Electronic reconstruction and charge transfer in strained Sr2CoIrO6 double perovskite

The electronic, magnetic and optical properties of the double perovskite Sr$_2$CoIrO$_6$ (SCIO) under biaxial strain are explored in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) including a Hubbard $U$ term and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in combination with absorption spectroscopy measurements on epitaxial thin films. While the end member SrIrO$_3$ is a semimetal with a quenched spin and orbital moment and bulk SrCoO$_3$ is a ferromagnetic (FM) metal with spin and orbital moment of 2.50 and 0.13 $\mu_{B}$, respectively, the double perovskite SCIO emerges as an antiferromagnetic Mott insulator with antiparallel alignment of Co, Ir planes along the [110]-direction. Co exhibits a spin and enhanced orbital moment of $\sim 2.35-2.45$ and $0.31-$0.45 $\mu_{B}$, respectively. Most remarkably, Ir acquires a significant spin and orbital moment of 1.21-1.25 and 0.13 $\mu_{B}$, respectively. Analysis of the orbital occupation indicates an electronic reconstruction due to a substantial charge transfer from minority to majority spin states in Ir and from Ir to Co, signaling an Ir$^{4+\delta}$, Co$^{4-\delta}$ configuration. Biaxial strain, varied from -1.02% ($a_{\rm NdGaO_3}$) through 0% ($a_{\rm SrTiO_3}$) to 1.53% ($a_{\rm GdScO_3}$), influences in partcular the orbital polarization of the $t_{2g}$ states and leads to a nonmonotonic change of the band gap between 163 and 235 meV. The absorption coefficient reveals a two plateau fearure due to transitions from the valence to the lower lying narrow $t_{2g}$ and the higher lying broader $e_{g}$ bands. Inclusion of many body effects, in particular, excitonic effects by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE), increases the band gap by $\sim0.2$ and improves the agreement with the measured spectrum concerning the position of the second peak at $\sim 2.6$ eV.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Kinder mit Dyskalkulie fokussieren spontan weniger auf Anzahligkeit

