Nonlocal contributions to the turbulent cascade in magnetohydrodynamic plasmas.

We present evidence for nonlocal contributions to the turbulent energy cascade in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) plasmas. Therefore, we revisit a well-known result derived directly from the MHD equations, i.e., the Politano and Pouquet law for the transfer of kinetic and magnetic energy in scale. We propose adding a term that accounts for nonlocal transfer and represents the influence of fluctuations from large scales due to the Alfvén effect. Supported by direct numerical simulations of homogeneous and isotropic MHD turbulence, we verify that in some plasma configurations, neglecting the additional nonlocal term might consistently overestimate energy dissipation rates and, thus, the contributions of turbulent energy dissipation potentially affecting solar wind heating, i.e., a central puzzle in space plasma physics that motivates the present work.

GWAS reveals a rapidly evolving candidate avirulence effector in the Cercospora leaf spot pathogen.

The major resistance gene BvCR4 recently bred into sugar beet hybrids provides a high level of resistance to Cercospora leaf spot caused by the fungal pathogen Cercospora beticola. The occurrence of pathogen strains that overcome BvCR4 was studied using field trials in Switzerland conducted under natural disease pressure. Virulence of a subset of these strains was evaluated in a field trial conducted under elevated artificial disease pressure. We created a new C. beticola reference genome and mapped whole genome sequences of 256 isolates collected in Switzerland and Germany. These were combined with virulence phenotypes to conduct three separate genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify candidate avirulence genes. We identified a locus associated with avirulence containing a putative avirulence effector gene named AvrCR4. All virulent isolates either lacked AvrCR4 or had nonsynonymous mutations within the gene. AvrCR4 was present in all 74 isolates from non-BvCR4 hybrids, whereas 33 of 89 isolates from BvCR4 hybrids carried a deletion. We also mapped genomic data from 190 publicly available US isolates to our new reference genome. The AvrCR4 deletion was found in only one of 95 unique isolates from non-BvCR4 hybrids in the United States. AvrCR4 presents a unique example of an avirulence effector in which virulent alleles have only recently emerged. Most likely these were selected out of standing genetic variation after deployment of BvCR4. Identification of AvrCR4 will enable real-time screening of C. beticola populations for the emergence and spread of virulent isolates.

A new approach to derive productivity of tropical forests using radar remote sensing measurements.

Deriving gross & net primary productivity (GPP & NPP) and carbon turnover time of forests from remote sensing remains challenging. This study presents a novel approach to estimate forest productivity by combining radar remote sensing measurements, machine learning and an individual-based forest model. In this study, we analyse the role of different spatial resolutions on predictions in the context of the Radar BIOMASS mission (by ESA). In our analysis, we use the forest gap model FORMIND in combination with a boosted regression tree (BRT) to explore how spatial biomass distributions can be used to predict GPP, NPP and carbon turnover time (τ) at different resolutions. We simulate different spatial biomass resolutions (4 ha, 1 ha and 0.04 ha) in combination with different vertical resolutions (20, 10 and 2 m). Additionally, we analysed the robustness of this approach and applied it to disturbed and mature forests. Disturbed forests have a strong influence on the predictions which leads to high correlations (R2 > 0.8) at the spatial scale of 4 ha and 1 ha. Increased vertical resolution leads generally to better predictions for productivity (GPP & NPP). Increasing spatial resolution leads to better predictions for mature forests and lower correlations for disturbed forests. Our results emphasize the value of the forthcoming BIOMASS satellite mission and highlight the potential of deriving estimates for forest productivity from information on forest structure. If applied to more and larger areas, the approach might ultimately contribute to a better understanding of forest ecosystems.

Analysis of Rhizonin Biosynthesis Reveals Origin of Pharmacophoric Furylalanine Moieties in Diverse Cyclopeptides.

