TY - JOUR A1 - Knox-Brown, Patrick A1 - Rindfleisch, Tobias A1 - Günther, Anne A1 - Balow, Kim A1 - Bremer, Anne A1 - Walther, Dirk A1 - Miettinen, Markus S. A1 - Hincha, Dirk K. A1 - Thalhammer, Anja T1 - Similar Yet Different BT - Structural and Functional Diversity among Arabidopsis thaliana LEA_4 Proteins JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences N2 - The importance of intrinsically disordered late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins in the tolerance to abiotic stresses involving cellular dehydration is undisputed. While structural transitions of LEA proteins in response to changes in water availability are commonly observed and several molecular functions have been suggested, a systematic, comprehensive and comparative study of possible underlying sequence-structure-function relationships is still lacking. We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as well as spectroscopic and light scattering experiments to characterize six members of two distinct, lowly homologous clades of LEA_4 family proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana. We compared structural and functional characteristics to elucidate to what degree structure and function are encoded in LEA protein sequences and complemented these findings with physicochemical properties identified in a systematic bioinformatics study of the entire Arabidopsis thaliana LEA_4 family. Our results demonstrate that although the six experimentally characterized LEA_4 proteins have similar structural and functional characteristics, differences concerning their folding propensity and membrane stabilization capacity during a freeze/thaw cycle are obvious. These differences cannot be easily attributed to sequence conservation, simple physicochemical characteristics or the abundance of sequence motifs. Moreover, the folding propensity does not appear to be correlated with membrane stabilization capacity. Therefore, the refinement of LEA_4 structural and functional properties is likely encoded in specific patterns of their physicochemical characteristics. KW - IDP KW - LEA protein KW - abiotic stress KW - dehydration KW - conformational rearrangement KW - membrane stabilization KW - sequence-structure-function relationship Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21082794 SN - 1422-0067 VL - 21 IS - 8 PB - Molecular Diversity Preservation International CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schenck, Marcia C. T1 - Small Strangers at the School of Friendship: Memories of Mozambican School Students of The German Democratic Republic JF - German Historical Institute Washington Bulletin / Supplement KW - migration, school of friendship, German Democratic Repubic, Mozambique Y1 - 2020 UR - https://perspectivia.net/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/pnet_derivate_00003158/schenk_strangers.pdf IS - 15 SP - 41 EP - 59 PB - Max Weber Stiftung – Deutsche Geisteswissenschaftliche Institute im Ausland ER - TY - BOOK A1 - Taylor, Charles A1 - Nanz, Patrizia A1 - Taylor, Madeleine Beaubien T1 - Reconstructing democracy BT - how citizens are building from the ground up N2 - Across the world, democracies are suffering from a disconnect between the people and political elites. In communities where jobs and industry are scarce, many feel the government is incapable of understanding their needs or addressing their problems. The resulting frustration has fueled the success of destabilizing demagogues. To reverse this pattern and restore responsible government, we need to reinvigorate democracy at the local level. But what does that mean? Drawing on examples of successful community building in cities large and small, from a shrinking village in rural Austria to a neglected section of San Diego, Reconstructing Democracy makes a powerful case for re-engaging citizens. It highlights innovative grassroots projects and shows how local activists can form alliances and discover their own power to solve problems. Y1 - 2020 SN - 978-0-674-24462-7 PB - Harvard University Press CY - Cambridge ER - TY - BOOK ED - Pschichholz, Christin T1 - The First World War as a Caesura? BT - demographic concepts, population policy, and genocide in the Late Ottoman, Russian, and Habsburg spheres T3 - Gewaltpolitik und Menschenrechte ; 3 N2 - During the phases of mobile warfare, the ethnically and religiously very heterogeneous population in the border regions of the multi-ethnic empires suffered in particular. Even if the real military situation in the course of the war hardly gave cause for concern, the image of disloyal ethnic and national minorities was widespread. This was particularly the case when ethnic groups lived on both sides of the border and social and political tensions had already established