@article{TeichFuehnerBaehretal.2023,
  author    = {Teich, Paula and F{\"u}hner, Thea Heidi and Baehr, Florian and Puta, Christian and Granacher, Urs and Kliegl, Reinhold},
  title     = {Covid pandemic effects on the physical fitness of primary school children},
  series = {Sports Medicine - Open},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {Sports Medicine - Open},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {2198-9761},
  doi       = {10.1186/s40798-023-00624-1},
  pages     = {19},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {BackgroundIn spring of 2020, the Sars-CoV-2 incidence rate increased rapidly in Germany and around the world. Throughout the next 2 years, schools were temporarily closed and social distancing measures were put in place to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Did these social restrictions and temporary school lockdowns affect children's physical fitness? The EMOTIKON project annually tests the physical fitness of all third-graders in the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany. The tests assess cardiorespiratory endurance (6-min-run test), coordination (star-run test), speed (20-m sprint test), lower (powerLOW, standing long jump test), and upper (powerUP, ball-push test) limbs muscle power, and static balance (one-legged stance test with eyes closed). A total of 125,893 children were tested in the falls from 2016 to 2022. Primary analyses focused on 98,510 keyage third-graders (i.e., school enrollment according to the legal key date, aged 8 to 9 years) from 515 schools. Secondary analyses included 27,383 older-than-keyage third-graders (i.e., OTK, delayed school enrollment or repetition of a grade, aged 9 to 10 years), who have been shown to exhibit lower physical fitness than expected for their age. Linear mixed models fitted pre-pandemic quadratic secular trends, and took into account differences between children and schools.ResultsThird-graders exhibited lower cardiorespiratory endurance, coordination, speed and powerUP in the Covid pandemic cohorts (2020-2022) compared to the pre-pandemic cohorts (2016-2019). Children's powerLOW and static balance were higher in the pandemic cohorts compared to the pre-pandemic cohorts. From 2020 to 2021, coordination, powerLOW and powerUP further declined. Evidence for some post-pandemic physical fitness catch-up was restricted to powerUP. Cohen's |ds| for comparisons of the pandemic cohorts 2020-2022 with pre-pandemic cohorts 2016-2019 ranged from 0.02 for powerLOW to 0.15 for coordination. Within the pandemic cohorts, keyage children exhibited developmental losses ranging from approximately 1 month for speed to 5 months for cardiorespiratory endurance. For powerLOW and static balance, the positive pandemic effects translate to developmental gains of 1 and 7 months, respectively. Pre-pandemic secular trends may account for some of the observed differences between pandemic and pre-pandemic cohorts, especially in powerLOW, powerUP and static balance. The pandemic further increased developmental delays of OTK children in cardiorespiratory endurance, powerUP and balance.ConclusionsThe Covid-19 pandemic was associated with declines in several physical fitness components in German third-graders. Pandemic effects are still visible in 2022. Health-related interventions should specifically target those physical fitness components that were negatively affected by the pandemic (cardiorespiratory endurance, coordination, speed).},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MichirevKuehneLindemannetal.2023,
  author    = {Michirev, Alexej and K{\"u}hne, Katharina and Lindemann, Oliver and Fischer, Martin H. and Raab, Markus},
  title     = {How to not induce SNAs},
  series = {PLoS one},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {PLoS one},
  number    = {6},
  publisher = {PLoS},
  address   = {San Fransisco},
  issn      = {1932-6203},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0288038},
  pages     = {23},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {People respond faster to smaller numbers in their left space and to larger numbers in their right space. Here we argue that movements in space contribute to the formation of spatial-numerical associations (SNAs). We studied the impact of continuous isometric forces along the horizontal or vertical cardinal axes on SNAs while participants performed random number production and arithmetic verification tasks. Our results suggest that such isometric directional force do not suffice to induce SNAs.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TomowskiLozadaGobilardJeltschetal.2023,
  author    = {Tomowski, Maxi and Lozada-Gobilard, Sissi Donna and Jeltsch, Florian and Tiedemann, Ralph},
  title     = {Recruitment and migration patterns reveal a key role for seed banks in the meta-population dynamics of an aquatic plant},
  series = {Scientific reports},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {Scientific reports},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Springer Nature},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2045-2322},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41598-023-37974-5},
