Evaluating cycling programs for 10- to 14-year-old children

Children between the age of 10 to 14 increasingl.y use their bik.e as a means of transport. Unfortunately, they still show deficits in competencies needed for safe traffic participation ( e.g. erratic attention or self-awareness ). This is reflected in an increase in the risk of accidents involving bicylces for 10-to 14-year-olds: 56.8% of 10- to 14-year-old children who have bad road traffic accidents in 2020, had bicycle accidents. In Germany, there are various programs to improve bicycle safety for children. In contrast to the ,,Fahrradführerschein' (bicycle driving license which usually takes place in fourth grade), programs for 10 to 14 year-olds are less standardized and various offers exist. There has been no evaluation on the quality of these programs yet. Therefore, we developed an evaluation standard for programs that aim to improve cycling safety for 10-to 14- year-olds. To do so, a catalogue of criteria was developed which helps describe and evaluate cycling projects for children in this age group. We then evaluated existing projects and collected them in a web-based database. Our aim is to provide a gu.ideline to evaluating cycling safety programs for 10-to 14-year-olds and to offer an overview about various existing programs

Crystalline iron oxides stimulate methanogenic benzoate degradation in marine sediment- derived enrichment cultures

Elevated dissolved iron concentrations in the methanic zone are typical geochemical signatures of rapidly accumulating marine sediments. These sediments are often characterized by co-burial of iron oxides with recalcitrant aromatic organic matter of terrigenous origin. Thus far, iron oxides are predicted to either impede organic matter degradation, aiding its preservation, or identified to enhance organic carbon oxidation via direct electron transfer. Here, we investigated the effect of various iron oxide phases with differing crystallinity (magnetite, hematite, and lepidocrocite) during microbial degradation of the aromatic model compound benzoate in methanic sediments. In slurry incubations with magnetite or hematite, concurrent iron reduction, and methanogenesis were stimulated during accelerated benzoate degradation with methanogenesis as the dominant electron sink. In contrast, with lepidocrocite, benzoate degradation, and methanogenesis were inhibited. These observations were reproducible in sediment-free enrichments, even after five successive transfers. Genes involved in the complete degradation of benzoate were identified in multiple metagenome assembled genomes. Four previously unknown benzoate degraders of the genera Thermincola (Peptococcaceae, Firmicutes), Dethiobacter (Syntrophomonadaceae, Firmicutes), Deltaproteobacteria bacteria SG8_13 (Desulfosarcinaceae, Deltaproteobacteria), and Melioribacter (Melioribacteraceae, Chlorobi) were identified from the marine sediment-derived enrichments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) images showed the ability of microorganisms to colonize and concurrently reduce magnetite likely stimulated by the observed methanogenic benzoate degradation. These findings explain the possible contribution of organoclastic reduction of iron oxides to the elevated dissolved Fe2+ pool typically observed in methanic zones of rapidly accumulating coastal and continental margin sediments

Manganese reduction and associated microbial communities in Antarctic surface sediments

The polar regions are the fastest warming places on earth. Accelerated glacial melting causes increased supply of nutrients such as metal oxides (i.e., iron and manganese oxides) into the surrounding environment, such as the marine sediments of Potter Cove, King George Island/Isla 25 de Mayo (West Antarctic Peninsula). Microbial manganese oxide reduction and the associated microbial communities are poorly understood in Antarctic sediments. Here, we investigated this process by geochemical measurements of in situ sediment pore water and by slurry incubation experiments which were accompanied by 16S rRNA sequencing. Members of the genus Desulfuromusa were the main responder to manganese oxide and acetate amendment in the incubations. Other organisms identified in relation to manganese and/or acetate utilization included Desulfuromonas, Sva1033 (family of Desulfuromonadales) and unclassified Arcobacteraceae. Our data show that distinct members of Desulfuromonadales are most active in organotrophic manganese reduction, thus providing strong evidence of their relevance in manganese reduction in permanently cold Antarctic sediments

Der Geologische Dienst in Sachsen: Festband zum Jubiläum 150 Jahre Landesgeologie

Der Geologische Dienst von Sachsen feiert im Jahr 2022 sein 150-jähriges Jubiläum – am 6. April 1872 wurde die Geologische Landesuntersuchung im Königreich Sachsen gegründet. Auf 153 Seiten der Reihe „Geoprofil“ werden Einblicke in die Arbeit des Geologischen Dienstes im LfULG, seinen Aufgaben und die Dienste als zuständige Fachbehörde gegeben. Die elf Einzelbeiträge zeigen die aktuellen Herausforderungen und Chancen, die sich aus den Themenbereichen Umwelt, Naturschutz und Geologie für Sachsen stellen. Im Einzelnen geht es in den Beiträgen um die sächsische Rohstoffstrategie, die Suche nach einem Endlagerstandort für radioaktive Abfälle, Erdwärme, Hydrogeologie, die Eisenbahn Neubaustrecke Dresden – Prag, Naturgefahren, das geowissenschaftliche Archiv, Träger öffentlicher Belange (TöB), Geoparks und einen Blick in die 150 jährige Geschichte. Redaktionsschluss: 30.11.202

