Toxicological inhalation studies in rats to substantiate grouping of zinc oxide nanoforms

BACKGROUND

Significant variations exist in the forms of ZnO, making it impossible to test all forms in in vivo inhalation studies. Hence, grouping and read-across is a common approach under REACH to evaluate the toxicological profile of familiar substances. The objective of this paper is to investigate the potential role of dissolution, size, or coating in grouping ZnO (nano)forms for the purpose of hazard assessment. We performed a 90-day inhalation study (OECD test guideline no. (TG) 413) in rats combined with a reproduction/developmental (neuro)toxicity screening test (TG 421/424/426) with coated and uncoated ZnO nanoforms in comparison with microscale ZnO particles and soluble zinc sulfate. In addition, genotoxicity in the nasal cavity, lungs, liver, and bone marrow was examined via comet assay (TG 489) after 14-day inhalation exposure.

RESULTS

ZnO nanoparticles caused local toxicity in the respiratory tract. Systemic effects that were not related to the local irritation were not observed. There was no indication of impaired fertility, developmental toxicity, or developmental neurotoxicity. No indication for genotoxicity of any of the test substances was observed. Local effects were similar across the different ZnO test substances and were reversible after the end of the exposure.

CONCLUSION

With exception of local toxicity, this study could not confirm the occasional findings in some of the previous studies regarding the above-mentioned toxicological endpoints. The two representative ZnO nanoforms and the microscale particles showed similar local effects. The ZnO nanoforms most likely exhibit their effects by zinc ions as no particles could be detected after the end of the exposure, and exposure to rapidly soluble zinc sulfate had similar effects. Obviously, material differences between the ZnO particles do not substantially alter their toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. The grouping of ZnO nanoforms into a set of similar nanoforms is justified by these observations.

Procrastination, depression and anxiety symptoms in university students: a three-wave longitudinal study on the mediating role of perceived stress

BACKGROUND

It is generally assumed that procrastination leads to negative consequences. However, evidence for negative consequences of procrastination is still limited and it is also unclear by which mechanisms they are mediated. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the harmful consequences of procrastination on students' stress and mental health. We selected the procrastination-health model as our theoretical foundation and tried to evaluate the model's assumption that trait procrastination leads to (chronic) disease via (chronic) stress in a temporal perspective. We chose depression and anxiety symptoms as indicators for (chronic) disease and hypothesized that procrastination leads to perceived stress over time, that perceived stress leads to depression and anxiety symptoms over time, and that procrastination leads to depression and anxiety symptoms over time, mediated by perceived stress.

METHODS

To examine these relationships properly, we collected longitudinal data from 392 university students at three occasions over a one-year period and analyzed the data using autoregressive time-lagged panel models.

RESULTS

Procrastination did lead to depression and anxiety symptoms over time. However, perceived stress was not a mediator of this effect. Procrastination did not lead to perceived stress over time, nor did perceived stress lead to depression and anxiety symptoms over time.

CONCLUSIONS

We could not confirm that trait procrastination leads to (chronic) disease via (chronic) stress, as assumed in the procrastination-health model. Nonetheless, our study demonstrated that procrastination can have a detrimental effect on mental health. Further health outcomes and possible mediators should be explored in future studies.

Hitching a Ride in the Phyllosphere: Surfactant Production of Pseudomonas spp. Causes Co-swarming of Pantoea eucalypti 299R

Here, we demonstrate the beneficial effect of surfactant-producing pseudomonads on Pantoea eucalypti 299R. We conducted a series of experiments in environments of increasing complexity. P. eucalypti 299R (Pe299R), and Pseudomonas sp. FF1 (Pff1) or Pe299R and surfactant-production deficient Pseudomonas sp. FF1::ΔviscB (Pff1ΔviscB) were co-inoculated in broth, on swarming agar plates, and on plants. In broth, there were no differences in the growth dynamics of Pe299R when growing in the presence of Pff1 or Pff1ΔviscB. By contrast, on swarming agar plates, Pe299R was able to co-swarm with Pff1 which led to a significant increase in Pe299R biomass compared to Pe299R growing with Pff1ΔviscB or in monoculture. Finally in planta, and using the single-cell bioreporter for reproductive success (CUSPER), we found a temporally distinct beneficial effect of Pff1 on co-inoculated Pe299R subpopulations that did not occur in the presence of Pff1ΔviscB. We tested three additional surfactant-producing pseudomonads and their respective surfactant knockout mutants on PE299R on swarming agar showing similar results. This led us to propose a model for the positive effect of surfactant production during leaf colonization. Our results indicate that co-motility might be common during leaf colonization and adds yet another facet to the already manyfold roles of surfactants.

Survival of highly related ESBL- and pAmpC- producing Escherichia coli in broiler farms identified before and after cleaning and disinfection using cgMLST

BACKGROUND

Broiler chickens are frequently colonized with Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase- (ESBL-) and plasmid mediated AmpC Beta-Lactamase- (pAmpC-) producing Enterobacterales, and we are confronted with the potential spread of these resistant bacteria in the food chain, in the environment, and to humans. Research focused on identifying of transmission routes and investigating potential intervention measures against ESBL- and pAmpC- producing bacteria in the broiler production chain. However, few data are available on the effects of cleaning and disinfection (C&D) procedures in broiler stables on ESBL- and pAmpC- producing bacteria.

RESULTS

We systematically investigated five broiler stables before and after C&D and identified potential ESBL- and pAmpC- colonization sites after C&D in the broiler stables, including the anteroom and the nearby surrounding environment of the broiler stables. Phenotypically resistant E. coli isolates grown on MacConkey agar with cefotaxime were further analyzed for their beta-lactam resistance genes and phylogenetic groups, as well as the relation of isolates from the investigated stables before and after C&D by whole genome sequencing. Survival of ESBL- and pAmpC- producing E. coli is highly likely at sites where C&D was not performed or where insufficient cleaning was performed prior to disinfection. For the first time, we showed highly related ESBL-/pAmpC- producing E. coli isolates detected before and after C&D in four of five broiler stables examined with cgMLST. Survival of resistant isolates in investigated broiler stables as well as transmission of resistant isolates from broiler stables to the anteroom and surrounding environment and between broiler farms was shown. In addition, enterococci (frequently utilized to detect fecal contamination and for C&D control) can be used as an indicator bacterium for the detection of ESBL-/pAmpC- E. coli after C&D.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that C&D can reduce ESBL-/pAmpC- producing E. coli in conventional broiler stables, but complete ESBL- and pAmpC- elimination does not seem to be possible in practice as several factors influence the C&D outcome (e.g. broiler stable condition, ESBL-/pAmpC- status prior to C&D, C&D procedures used, and biosecurity measures on the farm). A multifactorial approach, combining various hygiene- and management measures, is needed to reduce ESBL-/pAmpC- E. coli in broiler farms.

Ecotoxicological evaluation of surface waters in Northern Namibia

The increasing pressure on freshwater systems due to intensive anthropogenic use is a big challenge in central-northern Namibia and its catchment areas, the Kunene and the Kavango Rivers, and the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin, that provide water for more than 1 million people. So far, there is no comprehensive knowledge about the ecological status and only few knowledge about the water quality. Therefore, it is crucial to learn about the state of the ecosystem and the ecological effects of pollutants to ensure the safe use of these resources. The surface waters of the three systems were sampled, and three bioassays were applied on three trophic levels: algae, daphnia, and zebrafish embryos. Additionally, in vitro assays were performed to analyze mutagenicity (Ames fluctuation), dioxin-like potential (micro-EROD), and estrogenicity (YES) by mechanism-specific effects. The results show that acute toxicity to fish embryos and daphnia has mainly been detected at all sites in the three catchment areas. The systems differ significantly from each other, with the sites in the Iishana system showing the highest acute toxicity. At the cellular level, only weak effects were identified, although these were stronger in the Iishana system than in the two perennial systems. Algae growth was not inhibited, and no cytotoxic effects could be detected in any of the samples. Mutagenic effects and an estrogenic potential were detected at three sites in the Iishana system. These findings are critical in water resource management as the effects can adversely impact the health of aquatic ecosystems and the organisms within them.

