Refine
Year of publication
- 2018 (3231) (remove)
Document Type
- Article (1480)
- Part of Periodical (429)
- Book (275)
- Part of a Book (208)
- Doctoral Thesis (204)
- Contribution to a Periodical (195)
- Review (146)
- Working Paper (132)
- Preprint (73)
- Conference Proceeding (49)
Language
- English (1771)
- German (1348)
- Portuguese (35)
- Spanish (18)
- French (17)
- Multiple languages (17)
- Turkish (13)
- Italian (6)
- Ukrainian (2)
- Hebrew (1)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (3231) (remove)
Keywords
- taxonomy (61)
- Geschichte (52)
- Begriff (51)
- Deutsch (48)
- new species (38)
- Literatur (34)
- Übersetzung (20)
- Financial Institutions (17)
- Fremdsprachenunterricht (17)
- Vormärz (16)
Institute
- Medizin (520)
- Präsidium (305)
- Physik (221)
- Wirtschaftswissenschaften (179)
- Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe (SAFE) (129)
- Gesellschaftswissenschaften (117)
- Biowissenschaften (104)
- Center for Financial Studies (CFS) (101)
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) (95)
- Neuere Philologien (89)
Der Beitrag erkundet die besondere Zeitlichkeit der Psychoanalyse ausgehend von Muße und Müßiggang, Konzepten, die in Nietzsches "Fröhlicher Wissenschaft" eine wichtige Rolle spielen, in Freuds Werk, in dem bekanntlich zahlreiche Arbeitsbegriffe dominieren, jedoch kaum vorkommen. Dennoch lässt sich im Briefwechsel zwischen Freud und Arnold Zweig eine wichtige Spur des Müßiggangs für Freuds eigenes Schreiben aufzeigen. Freud spricht in einer signifikanten Passage, in der es um die existenzielle Bedrohung durch den Nationalsozialismus geht, von einem "Überschuss an Muße". Aus dieser Suspension heraus entsteht sein letztes großes Schreibprojekt: "Der Mann Moses". Muße erweist sich zunehmend als ein Begriff, in dem sich eine andere Zeitlichkeit eröffnet, die etwas mit der Arbeit des Unbewussten in der Psychoanalyse zu tun hat. Der Beitrag schließt, indem die Autorin ihre persönliche Erfahrung dieser anderen Zeitlichkeit schildert. Dabei gerät der Warteraum des Psychoanalytikers als Schwellenraum zwischen der alltäglichen Arbeit und der Arbeit in der Psychoanalyse in den Blick.
The access to information on the dynamic behaviour of large proteins is usually hindered as spectroscopic methods require the site-specific attachment of biophysical probes. A powerful emerging tool to tackle this issue is amber codon suppression. Till date, its application on large and complex multidomain proteins of MDa size has not been reported. Herein, we systematically investigate the feasibility to introduce different non-canonical amino acids into a 540 kDa homodimeric fatty acid synthase type I by genetic code expansion with subsequent fluorescent labelling. Our approach relies on a microplate-based reporter assay of low complexity using a GFP fusion protein to quickly screen for sufficient suppression conditions. Once identified, these findings were successfully utilized to upscale both the expression scale and the protein size to full-length constructs. These fluorescently labelled samples of fatty acid synthase were subjected to initial biophysical experiments, including HPLC analysis, activity assays and fluorescence spectroscopy. Successful introduction of such probes into a molecular machine such as fatty acid synthases may pave the way to understand the conformational variability, which is a primary intrinsic property required for efficient interplay of all catalytic functionalities, and to engineer them.
The bile acid activated transcription factor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) regulates numerous metabolic processes and is a rising target for the treatment of hepatic and metabolic disorders. FXR agonists have revealed efficacy in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), diabetes and dyslipidemia. Here we characterize imatinib as first-in-class allosteric FXR modulator and report the development of an optimized descendant that markedly promotes agonist induced FXR activation in a reporter gene assay and FXR target gene expression in HepG2 cells. Differential effects of imatinib on agonist-induced bile salt export protein and small heterodimer partner expression suggest that allosteric FXR modulation could open a new avenue to gene-selective FXR modulators.
Ausgangspunkt der Studie ist die These, dass sprachlich und kulturell heterogene Lerngruppen, an denen Studierende mit und ohne spanischsprachigen Familienhintergrund gemeinsam teilnehmen, als eine günstige Lernsituation betrachtet werden können. Voraussetzung dafür ist, dass die unterschiedlichen sprachlichen und kulturellen Gegebenheiten als Ressourcen für den Unterricht verstanden werden.
