Shape matters: Ecomorphology Informs on Functional Traits and Diversity of Barents Sea Fish

The Barents Sea (BS) is an arcto-boreal sea and one of the most productive areas adjacent to the Arctic, hosting many commercial fish stocks. As a result of climate change, temperature increases and a northward movement of several fish species in the BS have been reported, which will likely change community structures and ecosystem functioning. Hence, more information on ecosystem functioning need to be obtained to better understand the fish communities’ responses to stress. Ecomorphology relates shape directly to function. In this study, a landmark-based geomorphometric approach was chosen to assess the shape variation in the 72 most commonly observed fish species of the BS. The main shape differences were found in the location and the base-length of the anal and dorsal fins as well as in the overall body shape. Through differences in the location and the base length of the anal and dorsal fins, diet and habitat differences were identified as they are adaptations to environmental and ecological factors. Eel-like species as well as flatfish presenting long-based fins are usually associated with a benthic diet and demersal habitats. Small, streamlined fish with short-based anal and dorsal fins are more likely planktivores and pelagics. Biogeographic differences were found in the overall body shape, where eel-like, elongated fish are more often found in the arctic environment. But diet and habitat seemed to be the main drivers for shape variation whereas biogeography and temperature played a less important role. Functionally, large demersals and flatfish with long-based anal and dorsal fins distribute energy over large temporal and spatial scales and function as important links between lower and higher trophic levels. Eel-like fish with long-based anal and dorsal fins are very efficient in using locally abundant resources. Migratory species with streamlined bodies and short anal and dorsal fins, such as herring and capelin play an important role by transporting energy in the form of resources throughout the system. Such fish are considered key species and are essential for the ecosystem functioning. In the future, such shape information can find an important application in functional trait matrices to further investigate ecosystem functioning and its resilience and vulnerability. This will be especially important for sustainable management in times of climate change

CGM2, a Member of the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Gene Family is Down- Regulated in Colorectal Carcinomas

We have determined the precise chromosomal location, the exon structure, and the expression pattern of CGM2, a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene family. CGM2 cDNA was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) from the colon adenocarcinoma cell line, LS174T. A defective exon is missing from this cDNA clone, leading to a novel domain organization for the human CEA family with two immunoglobulin-like domains. The derived C-terminal domain predicts that the CGM2 protein is membrane-bound through a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor. RT/PCR analyses identified CGM2 transcripts in mucinous ovarian and colonic adenocarcinomas as well as in adjacent colonic tissue, but not in other tumors including leukocytes from six chronic myeloid leukemia patients. Thus, unlike several other family members, CGM2 is not expressed in granulocytes but reveals a more CEA-like expression pattern. Northern blot analyses identified a 2.5-kilobase CGM2 mRNA that is strongly down-regulated in colonic adenocarcinomas compared with adjacent colonic mucosa, suggesting a possible tumor suppressor function. In addition, a 3.2- kilobase transcript was observed in a number of colon tumors that is not detectable in normal colonic tissue. This mRNA species could represent a tumor-specific CGM2 splice variant

Bundesstaatliche Identitäten und ihre Achtung im Unionsrecht

The book adresses the question how the concept of national identity in EU law relates to federalism and how potential conflicts between EU law and a Member States’ federal organisation are resolved. Building on a thorough analysis of Art. 4 para. 2 TEU, three legal systems (Austria, Belgium, Germany) are examined on the basis of a uniform analytical grid in order to identify their respective federal national identities. These are then contrasted with Union law in order to identify potential conflicts, in areas such as fundamental rights and freedoms and state aid law.Das Buch geht den Fragen nach, was das unionsrechtliche Gebot der Achtung der nationalen Identität durch die EU für die Bundesstaatlichkeit bedeutet, wo es Konflikte zwischen EU-Recht und der bundesstaatlichen Organisation gibt und und wie diese gelöst werden. Nach einer Analyse von Art. 4 Abs 2. EUV werden drei Rechtsordnungen (Belgien, Deutschland, Österreich) anhand eines einheitlichen Analyserasters auf bundesstaatsrelevante Identitätsbestandteile untersucht. Diese werden dann mit dem Unionsrecht kontrastiert, um so Konfliktpotential aufzuzeigen, etwa im Bereich der Grundrechte und Grundfreiheiten und im Beihilfenrecht

Mental Health and Loneliness in University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: A Longitudinal Study