Abstract in English Extended abstractChildren with Developmental Dyscalculia Focus Spontaneously Less on NumerositiesChildren differ in how much they spontaneously pay attention to quantitative aspects in their surroundings. The tendency to Spontaneously Focus On Numerosity (SFON) can be quantified and provides a stable and sensitive measure of using exact enumeration (Hannula &amp; Lehtinen, 2005;&nbsp;Hannula, Lepola &amp; Lehtinen, 2010;&nbsp;Hannula, Mattinen &amp; Lehtinen, 2005;&nbsp;Hannula, R&auml;s&auml;nen &amp; Lehtinen, 2007). Moreover, SFON-behaviour is positively related to counting and mathematical abilities (Hannula &amp; Lehtinen, 2005;&nbsp;Hannula et al., 2007). Children who focus more on numbers show better performance in numerical tasks. In addition, the amount of SFON seems to develop consistently over time. Therefore, SFON can be used as a predictor of future numerical development (Hannula et al., 2010).In children with developmental dyscalculia (DD), the acquisition of numerical abilities is specifically impaired. These children have problems in basic numerical skills, like counting or the fast and accurate enumeration of small numerosities (subitizing), the understanding of cardinal and ordinal principles, as well as in higher mathematical skills, as arithmetic [detailed information about DD can be found e. g. in (Landerl &amp; Kaufmann 2008;&nbsp;Vogel &amp; Ansari 2012;&nbsp;von Aster &amp; Lorenz 2005)]. About 3 &ndash; 6 % of school-children are affected by this learning disability (Reigosa-Crespo et al., 2012;&nbsp;Shalev, Auerbach, Manor &amp; Gross-Tsur, 2000;&nbsp;Shalev &amp; von Aster, 2008;&nbsp;von Aster, Schweiter &amp; Weinhold Zulauf, 2007). In the present study, we have addressed the question whether children with DD differ in their spontaneous tendency to pay attention to exact numerosities.Besides of SFON, a variety of cognitive skills were examined in 76 children between 7 and 11 years of age; half of them were diagnosed with DD. Children with DD and control children were carefully matched for general cognitive abilities, but differed significantly in number-related measures.Results indicated significantly weaker SFON tendency in children with DD, which means that these children pay less attention on the aspect of exact numerosity compared to typically achieving children. Furthermore, the amount of SFON was positively related to number processing. Children who focus spontaneously less on exact quantities performed lower in numerical tasks.Our results indicate that a low SFON tendency depicts a behavioural characteristic of dyscalculia. Why SFON is diminished in DD can have several reasons. Children with DD might neglect or avoid numerical contents in their learning environment, e. g. as a result of receptive deficits, lack of opportunity or appropriate alimentation or as a result of negative learning experiences. As a consequence, they acquire less practice and expertise in mathematical activities which in turn could have negative effects on the development of automated SFON processes. On the other hand,&nbsp;Hannula et al. (2010)&nbsp;speculate that an initial reduction in SFON behaviour during early learning phases might be associated with children&rsquo;s lower tendency to focus on mathematical aspects. Accordingly, a diminished SFON tendency in children with DD could additionally increase their numerical learning difficulties.The amount of focusing on quantities is related to counting skills (Hannula &amp; Lehtinen, 2005;&nbsp;Hannula et al., 2007). Children with DD dwell longer on less experienced counting strategies and show difficulties in subitizing which is connected to lower math performance (Clements &amp; Sarama, 2009;&nbsp;Frank 1989;&nbsp;Geary, Hoard &amp; Hamson, 1999;&nbsp;Jordan, David Kaplan, Locuniak &amp; Ramineni, 2007;Landerl, Bevan &amp; Butterworth, 2004;&nbsp;Schleifer &amp; Landerl, 2011). Such immature counting skills might lead to a reduced SFON tendency in children with DD. However, it might also be possible that deficits in SFON processes are accompanied by problems in the development of higher counting strategies.In summary, the present study showed for the first time that children with DD focus their attention less on quantitative aspects in their natural surrounding. Whether the reduced SFON tendency influences the development of counting and calculation abilities in a negative way or whether a deficit in basic number processing due to dyscalculia results in a diminished SFON amount is open. However, lower SFON behaviour delineates an additional characteristic of developmental dyscalculia and earns special interest since SFON is a stable and sensitive measure of further learning success. SFON tendency might be accounted as an early predictor of dyscalculia risk on the grounds that it can already be assessed in 3.5 year old children. Finally, the encouragement to focus on numerical aspects by adequate learning environments can enhance SFON tendency which positively affects the development of mathematical skills in children (Hannula et al., 2005). Hence, support in the development of SFON behaviour seems also advisable for children with dyscalculia. Abstract in German Zusammenfassung:&nbsp;Wie stark wir spontan auf Anzahligkeit in unserer Umgebung achten wird als SFON (Spontaneous Focussing On Numerosity) bezeichnet. Fr&uuml;here Studien haben gezeigt, dass ein Kind, das st&auml;rkere SFON-Tendenz zeigt, bessere Z&auml;hlfertigkeiten und mathematische Leistungen erbringt. SFON scheint sich stabil und kontinuierlich zu entwickeln und kann als Pr&auml;diktor f&uuml;r die zuk&uuml;nftige Rechenleistung genutzt werden. Es wird dementsprechend als ein stabiles und sensibles Ma&szlig; f&uuml;r die numerische Entwicklung beschrieben. Bei Kindern mit Dyskalkulie scheint die Entwicklung der Zahlenverarbeitung und des Rechnens spezifisch gest&ouml;rt. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist die Untersuchung der SFON-Tendenz bei Kindern mit einer entwicklungsbedingten Dyskalkulie. Wir haben SFON bei 76 Kindern zwischen 7 und 11 Jahren getestet, 38 Kinder mit und 38 ohne Dyskalkulie. Die beiden Gruppen zeigten vergleichbare allgemeine kognitive F&auml;higkeiten, unterschieden sich aber spezifisch in den mathematischen Leistungen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine signifikant schw&auml;chere SFON-Tendenz bei Kindern mit Dyskalkulie, das hei&szlig;t, Kinder mit Dyskalkulie fokussieren im Vergleich zu Kontrollkindern spontan weniger h&auml;ufig auf Anzahligkeit. Zudem korreliert SFON positiv mit der Zahlenverarbeitungs- und Rechenleistung. Das hei&szlig;t, Kinder mit schlechteren mathematischen Fertigkeiten achten spontan weniger auf numerische Aspekte. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine verminderte SFON-Tendenz ein Verhaltensmerkmal f&uuml;r Entwicklungsdyskalkulie zu sein scheint. Dies kann sowohl Ursache als auch Folge der St&ouml;rung von Z&auml;hl- und Rechenfertigkeiten sein. Es empfiehlt sich daher, SFON bei Kindern mit einem Dyskalkulierisiko zu erfassen sowie F&ouml;rderung und Lernumgebung in Hinblick auf Anzahlfokussierung anzureichern. </div

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase dentified as a key enzyme in erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum carbon metabolism

Phospoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is absent from humans but encoded in thePlasmodium falciparum genome, suggesting that PEPC has a parasite-specific function. To investigate its importance in P. falciparum, we generated a pepc null mutant (D10Δpepc), which was only achievable when malate, a reduction product of oxaloacetate, was added to the growth medium. D10Δpepc had a severe growth defect in vitro, which was partially reversed by addition of malate or fumarate, suggesting that pepc may be essential in vivo. Targeted metabolomics using 13C-U-D-glucose and 13C-bicarbonate showed that the conversion of glycolytically-derived PEP into malate, fumarate, aspartate and citrate was abolished in D10Δpepc and that pentose phosphate pathway metabolites and glycerol 3-phosphate were present at increased levels. In contrast, metabolism of the carbon skeleton of 13C,15N-U-glutamine was similar in both parasite lines, although the flux was lower in D10Δpepc; it also confirmed the operation of a complete forward TCA cycle in the wild type parasite. Overall, these data confirm the CO2 fixing activity of PEPC and suggest that it provides metabolites essential for TCA cycle anaplerosis and the maintenance of cytosolic and mitochondrial redox balance. Moreover, these findings imply that PEPC may be an exploitable target for future drug discovery

