Showing papers by "University of Kiel published in 2023"

Microbial resistance in rhizosphere hotspots under biodegradable and conventional microplastic amendment: Community and functional sensitivity

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and can potentially damage microbes and plant root cells. Although the influence of MPs on soil parameters has been investigated, the response of microbiomes to soil microenvironments with contrasting limiting factors, particularly in flooded soil environments such as rice paddies, remains unknown. Using zymography and high-throughput sequencing, we conducted a mesocosm experiment with polylactide (PLA) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs to compare the effects of biodegradable and conventional MPs on rice growth, exoenzyme kinetics, and microbial communities. Both conventional and biodegradable MPs significantly inhibited rice growth, possibly by affecting nutrition. Compared with the control soils, both PLA- and PVC-amended soils exhibited higher enzyme activity in the hotspots. The enzymatic resistance to MPs was higher in ‘coldpots’ with PVC addition compared to that in PLA and control treatments. Bacterial biomass increased but diversity declined in PLA-amended soils, possibly because PLA particles act as carbon input inhabited the population of bacteria. Our findings suggest that co-occurrence networks among bacteria were strengthened by the addition of both MPs, with an increase in microbial functionality resilience and enhanced competition with neighboring roots for nutrient mining. This competition for nutrients may adversely affect plant growth.

Antigen specificity and cross-reactivity drive functionally diverse anti–Aspergillus fumigatus T cell responses in cystic fibrosis

Abstract: BACKGROUND. The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus causes a variety of clinical phenotypes in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Th cells orchestrate immune responses against fungi, but the types of A. fumigatus–specific Th cells in pwCF and their contribution to protective immunity or inflammation remain poorly characterized.

Time‐dependent charged particle stopping in quantum plasmas: testing the <scp>G1</scp> – <scp>G2</scp> scheme for quasi‐one‐dimensional systems

Abstract: Warm dense matter—an exotic, highly compressed state on the border between solid and plasma phases is of high current interest, in particular for compact astrophysical objects, high-pressure laboratory systems, and inertial confinement fusion. For many applications, the interaction of quantum plasmas with energetic particles is crucial. Moreover, often the system is driven far out of equilibrium. In that case, there is high interest in time-dependent simulations to understand the physics, in particular, during thermalization. Recently a novel many-particle technique, the G1–G2 scheme was presented with reference to the study by Schlünzen et al. (2020) which allows for first-principle simulations of the time evolution of interacting quantum systems. Here we apply this scheme to a spatially uniform dense quantum plasma (jellium) and explore its performance. To this end, the G1–G2 scheme is transformed into momentum representation, and first results are presented for a quasi-one-dimensional model system.

α-synuclein seed amplification and its uses in Parkinson's disease

Abstract: The ideal biomarker to revolutionise the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson's disease should fulfill three criteria. First, establish a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and differentiate it from related disorders with high sensitivity and specificity. Second, detect Parkinson's disease in its earliest stages, ideally in the prodromal phase. Third, demonstrate target engagement to identify treatment outcome objectively and enable patient stratification for clinical trials. This ideal biomarker should also be easy to measure, affordable, and reliably reflect changes in the natural history of Parkinson's disease over time or through targeted interventions. The good news is that we have entered a new era of biomarker and treatment development for Parkinson's disease. 1 Klein C Bloem BR Research in movement disorders in 2022: a new era of biomarker and treatment development. Lancet Neurol. 2023; 22: 17-19 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar The possibility of detecting a misfolded α-synuclein, the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease, by employing a seed amplification assay (SAA), 2 Bellomo G De Luca CMG Paoletti FP Gaetani L Moda F Parnetti L α-synuclein seed amplification assays for diagnosing synucleinopathies: the way forward. Neurology. 2022; 99: 195-205 Crossref PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar is a seminal development. Assessment of heterogeneity among participants in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative cohort using α-synuclein seed amplification: a cross-sectional studyThis study represents the largest analysis so far of the α-synuclein SAA for the biochemical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Our results show that the assay classifies people with Parkinson's disease with high sensitivity and specificity, provides information about molecular heterogeneity, and detects prodromal individuals before diagnosis. These findings suggest a crucial role for the α-synuclein SAA in therapeutic development, both to identify pathologically defined subgroups of people with Parkinson's disease and to establish biomarker-defined at-risk cohorts. Full-Text PDF

Carbon dioxide removal via macroalgae open-ocean mariculture and sinking: an Earth system modeling study

