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A comparison of drought responses in wild wheat relatives and domesticated wheat grown under irrigated and rainfed field conditions
(2025) Pantha, Sumitra; Kilian, Benjamin; Özkan, Hakan; Zeibig, Frederike; Frei, Michael
Context: Domestication and breeding processes for developing modern wheat plants from diverse wild relatives and landraces have had unintended effects of loss of genetic diversity. This reduction in genetic variation undermines the ability of modern wheat cultivars to tolerate environmental stresses such as drought. Wheat wild relatives possess untapped genetic potential for tolerating abiotic stress, especially drought. Yet, their morpho-physiological adaptation and drought stress resilience mechanisms remain underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the adaptive responses of plants within the Triticum spp. genepool, encompassing wheat wild relatives, landraces, and modern cultivars to drought stress under rainfed and irrigated field conditions. Methods: From an initial pool of 110 genotypes screened during the first growing season in 2022, 20 best performing genotypes, including modern cultivars for comparison, were selected for a second growing season in 2023 based on their relative yield performance. Two different treatment conditions, irrigated and rainfed, were applied during both growing seasons. This experiment observed single plants per replicate. Multiple parameters, including days to heading and flowering, plant height, number of spikes per plant, spike length, spike weight per plant, straw weight per plant, aboveground biomass per plant, grain yield per plant, thousand kernel weight, harvest index, stomatal conductance, and vegetation indices, were assessed on the selected genotypes. Results: Taking averages measured across both growing seasons, we observed significant genotypic variation across several parameters: days to heading and flowering, plant height, number of spikes per plant, spike length, spike and straw weight per plant, aboveground biomass per plant, grain yield per plant, thousand kernel weight, harvest index, stomatal conductance, and vegetation indices. Water stress during the rainfed treatment significantly reduced grain yield (by 21 %) and stomatal conductance (by 45 %). Stomatal conductance was associated with grain yield and yield-related traits under rainfed conditions. Diverse physiological drought tolerance mechanisms associated with stomatal regulation were identified, revealing genotype-specific responses to drought stress. Genotypes such as T. dicoccoides (G242), T. urartu (G45), T. boeoticum (G27) and T. araraticum (G221) exhibited isohydric adaptation, whereas T. monococcum sinskajae (G89) and T. durum cv. Sambadur (G41) exhibited anisohydric adaptation. Conclusion: Some genotypes of T. dicoccoides, T. urartu, T. boeoticum and T. araraticum exhibited isohydric adaptation, while T. monococcum sinskajae and T. durum cv. Sambadur exhibited anisohydric adaptation under drought stress which needs further verification. These genotypes can serve as donors for introducing drought tolerance traits within wheat improvement programs.
Antidiabetic and antioxidant profiling of 67 African trifoliate yam accessions by planar on-surface assays versus in vitro assays
(2025) Aiyedun, Priscilla O.; Sonibare, Mubo A.; Gueye, Badara; Albach, Dirk C.; Heil, Julia; Morlock, GertrudB
Trifoliate yam (Dioscorea dumetorum) is traditionally used to treat diabetics in Nigeria. However, almost no information is available on its antidiabetic constituents and their natural variance. Hence, the activity of methanolic tuber extracts of 67 trifoliate yam accessions from the largest collection in Africa was proven by four colorimetric antidiabetic and antioxidant in vitro assays, as diabetes is also linked with oxidative stress. For the first time, selected accessions were also analyzed by planar bioactivity profiling. It has a comparatively higher, more differentiated information content, is more sustainable in terms of material consumption, and enables straightforward compound prioritization and characterization. Up to a dozen individual antioxidant zones were revealed as well as one prominent zone inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The latter inhibition zone was tentatively assigned to palmitic, linoleic, oleic, linolenic, oxo-nonanoic fatty acids by direct elution to heated electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry.
What role do attitudes, information and taste play in consumer preferences and willingness to pay for domestic alternatives to exotic superfoods?
