Northeast Germany Research Articles

The Association Between Nutritional Risk and Bone Stiffness in Elderly Men and Women in a Population-Based Study in Northeast Germany.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) has shown promising potential for identifying individuals at risk for osteoporosis in various patient cohorts. However, data from the general population confirming or refuting the usefulness of the GNRI as a risk factor for osteoporosis are sparse. We therefore aimed to clarify whether the GNRI is associated with the ultrasound-based bone stiffness index and the osteoporotic fracture risk in a sample of elderly men and women from the general population. Data from 1417 participants in the Study of Health in Pomerania START-2 or TREND-0 aged 65 years or older with quantitative ultrasound measurements at the heel and GNRI values were examined. In cross-sectional linear and logistic regression models, associations between the GNRI and heel stiffness index or ultrasound-based osteoporotic fracture risk were examined. All analyses were repeated after stratification of the study population according to BMI (underweight/normal weight, overweight and obese). In underweight/normal weight individuals, higher, i.e., better, GNRI values had a positive effect on the stiffness index (β-coefficient per standard deviation increase in GNRI = 2.69, standard error = 1.00, p = 0.007). With increasing GNRI values, underweight/normal weight elderly men and women also had higher chances of a low osteoporotic fracture risk (odds ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.94, p = 0.026). Corresponding associations in overweight or obese individuals were absent. In elderly men and women with underweight/normal weight, the GNRI is positively associated with the bone stiffness index and the related osteoporotic fracture risk. In this group, the GNRI may prove useful in identifying individuals with an elevated fracture risk.

Prevalence trends of type 2 diabetes treatment, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in Northeast Germany.

The investigation of prevalence trends of metabolic cardiovascular risk factors is important for appropriate planning of future health programs aiming to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In a previous study, we demonstrated an increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) between 2000 and 2010 in Northeast Germany. The purpose of this study is to investigate prevalence trends of T2D treatment, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in Northeast Germany. The baseline examinations of the first Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) project were carried out from 1997 to 2001 (SHIP-START-0, 4308 subjects). A second, independent random sample of the same region was enrolled between 2008 and 2012 (SHIP-TREND-0, 4420 subjects). All data were standardized with post-stratification weighting derived from the adult population of the German federal state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. The prevalence of metformin intake increased from 2.1% to 4.1% and insulin use from 2.0% to 2.8%. While the prevalence of statin intake increased from 6.8% to 12.2%, the prevalence of dyslipidemia decreased slightly from 49.0% in SHIP-START-0 to 45.5% in SHIP-TREND-0. The prevalence of hepatic steatosis increased from 29.7% to 37.3%. This increase was most prominently observed in women and younger age groups. T2D, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis are common and increasing health problems among adults in Northeast Germany. Reassuring healthy diet and controlling obesity may result in prevention of above-mentioned health problems.

Silica Accumulation in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Plants and Implications for Potato Yield Performance-Results from Field Experiments in Northeast Germany.

The potato is the most important non-cereal food crop, and thus improving potato growth and yield is the focus of agricultural researchers and practitioners worldwide. Several studies reported beneficial effects of silicon (Si) fertilization on potato performance, although plant species from the family Solanaceae are generally considered to be non-Si-accumulating. We used results from two field experiments in the temperate zone to gain insight into silica accumulation in potato plants, as well as corresponding long-term potato yield performance. We found relatively low Si contents in potato leaves and roots (up to 0.08% and 0.3% in the dry mass, respectively) and negligible Si contents in potato tuber skin and tuber flesh for plants grown in soils with different concentrations of plant-available Si (field experiment 1). Moreover, potato yield was not correlated to plant-available Si concentrations in soils in the long term (1965-2015, field experiment 2). Based on our results, we ascribe the beneficial effects of Si fertilization on potato growth and yield performance reported in previous studies mainly to antifungal/osmotic effects of foliar-applied Si fertilizers and to changes in physicochemical soil properties (e.g., enhanced phosphorus availability and water-holding capacity) caused by soil-applied Si fertilizers.