Abstract: Abstract. In this study, we investigate the maximum physical and biogeochemical potential of macroalgae open-ocean mariculture and sinking (MOS) as an ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) method. Embedding a macroalgae model into an Earth system model, we simulate macroalgae mariculture in the open-ocean surface layer followed by fast sinking of the carbon-rich macroalgal biomass to the deep seafloor (depth>3000 m), which assumes no remineralization of the harvested biomass during the quick sinking. We also test the combination of MOS with artificial upwelling (AU), which fertilizes the macroalgae by pumping nutrient-rich deeper water to the surface. The simulations are done under RCP 4.5, a moderate-emissions pathway. When deployed globally between years 2020 and 2100, the carbon captured and exported by MOS is 270 PgC, which is further boosted by AU of 447 PgC. Because of feedbacks in the Earth system, the oceanic carbon inventory only increases by 171.8 PgC (283.9 PgC with AU) in the idealized simulations. More than half of this carbon remains in the ocean after cessation at year 2100 until year 3000. The major side effect of MOS on pelagic ecosystems is the reduction of phytoplankton net primary production (PNPP) due to the competition for nutrients with macroalgae and due to canopy shading. MOS shrinks the mid-layer oxygen-minimum zones (OMZs) by reducing the organic matter export to, and remineralization in, subsurface and intermediate waters, while it creates new OMZs on the seafloor by oxygen consumption from remineralization of sunken biomass. MOS also impacts the global carbon cycle by reducing the atmospheric and terrestrial carbon reservoirs when enhancing the ocean carbon reservoir. MOS also enriches dissolved inorganic carbon in the deep ocean. Effects are mostly reversible after cessation of MOS, though recovery is not complete by year 3000. In a sensitivity experiment without remineralization of sunken MOS biomass, the whole of the MOS-captured carbon is permanently stored in the ocean, but the lack of remineralized nutrients causes a long-term nutrient decline in the surface layers and thus reduces PNPP. Our results suggest that MOS has, theoretically, considerable CDR potential as an ocean-based CDR method. However, our simulations also suggest that such large-scale deployment of MOS would have substantial side effects on marine ecosystems and biogeochemistry, up to a reorganization of food webs over large parts of the ocean.

Fern cell walls and the evolution of arabinogalactan proteins in streptophytes

Abstract: Significant changes have occurred in plant cell wall composition during evolution and diversification of tracheophytes. As the sister lineage to seed plants, knowledge on the cell wall of ferns is key to track evolutionary changes across tracheophytes and to understand seed plant-specific evolutionary innovations. Fern cell wall composition is not fully understood, including limited knowledge of glycoproteins such as the fern arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). Here, we characterize the AGPs from the leptosporangiate fern genera Azolla, Salvinia, and Ceratopteris. The carbohydrate moiety of seed plant AGPs consists of a galactan backbone including mainly 1,3- and 1,3,6-linked pyranosidic galactose, which is conserved across the investigated fern AGPs. Yet, unlike AGPs of angiosperms, those of ferns contained the unusual sugar 3-O-methylrhamnose. Besides terminal furanosidic arabinose, Ara (Araf), the main linkage type of Araf in the ferns was 1,2-linked Araf, whereas in seed plants 1,5-linked Araf is often dominating. Antibodies directed against carbohydrate epitopes of AGPs supported the structural differences between AGPs of ferns and seed plants. Comparison of AGP linkage types across the streptophyte lineage showed that angiosperms have rather conserved monosaccharide linkage types; by contrast bryophytes, ferns, and gymnosperms showed more variability. Phylogenetic analyses of glycosyltransferases involved in AGP biosynthesis and bioinformatic search for AGP protein backbones revealed a versatile genetic toolkit for AGP complexity in ferns. Our data reveal important differences across AGP diversity of which the functional significance is unknown. This diversity sheds light on the evolution of the hallmark feature of tracheophytes: their elaborate cell walls.

Determination of a Key Pandemic Parameter of the SIR-Epidemic Model from Past COVID-19 Mutant Waves and Its Variation for the Validity of the Gaussian Evolution

Abstract: Monitored differential infection rates of past corona waves are used to infer, a posteriori, the real time variation of the ratio of recovery to infection rate as a key parameter of the SIR (susceptible-infected-recovered/removed) epidemic model. From monitored corona waves in five different countries, it is found that this ratio exhibits a linear increase at early times below the first maximum of the differential infection rate, before the ratios approach a nearly constant value close to unity at the time of the first maximum with small amplitude oscillations at later times. The observed time dependencies at early times and at times near the first maximum agree favorably well with the behavior of the calculated ratio for the Gaussian temporal evolution of the rate of new infections, although the predicted linear increase of the Gaussian ratio at late times is not observed.