Rhizonin A and B are hepatotoxic cyclopeptides produced by bacterial endosymbionts (Mycetohabitans endofungorum) of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus. Their toxicity critically depends on the presence of 3-furylalanine (Fua) residues, which also occur in pharmaceutically relevant cyclopeptides of the endolide and bingchamide families. The biosynthesis and incorporation of Fua by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), however, has remained elusive. By genome sequencing and gene inactivation we elucidated the gene cluster responsible for rhizonin biosynthesis. A suite of isotope labeling experiments identified tyrosine and l-DOPA as Fua precursors and provided the first mechanistic insight. Bioinformatics, mutational analysis and heterologous reconstitution identified dioxygenase RhzB as necessary and sufficient for Fua formation. RhzB is a novel type of heme-dependent aromatic oxygenases (HDAO) that enabled the discovery of the bingchamide biosynthesis gene cluster through genome mining.

Can risk area designation help increase vaccination coverage for Tick-Borne Encephalitis? Evidence from German claims data.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although vaccine preventable, the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) increased in Germany from 2001 to 2021 by on average 2% each year, with a peak of more than 700 TBE infections documented in 2020. TBE-risk areas, as designated by district based on incidence of human cases, expanded north- and northeastward, present in 11 of the 16 Federal States as of 2022. Using claims data from a German statutory health insurance in the Federal States of Saxony and Thuringia (AOK PLUS), we aimed to assess whether official assignment of a district to a risk area had an impact on vaccination rates in Germany. METHODS: The data covered the period from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2018 and included information on vaccine administrations from outpatient physicians. Yearly incident vaccination rates were reported overall and by district. To investigate the association between a new designation of an incident TBE-risk area and vaccination rates, a difference-in-difference analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Overall, the incident vaccination rates increased from 6.2 to 9.5 per 1,000 person-years between 2012 and 2018, with a peak of 12.2 in 2015. While districts that had been risk-areas for the whole study period had always a higher vaccination rate compared to districts that were never categorized as risk areas, the increase between 2012 and 2018 was comparable in the two groups (3.0 and 3.2 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). In contrast, districts that were newly designated risk districts during the study period experienced a significantly larger increase in vaccination rates, going from 5.8 to 14.7 per 1,000 person-years between 2012 and 2018, with a peak of 19.6 in 2015. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the new designation of a district as risk area has a significant positive impact on vaccination rates, which is strongest immediately after designation of risk area.

Accuracy, realism and general applicability of European forest models.

Forest models are instrumental for understanding and projecting the impact of climate change on forests. A considerable number of forest models have been developed in the last decades. However, few systematic and comprehensive model comparisons have been performed in Europe that combine an evaluation of modelled carbon and water fluxes and forest structure. We evaluate 13 widely used, state-of-the-art, stand-scale forest models against field measurements of forest structure and eddy-covariance data of carbon and water fluxes over multiple decades across an environmental gradient at nine typical European forest stands. We test the models' performance in three dimensions: accuracy of local predictions (agreement of modelled and observed annual data), realism of environmental responses (agreement of modelled and observed responses of daily gross primary productivity to temperature, radiation and vapour pressure deficit) and general applicability (proportion of European tree species covered). We find that multiple models are available that excel according to our three dimensions of model performance. For the accuracy of local predictions, variables related to forest structure have lower random and systematic errors than annual carbon and water flux variables. Moreover, the multi-model ensemble mean provided overall more realistic daily productivity responses to environmental drivers across all sites than any single individual model. The general applicability of the models is high, as almost all models are currently able to cover Europe's common tree species. We show that forest models complement each other in their response to environmental drivers and that there are several cases in which individual models outperform the model ensemble. Our framework provides a first step to capturing essential differences between forest models that go beyond the most commonly used accuracy of predictions. Overall, this study provides a point of reference for future model work aimed at predicting climate impacts and supporting climate mitigation and adaptation measures in forests.

Assessing the chemical anthropocene - Development of the legacy pollution fingerprint in the North Sea during the last century.

