACPR (14.1%-31.3%). Groups reporting overall high levels of conditional regard scored the least favorably on all outcomes. Individuals with only high scores on PACPR differed from those with overall low scores on conditional regard primarily in terms of higher contingent self-esteem. Conclusions. The two dimensions of conditional regard are distinct. Although combination of the two dimensions is associated with individuals' general poor adjustment, the presence of PACPR alone is related to a fragile sense of self-esteem. Implications for future research are discussed.".
• 01GSSZFSDVPZZB0JY5TFPVY3AT abstract "Purpose The prevalence of parental burnout, a condition that has severe consequences for both parents and children, varies dramatically across countries and is highest in Western countries characterized by high individualism. Method In this study, we examined the mediators of the relationship between individualism measured at the country level and parental burnout measured at the individual level in 36 countries (16,059 parents). Results The results revealed three mediating mechanisms, that is, self-discrepancies between socially prescribed and actual parental selves, high agency and self-directed socialization goals, and low parental task sharing, by which individualism leads to an increased risk of burnout among parents. Conclusion The results confirm that the three mediators under consideration are all involved, and that mediation was higher for self-discrepancies between socially prescribed and actual parental selves, then parental task sharing, and lastly self-directed socialization goals. The results provide some important indications of how to prevent parental burnout at the societal level in Western countries.".
• 01GSSZKGWKBAAVAHYGZGFFEECJ abstract "Simple Summary Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacterium that causes pneumonia in pigs and can facilitate the establishment of other respiratory diseases. The microbiota, which comprises the microorganisms found in a specific environment (in this case, the respiratory tract), can be altered by the presence of several pathogens. Therefore, knowing how M. hyopneumoniae can affect the microbiota of the lower respiratory tract and nasal turbinates in experimentally infected pigs is important to understand the interaction between microorganisms that could lead to the development of disease. Thus, we investigated the bacterial composition of the lungs and noses of infected and non-infected pigs. The results showed that the lungs of infected pigs were mostly colonized (growth and multiplication of a microorganism) by M. hyopneumoniae, and there were not many other species in the lungs. In contrast, in the non-infected pigs, a more diverse lower respiratory microbiota was observed, meaning that there were more species of bacteria in the non-infected pigs than in the infected ones. No differences were observed between the nose microbiota in infected and non-infected pigs. In conclusion, this pathogen can alter the number of bacterial species in the lungs, which could result in more respiratory problems in swine production. Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae, the etiological agent of swine enzootic pneumonia, has been reported to increase the susceptibility to secondary infections and modulate the respiratory microbiota in infected pigs. However, no studies have assessed the influence of M. hyopneumoniae on the respiratory microbiota diversity under experimental conditions. Therefore, this study evaluated the impact of M. hyopneumoniae infection on the respiratory microbiota of experimentally infected swine over time. To accomplish this, 12 weaned pigs from a M. hyopneumoniae-free farm were divided into two groups: M. hyopneumoniae strain 232 infected (n = 8) and non-infected (n = 4). The first group received 10 mL of Friis medium containing 10(7) CCU/mL of M. hyopneumoniae while the control group received 10 mL of sterile Friis medium. Inoculation of both groups was performed intratracheally when the animals were 35 days old (d0). At 28 days post-inoculation (dpi) and 56 dpi, 4 infected animals plus 2 controls were humanely euthanized, and biopsy samples of nasal turbinates (NT) and bronchus-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected. The DNA was extracted from the individual samples, and each group had the samples pooled and submitted to next-generation sequencing. Taxonomic analysis, alpha and beta diversity indexes, weighted unifrac, and unweighted unifrac distances were calculated. A high relative frequency (99%) of M. hyopneumoniae in BALF samples from infected animals was observed with no significant variation between time points. The infection did not seem to alter the diversity and evenness of bacterial communities in NT, thus, M. hyopneumoniae relative frequency was low in NT pools from infected animals (28 dpi-0.83%; 56 dpi-0.89%). PCoA diagrams showed that BALF samples from infected pigs were grouped and far from the control samples, whereas NT from infected animals were not separated from the control. Under the present coditions, M. hyopneumoniae infection influenced the lower respiratory microbiota, which could contribute to the increased susceptibility of infected animals to respiratory infections.".
• 01GST0VKHQZ81DHPKKFCC5JWKW abstract "Dimensional analysis can be used in those cases, where the system of equations describing the problem to solve is unknown. The setup of the trial function F (Q(1),...,Q(M)) = 0 relies on the expertise of the researcher. The researcher is confronted with the questions: which Q(M) is the dependent variable; what is the value of M; are the chosen Q(M) effective. The new encoding-decoding method disclosed has the goal to answer these three questions and belongs to dimensional exploration techniques that can help in discovering the governing equations. This new method is based on low complexity, high performing, and well-established computer algorithms of number theoretic functions. The encoding-decoding method is exemplified on a real-world problem by searching for the positively homogeneous measurement function that models wave phenomena, electromagnetic phenomena, electromechanical phenomena, and thermodynamic phenomena of the future power grids. The temporal variation of the power density is considered in its form of the kind of quantity called second order partial derivative of the energy density with respect to time denoted partial derivative W-2(r,t)/partial derivative t(2). The new method generates a trial function F(partial derivative W-2(r,t)/partial derivative t(2), Q(2),...,Q(19)) = 0 and a positively homogeneous measurement function u(pi(1),...,pi(9)) = 0 for the design of experiments. The validation of this new method is performed through its application on two cases: the simple pendulum and the kind of quantity energy. The efficiency, effectiveness, and completeness of the encoding-decoding method are compared with classical and modern dimensional analysis. The new method has the advantage over those state-of-the-art methods in requiring less dimensionless quantities pi(k) as arguments of the measurement function uu(pi(1),...,pi(k)) = 0 when modeling real-world problems. The encoding-decoding method is based on lattice theory while classical and modem dimensional analysis are based on linear algebra. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Franklin Institute. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.orgilicenses/by-nc-nd/4,00".
• 01GST11V80Y1F0JGM8K2C7GP2N abstract "Background: Pathogenic PTEN germline variants cause PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS), a rare disease with a variable genotype and phenotype. Knowledge about these spectra and genotype-phenotype associations could help diagnostics and potentially lead to personalized care. Therefore, we assessed the PHTS genotype and phenotype spectrum in a large cohort study. Methods: Information was collected of 510 index patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic (LP/P) PTEN variants (n = 467) or variants of uncertain significance. Genotype-phenotype associations were assessed using logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex and age.Results: At time of genetic testing, the majority of children (n = 229) had macrocephaly (81%) or developmental delay (DD, 61%), and about half of the adults (n = 238) had cancer (51%), macrocephaly (61%), or cutaneous pathology (49%). Across PTEN, 268 LP/P variants were identified, with exon 5 as hotspot. Missense variants (n = 161) were mainly located in the phosphatase domain (PD, 90%) and truncating variants (n = 306) across all domains. A trend towards 2 times more often truncating variants was observed in adults (OR = 2.3, 95%CI = 1.5-3.4) and patients with cutaneous pathology (OR = 1.6, 95%CI = 1.1-2.5) or benign thyroid pathology (OR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.1-3.5), with trends up to 2-4 times more variants in PD. Whereas patients with DD (OR = 0.5, 95%CI = 0.3-0.9) or macrocephaly (OR = 0.6, 95%CI = 0.4-0.9) had about 2 times less often truncating variants compared to missense variants. In DD patients these missense variants were often located in domain C2.Conclusion: The PHTS phenotypic diversity may partly be explained by the PTEN variant coding effect and the combination of coding effect and domain. PHTS patients with early-onset disease often had missense variants, and those with later-onset disease often truncating variants.".
• 01GST1RPK3ZR1QNSD6WVYMZBH4 abstract "The goal of this study is to describe the current use of antibiotics in the European pig industry based on an extensive literature review. To achieve this, an overview of results from national (n = 15) and multi-country (n = 2) cross-sectional and longitudinal (n = 2) surveys, which describe antimicrobial use in pigs, is presented. Results are further linked to the outcome of the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC) project. Overall, it was found that weaned piglets received the most antibiotics, followed by suckling piglets resulting in over 80% of the treatments being administered to animals before 10 weeks of age. Furthermore, it was observed that antibiotic use (ABU) was significantly associated across age categories, indicating that farms with a high use in piglets also used more antibiotics in their finishers. This may, among other things, be explained by farmers' habits and behavior. However, above all, the studies showed surprisingly large differences in ABU between the countries. These differences may be related to the differences in disease prevalence and/or differences in the level of biosecurity. However, they may also reflect variations in rules and regulations between countries and/or a difference in attitude towards ABU of farmers and veterinarians that are not necessarily linked to the true animal health situation. Furthermore, it was observed that already a substantial proportion of the European pig production is able to successfully raise pigs without any group treatments, indicating that it is possible to rear pigs without systematic use of antibiotics. Based on the ESVAC data, a decline of 43.2% was observed in sales of antibiotics for animals in Europe between 2011 and 2020. To enable efficient antimicrobial quantification and stewardship, 15 European countries have already established systems for herd level monitoring ABU in pigs.".
