Autoregulation of fixK 2 gene expression in Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Several essential Bradyrhizobium japonicum genes for a symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing root-nodule symbiosis are positively controlled under micro-oxic conditions by the FixLJ-FixK2 regulatory cascade. Negative control is exerted by reactive oxygen species at the level of the FixK2 protein. Furthermore, we noticed that fixK 2 gene expression is increased in a fixK 2 mutant, suggesting that FixK2 in the wild type has a negative effect, directly or indirectly, on its own expression. To possibly understand this effect, the transcription pattern of the fixLJ-bll2758-fixK 2 gene region was examined more closely. While fixK 2 gene transcription is activated by FixJ, the bll2758 gene is transcribed from its own promoter in a FixK2-dependent manner, and there is no read-through transcription from bll2758 into fixK 2. The bll2758-encoded protein is predicted to be a stand-alone receiver domain of a response regulator, making it a prime candidate for exerting an inhibitory role on the expression of fixK 2. Transcriptome profiling of a bll2758 knock-out mutant revealed, however, that neither fixK 2 itself nor any of the known FixJ- and FixK2-dependent target genes is significantly affected in their expression. This precludes a role of the bll2758 product as a so-called FixT-like protein in the inhibition of FixLJ function, as was proposed for Sinorhizobium meliloti and Caulobacter crescentus. Instead, we rationalize that other transcription factors, whose genes are activated by FixK2, might be involved in the negative autoregulation of fixK 2 gene expressio

Organic matter governs N and P balance in Danube Delta lakes

The transformation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP), and the release of dissolved organic and particulate N and P, were analyzed in two lake complexes (Uzlina-Isac and Puiu-Rosu-Rosulet) of the Danube Delta wetland during flood conditions in May and at low water level in September 2006. The Uzlina-Isac complex was hydrologically tightly-connected with the Danube River and was flushed with river-borne nutrients and organic matter. These lakes acted as effective transformers for nutrients and produced large amounts of fresh biomass, that promoted the excretion of dissolved organic N and P during active growth. Biomass breakdown created particulate matter (<0.45μm), which was widely liberated during low flow in the fall. The Puiu-Rosu-Rosulet complex was characterized by a more distant position to the Danube and proximity to the Black Sea, and received dominantly transformed organic compounds from the flow-through water and vast vegetation cover. Due to reduced nutrient input, the internal production of organic biomass also was reduced in these more remote lakes. Total N and P export from the lake nearest to the shelf was governed by dominantly dissolved organic and particulate compounds (mean 58 and 82%, respectively). Overall, this survey found that these highly productive wetlands efficiently transform nutrients into a large pool of dissolved organic and particulate N and P. Hence, wetland lakes may behave widely as net sources of organic N and P to downstream waters and coastal marine system

Commercializing Academic Research Results and the Role of Spin-off Companies

The commercialization of academic research results is often difficult and requires a flexible approach that depends on the nature of the project. Most technologies are very early-stage and often not mature enough for industry partners or financial investors. Spin-off companies play an important role in this process. Through their activities universities make an important contribution to the innovation capacity of industry

Ready ... Go: Amplitude of the fMRI Signal Encodes Expectation of Cue Arrival Time

What happens when the brain awaits a signal of uncertain arrival time, as when a sprinter waits for the starting pistol? And what happens just after the starting pistol fires? Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we have discovered a novel correlate of temporal expectations in several brain regions, most prominently in the supplementary motor area (SMA). Contrary to expectations, we found little fMRI activity during the waiting period; however, a large signal appears after the “go” signal, the amplitude of which reflects learned expectations about the distribution of possible waiting times. Specifically, the amplitude of the fMRI signal appears to encode a cumulative conditional probability, also known as the cumulative hazard function. The fMRI signal loses its dependence on waiting time in a “countdown” condition in which the arrival time of the go cue is known in advance, suggesting that the signal encodes temporal probabilities rather than simply elapsed time. The dependence of the signal on temporal expectation is present in “no-go” conditions, demonstrating that the effect is not a consequence of motor output. Finally, the encoding is not dependent on modality, operating in the same manner with auditory or visual signals. This finding extends our understanding of the relationship between temporal expectancy and measurable neural signals

Event-driven simulation of spiking neurons with stochastic dynamics

We present a new technique, based on a proposed event-based strategy (Mattia &amp; Del Giudice, 2000), for efficiently simulating large networks of simple model neurons. The strategy was based on the fact that interactions among neurons occur by means of events that are well localized in time (the action potentials) and relatively rare. In the interval between two of these events, the state variables associated with a model neuron or a synapse evolved deterministically and in a predictable way. Here, we extend the event-driven simulation strategy to the case in which the dynamics of the state variables in the inter-event intervals are stochastic. This extension captures both the situation in which the simulated neurons are inherently noisy and the case in which they are embedded in a very large network and receive a huge number of random synaptic inputs. We show how to effectively include the impact of large background populations into neuronal dynamics by means of the numerical evaluation of the statistical properties of single-model neurons under random current injection. The new simulation strategy allows the study of networks of interacting neurons with an arbitrary number of external afferents and inherent stochastic dynamics

