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The increasing adoption of renewable energy sources (RESs) in public power grids has led to a demand for more intelligent energy management systems (EMSs) in large-scale buildings. A common approach for controlling EMSs for buildings is Model Predictive Control (MPC). For large-scale buildings, hierarchical MPC schemes have been proposed, offering the advantage of scalability through problem decomposition into multiple layers. However, hierarchical schemes often suffer from information mismatch due to information asymmetry between layers, leading to suboptimal control performance. This issue is worsened by model errors inherent to the models underlying the MPC controllers. To address these challenges, we propose a hierarchical MPC approach, which includes data-driven error compensation. Additionally, to mitigate information mismatch, a one-iteration communication step is introduced between the hierarchical layers. The proposed approach comprises two layers: an aggregator layer that controls overall energy flows of the building, and a distributor layer that allocates thermal energy to individual temperature zones. The distributor may request additional thermal budget by providing the aggregator with an otherwise expected performance loss, which it can trade off accordingly. The approach is evaluated in a software-in-the-loop (SiL) simulation using a physics-based digital twin model of a multi-zone commercial building, showing notable improvements in overall control performance in comparison to a naive hierarchical baseline and similar performance to a monolithic baseline. • New hierarchical MPC for energy management of a multi-zone commercial building. • One-iteration communication step between layers to mitigate information asymmetry. • Incorporation of data-driven error compensation of heat influences. • Evaluation using real-world data and physics-based digital twin simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.03.032 Byline: Gudrun Herzner, Thomas Schmitt, K. Eduard Linsenmair, Erhard Strohm Abstract: The asymmetry in mating strategies between males and females may influence the evolution of mate-signalling systems. Exploitation of pre-existing female preferences for certain visual or acoustic stimuli by male courtship signals has been reported from a variety of species. However, information on chemical communication systems is comparatively scarce. The sensory trap model of sexual signalling suggests that female preferences originated from and are maintained by selection pressures in a nonsexual context, e.g. prey recognition. We tested a key prediction from the sensory trap hypothesis for the evolution of the male sex pheromone in a solitary wasp, the European beewolf, Philanthus triangulum. Females hunt exclusively honeybees, Apis mellifera, as provisions for their larvae. Males mark territories with a pheromone to attract females. The co-occurrence of a long-chain alcohol, (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol, in the male pheromone and on the cuticle of honeybees suggests that males might exploit a female preference for (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol. We used behavioural assays with honeybees and honeybee dummies to investigate whether females use (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol for prey recognition. Females used olfactory cues to find and identify honeybees and (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol was an essential component of the prey recognition cue. Thus, female European beewolves have a high sensitivity for (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol that probably evolved in the context of prey hunting. Therefore, males that included this compound in their sex pheromone probably attracted more females and experienced a selective advantage according to the sensory trap model. Author Affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Wurzburg University, Germany Article History: Received 15 October 2004; Revised 20 January 2005; Accepted 30 March 2005 Article Note: (miscellaneous) MS. number: 8307

A key prediction for the sensory trap hypothesis for the evolution of the male sex pheromone in a solitary wasp, the European beewolf Philanthus triangulum is tested and the females hunt exclusively the honeybees, Apis mellifera as provisions for their larvae. The female European beewolves have a high sensitivity for (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol that probably evolves in a context of prey hunting.

