Identification of loci involved in childhood visual acuity and associations with cognitive skills and educational attainment.

Visual acuity significantly contributes to quality of life. Deficits in childhood are associated with reading difficulties, which can have detrimental effects on education outcomes. In adults, it has been observed that vision defects such as myopia are associated with higher educational attainment (EA).

sp. nov., a fish pathogen, isolated from the Kiel Fjord.

A new strain, K08M4, was isolated from the broad-nosed pipefish in the Kiel Fjord. Infection experiments revealed that K08M4 was highly virulent for juvenile pipefish. Cells of strain K08M4 were Gram-stain-negative, curved rod-shaped and motile by means of a single polar flagellum.

Blood T Helper Memory Cells: A Tool for Studying Skin Inflammation in HS?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful lesions on intertriginous body areas such as the axillary, inguinal, and perianal sites. Given the limited treatment options for HS, expanding our knowledge of its pathogenetic mechanisms is a prerequisite for novel therapeutic developments. T cells are assumed to play a crucial role in HS pathogenesis.

Arterial hypertension and β-amyloid accumulation have spatially overlapping effects on posterior white matter hyperintensity volume: a cross-sectional study.

Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) in subjects across the Alzheimer's disease (AD) spectrum with minimal vascular pathology suggests that amyloid pathology-not just arterial hypertension-impacts WMH, which in turn adversely influences cognition. Here we seek to determine the effect of both hypertension and Aβ positivity on WMH, and their impact on cognition.

Methods: We analysed data from subjects with a low vascular profile and normal cognition (NC), subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) enrolled in the ongoing observational multicentre DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (n = 375, median age 70.

Computer-aided design of a cyclic di-AMP synthesizing enzyme CdaA inhibitor.

Cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP) is an essential secondary messenger regulating cell wall homeostasis and myriads of physiological processes in several Gram-positive and mycobacteria, including human pathogens. Hence, c-di-AMP synthesizing enzymes (DACs) have become a promising antibacterial drug target. To overcome a scarcity of small molecule inhibitors of c-di-AMP synthesizing enzyme CdaA, a computer-aided design of a new compound that should block the enzyme has been performed.

Altered limbic functional connectivity in individuals with subjective cognitive decline: Converging and diverging findings across Chinese and German cohorts.

Introduction: It remains unclear whether functional brain networks are consistently altered in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and whether the network alterations are associated with an amyloid burden.

Methods: Cross-sectional resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity (FC) and amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) data from the Chinese Sino Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Decline and German DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia cohorts were analyzed.

Results: Limbic FC, particularly hippocampal connectivity with right insula, was consistently higher in SCD than in controls, and correlated with SCD-plus features.

De novo transcriptome assemblies of five major European oilseed rape insect pests.

Objective: Insect pests can cause severe losses in oilseed rape yields across Europe. Genomic and transcriptomic information is very limited for these insects. The aim of our study was to provide transcriptomic resources on several oilseed rape herbivores that will support research into their biology and help develop new methods of sustainable pest management.

Brain reserve contributes to distinguishing preclinical Alzheimer's stages 1 and 2.

Background: In preclinical Alzheimer's disease, it is unclear why some individuals with amyloid pathologic change are asymptomatic (stage 1), whereas others experience subjective cognitive decline (SCD, stage 2). Here, we examined the association of stage 1 vs. stage 2 with structural brain reserve in memory-related brain regions.

Long-Term Outcome Following Liver Transplantation for Primary Hepatic Tumors-A Single Centre Observational Study over 40 Years.

The incidence of pediatric liver tumors in general has been rising over the last years and so is the number of children undergoing liver transplantation for this indication. To contribute to the ongoing improvement of pre- and post-transplant care, we aim to describe outcome and risk factors in our patient cohort. We have compared characteristics and outcome for patients transplanted for hepatoblastoma to other liver malignancies in our center between 1983 and 2022 and analysed influential factors on tumor recurrence and mortality using nominal logistic regression analysis.

A Residual Marker of Cognitive Reserve Is Associated with Resting-State Intrinsic Functional Connectivity Along the Alzheimer's Disease Continuum.

Background: Cognitive reserve (CR) explains inter-individual differences in the impact of the neurodegenerative burden on cognitive functioning. A residual model was proposed to estimate CR more accurately than previous measures. However, associations between residual CR markers (CRM) and functional connectivity (FC) remain unexplored.

Linking early-life bilingualism and cognitive advantage in older adulthood.

Previous studies have identified bilingualism as a protective factor against dementia. Here we aimed to test whether being bilingual at different life stages impacts cognition and brain structure in older adulthood. We included 746 participants from the DZNE-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE).

Interleukin-19 Levels Are Increased in Palmoplantar Pustulosis and Reduced following Apremilast Treatment.

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by neutrophilic granulocyte (neutrophil)-filled pustules on the palms and soles. The pathogenesis of PPP is poorly understood. This study conducted an identification of the immune mediators associated with PPP and an exploration of apremilast treatment effects on them.

Competitive Sperm-Marked Beetles for Monitoring Approaches in Genetic Biocontrol and Studies in Reproductive Biology.

Sperm marking provides a key tool for reproductive biology studies, but it also represents a valuable monitoring tool for genetic pest control strategies such as the sterile insect technique. Sperm-marked lines can be generated by introducing transgenes that mediate the expression of fluorescent proteins during spermatogenesis. The homozygous lines established by transgenesis approaches are going through a genetic bottleneck that can lead to reduced fitness.

