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Background: For prostate cancer treatment, treatment options with minimal side effects are desired. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is non-invasive, standard of care and delivered in either conventional fractionation over 8 weeks or with moderate hypo-fractionation over about 5 weeks. Recent advances in radiotherapy technology have made extreme hypo-fractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of prostate cancer feasible, which has not yet been introduced as a standard treatment method in Germany. Initial results from other countries are promising, but long-term results are not yet available. The aim of this study is to investigate feasibility and effectiveness of SBRT for prostate cancer in Germany.
Methods/design: This German bi-center single group trial (HYPOSTAT) is designed to evaluate feasibility and effectiveness, as measured by toxicity and PSA-response, respectively, of an extreme hypo-fractionated SBRT regimen with five fractions of 7 Gy in treatment of localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. The target volume includes the prostate with or without the base of seminal vesicles depending on risk stratification and uncertainty margins that are kept at 3–5 mm. SBRT treatment is delivered with the robotic CyberKnife system, which was recently introduced in Germany. Acute and late toxicity after one year will be evaluated according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v. 4.0), Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) Scores. The quality of life will be assessed before and after treatment with the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire. Hypothesizing that the proportion of patients with grade 2 side effects or higher is less or equal than 2.8%, thus markedly lower than the standard EBRT percentage (17.5%), the recruitment target is 85 patients.
Discussion: The HYPOSTAT trial aims at demonstrating short term feasibility of extreme hypo-fractioned SBRT for the treatment of prostate cancer and might be used as the pilot study for a multi-center multi-platform or for randomized-controlled trials comparing conventional radiotherapy with SBRT for localized prostate cancer in the future. The study concept of patient enrollment, follow up and evaluation by multiple public university clinics and actual patient treatment in dedicated private radiosurgery practices with high-tech radiation equipment is unique for clinical trials.
Study status: The study is ongoing and currently recruiting patients.
Trial registration: Registration number: NCT02635256 (clinicaltrials.gov). Registered 8 December 2015
Cognition requires the dynamic modulation of effective connectivity, i.e., the modulation of the postsynaptic neuronal response to a given input. If postsynaptic neurons are rhythmically active, this might entail rhythmic gain modulation, such that inputs synchronized to phases of high gain benefit from enhanced effective connectivity. We show that visually induced gamma-band activity in awake macaque area V4 rhythmically modulates responses to unpredictable stimulus events. This modulation exceeded a simple additive superposition of a constant response onto ongoing gamma-rhythmic firing, demonstrating the modulation of multiplicative gain. Gamma phases leading to strongest neuronal responses also led to shortest behavioral reaction times, suggesting functional relevance of the effect. Furthermore, we find that constant optogenetic stimulation of anesthetized cat area 21a produces gamma-band activity entailing a similar gain modulation. As the gamma rhythm in area 21a did not spread backward to area 17, this suggests that postsynaptic gamma is sufficient for gain modulation.
Intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) duplexes composed of two IDP chains cross-linked by bivalent partner proteins form scaffolds for assembly of multiprotein complexes. The N-terminal domain of dynein intermediate chain (N-IC) is one such IDP that forms a bivalent scaffold with multiple dynein light chains including LC8, a hub protein that promotes duplex formation of diverse IDP partners. N-IC also binds a subunit of the dynein regulator, dynactin. Here we characterize interactions of a yeast ortholog of N-IC (N-Pac11) with yeast LC8 (Dyn2) or with the intermediate chain-binding subunit of yeast dynactin (Nip100). Residue level changes in Pac11 structure are monitored by NMR spectroscopy, and binding energetics are monitored by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). N-Pac11 is monomeric and primarily disordered except for a single α-helix (SAH) at the N terminus and a short nascent helix, LH, flanked by the two Dyn2 recognition motifs. Upon binding Dyn2, the only Pac11 residues making direct protein-protein interactions are in and immediately flanking the recognition motifs. Dyn2 binding also orders LH residues of Pac11. Upon binding Nip100, only Pac11 SAH residues make direct protein-protein interactions, but LH residues at a distant sequence position and L1 residues in an adjacent linker are also ordered. The long distance, ligand-dependent ordering of residues reveals new elements of dynamic structure within IDP linker regions.
Baryonic models of ultra-low-mass compact stars for the central compact object in HESS J1731-347
(2023)
The recent attempt on mass and radius inference of the central compact object within the supernova remnant HESS J1731-347 suggests for this object an unusually low mass of M=0.77−0.17+0.20M⊙ and a small radius of R=10.4−0.78+0.86km. We explore the ways such a result can be accommodated within models of dense matter with heavy baryonic degrees of freedom which are constrained by the multi-messenger observations. We find that to do so using only purely nucleonic models, one needs to assume a rather small value of the slope of symmetry energy Lsym. Once heavy baryons are included higher values of the slope Lsym become acceptable at the cost of a slightly reduced maximum mass of static configuration. These two scenarios are distinguished by the particle composition and will undergo different cooling scenarios. In addition, we show that the universalities of the I-Love-Q relations for static configurations can be extended to very low masses without loss in their accuracy.
DNA sequences disclose a new species of Africonus cone snail from São Vicente (Gastropoda: Conidae)
(2017)
The sequencing of complete mitochondrial genomes of cone species belonging to the (sub)genus Africonus, which is endemic to Cabo Verde, has allowed the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships among these species, as well as delimitation and validation of their taxonomic status. While several species were found to be synonyms, some populations had enough DNA sequence divergence to merit the species status. This is the case of some populations inhabiting São Vicente, which are hereby described as a new species. The new species shares similarity in shell morphology to Africonus miruchae (Röckel, Rolán & Monteiro, 1980), endemic to Sal, due to convergence, and with Africonus denizi Afonso & Tenorio, 2011, endemic to São Vicente, due to close phylogenetic relationship. Additionally, the three species have significant differences in radular morphology.
