Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (30731)
- Part of Periodical (11922)
- Book (8312)
- Doctoral Thesis (5734)
- Part of a Book (3721)
- Working Paper (3388)
- Review (2878)
- Contribution to a Periodical (2369)
- Preprint (2200)
- Report (1544)
Language
- German (42597)
- English (29553)
- French (1067)
- Portuguese (723)
- Multiple languages (314)
- Croatian (302)
- Spanish (301)
- Italian (195)
- mis (174)
- Turkish (148)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (75699) (remove)
Keywords
- Deutsch (1038)
- Literatur (809)
- taxonomy (766)
- Deutschland (543)
- Rezension (491)
- new species (453)
- Frankfurt <Main> / Universität (341)
- Rezeption (325)
- Geschichte (292)
- Übersetzung (271)
Institute
- Medizin (7767)
- Präsidium (5228)
- Physik (4543)
- Wirtschaftswissenschaften (2710)
- Extern (2661)
- Gesellschaftswissenschaften (2378)
- Biowissenschaften (2195)
- Biochemie und Chemie (1978)
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) (1775)
- Center for Financial Studies (CFS) (1632)
A trimaculate male of the diplopod genus Apheloria Chamberlin (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae/-inae: Apheloriini) from 1.3 km (0.8 mi) west of McKenney, Dinwiddie County (Co.), Virginia, is designated the Neotype of Julus virginiensis Drury 1770, thereby stabilizing the earliest name for a North American milliped and authenticating its prior assignment to this taxon. The existing concept of Apheloria is accepted in the absence of a revisionary treatment, and a modern description of A. v. virginiensis with gonopod drawings and color photos is provided. Drury’s original account and his letter to the Virginian who sent him the original specimens are quoted verbatim to eliminate future library searches. The specific name has been associated with at least three genera, and its confusing history is clarified by summarizing works in each. Authentic localities, mapped to the extent now possible, reveal a distribution south of the James River in piedmont and coastal Virginia that extends southwestward to the Blue Ridge foothills and at least as far south in North Carolina (NC) as Greensboro, the “Triangle” (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill region), and Albemarle Sound in the east. Based on the holotypes, A. aspila and A. tigana, both by Chamberlin, are placed in synonymy under A. v. virginiensis (syns. nov.), and although its status is still under review, A. waccamana Chamberlin, whose type locality is Lake Waccamaw, Columbus Co., in southeastern NC, may be the correct name for today’s A. tigana. All samples so labeled must be reexamined for misidentifications of A. v. virginiensis.
Im antiken Rom war das Publikum im Colosseum live bei der Inszenierung von Gewalt dabei. Heutzutage werden "tödliche Spiele" in Film und Literatur nicht nur medial re-inszeniert (Stichwort Hollywood-Historienfilme, Gladiatoren-Computerspiele), sondern auch zunehmend als Vehikel für Gesellschaftskritik eingesetzt. Ausgehend vom Erfolg der Buchtrilogie "Die Tribute von Panem" (The Hunger Games) wird der Vortrag erkunden, welche gesellschaftliche Funktion die Darstellung und Betrachtung von Gewalt im Spiel erfüllt.
El siguiente trabajo se propone como objetivo la reconstrucción de la estructura interna que constituye a las acciones con sentido (o intencionales) de los hombres tal como puede ser hecha desde la pragmática trascendental del lenguaje de Karl-Otto Apel. Resaltando (I) el papel decisivo que juega el lenguaje y el discurso en la constitución como tal de las acciones intencionales, se procede a la explicitación de una estructura interna de pretensiones de validez similar a la que es posible encontrar en el discurso explícito, tal como lo hicieron los planteos clásicos de Karl-Otto Apel. Luego de la discusión de algunas críticas que pueden hacerse a esta reconstrucción (II), se arriban finalmente a algunas conclusiones referidas a los presupuestos de las acciones no lingüísticas (III).
Es ist so viel Neues, Grundsätzliches und Bleibendes über Warburgs kulturwissenschaftliches Werk vorgetragen und geschrieben worden, dass ich mich im Folgenden auf einige wenige Beobachtungen beschränken möchte. Die beiden ersten betreffen die Aktualität von Warburgs Denken, und ich möchte sie - aus der Perspektive des Kunsthistorikers - überschreiben: 1. Lob der Sprache, 2. Lob des Anachronismus. Daran anschließend möchte ich kurz drei Themenfelder andeuten, die meiner Ansicht nach Herausforderungen einer heutigen Warburg-Forschung darstellen.
In recent years, Ontological Security Theory (OST) has been established as a new theory in the field of International Relations. The theory seeks to explain state behavior, and offers a new perspective on the security dilemma and the persistence of conflicts. It has proven itself helpful in explaining seemingly irrational state behavior such as an aggressive foreign policy by weak states or the provision of humanitarian aid by powerful nations. OST further allows scholars to analyze norm-violating behavior of states, for instance the use of torture at the hands of Americans in the War on Terror. If you have not engaged with the theory before, you might want to learn about its core arguments as well as its potential and limitations in the following. For those who know the theory well, let me show you how the theory was key to gaining new insights in my research.
On the 28th of July, a 26 year old man, Ahmad A. launched a knife attack in a supermarket in the Barmbek area of Hamburg, wounding four people and killing one. He fled the scene of the attack before being forcefully apprehended by some bystanders. The attacker, a rejected asylum seeker, was understood by the police to have been recently religiously radicalised. Hamburg’s Interior Minister Andy Grote explained that he was known to the police as an “Islamist but not a jihadist” and was suspected of having psychological problems. Prosecutors have asserted that he had no known connections with any organized radical network or group and that he had planned on dying as a martyr...
SAFE Newsletter : 2017, Q3
(2017)
"Zwischen den Stühlen" : Warburgs Bildersprache als Positionsbestimmung seiner Kulturwissenschaft
(2017)
Zuallererst ein besessener Büchersammler und ein ebenso leidenschaftlicher Philologe wie Kunsthistoriker, hat Warburg die Bibliothek, die er als Privatgelehrter begründete, bald zu einem veritablen Forschungsinstitut ausgebaut, in dem Detailforschungen aus Kunstgeschichte, Philologie und Archäologie, aus Religionswissenschaft, Orientalistik und vielen anderen Fächern in ein gemeinsames Vorhaben eingebracht wurden. Mit der Leitfrage nach den psychischen Energien und den phobischen Motiven, die in die Rituale und Bilder, in die Gebärden und symbolischen Formen des menschlichen Ausdruckswillens eingegangen und darin gebunden sind, ist Kulturwissenschaft im Sinne Warburgs heute so brisant wie nie. Ebenso mit ihrer Aufmerksamkeit für die archaischen Ursprünge und außereuropäischen Korrespondenzen europäischer Kultur. Die Untersuchung der widerstreitenden Energien, wie Sigmund Freud sie für die Erinnerungen und Träume, für die Objekt- und Symptombildungen des Einzelnen erschlossen hat, verfolgen die von der Warburg-Bibliothek angestoßenen Studien im Feld der Kulturgeschichte und des Bildgedächtnisses. Wenn Warburg diese Arbeit als "kulturwissenschaftliche Zusammenhangskunde" charakterisiert, dann deshalb, weil sie tatsächlich nur aus einer Position 'zwischen den Stühlen' entstehen konnte und nur in Gestalt einer kollektiven Anstrengung realisierbar ist - und sein wird.
Der Name "Comic" ist eine Folge der oft komischen Erzählungen, die in den kurzen Bildabfolgen oder Bilder erzählt wurden. Diese kurzen Bildabfolgen wird man als Comic Strips genannt. Neben den zahlreichen humoristischen Serien gibt es jede Art von Comics, die politischen, gewaltverherrlichenden oder gesellschaftlichen Inhalte haben. Diese Comics, die unterschiedlichen Themen haben, werden von sowohl Kinder und Jugendlich als auch Erwachsenen lieber gefolgt und gelesen, obwohl man denkt, dass nur Kinder und Jugendlich Comics lesen. Comics sind populäre Kultur, die Ursprung als Bestandteil der Sonntagszeitungen nehmen, und haben heutzutage große Bedeutung in der Kinder und Jugend Literatur. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist eine Einführung zu machen, was Ziel und Bedeutung von Comics sind, welche Eigenschaften Comics vorliegen, z.B. Sprechblasen, Schreiben oder Bilder etc. und zu vergleichen die Geschichte von Comics in Amerika, Deutschland und in der Türkei. Der Ursprung der Comics beruht auf die Höhlenmalereien, Fresken, Bildsäulen und Bildteppiche. Mit Symbolen in den Höhlenmalereien, Fresken, Bildsäulen und Bildteppiche wurde es sich beschäftigt und mit den Bildern eine Geschichte erzählt. In diesem Zusammenhang ist "The Yellow Kid (Das gelbe Kind)" von Richard Felton Outcault der erste Comicstrip und der Geburtsort von Comics ist Amerika. Deswegen sind Comics in Deutschland und in der Türkei unter dem Einfluss von Amerika geblieben. Auch die italienischen Produkte hatten große Wirkung in der Türkei. Trotzdem entwickelten eigene Comics sich sowohl in Deutschland als auch in der Türkei.