Isolation and propagation of an Egyptian Theileria annulata infected cell line and evaluation of its use as a vaccine to protect cattle against field challenge

Tropical theileriosis is an important protozoan tick-borne disease in cattle. Vaccination using attenuated schizont-infected cell lines is one of the methods used for controlling the disease. This study describes the production of attenuated schizont-infected cell lines from Egypt and an evaluation of its use as a vaccine to protect calves against clinical disease upon field challenge. Two groups of exotic and crossbred male calves were divided into vaccinated and control groups. The vaccinated groups were inoculated with 4 ml (1 × 106 cells/ml) of the attenuated cell line. Three weeks after vaccination, calves of both groups were transported to the New Valley Governorate (Egyptian oasis) where they were kept under field conditions and exposed to the natural Theileria annulata challenge. All animals in the control group showed severe clinical signs and died despite treatment with buparvaquone, which was administered after two days of persistent fever due to a severe drop in packed cell volume (PCV). Animals in the vaccinated group became seropositive without developing severe clinical signs other than transient fever. Post-mortem examinations revealed enlarged and fragile lymph nodes, spleen, and liver with necrosis and hemorrhages. These findings indicate that the Egyptian attenuated cell line was successful in protecting both exotic and crossbred animals against tropical theileriosis under field conditions.

Analyzing body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria in the context of minority stress among transgender adolescents

BACKGROUND

Gender dysphoria among transgender adolescents has predominantly been examined in relation to body dissatisfaction. While in adult transgender samples, body dissatisfaction is higher than in cisgender controls, this has so far rarely been investigated for adolescents. In the context of a cisnormative society, the impact of influences from the social environment on body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria has been neglected in research. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) provide a detailed analysis of body dissatisfaction among young transgender people and (2) investigate whether body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria are associated with experiences of minority stress such as trans hostility and poor peer relations (PPR).

METHODS

The paper presents a cross-sectional study among a sample of transgender adolescents, presenting at a specialized outpatient counseling clinic (N = 99; age M = 15.36, SD = 1.85). First, body dissatisfaction (assessed by the Body-Image-Scale; BIS), was explored and compared to data from a population-based control group of cisgender peers (N = 527; age M = 14.43, SD = 0.97). Second, within a clinic-referred transgender subsample (n = 74), associations between body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria (measured by Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale; UGDS), PPR (measured by the Youth-Self-Report; YSR-R), and trans hostile experiences (assessed in clinical interview) were examined by correlations, t-tests and multivariate regression.

RESULTS

Transgender adolescents reported more body dissatisfaction than cisgender peers. The dissatisfaction with sex characteristics, non-hormonal reactive body regions and the total score for body dissatisfaction were positively related with gender dysphoria. The majority had experienced trans hostility in the present and/or past (54.1%) and PPR (63.5%). More body dissatisfaction was correlated with more PPR regarding visible body parts i.e., hair, overall appearance and muscles, whilst PPR and gender dysphoria were not associated. Transgender adolescents who experienced trans hostility showed higher gender dysphoria and PPR, but not more body dissatisfaction. In multiple regression, trans hostility predicted gender dysphoria, whilst age and PPR predicted body dissatisfaction.

DISCUSSION

Experiences of minority-stress differentially interact with body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria among transgender adolescents. Social correlates of body dissatisfaction and gender dysphoria must be considered when working with young transgender people.

Nanosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy for the study of electron transfer in photosystem I

Microsecond time-resolved step-scan FTIR difference spectroscopy was used to study photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus vestitus BP-1 (T. vestitus, formerly known as T. elongatus) at 77 K. In addition, photoaccumulated (P700+-P700) FTIR difference spectra were obtained at both 77 and 293 K. The FTIR difference spectra are presented here for the first time. To extend upon these FTIR studies nanosecond time-resolved infrared difference spectroscopy was also used to study PSI from T. vestitus at 296 K. Nanosecond infrared spectroscopy has never been used to study PSI samples at physiological temperatures, and here it is shown that such an approach has great value as it allows a direct probe of electron transfer down both branches in PSI. In PSI at 296 K, the infrared flash-induced absorption changes indicate electron transfer down the B- and A-branches is characterized by time constants of 33 and 364 ns, respectively, in good agreement with visible spectroscopy studies. These time constants are associated with forward electron transfer from A1- to FX on the B- and A-branches, respectively. At several infrared wavelengths flash-induced absorption changes at 296 K recover in tens to hundreds of milliseconds. The dominant decay phase is characterized by a lifetime of 128 ms. These millisecond changes are assigned to radical pair recombination reactions, with the changes being associated primarily with P700+ rereduction. This conclusion follows from the observation that the millisecond infrared spectrum is very similar to the photoaccumulated (P700+-P700) FTIR difference spectrum.

Emotion Regulation, Parenting, and Psychopathology: A Systematic Review

The presence of a parental mental disorder can lead to adverse outcomes for children. Difficulties in emotion regulation are observed across a range of mental health problems and may play a crucial role in this context. Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science for studies examining the association between emotion regulation in parents with psychopathology at a clinical or subclinical level and their parenting. The protocol was registered with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42021224954; January 2021). A total of 23 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Emotion regulation was predominantly assessed using self-report on the general ability (e.g., Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale). The assessment of parenting encompassed a broad range of aspects and operationalizations. Across psychopathology in parents, several aspects of difficulties in emotion regulation were associated with unfavorable emotion socialization, more negative parenting, and partially with less positive parenting. Slightly different effects were observed for posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders. For parents with depressive disorders, specific emotion regulation strategies (suppression, reappraisal) seem to buffer against negative parenting. Since the majority of studies refer only to mothers, generalization to fathers is limited. Furthermore, conclusions are limited due to study heterogeneity and lack of prospective studies. Nevertheless, findings suggest that interventions should target the improvement of emotion regulation in parents with psychopathology.

In vitro infection of bovine erythrocytes with Theileria annulata merozoites as a key step in completing the T. annulata life cycle in vitro

Theileria annulata is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle involving a bovine host and a tick vector. It is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and is the causative agent of tropical theileriosis, a debilitating and often fatal disease in southern Europe, northern Africa and large parts of Asia. Understanding the biology of different life cycle stages is critical for the control of tropical theileriosis and requires the use of experimental animals which poses an ethical concern. We present for the first time the in vitro infection of red blood cells (RBCs) with T. annulata differentiated schizonts. The Ankara cell line of T. annulata was cultured at 41 °C for nine days to induce merogony and subsequently incubated with purified RBCs for one to three days. Percentage of parasitized erythrocyte (PPE) over the short culture period was estimated by Giemsa staining (0.007-0.01%), Flow cytometry activated sorting (FACS) (0.02-1.1%) and observation of FACS sorted cells by confocal microscopy (0.05-0.4%). There was a significant difference in the PPE between FACS and the two other techniques (one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test, P = 0.004) but no significant difference was observed between the confocal imaging and Giemsa staining methods (ANOVA one-way followed by Tukey test, P = 0.06). Importantly, all three complementary methods confirmed the invasion of RBCs by T. annulata merozoites in vitro. Although the experimental conditions will require further optimization to increase the PPE, the in vitro infection of RBCs by T. annulata merozoites is pivotal in paving the way for the eventual completion of the T. annulata life cycle in vitro when combined with artificial tick feeding.

Dendritic cells under allergic condition enhance the activation of pruritogen-responsive neurons via inducing itch receptors in a co-culture study

BACKGROUND

Itch sensitization has been reported in patients with chronic allergic skin diseases and observed in a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). There is evidence suggesting that neuroimmune interactions may contribute to itch sensitization, as an increase in dendritic cells (DCs) within ganglia has been observed during allergic conditions. However, how DCs interact with sensory neurons in ganglia during allergic conditions is still not known. This study aims to investigate the role of DCs in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) under ACD conditions, specifically focusing on itch sensitization within the DRG. The tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) mouse model for ACD and the co-culture model of DCs and DRG neurons was employed in this study.

RESULTS

We successfully induced ACD by TDI, as evidenced by the development of edema, elevated total serum IgE levels, and an observed itch reaction in TDI-sensitized mice. Calcium imaging and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that TDI-sensitized mice exhibited signs of peripheral sensitization, including a higher percentage of neurons responding to pruritogens and increased activation and expression of itch receptors in excised DRG of TDI-sensitized mice. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis displayed an increase of MHCII+ cells, which serves as a marker for DCs, within DRG during ACD. The co-culture study revealed that when DRG neurons were cultured with DCs, there was an increase in the number of neurons responsive to pruritogens and activation of itch receptors such as TRPA1, TRPV1, H1R, and TRPV4. In addition, the immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR study confirmed an upregulation of TRPV4.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that there is an increase of MHCII+ cells and itch peripheral sensitization in DRG under TDI-induced ACD condition. It has been found that MHCII+ cells in DRG might contribute to the itch peripheral sensitization by activating itch receptors, as shown through co-culture studies between DRG neurons and DCs. Further studies are required to identify the specific mediator(s) responsible for peripheral sensitization induced by activated DCs.

