Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

Electrochemistry (EC) is an important and fascinating field in chemistry studying chemical reactions driven by electric current or, conversely, the generation of electric current from chemical reactions. Its hyphenation to mass spectrometry (MS), an ideal tool for the identification of reaction products in various systems, constitutes a valuable hybrid method for real time prediction and monitoring of electrochemical transformations. For the first time, we show how electrospray ionization - high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS) supports a systematic study on oxidation of benzenes of different hydroxylation grades, i.e. phenol and hydroxyphenols, in an electrochemical flow-through μ-prep cell. Besides giving valuable insights into the specifics of such systems in comparison to closed/static electrochemical cells, potentially non-favorable observations in coupling of EC and ESI are discussed. A correlation coefficient of ∼1 between the root square of the scan rate and the current suggested the kinetics to be controlled by diffusion. Pulse optimization further showed that the extent of oxidation product formation depends on the electrical potential, while MS analysis of oxidation of positional isomers of dihydroxybenzenes enabled a systematic assessment of oxidation susceptibility and associated reaction mechanisms. While the general product profile of a compound was rather robust, their intensity including the detected degree of polymerization depended on the type of supporting electrolyte, working electrode, and pH, with oligomers up to a degree of polymerization of ten (DP 10). Finally, we observed that the product profile of the electrochemical conversion resembled compound degradation in the environment, providing evidence that EC-MS hyphenation is a valuable tool for the elucidation and prediction of such processes.

Soil biodiversity and functioning are the foundation of ecosystem sustainability, but we do not know whether current nature conservation areas are efficiently protecting soils. Here, we investigated the contribution of terrestrial nature conservation areas to protect soil biodiversity and functioning across scales. We found no general positive effect on diversity of bacteria, fungi, protists, invertebrates, and nematodes, captured as richness, Shannon diversity and dissimilarity, and 5 soil functions (pathogen control, nutrient provision, soil carbon, soil organic matter decomposition, and soil aggregate stability). Our findings suggest that nature conservation areas show an inconsistent role in protecting soil biodiversity and functioning, as we found mostly non-significant and otherwise mixed effects across scales. Despite few positive and negative effects of protection status, our work highlights the urgent need to directly target soils in nature conservation.

Understanding how disasters impact communities and how humanitarian organisations respond is essential for improving disaster preparedness, response, and policy. However, humanitarian organizations, government agencies and scientific institutions often report on disaster impacts and response in unstructured narrative reports, limiting its accessibility for systematic analysis. In this study, we developed a data-driven pipeline to extract and classify impact and response information from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) disaster appeals and operational reports. We processed the text into clean sentences and manually annotated a stratified set of reports, covering different climate hazard types. Sentences were labelled as reporting impacts, reporting response measures, or neither, and those describing impacts or responses were further categorised into a taxonomy of 24 impact subclasses and 26 response subclasses. Annotations were used to train four text classification models for detecting and classifying impact- and response-related sentences. Our approach demonstrates the feasibility of automatically extracting structured disaster impact and response data from humanitarian narrative reports, enabling large-scale analytics and supporting evidence-based disaster management.

The Elster-Pleiße floodplain south of Leipzig has undergone significant hydromorphological changes over the past few centuries, influenced by both natural processes and anthropogenic interventions (e.g. characterized by the repurposing of former river courses into mill races and other engineered water-management channels). This study employs selected mapping of fluvial-geomorphological features based on a LiDAR DTM (Light Detection and Ranging Digital Terrain Model; 1 x 1 m resolution) and old maps analyses to reconstruct past river dynamics and identify shifts in channel morphology. Geomorphological features, such as oxbows, ridge-and-swale point bar structures, crevasse splays and levees reveal an earlier, more dynamic floodplain characterized by meandering and anabranching channels, which transitioned into a system of stabilized, largely immobile watercourses. Comparative analyses of old maps spanning from the 16th to the 20th century indicate a gradual reduction in river sinuosity and lateral migration, coinciding with increasing human modifications such as mill races, timber rafting canals, and flood protection measures. Key transformations include the straightening of channels, floodplain aggradation, and the impact of open-cast lignite mining in recent centuries. The study highlights the complex interplay of sedimentary processes and anthropogenic activities in shaping the floodplain's evolution. This combined approach allows for a detailed examination of the relative chronology of changes and helps identify topographic legacies left by dynamic floodplain systems, enhancing our understanding of the evolution of these landscapes. Understanding these long-term dynamics provides crucial insights for contemporary river restoration and flood management strategies.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell therapy has transformed the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), yet outcomes remain heterogenous. The prognostic role of body composition in this context is unknown. We retrospectively analyzed 108 RRMM patients treated with anti‐B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR T‐cell therapy. Pre‐treatment Computed tomography imaging was utilized to quantify total adipose tissue (TAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and skeletal muscle area to assess sarcopenia. Longitudinal flow cytometric and single‐cell multi‐omic analyses were conducted to characterize the quantitative and qualitative influences of body composition on the immune microenvironment. Patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 experienced significantly worse overall survival (OS) compared to high‐BMI patients. Reduced TAT, primarily driven by low SAT, was associated with inferior OS, diminished response, and elevated soluble BCMA. Sarcopenia independently predicted poorer OS, while progression‐free survival was unaffected by the respective parameters. Low SAT and sarcopenia correlated with lower bystander T‐cell counts at leukapheresis. Longitudinal T‐cell receptor sequencing and single‐cell transcriptomics revealed diminished cytotoxic and interferon signaling, reduced T‐cell clonality, and increased oxidative phosphorylation activity following CAR T‐cell infusion. Our findings identify low SAT and sarcopenia as prognostic biomarkers that influence survival, therapeutic response, and immunometabolic profiles. Their quantification through standard imaging techniques offers a cost‐effective strategy for early risk stratification and individualized management in CAR T‐cell therapy.