Mit dem Fokus auf Sprachveranstaltungen in Spanisch, die von Studierenden an der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main besucht werden, und die im Rahmen ihres Lehramtsstudiums im Fach Spanisch stattfinden, wurden in dieser Studie folgende Forschungsfragen verfolgt:
1. Wie entstehen und entwickeln sich Sprachlernprozesse in sprachlich und kulturell vielfältigen Lernkontexten?
2. Wie zeichnet sich das Lernen in sprachlich und kulturell vielfältigen Lernkontexten aus?
3. Welche sprachlichen und kulturellen Ressourcen können für die sprachliche und kulturelle Förderung genutzt und bewusst eingesetzt werden?
Wichtigste Forschungsergebnisse:
Es wurde festgestellt, dass Sprachlernprozesse bei Studierenden mit und ohne spanischsprachigen Familienhintergrund sowohl im kognitiven als auch im emotionalen Bereich qualitativ unterschiedlich verlaufen und, dass in sprachlich und kulturell vielfältigen Lernkontexten individuelle und überindividuelle Sprachlern-prozesse stattfinden, die einander bedingen.
Was das gemeinsame Lernen angeht, konnte festgestellt werden, dass Studierende ohne spanischsprachigen Familienhintergrund widersprüchliche Erwartungen an die Studierenden mit spanischsprachigem Familienhintergrund haben: Einerseits schätzen sie die Präsenz ihrer Kommilitonen und sehen sie als Mittler zwischen dem Unterricht und der Realität außerhalb des Unterrichts, weil sie die „echte“ Sprache und Kultur in den Klassenraum bringen. Anderseits fühlen sie sich durch ihre Anwesenheit im Unterricht verunsichert, was ihre sprachliche Entwicklung zum Teil hemmt. Bei den Studierenden mit spanischsprachigem Familienhintergrund konnten unterschiedliche Phasen in ihrem Sprachlernprozess beobachtet werden, die ihre Lernattitüde und ihre Haltung zu den Kommilitoninnen und Kommilitonen konditionieren.
Entscheidend für die Konstruktion gemeinsamer Sprachlernprozessen ist, dass die Studierenden ihre Positionierung als peer ihrer Kommilitoninnen und Kommilitonen bewusst wahrnehmen, was nicht immer der Fall ist. Auch die Bewusstwerdung der eigenen Funktion als Mittler zwischen Sprachen und Kulturen insbesondere (aber nicht nur) bei Studierenden mit spanischsprachigem Familienhintergrund soll im Unterricht durch die Reflexion über die eigene sprachliche und kulturelle Identität gefördert werden.
Im Umgang mit solchen Lerngruppen haben Dozentinnen und Dozenten unterschiedliche Erwartungen. In der Regel werden aber Lerninhalte vermittelt, die die sprachliche und kulturelle Vielfalt im Unterricht nicht berücksichtigen. Für die Leistungsbewertung beider Studierendengruppen werden oft unterschiedliche Kriterien angewendet, woraus Konflikte zwischen den Veranstaltungsteilnehmerinnen und -teilnehmern entstehen.
Die Rolle der Dozentinnen und Dozenten selbst ist in der Gestaltung gemeinsamer Lernkontexte, in denen die Interaktion der Studierenden gefördert werden, grundlegend. Damit dies gelingt, sollen sie einerseits für Mehrsprachigkeit als Phänomen der Gesellschaft, das den Sprachunterricht im besonderen Maße betrifft, sensibilisiert sein. Andererseits soll ihnen bewusst werden, dass das Sprachenlernen aus einer kognitiven und einer emotionalen Seite besteht, die in engem Zusammenhang mit mehrsprachigen und mehrkulturellen Identitätskonstruktionen stehen. Beide Seiten sollen im Unterricht gefördert werden.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of brivaracetam (BRV) in a severely drug refractory cohort of patients with epileptic encephalopathies (EE).
Method: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study recruiting all patients treated with EE who began treatment with BRV in an enrolling epilepsy center between 2016 and 2017.
