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Understanding ecosystem stability and functioning is a long-standing goal in theoretical ecology, with one of the main tools being dynamical modelling of species abundances. With the help of spatially unresolved (well-mixed) population models and equilibrium dynamics, limits to stability and regions of various ecosystem robustness have been extensively mapped in terms of diversity (number of species), types of interactions, interaction strengths, varying interaction networks (for example plant-pollinator, food-web) and varying structures of these networks. Although many insights have been gained, the impact of spatial extension is not included in this body of knowledge. Recent studies of spatially explicit modelling on the other hand have shown that stability limits can be crossed and diversity increased for systems with spatial heterogeneity in species interactions and/or chaotic dynamics. Here we show that such crossing and diversity increase can appear under less strict conditions. We find that the mere possibility of varying species abundances at different spatial locations make possible the preservation or increase in diversity across previous boundaries thought to mark catastrophic transitions. In addition, we introduce and make explicit a multitude of different dynamics a spatially extended complex system can use to stabilise. This expanded stabilising repertoire of dynamics is largest at intermediate levels of dispersal. Thus we find that spatially extended systems with intermediate dispersal are more robust, in general have higher diversity and can stabilise beyond previous stability boundaries, in contrast to well-mixed systems.

In light of the drawbacks of using fossil fuel, this paper investigates the competition between geographically spread charge point operators for future battery electric long-haul trucks along one of the busiest highways in Sweden. This is achieved using an agent-based model where trucks try to charge for a low price and still avoid queues in order to complete their transport mission. The charging need for a typical day at full electrification is derived from data from the Swedish Transport Administration. This typical day is simulated several times and in between these iterations the charge point operators adjust their prices and number of chargers, aiming to increase their profit. After a sufficiently long time of competition, a quasi-equilibrium is reached where, for example, prices and queueing times can be studied. The goal of the study is to estimate conditions for trucks and charge point operators in a future public fast-charging market. Assuming a price for electricity of 0.08 EUR/kWh, the results indicate that a system with low queuing problems is attainable with a mean price of 0.27 EUR/kWh or lower for public fast charging. It is also found that the behaviour of haulage companies, as a collective, can affect the future fast charging market to a great extent. If the hauliers are price-sensitive, they will be offered a low mean price, down to 0.11 EUR/kWh, but with queues, while if they are queue-sensitive, there will be almost no queues, but they will pay more to charge.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a heterogeneous disease which predominantly affects young females (90%). SLE is associated with a shorter life expectancy than in the general population. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) of 2.4 have been reported, which is comparable to diabetes. In modern societies cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of premature mortality. Accelerated atherosclerosis is generally assumed to be the underlying cause for SLE related CVD. However, previous studies diverge regarding whether atherosclerosis is more common in SLE than in controls. With this in mind and based on own clinical experience we hypothesized that accelerated atherosclerosis is not a general feature of SLE, but prevails in SLE subgroups. 281 SLE patients and 281 individually age and sex matched population controls, were investigated clinically. Fasting blood samples and risk factor data were collected. All participants were subject to B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries. Carotid plaque occurrence and mean intima media thickness (mIMT) were recorded. Two SLE subgroups previously described to be at high CVD risk; 1) patients with nephritis and 2) patients with anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL), and one subgroup reported to be at comparatively lower CVD risk; patients positive for Sjögren´s syndrome antigens A/B (SSA/SSB) antibodies were analyzed separately in comparison with their respective matched controls. Median age was 49 (IQR 36-59) years, 93% were females. Manifest CVD; ischemic heart, cerebro- and peripheral vascular disease, prevailed in patients (12% vs. 1%, p<0.0001). Overall plaque prevalence did not differ (20% vs. 16%), but patients had slightly higher mIMT than controls (0.56 vs. 0.53 mm, p<0.0033). After age adjustment plaques, but not mIMT, remained associated with previous CVD events. Therefore we focused further analyses on plaques, a more robust measure of atherosclerosis. Patients with nephritis (40%), but neither aPL (25%) nor SSA/SSB (40%) positive patients, had more plaques than their respective controls (23% vs. 11%, p = 0.008). Notably, patients with nephritis were younger than other SLE patients (45 vs.49 years, p = 0.02). To overcome the confounding effect of age we performed an age-matched nested case-control analysis, which demonstrated that patients with nephritis had twice as often plaques (23%) as both non-nephritis patients (11%, p = 0.038) and controls (12%, p = 0.035). In SLE excess carotid plaques are essentially confined to the SLE subgroup with nephritis. This subgroup had plaques twice as often as age-matched non-nephritis SLE patients and population controls. Non-nephritis SLE patients, including the aPL positive subgroup, which has a high CVD risk, had similar prevalence of plaques as controls. To prevent later CVD events, this novel observation calls for risk factor screening and initiation of anti-atherosclerotic treatment selectively in SLE nephritis patients. Preferably at nephritis onset, which is often at a young age. In a general perspective this study demonstrates the importance to perform careful clinical subgroup analyses when investigating heterogeneous, hitherto not clearly defined, conditions like SLE.