• 01GST28DAZXYE70GN6AEXT5354 abstract "Biochar amendment of soil may ameliorate inherently infertile soils, such as in the typical coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) growth areas along tropical coasts, where, moreover, temporary moisture stress commonly occurs. We conducted a pot experiment to evaluate the effects of biochar soil amendment (1% w/w) produced from Gliricidia sepium stems (BC-Gly) and rice husks (BC-RiH) on the growth of coconut seedlings and on N and P uptake mediated by mycorrhizae under wet or dry conditions in a Sandy Regosol. The pots were divided into root and hyphal zones by a nylon mesh, where N-15 labelled N and P nutrients were only provided in the hyphal zone. Under wet conditions, biochar application did not affect plant growth, while under dry conditions, the BC-Gly increased root and plant growth similar to that under wet conditions. BC-Gly increased the acidic pH of the soil to a neutral level, and the microbial community shifted towards a higher fungal abundance. The P accumulated (Pacc) in roots was higher with BC-Gly and BC-RiH under dry and wet conditions, respectively. Pacc weakly correlated with the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the hyphal zone. With BC-Gly roots showed lower N derived from fertilizer. We conclude that biochar application has no impact on crop growth under wet conditions, while under dry conditions, BC-Gly stimulates crop growth and P uptake, probably through liming induced P availability but also possibly by some enhancement of AMF growth. The shift in the fungal-oriented microbial community and reduced plant fertilizer N uptake suggested that BC-Gly acted as an additional N source.".
• 01GST2CXYE559C7K2K3D8WWBCN abstract "Simple Summary The study examined whether dietary supplements such as citrate or NaCl have an influence on the development of urinary calcium oxalate crystals in fattening pigs. There were three examination groups: a control group, a citrate group and a NaCl group. Parameters of comparison were performance (average daily gain and feed intake, feed conversion ratio, water consumption), blood parameters (bone resorption and bone formation markers, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and parathyroid hormone), macroscopic (stones, grit) and microscopic (crystals) examination of the urine and biochemical urinalysis of samples taken at the farm and at the slaughterhouse. There were no beneficial effects of feed supplementation with citrate or NaCl on the development of crystals in the urine of fattening pigs. On the contrary, citrate has a clear promoting influence on the development of alkaline calcite crystals. Substantial differences are found between microscopic and biochemical urinalysis results from samples taken at the farm and at the slaughterhouse. Slaughterhouse samples do not fully reflect the situation on the farm. The present study investigated whether dietary supplementation of tripotassium citrate or NaCl reduced the prevalence of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) uroliths in fattening pigs on a farm with a high prevalence of COD uroliths. Each group (control, TPC, NaCl) consisted of three batches of approximately 260 fattening pigs each. Performance, water intake, markers for bone resorption (CTX) and bone formation (osteocalcin) and urinalysis from samples taken at the farm and in the slaughterhouse were investigated. Performance parameters, feed and water intake, CTX and osteocalcin were not significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05). The main crystals found were struvite, COD, calcite and amorphous crystals. The prevalence of COD crystals was lower in samples from the slaughterhouse in each group. Microscopic and biochemical examination of urine showed large differences between samples from the farm and the slaughterhouse. In conclusion, there were no beneficial effects of feed supplementation with TPC or NaCl on the prevalence of COD crystals but TPC has a clear promoting influence on the development of alkaline calcite crystals. Urinalysis from samples taken at the slaughterhouse does not fully reflect the situation on the farm.".
• 01GST3M7EGHTHWC92P4AKYYDZT abstract "Animal health is a prerequisite for global health, economic development, food security, food quality, and poverty reduction, while mitigating against climate change and biodiversity loss. We did a qualitative review of 53 infectious diseases in terrestrial animals with data from DISCONTOOLS, a specialist database and prioritisation model focusing on research gaps for improving infectious disease control in animals. Many diseases do not have any appropriate control tools, but the prioritisation model suggests that we should focus international efforts on Nipah virus infection, African swine fever, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, peste des petits ruminants, sheeppox and goatpox, avian influenza, Rift Valley fever, foot and mouth disease, and bovine tuberculosis, for the greatest impact on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Easy to use and accurate diagnostics are available for many animal diseases. However, there is an urgent need for the development of stable and durable diagnostics that can differentiate infected animals from vaccinated animals, to exploit rapid technological advances, and to make diagnostics widely available and affordable. Veterinary vaccines are important for dealing with endemic, new, and emerging diseases. However, fundamental research is needed to improve the convenience of use and duration of immunity, and to establish performant marker vaccines. The largest gap in animal pharmaceuticals is the threat of pathogens developing resistance to available drugs, in particular for bacterial and parasitic (protozoal, helminth, and arthropod) pathogens. We propose and discuss five research priorities for animal health that will help to deliver a sustainable and healthy planet: vaccinology, antimicrobial resistance, climate mitigation and adaptation, digital health, and epidemic preparedness.".
• 01GST433MJTMT3QA4DK5AN37TN abstract "Inherent low fertility status of coconut grown soils, and the prolonged conventional farming practices without giving attention to the biological fertility component of coconut plantations, have resulted in inactive, degraded soils with very poor soil fertility. Soil microorganisms are a diverse group, having the ability to maintain the continuous functioning of the agricultural ecosystem by influencing soil fertility sustainably. With this emphasis, this chapter focuses on reviewing the scientific knowledge gathered in the past on coconut rhizosphere and the beneficial microorganisms inhabiting this environment. Based on the review, the chapter elaborates, strategies on how to manipulate the beneficial microorganisms and their specific traits in the context of coconut planation management. The strategies identified are, stimulation of favourable environment for soil microorganisms In-situ via soil organic carbon management and external introduction of beneficial microorganisms to the coconut rhizosphere. ".
• 01GST49AY8W6VDNGQK4AENMMP5 abstract "The uterine involution of sows housed in farrowing crates was investigated during lactation using B-mode trans-abdominal ultrasonography. The objectives were to describe uterine involution, detect any delay or uterine disorders and assess possible associations between involution and subsequent reproductive performance. Three parameters were measured: uterine height (H), horns diameter (D) and the percentage of sows with intraluminal fluid (F). During lactation (3-4 weeks), H decreased from 11.0 +/- 1.6 the first week to 5.9 +/- 1.5 cm the last week (p<0.001), and D from 2.6 +/- 0.7 to 1.4 +/- 0.2 cm (p<0.001). Between days 1-7, H and D decreased significantly faster, i.e. respectively 0.38 cm (p<0.0001) and 0.20 cm (p<0.0001) per day than between days 22-28, i.e. respectively 0.02 cm (p=0.49) and 0.00 cm (p=0.75) per day. F decreased significantly (p<0.0001) from 78% at the beginning to 16% at the end of lactation. Between days 1-7, F decreased significantly (p<0.001) faster than during the last week of lactation (p=0.41). Between days 22-28, H of sows from parity >= 3 were significantly higher than those of sows from parity 1 and 2 (p=0.007). During that period, F was significantly higher in sows of higher parity. This effect of parity on F was significantly higher during the entire lactation period in sows of parity >= 6. Some sows were monitored after weaning. There was no significant relationship between the 3 parameters measured at the end of lactation and the subsequent performance. A small number of sows was suspected of endometritis (2%) and one case of fcetoplacental retention was detected. In conclusion, B-mode ultrasonography is a suitable tool to monitor uterine involution in lactating sows. When examination is conducted during the last week of lactation, it may help the farmer to verify whether uterine involution is complete, and to decide whether a sow should be either culled or maintained on farm.".
• 01GST4A0SC919TV7ET4JD2VDTB abstract "This work presents a novel parametrization for the ReaxFF formalism as a means to investigate reaction processes of chlorinated organic compounds. Force field parameters cover the chemical elements C, H, O, Cl and were obtained using a novel optimization approach involving relaxed potential energy surface scans as training targets. The resulting ReaxFF parametrization shows good transferability, as demonstrated on two independent ab initio validation sets. While this first part of our two-paper series focuses on force field parametrization, we apply our parameters to the simulation of chlorinated dibenzofuran formation and decomposition processes in Part II.".
• 01GST57576947D6VKR6XFXK62D abstract "In 1992, artist David Lamelas installed Quand le ciel bas et lourd at the temporary exhibition America: Bride of the Sun-500 Years of Latin-America and the Low Countries at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), a show that explored the cultural, economic, and political exploitation of indigenous America by European forces, and its project of colonization and erasure. Lamelas' work remained a public installation in KMSKA's garden until March 2021 when it was dismantled as a result of the museum's years-long renovation. This article examines the work in the context in which it was exhibited and later destroyed as a lens to examine two aspects of contemporary art and history in Flanders. Firstly, it foregrounds the complex, transnational heritage that Lamelas' work presents and considers its implications upon the local, cultural scene in which it resided from the 1960s to 70s, in the 1990s and in the present. Secondly, the text frames Quand le ciel bas et lourd and America: Bride of the Sun as reverberating with the emergence of nationalism in Flanders and a global, postcolonial discourse in the art world. This article considers how aspects of Lamelas' work and its elusive meanings over space and time might challenge monolithic understandings of Flemish art.".
