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This study deals with attitudes and opinions of the population on the Ukrainian Black Sea coast in 2020/2021, a good year before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The basis is a sociological survey conducted in the regions of Odesa, Mykolajiv and Kherson with 1,200 respondents. These regions are a clear target of the Russian offensive against Ukraine, on the grounds of an alleged ideological and linguistic affinity of these areas with Russia. The attitudes and opinions sought in the study cover three domains: firstly, attitudes and opinions on language policy, secondly, on Ukrainian autonomy and identity and the role played by languages in this context, and thirdly, Ukraine’s geopolitical orientation. Respondents were grouped according to their “ethnic/national” self-identification and language preferences, and a comparison was made. Overall, the attitudes of the respondents showed a clear identification with Ukraine and the Ukrainian language and a skepticism towards the Russian state, but by no means a hostile attitude towards the Russian language. A picture emerges that clearly contradicts Russian propaganda and also puts into perspective the difference between southern Ukraine and the center and the west, which has often been emphasized in the past.
Calcitic valves of non-marine ostracodes are important geochemical archives. Investigations of the relationship between the ranges of oxygen and carbon isotope values of modern ostracode populations and their host water provide important information on local or regional conditions and influences. Here we present the first δ18Oostracode and δ13C of the freshwater ostracode species Cytheridella ilosvayi along with the isotopic composition of the waters in which the ostracodes calcified, δDwater, δ18Owater, δ13CDIC values—covering a large geographical range (Florida to Brazil). With this data we extended a newly developed approach based on the estimation of δ18O values of monthly equilibrium calcites as references for the interpretation of δ18Oostracode values. The expected apparent oxygen isotope fractionation between CaCO3 and H2O is correlated with temperature with smaller values occurring at higher temperatures as valid at isotope equilibrium (δ18Ocalcite_eq). Uncertainties about the expected equilibrium calcites derive from incomplete knowledge of high-frequency variations of the water bodies caused by interplay of mixing, evaporation, and temperature. Coincidence between δ18Oostracode and δ18Ocalcite_eq is restricted to few months indicating a seasonal calcification of Cytheridella. There is a characteristic pattern in its difference between mean δ18Oostracode and δ18Ocalcite_eq which implies that Cytheridella provides a synchronous life cycle in its geographical range with two calcification periods in spring (May, June) and autumn (October). This ubiquitous life cycle of Cytheridella in the entire study area is considered to be phylogenetically inherited. It might have originally been adapted to environmental conditions but has been conserved during the migration and radiation of the group over the Neotropical realm.
Deteriorations in slow wave sleep (SWS) have been linked to brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), possibly due to its key role in clearance of amyloid-beta and tau (Aß/tau), two pathogenic hallmarks of AD. Spermidine administration has been shown to improve sleep quality in animal models. So far, the association between spermidine levels in humans and parameters of SWS physiology are unknown but may be valuable for therapeutic strategies. Data from 216 participants (age range 50–81 years) of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania TREND were included in our analysis. We investigated associations between spermidine plasma levels, key parameters of sleep macroarchitecture and microarchitecture that were previously associated with AD pathology, and brain health measured via a marker of structural brain atrophy (AD score). Higher spermidine levels were significantly associated with lower coupling between slow oscillations and spindle activity. No association was evident for SWS, slow oscillatory, and spindle activity throughout non-rapid eye movement sleep. Furthermore, elevated spermidine blood levels were significantly associated with a higher AD score, while sleep markers revealed no association with AD score. The association between higher spermidine levels and brain health was not mediated by coupling between slow oscillations and spindle activity. We report that higher spermidine blood levels are associated not only with deteriorated brain health but also with less advantageous markers of sleep quality in older adults. Future studies need to evaluate whether sleep, spermidine, and Aß/tau deposition are interrelated and whether sleep may play a mediating role.
Background
Neuroinflammation and maladaptive neuroplasticity play pivotal roles in migraine (MIG), trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC), and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Notably, CRPS shares connections with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in its pathophysiology. This study aims to assess if the documented links between CRPS and MIG/TAC in literature align with clinical phenotypes and disease progressions. This assessment may bolster the hypothesis of shared pathophysiological mechanisms.
Methods
Patients with CRPS (n = 184) and an age-/gender-matched control group with trauma but without CRPS (n = 148) participated in this case–control study. Participant answered well-established questionnaires for the definition of CRPS symptoms, any headache complaints, headache entity, and clinical management.
Results
Patients with CRPS were significantly more likely to suffer from migraine (OR: 3.23, 95% CI 1.82–5.85), TAC (OR: 8.07, 95% CI 1.33–154.79), or non-classified headaches (OR: 3.68, 95% CI 1.88–7.49) compared to the control group. Patients with MIG/TAC developed CRPS earlier in life (37.2 ± 11.1 vs 46.8 ± 13.5 years), had more often a central CRPS phenotype (60.6% vs. 37.0% overall) and were three times more likely to report allodynia compared to CRPS patients with other types of headaches. Additionally, these patients experienced higher pain levels and more severe CRPS, which intensified with an increasing number of headache days. Patients receiving monoclonal antibody treatment targeting the CGRP pathway for headaches reported positive effects on CRPS symptoms.
Conclusion
This study identified clinically relevant associations of MIG/TAC and CRPS not explained by chance. Further longitudinal investigations exploring potentially mutual pathomechanisms may improve the clinical management of both CRPS and primary headache disorders.
Trial registration
German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00022961).
Medieval texts reveal the normalised presence of Saami peoples in medieval Fennoscandia, suggesting close interactions involving trade, relationships, rituals, and magic. Despite growing recognition of these relations, the Saami remain overlooked in general studies of the Middle Ages, often relegated to symbolic roles or footnotes. As a result, Saami characters are typically depicted as the exotic Other within Norse society, often being stripped of agency and humanity in historical narratives. To counter these biases and distorted narratives, an essential step is analysing exclusionary structures in medieval literature and critically reviewing existing research on Saami representation. This process challenges dehumanising portrayals and confronts present-day stereotypes. The present study aims to ‘re-humanize’ (as Paulette F. C. Steeves puts it) the medieval Saami past by using decolonising frameworks and perspectives offered by the so-called ‘Indigenous turn’ of medieval studies, bridging medieval studies and Indigenous studies within a Norse context.
The classical Buscher rules d escribe T-duality for metrics and B-fields in a topologically trivial setting. On the other hand, topological T-duality addresses aspects of non-trivial topology while neglecting metrics and B-fields. In this article, we develop a new unifying framework for both aspects.
Childhood abuse was inconsistently related to whole-brain cortical thickness in former studies. However, both childhood abuse and cortical thickness have been associated with depressive symptoms. We hypothesised that childhood abuse moderates the association between depressive symptoms and cortical thickness. In 1551 individuals of the general population, associations between whole-brain cortical thickness and the interaction of childhood abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual) and depressive symptoms were analysed using an ANCOVA. Linear regression analyses were used to estimate the same effect on the cortical thickness of 34 separate regions (Desikan-Killiany-atlas). A significant interaction effect of childhood abuse and depressive symptoms was observed for whole-brain cortical thickness (F(2, 1534) = 5.28, p = 0.007). A thinner cortex was associated with depressive symptoms in abused (t value = 2.78, p = 0.025) but not in non-abused participants (t value = − 1.50, p = 0.224). Focussing on non-depressed participants, a thicker whole-brain cortex was found in abused compared to non-abused participants (t value = − 2.79, p = 0.025). Similar interaction effects were observed in 12 out of 34 cortical regions. Our results suggest that childhood abuse is associated with reduced cortical thickness in subjects with depressive symptoms. In abused subjects without depressive symptoms, larger cortical thickness might act compensatory and thus reflect resilience against depressive symptoms.
The hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis is the main physiological stress response system and regulating the release of cortisol. The two corticoid receptors encoded by the genes NR3C1 and NR3C2 are the main players in regulating the physiological response to cortisol. This biological system has been linked to neurocognitive processes and memory, yet the mechanisms remain largely unclear. In two independent general population studies (SHIP, total sample size > 5500), we aim to diseantangle the effects of genetic variation, gene expression and cortisol on verbal memory and memory associated brain volume. Especially for NR3C1 results exhibited a consistent pattern of direct an interactive effects. All three biological layers, genetic variation (rs56149945), gene expression for NR3C1 and cortisol levels, were directly associated with verbal memory. Interactions between these components showed significant effects on verbal memory as well as hippocampal volume. For NR3C2 such a complex association pattern could not be observed. Our analyses revealed that different components of the stress response system are acting together on different aspects of cognition. Complex phenotypes, such as cognition and memory function are regulated by a complex interplay between different genetic and epigenetic features. We promote the glucocorticoid receptor NR3C1 as a main target to focus in the context of verbal memory and provided a mechanistic concept of the interaction between various biological layers spanning NR3C1 function and its effects on memory. Especially the NR3C1 transcript seemed to be a key element in this complex system.
Purpose
The continuum of mental health/illness has been subject to scientific debate for decades. While current research indicates that continuum belief interventions can reduce mental health stigma and improve treatment seeking in affected populations, no study has yet systematically examined measures of continuum beliefs.
Methods
This preregistered systematic review summarizes measures of continuum beliefs. Following the PRISMA statement, three scientific databases (PubMed, PsycInfo and PsycArticles via EBSCOhost, Web of Science) are searched, instruments are described and discussed regarding their scope, and methodological quality.
Results
Overall, 7351 records were identified, with 35 studies reporting relevant findings on 11 measures. Most studies examined general population samples and used vignette-based measures. Schizophrenia and depression were most commonly examined, few studies focused on dementia, ADHD, OCD, eating disorders, and problematic alcohol use, or compared continuum beliefs across disorders. Validity was very good for most measures, but reliability was rarely tested. Measures mostly assessed beliefs in the normality of mental health symptoms or the normality of persons with such symptoms but rarely nosological aspects (i.e., categorical v continuous conceptualization of mental disorders).
Conclusions
Current research provides psychometrically sound instruments to examine continuum beliefs for a variety of mental disorders. While studies suggest utility for general population samples and mental health professionals, more research is necessary to corroborate findings, for instance, regarding age (e.g., in adolescents), gender, or type of mental disorder. Future research should also compare self-report ratings, and vignette-based measures, include measures of nosological concepts to fully grasp the continuum concept of mental illness.
Preregistration
PROSPERO: CRD42019123606.
In recent years, online radicalization has received increasing attention from researchers and policymakers, for instance, by analyzing online communication of radical groups and linking it to individual and collective pathways of radicalization into violent extremism. But these efforts often focus on radical individuals or groups as senders of radicalizing messages, while empirical research on the recipient is scarce. To study the impact of radicalized online content on vulnerable individuals, this study compared cognitive and affective appraisal and visual processing (via eye tracking) of three political Internet memes (empowering a right-wing group, inciting violence against out-groups, and emphasizing unity among human beings) between a right-wing group and a control group. We examined associations between socio-political attitudes, appraisal ratings, and visual attention metrics (total dwell time, number of fixations). The results show that right-wing participants perceived in-group memes (empowerment, violence) more positively and messages of overarching similarities much more negatively than controls. In addition, right-wing participants and participants in the control group with a high support for violence directed their attention towards graphical cues of violence (e.g., weapons), differentness, and right-wing groups (e.g., runes), regardless of the overall message of the meme. These findings point to selective exposure effects and have implications for the design and distribution of de-radicalizing messages and counter narratives to optimize the efficacy of prevention of online radicalization.
Peatlands in the European Union are largely drained for agriculture and emit 25% of the total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Drainage-based peatland use has also negative impacts on water quality, drinking water provision and biodiversity. Consequently, key EU environmental policy objectives include the rewetting of all drained peatlands as an essential nature-based solution. Rewetting of peatlands can be combined with site-adapted land use, so-called paludiculture. Paludiculture produces biomass from wet and rewetted peatlands under conditions that maintain the peat body, facilitate peat accumulation and can provide many of the ecosystem services associated with natural, undrained peatlands. The biomass can be used for a wide range of traditional and innovative food, feed, fibre and fuel products. Based on examples in Germany, we have analysed emerging paludiculture options for temperate Europe with respect to greenhouse gas fluxes, biodiversity and indicative business economics. Best estimates of site emission factors vary between 0 and 8 t CO2eq ha−1 y−1. Suitability maps for four peatland-rich federal states (76% of total German peatland area) indicate that most of the drained, agriculturally used peatland area could be used for paludiculture, about one-third of the fen area for any paludiculture type. Fen-specific biodiversity benefits from rewetting and paludiculture, if compared to the drained state. Under favourable conditions, paludiculture can be economically viable, but costs and revenues vary considerably. Key recommendations for large-scale implementation are providing planning security by paludiculture spatial planning, establishing best practice sites and strengthening research into crops, water tables and management options.
inhibiting fear-related thoughts and defensive behaviors when they are no longer appropriate to the situation is a prerequisite for flexible and adaptive responding to changing environments. Such inhibition of defensive systems is mediated by ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmpfc), limbic basolateral amygdala (BLA), and brain stem locus-coeruleus noradrenergic system (Lc-nAs). non-invasive, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVnS) has shown to activate this circuit. Using a multiple-day single-cue fear conditioning and extinction paradigm, we investigated long-term effects of tVnS on inhibition of low-level amygdala modulated fear potentiated startle and cognitive risk assessments. We found that administration of tVnS during extinction training facilitated inhibition of fear potentiated startle responses and cognitive risk assessments, resulting in facilitated formation, consolidation and long-term recall of extinction memory, and prevention of the return of fear. these findings might indicate new ways to increase the efficacy of exposure-based treatments of anxiety disorders.
Animals often respond to climate change with changes in morphology, e.g., shrinking body size with increasing temperatures, as expected by Bergmann’s rule. Because small body size can have fitness costs for individuals, this trend could threaten populations. Recent studies, however, show that morphological responses to climate change and the resulting fitness consequences cannot be generalized even among related species. In this long-term study, we investigate the interaction between ambient temperature, body size and survival probability in a large number of individually marked wild adult female Natterer’s bats (Myotis nattereri). We compare populations from two geographical regions in Germany with a different climate. In a sliding window analysis, we found larger body sizes in adult females that were raised in warmer summers only in the northern population, but not in the southern population that experienced an overall warmer climate. With a capture-mark-recapture approach, we showed that larger individuals had higher survival rates, demonstrating that weather conditions in early life could have long-lasting fitness effects. The different responses in body size to warmer temperatures in the two regions highlight that fitness-relevant morphological responses to climate change have to be viewed on a regional scale and may affect local populations differently.
