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Purpose: Simultaneous effects of more than one global change driver on ecosystem functioning have rarely been assessed. Methods: We disentangled the effects of region encompassing climatic and edaphic conditions, forest-management intensity and community plant diversity on litterfall quantity, quality and turnover in 27 temperate forests across an environmental gradient. Results: Region significantly influenced litterfall and organic layer mass and chemical quality and litter and element turnover. After accounting for the influence of region, increasing forest-management intensity (ForMI) significantly decreased litterfall mass, N, P and K concentrations and nutrient fluxes and slowed down litter and nutrient turnover. Because increasing ForMI reflected the man-made contributions of coniferous trees, these results can partly be attributed to the lower litterfall at our study sites and slower litter turnover of coniferous than deciduous trees. After accounting for the influences of region and ForMI, increasing diversity of the vascular plant community on the study plots measured as species richness or Shannon index significantly increased C and decreased N, P and S concentrations in litterfall. Together with the significantly decreased N and P concentrations in the organic layer with increasing plant diversity, these results indicated an increased within-stand nutrient-use efficiency and a more complete soil nutrient use with increasing plant diversity. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that increasing ForMI, which is associated with increasing conifer shares, leaves element stocks in the organic layer unchanged but slows down C turnover and thus increases temporary C storage in soil organic layers. Moreover, community vascular plant diversity helps close nutrient cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding encoded language, such as written words, requires multiple cognitive processes that act in a parallel and interactive fashion. These processes and their interactions, however, are not fully understood. Various conceptual and methodical approaches including computational modeling and neuroimaging have been applied to better understand the neural underpinnings of these complex processes in the human brain. In this study, we tested different predictions of cortical interactions that derived from computational models for reading using dynamic causal modeling. Morse code was used as a model for non-lexical decoding followed by a lexical-decision during a functional magnetic resonance examination. Our results suggest that individual letters are first converted into phonemes within the left supramarginal gyrus, followed by a phoneme assembly to reconstruct word phonology, involving the left inferior frontal cortex. To allow the identification and comprehension of known words, the inferior frontal cortex then interacts with the semantic system via the left angular gyrus. As such, the left angular gyrus is likely to host phonological and semantic representations and serves as a bidirectional interface between the networks involved in language perception and word comprehension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Certification of centers for weaning from a ventilator in neurological neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) by the German Society for Neurorehabilitation (DGNR) is possible since 1 October 2021. Objective: The results of certification of facilities in the first year after starting the procedure are presented. Material and methods: As part of the certification process 28 criteria are assessed including a set of mandatory characteristics of the facility. The criteria are divided into structural criteria (i = 7), diagnostic criteria (i = 6), personnel criteria (i = 3), internal organization criteria (i = 7), and quality management criteria (i = 5). Results: A total of 13 centers were certified in the first year, with a combined total of 283 beds for weaning from a ventilator in the NNER and served 2278 persons to be weaned from a ventilator in the year before certification, with a median of 134 per facility (range 44–414). Only rarely was weaning unsuccessful, requiring conversion to home mechanical ventilation before discharge (invasive home mechanical ventilation median per facility 10 persons, range 2–25; non-invasive home mechanical ventilation median 0 persons, range 0–57). A high level of process and structural quality was documented for the certified centers: across all areas of assessment, the individual certification criteria were met in the vast majority of cases (median degree of complete fulfilment 86%) or met with improvement potentials documented by the auditors (median 11%). Conclusion: Successful weaning in NNER and a high level of process and structural quality can be demonstrated by the certification results of centers that follow this integrative approach to weaning from a ventilator in a NNER setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims: The retreat of glaciers is exposing new terrains to primary plant succession around the globe. To improve the understanding of vegetation development along a glacier retreat chronosequence, we (i) evaluated a possible link between base metal (Ca, Mg, K, Na) supply and vegetation establishment, (ii) determined the rates of the establishment of soil and plant base metal stocks, and (iii) estimated the size of the main base metal fluxes. Methods: We determined base metal stocks in the soil organic layer, the mineral topsoil (0–10 cm), and in leaves/needles, trunk, bark, branches