(2025) Gassler, Birgit; Teuber, Ramona
Superfoods are a recent health-oriented food trend, especially among younger consumers. The most well-known superfoods, such as quinoa or goji berries, are considered exotic foods, at least for the European market. This contradicts another food trend: the movement towards regional or local foods. As little is known about how consumers evaluate this trade-off when consuming superfoods, we investigate i) consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for domestic and exotic superfood ingredients; and ii) factors determining a higher WTP for domestic superfood alternatives. To this end, we conducted a three-step Vickrey auction of fruit smoothies with exotic and domestic superfood ingredients. A total of 116 individuals participated in the within-subjects experiment, which included an information treatment, tastings and a sensory evaluation. In general, participants perceived superfoods as a healthy but expensive food trend potentially harmful to the environment. Moreover, participants were eager to try the exotic smoothie, but agreed more strongly with statements endorsing the positive health benefits and good taste of the domestic smoothie. In general, we found a higher WTP for the domestic smoothie, which was reinforced by providing information about the origin of the fruits. After tasting, the WTP a premium for the domestic smoothie was driven by differences in sensory evaluations, but no longer by product perceptions and food neophobia. This indicates that food neophobia is related to taste uncertainty, which was resolved by the tasting. We discuss practical implications for fruit growers and processors marketing products containing novel and familiar superfood ingredients.
Loss of right ventricular outflow function in pulmonary hypertension
(2025) da Rocha, Bruno R. Brito; Yogeswaran, Athiththan; Lakatos, Bálint K.; Fábián, Alexandra; Gall, Henning; Ghofrani, Hossein A.; Kremer, Nils C.; Schäfer, Simon; Seeger, Werner; Zedler, Daniel; Yildiz, Selin; Rako, Zvonimir A.; Kovács, Attila; Tello, Khodr
Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) function is not systematically quantified by three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. We tested the hypothesis that loss of RVOT function in pulmonary hypertension (PH) is related to disease severity independently of other echocardiographic parameters. In this observational study, patients with PH, disease controls, and a matched healthy control group underwent 3D echocardiography and RVOT analysis using ReVISION software. The study included 43 patients (38 with PH, 5 disease controls) and 43 healthy controls. Median 3D RVOT-ejection fraction (EF) was 30.4% in the patients and 44.2% in the healthy controls (p < 0.001). Patients with low 3D RVOT-EF (<30.4%) were more frequently categorized in higher-risk groups and had a higher incidence of clinical worsening than those with high 3D RVOT-EF. Even in patients with RV-EF ≥35%, those with low 3D RVOT-EF had worse outcomes. Segmental RVOT analysis identifies high-risk patients even with normal overall RV function.
Exploring the categorical nature of colour perception : insights from artificial networks
(2025) Akbarinia, Arash
The electromagnetic spectrum of light from a rainbow is a continuous signal, yet we perceive it vividly in several distinct colour categories. The origins and underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon remain partly unexplained. We investigate categorical colour perception in artificial neural networks (ANNs) using the odd-one-out paradigm. In the first experiment, we compared unimodal vision networks (e.g., ImageNet object recognition) to multimodal vision-language models (e.g., CLIP text-image matching). Our results show that vision networks predict a significant portion of human data (approximately 80%), while vision-language models account for the remaining unexplained data, even in non-linguistic experiments. These findings suggest that categorical colour perception is a language-independent representation, though it is partly shaped by linguistic colour terms during its development. In the second experiment, we explored how the visual task influences the colour categories of an ANN by examining twenty-four Taskonomy networks. Our results indicate that human-like colour categories are task-dependent, predominantly emerging in semantic and 3D tasks, with a notable absence in low-level tasks. To explain this difference, we analysed kernel responses before the winner-takes-all stage, observing that networks with mismatching colour categories may still align in underlying continuous representations. Our findings quantify the dual influence of visual signals and linguistic factors in categorical colour perception and demonstrate the task-dependent nature of this phenomenon, suggesting that categorical colour perception emerges to facilitate certain visual tasks.