Results: Forty-four patients (27 male [61%], mean age 29 years, range 6 to 62) were treated with BRV. The retention rate was 65% at 3 months, 52% at 6 months and 41% at 12 months. A mean retention time of 5 months resulted in a cumulative exposure to BRV of 310 months. Three patients were seizure free during the baseline. At 3 months, 20 (45%, 20/44 as per intention-to-treat analysis considering all patients that started BRV including three who were seizure free during baseline) were either seizure free (n = 4; 9%, three of them already seizure-free at baseline) or reported at least 25% (n = 4; 9%) or 50% (n = 12; 27%) reduction in seizures. An increase in seizure frequency was reported in two (5%) patients, while there was no change in the seizure frequency of the other patients. A 50% long-term responder rate was apparent in 19 patients (43%), with two (5%) free from seizures for more than six months and in nine patients (20%, with one [2 %] free from seizures) for more than 12 months. Treatment-emergent adverse events were predominantly of psychobehavioural nature and were observed in 16%.
Significance: In this retrospective analysis the rate of patients with a 50% seizure reduction under BRV proofed to be similar to those seen in regulatory trials for focal epilepsies. BRV appears to be safe and relatively well tolerated in EE and might be considered in patients with psychobehavioral adverse events while on levetiracetam.
In the current contribution we present a comprehensive study on the heteronuclear carbonyl complex H2FeRu3(CO)13 covering its low energy electron induced fragmentation in the gas phase through dissociative electron attachment (DEA) and dissociative ionization (DI), its decomposition when adsorbed on a surface under controlled ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions and exposed to irradiation with 500 eV electrons, and its performance in focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) at room temperature under HV conditions. The performance of this precursor in FEBID is poor, resulting in maximum metal content of 26 atom % under optimized conditions. Furthermore, the Ru/Fe ratio in the FEBID deposit (≈3.5) is higher than the 3:1 ratio predicted. This is somewhat surprising as in recent FEBID studies on a structurally similar bimetallic precursor, HFeCo3(CO)12, metal contents of about 80 atom % is achievable on a routine basis and the deposits are found to maintain the initial Co/Fe ratio. Low temperature (≈213 K) surface science studies on thin films of H2FeRu3(CO)13 demonstrate that electron stimulated decomposition leads to significant CO desorption (average of 8–9 CO groups per molecule) to form partially decarbonylated intermediates. However, once formed these intermediates are largely unaffected by either further electron irradiation or annealing to room temperature, with a predicted metal content similar to what is observed in FEBID. Furthermore, gas phase experiments indicate formation of Fe(CO)4 from H2FeRu3(CO)13 upon low energy electron interaction. This fragment could desorb at room temperature under high vacuum conditions, which may explain the slight increase in the Ru/Fe ratio of deposits in FEBID. With the combination of gas phase experiments, surface science studies and actual FEBID experiments, we can offer new insights into the low energy electron induced decomposition of this precursor and how this is reflected in the relatively poor performance of H2FeRu3(CO)13 as compared to the structurally similar HFeCo3(CO)12.
Hydrogenation of CO₂ at ambient pressure catalyzed by a highly active thermostable biocatalyst
(2018)
Background: Replacing fossil fuels as energy carrier requires alternatives that combine sustainable production, high volumetric energy density, easy and fast refueling for mobile applications, and preferably low risk of hazard. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been considered as promising alternative; however, practical application is struggling because of the low volumetric energy density and the explosion hazard when stored in large amounts. One way to overcome these limitations is the transient conversion of H2 into other chemicals with increased volumetric energy density and lower risk hazard, for example so-called liquid organic hydrogen carriers such as formic acid/formate that is obtained by hydrogenation of CO2. Many homogenous and heterogenous chemical catalysts have been described in the past years, however, often requiring high pressures and temperatures. Recently, the first biocatalyst for this reaction has been described opening the route to a biotechnological alternative for this conversion.
Results: The hydrogen-dependent CO2 reductase (HDCR) is a highly active biocatalyst for storing H2 in the form of formic acid/formate by reversibly catalyzing the hydrogenation of CO2. We report the identification, isolation, and characterization of the first thermostable HDCR operating at temperatures up to 70 °C. The enzyme was isolated from the thermophilic acetogenic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter kivui and displays exceptionally high activities in both reaction directions, substantially exceeding known chemical catalysts. CO2 hydrogenation is catalyzed at mild conditions with a turnover frequency of 9,556,000 h−1 (specific activity of 900 µmol formate min−1 mg−1) and the reverse reaction, H2 + CO2 release from formate, is catalyzed with a turnover frequency of 9,892,000 h−1 (930 µmol H2 min−1 mg−1). The HDCR of T. kivui consists of a [FeFe] hydrogenase subunit putatively coupled to a tungsten-dependent CO2 reductase/formate dehydrogenase subunit by an array of iron–sulfur clusters.
