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Surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provides information not only on the lithology and water transport characteristics of aquifer systems but also on the state of iron mineralization within the pore space. This feature makes surface NMR a potential tool for the observation of changing redox conditions in the aquifer, which control the type and oxidation state of iron minerals and, relatedly, the buffering or release of pollutants that may pose a threat to drinking water resources. Our study aims on testing this potential and focuses on pyrite contained in the matrix of a sandy aquifer that serves as a natural denitrification buffer in a drinking water catchment area with intensive agricultural use. We observe a significant change in the surface-NMR relaxation times related to the pyrite content in the subsurface, which is most obvious at the transition from the pyrite-free oxic zone and the pyrite-bearing reducing zone. Complementary laboratory experiments using core material from the study site, including laboratory NMR and geochemical analyses, verify that the influence of pyrite content predominates the NMR relaxation behavior rather than pore size, porosity, or carbon content. The mean relaxation times measured in the sediment without pyrite exceed those with pyrite by approximately 20%–100%. We conclude that surface NMR can serve as a capable tool to locate and monitor the pyrite-based denitrification buffer. However, for general applicability within the given framework, more research is needed to address the natural ambiguity among iron content, its redox state and speciation, and pore size.

In this study, we report for the first time the use of the American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) as roost by the Neotropical Pacific tent-making bat (Uroderma convexum). Palms with tent roosts consisting of modified leaves were found within the semi-deciduous lowland rainforest in Panama. We present detailed information on a new style of leaf modifications and compare these to tent architectures in other palm species used by U. convexum.

A safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 is urgently needed in quantities that are sufficient to immunize large populations. Here we report the preclinical development of two vaccine candidates (BNT162b1 and BNT162b2) that contain nucleoside-modified messenger RNA that encodes immunogens derived from the spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2, formulated in lipid nanoparticles. BNT162b1 encodes a soluble, secreted trimerized receptor-binding domain (known as the RBD–foldon). BNT162b2 encodes the full-length transmembrane S glycoprotein, locked in its prefusion conformation by the substitution of two residues with proline (S(K986P/V987P); hereafter, S(P2) (also known as P2 S)). The flexibly tethered RBDs of the RBD–foldon bind to human ACE2 with high avidity. Approximately 20% of the S(P2) trimers are in the two-RBD ‘down’, one-RBD ‘up’ state. In mice, one intramuscular dose of either candidate vaccine elicits a dose-dependent antibody response with high virus-entry inhibition titres and strong T-helper-1 CD4+ and IFNγ+CD8+ T cell responses. Prime–boost vaccination of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with the BNT162b candidates elicits SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing geometric mean titres that are 8.2–18.2× that of a panel of SARS-CoV-2-convalescent human sera. The vaccine candidates protect macaques against challenge with SARS-CoV-2; in particular, BNT162b2 protects the lower respiratory tract against the presence of viral RNA and shows no evidence of disease enhancement. Both candidates are being evaluated in phase I trials in Germany and the USA1–3, and BNT162b2 is being evaluated in an ongoing global phase II/III trial (NCT04380701 and NCT04368728). BNT162b1 and BNT162b2 are two candidate mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 that elicit high virus-entry inhibition titres in mice, elicit high virus-neutralizing titres in rhesus macaques and protect macaques from SARS-CoV-2 challenge.

Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie Untersuchung der Perspektive von Medizinischen Fachangestellten (MFA) bezüglich der Mitwirkung in verhaltenstherapeutisch orientierten Interventionen in der Hausarztpraxis. Methode 15 MFA (w, 39,5 Jahre), Case-Manager in einem hausarztpraxis-unterstützten Übungsprogramm für Patienten mit Panik- und Angststörung (ICD-10: F41.0), wurden mittels semistrukturiertem Interviewleitfaden zur Rekrutierung von und Interaktion mit Patienten, Vermittlung der Übungen und der Implementierung in den Praxisalltag befragt. Die Interviews (n = 14) wurden dokumentiert, transkribiert und inhaltsanalytisch nach Mayring qualitativ analysiert. Ergebnisse MFA empfanden ihren Anteil an der Intervention im Rahmen der Rekrutierung und Bindung von Patienten ans Projekt durch Telefonkontakte als positiv. Schlussfolgerung Das Einbinden der MFA kann dazu beitragen, im Rahmen einer niedrigschwelligen Intervention Patienten mit psychischen Beschwerden in der hausärztlichen Versorgung gezielt zu unterstützen und den Hausarzt zu entlasten.

