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Despite recent advances in the field of tissue engineering, the development of complex tissue-like structures in vitro is compromised by the lack of integration of a functioning vasculature. In this study, we propose a mesoscale three-dimensional (3D) in vitro vascularized connective tissue model and demonstrate its feasibility to prompt the self-assembly of endothelial cells into vessel-like structures. Moreover, we investigate the effect of perfusion on the organization of the cells. For this purpose, primary endothelial cells (HUVECs) and a cell line of human foreskin fibroblasts are cultivated in ECM-like matrices made up of freeze-dried collagen scaffolds permeated with collagen type I hydrogel. A tailored bioreactor is designed to investigate the effect of perfusion on self-organization of HUVECs. Immunofluorescent staining, two-photon microscopy, second-harmonic generation imaging, and scanning electron microscopy are applied to visualize the spatial arrangement of the cells. The analyses reveal the formation of hollow, vessel-like structures of HUVECs in hydrogel-permeated collagen scaffolds under both static and dynamic conditions. In conclusion, we demonstrate the feasibility of a 3D porous collagen scaffolding system that enables and maintains the self-organization of HUVECs into vessel-like structures independent of a dynamic flow., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Multiple-choice examinations are frequently used in German dental schools. However, details regarding the used item types and applied scoring methods are lacking., Objective: This study aims to gain insight into the current use of multiple-choice items (ie, questions) in summative examinations in German undergraduate dental training programs., Methods: A paper-based 10-item questionnaire regarding the used assessment methods, multiple-choice item types, and applied scoring methods was designed. The pilot-tested questionnaire was mailed to the deans of studies and to the heads of the Department of Operative/Restorative Dentistry at all 30 dental schools in Germany in February 2023. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test (P<.05)., Results: The response rate amounted to 90% (27/30 dental schools). All respondent dental schools used multiple-choice examinations for summative assessments. Examinations were delivered electronically by 70% (19/27) of the dental schools. Almost all dental schools used single-choice Type A items (24/27, 89%), which accounted for the largest number of items in approximately half of the dental schools (13/27, 48%). Further item types (eg, conventional multiple-select items, Multiple-True-False, and Pick-N) were only used by fewer dental schools (≤67%, up to 18 out of 27 dental schools). For the multiple-select item types, the applied scoring methods varied considerably (ie, awarding [intermediate] partial credit and requirements for partial credit). Dental schools with the possibility of electronic examinations used multiple-select items slightly more often (14/19, 74% vs 4/8, 50%). However, this difference was statistically not significant (P=.38). Dental schools used items either individually or as key feature problems consisting of a clinical case scenario followed by a number of items focusing on critical treatment steps (15/27, 56%). Not a single school used alternative testing methods (eg, answer-until-correct). A formal item review process was established at about half of the dental schools (15/27, 56%)., Conclusions: Summative assessment methods among German dental schools vary widely. Especially, a large variability regarding the use and scoring of multiple-select multiple-choice items was found., (© Lena Rössler, Manfred Herrmann, Annette Wiegand, Philipp Kanzow. Originally published in JMIR Medical Education (https://mededu.jmir.org).)

