Refine
Year of publication
- 2010 (101) (remove)
Document Type
- Doctoral Thesis (101) (remove)
Language
- English (101) (remove)
Has Fulltext
- yes (101)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (101) (remove)
Keywords
- Geldpolitik (4)
- Großhirnrinde (3)
- monetary policy (3)
- Arzneimitteldesign (2)
- Computational chemistry (2)
- Funktionelle NMR-Tomographie (2)
- Hadron (2)
- Hirnforschung (2)
- Magnetoencephalographie (2)
- Monte-Carlo-Simulation (2)
Institute
- Biowissenschaften (21)
- Physik (21)
- Biochemie und Chemie (15)
- Medizin (12)
- Pharmazie (9)
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) (5)
- Geowissenschaften (5)
- Informatik (4)
- Mathematik (2)
- Psychologie (2)
In my dissertation I study the transmission of monetary and fiscal policy in New Keynesian DSGE models. In the first chapter we revisit the exchange rate channel in a two-country model of the U.S. and a panel of industrialized countries to analyse how monetary policy transmission in the U.S. changes if it becomes more trade integrated. We find that more openness lowers the sacrifice ratio, although the effect is quantitatively small and depends on the pricing of the firms. In the second chapter we simulate the impact of the U.S. fiscal stimulus package in 2009 on GDP. We find that the government spendingmultiplier is well below 1. The finding is robust to including rule-of-thumb consumers and simulating the stimulus in the recent recession. In the third chapter we collect the fiscal stimulus measures in the eleven biggest countries of the euro area. Then we do a robustness study by simulating the european package in five different models of the euro area. The macroeconomic models vary in terms of backward-looking decision making of the agents and openness. Our findings provide no support for a Keynesian multiplier. Instead they suggest that additional government spending will reduce private spending for consumption and investment purposes. If government spending faces an implementation lag, the initial effect on GDP may even be negative. In the fourth chapter I estimate a DSGE model for Germany and compute forecasts for the debt-to-GDP ratio. I find that the expected economic recovery will lead to a decrease in Germany’s indebtedness in the medium-term given that policy makers stick to the fiscal policy rules.
Planning problems, like real-world planning and scheduling problems, are complex tasks. As an efficient strategy for handing such problems is the ‘divide and conquer’ strategy has been identified. Each sub problem is then solved independently. Typically the sub problems are solved in a linear way. This approach enables the generation of sub-optimal plans for a number of real world problems. Today, this approach is widely accepted and has been established e.g. in the organizational structure of companies. But existing interdependencies between the sub problems are not sufficiently regarded, as each problem are solved sequentially and no feedback information is given. The field of coordination has been covered by a number of academic fields, like the distributed artificial intelligence, economics or game theory. An important result is, that there exist no method that leads to optimal results in any given coordination problem. Consequently, a suitable coordination mechanism has to be identified for each single coordination problem. Up to now, there exists no process for the selection of a coordination mechanism, neither in the engineering of distributed systems nor in agent oriented software engineering. Within the scope of this work the ECo process is presented, that address exactly this selection problem. The Eco process contains the following five steps. • Modeling of the coordination problem • Defining the coordination requirements • Selection / Design of the coordination mechanism • Implementation • Evaluation Each of these steps is detailed in the thesis. The modeling has to be done to enable a systemic analysis of the coordination problem. Coordination mechanisms have to respect the given situation and the context in which the coordination has to be done. The requirements imposed by the context of the coordination problem are formalized in the coordination requirements. The selection process is driven by these coordination requirements. Using the requirements as a distinction for the selection of a coordination mechanism is a central aspect of this thesis. Additionally these requirements can be used for documentation of design decisions. Therefore, it is reasonable to annotate the coordination mechanisms with the coordination requirements they fulfill and fail to ease the selection process, for a given situation. For that reason we present a new classification scheme for coordination methods within this thesis that classifies existing coordination methods according to a set of criteria that has been identified as important for the distinction between different coordination methods. The implementation phase of the ECo process is supported by the CoPS process and CoPS framework that has been developed within this thesis, as well. The CoPS process structures the design making that has to be done during the implementation phase. The CoPS framework provides a set of basic features software agents need for realizing the selected coordination method. Within the CoPS process techniques are presented for the design and implementation of conversations between agents that can be applied not only within the context of the coordination of planning systems, but for multiagent systems in general. The ECo-CoPS approach has been successfully validated in two case studies from the logistic domain.
