| 1. |
- Niemi, MEK, et al.
(author)
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- 2021
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swepub:Mat__t
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| 2. |
- Kanai, M, et al.
(author)
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- 2023
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swepub:Mat__t
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| 3. |
- Delios, A., et al.
(author)
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Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data
- 2022
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 119:30
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability-for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Abbafati, Cristiana, et al.
(author)
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- 2020
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Barnes, P. W., et al.
(author)
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Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2021
- 2022
-
In: Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-905X .- 1474-9092. ; 31, s. 275-301
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel of the Montreal Protocol under the United Nations Environment Programme evaluates effects on the environment and human health that arise from changes in the stratospheric ozone layer and concomitant variations in ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth’s surface. The current update is based on scientific advances that have accumulated since our last assessment (Photochem and Photobiol Sci 20(1):1–67, 2021). We also discuss how climate change affects stratospheric ozone depletion and ultraviolet radiation, and how stratospheric ozone depletion affects climate change. The resulting interlinking effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change are assessed in terms of air quality, carbon sinks, ecosystems, human health, and natural and synthetic materials. We further highlight potential impacts on the biosphere from extreme climate events that are occurring with increasing frequency as a consequence of climate change. These and other interactive effects are examined with respect to the benefits that the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments are providing to life on Earth by controlling the production of various substances that contribute to both stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change. © 2022, The Author(s).
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| 8. |
- Falster, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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AusTraits, a curated plant trait database for the Australian flora
- 2021
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In: Scientific Data. - : Nature Portfolio. - 2052-4463. ; 8:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We introduce the AusTraits database - a compilation of values of plant traits for taxa in the Australian flora (hereafter AusTraits). AusTraits synthesises data on 448 traits across 28,640 taxa from field campaigns, published literature, taxonomic monographs, and individual taxon descriptions. Traits vary in scope from physiological measures of performance (e.g. photosynthetic gas exchange, water-use efficiency) to morphological attributes (e.g. leaf area, seed mass, plant height) which link to aspects of ecological variation. AusTraits contains curated and harmonised individual- and species-level measurements coupled to, where available, contextual information on site properties and experimental conditions. This article provides information on version 3.0.2 of AusTraits which contains data for 997,808 trait-by-taxon combinations. We envision AusTraits as an ongoing collaborative initiative for easily archiving and sharing trait data, which also provides a template for other national or regional initiatives globally to fill persistent gaps in trait knowledge.
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| 9. |
- Geyer, C. E., et al.
(author)
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Overall survival in the OlympiA phase Ill trial of adjuvant olaparib in patients with germime pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 and high-risk, early breast cancer
- 2022
-
In: Annals of Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0923-7534. ; 33:12, s. 1250-1268
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The randomized, double-blind OlympiA trial compared 1 year of the oral poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, olaparib, to matching placebo as adjuvant therapy for patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 (gBRCA1/2pv) and high-risk, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, early breast cancer (EBC). The first pre-specified interim analysis (IA) previously demonstrated statistically significant improvement in invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and distant disease-free survival (DDFS). The olaparib group had fewer deaths than the placebo group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance for overall survival (OS). We now report the pre-specified second IA of OS with updates of IDFS, DDFS, and safety. Patients and methods: One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six patients were randomly assigned to olaparib or placebo following (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy if indicated. Endocrine therapy was given concurrently with study medication for hormone receptor-positive cancers. Statistical significance for OS at this IA required P < 0.015. Results: With a median follow-up of 3.5 years, the second IA of OS demonstrated significant improvement in the olaparib group relative to the placebo group [hazard ratio 0.68; 98.5% confidence interval (CI) 0.47-0.97; P = 0.009]. Four-year OS was 89.8% in the olaparib group and 86.4% in the placebo group (Delta 3.4%, 95% CI -0.1% to 6.8%). Four-year IDFS for the olaparib group versus placebo group was 82.7% versus 75.4% (Delta 7.3%, 95% CI 3.0% to 11.5%) and 4-year DDFS was 86.5% versus 79.1% (Delta 7.4%, 95% CI 3.6% to 11.3%), respectively. Subset analyses for OS, IDFS, and DDFS demonstrated benefit across major subgroups. No new safety signals were identified including no new cases of acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Conclusion: With 35 years of median follow-up, OlympiA demonstrates statistically significant improvement in OS with adjuvant olaparib compared with placebo for gBRCA1/2pv-associated EBC and maintained improvements in the previously reported, statistically significant endpoints of IDES and DDFS with no new safety signals.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Neale, R. E., et al.
(author)
-
Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020
- 2021
-
In: Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-905X .- 1474-9092. ; 20, s. 1-67
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides the latest scientific update since our most recent comprehensive assessment (Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, 2019, 18, 595-828). The interactive effects between the stratospheric ozone layer, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate change are presented within the framework of the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We address how these global environmental changes affect the atmosphere and air quality; human health; terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; biogeochemical cycles; and materials used in outdoor construction, solar energy technologies, and fabrics. In many cases, there is a growing influence from changes in seasonality and extreme events due to climate change. Additionally, we assess the transmission and environmental effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of linkages with solar UV radiation and the Montreal Protocol.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Aalbers, Jelle, et al.
(author)
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Solar neutrino detection sensitivity in DARWIN via electron scattering
- 2020
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In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 80:12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We detail the sensitivity of the proposed liquid xenon DARWIN observatory to solar neutrinos via elastic electron scattering. We find that DARWIN will have the potential to measure the fluxes of five solar neutrino components: pp, 7Be, 13N, 15O and pep. The precision of the 13N, 15O and pep components is hindered by the double-beta decay of 136Xe and, thus, would benefit from a depleted target. A high-statistics observation of pp neutrinos would allow us to infer the values of the electroweak mixing angle, sin2 theta w, and the electron-type neutrino survival probability, Pee, in the electron recoil energy region from a few keV up to 200 keV for the first time, with relative precision of 5% and 4%, respectively, with 10 live years of data and a 30 tonne fiducial volume. An observation of pp and 7Be neutrinos would constrain the neutrino-inferred solar luminosity down to 0.2%. A combination of all flux measurements would distinguish between the high- (GS98) and low-metallicity (AGS09) solar models with 2.1-2.5 sigma significance, independent of external measurements from other experiments or a measurement of 8B neutrinos through coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering in DARWIN. Finally, we demonstrate that with a depleted target DARWIN may be sensitive to the neutrino capture process of 131Xe.