The Middle Rectal Artery: Revisited Anatomy and Surgical Implications of a Neglected Blood Vessel

Abstract: Although the middle rectal artery is a relevant anatomical landmark for rectal resection and lateral lymph node dissection, descriptions of this entity are highly divergent.Dissection, visualization, morphometry, and 3-dimensional reconstruction of the middle rectal artery to facilitate its management in surgery.Macroscopic dissection, histologic study, morphometric measurements, and virtual modeling.University laboratory of applied surgical anatomy.This study includes formalin-fixed hemipelvis specimens (n=37) obtained from body donors (age, 67-97 y).The main outcome measures are photo documentation of origin, trajectory, diameter, and branching pattern; immunolabeling of lymphatics; and 3-dimensional reconstruction of the middle rectal artery.The middle rectal artery was present in 71.4% of body donors (21.4% bilateral, 50% unilateral), originated from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery, and branched either from the internal pudendal artery (45.5%), the inferior gluteal artery (22.7%), the gluteal-pudendal trunk (22.7%), or a trifurcation (9.1%). One to 3 branches of varying diameters (0.5-3.5 mm) entered the mesorectum from the ventrolateral (35.7%), lateral (42.9%), or dorsolateral (21.4%) aspect. The middle rectal artery was accompanied by podoplanin-immunoreactive lymphatic vessels and gave off additional branches (81.8%) to the urogenital pelvic organs. Three-dimensional reconstruction revealed the complex course of the middle rectal artery from the pelvic sidewall through the pelvic nerve plexus and parietal pelvic fascia into the mesorectum.Findings retrieved from body donors may be prone to age- and fixation-related processes.The investigation disclosed the rather high prevalence of the middle rectal artery, its 3-dimensional topographic anatomy, and its proximity to the autonomic pelvic nerves. These features play a role in the surgical management of this blood vessel. The data provide the anatomical rationale for the lateral lymphatic spread of rectal cancer and an anatomical basis for nerve-preserving lateral lymph node dissection.

Factors influencing the meridional width of the equatorial deep jets

Abstract: Abstract. Equatorial Deep Jets (EDJ) are vertically alternating, stacked zonal currents that flow along the equator in all three ocean basins at intermediate depth. Their structure can be described quite well by the sum of high baroclinic mode equatorial Kelvin and Rossby waves. However, the EDJs' meridional width is larger by a factor of 1.5 than inviscid theory predicts for such waves. Here, we use a set of idealised model configurations representing the Atlantic Ocean to investigate the contributions of different processes to the enhanced EDJ width. Corroborated by the analysis of shipboard velocity sections, we show that instantaneous widening of the EDJ by irreversible mixing processes contributes more to their enhanced time mean width than averaging over meandering of the jets. Most of the widening due to meandering can be attributed to the strength of intraseasonal variability in the jets' depth range, suggesting that the jets are meridionally advected by intraseasonal waves. Only a weak connection to intraseasonal variability is found for the EDJs' instantaneous widening, corroborating and connecting earlier theories that any process dissipating the EDJs' momentum would broaden them, but that intraseasonal variability maintains, not dissipates, the EDJ.

Reduced Range of Gait Speed: A Parkinson’s Disease-Specific Symptom?

Abstract: Reduced range of gait speed (RGS) may lead to decreased environmental adaptability in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Therefore, lab-measured gait speed, step time, and step length during slow, preferred, and fast walking were assessed in 24 PwPD, 19 stroke patients, and 19 older adults and compared with 31 young adults. Only PwPD, but not the other groups, showed significantly reduced RGS compared to young adults, driven by step time in the low and step length in the high gait speed range. These results suggest that reduced RGS may occur as a PD-specific symptom, and different gait components seem to contribute.

Lithospheric structure of the Red Sea based on 3D density modeling: A contrasting rift architecture

Abstract: The Red Sea is an ideal location for studying rifting processes, offering a young and active intra-continental rift at the final stages of breakup. We explore the 3D lithospheric structure of the Red Sea by analyzing the gravity response of four end-member models of rift architecture, including two end- member types margin architecture Type I - narrow margins and exhumed lithospheric mantle, and Type II - (ultra)wide margins and removal of lithospheric mantle. Additionally, we test two options for the distribution of the oceanic crust (1) limited, i.e. confined only to regions of magnetic stripes, and (2) extended, i.e. available in vast areas within the basin. South of latitude 23°N, our results suggest the presence of ultrawide margins and limited oceanic crust. North of this latitude, the model of exhumed mantle and limited oceanic crust has minimized residuals compared to the observed gravity field, and agrees with a previously published regional tomographic model. Additionally, we find evidence for the presence of a high-density body along the southern Arabian coast, probably associated with magmatic underplating. We discuss the lithospheric structure of the Red Sea with respect to the nearby Afar plume, agreeing that the close proximity of the central-southern regions to the plume promoted a reduction in the strength of the lithosphere, and led to the development of ultrawide margins in these areas.

