UNASSIGNED: To compare performance progression and variety in race distances of comparable lengths (timewise) between pool swimming and track running. Quality of within-sport variety was determined as the performance differences between individual athletes\' main and secondary race distances across (top-) elite and (highly-) trained swimmers and runners.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 3,827,947 race times were used to calculate performance points (race times relative to the world record) for freestyle swimmers (n = 12,588 males and n = 7,561 females) and track runners (n = 9,230 males and n = 5,841 females). Athletes were ranked based on their personal best at peak performance age, then annual best times were retrospectively traced throughout adolescence.
UNASSIGNED: Performance of world-class swimmers differentiates at an earlier age from their lower ranked peers (15-16 vs. 17-20 year age categories, P < 0.05), but also plateaus earlier towards senior age compared to runners (19-20 vs. 23 + year age category, P < 0.05), respectively. Performance development of swimmers shows a logarithmic pattern, while runners develop linearly. While swimmers compete in more secondary race distances (larger within-sport variety), runners specialize in either sprint, middle- or long-distance early in their career and compete in only 2, 4 or 3 other race distances, respectively. In both sports, sprinters specialize the most (P < 0.05). Distance-variety of middle-distance swimmers covers more longer rather than sprint race distances. Therefore, at peak performance age, (top-) elite female 200 m swimmers show significantly slower sprint performances, i.e., 50 m (P < 0.001) and 100 m (P < 0.001), but not long-distance performances, i.e., 800 m (P = 0.99) and 1,500 m (P = 0.99). In contrast, (top-) elite female 800 m middle-distance runners show significantly slower performances in all their secondary race distances (P < 0.001). (Top-) elite female athletes specialize more than (highly-) trained athletes in both sports (P < 0.05).
UNASSIGNED: The comparison to track running and lower ranked swimmers, the early performance plateau towards senior age, and the maintenance of a large within-sport distance variety indicates that (top-) elite sprint swimmers benefit from greater within-sport specialization.

More than a half century ago it became feasible to simulate, using classical-mechanical equations of motion, the dynamics of molecular systems on a computer. Since then classical-physical molecular simulation has become an integral part of chemical research. It is widely applied in a variety of branches of chemistry and has significantly contributed to the development of chemical knowledge. It offers understanding and interpretation of experimental results, semiquantitative predictions for measurable and nonmeasurable properties of substances, and allows the calculation of properties of molecular systems under conditions that are experimentally inaccessible. Yet, molecular simulation is built on a number of assumptions, approximations, and simplifications which limit its range of applicability and its accuracy. These concern the potential-energy function used, adequate sampling of the vast statistical-mechanical configurational space of a molecular system and the methods used to compute particular properties of chemical systems from statistical-mechanical ensembles. During the past half century various methodological ideas to improve the efficiency and accuracy of classical-physical molecular simulation have been proposed, investigated, evaluated, implemented in general simulation software or were abandoned. The latter because of fundamental flaws or, while being physically sound, computational inefficiency. Some of these methodological ideas are briefly reviewed and the most effective methods are highlighted. Limitations of classical-physical simulation are discussed and perspectives are sketched.

UNASSIGNED: This study assessed the risk of first treatment for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) given detection of nasopharyngeal bacteria (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni) and corresponding likelihood of antimicrobial susceptibility (C/S) at two time points during the early feeding period. Relationships between C/S results and later treatment for BRD were evaluated at both the calf-level and pen-level. The association between calf-level and pen-level C/S findings during the early feeding period and subsequent C/S results at BRD treatment were also reported.
UNASSIGNED: Auction-sourced, recently-weaned beef calves (n = 1,599 steers) were placed in adjacent feedlot pens (8 × 100 calves) in two subsequent years. Deep nasopharyngeal (DNP) swabs were collected from all calves at time of arrival processing (1DOF) and before metaphylaxis administration with either tulathromycin or oxytetracycline, 12 days later (13DOF), and at the time of first treatment for BRD. All samples were tested for C/S.
UNASSIGNED: Several pen-level and individual calf-level C/S measures of interest were associated with future treatment for BRD and C/S at the time of treatment. The median DOF for first BRD treatment was 24 days following tulathromycin metaphylaxis and 11 days following oxytetracycline. Overall, sampling at 13DOF resulted in the best fit for more models of subsequent treatment for BRD and C/S results at BRD treatment than for sampling at arrival. In individual calves, recovery of M. haemolytica, P. multocida, or H. somni at 13DOF was associated with subsequent treatment for BRD within 45DOF. Pen-level prevalence of Pasteurellacea bacteria with tetracycline or macrolide resistance at arrival and 13DOF were associated with detection of bacteria with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at BRD treatment, as were individual calf results at 13DOF.
UNASSIGNED: These findings suggest that the bacteria and AMR outcomes recovered from cattle near two weeks on feed can inform the prediction of future BRD risk and concurrent antimicrobial susceptibility results at time of first BRD treatment. Notably, the associations between pen-level C/S results from previous testing and corresponding findings in calves with BRD from the same pen suggested potential testing strategies to inform antimicrobial use protocols for feedlot cattle.

