Hybridization and reticulate evolution in Diphasiastrum (flat-branched clubmosses, Lycopodiaceae) - New data from the island of Taiwan and Vietnam

In the species groups related to Diphasiastrum multispicatum and D. veitchii, hybridization was investigated in samples from northern and southern Vietnam and the island of Taiwan, including available herbarium specimens from southeast Asia. The accessions were analyzed using flow cytometry (living material only), Sanger sequencing and multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing. We detected two cases of ancient hybridization involving different combinations of parental species; both led via subsequent duplication to tetraploid taxa. A cross D. multispicatum × D. veitchii from Malaysia represents D. wightianum, a tetraploid taxon according to reported DNA content measurements of dried material (genome formulas MM, VV and MMVV, respectively). The second case involves D. veitchii and an unknown diploid parent (genome formula XX). Three hybridogenous taxa (genome formulas VVX, VVXX, VVVX) were discernable by a combination of flow cytometry and molecular data. Taxon I (VVX, three clones found on Taiwan island) is apparently triploid. Taxon II represents another genetically diverse and sexual tetraploid species (VVXX) and can be assigned to D. yueshanense, described from Taiwan island but occurring as well in mainland China and Vietnam. Taxon III is as well most likely tetraploid (VVVX) and represented by at least one, more likely two, clones from Taiwan island. Taxa I and III are presumably asexual and new to science. Two independently inherited nuclear markers recombine only within, not between these hybrids, pointing towards reproductive isolation. We present an evolutionary scheme which explains the origin of the hybrids and the evolution of new and fully sexual species by hybridization and subsequent allopolyploidization in flat-branched clubmosses.

TreEducation: A Visual Education Platform for Teaching Treemap Layout Algorithms

Treemaps are a powerful tool for representing hierarchical data in a space-efficient manner and are used in various domains, including network security or software development. However, interpreting the topology encoded by nested rectangles can be challenging, particularly compared to tree-structured representations like node-link diagrams or icicle plots. To address this challenge, we introduce TreEducation, a visual education platform designed to improve the visualization literacy skills required for reading treemaps among non-expert users. TreEducation is an online application that combines visualizations, interactions, and gamification elements to facilitate understanding of eight different treemap layout algorithms and enhance students' learning process. We evaluated TreEducation in a classroom setting and a controlled environment. Our results indicate a significant knowledge gain of students training exclusively with TreEducation and the usefulness of competition as a social gamification element included in our competitive quiz.

Corrective osteotomy of the distal radius with palmar locking plate osteosynthesis without bone grafting and without cortical contact

The aim of this study was to assess bone healing and secondary fracture displacement after corrective osteotomy of the distal radius without any cortical contact using palmar locking plates without bone grafting. Between 2009 and 2021, 11 palmar corrective osteotomies of extra-articular malunited distal radius fractures and palmar plate fixations without the use of bone grafts and without cortical contact, were assessed. All patients showed complete osseous restoration and significant improvement in all radiographic parameters. Except for one patient, there were no secondary dislocations or loss of reduction in the postoperative follow-up. Bone grafts may not be mandatory for bone healing and prevention of secondary fracture displacement after palmar corrective osteotomy without cortical contact and fixation with palmar locking plate.Level of evidence: IV.

A closer look to the timing of orchidopexy in undescended testes and adherence to the AWMF-guideline

BACKGROUND

To lower the risk of testicular malignancies and subfertility, international guidelines recommend orchidopexy for undescended testis (UDT) before the age of 12-18 months. Previous studies reported low rates of 5-15% of timely surgery. Most of these studies are based on DRG and OPS code-based data from healthcare system institutions that do not distinguish between congenital and acquired UDT.

METHODS

In a retrospective study data of all boys who underwent orchidopexy in a university hospital and two outpatient surgical departments from 2009 to 2022 were analyzed. The data differentiates congenital from acquired UDT.

RESULTS

Out of 2694 patients, 1843 (68.4%) had congenital and 851 (31.6%) had acquired UDT. In 24.9% of congenital cases surgery was performed before the age of 12 months. The median age at surgery for congenital UDT was 16 months (range 7-202). Over the years there was an increased rate of boys operated on before the age of 2 (40% in 2009, 60% in 2022). The median age fluctuated over the years between 21 and 11 months without a trend to younger ages.. The covid pandemic did not lead to an increase of the median age at surgery. The median time between referral and surgery was 46 days (range 1-1836). Reasons for surgery after 12 months of age were a delayed referral to pediatric surgeries (51.2%), followed by relevant comorbidities (28.2%).

CONCLUSION

Compared to recent literature, out data show that a closer look at details enables a more realistic approach. Still, there is no trend towards the recommended age for surgical treatment observable, but the rate of timely operated boys with congenital UDT is significantly higher than stated in literature.

Mucor osteomyelitis after traumatic forearm amputation in a 38-year-old patient

We report the case of a forest ranger who developed a polymicrobial infection with Mucor circinelloides after traumatic forearm amputation. Based on our case report we discuss epidemiology and management of this rare and potentially fatal infection.

[Blunt abdominal trauma in children and adolescents: treatment concepts in the acute phase]

Fatal accidents due to blunt force trauma are the leading cause of death in children and adolescents [1]. Abdominal trauma is the third most common cause of death after traumatic brain injury and thoracic injuries [2]. Abdominal injury is seen in approximately 2-5% of children involved in accidents [3]. Blunt abdominal injuries are common sequelae of traffic accidents (for example as seat belt injury), falls, and sports accidents. Penetrating abdominal injuries are rare in central Europe. Spleen, liver, and kidney lacerations are the most common injuries after blunt abdominal trauma [4]. In most situations, nonoperative management (NOM) has become the gold standard with the surgeon leading the multidisciplinary treatment [5].

