TY - JOUR A1 - van der Valk, Ralf J. P. A1 - Kreiner-Moller, Eskil A1 - Kooijman, Marjolein N. A1 - Guxens, Monica A1 - Stergiakouli, Evangelia A1 - Saaf, Annika A1 - Bradfield, Jonathan P. A1 - Geller, Frank A1 - Hayes, M. Geoffrey A1 - Cousminer, Diana L. A1 - Koerner, Antje A1 - Thiering, Elisabeth A1 - Curtin, John A. A1 - Myhre, Ronny A1 - Huikari, Ville A1 - Joro, Raimo A1 - Kerkhof, Marjan A1 - Warrington, Nicole M. A1 - Pitkanen, Niina A1 - Ntalla, Ioanna A1 - Horikoshi, Momoko A1 - Veijola, Riitta A1 - Freathy, Rachel M. A1 - Teo, Yik-Ying A1 - Barton, Sheila J. A1 - Evans, David M. A1 - Kemp, John P. A1 - St Pourcain, Beate A1 - Ring, Susan M. A1 - Smith, George Davey A1 - Bergstrom, Anna A1 - Kull, Inger A1 - Hakonarson, Hakon A1 - Mentch, Frank D. A1 - Bisgaard, Hans A1 - Chawes, Bo Lund Krogsgaard A1 - Stokholm, Jakob A1 - Waage, Johannes A1 - Eriksen, Patrick A1 - Sevelsted, Astrid A1 - Melbye, Mads A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M. A1 - Medina-Gomez, Carolina A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - de Jongste, Johan C. A1 - Taal, H. Rob A1 - Uitterlinden, Andre G. A1 - Armstrong, Loren L. A1 - Eriksson, Johan A1 - Palotie, Aarno A1 - Bustamante, Mariona A1 - Estivill, Xavier A1 - Gonzalez, Juan R. A1 - Llop, Sabrina A1 - Kiess, Wieland A1 - Mahajan, Anubha A1 - Flexeder, Claudia A1 - Tiesler, Carla M. T. A1 - Murray, Clare S. A1 - Simpson, Angela A1 - Magnus, Per A1 - Sengpiel, Verena A1 - Hartikainen, Anna-Liisa A1 - Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, Sirkka A1 - Lewin, Alexandra A1 - Alves, Alexessander Da Silva Couto A1 - Blakemore, Alexandra I. F. A1 - Buxton, Jessica L. A1 - Kaakinen, Marika A1 - Rodriguez, Alina A1 - Sebert, Sylvain A1 - Vaarasmaki, Marja A1 - Lakka, Timo A1 - Lindi, Virpi A1 - Gehring, Ulrike A1 - Postma, Dirkje S. A1 - Ang, Wei A1 - Newnham, John P. A1 - Lyytikainen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Pahkala, Katja A1 - Raitakari, Olli T. A1 - Panoutsopoulou, Kalliope A1 - Zeggini, Eleftheria A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I. A1 - Groen-Blokhuis, Maria A1 - Ilonen, Jorma A1 - Franke, Lude A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel N. A1 - Pers, Tune H. A1 - Liang, Liming A1 - Huang, Jinyan A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Knip, Mikael A1 - Saw, Seang-Mei A1 - Holloway, John W. A1 - Melen, Erik A1 - Grant, Struan F. A. A1 - Feenstra, Bjarke A1 - Lowe, William L. A1 - Widen, Elisabeth A1 - Sergeyev, Elena A1 - Grallert, Harald A1 - Custovic, Adnan A1 - Jacobsson, Bo A1 - Jarvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Atalay, Mustafa A1 - Koppelman, Gerard H. A1 - Pennell, Craig E. A1 - Niinikoski, Harri A1 - Dedoussis, George V. A1 - Mccarthy, Mark I. A1 - Frayling, Timothy M. A1 - Sunyer, Jordi A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J. A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Bonnelykke, Klaus A1 - Jaddoe, Vincent W. V. T1 - A novel common variant in DCST2 is associated with length in early life and height in adulthood JF - Human molecular genetics N2 - Common genetic variants have been identified for adult height, but not much is known about the genetics of skeletal growth in early life. To identify common genetic variants that influence fetal skeletal growth, we meta-analyzed 22 genome-wide association studies (Stage 1; N = 28 459). We identified seven independent top single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (P < 1 x 10(-6)) for birth length, of which three were novel and four were in or near loci known to be associated with adult height (LCORL, PTCH1, GPR126 and HMGA2). The three novel SNPs were followed-up in nine replication studies (Stage 2; N = 11 995), with rs905938 in DC-STAMP domain containing 2 (DCST2) genome-wide significantly associated with birth length in a joint analysis (Stages 1 + 2; beta = 0.046, SE = 0.008, P = 2.46 x 10(-8), explained variance = 0.05%). Rs905938 was also associated with infant length (N = 28 228; P = 5.54 x 10(-4)) and adult height (N = 127 513; P = 1.45 x 10(-5)). DCST2 is a DC-STAMP-like protein family member and DC-STAMP is an osteoclast cell-fusion regulator. Polygenic scores based on 180 SNPs previously associated with human adult stature explained 0.13% of variance in birth length. The same SNPs explained 2.95% of the variance of infant length. Of the 180 known adult height loci, 11 were genome-wide significantly associated with infant length (SF3B4, LCORL, SPAG17, C6orf173, PTCH1, GDF5, ZNFX1, HHIP, ACAN, HLA locus and HMGA2). This study highlights that common variation in DCST2 influences variation in early growth and adult height. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddu510 SN - 0964-6906 SN - 1460-2083 VL - 24 IS - 4 SP - 1155 EP - 1168 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Neuschäfer-Rube, Frank A1 - Oppermann, Martin A1 - Möller, Ulrike A1 - Böer, Ulrike A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul T1 - Agonist-induced phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinases of the EP4 receptor carboxyl-terminal domain in an EP3/EP4 prostaglandin E(2) receptor hybrid N2 - Prostaglandin E(2) receptors (EP-Rs) belong to the family of heterotrimeric G protein-coupled ectoreceptors with seven transmembrane domains. They can be subdivided into four subtypes according to their ligand-binding and G protein-coupling specificity: EP1 couple to G(q), EP2 and EP4 to G(s), and EP3 to G(i). The EP4-R, in contrast to the EP3beta-R, shows rapid agonist-induced desensitization. The agonist-induced desensitization depends on the presence of the EP4-R carboxyl-terminal domain, which also confers desensitization in a G(i)-coupled rEP3hEP4 carboxyl-terminal domain receptor hybrid (rEP3hEP4-Ct-R). To elucidate the possible mechanism of this desensitization, in vivo phosphorylation stimulated by activators of second messenger kinases, by prostaglandin E(2), or by the EP3-R agonist M&B28767 was investigated in COS-7 cells expressing FLAG-epitope-tagged rat EP3beta-R (rEP3beta-R), hEP4-R, or rEP3hEP4- Ct-R. Stimulation of protein kinase C with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate led to a slight phosphorylation of the FLAG- rEP3beta-R but to a strong phosphorylation of the FLAG-hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R, which was suppressed by the protein kinase A and protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine. Prostaglandin E(2) stimulated phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R in its carboxyl-terminal receptor domain. The EP3-R agonist M&B28767 induced a time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation of the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R but not of the FLAG-rEP3beta-R. Agonist-induced phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R were not inhibited by staurosporine, which implies a role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) in agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation. Overexpression of GRKs in FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R- expressing COS-7 cells augmented the M&B28767-induced receptor phosphorylation and receptor sequestration. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal hEP4-R domain possibly by GRKs but not by second messenger kinases may be involved in rapid agonist-induced desensitization of the hEP4-R and the rEP3hEP4-Ct-R. Y1 - 1999 SN - 1521-0111 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Drygala, Frank A1 - Werner, Ulrike A1 - Zoller, Hinrich T1 - Diet composition of the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in north-east Germany JF - Hystrix : the Italian journal of mammalogy N2 - Invasive alien species pose a great threat to the integrity of natural communities by competition with and predation on native species. In Germany the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) occupy a similar ecological niche. Therefore, the aim of our study was to discover the extent of exploitative diet competition between these two generalist carnivores. Carcasses of red foxes (n=256) and raccoon dogs (n=253) were collected throughout Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania (north-east Germany) and stomachs contains were analysed. Frequency of occurrence and biomass share indicate that both canids are omnivorous and pursue opportunistic feeding strategies. Small mammals and edible plant material were the most important food resources for red foxes and raccoon dogs. Nonetheless, interspecies differences were recorded for edible plant material, small mammals and insects. While red foxes mostly feed on voles, raccoon dogs consumed mice and shrews as often as voles. Only raccoon dogs preyed on amphibians. There were no differences in carrion consumption, both species scavenged on wild boar and we found clear competition for carrion year-round. Moreover, there was evidence that two red foxes foraged on raccoon dogs and vice versa. The mean annual interspecies diet overlap index was relatively high. The diets determined for raccoon dogs and red foxes were quite similar and a similar food niche breadth was recorded. However, only minor competition is assumed to take place since differences in feeding habits do exist. KW - Nyctereutes procyonoides KW - Vulpes vulpes KW - invasive species KW - diet competition KW - feeding strategies Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix.-24.2-8867 SN - 0394-1914 SN - 1825-5272 VL - 24 IS - 2 SP - 190 EP - 194 PB - Associazione Teriologica Romana CY - Roma ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - Radtke, Julia A1 - Nienstedt, Julie Cläre A1 - Pötter-Nerger, Monika A1 - Schönwald, Beate A1 - Buhmann, Carsten A1 - Gerloff, Christian A1 - Niessen, Almut A1 - Flügel, Till A1 - Koseki, Jana-Christiane A1 - Pflug, Christina T1 - Dysphagia screening in Parkinson's Disease BT - a diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study investigating the applicability of the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) JF - Neurogastroenterology and motility N2 - Background Simple water-swallowing screening tools are not predictive of aspiration and dysphagia in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of a multi-texture screening tool, the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) to identify aspiration and dysphagia/penetration in PD patients compared to flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Methods Swallowing function was evaluated in 51 PD participants in clinical 'on-medication' state with the GUSS and a FEES examination according to standardized protocols. Inter-rater reliability and convergent validity were determined and GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations were compared. Key Results Inter-rater reliability of GUSS ratings was high (r(s) = 0.8; p < 0.001). Aspiration was identified by the GUSS with a sensitivity of 50%, and specificity of 51.35% (PPV 28%, NPV 73%, LR+ 1.03, LR- 0.97), dysphagia/penetration was identified with 72.97% sensitivity and 35.71% specificity (PPV 75%, NPV 33.33%, LR+ 1.14, LR- 0.76). Agreement between GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations was low (r(s) = 0.12, p = 0.42) with consistent NPO (Nil per Os) allocation by GUSS and FEES in only one participant. Conclusions and Inferences The multi-texture screening tool GUSS in its current form, although applicable with good inter-rater reliability, does not detect aspiration in PD patients with acceptable accuracy. Modifications of the GUSS parameters "coughing," "voice change" and "delayed swallowing" might enhance validity. The GUSS' diet recommendations overestimate the need for oral intake restriction in PD patients and should be verified by instrumental swallowing examination. KW - aspiration KW - dysphagia KW - FEES KW - Gugging Swallowing Screen KW - Parkinson' s disease Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.14034 SN - 1350-1925 SN - 1365-2982 VL - 33 IS - 5 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - GEN A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - Radtke, Julia A1 - Nienstedt, Julie Cläre A1 - Pötter-Nerger, Monika A1 - Schönwald, Beate A1 - Buhmann, Carsten A1 - Gerloff, Christian A1 - Niessen, Almut A1 - Flügel, Till A1 - Koseki, Jana-Christiane A1 - Pflug, Christina T1 - Dysphagia screening in Parkinson's Disease BT - a diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study investigating the applicability of the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Background Simple water-swallowing screening tools are not predictive of aspiration and dysphagia in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of a multi-texture screening tool, the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) to identify aspiration and dysphagia/penetration in PD patients compared to flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Methods Swallowing function was evaluated in 51 PD participants in clinical 'on-medication' state with the GUSS and a FEES examination according to standardized protocols. Inter-rater reliability and convergent validity were determined and GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations were compared. Key Results Inter-rater reliability of GUSS ratings was high (r(s) = 0.8; p < 0.001). Aspiration was identified by the GUSS with a sensitivity of 50%, and specificity of 51.35% (PPV 28%, NPV 73%, LR+ 1.03, LR- 0.97), dysphagia/penetration was identified with 72.97% sensitivity and 35.71% specificity (PPV 75%, NPV 33.33%, LR+ 1.14, LR- 0.76). Agreement between GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations was low (r(s) = 0.12, p = 0.42) with consistent NPO (Nil per Os) allocation by GUSS and FEES in only one participant. Conclusions and Inferences The multi-texture screening tool GUSS in its current form, although applicable with good inter-rater reliability, does not detect aspiration in PD patients with acceptable accuracy. Modifications of the GUSS parameters "coughing," "voice change" and "delayed swallowing" might enhance validity. The GUSS' diet recommendations overestimate the need for oral intake restriction in PD patients and should be verified by instrumental swallowing examination. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe - 854 KW - aspiration KW - dysphagia KW - FEES KW - Gugging Swallowing Screen KW - Parkinson' s disease Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-569625 SN - 1866-8364 IS - 5 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - Frank, Katrin A1 - Zimmermann, Heinrich T1 - Effects of Respiratory Therapy (bagging) on Respiratory Function, Swallowing Frequency and Vigilance in Tracheotomized Patients in Early Neurorehabilitation JF - Pneumologie : Zeitschrift für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin N2 - Objective: Tracheotomized patients often suffer from impairments in mucociliary clearance and limited capacities for active expectoration of secretions. We investigated the effects of a specific respiratory intervention method (bagging) for tracheotomized patients on respiratory parameters (pO(2), pCO(2), SpO(2), respiratory rates), swallowing frequency, vigilance and secretion viscosity. Methods: The bagging method supports enforced mobilization and expectoration of secretions by application of a series of manual hyperinflations with a resuscitation bag during active inspiration and manual cough support on the chest. 30 tracheotomized neurological patients participated in a multiple-baseline study including a three-weeks intervention period and a follow-up measurement three weeks after termination of the treatment. Results: Most outcome parameters improved significantly during the intervention period: pO(2) (p<.01), SpO(2) (p<.01), respiratory rates (p<.01), swallowing rates (p<.01), and vigilance scores (p<.01). The quality of bronchial secretions improved in all participants. All effects were sustained up to the follow-up measurements. Conclusion: This preliminary data indicates positive effects for a respiratory intervention method (bagging) on respiratory function and additional respiration-related functions in tracheotomized neurological patients. This easy-to-learn and inexpensive method might expand the range of treatment options for tracheotomized and non-responsive patients. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1392359 SN - 0934-8387 SN - 1438-8790 VL - 69 IS - 7 SP - 394 EP - 399 PB - Thieme CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Neuschäfer-Rube, Frank A1 - Engemaier, Eva A1 - Koch, Sina A1 - Böer, Ulrike A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul T1 - Identification by site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids contributing to ligand-binding specificity or signal transduction properties of the human FP prostanoid receptor N2 - Prostanoid receptors belong to the class of heptahelical plasma membrane receptors. For the five prostanoids, eight receptor subtypes have been identified. They display an overall sequence similarity of roughly 30%. Based on sequence comparison, single amino acids in different subtypes of different species have previously been identified by site-directed mutagenesis or in hybrid receptors that appear to be essential for ligand binding or G-protein coupling. Based on this information, a series of mutants of the human FP receptor was generated and characterized in ligand- binding and second-messenger-formation studies. It was found that mutation of His-81 to Ala in transmembrane domain 2 and of Arg-291 to Leu in transmembrane domain 7, which are putative interaction partners for the prostanoid's carboxyl group, abolished ligand binding. Mutants in which Ser-263 in transmembrane domain 6 or Asp-300 in transmembrane domain 7 had been replaced by Ala or Gln, respectively, no longer discriminated between prostaglandins PGF(2alpha) and PGD(2). Thus distortion of the topology of transmembrane domains 6 and 7 appears to interfere with the cyclopentane ring selectivity of the receptor. PGF(2alpha)-induced inositol formation was strongly reduced in the mutant Asp-300Gln, inferring a role for this residue in agonist-induced G-protein activation. Y1 - 2003 UR - http://www.biochemj.org/bj/371/0443/bj3710443.htm ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - van den Engel-Hoek, Lenie A1 - Nogueira, Dalia A1 - Schindler, Antonio A1 - Adams, Sasha A1 - Curry, Morgan A1 - Huckabee, Maggie-Lee T1 - International standardisation of the test of masticating and swallowing solids in children JF - Journal of oral rehabilitation N2 - The Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS) is a validated assessment tool measuring the efficiency of solid bolus intake by four quantitative parameters: discrete bites, masticatory cycles, swallows and time to ingest a single cracker. A normative database for adults (20-80+ years) has previously been established. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability and reliability of the TOMASS in children and adolescents (TOMASS-C) and to establish the normative database for this younger population. We collected data from 638 participants (male: 311, female: 327) in five age groups (4-18 years) with five different but very similar test crackers in four countries. Significant effects of bolus type (cracker), age group and gender on the TOMASS parameters were identified, requiring stratification of the TOMASS-C database by these variables. Intra-rater reliability was excellent (ICC > 0.94) for all parameters; inter-rater reliability was moderate for "number of swallows" (ICC = 0.54), good for "bites" (ICC = 0.78) and "time" (ICC = 0.82), and excellent for "masticatory cycles" (ICC = 0.96). The "Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids in Children (TOMASS-C)" was identified to be a reliable diagnostic tool for the comprehensive measurement of discrete oral stage components of solid bolus ingestion, standardised by a large normative database that covers age groups from preschoolers to young adults. While differences between gender groups were less pronounced than in the adult population, previous results relating to changes in masticatory and swallowing as a function of age are confirmed by our data. KW - mastication KW - normative data KW - reliability KW - solid bolus KW - swallowing Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.12728 SN - 0305-182X SN - 1365-2842 VL - 46 IS - 2 SP - 161 EP - 169 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Opitz, Stephan A1 - Wünnemann, Bernd A1 - Aichner, Bernhard A1 - Dietze, Elisabeth A1 - Hartmann, Kai A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike A1 - IJmker, Janneke A1 - Lehmkuhl, Frank A1 - Li, Shijie A1 - Mischke, Steffen A1 - Plotzki, Anna A1 - Stauch, Georg A1 - Diekmann, Bernhard T1 - Late Glacial and Holocene development of Lake Donggi Cona, north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, inferred from sedimentological analysis JF - Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences N2 - Sediments of Lake Donggi Cona on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau were studied to infer changes in the lacustrine depositional environment, related to climatic and non-climatic changes during the last 19 kyr. The lake today fills a 30x8 km big and 95 m deep tectonic basin, associated with the Kunlun Fault. The study was conducted on a sediment-core transect through the lake basin, in order to gain a complete picture of spatio-temporal environmental change. The recovered sediments are partly finely laminated and are composed of calcareous muds with variable amounts of carbonate micrite, organic matter, detrital silt and clay. On the basis of sedimentological, geochemical, and mineralogical data up to five lithological units (LU) can be distinguished that document distinct stages in the development of the lake system. The onset of the lowermost LU with lacustrine muds above basal sands indicates that lake level was at least 39 m below the present level and started to rise after 19 ka, possibly in response to regional deglaciation. At this time, the lacustrine environment was characterized by detrital sediment influx and the deposition of siliciclastic sediment. In two sediment cores, upward grain-size coarsening documents a lake-level fall after 13 cal ka BP, possibly associated with the late-glacial Younger Dryas stadial. From 11.5 to 4.3 cal ka BP, grain-size fining in sediment cores from the profundal coring sites and the onset of lacustrine deposition at a litoral core site (2 m water depth) in a recent marginal bay of Donggi Cona document lake-level rise during the early to mid-Holocene to at least modern level. In addition, high biological productivity and pronounced precipitation of carbonate micrites are consistent with warm and moist climate conditions related