Evaluation eines projekt- und problemorientierten Lehransatzes im Fachgebiet Arbeitsmedizin

Die Pflichtlehrveranstaltungen im Fachgebiet Arbeitsmedizin in Münster werden auf der methodischen Grundlage des projekt- und problemorientierten Lernens durchgeführt mit unmittelbarem Praxisbezug in Betrieben unterschiedlicher Industrie- und Gewerbezweige. Im Erhebungs¬zeitraum (WS 1999/2000-SS 2003, insgesamt 1020 Studierende) wurde kontinuierlich institutsintern evaluiert. Die Validität des Evaluationsverfahrens wurde statistisch gesichert. 981 Fragebögen wurden ausgewertet. Die Bewertungen der Indikatoren für Struktur, Didaktik und Lehrkompetenz sowie Teilnahmemotivation und Lernerfolg verbesserten sich signifikant. Die positive Einschätzung der Gruppenarbeit korrelierte signifikant mit der Akzeptanz und dem Interesse für das Fach. Insgesamt kann kontinuierliche studentische Lehrevaluation zur Qualität der Lehre in der Arbeitsmedizin beitragen

Secondary cities as catalysts for nutritious diets in low- and middle-income countries

The world is facing a malnutrition crisis in the midst of rising rates of urbanization; more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas, a number that is expected to reach two-thirds by 2050, consuming 80% of the world's food. Instead of the development of existing cities into 'mega-cities, ' urbanization is creating a patchwork of smaller urban areas. In 2018, close to half of the world's urban residents lived in settlements or towns with less than 500, 000 inhabitants. These settlements are classified as secondary cities and are, in terms of population, the fastest growing urban areas. Poor diets among city inhabitants are the consequence of a combination of forces. These include changes in types of occupation, particularly for women; food-environment factors; shifts in norms and attitudes regarding food; globalization of food supply chains; lack of infrastructure; post-harvest food loss and waste, etc. Secondary cities offer entry points for food system transformation. Secondary cities are characterized by strong urban-rural linkages and the opportunity for localized food production and consumption. These cities could also play a key role in enhancing resilience to food security shocks. This chapter discusses the challenge of the growing triple burden of malnutrition in urban contexts and argues for the important role of secondary cities in transforming urban food systems. Through three case studies of secondary cities in LMICs, these cities are shown as emerging players in nutrition-centered food system interventions. © The Author(s) 2023

Considerations of Efficiency and Distributive Justice in Multidimensional Poverty Measurement

Ab den 1980er Jahren entwickelte Amartya Sen eine neue Wohlfahrtstheorie: den Capability Approach (Sen, 1979; 1985; 1992; 1999; 2009). Dabei ersetzen Capabilities und Functionings, d.h. das, was Personen tatsächlich in der Lage sind zu tun und zu sein, den traditionellen Einkommensansatz. Armut ist im Capability Approach das Unvermögen, ein bestimmtes Minimum an zentralen Capabilities zu erreichen, die benötigt werden, um das Leben nach den eigenen Vorstellungen zu gestalten. Der Capability Approach hat so viele interessante Eigenschaften, besonders in Bezug auf die Armutsmessung, dass er zunehmend Einfluss in der Wohlfahrtsökonomie gewinnt. Diese Entwicklung wird durch empirische Untersuchungen gefördert, die zeigen, dass dieser multidimensionale Ansatz zur Armutsmessung deutlich andere Ergebnisse generiert als der traditionelle Einkommensansatz (vgl. Klasen, 2000, Alkire und Santos, 2010, Figari, 2012). Der derzeitige multidimensionale Ansatz hat jedoch eine methodische Schwäche: Ungleichheit zwischen Armutsdimensionen wird entweder als Korrelationssensitivität definiert – womit Effizienz aber nicht Verteilungsgerechtigkeit berücksichtigt wird – oder als die Verteilung multipler Mangelerscheinungen in einer Gesellschaft – womit Verteilungsgerechtigkeit aber nicht Effizienz berücksichtigt wird. Die ersten beiden Kapitel dieser Dissertation widmen sich der Behebung dieser methodischen Schwäche. Dazu wird Ungleichheit zwischen Dimensionen zunächst als „korrelationssensitive Verteilung multipler Mangelerscheinungen in einer Gesellschaft“ definiert. Die ersten beiden Kapitel operationalisieren diese erweiterte Definition für den Fall ordinaler und kardinaler Armutsindices. Im Einzelnen wird ein neues Axiom für den ordinalen sowie den kardinalen Fall eingeführt, das das Ausmaß, mit dem ein Ungleichheitsfördernder Tausch Armut sinken (oder steigen) lässt, von der Beziehung zwischen den Armutsdimensionen abhängig macht. Diese Neuerung wird benutzt um eine neue Klasse ordinaler bzw. kardinaler Armutsindices herzuleiten. Diese zwei Klassen sind die ersten additiven Armutsindices die in der Lage sind, sowohl Ungleichheit als auch Korrelationssensitivität zu erfassen. Das dritte Kapitel nutzt das deutsche sozio-ökonomische Panel um zwei ordinale Armutsindices für Deutschland vorzuschlagen, die auf der zuvor entwickelten Methode basieren: den „Deutschen Korrelationssensitiven Armutsindex“ und den „Subjektiven Korrelationssensitiven Armutsindex“. Die beiden Indices werden mit dem offiziellen deutschen Armutsmaß, der Armutsgefährdungsquote, über Dimensionen, Regionen und über die Zeit hinweg verglichen. Die Resultate zeigen vor allem eines: die signifikanten Unterschiede in der Beurteilung von Armut und Armutstrends die durch die verschiedenen Indices versursacht werden und den hohen Mehrwert den die Operationalisierung des Capability Approachs darstellt