Phages play an essential role in controlling bacterial populations. Those infecting Pelagibacterales (SAR11), the dominant bacteria in surface oceans, have been studied in silico and by cultivation attempts. However, little is known about the quantity of phage-infected cells in the environment. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques, we here show pelagiphage-infected SAR11 cells across multiple global ecosystems and present evidence for tight community control of pelagiphages on the SAR11 hosts in a case study. Up to 19% of SAR11 cells were phage-infected during a phytoplankton bloom, coinciding with a ~90% reduction in SAR11 cell abundance within 5 days. Frequently, a fraction of the infected SAR11 cells were devoid of detectable ribosomes, which appear to be a yet undescribed possible stage during pelagiphage infection. We dubbed such cells zombies and propose, among other possible explanations, a mechanism in which ribosomal RNA is used as a resource for the synthesis of new phage genomes. On a global scale, we detected phage-infected SAR11 and zombie cells in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Our findings illuminate the important impact of pelagiphages on SAR11 populations and unveil the presence of ribosome-deprived zombie cells as part of the infection cycle., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Metallic deposition is a commonly observed phenomenon on the surface of revised femoral heads in total hip arthroplasty and can lead to increased wear due to third bodies. In order to find out the origin and composition of the transfer material, 98 retrieved femoral heads of different materials were examined with regard to the cause of revision, localization, pattern and composition of the transfer material by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. We found that in 53.1%, the deposition was mostly in the region of the equator and the adjacent pole of the femoral heads. The most common cause for revision of heads with metallic deposition was polyethylene wear (43.9%). Random stripes (44.9%), random patches (41.8%) and solid patches (35.7%) were most prevalent on retrieved femoral heads. Random patches were a typical pattern in ceramic-on-ceramic bearing couples. The solid patch frequently occurred in association with dislocation of the femoral head (55%). The elemental analysis of the depositions showed a variety of different materials. In most cases, titanium was an element of the transferred material (76.5%). In addition to metallic components, several non-metallic components were also detected, such as carbon (49%) or sulfur (4.1%). Many of the determined elements could be assigned with regard to their origin with the help of the associated revision cause. Since the depositions lead to an introduction of third-body particles and thus to increased wear, the depositions on the bearing surfaces should be avoided in any case.

A key challenge in microbiome research is to predict the functionality of microbial communities based on community membership and (meta)-genomic data. As central microbiota functions are determined by bacterial community networks, it is important to gain insight into the principles that govern bacteria-bacteria interactions. Here, we focused on the growth and metabolic interactions of the Oligo-Mouse-Microbiota (OMM 12 ) synthetic bacterial community, which is increasingly used as a model system in gut microbiome research. Using a bottom-up approach, we uncovered the directionality of strain-strain interactions in mono- and pairwise co-culture experiments as well as in community batch culture. Metabolic network reconstruction in combination with metabolomics analysis of bacterial culture supernatants provided insights into the metabolic potential and activity of the individual community members. Thereby, we could show that the OMM 12 interaction network is shaped by both exploitative and interference competition in vitro in nutrient-rich culture media and demonstrate how community structure can be shifted by changing the nutritional environment. In particular, Enterococcus faecalis KB1 was identified as an important driver of community composition by affecting the abundance of several other consortium members in vitro. As a result, this study gives fundamental insight into key drivers and mechanistic basis of the OMM 12 interaction network in vitro, which serves as a knowledge base for future mechanistic in vivo studies., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

When learning at home, students face higher demands in regards of self-regulated learning compared to learning at school. In order to cope with the demands of distance learning, high levels of self-management, self-motivation, and self-organization are required. This can be-according to the resource model of coping with developmental tasks (Fend et al. 2009)-supported by familial, school-related and personal resources. Based upon this theoretical approach, a survey was conducted with 593 students just after their transition to upper secondary schools in autumn 2021 on distance learning and relevant resources. They spent about one month in the new school before they had to cope with a 4-month long period of distance learning. Four regression models were estimated using step-wise inclusion of the different resources described in the paper. The analyses confirm above all the great importance of personal resources (academic achievement, learning motivation, general self-efficacy) for coping with the demands of distance learning. Low achievers and low motivated students prove to be particularly at risk in the context of distance learning. Therefore, this vulnerable group requires special attention and support both, in future periods of remote teaching as well as following the pandemic., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students worldwide have experienced fundamental changes to their learning. Schools had to shift to distance education as part of the effort to stop the spread of the virus. Although distance learning undoubtedly resulted in challenges for all students, there is much concern that it exacerbated existing educational inequalities and led to disadvantages - particularly for students who were already struggling academically and lacking support from family and school. The aim of this paper was to investigate the possible impact of family and child characteristics, school performance prior to lockdown, and support at home and from school during lockdown in coping with self-regulated distance learning during times of COVID-19. The paper draws on data from a two-wave longitudinal study surveying 155 lower secondary school students aged 13-14years from a rural-alpine region in Austria. Data were collected 1year before the start of the pandemic and directly after schools had returned to in-class teaching after the first lockdown. Our findings support the notion that distance learning poses a substantial risk for exacerbating existing educational disadvantages. They show that coping with out-of-school learning was especially challenging for students with low academic achievement and learning motivation prior to the pandemic. Furthermore, findings demonstrate that the support from parents and teachers foster students' capabilities to cope with the self-regulatory demands connected with distance learning. Although the importance of competencies for self-regulated learning became particularly evident in the context of the pandemic, from our findings, it can be concluded that in the future, schools should strengthen their investment in promoting competencies for self-regulated learning. Self-regulation must be recognized as an essential educational skill for academic achievement and life-long learning., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Berger, Schreiner, Hagleitner, Jesacher-Rößler, Roßnagl and Kraler.)

