Nitrate Contamination of Groundwater: Determinants and Indicators

Nitrogen is an important input to agricultural production but also detrimentally affects the environmental quality of air, soil and water. Identifying the determinants of nitrate pollution and in turn defining sensible performance indicators to design, enforce and monitor regulatory policies is therefore of utmost importance. Using data on more than 1000 Austrian municipalities, we provide a detailed econometric analysis of (1) the determinants of nitrate concentration in groundwater, and (2) the predictive abilities of one of the most commonly used agri-environmental indicators, the Nitrogen Balance. We find that the proportion of cropland exerts a positive effect on the nitrate content in groundwater. Additionally, environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation are found to be important. Higher average temperature leads to lower nitrate pollution of groundwater possibly due to increased evapotranspiration. Equally, higher average precipitation dilutes nitrate content in the soil, reducing nitrate concentration in groundwater. To assess the Nitrogen Balance, we link observed pollution levels to the theoretical indicator and evaluate its ability to measure nitrate pollution effects. Indeed, the indicator proves to be a good predictor for nitrate pollution. We also show that its predictive power can be improved if average precipitation of a region is taken into account. If average precipitation is higher, the Nitrogen Balance predicts nitrate levels in groundwater more precisely.nitrate concentration, groundwater, Nitrogen Balance, agriculture, regression analysis., Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics,

Energy Supply for ATP-Synthase Deficient Chloroplasts of Chlamydomonas reinhardii

The mutant F54 of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii is not able to perform photophos-phorylation. Nevertheless, it grows on acetate and the chloroplasts accomplish most of their energy-requiring synthetic processes. However, no light-dependent chloroplast protein synthesis could be detected in intact F54 chloroplasts isolated from a cell wall-deficient double mutant F54-cw-15. Exogenous ATP was not able to induce this in organello protein synthesis to an appreciable degree. In contrast, the strictly ATP-dependent protein synthesis was stimulated very efficiently by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, dihydroxy-acetone phosphate and glycerol-3-phosphate, but strongly inhibited by 3-phosphoglycerate. These compounds can be transported across the envelope membrane by the triose phosphate translocator. Pyridoxal phosphate, a specific inhibitor of the translocator, abolished the stimulation by triose phosphates. Spermidine, which activates initiation of translation in chloroplasts, enhanced triose phosphate-stimulated protein synthesis even further. In the dark, no stimulation was observed, indicating that a light-dependent reaction was also involved in this kind of ATP production in chloroplasts. The results suggest that chloroplasts defective in photophosphorylation recruit their energy via an ATP shuttle which was shown in this study to import rather than export ATP across the chloroplast envelop

Austria in the COVID-19 Pandemic - Citizens' Satisfaction with Crisis Measures and Communication

Background: We assess satisfaction about various aspects of the 2020 COVID-19 crisis for a representative sample of 1798 respondents living in Austria. Survey questions were added to a previously planned data collection, based on concrete questions discussed at a BKA Clearing Board meeting (Tuesday, 14.04.2020: Subarbeitsgruppe Psycho-Soziale-Effekte im Rahmen von "COVID-19 / Future Operations"). Findings: Overall, people living in Austria are satisfied with the various crisis management elements of the COVID-19 pandemic, as answers are mainly at the positive side of the response scale that ranges from -3 (Very unsatisfied) to +3 (Very satisfied). Citizens are most satisfied with how well they implement the measures of the federal government themselves (and/or their employer) to overcome the Corona crisis, and about how they are able to comply with these measures. In contrast, they are least satisfied with how national media report on the measures (Newspapers, TV, etc.). Splitting-up satisfaction evaluations for gender, age, region, level of education, occupation, or sector of employment does show no or some small (but no substantial) differences for particular subgroups. We can observe an age effect for satisfaction on how others deal with the government's COVID-19 measures. This means: the older people are, the more satisfied they are about how others comply with the COVID-19 measures. Self-employed respondents are least satisfied with how the government is dealing with the crisis and communicating the measures. Students are most satisfied about that. However, it has to be noted that this data is from 17 April to 29 April (2020), which is just before loosening, in a second round, many of the restrictions on small businesses

