Zentrierung und Vielstimmigkeit: die Reformation der Reichsstadt Ulm

Die Stadt Ulm hat sich für das Reformationsjahr ein eigenes Logo gegeben, das seit dem 31. Oktober 2016 bis zum 31. Oktober 2017 auf den Briefbögen und -umschlägen sowie den E-Mails der Stadt zu sehen ist. Es zeigt vier unterschiedlich geformte und gefärbte Flächen, die sich zur Silhouette des Münsterturms zusammenfügen; ein geschwungenes Kreuz eröffnet ihren Raum und verbindet sie miteinander. Ergänzt wird das Bild durch die Worte "Vielstimmigkeit. 500 Jahre Reformation". Mit diesem Logo zeigt die Stadt, dass sie das Jubiläum 2017 als Anlass begreift, die Reformation als bedeutende Entwicklungsphase ihres Gemeinwesens zu reflektieren. Dabei heben Bild und Wort des Logos zwei Charakteristika der Ulmer Reformation hervor: Zentrierung und Vielstimmigkeit

Innervation des Cervidenhodens

In this investigation, the innervation in the testis of 14 specimens of fallow deer of different age was studied. To obtain a picture of the general innervation pattern the immunoreaction to the panneural marker PGP-9.5 was the first choice. Bundles of the superior and inferior spermatic nerves reach the testis via three access routes (funicular, mesorchial and caudal). The nerves in the cervine testis are generally associated with the testicular arteries. From the veins to the testis, only those in the pampiniformis plexus display an intrinsic innervation. In the testicular parenchyma, the nerve fibers are also associated to arterial blood vessels. There is no evidence of an innervation of Leydig cells in this species. The vascular fibres represent postganglionic sympathetic axons displaying a strong dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity, mostly co-expressed with neuropeptide Y (NPY). There are only a few cholinergic nerves in the cervine testis. Myelinated fibres occurr in the spermatic cord and the tunica albuginea as shown by Myelin-Basic-Protein (MBP)-immunreaction and are regarded as afferent. The viscerosensory quality in the testicular intrinsic innervation is mediated by Calcitonin Gene-Related Protein (CGRP)-positive nerves that run independently from vessels and end in the connective tissue of spermatic cord and tunica albuginea. The cervine testis contains a little amount of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP)-positiv axons which reach the caudal pole of testis as parts of the inferior spermatic nerve and via lig. testis proprium. The nerve density in the interior of the testicular lobules shows no regional differences, but age- and season-related changes that correlate well with the developmental and functional state of the seminiferous tubules. Small testes with solid and narrow tubules, as seen in the prepuberal phase and during seasonal reproductive quiescence, are better innervated than large testes with expanded and spermatogenetically active seminiferous tubules.Die Innervation des Hirschhodens wurde bei 14 Damhirschen unterschiedlichen Alters untersucht. Zur Bestimmung des allgemeinen Innervationsmuster wurde der panneurale Marker Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP-9.5) verwendet. Nervenbündel des Nervus spermaticus superior (NSS) und Nervus spermaticus inferior (NSI) erreichen den Hoden über drei Wege (funikulär, mesorchial und kaudal). Die Nerven haben im Hirschhoden meist die Hodenarterien zum Ziel. Venen werden nur im Plexus pampiniformis regelmäßig mit Nervenfasern versorgt. Auch in den Lobuli testis sind die Axone größtenteils gefäßbezogen, und eine Innervation der Leydigzellen kann bei dieser Spezies nicht bestätigt werden. Aufgrund der starken Dopamin-beta-hydroxylase (DBH)-Immunreaktion lässt sich schließen, dass alle vaskulären Nerven postganglionärer sympathischer Natur sind. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) ist in den DBH-IR Nervenfasern meist kolokalisiert. Es gibt nur sporadisch cholinerge Nerven. Mit Hilfe der Myelin Basic Protein (MBP)-Immunreaktion wurden myelinisierte Nervenfasern im Samenstrang und in der Tunica albuginea dargestellt, die den afferenten Nerven zuzuordnen sind. Die sensorische Qualität in der intrinsischen Hodeninnervation erfolgt über Calcitonin gene-related Protein (CGRP)-positive Nerven, die unabhängig von Blutgefäßen verlaufen und im Bindegewebe des Samenstranges und der Tunica albuginea enden. Der Hirschhoden enthält eine geringe Menge an Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP)-positiven Axonen, die den kaudalen Hodenpol über den NSI erreichen und sensorischer Qualität sein dürften. Die Nervendichte in den Lobuli testis ist regional homogen, doch sind sowohl alters- als auch jahreszeitliche Veränderungen zu beobachten, die mit dem Entwicklungsstadium und auch dem funktionellen Status der Tubuli seminiferi in Zusammenhang stehen. Kleine Hoden mit soliden Tubuli seminiferi, wie sie in der präpuberalen Gonade und auch während der Fortpflanzungspause auftreten, werden stärker innerviert als große Hoden mit expandierten und spermatogenetisch aktiven Tubuli seminiferi

