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Query Smarter, Trust Better? Exploring Search Behaviours for Verifying News Accuracy
No full textWhile it is often assumed that searching for information to evaluate misinformation will help identify false claims, recent work suggests that search behaviours can instead reinforce belief in misleading news, particularly when users generate queries using vocabulary from the source articles. Our research explores how different query generation strategies affect news verification and whether the way people search influences the accuracy of their information evaluation. A mixed-methods approach was used, consisting of three parts: (1) an analysis of existing data to understand how search behaviour influences trust in fake news (2) a simulation of query generation strategies using a Large Language Model (LLM) to assess the impact of different query formulations on search result quality, and (3) a user study to examine how 'Boost' interventions in interface design can guide users to adopt more effective query strategies. The results show that search behaviour significantly affects trust in news, with successful searches involving multiple queries and yielding higher-quality results. Queries inspired by different parts of a news article produced search results of varying quality, and weak initial queries improved when reformulated using full SERP information. Although 'Boost' interventions had limited impact, the study suggests that interface design encouraging users to thoroughly review search results can enhance query formulation. This study highlights the importance of query strategies in evaluating news and proposes that interface design can play a key role in promoting more effective search practices, serving as one component of a broader set of interventions to combat misinformation
The (de)regulation of passenger air transport in post-war Germany and its impact on airlines, routes and airfares, 1945 to 2019
Get PDFAir transport has historically been subject to significant regulation for safety and initially military reasons. As a result of the Second World War, West Germany was subject to two further restrictions: the Allied flight ban until 1955 and the specific regulations governing air transport to West Berlin until 1990. The successful deregulation of civil air transport in the USA from 1978 put Europe under pressure to reform. Beginning in the late 1980s, deregulation began throughout the European Community, resulting in a substantial increase in flight routes to and within Germany. Air travel became more affordable without compromising flight safety. Although Lufthansa ultimately outcompeted the national competitors that emerged, its profitability was severely constrained by intense competition from international low-cost carriers
The Relationship Between Precuneus Thickness and Psychopathology in Adolescent Females With Anorexia Nervosa
Get PDFObjective
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder with structural brain alterations; however, the roles of cortical surface area (CSA) and cortical thickness (CTh) during adolescence remain unclear. Building on frequent reports of gray matter reductions in the cingulate cortex and precuneus, this study assesses CSA, CTh, and cortical volume in these regions, alongside exploratory whole-brain analyses and their associations with psychological dimensions.
Method
We included 26 adolescent females aged 12–19 years with acute AN and 24 age-matched healthy controls. Participants underwent high-resolution structural MRI and completed psychological assessments: Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ), and Body Perception Questionnaire. MRI data were processed using BIDScoin, fMRIPrep, and FreeSurfer. Analyses included permutation-based non-parametric testing and multiple regression to investigate associations between brain metrics and psychological scores.
Results
In primary analyses, individuals with AN exhibited a significant reduction in precuneus CTh only. Precuneus CTh correlated negatively with EDI-II, BAI, and BDI-II scores, and positively with BMI-SDS. Regression analysis identified anxiety (BAI), specific EDI-II subscales, supra-diaphragmatic autonomic reactivity and difficulties describing negative feelings (PAQ) as predictors of precuneus CTh. Exploratory analyses revealed thickness differences in parietal and frontal regions, consistent with prior large-scale studies, with anxiety and depression scores correlating with several of these regions.
Discussion
Reduced precuneus CTh and its association with psychological factors highlight its role in AN's neurobiological mechanisms. Exploratory findings implicate parietal and frontal alterations, suggesting broader disruptions in body perception and behavioral con
Adenovirus maturation establishes the transcription competent packaging of its genome
Get PDFAdenoviruses are human pathogens that more recently have gathered interest as tools for human gene therapy and vaccination. The maturation of the viral genome with associated proteins (core) remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that adenovirus core maturation is guided by features embedded in the viral DNA sequence, which primes the genome for transcription. Using DMS-seq to compare the accessibility of the nucleoprotein core structure before and after maturation (using the maturation deficient ts1 mutant), we identified five genomic regions that become specifically decompacted during maturation. These regions are characterized by low GC-content and are evolutionarily conserved across different adenovirus species, independent of protein-coding constraints. Adenoviral DNA packaging is guided by a distinct 6.1-bp dinucleotide periodicity pattern that helps position viral chromatin proteins. Core maturation serves a dual purpose: (i) it contributes to capsid uncoating by increasing internal pressure while (ii) simultaneously preparing the viral chromatin structure for rapid transcription upon nuclear entry. These findings reveal how sequence-encoded structural information guides adenoviral genome organization and suggest new approaches for optimizing therapeutical adenoviral vectors
Mobile Cardiac Catheterization for Critical Cardiovascular Disease: A Feasibility and Applicability Study
