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Aim: The present study models the response of vegetation to drought between 1982 and 2011 focusing on the growing season, considering: (1) vulnerable versus resistant ecosystems, (2) ecosystem resilience, (3) the delayed response of vegetation to accumulated precipitation deficits and (4) reduction in productivity due to drought. Location: Continental Europe. Methods: Vegetation condition was analysed by anomalies of the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by vegetation (FAPAR) within the growing season. FAPAR was modelled as a function of: (1) monthly deviation from long-term average drought conditions, (2) past monthly deviation from long-term average drought conditions, and (3) past monthly deviation from long-term average FAPAR conditions. Significant regression coefficients were mapped as ecosystem resistance as well as ecosystem resilience to drought. Annual and long-term growing season productivity were assessed over ecosystems vulnerable to drought within diverse biomes and plant functional types and were studied together with the extent, timing, frequency, duration and intensity of drought events. Results: Mediterranean ecosystems showed the least resistance to drought but were resilient. Steppic ecosystems showed weak resistance and also weak resilience. Results also indicated weak resistance against drought of the Atlantic and Continental regions with various recovery rates. Productivity decline was observed when the timing, intensity, frequency and extent of drought events targeted the growing season of the vegetation cover. Main conclusions: This study presents an improved method for modelling the impact of drought on the productivity of vegetation by considering the timing, intensity, duration and location of drought events within the growing season, and maps and analyses the resistance and resilience of plant functional types and biomes.

The KATRIN experiment aims to determine the neutrino mass scale with a sensitivity of 200  meV / c 2 (90% C. L.) by a precision measurement of the shape of the tritium β -spectrum in the endpoint region. The energy analysis of the decay electrons is achieved by a MAC-E filter spectrometer. To determine the transmission properties of the KATRIN main spectrometer, a mono-energetic and angular-selective electron source has been developed. In preparation for the second commissioning phase of the main spectrometer, a measurement phase was carried out at the KATRIN monitor spectrometer where the device was operated in a MAC-E filter setup for testing. The results of these measurements are compared with simulations using the particle-tracking software “Kassiopeia”, which was developed in the KATRIN collaboration over recent years.

During the last decade, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) increased markedly inside as well as outside of hospitals. In association with the occurrence of new hypervirulent C. difficile strains, CDI became more important. Until now typing of C. difficile strains has been enabled by PCR-ribotyping. However, this method is restricted to specialized laboratories combined with high maintenance cost. Therefore, we tested MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for typing of C. difficile to provide a fast method for surveillance of CDI. Using a standard set of 25 different C. difficile PCR ribotypes a database was made by different mass spectra recorded in the SARAMIS™ software (AnagnosTec, Zossen, Germany). The database was validated with 355 C. difficile strains belonging to 29 different PCR ribotypes collected prospectively from all submitted feces samples in 2009. The most frequent PCR ribotypes were type 001 (70%), 027 (4.8%) and 078/126 (4.7%). All three types were recognized by MALDI-TOF MS. We conclude that an extended MALDI-TOF system was capable to recognize specific markers for ribotypes 001, 027 and 078/126 allowing an effective identification of these strains.

An enhanced productive life cycle and improved animal welfare are aims pursued in dairy husbandry. This study assesses experimental observations on floor-associated behavior during the stepwise replacement of concrete slatted flooring by rubber mats. For this purpose, estrus (mounting) and hygiene behavior (licking while standing on 3 legs and caudal licking) within a herd of 50 loose-housed Brown Swiss dairy cows were analyzed by video observation before and after floor reconstruction. Still photographs and pedometers were used to asses step length and number of steps, representing walking behavior. Compared with the concrete floor surface, rubber coating led to an increase in step length (58±1 vs. 70±1cm; n=35) and in steps per day (4,226±450 vs. 5,611±495; mean±SEM; n=9). Mounting was higher on the flooring covered with rubber mats (23 vs. 112). Collapsing or slipping during mounting only occurred on concrete slatted flooring (in 19 out of 23 mounting actions). Licking while standing on 3 legs and caudal licking increased up to 4-fold (105 vs. 511 observations). In conclusion, improvements were found in behavior when rubber-coated slatted floor surfaces were used in dairy cattle housing in transition from concrete flooring. Disorders in estrus and hygiene behavior were associated with the flooring of the barn and were relatively easy to investigate within the framework of farm welfare assessments.

The objective of the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment is to determine the effective electron neutrino mass \\[m(\\upnu _\\text {e})\\] with an unprecedented sensitivity of \\[0.2 \\hbox {eV}/\\hbox {c}^2\\] (\\[90 \\%\\,\\hbox {C.L.}\\]) by precision electron spectroscopy close to the endpoint of the \\[\\upbeta \\]-decay of tritium. We present a consistent theoretical description of the \\[\\upbeta \\]-electron energy spectrum in the endpoint region, an accurate model of the apparatus response function, and the statistical approaches suited to interpret and analyze tritium \\[\\upbeta \\]-decay data observed with KATRIN with the envisaged precision. In addition to providing detailed analytical expressions for all formulae used in the presented model framework with the necessary detail of derivation, we discuss and quantify the impact of theoretical and experimental corrections on the measured \\[m(\\upnu _\\text {e})\\]. Finally, we outline the statistical methods for parameter inference and the construction of confidence intervals that are appropriate for a neutrino mass measurement with KATRIN. In this context, we briefly discuss the choice of the \\[\\upbeta \\]-energy analysis interval and the distribution of measuring time within that range.

