European Sites Research Articles

Abstract 3471: Predictors of cancer related distress among patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence among patients under age 50 has increased drastically over the past few decades. Given that increased cancer-related distress is associated with worse oncologic outcomes, studies are needed to assess the psychosocial wellbeing of CRC survivors across the shifting demographic and socioeconomic landscape. Methods: The ColoCare Study is a prospective cohort study of newly-diagnosed CRC patients enrolled across six US and European sites. We analyzed ColoCare data from the Washington University site, which has high accrual of Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) patients. Cancer-related distress was measured using a validated Cancer and Treatment Distress (CTXD) tool with 4-point Likert scales ranging from 0-3 with higher scores indicating greater distress. Covariate-adjusted linear regression analyses were used to evaluate sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors as predictors of cancer-related distress 12 months following CRC diagnosis. Results: This analysis included 156 participants enrolled from April 2017 to September 2022 who completed a 12-month CTXD questionnaire: 51.4% male; mean age 55.3 (SD 13.1) years; 64.8% Non-Hispanic White; 33.1% NHB; mean 12-month CTXD score 0.75 (SD 0.70). In covariate-adjusted models, predictors of increased distress at 12 months (Table 1) included recurrence or new metastasis (regression coefficient (β)=0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.35-0.91), stage II ((β=0.49, 95% CI=0.15-0.84) or stage III (β=0.37, 95% CI=0.02-0.72) disease, current smoking (β=0.33, 95% CI=0.10-0.56), female gender (β=0.22, 95% CI=0.00-0.44) and age (β= -0.01, 95% CI -0.02-0.00). Race and social vulnerability index were not predictors of distress in this analysis. Conclusion: Among CRC survivors, those with younger age, female gender, active smoking, advanced stage, and disease progression may benefit from targeted cancer-related distress assessment and interventions. Multiple Linear Regression Analysis Estimating 12-Month CTXD Scores Variable Regression Coefficients 95% Lower CI 95% Upper CI P-value Age -0.01 -0.02 0.00 *0.015 Gender: Female vs. Male 0.22 0.00 0.44 *0.050 Race: Black vs. White 0.01 -0.26 0.29 0.933 Race: Other vs. White -0.17 -0.91 0.57 0.650 Social Vulnerability Index 0.15 -0.26 0.56 0.463 BMI 0.00 -0.02 0.02 0.908 Smoking Status: Current vs. Former/Never 0.33 0.10 0.56 *0.006 Stage II vs. Stage I 0.49 0.15 0.84 *0.006 Stage III vs. Stage I 0.37 0.02 0.72 *0.040 Stage IV vs. Stage I 0.41 -0.08 0.91 0.100 Neoadjuvant Treatment: Yes vs. No 0.09 -0.19 0.38 0.510 Adjuvant Treatment: Yes vs. No -0.23 -0.53 0.07 0.133 Stoma at 6 months: Yes vs. No -0.21 -0.68 0.25 0.364 Recurrence or New Metastasis: Yes vs. No 0.63 0.35 0.91 *<0.001 Citation Format: Catherine N. Zivanov, Rachel Kalbfell, Jorge Zarate Rodriguez, Shaleen Sathe, Joel Vetter, Myung Jeon, Dante Chao, Kerri A. Ohman, Jennifer Ose, Biljana Gigic, Erin M. Siegel, David Shibata, Christopher I. Li, Jane C. Figueiredo, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Adetunji T. Toriola. Predictors of cancer related distress among patients with colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3471.

First direct dating of the Late Neanderthal remains from Subalyuk Cave in Northern Hungary.

The Subalyuk hominin remains were uncovered in 1932 in a cave of the same name in the Bükk Mountains, near the village of Cserépfalu in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Northern Hungary. The remains represent two individuals, an adult and a young child who have been described in a few publications since their discovery, providing substantial anthropological data and general assessments of their Neanderthal affiliation. They were associated with Late Mousterian industry. Thus, the Bükk Mountains gain importance in the discussion concerning the contribution of East Central European sites to the debate on the peopling history of Europe during the Late Middle to Early Upper Palaeolithic transition. In this paper, we summarize the archaeological and chronological context of the two individuals, and publish the first direct dating results that place them among the Last Neanderthals of Central Europe.

