Search

Although enrichment is an essential part of modern zoo animal husbandry, research on effective enrichment for small mammals is scarce, albeit they are regularly kept in zoos. To develop solutions that are inexpensive, readily applicable, and adaptable for a variety of species, we investigate whether three types of simple enrichment devices (SEDs) – object, olfactory, and food-motivated – elicit positive interactions in various zoo-housed small mammal species. In this preliminary exploration study, we evaluate if amount of enrichment interactions, display of behavioral stress reactions, and display of stereotypic behaviors vary, if different types of SEDs are provided. Therefore, we observed 39 individuals of ten species, most of which are underrepresented in enrichment literature: Eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), round-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus), aardvark (Orycteropus afer), southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla), northern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys pallidus), green acouchi (Myoprocta pratti), South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), and Javan mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus) housed in Frankfurt Zoo, Germany. All focal individuals interacted with at least two types of SEDs and around 80% interacted with all types of SEDs, resulting in a considerable amount of time spent with the enrichment. There was a preference for food-motivated enrichment. Neither behavioral stress reactions nor stereotypic behaviors differed if different types of SEDs were present. Model selection showed that GLMs explaining enrichment interactions improved if the variable ‘individual’ instead of ‘species’ was included, suggesting that reactions towards unspecific SEDs might be more individual-driven than species-specific. Because individuals of all species chose to interact with the SEDs and we did not find behavioral indicators for stress elicited by the SEDs, we advocate for the regular provision of SEDs for small mammals in human care.

Abstract Due to the unique microstructure of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon oxide (nc‐SiOx:H), the optoelectronic properties of this material can be tuned over a wide range, which makes it adaptable to different solar cell applications. In this work, the authors review the material properties of nc‐SiOx:H and the versatility of its applications in different types of solar cells. The review starts by introducing the growth principle of doped nc‐SiOx:H layers, the effect of oxygen content on the material properties, and the relationship between optoelectronic properties and its microstructure. A theoretical analysis of charge carrier transport mechanisms in silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells with wide band gap layers is then presented. Afterwards, the authors focus on the recent developments in the implementation of nc‐SiOx:H and hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxide (a‐SiOx:H) films for SHJ, passivating contacts, and perovskite/silicon tandem devices.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001516.].

Abstract Background Bedside teaching is essential to foster core clinical competences in medical education, especially in Neurology. However, bedside skills are declining and new concepts to enhance the effectiveness of bedside teaching are needed, also in view of limited in-person teaching possibilities in the ongoing pandemic situation. If theoretical knowledge is taught prior to in-person sessions this might allow to better focus on practical application aspects during bedside teaching. We thus aimed to answer the question to what extent such an approach can enhance the effectiveness of neurological bedside teaching. Methods In this prospective controlled study, neurological bedside courses following a traditional and a flipped classroom (FC) approach were compared with regards to their effects on theoretical knowledge and practical skills of medical students. Evaluations were obtained from 161 students and their lecturers participating in a neurological bedside teaching course at a German university hospital between October 2020 and July 2021. Students were randomly assigned to course dates. However, the 74 students assigned to course dates from May to July 2021 completed a mandatory online preparation course prior to the bedside teaching. These students served as the interventional group (IG) and the remaining 87 students formed the control group (CG). Ratings of knowledge and skills provided by the students and their lecturers on numerical rating scales served as primary outcome measures. Moreover, the time needed to recapitulate theoretical contents during the in-person teaching session was assessed as a secondary outcome measure. Group comparisons were performed using t-statistics. Results Theoretical knowledge upon entering the course was rated significantly higher in the IG by the students (p

Abstract Protected Areas (PAs) are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation. Here, we collated distributional data for >14,000 (~70% of) species of amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) to perform a global assessment of the conservation effectiveness of PAs using species distribution models. Our analyses reveal that >91% of herpetofauna species are currently distributed in PAs, and that this proportion will remain unaltered under future climate change. Indeed, loss of species’ distributional ranges will be lower inside PAs than outside them. Therefore, the proportion of effectively protected species is predicted to increase. However, over 7.8% of species currently occur outside PAs, and large spatial conservation gaps remain, mainly across tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and across non-high-income countries. We also predict that more than 300 amphibian and 500 reptile species may go extinct under climate change over the course of the ongoing century. Our study highlights the importance of PAs in providing herpetofauna with refuge from climate change, and suggests ways to optimize PAs to better conserve biodiversity worldwide.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic poses a huge challenge for clinical teaching due to contact restrictions and social distancing. Medical teachers have to balance potential risks and benefits of bedside teaching, especially in course formats intended to foster practical clinical skills. In this context, we aimed to address the question, whether presence-based teaching formats without patient involvement are suitable to teach practical skills. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, presence-based teaching formats with and without patient contact were retrospectively compared regarding their effects on medical students’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills, i.e. the performance and clinical interpretation of the neurological exam. To this end, evaluations from 102 students and their lecturers participating in a neurological bedside teaching course at a German university hospital between October 2020 and April 2021 were obtained. Students were initially randomly assigned to course dates. However, 53 students assigned to courses in November and December 2020, were not able to go bedside due to contact restrictions. These students formed the interventional group and the remaining 49 students the control group. The primary outcome measures were students’ overall grading of the course (school grades, 1–6) as well as ratings of knowledge and skills provided by the students themselves and their lecturers on a numerical rating scale (0–10). Comparison between groups was performed using frequentist and Bayesian t-statistics. Results The teaching format without patient contact received a significantly poorer overall grade by the students (p = 0.018). However, improvements in the students’ self-ratings of knowledge and skills did not differ between the two formats (all p > 0.05, BF10max = 0.42). Moreover, especially practical skills were even rated significantly better in the group without patient contact by the lecturers (p

COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 represents an ongoing global public health emergency. Rapid identification of emergence, evolution, and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) would enable timely and tailored responses by public health decision-making bodies. Yet, global disparities in current SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance activities reveal serious geographical gaps. Here, we discuss the experiences and lessons learned from the SARS-CoV-2 monitoring and surveillance program at the Public Health Laboratory on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea that was implemented as part of the national COVID-19 response and monitoring activities. We report how three distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants have dominated the epidemiological situation in Equatorial Guinea since March 2020. In addition, a case of co-infection of two SARS-CoV-2 VOC, Beta and Delta, in a clinically asymptomatic and fully COVID-19 vaccinated man living in Equatorial Guinea is presented. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a person co-infected with Beta and Delta VOC globally. Rapid identification of co-infections is relevant since these might provide an opportunity for genetic recombination resulting in emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 lineages with enhanced transmission or immune evasion potential.

Soilborne plant pathogens are an increasing problem in modern agriculture, and their ability to survive long periods in soil as persistent sclerotia makes control and treatment particularly challenging. To develop new control strategies, we explored bacteria associated with sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani, two soilborne fungi causing high yield losses. We combined different methodological approaches to get insights into the indigenous microbiota of sclerotia, to compare it to bacterial communities of the surrounding environment, and to identify novel biocontrol agents and antifungal volatiles. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragment amplicons revealed significant compositional differences in the bacterial microbiomes of Rhizoctonia sclerotia, the unaffected tuber surface and surrounding soil. Moreover, distinctive bacterial lineages were associated with specific sample types. Flavobacteriaceae and Caulobacteraceae were primarily found in unaffected areas, while Phyllobacteriaceae and Bradyrhizobiaceae were associated with sclerotia of R. solani. In parallel, we studied a strain collection isolated from sclerotia of the pathogens for emission of bioactive volatile compounds. Isolates of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Buttiauxella exhibited high antagonistic activity toward both soilborne pathogens and were shown to produce novel, not yet described volatiles. Differential imaging showed that volatiles emitted by the antagonists altered the melanized sclerotia surface of S. sclerotiorum. Interestingly, combinations of bacterial antagonists increased inhibition of mycelial growth up to 60% when compared with single isolates. Our study showed that fungal survival structures are associated with a specific microbiome, which is also a reservoir for new biocontrol agents.

Abstract Background Calmanostraca is a group of branchiopod eucrustaceans, with Triops cancriformis and Lepidurus apus as most prominent representatives. Both are regularly addressed with the inaccurate tag “living fossil”, suggesting that the morphology has remained stable for several millions of years. Yet, T. cancriformis and L. apus represent only a fraction of the morphological diversity occurring in Calmanostraca, comprising the two groups Notostraca and Kazacharthra. Notostracans, commonly called tadpole shrimps, comprise the two groups Lepidurus and Triops with their elongated and rather narrow (in dorsal view) head shields. Kazacharthrans are exclusively fossil calmanostracans with broad and rather short shields, known from the Jurassic and Triassic period. One formation where fossil calmanostracans have been found is the Yixian Formation of northeastern China (Lower Cretaceous, 125–121 million years). It is part of the Jehol Group, an ecosystem known for its exceptionally well-preserved fossils, including vertebrates and plants, but also diverse arthropods. Two calmanostracan species have to date been described from the Yixian Formation, Jeholops hongi and Chenops yixianensis. Results We describe here a new calmanostracan crustacean from the Yixian Formation, Notostraca oleseni, and additionally a simple tool using a morphospace analysis to delineate different species. Measurements characterising the shield and trunk proportions of different calmanostracan species were performed, data were size-corrected, and used for this morphospace analysis to compare the different morphologies. As sclerotised body parts are more likely to be preserved in fossils than soft tissue, shields and parts of the trunk are in many cases the only morphological structures available for study. Therefore, the present analysis represents a simple tool for distinguishing between different species, as well as allowing the inclusion of specimens that are only preserved fragmentarily. Additionally, it provides a tool to demarcate the kazacharthran-like specimen described, but not formally named, by Wagner et al. (Paleontol Res. 22:57–63, 2018). Hence, we amended the description and name the species Calmanostraca hassbergella. Conclusion Our results indicate a large diversity in shield and trunk morphology in calmanostracans, in contrast to their often claimed highly conserved and uniform morphology. Especially extinct forms such as Notostraca oleseni add up to this result and point to the species richness and morphological diversity within Calmanostraca.

