Planning nature-based solutions: Principles, steps, and insights.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) find increasing attention as actions to address societal challenges through harnessing ecological processes, yet knowledge gaps exist regarding approaches to landscape planning with NBS. This paper aims to provide suggestions of how planning NBS can be conceptualized and applied in practice. We develop a framework for planning NBS by merging insights from literature and a case study in the Lahn river landscape, Germany.

Effect of ozone stress on the intracellular metabolites from Cobetia marina.

A GCxGC-MS system was employed with a non-polar × mid-polar column set for the metabolic non-target analysis of Cobetia marina, the model bacteria for marine biofouling. C. marina was treated with ozone to investigate the intracellular metabolic state change under oxidative stress.

Evaluation of Kjell et al.: Defining the Adult Neural Stem Cell Niche Proteome Identifies Key Regulators of Adult Neurogenesis.

An example of the peer review process for "Defining the Adult Neural Stem Cell Niche Proteome Identifies Key Regulators of Adult Neurogenesis" (Kjell et al., 2020) is presented here.

Deletion of the Nucleotide Exchange Factor Vav3 Enhances Axonal Complexity and Synapse Formation but Tampers Activity of Hippocampal Neuronal Networks In Vitro.

Vav proteins activate GTPases of the RhoA subfamily that regulate the cytoskeleton and are involved in adhesion, migration, differentiation, polarity and the cell cycle. While the importance of RhoA GTPases for neuronal morphology is undisputed, their regulation is less well understood. In this perspective, we studied the consequences of the deletion of , and and (, , ) for the development of embryonic hippocampal neurons in vitro.

Elimination of the four extracellular matrix molecules tenascin-C, tenascin-R, brevican and neurocan alters the ratio of excitatory and inhibitory synapses.

The synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain is not limited to the interplay between the pre- and the postsynapse of neurons, but involves also astrocytes as well as extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. Glycoproteins, proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid of the ECM pervade the pericellular environment and condense to special superstructures termed perineuronal nets (PNN) that surround a subpopulation of CNS neurons. The present study focuses on the analysis of PNNs in a quadruple knockout mouse deficient for the ECM molecules tenascin-C (TnC), tenascin-R (TnR), neurocan and brevican.

Enhanced mGlu5 Signaling in Excitatory Neurons Promotes Rapid Antidepressant Effects via AMPA Receptor Activation.

Conventional antidepressants have limited efficacy and many side effects, highlighting the need for fast-acting and specific medications. Induction of the synaptic protein Homer1a mediates the effects of different antidepressant treatments, including the rapid action of ketamine and sleep deprivation (SD). We show here that mimicking Homer1a upregulation via intravenous injection of cell-membrane-permeable TAT-Homer1a elicits rapid antidepressant effects in various tests.

Polylactide (PLA) and Its Blends with Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS): A Brief Review.

Polylactide (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and blends thereof have been researched in the last two decades due to their commercial availability and the upcoming requirements for using bio-based chemical building blocks. Blends consisting of PLA and PBS offer specific material properties. However, their thermodynamically favored biphasic composition often restricts their applications.

Evaluation of a family-oriented parenting intervention for methamphetamine-involved mothers and fathers - The SHIFT Parent Training.

Introduction: A large number of people who use crystal methamphetamine in Germany are parents of young children. In the context of methamphetamine use, family situations and parenting are frequently impacted, and children are at risk of developing behavioral or emotional difficulties. SHIFT Parent Training was developed as a parenting intervention targeted specifically to the needs of methamphetamine-involved parents.

Event-related potentials evoked by passive visuospatial perception in rats and humans reveal common denominators in information processing.

In the human cortex, event-related potentials (ERPs) are triggered in response to sensory, cognitive or motor stimuli. Due to the inherent difficulties of conducting invasive mechanistic studies in human subjects, little is known as to the precise neurophysiological mechanisms that lead to their manifestation. By contrast, although much is known about synaptic and neural mechanisms that underlie information processing in rodents, very few studies have addressed to what extent ERPs are comparable in rodents and humans.

Improved signal fidelity in 4-pulse DEER with Gaussian pulses.

The introduction of arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) technology and the availability of high power microwave amplifiers mark a "new era" in pulse EPR due to significant sensitivity improvements and the possibility to perform novel types of experiments. We present an optimized 4-pulse DEER setup that uses Gaussian observer pulses (GaussDEER) in connection with a Gaussian/shaped pump pulse. Gaussian pulses allow to experimentally remove the "2+1" pulse train ESE signal which is intrinsically present in any DEER experiment performed with rectangular pulses.

The Tenascin-C-Derived Peptide VSWRAPTA Promotes Neuronal Branching Via Transcellular Activation of the Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) and the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway In Vitro.

The central nervous system (CNS) of mammals has a limited regeneration capacity after traumatic events, which causes chronic functional disability. The development of biomaterials aims at providing support for the regeneration process. One strategy integrates peptides that mimic functional domains of extracellular matrix (ECM) or cell adhesion molecules with synthetic polymers designed to present growth-supporting cues to the neuronal microenvironment.

Simultaneous measurement of surface tension and viscosity using freely decaying oscillations of acoustically levitated droplets.

Oscillations of small liquid drops around a spherical shape have been of great interest to scientists measuring physical properties such as interfacial tension and viscosity, over the last few decades. A powerful tool for contactless positioning is acoustic levitation, which has been used to simultaneously determine the surface tension and viscosity of liquids at ambient pressure. In order to extend this acoustic levitation measurement method to high pressure systems, the method is first evaluated under ambient pressure.