Re-investigation of fossil Lemmini specimens from the early and Middle Pleistocene of Western and Central Europe: Evolutionary and paleoenvironmental implications

The current study focuses on the emblematic Myopus/Lemmus species complex (tribe Lemmini) in the European Pleistocene fossil record. The members of the two genera occupy distinct ecological niches and have different external appearances, but they are remarkably similar in their dental morphology, so that they were commonly thought of as undistinguishable in the fossil record. Thus, more or less all European Lemmini fossils have been assigned to the genus Lemmus. In the Early Pleistocene site of Schernfeld (Germany), the species Lemmus kowalskii had been described. It was thought by some authors that all Lemmini from Early to late Middle Pleistocene belong to this species.In the current study, we investigated Lemmini molar morphology from Western and Central European sites including Schernfeld (Early Pleistocene), Sackdillinger Höhle (Sackdilling Cave), and Koněprusy C718 (both early Middle Pleistocene), as well as other fossil localities with fewer specimens, formerly assigned to Lemmus kowalskii. Using an extensive modern referential material of Lemmus and Myopus, this study proposes to re-evaluate taxonomic status of the Middle and Early Pleistocene Lemmini. This modern referential also allows a better understanding of the morphology of Lemmus kowalskii specimens and its variability.Our results highlight the very high variation within fossil populations, as well as significant statistical differences between populations of the Early and Middle Pleistocene localities. A large part of these fossil specimens is firmly identified as Myopus sp., including the L. kowalskii holotype. Our identifications demonstrate that in most Early and Middle Pleistocene sites considered in this study, both genera (Lemmus and Myopus) are present. Possible interpretations and consequences for current view of lemming history are discussed, as well as some of the paleoecological and paleoenvironmental implications.

Climate warming advances phenological sequences of Aesculus hippocastanum

Warming-induced shifts in plant phenology have been frequently reported in recent decades. Previous studies primarily focused on isolated phenological events; however, the entire phenological sequences of a given species were rarely examined simultaneously, limiting our knowledge about aggregate life history response to climate warming. Here, using 210,000 in situ phenological observations across 2493 European sites during 1980–2015, we examined the responses of four typical phenological events (leaf unfolding, flowering, fruiting, and leaf coloring) of Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut), a common temperate tree species, to climate warming. We found that all four phenophases of A. hippocastanum advanced, i.e., the entire life cycle during the year shifted earlier with climate warming. However, the early-season phenophases (leaf unfolding and flowering) advanced faster than late-season phenophases (leaf coloring and fruiting), leading to the extension of both growing season (from leaf unfolding to leaf coloring) and reproductive season (from flowering to fruiting). The extension rate of the reproductive season was slightly greater than that of the growing season. This implied that under warming climate, more time was devoted to both vegetative growth and reproduction, particularly the latter one, in A. hippocastanum. In addition, significantly positive correlations were observed among four phenological events, particularly for pairwise consecutive events, indicating that the responses of phenological sequences to warming were highly correlated. By simultaneously studying the responses of four key phenological events to climate warming, our findings demonstrate the differences in the phenological plasticity among phenological sequences in A. hippocastanum, deepening our understanding about the impact of climate warming on life history rather than examining individual phenological events in isolation.

