In this paper, we present experimental evidence on the effect adverse selection has on coverage choices and pricing in corporate insurance markets. Two sets of experimental data, each generated by experiments utilizing a specific parameterization of a corporate insurance decision, are presented to gauge these effects. In the first, subject behavior conforms to a unique equilibrium in which high risk firms choose higher coverage and contracts are priced accordingly. Insurers act competitively and convergence to equilibrium behavior is marked. In the second set, there is little evidence that subject behavior is consistent with either of the two equilibrium outcomes supported by the experimental setting—pooling by fully insuring losses and pooling by self insuring.

Site-specific herbicide applications with remotely piloted aerial application systems (RPAASs) offer the potential for reducing herbicide inputs in turfgrass systems. However, information on spray nozzle selection and application volume for this approach is lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of nozzle type and spray volume on the efficacy of site-specific herbicide application in turf using an RPAAS, focusing on large crabgrass control with quinclorac. The research was conducted in 2022 at two College Station, TX sites. The treatments were combinations of three nozzle types [XR 80-015 (conventional, extended range), DG 80-015 (drift guard), and AI 80-015 (air induction) flat fan nozzles] and two spray volumes [10 and 15 L ha-1], applied with a single-nozzle RPAAS. A spray volume of 102 L ha-1 applied with a CO2 pressurized 4-nozzle boom backpack sprayer served as a check for comparison. Two additional treatments were also included: a pure formulated herbicide application (without dilution in water) using an RPAAS equipped with an XR 80-005 flat fan nozzle at 4.6 L ha-1 and an untreated control. The backpack sprayer application resulted in the highest spray solution deposits on large crabgrass plants (12 times more on average), compared to the RPAAS applications. Nevertheless, applications using the RPAAS with the DG and AI nozzles at 10 or 15 L ha-1 provided similar levels of weed control as that of the backpack sprayer at 102 L ha-1, indicating that RPAAS can be effectively used for site-specific herbicide applications in turf. This study also suggests that large crabgrass can be controlled using RPAAS with a range of spray nozzle types at low application volumes in turfgrass. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of RPAAS-based herbicide applications across a range of herbicides, weed species, and environmental conditions.

This study compares the design practices and performance of ChatGPT 4.0, a large language model (LLM), against graduate engineering students in a 48-h prototyping hackathon, based on a dataset comprising more than 100 prototypes. The LLM participated by instructing two participants who executed its instructions and provided objective feedback, generated ideas autonomously and made all design decisions without human intervention. The LLM exhibited similar prototyping practices to human participants and finished second among six teams, successfully designing and providing building instructions for functional prototypes. The LLM’s concept generation capabilities were particularly strong. However, the LLM prematurely abandoned promising concepts when facing minor difficulties, added unnecessary complexity to designs, and experienced design fixation. Communication between the LLM and participants was challenging due to vague or unclear descriptions, and the LLM had difficulty maintaining continuity and relevance in answers. Based on these findings, six recommendations for implementing an LLM like ChatGPT in the design process are proposed, including leveraging it for ideation, ensuring human oversight for key decisions, implementing iterative feedback loops, prompting it to consider alternatives, and assigning specific and manageable tasks at a subsystem level.

Here we present the first high-resolution continuous palaeoecological study from Greece covering the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition at Limni Zazari, a small lake in western Macedonia. We study how interactions between vegetation and climate might have affected the introduction of agriculture to Europe ca. 8500 years ago. We found that mixed deciduous oak woodlands established around the lake once moisture availability began to increase at ~10,300 cal yr BP. Between 8600 and 8000 cal yr BP, climate change, causing drier conditions, led to the decline of the woodlands and the expansion of steppe and grassland vegetation. Concurrently, in agreement with the archaeological record, pollen indicative of arable and pastoral farming indicate the onset of Neolithic farming. After 8000 cal yr BP the forest composition changed, with a major expansion of pine forests and increases in disturbance-adapted trees like Ostrya and Fagus. This change might be linked to changes in moisture availability, but it is likely that land use also facilitated these shifts. We conclude that the introduction of Neolithic farming was advantaged by climate-induced vegetation changes. While the vegetation structure around Zazari was very sensitive to changes in moisture, early anthropogenic disturbances led to changes in the vegetation composition that are still important today.