Dynamics of Nanosecond Laser Pulse Propagation and of Associated Instabilities in a Magnetized Underdense Plasma

The propagation and energy coupling of intense laser beams in plasmas are critical issues in inertial confinement fusion. Applying magnetic fields to such a setup has been shown to enhance fuel confinement and heating. Here we report on experimental measurements demonstrating improved transmission and increased smoothing of a high-power laser beam propagating in a magnetized underdense plasma. We also measure enhanced backscattering, which our kinetic simulations show is due to magnetic confinement of hot electrons, thus leading to reduced target preheating.

Beyond image defined risk factors (IDRFs): a delphi survey highlighting definition of the surgical complexity index (SCI) in neuroblastoma

PURPOSE

Preoperative evaluation of Image Defined Risk Factors (IDRFs) in neuroblastoma (NB) is crucial for determining suitability for upfront resection or tumor biopsy. IDRFs do not all carry the same weighting in predicting tumor complexity and surgical risk. In this study we aimed to assess and categorize a surgical complexity (Surgical Complexity Index, SCI) in NB resection.

METHODS

A panel of 15 surgeons was involved in an electronic Delphi consensus survey to identify and score a set of shared items predictive and/or indicative of surgical complexity, including the number of preoperative IDRFs. A shared agreement included the achievement of at least 75% consensus focused on a single or two close risk categories.

RESULTS

After 3 Delphi rounds, agreement was established on 25/27 items (92.6%). A severity score was established for each item ranging from 0 to 3 with an overall SCI range varying from a minimum score of zero to a maximum score of 29 points for any given patient.

CONCLUSIONS

A consensus on a SCI to stratify the risks related to neuroblastoma tumor resection was established by the panel experts. This index will now be deployed to critically assign a better severity score to IDRFs involved in NB surgery.

Lung macrophages utilize unique cathepsin K-dependent phagosomal machinery to degrade intracellular collagen

Resident tissue macrophages are organ-specialized phagocytes responsible for the maintenance and protection of tissue homeostasis. It is well established that tissue diversity is reflected by the heterogeneity of resident tissue macrophage origin and phenotype. However, much less is known about tissue-specific phagocytic and proteolytic macrophage functions. Here, using a quantitative proteomics approach, we identify cathepsins as key determinants of phagosome maturation in primary peritoneum-, lung-, and brain-resident macrophages. The data further uncover cathepsin K (CtsK) as a molecular marker for lung phagosomes required for intracellular protein and collagen degradation. Pharmacological blockade of CtsK activity diminished phagosomal proteolysis and collagenolysis in lung-resident macrophages. Furthermore, profibrotic TGF-β negatively regulated CtsK-mediated phagosomal collagen degradation independently from classical endocytic-proteolytic pathways. In humans, phagosomal CtsK activity was reduced in COPD lung macrophages and non-COPD lung macrophages exposed to cigarette smoke extract. Taken together, this study provides a comprehensive map of how peritoneal, lung, and brain tissue environment shapes phagosomal composition, revealing CtsK as a key molecular determinant of lung phagosomes contributing to phagocytic collagen clearance in lungs.

Multiscale Visualization: A Structured Literature Analysis

Multiscale visualizations are typically used to analyze multiscale processes and data in various application domains, such as the visual exploration of hierarchical genome structures in molecular biology. However, creating such multiscale visualizations remains challenging due to the plethora of existing work and the expression ambiguity in visualization research. Up to today, there has been little work to compare and categorize multiscale visualizations to understand their design practices. In this article, we present a structured literature analysis to provide an overview of common design practices in multiscale visualization research. We systematically reviewed and categorized 122 published journal or conference articles between 1995 and 2020. We organized the reviewed articles in a taxonomy that reveals common design factors. Researchers and practitioners can use our taxonomy to explore existing work to create new multiscale navigation and visualization techniques. Based on the reviewed articles, we examine research trends and highlight open research challenges.

The study on health of older people in Germany (Health 65+): Design and first results

Background

Integrating older persons into continuous national public health monitoring is crucial but challenging. Health 65+ is the first national health interview and examination survey in Germany specifically tailored to the needs of the population 65+ years.

Methods

Health 65+ is based on two-stage stratified random sampling from 128 local population registries. It is based on a previously tested three-step procedure to contact the study population (letter, telephone, home visits). 12,448 individuals 65+ years were invited for survey participation between June 2021 and April 2022. Participation comprised answering a baseline-questionnaire/interview covering a consented set of key health indicators including SARS-COV2 infections, and 3 follow-ups. After one year participants are invited to an examination (e.g. blood pressure, grip strength, cognitive function) during a home visit. All-cause mortality, health insurance data and information on social and built environment will be linked to survey data. The preliminary data set comprises 3,107 baseline participants.

Preliminary results

Only few individuals were excluded for survey participation as they had deceased before invitation, moved to an unknown residence or had insufficient German language skills. Of the adjusted gross sample, 32% took part in the survey (47.9% women, mean age 78.8 years). Only 3.3% of the participants did not receive any vaccination against COVID-19, with no differences between gender or age-groups. 3.5% had already experienced a laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusions

Health 65+ collects information that cannot be obtained from any other data sources. In combination with information from routine health data and official health statistics, the results will aid health policy planning and implementation research to improve health and wellbeing of older people in Germany. For example, preliminary results show, that vaccination acceptance was high in persons 65+ years in Germany.

Key messages

• Health 65+ will provide health data of people 65+ years in Germany.

• The results will aid health policy planning.

Stabilized Radiation Pressure Acceleration and Neutron Generation in Ultrathin Deuterated Foils

Premature relativistic transparency of ultrathin, laser-irradiated targets is recognized as an obstacle to achieving a stable radiation pressure acceleration in the "light sail" (LS) mode. Experimental data, corroborated by 2D PIC simulations, show that a few-nm thick overcoat surface layer of high Z material significantly improves ion bunching at high energies during the acceleration. This is diagnosed by simultaneous ion and neutron spectroscopy following irradiation of deuterated plastic targets. In particular, copious and directional neutron production (significantly larger than for other in-target schemes) arises, under optimal parameters, as a signature of plasma layer integrity during the acceleration.

