Search results

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) YKL40 and sTREM2 are astroglial and microglial activity biomarkers, respectively. We assessed whether CSF YKL40 and sTREM2 baseline levels are associated with longitudinal brain volume and diffusivity changes in cognitively unimpaired adults. Two brain MRI scans of 36 participants (57 to 78-years old, 12 male) were acquired in a 2-year interval. Aβ42, p-tau, YKL40 and sTREM2 concentrations in CSF were determined at baseline. We calculated gray and white matter volume changes per year maps (ΔGM and ΔWM, respectively) by means of longitudinal pairwise registration, and mean diffusivity variation per year (ΔMD) by subtraction. We checked voxel-wise for associations between ΔGM, ΔWM and ΔMD and baseline CSF level of YKL40 and sTREM2 and verified to what extent these associations were modulated by age (YKL40xAGE and sTREM2xAGE interactions). We found a positive association between ΔGM and YKL40 in the left inferior parietal region and no association between sTREM2 and ΔGM. Negative associations were also observed between ΔGM and YKL40xAGE (bilateral frontal areas, left precuneus and left postcentral and supramarginal gyri) and sTREM2xAGE (bilateral temporal and frontal cortex, putamen and left middle cingulate gyrus). We found negative associations between ΔWM and YKL40xAGE (bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus) and sTREM2xAGE (bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus, left superior corona radiata, retrolenticular external capsule and forceps minor, among other regions) but none between ΔWM and neither YKL40 nor sTREM2. ΔMD was positively correlated with YKL40 in right orbital region and negatively with sTREM2 in left lingual gyrus and precuneus. In addition, significant associations were found between ΔMD and YKL40xAGE (tail of left hippocampus and surrounding areas and right anterior cingulate gyrus) and sTREM2xAGE (right superior temporal gyrus). Areas showing statistically significant differences were disjoint in analyses involving YKL40 and sTREM2. These results suggest that glial biomarkers exert a relevant and distinct influence in longitudinal brain macro- and microstructural changes in cognitively unimpaired adults, which appears to be modulated by age. In younger subjects increased glial markers (both YKL40 and sTREM2) predict a better outcome, as indicated by a decrease in ΔGM and ΔWM and an increase in ΔMD, whereas in older subjects this association is inverted and higher levels of glial markers are associated with a poorer neuroimaging outcome. ; The research leading to these results has received support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement n° 115568, resources of which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) and EFPIA companies' in-kind contribution. Juan D Gispert holds a 'Ramón y Cajal' fellowship (RYC-2013-13054) and Lorena Rami is part of the 'Programa de Investigadores del Sistema Nacional Miguel Servet II' (CPII14/00023; IP: Lorena Rami). Marc Suárez-Calvet was awarded with an AFTD Biomarkers Initiative awards from the The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and receives funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie action grant agreement No 752310. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) within the framework of the Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (EXC 1010 SyNergy), Cure Alzheimer's Fund and MetLife Foundation Award (to Christian Haass). The present communication reflects the authors' view and neither IMI nor the European Union, EFPIA, or any Associated Partners are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.

Front Matter -- Introduction. Urban Biodiversity and the Case for Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Towns and Cities / Norbert Müller, Peter Werner -- Fundamentals of Urban Biodiversity -- Biodiversity of Urban-Industrial Areas and its Evaluation-A Critical Review / Rüdiger Wittig -- Cultural Aspects of Urban Biodiversity / Andy Millard -- Social Aspects of Urban Biodiversity-An Overview / Sarel Cilliers -- Urban Biodiversity and Climate Change / David J. Nowak -- Design and Future of Urban Biodiversity / Maria Ignatieva -- Urban Patterns and Biological Diversity: A Review / Peter Werner, Rudolf Zahner -- History and Development of Urban Biodiversity -- Urban Flora: Historic, Contemporary and Future Trends / Philip James -- Environmental History and Urban Colonizations from an Avian Perspective / Timo Vuorisalo -- Constraints of Urbanization on Vegetation Dynamics in a Growing City: A Chronological Framework in Rennes (France) / Vincent Pellissier, Françoise Roze, Phillipe Clergeau -- Most Frequently Occurring Vascular Plants and the Role of Non-Native Species in Urban Areas-A Comparison of Selected Cities in the Old and the New Worlds / Norbert Müller -- Factors Influencing Non-Native Tree Species Distribution in Urban Landscapes / Wayne C. Zipperer -- Analysis and Evaluation of Biodiversity in Cities -- Towards an Automated Update of Urban Biotope Maps Using Remote Sensing Data: What is Possible? / Mathias Bochow, Theres Peisker, Sigrid Roessner, Karl Segl, Hermann Kaufmann -- Analysis of the Planted and Spontaneous Vegetation at Selected Open Spaces in Apipucos District of Recife, Brazil / Dietmar Sattler, Simone Schmidt, Marccus Vinicius da Silva Alves -- Multivariate Approaches to the Study of Urban Biodiversity and Vegetation: An Example from a Southern Temperate Colonial City, Christchurch, New Zealand / Glenn H Stewart, Maria Ignatieva, Colin D. Meurk -- The Biodiversity of Historic Domestic Gardens-A Study in the Wilhelminian Quarter of Erfurt (Germany) / Norbert Müller -- Old Masonry Walls as Ruderal Habitats for Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement in Urban Hong Kong / C.Y. Jim -- Green Roofs-Urban Habitats for Ground-Nesting Birds and Plants / Nathalie Baumann, Friederike Kasten -- South Atlantic Tourist Resorts: Predictors for Changes Induced by Afforestation / Ana Faggi, Pablo Perepelizin, Jose R. Dadon -- Social Integration and Education for Biodiversity -- Urban Green Spaces: Natural and Accessible? The Case of Greater Manchester, UK / Aleksandra Kazmierczak, Richard Armitage, Philip James -- Urban Wastelands-A Chance for Biodiversity in Cities? Ecological Aspects, Social Perceptions and Acceptance of Wilderness by Residents / Juliane Mathey, Dieter Rink -- Perception of Biodiversity-The Impact of School Gardening / Dorothee Benkowitz, Karlheinz Köhler -- Landscape Design and Children's Participation in a Japanese Primary School-Planning Process of School Biotope for 5 Years / Keitaro Ito, Ingunn Fjortoft, Tohru Manabe, Kentaro Masuda, Mahito Kamada, Katsunori Fujiwara -- Attracting Interest in Urban Biodiversity with Bird Studies in Italy / Marco Dinetti -- Allotment Gardens as Part of Urban Green Infrastructure: Actual Trends and Perspectives in Central Europe / Jürgen H Breuste -- Conservation, Restoration and Design for Biodiversity. Integration of Natural Vegetation in Urban Design-Information, Personal Determination and Commitment / Clas Florgård -- Prospects of Biodiversity in the Mega-City of Karachi, Pakistan: Potentials, Constraints and Implications / Salman Qureshi, Jürgen H Breuste -- Potential of Biodiversity and Recreation in Shrinking Cities: Contextualization and Operationalization / Dagmar Haase, Sophie Schetke -- Near-Natural Restoration Strategies in Post-Mining Landscapes / Anita Kirmer, Sabine Tischew -- Restoration and Design of Calcareous Grasslands in Urban and Suburban Areas: Examples from the Munich Plain / Christine Joas, Johannes Gñdinger, Klaus Wiesinger, Rüdiger Haase, Kathrin Kiehl -- Contribution of Landscape Design to Changing Urban Climate Conditions / Katrin Hagen, Richard Stiles -- Economics and the Convention on Biodiversity: Financial Incentives for Encouraging Biodiversity in Nagoya / Ryo Kohsaka -- Conclusions -- Index.

