Review: Ethical responsibilities and transformation strategies of focal companies in the meat supply chain: the implementation dilemma.

In Germany (and other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries), the need for a fundamental transformation of livestock farming has become increasingly evident in recent years. Two broad-based stakeholder commissions including the German farmers' association, the meat industry, and Non-Governmental Organizations have endorsed this demand. Nevertheless, major steps towards its implementation are still missing - a circumstance we refer to in this paper as the implementation dilemma. In a globalised economy, farmers cannot solve the problem of low animal welfare standards alone although they are important actors. Moreover, consumer behaviour is changing too slowly, and possibilities for granting more subsidies are limited in the face of multiple economic crises. Against this background, we argue for a stronger focus on voluntary (private) sustainability agreements. We therefore analyse how the German meat supply chain is organised and what responsibility and power the individual actors have to push the sector's transformation. Large slaughterhouses, processors, and the retailing sector seem promising due to their high market concentration and power. Especially retailers can influence the transformation of the market through their role as gatekeepers between suppliers and consumers. Based on business ethics principles of taking responsibility, we consider the focus on sustainability obligations of the retail sector to be ethically justified. However, it is then necessary to give the four retail groups dominating the meat chain in Germany more leeway for sustainability agreements in antitrust law.

Picosecond chemistry.

The ability to directly measure and evaluate ultrafast processes with unprecedented time resolution and reliability has greatly extended our knowledge about the kinetics of primary processes in chemistry and allied physical and biological sciences. Improvements in the reliability and versatility of picosecond techniques should lead to an increase in the experimental information about basic interactions in atomic and molecular systems.

Gamma G globulin subgroup composition of the glomerular deposits in human renal diseases.

36 renal biopsies from patients with nephritis were studied for glomerular localization of the heavy chain subgroups of immunoglobulin G (IgG or gammaG). The deposition pattern of these subgroups was selective and did not reflect the normal serum concentration of these proteins. gammaG2, which comprises 18% of normal serum gammaG, was the predominant or unique subgroup deposited in five cases of lupus nephritis and four biopsies with other forms of nephritis associated with granular gammaG deposits. gammaG3, which normally makes up only 8% of the serum gammaG, was the dominant subgroup seen in one biopsy of lobular glomerulonephritis. Patients with linear gammaG deposits generally had a selective absence of gammaG3 and often had large amounts of gammaG4 (normally 3% of the serum gammaG) deposited. The deposition of complement components C1q, C4, and C3 was variable. One biopsy had only gammaG2 and no complement components in the deposits and had no neutrophile leukocyte infiltration. This latter observation correlates well with the poor ability of gammaG2 to fix complement in vitro. Similarly, deposits containing large amounts of gammaG4, which does not fix complement, also tended to have less inflammatory infiltrate than deposits devoid of this subgroup. The selective deposition of monotypic or restricted gammaG subgroups on the glomerulus supports the likelihood that the gammaG represents antibody. The nature of the subgroup involved in the deposit may represent one variable in the determination of the inflammatory and morphological picture that evolves in human glomerulonephritis.

Survival and death of prelymphomatous B-cells from N-myc/bcl-2 double transgenic mice correlates with the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ fluxes.

Coexpression of the proto-oncogenes c-myc and bcl-2 under the control of the immunoglobulin enhancer E mu provokes the rapid development of primitive lymphoid tumors in transgenic mice. In the present study we show that the myc family members N-myc and L-myc also cooperate with bcl-2 in oncogenesis and can provoke the development of more mature pre-B, B and T cell type lymphomas. The analysis of prelymphomatous B-cells from single E mu N-myc and bcl-2-Ig transgenic animals and from young, tumor free, double transgenic E mu N-myc/bcl-2-Ig mice revealed that E mu directed expression of N-myc leads to very rapid apoptosis after explantation and culturing compared to B-cells from normal mice. As expected, B-cells from bcl-2-Ig transgenics were protected to a certain degree from apoptosis. Strikingly however, B-cells from E mu N-myc/bcl-2-Ig double transgenic animals were found to be almost completely resistant towards a number of different apoptotic stimuli. Furthermore, after treatment with H2O2, which can trigger apoptosis, B-cells from E mu N-myc animals reach levels of intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations that are comparable to B-cells from normal mice, whereas B-cells from bcl-2-Ig or E mu N-myc/bcl-2-Ig double transgenic mice show no increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations after stimulation with H2O2. These findings suggest that the prevention of apoptosis conferred by bcl-2 correlates with the inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ fluxes whereas induction of apoptosis mediated by N-myc requires normal Ca2+ levels. We hypothesize therefore that the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations represent one important parameter in the oncogenic cooperation between bcl-2 and N-myc.