themselves along ethnic or religious lines of conflict before the war. Displacements, deportations and mass violence were the result. The genocide of the Armenian population is the most extreme example of this development. This anthology examines the border regions of the Ottoman, Russian and Habsburg empires during the First World War with regard to radical population policy and genocidal violence from a comparative perspective in order to draw a more precise picture of escalating and deescalating factors. Y1 - 2020 SN - 978-3-428-18146-9 SN - 978-3-428-58146-7 PB - Duncker & Humblot CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Salzwedel, Annett A1 - Heidler, Maria-Dorothea A1 - Meng, Karin A1 - Schikora, Martin A1 - Wegscheider, Karl A1 - Reibis, Rona Katharina A1 - Völler, Heinz T1 - Impact of cognitive performance on disease-related knowledge six months after multi-component rehabilitation in patients after an acute cardiac event JF - European journal of preventive cardiology : the official ESC journal for primary & secondary cardiovascular prevention, rehabilitation and sports cardiology N2 - Background Although associations between cardiovascular diseases and cognitive impairment are well known, the impact of cognitive performance on the success of patient education as a core component of cardiac rehabilitation remains insufficiently investigated so far. Design Prospective observational study in two inpatient cardiac rehabilitation centres between September 2014 and August 2015 with a follow-up six months after cardiac rehabilitation. Method At admission to and discharge from cardiac rehabilitation, the cognitive performance of 401 patients (54.5 ± 6.3 years, 80% men) following an acute coronary syndrome and/or coronary artery bypass graft was tested using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Patients’ disease-related knowledge was determined using a quiz (22 items for medical knowledge and 12 items for healthy lifestyle and behaviour) at both times and at follow-up. The change in knowledge after cardiac rehabilitation was analysed in multivariable regression models. Potentially influencing parameters (e.g. level of education, medication, cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery bypass graft, comorbidities, exercise capacity) were considered. Results During cardiac rehabilitation, disease-related knowledge was significantly enhanced in both scales. At follow-up, the average level of medical knowledge was significantly reduced, while lifestyle knowledge remained at a stable level. The maintenance of knowledge after cardiac rehabilitation was predominantly predicted by prior knowledge, cognitive performance at discharge from cardiac rehabilitation and, in the case of medical knowledge, by coronary artery bypass graft. Conclusion Patient education in cardiac rehabilitation led to enhanced disease-related knowledge, but the maintenance of this essentially depended on patients’ cognitive performance, especially after coronary artery bypass graft. Therefore, patient education concepts in cardiac rehabilitation should be reconsidered and adjusted as needed. KW - Mild cognitive impairment KW - cardiac rehabilitation KW - patient education KW - coronary artery disease KW - secondary prevention Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487318791609 SN - 2047-4873 SN - 2047-4881 VL - 26 IS - 1 SP - 46 EP - 55 PB - Sage Publ. CY - London ER - TY - THES A1 - Jing, Yue T1 - Characterization of Serine Carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) gene family in Brassicaceae Y1 - 2020 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ryo, Masahiro A1 - Jeschke, Jonathan M. A1 - Rillig, Matthias C. A1 - Heger, Tina T1 - Machine learning with the hierarchy-of-hypotheses (HoH) approach discovers novel pattern in studies on biological invasions JF - Research synthesis methods N2 - Research synthesis on simple yet general hypotheses and ideas is challenging in scientific disciplines studying highly context-dependent systems such as medical, social, and biological sciences. This study shows that machine learning, equation-free statistical modeling of artificial intelligence, is a promising synthesis tool for discovering novel patterns and the source of controversy in a general hypothesis. We apply a decision tree algorithm, assuming that evidence from various contexts can be adequately integrated in a hierarchically nested structure. As a case study, we analyzed 163 articles that studied a prominent hypothesis in invasion biology, the enemy release hypothesis. We explored if any of the nine attributes that classify each study can differentiate conclusions as classification problem. Results corroborated that machine learning can be useful for research synthesis, as