• Two new species of Hermannia are described from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. • Hermannia lilacina is endemic to the Sneeuberg and Great Winterberg–Amatholes. • Hermannia boschbergensis is endemic to the Boschberg (Sneeuberg). • Eastern Cape endemic Hermannia are doubled from two to four taxa. Hermannia L. is primarily an African genus of some 250 species, with the centre of diversity located in southern Africa. It is the sixth-most endemic-rich genus in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, although endemics occur in all biomes in southern Africa. Two new species of Hermannia L. (Malvaceae: Byttnerioideae) are described from the Cape Midlands Escarpment mountains, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Hermannia lilacina Gwynn. & V.R.Clark is common in Karoo Escarpment Grassland (Grassland Biome), mostly above 1600 m in the eastern Sneeuberg Massif (Nardousberg to Aasvoëlkrans, i.e. behind Graaff-Reinet to Pearston), with one record from the interior of the western Great Winterberg–Amatholes (i.e. near Tarkastad). Hermannia boschbergensis Gwynn. & V.R.Clark is apparently confined to mid-elevations in Eastern Cape Escarpment Thicket (Albany Thicket Biome) at 1200 m on the Boschberg (eastern Sneeuberg, near KwaNajoli/Somerset East) and is currently only known from two collections. Recognition of these two new species complements numerous other recent discoveries from these mountains.

ObjectiveLiver diseases represent a major global health burden. Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15), a stress-induced cytokine, has been suggested to protect against fibrosis progression through neuro-metabolic-immunologic pathways and to regulate energy and lipid homeostasis, potentially influencing hepatic steatosis. This study evaluated the role of GDF-15 in steatosis and fibrosis, considering prior liver injury, alcohol intake, insulin resistance, and obesity.Design and methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 626 participants from a large population-based cohort were analyzed. Associations of baseline GDF-15, alcohol intake, FIB-4 score, and metabolic risk factors with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis over 6 years were examined using linear regression models.ResultsIn participants with elevated baseline FIB-4, the interaction of GDF-15 and FIB-4 was positively associated with follow-up liver stiffness (β = 0.47, p = 0.045). Interactions between GDF-15 and higher alcohol intake (3rd/4th quantiles) were negatively associated with stiffness (β = −1.68, p = 0.002; β = −1.43, p = 0.038). GDF-15 was positively associated with follow-up steatosis (β = 37.14, p = 0.006). Higher HOMA-IR (3rd/4th quantile) was linked to increased steatosis (β = 31.15, p = 0.032; β = 38.15, p = 0.023), whereas interactions of HOMA-IR × GDF-15 were inversely associated (β = −38.98, p = 0.008; β = −38.54, p = 0.019), suggesting a protective modulation.ConclusionsGDF-15 appears to modulate hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in individuals with metabolic or lifestyle risk factors, supporting its potential as a therapeutic target and warranting further investigation of the neuro-metabolic-immunologic axis.

