Correlation between climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing and its implication for the "climate trap”: A Letter

Climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing are dominant uncertain properties of the global climate system. Their estimates based on the inverse approach are interdependent as historical temperature records constrain possible combinations. Nevertheless, many literature projections of future climate are based on the probability density of climate sensitivity and an independent aerosol forcing without considering the interdependency of such estimates. Here we investigate how large such parameter interdependency affects the range of future warming in two distinct settings: one following the A1B emission scenario till the year 2100 and the other assuming a shutdown of all greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions in the year 2020. We demonstrate that the range of projected warming decreases in the former case, but considerably broadens in the latter case, if the correlation between climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing is taken into account. Our conceptual study suggests that, unless the interdependency between the climate sensitivity and aerosol forcing estimates is properly considered, one could underestimate a risk involving the "climate trap”, an unpalatable situation with a high climate sensitivity in which a very drastic mitigation may counter-intuitively accelerate the warming by unmasking the hidden warming due to aerosol

Dokumentation und Handreichung zur Biotoppflege mit Pferden

In vorliegender Veröffentlichung wird auf der Grundlage der bisherigen Erfahrungen beim Einsatz von Pferden im Naturschutz und in der Landschaftspflege die Eignung von Pferden in der Biotoppflege beschrieben. Nach einer kurzen Beschreibung der Einsatzbereiche von Pferden im Natur- und Landschaftsschutz (Verwertung von Extensivheu, Offenhaltung der traditionellen Kulturlandschaft, Einsatz in großflächigen Beweidungsprojekten, Biotoppflege mit dem Ziel des Arten- und Biotopschutzes) werden verschiedene Aspekte der Weidehaltung vorgestellt, die für den Einsatz von Pferden in der Biotoppflege wichtig sind. Dabei wird das arteigene Weideverhalten der Pferde (Selektivität, Geilstellen, Verbiss, Trittwirkung) beschrieben, auf Aspekte der Tierhaltung und Tiergesundheit eingegangen sowie die unterschiedliche Eignung der verschiedenen Pferderassen zur Biotoppflege dargestellt. Ausführlich werden spezielle Formen des Weidemanagements vorgestellt, bei denen eine kurzzeitige Umtriebsweide mit ein bis zwei Wochen Weidegang im Vordergrund steht. Daneben wird eine modifizierte Form der Portionsweide sowie eine ebenfalls zur Biotoppflege geeignete Form der Langzeitweide beschrieben. Auf die Bedeutung einer regelmäßigen Weidepflege in Form von Nachmahd, Mulchen und Entbuschung wird bei den aufgeführten Weideformen hingewiesen. Die Ergebnisse einer landesweiten Umfrage beim behördlichen Naturschutz Kreisbehörden, Regierungspräsidien), den Landwirtschaftsämtern und den Naturschutzverbänden werden kurz vorgestellt. Es zeigt sich, dass bisher nur sehr wenige konkrete Pflegeprojekte mit Pferden durchgeführt werden und trotz einiger Vorbehalte gegenüber Pferdebeweidung bei diesen Institutionen ein Interesse an ausführlicher Information besteht. Parallel zur Umfrage bei den Behörden wurde eine Umfrage bei einer Auswahl von Pferdehaltern durchgeführt, aus der abzuleiten ist, dass das Interesse dieser Gruppe an einer Teilnahme an Biotoppflege-Projekten in Baden-Württemberg groß ist. Auf der Grundlage der allgemein gültigen Richtlinien zum Weidemanagement sowie einer umfassenden Literatur- und Projekt-Recherche werden im zweiten Teil des Leitfadens für alle landwirtschaftlich nutzbaren Offenland-Grünland-Biotoptypen im Einzelnen Empfehlungen gegeben, ob und wie sich diese Biotope mit einer Pferdebeweidung erhalten und gegebenenfalls entwickeln lassen. Es wird auf die erforderlichen Besatzdichten, Weidezeiten und Maßnahmen der Weidepflege ebenso eingegangen wie auf Aspekte des speziellen Artenschutzes. Besonders berücksichtigt werden dabei die im Anhang I der Flora-Fauna-Habitat(FFH)-Richtlinie aufgeführten Lebensräume und die nach § 32 (bisher § 24a) Naturschutzgesetz Baden-Württemberg (NatSchG) besonders geschützten Biotope

Development and application of an additively manufactured calcium chloride nebulizer for alginate 3D-bioprinting purposes