In the Piriform Cortex, the Primary Impetus for Information Encoding through Synaptic Plasticity Is Provided by Descending Rather than Ascending Olfactory Inputs.

Information encoding by means of persistent changes in synaptic strength supports long-term information storage and memory in structures such as the hippocampus. In the piriform cortex (PC), that engages in the processing of associative memory, only short-term synaptic plasticity has been described to date, both in vitro and in anesthetized rodents in vivo. Whether the PC maintains changes in synaptic strength for longer periods of time is unknown: Such a property would indicate that it can serve as a repository for long-term memories.

The antipsychotic drugs olanzapine and haloperidol modify network connectivity and spontaneous activity of neural networks in vitro.

Impaired neural synchronization is a hallmark of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia. It has been proposed that schizophrenia-related cognitive deficits are caused by an unbalance of reciprocal inhibitory and stimulatory signaling. This supposedly leads to decreased power of induced gamma oscillations during the performance of cognitive tasks.

Reducing pathogens in combined sewer overflows using performic acid.

Combined sewer overflows contribute significantly to pathogen loads in surface water. Some chemical disinfectants such as chlorine have proved to reduce the levels of microorganisms even in complex matrices such as wastewater in combined sewer systems; however, some of them release toxic by-products into water bodies and increase costs of plant maintenance and repair. In this study, we determined if performic acid (PFA) disinfection units can be operated at decentralized treatment facilities and reduce bacteria, viruses, and protozoan parasites in combined sewer overflows (CSOs).

Factors influencing the spinal motoneurons in development.

The development of the spinal cord needs a concerted interaction of transcription factors activating diverse genes and signals from outside acting on the specification of the different cells. Signals have to act on the segments of the embryo as well as on the cranial-caudal axis and the dorso-ventral axis. Additionally the axons of the motoneurons have to cross the central nervous system barrier to connect to the periphery.

Reducing pathogens in combined sewer overflows using ozonation or UV irradiation.

Fecal contamination of water resources is a major public health concern in densely populated areas since these water bodies are used for drinking water production or recreational purposes. A main source of this contamination originates from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in regions with combined sewer systems. Thus, the treatment of CSO discharges is urgent.

Invaders, natives and their enemies: distribution patterns of amphipods and their microsporidian parasites in the Ruhr Metropolis, Germany.

Background: The amphipod and microsporidian diversity in freshwaters of a heterogeneous urban region in Germany was assessed. Indigenous and non-indigenous host species provide an ideal framework to test general hypotheses on potentially new host-parasite interactions, parasite spillback and spillover in recently invaded urban freshwater communities.

Methods: Amphipods were sampled in 17 smaller and larger streams belonging to catchments of the four major rivers in the Ruhr Metropolis (Emscher, Lippe, Ruhr, Rhine), including sites invaded and not invaded by non-indigenous amphipods.

The role of extracellular matrix in spinal cord development.

The development of the spinal cord represents one of the most complex structure developments of the central nervous system (CNS) as it has to unfold along the longitudinal axis and within segmental cues. There it has to cope with on the one hand connection to the periphery (skeletal muscle, dermomyotome, smooth muscles) and connect it to the higher midbrain and cortical regions of the CNS. Major studies have been performed to analyze the specific subset of transcription factors of the different types of cells within the different segments of the spinal cord.

Ion transporter NKCC1, modulator of neurogenesis in murine olfactory neurons.

Olfaction is one of the most crucial senses for vertebrates regarding foraging and social behavior. Therefore, it is of particular interest to investigate the sense of smell, its function on a molecular level, the signaling proteins involved in the process and the mechanism of required ion transport. In recent years, the precise role of the ion transporter NKCC1 in olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) chloride accumulation has been a controversial subject.

Informal caregiving for elderly people with mental illnesses and the mental health of the informal caregivers.

Objectives: Caring for a person often imposes a significant burden on informal caregivers, which is a possible threat to their own health and well-being. The aim of this study is twofold: (i) We analyze whether the risk of the mental burden due to informal caregiving increases when the dependent person suffers from mental disorders. (ii) We investigate if the utilization of formal care assistance reduces this burden.

A modified infrared spectrometer with high time resolution and its application for investigating fast conformational changes of the GTPase Ras.

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy is a valuable tool for the investigation of proteins and protein interactions. The investigation of many biological processes is possible by means of caged compounds, which set free biologically active substances upon light activation. Some caged compounds could provide sub-nanosecond time resolution, e.

Targeting and activation of antigen-specific B-cells by calcium phosphate nanoparticles loaded with protein antigen.

Cross-linking of the B-cell receptors of an antigen-specific B-cell is the initial signal for B-cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation into antibody secreting plasma cells. Since multivalent particulate structures are efficient activators of antigen-specific B-cells, we developed biodegradable calcium phosphate nanoparticles displaying protein antigens on their surface and explored the efficacy of the B-cell activation after exposure to these nanoparticles. The calcium phosphate nanoparticles were functionalized with the model antigen Hen Egg Lysozyme (HEL) to take advantage of a HEL-specific B-cell receptor transgenic mouse model.

Occipital and orbitofrontal hemodynamics during naturally paced reading: an fNIRS study.

Humans typically read at incredibly fast rates, because they predict likely occurring words from a given context. Here, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to track the ultra-rapid hemodynamic responses of words presented every 280 ms in a naturally paced sentence context. We found a lower occipital deoxygenation to unpredictable than to predictable words.