to an enhanced influence of summer monsoon. At 4.3 cal ka BP the lake system shifted from an aragonite- to a calcite-dominated system, indicating a change towards a fully open hydrological lake system. The younger clay-rich sediments are moreover non-laminated and lack any diagenetic sulphides, pointing to fully ventilated conditions, and the prevailing absence of lake stratification. This turning point in lake history could imply either a threshold response to insolation-forced climate cooling or a response to a non-climatic trigger, such as an erosional event or a tectonic pulse that induced a strong earthquake, which is difficult to decide from our data base. KW - China KW - Monsoon KW - Paleolimnology KW - Multi-site study KW - Aragonite KW - XRF KW - XRD KW - Sedimentology Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.04.013 SN - 0031-0182 VL - 337 IS - 23 SP - 159 EP - 176 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schirrmeister, Lutz A1 - Meyer, Hanno A1 - Andreev, Andrei A1 - Wetterich, Sebastian A1 - Kienast, Frank A1 - Bobrov, Anatoly A1 - Fuchs, Margret A1 - Sierralta, Melanie A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike T1 - Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental records from the Chatanika River valley near Fairbanks (Alaska) JF - Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal N2 - Perennially-frozen deposits are considered as excellent paleoenvironmental archives similar to lacustrine, deep marine, and glacier records because of the long-term and good preservation of fossil records under stable permafrost conditions. A permafrost tunnel in the Vault Creek Valley (Chatanika River Valley, near Fairbanks) exposes a sequence of frozen deposits and ground ice that provides a comprehensive set of proxies to reconstruct the late Quaternary environmental history of Interior Alaska. The multi-proxy approach includes different dating techniques (radiocarbon-accelerator mass spectrometry [AMS C-14], optically stimulated luminescence [OSL], thorium/uranium radioisotope disequilibria [Th-230/U]), as well as methods of sedimentology, paleoecology, hydrochemistry, and stable isotope geochemistry of ground ice. The studied sequence consists of 36-m-thick late Quaternary deposits above schistose bedrock. Main portions of the sequence accumulated during the early and middle Wisconsin periods. The lowermost unit A consists of about 9-m-thick ice-bonded fluvial gravels with sand and peat lenses. A late Sangamon (MIS 5a) age of unit A is assumed. Spruce forest with birch, larch, and some shrubby alder dominated the vegetation. High presence of Sphagnum spores and Cyperaceae pollen points to mires in the Vault Creek Valley. The overlying unit B consists of 10-m-thick alternating fluvial gravels, loess-like silt, and sand layers, penetrated by small ice wedges. OSL dates support a stadial early Wisconsin (MIS 4) age of unit B. Pollen and plant macrofossil data point to spruce forests with some birch interspersed with wetlands around the site. The following unit C is composed of 15-m-thick ice-rich loess-like and organic-rich silt with fossil bones and large ice wedges. Unit C formed during the interstadial mid-Wisconsin (MIS 3) and stadial late Wisconsin (MIS 2) as indicated by radiocarbon ages. Post-depositional slope processes significantly deformed both, ground ice and sediments of unit C. Pollen data show that spruce forests and wetlands dominated the area. The macrofossil remains of Picea, Larix, and Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia also prove the existence of boreal coniferous forests during the mid-Wisconsin interstadial, which were replaced by treeless tundra-steppe vegetation during the late Wisconsin stadial. Unit C is discordantly overlain by the 2-m-thick late Holocene deposits of unit D. The pollen record of unit D indicates boreal forest vegetation similar to the modern one. The permafrost record from the Vault Creek tunnel reflects more than 90 ka of periglacial landscape dynamics triggered by fluvial and eolian accumulation, and formation of ice-wedge polygons and post depositional deformation by slope processes. The record represents a typical Wisconsin valley-bottom facies in Central Alaska. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KW - Permafrost KW - Interior Alaska KW - Loess KW - Cryolithology KW - Geochronology KW - Paleoecology KW - Landscape dynamics Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.02.009 SN - 0277-3791 VL - 147 SP - 259 EP - 278 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER -