@article{CarregariFlorianoRodriguesSimionietal.2013, author = {Carregari, Victor Corasolla and Floriano, Rafael Stuani and Rodrigues-Simioni, Lea and Winck, Flavia V. and Baldasso, Paulo Aparecido and Ponce-Soto, Luis Alberto and Marangoni, Sergio}, title = {Biochemical, Pharmacological, and Structural Characterization of New Basic PLA(2) Bbil-TX from Bothriopsis bilineata Snake Venom}, series = {BioMed research international}, journal = {BioMed research international}, publisher = {Hindawi Publishing Corp.}, address = {New York}, issn = {2314-6133}, doi = {10.1155/2013/612649}, pages = {12}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Bbil-TX, a PLA(2), was purified from Bothriopsis bilineata snake venom after only one chromatographic step using RP-HPLC on mu-Bondapak C-18 column. A molecular mass of 14243.8 Da was confirmed by -Tof ltima API ESI/ MS (TOF MS mode) mass spectrometry. The partial protein sequence obtained was then submitted to BLASTp, with the search restricted to PLA(2) from snakes and shows high identity values when compared to other PLA(2)s. PLA(2) activity was presented in the presence of a synthetic substrate and showed a minimum sigmoidal behavior, reaching its maximal activity at pH 8.0 and 25-37 degrees C. Maximum PLA(2) activity required Ca2+ and in the presence of Cd2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and Mg2+ it was reduced in the presence or absence of Ca2+. Crotapotin from Crotalus durissus cascavella rattlesnake venom and antihemorrhagic factor DA2-II from Didelphis albiventris opossum sera under optimal conditions significantly inhibit the enzymatic activity. Bbil-TX induces myonecrosis in mice. The fraction does not show a significant cytotoxic activity in myotubes and myoblasts (C2C12). The infiammatory events induced in the serum of mice by Bbil-TX isolated from Bothriopsis bilineata snake venom were investigated. An increase in vascular permeability and in the levels of TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-1 was was induced. Since Bbil-TX exerts a stronger proinfiammatory effect, the phospholipid hydrolysis may be relevant for these phenomena.}, language = {en} } @article{JaramilloVogelStrasserFrijiaetal.2013, author = {Jaramillo-Vogel, David and Strasser, Andre and Frijia, Gianluca and Spezzaferri, Silvia}, title = {Neritic isotope and sedimentary records of the Eocene-Oligocene greenhouse-icehouse transition the Calcare di Nago Formation (northern Italy) in a global context}, series = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, volume = {369}, journal = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0031-0182}, doi = {10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.11.003}, pages = {361 -- 376}, year = {2013}, abstract = {From the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene, the Earth experienced the most significant climatic cooling of the Cenozoic era. The Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT) represents the culmination of this climatic cooling, leading to the onset of the Antarctic glaciation and, consequently, to the beginning of the present-day icehouse world. Whereas the response of deep-sea systems to this climate transition has been widely studied, its impact on the shallow-water carbonate realm is poorly constrained. Here, the sedimentary expression of the EOT in two shallow-marine carbonate successions (Nago and San Valentino, northern Italy) belonging to the Calcare di Nago Formation is presented. The chronostratigraphic framework was constructed by integrating litho-, bio-, and isotope-stratigraphic data (C and Sr isotopes), allowing to correlate these shallow-marine successions with pelagic sections in central Italy (Massignano), Tanzania (TOP Sites 12 and 17), and the Indian Ocean (ODP Site 744). Within several sections in northern Italy, including Nago and San Valentino, a Priabonian (Late Eocene) transgression is recorded. Oxygen isotopes of ODP Site 744 show a coeval negative shift of 0.4 parts per thousand., suggesting a glacio-eustatic origin for this transgression. In the Nago and San Valentino sections, no prominent sequence boundary has been detected that would indicate a rapid sea-level drop occurring together with the positive shift in delta O-18 defining the EOT-1 cooling event. Instead, a gradual shallowing of the depositional environment is observed. At TDP Sites 12 and 17, the EOT-1 is followed by a negative shift in delta O-18 of around 0.4 parts per thousand, which correlates with a relative deepening of the environment in the studied sections and suggests a melting pulse between EOT-1 and the Oligocene isotope event 1 (Oi-1). The positive delta O-18 shift related to the Oi-1 translates in San Valentino into a change in carbonate factory from a photozoan association dominated by larger benthic foraminifera, corals, and red algae to a heterozoan association dominated by bryozoans. The same bryozoan fades occurs in several Italian localities near the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. This fades is interpreted to represent an analogue of modern cool-water carbonates and results from a cooling pulse of at least regional scale, associated to the Oi-1 event.