Ziffernanalyse zur Betrugserkennung in Finanzverwaltungen: Prüfung von Kassenbelegen

Die Anwendung der Ziffernanalyse zur Überprüfung von Kassenbelegen ist grundsätzlich möglich. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass die letzten und nicht die ersten Ziffern einer Zahl entscheidend sind.Weiterhin wurden die Voraussetzungen für die Anwendung der Ziffernanalyse auf Basis der letzten Ziffern herausgearbeitet. Der [...]-Test mit simulierten Ablehnungswahrscheinlichkeiten konnte als bester Hypothesentest für diese Anwendung identifiziert werden. Das Verfahren der Ziffernanalyse, welches bis dato nur die Verteilung der Ziffern betrachtete, wurde um Überprüfungen der Abhängigkeitsstrukturen der Zahlen bzw. Ziffern erweitert. Erste empirische Untersuchungen bei (un-)manipulierten Daten haben die Praxistauglichkeit der Ziffernanalyse wie sie hier vorgestellt wird, bestätigt

The impact of sarcoptic mange Sarcoptes scabiei on the British fox Vulpes vulpes population

1. Disease epizootics can significantly influence host population dynamics and the structure and functioning of ecological communities. Sarcoptic mange Sarcoptes scabiei has dramatically reduced red fox populations Vulpes vulpes in several countries, including Britain, although impacts on demographic processes are poorly understood. We review the literature on the impact of mange on red fox populations, assess its current distribution in Britain through a questionnaire survey and present new data on resultant demographic changes in foxes in Bristol, UK. 2. A mange epizootic in Sweden spread across the entire country in < 10 years resulting in a decline in fox density of up to 95%; density remained lowered for 15–20 years. In Spain, mange has been enzootic for > 75 years and is widely distributed; mange presence was negatively correlated with habitat quality. 3. Localized outbreaks have occurred sporadically in Britain during the last 100 years. The most recent large-scale outbreak arose in the 1990s, although mange has been present in south London and surrounding environs since the 1940s. The questionnaire survey indicated that mange was broadly distributed across Britain, but areas of perceived high prevalence (> 50% affected) were mainly in central and southern England. Habitat type did not significantly affect the presence/absence of mange or perceived prevalence rates. Subjective assessments suggested that populations take 15–20 years to recover. 4. Mange appeared in Bristol’s foxes in 1994. During the epizootic phase (1994–95), mange spread through the city at a rate of 0.6–0.9 km/month, with a rise in infection in domestic dogs Canis familiaris c. 1–2 months later. Juvenile and adult fox mortality increased and the proportion of females that reproduced declined but litter size was unaffected. Population density declined by > 95%. 5. In the enzootic phase (1996–present), mange was the most significant mortality factor. Juvenile mortality was significantly higher than in the pre-mange period, and the number of juveniles classified as dispersers declined. Mange infection reduced the reproductive potential of males and females: females with advanced mange did not breed; severely infected males failed to undergo spermatogenesis. In 2004, Bristol fox population density was only 15% of that in 1994

Ecoregion Prioritization Suggests an Armoury Not a Silver Bullet for Conservation Planning

In the face of accelerating species extinctions, map-based prioritization systems are increasingly useful to decide where to pursue conservation action most effectively. However, a number of seemingly inconsistent schemes have emerged, mostly focussing on endemism. Here we use global vertebrate distributions in terrestrial ecoregions to evaluate how continuous and categorical ranking schemes target and accumulate endangered taxa within the IUCN Red List, Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), and EDGE of Existence programme. We employed total, endemic and threatened species richness and an estimator for richness-adjusted endemism as metrics in continuous prioritization, and WWF's Global200 and Conservation International's (CI) Hotspots in categorical prioritization. Our results demonstrate that all metrics target endangerment more efficiently than by chance, but each selects unique sets of top-ranking ecoregions, which overlap only partially, and include different sets of threatened species. Using the top 100 ecoregions as defined by continuous prioritization metrics, we develop an inclusive map for global vertebrate conservation that incorporates important areas for endemism, richness, and threat. Finally, we assess human footprint and protection levels within these areas to reveal that endemism sites are more impacted but have more protection, in contrast to high richness and threat ones. Given such contrasts, major efforts to protect global biodiversity must involve complementary conservation approaches in areas of unique species as well as those with highest diversity and threat