The role of back muscle endurance, maximum force, balance and trunk rotation control regarding lifting capacity

Evaluation of lifting capacity is widely used as a reliable instrument in order to evaluate maximal and safe lifting capacity. This is of importance in regard to planning rehabilitation programs and determining working ability. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of basic functions on the lifting capacity measured by the progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation (PILE) and the functional capacity evaluation (FCE) tests in a lower (floor to waist) and an upper (waist to shoulder) setting and compare the two test constructs. Seventy-four female subjects without acute low back pain underwent an examination of their lifting capacities and the following basic functions: (1) strength and endurance of trunk muscles, (2) cardiovascular endurance, (3) trunk mobility and (4) coordination ability. A linear regression model was used to predict lifting capacity by means of the above-mentioned basic functions, where the F statistics of the variables had to be significant at the 0.05 level to remain in the model. Maximal force in flexion showed significant influence on the lifting capacity in both the PILE and the FCE in the lower, as well as in the upper, lifting task. Furthermore, there was a significant influence of cardiovascular endurance on the lower PILE and also of endurance in trunk flexion on the lower FCE. Additional inclusion of individual factors (age, height, weight, body mass index) into the regression model showed a highly significant association between body height and all lifting tasks. The r 2 of the original model used was 0.19/0.18 in the lower/upper FCE and 0.35/0.26 in the lower/upper PILE. The model r 2 increased after inclusion of these individual factors to between 0.3 and 0.4. The fact that only a limited part of the variance in the lifting capacities can be explained by the basic functions analyzed in this study confirms the assumption that factors not related to the basic functions studied, such as lifting technique and motor control, may have a strong influence on lifting capacity. These results give evidence to suggest the inclusion of an evaluation of lifting capacity in clinical practice. Furthermore, they raise questions about the predictive value of strength and endurance tests in regard to lifting capacity and work abilit

A study based on claims data from a German health insurance fund

Background The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of age on care dependency risk 1 year after stroke. Two research questions are addressed: (1) How strong is the association between age and care dependency risk 1 year after stroke and (2) can this association be explained by burden of disease? Methods The study is based on claims data from a German statutory health insurance fund. The study population was drawn from all continuously insured members with principal diagnoses of ischaemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or transient ischaemic attack in 2007 who survived for 1 year after stroke and who were not dependent on care before their first stroke (n = 2864). Data were collected over a 1-year period. People are considered to be dependent on care if they, due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, require substantial assistance in carrying out activities of daily living for a period of at least 6 months. Burden of disease was assessed by stroke subtype, history of stroke, comorbidities as well as geriatric multimorbidity. Regression models were used for data analysis. Results 21.6 % of patients became care dependent during the observation period. Post-stroke care dependency risk was significantly associated with age. Relative to the reference group (0–65 years), the odds ratio of care dependency was 11.30 (95 % CI: 7.82–16.34) in patients aged 86+ years and 5.10 (95 % CI: 3.88–6.71) in patients aged 76–85 years. These associations were not explained by burden of disease. On the contrary, age effects became stronger when burden of disease was included in the regression model (by between 1.1 and 28 %). Conclusions Our results show that age has an effect on care dependency risk that cannot be explained by burden of disease. Thus, there must be other underlying age- dependent factors that account for the remaining age effects (e.g., social conditions). Further studies are needed to explore the causes of the strong age effects observed