}, language = {en} } @article{ChaudharyWalchHeroldetal.2013, author = {Chaudhary, Tanja and Walch, Elisabeth and Herold, Birgit and Metze, B. and Lejeune, A. and Burkhardt, F. and Buehrer, C.}, title = {Predictive and concurrent validity of standardized neurodevelopmental examinations by the griffiths scales and bayley scales of infant development II}, series = {Klinische P{\"a}diatrie : clinical research and practice in pediatrics}, volume = {225}, journal = {Klinische P{\"a}diatrie : clinical research and practice in pediatrics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Thieme}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0300-8630}, doi = {10.1055/s-0032-1331169}, pages = {8 -- 12}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: Standardized examinations of preterm infants are used to identify candidates for early intervention. We aimed to assess the predictive power and concurrent validity of the mental development index of the Bayley scales of infant development II (Bayley MDI) and the Griffiths scales developmental quotient (Griffiths DQ) in healthy term and preterm infants < 1 500 g birth weight without major perinatal complications. Methods: 137 Infants (89 term, 48 preterm) were examined by both tests at a corrected age of 6, 12, and 22 months, and 114 went on to undergo Bayley assessments at 39 months. Results: There were significant correlations between Bayley and Griffiths results at 6, 12, and 22 months (r = 0.530, 0.714, and 0.833, respectively, p < 0.001) but Bland Altman plots revealed major systematic bias at 6 months (Griffiths > Bayley, mean differences 14.3 +/- 9.8) and 22 months (Bayley > Griffiths, mean difference 5.2 +/- 13.9) and wide 95\% limits of agreement at 6, 12 and 22 months (35.9\%, 40.0\%, and 52.4\%, respectively). The agreement for a presumptive diagnosis of developmental impairment in the group of preterm infants between Bayley examinations obtained at 39 months corrected age (reference) and previous examinations was poor at 6, 12, and 22 months for both Bayley and Griffiths (Cohen's kappa for Griffiths: 0.225, 0.192, 0.369; for Bayley: 0.121, 0.316, 0.369, respectively). Conclusion: Caution should be exercised when interpreting results from standardized neurodevelopmental examinations obtained during the first 2 years of life in comparatively well preterm infants.}, language = {en} } @article{VicedoCausFrijia2013, author = {Vicedo, Vicent and Caus, Esmeralda and Frijia, Gianluca}, title = {Late Cretaceous alveolinaceans (larger foraminifera) of the Caribbean palaeobioprovince and their stratigraphic distribution}, series = {Journal of systematic palaeontology}, volume = {11}, journal = {Journal of systematic palaeontology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {1477-2019}, doi = {10.1080/14772019.2011.637517}, pages = {1 -- 25}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Architectural analysis of the Late Cretaceous alveolinaceans of the Caribbean palaeobioprovince has made it possible to separate four genera: Praechubbina, Chubbinella gen. nov., Chubbina and Caribalveolina. The first three genera belong to the family Rhapydioninidae, while the fourth is placed in the family Alveolinidae. Two species, Praechubbina breviclaustra and P. oxchucensis sp. nov., represent the primitive genus Praechubbina, while the species cardenasensis and obesa, previously ascribed to this genus, must be reassigned respectively to Chubbinella gen. nov. and Caribalveolina. The species Chubbina jamaicensis, C. macgillavryi and C. fourcadei sp. nov. complete the inventory of Chubbina. The alveolinid genus Caribalveolina comprises two species, C. obesa and C. michaudi. Caribbean alveolinaceans include two successive assemblages. The lower assemblage is characterized by Praechubbina oxchucensis, P. brevisclaustra, Chubbinella cardenasensis and Caribalveolina obesa. The upper assemblage is represented by the genus Chubbina, with C. fourcadei, C. jamaicensis and C. macgillavryi, and Caribalveolina michaudi. The age of the lower assemblage is uncertain (probably Late CampanianEarly Maastrichtian), while the upper assemblage has been dated by strontium isotope stratigraphy as Late Maastrichtian.