Determinants of Spatial Distribution of Organic Farming in Germany

The share of organically managed land is spread unevenly throughout Germany and shows pronounced regional concentrations. The spatial distribution of organic farming is assumed to be influenced by several factors. Location factors of farms are regionally different and thus may influence the spatial distribution of organic farming. Agglomeration effects and therefore spatial dependence are also considered important in determining spatial distribution. These factors with a potential influence on the spatial distribution of organic farming can be divided into four categories: natural factors, farm-structure factors, socio-economic factors and political factors. Their possible influence on the spatial distribution of organic farming is analysed by several statistical methods: ordinary least square regression model, spatial autoregressive models, analysis of variance and Spearman correlation. Of the analysed factors, spatial contiguity has the strongest influence on the spatial distribution of organic farming (indicating relevant agglomeration effects)

Die Bestimmungsgründe der räumlichen Verteilung des ökologischen Landbaus in Deutschland

Der ökologische Landbau ist in Deutschland räumlich sehr heterogen verteilt und lässt regionale Schwerpunkte erkennen. Generell hängt die räumliche Verteilung des ökologischen Landbaus von mehreren Faktoren ab. So weisen beispielsweise die Standortfaktoren der Betriebe regionale Unterschiede auf, die sich auf die räumliche Verteilung des ökologischen Landbaus auswirken können. Zu den Standortfaktoren landwirtschaftlicher Betriebe zählt auch die räumliche Nachbarschaft. Im Rahmen dieser Studie wurden die Faktoren, die tendenziell die räumliche Verteilung des ökologischen Landbaus in Deutschland beeinflussen, in vier Kategorien eingeteilt. Es sind dies: natürliche Bestimmungsfaktoren, betriebliche Bestimmungsfaktoren, sozio-ökonomische Bestimmungsfaktoren und politische Bestimmungsfaktoren. Zur statistischen Analyse wurden Berechnungen mit einem autoregressiven Modell, Varianzanalysen und Korrelationsberechnungen nach Spearman durchgeführt. Als ein wichtiges Ergebnis bleibt festzuhalten, dass Nachbarschaftsbeziehungen (Agglomerationseffekte) im ökologischen Landbau eine große Bedeutung haben

Molecular Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation - Please Mind the Gap

The underlying mechanism of lymphocyte triggering is still not fully understood, but the kinetic-segregation (KS) model of receptor triggering in T cells has been supported by several recent studies. This model proposes that the small gap between an antigen-presenting cell and an immune cell excludes large, inhibitory phosphatases, causing cell signalling. This work examines lymphocyte signalling phenomena in the light of the KS model. Single molecule and bulk experiments explore how the gap size between immune cells and a surface affects the behaviour of important signalling proteins. The first part of this thesis investigates whether the KS model explains the signalling-related epi-phenomena of superagonism. Experiments show that contacts mediated by highly potent superagonistic antibodies increase the exclusion of phosphatases. These changes are gap-size dependent and, complemented by T cell stimulation assays, support the role of phosphatase exclusion in superagonistic T cell activation predicted by the KS model. This signalling principle is likely to be generalisable to other tyrosinekinase-dependent receptors,including immune checkpoints. The second partof the thesis asks whether the KS mechanism might activate other immunoreceptors. This work focuses on the B cell receptor (BCR), which as a large,bivalent immunoreceptor poses its own challenges to the KS model. Functional activation assays and three-color imaging reveal a link between size-dependent phosphatase exclusion and B cell activation, providing evidence for KS as a general activation mechanism in lymphocytes. Finally, stiffness-dependent T cell activation is explored. While substrate stiffness is known to influence T cell activation,studies are typically performed on glass, which is orders of magnitude stiffer than any substrate in vivo. This work introduces a new platform for single-molecule imaging on bilayers supported by substrates with variable stiffness. Early T cell activation markers show a correlation between stiffness and sustained signalling. This platform enables future experiments to study the underlying mechanism of stiffness-dependent lymphocyte activation. As a whole, this thesis shows how physical parameters like gap-size and substrate stiffness can influence lymphocyte activation. Thus, it enhances our general understanding of lymphocyte activation and motivates antibody design for immunotherapy as well as close-to-physiological signalling studies

Influences on GP coping and resilience: a qualitative study in primary care.