Intriguing Occupations at Gran Dolina (Atapuerca, Spain): the Acheulean Subunits TD10.3 and TD10.4

This paper presents the zooarchaeological, technological, use-wear, and spatial analyses of the earliest sedimentary subunits of TD10 (TD10.3 and TD10.4) of the Gran Dolina site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain), dated to c. 400 ka. Both units have yielded Acheulean technology, with occupational models characterized by the superimposition of multiple and independent events paired with short, sporadic occupations. Subunits TD10.3 and TD10.4 formed during a period in which the cave was largely reopened after a temporary closure. This period of reopening is evidenced by several blocks that fell from the ceiling and walls. Fifty-seven groups of refits and anthropic conjoins, of which 43 resulted from deliberate hominin activity, confirm the low disturbance of the deposits. Contrary to TD10.4, TD10.3 shows good preservation of faunal remains, although anthropogenic modifications are very scarce. Technologically, both deposits represent well-developed Acheulean assemblages, with high proportions of large-shaped tools and percussive material, which place this area among those that have yielded the most evidence of this type among all the excavated Atapuerca sites. The question of why these subunits contain so many hammerstones, manuports, and large tools associated with faunal remains that have been so scarcely modified is discussed based on data from spatial, technical, and use-wear analyses, which have identified butchery activities, and for the first time in the Pleistocene Atapuerca record, borer elements and possible thrusting stone spear tips. Furthermore, the occupational and technological characteristics of these subunits were compared with other western European archaeological sites, including the nearby site of Galería, with which a broad correlation can be made.

Evapotranspiration prediction for European forest sites does not improve with assimilation of in situ soil water content data

Abstract. Land surface models (LSMs) are an important tool for advancing our knowledge of the Earth system. LSMs are constantly improved to represent the various terrestrial processes in more detail. High-quality data, freely available from various observation networks, are being used to improve the prediction of terrestrial states and fluxes of water and energy. To optimize LSMs with observations, data assimilation methods and tools have been developed in the past decades. We apply the coupled Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) and Parallel Data Assimilation Framework (PDAF) system (CLM5-PDAF) for 13 forest field sites throughout Europe covering different climate zones. The goal of this study is to assimilate in situ soil moisture measurements into CLM5 to improve the modeled evapotranspiration fluxes. The modeled fluxes will be evaluated using the predicted evapotranspiration fluxes with eddy covariance (EC) systems. Most of the sites use point-scale measurements from sensors placed in the ground; however, for three of the forest sites we use soil water content data from cosmic-ray neutron sensors, which have a measurement scale closer to the typical land surface model grid scale and EC footprint. Our results show that while data assimilation reduced the root-mean-square error for soil water content on average by 56 % to 64 %, the root-mean-square error for the evapotranspiration estimation is increased by 4 %. This finding indicates that only improving the soil water content (SWC) estimation of state-of-the-art LSMs such as CLM5 is not sufficient to improve evapotranspiration estimates for forest sites. To improve evapotranspiration estimates, it is also necessary to consider the representation of leaf area index (LAI) in magnitude and timing, as well as uncertainties in water uptake by roots and vegetation parameters.

Optical properties and simple forcing efficiency of the organic aerosols and black carbon emitted by residential wood burning in rural central Europe