and roots of the dominating shrub and tree species and estimated fluxes of atmospheric deposition, plant uptake and leaching losses along the 127-yr Hailuogou chronosequence. Results: Total ecosystem Ca and Mg stocks decreased along the chronosequence, while those of K and Na were unrelated with ecosystem age. Fortyfour and 30% of the initial stocks of Ca and Mg, respectively, were leached during the first 47 years, at rates of 130 ± 10.6 g m−2 year−1 Ca and 35 ± 3.1 g m−2 year−1 Mg. The organic layer accumulated at a mean rate of 288 g m−2 year−1 providing a bioavailable base metal stock, which was especially important for K cycling. Conclusions: We suggest that the initial high Ca bioavailability because of a moderately alkaline soil pH and carbonate depletion in 47 years, together with the dissolution of easily-weatherable silicates providing enough Mg and K to the pioneer vegetation, contributed to the establishment of the mature forest in ca. 80 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have described the structure and function of the insular cortex in terms of spatially continuous gradients. Here we assess how spatial features of insular resting state functional organization correspond to individual pain sensitivity. From a previous multicenter study, we included 107 healthy participants, who underwent resting state functional MRI scans, T1-weighted scans and quantitative sensory testing on the left forearm. Thermal and mechanical pain thresholds were determined. Connectopic mapping, a technique using non-linear representations of functional organization was employed to describe functional connectivity gradients in both insulae. Partial coefficients of determination were calculated between trend surface model parameters summarizing spatial features of gradients, modal and modality-independent pain sensitivity. The dominant connectopy captured the previously reported posteroanterior shift in connectivity profiles. Spatial features of dominant connectopies in the right insula explained significant amounts of variance in thermal (R2 = 0.076; p < 0.001 and R2 = 0.031; p < 0.029) and composite pain sensitivity (R2 = 0.072; p < 0.002). The left insular gradient was not significantly associated with pain thresholds. Our results highlight the functional relevance of gradient-like insular organization in pain processing. Considering individual variations in insular connectopy might contribute to understanding neural mechanisms behind pain and improve objective brain-based characterization of individual pain sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations, composition patterns, transport and fate of PAHs in semi-arid and arid soils such as in Central Asia are not well known. Such knowledge is required to manage the risk posed by these toxic chemicals to humans and ecosystems in these regions. To fill this knowledge gap, we determined the concentrations of 21 parent PAHs, 4,5-methylenephenanthrene, 6 alkylated PAHs, and biphenyl in soils from 11 sampling locations (0–10, 10–20 cm soil depths) along a 20-km transect downwind from the Almalyk metal mining and metallurgical industrial complex (Almalyk MMC), Uzbekistan. The concentrations of Σ29 PAHs and Σ16 US-EPA PAHs were 41–2670 ng g−1 and 29–1940 ng g−1, respectively. The highest concentration of Σ29 PAHs occurred in the immediate vicinity of the copper smelting factory of the Almalyk MMC. The concentrations in topsoil decreased substantially to a value of ≤ 200 ng g−1 (considered as background concentration) at ≥ 2 km away from the factory. Low molecular weight PAHs dominated the PAH mixtures at less contaminated sites and high molecular weight PAHs at the most contaminated site. The concentration of Σ16 US-EPA PAHs did not exceed the precautionary values set by the soil quality guidelines of, e.g., Switzerland and Germany. Similarly, the benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration in soils near the Almalyk MMC did not exceed the value set by the Canadian guidelines for the protection of humans from carcinogenic PAHs in soils. Consequently, the cancer risk due to exposure to PAHs in these soils can be considered as low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical mountain ecosystems are threatened by climate and land-use changes. Their diversity and complexity make projections how they respond to environmental changes challenging. A suitable way are trait-based approaches, by distinguishing between response traits that determine the resistance of species to environmental changes and effect traits that are relevant for species' interactions, biotic processes, and ecosystem functions. The combination of those approaches with land surface models (LSM) linking the functional community composition to ecosystem functions provides new ways to project the response of ecosystems to environmental changes. With the interdisciplinary project RESPECT, we propose a research framework that uses a trait-based response-effect-framework (REF) to quantify relationships between abiotic conditions, the diversity of functional traits in communities, and associated biotic processes, informing a biodiversity-LSM. We apply the framework to a megadiverse tropical mountain forest. We use a plot design along an elevation and a land-use gradient to collect data on abiotic drivers, functional traits, and biotic processes. We integrate these data to build the biodiversity-LSM and illustrate how to test the model. REF results show that aboveground biomass production is not directly related to changing climatic conditions, but indirectly through associated changes in