The North Sea and its coastal zones are heavily impacted by anthropogenic activities, which has resulted in significant chemical pollution ever since the beginning of the industrialization in Europe during the 19th century. In order to assess the chemical Anthropocene, natural archives, such as sediment cores, can serve as a valuable data source to reconstruct historical emission trends and to verify the effectiveness of changing environmental legislation. In this study, we investigated 90 contaminants covering inorganic and organic pollutant groups analyzed in a set of sediment cores taken in the North Seas' main sedimentation area (Skagerrak). We thereby develop a chemical pollution fingerprint that records the constant input of pollutants over time and illustrates their continued great relevance for the present. Additionally, samples were radiometrically dated and PAH and PCB levels in porewater were determined using equilibrium passive sampling. Furthermore, we elucidated the origin of lead (Pb) contamination utilizing non-traditional stable isotopic analysis. Our results reveal three main findings: 1. for all organic contaminant groups covered (PAHs, OCPs, PCBs, PBDEs and PFASs) as well as the elements lead (Pb) and titanium (Ti), determined concentrations decreased towards more recent deposited sediment. These decreasing trends could be linked to the time of introductions of restrictions and bans and therefor our results confirm, amongst possible other factors, the effectiveness of environmental legislation by revealing a successive change in contamination levels over the decades. 2. concentration trends for ΣPAH and ΣPCB measured in porewater correspond well with the ones found in sediment which suggests that this method can be a useful expansion to traditional bulk sediment analysis to determine the biologically available pollutant fraction. 3. Arsenic (As) concentrations were higher in younger sediment layers, potentially caused by emissions of corroded warfare material disposed in the study area after WW II.

A global inventory of photovoltaic solar energy generating units.

Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generating capacity has grown by 41 per cent per year since 20091. Energy system projections that mitigate climate change and aid universal energy access show a nearly ten-fold increase in PV solar energy generating capacity by 20402,3. Geospatial data describing the energy system are required to manage generation intermittency, mitigate climate change risks, and identify trade-offs with biodiversity, conservation and land protection priorities caused by the land-use and land-cover change necessary for PV deployment. Currently available inventories of solar generating capacity cannot fully address these needs1-9. Here we provide a global inventory of commercial-, industrial- and utility-scale PV installations (that is, PV generating stations in excess of 10 kilowatts nameplate capacity) by using a longitudinal corpus of remote sensing imagery, machine learning and a large cloud computation infrastructure. We locate and verify 68,661 facilities, an increase of 432 per cent (in number of facilities) on previously available asset-level data. With the help of a hand-labelled test set, we estimate global installed generating capacity to be 423 gigawatts (-75/+77 gigawatts) at the end of 2018. Enrichment of our dataset with estimates of facility installation date, historic land-cover classification and proximity to vulnerable areas allows us to show that most of the PV solar energy facilities are sited on cropland, followed by aridlands and grassland. Our inventory could aid PV delivery aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Triangle Singularity as the Origin of the a_{1}(1420).

The COMPASS Collaboration experiment recently discovered a new isovector resonancelike signal with axial-vector quantum numbers, the a_{1}(1420), decaying to f_{0}(980)π. With a mass too close to and a width smaller than the axial-vector ground state a_{1}(1260), it was immediately interpreted as a new light exotic meson, similar to the X, Y, Z states in the hidden-charm sector. We show that a resonancelike signal fully matching the experimental data is produced by the decay of the a_{1}(1260) resonance into K^{*}(→Kπ)K[over ¯] and subsequent rescattering through a triangle singularity into the coupled f_{0}(980)π channel. The amplitude for this process is calculated using a new approach based on dispersion relations. The triangle-singularity model is fitted to the partial-wave data of the COMPASS experiment. Despite having fewer parameters, this fit shows a slightly better quality than the one using a resonance hypothesis and thus eliminates the need for an additional resonance in order to describe the data. We thereby demonstrate for the first time in the light-meson sector that a resonancelike structure in the experimental data can be described by rescattering through a triangle singularity, providing evidence for a genuine three-body effect.

