The collective dynamics of self-organised systems emerge from the decision rules agents use to respond to each other and to external forces. This is evident in groups of animals under attack from predators, where understanding collective escape patterns requires evaluating the risks and rewards associated with particular social rules, prey escape behaviour, and predator attack strategies. Here, we

This study investigates whether local government expenditure correlate with the Quality of Life (QoL) of the local population and whether high public expenditure are indicative of high or low QoL. Data, including information on public expenditure and objective QoL indicators, were gathered for Finnish municipalities from several existing databases and cover a period of 2015–2019. A composite indic

The genus Marchantiana has been a victim of changeable concepts, partly due to erroneous DNA sequences published with its description. Based on new molecular sequencing, new chemical analyses and additional field work, mainly in Patagonia, Tasmania and New Zealand, we present a new taxonomic classification for the genus and related species. M. michelagoensis is confirmed to belong to Marchantiana,

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been described as a great hope but also a threat to fulfilling the social goals of sustainable development, where one critical aspect is providing society with a safe and secure environment. At the same time, interdisciplinary analyses that connect the social effects of artificial intelligence with security issues have been relatively sparse. Accordingly, this arti

Introduction: Persistent pharmaceutical contaminants, such as Platinum cytostatics, commonly used in cancer therapy, have been detected in water bodies at low concentrations. Electrochemical, photochemical and biological treatments for the removal and degradation of these contaminants are expensive and sometimes ineffective. Sorption methods are a viable and more efficient alternative. Objectives:

One of the most important consumers’ needs in their decision-making process is reduction of risks. On online platforms, trust is the most powerful tool for mitigating risks in making consumption decisions, especially in relation to tourism services that customers are unable to experience before the trip. In the digital age, trust is often mediated by information and communication technologies (ICT

Tunable quantum materials hold great potential for applications. Of special interest are materials in which small lattice strain induces giant electronic responses. The kagome compounds AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) provide a testbed for electronic tunable states. In this study, through angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we provide comprehensive spectroscopic measurements of the electronic respon

Glucuronic acid (GlcA) is an abundant substituent in hardwood xylan, and it is often found in its methylated form as methyl glucuronic acid (MeGlcA). GlcA and MeGlcA are sugar acids, bound to the xylose backbone at position O-2, and their presence can affect the digestibility of the polymer. Currently, detection of released GlcA or MeGlcA from synthetic substrates such as pNP-glucuronic acid can b

The central nervous system (CNS) relies on an uninterrupted supply of oxygenated blood, glucose and nutrients for efficient function. Transportation of these fuels is vitally dependent on adequate blood flow through patent brain vessels with the capacity to respond readily to metabolic demands. If the oxygen or glucose content or the flow of blood falls below the level needed to maintain nervous t

Skin barrier damage and subsequent development of harmful microbiota contribute to conditions such as wound infections, atopic dermatitis and chronic wounds, which impact millions of people globally and pose a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. Established microbial sampling methods, such as swabs and tissue biopsies, provide limited information on the spatial distribution of bacte

Multimorbidity, i.e., the presence of two or more long-term health conditions, is challenging for healthcare systems worldwide. A related term is comorbidity. This denotes any condition that has existed or may occur during the clinical course of a patient who has the index disease under study. Moreover, frailty is also inter-related with multimorbidity but represents a distinct clinical concept. F

The phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, cytotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of fruit extracts of Opuntia dillenii were studied. The phytochemical composition was evaluated using HPLC, GC-MS and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Spectrophotometrical methods were used to estimate the antioxidant potential. Antimicrobial activity was determined using a microdilution me

HPLC-PDA-MS/MS analysis of Syzygium jambos leaf extract allowed the identification of 17 secondary metabolites, including flavonol glycosides, flavonol di-glycosides, and flavones as well as ellagitannins and phenolic acids. The extract showed promising antioxidant activities in different experimental models. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the extract mediated a dose dependent survival rate and decrea

UVA radiations contribute up to 95% of the total UV exposure and are known to induce cell damage, leading to apoptosis. Since the benefic effects of ascorbic acid on human health are well known, a new tomato genotype (named DHO4), highly rich in ascorbic acid, has been recently obtained. Here, we compared the effects of ascorbic acid and hydrophilic DHO4 extracts in protecting human keratinocytes

Objective: The antioxidant activity and protective effect of a methanolic extract obtained from the marine Gram-negative bacterium Novosphingobium sp. PP1Y, isolated from the surface water of a polluted area in the harbour of Pozzuoli (Naples, Italy), was evaluated. Results: The extract was tested in vitro on epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and in vivo on Caenorhabditis elegans. It show

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The red Brazilian cherry, Eugenia uniflora, is widely used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition of a methanol extract from leaves of E. uniflora and characterization of the isolated compounds. In addition, we aimed to determine the antioxidant activities in vitro and in a cell-based (HaCaT cell)model. We als

We investigate nonequilibrium transport of charge and heat through an interacting quantum dot coupled to a finite electron reservoir. Both the quantum dot and the finite reservoir are coupled to conventional electric contacts, i.e., infinite electron reservoirs, between which a bias voltage can be applied. We develop a phenomenological description of the system, combining a rate equation for trans

This paper critiques the assumption that capitalist agriculture inherently develops productive forces, highlighting its internal contradictions and questioning its sustainability as a viable agricultural model. Using immanent critique, the paper engages with the capitalist framework on its own terms to demonstrate how its focus on profit maximisation and short-term productivity leads to long-term

We investigate the link between the internal microstructure of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PNIPAM-PEGMA) microgels, their bulk moduli and the rheological response and structural arrangement in dense suspensions. The low degree of crosslinking combined with the increased hydrophilicity induced by the presence of PEGMA results in a diffuse, star-like