Search Results (344)

Since the first emergence of the Bluetongue virus (BTV) in 2006 in Northern Europe, there has been a reported association between BTV Serotype 8 (BTV-8) and brain malformations in calves. The first BTV-3 outbreak in Germany was registered in October 2023. Since then, numbers have increased steadily. In a suckler cow herd in the Lower Saxony region, two Angus calves with clinical signs of diffuse encephalopathy, including ataxia, abnormal gait, and central blindness, were born in autumn 2024. Both calves were submitted for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and pathological examination, revealing hydranencephaly and internal hydrocephalus, respectively. BTV-3 was detected in blood and tissue samples of both calves using BTV-specific real-time PCR. The presented findings demonstrate that there seems to be an association between transplacental BTV-3 infections and congenital malformations in calves, as previously reported for BTV-8 and -10. Full article

Our four-year interdisciplinary behavioral weight loss program is fully covered by public health insurance for patients with a body mass index of ≥35 kg/m². We evaluated the real-world outcomes of anthropometric, metabolic and psychologic parameters collected prior to the start (t₀, n = 381, 71% women) and after each segment of the program (t_1–4, n = 243, 126, 94, and 77). It is a prospective evaluation of clinical real-world data including all patients who started the first segment of behavioral treatment until they quit/finished the program. The mean dropout rates per treatment segment were 23%. Body weight after one year decreased from 127.3 kg to 122.2 (p < 0.001). Average hemoglobin A1c value decreased from 5.8% to 5.6% in all patients (p < 0.001) and from 6.6% to 6.2% in patients with type 2 diabetes (p < 0.001). Further metabolic and psychological parameters improved significantly as well. The average weight nadir was reached after two segments, co-occurring with the most beneficial changes in laboratory parameters. Afterwards, mean weight slightly increased accompanied by a discrete loss of benefits in laboratory parameters. Our real-world data with significant health improvements adds important value to discussions about the funding of obesity therapy and thus has the chance to improve therapy availability for obesity patients worldwide. Full article

In this work, a finite element modelling methodology is presented for the prediction of the bending behaviour of a glass fibre-reinforced elastomer composite with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wire actuators. Three configurations of a multi-layered composite with differences in structural stiffness and thickness are experimentally and numerically analysed. The bending experiments are realised by Joule heating of the SMA, resulting in deflection angles of up to 58 deg. It is shown that a local degradation in the structural stiffness in the form of a hinge significantly increases the amount of deflection. Modelling is fully elaborated in the finite element software ANSYS, based on material characterisation experiments of the composite and SMA materials. The thermomechanical material behaviour of the SMA is modelled via the Souza–Auricchio model, based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and isothermal tensile experiments. The methodology allows for the consideration of an initial pre-stretch for straight-line positioned SMA wires and an evaluation of their phase transformation state during activation. The results show a good agreement of the bending angle for all configurations at the activation temperature of 120 °C reached in the experiments. The presented methodology enables an efficient design and evaluation process for soft robot structures with embedded SMA actuator wires. Full article

Young children are particularly vulnerable to measles infections. Investigating the gap between the waning of maternal antibodies and onset of vaccination-induced immunity via seroprevalence studies can be hampered by recruiting enough young-aged participants. We present measles IgG-antibody results from 2148 patients aged 0 to 2 years, who were hospitalized with acute aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in Lower Saxony or Bremen. Measles serology was performed for differential diagnostics clarification of neurotropic pathogens, during syndromic surveillance between 2006 and 2024. At birth, 79% of children presented with measles IgG-antibodies, but only 30% of three-month-old patients and 11% of five-month-olds. From 0 to 10 months, seropositivity declined monthly by 8%. Over 95% of children aged six to 11 months were unprotected. From 11 months onwards, measles seroprevalence increased, reaching 80–90% towards the end of the second year of life. Our results indicate an absence of maternal measles IgG antibodies after nine months of age and that vaccination starts around 11 months of age; however, not all children had received vaccination by their second birthday. These findings confirm the current recommendation to advance first measles vaccination to nine months in high-exposure settings and support efforts to increase vaccination rates in small children and young adults. Full article