The present work reviews the deep-water cone fauna of New Caledonia and its Economic Exclusive Zone. It is based on the material collected for more than 40 years by oceanographic expeditions in the deep waters surrounding New Caledonia, organized by the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle-Paris/ORSTOM, then Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, in the framework of the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos programme. A total of 2377 lots containing 5113 specimens collected in depths between 100 and 1260 m have been examined. About 770 specimens were collected live, and allowed for radular and DNA studies. A phylogenetic analysis, based on the cox1 gene, of the deep-water cone snail fauna of New Caledonia is presented, along with a detailed, fully illustrated taxonomic account with data on geographic and bathymetric distribution and radular morphology. A total of 76 different species of cone snails were identified among the collected material. Of these, 22 corresponded to typical shallow water species, which were most likely translocated into deeper water, whereas 54 could be considered true components of the deep water (below 100 m) cone snail fauna. Species of the genus Profundiconus represent 22%, whereas those of the genera Conasprella and Conus represent 28% and 50%, respectively. Eleven deep water cone species can be considered as endemic to the New Caledonia EEZ, representing 20.3% of the total. The most abundant species found (more than 400 specimens each) were Conus (Afonsoconus) bruuni, Conasprella (Boucheticonus) alisi, Conasprella (Conasprella) boucheti, and Profundiconus vaubani. The new species Conus (Taranteconus) samadiae sp. nov. is hereby described.
Recent research on the dynamics between attentional and memory processes have outlined the idea that applying control in a conflicting situation directly leads to enhanced episodic memory of the processed information. However, in spite of a small subset of studies supporting this claim, the majority of the evidence in the field seems to support the opposite pattern. In this study, we used a face–word Stroop task to enforce different control modes either from trial to trial or in an item-specific manner. Both manipulations of congruency proved to be effective in making participants’ responses to conflicting stimuli more efficient over time by applying a trial-specific control mode. However, these manipulations had no impact on memory performance on a surprise recognition memory test. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt at measuring the memory consequences of the application of specific control modes at the trial level. The results reported here call for caution and possibly reconceptualization of the relationship between cognitive control and memory.
First record of Straw-coloured fruit bat Eidolon helvum (Kerr, 1792) for the Cape Verde Islands
(2010)
On 8 September 2010, at 9:45 AM, a fruit bat was seen flying at a height of ca. 2 m over the sea off Ervatão, southeastern Boavista, Cape Verde Islands (16º 02’ N, 22º 41’ W). After a while, the animal landed in the beach vegetation. When captured, it did not offer any resistance to being handled and it was taken to the nearby sea turtle station, operated by the NGO Cabo Verde Natura 2000. The bat – which proved to be a female – was placed in an improvised cage made of plastic netting where it eagerly fed on the food provided, i.e. tomato, apple and banana. At 16:00 PM, the following biometric data were taken: head width 31.6 mm, humerus 81.1 mm, ulna 121.2 mm, tarsus 49.7 mm. When restrained for taking body measurements, the bat attempted to defend itself with its mouth.
In dieser Betrachtung wird versucht, die Besonderheiten und Schwächen von Ehrensteins 'Pe-Lo-Thien' zu erläutern und aus einer chinesischen Perspektive zu bewerten, ob seine Nachdichtungen den ursprünglichen Stil und Wert von Pe Lo Thiens Gedichten beibehalten, ferner: durch die Analyse der Hauptthemen und des Sprachgebrauchs herauszufinden, ob seine Nachdichtungen expressionistische Elemente enthalten. Außerdem wird Pe Lo Thiens Gedicht 'In der Nacht einen Singenden hören. Übernachten in E Zhou' mit Ehrensteins Nachdichtung 'Ein Mensch weint in der Nacht' und mit Klabunds Nachdichtung 'Das nächtliche Lied und die fremde Frau' verglichen, um die Mehrdeutigkeit von Pe Lo Thiens Gedicht aufzuzeigen und einige Unterschiede zwischen der westlichen und der chinesischen Dichtung zu verdeutlichen.
Regulators worldwide have been implementing different privacy laws. They vary in their impact on the value for advertisers, publishers and users, but not much is known about these differences. This article focuses on three important privacy laws (i.e., General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR], California Consumer Privacy Act [CCPA] and Personal Information Protection Law [PIPL]) and compares their impact on the value for the three primary actors of the online advertising market, namely, advertisers, publishers and users. This article first compares these three privacy laws by developing a legal strictness score. It then uses the existing literature to derive the effects of the legal strictness of each privacy law on each actor’s value. Finally, it quantifies the three privacy laws’ impact on each actor’s value. The results show that GDPR and PIPL are similar and stricter than CCPA. Stricter privacy laws bring larger negative changes to the value for actors. As a result, both GDPR and PIPL decrease the actors’ value more substantially than CCPA. These value declines are the largest for publishers and are rather similar for users and advertisers. Scholars and practitioners can use our findings to explore ways to create value for multiple actors under various privacy laws.
In seinen theoretischen Schriften beschreibt Dürrenmatt die Welt als undurchschaubar und daher die herkömmlichen Formen des Dramas als nicht länger angebracht. Der Aufsatz konfrontiert Dürrenmatts Skepsis mit Brechts marxistischem Realismus. Während Brecht die Welt als eine Beziehung von Kausalitäten sieht, stellt Dürrenmatt Realität und fiktionale Gegenrealität einander gegenüber. Seine Definition des Grotesken als zentrales Element der Komödie spielt dabei eine entscheidende Rolle. Die Analyse der Ahistorizität der Helden in "Romulus der Große" und deren Art historische Prozesse zu unterwandern etabliert das Groteske als einzig angebrachte Form, die Gegenwart darzustellen.
Poster presentation: Our work deals with the self-organization [1] of a memory structure that includes multiple hierarchical levels with massive recurrent communication within and between them. Such structure has to provide a representational basis for the relevant objects to be stored and recalled in a rapid and efficient way. Assuming that the object patterns consist of many spatially distributed local features, a problem of parts-based learning is posed. We speculate on the neural mechanisms governing the process of the structure formation and demonstrate their functionality on the task of human face recognition. The model we propose is based on two consecutive layers of distributed cortical modules, which in turn contain subunits receiving common afferents and bounded by common lateral inhibition (Figure 1). In the initial state, the connectivity between and within the layers is homogeneous, all types of synapses – bottom-up, lateral and top-down – being plastic. During the iterative learning, the lower layer of the system is exposed to the Gabor filter banks extracted from local points on the face images. Facing an unsupervised learning problem, the system is able to develop synaptic structure capturing local features and their relations on the lower level, as well as the global identity of the person at the higher level of processing, improving gradually its recognition performance with learning time. ...