}, language = {en} } @article{CzerwonHohlfeldWieseetal.2013, author = {Czerwon, Beate and Hohlfeld, Annette and Wiese, Heike and Werheid, Katja}, title = {Syntactic structural parallelisms influence processing of positive stimuli evidence from cross-modal ERP priming}, series = {International journal of psychophysiology}, volume = {87}, journal = {International journal of psychophysiology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0167-8760}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.10.014}, pages = {28 -- 34}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Language can strongly influence the emotional state of the recipient. In contrast to the broad body of experimental and neuroscientific research on semantic information and prosodic speech, the emotional impact of grammatical structure has rarely been investigated. One reason for this might be, that measuring effects of syntactic structure involves the use of complex stimuli, for which the emotional impact of grammar is difficult to isolate. In the present experiment we examined the emotional impact of structural parallelisms, that is, repetitions of syntactic features, on the emotion-sensitive "late positive potential" (LPP) with a cross-modal priming paradigm. Primes were auditory presented nonsense sentences which included grammatical-syntactic parallelisms. Visual targets were positive, neutral, and negative faces, to be classified as emotional or non-emotional by the participants. Electrophysiology revealed diminished LPP amplitudes for positive faces following parallel primes. Thus, our findings suggest that grammatical structure creates an emotional context that facilitates processing of positive emotional information.}, language = {en} } @article{MarwanSchinkelKurths2013, author = {Marwan, Norbert and Schinkel, Stefan and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Recurrence plots 25 years later -Gaining confidence in dynamical transitions}, series = {epl : a letters journal exploring the frontiers of physics}, volume = {101}, journal = {epl : a letters journal exploring the frontiers of physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Mulhouse}, issn = {0295-5075}, doi = {10.1209/0295-5075/101/20007}, pages = {6}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Recurrence-plot-based time series analysis is widely used to study changes and transitions in the dynamics of a system or temporal deviations from its overall dynamical regime. However, most studies do not discuss the significance of the detected variations in the recurrence quantification measures. In this letter we propose a novel method to add a confidence measure to the recurrence quantification analysis. We show how this approach can be used to study significant changes in dynamical systems due to a change in control parameters, chaos-order as well as chaos-chaos transitions. Finally we study and discuss climate transitions by analysing a marine proxy record for past sea surface temperature. This paper is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the introduction of recurrence plots.}, language = {en} } @article{Zerbian2013, author = {Zerbian, Sabine}, title = {Prosodic marking of narrow focus across varieties of South African English}, series = {English world-wide : a journal of varieties of English}, volume = {34}, journal = {English world-wide : a journal of varieties of English}, number = {1}, publisher = {Benjamins}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0172-8865}, doi = {10.1075/eww.34.1.02zer}, pages = {26 -- 47}, year = {2013}, abstract = {This paper reports on an elicited production study which investigates prosodic marking of narrow focus in modified noun phrases in varieties of South African English. The acoustic analysis of fundamental frequency, intensity, and duration in narrow focus is presented and discussed. The results suggest that these three acoustic parameters are manipulated differently in narrow focus in the varieties of English as a Second Language as compared to General South African English. The article compares the results to what is known about prosodic marking of information structure in other varieties of English as a Second Language and underlines the necessity of carefully controlled data in the investigation of phonological and phonetic variation in varieties of English.}, language = {en} } @article{ElsnerJeschonekPauen2013, author = {Elsner, Birgit and Jeschonek, Susanna and Pauen, Sabina}, title = {Event-related potentials for 7-month-olds' processing of animals and furniture items}, series = {Developmental cognitive neuroscience : a journal for cognitive, affective and social developmental neuroscience}, volume = {3}, journal = {Developmental cognitive neuroscience : a journal for cognitive, affective and social developmental neuroscience}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1878-9293}, doi = {10.1016/j.dcn.2012.09.002}, pages = {53 -- 60}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Event-related potentials (ERPs) to single visual stimuli were recorded in 7-month-old infants. In a three-stimulus oddball paradigm, infants watched one frequently occurring standard stimulus (either an animal or a furniture item) and two infrequently occurring oddball stimuli, presenting one exemplar from the same and one from the different super-ordinate category as compared to the standard stimulus. Additionally, visual attributes of the stimuli were controlled to investigate whether infants focus on category membership or on perceptual similarity when processing the stimuli. Infant ERPs indicated encoding of the standard stimulus and discriminating it from the two oddball stimuli by larger Nc peak amplitude and late-slow-wave activity for the infrequent stimuli. Moreover, larger Nc latency and positive-slow-wave activity indicated increased processing for the different-category as compared to the same-category oddball. Thus, 7-month-olds seem to encode single stimuli not only by surface perceptual features, but they also regard information of category membership, leading to facilitated processing of the oddball that belongs to the same domain as the standard stimulus.