Abstract. Recent years have seen an increase in the use of wood for energy production of over 30 %, and this trend is expected to continue due to the current energy crisis and geopolitical instability. At present, residential wood burning (RWB) is one of the most important sources of organic aerosols (OAs) and black carbon (BC), posing a significant risk to air quality and health. Simultaneously, as a substantial aerosol source, RWB also holds relevance in the context of aerosol radiative effects and climate. While BC is recognized for its large light absorption cross-section, the role of OAs in light absorption is still under evaluation due to their heterogeneous composition and source-dependent optical properties. Existing studies that characterize wood-burning aerosol emissions in Europe primarily concentrate on urban and background sites and focus on BC properties. Despite the significant RWB emissions in rural areas, these locations have received comparatively less attention. The present scenario underscores the imperative for an improved understanding of RWB pollution, aerosol optical properties, and their subsequent connection to climate impacts, particularly in rural areas. We have characterized atmospheric aerosol particles from a central European rural site during wintertime in the village of Retje in Loški Potok, Slovenia, from 1 December 2017 to 7 March 2018. The village experienced extremely high aerosol concentrations produced by RWB and near-ground temperature inversion. The isolated location of the site and the substantial local emissions made it an ideal laboratory-like place for characterizing RWB aerosols with low influence from non-RWB sources under ambient conditions. The mean mass concentrations of OA and BC were 35 µg m−3 (max⁡=270 µg m−3) and 3.1 µg m−3 (max⁡=24 µg m−3), respectively. The mean total particle number concentration (10–600 nm) was 9.9×103 particles cm−3 (max⁡=59×103 particles cm−3). The mean total light absorption coefficients at 370 and 880 nm measured by an AE33 Aethalometer were 120 and 22 Mm−1 and had maximum values of 1100 and 180 Mm−1, respectively. The aerosol concentrations and absorption coefficients measured during the campaign in Loški Potok were significantly larger than reported values for several urban areas in the region with larger populations and a larger extent of aerosol sources. Here, considerable contributions from brown carbon (BrC) to the total light absorption were identified, reaching up to 60 % and 48 % in the near-UV (370 nm) and blue (470 nm) wavelengths. These contributions are up to 3 times higher than values reported for other sites impacted by wood-burning emissions. The calculated mass absorption cross-section and the absorption Ångström exponent for RWB OA were MACOA,370nm=2.4 m2 g−1, and AAEBrC,370-590nm=3.9, respectively. Simple-forcing-efficiency (SFE) calculations were performed as a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the climate impact of the RWB aerosols produced at the study site by integrating the optical properties measured during the campaign. The SFE results show a considerable forcing capacity from the local RWB aerosols, with a high sensitivity to OA absorption properties and a more substantial impact over bright surfaces like snow, typical during the coldest season with higher OA emissions from RWB. Our study's results are highly significant regarding air pollution, optical properties, and climate impact. The findings suggest that there may be an underestimation of RWB emissions in rural Europe and that further investigation is necessary.

Adolescent to young adult longitudinal development of subcortical volumes in two European sites with four waves.

Adolescent subcortical structural brain development might underlie psychopathological symptoms, which often emerge in adolescence. At the same time, sex differences exist in psychopathology, which might be mirrored in underlying sex differences in structural development. However, previous studies showed inconsistencies in subcortical trajectories and potential sex differences. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the subcortical structural trajectories and their sex differences across adolescence using for the first time a single cohort design, the same quality control procedure, software, and a general additive mixed modeling approach. We investigated two large European sites from ages 14 to 24 with 503 participants and 1408 total scans from France and Germany as part of the IMAGEN project including four waves of data acquisition. We found significantly larger volumes in males versus females in both sites and across all seven subcortical regions. Sex differences in age-related trajectories were observed across all regions in both sites. Our findings provide further evidence of sex differences in longitudinal adolescent brain development of subcortical regions and thus might eventually support the relationship of underlying brain development and different adolescent psychopathology in boys and girls.

First-in-human feasibility study of the aXess graft (aXess-FIH): 6-Month results.

The creation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is considered the most effective hemodialysis (HD) vascular access. For patients who are not suitable for AVF, arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are the best access option for chronic HD. However, conventional AVGs are prone to intimal hyperplasia, stenosis, thrombosis, and infection. Xeltis has developed an AVG as a potential alternative to currently available AVGs based on the concept of endogenous tissue restoration. The results of the first 6-month follow-up are presented here. The aXess first-in-human (FIH) study [NCT04898153] is a prospective, single-arm, multicenter feasibility study that evaluates the early safety and performance of the aXess Hemodialysis Graft. A total of 20 patients with end-stage renal disease were enrolled across six European investigational sites. At 6-months follow-up, all grafts were patent with primary and secondary patency rates were 80% and 100%, respectively. Three patients required a re-intervention to maintain graft patency, while one re-intervention was required to restore patency. One graft thrombosis and zero infections were reported. The expected advantages of the novel aXess Hemodialysis Graft over conventional AVGs would be evaluated by the analysis on long-term safety and effectiveness during the 5-year follow-up of the currently ongoing trial.

