EEG-Microstates Reflect Auditory Distraction After Attentive Audiovisual Perception Recruitment of Cognitive Control Networks

Processing of sensory information is embedded into ongoing neural processes which contribute to brain states. Electroencephalographic microstates are semi-stable short-lived power distributions which have been associated with subsystem activity such as auditory, visual and attention networks. Here we explore changes in electrical brain states in response to an audiovisual perception and memorization task under conditions of auditory distraction. We discovered changes in brain microstates reflecting a weakening of states representing activity of the auditory system and strengthening of salience networks, supporting the idea that salience networks are active after audiovisual encoding and during memorization to protect memories and concentrate on upcoming behavioural response

Assessment of data quality in a multi-centre cross-sectional study of participation and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND: SPARCLE is a cross-sectional survey in nine European regions, examining the relationship of the environment of children with cerebral palsy to their participation and quality of life. The objective of this report is to assess data quality, in particular heterogeneity between regions, family and item non-response and potential for bias. METHODS: 1,174 children aged 8–12 years were selected from eight population-based registers of children with cerebral palsy; one further centre recruited 75 children from multiple sources. Families were visited by trained researchers who administered psychometric questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to assess factors related to family non-response and self-completion of questionnaires by children. RESULTS: 431/1,174 (37%) families identified from registers did not respond: 146 (12%) were not traced; of the 1,028 traced families, 250 (24%) declined to participate and 35 (3%) were not approached. Families whose disabled children could walk unaided were more likely to decline to participate. 818 children entered the study of which 500 (61%) self-reported their quality of life; children with low IQ, seizures or inability to walk were less likely to self-report. There was substantial heterogeneity between regions in response rates and socio-demographic characteristics of families but not in age or gender of children. Item non-response was 2% for children and ranged from 0.4% to 5% for questionnaires completed by parents. CONCLUSION: While the proportion of untraced families was higher than in similar surveys, the refusal rate was comparable. To reduce bias, all analyses should allow for region, walking ability, age and socio-demographic characteristics. The 75 children in the region without a population based register are unlikely to introduce bias

Common Genetic Variants and Modification of Penetrance of BRCA2-Associated Breast Cancer

Peer reviewe

Der Wert biologischer Vielfalt

Schepers G. Der Wert biologischer Vielfalt. In: Feit U, Korn H, eds. Treffpunkt Biologische Vielfalt IX. Aktuelle Forschung im Rahmen des Übereinkommens über die biologische Vielfalt. BfN-Skripten. Vol 265. Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz; 2010: 189-197.As nature is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for biodiversity, I do not investigate: Why is nature as such ethically valuable? But: Why is diverse nature ethically valuable? First, I show that biological diversity will eventually have an indirect value, if nature is valuable, and that this is too little. Then I argue against an argument which defends the aesthetic value of biodiversity. After that I shortly defend the medical value of biodiversity. In the main part I argue that biodiversity – except in some parts – has a value because it supports freedom

Kleine Tiere, große Bäume: Beziehungsprobleme im Wunderland der Feigen?

Hiller Y, Kraemer M. Kleine Tiere, große Bäume: Beziehungsprobleme im Wunderland der Feigen? In: Feit U, Korn H, eds. Treffpunkt Biologische Vielfalt IX: Aktuelle Forschung im Rahmen des Übereinkommens über die biologische Vielfalt. BfN-Skripten. Vol 289. Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz; 2011: 39-45

Einfluss der Landschafts-Strukturierung auf Pflanze-Bestäuber-Interaktionen in einem ostafrikanischen Wald-Agrarland Mosaik

Hagen M, Kraemer M. Einfluss der Landschafts-Strukturierung auf Pflanze-Bestäuber-Interaktionen in einem ostafrikanischen Wald-Agrarland Mosaik. In: Korn H, Feit U, eds. Treffpunkt Biologische Vielfalt: Aktuelle Forschung im Rahmen des Übereinkommens über die biologische Vielfalt. BfN-Skripten. Vol 164. Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz; 2006: 63-68

Auswirkungen von Lebensraumfragmentierung auf die Bestäubung und Reproduktion von Acanthus eminens

Hasenbein N, Kraemer M. Auswirkungen von Lebensraumfragmentierung auf die Bestäubung und Reproduktion von Acanthus eminens. In: Feit U, Korn H, eds. Treffpunkt Biologische Vielfalt IX: Aktuelle Forschung im Rahmen des Übereinkommens über die biologische Vielfalt. BfN-Skripten. Vol 265. Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz; 2010: 15-18

Auswirkungen der invasiven Art Heracleum mantegazzianum (Riesenbärenklau) auf einheimische Pflanze-Bestäuber-Systeme

Zumkier U, Kraemer M. Auswirkungen der invasiven Art Heracleum mantegazzianum (Riesenbärenklau) auf einheimische Pflanze-Bestäuber-Systeme. In: Feit U, Korn H, eds. Treffpunkt Biologische Vielfalt IX: Aktuelle Forschung im Rahmen des Übereinkommens über die biologische Vielfalt. BfN-Skripten. Vol 265. Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz; 2010: 109-113

The solution structure of the lantibiotic immunity protein NisI and its interactions with nisin

Many Gram-positive bacteria produce lantibiotics, genetically encoded and posttranslationally modified peptide antibiotics, which inhibit the growth of other Gram-positive bacteria. To protect themselves against their own lantibiotics these bacteria express a variety of immunity proteins including the LanI lipoproteins. The structural and mechanistic basis for LanI-mediated lantibiotic immunity is not yet understood. Lactococcus lactis produces the lantibiotic nisin, which is widely used as a food preservative. Its LanI protein NisI provides immunity against nisin but not against structurally very similar lantibiotics from other species such as subtilin from Bacillus subtilis. To understand the structural basis for LanI-mediated immunity and their specificity we investigated the structure of NisI. We found that NisI is a two-domain protein. Surprisingly, each of the two NisI domains has the same structure as the LanI protein from B. subtilis, SpaI, despite the lack of significant sequence homology. The two NisI domains and SpaI differ strongly in their surface properties and function. Additionally, SpaI-mediated lantibiotic immunity depends on the presence of a basic unstructured N-terminal region that tethers SpaI to the membrane. Such a region is absent from NisI. Instead, the N-terminal domain of NisI interacts with membranes but not with nisin. In contrast, the C-terminal domain specifically binds nisin and modulates the membrane affinity of the N-terminal domain. Thus, our results reveal an unexpected structural relationship between NisI and SpaI and shed light on the structural basis for LanI mediated lantibiotic immunity