Parasites represent a large fraction of the world's biodiversity. They control host population sizes and contribute to ecosystem functioning. However, surveys on species diversity rarely include parasitic species. Bats often present traits favoring parasite diversity, such as large home ranges, long life spans, and large colonies. The most conspicuous bat parasites are the highly host‐specific, blood‐sucking bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae, Nycteribiidae). Recent studies have found a direct effect of habitat alteration on the abundance of bat species. We expected, therefore, that changes in the host community in response to anthropogenic habitat modification will also result in changes in the associated parasite community. We captured bats in three different habitats in Central Panama between 2013 and 2015. We recorded information on prevalence and intensity of bat fly parasitization of the seven most commonly captured bat species. Prevalence and intensity were both significantly influenced by roost type, abundance, and host sex and age. We found that habitat variables and matrix type significantly influenced the prevalence and intensity of parasitization, while the direction of the responses was host species‐ and parasite species‐specific. In general, roosting conditions and behavior of host bats appear to be fundamental in explaining changes in prevalence and intensity of parasitization between different habitat types, as bat flies are bound to the roost during their reproductive cycle. Habitat alterations affect next to the host community composition also the availability of possible roost structures as well as microclimatic conditions, which all three reflect in parasitization. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

Background Primary care is the main treatment setting for panic disorder and should be supplemented by collaborative care programs. However, shortage of mental health professionals prevents collaborative care programs from being effectively implemented. The PARADISE study showed the efficacy of a self-managed, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)-oriented exposure training for patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in primary care delivered by the family practice team. Objective To assess the cost-effectiveness of the PARADISE intervention. Design Cost-effectiveness analysis from the societal perspective based on data from a cluster-randomized controlled trial over a time horizon of 12 months. Participants Four hundred nineteen adult panic disorder patients with or without agoraphobia. Interventions A self-managed, CBT-oriented exposure training for patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in primary care delivered by the primary care practice team in comparison to routine care. Main Measures Total costs from the societal perspective. Direct costs and disease-specific costs. Quality-adjusted life years based on the EQ-5D-3L. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Key Results Patients in the intervention group caused lower costs (mean, €1017; 95% confidence interval [-€3306; €1272]; p = 0.38) and gained on average more QALY (mean, 0.034 QALY (95% confidence interval [0.005; 0.062]; p = 0.02). Therefore, the intervention dominated the control treatment. The probability of cost-effectiveness of the intervention at a willingness-to-pay margin of €50,000 per QALY was 96%. Results from supplementary analyses considering direct or disease-specific costs instead of total costs showed comparable results. Conclusion The PARADISE intervention is cost effective. This conclusion is valid for total costs, generic health care (direct) costs, disease-specific health care costs. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00004386 Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN64669297

Lung cancer still has one of the highest morbidity and mortality rates among all types of cancer. Its incidence continues to increase, especially in developing countries. Although the medical field has witnessed the development of targeted therapies, new treatment options need to be developed urgently. For the discovery of new drugs, human cancer models are required to study drug efficiency in a relevant setting. Here, we report the generation of a non-small cell lung cancer model with a perfusion system. The bioprinted model was produced by digital light processing (DLP). This technique has the advantage of including simulated human blood vessels, and its simple assembly and maintenance allow for easy testing of drug candidates. In a proof-of-concept study, we applied gemcitabine and determined the IC50 values in the 3D models and 2D monolayer cultures and compared the response of the model under static and dynamic cultivation by perfusion. As the drug must penetrate the hydrogel to reach the cells, the IC50 value was three orders of magnitude higher for bioprinted constructs than for 2D cell cultures. Compared to static cultivation, the viability of cells in the bioprinted 3D model was significantly increased by approximately 60% in the perfusion system. Dynamic cultivation also enhanced the cytotoxicity of the tested drug, and the drug-mediated apoptosis was increased with a fourfold higher fraction of cells with a signal for the apoptosis marker caspase-3 and a sixfold higher fraction of cells positive for PARP-1. Altogether, this easily reproducible cancer model can be used for initial testing of the cytotoxicity of new anticancer substances. For subsequent in-depth characterization of candidate drugs, further improvements will be necessary, such as the generation of a multi-cell type lung cancer model and the lining of vascular structures with endothelial cells.

Because of its mobility and ability to investigate exposed surfaces, single-sided (SiS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology enables new application fields in geosciences. To test and assess its corresponding potential, we compare longitudinal (T 1) and transverse (T 2) data measured by SiS NMR with those of conventional geoscientific laboratory NMR. We use reference sandstone samples covering a broad range of pore sizes. Our study demonstrates that the lower signal-to-noise ratio of SiS NMR data generally tends to slightly overestimated widths of relaxation time distributions and consequently pore size distributions. While SiS and conventional NMR produce very similar T 1 relaxation data, unbiased SiS NMR results for T 2 measurements can only be expected for fine material, i.e. clayey or silty sediments and soils with main relaxation times below 0.05 s . This limit is given by the diffusion relaxation rate due to the gradient in the primary magnetic field associated with the SiS NMR. Above that limit, i.e. for coarse material, the relaxation data is strongly attenuated. If considering the diffusion relaxation time of 0.2 s in the numerical data inversion process, the information content > 0.2 s is blurred over a range larger than that of conventional NMR. However, our results show that principle range and magnitudes of the relaxation time distributions are reconstructed to some extent. Regarding these findings, SiS NMR can be helpful to solve geoscientific issues, e.g. to assess the hydro-mechanical properties of the walls of underground facilities or to provide local soil moisture data sets for calibrating indirect remote techniques on the regional scale. The greatest opportunity provided by the SiS NMR technology is the acquisition of profile relaxation data for rocks with significant bedding structures at the μm scale. With this unique feature, SiS NMR can support the understanding and modeling of hydraulic and diffusional anisotropy behavior of sedimentary rocks.