}, language = {en} } @article{ThielZehbeRoeseretal.2013, author = {Thiel, Kerstin and Zehbe, Rolf and R{\"o}ser, Jerome and Strauch, Peter and Enthaler, Stephan and Thomas, Arne}, title = {A polymer analogous reaction for the formation of imidazolium and NHC based porous polymer networks}, series = {Polymer Chemistry}, volume = {4}, journal = {Polymer Chemistry}, number = {6}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1759-9954}, doi = {10.1039/c2py20947k}, pages = {1848 -- 1856}, year = {2013}, abstract = {A polymer analogous reaction was carried out to generate a porous polymeric network with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) in the polymer backbone. Using a stepwise approach, first a polyimine network is formed by polymerization of the tetrafunctional amine tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)methane. This polyimine network is converted in the second step into polyimidazolium chloride and finally to a polyNHC network. Furthermore a porous Cu(II)-coordinated polyNHC network can be generated. Supercritical drying generates polymer networks with high permanent surface areas and porosities which can be applied for different catalytic reactions. The catalytic properties were demonstrated for example in the activation of CO2 or in the deoxygenation of sulfoxides to the corresponding sulfides.}, language = {en} } @article{PalmvanSchaikSchroederEsselbach2013, author = {Palm, Juliane and van Schaik, N. Loes M. B. and Schr{\"o}der-Esselbach, Boris}, title = {Modelling distribution patterns of anecic, epigeic and endogeic earthworms at catchment-scale in agro-ecosystems}, series = {Pedobiologia : international journal of soil biology}, volume = {56}, journal = {Pedobiologia : international journal of soil biology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Jena}, issn = {0031-4056}, doi = {10.1016/j.pedobi.2012.08.007}, pages = {23 -- 31}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Species distribution models are useful for identifying driving environmental factors that determine earthworm distributions as well as for predicting earthworm distribution patterns and abundances at different scales. However, due to large efforts in data acquisition, studies on larger scales are rare and often focus on single species or earthworms in general. In this study, we use boosted regression tree models (BRTs) for predicting the distribution of the three functional earthworm types, i.e. anecics, endogeics and epigeics, in an agricultural area in Baden-Wurttemberg (Southwest Germany). First, we predicted presence and absence and later earthworm abundances, considering predictors depicting land management, topography, and soil conditions as well as biotic interaction by using the abundance of the other functional earthworm types. The final presence-absence models performed reasonably well, with explained deviances between 24 and 51\% after crossvalidation. Models for abundances of anecics and endogeics were less successful, since the high small-scale variability and patchiness in earthworm abundance influenced the representativeness of the field measurements. This resulted in a significant model uncertainty, which is practically very difficult to overcome with earthworm sampling campaigns at the catchment scale. Results showed that management practices (i.e. disturbances), topography, soil conditions, and biotic interactions with other earthworm groups are the most relevant predictors for spatial distribution (incidence) patterns of all three functional groups. The response curves and contributions of predictors differ for the three functional earthworm types. Epigeics are also controlled by topographic features, endogeics by soil parameters.