1-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using a Self-Expanding vs Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve
(2025) Kim, Won-Keun; Pellegrini, Costanza; Eckel, Clemens; Renker, Matthias; Grothusen, Christina; Choi, Yeong-Hoon; Charitos, Efstratios I.; Duesmann, Charlotte; Blumenstein, Johannes; Rheude, Tobias; Sossalla, Samuel Tobiasubgi3; Joner, Michael; Möllmann, Helge
Background: Mid-term comparative data for the self-expanding ACURATE neo2 transcatheter heart valve and the balloon-expandable SAPIEN 3 Ultra are lacking. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare 1-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement of these 2 valves. Methods: A total of 2,106 patients from 3 centers (neo2, n = 1,166; Ultra, n = 940) undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement were analyzed retrospectively. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, and rehospitalization at 1 year. Secondary endpoints were the individual components of the primary endpoint at 1 year. To adjust for baseline differences, nearest neighbor propensity score matching was used. Results: After matching (702 pairs), baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Device success was more common in the neo2 group (87.5% vs 82.3%; P = 0.007), irrespective of matching. DP mean after the procedure was higher for Ultra (13 mm Hg [Q1-Q3: 10-15 mm Hg] vs 8 mm Hg [Q1-Q3: 6-11] mm Hg; P < 0.001). Rates of paravalvular leakage, device embolization, and multiple valve implantations were more common in the neo2 arm, whereas major cardiac structural complications and major vascular complications occurred more frequently in the Ultra group. All other in-hospital complication rates were similar between the 2 groups. At 1 year, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint (14.1% for neo2 vs 14.5% for Ultra; P = 0.819) was similar between the groups. Likewise, the individual components showed no difference between the groups. Conclusions: Despite differing immediate results, the outcomes at 1 year, including the composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, or hospitalization, were similar for neo2 and Ultra transcatheter heart valves.
Modelling temperature-dependent schistosomiasis dynamics for single and co-infections with S. mansoni and S. haematobium
(2025) Tabo, Zadoki; Breuer, Lutz; Albrecht, Christian
Schistosomiasis, a prevalent public health issue specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, is primarily attributed to Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni, often occurring concurrently. These schistosome species share similarities in life cycles and transmission, manifesting comparable infection patterns and susceptibility to temperature variations. This study investigates the influence of temperature control not only on the transmission of individual species but also on their mutual interactions and co-infection dynamics using a mathematical model. Sub-models and co-dynamic properties, including reproduction numbers, equilibrium states, and stability conditions, are derived. Sensitivity analysis is performed to clarify the impact of parameter variations on model stability. Results suggest that temperature variation increases the spread of S. haematobium, which enhances susceptibility to S. mansoni co-infection, possibly by altering the immune response. At moderate temperatures (20°C and 25°C), infection levels in both single and co-infected individuals are higher, while recovery rates increase with temperature, peaking at 25°C and 35°C as infections significantly decrease. Biomphalaria snails exhibit greater population growth and susceptibility to infection than Bulinus snails, particularly below 25°C. Above this temperature, Biomphalaria population decreases while Bulinus species are more likely to experience faster mortality. These temperature-related variations differently impact mortality rates of intermediate snails and snail-to-human transmissibility rates for schistosome species, holding significant health implications. Targeting snails during seasons below 25°C, when susceptibility is higher, and intensifying human treatment interventions around 25°C–35°C, where recovery rates peak, may yield optimal results, particularly during seasons with intermediate temperatures around 25°C for both snails and humans. The results underscore the importance of integrating temperature into models for predicting and managing schistosomiasis dynamics for both genera. Therefore, this model is applicable not only to sub-Saharan Africa, but also to other regions where the described temperature ranges match with the local climate.
