Repatriations of human remains from Germany – 1911 to 2019

While occasional earlier restitutions of colonially acquired human remains, mostly skulls, from German anthropological collections to source communities went largely unnoticed, it seems that such repatriations have 'taken off' since the hand-over of 20 skulls to a Namibian delegation in 2011. It is, however, difficult to get a comprehensive overview of these events, given the German federal system and the diversity of institutions involved. Moreover, there is no standard as to how much provenance research should be conducted before returning human remains and how much detail should be published, if at all. This article reviews repatriations of human remains from German institutions and related publications. It argues for authors and institutions to publish and publicize these events and related research more widely. It also looks at the variability of the political context of these processes and argues for more direct, i.e. government-independent contacts between collecting institutions and source communities

Transcriptome, carbohydrate, and phytohormone analysis of Petunia hybrida reveals a complex disturbance of plant functional integrity under mild chilling stress

Cultivation of chilling-tolerant ornamental crops at lower temperature could reduce the energy demands of heated greenhouses. To provide a better understanding of how sub-optimal temperatures (12 degrees C vs. 16 degrees C) affect growth of the sensitive Petunia hybrida cultivar 'SweetSunshine Williams', the transcriptome, carbohydrate metabolism, and phytohormone homeostasis were monitored in aerial plant parts over 4 weeks by use of a microarray, enzymatic assays and GC-MS/MS. The data revealed three consecutive phases of chilling response. The first days were marked by a strong accumulation of sugars, particularly in source leaves, preferential up-regulation of genes in the same tissue and down-regulation of several genes in the shoot apex, especially those involved in the abiotic stress response. The midterm phase featured a partial normalization of carbohydrate levels and gene expression. After 3 weeks of chilling exposure, a new stabilized balance was established. Reduced hexose levels in the shoot apex, reduced ratios of sugar levels between the apex and source leaves and a higher apical sucrose/hexose ratio, associated with decreased activity and expression of cell wall invertase, indicate that prolonged chilling induced sugar accumulation in source leaves at the expense of reduced sugar transport to and reduced sucrose utilization in the shoot. This was associated with reduced levels of indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid in the apex and high numbers of differentially, particularly up-regulated genes, especially in the source leaves, including those regulating histones, ethylene action, transcription factors, and a jasmonate-ZIM-domain protein. Transcripts of one Jumonji C domain containing protein and one expansin accumulated in source leaves throughout the chilling period. The results reveal a dynamic and complex disturbance of plant function in response to mild chilling, opening new perspectives for the comparative analysis of differently tolerant cultivars.BMBF/AgroCluster/WeGa - Horticulture Research NetworkState of BrandenburgFree State of ThuringiaFederal Republic of German

Validation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for chronic widespread pain from the perspective of fibromyalgia patients

Introduction: Functioning is recognized as an important study outcome in chronic widespread pain (CWP). The Comprehensive ICF Core Set for CWP is an application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) with the purpose of representing the typical spectrum of functioning of patients with CWP. The objective of the study was to add evidence to the validation of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for CWP from the patient perspective. The specific aims were to explore the aspects of functioning and health important to patients with fibromyalgia, and to examine to what extent these aspects are represented by the current version of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for CWP.Methods: The sampling of patients followed the maximum variation strategy. Sample size was determined by saturation. The focus groups were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. The meaning condensation procedure was used for qualitative data analysis. After qualitative data analysis, the identified concepts were linked to ICF categories.Results: Thirty-three patients participated in six focus groups. Fifty-four ICF categories out of 67 categories of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for CWP were reported by the patients. Forty-eight additional categories that are not covered in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for CWP were raised.Conclusions: Most ICF categories of the existing version of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for CWP could be confirmed from the patient perspective. However, several categories not included in the Core Set emerged and should be considered for inclusion

Stimulation of adventitious root formation by laser wounding in rose cuttings: A matter of energy and pattern