Conclusions: The discovery of the first thermostable HDCR provides a promising biological alternative for a chemically challenging reaction and might serve as model for the better understanding of catalysts able to efficiently reduce CO2. The catalytic activity for reversible CO2 hydrogenation of this enzyme is the highest activity known for bio- and chemical catalysts and requiring only ambient temperatures and pressures. The thermostability provides more flexibility regarding the process parameters for a biotechnological application.
Challenges of FAIR phase 0
(2018)
After two-year's shutdown, the GSI accelerators plus the latest addition of storage ring CRYRING, will be back into operation in 2018 as the FAIR phase 0 with the goal to fulfill the needs of scientific community and the FAIR accelerators and detector development. Even though GSI has been well known for its operation of a variety of ion beams ranging from proton up to uranium for multi research areas such as nuclear physics, astrophysics, biophysics, material science, the upcoming beam time faces a number of challenges in re-commissioning its existing circular accelerators with brand new control system and upgrade of beam instrumentations, as well as in rising failures of dated components and systems. The cycling synchrotron SIS18 has been undergoing a set of upgrade measures for fulfilling future FAIR operation, among which many measures will also be commissioned during the upcoming beam time. This paper presents the highlights of the challenges such as re-establishing the high intensity heavy ion operation as well as parallel operation mode for serving multi users. The status of preparation including commissioning results will also be reported.
Jargon
(2018)
Jargon ist nicht nur ein Wort aus der Fremde, sondern auch seiner Bedeutung nach mit dem Andersartigen und zugleich Vertrauten, dem Nicht-Identischen, teils Unübersetzbaren und nur Halbbekannten von Sprache(n) verbündet. Anders als Fremdwörter, deren Verständnis Bildung voraussetzt, wurden Jargons über lange Zeit hinweg marginalisierten gesellschaftlichen Gruppen, sogenannten 'Gaunern' und 'Vagabunden', zugeschrieben, wobei sie sich häufig auf Gegenstände des alltäglichen Lebens bezogen.
Der Beitrag liest die Marsyas-Episode aus Ovids "Metamorphosen" als Erzählung über die Bedeutung von Erinnerungsmaterial für das Verhältnis von historischer und gegenwärtiger Erfahrung und knüpft daran Analysen zum Umgang mit der Marsyas-Motivik in Heiner Müllers Stück "Macbeth, nach Shakespeare" (1972) und Rainer Werner Fassbinders Film "In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden" (1978). Müller setzt Ovids Marsyas-Erzählung als Kommentar auf das endlose Ende der Geschichte und den Horror einer Auflösung von Unterschieden ein. Die Ovid-Bezüge lassen die dargestellte Grausamkeit zwischen Buchstäblichkeit und Bildlichkeit, historischem Kommentar und anthropologischer Reflexion oszillieren und weisen darüber hinaus auf politisches Reflexionsmaterial in den "Metamorphosen" zurück. Auch bei Fassbinder markiert die Häutung ein individuelles Leiden als politisches. "In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden" überführt die bis zur Verwandlungsbereitschaft reichende Liebe der Hauptfigur in der Schlachthausszene, die Material aus Ovids Marsyas-Erzählung, aus Tizians Gemälde "Die Schindung des Marsyas" und aus Goethes "Torquato Tasso" enthält, in ein darstellerisches Extrem. Fassbinder spaltet die in den Kunstwerken enthaltenen Motive und Formelemente auf, ordnet sie in neuer, anders verdichteter Konstellation an und erreicht so eine den filmischen Realismus mythologisch aufladende Wirkung.
Buchstäblich auf der Flucht rutschte Kurt Goldstein sein Hauptwerk aus der Feder. Im Frühjahr 1934, während eines Zwischenaufenthalts in Amsterdam, schrieb er binnen weniger Monate "Der Aufbau des Organismus: Einführung in die Biologie unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Erfahrungen am kranken Menschen". In diesem Buch entfaltete Goldstein seine auf der Basis von klinischen Erfahrungen gewonnenen physiologischen Anschauungen zu einer allgemeinen Theorie des Organismus. Zentraler Gedanke dieser Theorie war die These, dass sich die Leistungsvielfalt eines Organismus nicht als Summe möglichst exakt zu zergliedernder Einzelreaktionen beschreiben, sondern nur aus dem Gefüge ihres Zusammenwirkens erfassen lasse.