Effect of astroglial cell swelling on pH of acidic intracellular compartments.

A variety of pathological conditions lead to swelling of astrocytes, which in turn stimulates ion release by activation of ion channels at the plasma membrane. In the present study, acridine orange and fluorescein isothiocyanate coupled to dextran (FITC-dextran) have been used to examine the effect of cell swelling on pH in acidic compartments of cultured astroglial cells. Both NH4Cl (2 mM) and chloroquine (10 microM), known to alkalinize acidic cellular compartments, led to the expected increase in acridine orange fluorescence intensity. Similar, albeit smaller, effects were elicited by a reduction of extracellular osmolarity (-80 mOsm) and treatment of the cells with glutamate (l mM), manoeuvres which enhanced cell volume. Determination of changes in the FITC-dextran fluorescence ratio (485/440 nm) allowed quantification of the pH changes in lysosomal compartments. Treatment with NH4Cl, reduced extracellular osmolarity and glutamate increased lysosomal pH by 0.65 +/- 0.07, 0.85 +/- 0.14 and 0.25 +/- 0.07, respectively. Measurement of cytosolic pH using 2',7',-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5- (and -6) carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) demonstrated a pronounced acidification following cell swelling, observed with both reduced extracellular osmolarity (by 0.23 +/- 0.05 pH units) and 1 mM glutamate (by 0.26 +/- 0.02 pH units). In conclusion, pH within lysosomes and possibly other acidic cellular compartments of astrocytes is increased by cell swelling, which may have important consequences for astrocyte function.

Ion channels involved in insulin release are activated by osmotic swelling of pancreatic B-cells.

Measurements of the membrane potential showed that osmotic swelling (-80 mosmol/l) of pancreatic B-cells led to a transient hyperpolarization followed by a more sustained depolarization of the cell membrane. Cell swelling triggers a transient activation of the K+ATP current and of an inward current, carried by Cl-. This current was inhibited by DIDS, D600, and by omission of extracellular Ca2+. The depolarization opens voltage dependent L-type Ca2+ channels, thereby increasing the intracellular Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i). This effect was blunted by D600 or abolished by omission of Ca2+. Moreover, osmotic swelling transiently increased the amplitude of the Ca2+ currents. Replacement of NaCl by d-mannitol proved that the observed effects are due to an increase in cell volume and not to a reduction of extracellular Na+ or Cl-. Our results suggest that regulatory volume decrease is achieved by activation of K+ and Cl- currents. The Cl- current is responsible for the previously described depolarization and increase in insulin release induced by osmotic cell swelling.

Biocatalytic methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in an anaerobic three-phase system.

A new type of anaerobic trickle-bed reactor was used for biocatalytic methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide under mesophilic temperatures and ambient pressure in a continuous process. The conversion of gaseous substrates through immobilized hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea in a biofilm is a unique feature of this type of reactor. Due to the formation of a three-phase system on the carrier surface and operation as a plug flow reactor without gas recirculation, a complete reaction could be observed. With a methane concentration higher than c(CH4) = 98%, the product gas exhibits a very high quality. A specific methane production of P(CH4) = 1.49 Nm(3)/(m(3)(SV) d) was achieved at a hydraulic loading rate of LR(H2) = 6.0 Nm(3)/(m(3)(SV) d). The relation between trickle flow through the reactor and productivity could be shown. An application for methane enrichment in combination with biogas facilities as a source of carbon dioxide has also been positively proven.