Palaeoecological investigations connected with extensive pre-bog, stone walls, and field systems at Kilmore, Dingle peninsula, Ireland, are presented. The main pollen profile, KLM I, spans the last 4000 years. When the record opened, pine (Pinus sylvestris) was already a minor tree, oak (probably Quercus petraea) was the main tall-canopy tree, and birch and alder were dominant locally. Substantial farming is recorded between ca. 1530 and 600 BCE (Bronze Age) when the stone walls were likely constructed. From ca. 560 CE onwards, intensive farming was conducted for much of the time. A largely treeless landscape emerged in the late twelfth century CE. Fine-spatial reconstructions of landscape and vegetation dynamics, including the timing of blanket bog initiation, are made. Post-glacial change in the western Dingle peninsula, based on published Holocene lake profiles and drawing on the new information presented here, is discussed. Reported are (a) fossil spores of the filmy ferns Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, H. wilsonii, and Trichomanes speciosum; (b) the first fossil pollen record for Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) in the Dingle peninsula (540 CE); and (c) the first published records for Fagopyrum fossil pollen in Ireland, indicating that buckwheat was grown at Kilmore in the late eighteenth/early nineteenth centuries. Full article

Venturia inaequalis, the cause of apple scab, readily develops resistance to fungicides with specific modes of action. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal pattern of resistance development is therefore relevant to fruit producers and their consultants. In the Lower Elbe region of Northern Germany, a two-year survey based on a conidial germination test was conducted, examining fungicide resistance in 35 orchards under Integrated Pest Management (IPM), 16 orchards of susceptible cultivars as well as a further 12 orchards of scab-resistant (Vf) cultivars under organic management, and 34 abandoned or unmanaged sites. No evidence of resistance to SDHI compounds (fluopyram, fluxapyroxad) was found after >5 yr of their regular use. Resistance to anilinopyrimidines (cyprodinil, pyrimethanil) had disappeared 15 yr after its widespread occurrence. Isolates from a few IPM orchards showed a reduced sensitivity to dodine. Double resistance to the MBC compound thiophanate-methyl and the QoI trifloxystrobin was rare in V. inaequalis strains that had achieved breakage of Vf-resistance, but very common (>50%) on scab-susceptible cultivars in IPM, organic and abandoned orchards in the ‘Altes Land’ core area of the Lower Elbe region, and in IPM orchards in the periphery. We conclude that resistance to QoI and MBC fungicides is persistent even decades after their last use, and that the core area harbours a uniform population adapted to intensive crop protection, whereas isolated orchards in the periphery are colonised by discrete populations of V. inaequalis. Full article

Spray-drying is a flexible method for creating fine porous composites with controlled size and morphology. This study investigates how the morphology and porosity of the spray-dried powder of nano-alumina and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-30) granules are affected by both the feed rate and the binder concentration. Droplet size and velocity distributions, measured with a HiWatch system, showed that higher feed rates produce larger droplets with faster velocities, therefore affecting the final morphology of the dried product. The morphology of the dried granules was analyzed using inline SOPAT imaging. While mercury intrusion porosimetry quantified the nano-pore volume and nano-pore size of the granules, offline scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to characterize the morphology of the dried product. The findings show that, while raising the binder concentration produces a more compact morphology with a lower nano-pore volume, higher feed rates produce larger granules with a larger nano-pore volume. This study offers fundamental insights that can support the future development of control strategies for optimizing the production of spray-dried porous alumina–polymer nanocomposites by means of knowledge about the relationship between these process parameters and product qualities. Full article

The characterization of historical tailings bodies is crucial for optimizing environmental management and resource recovery efforts. This study investigated the Bielatal tailings dam (Altenberg, Germany), examining its internal structure, material distribution influenced by historical flushing technology, and the spatial distribution of valuable elements. To evaluate the tailings resource potential, drill core sampling was conducted at multiple points at a depth of 7 m. Subsequent analyses included geochemical characterization using sodium peroxide fusion, lithium borate fusion, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Particle size distribution analysis via a laser particle size analyzer and wet sieving was conducted alongside milieu parameter (pH, Eh, EC) analysis. A theoretical assessment of the tailings’ potential for geopolymer applications was conducted by comparing them with other tailings used in geopolymer research and relevant European standards. The results indicated average concentrations of lithium (Li) of 0.1 wt%, primarily hosted in Li-mica phases, and concentrations of tin (Sn) of 0.12 wt%, predominantly occurring in cassiterite. Particle size analysis revealed that the tailings material is generally fine-grained, comprising approximately 60% silt, 32% fine sand, and 8% clay. These textural characteristics influenced the spatial distribution of elements, with Li and Sn enriched in fine-grained fractions predominantly concentrated in the dam’s central and western sections, while coarser material accumulated near injection points. Historical advancements in mineral processing, particularly flotation, had significantly influenced Sn distribution, with deeper layers showing higher Sn enrichment, except for the final operational years, which also exhibited elevated Sn concentrations. Due to the limitations of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) in detecting Li, a strong correlation between rubidium (Rb) and Li was established, allowing Li quantification via Rb measurements across varying particle sizes, redox conditions, and geological settings. This demonstrated that Rb can serve as a reliable proxy for Li quantification in diverse contexts. Geochemical and mineralogical analyses revealed a composition dominated by quartz, mica, topaz, and alkali feldspars. The weakly acidic to neutral conditions (pH 5.9–7.7) and reducing redox potential (Eh, 570 to 45 mV) of the tailings material indicated a minimal risk of acid mine drainage. Preliminary investigations into using Altenberg tailings as geopolymer materials suggested that their silicon-rich composition could serve as a substitute for coal fly ash in construction; however, pre-treatment would be needed to enhance reactivity. This study underscores the dual potential of tailings for element recovery and sustainable construction, emphasizing the importance of understanding historical processing techniques for informed resource utilization. Full article

