Patches of polar mesospheric summer echoes characterized from radar imaging observations with MAARSY

A recent study has hypothesized that polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSEs) might consist mainly of localized isotropic scattering. These results have been inferred from indirect measurements. Using radar imaging with the Middle Atmosphere Alomar Radar System (MAARSY), we observed horizontal structures that support our previous findings. We observe that small-scale irregularities, causing isotropic scattering, are organized in patches. We find that patches of PMSEs, as observed by the radar, are usually smaller than 1 km. These patches occur throughout the illuminated volume, supporting that PMSEs are caused by localized isotropic or inhomogeneous scattering. Furthermore, we show that imaging can be used to identify side lobe detections, which have a significant influence even for narrow beam observations. Improved spectra estimations are obtained by selecting the desired volume to study parameters such as spectral width and to estimate the derived energy dissipation rates. In addition, a combined wide beam experiment and radar imaging is used to resolve the radial velocity and spectral width at different volumes within the illuminated volume

Resolving the horizontal structure of mesospheric echoes applying modern radar approaches

Strong radar signals occur in the mesopause region during summer, so called polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE). This thesis investigates PMSE with high temporal and spatial resolution. The statistical characteristics of PMSE are examined and simulated on a sub-second level. The results allow differentiating between geophysical and instrumental effects. It was shown that PMSE scattering is almost isotropic, which is in accordance with the accepted turbulence-based PMSE theory. Furthermore, it was shown that PMSE do not fill the radar observation volume homogeneously

Effects of GPR139 agonism on effort expenditure for food reward in rodent models: Evidence for pro-motivational actions

Apathy, deficiency of motivation including willingness to exert effort for reward, is a common symptom in many psychiatric and neurological disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. Despite improved understanding of the neurocircuitry and neurochemistry underlying normal and deficient motivation, there is still no approved pharmacological treatment for such a deficiency. GPR139 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor expressed in brain regions which contribute to the neural circuitry that controls motivation including effortful responding for reward, typically sweet gustatory reward. The GPR139 agonist TAK-041 is currently under development for treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia which include apathy. To date, however, there are no published preclinical data regarding its potential effect on reward motivation or deficiencies thereof. Here we report in vitro evidence confirming that TAK-041 increases intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and has high selectivity for GPR139. In vivo, TAK-041 was brain penetrant and showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. It was without effect on extracellular dopamine concentration in the nucleus accumbens. In addition, TAK-041 did not alter the effort exerted to obtain sweet gustatory reward in rats that were moderately food deprived. By contrast, TAK-041 increased the effort exerted to obtain sweet gustatory reward in mice that were only minimally food deprived; furthermore, this effect of TAK-041 occurred both in control mice and in mice in which deficient effortful responding was induced by chronic social stress. Overall, this study provides preclinical evidence in support of GPR139 agonism as a molecular target mechanism for treatment of apathy

Die Evaluation nach § 8 des Gesetzes zur Sicherung von Arbeitnehmerrechten in der Fleischwirtschaft (GSA Fleisch): Abschlussbericht

Mit der Novellierung des Gesetzes zur Sicherung von Arbeitnehmerrechten in der Fleischwirtschaft (GSA Fleisch) zum 1. Januar 2021 verfolgte der Gesetzgeber die Ziele, die Arbeitsbedingungen und den Arbeitsschutz zu verbessern, mehr Transparenz zu schaffen, die Rechtsdurchsetzung zu fördern sowie Missbrauch zu verhindern. Die Evaluation liefert zahlreiche Hinweise, dass durch die Novellierung vielfältige positive Entwicklungen in der Fleischwirtschaft angestoßen wurden. Umfang und Geschwindigkeit variieren dabei, je nachdem, welche konkreten Aspekte betrachtet werden (bspw. Arbeitszeiten, Arbeitsbelastungen, Lohn, Unfälle). Die Fleischunternehmen übernahmen fast alle ehemals Fremdbeschäftigten im Kernbereich, indem sie mit ihnen Arbeitsverträge schlossen. Die Handwerksausnahme ist aus Sicht der Evaluation begründet. Fremdpersonal spielte im Handwerk kaum eine Rolle und die Arbeitsbedingungen zeigten dort weniger Handlungsbedarf. Bei Handwerksunternehmen stößt die Regelung auf Akzeptanz. Leiharbeit wird in der Fleischwirtschaft nur noch in geringem Umfang eingesetzt. Die Möglichkeit, die Ausnahmeregelung für die Leiharbeit zu nutzen, ist vor allem für kleinere verarbeitende Industrieunternehmen von Bedeutung, um Produktionsspitzen aufzufangen. Die Tarifbindung als Bedingung für den Einsatz von Leiharbeit dürfte dazu führen, dass Leiharbeitnehmer*innen keine schlechteren Arbeitsbedingungen als Stammbeschäftigte haben. Die Evaluation empfiehlt daher, die Ausnahme zur Leiharbeit in der Fleischverarbeitung zu entfristen. Bislang geltende Regelungen zu Quote, Einsatzdauer und Tarifverträgen sollten beibehalten werden.With the amendment of the Act on the Protection of Labour Rights in the Meat Industry (GSA Fleisch) of 1 January 2021, the government pursued the goal of improving labour conditions and occupational safety, creating more transparency, promoting legal enforcement and preventing abuse. The evaluation provides numerous indications that the amendment has triggered a variety of positive developments in the meat industry. The extent and speed of these developments vary depending on what specific aspects are considered (e.g. working hours, workloads, wages, accidents). The takeover of external staff in the core area was almost complete. From the evaluation's point of view, the exception of the crafts sector is justified. External staff hardly played a role in the crafts sector and the working conditions there showed less need for action. The regulation meets with acceptance among craft businesses. Labor Leasing is only used to a small extent in the meat industry. The possibility to use the derogation for Labor Leasing is particularly important for smaller processing industrial businesses in order to absorb production peaks. Collective wage agreements as a condition for the use of Labor Leasing should result in that these workers do not have worse labour conditions than permanent employees. The evaluation therefore recommends that the exemption for Labor Leasing in meat processing industries be prolonged. The current regulations on quotas, duration of deployment and collective agreements should be retained

Perspectives d‘atténuation des conflits d’utilisation des ressources naturelles autour des Aires Protégées au Cameroun et au Tchad

Diese neue Version der Studie ist ausschließlich zu nutzen und ersetzt die alte Studie. Seule cette nouvelle version de l'étude, qui remplace la version précédente, doit être utilisée

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Repression of the genome organizer SATB1 in regulatory T cells is required for suppressive function and inhibition of effector differentiation

Regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) are essential for self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Lack of effector T cell (T(eff) cell) function and gain of suppressive activity by T(reg) cells are dependent on the transcriptional program induced by Foxp3. Here we report that repression of SATB1, a genome organizer that regulates chromatin structure and gene expression, was crucial for the phenotype and function of T(reg) cells. Foxp3, acting as a transcriptional repressor, directly suppressed the SATB1 locus and indirectly suppressed it through the induction of microRNAs that bound the SATB1 3' untranslated region. Release of SATB1 from the control of Foxp3 in T(reg) cells caused loss of suppressive function, establishment of transcriptional T(eff) cell programs and induction of T(eff) cell cytokines. Our data support the proposal that inhibition of SATB1-mediated modulation of global chromatin remodeling is pivotal for maintaining T(reg) cell functionality.Marc Beyer... Timothy Sadlon...Simon C Barry... et al