Preexposure to one social threat alters responses to another social threat: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence

A recent Cyberball study has indicated that the experience of loss of control can affect how people process subsequent social exclusion. This "preexposure effect" supports the idea of a common cognitive system involved in the processing of different types of social threats. To test the validity of this assumption in the current study, we reversed the sequence of the preexposure setup. We measured the effects of social exclusion on the subsequent processing of loss of control utilizing event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and self-reports. In the control group (CG, n = 26), the transition to loss of control elicited significant increases in both the P3 amplitude and the self-reported negative mood. Replicating the results of the previous preexposure study, these effects were significantly reduced by the preexposure to an independent social threat (here: social exclusion). In contrast to previous findings, these effects were not modulated by the discontinuation (EG1disc, n = 25) or continuation (EG2cont, n = 24) of the preexposure threat. Given that the P3 effect is related to the violation of subjective expectations, these results support the notion that preexposure to a specific social threat has widespread effects on the individuals' expectancy of upcoming social participation and control.

Plant defensive responses to insect eggs are inducible by general egg-associated elicitors

Egg deposition by herbivorous insects is well known to elicit defensive plant responses. Our study aimed to elucidate the insect and plant species specificity of these responses. To study the insect species specificity, we treated Arabidopsis thaliana with egg extracts and egg-associated secretions of a sawfly (Diprion pini), a beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola) and a butterfly (Pieris brassicae). All egg extracts elicited salicylic acid (SA) accumulation in the plant, and all secretions induced expression of plant genes known to be responsive to the butterfly eggs, among them Pathogenesis-Related (PR) genes. All secretions contained phosphatidylcholine derivatives, known elicitors of SA accumulation and PR gene expression in Arabidopsis. The sawfly egg extract did not induce plant camalexin levels, while the other extracts did. Our studies on the plant species specificity revealed that Solanum dulcamara and Ulmus minor responded with SA accumulation and cell death to P. brassicae eggs, i.e. responses also known for A. thaliana. However, the butterfly eggs induced neoplasms only in S. dulcamara. Our results provide evidence for general, phosphatidylcholine-based, egg-associated elicitors of plant responses and for conserved plant core responses to eggs, but also point to plant and insect species-specific traits in plant-insect egg interactions.

In vitro feeding of all life stages of two-host Hyalomma excavatum and Hyalomma scupense and three-host Hyalomma dromedarii ticks

Ticks are blood-sucking ectoparasites and can transmit various pathogens of medical and veterinary relevance. The life cycle of ticks can be completed under laboratory conditions on experimental animals, but the artificial feeding of ticks has attracted increased interest as an alternative method. This study represents the first report on the successful in vitro feeding of all life stages of two-host tick species, Hyalomma scupense and Hyalomma excavatum, and the three-host tick Hyalomma dromedarii. The attachment and engorgement rates of adults were 84% (21/25) and 76% (19/25) for H. scupense females. For adult H. excavatum and H. dromedarii, 70% (21/30) and 34.4% (11/32) of the females attached and all attached females successfully fed to repletion. The oviposition rates of the artificially fed females were 36.4%, 57.1% and 63.1% for H. dromedarii, H. excavatum and H. scupense, respectively, with a reproductive efficiency index varying between 44.3 and 60.7%. For the larvae, the attachment and engorgement rates were 44.2% (313/708) and 42.8% (303/708) for H. dromedarii, 70.5% (129/183) and 56.8% (104/183) for H. excavatum and 92.6% (113/122) and 55.7% (68/122) for H. scupense. The attachment and engorgement rates for the nymphs were 90.2% (129/143) and 47.6% (68/143) for H. dromedarii, 66.7% (34/51) and 41.2% (21/51) for H. excavatum, and 44.1% (30/68) and 36.8% (25/68) for H. scupense. Molting rates of the immature stages varied between 71.3% (216/303) and 100% (68/68) for the larvae and between 61.9% (13/21) and 96% (24/25) for the nymphs. The successful in vitro feeding of all stages of the three Hyalomma species makes this method a valuable tool for tick research, with potential applications in studies on the pathogens transmitted by these tick species such as Theileria annulata.

Internet-based transdiagnostic treatment for emotional disorders in Arabic- and Farsi-speaking refugees: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Refugee populations have an increased risk for mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorders. Comorbidity is common. At the same time, refugees face multiple barriers to accessing mental health treatment. Only a minority of them receive adequate help. The planned trial evaluates a low-threshold, transdiagnostic Internet-based treatment. The trial aims at establishing its efficacy and cost-effectiveness compared with no treatment.

METHODS

N = 131 treatment-seeking Arabic- or Farsi-speaking patients, meeting diagnostic criteria for a depressive, anxiety, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder will be randomized to either the intervention or the waitlist control group. The intervention group receives an Internet-based treatment with weekly written guidance provided by Arabic- or Farsi-speaking professionals. The treatment is based on the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), is tailored to the individual patient, and takes 6-16 weeks. The control group will wait for 3 months and then receive the Internet-based treatment.

DISCUSSION

The planned trial will result in an estimate of the efficacy of a low-threshold and scalable treatment option for the most common mental disorders in refugees.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Registry for Clinical Trials DRKS00024154. Registered on February 1, 2021.

Hello from the other side: Robust contralateral interference in tactile detection

Touch is unique among the sensory modalities in that our tactile receptors are spread across the body surface and continuously receive different inputs at the same time. These inputs vary in type, properties, relevance according to current goals, and, of course, location on the body. Sometimes, they must be integrated, and other times set apart and distinguished. Here, we investigate how simultaneous stimulation to different body sites affects tactile cognition. Specifically, we characterized the impact of irrelevant tactile sensations on tactile change detection. To this end, we embedded detection targets amidst ongoing performance, akin to the conditions encountered in everyday life, where we are constantly confronted with new events within ongoing stimuli. In the set of experiments presented here, participants detected a brief intensity change (.04 s) within an ongoing vibrotactile stimulus (1.6 s) that was always presented in a constantly attended location. The intensity change (i.e., the detection target) varied parametrically, from hardly detectable to easily detectable. In half of the trials, irrelevant ongoing stimulation was simultaneously presented to a site across the body midline, but participants were instructed to ignore it. In line with previous bimanual studies employing brief onset targets, we document robust interference on performance due to the irrelevant stimulation at each of the measured body sites (homologous and nonhomologous fingers, and the contralateral ankle). After describing this basic phenomenon, we further examine the conditions under which such interference occurs in three additional tasks. In each task, we honed in on a different aspect of the stimulation protocol (e.g., hand distance, the strength of the irrelevant stimulation, the detection target itself) in order to better understand the principles governing the observed interference effects. Our findings suggest a minimal role for exogenous attentional capture in producing the observed interference effects (Exp. 2), and a principled distribution of attentional resources or sensory integration between body sides (Exps. 3, 4). In our last study (Exp. 4), we presented bilateral tactile targets of varying intensities to both the relevant and irrelevant stimulation sites. We then characterized the degree to which the irrelevant stimulation is also processed. Our results-that participants' perception of target intensity is always proportional to the combined bilateral signal-suggest that both body sites are equally weighed and processed despite clear instructions to attend only the target site. In light of this observation and participants' inability to use selection processes to guide their perception, we propose that bilateral tactile inputs are automatically combined, quite possibly early in the hierarchy of somatosensory processing.

Stability of Feline Coronavirus in aerosols and dried in organic matrices on surfaces at various environmental conditions

Enveloped respiratory viruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can be transmitted through aerosols and contact with contaminated surfaces. The stability of these viruses outside the host significantly impacts their transmission dynamics and the spread of diseases. In this study, we investigated the tenacity of Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) in aerosols and on surfaces under varying environmental conditions. We found that airborne FCoV showed different stability depending on relative humidity (RH), with higher stability observed at low and high RH. Medium RH conditions (50-60%) were associated with increased loss of infectivity. Furthermore, FCoV remained infectious in the airborne state over 7 h. On stainless-steel surfaces, FCoV remained infectious for several months, with stability influenced by organic material and temperature. The presence of yeast extract and a temperature of 4 °C resulted in the longest maintenance of infectivity, with a 5 log10 reduction of the initial concentration after 167 days. At 20 °C, this reduction was achieved after 19 days. These findings highlight the potential risk of aerosol and contact transmission of respiratory viruses, especially in enclosed environments, over extended periods. Studying surrogate viruses like FCoV provides important insights into the behavior of zoonotic viruses like SARS-CoV-2 in the environment.