functional traits. Herbivory is directly related to changing abiotic conditions. The biodiversity-LSM informed by local functional trait and soil data improved the simulation of biomass production substantially. We conclude that local data, also derived from previous projects (platform Ecuador), are key elements of the research framework. We specify essential datasets to apply this framework to other mountain ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Der Internist is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Nervenarzt is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We conducted a 15N tracer experiment in laboratory microcosms with field-fresh soil samples from a biodiversity experiment to evaluate the relationship between grassland biodiversity and N cycling. To embrace the complexity of the N cycle, we determined N exchange between five soil N pools (labile and recalcitrant organic N, dissolved NH4+ and NO3− in soil solution, and exchangeable NH4+) and eight N transformations (gross N mineralization from labile and recalcitrant organic N, NH4+ immobilization into labile and recalcitrant organic N, autotrophic nitrification, heterotrophic nitrification, NO3− immobilization, adsorption of NH4+) expected in aerobic soils with the help of the N-cycle model Ntrace. We used grassland soil of the Jena Experiment, which includes plant mixtures with 1 to 60 species and 1 to 4 functional groups (legumes, grasses, tall herbs, small herbs). The 19 soil samples of one block of the Jena Experiment were labeled with either 15NH4+ or 15NO3- or both. In the presence of legumes, gross N mineralization and autotrophic nitrification increased significantly because of higher soil N concentrations in legume-containing plots and high microbial activity. Similarly, the presence of grasses significantly increased the soil NH4+ pool, gross N mineralization, and NH4+ immobilization, likely because of enhanced microbial biomass and activity by providing large amounts of rhizodeposits through their dense root systems. In our experiment, previously reported plant species richness effects on the N cycle, observed in a larger-scale field experiment within the Jena Experiment, were not seen. However, specific plant functional groups had a significant positive impact on the N cycling in the incubated soil samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gross rates of nitrogen (N) turnover inform about the total N release and consumption. We investigated how plant diversity affects gross N mineralization, microbial ammonium (NH4+) consumption and gross inorganic N immobilization in grasslands via isotopic pool dilution. The field experiment included 74 plots with 1–16 plant species and 1–4 plant functional groups (legumes, grasses, tall herbs, small herbs). We determined soil pH, shoot height, root, shoot and microbial biomass, and C and N concentrations in soil, microbial biomass, roots and shoots. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that increasing plant species richness significantly decreased gross N mineralization and microbial NH4+ consumption rates via increased root C:N ratios. Root C:N ratios increased because of the replacement of legumes (low C:N ratios) by small herbs (high C:N ratios) and an increasing shoot height, which was positively related with root C:N ratios, with increasing species richness. However, in our SEM remained an unexplained direct negative path from species richness to both N turnover rates. The presence of legumes increased gross N mineralization, microbial NH4+ consumption and gross inorganic N immobilization rates likely because of improved N supply by N2 fixation. The positive effect of small herbs on microbial NH4+ consumption and gross inorganic N immobilization could be attributed to their increased rhizodeposition, stimulating microbial growth. Our results demonstrate that increasing root C:N ratios with increasing species richness slow down the N cycle but also that there must be additional, still unidentified processes behind the species richness effect potentially including changed microbial community composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five nearly identical fragments of specialized bone tools, interpreted as lissoirs (French for "smoothers"), have been found at two Middle Paleolithic sites in southwest France. The finds span three separate archaeological deposits, suggesting continuity in the behavior of late Neandertals. Using standard morphological assessments, we determined that the lissoirs were produced on ribs of medium-sized ungulates. However, since these bones are highly fragmented and anthropogenically modified, species determinations were challenging. Also, conservative curation policy recommends minimizing destructive sampling of rare, fragile, or small artifacts for molecular identification methods. To better understand raw material selection for these five lissoirs, we reassess their taxonomy using a non-destructive ZooMS methodology based on triboelectric capture of collagen. We sampled four storage containers and obtained identifiable MALDI-TOF MS collagen fingerprints, all indicative of the same taxonomic clade, which includes aurochs and bison (Bos sp. and Bison sp.). The fifth specimen, which was stored in a plastic bag, provided no useful MALDI-TOF MS spectra. We show that the choice of large bovid ribs in an archaeological layer dominated by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) demonstrates strategic selection by these Neandertals. Furthermore, our results highlight the value of a promising technique for the non-destructive analysis