Newest publications
Towards transdisciplinary identification of suitable woody perennials for resilient agro-silvopastoral systems in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa
(2025) Roessler, Regina; Cicek, Harun; Cournac, Laurent; Gnissien, Moussa; Männle, Julia; Koomson, Eric; Founoune-Mboup, Hassna; Coulibaly, Kalifa; Diouf, Abdoul Aziz; Sanon, Hadja Oumou; Cadisch, Georg; Graefe, Sophie; Roessler, Regina; Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, 37213, Witzenhausen, Germany; Cicek, Harun; Department of International Cooperation, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Ackerstrasse 113, 5070, Frick, Switzerland; Cournac, Laurent; Eco&Sols, CIRAD, INRAE, IRD, Institut Agro, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Gnissien, Moussa; Laboratoire d’étude Et de Recherche Sur La Fertilité Des Sols Et Les Systèmes de Production (LERF-SP), Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi BONI, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Männle, Julia; Institute of Development Research, BOKU University, Peter-Jordan-Straße 76/I 1190, Vienna, Austria; Koomson, Eric; Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 13, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany; Founoune-Mboup, Hassna; Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA), BP 15532, Fann Residence, Dakar, Senegal; Coulibaly, Kalifa; Laboratoire d’étude Et de Recherche Sur La Fertilité Des Sols Et Les Systèmes de Production (LERF-SP), Institut du Développement Rural, Université Nazi BONI, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Diouf, Abdoul Aziz; Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), Dakar, Senegal; Sanon, Hadja Oumou; Department of Animal Production, Institut de L’Environment Et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), BP 8645, 1973 Boulevard Tansoba Wam-Godi, 04, Ouagadougou 04, Burkina Faso; Cadisch, Georg; Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 13, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany; Graefe, Sophie; International Climate Initiative (IKI), Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH, Stresemannstraße 69-71, Berlin, Germany
Parkland systems in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa are commonly perceived as a resilient agroforestry practice well adapted to the semi-arid climatic conditions of the region. However, there exist several knowledge gaps regarding the interplay between the different components of this agro-silvopastoral land use system. A literature review with subsequent meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the effects of woody perennials on soil, crops and livestock, for which our study found very context-specific responses. A scoring of tree and shrub species indicated a general trend of trade-off between positive impact on crops and livestock vs. impact on soil organic carbon content. The study further confirmed that Faidherbia albida (Del.) Chev. is one of the most promising parkland species, but also revealed that there are no multipurpose single species that should be promoted exclusively. The focus should rather shift to species mixtures that satisfy multiple human and environmental needs. The study also pointed out that information on the nutritional properties of the majority of browse species is particularly limited. Transdisciplinary modelling is suggested as a tool to assess the complex interactions between the different components that shape this agro-silvopastoral system at different scales.
On-farm use of recycled liquid ammonium sulphate in Southwest Germany using a participatory approach
(2023) Müller, Benedikt; Hartung, Jens; von Cossel, Moritz; Lewandowski, Iris; Müller, Torsten; Bauerle, Andrea; Müller, Benedikt; Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Hartung, Jens; Biostatistics, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; von Cossel, Moritz; Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Lewandowski, Iris; Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Müller, Torsten; Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Bauerle, Andrea; Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
For political and environmental reasons, there is an urgent need for alternatives to energy-intensive synthetic fertilizers. One solution is the targeted recycling of nutrients within agriculture. In this study, liquid ammonium sulphate (LAS) as a recycling product derived from digestate treatment was compared to calcium ammonium nitrate, manure and original digestates in an on-farm experiment using a participatory approach. Based on regular meetings with the farmers involved, a flexible experimental design was developed which integrated the fertilization legislation and the farmers’ operational structures already in place, such as crop rotation, available application techniques and manure management demands. The aim was to achieve both implementation practicability and acceptance of the study results by the farmers. Results from the year 2020 showed that LAS applied with three-jet nozzles in barley and wheat had significantly lower yields than the other fertilizers. Applied with a slurry tanker trailing shoe applicator in 2021, LAS had comparable yields to the other fertilizers in maize (51.2 t ha −1 ) and comparable yields to digestate in rapeseed (4.4 t ha −1 ). Application techniques that minimize environmental impacts and lower the LAS pH could potentially increase the effectiveness of the fertilizer. We recommend that farmers use this fertilizer not as a single solution but as a mineral compensatory fertilizer in addition to organic fertilizers following local fertilizer legislation. In this case, LAS could potentially substitute calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN).
