Controlling Crystal Orientation in Films of Conjugated Polymers by Tuning the Surface Energy.

It has been a long-term goal to understand the molecular orientation in films of conjugated polymers, which is crucial to their efficient exploitation. Here, we show that the surface energies determine the crystal orientation in films of model conjugated polymers, substituted polythiophenes crystallized on substrates. We systematically increase the surface energy of edge-on crystals formed at the vacuum interface by attaching polar groups to the ends of the polymer side chains.

Short term plasticity at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses.

Short-term synaptic plasticity refers to the regulation of synapses by their past activity on time scales of milliseconds to minutes. Hippocampal mossy fiber synapses onto CA3 pyramidal cells (Mf-CA3 synapses) are endowed with remarkable forms of short-term synaptic plasticity expressed as facilitation of synaptic release by a factor of up to ten-fold. Three main forms of short-term plasticity are distinguished: 1) Frequency facilitation, which includes low frequency facilitation and train facilitation, operating in the range of tens of milliseconds to several seconds; 2) Post-tetanic potentiation triggered by trains of high frequency stimulation, which lasts several minutes; 3) Finally, depolarization-induced potentiation of excitation, based on retrograde signaling, with an onset and offset of several minutes.

Effect of Chemical Modification on Molecular Ordering in Polydiketopyrrolopyrrole Copolymers: From Liquid Crystalline to Crystalline.

The chemical architecture of conjugated polymers is often designed by contemplating and understanding the consequences of structural changes on electronic properties at the molecular level. However, even minor changes to the chemical structure of a polymer can significantly influence the packing arrangement, which also influences the electronic properties of the bulk material. Here, we investigate the molecular arrangement in the ordered state at room temperature of a series of three different polydiketopyrrolopyrroles (PDPPs) in bulk and oriented thin films in detail by wide-angle X-ray scattering and by atomic force microscopy.

Combining CRISPR-Cas-mediated terminal resolution with a novel genetic workflow to achieve high-diversity adenoviral libraries.

While recombinant adenoviruses (rAds) are widely used in both laboratory and medical gene transfer, library-based applications using this vector platform are not readily available. Recently, we developed a new method, the CRISPR-Cas9 mediated terminal resolution aiding high-efficiency rescue of rAds from recombinant DNA. Here we report on a genetic workflow that allows construction of bacterial artificial chromosome-based rAd libraries reconstituted using highly efficient terminal resolution.

Single-center Outcomes After Liver Transplantation With SARS-CoV-2-Positive Donors: An Argument for Increased Utilization.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in SARS-CoV-2-test positive potential organ donors. The benefits of life-saving liver transplantation (LT) must be balanced against the potential risk of donor-derived viral transmission. Although emerging evidence suggests that the use of COVID-19-positive donor organs may be safe, granular series thoroughly evaluating safety are still needed.

Five-year follow-up of 96 weeks peginterferon plus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in hepatitis D.

Background & Aims: Until recently, pegylated interferon-alfa-2a (PEG-IFNa) therapy was the only treatment option for patients infected with hepatitis D virus (HDV). Treatment with PEG-IFNa with or without tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for 96 weeks resulted in HDV RNA suppression in 44% of patients at the end of therapy but did not prevent short-term relapses within 24 weeks. The virological and clinical long-term effects after prolonged PEG-IFNa-based treatment of hepatitis D are unknown.

Multiomics and blood-based biomarkers of electroconvulsive therapy in severe and treatment-resistant depression: study protocol of the DetECT study.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is commonly used to treat treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, our knowledge of the ECT-induced molecular mechanisms causing clinical improvement is limited. To address this issue, we developed the single-center, prospective observational DetECT study ("Multimodal Biomarkers of ECT in TRD"; registered 18/07/2022, www.

Quality-of-life scores improve after 96 weeks of PEG-IFNa-2a treatment of hepatitis D: An analysis of the HIDIT-II trial.

Background & Aims: Infection with the hepatitis D virus (HDV) causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis with a high risk to develop clinical complications of liver disease. In addition, hepatitis delta has been shown to be associated with worse patient-reported outcomes. Until recently, only pegylated interferon alfa could be used to treat hepatitis delta.

Bifurcation analysis for axisymmetric capillary water waves with vorticity and swirl.

We study steady axisymmetric water waves with general vorticity and swirl, subject to the influence of surface tension. This can be formulated as an elliptic free boundary problem in terms of Stokes' stream function. A change of variables allows us to overcome the generic coordinate-induced singularities and to cast the problem in the form "identity plus compact," which is amenable to Rabinowitz's global bifurcation theorem, whereas no restrictions regarding the absence of stagnation points in the flow have to be made.

Use of isotopes in examining precipitation patterns in north-central Ukraine.

North-central Ukraine is vulnerable to temperature increases and precipitation pattern changes associated with climate change. With water management becoming increasingly important, information on current water sources and moisture recycling is critically needed. Isotope ratios of oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) in precipitation are sensitive to these variables and allow comparisons across the region.

Combined Fainting and Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures as Significant Therapy Hurdles in Blood-Injury-Injection Phobia: A Mini-Review and Case Report.