of bone artifacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-acute inpatient neurorehabilitation facilities are increasingly treating patients who are not only severely ill and multimorbid but who are also referred from non-neurological departments. These patients are still often medically unstable so that the previous diagnostics and treatment must be reevaluated and when necessary adapted or supplemented. Certain interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic problems, such as antithrombotic therapy, regularly reoccur. This article presents these problems in a checklist fashion, which should provide indications in individual cases when previously carried out measures need to be questioned and adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluorescence responses of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) and L-leucine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (L-leucine-AMC) (the fluorescent dye and substrate used in the soil leucine aminopeptidase assay, respectively) to alkalization by NaOH and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (THAM) buffer were analyzed. The leucine aminopeptidase activities were also measured without and with the alkalization procedure using five soils with contrasting properties. The pH optimum of leucine aminopeptidase activity was 8 ± 1 for the five studied soils. In this pH range, the alkalization procedure cannot increase the fluorescence of AMC to improve the assay sensitivity. Excess alkalization (final medium pH of 12 or higher) led to decreasing fluorescence of AMC with time and non-enzymatic hydrolysis of L-leucine-AMC, which caused irreproducible values of the calculated enzyme activities. Moreover, a medium pH of ~ 11 cannot terminate the enzymatic reaction, and thus it seems impractical to stop the enzyme reaction by alkalization without causing the unstable behavior of AMC and L-leucine-AMC. We recommend performing the soil leucine aminopeptidase assay at the optimal pH without alkalization and reading the fluorescence immediately after incubation. This approach may help to simplify and standardize the leucine aminopeptidase assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual differences in pain perception are of interest in basic and clinical research as altered pain sensitivity is both a characteristic and a risk factor for many pain conditions. It is, however, unclear how individual sensitivity to pain is reflected in the pain-free resting-state brain activity and functional connectivity. Here, we identify and validate a network pattern in the pain-free resting-state functional brain connectome that is predictive of interindividual differences in pain sensitivity. Our predictive network signature allows assessing the individual sensitivity to pain without applying any painful stimulation, as might be valuable in patients where reliable behavioural pain reports cannot be obtained. Additionally, as a direct, non-invasive readout of the supraspinal neural contribution to pain sensitivity, it may have implications for translational research and the development and assessment of analgesic treatment strategies. An fMRI-based brain signature to predict an individual's pain sensitivity could be useful clinically. Here the authors identify a network in the resting brain which can be used to predict responses to noxious stimuli in healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aimed to quantify the pool size of soil microbial biomass P (Pmic) during the early stage of soil development up to 125 years after glacial retreat in the Gongga Mountains, China and relate the pool size of Pmic to the plant P (Pplant) pools in the ecosystem. Methods: We determined the pool sizes of P in soil microbes, plants and soils and the P fluxes with plant uptake and litterfall in successional ecosystems at five study sites along the 125-year Hailuogou glacial retreat chronosequence. Moreover, we estimated the flux of P cycled through microbial biomass (Pmic cycling) based on literature data. We also approached the likelihood of P competition between plants and soil microbes based on the P status of the plants, soils and soil microbes. Results: The size of the Pmic pools (0.2–8.3 g m−2) in the organic layer and top 10 cm of the mineral soils was comparable to that of the Pplant pools (0.3–9.1 g m−2) at all study sites along the Hailuogou chronosequence. Based on the literature, the Pmic cycling at our study site (0.3–13.5 g m−2 year−1 if estimated based on temporal fluctuations of Pmic, 5.2–268 g m−2 year−1 if estimated based on the isotope dilution method) was at least one order of magnitude larger than the Pplant uptake (not detected-0.36 g m−2 year−1) and the Pplant return by litterfall (not detected-0.16 g m−2 year−1). Although Pmic became a major pool of biological P, we did not find indications of P competition between plants and soil microbes as indicated by the positive relationships between the concentrations of Pmic and plant-available P in soils and the P-rich status of plants and soil microbes. Conclusions: Soil microbial biomass already becomes a major P pool in the early stage of soil development. Our estimations based on the literature suggest that Pmic cycling is probably the largest P flux in the studied up to 125-year ecosystems. Plants likely did not suffer P competition with microbes, in part due to the preferential decomposition of the P-rich compounds from dead microbial biomass which led to net P mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate differences in diffusion parameters in thigh muscles in patients with glycogen