Almost 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic: an update on parental stress, parent mental health, and the occurrence of child maltreatment

Increased parental stress, poorer mental health, and an increase in the occurrence of child maltreatment (CM) have been reported in earlier phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, data from later phases of the pandemic are not yet available. We conducted a cross-sectional, representative survey among 1087 parents (48.8% female; mean age 41.72 years, SD = 9.15) in Germany in December 2021. Data were compared to a previous representative sample, assessed in August 2020 (N = 1024), and to normative scores of the outcome measures. Predictors for the occurrence of CM were analyzed by logistic regression. Pandemic-related stress and general stress were higher and physical and mental health were poorer in the December 2021 sample than in the August 2020 sample. Occurrence rates of CM varied between 5 and 56%. Verbal emotional abuse (n = 607, 56%), witnessing domestic violence (n = 446, 41%), and emotional neglect (n = 435, 40%) were most frequently reported. For these subtypes, parental risk for alcohol abuse (OR 2.1-2.7) and parental recent experience of violence (OR 2.1-5.1) were the strongest predictors. Across all subtypes of CM, parents reporting child maltreatment showed poorer scores on all stress outcomes, with medium-large-effect sizes. Results confirm a high burden within the families, almost 2 years into the pandemic. Occurrence rates of a broad spectrum of CM subtypes raise further concerns for the well-being of children. Family-oriented intervention efforts are needed to stabilize families and provide targeted support. Longitudinal studies are needed for a description of families at risk for poorer outcomes.

Defensive behavior is linked to altered surface chemistry following infection in a termite society

The care-kill response determines whether a sick individual will be treated or eliminated from an insect society, but little is known about the physiological underpinnings of this process. We exploited the stepwise infection dynamics of an entomopathogenic fungus in a termite to explore how care-kill transitions occur, and identify the chemical cues behind these shifts. We found collective responses towards pathogen-injected individuals to vary according to severity and timing of pathogen challenge, with elimination, via cannibalism, occurring sooner in response to a severe active infection. However, injection with inactivated fungal blastospores also resulted in increased albeit delayed cannibalism, even though it did not universally cause host death. This indicates that the decision to eliminate an individual is triggered before pathogen viability or terminal disease status has been established. We then compared the surface chemistry of differently challenged individuals, finding increased amounts of long-chained methyl-branched alkanes with similar branching patterns in individuals injected with both dead and viable fungal blastospores, with the latter showing the largest increase. This coincided with the highest amounts of observed cannibalism as well as signs of severe moribundity. Our study provides new mechanistic insight into the emergent collective behaviors involved in the disease defense of a termite society.

The role of an amphiphilic helix and transmembrane region in the efficient acylation of the M2 protein from influenza virus

Protein palmitoylation, a cellular process occurring at the membrane-cytosol interface, is orchestrated by members of the DHHC enzyme family and plays a pivotal role in regulating various cellular functions. The M2 protein of the influenza virus, which is acylated at a membrane-near amphiphilic helix serves as a model for studying the intricate signals governing acylation and its interaction with the cognate enzyme, DHHC20. We investigate it here using both experimental and computational assays. We report that altering the biophysical properties of the amphiphilic helix, particularly by shortening or disrupting it, results in a substantial reduction in M2 palmitoylation, but does not entirely abolish the process. Intriguingly, DHHC20 exhibits an augmented affinity for some M2 mutants compared to the wildtype M2. Molecular dynamics simulations unveil interactions between amino acids of the helix and the catalytically significant DHHC and TTXE motifs of DHHC20. Our findings suggest that the binding of M2 to DHHC20, while not highly specific, is mediated by requisite contacts, possibly instigating the transfer of fatty acids. A comprehensive comprehension of protein palmitoylation mechanisms is imperative for the development of DHHC-specific inhibitors, holding promise for the treatment of diverse human diseases.

Behavioral responses of free-flying Drosophila melanogaster to shiny, reflecting surfaces

Active locomotion plays an important role in the life of many animals, permitting them to explore the environment, find vital resources, and escape predators. Most insect species rely on a combination of visual cues such as celestial bodies, landmarks, or linearly polarized light to navigate or orient themselves in their surroundings. In nature, linearly polarized light can arise either from atmospheric scattering or from reflections off shiny non-metallic surfaces like water. Multiple reports have described different behavioral responses of various insects to such shiny surfaces. Our goal was to test whether free-flying Drosophila melanogaster, a molecular genetic model organism and behavioral generalist, also manifests specific behavioral responses when confronted with such polarized reflections. Fruit flies were placed in a custom-built arena with controlled environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, and light intensity). Flight detections and landings were quantified for three different stimuli: a diffusely reflecting matt plate, a small patch of shiny acetate film, and real water. We compared hydrated and dehydrated fly populations, since the state of hydration may change the motivation of flies to seek or avoid water. Our analysis reveals for the first time that flying fruit flies indeed use vision to avoid flying over shiny surfaces.

Cross-sectional study: prevalence of oedema disease Escherichia coli (EDEC) in weaned piglets in Germany at pen and farm levels

BACKGROUND

Escherichia coli bacteria capable of producing the toxin Stx2e and possessing F18-fimbriae (edema disease E. coli, EDEC) are considered causative agents of porcine oedema disease. This disease, which usually occurs in piglets shortly after weaning, has a high lethality in affected animals and can lead to high economic losses in piglet rearing. The aim of this cross-sectional field study was to determine the prevalence of EDEC in weaned piglets in Germany at pen and farm levels.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine farms with unknown history of infections with shigatoxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and oedema disease were sampled. On each farm, up to five pens were selected for sampling (n = 481). The piglets in these pens were at an age 1-3 weeks after weaning. Single faecal samples (n = 2405) and boot swabs (n = 479) were collected from the floor. On 50 farms, cotton ropes were additionally used to collect oral fluid samples (n = 185) and rope wash out samples (n = 231) from the selected pens. All samples were analyzed by bacterial culture combined with a duplex PCR for the presence of the corresponding genes stx2e and fedA (major subunit protein of F18 fimbriae). In addition, whole DNA specimens extracted from boot swabs, oral fluid samples, and rope wash out samples were directly examined by duplex PCR for DNA of stx2e and fedA. A pen was classified as positive if at least one of the samples, regardless of the technique, yielded a positive result in the PCR, and farms were considered positive if at least one pen was classified as positive. Overall, genes stx2e and fedA were found simultaneously in 24.9% (95% CI 22.1-29.1%) of sampled pens and in 37.4% (95% CI 27.9-47.7%) of sampled farms. Regardless of the presence of F18-fimbriae, Escherichia coli encoding for Stx2e (STEC-2e) were found in 35.1% (95% CI 31.0-39.1%) of the pens and 53.5% (95% CI 44.4-63.6%) of the farms sampled.

CONCLUSIONS

Escherichia coli strains considered capable to cause oedema disease in swine (EDEC) are highly prevalent in the surveyed pig producing farms in Germany. Due to intermittent shedding of EDEC and a potentially low within-farm prevalence, we recommend a combination of different sampling techniques for EDEC monitoring at pen and farm levels. Further studies are needed to understand which STEC-2e strains really pose the risk of causing severe porcine disease.

Dual RNA-seq to catalogue host and parasite gene expression changes associated with virulence of T. annulata-transformed bovine leukocytes: towards identification of attenuation biomarkers

The apicomplexan parasite Theileria annulata is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and causes an acute lymphoproliferative disease that is invariably lethal in exotic cattle breeds. The unique ability of the schizont stage of T. annulata to transform infected leukocytes to a cancer-like phenotype and the simplicity of culturing and passaging T. annulata-transformed cells in vitro have been explored for live vaccine development by attenuating the transformed cells using lengthy serial propagation in vitro. The empirical in vivo evaluation of attenuation required for each batch of long-term cultured cells is a major constraint since it is resource intensive and raises ethical issues regarding animal welfare. As yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying attenuation are not well understood. Characteristic changes in gene expression brought about by attenuation are likely to aid in the identification of novel biomarkers for attenuation. We set out to undertake a comparative transcriptome analysis of attenuated (passage 296) and virulent (passage 26) bovine leukocytes infected with a Tunisian strain of T. annulata termed Beja. RNA-seq was used to analyse gene expression profiles and the relative expression levels of selected genes were verified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. Among the 3538 T. annulata genes analysed, 214 were significantly differentially expressed, of which 149 genes were up-regulated and 65 down-regulated. Functional annotation of differentially expressed T. annulata genes revealed four broad categories of metabolic pathways: carbon metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. It is interesting to note that of the top 40 genes that showed altered expression, 13 were predicted to contain a signal peptide and/or at least one transmembrane domain, suggesting possible involvement in host-parasite interaction. Of the 16,514 bovine transcripts, 284 and 277 showed up-regulated and down-regulated expression, respectively. These were assigned to functional categories relevant to cell surface, tissue morphogenesis and regulation of cell adhesion, regulation of leucocyte, lymphocyte and cell activation. The genetic alterations acquired during attenuation that we have catalogued herein, as well as the accompanying in silico functional characterization, do not only improve understanding of the attenuation process, but can also be exploited by studies aimed at identifying attenuation biomarkers across different cell lines focusing on some host and parasite genes that have been highlighted in this study, such as bovine genes (CD69, ZNF618, LPAR3, and APOL3) and parasite genes such as TA03875.