}, language = {en} } @article{GranacherLacroixMuehlbaueretal.2013, author = {Granacher, Urs and Lacroix, Andre and M{\"u}hlbauer, Thomas and R{\"o}ttger, Katrin and Gollhofer, Albert}, title = {Effects of core instability strength training on trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, dynamic balance and functional mobility in older adults}, series = {Gerontology}, volume = {59}, journal = {Gerontology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Karger}, address = {Basel}, issn = {0304-324X}, doi = {10.1159/000343152}, pages = {105 -- 113}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: Age-related postural misalignment, balance deficits and strength/power losses are associated with impaired functional mobility and an increased risk of falling in seniors. Core instability strength training (CIT) involves exercises that are challenging for both trunk muscles and postural control and may thus have the potential to induce benefits in trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility and balance performance. Objective: The objective was to investigate the effects of CIT on measures of trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, dynamic balance and functional mobility in seniors. Methods: Thirty-two older adults were randomly assigned to an intervention group (INT; n = 16, aged 70.8 +/- 4.1 years) that conducted a 9-week progressive CIT or to a control group (n = 16, aged 70.2 +/- 4.5 years). Maximal isometric strength of the trunk flexors/extensors/lateral flexors (right, left)/rotators (right, left) as well as of spinal mobility in the sagittal and the coronal plane was measured before and after the intervention program. Dynamic balance (i.e. walking 10 m on an optoelectric walkway, the Functional Reach test) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test) were additionally tested. Results: Program compliance was excellent with participants of the INT group completing 92\% of the training sessions. Significant group x test interactions were found for the maximal isometric strength of the trunk flexors (34\%, p < 0.001), extensors (21\%, p < 0.001), lateral flexors (right: 48\%, p < 0.001; left: 53\%, p < 0.001) and left rotators (42\%, p < 0.001) in favor of the INT group. Further, training-related improvements were found for spinal mobility in the sagittal (11\%, p < 0.001) and coronal plane (11\%, p = 0.06) directions, for stride velocity (9\%, p < 0.05), the coefficient of variation in stride velocity (31\%, p < 0.05), the Functional Reach test (20\%, p < 0.05) and the Timed Up and Go test (4\%, p < 0.05) in favor of the INT group. Conclusion: CIT proved to be a feasible exercise program for seniors with a high adherence rate. Age-related deficits in measures of trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, dynamic balance and functional mobility can be mitigated by CIT. This training regimen could be used as an adjunct or even alternative to traditional balance and/or resistance training.}, language = {en} } @article{MenzelHeuerPuhlmannetal.2013, author = {Menzel, Ralf and Heuer, Axel and Puhlmann, Dirk and Dechoum, K. and Hillery, M. and Spaehn, M. J. A. and Schleich, W. P.}, title = {A two-photon double-slit experiment}, series = {Journal of modern optics}, volume = {60}, journal = {Journal of modern optics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {0950-0340}, doi = {10.1080/09500340.2012.746400}, pages = {86 -- 94}, year = {2013}, abstract = {We employ a photon pair created by spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) where the pump laser is in the TEM01 mode to perform a Young's double-slit experiment. The signal photon illuminates the two slits and displays interference fringes in the far-field while the idler photon measured in the near-field in coincidence with the signal photon provides us with which-slit' information. We explain the results of these experiments with the help of an analytical expression for the second-order correlation function derived from an elementary model of SPDC. Our experiment emphasizes the crucial role of the mode function in the quantum theory of radiation.}, language = {en} } @article{MesserschmidtHeilmann2013, author = {Messerschmidt, Katrin and Heilmann, Katja}, title = {Toxin-antigen conjugates as selection tools for antibody producing cells}, series = {Journal of immunological methods}, volume = {387}, journal = {Journal of immunological methods}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0022-1759}, doi = {10.1016/j.jim.2012.10.010}, pages = {167 -- 172}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The generation of antibodies with designated specificity requires cost-intensive and time-consuming screening procedures. Here we present a new method by which hybridoma cells can be selected based on the specificity of the produced antibody by the use of antigen-toxin-conjugates thus eliminating the need of a screening procedure. Initial experiments were done with methotrexate as low molecular weight toxin and fluorescein as model antigen. Methotrexate and a methotrexate-fluorescein conjugate were characterized regarding their toxicity. Afterwards the effect of the fluorescein-specific antibody B13-DE1 on the toxicity of the methotrexate-fluorescein conjugate was determined. Finally, first results showed that hybridoma cells that produce fluorescein specific antibodies are able to grow in the presence of fluorescein-toxin-conjugates.