Background/Objectives: Perioperative strokes are a rare but recognized complication of cerebral aneurysm surgeries, often influenced by patient-specific factors. Amphetamine abuse, known for its vasospastic effects, is an underexplored risk factor in the neurosurgical setting. This report highlights the clinical and perioperative challenges associated with acute undisclosed amphetamine abuse in a patient undergoing elective clipping of an unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm. Methods: A 46-year-old male presented with a 3 mm broad-based unruptured aneurysm in the proximal M1 segment of the right MCA. The patient reported a history of illicit drug use, including intravenous consumption. Upon further questioning, he admitted to intermittent use of amphetamines, although he denied any recent use. Elective aneurysm clipping via a transsylvian approach was performed after multidisciplinary consensus. Postoperatively, the patient developed anisocoria, prompting an emergency CT with perfusion and angiography, showing significant findings. Further imaging revealed a bilateral superior cerebellar artery territory infarction. Given the patient’s medical history, a toxicology screening later confirmed recent amphetamine use. Conclusions: This case highlights the need for preoperative evaluation, including routine toxicology screening, in patients with a history of substance abuse. Amphetamine use may present perioperative challenges and increase the risk of complications like vasospasm and stroke. Full article

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli are important foodborne pathogens. There are several subtypes of the Shiga toxin Stx known, with Stx2 (a–o) being more diverse than Stx1 (a, c, d). Multiple occurrences of stx2 genes as well as combinations of stx1 and stx2 have been reported. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the occurrence of multiple stx1 genes in STEC strains. Here, we report two strains from food and animal feces which show genomic variations in the stx1 operon. The first strain harbors stx1a and stx1c genes, and the second strain shows an inactive stx1 operon due to an insertion in the stxA1a subunit gene. The screening of publicly available complete genome sequences of STEC revealed further strains harboring multiple stx1 genes, indicating that those strains also occur in human infections. This should be kept in mind when applying routine diagnostic methods like PCR, that do not detect multiple occurrences of stx1 genes of the same subtype. Moreover, the impact on the severity of human infections due to multiple stx1 genes has not been investigated well. Full article

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used. After years of extensive usage, many weed species have developed resistance due to both target-site (TSR) and non-target-site resistance mechanisms (NTSRs). Alopecurus myosuroides is a competitive weed species. Greenhouse monitoring trials in Germany have revealed reduced glyphosate efficacy against some populations of Alopecurus myosuroides. In a foregoing dose–response study, individual plants from four out of six tested populations survived full (1800 g a.i. ha⁻¹) or double (3600 g a.i. ha⁻¹) glyphosate dose rates permitted, suggesting the presence of tolerant biotypes with yet unknown resistance mechanisms. Our aim was to investigate the absorption and translocation patterns of glyphosate in these biotypes. The plants were first treated with ¹⁴C-glyphosate, and ¹⁴C-glyphosate absorption and translocation were subsequently visualized by phosphorimaging and finally quantified by liquid scintillation counting. The results showed significant differences in the distribution of glyphosate in different plant organs, with significantly more being translocated out of the treated leaf in glyphosate-resistant compared to sensitive (S-) biotypes. The study’s findings are partly in contrast to previous studies that have found reduced translocation. Our study demonstrates the complex nature of glyphosate resistance and suggests further experiments to finally elucidate the underlying resistance mechanisms in the biotypes of the Alopecurus myosuroides studied. Full article

