Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Bunias orientalis L. : an invasive plant species on grassland shown by the example of the year-round pasture "Sperlingsberg" near Hainrode

Das Vorkommen von Bunias orientalis (Orientalische Zackenschote) konzentriert sich auf den Südwesten Sachsen-Anhalts. Bisher ist die Art vorrangig aus dem Straßenbegleitgrün bekannt, doch zunehmend kann das Einwandern in Halbtrockenrasen und Frischwiesen beobachtet werden. Ein Beispiel dafür ist die 2011 eingerichtete und ca. 24 ha große Ganzjahresstandweide bei Hainrode. 2013 konnten hier 58 Fundpunkte mit 644 Sprossen dokumentiert werden. Die Art wird von den weidenden Salers angenommen und verbissen. Das Abfressen führt zu geringeren Wuchshöhen und vermutlich ist die Reproduktion über Samen auch bei Neuaustrieb deutlich herabgesetzt. Es wird die Möglichkeit, mittels Beweidung der Südharzer Frischwiesen die weitere Ausbreitung von Bunias orientalis zu verhindern bzw. die Art über eine Beweidung zurückzudrängen, diskutiert.The invasive plant species Bunias orientalis (Warty Cabbage) mainly occurs in the south-western part of Saxony-Anhalt. The species primarily grows on roadsides, but increasingly immigration into dry and mesophilous semi-natural grasslands can be observed. An example is the year-round pasture near Hainrode, existing since 2011 and 24 ha in size. 58 sites and 644 individuals were recorded in 2013. We observed that Bunias orientalis was browsed by grazing Salers. Browsing damage causes reduced growth height and most likely seed production is reduced in spite of resprouting. Here we discuss possibilities to displace the species or to inhibit continuing dispersal on grasslands by utilizing grazing in the Southern Harz region

Alcohol intake and pancreatic cancer: a pooled analysis from the pancreatic cancer cohort consortium (PanScan)

The literature has consistently reported no association between low to moderate alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer; however, a few studies have shown that high levels of intake may increase risk. Most single studies have limited power to detect associations even in the highest alcohol intake categories or to examine associations by alcohol type. We analyzed these associations using 1,530 pancreatic cancer cases and 1,530 controls from the Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium (PanScan) nested case-control study. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. We observed no significant overall association between total alcohol (ethanol) intake and pancreatic cancer risk (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 0.86-2.23, for 60 or more g/day vs. >0 to <5 g/day). A statistically significant increase in risk was observed among men consuming 45 or more grams of alcohol from liquor per day (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.02-4.87, compared to 0 g/day of alcohol from liquor, P-trend = 0.12), but not among women (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 0.63-2.87, for 30 or more g/day of alcohol from liquor, compared to none). No associations were noted for wine or beer intake. Overall, no significant increase in risk was observed, but a small effect among heavy drinkers cannot be ruled out. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V