Experience-driven formation of parts-based representations in a model of layered visual memory
(2009)
Growing neuropsychological and neurophysiological evidence suggests that the visual cortex uses parts-based representations to encode, store and retrieve relevant objects. In such a scheme, objects are represented as a set of spatially distributed local features, or parts, arranged in stereotypical fashion. To encode the local appearance and to represent the relations between the constituent parts, there has to be an appropriate memory structure formed by previous experience with visual objects. Here, we propose a model how a hierarchical memory structure supporting efficient storage and rapid recall of parts-based representations can be established by an experience-driven process of self-organization. The process is based on the collaboration of slow bidirectional synaptic plasticity and homeostatic unit activity regulation, both running at the top of fast activity dynamics with winner-take-all character modulated by an oscillatory rhythm. These neural mechanisms lay down the basis for cooperation and competition between the distributed units and their synaptic connections. Choosing human face recognition as a test task, we show that, under the condition of open-ended, unsupervised incremental learning, the system is able to form memory traces for individual faces in a parts-based fashion. On a lower memory layer the synaptic structure is developed to represent local facial features and their interrelations, while the identities of different persons are captured explicitly on a higher layer. An additional property of the resulting representations is the sparseness of both the activity during the recall and the synaptic patterns comprising the memory traces. Keywords: visual memory, self-organization, unsupervised learning, competitive learning, bidirectional plasticity, activity homeostasis, parts-based representation, cortical column
Highlights
• Transparency of design, reference frames and support for action were found to support students' sense-making of LA dashboards.
• The higher the overall SRL score, the more relevant the three factors were perceived by learners.
• Learner goals affect how relevant students find reference frames.
• The SRL effect on the perceived relevance of transparency depends on learner goals.
Abstract
Unequal stakeholder engagement is a common pitfall of adoption approaches of learning analytics in higher education leading to lower buy-in and flawed tools that fail to meet the needs of their target groups. With each design decision, we make assumptions on how learners will make sense of the visualisations, but we know very little about how students make sense of dashboard and which aspects influence their sense-making. We investigated how learner goals and self-regulated learning (SRL) skills influence dashboard sense-making following a mixed-methods research methodology: a qualitative pre-study followed-up with an extensive quantitative study with 247 university students. We uncovered three latent variables for sense-making: transparency of design, reference frames and support for action. SRL skills are predictors for how relevant students find these constructs. Learner goals have a significant effect only on the perceived relevance of reference frames. Knowing which factors influence students' sense-making will lead to more inclusive and flexible designs that will cater to the needs of both novice and expert learners.
Franz Kafkas Äußerungen zu seiner angeblichen Unmusikalität sind in der Kafka-Forschung hinlänglich bekannt. Weniger erforscht ist, wie diese spezifische Unmusikalität mit Kafkas poetologischem Konzept zu vereinen ist. Die Auffassung von Musik in seinen Texten, wie zum Beispiel in 'Josefine, die Sängerin' oder 'Das Volk der Mäuse', im Schluss des Romanfragments 'Der Verschollene' und in seinen Briefen und Tagebucheintragungen, verdeutlicht, dass er ein ganz anderes Verständnis von Musik hatte als etwa sein musikalischer Freund Max Brod. Vor dem Hintergrund von Brods Übersetzungsarbeit am Libretto von Leoš Janáčeks 'Jenůfa (Ihre Ziehtochter)' und von der Einführung der Oper auf die internationale Szene wird ein Zusammenhang zwischen Musikalität und Kafkas Auffassung von Literatur hergestellt.
Das Werk des Dichters, Philosophen und Kulturkritikers Rudolf Pannwitz wird heutzutage wenig rezipiert. Die Kritik an der Moderne im Nietzscheschen Sinne als ein ideologiekritischer Gesichtspunkt bei der Betrachtung der Kulturkrise Europas kurz vor und während des Ersten Weltkriegs verbindet sich bei ihm mit der phänomenologischen Kritik des Geistes, indem er den Geist der Nationen, vor allem den Slawen, bzw. den Tschechen, jenseits der zeitgenössischen nationalen Diskurse aufzuspüren sucht. Pannwitz versuchte, aus dem "sterilen" Gegensatz Tschechen-Deutsche herauszutreten und hatte eine Vision der Bedeutung der Tschechen in der europäischen Kultur im Sinne einer kulturellen Synthese; er glaubte an "eine tiefe Verbindung zwischen dem deutschen und dem tschechischen Schicksal" (PANNWITZ 1917: 36). Pannwitz' Schriften - vor allem "Die Krisis der europaeischen Kultur" (1917) und "Der Geist der Tschechen" (1919) - und ihre Rezeption werden in dem vorliegenden Aufsatz aus germano-bohemistischer und kulturwissenschaftlicher Sicht kontextualisiert.
Radon ist ein ubiquitär im Erdmantel sowie in der Luft und im Wasser vorkommendes radioaktives Edelgas. Obwohl die mit der Exposition assoziierten Erkrankungen seit dem Mittelalter bekannt waren, ist eine kausale Zuordnung von Agens und Krankheit erst in der Mitte des letzten Jahrhunderts gelungen. Durch die physikalischen Eigenschaften des Gases ist die Prävention darauf ausgerichtet, die Exposition zu minimieren. Eine koordinierte Bemühung der EU, durch einheitliche Regeln die Bevölkerung zu schützen, stellt die Richtlinie 2013/59/EURATOM vom 5. Dezember 2013 dar. Umgesetzt in nationales Recht, sah die deutsche Strahlenschutzgesetzgebung vor, dass am 01.01.2021 die verantwortlichen Bundesländer basierend auf einer Expositionskarte die Gebiete festlegen, in denen der Grenzwert der Aktivitätskonzentration von Radon in der Luft im Jahresmittel 300 Bq/m3 überschreitet. In dieser Arbeit sollen die Fortschritte auf dem Weg zu einem umfassenderen Schutz vor den Gefahren durch Radon für die Bevölkerung in Deutschland dargestellt werden.