 It has been a very long time since I have been away from home this long--October 2016--when I spent a month of my last sabbatical in Tokyo [I just received word that I will be spending 3 months abroad x 2 over the next 1.5 years, but more on that later].  This time, two weeks in South Korea and nearly a week in Denmark.  The packing was not that challenging since it is fall in both places although Seoul and Busan were decidedy warmer than Copenhagen and mostly much drier.I was in South Korea to do the next project's first case study (well, mine, as Phil has already been traveling for some of his).  And then I went to Copenhagen to present the findings to a group I have never met before--the International Society of Military Scientists.  There are some civ-mil folks, but also strategy people, military culture analysts, and all kinds of stuff.  The trick is that the South Korean case was/is not easy to code or figure out.  I did have good access and had much help from a great team of fixer/interpreters, but I need to spend more time thinking about the case, talking to experts, and reading more.  So, the presentation was a bit tricky.  But it went ok. Folks keep finding the project to be interesting.So, let me instead compare the two trips: Costs (food, taxi): Cost:  South Korea.  Copenhagen is simply a very expensive place, and Seoul/Busan are not.  I kept doing the exchange rate math here in Copenhagen and kept freaking out just a bit.Bike Danger: Denmark.  So quiet, so many.Availability of Bomb Shelters, Emergency Gear: South Korea Easy for the linguistically lame: Denmark.  I have no inhibitions there about speaking English, as everyone responds in kind thus far.  Also, the alphabet is the same with some strange looking o's, so I can figure much out.  Not so much in Korea.Weather: South Korea.  Much drier and warmer.Walking tourism: Busan > Copenhagen > Seoul.  All three places are great, but I have been to Copenhagen a few times before and to Seoul once before so novelty here wins out.Food: I kept finding Indonesian food in Korea, so that's a win right there.Sleep: oy.  Not great in either place.  Jet lag plus hard to control room temps and those duvets that mean either hot or cold and nothing in between.  Oy, and flying my preferred airline is indeed better than not.  The Lufthansa flight from Seoul to Munich was about as long as the flight from Newark to Japan, but it was econ, no plus, which mean no room before the inconsiderate person in front of me decided to repeatedly slam her seat as far as it could go, hitting my knees and bouncing my ipad off my little table.  Shitty seats are shitty seats, no matter the airline, but when I have a bit of status, I can get at least those precious two or three inches that make all the difference.  When I fly, I always am thankful that I am not tall.  I am bummed I missed the Vimy Gala as Jacqui O'Neill rocks mightily, and while her talk was not aimed at undoing the damage done by last year's craptastic speaker, it was still an excellent tonic.  Funny what happens when you take the decision-making out of the old boys network's hands.   

The article offers an overview of modern historical data on the origins, causes of World War II, the decisive role of the USSR in its victorious end, and also records the main results and lessons of World War II.Hitler's Germany was the main cause of World War II. Nazism, racial theory, mixed with far-reaching geopolitical designs, became the combustible mixture that ignited the fire of glob­al conflict. The war with the Soviet Union was planned to be waged with particular cruelty.The preconditions for the outbreak of World War II were the humiliating provisions of the Versailles Peace Treaty for the German people, as well as the attitude of the "Western de­mocracies" to Russia after 1917 and the Soviet Union as an outcast of world development. Great Britain, France, the United States chose for themselves a policy of ignoring Moscow's interests, they were more likely to cooperate with Hitler's Germany than with Soviet Russia. It was the "Munich Agreement" that became the point of no return to the beginning of the Second World War. Under these conditions, for the USSR, its own security and the conclusion of a non-aggression pact with Germany began to come to the fore, defining the "spheres of interests" of the parties in order to limit the advance of German troops towards the Soviet borders in the event of German aggression against Poland. The non-aggression pact gave the USSR just under two years to rebuild the army and consolidate its defensive potential and pushed the Soviet borders hundreds of kilometers westward. The signing of the Pact was preceded by the failure in August 1939 of the negotiations between the military mis­sions of Britain, France and the USSR, although Moscow took the Anglo-French-Soviet nego­tiations with all seriousness.The huge losses of the USSR in the summer of 1941 are explained by the following circum­stances: before the war, a large-scale modernization of the Red Army was launched, a gradu­ate of a military school did not have sufficient experience in managing an entrusted unit by June 22, 1941; the Red Army was going to bleed the enemy in border battles, stop it with short counterattacks by covering units, carry out defensive operations, and then strike a de­cisive blow into the depths of the enemy's territory, so the importance of a multi-echeloned long-term defense in 1941 was underestimated by the command of the Red Army and it was not ready for it; significant groupings of the Western Special Military District were drawn into potential salients, which was used by the Germans at the initial stage of the war; Stalin's fear of provoking Hitler to start a war led to slowness in making the most urgent and necessary decisions to bring troops to combat readiness.The Allies delayed the opening of the second front for an unreasonably long time. They, of course, achieved outstanding success in the landing operation in France, however, the en­emy's losses in only one Soviet strategic operation in the summer of 1944 ("Bagration") are not inferior, and even exceed, the enemy's losses on the second front. One of the goals of "Bagration" was to help the Allies.Soviet soldiers liberated Europe at the cost of their lives. At the same time, Moscow could not afford to re-establish a cordon sanitaire around its borders after the war, so that anti- Soviet forces would come to power in the border states. The United States and Great Britain took all measures available to them to quickly remove from the governments of Italy, France and other Western states all the left-wing forces that in 1944-1945 had a serious impact on the politics of their countries.