Advanced materials design based on waste wood and bark.

Trees belong to the largest living organisms on Earth and plants in general are one of our main renewable resources. Wood as a material has been used since the beginning of humankind. Today, forestry still provides raw materials for a variety of applications, for example in the building industry, in paper manufacturing and for various wood products. However, many parts of the tree, such as reaction wood, branches and bark are often discarded as forestry residues and waste wood, used as additives in composite materials or burned for energy production. More advanced uses of bark include the extraction of chemical substances for glues, food additives or healthcare, as well as the transformation to advanced carbon materials. Here, we argue that a proper understanding of the internal fibrous structure and the resulting mechanical behaviour of these forest residues allows for the design of materials with greatly varying properties and applications. We show that simple and cheap treatments can give tree bark a leather-like appearance that can be used for the construction of shelters and even the fabrication of woven textiles. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bio-derived and bioinspired sustainable advanced materials for emerging technologies (part 1)'.

Tackling unresolved questions in forest ecology: The past and future role of simulation models.

Understanding the processes that shape forest functioning, structure, and diversity remains challenging, although data on forest systems are being collected at a rapid pace and across scales. Forest models have a long history in bridging data with ecological knowledge and can simulate forest dynamics over spatio-temporal scales unreachable by most empirical investigations.We describe the development that different forest modelling communities have followed to underpin the leverage that simulation models offer for advancing our understanding of forest ecosystems.Using three widely applied but contrasting approaches - species distribution models, individual-based forest models, and dynamic global vegetation models - as examples, we show how scientific and technical advances have led models to transgress their initial objectives and limitations. We provide an overview of recent model applications on current important ecological topics and pinpoint ten key questions that could, and should, be tackled with forest models in the next decade.Synthesis. This overview shows that forest models, due to their complementarity and mutual enrichment, represent an invaluable toolkit to address a wide range of fundamental and applied ecological questions, hence fostering a deeper understanding of forest dynamics in the context of global change.

[Biomarkers in full-thickness and lamellar defects of the macula]. / Biomarker bei durchgreifenden und lamellären Defekten der Makula.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers are characteristic biological measurable signs and objective parameters to detect the state of health. Besides functional and temporal factors, imaging biomarkers play an increasingly important role. In full-thickness and lamellar defects of the macula numerous imaging parameters have been described. This knowledge resulted in new classifications for both clinical pictures, which are based on important biomarkers of these clinical pictures and characteristic features of described subtypes. METHODS: Imaging biomarkers for full-thickness and lamellar macular defects are described with respect to the classification and their functional prognostic importance. The importance of these biomarkers is presented. RESULTS: The current classification of full-thickness and lamellar macular defects is based on structural biomarkers. Biomarkers are important for prognostic and therapeutic evaluation and they have an impact on the surgical strategy. There are various surgical strategies for treatment of full-thickness macular holes depending on the size of the foramen and other biomarkers. The inverted ILM flap technique improves the closure rate of large macular holes. In lamellar macular holes showing signs of progression an early surgical intervention results in a good anatomical and functional prognosis. CONCLUSION: Multimodal diagnostics provide important preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative features for macular holes and lamellar macular holes, which are essential biomarkers for the exact classification, the therapeutic strategy and for assessment of the prognosis.

[Large macular hole-Always a poor prognosis?] / Großes Makulaforamen ­ immer eine schlechte Prognose?