Der Name Aby Warburgs steht für eine kulturwissenschaftlich ausgerichtete Kunstgeschichte, mehr noch aber für eine heute weltweit operierende Denkschule, die sich vielen Fachrichtungen öffnet und die in wechselwirksamer Begegnung und Teilhabe ein Instrumentarium entwickelt, das die Herausforderungen unserer Zeit in Kunst, Kultur und Gesellschaft besonders wirksam zu bewältigen verspricht. Denn Kulturwissenschaft, das muss man der so sehr von den Life Sciences beseelten Politik immer wieder in Erinnerung rufen, Kulturwissenschaft ist die eigentliche Lebenswissenschaft.
Timișoara is considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat. It is the main social, economic and cultural centre in the western part of Romania. During the Industrial Revolution, numerous modern innovations were introduced. It was the first city with street lighting, and the first city in mainland Europe illuminated by electric light. The present investigation is a contribution to the problem of the Romanian technical vocabulary, which took along the time some German words with. A special emphasis is placed on the technical and scientific applications. During my study of the technical language and its terminology I became aware of Termini German origin. Many questions were raised and the interest to find answers grew. Thus came the impulse to bring together the words of German origin, set up a glossary and to analyze them in detail.
Immigration, cultural identity, integration, tolerance and the ability to adapt to a new environment are issues that often come up in today’s global society. The paper focuses on the way in which cultural otherness is perceived by children and teenagers. The article is based on the analysis of Karin Gündisch’s novels. The awarded author from a migrant background offers an insight into the above mentioned problems. Gündisch’s characters are mostly East-Europeans or South-East-Europeans who try to make a living in developed countries of the Western World. The author portrays entire families, children, parents and grandparents. Thus we can discuss the different stages of integration and the different attitudes towards it. How does the comfort of “home” influence identity? How can you rediscover yourself abroad? Does cultural diversity increase prejudice? What does the idea of a “Paradise abroad” involve? These are some of the aspects, the article is trying to explore.
Sigrid Weigel ist 2016 mit dem Aby Warburg-Preis der Stadt Hamburg ausgezeichnet worden. Die Reden von Andreas Beyer und Sigrid Weigel wurden am 21. November 2016 im Rahmen der Preisverleihung im Großen Festsaal des Hamburger Rathauses gehalten. Peter Geimer hielt seinen Vortrag zu Ehren von Sigrid Weigel am 13. Dezember 2016 im ZfL in Berlin.
Ruling parties as communities of practice and collective identity in China-Ethiopia relations
(2015)
While it helps to put the overemphasis on Chinese agency in the literature into perspective, the recent debate on the role played by African agency in Sino-African relations generally adopts the same rationalist perspective on international politics, and thus stands to miss important aspects of the relations studied. This paper takes the example of Ethiopia, which is often used to highlight African elites’ strategic use of the new options presented by China’s rise, and analyses it from a constructivist perspective. Such a perspective proposes that we need to take the role played by ideas, discourses and emotions seriously, and that Ethiopian policy makers do not exist outside a dense web of personal relations, common knowledge, and shared practices that inadvertently structure their relations with China. More specifically, it is argued here that the ruling parties of China and Ethiopia are linked together in an international community of practice, that exchanges within this community have strengthened the perception of like-mindedness, and that Sino-Ethiopian relations therefore rest on a different basis than is acknowledged by purely rationalist accounts.
Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden neue Ansätze zur Optimierung eines Alvarez Beschleunigers für Schwerionen untersucht. Dabei dient die Alvarez-Sektion des GSI UNILAC als Untersuchungsfeld, da für den Injektionsbetrieb für FAIR eine Erneuerung dieser Sektion erforderlich ist. Dies wird durch einen neuen und optimierten Alvarez-Beschleuniger gewährleistet, wobei Effizienz und Feldstabilität sowie hohe Verfügbarkeit eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Dazu wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wichtige Simulationsrechnungen durchgeführt, ein Messaufbau zum experimentellen Test eines neuartigen Konzepts zur Feld-Stabilisierung ausgelegt, in Betrieb genommen und anhand von Messungen an einem speziell dafür entwickelten Resonatormodell verifiziert.
Ziel dieser Arbeit war es die experimentelle Demonstration des neuen Konzepts zur Feldstabilisierung eines Resonators. Es sollte geprüft werden, ob die zuvor durchgeführten Simulationen die realen Felder hinreichend zuverlässig vorhersagen. Diese experimentelle Prüfung ist angesichts der sehr hohen Baukosten eines realen Resonators von mehreren Millionen Euro unerlässlich. Vor Beginn dieser Arbeit war ein geeigneter Messaufbau, d.h. im Wesentlichen ein dediziertes Resonator-Modell, nicht verfügbar. Es galt ein Modell zu entwickeln, dessen Geometrie seht gut durch Simulationen modelliert werden kann, dessen Aufbau es aber trotzdem gestattet, eben diese Geometrie lokal zu variieren, um den angestrebten Effekt der Feld-Stabilisierung zu erreichen.
Aufgrund von Fertigungs- sowie Justage-Toleranzen gibt es Störungen der Feldhomogenität auf der Strahl- bzw. Resonatorachse. Die Feldhomogenität quantifiziert die Fluktuationen der tatsächlichen Feldstärke bezüglich des Idealwertes. Ein perfekt homogenes Feld weist keine Abweichungen auf. Bei einer lokalen Störung ist die Feldveränderung am Ort der Störung maximal und verringert sich mit dem Abstand von dieser. Es entsteht eine Verkippung des Feldes. Die Feldverkippung ist definiert als die durch die Störung verursachte Feldabweichung normiert auf die ungestörte Feldverteilung sowie auf die damit verbundene Änderung der Modenfrequenz. Letztere wird mit Tauchkolben kompensiert; die Feldhomogenität allerdings kann nicht wieder hergestellt werden. Die Feldhomogenität muss durch eine andere Maßnahme sichergestellt werden. Bei Alvarez-Kavitäten mit einem Tankradius R < 0,4m werden „post-coupler“ eingesetzt. Post-coupler sind dünne zylinderförmige Kupferstangen die seitlich an die Driftröhren herangefahren werden und an die Resonanzmode des Beschleunigers koppeln. Gleichzeitig wird die Sensibilität auf Störungen im Tank verringert, sodass die homogene Feldverteilung auch bei Störungen gut erhalten bleibt. Bei Beschleunigerstrukturen mit größeren Tankradien werden die post-coupler zu lang und erfordern einen zu großen Aufwand in der Konstruktion. In dieser Arbeit wurde eine alternative Methode für die Stabilisierung der Feldverteilung untersucht, welche die Winkelposition der Driftröhrenstützen nutzt.
Der in dieser Arbeit realisierte Resonator erlaubt die freie Einstellung der Winkel der Stützen sowie die exakte Justage der Driftröhren auf der Strahlachse. Es wurde ein Aluminium-Modell im Maßstab 1:3 zum realen Alvarez-Resonator gebaut. Dieser hatte zunächst eine Länge von ∼ 525mm und neun Driftröhren. Das Modell ist mit einem Profil der Geschwindigkeit der zu beschleunigenden Ionen ausgestattet, sodass die Driftröhren sowie die Spaltabstände entlang des Resonators länger werden. Mittels Simulationen wurden diverse Stützenkonfigurationen ausgewählt, die in den Messungen getestet wurden.
Mit dem Modell konnte gezeigt werden, dass bei bestimmten Stützenanordnungen die nächst höheren Moden weiter von der Betriebsmode entfernt werden können. Die besten Ergebnisse lieferte die Stützenkonfiguration mit fünf nach unten und vier nach oben orientierten Stützenpaaren (V-Stützen-Konfiguration 5+4). Hier liegt die nächst höhere Mode in den Messungen um mehr als 160MHz von der Grundfrequenz (326,7MHz) entfernt (Vergleich originale V-Stützen-Konfiguration: nächste Mode liegt 88MHz von der Grundmode entfernt). Wichtig ist die Eigenschaft der Modenseparation vor allem für den realen Einsatz der Kavität, da hier die Moden nur um wenige MHz voneinander entfernt liegen und dies zu Störungen im Betrieb des Resonators bei hoher HF-Leistung führen kann. Bei ungenügender Modenseparation wird die eingekoppelte HF-Leistung vom Resonator reflektiert. Mitunter können die erforderlichen Felder der Betriebsmode nicht erzeugt werden.
