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Horst Engert : Bibliographie
(2016)
Introduction: This study reports about antenatal characteristics of Roma minority population. The study was designed to investigate data about health behaviours known to be associated with reproductive outcomes of Roma women that have very good living conditions and relatively high resource availability.
Methods: A retrospective study included 204 Roma and 408 non-Roma hospitalised singleton births that occurred in the Maternity Ward of the General Hospital Virovitica in the period from 1991 to 2010. Data about women’s age, marital status, smoking, reproductive health (abortions, delivery), antenatal care, perinatal complications and gestational age were taken from hospital records and analysed.
Results: Roma women were averagely more than three years younger than non-Roma women, only 10.8% were married. Smoking was more frequent. The average number of births of Roma and non-Roma women was similar, averagely two children per woman. The rate of induced abortions in the Roma women was higher, while the frequency of spontaneous abortions was equal. Inadequate antenatal care of Roma women was associated with two times higher incidence of perinatal complications. A higher frequency of deliveries at home without professional assistance in Roma pregnancy resulted in lower perinatal outcomes. It was confirmed that Roma mothers give birth earlier (38+6 vs. 39+4 weeks) and have a higher incidence of premature births (9.3% vs. 2.2%).
Conclusions: In the comparison of antenatal parameters between the two researched groups, poorer prenatal outcomes in the Roma population were found, despite full integration and considerable improvement in living standards of this ethnic Roma population.
The article consists in a comparative reading of three novels: Um rio chamado tempo by Mia Couto, Le pain des corbeaux by Lhoussain Azergui and Paw królowej by Dorota Masłowska. In spite of the difference of the historical circumstances of Mozambique, Morocco and Poland, these three books meet at an intersecting point: the emergence of an intelligentsia that uses literacy and writing as an instrument to deconstruct the post-colonial concept of nation and to operate a trans-colonial renegotiation of identity. By the notion of trans-colonial, I understand the opposition against new kinds of symbolic violence that emerged after the end of the colonial period; here this new form of oppression is related to the concept of national unity – an artificial construct that leaves no place for a dualism or pluralism of cultural reality (two shores of the Zambezi river, Arab and Berber dualism in Morocco, "small homelands" in Poland).
The young heroes of the novels grasp the pen in order to break through the falseness or the taboos created by the fathers, establishing, at the same time, the relation of solidarity with the world of the grandfathers. The act of writing becomes an actualization of the ancestral universe of magic. The settlement of accounts with the parental generation concerns the vision of nation built upon the resistance against the colonizer (it also refers to the Polish cultural formation, based on the tradition of uprisings and resistance against the Russians).
Die aktuellen Ereignisse in Europa und die Migrationskrise bewegen die ganze Welt. Mit diesem Thema beschäftigte sich die internationale Konferenz, die im Rahmen des europäischen Projekts "My!Europe" der Sonnenberg-Kreis der Tschechischen Republik in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Lehrstuhl für Fremdsprachen der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität Pardubice von 7.- 8. April 2016 veranstaltete. Am akademischen Boden der ostböhmischen Universität trafen sich 130 Fachleute, Interessenten, Studenten und Schüler.
Rimski novčići u ženskim srednjovekovnim grobovima sa teritorije Srbije: mogućnosti interpretacije
(2016)
U ovom radu istražuje se fenomen sekundarne upotrebe rimskih novčića (II–IV vek) u srednjovekovnim nekropolama (X–XV vek) sa teritorije Srbije. U fokusu istraživanja su grobovi u kojima su rimski novčići upotrebljeni kao dekorativni elementi pokojnikove odeće – najčešće preoblikovani u priveske. Ovakav tip sekundarne upotrebe rimskog novca konstatovan je samo u ženskim grobovima. Cilj rada je da predloži interpretaciju ove pojave kroz analizu vrednosti i značaja sekundarno upotrebljenih novčića u stvaranju porodičnih dragocenosti koje se definišu u važnim i kritičnim momentima društvenog života zajednice. Posebno se ispituje mogućnost interpretacije ovih nalaza kao primera grobova u kojima su sahranjene ženske osobe sa delovima svog miraza. Analizira se konstrukcija značenja i vrednosti ovih predmeta kroz njihovu razmenu u običajima vezanim za sklapanje braka, i, naposletku, u funerarnim praksama. Budući da je rimski novac iz ovih grobova malobrojan, i da se uvek radi o bronzanim denominacijama, možemo pretpostaviti da je definisanje njihove vrednosti i značaja zasnovano na simboličkom i reprezentativnom nivou. Polazna tačka ovog rada je korpus radova koji istražuju fenomen ponovne upotrebe stvari u prošlosti, da bi se dalje u radu dublje istražila veza između srednjovekovne društvene strukture i evaluacije novčića u seoskim zajednicama centralnog Balkana.
OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy, safety, and tolerability of an oral enzyme combination (OEC) containing proteolytic enzymes and bioflavonoid vs diclofenac (DIC), a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an individual patient-level pooled reanalysis of patient-reported data from prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group studies in adult patients with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis of the knee treated for at least 3 weeks with OEC or DIC. Appropriate trials were identified with a systemic literature and database search. Data were extracted from the original case-report forms and reanalyzed by a blinded evaluation committee. The primary end point was the improvement of the Lequesne algofunctional index (LAFI) score at study end vs baseline. Secondary end points addressed LAFI response rates, treatment-related pain-intensity changes, adverse events, and laboratory parameters.
RESULTS: Six trials were identified that enrolled in total 774 patients, of whom 759 had post-baseline data for safety analysis, 697 (n=348/349 with OEC/DIC) for intent to treat, 524 for per protocol efficacy analysis, and 500 for laboratory evaluation. LAFI scores - the primary efficacy end point - decreased comparably with both treatments and improved with both treatments significantly vs baseline (OEC 12.6±2.4 to 9.1±3.9, DIC 12.7±2.4 to 9.1±4.2, effect size 0.9/0.88; P<0.001 for each). In parallel, movement-related 11-point numeric rating-scale pain intensity improved significantly (P<0.001) and comparably with both treatments from baseline (6.4±1.9/6.6±1.8) to study end (3.8±2.7/3.9±2.5). Overall, 55/81 OEC/DIC patients of the safety-analysis population (14.7%/21.1%, P=0.022) reported 90/133 treatment-emergent adverse events, followed by premature treatment discontinuations in 22/39 patients (5.9%/10.2%, P=0.030). Changes in laboratory parameters were significantly less with OEC vs DIC: on average 18.8% vs 86.3% of patients presented a decrease with respect to hemoglobin, hematocrit, or erythrocyte count (P<0.001), and 28.2% vs 72.6% showed an increase in AST, ALT, or GGT (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION: When compared with DIC, OEC showed comparable efficacy and a superior tolerability/safety profile associated with a significantly lower risk of treatment-emergent adverse events, related study discontinuations, and changes in laboratory parameters.