Geographic distribution of feather δ34S in Europe

AbstractGeographic distribution models of environmentally stable isotopes (the so‐called “isoscapes”) are widely employed in animal ecology, and wildlife forensics and conservation. However, the application of isoscapes is limited to elements and regions for which the spatial patterns have been estimated. Here, we focused on the ubiquitous yet less commonly used stable sulfur isotopes (δ34S). To predict the European δ34S isoscape, we used 242 feather samples from Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) formed at 69 European wetland sites. We quantified the relationships between sample δ34S and environmental covariates using a random forest regression model and applied the model to predict the geographic distribution of δ34S. We also quantified within‐site variation in δ34S and complementarity with other isotopes on both individual and isoscape levels. The predicted feather δ34S isoscape shows only slight differences between the central and southern parts of Europe while the coastal regions were most enriched in 34S. The most important covariates of δ34S were distance to coastline, surface elevation, and atmospheric concentrations of SO2 gases. The absence of a systematic spatial pattern impedes the application of the δ34S isoscape, but high complementarity with other isoscapes advocates the combination of multiple isoscapes to increase the precision of animal tracing. Feather δ34S compositions showed considerable within‐site variation with highest values in inland parts of Europe, likely attributed to wetland anaerobic conditions and redox sensitivity of sulfur. The complex European geography and topography as well as using δ34S samples from wetlands may contribute to the absence of a systematic spatial gradient of δ34S values in Europe. We thus encourage future studies to focus on the geographic distribution of δ34S using tissues from diverse taxa collected in various habitats over large land masses in the world (i.e., Africa, South America, or East Asia).

A Genome-Wide Association Study of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Severity in Infants.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most children experience at least one 1 RSV infection by the age of two 2 years, but not all develop severe disease. However, the understanding of genetic risk factors for severe RSV is incomplete. Consequently, we conducted a genome-wide association study of RSV severity. Disease severity was assessed by the ReSVinet scale, in a cohort of 251 infants aged 1 week to 1 year. Genotyping data were collected from multiple European study sites as part of the RESCEU Consortium. Linear regression models were used to assess the impact of genotype on RSV severity and gene expression as measured by microarray. While no SNPs reached the genome-wide statistical significance threshold (P < 5 × 10-8), we identified 816 candidate SNPs with a P-value of <1 × 10-4. Functional annotation of candidate SNPs highlighted genes relevant to neutrophil trafficking and cytoskeletal functions, including LSP1 and RAB27A. Moreover, SNPs within the RAB27A locus significantly altered gene expression (false discovery rate, FDR P < .05). These findings may provide insights into genetic mechanisms driving severe RSV infection, offering biologically relevant information for future investigations.

Positive matrix factorization of seasonally resolved organic aerosol at three different central European background sites based on nuclear magnetic resonance Aerosolomics data

Concentration data derived from 1H NMR analysis of the water-soluble organic compounds from fine aerosol (PM2.5) at three Central European background stations, Košetice, Frýdlant (both in the Czech Republic), and Melpitz (Germany), were used for detailed source apportionment analysis. Two winter and two summer episodes (year 2021) with higher organic concentrations and similar wind directions were selected for NMR analyses. The concentration profiles of 61 water-soluble organic compounds were determined by NMR Aerosolomics and a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on this dataset. Based on the PCA results, 23 compounds were selected for positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis in order to identify dominant aerosol sources at rural background sites in Central Europe. Both the PCA and the subsequent PMF analyses clearly distinguished the characteristics of winter and summer aerosol particles.In summer, four factors were identified from PMF and were associated with biogenic aerosol (61–78 %), background aerosol (9–15 %), industrial biomass combustion (7–13 %), and residential heating (5–13 %). In winter, only 3 factors were identified - industrial biomass combustion (33–49 %), residential heating (37–45 %) and a background aerosol (8–30 %). The main difference was observed in the winter season with a stronger contribution of emissions from industrial biomass burning at the Czech stations Košetice and Frýdlant (47–49 %) compared to the Melpitz station (33 %). However, in general, there were negligible differences in identified sources between stations in the given seasons, indicating a certain homogeneity in PM2.5 composition within Central Europe at least during the sampling periods.