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| 15. |
- Aleksich, Mariya, et al.
(author)
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XFEL Microcrystallography of Self-Assembling Silver n-Alkanethiolates
- 2023
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In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - 0002-7863. ; 145:31, s. 17042-17055
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- New synthetic hybrid materials and their increasing complexity have placed growing demands on crystal growth for single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Unfortunately, not all chemical systems are conducive to the isolation of single crystals for traditional characterization. Here, small-molecule serial femtosecond crystallography (smSFX) at atomic resolution (0.833 Å) is employed to characterize microcrystalline silver n-alkanethiolates with various alkyl chain lengths at X-ray free electron laser facilities, resolving long-standing controversies regarding the atomic connectivity and odd-even effects of layer stacking. smSFX provides high-quality crystal structures directly from the powder of the true unknowns, a capability that is particularly useful for systems having notoriously small or defective crystals. We present crystal structures of silver n-butanethiolate (C4), silver n-hexanethiolate (C6), and silver n-nonanethiolate (C9). We show that an odd-even effect originates from the orientation of the terminal methyl group and its role in packing efficiency. We also propose a secondary odd-even effect involving multiple mosaic blocks in the crystals containing even-numbered chains, identified by selected-area electron diffraction measurements. We conclude with a discussion of the merits of the synthetic preparation for the preparation of microdiffraction specimens and compare the long-range order in these crystals to that of self-assembled monolayers.
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| 16. |
- Bernhard, G. H., et al.
(author)
-
Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change : UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2019
- 2020
-
In: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 1474-905X .- 1474-9092. ; 19:5, s. 542-584
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three Panels informing the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, provides an update, since our previous extensive assessment (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 595–828), of recent findings of current and projected interactive environmental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, stratospheric ozone, and climate change. These effects include those on human health, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and materials used in construction and other services. The present update evaluates further evidence of the consequences of human activity on climate change that are altering the exposure of organisms and ecosystems to UV radiation. This in turn reveals the interactive effects of many climate change factors with UV radiation that have implications for the atmosphere, feedbacks, contaminant fate and transport, organismal responses, and many outdoor materials including plastics, wood, and fabrics. The universal ratification of the Montreal Protocol, signed by 197 countries, has led to the regulation and phase-out of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Although this treaty has had unprecedented success in protecting the ozone layer, and hence all life on Earth from damaging UV radiation, it is also making a substantial contribution to reducing climate warming because many of the chemicals under this treaty are greenhouse gases.
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| 17. |
- Bernhard, G. H., et al.
(author)
-
Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2019
- 2020
-
In: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-905X .- 1474-9092. ; 19:5, s. 542-584
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry and Owner Societies. This assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three Panels informing the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, provides an update, since our previous extensive assessment (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 595-828), of recent findings of current and projected interactive environmental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, stratospheric ozone, and climate change. These effects include those on human health, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and materials used in construction and other services. The present update evaluates further evidence of the consequences of human activity on climate change that are altering the exposure of organisms and ecosystems to UV radiation. This in turn reveals the interactive effects of many climate change factors with UV radiation that have implications for the atmosphere, feedbacks, contaminant fate and transport, organismal responses, and many outdoor materials including plastics, wood, and fabrics. The universal ratification of the Montreal Protocol, signed by 197 countries, has led to the regulation and phase-out of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Although this treaty has had unprecedented success in protecting the ozone layer, and hence all life on Earth from damaging UV radiation, it is also making a substantial contribution to reducing climate warming because many of the chemicals under this treaty are greenhouse gases.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Christmas, Matthew, et al.
(author)
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Evolutionary constraint and innovation across hundreds of placental mammals
- 2023
-
In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 380:6643
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Zoonomia is the largest comparative genomics resource for mammals produced to date. By aligning genomes for 240 species, we identify bases that, when mutated, are likely to affect fitness and alter disease risk. At least 332 million bases (similar to 10.7%) in the human genome are unusually conserved across species (evolutionarily constrained) relative to neutrally evolving repeats, and 4552 ultraconserved elements are nearly perfectly conserved. Of 101 million significantly constrained single bases, 80% are outside protein-coding exons and half have no functional annotations in the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) resource. Changes in genes and regulatory elements are associated with exceptional mammalian traits, such as hibernation, that could inform therapeutic development. Earth's vast and imperiled biodiversity offers distinctive power for identifying genetic variants that affect genome function and organismal phenotypes.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Kuschel, Maxwell, et al.
(author)
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Investigating the Dominant Environmental Quenching Process in UVCANDELS/COSMOS Groups
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 947:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We explore how the fraction of quenched galaxies changes in groups of galaxies with respect to the distance to the center of the group, redshift, and stellar mass to determine the dominant process of environmental quenching in 0.2 < z < 0.8 groups. We use new UV data from the UVCANDELS project in addition to existing multiband photometry to derive new galaxy physical properties of the group galaxies from the zCOSMOS 20 k group catalog. Limiting our analysis to a complete sample of log (M*/M⊙) > 10.56 group galaxies, we find that the probability of being quenched increases slowly with decreasing redshift, diverging from the stagnant field galaxy population. A corresponding analysis on how the probability of being quenched increases with time within groups suggests that the dominant environmental quenching process is characterized by slow (∼Gyr) timescales. We find a quenching time of approximately Gyr, consistent with the slow processes of strangulation and delayed-then-rapid quenching although more data are needed to confirm this result.