BACKGROUND: 'Neoliberal' work policies, austerity, NHS restructuring, and increased GP consultation rates provide the backdrop against increasing reports of GP burnout and an impending shortage of GPs. AIM: To explore GPs' experiences of workplace challenges and stresses, and their coping strategies, particularly focusing on understanding the impact of recent NHS workplace change. DESIGN AND SETTING: Study design was qualitative, with data collected from two focus groups and seven one-to-one telephone interviews. METHOD: Focus groups and one-to-one telephone interviews explored the experiences of GPs currently practising in England, recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview approach and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: There were 22 GP participants recruited: focus groups (n = 15) and interviews (n = 7). Interviewees understood GPs to be under intense and historically unprecedented pressures, which were tied to the contexts in which they work, with important moral implications for 'good' doctoring. Many reported that being a full-time GP was too stressful: work-related stress led to mood changes, sleep disruption, increases in anxiety, and tensions with loved ones. Some had subsequently sought ways to downsize their clinical workload. Workplace change resulted in little time for the things that helped GP resilience: a good work-life balance and better contact with colleagues. Although some GPs were coping better than others, GPs acknowledged that there was only so much an individual GP could do to manage their stress, given the external work issues they faced. CONCLUSION: GPs experience their emotional lives and stresses as being meaningfully shaped by NHS factors. To support GPs to provide effective care, resilience building should move beyond the individual to include systemic work issues

Soft Polydimethylsiloxane-Supported Lipid Bilayers for Studying T Cell Interactions.

Much of what we know about the early stages of T cell activation has been obtained from studies of T cells interacting with glass-supported lipid bilayers that favor imaging but are orders of magnitude stiffer than typical cells. We developed a method for attaching lipid bilayers to polydimethylsiloxane polymer supports, producing "soft bilayers" with physiological levels of mechanical resistance (Young's modulus of 4 kPa). Comparisons of T cell behavior on soft and glass-supported bilayers revealed that whereas late stages of T cell activation are thought to be substrate-stiffness dependent, early calcium signaling was unaffected by substrate rigidity, implying that early steps in T cell receptor triggering are not mechanosensitive. The exclusion of large receptor-type phosphatases was observed on the soft bilayers, however, even though it is yet to be demonstrated at authentic cell-cell contacts. This work sets the stage for an imaging-based exploration of receptor signaling under conditions closely mimicking physiological cell-cell contact.Royal Societ

Chaco Canyon Dig Unearths Ethical Concerns

The field of paleogenomics (the study of ancient genomes) is rapidly advancing with more robust methods of isolating ancient DNA and increasing access to next-generation DNA sequencing technology. As these studies progress, many important ethical issues have emerged that should be considered when ancient Native American remains, whom we refer to as ancestors, are used in research. We highlight a recent article by Kennett et al. (2017), “Archaeogenomic evidence reveals prehistoric matrilineal dynasty,” that brings several ethical issues to light that should be addressed in paleogenomics research (Kennett et al. 2017). The study helps elucidate the matrilineal relationships in ancient Chacoan society through ancient DNA analysis. However, we, as Indigenous researchers and allies, raise ethical concerns with the study’s scientific conclusions that can be problematic for Native American communities: (1) the lack of tribal consultation, (2) the use of culturally-insensitive descriptions, and (3) the potential impact on marginalized groups. Further, we explore the limitations of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), which addresses repatriation but not research, as clear ethical guidelines have not been established for research involving Native American ancestors, especially those deemed “culturally unaffiliated”. As multiple studies of culturally unaffiliated remains have been initiated recently, it is imperative that researchers consider the ethical ramifications of paleogenomics research. Past research indiscretions have created a history of mistrust and exploitation in many Native American communities. To promote ethical engagement of Native American communities in research, we therefore suggest careful attention to the ethical considerations, strong tribal consultation requirements, and greater collaborations amongst museums, federal agencies, researchers, scientific journals, and granting agencies

Fabrication of Scaffold-Based 3D Magnetic Nanowires for Domain Wall Applications.

Three-dimensional magnetic nanostructures hold great potential to revolutionize information technologies and to enable the study of novel physical phenomena. In this work, we describe a hybrid nanofabrication process combining bottom-up 3D nano-printing and top-down thin film deposition, which leads to the fabrication of complex magnetic nanostructures suitable for the study of new 3D magnetic effects. First, a non-magnetic 3D scaffold is nano-printed using Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition; then a thin film magnetic material is thermally evaporated onto the scaffold, leading to a functional 3D magnetic nanostructure. Scaffold geometries are extended beyond recently developed single-segment geometries by introducing a dual-pitch patterning strategy. Additionally, by tilting the substrate during growth, low-angle segments can be patterned, circumventing a major limitation of this nano-printing process; this is demonstrated by the fabrication of ‘staircase’ nanostructures with segments parallel to the substrate. The suitability of nano-printed scaffolds to support thermally evaporated thin films is discussed, outlining the importance of including supporting pillars to prevent deformation during the evaporation process. Employing this set of methods, a set of nanostructures tailored to precisely match a dark-field magneto-optical magnetometer have been fabricated and characterized. This work demonstrates the versatility of this hybrid technique and the interesting magnetic properties of the nanostructures produced, opening a promising route for the development of new 3D devices for applications and fundamental studies

The effect of theobromine on the in vitro de- and remineralization of enamel carious lesions

