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A high diversity of soil organisms in conjunction with their ecosystem services has a decisive influence on soil fertility and thus crop yields. Earthworms and soil microorganisms are of great importance for the degradation of plant material and thus for the provision of nutrients. Studies on the protection and promotion of these organisms are therefore of central importance in long-term experiments. Findings on the effects of natural site factors and agronomic measures are the focus of these studies. The 5-year results from the long-term experiment of the Julius Kühn-Institute in Dahnsdorf (Hoher Fläming, Land Brandenburg) show that weather and tillage have a much stronger influence on earthworm communities than plant protection measures. The effects of conservation tillage on the two indicator species Aporrectodea caliginosa (endogeic worm) and Lumbricus terrestris (anecic worm) are particularly clear. Furthermore the endo-anecic worm Aporrectodea longa and the endogeic worm Aporrectodea rosea and Allobophora chlorotica have been found but with less abundances. The incorporation of stubble and straw residues into the soil during tillage improves the food supply for A. caliginosa, which reacts with a higher abundance. And vice versa, conservation tillage seems to promote the anectic species L. terrestris, because the food supply on the soil and the preservation of the tubes in the soil benefit this life form. It was well observed that best weather conditions for a high wheat yield were accompanied by an increase in abundance of all species in the following year. Or, conversely, that the extreme drought and high temperatures in 2018 have sustainably reduced the abundance of earthworm communities - regardless of the crop system or tillage. The average number of species and adult earthworms across all life forms and variants is, at 3.0 and 58 animals per m2 respectively, close to the reference value for "arable land on sand" according to RÖMBKE et al. (2012). With regard to soil microorganisms, neither tillage nor the crop system (conventional or organic) have been shown a sustainable change in the activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High extracellular S100A4 level proves a specific characteristic of some cancer cases, including malignant melanoma. Concerning the latter, extracellular S100A4 in an autocrine manner was shown to promote prometastatic activation of A375 cells by interaction with the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE). We hypothesized that interaction of extracellular S100A4 with RAGE in a paracrine manner will affect endothelial cell (EC) integrity thus further promoting melanoma metastasis. We investigated the influence of recombinant and cell (A375)-derived S100A4 on junction protein expression and EC (hCMEC/D3) integrity by measuring transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Decrease of TEER and diminished expression of both occludin and VE-cadherin revealed the loss of EC integrity. Transmigration of transgenic A375 cells (A375-hS100A4/A375-hRAGE) through the EC monolayer was significantly higher compared to wild-type A375 cells, and was substantially decreased by sRAGE. A pilot study in mice, intracardially injected with A375-hS100A4 or A375-hRAGE cells, showed lower survival rates and a higher incidence of metastases compared to wild-type A375 cells. Tumor development was mostly located in the brain, bones, and ovaries. These findings provide further evidence on extracellular S100A4 as paracrine mediator of prometastatic endothelial dysfunction involving its interaction with RAGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper availability is directly related to the impact on the soil conenoses, making it a 'key element' in the riskbenefit assessments by the regulatory authorities. The experience of the longtime studies on the load distribution in the soil in general and the studies on the behaviour, fate, exposure and effects on soil organisms in particular, that a realistic risk assessment of soil total copper contents is only possible on the basis of bio available fractions and not as previously on the basis of total contents. With obtained soil samples from conducted field studies of earthworm conenoses at 16 selected wine farms bio concentration factors of earthworm tissue were calculated and linked with help of simple regression approaches of bio available copper values to test with which normalized soil extract (CuExtract) the copper enrichment behaviour can best be predicted. With the extract with the closest correlation between content and copper accumulation in the tissues of the earthworm communities a model approach to enforcement relevant eco-toxicological evaluation should be developed for agricultural soil on the basis of the bio available fraction for risk assessment of the effects on soil organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about how copper is mobilised in soil can be obtained using sequential extraction method. Four different distribution patterns could be determined analysis soil samples of 78 vine growing areas. These four patterns are different depending on the fraction of the sequential extraction method in which the highest extractable amount of copper is extracted. However, they have in common, that always less than 10% of the total copper content is easily mobilized. The most investigated areas show a high amount of aged and mineralized copper content which is higher than the potential mobile copper content. In areas where more than 60% of the total copper is potentially available is a greater risk that the copper can be mobilized than in areas which have a very high proportion of mineralized or aged copper. The frequency of occurence of the different distribution patterns of the analyzed areas vary depending on the sample area and the pedological parameter. Significant influencing factors