Newest publications
Unleashing the potential of eHealth in outpatient cancer care for patients undergoing immunotherapy—a quantitative study considering patients’ needs and current healthcare challenges
(2024) Holderried, Tobias A. W.; Stasik, Isabel; Schmitz, Marie-Therese; Schmitz, Friederike; Meyer, Tizian K.; Stauß, Leonie; Kirschner, Martin; Skowasch, Dirk; Landsberg, Jennifer; Schmid, Matthias; Brossart, Peter; Holderried, Martin
Background: The use of online information and communication is globally increasing in the healthcare sector. In addition to known benefits in other medical fields, possible specific potentials of eHealth lie in the monitoring of oncological patients undergoing outpatient therapy. Specifically, the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) requires intensive monitoring due to various possible negative side effects. The present study explores cancer patients’ perspectives on eHealth and demonstrates how eHealth applications, from the patients’ point of view, can contribute to further improving outpatient immunotherapy.
Methods and findings: Our multicenter study was executed at the university hospitals in Bonn and Aachen. A structured questionnaire was distributed to patients receiving outpatient immunotherapy. Contents addressed were (1) the patients’ attitude towards eHealth applications, (2) the use of modern information and communications technologies (ICT) in (2a) everyday life and (2b) health-related information search including eHealth literacy, (3) the use of internet-enabled devices as well as (4) socio-demographic data. 164 patients were included in the study, of whom 39.0% were female and 61.0% male and the average age was 62.8 years. Overall, there was a high distribution of internet-enabled devices for everyday use and a great interest in integrating eHealth applications into outpatient immunotherapy. The assessment of eHealth potentials significantly depended on age. The younger participants demonstrated a broader use of modern ICT and a higher affinity for its use in outpatient immunotherapy. In some aspects, level of education and gender were also relevant factors influencing the patients’ view on eHealth.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential for further integration of eHealth applications into outpatient immunotherapy from the patients’ perspective. It indicates a dependency on age and educational level for the further integration of eHealth into patient care in oncology. Due to particular patient needs regarding age, level of education, gender and other subgroups, specific education and training as well as target-group specific digital health interventions are necessary to fully utilize the potentials of eHealth for outpatient immunotherapy. Future studies are required to specifically address target-group specific usability of eHealth applications and eHealth literacy, as well as to address information security and data protection.
Evaluating N2O emissions and carbon sequestration in temperate croplands with cover crops: insights from field trials
(2025) Nasser, Victoria; Dechow, René; Helfrich, Mirjam; Meijide, Ana; Rummel, Pauline Sophie; Koch, Heinz-Josef; Ruser, Reiner; Essich, Lisa; Dittert, Klaus
Cover crops (CCs) are acclaimed for enhancing the environmental sustainability of agricultural practices by aiding in carbon (C) sequestration and reducing losses of soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) after harvest. Yet, their influence on nitrous oxide ( N2O) emissions – a potent greenhouse gas – presents a complex challenge, with findings varying across different studies. This research aimed to elucidate the effects of various winter CCs – winter rye (frost-tolerant grass), saia oat (frost-sensitive grass), and spring vetch (frost-sensitive legume) – compared to a bare fallow control on SMN dynamics, N2Oemissions, and C sequestration. These effects were determined by measuring SMN dynamics and N2Oemissions in field experiments. The effects of CCs on soil C sequestration over a 50-year period were predicted by soil organic C (SOC) models using measured aboveground and belowground CC biomass. While CCs efficiently lowered SMN levels during their growth, they slightly increased N2Oemissions compared to bare fallow. In particular, winter frost events triggered significant emissions from the frost-sensitive varieties. Moreover, residue incorporation and tillage practices were associated with increased N2Oemissions in all CC treatments. Winter rye, characterized by its high biomass production and nitrogen (N) uptake, was associated with the highest cumulative N2Oemissions, highlighting the influence of biomass management and tillage practices on N cycling and N2Oemissions. The CC treatment resulted in a slight increase in direct N2Oemissions ( 4.5±3.0, 2.7±1.4, and 3.1±3.8kgN2O-Nha-1for rye, oat, and vetch, respectively) compared to the fallow ( 2.6±1.7kgN2O-Nha-1) over the entire trial period (18 months). However, the potential of non-legume CCs to reduce indirect N2Oemissions compared to fallow ( 0.3±0.4and 0.2±0.1kgN2O-Nha-1a-1for rye and oat, respectively) and their contribution to C sequestration (120–150 kgCha-1a-1over a period of 50 years when CCs were grown every fourth year) might partially counterbalance these emissions. Thus, while CCs provide environmental benefits, their net impact on N2Oemissions requires further research into optimized CC selection and management strategies tailored to specific site conditions to fully exploit their environmental advantages.