Im Falle einer Feldverkippung stimmt die reale Ionengeschwindigkeit entlang des Tanks nicht mehr mit der bei der Auslegung angenommenen überein. Das führt zu einer Verringerung der longitudinalen Strahlqualität bezüglich der erreichbaren Energieschärfe.
Zur systematischen Prüfung der Methode zur Feldstabilisierung wurden definierte Störungen in den Tank eingebaut. Die erste Driftröhre wurde jeweils um 1, 2 und 3mm verlängert. Da die Zahl der Zellen zu gering war für die statistisch signifikante Feldverkippungs-Messung, musste das Modell auf 21 Spalte erweitert werden. Die besten Ergebnisse bzgl. Feld-Stabilisierung lieferte die V-Stützen-Konfiguration 7+7+6. Hier bleibt das Feld trotz Störstelle homogen. Die Feldverkippung kann auf weniger als die Hälfte derjenigen der originalen V-Stützen-Konfiguration reduziert werden. Für den Fall der originalen Stützenkonfiguration erzeugt die oben beschriebene Störung eine Abweichung der Feldhomogenität von ±28%. Mit der in dieser Arbeit optimierten Stützenkonfiguration verändert sich die Feldhomogenität nur um ±9%.
Die Methode zur Feldstabilisierung mit einer optimierten Stützenanordnung ohne den Einsatz von post-couplern konnte am Modell gezeigt werden. Weiterhin wurde eine bessere Effizienz mit Zunahme der Tanklänge verifiziert. Im realen Alvarez-Tank wird die Anzahl der Spalte um einen Faktor 3 größer sein. Damit ergeben sich durch die erhöhte Anzahl zur Verfügung stehenden Stützen zusätzliche Konfigurationen, um eine Feldhomogenität von besser als ±1% zu gewährleisten.
Auf der Basis dieser Untersuchungen ist bei GSI der Bau einer zunächst ca. 2m langen Sektion des neuen Alvarez-DTL mit 11 Driftröhren vorgesehen. Dabei werden Flansche für verschiedene Stützenkonfigurationen integriert. Ziel ist es hierbei die Konstruktion, die Produktion, die Feldabstimmung sowie den Betrieb bei nominalen FAIR-Parametern zu testen. Sind die Tests erfolgreich, kommt diese Sektion bei der ersten Serie für den neuen Beschleuniger zum Einsatz.
Hematotoxicity is one of the major side effects of chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to examine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and hematotoxicity in breast cancer patients in a subset of patients of the SUCCESS prospective phase III chemotherapy study. All patients (n = 1678) received three cycles of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) followed by three cycles of docetaxel or docetaxel/gemcitabine, depending on randomization. Germline DNA was genotyped for 246 SNPs selected from a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a panel of lymphoblastoid cell lines, with gemcitabine toxicity as the phenotype. All SNPs were tested for their value in predicting grade 3 or 4 neutropenic or leukopenic events (NLEs). Their prognostic value in relation to overall survival and disease-free survival was also tested.
None of the SNPs was found to be predictive for NLEs during treatment with docetaxel/gemcitabine. Two SNPs in and close to the PIGB gene significantly improved the prediction of NLEs after FEC, in addition to the factors of age and body surface area. The top SNP (rs12050587) had an odds ratio of 1.38 per minor allele (95% confidence interval, 1.17 to 1.62). No associations were identified for predicting disease-free or overall survival.
Genetic variance in the PIGB gene may play a role in determining interindividual differences in relation to hematotoxicity after FEC chemotherapy.
Evidence of widespread wildfires in a coal seam from the middle Permian of the North China Basin
(2017)
The North China Basin is the largest coal-bearing basin in China, and has an areal extent of 800,000 km2. We analyzed 138 coal samples and in situ pillar coal samples of the middle Permian from this basin by macropetrography, microscope, scanning electron microscope, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometer in order to study wildfires. High contents of inertinite (charcoal) and natural coke particles observed in coal samples indicate that vegetation in precursor mires and peats of the middle Permian coal from north China was exposed to far-ranging wildfires. In addition, high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in the coal samples. These aromatic compounds were formed under high temperatures and provide further evidence of wildfire. These wildfires would have discharged significant CO and CO2 gases into the atmosphere and affected the paleoclimate and paleoecosystem.
Dieser Leitfaden ist im Rahmen des Projektes "IndUK – Individuelles Umwelthandeln und Klimaschutz – Ergebnisintegration und transdisziplinäre Verwertung von Erkenntnissen aus der SÖF-Forschung zu den sozialen Dimensionen von Klimaschutz und Klimawandel" entstanden. Das Projekt IndUK wurde vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) im Förderschwerpunkt Sozial-ökologische Forschung gefördert.
Coccolithophores are an abundant phytoplankton group that exhibit remarkable diversity in their biology, ecology and calcitic exoskeletons (coccospheres). Their extensive fossil record is a testament to their important biogeochemical role and is a valuable archive of biotic responses to environmental change stretching back over 200 million years. However, to realise the full potential of this archive for (palaeo-)biology and biogeochemistry requires an understanding of the physiological processes that underpin coccosphere architecture. Using culturing experiments on four modern coccolithophore species (Calcidiscus leptoporus, Calcidiscus quadriperforatus, Helicosphaera carteri and Coccolithus braarudii) from three long-lived families, we investigate how coccosphere architecture responds to shifts from exponential (rapid cell division) to stationary (slowed cell division) growth phases as cell physiology reacts to nutrient depletion. These experiments reveal statistical differences in coccosphere size and the number of coccoliths per cell between these two growth phases, specifically that cells in exponential-phase growth are typically smaller with fewer coccoliths, whereas cells experiencing growth-limiting nutrient depletion have larger coccosphere sizes and greater numbers of coccoliths per cell. Although the exact numbers are species-specific, these growth-phase shifts in coccosphere geometry demonstrate that the core physiological responses of cells to nutrient depletion result in increased coccosphere sizes and coccoliths per cell across four different coccolithophore families (Calcidiscaceae, Coccolithaceae, Isochrysidaceae and Helicosphaeraceae), a representative diversity of this phytoplankton group. Building on this, the direct comparison of coccosphere geometries in modern and fossil coccolithophores enables a proxy for growth phase to be developed that can be used to investigate growth responses to environmental change throughout their long evolutionary history. Our data also show that changes in growth rate and coccoliths per cell associated with growth-phase shifts can substantially alter cellular calcite production. Coccosphere geometry is therefore a valuable tool for accessing growth information in the fossil record, providing unprecedented insights into the response of species to environmental change and the potential biogeochemical consequences.
When assessing global water resources with hydrological models, it is essential to know the methodological uncertainties in the water resources estimates. The study presented here quantifies effects of the uncertainty in the spatial and temporal patterns of meteorological variables on water balance components at the global, continental and grid cell scale by forcing the global hydrological model WaterGAP 2.2 (ISI-MIP 2.1) with five state-of-the-art climate forcing input data-sets. While global precipitation over land during 1971–2000 varies between 103 500 and 111 000 km3 yr−1, global river discharge varies between 39 200 and 42 200 km3 yr−1. Temporal trends of global wa- ter balance components are strongly affected by the uncertainty in the climate forcing (except human water abstractions), and there is a need for temporal homogenization of climate forcings (in particular WFD/WFDEI). On about 10–20 % of the global land area, change of river discharge between two consecutive 30 year periods was driven more strongly by changes of human water use including dam construction than by changes in precipitation. This number increases towards the end of the 20th century due to intensified human water use and dam construction. The calibration approach of WaterGAP against observed long-term average river discharge reduces the impact of climate forcing uncertainty on estimated river discharge significantly. Different homgeneous climate forcings lead to a variation of Q of only 1.6 % for the 54 % of global land area that are constrained by discharge observations, while estimated renewable water resources in the remaining uncalibrated regions vary by 18.5 %. Uncertainties are especially high in Southeast Asia where Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) data availability is very sparse. By sharing already available discharge data, or installing new streamflow gauging stations in such regions, water balance uncertainties could be reduced which would lead to an improved assessment of the world’s water resources.
Ice nucleating particles over the Eastern Mediterranean measured by unmanned aircraft systems
(2016)
During an intensive field campaign on aerosol, clouds and ice nucleation in the Eastern Mediterranean in April 2016, we have measured the abundance of ice nucleating particles (INP) in the lower troposphere from unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Aerosol samples were collected by miniaturized electrostatic precipitators onboard the UAS at altitudes up to 2.5 km. The number of INP in these samples, which are active in the deposition and condensation modes at temperatures from −20 to −30 ◦C, were analyzed immediately after collection on site using the ice nucleus counter FRIDGE. During the one month campaign we encountered a series of Saharan dust plumes that traveled at several kilometers altitude. Here we present INP data from 42 individual flights, together with aerosol number concentrations, observations of lidar backscattering, dust concentrations derived by the dust transport model DREAM (Dust Regional Atmospheric Model), and results from scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the dust plumes is reflected by the coincidence of INP with the particulate mass (PM), the lidar signal and with the predicted dust mass of the model. This suggests that mineral dust or a constituent related to dust was a major contributor to the ice nucleating properties of the aerosol. Peak concentrations of above 100 INP std.l -1 were measured at −30 ◦C. The INP concentration in elevated plumes was on average a factor of 10 higher than at ground level. Since desert dust is transported for long distances over wide areas of the globe predominantly at several km altitude we conclude that INP measurements at ground level may be of limited significance for the situation at the level of cloud formation.
