Evaluation and demonstration of the use of cryogenic propellants /oxygen/hydrogen/ for reaction control systems. Volume 2 - Experimental evaluations and demonstration Final report

Evaluation and demonstration of cryogenic propellant /oxygen-hydrogen/ use for spacecraft reaction control system

Förderung und Weiterentwicklung des Ökologischen Landbaus aus betrieblicher Perspektive: Eine Befragung von Landwirt- Innen aus dem Praxis-Forschungs-Netz des Thünen-Institutes

Organic farming in Germany benefits from a large number of different national and regional political measures, in addition to a positive development of general demand of organic products. Despite these favorable conditions, however, fewer and fewer farms convert to organic farming. With the aim to expand the organically farmed land in Germany, the BMEL initiated the "Strategy for the Future of Organic Farming". One topic is to examine the possibilities of the development and improvement of the current organic subsidies policy. A nationwide survey amongst organic farms will also take into consideration the support of organic farming from the farmers’ point of view. In this context, 218 organic farms from all over Germany who participated in a comprehensive structural and situational analysis of organic farming in Germany in the year 2002/2003 were asked to participate in a follow-up survey. For 210 farmers it was possible to contact them again, 177 are still working under organic guidelines, 92 agreed to participate again

Testing Alternative Hypotheses for the Cause of Population Declines: The Case of the Red-Headed Woodpecker

The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) has experienced strong population declines during the past 3 decades. Using North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data, we investigated 4 hypotheses that may explain this decline, including: (1) interspecific competition with native Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) and nonnative European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris); (2) predation by Cooper\u27s Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) and Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus); (3) climate change; and (4) changes in forested area within their range. In analyses of both the breeding and overwintering periods, our results indicated a role of increased accipiter populations in driving Red-headed Woodpecker declines through increased predation. We also found evidence for significant effects of warmer winter temperatures and increased forest cover, both directly and indirectly through their effects on enhancing accipiter populations. In contrast, our results failed to support the hypothesis that interspecific competition with either Red-bellied Woodpeckers or European Starlings has played a role in Red-headed Woodpecker declines. Despite considerable evidence for nest-site competition and aggression between Red-headed Woodpeckers and both Red-bellied Woodpeckers and European Starlings, these interactions do not appear to be limiting Red-headed Woodpecker populations

Ökologischer Landbau in Deutschland: Ein aktuelles Stimmungsbild aus der Praxis

In order explore the past development, the current situation and the future prospects of organic farming in Germany from a farm , a nationwide survey has been carried out. In total, 218 organic farms from all over Germany who participated in a comprehensive status quo analysis of organic farming in the year 2002/2003 were asked to participate in a follow-up survey fourteen years later. 92 organic farms agreed to do so. Most of them assess the current situation positively. Also their current income situation and the general development opportunities in organic farming make them optimistic. Growth opportunities and the assessments of the lease market however are described in a rather negative light. The evaluation of the vocational training in organic farming is seen as inadequate and illustrates a need for action at this point

BoGSy:ein Informationssystem für Botanische Gärten

Botanische Gärten bieten den Botanischen Instituten die Grundlage für deren Forschungen und Besuchern einen Einblick in die Pflanzenwelt. Die mit dem Wissenschaftszweig der Botanik entstanden Universitätsgärten haben ihren Mittelpunkt in der Botanischen Forschung und Lehre, vor allem in den Bereichen Taxonomie und Ökologie. Die Grundlagen und der Inhalt der Botanischen Arbeit sind demnach insbesondere Sammlungen. Darüber hinaus erfordert die Teilnahme im IPEN (International Plant Exchange Network) seit einigen Jahren die Einhaltung strenger Kriterien der CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) beim Austausch von Samen und Pflanzenmaterial. Die Entwicklung eines Datenbank gestützten Informationssystems für Botanische Gärten wird durch eine Reihe von Beobachtungen motiviert und muss diverse Randbedingungen beachten. Dies wird im Folgenden genauer erläutert. Sodann werden der Entwurf und eine erste Realisierung des Informationssystems BoGSy beschrieben, welches an der Universität Münster entwickelt wird und diesen Bedingungen genügt.<br/

FcRn-mediated antibody transport across epithelial cells revealed by electron tomography

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) transports maternal IgG across epithelial barriers, thereby providing the fetus or newborn with humoral immunity before its immune system is fully functional. In newborn rats, FcRn transfers IgG from milk to blood by apical-to-basolateral transcytosis across intestinal epithelial cells. The pH difference between the apical (pH 6.0–6.5) and basolateral (pH 7.4) sides of intestinal epithelial cells facilitates the efficient unidirectional transport of IgG, because FcRn binds IgG at pH 6.0–6.5 but not at pH 7 or more. As milk passes through the neonatal intestine, maternal IgG is removed by FcRn-expressing cells in the proximal small intestine (duodenum and jejunum); remaining proteins are absorbed and degraded by FcRn-negative cells in the distal small intestine (ileum). Here we use electron tomography to make jejunal transcytosis visible directly in space and time, developing new labelling and detection methods to map individual nanogold-labelled Fc within transport vesicles and simultaneously to characterize these vesicles by immunolabelling. Combining electron tomography with a nonperturbing endocytic label allowed us to conclusively identify receptor-bound ligands, resolve interconnecting vesicles, determine whether a vesicle was microtubule-associated, and accurately trace FcRn-mediated transport of IgG. Our results present a complex picture in which Fc moves through networks of entangled tubular and irregular vesicles, only some of which are microtubule-associated, as it migrates to the basolateral surface. New features of transcytosis are elucidated, including transport involving multivesicular body inner vesicles/tubules and exocytosis through clathrin-coated pits. Markers for early, late and recycling endosomes each labelled vesicles in different and overlapping morphological classes, revealing spatial complexity in endo-lysosomal trafficking

The helminth T2 RNase v1 promotes metabolic homeostasis in an IL-33– and group 2 innate lymphoid cell–dependent mechanism

Induction of a type 2 cellular response in the white adipose tissue leads to weight loss and improves glucose homeostasis in obese animals. Injection of obese mice with recombinant helminth-derived Schistosoma mansoni egg-derived v1 (v1), a potent inducer of type 2 activation, improves metabolic status involving a mechanism reliant upon release of the type 2 initiator cytokine IL-33. IL-33 initiates the accumulation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), eosinophils, and alternatively activated macrophages in the adipose tissue. IL-33 release from cells in the adipose tissue is mediated by the RNase activity of v1; however, the ability of v1 to improve metabolic status is reliant upon effective binding of v1 to CD206. We demonstrate a novel mechanism for RNasemediated release of IL-33 inducing ILC2-dependent improvements in the metabolic status of obese animals.— Hams, E., Bermingham, R., Wurlod, F. A., Hogan, A. E., O’Shea, D., Preston, R. J., Rodewald, H.-R., McKenzie, A. N. J., Fallon, P. G. The helminth T2 RNase v1 promotes metabolic homeostasis in an IL-33– and group 2 innate lymphoid cell–dependent mechanism