The article is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of the paramilitary Carpathian Sich organization's participation in the election campaign to the Carpatho-Ukrainian Parliament (Soim) on 12 February 1939, which constituted one of the crucial stages in the establishment of the Carpatho-Ukrainian autonomy within the Czecho-Slovak republic. The author presents general characteristics of the electoral process in the context of the Second Czecho-Slovak republic's hybrid political system of authoritarian democracy. The latter was marked by the unification of the political life around government parties in Czech, Slovak, and Carpatho-Ukrainian lands under the motto "unity of the people." In post-Munich realities, the Carpathian Sich, as the most popular non-governmental organization in the region, became the primary government's ally in the campaign's conduct and turned into an instrument of mass electoral mobilization. The engagement of Carpathian Sich members in the 12 February elections was not limited only to canvassing and propaganda but also included the provision of security and order at polling stations, countering enemy propaganda, and assistance in forming voters' lists. Besides, along with other security agencies, the Carpathian Sich became a tool of pressure on the opposition. The author rejects the claim suggesting that Carpathian Sich members terrorized and intimidated the population into casting their votes for the Ukrainian National Union party. For most of the population, the 12 February vote was essentially a plebiscite regarding the political course of the Voloshyn government and the region's stay within the tripartite federation. The author also analyzes the 12 February 1939 elections through an international prism, particularly in the context of the perceived threat of Hungarian occupation. Amid this heightened feeling of insecurity, the electoral campaign more resembled a front mobilization rather than a competitive electoral process. As the vote had shown, the vast majority of the local population wished to remain in the Second Czecho-Slovak republic. It also gave the Prague government a reason to view the elections as a manifestation of the local population's loyalty towards the Czechoslovak state. ; Стаття присвячена комплексному аналізу участі парамілітарної організації Карпатська Січ у виборчій кампанії до Сойму Карпатської України 12 лютого 1939 р. – одному із наріжних етапів становлення автономії Карпатської України у складі Другої Чехо-Словацької республіки. Автор подає узагальнену характеристику виборчого процесу, який проходив в умовах гібридної політичної системи авторитарної демократії у Другій ЧСР, що була позначена уніфікацією політичного життя навколо урядових партій у чеських, словацьких і карпатоукраїнських землях під гаслом «єдності народу». В пост-мюнхенських політичних реаліях Карпатська Січ, як наймасовіша організація в регіоні, виступила одним із головних союзників влади у підготовці та проведенні виборів, ставши інструментом масової мобілізації виборця. Завдання карпатських січовиків на виборах 12 лютого 1939 р. втім не обмежувалися суто агітацією та пропагандою, а включали також забезпечення безпеки та охорони порядку на виборчих дільницях, протидію ворожій пропаганді, допомогу у формуванні списків виборців тощо. Поряд з цим, разом з іншими органами безпеки Карпатська Січ подекуди виступала знаряддям силового тиску на опозицію. Автор спростовує тезу про те, що карпатські січовики тероризували і залякували населення, щоб змусити останнє голосувати за партію УНО. Для більшості населення волевиявлення 12 лютого 1939 р. мало характер плебісциту щодо політичного курсу уряду А. Волошина та перебування краю у складі триєдиної чехо-словацької федерації. Автор пропонує міжнародну оптику для аналізу виборів 12 лютого 1939 р., зокрема в контексті усвідомленої більшістю виборців загрози угорської окупації. В умовах посиленого відчуття зовнішньої небезпеки електоральна кампанія більше нагадувала фронтову мобілізацію, ніж змагальні виборчі перегони. Як засвідчили результати голосування, переважна більшість місцевого населення прагнула залишитися у складі Другої Чехо-Словацької республіки. Саме так розцінював волевиявлення 12 лютого у Карпатській Україні і празький уряд, який розглядав їх як вияв лояльності мешканців краю до чехословацької держави.

