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International practice theory (IPT) is now firmly established as a key theoretical and methodological framework for International Relations (IR), offering novel ways to address the oversight around the ‘everyday’ in global politics. Yet, the presumed novelty of such an approach is surprising to feminist, race, and postcolonial IR scholars who have thought deeply about the problem of the everyday.
The possibility of providing investigative leads when conventional DNA identification methods fail to solve a case can be of extreme relevance to law enforcement. Therefore, the forensic genetics community has focused research towards the broadened use of DNA, particularly for prediction of appearance traits, bio-geographical ancestry and age. The VISible Attributes through GEnomics (VISAGE) Conso
We aim to provide a critical appraisal of basic concepts underlying signal recording and processing technologies applied for (i) atrial fibrillation (AF) mapping to unravel AF mechanisms and/or identifying target sites for AF therapy and (ii) AF detection, to optimize usage of technologies, stimulate research aimed at closing knowledge gaps, and developing ideal AF recording and processing technol
Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently coexists with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) in patients planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). How to manage CAD in this patient population is still an unresolved question. In particular, it is still not known whether fractional flow reserve (FFR) guided revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is
The controlled delivery of micronutrients to soil and plants is essential to increase agricultural yields. However, this is today achieved using fossil fuel-derived plastic carriers, posing environmental risks and contributing to global carbon emissions. In this work, a novel and efficient way to prepare biodegradable zinc-impregnated cellulose acetate beads for use as controlled release fertilize
Past studies have repeatedly demonstrated the technical feasibility to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) using bacterial biomass of mixed microbial cultures (MMCs). Commercial quality grades of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), PHBV, can be produced with control of average monomer composition. However, demonstration of PHBV production and recovery with quality control of molecular wei
Research on the impacts of COVID-19 on mobility has focused primarily on the increased health vulnerabilities of involuntary migrant and displaced populations. But virtually all migration flows have been truncated and altered because of reduced economic and mobility opportunities of migrants. Here we use a well-established framework of migration decision-making, whereby individual decisions combin
The ability to control the energy levels in semiconductors is compelling for optoelectronic applications. In this study, we managed to tune the work function (WF) of halide perovskite semiconductors using self-assembled monolayers of small molecules to induce stable dipoles at the surface. The direction and intensity of the surface dipoles rely on specific molecule-to-surface interactions. Electro
Abnormally phosphorylated tau proteins are known to be a major indicator of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) with strong association with memory loss and cognitive decline. Automated generation of pixel-wise accurate neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuropil threads (NTs) segmentation is a challenging task, due to lack of ground truth segmentation data of these abnormal tau pathology. This problem is mo
Background & aims: Short telomeres have been observed in chronic disease patients. Identifying environmental and lifestyle factors that could reduce telomere attrition is crucial for disease prevention. The aim of this work was to determine whether weight-loss induced by an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet (erMedDiet) and physical activity (PA) could modify telomere length (TL). Methods: In 3
Lactoferrin plays an important role in the defense against infections, including herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis. We studied the impact of three single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human lactoferrin gene on the susceptibility to HSV infections of the eye and the severity of such infections. Lactoferrin gene polymorphisms were determined by PCR combined with restriction fragment length anal
Background. Traditional crash-based analysis of road safety at individual sites has its shortcomings due to low numbers and the random nature of crashes at individual sites and the related statistical issues, as well as the under-reporting of crashes and lack of information on contributing factors and the process preceding crashes. To get around the problem, road safety analysis based on surrogateAbstract Background. Traditional crash-based analysis of road safety at individual sites has its shortcomings due to low numbers and the random nature of crashes at individual sites and the related statistical issues, as well as the under-reporting of crashes and lack of information on contributing factors and the process preceding crashes. To get around the problem, road safety analysis based on
The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) has the potential to accurately map global vegetation heights and fractional cover metrics using active laser pulse emission/reception. However, large uncertainties in the derivation of data products exist, since multiple physically plausible interpretations of the data are possible. In this study a method is described and evaluated to derive vegetation
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is frequently overlooked and untreated due to insufficient awareness and expertise in mental health settings. We developed a supervisor-supported online education programme to train clinicians in the assessment and treatment of young people with BDD and evaluated its feasibility and preliminary effects. Thirty clinicians working within child and adolescent mental hea
Bee-mediated pollination plays a crucial role in sustaining global food production. However, while the demand for these pollination services is increasing, many bee species are in decline. To address this discrepancy, farmers use managed bee species to improve crop pollination. One key factor affecting pollination efficiency is the affinity for the crop of interest (i.e., the extent to which a bee
Background: Small airway dysfunction (SAD) is associated with impaired asthma control, but small airway physiology is not routinely assessed in clinical practice. Previously, we demonstrated impulse oscillometry (IOS)-defined small airway dysfunction (SAD) in dual responders (DRs) upon bronchoprovocation with various allergens. Aim: To compare lung physiology using spirometry and IOS following bro
We exhibit supercritical trade-off for monotone circuits, showing that there are functions computable by small circuits for which any small circuit must have depth superlinear or even super-polynomial in the number of variables, far exceeding the linear worst-case upper bound. We obtain similar trade-offs in proof complexity, where we establish the first size-depth trade-offs for cutting planes an
Background & aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly rectal cancer, often requires neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) as part of its treatment plan. Although effective, RT can cause significant gastrointestinal side effects. Because the onset of RT-induced tissue injury can be anticipated, there is an opportunity to apply preventive measures before the damage occurs. This study aimed to assess
Brazil’s electricity system remains profoundly shaped by its historical reliance on hydropower, which has repeatedly exposed the country to crises during periods of drought. This thesis examines the water–energy nexus in Brazil from a temporal perspective, showing how past legacies, present vulnerabilities, and future pathways are interconnected. A review of the literature reveals that nexus studi
