The European Union regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) represents a policy innovation with important implications for the governance of global commodity chains. We discuss the risks and limitations of this policy derived from an ex-ante assessment of the robustness of its theory of change. For doing so, we use insights from the literature on zero-deforestation commitments and other pr

Fe1-xO, although chemically simple, possesses a complex structural and magnetic phase diagram. The crystal structures of Fe1-xO and its magnetic properties at extreme conditions are still a matter of debate. Here, we performed a systematic investigation on Fe0.94O up to 94 GPa and 1700 K using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and synchrotron Mössbauer source spectroscopy. We observe a transition of F

The Global ECT MRI Research Collaboration (GEMRIC) has collected clinical and neuroimaging data of patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) from around the world. Results to date have focused on neuroimaging correlates of antidepressant response. GEMRIC sites have also collected longitudinal cognitive data. Here, we summarize the existing GEMRIC cognitive data and provide recommendati

The acidobasic and complexing properties of 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole (Methimazole, an anti-thyroid drug) were investigated. The pKa 11.49 ± 0.03 was estimated by molecular absorption spectroscopy (I = 0.10 M NaCl, t = 25.0 ± 0.1 °C). This value is in good agreement with the value 11.58 ± 0.05, obtained using the solvent-extraction technique. Theoretical (LFER and quantum chemical calculations)

We consider three-dimensional doubly periodic steady water waves with vorticity, under the action of gravity and surface tension; in particular we consider so-called Beltrami flows, for which the velocity field and the vorticity are collinear. We adapt a recent formulation of the corresponding problem for localised waves which involves a generalisation of the classical Dirichlet–Neumann operator.

Background: The globally transmitted avian malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum (lineage SGS1) has been found to infect hundreds of different bird species with differences in infection outcomes ranging from more or less latent to potentially mortal. However, to date basic knowledge about the links between genetic differentiation and variation in infection outcome within this single malaria parasit

Geopolitical, health and economic events have led to an accumulated surge in energy prices in the UK at the beginning of the 2020s. In response, studies and media reports show that households have had to reduce the running of their heating systems to cut their energy bills. However, there is limited research on the impact of this context on indoor thermal conditions and occupants’ ability to meet

Soil organic matter (SOM) is crucial for carbon sequestration and sustainable agriculture, yet traditional quantification methods are challenging to apply at large scales. Hyperspectral technology combined with machine-learning offers promising prospects for rapid quantification. This study explores the impact of using VNIR-SWIR spectra on SOM quantification in regions characterized by distinctive

Background: Blood transfusion has been associated with decreased long-term survival in cancer patients, possibly due to various immunological factors. We aimed to evaluate if perioperative transfusions decrease survival in patients who undergo resection for esophageal or gastric cancer and to identify factors associated with such events. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted based

There is an elevated presence of mercury (Hg) in the biosphere because of anthropogenic activities. The resulting damage to ecosystems and human health increases dramatically when microorganisms produce highly toxic methylmercury (MeHg). Total Hg (THg), MeHg and ancillary water chemistry were measured in two connected lakes, separated by a short stream stretch, before (1996, 1998 and 2003) and aft

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the association between hip muscle strength and hip-related patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with longstanding hip and groin pain (LHGP). Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Orthopedic care. Participants: Eighty-one patients with LHGP were consecutively recruited. Main outcome measures: Hip muscle strength was measured

We extend the notion of a spectral triple to that of a higher-order relative spectral triple, which accommodates several types of hypoelliptic differential operators on manifolds with boundary. The bounded transform of a higher-order relative spectral triple gives rise to a relative K-homology cycle. In the case of an elliptic differential operator on a compact smooth manifold with boundary, we ca

This paper presents a topology optimization framework utilizing a deformation plasticity model to approximate the isotropic hardening von-Mises incremental elastoplasticity model under monotone proportional loading. One advantage of the model is that it is based on a yield surface allowing for precise matching to uniaxial elastoplastic isotropic hardening response. The deformation plasticity model

Thomas Hood’s poem “The Song of the Shirt” was an immediate success when first published in Punch in 1843. Previous research has shown how the poem responded to the mid-nineteenth-century debate concerning the working situation of needlewomen. The ways in which this hugely popular poem was recontextualised in translation have, however, received surprisingly little attention. Arguing that British nThomas Hood’s poem “The Song of the Shirt” was an immediate success when first published in Punch in 1843. Previous research has shown how the poem responded to the mid-nineteenth-century debate concerning the working situation of needlewomen. The ways in which this hugely popular poem was recontextualised in translation have, however, received surprisingly little attention. Arguing that British n

Transactional sexual relationships (TSRs) take varied forms, with research emphasizing TSRs’ inherent risks, primarily to women. In South Africa, Blessed relationships have emerged as a prominent type of TSR. Blessers have become coveted male partners due to their relative wealth and willingness to ‘bless’ female partners with financial and material gifts, as well as the improved social status tha

Background: Maternally-inherited symbionts can induce pre-mating and/or post-mating reproductive isolation between sympatric host lineages, and speciation, by modifying host reproductive phenotypes. The large parasitoid wasp genus Cotesia (Braconidae) includes a diversity of cryptic species, each specialized in parasitizing one to few related Lepidoptera host species. Here, we characterized the in

By measuring X-ray emission of the water molecule in liquid phase we establish a first example of K-shell X-ray emission spectra with strong breakdown of the molecular orbital picture. A complete splitting of the 2a1 peak into satellites is observed. A theoretical model with electronic configurations generated by coupled excitations/de-excitations, so-called semi-internal configuration interaction

Background: Platelet transfusions are given to preterm infants with severe thrombocytopenia aiming to prevent haemorrhage. The PlaNeT2/MATISSE trial revealed higher rates of mortality and/or major bleeding in preterm infants receiving prophylactic platelet transfusions at a platelet count threshold of 50 × 109/L compared to 25 × 109/L. The extent to which this evidence has been incorporated into c

Poverty is prevalent among rural smallholder farmers in low-income countries. A large body of literature suggests that contract farming can improve smallholder’s welfare through improved market access and promote rural development. Existing studies usually focus on single welfare components and concentrate on a single crop, contract scheme, or geographical area, and 'big picture' analyses remain s