Einer stillen Stimme Raum geben: Die Frau Weisheit und ihre Gerechtigkeit des Anfangs

Biblische Schöpfungstheologie bleibt angesichts der ökologischen Krisen unserer Zeit ein aktuelles Thema in evangelischer und katholischer Theologie. Für mich als evangelische Exegetin ist das Anlass, die immer wieder zitierten Texte noch einmal zu betrachten. Hier soll Gen 2–3 in einem weiteren Kontext gelesen und mit den Reden der personifizierten Frauengestalten des Proverbienbuches verglichen werden. Der gedankliche Raum biblischer Zeit war lange ein lebendiger Dialog unterschiedlicher Schriftformen. Hier kommen Themen zusammen, die isoliert keinen Erkenntnisgewinn erzielen. Weisheit und Gerechtigkeit waren auch am Anfang der Schöpfung dabei, wenngleich eher immanent. Eine Debatte um Schöpfungstheologie reicht nicht aus, die Herausforderungen unserer Zeit angemessen theologisch zu bearbeiten. Wir müssen die Diskussion um wichtige theologische Topoi erweitern.The Biblical theology of creation remains a relevant issue in both Protestant and Catholic theology, considering the ecological crises of our time. This gives some reason to look again at some frequently quoted texts. This article places the Eden story (Gen 2-3) in a broader context and compares it with the speeches of the personified female figures of the Book of Proverbs. Old Testament theology has long been a living dialog of different written forms in which different topics come together that, seen in isolation, achieve no gain in knowledge. Wisdom and justice were also present at the beginning of creation, albeit more immanently. A debate about the theology of creation is insufficient for adequately dealing theologically with the challenges of our time. We need to broaden the discussion

Ionische Flüssigkeiten als neue Reaktionsmedien für die Veretherung von Cellulose

Cellulose ist die mengenmäßig am häufigsten vorkommende organische Verbindung auf der Erde. Sie ist vor allem in verholzten Pflanzen enthalten. Durch Reaktion mit Epoxiden oder Alkylhalogeniden können aus dem Biopolymer Ether dargestellt werden. Diese Cellulosederivate spielen in unserem Alltag und in industriellen Prozessen eine wichtige Rolle beispielsweise als Verdicker, Binde- und Dispergiermittel oder Schutzkolloide. Bei technischen Veretherungsprozessen wird das Biopolymer in Anwesenheit einer Base heterogen, d.h. im Reaktionsmedium suspendiert, umgesetzt. Dadurch wird maßgeblich die Menge und die Verteilung der eingeführten Ethergruppen bestimmt. Anliegen der Arbeit waren Untersuchungen zu homogenen Veretherungsverfahren, bei denen die Cellulose im Reaktionsmedium gelöst wird. Als Lösemittel für Cellulose wurden Ionische Flüssigkeiten (IF) verwendet. Diese gewannen seit 2002 aufgrund ihrer Fähigkeit Cellulose schnell und ohne Aktivierung zu lösen immer größere Aufmerksamkeit in der Celluloseforschung. Speziell wurden die Hydroxyalkylierung, die Carboxymethylierung und die Trimethylsilylierung von Cellulose in IF als Reaktionsmedien untersucht und die dadurch zugänglichen Cellulosederivate detailliert analysiert. Die Synthese ammoniumbasierender Salzschmelzen als neue Celluloselösemittel stellte ein weiteres Ziel dieser Arbeit dar. Durch die höhere Stabilität gegenüber NaOH sind diese Lösemittel eine geeignete Alternative zu imidazoliumbasierenden IF bei Veretherungsreaktionen. Die Salzschmelzen wurden auf ihr Vermögen Cellulose zu lösen getestet und als Reaktionsmedium für die Carboxymethylierung untersucht