Combining disturbance and competition to control creeping perennial weeds in a field study on three northern European sites

Controlling creeping perennial weeds is challenging throughout all farming systems. The present study distinguished and explored three different methods to control them non-chemically: disturbance with inversion, disturbance without inversion, and competition. Focusing on Cirsium arvense, Elymus repens, and Sonchus arvensis, we conducted a field study (2019–2021) at three northern European sites in Germany, Finland, and Norway. We investigated the effects of the control methods ploughing (inversion disturbance), root cutting (non-inversion disturbance), and cover crops (competition) alone. Root cutting was conducted using a prototype machine developed by “Kverneland”. Eight treatments were tested in factorial designs adapted for each site. Control methods were applied solely and combined. Response variables after treatments were aboveground weed biomass and grain yield of spring cereals. The control method of ploughing was most effective in reducing weed biomass compared to root cutting or cover crops. However, compared to the untreated control, a pronounced additive effect of root cutting and cover crops occurred, reducing weed biomass (−57.5%) similar to ploughing (−66%). Pooled over sites, the response was species-specific, with each species showing a distinct reaction to both control methods. C. arvense was most susceptible to root cutting, followed by E. repens, while S. arvensis showed no susceptibility. Crop yield losses were prevented compared to untreated plots by ploughing (+60.57%) and root cutting (+30%), but not by cover crops. We conclude that the combination of non-inversion disturbance and competition is a promising strategy to reduce the reliance on herbicides or inversion tillage in the management of perennial weeds.

Temporal and spatial variability of phloem structure in Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica and its link to climate.

Using a unique 8-year data set (2010-2017) of phloem data, we studied the effect of temperature and precipitation on the phloem anatomy (conduit area, widths of ring, early and late phloem) and xylem-ring width in two coexisting temperate tree species, Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica, from three contrasting European temperate forest sites. Histometric analyses were performed on microcores taken from tree stems in autumn. We found high interannual variability and sensitivity of phloem anatomy and xylem-ring widths to precipitation and temperature; however, the responses were species- and site-specific. The contrasting response of xylem and phloem-ring widths of the same tree species to weather conditions was found at the two Slovenian sites generally well supplied with precipitation, while at the driest Czech site, the influence of weather factors on xylem and phloem ring widths was synchronised. Since widths of mean annual xylem and phloem increments were narrowest at the Czech site, this site is suggested to be most restrictive for the radial growth of both species. By influencing the seasonal patterns of xylem and phloem development, water availability appears to be the most important determinant of tissue- and species-specific responses to local weather conditions.

Long-term effects of a prehospital telemedicine system on structural and process quality indicators of an emergency medical service

The benefits of a telemedical support system for prehospital emergency medical services include high-level emergency medical support at the push of a button: delegation of drug administration, diagnostic assistance, initiation of therapeutic measures, or choice of hospital destination. At various European EMS sites telemedical routine systems are shortly before implementation. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of implementing a tele-EMS system on the structural and procedural quality indicators and therefore performance of an entire EMS system. This retrospective study included all EMS missions in Aachen city between 2015 and 2021. Regarding structural indicators of the EMS system, we investigated the overall number of emergency missions with tele-EMS and onsite EMS physicians. Furthermore, we analyzed the distribution of tracer diagnosis and process quality with respect to the time spans on the scene, time until teleconsultation, duration of teleconsultation, prehospital engagement time, and number of simultaneous teleconsultations. During the 7-year study period, 229,384 EMS missions were completed. From 2015 to 2021, the total number of EMS missions increased by 8.5%. A tele-EMS physician was consulted on 23,172 (10.1%) missions. The proportion of telemedicine missions increased from 8.6% in 2015 to 12.9% in 2021. Teleconsultations for missions with tracer diagnoses decreased during from 43.7% to 30.7%, and the proportion of non-tracer diagnoses increased from 56.3% to 69.3%. The call duration for teleconsultation decreased from 12.07 min in 2015 to 9.42 min in 2021. For every fourth mission, one or more simultaneous teleconsultations were conducted by the tele-EMS physician on duty. The implementation and routine use of a tele-EMS system increased the availability of onsite EMS physicians and enabled immediate onsite support for paramedics. Parallel teleconsultations, reduction in call duration, and increase in ambulatory onsite treatments over the years demonstrate the increasing experience of paramedics and tele-EMS physicians with the system in place. A prehospital tele-EMS system is important for mitigating the current challenges in the prehospital emergency care sector.