the algorithm could detect patterns that had been already focused in previous narrative reviews. Compared with the previous synthesis study that assessed the same evidence collection based on experts' judgement, the algorithm has newly proposed that the studies focusing on Asian regions mostly supported the hypothesis, suggesting that more detailed investigations in these regions can enhance our understanding of the hypothesis. We suggest that machine learning algorithms can be a promising synthesis tool especially where studies (a) reformulate a general hypothesis from different perspectives, (b) use different methods or variables, or (c) report insufficient information for conducting meta-analyses. KW - artificial intelligence KW - hierarchy-of-hypotheses approach KW - machine learning KW - meta-analysis KW - synthesis KW - systematic review Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1363 SN - 1759-2879 SN - 1759-2887 VL - 11 IS - 1 SP - 66 EP - 73 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - van der Kroef, Ilona A1 - Koszinski, Sylvia A1 - Grinat, Michael A1 - van der Meij, Marijn W. A1 - Hierold, Wilfried A1 - Südekum, Wolfgang A1 - Sommer, Michael T1 - Digital mapping of buried soil horizons using 2D and pseudo-3D geoelectrical measurements in a ground moraine landscape JF - European journal of soil science : EJSS N2 - The identification of buried soil horizons in agricultural landscapes helps to quantify sediment budgets and erosion-related carbon dynamics. High-resolution mapping of buried horizons using conventional soil surveys is destructive and time consuming. Geoelectrical sensors can offer a fast and non-destructive alternative for determining horizon positions and properties. In this paper, we compare the suitability of several geoelectrical methods for measuring the depth to buried horizons (Apb, Ahb and Hab) in the hummocky ground moraine landscape of northeastern Germany. Soil profile descriptions were developed for 269 locations within a 6-ha experimental field "CarboZALF-D". A stepwise linear discriminant analysis (LDA) estimated the lateral position of the buried horizons using electromagnetic induction data and terrain attributes. To predict the depth of a buried horizon, multiple linear regression (MLR) was used for both a 120-m transect and a 0.2-ha pseudo-three-dimensional (3D) area. At these scales, apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), electrical resistivity (ER) and terrain attributes were used as independent variables. The LDA accurately predicted Apb- and Ahb-horizons (a correct classification of 93%). The LDA of the Hab-horizon had a misclassification of 24%, which was probably related to the smaller test set and the higher depth of this horizon. The MLR predicted the depth of the Apb-, Ahb- and Hab-horizons with relative root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 7, 3 and 13%, respectively, in the pseudo-3D area. MLR had a lower accuracy for the 2D transect compared to the pseudo-3D area. Overall, the use of LDA and MLR has been an efficient methodological approach for predicting buried horizon positions. Highlights The suitability of geoelectrical measurements for digital modelling of diagnostic buried soil horizons was determined. LDA and MLR were used to detect multiple horizons with geoelectrical devices and terrain attributes. Geoelectrical variables were significant predictors of the position of the target soil horizons. The use of these tested digital technologies gives an opportunity to develop high-resolution soil mapping procedures. KW - colluvium depth modelling KW - electrical conductivity KW - electrical resistivity tomography KW - electromagnetic induction KW - EM38DD KW - linear discriminant analysis KW - linear regression KW - moraine soil landscape Y1 - 2019 SN - 1351-0754 SN - 1365-2389 VL - 71 IS - 1 SP - 10 EP - 26 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schaub, Tonio A1 - Klaassen, Raymond H. G. A1 - Bouten, Willem A1 - Schlaich, Almut E. A1 - Koks, Ben J. T1 - Collision risk of Montagu’s Harriers Circus pygargus with wind turbines derived from high-resolution GPS tracking JF - Ibis : the international journal of avian science ; the journal of the British Ornithologists' Union N2 - Flight behaviour characteristics such as flight altitude and avoidance behaviour determine the species-specific collision risk of birds with wind turbines. However, traditional observational methods exhibit limited positional accuracy. High-resolution GPS telemetry represents a promising method to overcome this drawback. In this study, we used three-dimensional GPS tracking data including high-accuracy tracks recorded at 3-s intervals to investigate the collision risk of breeding male Montagu's Harriers Circus pygargus