Shoulder complaints are common in the general population. Typically, the diagnosis of a specific pathology is lacking. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of an osteopathic treatment in patients suffering from shoulder pain. A pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients with a history of shoulder pain of 6 weeks to 12 months, and a pain intensity level of at least 40% on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Participants were identified from the general population in Germany and allocated by means of external randomization to an intervention group or a control group. Patients in the intervention group received five osteopathic treatments at intervals of two weeks. Treatment was custom tailored and based on osteopathic principles. Controls received their osteopathic treatment after an 8-week untreated waiting period. Primary outcome parameters were pain intensity and frequency, measured by VAS and Likert Scales. Secondary outcome parameters were shoulder specific pain and disability (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, SPADI), and quality of life (SF-36). A total of 70 patients aged 25–70 years (average age 45.6 ± 13.4 years) were included, 36 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group. The inter-group comparison of changes revealed clinically relevant improvements in favor of the intervention group for the main outcome parameters maximal pain intensity (VAS: between group difference of means 41.5; 95% CI: 34.6 to 48.3; p < 0.005) and average pain intensity (VAS: between group difference of means 40.4; 95% CI: 33.2 to 47.5; p < 0.005). The proportion of participants with a low frequency of pain increased in the osteopathic group only (from 7 to 34 vs. 9 to 6 in the control group, p = 0.006), and the number of patients with a high frequency decreased in the osteopathic group only (from 29 to 2 vs. 25 to 28, p < 0.0005). Shoulder specific pain and disability also improved. The follow-up assessment in the intervention group showed further improvements. Five osteopathic treatments over a period of eight weeks led to statistically significant and clinically relevant positive changes of pain and disability in patients suffering from shoulder pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study used neutron diffraction to investigate a ceramide-[NP] C24/[AP] C24 /[EOS]-br C30/cholesterol/lignoceric acid (0.6: 0.3: 0.1: 0.7: 1) based stratum corneum modelling system. By adding specifically deuterated ceramides-[NP]-D 3 , [AP]-D 3 , and [EOS]-br-D 3 , detailed information on the lamellar and the nanostructure of the system was obtained. For the short periodicity phase a natural-like lamellar repeat distance of 5.47 ± 0.02 nm was observed, similar to the [NP]/[AP] base system without the [EOS]-br. Unlike in this system the ceramides here were slightly tilted, hinting towards a slightly less natural arrangement. Due to the deuteration it was possible to observe that the long ceramide chains were overlapping in the lamellar mid-plane. This is considered to be an important feature for the natural stratum corneum. Despite the presence of a ceramide [EOS] analogue – able to form a long phase arrangement – no distinct long periodicity phase was formed, despite a slightly higher than natural ω-acyl ceramide ratio of 10 mol%. The deuterated variant of this ceramide determined that the very long ceramide was integrated into the short periodicity phase, spanning multiple layers instead. The – compared to the base system – unchanged repeat distance highlights the stability of this structure. Furthermore, the localisation of the very long ceramide in the short periodicity phase indicates the possibility of a crosslinking effect and thus a multilayer stabilizing role for the ceramide [EOS]. It can be concluded, that additionally to the mere presence of ceramide-[EOS] more complex conditions have to be met in order to form this long phase. This has to be further investigated in the future. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The use of specifically deuterated ceramides showed a high degree of detail of the nanostructure. • No long periodicity phase is found despite the presence of a ceramide [EOS] analogue in native ratio. • The ceramide [EOS]-br is shown to span multiple lamellar leaflets within the short periodicity phase. • It can be concluded, that most studies do not show a natural-like long periodicity phase. • Additional factors for the long phase formation are discussed (e.g. phytosphingosine ceramides or ceramide [NS]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A cumulative assessment of results of the past 10 years in the field of ceramide biophysics /physical chemistry is provided. • Implications of these results for the field of skin barrier research are discussed. • Little to no redundant properties of the different ceramide species can be demonstrated, despite minor chemical differences. • A new theoretical model, the tri-layer model, is introduced, based on this cumulative assortment of data. • The entropy vs. enthalpy concept explaining the physicochemical function of the skin barrier is introduced. Abstract This review is summarizing an important part of the state of the art in stratum corneum research. A complete overview on discoveries about the general biophysical and physicochemical properties of the known ceramide species' is provided. The ceramides are one of the three major components of the lipid matrix and mainly govern its properties and structure. They are shown to exhibit very little redundancy, despite the minor differences in their chemical structure. The results are discussed, compared to each other as well as the current base of knowledge. New interesting aspects and concepts are concluded or suggested. A novel interpretation of the 3-dimensional structure of the lipid matrix and its influence on the barrier function will be discussed. The most important conclusion is the presentation of a new and up to date theoretical model of the nanostructure of the short periodicity phase. The model