Behavioural and functional evidence revealing the role of RBFOX1 variation in multiple psychiatric disorders and traits

Common variation in the gene encoding the neuron-specific RNA splicing factor RNA Binding Fox-1 Homolog 1 (RBFOX1) has been identified as a risk factor for several psychiatric conditions, and rare genetic variants have been found causal for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we explored the genetic landscape of RBFOX1 more deeply, integrating evidence from existing and new human studies as well as studies in Rbfox1 knockout mice. Mining existing data from large-scale studies of human common genetic variants, we confirmed gene-based and genome-wide association of RBFOX1 with risk tolerance, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. Data on six mental disorders revealed copy number losses and gains to be more frequent in ASD cases than in controls. Consistently, RBFOX1 expression appeared decreased in post-mortem frontal and temporal cortices of individuals with ASD and prefrontal cortex of individuals with schizophrenia. Brain-functional MRI studies demonstrated that carriers of a common RBFOX1 variant, rs6500744, displayed increased neural reactivity to emotional stimuli, reduced prefrontal processing during cognitive control, and enhanced fear expression after fear conditioning, going along with increased avoidance behaviour. Investigating Rbfox1 neuron-specific knockout mice allowed us to further specify the role of this gene in behaviour. The model was characterised by pronounced hyperactivity, stereotyped behaviour, impairments in fear acquisition and extinction, reduced social interest, and lack of aggression; it provides excellent construct and face validity as an animal model of ASD. In conclusion, convergent translational evidence shows that common variants in RBFOX1 are associated with a broad spectrum of psychiatric traits and disorders, while rare genetic variation seems to expose to early-onset neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders with and without developmental delay like ASD, in particular. Studying the pleiotropic nature of RBFOX1 can profoundly enhance our understanding of mental disorder vulnerability

Bi-allelic Loss-of-Function CACNA1B Mutations in Progressive Epilepsy-Dyskinesia.

The occurrence of non-epileptic hyperkinetic movements in the context of developmental epileptic encephalopathies is an increasingly recognized phenomenon. Identification of causative mutations provides an important insight into common pathogenic mechanisms that cause both seizures and abnormal motor control. We report bi-allelic loss-of-function CACNA1B variants in six children from three unrelated families whose affected members present with a complex and progressive neurological syndrome. All affected individuals presented with epileptic encephalopathy, severe neurodevelopmental delay (often with regression), and a hyperkinetic movement disorder. Additional neurological features included postnatal microcephaly and hypotonia. Five children died in childhood or adolescence (mean age of death: 9 years), mainly as a result of secondary respiratory complications. CACNA1B encodes the pore-forming subunit of the pre-synaptic neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.2/N-type, crucial for SNARE-mediated neurotransmission, particularly in the early postnatal period. Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in CACNA1B are predicted to cause disruption of Ca2+ influx, leading to impaired synaptic neurotransmission. The resultant effect on neuronal function is likely to be important in the development of involuntary movements and epilepsy. Overall, our findings provide further evidence for the key role of Cav2.2 in normal human neurodevelopment.MAK is funded by an NIHR Research Professorship and receives funding from the Wellcome Trust, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital Charity, and Rosetrees Trust. E.M. received funding from the Rosetrees Trust (CD-A53) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. K.G. received funding from Temple Street Foundation. A.M. is funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Biomedical Research Centre. F.L.R. and D.G. are funded by Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. K.C. and A.S.J. are funded by NIHR Bioresource for Rare Diseases. The DDD Study presents independent research commissioned by the Health Innovation Challenge Fund (grant number HICF-1009-003), a parallel funding partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (grant number WT098051). We acknowledge support from the UK Department of Health via the NIHR comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy's and St. Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London. This research was also supported by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. J.H.C. is in receipt of an NIHR Senior Investigator Award. The research team acknowledges the support of the NIHR through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, Department of Health, or Wellcome Trust. E.R.M. acknowledges support from NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, an NIHR Senior Investigator Award, and the University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of E.R.M. from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. I.E.S. is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Program Grant and Practitioner Fellowship)

Examination of influencing factors on postpartal concentration of betahydroxybutyrate in blood serum of dairy cows and the relationship to animal health and milk production