Unbiased anchors for reliable genome-wide synteny detection
(2025) Käther, Karl K.; Remmel, Andreas; Lemke, Steffen; Stadler, Peter F.; Käther, Karl K.; Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04017, Leipzig, Germany; Remmel, Andreas; Zoology Department, University of Hohenheim, 10587, Stuttgart, Germany; Lemke, Steffen; Zoology Department, University of Hohenheim, 10587, Stuttgart, Germany; Stadler, Peter F.; Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04017, Leipzig, Germany
Orthology inference lies at the foundation of comparative genomics research. The correct identification of loci which descended from a common ancestral sequence is not only complicated by sequence divergence but also duplication and other genome rearrangements. The conservation of gene order, i.e. synteny, is used in conjunction with sequence similarity as an additional factor for orthology determination. Current approaches, however, rely on genome annotations and are therefore limited. Here we present an annotation-free approach and compare it to synteny analysis with annotations. We find that our approach works better in closely related genomes whereas there is a better performance with annotations for more distantly related genomes. Overall, the presented algorithm offers a useful alternative to annotation-based methods and can outperform them in many cases.
Stigmatisation of gambling disorder in social media: a tailored deep learning approach for YouTube comments
(2025) Singer, Johannes; Singer, Johannes; Gambling Research Center, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstraße 44, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
Background: The stigmatisation of gamblers, particularly those with a gambling disorder, and self-stigmatisation are considered substantial barriers to seeking help and treatment. To develop effective strategies to reduce the stigma associated with gambling disorder, it is essential to understand the prevailing stereotypes. This study examines the stigma surrounding gambling disorder in Germany, with a particular focus on user comments on the video platform YouTube. Methods: The study employed a deep learning approach, combining guided topic modelling and qualitative summative content analysis, to analyse comments on YouTube videos. Initially, 84,024 comments were collected from 34 videos. After review, two videos featuring a person who had overcome gambling addiction were selected. These videos received significant user engagement in the comment section. An extended stigma dictionary was created based on existing literature and embeddings from the collected data. Results: The results of the study indicate that there is substantial amount of stigmatisation of gambling disorder in the selected comments. Gamblers suffering from gambling disorder are blamed for their distress and accused of irresponsibility. Gambling disorder is seen as a consequence of moral failure. In addition to stigmatising statements, the comments suggest the interpretation that many users are unaware that addiction develops over a period of time and may require professional treatment. In particular, adolescents and young adults, a group with a high prevalence of gambling-related disorders and active engagement with social media, represent a key target for destigmatisation efforts. Conclusions: It is essential to address the stigmatisation of gambling disorder, particularly among younger populations, in order to develop effective strategies to support treatment and help-seeking. The use of social media offers a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of information and the reduction of the stigmatisation of gambling disorder, for example by strengthening certain models of addiction.
Tannic acid and ethacridine lactate attenuate markers of stress-induced intestinal barrier dysfunctions in murine small intestinal organoids
(2025) Filipe Rosa, Louisa; Gonda, Steffen; Roese, Nadine; Bischoff, Stephan C.; Filipe Rosa, Louisa; Institute of Nutritional Medicine, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;; Gonda, Steffen; MEDICE Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH & Co. KG, Kuhloweg 37, 58638 Iserlohn, Germany; Roese, Nadine; MEDICE Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH & Co. KG, Kuhloweg 37, 58638 Iserlohn, Germany; Bischoff, Stephan C.; Institute of Nutritional Medicine, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;; Kwok, Hang Fai (Henry); Alaimo, Alessandro
(1) Background: Tannacomp® is a drug consisting of tannin albuminate, a complex of tannic acid (TA) and ethacridine lactate (Eta) used for treating acute and traveler’s diarrhea. TA is thought to modulate gastrointestinal barrier function, but the underlying mechanisms and whether Eta has similar effects remains unclear. (2) Methods: to investigate the effects of TA and Eta on the intestinal barrier, stress responses were induced in murine intestinal organoids by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure or withdrawal of growth factors from cell culture medium (GFRed). Further, organoids were exposed to either TA (0.01 mg/mL) or Eta (0.002 mg/mL) and markers of inflammatory response and gut barrier function were assessed. (3) Results: TA and Eta reduced several inflammatory markers such as interleukin 6, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 in stressed organoids. In addition, TA and Eta attenuated LPS- and GFRed-mediated gut barrier dysfunctions, with normalization of tight junction, adherent junction and mucin gene expression and reduction of Nod2- and matrix metalloproteinase 7-dependent activation of antimicrobial peptides. (4) Conclusions: our data show that TA and Eta modulate markers of inflammation and the intestinal barrier and suggest novel mechanisms of action of this drug that could broaden its treatment indications.