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| 22. |
- Merid, Simon Kebede, et al.
(author)
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Epigenome-wide meta-analysis of blood DNA methylation in newborns and children identifies numerous loci related to gestational age
- 2020
-
In: Genome Medicine. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset. - 1756-994X.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Preterm birth and shorter duration of pregnancy are associated with increased morbidity in neonatal and later life. As the epigenome is known to have an important role during fetal development, we investigated associations between gestational age and blood DNA methylation in children. Methods: We performed meta-analysis of Illumina's HumanMethylation450-array associations between gestational age and cord blood DNA methylation in 3648 newborns from 17 cohorts without common pregnancy complications, induced delivery or caesarean section. We also explored associations of gestational age with DNA methylation measured at 4-18 years in additional pediatric cohorts. Follow-up analyses of DNA methylation and gene expression correlations were performed in cord blood. DNA methylation profiles were also explored in tissues relevant for gestational age health effects: fetal brain and lung. Results: We identified 8899 CpGs in cord blood that were associated with gestational age (range 27-42 weeks), at Bonferroni significance, P < 1.06 × 10- 7, of which 3343 were novel. These were annotated to 4966 genes. After restricting findings to at least three significant adjacent CpGs, we identified 1276 CpGs annotated to 325 genes. Results were generally consistent when analyses were restricted to term births. Cord blood findings tended not to persist into childhood and adolescence. Pathway analyses identified enrichment for biological processes critical to embryonic development. Follow-up of identified genes showed correlations between gestational age and DNA methylation levels in fetal brain and lung tissue, as well as correlation with expression levels. Conclusions: We identified numerous CpGs differentially methylated in relation to gestational age at birth that appear to reflect fetal developmental processes across tissues. These findings may contribute to understanding mechanisms linking gestational age to health effects.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Allen-Perkins, Alfonso, et al.
(author)
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CropPol : a dynamic, open and global database on crop pollination
- 2022
-
In: Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0012-9658 .- 1939-9170. ; 103:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Seventy five percent of the world's food crops benefit from insect pollination. Hence, there has been increased interest in how global change drivers impact this critical ecosystem service. Because standardized data on crop pollination are rarely available, we are limited in our capacity to understand the variation in pollination benefits to crop yield, as well as to anticipate changes in this service, develop predictions, and inform management actions. Here, we present CropPol, a dynamic, open and global database on crop pollination. It contains measurements recorded from 202 crop studies, covering 3,394 field observations, 2,552 yield measurements (i.e. berry weight, number of fruits and kg per hectare, among others), and 47,752 insect records from 48 commercial crops distributed around the globe. CropPol comprises 32 of the 87 leading global crops and commodities that are pollinator dependent. Malus domestica is the most represented crop (32 studies), followed by Brassica napus (22 studies), Vaccinium corymbosum (13 studies), and Citrullus lanatus (12 studies). The most abundant pollinator guilds recorded are honey bees (34.22% counts), bumblebees (19.19%), flies other than Syrphidae and Bombyliidae (13.18%), other wild bees (13.13%), beetles (10.97%), Syrphidae (4.87%), and Bombyliidae (0.05%). Locations comprise 34 countries distributed among Europe (76 studies), Northern America (60), Latin America and the Caribbean (29), Asia (20), Oceania (10), and Africa (7). Sampling spans three decades and is concentrated on 2001-05 (21 studies), 2006-10 (40), 2011-15 (88), and 2016-20 (50). This is the most comprehensive open global data set on measurements of crop flower visitors, crop pollinators and pollination to date, and we encourage researchers to add more datasets to this database in the future. This data set is released for non-commercial use only. Credits should be given to this paper (i.e., proper citation), and the products generated with this database should be shared under the same license terms (CC BY-NC-SA). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 25. |
- Althueser, L., et al.
(author)
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GPU-based optical simulation of the DARWIN detector
- 2022
-
In: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 17:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Understanding propagation of scintillation light is critical for maximizing the discovery potential of next-generation liquid xenon detectors that use dual-phase time projection chamber technology. This work describes a detailed optical simulation of the DARWIN detector implemented using Chroma, a GPU-based photon tracking framework. To evaluate the framework and to explore ways of maximizing efficiency and minimizing the time of light collection, we simulate several variations of the conventional detector design. Results of these selected studies are presented. More generally, we conclude that the approach used in this work allows one to investigate alternative designs faster and in more detail than using conventional Geant4 optical simulations, making it an attractive tool to guide the development of the ultimate liquid xenon observatory.
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| 26. |
- Arruda, Lucas M., et al.
(author)
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Surface-orientation- and ligand-dependent quenching of the spin magnetic moment of Co porphyrins adsorbed on Cu substrates
- 2020
-
In: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 22:22, s. 12688-12696
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Porphyrin molecules are particularly interesting candidates for spintronic applications due to their bonding flexibility, which allows to modify their properties substantially by the addition or transformation of ligands. Here, we investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of cobalt octaethylporphyrin (CoOEP), deposited on copper substrates with two distinct crystallographic surface orientations, Cu(100) and Cu(111), with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). A significant magnetic moment is present in the Co ions of the molecules deposited on Cu(100), but it is completely quenched on Cu(111). Heating the molecules on both substrates to 500 K induces a ring-closure reaction with cobalt tetrabenzoporphyrin (CoTBP) as reaction product. In these molecules, the magnetic moment is quenched on both surfaces. Our XMCD and XAS measurements suggest that the filling of the dz(2)orbital leads to a non-integer valence state and causes the quench of the spin moments on all samples except CoOEP/Cu(100), where the molecular conformation induces variations to the ligand field that lift the quench. We further employ density functional theory calculations, supplemented with on-site Coulomb correlations (DFT+U), to study the adsorption of these spin-bearing molecules on the Cu substrates. Our calculations show that charge transfer from the Cu substrates as well as charge redistribution within the Co 3d orbitals lead to the filling of the Co minority spin dz(2)orbital, causing a 'turning off' of the exchange splitting and quenching of the spin moment at the Co magnetic centers. Our investigations suggest that, by this mechanism, molecule-substrate interactions can be used to control the quenching of the magnetic moments of the adsorbed molecules.