In vivo Characterization of Endogenous Protein Interactomes in Drosophila Larval Brain, Using a CRISPR/Cas9-based Strategy and BioID-based Proximity Labeling

Understanding protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and interactome networks is essential to reveal molecular mechanisms mediating various cellular processes. The most common method to study PPIs in vivo is affinity purification combined with mass spectrometry (AP-MS). Although AP-MS is a powerful method, loss of weak and transient interactions is still a major limitation. Proximity labeling (PL) techniques have been developed as alternatives to overcome these limitations. Proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) is one such widely used PL method. The first-generation BioID enzyme BirA*, a promiscuous bacterial biotin ligase, has been effectively used in cultured mammalian cells; however, relatively slow enzyme kinetics make it less effective for temporal analysis of protein interactions. In addition, BirA* exhibits reduced activity at temperatures below 37°C, further restricting its use in intact organisms cultured at lower optimal growth temperatures ( e.g., Drosophila melanogaster ). TurboID, miniTurbo, and BirA*-G3 are next generation BirA* variants with improved catalytic activity, allowing investigators to use this powerful tool in model systems such as flies. Here, we describe a detailed experimental workflow to efficiently identify the proximal proteome (proximitome) of a protein of interest (POI) in the Drosophila brain using CRISPR/Cas9-induced homology-directed repair (HDR) strategies to endogenously tag the POI with next generation BioID enzymes.

POS0429 ACTIVATED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SYNOVIAL FIBROBLASTS ALTER OSTEOCLAST DIFFERENTIATION AND ACTIVITY

Background

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoclasts are one of the most important mediators of bone erosion. In addition, RA synovial fibroblasts (RASF) have a major influence on joint erosion in RA. They affect osteoclast differentiation e.g. by increased RANKL production or secretion of other pro-osteoclastogenic factors such as IL-6. In addition to the pro-osteoclastogenic effect of soluble factors such as RANKL and IL-1, visfatin inhibits osteoclast differentiation. Furthermore, visfatin increases the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors by RASF, such as IL-6 or matrix degrading enzymes.

Objectives

In this study, the effect of RASF with/without activation by visfatin and IL-1 on osteoclastogenesis was evaluated.

Methods

Blood from healthy donors and RA patients was used for PBMC isolation. RANKL, TGF-β and hM-CSF were added to induce osteoclast differentiation. RASF-conditioned media (CM) were prepared from confluent RASF cultured for 48h. Differentiating PBMCs in monoculture were compared to PBMC cultured with CM from RASF (CM: 10%, 20%, 30%) as well as in direct co-culture with RASF with/without stimulation with IL-1 (0.05ng/ml), visfatin (25ng/ml). After two weeks in culture, cells were stained using TRAP staining. 3-5 images per well were used for quantification dependent on the variability of the wells. IL-6 was measured by ELISA in supernatants collected at day 14.

Results

IL-6 production increased by IL-1 (e.g. co-culture: 2,8-fold) and visfatin (CM-visfatin: 10%=4,3-fold, 20%=5,4-fold, 30%=4,2-fold; co-culture: 9,5-fold) compared to unstimulated control in all settings. In addition, IL-6 was increased with the addition of CM compared to unstimulated controls (healthy donors CM 30%: unstimulated p=0.0342, IL-1 p=0.0133, visfatin p=0,0133; RA: unstimulated p=0.0133, IL-1 p=0.0342, visfatin p=0.0133, n=3 each). Of note, baseline IL-6 concentrations were higher in PBMC from RA patients compared to healthy donors. Co-culture showed an additional increase in IL-6 levels in all settings (e.g. monoculture: IL-1 4.71±5.75pg/ml, visfatin 141.09±182.79pg/ml; co-culture: IL-1 7241±10398pg/ml, visfatin 24535±16994pg/ml;). During osteoclast differentiation, addition of CM showed similar osteoclastogenesis with similar proportion of osteoclasts with 2 and 3-5 vs. higher numbers of nuclei per cell compared to control. In coculture with RASF osteoclasts showed a stronger TRAP signal compared to monoculture especially for unstimulated and IL-1 stimulated co-cultures.

Conclusion

Both, in monoculture with CM and in coculture, IL-6 levels were increased compared to control, whereas in RA patients the IL-6 levels were higher compared to healthy donors. The CM containing secreted factors of RASF did not have a prominent influence on osteoclastogenesis. However, the presence of RASF increased the TRAP signal showing an increased activity of differentiated osteoclasts especially in unstimulated and IL-1 stimulated co-cultures but not with addition of visfatin.

References

None.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared.

Absolute calibration of Fujifilm BAS-TR image plate response to laser driven protons up to 40 MeV

Image plates (IPs) are a popular detector in the field of laser driven ion acceleration, owing to their high dynamic range and reusability. An absolute calibration of these detectors to laser-driven protons in the routinely produced tens of MeV energy range is, therefore, essential. In this paper, the response of Fujifilm BAS-TR IPs to 1-40 MeV protons is calibrated by employing the detectors in high resolution Thomson parabola spectrometers in conjunction with a CR-39 nuclear track detector to determine absolute proton numbers. While CR-39 was placed in front of the image plate for lower energy protons, it was placed behind the image plate for energies above 10 MeV using suitable metal filters sandwiched between the image plate and CR-39 to select specific energies. The measured response agrees well with previously reported calibrations as well as standard models of IP response, providing, for the first time, an absolute calibration over a large range of proton energies of relevance to current experiments.

