We compare two classes of polynomial maps of the form F=X+H∈K[X]n, where K is a field, X=(X1,…,Xn) and H=(H1,…,Hn) such that ordHi≥2, for 1≤i≤n, namely those with strongly nilpotent Jacobian matrix JH and Pascal finite automorphisms. We conclude that in characteristic zero every polynomial map with strongly nilpotent Jacobian matrix JH is Pascal finite, but not vice versa. We observe that in characteristic zero Nagata's automorphism is Pascal finite with JH not strongly nilpotent. Considering Vasyunin example leads us to conclusion that not every quadratic polynomial automorphism is Pascal finite.
When different individuals view the same image, their eye movements are often similar. The degree of this similarity is called interobserver congruency (IOC). We investigated how IOC is determined by three factors that impact gaze control: the visual features of an image, its semantic content, and the task observers perform when viewing it. We first quantified the low-level physical features and semantic complexity of images using a well-established measure of visual clutter and a novel measure based on a distributional semantic model, respectively. Then, we selected an image set in which these two measures were uncorrelated and used it in an eye-tracking experiment, in which observers either freely viewed the images or memorised their content. We assessed IOC using four metrics: two capturing purely spatial IOC and two sensitive to spatiotemporal IOC, i.e., considering both the locations and order of fixations. The values of the two spatial metrics decreased with increasing clutter and remained insensitive to the remaining factors we investigated. The two spatiotemporal metrics were sensitive to both clutter and semantic complexity, but, interestingly, in different ways. Specifically, according to a metric that was insensitive to the presence of objects in images, IOC decreased with clutter and increased with semantic complexity, while the metric sensitive to objects showed the opposite pattern. Additionally, we found that the memorization task rendered oculomotor behaviour more exploratory, which had modulatory effects on spatiotemporal – but not spatial – IOC. Together, our findings reveal how factors known to shape gaze behaviour determine IOC.
Background Growing hybrid and military threats are converging with health and care workforce poly-crises, placing increasing pressure on health system resilience. Objectives This study examines how European Union (EU) member states protect and prepare the workforce for health security threats and how these measures impact resilience. Methods A qualitative comparative assessment of EU health security policy and seven country cases was performed, including Czechia, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Romania. A structured topic guide informed data collection in April 2026, drawing on expert input and secondary sources. Results Since COVID-19, health security institutions and defence-related preparedness have expanded substantially across countries. Three broad patterns emerge within a new health security and resilience architecture shaped by health systems, defence strategies and workforce conditions, but also important common trends: workforce stability and resilience remain marginal within these emerging architectures and critical gaps in protection and preparedness, and priority of military-centred approaches threaten health system resilience. Discussion Investment in military-centred defence remains inefficient if not aligned with workforce resilience, including preparedness, physical and mental health protection, equity and gender equality. Key challenges for policymakers are to shift from military- and infrastructure-focused preparedness toward integrated strategies with the workforce as foundational pillar of critical security infrastructure and an operational indicator of resilience, and to build capacity for the implementation of new security policies. Conclusions The EU needs a coordinated workforce-centred strategy with a sustainable budget that strengthens preparedness, protection, governance capacity, research and implementation to improve resilience under crisis and defence conditions.
Background Climate change places increasing pressure on health systems. They must both reduce their negative impact on the environment and strengthen resilience to climate-related risks. Objective To synthesize and map the evidence from systematic reviews on the scope and effectiveness of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions in health systems. Methods An umbrella review of systematic reviews examining health system responses to climate change was conducted. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidelines and adhered to the PRISMA checklist. The included systematic reviews had to meet two overarching criteria: at least two databases were searched, and a predefined instrument was used to assess the quality or risk of bias of the included studies. Results Forty-six systematic reviews published between 2020 and 2026 were included, covering 1,175 individual studies. Most reviews (41/46) focused exclusively on mitigation strategies, with evidence concentrated around major greenhouse gas emission hotspots: surgical procedures; radiology; pharmaceuticals; solid waste; and transportation of patients and staff. Across these areas, some mitigation strategies were associated with environmental and economic co-benefits, although the underlying evidence was heterogeneous and often of low to moderate quality. In contrast, only a small number of reviews addressed climate adaptation and health system resilience. Conclusions Existing evidence provides practical guidance on effective climate mitigation actions. The limited number of systematic reviews on climate adaptation highlights a gap in the evidence base. Translating mitigation evidence into clinical guidelines and policies and strengthening research on adaptation could support more systematic climate action in health systems.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous population of membrane-bound particles that mediate intercellular communication through the horizontal transfer of biologically active cargo, including microRNAs (miRNAs). Although numerous miRNAs have been identified in EVs, it remains unclear which miRNAs are selectively enriched and how they contribute to EV-mediated biological effects in recipient cells. Using colorectal cancer (CRC) as a model system, we investigated the selective enrichment of EV-associated miR-1290 and explored its potential biological relevance. EVs were isolated from CRC cell lines and patients' plasma by ultracentrifugation and characterized according to current guidelines. Small RNA sequencing of CRC cells and their EVs revealed selective enrichment of miR-1290 in CRC-derived EVs, which was validated by RT-qPCR. Sequence analysis of miR-1290 revealed the putative AGGG EXOmotif in the canonical sequence and most detected isomiR variants, including the most abundant isomiR, while the GGAG EXOmotif, previously implicated in miRNA sorting into EVs, was present in the most abundant isomiR and several additional isomiR variants. Transfer experiments demonstrated that CRC-derived EVs efficiently deliver miR-1290 to parental cancer cells in an auto-/paracrine manner. CRC-EV uptake modulated the expression of the predicted miR-1290 target genes FGF2 and EPCAM, as assessed by RT-qPCR, ELISA, and flow cytometry; however, the observed effects were not solely attributable to miR-1290, suggesting a contribution of additional EV cargo components. In plasma samples from CRC patients and healthy donors, miR-1290 was detected in both plasma-derived EVs and the EV-depleted plasma fraction, with slightly higher levels observed in CRC patients. Together, these findings show that miR-1290 is selectively enriched in CRC-derived EVs and transferred to recipient cells. The presence of conserved EXOmotifs supports the possible involvement of selective EV-sorting mechanisms, while the biological effects of CRC-derived EVs likely reflect the combined effects of multiple cargo components. Detection of miR-1290 in circulating EVs further highlights its potential as a complementary biomarker candidate in CRC.