We investigated dwell times and risk of non-elective removal of 975 single-lumen 1-French peripherally inserted central catheters (1FR-PICC) according to tip position in a cohort of very preterm infants with a mean (SD) gestational age of 27 +6 (2 +1 ) weeks and a mean (SD) birth weight of 988 (294) g over an eight-year period. Infants with a 1FR-PICC inserted for continuous infusion of intravenous fluids within the first 30 days of life were eligible. Dwell times of PICC with elective versus non-elective removal, risk of non-elective removal of PICC according to tip position, and differences between upper versus lower limb catheter insertion were analysed. 33.8% PICC were removed non-electively. Median (IQR) dwell time was 193 (142–287) versus 154 (102–260) h for elective versus non-elective removal ( p  < 0.001). Non-elective removal was more common for lower limb insertion sites: 41 versus 31% ( p  = 0.002). PICC were significantly more likely to be removed non-electively when located in the axillary (odds ratio (OR) 2.08), cephalic (OR 8.93), external iliac (OR 4.99), and femoral (OR 10.31) vein. Conclusion : In this cohort, dwell times of 1FR-PICC lines removed non-electively were similar to 1.9- or 2.0FR-PICC. PICC tips positioned in the axillary, cephalic, external iliac, and femoral veins had a higher risk of non-elective removal. What is Known: •Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are widely used in neonatal intensive care. •Previous studies focused on 2-French PICC and newborns of all gestational ages. What is New: •Dwell times of 1-French PICC removed non-electively were similar to 2-French PICC. •1-French PICC tips positioned more peripherally had a higher risk of non-elective removal.

Global change will alter the supply of ecosystem services that are vital for human well-being. To investigate ecosystem service supply during the 21st century, we used a range of ecosystem models and scenarios of climate and land-use change to conduct a Europe-wide assessment. Large changes in climate and land use typically resulted in large changes in ecosystem service supply. Some of these trends may be positive (for example, increases in forest area and productivity) or offer opportunities (for example, \"surplus land\" for agricultural extensification and bioenergy production). However, many changes increase vulnerability as a result of a decreasing supply of ecosystem services (for example, declining soil fertility, declining water availability, increasing risk of forest fires), especially in the Mediterranean and mountain regions.

Aim: Concern over the implications of climate change for biodiversity has led to the use of species-climate 'envelope' models to forecast risks of species extinctions under climate change scenarios. Recent studies have demonstrated significant variability in model projections and there remains a need to test the accuracy of models and to reduce uncertainties. Testing of models has been limited by a lack of data against which projections of future ranges can be tested. Here we provide a first test of the predictive accuracy of such models using observed species' range shifts and climate change in two periods of the recent past. Location: Britain. Methods: Observed range shifts for 116 breeding bird species in Britain between 1967 and 1972 (t1) and 1987-91 (t2) are used. We project range shifts between t1and t2for each species based on observed climate using 16 alternative models (4 methods x 2 data parameterizations x 2 rules to transform probabilities of occurrence into presence and absence records). Results: Modelling results were extremely variable, with projected range shifts varying both in magnitude and in direction from observed changes and from each other. However, using approaches that explore the central tendency (consensus) of model projections, we were able to improve agreement between projected and observed shifts significantly. Conclusions: Our results provide the first empirical evidence of the value of species-climate 'envelope' models under climate change and demonstrate reduction in uncertainty and improvement in accuracy through selection of the most consensual projections.

An enhanced productive life cycle and improved animal welfare are aims pursued in dairy husbandry. This study assesses experimental observations on floor-associated behavior during the stepwise replacement of concrete slatted flooring by rubber mats. For this purpose, estrus (mounting) and hygiene behavior (licking while standing on 3 legs and caudal licking) within a herd of 50 loose-housed Brown Swiss dairy cows were analyzed by video observation before and after floor reconstruction. Still photographs and pedometers were used to asses step length and number of steps, representing walking behavior. Compared with the concrete floor surface, rubber coating led to an increase in step length (58 ± 1 vs. 70 ± 1 cm; n = 35) and in steps per day (4,226 ± 450 vs. 5,611 ± 495; mean ± SEM; n = 9). Mounting was higher on the flooring covered with rubber mats (23 vs. 112). Collapsing or slipping during mounting only occurred on concrete slatted flooring (in 19 out of 23 mounting actions). Licking while standing on 3 legs and caudal licking increased up to 4-fold (105 vs. 511 observations). In conclusion, improvements were found in behavior when rubber-coated slatted floor surfaces were used in dairy cattle housing in transition from concrete flooring. Disorders in estrus and hygiene behavior were associated with the flooring of the barn and were relatively easy to investigate within the framework of farm welfare assessments.