Enhancement of the Nonresonant Streaming Instability by Particle Collisions

Streaming cosmic rays can power the exponential growth of a seed magnetic field by exciting a nonresonant instability that feeds on their bulk kinetic energy. By generating the necessary turbulent magnetic field, it is thought to play a key role in the confinement and acceleration of cosmic rays at shocks. In this Letter we present hybrid-particle-in-cell simulations of the nonresonant mode including Monte Carlo collisions, and investigate the interplay between the pressure anisotropies produced by the instability and particle collisions in the background plasma. Simulations of poorly ionized plasmas confirm the rapid damping of the instability by proton-neutral collisions predicted by linear fluid theory calculations. In contrast we find that Coulomb collisions in fully ionized plasmas do not oppose the growth of the magnetic field, but under certain conditions suppress the pressure anisotropies and actually enhance the magnetic field amplification.

Pulsed magnetic field generation system for laser-plasma research

An up to 15 T pulsed magnetic field generator in a volume of a few cubic centimeters has been developed for experiments with magnetized laser plasma. The magnetic field is created by a pair of coils placed in a sealed reservoir with liquid nitrogen, installed in a vacuum chamber with a laser target. The bearing body provides the mechanical strength of the system both in the case of co-directional and oppositely connected coils. The configuration of the housing allows laser radiation to be introduced into the working area between the coils in a wide range of directions and focusing angles, places targets away from the symmetry axis of the magnetic system, and irradiates several targets simultaneously.

In vivo Profiling of the Alk Proximitome in the Developing Drosophila Brain

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (Alk) is an evolutionary conserved receptor tyrosine kinase belonging to the insulin receptor superfamily. In addition to its well-studied role in cancer, numerous studies have revealed that Alk signaling is associated with a variety of complex traits such as: regulation of growth and metabolism, hibernation, regulation of neurotransmitters, synaptic coupling, axon targeting, decision making, memory formation and learning, alcohol use disorder, as well as steroid hormone metabolism. In this study, we used BioID-based in vivo proximity labeling to identify molecules that interact with Alk in the Drosophila central nervous system (CNS). To do this, we used CRISPR/Cas9 induced homology-directed repair (HDR) to modify the endogenous Alk locus to produce first and next generation Alk::BioID chimeras. This approach allowed identification of Alk proximitomes under physiological conditions and without overexpression. Our results show that the next generation of BioID proteins (TurboID and miniTurbo) outperform the first generation BirA* fusion in terms of labeling speed and efficiency. LC-MS3-based BioID screening of Alk^TurboID and Alk^miniTurbo larval brains revealed an extensive neuronal Alk proximitome identifying numerous potential components of Alk signaling complexes. Validation of Alk proximitome candidates further revealed co-expression of Stardust (Sdt), Discs large 1 (Dlg1), Syntaxin (Syx) and Rugose (Rg) with Alk in the CNS and identified the protein-tyrosine-phosphatase Corkscrew (Csw) as a modulator of Alk signaling.

Design and commissioning of a neutron counter adapted to high-intensity laser matter interactions

The advent of multi-PW laser facilities world-wide opens new opportunities for nuclear physics. With this perspective, we developed a neutron counter taking into account the specifics of a high-intensity laser environment. Using GEANT4 simulations and prototype testings, we report on the design of a modular neutron counter based on boron-10 enriched scintillators and a high-density polyethylene moderator. This detector has been calibrated using a plutonium-beryllium neutron source and commissioned during an actual neutron-producing laser experiment at the LULI2000 facility (France). An overall efficiency of 4.37(59)% has been demonstrated during calibration with a recovery time of a few hundred microseconds after laser-plasma interaction.

Mass Spectrometry Proteotyping-Based Detection and Identification of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans in Blood

Bloodstream infections (BSIs), the presence of microorganisms in blood, are potentially serious conditions that can quickly develop into sepsis and life-threatening situations. When assessing proper treatment, rapid diagnosis is the key; besides clinical judgement performed by attending physicians, supporting microbiological tests typically are performed, often requiring microbial isolation and culturing steps, which increases the time required for confirming positive cases of BSI. The additional waiting time forces physicians to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics and empirically based treatments, before determining the precise cause of the disease. Thus, alternative and more rapid cultivation-independent methods are needed to improve clinical diagnostics, supporting prompt and accurate treatment and reducing the development of antibiotic resistance. In this study, a culture-independent workflow for pathogen detection and identification in blood samples was developed, using peptide biomarkers and applying bottom-up proteomics analyses, i.e., so-called "proteotyping". To demonstrate the feasibility of detection of blood infectious pathogens, using proteotyping, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were included in the study, as the most prominent bacterial causes of bacteremia and sepsis, as well as Candida albicans, one of the most prominent causes of fungemia. Model systems including spiked negative blood samples, as well as positive blood cultures, without further culturing steps, were investigated. Furthermore, an experiment designed to determine the incubation time needed for correct identification of the infectious pathogens in blood cultures was performed. The results for the spiked negative blood samples showed that proteotyping was 100- to 1,000-fold more sensitive, in comparison with the MALDI-TOF MS-based approach. Furthermore, in the analyses of ten positive blood cultures each of E. coli and S. aureus, both the MALDI-TOF MS-based and proteotyping approaches were successful in the identification of E. coli, although only proteotyping could identify S. aureus correctly in all samples. Compared with the MALDI-TOF MS-based approaches, shotgun proteotyping demonstrated higher sensitivity and accuracy, and required significantly shorter incubation time before detection and identification of the correct pathogen could be accomplished.