  pages     = {16},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Progressive habitat fragmentation threatens plant species with narrow habitat requirements. While local environmental conditions define population growth rates and recruitment success at the patch level, dispersal is critical for population viability at the landscape scale. Identifying the dynamics of plant meta-populations is often confounded by the uncertainty about soil-stored population compartments. We combined a landscape-scale assessment of an amphibious plant's population structure with measurements of dispersal complexity in time to track dispersal and putative shifts in functional connectivity. Using 13 microsatellite markers, we analyzed the genetic structure of extant Oenanthe aquatica populations and their soil seed banks in a kettle hole system to uncover hidden connectivity among populations in time and space. Considerable spatial genetic structure and isolation-by-distance suggest limited gene flow between sites. Spatial isolation and patch size showed minor effects on genetic diversity. Genetic similarity found among extant populations and their seed banks suggests increased local recruitment, despite some evidence of migration and recent colonization. Results indicate stepping-stone dispersal across adjacent populations. Among permanent and ephemeral demes the resulting meta-population demography could be determined by source-sink dynamics. Overall, these spatiotemporal connectivity patterns support mainland-island dynamics in our system, highlighting the importance of persistent seed banks as enduring sources of genetic diversity.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ArendZimmerXuetal.2023,
  author    = {Arend, Marius and Zimmer, David and Xu, Rudan and Sommer, Frederik and M{\"u}hlhaus, Timo and Nikoloski, Zoran},
  title     = {Proteomics and constraint-based modelling reveal enzyme kinetic properties of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii on a genome scale},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Springer Nature},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2041-1723},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41467-023-40498-1},
  pages     = {9},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Metabolic engineering of microalgae offers a promising solution for sustainable biofuel production, and rational design of engineering strategies can be improved by employing metabolic models that integrate enzyme turnover numbers. However, the coverage of turnover numbers for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a model eukaryotic microalga accessible to metabolic engineering, is 17-fold smaller compared to the heterotrophic cell factory Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we generate quantitative protein abundance data of Chlamydomonas covering 2337 to 3708 proteins in various growth conditions to estimate in vivo maximum apparent turnover numbers. Using constrained-based modeling we provide proxies for in vivo turnover numbers of 568 reactions, representing a 10-fold increase over the in vitro data for Chlamydomonas. Integration of the in vivo estimates instead of in vitro values in a metabolic model of Chlamydomonas improved the accuracy of enzyme usage predictions. Our results help in extending the knowledge on uncharacterized enzymes and improve biotechnological applications of Chlamydomonas.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{JaiserAkperovTimazhevetal.2023,
  author    = {Jaiser, Ralf and Akperov, Mirseid and Timazhev, A. and Romanowsky, Erik and Handorf, D{\"o}rthe and Mokhov, I. I.},
  title     = {Linkages between arctic and mid-latitude weather and climate},
  series = {Meteorologische Zeitschrift},
  volume    = {32},
  journal   = {Meteorologische Zeitschrift},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Schweizerbart},
  address   = {Stuttgart},
  issn      = {0941-2948},
  doi       = {10.1127/metz/2023/1154},
  pages     = {173 -- 194},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The study addresses the question, if observed changes in terms of Arctic-midlatitude linkages during winter are driven by Arctic Sea ice decline alone or if the increase of global sea surface temperatures plays an additional role. We compare atmosphere-only model experiments with ECHAM6 to ERA-Interim Reanalysis data. The model sensitivity experiment is implemented as a set of four combinations of sea ice and sea surface temperature boundary conditions. Atmospheric circulation regimes are determined and evaluated in terms of their cyclone and blocking characteristics and changes in frequency during winter. As a prerequisite, ECHAM6 reproduces general features of circulation regimes very well. Tropospheric changes induced by the change of boundary conditions are revealed and further impacts on the large-scale circulation up into the stratosphere are investigated. In early winter, the observed increase of atmospheric blocking in the region between Scandinavia and the Urals are primarily related to the changes in sea surface temperatures. During late winter, we f nd a weakened polar stratospheric vortex in the reanalysis that further impacts the troposphere. In the model sensitivity study a climatologically weakened polar vortex occurs only if sea ice is reduced and sea surface temperatures are increased together. This response is delayed compared to the reanalysis. The tropospheric response during late winter is inconclusive in the model, which is potentially related to the weak and delayed response in the stratosphere. The model experiments do not reproduce the connection between early and late winter as interpreted from the reanalysis. Potentially explaining this mismatch, we identify a discrepancy of ECHAM6 to reproduce the weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex through blocking induced upward propagation of planetary waves.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Bilgen2023,
  author    = {Bilgen, Isa},
  title     = {Freiheit und Nachhaltigkeit im Verfassungswandel},
