Contested land: an analysis of multi-layered conflicts in Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia

"In the lowland areas of Sumatra, conflicts over land and natural resources are increasing as fundamental land use transformation processes take place and the region is gradually integrated into globalized markets. Set against the background of the conflict arena of Bungku village, Jambi province, this paper describes and analyzes the struggle for land between a group of indigenous people, the Batin Sembilan, and an oil palm company, PT Asiatic Persada. By highlighting the path dependency of land conflicts, the article shows that access to land results from concurring but ambivalent institutional regimes and power asymmetries, leading to an ostensible state of equilibrium in a post-frontier area." (author's abstract)"Grundlegende Veränderungen in der Landnutzung sowie die fortschreitende Einbindung in globalisierte Märkte führen in den Tieflandregionen Sumatras zu zunehmend gewalttätig ausgetragenen Konflikten um Land und natürliche Ressourcen. Vor dem Hintergrund der Konfliktarena von Bungku, einem Dorf in der Provinz Jambi, beschreibt und analysiert der Beitrag den Kampf um Land zwischen den indigenen Batin Sembilan und einem Palmölunternehmen, PT Asiatic Persada. Der Artikel zeigt anhand der Pfadabhängigkeit von Landkonflikten, dass Zugang zu Land aus der Gleichzeitigkeit und Ambivalenz institutioneller Systeme und Machtasymmetrien resultiert, was zu einem scheinbaren Gleichgewichtszustand in Post-Frontier-Regionen führt." (Autorenreferat

Phenotype prediction in regulated metabolic networks

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Due to the growing amount of biological knowledge that is incorporated into metabolic network models, their analysis has become more and more challenging. Here, we examine the capabilities of the recently introduced chemical organization theory (OT) to ease this task. Considering only network stoichiometry, the theory allows the prediction of all potentially persistent species sets and therewith rigorously relates the structure of a network to its potential dynamics. By this, the phenotypes implied by a metabolic network can be predicted without the need for explicit knowledge of the detailed reaction kinetics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We propose an approach to deal with regulation – and especially inhibitory interactions – in chemical organization theory. One advantage of this approach is that the metabolic network and its regulation are represented in an integrated way as one reaction network. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach we examine a model by Covert and Palsson (J Biol Chem, 277(31), 2002) of the central metabolism of <it>E. coli </it>that incorporates the regulation of all involved genes. Our method correctly predicts the known growth phenotypes on 16 different substrates. Without specific assumptions, organization theory correctly predicts the lethality of knockout experiments in 101 out of 116 cases. Taking into account the same model specific assumptions as in the regulatory flux balance analysis (rFBA) by Covert and Palsson, the same performance is achieved (106 correctly predicted cases). Two model specific assumptions had to be considered: first, we have to assume that secreted molecules do not influence the regulatory system, and second, that metabolites with increasing concentrations indicate a lethal state.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The introduced approach to model a metabolic network and its regulation in an integrated way as one reaction network makes organization analysis a universal technique to study the potential behavior of biological network models. Applying multiple methods like OT and rFBA is shown to be valuable to uncover critical assumptions and helps to improve model coherence.</p

‘Image‘ Kota Goettingen Dan Sekitarnya Sebagai Salah Satu Tujuan Wisata Alam Dan Rekreasi Luar Ruangan (Study Kasus Menurut Mahasiswa Internasional Di Universitas Goettingen)

Nature tourism/outdoor recreation is one the fastest growing tourism activities in the world. More and more people travel to natural sites due to increased environmental awareness and a high degree of urbanization.The objective of this research was to capture the image of Göttingen and its surrounding area, using a combination of structured and unstructured methods as recommended by previous researchers. The image determination was considered important for positioning and differentiating the destination from other competitors. From a marketing point of view, image determination could increase tourist interest to visit the destination, travel satisfaction, and intention to return. The structured method used image attributes, which were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale while the unstructured method used three open-ended questions. In addition, the research was also done to identify the nature of outdoor recreation/nature tourism among International students. The study focused on International students, which have certain characteristics that are different from those of domestic students. Data was taken from January to April 2014. 326 respondents delivered useable responses/data. This research revealed that a combination of structured and unstructured methods was able to capture the underlying image dimension of Göttingenand its surroundings. Considering the high propensity for travelling and previous travel experience of the students, it could be interpreted that International students at Göttingen University are one of the prospective nature tourism markets. Therefore, customized marketing strategy could be applied to attract them