Exploring for gloss : active exploration in visual material perception
(2025) Lin, Lisa P. Y.; Drewing, Knut; Dörschner-Boyaci, Katja
Image motion contributes to the perception of visual material properties, and motion signals are generated during active exploration. However, little is known about how specific perceptual tasks influence the actions that generate these cues. In an experiment using virtual reality and real-time hand tracking, we investigated how the demands of perceptual tasks (e.g., judging gloss or lightness) shape exploratory behaviors. Participants either observed or actively explored objects varying in gloss and lightness while performing a matching task. We analyzed how their exploration patterns varied based on the tasks. Using the same stimuli in both tasks, we found that participants explored objects more extensively when judging gloss than when judging lightness. These findings suggest a strategic prioritization of relevant cues for gloss judgments, with participants using larger movements and object rotation to enhance viewing perspectives and highlight detection. Our findings show that exploration behaviors are task dependent, with actions adapted to the demands of the perceptual task at hand.
Association of stress and inflammatory diseases with serum ferritin and iron concentrations in neonatal calves
(2025) Sickinger, Marlene; Jörling, Jessica; Büttner, Kathrin; Roth, Joachim; Wehrend, Axel
This study investigated the effects of iron supplementation and inflammatory disease on cortisol, white blood cell (WBC) count, total protein (TP), lactate, interleukin 1 β (IL1β), interleukin 6 (IL6), substance P (SP), hepcidin, haptoglobin, and ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) in calves. Correlation analyses for the aforementioned parameters with serum iron and ferritin were performed in 40 neonatal calves over the first 10 days of life. Neither iron supplementation, disease status, nor sex had statistically significant effects on the areas under the curve of ferritin, WBC, TP, IL1β, IL6, SP, hepcidin, haptoglobin, or FRAP. However, cortisol concentrations were influenced by disease development. Cortisol concentrations were higher at birth (44.1 ± 1.95 ng/mL) than on day 2 (38.8 ± 1.87 ng/mL) (p = 0.0477), and healthy animals exhibited lower cortisol concentrations than diseased calves (p = 0.0028). Correlation analyses indicated weak positive correlations between ferritin and IL1β (p = 0.0015; ρ = 0.49) and IL6 (p = 0.0011; ρ = 0.50), respectively. The clinical significance of these findings and resulting therapeutic consequences, especially with respect to iron supplementation, should be further investigated in calves and adult cattle.
Exploring the potential and challenges of Lathyrus sativus (grass pea) in European agri-food value chains : a dross-country analysis
(2025) Solovieva, Irina; Miteva-Bölter, Pavlina; Knez, Marija; Bessai, Ann-Kathrin; Barilli, Eleonora; Kasperczyk, Nadja; Ranic, Marija; Gurinovic, Mirjana; Luna Casado, Pedro Jose; Alba Morales, Nicolas; Sanchez, Manuel; Tisseyre, Cyril; Schaer, Burkhard; Xoplaki, Elena
Modern agri-food systems demand crops that are climate change resilient, support environmental sustainability, enhance dietary diversity and appeal to consumers. This article examines the potential of underutilized crops in meeting these challenges. We take Lathyrus as a case study and examine it within the context of European agri-food value chains, with a particular focus on Germany and Spain. The study employs a range of methods—literature review, interviews, field observations, and consumer opinion surveys —to explore its versatility. The findings reveal that Lathyrus sativus (grass pea) offers significant benefits: it is adapted to dry climates and tolerates high rainfall. As a nitrogen fixing crop, it can play an important role in crop rotations, reducing the need for fertilization and providing an attractive alternative for organic farmers. Through appropriate processing methods, Lathyrus can enhance its beneficial nutritional characteristics. Furthermore, it is well suited for the development of innovative recipes that align with modern culinary trends and meet consumers’ expectations across different cultures. To make use of its potential, adaptive cultivation methods and value chain cooperation are needed. Along the value chain, the affordable pricing of Lathyrus-based products and clear communication of their nutritional, environmental, and social benefits prove to be most critical.