Therapy of hemorrhagic shock with following resuscitation-induced liver injury : in vivo study
(2010)
Shock resulting from life-threatening blood-loss (hemorrhagic shock) represents the most frequent injury pattern after a traumatic insult. Hemorrhagic shock induces inflammatory changes, characterized by highly complex pathophysiological pathways often resulting in death. In this study, we establish an experimental in vivo model of H/R in rats and study the mechanisms which determine the hepatic injury after H/R. Furthermore, we show that hemorrhagic shock with following resuscitation is accompanied with release of systemic and local pro-inflammatory mediators, increased infiltration of hepatic neutrophils in the liver, increased oxidative and nitrosative stress, enhanced cell death of both types, apoptosis and necrosis, conspicuous cytoskeletal rearrangements, loss of hepatic integrity and finally high general mortality rates, up to 80%. In addition, the effects of two potential therapeutic interventions to prevent the H/R induced liver injury are explored in a model of H/R in rats. First, the role of JNK and its inhibition by D-JNKI-1 in preservation of hepatic integrity following H/R was analyzed. Second, we investigated the potential of simvastatin to prevent the disturbed inflammatory response and hepatic injury after H/R. The effects of both therapeutic interventions were studied by looking at several inflammatory parameters, markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress, cytoskeleton integrity, microcirculatory parameters, underlying signaling cascades, liver damage and mortality. Highly specific blockade of JNK with the potent, inhibitory peptide D-JNKI-1 revealed the crucial role of the JNK signaling pathway in the H/R induced pathophysiology and strong protective effects of DJNKI- 1 in H/R induced liver injury, when the peptide was applied before and even after hemorrhagic shock. The other therapeutic intervention tested in this study was the use of simvastatin which also revealed protective effects after H/R and even a remarkable improvement in survival after H/R. We show that H/R induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hepatic PMNL infiltration, increased oxidative and nitrosative stress, apoptosis and necrosis can be diminished by treatment with D-JNKI-1 but also with simvastatin in vivo. Furthermore, simvastatin reduces H/R induced cytoskelatal rearrangements, loss of liver integrity and the mortality rate after H/R. The key pathway which underlies these beneficial effects of simvastatin is the Rho kinase pathway. Identification of both mechanisms as well as the effectiveness of both substances provide new insights in the close interaction between hypoxia and the immune system and present a promising basis for the anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective treatment after H/R.
One of the earliest and most striking observations made about HIV is the extensive genetic variation that the virus has within individual hosts, particularly in the hypervariable regions of the env gene which is divided into 5 variable regions (V1-V5) and 5 more constant (C1-C5) regions. HIV evolves at any time over the course of an individual’s infection and infected individuals harbours a population of genetically related but non-identical viruses that are under constant change and ready to adapt to changes in their environment. These genetically heterogeneous populations of closely related genomes are called quasispecies [65]. Tuberculosis or tubercle forming disease is an acute and/or chronic bacterial infection that primarily attacks the lungs, but which may also affect the kidneys, bones, lymph nodes, and brain. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), a slow growing rod-shaped, acid fast bacterium. It is transmitted from person to person through inhalation of bacteria-carrying air droplets. Worldwide, one person out of three is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis – two billion people in total. TB currently holds the seventh place in the global ranking of causes of death [73]. In 2008, there were an estimated 9.4 (range, 8.9–9.9 million) million incident cases (equivalent to 139 cases per 100 000 population) of TB globally [75]. A complex biological interplay occurs between M. tuberculosis and HIV in coinfected host that results in the worsening of both pathologies. HIV promotes progression of M. tuberculosis either by endogenous reactivation or exogenous reinfection [77, 78] and, the course of HIV-1 infection is accelerated subsequent to the development of TB [80]. Active TB is associated with an increase in intra-patient HIV-1 diversity both systemically and at the infected lung sites [64,122]. The sustainability or reversal of the HIV-1 quasispecies heterogeneity after TB treatment is not known. Tetanus toxoid vaccinated HIV-1 infected patients developed a transient increase in HIV-1 heterogeneity which was reversed after few weeks [121]. Emergence of a heterogeneous HIV-1 population within a patient may be one of the mechanisms to escape strong immune or drug pressure [65,128]. The existence of better fitting and/or immune escape HIV-variants can lead to an increase in HIV-1 replication [129,130]. It might be that TB favourably selected HIV-1 variants which are sources for consistent HIV-1 replication. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the impacts of TB on HIV-1 is essential for the development of effective measures to reduce TB related morbidity and mortality in HIV-1 infected individuals. In the present study we studied whether the increase in HIV-1 quasispecies diversity during active TB is reversed or preserved throughout the course of antituberculous chemotherapy. For this purpose Two time point HIV-1 quasispecies were evaluated by comparing HIV-1 infected patients with active tuberculosis (HIV-1/TB) and HIV-1 infected patients without tuberculosis (HIV-1/non TB). Plasma samples were obtained from the Frankfurt HIV cohort and HIV-1 RNA was isolated. C2V5 env was amplified by PCR and molecular cloning was performed. Eight to twenty five clones were sequenced from each patient. Various phylogenetic analyses were performed including tree inferences, intra-patient viral diversity and divergence, selective pressure, co-receptor usage prediction and two time point identity of quasispecies comparison using Mantel’s test. We found out from this study that: 1) Active TB sustains HIV-1 quasispecies diversity for longer period 2. Active TB increases the rate of HIV-1 divergence 3) TB might slow down evolution of X4 variants And we concluded that active TB has an impact on HIV-1 viral diversity and divergence over time. The influence of active TB on longitudinal evolution of HIV- 1 may be predominant for R5 viruses. The use of CCR5-coreceptor inhibitors for HIV-1/TB patients as therapeutic approach needs further investigation.