• 01GST59YW5CKCMYEKPHR6AR9J7 abstract "In cattle, hydrops amnion is a rare pathological condition. In the present study, we report such a case in a Belgian blue cow suffering from prolonged gestation. A presumptive diagnosis was based on clinical examination, including transrectal ultrasonography. Management included inducing parturition with dinoprost and dexamethasone, where 36 hours later, a left flank recumbent caesarean section was performed. A live, oversized, male calf (76 kg) with a frontal cephalocele/meningocele was delivered. Postmortem examination revealed anencephaly, characterised by the absence of the cerebrum. Intravenous fluid therapy was administered during surgery to prevent hypovolemic shock, and postoperative treatment consisted of intramuscular injections of 100 IU of oxytocin and antibiotics (procaine benzylpenicillin) for 3 consecutive days. After 5 days, the patient was discharged from the clinic.".
• 01GST675A9RZY1NDJ2NX6RB1BY abstract "Background: Depressive symptoms among the lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) in college students have generated worldwide concern in recent decades. This study aimed to estimate the associations between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students, with a focus on gender differences. Methods: A total of 30,733 college students were recruited from 10 Chinese province-level regions with a multistage, stratified cluster, random sampling method between March and June 2019. The 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-20) was used to measure the depressive symptoms. Sexual orientation was assessed by asking the question, "Which of the following options best describes you?" The responses were categorized as heterosexual, gay/lesbian, bisexual, and unsure. Results: In our sample (N = 30,733), the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 6.1%. Among the surveyed Chinese college students, 3.7% self-reported as LGB, and 7.2% were unsure. LGB (gay/lesbian: 14.9% for males and 6.8% for females; bisexual: 9.3% for males and 16.4% for females) had a higher risk of depressive symptoms than heterosexuals. After adjusting for control variables, LGB and unsure college students were more likely to have depressive symptoms than their heterosexual peers. For males, unsure college students reported the highest risk of depressive symptoms; for females, lesbian and bisexual college students reported the highest risk of depressive symptoms. Limitations: The cross-sectional study design and self-reported depressive symptoms and sexual orientation. Conclusion: LGB was associated with increased depressive symptoms among Chinese college students. Furthermore, the associations of LGB sexual orientation with depressive symptoms were more robust for females than males.".
• 01GST6CZ3004YK91HRRREV4FNV abstract "The P4 ATPase family of P-type ATPases is of especial interest, since the main function of P4 ATPases is the translocation of phospholipids, phosphatidylserine in particular, from the outer monolayer of the plasma membrane to the inner one. P4 ATPase isoforms are redundant to some extent, but structural defects of certain isoforms can still lead to rather severe pathologies at the whole-organism level due to tissue specificity of expression of the corresponding genes and variability of the intracellular localization of the proteins and regulatory pathways. The product of the gene ATP8B1 occupies a special place among P4 ATPases, since a number of point mutations in this gene are known to cause severe hereditary diseases, namely, two forms of hereditary cholestasis (Byler disease and benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis) with extrahepatic symptoms including sensorineural hearing loss, pneumonia, impaired function of the sweat glands, and growth retardation. The physiological functions of the protein Atp8b1/FIC1 were characterized to a certain extent; they consist in the translocation of certain phospholipids (phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin) from the outer monolayer of the plasma membrane to the inner one. Disturbance of membrane asymmetry due to insufficient activity of Atp8b1/FIC1 is known to result in loss of hair cells in the inner ear, disruption of transport of bile acids in hepatocytes, and liver cirrhosis. Insufficient activity of Atp8b1/FIC1 is likely to increase the susceptibility of the organism to bacterial infections. It should be noted that in vivo regulation pathways for Atp8b1/FIC1 activity have not yet been characterized in sufficient detail. Therefore, investigation of this protein holds promise for better understanding of molecular mechanisms underpinning the development of pathologies, as well as for identification of potential therapeutic targets.".
• 01GST6CZ3F28CQ2BTM5TZ81K0C abstract "Extruded phosphorescent O-2-sensitive composite materials comprising cross-linked polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) microspheres impregnated with Pt-benzoporphyrin dye and dispersed in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polylactic acid (PLA) carrier polymer are described. The sensors produced by hot melt extrusion method are specifically tailored to large-scale packaging applications and non-destructive measurement of residual O-2 in packaged food products. A panel of LDPE and PLA based sensor materials in the form of extruded pellets and thin film structures were produced and their structural features and O-2 sensing characteristics assessed with the view of packaging applications. The extruded LDPE film sensors were also integrated in packaging materials by heat lamination, to produce 'smart' packaging materials which also protect the sensor from direct contact with food. Analytical performance of extruded sensors was demonstrated by incorporating them in modified atmosphere packaged meat and cheese samples and monitoring residual O-2 levels in these packs non-destructively with a handheld Optech (R) reader over product shelf life. The extruded O-2 sensors show superiority over the sensors previously used or usable in packaged food products. This technology advances scaled manufacturing of optical O-2 sensors, their integration in packaging platforms and cost reduction.".
• 01GST6RS9E1E0Y3F2A1YF2MGVJ abstract "Introduction The definition of sexual health evolves over time. As sexual health definitions and priorities are also context-dependent, there is a need to identify a diversity of sexual health challenges and priorities from a pan-European perspective. Methods We examined what a group of diverse experts in this area identifies as interdisciplinary, transnational priorities on sexual health using a Delphi method. In 2020, 93 participants from 29 countries took part in an online Delphi study. First, based on a three-round Delphi study, a hierarchy of priority topics was developed, comparing consensus rates across the items. Second, a qualitative content analysis of the participants' responses to existing gaps and possible improvements in sexual health was administered. Results An inventory of priority items was created. The panelists identified 37 priority topics, divided into 10 overarching themes. Consensus was reached based on quantitative measurements regarding the importance of the suggested priority topics relevant to sexual health, resulting in 23 implemented items in the list of priorities. Qualitative data from the experts informed us about possible sexual health challenges and blind spots. Conclusion The study shows that the priorities chosen generally refer to (1) inclusion of sexual health into relevant medical health fields and education, (2) comprehensive sex education in schools, and (3) sexual violence. The importance of these three topics was, moreover, reflected in the qualitative data. Policy Implications By delineating a relatively consensual set of priorities for transnational sexual health research and advocacy, this study outlines a possible research agenda for sexual health in the pan-European region, potentially serving as the base and start of joint interdisciplinary practice.".
• 01GST78XV03NZX9T9AEKGNJBCP abstract "The study explores the effects of Essential Oils (EOs) on the heart rate of rabbits during transport. Rabbits (n = 35) were individually transported three times by car in a transport box for 5 minutes. Each rabbit was subjected to three treatments: no olfactory exposure to EOs (treatment 1, control); olfactory exposure to 30 drops of Lavandula angustifolia EO (treatment 2); and olfactory exposure to 30 drops of a blend of 5 EOs (treatment 3, Cananga odorata, Citrus aurantium, Cupressus sempervirens, Lavandula angustifolia, Litsea citrata EOs) in a randomized controlled crossover study design. Heart rate was measured before and after transport. Compared to the control, treatment 3 showed a significant decrease in HR after transport (mean = -24.33, SD = 41.77; post hoc Tukey test p = 0.007). Results suggest that the blend of EOs might help rabbits to recover homeostasis quicker after a stressful event. This suggests interesting potential field applications not only for rabbit owners but also for veterinarians. There is more research needed regarding the specific effects of EOs on rabbits.".
• 01GST7MPHHCW0T7DWFMQX1F9W0 abstract "Plants are the most sophisticated biofactories and sources of food and biofuels present in nature. By engineering plant metabolism, the production of desired compounds can be increased and the nutritional or commercial value of the plant species can be improved. However, this can be challenging because of the complexity of the regulation of multiple genes and the involvement of different protein interactions. To improve metabolic engineering (ME) capabilities, different tools and strategies for rerouting the metabolic pathways have been developed, including genome editing and transcriptional regulation approaches. In addition, cutting-edge technologies have provided new methods for understanding uncharacterized biosynthetic pathways, protein degradation mechanisms, protein-protein interactions, or allosteric feedback, enabling the design of novel ME approaches.".
• 01GST84CHFCYVT8BVPVPP4E145 abstract "This chapter examines early works by artists (and close friends) Thomas Schütte and Ludger Gerdes, who studied under Gerhard Richter at the Art Academy Düsseldorf in the late 1970s. Trained by an artist whose work mediates between the avant-garde and bourgeois paradigm of painting, Schütte and Gerdes, like their teacher, problematized both the idiom of critique or “unmasking” associated with avant-garde art and the notions of semblance connected with bourgeois painting. Reacting to the entwined legacies of Minimal and Conceptual Art, however, Schütte and Gerdes negotiated these paradigms in and through dressing in situ wall installations and reliefs, which hide the wall as much as they reveal it. The conception of architecture in their entwined and parallel work needs to be seen along similar lines; for Schütte and Gerdes, architecture is not defined by function, space and materiality alone. The chapter draws on the theory of nineteenth-century architect and urbanist Gottfried Semper, who was read by Gerdes, to claim how both artists conceived art and architecture as ambiguous acts of dressing.".
