The interplay of landscape composition and configuration: new pathways to manage functional biodiversity and agroecosystem services across Europe

Managing agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity and ecosystem services is a key aim of a sustainable agriculture. However, how the spatial arrangement of crop fields and other habitats in landscapes impacts arthropods and their functions is poorly known. Synthesising data from 49 studies (1515 landscapes) across Europe, we examined effects of landscape composition (% habitats) and configuration (edge density) on arthropods in fields and their margins, pest control, pollination and yields. Configuration effects interacted with the proportions of crop and non‐crop habitats, and species’ dietary, dispersal and overwintering traits led to contrasting responses to landscape variables. Overall, however, in landscapes with high edge density, 70% of pollinator and 44% of natural enemy species reached highest abundances and pollination and pest control improved 1.7‐ and 1.4‐fold respectively. Arable‐dominated landscapes with high edge densities achieved high yields. This suggests that enhancing edge density in European agroecosystems can promote functional biodiversity and yield‐enhancing ecosystem services

Serologic and immunohistochemical prognostic biomarkers of cutaneous malignancies

Biomarkers are important tools in clinical diagnosis and prognostic classification of various cutaneous malignancies. Besides clinical and histopathological aspects (e.g. anatomic site and type of the primary tumour, tumour size and invasion depth, ulceration, vascular invasion), an increasing variety of molecular markers have been identified, providing the possibility of a more detailed diagnostic and prognostic subgrouping of tumour entities, up to even changing existing classification systems. Recently published gene expression or proteomic profiling data relate to new marker molecules involved in skin cancer pathogenesis, which may, after validation by suitable studies, represent future prognostic or predictive biomarkers in cutaneous malignancies. We, here, give an overview on currently known serologic and newer immunohistochemical biomarker molecules in the most common cutaneous malignancies, malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous lymphoma, particularly emphasizing their prognostic and predictive significance

The OpenMolcas Web: A Community-Driven Approach to Advancing Computational Chemistry

The developments of the open-source OpenMolcas chemistry software environment since spring 2020 are described, with a focus on novel functionalities accessible in the stable branch of the package or via interfaces with other packages. These developments span a wide range of topics in computational chemistry and are presented in thematic sections: electronic structure theory, electronic spectroscopy simulations, analytic gradients and molecular structure optimizations, ab initio molecular dynamics, and other new features. This report offers an overview of the chemical phenomena and processes OpenMolcas can address, while showing that OpenMolcas is an attractive platform for state-of-the-art atomistic computer simulations

The blood-brain barrier is dysregulated in COVID-19 and serves as a CNS entry route for SARS-CoV-2.

Neurological complications are common in COVID-19. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in patients' brain tissues, its entry routes and resulting consequences are not well understood. Here, we show a pronounced upregulation of interferon signaling pathways of the neurovascular unit in fatal COVID-19. By investigating the susceptibility of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived brain capillary endothelial-like cells (BCECs) to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we found that BCECs were infected and recapitulated transcriptional changes detected in vivo. While BCECs were not compromised in their paracellular tightness, we found SARS-CoV-2 in the basolateral compartment in transwell assays after apical infection, suggesting active replication and transcellular transport of virus across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vitro. Moreover, entry of SARS-CoV-2 into BCECs could be reduced by anti-spike-, anti-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-, and anti-neuropilin-1 (NRP1)-specific antibodies or the transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2) inhibitor nafamostat. Together, our data provide strong support for SARS-CoV-2 brain entry across the BBB resulting in increased interferon signaling

Merkel y la presidencia alemana de la Unión Europea

Con Merkel y Sarkozy parece que la época de los malentendidos entre Europa y Estados Unidos toca a su fin. Junto a su compromiso internacional, Alemania ha cerrado su presidencia europea con un firme compromiso para sacar a la UE del estancamiento

Que se passe-t-il en Allemagne ?