in the Dutch–German border region. Avoidance of wind turbines was quantified by a novel approach comparing observed flights to a null model of random flight behaviour. On average, Montagu's Harriers spent as much as 8.2 h per day in flight. Most flights were at low altitude, with only 7.1% within the average rotor height range (RHR; 45–125 m). Montagu's Harriers showed significant avoidance behaviour, approaching turbines less often than expected, particularly when flying within the RHR (avoidance rate of 93.5%). For the present state, with wind farms situated on the fringes of the regional nesting range, collision risk models based on our new insights on flight behaviour indicated 0.6–2.0 yearly collisions of adult males (as compared with a population size of c. 40 pairs). However, the erection of a new wind farm inside the core breeding area could markedly increase mortality (up to 9.7 yearly collisions). If repowering of the wind farms was carried out using low-reaching modern turbines (RHR 36–150 m), mortality would more than double, whereas it would stay approximately constant if higher turbines (RHR 86–200 m) were used. Our study demonstrates the great potential of high-resolution GPS tracking for collision risk assessments. The resulting information on collision-related flight behaviour allows for performing detailed scenario analyses on wind farm siting and turbine design, in contrast to current environmental assessment practices. With regard to Montagu's Harriers, we conclude that although the deployment of higher wind turbines represents an opportunity to reduce collision risk for this species, precluding wind energy developments in core breeding areas remains the most important mitigation measure. KW - avoidance rate KW - environmental impact KW - flight height KW - human-wildlife conflict KW - mitigation KW - raptors KW - renewable energy KW - wind energy Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12788 SN - 0019-1019 SN - 1474-919X VL - 162 IS - 2 SP - 520 EP - 534 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Engels, Stefan A1 - Medeiros, Andrew S. A1 - Axford, Yarrow A1 - Brooks, Steve A1 - Heiri, Oliver A1 - Luoto, Tomi P. A1 - Nazarova, Larisa B. A1 - Porinchu, David F. A1 - Quinlan, Roberto A1 - Self, Angela E. T1 - Temperature change as a driver of spatial patterns and long-term trends in chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) diversity JF - Global change biology N2 - Anthropogenic activities have led to a global decline in biodiversity, and monitoring studies indicate that both insect communities and wetland ecosystems are particularly affected. However, there is a need for long-term data (over centennial or millennial timescales) to better understand natural community dynamics and the processes that govern the observed trends. Chironomids (Insecta: Diptera: Chironomidae) are often the most abundant insects in lake ecosystems, sensitive to environmental change, and, because their larval exoskeleton head capsules preserve well in lake sediments, they provide a unique record of insect community dynamics through time. Here, we provide the results of a metadata analysis of chironomid diversity across a range of spatial and temporal scales. First, we analyse spatial trends in chironomid diversity using Northern Hemispheric data sets overall consisting of 837 lakes. Our results indicate that in most of our data sets, summer temperature (T-jul) is strongly associated with spatial trends in modern-day chironomid diversity. We observe a strong increase in chironomid alpha diversity with increasing T-jul in regions with present-day T-jul between 2.5 and 14 degrees C. In some areas with T-jul > 14 degrees C, chironomid diversity stabilizes or declines. Second, we demonstrate that the direction and amplitude of change in alpha diversity in a compilation of subfossil chironomid records spanning the last glacial-interglacial transition (similar to 15,000-11,000 years ago) are similar to those observed in our modern data. A compilation of Holocene records shows that during phases when the amplitude of temperature change was small, site-specific factors had a greater influence on the chironomid fauna obscuring the chironomid diversity-temperature relationship. Our results imply expected overall chironomid diversity increases in colder regions such as the Arctic under sustained global warming, but with complex and not necessarily predictable responses for individual sites. KW - Arctic KW - biodiversity KW - climate warming KW - freshwater ecosystems KW - insects KW - palaeoecology KW - Quaternary Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14862 SN - 1354-1013 SN - 1365-2486 VL - 26 IS - 3 SP - 1155 EP - 1169 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER -