The rostro-caudal gradient in the prefrontal cortex and its modulation by subthalamic deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease

Acknowledgements The authors thank Benjamin Rahm (University of Freiburg) and Michael Fox (Harvard Medical School) for valuable comments on a previous version of this manuscript. This work was supported by a grant of the BrainLinks-BrainTools Cluster of Excellence funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, grant number EXC 1086) to C.P.K., F.A., T.P., B.O.S., C.W, and V.A.C.; A.H. was supported by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Emmy Noether Stipend 410169619 and 424778381 – TRR 295) as well as Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DynaSti grant within the EU Joint Programme Neurodegenerative Disease Research, JPND). Funding Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A scoping review and gap analysis of interventions for perpetrators of online child sexual exploitation

Technology has become a primary medium for child sexual abuse and exploitation. Like offline behaviour, technology-facilitated abuse and exploitation can take many forms, such as the recording of the sexual assault of a child or communicating with a child via mobile devices. Online and offline spaces are not always clearly distinguishable: abuse and exploitation can start in one space and move to the othe

Click-correlative light and electron microscopy (click-AT-CLEM) for imaging and tracking azido-functionalized sphingolipids in bacteria

Sphingolipids, including ceramides, are a diverse group of structurally related lipids composed of a sphingoid base backbone coupled to a fatty acid side chain and modified terminal hydroxyl group. Recently, it has been shown that sphingolipids show antimicrobial activity against a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms. The antimicrobial mechanism, however, remains so far elusive. Here, we introduce 'click-AT-CLEM', a labeling technique for correlated light and electron microscopy (CLEM) based on the super-resolution array tomography (srAT) approach and bio-orthogonal click chemistry for imaging of azido-tagged sphingolipids to directly visualize their interaction with the model Gram-negative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis at subcellular level. We observed ultrastructural damage of bacteria and disruption of the bacterial outer membrane induced by two azido-modified sphingolipids by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Click-AT-CLEM imaging and mass spectrometry clearly revealed efficient incorporation of azido-tagged sphingolipids into the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria as underlying cause of their antimicrobial activity

Ausprägungen subjektiver Vernetzungsprozesse und objektiver Vernetzungsprodukte Lehramtsstudierender vor und nach Besuch einer verzahnten Lerngelegenheit

Dieser Beitrag präsentiert die Ausprägungen von Wissensvernetzung Lehramtsstudierender vor und nach Besuch eines verzahnten Seminars (Bildungswissenschaften und Sachunterrichtsdidaktik) im Masterstudium. Mithilfe zweier Messinstrumente wird dabei Vernetzung auf subjektiver (d. h. selbstberichtete Vernetzungsprozesse) und auf objektiver Ebene (d.h. Planungen von Unterrichtseinstiegen als Vernetzungsprodukt) erfasst. Es zeigt sich, dass die selbstberichteten Vernetzungsprozesse nach Besuch des Seminars zunehmen. Auch die Vernetzung in den Unterrichtseinstiegen verändert sich, es ist jedoch kein eindeutiger Trend erkennbar. Die Ergebnisse werden abschließend in den Diskurs um Wissen und Können eingebettet und diskutiert. (DIPF/Orig.)This article presents the characteristics of knowledge integration of student teachers before and after attending an interlinked course (educational sciences and didactics of primary science education) in their Master’s programme. With the help of two measuring instruments, knowledge integration is assessed on a subjective level (self-reported integration processes) and on an objective level (planning of teaching entrances as an integrated product). The results show that the self-reported integration processes increase after attending the course. The knowledge integration in the lesson entrances also changes, although no clear trend can be discerned. Finally, the results are embedded and discussed in the discourse on knowledge and skills. (DIPF/Orig.

Follicular Delivery of Caffeine from a Shampoo for Hair Retention

A key factor in the prevention of hair loss is the provision of optimal conditions on the scalp. In this regard, reduction of oxidative stress on the scalp is one critical requirement to support the hair follicles to function optimally. Recently, a novel shampoo formulation technology containing anti-oxidants such as piroctone olamine has been demonstrated to improve hair retention based on micellar degradation and coacervation effects. Caffeine has also been shown to exhibit anti-oxidant activity including the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation. As with piroctone olamine, it is expected that follicular delivery of caffeine will enhance its anti-oxidant activity in a region that will be beneficial for hair retention. In this study, two shampoo formulations as well as a control formulation were applied to the calf area of n = 9 male participants. The technique of differential tape stripping was applied to obtain the caffeine penetrated to the stratum corneum and to the hair follicles. Isotope-dilution liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to demonstrate caffeine follicular delivery from the shampoo formulas. The results showed that the percentage of caffeine recovered in the hair follicles was 8–9% of the caffeine absorbed into the skin and matched an existing caffeine-based shampoo. In conclusion, a novel shampoo formulation technology has been developed that effectively delivers beneficial anti-oxidants to improve hair retention. This new shampoo is expected to be especially useful in the goal of retaining hair during aging