Türkiye ile Almanya arasında siyasi, ekonomik, bilimsel, ticari, kültürel ve daha birçok alanda yoğun bir işbirliği söz konusudur. Ayrıca Almanya’da yaklaşık üç milyon Türkiye vatandaşı yaşamakta ve Türkiye'ye uzun yıllardır en fazla yabancı turist Almanya'dan gelmektedir. Bütün bu nedenlerden dolayı Almanca konuşabilmek Türkiye'de farklı sektörlerden birçok iş kolunda çalışanlarda aranan bir nitelik haline gelmiştir. Turizm bu sektörlerin başında gelmektedir. Turizm çalışanlarının ihtiyaçları doğrultusunda kurslarda, ilgili fakülte ve yüksekokullarda mesleki Almanca dersleri verilmektedir. Mesleki Almanca öğretimi için bilinen dil öğretim yöntemleri kullanılmakla birlikte, ilgili meslek kolunun gerektirdiği dilsel beceriler göz ününde bulundurularak farklı yöntem ve tekniklerden de yararlanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada turizm mesleki dili tanımlanıp, örneklerle açıklanmış ve yabancı dil öğretim yöntemlerinin özellikleri açıklanarak, turizm için mesleki Almanca bilgi ve becerilerini kazandırmadaki yeterliliği üzerine bir tartışma yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada herhangi bir örneklem grubu üzerinde deney veya gözlem yapılmaksızın, konuyla ilgili yapılan çalışmalar, öğretmen ve öğrenci görüşleri dikkate alınmıştır.
Seit Beginn der 2000er Jahre hat sich in den Kulturwissenschaften die so genannte Dingforschung etabliert, die nach dem Stellenwert materieller Güter und der Materialisierung von kulturellem Wissen fragt. Mit diesem methodischen Trend verbinden sich nähere Aufschlüsse über symbolische Prozesse kultureller Wissensgenerierung. Aber nicht nur die symbolische Funktion und Qualität von Dingen wurde diskutiert, sondern immer stärker deren pure materielle Existenz mit ihrer Wirkung auf soziale Kommunikation und Handlungsabläufe. Die Dingforschung erhielt im Wesentlichen von der Ethnologie Impulse, bis heute ist ein Boom an Publikationen über Dinge (des Alltags) zu verzeichnen. Auch für die Literaturwissenschaften gewann der Ding-Begriff an Popularität. Das Spektrum der Beschäftigung reicht von der literarischen Auseinandersetzung mit der Materialität von Dingen bis zu Reflexionen über ihren Gebrauchswert, von ihrer phänomenologischen Erscheinungsweise bis zu ihrer poetologischen Funktion in Texten. Der vorliegende Beitrag fragt nach der Valenz der in Texten von Adalbert Stifter, Francis Ponge und W.G. Sebald dargestellten und beschriebenen Dinge. Die drei genannten Autoren interessieren besonders, da sie eine offenkundige Aufmerksamkeit für kleine Dinge aufbringen und diese unabhängig von deren Gebrauchs- und Nützlichkeitswert aufwerten. Welche Rolle spielen hier alltägliche, nebensächliche Dinge? Übernehmen sie eine spezifische Bedeutung im Prozess kultureller Sinnstiftung? Eignet ihnen etwas Widerständiges, ein kritisches, vielleicht sogar ein erkenntnisleitendes Potenzial, sodass man sogar von einer Ethik kleiner Dinge sprechen könnte? Sind kleine Dinge dazu im Stande, herkömmliche Ordnungen des Verhältnisses von Mensch und Objektwelt und die damit verbundenen Implikationen von Macht und Verfügungsgewalt umzustülpen? Mit Adalbert Stifter, Francis Ponge und W.G. Sebald wird eine Konstellation gewählt, die auf den ersten Blick disparater nicht sein könnte und doch bei aller Unterschiedlichkeit Gemeinsamkeiten aufweist.
The principles of the Islamic mystical exegesis are presented in this article. The sources of Islamic mystical exegesis of the Qur’an starts with Prophet Muhammad and his companions and continues with the following generations. In this regard, the narratives of ʿUmar and Ibn ʿAbbās are noteworthy because they were the first who disclosed the underlying meaning of certain verses which have reached us until today. The commentaries of the Islamic mystical exegetes are supported by the Qurʾān, some key Hadith of the Prophet and actions and words of his companions. This is a type of knowledge by unveiling (kašf) and is obtained by a channel that is confidential and closed to others. This leads to an ongoing debate as the confirmability is difficult. It is acknowledged that as long as these commentaries do not contradict with the literal meaning of the verses, are supported by solid narrations, or do not harm the boundaries of sharia they should be accepted as an enrichment.
This article is concerned with the mystical exegesis of the journey between Moses and Ḫiḍr mentioned in the Qurʾān in Sūrah al-Kahf (18/60-82). The verses are viewed and analysed by the commentaries of classic commentators (mufassirūn) aṭ-Ṭabarī, az-Zamaḫšarī and ar-Razī. The emphasis is set on the content-related description of Moses and Ḫiḍr which are found in Sūrah al-Kahf. The supreme allegory of the journey is that divinely-inspired knowledge (al-ʿilm al-ladunnī) may be received in the form of revelation (as Moses did) or as mystical, intuitive knowledge (as was given to Ḫiḍr). Classic commentators suggest, despite the distinguished position of Moses as a prophet, that the knowledge given to Ḫiḍr is superior and described as a secret or hidden knowledge. For this reason, Ḫiḍr holds an essential position in Islamic mystical tradition (taṣawwuf), in which Sūrah al-Kahf is considered as a legitimation for the mystical dimension in Islam.
İşârî Tefsirlerin Işığında Hz. Zekeriya'nın Vesâyeti Altındaki Meryem ve Onun Kur’ân’daki Mucizes
(2016)
The purpose of this article is to explore the Qurʾānic verses that mention Mary and the miraculous events that occured in particular during the guardianship of Zacharia. In this context commentators from the Islamic mystical tradition underline the link between the aspects of asceticism (riyāḍa) and miracles (karāmāt) with the Sufi tradition. They emphasise on the superior status of Mary in the sight of Allah Who has raised and protected her with great care. Commentators agree that Mary is not a Prophet, but can be seen as a serveant who became a friend of Allah (walī). Moreover, they highlight that Allah will always protect and support those who have obtained this superior status just as He did with Mary.
The PANDA experiment will be one of the flagship experiments at the future Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Darmstadt, Germany. It is a versatile detector dedicated to topics in hadron physics such as charmonium spectroscopy and nucleon structure. A DIRC counter will deliver hadronic particle identification in the barrel part of the PANDA target spectrometer and will cleanly separate kaons with momenta up to 3.5 GeV/c from a large pion background. An alternative DIRC design option, using wide Cherenkov radiator plates instead of narrow bars, would significantly reduce the cost of the system. Compact fused silica photon prisms have many advantages over the traditional stand-off boxes filled with liquid. This work describes the study of these design options, which are important advancements of the DIRC technology in terms of cost and performance. Several new reconstruction methods were developed and will be presented. Prototypes of the DIRC components have been built and tested in particle beam, and the new concepts and approaches were applied. An evaluation of the performance of the designs, feasibility studies with simulations, and a comparison of simulation and prototype tests will be presented.