Endogenous anandamide and self-reported pain are significantly reduced after a 2-week multimodal treatment with and without radon therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot study

Multimodal therapies comprising spa applications are widely used as non-pharmaceutical treatment options for musculoskeletal diseases. The purpose of this randomized, controlled, open pilot study was to elucidate the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in a multimodal therapy approach. Twenty-five elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) received a 2-week spa therapy with or without combination of low-dose radon therapy in the Bad Gastein radon gallery. A 10-point numerical rating scale (pain in motion and at rest), WOMAC questionnaire, and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire were recorded at baseline, and during treatment period at weeks one and two, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. Plasma levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) were determined at baseline and at 2 weeks, and serum levels of several cartilage metabolism markers at all five time-points. A significant and sustained reduction of self-reported knee pain was observed in the study population, but no further significant effect of the additional radon therapy up and above base therapy. This pain reduction was accompanied by a significant reduction of AEA plasma levels during treatment in both groups. No significant differences were seen in serum marker concentrations between the groups treated with or without radon, but a small reduction of serum cartilage degradation markers was observed during treatment in both groups. This is the first study investigating AEA levels in the context of a non-pharmacological OA treatment. Since the endocannabinoid system represents a potential target for the development of new therapeutics, further studies will have to elucidate its involvement in OA pain.

The Value of Immersive Visualization

In recent years, research on immersive environments has experienced a new wave of interest, and immersive analytics has been established as a new research field. Every year, a vast amount of different techniques, applications, and user studies are published that focus on employing immersive environments for visualizing and analyzing data. Nevertheless, immersive analytics is still a relatively unexplored field that needs more basic research in many aspects and is still viewed with skepticism. Rightly so, because in our opinion, many researchers do not fully exploit the possibilities offered by immersive environments and, on the contrary, sometimes even overestimate the power of immersive visualizations. Although a growing body of papers has demonstrated individual advantages of immersive analytics for specific tasks and problems, the general benefit of using immersive environments for effective analytic tasks remains controversial. In this article, we reflect on when and how immersion may be appropriate for the analysis and present four guiding scenarios. We report on our experiences, discuss the landscape of assessment strategies, and point out the directions where we believe immersive visualizations have the greatest potential.

Effects of liraglutide on the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in type 2 diabetes

AIM

To elucidate the impact of liraglutide on the kinetics of apolipoprotein (apo)B48- and apoB100-containing triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) after a single fat-rich meal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects with T2D were included in a study to investigate postprandial apoB48 and apoB100 metabolism before and after 16 weeks on l.8 mg/day liraglutide (n = 14) or placebo (n = 4). Stable isotope tracer and compartmental modelling techniques were used to determine the impact of liraglutide on chylomicron and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) production and clearance after a single fat-rich meal.

RESULTS

Liraglutide reduced apoB48 synthesis in chylomicrons by 60% (p < .0001) and increased the triglyceride/apoB48 ratio (i.e. the size) of chylomicrons (p < .001). Direct clearance of chylomicrons, a quantitatively significant pathway pretreatment, decreased by 90% on liraglutide (p < .001). Liraglutide also reduced VLDL₁ -triglyceride secretion (p = .017) in parallel with reduced liver fat. Chylomicron-apoB48 production and particle size were related to insulin sensitivity (p = .015 and p < .001, respectively), but these associations were perturbed by liraglutide.

CONCLUSIONS

In a physiologically relevant setting that mirrored regular feeding in subjects with T2D, liraglutide promoted potentially beneficial changes on postprandial apoB48 metabolism. Using our data in an integrated metabolic model, we describe how the action of liraglutide in T2D on chylomicron and VLDL kinetics could lead to decreased generation of remnant lipoproteins.

Laboratory disruption of scaled astrophysical outflows by a misaligned magnetic field

The shaping of astrophysical outflows into bright, dense, and collimated jets due to magnetic pressure is here investigated using laboratory experiments. Here we look at the impact on jet collimation of a misalignment between the outflow, as it stems from the source, and the magnetic field. For small misalignments, a magnetic nozzle forms and redirects the outflow in a collimated jet. For growing misalignments, this nozzle becomes increasingly asymmetric, disrupting jet formation. Our results thus suggest outflow/magnetic field misalignment to be a plausible key process regulating jet collimation in a variety of objects from our Sun’s outflows to extragalatic jets. Furthermore, they provide a possible interpretation for the observed structuring of astrophysical jets. Jet modulation could be interpreted as the signature of changes over time in the outflow/ambient field angle, and the change in the direction of the jet could be the signature of changes in the direction of the ambient field.

Mass outflow is a common process in astrophysical objects. Here the authors investigate in which conditions an astrophysically-scaled laser-produced plasma flow can be collimated and evolves in the presence of a misaligned external magnetic field.

Revision rate of THA in patients younger than 40 years depends on primary diagnosis - a retrospective analysis with a minimum follow-up of 10 years

Background

Treating osteoarthritis in elderly patients with THA is very successful. However, surgeons hesitate to recommend THA in younger patients. The spectrum of etiologies for end stage hip disease in the younger population is diverse and therefore different courses may be assumed. Our objective was to evaluate THA revision rate within a minimum follow-up period of 10 years in young patients and to analyze the difference between different primary diagnoses.

Methods

We included 144 consecutive hips in 127 patients younger than 40 years, who received a primary THA from 01/1996 to 12/2007. Operative reports, clinical and radiographic documentation were reviewed to determine primary diagnosis, prior hip surgery, component specifications and revision surgery. 111 hips in 97 patients were available for outcome analysis with a minimum follow-up of 10 years.

Results

The mean age was 33 years (range 15–40 years) at the time of the index THA, 68 patients were female and 59 were male. Ten years revision rate on the prosthetic components was 13%. The most common primary diagnosis was DDH. DDH was associated with a risk of 17% for requiring a reoperation on the prosthetic components because of mechanical fatigue and therefore, significantly higher than for any other primary diagnosis (p = 0.005).

