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Kinds of Germany Terms modified by Germany Selected AbstractsDie Häufigkeit von Oenothera -Arten im westlichen MitteleuropaFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 5-6 2003R. Wittig Professor Dr. Auf ausgewählten Industrie- und Verkehrstandorten in drei Ballungsgebieten des westlichen Mitteleuropas (Rhein-Ruhr-Gebiet: Nordrhein-Westfalen/ Deutschland; Frankfurt: Hessen/Deutschland; Oberrheingebiet: Baden-Württemberg/Deutschland und Elsass/ Frankreich) wurde in den Jahren 1999 bis 2002 an ausgewählten, Oenothera -reichen Standorten (Industriegelände, Bahngelände, Hafenanlagen) eine quantitative Bestandsaufnahme der Oenothera -Arten vorgenommen. Hierbei belegten O. biennis und O. fallax nahezu gleichrangig den ersten Platz in der Häufigkeitsliste. Mit teilweise recht deut-lichem Abstand folgen O. pycnocarpa und O. glazioviana auf den Plätzen 3 und 4. Bemerkenswer-terweise ergab eine gleichzeitig in Frankfurt durchgeführte Rasterkartierung der Oenothera -Arten die gleiche Reihenfolge dieser vier Spezies im Hinblick auf die Zahl der von ihnen besiedelten Rasterfelder. Wie der Vergleich mit älteren Arbeiten zeigt, in denen O. biennis stets als die eindeutig häufigste Art genannt wird, hat sich O. fallax offensichtlich erst in jüngster Zeit stark ausgebreitet. Frequency of species of Oenothera in Western Central Europe Between 1999 and 2002 a quantitative inventory of Oenothera species was carried out in three urban agglomeration areas in Western Central Europe [Rhine-Ruhr-Area: North Rhine-Westfalia/Germany; Frankfurt (Main) Hessen/Germany; Upper Rhine Area-Baden-Wurttemberg/Germany and Elsace/ France] in areas with a rich abundance of Oenothera (manufacturing plants, stations, docks) at selected industrial sites and locations with high volumes of traffic. Results revealed that Oenotherabiennis and O. fallax occur most frequently followed after a wide margin by Oenothera pycnocarpa and O. glazioviana in third and fourth position. It is noteworthy that a grid mapping of Oenothera species undertaken simultanously in Frankfurt revealed the same order of frequency for the four species with respect to the number of grid cells they occupy. A comparison with previous studies, which all name Oenothera biennis as the most frequently occurring species, demonstrates clearly that the high frequency of Oenothera fallax is the result of a recent development. [source] HYDROLOGY AND GEOMORPHIC EFFECTS OF A HIGH-MAGNITUDE FLOOD IN AN ALPINE RIVERGEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2007DAVID MORCHE ABSTRACT. The catchment of the River Partnach, a torrent situated in a glacial valley in the Northern Calcareous Alps of Bavaria/Germany, was affected by a high-magnitude flood on 22/23 August 2005 with a peak discharge of more than 16 m3s -1 at the spring and about 50 m3s -1 at the catchment outlet. This flood was caused by a long period of intense rainfall with a maximum intensity of 230 mm per day. During this event, a landslide dam, which previously held a small lake, failed. The flood wave originating from the dam breach transported a large volume of sediment (more than 50 000 m3) derived from bank erosion and the massive undercutting of a talus cone. This caused a fundamental transformation of the downstream channel system including the redistribution of large woody debris and channel switching. Using terrestrial survey and aerial photography, erosional and depositional consequences of the event were mapped, pre- and post-event surfaces were compared and the sediment budget of the event calculated for ten consecutive channel reaches downstream of the former lake. According to the calculations more than 100 000 tonnes of sediment were eroded, 75% of which was redeposited within the channel and the proximal floodplain. A previous large flood which occurred a few weeks prior to the August 2005 event had a significant effect on controlling the impact of this event. [source] Characterizing sediment acid volatile sulfide concentrations in European streamsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2007G. Allen Burton Abstract Sediment acid volatile sulfide (AVS) concentrations were measured in wadeable streams of a wide variety of ecoregions of western Europe (84 sites in 10 countries and nine ecoregions) to better understand spatial distribution and ecoregion relationships. Acid volatile sulfide has been shown to be a major factor controlling the bioavailability and toxicity of many common trace metals, such as Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Sediment characteristics varied widely. The ratio of the sum of the simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) to AVS ranged from 0.03 to 486.59. The ,SEM-AVS ranged from ,40.02 to 17.71 ,mol/g. On a regional scale, sediment characteristics such as dominant parent soil material showed significant trends in AVS distribution and variation by ecoregion. Total Fe and Mn were correlated weakly with SEM concentrations. Three AVS model approaches (i.e., the SEMAVS ratio, SEM-AVS difference, and carbon normalization) were compared at threshold exceedance levels of SEM/AVS > 9, SEM-AVS > 2, and SEM-AVS/foc > 150 ,mol/g organic carbon (OC). Only 4.76% of the sediments exceeded all three AVS thresholds; 22.6% of the sediments exceeded two models; and 13% of the sediments exceeded one model only. Using the SEM:AVS, SEM-AVS, and fraction of organic carbon models, and including site-specific data and regional soil characteristics, ecoregions 1 (Portugal), 3 (Italy), 4 (Switzerland), and 9 (Belgium/Germany) had the highest potential metals toxicity; ecoregions 13 and 8 (Belgium/France) showed the lowest potential toxicity. However, because AVS can vary widely spatially and temporally, these data should not be considered as representative of the sampled ecoregions. The general relationship between AVS levels and sediment characteristics provides some predictive capability for wadeable streams in the European ecoregions. [source] Acoustic comfort in office buildings with double skin glass façadesBAUPHYSIK, Issue 5 2009Volker Huckemann Dipl.