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| 27. |
- Chapman, C. L., et al.
(author)
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Occupational heat exposure and the risk of chronic kidney disease of nontraditional origin in the United States
- 2021
-
In: American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6119 .- 1522-1490. ; 321:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Occupational heat exposure is linked to the development of kidney injury and disease in individuals who frequently perform physically demanding work in the heat. For instance, in Central America, an epidemic of chronic kidney disease of nontraditional origin (CKDnt) is occurring among manual laborers, whereas potentially related epidemics have emerged in India and Sri Lanka. There is growing concern that workers in the United States suffer with CKDnt, but reports are limited. One of the leading hypotheses is that repetitive kidney injury caused by physical work in the heat can progress to CKDnt. Whether heat stress is the primary causal agent or accelerates existing underlying pathology remains contested. However, the current evidence supports that heat stress induces tubular kidney injury, which is worsened by higher core temperatures, dehydration, longer work durations, muscle damaging exercise, and consumption of beverages containing high levels of fructose. The purpose of this narrative review is to identify occupations that may place US workers at greater risk of kidney injury and CKDnt. Specifically, we reviewed the scientific literature to characterize the demographics, environmental conditions, physiological strain (i.e., core temperature increase, dehydration, heart rate), and work durations in sectors typically experiencing occupational heat exposure, including farming, wildland firefighting, landscaping, and utilities. Overall, the surprisingly limited available evidence characterizing occupational heat exposure in US workers supports the need for future investigations to understand this risk of CKDnt.
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| 28. |
- Chen, Wei, et al.
(author)
-
In situ Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle X-ray Scattering Observation of Gold Sputter Deposition on a PbS Quantum Dot Solid
- 2020
-
In: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. - : NLM (Medline). - 1944-8244 .- 1944-8252. ; 12:41, s. 46942-46952
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- For PbS quantum dot (QD)-based optoelectronic devices, gold is the most frequently used electrode material. In most device architectures, gold is in direct contact with the QD solid. To better understand the formation of the interface between gold and a close-packed QD layer at an early stage, in situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering is used to observe the gold sputter deposition on a 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT)-treated PbS QD solid. In the kinetics of gold layer growth, the forming and merging of small gold clusters (radius less than 1.6 nm) are observed at the early stages. The thereby formed medium gold clusters (radius between 1.9-2.4 nm) are influenced by the QDs' templating effect. Furthermore, simulations suggest that the medium gold clusters grow preferably along the QDs' boundaries rather than as a top coating of the QDs. When the thickness of the sputtered gold layer reaches 6.25 nm, larger gold clusters with a radius of 5.3 nm form. Simultaneously, a percolation layer with a thickness of 2.5 nm is established underneath the gold clusters. This fundamental understanding of the QD-gold interface formation will help to control the implementation of sputtered gold electrodes on close-packed QD solids in device manufacturing processes.
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| 29. |
- de Mello, Lucas R., et al.
(author)
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Amyloid-like Self-Assembly of a Hydrophobic Cell-Penetrating Peptide and Its Use as a Carrier for Nucleic Acids
- 2021
-
In: ACS Applied Bio Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2576-6422. ; 4:8, s. 6404-6416
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a topical subject potentially exploitable for creating nanotherapeutics for the delivery of bioactive loads. These compounds are often classified into three major categories according to their physicochemical characteristics: cationic, amphiphilic, and hydrophobic. Among them, the group of hydrophobic CPPs has received increasing attention in recent years due to toxicity concerns posed by highly cationic CPPs. The hexapeptide PFVYLI (P, proline; F, phenylalanine; V, valine; Y, tyrosine; L, leucine; and I, isoleucine), a fragment derived from the C-terminal portion of alpha 1-antitrypsin, is a prototypal example of hydrophobic CPP. This sequence shows reduced cytotoxicity and a capacity of nuclear localization, and its small size readily hints at its suitability as a building block to construct nanostructured materials. In this study, we examine the self-assembling properties of PFVYLI and investigate its ability to form noncovalent complexes with nucleic acids. By using a combination of biophysical tools including synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy, we discovered that this CPP self-assembles into discrete nanofibrils with remarkable amyloidogenic features. Over the course of days, these fibrils coalesce into rodlike crystals that easily reach the micrometer range. Despite lacking cationic residues in the composition, PFVYLI forms noncovalent complexes with nucleic acids that retain beta-sheet pairing found in amyloid aggregates. In vitro vectorization experiments performed with doublestranded DNA fragments indicate that complexes promote the internalization of nucleic acids, revealing that tropism toward cell membranes is preserved upon complexation. On the other hand, transfection assays with splice-correction oligonucleotides (SCOs) for luciferase expression show limited bioactivity across a narrow concentration window, suggesting that the propensity to form amyloidogenic aggregates may trigger endosomal entrapment. We anticipate that the findings presented here open perspectives for using this archetypical hydrophobic CPP in the fabrication of nanostructured scaffolds, which potentially integrate properties of amyloids and translocation capabilities of CPPs.
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| 30. |
- Elshaari, Ali W., et al.
(author)
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Deterministic Integration of hBN Emitter in Silicon Nitride Photonic Waveguide
- 2021
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In: Advanced Quantum Technologies. - : Wiley. - 2511-9044. ; 4:6, s. 2100032-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hybrid integration provides an important avenue for incorporating atom-like solid-state single-photon emitters into photonic platforms that possess no optically-active transitions. Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is particularly interesting quantum emitter for hybrid integration, as it provides a route for room-temperature quantum photonic technologies, coupled with its robustness and straightforward activation. Despite the recent progress of integrating hBN emitters in photonic waveguides, a deterministic, site-controlled process remains elusive. Here, the integration of selected hBN emitter in silicon nitride waveguide is demonstrated. A small misalignment angle of 4° is shown between the emission-dipole orientation and the waveguide propagation direction. The integrated emitter maintains high single-photon purity despite subsequent encapsulation and nanofabrication steps, delivering quantum light with zero delay second order correlation function (Formula presented.). The results provide an important step toward deterministic, large scale, quantum photonic circuits at room temperature using atom-like single-photon emitters.