Conclusion

THA in young patients is associated with a high revision rate of 13% in 10 years. 17% of patients with DDH required revision surgery for mechanical fatigue within 10 years, which was significantly higher than for any other primary diagnosis (1.2%, OR 16.8).

The structure of enteric human adenovirus 41-A leading cause of diarrhea in children

Human adenovirus (HAdV) types F40 and F41 are a prominent cause of diarrhea and diarrhea-associated mortality in young children worldwide. These enteric HAdVs differ notably in tissue tropism and pathogenicity from respiratory and ocular adenoviruses, but the structural basis for this divergence has been unknown. Here, we present the first structure of an enteric HAdV-HAdV-F41-determined by cryo-electron microscopy to a resolution of 3.8 Å. The structure reveals extensive alterations to the virion exterior as compared to nonenteric HAdVs, including a unique arrangement of capsid protein IX. The structure also provides new insights into conserved aspects of HAdV architecture such as a proposed location of core protein V, which links the viral DNA to the capsid, and assembly-induced conformational changes in the penton base protein. Our findings provide the structural basis for adaptation of enteric HAdVs to a fundamentally different tissue tropism.

Effects of Evolocumab on the Postprandial Kinetics of Apo (Apolipoprotein) B100- and B48-Containing Lipoproteins in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in subjects with type 2 diabetes is linked to elevated levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and their remnants. The metabolic effects of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9) inhibitors on this dyslipidemia were investigated using stable-isotope-labeled tracers. Approach and Results: Triglyceride transport and the metabolism of apos (apolipoproteins) B48, B100, C-III, and E after a fat-rich meal were investigated before and on evolocumab treatment in 13 subjects with type 2 diabetes. Kinetic parameters were determined for the following: apoB48 in chylomicrons; triglyceride in VLDL₁ (very low-density lipoprotein) and VLDL₂; and apoB100 in VLDL₁, VLDL₂, IDL (intermediate-density lipoprotein), and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). Evolocumab did not alter the kinetics of apoB48 in chylomicrons or apoB100 or triglyceride in VLDL₁. In contrast, the fractional catabolic rates of VLDL₂-apoB100 and VLDL₂-triglyceride were both increased by about 45%, which led to a 28% fall in the VLDL₂ plasma level. LDL-apoB100 was markedly reduced by evolocumab, which was linked to metabolic heterogeneity in this fraction. Evolocumab increased clearance of the more rapidly metabolized LDL by 61% and decreased production of the more slowly cleared LDL by 75%. ApoC-III kinetics were not altered by evolocumab, but the apoE fractional catabolic rates increased by 45% and the apoE plasma level fell by 33%. The apoE fractional catabolic rates was associated with the decrease in VLDL₂- and IDL-apoB100 concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Evolocumab had only minor effects on lipoproteins that are involved in triglyceride transport (chylomicrons and VLDL₁) but, in contrast, had a profound impact on lipoproteins that carry cholesterol (VLDL₂, IDL, LDL). Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02948777.

Analysis of the small chromosomal Prionium serratum (Cyperid) demonstrates the importance of reliable methods to differentiate between mono- and holocentricity

For a long time, the Cyperid clade (Thurniceae-Juncaceae-Cyperaceae) was considered a group of species possessing holocentromeres exclusively. The basal phylogenetic position of Prionium serratum (Thunb.) Drège (Thurniceae) within Cyperids makes this species an important specimen to understand the centromere evolution within this clade. In contrast to the expectation, the chromosomal distribution of the centromere-specific histone H3 (CENH3), alpha-tubulin and different centromere-associated post-translational histone modifications (H3S10ph, H3S28ph and H2AT120ph) demonstrate a monocentromeric organisation of P. serratum chromosomes. Analysis of the high-copy repeat composition resulted in the identification of two centromere-localised satellite repeats. Hence, monocentricity was the ancestral condition for the Juncaceae-Cyperaceae-Thurniaceae Cyperid clade, and holocentricity in this clade has independently arisen at least twice after differentiation of the three families, once in Juncaceae and the other one in Cyperaceae. In this context, methods suitable for the identification of holocentromeres are discussed.

Management of benign liver tumors

Benign liver tumors in children are far less frequent than their malignant counterparts. Recently, there have been advances of diagnostic procedures and novel treatments with improved classification as a result. While malignant pediatric liver tumors have been comprehensively addressed by multicenter international tumor trials, benign tumors have more usually relied upon individualised workup and treatment. Due to the rarity and heterogeneity of these different entities, large studies are lacking. In this article the authors highlight the spectrum of benign liver tumors with special focus on specific clinical features, pathology, and treatment.

Teaching Clustering Algorithms With EduClust: Experience Report and Future Directions

We share our experiences teaching university students about clustering algorithms using EduClust, an online visualization we developed. EduClust supports professors in preparing teaching material and students in visually and interactively exploring cluster steps and the effects of changing clustering parameters. We used EduClust for two years in our computer science lectures on clustering algorithms and share our experience integrating the online application in a data science curriculum. We also point to opportunities for future development.