In the past few years, small‐scale (2 m) prepolarized surface nuclear magnetic resonance (SNMR) has gained increasing interest in the research community. As recent studies demonstrated, the application of a strong prepolarization field enhances the SNMR signal of coils with a footprint

Recently, network approaches have gained increasing popularity in studies of species interactions. These analyses provide important information about structural and functional organisation, as well as on the dynamics of species interactions. Common model systems for network studies include seed dispersal, pollination, and also parasite interactions. Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae, Nycteribiidae) are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites of bats. Resource partitioning allows multiple fly species to co-occur on a single host individual, making them an ideal model system for network analyses. Between 2013 and 2018 in Central Panama, 6528 bats from 53 species were examined for the presence of bat flies. Thereof, we collected a total of 6077 bat flies belonging to 52 species. The resulting interaction network showed a significantly higher specificity (H2' = 0.97) and modularity (Q = 0.78) than expected by chance, indicating a very high host specificity of the bat flies. To investigate parasite interactions in the context of host size, host abundance and roosting preferences, we pooled parasite identifications on genus level. The majority of our identified modules were associated with bats using persistent roosting structures. Neither host size nor host abundance appeared to affect module structure. Further, module structure appeared not to be host-phylogeny driven, instead modules were often composed of species known to share roosting structures. Their high host-specificity could put bat flies at risk of extinction in changing environments.

Summary Small-scale investigations of the unsaturated zone has gained increasing interest in the hydro-geophysical research community. The technique of surface-NMR (SNMR), while providing valuable data on water content and permeability in the saturated zone, has difficulties to reliably detect and interpret signals from partly-saturated soils due to low signal amplitudes. Recently, SNMR using prepolarization (SNMR-PP) has gained interest to overcome this limitation. Here, a strong prepolarization field enhances the SNMR signal of coils with a footprint of below 1m up to a level that promises to enable soil moisture measurements in the upper two meters of the subsurface in the near future. We present the first SNMR-PP measurements on a real soil and demonstrate the general feasibility of this technique to qualitatively and quantitatively detect soil moisture. Our soil moisture measurements are validated by independent time domain reflectometry (TDR) data.

A safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 is urgently needed in quantities sufficient to immunise large populations. We report the preclinical development of two BNT162b vaccine candidates, which contain lipid-nanoparticle (LNP) formulated nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein-derived immunogens. BNT162b1 encodes a soluble, secreted, trimerised receptor-binding domain (RBD-foldon). BNT162b2 encodes the full-length transmembrane spike glycoprotein, locked in its prefusion conformation (P2 S). The flexibly tethered RBDs of the RBD-foldon bind ACE2 with high avidity. Approximately 20% of the P 2S trimers are in the two-RBD ‘down,’ one-RBD ‘up’ state. In mice, one intramuscular dose of either candidate elicits a dose-dependent antibody response with high virus-entry inhibition titres and strong TH1 CD4+ and IFNγ+ CD8+ T-cell responses. Prime/boost vaccination of rhesus macaques with BNT162b candidates elicits SARS-CoV-2 neutralising geometric mean titres 8.2 to 18.2 times that of a SARS-CoV-2 convalescent human serum panel. The vaccine candidates protect macaques from SARS-CoV-2 challenge, with BNT162b2 protecting the lower respiratory tract from the presence of viral RNA and with no evidence of disease enhancement. Both candidates are being evaluated in phase 1 trials in Germany and the United States. BNT162b2 is being evaluated in an ongoing global, pivotal Phase 2/3 trial (NCT04380701, NCT04368728).

Parasitism is one of the most diverse and abundant modes of life, and of great ecological and evolutionary importance. Notwithstanding, large groups of parasites remain relatively understudied. One particularly unique form of parasitism is hyperparasitism, where a parasite is parasitized itself. Bats (Chiroptera) may be parasitized by bat flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea), obligate blood-sucking parasites, which in turn may be parasitized by hyperparasitic fungi, Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniomycetes). In this study, we present the global tritrophic associations among species within these groups and analyze their host specificity patterns. Bats, bat flies, and Laboulbeniales fungi are shown to form complex networks, and sixteen new associations are revealed. Bat flies are highly host-specific compared to Laboulbeniales. We discuss possible future avenues of study with regard to the dispersal of the fungi, abiotic factors influencing the parasite prevalence, and ecomorphology of the bat fly parasites., publishedVersion

Harmonia axyridis is an invasive alien ladybird in North America and Europe. Studies show that multiple natural enemies are using Ha. axyridis as a new host. However, thus far, no research has been undertaken to study the effects of simultaneous infections of multiple natural enemies on Ha. axyridis. We hypothesized that high thallus densities of the ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens on a ladybird weaken the host’s defenses, thereby making it more susceptible to infection by other natural enemies. We examined mortality of the North American-native Olla v-nigrum and Ha. axyridis co-infected with He. virescens and an entomopathogenic fungus—either Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae. Laboratory assays revealed that He. virescens-infected O. v-nigrum individuals are more susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi, but Ha. axyridis does not suffer the same effects. This is in line with the enemy release hypothesis, which predicts that invasive alien species in new geographic areas experience reduced regulatory effects from natural enemies compared to native species. Considering our results, we can ask how He. virescens affects survival when confronted by other pathogens that previously had little impact on Ha. axyridis.