We examined alterations in E/I-balance in schizophrenia (ScZ) through measurements of resting-state gamma-band activity in participants meeting clinical high-risk (CHR) criteria (n = 88), 21 first episode (FEP) patients and 34 chronic ScZ-patients. Furthermore, MRS-data were obtained in CHR-participants and matched controls. Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) resting-state activity was examined at source level and MEG-data were correlated with neuropsychological scores and clinical symptoms. CHR-participants were characterized by increased 64–90 Hz power. In contrast, FEP- and ScZ-patients showed aberrant spectral power at both low- and high gamma-band frequencies. MRS-data showed a shift in E/I-balance toward increased excitation in CHR-participants, which correlated with increased occipital gamma-band power. Finally, neuropsychological deficits and clinical symptoms in FEP and ScZ-patients were correlated with reduced gamma band-activity, while elevated psychotic symptoms in the CHR group showed the opposite relationship. The current study suggests that resting-state gamma-band power and altered Glx/GABA ratio indicate changes in E/I-balance parameters across illness stages in ScZ.
Hypofunction of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has been implicated as a possible mechanism underlying cognitive deficits and aberrant neuronal dynamics in schizophrenia. To test this hypothesis, we first administered a sub-anaesthetic dose of S-ketamine (0.006 mg/kg/min) or saline in a single-blind crossover design in 14 participants while magnetoencephalographic data were recorded during a visual task. In addition, magnetoencephalographic data were obtained in a sample of unmedicated first-episode psychosis patients (n = 10) and in patients with chronic schizophrenia (n = 16) to allow for comparisons of neuronal dynamics in clinical populations versus NMDAR hypofunctioning. Magnetoencephalographic data were analysed at source-level in the 1–90 Hz frequency range in occipital and thalamic regions of interest. In addition, directed functional connectivity analysis was performed using Granger causality and feedback and feedforward activity was investigated using a directed asymmetry index. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Acute ketamine administration in healthy volunteers led to similar effects on cognition and psychopathology as observed in first-episode and chronic schizophrenia patients. However, the effects of ketamine on high-frequency oscillations and their connectivity profile were not consistent with these observations. Ketamine increased amplitude and frequency of gamma-power (63–80 Hz) in occipital regions and upregulated low frequency (5–28 Hz) activity. Moreover, ketamine disrupted feedforward and feedback signalling at high and low frequencies leading to hypo- and hyper-connectivity in thalamo-cortical networks. In contrast, first-episode and chronic schizophrenia patients showed a different pattern of magnetoencephalographic activity, characterized by decreased task-induced high-gamma band oscillations and predominantly increased feedforward/feedback-mediated Granger causality connectivity. Accordingly, the current data have implications for theories of cognitive dysfunctions and circuit impairments in the disorder, suggesting that acute NMDAR hypofunction does not recreate alterations in neural oscillations during visual processing observed in schizophrenia.
Background: Protective effects of vitamin D have been reported in autoimmune and malignant thyroid diseases, though little is known about the underlying mechanism. Sirtuin 1 histon deacethylase (SIRT1) links the vitamin D pathway with regulation of transcription factor FOXO3a, a key player in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Aim of the present study was to investigate common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP's) in FOXO3a gene in respect to thyroid diseases, as well as to evaluate the hypothesis of Sirtuin1-FOXO3a interaction being a mediator of anti-proliferative vitamin D effects.
Methods: The SNP's FOXO3a rs4946936/rs4945816/rs9400239 were genotyped in 257 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), 139 patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and 463 healthy controls (HC). Moreover, T-helper cells of HC and papillary thyroid cancer cell line BCPAP were incubated with 1,25(OH)2D3 and/or SIRT1 inhibitor Ex-527 in order to elucidate SIRT1- dependent vitamin D effects on cell proliferation and FOXO3a gene expression in vitro.
Results: Patients with DTC tended to carry more often allele C in FOXO3a rs4946936 in comparison to HC (pcorrected = pc = 0.08). FOXO3a rs9400239T and rs4945816C was more frequent in HT in comparison to HC (pc = 0.02 and pc = 0.01, respectively). In both DTC and HT, we could not find a correlation of FOXO3a SNP's with vitamin D status. However, on in vitro level, 1,25(OH)2D3 showed an anti-proliferative effect in both T-helper cells and BCPAP, that was blocked by SIRT1 inhibition (T-helper cells: p = 0.0059, BCPAP: p = 0.04) and accompanied by elevated FOXO3a gene expression in T-helper cells (p = 0.05).
