The Importance of the Representation of DMS Oxidation in Global Chemistry‐Climate Simulations

The oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is key for the natural sulfate aerosol formation and its climate impact. Multiphase chemistry is an important oxidation pathway but neglected in current chemistry-climate models. Here, the DMS chemistry in the aerosol-chemistry-climate model ECHAM-HAMMOZ is extended to include multiphase methane sulfonic acid (MSA) formation in deliquesced aerosol particles, parameterized by reactive uptake. First simulations agree well with observed gas-phase MSA concentrations. The implemented formation pathways are quantified to contribute up to 60% to the sulfate aerosol burden over the Southern Ocean and Arctic/Antarctic regions. While globally the impact on the aerosol radiative forcing almost levels off, a significantly more positive solar radiative forcing of up to +0.1 W m−2 is computed in the Arctic (>60°N). The findings imply the need of both further laboratory and model studies on the atmospheric multiphase oxidation of DMS

Simulation and observations of stratospheric aerosols from the 2009 Sarychev volcanic eruption

We used a general circulation model of Earth’s climate to conduct simulations of the 12-16 June 2009 eruption of Sarychev volcano (48.1°N, 153.2°E). The model simulates the formation and transport of the stratospheric sulfate aerosol cloud from the eruption and the resulting climate response. We compared optical depth results from these simulations with limb scatter measurements from the Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imaging System (OSIRIS), in situ measurements from balloon-borne instruments lofted from Laramie, Wyoming (41.3°N, 105.7°W), and five lidar stations located throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The aerosol cloud covered most of the Northern Hemisphere, extending slightly into the tropics, with peak backscatter measured between 12 and 16 km in altitude. Aerosol concentrations returned to near background levels by Spring, 2010. After accounting for expected sources of discrepancy between each of the data sources, the magnitudes and spatial distributions of aerosol optical depth due to the eruption largely agree. In conducting the simulations, we likely overestimated both particle size and the amount of SO2 injected into the stratosphere, resulting in modeled optical depth values that were a factor of 2-4 too high. Model results of optical depth due to the eruption show a peak too late in high latitudes and too early in low latitudes, suggesting a problem with stratospheric circulation in the model. The model also shows a higher annual decay rate in optical depth than is observed, showing an inaccuracy in seasonal deposition rates. The modeled deposition rate of sulfate aerosols from the Sarychev eruption is higher than the rate calculated for aerosols from the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Phagotrophic algae in a wastewater stabilization pond

In the course of evolution, phagotrophic euglenoids developed before the phototrophic species. Most phagotrophic euglenoids have a robust feeding apparatus. Members of the algal genus Peranema are able to eat a wide variety of living organisms that have little or no mobility, such as other unicellular algae and live yeasts. Stabilization ponds are artificial environments rich in organic matter, nutrients and microorganisms, and are therefore suitable environments for growing species of Euglenophyta. This contribution records, through photographs and videos, the operation of the feeding apparatus of Peranema collected in a wastewater stabilization pond. The mean pheophytin content of the water was higher than the mean chlorophyll a content, which indicates a non-ideal environment for the growth of microalgae. Thus, Peranema can be used as a bioindicator of the quality of wastewater stabilization pond. The operation of the feeding apparatus of Peranema sp. and the strategy for phagocytizing plastids of Lepocinclis sp. are described

3D-printed flow cells for aptamer-based impedimetric detection of e. coli crooks strain

Electrochemical spectroscopy enables rapid, sensitive, and label-free analyte detection without the need of extensive and laborious labeling procedures and sample preparation. In addition, with the emergence of commercially available screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), a valuable, disposable alternative to costly bulk electrodes for electrochemical (bio-)sensor applications was established in recent years. However, applications with bare SPEs are limited and many applications demand additional/supporting structures or flow cells. Here, high-resolution 3D printing technology presents an ideal tool for the rapid and flexible fabrication of tailor-made, experiment-specific systems. In this work, flow cells for SPE-based electrochemical (bio-)sensor applications were designed and 3D printed. The successful implementation was demonstrated in an aptamer-based impedimetric biosensor approach for the detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) Crooks strain as a proof of concept. Moreover, further developments towards a 3D-printed microfluidic flow cell with an integrated micromixer also illustrate the great potential of high-resolution 3D printing technology to enable homogeneous mixing of reagents or sample solutions in (bio-)sensor applications

Generalizability and reach of a randomized controlled trial to improve oral health among home care recipients: comparing participants and nonparticipants at baseline and during follow-up