Surface nuclear magnetic resonance (SNMR) is a well-established technique for the hydrogeological characterization of the subsurface up to depths of about 150m. Recently, SNMR has been adapted to investigate also the shallow unsaturated zone with small surface loop setups. Due to the decreased volume, a pre-polarization (PP) field prior to the classical spin excitation is applied to enhance the measured response signal. Depending on the strength and orientation of the applied PP-field, the enhancement can often reach several orders of magnitude in the vicinity of the PP-loop. The theoretically achievable enhancement depends on the assumption of an adiabatic, i.e. perfect, switch-off of the corresponding PP-field. To study the effect of imperfect switch-off, we incorporate full spin dynamics simulations into the SNMR forward modeling. The affected subsurface volume strongly depends on the chosen PP switch-off ramp and the geometry of the loop setup. Due to the imperfect switch-off, the resulting SNMR sounding curves can have significantly decreased signal amplitudes. For comparison, the signal amplitudes of either a 1ms exponential or linear switch-off ramp are reduced by 17% and 65%, respectively. Disregarding this effect would therefore yield an underestimation of the corresponding subsurface water content of similar magnitude., preprint submitted to Geophysical Journal International

Summary We investigate the effect of the length scale of wetting heterogeneities, close to the length scale of a pore, on capillary pressure saturation (CPS) curves and the United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) and Amott-Harvey (AH) wettability indices. These macroscopic wettability indices are used to describe bulk rock wettability, because the local contact angle (the standard physical measure of wettability) in a sample is difficult to access and might vary within and between pores caused by changes in mineralogy and the surface coverage of organic materials. Our study combines laboratory experiments and full-scale fluid-dynamics simulations using the multiphase stochastic-rotation dynamics (SRDmc) model. Four model systems were created using monodisperse glass beads. The surface properties of the beads were modified so that one-half of the surface area in each system was strongly hydrophilic and the other half was hydrophobic. However, each system had a different length scale of wetting heterogeneity, ranging from a fraction of a bead diameter to two bead diameters. There is excellent agreement between the experimental and simulation results. All systems are classified as intermediate-wet on the basis of their AH and USBM indices. An examination of the capillary pressure curves shows that the opening of the stable hysteresis loop decreases monotonically as the length scale of the wetting heterogeneities is increased. Thus, our results suggest that macroscopic wettability indices could be used as indicators of ultimate recovery, but they are not suited to discriminate between the different flows that occur earlier in a mixed-wettability displacement process.

The tent-making bat hepatitis B virus (TBHBV) is a hepadnavirus closely related to human hepatitis B virus. The ecology of TBHBV is unclear. We show that it is widespread and highly diversified in Peters’ tent-making bats (Uroderma bilobatum) within Panama, while local prevalence varied significantly between sample sites, ranging from 0 to 14.3%. Females showed significantly higher prevalence than males, and pregnant females were more often acutely infected than non-reproductive ones. The distribution of TBHBV in bats was significantly affected by forest cover, with higher infection rates in areas with lower forest cover. Our data indicate that loss of natural habitat may lead to positive feedback on the biotic factors driving infection possibility. These results underline the necessity of multidisciplinary studies for a better understanding of mechanisms in pathogen–host relationships and for predictions in disease ecology. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10393-018-1387-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Bats are parasitized by numerous lineages of arthropods, of which bat flies (Diptera, Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are the most conspicuous. Bat flies themselves can be parasitized by Laboulbeniales, fungal biotrophs of arthropods. This is known as hyperparasitism, a severely understudied phenomenon. Three genera of Laboulbeniales occur on bat flies: Arthrorhynchus on Nycteribiidae, Gloeandromyces and Nycteromyces on Streblidae. In this review we introduce the parasitic partners in this tripartite system and discuss their diversity, ecology, and specificity patterns, alongside some important life history traits. Furthermore, we cover recent advances in the study of the associations between bat flies and Laboulbeniales, which were neglected for decades. Among the most immediate needs for further studies are detailed tripartite field surveys. The vermin only teaze and pinch Their foes superior by an inch So, naturalists observe, a flea Has smaller fleas that on him prey; And these have smaller still to bite 'em, And so proceed ad infinitum. Jonathan Swift (On Poetry: A Rhapsody, 1733).