This dissertation introduces in chapter 1 a new comparative approach to model-based research and policy analysis by constructing an archive of business cycle models. It includes many well-known models used in academia and at policy institutions. A computational platform is created that allows straightforward comparisons of models’ implications for monetary and fiscal stabilization policies. Chapter 2 applies business cycle models to forecasting. Several New Keynesian models are estimated on historical U.S. data vintages and forecasts are computed for the five most recent recessions. The extent of forecast heterogeneity for models and professional forecasts is analysed. Chapter 3 extends the forecasting analysis to a long sample and to the evaluation of density forecasts. Weighted forecasts are computed using a variety of weighting schemes. The accuracy of forecasts is evaluated and compared to professional forecasts and forecasts from nonstructural time series methods. Chapter 4 adds a new feature to existing business cycle models. Specifically, a medium-scale New Keynesian model is constructed that allows for strategic complementarities in price-setting. The role of trade integration for monetary policy transmission is explored. A new dimension of the exchange rate channel is highlighted by which monetary policy directly impacts domestic inflation. Chapter 5 tests whether simple symmetric monetary policy rules used in most business cycle models are a sufficient description of reality. I use quantile regressions to estimate policy parameters and find asymmetric reactions to inflation, the output gap and past interest rates.
In the present work, the problem of protein folding is addressed from the point of view of equilibrium thermodynamics. The conformation of a globular protein in solution at common temperatures is quite complicated without any geometrical symmetry, but it is an ordered state in the sense of its biological activity. This complicated conformation of a single protein molecule is destroyed upon increasing the temperature or by the addition of appropriate chemical agents, as is revealed by the loss of its activity and change of the physical properties, and so on. Once the complicated native structures having biological activity are lost, it would be natural to suppose that the native structure could hardly be restored. Nevertheless, pioneers, such as Anson and Mirsky, recognized as early as in 1925 that this was not always the case. If one defines the folded and unfolded states of a protein as two distinct phases of a system, then under the variation of temperature the system is transformed from one phase state into another and vice versa. The process of protein folding is accompanied by the release or absorption of a certain amount of energy, corresponding to the first-oder-type phase transitions in the bulk. Knowing the partition function of the system one can evaluate its energy and heat capacity under different temperatures. This task was performed in this work. The results of the developed statistical mechanics model were compared with the results of molecular dynamic simulations of alanine poylpeptides. In particular, the dependencies on temperature of the total energy of the system and heat capacity were compared for alanine polypeptides consisting of 21, 30, 40, 50 and 100 amino acids. The good correspondence of the results of the theoretical model with the results of molecular dynamics simulations allowed to validate the assumptions made about the system and to establish the accuracy range of the theory. In order to perform the comparison of the results of theoretical model and the molecular dynamics simulations it is necessary to perform the efficient analysis of the results of molecular dynamics simulations. This task was also addressed in the present work. In particular, different ways to obtain dependence of the heat capacity on temperature from molecular dynamics simulations are discussed and the most efficient one is proposed. The present thesis reports the result of molecular dynamic simulations for not only alanine polypeptides by also for valine and leucine polypeptides. In valine and leucine polypeptides, it is also possible to observe the helix↔random coil transitions with the increase of temperature. The current thesis presents a work that starts with the investigation of the fundamental degrees of freedom in polypeptides that are responsible for the conformational transitions. Then this knowledge is applied for the statistical mechanics description of helix↔coil transitions in polypeptides. Finally, the theoretical formalism is generalized for the case of proteins in water environment and the comparison of the results of the statistical mechanics model with the experimental measurements of the heat capacity on temperature dependencies for two globular proteins is performed. The presented formalism is based on fundamental physical properties of the system and provides the possibility to describe the folding↔unfolding transitions quantitatively. The combination of these two facts is the major novelty of the presented approach in comparison to the existing ones. The “transparent” physical nature of the formalism provides a possibility to further apply it to a large variety of systems and processes. For instance, it can be used for investigation of the influence of the mutations in the proteins on their stability. This task is of primary importance for design of novel proteins and drug delivering molecules in medicine. It can provide further insights into the problem of protein aggregation and formation of amyloids. The problem of protein aggregation is closely associated with various illnesses such as Alzheimer and mad cow disease. With certain modifications, the presented theoretical method can be applied to the description of the protein crystallization process, which is important for the determination of the structure of proteins with X-Rays. There many other possible applications of the ideas described in the thesis. For instance, the similar formalism can be developed for the description of melting and unzipping of DNA, growth of nanotubes, formation of fullerenes, etc.