Palaeogenomic analysis of black rat (Rattus rattus) reveals multiple European introductions associated with human economic history

The distribution of the black rat (Rattus rattus) has been heavily influenced by its association with humans. The dispersal history of this non-native commensal rodent across Europe, however, remains poorly understood, and different introductions may have occurred during the Roman and medieval periods. Here, in order to reconstruct the population history of European black rats, we first generate a de novo genome assembly of the black rat. We then sequence 67 ancient and three modern black rat mitogenomes, and 36 ancient and three modern nuclear genomes from archaeological sites spanning the 1st-17th centuries CE in Europe and North Africa. Analyses of our newly reported sequences, together with published mitochondrial DNA sequences, confirm that black rats were introduced into the Mediterranean and Europe from Southwest Asia. Genomic analyses of the ancient rats reveal a population turnover in temperate Europe between the 6th and 10th centuries CE, coincident with an archaeologically attested decline in the black rat population. The near disappearance and re-emergence of black rats in Europe may have been the result of the breakdown of the Roman Empire, the First Plague Pandemic, and/or post-Roman climatic cooling.Peer reviewe

EuReCa ONE—27 Nations, ONE Europe, ONE Registry A prospective one month analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes in 27 countries in Europe

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of the EuReCa ONE study was to determine the incidence, process, and outcome for out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) throughout Europe.MethodsThis was an international, prospective, multi-centre one-month study. Patients who suffered an OHCA during October 2014 who were attended and/or treated by an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) were eligible for inclusion in the study. Data were extracted from national, regional or local registries.ResultsData on 10,682 confirmed OHCAs from 248 regions in 27 countries, covering an estimated population of 174 million. In 7146 (66%) cases, CPR was started by a bystander or by the EMS. The incidence of CPR attempts ranged from 19.0 to 104.0 per 100,000 population per year. 1735 had ROSC on arrival at hospital (25.2%), Overall, 662/6414 (10.3%) in all cases with CPR attempted survived for at least 30 days or to hospital discharge.ConclusionThe results of EuReCa ONE highlight that OHCA is still a major public health problem accounting for a substantial number of deaths in Europe.EuReCa ONE very clearly demonstrates marked differences in the processes for data collection and reported outcomes following OHCA all over Europe. Using these data and analyses, different countries, regions, systems, and concepts can benchmark themselves and may learn from each other to further improve survival following one of our major health care events

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

IDAS-GHG: Instrumental and Data-driven Approaches to Source-Partitioning of Greenhouse Gas Fluxes: Comparison, Combination, Advencement

Auf dem Poster werden Ziele und erste Ergebnisse des kürzlich gestarteten BMBF-Projekts „IDAS-GHG“ vorgestellt, dessen Gegenstand in-situ-Messungen des Austauschs klimarelevanter Spurengase (CO2, H2O, N2O) über unterschiedlich (z.B. landwirtschaftlich) genutzten Vegetationsflächen sind.Insbesondere während der ersten Projektjahre stehen methodische Fragen zum sogenannten „Source Partitioning“ (Quellenzuordnung oder Komponentenentmischung) im Vordergrund. Damit werden verschiedene bestehende und in Entwicklung befindliche Methoden bezeichnet, Messungen des Netto-Austauschs zwischen Biosphäre und Atmosphäre (z.B. mit der Eddy-Kovarianz-Methode) hinsichtlich der beteiligten Quellen- und Senken aufzuschlüsseln, etwa Respiration und Photosynthese bzw. Evaporation und Transpiration.Sollen Messungen zur Parametrisierung des Verhaltens von Pflanzenbeständen und Böden in gekoppelten Klimamodellen genutzt werden, so kann eine erfolgreiche Quellenzuordnung in den Messdaten die Unsicherheit bei der Ermittlung der Modellparameter verringern. Auch direkt aus Messungen gewonnen Aussagen zum Mitigationspotential von Landnutzungsstrategien können besser erklärt, auf Plausibilität überprüft und auf ähnliche Fälle übertragen werden, wenn beispielsweise bekannt ist, aus welcher der möglichen Kombinationen von (Boden-)Respiration und (Netto-)Primärproduktion ein bestimmter gemessener Netto-CO2-Fluss resultiert. Derartige Bewertungsmöglichkeiten sollen im weiteren Verlauf des Projekts an Beispielen wie Gründüngung in der Landwirtschaft, Waldumbau und Dachbegrünung getestet werden.Unter den untersuchten, zu vergleichenden und weiterzuentwickelnden Methoden der Quellenzuordnung befinden sich sowohl solche, die auf bereits vorhandene Messdaten bestehender Eddy-Kovarianz-Standorte angewendet werden können, als auch Zusatzmessungen. Als Beispiel für letztere wird auf erste Ergebnisse vertikal hochauflösender Profilmessungen in niedrigen Pflanzenbeständen wie Grünland oder Weizen eingegangen