Die Forschungsdatenzentren der Statistischen Ämter des Bundes und der Länder

"In den letzten Jahren wurde in Deutschland intensiv über den Zugang der Wissenschaft zu den Mikrodaten der amtlichen Statistik diskutiert. Durch die 'Kommission zur Verbesserung der informationellen Infrastruktur zwischen Wissenschaft und Statistik' (KVI) wurden dafür im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung verschiedene Vorschläge zur Verbesserung der Wechselwirkungen zwischen Wissenschaft und Statistik erarbeitet. Eine der zentralen institutionellen Empfehlungen dieser Kommission bestand in der möglichst raschen Einrichtung von Forschungsdatenzentren bei den öffentlichen Datenproduzenten. Diese Empfehlung wurde von der amtlichen Statistik aufgegriffen. Im Jahr 2001 hat das Statistische Bundesamt ein solches Forschungsdatenzentrum etabliert. Ein weiteres Forschungsdatenzentrum der Statistischen Landesämter wurde im März 2002 als gemeinsame Einrichtung aller Statistischen Landesämter mit 16 regionalen Standorten eingerichtet. Mit diesen Forschungsdatenzentren intensiviert die deutsche amtliche Statistik ihre bisherigen Bemühungen, Mikrodaten der amtlichen Statistik für wissenschaftliche Analysen zugänglich zu machen. Wesentliche Aufgabe der Forschungsdatenzentren ist es, die Dateninfrastruktur zu verbessern sowie den Zugang der Wissenschaft zu den Mikrodaten der amtlichen Statistik durch die Einrichtung mehrerer Zugangswege zu erleichtern." (Autorenreferat)"In Germany, an intensive discussion has been going on over the last few years on granting the scientific community access to microdata of official statistics. Commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, the Kommission zur Verbesserung der informationellen Infrastruktur zwischen Wissenschaft und Statistik (KVI - Commission to improve the informational infrastructure by co-operation of the scientific community and official statistics) developed several proposals on how to improve the interaction between the scientific community and official statistics (cf. Kommission zur Verbesserung der informationellen Infrastruktur 2000). One of the central institutional recommendations of that Commission was that research data centres be set up as soon as possible at the location of data producers. That recommendation has been taken up by official statistics. In 2001, the Federal Statistical Office established such a research data centre. Another research data centre of the statistical offices of the Länder was set up in March 2002 as a joint facility of all statistical offices of the Länder with 16 regional locations. By establishing the research data centres, German official statistics has been intensifying its efforts to make official statistical micro-data accessible for scientific analyses. The major goal of the research data centres of the Federal Statistical Office and the statistical offices of the Länder is to facilitate access to microdata of official statistics for the scientific community by establishing various ways of data use. A major prerequisite for achieving that goal is a fundamental improvement of the data infra-structure by setting up a system (centralised in terms of subject-matter) of data maintenance for selected statistics and by establishing a metadata information system." (author's abstract

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Chronic Kidney Disease in HIV Infection Using Prospective Cohort Data from the D:A:D Study

Ristola M. on työryhmien DAD Study Grp ; Royal Free Hosp Clin Cohort ; INSIGHT Study Grp ; SMART Study Grp ; ESPRIT Study Grp jäsen.Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health issue for HIV-positive individuals, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Development and implementation of a risk score model for CKD would allow comparison of the risks and benefits of adding potentially nephrotoxic antiretrovirals to a treatment regimen and would identify those at greatest risk of CKD. The aims of this study were to develop a simple, externally validated, and widely applicable long-term risk score model for CKD in HIV-positive individuals that can guide decision making in clinical practice. Methods and Findings A total of 17,954 HIV-positive individuals from the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study with >= 3 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values after 1 January 2004 were included. Baseline was defined as the first eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 after 1 January 2004; individuals with exposure to tenofovir, atazanavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, other boosted protease inhibitors before baseline were excluded. CKD was defined as confirmed (>3 mo apart) eGFR In the D:A:D study, 641 individuals developed CKD during 103,185 person-years of follow-up (PYFU; incidence 6.2/1,000 PYFU, 95% CI 5.7-6.7; median follow-up 6.1 y, range 0.3-9.1 y). Older age, intravenous drug use, hepatitis C coinfection, lower baseline eGFR, female gender, lower CD4 count nadir, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) predicted CKD. The adjusted incidence rate ratios of these nine categorical variables were scaled and summed to create the risk score. The median risk score at baseline was -2 (interquartile range -4 to 2). There was a 1: 393 chance of developing CKD in the next 5 y in the low risk group (risk score = 5, 505 events), respectively. Number needed to harm (NNTH) at 5 y when starting unboosted atazanavir or lopinavir/ritonavir among those with a low risk score was 1,702 (95% CI 1,166-3,367); NNTH was 202 (95% CI 159-278) and 21 (95% CI 19-23), respectively, for those with a medium and high risk score. NNTH was 739 (95% CI 506-1462), 88 (95% CI 69-121), and 9 (95% CI 8-10) for those with a low, medium, and high risk score, respectively, starting tenofovir, atazanavir/ritonavir, or another boosted protease inhibitor. The Royal Free Hospital Clinic Cohort included 2,548 individuals, of whom 94 individuals developed CKD (3.7%) during 18,376 PYFU (median follow-up 7.4 y, range 0.3-12.7 y). Of 2,013 individuals included from the SMART/ESPRIT control arms, 32 individuals developed CKD (1.6%) during 8,452 PYFU (median follow-up 4.1 y, range 0.6-8.1 y). External validation showed that the risk score predicted well in these cohorts. Limitations of this study included limited data on race and no information on proteinuria. Conclusions Both traditional and HIV-related risk factors were predictive of CKD. These factors were used to develop a risk score for CKD in HIV infection, externally validated, that has direct clinical relevance for patients and clinicians to weigh the benefits of certain antiretrovirals against the risk of CKD and to identify those at greatest risk of CKD.Peer reviewe