Vergleich von Beweidung und Mahd in Flachmooren des Naturparks Gantrisch

Flachmoore gehören zu den am stärksten bedrohten Landlebensräumen und sind einem Verlust ihrer einzigartigen Artenzusammensetzung ausgesetzt. Beweidung und Mahd sind wichtige Instrumente im Naturschutzmanagement, insbesondere für die Bewirtschaftung der Flachmoore. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung ist es, den Einfluss von Beweidung und Mahd auf die Diversität und Artenzusammensetzung der Flachmoorvegetation zu untersuchen und einander gegenüberzustellen. Dazu wurden 36 Vegetationsaufnahmen in gemähten und beweideten, montan-subalpinen Flachmooren der Schweizer Voralpen innerhalb der Moorlandschaft Gantrisch durchgeführt und paarweise verglichen. Es wurde getestet, ob sich Diversitätsindizes, die Häufigkeit einzelner Arten, verschiedene gemessene Parameter, mittlere ökologischen Zeigerwerte und funktionelle Merkmale zwischen den Bewirtschaftungsformen unterscheiden. Zudem wurden eine Vegetations-klassifikation und eine trendbereinigte Korrespondenzanalyse (DCA) durchgeführt. Die Bewirtschaftungsform hatte keinen Einfluss auf die Artenzahl, den Shannon-Index und die Evenness. Das maximale Mikrorelief, die Vegetationshöhe, die Nährstoffzahl, die gemeinschaftsgewichtete mittlere Kronenhöhe sowie der Anteil an Konkurrenzstrategen und Hemikryptophyten waren signifikant grösser unter Beweidung, während die Licht- und Durchlüftungszahl sowie der Anteil an Ruderalstrategen und Geophyten unter Mahd signifikant grösser ausfielen. Unter Beweidung waren mit Cirsium oleraceum, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale und Juncus ef-fusus Arten der nährstoffreichen Feuchtwiesen häufiger und Mahd begünstigte mit Plantago lanceolata und Trifolium pratense Arten der Heuwiesen tieferer Lagen. Beweidung fördert klar hochwüchsige Vegetation, während bezüglich Nährstoffverhältnissen weitere Untersuchen gemacht werden müssten. Sowohl Mahd als auch Beweidung sind auf die Landschaftsebene bezogen für die floristische Vielfalt im Moor unverzichtbar und abschliessend kann keine der beiden Bewirtschaftungsformen der anderen vorgezogen werden. Die Vegetationsklassifikation zeigt, dass trotz dem Vorkommen entsprechender Charakterarten keine vollständig ausgebildeten Kleinseggenriede vorhanden sind. Im Hinblick auf die Kleinseggenriede als Zielvegetation sollte die floristische Entwicklung der Flachmoore in der Moorlandschaft Gantrisch beobachtet werden.Fens are among the most threatened terrestrial habitats and are subject to a loss of their unique species composition. Grazing and mowing are important tools in nature conservation management, especially for the management of fens. The aim of the present study is to investigate and compare the influence of grazing and mowing on the diversity and species composition of fen vegetation. For this purpose, 36 vegetation plots were sampled in mown and grazed montane-subalpine fens of the Swiss Pre-Alps within the Gantrisch mire landscape and then were compared in pairs. It was tested whether diversity indices, the frequency of individual species, measured parameters, mean ecological indicator values and functional traits differed between the management types. In addition, a vegetation classification and a detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were carried out. The management type had no influence on species number, Shannon index and evenness. Maximum microrelief, vegetation height, nutrient number, community-weighted mean of canopy height and the proportion of competitive strategists and hemicryptophytes were significantly higher with grazing, while light and aeration number and the proportion of ruderal strategists and geophytes were significantly higher with mowing. Cirsium oleraceum, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale and Juncus effusus, species of nutrientrich wet meadows, were more frequent under grazing, and mowing favoured Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium pratense, species of hay meadows of lower altitudes. Grazing clearly promotes tall vegetation, while further studies would have to be carried out regarding the nutrient ratios. Both mowing and grazing are essential for the floristic diversity in the fens at the landscape level. In conclusion, neither of the two management types can be preferred to the other. The vegetation classification shows that, despite the presence of corresponding characteristic species, there are no fully developed small sedge meadows. Regarding the small sedge meadows as target vegetation, the floristic development of the fens in the Gantrisch mire landscape should be observed