UNASSIGNED: Simultaneous sampling of the cingulate gyri through a single depth electrode inserted underneath the falx cerebri is clinically useful in certain cases of drug-resistant epilepsy. However, the frequency at which each region of the cingulate gyri - namely, anterior, middle, and posterior - can be simultaneously sampled with a single electrode remains uncertain.
UNASSIGNED: We assessed the anatomical relationship between the falx cerebri and the cingulate gyrus in 50 adults and children. Subsequently, we determined whether an arbitrary line, denoted as A (representing a 5 mm gap between the falx cerebri and corpus callosum necessary for depth electrode insertion), fell within the anterior, middle, or posterior cingulate gyrus.
UNASSIGNED: The shape of the falx cerebri and its intersection point with the corpus callosum varied substantially across individuals, with a significant difference between children and adults (P = 0.02). The A line was located in the middle cingulate gyrus in 18 children (72%), while 3 (12%) and 4 (16%) had it located in the posterior and anterior cingulate gyrus, respectively. Among adults, 15 individuals (60%) had the A line in the middle cingulate gyrus, 10 (40%) in the posterior cingulate gyrus, and none in the anterior cingulate gyrus.
UNASSIGNED: This study demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneous sampling of both the anterior and middle cingulate gyri in adults and children. Moreover, it represents the first investigation to document the wide interindividual variability in the morphology of the falx cerebri and its association with the cingulate gyrus.

BACKGROUND: Lineage tracing and trajectory inference from single-cell RNA-sequencing data hold tremendous potential for uncovering the genetic programs driving development and disease. Single cell datasets are thought to provide an unbiased view on the diverse cellular architecture of tissues. Sampling bias, however, can skew single cell datasets away from the cellular composition they are meant to represent.
RESULTS: We demonstrate a novel form of sampling bias, caused by a statistical phenomenon related to repeated sampling from a growing, heterogeneous population. Relative growth rates of cells influence the probability that they will be sampled in clones observed across multiple time points. We support our probabilistic derivations with a simulation study and an analysis of a real time-course of T-cell development. We find that this bias can impact fate probability predictions, and we explore how to develop trajectory inference methods which are robust to this bias.
METHODS: Source code for the simulated datasets and to create the figures in this manuscript is freely available in python at https://github.com/rbonhamcarter/simulate-clones. A python implementation of the extension of the LineageOT method is freely available at https://github.com/rbonhamcarter/LineageOT/tree/multi-time-clones.

Tyre wear has been identified as a major road-related pollutant source, with road runoff transporting tyre wear particles (TWP) to adjacent soil, watercourses, or further through stormwater systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and transport of TWP along a stormwater system. Water and sediment have been sampled at selected points (road runoff, gully pots, wells, outlet to a ditch, and stream) through a stormwater system situated along a highway in Sweden during November and December 2022, and March 2023. As there is limited data on the size distribution of TWP in different environmental media, especially in the size fraction <20 μm, the samples were fractioned into a fine (1.6-20 μm) and a coarse (1.6-500 μm) size fraction. The samples were analysed using a combination of marker compounds (benzene, α-methylstyrene, ethylstyrene, and butadiene trimer) for styrene-butadiene rubbers with PYR-GC/MS from which TWP concentration was calculated. Suspended solids were analysed in the water samples, and organic content was analysed in the sediment samples. TWP was found at nearly all locations, with concentrations up to 17 mg/L in the water samples and up to 40 mg/g in the sediment samples. In the sediment samples, TWP in the size fraction 1.6-20 μm represented a significant proportion (20-60%). Correlations were found between TWP concentration and suspended solids in the water samples (r = 0.87) and organic content in the sediment samples (r = 0.72). The results presented in this study demonstrate that TWP can be transported to the surrounding environment through road runoff, with limited retention in the studied stormwater system.