Wenn hier verhandelt wird, wie Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck im Drehbuch zu "Das Leben der Anderen" (2006) an den Plot eines britisch-französischen Filmklassikers anknüpft und an einen Roman aus der späten DDR, so hat das teils mit der herausgehobenen Stellung seines Erfolgswerks und seinen Selbstkommentaren zu tun, teils mit Überlegungen zur Intertextualitätsforschung. Beginnen wir mit den ersten beiden Aspekten und klären dann bei der Drehbuchanalyse die theoretischen Positionen. Vorausgeschickt sei nur, dass mit einem erweiterten Zitatbegriff gearbeitet wird, wie in der neueren Kulturwissenschaft üblich, und entsprechend einer Entwicklung im Kunstsystem seit den 1980er Jahren. Dort versteht man unter Zitieren längst nicht mehr nur die wörtliche Übernahme einer Textstelle, sondern jede beabsichtigte Bezugnahme eines Kunstwerks auf ein anderes, sei es aus der eigenen Sparte oder aus benachbarten: Akte künstlerischer Selbstreferenz. Mit der Erweiterung des Zitat- geht die des Textbegriffs einher, der hier Zeichensysteme in den Grenzen eines Einzelwerks meint, damit auch Bedeutungsträger eines Films. Als literaturwissenschaftlicher Beitrag zu verstehen ist das Folgende zum einen wegen der faktischen Aufwertung des Drehbuchs durch das konsekrationsfähige Verlagshaus Suhrkamp, zum anderen, wichtiger, weil wir den Film fast ausschließlich auf der Plot-, nicht auf der Bildebene betrachten.
Das von Klaus Scherpe geleitete DFG-Projekt zur Kulturgeschichte des Fremden in der deutschen Kolonialzeit hat neben literarischen auch medizinhistorische und ethnologische Texte in den Blick genommen, soweit sie zeittypische Wahrnehmungsmuster und Darstellungstechniken markierten. Ein anschauliches Beispiel dafür sind die Expeditionsberichte des frühen Leo Frobenius. Über eine ideologiekritische Perspektive hinaus - die dem Rassisten allerdings angemessen bleibt - sind die rhetorischen und medialen Mittel zu erkunden, mit denen der bekannteste Vertreter der wilhelminischen Völkerkunde Bilder vom schwarzen Menschen lancierte. Von Interesse ist desweiteren, wie sich das so triviale wie publikumswirksame Konzept des Ethnologen als Unterhaltungsliteraten zum wissenschaftlichen Ansatz verhielt (Kulturkreis-Lehre) und wie zu "Heart of Darkness", einer topographisch benachbarten, da ebenfalls am Kongo angesiedelten Erzählung, die freilich zur Weltliteratur zählt.
Though recent investigations have contributed substantially to our understanding of the Alpine-Dinaric radiation of the genus Zospeum Bourguignat, 1856, its southernmost member, Zospeum troglobalcanicum Absolon, 1916, has remained a taxonomic ghost. The assumed absence of type material, the insufficient original description, and the lack of new samples from its Western Balkan type locality have stymied further clarification. The recent discovery of a single syntype shell housed at the Natural History Museum Vienna now enables the first morphological assessment via 3D X-ray and SEM imaging. Based on this image data, different characters for assessing the southernmost members of the genus are determined and a lectotype is designated. Eleven allied species from 15 Western Balkan populations are described from museum material and recent sampling efforts: Z. amplioscutum Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. biokovoense Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. constrictum Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. dubokidoense Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. intermedium Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. kolbae Jochum, Inäbnit, Kneubühler & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. neuberti Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. njegusiense Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. njunjicae Jochum, Schilthuizen & Ruthensteiner sp. nov., Z. tortuosum Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. and Z. tumidum Jochum, Schilthuizen & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. One species, Z. kolbae, is described using DNA sequence data and one species, Z. simplex Inäbnit, Jochum & Neubert, 2021 for which DNA sequence data is already available, is supported by morphological data presented in this study. The DNA sequence dataset (COI, 16S and H3) is included here and implemented in the most recent phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus. A translation of Karel Absolon’s notes from the Balkan scientific expeditions is provided.
The present study aims to clarify the confused taxonomy of Z. schaufussi von Frauenfeld, 1862 and Zospeum suarezi Gittenberger, 1980. Revision of Iberian Zospeum micro snails is severely hindered by uncertainties regarding the identity of the oldest Iberian Zospeum species, Z. schaufussi von Frauenfeld, 1862. In this paper, we clarify its taxonomic status by designating a lectotype from the original syntype series and by describing its internal and external shell morphology. Using SEM-EDX, we attempt to identify the area of the type locality cave more precisely than "a cave in Spain". The shell described and illustrated by Gittenberger (1980) as Z. schaufussi appears not to be conspecific with the lectotype shell, and is considered a separate species, Z. gittenbergeri Jochum, Prieto & De Winter, sp. n.
Zospeum suarezi was described from various caves in NW Spain. Study of the type material reveals that these shells are not homogenous in shell morphology. The holotype shell of Z. suarezi is imaged here for the first time. The paratype shell, illustrated by Gittenberger (1980) from a distant, second cave, is described as Zospeum praetermissum Jochum, Prieto & De Winter, sp. n. The shell selected here as lectotype of Z. schaufussi, was also considered a paratype of Z. suarezi by Gittenberger (1980). Since this specimen is morphologically very similar to topotypic shells of Z. suarezi, the latter species is considered a junior synonym of Z. schaufussi (syn. n.). The internal shell morphology of all these taxa is described and illustrated using X-ray Micro Computer Tomography (Micro-CT).
Three new species of the genus Carychium O.F. Müller, 1773, Carychium hardiei Jochum & Weigand, sp. n., Carychium belizeense Jochum & Weigand, sp. n. and Carychium zarzaae Jochum & Weigand, sp. n. are described from the Southeastern United States, Belize and Panama, respectively. In two consecutive molecular phylogenetic studies of worldwide members of Carychiidae, the North and Central American morphospecies Carychium mexicanum Pilsbry, 1891 and Carychium costaricanum E. von Martens, 1898 were found to consist of several evolutionary lineages. Although the related lineages were found to be molecularly distinct from the two nominal species, the consequential morphological and taxonomic assessment of these lineages is still lacking. In the present paper, the shells of these uncovered Carychium lineages are assessed by comparing them with those of related species, using computer tomography for the first time for this genus. The interior diagnostic characters are emphasized, such as columellar configuration in conjunction with the columellar lamella and their relationship in context of the entire shell. These taxa are morphologically described and formally assigned their own names.