-Ing. Schall; Sound protection and acoustics Abstract In the Project TwinSkin at the IGS Institut für Gebäude- und Solartechnik (Institute for Building Services and Energy Design) Brunswick/Germany, nine office buildings with double skin glass façades (DSF) were i.a. acoustically evaluated. Double skin façades (DSF), in comparison with other kind of façades, are frequently promoted to provide higher sound insulation from external noise, especially road traffic noise. DSF offer the advantage of operable windows or doors to the cavity, which provide occupant comfort; however, than questions about the impairment of acoustic comfort arise. The objective was to thoroughly analyse the apparent sound insulation properties of DSF in the extended frequency range from 50 to 5000 Hz. Measurements were performed according to the standard EN ISO 140-5 for different operation conditions of the openings and single number quantities were calculated. Additionally their respective spectrum adaptation terms (C and Ctr) were considered. A remarkable influence of DSF design on the sound insulation properties was found. The results show high levels of weighted apparent sound reduction up to 60 dB, but also there were results from only 35 dB to 40 dB. Multi storey façades tend to better sound insulation performance in relation to the other types of DSF, an average of 13 dB higher values were found. Esthetical favourable arrangements of DSF can provide substantial negative influence on sound insulation. Akustischer Komfort in Bürogebäuden mit Doppelglasfassaden. In dem Projekt TwinSkin am IGS Institut für Gebäude- und Solartechnik Braunschweig wurden neun Bürogebäude mit Doppelglasfassaden (DGF) akustisch bewertet. Glasdoppelfassaden bieten gegenüber anderen Fassadenarten einen erhöhten Schutz der hinter der Fassade liegenden Räume vor von außen eindringendem Lärm, insbesondere Straßenverkehrslärm. Zudem können bei DSF Fenster oder Türen in den Fassadenzwischenraum geöffnet werden, was möglicherweise den Nutzerkomfort erhöht, aber Fragen über die Beeinträchtigung des akustischen Komforts entstehen lässt. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die vorhandene Schalldämmung von DSF im erweiterten Frequenzbereich von 50 bis 5000 Hz gründlich zu analysieren. Die Messungen wurden nach EN ISO 140-5 für die verschiedenen Betriebsbedingungen der Öffnungen durchgeführt und es wurden Einzahlangaben berechnet. Zusätzlich wurden die jeweiligen Spektrum-Anpassungswerte (C und Ctr) berücksichtigt. Es wurde ein bemerkenswerter Einfluss des DSF-Designs auf die Schalldämmungseigenschaften gefunden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen ein hohes Schalldämm-Maß bis zu 60 dB, aber es wurden auch Ergebnisse von nur 35 dB und 40 dB gemessen. Mehrgeschossige Fassaden weisen im Vergleich zu den anderen Arten von DSF eine bessere Schalldämmung auf, wobei im Durchschnitt 13 dB höhere Werte gefunden wurden. Ästhetisch bevorzugte Gestaltungen der DSF können dagegen einen erheblichen negativen Einfluss auf die Schalldämmung haben. [source] Trans-sarcolemmal proteins situated central to the subsarcolemmal regionNEUROPATHOLOGY & APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2002A. Borchert Trans-sarcolemmal proteins located inside, within, and outside of the muscle fibre plasma membrane fall into two categories, the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) and non-DGC-related proteins, e.g. dysferlin, caveolin, dystrobrevins and syntrophins. Mutational defects are responsible for their immunohistochemical absence or reduction giving rise to certain muscular dystrophies. In other neuromuscular disorders, i.e. inflammatory, metabolic, and neurogenic processes, transarcolemmal proteins are well preserved. Unlike desmin and plectin, which form a honeycomb-type network across the muscle fibre and a subsarcolemmal layer, trans-sarcolemmal proteins are not expressed central to the subsarcolemmal region in normal mature muscle fibres. In three different types of lesion, transarcolemmal proteins may be encountered within muscle fibres unrelated to the subsarcolemmal region: (1) immature fibres: dysferlin and caveolin different from the absence of DGC proteins in regenerating muscle fibres and, thereby, underscoring their different transcellular trafficking; (2) lining autophagic vacuoles and pseudo-vacuoles identified by invagination of the sarcolemma; (3) accruing within core-like lesions marked by sarcomeric disintegration and in association with the accumulation of other proteins, e.g. desmin, ,-B crystallin. Our differential diagnostic studies indicate that different trans-sarcolemmal proteins are encountered central to the subsarcolemmal region in different myopathological conditions and therefore for different pathogenetic reasons. Acknowledgements:, These studies have been supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Muskelkranke e.V., Freiburg/Germany, the European Neuromuscular Centre (ENM), Baarn/The Netherlands, and the ,MAIFOR' programme of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz/Germany. [source] AFRICAN CHURCHES IN THE RHEIN-RUHR REGION OF GERMANYINTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF MISSION, Issue 354 2000Koilor Kimba No abstract is available for this article. [source] COUNCIL OF AFRICAN CHURCHES IN GERMANY (CACG)INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF MISSION, Issue 354 2000SECTION: WIDER RUHRGEBIET AREA No abstract is available for this article. [source] A 3D HIGH RESOLUTION MODEL OF BOUNDING SURFACES IN AEOLIAN-FLUVIAL DEPOSITS: AN OUTCROP ANALOGUE STUDY FROM THE PERMIAN ROTLIEGEND, NORTHERN GERMANYJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 3 2007C. Fischer The fluvial-aeolian Rotliegend succession exposed in a quarry near Magdeburg (Flechtinger Höhenzug, Northern Germany) is an analogue for deeply-buried gas-bearing Rotliegend sandstones in the Southern Permian Basin. The spatial configuration of bounding surfaces within this succession was reconstructed with reference to twelve profiles with 926 sample points. Generally sub-horizontal interdune migration surfaces were surveyed, and the areal extent of small-scale superimposition surfaces and the thicknesses of intervening strata were measured. Based on these observations and also on the extent of different lithofacies types and on corresponding porosity and permeability data, a 3D lithofacies model (including bounding surface configurations) incorporating porosity and radial permeability was created using PETRELTÔ software. In the quarry, aeolian sandstones approximately 12 m thick (,, 5-11 vol. %, ,radial, 0.01-10mD) are separated into a number of tabular bed sets by sub-horizontal interdune migration surfaces. The surfaces are often associated with thin pelitic intervals with low permeabilities which originate from deflation and sheet flow events. Aeolian deposits consist mainly of two lithotypes: low-angle cross-bedded, and steeply cross-bedded medium-grained sandstones. Superimposition surfaces occur at the base of the low-angle cross-bedded sandstone bodies. The highest porosities and permeabilities occur within the steeply cross-bedded sandstones, reflecting intense eodiagenetic calcite and quartz cementation with subsequent calcite dissolution. The low-angle cross-bedded sandstones may act as flow baffles. This outcrop-derived, high resolution model may contribute to a better understanding of the subsurface architecture and reservoir properties of aeolian-fluvial successions. Taking into consideration the centimetre- to metre-scaled inhomogeneities observed at outcrop, lithotype modelling with reference to the occurrence of bounding surfaces may help to predict how similar reservoir rocks are partitioned. [source] GEOGRAPHIC SCALE AND FUNCTIONAL SCOPE IN METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE REFORM: THEORY AND EVIDENCE FROM GERMANYJOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS, Issue 2 2006Joachim K. Blatter New dichotomies emerge, for example, "jumping of scale" versus "relativation of scales"; "deterritorializiaton" versus "reterritorialization"; "spaces of place" versus "space of flows." These dichotomies can be interpreted as different proposals and/or diagnoses in respect to the geographic scale and functional scope of emerging institutions of metropolitan governance. The paper aims to trace the empirical question of which direction we are heading by analyzing recent metropolitan governance reforms in six West German metropolitan areas. The findings show that there is a general trend to create soft institutions of governance on a larger scale as a reaction to global competition and continental integration. Beyond this commonality, we discover quite different institutional trajectories. The regions which are strongly embedded in the global economy tend toward a "deterritorialized" form of metropolitan governance with rather weak institutions characterized by large geographic scales and functional specialization. In contrast, the regions which are not as much embedded in the global economy have been able to create strong governance institutions on a regional level characterized by a rather small geographic scope and based on a territorial logic of functional integration and geographic congruence. [source] THE TAXONOMIC AND PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE PLESIOSAUROIDEA FROM THE LOWER JURASSIC POSIDONIA SHALE OF SOUTH-WEST GERMANYPALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2007FRANZISKA GROßMANNArticle first published online: 17 MAY 200 Abstract:, The two plesiosauroid species from the Posidonia shale of Holzmaden, ,Plesiosaurus'guilelmiimperatoris and ,Plesiosaurus'brachypterygius, do not belong to Plesiosaurus but form new monotypic genera. The new genus Hydrorion is erected for ,P.'brachypterygius, and the genus Seeleyosaurus is re-established for ,P.'guilelmiimperatoris. The recently described species Plesiopterys wildii is regarded as a junior synonym of S. guilelmiimperatoris. A short phylogenetic analysis shows that S. guilelmiimperatoris and Muraenosaurus are basal elasmosaurs. H. brachypterygius, Occitanosaurus tournemirensis from France and Microcleidus homalospondylus from England form a monophyletic clade, which is the sister taxon