Conceptualizing Interactions between SDGs and Urban Sustainability Transformations in Covid-19 Times

Given the potential of cities to contribute to a more sustainable world as framed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Development Agenda, this article focuses on Urban Sustainability Transformations. We take a closer look at the potentials, contradictions and challenges that SDG implementation in cities involves in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. We argue that SDG implementation needs to consider these global challenges in order to pursue its transformative approach. As a starting point we take SDG 11 and its subtargets to achieve resilient cities and communities, with a focus on German cities. The article will thus contribute to the discussion on the constraints associated with implementing SDGs in cities, given the multiple challenges and actors involved, and the complexity this implies for Urban Sustainability Transformations

Untersuchungen zur mikrobiologischen Stabilität von Putenhackfleisch unter Schutzatmosphäre

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Combined life satisfaction of persons with stroke and their caregivers: associations with caregiver burden and the impact of stroke

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about the life satisfaction of the person with stroke combined with their caregiver, i.e. the dyad, despite the fact that life satisfaction is an important rehabilitation outcome. The aim of this study was to describe the dyads combined life satisfaction and to understand this in relationship to the perceived impact of stroke in everyday life and caregiver burden.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this cross-sectional study, the life satisfaction of persons and their informal caregivers was measured in 81 dyads one year post stroke. Their global life satisfaction, measured with LiSat-11, was combined to a dyad score and the dyads were then categorized as satisfied, dissatisfied or discordant. The groups were compared and analyzed regarding levels of caregiver burden, measured with the Caregiver Burden scale, and the perceived impact of stroke in everyday life, measured with the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The satisfied dyads comprised 40%, dissatisfied 26% and those that were discordant 34%. The satisfied dyads reported a significantly lower impact of the stroke in everyday life compared with the dyads that were not satisfied. As expected, dyads that were not satisfied reported a significantly greater caregiver burden compared with the satisfied dyads. The discordant group was further broken down into a group of dissatisfied and satisfied caregivers. The caregivers that were not satisfied in the discordant group perceived a significantly greater level of caregiver burden compared with the satisfied group. Even caregivers who were satisfied with life but whose care recipients were not satisfied reported caregiver burden.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Measuring combined life satisfaction provides a unique focus and appears to be a feasible way of attaining the dyads' perspective. The findings suggest that those dyads with a discordant life satisfaction could be vulnerable because of the caregivers' reported caregiver burden. These findings support the importance of a dyadic perspective and add to the understanding of the reciprocal influences between the caregiver and recipient. This knowledge has clinical implications and contributes to the identification of possible vulnerable dyads in need of tailored support.</p

The herbal extract EPs® 7630 increases the antimicrobial airway defense through monocyte-dependent induction of IL-22 in T cells

The phytotherapeutic compound EPs® 7630, an extract manufactured from Pelargonium sidoides roots, is frequently used for the treatment of airway infections. Nevertheless, the knowledge of the mode of action of EPs® 7630 is still sparse. Our study aimed at further elucidating the underlying pharmacological mechanisms by focusing on antimicrobial defense mechanisms of EPs® 7630. While investigating the influence of EPs® 7630 on lymphokine production by PBMCs, we found that EPs® 7630 is a novel inducer of IL-22 and IL-17. This cytokine-inducing effect was most pronounced for IL-22 and clearly dose-dependent starting from 1 μg/ml of the extract. Furthermore, EPs® 7630 pretreatment selectively enhanced the IL-22 and IL-17 production capacity of CD3/28-activated PBMCs while strongly limiting the IFN-γ production capacity of innate lymphoid cells. The relevance of EPs® 7630-induced IL-22 production was proven in vitro and in vivo, where IL-22 provoked a strong increase of the antimicrobial protein S100A9 in lung epithelial cells and pulmonary tissue, respectively. A detailed analysis of IL-22 induction modi revealed no direct influence of EPs® 7630 on the basal or anti-CD3/CD28 antibody-induced IL-22 production by CD4+ memory T cells. In fact, EPs® 7630-induced IL-22 production by CD4+ memory T cells was found to be essentially dependent on soluble mediators (IL-1/IL-23) as well as on direct cellular contact with monocytes. In summary, our study reveals a new immune-modulating function of EPs® 7630 that might confer IL-22 and IL-17-induced protection from bacterial airway infection. KEY MESSAGES: EPs® 7630 selectively strengthens IL-22 and IL-17 production of memory T cells. EPs® 7630 limits the IFN-y production capacity of innate lymphoid cells. EPs® 7630-caused IL-22 production by T cells is essentially dependent on monocytes. IL-22 increase antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) in airway epithelium. EPs® 7630 might protect against airway infection by induction of AMP-inducers

Glukometer, Honig und Tee: Schulexperimente zur Bestimmung der Aktivität von Saccharase

Am Beispiel der Saccharase können einfache Schulexperimente zum Inhaltsfeld Energiestoffwechsel durchgeführt werden. Das Enzym, auch Invertase genannt, ist in Honig enthalten und katalysiert die Spaltung von Saccharose in Fruktose und Glukose. Unter geeigneten Versuchsbedingungen kann letztere mittels eines herkömmlichen Glukometers gemessen werden und ist ein Maß für die Saccharaseaktivität. Es werden Experimente zu verschiedenen Faktoren, die diese beeinflussen, vorgestellt