suggests three perpendicular layers: The rigid head group region, the rigid chain region and, a liquid-like overlapping middle layer. The general principle of the skin barrier function is highlighted in regard to this structure and the ceramides biophysical and physicochemical properties. As a result of these considerations, the entropy vs. enthalpy principle is introduced, shedding light on the function as well as the effectiveness of the skin barrier. Additionally, general ideas to effectively overcome this barrier principle for dermal and transdermal delivery of actives or how to use it for specific targeting of the stratum corneum are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this study mixtures based on the ceramides [NS] (NS = non-hydroxy-sphingosine) and [AP] (AP = α-hydroxy-phytosphingosine) in a 2:1 and 1:2 ratio, together with cholesterol and lignoceric acid, were investigated. These mixtures are modelling the uppermost skin layer, the stratum corneum . Neutron diffraction, utilizing specifically deuterated ceramide molecules, was used to obtain a maximum amount of experimental detail. Highly detailed molecular dynamics simulations were used to generate even more information from the experimental data. It was possible to observe a single lamellar phase for both systems. They had a lamellar repeat distance of 5.43 ± 0.05 nm for the [NS]/[AP] 2:1 and a slightly shorter one of 5.34 ± 0.05 nm for the 1:2 system. The structure and water content was uninfluenced by excess humidity. Both the experimental and simulation data indicated slightly tilted ceramides, with their C24 chains overlapping in the lamellar mid-plane. This arrangement is well comparable to systems investigated before. The structure of both systems, except for the differing repeat distance, looks similar at first. However, on a smaller scale there were various distinct differences, demonstrating only low redundancy between the different ceramide species, despite only minor chemical differences. The mainly ceramide [AP] determined 1:2 system has a slightly smaller repeat distance. This is a result of a tighter arrangement of the lipids chain along the bilayer normal and increased overlapping of the long chains in the lamellar middle. For the CER[NS] some novel features could be shown, despite it being the overall most investigated ceramide. These include the low adaptability to changed lateral interactions, leading to an increased chain opening. This effect could explain its low miscibility with other lipids. The investigated model systems allows it to directly compare results from the literature which have used ceramide [NS] to the most recent studies using the phytosphingosine ceramides such as ceramide [AP]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is declining, with major causes identified as habitat loss and a reduction of habitat quality. Recent studies have shown that particularly species with specific habitat demands are suffering in this way. Accordingly, habitat specialists have been nominated as umbrella species, which because they represent a much larger number of species, are thought best to fulfil the requirements of nature conservation. However, species which are ecologically intermediate between habitat specialists and generalists, and typically form networks of populations on adjoining habitats, might suffer even more severely under rapid habitat fragmentation than those specialists which had for a long time already occurred as discrete populations. Today, most of these formerly more widely distributed intermediate species also exist only as small and isolated populations which, because of their increasing geographic isolation, cannot counterbalance local extinctions by recolonisation. Furthermore, these species are mostly equipped with relatively high genetic diversity that is maintained by continual exchange of individuals between local populations. However, this high level of genetic variability frequently decreases after the collapse of population networks – with negative effects on the viability of these species. Thus, factors at the population and molecular levels may lead that formerly common species vanish in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable predictions of flames propagating in a semi-confined environment are vital for safety reasons, once they are representative of accidental explosion configurations. Large eddy simulations of deflagrating flames are carried out using a dynamic flame wrinkling factor model. This model, validated from a posteriori analysis, is able to capture both laminar and turbulent flame regimes. At early stages of the flame development, a laminar flame propagates in a flow essentially at rest and the model parameter is close to zero, corresponding to a unity-wrinkling factor. Transition to turbulence occurs when the flame interacts with the flow motions generated by thermal expansion and obstacles. The model parameter and wrinkling factor take higher values at these stages. Three configurations investigated experimentally by Masri et al. 2012, corresponding to different scenarios of flame acceleration are simulated. The first case (OOBS) is characterized by a long laminar phase. In the second one (BBBS) the flame is the most turbulent and the highest overpressure is observed in the vessel. For