Three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinting enables scientists to mimic in vivo micro-environments and to perform in vitro cell experiments under more physiological conditions than is possible with conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture. Cell-laden biomaterials (bioinks) are precisely processed to bioengineer tissue three-dimensionally. One primarily used matrix material is sodium alginate. This natural biopolymer provides both fine mechanical properties when gelated and high biocompatibility. Commonly, alginate is 3D bioprinted using extrusion based devices. The gelation reaction is hereby induced by a CaCl2 solution in the building chamber after material extrusion. This established technique has two main disadvantages: (1) CaCl2 can have toxic effects on the cell-laden hydrogels by oxygen diffusion limitation and (2) good printing resolution in the CaCl2 solution is hard to achieve, since the solution needs to be removed afterwards and substituted by cell culture media. Here, we show an innovative approach of alginate bioprinting based on a CaCl2 nebulizer. The device provides CaCl2 mist to the building platform inducing the gelation. The necessary amount of CaCl2 could be decreased as compared to previous gelation strategies and limitation of oxygen transfer during bioprinting can be reduced. The device was manufactured using the MJP-3D printing technique. Subsequently, its digital blueprint (CAD file) can be modified and additive manufactured easily and mounted in various extrusion bioprinters. With our approach, a concept for a more gentle 3D Bioprinting method could be shown. We demonstrated that the concept of an ultrasound-based nebulizer for CaCl2 mist generation can be used for 3D bioprinting and that the mist-induced polymerization of alginate hydrogels of different concentrations is feasible. Furthermore, different cell-laden alginate concentrations could be used: Cell spheroids (mesenchymal stem cells) and single cells (mouse fibroblasts) were successfully 3D printed yielding viable cells and stable hydrogels after 24 h cultivation. We suggest our work to show a different and novel approach on alginate bioprinting, which could be useful in generating cell-laden hydrogel constructs for e.g., drug screening or (soft) tissue engineering applications

GnRH analogs do not protect ovaries from chemotherapy-induced ultrastructural injury in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients

Purpose: To determine the protective effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) using several ultrasound and endocrine markers to detect ultrastructural ovarian damage in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. Methods: Ten patients who had been treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma and had received GnRHa to protect ovarian function were matched with patients at similar age, who had received the same chemotherapy regimens without GnRHa. In addition, ten healthy women at the same age were matched to the study groups to compare ovarian markers. Blood samples were drawn to determine anti-Müllerian hormone, Inhibin B, follicle-stimulating hormone and transvaginal ultrasound scans were performed to determine antral follicle count and ovarian volume. All women were asked about their menstrual cycle pattern. Results: No difference was found when comparing the ovarian parameters of both study groups. Compared with healthy women, all ovarian parameters in the Hodgkin's lymphoma patients were significantly different. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate ultrastructural ovarian damage in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients irrespective of GnRHa co-treatment. These findings do not support previous studies, showing GnRHa to protect ovarian functio

How reliable is MRI in diagnosing cartilaginous lesions in patients with first and recurrent lateral patellar dislocations?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lateral dislocation of the patella (LPD) leads to cartilaginous injuries, which have been reported to be associated with retropatellar complaints and the development of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of MRI for cartilage diagnostics after a first and recurrent LPD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>After an average of 4.7 days following an acute LPD, 40 patients (21 with first LPDs and 19 with recurrent LPDs) underwent standardized 1.5 Tesla MRI (sagittal T1-TSE, coronal STIR-TSE, transversal fat-suppressed PD-TSE, sagittal fat-suppressed PD-TSE). MRI grading was compared to arthroscopic assessment of the cartilage.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sensitivities and positive predictive values for grade 3 and 4 lesions were markedly higher in the patient group with first LPDs compared to the group with recurrent LPDs. Similarly, intra- and inter-observer agreement yielded higher kappa values in patients with first LPDs compared to those with recurrent LPDs. All grade 4 lesions affecting the subchondral bone (osteochondral defects), such as a fissuring or erosion, were correctly assessed on MRI.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study demonstrated a comparatively good diagnostic performance for MRI in the evaluation of first and recurrent LPDs, and we therefore recommend MRI for the cartilage assessment after a LPD.</p

Correlates of Food Addiction and Eating Behaviours in Patients with Morbid Obesity

Introduction: Food Addiction (FA) is a promising construct regarding the multifactorial aetiology of obesity and the search for therapeutic approaches. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the overlap/differentiation with eating disorders and the classification as a substance- or behaviour-related addiction. Energy-dense foods, especially those combining carbohydrates and fat, are associated with addictive eating and suspected of playing a role in the genesis of FA. This study aims to further understand the clinical significance of FA and to identify possible therapeutic targets. A special focus is set on potentially addictive foods (combination of carbohydrates and fat). Methods: Based on the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 a cohort of 112 German adults with morbid obesity was divided into two sub-samples (patients with and without FA), which were examined for differences in the variables listed below. Results: The prevalence of FA was 25%. Patients meeting criteria for FA showed higher degrees of hunger, emotional, binge and night eating than patients without FA. In addition, hunger and disinhibition were found to be significant predictors of FA. FA was not associated with sex, age, BMI, cognitive restraint, rigid and flexible control, prevalence of substance use, age of onset of obesity, stress level, level of social support, reduction of BMI during a weight loss programme or programme withdrawal rate. There was no significant difference in the consumption of foods rich in both carbohydrates and fat, nor of fat or carbohydrates alone. Conclusion: FA can be considered as a sub-phenotype of obesity, occurring in approximately 25% of obesity cases. Dysfunctional emotional coping mechanisms associated with low distress tolerance showed to be significantly related to FA and should be targeted therapeutically. Behavioural interventions should include a bio-psycho-social model. Binge eating episodes were found to be characteristic for FA and the already stated overlap between FA and binge eating behaviour can be confirmed. The results do not support a decisive difference due to a substance-related component of FA. Despite this, the existence of FA as a distinct entity cannot be excluded, as not all patients with FA exhibit binges