Thermochronologic constraints on exhumation associated with the Main Pamir Thrust

Abstract: The Pamir orogen forms the northwest prolongation of the Tibetan plateau. The most important surficial structure bounding the northern and northwestern margin is the Main Pamir Thrust (MPT); however, despite the importance of the structure, surprisingly little is known about the displacement history of the fault. Together with the younger, foreland-oriented Pamir Frontal thrust system (PFT), displacement estimates range from 50 to over 300 km. The larger estimates are based on the estimated Cenozoic northward indentation of the Pamir with respect to Tibet as well as the length of the intracontinental Pamir seismic zone. However, recent work suggests that some of the indentation predates the Cenozoic or is related to an original Paleozoic embayed paleogeography and other studies have suggested that the seismic zone is not related to intracontinental subduction. Shortening estimates in the hanging walls of the MPT and PFT suggest more modest amounts: between 30 and 75 km in the north, with higher values for SE-NW shortening in the Tadjik depression.Constraining the onset of deformation has proven challenging. Most publications suggest a late Oligo-early Miocene onset age. Cenozoic stratigraphic sequences are unfossiliferous and poorly dated. We have attempted to resolve this question by collecting samples for thermochronologic analysis from many locations along the arcuate margin. In general, zircon (U-Th-Sm)/He (ZHe) samples yield ages between ~60 and 17 Ma. Many are likely to be partially reset. Ages are slightly older in the east, which could reflect an overall westward increase in exhumation. The relatively small amount of exhumation in the north supports our structural interpretation that the MPT there has a low dip angle and might not have produced pronounced topography. Apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He (AHe) are often much younger; often between <15 and 10 Ma in the MPT hanging wall and < 10 Ma in the footwall. These younger ages may reflect the activation of a second pulse of exhumation linked to motion along the PFT. We are modeling these data sets using QTQt to try to better constrain the exhumation history of the fault system. In turn, these should help constrain shortening estimates.

Skandinavischer Raum (bis in die Gegenwart)

Abstract: Seit den 1860er Jahren und mit dem sogenannten Modernen Durchbruch scheint das Versepos in Skandinavien tot und vollständig ersetzt durch die ‚bürgerliche Epopöe‘ (LukácsLukács, Georg), den Roman. Dies trifft insbesondere für das traditionelle Epos zu mit seiner formalen Orientierung an den Versmaßen der Antike oder des Mittelalters und seinen Erzählungen aus einer heroischen und/oder mythischen Vorzeit. Zum einen erscheinen solche Erzählungen nun zeitgemäßer und leichter zu rezipieren in dem im 19. Jh. entstandenen und ungemein erfolgreichen historischen Roman, zum anderen geht das Interesse an ihnen mit dem Verebben von Romantik und Romantizismus merklich zurück. Nicht-traditionelle Epen wie ØrstedsØrsted, Hans Christian LuftskibetLuftskibet oder Paludan-MüllersPaludan-Müller, Frederik Adam HomoAdam Homo mit ihrer Umdeutung der Gegenwart als einer neuen heroisch-mythischen Zeit (s. Kap. 31 ) erscheinen demgegenüber von vornherein als anachronistisch, als Vorläufer von Romanen, an die sich ihre Verfasser lediglich nicht heranwagen wollten.

Anodic and cathodic platinum dissolution processes involve different oxide species

Abstract: The degradation of Pt-containing oxygen reduction catalysts for fuel cell applications is strongly linked to the electrochemical surface oxidation and reduction of Pt. Here, we study the surface restructuring and Pt dissolution mechanisms during oxidation/reduction for the case of Pt(100) in 0.1 M HClO4 by combined operando high-energy surface X-ray diffraction, online mass spectrometry, and density functional theory study. Our atomic-scale structural studies reveal that anodic dissolution, detected during oxidation, and cathodic dissolution, observed during the subsequent reduction, are linked to two different oxide phases. Anodic dissolution occurs predominantly during nucleation and growth of the first, stripe-like oxide. Cathodic dissolution is linked to a second, amorphous Pt oxide phase that resembles bulk PtO2 and starts to grow when the coverage of the stripe-like oxide saturates. In addition, we find the amount of surface restructuring after an oxidation/reduction cycle to be potential-independent after the stripe-like oxide has reached its saturation coverage.