to the Cretaceous elasmosaurs. A palaeobiogeographical comparison of plesiosaur localities in the Lower Jurassic shows distinct palaeobiogeographical zones for the Toarcian, with different plesiosaur taxa in England, Germany and France. [source] A NEW SPECIES OF BRITTLESTAR (OPHIUROIDEA, ECHINODERMATA) FROM THE HUNSRÜCK SLATE (LOWER EMSIAN, LOWER DEVONIAN) OF GERMANYPALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 5 2006ALEXANDER GLASS Abstract:,Lapworthura lehmanni, a new species of ophiuroid, is described from four specimens from the Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate of Germany. It is the only known ophiuroid in the Hunsrück Slate with paired but unfused ambulacrals, and it exhibits unique rows of spine-bearing dorsal arm ossicles. The genus Lapworthura Gregory was previously known only from the Ordovician of Scotland and the Silurian of England and Australia. [source] A NEW SEA SPIDER (ARTHROPODA: PYCNOGONIDA) WITH A FLAGELLIFORM TELSON FROM THE LOWER DEVONIAN HUNSRÜCK SLATE, GERMANYPALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 5 2006MARKUS POSCHMANN Abstract:, A new Lower Devonian sea spider (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida) from the Hunsrück Slate, Germany, is described as Flagellopantopus blocki gen. et sp. nov. This is only the sixth fossil pycnogonid species to be described. Its most remarkable and unique aspect is the long, flagelliform telson. Although our fossil apparently lacks chelifores (an apomorphy), the retained telson and the segmented trunk end behind the last pair of legs resolve F. blocki to a fairly basal position in the pycnogonid stem lineage. It probably lies between Palaeoisopus problematicus Broili, which has a lanceolate telson and the most trunk segments of any sea spider, and all other Silurian,Recent Pycnogonida. Our new material shows that at least two fossil pycnogonids retained a telson, albeit with very different morphologies, and further supports the idea that a greater diversity of body plans existed among the Palaeozoic pycnogonid taxa. [source] FRANCE AND GERMANY JUDGED BY NIETZSCHEPHILOSOPHICAL FORUM, Issue 2 2009HENRI LICHTENBERGER Revue de Paris (1900)Translated by Sheldon Huggins [source] ON THE POST-UNIFICATION DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PAY IN GERMANY,THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 4 2007AXEL HEITMUELLER German post-unification in the 1990s is a period marked by substantial economic and political change, a crucial part of which was a largely politically motivated attempt to build East German wages towards the much higher West German wages. We study the development of the public,private sector pay gap in Germany in the 1990s. We show that throughout the 1990s the overall pay gap between the public and private sectors remained stable in the West and increased considerably in the East. Wage decompositions show a small and stable negative public sector premium in the West, and a large and increasing positive public sector pay premium in the East. Decompositions also show a considerable deterioration in the skill base of the private sector in the East which the paper attributes in part to the improved attractiveness of the public sector. The paper argues that the development in the size and composition of the public,private sector pay gap in the East is an indication of the public sector crowding out the private sector and raises concerns about the future competitiveness of the East. [source] HAVE EMPLOYEES IN GERMANY RECEIVED FULL WAGE COMPENSATION AFTER A CUT IN STANDARD HOURS?,THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 3 2006THORSTEN SCHANK The effect of standard hours on the hourly wage rate is important in assessing whether work-sharing is likely to be a successful policy. Furthermore, it determines whether unions have achieved their goal of keeping the monthly income of employees constant after a cut in standard hours (income compensation) or whether employees experience reductions in monthly income (income sharing). However, the standard hours elasticity of the hourly wage rate has rarely been estimated. This study reports evidence for Germany, 1995,99, using the IAB Establishment Panel. The results imply income compensation for plants with a bargaining agreement, but income sharing for plants without a bargaining agreement. No evidence is found for the Calmfors and Driffill hypothesis that postulates that wage demands are more moderate if unions operate at the firm level than if bargaining takes place at the industry level. [source] Potential role of colour-Doppler cystosonography with echocontrast in the screening and follow-up of vesicoureteral refluxACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2000G Ascenti Primary vesicoureteral reflux is a predisposing factor for urinary tract infections in children. The first-choice technique for the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux is voiding cystourethrography, followed by cystoscintigraphy; cystoscintigraphy, however, has the advantage of only minor irradiation of the patient, but it does not allow the morphological evaluation of bladder and vesicoureteral reflux grading. Colour-Doppler cystosonography with echocontrast is a recently introduced method for imaging vesicoureteral reflux. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of colour-Doppler cystosonography with echocontrast in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. Twenty children (11M, 9F) aged between 0.4 and 4.9 y underwent colour-Doppler cystosonography using a diluted solution of Levovist® (Schering, Germany), after filling up the bladder with saline. In all patients, vesicoureteral reflux diagnosis and grading had been performed previously by voiding cystourethrography within 5 d from ultrasonography. Our data showed high accuracy in the detection of medium to severe vesicoureteral reflux (grades III-V), confirmed by radiological features in 9/9 patients. Conversely, in the 11 patients with mild vesicoureteral reflux (grades I-II), this technique showed extremely low sensitivity, allowing diagnosis in only four cases. Conclusions: Colour-Doppler cystosonography, because of the absence of ionizing radiations, has great advantages, particularly in patients needing prolonged monitoring. Despite experiences reported in the literature, this technique has a role in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. Our group chooses colour-Doppler cystosonography for the follow-up of medium-severe grade vesicoureteral reflux already diagnosed by radiology and/or scintigraphy. Cystoscintigraphy is employed only to confirm cases resulting negative at ultrasonography. [source] Reparallelization techniques for migrating OpenMP codes in computational gridsCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 3 2009Michael Klemm Typical computational grid users target only a single cluster and have to estimate the runtime of their jobs. Job schedulers prefer short-running jobs to maintain a high system utilization. If the user underestimates the runtime, premature termination causes computation loss; overestimation is penalized by long queue times. As a solution, we present an automatic reparallelization and migration of OpenMP applications. A reparallelization is dynamically computed for an OpenMP work distribution when the number of CPUs changes. The application can be migrated between clusters when an allocated time slice is exceeded. Migration is based on a coordinated, heterogeneous checkpointing algorithm. Both reparallelization and migration enable the user to freely use computing time at more than a single point of the grid. Our demo applications successfully adapt to the changed CPU setting and smoothly migrate between, for example, clusters in Erlangen, Germany, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, that use different kinds and numbers of processors. Benchmarks show that reparallelization and migration impose average overheads of about 4 and 2%, respectively. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Grazing Intensity and the Diversity of Grasshoppers, Butterflies, and Trap-Nesting Bees and WaspsCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2002Andreas Kruess The reduction of management intensity can be a useful tool for the long-term conservation of the biological diversity of grasslands. We analyzed floral and faunal diversity on intensively and extensively (unintensively) grazed pastures and on 5- to 10-year-old ungrazed grasslands in northern Germany. Each of the three grassland habitats differing in grazing intensity was replicated six times. We related diverse taxa such as grasshoppers, butterfly adults and lepidopteran larvae, and trap-nesting solitary bees and wasps to vegetation structure. There was an increase of species richness and abundance from pastures to ungrazed grasslands. The percentage of parasitism of the most abundant trap-nesting species, the digger-wasp ( Trypoxylon figulus), was also higher on ungrazed grasslands. Decreased grazing on pastures enhanced species richness for adult butterflies only, whereas the abundance of adult butterflies, solitary bees and wasps, and their natural enemies increased. Although the differences in insect diversity between pastures and ungrazed grassland could be attributed to a greater vegetation height and heterogeneity ( bottom-up effects) on ungrazed areas, the differences between intensively and extensively grazed pastures could not be explained by changes in vegetation characteristics. Hence, intensive grazing appeared to affect the insect communities through the disruption of plant-insect interactions. A mosaic of extensively grazed grassland and grassland left ungrazed for a few years may be a good means by which to maintain biodiversity and the strength of trophic interactions. Resumen: El mantenimiento de pastizales como hábitats distintos depende del manejo regular, generalmente, por medio de pastoreo o segado, pero se sabe que la diversidad de especies declina con el incremento de intensidad de manejo. La reducción de la intensidad de manejo puede ser una herramienta útil para la conservación a largo plazo de la biodiversidad de pastizales. Analizamos la diversidad florística y faunística en pastizales pastoreados intensiva y extensivamente (no intensivos) y en pastizales de 5 a 10 años no pastoreados en el norte de Alemania. Cada uno de los tres hábitats de pastizal diferentes en el grado de pastoreo fue replicado seis veces. Relacionamos diversos taxones como chapulines, mariposas adultas, larvas de lepidópteros y abejas y avispas solitarias con la estructura de la vegetación. Hubo un incremento en la riqueza y abundancia de especies de pastizales pastoreados a no pastoreados. El porcentaje de parasitismo de la especie de avispa más abundante ( Trypoxylon figulus) también fue mayor en pastizales no pastoreados. La reducción del pastoreo incrementó la riqueza de especies