The radiative forcing (RF) of contrail cirrus is substantial, though short-lived, uncertain, and heterogeneous, whereas the RF from CO₂ emissions is long-term and more predictable. To balance these impacts, we calculate the social costs of CO₂ and contrail cirrus using a modified Dynamic Integrated Climate Economy (DICE) model, spanning three discount rates, two damage functions, and three climate pathways. The main case estimate of the global social cost ratio of contrail cirrus to aviation CO₂ emissions ranges from 0.075 to 0.57, depending on assumptions. Accounting for uncertainty in contrail cirrus RF and climate efficacy further widens this range. We also quantify flight-specific social costs of contrail cirrus by analyzing nearly 500,000 flights over the North Atlantic, revealing substantial variability due to meteorological conditions. While uncertainty is considerable, our findings suggest that carefully implemented operational contrail avoidance could offer climate benefits even when the social cost of additional CO₂ emissions is considered. This study quantifies the social costs of aviation’s CO₂ emissions and contrail cirrus. Targeting flights with high contrail cirrus impacts could substantially reduce aviation’s climate damages.

Transhumant pastoralism, characterized by the seasonal movement of livestock, has been a traditional practice in various forms globally for millennia. The Scandinavian shieling system—specifically, the Kårebolssätern site—exemplifies this practice, where designated areas provide grazing and dairy processing facilities. However, many of these systems, including Kårebolssätern, have faced abandonment or decline, primarily due to modernization and industrial forces. An interdisciplinary research project compared Kårebolssätern’s history to other shielings in Sweden. The study utilized various methodologies, including pollen analysis, archaeological mapping, and historical documentation, to trace human impact and land use, indicating shifts between grazing and cereal cultivation. Findings demonstrated that Kårebolssätern had significant early cultivation of barley and hemp, and by the 13th century, its use intensified amidst changes in local agricultural conditions. Four chronological phases regarding the emergence and development of Swedish shielings over two millennia were detected. The results offer insights into the adaptability of shielings amidst socio-economic transformations. As modern pressures threaten the remaining shielings, preserving their historical significance and adaptive strategies may provide pathways for their future survival. The study ultimately highlights the resilience of pastoral practices within evolving landscapes.

