EUNIS Habitat Classification: Expert system, characteristic species combinations and distribution maps of European habitats

Aim: The EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats. Location: Europe. Methods: We developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic, constant and dominant species for each habitat by calculating species‐to‐habitat fidelity and constancy (occurrence frequency) in the classified data set. Finally, we mapped the plot locations for each habitat. Results: Formal definitions were developed for 199 habitats at Level 3 of the EUNIS hierarchy, including 25 coastal, 18 wetland, 55 grassland, 43 shrubland, 46 forest and 12 man‐made habitats. The expert system classified 1,125,121 vegetation plots to these habitat groups and 73,188 to other habitats, while 63,064 plots remained unclassified or were classified to more than one habitat. Data on each habitat were summarized in factsheets containing habitat description, distribution map, corresponding syntaxa and characteristic species combination. Conclusions: EUNIS habitats were characterized for the first time in terms of their species composition and distribution, based on a classification of a European database of vegetation plots using the newly developed electronic expert system EUNIS‐ESy. The data provided and the expert system have considerable potential for future use in European nature conservation planning, monitoring and assessment

Water-Soluble Polymers Coupled with Glycopeptide Antigens and T-Cell Epitopes as Potential Antitumor Vaccines

Highly decorated: Tumor-associated MUC1 glycopeptide and tetanus toxoid T-cell epitope P2 can be attached to water-soluble poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) carriers by orthogonal ligation techniques. Fully synthetic vaccine A with additional nanostructure-promoting domains induced antibodies that exhibit high affinity to tumor cells

Wirkungsmechanismen bei der Alterung von Müllverbrennungsaschen

Als Maßnahme zur Verbesserung des Elutionsverhaltens von Rostasche wird von der LAGA die kontrollierte Alterung frischer Rostaschen empfohlen. Verantwortlich für die Qualitätsverbesserung sind unterschiedliche chemisch-physikalische Prozesse, die von Lagerungsform, Durchlüftung und Befeuchtung der Schüttungen abhängen. Analytische Untersuchungen zeigen, daß der Oberfläche und den tieferen Schichten von Rostascheschüttungen unterschiedliche Alterungsmechanismen und Wirkungen zugeordnet werden können. Die Elution von typischen Schwermetallen (Zink und Blei), Sulfaten und Calciumsalzen mit fortschreitender Alterung läßt sich durch Betrachtung von Löslichkeitsgleichgewichten und Phasenumwandlungsreaktionen qualitativ deuten und quantitativ beschreiben

A Fully Synthetic Glycopeptide Antitumor Vaccine Based on Multiple Antigen Presentation on a Hyperbranched Polymer

Abstract For antitumor vaccines both the selected tumor-associated antigen, as well as the mode of its presentation, affect the immune response. According to the principle of multiple antigen presentation, a tumor-associated MUC1 glycopeptide combined with the immunostimulating T-cell epitope P2 from tetanus toxoid was coupled to a multi-functionalized hyperbranched polyglycerol by “click chemistry”. This globular polymeric carrier has a flexible dendrimer-like structure, which allows optimal antigen presentation to the immune system. The resulting fully synthetic vaccine induced strong immune responses in mice and IgG antibodies recognizing human breast-cancer cells

CpG-Loaded Multifunctional Cationic Nanohydrogel Particles as Self-Adjuvanting Glycopeptide Antitumor Vaccines

Self-adjuvanting antitumor vaccines by multifunctional cationic ­nanohydrogels loaded with CpG. A conjugate ­consisting of tumor-associated MUC1-glycopeptide B-cell epitope and tetanus toxin ­T-cell epitope P2 is linked to cationic nanogels. Oligonucleotide CpG complexation enhances toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulated T-cell proliferation and rapid immune activation. This co-delivery promotes induction of specific MUC1-antibodies binding to human breast ­tumor cells without external adjuvant