de mariposas adultas solamente, mientras que incrementó la abundancia de mariposas adultas, abejas y avispas solitarias y sus enemigos naturales. Aunque las diferencias en la diversidad de insectos entre pastizales pastoreados y no pastoreados pudiera atribuirse a la mayor altura de la vegetación y a la heterogeneidad (efectos abajo-arriba) en áreas no pastoreadas, las diferencias entre pastizales pastoreados intensiva y extensivamente no podría explicarse por cambios en las características de la vegetación. Por consiguiente, el pastoreo intensivo aparentemente afectó a las comunidades de insectos por la disrupción de las interacciones planta-animal. Un mosaico de pastizales pastoreados extensivamente y pastizales sin pastoreo por varios años puede ser una buena estrategia para mantener la biodiversidad y la vigencia de las interacciones tróficas. [source] p -Phenylenediamine sensitization is more prevalent in central and southern European patch test centres than in Scandinavian: results from a multicentre studyCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 6 2009Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen Background:, Positive patch test reactions to p -phenylenediamine (PPD) are common. PPD is used in oxidative hair dyes and is also present in dark henna temporary ,tattoos'. Cross-sensitization to other contact allergens may occur. Because subjects sensitized to PPD are at risk of clinically severe reactions upon hair dyeing, there is a need for ,current' prevalence data on PPD sensitization. Objectives:, To compare PPD patch test results from dermatitis patients tested between 2003 and 2007 in 10 European patch test centres and to analyse the causes and determine relevance of positive PPD patch test reactions. Materials:, Patch testing was performed using PPD (1% free base in petrolatum from Trolab (Almirall Hermal GmbH, Reinbeck, Germany) or Chemotechnique (Malmö, Sweden), equivalent to 0.090 mg/cm2 in the TRUE® test from MEKOS Laboratories AS). Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test. Results:, The weighted average prevalence was 4.6% among 21 515 patients. PPD sensitization occurred more often in centres located in Central and Southern Europe than in Scandinavian centres (odds ratio = 2.40; 95% confidence interval = 2.07,2.78). The overall proportion of positive patch test reactions to PPD that were registered as being of either current or ,past' relevance was high (weighted average 53.6% and 20.3%, respectively). Consumer hair dyeing was the most prominent cause of PPD sensitization (weighted average 41.8%). Furthermore, occupational hair dye exposure (10.6%) and cross-sensitization to textile dyes (12.6%) were frequently reported. Conclusions:, PPD sensitization caused by exposure to hair dyes is frequent and remains a present problem for patients visiting contact dermatitis clinics, especially in patch test centres located in Central and Southern Europe. [source] Is contact allergy to glyceryl monothioglycolate still a problem in Germany?CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 1 2006Wolfgang Uter No abstract is available for this article. [source] Photoallergic contact dermatitis from topical diclofenac in Solaraze® gelCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 6 2006L. Kowalzick Solaraze® gel (Shire Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Cologne, Germany) containing 3% diclofenac has been licensed in 2001 as a topical treatment for actinic keratoses. It is commonly used in dermatological practice. Undesirable effects are believed to be rare but include pruritus, paresthesia and application-site reactions (dry skin, rash, erythema, contact dermatitis and vesicobullous eruptions). Recently, a few cases of contact dermatitis due to three different allergens including diclofenac have been reported (1,2). [source] P59 Patch test results to plant extracts and chemicalsCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004Kristiina Alanko Objective and methods:, We review patch test results from two special patch test series for plant allergens, ,plant extracts' and ,allergenic plant chemicals', provided by Prof. Hausen (Germany) and tested in 1992,2003. The standard series contained Sesquiterpene-lactone mix (SL mix) since 1993 (3/1998,10/1999 excluded) and Compositae mix since 3/1998. We present the cases where either SL mix or Compositae mix gave an allergic reaction and where, in addition, the series of plant extracts was tested. Results:, SL mix and Compositae mix were tested to 900 patients. Among them, plant extracts were tested in 122 and plant chemicals in 104 cases. 30 patients had an allergic reaction to Compositae mix and 17 to SL mix as well. In the plant extract series, there were more than 5 allergic reactions to feverfew(21), true chamomile(21), arnica(18), chrysanthemum(18), laurel bay leaf(13), tansy(12), gaillardia(9), yarrow(8) and pot marigold(7). In the plant chemical series, there were 9 allergic reactions to parthenolide and single reactions to primin, chlorophorin and Mansonone A. Conclusions:, Compositae mix gave a positive test reaction always together with SL mix, which gave a positive reaction in only part of these cases. The concentration of Compositae mix was lowered from 6% to 3% in 1/1999 because of cases of active sensitisation. The lower concentration seems to be reliable for detecting allergy, although it still causes active sensitisation. [source] MRI tumor characterization using