Dark matter could accumulate around neutron stars in sufficient amounts to affect their global properties. In this work, we study the effect of a specific model for dark matter—a massive and self-interacting vector (spin-1) field—on neutron stars. We describe the combined systems of neutron stars and vector dark matter using Einstein–Proca theory coupled to a nuclear matter term and find scaling relations between the field and metric components in the equations of motion. We construct equilibrium solutions of the combined systems, compute their masses and radii, and also analyze their stability and higher modes. The combined systems admit dark matter (DM) core and cloud solutions. Core solutions compactify the neutron star component and tend to decrease the total mass of the combined system. Cloud solutions have the inverse effect. Electromagnetic observations of certain cloud-like configurations would appear to violate the Buchdahl limit. This could make Buchdahl-limit-violating objects smoking gun signals for dark matter in neutron stars. The self-interaction strength is found to significantly affect both mass and radius. We also compare fermion Proca stars to objects where the dark matter is modeled using a complex scalar field. We find that fermion Proca stars tend to be more massive and geometrically larger than their scalar field counterparts for equal boson masses and self-interaction strengths. Both systems can produce degenerate masses and radii for different amounts of DM and DM particle masses.
Thermal denaturation of RNA free coat proteins of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was studied for wildtype TMV (vulgare) and the temperature-sensitive mutant, Ni 118. The ability to form soluble aggregates as well as the optical properties (ORD, UV-difference spectra), and the sedimentation behavior were used as criteria for the native state.
At pH 7.5, I= 0.02 denaturation is reversible for both proteins. The ORD data indicate that the denatured proteins contain residual secondary structure. The “melting temperatures”, as defined by ORD measurements (cp = 0.02 mM), are 39.5 ± 1°C for vulgare and 27 ± 1°C for Ni 118 at pH 7.5, I= 0.02. By means of the aggregation test (cp = 0.05 mM) somewhat lower melting temperatures were found under the same solvent conditions. The difference between the primary structures of vulgare and Ni 118 proteins being a proline → leucine (pos. 20) replacement, the results suggest the cyclic structure of proline (20) to have a specific stabilizing function in the three dimensional protein structure. This conclusion is supported by preliminary experiments on a temperature-sensitive mutant with a threonine residue in pos. 20.
The genus Andromma Simon, 1893 is revised. The type species A. aethiopicum Simon, 1893 (♂♀) and the other three known species, A. anochetorum Simon, 1909 (♂), A. bouvieri Fage, 1936 (♀) and A. raffrayi Simon, 1899 (♂♀), are redescribed. The types of the subspecies A. raffrayi inhacorense Lessert, 1936 were not examined. This subspecies is considered a synonym of the nominal species. Nineteen new species are described and illustrated: A. albinovani sp. nov. (♂♀), A. alvoculatum sp. nov. (♀), A. anacardium sp. nov. (♀), A. cyamos sp. nov. (♀), A. cycnotrachelos sp. nov. (♂♀), A. delphiurum sp. nov. (♂♀), A. deogratias sp. nov. (♂♀), A. dicranobelos sp. nov. (♂), A. didrepanum sp. nov. (♂), A. divinagraciae sp. nov. (♂♀), A. elephantactes sp. nov. (♀), A. ghesquierei sp. nov. (♂♀), A. heligmos sp. nov. (♀), A. helix sp. nov. (♀), A. juakalyi sp. nov. (♂), A. katangensis sp. nov. (♀), A. ophiophagum sp. nov. (♀), A. prosopion sp. nov. (♀) and A. velum sp. nov. (♂♀). The distribution of the species and their apparent commensalism with termites are discussed.
Ist es wichtiger, welchen Namen man sich im jeweiligen kulturellen Kontext zulegt, und sagt der bei der Geburt gegebene Name weniger über die soziokulturelle Dimension aus als ein später angenommener? Für Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote scheint diese Annahme formgebend zu sein: denn den Namen ‚Don Quijote‘ kennt heute fast jeder, den ursprünglichen Namen dieser fiktiven Figur dagegen, der im Roman in verschiedenen Versionen angegeben wird, weiß nicht einmal mehr der Erzähler selbst zweifelsfrei zu nennen. […] Onomastische Überlegungen und Forschungen gibt es inzwischen zu nahezu allen weltliterarisch bedeutsamen Texten […]. Interessant beim Don Quijote ist hierbei, dass eine vielschichtige Überlegung angestellt werden muss: allein bezüglich des Namens der Hauptfigur sind zum einen die Motivationen zu betrachten, die der Autor bei der Namensgebung seiner Figur hatte, und welche Rezipientenbeeinflussung ihm somit durch die Wahl des Namens ‚Don Quijote‘ vorschwebte. Zum andern ist aber auch die Motivation zu analysieren, die der Erzähler seiner Figur, welche er ja diesen und andere Namen ersinnen lässt, unterstellen möchte. Des Weiteren muss auch der ursprüngliche innerfiktive Name der Hauptfigur Beachtung finden und dabei besonders die Tatsache, dass der Erzähler sich dazu entschieden hat, diesen Namen bis zum Ende des Romans in der Schwebe zu lassen und in verschiedenen Variationen anzubieten. Hinzu kommen noch zusätzliche Beinamen, die der Ritter im Laufe des Romans annimmt.
Der Prager deutsche Schriftsteller Johannes Urzidil (1896-1970) wird seit der Wende 1989 in seiner Heimat wiederentdeckt, und auch im deutschsprachigen Raum findet er in den letzten Jahren ein größeres Interesse und wird wieder verstärkt rezipiert. Der Artikel skizziert Leben und Werk dieses bedeutenden böhmischen Autors, weist auf unlängst erschienene Publikationen hin und stellt die geplante Urzidil-Werkausgabe vor.