Ongoing Slow Fluctuations in V1 Impact on Visual Perception

The human brain's ongoing activity is characterized by intrinsic networks of coherent fluctuations, measured for example with correlated functional magnetic resonance imaging signals. So far, however, the brain processes underlying this ongoing blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal orchestration and their direct relevance for human behavior are not sufficiently understood. In this study, we address the question of whether and how ongoing BOLD activity within intrinsic occipital networks impacts on conscious visual perception. To this end, backwardly masked targets were presented in participants' left visual field only, leaving the ipsi-lateral occipital areas entirely free from direct effects of task throughout the experiment. Signal time courses of ipsi-lateral BOLD fluctuations in visual areas V1 and V2 were then used as proxies for the ongoing contra-lateral BOLD activity within the bilateral networks. Magnitude and phase of these fluctuations were compared in trials with and without conscious visual perception, operationalized by means of subjective confidence ratings. Our results show that ipsilateral BOLD magnitudes in V1 were significantly higher at times of peak response when the target was perceived consciously. A significant difference between conscious and non-conscious perception with regard to the pre-target phase of an intrinsic-frequency regime suggests that ongoing V1 fluctuations exert a decisive impact on the access to consciousness already before stimulation. Both effects were absent in V2. These results thus support the notion that ongoing slow BOLD activity within intrinsic networks covering V1 represents localized processes that modulate the degree of readiness for the emergence of visual consciousness

Substance Use and Prevention Programs in Berlin's Party Scene: Results of the SuPrA-Study

Background: Berlin is internationally known for its nightlife. In a nation-wide and Europe-wide comparison, the use of legal and illegal substances is comparatively higher in Berlin than in other similar cities. However, few data exist about the drug use in the party scene. Objective: This study aims to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of Berlin's party scene and its patterns of substance use as well as expectations towards prevention in order to derive appropriate preventive measures. Methods: Using questionnaires, both online (n = 674) and in the field (n = 203), a total of 877 people of the Berlin party scene were interviewed. The questionnaires ascertained the demographic information of the participants and patterns of substance use in the scene. It also collected the demand for consulting services and personal assessments on the usefulness of prospective and existing prevention programs and offers. Results: The study participants were 29 years old (SD 7.5); 43% were female. Alcohol is the most common substance in the party scene, followed by cannabis, MDMA/Ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, and ketamine. In this particular cohort, methamphetamine and legal highs did not play a major role. The most demanded preventive measure was more education about drugs and the so called drug-checking. Conclusions: Prevention in this area is both needed and requested, and an expansion of the existing programs (e.g., by so far politically controversial drug-checking) should be considered

Does the antidiabetic drug metformin affect embryo development and the health of brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario)?

Abstract Background Due to the rising number of type 2 diabetes patients, the antidiabetic drug, metformin is currently among those pharmaceuticals with the highest consumption rates worldwide. Via sewage-treatment plants, metformin enters surface waters where it is frequently detected in low concentrations (µg/L). Since possible adverse effects of this substance in aquatic organisms have been insufficiently explored to date, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of metformin on health and development in brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) and its microbiome. Results Brown trout embryos were exposed to 0, 1, 10, 100 and 1000 µg/L metformin over a period from 48 days post fertilisation (dpf) until 8 weeks post-yolk sac consumption at 7 °C (156 dpf) and 11 °C (143 dpf). Chemical analyses in tissues of exposed fish showed the concentration-dependent presence of metformin in the larvae. Mortality, embryonic development, body length, liver tissue integrity, stress protein levels and swimming behaviour were not influenced. However, compared to the controls, the amount of hepatic glycogen was higher in larvae exposed to metformin, especially in fish exposed to the lowest metformin concentration of 1 µg/L, which is environmentally relevant. At higher metformin concentrations, the glycogen content in the liver showed a high variability, especially for larvae exposed to 1000 µg/L metformin. Furthermore, the body weight of fish exposed to 10 and 100 µg/L metformin at 7 °C and to 1 µg/L metformin at 11 °C was decreased compared with the respective controls. The results of the microbiome analyses indicated a shift in the bacteria distribution in fish exposed to 1 and 10 µg/L metformin at 7 °C and to 100 µg/L metformin at 11 °C, leading to an increase of Proteobacteria and a reduction of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Conclusions Overall, weight reduction and the increased glycogen content belong to the described pharmaceutical effects of the drug in humans, but this study showed that they also occur in brown trout larvae. The impact of a shift in the intestinal microbiome caused by metformin on the immune system and vitality of the host organism should be the subject of further research before assessing the environmental relevance of the pharmaceutical

