Impact of Global Climate Change on the European Barley Market Requires Novel Multi-Method Approaches to Preserve Crop Quality and Authenticity.

Most recently in 2018 and 2019, large parts of Europe were affected by periods of massive drought. Resulting losses in cereal yield pose a major risk to the global supply of barley, as more than 60% of global production is based in Europe. Despite the arising price fluctuations on the cereal market, authenticity of the crop must be ensured, which includes correct declaration of harvest years. Here, we show a novel approach that allows such differentiation for spring barley samples, which takes advantage of the chemical changes caused by the extreme drought. Samples from 2018 were successfully differentiated from those of 2017 by analysis of changes in near-infrared spectra, enrichment in the isotope 13C, and strong accumulation of the plant-physiological marker betaine. We demonstrate that through consideration of multiple modern analysis techniques, not only can fraudulent labelling be prevented, but indispensable knowledge on the drought tolerance of crops can be obtained.

Heteroleptic N6 coordinated ruthenium(II) complexes as building blocks for the formation of discrete Ru2Ag2 complexes.

A heteroleptic N(6) coordinated Ru(II) complex acts as a building block for a discrete tetranuclear mixed metal Ru(II)(2)Ag(I)(2) coordination compound; both complexes have been structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography.

[Transmission risk for foot-and-mouth-disease in an animal-densed region in Germany--results from an expert survey]. / Risiken der Ubertragung der Maul- und Klauenseuche in einer viehdichten Region in Deutschland--Ergebnisse einer empirischen Expertenbefragung.

Due to its strong impact on economics and trading the Foot-and-Mouth-Disease (FMD) is one of the most important animal diseases within animal husbandry. Because no recent specific field observation for FMD exists in Germany, the risk assessment needs validated epidemiological models to prepare decision tools for FMD-outbreak management. The aim of this investigation was therefore to prepare a risk assessment for different transmission pathways to use for FMD-models in future. To prepare a FMD-transmission model the risk was assessed within a highly animal densed region in Germany by means of an expert survey. For each transmission pathway an assessment was given in the categories low, medium, high and severe. Some pathways were rated homogenously between the experts, but some were rated heterogeneously. Therefore areas were identified with common rating as well as areas, where further investigations to specify FMD-models are necessary.

Hybrid ligands with N-heterocyclic carbene and chiral phosphaferrocene components.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) possessing one or two 3,4-dimethylphosphaferrocenyl substituents and either methylene or ethylene alkyl bridges have been prepared. These carbenes turned out to be remarkably stable and were characterized by NMR methods and partly by mass spectrometry. Their molybdenum and ruthenium complexes were examined in order to determine the electronic properties and the coordination behaviour of these chiral PC- and PCP-chelate ligands, which combine a NHC unit as a strong sigma-donor with pi-accepting phosphaferrocene moieties. Crystal structures of one ligand precursor and of three complexes have been determined.