• 01GST92PN96C98NCJX85ZGSA3C abstract "The HD-ZIP III transcription factor REVOLUTA (REV) is involved in early leaf development, as well as in leaf senescence. REV directly binds to the promoters of senescence-associated genes, including the central regulator WRKY53. As this direct regulation appears to be restricted to senescence, we aimed to characterize protein-interaction partners of REV which could mediate this senescence-specificity. The interaction between REV and the TIFY family member TIFY8 was confirmed by yeast two-hybrid assays, as well as by bimolecular fluorescence complementation in planta. This interaction inhibited REV’s function as an activator of WRKY53 expression. Mutation or overexpression of TIFY8 accelerated or delayed senescence, respectively, but did not significantly alter early leaf development. Jasmonic acid (JA) had only a limited effect on TIFY8 expression or function; however, REV appears to be under the control of JA signaling. Accordingly, REV also interacted with many other members of the TIFY family, namely the PEAPODs and several JAZ proteins in the yeast system, which could potentially mediate the JA-response. Therefore, REV appears to be under the control of the TIFY family in two different ways: a JA-independent way through TIFY8, which controls REV function in senescence, and a JA-dependent way through PEAPODs and JAZ proteins.".
• 01GST9BZQGAKE3WB21M5QTVYMD abstract "This chapter discusses Objects as Friends (2011) by the artists’ duo Jos de Gruyter and Harald Thys, a series of 311 still life photographs showing strange configurations of banal objects, from theater garb and office supplies to bathroom accessories and trash. The chapter examines this work, and the artists’ practice at large, in relation to issues of depression, societal dysfunction, and photography theory. The first part discusses de Gruyter and Thys’ earlier videos, in which amateur actors or the artists’ family members play autist figures caught in claustrophobic spaces. The chapter maintains that de Gruyter and Thys’ provocative use of depression as a metaphor for a society in decline resonates with the pathology of culture by Spengler and Sedlmayr, thus hinting at the tension within this rhetoric. The second part looks at the artists’ photographic work made since the mid-2000s, and ultimately to Objects as Friends. Using theories of photography by Metz and Flusser, and showing echoes of the systematized, “factual” photography of Conceptual Art, the text aims to articulate how the artists’ meaningful uses of photography matches their videos and corresponds with their criticism of a conservative, depressed society from which man has withdrawn.".
• 01GSTA8AKEQVNYGKFR5M96SHCA abstract "The immediate effects of plant polyploidization are well characterized and it is generally accepted that these morphological, physiological, developmental, and phenological changes contribute to polyploid establishment. Studies on the environmental dependence of the immediate effects of whole-genome duplication (WGD) are, however, scarce but suggest that these immediate effects are altered by stressful conditions. As polyploid establishment seems to be associated with environmental disturbance, the relationship between ploidy-induced phenotypical changes and environmental conditions is highly relevant. Here, we use a common garden experiment on the greater duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza to test whether the immediate effects of WGD can facilitate the establishment of tetraploid duckweed along gradients of two environmental stressors. Because successful polyploid establishment often depends on recurrent polyploidization events, we include four genetically diverse strains and assess whether these immediate effects are strain-specific. We find evidence that WGD can indeed confer a fitness advantage under stressful conditions and that the environment affects ploidy-induced changes in fitness and trait reaction norms in a strain-specific way.".
• 01GSTAWTG3M45JAQYZBWGWWFM6 abstract "This randomized controlled trial (NCT04786496) examined the effects of a preventive intervention based on Incremental Theory of the Personality (ITP) on psychophysiological responses to social stress and evaluated whether levels of depression moderate the intervention effects. The participants, 107 first-year university students, were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: ITP intervention, ITP + a self-affirmation intervention (SA), and a control condition (CC). Indicators of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system, and subjective mood were assessed with the Trier Social Stress Task. Participants in the ITP condition displayed a lower decline in respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA) compared to those in the CC during the first phases of the task [Slopes: -0.08 ((0.09)) vs -0.21 ((0.09)), z = 2.86, p = .004] and a higher decrease in cortisol at recovery [beta = -0.18 ((0.08)), z = -2.37, p = .018]. Depressive symptoms moderated the effect of ITP [beta = -0.10 ((0.05)), z = -2.15, p =.032] and ITP+SA [beta = -0.09 ((0.04)), z = -2.06, p =.039] in the decline during stress and recovery in RSA. In participants with low/medium levels of depressive symptoms, both interventions predicted a lower decline during stress [Slopes: -0.06 ((0.09)) for ITP, -0.17 ((.09)) for ITP+SA, and -0.26 ((0.09)) for CC] and higher recovery in RSA [Slopes: 0.18 ((0.01)) for ITP, 0.24 ((0.01)) for ITP+SA, and 0.30 ((0.01)) for CC]. The findings suggest that the ITP intervention has the potential to be an effective preventive intervention to reduce the stress response.".
• 01GSTBPAEZRE368283E7TP9W5R abstract "Background: Some transgender people desire a transition through gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT). To date, it is unknown how GAHT changes emotion perception in transgender people.Methods: Thirty transgender men (TM), 30 cisgender men (CM), and 35 cisgender women (CW) underwent 3 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while passively viewing emotional faces (happy, angry, surprised faces) at two timepoints (T0 and T1). At T0 all participants were hormone-naive, while TM immedi-ately commenced testosterone supplementation at T0. The second scanning session (T1) occurred after 6-10 months of GAHT in TM. All 3 groups completed both T0 and T1Results: GAHT in TM shifted the neural profile whilst processing emotions from a sex-assigned at birth pattern at T0 (similar to CW) to a consistent with gender identity pattern at T1 (similar to CM). Overall, the brain patterns stayed the same for the cis people at T0 and T1.Conclusions: These findings document the impact of hormone treatment, and testosterone supplementation specifically, on emotion perception in TM.".
• 01GSTETRM06V7MTM4VVVE6NKY0 abstract "Depressive symptoms are associated with working memory impairments. Yet, comparative studies examining working memory across the developmental spectrum in depressed and non depressed cohorts are lacking. This study examined emotional working memory in 74 adolescents (mean age = 14; 21 with depressive symptoms) and 92 adults (mean age = 22; 36 with depressive symptoms). Participants completed two versions of an emotional face n-back task, and either paid attention to the valence of the emotion or the gender. Both tasks were completed at low load (0-back) and high load (2-back). In the high load condition, healthy adolescents showed a bias towards positive faces, both speeding up reaction times (RTs) when emotion was task relevant but slowing RTs when they were task irrelevant. This interaction was neither significant in adolescents with depressive symptoms nor in young adults. Depressive symptoms did not influence RTs in low load. The results indicate that adolescents with depressive symptoms might lack the bias towards positive affective material at high load WM task present in healthy adolescents.".
• 01GSTRKGVEKXNH8BRM97ZWJX2C abstract "We investigate the determinants of dividend payments in Belgium between 1838 and 2020. As the institutional environment changes drastically over time, we explore whether the determinants of dividend payments depend on the environment in which firms operate. Large firms, firms that are not informationally opaque, firms with a high share denomination and firms with liquid shares are more likely to pay. However, the importance of these characteristics changed over time. Surprisingly, firms seemingly do not use dividends for signaling. Our results indicate that the omnipresence of universal banks in pre-war Belgium might have lowered the need for a signal.".
• 01GSTWPWQR2HFPJT78D5DRJW2C abstract "The transition from current linear economy toward a circular economy (CE) needs the adoption and diffusion of circular economy innovation (CEI). However, the rate and direction of CEI influenced by policy instruments are still not well understood. This paper explores the roles of demand-pull and technology-push policy instruments in shaping CEI in Europe. The different impacts on the adoption across different sectors and the specific effects on each circularity innovation pattern are also examined. The findings indicate that both command-and-control regulation and technology-push instruments are significant in stimulating Small Medium Enterprises' (SMEs') adoption of CEI. While the environmental tax hinders SMEs' implementation of CEI in the whole economic activity sectors, it is a significant driver of CEI for SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The technology-push in-strument strongly encourages SMEs to invest in re-planning and re-designing activities to minimize the usage or maximize the re-usage of water, energy, and materials. Environmental tax highly determines SMEs' adoption of CEI related to improving energy efficiency. In contrast, the command-and-control regulation significantly in-creases SMEs' likelihood to undertake innovation activity in minimizing waste by recycling or reusing the waste. Our study elucidates the potential interactions between policy instruments and CEI, paving the way toward the desirable CE.".
• 01GSTZ72B0VTJFNC2VD4WQWRTH abstract "The ability to bear live offspring, viviparity, has evolved multiple times across the tree of life and is a remarkable adaptation with profound life-history and ecological implications. Within amphibians the ancestral reproductive mode is oviparity followed by a larval life stage, but viviparity has evolved independently in all three amphibian orders. Two types of viviparous reproduction can be distinguished in amphibians; larviparity and pueriparity. Larviparous amphibians deliver larvae into nearby ponds and streams, while pueriparous amphibians deliver fully developed juveniles and thus do not require waterbodies for reproduction. Among amphibians, the salamander genus Salamandra is remarkable as it exhibits both inter-and intraspecific variation in the occurrence of larviparity and pueriparity. While the evolutionary relationships among Salamandra lineages have been the focus of several recent studies, our understanding of how often and when transitions between modes occurred is still incomplete. Furthermore, in species with intraspecific variation, the reproductive mode of a given population can only be confirmed by direct observation of births and thus the prevalence of pueriparous populations is also incompletely documented. We used sequence capture to obtain 1,326 loci from 94 individuals from across the geographic range of the genus, focusing on potential reproductive mode transition zones. We also report additional direct observations of pueriparous births for 20 new locations and multiple lineages. We identify at least five independent transitions from the ancestral mode of larviparity to pueriparity among and within species, occurring at different evolutionary timescales ranging from the Pliocene to the Holocene. Four of these transitions occurred within species. Based on a distinct set of markers and analyses, we also confirm previous findings of introgression between species and the need for taxonomic revisions in the genus. We discuss the implications of our findings with respect to the evolution of this complex trait, and the potential of using five independent convergent transitions for further studies on the ecological context in which pueriparity evolves and the genetic architecture of this specialized reproductive mode.".