Knowledge of African history aptly suggests that the quest for political independence in the continent is generally driven by the idea that such independence leads to statehood. By statehood, here, I refer to the ability of a sovereign country to exercise effective control over its territory, govern its people, and engage in international relations. Yet, political independence in Africa seldom leads to statehood without the experience of internal conflicts such as coup d’état or civil war. The three reviewed books, The Politics of Fear in South Sudan: Generating Chaos, Creating Conflict by Daniel Akech Thiong, When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudans by Sharath Srinivasan, and Leadership, Nation-Building and War in South Sudan: The Problems of Statehood and Collective Will by Sonja Theron, attempt to explain why the quest for statehood in Sudan and South Sudan is characterized by diverse forms of conflicts and how the seemingly unending conflicts could be resolved. While the primary focus of each of the books differ, their respective positions concerning the key factors and actors fueling and sustaining violent conflicts in both Sudan and South Sudan are complementary.

The Procrustes criterion is a common measure for the distance between two matrices X and Y, and can be interpreted as the sum of squares of the Euclidean distances between their respective column vectors. Often a weighted Procrustes criterion, using, for example, a weighted sum of the squared distances between the column vectors, is called for. This paper describes and analyzes the performance of an algorithm for rotating a matrix X such that the column-weighted Procrustes distance to Y is minimized. The problem of rotating X into Y such that an aggregate measure of Tucker's coefficient of congruence is maximized is also discussed.

Past hydrogeological processes and human impacts may exert substantial memory effects on today’s groundwater systems. Thorough characterization of such long-term processes is required for scientists and policymakers to predict the hydrogeological impacts of land management options. Especially in data-scarce areas, historical data are essential to unravel long-term hydrogeological processes, which could not be identified by short-term fieldwork or model simulations alone. However, historical data are often overlooked or only used as background information in most hydrogeological studies. We show that the combination of historical reports and quantitative data yields major insights in the hydrogeological system of Curaçao, a small semi-arid Caribbean island. Reconstructing the island’s groundwater conditions over the past 500 years revealed that deforestation and excessive abstraction has had a detrimental effect on the island’s groundwater reserves. Historical notes and data revealed major signs of seawater intrusion, especially during abstraction peaks in the island’s industrial era. Intrusion effects are still observed locally on the island today, but additional groundwater recharge by waste water has caused freshening elsewhere. We hypothesize that the observed aquifer replenishment locally enhances submarine groundwater discharge, flushing accumulated nutrients and pollutants towards Curaçao’s fringing coral reefs. We expect that this study’s insights motivate more hydrogeologists to use historical reports and data in future studies.

The number of people following a plant-based (PB) diet has increased in recent years. This has led to concerns regarding vitamin D intake, as natural dietary sources of vitamin D are primarily animal based(1) and cross-sectional studies have reported lower intakes amongst vegetarians and vegans(2). Some PB foods, primarily dairy alternatives, are now fortified with vitamin D. Whilst vitamin D is synthesised in the skin following exposure to UV light, this does not happen in the autumn and winter months in areas of northern latitude (such as the UK). Hence, dietary supply of vitamin D becomes particularly important. This study aimed to investigate whether it is possible to maintain dietary vitamin D intake when transitioning to a PB diet, through careful choice of PB alternatives.

A subset of 4-day diet diaries, from 81 women (72 Caucasian and 9 South Asian, mean age 52 ± 12y) living in South East England, was randomly selected from those collected for the D-FINES study (Vitamin D, Food Intake, Nutrition and Exposure to Sunlight in Southern England, 2006–2007; FSA funded Project N05064, NHS REC 06/Q1909/1)(3)and analysed for vitamin D intake. No subjects followed an entirely PB diet at baseline. Data modelling was carried out to substitute animal-based foods with equivalent amounts of PB alternatives. For dairy products, the equivalent fortified PB alternatives were chosen. Meat, fish and eggs were replaced with equivalent amounts of protein from PB sources, such as lentils and tofu, as no fortified direct alternatives were found. The diaries were then re-analysed. Pre- and post-substitution intakes were compared by paired t test, and ethnic groups by independent t test.

There were no differences in Vitamin D intake between ethnicities either at baseline (p = 0.087) or post-substitution (p = 0.361). Vitamin D intake increased in the South Asian group post-substitution (from 2.4 ± 1.3 to 4.3 ± 1.8 µg/day, p = 0.002), with no change observed in the Caucasian group (3.6 ± 2.0 to 3.7 ± 1.8 µg/day, p = 0.660). There was no difference between vitamin D intake pre- and post-substitution overall (3.5 ± 2.0 and 3.8 ± 1.8 µg/day respectively, p = 0.222). Twenty cases decreased by ≥1 µg/day, all in the Caucasian group, with the largest decrease being from 9.6 to 2.2 µg/day.

