Land management and ecosystem services. How collaborative research programmes can support better policies

Land management, the organisation of the use and development of land, is an important instrument for addressing problems of rising greenhouse gas emissions and loss of natural resources. Yet, natural-social systems in which land management policies are implemented are poorly understood, thus decreasing the effectiveness of these policies. Local studies provide valuable insights, though only for the local conditions prevalent during the investigated period. Synthesising local studies in order to generalise results is impaired by the variety of local conditions. Collaborative research programmes may prevent some of these problems. They support the share of insights across temporal, ecological and spatial-economic contexts. On the basis of existing literature, we identify the challenges which face synthesis and demonstrate how a German research programme attempts to address some of them

Exkursion 6: Trias und Jura von Göttingen und Umgebung

Die Exkursion stellt repräsentative Aufschlüsse triassischer und jurassischer Sedimente aus der direkten Umgebung von Göttingen vor. Dabei werden deren stratigraphische Stellung, Ablagerungsmilieus und Fossilgemeinschaften diskutiert. Zunächst werden Aufschlüsse auf der östlichen Schulter des Leinetalgrabens (Muschelkalk- Plateau des Göttinger Waldes), danach auch im Leinetalgraben selbst (Keuper, Schwarzjura) besucht. Hinreichend gute Aufschlußbedingungen sind vor allem in Tongruben (Röt, Mittlerer Keuper, Schwarzjura) und Steinbrüchen (Unterer Muschelkalk) gegeben.excursionguid

Do drivers of biodiversity change differ in importance across marine and terrestrial systems — Or is it just different research communities' perspectives?

Cross-system studies on the response of different ecosystems to global change will support our understanding of ecological changes. Synoptic views on the planet's two main realms, the marine and terrestrial, however, are rare, owing to the development of rather disparate research communities.We combined questionnaires and a literature review to investigate howthe importance of anthropogenic drivers of biodiversity change differs amongmarine and terrestrial systems and whether differences perceived by marine vs. terrestrial researchers are reflected by the scientific literature. This included asking marine and terrestrial researchers to rate the relevance of different drivers of global change for either marine or terrestrial biodiversity. Land use and the associated loss of natural habitatswere rated as most important in the terrestrial realm,while the exploitation of the sea by fishing was rated as most important in the marine realm. The relevance of chemicals, climate change and the increasing atmospheric concentration of CO2 were rated differently for marine and terrestrial biodiversity respectively. Yet, our literature review provided less evidence for such differences leading to the conclusion that while the history of the use of land and sea differs, impacts of global change are likely to become increasingly similar

Metabolomics of Oxidative Stress in Recent Studies of Endogenous and Exogenously Administered Intermediate Metabolites

Aerobic metabolism occurs in a background of oxygen radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that originate from the incomplete reduction of molecular oxygen in electron transfer reactions. The essential role of aerobic metabolism, the generation and consumption of ATP and other high energy phosphates, sustains a balance of approximately 3000 essential human metabolites that serve not only as nutrients, but also as antioxidants, neurotransmitters, osmolytes, and participants in ligand-based and other cellular signaling. In hypoxia, ischemia, and oxidative stress, where pathological circumstances cause oxygen radicals to form at a rate greater than is possible for their consumption, changes in the composition of metabolite ensembles, or metabolomes, can be associated with physiological changes. Metabolomics and metabonomics are a scientific disciplines that focuse on quantifying dynamic metabolome responses, using multivariate analytical approaches derived from methods within genomics, a discipline that consolidated innovative analysis techniques for situations where the number of biomarkers (metabolites in our case) greatly exceeds the number of subjects. This review focuses on the behavior of cytosolic, mitochondrial, and redox metabolites in ameliorating or exacerbating oxidative stress. After reviewing work regarding a small number of metabolites—pyruvate, ethyl pyruvate, and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate—whose exogenous administration was found to ameliorate oxidative stress, a subsequent section reviews basic multivariate statistical methods common in metabolomics research, and their application in human and preclinical studies emphasizing oxidative stress. Particular attention is paid to new NMR spectroscopy methods in metabolomics and metabonomics. Because complex relationships connect oxidative stress to so many physiological processes, studies from different disciplines were reviewed. All, however, shared the common goal of ultimately developing “omics”-based, diagnostic tests to help influence therapies

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

The bipolar bivalve Oxytoma (Palmoxytoma) cygnipes (Young & Bird, 1822) in the Upper Pliensbachian of Germany