Oceanic transform faults offshore São Tomé and Príncipe highlighted by integrated density and magnetic modeling of the crust

Abstract: The Eastern Gulf of Guinea hosts several buried Cretaceous-aged oceanic fracture zones. 3D broadband seismic data acquired offshore S&#227;o Tom&#233; and Pr&#237;ncipe revealed a complex crustal architecture. Mapped oceanic fracture zones show low-angle reflectors that detach onto or eventually cross through the Moho boundary, overlain by strong reflectors that are interpreted as transform process related extrusive lava flows. Here, we use a high resolution shipborne free-air gravity and total field intensity magnetic data set to reassess whether previously defined seismic models of the crust are in conformity with potential field data. The study area is located offshore S&#227;o Tom&#233; with a size of c. 150x150 km. Using the software IGMAS+, we model the gravity and magnetic properties of the crust (i.e. density and susceptibility) in 3D. Long record length seismic sections plus mapped seismic horizons, which include bathymetry, sediments, upper and lower crust, are used as constraints. While the general trend of the free-air anomaly can be explained within a range of expected crustal densities, the magnetic field anomaly reflects high residuals that are predominantly oriented parallel to the transform faults. This indicates that gravity and magnetic data cannot be explained by the same simple source geometry. Therefore, we first perform sensitivity tests to isolate the source of the residual magnetic anomaly, followed by a structural analysis along the transform faults with special emphasis to the extrusive lava flows in the crustal domain. Our final model reconciles seismic horizons and potential field data and will stimulate a discussion on the architecture and evolution of transform faults and their signatures in different data sets. &#160;&#160;&#160;

Simulating Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement along the European Coast in an Earth System Model

Abstract: To assess the potential of coastal ocean alkalinity enhancement as a CO2 removal option for climate change mitigation, the Flexible Ocean and Climate Infrastructure (FOCI) earth system model was used to simulate alkalinity addition at the European coast open to the North Atlantic. FOCI has a global ocean resolution of 0.5&#176; which can be regionally refined to 0.1&#176; with a two-way nesting approach. The model was run in emission driven mode, starting with a linear ramp up from 2025 to 2035, after which alkalinity equivalent of 1Gt Ca(OH)2 per year was added in both resolution configurations from year 2035 to 2100 along the European coastline in a high and low emission scenario. To assess regional efficacies, the coast was divided into subsections. We illustrate the importance of adequate model resolution for simulating coastal alkalinity deployment, and show how each coastal region has a different CO2 uptake efficiency that is caused by differences in the regional environmental and hydrodynamic conditions.

Coastal setback zones can lessen Europe's future exposure to sea level rise.

Abstract: Future coastal risk will largely depend on where people build and settle, and not only on increases in extreme events or sea level rise as a result of global warming. In the past, hard engineering has been used to protect settlements in coastal lowlands. However, as this option becomes less viable and more expensive due to rapidly rising sea levels, coastal managers are increasingly turning to landuse planning interventions, such as setback zones or managed retreat. Although various studies show that one of the most effective approaches is to prevent urban expansion inside the coastal floodplain, limited research has been done to assess the potential of setback zones in minimizing future coastal exposure in Europe. This study enhances our understanding of the potential of coastal setback zones of different shapes in the EU by (1) assessing the avoided urban exposure resulting from the implementation of setback zones/retreat under different socioeconomic futures and (2) providing country-specific information on which type of setback zones is most beneficial in reducing urban exposure. For this purpose, we created spatially explicit projections of urban extent that consider different socio-economic futures and different types of setback zones to examine the effectiveness of these planning strategies in decreasing future urban exposure in Europe&#8217;s coastal lowlands. Our results show that by the year 2100, the majority of EU coastal countries can reduce the exposure of new urban land by at least 50% if coastal setback zones are established; and highlight that how we plan, build, and develop urban space in the EU coastal lowlands will be the defining factor on how exposed future urban areas are to sea-level rise.&#160;

Recent inorganic carbon increase in a temperate estuary driven by water quality improvement and enhanced by droughts

Abstract: Estuaries are an important component of the global carbon budget as sites of removal and transformation for carbon between land and coastal ocean. Drought conditions can lengthen river and estuarine water residence time, which can extend the retention and alter the cycling of organic carbon and nutrients. To better understand the functioning of an estuary under the current threat of climate change related droughts, we use the Elbe Estuary as an example, examining a period since 1997, when annual mean DIC in the mid to lower Elbe Estuary increased significantly, and with focus on the drought conditions since 2014.&#160;The recent (1997-2020) significant DIC increase by 6 to 15 &#181;mol L-1 yr-1 we found is due to increase in upper estuary POC content of 8-14 &#181;mol L-1 yr-1 in late spring and summer (May-August). The significant increase in POC was associated with dominating autotrophy (with negative AOU and pH > 9), and an overall improvement in water quality shown in significant (> 50%) decrease in BOD7 since 1997. We found that microbial respiration of organic matter from upstream regions accounted for most of the DIC produced in the mid-estuary, therefore, the increased POC is efficiently remineralized to DIC by the mid-estuary region.The Elbe River and estuary was subject to significantly lower river discharge between 2014 and 2020 (468 &#177; 234 m3 s-1), nearly 40% of the long-term average (1960-2020, 690 &#177; 441 m3 s-1). In addition, May was the only month with a significant negative trend in mean monthly river discharge from 1997, and down to 264 &#177; 19 m3 s-1 by 2020, a discharge usually observed during summer and early autumn. During the recent drought period (2014-2020), the internal gain in the carbon load as DIC in the mid to lower estuary was significantly higher, by up to 3 times, compared to the non-drought period (1997-2013). This suggests that the drought in the Elbe watershed caused a significant reduction in the average river discharge in May, likely increasing the residence time in the estuary, subsequently permitting a longer period for remineralisation of POC and greatest production of DIC in the mid-lower Elbe Estuary.