Bats and their ectoparasites are excellent model organisms to assess the conservation status of protected areas because both groups are speciose, and bats can be particularly affected by land use changes. The majority of bat studies conducted in Panama are clustered in protected areas around the Isthmus of Panama, while protected areas outside the Isthmus have not been studied in depth or remain largely unexplored. Coiba National Park is located on the Pacific coast of the country and is the fourth largest national park in Panama. Despite its distinct isolation from the mainland and the periodic dry spells it has undergone during the last 25,000 years, Coiba National Park has highly preserved forests. We provide the first study that assesses the structure of the bat assemblage of Coiba National Park, describe echolocation calls of some of its aerial insectivorous species, and contribute the first species list of ectoparasitic bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae). Using mist nets and acoustic monitoring techniques, we identified 30 bat species from 904 captures and 751 recordings. Artibeus jamaicensis and Carollia perspicillata were the most abundant species captured, while Myotis nigricans, Saccopteryx leptura and Molossus bondae were the most frequently recorded aerial insectivores. Associated with the bats we also identified 22 species of streblid flies, all representing new records for Coiba National Park. The host specificity was 98.2%, a high value compared to studies in other areas of Latin America. In total, we found eight new bat species for Coiba National Park, increasing the species list to 39, making it, with a rather limited study effort, the National Park with the fourth highest bat species richness recorded in Panama. We reckon that such levels of richness are correlated with the highly preserved forests of Coiba National Park.

Upscaling permeability of grid blocks is crucial for groundwater models. A novel upscaling method for three-dimensional fractured porous rocks is presented. The objective of the study was to compare this method with the commonly used Oda upscaling method and the volume averaging method. First, the multiple boundary method and its computational framework were defined for three-dimensional stochastic fracture networks. Then, the different upscaling methods were compared for a set of rotated fractures, for tortuous fractures, and for two discrete fracture networks. The results computed by the multiple boundary method are comparable with those of the other two methods and fit best the analytical solution for a set of rotated fractures. The errors in flow rate of the equivalent fracture model decrease when using the multiple boundary method. Furthermore, the errors of the equivalent fracture models increase from well-connected fracture networks to poorly connected ones. Finally, the diagonal components of the equivalent permeability tensors tend to follow a normal or log-normal distribution for the well-connected fracture network model with infinite fracture size. By contrast, they exhibit a power-law distribution for the poorly connected fracture network with multiple scale fractures. The study demonstrates the accuracy and the flexibility of the multiple boundary upscaling concept. This makes it attractive for being incorporated into any existing flow-based upscaling procedures, which helps in reducing the uncertainty of groundwater models.

Zusammenfassung Ziel Beschreibung der hausärztlichen Standardtherapie (Therapy As Usual, TAU) bei Panikstörung mit/ohne Agoraphobie (PDA). Methoden Schriftliche Befragung von 38 Hausärzten, die in einer Interventionsstudie 189 Patienten mit PDA behandelten. Ergebnisse TAU beinhaltete eine Mischung aus psychosozialen (Besprechung psychosozialer Probleme, 83 %) und pharmakologischen (SSRI, 62 %) Interventionen. Schlussfolgerung TAU erscheint weitgehend leitliniengerecht. Die Generalisierbarkeit der Ergebnisse ist studienbedingt eventuell eingeschränkt.

Carbonate reservoirs form important exploration targets for the oil and gas industry in many parts of the world. This study aims to differentiate and quantify pore types and their relation to petrophysical properties in the Permo-Triassic Khuff Formation, a major carbonate reservoir in Oman. For that purpose, we have employed a number of laboratory techniques to test their applicability for the characterization of respective rock types. Consequently, a workflow has been established utilizing a combined analysis of petrographic and petrophysical methods which provide the best results for pore-system characterization. Micro-computed tomography (&micro, CT) analysis allows a representative 3D assessment of total porosity, pore connectivity, and effective porosity of the ooid-shoal facies but it cannot resolve the full pore-size spectrum of the highly microporous mud-/wackestone facies. In order to resolve the smallest pores, combined mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and BIB (broad ion beam)-SEM analyses allow covering a large pore size range from millimeter to nanometer scale. Combining these techniques, three different rock types with clearly discernible pore networks can be defined. Moldic porosity in combination with intercrystalline porosity results in the highest effective porosities and permeabilities in shoal facies. In back-shoal facies, dolomitization leads to low total porosity but well-connected and heterogeneously distributed vuggy and intercrystalline pores which improves permeability. Micro- and nanopores are present in all analyzed samples but their contribution to effective porosity depends on the textural context. Our results confirm that each individual rock type requires the application of appropriate laboratory techniques. Additionally, we observe a strong correlation between the inverse formation resistivity factor and permeability suggesting that pore connectivity is the dominating factor for permeability but not pore size. In the future, this relationship should be further investigated as it could potentially be used to predict permeability from wireline resistivity measured in the flushed zone close to the borehole wall.

Multiphase flows in porous media are important in many natural and industrial processes. Pore-scale models for multiphase flows have seen rapid development in recent years and are becoming increasingly useful as predictive tools in both academic and industrial applications. However, quantitative comparisons between different pore-scale models, and between these models and experimental data, are lacking. Here, we perform an objective comparison of a variety of state-of-the-art pore-scale models, including lattice Boltzmann, stochastic rotation dynamics, volume-of-fluid, level-set, phase-field, and pore-network models. As the basis for this comparison, we use a dataset from recent microfluidic experiments with precisely controlled pore geometry and wettability conditions, which offers an unprecedented benchmarking opportunity. We compare the results of the 14 participating teams both qualitatively and quantitatively using several standard metrics, such as fractal dimension, finger width, and displacement efficiency. We find that no single method excels across all conditions and that thin films and corner flow present substantial modeling and computational challenges.