the last case (BOOS), the flame front is relaminarized after crossing the first row of obstacles. In all configurations, large eddy simulations (LES) predict the flow dynamics and maximum overpressure with good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was able to investigate the different influence of the d - and l -ceramide [AP] on the lamellar as well as molecular nanostructure of stratum corneum simulating lipid model mixtures. In this case, neutron diffraction together with specifically deuterated ceramide was used as an effective tool to investigate the lamellar and the molecular nanostructure of the mixtures. It could clearly be demonstrated, that both isomers show distinctly different characteristics, even though the variation between both is only a single differently arranged OH-group. The l -ceramide [AP] promotes a crystalline like phase behaviour even if mixed with ceramide [NP], cholesterol and free fatty acids. The d -ceramide [AP] only shows crystalline-like features if mixed only with cholesterol and free fatty acids but adopts a native-like behaviour if additionally mixed with ceramide [NP]. It furthermore demonstrates that the l -ceramide [AP] should not be used for any applications concerning ceramide substitution. It could however possibly serve its own purpose, if this crystalline like behaviour has some kind of positive influence on the SC or can be utilized for any practical applications. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the diastereomers of ceramide [AP] are an attractive target for further research because their influence on the lamellar as well as the nanostructure is exceptionally strong. Additionally, the results furthermore show a very strong influence on hydration of the model membrane. With these properties, the d -ceramide [AP] could be effectively used to simulate native like behaviour even in very simple mixtures and could also have a strong impact on the native stratum corneum as well as high relevance for dermal ceramide substitution. The unnatural l -ceramide [AP] on the other hand should be investigated further, to assess its applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the tribological properties of High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) coatings prepared from Fe 3 Al-based composite powders were investigated. The iron aluminide matrix of the composite powders was reinforced with TiN and TiB 2 particles made using two different processing routes: a) an in situ method where fine ceramic particles were formed in the matrix by the reaction between Ti and BN, and b) an ex situ method where preformed coarse TiN and TiB 2 particles were added to the matrix. The tribomechanical performance of the coatings was assessed using indentations and pin-on-disc wear tests. Compared to ex situ samples , the Fe 3 Al-based coatings strengthened with in situ ceramic particles exhibit higher microhardness and wear resistance regardless of the sliding velocity. The presence of voids, cracks and scratches/grooves in the wear track of the in situ coatings and the coating material transferred to the corresponding counterpart suggest that coatings with fine reinforcing particles fail predominantly via delamination and adhesive wear mechanisms. In the case of the ex situ coatings, the presence of a significant amount of hard ceramic particles within the wear track indicates that abrasive wear plays a dominant role in the degradation mechanism. Oxidation wear also contributed to material removal at high sliding velocity since transfer materials inside the wear track contain a high oxygen content compared to the unworn region regardless of the coating type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic models that take advantage of the known resolved scales to automatically adjust the model parameters have proved to be very effective in large eddy simulations (LES). Global (uniform parameter evolving only with time) and local (parameter evolving both in space and time) dynamic formulations for the flame wrinkling factor are combined with the Thickened Flame (TFLES) model and simulations of the semi-industrial PRECCINSTA burner studied experimentally by Meier et al. (2007) are performed for the stable and unstable configurations. The global formulation predicts a time-dependent model exponent that remains close to 0.5 for the stable flame and oscillates strongly around 0.8 for the pulsating flame. The local formulation adapts the model parameter locally and automatically damps the wrinkling factor in the vicinity of walls, contrary to the global formulation requiring a wall law. The usual non-dynamic approach with an appropriate parameter is found to capture flow statistics of the stable flame with good accuracy, both in terms of Favre and quasi-Reynolds averages. However, the self-excited mode of the pulsating flame is predicted only with the dynamic formalism. The fractal dimension of the unstable flame is found to vary locally and depends on the phase within the period of oscillation. Dynamic models may then play an important role in the prediction of combustion instabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we present a new in situ real-time approach to perform and analyze scratch tests of transparent coating/substrates systems. This method allows for the