Examining the Seventeenth-Century Copper Trade: An Analysis of Smelted Copper from Sites in Virginia and North Carolina

AbstractWhen the colonists who made up the Virginia Company of London established James Fort on the banks of the James River in 1607, they brought with them sheets of scrap copper. Based in large part on the experience of the earlier Roanoke Colony, the English knew that copper was a highly prized material among Native peoples of the Chesapeake, and they brought it with them as a trade item. Artifacts made from European smelted copper (impure copper and copper alloy) have been found at contact period sites (ca. AD 1607–1680) throughout Virginia, and James Fort has long been hypothesized to be the primary distribution point for that material. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the elemental composition of a sample of smelted copper artifacts from James Fort (1607–ca. 1625), as well as samples of copper artifacts from five Native sites in central Virginia. We also analyzed a sample of copper artifacts from another well-known European fort site—Fort San Juan (1567–1568) in North Carolina. The results suggest that although a portion of the smelted copper that circulated through Native networks in Virginia came from James Fort, the rest of it possibly came from English, French, or Dutch distribution points to the northeast.

Notched implements made of scapulae (Bruszczewo-type tools)-A problem solved? Discovering cereal- and legume-threshing techniques in Early Bronze Age Europe through traceological analysis and residue studies.

The studies presented in this paper constitute the first scientific attempt to interpret the manner whereby notched implements made of scapulae were made and used. These implements have been found at numerous European and non-European sites, usually dated to the Neolithic-Early Iron Age (predominantly the Early Bronze Age). Research has examined these products since the beginning of the 20th century, resulting in the development of several hypotheses regarding their functions. This paper presents the analysis results of 41 such artefacts from the early Bronze Age defensive settlement in Bruszczewo (central Poland). This is the largest collection of these products from a single site worldwide. The artefacts were subjected to multi-aspect traceological tests (both technological and functional) using optical, metallographic, and scanning electron microscopes. The residues identified on their surfaces were analysed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-rays spectroscopy. Moreover, the studies reported herein involved extensive experimental research. Consequently, the chain of operations followed in producing these tools was reconstructed and the use-wear traces present on their surfaces were classified; it was determined that these tools were most likely used for threshing cereals but might also have been used for threshing legumes. This is the first proof of threshing in central Europe in the Early Bronze Age and the first scientifically substantiated hypothesis regarding the function of these important artefacts.

Impact of mindfulness-based and health self-management interventions on mindfulness, self-compassion, and physical activity in older adults with subjective cognitive decline: A secondary analysis of the SCD-Well randomized controlled trial.

Older adults experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) have a higher risk of dementia. Reducing this risk through behavioral interventions, which can increase emotional well-being (mindfulness and compassion) and physical activity, is crucial in SCD. SCD-Well is a multicenter, observer-blind, randomized, controlled, superiority trial. Three hundred forty-seven participants (mean [standard deviation] age: 72.7 [6.9] years; 64.6% women) were recruited from memory clinics in four European sites to assess the impact of an 8-week caring mindfulness-based approach for seniors (CMBAS) and a health self-management program (HSMP) on mindfulness, self-compassion, and physical activity. CMBAS showed a significant within-group increase in self-compassion from baseline to post-intervention and both a within- and between-group increase to follow-up visit (24weeks). HSMP showed a significant within- and between-group increase in physical activity from baseline to post-intervention and to follow-up visit. Non-pharmacological interventions can differentially promote modifiable factors linked to healthy aging in older adults with SCD.