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) produced through biosynthesis approaches have shown favourable physical, chemical, and antimicrobial characteristics. The significance of biological agents in the synthesis of MNPs has been acknowledged as a promising alternative to conventional approaches such as physical and chemical methods, which are confronted with certain challenges. To meet these challenges, the use of endophytic fungi as nano-factories for the synthesis of MNPs has become increasingly popular worldwide in recent times. This review provides an overview of the synthesis of MNPs using endophytic fungi, the mechanisms involved, and their important biomedical applications. A special focus on different biomedical applications of MNPs mediated endophytic fungi involved their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer applications and their potential as drug delivery agents. Furthermore, this review highlights the significance of the use of endophytic fungi for the green synthesis of MNPs and discusses the benefits, challenges, and prospects in this field. Full article

Small, forested catchments are prototypes of terrestrial ecosystems and have been studied in several disciplines of environmental science over several decades. Time series of water and matter fluxes and nutrient concentrations from these systems exhibit a bewildering diversity of spatiotemporal patterns, indicating the intricate nature of processes acting on a large range of time scales. Nonlinear dynamics is an obvious framework to investigate catchment time series. We analyzed selected long-term data from three headwater catchments in the Bramke valley, Harz mountains, Lower Saxony in Germany at common biweekly resolution for the period 1991 to 2023. For every time series, we performed gap filling, detrending, and removal of the annual cycle using singular system analysis (SSA), and then calculated metrics based on ordinal pattern statistics: the permutation entropy, permutation complexity, and Fisher information, as well as their generalized versions (q-entropy and α-entropy). Further, the position of each variable in Tarnopolski diagrams is displayed and compared to reference stochastic processes, like fractional Brownian motion, fractional Gaussian noise, and β noise. Still another way of distinguishing deterministic chaos and structured noise, and quantifying the latter, is provided by the complexity from ordinal pattern positioned slopes (COPPS). We also constructed horizontal visibility graphs and estimated the exponent of the decay of the degree distribution. Taken together, the analyses create a characterization of the dynamics of these systems which can be scrutinized for universality, either across variables or between the three geographically very close catchments. Full article

This article provides an overview of the requirements for a grid-oriented integration of hydrogen energy storage (HES) and components into the power grid. Considering the general definition of HES and the possible components, this paper presents future hydrogen demand, electrolysis performance, and storage capacity. These parameters were determined through various overall system studies aiming for climate neutrality by the year 2045. In Germany, the targeted expansion of renewable energy generation capacity necessitates grid expansion to transport electricity from north to south and due to existing grid congestions. Therefore, electrolysis systems could be used to improve the integration of renewable energy systems, by reducing energy curtailment and providing grid services when needed. Currently, however, there are hardly any incentives for a grid-friendly allocation and operation of electrolysis or power-to-gas plants. Two possible locations for hydrogen plants from two current research projects HyCavMobil (Hydrogen Cavern for Mobility) and H₂-ReNoWe (Hydrogen Region of north-western Lower Saxony) are presented as practical examples. Using power grid models, the integration of electrolysis systems at these locations in the current high and extra-high voltage grid is examined. The presented results of load flow calculations assess power line utilization and sensitivity for different case scenarios. Firstly, the results show that power lines in these locations will not be overloaded, which would mean an uncritical operation of the power grid. While the overall grid stability remains unaffected in this case, selecting suitable locations is vital to prevent negative effects on the local grid. Full article

Despite improved neonatal intensive care, the risk of premature-born infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP) remains high. With hyperoxia being a major underlying factor, both preterm-birth-related complications are suggested to be closely interrelated. However, experimental models are lacking for the assessment of the potentially close interplay between both organs. To establish a model, suitable for the assessment of both affected organs, Wistar rats were exposed to 80% oxygen from postnatal day 2 (P2) for seven days. Brain and lung tissues were analysed via histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and western blot at term P11. In the brain, hyperoxia induced significant hypomyelination accompanied by a reduction in oligodendrocytes and CD68 expression on microglia cells. These changes correlate with arrested alveolarisation and an increased number of macrophages in the lung. Interestingly, in contrast to the reduced formation of pulmonary microvessels, an increased vascular density was detected in the brain. Seven days of hyperoxia induces typical characteristics of BPD and EoP in neonatal rats, thereby linking impaired alveolarisation with disturbed myelination in the brain and providing an experimental model for understanding pathophysiological mechanisms and identifying organ-spanning novel therapeutic interventions targeting both diseases. Full article