Resource characteristics of common reed (Phragmites australis) in the Syr Darya Delta, Kazakhstan, by means of remote sensing and random forest
(2025) Baibagyssov, Azim; Magiera, Anja; Thevs, Niels; Waldhardt, Rainer
Reed beds, often referred to as dense, nearly monotonous extensive stands of common reed (Phragmites australis), are the most productive vegetation form of inland waters in Central Asia and exhibit great potential for biomass production in such a dryland setting. With its vast delta regions, Kazakhstan has the most extensive reed stands globally, providing a valuable case for studying the potential of reed beds for the bioeconomy. However, accurate and up-to-date figures on available reed biomass remain poorly documented due to data inadequacies in national statistics and challenges in measuring and monitoring it over large and remote areas. To address this gap in knowledge, in this study, the biomass resource characteristics of common reed were estimated for one of the significant reed bed areas of Kazakhstan, the Syr Darya Delta, using ground-truth field-sampled data as the dependent variable and high-resolution Sentinel-2 spectral bands and computed spectral indices as independent variables in multiple Random Forest (RF) regression models. An analysis of the spatially detailed yield map obtained for Phragmites australis-dominated wetlands revealed an area of 58,935 ha under dense non-submerged and submerged reed beds (with a standing biomass of >10.5 t ha−1) and an estimated 1,240,789 tons of reed biomass resources within the Syr Darya Delta wetlands. Our findings indicate that submerged dense reed exhibited the highest biomass at 28.21 t ha−1, followed by dense non-submerged reed at 15.24 t ha−1 and open reed at 4.36 t ha−1. The RF regression models demonstrated robust performance during both calibration and validation phases, as evaluated by statistical accuracy metrics using ten-fold cross-validation. Out of the 48 RF models developed, those utilizing the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) as key predictors yielded the best standing reed biomass estimation results, achieving a predictive accuracy of R2 = 0.93, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 2.74 t ha−1 during the calibration, and R2 = 0.83, RMSE = 3.71 t ha−1 in the validation, respectively. This study highlights the considerable biomass potential of reed in the region’s wetlands and demonstrates the effectiveness of the RF regression modeling and high-resolution Sentinel-2 data for mapping and quantifying above-ground and above-water biomass of Phragmites australis-dominated wetlands over a large extent. The results provide critical insights for managing and conserving wetland ecosystems and facilitate the sustainable use of Phragmites australis resources in the region.
Lithiated polymer coating for interface stabilization in Li₆PS₅Cl-based solid-state batteries with high-nickel NCM
(2025) Shi, Bing-Xuan; Weber, Franjo; Yusim, Yuriy; Demuth, Thomas; Vettori, Kilian; Münchinger, Andreas; Titvinidze, Giorgi; Volz, Kerstin; Henss, Anja; Berger, Rüdiger; Richter, Felix H.
Li6PS5Cl-based solid-state batteries with high-nickel LiNi0.9Mn0.05Co0.05O2 (NCM) promise higher energy density and safety than lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolyte. However, their cycling performance is often limited by interface degradation between NCM and solid electrolyte. Here, a sulfonated polyphenylene sulfone/polyvinylpyrrolidone (sPPSLi/PVP) coating on NCM particles is presented that mitigates this issue. This uniform coating impedes direct contact between NCM and solid electrolyte, which lessens interface degradation and improves cycling performance. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry show a reduced interface resistance and Li+-ion transport length during cycling for sPPSLi/PVP-coated NCM in Li6PS5Cl-based solid-state batteries. Additionally, the coating effectively suppresses side reactions, particularly the formation of oxygenated species, at the NCM/SE interface. Overall, sPPSLi/PVP-coated NCM shows remarkable improvements in cycling stability and rate capability, emphasizing the significance of applying polymer coatings.