Orientation: Lack in congruence amongst industrial and organisational psychologists (IOPs) as to the conceptualisation of its profession poses a significant risk as to the relevance, longevity and professional identity of the profession within the South African context. Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the professional identity of IOPs within the South African context. Specifically, the aim of this study was four-fold: (1) to develop a contemporary definition for IOP, (2) to investigate IOP roles, (3) to determine how the profession should be labelled and (4) to differentiate IOP from human resource management (HRM) from IOPs’ perspectives within South Africa. Motivation for the study: IOPs do not enjoy the same benefits in stature or status as other professions such as medicine, finances and engineering in the world of work. IOPs need to justify its relevance within organisational contexts as a globally shared understanding of ‘what it is’, ‘what it does’ and ‘what makes it different from other professions’, which is non-existent. In order to enhance its perceived relevance, clarity as to IOPs professional identity is needed. Research design, approach and method: A post-positivistic qualitative content analytic and descriptive research design was employed in this study. Data from practising industrial and organisational psychology (IOP) within South Africa (N = 151) were gathered through an electronic web-based survey and were analysed through thematic content analysis. Main findings: The results indicate that IOP in South Africa seeks to optimise the potential of individuals, groups, organisations and the community by implementing scientific processes to support both individual and organisational wellness and sustainability. ‘Work Psychology’ was considered a more fitting professional designation or label than industrial and/or organisational psychology. The industrial psychologist’s major roles related to the well-being and development of employees. A clear distinction between a more dynamic, pro-active approach of IOP compared to a more transactional approach of HRM was also evident. IOP within South Africa appears to have a community development function. Practical/managerial implications: The longevity, relevance and impact of IOP as a profession requires alignment amongst practitioners as to shared common professional identity. Contribution/value-add: This study provides a contemporary understanding of the roles, functions, labels and unique value proposition of industrial and organisational psychology within the South African context.
Im Rahmen des FAIR Projektes wurde ein neuartiger Prototyp eines nicht strahlzerstörenden Bunch Struktur Monitors (BSM) am GSI UNILAC entwickelt. Ziel ist es, ein zuverlässiges Diagnosegerät zu entwickeln, welches die longitudinale Struktur der Ionenbunche innerhalb des LINACs untersuchen kann. Notwendig ist hierbei eine effektive Zeitauflösung deutlich unter 100 ps, bei möglichst wenigen Makropuls Mittelungen. Nach der erfolgreichen Inbetriebnahme soll der BSM Prototyp dazu dienen, die Umsetzbarkeit eines weiteren nichtinvasiven Geräts für den geplanten Proton-LINAC bei FAIR mit einer notwendigen Zeitauflösung von 10 ps zu beurteilen.
Die numerische Simulation von Materialien, welche dem Hochstrom-Ionenstrahl ausgesetzt sind, zeigten einen sehr hohen thermischen Stress. Daher wurde der Ansatz eines nicht strahlzerstörenden Diagnosegerätes verfolgt. Das Design beruht auf der Erzeugung von Sekundärelektronen durch Strahl-Restgas Kollisionen im Strahlrohr. Durch das Anlegen eines homogenen Hochspannungspotentials von bis zu -31 kV, wird ein Elektronenstrahl erzeugt, welcher die zeitliche Struktur des Ionenbunches trägt. Die zeitliche Information des Elektronenstrahles wird beim Durchfliegen eines HF-Ablenkers, welcher resonant an die 36 MHz des Beschleunigers gekoppelt ist, in eine räumliche Intensitätsverteilung umgewandelt. Anschließend wird die Elektronenverteilung auf einem bildgebenden MCP-Phosphor-Detektor durch eine CCD-Kamera detektiert und in die Bunch Struktur überführt.
Intensive Untersuchungen der BSM Eigenschaften ergaben eine höchste Auflösung von 37 ±6.3 ps bei gleichzeitig akzeptabler Intensität auf dem MCP-Detektor. Unter anderem wurden auch stabile Einzelschussmessungen durchgeführt, welche für die Profilmessung nur einen einzelnen Makropuls benötigten, statt über typischerweise 8-32 Pulse zu mitteln.
Durch die systematische Manipulation der Bunchlänge durch einen Rebuncher sind nicht gaußförmige Profile von 280 ps bis 650 ps detektiert worden, welche als Studie für eine Emittanzbestimmung genutzt worden sind. In Abhängigkeit des Analyseverfahrens sind Werte von εGauss = 1.42 ±0.14 keV/u ns bis εSD = 3.03 ±0.33 keV/u ns für die Emittanz bestimmt worden.
Des Weiteren ist ein Finite-Elemente Modell erstellt worden, um die Zeitstruktur der Sekundärelektronen innerhalb des elektronenoptischen Systems zu bestimmen. Für das Setup mit der höchsten Auflösung von 37 ps ergab sich eine zusätzliche Zeitverbreiterung von 5.6 ps, welche nur geringfügig die experimentell bestimmte Auflösung verschlechtert.
Der nicht strahlzerstörende BSM liefert eine ausreichend hohe zeitliche Auflösung für detailreiche Untersuchung der longitudinalen Bunchstruktur, ohne negative Einflüsse auf den Ionenstrahl auszuüben. Fortgeschrittene Messungen, wie longitudinale Emittanzbestimmung und Makropulsanalysen, sind möglich und werden dazu beitragen, die LINAC Strukturen besser zu verstehen und weiter zu optimieren.
Obwohl bei der Umsetzung des Arbeitsprinzips für den geplanten Proton-LINAC die veränderten Strahlparameter berücksichtigt werden müssen, zeigen die Ergebnisse, wie die Zeitstrukturuntersuchung und die erreichte Phasenauflösung von 0.5° bei 36 MHz, dass zeitliche Auflösungen bei Aufrechterhaltung der Phasenauflösung von bis zu 10 ps für einen neuen BSM Prototypen möglich sind.
A Internet das Coisas tem revolucionado a forma de produção e reprodução do conhecimento. Trata-se de um tipo de interface comunicacional entre humanos, máquinas e objetos que, ao fundir os mundos material e informacional, suscita as seguintes questões: (1) a possibilidade de obtenção imediata de quaisquer informações implicaria na produção do pensamento crítico, em uma espécie de relação causa-efeito?; (2) se é possível acessar as informações em quaisquer tempo e espaço, quais seriam as transformações decorrentes no processo formativo dos alunos e dos professores? Justamente essas questões motivaram os autores do artigo a elaborar o seguinte objetivo: refletir criticamente sobre a revitalização do conceito de formação (Bildung ) na temporalidade e localidade da Internet das Coisas.
