A social role for churches and cultural demarcation:how German MEPs represent religion in the European Parliament

This study deals with the question of how German members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent the German model of religion–state relations at the European level. Based on a survey and interviews with German MEPs as well as a content-analysis of German MEPs’ speeches, motions and parliamentary questions during the seventh term of the European Parliament (EP), our study demonstrates that this model is represented in three dimensions. First, German MEPs reflect the close cooperation between the churches and the state in Germany, primarily on social issues, through largely church- and religion-friendly attitudes and relatively frequent contacts with religious interest-groups. Second, by referring to religious freedoms and minorities primarily outside the EU and by placing Islam in considerably more critical contexts than Christianity, German MEPs create a cultural demarcation line between Islam and Christianity through their parliamentary activities, which is similar to, though less politicised than, cultural boundaries often produced in public debates in Germany. Third, our study illustrates similar patterns of religious affiliation and subjective religiosity among German parliamentarians in both the EP and the national Parliament, which to some degree also reflect societal trends in Germany. Yet our data also suggest that European political elites are more religious than the average German population. If the presence of religion in terms of religious interest-groups and arguments is included, the EP appears to be more secularist than the German Parliament

From Africa to Europe and back: refugia and range shifts cause high genetic differentiation in the Marbled White butterfly Melanargia galathea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The glacial-interglacial oscillations caused severe range modifications of biota. Thermophilic species became extinct in the North and survived in southern retreats, e.g. the Mediterranean Basin. These repeated extinction and (re)colonisation events led to long-term isolation and intermixing of populations and thus resulted in strong genetic imprints in many European species therefore being composed of several genetic lineages. To better understand these cycles of repeated expansion and retraction, we selected the Marbled White butterfly <it>Melanargia galathea</it>. Fourty-one populations scattered over Europe and the Maghreb and one population of the sibling taxon <it>M. lachesis </it>were analysed using allozyme electrophoresis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We obtained seven distinct lineages applying neighbour joining and STRUCTURE analyses: (i) Morocco, (ii) Tunisia, (iii) Sicily, (iv) Italy and southern France, (v) eastern Balkans extending to Central Europe, (vi) western Balkans with western Carpathian Basin as well as (vii) south-western Alps. The hierarchy of these splits is well matching the chronology of glacial and interglacial cycles since the Günz ice age starting with an initial split between the <it>galathea </it>group in North Africa and the <it>lachesis </it>group in Iberia. These genetic structures were compared with past distribution patterns during the last glacial stage calculated with distribution models.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Both methods suggest climatically suitable areas in the Maghreb and the southern European peninsulas with distinct refugia during the last glacial period and underpin strong range expansions to the North during the Postglacial. However, the allozyme patterns reveal biogeographical structures not detected by distribution modelling as two distinct refugia in the Maghreb, two or more distinct refugia at the Balkans and a close link between the eastern Maghreb and Sicily. Furthermore, the genetically highly diverse western Maghreb might have acted as source or speciation centre of this taxon, while the eastern, genetically impoverished Maghreb population might result from a relatively recent recolonisation from Europe via Sicily.</p

Determinants of selenium status in healthy adults

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Selenium (Se) status in non-deficient subjects is typically assessed by the Se contents of plasma/serum. That pool comprises two functional, specific selenoprotein components and at least one non-functional, non-specific components which respond differently to changes in Se intake. A more informative means of characterizing Se status in non-deficient individuals is needed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Multiple biomarkers of Se status (plasma Se, serum selenoprotein P [SEPP1], plasma glutathione peroxidase activity [GPX3], buccal cell Se, urinary Se) were evaluated in relation to selenoprotein genotypes (GPX1, GPX3, SEPP1, SEP15), dietary Se intake, and parameters of single-carbon metabolism in a cohort of healthy, non-Se-deficient men (n = 106) and women (n = 155).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Plasma Se concentration was 142.0 ± 23.5 ng/ml, with GPX3 and serum-derived SEPP1 calculated to comprise 20% and 34%, respectively, of that total. The balance, comprised of non-specific components, accounted for virtually all of the interindividual variation in total plasma Se. Buccal cell Se was associated with age and plasma homocysteine (hCys), but not plasma Se. SEPP1 showed a quadratic relationship with body mass index, peaking at BMI 25-30. Urinary Se was greater in women than men, and was associated with metabolic body weight (kg^0.75), plasma folate, vitamin B₁₂and hCys (negatively). One <it>GPX1 </it>genotype (679T/T) was associated with significantly lower plasma Se levels than other allelic variants. Selenium intake, estimated from food frequency questionnaires, did not predict Se status as indicated by any biomarker. These results show that genotype, methyl-group status and BMI contribute to variation in Se biomarkers in Se-adequate individuals.</p

Recommandations nutritionnelles pour la Belgique. Partim I: Vitamines et oligo-éléments.

Cette 6e édition des « Recommandations nutritionnelles pour la Belgique » (partim I) concerne lesvitamines et les oligo-éléments. Elle sera complétée par une révision des recommandationsconcernant lfenergie, les protéines, les lipides, les glucides et les macro-minéraux. Lesrecommandations nutritionnelles pour la Belgique 2009 ont servi de document de base. Tous leschapitres ont été réévalués et réécrits sur base de la littérature scientifique pertinente ainsi quedes rapports dforganisations internationales competentes en la matiere.Ce rapport du Conseil Supérieur de la Santé (CSS) contient dès lors les resultats dfanalysesapprofondies des connaissances scientifiques concernant les effets physiologiques et les besoinsen différents nutriments. Les recommandations ont été modifiées uniquement lorsque lesconnaissances scientifiques fondamentales en la matière ont évolué depuis la 5e édition desrecommandations nutritionnelles (2009). Par rapport aux éditions précédentes, celle-ci estenrichie en références bibliographiques et de nouvelles données concernant le bore et le siliciumont été ajoutées. Les monographies sont davantage structurées avec, pour chaque nutriment,des informations pratiques directement utilisables par les professionnels de la santé. Desinformations relatives aux quantités maximales de certains nutriments qui peuvent être ajoutésaux denrées alimentaires ou qui peuvent être présents dans les compléments alimentaires fontégalement partie de cette révision. Tout comme les précédentes, la nouvelle édition indique pourchaque nutriment un apport journalier recommandé (AJR) ou apport adéquat (AA). Cesinformations essentielles forment la base scientifique nécessaire à un modèle alimentaireéquilibré et fondé.Cette révision a pour objectif de constituer un ouvrage de référence utilisable par lesnutritionnistes, diététiciens et autres professionnels de la santé, par les responsables del&#039;industrie alimentaire et de lfalimentation dans les collectivites ainsi que par les différentesautorités compétentes en matière de politique nutritionnelle et de santé2.</p