Objectives
To investigate the effect of layer height of FFF-printed models on aligner force transmission to a second maxillary premolar during buccal torquing, distalization, extrusion, and rotation using differing foil thicknesses.
Materials and methods
Utilizing OnyxCeph3™ Lab (Image Instruments GmbH, Chemnitz, Germany, Release Version 3.2.185), the following movements were programmed for the second premolar: buccal torque (0.1–0.5 mm), distalization (0.1–0.4 mm), extrusion (0.1–0.4 mm), rotation (0.1–0.5 mm), and staging 0.1 mm. Via FFF, 91 maxillary models were printed for each staging at different layer heights (100 µm, 150 µm, 200 µm, 250 µm, 300 µm). Hence, 182 aligners, made of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) with two thicknesses (0.5 mm and 0.75 mm), were prepared. The test setup comprised an acrylic maxillary model with the second premolar separated and mounted on a sensor, measuring initial forces and moments exerted by the aligners. A generalized linear model for the gamma distribution was applied, evaluating the significance of the factors layer height, type of movement, aligner thickness, and staging on aligner force transmission.
Results
Foil thickness and staging were found to have a significant influence on forces delivered by aligners, whereas no significance was determined for layer height and type of movement. Nevertheless, at a layer height of 150 µm, the most appropriate force transmission was observed.
Conclusions
Printing aligner models at particularly low layer heights leads to uneconomically high print time without perceptible better force delivery properties, whereas higher layer heights provoke higher unpredictability of forces due to scattering. A z-resolution of 150 µm appears ideal for in-office aligner production combining advantages of economic print time and optimal force transmission.
Introduction
Respiratory tract infections are a worldwide health problem for humans and animals. Different cell types produce lipid mediators in response to infections, which consist of eicosanoids like hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) or oxylipins like hydroxydocosahexaenoic acids (HDHAs). Both substance classes possess immunomodulatory functions. However, little is known about their role in respiratory infections.
Objectives
Here, we aimed to analyze the lipid mediator imprint of different organs of C57BL/6J mice after intranasal mono-infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Staphylococcus aureus or Influenza A virus (IAV) as wells as pneumococcal-IAV co-infection.
Methods
C57BL/6J mice were infected with different pathogens and lungs, spleen, and plasma were collected. Lipid mediators were analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS. In addition, spatial-distribution of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide 1-phosphates (C1P) in tissue samples was examined using MALDI-MS-Imaging. The presence of bacterial pathogens in the lung was confirmed via immunofluorescence staining.
Results
We found IAV specific changes for different HDHAs and HETEs in mouse lungs as well as enhanced levels of 20-HETE in severe S. aureus infection. Moreover, MALDI-MS-Imaging analysis showed an accumulation of C1P and a decrease of S1P during co-infection in lung and spleen. Long chain C1P was enriched in the red and not in the white pulp of the spleen.
Conclusions
Lipid mediator analysis showed that host synthesis of bioactive lipids is in part specific for a certain pathogen, in particular for IAV infection. Furthermore, MS-Imaging displayed great potential to study infections and revealed changes of S1P and C1P in lungs and spleen of co-infected animals, which was not described before.
Particles released from cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) alloys are considered common elicitors of chronic inflammatory adverse effects. There is a lack of data demonstrating particle numbers, size distribution and elemental composition of bone marrow resident particles which would allow for implementation of clinically relevant test strategies in bone marrow models at different degrees of exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate metal particle exposure in human periprosthetic bone marrow of three types of arthroplasty implants. Periprosthetic bone marrow sections from eight patients exposed to CoCrMo particles were analyzed via spatially resolved and synchrotron-based nanoscopic X-ray fluorescence imaging. These analyses revealed lognormal particle size distribution patterns predominantly towards the nanoscale. Analyses of particle numbers and normalization to bone marrow volume and bone marrow cell number indicated particle concentrations of up to 1 × 1011 particles/ml bone marrow or 2 × 104 particles/bone marrow cell, respectively. Analyses of elemental ratios of CoCrMo particles showed that particularly the particles’ Co content depends on particle size. The obtained data point towards Co release from arthroprosthetic particles in the course of dealloying and degradation processes of larger particles within periprosthetic bone marrow. This is the first study providing data based on metal particle analyses to be used for future in vitro and in vivo studies of possible toxic effects in human bone marrow following exposure to arthroprosthetic CoCrMo particles of different concentration, size, and elemental composition.
The potential of several ion-sensitive electrodes responds to the incorporated cations and anions. This has led some authors to misinterpret the potential of metal salt membrane electrodes and of electrodes of the second kind. Neglecting the kinetics of potential establishment and interpreting the potentials solely based on thermodynamics produce completely irrelevant data and suggest that ion concentrations down to 10−45 mol L−1 are accessible by simple potentiometric measurements. The switching from cation to anion response mechanism cannot be derived from thermodynamic equations. It bears complete similarity to the switching of response in the case of foreign interfering ions.
In teaching electrochemistry, it is of primary importance to make students always aware of the relations between electrochemistry and all the non-electrochemical topics, which are taught. The vast majority of students will not specialise in electrochemistry, but they all can very much benefit from the basics and concepts of electrochemistry. This paper is aimed to give suggestions how the teaching of electrochemistry can easily be interrelated to topics of inorganic, organic, analytical, environmental chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology.
This text is designed to give the reader a helping hand in writing a scientific paper. It provides generic advice on ways that a scientific paper can be improved. The focus is on the following ethical and non-technical issues: (1) when to start writing, and in what language; (2) how to choose a good title; (3) what should be included in the various sections (abstract, introduction, experimental, results, discussion, conclusions, and supporting information (supplementary material); (4) who should be considered as a co-author, and who should be acknowledged for help; (5) which journal should be chosen; and (6) how to respond to reviewers’ comments. Purely technical issues, such as grammar, artwork, reference styles, etc., are not considered.
Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) represent an interesting platform for improving the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble lipophilic drugs. While Liquid-SNEDDS (L-SNEDDS) effectively solubilize the drug in vivo, they have several drawbacks, including poor storage stability. Solid-SNEDDS (S-SNEDDS) combine the advantages of L-SNEDDS with those of solid dosage forms, particularly stability. The aim of the present study was to convert celecoxib L-SNEDDS into S-SNEDDS without altering their release behavior. Various commercially available adsorptive carrier materials were investigated, as well as novel cellulose-based microparticles prepared by spray drying from an aqueous dispersion containing Diacel® 10 and methyl cellulose or gum arabic as a binder prior to their use. Particle size and morphology of the carrier materials were screened by scanning electron microscopy and their effects on the loading capacity for L-SNEDDS were investigated, and comparative in vitro dissolution studies of celecoxib L-SNEDDS and the different S-SNEDDS were performed immediately after preparation and after 3 months of storage. Among the adsorptive carrier materials, the novel cellulose-based microparticles were found to be the most suitable for the preparation of celecoxib S-SNEDDS from L-SNEDDS, enabling the preparation of a solid, stable formulation while preserving the in vitro release performance of the L-SNEDDS formulation.
