Data and Services at the Integrated Climate Data Center (ICDC) at the University of Hamburg

KlimawandelEarth observation data obtained from remote sensing sensors and in-situ data archives are fundamental for our current understanding of the Earth’s climate system. Such data are an important pre-requisite for Earth System research and should be easy to access and easy to use. In addition such data should be quality assessed and attached with information about uncertainties and long-term stability. If these data sets are stored in a self-explanatory, easy-to-use format, their usefulness and scientific value increase. This is the guideline for the Integrated Climate Data Center (ICDC) at the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg. ICDC offers a reliable, quick and easy data access along with expert support for users and data providers. The ICDC provides several types of worldwide accessible in situ and satellite Earth observation data of the atmosphere, ocean, land surface, and cryosphere via the web portal http://icdc.zmaw.de. Recently, data from socio-economic sciences have been integrated into ICDC’s data base to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration. On ICDC’s web portal, each data set has its own page. It contains the data access points, a short data description, information about spatiotemporal coverage and resolution, data quality, important reference documents and contacts, and about how to cite the data set. The data are converted into netCDF or ASCII format. Consistency and quality checks are carried out – often in the framework of international collaborations. Literature studies are conducted to learn about potential limitations or preferred application areas of the data offered. The data sets can be accessed through the web page via FTP, HTTP or OPeNDAP. Using the Live Access Server, users can visualize data as maps, along transects and profiles, zoom into key regions, and create time series. In both fields, visualization and data access, ICDC tries to provide fast response times and high reliability

Transfer and accumulation of lead, zinc, cadmium and copper in plants growing in abandoned mining-district area

The analysis of the Jebel Hallouf-Sidi Bouaouane mining-district soil has shown that the surface horizons are strongly contaminated by heavy metals, especially during floods or in lee-side areas. The contents of metallic-trace elements (MTE), in the soil and two cultivated plant species, have been determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The results show that the concentration of metals in the soil are up to 39 g. kg-1, 6.3 g. kg-1, 56 mg. kg-1 and 131 mg. kg-1, for lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu), respectively. The chemical analysis of plants: broad beans [Vicia faba (L.)] and barley [Hordeum vulgare (L.)], sampled inside the mining district, show that the roots and the upper part (leaves and stem) are enriched for Pb (up to 508 and 220 mg.kg-1, respectively), Cd (up to 8 and 5 mg.kg-1, respectively), and Zn (up to 491 and 468 mg.kg-1, respectively) when compared with similar species collected far from the contaminated site (up to 9.6 and 0.8 mg.kg-1 for Pb, up to 0.04 and 0.04 mg.kg-1 for Cd, up to 44 and 15 mg.kg-1 for Zn, respectively). Statistically, the concentration of MTE in the soils and plants of the mining area is significantly different from the concentrations of the same elements in the soils and plants of the control ones (p < 0.01). This is expressed by a strong Enrichment Coefficient (EC), which is given by the ratio between the concentration of the metal in the contaminated plant and the concentration of the same element in the similar control one. The results (up to 405, 342 and 32, respectively), indicate that the contamination has reached the first link of the food chain. However, the calculation of the translocation factor (TF), deduced from the ratio between the concentration of the metal in the outer part of the plant and the concentration of the same element in the roots, shows that, the broad beans accumulates metals in the roots (TF < 1); whereas for barley, metals are fairly distributed between the roots and the outer part (TF ≈ 1). These results suggest that the cultivated areas inside the mining district constitute a serious source of contamination of the food chain. Therefore, actions have to be taken in order to remedy this problem.Key words: MTE, contamination, transfer, soil, plant

ESPACOMP Medication Adherence Reporting Guideline (EMERGE)

Research on assessing or managing medication adherence applies approaches from observational, interventional, and implementation science that spans many disciplines and demands coherent conceptualization, valid methods, appropriate analyses, and complete and accurate reporting. To ensure such reporting, the European Society for Patient Adherence, COMpliance, and Persistence (ESPACOMP) Medication Adherence Reporting Guideline (EMERGE) recommends standard reporting approaches based on an accepted taxonomy. This guideline is derived from a literature review, a reactive Delphi study with 26 medication adherence experts from many countries and disciplines, and feedback from ESPACOMP members. It is designed to supplement existing guidelines for health research reporting and is structured around 4 minimum reporting criteria and 17 items reflecting best reporting practice. By enhancing and harmonizing research reporting, EMERGE aims to advance research and, ultimately, patient outcomes

“High in omega-3 fatty acids” Bologna type sausages stabilized with an aqueous-ethanol extract of Melissa officinalis.

