Regional Comparison Research Articles

A scientometric study on research trends and characteristics of Behçet's disease

Background/purpose: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic systemic vasculitis characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, and uveitis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the scientometric characteristics and research trends of BD. Materials and methodsAll the articles on BD were comprehensively retrieved from the Scopus database. Regional comparison (Turkey versus outside of Turkey) and chronological comparison (before 2010 versus after 2010) were performed. ResultsAmong the 7023 articles on BD, Turkey was the country publishing most articles (2012 articles). In Turkey, questionnaire, quality of life, depression, and scoring system were distinctive keywords. In outside of Turkey, allele, gene expression, cytokine, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and phenotype were distinctive keywords. The trend of diagnostics mainly angiography before 2010 has changed to computed tomographic angiography, echocardiography, and optical coherence tomography. The trend of biology research has changed to research on metabolism, gene expression, allele, biomarkers, and genetic susceptibility after 2010. The trend of drug aspects mainly oral drug administration before 2010 has changed to drug withdrawal, drug dose reduction, drug safety, drug megadose, adalimumab, thalidomide, and salazosulfapyridine after 2010. ConclusionThis scientometric study elucidated the current scenario and research trends of BD, and would help in improving in reciprocal collaboration and communication for investigations on this disease.

Navigating and Overcoming Barriers to Digital Energy Transition for Carbon Neutrality in China

As China strives for carbon neutrality, the transition to digital energy systems presents both significant opportunities and formidable challenges. This study investigates the key barriers hindering this transition and the urgent need for effective strategies to address them, raising the critical research question: What are the main obstacles to digital energy adoption in China, and how can these challenges be overcome? In this study, the fuzzy AHP method has been utilized to prioritize barriers and fuzzy WASPAS to evaluate the strategies. Using fuzzy AHP, we found that stakeholder and governance barriers are the most critical, emphasizing issues like misalignment among stakeholders and governance challenges. Following this, financial constraints and technological limitations emerged as other significant barriers, highlighting the need for improved financing mechanisms and robust infrastructure. Through fuzzy WASPAS analysis, the top strategies identified are enhancing public awareness and capacity-building programs, strengthening governance and anti-corruption measures, and increasing investment in green finance. The results emphasize the importance of tackling governance and financial issues alongside technological advancements. Policy implications and recommendations are provided to guide China’s digital energy transition, with suggestions for future research focused on broader regional comparisons and the integration of emerging technologies.

Sequential replacement of PSD95 subunits in postsynaptic supercomplexes is slowest in the cortex.

The concept that dimeric protein complexes in synapses can sequentially replace their subunits has been a cornerstone of Francis Crick's 1984 hypothesis, explaining how long-term memories could be maintained in the face of short protein lifetimes. However, it is unknown whether the subunits of protein complexes that mediate memory are sequentially replaced in the brain and if this process is linked to protein lifetime. We address these issues by focusing on supercomplexes assembled by the abundant postsynaptic scaffolding protein PSD95, which plays a crucial role in memory. We used single-molecule detection, super-resolution microscopy and MINFLUX to probe the molecular composition of PSD95 supercomplexes in mice carrying genetically encoded HaloTags, eGFP, and mEoS2. We found a population of PSD95-containing supercomplexes comprised of two copies of PSD95, with a dominant 12.7 nm separation. Time-stamping of PSD95 subunits in vivo revealed that each PSD95 subunit was sequentially replaced over days and weeks. Comparison of brain regions showed subunit replacement was slowest in the cortex, where PSD95 protein lifetime is longest. Our findings reveal that protein supercomplexes within the postsynaptic density can be maintained by gradual replacement of individual subunits providing a mechanism for stable maintenance of their organization. Moreover, we extend Crick's model by suggesting that synapses with slow subunit replacement of protein supercomplexes and long-protein lifetimes are specialized for long-term memory storage and that these synapses are highly enriched in superficial layers of the cortex where long-term memories are stored.

