COVID‐19 Patients Have Peripheral Microvascular Dysfunction and Tissue Hypoxia in Spite of Successful Treatment of Lung Failure: A Proof of Concept Study

ABSTRACT Background Availability of oxygen (O 2 ) is essential for life and function of all cells of the human body ( n  ≈ 10 13 –10 14 cells). COVID‐19 patients often have impaired lung function with compromised oxygen uptake, but little is known about microvascular oxygen delivery and tissue oxygenation. Objectives Use the Oxygen Delivery Index (ODIN) concept to assess peripheral microvascular regulation and oxygen extraction in COVID‐19 patients. Methods The ODIN concept includes two technologies (diffuse reflectance spectroscopy—DRS and computer assisted microscopy—CAM) for data acquisition from subepidermal nutritive capillaries. Output parameters are microvascular oxygen saturation (SmvO 2 ) and functional capillary density (FCD). Results Forty patients hospitalized for COVID‐19 grouped into early discharge (< 7 days, n  = 11), severe (beyond 7 days, n  = 24) and non‐survivors ( n  = 5), and healthy controls ( n  = 23) were examined. Microvascular oxygen saturation (SmvO 2 ) and the corresponding O 2 extraction (SaO 2 —SmvO 2 ) was 56% ± 4%/42% ± 9% (mean ± SD) in healthy controls ( n  = 11), 61 ± 10/37 ± 10 for historic controls ( n  = 12), significantly different ( p  < 0.01) as compared with all COVID‐19 groups (early discharge: 40% ± 13%/54% ± 13%, severe: 34% ± 15%/60% ± 15%, non‐survivors 22% ± 15%/73% ± 16%). FCD expressed as the relative number of red pixels (belonging to a capillary erythrocyte) in a CAM frame were reduced in alle patient groups as compared to historic controls ( p  < 0⋅05). Conclusion Results show skin microvascular dysregulation and tissue hypoxia in patients, indicative of hypoxia also in other tissues. We hypothesize that tissue hypoxia is a cause of reversible and non‐reversible long COVID‐19 symptoms and of mortality.

Small net local temporal changes in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic biodiversity across European temperate forests

Summary We face increasing concerns about how the local diversity of native plant communities responds to various drivers of global change, yet often lack comprehensive studies that integrate several components of diversity and the effects of both local and regional drivers of change. We analyzed changes in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity across 2681 (semi‐)permanent temperate forest understory plots surveyed and resurveyed for all vascular plants over intervals of 15–78 yr, spanning 72 regions distributed across Europe. We quantified temporal changes in these diversity indices and assessed their responses to changes in both local drivers (plot‐level overstory cover, indicator values for soil nutrients) and regional shifts in macroclimate and nitrogen deposition. Overall, local changes in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity were centered around zero, reflecting – on average – little net change in forest diversity. Observed diversity changes mostly reflected local conditions such as overstory cover change and baseline soil nutrients rather than regional drivers of large‐scale change. Changes in phylogenetic diversity correlated positively with changes in taxonomic diversity but negatively with changes in functional diversity. Our findings underscore the importance of local habitat management and multifaceted diversity monitoring for effective biodiversity conservation in temperate forests.

Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the hard palate: An unusual and challenging diagnosis

Abstract Background Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia (FLH) is an uncommon benign lymphoproliferative lesion found in the oral cavity, with a particular preference for the hard palate. FLH closely resembles follicular lymphoma in both clinical and histopathological aspects, which may result in misdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive procedures for the patient. Aim This report describes a case of FLH in the hard palate. Materials and Methods Data were collected from the clinical record, and a literature review was carried out over a period of 43 years. Results The literature has documented 27 FLH cases. In this case, an 80‐year‐old woman had painless swelling in the hard palate extending to the soft palate. Histopathological findings suggest FLH with positive immunohistochemistry for CD20, CD10, Ki‐67, and bcl‐2. The patient received conservative treatment and close follow‐up until the lesion completely disappeared. Conclusion The clinical history was consistent with FLH. Diagnosis is a challenge and relies on closely correlating clinical and microscopic data. Although treatment options range from surgery to a more conservative approach, for elderly patients, the last option could be the safest and most effective.

