University of Hohenheim

About: University of Hohenheim is a education organization based out in Stuttgart, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Soil water. The organization has 8585 authors who have published 16406 publications receiving 567377 citations.

Multicenter evaluation of an interdisciplinary 52-week weight loss program for obesity with regard to body weight, comorbidities and quality of life—a prospective study

Abstract: To determine the effectiveness of a structured multidisciplinary non-surgical obesity therapy program on the basis of a temporary low-calorie-diet for 12 weeks, and additional intervention modules to enhance nutritional education, to increase physical activity and to modify eating behavior. Prospective multicenter observational study in obese individuals undergoing a medically supervised outpatient-based 52-week treatment in 37 centers in Germany. A total of 8296 participants with a body mass index (BMI) of >30 kg m−2 included within 8.5 years. Main outcome measures were body weight loss, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, quality of life and adverse events. In females, initial body weight was reduced after the 1-year-intervention by 19.6 kg (95% confidence intervals 19.2–19.9 kg) and in males by 26.0 kg (25.2–26.8) according to per protocol analysis of 4850 individuals. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis revealed a weight reduction of 15.2 kg (14.9–15.6) in females and 19.4 kg (18.7–20.1) in males. Overall, the intervention resulted in mean reduction in WC of 11 cm; it reduced the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome by 50% and the frequency of hypertension from 47 to 29% of all participants (ITT, all P<0.001). The beneficial effects could be documented for up to 3 years and comprised significant improvement of health-related quality of life. The incidence of adverse effects was low; the only event repeatedly observed and possibly related to either the intervention or the underlying disease was biliary disorders. The present non-surgical intervention program is a highly effective treatment of obesity grades I–III and obesity-related diseases, and therefore, could be a valuable basis for future weight maintenance strategies required for sustained success.

Olfactory Receptor Proteins in Axonal Processes of Chemosensory Neurons

Abstract: Olfactory receptors are supposed to act not only as molecular sensors for odorants but also as cell recognition molecules guiding the axons of olfactory neurons to their appropriate glomerulus in the olfactory bulb. This concept implies that olfactory receptor proteins are located in sensory cilia and in the axons. To approach this critical issue, antibodies were generated against two peptides, one derived from olfactory receptor mOR256-17, one derived from the "mOR37" subfamily. By means of immunohistochemistry and double-labeling studies using transgenic mouse lines as well as Western blot analyses, it was demonstrated that the newly generated antibodies specifically recognized the receptor proteins. To scrutinize the hypothesis that olfactory receptor proteins may also be present in the axonal processes and the nerve terminals, serial sections through the olfactory bulb were probed with the antibodies. Two glomeruli in each bulb were stained by anti-mOR256-17, one positioned in the medial, one in the lateral hemisphere. Fiber bundles approaching the glomeruli through the outer nerve layer also displayed intense immunofluorescence. A similar picture emerged for the antibody anti-mOR37, a small number of glomeruli in the ventral domain of the bulb was stained. On serial sections through the olfactory bulb of mOR37-transgenic mouse lines, double-labeling experiments demonstrated that distinct immunoreactive glomeruli corresponded to glomeruli that were targeted by neurons expressing a particular member of the mOR37 receptor subfamily. These data indicate that olfactory receptor (OR) proteins are indeed present in the axonal processes and nerve terminals of olfactory sensory neurons, thus supporting the notion that ORs may participate in the molecular processes underlying the fasciculation and targeting of olfactory axons.

Response of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities to the transient elevation of carbon dioxide in a semi-arid grassland

Abstract: Although elevation of CO 2 has been reported to impact soil microbial functions, little information is available on the spatial and temporal variation of this effect. The objective of this study was to determine the microbial response in a northern Colorado shortgrass steppe to a 5-year elevation of atmospheric CO 2 as well as the reversibility of the microbial response during a period of several months after shutting off the CO 2 amendment. The experiment was comprised of nine experimental plots: three chambered plots maintained at ambient CO 2 levels of 360 μmol mol −1 (ambient treatment), three chambered plots maintained at 720 μmol mol −1 CO 2 (elevated treatment) and three unchambered plots of equal ground area used as controls to monitor the chamber effect. Elevated CO 2 induced mainly an increase of enzyme activities (protease, xylanase, invertase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase) in the upper 5 cm of the soil and did not change microbial biomass in the soil profile. Since rhizodeposition and newly formed roots enlarged the pool of easily available substrates mainly in the upper soil layers, enzyme regulation (production and activity) rather than shifts in microbial abundance was the driving factor for higher enzyme activities in the upper soil. Repeated soil sampling during the third to fifth year of the experiment revealed an enhancement of enzyme activities which varied in the range of 20–80%. Discriminant analysis including all microbiological properties revealed that the enzyme pattern in 1999 and 2000 was dominated by the CO 2 and chamber effect, while in 2001 the influence of elevated CO 2 increased and the chamber effect decreased. Although microbial biomass did not show any response to elevated CO 2 during the main experiment, a significant increase of soil microbial N was detected as a post-treatment effect probably due to lower nutrient (nitrogen) competition between microorganisms and plants in this N-limited ecosystem. Whereas most enzyme activities showed a significant post-CO 2 effect in spring 2002 (following the conclusion of CO 2 enrichment the previous autumn, 2001), selective depletion of substrates is speculated to be the cause for non-significant treatment effects of most enzyme activities later in summer and autumn, 2002. Therefore, additional belowground carbon input mainly entered the fast cycling carbon pool and contributed little to long-term carbon storage in the semi-arid grassland.

Pretreatment technologies of lignocellulosic biomass in water in view of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production- A review

Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomasses are strongly connected composites of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. A pretreatment is required in order to make these components available for their later conversion into chemicals. At this point, two strategies have to be considered: to either produce chemicals via microorganism or enzymes (1), or by chemical conversion (2). The focus of this article is the second strategy, which is chemical conversion, performed in water to produce the final products furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Reviewed first is the composition of cellulose and hemicelluloses as well as their degradation chemistry in water. Then, fundamental modes of action and process parameters of pretreatment methods in aqueous solution are summarized. The pretreatment methods discussed here are steam explosion, treatment with hot liquid water, diluted and concentrated acids, as well as alkaline solutions. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of these pretreatments are discussed for lignocellulosic biomass.