This study demonstrates that it is possible to move to a PB diet, whilst maintaining existing dietary patterns, without a reduction in vitamin D intake, but it is largely dependent on dairy intake in the original diet, as no meat/fish substitutes in the UK are currently fortified. It also requires care when choosing PB dairy substitutions as many, including organic options, are not fortified. Mean daily intakes, both pre- and post-substitution, were substantially below the recommended intake of 10 µg/day(4), suggesting that supplementation may be necessary, particularly during winter months.

In the 12-month period leading up to March 2023, inflation in the UK increased by 8.9%(1). Notably, the annual inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages reached a peak of 19.2% in March 2023, marking a 45-year high(1). Concurrently, research conducted between October 2022 and January 2023, revealed that 25% of adult respondents were classified as food insecure(2). Food insecurity disproportionately affects young families, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities, and correlates with poorer mental health, higher rates of obesity, and lower dietary quality. However, improving skills in cooking, meal planning, and budget shopping may alleviate some of the adverse health consequences associated with food insecurity. This primary research aimed to investigate the relationships between food insecurity, mental wellbeing, dietary quality, and food behaviours among a nationally representative sample of UK adults and was pre-registered (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZFMHD).

A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2023. Participants were recruited using a market research company (Dynata, UK) and quota-controlled sampling ( ± 5%) for age, gender, region and socioeconomic status. Data on food insecurity, mental wellbeing, diet quality and food behaviours, were collected, using validated measures where available. Ethical approval was received from King’s College London (Ref: LRS/DP-22/23-35412). Data analysis consisted of chi-square tests of homogeneity, Kruskal-Wallis H tests and hierarchical multiple regression modelling with adjustment of relevant covariates, using SPSS Statistics v29.0.2. The significance threshold was set at p<0.05.

1493 UK adults participated. Within the sample, 49.9% were male, mean age was 44.7 years (SD 16.3), 35.9% were classified into groups of either low (22.2%) or very low (13.7%) food security(3). Analyses revealed significantly higher proportions of females, individuals with lower income, and those of non-white ethnicity in the low or very low food security groups compared to groups with higher levels of food security (p<0.05). Participants in the low or very low food security groups exhibited lower mental wellbeing scores and consumed fewer fruits and vegetables per day compared to those with higher food security (p<0.05). Hierarchical regression models explained 28.5% of the variance in mental wellbeing scores and 16.4% in daily fruit and vegetable intake. Notably, variables related to food behaviour, such as food engagement and cooking skills confidence, significantly added to the variance explained by the models (p<0.001), even after controlling for factors such as food insecurity score and income, respectively.

This study reveals the substantial prevalence of food insecurity among UK adults, whilst also highlighting its associations with mental wellbeing and dietary quality, particularly among higher risk groups. The findings emphasise the urgent need for targeted interventions. Implementing programs focused on enhancing cooking skills and wider food behaviours could serve to mitigate some of the adverse health consequences associated with food insecurity, leading to improvements in overall wellbeing.

Obesity is a complex condition which is significantly impacted by an individual’s biology, environment and behavioural factors. Excess energy dense (ED)(kJ/g) food intake (1), higher eating rate (2), increased eating frequency (3) and eating later in the day (4) have all been linked with obesity, but findings are mixed and require clarification using robust and objective measures of food intake behaviour. The aim of this research was to investigate associations between these eating behaviours and energy intake (EI) within a controlled residential setting in 65 participants (BMI 36.4 ±11.0 (range 17.6-65.2); 9 optimal weight, 15 overweight and 41 with obesity/severe obesity; age 44.3±12.7 years (range 18.6-67.6 years), 44F,21M).

As part of baseline measurements for a larger study (5) participants were assessed for 36hrs (twonights) within the Human Intervention Studies Unit at Ulster University, UK, and had ad lib access to a personalised menu (n 54 foods) representing a range of low/high fat macronutrient mix food groups with varying carbohydrate and protein content (6). Food intake and eating behaviour were measured covertly and validated by CCTV. Study outcomes were 24-hour EI (MJ), ED (kJ/g), % nutrient contribution to total EI, as well as parameters of eating including: size (g, kJ) speed (g/min; kJ/min;), number (n) and duration (mins) of eating occasions (defined as consumption of at least 210kJ separated by ≥5 minutes) and the timing of eating (epochs: 7-11am, 11:01-3pm, 3:01-7pm, 7:01-11pm). On the final morning, blood samples were collected before and 90mins after a standardised breakfast for the analysis of glicentin, a proglucagon-derived peptide. Associations between total EI and measures of eating behaviour were assessed using Spearman’s Rank

Correlation analysis showed weak positive associations between total EI and fasting glicentin (r = 0.296, p = 0.024), ED (r = 0.364, p = 0.004), and moderate associations with number (r = 0.419, p = 0.001) and size of eating occasions (r = 0.415, p = 0.005) as well as total weight of food consumed (r= 0.634, p<0.001). Of note, there was also a positive association between EI/eating occasion and a faster eating rate as expressed by [kJ/min (r = 0.519; p<0.001)] but not g/min (r = 0.276, p = 0.07). There was also a stronger relationship between EI and lean mass (r = 0.450, p<0.001) than bodyweight (r = 0.291, p = 0.023).