are the copper content, soil texture (sand content) and the pH-value. The potential mobile copper content as well as specific soil conditions, which raise the metal mobility are important to develop criterions for the selection of endangered areas for the implementation of RL 2009/37/EG. These criteria will be proposed to the Management Authority as a decision support for the establishment of programs for "vulnerable zones", where the contamination of soil with copper causes for concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Cropland agroforestry systems are land-use systems with numerous environmental advantages over monoculture croplands including promotion of soil life. This study aimed to investigate tree-species and tree-distance effects on soil biota in a temperate agroforestry system. Methods: Our study was conducted at a paired alley-cropping and monoculture cropland system. The tree rows of the agroforestry system comprised of blocks of poplar Fritzi Pauley, poplar Max 1 or black locust. Within the agroforestry system, soil microbial and earthworm communities were collected along transects spanning from the center of the tree rows into the crop rows. Archaea, bacteria, and fungi were quantified using real-time PCR. The community composition of fungi and earthworms was deciphered using amplicon sequencing and morphological identification, respectively. Results: Tree rows promoted the abundance of bacteria and earthworms, which we attribute mainly to tree litter input and the absence of tillage. Fungal community composition was altered by the tree rows, resulting in an increased proportion of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the tree-row associated mycobiome. The proportion of Blumeria graminis, the causal agent of powdery mildew, increased with increasing distance from the trees. We suggest that enhanced microbial antagonism, increased earthworm densities and/or altered microclimate contributed to the suppression of B. graminis in vicinity of the trees. Tree-species effect had a minor influence on the abundance and composition of soil communities at our study site. Conclusions: In comparison to monoculture cropland, agroforestry benefits the abundance, diversity, and function of soil biota and may enhance soil suppressiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Incorporation of flower strips is an agricultural measure to increase aboveground biodiversity and ecosystem services. Although soil communities are key components of terrestrial biodiversity and drive important ecosystem services, their abundance, diversity, and composition in flower strips remain largely unexplored. Here, we shed light on earthworms and soil microorganisms in flower strips. Methods: We sowed a grassy field margin vegetation as well as two annual and two perennial flower strip mixtures in fully randomized plots of 9 × 28 m in three different types of soil in Germany. Two years following sowing, we determined earthworm communities using chemical extraction and investigated the soil microbiome using real-time PCR (archaea, bacteria, fungi, and soil-N-cycling genes) and amplicon sequencing (bacteria and fungi). Results: Different plant mixtures (i.e. field margin, annual and perennial flower strips) harbored distinct earthworm and soil microbial communities. Earthworm density and biomass declined or remained unaffected in annual flower strips but increased in perennial flower strips as compared to the field margins. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi showed greater diversity and relative abundance in non-tilled (i.e. field margin and perennial flower strips) than in tilled plant mixtures (i.e. annual flower strips). Conclusions: We attribute changes in earthworm and microbial communities mainly to the effect of tillage and plant diversity. Overall, we suggest that perennial flower strips serve as refugia. Future studies should compare soil biota in perennial flower strips to those in adjacent fields and investigate whether the promotion of soil communities extends into adjacent fields ('spillover'). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The majority of wild bees nest underground in the soil. Many of these species are threatened by loss of habitat. Adequate nesting sites are particularly limited in agricultural landscapes. We therefore established 20 artificial nesting hills in Germany to promote ground-nesting bees. A detailed construction guide for the hills is presented. On the basis of our study results, we recommend the establishment of hills on sun-exposed sites and to ensure their existence for many years. We constructed hills from local soil with dimensions of 9 × 3 × 1.6 m. During a two-year bee monitoring initiative, we recorded a high diversity of soil-nesting bee species. We conclude that artificial nesting hills can act as a valuable nesting resource for wild bees. The availability of nesting resources influences the persistence and survival of bee communities. Although a positive effect of artificial nesting structures has frequently been shown for aboveground cavity-nesting wild bees, studies on below ground-nesting bees are rare. Artificial nesting hills designed to provide nesting habitats for ground-nesting bees were therefore established within the BienABest project in 20 regions across Germany. Wild bee communities were monitored for two consecutive years, accompanied by recordings of landscape and abiotic nest site variables. Bee activity and species richness increased from the first to the second year after establishment; this was particularly pronounced in landscapes with a low cover of semi-natural habitat. The nesting hills were successively colonized, indicating that they should exist for many years, thereby promoting a species-rich bee community. We recommend the construction of nesting hills on sun-exposed sites with a high thermal gain of the substrate because the bees prefer south-facing