Mean age of stratospheric air can be derived from observations of sufficiently long-lived trace gases with approximately linear trends in the troposphere. Mean age can serve as a tracer to investigate stratospheric transport and long-term changes in the strength of the overturning Brewer–Dobson circulation of the stratosphere. For this purpose, a low-cost method is required in order to allow for regular observations up to altitudes of about 30 km. Despite the desired low costs, high precision and accuracy are required in order to determine mean age. We present balloon-borne AirCore observations from two midlatitude sites: Timmins in Ontario/Canada and Lindenberg in Germany. During the Timmins campaign, five AirCores sampled air in parallel with a large stratospheric balloon and were analysed for CO2, CH4 and partly CO. We show that there is good agreement between the different AirCores (better than 0.1 %), especially when vertical gradients are small. The measurements from Lindenberg were performed using small low-cost balloons and yielded very comparable results. We have used the observations to extend our long-term data set of mean age observations at Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. The time series now covers more than 40 years and shows a small, statistically non-significant positive trend of 0.15 ± 0.18 years decade−1. This trend is slightly smaller than the previous estimate of 0.24 ± 0.22 years decade−1 which was based on observations up to the year 2006. These observations are still in contrast to strong negative trends of mean age as derived from some model calculations.
AirCore-HR : a high-resolution column sampling to enhance the
vertical description of CH₄ and CO₂
(2017)
An original and innovative sampling system called AirCore was presented by NOAA in 2010 (Karion et al., 2010). It consists of a long ( > 100 m) and narrow (< 1 cm) stainless steel tube that can retain a profile of atmospheric air. The captured air sample has then to be analyzed with a gas analyzer for trace mole fraction. In this study, we introduce a new AirCore aiming to improve resolution along the vertical with the objectives to (i) better capture the vertical distribution of CO2 and CH4, (ii) provide a tool to compare AirCores and validate the estimated vertical resolution achieved by AirCores. This (high-resolution) AirCore-HR consists of a 300 m tube, combining 200 m of 0.125 in. (3.175 mm) tube and a 100 m of 0.25 in. (6.35 mm) tube. This new configuration allows us to achieve a vertical resolution of 300 m up to 15 km and better than 500 m up to 22 km (if analysis of the retained sample is performed within 3 h). The AirCore-HR was flown for the first time during the annual StratoScience campaign from CNES in August 2014 from Timmins (Ontario, Canada). High-resolution vertical profiles of CO2 and CH4 up to 25 km were successfully retrieved. These profiles revealed well-defined transport structures in the troposphere (also seen in CAMS-ECMWF high-resolution forecasts of CO2 and CH4 profiles) and captured the decrease of CO2 and CH4 in the stratosphere. The multi-instrument gondola also carried two other low-resolution AirCore-GUF that allowed us to perform direct comparisons and study the underlying processing method used to convert the sample of air to greenhouse gases vertical profiles. In particular, degrading the AirCore-HR derived profiles to the low resolution of AirCore-GUF yields an excellent match between both sets of CH4 profiles and shows a good consistency in terms of vertical structures. This fully validates the theoretical vertical resolution achievable by AirCores. Concerning CO2 although a good agreement is found in terms of vertical structure, the comparison between the various AirCores yields a large and variable bias (up to almost 3 ppm in some parts of the pro- files). The reasons of this bias, possibly related to the drying agent used to dry the air, are still being investigated. Finally, the uncertainties associated with the measurements are assessed, yielding an average uncertainty below 3 ppb for CH4 and 0.25 ppm for CO2 with the major source of uncertainty coming from the potential loss of air sample on the ground and the choice of the starting and ending point of the collected air sample inside the tube. In an ideal case where the sample would be fully retained, it would be possible to know precisely the pressure at which air was sampled last and thus to improve the overall uncertainty to about 0.1 ppm for CO2 and 2 ppb for CH4
Im Jahr 1923 veröffentlichte László Moholy-Nagy in der amerikanischen Zeitschrift Broom den Artikel "Light: A Medium of Plastic Expression", dessen Aussagen in einer Beobachtung münden, die vom ihm selbst in seinen folgenden Schriften präzisiert und weiterentwickelt und die 1931 von Walter Benjamin in seinem Essay über die Fotografie als Gedanke übernommen wird. Moholy-Nagy schreibt: "An dieser Stelle muß unterstrichen werden, daß unsere intellektuelle Erfahrung formal und räumlich die optischen Phänomene, die das Auge wahrnimmt, vervollständigt und zu einem homogenen Ganzen zusammenfügt, während die Kamera das rein optische Bild wiedergibt (die Verzerrung, die schlechte Zeichnung, die Perspektive)." Diese Formulierung der genuinen Poiesis, die aus einer Verbindung physiologischer und psychologischer Vermögen des Menschen mit den Medienkünsten entsteht, die zu einer Neuordnung der Sinne, zum Experimentieren mit und der Erforschung von Wahrnehmungsprozessen leiten sollte, gründete in der Forderung nach einem 'Neuen Sehen', das, als "optische Wirksamkeit" - erstmals von Moholy- Nagy formuliert - zu einem Charakteristikum der Avantgarde wurde. Das Motiv dieser Suchbewegung - der hier nachgegangen werden soll - lag in einer Antwort begründet, die man auf die Frage zu geben suchte, wie sich die Verbindung der Sichtbarmachung des Unsichtbaren mit der Bewusstwerdung des Unbewussten, also der Ausbildung eines 'Optisch-Unbewussten' verbinden ließe, um im Anschluss eine neue Th eorie des Blicks - als ein Sehen über den rein physiologischen Sehakt hinaus - zu etablieren.
Recent analysis of long-term balloon-borne measurements of Antarctic stratospheric condensation nuclei (CN) and temperature combined with global model calculations showed the wide extent of a mid stratospheric layer of new particles. Here the nucleation model SAWNUC is used to derive Antarctic stratospheric gaseous sulfuric acid profiles and to investigate the nucleation process of this CN layer. The sulfuric acid profiles were derived for an altitude range of 18-32 km between July and October by simulating air parcel trajectories that descend inside the polar vortex and calculating the sulfuric acid amount that reproduces the observations. The derived sulfuric acid concentrations (volume mixing ratios) are of the order of magnitude of 104 cm-3 (10-14) in July. In the following months the concentrations increase to about 107 cm-3 (10 exp -11) in October. They depend strongly on the temperature because a given temperature leaves only a small sulfuric acid range to reproduce the observed magnitude of CN. Ion-induced nucleation occurs. However, while it dominates nucleation at higher temperatures it has no significant influence on the nucleation rates at lower temperatures. Preexisting particles significantly reduce nucleation at sulfuric acid mixing ratios below 1 ppt. First estimates of sulfuric acid production rates range from 0.5 to about 500 molecules cm-3 s-1. A production mechanism for gaseous sulfuric acid during the Antarctic winter seems to be necessary to fully explain the observations. The derived sulfuric acid profiles compare well with midlatitude and Arctic sulfuric acid concentrations.
Nucleation modeling of the Antarctic stratospheric CN layer and derivation of sulfuric acid profiles
(2017)
Recent analysis of long-term balloon-borne measurements of Antarctic stratospheric condensation nuclei (CN) between July and October showed the formation of a volatile CN layer at 21–27 km altitude in a background of existing particles. We use the nucleation model SAWNUC to simulate these CN in subsiding air parcels and study their nucleation and coagulation characteristics. Our simulations confirm recent analysis that the development of the CN layer can be explained with neutral sulfuric acid–water nucleation and we show that outside the CN layer the measured CN concentrations are well reproduced just considering coagulation and the subsidence of the air parcels. While ion-induced nucleation is expected as the dominating formation process at higher temperatures, it does not play a significant role during the CN layer formation as the charged clusters recombine too fast. Further, we derive sulfuric acid concentrations for the CN layer formation. Our concentrations are about 1 order of magnitude higher than previously presented concentrations as our simulations consider that nucleated clusters have to grow to CN size and can coagulate with preexisting particles. Finally, we calculate threshold sulfuric acid profiles that show which concentration of sulfuric acid is necessary for nucleation and growth to observable size. These threshold profiles should represent upper limits of the actual sulfuric acid outside the CN layer. According to our profiles, sulfuric acid concentrations seem to be below midlatitude average during Antarctic winter but above midlatitude average for the CN layer formation.