These findings suggest that food portion size and increased eating frequency may be a more important drivers of EI than dietary ED, and that the rate of eating higher ED foods may be linked to consuming a higher energy meal. These findings are skewed towards individuals with obesity but if confirmed highlight a need for weight management programmes to strengthen strategies to improve portion control and to limit grazing behaviours. There is also a need for robust randomised controlled trials to determine if eating slower reduces overall EI.

Biodynamic farming is a growing branch of organic farming which uses various so-called biodynamic preparations with the aim to enhance plant growth and soil quality. These preparations comprise plant parts fermented in animal sheaths (e.g., cow intestines or deer bladders) which are then applied to manures and composts before applying to the field (compost preparations). Two special preparations based on manure and silica are applied to the crops as field sprays (spray preparations). The effect of these biodynamic preparations, however, is a matter of debate. In a long-term experiment over 27 yrs, within an organic crop rotation, the use of biodynamic compost preparations has recently been shown to impact the soil biological community. Using the same experiment, we investigated whether these soil-level effects also displayed in agronomic parameters of arable crops. We found that the use of biodynamic compost preparations, when compared with farmyard manure (FYM) compost application without preparations, had no effect on yield in any of the investigated crops (spring wheat, winter wheat, oats, winter rye, faba bean, potatoes, maize, and grass/clover), or when data from all crops were pooled. Temporal yield stability of spring wheat and grass/clover was also unaffected by the biodynamic compost preparations. The application of FYM compost, however, led to significant increases in both yield and yield stability as compared to the non-fertilized control. We conclude that while biodynamic compost preparations did influence biological processes in the soil, they did not increase the crop yields in our long-term trial.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a tropical disease that can be fatal if acute and untreated. Diagnosis is difficult, the treatment is toxic and prophylactic vaccines do not exist. Leishmania parasites express hundreds of proteins and several of them are relevant for the host's immune system. In this context, in the present study, 10 specific T-cell epitopes from 5 parasite proteins, which were identified by antibodies in VL patients’ sera, were selected and used to construct a gene codifying the new chimeric protein called rCHI. The rCHI vaccine was developed and thoroughly evaluated for its potential effectiveness against Leishmania infantum infection. We used monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and polymeric micelles (Mic) as adjuvant and/or delivery system. The results demonstrated that both rCHI/MPLA and rCHI/Mic significantly stimulate an antileishmanial Th1-type cellular response, with higher production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and nitrite in vaccinated animals, and this response was sustained after challenge. In addition, these mice significantly reduced the parasitism in internal organs and increased the production of IgG2a isotype antibodies. In vivo and in vitro toxicity showed that rCHI is safe for the mammalians, and the recombinant protein also induced in vitro lymphoproliferative response and production of Th1-type cytokines by human cells, which were collected from healthy subjects and treated VL patients. These data suggest rCHI plus MPLA or micelles could be considered as a vaccine candidate against VL.

Objectives: To highlight the importance of differential diagnosis in the psychogeriatric context, with an emphasis on Lewy Body Dementia (LBD).

Case Report: A 68-year-old woman with 6 years of education presented with symptoms of hypobulia, social withdrawal, sadness, and anhedonia 10 years ago. Concurrently, she experienced delusions and visual hallucinations, believing that armed neighbors were entering her house to kill her. She began psychiatric treatment at the Geriatric Psychiatry department at UNIFESP, where she was diagnosed with depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms and panic disorder. She was started on sertraline, and due to QT interval prolongation with risperidone and quetiapine, clozapine 100mg was introduced, without extrapyramidal signs and symptoms She experienced remission of visual hallucinations but developed apathy but started to exhibit periods of mental confusion. During follow-up, cognitive impairment was noted, and a diagnosis of dementia was made. She began forgetting to turn off the stove, leaving doors open, and getting lost in unfamiliar places. MRI of the brain (2017) showed diffuse bilateral atrophy, and SPECT (2018) showed diffuse (non-localized) hypoperfusion, as per medical records. The attending team referred her for joint evaluation, suspecting frontotemporal dementia and behavioral variant Alzheimer’s disease due to observed apathy and behavioral changes. She was referred for follow-up at the Behavioral Neurology Clinic at UNIFESP. The patient was evaluated by behavioral, sleep, and extrapyramidal neurology clinics. All concurred on the most probable diagnosis of Lewy body dementia (LBD), characterized initially by well- defined visual hallucinations of deceased relatives interacting with her, significant movement during sleep with vocalization and dream enactment, rigidity, gait instability that worsened with antipsychotic treatment, episodes of inattention, and marked apathy. Cognitive fluctuation was noted by her husband and confirmed by the application of the MMSE in different consultations. Galantamine 24mg was prescribed, leading to initial improvement in cognitive complaints at the start of treatment.