Multi-omics signatures of seasonality in the general population and their relation to common diseases in Northeast Germany

Multi-omics signatures of seasonality in the general population and their relation to common diseases in Northeast Germany

A new lepisosteiform neopterygian (Actinopterygii) from the lower Toarcian Grimmen Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania, Germany

AbstractThe Lower Jurassic (lower Toarcian) Grimmen Formation (formerly known as "Green Series") of Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania (Northeast Germany) yielded two articulated anterior skeletons of fossil fish, which represent a new lepisosteiform genus and species: Mengius acutidens gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is described. Osteology of the species is most similar to the contemporaneous species of Lepidotes Agassiz. It differs from Lepidotes in having a non-tritoral dentition and a differently shaped operculum. A cladistic analysis shows Mengius acutidens gen. et sp. nov. to be the sister taxon of Lepidotes, accordingly, the new species is assigned to the family Lepidotidae Agassiz. The occurrence of M. acutidens emphasises the endemic character of the lower Toarcian Grimmen Formation fish fauna of Northeast Germany.

Evidence for regional-scale declines in carabid beetles in old lowland beech forests following a period of severe drought

ContextEvidence for declines in insect populations is growing with climate change being one suspected driver. Forests, however, are still underrepresented in the relevant research. Recent droughts (2018–2020) have severely affected forests in Central Europe and have been linked to declines in carabid abundance, biomass as well as changes in species traits at the local scale.ObjectiveWe tested drought effects on forest carabids at regional scale. We additionally investigated whether variability in drought effects could be explained with the initial community composition and the local environmental context.MethodsWe used generalized linear mixed models to compare data from 1999 to 2001 and 2020 to 2022 across eleven old beech forest sites of high conservation interest in North-East Germany and investigated changes in carabid abundance, biomass, Hill numbers and selected species traits. We then tested additional community-related and environmental predictors to explain spatial variability in changes in biomass.ResultsWe found significant declines in biomass of 65% and in abundance of 51%. There were no significant changes in Hill numbers. We found consistent evidence that declines affected especially larger and less mobile species. Declines and changes in species traits also occurred in strictly protected old-growth beech forests. Among environmental predictors, landscape composition explained local variability in biomass declines best with stronger decline at forest sites with less forest area in their vicinity.ConclusionsOur findings reveal large-scale declines in forest carabids in the context of recent droughts and highlight the exceptional role of landscape composition in this regard. Future insect conservation strategies need to incorporate the landscape context and potential exposure to extreme weather.

Faecal egg count reduction tests and nemabiome analysis reveal high frequency of multi-resistant parasites on sheep farms in north-east Germany involving multiple strongyle parasite species

Anthelmintic resistance in sheep parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes is widespread and a severe health and economic issue but prevalence of resistance and involved parasite species are unknown in Germany. Here, the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed on eight farms using fenbendazole, ivermectin and moxidectin and on four farms using only moxidectin. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on management practices to potentially identify risk factors for presence of resistance. All requirements of the recently revised WAAVP guideline for diagnosing anthelmintic resistance using the FECRT were applied. Nematode species composition in pre- and post-treatment samples was analysed with the nemabiome approach. Using the eggCounts statistic package, resistance against fenbendazole, ivermectin and moxidectin was found on 7/8, 8/8 and 8/12 farms, respectively. No formal risk factor analysis was conducted since resistance was present on most farms. Comparison with the bayescount R package results revealed substantial agreement between methods (Cohen's κ = 0.774). In contrast, interpretation of data comparing revised and original WAAVP guidelines resulted in moderate agreement (Cohen's κ = 0.444). The FECR for moxidectin was significantly higher than for ivermectin and fenbendazole. Nemabiome data identified 4 to 12 species in pre-treatment samples and treatments caused a small but significant decrease in species diversity (inverse Simpson index). Non-metric multidimensional scaling and k-means clustering were used to identify common patterns in pre- and post-treatment samples. However, post-treatment samples were scattered among the pre-treatment samples. Resistant parasite species differed between farms. In conclusion, the revised FECRT guideline allows robust detection of anthelmintic resistance. Resistance was widespread and involved multiple parasite species. Resistance against both drug classes on the same farm was common. Further studies including additional drugs (levamisole, monepantel, closantel) should combine sensitive FECRTs with nemabiome data to comprehensively characterise the anthelmintic susceptibility status of sheep nematodes in Germany.

