Towards a methodical framework for comprehensively assessing forest multifunctionality

Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Grant Number: DFG FOR 891/1-3 National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 30710103907, 30930005, 31170457, 31210103910 Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Sino-German Centre for Research Promotion in Beijing. Grant Number: GZ 986Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Toward a methodical framework for comprehensively assessing forest multifunctionality

Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has extended its scope from communities that are short-lived or reshape their structure annually to structurally complex forest ecosystems. The establishment of tree diversity experiments poses specific methodological challenges for assessing the multiple functions provided by forest ecosystems. In particular, methodological inconsistencies and nonstandardized protocols impede the analysis of multifunctionality within, and comparability across the increasing number of tree diversity experiments. By providing an overview on key methods currently applied in one of the largest forest biodiversity experiments, we show how methods differing in scale and simplicity can be combined to retrieve consistent data allowing novel insights into forest ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, we discuss and develop recommendations for the integration and transferability of diverse methodical approaches to present and future forest biodiversity experiments. We identified four principles that should guide basic decisions concerning method selection for tree diversity experiments and forest BEF research: (1) method selection should be directed toward maximizing data density to increase the number of measured variables in each plot. (2) Methods should cover all relevant scales of the experiment to consider scale dependencies of biodiversity effects. (3) The same variable should be evaluated with the same method across space and time for adequate larger-scale and longer-time data analysis and to reduce errors due to changing measurement protocols. (4) Standardized, practical and rapid methods for assessing biodiversity and ecosystem functions should be promoted to increase comparability among forest BEF experiments. We demonstrate that currently available methods provide us with a sophisticated toolbox to improve a synergistic understanding of forest multifunctionality. However, these methods require further adjustment to the specific requirements of structurally complex and long-lived forest ecosystems. By applying methods connecting relevant scales, trophic levels, and above? and belowground ecosystem compartments, knowledge gain from large tree diversity experiments can be optimized

Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationships of Lapacho Analogues. 1. Suppression of Human Keratinocyte Hyperproliferation by 2‑Substituted Naphtho[2,3‑<i>b</i>]furan-4,9-diones, Activation by Enzymatic One- and Two-Electron Reduction, and Intracellular Generation of Superoxide

A series of linearly anellated lapacho quinone analogues substituted at the 2-position of the tricyclic naphtho­[2,3-<i>b</i>]­furan-4,9-dione system were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to suppress keratinocyte hyperproliferation using HaCaT cells as the primary test system. While very good in vitro potency with IC₅₀ values in the submicromolar range was attained with electron-withdrawing substituents, some compounds were found to induce plasma membrane damage, as evidenced by the release of LDH activity from cytoplasm of the keratinocytes. The most potent analogue against keratinocyte hyperproliferation was the 1,2,4-oxadiazole <b>18</b>, the potency of which was combined with comparably low cytotoxic membrane damaging effects. Structure–activity relationship studies with either metabolically stable or labile analogues revealed that the quinone moiety was required for activity. Selected compounds were studied in detail for their capability to generate superoxide radicals both in isolated enzymatic one- and two-electron reduction assays as well as in a HaCaT cell-based assay

Natural Product Derived Antiprotozoal Agents: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Structure–Activity Relationships of Novel Chromene and Chromane Derivatives

Various natural products with the chromane and chromene scaffold exhibit high antiprotozoal activity. The natural product encecalin (<b>7</b>) served as key intermediate for the synthesis of different ethers <b>9</b>, amides <b>11</b>, and amines <b>12</b>. The chromane analogues <b>14</b> and the phenols <b>15</b> were obtained by reductive amination of ketones <b>13</b> and <b>6</b>, respectively. Angelate <b>3</b>, ethers <b>9</b>, and amides <b>11</b> did not show considerable antiprotozoal activity. However, the chromene and chromane derived amines <b>12</b>, <b>14</b>, and <b>15</b> revealed promising antiprotozoal activity and represent novel lead compounds. Whereas benzylamine <b>12a</b> and α-methylbenzylamine <b>12g</b> were active against <i>P. falciparum</i> with IC₅₀ values in the range of chloroquine, the analogous phenols <b>15a</b> and <b>15b</b> were unexpectedly 10- to 25-fold more potent than chloroquine with selectivity indexes of 6760 and 1818, respectively. The phenylbutylamine <b>14d</b> based on the chromane scaffold has promising activity against <i>T. brucei rhodesiense</i> and <i>L. donovani</i>

High frequency of low-virulent microorganisms detected by sonication of implanted pulse generators: so what?

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a well-established treatment modality for a variety of conditions over the last decades. Multiple surgeries are an essential part in the postoperative course of DBS patients if nonrechargeable implanted pulse generators (IPGs) are applied. So far, the rate of subclinical infections in this field is unknown. In this prospective cohort study, we used sonication to evaluate possible microbial colonization of IPGs from replacement surgery. Methods: All consecutive patients undergoing IPG replacement between May 1, 2019 and November 15, 2020 were evaluated. The removed hardware was investigated using sonication to detect biofilm-associated bacteria. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed. Results: A total of 71 patients with a mean (±SD) of 64.5 ± 15.3 years were evaluated. In 23 of these (i.e., 32.4%) patients, a positive sonication culture was found. In total, 25 microorganisms were detected. The most common isolated microorganisms were Cutibacterium acnes (formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes) (68%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (28%). Within the follow-up period (5.2 ± 4.3 months), none of the patients developed a clinical manifest infection. Discussions/Conclusions: Bacterial colonization of IPGs without clinical signs of infection is common but does not lead to manifest infection. Further larger studies are warranted to clarify the impact of low-virulent pathogens in clinically asymptomatic patients