Functional and structural characterization of Aquifex aeolicus sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase
(2010)
This work presents the first complete structure of the membrane protein sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR), obtained by X-ray crystallography. Its description is complemented by the results of biochemical and functional experiments. SQRs are ubiquitous flavoprotein disulfide reductases (FDRs), present in all domains of life, including in humans. Their physiological role extends from sulfide detoxification to sulfide-dependent respiration and photosynthesis (in archaea and bacteria), to heavy metal tolerance (in yeast) and possibly to sulfide signalling (in higher eukaryotes). Until now understanding the function of SQRs was difficult because of the poor level of sequence conservation in this enzyme family, the limited functional characterization available and the absence of any structural data. SQR was identified in the native membranes of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) and by a spectrophotometric activity assay. The protein was solubilized in the detergent dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside (DDM) and purified to homogeneity in a functionally active state. It binds one FAD molecule per protein monomer and FAD is its only cofactor. Its structure was determined in the “as-purified”, substrate-bound and inhibitor-bound forms at resolutions of 2.3, 2.0 and 2.9 Å, respectively. It is composed of two Rossmann-fold domains and of one membrane-attachment region. Despite the overall monomeric architecture being similar to that of FDRs, the structure reveals properties that had not been observed in FDRs until now and that have strong implications for the SQR catalytic mechanism. Surprisingly, A. aeolicus SQR is trimeric in the crystal structure and in solution, as determined by density-matched analytical ultracentrifugation, cross-linking and single particle electron microscopy. The trimer creates an appropriate surface for binding lipids and thus ensures that SQR exclusively reduces hydrophobic quinones. SQR inserts to a depth of about 12 Å into the membrane as an integral monotopic membrane protein. The interaction is mediated by an amphipathic helix-turn-helix tripodal motif and two lipid clamps. A channel in the membrane-binding domain extends towards the si-side of FAD and represents the quinone-binding site. The quinone ring is sandwiched between the conserved amino acids Phe 385 and Ile 346 and is possibly protonated upon reduction via Glu 318, Lys 382 and/or neighboring solvent molecules. Sulfide polymerization occurs on the re-side of FAD, where the highly conserved Cys 156 and Cys 347 appear to be covalently bound to the putative product of the reaction, a polysulfur chain which takes the form of an S8 ring in some monomers. Finally, the structure shows that FAD is covalently connected to the protein in an unprecedented way, via a putative disulfide bridge between the 8-methyl group of the isoalloxazine moiety and Cys 124. The high resolution insight into the protein and all unexpected structural observations presented in this work suggest that the catalytic mechanism of SQRs is significantly different from that of FDRs. In agreement with the structural and functional data, two reaction schemes are proposed for A. aeolicus SQR. They both provide a detailed description of how sulfide and quinones reach and bind the active site, how electrons are transferred from sulfide to quinone via FAD and how the elongating polysulfur product is attached to the polypeptide and is finally released. The two hypotheses differ in defining the structure of the covalent protein-FAD intermediate that forms during the reaction cycle and whose identity still remains experimentally undetermined. Remarkably, the structure of the active site and the FAD-binding mode of A. aeolicus SQR are not conserved in another SQR structure which also became available recently, that of the archaeon Acidianus ambivalens. The variability in SQRs suggests that not all of these enzymes follow the same catalytic mechanism, despite having been considered homologous. Consequently, the currently available but contradictory sequence-based classifications of the SQR family were revised. A structure-based alignment calculated on the increasing number of available sequences allowed to define new SQR groups and their characteristic sequence fingerprints in agreement with the reported structural and functional data. In conclusion, the results obtained in this work offer for the first time a detailed look into the intriguing but complicated reactions catalysed by SQRs and provide a stimulus for further genetic, biochemical and structural investigation.
Within the present study the occurrence and fate of the organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCP), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), tri-iso-butyl phosphate (TiBP), and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) in precipitation, lake water, surface runoff and groundwater from urban and remote areas in Germany was investigated between June 2007 and October 2009. 255 samples of precipitation, 210 samples of lentic surface water and 72 samples of groundwater were analyzed for the six organophosphates (OPs) by solid phase extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The research focused on aspects concerning (1) the atmospheric washout of OPs by precipitation, (2) the temporal variation of OP concentrations in precipitation and in lentic surface waters as well as (3) the pollution of groundwater by OPs. The results of the study emphasize the importance of precipitation as an all-season entry-pathway for OPs in the aquatic environment, particularly in densely populated urban environments with high traffic volume and abundant usage of flame-protected products. No seasonal trends were observed for all analytes in precipitation at the urban sampling site. TCPP dominated in all precipitation and storm water holding tank (SWHT) water samples with maximum levels exceeding 1 µg/L. An accumulation of OPs deposited in SWHTs was observed with concentrations often exceeding those observed in wet precipitation. Median concentrations of TCPP (880 ng/L), TDCP (13 ng/L), and TBEP (77 ng/L) at the urban SWHT were more than twice as high as those measured at the urban precipitation sampling site (403 ng/L, 5 ng/L, 21 ng/L) located close to the SWHT. OP levels in more remote lakes were often below or close to the limits of quantitation (LOQ). Nevertheless, TCPP was the substance with the highest median concentration in rural volcanic lakes (7–18 ng/L) indicating an atmospheric transport of the compound. At urban lakes the median OP concentrations were in the range of 23–61 ng/L (TCEP), 85–126 ng/L (TCPP), <LOQ–53 ng/L (TBEP), 8–10 ng/L (TiBP), and 17–32 ng/L (TnBP). In laboratory experiments, TBEP, TiBP, and TnBP were photochemically degraded in spiked lake water samples upon exposure to sunlight. In the SWHT a seasonal trend with decreasing concentrations in summer/autumn was evident for TiBP and TnBP but not for the chlorinated OPs. The decreasing concentrations can be explained by in-lake photodegradation. Results have also shown that the occurrence of OPs in groundwater is depending on the anthropogenic impact during groundwater recharge/natural replenishment. Infiltration of precipitation was found to be no important entry-pathway for OPs into aquifers at rural sites. Highest OP concentrations (>0.1 µg/L) were determined in groundwater polluted by percolating leachate from contaminated sites or groundwater recharged via bank filtration of OP-loaded recipients. Concentrations of TCEP, TCPP, TiBP and TnBP in groundwater decreased rapidly (89–97%) during bank filtration with increasing distance from the recipient due to adsorption processes and/or biotransformation. Although TCEP and TCPP are stable within the aquifer, they are not suitable as conservative organic tracers in groundwater.