ObjectiveTo explore patients’ thoughts of the onset of SLE and flares, and the relation to perceived health.MethodsConsecutively recruited adults with SLE answered: free written answers of ‘Do you have any thoughts of why you got SLE?’, standardises questions of SLE activity (score 0–10, 0= no activity), SLE health (score 0–100, 0=good SLE health), general health (score 0–100, 100=full health) and flares related to infection or physical trauma.ResultsThe study included 316 patients, mean age 48 years, range 19–87, mean disease duration 14 ±14 years. SLE activity was low to moderate (mean 4.2 ±3), perceived SLE health mean 34.7 ±25.8 and general health mean 62.9 ±21.2. The highest level of education was university education for 48% and high school for 37%. One third (n=102) answered that they had no idea/thoughts of why they got SLE, men (p=0.019), younger age (p<0.022) and lower educational level (p = 0.037) were more common in this group.A majority (n=147, 69%) wrote one potential factor of why they got SLE, 53 patients (25%) reported two factors. The replies of why they got SLE were categorized into genetics (n=90), stress/trauma (n=72), infections/immunization (n=40), hormones/treatment (n=30), lifestyle (n=32), treatment/disease beside SLE (=31) and environment (n=5).Patients in the category hormones/treatment had shorter disease duration (p=0.046), higher perceived SLE activity (p=0.018) and worse general health (p= 0.008) compared to those that had no statement in this category.Only five patients reported environmental triggers and these perceived worse SLE health (p= 0.028) and worse general health (p=0.031).Reporters of stress/trauma as disease triggers were women (p=0.030) and more had university education (p= 0.010) than those who did not report stress/trauma as a trigger.Experiences of infection as a trigger of flares were experienced often by 36,1%, seldom by 19,0% and never by 39,9%. Flares induced by physical trauma were experienced often by 19,3%, seldom by 18,7% and never by 57,3%.ConclusionsBeside genetic factors, a prominent number of patients in this study reported stress/trauma or hormones as important triggers for developing SLE. In these groups perceived health and educational levels had different patterns.

Our planet hosts a variety of highly diverse ecosystems. The persistence of high diversity is generally attributed to factors such as the structure of interactions among species and the dispersal of species in metacommunities. Here, we show that large contiguous landscapes—that are characterized by high dispersal—facilitate high species richness due to the spatial heterogeneity in interspecies interactions. We base our analysis on metacommunities under high dispersal where species densities become equal across habitats (spatially coherent). We find that the spatially coherent metacommunity can be represented by an effective species interaction‐web that has a significantly lower complexity than the constituent habitats. Our framework also explains how spatial heterogeneity eliminates differences in the effective interaction‐web, providing a basis for deviations from the area‐heterogeneity tradeoff. These results highlight the often‐overlooked case of high dispersal where spatial coherence provides a novel mechanism for supporting high diversity in large heterogeneous landscapes. This article investigates species‐rich metacommunities that are characterized by high dispersal and heterogeneity. It shows that large contiguous landscapes that provide such settings could facilitate the persistence of high species richness.

Objective We aimed to identify groups demonstrating different long‐term trajectories of fatigue among people with rheumatoid arthritis and determine baseline predictors for these trajectories. Methods Our study included 2741 people aged 18 to 75 years who were independent in daily living. Data were collected from the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register and questionnaires at baseline, 14 months, and 26 months. Fatigue was rated on a 100‐mm visual analog scale. K‐means cluster analysis was used to identify fatigue trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for potential predictors of trajectory membership. Results The mean age was 60 years, 73% of participants were female, and the mean baseline fatigue level was 39. Three distinct fatigue trajectories were identified, representing mild (mean 15, n = 1024), moderate (mean 41, n = 986), and severe (mean 71, n = 731) fatigue. Consistent patterns indicated that poorer health perception (ORs 1.68‐18.40), more pain (ORs 1.38‐5.04), anxiety/depression (ORs 0.85‐6.19), and activity limitation (ORs 1.43‐7.39) were associated with more severe fatigue. Those in the severe fatigue group, compared with those in the mild fatigue group, were more likely to be college educated than university educated (OR 1.56) and less likely to maintain physical activity (OR 0.54). Those in the severe fatigue group, compared with those in both the moderate (OR 0.67) and mild (OR 0.59) fatigue groups, were less likely to have one additional adult in the household. Conclusion This study identified stable fatigue trajectories, predicted by health perception, pain, anxiety/depression, activity limitation, educational level, maintained physical activity, and household composition. Interventions aimed at reducing these disabilities and supporting physical activity behaviors may help reduce fatigue.