Universal tool LASER - application examples for welding of HT fuel cells as well as heat exchangers and tank systems for H2 processing

The laser tool is predestined for automated manufacturing processes and has already proven its suit-ability in many areas. In particular, joining technologies in the field of hydrogen production, its storage and for bi-polar plates have to meet the highest requirements in terms of seam quality, reproducibility and manufacturing efficiency. By the examples 700 bar car H2 pressure tank with laser welded connection (welding depth 25 mm) Laser Remote Welding of HT Fuel Cell Stacks Laser-welded aluminum tube-ground heat exchanger for gas liquefaction the article presents the possibilities of modern laser beam welding technologies. Furthermore, it gives an outlook on future challenges, especially with regard to the requirements of welding bi-polar plates for upcoming applications in the field of mobilit

The Schwinger Mass in the Massive Schwinger Model

We derive a systematic procedure to compute Green functions for the massive Schwinger model via a perturbation expansion in the fermion mass. The known exact solution of the massless Schwinger model is used as a starting point. We compute the corrections to the Schwinger mass up to second order.Comment: Latex, 7 pages, no figure

Using chemical organization theory for model checking

Motivation: The increasing number and complexity of biomodels makes automatic procedures for checking the models' properties and quality necessary. Approaches like elementary mode analysis, flux balance analysis, deficiency analysis and chemical organization theory (OT) require only the stoichiometric structure of the reaction network for derivation of valuable information. In formalisms like Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML), however, information about the stoichiometric coefficients required for an analysis of chemical organizations can be hidden in kinetic laws

Process development in Hansenula polymorpha and Arxula adeninivorans, a re-assessment

A range of industrial H. polymorpha-based processes exist, most of them for the production of pharmaceuticals. The established industrial processes lean on the use of promoters derived from MOX and FMD, genes of the methanol metabolism pathway. In Hansenula polymorpha these promoters are de-repressed upon depletion of a range of carbon sources like glucose and glycerol instead of being induced by methanol as reported for other methylotrophs. Due to these characteristics screening and fermentation modes have been defined for strains harbouring such expression control elements that lean on a limited supplementation of glycerol or glucose to a culture medium. For fermentation of H. polymorpha a synthetic minimal medium (SYN6) has been developed. No industrial processes have been developed so far based on Arxula adeninivorans and only a limited range of strong promoter elements exists, suitable for heterologous gene expression. SYN6 originally designed for H. polymorpha provided a suitable basis for the initial definition of fermentation conditions for this dimorphic yeast. Characteristics like osmo- and thermotolerance can be addressed for the definition of culture conditions

High colloid oncotic pressure priming of cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates and infants: implications on haemofiltration, weight gain and renal function

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the influence of high colloid oncotic pressure (COP) priming of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on fluid balances, haemofiltration, capillary leakage and renal function in neonates and infants. Methods: Twenty neonates or infants underwent heart surgery using CPB and were randomised in two groups. For group 1 (FFP-group) a blood priming with fresh frozen plasma (FFP, low oncotic pressure) was chosen, for group 2 (HA-group) a blood priming containing FFP and human albumin 20% (HA) to realise higher oncotic pressures was substituted. All patients were monitored before, during and 6 h after CPB. We measured weights, fluid balances, transfusion volumes, colloid oncotic pressures, inflammatory parameters (c-reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, thrombocytes, leucocytes) and renal function (creatinine clearances, renal protein losses). Results: Patient&apos;s demographics and operational procedures were comparable in both groups with no further differences in operation procedures regarding palliation or correction. Colloid oncotic pressures of the priming solutions were higher in the HA-group (28 mmHg AE 4.9) than in the FFP-group (6 mmHg AE 1.3, p &lt; 0.001). Relative weight gain as a marker of capillary leakage in the HA-group (2% AE 4.5) was significantly lower 6 h post CPB than in the FFP-group (8% AE 8.0, p = 0.015). Haemofiltration rates were higher in the HA-group (569 ml AE 197 vs 282 ml AE 157, p = 0.002) on CPB. There were no differences of creatinine clearances 6 h after the end of CPB. Renal protein losses were elevated in both groups without any inter-group differences during and 6 h after CPB. Conclusion: Addition of concentrated human albumin to priming fluids in paediatric cardiac surgery leads to less weight gain even after CPB. Supplementing paediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery with concentrated human albumin does not affect renal function more severely than in paediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery on CPB with blood priming.

Lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis: results from a large cohort of patients with long follow-up.

SummaryLenalidomide and dexamethasone (RD) is a standard treatment in relapsed/refractory immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis (RRAL). We retrospectively investigated toxicity, efficacy and prognostic markers in 260 patients with RRAL. Patients received a median of two prior treatment lines (68% had been bortezomib‐refractory; 33% had received high‐dose melphalan). The median treatment duration was four cycles. The 3‐month haematological response rate was 31% [very good haematological response (VGHR) in 18%]. The median follow‐up was 56·5 months and the median overall survival (OS) and haematological event‐free survival (haemEFS) were 32 and 9 months. The 2‐year dialysis rate was 15%. VGHR resulted in better OS (62 vs. 26 months, P < 0·001). Cardiac progression predicted worse survival (22 vs. 40 months, P = 0·027), although N‐terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) increase was frequently observed. Multivariable analysis identified these prognostic factors: NT‐proBNP for OS [hazard ratio (HR) 1·71; P < 0·001]; gain 1q21 for haemEFS (HR 1·68, P = 0·014), with a trend for OS (HR 1·47, P = 0·084); difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains (dFLC) and light chain isotype for OS (HR 2·22, P < 0·001; HR 1·62, P = 0·016) and haemEFS (HR 1·88, P < 0·001; HR 1·59, P = 0·008). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR 0·71, P = 0·004) and 24‐h proteinuria (HR 1·10, P = 0·004) were prognostic for renal survival. In conclusion, clonal and organ biomarkers at baseline identify patients with favourable outcome, while VGHR and cardiac progression define prognosis during RD treatment

Transcriptomic buffering of cryptic genetic variation contributes to meningococcal virulence

Ampattu BJ, Hagmann L, Liang C, et al. Transcriptomic buffering of cryptic genetic variation contributes to meningococcal virulence. BMC Genomics. 2017;18(1): 282.Background: Commensal bacteria like Neisseria meningitidis sometimes cause serious disease. However, genomic comparison of hyperinvasive and apathogenic lineages did not reveal unambiguous hints towards indispensable virulence factors. Here, in a systems biological approach we compared gene expression of the invasive strain MC58 and the carriage strain alpha 522 under different ex vivo conditions mimicking commensal and virulence compartments to assess the strain-specific impact of gene regulation on meningococcal virulence. Results: Despite indistinguishable ex vivo phenotypes, both strains differed in the expression of over 500 genes under infection mimicking conditions. These differences comprised in particular metabolic and information processing genes as well as genes known to be involved in host-damage such as the nitrite reductase and numerous LOS biosynthesis genes. A model based analysis of the transcriptomic differences in human blood suggested ensuing metabolic flux differences in energy, glutamine and cysteine metabolic pathways along with differences in the activation of the stringent response in both strains. In support of the computational findings, experimental analyses revealed differences in cysteine and glutamine auxotrophy in both strains as well as a strain and condition dependent essentiality of the (p) ppGpp synthetase gene relA and of a short non-coding AT-rich repeat element in its promoter region. Conclusions: Our data suggest that meningococcal virulence is linked to transcriptional buffering of cryptic genetic variation in metabolic genes including global stress responses. They further highlight the role of regulatory elements for bacterial virulence and the limitations of model strain approaches when studying such genetically diverse species as N. meningitidis