Normal Values for the fT3/fT4 Ratio: Centile Charts (0-29 Years) and Their Application for the Differential Diagnosis of Children with Developmental Delay.

Primary congenital hypothyroidism is easily diagnosed on the basis of elevated plasma levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). In contrast, in the rare disorders of thyroid hormone resistance, TSH and, in mild cases, also thyroid hormone levels are within the normal range. Thyroid hormone resistance is caused by defects in hormone metabolism, transport, or receptor activation and can have the same serious consequences for child development as congenital hypothyroidism.

The neonicotinoid acetamiprid reduces larval and adult survival in honeybees (Apis mellifera) and interacts with a fungicide mixture.

Plant protection products (PPPs), which are frequently used in agriculture, can be major stressors for honeybees. They have been found abundantly in the beehive, particularly in pollen. Few studies have analysed effects on honeybee larvae, and little is known about effects of insecticide-fungicide-mixtures, although this is a highly realistic exposure scenario.

Effect of the Soliton Width on Nonequilibrium Exchange Phases of Anyons.

Unlike bosons and fermions, quasiparticles in two-dimensional quantum systems, known as anyons, exhibit statistical exchange phases that range between 0 and π. In fractional quantum Hall states, these anyons, possessing a fraction of the electron charge, traverse along chiral edge channels. This movement facilitates the creation of anyon colliders, where coupling different edge channels through a quantum point contact enables the observation of two-particle interference effects.

New Reference Values for Thyroid Volume by Ultrasound in German Children and Adolescents From a Population-Based Study.

Context: Reliable reference values for thyroid ultrasound measurements are essential to effectively guide individual diagnostics and direct population-level health care measures, such as iodine fortification programs. However, the latest reference values for total thyroid volume (Tvol) provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 only apply to the 6- to 12-year-old age group and are limited to countries with a long history of iodine sufficiency, which does not reflect the situation in most European countries, including Germany.

Objective: This study aims to derive up-to-date thyroid volume ultrasound reference values in German children and adolescents.

Solitary Bees Host More Bacteria and Fungi on Their Cuticle than Social Bees.

Bees come into contact with bacteria and fungi from flowering plants during their foraging trips. The Western honeybee () shows a pronounced hygienic behavior with social interactions, while the solitary red mason bee () lacks a social immune system. Since both visit the same floral resources, it is intriguing to speculate that the body surface of a solitary bee should harbor a more complex microbiome than that of the social honeybee.