The COVID-19 pandemic and its preventive measures had adverse consequences for mental health. However, knowledge of mental health trajectories across the pandemic is limited. This study investigated the mental health levels and changes among university students during the pandemic and lockdown in Germany, as well as their associated factors. We surveyed students' mental health (N = 363, 68% female) with the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-8) and the generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) during the first easing phase (July 2020; time 1) and the second lockdown (November 2020; time 2). Cut-off scores from the GAD-7 and PHQ-8 were used to determine clinically relevant symptoms and to define trajectory groups. Sociodemographic and pandemic-related data were assessed (e.g., coping with academic life, social contacts) as well as loneliness, stress, repetitive negative thinking, quality of life, and perceived social support. Paired t-test, multiple regression, and repeated-measures ANOVA were applied. Means and prevalence rates for symptoms of depression (38.8%) and anxiety (25.6%) did not differ between time 1 and time 2, and most students were asymptomatic on the PHQ-8 (44.4%) and the GAD-7 (56.3%) across the pandemic. Feelings of loneliness significantly increased from time 1 to time 2, d = -0.30, [-0.47, -0.13], with higher symptom levels in symptomatic groups at time 2 and greater increases in the asymptomatic groups. Levels of stress, repetitive negative thinking, quality of life, and social support did not differ during the pandemic. At time 1, loneliness and repetitive negative thinking were associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were prevalent among students, and increased levels of loneliness during the pandemic were associated with elevated symptoms and differing trajectories. Further research using representative and larger samples should determine the long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health and loneliness to identify vulnerable students and offer adequate support

Fazeres poéticos : criação e experiência

Este trabalho analisa propostas de exercícios de escrita poética retirados de dois manuais: Os Writing Experiments da poeta estadunidense Bernadette Mayer e o Almanaque Rebolado, da Oficina Experimental de Poesia, grupo sediado na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Ambos os manuais são lidos sob a perspectiva da experiência que a realização da proposta pode desencadear naquele que a escreva. Assim, esta monografia se divide em três partes principais: uma breve reflexão acerca do conceito de experiência e poesia e como estes se relacionam com o fazer da escrita poética; a análise dos Experimentos de Bernadette Mayer; e a análise do Almanaque Rebolado. A conclusão do texto também introduz brevemente uma discussão sobre a aplicação pedagógica das propostas. O objetivo é uma maior compreensão dos motivadores da escrita poética a partir do uso de manuais, procurando facilitar o futuro uso deste tipo de recurso por professores e interessados na escrita de poesia em geral.This works aims at analyzing writing exercises from two manuals: Writing Experiments from Bernadette Mayer, and Almanaque Rebolado from Oficina Experimental de Poesia. Both manuals are read from the perspective of the experience contained in performing the suggested writing. This way, this monography is divided in three main parts: a brief reflection concerning the concepts of experience and poetry and how they relate to the act of poetic writing; the analysis of the Writing Experiments from Bernadette Mayer; and the analysis of Almanaque Rebolado. The conclusion of the text also briefly introduces a discussion on the pedagogical application of the proposals. The objective is a bigger comprehension of what motivates the poetic writing through the use of manuals, intending to facilitate future use of this kind of resource by teachers and people interested in writing poetry in general

Be nice if you have to — the neurobiological roots of strategic fairness

Social norms, such as treating others fairly regardless of kin relations, are essential for the functioning of human societies. Their existence may explain why humans, among all species, show unique patterns of prosocial behaviour. The maintenance of social norms often depends on external enforcement, as in the absence of credible sanctioning mechanisms prosocial behaviour deteriorates quickly. This sanction-dependent prosocial behaviour suggests that humans strategically adapt their behaviour and act selfishly if possible but control selfish impulses if necessary. Recent studies point at the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in controlling selfish impulses. We test whether the DLPFC is indeed involved in the control of selfish impulses as well as the strategic acquisition of this control mechanism. Using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, we provide evidence for the causal role of the right DLPFC in strategic fairness. Because the DLPFC is phylogenetically one of the latest developed neocortical regions, this could explain why complex norm systems exist in humans but not in other social animals

Experimental and theoretical characterization of the Zn - Zn bond in [Zn2(η5-C5Me5)2]

The existence and characterization of a bond between the Zn atoms in the recently synthesized complex [Zn2(5-C5Me5)2], as well as between Zn and ligand C atoms is firmly based on neutron diffraction and low-temperature X-ray synchrotron diffraction experiments. The multipolar analysis of the experimental electron density and its topological analysis by means of the Atoms in Molecules (AIM) approach reveals details of the Zn - Zn bond, such as its open-shell intermediate character (the results are consistent with a typical metal-metal single bond), as well as many other topological properties of the compound. Experimental results are also compared with theoretical ab initio calculations of the DFT (density functional theory) and MP2 (Mller-Plesset perturbation theory) electron densities, giving a coherent view of the bonding in the complex. For instance, charges calculated from the AIM approach applied to the atomic basin of each Zn atom are, on average, +0.72 e from both the experimental and the theoretical electron density, showing a moderate charge transfer from the metal, confirmed by the calculated topological indexes.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia MAT2006-0199