• 01GSTZA7PBVGN66FYBMGGQM5XT abstract "A period of isolation in allopatry typically precedes local adaptation and subsequent divergence among lineages. Alternatively, locally adapted phenotypes may arise and persist in the face of gene flow, resulting in strong correlations between ecologically-relevant phenotypic variation and corresponding environmental gradients. Quantifying genetic, ecological, and phenotypic divergence in such lineages can provide insights into the abiotic and biotic mechanisms that structure populations and drive the accumulation of phenotypic and taxonomic diversity. Low-vagility organisms whose distributions span ephemeral geographic barriers present the ideal evolutionary context within which to address these questions. Here, we combine genetic (mtDNA and genome-wide SNPs) and phenotypic data to investigate the divergence history of caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) endemic to the oceanic island of Sao Tome in the Gulf of Guinea archipelago. Consistent with a previous mtDNA study, we find two phenotypically and genetically distinct lineages that occur along a north-to-south axis with extensive admixture in the centre of the island. Demographic modelling supports divergence in allopatry (similar to 300 kya) followed by secondary contact (similar to 95 kya). Consequently, in contrast to a morphological study that interpreted latitudinal phenotypic variation in these caecilians as a cline within a single widespread species, our analyses suggest a history of allopatric lineage divergence and subsequent hybridization that may have blurred species boundaries. We propose that late Pleistocene volcanic activity favoured allopatric divergence between these lineages with local adaptation to climate maintaining a stable hybrid zone in the centre of Sao Tome Island. Our study joins a growing number of systems demonstrating lineage divergence on volcanic islands with stark environmental transitions across small geographic distances.".
• 01GSTZC23PMCZMAG1RCAJ0C3FW abstract "Until recently many historical museum specimens were largely inaccessible to genomic inquiry, but high-throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches have allowed researchers to successfully sequence genomic DNA from dried and fluid-preserved museum specimens. In addition to preserved specimens, many museums contain large series of allozyme supernatant samples, but the amenability of these samples to HTS has not yet been assessed. Here, we compared the performance of a target-capture approach using alternative sources of genomic DNA from 10 specimens of spring salamanders (Plethodontidae: Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) collected between 1985 and 1990: allozyme supernatants, allozyme homogenate pellets and formalin-fixed tissues. We designed capture probes based on double-digest restriction-site associated sequencing (RADseq) derived loci from frozen blood samples available for seven of the specimens and assessed the success and consistency of capture and RADseq approaches. This study design enabled direct comparisons of data quality and potential biases among the different data sets for phylogenomic and population genomic analyses. We found that in phylogenetic analyses, all enrichment types for a given specimen clustered together. In principal component space all capture-based samples clustered together, but RADseq samples did not cluster with corresponding capture-based samples. Single nucleotide polymorphism calls were on average 18.3% different between enrichment types for a given individual, but these discrepancies were primarily due to differences in heterozygous/homozygous single nucleotide polymorphism calls. We demonstrate that both allozyme supernatant and formalin-fixed samples can be successfully used for population genomic analyses and we discuss ways to identify and reduce biases associated with combining capture and RADseq data.".
• 01GSTZDEFZJV7VG22Z9Y643BM9 abstract "The radiation of Palearctic green toads (Bufotes) holds great potential to evaluate the role of hybridization in phylogeography at multiple stages along the speciation continuum. With fifteen species representing three ploidy levels, this model system is particularly attractive to examine the causes and consequences of allopoly-ploidization, a prevalent yet enigmatic pathway towards hybrid speciation. Despite substantial efforts, the evolutionary history of this species complex remains largely blurred by the lack of consistency among the corresponding literature. To get a fresh, comprehensive view on Bufotes phylogeography, here we combined genome-wide multilocus analyses (RAD-seq) with an extensive compilation of mitochondrial, genome size, niche modelling, distribution and phenotypic (bioacoustics, morphometrics, toxin composition) datasets, representing hundreds of populations throughout Eurasia. We provide a fully resolved nuclear phylogeny for Bufotes and highlight exceptional cyto-nuclear discordances characteristic of complete mtDNA replacement (in 20% of species), mitochondrial surfing during post-glacial expansions, and the formation of homoploid hybrid populations. Moreover, we traced the origin of several allopolyploids down to species level, showing that all were exclusively fathered by the West Himalayan B. latastii but mothered by several diploid forms inhabiting Central Asian lowlands, an asymmetry consistent with hypotheses on mate choice and Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities. Their intermediate call phenotypes potentially allowed for rapid reproductive isolation, while toxin compositions converged towards the ecologically-closest parent. Across the radiation, we pinpoint a stepwise progression of reproductive isolation through time, with a threshold below which hybridizability is irrespective of divergence (< 6My), above which species barely admix and eventually evolve different mating calls (6-10My), or can successfully cross-breed through allopolyploidization (> 15My). Finally, we clarified the taxonomy of Bufotes (including genetic analyses of type series) and formally described two new species, B. cypriensis sp. nov. (endemic to Cyprus) and B. perrini sp. nov. (endemic to Central Asia). Embracing the genomic age, our framework marks the advent of a new exciting era for evolutionary research in these iconic amphibians.".
• 01GSTZHEW4XGX7QKASXA138ZX1 abstract "Species with narrow environmental tolerances are often distributed within fragmented patches of suitable habitat, and dispersal among these subpopulations can be difficult to directly observe. Genetic data can help quantify gene flow between localities, which is especially important for vulnerable species with a disjunct range. The Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah) is a federally endangered species known only from three mountaintops in Virginia, USA. To reconstruct the evolutionary history and population connectivity of this species, we generated both mitochondrial and nuclear data using sequence capture from individuals collected across all three mountaintops. Applying population and landscape genetic methods, we found strong population structure that was independent of geographic distance. Both the nuclear markers and mitochondrial genomes indicated a deep split between the most southern population and the genetically similar central and northern populations. Although there was some mitochondrial haplotype-splitting between the central and northern populations, there was admixture in nuclear markers. This is indicative of either a recent split or current male-biased dispersal among mountain isolates. Models of landscape resistance found that dispersal across north-facing slopes at mid-elevation levels best explain the observed genetic structure among populations. These unexpected results highlight the importance of incorporating landscape features in understanding and predicting the movement and fragmentation of this range-restricted salamander species across space.".
• 01GSTZJZD55P416NDJ4XT8NGVP abstract "Infectious diseases are causing catastrophic losses to global biodiversity. Iridoviruses in the genus Ranavirus are among the leading causes of amphibian disease-related mortality. Polymorphisms in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are significantly associated with variation in amphibian pathogen susceptibility. MHC genes encode two classes of polymorphic cell-surface molecules that can recognize and bind to diverse pathogen peptides. While MHC class I genes are the classic mediators of viral-acquired immunity, larval amphibians do not express them. Consequently, MHC class II gene diversity may be an important predictor of Ranavirus susceptibility in larval amphibians, the life stage most susceptible to Ranavirus. We surveyed natural populations of larval wood frogs (Rana sylvatica), which are highly susceptible to Ranavirus, across 17 ponds and 2years in Maryland, USA. We sequenced the peptide-binding region of an expressed MHC class II locus and assessed allelic and genetic diversity. We converted alleles to functional supertypes and determined if supertypes or alleles influenced host responses to Ranavirus. Among 381 sampled individuals, 26% were infected with Ranavirus. We recovered 20 unique MHC class II alleles that fell into two deeply diverged clades and seven supertypes. MHC genotypes were associated with Ranavirus infection intensity, but not prevalence. Specifically, MHC heterozygotes and supertype ST1/ST7 had significantly lower Ranavirus infection intensity compared to homozygotes and other supertypes. We conclude that MHC class II functional genetic variation is an important component of Ranavirus susceptibility. Identifying immunogenetic signatures linked to variation in disease susceptibility can inform mitigation strategies for combatting global amphibian declines.".
• 01GSTZM9C0V6JBRWTG9DYRJK63 abstract "Effective conservation and management of pond-breeding amphibians depends on the accurate estimation of population structure, demographic parameters, and the influence of landscape features on breeding-site connectivity. Population-level studies of pond-breeding amphibians typically sample larval life stages because they are easily captured and can be sampled nondestructively. These studies often identify high levels of relatedness between individuals from the same pond, which can be exacerbated by sampling the larval stage. Yet, the effect of these related individuals on population genetic studies using genomic data is not yet fully understood. Here, we assess the effect of within-pond relatedness on population and landscape genetic analyses by focusing on the barred tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) from the Nebraska Sandhills. Utilizing genome-wide SNPs generated using a double-digest RADseq approach, we conducted standard population and landscape genetic analyses using datasets with and without siblings. We found that reduced sample sizes influenced parameter estimates more than the inclusion of siblings, but that within-pond relatedness led to the inference of spurious population structure when analyses depended on allele frequencies. Our landscape genetic analyses also supported different models across datasets depending on the spatial resolution analyzed. We recommend that future studies not only test for relatedness among larval samples but also remove siblings before conducting population or landscape genetic analyses. We also recommend alternative sampling strategies to reduce sampling siblings before sequencing takes place. Biases introduced by unknowingly including siblings can have significant implications for population and landscape genetic analyses, and in turn, for species conservation strategies and outcomes.".
