Our Work

1. Five independent experiments (BI, SC, AGR24, AGR48, PP) of food choice tests. Infected or non-infected animals placed at same distance from clean or OrV-contaminated food.  Number of worms tha…

1. Five independent experiments (BI, SC, AGR24, AGR48, PP) of food choice tests. Infected or non-infected animals placed at same distance from clean or OrV-contaminated food.  Number of worms that move towards each food source, or move randomly counted at different times. Experiments done in ERT54 wildtype or eol-1 mutant animals.1.1. Dataset "Choice test 2 and 24 hpi.BI.xlsx":Corresponds to experimenter BI.In this experiment, non-contaminated food was prepared mixing bacterial media with an extract from non-infected animals to control for the effect of possible metabolites present in the OrV-contaminated food.Column "Strain" with values "eol-1" y "ERT54". ERT54 are wild-type C. elegans.  "eol-1" are mutants for the eol-1 gene involved in olfactory learning.Column "Treatment" with values 0 = non-infected controls and 1 = OrV-infected animals.Column "Age" with values L3 = larval stage L3 and YA = young adults.Column "Replicate" label to identify biological replicates (worm plates) on each of the "Strain" x "Treatment" x "Age" combinations.Column "Choice" with values -1 = worms prefer clean food, 0 = worms show no preference and 1 = worms prefer OrV contaminated food.Column "Time" exposition time 2 and 24 h. Column "Numworms" number of observed worms. 1.2. Dataset "Choice test 2 and 24 hpi.SC.xlsx":Corresponds to experimenter SC.Non-contaminated food was simply bacterial media.Column "Strain" with values "eol-1" y "ERT54". ERT54 are wild-type C. elegans.  "eol-1" are mutants for the eol-1 gene involved in olfactory learning.Column "Replicate" abel to identify biological replicates (worm plates) on each of the "Strain" x "Time" combinations.Column "Choice" with values -1 = worms prefer clean food, 0 = worms show no preference and 1 = worms prefer OrV contaminated food.Column "Time" exposition time 2 and 24 h. Column "Numworms" number of observed worms. 1.3. Dataset "Choice test 24 hpi.AGR y PP.xlsx":Corresponds to experimenters AGR and PP with samples taken after 24 h by both.This experiment was done only with ERT54 animals.Non-contaminated food was simply bacterial media.Column "Infected" with values 0 = non-infected controls and 1 = OrV-infected animals.Column "Plaque" label to identify biological replicates (worm plates).Column "Behavior" with values -1 = worms prefer clean food, 0 = worms show no preference and 1 = worms prefer OrV contaminated food.Column "Numworms" number of observed worms.Column "Block" 1 = Experimenter AGR and 2 = Experimenter PP. 1.4. Dataset "Choice test 48 hpi.AGR.xlsx":Corresponds to experimenter AGR with samples after 48 h.This experiment was done only with ERT54 animals.Non-contaminated food was simply bacterial media.Column "Infection" with values 0 = non-infected controls and 1 = OrV-infected animals.Column "Plaque" label to identify biological replicates (worm plates).Column "Behavior" with values -1 = worms prefer clean food, 0 = worms show no preference and 1 = worms prefer OrV contaminated food.Column "Numworms" number of observed worms. 2. Four independent experiments (SC, PP, AGR, BI) measuring distance traveled by infected and non-infected animals.2.1. Dataset "Distance 24 and 48 hpi.SC.xlsx"Corresponds to experimenter SC.Column "strain" with values "eol-1" y "ERT54". ERT54 are wild-type C. elegans.  "eol-1" are mutants for the eol-1 gene involved in olfactory learning.Column "infection" with values 0 = non-infected controls and 1 = OrV-infected animals.Column "hpi" exposition time 24 and 48 h. Column "distance" travelled distance (arbitrary units). 2.2. Dataset "Distance 24 hpi.PP.xlsx":Corresponds to experimenter PP.This experiment was done only with ERT54 animals with samples after 24 h.Column "Infection" with values 0 = non-infected controls and 1 = OrV-infected animals.Column "Plaque" label to identify biological replicates (worm plates).Column "Distance" travelled distance (arbitrary units). 2.3. Dataset "Distance 65 hpi.BI.xlsx":Corresponds to experimenter BI with samples after 65 h.Column "strain" with values "eol-1" y "ERT54". ERT54 are wild-type C. elegans.  "eol-1" are mutants for the eol-1 gene involved in olfactory learning.Column "age" with values L3 = larval stage L3 and YA = young adults.Column "condition" with values control = non-infected worms and OrV = OrV-infected worms.Column "replicate" label to identify biological replicates (worm plates).Column "distance" travelled distance (arbitrary units). 2.4. Dataset "Distance 48 hpi.AGR.xlsx":Corresponds to experimenter AGR with samples after 48 h.Column "Infection" with values 0 = non-infected controls and 1 = OrV-infected animals.Column "Plaque" label to identify biological replicates (worm plates).Column "distance" measured as six concentric circumference areas equidistant from the plate center (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).Column "Numworms" number of observed worms on each area.  