Beyond cemeteries – excavation of a settlement of Poieneşti-Lucaşeuca Culture in Ivancea, Republic of Moldova

Summary The Poieneşti-Lucaşeuca-culture (late 3rd to second half of the 1st century BC), which is distributed in the forest steppe between the east Carpathian Mountains and the river Dniestr, is seen as the result of an immigration of groups from the Jastorf area in North-East Germany. This concept is based on cemeteries: both the form of the grave4s and their material culture (ceramics, jewellery, costume) are foreign in the area, but show clear connections to the North and the North-West. Up to now large settlement excavations are missing that would allow for an evaluation of that concept based on settlement and economic structures as well as on the material culture of everyday life. The project that is presented here with first results, aims to that desideratum. With surveys and test excavations as a starting point on different sites in Central part of Republic of Moldova, the authors are excavating the Poieneşti-Lucaşeuca settlement of Ivancea-Sub Pădure on a large scale. The project is funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The paper presents first results like different post buildings and pit dwellings, the spectrum of small finds and a selection of the numerous ceramics including greek imports, and discusses the connectivity that becomes visible. The post buildings have no regional parallels and seem to have the best parallels in the Northwest. In opposite to that the small finds show a broad entanglement especially to the south and West and thus contradict the evidence from the grave. Also, in opposite to the graves the settlement ceramics show clear regional traditions, bus also relations to the North and the Northeast.

Outpatient geriatric health care in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: a population-based spatial analysis of claims data

BackgroundDue to unidentified geriatric needs, elderly patients have a higher risk for developing chronic conditions and acute medical complications. Early geriatric screenings and assessments help to identify geriatric needs. Holistic and coordinated therapeutic approaches addressing those needs maintain the independence of elderly patients and avoid adverse effects. General practitioners are important for the timely identification of geriatric needs. The aims of this study are to examine the spatial distribution of the utilization of outpatient geriatric services in the very rural Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the Northeast of Germany and to identify regional disparities.MethodsGeographical analysis and cartographic visualization of the spatial distribution of outpatient geriatric services of patients who are eligible to receive basic geriatric care (BGC) or specialized geriatric care (SGC) were carried out. Claims data of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were analysed on the level of postcode areas for the quarter periods between 01/2014 and 04/2017. A Moran’s I analysis was carried out to identify clusters of utilization rates.ResultsOf all patients who were eligible for BGC in 2017, 58.3% (n = 129,283/221,654) received at least one BCG service. 77.2% (n = 73,442/95,171) of the patients who were eligible for SGC, received any geriatric service (BGC or SGC). 0.4% (n = 414/95,171) of the patients eligible for SGC, received SGC services. Among the postcode areas in the study region, the proportion of patients who received a basic geriatric assessment ranged from 3.4 to 86.7%. Several regions with statistically significant Clusters of utilization rates were identified.ConclusionsThe widely varying utilization rates and the local segregation of high and low rates indicate that the provision of outpatient geriatric care may depend to a large extent on local structures (e.g., multiprofessional, integrated networks or innovative projects or initiatives). The great overall variation in the provision of BGC services implicates that the identification of geriatric needs in GPs’ practices should be more standardized. In order to reduce regional disparities in the provision of BGC and SGC services, innovative solutions and a promotion of specialized geriatric networks or healthcare providers are necessary.

Risk Factors of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Population-Based Study: Results from SHIP-TREND-1 (Study of Health in Pomerania-TREND-1).

BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of visual impairment in the elderly population in industrialized countries. The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) with its cohort SHIP-TREND was designed to investigate risk factors and clinical disorders in the general population of northeast Germany. This work focused on the first follow-up of SHIP-TREND and determined associated modifiable risk factors of AMD. Modifying risk factors is important to slow the progression of early AMD as there is currently no treatment for the late stage of geographic atrophy. Understanding AMD-associated risk factors also plays an important role in the development of therapeutic concepts. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between 2016 and 2019, data were collected from a total of 2507 initially randomly selected subjects from the general population aged 28 to 89 years. Non-mydriatic fundus photography of the right eye was performed in 2489 subjects. Grading of AMD was performed using the Rotterdam classification system. RESULTS We included 1418 gradable fundus photographs in the analysis. The risk of AMD changes increased with age and was positively correlated with HDL cholesterol, fT3, and low educational level. In men, BMI and cigarette smoking were also positively associated with AMD changes. CONCLUSIONS This study emphasizes the consideration of various metabolic pathways for the development of therapeutic concepts.

The influence of increasing mineral fertilizer application on nitrogen leaching of arable land and grassland—results of a long-term lysimeter study

IntroductionDespite various efforts to reduce nitrogen leaching from agricultural land, the permissible nitrate concentrations in groundwater have often been exceeded in the past. Intensive farming is often seen as the cause of the deterioration in water quality. Therefore, the present lysimeter study aimed to quantify nitrogen (N) leaching at different N fertilization levels for the agricultural land use systems of arable land and grassland to derive suitable management measures for improving groundwater quality.MethodsThe effects of three different of mineral fertilization treatments (50%, 100%, and 150%) in arable land and grassland use on four distinct soil types (loamy sand, sand, loam, loess) concerning seepage formation, nitrogen concentrations, nitrogen loads, dry matter yields and nitrogen balances were tested. The study was conducted at the lysimeter facility of the Helmholtz Centre of Environmental Research – UFZ at Falkenberg (northeast Germany). Twenty-four non-weighable lysimeters with a surface area of 1 m² and a depth of 1.25 m were managed as grassland and arable land with three different fertilization treatments since 1985.Results and DiscussionFor arable land use, N leaching differed between the studied soil types, with the highest N loads from the sand (36.6 kg ha–1 yr–1 ) and loamy sand (30.7 kg ha–1 yr–1 ) and the lowest N loads from loess (12.1 kg ha–1 yr–1) and loam soil (13.1 kg ha–1 yr–1). In contrast to grassland use, a reduction of N fertilization level by 50 % did not result in reduced N leaching for arable land, whereas a maximal 29% reduced dry matter yields was observed. An increase of N fertilization by 50 % did not cause significant enhanced N leaching at arable land use. Soil-and management-related factors (soil type, texture, soil tillage, crop rotation, and others) mask the effect of increased N fertilization rates in arable land using lysimeters. For arable land use, a reduction of N fertilizer levels as the only measure was insufficient to reduce NO3– leaching, and other strategies besides N fertilization levels are required to improve groundwater quality. Measures should be targeted to reduce N losses by mineralization processes.

Effects of mining activities on fish communities and food web dynamics in a lowland river.

Fish communities of streams and rivers might be substantially subsidized by terrestrial insects that fall into the water. Although such animal-mediated fluxes are increasingly recognized, little is known about how anthropogenic perturbations may influence the strength of such exchanges. Intense land use, such as lignite mining, may impact a river ecosystem due to the flocculation of iron (III) oxides, thus altering food web dynamics. We compared sections of the Spree River in North-East Germany that were greatly influenced by iron oxides with sections located downstream of a dam where passive remediation technologies are applied. Compared to locations downstream of the dam, the abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates at locations of high iron concentrations upstream of the dam was significantly reduced. Similarly, catch per unit effort of all fish was significantly higher in locations downstream of the dam compared to locations upstream of the dam, and the condition of juvenile and adult piscivorous pike Esox lucius was significantly lower in sections of high iron concentrations. Using an estimate of short-term (i.e., metabarcoding of the gut content) as well as longer-term (i.e., hydrogen stable isotopes) resource use, we could demonstrate that the three most abundant fish species, perch Perca fluviatilis, roach Rutilus rutilus, and bleak Alburnus alburnus, received higher contributions of terrestrial insects to their diet at locations of high iron concentration. In summary, lotic food webs upstream and downstream of the dam greatly differed in the overall structure with respect to the energy available for the highest tropic levels and the contribution of terrestrial insects to the diet of omnivorous fish. Therefore, human-induced environmental perturbations, such as river damming and mining activities, represent strong pressures that can alter the flow of energy between aquatic and terrestrial systems, indicating a broad impact on the landscape level.