The radial artery as a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting : review of current knowledge
(2006)
The effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) lasts as long as the grafts are patent. The internal mammary artery has been considered the "golden" graft due to the superb long-term patency, exceeding 90% at 10 years. The saphenous vein grafts, unfortunately, tend to occlude with a rate of 10-15% within a year after surgery, and eventually, at 10 years after the operation, as much as 60-70% of these vein grafts are either occluded or have angiographic evidence of atherosclerosis. The search for another "arterial conduit", the radial artery, has intensified through the last 15 years in hope to provide a better graft than the saphenous vein for CABG. This article reviews the current knowledge for the radial artery as a conduit in CABG. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2006; 6: 153-62)
Research in the field of Digital Humanities, also known as Humanities Computing, has seen a steady increase over the past years. Situated at the intersection of computing science and the humanities, present efforts focus on making resources such as texts, images, musical pieces and other semiotic artifacts digitally available, searchable and analysable. To this end, computational tools enabling textual search, visual analytics, data mining, statistics and natural language processing are harnessed to support the humanities researcher. The processing of large data sets with appropriate software opens up novel and fruitful approaches to questions in the traditional humanities. This report summarizes the Dagstuhl seminar 14301 on “Computational Humanities - bridging the gap between Computer Science and Digital Humanities”.
1998 ACM Subject Classification I.2.7 Natural Language Processing, J.5 Arts and Humanities
Die Weltschmerzorganisation (IASP) definiert Schmerz als "ein unangenehmes Sinnes- und Gefühlserlebnis", das als 'drückend', 'scheußlich', 'heiß' oder als '7' auf einer Skala dargestellt werden kann. Er lässt sich als erhöhte neuronale Aktivität beschreiben und kann mittels bildgebender Verfahren in spezifischen Hirnarealen 'sichtbar' gemacht werden. Und doch bleibt der Schmerz ein rein subjektiv erlebtes Phänomen, das sich strikten Messungen entzieht. Wann also wird ein Reiz zum Schmerz? Der Vortrag spürt der Wandlungsfähigkeit des Schmerzerlebens anhand von Beispielen aus Wissenschaft, Kultur und Geschichte nach.
Disruption of the blood-air barrier, which is formed by lung microvascular endothelial and alveolar epithelial cells, is a hallmark of acute lung injury. It was shown that alveolar epithelial cells release an unidentified soluble factor that enhances the barrier function of lung microvascular endothelial cells. In this study we reveal that primarily prostaglandin (PG) E2 accounts for this endothelial barrier-promoting activity. Conditioned media from alveolar epithelial cells (primary ATI-like cells) collected from BALB/c mice and A549 cells increased the electrical resistance of pulmonary human microvascular endothelial cells, respectively. This effect was reversed by pretreating alveolar epithelial cells with a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor or by blockade of EP4 receptors on endothelial cells, and in A549 cells also by blocking the sphingosine-1-phosphate1 receptor. Cyclooxygenase-2 was constitutively expressed in A549 cells and in primary ATI-like cells, and was upregulated by lipopolysaccharide treatment. This was accompanied by enhanced PGE2 secretion into conditioned media. Therefore, we conclude that epithelium-derived PGE2 is a key regulator of endothelial barrier integrity via EP4 receptors under physiologic and inflammatory conditions. Given that pharmacologic treatment options are still unavailable for diseases with compromised air-blood barrier, like acute lung injury, our data thus support the therapeutic potential of selective EP4 receptor agonists.
In order to promote the accessibility of biodiversity data in historic and contemporary literature, we introduce a new interdisciplinary project called BIOfid (FID=Fachinformationsdienst, a service for providing specialized information). The project aims at a mobilization of data available in print only by combining digitization of scientific biodiversity literature with the development of innovative text mining tools for complex, eventually semantic searches throughout the complete text corpus. A major prerequisite for the development of such search tools is the provision of sophisticated anatomy ontologies on the one hand, and of complete lists of species names (currently considered valid as well as all synonyms) at a global scale on the other hand. In the initial stage, we chose examples from German publications of the past 250 years dealing with the geographic distribution and ecology of vascular plants (Tracheophyta), birds (Aves), as well as moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) in Germany. These taxa have been prioritized according to current demands of German research groups (about 50 sites) aiming at analyses and modeling of distribution patterns and their changes through time. In the long term, we aim at providing data and open source software applicable for any taxon and geographic region. For this purpose, a platform for open access journals for long-term availability of professional e-journals will be established. All generated data will also be made accessible through GFBio (German Federation for Biological Data). BIOfid is supported by the LIS-Scientific Library Services and Information Systems program of the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Background: Red blood cell (RBC) depletion is a standard graft manipulation technique for ABO-incompatible bone marrow (BM) transplants. The BM processing module for Spectra Optia, “BMC”, was previously introduced. We here report the largest series to date of routine quality data after performing 50 clinical-scale RBC-depletions.
Methods: Fifty successive RBC-depletions from autologous (n = 5) and allogeneic (n = 45) BM transplants were performed with the Spectra Optia BMC apheresis suite. Product quality was assessed before and after processing for volume, RBC and leukocyte content; RBC-depletion and stem cell (CD34+ cells) recovery was calculated there from. Clinical engraftment data were collected from 26/45 allogeneic recipients.
Results: Median RBC removal was 98.2% (range 90.8–99.1%), median CD34+ cell recovery was 93.6%, minimum recovery being 72%, total product volume was reduced to 7.5% (range 4.7–23.0%). Products engrafted with expected probability and kinetics. Performance indicators were stable over time.
Discussion: Spectra Optia BMC is a robust and efficient technology for RBC-depletion and volume reduction of BM, providing near-complete RBC removal and excellent CD34+ cell recovery.
A high proportion of patients with breast cancer develop bone metastases, yet data on routine treatment with bone-targeted agents (BTA) are rare. We report real-life outcome data of patients with breast cancer metastasised to the bone treated by office-based oncologists in Germany.
The ongoing, prospective, multicentre, population-based cohort study Tumour Registry Breast Cancer (TMK) was started in 2007 in 140 centres across Germany.
This interim analysis of 1094 patients with bone metastases revealed differences among the tumour subtypes: at start of first-line therapy, 36% of the patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive and only 20% of the patients with HR-negative tumours presented with bone-only metastasis. The majority of patients with bone metastases (89%, n = 976) received BTA therapy. In 2014–2015, 37% of the patients received the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid and 36% the antibody denosumab. Median duration of BTA therapy was 20 months (interquartile range 31.5 months), starting a median of 3 weeks after diagnosis of bone metastases, and ending a median of 7 weeks before death. The median overall survival (OS) also varied among the types of metastasis at start of first-line therapy ranging from 54 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 37.6–70.8), 38 months (95% CI 29.4–44.2) to 28 months (95% CI 24.2–31.0) for patients with bone-only metastases, non-visceral with or without bone metastases and visceral with or without bone metastases respectively.
We show that choice and duration of BTA therapies are in conformity with guidelines applicable in Germany. To our knowledge, this is the first presentation of data on incidence, metastatic pattern, treatment and survival of patients with bone metastases in routine practice.
IFLS-Journal. Nr. 22, 2017
(2017)
Background: Infections with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are a global public health problem. Long-term consequences are the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Newly introduced direct acting antivirals, especially interferon-free regimens, have improved rates of sustained viral response above 90% in most patient groups and allow treating patients who were ineligible for treatment in the past. These new regimens have replaced former treatment and are recommended by current guidelines. However, there is an ongoing discussion on high pharmaceutical prices. Our aim was to assess the long-term cost-effectiveness of treating hepatitis C genotype 1 patients with sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) treatment in Germany.
Material and Methods: We used a Markov cohort model to simulate disease progression and assess cost-effectiveness. The model calculates lifetime costs and outcomes (quality-adjusted life years, QALYs) of SOF/LDV and other strategies. Patients were stratified by treatment status (treatment-naive and treatment-experienced) and absence/presence of cirrhosis. Different treatment strategies were compared to prior standard of care. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate model robustness.
Results: Base-case analyses results show that in treatment-naive non-cirrhotic patients treatment with SOF/LDV dominates the prior standard of care (is more effective and less costly). In cirrhotic patients an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 3,383 €/QALY was estimated. In treatment-experienced patients ICERs were 26,426 €/QALY and 1,397 €/QALY for treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients, respectively. Robustness of results was confirmed in sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions: Our analysis shows that treatment with SOF/LDV is cost-effective compared to prior standard of care in all patient groups considering international costs per QALY thresholds.