Feminismus-Bedeutung am Frauentag 2010

Das Forschungsinteresse der Magisterarbeit „Feminismus-Bedeutung am Frauentag 2010- Eine diskursanalytische Untersuchung der Medienberichterstattung in Österreich“ liegt in der Beantwortung der Frage, welche Bedeutungen Feminismus und die Themen, mit denen er transportiert wird, in der heutigen Gesellschaft haben. Aufgrund des differierenden Verständnisses und der Geschichte, werden dem Begriff unterschiedliche Zuschreibungen verliehen. Die Geschichte des Begriffs und seine kommunikationswissenschaftliche Einbettung werden zunächst im Theorieteil erläutert, damit der Zugang zur empirischen Untersuchung Schritt für Schritt erfolgen kann. Das Theoriegebäude setzt sich aus einer Definition der zentralen Begriffe wie dem internationalen Frauentag, den verschiedenen Frauenbewegungen sowie dem Begriff Feminismus zusammen. Es folgen feministische Kommunikationstheorien sowie der kommunikationswissenschaftliche Rahmen der Arbeit, die die theoretische Einbettung des Themas nachvollziehbar machen. Eine Bestandsaufnahme des Forschungsstands schließt den Theorieteil der Forschungsarbeit ab. Bedeutungszusammenhänge zu untersuchen, erfordert eine qualitative Methode, weshalb sich eine Diskursanalyse als geeignet erweist. Der gesellschaftskritische Anspruch der Diskursanalyse sowie ihr Interesse an den Machtverhältnissen, die hinter einem Diskurs liegen, machen die Methode zur angemessenen Wahl für die Untersuchung. Um die Bedeutung im gesellschaftlichen Diskurs zu analysieren, wurde an unterschiedlichen Medien die Analyse durchgeführt. Die Berichterstattung in österreichischen Printmedien sowie einem Online-Medium wurden auf die Bedeutung von Feminismus untersucht. Mithilfe eines Analyseleitfadens von Jäger wurde jedes Medium für sich analysiert und im Anschluss die wichtigsten Diskurse im Resümee zusammengefasst

An Open Model for Researching the Role of Culture in Online Self-Disclosure

The analysis of consumers’ personal information (PI) is a significant source to learn about consumers. In online settings, many consumers disclose PI abundantly - this is particularly true for information provided on social network services. Still, people manage the privacy level they want to maintain by disclosing by disclosing PI accordingly. In addition, studies have shown that consumers’ online self-disclosure (OSD) differs across cultures. Therefore, intelligent systems should consider cultural issues when collecting, processing, storing or protecting data from consumers. However, existing studies typically rely on a comparison of two cultures, providing valuable insights but not drawing a comprehensive picture. We introduce an open research model for cultural OSD research, based on the privacy calculus theory. Our open research model incorporates six cultural dimensions, six predictors, and 24 structured propositions. It represents a comprehensive approach that provides a basis to explain possible cultural OSD phenomena in a systematic way

Introduction to the special issue on inclusion

This special issue of the International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies (IJCYFS) is dedicated to a most important and current subject – inclusion – as an answer of social educators and many other social agents to one of the most crucial social phenomena of our time: namely, social exclusion. We are witnessing around the world incidents of aggression and violence that are sometimes attributed to the effects of exclusion, either at an individual or more collective level. Our social and economic structures appear designed to exclude all too many from the benefits and fruits of society. The African concept of “Ubuntu” (“I am a person because of other persons”) seems very relevant here. How do we share spaces, resources, opportunities, and create a sense of belonging across our many differences and contexts? Inclusion was the theme of a world congress of the International Federation of Educative Communities (FICE), held in Bern, Switzerland in October 2013. Most of the articles in this special issue are based on presentations made at that congress. We would like to thank all contributors for formalizing and revising their presentations with input from our editors for this special issue. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Carol Kelly and Varda Mann-Feder to the review process. Finally, we are also most thankful to the co-editors of the IJCYFS, Drs. Sibylle Artz and Jennifer White, for inviting us to contribute this quite unique special issue related to the work and history of FICE International

