Simulation of the biocide distribution in soil using PELMO coupled with COMLEAM.

Biocides, applied in building materials as antimicrobial protectants, can be leached out by rain, presenting substantial environmental risks as confirmed by studies on aquatic environments. However, these biocides are consistently released throughout the year in a diluted form, posing unique challenges for the prediction of transport, transformation, and ecotoxicity assessment in soil. To address this challenge, we combined COMLEAM, which predicts leaching from facades into the soil, with the FOCUS PELMO pesticide model to predict biocide distribution in soil.

DiscovEpi: automated whole proteome MHC-I-epitope prediction and visualization.

Background: Antigen presentation is a central step in initiating and shaping the adaptive immune response. To activate CD8 T cells, pathogen-derived peptides are presented on the cell surface of antigen-presenting cells bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. CD8 T cells that recognize these complexes with their T cell receptor are activated and ideally eliminate infected cells.

Enzymatic machinery of wood-inhabiting fungi that degrade temperate tree species.

Deadwood provides habitat for fungi and serves diverse ecological functions in forests. We already have profound knowledge of fungal assembly processes, physiological and enzymatic activities, and resulting physico-chemical changes during deadwood decay. However, in situ detection and identification methods, fungal origins, and a mechanistic understanding of the main lignocellulolytic enzymes are lacking.

Nitrogen addition increases mass loss of gymnosperm but not of angiosperm deadwood without changing microbial communities.

Enhanced nitrogen (N) deposition due to combustion of fossil fuels and agricultural fertilization is a global phenomenon which has severely altered carbon (C) and N cycling in temperate forest ecosystems in the northern hemisphere. Although deadwood holds a substantial amount of C in forest ecosystems and thus plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling, the effect of increased N deposition on microbial processes and communities, wood chemical traits and deadwood mass loss remains unclear. Here, we simulated high N deposition rates by adding reactive N in form of ammonium-nitrate (40 kg N ha yr) to deadwood of 13 temperate tree species over nine years in a field experiment in Germany.

Integrative model of the FSH receptor reveals the structural role of the flexible hinge region.

The follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) belongs to the glycoprotein hormone receptors, a subfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). FSHR is involved in reproductive processes such as gonadal development and maturation. Structurally, the extensive extracellular domain, which contains the hormone-binding site and is linked to the transmembrane domain by the hinge region (HR), is characteristic for these receptors.

Tapping the Potential of Resilience to Support an Integrated and Person-Centred Approach to Health and Wellbeing-Developing a Simple Assessment Tool for Practice.

(1) Background: The push towards population health management and the need for new approaches in health services delivery focusing on the prevention and management of chronic diseases has helped in advocating for more person-centred care, and thus for integration of physical and mental health. Resilience plays a key role in supporting sustainable lifestyle changes and promoting health and wellbeing, but most assessment tools available today are too long for widespread use. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a new diagnostic tool to capture a person's resilience and resources.

Enabling technologies towards personalization of scaffolds for large bone defect regeneration.

Additive manufacturing (AM) can deliver personalized scaffolds to support large volume defect tissue regeneration - a major clinical challenge in many medical disciplines. The freedom in scaffold design and composition (biomaterials and biologics) offered by AM yields a plethora of possibilities but is confronted with a heterogenous biological regeneration potential across individuals. A key challenge is to make the right choice for individualized scaffolds that match biology, anatomy, and mechanics of patients.

Mitochondrial Transfer by Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Ameliorates Hepatocyte Lipid Load in a Mouse Model of NASH.

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation ameliorated hepatic lipid load; tissue inflammation; and fibrosis in rodent animal models of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by as yet largely unknown mechanism(s). In a mouse model of NASH; we transplanted bone marrow-derived MSCs into the livers; which were analyzed one week thereafter. Combined metabolomic and proteomic data were applied to weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and subsequent identification of key drivers.

Effects of Five Substances with Different Modes of Action on Cathepsin H, C and L Activities in Zebrafish Embryos.

