Enhanced Productivity and Fish Abundance at a Submarine Spring in a Coastal Lagoon on Tahiti, French Polynesia

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), the direct discharge of groundwater into the sea, is abundant around the globe. Fresh SGD can occur as focused flow in submarine springs. However, little is known on the impact of submarine springs on marine organisms. For a better understanding of the interaction between SGD and its surrounding organisms, the impact of SGD on the abundance of fish was investigated in a coastal lagoon of Tahiti, French Polynesia. The study is based on the assumption of an enhanced biological production due to increased amounts of nutrient input caused by terrestrial groundwater supply into the sea. Biofouling processes and zooplankton samples were used as indicators for elevated nutrient input due to submarine springs. The main objective was to investigate the effect on the abundance of fish assuming a higher fish abundance possibly caused by a bottom-up control. Presented data show a significantly higher abundance around a submarine spring as well as significantly larger growth of algal turfs exposed to groundwater discharge. Zooplankton evaluations suggest slightly higher abundances around the submarine spring. The results suggest elevated nutrient concentrations transmitted by submarine springs may cause a bottom-up control resulting in a higher abundance of fish around the investigated submarine spring

"Die Haltung der Jugend zu aktuellen Fragen der Friedenssicherung"

Das vorliegende Material ist eine Information über die Hauptergebnisse einer Untersuchung zur Haltung der DDR-Jugend zu Fragen der Friedenssicherung. Es handelt sich um eine Zusammenstellung von Tabellen mit einigen Kommentaren und um die erste Auswertung einiger offener Fragen. Im Rahmen der Untersuchung wurden 689 Leipziger Jugendliche befragt. Im Anhang der Arbeit werden Vorstellungen der Jugendlichen über die Zukunft der Welt wiedergegeben. Es wird davon ausgegangen, daß etwa die Hälfte der Studenten bezüglich Abrüstung und Friedenserhalten vertrauensvoll in die Zukunft blickt. (psz

β-lactam antibiotic-induced release of lipoteichoic acid from Staphylococcus aureus leads to activation of neutrophil granulocytes

BACKGROUND: Polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMN) are phagocytes of the first line of antimicrobial defense. Previously we demonstrated that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) directly activates neutrophil granulocytes. Others have reported that exposure of S. aureus to β-lactam antibiotics leads to LTA release. In the present study we addressed the question whether exposure of S. aureus to β-lactam antibiotics or antibiotics of other groups results in the generation of PMN-stimulating activity and whether this activity can be attributed to LTA. METHODS: S. aureus were exposed to flucloxacillin, a β-lactam antibiotic or to the protein synthesis-inhibitors erythromycin and gentamicin, or to ciprofloxacin, a gyrase inhibitor. Supernatants of the antibiotic-treated bacteria were assayed for their LTA content and for their effect on PMN functions. RESULTS: We observed that exposure of S. aureus to flucloxacillin and, to a lesser degree to ciprofloxacin, but not to erythromycin or gentamicin led to LTA release. Co-incubation of neutrophil granulocytes with LTA-containing supernatants led to PMN activation as assed by morphological changes, release of IL-8, delay of spontaneous apoptosis and enhanced phagocytic activity. Depletion of LTA from the supernatants markedly reduced their PMN-activating capacity. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that, via the activation of PMN, antibiotic-induced LTA release from S. aureus leads to enhanced antimicrobial activity of the innate immune defense mechanisms

Speziellere Analysen und Empfehlungen zur Entwicklung unserer Jugend: Anlagen zum Material des ZIJ zur Vorbereitung des 11. Parteitages

Bei dem vorliegenden Papier handelt es sich um Analysen und Empfehlungen, die das Zentralinstitut für Jugendforschung der DDR 1985 zur Vorbereitung des XI. Parteitages der SED zusammengestellt hat. Das Papier umfaßt fünf Themenbereiche, die jeweils unabhängig voneinander behandelt werden: Die Entwicklung der Arbeiterjugend und der Landjugend, Probleme der Effektivierung der Hochschulbildung, das Umweltbewußtsein von Jugendlichen sowie die Gestaltung junger Ehen. Diese Themen werden unter der Perspektive der weiteren Gestaltung der "entwickelten sozialistischen Gesellschaft" behandelt. (pag

Zum Entwicklungsstand des Denkens und Verhaltens unserer Jugend vor dem XI. Parteitag der SED: Information

Der Bericht gibt zusammenfassende Übersichten und Tabellen zu Entwicklungstrends, die auf (nicht näher zitierten) Studien aus den Jahren 1975 bis 1985 beruhen. Befragt wurden dabei DDR-Jugendliche zu ihrer Einstellung zur FDJ, zu ihren Wertorientierungen und Verhaltensweisen sowie ihrem Verhältnis zu Kultur und Medien, Gesundheits- und Umweltbewußtsein. Im Vorwort wird darauf hingewiesen, daß der Bericht keine "allseitige Lageeinschätzung der Jugend" geben könne; demzufolge sind viele Einzelergebnisse weitgehend unkommentiert wiedergegeben. (psz