storage disease type V (McArdle disease) using muscle diffusion tensor imaging (mDTI) compared to healthy controls METHODS: In this prospective study, we evaluated thigh muscles from hip to knee of 10 McArdle patients (5 female, mean age 33.7 ± 14.4 years) and 10 healthy age- and gender-matched volunteers. MRI scans were performed at 3 T and comprised mDTI, T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging between May 2015 and May 2017. Needle biopsy of the vastus lateralis muscle was performed in three McArdle patients. The muscle tissue was analyzed by using histochemical and enzyme-histochemical techniques for glycogen content and histopathological changes. Mean values of the eigenvalues (λ1-λ3), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained for the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus and compared between groups using Student's t tests, as well as ANCOVA; significance level was set at p < 0.05.Results: Needle biopsy showed intracellular glycogen accumulation in skeletal muscle fibers of three McArdle patients. Extracellular histopathological changes were not found. Muscle DTI analysis did not show statistically significant differences between patients and controls for any of the muscles.Conclusion: Despite intracellular glycogen accumulation in the three biopsy samples, mDTI parameters were not altered in McArdle patients compared to controls. We conclude that the currently used mDTI acquisition and processing lack the sensitivity to detect intracellular changes due to accumulated glycogen in this cohort of McArdle patients.Key Points: • Despite intracellular glycogen accumulation in three examined biopsy samples, mDTI parameters were not altered in McArdle patients compared to controls. • In its current form, diffusion MR does not provide additional information in quantifying intracellular glycogen accumulations within skeletal muscle fibers in McArdle patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite group A streptococci being an infrequent cause of pharyngitis in adult outpatients, sore throat remains a common indication for antibiotic prescription. This prospective multicentre non-randomised study describes a community pharmacy-based antimicrobial stewardship intervention consisting in the implementation of rapid antigen testing (RAT) for the management of adults with sore throat. Trained pharmacists triaged patients presenting with symptoms of pharyngitis using the modified Centor score. Those at risk for streptococcal infection were tested with RAT. Patients with a positive RAT were invited to consult a physician, whereas others were offered a symptomatic treatment. All patients received educational leaflets and were asked to fill in a follow-up form 7 days later. Ninety-eight pharmacies in one French region participated, and 559 patients were included over 6 months. RAT was proposed in 367 (65.7%) cases, and it was positive in 28 (8.3%). The follow-up form was returned by 140 (38.5%) participants. Of these, 10/10 patients with positive RAT further consulted a physician and were prescribed an antibiotic treatment, whereas 96.5% (110/114) of patients with negative results and not having any other reason to seek for doctor’s advice did not consult. All participants found the intervention useful. Pharmacists spent 6-15 min to perform the intervention, and 98.6% (73/74) of pharmacists giving a feedback declared to be ready to implement this intervention in daily practice, if endorsed and reimbursed. Our results suggest that a pharmacy-based programme for the management of sore throat is feasible and could increase adherence to guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the susceptibility of the base metal budget of a remote tropical montane forest in Ecuador to environmental change, we determined the extent of biological control of base metal fluxes and explored the impact of atmospheric inputs and precipitation, considered as potential drivers of ecosystem change, on the base metal fluxes. We quantified all major base metal fluxes in a ca. 9.1 ha forested catchment from 1998 to 2013. Mean (±s.d.) annual flux to the soil via throughfall + stemflow + litterfall was 13800 ± 1500 mg m Ca, 19000 ± 1510 mg m K, 4690 ± 619 mg m Mg and 846 ± 592 mg m Na of which 22 ± 6, 45 ± 16, 39 ± 10 and 84 ± 33%, respectively, were leached to below the organic layer. The mineral soil retained 79-94% of this Ca, K and Mg, while Na was released. Weathering rates estimated with three different approaches ranged from not detected (ND) to 504 mg m year Ca, ND-1770 mg m year K, 287-597 mg m year Mg and 403-540 mg m year Na. The size of mainly biologically controlled aboveground fluxes of Ca, K and Mg was 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than that of mainly geochemically controlled fluxes (sorption to soil and weathering). The elemental catchment budgets (total deposition − streamflow) were positive for Ca (574 ± 893 mg m) and K (1330 ± 773 mg m), negative for Na (−370 ± 1300 mg m) and neutral for Mg (1.89 ± 304 mg m). Our results demonstrate that biological processes controlled element retention for Ca, K and Mg in the biological part of the ecosystem. This was different for Na, which was mainly released by weathering from the study catchment, while the biological part of the ecosystem was Na-poor. The deposition of base metals was the strongest driver of their budgets suggesting that the base metal cycling of the study ecosystem is susceptible to changing deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diversity influences many ecosystem functions including root decomposition. However, due