Die Stoffwechselüberwachung von Milchkühen in der Transitperiode ist ein elementarer Teil der Bestandsbetreuung. Es gilt subklinische Stoffwechselstörungen zu erkennen und zu vermeiden. Die subklinische Ketose stellt eine der häufigsten und wirtschaftlich bedeutsamsten Stoffwechselerkrankung der Transitperiode dar. Diese Erkrankung führt zu Milchmengenverlusten und erhöht das Risiko für klinische Erkrankungen. Die β -Hydroxybutyrat-Konzentration (BHB) ist ein geeigneter diagnostischer Parameter für die subklinische Ketose. Außerdem findet die Bestimmung der nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) Verwendung für das Identifizieren von subklinisch an Ketose erkrankten Tieren. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Untersuchung von Einflussfaktoren auf die BHB-Konzentration. Desweiteren wurde die Auswirkung der BHB-Konzentration auf die Tiergesundheit und die Milchleistung untersucht. Dafür wurden 1949 Kühe (Holstein-Schwarzbunt) auf einem Betrieb untersucht. Die Probenentnahme bezog sich auf alle abkalbenden Kühe vom 05.04.2013 bis zum 22.02.2014. Die durchschnittliche 305-Tage- Leistung der Herde betrug 10750 kg. Der Fettgehalt belief sich auf 3,61 % und der Eiweißgehalt auf 3,15 %. Es befanden sich Kühe der ersten bis elften Laktation in der Herde. Das Probenschema umfasste eine Blutprobenentnahme aus der Vena oder Arteria coccygea mediana zum Zeitpunkt der Umstallung in die Vorbereitergruppe, eine Blutentnahme bei der Kalbung und drei weitere an Tag eins, drei und sieben post partum morgens zur Fütterung. Die Parameter BHB und NEFA wurden aus den Blutproben bestimmt. Zusätzlich wurden die Rückenfettdicke mittels Ultraschall zum Trockenstellen, zum Umstallen in die Vorbereitergruppe, einen Tag post partum und zum Ausstallen in die Leistungsgruppen (circa zwei Wochen post partum) eingeführt. Die Trockensteh- und Vorbereitungszeit und alle Daten zur Abkalbung, wie Kalbanzahl, Kalbgewicht, Kalbgeschlecht, Kalbeverlauf wurden gesammelt. Darüber hinaus wurde jede Erkrankung, die Milchleistung (Tages-, Wochen-, 305-Tage-Leistung) sowie die Fruchtbarkeitsparameter Zwischentragezeit und Besamungsanzahl erfasst. Die durchschnittliche postpartale BHB-Konzentration in der ersten Laktationswoche betrug 0,50 mmol/l. Die Prävalenz der subklinischen Ketose belief sich auf 12,7 %. Die Auswertung ergab eine Vielzahl von Einflussfaktoren auf die BHB-Konzentration. Bei den erstlaktierenden Tieren ergeben sich die Einflussfaktoren NEFA-Konzentration zur Kalbung, Kalbanzahl und Kalbemonat, wobei die NEFA-Konzentration zur Kalbung den weitaus stärksten Faktor bildet. Im Modell der mehrlaktierenden Kühe sind die signifikanten Einflussfaktoren: Laktationszahl, Kexxtone®-Bolus, Dauer der Trockenstehzeit, Dauer der Vorbereitungszeit, RFD zur Kalbung, Kalbemonat, Kalbanzahl und die antepartale NEFA-Konzentration. Davon ist Kexxtone der stärkste Einflussfaktor, gefolgt von der Dauer der Trockenstehphase. Die NEFA- Konzentration vor der Kalbung und die RFD zur Kalbung besitzen die gleiche Effektstärke. Einen nur geringen Einfluss auf die BHB-Konzentration haben der Kalbemonat, die Laktationszahl und die Kalbanzahl, wobei die Effektstärke der Laktationszahl durch den Faktor Kexxtone reduziert wird. Stärkster Einflussfaktor für die Erkrankung Ketose ist eine BHB-Konzentration am dritten Tag nach der Kalbung ≥1,2 mmol/l. Die BHB-Konzentration erklärt 10,1 % der Variabilität der Ketose. Die weiteren Einflussfaktoren sind Kalbanzahl, Kalbemonat, RFD-Abnahme in den ersten drei Laktationswochen, Dauer der ersten Phase der Trockenstehzeit und Höhe der Milchleistung in Woche drei bis sieben. Zusammen erklären diese Faktoren 28,1 % der Variabilität der Ketose. Die Laktationszahl ergibt keinen weiteren aufklärenden Effekt. Nicht untersuchte Faktoren, wie Genetik, Milchleistung in der Vorlaktation oder Vorerkrankungen könnten die Modellaufklärung erhöhen. Eine Auswirkung der BHB-Konzentration auf die Fruchtbarkeit konnte in dieser Untersuchung nicht gezeigt werden. Ebenfalls ergab sich kein Zusammenhang zwischen den Erkrankungen Mastitis und Lahmheit und der Höhe der BHB-Konzentration. Die BHBKonzentration steht im Zusammenhang mit der Milchleistung. Tiere, die eine BHBKonzentration ≥1,2 mmol/l besitzen, haben eine geringere Milchleistung als Kühe mit BHB-Werten <1,2 mmol/l. Je früher eine erhöhte BHB-Konzentration vorliegt, desto größer ist der Milchleistungsverlust. Eine BHB-Konzentration zur Kalbung ≥1,2 mmol/l führt zu einer um 1390 kg geringeren 305-Tage-Leistung. Gesunde Kühe haben eine geringere