Semaphorin 3A repulsion directs the caudal projection of pioneer longitudinal axons in the developing chicken brain.

The medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) is the first axon tract to develop in the ventral vertebrate brain. It originates in the diencephalon and projects caudally into the spinal cord, pioneering the path for later developing axons. Previous anatomical and expression analyses in the chicken suggested Semaphorin 3 A (Sema3A) as the candidate to repel the amniote MLF from the forebrain.

Optimization of nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for the hyperspectral chemical mapping of solid samples.

Background: Nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (NE-LIBS) uses the plasmonic effect of metallic nanoparticles deposited on solid sample surfaces to achieve a significant signal enhancement by lowering the breakdown threshold and elevating plasma temperature. NE-LIBS has been used for localized analysis, but NE-LIBS mapping of solids has rarely been done, due to several challenges. In this study, we scrutinized the performance of NE-LIBS hyperspectral mapping of solid samples, when the controlled deposition of nanoparticles was done using magnetron sputtering.

Reduced GABA Levels in the ACC of Actively Drinking High Risk Individuals Compared to Recently Detoxified Alcohol-Dependent Patients.

Background: Acute gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) effects of alcohol consumption are well-known, whereas prior research has yielded inconsistent findings regarding on adaptations of the GABAergic neurotransmitter system to chronic alcohol use. Previous studies indicate either elevated or reduced GABA levels in cortical regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in persons with alcohol use disorder (AUD). We tested the hypothesis that active alcohol consumption compared to abstinence contributes to GABA levels as observed in prior research on chronic alcohol use.

Area-Level Factors of Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents in European Neighborhoods - a Systematic Review.

The WHO emphasizes the importance of taking area-level factors into account when formulating public health interventions. The aim of this systematic review was to identify which area-level factors are associated with children's dental caries in Europe and might therefore be a suitable starting point for public health interventions. We conducted a systematic review based on a search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library including all European studies on caries in children and their area-level factors published since the year 2000 in English or German.

Nudging for improving mental health treatment-seeking.

Underutilization of mental health services is a complex problem that requires the investigation of new strategies to facilitate treatment-seeking. Nudging is a relatively new approach which has shown promise in promoting healthy behaviors in a variety of domains, though little work has investigated how nudges may be applied to the initiation of mental health treatment. In this paper, we review the limited work examining nudging related to treatment initiation and discuss findings from a study evaluating the impact of nudges on treatment-seeking.