observation of the contact region during the scratching process. As an example, thin TiO 2 layers exhibiting stress levels ranging from tensile to compressive were deposited by ion beam assisted evaporation onto plastic substrates. Failure processes obtained using an increasing and a novel decreasing load scratch sequences were then linked to the internal stress in the coatings allowing one to draw a stress management diagram and to evaluate the yield stress of the TiO 2 layers. This work enhances the understanding of the optical films’ failure mechanisms, and outlines a new pathway to increase measurement reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction New treatment options for patients with metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma are urgently needed. Preclinical studies suggested activity of vorinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Methods A multi-centre, open-label, non-randomised phase II trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of vorinostat in patients with locally advanced or metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma failing 1st-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy was initiated. Patients were treated with vorinostat 400 mg po qd for 28 d followed by a treatment-free period of 7 d, representing a treatment cycle of 5 weeks. Restaging was performed every three cycles or at clinical progression. Results Between 06/10 and 09/13, 40 Soft Tissue Sarcoma patients were treated with vorinostat at seven participating centres. Patients had received 1 (n = 8, 20%), 2 (n = 10, 25%) or ≥3 (n = 22, 55%) previous lines of chemotherapy. Best response after three cycles of treatment was stable disease (n = 9, 23%). Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.2 and 12.3 months, respectively. Six patients showed long-lasting disease stabilisation for up to ten cycles. Statistical analyses failed to identify baseline predictive markers in this subgroup. Major toxicities (grade ≥III) included haematological toxicity (n = 6, 15%) gastrointestinal disorders (n = 5, 13%), fatigue (n = 4, 10%), musculoskeletal pain (n = 4, 10%), and pneumonia (n = 2, 5%). Conclusion In a heavily pre-treated patient population, objective response to vorinostat was low. However, a small subgroup of patients had long-lasting disease stabilisation. Further studies aiming to identify predictive markers for treatment response as well as exploration of combination regimens are warranted. Trial registration: NCT00918489 ( ClinicalTrials.gov ) EudraCT-number: 2008-008513-19 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we propose a new approach allowing for the in-situ real time observation of wear mechanisms of optical thin films on the nanoscale. The nanowear tests were performed using the scanning probe imaging and 2D monitoring capabilities of a depth-sensing nanoindenter. By recording the topographic and coefficient of friction (COF) images, it is possible to retrace the history of the wear track in real time. This method allows one to distinguish between different stages of wear related to different mechanisms (running-in, abrasive wear, and surface fatigue). This new approach is illustrated for a SiO 2 thin film deposited onto a plastic substrate. The proposed methodology can be generalized and applied to a wide variety of functional and tribological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAs) erect physical barriers to chemotherapy and induce multiple mechanisms of immune suppression, creating a sanctuary for unimpeded growth. We tested the ability of T cells engineered to express an affinity-enhanced T cell receptor (TCR) against a native antigen to overcome these barriers in a genetically engineered model of autochthonous PDA. Engineered T cells preferentially accumulate in PDA and induce tumor cell death and stromal remodeling. However, tumor-infiltrating T cells become progressively dysfunctional, a limitation successfully overcome by serial T cell infusions that resulted in a near-doubling of survival without overt toxicities. Similarly engineered human T cells lyse PDA cells in vitro, further supporting clinical advancement of this TCR-based strategy for the treatment of PDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is motivated by the problem of high-frequency instabilities in liquid rocket engines. The objective is to gain detailed information on the dynamical response of a transcritical coaxial jet flame submitted to transverse acoustic modulations. Large-eddy simulations (LES) are carried out to examine the effects of the modulation frequency on the flame dynamics when the flame lies in the vicinity of a transverse velocity anti-node, corresponding to a pressure node. It is found that the flame configuration and dynamics notably change with the modulation frequency and that the Strouhal number based on the dense core characteristics essentially determines the response of the system. In the case of a frequency close to the natural frequency of the oxygen jet ( St = 0.8 ), the flame motion may be assimilated to that of a flag flapping in the wind. When the flame is modulated at a higher frequency ( St = 3.2 ), it features a corrugated surface extending in the axial direction and executing a bulk motion in the transverse direction with no large scale