Cholinergic white matter pathways along the Alzheimer's disease continuum.

Previous studies have shown that the cholinergic nucleus basalis of Meynert and its white matter projections are affected in Alzheimer's disease dementia and mild cognitive impairment. However, it is still unknown whether these alterations can be found in individuals with subjective cognitive decline, and whether they are more pronounced than changes found in conventional brain volumetric measurements. To address these questions, we investigated microstructural alterations of two major cholinergic pathways in individuals along the Alzheimer's disease continuum using an in vivo model of the human cholinergic system based on neuroimaging.

BAF (mSWI/SNF) complex regulates mediolateral cortical patterning in the developing forebrain.

Early forebrain patterning entails the correct regional designation of the neuroepithelium, and appropriate specification, generation, and distribution of neural cells during brain development. Specific signaling and transcription factors are known to tightly regulate patterning of the dorsal telencephalon to afford proper structural/functional cortical arealization and morphogenesis. Nevertheless, whether and how changes of the chromatin structure link to the transcriptional program(s) that control cortical patterning remains elusive.

Do chimpanzees reason logically?

Psychologists disagree about the development of logical concepts such as or and not. While some theorists argue that infants reason logically, others maintain that logical inference is contingent on linguistic abilities and emerges around age 4. In this Registered Report, we conducted five experiments on logical reasoning in chimpanzees.

Adsorption and Absorption Energies of Hydrogen with Palladium.

Thermal recombinative desorption rates of HD on Pd(111) and Pd(332) are reported from transient kinetic experiments performed between 523 and 1023 K. A detailed kinetic model accurately describes the competition between recombination of surface-adsorbed hydrogen and deuterium atoms and their diffusion into the bulk. By fitting the model to observed rates, we derive the dissociative adsorption energies ( = 0.

Canola Meal as Raw Material for the Development of Bio-Adhesive for Medium Density Fiberboards (MDFs) and Particleboards Production.

In the context of natural resource scarcity, environmental challenges and human health concerns, the development of alternative solutions becomes crucial to sustainable development. Sustainable and renewable protein-containing materials such as soy or canola have proved to have wood bonding properties comparable to those of synthetic binders. In addition, the availability of canola meal offers a great possibility for the development of bio-adhesives for the wood-based panel industry.

Characterization of Peroxidase and Laccase Gene Families and In Silico Identification of Potential Genes Involved in Upstream Steps of Lignan Formation in Sesame.

Peroxidases and laccases are oxidative enzymes involved in physiological processes in plants, covering responses to biotic and abiotic stress as well as biosynthesis of health-promoting specialized metabolites. Although they are thought to be involved in the biosynthesis of (+)-pinoresinol, a comprehensive investigation of this class of enzymes has not yet been conducted in the emerging oil crop sesame and no information is available regarding the potential (+)-pinoresinol synthase genes in this crop. In the present study, we conducted a pan-genome-wide identification of peroxidase and laccase genes coupled with transcriptome profiling of diverse sesame varieties.

Phenotypic screen and transcriptomics approach complement each other in functional genomics of defensive stink gland physiology.

Background: Functional genomics uses unbiased systematic genome-wide gene disruption or analyzes natural variations such as gene expression profiles of different tissues from multicellular organisms to link gene functions to particular phenotypes. Functional genomics approaches are of particular importance to identify large sets of genes that are specifically important for a particular biological process beyond known candidate genes, or when the process has not been studied with genetic methods before.

Results: Here, we present a large set of genes whose disruption interferes with the function of the odoriferous defensive stink glands of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum.

Timing and synchrony of birth in Eurasian lynx across Europe.

The ecology and evolution of reproductive timing and synchrony have been a topic of great interest in evolutionary ecology for decades. Originally motivated by questions related to behavioral and reproductive adaptation to environmental conditions, the topic has acquired new relevance in the face of climate change. However, there has been relatively little research on reproductive phenology in mammalian carnivores.

Motor cortex inhibition as a fibromyalgia biomarker: a meta-analysis of transcranial magnetic stimulation studies.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common and refractory chronic pain condition with multiple clinical phenotypes. The current diagnosis is based on a syndrome identification which can be subjective and lead to under or over-diagnosis. Therefore, there is a need for objective biomarkers for diagnosis, phenotyping, and prognosis (treatment response and follow-up) in fibromyalgia.

The Effects of Conservation Tillage on Chemical and Microbial Soil Parameters at Four Sites across Europe.

Conservation tillage is often discussed as an effective tool to improve the soil quality in agriculture. Four sites across Europe (in Germany, Romania, Spain, and Sweden) were investigated as case studies for country-specific reductions in tillage intensity. Conventional tillage (CT) by mouldboard ploughing was compared with shallow and deep non-inversion minimum tillage (MT) and/or no-tillage (NT).

Hydrogenation of Formate Species Using Atomic Hydrogen on a Cu(111) Model Catalyst.

The reaction mechanism of the CHOH synthesis by the hydrogenation of CO on Cu catalysts is unclear because of the challenge in experimentally detecting reaction intermediates formed by the hydrogenation of adsorbed formate (HCOO). Thus, the objective of this study is to clarify the reaction mechanism of the CHOH synthesis by establishing the kinetic natures of intermediates formed by the hydrogenation of adsorbed HCOO on Cu(111). We exposed HCOO on Cu(111) to atomic hydrogen at low temperatures of 200-250 K and observed the species using infrared reflection absorption (IRA) spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) studies.