GOeTHEO : Ausgabe 16
(2017)
Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a member of the bromo- and extraterminal (BET) domain-containing family of epigenetic readers which is under intensive investigation as a target for anti-tumor therapy. BRD4 plays a central role in promoting the expression of select subsets of genes including many driven by oncogenic transcription factors and signaling pathways. However, the role of BRD4 and the effects of BET inhibitors in non-transformed cells remain mostly unclear. We demonstrate that BRD4 is required for the maintenance of a basal epithelial phenotype by regulating the expression of epithelial-specific genes including TP63 and Grainy Head-like transcription factor-3 (GRHL3) in non-transformed basal-like mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, BRD4 occupancy correlates with enhancer activity and enhancer RNA (eRNA) transcription. Motif analyses of cell context-specific BRD4-enriched regions predicted the involvement of FOXO transcription factors. Consistently, activation of FOXO1 function via inhibition of EGFR-AKT signaling promoted the expression of TP63 and GRHL3. Moreover, activation of Src kinase signaling and FOXO1 inhibition decreased the expression of FOXO/BRD4 target genes. Together, our findings support a function for BRD4 in promoting basal mammary cell epithelial differentiation, at least in part, by regulating FOXO factor function on enhancers to activate TP63 and GRHL3 expression.
This paper analyzes the relationship between monetary policy and financial stability in the Banking Union. There is no uniform global model regarding the relationship between monetary policy-making on the one hand, and prudential supervision on the other. Before the crisis, EU Member States followed different approaches, some of them uniting monetary and supervisory functions in one institution, others assigning them to different, neatly separated institutions. The financial crisis has underlined that monetary policy and prudential supervision deeply affect each other, especially in case of systemic events. Even in normal times, monetary and supervisory decisions might conflict with each other. After the crisis, some jurisdictions have moved towards a more holistic approach under which monetary policy takes supervisory considerations into account, while supervisory decisions pay due regard to monetary policy.
The Banking Union puts prudential supervision in the hands of the European Central Bank (ECB), the institution responsible for monetary policy. Nevertheless, at its establishment there was the political understanding that the ECB should follow a policy of meticulous separation in the discharge of its different functions. This raises the question whether the ECB may pursue a holistic approach to monetary policy and supervisory decision-making, respectively. On the basis of a purposive reading of the monetary policy mandate and the SSM Regulation, the paper answers this question in the affirmative. Effective monetary policy (or supervision) requires financial stability (or smooth monetary policy transmission). Moreover, without a holistic approach, the SSM Regulation is more likely to provoke the adoption of mutually defeating decisions by the Governing Board. The reputation of the ECB would suffer considerably under such a situation – in a field where reputation is of paramount importance for effective policy.
As any meticulous separation between monetary and supervisory functions turns out to be infeasible, the paper explores the reasons. Parting from Katharina Pistor’s legal theory of finance, which puts the emphasis on exogenous factors to explain the (non)enforcement of legal rules, the paper suggests a legal instability theorem which focuses on endogenous reasons, such as law’s indeterminacy, contextuality, and responsiveness to democratic deliberation. This raises the question whether the holistic approach would be democratically legitimate under the current framework of the ESCB. The idea of technocratic legitimacy that exempts the ECB from representative structures is effectively called into question by the legal instability theorem. This does not imply that the independence of the ECB should be given up, as there are no viable alternatives to protect monetary policy against the time inconsistency problem. Rather, any solution might benefit from recognizing the ECB in its mixed technocratic and political shape as a centerpiece of European integration and improving.
kurz und kn@pp news : Nr. 40
(2017)
Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the time to, and risk factors for, triple-class virological failure (TCVF) across age groups for children and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection and older adolescents and adults with heterosexually acquired HIV infection.
Methods: We analysed individual patient data from cohorts in the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE). A total of 5972 participants starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 1998, aged < 20 years at the start of ART for those with perinatal infection and 15–29 years for those with heterosexual infection, with ART containing at least two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a boosted protease inhibitor (bPI), were followed from ART initiation until the most recent viral load (VL) measurement. Virological failure of a drug was defined as VL > 500 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL despite ≥ 4 months of use. TCVF was defined as cumulative failure of two NRTIs, an NNRTI and a bPI.
Results: The median number of weeks between diagnosis and the start of ART was higher in participants with perinatal HIV infection compared with participants with heterosexually acquired HIV infection overall [17 (interquartile range (IQR) 4–111) vs. 8 (IQR 2–38) weeks, respectively], and highest in perinatally infected participants aged 10–14 years [49 (IQR 9–267) weeks]. The cumulative proportion with TCVF 5 years after starting ART was 9.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.0−12.3%] in participants with perinatally acquired infection and 4.7% (95% CI 3.9−5.5%) in participants with heterosexually acquired infection, and highest in perinatally infected participants aged 10–14 years when starting ART (27.7%; 95% CI 13.2−42.1%). Across all participants, significant predictors of TCVF were those with perinatal HIV aged 10–14 years, African origin, pre-ART AIDS, NNRTI-based initial regimens, higher pre-ART viral load and lower pre-ART CD4.
Conclusions: The results suggest a beneficial effect of starting ART before adolescence, and starting young people on boosted PIs, to maximize treatment response during this transitional stage of development.
Three new species of the genus Carychium O.F. Müller, 1773, Carychium hardiei Jochum & Weigand, sp. n., Carychium belizeense Jochum & Weigand, sp. n. and Carychium zarzaae Jochum & Weigand, sp. n. are described from the Southeastern United States, Belize and Panama, respectively. In two consecutive molecular phylogenetic studies of worldwide members of Carychiidae, the North and Central American morphospecies Carychium mexicanum Pilsbry, 1891 and Carychium costaricanum E. von Martens, 1898 were found to consist of several evolutionary lineages. Although the related lineages were found to be molecularly distinct from the two nominal species, the consequential morphological and taxonomic assessment of these lineages is still lacking. In the present paper, the shells of these uncovered Carychium lineages are assessed by comparing them with those of related species, using computer tomography for the first time for this genus. The interior diagnostic characters are emphasized, such as columellar configuration in conjunction with the columellar lamella and their relationship in context of the entire shell. These taxa are morphologically described and formally assigned their own names.
Introduction: For management of complicated retinal detachments, a pars plana vitrectomy with temporary silicone oil (SO) fill is the method of choice. According to literature, the retinal redetachment rate varies between <10% and >70% with around 36% in our own group (retrospective data analysis, n = 119 eyes).
Methods: The main goal was to reduce the retinal redetachment rate. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and evaluation protocols (EVALPs) were developed to prospectively analyse risk factors. Lab analysis of SO was performed, and the role of surgical experience was evaluated and investigated with Eyesi®.
Results: We achieved a significant reduction of the retinal redetachment rate (to 6.80%, n = 101, p = 0.002). After surgery with SO injection, neither further membrane peeling (in 16.5%) nor retinal laser coagulation (in 100%) during revision surgery had a significant effect on the reattachment rate (p = 0.167, p = 0.23), while extensive additional laser coagulation reduced visual acuity (p = 0.01). A 3-port approach had to be set up to complete SO removal. A difference in success rate depending on surgical experience was confirmed, and the performance in Eyesi correlated with that in the patients' eye.
Conclusions: A SOP- and EVALP-based management and new strategies to secure the surgical performance seem to be essential for successful surgery.
We present results on transverse momentum (pT) and rapidity (y) differential production cross sections, mean transverse momentum and mean transverse momentum square of inclusive J/ψ and ψ(2S) at forward rapidity (2.5 < y < 4) as well as ψ(2S)-to-J/ψ cross section ratios. These quantities are measured in pp collisions at center of mass energies s√=5.02 and 13 TeV with the ALICE detector. Both charmonium states are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel, using the muon spectrometer. A comprehensive comparison to inclusive charmonium cross sections measured at s√=2.76, 7 and 8 TeV is performed. A comparison to non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics and fixed-order next-to-leading logarithm calculations, which describe prompt and non-prompt charmonium production respectively, is also presented. A good description of the data is obtained over the full pT range, provided that both contributions are summed. In particular, it is found that for pT > 15 GeV/c the non-prompt contribution reaches up to 50% of the total charmonium yield.
We present an in-depth study of masses and decays of excited scalar and pseudoscalar q¯q states in the Extended Linear Sigma Model (eLSM). The model also contains ground-state scalar, pseudoscalar, vector and axial-vector mesons. The main objective is to study the consequences of the hypothesis that the f0(1790) resonance, observed a decade ago by the BES Collaboration and recently by LHCb, represents an excited scalar quarkonium. In addition we also analyse the possibility that the new a0(1950) resonance, observed recently by BABAR, may also be an excited scalar state. Both hypotheses receive justification in our approach although there appears to be some tension between the simultaneous interpretation of f0(1790)/a0(1950) and pseudoscalar mesons η(1295), π(1300), η(1440) and K(1460) as excited q¯q states.