BACKGROUND: Age, preoperative visual acuity and macular hole size have been reported to be prognostic markers for the postoperative outcome in patients with full thickness macular holes (FTMH). OBJECTIVE: A retrospective observational clinical study was performed in order to compare the postoperative course after conventional internal limiting membrane peeling (c-ILM) and inverted flap ILM peeling (i-ILM). Patients with i­ILM peeling had preoperatively a significantly larger macular hole MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study 45 consecutive patients with a full thickness macular hole (FTMH) were divided into two groups (c-ILM vs. i ILM) and evaluated with respect to the postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal morphology. Using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) the integrity of the outer retinal layers, external limiting membrane (ELM), ellipsoid zone (EZ) and outer photoreceptor outer segments (OS) were analyzed postoperatively for at least 6 months. RESULTS: The preoperative aperture in the i­ILM group was significantly larger (i-ILM = 408.4 µm, SD = 157.5 µm; c­ILM = 287.4 µm, SD = 104.9 µm; p = 0.01). The preoperative BCVA and postoperative BCVA after 1 month were significantly better in the group with c­ILM peeling (p = 0.03 and p = 0.001). The postoperative BCVA after at least 6 months showed no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.24). The ELM was the first of the outer retinal layers to show postoperative recovery in both groups. CONCLUSION: Using the i­ILM peeling technique in this consecutive series it seemed to be possible to achieve a similar postoperative visual outcome in patients with a large FTMH as for patients with a smaller FTMH operated on with the c­ILM peeling technique.

Stochastic Interpolation of Sparsely Sampled Time Series via Multipoint Fractional Brownian Bridges.

We propose and test a method to interpolate sparsely sampled signals by a stochastic process with a broad range of spatial and/or temporal scales. To this end, we extend the notion of a fractional Brownian bridge, defined as fractional Brownian motion with a given scaling (Hurst) exponent H and with prescribed start and end points, to a bridge process with an arbitrary number of intermediate and nonequidistant points. Determining the optimal value of the Hurst exponent H_{opt}, appropriate to interpolate the sparse signal, is a very important step of our method. We demonstrate the validity of our method on a signal from fluid turbulence in a high Reynolds number flow and discuss the implications of the non-self-similar character of the signal. The method introduced here could be instrumental in several physical problems, including astrophysics, particle tracking, and specific tailoring of surrogate data, as well as in domains of natural and social sciences.

Detection of community-acquired respiratory viruses in allogeneic stem-cell transplant recipients and controls-A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired respiratory viruses (CARV) cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections (URTI/LRTI) and may be life-threatening for recipients of an allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). METHODS: In a prospective study encompassing 4 winter-seasons, we collected throat gargles (TG) at random time points from allo-SCT recipients (patients) and controls and followed them up for at least 3 weeks including repetitive sampling and documentation of symptoms. A Multiplex-PCR system to identify 20 CARV and Mycoplasma pneumoniae was used to detect CARV. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-four patients with 426 TG and 273 controls with 549 TG were included. There were more patients with a positive test result (25% vs 11% in the controls), and the patients had a higher number of positive TG (70 = 16%) compared to controls (32 = 6%) (P < .001). Altogether, 115 viruses were detected. Multiple viruses in one TG (11/48, 34%) and prolonged shedding were only observed in patients (13/48, 27%). Patients had more RSV (18/83, 26%) and adenovirus (15/83, 21%) than controls (both viruses 2/32, 6%). Independent risk factors for the detection of CARV included age >40 years (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.8-6.4, P < .001) and presence of URTI-symptoms (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.9-5.5, P < .001). No controls developed a LRTI or died whereas 4/48 (8%) patients developed a LRTI (coronavirus in 2, RSV in 1 and influenza A H1N1 in 1 patient). One patient died of CARV (influenza A H1N1). CONCLUSION: Allo-SCT-recipients have more CARV-infections, exhibit a different epidemiology, have more cases of co-infection or prolonged shedding and have a higher rate of LRTI and mortality.

[Smoke-free Germany 2040: a discussion paper]. / Rauchfreies Deutschland 2040: Ein Diskussionsbeitrag.