To date it is not clear at which stage of differentiation mature T cell leukaemia/lymphoma is initiated. Previous studies in our group showed that mature T cells are relatively resistant to transformation. We wanted to further investigate the transformation potential of NPM-ALK, p21SNFT and the viral oncoprotein Tax on mature T cells. First, we analyzed the effects on T cell growth in vitro after transducing human T cell lines with gammaretroviral vectors encoding these genes. No growth or proliferation promoting effect of all three genes was observed. In the second part of the project, we transduced murine, mature T cells and/or haematopoietic stem cells (HPCs/HSCs) and transplanted these cells into Rag-1 deficient recipients. All mice transplanted with NPM-ALK transduced monoclonal mature T cells (OT-1) developed leukaemia/lymphoma. In contrast, only few NPM-ALK transduced polyclonal T cell and HPC/HSC transplanted mice developed leukaemia/lymphoma. From the p21SNFT group, only two mice transplanted with transduced OT-1 T cells developed leukaemia/lymphoma, which showed high eGFP and interestingly CD19 expression. No malignancies were observed in Tax transplanted animals so far. Furthermore, the recipients do not show any eGFP marking in the periphery. In conclusion, our results show that compared to polyclonal T cells, monoclonal T cells are transformable after gammaretroviral transfer of NPM-ALK and p21SNFT.
Nanocarbon structures, such as fullerenes and nanotubes, have generated considerable interest and research, due to their unique properties and potential applications. In this thesis, we present a study of the phase transition properties of nanocarbon clusters,in particular, we pay special consideration to fullerenes. The work presented in this thesis is largely theoretical and computational in nature, employing as a tool, molecular dynamics simulations to probe the dynamic stability of fullerenes and associated nanocarbon structures such as graphenes and nanotubes.
This work reports on the study of the projectile x-ray emission in relativistic ion-atom collisions. Excitation of K-shell in He-like uranium ions, electron capture into H-like uranium ions and Simultaneous ionization and excitation of initially He-like uranium ions have been studied using the experimental storage ring at GSI. Information about the population of the excited states for the H- and He-like uranium ions, can be obtained by measuring the angular distribution of the decay radiation. Since the Ly_alpha2 transition is isotropic, the intensities of the Ly_alpha1 and K_alpha transitions were normalized to the Ly_alpha2 line. For the K_alpha1 and K_alpha2 transitions originating from the excitation of the He-like uranium ions, no alignment was observed. In contrast, the Ly_alpha1 radiation from the simultaneous ionization-excitation process of the He-like uranium ions shows a clear alignment. It is shown that the alignment of Ly_alpha1 was obtained by the Alignment parameter A_20. The experimental value leads to the inclusion of a magnetic term in the interaction potential. It is interesting to note that in the case of the Ly_alpha1 emission the small M2 contribution added coherently to the E1 transition amplitudes enhances the anisotropy. The capture process of target electrons into the highly-charged heavy ions was studied using H-like uranium ions at an incident energy of 220 MeV/u, impinging on N2 gas-target. It was shown that, the strongly aligned electrons captured in 2p3/2 level will couple with the available 1s1/2 electron which shows no initial directional preference. The magnetic sub-state population of the 2p3/2 electron will be redistributed according to the coupling rules to the magnetic sub-states of the relevant two-electron states. Consequently, the 1^P1 and 3^P2 states are corresponding to the the strongly aligned 2p3/2 state. This leads to the large anisotropy in the corresponding individual ground state transitions contributing to the K_alpha1 emission. Due to the fact that the 1^P1 --> 1^S0 and 3^P2 --> 1^S0 transitions are experimentally not resolved, a more detailed analysis of the angular dependence of the K_alpha1 radiation is required. From the K_alpha1/K_alpha2 ratio, the current results show that the incoherent addition of the E1 and M2 transition components yield to an almost isotropic emission of the total K_alpha1. In contrast to the radiative electron capture, the experimental results for the K-shell single excitation of He-like uranium ions indicate that only the 1^P1 level contributes to the K_alpha1 transition. For this case, the anisotropy parameter beta_20 was found to be -0.20 + 0.03 which is similar to that one calculated for pure E1 transition. This work also reports on the study of a two-electron process: the simultaneous ionization and excitation occurring in relativistic collisions of heavy highly-charged ions with gaseous targets. The investigation was performed on He-like uranium ions impinging upon xenon gas-target at an incident energy of 220 MeV/u. The measurements have been performed at the ESR gas-target using atomic xenon with a typical area density of 10^12 particles/cm^2. In contrast to the solid state target, the use of gas target offers the advantage of clear separation of the one step two-electron process due to the fact that the probability of two consecutive collision in such thin targets is negligible and the double step processes can be excluded. During the process of simultaneous ionization and excitation in He-like uranium ions, one of the ground-state electrons is promoted into the continuum and the other into the L-subshell states of the projectile. To select this process, the Lyman-series radiation has been measured at various observation angles in coincidence with up-charged projectiles (U^91+). From the yields of the Ly_alpha1 and Ly_alpha2 projectile radiation, the relative cross section for the process of simultaneous ionization and excitation was directly determined. The angle dependent measurement of the radiation yields provide information about the angular distributions of the emitted radiation and permits the determination of the alignment parameter A_{20}. This parameter gives information on the level population and the collision impact parameter. The present results (b^exp = 810 fm) show that the simultaneous ionization and excitation is a process which occurs at small impact parameter.
