The Diversity of Religious Diversity. Using Census and NCS Methodology in Order to Map and Assess the Religious Diversity of a Whole Country

Religious diversity is often captured in “mapping studies” that use mostly qualitative methods in order to map and assess the religious communities in a given area. While these studies are useful, they often present weaknesses in that they treat only limited geographic regions, provide limited possibilities for comparing across religious groups and cannot test theories. In this article, we show how a census and a quantitative national congregations study (NCS) methodology can be combined in order to map and assess the religious diversity of a whole country (Switzerland), overcoming the problems mentioned above. We outline the methodological steps and selected results concerning organizational, geographic, structural, and cultural diversity

Pd-Catalyzed Conversion of Aryl Chlorides, Triflates, and Nonaflates to Nitroaromatics

An efficient Pd catalyst for the transformation of aryl chlorides, triflates, and nonaflates to nitroaromatics has been developed. This reaction proceeds under weakly basic conditions and displays a broad scope and excellent functional group compatibility. Moreover, this method allows for the synthesis of aromatic nitro compounds that cannot be accessed efficiently via other nitration protocols. Mechanistic insight into the transmetalation step of the catalytic process is also reported.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (GM-58160)BASFMerck & Co. (Fellowship)William Asbornsen Albert Memorial Fund (Fellowship

Compensated reduction in Leydig cell function is associated with lower semen quality variables:A study of 8182 European young men

Is the Leydig cell function of young European men associated with semen quality? Compensated reduction in Leydig cell function, defined as increased LH concentration combined with adequate testosterone production is associated with lower semen quality. Semen quality of young European men shows a heterogeneous pattern. Many have sperm counts below and in the lower WHO reference where there nevertheless is a significant risk of subfecundity. Little is known about differences in Leydig cell function between men with semen quality below and within the WHO reference range. A coordinated, cross-sectional population-based study of 8182 men undertaken in 1996-2010. Young men (median age 19.1 years) were investigated in centres in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany Latvia, Lithuania, and Spain. The men originated from the general populations, all were young, almost all were unaware of their fecundity and each provided a semen and blood sample. Associations between semen parameters and serum levels of testosterone and luteinising hormone (LH), calculated free testosterone, and ratios between serum testosterone and LH were determined. Serum testosterone levels were not associated with sperm concentrations, total sperm counts, or percentage of motile or morphologically normal spermatozoa. There was an inverse association between the semen parameters and serum LH levels, and accordingly a positive association to testosterone/LH ratio and calculated-free-testosterone/LH ratio. The size of the study mitigates the intra-individual variability concern. The distinction between different sub-categories of sperm motility and sperm morphology is subjective despite training. However, inter-observer variation would tend towards non-differential misclassification and would decrease the likelihood of detecting associations between reproductive hormone levels and semen variables, suggesting that the presented associations might in reality be even stronger than shown. Although we adjusted for confounders, we cannot of course exclude that our results can be skewed by selection bias or residual confounding. Compensated reduction in Leydig cell function, defined as increased LH concentration combined with adequate testosterone production is associated with lower semen quality. This is apparent even within the WHO reference range of semen quality. It is unknown whether impaired Leydig cell function in young men may confer an increased risk of acquired testosterone deficiency later in life. Support from The Research Fund of Rigshospitalet (grant no. R42-A1326) to N.J. made this study possible. The background studies of young men have been supported economically by several grants. ITALIC! Denmark: The European Union (contract numbers BMH4-CT96-0314, QLK4-CT-1999-01422, QLK4-CT-2002-00603 and most recently FP7/2007-2013, DEER Grant agreement no. 212844), The Danish Research Council (grants nos. 9700833 2107-05-0006), The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation (Grant no. 271070678), Rigshospitalet (Grant no. 961506336), The University of Copenhagen (Grant no. 211-0357/07-3012), The Danish Ministry of Health and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, A.P. Møller and wife Chastine McKinney Møllers foundation, and Svend Andersens Foundation. ITALIC! Finland: European Union (contract numbers BMH4-CT96-0314, QLK4-CT-1999-01422, QLK4-CT- 2002-00603 and most recently FP7/2008-2012, DEER Grant agreement no. 212844), The Academy of Finland, Turku University Hospital Funds, Sigrid Juselius Foundation. ITALIC! Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: European Union (QLRT-2001-02911), the Estonian Science Foundation, grant number 2991, Lithuanian Foundation for Research, Organon Agencies B.V. and the Danish Research Council, grant no. 9700833. ITALIC! Germany: European Union (contract numbers QLK4-CT-2002-00603). ITALIC! Spain: European Commission QLK4-1999-01422. M.F. received support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Program Ramon y Cajal). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. None of the authors have any competing interests to declare