The nanosyntax of spatial deixis

This paper provides a fine-grained morphosyntactic analysis of spatial deixis. We propose that the universal core of spatial deixis is a three-way contrast: Proximal close to speaker', Medial close to hearer', and Distal far from speaker and hearer'. This system arises from three features merged as heads in a single universal functional sequence: Dx(3) > Dx(2) > Dx(1). The hierarchy is understood in terms of superset-subset relations, such that Proximal [Dx(1)] is a subset of Medial [Dx(2) [Dx(1)]], which in turn is a subset of Distal [Dx(3) [Dx(2) [Dx(1)]]]. Evidence comes from patterns of syncretism and morphological containment in the demonstrative systems of a number of genetically diverse languages. Regarding syncretisms, languages can show a transparent three-way morphological contrast, or some sort of syncretism: Medial/Proximal vs. Distal, Distal/Medial vs. Proximal, or a totally syncretic Distal/Medial/Proximal (i.e. a neutral demonstrative). These syncretisms entail that the features responsible for the Proximal and Medial readings be adjacent and that the features responsible for the Distal and Medial readings be adjacent in the fseq. Regarding containment, we show that Proximal can be structurally contained within Medial and that Medial can be structurally contained within Distal, meaning that Medial structures are larger than Proximal structures, and that Distal structures are larger than Medial structures, confirming our hierarchy. We show that these facts are naturally accounted for by nanosyntactic principles of spellout. We end the paper by accounting for potential counterexamples and other issues

Movement asymmetries in horses presented for prepurchase or lameness examination

Background The increasing popularity of objective gait analysis makes application in prepurchase examinations (PPE) a logical next step. Therefore, there is a need to have more understanding of asymmetry during a PPE in horses described on clinical evaluation as subtly lame.Objectives The objective of this study is to objectively compare asymmetry in horses raising minor vet concerns in a PPE and in horses raising major vet concerns with that found in horses presented with subtle single-limb lameness, and to investigate the effect of age/discipline on the clinicians' interpretation of asymmetry on the classification of minor vet concerns in a PPE.Study Design Clinical case-series.Methods Horses presented for PPE (n = 98) or subjectively evaluated as single limb low-grade (1-2/5) lame (n = 24, 13 forelimb lame, 11 hindlimb lame), from the patient population of a single clinic, were enrolled in the study provided that owners were willing to participate. Horses undergoing PPE were assigned a classification of having minor vet concerns (n = 84) or major vet concerns (n = 14) based on findings during the dynamic-orthopaedic part of the PPE. Lame horses were only included if pain-related lameness was confirmed by an objective improvement after diagnostic analgesia exceeding daily variation determined for equine symmetry parameters using optical motion capture. Clinical evaluation was performed by six different clinicians, each with >= 8 years of equine orthopaedic experience. Vertical movement symmetry was measured using optical motion capture, simultaneously with the orthopaedic examination. Data were analysed using previously described parameters and mixed model analysis and least squares means were used to calculate differences between groups.Results There was no effect of age or discipline on the levels of asymmetry within PPE horses raising minor vet concerns. MinDiff and RUD of the head discriminated between forelimb lame and PPE horses raising minor vet concerns; MinDiff, MaxDiff, RUD of the Pelvis, HHDswing and HHDstance did so for hindlimb lameness. Two lameness patterns differentiated both forelimb and hindlimb lame from PPE horses with minor vet concerns: RUD Poll + MinDiff Withers - RUD Pelvis and RUD Pelvis + RUD Poll - MinDiff Withers. Correcting for vertical range of motion enabled differentiation of PPE horses with minor vet concerns from PPE horses with major vet concerns.Main Limitations Objective data only based on trot on soft surface, limited number of PPE horses with major vet concerns.Conclusions Combinations of kinematic parameters discriminate between PPE horses with minor vet concerns and subtly lame horses, though overlap exists

Evolving protocols for research in equitation science

Within the emerging discipline of Equitation Science the application of consistent methodology, including robust objective measures, is required for sound scientific evaluation. This report aims to provide an evaluation of current methodology and to propose some initial guidelines for future research. The value of research, especially that involving small sample sizes, can be enhanced by the application of consistent methodology and reporting enabling results to be compared across studies. This paper includes guidelines for experimental design in studies involving the ridden horse. Equine ethograms currently used are reviewed and factors to be considered in the development of a riddenhorse ethogram are evaluated. An assessment of methods used to collect behavioral and physiological data is included and the use of equipment for measurements (e.g., rein-tension and pressure-sensing instruments) is discussed. Equitation science is a new discipline, subject to evolving viewpoints on research foci and design. Technological advances may improve the accuracy and detail of measurements, but must be used within appropriate and valid experimental designs

Fifth Åland Island conference on von Willebrand disease

The fifth Åland Island meeting on von Willebrand disease (VWD) was held on the Åland Islands, Finland, from 22 to 24 September 2016 – 90 years after the first case of VWD was diagnosed in a patient from the Åland Islands in 1926. This meeting brought together experts in the field of VWD to share knowledge and expertise on current trends and challenges in VWD. Topics included the storage and release of von Willebrand factor (VWF), epidemiology and diagnostics in VWD, treatment of VWD, angiogenesis, and VWF inhibitors