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| 31. |
- Fors, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Growing Income-Based Inequalities in Old-Age Life Expectancy in Sweden, 2006-2015
- 2021
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In: Demography. - : Duke University Press. - 0070-3370 .- 1533-7790. ; 58:6, s. 2117-2138
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sweden is known for high life expectancy and economic egalitarianism, yet in recent decades it has lost ground in both respects. This study tracked income inequality in old-age life expectancy and life span variation in Sweden between 2006 and 2015, and examined whether patterns varied across levels of neighborhood deprivation. Income inequality in remaining life expectancy at ages 65, 75, and 85 increased. The gap in life expectancy at age 65 grew by more than a year between the lowest and the highest income quartiles, for both men (from 3.4 years in 2006 to 4.5 years in 2015) and women (from 2.3 to 3.4 years). This widening income gap in old-age life expectancy was driven by different rates of mortality improvement: individuals with higher incomes increased their life expectancy at a faster rate than did those with lower incomes. Women with the lowest incomes experienced no improvement in old-age life expectancy. Furthermore, life span variation increased in the lowest income quartile, while it decreased slightly among those in the highest quartile. Income was found to be a stronger determinant of old-age life expectancy than neighborhood deprivation.
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| 32. |
- Giménez-García, Angel, et al.
(author)
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Pollination supply models from a local to global scale
- 2023
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In: Web Ecology. - 1399-1183. ; 23:2, s. 99-129
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ecological intensification has been embraced with great interest by the academic sector but is still rarely taken up by farmers because monitoring the state of different ecological functions is not straightforward. Modelling tools can represent a more accessible alternative of measuring ecological functions, which could help promote their use amongst farmers and other decision-makers. In the case of crop pollination, modelling has traditionally followed either a mechanistic or a data-driven approach. Mechanistic models simulate the habitat preferences and foraging behaviour of pollinators, while data-driven models associate georeferenced variables with real observations. Here, we test these two approaches to predict pollination supply and validate these predictions using data from a newly released global dataset on pollinator visitation rates to different crops. We use one of the most extensively used models for the mechanistic approach, while for the data-driven approach, we select from among a comprehensive set of state-of-The-Art machine-learning models. Moreover, we explore a mixed approach, where data-derived inputs, rather than expert assessment, inform the mechanistic model. We find that, at a global scale, machine-learning models work best, offering a rank correlation coefficient between predictions and observations of pollinator visitation rates of 0.56. In turn, the mechanistic model works moderately well at a global scale for wild bees other than bumblebees. Biomes characterized by temperate or Mediterranean forests show a better agreement between mechanistic model predictions and observations, probably due to more comprehensive ecological knowledge and therefore better parameterization of input variables for these biomes. This study highlights the challenges of transferring input variables across multiple biomes, as expected given the different composition of species in different biomes. Our results provide clear guidance on which pollination supply models perform best at different spatial scales-the first step towards bridging the stakeholder-Academia gap in modelling ecosystem service delivery under ecological intensification.
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| 33. |
- Glaser, J., et al.
(author)
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Workplace Intervention for Heat Stress: Essential Elements of Design, Implementation, and Assessment
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1660-4601. ; 19:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Heat stress is associated with numerous health effects that potentially harm workers, especially in a warming world. This investigation occurred in a setting where laborers are confronted with occupational heat stress from physically demanding work in high environmental temperatures. Collaboration with a major Nicaraguan sugarcane producer offered the opportunity to study interventions to prevent occupational heat-stress-related kidney disease. Two aims for this study of a rest-shade-water intervention program were: (1) describe the evolving intervention, summarize findings that motivated proposed improvements, assess impact of those improvements, and identify challenges to successful implementation and (2) extract primary lessons learned about intervention research that have both general relevance to investigations of work-related disease prevention and specific relevance to this setting. The learning curve for the various stakeholders as well as the barriers to success demonstrate that effectiveness of an intervention cannot be adequately assessed without considerations of implementation. Designing, effectively implementing, and assessing both health impacts and implementation quality is a resource-intensive endeavor requiring a transdisciplinary approach. Both general and specific lessons learned are presented for decisions on study design and study elements, implementation assessment, and management engagement in understanding how productivity and health can be successfully balanced and for building effective communication between investigators and all levels of management.
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| 34. |
- Grace, O. M., et al.
(author)
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Opinion Botanical Monography in the Anthropocene
- 2021
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In: Trends in Plant Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1360-1385. ; 26:5, s. 433-441
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Unprecedented changes in the Earth?s biota are prompting urgent efforts to describe and conserve plant diversity. For centuries, botanical monographs ? comprehensive systematic treatments of a family or genus ? have been the gold standard for disseminating scientific information to accelerate research. The lack of a monograph compounds the risk that undiscovered species become extinct before they can be studied and conserved. Progress towards estimating the Tree of Life and digital information resources now bring even the most ambitious monographs within reach. Here, we recommend best practices to complete monographs urgently, especially for tropical plant groups under imminent threat or with expected socioeconomic benefits. We also highlight the renewed relevance and potential impact of monographies for the understanding, sustainable use, and conservation of biodiversity.
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| 35. |
- Gyger, Samuel, et al.
(author)
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On-chip integration of reconfigurable quantum photonics with superconducting photodetectors
- 2021
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In: 2021 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2021 - Proceedings. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc..
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Scaling up quantum optics experiments requires on-chip reconfigurable quantum photonics, but their integration with detectors is a challenge. We show microelectrome-chanical reconfiguration of photonic circuits with on-chip superconducting single-photon detectors and demonstrate key applications.
