Architectural development and dry matter production in a multisite trial on single and multiaxis apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) grafted on different rootstocks

In two Italian sites, multiaxis trees slightly reduced primary axis length and secondary axis length of newly grafted trees, and increased the number of secondary shoots. The total length, node production, and total dry matter gain were proportional to the number of axis. Growth of both primary and secondary shoots, and dry matter accumulation, have been found to be also well related to rootstock vigour. A great variability in axillary shoot production was recorded among different environments. Grafted trees had higher primary growth, secondary axis growth, and dry matter gain than chip budded trees. Stem water potential measured in the second year after grafting was not affected by rootstocks or number of leaders. Measurements performed in New Zealand (Hawke’s Bay) during the second year after grafting revealed that both final length and growth rate of primary and secondary axis were related to the rootstock rather than to the training system. Dwarfing rootstocks reduced the number of long vegetative shoots and increased the proportion of less vigorous shoots.

Stable isotope fractionation of selenium by biomethylation in soil

Selen ist in geringen Mengen ein essentielles Nährelement, das aber in höheren Gehalten toxisch wird. Der Se-Kreislauf in der Umwelt ist eng mit Redoxreaktionen wie der Reduktion von Se-Oxyanionen zu Methylselenid verknüpft. Flüchtige Methylselenide sind weit verbreitet und stellen einen wichtigen Se-Fluss in der Umwelt dar. Das übergeordnete Ziel meiner Dissertation war, die Stabilisotopenfraktionierung von Se durch Biomethylierung verschiedener oxidierter Se-Spezies (Se[IV] und Se[VI]) im Boden aufzuklären. Zunächst wurde eine Methode entwickelt, die es erlaubte flüchte Methylselenide quantitativ zurückzuhalten. Es zeigte sich, dass alkalische Peroxid-Lösung dafür geeignet war. Mit alkalischer Peroxid-Lösung wurde eine Wiederfindung von 95,6 ± Standardabweichung 5,4% in Verflüchtigungsexperimenten mit Methylselenid-Standards erreicht. Bei Einsatz von alkalischer Peroxid-Lösung in geschlossenen Mikrokosmos-Experimenten kam es zu keinen Se-Verlusten und ausgeglichenen Se-Isotopenbilanzen. Die massengewichteten δ82/76Se-Werte lagen für Se(IV) und Se(VI) am Ende der Mikrokosmos-Inkubationen bei -0,31 ± 0,05‰ (n = 3) und -0,76 ± 0,07‰ (n = 3) verglichen mit -0,20 ± 0,05‰ und -0,69 ± 0,07‰ im jeweils zugegebenen Se. Im zweiten Teil meiner Dissertation wurde die Pilzart Alternaria alternata mit Se(VI) und Se(IV) in geschlossenen Mikrokosmen für 11-15 und Se(IV) zusätzlich für 3-5 Tage bei 30°C inkubiert. In 11-15 Tagen wurden 2,9-11% des Se(VI) und 21-29% des Se(IV) und in 3-5 Tagen, 3-5% des Se(IV) methyliert. Die anfänglichen δ82/76Se-Werte von Se(VI) und Se(IV) lagen bei -0,69 ± 0,07‰, und -0,20 ± 0,05‰. Die δ82/76Se-Werte der Methylselenide unterschieden sich nach 11-15 Tagen Inkubation signifikant zwischen Se(VI) (-3,97 bis -3,25 ‰) und Se(IV) (-1,44 bis -0,16‰) als Quellen. Die δ82/76Se-Werte der Methylselenide zeigen also die Quellen der Biomethylierung von Se an. Die kürzere Inkubation von Se(IV) für 3-5 Tage führte zu einer ausgeprägten Se-Isotopenfraktonierung von mindestens -6‰, bevor ein Fließgleichgewicht erreicht wurde. Im dritten Teil bestimmte ich die Bindungsformen von Se mit drei operativ definierten sequentiellen Extraktionen und die δ82/76S-Werte des gesamten Selens in zehn urbanen Oberböden mit 0,09-0,52 mg/kg Se, die fünf verschiedene Landnutzungstypen repräsentierten (Überschwemmungsgrünland, Garten, Park, Straßenrand und Wald). Nur ein kleiner Teil des Seleniums lag in austauschbarer und damit direkt bioverfügbarer und in residualer, wenig reaktiver Form vor. Das meiste Se war an die organische Substanz und Fe-(Hydr-)Oxide gebunden (42-77% des gesamten Selens). Der mittlere δ82/76Se-Wert des gesamten Selens in den Oberböden lag mit -0,03 ± 0,38‰ nahe beim Mittelwert der gesamten Erde. Geringfügig niedrigere Se-Isotopensignale von -0,59 bis -0,35‰ v.a. in Waldböden und geringfügig höhere von 0,26 to 0,45‰ in Überschwemmungsgrünland wurden vermutlich durch Boden-Pflanze-Recycling und Se-Kontaminationen durch das Flusswasser verursacht. Der vierte Teil umfasste ein “Natural Attenuation”-Experiment und Mikrokosmos-Inkubationen von Bodenproben mit A. alternata. Die Equilibrierung von zum Boden gegebenem Se(IV) und Se(VI) für drei Tage führte zu abnehmenden wasserlöslichen Se-Gehalten um 32-44% bzw. 8-14, die mit kleinen Isotopenfraktionierung (ε = -0,045 bis -0,12 ‰ and -0,05 to -0,07‰ verbunden waren. In zwei der inkubierten Böden mit mäßig sauren pH-Werten wurden zwischen 9,1 und 30% des zugefügten Se(IV) und 1,7% des zugefügten Se(VI) methyliert während in einem stark sauren Boden keine Methylierung auftrat. Das aus Se(IV) entstandene Methylselenid war deutlich gegenüber dem zugegebenen Se-Standard (0,20‰) an 82Se verarmt (δ82/76Se = -3,3 bis -4,5‰). Meine Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die stabilen Isotopenverhältnisse von Se neue Einblicke in Se-Transformationsprozesse erlauben.rn

[Psychiatric assessment of alcoholic patients on a waiting list for liver transplantation : Which prognostic criteria are empirically proven?]