Discovery of Species-unique Peptide Biomarkers of Bacterial Pathogens by Tandem Mass Spectrometry-based Proteotyping

Mass spectrometry (MS) and proteomics offer comprehensive characterization and identification of microorganisms and discovery of protein biomarkers that are applicable for diagnostics of infectious diseases. The use of biomarkers for diagnostics is widely applied in the clinic and the use of peptide biomarkers is increasingly being investigated for applications in the clinical laboratory. Respiratory-tract infections are a predominant cause for medical treatment, although, clinical assessments and standard clinical laboratory protocols are time-consuming and often inadequate for reliable diagnoses. Novel methods, preferably applied directly to clinical samples, excluding cultivation steps, are needed to improve diagnostics of infectious diseases, provide adequate treatment and reduce the use of antibiotics and associated development of antibiotic resistance. This study applied nano-liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem MS, with a bioinformatics pipeline and an in-house database of curated high-quality reference genome sequences to identify species-unique peptides as potential biomarkers for four bacterial pathogens commonly found in respiratory tract infections (RTIs): Staphylococcus aureus; Moraxella catarrhalis; Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae The species-unique peptides were initially identified in pure cultures of bacterial reference strains, reflecting the genomic variation in the four species and, furthermore, in clinical respiratory tract samples, without prior cultivation, elucidating proteins expressed in clinical conditions of infection. For each of the four bacterial pathogens, the peptide biomarker candidates most predominantly found in clinical samples, are presented. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD014522. As proof-of-principle, the most promising species-unique peptides were applied in targeted tandem MS-analyses of clinical samples and their relevance for identifications of the pathogens, i.e. proteotyping, was validated, thus demonstrating their potential as peptide biomarker candidates for diagnostics of infectious diseases.

Subpopulations of extracellular vesicles from human metastatic melanoma tissue identified by quantitative proteomics after optimized isolation

The majority of extracellular vesicle (EV) studies conducted to date have been performed on cell lines with little knowledge on how well these represent the characteristics of EVs in vivo. The aim of this study was to establish a method to isolate and categorize subpopulations of EVs isolated directly from tumour tissue. First we established an isolation protocol for subpopulations of EVs from metastatic melanoma tissue, which included enzymatic treatment (collagenase D and DNase). Small and large EVs were isolated with differential ultracentrifugation, and these were further separated into high and low-density (HD and LD) fractions. All EV subpopulations were then analysed in depth using electron microscopy, Bioanalyzer®, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and quantitative mass spectrometry analysis. Subpopulations of EVs with distinct size, morphology, and RNA and protein cargo could be isolated from the metastatic melanoma tissue. LD EVs showed an RNA profile with the presence of 18S and 28S ribosomal subunits. In contrast, HD EVs had RNA profiles with small or no peaks for ribosomal RNA subunits. Quantitative proteomics showed that several proteins such as flotillin-1 were enriched in both large and small LD EVs, while ADAM10 were exclusively enriched in small LD EVs. In contrast, mitofilin was enriched only in the large EVs. We conclude that enzymatic treatments improve EV isolation from dense fibrotic tissue without any apparent effect on molecular or morphological characteristics. By providing a detailed categorization of several subpopulations of EVs isolated directly from tumour tissues, we might better understand the function of EVs in tumour biology and their possible use in biomarker discovery.

Corrigendum: Limitations in activities of daily living in old age in Germany and the EU - Results from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2

[This corrects the article on p. 48-56 in vol. 4.].

The Impact of Immersion on Cluster Identification Tasks

Recent developments in technology encourage the use of head-mounted displays (HMDs) as a medium to explore visualizations in virtual realities (VRs). VR environments (VREs) enable new, more immersive visualization design spaces compared to traditional computer screens. Previous studies in different domains, such as medicine, psychology, and geology, report a positive effect of immersion, e.g., on learning performance or phobia treatment effectiveness. Our work presented in this paper assesses the applicability of those findings to a common task from the information visualization (InfoVis) domain. We conducted a quantitative user study to investigate the impact of immersion on cluster identification tasks in scatterplot visualizations. The main experiment was carried out with 18 participants in a within-subjects setting using four different visualizations, (1) a 2D scatterplot matrix on a screen, (2) a 3D scatterplot on a screen, (3) a 3D scatterplot miniature in a VRE and (4) a fully immersive 3D scatterplot in a VRE. The four visualization design spaces vary in their level of immersion, as shown in a supplementary study. The results of our main study indicate that task performance differs between the investigated visualization design spaces in terms of accuracy, efficiency, memorability, sense of orientation, and user preference. In particular, the 2D visualization on the screen performed worse compared to the 3D visualizations with regard to the measured variables. The study shows that an increased level of immersion can be a substantial benefit in the context of 3D data and cluster detection.

Laser-Produced Magnetic-Rayleigh-Taylor Unstable Plasma Slabs in a 20 T Magnetic Field

Magnetized laser-produced plasmas are central to many novel laboratory astrophysics and inertial confinement fusion studies, as well as in industrial applications. Here we provide the first complete description of the three-dimensional dynamics of a laser-driven plasma plume expanding in a 20 T transverse magnetic field. The plasma is collimated by the magnetic field into a slender, rapidly elongating slab, whose plasma-vacuum interface is unstable to the growth of the "classical," fluidlike magnetized Rayleigh-Taylor instability.

venenkleber.koeln – Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse nach 1015 Stammvenenbehandlungen – Die bessere Alternative zur Stripping Operation?

Endovenöse Methoden in der Behandlung inkompetenter Venen haben sich in Deutschland etabliert. Obwohl sie eine effektive Alternative zur chirurgischen Therapie darstellen, handelt es sich unverständlicherweise nicht um Eingriffe der ersten Wahl. Ganz im Gegensatz zu internationalen Empfehlungen. Risiken und Nebenwirkungen lassen sich durch die nicht-thermischen Verfahren weiter reduzieren. Ist die Varizen-Verklebung mit Cyanoacrylat eine weitere Verbesserung? Nach 1015 Prozeduren mit dem Venenkleber an inkompetenten Stammvenen werden die eigenen Ergebnisse vorgestellt und diskutiert.

Visual Analytics of Volunteered Geographic Information: Detection and Investigation of Urban Heat Islands

Urban heat islands are local areas where the temperature is much higher than in the vicinity and are a modern phenomenon that occurs mainly in highly developed areas, such as large cities. This effect has a negative impact on energy management in buildings, and also has a direct impact on human health, especially for elderly people. With the advent of volunteered geographic information from private weather station networks, more high-resolution data are now available within cities to better analyze this effect. However, such datasets are large and have heterogeneous characteristics requiring visual-interactive applications to support further analysis. We use machine learning methods to predict urban heat islands occurrences and utilize temporal and spatio-temporal visualizations to contextualize the emergence of urban heat islands to comprehend the influencing causes and their effects. Subsequently, we demonstrate the analysis capabilities of our application by presenting two use cases.