A new formulation of bologna-type sausage enriched in ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (8.75% linseed oil) was developed, using a lyophilized aqueous-ethanolic extract of Melissa officinalis. A comparison with the effectiveness of butylhydroxy anisole (BHA) synthetic antioxidant to decrease the oxidation of PUFAs was performed. The formulation increased the ω-3 PUFAs content, especially α-linolenic acid, decreasing significantly the ω-6/ω-3 ratio from 17.3 to 1.9, and also the Atherogenic Index and Thrombogenic Index (0.38–0.31 and 1.03–0.54, respectively). Modified sausages with BHA and Melissa extract showed significantly lower peroxides value (2.62 and 6.11 meqO2/kg) and thiobarbituric acid value (0.26 and 0.27 mg malondialdehyde/kg) and higher antioxidant capacity (hydrophilic fraction ABTS: 0.45 and 0.74 meq Trolox/g product; lipofilic fraction ABTS: 0.44 and 0.37 meq Trolox/g product) than those without these ingredients (16.49 meq O2/kg, 2.08 mg malondialdehyde /kg, 0.26 and 0.27 meq Trolox/g product, respectively). Sensorial tests showed that acceptability of the new formulations was similar to control products

A comparative study of mutation screening of sarcomeric genes (MYBPC3, MYH7, TNNT2) using single gene approach versus targeted gene panel next generation sequencing in a cohort of HCM patients in Egypt

Background: NGS enables simultaneous sequencing of large numbers of associated genes in genetic heterogeneous disorders, in a more rapid and cost-effective manner than traditional technologies. However there have been limited direct comparisons between NGS and more established technologies to assess the sensitivity and false negative rates of this new approach. The scope of the present manuscript is to compare variants detected in MYBPC3, MYH7 and TNNT2 genes using the stepwise dHPLC/ Sanger versus targeted NGS.Methods: In this study, we have analysed a group of 150 samples of patients from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina-Aswan Heart Centre National HCM program. The genetic testing was simultaneously undertaken by high throughput denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) followed by Sanger based sequencing and targeted next generation deep sequencing using panel of inherited cardiac genes (ICC). The panel included over 100 genes including the 3 sarcomeric genes. Analysis of the sequencing data of the 3 genes was undertaken in a double blinded strategy.Results: NGS analysis detected all pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants identified by dHPLC (50 in total, some samples had double hits). There was a 0% false negative rate for NGS based analysis. Nineteen variants were missed by dHPLC and detected by NGS, thus increasing the diagnostic yield in this co- analysed cohort from 22.0% (33/150) to 31.3% (47/150). Of interest to note that the mutation spectrum in this Egyptian HCM population revealed a high rate of homozygosity in MYBPC3 and MYH7 genes in comparison to other population studies (6/150, 4%). None of the homozygous samples were detected by dHPLC analysis.Conclusion: NGS provides a useful and rapid tool to allow panoramic screening of several genes simultaneously with a high sensitivity rate amongst genes of known etiologic role allowing high throughput analysis of HCM patients and relevant control series in a less characterised population

Chemical composition, mineral content and antioxidant activity of Verbena officinalis L.

Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from Verbena officinalis L. were obtained and characterised. The analysis by HPLC-DAD and LC–MS allowed the detection and identification of three iridoids, fifteen flavonoids and four phenolic acid derivatives. Four flavonoids, scutellarein 7-diglucuronide (9), scutellarein 7-glucuronide (13), pedalitin 6-galactoside (15) and scutellarein 7-glucoside (19) are reported for the first time from this plant. In addition, three new flavonoids have been isolated: scutellarein 7-O-(2-O-feruloyl)-diglucuronide (5), pedalitin 6-O-diglucuronide (6) and pedalitin 6-O-(2-O-feruloyl)-diglucuronide (13). To our knowledge, these flavonoids have not been reported as natural products. Both extracts showed significant antioxidant activity using three in vitro model systems and the results have been correlated with total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. The results have allowed establishing an important relation structure–activity and significant correlations have also been found between the mineralcontent and the flavonoids present in both extracts