Genetic Variation of the Host Plant Species Matters for Interactions with Above- and Belowground Herbivores

Plants are challenged by both above- and belowground herbivores which may indirectly interact with each other via herbivore-induced changes in plant traits; however, little is known about how genetic variation of the host plant shapes such interactions. We used two genotypes (M4 and E9) of Solanum dulcamara (Solanaceae) with or without previous experience of aboveground herbivory by Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae) to quantify its effects on subsequent root herbivory by Agriotes spp. (Elateridae). In the genotype M4, due to the aboveground herbivory, shoot and root biomass was significantly decreased, roots had a lower C/N ratio and contained significantly higher levels of proteins, while the genotype E9 was not affected. However, aboveground herbivory had no effects on weight gain or mortality of the belowground herbivores. Root herbivory by Agriotes increased the nitrogen concentration in the roots of M4 plants leading to a higher weight gain of conspecific larvae. Also, in feeding bioassays, Agriotes larvae tended to prefer roots of M4 over E9, irrespective of the aboveground herbivore treatment. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) documented differences in metabolic profiles of the two plant genotypes and of the roots of M4 plants after aboveground herbivory. Together, these results demonstrate that previous aboveground herbivory can have genotype-specific effects on quantitative and qualitative root traits. This may have consequences for belowground interactions, although generalist root herbivores might not be affected when the root biomass offered is still sufficient for growth and survival

Extrusion processing of rapeseed press cake-starch blends: Effect of starch type and treatment temperature on protein, fiber and starch solubility

For the valorization of oilseed press cakes into food products, extrusion can be used. A common way of applying the protein- and fiber-rich press cakes in directly expanded products is the combination thereof with starch, since starch gives a favourable texture, which correlates directly to expansion. To control product properties like expansion of protein and fiber-rich extruded products, the underlying physicochemical changes of proteins, fibers and starch due to thermomechanical input need to be comprehensively described. In this study, rapeseed press cake (RPC) was extruded and treated under defined thermomechanical conditions in a closed-cavity rheometer, pure and in combination with four starches. The impact of starch type (potato PS, waxy potato WPS, maize MS, high-amylose maize HAMS) and temperature (20/25, 80, 100, 120, 140 °C) on protein solubility, starch gelatinization (D$_{gel}$), starch hydrolysis (S$_{H}$) and fiber solubility of the blends was evaluated. The extrusion process conditions were significantly affected by the starch type. In the extruded blends, the starch type had a significant impact on the protein solubility which decreased with increasing barrel temperature. Increasing barrel temperatures significantly increased the amount of soluble fiber fractions in the blends. At defined thermomechanical conditions, the starch type showed no significant impact on the protein solubility of the blends. Therefore, the observed effects of starch type on the protein solubility of extruded blends could be attributed to the indistinct process conditions due to differences in the rheological properties of the starches rather than to molecular interactions of the starches with the rapeseed proteins in the blends

Analysis of authentication and key establishment in inter-generational mobile telephony

Second (GSM), third (UMTS), and fourth-generation (LTE) mobile telephony protocols are all in active use, giving rise to a number of interoperation situations. Although the standards address roaming by specifying switching and mapping of established security context, there is not a comprehensive specification of which are the possible interoperation cases. Nor is there comprehensive specification of the procedures to establish security context (authentication and short-term keys) in the various interoperation scenarios. This paper systematically enumerates the cases, classifying them as allowed, disallowed, or uncertain with rationale based on detailed analysis of the specifications. We identify the authentication and key agreement procedure for each of the possible cases. We formally model these scenarios and analyze their security, in the symbolic model, using the tool ProVerif. We find two scenarios that inherit a known false base station attack. We find an attack on the CMC message of another scenario

Photophysics, Molecular Reorientation in Solution and X-Ray Structure of a New Fluorescent Probe 1,7-Diazaperylene

A new fluorescent molecule 1,7-diazaperylene (DP) has been investigated by means of time-resolved and steady-state polarized fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as X-ray spectroscopy. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of DP in solution are similar to those of perylene. However, absorption and fluorescence spectra of 2,8-dimethoxy DP and 2,8-dipentyloxy DP in solution are red-shifted by ca. 55 nm relative to perylene. The fluorescence decay of DP is exponential with a lifetime of 5.1 ns in ethanol, 4.9 ns in glycerol and 4.3 ns in paraffin oil. The radiative lifetime in ethanol was calculated to be 6.3 ns for DP, 8.0 ns for 2,8-dimethoxy DP and 7.6 ns for 2,8-dipentyloxy DP. The calculated fluorescence quantum yields of 0.8 for DP and its alkoxy derivatives in ethanol, are in good agreement with those obtained from measurements. The calculated Förster radius is 37.2 ± 1 Å for DP and 41.9 ± 1 Å for its alkoxy derivatives in ethanol. Examining the S0 S1 transition, we obtain a limiting fluorescence anisotropy of r0 0.38 for DP and its alkoxy derivatives. The rotational rates of DP in paraffin oil and glycerol were compared to that of perylene. In paraffin oil both molecules show an almost identical biexponential decay of the fluorescence anisotropy, which is compatible with a rotational motion like an oblate ellipsoid. The fluorescence anisotropy is monoexponential for DP in glycerol, and DP appears to rotate like a spherical particle while perylene in glycerol appears to rotate like an oblate ellipsoid. Moreover, the rotational diffusion constant, corresponding to rotation about an axis in the aromatic plane (D), is the same for both DP and perylene in glycerol