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| 36. |
- Gyger, Samuel, et al.
(author)
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Reconfigurable photonics with on-chip single-photon detectors
- 2021
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Integrated quantum photonics offers a promising path to scale up quantum optics experiments by miniaturizing and stabilizing complex laboratory setups. Central elements of quantum integrated photonics are quantum emitters, memories, detectors, and reconfigurable photonic circuits. In particular, integrated detectors not only offer optical readout but, when interfaced with reconfigurable circuits, allow feedback and adaptive control, crucial for deterministic quantum teleportation, training of neural networks, and stabilization of complex circuits. However, the heat generated by thermally reconfigurable photonics is incompatible with heat-sensitive superconducting single-photon detectors, and thus their on-chip co-integration remains elusive. Here we show low-power microelectromechanical reconfiguration of integrated photonic circuits interfaced with superconducting single-photon detectors on the same chip. We demonstrate three key functionalities for photonic quantum technologies: 28 dB high-extinction routing of classical and quantum light, 90 dB high-dynamic range single-photon detection, and stabilization of optical excitation over 12 dB power variation. Our platform enables heat-load free reconfigurable linear optics and adaptive control, critical for quantum state preparation and quantum logic in large-scale quantum photonics applications. Integrated photonics are promising to scale up quantum optics. Here the authors combine low-power microelectromechanical control and superconducting single-photon detectors on the same chip and demonstrate routing, high-dynamic-range detection, and power stabilization.
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| 37. |
- Hemmer, Lucas W, et al.
(author)
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Hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila virilis results in clusters of mitotic recombination and loss-of-heterozygosity but leaves meiotic recombination unaltered.
- 2020
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In: Mobile DNA. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1759-8753. ; 11, s. 10-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Transposable elements (TEs) are endogenous mutagens and their harmful effects are especially evident in syndromes of hybrid dysgenesis. In Drosophila virilis, hybrid dysgenesis is a syndrome of incomplete gonadal atrophy that occurs when males with multiple active TE families fertilize females that lack active copies of the same families. This has been demonstrated to cause the transposition of paternally inherited TE families, with gonadal atrophy driven by the death of germline stem cells. Because there are abundant, active TEs in the male inducer genome, that are not present in the female reactive genome, the D. virilis syndrome serves as an excellent model for understanding the effects of hybridization between individuals with asymmetric TE profiles.RESULTS: Using the D. virilis syndrome of hybrid dysgenesis as a model, we sought to determine how the landscape of germline recombination is affected by parental TE asymmetry. Using a genotyping-by-sequencing approach, we generated a high-resolution genetic map of D. virilis and show that recombination rate and TE density are negatively correlated in this species. We then contrast recombination events in the germline of dysgenic versus non-dysgenic F1 females to show that the landscape of meiotic recombination is hardly perturbed during hybrid dysgenesis. In contrast, hybrid dysgenesis in the female germline increases transmission of chromosomes with mitotic recombination. Using a de novo PacBio assembly of the D. virilis inducer genome we show that clusters of mitotic recombination events in dysgenic females are associated with genomic regions with transposons implicated in hybrid dysgenesis.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we conclude that increased mitotic recombination is likely the result of early TE activation in dysgenic progeny, but a stable landscape of meiotic recombination indicates that either transposition is ameliorated in the adult female germline or that regulation of meiotic recombination is robust to ongoing transposition. These results indicate that the effects of parental TE asymmetry on recombination are likely sensitive to the timing of transposition.
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| 38. |
- Henthorn, Nicholas T., et al.
(author)
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Mapping the Future of Particle Radiobiology in Europe : The INSPIRE Project
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Physics. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-424X. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Particle therapy is a growing cancer treatment modality worldwide. However, there still remains a number of unanswered questions considering differences in the biological response between particles and photons. These questions, and probing of biological mechanisms in general, necessitate experimental investigation. The "Infrastructure in Proton International Research" (INSPIRE) project was created to provide an infrastructure for European research, unify research efforts on the topic of proton and ion therapy across Europe, and to facilitate the sharing of information and resources. This work highlights the radiobiological capabilities of the INSPIRE partners, providing details of physics (available particle types and energies), biology (sample preparation and post-irradiation analysis), and researcher access (the process of applying for beam time). The collection of information reported here is designed to provide researchers both in Europe and worldwide with the tools required to select the optimal center for their research needs. We also highlight areas of redundancy in capabilities and suggest areas for future investment.
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| 39. |
- Jansen, Marcel A. K., et al.
(author)
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Environmental plastics in the context of UV radiation, climate change, and the Montreal Protocol
- 2024
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In: Global Change Biology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 30:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There are close links between solar UV radiation, climate change, and plastic pollution. UV-driven weathering is a key process leading to the degradation of plastics in the environment but also the formation of potentially harmful plastic fragments such as micro- and nanoplastic particles. Estimates of the environmental persistence of plastic pollution, and the formation of fragments, will need to take in account plastic dispersal around the globe, as well as projected UV radiation levels and climate change factors.image
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| 40. |
- Jansen, Marcel A. K., et al.
(author)
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Plastics in the environment in the context of UV radiation, climate change and the Montreal Protocol : UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2023
- 2024
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In: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. - : Springer Nature. - 1474-905X .- 1474-9092.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) considers the interactive effects of solar UV radiation, global warming, and other weathering factors on plastics. The Assessment illustrates the significance of solar UV radiation in decreasing the durability of plastic materials, degradation of plastic debris, formation of micro- and nanoplastic particles and accompanying leaching of potential toxic compounds. Micro- and nanoplastics have been found in all ecosystems, the atmosphere, and in humans. While the potential biological risks are not yet well-established, the widespread and increasing occurrence of plastic pollution is reason for continuing research and monitoring. Plastic debris persists after its intended life in soils, water bodies and the atmosphere as well as in living organisms. To counteract accumulation of plastics in the environment, the lifetime of novel plastics or plastic alternatives should better match the functional life of products, with eventual breakdown releasing harmless substances to the environment.