On a Factorization Formula for the Partition Function of Directed Polymers

We prove a factorization formula for the point-to-point partition function associated with a model of directed polymers on the space-time lattice Z d + 1 . The polymers are subject to a random potential induced by independent identically distributed random variables and we consider the regime of weak disorder, where polymers behave diffusively. We show that when writing the quotient of the point-to-point partition function and the transition probability for the underlying random walk as the product of two point-to-line partition functions plus an error term, then, for large time intervals [0, t], the error term is small uniformly over starting points x and endpoints y in the sub-ballistic regime ‖ x - y ‖ ≤ t σ , where σ < 1 can be arbitrarily close to 1. This extends a result of Sinai, who proved smallness of the error term in the diffusive regime ‖ x - y ‖ ≤ t 1 / 2 . We also derive asymptotics for spatial and temporal correlations of the field of limiting partition functions.

miR-125a-5p regulates the sialyltransferase ST3GAL1 in murine model of human intestinal campylobacteriosis

BACKGROUND

Zoonotic microorganisms are increasingly impacting human health worldwide. Due to the development of the global population, humans and animals live in shared and progressively crowded ecosystems, which enhances the risk of zoonoses. Although Campylobacter species are among the most important bacterial zoonotic agents worldwide, the molecular mechanisms of many host and pathogen factors involved in colonisation and infection are poorly understood. Campylobacter jejuni colonises the crypts of the human colon and causes acute inflammatory processes. The mucus and associated proteins play a central host-protective role in this process. The aim of this study was to explore the regulation of specific glycosyltransferase genes relevant to differential mucin-type O-glycosylation that could influence host colonisation and infection by C. jejuni.

RESULTS

Since microRNAs are known to be important regulators of the mammalian host cell response to bacterial infections, we focussed on the role of miR-125a-5p in C. jejuni infection. Combining in vitro and in vivo approaches, we show that miR-125a-5p regulates the expression of the sialyltransferase ST3GAL1 in an infection-dependent manner. The protein ST3GAL1 shows markedly increased intestinal levels in infected mice, with enhanced distribution in the mucosal epithelial layer in contrast to naïve mice.

CONCLUSION

From our previous studies and the data presented here, we conclude that miR-125a-5p and the previously reported miR-615-3p are involved in regulating the glycosylation patterns of relevant host cell response proteins during C. jejuni infection. The miRNA-dependent modulation of mucin-type O-glycosylation could be part of the mucosal immune response, but also a pathogen-driven modification that allows colonisation and infection of the mammalian host.

Towards Model-Informed Precision Dosing of Voriconazole: Challenging Published Voriconazole Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Models with Real-World Clinical Data

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) frequently uses nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) models to predict and optimize therapy outcomes based on patient characteristics and therapeutic drug monitoring data. MIPD is indicated for compounds with narrow therapeutic range and complex pharmacokinetics (PK), such as voriconazole, a broad-spectrum antifungal drug for prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infections. To provide guidance and recommendations for evidence-based application of MIPD for voriconazole, this work aimed to (i) externally evaluate and compare the predictive performance of a published so-called 'hybrid' model for MIPD (an aggregate model comprising features and prior information from six previously published NLME models) versus two 'standard' NLME models of voriconazole, and (ii) investigate strategies and illustrate the clinical impact of Bayesian forecasting for voriconazole.

METHODS

A workflow for external evaluation and application of MIPD for voriconazole was implemented. Published voriconazole NLME models were externally evaluated using a comprehensive in-house clinical database comprising nine voriconazole studies and prediction-/simulation-based diagnostics. The NLME models were applied using different Bayesian forecasting strategies to assess the influence of prior observations on model predictivity.

RESULTS

The overall best predictive performance was obtained using the aggregate model. However, all NLME models showed only modest predictive performance, suggesting that (i) important PK processes were not sufficiently implemented in the structural submodels, (ii) sources of interindividual variability were not entirely captured, and (iii) interoccasion variability was not adequately accounted for. Predictive performance substantially improved by including the most recent voriconazole observations in MIPD.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight the potential clinical impact of MIPD for voriconazole and indicate the need for a comprehensive (pre-)clinical database as basis for model development and careful external model evaluation for compounds with complex PK before their successful use in MIPD.

Ecological and subject-level drivers of interepidemic Rift Valley fever virus exposure in humans and livestock in Northern Kenya

Nearly a century after the first reports of Rift Valley fever (RVF) were documented in Kenya, questions on the transmission dynamics of the disease remain. Specifically, data on viral maintenance in the quiescent years between epidemics is limited. We implemented a cross-sectional study in northern Kenya to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors, and ecological predictors of RVF in humans and livestock during an interepidemic period. Six hundred seventy-six human and 1,864 livestock samples were screened for anti-RVF Immunoglobulin G (IgG). Out of the 1,864 livestock samples tested for IgG, a subset of 1,103 samples was randomly selected for additional testing to detect the presence of anti-RVFV Immunoglobulin M (IgM). The anti-RVF virus (RVFV) IgG seropositivity in livestock and humans was 21.7% and 28.4%, respectively. RVFV IgM was detected in 0.4% of the livestock samples. Participation in the slaughter of livestock and age were positively associated with RVFV exposure in humans, while age was a significant factor in livestock. We detected significant interaction between rainfall and elevation's influence on livestock seropositivity, while in humans, elevation was negatively associated with RVF virus exposure. The linear increase of human and livestock exposure with age suggests an endemic transmission cycle, further corroborated by the detection of IgM antibodies in livestock.

Uncovering mnestic problems in help-seeking individuals reporting subjective cognitive complaints

In individuals with subjective cognitive impairments (SCI) the risk for the development of a neurodegenerative disease is assumed to be increased. However, it is not clear which factors contribute to the expression of SCI: Is it related to the cognitive resources already challenged, or is the psycho-affective state of more relevance? Using a novel online assessment combining self-report questionnaires and neuropsychological psychometric tests, significant predictors for the level of complaints were identified in two samples of elderly individuals: Help-seekers (HS, n = 48) consulting a memory clinic and a matched sample of non-help-seekers (nHS, n = 48). Based on the results of the online assessment, the SCI level was found to be significantly determined by the psycho-affective state (depressive mood) in the nHS group, whereas cognitive performance (cued recall) was the main predictor in the HS group. The predictive value of recall performance, however, is more-strongly expressed in memory tests which reduce the impact of compensatory strategies (face-name-association vs. word lists). Our results indicate that the problem-focused behavior of help-seeking individuals is also associated with a higher sensitivity for cognitive deficits-which can be uncovered with an appropriate psychometric test. Considering these factors, the conversion risk in individuals with SCI can probably be determined more reliably.

A non-ideal approach to slurs

Philosophers of language are increasingly engaging with derogatory terms or slurs. Only few theorists take such language as a starting point for addressing puzzles in philosophy of language with little connection to our real-world problems. This paper aims to show that the political nature of derogatory language use calls for non-ideal theorising as we find it in the work of feminist and critical race scholars. Most contemporary theories of slurs, so I argue, fall short on some desiderata associated with a non-ideal approach. They neglect crucial linguistic or political aspects of morally and politically significant meaning. I argue that a two-stage project is necessary to understand the perniciousness of slurs: accounting for the derogatory content of derogatory terms in general and, additionally, explaining the communicative function of slurs more specifically. I end by showing how inferentialism is well-suited to account for the content of derogatory terms whilst allowing for further explanations of the communicative functions of slurs.