• 01GSTZNNTB7EWZPXCZA8305N16 abstract "1. In occupancy studies, species misidentification can lead to false-positive detections, which can cause severe estimator biases. Currently, all models that account for false-positive errors only consider omnibus sources of false detections and are limited to single-species occupancy. 2. However, false detections for a given species often occur because of the misidentification with another, closely related species. To exploit this explicit source of false-positive detection error, we develop a two-species occupancy model that accounts for misidentifications between two species of interest. As with other false-positive models, identifiability is greatly improved by the availability of unambiguous detections at a subset of site x occasions. Here, we consider the case where some of the field observations can be confirmed using laboratory or other independent identification methods ("confirmatory data"). 3. We performed three simulation studies to (1) assess the model's performance under various realistic scenarios, (2) investigate the influence of the proportion of confirmatory data on estimator accuracy and (3) compare the performance of this two-species model with that of the single-species false-positive model. The model shows good performance under all scenarios, even when only small proportions of detections are confirmed (e.g. 5%). It also clearly outperforms the single-species model. 4. We illustrate application of this model using a 4-year dataset on two sympatric species of lungless salamanders: the US federally endangered Shenandoah salamander Plethodon shenandoah, and its presumed competitor, the red-backed salamander Plethodon cinereus. Occupancy of red-backed salamanders appeared very stable across the 4 years of study, whereas the Shenandoah salamander displayed substantial turnover in occupancy of forest habitats among years. 5. Given the extent of species misidentification issues in occupancy studies, this modelling approach should help improve the reliability of estimates of species distribution, which is the goal of many studies and monitoring programmes. Further developments, to account for different forms of state uncertainty, can be readily undertaken under our general approach.".
• 01GSTZPSBZM4FJ4B1MJDVENVSW abstract "The amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has contributed to the decline of Chiricahua leopard frogs (Rana chiricahuensis), a federally threatened species native to the Southwestern United States. We characterized immunogenetic variability in R. chiricahuensis by sequencing an expressed Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II beta gene across 13 natural populations in Arizona, USA, as well as 283 individuals that were captive reared from two egg masses. We recovered a total of five class II beta MHC alleles compared to 84 alleles previously characterized in eight natural populations of the Arizona congener R. yavapaiensis, demonstrating reduced MHC diversity in R. chiricahuensis. One allele was fixed in five populations but none of the R. chiricahuensis alleles were closely related to R. yavapaiensis allele Q, which is significantly associated with chytridiomycosis resistance in laboratory trials. Nine of 13 R. chiricahuensis population localities were Bd positive, and bearing allele RachDRB*04 was the best genetic predictor of an individual being infected with Bd. A total of three class II beta alleles were recovered from captive reared individuals, which were released to two natural population localities followed by recapture surveys to assess MHC-based survival over winter, the time when chytridiomycosis outbreaks are most severe. At one site, all released animals were fixed for a single allele and MHC-based survival could not be assessed. At the second site, fewer than half of the released but all of the recaptured individuals were homozygous for RachDRB*05, indicating that MHC genotype is important in determining Bd survival under natural field conditions. We conclude that the limited MHC variation in R. chiricahuensis is likely the consequence rather than the cause of natural selection favoring alleles that promote survival in the face of Bd. Our study highlights that preserving even low levels of functional genetic variation may be essential for population persistence, and that local disease adaptation may present as a reduction in genetic diversity. These finding also suggest that for populations that have declined due to a specific infectious pathogen, MHC-based genetically-informed reintroduction approaches may enhance species recovery efforts.".
• 01GSTZSH3AVXTWGP283C2X51H9 abstract "Translocations are a tool widely used by wildlife managers, yet their impact is often insufficiently evaluated. Most translocation studies only assess the initial establishment phase, and the majority of long-term persistence studies to date have only tracked female fecundity. Male genetic integration for mitigative translocations have as of yet not been assessed and could greatly undermine the validity of translocation evaluations. To test for successful male integration, we determined genetic paternity of 92 desert tortoise hatchlings (Gopherus agassizii), from both resident and translocated females, four years after the initial translocation event and found that all 35 hatchlings with a paternal match in our genotype database were sired by residents. Given that translocated males constitute 46% of the genotyped males found in the home ranges of the females, they produce significantly fewer offspring than resident males in the same area (G-test, p value < 0.0001). This is the first study assessing paternal genetic integration following a translocation of a wild sourced population into a native resident population. We hypothesize that male condition following the translocation, female mate preference for prior residents and competitive exclusion by resident males may contribute to the lower reproductive output of translocated males. We advocate the use of genetic paternity testing in other species to determine the generality of male translocation success across taxa given this unexpected and alarming result.".
• 01GSTZTXA6AR9ZV4QZ2709RBSS abstract "The complete mitochondrial genome of Salamandra salamandra was reconstructed using bycatch sequences from an RNAseq library generated from muscle tissue. This study shows the potential of using data originally produced for transcriptome assembly to additionally generate complete mitochondrial genomes. The resulting mitogenome was circular, consisted of 16,331 bp and followed the standard vertebrate gene order. Subsequent analysis of the current mitochondrial genome sequence for the species as listed on GenBank highlighted a species misidentification.".
• 01GSTZW1RNM4JJ2FHYPCTDSQYQ abstract "Studying patterns of intra-specific genetic variation among populations allows for a better understanding of population structure and local adaptation. However, those patterns may differ according to the genetic markers applied, as neutral genetic markers reflect demographic processes and random genetic drift, whereas adaptive markers also carry the footprint of selection. In combination, neutral and adaptive genetic markers permit to assess the relative roles of drift and selection in shaping population structure. Among the best understood adaptive genetic loci are the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We here study variation and differentiation at neutral SNP markers and MHC class II genes in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) from Ireland and Scotland. Irish red grouse populations are fragmented and drastically declining, but red grouse are abundant in Scotland. We find evidence for positive selection acting on the MHC genes and variation in MHC gene copy numbers among Irish individuals. Furthermore, there was significant population differentiation among red grouse from Ireland and Scotland at the neutral SNP markers (F-ST = 0.084) and the MHC-BLB genes (F-ST: BLB1 = 0.116, BLB2 = 0.090, BLB3 = 0.104). Differentiation at the MHC-BLB1 was significantly higher than at the neutral SNP markers, suggesting that selection plays an important role in shaping MHC variation, in addition to genetic drift. We speculate that the observed differentiation pattern might be due to local adaptation to different parasite regimes. These findings have strong conservation implications and we advise against the introduction of Scottish red grouse to supplement Irish populations.".
• 01GSVY10T5ZWX3R01SB691JKY8 abstract "The steelmaking continuous casting scheduling problem concerns the construction of production schedules for steelmaking from the basic oxygen furnace to the continuous casters. Start and completion times are determined to complete the operations associated with different steel charges. The real-life problem under study comprises different complicating dual-resource transportation and blocking constraints and embeds routing and sequencing flexibility to process charges of different steel grades. In this paper, we present a mixed-integer linear problem and propose a two-stage local search heuristic adjusting the charge sequence and machine assignments to minimise makespan and waiting times of charges. The algorithm makes use of a novel charge-sequence initialisation method and local search operator to find promising neighbouring schedules. Computational experimentation is performed on real-life instances to validate heuristic design choices and benchmark the proposed method to alternative methodologies. Results demonstrate that the proposed heuristic provides better initial solutions and a faster convergence to high-quality solutions in short run times.".
• 01GSVYY4X2P0QJD1TNQSQ48Q88 abstract "Computational homogenization is commonly used to predict the responses of composite materials. However, it poses practical issues due to large computational cost especially in the material-by-design setting when various design parameters are to be examined. This paper presents the development of a parametric model order reduction strategy for the micromechanical analysis of composites when fibre distribution is the parameter of interest. The reduced order model is obtained by applying Galerkin projection in combination with proper orthogonal decomposition. The presented framework enables a significantly reduced computational load during parametric studies as the model dimension of the microscale analyses is significantly smaller. The results show that the proposed approach can reproduce the homogenized properties of material and local stress distributions in the microstructures very well.".
• 01GSW8GXMJ8MJZ96HVM0Z226GX abstract "Today, the vast majority of meteorological data are collected in open, rural environments to comply with the standards set by the World Meteorological Organization. However, these traditional networks lack local information that we need for example for high-resolution numerical weather prediction or to assess climate adaptation measures. The citizen science project called VLINDER uses a novel approach for addressing this observational gap based on an intense collaboration with high schools. The collaboration resulted in the establishment of a region-wide climate monitoring network of about 70 accurate weather stations in a wide variety of locations across northern Belgium e.g. in city centers, forests, lakes, industrial environments,... The stations measure temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind and pressure and data are transferred every 5 minutes via IoT-technology. The resulting data can be consulted in realtime on the project’s dashboard (https://vlinder.ugent.be/dashboard/) which contains an API to extract the data. To guarantee a sustainable and mutually valuable collaboration, the schools and their students are involved at all stages, ranging from proposing measurement locations, building the weather stations, and even data analysis. The approach received overwhelming enthusiasm from high schools and students and resulted in a high-accuracy monitoring network with unique locations offering novel insights. The data collected by the stations are used both by schools who received educational material to explore the data in the classroom and by scientists e.g. to evaluate hectometric NWP runs. With this presentation we would like to share our experiences and the lessons learnt to encourage and help colleagues in exploring and setting up collaborations with schools.".
