Gain time to adapt: How sorghum acquires tolerance to salinity

Salinity is a global environmental threat to agricultural production and food security around the world. To delineate salt-induced damage from adaption events we analysed a pair of sorghum genotypes which are contrasting in their response to salt stress with respect to physiological, cellular, metabolomic, and transcriptional responses. We find that the salt-tolerant genotype Della can delay the transfer of sodium from the root to the shoot, more swiftly deploy accumulation of proline and antioxidants in the leaves and transfer more sucrose to the root as compared to its susceptible counterpart Razinieh. Instead Razinieh shows metabolic indicators for a higher extent photorespiration under salt stress. Following sodium accumulation by a fluorescent dye in the different regions of the root, we find that Della can sequester sodium in the vacuoles of the distal elongation zone. The timing of the adaptive responses in Della leaves indicates a rapid systemic signal from the roots that is travelling faster than sodium itself. We arrive at a model where resistance and susceptibility are mainly a matter of temporal patterns in signalling

A single dose of the Biontech/Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine protected elderly residents from severe COVID‐19 during a SARS‐coronavirus‐2 outbreak in a senior citizen home in Germany

Background: A total of 62/66 (93.9%) residents in a senior citizen home in Bremen, Germany, received the first dose of the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine BNT162b2 on December 27th 2020. After routine severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen tests showed positive results on January 5th, all residents and staff were tested by RT-PCR. Results: Nine staff members and 23 residents had a positive result. PCR positive staff members reported mild to severe COVID-19 symptoms, one was hospitalized. None of them had been vaccinated. In contrast, the vaccinated residents reported no or only mild symptoms. Sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes of infected individuals revealed a monophyletic origin of the outbreak within the PANGO lineage B.1.177.86. Conclusions: In summary, our data show that partial vaccination prevented severe COVID-19 among the residents during this local SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, suggesting a high effectiveness of even a single vaccine dose, but also emphasize that asymptomatic individuals might still be carriers/spreaders

Ein partizipatives WebGIS für die Endlagerstandortsuche: eine transdisziplinäre Studie zu einer inklusiven Kommunikationsplattform

Die Suche nach einem Standort für ein Endlager für hochradioaktive Abfälle in Deutschland ist eine vielseitige Herausforderung. Die verschiedenen Akteure im Prozess müssen laufend mit aktuellen und komplexen Informationen versorgt werden. Trotz unterschiedlicher Informationsangebote der beteiligten Akteure besteht der Bedarf nach einer zentralen Plattform, bei der auch Interaktion und eigenständiges Zusammenstellen von Informationen möglich ist. Da viele der Informationen, die für die Endlagersuche relevant sind, geographisch verortbar sind, bietet sich ein webbasiertes geographisches Informationssystem (WebGIS) als Ausgangspunkt für eine Plattform an. WebGIS Anwendungen werden bereits gezielt eingesetzt, um Bürger*innen in politischen Entscheidungsprozessen zu informieren oder sogar deren lokales Wissen in der Projektplanung zu berücksichtigen (bspw. in Planungsprozessen von Stromtrassen). Mit einem mehr stufigen transdisziplinären Forschungsansatz wurden gemeinsam mit verschiedenen Akteuren Aspekte erarbeitet, die für die Umsetzung eines WebGIS im Endlagerkontext relevant sind. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass durch ein solches System sowohl Expert*innen als auch Neueinsteiger*innen angesprochen werden können. Unter Berücksichtigung der Bedürfnisse beider Zielgruppen werden unter anderem Punkte wie die Transparenz sowie Niedrigschwelligkeit eines WebGIS und technischere Aspekte wie Möglichkeiten der Moderation von Inhalten diskutiert.The search for a repository for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Germany is a multifaceted challenge. The various actors in this process must be continuously provided with current and complex information. Despite different information offers and platforms of the involved (institutional) actors, there is a need for a central platform where interaction and independent compilation of information is possible. Since much of the information relevant to the site selection is geographically locatable, a web-based geographic information system (WebGIS) is a suitable starting point for a platform. WebGIS applications are already being used specifically to inform citizens in political decision-making processes or even to take their local knowledge into account in project planning (e.g. in planning processes for power lines). Using a multi-level transdisciplinary research approach, aspects relevant for the implementation of a WebGIS in the repository context were elaborated together with different stakeholders. The results show that such a system can address both experts and newcomers. Considering the needs of both target groups, points such as the transparency and low-threshold nature of a WebGIS and more technical aspects such as possibilities for moderating content are discussed

Development and clinimetric assessment of a nurse-administered screening tool for movement disorders in psychosis

Background: Movement disorders (MD) associated with exposure to antipsychotic drugs (AP). MD are common and stigmatising, but underdiagnosed. Methods: We developed a screening procedure for AP-MD for administration by mental health (MH) nurses. Item selection and content validity assessment were conducted by a panel of neurologists, psychiatrists and a MH nurse, who operationalised a 31-item screening procedure (ScanMove instrument). Inter-rater reliability was measured on ratings from ten MH nurses evaluating video-recordings of the procedure on 30 patients with psychosis. Criterion and concurrent validity were tested comparing the ScanMove instrument-based rating of thirteen MH nurses of 635 community patients from MH services to diagnostic judgement of a MD neurologist based on the ScanMove instrument and a reference procedure comprising a selection of commonly used rating scales. Results: Inter-reliability analysis showed no systematic difference between raters in their prediction of any AP-MD category. On criterion validity testing, the ScanMove instrument showed good sensitivity for parkinsonism (94%) and hyperkinesia (89%), but not for akathisia (38%), whereas specificity was low for parkinsonism and hyperkinesia, and moderate for akathisia. Mixed effect regression models showed low concurrent validity of quantitative scores obtained from the ScanMove instrument. Conclusions: The ScanMove instrument demonstrated good feasibility and inter-rater reliability, and acceptable sensitivity as MH nurse-administered screening tool for parkinsonism and hyperkinesia

Cathelicidins have direct antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus in vitro and protective function in vivo in mice and humans.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory tract infection in infants, causing significant morbidity and mortality. No vaccine or specific, effective treatment is currently available. A more complete understanding of the key components of effective host response to RSV and novel preventative and therapeutic interventions are urgently required. Cathelicidins are host defense peptides, expressed in the inflamed lung, with key microbicidal and modulatory roles in innate host defense against infection. In this article, we demonstrate that the human cathelicidin LL-37 mediates an antiviral effect on RSV by inducing direct damage to the viral envelope, disrupting viral particles and decreasing virus binding to, and infection of, human epithelial cells in vitro. In addition, exogenously applied LL-37 is protective against RSV-mediated disease in vivo, in a murine model of pulmonary RSV infection, demonstrating maximal efficacy when applied concomitantly with virus. Furthermore, endogenous murine cathelicidin, induced by infection, has a fundamental role in protection against disease in vivo postinfection with RSV. Finally, higher nasal levels of LL-37 are associated with protection in a healthy human adult RSV infection model. These data lead us to propose that cathelicidins are a key, nonredundant component of host defense against pulmonary infection with RSV, functioning as a first point of contact antiviral shield and having additional later-phase roles in minimizing the severity of disease outcome. Consequently, cathelicidins represent an inducible target for preventative strategies against RSV infection and may inform the design of novel therapeutic analogs for use in established infection

Emotion regulation in children (ERiC): A protocol for a randomised clinical trial to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of mentalization based treatment (MBT) vs treatment as usual for school-age children with mixed emotional and behavioural difficulties

Background: The majority of children referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the UK will present with mixed emotional and behavioural difficulties, but most mental health treatments are developed for single disorders. There is a need for research on treatments that are helpful for these mixed difficulties, especially for school-age children. Emotion Regulation (ER) difficulties present across a wide range of mental health disorders and mentalizing may help with regulation. The ability to mentalize one’s own experiences and those of others plays a key role in coping with stress, regulation of emotions, and the formation of stable relationships. Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT) is a well-evidenced therapy that aims to promote mentalization, which in turn increases ER capacities, leading to decreased emotional and behavioural difficulties. The aim of this study is to test the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of MBT compared to treatment as usual for school age children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. If effective, we hope this approach can become available to the growing number of children presenting to mental health services with a mix of emotional and behavioural difficulties. Materials and methods: Children referred to CAMHS aged 6–12 with mixed mental health problems (emotional and behavioural) as primary problem can take part with their parent/carers. Children will be randomly allocated to receive either MBT or treatment as usual (TAU) within the CAMHS clinic they have been referred to. MBT will be 6–8 sessions offered fortnightly and can flexibly include different family members. TAU is likely to include CBT, parenting groups, and/or children’s social skills groups. Parent/carers and children will be asked to complete outcome assessments (questionnaires and tasks) online at the start of treatment, mid treatment (8 weeks), end of treatment (16 weeks) and at follow up (40 weeks)