The article is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of the paramilitary Carpathian Sich organization's participation in the election campaign to the Carpatho-Ukrainian Parliament (Soim) on 12 February 1939, which constituted one of the crucial stages in the establishment of the Carpatho-Ukrainian autonomy within the Czecho-Slovak republic. The author presents general characteristics of the electoral process in the context of the Second Czecho-Slovak republic's hybrid political system of authoritarian democracy. The latter was marked by the unification of the political life around government parties in Czech, Slovak, and Carpatho-Ukrainian lands under the motto "unity of the people." In post-Munich realities, the Carpathian Sich, as the most popular non-governmental organization in the region, became the primary government's ally in the campaign's conduct and turned into an instrument of mass electoral mobilization. The engagement of Carpathian Sich members in the 12 February elections was not limited only to canvassing and propaganda but also included the provision of security and order at polling stations, countering enemy propaganda, and assistance in forming voters' lists. Besides, along with other security agencies, the Carpathian Sich became a tool of pressure on the opposition. The author rejects the claim suggesting that Carpathian Sich members terrorized and intimidated the population into casting their votes for the Ukrainian National Union party. For most of the population, the 12 February vote was essentially a plebiscite regarding the political course of the Voloshyn government and the region's stay within the tripartite federation. The author also analyzes the 12 February 1939 elections through an international prism, particularly in the context of the perceived threat of Hungarian occupation. Amid this heightened feeling of insecurity, the electoral campaign more resembled a front mobilization rather than a competitive electoral process. As the vote had shown, the vast majority of the local population wished to remain in the Second Czecho-Slovak republic. It also gave the Prague government a reason to view the elections as a manifestation of the local population's loyalty towards the Czechoslovak state. ; Стаття присвячена комплексному аналізу участі парамілітарної організації Карпатська Січ у виборчій кампанії до Сойму Карпатської України 12 лютого 1939 р. – одному із наріжних етапів становлення автономії Карпатської України у складі Другої Чехо-Словацької республіки. Автор подає узагальнену характеристику виборчого процесу, який проходив в умовах гібридної політичної системи авторитарної демократії у Другій ЧСР, що була позначена уніфікацією політичного життя навколо урядових партій у чеських, словацьких і карпатоукраїнських землях під гаслом «єдності народу». В пост-мюнхенських політичних реаліях Карпатська Січ, як наймасовіша організація в регіоні, виступила одним із головних союзників влади у підготовці та проведенні виборів, ставши інструментом масової мобілізації виборця. Завдання карпатських січовиків на виборах 12 лютого 1939 р. втім не обмежувалися суто агітацією та пропагандою, а включали також забезпечення безпеки та охорони порядку на виборчих дільницях, протидію ворожій пропаганді, допомогу у формуванні списків виборців тощо. Поряд з цим, разом з іншими органами безпеки Карпатська Січ подекуди виступала знаряддям силового тиску на опозицію. Автор спростовує тезу про те, що карпатські січовики тероризували і залякували населення, щоб змусити останнє голосувати за партію УНО. Для більшості населення волевиявлення 12 лютого 1939 р. мало характер плебісциту щодо політичного курсу уряду А. Волошина та перебування краю у складі триєдиної чехо-словацької федерації. Автор пропонує міжнародну оптику для аналізу виборів 12 лютого 1939 р., зокрема в контексті усвідомленої більшістю виборців загрози угорської окупації. В умовах посиленого відчуття зовнішньої небезпеки електоральна кампанія більше нагадувала фронтову мобілізацію, ніж змагальні виборчі перегони. Як засвідчили результати голосування, переважна більшість місцевого населення прагнула залишитися у складі Другої Чехо-Словацької республіки. Саме так розцінював волевиявлення 12 лютого у Карпатській Україні і празький уряд, який розглядав їх як вияв лояльності мешканців краю до чехословацької держави.

Modern Ukrainian historiography tends to consider the march of Central Powers' armies into Ukraine as a mere sideshow caused by internal political and social processes. This view was also influenced by the overideological and factually incorrect Soviet scholarly heritage. Recently, valuable investigations have been published by the Austrian scholars V. Dornik and P. Lib, as well as the Polish scholar V. Medrzecki, with the use of new data from German archives of Munich, Dresden, and Stuttgart. However, some facts have been misinterpreted. At the same time, 1918 historical events cannot be correctly reconstructed without proper understanding of German and Austro-Hungarian military operations in Ukraine. Therefore, it is important to reconstruct the order of battle of German and Austro-Hungarian forces in Ukraine, to study operations aimed to expel Bolsheviks from the territory of Ukrainian People's Republic and the progress of the following occupation of Ukraine. The objective of the article is to study the first phase of the Central Powers armies' march into Ukraine (February 18–20, 1918). At that moment, plans of the German High Command were not specified, and total occupation of Ukraine was not considered yet. Advance in Ukraine was a part of the Faustschlag operation, commenced on February 18, 1918, and aimed to conquer Baltic region and Belarus. Initially, only 6 divisions were employed; they were considered sufficient to restore the power of Central Rada and to help Ukrainians fight Bolsheviks. Phase one lasted only for two days (February 18–20, 1918). During those days it became apparent that German divisions would meet no organized or tough opposition. Therefore, offensive turned into hot pursuit along railways and principal roads. On February 20, 1918, German High Command started phase two of the operation, aimed at capturing Kyiv and restoration of power of the Ukrainian government. ; Сучасна українська історіографія події вступу німецьких військ в Україну на запрошення уряду УНР та наступну окупацію України досі розглядає з точки зору переважно внутрішніх соціально-політичних обставин, часто на основі досліджень радянського періоду, які не опиралися на достовірні джерела та були значно заідеологізовані. Останнім часом в Україні з'явилися нові праці, у яких автори починають використовувати нові архівні матеріали, які збереглися в німецьких архівах Мюнхена, Дрездена, Штутгарта (праці австрійських істориків В. Дорніка, П. Ліба, польського дослідника В. Менджецького). Однак не всі факти у них, які віднайдені, отримують правильне розуміння. Тому важливо для аналізу тих реальних подій, які відбувалися в Україні протягом 1918 року, дослідити операцію німецьких та австро-угорських військ саме як військову операцію, де точніше визначити склад німецьких та австро-угорських військ в Україні, особливості проведення операції з вигнання російських більшовиків з території УНР і хід наступної окупації України. У статті досліджено лише перший етап проведення німецької операції в Україні від 18 до 20 лютого 1918 року, коли ще плани стосовно України німецького командування були не конкретизовані і не передбачали її повної окупації (вся операція німецьких військ проти радянської Росії, розпочата з 18 лютого 1918 року не тільки в Україні, а й у Прибалтиці та Білорусі, мала кодову назву «Фаустшлаг», тобто удар кулаком). На початковому етапі німецьке командування задіяло в операції лише шість дивізій, які воно вважало достатніми силами для відновлення уряду Центральної Ради та організації допомоги Україні у боротьбі з більшовиками. Результатом першого етапу операції (18–20 лютого 1918 року) на українському напрямку стало розуміння німецького командування, що якогось організованого спротиву в Україні німецькі війська не зустрінуть. Тому операція розгорталася в подальшому швидкими темпами на основних залізничних магістралях та вздовж магістральних шосе, що дало можливість після аналізу ситуації вже 20 лютого перейти до другого етапу, метою якого стало оволодіння Києвом та відновлення української влади в країні.