Purpose
The WHO 2016 re-classification of myeloproliferative neoplasms resulted in a separation of essential thrombocythemia (ET) from the pre-fibrotic and fibrotic (overt) phases of primary myelofibrosis (MF). This study reports on a chart review conducted to evaluate the real life approach regarding clinical characteristics, diagnostic assessment, risk stratification and treatment decisions for MPN patients classified as ET or MF after implementation of the WHO 2016 classification.
Methods
In this retrospective chart review, 31 office-based hematologists/oncologists and primary care centers in Germany participated between April 2021 and May 2022. Physicians reported available data obtained from patient charts via paper–pencil based survey (secondary use of data). Patient features were evaluated using descriptive analysis, also including diagnostic assessment, therapeutic strategies and risk stratification.
Results
Data of 960 MPN patients diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET) (n = 495) or myelofibrosis (MF) (n = 465) after implementation of the revised 2016 WHO classification of myeloid neoplasms was collected from the patient charts. While they met at least one minor WHO-criteria for primary myelofibrosis, 39.8% of those diagnosed with ET did not have histological BM testing at diagnosis. 63.4% of patients who were classified as having MF, however, did not obtain an early prognostic risk assessment. More than 50% of MF patients showed characteristics consistent with the pre-fibrotic phase, which was emphasized by the frequent use of cytoreductive therapy. Hydroxyurea was the most frequently used cytoreductive medication in 84.7% of ET and 53.1% of MF patients. While both ET and MF cohorts showed cardiovascular risk factors in more than 2/3 of the cases, the use of platelet inhibitors or anticoagulants varied between 56.8% in ET and 38.1% in MF patients.
Conclusions
Improved histopathologic diagnostics, dynamic risk stratification including genetic risk factors for cases of suspected ET and MF are recommended for precise risk assessment and therapeutic stratification according to WHO criteria.
Landscape is often seen as a predominantly visual aesthetic phenomenon, which is closely connected to painting. Georg Simmel calls landscape “a work of art in statu nascendi.” Yet from a phenomenological point of view, landscape can also be seen as something we do not only view but also experience bodily, as something we walk through and live in. In this respect, there are many connections between landscape and the experience of space and place. For Edward Casey, it is important to recognize that a landscape consists of places, which thus function as “its main modules, its prime numbers.” Consequently, the aesthetic experience of landscapes will have to take its located and situated character into account. In my contribution, I will draw on this line of thought and try to point out some key aspects of a phenomenological critique of reductive accounts of landscape and consider its relevance for the arts. As landscape and nature have become a prominent theme in artistic practices since the 1960s and 1970s, this paper will relate the philosophical discussion to artistic projects such as Richard Long’s art of walking. In his practice, the status of the work of art as well as a solely pictorial idea of landscape is questioned.
Aims
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a signaling lipid, which is involved in several cellular processes including cell growth, proliferation, migration and apoptosis. The associations of serum S1P levels with cardiac geometry and function are still not clear. We investigated the associations of S1P with cardiac structure and systolic function in a population-based sample.
Methods and results
We performed cross-sectional analyses of 858 subjects (467 men; 54.4%), aged 22 to 81 years, from a sub-sample of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND-0). We analyzed the associations of serum S1P with structural and systolic function left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) parameters as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using sex-stratified multivariable-adjusted linear regression models. In men, MRI data showed that a 1 µmol/L lower S1P concentration was associated with an 18.1 mL (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.66–32.6; p = 0.014) larger LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), a 0.46 mm (95% CI 0.04–0.89; p = 0.034) greater LV wall thickness (LVWT) and a 16.3 g (95% CI 6.55–26.1; p = 0.001) higher LV mass (LVM). S1P was also associated with a 13.3 mL/beat (95% CI 4.49–22.1; p = 0.003) greater LV stroke volume (LVSV), an 18.7 cJ (95% CI 6.43–30.9; p = 0.003) greater LV stroke work (LVSW) and a 12.6 mL (95% CI 1.03–24.3; p = 0.033) larger LA end-diastolic volume (LAEDV). We did not find any significant associations in women.
Conclusions
In this population-based sample, lower levels of S1P were associated with higher LV wall thickness and mass, larger LV and LA chamber sizes and greater stroke volume and work of the LV in men, but not in women. Our results indicate that lower levels of S1P were associated with parameters related with cardiac geometry and systolic function in men, but not in women.
We consider Walsh’s conformal map from the exterior of a compact set E ⊆ C onto a lemniscatic domain. If E is simply connected, the lemniscatic domain is the exterior of a circle, while if E has several components, the lemniscatic domain is the exterior of a generalized lemniscate and is determined by the logarithmic capacity of E and by the exponents and centers of the generalized lemniscate. For general E, we characterize the exponents in terms of the Green’s function of Ec. Under additional symmetry conditions on E, we also locate the centers of the lemniscatic domain. For polynomial pre-images E = P−1(Ω) of a simply-connected infinite compact set Ω, we explicitly determine the exponents in the lemniscatic domain and derive a set of equations to determine the centers of the lemniscatic domain. Finally, we present several examples where we explicitly obtain the exponents and centers of the lemniscatic domain, as well as the conformal map.
Monitoring and assessing groundwater quality according to European directives and national regulations is usually based on interpolation techniques, e.g. Kriging. However, contour maps of hydrochemical parameters often suggest a spurious local accuracy and can therefore lead to inappropriate action measures. Here, the early concept of extension variance combined with the Voronoi tessellation regionalization is proposed. The mosaic-like representation of pollutant concentrations in Voronoi polygons avoids misinterpretations caused by interpolation. The additional calculation of the extension variance, which is based on fundamental geostatistical assumptions, allows for estimating the probability that a given threshold is exceeded. This concept is further extended to hydraulically delimitable groundwater bodies, thus ensuring that hydraulic boundaries are considered. A method is here described for the assessment of groundwater quality with respect to nitrate concentration in the principal aquifer of the state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany.
Thyreophora is a clade of globally distributed herbivorous ornithischian dinosaurs. The earliest forms are known from the Early Jurassic, and their latest surviving representatives witnessed the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Throughout their evolutionary history, these ‘shield bearers’ became lumbering quadrupeds, evolved a wide array of bony armor, plates and spikes, as well as sweeping tail weapons in the form of tail clubs and thagomizers. An isolated new thyreophoran osteoderm from a Lower Jurassic Konservatlagerstätte near Grimmen is described and, with the aid of micro-CT data, compared to an osteoderm of the early diverging thyreophoran Emausaurus ernsti from a different stratigraphic horizon at the same locality.
Purpose
Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are increasingly important in evaluating medical care. The increased integration of technology within the healthcare systems allows for collection of PROs electronically. The objectives of this study were to Ashley et al. J Med Internet Res (2013) implement an electronic assessment of PROs in inpatient cancer care and test its feasibility for patients and Dawson et al. BMJ (2010) determine the equivalence of the paper and electronic assessment.
Methods
We analyzed two arms from a study that was originally designed to be an interventional, three-arm, and multicenter inpatient trial. A self-administered questionnaire based on validated PRO-measures was applied and completed at admission, 1 week after, and at discharge. For this analysis — focusing on feasibility of the electronic assessment — the following groups will be considered: Group A (intervention arm) received a tablet version, while group B (control arm) completed the questionnaire on paper. A feasibility questionnaire, that was adapted from Ashley et al. J Med Internet Res (2013), was administered to group A.