COVID-19 Pandemie in Österreich – Zufriedenheit der Bürger*innen mit Maßnahmen und Kommunikation

Wir bewerten die Zufriedenheit mit verschiedenen Aspekten der COVID-19-Krise 2020 für eine repräsentative Stichprobe von 1798 in Österreich lebenden Befragten. Eine zuvor geplante Datenerhebung wurde um Erhebungsfragen ergänzt, die auf konkreten Fragen basieren, die in einer Sitzung des BKA-Clearing Boards (Dienstag, 14.04.2020: Subarbeitsgruppe Psycho-Soziale-Effekte im Rahmen von "COVID-19 / Future Operations"). Insgesamt sind in Österreich lebende Menschen zufrieden mit den abgefragten Aspekten der COVID-19 Krise: Sämtliche Mittelwerte liegen im positiven Bereich der Skala (also über 0 auf der Skala von -3 bis +3). Die größte Zufriedenheit zeigen die Befragten mit sich selbst im Umgang mit der von Regierung und Arbeitgeber\*in gesetzten Maßnahmen zur Bewältigung der Krise. Das betrifft sowohl die Umsetzung als auch die Einhaltung der Maßnahmen durch die Befragten. Im Gegensatz dazu ist die Zufriedenheit am geringsten, wenn es um die Befolgung der Maßnahmen durch Nachbarn und andere Bürger\*innen sowie um die Berichterstattung über die Maßnahmen in den österreichischen Medien geht. Die Schichtung nach Geschlecht, Alter, Bundesland, Bildungsabschluss, Beruf oder beruflichem Sektor zeigt geringe, aber keine bedeutenden Unterschiede zwischen den jeweiligen Untergruppen. Die Splittung nach Altersgruppen zeigt, dass je älter die Befragten sind, desto zufriedener sind sie mit der Befolgung der COVIC-19 Maßnahmen durch andere (Mit)Bürger*innen / die Bevölkerung. Mit der Regierung, sowohl hinsichtlich des Umgangs mit der Krise als auch die Kommunikation der Maßnahmen betreffend, sind Selbstständige am wenigsten und Studierende am meisten zufrieden. Zu beachten ist allerdings, dass die Datensammlung vor der zweiten Lockerung der Restriktionen für (kleine) Unternehmen durchgeführt wurde

Case report: ETS1 gene deletion associated with a low number of recent thymic emigrants in three patients with Jacobsen syndrome

Jacobsen syndrome is a rare genetic disorder associated with a terminal deletion in chromosome 11. The clinical presentation is variable. Although immunodeficiency has been described in patients with Jacobsen syndrome, a clear genotype-phenotype correlation has not yet been established. Here, we report on the immunologic phenotypes of four patients with Jacobsen syndrome. All four patients showed one or more atypical immunologic features. One patient suffered from recurrent viral infections, two patients had experienced a severe bacterial infection and one had received antibiotic prophylaxis since early childhood. One patient had experienced severe, transient immune dysregulation. Hypogammaglobulinemia and low B cell counts were found in two patients, while the number of recent thymic emigrants (CD31+CD45RA+ CD4 cells) was abnormally low in three. When considering the six immune-related genes located within the affected part of chromosome 11 (ETS1, TIRAP, FLI1, NFRKB, THYN1, and SNX19), only the ETS1 gene was found be deleted in the three patients with low numbers of recent thymic emigrants and non-switched memory B cells. Our findings support the hypothesis whereby Jacobsen syndrome is associated with a combined immunodeficiency with variable presentation. Further investigations of potential genotype-phenotype correlations are warranted and might help to personalize patient management in individuals lacking immune-related genes. In addition, we recommend immunologic follow-up for all patients with Jacobsen syndrome, as immune abnormalities may develop over time. Keywords: ETS1; Jacobsen syndrome; genetic disorder; immunodeficiency; recent thymic emigrants