Aus mehreren Anlässen lohnt es sich derzeit, über die grenzüberschreitende Dimension der Raumentwicklung Bayerns nachzudenken. Erstens ist auf bayerischer Ebene eine neue Aufmerksamkeit für Fragen der grenzüberschreitenden Entwicklung festzustellen. Dies bezieht sich vor allem auf die bayerisch-tschechische Grenze, die aufgrund ihrer historischen und politischen Komplexität lange kaum auf der Ebene Prag-München adressiert werden konnte, und wo jetzt eine spürbare Dynamik auf der "mittleren Ebene" einsetzt. Zugleich wird im Alpenraum mit dem Start der makroregionalen Strategie EUSALP eine verstärkte Diskussion um die Instrumente der Raumentwicklung geführt. Zweitens haben die vor allem im Jahr 2015 einsetzenden Flüchtlingsströme die Bedeutung von Grenzen mit unvorhergesehener Wucht auf die politische Agenda gesetzt. Nachdem viele Jahre die Rede von einem "grenzenlosen" Europa weit verbreitet war, ist nun durch die Debatten um Flüchtlingspolitik und Grenzkontrollen deutlich geworden, dass europäische Binnengrenzen weiterhin eine erhebliche politische Bedeutung haben. Dies betrifft Bayern vor allem im Grenzraum zu Österreich. Drittens ist auf europäischer Ebene eine Dynamik in der grenzüberschreitenden Kooperation zu beobachten: In den vergangenen Jahren standen vor allem die INTERREG-A- und Euregio-getragenen Aktivitäten im unmittelbaren Grenzraum im Vordergrund, die auch weiterhin wichtig bleiben werden. Nun ist auf übergeordneter Ebene eine neue Dynamik hinzugekommen, wo sich mit Makroregionen und zahlreichen bi- und multilateralen Kooperationsformen neue Konstellationen ergeben. Dies zeigt sich in Bayern vor allem mit der noch recht jungen Europaregion Donau-Moldau und durch die Einbindung in zwei makroregionale Strategien im Donau- und Alpenraum. Vor diesem Hintergrund hat sich innerhalb der Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Bayern der Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung (ARL) im Jahre 2015 eine Arbeitsgruppe zur grenzüberschreitenden Raumentwicklung Bayerns formiert, die in recht großer Personalstärke und bemerkenswerter Internationalität über drei Jahre hinweg zahlreiche Facetten des Themenbereiches aufgearbeitet hat. Ziel dieser Arbeitsgruppe und damit auch der vorliegenden Publikation ist es, auf folgende Fragen Antworten zu finden: Wie verändern diese aktuellen Entwicklungen das Akteurs- und Institutionengefüge der Regionalentwicklung und räumlichen Planung? Welche Bedeutung nehmen Grenzen als Raumelement vor dem Hintergrund der dynamischen Entwicklung nun ein? Welche Chancen und Herausforderungen bringen die neuen Instrumente und Trends für die Praxis der Planung und Regionalentwicklung mit sich? ; There are a number of pertinent reasons for considering the cross-border dimension of Bavaria's spatial development at the present time. First, it is possible to identify a new awareness of issues of cross-border development on the Bavarian level. This is particularly related to the border between Bavaria and the Czech Republic, which is so historically and politically complex that it has long been difficult to address on the Prague-Munich level. Tangible developments have recently been seen here on the "middle level". At the same time the start of the macro-regional strategy EUSALP has led to increased discussion of spatial development instruments in the Alpine region. Second, the significance of borders was placed on the political agenda with unexpected force by the flows of refugees that largely began in 2015. After many years of widespread talk of a "borderless" Europe, debates about refugee policies and border controls have made clear that the internal European borders still have considerable political significance. This affects Bavaria especially along the border to Austria. Third, it is possible to identify fresh impetus in cross-border cooperation on the European level. In recent years the focus was on activities in the immediate border area based on INTERREG-A and Euroregions. These remain important, but there is also new impetus on the higher level where macro-regions and numerous bilateral and multilateral forms of cooperation are creating novel constellations. In Bavaria this can be seen particularly in the relatively new European region Danube-Vltava and through involvement in two macro-regional strategies in the Danube and Alpine areas. Against this background, in 2015 the Bavarian state working party of the Academy for Spatial Research and Planning (ARL) formed a working group on cross-border spatial development in Bavaria. This large and exceptionally international group has spent three years working on numerous facets of the topic at hand. Both the working group and this publication aim to find answers to the following questions: How are these current developments changing the structures of actors and institutions in regional development and spatial planning? What is the significance of borders as spatial elements in the context of the dynamic developments? What are the opportunities and challenges presented by the new instruments and trends for planning and regional development practice?