Background The generalizability of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a low response can be limited by systematic differences between participants and nonparticipants. This participation bias, however, is rarely investigated because data on nonparticipants is usually not available. The purpose of this article is to compare all participants and nonparticipants of a RCT to improve oral health among home care recipients at baseline and during follow-up using claims data. Methods Seven German statutory health and long-term care insurance funds invited 9656 home care recipients to participate in the RCT MundPflege. Claims data for all participants (n = 527, 5.5% response) and nonparticipants (n = 9129) were analyzed. Associations between trial participation and sex, age, care dependency, number of Elixhauser diseases, and dementia, as well as nursing, medical, and dental care utilization at baseline, were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. Associations between trial participation and the probability of (a) moving into a nursing home, (b) being hospitalized, and (c) death during 1 year of follow-up were examined via Cox proportional hazards regressions, controlling for baseline variables. Results At baseline, trial participation was positively associated with male sex (odds ratio 1.29 [95% confidence interval 1.08–1.54]), high (vs. low 1.46 [1.15–1.86]) care dependency, receiving occasional in-kind benefits to relieve caring relatives (1.45 [1.15–1.84]), having a referral by a general practitioner to a medical specialist (1.62 [1.21–2.18]), and dental care utilization (2.02 [1.67–2.45]). It was negatively associated with being 75–84 (vs. < 60 0.67 [0.50–0.90]) and 85 + (0.50 [0.37–0.69]) years old. For morbidity, hospitalizations, and formal, respite, short-term, and day or night care, no associations were found. During follow-up, participants were less likely to move into a nursing home than nonparticipants (hazard ratio 0.50 [0.32–0.79]). For hospitalizations and mortality, no associations were found. Conclusions For half of the comparisons, differences between participants and nonparticipants were observed. The RCT’s generalizability is limited, but to a smaller extent than one would expect because of the low response. Routine data provide a valuable source for investigating potential differences between trial participants and nonparticipants, which might be used by future RCTs to evaluate the generalizability of their findings. Trial registrati German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00013517. Retrospectively registered on June 11, 2018

A Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Bimodal BODIPY-Labeled PSMA-Targeting Bioconjugates

The aim of this study was to identify a high-affinity BODIPY peptidomimetic that targets the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) as a potential bimodal imaging probe for prostate cancer. For the structure-activity study, several BODIPY (difluoroboron dipyrromethene) derivatives with varying spacers between the BODIPY dye and the PSMA Glu-CO-Lys binding motif were prepared. Corresponding affinities were determined by competitive binding assays in PSMA-positive LNCaP cells. One compound was identified with comparable affinity (IC50=21.5±0.1 nM) to Glu-CO-Lys-Ahx-HBED-CC (PSMA-11) (IC50=18.4±0.2 nM). Radiolabeling was achieved by Lewis-acid-mediated 19F/18F exchange in moderate molar activities (∼0.7 MBq nmol−1) and high radiochemical purities (>99 %) with mean radiochemical yields of 20–30 %. Cell internalization of the 18F-labeled high-affinity conjugate was demonstrated in LNCaP cells showing gradual increasing PSMA-mediated internalization over time. By fluorescence microscopy, localization of the high-affinity BODIPY-PSMA conjugate was found in the cell membrane at early time points and also in subcellular compartments at later time points. In summary, a high-affinity BODIPY-PSMA conjugate has been identified as a suitable candidate for the development of PSMA-specific dual-imaging agents

Suzuki cross-coupling in aqueous media

We report a simple and efficient procedure for the ligand-free as well as ligand-assisted Suzuki reaction in both pure water and aqueous media. The cross-coupling reactions proceed successfully using phenylboronic acid or potassium phenyltrifluoroborate as a nucleophilic coupling partner. The method can be effectively applied to both activated and deactivated aryl halides yielding quantitative conversions. The catalytic activity of couplings performed in pure water increases when utilizing supramolecular additives, but decreases under standard phase-transfer conditions. Finally, the palladium loading is reducible from 3.0 mol% to 0.4 mol% without any loss of conversion

3D Printed Microfluidic Mixers—A Comparative Study on Mixing Unit Performances

One of the basic operations in microfluidic systems for biological and chemical applications is the rapid mixing of different fluids. However, flow profiles in microfluidic systems are laminar, which means molecular diffusion is the only mixing effect. Therefore, mixing structures are crucial to enable more efficient mixing in shorter times. Since traditional microfabrication methods remain laborious and expensive, 3D printing has emerged as a potential alternative for the fabrication of microfluidic devices. In this work, five different passive micromixers known from literature are redesigned in comparable dimensions and manufactured using high‐definition MultiJet 3D printing. Their mixing performance is evaluated experimentally, using sodium hydroxide and phenolphthalein solutions, and numerically via computational fluid dynamics. Both experimental and numerical analysis results show that HC and Tesla‐like mixers achieve complete mixing after 0.99 s and 0.78 s, respectively, at the highest flow rate (Reynolds number (Re) = 37.04). In comparison, Caterpillar mixers exhibit a lower mixing rate with complete mixing after 1.46 s and 1.9 s. Furthermore, the HC mixer achieves very good mixing performances over all flow rates (Re = 3.7 to 37.04), while other mixers show improved mixing only at higher flow rates