Does small firm dynamics matter for occupation diversity and job quality? Evidence from Brazil
(2024) Bueno, Alan; Cardoso, Ben Hur Francisco; Hartmann, Dominik; Ferraz, Diogo
Recent studies have explored the role of firm dynamics and the connection to job reallocation. However, limited attention has been devoted to the role of micro and small firms in this process, particularly about the quality of the jobs generated. Therefore, this article aims to measure the impact of micro and small firm dynamics on occupation diversification in Brazil, with specific emphasis on job quality. The study used data from 558 microregions within the Brazilian industrial sector between 2003 and 2015. Panel data were applied to three econometric models: Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), Driscoll–Kraay (DK) and Instrumental Variable (IV) models for robustness analysis, including Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS), Limited Information Maximum Likelihood (LIML), and the Generalized Method of Moments with Continuously Updating Estimators (GMM-CUE). Our main finding reveals that the dynamics of micro and small firms positively impact occupation diversity in Brazil, leading to the creation of a wider range of job types. Furthermore, the frequency of change of firms from microenterprises to small businesses increases the occupation diversity in the Brazilian industrial sector. Our findings are significant in providing policy recommendations for developing countries to achieve a more diverse labor market .
Personalized, digitally designed 3D printed food towards the reshaping of food manufacturing and consumption
(2024) Derossi, Antonio; Spence, Charles; Corradini, Maria G.; Jekle, Mario; Fahmy, Ahmed Raouf; Caporizzi, Rossella; Devahastin, Sakamon; Moses, Jeyan Arthur; Le-Bail, Alain; Zhou, Weibiao; Zhang, Min; Bhandari, Bhesh; Severini, Carla
The emerging world of 3D food printing is reviewed. Its role in food manufacturing, including benefits and impacts, underemphasized gastrophysical aspects, and limitations are discussed. Foods can be digitally designed and physically prepared using the layer-by-layer deposition of food components, unleashing opportunities to deliver nutritionally personalized food and new food-human interactions. Existing bottlenecks, under-researched gastropsychophysical aspects, and the lack of harmonized standards hindering its use for mass production are mentioned.
Chorein regulates key osteoblast genes in UMR-106 cells
(2026) Feger, Martina; Tsapara, Anna; Hülße, Sina; Rausch, Steffen; Barholz, Michelle; Stournaras, Christos; Föller, Michael; Feger, Martina; Department of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Tsapara, Anna; Department of Biochemistry, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece; Hülße, Sina; Department of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Rausch, Steffen; Department of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Barholz, Michelle; Department of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Stournaras, Christos; Department of Biochemistry, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Greece; Föller, Michael; Department of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
Chorein is an endoplasmic reticulum protein expressed in many cell types. Loss-of-function mutations of the gene encoding chorein ( VPS13A ) are the cause of chorea-acanthocytosis, a rare and severe neurodegenerative disease with chorea-like movements, loss of mental function, progressive muscle weakness and misshaped erythrocytes (acanthocytes). Chorein regulates diverse cellular functions including the cytoskeleton, apoptosis, Ca 2+ entry, or autophagy. Since its role in bone is enigmatic, we aimed to explore the function of chorein in osteoblasts. To this end, we generated UMR-106 osteoblast-like cells with stable chorein knockdown (KD) using a CRISPR/Cas9-based approach and compared them to cells undergoing CRISPR/Cas9 with a non-targeting sequence (NT). Gene expression was assessed by qPCR and protein by Western blotting and ELISA. Gene and protein expression of chorein and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), an osteoblast-derived hormonal regulator of phosphate metabolism, were decreased in KD compared to NT cells. Moreover, FGF23 regulator Phex was down- and Galnt3 was up-regulated in KD compared to NT cells. The expression of further genes regulating osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation was affected by chorein knockdown. Taken together, chorein is expressed in UMR-106 osteoblasts and modulates the expression of various genes affecting osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation and function.