Objectives This in vitro study investigated the effect of theobromine on the de- and remineralization of enamel carious lesions under plaque fluid-like conditions. Methods Early carious lesions were created in 272 bovine enamel specimens and assigned to sixteen groups (n = 17) based on Knoop surface microhardness (SMH). Lesions were demineralized again under plaque fluid-like conditions in the presence of fluoride (0.2 or 1 ppm) and theobromine (0; 10; 100 or 200 ppm) at different pH values (5.5 or 7.0) in a factorial design. SMH was determined again and percent SMH recovery (%SMHr) calculated. Three-way ANOVA was used for the fixed effects of fluoride, theobromine and pH levels to compare the differences between each level. Results The three-way interaction was not significant (p = 0.712). The two-way interaction between fluoride and pH was significant (p = 0.030), whereas those between fluoride and theobromine as well as that for pH and theobromine were not (p = 0.478 and p = 0.998, respectively). Theobromine did not affect %SMHr at any of the tested concentrations. There were trends for the higher fluoride concentration and the higher pH resulting in more rehardening with the lesions exposed to 0.2 ppm fluoride at pH 5.5 displaying significantly less rehardening than those exposed to 0.2 ppm fluoride at pH of 7.0 and lesions exposed to 1 ppm fluoride at pH of 5.5. Conclusion Theobromine, when continuously present in a plaque fluid-like medium at various concentrations and at different pH values, does not affect de- or remineralization of enamel carious lesions under the presently studied conditions

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest:Does rurality decrease chances of survival?

BACKGROUND: Geographical setting is seldomly taken into account when investigating out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). It is a common notion that living in rural areas means a lower chance of fast and effective helpwhen suffering a time-critical event. This retrospective cohort study investigates this hypothesis and compares across healthcare-divided administrative regions. METHODS: We included only witnessed OHCAs to minimize the risk that outcome was predetermined by time to caller arrival and/or recognition. Arrests were divided into public and residential. Residential arrests were categorized according to population density of the area in which they occurred. We investigated incidence, EMS response time and 30-day survival according to area type and subsidiarily by healthcare-divided administrative region. RESULTS: The majority (71%) of 8,579 OHCAs were residential, and 53.2% of all arrests occurred in the most densely populated cell group amongst residential arrests. This group had a median EMS response time of six minutes, whereas the most sparsely populated group had a median of 10 minutes. Public arrests also had a median response time of six minutes. 30-day survival was highest in public arrests (38.5%, [95% CI 36.9;40.1]), and varied only slightly with no statistical significance between OHCAs in densely and sparsely populated areas from 14.8% (95% CI 14.4;15.2) and 13.4% (95% CI 12.2;14.7). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that while EMS response times in Denmark are longer in the rural areas, there is no statistically significant decrease in survival compared to the most densely populated areas

Hypothetical interventions on emergency ambulance and prehospital acetylsalicylic acid administration in myocardial infarction patients presenting without chest pain

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) patients presenting without chest pain are a diagnostic challenge. They receive suboptimal prehospital management and have high mortality. To elucidate potential benefits of improved management, we analysed expected outcome among non-chest pain MI patients if hypothetically they (1) received emergency ambulances/acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as often as observed for chest pain patients, and (2) all received emergency ambulance/ASA. METHODS: We sampled calls to emergency and non-emergency medical services for patients hospitalized with MI within 24 h and categorized calls as chest pain/non-chest pain. Outcomes were 30-day mortality and a 1-year combined outcome of re-infarction, heart failure admission, and mortality. Targeted minimum loss-based estimation was used for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: Among 5418 calls regarding MI patients, 24% (1309) were recorded with non-chest pain. In total, 90% (3689/4109) of chest pain and 40% (525/1309) of non-chest pain patients received an emergency ambulance, and 73% (2668/3632) and 37% (192/518) of chest pain and non-chest pain patients received prehospital ASA. Providing ambulances to all non-chest pain patients was not associated with improved survival. Prehospital administration of ASA to all emergency ambulance transports of non-chest pain MI patients was expected to reduce 30-day mortality by 5.3% (CI 95%: [1.7%;9%]) from 12.8% to 7.4%. No significant reduction was found for the 1-year combined outcome (2.6% CI 95% [− 2.9%;8.1%]). In comparison, the observed 30-day mortality was 3% among ambulance-transported chest pain MI patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found large differences in the prehospital management of MI patients with and without chest pain. Improved prehospital ASA administration to non-chest pain MI patients could possibly reduce 30-day mortality, but long-term effects appear limited. Non-chest pain MI patients are difficult to identify prehospital and possible unintended effects of ASA might outweigh the potential benefits of improving the prehospital management. Future research should investigate ways to improve the prehospital recognition of MI in the absence of chest pain. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-022-03000-1