The newly identified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a pandemic respiratory disease. Moreover, thromboembolic events throughout the body, including in the CNS, have been described. Given the neurological symptoms observed in a large majority of individuals with COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 penetrance of the CNS is likely. By various means, we demonstrate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and protein in anatomically distinct regions of the nasopharynx and brain. Furthermore, we describe the morphological changes associated with infection such as thromboembolic ischemic infarction of the CNS and present evidence of SARS-CoV-2 neurotropism. SARS-CoV-2 can enter the nervous system by crossing the neural-mucosal interface in olfactory mucosa, exploiting the close vicinity of olfactory mucosal, endothelial and nervous tissue, including delicate olfactory and sensory nerve endings. Subsequently, SARS-CoV-2 appears to follow neuroanatomical structures, penetrating defined neuroanatomical areas including the primary respiratory and cardiovascular control center in the medulla oblongata.

Several retrieval studies have reported on metallic depositions on ceramic femoral heads, but the effect on the wear behavior of artificial hip joints has not been investigated in wear simulator studies. In the present study, retrieved ceramic heads with metallic depositions as third particles were tested against cross-linked ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) liners in a hip wear simulator. The amount of liner wear and expansion of metallic depositions on the heads were determined before and after wear testing with digital microscopy. The surface roughness of the heads was investigated in areas with and without metallic depositions by laser scanning microscopy. After five million load cycles, a non-significant reduction in the metallic formation on the retrieved heads was found. The metallic areas showed a higher surface roughness compared to unconcerned areas. The liners showed a higher wear rate of 1.57 ± 1.36 mg/million cycles for 28 mm heads and 2.42 ± 0.82 mg/million cycles for 36 mm heads with metallic depositions, in comparison with new ceramic heads with a 28 mm size ((-0.06 ± 0.89) mg/million cycles) and 36 mm size ((2.04 ± 0.46) mg/million cycles). Metallic transfer on ceramic heads can lead to an increased surface roughness and higher wear rates at the UHMWPE liners. Therefore, metallic contact of the ceramic femoral head should be avoided.

Background: The purpose is to present the Austrian data of an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study conducted in 13 European countries. This study was undertaken to assess human papillomavirus (HPV) type distribution in high-grade cervical lesions., Methods: Two hundred and ninety cases of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2, CIN3) or adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix from 2004 to 2007 were analysed by histopathological review and polymerase chain reaction for HPV., Results: Two hundred and nine cases were "histologically eligible" and of those 206 were HPV+. Median age was 34 years (19-76 years). CIN3 was the most frequent diagnosis (64.6 %), followed by CIN2/3 (19.4 %) and CIN2 (13.6 %). Adenocarcinoma in situ was only detected together with a squamous lesion in 2.4 % cases. Majority of women (75.2 %) were infected with a single HPV type, 98.1 % of them with high-risk HPV types: HPV 16 (56.1 %), HPV 33 (12.3 %), HPV 31 (11.0 %), HPV 18 (3.9 %), HPV 35 (3.9 %), HPV 51 (3.2 %) and HPV 52 (2.6 %), HPV 58 (1.9 %) and HPV 45 (0.6 %). The low-risk HPV 6 was found in 1.3 % cases. Forty-six lesions (22.3 %) contained multiple infections, 71.1 % of those were HPV 16 or 18 and 91.1 % were HPV 16, 18, 31, 33 or 45 positive., Conclusions: These Austrian data clearly demonstrate that HPV 16 is the predominant type in high-grade CIN, the immediate precursor lesions of cervical cancer. More than 60 % of the lesions were associated with HPV 16 and 18 and more than 85 % with HPV 16, 18, 31, 33 or 45. The prevalence of adenocarcinoma in situ is underestimated, since its detection is difficult with the current cytology screening.