Get PDFIntroduction: Coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention are essential for managing coronary artery disease, particularly in acute settings such as ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Mobile cardiac catheterization laboratories provide a potential solution for maintaining interventional cardiology services during hospital renovations, disasters, or in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to evaluate feasibility, safety, and quality of care of a mobile cardiac catheterization laboratory compared to a stationary facility. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted, comparing 1,454 patients treated between 2016 and 2019 at either an interim mobile cardiac catheterization laboratory or a stationary facility. Key endpoints included door-to-balloon time, radiation dose, fluoroscopy time, contrast medium usage, and major adverse cardiac events. Results: The door-to-balloon time was comparable between mobile and stationary facility (29 vs. 33 min, p = 0.143). Although fluoroscopy time and radiation dose were significantly higher in the mobile unit (p < 0.001), no differences in major adverse cardiac events were observed. The mobile unit demonstrated feasibility and safety for both routine and emergency interventions. Conclusion: Mobile cardiac catheterization laboratories are a viable alternative for providing interventional cardiology services in various scenarios, including renovations, crises, and underserved regions. Optimizing equipment and workflows could further enhance their performance
1,2-Aminosulfonylation of Alkenes via a Photoexcited Cu(I)-Substrate Complex: A Three-Component Coupling Approach
Get PDFWe report a Cu(I)-photocatalyzed three-component coupling process to achieve regioselective, vicinal 1,2-aminosulfonylations of alkenes. The critical aspect of this methodology is found in the utilization of in situ generated photoactive Cu(I)-amine substrate complexes, which facilitate the formal oxidation of Cu(I) to Cu(III) in a stepwise manner. In this way, the conceivable two-component chlorosulfonylation of alkenes is effectively suppressed, allowing the combination of styrene derivatives, sulfonyl chlorides, and amines. Furthermore, this protocol can be used to facilitate late-stage functionalization, thereby enabling the diversification of biomolecules
EZB-Konferenz 2025
Get PDFDie Konferenz bot einen Überblick über den aktuellen Stand und neue Entwicklungen der Elektronischen Zeitschriftenbibliothek (EZB). Neben technischen Themen wie Schnittstellen und Datenlieferdiensten standen vor allem kooperative Projekte und Vernetzungsinitiativen im Fokus. Vorgestellt wurden unter anderem die EZB GOKB Task Force, das DFG-Projekt openCost sowie Arbeitsgruppen und Serviceangebote der Universitätsbibliothek Regensburg. Abschließend wurden Anregungen und Rückmeldungen der EZB-Anwender gesammelt
Decline in Serum Lysophosphatidylcholine Species in Patients with Severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is composed of various lipid species, some of which exert pro-inflammatory and others anti-inflammatory activities. However, most of the LPC species analyzed to date are reduced in the serum of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to healthy controls. To our knowledge, the correlation between serum LPC species levels and measures of inflammation, as well as their potential as markers for monitoring IBD activity, has not yet been investigated. Methods: Thirteen LPC species, varying in acyl chain length and number of double bonds, were measured in the serum of 16 controls and the serum of 57 patients with IBD. Associations with C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin levels as markers of IBD severity were assessed. Results: Serum levels of LPC species did not differ between the healthy controls and the entire patient cohort. In patients with IBD, serum levels of LPC 16:1, 18:0, 18:3, 20:3, and 20:5, as well as total LPC concentrations, showed inverse correlations with both CRP and fecal calprotectin levels, indicating an association with inflammatory activity. Nine LPC species were significantly reduced in patients with high fecal calprotectin compared to those with low values. LPC species with 22 carbon atoms and 4 to 6 double bonds were not related to disease activity. Stool consistency and gastrointestinal symptoms did not influence serum LPC profiles. Corticosteroid treatment was associated with lower serum LPC 20:3 and 22:5 levels, while mesalazine, anti-TNF, and anti-IL-12/23 therapies had no significant impact on LPC concentrations. There was a strong positive correlation between LPC species containing 15 to 18 carbon atoms and serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and phosphatidylcholine levels. However, there was no correlation with markers of liver disease. Conclusions: Shorter-chain LPC species are reduced in patients with active IBD and reflect underlying hypolipidemia. While these lipid alterations provide insight into IBD-associated metabolic changes, they appear unsuitable as diagnostic or disease monitoring biomarkers
Profiles of PCSK9, SREBP-2, and histopathology in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 critical illness
Get PDFBackground
Severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which regulates serum cholesterol levels, is induced in the plasma of patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to critically ill patients with other conditions. PCSK9 is primarily expressed in the liver, which is susceptible to damage during severe illness. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) regulates PCSK9 expression, and higher activity of both PCSK9 and SREBP-2 is associated with liver injury and inflammation.
Methods
Liver tissues from 20 COVID-19 and 20 pre-pandemic autopsy cases were analysed, matched for age, sex, and intensive care treatment. Hepatic PCSK9 and SREBP-2 protein levels were assessed via immunohistochemistry. Histological scores for steatosis, fibrosis, and cholestasis were recorded. Additionally, plasma SREBP-2 levels were measured by ELISA in 25 septic COVID-19 and 34 septic non-COVID-19 patients.
Results
Across all cases, hepatocellular PCSK9 protein level was increased in the presence of cholestasis and positively correlated with hepatic SREBP-2 expression. No significant differences were observed between the COVID-19 and control groups regarding liver histology or hepatic PCSK9 and SREBP-2 protein levels. Plasma SREBP-2 levels were similar between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 septic patients. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between plasma SREBP-2, plasma PCSK9, and cholesteryl ester levels in the entire cohort, suggesting preserved SREBP-2 function during critical illness. Laboratory measures of liver disease in patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection were similar.
Conclusion
Critically ill patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibit comparable hepatic expression of PCSK9 and SREBP-2, as well as similar liver histology and comparable levels of aminotransferases, bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transferase, which suggests that SARS-CoV-2 does not directly cause liver injury. As our cohort was small, this suggestion needs to be confirmed by studying larger groups