Social and Psychological Long-Term Consequences of NMDA Receptor Encephalitis (SAPIENCE) - from patients’ views to patient-centred care

Background and target population: NMDA receptor encephalitis is a rare autoimmune disease with severe neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms but typically a good functional neurological outcome. Nevertheless, most patients suffer long-term cognitive, psychological, and social impairments that have a significant impact on their well-being and occupational or educational activities-this is of particular concern given the young age of patients (median 21 years). However, because the disease was only recently discovered (2007), these psychosocial effects have not been systematically studied and the resulting impact on patients is not adequately appreciated. The SAPIENCE study is an international scientific project funded by the European Joint Program that aims to characterize the long-term cognitive and psychosocial consequences of this rare disease. The leader of the consortium is Prof. Carsten Finke, Charite Berlin. The Polish team, coordinated by Prof. Donata Kurpas, is responsible for the development of standard protocols, monitoring and training of staff in the study centers where the data are collected, and the corresponding qualitative data analysis.&#x0D; Study Design/Methods: Patients will be extensively studied at three European study sites in three consecutive project levels. Stage 1 includes in-depth on-site interviews and focus groups (n=30). Stage 2 develops a semi-structured short-form interview and includes on-site neuropsychological testing (n=150). Stage 3 includes an international online survey of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), patient-reported experience measures (PREMs), and disease progression information (n=300). Stages 1-3 will support each other in developing structured interviews, survey questions, and treatment guidelines.&#x0D; Results/Outcomes: At Level 1, we will identify themes and narratives that influence patients' quality of life and their experience of coping with the disease. At Level 2, we will identify neuropsychological outcomes in the largest cohort of NMDAR encephalitis patients in the world to date, including executive function, memory, and spatial navigation performance, which have been identified as key areas of impairment. At Level 3, we will examine subjective outcomes and individual predictors of post-acute disease progression.&#x0D; Based on Stages 1-3, we will develop international consensus guidelines for post-acute care of NMDARE patients.&#x0D; Impact: This project is the first to bridge the gap between standardized assessment and individual patient experience in the long-term follow-up of patients with autoimmune encephalitis. By incorporating the patient perspective into medical decision-making, current and future NMDAR encephalitis patients will benefit from the implementation of the diagnostic and treatment guidelines developed in this project for patient-centered post-acut

Death caps (Amanita phalloides) frequently establish from sexual spores, but individuals can grow large and live for more than a decade in invaded forests.

Global change is reshaping Earth's biodiversity, but the changing distributions of nonpathogenic fungi remain largely undocumented, as do mechanisms enabling invasions. The ectomycorrhizal Amanita phalloides is native to Europe and invasive in North America. Using population genetics and genomics, we sought to describe the life history traits of this successfully invading symbiotic fungus. To test whether death caps spread underground using hyphae, or aboveground using sexual spores, we mapped and genotyped mushrooms from European and US sites. Larger genetic individuals (genets) would suggest spread mediated by vegetative growth, while many small genets would suggest dispersal mediated by spores. To test whether genets are ephemeral or persistent, we also sampled from populations over time. At nearly every site and across all time points, mushrooms resolve into small genets. Individuals frequently establish from sexual spores. But at one Californian site, a single individual measuring nearly 10 m across dominated. At two Californian sites, the same genetic individuals were discovered in 2004, 2014, and 2015, suggesting single individuals (both large and small) can reproduce repeatedly over relatively long timescales. A flexible life history strategy combining both mycelial growth and spore dispersal appears to underpin the invasion of this deadly perennial ectomycorrhizal fungus.