Spatial connectivity and marine disease dispersal: missing links in aquaculture carrying capacity debates

Abstract: Abstract One major societal challenge is meeting the constantly increasing demand for (sea)food in a sustainable way. With marine aquaculture on the rise, it is crucial to define limits to aquaculture growth in order to ensure ocean health. Along these lines, the concept of aquaculture carrying capacity (CC) is increasingly intersected with the principles of the ecosystem approach to aquaculture. Its primary aims are to estimate sustainable production potential and limits of locally defined regions. However, the ocean is a fluid environment, subject to large- and small-scale dynamics, including ocean currents, tidal fluctuations, and human action. These dynamics introduce spatial connectivity between aquaculture sites and more distant ecosystems than considered in current CC estimates. We argue that far-reaching effects of aquaculture on the ocean, such as introduction and spread of invasive species and marine diseases, are thus underestimated when providing recommendations. Marine diseases can impact biodiversity, society, and overall ocean health and it is imperative to guide aquaculture development to reduce the risk of marine disease dispersal. We, therefore, suggest to embrace spatial ocean connectivity into the CC concept by using hydrodynamic modelling and dispersal simulations as high-throughput methods to estimate potential impact areas and provide risk assessments. In this work, we focus on the example of dispersing infectious diseases in bivalve farming and discuss ecological as well as social consequences of spatial connectivity. Both are applicable to a wide range of organisms and marine aquaculture systems internationally. Summary The concept of aquaculture carrying capacity (CC) aims at defining sustainable limits to aquaculture growth in order to ensure ocean health. Usually, estimations are based on locally defined regions and on the farm-scale. However, interactions of aquaculture with the ocean can have far-reaching effects, such as introduction and spread of invasive species and marine diseases. The ocean is a fluid environment, subject to large- and small-scale dynamics that introduce spatial connectivity between aquaculture sites and more distant ecosystems than considered in current CC estimates. We, therefore, suggest to embrace spatial ocean connectivity into the CC concept by using hydrodynamic modelling and dispersal simulations as high-throughput methods to estimate potential impact areas and provide risk assessments. Here, we focus on the example of dispersing infectious diseases in bivalve farming and discuss ecological as well as social consequences of spatial connectivity. Both are applicable to a wide range of organisms and marine aquaculture systems internationally.

Kinematics of the Pamir orogeny on a lithospheric scale

Abstract: The south-dipping Benioff zone beneath the Pamir mountains marks the youngest, active slab accommodating India-Asia convergence near the western edge of the Indian indenter (75&#176; E). Seismic tomography suggests the existence of two older slabs farther south, both interpreted as Indian lithosphere detached and sinking: the Tethys slab, broken off around 46 Ma concomitant with early collision and the more northerly and shallower Indian slab, detached around 25 Ma at the longitude considered here (Replumaz et al. 2010). The total length of the three slabs is about 1300 km (Tethys 600 km, India 300 km, Pamir 400 km), substantially less than the distance of more than 2000 km that India has moved north since 46 Ma. This discrepancy implies that either the tomographic record of subduction is incomplete or that Indian mantle lithosphere has underthrust (thin?) Asian lithosphere, with the stacked lithospheres unresolvable by tomography. As a consequence, the rate of slab lengthening and the age of slab initiation in the Pamir are poorly constrained. The absence of asthenosphere between the Pamir slab of Asian provenance and supposedly Indian mantle lithosphere above it suggests that India&#180;s leading edge is advancing at the same rate as rollback of the Pamir slab. This rate could be as high as full India-Asia convergence at ca. 35 mm/yr (Kufner et al. 2016) or as low as present-day Pamir-foreland convergence at 15 mm/yr, corresponding to ages of the 300-400 km long slab of 9-12 Ma or 20-27 Ma. The wide range of possible ages makes it difficult to tie slab initiation to specific geologic events during the Pamir orogeny. Other evidence suggests that the direction and rate of India-Asia convergence may be poor predictors of mantle lithospheric motion above the slab: The shortening direction in the Tajik foreland thrust belt is WNW, and foreland shortening decreases northeastward from a maximum of 150 km in the Tajik belt to 75 and 30 km in the Alai Valley and westernmost Tarim. Slab length follows a similar trend, with a steeply east-dipping Benioff zone in the west and a more gently south-dipping one in the north, traced by earthquakes to depths of 250 km and 150 km, respectively. Also, the longest, NE-striking segment of the slab is relatively straight in map view and parallel to the axis of thickest crust (Schneider et al. 2019). These observations are difficult to reconcile with northward convergence. Instead, they suggest overall northwestward convergence during the Pamir orogeny. We speculate that this could be due to westward deflection at depth of an Indian lithosphere promontory interacting with the NW-trending edge of thick Tarim lithosphere.Kufner, S.-K., et al. (2016). Deep India meets deep Asia: Lithospheric indentation, delamination and break-off under Pamir and Hindu Kush (Central Asia). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 435: 171-184.Replumaz, A., et al. (2010). Indian continental subduction and slab break-off during Tertiary collision. Terra Nova 22: 290-296.Schneider, F. M., et al. (2019). The Crust in the Pamir: Insights from Receiver Functions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 124(8): 9313-9331.