:The Life and Journey of Neolithic Copper Objects: Transformations of the Neuenkirchen Hoard, North-East Germany (3800 BCE)

:<i>The Life and Journey of Neolithic Copper Objects: Transformations of the Neuenkirchen Hoard, North-East Germany (3800 BCE)</i>

Long‐term drought triggers severe declines in carabid beetles in a temperate forest

Evidence for widespread declines in arthropods is growing and climate change is one of the suspected drivers. Recent droughts in Europe were unprecedented in the previous centuries and we are only beginning to understand the impacts on ecosystems. We analysed a 24‐year dataset of carabid beetles from a temperate forest area in northeast Germany and investigated linear and non‐linear trends in carabid abundance, biomass, diversity and species traits. We were especially interested if and how these were linked to droughts at different temporal scales using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). We found significant linear declines in abundance and biomass with annual rates of −3.1% (0.95 CI [−5.3, −1]) and –4.9% (0.95 CI [−9.4, −1.6]), respectively. Non‐linear trends were closely related to the SPEI when considering the climatic water balance of the previous six years and showed severe declines between 2015 and 2022 (−71% abundance, 0.95 CI [−84, −61] / −89% biomass, 0.95 CI [−97, −59]). However, there remained a significant annual background‐decline of −2.1% (0.95 CI [−5.7, −0.2]) and −3.1% (0.95 CI [−6.5, −0.1]), respectively, which occurred independently of drought. We observed negative trends in standardized carabid diversity metrics and a shift in species assemblage that were less directly linked to droughts. Declining and drought‐sensitive species tended to be larger predators with low dispersal abilities. This study is among the very first to investigate the impacts of the current unprecedented drought on forest insects in central Europe. Our findings add to the concerning amount of evidence for widespread declines in arthropods while pointing towards weather anomalies and climate change as one important driver.

Abdominal venous thromboses: detection of the JAK2 p.V617F mutation by next-generation ultradeep sequencing-A prevalence study of patients in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (2017-2021).

Abdominal venous thromboses are rare thrombotic events with heterogeneous etiologies. They are related to myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) in some patients and can occur as first signs of the disease. MPNs are characterized by mutations in the genes of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene (MPL), and calreticulin (CALR). Within the prospective trial "Prevalence of JAK2 mutations in patients with abdominal venous thromboses" (JAK2 MV study; German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00026943), the peripheral blood of patients with abdominal venous thromboses in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, a federal state located in north-east Germany, was analyzed by next-generation ultradeep sequencing for MPN-associated mutations. Clinical characteristics and blood cell counts were also of interest. The primary endpoint was the detection of the mutation JAK2 p.V617F. Secondary endpoints were the detection of other acquired variants of JAK2, as well as MPL and CALR. A total of 68 patients with abdominal venous thromboses were included from February 2017 to January 2021, with splanchnic veins affected in 65 patients. The mutation JAK2 p.V617F was present in 13 patients (19%), with four patients showing low variant allele frequencies (VAF 0.1% to 1.9%). The time interval from the thrombotic event to analysis was longer for patients with the mutation. The mutation MPL p.W515R was detected in three cases, all of them with low VAF. One patient among them had a concurrent mutation of JAK2 p.V617F. The mutations CALR type I or type II were not found. By analyzing peripheral blood for the mutation JAK2 p.V617F, an important cause of these rare thrombotic events can be identified. The development of a diagnostic workup with next-generation ultradeep sequencing for the analysis of the JAK2 p.V617F mutation and further mutations has the potential to better understand the etiology of abdominal venous thromboses in individual patients in regional clinical care, as abdominal venous thromboses are diagnosed by various medical disciplines.