Predicting Rose Vase Life in a Supply Chain

With increasing market globalization quality management of cut flowers is a necessity. An important attribute of quality of cut flowers is their vase life at the final consumer. However, techniques to measure the potential vase life at points of sale in the chain are not available at this moment. Vase life is largely affected by the conditions (temperature, duration and handling) in the supply chain. Therefore, simulation models that can predict vase life based on temperature and time, as measured by data loggers, could be very valuable. Moreover, such simulation models could be used for scenario studies to investigate quality critical control points. A previously published simulation model, based on data from literature, was validated for cut rose flowers using data of a vase life experiment with flowers stored at 1, 5, 8 and 12°C for periods varying between 2 and 39 days. The experimental setup was designed to exclude the occurrence of Botrytis and water uptake problems due to bacteria as much as possible. The experimentally obtained vase life data confirmed that the relationship between temperature and loss of vase life during storage is not linear, but could well be described by a sigmoidal curve. The predicted vase life applying the simulation model correlated very well to the measured vase life. However, the vase life after long storage was underestimated; this could be improved by adapting the maximum rate of vase life-loss for the specific cultivar using the vase life of fresh cut flowers without storage

The Dryland Eco-Farm: A Potential Solution to the Main Constraints of Rain-Fed Agriculture in the Semi-Arid Tropics of Africa

This chapter presents the results of studies on a production system called Dryland Eco-Farm (DEF) that addresses a range of constraints to agricultural productivity in dryland Africa. It combines the use of live hedges and alleys of Acacia colei, “demi-lunes” in which are planted domesticated Ziziphus mauritiania. Annual crops like pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.), cowpeas and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) are planted in rotation. This trial tests the effect of the system on (1) soil erosion control, soil fertility and water use efficiency, (2) crop yield and biomass production, and (3) improving income generation and diversification. Average pearl millet yields in the DEF were twice the control (880 vs. 430 kg ha–1) when no mineral fertilizer was applied. With the application of NPK, millet yields were almost similar under both conditions (950 vs. 780 kg ha–1). Cowpea yields were on average seven times higher than the control without NPK (1,400 vs. 200 kg ha–1 total biomass) and three times with NPK (1,850 vs. 650 kg ha–1 total biomass). Roselle yield increased four times on average without NPK (205 vs. 60 kg ha–1 calices yield) and two times with NPK (234 vs. 114 kg ha–1). Therefore, the system has the potential to produce yield response similar to that of the recommended rate of 100 kg of the 15-15-15 fertilizer per ha. The return to land is estimated at US 224 for the DEF compared to US224fortheDEFcomparedtoUS77 for the traditional millet–cowpea system. This system has the potential to improve productivity and rural livelihood in the drylands of Africa while sustaining the natural resources base

Molecular evolution of HoxA13 and the multiple origins of limbless morphologies in amphibians and reptiles

Developmental processes and their results, morphological characters, are inherited through transmission of genes regulating development. While there is ample evidence that cis-regulatory elements tend to be modular, with sequence segments dedicated to different roles, the situation for proteins is less clear, being particularly complex for transcription factors with multiple functions. Some motifs mediating protein-protein interactions may be exclusive to particular developmental roles, but it is also possible that motifs are mostly shared among different processes. Here we focus on HoxA13, a protein essential for limb development. We asked whether the HoxA13 amino acid sequence evolved similarly in three limbless clades: Gymnophiona, Amphisbaenia and Serpentes. We explored variation in ω (dN/dS) using a maximum-likelihood framework and HoxA13sequences from 47 species. Comparisons of evolutionary models provided low ω global values and no evidence that HoxA13 experienced relaxed selection in limbless clades. Branch-site models failed to detect evidence for positive selection acting on any site along branches of Amphisbaena and Gymnophiona, while three sites were identified in Serpentes. Examination of alignments did not reveal consistent sequence differences between limbed and limbless species. We conclude that HoxA13 has no modules exclusive to limb development, which may be explained by its involvement in multiple developmental processes