The spider genus Zaitunia Lehtinen, 1967 (Araneae, Filistatidae) is revised. It was found to include 24 species distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Central Asia: ♀ Z. afghana (Roewer, 1962) (Afghanistan), ♀ Z. alexandri Brignoli, 1982 (Iran), ♀ Z. akhanii Marusik & Zamani, 2015 (Iran), ♂♀ Z. annulipes (Kulczyński, 1908) (Cyprus), ♂♀ Z. beshkentica (Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1969) (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), ♀ Z. brignoliana sp. nov. (Iran), ♂♀ Z. ferghanensis sp. nov. (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan), ♀ Z. feti sp. nov. (Turkmenistan), ♀ Z. halepensis sp. nov. (Syria), ♀ Z. huberi sp. nov. (Afghanistan), ♀ Z. inderensis Ponomarev, 2005 (Kazakhstan), ♂♀ Z. kunti sp. nov. (Cyprus, Turkey), ♂♀ Z. logunovi sp. nov. (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan), ♂♀ Z. maracandica (Charitonov, 1946) (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan), ♂♀ Z. martynovae (Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1969) (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan), ♀ Z. medica Brignoli, 1982 (Iran), ♂♀ Z. minoica sp. nov. (Greece), ♀ Z. minuta sp. nov. (Uzbekistan), ♀ Z. persica Brignoli, 1982 (Iran), ♂ Z. psammodroma sp. nov. (Turkmenistan), ♂♀ Z. schmitzi (Kulczyński, 1911), the type species (Egypt, Israel), ♂♀ Z. spinimana sp. nov. (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan), ♂♀ Z. wunderlichi sp. nov. (Kyrgyzstan) and ♀ Z. zonsteini Fomichev & Marusik, 1969 (Kazakhstan). Twelve above-listed species are newly described, and males of Z. annulipes, Z. beshkentica, Z. maracandica and Z. martynovae are described for the first time. Two new combinations are established: Z. annulipes (Kulczyński, 1908) comb. nov., ex Filistata, and Pholcoides monticola (Spassky, 1941) comb. nov., ex Zaitunia. New data on distribution of the considered taxa are provided.
Apokalypse
(2016)
Die Apokalypse ist eines der wirkungsreichsten Zukunftsnarrative der abendländischen Tradition. In Anlehnung an die neutestamentliche Johannes-Apokalypse bezeichnet das Wort die Offenbarung (von gr. 'apokályptein', 'enthüllen') der letzten (göttlichen) Wahrheit am Ende der Zeiten. Vom Moment der Enthüllung an ist die Zeit nicht mehr, was sie war: Sie wird in Ausblick auf das unausweichliche Zukünftige gedeutet und bekommt einen 'anderen' Sinn, der auf Vollendung hin ausgerichtet ist. Dieser Weltsicht entspricht der Glaube an die christliche Heilsgeschichte, deren Wesen und deren Verhältnis zur chronologischen Zeit im Rahmen der Eschatologie interpretiert und gedeutet wird (von gr. 'ta éschata', 'die letzten/äußersten Dinge', was in mehrere Richtungen zu verstehen ist).
Die monographische Publikation Ingrid Puchalovás und Michaela Kováčovás entstand im Rahmen des Projekts "Vergessene Texte, vergessenen Literatur. Deutschschreibende Autorinnen aus dem Gebiet der heutigen Slowakei", das am Lehrstuhl für Germanistik der Pavol-Jozef-Šafárik-Universität zwischen 2012 und 2014 umgesetzt wurde.
The article deals with the representation of the life principles of Count Albert Joseph Hoditz as discussed in his literary work. The analysis places this work in its literary-historical and philosophical context and seeks to make an innovative contribution to literary-historical research of this topic.
Dem Beobachter der literarischen Szene in Deutschland fällt früher oder später auf, dass Alexander von Humboldt - von einem Vorgriff um 1980 abgesehen - im ersten Dezennium des 21. Jahrhunderts zu einer Hauptgestalt literarischer Fiktion geworden ist. Wie ist die Ikonisierung des Forschungsreisenden und Universalgelehrten im deutschen Roman zu erklären? Was fasziniert, was provoziert die Autoren an diesem Mann, an diesem Leben? Welche Motive, welche subjektiven Haltungen, welche substantiellen Gehalte lassen sich bei der Lektüre dieser Romane erschließen? Welche stilistischen Differenzierungen haben Humboldts Diktion in seinem eigenen Bericht über seine berühmte Forschungsreise und seine distanzierte Haltung gegenüber dem human factor bei Autoren der Gegenwart herausgefordert? Kaum einem Autor geht es lediglich um eine fiktionalisierte Biographie oder um eine populärwissenschaftliche Aufbereitung von Humboldts Forschungen mit literarischen Mitteln. In einer Zeit, in der auch die Wissenschaftsgeschichte ihre Narrative kreiert, wird bei den Schriftstellern der Lebensstoff des Gelehrten und Reisenden zum Material poetischer Transformation. Es sind die Autoren, die Schwerpunkte setzen, Konfigurationen erfinden, Obsessionen und Idiosynkrasien artikulieren. Besonderes Interesse verdienen in den deutschen Romanen die Figurenkonstellationen, in die Humboldt versetzt wird: Humboldt und sein Diener Seifert, Humboldt und sein Freund und Begleiter Aimé Bonpland, Humboldt mit Goethe und anderen, Humboldt und Gauß. Auch im internationalen Kontext betrachtet rückt in etwa zeitgleich entstandenen Romanen Humboldts Leben ins Zentrum, wo es noch freier behandelt wird: als Gegenstand einer modernen wissenschaftlichen Forschungsreise, als Graphic Novel, als Muster für eine Parallel-Biographie. Da nicht vorausgesetzt werden kann, dass die zu besprechenden Werke allgemein bekannt sind, soll eine differenzierte Bestandsaufnahme, in der auch ein geschärfter Blick aufs Detail gerichtet wird, den Leser in die Lage versetzen, den Vergleich der verschiedenen Annäherungen an Alexander von Humboldt besser beurteilen zu können.
Alle lebenden Organismen sind in der Lage, sich an den re-gelmäßigen Wechsel von Licht und Dunkelheit und den zeitli-che Veränderungen im Takt der Jahreszeiten anzupassen. Die-se Synchronisierung der Aktivitäts- und Ruhephasen, sowie von physiologischen Stoffwechselprozessen an die vorgegebe-nen tageszeitlichen und saisonalen Zyklen findet beim Säu-getier in der inneren Uhr im Nucleus Suprachiasmaticus (SCN) statt. Das Licht, als wichtigster Zeitgeber für die Synchronisation der inneren Uhr, findet Eingang zum SCN über die Retina und den retinohypothalamischen Trakt (RTH), der Glutamat als Neurotransmitter nutzt. Ist dieses System fehlerhaft, führt dies zu Störung der oben beschriebenen Anpassungsprozesse. Dies hat eine gestörte Homöostase des Organismus zu Folge, aus denen sich wiederum Veränderungen im Tag/Nacht- Rhythmus, Schlafstörungen und depressive Ver-stimmungen ergeben können. Die genannten Symptome decken sich mit den Frühsymptomen den neurodegenerativen Erkran-kung Morbus Parkinson.
Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, Störungen im photoneu-roendokrinen System, insbesondere Veränderungen in der Re-tina an den photosensitiven Ganglienzellen mit dem Photo-pigment Melanopsin und dem SCN bei transgene Mäuse mit dem humanen alpha-Synuclein zu untersuchen. Hierbei wurden transgene Mäuse mit dem gesunden humanen alpha-Synuclein (Wildtyp) und transgene Mäuse mit der für Parkinson spezi-fischen Mutation im alpha-Synuclein Ala53Thr (A53T) vergli-chen.
Die immunochemischen Untersuchungen an Retina und SCN zei-gen einen signifikanten Anstieg der alpha-Synuclein Immun-reaktion bei der A53T Maus im Vergleich zum Wildtyp.
Parallel dazu wurden Unterschiede in Bezug auf das Photo-pigment Melanopsin zwischen den beiden Gruppen untersucht. Melanopsin ist lichtsensitiv und trägt, durch Übermittlung der aktuellen Lichtverhältnisse über den retinohypothalami-schen Trakt zum SCN, zur Synchronisation der circadianen Rhythmik bei. Durch den in dieser Arbeit nachgewiesene Me-lanopsindefizit und des deutlich reduzierten Vglut2 im hy-pothalamischen Trakt der A53T Maus lässt sich die Hypothese ableiten, dass möglicherweise die Überexpression des mu-tierten alpha-Synuclein in der Retina einen Untergang von melanopsinhaltigen Ganglienzellen herbeiführt und dadurch die Synchronisation der inneren Uhr durch Licht gestört ist. Diese Hypothese wird durch die Aktivitätsprofile ge-stützt, die durch die Aufzeichnung der lokomotorischen Ak-tivität der Tiere erstellt wurden.
Da in beiden Gruppen unter Dauerdunkel (DD) ein endogener zirkadianer Rhythmus beobachtet werden konnte, lässt dies auf die Funktionstüchtigkeit der inneren Uhr im SCN schlie-ßen. Im anschließenden Versuch die endogene Rhythmik an exogenen Reize anzupassen, zeigte sich bei dem A53T Stamm eine fehlende Synchronisierung an vorgegebene Lichtverhält-nisse mit gesteigerter Tagaktivität und reduzierten Schlaf-phasen. Somit trägt der fehlerhaft verarbeitete Lichtreiz bei A53T Mutanten zur Destabilisierung des zirkadianen Rhythmus der Lokomotion bei. Trotz des gestörten glutama-tergen Signalweges im retinohypothalamischen Trakt konnten keine Unterschiede in der Expression der Homerproteine zwi-schen Wildtyp und A53T unter Standard-Photoperiode und nach Schlafdeprivation nachgewiesen werden.
Die vorliegenden Befunde liefern Erkenntnisse zur Entste-hung der Frühsymptome bei Morbus Parkinson. Dies könnte neue Ansatzpunkte für die Therapie und Linderung von Schlafstörungen sowie Veränderungen im Tag/Nachtrhythmus liefern.
Der Untertitel meines Textes spielt offensichtlich mit einer Phrase Martin Heideggers, die häufig verkürzt wie eine simple sprachliche Gleichung formuliert wird: Herkunft = Zukunft. Der "Primat der Zukunft", die Akzentuierung des herzustellenden Werks, welche die Vergangenheit der kommenden Zeit unterwirft, ist eine rhetorische und epistemische Figur, die ich einerseits aus spezifisch medienarchäologischer Sicht kommentieren, anderseits mit einem Erweiterungsangebot bedenken möchte, das auf aktuelle kulturtechnische Sachverhalte reagiert. Die Unterwerfung des gerade Vergangenen unter die Anforderungen des Künftigen als eine Geste gleichsam ökologischer Verkoppelung. Kulturproduktion im Energiesparmodus: Die Avantgarde – wenn man diesen Begriff noch verwenden darf – wird durch die Nutzbarmachung und schöpferische Neuinterpretation der vergangenen Gegenwarten brisant und mitunter brillant, wenn sie den Transformationsprozess in ästhetisch überzeugender Manier zu schaffen in der Lage ist. Ich diskutiere das Thema in vier Abschnitten: zwei Hinführungen über einen Umweg, einem exemplarischen Mittelteil und einer vorsichtig verallgemeinernden Bewegung als Ausgang, die keinesfalls als letztes Wort in unserem Kontext begriffen werden möchte, sondern als Beginn einer Diskussion.
Epigenetic signatures such as methylation of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene have been found to be altered in panic disorder (PD). Hypothesizing temporal plasticity of epigenetic processes as a mechanism of successful fear extinction, the present psychotherapy-epigenetic study for we believe the first time investigated MAOA methylation changes during the course of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in PD. MAOA methylation was compared between N=28 female Caucasian PD patients (discovery sample) and N=28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls via direct sequencing of sodium bisulfite-treated DNA extracted from blood cells. MAOA methylation was furthermore analyzed at baseline (T0) and after a 6-week CBT (T1) in the discovery sample parallelized by a waiting time in healthy controls, as well as in an independent sample of female PD patients (N=20). Patients exhibited lower MAOA methylation than healthy controls (P<0.001), and baseline PD severity correlated negatively with MAOA methylation (P=0.01). In the discovery sample, MAOA methylation increased up to the level of healthy controls along with CBT response (number of panic attacks; T0–T1: +3.37±2.17%), while non-responders further decreased in methylation (−2.00±1.28%; P=0.001). In the replication sample, increases in MAOA methylation correlated with agoraphobic symptom reduction after CBT (P=0.02–0.03). The present results support previous evidence for MAOA hypomethylation as a PD risk marker and suggest reversibility of MAOA hypomethylation as a potential epigenetic correlate of response to CBT. The emerging notion of epigenetic signatures as a mechanism of action of psychotherapeutic interventions may promote epigenetic patterns as biomarkers of lasting extinction effects.
Importance of latrine communication in European rabbits shifts along a rural–to–urban gradient
(2016)
Background: Information transfer in mammalian communication networks is often based on the deposition of excreta in latrines. Depending on the intended receiver(s), latrines are either formed at territorial boundaries (between-group communication) or in core areas of home ranges (within-group communication). The relative importance of both types of marking behavior should depend, amongst other factors, on population densities and social group sizes, which tend to differ between urban and rural wildlife populations. Our study is the first to assess (direct and indirect) anthropogenic influences on mammalian latrine-based communication networks along a rural-to-urban gradient in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) living in urban, suburban and rural areas in and around Frankfurt am Main (Germany).