BackgroundThere are known sex disparities in temperature perception with lower thermal detection thresholds found in people assigned female at birth compared to people assigned male at birth. However, underlying mechanisms of these differences and the influences of sex hormones are not yet sufficiently understood.MethodsTo assess the effects of sex hormones on temperature perception, we measured in a prospective observational cohort study temperature detection and pain thresholds with quantitative sensory testing and subjective temperature sensation in transgender patients undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). We included 12 trans women (male-to-female transgender) and 17 trans men (female-to-male transgender) before and 3 and 6 months after start of GAHT. As a control group, we measured 13 cis women and 10 cis men without hormone treatment at the same timepoints.ResultsHere we show that temperature detection thresholds in persons assigned female at birth at baseline are lower than in persons assigned male at birth. Accordingly, in trans women, temperature detection thresholds decrease with GAHT. Pain detection thresholds do not differ between sexes assigned at birth and do not change with time.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that in trans women undergoing GAHT with estradiol and cyproterone acetate sensitivity to temperature changes increases, consistent with the greater temperature sensitivity observed in cis women compared to cis men. Future studies need to assess at which neurobiological processing stages the relevant changes occur and what molecular mechanisms play a role.Trial registrationNCT04838249.

Eating disorders (EDs) often emerge in adolescence, but developmental trajectories across different core features remain largely unclear. The prospective, community-based study included N = 898 participants aged 9.5-17.5 years (47.6% female, age 11.8 ± 1.4 years) with annual follow-up over 2-6 (3.4 ± 1.2) years. Multivariate trajectories of binge eating, restraint, weight-compensatory behaviors (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire for Children), and body mass index-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) derived from objective anthropometrics were analyzed using group-based multi-trajectory modeling (GBMTM) separately for girls and boys. ED and general psychopathology were used for validation and outcome comparisons. GBMTM identified five distinct trajectories of ED symptoms and BMI-SDS in girls and six in boys. Low-symptom trajectories at lower, normal, and higher BMI-SDS were most common and showed only mild, transient ED symptoms. In boys, trajectories were largely characterized by stable ED symptoms at different BMI-SDS levels, whereas in girls, ED symptoms showed more pronounced change over time. In both sexes, two high-risk subgroups reflected bulimic and binge-eating patterns and followed trajectories with elevated or increasing ED symptoms across ages, which in girls were particularly associated with increased ED and general psychopathology at last assessment. GBMTM results support the developmental specificity of bulimic/binge-eating syndromes and noneating-disordered overweight across adolescence. High-risk subgroups in both sexes-and their particularly unfavorable outcomes in girls-underscore the need for sex-specific early identification strategies that consider longitudinal constellations of multiple ED symptoms and weight status rather than single indicators.

Abstract. The North African desert margin is considered one of the most sensitive areas to future climate changes. Improved knowledge about Holocene climatic variability and environmental responses on millennial to centennial scale will help to refine scenarios related to future climate changes. During the last two decades, the recovery and compilation of Holocene records from the subtropical North Atlantic and the Mediterranean realms have improved our knowledge about the millennial-scale variability of the Western Mediterranean palaeoclimate and the Saharan dust cycle. However, the understanding on periodicities as well as potential coupling and forcing mechanisms remains poor. To detect periodicities in Holocene climatic variability and geomorphological processes, we use a Holocene sediment record from Lake Sidi Ali in the semiarid to sub-humid Middle Atlas with a robust 210Pb /137Cs and pollen-concentrates-based 14C chronology. We use a high-resolution core scanning-XRF record, in order to distinguish between lake-internal (e.g., chemical precipitation) and lake-external (e.g., detrital input) processes. Redfit and Wavelet time series analyses reveal distinct periodicities of millennial to centennial scale. By a correlation analysis of extracted, highly significant, frequency analysis spectra, three XRF-based “Redfit Proxy Groups” (RPGs) which potentially reflect different hydro-climatic forcing mechanisms were derived. Subsequently, we integrated environmental and climatic proxies from the same core (Cedrus pollen abundance, magnetic susceptibility, δ18O and δ13C values of ostracod shells, grain-size endmembers and total organic carbon) and used their wavelet domain to improve the interpretation. Finally, we identified two main periodicity regimes that affected, on the one hand, the hydrological regime and, on the other hand, the lake productivity and catchment erosion dynamics. For RPG 1 (Ca, Sr, Ca/Ti, Sr/Ti), we identified 2 ky and 1 ky periodicities, which we interpret as precipitation/evaporation related proxies in the context of North Atlantic and solar forcing. For RPG 2 (Fe, Ti, K, Si/Ti), we observe 3.5 ky and 1.5 ky periodicities, which we interpret as driven by lake productivity or detrital input.