Ant community composition and functional traits in newly established grasslands within agricultural landscapes

1. Die fortschreitende Intensivierung und Fragmentierung der europäischen Agrarlandschaften führt zu einem dramatischen Rückgang der biologischen Vielfalt und der damit verbundenen Funktionen und bedroht wichtige Taxa wie Ameisen. Zur Aufrechterhaltung von Ökosystemdienstleistungen wie der durch Ameisen vermittelten Schädlingsbekämpfung birgt die gezielte Förderung von Graslandflächen ein großes Potenzial. 2. Diese Studie untersuchte Unterschiede in der Zusammensetzung von Ameisengemeinschaften (a) zwischen Getreidefeldern, altem Grasland und neu angelegten Graslandtransekten im Alter von drei Jahren; (b) in Abhängigkeit von funktionellen Eigenschaften wie Ernährung, Rekrutierungsverhalten und Koloniegröße; und in Verbindung mit (c) dem natürlichen Schädlingsbekämpfungspotenzial. 3. Der Ameisenartenreichtum unterschied sich nicht signifikant zwischen neuem und altem Grasland, war aber im Vergleich zu Getreidefeldern signifikant höher. Im Detail zeigte sich jedoch, dass die Artenzusammensetzung in den neu angelegten Graslandtransekten eher den Getreidefeldern ähnelte und eine verarmte Auswahl der Artengemeinschaft der alten Graslandflächen war. Der von den Ameisengemeinschaften bedeckte funktionelle Raum überlagerte sich zwischen alten und neuen Graslandflächen, war jedoch in den alten Graslandflächen erweitert. Die Schädlingsbekämpfung unterschied sich nicht signifikant zwischen den Habitattypen und konnte nicht mit der Prävalenz funktioneller Eigenschaften in Verbindung gebracht werden. 4. Synthese und Anwendungen Neue Grasländer können den Ameisenartenreichtum, deren Abundanz und die Schädlingsbekämpfung in Agrarökosystemen erhöhen. Drei Jahre nach ihrer Etablierung wurden neue Grasländer jedoch immer noch von gewöhnlichen Agrobiont-Ameisenarten dominiert und es fehlten Habitatspezialisten, die eine konstante Versorgung mit Nahrungsressourcen und lange zur Koloniegründung benötigen. Neue Grasländer stellen eine vielversprechende Massnahme zur Aufwertung von Agrarlandschaften dar, müssen aber längerfristig erhalten werden, um eine vergleichbare Biodiversität und Funktion zu gewährleisten.1. Ongoing intensification and fragmentation of European agricultural landscapes dramatically reduce biodiversity and associated functions, and threaten service providing key taxa such as ants. To sustain ecosystem services such as ant mediated pest control, the enhancement of perennial non-crop areas holds great potential. 2. This study investigated differences in ant community composition (a) between cereal fields, old grasslands, and newly established grassland transects of three years age; (b) depending on functional traits such as diet, recruitment behaviour and colony size; and linked to (c) natural pest control potential. 3. Ant species richness was not significantly different between new and old grasslands, but significantly higher compared to cereal fields. Contrary, ant community composition of new grasslands was more similar to cereal fields and distinct from the species-pool of old grasslands. The functional trait space covered by the ant communities overlapped between old and new grasslands, but was extended in the old grasslands. Pest control did not differ significantly between habitat types, and could not be linked to the prevalence of functional traits related to biocontrol services. 4. Synthesis and applications New grasslands can increase ant species richness, abundance and pest control in agroecosystems. However, three years after their establishment, new grasslands were still dominated by common agrobiont ant species and lacked habitat specialists, who require a constant supply of food resources and long colonization times. New grasslands hence represent a promising measure for enhancing agricultural landscapes, but must be preserved in the longer term to provide comparable biodiversity and functions