sites with high soil temperatures. Although the soil composition of the nesting hills plays a minor role, we suggest using local soil to match the needs of the local bee community. We conclude that artificial nesting structures for ground-nesting bees act as a valuable nesting resource for various bee species, particularly in highly degraded landscapes. We offer a construction and maintenance guide for the successful establishment of nesting hills for bee conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Makrophage synthesize and secrete S100A4 to a high extent. [•] Makrophage-derived S100A4 promotes melanoma cell invasiveness in vitro. [•] Macrophage-derived S100A4 promotes melanoma metastatic lung colonization in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In summer term 2020, the clinical phase of the undergraduate medical curriculum at University Medical Center Göttingen was restructured since distance teaching had to be used predominantly due to contact restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper investigates the impact of restructuring the clinical curriculum on medical students' satisfaction and learning outcomes. Methods: In each cohort, the 13-week curriculum was divided into two parts: During the first 9 weeks, factual knowledge was imparted using distance teaching by means of a modified inverted classroom approach. This was followed by a 4-week period of adapted classroom teaching involving both real and virtual patients in order to train students' practical skills. The evaluation of the 21 clinical modules comprised students' satisfaction with distance teaching as well as students' learning outcome. The latter was assessed by means of comparative self-assessment (CSA) gain and the results of the module exams, respectively. Data of summer term 2020 (= distance teaching, DT) were compared with respective data of winter term 2019/20 (= classroom teaching, CT) and analysed for differences and correlations. Results: Response rates of evaluations were 51.3% in CT and 19.3% in DT. There was no significant difference between mean scores in module exams in CT and DT, respectively. However, CSA gain was significantly lower in DT (p=0.047) compared with CT. Further analyses revealed that CSA gain depended on the time point of data collection: CSA gain was lower the more time had passed since the end of a specific module. Moreover, we found positive correlations between CSA gain and students' satisfaction with various aspects of distance teaching, particularly with "communication between teachers and students" (rho=0.674; p=0.002). Discussion and conclusions: Although some limitations and confounding factors have to be taken into account (such as evaluation response rates, assessment time points, and proportion of familiar items in module exams), the following recommendations can be derived from our findings: A valid assessment of students' learning outcome by means of exam results requires that as few exam items as possible are familiar to the students. CSA gain seems to be valid if assessment time points are standardised and not contaminated by students' learning activities for other modules. Good communication between teachers and students may contribute to increase students' satisfaction with distance teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous to regulatory decisions data on the causes and effects of copper needs to be provided to the regulatory authorities. These data were determined considering chemical aging processes on special crop areas which have been cultivated for many years. On the basis of previously performed field studies of earthworm coenosis on 24 vine farms it was tested with simple regression approaches, whether leaching -- aging factor can be derived by linking protection goal-related copper availability with the impact on biological parameters. This correction factor predictable environmental concentrations (PECsoil) resp. PNECs can be calculated in ecological and/or conventionally managed soils. With the sampling size of this study (n = 78), this factor can be assessed for the time being and be used to realistically reflect the copper availability in quality viticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the project is to describe effects of copper loads on the soil organism communities in vineyards based on current data from surveys of the JKI for loads and exposure (chemical monitoring) of sites considered to have a model character because of their typical site and management characteristics. A toolbox of methods will be further developed in order to assess the impact of copper pollution on earthworms in prestigious vineyards. The effect of copper on the soil fertility of speciality crops areas is determined under field conditions, using earthworms as indicators, with abundances and biomass as well as abundance distributions of species and their distribution in the ecological groups as assessment parameters. Part of the project is to design a survey of the current situation of the indicator community earthworm conenose taking into account representative aspects. This study combined the biological situation and an extended site and management specific exposures with respect to the elaborated hypotheses on the origin of effects. Over the period 2010--2014 24 representative sites were included in the survey, each of which has at least one test plot (organic and/or conventional management), a reference plot, which is a plot with older copper loads having been set-aside for a longer time, and a control plot without any anthropogenic copper load. These studies on the effects of copper levels on soil organisms serve as the scientific basis for benefit-risk assessment of the active ingredient copper in connection with its inclusion in the list of approved active substances provided for in Article 78, paragraph 3 of Regulation 1107/2009/EG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]