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) emerged as a major concern for water quality in the last decade and have been studied extensively since. Besides typical natural and synthetic estrogens also petroleum product compounds such as some PAHs have been identified as potential EDCs, revealing endocrine disruption to be a relevant mode of action for crude oil toxicity. Hence, in the context of a comprehensive retro- or prospective risk assessment of oil spills the implementation of mechanism-specific toxicity such as endocrine disruption is of high importance. To evaluate the exposure risk for the aquatic biota, research focuses on water-soluble fractions underlying an oil slick that could be simulated via water-accommodated fractions (WAF). Against this background human (ERα-CALUX®) and yeast based (A-YES®) reporter gene bioassays were successfully optimized for the application in estrogenicity evaluation of the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) from a crude oil. Combining different approaches, the estrogenicity of the WAFs from a naphthenic North Sea crude oil was tested with and without the addition of a chemical dispersant addressing specific aspects of estrogenicity including the influence of biotransformation capacities and different salinity conditions. Both the WAF free from droplets (LEWAF) as well as the chemically dispersed WAF (CEWAF) gave indications of an ER-mediated estrogenicity with much stronger ERα agonists in the CEWAF treatment. Resulting estradiol equivalents of the WAFs were above the established effect-based trigger values for both bioassays. Results indicate that the dispersant rather increased the fraction of ER-activating crude oil compounds instead of interacting with the receptor itself. Only slight changes in estrogenic responses were observed when cells capable of active metabolism (T47D) were used instead of cells without endogenous metabolism (U2-OS) in the recombinant ER transactivation CALUX assay. With the yeast cells a higher estrogenic activity was observed in the experiments under elevated salinity conditions (6‰), which was in contrast to previous expectations due to typical decrease in dissolved PAH fraction with increasing salinity (salting-out effect) but might be related to increased cell sensitivity.
Genotoxicity assessment is of high relevance for crude and refined petroleum products, since oil compounds are known to cause DNA damage with severe consequences for aquatic biota as demonstrated in long-term monitoring studies. This study aimed at the optimization and evaluation of small-scale higher-throughput assays (Ames fluctuation, micronucleus, Nrf2-CALUX®) covering different mechanistic endpoints as first screening tools for genotoxicity assessment of oils. Cells were exposed to native and chemically dispersed water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of three oil types varying in their processing degree. Independent of an exogenous metabolic activation system, WAF compounds induced neither base exchange nor frame shift mutations in bacterial strains. However, significantly increased chromosomal aberrations in zebrafish liver (ZF-L) cells were observed. Oxidative stress was indicated for some treatments and was not correlated with observed DNA damage. Application of a chemical dispersant increased the genotoxic potential rather by the increased bioavailability of dissolved and particulate oil compounds. Nonetheless, the dispersant induced a clear oxidative stress response, indicating a relevance for general toxic stress. Results showed that the combination of different in vitro assays is important for a reliable genotoxicity assessment. Especially, the ZF-L capable of active metabolism and DNA repair seems to be a promising model for WAF testing.
In situ burning (ISB) is discussed to be one of the most suitable response strategies to combat oil spills in extreme conditions. After burning, a highly viscous and sticky residue is left and may over time pose a risk of exposing aquatic biota to toxic oil compounds. Scientific information about the impact of burn residues on the environment is scarce. In this context, a comprehensive ISB field experiment with approx. 1000L IFO 180 was conducted in a fjord in Greenland. The present study investigated the toxicity of collected ISB residues to early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model for potentially exposed pelagic organisms. The toxicity of ISB residues on zebrafish embryos was compared with the toxicity of the initial (unweathered) IFO 180 and chemically dispersed IFO 180. Morphological malformations, hatching success, swimming behavior, and biomarkers for exposure (CYP1A activity, AChE inhibition) were evaluated in order to cover the toxic response on different biological organization levels. Across all endpoints, ISB residues did not induce greater toxicity in zebrafish embryos compared with the initial oil. The application of a chemical dispersant increased the acute toxicity most likely due to a higher bioavailability of dissolved and particulate oil components. The results provide insight into the adverse effects of ISB residues on sensitive life stages of fish in comparison with chemical dispersant application.
Petroleum products including crude oils and refined distillates are unique environmental pollutants consisting of thousands of compounds with varying physical-chemical properties and resulting toxicity for aquatic biota. Hence, for a reliable risk assessment individual petroleum product toxicity profiles are needed. Furthermore, the influence of oil spill response strategies like the application of chemical dispersants has to be implemented. The present study addressed the toxicity of water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of two different oil types on fish early life stages on different biological organization levels in the laboratory model species Danio rerio. Experiments with a 3rd generation dispersant used in loading rated resembling the exposure in experiments with chemically dispersed oils were included, enabling a direct comparability of results. This approach is of high importance as especially the investigation of dispersant toxicity in relevant exposure concentrations is rather scarce. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different WAFs shortly after and up to 120 hour post fertilization (hpf). Besides phenotypic effects including edema and spine deformations, reduced responses to dark stimuli, increased CYP1A activity and marginal AChE inhibition were observed in sublethal effect concentrations. Both oil types had varying strength of toxicity, which did not correlate with corresponding chemical analysis of target PAHs. Chemically dispersed oils induced stronger acute toxicity in zebrafish embryos compared to native (initial) oil exposure, which was further reflected by very low exposure concentrations for biomarker endpoints. Based on a comparison to the dispersant alone, a higher toxicity of dispersed oils was related to a combination of dispersant toxicity and an elevated crude oil compound bioavailability, due to dispersion-related partitioning kinetics. In contrast to LEWAF and CEWAF neither typical morphological effects nor mechanism-specific toxicity were observed for the dispersant alone, indicating narcosis as the responsible cause of effects.
The necessity of over-interpretation: Adorno, the essay, and the gesture of aesthetic experience
(2013)
This article is a discussion of Theodor W. Adorno’s comment, in the beginning of ‘The Essay as Form’, that interpretations of essays are over-interpretations. I argue that this statement is programmatic, and should be understood in the light of Adorno’s essayistic ideal of configuration, his notion of truth, and his idea of the enigmatic character of art. In order to reveal how this over-interpreting appears in practice, I turn to Adorno’s essay on Kafka. According to Adorno, the reader of Kafka is caught in an aporia: Kafka’s work cannot be interpreted, yet every single sentence calls for interpretation. This paradox is related to the gestures and images in Kafka’s work: like Walter Benjamin, Adorno means that they contain sedimented, forgotten experiences. Instead of interpreting these images, Adorno visualizes the experiences indirectly by presenting images of his own. His own essay becomes gestural.