The type of lipid supplement has crucial implications for forage particle size in calf starter diets

BACKGROUND

Forage inclusion in starters of young dairy calves has become an acceptable strategy in the last decade. To compensate for the lower energy provided by forage, concurrent lipid supplementation can be proposed. However, ruminal microbial activity and forage digestibility may be decreased by lipid supplementation. We hypothesized that the composite effect of forage and lipid supplements may be dependent on forage particle size and the type of lipid supplement. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of long (LP; geometric mean, 4.97 mm) vs. short alfalfa hay particle sizes (SP; geometric mean, 1.26 mm) with either soybean oil (SBO) or palm fatty acids (PLF) as lipid source in a 2 × 2 factorial design with treatments SP-SBO, SP-PLF, LP-SBO, and LP-PLF. Treatments (n = 13 with 6 males and 7 females each) were offered to Holstein calves (3 days old) with equal amounts of lipid (25 g/kg DM) throughout the experimental period. The milk offering scheme (d 1 to 53) was equal for all groups. Data collection continued until 20 d post-weaning.

RESULTS

Interaction between forage particle size and lipid supplement was significant for the following readouts: the highest and lowest starter intakes during the pre-weaning period occurred in LP-PLF and LP-SBO, respectively. This was associated with similarly contrasting changes in average daily gain (ADG) during the post-weaning period, body weight at the end of experiment, withers height, digestibility of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber, and blood serum concentrations of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and insulin during the pre-weaning period. During both pre- and post-weaning periods, the highest and lowest urinary excretion of allantoin and total purine derivatives, representing microbial protein synthesis, were observed in LP-PLF and LP-SBO, respectively, indicating that those diets were most and least favorable for rumen development. Irrespective of forage particle size, supplemental SBO vs. PLF increased serum malondialdehyde as an oxidative stress indicator across periods, increased blood urea nitrogen and feed efficiency in the pre-weaning period, and reduced hip height during the post-weaning period.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that feeding a rumen-inert, mostly saturated fatty acid source with alfalfa hay as long particle size is recommended with view on performance, whereas a combination soybean oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids should not be provided to milk-fed Holstein calves together with long particle forage. Feeding soybean oil and alfalfa hay as long particles is not advisable mainly due to lower starter consumption and impaired development of ruminal function. If dietary supplementation of soybean oil is applied, incorporation of forage as small particles should be preferred to support rumen development.

On the geometry of elementary flux modes

Elementary flux modes (EFMs) play a prominent role in the constraint-based analysis of metabolic networks. They correspond to minimal functional units of the metabolic network at steady-state and as such have been studied for almost 30 years. The set of all EFMs in a metabolic network tends to be very large and may have exponential size in the number of reactions. Hence, there is a need to elucidate the structure of this set. Here we focus on geometric properties of EFMs. We analyze the distribution of EFMs in the face lattice of the steady-state flux cone of the metabolic network and show that EFMs in the relative interior of the cone occur only in very special cases. We introduce the concept of degree of an EFM as a measure how elementary it is and study the decomposition of flux vectors and EFMs depending on their degree. Geometric analysis can help to better understand the structure of the set of EFMs, which is important from both the mathematical and the biological viewpoint.

Water and sediment pollution of intensively used surface waters during a drought period - a case study in Central Northern Namibia

Semiarid regions are often affected by water scarcity and poor water quality. Seasonal changes in precipitation and drought events increase the pressure of use on water bodies and their pollution. In Central Northern Namibia, a high seasonal intra- and inter-annual variability of precipitation caused a 5-year lasting drought period. In the semiarid region, ephemeral channels and water pans represent the main water source, besides the institutionalized water supply. No systematic analysis of its quality has been conducted so far. The states of the surface waters at the end of the dry season in 2017 and the end of the rainy seasons in 2018 and 2019 were characterized by the analysis of physical-chemical parameters, focusing on usability. The first results show coarse contamination of the waters, which results in high turbidity values. Salt concentrations, such as Ca2+ and Na+, greatly increased due to evaporation. Al is present in high concentrations in solid and liquid phases, which indicates direct anthropogenic pollution. Spatial differences are evident in the study area and based on the precipitation gradient, land use, and population density. The waters cannot be used as drinking water without prior treatment.

Functional, not Taxonomic, Composition of Soil Fungi Reestablishes to Pre-mining Initial State After 52 Years of Recultivation

Open-cast mining leads to the loss of naturally developed soils and their ecosystem functions and services. Soil restoration after mining aims to restore the agricultural productivity in which the functions of the fungal community play a crucial role. Whether fungi reach a comparable functional state as in the soil before mining within half a century of recultivation is still unanswered. Here, we characterised the soil fungal community using ITS amplicon Illumina sequencing across a 52-year chronosequence of agricultural recultivation after open-cast mining in northern Europe. Both taxonomic and functional community composition showed profound shifts over time, which could be attributed to the changes in nutrient status, especially phosphorus availability. However, taxonomic composition did not reach the pre-mining state, whereas functional composition did. Importantly, we identified a positive development of arbuscular mycorrhizal root fungal symbionts after the initial three years of alfalfa cultivation, followed by a decline after conversion to conventional farming, with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi being replaced by soil saprobes. We conclude that appropriate agricultural management can steer the fungal community to its functional pre-mining state despite stochasticity in the reestablishment of soil fungal communities. Nonetheless, conventional agricultural management results in the loss of plant symbionts, favouring non-symbiotic fungi.

Does an immigrant teacher help immigrant students cope with negative stereotypes? Preservice teachers' and school students' perceptions of teacher bias and motivational support, as well as stereotype threat effects on immigrant students' learning

Can immigrant school students profit from an immigrant teacher sharing their minority background? We investigate preservice teachers' (Study 1; Mage = 26.29 years; 75.2% female) and school students' (Study 2; Mage = 14.88 years; 49.9% female) perceptions of a teacher as well as immigrant school students' learning gains (Study 2) by comparing four experimental video conditions in which a female teacher with a Turkish or German name instructs school students in a task while either saying that learning gains differed (stereotype activation) or did not differ (no stereotype activation) between immigrant and non-immigrant students. Study 1 shows that preservice teachers, regardless of their own cultural background, perceived the Turkish origin teacher as less biased, even when she voiced the stereotype, and as more motivationally supportive of school students in general than the German origin teacher. Study 2 shows that in contrast, among school students, the minority teacher was not perceived as less biased than the majority teacher. Rather, immigrant school students, in particular those with Turkish roots, were more concerned than students of the German majority that the teacher-irrespective of her background-was biased. Interestingly, these differences between students from different backgrounds disappeared when the teacher said that learning gains differed between immigrant and non-immigrant students. Immigrant school students of non-Turkish backgrounds, but not Turkish origin students suffered in their learning when instructed by the Turkish origin teacher who voiced the stereotype. We discuss implications for teacher recruitment.

An Integrated Approach to the Conceptualisation and Measurement of Social Cohesion

The core sociological subject of 'social cohesion' (hereafter SC) has re-emerged as a key concept in the social sciences. On the one hand, SC is thought to be influenced by a society's degree of inequalities and the quality of its welfare state. On the other hand, SC is thought to be instrumental in its own right to other factors such as economic growth, institutional quality, and individual well-being. In recent years, a few attempts have been made to measure SC empirically. Many current indices have not been sufficiently theoretically substantiated, and do not consider the importance of different 'social levels' when explaining and measuring SC as both cause and effect of other correlates. Very often, SC is simply defined as a 'social quality' or a quality of a collective. As a result, measures are often aggregate macro-indices leading to a loss of the information base of any social 'units' below the macro-societal-level. Contributing to this important methodological debate, this paper provides a conceptual reformulation of SC. Hence, when assessing SC based on a multi-dimensional index, it is insightful and feasible to evaluate both its internal variation as well as its holistic validity. In fact, it is proposed that these two aspects of measurement stand in direct relationship to one-another. The paper starts out with a discussion of SC as a 'social fact' in the Durkheimian sense. In addition, three bridging propositions on the measurement of SC are advanced: (a) SC as outcome or consequence at the level of individual attitudes and orientations ('micro'); (b) SC as degree of dissimilarity and presence of latent conflict within a society at the level of salient social categories ('meso'), and (c) SC as predictor, social determinant and hence antecedent at the societal-level ('macro'). Using all rounds of the European Social Survey with a very large sample size, the advantages of this approach are illustrated by singling-out the important link between socio-economic inequalities, social cohesion and individual subjective well-being in a path of action.