Carbon content and other soil properties of near-surface peats before and after peatland restoration.

Peatland restoration usually aims at restarting the peatlands' function to store carbon within peat. The soil properties of the near-surface peat can give a first understanding of this process. Therefore, we sampled pH value, total organic carbon content (TOC), total nitrogen content (TN), C/N ratio as well as dry bulk density (BD), and describe the structure of near-surface peats in six restored fens in North-East Germany before (2002-2004) and after (2019-2021) restoration. Before restoration, the study sites showed peat degradation to various extents in their near-surface peats. pH values remained relatively stable over time. Comparing the degraded peat horizons, TOC increased significantly in four study sites, ranging from 35.7% to 47.8% in 2002-2004 and from 42.5% to 54.0% in 2019-2021. TN varied from 1.5% to 3.5% in 2002-2004 and from 1.8% to 3.2% in 2019-2021, but changes were only significant in one site, showing a slight decrease. In three sites, the increase in C/N ratio was significant, indicating lower nutrient availability. BD ranged from 0.08 to 0.48 g/cm3 in 2002-2004 and from 0.10 to 0.16 g/cm3 in 2019-2021, decreasing significantly in four sites. The structure of the degraded peat horizons changed after restoration to a more homogenous, sludge mass with larger re-aggregates. In three sites, new peat moss peat layers above the degraded soil horizon were present in 2019-2021, with a mean thickness of 6.8 to 36.1 cm. The structure was comparable to typical, slightly decomposed peat moss peat. Our findings suggest that within about 17 years after fen restoration, and thereby a water table rise close to surface, TOC of the near-surface peats increased to values that are typical for undisturbed peatlands. This indicates that restoration can lead to the re-establishment of peatlands as potential carbon sinks, with TOC within the near-surface peat as one key factor in this process. Further, we assume that the decrease in nutrient availability, decrease of BD, and new, undisturbed peat layers can favor the establishment of mire-specific biodiversity and support ecosystem services similar to near-natural mires.

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from particulate organic matter degradation in iron-enriched sediments.

Iron (Fe) plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients in aquatic systems. Reactive Fe phases can interact with organic carbon and facilitate the removal of carbon from the biogeochemical cycle; however, this important ecosystem function is often strongly controlled by Fe availability. Due to pollution from lignite mining in the Lusatian province in Northeast Germany, large amounts of iron and sulfate are released into the fluvial-lacustrine system of the Spree River. It was hypothesized that the input of freshly precipitated iron oxyhydroxides from mining areas (e.g., ferrihydrite) alter the biodegradation of particulate organic matter (POM) in downstream lacustrine sediments. To investigate the Fe-dependent degradation of POM, slurries mimicking iron-polluted sediments (85 mg Fe per g, 116 mg Fe per g, and 149 mg Fe per g dry weight) were incubated with plankton or leaf POM under anoxic and oxic headspace conditions, and CO2 and CH4 emissions, water chemistry, and stable isotopes of dissolved inorganic carbon were measured. The experiments revealed that (i) with an increasing Fe content, the CO2 and CH4 emissions were gradually reduced, (ii) CO2 and CH4 production was higher during plankton degradation than during leaf decomposition, and (iii) under oxic conditions, CO2 production was higher and CH4 production was lower when compared to the treatments under anoxic conditions. These findings demonstrate that while benthic mineralization of fresh POM typically releases greenhouse gases into the water column, the availability of iron oxyhydroxides can contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions from sediments. This is of considerable relevance for future carbon budgets of similar mining-affected, iron-polluted fluvial-lacustrine river systems.