Hyperspectral confocal imaging for high-throughput readout and analysis of bio-integrated microlasers

Integrating micro- and nanolasers into live cells, tissue cultures and small animals is an emerging and rapidly evolving technique that offers noninvasive interrogation and labeling with unprecedented information density. The bright and distinct spectra of such lasers make this approach particularly attractive for high-throughput applications requiring single-cell specificity, such as multiplexed cell tracking and intracellular biosensing. The implementation of these applications requires high-resolution, high-speed spectral readout and advanced analysis routines, which leads to unique technical challenges. Here, we present a modular approach consisting of two separate procedures. The first procedure instructs users on how to efficiently integrate different types of lasers into living cells, and the second procedure presents a workflow for obtaining intracellular lasing spectra with high spectral resolution and up to 125-kHz readout rate and starts from the construction of a custom hyperspectral confocal microscope. We provide guidance on running hyperspectral imaging routines for various experimental designs and recommend specific workflows for processing the resulting large data sets along with an open-source Python library of functions covering the analysis pipeline. We illustrate three applications including the rapid, large-volume mapping of absolute refractive index by using polystyrene microbead lasers, the intracellular sensing of cardiac contractility with polystyrene microbead lasers and long-term cell tracking by using semiconductor nanodisk lasers. Our sample preparation and imaging procedures require 2 days, and setting up the hyperspectral confocal microscope for microlaser characterization requires &lt;2 weeks to complete for users with limited experience in optical and software engineering.</p

Hyperspectral confocal imaging for high-throughput readout and analysis of bio-integrated microlasers

Integrating micro- and nanolasers into live cells, tissue cultures and small animals is an emerging and rapidly evolving technique that offers noninvasive interrogation and labeling with unprecedented information density. The bright and distinct spectra of such lasers make this approach particularly attractive for high-throughput applications requiring single-cell specificity, such as multiplexed cell tracking and intracellular biosensing. The implementation of these applications requires high-resolution, high-speed spectral readout and advanced analysis routines, which leads to unique technical challenges. Here, we present a modular approach consisting of two separate procedures. The first procedure instructs users on how to efficiently integrate different types of lasers into living cells, and the second procedure presents a workflow for obtaining intracellular lasing spectra with high spectral resolution and up to 125-kHz readout rate and starts from the construction of a custom hyperspectral confocal microscope. We provide guidance on running hyperspectral imaging routines for various experimental designs and recommend specific workflows for processing the resulting large data sets along with an open-source Python library of functions covering the analysis pipeline. We illustrate three applications including the rapid, large-volume mapping of absolute refractive index by using polystyrene microbead lasers, the intracellular sensing of cardiac contractility with polystyrene microbead lasers and long-term cell tracking by using semiconductor nanodisk lasers. Our sample preparation and imaging procedures require 2 days, and setting up the hyperspectral confocal microscope for microlaser characterization requires &lt;2 weeks to complete for users with limited experience in optical and software engineering.</p

Development and use of Digital Twins for campuses in Dortmund and Bến Cát for climate adaptation measures

Climate Change is the leading cause for the warming of the atmosphere, land, and oceans. As a result, urban areas are particularly affected by the urban heat island phenomenon, which has a significant negative impact on human health, energy consumption and everyday life. To mitigate the effects on the environment and residents, researching new technologies such as Digital Twins in Smart Cities can be crucial. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the usage of Digital Twins for developing climate adaptation measures to mitigate urban heat island effects. A key element of this evaluation is analyzing the potentials and limitations of the Digital Twin technology, emphasizing the creation process of a Digital Twin as well as the application and its usage. A Digital Twin is created for a building on the campus of the TU Dortmund University and the Vietnamese- German University. The methods of laser scanning and 3D modeling serve as a foundation for the creation process of the Digital Twins. To analyze the effect of climate adaptation measures on built environment, microclimatic simulations are conducted. The results of the research including the 3D model and the microclimatic simulations are visualized in a geoinformation map. The evaluation process revealed multiple challenges in the development process and the usage of the Digital Twin technology. The main areas for improvement were identified in terms of data availability, data interoperability, and mesh creation. However, it is important to note that Digital Twin appears to have a significant potential for future urban development