Nocturnal heat exposure and stroke risk

Background and Aims In recent decades, nighttime temperatures have increased faster than daytime temperatures. The increasing prevalence of nocturnal heat exposure may pose a significant risk to cardiovascular health. This study investigated the association between nighttime heat exposure and stroke risk in the region of Augsburg, Germany, and examined its temporal variations over 15 years. Methods Hourly meteorological parameters, including mean temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure, were acquired from a local meteorological station. A data set was obtained consisting of 11 037 clinical stroke cases diagnosed during warmer months (May to October) between the years 2006 and 2020. The average age of cases was 71.3 years. Among these cases, 642 were identified as haemorrhagic strokes, 7430 were classified as ischaemic strokes, and 2947 were transient ischaemic attacks. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to estimate the stroke risk associated with extreme nighttime heat, as measured by the hot night excess (HNE) index after controlling for the potential confounding effects of daily maximum temperature and other climatic variables. Subgroup analyses by age group, sex, stroke subtype, and stroke severity were performed to identify variations in susceptibility to nighttime heat. Results Results suggested a significant increase in stroke risk on days with extreme nighttime heat (97.5% percentile of HNE) (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.15) during the full study period. When comparing the results for 2013–20 with the results for 2006–12, there was a significant increase (P < .05) in HNE-related risk for all strokes and specifically for ischaemic strokes during the more recent period. Furthermore, older individuals, females, and patients with mild stroke symptoms exhibited a significantly increased vulnerability to nighttime heat. Conclusions This study found nocturnal heat exposure to be related to elevated stroke risk after controlling for maximum daytime temperature, with increasing susceptibility between 2006 and 2020. These results underscore the importance of considering nocturnal heat as a critical trigger of stroke events in a warming climate

Peripheral amino acid appearance is lower following plant protein fibre products, compared to whey protein and fibre ingestion, in healthy older adults despite optimised amino acid profile

Plant-based proteins are generally characterised by lower Indispensable Amino Acid (IAA) content, digestibility, and anabolic properties, compared to animal-based proteins. However, they are environmentally friendlier, and wider consumption is advocated. Older adults have higher dietary protein needs to prevent sarcopenia, a disease marked by an accelerated loss of muscle mass and function. Given the lower environmental footprint of plant-based proteins and the importance of optimising dietary protein quality among older adults, this paper aims to assess the net peripheral Amino Acid (AA) appearance after ingestion of three different plant protein and fibre (PPF) products, compared to whey protein with added fibre (WPF), in healthy older adults. In a randomised, single-blind, crossover design, nine healthy men and women aged ≥65 years consumed four test meals balanced in AA according to the FAO reference protein for humans, matched for leucine, to optimally stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older adults. A fasted blood sample was drawn at each visit before consuming the test meal, followed by postprandial arterialise blood sampling every 30 min for 3 h. The test meal was composed of a soup containing either WPF or PPF 1–3. The PPF blends comprised pea proteins with varying additional rice, pumpkin, soy, oat, and/or almond protein. PPF product ingestion resulted in a lower maximal increase of postprandial leucine concentration and the sum of branched-chain AA (BCAA) and IAA concentrations, compared to WPF, with no effect on their incremental area under the curve. Plasma methionine and cysteine, and to a lesser extent threonine, appearance were limited after consuming the PPF products, but not WPF. Despite equal leucine doses, the WPF induced greater postprandial insulin concentrations than the PPF products. In conclusion, the postprandial appearance of AA is highly dependent on the protein source in older adults, despite providing equivalent IAA levels and dietary fibre. Coupled with lower insulin concentrations, this could imply less anabolic potential. Further investigation is required to understand the applicability of plant-based proteins in healthy older adults

Film - Körper : Beiträge zu einer somatischen Medientheorie

Prof. Dr. Jens Schröter ist Herausgeber der Reihe und die Herausgeber der einzelnen Hefte sind renommierte Wissenschaftler und -innen aus dem In- und Ausland.Es kann als positives Zeichen für eine immer weiter marginalisiert zu werden drohende Disziplin wie die Filmwissenschaft gelten, dass mit der neuen Ausgabe der medienwissenschaftlichen Schriftenreihe Navigationen nach der Veröffentlichung von High Definition Cinema (Frühjahr 2011) nun erneut – ein Jahr später – ein Sammelband mit filmwissenschaftlichem Fokus vorliegt. Unter dem Titel Film|Körper versammelt er Bausteine zu einer Körpertheorie des Films, die zwischen poststrukturalistischer und phänomenologischer Tradition vermitteln wollen. Es handelt sich bei Film|Körper zugleich um die zweite Publikation des Forschungsprojekts Körpertheorie der Medien, geleitet von Ivo Ritzer (Universität Mainz) und Marcus Stiglegger (Universität Siegen). Eine erste Tagung fand bereits im Oktober 2010 an der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz statt und resultierte in dem Sammelband Global Bodies. Mediale Repräsentationen des Körpers (2012).