BHB-Konzentration als kranke Kühe. Der Cutpoint von ≥1,2 mmol/l BHB post partum ist für die Vorhersage von Stoffwechselerkrankungen geeignet. Die Odds Ratio betragen: Labmagenverlagerung OR=19,0 (BHB7), Gebärparese OR=9,3 (BHB0), Retentio secundinarum OR=5,0 (BHB0) und Metritis OR=6,0/2,0 (BHB0/BHB7).The supervision of the animals metabolism is a key factor in herd health monitoring during transit period. It is regarded to recognize and prevent subclinical metabolic disorders Subclinical ketosis is one of the most frequent and economically harmful metabolic disease during transit period. This disease causes losses in milk yield and increases the risk of clinical diseases. The β- hydroxybutyrate concentration (BHB) is an appropriate diagnostic parameter for subclinical ketosis. Furthermore, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) are used to identify animals suffering from subclinical ketosis. The objective of this paper was to examine influencing factors on BHB concentration and the impact of BHB concentration, regarding animal health and milk production. For that purpose, 1,949 cows (Holstein-Friesian) were examined. Specimen collection from 5th April 2013 to 22nd February 2014 compromised calving cows with an average 305-day milk yield of up to 10,750 kg. Milk fat yield reached a total of 3.61 % and milk protein yield 3.15 %. Cows between 1.-11. lactation were found in the dairy herd. Blood samples were taken from the Vena or Arteria coccygea mediana at the time of transition in the close up group, at calving time and three additional samples on day one, three and seven post partum during feeding time in the morning. The parameters BHB and NEFA were determined from blood samples. Additionally, backfat thickness was identified by ultrasound during dry period, at transition in the close up group as well as one day post partum and at exit of the transition- cowshed. The transition period and dates as calving, calf number, weight, gender, calving process were recorded. Moreover, any disease, milk productivity (daily-, weekly-, 305-day milk yield) and fertility parameters were monitored. Postpartum BHB concentration at the first week averages 0,50 mmol/l. Subclinical ketosis was found with a prevalence of 12.7%. Analysis revealed a variety of influencing factors on BHB concentration. NEFA concentration during calving, calf number and time of calving were determined as influencing factors for heifers. However, NEFA concentration at calving time is the major factor. In the model of multiparous cows most significant influencing factors are: lactation number, Kexxtone®-Bolus, length of transition period, backfat thickness at calving time, month of calving, calf number and antepartum NEFA concentration. Kexxtone® is the strongest influencing factor, subsequent is the transition period. NEFA concentration before calving and backfat thickness at calving time have the same impact. Calving month, lactation number and calf number just have a small influence on BHB concentration. The impact of the animals lactation number is getting reduced by Kexxtone®. Strongest influencing factor on getting ketosis is a BHB concentration on day 3 after calving ≥1.2 mmol/l. Variability of ketosis can be explained by BHB concentration in 10.1 % of cases. Other factors are: calf number, month of calving, difference of backfat thickness in the first three weeks of lactation, time of the dry period and milk yield in week 3-7. Together these factors sum up 28.1 % of the variability of ketosis. The number of lactation does not give a further informative effect. Not considered factors like genetics, milk productivity before lactation or pre-existing illnesses could clarify the model. There was no shown effect of the BHB concentration on the fertility in this study. Additionally there was no correlation between mastitis and lameness and the BHB concentration level. BHB concentration is related with milk yield. Cows with a BHB concentration of ≥1.2 mmol/l have a lower milk productivity as cows with a BHB concentration <1.2 mmol/l. The earlier there is an increased BHB concentration the bigger is the loss of milk productivity. A BHB concentration of ≥1.2 mmol/l during calving leads to a reduction of 305-day milk yield of 1,390 kg. Healthy cows have a lower BHB concentration than sick cows. The cut-off of ≥1.2 mmol/l postpartum BHB is suitable to forecast metabolic diseases. Odds ratio are: abomasal displacement OR=19.0 (BHB7), hypocalcaemia OR=9.3 (BHB0), retentio secundinarum OR=5.0 (BHB0) and metritis OR=6.0/2.0 (BHB0/BHB7)