Conclusions: FOXO3a rs9400239T and rs4945816C may constitute risk factors for HT, independent of the vitamin D status.This indicates the implication of FOXO3a in pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. The dependency of anti-proliferative vitamin D effects on SIRT1 activity further suggests a key role of vitamin D-SIRT1-FOXO3a axis for protective vitamin D effects.
Lizards of Paraguay: an integrative approach to solve taxonomic problems in central South America
(2018)
Paraguay is located in the center of South America with drier and warmer climatic conditions in the western part of the country, and more temperate and humid in the eastern region. Biogeographically, Paraguay is a key spot in South America, where several ecoregions converge. In my study, I sampled most of the ecoregions of Paraguay. The main objective of my work is to solve taxonomic problems, identified through genetic barcoding analyses, in the central region of South America. To achieve this objective, I used selected taxa of the Paraguayan Squamata as models taking into consideration the crucial geographic position of the country, plus the scarce available genetic data of Paraguayan reptiles.
The collecting activities were performed in the framework of a barcoding inventory project of the Paraguayan herpetofauna and carried out mostly in rural areas searching for animals in different types of habitats using active search as the sampling technique.
For genetics, the extraction of DNA was performed with DNeasy® Blood & Tissue Kit of Qiagen® for sets of few samples, and the fiber glass plate protocol for sets of 96 samples. I assessed the quality of sequences after amplification in agarose gel electrophoresis. The first marker sequenced was 16S mtDNA, used for barcoding analysis. A DNA barcode is a genetic identifier for a species. Once a taxonomic problem was detected, I generate more gene sequences to target the issue.
All the analyses to test phylogenetic hypotheses (based on single genes or concatenated datasets) were performed under Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian approaches. To root the phylogenetic trees, I chose the available taxon (or taxa) most closely related to the respective studied group as outgroups. For the general tree of Paraguayan Squamata, based on barcodes of 16S, I chose Sphenodon punctatus.
I generated a total of 142 sequences of 64 species of Squamata from Paraguay (Appendix I). The final alignment of 615 bp comprised 249 samples. The best substitution model for the Barcoding dataset based on the gene 16S was GTR+G, according to the BIC.
To complement molecular evidence generated with the ML grouping of 16S barcodes, I took a morphological approach based on voucher specimens collected during fieldwork (usually the same specimens that I used for genetic analysis), supplemented by the revision of museum collections.
Summarizing my results, samples of Colobosaura exhibit large genetic distances, and accordingly I revalidated Colobosaura kraepelini (Appendix II). Tropidurus of the spinulosus group show two clades and among them there is little genetic and morphological variation, I synonymized T. tarara and T. teyumirim with T. lagunablanca, and T. guarani with T. spinulosus (Appendix III). I detected the presence of candidate species of Homonota, and I restricted the name H. horrida for Argentina, and described two new species of Homonota (Appendices IV and V), and a new species of Phyllopezus also in the Family Phyllodactylidae (Appendix VI).
In this work I present the most comprehensive analysis of genetic samples of Squamata from Paraguay. The results obtained here will be useful to help to clarify further taxonomic issues regarding the squamate fauna from the central region of South America. Moreover, the data generated for this study will have a positive impact in a larger geographic context, beyond Paraguayan borders.
Regarding the conservation of the Paraguayan reptiles, and considering the taxonomic changes accomplished here, it is important to note that many species lack legal protection. In Paraguay, the major problem for conservation is habitat loss due to extensive crop farming. Thus, currently, the protected areas are the best strategy for conservation of biodiversity in the country. However, many such areas face legal problems (e.g., lack of official measurements, management plans, forest guards, infrastructure, etc.) so that the maintenance of their biodiversity over time is not guaranteed.
In conclusion, in this study I present contributions on the taxonomy of mostly lizards from Paraguay. Due to lack of samples, I was not able to deal with a deep taxonomic revision of the country's snakes. Based on my results, I can argue that analyses of Xenodontini and Pseudoboini are currently a pressing research issue. This barcoding project may continue since some colleagues in Paraguay are interested in collaboration. Given that the sequenced specimens are yet a small portion of the actual diversity of Paraguay, it will be of utmost importance to continue and expand these studies that will further improve our taxonomic knowledge. Furthermore, it is desirable to have Paraguayan scientists not only involved, but to see them taking the lead of high quality taxonomic research.