A New Social Conflict on Globalisation-Related Issues in Germany? A Longitudinal Perspective

We draw on cleavage theory to assess the emergence of a social conflict concerning globalisation-related issues among the German population between 1989 and 2019. We argue that issue salience and opinion polarisation are key conditions for a successful and sustainable political mobilisation of citizens and thus for the emergence of a social conflict. In line with globalisation cleavage theory, we hypothesised that issue salience as well as overall and between-group opinion polarisation on globalisation-related issues have increased over time. Our study considers four globalisation-related issues: immigration, the European Union (EU), economic liberalism, and the environment. While the salience of the EU and economic liberalism issues remained low during the observed period, we found a recent increase in salience for the issues of immigration (since 2015) and the environment (since 2018). Furthermore, our results point to rather stable attitudes on globalisation-related issues among the German population: We did not find any consistent evidence of an increase in overall or between-group polarisation over time. In conclusion, the idea of an emerging conflict around globalisation-related issues among the German population finds very little empirical support.

Kategoriale Dissonanzen. Russlands regressiver Weg in den Krieg und die Historische Soziologie imperialistischer Außenpolitiken

Russlands Angriff auf die Ukraine im Februar 2022 legt die Diagnose eines imperialistischen Eroberungskrieges nahe. Gleichzeitig fristen imperialismustheoretische Zugänge zur russländischen Außenpolitik ein widersprüchliches Nischendasein. So führen die kritischen Sozialwissenschaften Imperialismus maßgeblich auf kapitalistische Entwicklungsdynamiken und die Hegemoniebestrebungen der USA im 20. und 21. Jahrhundert zurück. Politologische und soziologische Ansätze hingegen fokussieren auf die ideologische Dimension des Imperialismus oder normalisieren imperialistische Außenpolitiken in transhistorischen Imperien-Typologien. Aufbauend auf einer Kritik bestehender Deutungsangebote unternimmt der Beitrag einen Bestimmungsversuch des russländischen Imperialismus seit den späten 2000er Jahren. Dabei wird das Argument entwickelt, dass sich in Russland vor dem Hintergrund einer Doppelkrise der Rentenökonomie und der politischen Legitimation seit 2008 ein regressives souveränistisches Projekt fomiert hat, das auf militaristische Politik zur eigenen Reproduktion angewiesen ist. Außenpolitisch kristallisierte sich diese Regression insbesondere um die Formulierung und versuchte Umsetzung imperialer Verfügungsansprüche über die Ukraine. Erklärungen, die auf das Axiom eines globalen oder russländischen Kapitalismus oder die atavistische Ideologie der russländischen Staatselite rekurrieren, bleiben jedoch defizitär. Alternativ greift der Beitrag auf jüngere historisch-soziologische Zugänge zur Außenpolitik sowie Konzepte der älteren Historischen Sozialwissenschaft in den deutschen Internationalen Beziehungen (IB) zurück und schlägt einen historisierenden Zugang zur Rekonstruktion von Außenpolitik vor. Dieser betont neben der fundamentalen Kontextgebundenheit internationaler Politik die prozesshafte Ko-Konstitution krisenhafter sozioökonomischer Entwicklung, strategischer Elitenprojekte der Herrschaftslegitimierung und Geopolitik.

A buprenorphine depot formulation provides effective sustained post-surgical analgesia for 72 h in mouse femoral fracture models

Adequate pain management is essential for ethical and scientific reasons in animal experiments and should completely cover the period of expected pain without the need for frequent re-application. However, current depot formulations of Buprenorphine are only available in the USA and have limited duration of action. Recently, a new microparticulate Buprenorphine formulation (BUP-Depot) for sustained release has been developed as a potential future alternative to standard formulations available in Europe. Pharmacokinetics indicate a possible effectiveness for about 72 h. Here, we investigated whether the administration of the BUP-Depot ensures continuous and sufficient analgesia in two mouse fracture models (femoral osteotomy) and could, therefore, serve as a potent alternative to the application of Tramadol via the drinking water. Both protocols were examined for analgesic effectiveness, side effects on experimental readout, and effects on fracture healing outcomes in male and female C57BL/6N mice. The BUP-Depot provided effective analgesia for 72 h, comparable to the effectiveness of Tramadol in the drinking water. Fracture healing outcome was not different between analgesic regimes. The availability of a Buprenorphine depot formulation for rodents in Europe would be a beneficial addition for extended pain relief in mice, thereby increasing animal welfare.

Global shocks, cascading disruptions, and (re-)connections: viewing the COVID-19 pandemic as concurrent natural experiments to understand land system dynamics

Context

For nearly three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted human well-being and livelihoods, communities, and economies in myriad ways with consequences for social-ecological systems across the planet. The pandemic represents a global shock in multiple dimensions that has already, and is likely to continue to have, far-reaching effects on land systems and on those depending on them for their livelihoods.

Objectives

We focus on the observed effects of the pandemic on landscapes and people composing diverse land systems across the globe.

Methods

We highlight the interrelated impacts of the pandemic shock on the economic, health, and mobility dimensions of land systems using six vignettes from different land systems on four continents, analyzed through the lens of socio-ecological resilience and the telecoupling framework. We present preliminary comparative insights gathered through interviews, surveys, key informants, and authors' observations and propose new research avenues for land system scientists.

Results

The pandemic's effects have been unevenly distributed, context-specific, and dependent on the multiple connections that link land systems across the globe.

Conclusions

We argue that the pandemic presents concurrent "natural experiments" that can advance our understanding of the intricate ways in which global shocks produce direct, indirect, and spillover effects on local and regional landscapes and land systems. These propagating shock effects disrupt existing connections, forge new connections, and re-establish former connections between peoples, landscapes, and land systems.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-023-01604-2.

Can Deliberative Participatory Fora Cure Representation Gaps in France and Germany?

The French and the German national parliaments are dominated by highly educated, older, and mostly male politicians. There are growing calls for a more balanced political representation of different social groups. This paper seeks to inform this debate by conceptualizing and measuring representation gaps for women, people of immigrant origin, the working class, and younger age groups in France and Germany and by assessing the potential of deliberative participatory fora to ameliorate underrepresentation. Based on theories of deliberative and participatory democracy, it suggests three criteria these fora must fulfill to potentially balance underrepresentation (descriptive representation in composition, deliberative quality, and coupling to politics) and explores them empirically in four recent cases of deliberative participatory fora: the Grand Débat National and the Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat in France and the Bürgerrat Deutschlands Rolle in der Welt and the Bürgerrat Klima in Germany. We show that significant representation gaps exist for all groups studied. They have been narrowing for women and people of immigrant origin and remain most pronounced for class. Regarding institutional features, our cases fare relatively well in terms of balanced composition and deliberative quality, but the potential to balance representation gaps is seriously limited by a lack of coupling to the political system.

Differentiation in Protest Politics: Participation by Political Insiders and Outsiders

The political participation literature has documented a long-term trend of the normalization of noninstitutional participation that is often equated with the conventionalization of engagement in protest politics. Less is known on the extent to which noninstitutional forms are differentiated by their mobilization context. Population surveys find it difficult to contextualize individual engagement, and on-site surveys point to effects that are hard to generalize. This study fills this gap by emphasizing differentiation and distinguishing participation according to the issue of engagement. It introduces a conceptual distinction between political insiders and outsiders, defined based on the extent to which they are embedded in the organizational landscape of the dominant cleavage dimension. Using an original survey conducted in Germany during the Covid-19 crisis, the analysis demonstrates that general-population surveys are fit to examine issue-specific participation patterns. The results expose an insider and outsider divide, captured by the effect of attitudinal and behavioral indicators, and demonstrates that the two groups are equally likely to participate in noninstitutional forms. However, insiders engage on the established issues of climate and anti-racism, whereas outsiders engage on the new issues of Covid-19 related economic assistance and civil liberties restrictions. In addition, dynamic models reveal that noninstitutional participation is rooted in volatile issue preferences. Overall, the paper argues that participation during the Covid-19 crisis has furthered the trend towards a differentiated protest arena.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11109-022-09846-7.

Presence of porcine cytomegalovirus, a porcine roseolovirus, in wild boars in Italy and Germany

Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), a porcine roseolovirus (PRV) that is closely related to human herpesviruses 6 and 7, is commonly found in commercial pigs. PCMV/PRV is important in xenotransplantation, because in preclinical trials in which pig organs were transplanted into non-human primates, transmission of PCMV/PRV was shown to be associated with significantly reduced survival of the xenotransplants. PCMV/PRV was also transmitted in the first transplantation of a pig heart into a human patient worldwide and apparently contributed to the death of the patient. The prevalence of PCMV/PRV in wild boars is largely unknown. In this study, we screened wild boars from several areas of northern Italy and Germany to test for the presence of PCMV/PRV using PCR-based and Western blot assays. By Western blot analysis, 54% and 82% of Italian and German wild boars, respectively, were found to be PCMV/PRV positive, while 36% and 60%, respectively, tested positive by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These data indicate that the virus is common in German and Italian wild boars and that the Western blot assay detected a PCMV/PRV infection more often than did real-time PCR. The data also indicate that pigs raised for xenotransplantation should be protected from contact with materials from wild boars and commercial pigs.