Summary Since several years, surface nuclear magnetic resonance (SNMR) is a well-established method for the hydrogeological characterization of the subsurface up to depths of 150m. When used with small surface loops of only a few square meters, SNMR suffers from low signal-to-noise ratios. This limits the methods applicability in urban areas or areas with low water content (vadose zone). Recently, the SNMR method has been extended by the application of prepolarization (PP) pulses prior to the classical spin excitation, to amplify the measured response signal. Depending on the applied PP-current, the amplification can reach up to two orders of magnitude very close to the PP-loop. This theoretically achievable amplification crucially depends on the assumption of perfect adiabatic switch-off of the corresponding PP-pulse. To study the effect of non-adiabatic switch-off, which is most likely always the case in practical applications, we implement the full spin dynamics simulation of the PP switch-off into the SNMR forward modelling. We show, that depending on the shape and duration of the PP-switch-off ramp, the resulting sounding curves can have decreased signal amplitudes of up to 45%. Neglecting this effect would yield an underestimation of the corresponding subsurface water content of similar magnitude.

Summary Measurements of surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) combined with a prepolarisation previous to the conventional spin excitation are expected to enable non-invasive soil moisture investigations even in urban areas with high environmental noise. To test this expectation, we conducted prepolarised surface NMR using a very small coil (figure-of-eight coil with a diameter of 0.5 m) on a water-filled basin in the city area of Berlin. Using an additional prepolarisation coil with a diameter of 2 m, the NMR signal amplitudes could be amplified by factors up to ten. These NMR signals from depths up to 1 m could be measured and quantified despite the high urban noise level in contrast to those without prepolarisation. Significant Earth’s magnetic field heterogeneities due to the reinforcement of a near-by building yielded a shortened relaxation time for the bulk water (about 40 ms) and correspondingly a broad distribution of Larmor frequencies. We conclude that for the general applicability of surface NMR in urban areas, field heterogeneity and corresponding off-resonance effects must be considered in the forward operator. Our future research will combine prepolarisation with adiabatic spin excitation and will include the exact spin dynamics in the forward calculation.

Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) are still considered as gold standard for investigation of in vitro metabolism and hepatotoxicity in pharmaceutical research. It has been shown that the three-dimensional (3D) cultivation of PHH in a sandwich configuration between two layers of extracellular matrix (ECM) enables the hepatocytes to adhere three dimensionally leading to formation of in vivo like cell-cell contacts and cell-matrix interactions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of different ECM compositions on morphology, cellular arrangement and bile canaliculi formation as well as bile excretion processes in PHH sandwich cultures systematically. Freshly isolated PHH were cultured for 6 days between two ECM layers made of collagen and/or Matrigel in four different combinations. The cultures were investigated by phase contrast microscopy and immunofluorescence analysis with respect to cell-cell connections, repolarization as well as bile canaliculi formation. The influence of the ECM composition on cell activity and viability was measured using the XTT assay and a fluorescent dead or alive assay. Finally, the bile canalicular transport was analyzed by live cell imaging to monitor the secretion and accumulation of the fluorescent substance CDF in bile canaliculi. Using collagen and Matrigel in different compositions in sandwich cultures of hepatocytes, we observed differences in morphology, cellular arrangement and cell activity of PHH in dependence of the ECM composition. Sandwich-cultured hepatocytes with an underlay of collagen seem to represent the best in vivo tissue architecture in terms of formation of trabecular cell arrangement. Cultures overlaid with collagen were characterized by the formation of abundant bile canaliculi, while the bile canaliculi network in hepatocytes cultured on a layer of Matrigel and overlaid with collagen showed the most branched and stable canalicular network. All cultures showed a time-dependent leakage of CDF from the bile canaliculi into the culture supernatant with variations in dependence on the used matrix combination. In conclusion, the results of this study show that the choice of ECM has an impact on the morphology, cell assembly and bile canaliculi formation in PHH sandwich cultures. The morphology and the multicellular arrangement were essentially influenced by the underlaying matrix, while bile excretion and leakage of sandwich-cultured hepatocytes were mainly influenced by the overlay matrix. Leaking and damaged bile canaliculi could be a limitation of the investigated sandwich culture models in long-term excretion studies.

Deforestation and the conversion of forests to agricultural areas lead to habitat loss and often create highly fragmented landscapes. Permeability and quality of the surrounding matrix determine the connectivity of remaining forest remnants. For mobile species, such as bats, the matrix is not necessarily an entirely insurmountable obstacle. We studied the effects of fragmentation on New-World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae), a highly diverse keystone taxon in the Neotropics. Bats were assessed in two highly fragmented systems varying in matrix quality: Forested islands surrounded by the water (I) and forest fragments embedded in a matrix of small-scale agriculture (A) together with a continuous forest as control (C). In total, we recorded over 2 years 5176 captures. Observed species richness was highest in continuous forest. Fragmentation reduced in both fragmented landscapes the bat diversity and led to characteristic changes in the bat assemblage, with gleaning animalivorous phyllostomids being most affected. The responses of bats to fragmentation were found to be not only guild - but also species-specific within the guild, a fact easily overlooked or misinterpreted when focussing solely on diversity indices or the response of bat guilds alone. Forest remnants can support a relatively speciose bat fauna, due to the heterogeneity of the inter-fragment matrix. On forested islands, however, isolation processes lead to a decline in bat diversity, resulting in strongly impoverished bat assemblages favouring highly mobile species and habitat generalists. Conservation of the full local bat community of phyllostomids, including the vulnerable gleaning animalivorous phyllostomids, however, requires the protection of old-growth forests.