Results
We analyzed 103 patients that were recruited in oncology wards. ePRO was feasible to most patients, with 84% preferring the electronic over paper-based assessment. The feasibility questionnaire contained questions that were answered on a scale ranging from “1” (illustrating non achievement) to “5” (illustrating achieving goal). The majority (mean 4.24, SD .99) reported no difficulties handling the electronic tool and found it relatively easy finding time for filling out the questionnaire (mean 4.15, SD 1.05). There were no significant differences between the paper and the electronic assessment regarding the PROs.
Conclusion
Results indicate that electronic PRO assessment in inpatient cancer care is feasible.
Due to climate change, economically important crop plants will encounter flooding periods causing hypoxic stress more frequently. this may lead to reduced yields and endanger food security. As roots are the first organ to be affected by hypoxia, the ability to sense and respond to hypoxic stress is crucial. At the molecular level, therefore, fine-tuning the regulation of gene expression in the root is essential for hypoxia tolerance. Using an RnA-Seq approach, we investigated transcriptome modulation in tomato roots of the cultivar ‘Moneymaker’, in response to short- (6 h) and long-term (48 h) hypoxia. Hypoxia duration appeared to have a significant impact on gene expression such that the roots of five weeks old tomato plants showed a distinct time-dependent transcriptome response. We observed expression changes in 267 and 1421 genes under short- and long-term hypoxia, respectively. Among these, 243 genes experienced changed expression at both time points. We identified tomato genes with a potential role in aerenchyma formation which facilitates oxygen transport and may act as an escape mechanism enabling hypoxia tolerance. Moreover, we identified differentially regulated genes related to carbon and amino acid metabolism and redox homeostasis. Of particular interest were the differentially regulated transcription factors, which act as master regulators of downstream target genes involved in responses to short and/or long-term hypoxia. Our data suggest a temporal metabolic and anatomic adjustment to hypoxia in tomato root which requires further investigation. We propose that the regulated genes identified in this study are good candidates for further studies regarding hypoxia tolerance in tomato or other crops
Background
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the most frequent causes of death in Europe. Emergency medical services often struggle to reach the patient in time, particularly in rural areas. To improve outcome, early defibrillation is required which significantly increases neurologically intact survival. Consequently, many countries place Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in accessible public locations. However, these stationary devices are frequently not available out of hours or too far away in emergencies. An innovative approach to mustering AED is the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which deliver the device to the scene.
Methods
This paper evaluates the economic implications of stationary AED versus airborne delivery using scenario-based cost analysis. As an example, we focus on the rural district of Vorpommern-Greifswald in Germany. Formulae are developed to calculate the cost of stationary and airborne AED networks. Scenarios include different catchment areas, delivery times and unit costs.
Results
UAS-based delivery of AEDs is more cost-efficient than maintaining traditional stationary networks. The results show that equipping cardiac arrest hot spots in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald with airborne AEDs with a response time < 4 min is an effective method to decrease the time to the first defibrillation The district of Vorpommern-Greifswald would require 45 airborne AEDs resulting in annual costs of at least 1,451,160 €.
Conclusion
In rural areas, implementing an UAS-based AED system is both more effective and cost-efficient than the conventional stationary solution. When regarding urban areas and hot spots of OHCA, complementing the airborne network with stationary AEDs is advisable.
Extinction learning is suggested to be a central mechanism during exposure-based cognitive behavioralpsychotherapy. A positive association between the patients’pretreatment extinction learning performance andtreatment outcome would corroborate the hypothesis. Indeed, there isfirst correlational evidence between reducedextinction learning and therapy efficacy. However, the results of these association studies may be hampered byextinction-training protocols that do not match treatment procedures. Therefore, we developed an extinction-trainingprotocol highly tailored to the procedure of exposure therapy and tested it in two samples of 46 subjects in total. Byusing instructed fear acquisition training, including a consolidation period overnight, we wanted to ensure that theconditioned fear response was well established prior to extinction training, which is the case in patients with anxietydisorders prior to treatment. Moreover, the extinction learning process was analyzed on multiple response levels,comprising unconditioned stimulus (US) expectancy ratings, autonomic responses, defensive brain stem reflexes, andneural activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Using this protocol, we found robust fearconditioning and slow-speed extinction learning. We also observed within-group heterogeneity in extinction learning,albeit a stable fear response at the beginning of the extinction training. Finally, we found discordance betweendifferent response systems, suggesting that multiple processes are involved in extinction learning. The paradigmpresented here might help to ameliorate the association between extinction learning performance assessed in thelaboratory and therapy outcomes and thus facilitate translational science in anxiety disorders
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are low-flow vascular lesions prone to cause severe hemorrhage-associated neurological complications. Pathogenic germline variants in CCM1, CCM2, or CCM3 can be identified in nearly 100% of CCM patients with a positive family history. In line with the concept that tumor-like mechanisms are involved in CCM formation and growth, we here demonstrate an abnormally increased proliferation rate of CCM3-deficient endothelial cells in co-culture with wild-type cells and in mosaic human iPSC-derived vascular organoids. The observation that NSC59984, an anticancer drug, blocked the abnormal proliferation of mutant endothelial cells further supports this intriguing concept. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and RNA sequencing revealed that co-culture induces upregulation of proangiogenic chemokine genes in wild-type endothelial cells. Furthermore, genes known to be significantly downregulated in CCM3−/− endothelial cell mono-cultures were upregulated back to normal levels in co-culture with wild-type cells. These results support the hypothesis that wild-type ECs facilitate the formation of a niche that promotes abnormal proliferation of mutant ECs. Thus, targeting the cancer-like features of CCMs is a promising new direction for drug development.
The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is one of Germany’s farthest migrating bird species. Ringing studies have shown the use of the East Atlantic flyway, and according to their main wintering areas at the western and southern African coasts, German and European Common Tern populations have been divided into two allohiemic groups. However, first ring recoveries of German Common Terns in Israel indicated that some of the birds breeding in eastern Germany cross central Europe and migrate along the eastern African coast. To investigate the migratory behavior of Common Terns from East Germany, we fitted 40 Common Terns breeding in a colony at the German Baltic coast with light-level geolocators. Twenty-four loggers with analyzable datasets could be retrieved, revealing two different migratory strategies within one population. Seventeen individuals (70.83%) used the eastern Atlantic flyway and spent the winter at the western African coast, the Gulf of Guinea and the southern African coast, while the other individuals (n = 7; 29.17%) crossed central Europe, migrated along the eastern African coast and overwintered in the Mozambique Channel and South African coast. We, therefore, suggest to add a third allohiemic group to complement the picture of European Common Tern migration. Moreover, our results provide new knowledge and open new questions, which can be used for future studies regarding the evolution of different migratory strategies and its consequences in relation to climate change.
Purpose
The aim is to investigate the associations of the mother’s socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and life satisfaction with the delivery of a small for gestational age (SGA) infant.
Methods
Data from 4598 participants of the population-based birth cohort study Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SniP) including comprehensive information on pregnancies, mothers, and their offspring in Western Pomerania, Germany were used in this study. The associations were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models.
