Saving sheep - On extinction narratives in Namibian Swakara farming.

The Namibian Swakara industry, a type of sheep farming focused on the production of lamb pelts for the fashion industry, currently faces a crisis situation. Formerly one of the most important export products from Namibia, a combination of drought, falling pelt prices and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic now threaten the survival of Swakara, the Namibian Karakul. The current crisis is articulated in extinction narratives.

Mechanistic phylodynamic models do not provide conclusive evidence that non-avian dinosaurs were in decline before their final extinction.

Phylodynamic models can be used to estimate diversification trajectories from time-calibrated phylogenies. Here we apply two such models to phylogenies of non-avian dinosaurs, a clade whose evolutionary history has been widely debated. Although some authors have suggested that the clade experienced a decline in diversity, potentially starting millions of years before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, others have suggested that the group remained highly diverse right up until the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary.

The extinct marine megafauna of the Phanerozoic.

The modern marine megafauna is known to play important ecological roles and includes many charismatic species that have drawn the attention of both the scientific community and the public. However, the marine megafauna has never been assessed as a whole, nor has it been defined in deep time. Here, we review the literature to define and list the species that constitute the marine megafauna, and to explore biological and ecological patterns throughout the Phanerozoic.

Mapping curvature domains in human V4 using CBV-sensitive layer-fMRI at 3T.

Introduction: A full understanding of how we see our world remains a fundamental research question in vision neuroscience. While topographic profiling has allowed us to identify different visual areas, the exact functional characteristics and organization of areas up in the visual hierarchy (beyond V1 & V2) is still debated. It is hypothesized that visual area V4 represents a vital intermediate stage of processing spatial and curvature information preceding object recognition.

Electrically evoked mismatch negativity from speech stimuli as an objective measure of cochlear implant performance.

Introduction: Cochlear implant (CI) success is often assessed using subjective tests like word recognition scores (WRS). However, these tests are unsuitable for children, non-native speakers, and individuals with cognitive impairments. Mismatch negativity (MMN), an objective measure of cortical auditory processing, offers a promising alternative for evaluating speech perception.

Mapping the landscape of vitamin D in cancer studies: a systematic global investigation.

Purpose: This comprehensive study examines the multifaceted relationship between vitamin D and cancer, synthesizing key scientific advancements and global research trends to guide future investigations and address critical gaps in the field.

Methods: Publications on vitamin D and cancer were retrieved from Scopus up to November 2024. English-language original and review articles were analyzed using Excel, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica, focusing on publication trends, citation impacts, and research themes.

Prediction of secondary metabolites in hydroponically produced tomatoes: multivariate influence of abiotic climatic factors as well as photosynthesis and transpiration rates.

This is the first study who presents an approach to predict secondary metabolites content in tomatoes using multivariate time series classification of greenhouse sensor data, which includes climatic conditions as well as photosynthesis and transpiration rates. The aim was to find the necessary conditions in a greenhouse to determine the maximum content of secondary metabolites, as higher levels in fruits can promote human health. For this, we defined multiple classification tasks and derived suitable classification function.

Unsettled hearing, responsible listening: encounters with voice after forced migration.

In line with increasing forced migrations around the globe, there is also a growing need for ethical encounters between researchers and those forcefully displaced. This article focuses on responsible Listening, defined as the ethically motivated effort of researchers to conduct communication at eye level. However, findings have shown that listeners (e.

Identification of metal-centered excited states in Cr(iii) complexes with time-resolved L-edge X-ray spectroscopy.

New coordination complexes of 3d metals that possess photoactive metal-centered (MC) excited states are promising targets for optical applications and photocatalysis. Ultrafast spectroscopy plays an important role in elucidating the photophysical mechanisms that underlie photochemical activity. However, it can be difficult to assign transient signals to specific electronic excited states and mechanistic information is often inferred from kinetics.

Differential expression of plasma extracellular vesicles microRNAs and exploration of their association with bone metabolism in childhood trauma participants treated in a psychosomatic clinic.

Introduction: Early life stress (ELS) impacts neurotransmitters and cell communication, potentially disrupting neurological and physiological processes. Recently, ELS has been implicated in impaired bone metabolism, with extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo, microRNAs (miRNAs), might affecting this process. This research aimed to elucidate the association between childhood trauma, a specific form of ELS, and bone metabolism through studying miRNA in EVs within three steps: firstly, examining alterations of EV miRNAs between ELS and controls, secondly analyzing associations between altered EV miRNAs and bone markers, and thirdly exploring the target gene prediction and enrichment pathways of altered EV miRNAs.

A model to follow? The EU and global eco-social policy.

In this article, we study the political project promoted by the European Commission (EC) for tackling simultaneously socioeconomic and environmental issues. Based on a detailed analysis of the most relevant EC policy documents (adopted between 2000 and 2020) that explicitly articulate ecological and socioeconomic questions, we offer two contributions to the literature on eco-social policy. First, we identify the nature of what we call the 'European Eco-Social Model'.

Fractionating proteins with nitrite-reducing activity in " Kuenenia stuttgartiensis" strain CSTR1.