to the presence of multiple pathways via which plant diversity may affect root decomposition, our mechanistic understanding of their relationships is limited. In a grassland biodiversity experiment, we simultaneously assessed the effects of three pathways-root litter quality, soil biota, and soil abiotic conditions-on the relationships between plant diversity (in terms of species richness and the presence/absence of grasses and legumes) and root decomposition using structural equation modeling. Our final structural equation model explained 70% of the variation in root mass loss. However, different measures of plant diversity included in our model operated via different pathways to alter root mass loss. Plant species richness had a negative effect on root mass loss. This was partially due to increased Oribatida abundance, but was weakened by enhanced root potassium (K) concentration in more diverse mixtures. Equally, grass presence negatively affected root mass loss. This effect of grasses was mostly mediated via increased root lignin concentration and supported via increased Oribatida abundance and decreased root K concentration. In contrast, legume presence showed a net positive effect on root mass loss via decreased root lignin concentration and increased root magnesium concentration, both of which led to enhanced root mass loss. Overall, the different measures of plant diversity had contrasting effects on root decomposition. Furthermore, we found that root chemistry and soil biota but not root morphology or soil abiotic conditions mediated these effects of plant diversity on root decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Higher plant diversity reduces nitrate leaching by complementary resource use, while its relation to leaching of other N species is unclear. We determined the effects of plant species richness, functional group richness, and the presence of specific functional groups on ammonium, dissolved organic N (DON), and total dissolved N (TDN) leaching from grassland in the first 4 years after conversion from fertilized arable land to unfertilized grassland. On 62 experimental plots in Jena, Germany, with 1-60 plant species and 1-4 functional groups (legumes, grasses, tall herbs, small herbs), nitrate, ammonium, and TDN concentrations in soil solution (0-0.3 m soil layer) were measured fortnightly during 4 years. DON concentrations were calculated by subtracting inorganic N from TDN. Nitrogen concentrations were multiplied with modeled downward water fluxes to obtain N leaching. DON leaching contributed most to TDN leaching (64 ± SD 4% of TDN). Ammonium leaching was unaffected by plant diversity. Increasing species richness decreased DON leaching in the fourth year. We attribute this finding to enhanced use of DON as a C and N source and enhanced mineralization of DON by soil microorganisms. An increase of species richness decreased TDN leaching likely driven by the complementary use of nitrate by diverse mixtures. Legumes increased DON and TDN leaching likely because of their N $$_{2}$$ -fixing ability and higher litter production. Grasses decreased TDN leaching because of more exhaustive use of nitrate and water. Our results demonstrate that increasing plant species richness decreases leaching of DON and TDN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of animals to element fluxes in ecosystems is little known. We therefore estimated the contribution of a common frugivorous bat species (Phyllostomidae: Artibeus jamaicensis) to the base metal fluxes (Ca, Mg, and K) from fig trees to soil in a tropical lowland forest on Barro Colorado Island (BCI) because figs provide large parts of the Ca required by these mammals. We chose three individual old-growth fig trees on each of four geological units of BCI varying in soil exchangeable base metal concentrations. To assess element fluxes, we determined internal base metal cycling via canopy exchange and litterfall, external input through bulk and dry deposition, and contributions of bats through pellets and bat faeces as well as element absorption in bats. Assuming a consumption of 20 % of the total fig production by A. jamaicensis, total mean fluxes from fig trees to soil were 24 ± 7 g m year for Ca, 4.6 ± 1.6 for Mg, and 21 ± 4 for K, respectively. The largest part of Ca and Mg was cycled as bulk litterfall (79 ± 9 and 62 ± 15 %, respectively) and of K as canopy leaching (56 ± 12 %). A. jamaicensis contributed 1.7 ± 0.5, 2.3 ± 0.6, and 6.1 ± 1.8 % to the total fluxes of Ca, Mg and K under fig trees, respectively. The contribution of A. jamaicensis to the base metal fluxes below the fig canopy was similar to that of bulk deposition. Our results demonstrate that the contribution of a single frugivorous mammal species to internal base metal cycling in a tropical ecosystem may be similarly important as bulk deposition and can have measurable effects on local soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diversity is an important driver of nitrogen and phosphorus stocks in aboveground plant biomass of grassland ecosystems, but plant diversity effects on other elements also important for plant growth are less understood. We tested whether plant species richness, functional group richness or the presence/absence of particular plant functional groups influences the Si and Ca concentrations (mmol g) and stocks (mmol m) in aboveground plant biomass in a large grassland biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment). In the experiment including 60 temperate grassland species, plant diversity was manipulated as sown species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16) and