Liver disorders are the most frequent somatic complications of alcoholism. As 10‑20% of alcoholic patients will develop liver cirrhosis, this is the most frequent reason for premature death in alcoholic patients. Liver transplantation is now an accepted therapy for alcoholic liver cirrhosis but psychiatric assessment is usually required for patients entering a waiting list for transplantation. Prognostic criteria are controversially discussed, especially the so-called 6-month rule. Numerous studies and recent meta-analyses have indicated that duration of alcoholism, family history, age, sex, comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders, noncompliance and social instability are outcome predictors. The 6-month criterion is not well proven but some studies are indicative. Possible therapeutic interventions for alcoholic patients on a waiting list are discussed.

[How can the mentally ill achieve sustained employment? Supported employment versus pre-vocational training]

People with severe mental disorders are often without work, although work may have a positive effect on their health. The paper presents some results in this field from the German S3 guidelines on psychosocial therapies. In terms of evidence-based medicine supported employment (SE - first place then train) has proven to be most effective. Nevertheless, SE is still rare in Germany. Pre-vocational training, however, follows the concept first train then place and is offered in rehabilitation of the mentally ill (RPK) centres in Germany. There is some evidence that the programs are beneficial for users. The UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities outlines an obligation for work on an equal basis with others and for vocational training. So far, the German mental health system only partly meets these requirements.

[Integrating psychotherapeutic treatment of severe mental illness: between desirability and clinical practice]

Psychiatric care for severe and persistent mentally ill individuals has considerably changed over the last three decades. Striving for improvement in services provision for these patients has led to the emergence of various specialized community services, suited housing and supported work offers. Moreover, community-based treatment is also offered during acute episodes of mental illness. At the same time a range of evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches targeting treatment needs of people with severe mental illness were developed in a process independent of the rise of community psychiatry. At present, however, a sufficient level of coordination of psychiatric services and integration of evidence-based psychological treatment into psychiatric care has not been achieved. Thus, these issues represent important steps in the further development.This paper discusses recent developments in psychiatric care of people with severe mental illness and reviews the evidence-based psychotherapy approaches suited to fit the needs of patient-centered integrated care.

[Possible genetic link between Darier's disease and depression : Review of the literature and case history.]

Darier's disease is a rare, inherited autosomal dominant skin disorder caused by a mutation in the sarcoendoplasmatic reticulum calcium transporter (SERCA)-2-gene. In a number of pedigrees, Darier's disease closely relates with affective disorder. The most likely hypothesis for this is a susceptibility gene for affective disorder near the SERCA-2-gene. A 6.5-megabase region could be identified as a susceptibility locus. This region constitutes a susceptability locus also in affective disorder without Darier's disease. The underlying gene has not yet been identified.

[Effectiveness of Integrated Psychological Therapy for schizophrenia patients : A meta-analysis including 28 independent studies.]

Over the past 24 years, research groups in eight different countries have conducted 28 independent evaluation studies on Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) including 1,329 schizophrenia patients. The present study examines the effectiveness of IPT under different treatment conditions by means of a meta-analytic review. The most salient results indicate favourable mean effect sizes for IPT in comparison to control groups (placebo-attention conditions, standard care). Moreover, the superiority of IPT continues to increase during an average catamnestic phase of 8.1 months. The method obtains similarly favourable effects in different functional areas (neurocognition, social behaviour, psychopathology) and different assessment formats (expert ratings, self-reports, psychological tests). The comparison of different settings of IPT and control groups shows the superiority of IPT in any given therapy or site condition. The analysis of subsamples of inpatients, outpatients, and patients in varying rehabilitation phases reveals similarly favourable effects. Comparing only high-quality studies yields comparable results. In summary, the present meta-analysis corroborates evidence that IPT is an 'empirically validated treatment' according to American Psychiatric Association guidelines.

[Community-integrated acute psychiatric care. Options and limitations]

The shift of psychiatric care from the hospital to the community has been accompanied by a reduction of hospital beds and shortened durations of inpatient treatment, but also by an increase in admissions. This evolution may be largely attributed to the prime focus of community mental health institutions on rehabilitation. The continued implementation of reforms in psychiatric care is contingent upon effectively halting the "revolving door phenomenon" by incorporating community-integrated treatment approaches into the care of acutely ill patients. Since the mid-1960s, a series of studies have established the efficacy of two community-integrated modalities for the treatment of acute psychiatric illness, i.e. home-based and day hospital treatment. In general, these approaches not only seem to be as effective as inpatient care for certain groups of patients but also reduce their need of hospitalisation, thereby contributing towards a cost effective, comprehensive psychiatric care system.