Bewertung und Verbesserung der Biodiversität in landwirtschaftlichen Gebieten unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Vogelarten als Bioindikatoren

Agrarlandschaften besitzen hohe Funktionen für den Erhalt der Biodiversität. Besonders in Ackerbaugebieten gehen jedoch, entgegen den Biodiversitätszielen, zunehmend Lebensraumfunktionen und biologische Vielfalt verloren. Wichtige Bioindikatoren sind in diesem Zusammenhang Vogelarten, deren Vorkommen und Abundanzen als Maßstab für Artenvielfalt und Landschaftsqualität gelten.Um präzise Informationen über die Lebensraumansprüche von Indikatorvogelarten in Ackerbaugebieten zu gewinnen, wurden avifaunistische Erhebungen nach der Methode der Revierkartierung in Verbindung mit landwirtschaftlichen Untersuchungen auf 29, je 1 km² großen Untersuchungsgebieten 2009 und 2010 durchgeführt. Die Datenaufnahmen sowie Analysen erfolgten in einem hierarchisch strukturierten Versuchsdesign mit den Komponenten Agrarlandschaft, Agrarlandschaftsteile, Kulturen/Biotope, Vegetationsstrukturen und Habitatmatrix.Es wurden die Artenvielfalt sowie die Abundanzen in den räumlichen Skalen unter Berücksichtigung unterschiedlicher Anbaukulturen ermittelt. Die Abundanzen weisen am Beispiel der Feldlerche auf den Bedarf für lichte Vegetationsstrukturen (Höhe, Deckungsgrad, Dichte) der Kulturen hin. Mit Hilfe der Habitatmatrixanalysen wurden die Revierflächenkonfigurationen von Feldlerche, Grauammer, Goldammer, Schafstelze, Braunkehlchen und Neuntöter ermittelt. Der Vergleich mit der Situation in der Agrarlandschaft zeigt erhebliche Lebensraumdefizite der Indikatorarten auf. Demnach besteht ein hoher Flächenbedarf für naturnahe Graslandvegetation, hier besonders selbstbegrünte Ackerbrachen sowie für artspezifische Mindestanteile naturnaher Kleinstrukturen. Hohe Fruchtartenvielfalt trägt zur Vegetationsstrukturvielfalt und damit auch zur Artenvielfalt bei. Ermittelte Habitatkonfigurationen können für stärker auf die Erhaltung der Biodiversität ausgerichtete Agrarumweltmaßnahmen einen Beitrag leisten. Stichwörter: Vogelmonitoring, Ackerbaugebiete, Brutvögel, Bioindikatoren, Revierkartierung, Abundanzen, Habitatmatrix, Vegetationsstrukturen Evaluation and improvement of biodiversity in arable landscape under consideration of bird species as bio-indicatorsSummaryAgricultural landscapes have crucial functions for biodiversity conservation. Contrary to the goals of biodiversity protection the habitat functions and the biological diversity are deteriorating, especially in arable areas. In this respect, the occurrence and abundance of bird species are important indicators for biological diversity and landscape quality.In order to gain precise information about the preferred habitats for indicator bird species in arable areas, we conducted field studies according to the territory mapping method combined with data of the agricultural land use. We studied 29 agricultural areas, each with a size of 1 km x 1 km in 2009 and 2010. In a hierarchical design we analyzed habitat characteristics on different spatial scales: agricultural landscape, sections of agricultural landscape, habitats, including crops, vegetation structure, and habitat matrix.The species diversity and the abundances were calculated for the various spatial scales in relation to the agricultural crops. For example, the abundances of the skylark pointed to a preference for a more open, light vegetation structure (height, coverage, density) of the crops. With help of vegetation matrix analysis the habitat configurations of the territories for skylark, corn bunting, yellowhammer, yellow wagtail, whinchat and redbacked shrike were analyzed. In comparison of this configurations to the habitat structures in the agricultural landscape, significant deficits of suitable habitats for farmland bird are evident. Especially, a need for natural and semi-natural grassland vegetation, e.g. self greened fallow fields and bird species specific minimum occurrence of semi-natural habitat structures like hedges or small water bodys become clear. A high diversity of crops contributes to high diversity of vegetational diversity and thus to bird species diversity. The identification of suitable habitat configurations for farmland bird species can be translated into meaningful approaches for the conservation of biodiversity, e.g. through agri-environmental schemes. Keywords: bird monitoring scheme, arable landscape, breeding birds, bio-indicators, territory mapping, abundances, habitat matrix, vegetation structure