What is Happening in Germany ?, by Jochen Thies The political parties of the Fedéral Republic have been taken by surprise by the sudden changes in the GDR. It is difficult to adjust quickly to the new situation after being so well accustomed to a status quo for the past 20 years. The mass exodus of young people crossing over from the GDR is eliminating feelings of differentiation between East and West Germans. The modem media are largely responsible — especially West German television, which can be seen in the GDR. However, the people of East Germany seem to doubt that the new party leader, Egon Krenz, intends to follow the same road to political reform as Hungary and Poland. It might therefore be possible to reach a federative solution to the problem of German reunification after 40 year experiment in democracy undertaken by the Federal Republic, whose Western orientation is clear to its friends and allies.Les partis politiques de la République fédérale ont été surpris par les récents changements survenus en RDA. Il est certes maintenant difficile de ne plus penser en terme de statu quo auquel on s'est très bien habitué pendant vingt ans. L'exode en masse des jeunes hors de RDA montre en effet que l'on ne peut faire plus longtemps de différenciation entre les Allemands de l'Ouest et de l'Est, conséquence du siècle des médias, notamment de la télévision ouest-allemande en RDA. Pourtant, on semble douter du fait que la nouvelle direction du SED avec Egon Krenz prenne la voie des réformes, celle que la Hongrie et la Pologne ont déjà empruntée. Il se peut donc que la question d'une nouvelle unification allemande se pose sous forme de solution fédérative, après quarante ans d'expérience de démocratie en RFA, dont l'orientation occidentale est évidente pour ses partenaires et ses alliés.Thies Jochen. Que se passe-t-il en Allemagne ?. In: Politique étrangère, n°3 - 1989 - 54ᵉannée. pp. 423-428

L'Allemagne après l'unification

Post Unification Germany, by Jochen Thies The results of the first free élections of a united Germany since 1932 were more or less as foreseen by opinion poils. In 1991, the Christian Democrat-Liberal coalition, headed by Chancellor Helmut Kohi, will be proving itself on the national and international stage. Germany must face up to new and tougher responsibilities in the Gulf conflict and the GATT negotiations but also as an EC Member. A genuine spirit of compromise will be required as well as a much stronger commitment of purpose in its dealings with the United Nations and the European Community. During the present period of European instability Germany's Western partners should be tolerant and ready to compromise.Les résultats des premières élections libres à l'échelle panallemande depuis 1932 correspondent grosso modo aux prévisions des sondages d'opinion. En 1991, la coalition chrétienne-libérale sous le chancelier Helmut Kohi devra faire ses preuves, au niveau tant national qu'international. Il s'agit pour l'Allemagne d'accepter des responsabilités accrues, nouvelles, dans le Golfe aussi bien que dans le cadre des négociations GATT et au sein des Douze. C'est ici que l'on pourra s'attendre, de la part de l'Allemagne, à une volonté réelle de compromis et allant bien plus loin qu'en ce qui concerne l'engagement global de ce pays, que ce soit sous l'égide des Nations Unies ou celle de la Communauté. Pour surmonter la période d'instabilité qui menace notre continent, les partenaires occidentaux devront se montrer compréhensifs et prêts au compromis.Thies Jochen. L'Allemagne après l'unification. In: Politique étrangère, n°1 - 1991 - 56ᵉannée. pp. 91-98

Les conséquences de Tchernobyl : un atout pour les relations Est-Ouest ?

Could Chernobyl lead to Better East-West Relations ?, by Jochen Thies Does the Chernobyl catastrophe represent a turning point in human history ? What seems certain six months after the disaster is that pressure from the Western média broke down the Soviet wall of secrecy, and this also influenced the IAEA consultations in Vienna. Moscow's initial obstinate silence after the accident at the nuclear reactor has affected its relations with the countries of Eastern Europe. But the Western democracies are also facing challenge. The parameters of their international polity may be changing. Not only are Franco-German ties being put to the test, but the cohesion of the European Community itself is under strain. The Soviet Union will only continue to follow the prudent path of cooperation on which it has embarked since Chernobyl if it sees that solidarity persists in Western Europe.La catastrophe de Tchernobyl représente-t-elle un tournant dans l'histoire de l'humanité ? Peut-être. Ce qui semble certain aujourd'hui, six mois après cette catastrophe, c'est que l'Union soviétique s'est vue contrainte à l'ouverture par les médias occidentaux, ouverture dont les effets se sont également fait sentir au cours des consultations qui ont suivi au sein de l'AIEA à Vienne. Le silence obstiné de Moscou après l'accident du réacteur nucléaire a eu des conséquences sur les relations de l'Union soviétique avec les Etats de l'Europe centrale. Mais les démocraties occidentales se trouvent elles aussi confrontées à une épreuve. Les modèles qui étaient jusqu'à présent à la base de leur fonctionnement politique pourraient bien se transformer. Ce ne sont pas seulement les relations franco-allemandes mais la cohésion même de la Communauté européenne qui sont ici soumises à un test de résistance. L'Union soviétique ne persévérera dans la voie de la coopération prudente sur laquelle elle vient de s'engager du fait de Tchernobyl que si l'Occident reste solidaire.Thies Jochen. Les conséquences de Tchernobyl : un atout pour les relations Est-Ouest ?. In: Politique étrangère, n°3 - 1986 - 51ᵉannée. pp. 703-710