Results: The proportion of latrines located in close proximity to the burrow was higher at rural study sites compared to urban and suburban ones. At rural sites, we found the largest latrines and highest latrine densities close to the burrow, suggesting that core marking prevailed. By contrast, latrine dimensions and densities increased with increasing distance from the burrow in urban and suburban populations, suggesting a higher importance of peripheral marking.
Conclusions: Increased population densities, but smaller social group sizes in urban rabbit populations may lead to an increased importance of between-group communication and thus, favor peripheral over core marking. Our study provides novel insights into the manifold ways by which man-made habitat alterations along a rural-to-urban gradient directly and indirectly affect wildlife populations, including latrine-based communication networks.
This article uses survey data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) to analyze the persistence of educational attainment across three generations in Germany. I obtain evidence of a robust effect of grandparents’ education on respondents’ own educational attainment in West Germany, net of parental class, education, occupational status, family income, parents’ relationship history, and family size. I also test whether the grandparent effect results from resource compensation or cumulative advantage and find empirical support for both mechanisms. In comparison, the intergenerational association between grandparents’ and respondents’ education is considerably weaker in East Germany and is also mediated completely by parental education. There are hardly any gender differences in the role of grandparents for respondents’ educational attainment, except for the fact that resource compensation is found to be exclusively relevant for women’s attainment in both West Germany and in East Germany after German reunification and the associated transition to an open educational system.
A new Iranian, probably pholeophilous species of the scarabaeine genus Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, O. roessneri n. sp., is described, illustrated, and its placement in the semicornis group within the subgenus Palaeonthophagus Zunino, 1979 is discussed. A key to the species of the group is presented.
In 2014, 56 localities in four provinces of Lesser Himalaya in Pakistan were studied. A total of 28 species have been recorded. A female of the data deficient, threatened species Coeliccia vacca was recorded from Charhaan. The record of Drepanosticta carmichaeli is a new addition to the list of Odonata of Pakistan, and expand the range of this species further to the west. The taxonomical status of Ischnura aurora aurora – considered common in Pakistan, following baseline literature of Fraser (1933) – now turns out to be Ischnura aurora rubilio.
Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria are gaining more and more attention as a subject of research because of their unique yet similar life cycle with nematodes and insects. This work focused on the secondary metabolites that are produced by Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus. With the help of modern HPLC-MS methodologies and increasingly available bacterial genome sequences, the structures of unknown secondary metabolites could be elucidated and thus their biosynthesis pathways could be proposed, too.
The first paper reported 17 depsipeptides termed xentrivalpeptides produced by the bacterium Xenorhabdus sp. 85816. Xentrivalpeptide A could be isolated from the bacterial culture as the main component. The structure of xentrivalpeptide A was elucidated by NMR and the Marfey´s method. The remaining xentrivalpeptides were exclusively identified by feeding experiments and MS fragmentation patterns.
The second paper described the discovery and isolation of xenoamicin A from Xenorhabdus mauleonii DSM17908. Additionally, other xenoamicin derivatives from Xenorhabdus doucetiae DSM17909 were analyzed by means of feeding experiments and MS fragmentation patterns. The xenoamicin biosynthesis gene cluster was identified in Xenorhabdus doucetiae DSM17909.
The manuscript for publication focused on the biosynthesis of anthraquinones in Photorhabdus luminescens. The Type II polyketide synthase for the biosynthesis of anthraquinone derivatives was discovered in P. luminescens in a previous publication by the Bode group,1 in which a partial reaction mechanism for the biosynthesis has been proposed. The manuscript reported in this thesis however elucidated the biosynthetic mechanisms in a greater detail as compared to the previous publication. Particularly, the biosynthetic mechanism was deciphered through heterologous expression of anthraquinone biosynthesis (ant) genes in E. coli. Additionally, deactivation of the genes antG encoding a putative CoA ligase and antI encoding a putative hydrolase, was performed in P. luminescens. Selected ant genes were over-expressed in E. coli as well as the corresponding proteins purified for in vitro assays. Model compounds were chemically synthesized as possible substrates of AntI and were used for in vitro assays. Here, it was revealed that the CoA ligase AntG played an essential role in the activation of the ACP AntF. Furthermore, a chain shortening mechanism by the hydrolase AntI was identified and was further confirmed by in vitro assays using model compounds. Additionally, this chain shortening mechanism was supported by homology based structural modeling of AntI.
We study the effect of thermal charm production on charmonium regeneration in high energy nuclear collisions. By solving the kinetic equations for charm quark and charmonium distributions in Pb+Pb collisions, we calculate the global and differential nuclear modification factors RAA(Npart) and RAA(pt) for J/ψ s. Due to the thermal charm production in hot medium, the charmonium production source changes from the initially created charm quarks at SPS, RHIC and LHC to the thermally produced charm quarks at Future Circular Collider (FCC), and the J/ψ suppression (RAA<1) observed so far will be replaced by a strong enhancement (RAA>1) at FCC at low transverse momentum.
Four new species of the genus Coecobrya, C. gejianbangi sp. nov., C. annulata sp. nov., C. ciliata sp. nov., and C. oculata sp. nov., are described from Guangxi caves as the representative of the genus in China. Coecobrya oculata sp. nov. of the boneti-group has 1+1 eyes and a serrate outer edge of the unguiculus. The other three species, devoid of eyes and with a tiny outer tooth on the unguiculus, are assigned here to the tenebricosa-group, assuming that the large tooth on the unguiculus is transformed into a tiny one in cave-obligate species. Clypeal chaetae in Entomobryoidea are systematically surveyed for the first time, and are found to be well diversified at species level. They have a potential taxonomical value in discriminating taxa of morphologically conserved groups.
West African Savanna ecosystems are undergoing severe changes in their vegetation composition due to the impact of human land use and changes in climatic conditions. This study aims to examine the effect of climate, land use, and their interaction on species richness and composition of West African herbaceous vegetation. Plot based vegetation sampling was done in Burkina Faso. Specific richness and diversity indices were used to determine the effect of land use, climate, and their interaction. An importance value was computed to determine herbaceous species dominating the communities. Frequency of species is used to examine their distribution pattern. The results showed that climate significantly influenced herbaceous specific richness more than land use. However, land use had a significant effect on herbaceous vegetation composition. Herbaceous species diversity changed with environmental conditions. The floristic composition of dominant species is driven by both climate and land use. The frequency of distribution demonstrated that herbaceous species occurrences were more influenced by the mixed effect of climate and land use than their separate effects. Occasional and rare species are the most important part of herbaceous vegetation. Thus heterogeneity of Savanna ecosystem and vulnerability of herbaceous species are high.
Prognostische Faktoren und das Outcome von Patienten mit einem primären Glioblastom sind in der Fachliteratur gut beschrieben. Im Gegensatz dazu gibt es wenige vergleichbare Informationen zu Patienten mit einem sekundären Glioblastom. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, das Outcome von Patienten mit einem sekundären Glioblastom zu beurteilen und prognostische Faktoren in Be-zug auf das Gesamtüberleben zu identifizieren.