Typical Case Studies and Classification with Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide Geological Sequestration in Saline Aquifers

To achieve carbon neutrality in China’s fossil energy sector, saline aquifer CO2 geological storage has become a critical strategy. As research into carbon reduction and storage potential evaluation advances across various geological scales, the need arises for consolidating key CO2 storage cases and establishing a standardized classification system and evaluation methodology. This paper provides a comprehensive review of notable CO2 storage projects in saline aquifers, covering aspects such as project overviews, structural and reservoir characteristics, caprock integrity, and seismic monitoring protocols. Drawing on insights from mineral and oil and gas exploration, as well as international methods, this paper outlines the stages and potential levels of saline aquifer storage in China. It proposes an evaluation framework with formulas and reference values for key coefficients. The study includes successful global projects, such as Sleipner and Snøhvit in Norway, In Salah in Algeria, and Shenhua in China’s Ordos Basin, which provide valuable insights for long-term carbon capture and storage (CCS). By examining geological characteristics, injection, and monitoring protocols in these projects, this paper analyzes how geological features impact CO2 storage outcomes. For example, the Sleipner project’s success is linked to its straightforward structure, favorable reservoir properties, and stable caprock, while Snøhvit illustrates diverse structural suitability, and In Salah demonstrates the influence of fractures on storage efficacy. CO2 storage activities are segmented into four stages—survey, investigation, exploration, and injection—and are further categorized by storage potential: geological, technical, techno-economic, and engineering capacities. This study also presents evaluation levels (prediction, control, technically recoverable, and engineering) that support effective reservoir selection, potential classification, and calculations considering factors like reservoir stability and sealing efficacy. Depending on application needs, volumetric or mechanistic methods are recommended, with precise determination of geological, displacement, and cost coefficients. For China, a dynamic evaluation mechanism characterized by multi-scale, tiered approaches and increasing precision over time is essential for robust storage potential assessment. The levels and methods outlined here serve as a scientific foundation for regional and stage-based comparisons, guiding engineering approvals and underground space management. To align with practical engineering demands, ongoing innovation through laboratory experiments, simulations, and field practice is crucial, supporting continual refinement of formulas and key parameter determinations.

First report of Curvularia chiangmaiensis causing leaf spot in elephant grass in Brazil.

Elephant grass, Cenchrus purpureus, exhibits high efficiency in sequesting atmospheric CO2 during photosynthesis, leading to significant biomass production. As a C4 plant, it holds immense potential for alternative biodiesel production and serves as fresh feed for cattle (Negawo et al. 2018). Field observations in commercial pastures planted with elephant grass, located in the Brazilian cerrado, revealed necrotic leaf spots with a brownish center and a yellowish halo, reaching a severity of 30 to 50% between 2022 and 2023 in Palmas (10°24'08"S 48°21'45" W) and Gurupi (11°46'21"S 49°02'08" W), municipalities located in the state of Tocantins, Brazil. In both years, the field incidence of the disease on young and mature leaves approached 100% during the rainy season. Affected leaves were collected, packed in a thermal box, and taken to the phytopathology laboratory. The 198 leaves were sanitised in 1% hypochlorite for 30 seconds and washed thrice in sterile water. Upon sanitisation, leaf tissues were cut and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and incubated in a controlled chamber (BOD) at 28°C with a 12-hour photoperiod. Colonies exhibited a greyish colour with whitish edges, and the top plate was brownish, growing to a diameter of 5 cm over seven days. The colonies obtained from monosporic cultures formed curved conidia, predominantly with three septa, of a brownish colour, with lengths ranging from (7 µm to 14 µm and widths from 5 µm to 7 µm. (N=-50, Fig 1) (Yasanthika et al. 2023). The UFTCC01 isolate's DNA was extracted using the extraction kit (PROMEGA ®), amplified for genes (ITS, Gapdh and Tefα1), sequenced (OR345316.1, OR344427.1 and OR344428.1) and compared in BLASTn at Gen Bank deposited sequences. Phylogenetic analysis using the parsimony method in MEGA X identified the isolate as Curvularia chiangmaiensis, showing 99.5% identity with reference sequences (MN215651.1, MN264085.1, and MN263942.1). Concatenated region comparison revealed 94% similarity to sequences (OP564987.1 and MF490814.1) in the phylogenetic tree, confirming the species. The pathogenicity test used 60 seedlings of 50-day-old elephant grass, 30 of which were inoculated with a spore suspension (3.0 × 106 spores/mL) and 30 with sterile water. The solutions were sprayed twice. Only plants inoculated with the spore suspension exhibited symptoms akin to those observed in the field. Then, the fungus was reisolated from the lesions and Koch's postulates were confirmed twice.Previous studies have documented the C. chiangmaiensis pathogenicity in other grasses, such as maise in Thailand (Marin et al. 2017). Our studies constitute the first report of C. chiangmaiensis causing leaf spots on elephant grass in the Brazil.

