The dependence of the conversion performance of different types of diesel catalysts as a function of operation properties

[no abstract

Wessen loyale Diener? Wie die Große Koalition die deutsche Ministerialbürokratie veränderte

Dieser Beitrag präsentiert die Befunde der Elitestudie Politisch-Administrative Elite 2009 (PAE 2009) über Zusammensetzung und Politisierung der bundesdeutschen Verwaltungseliten. Diese dritte nationale Replikation der Comparative Elite Studies bringt überraschende Entwicklungen unter der großen Koalition 2005-2009 ans Licht: Die Zahl der bekennenden Parteimitglieder fiel stark, dagegen stieg die funktionale Politisierung der Akteure sowie die Akzeptanz illoyalen Verhaltens gegenüber einer Regierung deutlich. Bedeutet dies den Abschied von den letzten Überbleibseln des weberianischen Idealbildes eines loyalen Beamtentums?This contribution presents new empirical data on the German federal executive top officials gathered by the Political-Administrative Elite 2009 Study (PAE 2009). By replicating the classic Comparative Elite Studies, knowledge on personal background, role perception and politicization is updated and some hypotheses on the changes triggered by the 2005-2009 grand coalition are tested. The results are astonishing, as top officials reported party politicization plunged, while functional politicization spirals further up and the appraisal for bureaucratic allegiance reaches a new low. A farewell to the last weberian bureaucrat

Evaluation of three different regional climate change scenarios for the application of a water balance model in a mesoscale catchment in Northeast Germany

Future climate changes might have some impacts on catchment hydrology. An assessment of such impacts on e.g. ground water recharge is required to derive adaptation strategies for future water resources management. The main objective of our study was an analysis of three different regional climate change scenarios for a catchment with an area of 2415 km² located in the Northeastern German lowlands. These data sets consist of the STAR-scenario with a time period 1951–2055, the WettReg-scenario covering the period 1961–2100 and the grid based REMO-scenario for the time span 1950–2100. All three data sets are based on the SRES scenario A1B of the IPCC. In our analysis, we compared the meteorological data for the control period obtained from the regional climate change scenarios with corresponding data measured at meteorological stations in the catchment. The results of this analysis indicated, that there are high differences between the different regional climate change scenarios regarding the temporal dynamics and the amount of precipitation. In addition, we applied a water balance model using input data obtained from the different climate change scenarios and analyzed the impact of these different input data on the model output groundwater recharge. The results of our study indicated, that these regional climate change scenarios due to the uncertainties in the projections of precipitation show only a limited suitability for hydrologic impact analysis used for the establishment of future concrete water management procedures in their present state

Combining a root exclusion technique with continuous measurements of CO2 by chambers and inside soil for a pin-point separation of ecosystem respiration in croplands

To better assess ecosystem C budgets of croplands and understand their potential response to climate and management changes, detailed information on the mechanisms and environmental controls driving the individual C flux components are needed. This accounts in particular for the ecosystem respiration (Reco) and its components, the autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) which vary tremendously in time and space. Therefore, we developed and tested a method to separate Reco into Ra (as the sum of Ra (shoot) and Ra (root)) and Rh in order to detect temporal and small-scale spatial dynamics within their relative contribution to overall Reco. Investigations were carried out for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) during the crop season 2015 at an experimental plot (CarboZALF-D) located in the hummocky ground moraine landscape of NE Germany. Reco was derived from CO2 flux measurements from plant stand and soil during nighttime using automatic chambers. Rh was derived from CO2 efflux measurements from fallow next to the automatic chambers using CO2 sampling tubes in 10 cm soil depth. Ra (root) was calculated as the difference between CO2 efflux measurements in planted soil and Rh. Ra (shoot) was calculated as Reco - Ra (root) - Rh. Reco varied seasonally from <1 to 9.5 g C m-2 d-1, and was higher in adult (a) and reproductive (r) than juvenile (j) stands (g C m-2 d-1: j 1.2, a 4.6, r 5.3). Observed Ra and Rh were in general smaller compared to the independently measured Reco, contributing in average 56 % and 44 % to Reco. However, both varied strongly regarding their environmental drivers and particular contribution throughout the study period, following the seasonal development of soil temperature and moisture (Rh) as well as crop development (Ra). Thus, our results consistently revealed temporal dynamics regarding the relative contribution of Ra (root) and Ra (shoot) to Ra, as well as of Ra and Rh to Reco. Based on the observed results, implications for partitioning of Reco in croplands are given, which requires a spatial and temporal pin-point approach to increase reliability

Regulation of foamy virus protease activity by viral RNA

No abstract available

The structure of a dimeric form of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 uses an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) to replicate and transcribe its genome. Previous structures of the RdRp revealed a monomeric enzyme composed of the catalytic subunit nsp12, two copies of subunit nsp8, and one copy of subunit nsp7. Here we report an alternative, dimeric form of the enzyme and resolve its structure at 5.5 Å resolution. In this structure, the two RdRps contain only one copy of nsp8 each and dimerize via their nsp7 subunits to adopt an antiparallel arrangement. We speculate that the RdRp dimer facilitates template switching during production of sub-genomic RNAs

Psychiatric disorders and health service utilization in unemployed youth

Aim: Youth unemployment is associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, reduced self-esteem and satisfaction with life. Up to date data based on standardized psychiatric diagnostic assessments in adolescent or young adult unemployment is very scarce. To our knowledge, this study has, for the first time, assessed both Axis-I (non-personality) and Axis-II (personality) psychiatric disorders and related constructs in a preselected sample of unemployed individuals. Subjects and methods: Subjects were aged 16–24 and lived in the large urban region of Essen, Germany. They were referred by case managers of the vocational services centre to the on-site psychiatric out-patient unit. SCID-I and II were administered to assess DSM-IV diagnoses. Symptom Checklist 90 R, Beck Depression Inventory and Client Sociodemographic Service Receipt Inventory were used to measure severity of psychopathology and health service utilization. Results: In all, 98% of the unemployed young adults suffered from mental disorders. Mood and anxiety disorders were the most common Axis-I disorders (47.9 and 33.4%). Altogether, 58.2% of probands met diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder; a borderline personality disorder accounted for one half of these disorders. Despite a 49% rate of Axis-I and II comorbidity and severe psychopathology, the majority of subjects were untreated and mental health service utilization in general was low. The diagnosis of a personality disorder was related to a 2.7-fold risk of dropping out of job reintegration programmes. Conclusion: Unemployed young adults referred for a psychiatric assessment have a high rate of both Axis-I and II disorders, which need to be considered upon planning individual-based vocational rehabilitation programs