Ant community composition and functional traits in new grassland strips within agricultural landscapes

Abstract Ongoing intensification and fragmentation of European agricultural landscapes dramatically reduce biodiversity and associated functions. Enhancing perennial noncrop areas holds great potential to support ecosystem services such as ant‐mediated pest control. To study the potential of newly established grassland strips to enhance ant diversity and associated functions, we used hand collection data and predation experiments to investigate differences in (a) ant community composition and (b) biocontrol‐related functional traits, and (c) natural pest control across habitats in cereal fields, old grasslands, and new grassland transects of three years of age. Ant species diversity was similar between new and old grasslands, but significantly higher in new grasslands than in surrounding cereal fields. Contrary, ant community composition of new grasslands was more similar to cereal fields and distinct from the species pool of old grasslands. The functional trait space covered by the ant communities showed the same distribution between old and new grasslands. Pest control did not differ significantly between habitat types and therefore could not be linked to the prevalence of functional ant traits related to biocontrol services in new grasslands. Our findings not only show trends of convergence between old and new grasslands, but also indicate that enhancing ant diversity through new grasslands takes longer than three years to provide comparable biodiversity and functionality. Synthesis and applications: Newly established grasslands can increase ant species richness and abundance and provide a consistent amount of biocontrol services in agroecosystems. However, three years after their establishment, new grasslands were still dominated by common agrobiont ant species and lacked habitat specialists present in old grasslands, which require a constant supply of food resources and long colony establishment times. New grasslands represent a promising measure for enhancing agricultural landscapes but must be preserved in the longer term to promote biodiversity and resilience of associated ecosystem services

Changes in Community Composition and Functional Traits of Bumblebees in an Alpine Ecosystem Relate to Climate Warming

Climate warming has been observed as the main cause of changes in diversity, community composition, and spatial distribution of different plant and invertebrate species. Due to even stronger warming compared to the global mean, bumblebees in alpine ecosystems are particularly exposed to these changes. To investigate the effects of climate warming, we sampled bumblebees along an elevational gradient, compared the records with data from 1935 and 1936, and related our results to climate models. We found that bumblebee community composition differed significantly between sampling periods and that increasing temperatures in spring were the most plausible factor explaining these range shifts. In addition, species diversity estimates were significantly lower compared to historical records. The number of socio-parasitic species was significantly higher in the historical communities, while recent communities showed increases in climate generalists and forest species at lower elevations. Nevertheless, no significant changes in community-weighted means of a species temperature index (STI) or the number of cold-adapted species were detected, likely due to the historical data resolution. We conclude that the composition and functionality of bumblebee communities in the study area have been significantly affected by climate warming, with changes in land use and vegetation cover likely playing an additional important role

Quantification of uracil, dihydrouracil, thymine and dihydrothymine for reliable dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) phenotyping critically depend on blood and plasma storage conditions

Establishing dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity is highly important in determining the correct starting dose of fluoropyrimidines such as 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine. The concentration ratio of endogenous uracil with its metabolite dihydrouracil (DHU) is a well-known parameter that is linked to DPD activity. Concentration ratios such as thymine over its DPD-converted metabolite dihydrothymine (DHT) is less described and may serve as an alternative diagnostic biomarker for DPD activity. In this study, we describe the development and validation of an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) assay for the quantification of uracil, DHU, thymine, and DHT in human plasma. In addition, stability experiments were performed. Uracil and thymine were quantified up to 80.0 ng/mL and DHU and DHT up to 800 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-assay precision were maximum 8.0 % and 7.6 %. respectively. Also, recovery was adequate and significant matrix-effects and carry-over were excluded. Stability experiments showed that uracil concentrations increased with 27-52 % when stored for 1 or 2 h at ambient temperatures compared to cold storage. Thymine, DHU, and DHT concentrations remained stable, thymine after 1 h in plasma excluded, showing the DHT:T ratio might be a more robust marker for DPD activity than DHU:U. In conclusion, we present here a novel assay capable of quantifying uracil, thymine, DHU and DHT in a single analytical run. We provide additional data showing increased stability for DHU, thymine and DHT compared to uracil. This assay may be used as a diagnostic test in future studies, establishing the association of these endogenous biomarker concentrations with DPD activity and safety to treatment with fluoropyrimidines. In addition, future research should also be focused on reducing pre-analytical instability. Standardization in this field is essential to set proper reference values and to allow inter-study comparison on clinical outcomes

Home-and-away comparisons of life history traits indicate enemy release and founder effects of the solitary bee, Megachile sculpturalis

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