Gd-GlyMe-DOTA-perfluorooctyl-mannose-conjugate (Gadofluorine MÔ), a protein-avid contrast agentCONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING, Issue 3 2006Hans-Jürgen Raatschen Abstract The rationale and objectives were to define the MRI tumor-characterizing potential of a new protein-avid contrast agent, Gd-GlyMe-DOTA-perfluorooctyl-mannose-conjugate (Gadofluorine MÔ; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) in a chemically induced tumor model of varying malignancy. Because of the tendency for this agent to form large micelles in water and to bind strongly to hydrophobic sites on proteins, it was hypothesized that patterns of dynamic tumor enhancement could be used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions, to grade the severity of malignancies and to define areas of tumor necrosis. Gadofluorine M, 0.05,mmol,Gd,kg,1, was administered intravenously to 28 anesthetized rats that had developed over 10 months mammary tumors of varying degrees of malignancy as a consequence of intraperitoneal administration of N -ethyl- N -nitrosourea (ENU), 45,250,mg,kg,1. These tumors ranged histologically from benign fibroadenomas to highly undifferentiated adenocarcinomas. Dynamic enhancement data were analyzed kinetically using a two-compartment tumor model to generate estimates of fractional plasma volume (fPV), apparent fractional extracellular volume (fEV*) and an endothelial transfer coefficient (KPS) for this contrast agent. Tumors were examined microscopically for tumor type, degree of malignancy (Scarff,Bloom,Richardson score) and location of necrosis. Eighteen tumor-bearing rats were successfully imaged. MRI data showed an immediate strong and gradually increasing tumor enhancement. KPS and fEV*, but not fPV obtained from tumors correlated significantly (p,<,0.05) with the SBR tumor grade, r,=,0.65 and 0.56, respectively. Estimates for KPS and fEV* but not fPV were significantly lower in a group consisting of benign and low-grade malignant tumors compared with the group of less-differentiated high-grade tumors (1.61,±,0.64 vs 3.37,±,1.49, p,<,0.01; 0.45,±,0.17 vs 0.78,±,0.24, p,<,0.01; and 0.076,±,0.048 vs 0.121,±,0.088, p,=,0.24, respectively). It is concluded that the protein-avid MRI contrast agent Gadofluorine M enhances tumors of varying malignancy depending on the tumor grade, higher contrast agent accumulation for more malignant lesions. The results show potential utility for differentiating benign and low-grade malignant lesions from high-grade cancers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Configuration Space Control for Wendelstein 7-XCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 8 2010T. Dodson Abstract The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator (W7-X) is a superconducting fusion experiment presently under construction at the Greifswald branch of the Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik in Greifswald, Germany. W7-X is a device with extreme geometrical complexity due to the close-packing of components inside the cryostat and their complex three-dimensional shapes. The task of the Configuration Space Control department is to ensure that these components do not collide with each other under the defined set of configurations such as during assembly, at cool down, or during operation at various coil currents, among others. To fulfill this task, sophisticated tools and procedures were developed and implemented within the realm of a newly founded division that focuses on design, configuration control, and configuration management. This paper will discuss the Configuration Space Control process, explore the advantages to the project resulting from the process, and demonstrate its application in the analysis of the cryogenic cooling pipes of Module 5 (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Particle in Cell Simulation of Low Temperature Laboratory PlasmasCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 8-9 2007K. Matyash Abstract Several applications of PIC simulations for understanding basic physics phenomena in low-temperature plasmas are presented: capacitive radiofrequency discharges in Oxygen, dusty plasmas and negative ion sources for heating of fusion plasmas. The analysis of these systems based on their microscopic properties as accessible with PIC gives improved insight into their complex behavior. These studies are results of joint efforts over about one decade of research groups from Greifswald University, Germany; Bari University, Italy; Keio University, Japan and Innsbruck University, Austria. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Antecedents of Shareholder Activism in Target Firms: Evidence from a Multi-Country StudyCORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2010William Q. Judge ABSTRACT Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: This study seeks to better understand the antecedents of shareholder activism targeted at firms located in three common law countries (i.e., USA, UK, and Australia) and three civil law countries (Japan, Germany, and South Korea) during the 2003,07 time period. Research Findings/Insights: Our findings suggest that the antecedents of shareholder activism vary by the motivation of the activist. We demonstrate that activists target firms with two motives (a) to improve the financial performance, and (b) to improve the social performance of the firm. With respect to the target firm level antecedents, we find that firm size is unrelated