Trace fossils from the Maastrichtian chalk of the Isle of Rügen, north-east Germany

Abstract The lower Maastrichtian chalk of the Isle of Rügen was deposited in a pelagic setting in the aphotic zone. Its rich fossil content has attracted research attention for centuries, whereas its ichnological characteristics remain poorly understood, even though horizons with intense bioturbation and occurrences of trace fossils in flint are common. The enhanced colour contrast of smooth chalk faces reveals repeated phases of benthic colonisation; larger burrows are commonly subject to silicification, while flint nodules also can preserve burrows in chalk. A total of 37 ichnogenera, including 47 ichnospecies of bioturbation and bioerosion trace fossils have been recognised; these are here briefly described, in addition to indeterminate material. Many ichnotaxa are recorded for the first time from the Rügen chalk. Bioerosion is restricted mainly to local hardgrounds in the form of biogenic components (such as shells and belemnite guards).

Earthworm activities change phosphorus mobilization and uptake strategies in deep soil layers

The drilosphere is described as a microbial hotspot in soil, which is rich in labile nutrients. However, phosphorus (P) quality and availability change along the drilosphere from labile organically-bound P in upper layers to immobilized Ca-phosphate with increasing depth. In this study, we postulated (1) that microbial P turnover is generally accelerated in the drilosphere compared to bulk soil as a result of an increase in labile nutrients, and (2) that P mineralization is dominant in upper layers of the drilosphere and P solubilization in deeper layers of the drilosphere, respectively. Furthermore, we hypothesized (3) that the enhanced P mobilization in the drilosphere favors copiotrophic and earthworm gut derived bacteria like Pseudomonadaceae, which distinguishes the community composition from that of the bulk soil. We investigated the effect of earthworm activities on potential phosphatase activities, abundance and diversity of bacterial communities involved in P mobilization (gcd, phoD, appA, phnX, phoN) and uptake (pstS, pitA) along a soil depth gradient in a short rotation coppice in Northeast Germany. Potential phosphatase activities and gene abundances revealed increasing potentials for organic P mineralization and high-affinity P uptake via the Pst system in the drilosphere below 50 cm depth. Conversely, in the upper soil layers potential for bacterial P mobilization were similar between drilosphere and bulk soil. We also observed drilosphere-related changes in the composition of bacterial communities involved in P solubilization and low-affinity P uptake via the Pit system below 60 cm depth. In the drilosphere compared to bulk soil, Pseudomonadaceae were enriched and played a major role in solubilization and low-affinity uptake of P, while bacteria potentially involved in N turnover like Bradyrhizobiaceae and Phyllobacteriaceae were less abundant. Our study suggested that earthworms increased the potential enzyme activity and abundance of bacteria carrying the Pho-regulon genes in the drilosphere of the deeper soil layers. Furthermore, earthworm-derived bacteria were enriched in the drilosphere at the same soil depth, especially those involved in P solubilization and carrying the Pit system.

Effects of new minimum volume standards in visceral surgery on healthcare in Brandenburg, Germany, from the perspective of healthcare providers

The legally prescribed minimum volume standards for complex esophageal and pancreatic surgery have been increased or will increase in 2023 and 2025, respectively. Hospitals not reaching the minimum volume standards are no longer allowed to perform these surgeries and are not entitled tor reimbursement. The study aims to explore which effects are expected by healthcare professionals and patient representatives and what possible solutions exist for Brandenburg, arural federal state in northeast Germany. In this study 19expert interviews were conducted with hospital employees (head/senior physicians, nursing director), resident physicians and patient representatives between July 2022 and January 2023. The data analysis was based on content analysis. Healthcare professionals and patient representatives expect aredistribution into afew clinics for surgical care (specialized centres); conversely more clinics that do not (no longer) perform the defined surgeries but could function as gatekeeping hospitals for basic care, diagnostics and follow-up (regional centres). The redistribution could also impact forms of treatment that are not directly defined within the regulation for minimum volume standards. The increased thresholds could also affect medical training and staff recruitment. Asolution could be collaborations between different hospitals, which would have to be structurally promoted. The study showed that minimum volume standards not only influence the quality of outcomes and accessibility but also have amultitude of other effects. Particularly for rural regions, minimum volume standards are challenging for access to esophageal and pancreatic surgery as well as for communication between specialized and regional centres or resident providers.