Results
After logistic regression analysis adjusted for height of the mother, women who delivered SGA infants, had lower education (p < 0.01) and smoked more frequently during pregnancy (p < 0.01) compared with mothers of adequate for gestational age (AGA) neonates. A mother with less than 10 years of education and one who continued smoking during pregnancy had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.23 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.44 to 3.46] and 2.68 (95% CI = 2.06–3.49) of having an SGA infant, respectively. There was no association between the employment of the mother (p = 0.28), the monthly income (p = 0.09), the family status (p = 0.80), the number of friendships outside the household that the mother would not wish to relinquish (p = 0.47), the number of people that she could rely on in case of an emergency (p = 0.75), or alcohol consumption prior to (p = 0.14) or during the pregnancy (p = 0.99) with SGA. Finally, women who delivered SGA infants were more frequently dissatisfied with their employment (p = 0.03) and financial status (p < 0.01).
Conclusions
Women who delivered SGA infants had more associated socioeconomic and lifestyle risk factors and were more frequently dissatisfied with their life conditions than mothers of AGA neonates.
There is a current need for developing improved synthetic porous materials for better constraining the dynamic and coupled processes relevant to the geotechnical use of underground reservoirs. In this study, a low temperature preparation method for making synthetic rocks is presented that uses a geopolymer binder cured at 80 °C based on alkali-activated metakaolin. For the synthesised sandstone, the key rock properties permeability, porosity, compressive strength, and mineralogical composition, are determined and compared against two natural reservoir rocks. In addition, the homogeneity of the material is analysed structurally by micro-computed tomography and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, and chemically by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It is shown that simple, homogenous sandstone analogues can be prepared that show permeability-porosity values in the range of porous reservoir rocks. The advance in using geopolymer binders to prepare synthetic sandstones containing thermally sensitive minerals provides materials that can be easily adapted to specific experimental needs. The use of such material in flow-through experiments is expected to help bridge the gap between experimental observations and numerical simulations, leading to a more systematic understanding of the physio-chemical behaviour of porous reservoir rocks.
Diagenetic illite growth in porous sandstones leads to significant modifications of the initial pore system which result in tight reservoirs. Understanding and quantifying these changes provides insight into the porosity-permeability history of the reservoir and improves predictions on petrophysical behavior. To characterize the various stages of diagenetic alteration, a focused ion beam – scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) study was undertaken on aeolian sandstones from the Bebertal outcrop of the Parchim Formation (Early Permian Upper Rotliegend group). Based on 3D microscopic reconstructions, three different textural types of illite crystals occur, common to many tight Rotliegend sandstones, namely (1) feldspar grain alterations and associated illite meshworks, (2) tangential grain coats, and (3) pore-filling laths and fibers. Reaction textures, pore structure quantifications, and numerical simulations of fluid transport have revealed that different generations of nano-porosity are connected to the diagenetic alteration of feldspars and the authigenic growth of pore-filling illites. The latter leads to the formation of microstructures that range from authigenic compact tangential grain coatings to highly porous, pore-filling structures. K-feldspar replacement and initial grain coatings of illite are composed primarily of disordered 1Md illite whereas the epitaxially grown illite lath- and fiber-shaped crystals occurring as pore-filling structures are of the trans-vacant 1Mtv polytype. Although all analyzed 3D structures offer connected pathways, the largest reduction in sandstone permeability occurred during the initial formation of the tangential illite coatings that sealed altered feldspars and the subsequent growth of pore-filling laths and fibrous illites. Analyses of both illite pore-size and crystallite-size distributions indicate that crystal growth occurred by a continuous nucleation and growth mechanism probably controlled by the multiple influx of potassium-rich fluids during late Triassic and Jurassic times. The detailed insight into the textural varieties of illite crystal growth and its calculated permeabilities provides important constraints for understanding the complexities of fluid-flow in tight reservoir sandstones.
Magnetooptical properties of one-dimensional aperiodic structures formed by stacking together magnetic and nonmagnetic layers according to the Kolakoski self-generation scheme are studied theoretically using the 4x4 transfer matrix method. The effect of the generation stage of the sequence, and the helicity and direction of light propagation through the magneto-photonic crystals on the transmission/reflection spectra as well as Faraday and ellipticity rotations, have been investigated. Our results reveal that this kind of aperiodic magneto-photonic crystals can be used for the fabrication of multifrequency laser cavities, and optical filters/sensors.
Since autumn 2020, rapid antigen tests (RATs) have been implemented in several countries as an important pillar of the national testing strategy to rapidly screen for infections on site during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The current surge in infection rates around the globe is driven by the variant of concern (VoC) omicron (B.1.1.529). Here, we evaluated the performance of nine SARS-CoV-2 RATs in a single-centre laboratory study. We examined a total of 115 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative and 166 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive respiratory swab samples (101 omicron, 65 delta (B.1.617.2)) collected from October 2021 until January 2022 as well as cell culture-expanded clinical isolates of both VoCs. In an assessment of the analytical sensitivity in clinical specimen, the 50% limit of detection (LoD50) ranged from 1.77 × 106 to 7.03 × 107 RNA copies subjected to the RAT for omicron compared to 1.32 × 105 to 2.05 × 106 for delta. To score positive in these point-of-care tests, up to 10-fold (LoD50) or 101-fold (LoD95) higher virus loads were required for omicron- compared to delta-containing samples. The rates of true positive test results for omicron samples in the highest virus load category (Ct values < 25) ranged between 31.4 and 77.8%, while they dropped to 0–8.3% for samples with intermediate Ct values (25–30). Of note, testing of expanded virus stocks suggested a comparable RAT sensitivity of both VoCs, questioning the predictive value of this type of in vitro-studies for clinical performance. Given their importance for national test strategies in the current omicron wave, awareness must be increased for the reduced detection rate of omicron infections by RATs and a short list of suitable RATs that fulfill the minimal requirements of performance should be rapidly disclosed.
Background
A bidirectional functional link between vestibular and fear-related disorders has been previously suggested.
Objective
To test a potential overlap of vestibular and fear systems with regard to their brain imaging representation maps.
Methods
By use of voxel-based mapping permutation of subject images, we conducted a meta-analysis of earlier functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies applying vestibular stimulation and fear conditioning in healthy volunteers.
Results
Common clusters of concordance of vestibular stimulation and fear conditioning were found in the bilateral anterior insula cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the right temporal pole, bilaterally in the adjacent ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, secondary somatosensory cortex, superior temporal and intraparietal lobe, supplementary motor area and premotor cortex, as well as subcortical areas, such as the bilateral thalamus, mesencephalic brainstem including the collicular complex, pons, cerebellar vermis and bilateral cerebellar hemispheres. Peak areas of high concordance for activations during vestibular stimulation but deactivations during fear conditioning were centered on the posterior insula and S2.
Conclusions
The structural overlap of both networks allows the following functional interpretations: first, the amygdala, superior colliculi, and antero-medial thalamus might represent a release of preprogramed sensorimotor patterns of approach or avoidance. Second, the activation (vestibular system) and deactivation (fear system) of the bilateral posterior insula is compatible with the view that downregulation of the fear network by acute vestibular disorders or unfamiliar vestibular stimulation makes unpleasant perceived body accelerations less distressing. This also fits the clinical observation that patients with bilateral vestibular loss suffer from less vertigo-related anxiety.
