Within technological transitions of the automotive industry, processing technology for the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries is a highly relevant but thus far underresearched sector. Given the head-start of Chinese firms in developing industrial structures for battery production, this article examines the perspectives and development pathways of German machinery builders as they attempt to enter markets of EV battery production technology, currently led by Chinese machinery firms. The article does so by combining concepts of value chain governance, technological upgrading and latecomer capability gaps. It finds that despite their traditional strength in processing technology, German machinery firms tend to occupy only market niches within EV-battery production. Based on a qualitative study, building on 11 expert interviews as main empirical basis, the article argues that the main challenges stem from the differences in the timing of market entry. Chinese machinery suppliers, as early adopters, have already built strong customer relationships and accumulated tacit knowledge about processing technology. This early start provides them sustained competitive advantage and creates high market entry barriers to latecomers. Firm-level upgrading options are sensitive not only to the sector and market timing, but also to the location. In markets where leading suppliers are already well established, latecomer firms may find their upgrading options constrained, whereas in other markets, where supplier-buyer linkages are still in their formative phase, such opportunities remain more accessible.

Small island ecosystems are threatened by climate change in several ways. This includes the Galápagos archipelago in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, where limited freshwater makes the islands dependent on atmospheric supply through precipitation. However, precipitation distribution remains highly uncertain due to the lack of operational observation systems, and it is unclear how climate change will affect availability. Given its location, climate impacts are closely tied to changes in El Niño Southern Oscillation extremes during El Niño and La Niña years. Using a new measurement network incorporating a vertical rain radar profiler, we investigated seasonal rainfall changes (hot and cool) by analyzing El Niño/La Niña-like years, serving as surrogate for a locally warmer and locally cooler world. Our analysis demonstrates that in a locally warmer world, precipitation is increasing in both seasons. Rainfall characteristics and satellite-retrievals convective cloud frequency indicate more convective activity, intensifying heavy rainfall, especially during the hot season. In the cool season, drizzle is replaced by light rain throughout the vertical profile. In a locally cooler world, the hot season's typical midday rainfall maximum is replaced by oscillating, short-wavelength patterns and lower totals. Interestingly, the cool season in a La Niña-dominated world exhibits slightly higher rainfall than a neutral year, likely due to better condensation conditions of the advected moist air at lower air temperatures. Overall, results suggest improved total rainfall supply in a locally warmer world, but torrential rain could endanger the islands in the hot season. Furthermore, cool seasons shift from drizzle to light rain, though totals remain low overall. • Rainfall pattern in the moist Galápagos highlands change in a warmer or cooler environment • Warmer El Niño-like conditions exhibit more rain and frequent convective clouds in the hot season. • In the cool season, a transition from drizzle to light rain is observed. • Cooler La Niña-like conditions show slightly higher drizzle totals in the cool season, but a slight suppression of convective rainfall in the hot season. • Hot season rainfall under cooler conditions shows quasi-periodic cycles of growth and decay.

Bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) continues to be a major threat to kiwifruit production worldwide. Current control methods, focused on chemical treatments and orchard hygiene strategies have low efficacy and pose several limitations, necessitating novel sustainable alternatives. In this study, a new lytic Myovirus bacteriophage, Qdp_Psa3, was isolated and characterized from Psa infected kiwifruit orchard soil. The bacteriophage displayed a narrow host range across Psa biovars (1, 2, and 3), strong pH stability and moderate thermal stability being inhibited at temperatures above 25 °C. Genomic sequencing revealed a 115 kb dsDNA genome lacking antibiotic resistance, tRNA, or virulence genes, and the analysis of the DNA packaging cassette suggested an uncharacterized mechanism. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses support its designation as a novel species within the Caudoviricetes class, with proteomic profiling identified 62 virion-associated proteins, 71% of which remains hypothetical. Qdp_Psa3 demonstrated potential as a biocontrol agent, representing a promising candidate for inclusion as a complementary bacteriophage in a phage cocktail. Its discovery provides valuable insights into the hidden viral diversity of kiwifruit soils and expands our understanding of bacteriophage-Psa interactions.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the only curative treatment for many hematologic malignancies, yet patient outcomes vary significantly. Patient expectations influence recovery in other medical contexts, yet their role in allo-HSCT remains unclear. This pilot study examined whether pre-transplant treatment expectations predict psychological and immunological outcomes post-transplant. In this prospective, single-center observational cohort study, 42 patients undergoing allo-HSCT were assessed at baseline (T0), discharge (T2), and six months post-transplant (T3). Questionnaires measured illness-related disability (PDI, primary endpoint at T3), treatment expectations (TEX-Q), quality of life (FACT-Leu), depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7). Immunological markers, including inflammatory markers were collected at T0 and T3. Baseline-adjusted regression analyses with full-information maximum likelihood estimation were used. P-values were corrected for multiple comparisons using a false discovery rate approach. Baseline expectations were associated with psychological outcomes at hospital discharge and immunological and inflammatory markers at six-month follow-up: For instance, negative impact expectations were associated with higher disability (β=0.522, p<0.001), depression (β=0.693, p=0.009), anxiety (β=0.737, p=0.003), and lower quality of life (β=-0.576, p<0.001) at T2. Benefit expectations were associated with higher lymphocyte counts (β=0.453, p<0.001) and lower CRP levels at T3 (β=-0.28, p=0.011). Positive impact expectations were associated with more favorable T-cell subsets. Pre-transplant expectations may influence psychological and immune recovery following allo-HSCT. Addressing expectations could enhance outcomes and should be explored in future intervention studies.

Outcome patterns for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of bone oligometastases (BoM) especially for older patients are inadequately defined. We aimed to evaluate oncological outcomes and tolerability of SBRT for BoM in older patients. Patients≥70years treated with SBRT for BoM between 2010 and 2024 at 20 European centers were analyzed and compared to patients<70years. Outcomes included local recurrence (LR)/ freedom from LR (FFLR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events. 789 patients with 1079 BoM were analyzed. Median age was 68years (range: 19-91), and 355 patients (45.0%) were≥70years. Most common primary tumors were prostate (57.4%), breast (13.8%), and lung cancers (10.5%). LR at 3years was 9.3% (CI: 6.0-12.8%) in patients<70years and 11.7% (CI: 7.1-16.8%) in patients≥70years (p=0.39). Grade-3 adverse events occurred in 1.8% of patients<70years and 1.4% ≥70years. No grade-4/5 adverse events were observed. Fracture rates were 2.9% for patients<70years, and 1.8% ≥70years. A higher metastatic volume was associated with reduced FFLR (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.006; p=0.02), PFS (HR 1.003; p=0.05), and OS (HR 1.003; p=0.04). A better performance status was related to improved PFS (HR 0.98; p<0.01) and OS (HR 0.96; p<0.001), while age was not a significant factor. This multicenter cohort analysis showed that SBRT of BoM is effective and well tolerated even in older patients. There were no significant differences in outcomes or side effects including fracture rates across patient age groups.