This thesis is dedicated to the study of fluctuation and correlation observables of hadronic equilibrium systems. The statistical hadronization model of high energy physics, in its ideal, i.e. non-interacting, gas approximation will be investigated in different ensemble formulations. The hypothesis of thermal and chemical equilibrium in high energy interaction will be tested against qualitative and quantitative predictions.
The nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide (NADH):ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) from the strictly aerobic yeast Y. lipolytica contains at least 26 “accessory” subunits however the significance of most of them remains unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the role of three accessory subunits of complex I, recently identified: two mitochondrial acyl carrier proteins, ACPM1 and ACPM2 and a sulfurtransferase (st1) subunit. ACPMs are small (approx. 10 kDa) acidic proteins that are homologous to the corresponding central components of prokaryotic fatty acid synthase complexes. Genomic deletions of the two genes ACPM1 and ACPM2 resulted in strains that were not viable or retained only trace amounts of assembled mitochondrial complex I, respectively, as assessed using two-dimensional blue native/sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN/SDS) PAGE. This suggested different functions for the two proteins that despite high similarity could not be complemented by the respective other homolog still expressed in the deletion strains. To test whether complex I was affected by deletion of the ACPM2 gene, its activities in mitochondrial membranes were measured. Consequently, specific inhibitor sensitive dNADH: decylubiquinone (DBQ) oxidoreductase activity was lost completely and a strong decrease in dNADH: hexa-ammine-ruthenium (HAR) oxidoreductase activity was measured. Remarkably, the same phenotypes were observed if just the conserved serine carrying the phosphopantethein moiety was exchanged with alanine. Although this suggested a functional link to the lipid metabolism of mitochondria, using HPLC chromatography no changes in the lipid composition of the organelles were found. Proteomic analysis revealed that both ACPMs were tightly bound to purified mitochondrial complex I. Western blot analysis revealed that the affinity tagged ACPM1 and ACPM2 proteins were exclusively detectable in mitochondrial membranes but not in the mitochondrial matrix as reported for other organisms. Hence it has been concluded that the ACPMs can serve all their possible functions in mitochondrial lipid metabolism and complex I assembly and stabilization as subunits bound to complex I. A protein exhibiting rhodanese (thiosulfate:cyanide sulfurtransferase) activity was found to be associated with homogenous preparation of complex I. From a rhodanese deletion strain, functional complex I that lacked the additional protein but was fully assembled and displayed no functional defects or changes in EPR signature was purified. In contrast to previous suggestions, this indicated that the sulfurtransferase associated with Y. lipolytica complex I is not required for assembly of its iron–sulfur clusters.