Social media groups, for example on Facebook, WhatsApp or Telegram, allow for direct exchange, communication and interaction, as well as networking of different individuals worldwide. Such groups are also used to spread propaganda and thus allow for self-radicalisation or mutual radicalisation of their members. The article reports selected results from a research project analysing online communication processes of extremist groups. Based on data from group discussions in social media, corpus linguistic analyses were carried out, examining quantitative relationships between individual lexical elements and occurring regularities. To this end, four different corpora were built. These consist of data collected in right-wing and Salafi jihadist groups of a low or medium radicalisation level on Facebook and VKontakte via fake profiles, and of group communication in forums, messenger apps and social networks of highly radicalised persons, which were extracted from files of (e.g. terrorism) cases prosecuted in Germany. Quantitative linguistic analyses of social media data continue to be challenging due to the heterogeneity of the data as well as orthographic and grammatical errors. Nevertheless, it was possible to identify phenomenon specific sociolects that point to different levels of linguistic radicalisation. Based on the results of the analyses, the article discusses the prospects, problems and pitfalls of lexicometric analyses of online communication, especially as a tool for understanding radicalisation processes.
Objectives
Stability values of mini-implants (MIs) are ambiguous. Survival data for MIs as supplementary abutments in reduced dentitions are not available. The aim of this explorative research was to estimate the 3-year stability and survival of strategic MIs after immediate and delayed loading by existing removable partial dentures (RPDs).
Material and methods
In a university and three dental practices, patients with unfavorable tooth distributions received supplementary MIs with diameters of 1.8, 2.1, and 2.4 mm. The participants were randomly allocated to group A (if the insertion torque ≥ 35 Ncm: immediate loading by housings; otherwise, immediate loading by RPD soft relining was performed) or delayed loading group B. Periotest values (PTVs) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) values were longitudinally compared using mixed models.
Results
A total of 112 maxillary and 120 mandibular MIs were placed under 79 RPDs (31 maxillae). The 1st and 3rd quartile of the PTVs ranged between 1.7 and 7.8, and the RFA values ranged between 30 and 46 with nonrelevant group differences. The 3-year survival rates were 92% in group A versus 95% in group B and 99% in the mandible (one failure) versus 87% in the maxilla (eleven failures among four participants).
Conclusions
Within the limitations of explorative analyses, there were no relevant differences between immediate and delayed loading regarding survival or stability of strategic MIs.
Clinical relevance
The stability values for MIs are lower than for conventional implants. The MI failure rate in the maxilla is higher than in the mandible with cluster failure participants.
Clinical trial registration
German Clinical Trials Register (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien, DRKS-ID: DRKS00007589, www.germanctr.de), January 15, 2015.
Mobile Apps for Sexual and Reproductive Health Education: a Systematic Review and Quality Assessment
(2023)
Purpose of Review
The aim of this study was to present the current state of research on mobile health apps for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education. Apps were analysed based on contents (by using the World Health Organization’s SRH framework), features, intended audiences and quality of evidence (by applying the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach). Taking German sexuality education apps as an example, the rapid development in the field of SRH apps over the last 3 years has been revealed by comparing the quality of apps available in 2019 with apps from 2022.
Recent Findings
SRH apps allow health information to be disseminated quickly, at low thresholds and in a practical and cost-effective manner. Moreover, they allow for anonymous usage independently of time and place. In the absence of network coverage, offline use is also possible. Previous research focused on individual SRH aspects (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), contraception). However, some studies were designed to cover a broader range of SRH topics, but identified only a few relevant apps.
Summary
To improve SRH, it would be helpful if the apps would be of high-quality design and be made up of relevant content. Furthermore, they should be tailored to the target group and have been tested in real-life settings. A total of 50 SRH apps with sufficiently high-quality ratings were included. The apps cover a variety of SRH topics, but they often lack field-based evaluation. The effectiveness of SRH apps has not yet been sufficiently studied in a scientific manner. Only 9 apps were deemed to be adequate for a moderate GRADE level. Despite this grading, the study nevertheless shows that there are several apps that could potentially promote SRH.
This study primarily aims to determine the frequency of life-threatening conditions among pediatric patients served by the DRF, a German helicopter emergency service (HEMS) provider. It also seeks to explore the necessity of invasive procedures in this population, discussing the implications for HEMS crew training and service configuration based on current literature. We analyzed the mission registry from 31 DRF helicopter bases in Germany, focusing on 7954 children aged 10 or younger over a 5-year period (2014–2018). Out of 7954 identified children (6.2% of all primary missions), 2081 (26.2%) had critical conditions. Endotracheal intubation was needed in 6.5% of cases, while alternative airway management methods were rare (n = 14). Half of the children required intravenous access, and 3.6% needed intraosseous access. Thoracostomy thoracentesis and sonography were only performed in isolated cases.
Conclusions: Critically ill or injured children are infrequent in German HEMS operations. Our findings suggest that the likelihood of HEMS teams encountering such cases is remarkably low. Besides endotracheal intubation, life-saving invasive procedures are seldom necessary. Consequently, we conclude that on-the-job training and mission experience alone are insufficient for acquiring and maintaining the competencies needed to care for critically ill or injured children.
Objectives
During the corona pandemic, dental practices temporarily closed their doors to patients except for emergency treatments. Due to the daily occupational exposure, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among dentists and their team is presumed to be higher than that in the general population. This study examined this issue among dental teams across Germany.
Materials and methods
In total, 2784 participants provided usable questionnaires and dry blood samples. Dry blood samples were used to detect IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The questionnaires were analyzed to investigate demographic data and working conditions during the pandemic. Multivariable logistic mixed-effects models were applied.
Results
We observed 146 participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (5.2%) and 30 subjects with a borderline finding (1.1%). Seventy-four out of the 146 participants with SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies did not report a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (50.7%), while 27 participants without SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (1.1%). Combining the laboratory and self-reported information, the number of participants with a SARS-CoV-2 infection was 179 (6.5%). Though after adjustment for region, mixed-effects models indicated associations of use of rubber dams (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01–2.72) and the number of protective measures (OR 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01–1.34) with increased risk for positive SARS-CoV-2 status, none of those variables was significantly associated with a SARS-CoV-2 status in fully adjusted models.
Conclusions
The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was not higher among the dental team compared to the general population.
Clinical relevance.
Following hygienic regulations and infection control measures ensures the safety of the dental team and their patients.
This study investigated, if a mixed electroactive bacterial (EAB) culture cultivated heterotrophically at a positive applied potential could be adapted from oxidative to reductive or bidirectional extracellular electron transfer (EET). To this end, a periodic potential reversal regime between − 0.5 and 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl was applied. This yielded biofilm detachment and mediated electroautotrophic EET in combination with carbonate, i.e., dissolved CO2, as the sole carbon source, whereby the emerged mixed culture (S1) contained previously unknown EAB. Using acetate (S2) as well as a mixture of acetate and carbonate (S3) as the main carbon sources yielded primarily alternating electrogenic organoheterotropic metabolism with the higher maximum oxidation current densities recorded for mixed carbon media, exceeding on average 1 mA cm−2. More frequent periodic polarization reversal resulted in the increase of maximum oxidative current densities by about 50% for S2-BES and 80% for S3-BES, in comparison to half-batch polarization. The EAB mixed cultures developed accordingly, with S1 represented by mostly aerobes (84.8%) and being very different in composition to S2 and S3, dominated by anaerobes (96.9 and 96.5%, respectively). S2 and S3 biofilms remained attached to the electrodes. There was only minor evidence of fully reversible bidirectional EET. In conclusion the three triplicates fed with organic and/or inorganic carbon sources demonstrated two forms of diauxie: Firstly, S1-BES showed a preference for the electrode as the electron donor via mediated EET. Secondly, S2-BES and S3-BES showed a preference for acetate as electron donor and c-source, as long as this was available, switching to CO2 reduction, when acetate was depleted.