Guts within guts: the microbiome of the intestinal helminth parasite Ascaris suum is derived but distinct from its host

BACKGROUND

Intestinal helminths are extremely prevalent among humans and animals. In particular, intestinal roundworms affect more than 1 billion people around the globe and are a major issue in animal husbandry. These pathogens live in intimate contact with the host gut microbiota and harbor bacteria within their own intestines. Knowledge of the bacterial host microbiome at the site of infection is limited, and data on the parasite microbiome is, to the best of our knowledge, non-existent.

RESULTS

The intestinal microbiome of the natural parasite and zoonotic macropathogen, Ascaris suum was analyzed in contrast to the diversity and composition of the infected host gut. 16S sequencing of the parasite intestine and host intestinal compartments showed that the parasite gut has a significantly less diverse microbiome than its host, and the host gut exhibits a reduced microbiome diversity at the site of parasite infection in the jejunum. While the host's microbiome composition at the site of infection significantly determines the microbiome composition of its parasite, microbial signatures differentiate the nematodes from their hosts as the Ascaris intestine supports the growth of microbes that are otherwise under-represented in the host gut.

CONCLUSION

Our data clearly indicate that a nematode infection reduces the microbiome diversity of the host gut, and that the nematode gut represents a selective bacterial niche harboring bacteria that are derived but distinct from the host gut. Video Abstract.

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans' Amphibian Host Species and Invasion Range

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), a species related to the destructive pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), was found and identified in Europe in 2013. Now, a decade later, a large amount of information is available. This includes data from studies in the field, reports of infection in captive amphibians, laboratory studies testing host susceptibility, and data from prospective studies that test for Bsal's presence in a location. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature and compiled a dataset of Bsal tests. We identified 67 species that have been reported positive for Bsal, 20 of which have a threatened conservation status. The distribution of species that have been found with infection encompasses 69 countries, highlighting the potential threat that Bsal poses. We point out where surveillance to detect Bsal have taken place and highlight areas that have not been well monitored. The large number of host species belonging to the families Plethodontidae and Salamandridae suggests a taxonomic pattern of susceptibility. Our results provide insight into the risk posed by Bsal and identifies vulnerable species and areas where surveillance is needed to fill existing knowledge gaps.

Rereading Habermas in Times of CRISPR-cas: A Critique of and an Alternative to the Instrumentalist Interpretation of the Human Nature Argument

Habermas's argument from human nature, which speaks in favour of holding back the use of human germline editing for purposes of enhancement, has lately received criticism anew. Prominent are objections to its supposedly genetic essentialist and determinist framework, which underestimates social impacts on human development. I argue that this criticism originates from an instrumentalist reading of Habermas's argument, which wrongly focuses on empirical conditions and means-ends-relations. Drawing on Habermas's distinction of a threefold use of practical reason, I show how an alternative-the ethical-reading avoids essentialist and determinist objections by addressing an existential level of sense making. I present three reasons that speak in favour of the ethical reading and I demonstrate how it incorporates social aspects of character formation. Habermas's account therefore offers exactly what the critics claim is missing. The paper concludes with a conceptual challenge that the ethical reading has to face within Habermas's overall approach to genetic engineering.

Extended loneliness. When hyperconnectivity makes us feel alone

In this paper, I analyse a specific kind of loneliness that can be experienced in the networked life, namely "extended loneliness". I claim that loneliness-conceived of as stemming from a lack of satisfying relationships to others-can arise from an abundance of connections in the online sphere. Extended loneliness, in these cases, does not result from a lack of connections to other people. On the contrary, it consists in the complex affective experience of both lacking and longing for meaningful relationships while being connected to many people online. The recursive interaction with a digital assistant in a smart flat is my key example for defining the contours of this specific kind of loneliness that emerges when hyperconnectivity becomes pervasive in the user's daily-life. Drawing on Sherry Turkle's work and employing the conceptual framework of the extended mind, I analyse the specific characteristics of extended loneliness and explore its phenomenology.

Grassland allergenicity increases with urbanisation and plant invasions

Pollen allergies have been on the rise in cities, where anthropogenic disturbances, warmer climate and introduced species are shaping novel urban ecosystems. Yet, the allergenic potential of these urban ecosystems, in particular spontaneous vegetation outside parks and gardens, remains poorly known. We quantified the allergenic properties of 56 dry grasslands along a double gradient of urbanisation and plant invasion in Berlin (Germany). 30% of grassland species were classified as allergenic, most of them being natives. Urbanisation was associated with an increase in abundance and diversity of pollen allergens, mainly driven by an increase in allergenic non-native plants. While not inherently more allergenic than native plants, the pool of non-natives contributed a larger biochemical diversity of allergens and flowered later than natives, creating a broader potential spectrum of allergy. Managing novel risks to urban public health will involve not only targeted action on allergenic non-natives, but also policies at the habitat scale favouring plant community assembly of a diverse, low-allergenicity vegetation. Similar approaches could be easily replicated in other cities to provide a broad quantification and mapping of urban allergy risks and drivers.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonization depends on the spatial distribution of the host plants

Despite their ubiquity in terrestrial ecosystems, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) experience dispersion constraints and thus depend on the spatial distribution of the plant hosts. Our understanding of fungal-plant interactions with respect to their spatial distributions and implications for the functioning of the symbiosis remain limited. We here manipulated the location of habitat patches of Medicago lupulina in two experiments to explore the responses of AMF root colonization and extraradical hyphae. We tested the specific hypothesis that AMF-plant habitats high in connectance would stimulate root colonization and induce denser functional root colonization (colonization rate of arbuscules plus coils) because of higher propagule availability between nearby host plant patches (experiment 1). In experiment 2, we anticipated similar responses in mixed habitats of different soil fertility, namely phosphorus-fertilized or unfertilized soil, and anticipated a higher density of extraradical hyphae in the soil connecting the habitats with increased functional root colonization. In agreement with our hypothesis, we found the highest total and functional root colonization in unfragmented micro-landscapes, describing landscapes that occur within a spatial scale of a few centimeters with the AMF-plant habitats positioned adjacent to each other. In the second experiment, overdispersed micro-landscapes promoted functional root colonization. This study provides experimental evidence that the spatial distribution of habitats can determine AMF abundance at the microscale.

New separation protocol reveals spray painting as a neglected source of microplastics in soils

Microplastics are recently discovered contaminants, yet knowledge on their sources and analysis is limited. For instance, paint microplastics are poorly known because soil separation protocols using flotation solutions cannot separate paint microplastics due to the higher density of paint microplastic versus common microplastics. Here, we designed a new two-step density separation protocol for paint microplastics, allowing paint microplastics to be separated from the soil without digestion. Paint particles were separated from soil samples collected around the graffiti wall at the Mauerpark, Berlin, then quantified according to their shape and color characteristic. The presence of polymers as binders in the paint particles was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results show concentrations from 1.1 × 10⁵ to 2.9 × 10⁵ microplastics per Kg of dry soil, representing the highest microplastic concentration ever reported in the literature. Particle concentrations decreased and the median size increased with soil depth. Our results provide first evidence that spray painting, a technique with a wide range of applications from industry to art, leaves a legacy of environmental microplastic in soils that has so far gone unnoticed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10311-022-01500-2.

Trajectories in life satisfaction before and during COVID-19 with respect to perceived valence and self-efficacy

Actions taken by governments to counteract the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic led to profound restrictions in daily lives, especially for adolescents and young adults, with closed schools and universities, travel restrictions, and reduction in social contacts. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the development of life satisfaction with assessments before and during the pandemic, including separate measurement occasions during a strict lockdown and when the implemented restrictions were relaxed again. Data are based on the German Personality Panel (GePP) with 1,920 young adults, assessed on four measurement occasions over a period of three years. Using latent change score modeling, we investigate the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to its perception as a critical life event over time. Further, we examine the influence of self-efficacy on change in life-satisfaction, as the belief in one's innate abilities has been shown to promote health related behavior and buffers against effects of negatively perceived critical life events. While average life satisfaction remained stable across time, we found a main effect of perceived positive valence and self-efficacy on latent change in life satisfaction at the within person level. Expressions of self-efficacy did not moderate the influence of the perception of the pandemic on self-reported life satisfaction. This study provides an important contribution to the recent COVID-19 literature as well as to the debate on stability and change of self-reported life satisfaction.