This working paper gives insights on a theoretical perspective on class formation in the context of global financial markets and presents first empirical findings regarding the formation of a global financial class. It draws on numerous encounters with financial professionals that were inter- viewed in Frankfurt (Germany) and Sydney (Australia). As a preliminary conclusion from those inves- tigations on a micro-perspective, we state that acting on the market creates a sense of global socia- bility, whereby organizations only play a secondary role. Careers in finance follow internationally homogenized pathways. This process of global class formation is taking place prominently in global financial centers. Therefore we link the level of investigation on a micro-perspective (experience of financial professionals) with global city life and the fabric of the city. This results in empirical findings on a meso-level from an ethnography of the social and professional urban environment of finance in the two global cities. Symbolic struggles engraved in the built environment of Frankfurt and Sydney are traced and discussed against the background of every-day-practices of aspiration in the financial districts investigated.
Sozialräume der Global Financial Class : Untersuchungen in den Finanzzentren Frankfurt und Sydney
(2016)
Dieses Working Paper untersucht die Bedeutung von Global Cities für die Formierung einer globalen Finanzklasse anhand der Finanzzentren Frankfurt und Sydney. In einer vergleichenden Ethnographie dieser beiden Städte werden urbane Räume und soziale Kontexte erforscht, die durch die kulturellen Praktiken und stilistischen Gemeinsamkeiten der modernen Finanzklasse geprägt sind. Es werden dabei vier charakteristische kulturelle Muster identifiziert: Dies sind die Muster der Repräsentation, der Exklusivität, der Aspiration und der sozialen Durchlässigkeit.
Im Muster der Repräsentation verbindet sich das Finanzwesen auf eine symbolische Weise mit Politik und Gesellschaft, während im Muster der Exklusivität der Kern ökonomischer Praktiken dem Zugriff der Allgemeinheit entzogen wird. Das Muster der Aspiration ermöglicht Praktiken der Herstellung und des Austestens von Zugehörigkeit, während der Modus sozialer Durchlässigkeit eine Auseinandersetzung mit anderen gesellschaftlichen Gruppen und die Aufnahme fremder kultureller Muster durch Praktiken der cultural omnivorousness ermöglicht.
Die Praktiken, die diese vier typischen Muster konstituieren, nehmen dabei jeweils lokale Eigenhei- ten auf, die in einen global verlaufenden Klassenbildungsprozess eingespeist werden und diese glo- bale Klasse in den Städten verankern.
GPR116 (ADGRF5) and ELTD1 (ADGRL4) belong to different subfamilies of the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor group but are both expressed in endothelial cells. We therefore analyzed their functions in mice lacking these receptors. While loss of GPR116 or ELTD1 alone had no obvious effect on cardiovascular or kidney function, mice lacking both, GPR116 and ELTD1, showed malformations of the aortic arch arteries and the cardiac outflow tract leading to perinatal lethality in about 50% of the mutants. In addition to cardiovascular malformations, surviving mice developed renal thrombotic microangiopathy as well as hemolysis and splenomegaly, and their lifespan was significantly reduced. Loss of GPR116 and ELTD1 specifically in endothelial cells or neural crest-derived cells did not recapitulate any of the phenotypes observed in GPR116-ELTD1 double deficient mice, indicating that loss of GPR116 and ELTD1 expressed by other cells accounts for the observed cardiovascular and renal defects.
Im Kontext der Diskussion zur „Globalisierung des Managements“ und der daraus entstandenen These einer transnationalen Klasse untersuchen wir in diesem Beitrag den Stellenwert internationaler Berufserfahrung bei Bankvorständen in Deutschland und weltweit. Bisherige Forschungen (etwa Pohlmann 2009) argumentieren, dass bei den Top-100- Industrieunternehmen in den USA, Ostasien und Deutschland Karriereverläufe im mittleren und Spitzenmanagement kaum internationalisiert sind und Hauskarrieren die Regel seien. Unsere eigene explorative Untersuchung legt die Vermutung nahe, dass die Situation im deutschen sowie im globalen Bankensektor anders aussieht. Vor allem in Deutschland verlaufen die Top-Karrieren im Unterschied zu Industrieunternehmen deutlich internationaler, was auf andere personelle Konstellation im Feld des global vernetzten Finanzsektors hinweist. Im deutschen wie im globalen Finanzsektor könnten wir es hierbei mit dem Phänomen einer „Transnationalisierung ohne Migration“ zu tun haben.
In methodischer Hinsicht macht unsere Studie auf die Grenzen quantitativer Forschungsdesigns bei der Untersuchung internationaler Berufserfahrung und internationalen Arbeitspraxen aufmerksam. Daher plädieren wir für ein an die Kategorien der Bourdieu‘schen Sozialtheorie angelehntes qualitatives Forschungsdesign für die Untersuchung der Herausbildung einer globalen Klasse auf den globalisierten Finanzmärkten.
Inhibition of the IκB kinase complex (IKK) has been implicated in the therapy of several chronic inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases. In this study, using mice with an inactivatable IKKα kinase (IkkαAA/AA), we show that loss of IKKα function markedly impairs epithelial regeneration in a model of acute colitis. Mechanistically, this is caused by compromised secretion of cytoprotective IL-18 from IKKα-mutant intestinal epithelial cells because of elevated caspase 12 activation during an enhanced unfolded protein response (UPR). Induction of the UPR is linked to decreased ATG16L1 stabilization in IkkαAA/AA mice. We demonstrate that both TNF-R and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain stimulation promote ATG16L1 stabilization via IKKα-dependent phosphorylation of ATG16L1 at Ser278. Thus, we propose IKKα as a central mediator sensing both cytokine and microbial stimulation to suppress endoplasmic reticulum stress, thereby assuring antiinflammatory function during acute intestinal inflammation.
Globale Finanzplätze im Vergleich : Frankfurt und Sydney zwischen Global City und lokaler Variation
(2015)
Frankfurt und Sydney sind international bedeutende Knotenpunkte des Global- Cities-Netzwerks. Als transnationale Finanzzentren erreichen sie im Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) ähnliche Platzierungen. Populäre Rankings wie der GFCI entfalten ihre Wirkungsmacht in einem politischen Diskurs, der die Konkurrenz von Finanzzentren in einem hierarchischen Städtenetzwerk betont und so die Orientierung an den Champions der Finanzmetropolen forciert. Der hier vorgenommene kontrastive Vergleich Frankfurts und Sydneys zeigt hingegen, dass die stark von Globalisierungs- und Finanzialisierungstendenzen beeinflussten Städte sich nicht einfach einem Idealtypus von Global Cities angleichen. Vielmehr sorgt die Einbettung in unterschiedliche Entwicklungslinien – im Falle Frankfurts in die Tradition einer koordinierten Marktwirtschaft, im Falle Sydneys in die Tradition einer liberalen Marktwirtschaft – für die Ausbildung von Finanzsystemen mit unterschiedlichem Charakter und unterschiedlicher Reichweite. So weist der Finanzplatz Frankfurt im Vergleich mit Sydney eine starke globale Vernetzung auf, wenngleich die Merkmale der koordinierten Marktwirtschaft - geringere Börsenkapitalisierung der Unternehmen, einer primär kreditbasierten Unternehmensfinanzierung und geringere Finanzmarktorientierung der Bevölkerung nachwirken. Demgegenüber profitiert der Finanzstandort Sydney von einer durchwegs finanzialisierten Ökonomie, was sich in der Finanzmarktorientierung von Unternehmen und jener der allgemeinen Bevölkerung ausdrückt, weist aber eine stärkere Binnenorientierung, also die Fokussierung auf den nationalen Markt auf.
The family Gymnophthalmidae contains nearly 235 species with a distribution range from southern Mexico to central Argentina as well as in the Antilles. Among gymnophthalmids, the genus Colobosaura is a member of the tribe Iphisini, and currently is considered monotypic (C. modesta). The diversity of the tribe was studied recently, with the erection of several new genera. In this work genetic and morphological data of specimens of Colobosaura recently collected in Paraguay were analyzed. Genetic (16S barcode) data indicate that these samples are not conspecific with C. modesta and they are allocated to the nominal species C. kraepelini. Because the original primary type of the latter taxon is considered to be lost, a neotype (SMF 101370) is designated for this species and a redescription provided based on our material. Colobosaura kraepelini is distributed in the Humid Chaco, being the only member of the whole tribe in this ecoregion.