HuValue:A Toolkit to Facilitate Considering Various Human Values in a Design Process

Human values play an integral role in any design that aims to improve the quality of human life. To support designers’ addressing human values in their design, we created a design tool based on a comprehensive value framework. This tool helps to raise designers’ awareness about human values and provide tangible materials to actively use selected values in a design process. An experimental study with design students showed that the project groups that had been supported with this tool addressed human values in their design concepts significantly stronger compared to the control groups. Results of the evaluation indicate that the tool is not only applicable in a design process but also effective at enriching design concepts with human values.</p

Modulation of chloride homeostasis by inflammatory mediators in dorsal root ganglion neurons

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chloride currents in peripheral nociceptive neurons have been implicated in the generation of afferent nociceptive signals, as Cl^-accumulation in sensory endings establishes the driving force for depolarizing, and even excitatory, Cl^-currents. The intracellular Cl^-concentration can, however, vary considerably between individual DRG neurons. This raises the question, whether the contribution of Cl^-currents to signal generation differs between individual afferent neurons, and whether the specific Cl^-levels in these neurons are subject to modulation. Based on the hypothesis that modulation of the peripheral Cl^-homeostasis is involved in the generation of inflammatory hyperalgesia, we examined the effects of inflammatory mediators on intracellular Cl^-concentrations and on the expression levels of Cl^-transporters in rat DRG neurons.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed an <it>in vitro </it>assay for testing how inflammatory mediators influence Cl^-concentration and the expression of Cl^-transporters. Intact DRGs were treated with 100 ng/ml NGF, 1.8 μM ATP, 0.9 μM bradykinin, and 1.4 μM PGE₂for 1–3 hours. Two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging with the Cl^--sensitive dye MQAE revealed an increase of the intracellular Cl^-concentration within 2 hours of treatment. This effect coincided with enhanced phosphorylation of the Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl^-cotransporter NKCC1, suggesting that an increased activity of that transporter caused the early rise of intracellular Cl^-levels. Immunohistochemistry of NKCC1 and KCC2, the main neuronal Cl^-importer and exporter, respectively, exposed an inverse regulation by the inflammatory mediators. While the NKCC1 immunosignal increased, that of KCC2 declined after 3 hours of treatment. In contrast, the mRNA levels of the two transporters did not change markedly during this time. These data demonstrate a fundamental transition in Cl^-homeostasis toward a state of augmented Cl^-accumulation, which is induced by a 1–3 hour treatment with inflammatory mediators.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate that inflammatory mediators impact on Cl^-homeostasis in DRG neurons. Inflammatory mediators raise intracellular Cl^-levels and, hence, the driving force for depolarizing Cl^-efflux. These findings corroborate current concepts for the role of Cl^-regulation in the generation of inflammatory hyperalgesia and allodynia. As the intracellular Cl^-concentration rises in DRG neurons, afferent signals can be boosted by excitatory Cl^-currents in the presynaptic terminals. Moreover, excitatory Cl^-currents in peripheral sensory endings may also contribute to the generation or modulation of afferent signals, especially in inflamed tissue.</p

Hunting Wildlife in the Tropics and Subtropics

The hunting of wild animals for their meat has been a crucial activity in the evolution of humans. It continues to be an essential source of food and a generator of income for millions of Indigenous and rural communities worldwide. Conservationists rightly fear that excessive hunting of many animal species will cause their demise, as has already happened throughout the Anthropocene. Many species of large mammals and birds have been decimated or annihilated due to overhunting by humans. If such pressures continue, many other species will meet the same fate. Equally, if the use of wildlife resources is to continue by those who depend on it, sustainable practices must be implemented. These communities need to remain or become custodians of the wildlife resources within their lands, for their own well-being as well as for biodiversity in general. This title is also available via Open Access on Cambridge Core

Breaking up data-enabled design: expanding and scaling up for the clinical context

Data-enabled design (DED) is a promising new methodology for designing with users from within their own context in an iterative and hands-on fashion. However, the agile and flexible qualities of the methodology do not directly translate to every context. In this article, we reflect on the design process of an intelligent ecosystem, called ORBIT, and a proposed eval- uative study planned with it. This was part of a DED project in collaboration with a medical hospital to study the post-operative behavior in the (remote) context of bariatric patients. The design and preparation of this project and the process towards an eventual study rejection from the medical ethical committee (METC) provide rich insights into (1) what it means to conduct DED research in a clinical context, and (2) where the boundaries of the method might lie in this specific application area. We highlight insights from carefully designing the substantial infrastructure for the study, and how different aspects of DED translated less easily to the clinical context. We analyze the proposed study setup through the lenses of several modifications we made to DED and further reflect on how to expand and scale up the methodology and adapt the process for the clinical context