Dazu wurde die interne Datenbank des Universitätsklinikums Frankfurt/Main von Patienten mit Hirntumoren retrospektiv nach klinischen Daten durchsucht. Alle Patienten hatten ein histologisch gesichertes WHO Grad II oder III Gliom und anschließend ein WHO Grad IV sekundäres Glioblastom. Paraffiniertes Hirntumorgewebe wurde auf Mutationen der Isocitrat Dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mittels einer immunhistochemischen Färbung mit einem R132H (clone H09) spezifischen Antikörper untersucht. Eine uni- und multivariate statistische Analyse wurde durchgeführt, um Faktoren zu ermitteln, die potentiell das Gesamt-überleben beeinflussen könnten.
Es wurden 45 Patienten mit einem histologisch gesicherten sekundären Glioblastom untersucht. Das mediane Alter betrug 41 Jahre. 14 Patienten unterzogen sich einer radiologisch kompletten Resektion des sekundären Glioblastoms, 31 Patienten wurden subtotal reseziert oder biopsiert. Initial ist bei 37 Patienten ein astrozytärer Tumor nachgewiesen worden und die restlichen Patienten litten an Oligodendrogliomen oder gemischten Gliomen; bei der initialen Diagnose wurden 17 WHO Grad II und 28 WHO Grad III Tumoren fest-gestellt. Die mediane Zeit zwischen Ursprungstumor und dem Auftreten des sekundären Glioblastoms betrug 158,9 Wochen. Das mediane Gesamtüberleben betrug 445 Tage nach der Diagnose eines sekundären Glioblastoms. Mutationen des IDH1 (R132H) Proteins wurden bei 24 Patienten festgestellt und fehlten bei 17 Patienten; bei 4 Patienten konnte keine IDH1 immunhistochemische Färbung durchgeführt werden.
In der univariaten Analyse konnte der Zeitraum zwischen initialer Läsion und dem Progress zu einem sekundären Glioblastom als statistisch signifikanter Einflussfaktor identifiziert werden- Patienten mit einem Zeitraum von mehr als 2 Jahren hatten ein besseres Gesamtüberleben (460 vs. 327 Tage, p = 0,011). Außerdem konnte bei Patienten, die eine kombinierte Radiochemotherapie bekamen, ein besseres Gesamtüberleben nachgewiesen werden als bei Patienten, welche ausschließlich eine Therapieform erhielten (611 vs. 380 Tage, p < 0,001). Weiterhin konnten ein WHO Grad II Ursprungstumor (472 vs. 421 Tage, p = 0,05) und eine Frontalllappenlokalisation des Glioblastoms (472 vs. 425 Ta-ge, p = 0,031) das Überleben steigern.
In der multivariaten Analyse konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Mutation des IDH1 (R132H) Proteins in statistisch signifikanter Weise mit einem längeren Gesamtüberleben assoziiert war (p = 0,012); statistische Signifikanz für ein län-geres Gesamtüberleben bei Patienten mit initial einem WHO Grad II (p = 0,047) und einer Frontallappenlokalisation des Glioblastoms (p = 0,042) stellte sich auch ein. In Bezug auf die Patienten spezifischen Daten wurden zwei Prognosegruppen erstellt; Patienten in der guten Prognosegruppe scheinen einen Benefit von einer totalen Tumorresektion zu haben (p = 0,02), während eine Resektion für die andere Prognosegruppe keine große Rolle spielte (p = 0,926).
Trotz des relativ geringen Erkrankungsalters haben sekundäre Glioblastom Patienten eine schlechte Prognose. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit unterstreichen die Wichtigkeit und den prognostischen Wert der IDH1 Diagnostik, die Notwendigkeit einer kombinierten Radiochemotherapie und eine Risikostratifizierung für eine Prognoseabschätzung anhand der Patienten spezifischen Einflussfaktoren.
For Baudelaire, the barbarian is a figure of predilection. At first, it is a literary character that he got acquainted with through the works of Chateaubriand and E. A. Poe. The barbarian is linked to poetry as well; he brings to mind the condition of the exiled, the solitary figure far away from his homeland (such as in Delacroix's Ovid among the Scythians). But, most of all, the barbarian gives the opportunity to Baudelaire to refine his idea of Beauty: at the 1855 Universal Exhibition, he confronts himself for the first time to Chinese art – labelled "barbarian art" back then. Far from agreeing with this description, Baudelaire refutes it and forces himself to shift his critical perspective: his challenge will be to adapt himself, accommodate his taste and become "as barbarian" as the works he beholds in order to appreciate one of these "specimen of universal beauty". This reflexion shall continue in his essay, 'The Painter of Modern Life' (1863), in which he describes Constantin Guys' way of drawing as being moved by an "inevitable barbarousness". In this article, our aim will be to trace the evolution of Baudelaire's conception and different uses of the term "barbarian" through his aesthetical, poetical and literary writings.
RICOEUR (1988) nos diz que a conceituação do mal é um problema que atravessa séculos, devido a sua necessidade de coerência lógica. Já se discutiu sua origem, suas causas e seus efeitos, porém nunca se chegou a um termo que eliminasse a contradição em seu cerne. Neste espaço, as obras literárias de Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811) apresentam uma temática que abarca uma quebra de limites entre os conceitos de maldade e bondade desenvolvidos durante a Aufklärung, evidenciando essa problemática. Essa quebra nos parece estar fortemente associada à relação existente entre o "eu" e o mundo caótico em que este está inserido, implicando em uma complexidade das fontes do mal moral que diluem as barreiras entre bem e mal e nos levam à contestação destes limites estanques. Procuraremos, portanto, neste texto, demonstrar em que consiste essa quebra de limites e como a composição de uma realidade pautada no engano integra o universo literário kleistiano, principalmente na obra Michael Kohlhaas.