The response function of Fujifilm BAS-TR imaging plates to laser-accelerated titanium ions

Calibrated diagnostics for energetic particle detection allow for the systematic study of charged particle sources. The Fujifilm BAS-TR imaging plate (IP) is a reusable phosphorescent detector for radiation applications such as x-ray and particle beam detection. The BAS-TR IP has been absolutely calibrated to many low-Z (low proton number) ions, and extending these calibrations to the mid-Z regime is beneficial for the study of laser-driven ion sources. The Texas Petawatt Laser was used to generate energetic ions from a 100 nm titanium foil, and charge states Ti¹⁰⁺ through Ti¹²⁺, ranging from 6 to 27 MeV, were analyzed for calibration. A plastic detector of CR-39 with evenly placed slots was mounted in front of the IP to count the number of ions that correspond with the IP levels of photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL). A response curve was fitted to the data, yielding a model of the PSL signal vs ion energy. Comparisons to other published response curves are also presented, illustrating the trend of PSL/nucleon decreasing with increasing ion mass.

Absolute quantification of cohesin, CTCF and their regulators in human cells

The organisation of mammalian genomes into loops and topologically associating domains (TADs) contributes to chromatin structure, gene expression and recombination. TADs and many loops are formed by cohesin and positioned by CTCF. In proliferating cells, cohesin also mediates sister chromatid cohesion, which is essential for chromosome segregation. Current models of chromatin folding and cohesion are based on assumptions of how many cohesin and CTCF molecules organise the genome. Here we have measured absolute copy numbers and dynamics of cohesin, CTCF, NIPBL, WAPL and sororin by mass spectrometry, fluorescence-correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching in HeLa cells. In G1-phase, there are ~250,000 nuclear cohesin complexes, of which ~ 160,000 are chromatin-bound. Comparison with chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing data implies that some genomic cohesin and CTCF enrichment sites are unoccupied in single cells at any one time. We discuss the implications of these findings for how cohesin can contribute to genome organisation and cohesion.

Dynamics of the Electromagnetic Fields Induced by Fast Electron Propagation in Near-Solid-Density Media

The propagation of fast electron currents in near solid-density media was investigated via proton probing. Fast currents were generated inside dielectric foams via irradiation with a short (∼0.6  ps) laser pulse focused at relativistic intensities (Iλ^{2}∼4×10^{19}  W cm^{-2} μm^{2}). Proton probing provided a spatially and temporally resolved characterization of the evolution of the electromagnetic fields and of the associated net currents directly inside the target. The progressive growth of beam filamentation was temporally resolved and information on the divergence of the fast electron beam was obtained. Hybrid simulations of electron propagation in dense media indicate that resistive effects provide a major contribution to field generation and explain well the topology, magnitude, and temporal growth of the fields observed in the experiment. Estimations of the growth rates for different types of instabilities pinpoints the resistive instability as the most likely dominant mechanism of beam filamentation.

The Influence of the Univent® Endotracheal Tube on Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation

This prospective clinical investigation assessed the effect of placement of a Univent® tube on the anatomy of the internal jugular veins and the success of cannulation of the left internal jugular vein. After obtaining informed consent, 48 adult patients were enrolled. Of these, 42 patients were eligible and were divided into two groups: Univent® tube (group U, n=21) and wire enforced endotracheal tube (group C, n=21). The Univent® tube group were having a left thoracotomy. Using horizontal ultrasound scans just above the thyroid gland, the internal jugular vein was visualized and measured before and after Univent® placement. The number of needle passes necessary to cannulate the left internal jugular vein in the two groups was also compared.

Univent® tubes were associated with lateral displacement of the right carotid artery and internal jugular vein on the convex side of the Univent® tube, with compression of the right internal jugular vein by the artery, resulting in a kidney-shaped cross-section of the vein. On the left (concave side of the tube), the neck was indented, the sheath of the left carotid artery was displaced medially, and the left internal jugular vein distorted to an ellipse. There was a significant increase in the lateral diameter and a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the left internal jugular vein (t-test, P<0.05). The first attempt at cannulation of the left internal jugular vein failed significantly more often in the Univent® group (13/21 vs 5/21 in group C, Chi-square 6.22, P=0.025). Cannulation of the internal jugular vein before placement of the Univent® tube, or placement with ultrasound guidance is suggested.

Experimental evidence for the enhanced and reduced stopping regimes for protons propagating through hot plasmas

Our understanding of the dynamics of ion collisional energy loss in a plasma is still not complete, in part due to the difficulty and lack of high-quality experimental measurements. These measurements are crucial to benchmark existing models. Here, we show that such a measurement is possible using high-flux proton beams accelerated by high intensity short pulse lasers, where there is a high number of particles in a picosecond pulse, which is ideal for measurements in quickly expanding plasmas. By reducing the energy bandwidth of the protons using a passive selector, we have made proton stopping measurements in partially ionized Argon and fully ionized Hydrogen plasmas with electron temperatures of hundreds of eV and densities in the range 1020-1021 cm-3. In the first case, we have observed, consistently with previous reports, enhanced stopping of protons when compared to stopping power in non-ionized gas. In the second case, we have observed for the first time the regime of reduced stopping, which is theoretically predicted in such hot and fully ionized plasma. The versatility of these tunable short-pulse laser based ion sources, where the ion type and energy can be changed at will, could open up the possibility for a variety of ion stopping power measurements in plasmas so long as they are well characterized in terms of temperature and density. In turn, these measurements will allow tests of the validity of existing theoretical models.