The anammox bacteria " Kuenenia stuttgartiensis" ( Kuenenia) are able to gain energy by combining ammonium and nitrite to produce nitrogen gas, which is an ecologically and technically significant activity process. In this reaction, nitric oxide serves as a recognized intermediate in the reduction of nitrite, which is subsequently combined with ammonium to produce hydrazine. However, the enzyme that converts nitrite to nitric oxide remains elusive.

Riverine antibiotic resistome along an anthropogenic gradient.

The introduction of antibiotic-resistant bacteria into riverine systems through the discharge of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent and agricultural waste poses significant health risks. Even when not pathogenic, these bacteria can act as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), transferring them to pathogens that infect humans and animals. In this study, we used fluorescence hybridization, qPCR, and metagenomics to investigate how anthropogenic activities affect microbial abundance and the resistome along the Holtemme River, a small river in Germany, from near-pristine to human-impacted sites.

Size matters: larger fragments of riparian forest in urban areas support functional diversity of soil bacteria more than smaller ones.

Soil microorganisms are relatively poorly studied in urban ecosystems, particularly within unmanaged woodlands that form island-like patches of vegetation. We surveyed soil bacteria on spp. dominated riparian-like forest patches in Kraków, the second largest city in Poland, to find out which environmental factors influence their activities and functional diversity, measured using Biolog ECO plates.

Internal in-frame translation generates Cas11b, which is important for effective interference in an archaeal CRISPR-Cas system.

CRISPR-Cas is a sophisticated defence system used by bacteria and archaea to fend off invaders. CRISPR-Cas systems vary in their Cas protein composition and have therefore been divided into different classes and types. Type I systems of bacteria have been shown to contain the small protein Cas11 as part of the interference complex known as Cascade.

Tofacitinib in early active axial spondyloarthritis: protocol of a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase IV study, FASTLANE.

Background: Early treatment initiation is one of the strongest predictors of good treatment response in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Recently, the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) defined early axSpA as a diagnosis of axSpA with a duration of axial symptoms equal to or less than 2 years. Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.

Key factors influencing long-term engagement: a quantitative analysis of Special Olympics World Games 2023 volunteers.

Introduction: The contribution of volunteers to the success of mega sport events is very valuable, as they dedicate their time and skills without financial compensation. Despite the undiminished enthusiasm for volunteering at events, grassroots sport in Europe faces increasing challenges in retaining long-term volunteers in sports clubs. This study aims to contribute to existing research by examining the characteristics and motivations of volunteers at mega sport events, with a particular focus on the Special Olympics World Games 2023 (SOWG 23).

Match-play data according to playing categories in badminton: a systematic review.

Introduction: This systematic review aimed to investigate differences in match-play data according to the five playing categories in badminton.

Materials And Methods: The systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were conducted on ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases.

Optimized communication during risk disclosure to reduce nocebo headache after lumbar puncture-a study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Risk communication has been found to be a driver of nocebo effects in medical settings by enhancing negative expectations. In fact, merely disclosing the risk of side effects and complications of treatments or medical procedures increases reports of adverse events. Along these lines, it has been proposed that the occurrence of headache after lumbar puncture (LP), a routine diagnostic procedure in neurology, is caused to a large degree by the information delivered by the physician during the informed consent procedure.

Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD) and Outcomes (NordiNet and ANSWER).

Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is a rare disease with both physiological and psychological effects for untreated patients. AGHD symptoms can improve over time with GH treatment. Here we have analyzed the long-term effectiveness and safety of short-acting GH replacement therapy (GHRT) in treatment naïve and nonnaïve patients with AGHD using real-world data from the NordiNet® International Outcome Study and American Norditropin® Studies: Web Enabled Research Program.

Time course of the rubber hand illusion-induced analgesia.

Introduction: Previous investigations on pain modulatory effects of the rubber hand illusion (RHI) yielded mixed results. However, these studies used separate stimuli to induce pain and the RHI. Using a visual-thermal stimulation approach, the illusion-inducing stimulus was simultaneously the pain stimulus which ensured that participants focused entirely on the illusion-inducing stimulus.

Upfront fixed-duration treatment strategies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Arab populations: a position statement from the Gulf region.

The treatment landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has expanded dramatically over the last decade, with a wide range of effective treatments now available. Clinical management of CLL varies widely depending on patient profile, meaning the optimal treatment in Arab patients, who tend to be young and often present with comorbidities, including diabetes and obesity, requires specific considerations. In the absence of regional guidelines, a group of experts from across the Gulf region and one international expert from Germany convened to discuss and agree upon a position statement for venetoclax-based fixed-duration treatment strategies for Arab patients with CLL.

Core values and principles of general practice and family medicine: perspectives of German GP residents-a cross-sectional study.

Background: The core values and principles of general practice (GP) and family medicine (FM) have been described by various international scientific societies, including the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies, and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA). These values and principles, such as continuity of care, a bio-psycho-social approach, and hermeneutic case understanding, are also integrated into FM training programs. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and perspectives of FM trainees regarding the core values and principles of FM.

GABAergic integration of transient and persistent neurons in the developing mouse somatosensory cortex.

GABA is an essential element in the function of neocortical circuits. The origin, migration and mechanisms of synaptogenesis of GABAergic neurons have been intensively studied. However, little information is available when GABAergic synapses are formed within the different cortical layers, neuronal cell types and subcellular compartments.