Voices in the margins : exploring the link between discrimination and adolescents’ political involvement
(2025) Kleer, Benedikt Philipp; Abendschön, Simone; García-Albacete, Gema; Núñez, Lidia; Sánchez, David
Political interest is one of the main determinants of political participation. Understanding the development and the mechanisms involved in forming this crucial cognitive orientation is necessary for an enhanced understanding and a successful political integration of young people. We know that political interest starts forming at an early age and that this process depends on several social characteristics, i.e., socioeconomic and immigration background have proven to be a significant element. However, the direction of the differences in the political interest of adolescents with an immigrant background compared to native adolescents is disputed. At the same time, some studies present lower political interest levels for immigrant youth, and others found higher political interest levels. Our article explores whether these inconsistent findings are related to (a) different discrimination experiences and (b) the moderation effects of these discrimination experiences on one important correlate of political interest—social participation. We expect that experiences of discrimination represent an important determinant of political interest. Despite its importance, little attention has been paid to the mechanisms by which discrimination fosters political interest. We rely on data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU), allowing us to account for a wide range of discrimination experiences of youth. We use linear regression models to examine the effect of discrimination experience on political interest. From our results, both discrimination experience and social participation positively affect youth’s political interest, but neither amplifies the other effect through suggested moderation.
Evaluating participatory monitoring in mountainous tourist regions
(2025) Zeballos, Jazmin Campos; Valencia, Jefferson; Codalli, Fabia; Mitze, Fabian; Shagega, Frank; Weeser, Björn; Jacobs, Suzanne
In view of the considerable impact of climate change on water resources, it is crucial to promptly address the limited availability of consistent and reliable hydrometeorological data to enable timely decision-making. HydroCrowd employs a participatory monitoring approach to collect meteorological and hydrological data in vulnerable mountainous tourist areas. This paper presents an analysis of both non-frequent and regular volunteers who participated in the project, examines the motivation behind their participation, and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of the project’s approach to data collection. The stations, smartphone application, and data collection process received, in general, a positive response. However, the lack of reliable internet connection in some regions hinders the observation upload process, which in turn hinders the participation of volunteers. The results suggest that such projects cannot solely rely on non-frequent volunteers, such as tourists. Communities and local stakeholders are instrumental in ensuring the continuous collection of data in a timely manner for projects of this nature.
Effects of high-flow oxygen therapy on oxygenation in dogs undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy
(2025) Ortlieb, Julia; Bender, Hannah; Schneider, Matthias; Tacke, Sabine; Hassdenteufel, Esther
Introduction: Hypoxemia is a common complication during bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). High-Flow Oxygen Therapy (HFOT) has been used to improve oxygenation and prevent periods of hypoxemia in people undergoing bronchoscopy. Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HFOT on oxygenation in dogs undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy compared to a traditional oxygen supplementation method (TOT). A secondary objective was to assess potential HFOT-related complications. Methods: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Dogs presented for diagnostic bronchoscopy were randomly assigned to receive either HFOT or TOT using nasal cannulas during the bronchoscopic procedure. Oxygenation was monitored through PaO2 measurements taken at seven time points: baseline (t0), after preoxygenation (t1), post-induction (t2), pre- and post-BAL sampling (t3 and t4), at the end of the procedure (t5), and 1 h after bronchoscopy (t6). Pre- and post-procedure thoracic radiographs were assessed for air leak syndrome or aerophagia. Results: 20 privately owned dogs presented for diagnostic bronchoscopy were included in the study (HFOT group: n = 10, TOT group: n = 10). Baseline characteristics and physiological parameters did not differ significantly between groups. Five dogs in each group showed hypoxemia (PaO2 < 80 mmHg) at baseline with 1/5 in each group having PaO2 < 60 mmHg. HFOT improved oxygenation throughout the procedure, with a significant increase in PaO2 observed after preoxygenation (P = 0.001) and at the end of the procedure (P = 0.013). Additionally, only 1/10 dogs in the HFOT group experienced hypoxemia during bronchoscopy compared to 5/10 dogs in the TOT group, and patients in the HFOT achieved numerically higher PaO2 values across all time points during the procedure (t1–t5). No serious adverse events related to HFOT were observed, although aerophagia occurred in both groups without necessitating intervention. Conclusion: HFOT can improve oxygenation and prevent episodes of hypoxemia in dogs undergoing bronchoscopy compared to traditional oxygen supplementation methods.