Selective isolation of individual cell surface proteins from tissue culture cells by a cleavable biotin label.

A method was developed to isolate cell surface proteins by a simple two-step procedure. Hepatocyte cell surface proteins were labeled by a cleavable biotin derivative in a covalent pulse reaction. Under the described conditions, NHS-SS-biotin proved to be an impermeant, cell surface-specific label which does not affect the impermeant, cell surface-specific label which does not affect the viability of rat hepatocytes. Biotinylated cell surface proteins could be selectively separated under non-denaturing conditions from non-biotinylated proteins and biotin-containing carboxylases by avidin affinity chromatography and sulfhydryl-mediated elution. Subsequent to alkylation of the eluted protein, individual cell surface proteins could be isolated by immunoprecipitation as shown for a selected Mr 120,000 glycoprotein gp120 of the hepatocyte plasma membrane. Using this technique, a transit time of gp120 from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface of 2 h was determined. The results show that the combination of labeling with a cleavable biotin derivative, non-denaturing avidin affinity chromatography and immunoprecipitation is a useful method to isolate and study individual cell surface proteins.

Alkalinization of acidic cellular compartments following cell swelling.

Osmotic swelling of rat hepatocytes increases fluorescence of Acridine orange and of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran, both indicative of alkalinization of acidic intracellular vesicles. Similar to osmotic cell swelling, insulin and glutamine lead to an increase in Acridine orange fluorescence, an effect virtually abolished upon osmotic reversal of glutamine-induced cell swelling. Barium, which blocks K+ channels in the plasma membrane, similarly leads to cell swelling and increase of Acridine orange fluorescence. Since proteolysis is governed by lysosomal pH, these observations indicate that the anti-proteolytic action of osmotic cell swelling is mediated by lysosomal alkalinization. Thereby, insulin, glutamine and barium probably exert their anti-proteolytic action by cell swelling and subsequent lysosomal alkalinization.

Definition, genetics, and possible significance of a newly defined endothelial antigen in the rat.

The purpose of the present experiments was to define a non-major-histocompatibility-complex (MHC) endothelial antigen system in the rat and to study the genetics of these antigens as well as their significance in renal transplantation. Several MHC-identical rat strain combinations underwent reciprocal immunization using spleen and lymph node cells and complete Freund's adjuvant. In one combination (MAXX anti-BN) alloantibodies were found against antigens on peritubular and venous endothelium of the kidney from the immunizing strain as well as from two other strains. Preliminary results suggested that the endothelial antigen is present on monocytes but not on nonstimulated T and B lymphocytes. With kidneys from 7 MHC-congenic lines it was shown that the endothelial antigens are encoded outside the MHC-region. The antigen seems to be expressed as a dominant trait. In an F2 population of 32 animals, segregation of the endothelial antigen or antigens appeared to be independent of the MHC, AgF, and tubular basement membrane antigens--as well as the locus for albinism. Transplantation of MHC-identical but endothelial-antigen-incompatible kidneys into nonimmunized recipients did not provoke acute rejection. Pretransplant immunity against donor endothelial antigens was, however, associated with accelerated acute rejection. The rejection was donor-specific because third-party MHC-incompatible but endothelial-antigen-compatible kidneys were rejected like first-set grafts. This model shows that graft rejection in presensitized recipients of an MHC-identical kidney can be mediated through immunity against non-MHC antigens.

Rejected human renal allografts: recovery and characteristics of infiltrating cells and antibody.