In the field of precision-farming research, solutions are worked out to combine ecological and economical requirements in a harmonic way. Integrating hightech in agricultural machinery, natural differences in the fields (biodiversity) can be detected and considered to economize agricultural resources and to give respect to natural ecological variability at the same time. Using precision farming resources, machining – and labour time can be economized, productivness can be improved, environmental burden can be discharged and documentation of production processes can be improved. To realize precision farming it is essential to make contemporary large scale data of the biodiversity in the field available. In the last years effectual traktor based equipment for real time precision farming applications was developed. Using remote sensing, biomass diversity of the field can be considered while applicating operating ressources economicly. Because these large scale data aquisition depends on expensive tractor based inspections, capable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) could complement or in special situations even replace such tractor based data aquisition needed for the realization of precision farming strategies. The specific advantages and application slots of UAVs seems to be ideal for the usage in the field of precision farming. For example the size of even large agricultural fields in germany can be managed even by smaller UAVs. Data can be captured spontaneously, promptly, in large scale, with less respect of weather conditions. In agricultural regions UAV flights can be arranged in visual range as actually the legislator requires in germany, especially because the use of autopilotsystems in fact is nessecary to assure regular area-wide data without gaps but not to fly in non-visible regions. Also a minimized risk of hazard is given, flying UAVs over deserted agricultural areas. In a first stage CIS GmbH cooperated with "Institute For Flightsystems" of the University of German Armed Forces in Neubiberg/Munich and the well-established precision farming company "Konsultationszentrum Liepen" to develop an applicable UAV for precision farming purposes. Currently Cis GmbH and Technologie Campus Freyung, with intense contact to the "flying robot"- team of DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, collaborate to optimize the existing UAV and to extend the applications from data aquisition for biomass diversity up to detect the water supply situation in agricultural fields, to support pest management systems as much as to check the possibilities to detect bark beetle attacks in european spruce in an early stage of attack (green attack phase) by constructing and integrating further payload modules with different sensors in the existing UAV airframe. Also effective data processing workflows are to be worked out. Actually in the existing UAV autopilotsystem "piccolo" (cloudcaptech) is integrated and also a replaceable payload module is available, carrying a VIS and a NIR camera to calculate maps of NDVI diversity as indicator of biomass diversity. Further modules with a 6 channel multispectral still camera and with a spectrometer are planned. The airframe´s wingspan is about 3,45m weighting 4.2 kg, ready to fly. The hand launchable UAV can start from any place in agricultural regions. The wing is configured with flaps, allowing steep approaches and short landings using a "butterfly" brake configuration. In spite of the lightweight configuration the UAV yet proves its worth under windy baltic wether situations by collecting regular sharp images of fields under wind speed up to 15m/s (Beaufort 6 –7). In further projects the development of further payload modules and a user friendly flight planning tool is scheduled considering different payload – and airframe requirements for different precision farming purposes and forest applications. Data processing and workflow will be optimized. Cooperation with further partners to establish UAV systems in agricultural, forest and geodata aquisition is desired.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults and leads to severe fatigue, substantial physical functional impairment, and restricted social participation. In this study, we aimed to determine whether cognitive behavioural therapy optionally combined with graded exercise compared with standard care alone improved the health status of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1. Methods: We did a multicentre, single-blind, randomised trial, at four neuromuscular referral centres with experience in treating patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 located in Paris (France), Munich (Germany), Nijmegen (Netherlands), and Newcastle (UK). Eligible participants were patients aged 18 years and older with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy type 1, who were severely fatigued (ie, a score of ≥35 on the checklist-individual strength, subscale fatigue). We randomly assigned participants (1:1) to either cognitive behavioural therapy plus standard care and optional graded exercise or standard care alone. Randomisation was done via a central web-based system, stratified by study site. Cognitive behavioural therapy focused on addressing reduced patient initiative, increasing physical activity, optimising social interaction, regulating sleep–wake patterns, coping with pain, and addressing beliefs about fatigue and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Cognitive behavioural therapy was delivered over a 10-month period in 10–14 sessions. A graded exercise module could be added to cognitive behavioural therapy in Nijmegen and Newcastle. The primary outcome was the 10-month change from baseline in scores on the DM1-Activ-c scale, a measure of capacity for activity and social participation (score range 0–100). Statistical analysis of the primary outcome included all participants for whom data were available, using mixed-effects linear regression models with baseline scores as a covariate. Safety data were presented as descriptives. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02118779. Findings: Between April 2, 2014, and May 29, 2015, we randomly assigned 255 patients to treatment: 128 to cognitive behavioural therapy plus standard care and 127 to standard care alone. 33 (26%) of 128 assigned to cognitive behavioural therapy also received the graded exercise module. Follow-up continued until Oct 17, 2016. The DM1-Activ-c score increased from a mean (SD) of 61·22 (17·35) points at baseline to 63·92 (17·41) at month 10 in the cognitive behavioural therapy group (adjusted mean difference 1·53, 95% CI −0·14 to 3·20), and decreased from 63·00 (17·35) to 60·79 (18·49) in the standard care group (−2·02, −4·02 to −0·01), with a mean difference between groups of 3·27 points (95% CI 0·93 to 5·62, p=0·007). 244 adverse events occurred in 65 (51%) patients in the cognitive behavioural therapy group and 155 in 63 (50%) patients in the standard care alone group, the most common of which were falls (155 events in 40 [31%] patients in the cognitive behavioural therapy group and 71 in 33 [26%] patients in the standard care alone group). 24 serious adverse events were recorded in 19 (15%) patients in the cognitive behavioural therapy group and 23 in 15 (12%) patients in the standard care alone group, the most common of which were gastrointestinal and cardiac. Interpretation: Cognitive behavioural therapy increased the capacity for activity and social participation in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 at 10 months. With no curative treatment and few symptomatic treatments, cognitive behavioural therapy could be considered for use in severely fatigued patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1. Funding: The European Union Seventh Framework Programme.