• 01GSWB7P1EGZGSK8DZFM7CCEMM abstract "An important challenge for our field lays in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in supra-threshold hearing, i.e. those that shape what we perceive and understand from our daily environment, and thus in the identification and characterization of their potential deficits. Current audiological measurements, assessing hearing sensitivity at threshold, are not appropriate to understand why many of us encounter significant problems understanding speech in the presence of other competitive talkers. Strikingly, it is estimated that over 10% of individuals with clinically-normal audiograms for their age report significant struggles with hearing in noise. In this talk, we will particularly focus on one source of coding deficit arising in the auditory nerve, first revealed in animal studies: “cochlear synaptopathy”, which corresponds to the loss of synapses connecting inner hair cells to auditory nerve fibers, i.e. the channels that convey the auditory signal to more central auditory stages. Animal studies have shown that this pathology naturally occurs with aging, but that it can also be induced by temporary exposure to intense noise. Critically, it can occur without damage to outer- hair cells, and therefore remain undetected by current measurements of audibility: it thus constitutes one form of “hidden hearing loss”, and is thought to be an important factor contributing to speech-in-noise understanding difficulties reported by humans. Yet, it remains unclear which non-invasive biomarkers could be used to assess the prevalence of this pathology in humans. Here, we will present psychophysical and electrophysiological measurements based on complex auditory stimuli with different spectral envelopes, specifically designed to characterize the impact of synaptopathy through coding fidelity to temporal fine- structure, which is known to be critical to speech-in-noise understanding. We will discuss how several markers extracted from these measurements can account for SPiN intelligibility differences measured within and across younger and older listeners, with/without outer-hair cell damage.".
• 01GSWBKE98211YQEBW50CE2KKA abstract "In this article we analyze the misunderstandings and asymmetries in cultural transfers by exploring the (nationalist-)internationalist intentions behind the production and reception of the volume Europas Neue Kunst und Dichtung/De Nieuwe Europeesche geest in kunst en letteren (1920). This German-Dutch-Italian-English-Belgian collaboration aimed at a climate of international understanding by informing the European audience about literary developments abroad. The initiators, among them the German art historian Friedrich Markus Huebner, the Belgian journalist Paul Colin and the Dutch literary critic Dirk Coster, believed that a reconciliation of war-torn Europe could be established through a cultural transfer between national literatures, that each in their own, unique way reflected a ‘new European spirit’.".
• 01GSWC0AD8K6NCEYE3HA45VXCA abstract "In many parts of the world, aikido is applied as a metaphor or an embodiment method in other domains such as therapy and communication training (Faggianelli & Lukoff, 2006; Brawdy, 2001). Aikido often stands for seeking harmony, common ground and non-violence instead of the combat in many other martial arts. Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969) founded aikido and gave form to his martial art in the 1920s. The traditional literature on aikido and aikido principles, in English and Japanese, is mainly written from "within"; by Ueshiba’s followers, aikido practitioners and by family members (Niehaus, 2019). A benchmarking study identified what current aikido experts consider to be principles of aikido on and off the mat in order to determine to what extent the principles of aikido serve other domains today. Twenty aikido experts from each continent gave their views in a semi-structured interview. Relying on NVivo software, we performed a qualitative content analysis of the interview data. All informants were recruited through purposive sampling. The sample was homogeneous in knowledge and expertise, heterogeneous in geographical spread (Etikan, 2016). The study found that the informants referred to aikido principles with the same core meaning, however, with local or individual nuances. Differences were based on the reality the informants live in and on the aikido style they practise. The similarities are fundamental and show that many principles are universal. They showed a pattern in which aikido undergirds principles for interaction (openness, cooperation and other-awareness) and for self-development (tranquillity and self-awareness). Because the findings showed significant similarities, aikido has the potential to be a model for embodied pedagogy in other domains.".
• 01GSWC0QDW6MWGAFAP48WN5JMT abstract "Background At present, it is estimated that over 10% of individuals with clinically-normal audiograms have significant difficulty understanding speech-in-noise (SPiN). Cochlear synaptopathy (CS) – the loss of synapses connecting the cochlea to the auditory nerve (AN), caused by aging or noise exposure – is thought to be an important factor contributing to this problem. Most recent studies addressed CS through its impact on temporal envelope coding, thus missing a component of sounds that is pivotal to SPiN coding, namely their temporal fine structure (TFS). In the present work, we investigated whether complex tones resembling speech vowels could be used to design novel, complementary tools to assess CS through its impact on TFS-coding fidelity. Methods To test this idea, we designed a battery of psychoacoustical detection thresholds and electrophysiological frequency-following responses (FFRs) measurements based on spectrally-complex signals carrying well-defined TFS cues. All measurements were conducted in younger normal-hearing individuals (yNH group, n=18) as well as older individuals with normal hearing (oNH, n=16) or mild-to-moderate hearing loss (oHI, n=14). SPiN scores were also measured: SRTs were obtained with Matrix tests using steady-state, speech-shaped noise presented under several frequency-filtering conditions. Results We will present and discuss all the results obtained from this large data-set. One important result was that the strength of FFRs was strongly reduced in older compared to younger listeners, and negatively correlated to age. In contrast, we found no differences in FFR strength between older listeners with or without sensorineural hearing-loss. These data suggest that cochlear damage per se does not impact the neural coding of TFS cues, but that CS is an important factor underlying the impact of age on TFS-coding capacities. However, we observed no relationships between these neural measurements and SRTs, nor between psychoacoustical detection thresholds of spectral envelope shapes and SRTs in either group, even when speech and noise material were filtered in the low-frequencies so as to maximally engage the use of TFS cues. Conclusions Taken together, these results suggest that FFRs to spectrally-shaped complex signals could provide a novel perspective to monitor CS through its impact on TFS-coding. Yet, these joint psychophysical and electrophysiological results call for further work to design a psychoacoustical test that would provide a robust behavioral proxy of TFS-coding fidelity for such spectrally-shaped sounds. Overall, this project paves the way toward novel non-invasive biological markers of CS based on the neural encoding of spectral cues of sounds. Work supported by Fondation pour l’Audition (FPA 2020-005F2) and European Research Council (ERC-StG-678120, RobSpear).".
• 01GSWEBSXAVZJ1Q8ZDAFN5C7ZG abstract "This study investigated the reliability of 3-dimensional freehand ultrasound (3DfUS) to quantify the size (muscle volume [MV] and anatomical cross-sectional area [aCSA]), length (muscle length [ML], tendon length [TL], and muscle tendon unit length [MTUL]), and echo-intensity (EI, whole muscle and 50% aCSA), of lower limb muscles in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) and typical development (TD). In total, 13 children with SCP (median age 14.3 (7.3) years) and 13 TD children (median age 11.1 (1.7) years) participated. 3DfUS scans of rectus femoris, semitendinosus, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior were performed by two raters in two sessions. The intra- and inter-rater and intra- and inter-session reliability were defined with relative and absolute reliability measures, that is, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and absolute and relative standard error of measurement (SEM and SEM%), respectively. Over all conditions, ICCs for muscle size measures ranged from 0.818 to 0.999 with SEM%s of 12.6%-1.6%. For EI measures, ICCs varied from 0.233 to 0.967 with SEM%s of 15.6%-1.7%. Length measure ICCs ranged from 0.642 to 0.999 with SEM%s of 16.0%-0.5%. In general, reliability did not differ between the TD and SCP cohort but the influence of different muscles, raters, and sessions was not constant for all 3DfUS parameters. Muscle length and muscle tendon unit length were the most reliable length parameters in all conditions. MV and aCSA showed comparable SEM%s over all muscles, where tibialis anterior MV was most reliable. EI had low-relative reliability, but absolute reliability was better, with better reliability for the distal muscles in comparison to the proximal muscles. Combining these results with earlier studies describing muscle morphology assessed in children with SCP, 3DfUS seems sufficiently reliable to determine differences between cohorts and functional levels. The applicability on an individual level, for longitudinal follow-up and after interventions is dependent on the investigated muscle and parameter. Moreover, the semitendinosus, the acquisition, and processing of multiple sweeps, and the definition of EI and TL require further investigation. In general, it is recommended, especially for longitudinal follow-up studies, to keep the rater the same, while standardizing acquisition settings and positioning of the subject.".
• 01GSWEHPR1Z14F1GDNC3PEPS66 abstract "This paper investigates the added value of aikido, a martial art, as an embodied pedagogy for intercultural communication training: what is the potential of bringing the physical practice of aikido into the intercultural communication classroom, emphasizing experiential discovery instead of traditional didactic explanations? To this end, we conducted a benchmarking study identifying the core principles of aikido. We interviewed twenty aikido experts worldwide and performed a qualitative content analysis of the transcribed interview data relying on NVivo software. First, and foremost, our findings show fundamental similarities between aikido interaction and intercultural interaction. They reveal a shared significance of focused interaction by consciously seeking harmony and co-creating common ground. Second, we demonstrate that the aikido pedagogy teaches harmony and common ground through (i) multisensory learning practice and (ii) somatic discovery by training physiological and mental tranquility. Our conclusion is that aikido has potential as an embodied pedagogy for intercultural communication training.".