Objectives: The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to investigate safety and efficacy of direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in the rare subgroup of patients with HCV/HIV-coinfection and advanced liver cirrhosis on the liver transplant waiting list or after liver transplantation, respectively.
Methods: When contacting 54 German liver centers (including all 23 German liver transplant centers), 12 HCV/HIV-coinfected patients on antiretroviral combination therapy were reported having received additional DAA therapy while being on the waiting list for liver transplantation (patient characteristics: Child-Pugh A (n = 6), B (n = 5), C (n = 1); MELD range 7–21; HCC (n = 2); HCV genotype 1a (n = 8), 1b (n = 2), 4 (n = 2)). Furthermore, 2 HCV/HIV-coinfected patients were denoted having received DAA therapy after liver transplantation (characteristics: HCV genotype 1a (n = 1), 4 (n = 1)).
Results: Applied DAA regimens were SOF/DAC (n = 7), SOF/LDV/RBV (n = 3), SOF/RBV (n = 3), PTV/r/OBV/DSV (n = 1), or PTV/r/OBV/DSV/RBV (n = 1), respectively. All patients achieved SVR 12, in the end. In one patient, HCV relapse occurred after 24 weeks of SOF/DAC therapy; subsequent treatment with 12 weeks PTV/r/OBV/DSV achieved SVR 12. One patient underwent liver transplantation while on DAA treatment. Analysis of liver function revealed either stable parameters or even significant improvement during DAA therapy and in follow-up. MELD scores were found to improve in 9/13 therapies in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation; in only 2 patients a moderate increase of MELD scores persisted at the end of follow-up.
Conclusion: DAA treatment was safe and highly effective in this nation-wide cohort of patients with HCV/HIV-coinfection awaiting liver transplantation or being transplanted.
Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are increasingly a cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma globally. This burden is expected to increase as epidemics of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome continue to grow. The goal of this analysis was to use a Markov model to forecast NAFLD disease burden using currently available data.
Methods: A model was used to estimate NAFLD and NASH disease progression in eight countries based on data for adult prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Published estimates and expert consensus were used to build and validate the model projections.
Results: If obesity and DM level off in the future, we project a modest growth in total NAFLD cases (0–30%), between 2016–2030, with the highest growth in China as a result of urbanization and the lowest growth in Japan as a result of a shrinking population. However, at the same time, NASH prevalence will increase 15–56%, while liver mortality and advanced liver disease will more than double as a result of an aging/increasing population.
Conclusions: NAFLD and NASH represent a large and growing public health problem and efforts to understand this epidemic and to mitigate the disease burden are needed. If obesity and DM continue to increase at current and historical rates, both NAFLD and NASH prevalence are expected to increase. Since both are reversible, public health campaigns to increase awareness and diagnosis, and to promote diet and exercise can help manage the growth in future disease burden.
Lay summary: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can lead to advanced liver disease. Both conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent as the epidemics of obesity and diabetes continue to increase. A mathematical model was built to understand how the disease burden associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis will change over time. Results suggest increasing cases of advanced liver disease and liver-related mortality in the coming years.
Purpose: Collaborative care is effective in improving symptoms of patients with depression. The aims of this study were to characterize symptom trajectories in patients with major depression during one year of collaborative care and to explore associations between baseline characteristics and symptom trajectories.
Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in primary care. The collaborative care intervention comprised case management and behavioral activation. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess symptom severity as the primary outcome. Statistical analyses comprised latent growth mixture modeling and a hierarchical binary logistic regression model.
Results: We included 74 practices and 626 patients (310 intervention and 316 control recipients) at baseline. Based on a minimum of 12 measurement points for each intervention recipient, we identified two latent trajectories, which we labeled "fast improvers" (60.5%) and "slow improvers" (39.5%). At all measurements after baseline, "fast improvers" presented higher PHQ mean values than "slow improvers". At baseline, "fast improvers" presented fewer physical conditions, higher health-related quality of life, and had made fewer suicide attempts in their history.
Conclusions: A notable proportion of 39.5% of patients improved only "slowly" and probably needed more intense treatment. The third follow-up in month two could well be a sensible time to adjust treatment to support "slow improvers".