Adventitious root (AR) formation is the basis of vegetative propagation in rose, be it via stem cuttings or via stenting. During this process, wounding plays a pivotal role since cell reprogramming takes place at the tissue adjacent to the wound. We investigated the effects of wounding on AR formation on leafy single-node stem cuttings of the rose rootstock R. canina ‘Pfänder’ (codes R02-3 and R02-6) and the cut rose cultivar Rosa ‘Tan09283’ (Registration name ‘Beluga’). Laser wounding treatments were based on the assisted removal of tissue layers located in the bark. The positioning of wounding was studied based on two marking directions: along the cutting base (strip pattern) and around the cutting base (ring pattern). Additionally, the effects of external supply of indole-butyric acid (IBA 1 mg L-1) on rooting were analyzed. Results showed that in order to remove specific tissue layers, the calculation of the laser energy density (J cm-2) in terms of cutting diameter was necessary. Interestingly, the application of energy densities from 2.5 J cm-2 up to approximately 8.5 J cm-2 were sufficient to expose the tissue layers of epidermis up to regions of phloem. Regarding AR formation for R. canina ‘Pfänder’, characterized by a low rooting response, an increase in the rooting percentage was registered when the laser treatment eliminated the tissue up to phloem proximities. Analysis of the nodal position showed that bud location was a preferential place for AR formation independently of wounding treatment. In case of Rosa ‘Tan09283’, laser treatments did not reduce its high rooting capacity, but an apparent reduction in rooting quality due to an investment in tissue healing was observed when wounding reached deeper layers such as parenchyma and sclerenchyma. Results also showed a strong AR formation directly from wounded regions in case of Rosa ‘Tan09283’ specifically when the wound was located below the axillary bud. In conclusion, wounding by assisted-elimination of layers by laser can induce positive effects on AR formation of single-node stem cuttings of the rose if energy applied is able to expose phloem proximities, a longitudinal orientation, and relative position to the axillary bud are considered

Networks of free-living nematodes and co-extracted fungi, associated with symptoms of apple replant disease

Apple replant disease affects tree nurseries and apple production globally. After repeated planting in the same soil, apple roots show accumulation of phytoalexins, stunting, and blackening. Recently, we showed that nematodes extracted from replanted soil and co-extracted microbes triggered these symptoms, while pathogens or plant-parasitic nematodes could not explain the early disease development. To identify nematode-microbe complexes that coincide with replant disease, apple rootstocks were grown in the greenhouse in soils from five replanted sites for eight weeks. Nematodes were extracted by floatation from pots with stunted or normal plant growth, washed on a 20-μm sieve, and used for DNA extraction. Nematode communities and co-extracted fungi and bacteria were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of amplified ribosomal fragments. The experiment was repeated in the next year. Regardless of soil type or year, the nematode and fungal communities significantly differed between pots with differential plant growth. Bacteria were not significantly associated with growth depression. Plant-parasitic nematodes or pathogens were not abundant in numbers that could explain the observed root damage. Free-living nematodes Prsimatolaimus, Acrobeles, Tylencholaimus, Acrobeloides, and Aphelenchus, and associated fungi Exophiala, Hohenbuehelia, Naganishia, Psathyrella, and unidentified members of Orbiliales, Helotiales, and Rhytismataceae significantly correlated with reduced plant growth. Isolating and investigating such disease complexes will give a chance to understand external biotic stress of apple roots and design mitigation measures. © 2021 The Author

Comparing costs for different conservation strategies of garlic (Allium sativum L.) germplasm in genebanks

The maintenance of plant genetic resources in living plant collections (genebanks) causes costs due to employment of staff, usage of buildings, equipment and consumables. Since this is especially challenging in vegetatively propagated material, studies were performed for the case of garlic, which is one of the major vegetatively maintained crops in the genebank of IPK Gatersleben. Data were recorded to compare various scenarios of the main strategies field maintenance and cryopreservation. A spreadsheet tool was developed to be used for cost assessment and for drawing conclusions concerning the most effective way of maintenance. Field culture is cheaper in the short term, whereas after a break-even point cryopreservation becomes the more efficient storage method in the long term. This break-even point depends on the particular scenario, which is determined by various factors such as field and in vitro multiplication rates of various genotypes, presence of bulbils in a part of the genepool, the sample size of the accessions as well as the number of stored accessions in cryopreservation. The comparative discussion is exemplified for a 1-year field rotation versus cryopreservation using either in vitro plantlets or a combination of bulbils and unripe inflorescence bases as organ sources. For the more expensive use of in vitro plants cryopreservation becomes less costly than field culture only after 13 years, whereas this is the case already after 8-9 years when using a combination of bulbils in winter and inflorescence bases in summer

Alleviation of nematode-mediated apple replant disease by pre-cultivation of tagetes

Apple replant disease (ARD) is a severe problem in orchards and tree nurseries caused by yet unknown soil biota that accumulate over replanting cycles. This study tested the contribution of nematodes to ARD, and cultivation of Tagetes as a control option. In a pot experiment, Tagetes patula or Tagetes tenuifolia were grown in ARD soil, incorporated or removed. Nematodes extracted from untreated ARD soil and washed on 20-µm sieves induced ARD symptoms when inoculated to apple plantlets growing in a sterile substrate. In contrast, nematodes from Tagetes treated ARD soil did not reduce root growth compared to uninoculated plants, irrespective of Tagetes species and incorporation. In plots of five apple tree nurseries or orchards, either Tagetes or grass was grown on ARD soil. Nematodes extracted from the grass plots and inoculated to apple plantlets significantly reduced plant growth compared to nematodes from Tagetes plots for all five farms. Apple rootstocks showed overall a significantly higher increase in shoot base diameter when grown on Tagetes-treated plots compared to grass plots, while this effect differed among farms. Plant-parasitic nematodes were too low in abundance to explain plant damage. In conclusion, Tagetes alleviated ARD by changing the nematode community in soil. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Biologische Bodenentseuchung für eine umweltgerechte und intensive Gehölzproduktion

Der wiederholte Nachbau von Gehölzen der Familie der Rosaceae führt zu einer Nachbaukrankheit, die als Bodenmüdigkeit beschrieben wird. Eine wirksame Bekämpfung der Bodenmüdigkeit war die chemische Desinfektion mit Basamid® Granulat, basierend auf der Freisetzung eines Isothiocyanates (ITC). Die Zulassung von Basamid® Granulat ist in Deutschland abgelaufen. Eine Alternative könnte die Biofumigation darstellen. Bei der Biofumigation werden Glucosinolat(GS)-haltige Pflanzenteile von Vertretern der Brassicaceae in den Boden eingearbeitet. Die toxischen GS-Abbauprodukte, vor allem ITC, führen zu einer biologischen Bodendesinfektion. In dem berichteten Projekt wurde die Wirkung der ein- und zweijährigen Biofumigation von Brassica juncea und Raphanus sativus mit dem Anbau von Tagetes patula NEMAMIX, der Anwendung von Basamid® Granulat und des fortgesetzten Nachbaus der Indikatorpflanzen Malus sylvestris ‘Bittenfelder, Malus M4 bzw. M106 und Rosa corymbifera ‘Laxa’ verglichen. Das beste Wachstum der Indikatorpflanzen erbrachte ein vorausgegangener, zweijähriger Anbau von Tagetes patula NEMAMIX. Die praxisübliche Anwendung von Basamid® Granulat zeigte wenig Wirkung. Vermutlich war der Boden zum Anwendungstermin zu trocken. Eine geringe Wirkung erbrachte auch die ein- oder auch zweijährige Biofumigation mit Brassica juncea und Raphanus sativus. Auch die im Rahmen der Projektverlängerung zusätzlich geprüfte Einarbeitung von Brassica juncea-Samenmehl, die Verwendung der speziellen Saatgutmischung viterra®BIOFUMIGATION zur klassischen Biofumigation sowie die Dämpfung des Bodens mit Hilfe des CombiMIXERs an zwei nachbaukranken Baumschulstandorten brachten nicht die erhofften positive Effekte auf das Pflanzenwachstum der Indikatorpflanzen. Wieder war die einjährige Kultur von Tagetes die erfolgreichste Var. im Vergleich zum unbehandelten nachbaukranken Boden. Es konnten nur wenig positive Effekte auf das Wachstum der Indikatorpflanzen statistisch gesichert werden. Selbst in den Fällen, in denen signifikante Unterschiede auftraten, reichten diese Effekte aus Sicht der Praxis bei weitem nicht aus, um die durch Minderwuchs entstehenden Ertragsverluste auszugleichen. Mögliche Gründe für die schlechte Wirkung der geprüften Varianten werden diskutiert

The German fibromyalgia consumer reports - a cross-sectional survey

Background: Consumer surveys provide information on effectiveness and side effects of medical interventions in routine clinical care. A report of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) consumers has not been carried out in Europe. Methods: The study was carried out from November 2010 to April 2011. Participants diagnosed with FMS rated the effectiveness and side effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological FMS interventions on a 0 to 10 scale, with 10 being most efficacious (harmful). The questionnaire was distributed by the German League for people with Arthritis and Rheumatism and the German Fibromyalgia Association to their members and to all consecutive FMS patients of nine clinical centers of different levels of care. Results: 1661 questionnaires (95% women, mean age 54 years, mean duration since FMS diagnosis 6.8 years) were analysed. The most frequently used therapies were self-management strategies, prescription pain medication and aerobic exercise. The highest average effectiveness was attributed to whole body and local warmth therapies, thermal bathes, FMS education and resting. The highest average side effects were attributed to strong opioids, local cold therapy, gamma-amino-butyric acid analogues (pregabalin and gabapentin), tramadol and opioid transdermal systems. Conclusion: The German fibromyalgia consumer reports highlight the importance of non-pharmcological therapies in the long-term management of FMS, and challenges the strong recommendations for drug therapies given by FMS-guidelines