During unexpected drop-like gait perturbations, the body’s center of mass (CoM) energy must be absorbed reactively by the leg muscles, challenging muscle–tendon unit (MTU) function and body stability. Anticipation and prior experience may adjust muscle activation in advance to improve the perturbation response. The study's purpose was to investigate the interplay of muscle activation, MTU decoupling mechanisms, and contractile...

The functional interaction of regulatory mechanisms that manage total centre of mass (CoM) energy, frontal plane whole-body angular momentum and mediolateral margin of stability (MoS) during hole negotiation gait was investigated. Joint kinematics, leg posture, total CoM energy, frontal plane whole-body angular momentum, mediolateral MoS and muscle activation patterns of seven bilateral lower leg muscles were assessed in 18 pa...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a group of anthropogenic compounds that are ubiquitously distributed in the environment due to their widespread use in various industrial processes and consumer products. Among foodstuffs of animal origin, wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) livers may contain particularly high levels of PFAS. Additionally, wild boars have been identified as suitable bioindicators and are used by Germ...

Our objective was to explore how the potential for energy transfer between the ankle and knee joint via the biarticular gastrocnemii muscles is modulated during unpredictable and adapted trip-like and drop-like gait perturbations. Using kinematic parameters of the ankle and knee joints, the energy transfer potential between the two joints was determined as the fraction of contact time when the ankle and knee joint angles are i...

Purpose Imbalances of muscle strength and tendon stiffness can increase the operating strain of tendons and risk of injury. Here, we used a new approach to identify muscle–tendon imbalances and personalize exercise prescription based on tendon strain during maximum voluntary contractions (ε max ) to mitigate musculotendinous imbalances in male adult volleyball athletes. Methods Four times over a season, we measured knee extens...

Transposons are like parasites within DNA, spreading across genomes. Special proteins called PIWI proteins keep these elements under control with the help of small RNA molecules called piRNAs. While piRNAs were already discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans in the year 2008, it remained elusive how their 5’ end is processed. We have now identified the missing endoribonuclease PUCH, which initiates the piRNA biogenesis in C. eleg...

Rationale Brain iron accumulation has been observed in neuropsychiatric disorders and shown to be related to neurodegeneration. Objectives In this study, we used quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), an emerging MRI technique developed for quantifying tissue magnetic susceptibility, to examine brain iron accumulation in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its relation to compulsive drinking. Methods Based on o...

European ash dieback caused by the alien, invasive ascomycete species Hymenoscyphus fraxineus currently represents, along with its side effects, the greatest threat to common ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) trees in Europe. The disease is widely distributed in Germany and present in all regions where common ash is growing. In order to study European ash dieback in Germany and to develop management strategies to conserve common ash...

Purpose Evidence on training-induced muscle hypertrophy during preadolescence is limited and inconsistent. Possible associations of muscle strength and tendon stiffness with jumping performance are also not investigated. We investigated the thickness and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle (GM), as indicators for potential muscle hypertrophy in preadolescent athletes. Further, we examined the association of tr...