deformation. For both frequencies, the flame is shortened, flattened in the spanwise direction and periodically displaced in the transverse direction following the acoustic field. These simulations are used in a second step to determine the unsteady rate of heat release and the Rayleigh term arising in the acoustic energy balance, giving access to the corresponding source of acoustic energy and to a possible driving mechanism of acoustic instabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a comparison of four popular interface capturing methods : the volume of fluid (VOF), the standard level set (SLS), the accurate conservative level set (ACLS) and the coupled level set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF). All methods are embedded into a unified low-Mach framework based on a Cartesian-grid finite-volume discretization. This framework includes a sharp transport of the interface, a well-balanced surface tension discretization and a consistent mass and momentum transport which allows capillary-driven simulations with high density ratio. The comparison relies on shared metrics for geometrical accuracy, mass and momentum conservation which exposes the weakness and strengths of each method. Finally, the versatility and capabilities of the proposed solver are demonstrated on the simulation of a 3D head-on collision of two water droplets. Overall, all methods manage to retrieve reasonable results for all test cases presented. VOF, CLSVOF and ACLS tend to artificially create little structures while SLS suffers from conservation issues in the mesh resolution limit. This study leads us to the conclusion that CLSVOF is the most promising method for two-phase flow simulations in our specific framework because of its inherent conservation properties and topology accuracy. • Comparison of Volume-of-Fluid, Standard Level Set, Accurate Conservative Level Set and Coupled LS/VOF is performed. • All methods are integrated into a unified framework, with attention drawn to the surface tension and momentum transport. • All methods reach reasonable accuracy with mesh refinement, showing their consistency. • LS methods provide the most accurate curvature estimates while VOF methods present the best conservation properties. • The versatility of CLSVOF makes it attractive for interface with additional physics such as mass or heat exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a severe autoimmune blistering skin disease caused primarily by autoantibodies (PV-IgG) against the desmosomal cadherins desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and Dsg 3. Pemphigus is a model disease to study desmosome regulation because patient lesions are characterized by ultrastructural hallmarks including loss, shrinkage and splitting of desmosomes as well as by retraction of keratin filaments. The mechanisms underlying the disease are not completely understood but involve several intracellular signaling pathways triggered by autoantibody binding. Recently, we demonstrated that Phosphoinositid-Phospholipase C (PLC) and Ca2+ signaling are required for acantholysis in human epidermis. Here, we used transmission electron microscopy to characterize the role of PLC and Ca2+ signaling with regard to the pathogenic effects of PV-IgG on desmosome ultrastructure in human ex vivo skin model. First, we observed that the PV-IgG used in this study significantly reduced desmosome length and caused uncoupling of desmosomes from keratin filaments. Moreover, PV-IgG enhanced the number of split desmosomes but did not cause a significant loss of desmosomes. We found that inhibition of PLC and Ca2+ signaling significantly blocked keratin filament uncoupling but not shrinkage of desmosomes. Blocking Ca2+ flux prevented desmosome splitting. The ultrastructural analysis revealed that for preventing skin blistering it is sufficient to enhance keratin filament insertion, which is regulated by PLC/ Ca2+. Here, we underscore the unique role of electron microscopy to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which a signaling pathway regulates desmosome ultrastructure in pemphigus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In general, species with large ecological amplitudes are equipped with high genetic diversities. In contrast, more specialised species with narrow ecological amplitudes show low levels of genetic diversity. Generalist species are mostly rather marginally affected by recent land-use changes; specialist can be supported by specific conservation measures. We argue that, in the light of Conservation Genetics, species being ecologically intermediate between these two extremes are the most seriously affected ones by recent environmental changes. Such species which formerly occurred in large population networks have to sustain their high level of genetic variability via gene flow. Today, species from the latter group are negatively affected by rapid habitat collapses causing sudden lacks of population interconnectivity. Therefore, species with intermediate habitat demands and originally high genetic diversity might be at highest risk due to inbreeding depressions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The lichen metabolite usnic acid (UA) has been promoted as a dietary supplement for weight loss, although cases of hepatotoxicity have been