Preliminary validation of the Klenico diagnostic software self-report module through comparison with the diagnostic gold standard in an outpatient routine clinical sample

Background Inaccuracy in current diagnostic procedures for mental disorders can lead to misdiagnosis and increase the burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, Klenico, a diagnostic software designed to support comprehensive and efficient clinical diagnostic procedures that is easy to apply in everyday clinical practice, was developed. This study aimed to take the first step toward validating the Klenico self-report module. Methods Data of 115 patients from a German psychotherapeutic outpatient clinic were included in this study. Criterion validity was tested by comparing Klenico with the diagnoses based on the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Construct validity was investigated by comparing Klenico with commonly used self-reporting questionnaires. Results The results showed that most of the Klenico disorder domains were able to differentiate between corresponding diagnoses and other diagnoses, confirming criterion validity. Construct validity was demonstrated by high correlations with the compared convergent questionnaire scales and non-significant or low correlations with most of the divergent scales. Conclusions These preliminary results demonstrate the psychometric properties of the Klenico self-report module and imply that the Klenico system has high potential to improve the accuracy of diagnostic procedures in everyday clinical practice

Influence of footwear on postural sway: A systematic review and meta-analysis on barefoot and shod bipedal static posturography in patients and healthy subjects

Background Bipedal static posturography is widely used to assess postural control. However, standardized methods and evidence on the influence of footwear on balance in comparison to barefoot stance is sparse. Research questions Is bipedal static posturography applied in a standardized way with respect to demographics and the experimental set-up (systematic review)? Does habitual footwear influence postural control in comparison to barefoot condition during bipedal static posturography in adult patients and healthy subjects (meta-analysis)? Methods For this systematic review and meta-analysis, a comprehensive follow-up literature search was conducted from March 2009 until January 2020 according to the PRISMA guidelines. Original, research articles reporting on bipedal, unsupported, static posturography in adults (≥18 years) were included according to inclusion criteria (age, sex, height, weight, duration, repetitions, visual/foot condition, sampling frequency). Studies comparing habitual footwear with barefoot condition during bipedal static posturography were included for the meta-analysis. Center of pressure parameters (sway velocity, range, root mean square, paths lengths) with subjects having eyes closed (EC) or open (EO) were analyzed using random effects models. Results For this systematic review and meta-analysis, 207 and eight out of 5189 studies with 12'341 and 156 subjects, respectively, were eligible. Most studies (89%) reported barefoot, 5% shod, and 6% barefoot and shod measurements. Less than half of studies (44%) included patients of which the minority (13%) suffered from neurological disease. Sway velocity in the anterior-posterior direction was higher in habitual shoes compared to barefoot with EC (SMD: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.68–1.48; p < 0.01; I2 = 0%), with EO (SMD: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.11–1.26; p = 0.02; I2 = 1%), and in the medio-lateral direction with EC (SMD: 1.30; 95% CI: 0.76–1.85, p < 0.01; I2 = 37%). Significance Methodical heterogeneity of bipedal static posturography hampers studies’ comparability. Thus, we provide a standardized approach to increase knowledge whether habitual footwear decrease postural control in comparison to barefoot stance

Effects of grazing versus mowing on the vegetation of wet grasslands in the northern Pre‐Alps, Switzerland

Question: Wet grasslands are among the most threatened habitats in Central Europe and are subject to loss of their unique species assemblages. Grazing and mowing are important conservation management tools for such semi-natural habitats. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the influence of grazing and mowing on the diversity and species composition of wet grassland vegetation. Location: Montane wet grasslands in the Gantrisch Nature Park, Switzerland. Methods: We sampled 18 pairs of vegetation plots along land-use borders between grazing and mowing (fence-line contrasts), distributed over six fens, mostly belonging to the phytosociological alliance Calthion palustris. We tested for differences in structural parameters, biodiversity indices, mean ecological indicator values and the frequency of individual species. In addition, a detrended correspondence analysis was carried out. Results: Management type had no influence on species richness, Shannon index or Shannon evenness. Maximum microrelief, vegetation height, mean nutrient indicator value and mean competitive strategy were significantly higher with grazing, whereas the mean aeration indicator value and the mean ruderal strategy were significantly higher with mowing. Cirsium oleraceum, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale and Juncus effusus, species of nutrient-rich wet meadows, were more frequent under grazing, whereas mowing favoured grassland species with wide ecological amplitude, such as Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium pratense. Conclusions: At the plot scale, vascular plant diversity did not differ between these management regimes. Thus, from the conservation point of view, in the study region, there is no clear preference for either management type, and both should be eligible for subsidies. At the landscape scale, it is beneficial to have both management types present to ensure high gamma-diversity, as they favour different species