Fish parasitology is a dynamic and internationally important discipline with numerous biological, ecological and practical applications. We reviewed optimal fish and parasite sampling methods for key ectoparasite phyla (i.e. Ciliophora, Platyhelminthes, Annelida and Arthropoda) as well as recent advances in molecular detection of ectoparasites in aquatic environments. Ideally, fish capture and anaesthesia as well as parasite recovery methods should be validated to eliminate potential sampling bias and inaccuracy in determining ectoparasite population parameters. There are considerable advantages to working with fresh samples and live parasites, when combined with appropriate fixation methods, as sampling using dead or decaying materials can lead to rapid decomposition of soft-bodied parasites and subsequent challenges for identification. Sampling methods differ between target phyla, and sometimes genera, with optimum techniques largely associated with identification of parasite microhabitat and the method of attachment. International advances in fish parasitology can be achieved through the accession of whole specimens and/or molecular voucher specimens (i.e. hologenophores) in curated collections for further study. This approach is now critical for data quality because of the increased application of environmental DNA (eDNA) for the detection and surveillance of parasites in aquatic environments where the whole organism may be unavailable. Optimal fish parasite sampling methods are emphasised to aid repeatability and reliability of parasitological studies that require accurate biodiversity and impact assessments, as well as precise surveillance and diagnostics.

UNASSIGNED: Genotyping large-scale gene bank collections requires an appropriate sampling strategy to represent the diversity within and between accessions.
UNASSIGNED: A panel of 44 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from the Alliance Bioversity and The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) gene bank was genotyped with DArTseq using three sampling strategies: a single plant per accession, 25 individual plants per accession jointly analyzed after genotyping (in silico-pool), and by pooling tissue from 25 individual plants per accession (seq-pool). Sampling strategies were compared to assess the technical aspects of the samples, the marker information content, and the genetic composition of the panel.
UNASSIGNED: The seq-pool strategy resulted in more consistent DNA libraries for quality and call rate, although with fewer polymorphic markers (6,142 single-nucleotide polymorphisms) than the in silico-pool (14,074) or the single plant sets (6,555). Estimates of allele frequencies by seq-pool and in silico-pool genotyping were consistent, but the results suggest that the difference between pools depends on population heterogeneity. Principal coordinate analysis, hierarchical clustering, and the estimation of admixture coefficients derived from a single plant, in silico-pool, and seq-pool successfully identified the well-known structure of Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools of P. vulgaris across all datasets.
UNASSIGNED: In conclusion, seq-pool proved to be a viable approach for characterizing common bean germplasm compared to genotyping individual plants separately by balancing genotyping effort and costs. This study provides insights and serves as a valuable guide for gene bank researchers embarking on genotyping initiatives to characterize their collections. It aids curators in effectively managing the collections and facilitates marker-trait association studies, enabling the identification of candidate markers for key traits.