Necessity of Analyzing the Korea Community Health Survey Using 7 Local Government Types.

This study examined the potential of a new analytical framework for the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) with classification criteria for the sub-national governmental level, the degree of urbanization including an urban-rural multimodal category, and population size as a more effective tool to address local health problems and deduce practical implications. Retrospective survey data from 2023 KCHS were obtained. Frequency analyses were performed for self-rated good health status, current smoking status, and unmet medical needs as proxies for health status, as well as healthcare utilization and health behavior, utilizing individual weights to represent national community residents. We established a new classification of local governments into 7 types to facilitate regional comparisons. These local government types are presumably composed of populations showing statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics. There were evident differences in health status, health behavior, and healthcare utilization in comparisons of groups categorized by local government types. This study suggests that regional disparities can be analyzed using a new typology of local governments. This practically effective approach could be used in decision-making for community-centered health projects in terms of community health planning. Future research should conduct analyses of KCHS data that use these 7 local government types to comprehensively reflect regional characteristics.

Regional Comparison of Attachment Strategies for Designing Long-Life Products

In order to reduce mass disposal, it is necessary to design and develop products with long lifetimes. However, few studies have investigated long-life design in terms of value lifetime compared with physical lifetime. Product value consists of use value, Kansei value, and economic value, and the product value lifetime is considered to be reached when any one of these values is lost. Few studies have considered the Kansei value (that is, the perceived or emotional value of a product) and the regional differences in sensitivity to products. In this study focusing on attachment, we analyzed attachment strategies for the design of products with long value lifetimes and examined the regional differences in sensitivity to product attachment. We identified design strategies that are strongly correlated with attachment in Vietnam and Thailand. We also found that Japanese users are less attached to their products than users in Vietnam and Thailand. The findings of this study will contribute to the design of long-life products with high Kansei values.

Regional Comparison in Cerebral Performance Outcome of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: The All-Japan Utstein Registry.

Past studies have reported regional differences in the prognosis of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OHCA) in Japan, but there is a lack of sufficient information to explain the changes in neurological prognosis over time. Using the All-Japan Utstein Registry, a nationwide population-based OHCA database, we included non-traumatic OHCA patients resuscitated by emergency responders across all seven regions from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017. The primary endpoint was a favorable neurological outcome one month after cardiac arrest, compared among these seven regions. The secondary endpoint was one-month survival after OHCA. There were 880,043 OHCA patients, of whom 721,455 (82.0%) were included in the analysis. Overall, a total of 17,685 (2.45%) patients survived with favorable neurological outcomes. Unadjusted neurological favorable outcomes varied regionally, ranging from 1.64% to 3.37% (rate difference: 1.73%; 95%CI: 1.57-1.89%). The East and Northeast had a significantly lower rate compared to the Midwest region (unadjusted rate ratio: 0.73; 95%CI: 0.70-0.76; p<0.001, 0.63; 95%CI: 0.59-0.67; p<0.001, respectively). The significant difference remained after adjustment for patient factors and prehospital factors (adjusted rate ratio: 0.68; 95%CI: 0.64-0.72, p<0.01, 0.70; 95%CI: 0.67-0.73, p<0.01, respectively). The secondary outcome, survival at one month, also showed similar regional differences. In this post-hoc analysis, nationwide, population-based study in Japan, we found that regional differences in the neurologic prognosis of OHCA patients persist. The difference has narrowed from previous years, but the causes still need to be investigated and improved in the future.