  series = {Verfassungsblog : on matters constitutional},
  journal   = {Verfassungsblog : on matters constitutional},
  publisher = {Max Steinbeis Verfassungsblog gGmbH},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {2366-7044},
  doi       = {10.17176/20230617-231023-0},
  pages     = {6},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Mit dem Klima wandelt sich auch notwendig die offene Gesellschaft. Und mit ihr wandelt sich wiederum auch die Verfassung(-sinterpretation). Periodisch wiederkehrende Gesundheits- und Sicherheitskrisen fordern eine dynamische Reaktion des Grundgesetzes auf mit ihnen einhergehende Probleme. In andauernden Krisen wie der Umweltkrise muss die Verfassung gleichzeitig in vielerlei Hinsicht nachhaltig sein. Dabei muss das, was wir unter Freiheit, Klima‑, Umwelt- oder Tierschutz verstehen, immer im Wandel bleiben.},
  language  = {de}
}
@misc{Koehne2023,
  author    = {K{\"o}hne, Lea},
  title     = {(State) immunity for Palestine?},
  series = {Verfassungsblog : on matters constitutional},
  journal   = {Verfassungsblog : on matters constitutional},
  publisher = {Max Steinbeis Verfassungsblog gGmbH},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {2366-7044},
  doi       = {10.59704/c6b1bf054163ad38},
  pages     = {5},
  year      = {2023},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AgarwalHamidizadehBier2023,
  author    = {Agarwal, Saloni and Hamidizadeh, Mojdeh and Bier, Frank Fabian},
  title     = {Detection of reverse transcriptase LAMP-amplified nucleic acid from oropharyngeal viral swab samples using biotinylated DNA probes through a lateral flow assay},
  series = {Biosensors : open access journal},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {Biosensors : open access journal},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2079-6374},
  doi       = {10.3390/bios13110988},
  pages     = {15},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This study focuses on three key aspects: (a) crude throat swab samples in a viral transport medium (VTM) as templates for RT-LAMP reactions; (b) a biotinylated DNA probe with enhanced specificity for LFA readouts; and (c) a digital semi-quantification of LFA readouts. Throat swab samples from SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative patients were used in their crude (no cleaning or pre-treatment) forms for the RT-LAMP reaction. The samples were heat-inactivated but not treated for any kind of nucleic acid extraction or purification. The RT-LAMP (20 min processing time) product was read out by an LFA approach using two labels: FITC and biotin. FITC was enzymatically incorporated into the RT-LAMP amplicon with the LF-LAMP primer, and biotin was introduced using biotinylated DNA probes, specifically for the amplicon region after RT-LAMP amplification. This assay setup with biotinylated DNA probe-based LFA readouts of the RT-LAMP amplicon was 98.11\% sensitive and 96.15\% specific. The LFA result was further analysed by a smartphone-based IVD device, wherein the T-line intensity was recorded. The LFA T-line intensity was then correlated with the qRT-PCR Ct value of the positive swab samples. A digital semi-quantification of RT-LAMP-LFA was reported with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.702. The overall RT-LAMP-LFA assay time was recorded to be 35 min with a LoD of three RNA copies/µL (Ct-33). With these three advancements, the nucleic acid testing-point of care technique (NAT-POCT) is exemplified as a versatile biosensor platform with great potential and applicability for the detection of pathogens without the need for sample storage, transportation, or pre-processing.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MenzeMuellerZaehleetal.2023,
  author    = {Menze, Inga and M{\"u}ller, Notger Germar and Z{\"a}hle, Tino and Schmicker, Marlen},
  title     = {Individual response to transcranial direct current stimulation as a function of working memory capacity and electrode montage},
  series = {Frontiers in human neuroscience},
  volume    = {17},
  journal   = {Frontiers in human neuroscience},
  publisher = {Frontiers Media},
  address   = {Lausanne},
  issn      = {1662-5161},
  doi       = {10.3389/fnhum.2023.1134632},
  pages     = {14},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Introduction Attempts to improve cognitive abilities via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have led to ambiguous results, likely due to the method's susceptibility to methodological and inter-individual factors. Conventional tDCS, i.e., using an active electrode over brain areas associated with the targeted cognitive function and a supposedly passive reference, neglects stimulation effects on entire neural networks. Methods We investigated the advantage of frontoparietal network stimulation (right prefrontal anode, left posterior parietal cathode) against conventional and sham tDCS in modulating working memory (WM) capacity dependent transfer effects of a single-session distractor inhibition (DIIN) training. Since previous results did not clarify whether electrode montage drives this individual transfer, we here compared conventional to frontoparietal and sham tDCS and reanalyzed data of 124 young, healthy participants in a more robust way using linear mixed effect modeling. Results The interaction of electrode montage and WM capacity resulted in systematic differences in transfer effects. While higher performance gains were observed with increasing WM capacity in the frontoparietal stimulation group, low WM capacity individuals benefited more in the sham condition. The conventional stimulation group showed subtle performance gains independent of WM capacity. Discussion Our results confirm our previous findings of WM capacity dependent transfer effects on WM by a single-session DIIN training combined with tDCS and additionally highlight the pivotal role of the specific electrode montage. WM capacity dependent differences in frontoparietal network recruitment, especially regarding the parietal involvement, are assumed to underlie this observation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MkaouerAmaraBouguezzietal.2023,
  author    = {Mkaouer, Bessem and Amara, Samiha and Bouguezzi, Raja and Ben Abderrahmen, Abderraouf and Chaabene, Helmi},
  title     = {Validity of a new sport-specific endurance test in artistic gymnastics},
  series = {Frontiers in sports and active living},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {Frontiers in sports and active living},
  publisher = {Frontiers Media},
  address   = {Lausanne},
  issn      = {2624-9367},
  doi       = {10.3389/fspor.2023.1159807},
  pages     = {8},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Introduction General and particularly sport-specific testing is an integral aspect of performance optimization in artistic gymnastics. In artistic gymnastics, however, only non-specific field tests have been used to assess endurance performance (e.g., Multistage Shuttle Run Test; Cooper's Test). Methods This study aimed to examine the validity of a new sport-specific endurance test in artistic gymnastics. Fourteen elite-level gymnasts (i.e., eight males and six females) participated in this study. The newly developed artistic gymnastics-specific endurance test (AGSET) was conducted on two different occasions seven days apart to determine its reliability. To assess the concurrent validity of AGSET, participants performed the multistage shuttle run test (MSRT). Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were directly assessed using a portable gas analyzer system during both protocols. Additionally, the total time maintained (TTM) during the AGSET, maximum heart rate (HRmax), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), and blood lactate concentration (BLa) during the two protocols were collected. Results The main findings indicated that all variables derived from the AGSET (i.e., VO2max, MAS, HRmax, BLa, and RER) displayed very good relative (all intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC] > 0.90) and absolute (all typical errors of measurement [TEM] < 5\%) reliability. Further, results showed that the ability of the AGSET to detect small changes in VO2max, MAS, BLa, and RER was good (smallest worthwhile change [SWC0.2] > TEM), except HRmax (SWC0.2 < TEM). Additionally, results showed a nearly perfect association between the VO2max values derived from the AGSET and MSRT (r = 0.985; coefficient of determination [R-2] = 97\%) with no statistically significant differences (p>0.05). The mean (bias) +/- 95\% limits of agreement between the two protocols were 0.28 +/- 0.55 mlminkg-1. Discussion AGSET seems to present very good reliability and concurrent validity for assessing endurance performance in elite artistic gymnastics. In addition, the newly developed protocol presents a good ability to detect small changes in performance.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WarschburgerKamrathLanzingeretal.2023,
  author    = {Warschburger, Petra and Kamrath, Clemens and Lanzinger, Stefanie and Sengler, Claudia and Wiegand, Susanna and G{\"o}ldel, Julia Marlen and Weihrauch-Bl{\"u}her, Susann and Holl, Reinhard and Minden, Kirsten},
  title     = {A prospective analysis of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and health care among children with a chronic condition and their families},
  series = {BMC pediatrics},
  volume    = {23},
  journal   = {BMC pediatrics},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {BioMed Central},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1471-2431},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12887-023-03912-7},
  pages     = {15},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Background There is consistent evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with an increased psychosocial burden on children and adolescents and their parents. Relatively little is known about its particular impact on high-risk groups with chronic physical health conditions (CCs). Therefore, the primary aim of the study is to analyze the multiple impacts on health care and psychosocial well-being on these children and adolescents and their parents. Methods We will implement a two-stage approach. In the first step, parents and their underage children from three German patient registries for diabetes, obesity, and rheumatic diseases, are invited to fill out short questionnaires including questions about corona-specific stressors, the health care situation, and psychosocial well-being. In the next step, a more comprehensive, in-depth online survey is carried out in a smaller subsample. Discussion The study will provide insights into the multiple longer-term stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic in families with a child with a CC. The simultaneous consideration of medical and psycho-social endpoints will help to gain a deeper understanding of the complex interactions affecting family functioning, psychological well-being, and health care delivery.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ChengDennisOsuohaetal.2023,
  author    = {Cheng, Feng and Dennis, Alice B. and Osuoha, Josephine Ijeoma and Canitz, Julia and Kirschbaum, Frank and Tiedemann, Ralph},
