The Applicability of Renewable Raw Materials for the Professional Horticulture—Ecosystem Services,Profitability and Refinement

This preliminary study shows an innovative concept of searching for peat substitutes on basis of renewable raw materials considering the cultivation in extensive land use in Lower Saxony (Germany). Selecting suitable raw material plants against the background of ecological, social and economic issues followed by testing series including those materials should lead on to reliable results for a planned transition through a spatial analysis of potential areas for cultivation with a specific attention on wetlands. Thereby this short report illustrates the concept of the study as well as chosen interim results and it is to be understood as the first paper of a mini-series.

Computerized Cognitive Training in Healthy Older Adults:Baseline Cognitive Level and Subjective Cognitive Concerns Predict Training Outcome

Computerized cognitive training (CCT) can improve cognition in older adults. However, specific programs for this target group have rarely been developed, and predictors of training success are largely unclear. In a randomized controlled pilot trial, we examined effects of a six-week CCT, tailored to the cognitive profile of healthy older adults (EG, n = 21) as compared to a nonspecific CCT (CG, n = 18) matched in frequency and intensity. No interaction effects between Group and Time were found. However, within-group analysis showed significant gains in verbal and non-verbal memory, executive and visuospatial functions and subjective cognitive concerns (SCC) in the EG, while the CG only benefitted in non-verbal memory and set-shifting. Low cognitive performance and lower SCC at baseline were the most consistent predictors of cognitive gains in the EG. Thus, CCTs specifically tailored to older adults seem advantageous compared to non-specific CCT. Further, we conclude that SCC may be related to reduced cognitive plasticity.

林牧系统的树木中豆科植物的比例减少并不影响其内部的氮吸收效率

在以豆科植物为主的草地中,豆科植物通过生物固氮为草地提供氮(N)。以往对林牧系统的研究发现,树木附近的豆科植物比例下降,将导致N供应以及树间草坪收获的牧草中N浓度的空间变化。在自然生态系统中,氮吸收效率(NRE)随着养分限制而增加,所以在树木附近豆科植物比较稀缺。本研究验证了以下假设,即树木附近的NRE增加,补偿了豆科植物相对于牧草中N浓度的损失。为此,本研究分析了5年前建立的巷道种植系统中,分布在林木间的两种由豆科草本植物为主的植被组成。研究结果表明,豆科植物的比例向树线方向下降了45%,因此,活的和枯死的牧草中的N浓度也下降了,但平均仅下降了15%。由于N浓度降低以及靠近树木的牧草质量下降,N产量最多下降了50%。尽管树木附近的豆科植物减少,但无论植被组成如何,NRE都不受树线的影响。此外,与未管理的生态系统相比,收获之间的落叶间隔较短的林牧草地中管理草坪的内部N循环的相关性较低。豆科植物的比例控制着活的和枯死的草本植物的N浓度,而与林牧系统中的树木遮阴无关。

Soil organic carbon stocks and belowground biomass in patches in heterogeneous grassland

Background:Selective grazing creates stable patches of contrasting sward height,thereby providing different growth conditions for the grass sward above and below ground and potentially affecting soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks.We hypothesized that the presence of patches leads to greater spatial variability in belowground biomass(BGB)and SOC stocks than occurs between pastures managed under different stocking intensities.Methods:A long-term grazing experiment consisting of three stocking intensities was used for this study.We studied BGB,SOC,and soil total nitrogen(Ntot)stocks in the 0-15 cm soil depth.Shannon diversity of plant species,soil bulk density,soil phosphorus,potassium,and magnesium contents were considered.Results:There were no significant effects of patch or stocking intensity on BGB,SOC,and Ntot stocks.Short patches had a greater Shannon diversity than tall patches(p<0.05)and plant-available nutrients in soil correlated positively with sward height(p<0.05).Conclusions:We conclude from the current results and previous studies that higher plant species diversity with lower soil nutrient contents in short-patch areas and higher nutrient contents together with light competition in tall-patch areas might balance each other out with respect to BGB and SOC stocks.

^(13)C analysis of cow tail hair and farm slurry can be used to implicitly distinguish between different dairy production systems

Background Public interest in the way food is produced on the farm and processed along the food-production chain is increasing.The analysis of isotopic signatures(^(13)C)in cow tail hair provides a method to reconstruct the dietary proportion of maize in cow diets.Based on this,we further investigated whether there is a relationship between isotopic signatures in cow tail hair or farm slurry and the proportion of maize of the total utilized agricultural area per farm[%].We did an on-farm survey on 17 dairy farms in coastal Northwest Germany and collected cow tail hair from dairy cows and slurry samples on each farm.The farms differed in their feeding regime(C_(3) vs.C_(4) plants),their site conditions(sandy soil=‘Geestland’;organic soil=‘Peatland’;clayey soil=‘Marshland’),and in the area cultivated with maize as a proportion of the total utilized agricultural area per farm.Results We found a positive relationship between δ^(13)C values in both cow tail hair and slurry and the annual dietary proportion of maize(R^(2)=0.67;and R^(2)=0.63).Furthermore,we confirmed that there was a relationship betweenδ^(13)C values in cow tail hair and area of maize as a proportion of the total utilized agricultural area per farm(R^(2)=0.69).Conclusion Our findings suggest a general applicability of using isotopic signatures(^(13)C)along a wide gradient of site conditions and productions systems in practice.

No association between Parkinson disease and autoantibodies against NMDA-type glutamate receptors

Background:IgG-class autoantibodies to N-Methyl-D-Aspartate(NMDA)-type glutamate receptors define a novel entity of autoimmune encephalitis.Studies examining the prevalence of NMDA IgA/IgM antibodies in patients with Parkinson disease with/without dementia produced conflicting results.We measured NMDA antibodies in a large,well phenotyped sample of Parkinson patients without and with cognitive impairment(n=296)and controls(n=295)free of neuropsychiatric disease.Detailed phenotyping and large numbers allowed statistically meaningful correlation of antibody status with diagnostic subgroups as well as quantitative indicators of disease severity and cognitive impairment.Methods:NMDA antibodies were analysed in the serum of patients and controls using well established validated assays.We used anti-NMDA antibody positivity as the main independent variable and correlated it with disease status and phenotypic characteristics.Results:The frequency of NMDA IgA/IgM antibodies was lower in Parkinson patients(13%)than in controls(22%)and higher than in previous studies in both groups.NMDA IgA/IgM antibodies were neither significantly associated with diagnostic subclasses of Parkinson disease according to cognitive impairment,nor with quantitative indicators of disease severity and cognitive impairment.A positive NMDA antibody status was positively correlated with age in controls but not in Parkinson patients.Conclusion:It is unlikely albeit not impossible that NMDA antibodies play a significant role in the pathogenesis or progression of Parkinson disease e.g.to Parkinson disease with dementia,while NMDA IgG antibodies define a separate disease of its own.