Städte der Zukunft stehen vor zahlreichen Herausforderungen, zu denen neben ökologischen und ökonomischen Entwicklungen gesellschaftliche Prozesse wie der demographische und gesellschaftliche Wandel zählen. Neue, heterogene Familienformen, die durch diesen Wandel entstehen, manifestieren sich unter anderem durch differenzierte Bedürfnisse im Wohnen. Diese Arbeit untersucht die Auswirkungen des demographischen und gesellschaftlichen Wandels auf Wohnen, und stellt die Frage, wie die kommunale Planung auf diese Entwicklung reagieren kann. Die theoretische Einführung beleuchtet Wohnen mit Hilfe der Stadtgeographischen Theorien von WERLEN 1988 und HEINEBERG 2006. Die Erkenntnisse der AutorInnen sind, dass Wohnen ein Bedürfnis ist, dass zu den Daseinsgrundfunktionen zählt und durch Raumaneignung passiert (VGL. WERLEN 1988 und HEINEBERG 2006). In einem ersten Schritt wurden im Theorieteil die Entstehungshintergründe des demographischen und gesellschaftlichen Wandels anhand Untersuchungen von CALDWELL 2004, SCHMITZ-VELITN 2009 , SCHNUR 2010 und weiteren AutorInnen erklärt. Aus der Theorie lässt sich erkennen, dass sich die Gesellschaft aufgrund von ökonomischen und technologischen Entwicklungen wandelt, älter wird, und differenzierte Ansprüche an Wohnen stellt. Im Zentrum dieses Wandels steht der Trend der Individualisierung der Lebensstile. Im nächsten Schritt wurde die Entwicklung der Wohnpolitik in Österreich skizziert: Wohnpolitik gibt die Entwicklungsrichtung von Wohnen vor und beeinflusst Wohnen maßgeblich durch Gesetze und (finanzielle) Lenkungsmaßnahmen. Diese Gesetze und (finanziellen) Lenkungsmaßnahmen bilden Rahmenbedingungen, innerhalb derer die Planung agieren kann. Die Ergebnisse der Literaturrecherche zeigen, dass vor allem die Neuorientierung der Wohnpolitik ein wichtiger Schlüssel in der positiven Weiterentwicklung von Wohnen ist.Die kommunale Planung regiert auf gesellschaftliche Veränderungen und kann vor allem durch Vorgaben, die den (öffentlichen) Raum, die Dichte der Bausubstanz und die Nutzung der Flächen betreffen, Einfluss auf Wohnen nehmen. Im praktischen Teil wurden die Erkenntnisse der Fachliteraturrecherche mit ExpertInnen aus Raumplanung, Wohnbauforschung, Soziologie und Kommunalpolitik diskutiert. In den Ergebnissen der ExpertInneninterviews wird deutlich, dass Handlungsbedarf für die kommunale Planung besteht. Die Instrumente der kommunalen Planung bieten unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten, auf die heterogenen Bedürfnisse zu reagieren. Neben der Adaptierung der Förderung ist vor allem mehr Vielfalt im Wohnbau mit verschiedenen Wohnungsgrößen und flexibel nutzbaren Grundrissen ein Schlüsselaspekt. ; Today, cities worldwide are faced with a multitude of challenges which can broadly be divided into ecological, environmental and social challenges, including demographic and social change. This thesis analyses the impact of demographic and social change on housing and focuses on the influence and impact of city planners and politicians on this development. This research is designed to explore the following questions: What are the housing needs of people today and tomorrow? What can city planners do to cope with these needs? Within theoretical realms, the first look at housing was taken by using urban Geography theories and the findings of the "Munich School of Social Geography". This theory states that housing is a need, one of the five functions of existence that shapes space (VGL. WERLEN 1988 UND HEINEBERG 2006).Furthermore, based on the findings of SCHMITZ-VELTIN 2009 and CALDWELL 2004, the origins of the demographic transition as well as the social transition are described. Society changes dynamically because of economic and technological transition - all these resulting in changing housing needs.Focussing on the development of housing in Austria, housing policies influence the development, therefore laws and funding become the framework for urban planning. Taking a deeper look into housing policies, the field of spatial planning was characterized. Within city development, city planners, political decision makers and private housing agencies are the key players. Interviews were conducted with professionals concerned with spatial planning and housing. The results of the interviews indicate that there is a need for action in housing. In accordance with existing theory, experts confirmed that the instruments currently in use are adequate to satisfy peoples heterogeneous needs. They further indicate the lack of need for implementing new instruments like the "concept for housing" but rather focus on the requirement for increased political awareness in housing policies. Research shows the immediate necessity for more diversity in housing, varying apartment sizes, and adoptable floor plans for different user groups. In order to face future challenges, a holistic view on housing is necessary. Improvement in housing policies is imperative to develop housing that is future-oriented and is concerned with peoples heterogeneous needs. ; vorgelegt von Katharina Drage ; Abweichender Titel laut Übersetzung des Verfassers/der Verfasserin ; Zusammenfassungen in Deutsch und Englisch ; Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Masterarbeit, 2017 ; (VLID)1770371

Indian Asians, who make up a quarter of the world's population, are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether DNA methylation is associated with future type 2 diabetes incidence in Indian Asians and whether differences in methylation patterns between Indian Asians and Europeans are associated with, and could be used to predict, differences in the magnitude of risk of developing type 2 diabetes.We did a nested case-control study of DNA methylation in Indian Asians and Europeans with incident type 2 diabetes who were identified from the 8-year follow-up of 25 372 participants in the London Life Sciences Prospective Population (LOLIPOP) study. Patients were recruited between May 1, 2002, and Sept 12, 2008. We did epigenome-wide association analysis using samples from Indian Asians with incident type 2 diabetes and age-matched and sex-matched Indian Asian controls, followed by replication testing of top-ranking signals in Europeans. For both discovery and replication, DNA methylation was measured in the baseline blood sample, which wascollected before the onset of type 2 diabetes. Epigenome-wide significance was set at p<1 × 10(-7). We compared methylation levels between Indian Asian and European controls without type 2 diabetes at baseline to estimate the potential contribution of DNA methylation to increased risk of future type 2 diabetes incidence among Indian Asians.1608 (11·9%) of 13 535 Indian Asians and 306 (4·3%) of 7066 Europeans developed type 2 diabetes over a mean of 8·5 years (SD 1·8) of follow-up. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted incidence of type 2 diabetes was 3·1 times (95% CI 2·8-3·6; p<0·0001) higher among Indian Asians than among Europeans, and remained 2·5 times (2·1-2·9; p<0·0001) higher after adjustment for adiposity, physical activity, family history of type 2 diabetes, and baseline glycaemic measures. The mean absolute difference in methylation level between type 2 diabetes cases and controls ranged from 0·5% (SD 0·1) to 1·1% (0·2). Methylation markers at five loci were associated with future type 2 diabetes incidence; the relative risk per 1% increase in methylation was 1·09 (95% CI 1·07-1·11; p=1·3 × 10(-17)) for ABCG1, 0·94 (0·92-0·95; p=4·2 × 10(-11)) for PHOSPHO1, 0·94 (0·92-0·96; p=1·4 × 10(-9)) for SOCS3, 1·07 (1·04-1·09; p=2·1 × 10(-10)) for SREBF1, and 0·92 (0·90-0·94; p=1·2 × 10(-17)) for TXNIP. A methylation score combining results for the five loci was associated with future type 2 diabetes incidence (relative risk quartile 4 vs quartile 1 3·51, 95% CI 2·79-4·42; p=1·3 × 10(-26)), and was independent of established risk factors. Methylation score was higher among Indian Asians than Europeans (p=1 × 10(-34)).DNA methylation might provide new insights into the pathways underlying type 2 diabetes and offer new opportunities for risk stratification and prevention of type 2 diabetes among Indian Asians.The European Union, the UK National Institute for Health Research, the Wellcome Trust, the UK Medical Research Council, Action on Hearing Loss, the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Oak Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, the German Research Center for Environmental Health, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the German Center for Diabetes Research, the Munich Center for Health Sciences, the Ministry of Science and Research of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the German Federal Ministry of Health.