reported. Here we evaluated UA-associated hepatotoxicity in vitro using isolated rat hepatocytes. We measured cell viability and ATP content to evaluate UA induced cytotoxicity and applied 13C isotopomer distribution measuring techniques to gain a better understanding of glucose metabolism during cytotoxicity. The cells were exposed to 0, 1, 5 or 10μM UA concentrations for 2, 6 or 24h. Aliquots of media were collected at the end of these time periods and the 13C mass isotopomer distribution determined for CO2, lactate, glucose and glutamate. The 1μM UA exposure did not appear to cause significant change in cell viability compared to controls. However, the 5 and 10μM UA concentrations significantly reduced cell viability as exposure time increased. Similar results were obtained for ATP depletion experiments. The 1 and 5μM UA doses suggest increased oxidative phosphorylation. Conversely, oxidative phosphorylation and gluconeogenesis were dramatically inhibited by 10μM UA. Augmented oxidative phosphorylation at the lower UA concentrations may be an adaptive response by the cells to compensate for diminished mitochondrial function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The island of Mallorca is the main Balearic resort and sustainable water management is a key challenge for the economic and ecological sustainability of tourism as the main economic activity. The critical water supply situation on the island is being exacerbated by the extension of the tourist base to so-called “quality tourism”. Since the mid 1990s, low-density residential tourist land uses associated with second homes and more affluent urban dwellers have spread around existing mass tourist urban centres. Increasing water consumption for outdoor uses (gardens, swimming pools) is a direct consequence of this development. Available water consumption data mask the impact of residential tourism on water consumption levels. The objective of the present paper is to compare per capita water consumption in quality tourist, mass tourist and residential urban areas, and to provide quantitative information on the magnitude of water consumption by gardens and swimming pools as water-related leisure structures. The analysis combines water consumption data with a land use geodatabase at the sub-parcel scale, a detailed population inventory, and an estimate of pool water use. The results show that quality tourism produces higher water consumption levels per capita than mass tourism. Garden irrigation is the single main cause of the high water consumption in quality tourist areas and accounts for more than 70% of these areas’ total consumption in summer. But even in mass tourist and residential areas, garden irrigation accounts for up to 30% and 20%, respectively, of total water consumption in summer. Individually owned swimming pools cause an additional average water consumption of 22litres/person/day. The proliferation of swimming pools and lavish ‘Atlantic’ gardens may turn out as one of the biggest threats to sustainable water management on the island of Mallorca and in other tourist destinations adapting the quality tourist model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The selection of suitable ecological indicator groups is of great importance for environmental assessments. To test and compare two such groups, we performed transect walks of butterflies and light traps of moths at eight sample localities in the Carinthian Alps. All of them were conducted with identical methods in the years 2002 and 2004 allowing the evaluation of the response on the conservation measures performed on five of the eight sites in late 2002. We recorded a total of 2346 butterflies (including Zygaenidae and Sesiidae) representing 83 species and 7025 moths of 534 species. 150 of these species were listed in the Red Data Book of Carinthia. In general, butterflies increased from 2002 to 2004 while moths declined. The highest increase rates of butterflies were obtained for the numbers of individuals of calcareous grassland specialists at the conservation sites, while their numbers were unchanged at the control sites. Similar trend differences between conservation and control sites were obtained for the Red Data Book butterfly species. On the contrary, the development of moth individuals was more positive at the control than the conservation sites for calcareous grassland specialists (only macro-moths) and species of the Red Data Book. However, change rates of species numbers were positively correlated between butterflies and moths. Principal Component Analysis revealed strong differences between the different sites, but mostly consistent results for butterflies and moths; however, stronger differences between years were only detected for some of the conservation sites for the butterfly communities. Our results show that butterflies as well as moths are suitable ecological indicator groups, but they do not yield identical results. Thus, butterflies are more suitable for the analysis of open habitats, whereas moths are suitable for open and forested habitats as well. Furthermore, butterflies might be a more sensitive indicator group than moths for the short-term detection of conservation measures, especially for the restoration of open habitat types. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]