A new technique developed for measuring nuclear reactions at low momentum transfer with stored beams in inverse kinematics was successfully used to study isoscalar giant resonances. The experiment was carried out at the experimental heavy-ion storage ring (ESR) at the GSI facility using a stored 58Ni beam at 100 MeV/u and an internal helium gas-jet target. In these measurements, inelastically scattered α-recoils at very forward center-of-mass angles (θcm ≤ 1.5°) were detected with a dedicated setup, including ultra-high vacuum compatible detectors. Experimental results indicate a dominant contribution of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance at this very forward angular range. It was found that the monopole contribution exhausts 79+12−11% of the energy-weighted sum rule (EWSR), which agrees with measurements performed in normal kinematics. This opens up the opportunity to investigate the giant resonances in a large domain of unstable and exotic nuclei in the near future. It is a fundamental milestone towards new nuclear reaction studies with stored ion beams.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The infection process involves bacterial cell surface receptors, which interact with host extracellular matrix components to facilitate colonization and dissemination of bacteria. Here, we investigated the role of host-derived extracellular RNA (eRNA) in the process of pneumococcal alveolar epithelial cell infection. Our study demonstrates that eRNA dose-dependently increased S. pneumoniae invasion of alveolar epithelial cells. Extracellular enolase (Eno), a plasminogen (Plg) receptor, was identified as a novel eRNA-binding protein on S. pneumoniae surface, and six Eno eRNA-binding sites including a C-terminal 15 amino acid motif containing lysine residue 434 were characterized. Although the substitution of lysine 434 for glycine (K434G) markedly diminished the binding of eRNA to Eno, the adherence to and internalization into alveolar epithelial cells of S. pneumoniae strain carrying the C-terminal lysine deletion and the mutation of internal Plg-binding motif were only marginally impaired. Accordingly, using a mass spectrometric approach, we identified seven novel eRNA-binding proteins in pneumococcal cell wall. Given the high number of eRNA-interacting proteins on pneumococci, treatment with RNase1 completely inhibited eRNA-mediated pneumococcal alveolar epithelial cell infection. Our data support further efforts to employ RNAse1 as an antimicrobial agent to combat pneumococcal infectious diseases.
Background: Resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) greatly limits chemotherapeutic effectiveness in glioblastoma (GBM). Here we analysed the ability of the Inhibitor-of-apoptosis-protein (IAP) antagonist birinapant to enhance treatment responses to TMZ in both commercially available and patient-derived GBM cells.
Methods: Responses to TMZ and birinapant were analysed in a panel of commercial and patient-derived GBM cell lines using colorimetric viability assays, flow cytometry, morphological analysis and protein expression profiling of pro- and antiapoptotic proteins. Responses in vivo were analysed in an orthotopic xenograft GBM model.
Results: Single-agent treatment experiments categorised GBM cells into TMZ-sensitive cells, birinapant-sensitive cells, and cells that were insensitive to either treatment. Combination treatment allowed sensitisation to therapy in only a subset of resistant GBM cells. Cell death analysis identified three principal response patterns: Type A cells that readily activated caspase-8 and cell death in response to TMZ while addition of birinapant further sensitised the cells to TMZ-induced cell death; Type B cells that readily activated caspase-8 and cell death in response to birinapant but did not show further sensitisation with TMZ; and Type C cells that showed no significant cell death or moderately enhanced cell death in the combined treatment paradigm. Furthermore, in vivo, a Type C patient-derived cell line that was TMZ-insensitive in vitro and showed a strong sensitivity to TMZ and TMZ plus birinapant treatments.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate remarkable differences in responses of patient-derived GBM cells to birinapant single and combination treatments, and suggest that therapeutic responses in vivo may be greatly affected by the tumour microenvironment.
We assess the degree of market fragmentation in the euro-area corporate bond market by disentangling the determinants of the risk premium paid on bonds at origination. By looking at over 2,400 bonds we are able to isolate the country-specific effects which are a suitable indicator of the market fragmentation. We find that, after peaking during the sovereign debt crisis, fragmentation shrank in 2013 and receded to pre-crisis levels only in 2014. However, the low level of estimated market fragmentation is coupled with a still high heterogeneity in actual bond yields, challenging the consistency of the new equilibrium.
Chen and Zadrozny (1998) developed the linear extended Yule-Walker (XYW) method for determining the parameters of a vector autoregressive (VAR) model with available covariances of mixed-frequency observations on the variables of the model. If the parameters are determined uniquely for available population covariances, then, the VAR model is identified. The present paper extends the original XYW method to an extended XYW method for determining all ARMA parameters of a vector autoregressive moving-average (VARMA) model with available covariances of single- or mixed-frequency observations on the variables of the model. The paper proves that under conditions of stationarity, regularity, miniphaseness, controllability, observability, and diagonalizability on the parameters of the model, the parameters are determined uniquely with available population covariances of single- or mixed-frequency observations on the variables of the model, so that the VARMA model is identified with the single- or mixed-frequency covariances.
One of important consequences of Hagedorn statistical bootstrap model is the prediction of limiting temperature Tcrit for hadron systems colloquially known as Hagedorn temperature. According to Hagedorn, this effect should be observed in hadron spectra obtained in infinite equilibrated nuclear matter rather than in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We present results of microscopic model calculations for the infinite nuclear matter, simulated by a box with periodic boundary conditions. The limiting temperature indeed appears in the model calculations. Its origin is traced to strings and many-body decays of resonances.
Peter Weiss'ın Direnmenin Estetiği romanı tematik kurgusu içinde geçmişteki direnişleri belgeleyen sanat ve edebiyat eserlerini yeniden yorumlayan bir çizgi izlemektedir. Sosyalizmin pratiklerini içeriden eleştiren bu roman sosyalist gerçekçiliği de konu etmektedir. Bu kapsamda işçi perspektifinden yazılmış bir roman olan Klaus Neukrantz'ın Wedding Barikatları ile - sosyalist gerçekçilik çizgisinin dekadan (yozlaşmış) yazar kabul ettiği - Franz Kafka'nın Şato romanı arasında bir yakınlık ilişkisi kurmakta, Şato için 'işçi sınıfının romanı' ifadesini kullanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda Peter Weiss'ın sosyalist gerçekçiliği nasıl yorumladığı, sosyalist iktidarların sanat ve edebiyat üzerindeki denetimlerine itiraz etmesine rağmen sosyalist gerçekçilikte hangi değeri gördüğü ve Kafka’nın Şato romanına 'işçi sınıfının romanı' derken nasıl bir bağlantı kurduğu çarpıcı bir soru haline gelmektedir.
Bu makale, adı geçen iki eserin özelliklerini ve düzen karşısındaki konumlanmalarını karşılaştırmalı olarak incelemektedir; Direnmenin Estetiği'nde bu iki romanla ilgili bölümlerde, romanın genel kurgusu ve yaklaşımı dikkate alınarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bu incelemeyle, Peter Weiss'ın sosyalist gerçekçiliğe bakışındaki özgünlüğü ve bu bağlamda nasıl bir Kafka yorumu yaptığını göstermek amaçlanıyor. İncelemenin vardığı sonuç: Peter Weiss; Kafka'nın, mücadelenin hedefini gösteren sosyalist gerçekçiliğin eksik bıraktığı şeyi yaptığını, yani ezilenlerin kendi içsel yaşantılarını bulmalarını sağladığını düşünmektedir. Yine Direnmenin Estetiği'nde izlerine rastlandığı gibi, Peter Weiss hayatının önemli bir bölümünde kendini Kafka’nın dünyasında hissetmiştir. Bu da Kafka'yı Peter Weiss için önemli kılan bir başka unsurdur. Bu anlamda Direnmenin Estetiği romanı Franz Kafka, Klaus Neukrantz ve Peter Weiss'ın ortak noktalarının izini süren, üç kurgusal metnin iç içe geçtiği bir üst metin olarak görülebilir.