The paper is drawn from a mixed-methods study undertaken in Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei and Lakes State, where formal rural banking remains limited and agricultural investment depends heavily on inform…

The paper is drawn from a mixed-methods study undertaken in Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei and Lakes State, where formal rural banking remains limited and agricultural investment depends heavily on informal and community-managed financial mechanisms. Objective: This article examines how access to credit through Community Group Saving and Lending (CGSL) mechanisms shapes the adoption of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds and related modern agricultural technologies among smallholders in South Sudan. Methods: The quantitative component used 81 valid survey responses drawn from an initial target sample of 85 farmers, fishermen/women and pastoralists, while the qualitative component drew on 17 interviews with CGSL members and local stakeholders. The logistic regression result indicates that access to credit is positive and statistically significant (B = 1.9459, SE = 0.875, z = 2.222, p = 0.026), implying that credit access raises the predicted probability of technology investment from about 33.3% to 77.7% in the model. Results: Descriptive results show that 75% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that land should be allocated for high-yielding varieties, 78% agreed that credit is a prerequisite for technology access, 91% viewed modern agricultural technology as capital intensive, and all respondents identified scarcity of working capital as a constraint. Conclusion: The empirical focus is the logistic relationship between credit access and the decision to invest in modern agricultural technologies, treating HYV seed adoption as a key input pathway within that broader investment decision.

The Portal for Amateur Collaborators and the Register of Individual Finds (AMCR-PAS) is a component of the Archaeological Map of the Czech Republic and the Archaeological Information System of the CR.…

The Portal for Amateur Collaborators and the Register of Individual Finds (AMCR-PAS) is a component of the Archaeological Map of the Czech Republic and the Archaeological Information System of the CR. Its primary objective is to establish a transparent and methodologically supervised framework for cooperation between professional archaeologists and amateur researchers in the documentation and recording of archaeological finds in accordance with current legislation. The system enables the registration of finds, including their spatial location, photographic documentation, and subsequent verification and publication (without precise location). This paper presents experiences with the use of the AMCR-PAS application in the region of Czech Silesia, where it has become an important tool for the development of citizen science in archaeology in recent years. Specifically it outlines the process of engaging amateur collaborators, organizing training activities, recording finds, and facilitating communication between finders and professional archaeologists. It also evaluates the contribution of the system to the acquisition of new data on archaeological sites, the protection of archaeological heritage, and the development of long-term cooperation with the public. Based on practical experience gained during the implementation of the system, the presentation further discusses challenges associated with participant motivation, the quality of find documentation, data management, and administrative procedures. The presentation illustrates how the AMČR-PAS digital platform can contribute to the effective involvement of the public in archaeological research while simultaneously supporting the protection and understanding of the region’s cultural heritage.  