INTRODUCTION: A "smoke-free" society is assumed if less than 5 % of a population smoke. We predict when this goal could be reached in Germany. To reduce the proportion of smokers in the population, the World Health Organization recommends a bundle of measures (MPOWER) that should minimize both the supply of and the demand for tobacco. The current level of implementation of these recommendations in Germany is presented. METHODS: A total of 21 representative cross-sectional surveys of the Drug Affinity Study and the Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse since 2000/2001 with adolescents and adults show the smoking behavior of the population until 2018. Per capita consumption of factory-built and self-made cigarettes during the same period is used as an objective data basis. Regression analyses are used to model the date at which less than 5 % of the German population smoke. A selective literature review is carried out to describe the implementation of the MPOWER program. RESULTS: Before 2000 there was no trend in Germany towards non-smoking. After the implementation of various preventive measures such as price increases for tobacco products and the introduction of non-smoking protection laws, the spread of smoking among the population has steadily decreased since 2000. By 2018, the 5 % prevalence target among adolescents had almost been reached, as the relative proportion of adolescents who smoked fell by 20.9 percentage points to 6.6 %. The relative proportion of smoking in adult women fell by 12.1 percentage points to 18.5 %, the relative proportion of smoking in men by 14.8 percentage points to 24.2 %. Assuming a linear trend, the prevalence target of less than 5 % smoking adults can be reached by around 2043. Of the six recommended measures of the MPOWER program, Germany is currently only implementing the monitoring of tobacco consumption in society without compromises. DISCUSSION: After various tobacco prevention measures were implemented, a trend towards non-smoking began in Germany. The continual price increase recommended by the World Health Organization, the further restriction of availability, the ban on all tobacco advertising and promotion, the support of smoking cessation as well as the education of the population appear to be necessary to reinforce this trend and to achieve the health policy goal of a smoke-free society in 2040.

Selection signatures for high-altitude adaptation in ruminants.

High-altitude areas are important socio-economical habitats with ruminants serving as a major source of food and commodities for humans. Living at high altitude, however, is extremely challenging, predominantly due to the exposure to hypoxic conditions, but also because of cold temperatures and limited feed for livestock. To survive in high-altitude environments over the long term, ruminants have evolved adaptation strategies, e.g. physiological and morphological modifications, which allow them to cope with these harsh conditions. Identification of such selection signatures in ruminants may contribute to more informed breeding decisions, and thus improved productivity. Moreover, studying the genetic background of altitude adaptation in ruminants provides insights into a common molecular basis across species and thus a better understanding of the physiological basis of this adaptation. In this paper, we review the major effects of high altitude on the mammalian body and highlight some of the most important short-term (coping) and genetically evolved (adaptation) physiological modifications. We then discuss the genetic architecture of altitude adaptation and target genes that show evidence of being under selection based on recent studies in various species, with a focus on ruminants. The yak is presented as an interesting native species that has adapted to the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Finally, we conclude with implications and challenges of selection signature studies on altitude adaptation in general. We found that the number of studies on genetic mechanisms that enable altitude adaptation in ruminants is growing, with a strong focus on identifying selection signatures, and hypothesise that the investigation of genetic data from multiple species and regions will contribute greatly to the understanding of the genetic basis of altitude adaptation.

Genetic analysis of Aegilops tauschii-derived seedling resistance to leaf rust in synthetic hexaploid wheat.

Seedling resistance to leaf rust available in the synthetic hexaploid wheat line Syn137 was characterised by means of cytogenetic and linkage mapping. Monosomic analysis located a single dominant gene for leaf rust resistance on chromosome 5D. Molecular mapping not only confirmed this location but also positioned the gene to the distal part of the long arm of chromosome 5D. A test of allelism showed that the gene, tentatively named LrSyn137, is independent but closely linked to Lr1. It appears that Syn137 is occasionally heterogeneous for Lr1 since the analysis of the Lr1-specific marker RGA567-5 in the genetic mapping population indicated the presence of Lr1. Syn137 represents another source of genetic variation that can be useful for the diversification of leaf rust resistance in wheat cultivars.