Long-term Holocene warming trend in Southern China revealed by corrected pollen data

Holocene temperature changes and their forcings serve as pivotal references for current and future warming trends. However, significant discrepancies exist between proxy reconstructions and model simulations of Holocene temperature evolution. Pollen evidence, often central to these discrepancies, have been criticized for potentially reflecting human influence rather than pure temperature variations, complicating our understanding of Holocene temperature changes. Our study focuses on southern China, a region with pronounced discrepancies between models and proxies. We introduce and validate a novel methodology to isolate genuine temperature signals from pollen data. This approach employs an arboreal pollen-based temperature index and correct biases inherent in raw pollen data using the Regional Estimates of Vegetation Abundance from Large Sites (REVEALS) model. Applying this method, we present a new winter/annual temperature record for the past 10,000 years based on two fossil pollen data from the Luoxiao Mountains. Simultaneously, we reconstruct the historical impact of human activities in the region. Our temperature records reveal a sustained warming trend during the Holocene, closely matching model-simulated mean annual temperatures (R = 0.97), and temperature reconstructions based on branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers from regional terrestrial and marine archives. In contrast, uncorrected pollen data indicate a cooling trend during the late Holocene, coinciding with significant human impact since approximately 3 ka BP. Our analysis and regional comparison with existing temperature records indicate that such contrasting temperature trends stem from a human-induced cooling bias, particularly pronounced in uncorrected pollen data. We infer that the early to middle Holocene warming was due to various factors, while late Holocene warming was predominantly driven by local annual insolation changes. Our findings challenge previously widely identified late-Holocene cooling trends based on uncorrected pollen data, demonstrating that the correction of pollen data can effectively mitigate human-induced cooling biases in temperature reconstructions. This study confirms the accuracy of climate models in simulating a Holocene warming trend, both temporally and spatially, at least in southern China.

How Gender-Sensitive Are Environmental Institutions, Climate Adaptation, and Mitigation Actions? A Narrative from the Global South

This review explores the relationships between gender and climate change, focusing on Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. It draws attention to the differences in how women, men, and others are impacted by climate change, emphasizing vulnerabilities due to lack of access to resources and decision-making authority. We highlight the role gender-sensitive environmental institutions have in moderating how gender relations are affected by climate change. We assess gender sensitivity in environmental institutions, climate adaptation, and mitigation initiatives through regional comparisons, considering the different roles, responsibilities, and demands of women, men, and other intersectional groups within policies and initiatives to identify opportunities and difficulties in enacting gender-sensitive policies. The analysis shows widespread recognition of the significance of tackling gender-related concerns in the context of climate change and concludes that while progress is evident, there is room for improvement in addressing biases, stereotypes, and specific challenges, especially concerning climate change.

Analysis of the Relationship Between R&D and Company Performance

Research and development (R&D) activities are crucial to remain competitive. Extant literature presents divergent views on R&D’s contribution to company performance, specifically profitability. It hints at cultural differences in approaching R&D. This leads to analyzing such relationships within a regional comparison. Filling the research gap by focusing on the Technology, Media and Telecommunication (TMT) sector, this study evaluated a sample of 132 Asian and European companies operating in the TMT sector for 2018 – 2022. Using the panel generalized method of moments, results showed that R&D intensity had an insignificant impact on profitability but a positive and significant effect on capital market performance. Furthermore, Asian firms’ R&D intensity had a more pronounced influence on performance, supporting the literature’s view on cultural differences in R&D strategies.