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| 41. |
- Kengne-Ouafo, Jonas A., et al.
(author)
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The global transcriptome of Plasmodium falciparum midstage gametocytes (stages II–IV) appears largely conserved and gametocyte-specific gene expression patterns vary in clinical isolates
- 2023
-
In: Microbiology Spectrum. - : American Society for Microbiology. - 2165-0497. ; 11:5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Our overall understanding of the developmental biology of malaria parasites has been greatly enhanced by recent advances in transcriptomic analysis. However, most of these investigations rely on laboratory strains (LS) that were adapted into in vitro culture many years ago, and the transcriptomes of clinical isolates (CI) circulating in human populations have not been assessed. In this study, RNA-seq was used to compare the global transcriptome of mid-stage gametocytes derived from three short-term cultured CI, with gametocytes derived from the NF54 reference laboratory strain. The core transcriptome appeared to be consistent between CI- and LS-derived gametocyte preparations, but some important differences were also observed. A majority of gametocyte-specific genes (43/53) appear to have relatively higher expression in CI-derived gametocytes than in LS-derived gametocytes, but a K-means clustering analysis showed that genes involved in flagellum- and microtubule-based processes (movement/motility) were more abundant in both groups, albeit with some differences between them. In addition, gametocytes from one CI described as CI group II gametocytes (CI:GGII) showed gene expression variation in the form of reduced gametocyte-specific gene expression compared to the other two CI-derived gametocytes (CI gametocyte group I, CI:GGI), although the mixed developmental stages used in our study is a potential confounder, only partially mitigated by the inclusion of multiple replicates for each CI. Overall, our study suggests that there may be subtle differences in the gene expression profiles of mid-stage gametocytes from CI relative to the NF54 reference strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Thus, it is necessary to deploy gametocyte-producing clinical parasite isolates to fully understand the diversity of gene expression strategies that may occur during the sequestered development of parasite sexual stages. IMPORTANCE Maturing gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum are known to sequester away from peripheral circulation into the bone marrow until they are mature. Blocking gametocyte sequestration can prevent malaria transmission from humans to mosquitoes, but most studies aim to understand gametocyte development utilizing long-term adapted laboratory lines instead of clinical isolates. This is a particular issue for our understanding of the sexual stages, which are known to decrease rapidly during adaptation to long-term culture, meaning that many LS are unable to produce transmissible gametocytes. Using RNA-seq, we investigated the global transcriptome of mid-stage gametocytes derived from three clinical isolates and a reference strain (NF54). This identified important differences in gene expression profiles between immature gametocytes of CI and the NF54 reference strain of P. falciparum, suggesting increased investment in gametocytogenesis in clinical isolates. Our transcriptomic data highlight the use of clinical isolates in studying the morphological, cellular features and molecular biology of gametocytes.
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| 42. |
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| 43. |
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| 44. |
- McCarrick, Heather, et al.
(author)
-
The Simons Observatory Microwave SQUID Multiplexing Detector Module Design
- 2021
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 922:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Advances in cosmic microwave background (CMB) science depend on increasing the number of sensitive detectors observing the sky. New instruments deploy large arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometers tiled densely into ever larger focal planes. High multiplexing factors reduce the thermal loading on the cryogenic receivers and simplify their design. We present the design of focal-plane modules with an order of magnitude higher multiplexing factor than has previously been achieved with TES bolometers. We focus on the novel cold readout component, which employs microwave SQUID multiplexing (μmux). Simons Observatory will use 49 modules containing 70,000 bolometers to make exquisitely sensitive measurements of the CMB. We validate the focal-plane module design, presenting measurements of the readout component with and without a prototype detector array of 1728 polarization-sensitive bolometers coupled to feedhorns. The readout component achieves a 95% yield and a 910 multiplexing factor. The median white noise of each readout channel is 65 pA √Hz . This impacts the projected SO mapping speed by <8%, which is less than is assumed in the sensitivity projections. The results validate the full functionality of the module. We discuss the measured performance in the context of SO science requirements, which are exceeded.
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| 45. |
- Mehta, Vihang, et al.
(author)
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A Spatially Resolved Analysis of Star Formation Burstiness by Comparing UV and Hα in Galaxies at z ∼ 1 with UVCANDELS
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 952:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The UltraViolet imaging of the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey Fields (UVCANDELS) program provides Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/UVIS F275W imaging for four CANDELS fields. We combine this UV imaging with existing HST/near-IR grism spectroscopy from 3D-HST+AGHAST to directly compare the resolved rest-frame UV and Hα emission for a sample of 979 galaxies at 0.7 < z < 1.5, spanning a range in stellar mass of 108−11.5M⊙. Using a stacking analysis, we perform a resolved comparison between homogenized maps of rest-UV and Hα to compute the average UV-to-Hα luminosity ratio (an indicator of burstiness in star formation) as a function of galactocentric radius. We find that galaxies below stellar mass of ∼109.5M⊙, at all radii, have a UV-to-Hα ratio higher than the equilibrium value expected from constant star formation, indicating a significant contribution from bursty star formation. Even for galaxies with stellar mass ≳109.5M⊙, the UV-to-Hα ratio is elevated toward their outskirts (R/Reff > 1.5), suggesting that bursty star formation is likely prevalent in the outskirts of even the most massive galaxies, but is likely overshadowed by their brighter cores. Furthermore, we present the UV-to-Hα ratio as a function of galaxy surface brightness, a proxy for stellar mass surface density, and find that regions below ∼107.5M⊙ kpc−2 are consistent with bursty star formation, regardless of their galaxy stellar mass, potentially suggesting that local star formation is independent of global galaxy properties at the smallest scales. Last, we find galaxies at z > 1.1 to have bursty star formation, regardless of radius or surface brightness.
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| 46. |
- Mishra, Umakant, et al.