Short-term effects of macrophyte removal on aquatic biodiversity in rivers and lakes

Mass development of macrophytes is an increasing problem in many aquatic systems worldwide. Dense mats of macrophytes can negatively affect activities like boating, fishing or hydropower production and one of the management measures often applied is mechanical removal. In this study, we analyzed the effect of mechanical macrophyte removal on phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrate (pelagic and benthic samples) assemblages. Our study covered five sites in four countries in Europe and Africa with highly variable characteristics. In all sites, dense mats of different macrophyte species (Juncus bulbosus in a river in Norway; a mix of native macrophytes in a German river, Elodea nuttallii in a lake in Germany, Ludwigia spp. In a French lake and Pontederia crassipes in a South African lake) are problematic and mechanical removal was applied. In every country, we repeated the same BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) design, including “before”, “one week after”, and “six weeks after” sampling in a control and an impact section. Repeating the same experimental design at all sites allowed us to disentangle common effects across all sites from site-specific effects. For each taxonomic group, we analyzed three structural and three functional parameters, which we combined in a scoring system. Overall, the removal of macrophytes negatively affected biodiversity, in particular of zooplankton and macroinvertebrate assemblages. In contrast, plant removal had positive effects on the phytoplankton assemblages. Effects were more pronounced one week after removal than six weeks after. Consequently, we suggest a stronger consideration of the effect of plant removal on biodiversity to arrive at more sustainable management practices in the future.acceptedVersio

External validation of a shortened screening tool using individual participant data meta-analysis: A case study of the Patient Health Questionnaire-Dep-4.

Shortened versions of self-reported questionnaires may be used to reduce respondent burden. When shortened screening tools are used, it is desirable to maintain equivalent diagnostic accuracy to full-length forms. This manuscript presents a case study that illustrates how external data and individual participant data meta-analysis can be used to assess the equivalence in diagnostic accuracy between a shortened and full-length form. This case study compares the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and a 4-item shortened version (PHQ-Dep-4) that was previously developed using optimal test assembly methods. Using a large database of 75 primary studies (34,698 participants, 3,392 major depression cases), we evaluated whether the PHQ-Dep-4 cutoff of ≥ 4 maintained equivalent diagnostic accuracy to a PHQ-9 cutoff of ≥ 10. Using this external validation dataset, a PHQ-Dep-4 cutoff of ≥ 4 maximized the sum of sensitivity and specificity, with a sensitivity of 0.88 (95% CI 0.81, 0.93), 0.68 (95% CI 0.56, 0.78), and 0.80 (95% CI 0.73, 0.85) for the semi-structured, fully structured, and MINI reference standard categories, respectively, and a specificity of 0.79 (95% CI 0.74, 0.83), 0.85 (95% CI 0.78, 0.90), and 0.83 (95% CI 0.80, 0.86) for the semi-structured, fully structured, and MINI reference standard categories, respectively. While equivalence with a PHQ-9 cutoff of ≥ 10 was not established, we found the sensitivity of the PHQ-Dep-4 to be non-inferior to that of the PHQ-9, and the specificity of the PHQ-Dep-4 to be marginally smaller than the PHQ-9

El yacimiento de Colata (Montaverner, Valencia) y los 'poblados de silos' del IV milenio en las comarcas centro-meridionales del País Valenciano

Les estructures documentades al jaciment de Colata (Montaverner, València) mostren la parcialitat del registre que caracteritza aquest tipus de jaciment a l'aire lliure del IV mil·lenni aC, cosa que obliga a plantejar noves estratègies per a reinterpretar l¿evolució en les conductes d'emmagatzematge, consum i producció d'aliments, i en la organització social d'aquestes comunitats. Paraules'clau: Vall d'Albaida. Estructures excavades. Poblats de sitges. Patró d'assentament. Organització social