Sex Differences in Human Brain Structure at Birth

BackgroundSex differences in human brain anatomy have been well-documented, though remain significantly underexplored during early development. The neonatal period is a critical stage for brain development and can provide key insights into the role that prenatal and early postnatal factors play in shaping sex differences in the brain.MethodsHere, we assessed on-average sex differences in global and regional brain volumes in 514 newborns aged 0–28 days (236 birth-assigned females and 278 birth-assigned males) using data from the developing Human Connectome Project. We also assessed sex-by-age interactions to investigate sex differences in early postnatal brain development.ResultsOn average, males had significantly larger intracranial and total brain volumes, even after controlling for birth weight. After controlling for total brain volume, females showed significantly greater total cortical gray matter volumes, whilst males showed greater total white matter volumes. After controlling for total brain volume in regional comparisons, females had significantly increased white matter volumes in the corpus callosum and increased gray matter volumes in the bilateral parahippocampal gyri (posterior parts), left anterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral parietal lobes, and left caudate nucleus. Males had significantly increased gray matter volumes in the right medial and inferior temporal gyrus (posterior part) and right subthalamic nucleus. Effect sizes ranged from small for regional comparisons to large for global comparisons. Significant sex-by-age interactions were noted in the left anterior cingulate gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus (posterior parts).ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that sex differences in brain structure are already present at birth and remain comparatively stable during early postnatal development, highlighting an important role of prenatal factors in shaping sex differences in the brain.

Phylogenetic analyses reveal only Albugo rorippae causing white rust on horseradish in Brazil

Armoracia rusticana, commonly known as horseradish, is a Brassicaceae condiment common in southern Brazilian cuisine. In 2020, plants with leaf lesions and white pustules were observed in a cultivation area in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, state of Paraná, Brazil. Based on phylogenetic studies, Albugo sensu lato was classified into the genera Albugo, Pustula, and Wilsoniana. As there is still no molecular characterization of the specimens that cause white rust in Brazil, this study aimed to identify the causal agent of white rust in A. rusticana. Symptomatic plants were collected to identify the oomycete and placed near asymptomatic plants for the pathogenicity test. Plants exposed to the diseased plants showed symptoms 14 days after exposure, while plants without exposure to diseased plants remained asymptomatic. Comparison of symptoms and morphology matched the characteristics of Albugo sensu lato. After morphometry and sequence comparison of the partial region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (cox2) mtDNA gene, the oomycete was identified as Albugo rorippae. To date, this species is reported on A. rusticana, Rorippa amphibia, Rorippa palustris, and Rorippa sylvestris in Argentina, Australia, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. According to the literature, the Albugo specimens that colonize Armoracia sp. have low efficiency in colonizing Rorippa sp., and there are some differences in the oospores of the specimens isolated from these two hosts. Therefore, a comprehensive sampling of Albugo sp. in Armoracia and Rorippa species is essential to determine whether there is host genus specialization. This is the first report of A. rorippae in Armoracia rusticana in Brazil.

Improved ability to utilize lactose and grow in milk as a potential explanation for emergence of the novel bovine Staphylococcus aureus ST5477

Staphyloccous aureus belonging to sequence type 5477 have recently been identified as a predominant clone causing bovine mastitis in Rwanda and Tanzania. We compared nine S. aureus ST5477 to 17 isolates belonging to other sequence types by their biochemical profile and ability to acidify milk and grow in minimum media containing lactose. We found that ST5477 isolates all were positive in ONPG (o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside) test and negative for mannitol fermentation potentially challenging the correct identification of this sequence type as S. aureus. In addition, ST5477 isolates were all much faster in acidifying milk and grew faster in minimal media with lactose compared to other strains suggesting an increased lactose utilization and thereby adaptation to the bovine udder environment as a possible reason for the recent successful emergence. Comparison of the lac gene region of the genome of a recently sequenced ST5477 and that of S. aureus reference genome showed that both strains contained the known lacABCD genes involved in the lactose degradation, but that ST5477 had a 12 amino-acid deletion and two amino-acid differences in the lac gene transcription regulator, suggesting that increased transcription might play a role. In conclusion, these preliminary data suggests that improved lactose utilization and the ability to grow faster in milk may have been a key feature for the recent success of ST5477 as a bovine adapted clone.

