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Winter warming events (WWE) are abrupt and short-lasting (hours-to-days) events of extraordinarily warm weather occurring during wintertime, sometimes accompanied by rainfall (rain on snow events; ROS). Through direct heat transfer and changes in the snowpack properties, these events cause changes in the below-ground thermal regime that, in turn, controls a suite of ecosystem processes ranging fro
Background: Opioid substitution treatment (OST) with methadone or buprenorphine is the most effective means of treating opioid dependence. If these substances are used by people who are not undergoing OST, they can however carry serious risks. This article examines the lifetime prevalence, motives, and drug sources for such use, as well as geographical differences in these variables. Methods: Stru
Aims Methadone and buprenorphine diversion by patients in opioid substitution treatment (OST) is a poorly understood phenomenon. We study the norms and attitudes on diversion among OST patients, including the role these norms and attitudes play as diversion risk factors. We also study whether perceived quality of care, social bonds to treatment staff, and deterrence can be associated with diversio
Background: Viral infections, including COVID-19, are associated with an increased risk for type 1 diabetes (T1D), but potential underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. We evaluated whether COVID-19 or influenza A infection is characterized by differential DNA methylation at immune and T1D susceptibility genes in young children at risk for T1D. Methods: Epigenome-wide association analysis using t
Gross primary production (GPP) of the vegetation is the largest carbon exchange process of the global carbon cycle. Currently, within satellite-based remote sensing, GPP is generally modelled using linear light use efficiency models where GPP is related to photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by the green vegetation (APAR). These models work well on moderate to low spatiotemporal averaging
The increased demand, driven by a growing population and changing dietary habits, has created immense pressure on agroecosystems throughout the globe. In semi-arid areas, this increased pressure has led to excessive use of agrochemicals in agriculture, which poses a threat of potentially toxic metal (PTM) contamination in agricultural soils. PTMs in agricultural soils result in significant environ
More than 21 million tons of cheese whey are produced annually worldwide, posing an environmental risk if not properly managed. Due to widespread lactose intolerance, cheese whey, which contains lactose, can pose health problems for many individuals. Thus, the management of the cheese whey is necessary to avoid environmental and health problems. This study presents a sustainable approach for whey
Background: A wrist-worn wearable device for acquiring limb and chest ECG leads (wECG) may constitute a promising approach to detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it remains to be demonstrated whether the information conveyed by the wECG is sufficient for AMI detection. Objective: To explore explainable machine learning models for detecting AMI using the wECG. Methods: Two type
In recent years, the environmental impact of warfare has made front-page news. Discussions about “ecocide”—a term first proposed in 1970 by Yale biologist Arthur W. Galston to describe the large-scale destruction of ecosystems during the Vietnam War—have come into the spotlight. The preparation and conduct of war, along with the social, economic, and scientific reorganisation that accompany it, of
The Velika Vrbica loess-palaeosol sequence, situated on the south-western bank of the Danube River in northeastern Serbia, represents one of the key Quaternary records in the lower Danube basin, covering the MIS 5-MIS 1 period. Previous investigations of the upper 500 cm established a high-resolution chronology and revealed unexpected patterns of dust accumulation during interstadial phases. In th
Dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) are designed for the study of past, present and future vegetation patterns together with associated biogeochemical cycles and climate feedbacks. However, most DGVMs do not yet have detailed representations of permafrost and non-permafrost peatlands, which are an important store of carbon, particularly at high latitudes. We demonstrate a new implementation o
Background: Cutaneous melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, with an increasing incidence and mortality rate. Currently, staging of patients with primary melanoma is performed using histological biomarkers such as tumor thickness and ulceration. As disruption of the epigenomic landscape is recognized as a widespread feature inherent in tumor development and progression, we aimed to identify novel
OBJECTIVE: Eleven genetic loci have reached genome-wide significance in a recent meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies in Parkinson disease (PD) based on populations of Caucasian descent. The extent to which these genetic effects are consistent across different populations is unknown.METHODS: Investigators from the Genetic Epidemiology of Parkinson's Disease Consortium were invited to p
BACKGROUND: Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI, EC 5.3.1.9) is an essential metabolic enzyme in all eukaryotes. An earlier study of the PgiC1 gene, which encodes cytosolic PGI in the grass Festuca ovina L., revealed a marked difference in the levels of nucleotide polymorphism between the 5' and 3' portions of the gene.METHODS: In the present study, we characterized the sequence polymorphism in F. ovina
This paper presents results from a project on the experiences of Palestinian refugee youth in Lebanon, taking part in NGO programs for facilitating university education. To what extent may such informal educational projects be instrumental in circumventing and counteracting social exclusion? And how do such initiatives interrelate with constructions of senses of “Palestinianess” among their young