}, language = {en} } @article{ClahsenBalkhairSchutteretal.2013, author = {Clahsen, Harald and Balkhair, Loay and Schutter, John-Sebastian and Cunnings, Ian}, title = {The time course of morphological processing in a second language}, series = {Second language research}, volume = {29}, journal = {Second language research}, number = {1}, publisher = {Sage Publ.}, address = {London}, issn = {0267-6583}, doi = {10.1177/0267658312464970}, pages = {7 -- 31}, year = {2013}, abstract = {We report findings from psycholinguistic experiments investigating the detailed timing of processing morphologically complex words by proficient adult second (L2) language learners of English in comparison to adult native (L1) speakers of English. The first study employed the masked priming technique to investigate -ed forms with a group of advanced Arabic-speaking learners of English. The results replicate previously found L1/L2 differences in morphological priming, even though in the present experiment an extra temporal delay was offered after the presentation of the prime words. The second study examined the timing of constraints against inflected forms inside derived words in English using the eye-movement monitoring technique and an additional acceptability judgment task with highly advanced Dutch L2 learners of English in comparison to adult L1 English controls. Whilst offline the L2 learners performed native-like, the eye-movement data showed that their online processing was not affected by the morphological constraint against regular plurals inside derived words in the same way as in native speakers. Taken together, these findings indicate that L2 learners are not just slower than native speakers in processing morphologically complex words, but that the L2 comprehension system employs real-time grammatical analysis (in this case, morphological information) less than the L1 system.}, language = {en} } @article{PfestorfWeissMuelleretal.2013, author = {Pfestorf, H. and Weiss, L. and M{\"u}ller, J. and Boch, Steffen and Socher, S. A. and Prati, Daniel and Sch{\"o}ning, Ingo and Weisser, W. and Fischer, M. and Jeltsch, Florian}, title = {Community mean traits as additional indicators to monitor effects of land-use intensity On grassland plant diversity}, series = {Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics}, volume = {15}, journal = {Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Jena}, issn = {1433-8319}, doi = {10.1016/j.ppees.2012.10.003}, pages = {1 -- 11}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Semi-natural grasslands, biodiversity hotspots in Central-Europe, suffer from the cessation of traditional land-use. Amount and intensity of these changes challenge current monitoring frameworks typically based on classic indicators such as selected target species or diversity indices. Indicators based on plant functional traits provide an interesting extension since they reflect ecological strategies at individual and ecological processes at community levels. They typically show convergent responses to gradients of land-use intensity over scales and regions, are more directly related to environmental drivers than diversity components themselves and enable detecting directional changes in whole community dynamics. However, probably due to their labor- and cost intensive assessment in the field, they have been rarely applied as indicators so far. Here we suggest overcoming these limitations by calculating indicators with plant traits derived from online accessible databases. Aiming to provide a minimal trait set to monitor effects of land-use intensification on plant diversity we investigated relationships between 12 community mean traits, 2 diversity indices and 6 predictors of land-use intensity within grassland communities of 3 different regions in Germany (part of the German 'Biodiversity Exploratory' research network). By standardization of traits and diversity measures, use of null models and linear mixed models we confirmed (i) strong links between functional community composition and plant diversity, (ii) that traits are closely related to land-use intensity, and (iii) that functional indicators are equally, or even more sensitive to land-use intensity than traditional diversity indices. The deduced trait set consisted of 5 traits, i.e., specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), seed release height, leaf distribution, and onset of flowering. These database derived traits enable the early detection of changes in community structure indicative for future diversity loss. As an addition to current monitoring measures they allow to better link environmental drivers to processes controlling community dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{DormannElithBacheretal.2013, author = {Dormann, Carsten F. and Elith, Jane and Bacher, Sven and Buchmann, Carsten M. and Carl, Gudrun and Carre, Gabriel and Garcia Marquez, Jaime R. and Gruber, Bernd and Lafourcade, Bruno and Leitao, Pedro J. and M{\"u}nkem{\"u}ller, Tamara and