Carbon sequestration in a typical mountain lake associated with earthquakes, floods, droughts, and human activities in southern Altay during the late Holocene

Lakes, being key regulators of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), have not yet been intensively explored in the carbon cycle. This study provides an attempt to investigate how carbon sequestration in mountain lakes responds to seismic activities, extreme climate events and human disturbance. The new data of grain-size end members (EMs), TN contents, C/N, concentrations of algal spores, and P and Mn contents, in addition to previously published data of TOC and Ca contents, Zr/Rb, Rb/Sr, and land-pollen assemblages of a well-dated sediment core from Yileimu Lake, depicted a more detailed history of environmental evolution in the region. A great earthquake happened in southern Altay at ∼ 3500 cal yr BP that triggered extensive landslides around the lake, and then frequent floods eroded the catchment between ∼ 3500 and 2300 cal yr BP, subsequently severe drought events occurred within the period of 2300–1000 cal yr BP, finally agricultural and pastoral activities intensified within the last 1000 yrs. Organic carbon accumulation rate (OCAR) in Yileimu Lake was extremely high (an underestimated value of ∼ 370 g m–2 yr–1) during the earthquake event, in response to the rapid accumulation of landslide materials. Regional comparison revealed that summer temperature was unexpected to have determined the OCAR during both flood and drought events (average 4.07 and 3.64 g m–2 yr–1, respectively), because it dominated the production of land- and aquatic plants. Human activities increased the OCAR prominently (averages 6.26 g m–2 yr–1) via changing sediment production and vegetation planting, which decoupled the OCAR from climate factors. These data imply that carbon sequestration in lakes from mountain areas where temperature adversity stress dominated vegetation growth would have the potential to increase under anthropogenic warming. In addition, seismically induced carbon sequestration in lakes from tectonically active regions cannot be ignored.

Epidemiology and regional variance of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries in Sweden: A 15-year observational study.

Traumatic peripheral nerve injuries pose significant challenges to healthcare systems and individuals, affecting sensory function, causing neuropathic pain, and impairing quality of life. Despite their impact, comprehensive studies on the epidemiology and regional variance of these injuries are scarce. Understanding the incidence, trends, and anatomical distribution of such injuries is essential for targeted interventions and resource allocation. This observational study utilized register-based data from the Swedish National Patient Register covering the period from 2008 to 2022. Incidence rates, trends, and anatomical distribution of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Poisson regression modeling, and regional comparisons. Higher incidences of peripheral nerve injuries were observed among men compared to women across all age groups. The hand and wrist were the most commonly affected sites. Regional variations in incidence rates were evident, with some regions consistently exhibiting higher rates compared to others. Notably, a decreasing trend in injuries was observed over the study period. This study underscores the importance of targeted interventions and preventive strategies, considering sex, age, and regional disparities. Further research incorporating individual patient-level data is warranted to enhance our understanding and inform tailored interventions to reduce the burden of these injuries.

Enhancing Variant Calling in Whole-Exome Sequencing Data Using Population-Matched Reference Genomes.

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) data are frequently used for cancer diagnosis and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), based on high-coverage read mapping, informative variant calling, and high-quality reference genomes. The center position of the currently used genome assembly, GRCh38, is now challenged by two newly published telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genomes, T2T-CHM13 and T2T-YAO, and it becomes urgent to have a comparative study to test population specificity using the three reference genomes based on real case WES data. Here we report our analysis along this line for 19 tumor samples collected from Chinese patients. The primary comparison of the exon regions among the three references reveals that the sequences in up to ∼ 1% target regions in T2T-YAO are widely diversified from GRCh38 and may lead to off-target in sequence capture. However, T2T-YAO still outperforms GRCh38 genomes by obtaining 7.41% more mapped reads. Due to more reliable read-mapping and closer phylogenetic relationship with the samples than GRCh38, T2T-YAO reduces half of variant calls of clinical significance which are mostly benign, while maintaining sensitivity in identifying pathogenic variants. T2T-YAO also outperforms T2T-CHM13 in reducing calls of Chinese-specific variants. Our findings highlight the critical need for employing population-specific reference genomes in genomic analysis to ensure accurate variant analysis and the significant benefits of tailoring these approaches to the unique genetic backgrounds of each ethnic group.

