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Objectives: This study explores the dynamics of vaccine rumors during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those surrounding messenger RNA vaccines. By employing and developing Hallin’s communication model of credibility spheres, we analyze how controversial ideas regarding vaccine safety gained public attention and challenged established vaccine narratives. Methods: The focal point of the investig

Almost 10 years have passed since microtektites and microkrystites were reported for the Paleocene–Eocene (P–E) boundary in drill cores and outcrop in New Jersey and in ODP Hole 1051B in the western North Atlantic. The glassy spherules were interpreted to reflect an impact trigger for the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Since then, many detailed studies of sediment strata across the P–E b

Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) demands prompt mechanistic clarification. Early integration of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can refine diagnosis during the acute phase. Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients (41 ± 10 years; 71% men) presenting with troponin-positive chest pain and unobstructed coronar

This chapter describes methods and procedures that can be used to calculate the absorbed dose distribution based on quantitative SPECT/PET images. In this context, quantitative images mean images corrected for various physical effects (among them are photon attenuation, scatter contribution, dead time) in such a way that the values of each voxel can then be translated into units of activity by a c

Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a congenital condition caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CF-related diabetes (CFRD) is a common comorbidity among people with CF (pwCF) and is associated with increased morbidity. Previous in vitro studies have suggested that CFTR dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of CFRD. This prospective study aimed to eval

Seasonal temperature fluctuations present a major survival challenge for insects, requiring physiological adaptation that confers resilience to cold stress. However, the hormone mechanisms governing mitochondrial adaptation to overcome cold stress remain poorly understood. Here, we identify that the endogenous ascaroside C9 (asc-C9) acts as a chemical signal that markedly improves survival followi

Starting with remnants of street art and graffiti from the Orange Revolution of 2004, over the Revolution of Dignity in 2013–14, and ending with street art and graffiti created during Russia’s ongoing war of aggression since 2014, this chapter looks at several cases from Ukraine that showcase the different roles street art and graffiti have played in the country’s democratic process.

China plans expanding 49.5 million hectares of new forests by 2050 to strengthen carbon sequestration. However, estimates of the carbon benefits from this expansion rarely consider the effect of 'forest edge', where tree mortality increases under intensified stress from wind, drought, pests, and fire. Here we show that proximity to forest edges substantially reduces biomass carbon storage, and dev

The ability of organisms to change color in response to a change in environmental conditions is widespread across taxa. Predation represents the longstanding hypothesis for the evolution of such coloration plasticity. Yet, tests of the evolutionary drivers of coloration plasticity remain rare. Here, we examine how predation shapes both baseline coloration and coloration plasticity in the Trinidadi

The Circular Economy (CE) concept continues to garner significant attention from stakeholders. Yet, what a CE entails in its realized state remains insufficiently articulated, particularly for product users. This study introduces a multilevel systems model that conceptualizes an economy-wide, fully implemented CE from the perspective of the product user. The focus is on the foundational tenets of

Political participation is considered an important path for people to influence politics. However, whether those who participate actually see more of their preferred policies implemented remains an open question. We address this question by analyzing cross-national data connecting opinions to subsequent policy implementation on multiple policy issues. Based on an analysis of data on more than 270,

This thesis investigated how driving is affected by low visibility due to wildfire smoke. Virtual reality experiments with a driving simulator were performed with 89 participants. The software and hardware configuration mirrored the experiments by Rohaert et al. (2025) in order to compare the results. Participants drove five scenarios with different levels of smoke and were instructed to behave as