The Significant Effects of Threshold Selection for Advancing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Whole Genome of Bread Wheat.

Currently in wheat breeding, genome wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully revealed the genetic basis of complex traits such as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and its biological processes. In the GWAS model, thresholding is common strategy to indicate deviation of expected range of -(s), and it can be used to find the distribution of true positive associations under or over of test statistics. Therefore, the threshold plays a critical role to identify reliable and significant associations in wide genome, while the proportion of false positive results is relatively low.

Factors influencing medical students' interest in obstetrics and gynecology: a longitudinal study on career preferences.

Introduction: Choosing a medical specialty is a pivotal moment in a physician's career, shaped by personal interests, clinical experiences, and professional interactions. Obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) offers a unique blend of surgical and medical care focused on women's health. Given the growing demand for OB-GYN specialists, understanding the factors that influence students' decisions is essential for workforce planning.

Trends in Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Within the Past 18 Years (DONALD Study).

Objective: To evaluate the trends in physical fitness in children and adolescents.

Method: The present study focusses on a longitudinal analysis of the single two-legged jump (S2LJ) from children and adolescents, who participated in the DONALD study from 2004 till 2022. P /body mass (power, surrogate for muscular performance), V (bounce speed, surrogate for coordination), F /body mass (force, surrogate for muscular strength) and (Nerve-Muscle Index, surrogate for jump efficiency) were examined by linear mixed models and propensity-score(PS)-matching analysis.

Monocular gap stereopsis in infants.

In monocular gap stereopsis, one eye perceives a complete rectangular surface while the other eye perceives two small adjacent rectangular surfaces separated by a narrow vertical gap. Our visual system interprets the difference caused by the unmatched monocular images as a depth difference between two small rectangles. In a spontaneous visual preference study, it was asked whether participants aged 4 months responded to the depth effect generated by a monocular gap.

Investigating the association between osteopenia and bowel perforation through a multicenter radiologic analysis.

Anecdotal evidence from preliminary observations has noted multiple instances where osteoporosis is present in elderly patients before the clinical detection of bowel disease, even in the absence of overt gastrointestinal symptoms. However, any potential association between these conditions remains to be further investigated. This computed tomography (CT) study investigates whether patients with gastrointestinal (GI) perforation have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than age and sex matched controls.

Monocyte derived large extracellular vesicles in polytrauma.

Despite significant progress in the medical field, there is still a pressing need for minimal-invasive tools to assist with decision-making, especially in cases of polytrauma. Our team explored the potential of serum-derived large extracellular vesicles, so called microparticles/microvesicles/ectosomes, to serve as a supportive tool in decision-making in polytrauma situations. We focused on whether monocyte derived large EVs may differentiate between polytrauma patients with internal organ injury (ISS > 15) and those without.

Association between glucose dips and the feeling of hunger in a dietary intervention study among students with early and late chronotype-secondary analysis of a randomized cross-over nutrition trial.

Consumption of foods with high glycaemic index (GI) can cause hyperglycemia, thus increasing postprandial hunger. Since circadian rhythm differs inter-individually, we describe glucose dips after breakfast/dinner with high/medium estimated meal GI among students with early (n = 22) and late chronotype (n = 23) and examine their relation to the feeling of hunger in a secondary analysis of a randomized cross-over nutrition trial. Glucose dips reflect the difference between the lowest glucose value recorded 2-3 h postprandially and baseline, presented as percentage of average baseline level.

Controversy on health-based guidance values for bisphenol A-the need of criteria for studies that serve as a basis for risk assessment.

Since 2006, the responsible regulatory bodies have proposed five health-based guidance values (HBGV) for bisphenol A (BPA) that differ by a factor of 250,000. This range of HBGVs covers a considerable part of the range from highly toxic to relatively non-toxic substances. As such heterogeneity of regulatory opinions is a challenge not only for scientific risk assessment but also for all stakeholders, the Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) analyzed the reasons for the current discrepancy and used this example to suggest improvements for the process of HBGV recommendations.

How to reduce the carbon footprint of the agricultural sector? Factors influencing farmers' decision to participate in carbon sequestration programs.

Mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon in agricultural soils through humus formation is a crucial component of sustainable agriculture. Humus programs that are designed to incentivize farmers to build more humus are still recent innovations, so current knowledge about farmers' motivation to participate is limited. This study examines the adoption of non-governmental humus programs to promote carbon sequestration by analyzing farmers' willingness to participate in humus programs and influential factors.

Glycemic response to meals with a high glycemic index differs between morning and evening: a randomized cross-over controlled trial among students with early or late chronotype.

Purpose: Glycemic response to the same meal depends on daytime and alignment of consumption with the inner clock, which has not been examined by individual chronotype yet. This study examined whether the 2-h postprandial and 24-h glycemic response to a meal with high glycemic index (GI) differ when consumed early or late in the day among students with early or late chronotype.

Methods: From a screening of 327 students aged 18-25 years, those with early (n = 22) or late (n = 23) chronotype participated in a 7-day randomized controlled cross-over intervention study.

Commentary of the SKLM to the EFSA opinion on risk assessment of N-nitrosamines in food.

Dietary exposure to N-nitrosamines has recently been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to result in margins of exposure that are conceived to indicate concern with respect to human health risk. However, evidence from more than half a century of international research shows that N-nitroso compounds (NOC) can also be formed endogenously. In this commentary of the Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (DFG), the complex metabolic and physiological biokinetics network of nitrate, nitrite and reactive nitrogen species is discussed with emphasis on its influence on endogenous NOC formation.