Neural Dynamics Associated with Biological Variation in Normal Human Brain Regions.

The processes involved in encoding and decoding signals in the human brain are a continually studied topic, as neuronal information flow involves complex nonlinear dynamics. This study examines awake human intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) data from normal brain regions to explore how biological sex influences these dynamics. The iEEG data were analyzed using permutation entropy and statistical complexity in the time domain and power spectrum calculations in the frequency domain. The Bandt and Pompe method was used to assess time series causality by associating probability distributions based on ordinal patterns with the signals. Due to the invasive nature of data acquisition, the study encountered limitations such as small sample sizes and potential sources of error. Nevertheless, the high spatial resolution of iEEG allows detailed analysis and comparison of specific brain regions. The results reveal differences between sexes in brain regions, observed through power spectrum, entropy, and complexity analyses. Significant differences were found in the left supramarginal gyrus, posterior cingulate, supplementary motor cortex, middle temporal gyrus, and right superior temporal gyrus. This study emphasizes the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in brain dynamics research, which is essential for improving the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Regional comparison of specialized outpatient and (partial) inpatient pain medicine care in Germany

Chronic pain requires graduated and staged levels of care. The aim of this study is to provide aregional overview regarding the accessibility of specialized outpatient and (partial) inpatient pain medicine care from the patient's perspective in Germany. For 1000 model patients randomly generated from German postal code location combinations, the travelling time by car (individual transport, IT)and available public transport connections (PTC) to the nearest specialized outpatient and inpatient pain medicine clinics and units were assessed using aroute planner. Outpatient facilities (in apractice setting) were mostly realistically accessible depending on the proportion of pain treatment and the networking structure. University pain outpatient clinics were at a critically reachable distance with IT for 70% of the patients (80% with PTC) and had unrealistic accessibility for 49% of the patients with IT (68% with PTC). Interdisciplinary multimodal pain programs in day clinics were at a critically reachable distance for 68% of patients with IT (83% with PTC) and in 49% (75% PTC) at an unrealistic travelling time distance considering the more intense treatment requiring frequent travel. Full inpatient interdisciplinary multimodal treatment was more realistically reachable (IT 39% critical, 14% unrealistic, PTC 61% critical, 48% unrealistic). The results show relevant nationwide differences in the accessibility of facilities for specialized pain treatment depending on the place of residence. Considering the treatment of achronic condition with long-term therapeutic goals and the need for graduated care (outpatient and inpatient treatment), the results reveal apartly critical situation from the patient's perspective.

Environmental Drivers of Palsa and Peat Plateau Occurrences: A Regional Comparison Across the Northern Hemisphere

ABSTRACTPalsas and peat plateaus occur in various environmental conditions, but their driving environmental factors have not been examined across the Northern Hemisphere with harmonized datasets. Such comparisons can deepen our understanding of these landforms and their response to climate change. We conducted a comparative study between four regions: Hudson Bay, Iceland, Northern Fennoscandia, and Western Siberia by integrating landform observations and geospatial data into a MaxEnt model. Climate and hydrological conditions were identified as primary, yet regionally divergent, factors affecting palsa and peat plateau occurrence. Suitable conditions for these landforms entail specific temperature ranges (500–1500 thawing degree days, 500–4000 freezing degree days), around 300 mm of rainfall, and high soil moisture accumulation potential. Iceland's conditions, in particular, differ due to higher precipitation, a narrower temperature range, and the significance of soil organic carbon content. The annual thermal balance is a critical factor in understanding the occurrence of permafrost peatlands and should be considered when comparing different regions. We conclude that palsas and peat plateaus share similar topographic conditions but occupy varying soil conditions and climatic niches across the Northern Hemisphere. These findings have implications for understanding the climatic sensitivity of permafrost peatlands and identifying potential greenhouse gas emitters.