Viable infiltrating host leukocytes have been isolated from 10 rejected human renal allografts, removed 1 to 67 months after transplantation. The cell populations have been identified by surface characteristics and their cytotoxic capacities were assessed. A heterogenous population of cells of host origin accumulated in the grafts, including T and B lymphocytes, Fc+ cells, and macrophages. Using a 51Cr release assay, specific cytotoxicity against donor alloantigens was determined. Cytotoxicity of the infiltrating cells was almost invariably greater than cytotoxicity mounted by recipient peripheral blood lymphocytes. Deletion studies confirmed previous work and suggested that T cells were primarily responsible for cytolysis in early acute rejection; non-T cells more often in late chronic rejection. Antibodies eluted from the grafts demonstrated both specific antidonor and nonspecific activity as well as cross-reacting anti-HLA activity. Allograft morphology was examined and cellular and humoral host responses were assessed. These studies emphasize the complexities of immune responses produced by the host against transplanted tissues.

Treatment of acute renal allograft rejection with monoclonal anti-T12 antibody.

Nineteen patients with acute rejection of a renal allograft were treated with the monoclonal antibody anti-T12, directed against a determinant present on all post-thymic T cells. Seven patients had a good response, four had an equivocal response, and eight failed to respond. Histologic studies demonstrated that the good responders had primarily cellular rejection. The nonresponders included 4 patients with moderate-to-severe humoral rejection, one patient with an inadequate dose of antibody, one patient who withdrew before completing the study, and one patient with late end-stage rejection. All eleven patients with good or equivocal responses have functioning kidneys in a follow-up of 1-15 months (mean 7 months). Only one patient has had a subsequent acute rejection episode, which responded to a steroid pulse. No significant complications of anti-T12 therapy occurred.

The role of the IsK protein in the specific pharmacological properties of the IKs channel complex.

IKs channels are composed of IsK and KvLQT1 subunits and underly the slowly activating, voltage-dependent IKs conductance in heart. Although it appears clear that the IsK protein affects both the biophysical properties and regulation of IKs channels, its role in channel pharmacology is unclear. In the present study we demonstrate that KvLQT1 homopolymeric K+ channels are inhibited by the IKs blockers 293B, azimilide and 17-beta-oestradiol. However, IKs channels induced by the coexpression of IsK and KvLQT1 subunits have a 6-100 fold higher affinity for these blockers. Moreover, the IKs activators mefenamic acid and DIDS had little effect on KvLQT1 homopolymeric channels, although they dramatically enhanced steady-state currents through heteropolymeric IKs channels by arresting them in an open state. In summary, the IsK protein modulates the effects of both blockers and activators of IKs channels. This finding is important for the action and specificity of these drugs as IsK protein expression in heart and other tissues is regulated during development and by hormones.

Anterior fusion for cervical spondylosis.

Anterior fusion was performed on 138 patients as treatment for degenerative changes of the cervical vertebral column. The results were checked after up to 11 years in 122 patients and were found to be good in 55%, fair in 3895% and poor in 6.5%. There were complications of phonetic paralysis in one case, Horner syndrome in two cases, 2 wound infections, and complaints about the iliac crest in 3 patients. Kyphosis at the fused segment occurred 26.1% of cases, the average angle being 15.3 degrees, but it did not influence the clinical results. Mortality was 2%. Inadequate visualization of the nerve roots at operation was probably the reason for the segmental deficits and suggestions were made to avoid this by EMG, microsurgical technic, uncusectomy and hemifacetectomy. The results in the presence of myelopathy were much poorer, presumably because of associated degenerative changes in the older patients.

The flow of copper through a terrestrial food chain : II. Factors influencing the copper content of isopods.

1) In terrestrial isopods total copper concentration increases exponentially with size, the exponentb in the equationy=a·x b being larger in populations rich in copper than in populations poor in copper. 2) However, immediately after hatching all species so far tested in Tirol contain the same amount, i.e., approximately 0.13 µg Cu per mg dry weight. 3) A very close correlation (r=0.98) exists between the mean copper concentrations of isopods and litter, from a series of habitats ranging widely in their copper content. The correlation with the copper concentration of the soil is much less clearly expressed. 4) In isopods kept in culture and fed litter from their original habitats the concentration of copper increases. This increase is almost entirely due to an elevation of the copper content of the hepatopancreas. 5) Feeding a low-copper diet to a high-copper population for four weeks did not alter significantly the mean copper concentration of the animals. 6) There is a marked temperature-dependent seasonal fluctuation in the copper content of isopods, with a maximum in winter and a minium in summer. 7) On the basis of dry weight the concentration factor for copper is about six, the same as that for cadmium in another species of isopod studied by Martin et al. (1976) in England, and much higher than the concentration factors for the same metals by pulmonate snails.