Background: Anxiety disorders are the most frequent mental disorders. Among the different subtypes, specific phobias are the commonest. Due to the ongoing SARS-CoV-19 pandemic, blood-injury-injection phobia (BII) has gained wider attention in the context of large-scale vaccination campaigns and public health.

Effects of stressful life-events on DNA methylation in panic disorder and major depressive disorder.

Background: Panic disorder (PD) is characterized by recurrent panic attacks and higher affection of women as compared to men. The lifetime prevalence of PD is about 2-3% in the general population leading to tremendous distress and disability. Etiologically, genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, contribute to the onset and relapse of PD.

The assessment of childhood maltreatment and its associations with affective symptoms in adulthood: Results of the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Objectives: Childhood maltreatment affects 20-30% of the German population and is an important risk factor for physical and mental diseases in adult life. This study reports first results of the distribution of childhood maltreatment in the population-based mega cohort German National Cohort (NAKO) and estimates associations with affective symptoms in adulthood.

Methods: The Childhood Trauma Screener (CTS), a short version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, was used in 83,995 adults (age: 20-72 years; 47.

Comment on Depoorter, L.; Vandenplas, Y. Probiotics in Pediatrics. A Review and Practical Guide. 2021, , 2176.

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The assessment of cognitive function in the German National Cohort (NAKO) - Associations of demographics and psychiatric symptoms with cognitive test performance.

Objectives: To describe the cognitive test battery of the German National Cohort (NAKO), a population-based mega cohort of 205,000 randomly selected participants, and to examine associations with demographic variables and selected psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Methods: Initial data from 96,401 participants providing data on the cognitive performance measured by a brief cognitive test battery (12-word list recall task, semantic fluency, Stroop test, digit span backwards) was examined. Test results were summarised in cognitive domain scores using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

DNA-methylation dynamics across short-term, exposure-containing CBT in patients with panic disorder.

Interaction of genetic predispositions and environmental factors via epigenetic mechanisms have been hypothesized to play a central role in Panic Disorder (PD) aetiology and therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including exposure interventions, belong to the most efficient treatments of PD although its biological mechanism of action remains unknown. For the first time, we explored the dynamics and magnitude of DNA-methylation and immune cell-type composition during CBT (n = 38) and the therapeutic exposure intervention (n = 21) to unravel their biological correlates and identify possible biomarkers of therapy success.

Variation of tap-water isotope ratios and municipal water sources across Kyiv city, Ukraine.

Unlabelled: Stable isotopes of water allow researchers to examine water pathways and better understand spatial and temporal variability in mixtures of municipal water sources. In regions such as Kyiv (Ukraine), with a water supply that is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, pollution, and geopolitical conflict, such understanding is critical for effective water management. Trends in stable isotope values and water sources can function as a confirmation of municipal data.

Lifetime and current depression in the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Objectives: The present study introduces the assessment of depression and depressive symptoms in the German National Cohort (NAKO), a population-based mega cohort. Distribution of core measures, and associations with sociodemographic factors are examined.

Methods: The current analysis includes data from the first 101,667 participants (NAKO data freeze 100,000).

Generalised anxiety and panic symptoms in the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Objectives: Anxiety disorders (AD) are common in the general population, leading to high emotional distress and disability. The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a population-based mega-cohort study, examining participants in 16 German regions. The present study includes data of the first 101,667 participants and investigates the frequency and severity of generalised anxiety symptoms and panic attacks (PA).

Association of polygenic risk scores, traumatic life events and coping strategies with war-related PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity in the South Eastern Europe (SEE)-PTSD cohort.

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is triggered by extremely stressful environmental events and characterized by high emotional distress, re-experiencing of trauma, avoidance and hypervigilance. The present study uses polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from the UK Biobank (UKBB) mega-cohort analysis as part of the PGC PTSD GWAS effort to determine the heritable basis of PTSD in the South Eastern Europe (SEE)-PTSD cohort. We further analyzed the relation between PRS and additional disease-related variables, such as number and intensity of life events, coping, sex and age at war on PTSD and CAPS as outcome variables.

Attachment style change and working alliance in panic disorder patients treated with cognitive behavioral therapy.

An insecure attachment style (AS), described as being highly anxious and/or avoidant, is often assumed to be stable over time, yet some studies show that AS can change. To the extent that AS may be malleable over shorter time periods, it potentially impacts key therapy processes and outcomes. In the present study, we first investigated the stability of AS in patients with panic disorder (N = 49) treated with short-term cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) including follow-up.

Clinical effectiveness of bidirectional fecal microbiota transfer in the treatment of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections.

Background: Fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) has become a standard of care in the prevention of multiple recurrent Clostridioides difficile (rCDI) infection.

Aim: While primary cure rates range from 70-80% following a single treatment using monodirectional approaches, cure rates of combination treatment remain largely unknown.

Methods: In a retrospective case-control study, outcomes following simultaneous bidirectional FMT (bFMT) with combined endoscopic application into the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, compared to standard routes of application (endoscopy via upper or lower gastrointestinal tract and oral capsules; abbreviated UGIT, LGIT and CAP) on day 30 and 90 after FMT were assessed.