Complex population genetic and demographic history of the Salangid, Neosalanx taihuensis, based on cytochrome b sequences

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Salangid icefish <it>Neosalanx taihuensis </it>(Salangidae) is an economically important fish, which is endemic to China, restricted to large freshwater systems (e.g. lakes, large rivers and estuaries) and typically exhibit low vagility. The continuous distribution ranges from the temperate region of the Huai and Yellow River basins to the subtropical region of the Pearl River basin. This wide ranging distribution makes the species an ideal model for the study of palaeoclimatic effects on population genetic structure and phylogeography. Here, we aim to analyze population genetic differentiation within and between river basins and demographic history in order to understand how this species responded to severe climatic oscillations, decline of the sea levels during the Pleistocene ice ages and tectonic activity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We obtained the complete mtDNA cytochrome <it>b </it>sequences (1141 bp) of 354 individuals from 13 populations in the Pearl River, the Yangze River and the Huai River basin. Thirty-six haplotypes were detected. Haplotype frequency distributions were strongly skewed, with most haplotypes (n = 24) represented only in single samples each and thus restricted to a single population. The most common haplotype (H36) was found in 49.15% of all individuals. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a random pattern in the distribution of genetic diversity, which is inconsistent with contemporary hydrological structure. Significant levels of genetic subdivision were detected among populations within basins rather than between the three basins. Demographic analysis revealed that the population size in the Pearl River basin has remained relatively constant whereas the populations in the Yangze River and the Huai River basins expanded about 221 and 190 kyr ago, respectively, with the majority of mutations occurring after the last glacial maximum (LGM).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed complex genetic pattern of <it>N. taihuensis </it>is coherent with a scenario of multiple unrelated founding events by long-distance colonization and dispersal combined with contiguous population expansion and locally restricted gene flow. We also found that this species was likely severely impacted by past glaciations. More favourable climate and the formation of large suitable habitations together facilitated population expansion after the late Quaternary (especially the LGM). We proposed that all populations should be managed and conserved separately, especially for habitat protection.</p

Wild meat hunting and use by sedentarised Baka Pygmies in southeastern Cameroon

As a result of sedentarisation many Baka Pygmies have changed their mobility patterns away from nomadic lifestyles to living in roadside villages. These settled groups are increasingly dependent on cultivated foods but still rely on forest resources. The level of dependence on hunting of wild animals for food and cash, as well as the hunting profiles of sedentarised Pygmy groups is little known. In this study we describe the use of wild meat in 10 Baka villages along the Djoum-Mintom road in southeastern Cameroon. From data collected from 1,946 hunting trips by 121 hunters, we show that most trips are of around 13 hours and a median of eight hours. A mean ± SD of 1.15 ± 1.11 animal carcasses are taken in a single trip; there was a positive correlation between duration of trips and carcasses. A total of 2,245 carcasses of 49 species of 24 animal families were taken in the study; species diversity was similar in all villages except one. Most hunted animals were mammals, with ungulates contributing the highest proportion. By species, just over half of the animal biomass extracted by all hunters in the studied villages was provided by four mammal species. Most animals were trapped (65.77% ± 16.63), followed by shot with guns (22.56% ± 17.72), other methods (8.69% ± 6.96) and with dogs (2.96% ± 4.49). A mean of 7,569.7 ± 6,103.4 kg yr−1 (2,080.8–19,351.4) were extracted per village, giving 75,697 kg yr−1 in total, which is equivalent to 123 UK dairy cattle. In all villages, 48.07% ± 17.58 of animals hunted were consumed by the hunter and his family, around 32.73% ± 12.55, were sold, followed by a lower percentage of carcasses partially sold and consumed (19.21% ± 17.02). Between 60% and 80% of carcasses belonged to the “least concern” category, followed by “near threatened”, “vulnerable” and, rarely “endangered”. The only endangered species hunted was the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). We suggest that hunting is a critical activity that provides a vital source of food for our study communities. Measured wild meat extraction levels are likely to be sustainable if hunter densities do not increase