The ability to learn sequential behaviors is a fundamental property of our brains. Yet a long stream of studies including recent experiments investigating motor sequence learning in adult human subjects have produced a number of puzzling and seemingly contradictory results. In particular, when subjects have to learn multiple action sequences, learning is sometimes impaired by proactive and retroactive interference effects. In other situations, however, learning is accelerated as reflected in facilitation and transfer effects. At present it is unclear what the underlying neural mechanism are that give rise to these diverse findings. Here we show that a recently developed recurrent neural network model readily reproduces this diverse set of findings. The self-organizing recurrent neural network (SORN) model is a network of recurrently connected threshold units that combines a simplified form of spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) with homeostatic plasticity mechanisms ensuring network stability, namely intrinsic plasticity (IP) and synaptic normalization (SN). When trained on sequence learning tasks modeled after recent experiments we find that it reproduces the full range of interference, facilitation, and transfer effects. We show how these effects are rooted in the network’s changing internal representation of the different sequences across learning and how they depend on an interaction of training schedule and task similarity. Furthermore, since learning in the model is based on fundamental neuronal plasticity mechanisms, the model reveals how these plasticity mechanisms are ultimately responsible for the network’s sequence learning abilities. In particular, we find that all three plasticity mechanisms are essential for the network to learn effective internal models of the different training sequences. This ability to form effective internal models is also the basis for the observed interference and facilitation effects. This suggests that STDP, IP, and SN may be the driving forces behind our ability to learn complex action sequences.
Polytraumatisierte Patienten erleiden in ca. 40% der Fälle eine Verletzung des Thorax. Die Verletzung des Thorax erhöht die Dauer der Beatmungszeit, das Pneumonie-Risiko, die Intensiv- und Krankenhausverweildauer sowie das Letalitätsrisiko. Seit 2003 wurde im Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main ein standardisiertes Behandlungsverfahren zur intensivmedizinischen Behandlung nach Polytrauma implementiert und weiterentwickelt. Eckpunkte des Konzeptes sind eine kinetische Therapie im Rotorest®Bett, eine initiale Beatmung mit einem PEEP von 15mbar, eine frühzeitige assistierte Spontanatmung und frühzeitige enterale Ernährung. In dieser Arbeit wurden die Auswirkungen der Weiterentwicklung des Behandlungsprotokolls, insbesondere die Auswirkungen der Ernährung und Sedierung auf die Leberfunktion und die Entwicklung einer Pneumonie, untersucht. Das Behandlungsprotokoll sah folgende Behandlungsstandards vor: 2003: Kontrollierte Beatmung und Therapie im Rotorest®Bett in den ersten Tagen, PEEP-Einstellung entsprechend der Oxygenierung, individuelle Entwöhnung von der Beatmung und der Rotorest®-Therapie. Der Kostaufbau überwiegend parenteral, Sedierung mit Propofol und Midazolam. 2006: 72h Beatmung mit einem PEEP von 15mbar, Rotorest®-Bett, zügige assistierte Beatmungsform. Individuelle Entwöhnung von der Beatmung und der Rotorest®-Therapie, der Kostaufbau parenteral und enteral, Sedierung überwiegend mit Midazolam. 2009: Reduktion der Rotorest®-Therapie mit einem PEEP von 15mbar auf 40 bis 48h, PEEP-Reduktionsprotokoll. Der Kostaufbau erfolgte primär enteral, die Sedierung mit vorwiegend Propofol und z. T. Midazolam.
Es konnten retrospektiv 108 Patienten (ISS 37+13) eingeschlossen werden. Bei 38,3% der Patienten lagen unvollständige Akten vor, oder die Rotorest® Therapie wurde erst nach 48h begonnen. Durch das Konzept konnten die Beatmungszeit von 17±15 auf 8±8 Tage und die intensivstationäre Verweildauer von 17±9 auf 10±9 Tage signifikant reduziert werden (p<0,001), die Krankenhausverweildauer blieb gleich. Die Pneumonierate fiel nicht signifikant von 25% in 2003 nach einem Anstieg auf 37% in 2006 auf 17% in 2009. Das Pneumonierisiko stieg mit der Höhe der aufgenommenen kcal/kgKG, der Gesamt-kcal/d bis Tag 7 sowie der Summe der kcal bis Tag 5 signifikant (p<0,05). Eine Leberdysfunktion erhöhte das Letalitätsrisiko signifikant (Rs 0,267; p<0,01). Die Rate an Leberdysfunktionen binnen der ersten 14 Tage fiel von 34,7% in 2003 nach einem Anstieg auf 43,4% im Jahr 2006 auf 22,1% in 2009 (p<0,001). Eine Leberdysfunktion korrelierte, bei Auftreten bis Tag 7, sowohl mit einer überwiegend parenteralen Ernährung bis Tag 5 (p=0,021) als auch der Höhe der parenteralen kcal (Rs 0,248; p=0,02) und der Höhe der Gesamt-kcal (Rs 0,201; p=0,038). Der Anteil an Patienten mit parenteraler Ernährung konnte von 92,2% (bis Tag 5) in 2003 und 97,5% in 2006 auf 65% in 2009 signifikant reduziert werden, ebenso wie die Gesamtmenge an verabreichten Kalorien bis Tag 7 (von 1210kcal/d auf 1113kcal/d und 2009 auf 851kcal/d; p<0,001). Keine Korrelation bestand zwischen der Entstehung einer Leberdysfunktion und der Beatmung, der Höhe des PEEP oder der Entwicklung einer Pneumonie. Im Gegensatz dazu erhöhte die verabreichte Menge von Midazolam in den ersten 7 Tagen (mg/kg/d) das Pneumonie-Risiko signifikant (p=0,024). Als unabhängige Risikofaktoren für die Entwicklung einer Pneumonie stellten sich die Transfusion von EKs (OR 3,646 95%CI 1,074-12,383), die Höhe der verabreichten Gesamtkalorien (>5000kcal) binnen der ersten fünf Tage (OR 3,219 95%Cl 1,033-10,034) und die Höhe des Beatmungsspitzendruckes (OR 1,135 95%Cl 1,010-1,275) dar.
Die Daten der vorliegenden Arbeit bestätigen den kritisch abzuwägenden Einsatz von Midazolam in der Intensivtherapie. Weiterhin zeigte sich ein signifikanter Einfluss der Ernährung auf die Morbidität der Patienten entsprechend der Literatur. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse weisen weiter darauf hin, dass bei schwerverletzten Patienten auch die Gesamtkalorienzufuhr gering zu halten ist, um die Rate an Pneumonien zu reduzieren. Die Beatmung mit einem PEEP von 15mbar in den ersten Behandlungstagen unter PiCCO-Monitoring erscheint hierbei keine negativen Auswirkungen auf die Entwicklung einer Leberdysfunktion zu haben.
Zusammenfassend kann durch ein vorwiegend enterales Ernährungsschema, mit unter den Empfehlungen der AWMF liegenden Gesamtkalorien, das Auftreten von Leberdysfunktionen und die Rate an Pneumonien signifikant reduziert, durch ein strukturiertes Therapiekonzept mit u.a. reduziertem Einsatz von Midazolam eine signifikante Reduktion der Beatmungszeit sowie der Intensivverweildauer erreicht und eine Reduktion der Pneumonierate unterstützt werden.
A detailed study of the holotype of Sphecomyrma canadensis Wilson, 1985 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Canadian amber has led to the conclusion that the specimen belongs to a new genus, here named Boltonimecia gen.n. Since the taxonomy of stem-group ants is not well understood, in order to find the taxonomic position of this genus, it is necessary to review the classifi cation of stem-group ants in a study of their relation to crown-group ants. In the absence of data for traditional taxonomic approaches, a statistical study was done based on a morphometric analysis of antennae. Scape elongation is believed to play an important role in the evolution of eusociality in ants; however, this hypothesis has never been confirmed statistically. The statistical analysis presented herein lends support to the view that antennal morphology reliably distinguishes stem-group ants from crown-group ants, to determine whether a species belongs to one or the other group. This, in turn, may indicate a relationship exists between eusociality and scape elongation. A review of Cretaceous records of ants is made and the higher classification of Formicidae with definitions of stem and crown groups is proposed. Newly obtained data are discussed focusing particularly on the origin, evolution and diversity of ants.
Dipropus tequesta Johnson new species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is described from southern Florida. Dipropus fuscus (LeConte) is a new synonym of D. soleatus (Say), and D. granosus (Fall) is a new synonym of D. asper (LeConte). The fl ightless female of D. asper is described and provides the fi rst report of brachyptery and endogean habits in Dipropus. A key to the species of the eastern United States and a new checklist of species for the country are provided.
The primary types of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), Harvard University, are catalogued and illustrated. Data on the original combination, current name, gender, and type locality are verifi ed and presented. There are 19 primary types of Onciderini including seven in Oncideres Lacordaire, 1830; two in Hesychotypa Thomson, 1868; and two in Hypsioma Audinet-Serville, 1835. Of the 19 primary types, 18 were described by L. S. Dillon and E. S. Dillon. A brief history of the Coleoptera collection at the MCZ is also presented.