richness and identity of plant functional groups (1-4; grasses, small herbs, tall herbs, legumes). We found positive species richness effects on Si as well as Ca stocks that were attributable to increased biomass production. The presence of particular functional groups was the most important factor explaining variation in aboveground Si and Ca stocks (mmol m). Grass presence increased the Si stocks by 140 % and legume presence increased the Ca stock by 230 %. Both the presence of specific plant functional groups and species diversity altered Si and Ca stocks, whereas Si and Ca concentration were affected mostly by the presence of specific plant functional groups. However, we found a negative effect of species diversity on Si and Ca accumulation, by calculating the deviation between mixtures and mixture biomass proportions, but in monoculture concentrations. These changes may in turn affect ecosystem processes such as plant litter decomposition and nutrient cycling in grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study aimed to evaluate the imports and exports of dissolved nitrogen from mull-type organic layers to identify control techniques of nitrogen (N) leaching among beech forests in Central Europe. The study is conducted through the continuous measurement of dissolved N fluxes with throughfall and through mull-type organic layers. The results of the study indicate that dissolved N exports from organic layers contain significan amount of throughfall-derived N.

Reliable risk assessment of frequent, but treatable diseases and disorders has considerable clinical and socio-economic relevance. However, as these conditions usually originate from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors, precise prediction remains a considerable challenge. The current progress in genotyping technology has resulted in a substantial increase of knowledge regarding the genetic basis of such diseases and disorders. Consequently, common genetic risk variants are increasingly being included in epidemiological models to improve risk prediction. This work reviews recent high-quality publications targeting the prediction of common complex diseases. To be included in this review, articles had to report both, numerical measures of prediction performance based on traditional (non-genetic) risk factors, as well as measures of prediction performance when adding common genetic variants to the model. Systematic PubMed-based search finally identified 55 eligible studies. These studies were compared with respect to the chosen approach and methodology as well as results and clinical impact. Phenotypes analysed included tumours, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases. All studies applied one or more statistical measures reporting on calibration, discrimination, or reclassification to quantify the benefit of including SNPs, but differed substantially regarding the methodological details that were reported. Several examples for improved risk assessments by considering disease-related SNPs were identified. Although the add-on benefit of including SNP genotyping data was mostly moderate, the strategy can be of clinical relevance and may, when being paralleled by an even deeper understanding of disease-related genetics, further explain the development of enhanced predictive and diagnostic strategies for complex diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response inhibition processes are important for performance monitoring and are mediated via a network constituted by different cortical areas and basal ganglia nuclei. At the basal ganglia level, striatal GABAergic medium spiny neurons are known to be important for response selection, but the importance of the striatal GABAergic system for response inhibition processes remains elusive. Using a novel combination of behavior al, EEG and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data, we examine the relevance of the striatal GABAergic system for response inhibition processes. The study shows that striatal GABA levels modulate the efficacy of response inhibition processes. Higher striatal GABA levels were related to better response inhibition performance. We show that striatal GABA modulate specific subprocesses of response inhibition related to pre-motor inhibitory processes through the modulation of neuronal synchronization processes. To our knowledge, this is the first study providing direct evidence for the relevance of the striatal GABAergic system for response inhibition functions and their cortical electrophysiological correlates in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We determined the reasons why in nutrient solution increasing Al concentrations >300 μ M inhibited shoot biomass production of Cedrela odorata L., Heliocarpus americanus L., and Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson while 300 μ M Al stimulated root biomass production of Tabebuia chrysantha. Methods: Nutrient concentrations in plant tissue after a hydroponic growth experiment were determined. Results: Increasing Al concentrations significantly decreased Mg concentrations in leaves. Phosphorus concentrations in roots of C. odorata and T. chrysantha were significantly highest in the treatment with 300 μ M Al and correlated significantly with root biomass. Conclusions: Shoot biomass production was likely inhibited by reduced Mg uptake, impairing photosynthesis. The stimulation of root growth at low Al concentrations can be possibly attributed to improved P uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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