[Cerebral infarct following trauma]. / Hirninfarkt als Traumafolge.

Vascular occlusions due to cerebral trauma have always been regarded as great rarities. However, we have found hypo-dense foci of vascular distribution in 3.5% of 3500 CT examinations for trauma during the late phase. Lesions in the vascular territory of the posterior cerebral artery are usually the result of supratentorial pressure rise from epidural and subdural haematomas, leading to compression of the vessels against the edge of the tentorium. Typical infarcts in the territory of the medial and anterior cerebral arteries were found only rarely by CT after cerebral trauma. Infarcts at the watersheds between the three vascular territories were found with surprising frequency and small infarcts were found in the basal ganglia. It is assumed that these were due to ischaemic or hypoxic events due to cardiac or pulmonary complications during the initial phase.

Forest ecosystems and the changing patterns of nitrogen input and acid deposition today and in the future based on a scenario.

A global assessment of the impact of the anthropogenic perturbation of the nitrogen and sulfur cycles on forest ecosystems is carried out for both the present-day [1980-1990] and for a projection into the future [2040-2050] under a scenario of economic development which represents a medium path of development according to expert guess [IPCC IS92a]. Results show that forest soils will receive considerably increasing loads of nitrogen and acid deposition and that deposition patterns are likely to change. The regions which are most prone to depletion of soils buffering capacity and supercritical nitrogen deposition are identified in the subtropical and tropical regions of South America and Southeast Asia apart from the well known 'hotspots' North-Eastern America and Central Europe. The forest areas likely to meet these two risks are still a minor fraction of the global forest ecosystems, though. But the bias between eutrophication and acidification will become greater and an enhanced growth triggered by the fertilizing effects of increasing nitrogen input cannot be balanced by the forest soils nutrient pools. Results show increasing loads into forest ecosystems which are likely to account for 46% higher acid loads and 36% higher nitrogen loads in relation to the 1980-1990 situation. Global background deposition of up to 5 kg N ha-1 a-1 will be exceeded at more than 25% of global forest ecosystems and at more than 50% of forest ecosystems on acid sensitive soils. More than 33% of forest ecosystems on acid sensitive soils will receive acid loads which exceeds their buffering capacity. About 25% of forest areas with exceeded acid loads will receive critical nitrogen loads.

[Concentrating on weaknesses or compensating by strengths? Comparison of 2 strategies for remediation of children with comprehensive reading-spelling disorder]. / An Schwächen üben oder durch Stärken ausgleichen? Vergleich zweier Strategien in der Förderung von Kindern mit einer umschriebenen Lese-Rechtschreib-Schwäche.

Our study compares the efficiency and acceptance of two different methods of treating dyslexia in children. The first method addresses the most commonly encountered deficits in sequential processing. It relies primarly upon the "Kieler Lese-Rechtschreibaufbau". The second proceeds from the child's relative resources with regard to simultaneous processing as described by Kaufman. Training materials are those prescribed by Kaufman. Normally gifted primary school third-graders were trained in two groups (n = 13 and n = 12) and achieved a mean SIF score of SW = 101 on the K-ABC. As expected, the children scored significantly lower on the SED scale (SW = 95) than on the SGD scale (SW = 105). At the beginning of the respective training program their spelling ability fell 1.5 SD below the class mean. One year of regular weekly one-hour training according to the simultaneous processing method was significantly more successful than training in sequential processing, whereas girls improved significantly more than boys regardless of the method used. Acceptance of the methods did not vary. This result requires careful consideration and should be replicated in younger samples such as first- and second-graders in the early stages of learning to read and write, and/or in children whose dyslexia is more severe than that encountered in the current sample. It underscores that determination of an adequate method of remediation entails more than the mere identification of the underlying deficits.