  title     = {A new genome assembly of an African weakly electric fish (Campylomormyrus compressirostris, Mormyridae) indicates rapid gene family evolution in Osteoglossomorpha},
  series = {BMC genomics},
  volume    = {24},
  journal   = {BMC genomics},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {BMC},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1471-2164},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12864-023-09196-6},
  pages     = {13},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Background Teleost fishes comprise more than half of the vertebrate species. Within teleosts, most phylogenies consider the split between Osteoglossomorpha and Euteleosteomorpha/Otomorpha as basal, preceded only by the derivation of the most primitive group of teleosts, the Elopomorpha. While Osteoglossomorpha are generally species poor, the taxon contains the African weakly electric fish (Mormyroidei), which have radiated into numerous species. Within the mormyrids, the genus Campylomormyrus is mostly endemic to the Congo Basin. Campylomormyrus serves as a model to understand mechanisms of adaptive radiation and ecological speciation, especially with regard to its highly diverse species-specific electric organ discharges (EOD). Currently, there are few well-annotated genomes available for electric fish in general and mormyrids in particular. Our study aims at producing a high-quality genome assembly and to use this to examine genome evolution in relation to other teleosts. This will facilitate further understanding of the evolution of the osteoglossomorpha fish in general and of electric fish in particular. Results A high-quality weakly electric fish (C. compressirostris) genome was produced from a single individual with a genome size of 862 Mb, consisting of 1,497 contigs with an N50 of 1,399 kb and a GC-content of 43.69\%. Gene predictions identified 34,492 protein-coding genes, which is a higher number than in the two other available Osteoglossomorpha genomes of Paramormyrops kingsleyae and Scleropages formosus. A Computational Analysis of gene Family Evolution (CAFE5) comparing 33 teleost fish genomes suggests an overall faster gene family turnover rate in Osteoglossomorpha than in Otomorpha and Euteleosteomorpha. Moreover, the ratios of expanded/contracted gene family numbers in Osteoglossomorpha are significantly higher than in the other two taxa, except for species that had undergone an additional genome duplication (Cyprinus carpio and Oncorhynchus mykiss). As potassium channel proteins are hypothesized to play a key role in EOD diversity among species, we put a special focus on them, and manually curated 16 Kv1 genes. We identified a tandem duplication in the KCNA7a gene in the genome of C. compressirostris. Conclusions We present the fourth genome of an electric fish and the third well-annotated genome for Osteoglossomorpha, enabling us to compare gene family evolution among major teleost lineages. Osteoglossomorpha appear to exhibit rapid gene family evolution, with more gene family expansions than contractions. The curated Kv1 gene family showed seven gene clusters, which is more than in other analyzed fish genomes outside Osteoglossomorpha. The KCNA7a, encoding for a potassium channel central for EOD production and modulation, is tandemly duplicated which may related to the diverse EOD observed among Campylomormyrus species.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FehrPiccininniKurthetal.2023,
  author    = {Fehr, Jana and Piccininni, Marco and Kurth, Tobias and Konigorski, Stefan},
  title     = {Assessing the transportability of clinical prediction models for cognitive impairment using causal models},
  series = {BMC medical research methodology},
  volume    = {23},
  journal   = {BMC medical research methodology},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {BMC},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1471-2288},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12874-023-02003-6},
  pages     = {14},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Background Machine learning models promise to support diagnostic predictions, but may not perform well in new settings. Selecting the best model for a new setting without available data is challenging. We aimed to investigate the transportability by calibration and discrimination of prediction models for cognitive impairment in simulated external settings with different distributions of demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods We mapped and quantified relationships between variables associated with cognitive impairment using causal graphs, structural equation models, and data from the ADNI study. These estimates were then used to generate datasets and evaluate prediction models with different sets of predictors. We measured transportability to external settings under guided interventions on age, APOE \& epsilon;4, and tau-protein, using performance differences between internal and external settings measured by calibration metrics and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). Results Calibration differences indicated that models predicting with causes of the outcome were more transportable than those predicting with consequences. AUC differences indicated inconsistent trends of transportability between the different external settings. Models predicting with consequences tended to show higher AUC in the external settings compared to internal settings, while models predicting with parents or all variables showed similar AUC. Conclusions We demonstrated with a practical prediction task example that predicting with causes of the outcome results in better transportability compared to anti-causal predictions when considering calibration differences. We conclude that calibration performance is crucial when assessing model transportability to external settings.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GrdseloffBouldayRoedeletal.2023,
  author    = {Grdseloff, Nastasja and Boulday, Gwenola and Roedel, Claudia J. and Otten, Cecile and Vannier, Daphne Raphaelle and Cardoso, Cecile and Faurobert, Eva and Dogra, Deepika and Tournier-Lasserve, Elisabeth and Abdelilah-Seyfried, Salim},
  title     = {Impaired retinoic acid signaling in cerebral cavernous malformations},
  series = {Scientific reports},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {Scientific reports},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Nature Portfolio},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {2045-2322},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41598-023-31905-0},
  pages     = {11},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The capillary-venous pathology cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is caused by loss of CCM1/Krev interaction trapped protein 1 (KRIT1), CCM2/MGC4607, or CCM3/PDCD10 in some endothelial cells. Mutations of CCM genes within the brain vasculature can lead to recurrent cerebral hemorrhages. Pharmacological treatment options are urgently needed when lesions are located in deeply-seated and in-operable regions of the central nervous system. Previous pharmacological suppression screens in disease models of CCM led to the discovery that treatment with retinoic acid improved CCM phenotypes. This finding raised a need to investigate the involvement of retinoic acid in CCM and test whether it has a curative effect in preclinical mouse models. Here, we show that components of the retinoic acid synthesis and degradation pathway are transcriptionally misregulated across disease models of CCM. We complemented this analysis by pharmacologically modifying retinoic acid levels in zebrafish and human endothelial cell models of CCM, and in acute and chronic mouse models of CCM. Our pharmacological intervention studies in CCM2-depleted human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and krit1 mutant zebrafish showed positive effects when retinoic acid levels were increased. However, therapeutic approaches to prevent the development of vascular lesions in adult chronic murine models of CCM were drug regiment-sensitive, possibly due to adverse developmental effects of this hormone. A treatment with high doses of retinoic acid even worsened CCM lesions in an adult chronic murine model of CCM. This study provides evidence that retinoic acid signaling is impaired in the CCM pathophysiology and suggests that modification of retinoic acid levels can alleviate CCM phenotypes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SmithBoers2023,
  author    = {Smith, Taylor and Boers, Niklas},
  title     = {Global vegetation resilience linked to water availability and variability},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Springer Nature},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2041-1723},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41467-023-36207-7},
  pages     = {11},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Quantifying the resilience of vegetated ecosystems is key to constraining both present-day and future global impacts of anthropogenic climate change. Here we apply both empirical and theoretical resilience metrics to remotely-sensed vegetation data in order to examine the role of water availability and variability in controlling vegetation resilience at the global scale. We find a concise global relationship where vegetation resilience is greater in regions with higher water availability. We also reveal that resilience is lower in regions with more pronounced inter-annual precipitation variability, but find less concise relationships between vegetation resilience and intra-annual precipitation variability. Our results thus imply that the resilience of vegetation responds differently to water deficits at varying time scales. In view of projected increases in precipitation variability, our findings highlight the risk of ecosystem degradation under ongoing climate change. Vegetation dynamics depend on both the amount of precipitation and its variability over time. Here, the authors show that vegetation resilience is greater where water availability is higher and where precipitation is more stable from year to year.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FalkenhagenKnoechelKloftetal.2023,
  author    = {Falkenhagen, Undine and Kn{\"o}chel, Jane and Kloft, Charlotte and Huisinga, Wilhelm},
  title     = {Deriving mechanism-based pharmacodynamic models by reducing quantitative systems pharmacology models},
  series = {CPT: Pharmacometrics \& Systems Pharmacology},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {CPT: Pharmacometrics \& Systems Pharmacology},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {2163-8306},
  doi       = {10.1002/psp4.12903},