BACKGROUND: Sampling refers to the free supply of small product samples. In this process, the packaging can be disproportionate to the contents leading to raw material consumption and, in the case of poor recyclability, environmental pollution.
OBJECTIVE: In this article, calculations regarding the ratio between packaging and product weight for commonly used types of packaging (sachet, tube, jar) of dermatological product samples are presented. The usefulness of sampling is discussed considering environmental and economic criteria.
METHODS: A total of 43 dermatological product samples from different manufacturers were manually weighed and classified. Packaging was disassembled into its structural components. The proportional weights or the weight of the bottle/tube body were calculated with database values for the respective material in terms of greenhouse gas equivalents (CO2eq) and freshwater consumption. Subsequently, a total sum for the impact of each packaging was formed. Only the material and manufacturing process were considered because there were no valid data available for transport, utilization, and end of life (EoL) impacts.
RESULTS: The smallest and lightest product sample (1.24 g) generated ca. 15 g CO2eq and approximately 700 ml of freshwater consumption. The largest and heaviest product sample (37 g) generated 53 g CO2eq and 5.78 l of freshwater consumption. Assuming an annual distribution of 10 million units of the 43 product samples examined here, ca. 8000 t of CO2eq are produced by the packaging alone. Additionally, 880,000,000 l of water are used and approximately 2300 t of packaging waste are generated.
CONCLUSIONS: Sampling shows an unfavorable ratio between CO2eq/water consumption and utility, especially in comparison to larger units of packaging. Millions of product samples are distributed annually in doctor\'s practices, hospitals and pharmacies, particularly in dermatology. The practice of sampling should be questioned both ecologically and economically.
UNASSIGNED: HINTERGRUND: Unter Sampling versteht man das kostenlose Anbieten kleiner Produktproben. Dabei kann die Verpackung in einem Missverhältnis zum Inhalt stehen, dies führt zu Rohstoffverbrauch und bei mangelnder Recyclingfähigkeit zu Umweltbelastungen.
UNASSIGNED: Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden Berechnungen zum Verhältnis zwischen Verpackungs- und Produktgewicht für im Sampling gängige Verpackungsarten (Sachet, Tube, Tiegel) dermatologischer Produktproben dargelegt. Die Zweckmäßigkeit des Samplings wird unter Berücksichtigung umweltrelevanter und betriebswirtschaftlicher Kriterien diskutiert.
METHODS: Insgesamt wurden 43 dermatologische Produktproben unterschiedlicher Hersteller händisch verwogen und klassifiziert. Verpackungen wurden in ihrem strukturellen Aufbau zerlegt. Die anteiligen Gewichte bzw. das Gewicht der Flaschen/Tuben wurden mit Datenbankwerten für den jeweiligen Stoff (Material) bezüglich Treibhausgasäquivalenten (CO2eq) und Brauchwasser verrechnet. Anschließend wurde eine Gesamtsumme für den Impact der jeweiligen Verpackung gebildet. Hierbei wurden nur das Material und dessen Herstellungs- und Verarbeitungsprozess berücksichtigt, weil zu Transport, Gebrauchsnutzen und End-of-Life (EoL) der Verpackungen keine validen Informationen vorlagen.
UNASSIGNED: Die kleinste und leichteste Produktprobe (1,24 g) generiert ca. 15 g CO2eq und ca. 700 ml Nutzwasserverbrauch. Die größte und schwerste Produktprobe (37 g) generierte 53 g CO2eq bei 5,78 l Nutzwasserverbrauch. Unter Annahme einer jährlichen Abgabemenge von 10 Mio. Einheiten der hier untersuchten 43 Produktproben entstehen ca. 8000 t CO2eq nur durch die Verpackungen. Weiterhin fallen 880.000.000 l Wasserverbrauch und ca. 2300 t Verpackungsabfall an.
CONCLUSIONS: Sampling weist ein ungünstiges Verhältnis zwischen CO2eq/Wasserverbrauch und Nutzen auf, insbesondere im Vergleich zu größeren Verkaufsverpackungen. Produktproben werden jährlich millionenfach in Arztpraxen, Kliniken und Apotheken und insbesondere in der Dermatologie verteilt. Die Praxis des Samplings ist ökologisch und ökonomisch zu hinterfragen.

Radon gas (Rn-222) in water poses health risks due to radiation exposure, yet it\'s also an important tracer for studying natural systems. Sampling procedures for Rn-222 analysis are very sensitive to potential losses of the gas to the atmosphere. It requires a well-defined and properly validated protocol to ensure accuracy and reliability. A novel sampler was developed to collect surface water from a distance (e.g. from bridges), addressing logistic challenges posed by topography. The sampler, manually operated, ensures precise depth-specific sampling throughout the water column. A three-stage validation process (technical performance test, uncertainty estimations and preliminary test) was followed to validate the protocol.•The comparison of the technical procedure for analysis and measurement through Liquid Scintillation Counting is statistically robust (one-way ANOVA p-value = 0.96).•For the protocol proposed for Rn-222 determination, the estimated sampling and measurement uncertainties (k = 2) are respectively 5% and 15%. These are compatible with the literature and the laboratory\'s precision.•Preliminary tests, with meaningful patterns identified and possibly related to the river\'s hydrodynamics, revealed a very reliable protocol, even in low Rn-222 concentrations.Therefore, the sampler has demonstrated a good analytical reproducibility and was considered validated for Rn-222 determination in surface waters.