The trade-off between offspring quality and quantity can demand substantial resources and is a major force shaping reproductive evolution. Stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) produce hard-shelled egg…

The trade-off between offspring quality and quantity can demand substantial resources and is a major force shaping reproductive evolution. Stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) produce hard-shelled eggs exhibiting remarkable phenotypic diversity. Their oviposition technique is considered the main factor influencing the egg shape and its surface structures. Evolutionary divergence from the ancestral egg-dropping technique to various derived modes of oviposition gave rise to a wide range of adaptations. We discovered that the burr-like surface structures on the eggs of Orestes draegeri (Heteropterygidae: Dataminae) evolved to form a reversible mechanical interlocking with the antennae. We revealed this combination to be specialized for its remarkable oviposition technique and provide the first high-speed recordings of this stereotypic behaviour. To deposit the egg in a previously dug hole, the female throws the egg in a quick and acrobatic launch-and-catch movement from the abdomen to the antennae. The egg “hairs” end in a grappling hook-like structure that interlocks with specific mushroom-shaped cuticular protuberances on the female antennae. The peculiar technique adopted by O. draegeri represents a refined trade-off between the cryptic behaviour of Phasmatodea and finding the best conditions for the development of their offspring. Furthermore, we characterised the attachment performance of this mechanism and revealed the first example of a hook and mushroom probabilistic fastener in phasmids. Our study underscores the heterogeneity of oviposition techniques in insects, especially in Phasmatodea, and demonstrates remarkable morphological and behavioural adaptations for targeted oviposition.

Play is fundamental to children’s daily activities and provides a critical avenue for learning and development. However, attempts to describe and operationalize play are dominated by adults&rsqu…

Play is fundamental to children’s daily activities and provides a critical avenue for learning and development. However, attempts to describe and operationalize play are dominated by adults’ perspectives. This study aims to explore the subjec­tive meaning of play to young children. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 327 children aged 4 to 8 years from [a Western European country]. These interviews were analyzed using both deductive and inductive content analysis methods to categorize children’s descriptions of play. Approximately half of the children provided coherent, differentiated descriptions of play. Results indicate that children’s perceptions align deductively with the features of play seminally defined by Krasnor and Pepler (1980) and expanded by Smith and Vollstedt (1985): positive affect, flexibility, intrinsic motivation, nonliterality, and means before end. The inductive analysis identified three addi­tional categories, children’s business, social interactions, and object reference and therefore revealed additional features of play relevant for children. This study underscores the importance of recognizing children’s voices in research and highlights the complex, multifaceted nature of play from a child’s perspective. These insights into children’s perspec­tives contribute to a deeper understanding of play and inform educators, parents, and policymakers about the elements to play in early childhood. Future research should continue to explore the nuanced views of children to better support their developmental needs through play. → für Zitate siehe Literaturverzeichnis im Dokument

Ultra-high dilutions (UHDs) used in homeopathy occupy an unusual position at the intersection of pharmacology, physical chemistry, materials science, analytical measurement, and complementary medicine…