Die Maillard-Reaktion findet während der Lagerung und thermischen Verarbeitung von Lebensmitteln zwischen den darin enthaltenen Proteinen und reduzierenden Kohlehydraten statt. Als Ergebnis der Reaktion entstehen sogenannte advanced glycation end products (AGEs), Protein-Derivate mit Glykierungs-Strukturen. Da Lebensmittel vor dem Verzehr häufig erhitzt werden, ist der Einfluss von AGEs auf die Pathogenese von Nahrungsmittelallergien von großem Interesse. Die Maillard-Reaktion könnte zur Bildung von neuen, für die Pathogenese der Nahrungsmittelallergie relevanten, Immunepitopen beitragen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, den Einfluss der Maillard-Reaktion auf die T-Zell-Immunogenität, die Antigenität und die von beiden Eigenschaften abhängige Allergenität von Nahrungsmittelallergenen zu untersuchen. Zunächst wurde der Einfluss der Maillard-Reaktion auf die T-Zell-Immunogenität von Ovalbumin (OVA), einem Allergen des Hühnereiweißes, untersucht. Dafür wurde glykiertes OVA (AGE-OVA) hergestellt indem das Protein zusammen mit Glukose erhitzt wurde. In dieser Arbeit konnte zum ersten Mal gezeigt werden, dass ein AGE-Derivat eines Lebensmittelallergens eine höhere T-Zellen-Immunogenität besitzt, als sein natives Gegenstück. Die Aktivierung und Proliferation von CD4+ T-Zellen durch AGE-OVA wurde in vitro durch Co-Kultivierung der T-Zellen mit dendritischen Zellen (DZ) untersucht. DZ sind professionelle Antigen- präsentierende Zellen, welche im Pathomechanismus der Allergie eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Im Vergleich zu nativen OVA und OVA welches ohne Glukose erhitzt wurde, führte die Stimulierung mit AGE-OVA zu einer deutlich erhöhten Aktivierung von OVA-spezifischen CD4+ T-Zellen. Damit DZ T-Zellen aktivieren können, muss das Allergen zunächst durch die DZ aufgenommen werden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass die Aufnahme von AGE-OVA wesentlich höher war als die der Kontrollen. Außerdem konnte der scavenger receptor class A type I and II (SR-AI/II) als einer der hauptverantwortlichen Rezeptoren für die Aufnahme von AGE-OVA identifiziert werden. Zusammenfassend lässt sich aus den Ergebnissen dieser Arbeit die Hypothese aufstellen, dass die Glykierung von OVA eine erhöhte Assoziation des Allergens mit SR-AI/II ermöglicht, welche zu einer verstärkten Aufnahme des Allergens durch die DZ führt. Dadurch können mehr Peptide des Allergens an MHC II gebunden und auf der Zelloberfläche präsentiert werden. Das wiederum führt zur beobachteten stärkeren OVA-spezifischen CD4+ T-Zell-Aktivierung durch AGE-OVA. Als nächstes wurde die T-Zell-Immunogenität und Antigenität von AGE-OVA in vivo in einem Mausmodel untersucht. Es zeigte sich, dass AGE-OVA auch in vivo im Vergleich zu den nicht glykierten OVA-Formen eine erhöhte T-Zell-Immunogenität besitzt. Des weiteren führte die Immunisierung mit AGE-OVA zu einer erhöhten Produktion von IgE-Antikörpern. Somit wurde in dieser Arbeit gezeigt, dass AGE-OVA in vivo nicht nur eine erhöhte CD4+ T-Zell-Immunogenität besitzt, sondern auch eine höhere Antigenität hat als natives und ohne Glukose erhitztes OVA. Diese Ergebnisse harmonieren gut miteinander da CD4+ T-Zellen eine zentrale Rolle in der Aktivierung von B-Zellen und der IgE-Produktion durch selbige Zellen spielen. IgE-Antikörper besitzen eine essentielle Funktion beim Auslösen der klinischen Symptomatik der Allergie. Zusammenfassend lässt deshalb sagen, dass die Maillard-Reaktion die Allergenität von OVA erhöhen könnte. Zum Schluss wurden noch die immunstimulatorischen Eigenschaften des Erdnussallergens (AGE)-Ara h 2 untersucht. Da Erdnüsse häufig ernsthafte allergische Reaktionen hervorrufen und selten roh verzehrt werden, war es vom großen Interesse den Einfluss der Maillard-Reaktion auf Immunogenität und Antigenität von rekombinanten Ara h 2 (rAra h 2) zu untersuchen. Es zeigte sich, dass die Glykierung von rAra h 2 durch die Maillard-Reaktion die T-Zellen-Immunogenität, als auch die Antigenität des Allergens reduziert. Abschließend lässt sich sagen, dass die Maillard-Reaktion die allergenen Eigenschaften von Lebensmittelallergenen erheblich beeinflusst indem es die T-Zell-Immunogenität des Allergens verändert. Die Mechanismen welche die T-Zell-Immunogenität beeinflussen wurden hier näher untersucht. Wenn die Glykierung nicht die Bindung der T-Zellen- und/oder B-Zellen-Rezeptoren inhibiert, wird die Allergen-spezifische CD4+ T-Zell-Aktivierung und die davon abhängige IgE-Produktion dadurch erhöht, dass das glykierte Allergen durch DZ verstärkt über SR-AI/II aufgenommen wird. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert wertvolle Information über die Allergenität von Proteinen die durch die Maillard-Reaktion modifiziert wurden and trägt dazu bei die Mechanismen von Nahrungsmittelallergien besser zu verstehen.
Lattice simulation of a center symmetric three dimensional effective theory for SU(2) Yang-Mills
(2010)
We present lattice simulations of a center symmetric dimensionally reduced effective field theory for SU(2) Yang Mills which employ thermal Wilson lines and three-dimensional magnetic fields as fundamental degrees of freedom. The action is composed of a gauge invariant kinetic term, spatial gauge fields and a potential for the Wilson line which includes a "fuzzy" bag term to generate non-perturbative fluctuations between Z(2) degenerate ground states. The model is studied in the limit where the gauge fields are set to zero as well as the full model with gauge fields. We confirm that, at moderately weak coupling, the "fuzzy" bag term leads to eigenvalue repulsion in a finite region above the deconfining phase transition which shrinks in the extreme weak-coupling limit. A non-trivial Z(N) symmetric vacuum arises in the confined phase. The effective potential for the Polyakov loop in the theory with gauge fields is extracted from the simulations including all modes of the loop as well as for cooled configurations where the hard modes have been averaged out. The former is found to exhibit a non-analytic contribution while the latter can be described by a mean-field like ansatz with quadratic and quartic terms, plus a Vandermonde potential which depends upon the location within the phase diagram. Other results include the exact location of the phase boundary in the plane spanned by the coupling parameters, correlation lengths of several operators in the magnetic and electric sectors and the spatial string tension. We also present results from simulations of the full 4D Yang-Mills theory and attempt to make a qualitative comparison to the 3D effective theory.