Cathepsins have been proposed as biomarkers of chemical exposure in the zebrafish embryo model but it is unclear whether they can also be used to detect sublethal stress. The present study evaluates three cathepsin types as candidate biomarkers in zebrafish embryos. In addition to other functions, cathepsins are also involved in yolk lysosomal processes for the internal nutrition of embryos of oviparous animals until external feeding starts.

Placebo Economics: A Systematic Review About the Economic Potential of Utilizing the Placebo Effect.

Recent research shows that placebo mechanisms can be utilized in ethical and legal ways such as in open-label conditions, when patients know that they receive placebos, and through psychological interventions aiming to optimize patients' expectations. Showing that placebo interventions are also cost-efficient could improve their acceptability. To review studies that performed health economic evaluations (HEEs) of intentional placebo interventions and to review studies that intentionally applied placebo interventions and reported outcomes eligible for HEEs.

Mindfulness Meditation and Fantasy Relaxation in a Group Setting Leads to a Diminished Sense of Self and an Increased Present Orientation.

(1) Background: Mind-body interventions (MBI), such as meditation or other relaxation techniques, have become the focus of attention in the clinical and health sciences. Differences in the effects of induction techniques are being increasingly investigated. (2) Methods: Here, we compared changes in the individual experience of time, space, and self in 44 students in an integrative health-promotion program.

A combined FSTRA-shotgun proteomics approach to identify molecular changes in zebrafish upon chemical exposure.

The fish short-term reproduction assay (FSTRA) is a common in vivo screening assay for assessing endocrine effects of chemicals on reproduction in fish. However, the current reliance on measures such as egg number, plasma vitellogenin concentration and morphological changes to determine endocrine effects can lead to false labelling of chemicals with non-endocrine modes- of-action. Here, we integrated quantitative liver and gonad shotgun proteomics into the FSTRA in order to investigate the causal link between an endocrine mode-of-action and adverse effects assigned to the endocrine axis.

Dietary Ingredients as an Alternative Approach for Mitigating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Practice and Research in the Military.

Objective: Approximately 55-76% of Service members use dietary supplements for various reasons, including pain and related outcomes. This work evaluates current research on dietary ingredients for chronic musculoskeletal pain to inform decisions for practice and self-care, specifically for Special Operations Forces personnel.

Methods: A steering committee convened to develop research questions and factors required for decision-making.

Are Invasive Procedures Effective for Chronic Pain? A Systematic Review.

Objective: To assess the evidence for the safety and efficacy of invasive procedures for reducing chronic pain and improving function and health-related quality of life compared with sham (placebo) procedures.

Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Methods: Studies were identified by searching multiple electronic databases, examining reference lists, and communicating with experts.

How often do general practitioners use placebos and non-specific interventions? Systematic review and meta-analysis of surveys.

Background: In a systematic review and meta-analysis we summarize the available evidence on how frequently general practitioners/family physicians (GPs) use pure placebos (e.g., placebo pills) and non-specific therapies (sometimes referred to as impure placebos; e.

Expectation Violation in Political Decision Making: A Psychological Case Study.

Since the early Gestaltists there has been a strong interest in the question of how problem solvers get stuck in a mental impasse. A key idea is that the repeated activation of a successful strategy from the past results in a mental set ('Einstellung') which determines and constrains the option space to solve a problem. We propose that this phenomenon, which mostly was tested by fairly restricted experiments in the lab, could also be applied to more complex problem constellations and naturalistic decision making.

How empathic is your healthcare practitioner? A systematic review and meta-analysis of patient surveys.

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that healthcare practitioners who enhance how they express empathy can improve patient health, and reduce medico-legal risk. However we do not know how consistently healthcare practitioners express adequate empathy. In this study, we addressed this gap by investigating patient rankings of practitioner empathy.

Hematopoietic stem cells can be separated from leukemic cells in a subgroup of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

In B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) separation of normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) has so far been limited to a subgroup of patients. As aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-activity is enriched in various stem cells we investigated its value for HSC isolation in adult B-ALL. Based on ALDH-activity patients could be stratified in ALDH-numerous (≥1.

Subjective expansion of extended time-spans in experienced meditators.

Experienced meditators typically report that they experience time slowing down in meditation practice as well as in everyday life. Conceptually this phenomenon may be understood through functional states of mindfulness, i.e.