• 01GSWJPJT6C2JC3MZYQ0ZD10VB abstract "Culture-general understanding provides the foundation for the complex cultural interactions we experience. Numerous twenty-first-century scholars identified the need for culture-general approaches, counterbalancing culture-specific approaches which are traditionally characterized by a dichotomous perspective, an anthropocentric worldview and binary thinking in terms of otherness and difference (Jia and Jia, 2016). This paper explores the added value of aikido’s oneness principle in martial art for culture-general intercultural training for business people. Practiced worldwide, aikido is characterized by an anthropocosmic worldview (Jia & Jia, 2016): it sees humanity as being one with self, society, nature and heaven, not being the center of the universe. Many aikido practitioners share this anthropocosmic view and believe it is why aikido is called the martial art of harmony. Aikido teaches an understanding of human movements to induce unity and agreement between the practitioner, the attacker and their surroundings (Soltoggio et al., 2016). A successful aikido interaction fosters oneness and ends in a noble outcome for all parties involved. We compared Deardorff’s (2006) pyramid model of intercultural competence with the findings of a qualitative content analysis of twenty aikido expert interviews. Several intercultural study scholars considered Deardorff’s model to be quite a complete model. The comparison between the pyramid model and the aikido principles from the data-set showed a significant overlap. However, one cluster of aikido principles did not have an equivalent in the pyramid model: oneness. Oneness relates to the anthropocosmic worldview: if you see yourself as one with the other person in an interaction, it is natural to pursue a noble outcome instead of doing harm. Aikido practitioners learn how to achieve oneness in aikido interaction. Therefore, applying aikido’s principle of oneness to intercultural business interaction contributes to an anthropocosmic culture-general training approach.".
• 01GSWK8GMV8VX4NT7GDYGB5XJM abstract "As a growing number of educational institutions are offering online programs, teachers need to be competent in this new way of teaching. This is especially the case for synchronous online learning through videoconferencing technology, an emergent and so far understudied form of online education. Based on a systematic literature review of 30 studies, this study identifies 24 competence clusters, which can be grouped into 5 teacher roles associated with synchronous online teaching through videoconferencing: the instructional, managerial, technical, communicational, and social role. This framework can act as a starting point for future research on this understudied topic and can also provide directions to support teachers' professionalization and practice.".
• 01GSWPKWPWKGHCA3Q7NY7SXK0B abstract "To date, we know relatively little on the interaction between the criminal justice system and terrorist offenders and influences thereupon by changes in legal and/or political context. Existing studies on the topic corroborate that criminal justice responses to terrorism, and sentencing in particular, remain a largely underexposed issue within the broader range of terrorism studies. Yet, in evaluating the criminal law as a response to terrorism, it is key to study the actual sentencing decisions of judges. Due to the unique nature of these offences, the prosecution tactics, judicial decision-making processes, sentencing principles and key predictors differ from those in the context of traditional crimes. It is, therefore, highly needed to examine how this field of interest has been approached in scientific literature (in terms of volume, nature and characteristics of the studies) in a rigorous and transparent manner. This scoping review, based on over 50 included records, highlights the importance of studying the criminal justice responses to terrorist offenders and maps the field of interest, clarifies key concepts, examines similarities and differences, and identifies research gaps. After mapping these studies according to their general characteristics (i.e. the historical and geographical distribution, the adopted research methods, and the applied theoretical frameworks), a closer look is taken at the more specific characteristics of quantitative studies (i.e. the timeframe of each dataset, the sample sizes, the coded variables and the statistical strategies used). A thematic analysis of the studies highlights the focal points of existing research and emphasizes the calls for future research. Based on the available evidence in the research domain, this papers argues for more recent, mixed methods-driven research within European countries.".
• 01GSWQJ6VBD5JPJQRQZDVJSX1Q abstract "A proliferation of criminal justice measures in the context of counter-terrorism has led to an increasing expansion of criminal liability. As a result, ancillary acts have been brought within the remit of criminal law, based upon their potential harm and related security and risk management aims. This legislative evolution has been widely criticised, but empirical research on the implications in practice has been largely inexistent in Belgium. Little is known on (1) how these criminal law provisions have been actually applied in sentencing decisions, and (2) how the changing terrorist threat has shaped these sentencing decisions. On the one hand, this research poster highlights the need to gain insight in the interaction between the criminal justice system and terrorist offenders, and influences thereupon by changes in legal and/or political context.  On the other hand, the research poster presents the research design of a postdoctoral research project on the adjudication of terrorism-related offenders in Belgium since the introduction of terrorism-specific legislation in 2003, in terms of judicial interpretation, patterns and evolutions, and sentence severity. A systematic content analysis of over 350 court rulings of terrorism-related trials will be systematically coded and analysed in a qualitative and quantitative manner, on the level of case and offender metadata, sentencing process and outcome variables and terrorism-specific variables. An analysis of the adjudication of Belgian terrorism-related offenders of the first two decades of the twenty-first century, and the evolutions therein, provides crucial insights in the response of the criminal justice system for scholars, practitioners and society in general.".
• 01GSWRXP2M7W9HHJ28AVE2WMX6 abstract "This study aims to demonstrate the capability of the digital image correlation (DIC) technique for evaluating full-field residual stresses in wire and arc additive manufactured (WAAM) components. Investigations were carried out on WAAM steel parts (wall deposited on a substrate) with two different wall heights: 24 mm and 48 mm. Mild steel solid wire AWS ER70S-6 was used to print WAAM walls on substrates that were rigidly clamped to H-profiles. DIC was used to monitor the bending deformation of WAAM parts during unclamping from the H-profiles, and residual stresses were calculated from the strain field captured during unclamping. Residual stresses determined from the proposed DIC-based method were verified with an analytical model and validated by the results from established residual stress measurement techniques, i.e., the contour method and X-ray diffraction.".
• 01GSWS53FQJJ0JWB6EF6M7C47C abstract "Background Optimal nutrition is crucial during the critical period of the first 1,000 days from conception to 2 years after birth. Prenatal and postnatal supplementation of mothers with multimicronutrient-fortified balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplements is a potential nutritional intervention. However, evidence on the long-term effects of BEP supplementation on child growth is inconsistent. We evaluated the efficacy of daily fortified BEP supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on infant growth in rural Burkina Faso. Methods and findings A 2 x 2 factorial individually randomized controlled trial (MISAME-III) was implemented in 6 health center catchment areas in Hounde' district under the Hauts-Bassins region. From October 2019 to December 2020, 1,897 pregnant women aged 15 to 40 years with gestational age <21 completed weeks were enrolled. Women were randomly assigned to the pre-natal intervention arms receiving either fortified BEP supplements and iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets (i.e., intervention) or IFA alone (i.e., control), which is the standard of care during pregnancy. The same women were concurrently randomized to receive either of the postna-tal intervention, which comprised fortified BEP supplementation during the first 6 months postpartum in combination with IFA for the first 6 weeks (i.e., intervention), or the postnatal control, which comprised IFA alone for 6 weeks postpartum (i.e., control). Supplements were provided by trained village-based project workers under direct observation during daily home visits. We previously reported the effect of prenatal BEP supplementation on birth outcomes. The primary postnatal study outcome was length-for-age z-score (LAZ) at 6 months of age. Secondary outcomes were anthropometric indices of growth (weight-for length and weight-for-age z-scores, and arm and head circumferences) and nutritional status (prevalence rates of stunting, wasting, underweight, anemia, and hemoglobin concentration) at 6 months. Additionally, the longitudinal prevalence of common childhood morbidities, incidence of wasting, number of months of exclusive breastfeeding, and trajectories of anthropometric indices from birth to 12 months were evaluated. Prenatal BEP supplementation resulted in a significantly higher LAZ (0.11 standard deviation (SD), 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.01 to 0.21], p = 0.032) and lower stunting prevalence (-3.18 percentage points (pp), 95% CI [-5.86 to -0.51], p = 0.020) at 6 months of age, whereas the postnatal BEP supplementation did not have statistically significant effects on LAZ or stunting at 6 months. On the other hand, postnatal BEP supplementation did modestly improve the rate of monthly LAZ increment during the first 12 months postpartum (0.01 z-score/month, 95% CI [0.00 to 0.02], p = 0.030), whereas no differences in growth trajectories were detected between the prenatal study arms. Furthermore, except for the trend towards a lower prevalence of underweight found for the prenatal BEP intervention at 6 months (-2.74 pp, 95% CI [-5.65 to 1.17], p = 0.065), no other secondary outcome was significantly affected by the pre-or postnatal BEP supplementation. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the benefits obtained from prenatal BEP supplementation on size at birth are sustained during infancy in terms of linear growth. Maternal BEP supplementation during lactation may lead to a slightly better linear growth towards the second half of infancy. These findings suggest that BEP supplementation during pregnancy can contribute to the efforts to reduce the high burden of child growth faltering in low-and middle income countries.".

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