Employee acceptance of disruptive service innovations at the frontline: The role of collective sensemaking processes

Abstract: Acceptance of service innovation by frontline employees is a challenging issue, especially if such innovations have the potential to disrupt existing value creation models and individual competencies. Disruptive service innovations are often (1) characterized by a high degree of innovativeness related to significant changes in technology and in the market and (2) may be introduced by technology manufacturers as new service market entrants that cause a competitive threat to the existing service provision. We argue that such innovations challenge frontline employees' focus on routines and standardized service operating procedures. The perceived threat and resulting high levels of uncertainty may inhibit innovation acceptance. Our study follows a collective sensemaking perspective, paying special attention to investigating the moderating role of (1) the exchange of operational information within a workgroup and (2) a firm's entrepreneurial orientation. Whereas the former may increase frontline employees' preference for incremental improvements, the latter may help to increase the acceptance level of potentially more disruptive innovations. We test our theoretically derived hypotheses with an experimental vignette study of 671 frontline employees in the field of audiology, a health care market particularly affected by both more radical and market entrant innovations. Results show that a high degree of innovativeness has a negative effect on innovation acceptance. Frontline employees accept radical innovations less readily than incremental innovations. A competitive threat from new technology manufacturers in the supply chain does not lead to a lower innovation acceptance level. The moderation results indicate significant effects of both information exchange and entrepreneurial orientation. Intensive information exchange within the workgroup strengthens the negative relationship between the degree of innovativeness and innovation acceptance. In contrast, a high degree of entrepreneurial orientation weakens the negative relationship between a competitive threat and innovation acceptance.

Widespread occurrence of high radium concentrations in bottom waters of the Eckernförde and Kiel bays (Western Baltic Sea): Are these related to submarine groundwater discharge?

Abstract: The radium isotopes (224Ra, t&#189; = 3.7 d;223Ra, t&#189; =11.5 d; 228Ra, (t&#189; = 5.7 y); 226Ra, t&#189; =1600 y) are well established tracers for the detection and quantification of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). In the Eckernf&#246;rde Bay (Western Baltic Sea) SGD associated with pock marks have been observed at many locations on the seabed (~ 20-25m water depths). In order to investigate the spatial and temporal SGD variability we repeatedly measured between 2016 and 2020 the radium (224Ra, 223Ra, 228Ra, 226Ra) distribution in the water column of the Eckernf&#246;rde Bay and the adjacent Kiel Bay. In general, the water-column radium profiles are characterized by relatively low radium concentrations in the upper water column (~ <15m water depth, salinity ~ 12-18) and significantly higher ones in deep waters (~ 20-25m water depth; salinity ~ 21-25). High radium occurs also in areas far off the coast where pock marks have previously not been reported. Monthly/bi-monthly measurements at the time-series station Boknis Eck (Eckernf&#246;rde Bay) revealed that this high radium occurs only between spring and autumn, a period, where bottom waters have low or negligible oxygen content. This observation may indicate that processes other than SGD may contribute to seasonal changes in deep water radium. In the presentation possible other radium sources like e.g., diagenetic radium supply from anoxic sediments, sediment bioturbation and resuspension, advection of deep waters from the North Sea, are discussed in order to understand to what extent the radium distribution in the western Baltic Sea can still be interpreted as a tracer of SGD.

