Monoecious, medium-sized evergreen trees of strongly columnar habit, the crown much-branched, the macronodes marking annual growth increments giving rise to strong annual whorls of branchlet systems arising typically in whorls of five. The simple linear foliage is of markedly yew-like form and remains similar throughout the tree.

Life-as-we-know-it harnesses carbon for the scaffolding in biomolecules and liquid water as the solvent. This chapter delineates the beneficial properties of carbon and water, and then investigates whether viable alternatives to this duo exist (i.e., ‘exotic’ life). With regard to the latter, the likes of ammonia, sulfuric acid, and liquid hydrocarbons are expected to have some physical and/or chemical advantages relative to water, while also exhibiting certain downsides. In contrast, it is suggested that few options appear feasible aside from carbon, with silicon representing a partial exception. The chapter subsequently delves into the habitability of the clouds of Venus and the lakes of Titan, because the alternative solvents sulfuric acid and liquid hydrocarbons (methane and ethane) are, respectively, documented therein. Both these environments might be conducive to hosting exotic life, but it is cautioned that they are likely subjected to severe challenges.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a chronic microvasculopathy caused by the misfolding of amyloid beta-peptide in the brain and deposition of the misfolded amyloid in the walls of small and medium cerebral blood vessels. Though the exact pathogenesis of the CAA is unknown, and most cases are thought to be sporadic, hereditary CAA does exist and involves the possession of the 𝛽-amyloid precursor protein (𝛽-APP) on chromosome 21, which is thought to be responsible for the misfolding of the protein. Additionally, those with APO-𝜖4 allele(s) have been found to have higher rates of CAA occurrence, and CAA is much more common in the elderly.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the flagellated spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Clinical presentation often starts with flu-like symptoms that progress to a wide variety of serious neurological conditions known as disseminated Lyme disease, or neuroborreliosis, if untreated. In the United States of America, Lyme disease infections predominantly take place in the northeastern (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maine) and northern midwest states (Wisconsin, Minnesota).

This chapter explores Sanhe gods’ hybridized masculinity across rural–urban and class boundaries. It also discusses their online and offline sexual discourses, desires, and involvement in paid sex.

After the O(log n)-approximation algorithms for Asymmetric TSP, the first algorithm to beat the cycle cover algorithm by more than a constant factor was found in 2009 by Asadpour, Goemans, Mądry, Oveis Gharan, and Saberi. Their approach is based on finding a "thin" (oriented) spanning tree and then adding edges to obtain a tour. A major open question is how thin trees are guaranteed to exist.

The O(log n/loglog n)-approximation algorithm by Asadpour et al. samples a random spanning tree from the maximum entropy distribution. To show how this works, we discuss interesting connections between random spanning trees and electrical networks. Some results of this chapter will be used again in Chapters 10 and 11.

A short epilogue brings together the themes of the book, inviting us to look at the period not as a ‘Dark’ or ‘Golden Age’ but as a period of great complexity and transformation. As Gregory of Tours himself wrote: many things happened, both good and bad.

While most sovereign entities have committed to greening their economies and investment under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), several of them are also bound by obligations contracted under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which protects investors in renewables and fossil fuel alike. Arguably, such a situation triggers a ‘regulatory clash’ that has the potential to impede the implementation of net zero carbon policies, such as the European Green Deal. This contribution contextualises the ECT within the framework of the UNFCCC and scopes the potential conflict between such regulatory regimes. Particularly, in light of the so-called ‘sunset’ clause, the contribution concludes that a suitable avenue to resolve the clash is establishing a preferential track for investment in clean energy under the ECT. On this basis, fundamental solutions are envisaged for greening investment, by applying model de lege ferenda proposals for a substantive and procedural modernisation of the ECT.

Low-creeping, much-branched evergreen shrubs, with opposite and decussate pairs of small scale leaves on shoots of tetragonal sectional shape. Linearly ranked minute leaves are arrayed along shoots which have a tendency to produce markedly spear-shaped branchlet clusters. Female cones at maturity are conspicuously red and fleshy, their external aspects finely puckered, resembling the exterior of a small, mature strawberry.

Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome (MELAS) is a maternally inherited disorder caused primarily by a mutation in the tRNA of the MT-TL1 gene of mitochondrial DNA, accounting for ~80% of cases. Many other causal mutations have been found, most of which are mutations in tRNA genes, and all impairing mitochondrial protein synthesis. The pathogenesis of the stroke-like symptoms is not well understood; however, it has been proposed that those with MELAS may have impaired blood flow due to the overabundance of mitochondria in the small arterioles and capillaries of their neuro-vasculature, or impaired vascular metabolism.

Mostly dioecious (occasionally monoecious), evergreen, slow-growing, resiniferous woody shrubs or slender bushy trees, attaining moderate size and age, but with occasional members forming larger, much older and stouter trees. Of monopodial habit when young and throughout much of their life, or becoming of more or less irregular habit with maturity. The females bear scattered clusters of pendulous large fleshy-covered seeds in autumn, which are long-retained on the parent plant.

Occurring in approximately 1 per 1,000,000 people yearly worldwide, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) is the most common form of prion disease. Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that results from the abnormal accumulation of a cell surface glycoprotein called prion protein (PrP), which is encoded by the prion gene PRNP on chromosome 20. Interestingly, PrP is normally found in healthy brains; however, for an unknown reason, and by an unknown mechanism, normal PrP undergoes a posttranslational conformational change that makes it insoluble and resistant to protease degradation. These abnormal forms of PrP then self-propagate and convert normal forms of PrP to pathological forms like themselves. Though there are no known environmental or modifiable risk factors currently known for CJD, there is a genetic risk factor, which is homozygosity of the codon 129 on PRNP gene. Although 90% of CJD is sporadic, there are also familial and iatrogenic forms.

Small to scarcely medium-sized microphyllous evergreen shrub or occasionally small tree, with a rounded to irregular crown. The branch systems are short and irregular, and often adopt a sprawling drooping-tipped habit. The shoots are tightly clothed throughout exclusively with minute scale-like foliage, giving them a neatly terete appearance. The plants bear scattered and solitary few-scaled dry (i.e. non-succulent) seed cones, with scales opening widely at maturity.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) (Steele–Richardson–Olszewski syndrome) is a neurodegenerative disease, which presents with atypical Parkinsonism or a Parkinson-plus syndrome. PSP is a tauopathy, characterized by the formation of tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles, tufted astrocytes, and glial loss, all primarily in the brainstem nuclei, basal ganglia, and frontal lobes.