Discussion: Lewy Body Dementia is the second most common neurodegenerative disease causing dementia. It is believed to be vastly underdiagnosed, with a significant disparity between the number of clinically diagnosed cases and those diagnosed via neuropathology at postmortem autopsy. According to a study conducted by Auning E et al., which differentiated the presenting complaints of DLB and AD, the most common complaint reported by DLB patients was memory dysfunction, with a prevalence of 57%, followed by visual hallucinations (44%), depression (34%), problem-solving difficulties (33%), gait disturbances (28%), and tremor and stiffness (25%), all features presented by the patient in this case report.

Conclusions: Specificity and diagnostic accuracy in the clinical setting remain challenges in the diagnosis of DLB. In the clinical setting, DLB is often misdiagnosed.

Summary: Disorders related to progressive cognitive decline constituting an important cause of global death and disability-adjusted life years because conditions are also associated to impairment of several brain functions, psychological and behavioral changes, regardless of economic status. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin highly relevant in memory, learning and neuroplasticity processes in adults. The amount of plasma BDNF has been considered to partly reflect its secretion in the brain. Its deficiency is associated with affective disorders and neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson’sdisease.

The aim of this study was to identify quantifiable biomarkers (serum levels of BDNF) and clinical marker (state of depression and anxiety) that allow early detection of cognitive impairment risk. We made an analytic and transversal study with a representative sample (n:307) of the population over 50 years old in the south of Chile (X region). We determine the cognitive condition of the population by applying cognitive functionality tests, such as the minimental status examination (MMSE) test and identify demographic and psychosocial characteristics that constitute impairment cognitive risk. Subsequently, we determined depression status (scale of Yesavage) and anxiety status (Beck inventory), and finally we made a quantitative determination of human BDNF at the blood level using ELISA technique.

Our results revealed that 26.7% of the participants exhibited some degree of cognitive impairment, being higher in women (55.7%) with average age of 70,7. A 18,2% of subjects manifested indicators of depression and 33,2% have a very hight level of anxiety. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between MMSE test (p < 0.001) and both BDNF plasma levels (p < 0.001) and education level (p < 0.001) scores. The results additionally indicated a negative correlation between cognitive functions and age range/anxiety state, suggesting low age level/hight level of anxiety in subjects with more pronounced cognitive decline (p < 0.001),. In consistent, the results of our study point towards decreases plasma BDNF levels and hight levels of anxiety in cognitive impairment subjects compared with cognitive normal subjects, which may be due to the early and middle stages of neurodegeneration process.

Objectives: Evaluate the chronobiological rhythm of elderly people with type I bipolar disorder (BD), stable and without dementia, compared to controls.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 20 patients diagnosed with type I bipolar disorder, diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and 20 controls. Actigraphic records were gathered from all participants over 7 days, besides clinical and demographic information. Non-parametric chronobiological measurements were calculated to evaluate the activity-rest cycle. Comparisons between groups were evaluated using Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test, for data with normal and non- normal distribution, respectively. All procedures were conducted following the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results: Compared to controls, patients with type I BD exhibited lower M10 values, which represent the average activity during the 10 hours of peak movement within 24 hours. Additionally, they showed increased daytime and nighttime inactivity, decreased exposure to nighttime light, and higher sleep fragmentation, as evaluated by the Hurst exponent. No differences were observed between the groups about L5 values, a parameter that indicates the average activity time in the 5 hours of least activity within 24 hours, exposure to daylight, and autocorrelation, a measure that assesses sleep synchronization.

Conclusions: Differences in chronobiological patterns were observed between elderly patients with type I BD and controls. In general, patients exhibited reduced activity levels, both during the daytime and nighttime. These findings may be related to the progression of the disease, as well as prolonged exposure to medications to treat BD, such as mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. The increased sleep fragmentation observed in patients may also be associated with these factors. To date, there is a lack of data assessing the chronobiological rhythm and sleep patterns in elderly individuals with TB, underscoring the need for further studies involving thispopulation.