Ultra-high dilutions (UHDs) used in homeopathy occupy an unusual position at the intersection of pharmacology, physical chemistry, materials science, analytical measurement, and complementary medicine. Conventional centesimal homeopathic preparation can generate nominal dilution factors such as making direct molecular explanations increasingly difficult once dilution passes the range in which the parent substance would be expected to be present at ordinary concentrations. At the same time, a heterogeneous literature reports measurable physicochemical differences between some serially diluted and succussed preparations and their controls. These reports include changes in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation, optical spectra, conductivity, calorimetric behaviour, thermoluminescence, and microscopic or elemental signatures. Systematic reviews of the physicochemical literature have emphasized both the existence of potentially reproducible observations and the major methodological weaknesses that complicate their interpretation. This review evaluates the principal physicochemical characteristics reported for UHD preparations, examines the principal nanostructural hypotheses, summarizes experimental findings, and analyses the methodological issues that must be resolved before extraordinary interpretations can be accepted. Particular attention is given to the distinction between nominal dilution and experimentally measured composition; the contribution of container-derived silica and other leachables; gas nanobubbles and interfacial chemistry; colloidal and nanoparticulate material; and the effects of succussion, temperature, storage, dissolved gases, and sample handling. Reports of nanoparticles in high-potency preparations are considered in detail because their presence is chemically plausible under some manufacturing conditions, yet nanoparticle detection by itself does not demonstrate that the particles preserve a medicinally specific imprint or cause clinical effects.  The review also considers in vitro biological experiments and the broader clinicalevidence context. High-dilution biological studies have produced both positive and null findings, but the models, endpoints, controls, and replication structures are highly heterogeneous (Witt et al., 2007). Clinical systematic reviews have likewise reached differing conclusions depending on inclusion criteria, trial quality, treatment individualisation, and analytic approach, indicating that physicochemical observations cannot be treated as a substitute for clinical evidence (Linde et al., 1997; NCCIH, 2026). The strongest path forward is therefore not to assume a mechanism, but to establish an auditable chain from preparation history to composition, structure, measurable signal, biological activity, and clinical relevance. Rigorous negative controls, randomized and blinded laboratory designs, orthogonal analytical methods, preregistered protocols, limitof-detection studies, contamination tracking, and independent multi-laboratory replication should become standard. On current evidence, UHD research is best regarded as a hypothesis-generating field with several intriguing physicochemical observations, substantial uncertainty about causation, and an unusually high need for methodological discipline.

Justice systems are sometimes called upon to evaluate cases in which healthcare professionals are suspected of killing their patients illegally. These cases are difficult to evaluate because they invo…

Justice systems are sometimes called upon to evaluate cases in which healthcare professionals are suspected of killing their patients illegally. These cases are difficult to evaluate because they involve at least two levels of uncertainty. Commonly in a murder case it is clear that a homicide has occurred, and investigators must resolve uncertainty about who is responsible. In the cases we examine here there is also uncertainty about whether homicide has occurred. Investigators need to consider whether the deaths that prompted the investigation could plausibly have occurred for reasons other than homicide, in addition to considering whether, if homicide was indeed the cause, the person under suspicion is responsible.  In this report, the RSS provides advice and guidance on the investigation and evaluation of such cases. This report was prompted by concerns about the statistical challenges such cases pose for the legal system. The cases often turn, in part, on statistical evidence that is difficult for lay people and even legal professionals to evaluate. Furthermore, the statistical evidence may be distorted by biases, hidden or apparent, in the investigative process that render it misleading. In providing advice on how to conduct investigations in such cases, this report particularly focuses on minimising the kinds of biases that could distort statistical evidence arising from the investigation. This report also provides guidance on how to recognise and take account of such biases when evaluating statistical evidence and more broadly on how to understand the strengths and limitations of such evidence and give it proper weight.  This report is designed specifically to help all professionals involved in investigating such cases and those who evaluate such cases in the legal system, including expert witnesses. It will also be of interest to scholars and legal professionals who are interested in the role of statistics in evidentiary proof, and more generally to anyone interested in improving criminal investigations. With such a wide range of audiences, it is inevitable that for some readers certain sections may seem more relevant, and some less so, but we believe it is important not to aim particular sections at particular kinds of reader. We want, for example, the barrister to see what advice we give to the expert statistical witness – and we hope understand it, at least in broad terms – and vice versa; we believe that is important in helping all parties to appreciate the contributions of others in reaching just outcomes. 

Pre-outcome protocol package for a security evaluation of instant voice cloning. The package contains the frozen speaker-verification thresholds, experiment configuration, cloner support limits, and p…

Pre-outcome protocol package for a security evaluation of instant voice cloning. The package contains the frozen speaker-verification thresholds, experiment configuration, cloner support limits, and protocol amendments finalized before confirmatory attack scoring. Formal attack outcomes had not been evaluated when this package was prepared.

Presentation 2.10.2026, Data Steward Training, Tampere University.   This training resource has been developed in a project funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and coordinated…

Presentation 2.10.2026, Data Steward Training, Tampere University.   This training resource has been developed in a project funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and coordinated by the Tampere University, Data Management Training Development Project.