(author)
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Spatial heterogeneity and environmental predictors of permafrost region soil organic carbon stocks
- 2021
-
In: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 7:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC) have accumulated in the Northern Hemisphere permafrost region, but their current amounts and future fate remain uncertain. By analyzing dataset combining >2700 soil profiles with environmental variables in a geospatial framework, we generated spatially explicit estimates of permafrost-region SOC stocks, quantified spatial heterogeneity, and identified key environmental predictors. We estimated that Pg C are stored in the top 3 m of permafrost region soils. The greatest uncertainties occurred in circumpolar toe-slope positions and in flat areas of the Tibetan region. We found that soil wetness index and elevation are the dominant topographic controllers and surface air temperature (circumpolar region) and precipitation (Tibetan region) are significant climatic controllers of SOC stocks. Our results provide first high-resolution geospatial assessment of permafrost region SOC stocks and their relationships with environmental factors, which are crucial for modeling the response of permafrost affected soils to changing climate.
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| 47. |
- Muchaxo, Rafael E A, et al.
(author)
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Do Handcycling Time-Trial Velocities Achieved by Para-Cycling Athletes Vary Across Handcycling Classes?
- 2020
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In: Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. - : Human Kinetics. - 0736-5829 .- 1543-2777. ; 37:4, s. 461-480
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The classification system for handcycling groups athletes into five hierarchical classes, based on how much their impairment affects performance. Athletes in class H5, with the least impairments, compete in a kneeling position, while athletes in classes H1 to H4 compete in a recumbent position. This study investigated the average time-trial velocity of athletes in different classes. A total of 1,807 results from 353 athletes who competed at 20 international competitions (2014-2018) were analyzed. Multilevel regression was performed to analyze differences in average velocities between adjacent pairs of classes, while correcting for gender, age, and event distance. The average velocity of adjacent classes was significantly different (p < .01), with higher classes being faster, except for H4 and H5. However, the effect size of the differences between H3 and H4 was smaller (d = 0.12). Hence, results indicated a need for research in evaluating and developing evidence-based classification in handcycling, yielding a class structure with meaningful performance differences between adjacent classes.
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| 48. |
- Muchaxo, Rafael E. A., et al.
(author)
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The impact of lower-limb function on upper-limb pull and push strength in elite handcycling athletes
- 2023
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In: Sports Biomechanics. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1476-3141 .- 1752-6116.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated the impact of performing a closed kinetic chain with the lower limbs on isometric upper-limb pull and push strength. Sixty-two elite handcyclists were assessed with the Manual Muscle Test and allocated to groups with partial to normal (LLF) or no lower-limb (no-LLF) function. Both groups performed upper-limb strength measurements under two kinetic-chain conditions. During the closed-chain condition, the lower limbs were attached to two footrests, providing horizontal and vertical support. During the open-chain condition, the footrests were removed and the limbs were supported vertically by a horizontal plate. Repeated-measures ANOVA were conducted to investigate main effects (open vs. closed chain, LLF vs. no-LLF) and their interaction. During pull, LLF performed better (p < 0.001, +11%) by pushing against the footrests. However, this increase in pulling strength during a closed-chain condition was not observed in the no-LLF. Therefore, findings suggest an advantage for the least impaired athletes by being able to perform lower-limb closed chains during pulling. Handcyclists with LLF can maximise pulling performance by adjusting the footrests. The classification system should consider the implications of these findings on the allocation of athletes with different levels of LLF and/or on the equipment regulation.
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| 49. |
- Neudecker, Denise, et al.
(author)
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Templates of expected measurement uncertainties
- 2023
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In: EPJ NUCLEAR SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGIES. - : EDP Sciences. - 2491-9292. ; 9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The covariance committee of CSEWG (Cross Section Evaluation Working Group) established templates of expected measurement uncertainties for neutron-induced total, (n,gamma), neutron-induced charged-particle, and (n,xn) reaction cross sections as well as prompt fission neutron spectra, average prompt and total fission neutron multiplicities, and fission yields. Templates provide a list of what uncertainty sources are expected for each measurement type and observable, and suggest typical ranges of these uncertainties and correlations based on a survey of experimental data, associated literature, and feedback from experimenters. Information needed to faithfully include the experimental data in the nuclear-data evaluation process is also provided. These templates could assist (a) experimenters and EXFOR compilers in delivering more complete uncertainties and measurement information relevant for evaluations of new experimental data, and (b) evaluators in achieving a more comprehensive uncertainty quantification for evaluation purposes. This effort might ultimately lead to more realistic evaluated covariances for nuclear-data applications. In this topical issue, we cover the templates coming out of this CSEWG effort-typically, one observable per paper. This paper here prefaces this topical issue by introducing the concept and mathematical framework of templates, discussing potential use cases, and giving an example of how they can be applied (estimating missing experimental uncertainties of 235U(n,f) average prompt fission neutron multiplicities), and their impact on nuclear-data evaluations.
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| 50. |
- Pannee, Josef, 1979, et al.
(author)
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The global Alzheimer's Association round robin study on plasma amyloid beta methods
- 2021
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In: Alzheimer's & Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction Blood-based assays to measure brain amyloid beta (A beta) deposition are an attractive alternative to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based assays currently used in clinical settings. In this study, we examined different blood-based assays to measure A beta and how they compare among centers and assays. Methods Aliquots from 81 plasma samples were distributed to 10 participating centers. Seven immunological assays and four mass-spectrometric methods were used to measure plasma A beta concentrations. Results Correlations were weak for A beta 42 while A beta 40 correlations were stronger. The ratio A beta 42/A beta 40 did not improve the correlations and showed weak correlations. Discussion The poor correlations for A beta 42 in plasma might have several potential explanations, such as the high levels of plasma proteins (compared to CSF), sensitivity to pre-analytical sample handling and specificity, and cross-reactivity of different antibodies. Different methods might also measure different pools of plasma A beta 42. We, however, hypothesize that greater correlations might be seen in future studies because many of the methods have been refined during completion of this study.
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