Bielefeld University

About: Bielefeld University is a education organization based out in Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Quantum chromodynamics. The organization has 10123 authors who have published 26576 publications receiving 728250 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Bielefeld & UNIVERSITAET BIELEFELD.

TACOA: taxonomic classification of environmental genomic fragments using a kernelized nearest neighbor approach.

Abstract: Background Metagenomics, or the sequencing and analysis of collective genomes (metagenomes) of microorganisms isolated from an environment, promises direct access to the "unculturable majority". This emerging field offers the potential to lay solid basis on our understanding of the entire living world. However, the taxonomic classification is an essential task in the analysis of metagenomics data sets that it is still far from being solved. We present a novel strategy to predict the taxonomic origin of environmental genomic fragments. The proposed classifier combines the idea of the k-nearest neighbor with strategies from kernel-based learning.

Effect of Restricting Access to Health Care on Health Expenditures among Asylum-Seekers and Refugees: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Germany, 1994–2013

Abstract: Background Access to health care for asylum-seekers and refugees (ASR and (b) two major policy reforms (1997, 2007) on incident health expenditures for AS&R in 1994-2013. Methods and Findings We used annual, nation-wide, aggregate data of the German Federal Statistics Office (1994-2013) to compare incident health expenditures among ASR 375.89]) and relative terms (IRR = 1.39). The AFe was 28.07% and the AFp 22.21%. Between-group differences in mean age and in the type of accommodation were the main independent predictors of between-group expenditure differences. Need variables explained 50-75% of the variation in between-group differences over time. The 1997 policy reform significantly increased ∆IRt adjusted for secular trends and between-group differences in age (by 600.0 Euros [212.6; 986.2]) and sex (by 867.0 Euros [390.9; 1342.5]). The 2007 policy reform had no such effect. Conclusion The cost of excluding ASR it urgently requires high-quality, individual-level data.

Trend of hip fracture incidence in Germany 1995-2004: a population-based study.

Abstract: We analyzed hip fracture incidence trends in Germany 1995-2004, using national hospital discharge register. Crude incidences per 100,000 increased from 121.2 (95% CI 120.5-121.9) in 1995 to 140.9 (140.2-141.7) in 2004. Age-sex-adjusted annual incidence ratios showed a statistically significant, but only slight increase (1.01, p < 0.01), compared to higher rises in the past. Trends differed markedly with sex, age, and regions. Data concerning actual trends of the hip fracture incidence and differences for sex, age, and region are limited. We analyzed hip fracture incidence trends in Germany 1995-2004, using the national hospital discharge register. Crude incidences per 100,000 increased from 121.2 (95% CI 120.5-121.9) in 1995 to 140.9 (140.2-141.7) in 2004. Age-sex-adjusted annual incidence ratios showed a statistically significant, but only slight increase (1.01, p < 0.01), compared to higher rises in the past. Trends differed markedly with sex, age, and regions. Analysis of annual hip fracture incidences using the national hospital discharge register. Estimate of age-sex-adjusted changes was found by using Poisson regression (incidence rate ratios, IRR). The number of patients with at least one hospital admission for hip fracture increased (1995: n = 99,141; 2004: n = 116,281). Crude incidences per 100,000 were 121.2 (95% confidence interval 120.5-121,9) and 140.9 (140.2-141.7), respectively. The age-sex-adjusted hip fracture incidence increased statistically significantly, but only slightly (IRR per year: 1.01; 1.00-1.01; IRR 1995-2004: 1.05, p < 0.01). In men aged 40 years or older, incidences increased. In women, there was a tendency of a decrease up to 74 years of age, but also a significant increase in higher age groups. In people 0-39 years, the incidence declined markedly (IRR 1995-2004, men 0.74; 0.69-0.79, women 0.62; 0.55-0.69, both p < 0.01). The increase was significantly higher in Eastern compared to Western Germany (interaction: p = 0.002), and differences between East and West decreased. In contrast to earlier years, the hip fracture incidence in Germany 1995-2004 increased only slightly, with a decline in younger people, but increases in older ages, particularly in men. Regional differences decreased.

Tuning of Redox Regulatory Mechanisms, Reactive Oxygen Species and Redox Homeostasis under Salinity Stress.

Abstract: Soil salinity is a crucial environmental constraint which limits biomass production at many sites on a global scale. Saline growth conditions cause osmotic and ionic imbalances, oxidative stress and perturb metabolism, e.g., the photosynthetic electron flow. The plant ability to tolerate salinity is determined by multiple biochemical and physiological mechanisms protecting cell functions, in particular by regulating proper water relations and maintaining ion homeostasis. Redox homeostasis is a fundamental cell property. Its regulation includes control of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, sensing deviation from and readjustment of the cellular redox state. All these redox related functions have been recognized as decisive factors in salinity acclimation and adaptation. This review focuses on the core response of plants to overcome the challenges of salinity stress through regulation of ROS generation and detoxification systems and to maintain redox homeostasis. Emphasis is given to the role of NADH oxidase (RBOH), alternative oxidase (AOX), the plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) and the malate valve with the malate dehydrogenase isoforms under salt stress. Overwhelming evidence assigns an essential auxiliary function of ROS and redox homeostasis to salinity acclimation of plants.

Static quark-antiquark free energy and the running coupling at finite temperature

Abstract: We analyze the free energy of a static quark-antiquark pair in quenched QCD at short and large distances. From this we deduce running couplings, ${g}^{2}$ ($r$, $T$), and determine the length scale that separates at high temperature the short distance perturbative regime from the large distance nonperturbative regime in the QCD plasma phase. Ambiguities in the definition of a coupling beyond the perturbative regime are discussed in their relation to phenomenological considerations on heavy quark bound states in the quark gluon plasma. Our analysis suggests that it is more appropriate to characterize the nonperturbative properties of the QCD plasma phase close to ${T}_{c}$ in terms remnants of the confinement part of the QCD force rather than a strong Coulombic force.