  pages     = {432 -- 443},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models integrate comprehensive qualitative and quantitative knowledge about pharmacologically relevant processes. We previously proposed a first approach to leverage the knowledge in QSP models to derive simpler, mechanism-based pharmacodynamic (PD) models. Their complexity, however, is typically still too large to be used in the population analysis of clinical data. Here, we extend the approach beyond state reduction to also include the simplification of reaction rates, elimination of reactions, and analytic solutions. We additionally ensure that the reduced model maintains a prespecified approximation quality not only for a reference individual but also for a diverse virtual population. We illustrate the extended approach for the warfarin effect on blood coagulation. Using the model-reduction approach, we derive a novel small-scale warfarin/international normalized ratio model and demonstrate its suitability for biomarker identification. Due to the systematic nature of the approach in comparison with empirical model building, the proposed model-reduction algorithm provides an improved rationale to build PD models also from QSP models in other applications.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LewkowiczBoettingerSiegel2023,
  author    = {Lewkowicz, Daniel and B{\"o}ttinger, Erwin and Siegel, Martin},
  title     = {Economic evaluation of digital therapeutic care apps for unsupervised treatment of low back pain},
  series = {JMIR mhealth and uhealth},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {JMIR mhealth and uhealth},
  publisher = {JMIR Publications},
  address   = {Toronto},
  issn      = {2291-5222},
  doi       = {10.2196/44585},
  pages     = {14},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Background: Digital therapeutic care (DTC) programs are unsupervised app-based treatments that provide video exercises and educational material to patients with nonspecific low back pain during episodes of pain and functional disability. German statutory health insurance can reimburse DTC programs since 2019, but evidence on efficacy and reasonable pricing remains scarce. This paper presents a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) to evaluate the efficacy and cost-utility of a DTC app against treatment as usual (TAU) in Germany. Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a PSA in the form of a Monte Carlo simulation based on the deterministic base case analysis to account for model assumptions and parameter uncertainty. We also intend to explore to what extent the results in this probabilistic analysis differ from the results in the base case analysis and to what extent a shortage of outcome data concerning quality-of-life (QoL) metrics impacts the overall results. Methods: The PSA builds upon a state-transition Markov chain with a 4-week cycle length over a model time horizon of 3 years from a recently published deterministic cost-utility analysis. A Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 iterations and a cohort size of 10,000 was employed to evaluate the cost-utility from a societal perspective. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were derived from Veterans RAND 6-Dimension (VR-6D) and Short-Form 6-Dimension (SF-6D) single utility scores. Finally, we also simulated reducing the price for a 3-month app prescription to analyze at which price threshold DTC would result in being the dominant strategy over TAU in Germany. Results: The Monte Carlo simulation yielded on average a euro135.97 (a currency exchange rate of EUR euro1=US \$1.069 is applicable) incremental cost and 0.004 incremental QALYs per person and year for the unsupervised DTC app strategy compared to in-person physiotherapy in Germany. The corresponding incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) amounts to an additional euro34,315.19 per additional QALY. DTC yielded more QALYs in 54.96\% of the iterations. DTC dominates TAU in 24.04\% of the iterations for QALYs. Reducing the app price in the simulation from currently euro239.96 to euro164.61 for a 3-month prescription could yield a negative ICUR and thus make DTC the dominant strategy, even though the estimated probability of DTC being more effective than TAU is only 54.96\%. Conclusions: Decision-makers should be cautious when considering the reimbursement of DTC apps since no significant treatment effect was found, and the probability of cost-effectiveness remains below 60\% even for an infinite willingness-to-pay threshold. More app-based studies involving the utilization of QoL outcome parameters are urgently needed to account for the low and limited precision of the available QoL input parameters, which are crucial to making profound recommendations concerning the cost-utility of novel apps.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AgtheKayserSchwarzetal.2023,
  author    = {Agthe, Maria and Kayser, Daniela Niesta and Schwarz, Sascha and Maner, Jon K.},
  title     = {Antecedents of the red-romance effect},
  series = {PLOS ONE / Public Library of Science},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {PLOS ONE / Public Library of Science},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {PLOS},
  address   = {San Fransisco},
  issn      = {1932-6203},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0284035},