We present a newly developed high-pressure nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) flow cell, which allows for the simultaneous determination of water saturation, effective gas permeability and NMR relaxation time distribution in two-phase fluid flow experiments. We introduce both the experimental setup and the experimental procedure on a tight Rotliegend sandstone sample. The initially fully water saturated sample is systematically drained by a stepwise increase of gas (Nitrogen) inlet pressure and the drainage process is continuously monitored by low field NMR relaxation measurements. After correction of the data for temperature fluctuations, the monitored changes in water saturation proved very accurate. The experimental procedure provides quantitative information about the total water saturation as well as about its distribution within the pore space at defined differential pressure conditions. Furthermore, the relationship between water saturation and relative (or effective) apparent permeability is directly determined.

Bioprinting is a new technology, which arranges cells with high spatial resolution, but its potential to create models for viral infection studies has not yet been fully realized. The present study describes the optimization of a bioink composition for extrusion printing. The bioinks were biophysically characterized by rheological and electron micrographic measurements. Hydrogels consisting of alginate, gelatin and Matrigel were used to provide a scaffold for a 3D arrangement of human alveolar A549 cells. A blend containing 20% Matrigel provided the optimal conditions for spatial distribution and viability of the printed cells. Infection of the 3D model with a seasonal influenza A strain resulted in widespread distribution of the virus and a clustered infection pattern that is also observed in the natural lung but not in two-dimensional (2D) cell culture, which demonstrates the advantage of 3D printed constructs over conventional culture conditions. The bioink supported viral replication and proinflammatory interferon release of the infected cells. We consider our strategy to be paradigmatic for the generation of humanized 3D tissue models by bioprinting to study infections and develop new antiviral strategies.

Harmonia axyridis is an invasive ladybird (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) with the potential to outcompete native ladybird species in its invasive distribution area. It was introduced as a biological control agent in many countries but has also spread unintentionally in many others. Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a minute (200&ndash, 400 &micro, m in size) biotrophic fungus that infects over 30 species of ladybirds. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the elytral colour pattern, size, and sex of Ha. axyridis affect infection by H. virescens. Coloration in Ha. axyridis has been linked to the presence of an antimicrobial alkaloid (harmonine). In fall 2016, we collected 763 Ha. axyridis individuals in Cambridge, Massaschusetts, of which 119 (16%) bore H. virescens fruiting bodies. We analyzed 160 individuals (80 infected, 80 uninfected) concerning the intensity of infection by H. virescens. Elytral sizes and colouration patterns were quantified using digital photography and analytical methods. Smaller ladybirds had a higher prevalence and higher intensity of parasitism. Additionally, male ladybirds bore more thalli compared to female ladybirds. Elytral colour patterns had an effect on neither prevalence nor intensity of infection by Laboulbeniales in our dataset, although we found a slight trend to higher intensity of parasitism in more melanic males. This suggests that the development of Laboulbeniales might be affected by certain insect alkaloids.

Harmonia axyridis is an invasive ladybird (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) with the potential to outcompete native ladybird species in its invasive distribution area. It was introduced as a biological control agent in many countries but has also spread unintentionally in many others. Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a minute (200–400 µm in size) biotrophic fungus that infects over 30 species of ladybirds. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether elytral colour pattern, size, and sex of Ha. axyridis affect infection by H. virescens. Colouration in Ha. axyridis has been linked to the presence of an antimicrobial alkaloid (harmonine). In fall 2016, we collected 763 Ha. axyridis individuals in Cambridge, Massaschusetts, of which 119 (16%) bore H. virescens fruiting bodies. We analysed 160 individuals concerning prevalence and intensity of infection by H. virescens. Elytral sizes and colouration patterns were quantified using digital photography and analytical methods. Smaller ladybirds had a higher prevalence and higher intensity of parasitism. Additionally, male ladybirds bore more thalli compared to female ladybirds. Elytral colour patterns had an effect on neither prevalence nor intensity of infection by Laboulbeniales in our dataset. This suggests that development of Laboulbeniales may be unaffected by certain insect alkaloids.

Bat flies (Streblidae) are diverse, obligate blood-feeding insects and probably the most conspicuous ectoparasites of bats. They show preferences for specific body regions on their host bat, which are reflected in behavioural characteristics. In this study, we corroborate the categorization of bat flies into three ecomorphological groups, focusing only on differences in hind leg morphology. As no detailed phylogeny of bat flies is available, it remains uncertain whether these morphological differences reflect the evolutionary history of bat flies or show convergent adaptations for the host habitat type. We show that the division of the host bat into three distinct habitats contributes to the avoidance of interspecific competition of bat fly species. Finally, we found evidence for density-dependent competition between species belonging to the same ecomorphological group.