Although Sweden is a country with a comparatively well-known fauna, there are still many species that await discovery, especially in the boreal regions. In this study five new species of Diplazontinae, Homotropus klopfsteinae sp. nov., Homotropus hellqvisti sp. nov., Homotropus mugerwai sp. nov., Homotropus riedeli sp. nov. and Woldstedtius aureotibialis sp. nov., are described. Sussaba roberti Klopfstein, 2014 and Homotropus megaspis (Thomson, 1890) are reported for the first time from Sweden. Four of the new species are described from boreal areas, which highlights the need to further investigate the river- and seaside areas of the western taiga.
Rhodesain is the lysosomal cathepsin L-like cysteine protease of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the causative agent of Human African Trypanosomiasis. The enzyme is essential for the proliferation and pathogenicity of the parasite as well as its ability to overcome the blood–brain barrier of the host. Lysosomal cathepsins are expressed as zymogens with an inactivating prodomain that is cleaved under acidic conditions. A structure of the uncleaved maturation intermediate from a trypanosomal cathepsin L-like protease is currently not available. We thus established the heterologous expression of T. brucei rhodesiense pro-rhodesain in Escherichia coli and determined its crystal structure. The trypanosomal prodomain differs from nonparasitic pro-cathepsins by a unique, extended α-helix that blocks the active site and whose side-chain interactions resemble those of the antiprotozoal inhibitor K11777. Interdomain dynamics between pro- and core protease domain as observed by photoinduced electron transfer fluorescence correlation spectroscopy increase at low pH, where pro-rhodesain also undergoes autocleavage. Using the crystal structure, molecular dynamics simulations, and mutagenesis, we identify a conserved interdomain salt bridge that prevents premature intramolecular cleavage at higher pH values and may thus present a control switch for the observed pH sensitivity of proenzyme cleavage in (trypanosomal) CathL-like proteases.
Semiquinone radical anions are prototype compounds for contact ion pair formation with metal counter cations. In order to investigate the still open question whether bulky alkyl groups can sterically interfere, diphenoquinone derivatives O=C(RC=CH)2C=C(HC=CR)2C=O with R = C(CH3)3, CH(CH3)2 and CH3 have been selected and the following ESR/ENDOR results are obtained for the alkaline metal cations: The tetrakis(tert-butyl)-substituted radical anion only adds Li⊕ and Na⊕, while K⊕ forms no ion pair. The 3,3ʹ,5,5ʹ-tetra(isopropyl)diphenoquinone radical anion is accessible to all cations Me⊕, although Rb⊕ and Cs⊕ seem to be present solvent-separated in solution. The tetramethyl-substituted radical anion unfortunately polymerizes rapidly. Additional information concerns the ESR/ENDOR proof for ion triple radical cation formation [Li⊕ M•⊖Li⊕]•⊕, or the difference in the coupling constants upon Me⊕ docking at one δ⊖O=C group, suggesting that about 87% of the spin density is located in the cation-free molecular half of the diphenoquinone radical anion. Based on the wealth of ESR/ENDOR information, crystallization of the contact ion pairs and their structural characterization should be attempted.
Durch Ratsbeschluß des Rates des Saalkreises vom 23.01.1985 wurde das Flurstück „Die Weitzschke“ zwischen der Bundesstraße 80 (B 80) und dem Schachtberg bei Bahnhof Teutschenthal zum Flächennaturdenkmal (FND) „Salzstelle bei Teutschenthal - Bahnhof“ (Code: FND0036SK_) erklärt, um die z.T. gefährdeten und seltenen Salzpflanzenvorkommen naturschutzrechtlich zu sichern. Frühzeitig wurde erkannt, daß die Erhaltung der Flora und Vegetation dieser Salzstelle von der Zuführung der Sickerwässer der in unmittelbarer Nähe liegenden Kali-Rückstandshalde abhängig ist (EBEL & SCHÖNBRODT 1991a).
Aktuell bekannte Vorkommen von A. adiantum-nigrum L., A. ceterach L., A. ruta-muraria L., A. scolopendrium L., A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., A. trichomanes L. und A. viride W. Huds. im Mitteldeutschen Trockengebiet um Halle werden mitgeteilt. Erstmalig wurden Vorkommen von Asplenium trichomanes auf Unterarten untersucht und die Ergebnisse vorgestellt. Auch der intraspezifische Bastard A. trichomanes nothosubsp. lovisianum S. Jess. wurde nachgewiesen.
KARL BERNAU (1932) vermerkte in seinem kleinen Beitrag über „Neu-Ankömmlinge in unserer Pflanzenwelt“ das Auftreten zweier fremder Salbei-Arten am Bahndamm zwischen Mücheln und Langeneichstädt westlich von Merseburg: „Einen besonderen Schmuck bilden einige Salbeiarten, … so die Verbenen-Salbei (Salvia verbenacea VAHL) und die Muskateller-Salbei (Salvia sclarea L.) …“. Wir glaubten Salvia verbenacea VAHL (gemeint ist sicherlich Salvia verbenaca L., von LINNÉ als orthographische Variante auch Salvia verbenacea bezeichnet) wieder aufgefunden zu haben und fügten unserem Beitrag (JOHN & STOLLE 2006: 24-25) ein Bild dieser Pflanze von G. HENSEL (Merseburg) bei.