McClean, Colin and Osborne, Patrick E. and Reineking, Bjoern and Schr{\"o}der-Esselbach, Boris and Skidmore, Andrew K. and Zurell, Damaris and Lautenbach, Sven}, title = {Collinearity a review of methods to deal with it and a simulation study evaluating their performance}, series = {Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology ; research papers forum}, volume = {36}, journal = {Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology ; research papers forum}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0906-7590}, doi = {10.1111/j.1600-0587.2012.07348.x}, pages = {27 -- 46}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Collinearity refers to the non independence of predictor variables, usually in a regression-type analysis. It is a common feature of any descriptive ecological data set and can be a problem for parameter estimation because it inflates the variance of regression parameters and hence potentially leads to the wrong identification of relevant predictors in a statistical model. Collinearity is a severe problem when a model is trained on data from one region or time, and predicted to another with a different or unknown structure of collinearity. To demonstrate the reach of the problem of collinearity in ecology, we show how relationships among predictors differ between biomes, change over spatial scales and through time. Across disciplines, different approaches to addressing collinearity problems have been developed, ranging from clustering of predictors, threshold-based pre-selection, through latent variable methods, to shrinkage and regularisation. Using simulated data with five predictor-response relationships of increasing complexity and eight levels of collinearity we compared ways to address collinearity with standard multiple regression and machine-learning approaches. We assessed the performance of each approach by testing its impact on prediction to new data. In the extreme, we tested whether the methods were able to identify the true underlying relationship in a training dataset with strong collinearity by evaluating its performance on a test dataset without any collinearity. We found that methods specifically designed for collinearity, such as latent variable methods and tree based models, did not outperform the traditional GLM and threshold-based pre-selection. Our results highlight the value of GLM in combination with penalised methods (particularly ridge) and threshold-based pre-selection when omitted variables are considered in the final interpretation. However, all approaches tested yielded degraded predictions under change in collinearity structure and the folk lore'-thresholds of correlation coefficients between predictor variables of |r| >0.7 was an appropriate indicator for when collinearity begins to severely distort model estimation and subsequent prediction. The use of ecological understanding of the system in pre-analysis variable selection and the choice of the least sensitive statistical approaches reduce the problems of collinearity, but cannot ultimately solve them.}, language = {en} } @article{UhlemannBertelmannMerz2013, author = {Uhlemann, S. and Bertelmann, Roland and Merz, Bruno}, title = {Data expansion the potential of grey literature for understanding floods}, series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, volume = {17}, journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, number = {3}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-17-895-2013}, pages = {895 -- 911}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Sophisticated methods have been developed and become standard in analysing floods as well as for assessing flood risk. However, increasingly critique of the current standards and scientific practice can be found both in the flood hydrology community as well as in the risk community who argue that the considerable amount of information already available on natural disasters has not been adequately deployed and brought to effective use. We describe this phenomenon as a failure to synthesize knowledge that results from barriers and ignorance in awareness, use and management of the entire spectrum of relevant content, that is, data, information and knowledge. In this paper we argue that the scientific community in flood risk research ignores event-specific analysis and documentations as another source of data. We present results from a systematic search that includes an intensive study on sources and ways of information dissemination of flood-relevant publications. We obtain 186 documents that contain information on the sources, pathways, receptors and/or consequences for any of the 40 strongest trans-basin floods in Germany in the period 1952-2002. This study therefore provides the most comprehensive metadata collection of flood documentations for the considered geographical space and period. A total of 87.5\% of all events have been documented, and especially the most severe floods have received extensive coverage. Only 30\% of the material has been produced in the scientific/academic environment, and the majority of all documents (about 80\%) can be considered grey literature (i.e. literature not controlled by commercial publishers). Therefore, ignoring grey sources in flood research also means ignoring the largest part of knowledge available on single flood events (in Germany). Further, the results of this study underpin the rapid changes in information dissemination of flood event literature over the last decade. We discuss the options and obstacles of incorporating this data into the knowledge-building process in light of the current technological developments and international, interdisciplinary debates for data curation.