Behavioral factors driving farmers' intentions to adopt spot spraying for sustainable weed control.

Smart Farming Technologies enable plant-specific agrochemical applications which can increase the efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture. However, the uptake of Smart Farming Technologies remains slow despite their potential to enhance sustainable transformation of food systems. The design of policies to promote sustainable agricultural technologies requires a holistic understanding of the complex set of factors driving the adoption of innovations at farm level.

Fog controls biological cycling of soil phosphorus in the Coastal Cordillera of the Atacama Desert.

Soils in hyper-arid climates, such as the Chilean Atacama Desert, show indications of past and present forms of life despite extreme water limitations. We hypothesize that fog plays a key role in sustaining life. In particular, we assume that fog water is incorporated into soil nutrient cycles, with the inland limit of fog penetration corresponding to the threshold for biological cycling of soil phosphorus (P).

Alignment between timing of 'highest caloric intake' and chronotype in relation to body composition during adolescence: the DONALD Study.

Purpose: Our aim was to assess alignment in timing of 'highest caloric intake' with individual chronotype and its association with body composition in adolescents.

Methods: We used repeatedly collected data from n = 196 adolescents (age 9-16 years, providing N = 401 yearly questionnaires) of the DONALD open cohort study. Chronotype was assessed by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire from which midpoint of sleep (MSFsc) was derived.

Differential effects of arsenite and arsenate on rice (Oryza sativa) plants differing in glutathione S-transferase gene expression.

Contamination of paddy soils with arsenic (As) can cause phytotoxicity in rice and increase the accumulation of arsenic in grains. The uptake and accumulation of As in rice depends on the different As species present in the soil. Plants detoxify As by conjugating and sequestering xenobiotic compounds into vacuoles using various enzymes.

Spreading depolarization and angiographic spasm are separate mediators of delayed infarcts.

In DISCHARGE-1, a recent Phase III diagnostic trial in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage patients, spreading depolarization variables were found to be an independent real-time biomarker of delayed cerebral ischaemia. We here investigated based on prospectively collected data from DISCHARGE-1 whether delayed infarcts in the anterior, middle, or posterior cerebral artery territories correlate with (i) extravascular blood volumes; (ii) predefined spreading depolarization variables, or proximal vasospasm assessed by either (iii) digital subtraction angiography or (iv) transcranial Doppler-sonography; and whether spreading depolarizations and/or vasospasm are mediators between extravascular blood and delayed infarcts. Relationships between variable groups were analysed using Spearman correlations in 136 patients.

Associations between resting state brain activity and A adenosine receptor availability in the healthy brain: Effects of acute sleep deprivation.

Introduction: Previous resting-state fMRI (Rs-fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies have shown that sleep deprivation (SD) affects both spontaneous brain activity and A adenosine receptor (AAR) availability. Nevertheless, the hypothesis that the neuromodulatory adenosinergic system acts as regulator of the individual neuronal activity remains unexplored.

Methods: Therefore, fourteen young men underwent Rs-fMRI, AAR PET scans, and neuropsychological tests after 52 h of SD and after 14 h of recovery sleep.

Replication and mediation of the association between the metabolome and clinical markers of metabolic health in an adolescent cohort study.

Metabolomics-derived metabolites (henceforth metabolites) may mediate the relationship between modifiable risk factors and clinical biomarkers of metabolic health (henceforth clinical biomarkers). We set out to study the associations of metabolites with clinical biomarkers and a potential mediation effect in a population of young adults. First, we conducted a systematic literature review searching for metabolites associated with 11 clinical biomarkers (inflammation markers, glucose, blood pressure or blood lipids).

Total Sleep Deprivation Increases Brain Age Prediction Reversibly in Multisite Samples of Young Healthy Adults.

Sleep loss pervasively affects the human brain at multiple levels. Age-related changes in several sleep characteristics indicate that reduced sleep quality is a frequent characteristic of aging. Conversely, sleep disruption may accelerate the aging process, yet it is not known what will happen to the age status of the brain if we can manipulate sleep conditions.

Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of acrylamide: Arguments for the derivation of a tolerable daily intake (TDI value).

This opinion of the Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) presents arguments for an updated risk assessment of diet-related exposure to acrylamide (AA), based on a critical review of scientific evidence relevant to low dose exposure. The SKLM arrives at the conclusion that as long as an appropriate exposure limit for AA is not exceeded, genotoxic effects resulting in carcinogenicity are unlikely to occur. Based on the totality of the evidence, the SKLM considers it scientifically justified to derive a tolerable daily intake (TDI) as a health-based guidance value.

Sphingolipid subtypes differentially control proinsulin processing and systemic glucose homeostasis.

Impaired proinsulin-to-insulin processing in pancreatic β-cells is a key defective step in both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) (refs. ), but the mechanisms involved remain to be defined. Altered metabolism of sphingolipids (SLs) has been linked to development of obesity, type 1 diabetes and T2D (refs.

Biallelic variants in PIGN cause Fryns syndrome, multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizures syndrome, and neurologic phenotypes: A genotype-phenotype correlation study.

Purpose: Biallelic PIGN variants have been described in Fryns syndrome, multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizure syndrome (MCAHS), and neurologic phenotypes. The full spectrum of clinical manifestations in relation to the genotypes is yet to be reported.

Methods: Genotype and phenotype data were collated and analyzed for 61 biallelic PIGN cases: 21 new and 40 previously published cases.