Die Projektierung und Abwicklung sowie die statische und dynamische Analyse von Geschäftsprozessen im Bereich des Verwaltens und Regierens auf kommunaler, Länder- wie auch Bundesebene mit Hilfe von Informations- und Kommunikationstechniken beschäftigen Politiker und Strategen für Informationstechnologie ebenso wie die Öffentlichkeit seit Langem. Der hieraus entstandene Begriff E-Government wurde in der Folge aus den unterschiedlichsten technischen, politischen und semantischen Blickrichtungen beleuchtet. Die vorliegende Arbeit konzentriert sich dabei auf zwei Schwerpunktthemen: • Das erste Schwerpunktthema behandelt den Entwurf eines hierarchischen Architekturmodells, für welches sieben hierarchische Schichten identifiziert werden können. Diese erscheinen notwendig, aber auch hinreichend, um den allgemeinen Fall zu beschreiben. Den Hintergrund hierfür liefert die langjährige Prozess- und Verwaltungserfahrung als Leiter der EDV-Abteilung der Stadtverwaltung Landshut, eine kreisfreie Stadt mit rund 69.000 Einwohnern im Nordosten von München. Sie steht als Repräsentant für viele Verwaltungsvorgänge in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und ist dennoch als Analyseobjekt in der Gesamtkomplexität und Prozessquantität überschaubar. Somit können aus der Analyse sämtlicher Kernabläufe statische und dynamische Strukturen extrahiert und abstrakt modelliert werden. Die Schwerpunkte liegen in der Darstellung der vorhandenen Bedienabläufe in einer Kommune. Die Transformation der Bedienanforderung in einem hierarchischen System, die Darstellung der Kontroll- und der Operationszustände in allen Schichten wie auch die Strategie der Fehlererkennung und Fehlerbehebung schaffen eine transparente Basis für umfassende Restrukturierungen und Optimierungen. Für die Modellierung wurde FMC-eCS eingesetzt, eine am Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Softwaresystemtechnik GmbH (HPI) im Fachgebiet Kommunikationssysteme entwickelte Methodik zur Modellierung zustandsdiskreter Systeme unter Berücksichtigung möglicher Inkonsistenzen (Betreuer: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Werner Zorn [ZW07a, ZW07b]). • Das zweite Schwerpunktthema widmet sich der quantitativen Modellierung und Optimierung von E-Government-Bediensystemen, welche am Beispiel des Bürgerbüros der Stadt Landshut im Zeitraum 2008 bis 2015 durchgeführt wurden. Dies erfolgt auf Basis einer kontinuierlichen Betriebsdatenerfassung mit aufwendiger Vorverarbeitung zur Extrahierung mathematisch beschreibbarer Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilungen. Der hieraus entwickelte Dienstplan wurde hinsichtlich der erzielbaren Optimierungen im dauerhaften Echteinsatz verifiziert. [ZW07a] Zorn, Werner: «FMC-QE A New Approach in Quantitative Modeling», Vortrag anlässlich: MSV'07- The 2007 International Conference on Modeling, Simulation and Visualization Methods WorldComp2007, Las Vegas, 28.6.2007. [ZW07b] Zorn, Werner: «FMC-QE, A New Approach in Quantitative Modeling», Veröffentlichung, Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Softwaresystemtechnik an der Universität Potsdam, 28.6.2007. ; The project development and implementation as well as the static and dynamic analysis of business processes in the context of administration and governance on a municipal, federal state or national level by information and communication technology, has concerned the media along with politicians and strategists for information technology as well as the general public for a long time. The here-from defined term of E-Government has been examined as the focal point of discussion from most diverse technical, political and semantic perspectives. The present work focuses on two main topics: • The first main topic approaches the development of a hierarchical architecture model for which seven hierarchical layers can be identified. These seem to be necessary as well as sufficient to describe the general case. The background is provided by the long-term processual and administrative experience as head of the IT department at the municipality of Landshut, an independent city with 69.000 inhabitants located in the north-east of Munich. It is representative of many administrative processes in the Federal Republic of Germany, but nonetheless still manageable concerning its complexity and quantity of processes. Therefore, static and dynamic structures can be extracted from the analysis of all core workflows and modelled abstractly. The emphases lie on the description of the existing operating procedures in a municipality. The transformation of the operating requirements in a hierarchical system, the modeling of the control and operational states within all layers, as well as the strategy of error recognition and troubleshooting create a transparent basis for extensive restructuring and optimisation. For modeling was used FMC-eCS, a methodology for the description of state discrete systems, developed at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute for Software Systems Engineering (HPI) in the subject area of communication systems. Furthermore inconsistent system statuses are taken into consideration (advisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Werner Zorn [ZW02, …, ZW10]). • The second main topic focuses on the quantitative modeling and optimisation of the E-Government process chain at Landshut´s Citizens Advice Bureau (2008 up to 2015). This is based on a continuous data acquisition with sophisticated pre-processing to extract mathematically describable probability distributions. The derivation of a duty roster for actual application and a quality control conclusively verify the developed stochastic method.