Advancing social‐ecological restoration through elicitation of cultural ecosystem services and landscape feature perceptions in restored quarries: a Flickr data analysis

With increasing urbanization and demand for construction materials, quarries have become central to the recovery of degraded landscapes into spaces that offer ecological, but also social benefits. While ecological restoration has long been investigated, integrated social‐ecological restoration of post‐quarrying landscapes remains underexplored. The overall aim of this study is to advance social‐ecological restoration by assessing how cultural ecosystem services (CES) and landscape features (LF) are represented in social media posts about quarries in Germany, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. We focus on concepts of CES and LF to investigate the interactions between humans and restored ecosystems. Using a mixed‐methods approach, we analyzed 1,660 geotagged photographs from 50 quarries across three regions: Berlin, Roskilde, and the Czech Karst. Flickr social media data were analyzed to elicit the richness of CES and LF and to identify popular quarries. Our results indicate that rehabilitated quarries exhibit higher CES richness than abandoned or operational ones, and that accessibility significantly influences public engagement. Our study demonstrates that once primarily industrial sites, quarries can evolve into vibrant social‐ecological systems that provide diverse LF and CES. It also points to the potential of social media data for designing restoration efforts from a social‐ecological perspective. Such an approach provides insights into public perceptions of restored urban landscapes and may inform future restoration strategies.

Global Value Chains and Equilibrium Exchange Rate: Evidence From Central European Economies

ABSTRACT This paper proposes an extension of the fundamental equilibrium exchange rate (FEER) model that accounts for the trade linkages within the Global Value Chains (GVCs). In the modified FEER framework, both backward and forward linkages are taken into consideration. To demonstrate the empirical relevance of the complex nature of existing trade linkages, the proposed FEER model is applied to analyze exchange rate fluctuations of the selected Central and Eastern European countries against the euro. It is documented that in Czechia, Hungary, and Poland the standard FEER framework predicts rapid appreciation of the equilibrium exchange rate after 2010, which implies deepening undervaluation of the actual real exchange rate towards the end of the analysed period. Instead, when the GVCs' linkages are taken into account in the framework, actual real exchange rates are broadly in line with the fundamental equilibrium exchange rates, and hence the missing real appreciation of the Czech krone, the Hungarian forint and the Polish zloty is to a large extent an equilibrium phenomenon.

The Age of World Leaders: A Comprehensive Discussion

ABSTRACT This article comprehensively retraces the age of heads of government from 1945 to 2023. In line with the growing literature on youth representation, we find that world leaders are significantly older than the world population. The average president or prime minister in the 2020s is slightly above 60 years, which not only is older than the average Member of Parliament or minister, it is also unrepresentative of countries populations. We also explain some variation in the age of heads of government. For instance, we find that leaders accessing power after a coup are, on average, 7 years younger throughout their tenure than leaders accessing the highest office through other means. Finally, we detect that family connections can help younger politicians to become the head of the government.

Assessment of shock index in healthy cats and in cats presenting to an emergency room with shock

Abstract Objective To prospectively compare the shock index (SI) in a population of healthy cats with a population of cats presenting to the emergency room (ER) deemed to be in a state of shock. Design Prospective cohort study of cats. Setting University teaching hospital. Animals Twenty‐seven healthy control cats were enrolled to establish a reference interval, and 27 cats were enrolled that were presented to the ER with clinical signs of shock. Shock was defined as abnormalities in at least 2 of the following inclusion criteria: plasma lactate concentration > 2.5 mmol/L; peripheral vasoconstriction (at least 2 of the following parameters: capillary refill time >3 s, rectal‐interdigital temperature gradient [RITG] >8°C, femoral pulse not palpable, pale mucous membranes); or systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 100 mm Hg. Interventions Upon presentation, SI (SI = heart rate [HR]/SBP), HR, SBP, and RITG were recorded in both groups, along with peripheral venous blood sampling for lactate measurement. Measurements and Main Results The mean SI in the control group was 1.47 ± 0.2 and was 1.87 ± 0.47 in the shock group ( P  = 0.001). Using equality in sensitivity and specificity of 0.7, an SI cutoff point of 1.54 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49–0.86) was determined with an estimated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.65–0.90). HR, plasma lactate concentration, and RITG did not differ between the groups. Systolic arterial blood pressure ( P  = 0.01), rectal temperature ( P  = 0.02), and interdigital temperature ( P  = 0.04) differed significantly. Conclusions The SI is a noninvasive, easy, and reliable parameter for distinguishing cats in shock from normal cats.

Prosociality During COVID-19: Pathways Through Affect, Financial Stress, Well-being, and Collective Disempowerment across 39 Countries

Real-time antiproton annihilation vertexing with submicrometer resolution

Microbiological and physics testing encapsulation of Lactobacillus plantarum with kepok banana flour