to financial activism, but positively related to social activism; ownership concentration is negatively related to both financial and social activism; and prior profitability is negatively related to financial activism, but positively related to social activism. Further, these relationships in the case of financial activism are generally stronger in common law legal systems, whereas those in the case of social activism are generally stronger in environments with a greater level of income inequality. Theoretical/Academic Implications: Our findings suggest that future research should differentiate between the motivations of the activism event. Further, we find that while agency logic works well for financial activism, institutional theory provides stronger explanations for social activism. Overall, we demonstrate the complementary nature of these two theories in explaining shareholder activism. Practitioner/Policy Implications: We found that the "exposure" to shareholder activism varies by the motivation of the activist, and the nature of the firm and its national context. An understanding of these issues would help firms develop proper response strategies to activism events. [source] Continuity and Change in Corporate Governance: comparing Germany and JapanCORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2005Gregory Jackson Germany and Japan are often seen deviating from an economic model of shareholder control and thereby as being similar by virtue of their mutual contrast with the US. Given the common challenges for bank-based and stakeholder-oriented models of corporate governance, Germany,Japan comparison seems particularly timely. This article provides an introductory overview and analysis for the Special Issue by comparing recent developments in corporate law reform, banking and finance, and employment in Germany and Japan. While rejecting arguments for international convergence, we discuss this evidence of simultaneous continuity and change in corporate governance as a potential form of hybridisation of national models or renegotiation of stakeholder coalitions in German and Japanese firms. One consequence is the growing diversity of firm-level corporate governance practices within national systems. [source] Corporate Governance in Germany and the German Corporate Governance CodeCORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2005Gerhard Cromme The term "corporate governance", and all that it implies, is now in everyday use in Germany. This is due to the enormous changes Germany has experienced in recent years, in international business, international finance and in German industrial structures. This contribution deals with recent changes in the German system of corporate governance. After a short historical review, the major elements of the international context that form the background for changes in Germany are discussed. This is followed by an explanation of the German Corporate Governance Code and its role, concluding with a prospectus for further possible developments and a summary of key points. [source] Corporate Governance in Germany: the move to shareholder valueCORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2001Florian Schilling The paper offers an inside view of the German corporate governance model, based on interviews with over 100 members of supervisory- (Aufsichtsrat) and executive-boards (Vorstand) of major German corporations. The traditional supervisory board with its large size of 20 members, one half elected by the employees, reflects the strong consensus orientation of the German corporate world. This system worked well in times of long innovation cycles and largely separate, national capital markets. It is coming under increasing pressure to adapt to the demands of a fast changing globalised capital market.Keywords: Corporate governance in Germany, supervisory board, codetermination, board composition, professionalisation of boards [source] The Implementation of Innovation by a Multinational Operating in Two Different Environments: A Comparative StudyCREATIVITY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2002Mohamed Zain The aim of the paper is to examine the innovation initiatives and processes followed by two subsidiaries of a German multinational company operating in Europe and Asia and to compare the innovativeness of their operations in these two locations. The study examined the innovation processes followed by the two subsidiary firms operating in Germany and Malaysia, the actual problems faced by them, the critical success factors involved in the implementation, and the work climates of the firms. Interestingly, it was found that both firms followed similar innovation processes. Nevertheless, different types of problems and critical success factors were applicable to both firms. The results showed that the Malaysian subsidiary faced more behavioural problems while the German subsidiary encountered more technical problems. Further, the study showed that a lack of knowledge was the common problem faced equally by both firms. The study demonstrated that the German subsidiary had better working climate compared to its counterpart in Malaysia. Finally, the German subsidiary was found to be more innovation,active than the Malaysian subsidiary as it introduced more types of innovation, interacted with more types of entity in the external environment and introduced more types of training. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||