Multiple jejunal diverticulosis, from an anatomical and histological view : a case report
(2025) Schmidt, Patricia; Perniss, Alexander; Nassenstein, Christina; Keller, Hanno; Deckmann, Klaus
BACKGROUND: Here, we report a case of jejunal diverticulosis from an anatomical and histological view. During the “Gross Anatomy course,” we found multiple jejunal diverticula along a total length of 208 cm of intestine. CASE SUMMARY: After opening the intestinal tract, we counted 232 jejunal diverticulum entry points with a diameter of up to 2 cm and observed connections between the diverticula that created shortcuts between two distinct intestinal parts. Interestingly, we observed an extreme longitudinal striation on the intestinal parts hosting diverticula. Thorough vessel preparation utilizing a dissecting microscope confirmed that all investigated arteriae rectae ended in a diverticulum. Histological and immunohistochemical investigations revealed that intestinal villi of diverticula were smaller and less prominent than control tissue and that the stratum longitudinale, as well as the stratum circular, were much thinner in the diverticula compared to control tissue. Neither submucosal nor mesenteric plexus could be detected in the diverticula. However, vasoactive intestinal peptide-positive nerve fibers and villin-positive brush border could only be detected in control tissue. This indicates that jejunal diverticulosis is associated with abnormalities of the smooth muscles and a disorder of innervation. CONCLUSION: Jejunal diverticulosis originates from mesenteric vessels, featuring smooth muscle changes, absent innervation, and thinning of tissue layers.
Histology-driven tailoring of surgical approaches in retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma : retrospective cohort study
(2025) Musa, Julian; Willis, Franziska; Rompen, Ingmar F; Harnoss, Julian-Camill; Grünewald, Thomas G P; Al-Saeedi, Mohammed; Büchler, Markus W; Schneider, Martin
Background: Histology-driven tailoring of surgical approaches for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma is currently under debate. Compelling evidence assessing the role of histology-dependent extent of resection is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes of patients with primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (LPS) or leiomyosarcoma (LMS) according to whether comprehensive (formerly ‘compartmental’) resection (CR) was performed. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on data from patients undergoing surgical resection for LPS and LMS at Heidelberg University Hospital (2002–2019). Parameters were compared between groups with and without CR, with subgroup analyses for grading (LPS). Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to identify predictors of disease-specific survival (DSS), local recurrence-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival. Results: In total, 119 patients with primary LPS and 46 patients with primary LMS were identified. DSS was improved in patients with LPS with CR (P = 0.049), and both DSS (P = 0.040) and distant metastasis-free survival (P = 0.041) were improved in the subgroup of patients with primary G3 LPS. In contrast, CR in patients with LMS was not associated with improved DSS, local recurrence-free survival, or distant metastasis-free survival. CR was associated with more severe postoperative complications (P = 0.021) and a longer hospital stay (P = 0.013) in patients with LPS, longer operation times (P < 0.010) in both patients with LPS and LMS, and increased blood loss (P = 0.008) in patients with LMS. Conclusion: CR is associated with improved DSS in patients with primary LPS, which is not the case in patients with primary LMS. Given the association between CR and increased perioperative morbidity, surgical strategies for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma should be individualized according to the underlying histology.