Influence of wind speed and wind direction above the sea surface on the diffusive methane flux and the atmospheric methane concentration at the North Sea

Abstract: The estimations of the diffusive methane flux from the water phase into the atmosphere in coastal waters is relevant for a better estimate of the atmospheric greenhouse-gas budget.&#160;Unfortunately, so far, the numerical determination of the fluxes has a high level of uncertainty in coastal waters.To improve the estimation of coastal methane fluxes, not only a high temporal and spatial sampling resolution of the dissolved methane in the water are required. Besides, also the atmospheric methane concentration and the wind speed and wind direction above the surface is important. In most cases, these atmospheric data are obtained from near-by atmospheric and meteorologic monitoring stations. In this study, we measured wind speed, direction and atmospheric methane local directly on board of three research vessel cruising in the southern North Sea within the MOSES project and compared the effects of local versus remote measurements of these data on the flux data. In addition, using the wind direction and speed, we try to assess the origin of the atmospheric methane measured in the study area. Using these &#8220;improved&#8221; data sets, we discuss if local measurements of auxiliary data provide better insights in the determining factors of the methane flux, and thus also improve the regional aquatic methane budget.

From Naming Verb to Copula: The Case of Wangerooge Frisian <i>Heit</i>

Abstract: In the now extinct Frisian dialect of the island of Wangerooge, the naming verb heit ‘to be called’ had partially grammaticalized into a copular verb ‘to be’ competing, to some extent, with the original copula wízze ‘to be’. In this paper, I discuss the development and the status of the copula heit in some detail and consider what it might tell one about the taxonomy of copular clauses (Higgins 1979). I show that the functional change from naming verb to copula initially occurred in identificational copular clauses. From there heit spread to classifi-cational and specificational copular clauses, but not to predicational ones. This development suggests a principled distinction between predicational copular clauses on the one hand and identificational copular clauses (conceived as comprising classifying, specifying, and equating ones) on the other. This does not imply, however, that heit is an identificational copula or that it selects an identificational small clause. I analyze copular heit used with an identificational small clause as a suppletive allomorph of wízze ‘to be’.*

Long-Term Trends for Blue Mussels from the German Environmental Specimen Bank Show First Evidence of Munition Contaminants Uptake

Abstract: Submerged munitions are present in marine waters across the globe. They contain energetic compounds (ECs), such as TNT and metabolites thereof, which are considered carcinogenic, exhibit toxic effects in marine organisms, and may affect human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of ECs and their trends in blue mussels from the annual collections of the German Environmental Specimen Bank sampled over the last 30 years at three different locations along the coastline of the Baltic and North Sea. Samples were analyzed by GC-MS/MS for 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT), and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT). The first signals indicating trace levels of 1,3-DNB were observed in samples from 1999 and 2000. ECs were also found below the limit of detection (LoD) in subsequent years. From 2012 onwards, signals just above the LoD were detected. The highest signal intensities of 2-ADNT and 4-ADNT, just below the LoQ (0.14 ng/g d.w. and 0.17 ng/g d.w., respectively), were measured in 2019 and 2020. This study clearly shows that corroding submerged munitions are gradually releasing ECs into the waters that can be detected in randomly sampled blue mussels, even though the concentrations measured are still in the non-quantifiable trace range.

Leveraging IGSN to Enhance Data Management in Research Institutions

Abstract: The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a crucial tool for ensuring the traceability and preservation of physical specimens in the Earth Science community. As a persistent identifier (PID), IGSN serves as a link between published digital data and the physical samples stored in a repository, enabling the creation of synergies with other services through the harvesting of machine-readable data.The IGSN can be assigned to a physical specimen at the time of collection, either on board a research vessel or during a field campaign. This unique identifier will follow the sample through the various stages of processing and analysis. In this use case, we demonstrate how IGSN can be minted for sediment cores directly on board a research vessel and then subsequently linked to relevant research data infrastructures (RDIs) such as DSHIP and PANGAEA. This allows for the traceability and easy identification of the samples as they are transported and stored in different repositories.Incorporating IGSN into a RDI helps to broadcast the existence of physical material and makes it more easily discoverable by researchers. This is especially useful for marine field work, which can be expensive and may not be accessible to all researchers. By making information about samples available as open access, researchers are able to easily locate and reuse existing material, which can be particularly beneficial for smaller research projects or research communities with limited resources. This is especially relevant in times of crisis, when access to certain regions may be restricted and there is an increased demand for the reuse of existing samples.In our research institutions, there is close collaboration between RDI providers and sample curators to manage both the digital data and the physical objects, such as plant samples in a herbarium, rocks and sediment cores, and biological material. In this presentation, we will use our case studies to discuss the successes of sample management in relation to IGSN. In addition, we will address the challenges that we have encountered and how we are working to overcome them. Our goal is to provide reliable services to our communities with a long-term perspective, and we believe that the incorporation of IGSN into RDIs can help to foster cultural change and encourage international collaboration in the Earth Science community. In addition, the use of IGSN and RDIs can contribute to the sustainability and reproducibility of research.