There is broad scientific consensus that current food systems are neither sustainable nor resilient: many agricultural practices are very resource-intensive and responsible for a large share of global emissions and loss of biodiversity. Consequently, current systems put large pressure on planetary boundaries. According to economic theory, food prices form when there is a balance between supply and demand. Yet, due to the neglect of negative external effects, effective prices are often far from representing the ‘true costs’. Current studies show that especially animal-based foodstuff entails vast external costs that currently stay unaccounted for in market prices. Against this background, we explore how informational campaigning on agricultural externalities can contribute to consumer awareness and tolerance of this matter. Further, we investigate the socially just design of monetary incentives and their implementation potentials and challenges. This study builds on the informational campaign of a German supermarket displaying products with two price tags: one of the current market price and the other displaying the ‘true’ price, which includes several environmental externalities calculated with True Cost Accounting (TCA). Based on interpretations of a consumer survey and a number of expert interviews, in this article we approach the potentials and obstacles of TCA as a communication tool and the challenges of its factual implementation in agri-food networks. Our results show that consumers are generally interested in the topic of true food pricing and would to a certain extent be willing to pay ‘true prices’ of the inquired foods. However, insufficient transparency and unjust distribution of wealth are feared to bring about communication and social justice concerns in the implementation of TCA. When introducing TCA into current discourse, it is therefore important to develop measures that are socially cautious and backed by relevant legal framework conditions. This poses the chance to create a fair playing (‘polluter pays’) with a clear assignment of responsibilities to policy makers, and practitioners in addition to customers.
Aim
A shortage in primary care physicians has been a well-known challenge in many Western countries for several years. In addition, we currently see a trend in primary care, where an increasing number of physicians work as employees instead of being self-employed, even among general practitioners. To address this shortage, knowledge of the future specialists’ attitudes toward working self-employed is needed. This qualitative systematic review aims to explore the attitudes of future specialists towards self-employment in private practice, and what factors influence these attitudes.
Subject and methods
We conducted a systematic search using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. We developed a search strategy that collected terms for future specialists, career choices, and self-employment and linked these with the Boolean operator “AND”. We analysed the results using a qualitative content analysis, as both qualitative and quantitative studies were included in the research.
Results
Self-employment is less attractive to future specialists. In particular, women prefer to be employed and receive a fixed salary. The main factors that influence the decision as to whether to become self-employed or not are financial conditions, bureaucracy and non-medical tasks, organisation, job satisfaction during residency, personal responsibility, career opportunities, specialty-dependent factors, personal environment, and education.
Conclusion
Among future specialists, being self-employed is less attractive than being an employee. Students should be better informed about future career opportunities to make an informed decision. However, it should be examined whether other forms of organisation are more in line with the wishes of future specialists.
There is still considerable controversy surrounding the impact of mastication on obesity. The aim of this study was to identify the interplay between the masticatory muscles, teeth, and general muscular fitness and how they contribute to body adiposity in a general German population. This cross-sectional study included 616 participants (300 male, 316 female, age 31–93 years) from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. The cross-sectional areas of the masseter, medial and lateral pterygoid muscles were measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), muscular fitness assessed by hand grip strength (HGS) and body fat distribution was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and MRI. The overall prevalence of obesity was high in our cohort. The cross-sectional area of the masseter muscles was positively associated with the number of teeth, body mass index (BMI) and HGS, and negatively associated with the BIA-assessed body fat when adjusted for age, sex, teeth, and BMI. Especially the correlation was strong (p < 0.001). Analogous relationships were observed between the masseter, HGS and MRI-assessed subcutaneous fat. These associations were most pronounced with masseter, but also significant with both pterygoid muscles. Though the masticatory muscles were affected by the number of teeth, teeth had no impact on the relations between masseter muscle and adiposity. Physical fitness and masticatory performance are associated with body shape, controlled and directed by the relevant muscles.
The occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in aquatic systems is a matter of global concern and poses significant toxicological threats to both organisms and human health. Despite the extensive use of OCPs for pest and disease control in southern Africa, relatively few studies have examined the occurrence and toxicological risks of OCP residues in the region. This study investigates the composition, distribution, and potential sources of OCP contamination in sediments from Richards Bay, a rapidly developing industrial port on the northeast coast of South Africa. Surface sediments collected from Richards Bay Harbour and surrounding areas indicate that OCP contamination in the region is widespread. Total concentrations (∑OCP) in surface samples ranged from 135 to 1020 ng g−1, with hexachlorocyclohexanes (∑HCH; 35–230 ng g−1) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (∑DDT; 12–350 ng g−1) the dominant contaminant groups detected. Metabolite isomeric compositions indicate that the presence of aldrin and endosulfan likely result from historical agricultural usage, while recent input of γ-HCH, heptachlor, and endrin may be linked to the illegal use of old pesticide stockpiles. Total DDT concentrations were dominated by p,p′-DDT (80 ± 64 ng g−1), which was attributed to its ongoing use in malaria vector control in the region. A 210Pb-dated sediment core revealed that OCP input to the local environment increased dramatically from relatively low concentrations in the mid-1940s (∑OCP, 355 ng g−1) to peak levels (∑OCP, 781 ng g−1) in the 1980s/1990s. An overall decrease in ∑OCP concentration from the mid-2000s is likely related to restrictions on use following the Stockholm Convention in 2004. Despite current restrictions on use, OCP concentrations exceeded sediment quality guidelines in the vast majority of cases, raising concerns for protected estuarine and mangrove habitats in the area, as well as for local fishing and farming communities.
Toarciconiopteryx dipterosimilis gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Lower Toarcian of Grimmen (Western Pomerania, Germany) based on a hind wing. This enigmatic wing superficially resembles a dipteran forewing, but analysis in detail establishes that it belongs to the Neuroptera. We assign it to the Coniopterygidae with great confidence by its great concordance with the hind wings of that family, but a small possibility remains that it might belong to the Dipteromantispidae, although the very derived haltere-like hind wings of all its known members are entirely unlike it. We, therefore, consider it to be the oldest record of Coniopterygidae. We create the new subfamily Toarciconiopteryginae subfam. nov. for it, which is distinguished from other Coniopterygidae by its hind wings possessing two branches of RP and a proximal forking of M. These conditions are also known in some Sialidae (Megaloptera), supporting the hypothesis that Coniopterygidae is the sister group of all other Neuroptera, as Megaloptera is considered by most authors to be sister to Neuroptera. New interpretations of some aspects of the Coniopterygidae venation are proposed.
Haematophagous leeches express a broad variety of secretory proteins in their salivary glands, among them are hirudins and hirudin-like factors. Here, we describe the identification, molecular and initial functional characterization of Tandem-Hirudin (TH), a novel salivary gland derived factor identified in the Asian medicinal leech, Hirudinaria manillensis. In contrast to the typical structure of hirudins, TH comprises two globular domains arranged in a tandem-like orientation and lacks the elongated C-terminal tail. Similar structures of thrombin inhibitors have so far been identified only in kissing bugs and ticks. Expression of TH was performed in both cell-based and cell-free bacterial systems. A subsequent functional characterization revealed no evidence for a thrombin-inhibitory potency of TH.