Development of an environmental functional gene microarray for soil microbial communities

Functional attributes of microbial communities are difficult to study, and most current techniques rely on DNA- and rRNA-based profiling of taxa and genes, including microarrays containing sequences of known microorganisms. To quantify gene expression in environmental samples in a culture-independent manner, we constructed an environmental functional gene microarray (E-FGA) consisting of 13,056 mRNA-enriched anonymous microbial clones from diverse microbial communities to profile microbial gene transcripts. A new normalization method using internal spot standards was devised to overcome spotting and hybridization bias, enabling direct comparisons of microarrays. To evaluate potential applications of this metatranscriptomic approach for studying microbes in environmental samples, we tested the E-FGA by profiling the microbial activity of agricultural soils with a low or high flux of N2O. A total of 109 genes displayed expression that differed significantly between soils with low and high N2O emissions. We conclude that mRNA-based approaches such as the one presented here may complement existing techniques for assessing functional attributes of microbial communities. Copyright © 2010, American Society for Microbiology

Do MRI findings correlate with mobility tests? An explorative analysis of the test validity with regard to structure

To find out whether segmental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings such as intervertebral disc degeneration (DD) and facet joint osteoarthritis (FJO) are associated with motion deficiencies as seen in common mobility tests and observed range of motion (ROM). A total of 112 female subjects, nurses and office workers, with and without low back pain, were examined by clinical experts, and lumbar mobility was measured including modified Schober, fingertip-to-floor distance (FTFD) and ZEBRIS motion analysis. An MRI of the lumbar spine was made. Mobility findings were correlated with segmental morphologic changes as seen on MRI at the levels of L1-2 through L5-S1. Only a few statistically significant correlations between MRI findings and the results of the mobility tests could be found. Lateral bending was weakly and negatively correlated to DD and FJO but only on the level of L5-S1. The FTFD showed a weak positive correlation to endplate changes on the level of L4-5. When ROM is observed by clinical experts, there are several significant relationships between MRI findings and the observed motion. There is a highly significant segmental correlation between DD and disc form alteration as seen on MRI on the level of single motion segments. Pain history and current pain level did not moderate any association between MRI and mobility. There is no clear relationship between the structural changes represented by MRI and the measured mobility tests used in this study. Our findings suggest that close observation of spinal motion may provide at least equal information about the influence of spinal structures on motion than the commonly used measured mobility tests d

Development and Psychometric Properties of a Questionnaire Assessing Self-Reported Generic Health Literacy in Adolescence

Domanska OM, Bollweg TM, Loer A-K, Holmberg C, Schenk L, Jordan S. Development and Psychometric Properties of a Questionnaire Assessing Self-Reported Generic Health Literacy in Adolescence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(8): 2860.Health literacy is a promising approach to promoting health and preventing disease among children and adolescents. Promoting health literacy in early stages of life could contribute to reducing health inequalities. However, it is difficult to identify concrete needs for action as there are few age-adjusted measures to assess generic health literacy in young people. Our aim was to develop a multidimensional measure of health literacy in German to assess generic health literacy among 14- to 17-year-old adolescents, namely, the “Measurement of Health Literacy Among Adolescents Questionnaire” (MOHLAA-Q). The development process included two stages. Stage 1 comprised the development and validation using a literature review, two rounds of cognitive interviews, two focus groups and two rounds of expert assessments by health literacy experts. Stage 2 included a standard pretest (n = 625) of the questionnaire draft to examine the psychometric properties, reliability and different validity aspects. The MOHLAA-Q consists of 29 items in four scales: (A) “Dealing with health-related information (HLS-EU-Q12-adolescents-DE)”; (B) “Communication and interaction skills”, (C) “Attitudes toward one’s own health and health information”, and (D) “Health-related knowledge”. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated a multidimensional structure of the MOHLAA-Q. The internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s α) of the scales varied from 0.54 to 0.77. The development of the MOHLAA-Q constitutes a significant step towards the comprehensive measurement of adolescents’ health literacy. However, further research is necessary to re-examine its structural validity and to improve the internal consistency of two scales