  pages     = {19},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The color red has been implicated in a variety of social processes, including those involving mating. While previous research suggests that women sometimes wear red strategically to increase their attractiveness, the replicability of this literature has been questioned. The current research is a reasonably powered conceptual replication designed to strengthen this literature by testing whether women are more inclined to display the color red 1) during fertile (as compared with less fertile) days of the menstrual cycle, and 2) when expecting to interact with an attractive man (as compared with a less attractive man and with a control condition). Analyses controlled for a number of theoretically relevant covariates (relationship status, age, the current weather). Only the latter hypothesis received mixed support (mainly among women on hormonal birth control), whereas results concerning the former hypothesis did not reach significance. Women (N = 281) displayed more red when expecting to interact with an attractive man; findings did not support the prediction that women would increase their display of red on fertile days of the cycle. Findings thus suggested only mixed replicability for the link between the color red and psychological processes involving romantic attraction. They also illustrate the importance of further investigating the boundary conditions of color effects on everyday social processes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchmickerFruehlingMenzeetal.2023,
  author    = {Schmicker, Marlen and Fr{\"u}hling, Insa and Menze, Inga and Glanz, Wenzel and M{\"u}ller, Patrick and Noesselt, Toemme and M{\"u}ller, Notger Germar},
  title     = {The potential role of gustatory function as an early diagnostic marker for the risk of alzheimer's disease in subjective cognitive decline},
  series = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports : JADR},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports : JADR},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {IOS Press},
  address   = {Clifton, VA},
  issn      = {2542-4823},
  doi       = {10.3233/ADR220092},
  pages     = {249 -- 262},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Background: Patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) report memory deterioration and are at an increased risk of converting to Alzheimer's disease (AD) although psychophysical testing does not reveal any cognitive deficit. Objective: Here, gustatory function is investigated as a potential predictor for an increased risk of progressive cognitive decline indicating higher AD risk in SCD. Methods: Measures of smell and taste perception as well as neuropsychological data were assessed in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD): Subgroups with an increased likelihood of the progression to preclinical AD (SCD+) and those with a lower likelihood (SCD-) were compared to healthy controls (HC), patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD patients. The Sniffin' Sticks test contained 12 items with different qualities and taste was measured with 32 taste stripes (sweet, salty, bitter, sour) of different concentration. Results: Only taste was able to distinguish between HC/SCD- and SCD+ patients. Conclusion: This study provides a first hint of taste as a more sensitive marker than smell for detecting preclinical AD in SCD. Longitudinal observation of cognition and pathology are necessary to further evaluate taste perception as a predictor of pathological objective decline in cognition.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{deCarvalhoSouzaBarrocasFischeretal.2023,
  author    = {de Carvalho Souza, Alyson Matheus and Barrocas, Roberta and Fischer, Martin H. and Arnaud, Emanuel and Moeller, Korbinian and Renn{\´o}-Costa, C{\´e}sar},
  title     = {Combining virtual reality and tactile stimulation to investigate embodied finger-based numerical representations},
  series = {Frontiers in psychology / Frontiers Research Foundation},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Frontiers in psychology / Frontiers Research Foundation},
  publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
  address   = {Lausanne},
  issn      = {1664-1078},
  doi       = {10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1119561},
  pages     = {13},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Finger-based representation of numbers is a high-level cognitive strategy to assist numerical and arithmetic processing in children and adults. It is unclear whether this paradigm builds on simple perceptual features or comprises several attributes through embodiment. Here we describe the development and initial testing of an experimental setup to study embodiment during a finger-based numerical task using Virtual Reality (VR) and a low-cost tactile stimulator that is easy to build. Using VR allows us to create new ways to study finger-based numerical representation using a virtual hand that can be manipulated in ways our hand cannot, such as decoupling tactile and visual stimuli. The goal is to present a new methodology that can allow researchers to study embodiment through this new approach, maybe shedding new light on the cognitive strategy behind the finger-based representation of numbers. In this case, a critical methodological requirement is delivering precisely targeted sensory stimuli to specific effectors while simultaneously recording their behavior and engaging the participant in a simulated experience. We tested the device's capability by stimulating users in different experimental configurations. Results indicate that our device delivers reliable tactile stimulation to all fingers of a participant's hand without losing motion tracking quality during an ongoing task. This is reflected by an accuracy of over 95\% in participants detecting stimulation of a single finger or multiple fingers in sequential stimulation as indicated by experiments with sixteen participants. We discuss possible application scenarios, explain how to apply our methodology to study the embodiment of finger-based numerical representations and other high-level cognitive functions, and discuss potential further developments of the device based on the data obtained in our testing.},
  language  = {en}
}