Essential and checkpoint functions of budding yeast ATM and ATR during meiotic prophase are facilitated by differential phosphorylation of a meiotic adaptor protein, Hop1

A hallmark of the conserved ATM/ATR signalling is its ability to mediate a wide range of functions utilizing only a limited number of adaptors and effector kinases. During meiosis, Tel1 and Mec1, the budding yeast ATM and ATR, respectively, rely on a meiotic adaptor protein Hop1, a 53BP1/Rad9 functional analog, and its associated kinase Mek1, a CHK2/Rad53-paralog, to mediate multiple functions: control of the formation and repair of programmed meiotic DNA double strand breaks, enforcement of inter-homolog bias, regulation of meiotic progression, and implementation of checkpoint responses. Here, we present evidence that the multi-functionality of the Tel1/Mec1-to-Hop1/Mek1 signalling depends on stepwise activation of Mek1 that is mediated by Tel1/Mec1 phosphorylation of two specific residues within Hop1: phosphorylation at the threonine 318 (T318) ensures the transient basal level Mek1 activation required for viable spore formation during unperturbed meiosis. Phosphorylation at the serine 298 (S298) promotes stable Hop1-Mek1 interaction on chromosomes following the initial phospho-T318 mediated Mek1 recruitment. In the absence of Dmc1, the phospho-S298 also promotes Mek1 hyper-activation necessary for implementing meiotic checkpoint arrest. Taking these observations together, we propose that the Hop1 phospho-T318 and phospho-S298 constitute key components of the Tel1/Mec1- based meiotic recombination surveillance (MRS) network and facilitate effective coupling of meiotic recombination and progression during both unperturbed and challenged meiosis

Bioreclamation of degraded African lands with women empowerment

The Sudano Sahel is a semi arid region south of the Sahara with a population greater than 60 million people. Its borders are delineated by the 300-800 mm/year rain isohyets (Fig. 1). The Sahel environment is very hostile. Air temperatures are always high. During March-June they can climb to 45ºC. The intensity of monsoonal rains can be higher than 100 mm/hr resulting in significant water runoff and soil erosion. The prevalent acid sandy soil is very poor in nutrients and it has very low organic carbon content (Schlecht et al., 2006). The soil is undergoing a continuous process of erosion, mostly by wind but also by water (Manu et al., 1998). Between 80-90% of the population lives from rain-fed agriculture, producing in the rainy season (June-September) a limited number of staple crops (millet, sorghum, groundnuts, and cowpeas). Droughts result in crop failure in two out of five years. Population growth rate is around 3% resulting in diminishing area of cultivated land per household. There is a need to identify innovative alternatives for increasing agricultural productivity and income generation in such a harsh environment.More than 50% of the Sahelian soil is degraded (Lal, 1988). Most of these degraded lands are crusted lateritic soils (Fig. 2). Both the cation exchange capacity and the water holding capacity of the degraded laterites are significantly higher than those of the predominantly sandy soils.Women in Africa, particularly in the Sudano Sahel, are a marginalized sector of the society. There they have no or only little inheritance rights for goods, they are not allowed to own land, they have no voting rights in community matters and have a higher percentage of illiteracy than men (Mulenkey, 2002). Yet women are bearing the burden to feed their families and to help their husbands in farm operations in addition to their daily chores. The lack of nutritional balance in the daily diets of rural Africa is becoming a matter of concern to the international community (World Bank, 1997). In dry West Africa between 13-15% of children are suffering from acute nutritional deficiency (USAID, 2006). The Bioreclamation of Degraded Lands (BDL) system developed by ICRISAT provides solutions to these constraints. The BDL is an integrated system aiming at increasing food production and income of women through the utilization of degraded lands for production of rain-fed fruit trees and vegetables

Regulation and role of differential ethylene biosynthesis in gravistimulated Antirrhinum majus L. cut flower stems

Gravistimulation induced differential ethylene production in Antirrhinum majus L. cut flower stems with highest levels in the lower halves of the gravistimulated stems. Expression levels of three different 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase (ACS) genes, an ACC oxidase (ACO) and an ethylene receptor (ETR/ERS homolog) gene were studied in the bending zone after 9 h of gravistimulation. One of the ACS genes (Am-ACS3) was abundantly expressed in the lower halves but not in the upper halves of gravistimulated stems. This strongly suggests that Am-ACS3 is responsible for the observed differential ethylene production in gravistimulated stems. Am-ACO and Am-ETR/ERS gene expression was increased in both the lower and upper halves of gravistimulated stems, suggesting that they play no role in differential ethylene production. When gravistimulation was performed in an environment enriched with either 20 µL/L ethylene or 100 nL/L 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a slight stimulation of bending by 1-MCP and a slight inhibition of bending by ethylene were observed. The regulation and role of ethylene in gravitropism of cut snapdragon flowering stems is discussed