}, language = {en} } @article{HeistermannJacobiPfaff2013, author = {Heistermann, Maik and Jacobi, S. and Pfaff, T.}, title = {Technical note an open source library for processing weather radar data (wradlib)}, series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, volume = {17}, journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, number = {2}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-17-863-2013}, pages = {863 -- 871}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The potential of weather radar observations for hydrological and meteorological research and applications is undisputed, particularly with increasing world-wide radar coverage. However, several barriers impede the use of weather radar data. These barriers are of both scientific and technical nature. The former refers to inherent measurement errors and artefacts, the latter to aspects such as reading specific data formats, geo-referencing, visualisation. The radar processing library wradlib is intended to lower these barriers by providing a free and open source tool for the most important steps in processing weather radar data for hydro-meteorological and hydrological applications. Moreover, the community-based development approach of wradlib allows scientists to share their knowledge about efficient processing algorithms and to make this knowledge available to the weather radar community in a transparent, structured and well-documented way.}, language = {en} } @article{KoppitzSupaporn2013, author = {Koppitz, J{\"o}rg and Supaporn, Worakrit}, title = {Categary equivalences of clones of operations preserving unaryoperations}, series = {COMPTES RENDUS DE L ACADEMIE BULGARE DES SCIENCES}, volume = {66}, journal = {COMPTES RENDUS DE L ACADEMIE BULGARE DES SCIENCES}, number = {2}, publisher = {Publ. House of the Bulgarian Acad. of Sciences}, address = {Sofia}, issn = {1310-1331}, pages = {177 -- 184}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Any clones on arbitrary set A can be written of the form Pol (A)Q for some set Q of relations on A. We consider clones of the form Pal (A)Q where Q is a set of unary relations on a finite set A. A clone Pol (A)Q is said to be a clone on a set of the smallest cardinality with respect to category equivalence if vertical bar A vertical bar <= vertical bar S vertical bar for all finite sets S and all clones C on S that category equivalent to Pol (A)Q. We characterize the clones on a set of the smallest cardinality with respect to category equivalent and show how we can find a clone on a set of the smallest cardinality that category equivalent to a given clone.}, language = {en} } @article{Hickmann2013, author = {Hickmann, Thomas}, title = {Private authority in global climate governance the case of the clean development mechanism}, series = {Climate \& development}, volume = {5}, journal = {Climate \& development}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {1756-5529}, doi = {10.1080/17565529.2013.768174}, pages = {46 -- 54}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a prominent example of the mix of public and private authority in global climate policy-making. While national governments hold the supreme authority in the CDM, the oversight and daily supervision of the project-based mechanism have been delegated via an intergovernmental body to private corporations that evaluate the environmental performance of individual CDM projects. By focusing on the CDM as a particular instance of private authority in global climate governance, this article analyses the consequences associated with the delegation of authority to private actors. The article critically assesses the role of private auditing corporations, labelled Designated Operational Entities, in the regulatory framework of the CDM and points to serious trade-offs which accompany the privatisation of authority. The article's findings suggest that the promise of innovative modes of governance to increase the effectiveness of international regulation is seriously compromised by the profit-seeking behaviour of private actors. Hence, the article underscores the need to reconsider the balance between public and private authority in global (climate) governance.}, language = {en} }