ObjectivesMost indices of disease activity in SLE combine physicians’ assessments and laboratory tests. However, there is also a need to capture patients’ perspectives of disease activity. Consequently, we need new, preferably quick and easy instruments to collect this information, which can be very useful for online consultations and registry purposes. We compared patients’ assessments of SLE disease impact/activity, as reported by a shorter version of the Quick Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire (Q-SLAQ), with physicians’ assessments using SLE Activity Measure (SLAM) and SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) and with the original Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire (SLAQ).MethodsPatients with SLE (n=115), with a disease duration of 15 years (IQR 17), completed the Q-SLAQ prior to physicians’ assessments by SLAM and SLEDAI-2K. A second set of patients (n=85) with similar characteristics filled out Q-SLAQ and SLAQ. Spearman’s ρ correlations were explored between patients’ total Q-SLAQ and subscales (Symptom Score, Patient’s Global Disease Activity) and physicians’ SLAM and SLEDAI-2K, with and without laboratory items (SLAM-nolab and SLEDAI-2K-nolab) and SLAQ. Corresponding items in Q-SLAQ and SLAM were compared.ResultsCorrelations between patients’ and physicians’ assessments were higher for SLAM-nolab (total Q-SLAQ, ρ=0.71; Symptom Score, ρ=0.67; and Patient’s Global Disease Activity, ρ=0.68) than for the original SLAM (total Q-SLAQ, ρ=0.53; Symptom Score, ρ=0.50; and Patient’s Global Disease Activity, ρ=0.53). Regarding specific symptoms, fatigue (ρ=0.72) and alopecia (ρ=0.71) correlated best, while pulmonary/respiratory symptoms correlated least (ρ=0.19, p=0.039). Physicians assessment with SLEDAI-2K-nolab correlated weakly with patients’ assessments (total Q-SLAQ, ρ=0.30; Symptom Score, ρ=0.30; and Patient’s Global Disease Activity, ρ=0.36). Bivariate correlations between Q-SLAQ and SLAQ were good (ρ=0.82–0.96).ConclusionsQ-SLAQ and the original SLAQ performed equally well, demonstrating that the shorter Q-SLAQ can safely be used to monitor patients’ perception of disease impact/activity. We also noted an intriguing discrepancy between physicians’ and patients’ evaluations of pulmonary/respiratory symptoms, which requires further investigations.

Many tissues are targeted by the disease including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain nerves, heart, blood vessels and lungs.1 Individuals with SLE also have a markedly increased risk incidence of cardiovascular diseases.2 Both the physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is reduced in patients with SLE in comparison to the healthy general population and many patients experience anxiety and depression.3 Furthermore, musculoskeletal manifestations are common in SLE. Exercise capacity and the level of physical activity and exercise are reduced, also reflected by the fact that individuals with SLE report lower physical capacity such as walking, jogging and running than the general population.2,4-11 Reduced exercise capacity is associated with higher rates of mortality in the general population.6 Poor self-reported physical function is an independent predictor of mortality in SLE, even after adjusting for disease duration, disease activity and damage,5 indicating that physical function is of importance to measure when monitoring patients with SLE. Lack of physical activity and sedentary behavior have been identified as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the general population12 and similar associations have also been presented in SLE.7 A higher amount of physical activity and exercise are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in SLE.13 From systematic reviews, meta-analysis and EULAR recommendations, we know that physical exercise in SLE with inactive/mild or moderate disease activity and no or low organ damage increase aerobic capacity, reduce fatigue and depressive symptoms without increasing disease activity and organ damage.9,14 Both disease-related factors such as lower-limb strength, self-reported general health and pain, and as well as age are independent predictors of six-minute walk test (6MWT) performance in older people15,16 and in patients with knee osteoarthritis.17 In patients with systemic sclerosis many factors have been reported as associated to 6MWT.18 In SLE, aspects of HRQOL such as physical functioning, social functioning, emotional well-being and the mental component according to short form-36 health survey subscales are indicators of the results of the 6MWT.10 Whether aspects of HRQOL and depressive symptoms can influence how patients experience their physical capacity is less studied. The questions about physical capacity and exercise during the past year from PAQ have \"satisfactory\" content validity and moderate-good test-retest reliability in patients with SLE.4 Physical activity and sitting hours last week were assessed with International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form (IPAQ-SF) (8-items), which provides information on total physical activity in metabolic equivalent tasks (MET)-minutes/week and time spent sitting (sitting hours per day).24 The intensity of an activity is computed by weighting each type of activity by its energy requirements defined in METs and multiplying the MET score by the time (in minutes) the activity was performed for (walking 3.3, moderate physical activity 4.0, and vigorous physical activity 8.0).