The Darién province in eastern Panama is one of the most unexplored and biodiverse regions in the world. The Chucantí Nature Reserve, in Serranía de Majé, consists of a diverse tropical cloud forest ecosystem. The aim of this research was to explore and study host associations of a tripartite system of bats, ectoparasitic flies on bats (Diptera, Streblidae), and ectoparasitic fungi (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) that use bat flies as hosts. We captured bats at Chucantí, screened each bat for presence of bat flies, and screened collected bat flies for presence of Laboulbeniales. We mistnetted for 68 mistnet hours and captured 227 bats representing 17 species. We capturedMicronycteris schmidtorum, a species previously unreported in Darién. In addition, we encountered the rarely collectedPlatyrrhinus dorsalis, representing the westernmost report for this species. Of all captured bats, 148 carried bat flies (65%). The number of sampled bat flies was 437, representing 16 species. One species represents a new country record (Trichobius anducei) and five species represent first reports for Darién (Basilia anceps,Anatrichobius scorzai,Nycterophilia parnelli,T. johnsonae,T. parasiticus). All 74 bat fly species currently reported in Panama are presented in tabulated form. Of all screened bat flies, 30 bore Laboulbeniales fungi (7%). Based on both morphology and large ribosomal subunit (LSU) sequence data, we delimited 7 species of Laboulbeniales:Gloeandromyces nycteribiidarum(newly reported for Panama),G. pageanus,G. streblae,Nycteromyces streblidinus, and 3 undescribed species. Of the 30 infected flies, 21 wereTrichobius joblingi. This species was the only host on which we observed double infections of Laboulbeniales.

Hypopigmentation disorders were reported in several bat species roosting in dark and sheltered roosts, but comparable records from open foliage roosts are rare. Here, we present three observations of non-albinistic hypopigmentation in two neotropical bat species. One extensively hypopigmented individual of

Background Bat flies (Streblidae and Nycteribiidae) are among the most specialized families of the order Diptera. Members of these two related families have an obligate ectoparasitic lifestyle on bats, and they are known disease vectors for their hosts. However, bat flies have their own ectoparasites: fungi of the order Laboulbeniales. In Europe, members of the Nycteribiidae are parasitized by four species belonging to the genus Arthrorhynchus. We carried out a systematic survey of the distribution and fungus-bat fly associations of the genus in central Europe (Hungary, Romania). Results We encountered the bat fly Nycteribia pedicularia and the fungus Arthrorhynchus eucampsipodae as new country records for Hungary. The following bat-bat fly associations are for the first time reported: Nycteribia kolenatii on Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis blythii, Myotis capaccinii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; Penicillidia conspicua on Myotis daubentonii; and Phthiridium biarticulatum on Myotis capaccinii. Laboulbeniales infections were found on 45 of 1,494 screened bat flies (3.0%). We report two fungal species: Arthrorhynchus eucampsipodae on Nycteribia schmidlii, and A. nycteribiae on N. schmidlii, Penicillidia conspicua, and P. dufourii. Penicillidia conspicua was infected with Laboulbeniales most frequently (25%, n = 152), followed by N. schmidlii (3.1%, n = 159) and P. dufourii (2.0%, n = 102). Laboulbeniales seem to prefer female bat fly hosts to males. We think this might be due to a combination of factors: female bat flies have a longer life span, while during pregnancy female bat flies are significantly larger than males and accumulate an excess of fat reserves. Finally, ribosomal DNA sequences for A. nycteribiae are presented. Conclusions We screened ectoparasitic bat flies from Hungary and Romania for the presence of ectoparasitic Laboulbeniales fungi. Arthrorhynchus eucampsipodae and A. nycteribiae were found on three species of bat flies. This study extends geographical and host ranges of both bat flies and Laboulbeniales fungi. The sequence data generated in this work contribute to molecular phylogenetic studies of the order Laboulbeniales. Our survey shows a complex network of bats, bat flies and Laboulbeniales fungi, of which the hyperparasitic fungi are rare and species-poor. Their host insects, on the other hand, are relatively abundant and diverse. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2022-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This protocol describes the generation of a three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo liver model and its application to the study and development of viral vector systems. The model is obtained by repopulating the extracellular matrix of a decellularized rat liver with a human hepatocyte cell line. The model permits studies in a vascularized 3D cell system, replacing potentially harmful experiments with living animals. Another advantage is the humanized nature of the model, which is closer to human physiology than animal models. In this study, we demonstrate the transduction of this liver model with a viral vector derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAV vector). The perfusion circuit that supplies the 3D liver model with media provides an easy means to apply the vector. The system permits monitoring of the major metabolic parameters of the liver. For final analysis, tissue samples can be taken to determine the extent of recellularization by histological techniques. Distribution of the virus vector and expression of the delivered transgene can be analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Numerous applications of the vector model in basic research and in the development of gene therapeutic applications can be envisioned, including the development of novel antiviral therapeutics, cancer research, and the study of viral vectors and their potential side effects.