Zu verwilderten Vorkommen von Taxa der Gattung Cotoneaster in Deutschland gibt es nur wenige Untersuchungen. Oft basieren diese aufgrund taxonomischer und nomenklatorischer Unsicherheiten und wegen Problemen bei der Einschätzung des floristischen Status bisher nur auf sporadischen Beobachtungen. In der Dölauer Heide, einem Stadtwald von Halle (Saale), wurden subspontane Vorkommen von Cotoneaster bullatus BOIS, C. cornifolius (REHDER et H. E. WILSON) FLINCK et B. HYLMÖ, C. dielsianus E. PRITZ. ex DIELS, C. divaricatus REHDER et H. E. WILSON, C. lucidus SCHLTDL., C. aff. multiflorus, C. villosulus (REHDER et H. E. WILSON) FLINCK et B. HYLMÖ und C. zabelii C. K. SCHNEID. festgestellt. In der weiteren Umgebung von Halle wurde auch subspontanes Auftreten von C. horizontalis DECNE. und C. nitens REHDER et H. E. WILSON ermittelt. Insbesondere C. villosulus und C. divaricatus werden als invasive Arten eingeschätzt. Cotoneaster cornifolius und C. lucidus sind fest eingebürgert und haben das Potenzial, invasiv werden zu können. Die synanthropen Vorkommen mehrerer Cotoneaster- Arten haben überwiegend auffallend höheren Wuchs sowie größere Blätter und Früchte als in den Originalbeschreibungen angegeben.
Zur aktuellen Verbreitung von Gagea bohemica (ZAUSCHN.) SCHULT. & SCHULT. f. in Sachsen-Anhalt
(2009)
Nach neueren genetischen Untersuchungen stellt Gagea bohemica eine hoch variable Spezies dar, wobei die Unterscheidung spezifischer oder infraspezifischer Taxa, charakterisiert durch morphologische und genotypische Merkmale mit unterschiedlicher geographischer Verteilung oder Habitatanforderungen, nicht länger aufrechterhalten werden kann. Für die Vorkommen von Gagea bohemica s. l. wurde unter Einbeziehung von Gagea saxatilis für Sachsen-Anhalt eine Rasterkarte erarbeitet, aus der hervorgeht, dass der Felsen-Goldstern aktuell noch an einer großen Zahl von Fundorten im mittleren und südlichen Gebiet Sachsen- Anhalts auftritt.
Der Kleinblütige Klee (Trifolium retusum L., Syn. T. parviflorum EHRH.) zählt allgemein zu den
Seltenheiten der mitteleuropäischen Flora. Nach MEUSEL et al. (1965: 236) hat diese Art ein sehr
zerstückeltes Areal, das von Nordwest-Afrika über Südwest-, Zentral- und Ost-Europa in einer
relativ schmalen Zone bei einer Häufung im Balkan bis Südwest-Asien reicht (vgl. auch HEGI
1924: 1298). Entsprechend wurde die Verbreitung von HENDRYCH (1967), der T. retusum als
subkontinentale Art wertet, dargestellt. CHASSAGNE (1957: 121) bezeichnete T. retusum als „espèce
occidento-méditerranéenne d’origine tyrrhénienne“. Nach COOMBE (1968: 163 f.) ist T. retusum
in Europa auf der Iberischen Halbinsel, in Frankreich, Deutschland, Österreich, Tschechien,
Ungarn, Jugoslawien, Rumänien, Bulgarien und in der Türkei sowie in den südlichen Teilen der
damaligen Sowjetunion vertreten. Genauere Angaben zum Vorkommen von Trifolium retusum
finden sich für Spanien bei CASTROVIEJO et al. (2000: 716), für das Französische Zentralmassiv
bei CHASSAGNE (1957: 121), für Niederösterreich und das Burgenland bei JANCHEN (1972: 287)
sowie für Tschechien bei HENDRYCH (1967).
Im vorliegenden Beitrag berichten wir über Vorkommen und Verbreitung des Kleinblütigen
Klees in Sachsen-Anhalt. Anhand von Vegetationsaufnahmen, die im Jahr 2006 vom Zweitautor
erhoben wurden, wird erstmals die Vergesellschaftung von Trifolium retusum in diesem Raum
dargestellt.
Die Ergebnisse umfangreicher floristischer Kartierungen von Farn- und Blütenpflanzen auf dem ehemaligen Truppenübungsplatz Oranienbaumer Heide in den Jahren 2008 bis 2010 werden vorgestellt. Dabei wird vor allem auf naturschutzfachlich wertgebende Pflanzenarten fokussiert. Die Oranienbaumer Heide zählt heute aufgrund ihrer Nutzungsgeschichte, der Überschneidung kontinentaler und subatlantischer Verbreitungsareale sowie vielfältiger Standortbedingungen zu den artenreichsten Gebieten in Sachsen-Anhalt. Durch umfangreiche Literaturrecherchen sowie über die Auswertung historischen Kartenmaterials konnten die Nutzungsgeschichte des Gebietes sowie die historische Flora seit Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts, zumindest in Teilen, rekonstruiert werden. Die Recherchen ergaben unter anderem, dass über einen langen Zeitraum ein Kontinuum an mehr oder weniger großen Offenflächen (Heiden, Magerrasen) im Gebiet vorhanden war. Eine Auswertung historischer Daten zu Pflanzenfunden für die Oranienbaumer Heide hat ergeben, dass ein großer Teil der schon früher für das Gebiet bekannt gewesenen Flora auch heute noch vorzufinden ist. Nur 18 Taxa konnten seit 1990 nicht wieder nachgewiesen werden. Insgesamt wurden für die Oranienbaumer Heide über 800 Pflanzenarten erfasst, darunter 74 Arten der Roten Liste des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt (FRANK et al. 2004), 38 Arten der Roten Liste Deutschlands (KORNECK et al. 1996) und 22 Arten nach Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV 2005). Viele der im Untersuchungsgebiet naturschutzfachlich wertgebenden Pflanzenarten kommen darüber hinaus in außergewöhnlich großen Populationen vor.
Innerhalb der Gattung Gagea beanspruchen in Deutschland zwei Fragestellungen die Aufmerksamkeit der Feldbotaniker: Zum einem stellt sich die Frage, ob es in Deutschland neben der Sippe Gagea bohemica ssp. saxatilis (Mert. & W.D.J. Koch) Asch. & Graebn. tatsächlich eine „echte“ östliche Sippe der Art Gagea bohemica (Zauschn.) Schult. & Schult. fil. gibt, die als G. bohemica ssp. bohemica beschrieben wird (Rothmaler 2002). Zum anderen wird nach der in Deutschland seltenen Sippe Gagea pomeranica Ruthe gesucht, die offensichtlich eine Mittelstellung zwischen G. lutea und G. pratensis einnimmt und die von manchen Autoren auch als Hybrid dieser beiden Arten angesehen wird (Rothmaler 2002).