Midterm Outcomes and Surgical Approaches for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
(2025) Biehl, Christoph; Fritzsche, Carina; Walter, Nike; Biehl, Lotta; El Khassawna, Thaqif; Heiss, Christian; Rupp, Markus
Background: Osteochondral lesions (OCL) of the talus are a significant cause of chronic ankle pain and functional impairment, typically following trauma. Despite advancements in diagnostic imaging and surgical interventions, long-term outcomes vary, and no gold standard treatment has been established. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the outcomes of n=64 patients undergoing OCL-related surgery. Inclusion criteria: an OCL of the talus, patients without OCL, with osteoarthritis, or infection were excluded. The cohort was categorized primarily based on the stage of OCL and the surgical technique used: bone marrow stimulation by retrograde or anterograde drilling and microfracturing, transplantation of autologous cancellous bone, and acellular cartilage replacement and other procedures. Postoperative outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Statistical significance was determined using χ2 tests, with P <.05 considered significant. Results: A total of 97 operations were performed on 64 patients. Fifty-six percent of patients reported complete resolution of symptoms, 25% experienced partial improvement, and 19% showed no improvement. Patients aged ≤30 years had a higher success rate (62.5%) compared with older patients (45.8%, P = .227). Success rates were significantly better for patients with stage II and III lesions (50% and 59%, respectively) than for those with stage IV lesions (P = .043). Material substitution had a success rate of 44.4%, bone marrow stimulation 37.8%, and other procedures 18.8%. Conclusion: Surgical techniques for treating OCL of the talus provide moderate success, but a significant proportion of patients, especially those with advanced lesions, remain symptomatic.
AMPK and CAMKK activation participate in early events of Toxoplasma gondii-triggered NET formation in bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophils
(2025) Conejeros, Iván; Velásquez, Zahady D.; Espinosa, Gabriel; Rojas-Baron, Lisbeth; Grabbe, Magdalena; Hermosilla, Carlos; Taubert, Anja
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite that infects humans, eventually causing severe diseases like prenatal or ocular toxoplasmosis. T. gondii also infects cattle but rarely induces clinical signs in this intermediate host type. So far, the innate immune mechanisms behind the potential resistance of bovines to clinical T. gondii infections remain unclear. Here, we present evidence on sustained activation of bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophils PMN by T. gondii tachyzoites, which is linked to a rise in cytoplasmic calcium concentrations, an enhancement of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). NETosis is a specific form of programmed cell death, characterized by the release chromatin from the nucleus to the extracellular space resulting in formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs can kill and entrap pathogens. In our experiments, NETosis was triggered by T. gondii, and this effector mechanism was enhanced by pre-treatments with the AMPK activator AICAR. Moreover, tachyzoite-mediated bovine neutrophil DNA release depended on MAPK- and store operated calcium entry- (SOCE) pathways since it was diminished by the inhibitors UO126 and 2-APB, respectively. Overall, we here provide new insights into early polymorphonuclear neutrophils responses against T. gondii for the bovine system.
Dietary Protein Levels in Isoenergetic Diets Affect the Performance, Nutrient Utilization and Retention of Nitrogen and Amino Acids of Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae
(2025) Schneider, Laura; Kisinga, Benson; Stoehr, Nathalie; Cord-Landwehr, Stefan; Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar; Moerschbacher, Bruno M.; Eder, Klaus; Jha, Rajesh; Dusel, Georg
Black soldier fly, H. illucens larvae, efficiently convert low-value organic substrates into high-value products, offering solutions to global challenges in sustainable food production and biotechnology. This study investigated the impact of dietary protein levels (10%, 14%, 16%, and 20% crude protein, CP) on BSFL growth, nutrient utilization, and energy retention using isoenergetic diets (18.5 ± 0.3 MJ/kg dry matter) under commercial-scale conditions. Larvae were harvested after 8 days of feeding, with 5 replicates per treatment. Optimal growth performance and feed conversion ratios were observed in larvae fed 14% CP diet, with a quadratic relationship between dietary CP and biomass gain (p < 0.001, R² = 0.870). Ash and calcium deposition peaked in CP20-fed larvae and were lowest in CP14-fed larvae. Phosphorus and glucosamine deposition remained unaffected, while chitin deposition correlated positively with larval weight. Nitrogen and amino acid retention were highest in CP14-fed larvae but reduced in CP20-fed larvae (p < 0.001, R² = 0.573–0.902). CP10-fed larvae showed impaired growth and nitrogen deposition but increased fat deposition. These findings establish the CP14 diet as the optimal formulation for scalable BSFL production, providing critical insights into dietary protein effects on BSFL physiology and enabling the development of efficient feeding strategies for industrial-scale farming.

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