The morphologically conspicuous bivalve Oxytoma (Palmoxytoma) cygnipes (Young & Bird, 1822), known for its palaeogeographically bipolar distribution, from a limestone bed in the boundary “Belemniten–Schichten”/Amaltheenton formation, Lower Jurassic, in N Germany is described. The occurrence of this palaeoceanographically significant bivalve points to an influx of cool seawater from the Arctic to the North-German Basin at the base of the Upper Pliensbachian, just before the deposition of the Amaltheenton formation. A review of previously reported occurrences on the NW European Shelf indicates two distinct stratigraphic intervals of occurrence of this taxon: the Rhaetian–Hettangian boundary and the Upper Pliensbachian. Whereas the former interval of occurrence may be related to short-term cooling in the course of the end-Triassic extinction event, the latter is interpreted as reflecting the influx of a cool water current to the eastern part of the NW European Shelf, which continued southwards parallel to the coast of the Bohemian–Vindelician High

Biostratigraphy and sedimentary sequences of the Toarcian Hainberg section (Northwestern Harz foreland, Northern Germany)

A temporary outcrop in southern Lower Saxony permitted the sedimentological, geochemical and palaeontological investigation of a 40.8 m thick Toarcian section, from the top of the Amaltheenton Formation, through the Posidonienschiefer and Jurensismergel Formations, to lower parts of the Opalinuston Formation. Bed by bed collected ammonites and belemnites, bivalve associations, as well as data from neighbouring sections indicate a largely complete sequence of ammonite zones and subzones for the Lower Toarcian. A prominent stratigraphic gap at the Posidonienschiefer/Jurensismergel Formation boundary probably comprises the Semipolitum Subzone as well as the Variabilis and Thouarsense Zones. Above a condensed Dispansum Zone follows the higher Upper Toarcian with a presumably largely complete sequence of zones and subzones, although direct evidence for this is only sporadic. However, a thin condensed bed with stromatolite crusts is recognisable at the boundary Pseudoradiosa to Mactra/Aalensis Subzone. The Toarcian/Aalenian boundary can only be drawn on basis of belemnite finds at another thin condensed bed. Only a few metres above, the Opalinum Zone is evident by ammonite findings. Based on discontinuities, lithofacies, biofacies and correlations with neighbouring sections, a subdivision into alloformations, which largely correspond to formations, is applied. Based on that, a sequence stratigraphic interpretation with respect to third order transgression-regression cycles (T-R sequences) can be inferred: Above the regressive upper parts alloformation 1 (Amaltheenton Formation) with a maximum regression surface (mrs) near its top, the T-R sequence of the alloformation 2 (Posidonienschiefer Formation) is developed, with a maximum flooding surface (mfs) at the transition Falciferum/Commune Subzone and the regressive phase within the later Bifrons Zone. For the Commune Subzone, belemnite alignment indicates a seawater bottom current from SSE. The following maximum regression surface (mrs) lies near the Bifrons/Variabilis Zone boundary. The next sequence is not preserved at the studied location, but is preserved further East as well as further West, represented by the transgressive Dörnten Member (Variabilis and Thouarsense Zone). However, the regressive phase (Fallaciosum Subzone) is also missing there, indicated by a prominent sequence boundary with erosional relief at the base of the Dispansum Zone. The following alloformation 3 (Jurensismergel Formation and lowermost parts Opalinuston Formation) represents another T-R sequence with a maximum transgressive surface (base Mactra/Aalensis subzone) and a slightly thicker regressive Aalensis Subzone. The following maximum regression surface represents the boundary to alloformation 4 (major parts of Opalinuston Formation), followed again by a short transgressive phase (Pseudolotharingicum Subzone), condensation horizon and a longer regressive phase (Opalinum Zone). These sequence stratigraphic interpretations are largely consistent with previous investigations in Northern and Southern Germany. Minor deviations in the timely position of maximum flooding and regression surfaces likely reflect effects of a higher subsidence at variable sedimentation rate in the North German Basin. With respect to the, at the site of investigation, incompletely exposed Opalinuston Formation, further studies on complete drill core sections are required

Land Management and Ecosystem Services How Collaborative Research Programmes Can Support Better Policies

Land management, the organisation of the use and development of land, is an important instrument for addressing problems of rising greenhouse gas emissions and loss of natural resources. Yet, natural-social systems in which land management policies are implemented are poorly understood, thus decreasing the effectiveness of these policies. Local studies provide valuable insights, though only for the local conditions prevalent during the investigated period. Synthesising local studies in order to generalise results is impaired by the variety of local conditions. Collaborative research programmes may prevent some of these problems. They support the share of insights across temporal, ecological and spatial-economic contexts. On the basis of existing literature, we identify the challenges which face synthesis and demonstrate how a German research programme attempts to address some of them