Nitrogen affects cluster root formation and expression of putative peptide transporters

Non-mycorrhizal Hakea actites (Proteaceae) grows in heathland where organic nitrogen (ON) dominates the soil nitrogen (N) pool. Hakea actites uses ON for growth, but the role of cluster roots in ON acquisition is unknown. The aim of the present study was to ascertain how N form and concentration affect cluster root formation and expression of peptide transporters. Hydroponically grown plants produced most biomass with low molecular weight ON>inorganic N>high molecular weight ON, while cluster roots were formed in the order no-N>ON>inorganic N. Intact dipeptide was transported into roots and metabolized, suggesting a role for the peptide transporter (PTR) for uptake and transport of peptides. HaPTR4, a member of subgroup II of the NRT1/PTR transporter family, which contains most characterized di- and tripeptide transporters in plants, facilitated transport of di- and tripeptides when expressed in yeast. No transport activity was demonstrated for HaPTR5 and HaPTR12, most similar to less well characterized transporters in subgroup III. The results provide further evidence that subgroup II of the NRT1/PTR family contains functional di- and tripeptide transporters. Green fluorescent protein fusion proteins of HaPTR4 and HaPTR12 localized to tonoplast, and plasma- and endomembranes, respectively, while HaPTR5 localized to vesicles of unknown identity. Grown in heathland or hydroponic culture with limiting N supply or starved of nutrients, HaPTR genes had the highest expression in cluster roots and non-cluster roots, and leaf expression increased upon re-supply of ON. It is concluded that formation of cluster roots and expression of PTR are regulated in response to N suppl

Russia in a changing climate

Climate change will shape the future of Russia, and vice versa, regardless of who rules in the Kremlin. The world\u27s largest country is warming faster than Earth as a whole, occupies more than half the Arctic Ocean coastline, and is waging a carbon-intensive war while increasingly isolated from the international community and its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Officially, the Russian government argues that, as a major exporter of hydrocarbons, Russia benefits from maintaining global reliance on fossil fuels and from climate change itself, because warming may increase the extent and quality of its arable land, open a new year-round Arctic sea route, and make its harsh climate more livable. Drawing on the collective expertise of a large group of Russia-focused social scientists and a comprehensive literature review, we challenge this narrative. We find that Russia suffers from a variety of impacts due to climate change and is poorly prepared to adapt to these impacts. The literature review reveals that the fates of Russia\u27s hydrocarbon-dependent economy, centralized political system, and climate-impacted population are intertwined and that research is needed on this evolving interrelationship, as global temperatures rise and the international economy decarbonizes in response. This article is categorized under: Policy and Governance \u3e National Climate Change Policy Trans-disciplinary Perspectives \u3e National Reviews Trans-disciplinary Perspectives \u3e Regional Reviews. © 2023 The Authors. WIREs Climate Change published by Wiley Periodicals LLC

Nucleoside analogue activators of cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase A of Trypanosoma

Protein kinase A (PKA), the main effector of cAMP in eukaryotes, is a paradigm for the mechanisms of ligand-dependent and allosteric regulation in signalling. Here we report the orthologous but cAMP-independent PKA of the protozoan Trypanosoma and identify 7-deazanucleosides as potent activators (EC50 >= 6.5 nM) and high affinity ligands (K-D >= 8 nM). A co-crystal structure of trypanosome PKA with 7-cyano-7-deazainosine and molecular docking show how substitution of key amino acids in both CNB domains of the regulatory subunit and its unique C-terminal alpha D helix account for this ligand swap between trypanosome PKA and canonical cAMP-dependent PKAs. We propose nucleoside-related endogenous activators of Trypanosoma brucei PKA (TbPKA). The existence of eukaryotic CNB domains not associated with binding of cyclic nucleotides suggests that orphan CNB domains in other eukaryotes may bind undiscovered signalling molecules. Phosphoproteome analysis validates 7-cyano-7-deazainosine as powerful cell-permeable inducer to explore cAMP-independent PKA signalling in medically important neglected pathogens