Background The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) complex controls adaptive immunity by presenting defined fractions of the intracellular and extracellular protein content to immune cells. Understanding the benign HLA ligand repertoire is a prerequisite to define safe T-cell-based immunotherapies against cancer. Due to the poor availability of benign tissues, if available, normal tissue adjacent to the tumor has been used as a benign surrogate when defining tumor-associated antigens. However, this comparison has proven to be insufficient and even resulted in lethal outcomes. In order to match the tumor immunopeptidome with an equivalent counterpart, we created the HLA Ligand Atlas, the first extensive collection of paired HLA-I and HLA-II immunopeptidomes from 227 benign human tissue samples. This dataset facilitates a balanced comparison between tumor and benign tissues on HLA ligand level.Methods Human tissue samples were obtained from 16 subjects at autopsy, five thymus samples and two ovary samples originating from living donors. HLA ligands were isolated via immunoaffinity purification and analyzed in over 1200 liquid chromatography mass spectrometry runs. Experimentally and computationally reproducible protocols were employed for data acquisition and processing.Results The initial release covers 51 HLA-I and 86 HLA-II allotypes presenting 90,428 HLA-I- and 142,625 HLA-II ligands. The HLA allotypes are representative for the world population. We observe that immunopeptidomes differ considerably between tissues and individuals on source protein and HLA-ligand level. Moreover, we discover 1407 HLA-I ligands from non-canonical genomic regions. Such peptides were previously described in tumors, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), healthy lung tissues and cell lines. In a case study in glioblastoma, we show that potential on-target off-tumor adverse events in immunotherapy can be avoided by comparing tumor immunopeptidomes to the provided multi-tissue reference.Conclusion Given that T-cell-based immunotherapies, such as CAR-T cells, affinity-enhanced T cell transfer, cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibition, have significant side effects, the HLA Ligand Atlas is the first step toward defining tumor-associated targets with an improved safety profile. The resource provides insights into basic and applied immune-associated questions in the context of cancer immunotherapy, infection, transplantation, allergy and autoimmunity. It is publicly available and can be browsed in an easy-to-use web interface at https://hla-ligand-atlas.org.

Healthy soil microbiomes are crucial for achieving high productivity in combination with crop quality, but our understanding of microbial diversity is still limited. In a large-scale study including 116 composite samples from vineyards, orchards and other crops from all over Styria (south-east Austria), agricultural management as well as distinct soil parameters were identified as drivers of the indigenous microbial communities in agricultural soils. The analysis of the soil microbiota based on microbial profiling of prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene fragments and fungal ITS regions revealed high bacterial and fungal diversity within Styrian agricultural soils; 206,596 prokaryotic and 53,710 fungal OTUs. Vineyards revealed a significantly higher diversity and distinct composition of soil fungi over orchards and other agricultural soils, whereas the prokaryotic diversity was unaffected. Soil pH was identified as one of the most important edaphic modulators of microbial community structure in both, vineyard and orchard soils. In general, the acid-base balance, disorders in the soil sorption complex, content and quality of organic substance as well as individual nutrients were identified as important drivers of the microbial community structure of Styrian vineyard and orchard soils. However, responses to distinct parameters differed in orchards and vineyards, and prokaryotic and fungal community responded differently to the same abiotic factor. In comparison to orchards, the microbiome of vineyard soils maintained a higher stability when herbicides were applied. Orchard soils exhibited drastic shifts within community composition; herbicides seem to have a substantial impact on the bacterial order Chthoniobacterales as well as potential plant growth promoters and antagonists of phytopathogens (Flavobacterium, Monographella), with a decreased abundance in herbicide-treated soils. Moreover, soils of herbicide-treated orchards revealed a significantly higher presence of potential apple pathogenic fungi (Nectria, Thelonectria). These findings provide the basis to adapt soil management practices in the future in order to maintain a healthy microbiome in agricultural soils.

The biogeographic drivers of reptile diversity are poorly understood relative to other animal groups. Here, using a dataset of distributions of African squamates, the authors show that environmental filtering explains diversity in stressful habitats while competition explains diversity in benign habitats.

Abstract Mantis shrimps are prominent predatory crustaceans. Their larvae, although morphologically very differently-appearing from their adult counterparts, are already predators; yet, unlike the adults they are not benthic. Instead they are part of the plankton preying on other planktic organisms. Similar to some types of lobsters and crab-like crustaceans the planktic larvae of mantis shrimps can grow quite large, reaching into the centimeter range. Nonetheless, our knowledge on mantis shrimp larvae is still rather limited. Recently new types of giant mantis shrimp larvae with “extreme morphologies” have been reported. Here we describe another type that qualifies to be called “extreme”. Comparative measurements of certain morphological structures on selected known larvae support the exceptionality of the new specimen. It differs in several aspects from the original four types of extreme mantis shrimp larvae described by C. Haug et al. (2016). With this fifth type we expand the known morphological diversity of mantis shrimp larvae and also contribute to our still very incomplete, although growing, knowledge of this life phase.