The Opisthobranchia comprise highly specialized marine gastropods and have therefore been subject to diverse investigations covering various biological disciplines. However, a robust phylogeny of these gastropods is still lacking and several subclades have only been rarely studied. Furthermore, crucial aspects for the evolution of Opisthobranchia have not been comparatively analysed. Therefore, the aim of the present thesis is to gain new insights into the phylogeny of the Opisthobranchia with special focus on certain critical groups (Pleurobranchomorpha, Acteonoidea) and to assess several crucial features of the evolution of the investigated clades. The combination of four different gene markers (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, 16S rDNA and CO1) and modern molecular systematic analysis tools were used to construct phylogenetic hypotheses focussing on Opisthobranchia as a whole as well as Pleurobranchomorpha and Acteonoidea in more detail. Intriguing new aspects of phylogeny and evolution of Opisthobranchia were revealed. First of all, monophyly of Opisthobranchia is definitely rejected based on the present data, while monophyly of Euthyneura (comprising Opisthobranchia and Pulmonata) is supported. Monophyly of opisthobranch subclades is confirmed for Nudipleura (as well as its constituting groups Nudibranchia and Pleurobranchomorpha), Umbraculida, Pteropoda (as well as subclades Thecosomata and Gymnosomata) and Acochlidiacea, for Cephalaspidea (if Runcinacea is regarded as a separate clade) and for Sacoglossa (if Cylindrobulla is accepted as an Oxynoacea). Aplysiomorpha are rendered paraphyletic due to the position of Akera bullata, but this result needs further investigation and should be considered with caution. The Nudipleura are found as the first single offshoot of the Euthyneura implying an early evolutionary separation of the last common ancestor of this clade. The remaining taxa form two main clades, one comprising the opisthobranch subgroups Umbraculida, Cephalaspidea, Aplysiomorpha and Pteropoda, while the other contains the pulmonate taxa and the opisthobranch Sacoglossa and Acochlidiacea. The interrelationships within these clades remain largely unresolved due to low statistical support values. However, a possible sister group relationship of Acochlidiacea and Eupulmonata receives statistical support. Opisthobranchia display various highly specific adaptations to diverse food sources. However, evolution of these specialized traits has never been assessed at an analytical level. The current thesis reconstructs the evolution of dietary preferences with novel methodologies based on the newly proposed phylogenetic hypothesis. Reconstruction of dietary evolution revealed herbivory as the ancestral condition in Euthyneura implying that carnivory evolved at least five times independently in the diverse lineages. The first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic hypothesis of the Pleurobranchomorpha could not reveal monophyly of the two main subclades Pleurobranchaeidae and Pleurobranchidae. This is due to the position of a single taxon (Euselenops luniceps) which is assigned to the Pleurobranchaeidae based on morphology but clusters within Pleurobranchidae in the current hypothesis. Furthermore, the tribe Berthellini and the genus Berthella are rendered paraphyletic by the current analyses. The results of molecular systematic analyses were used to reconstruct historical biogeography of Pleurobranchomorpha. Four different methodological approaches were applied yielding ambiguous results for Pleurobranchomorpha. However, the Pleurobranchidae comprising about 80% of the extant Pleurobranchomorpha most probably derived from an Antarctic origin. Dating of the phylogenetic tree via molecular clock methods yielded divergence of Pleurobranchidae into the Antarctic Tomthompsonia antarctica and the remaining species in Early Oligocene. Afterwards the latter underwent rapid radiation during Oligocene and Early Miocene. This divergence event coincides with two major geological events in the Antarctic region. On the one hand, the onset of glaciation and on the other hand the opening of the Drake Passage with concurrent formation of an Antarctic circumpolar current (ACC). I suppose that these sudden and dramatic changes in climate and palaeogeography probably accounted for migration of the last common ancestor of Pleurobranchidae (besides Tomthompsonia) into warmer regions via the Drake Passage to the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific and via the South Tasman Rise to the Indo-West Pacific. Furthermore, the ACC may have triggered larval dispersal to the Eastern Atlantic. The phylogenetic position of Acteonoidea has been a matter of debate for decades and they have long been considered as basal opisthobranchs. Results of the present thesis rather support placement in “Lower Heterobranchia” as sister group of Rissoelloidea. The current division of Acteonoidea into three families has never been investigated by means of phylogenetic methods. Thus, this thesis provides the first comprehensive investigation of this clade challenging present division into three families. The results rather support division into two main clades with the monogeneric Bullinidae clustering within Aplustridae doubting its separate status. Additionally, Rictaxis punctocaelatus which has been assigned to Acteonidae clusters basal to Aplustridae rendering Acteonidae paraphyletic. Since information on morphology of R. punctocaelatus was lacking until now, I conducted the first detailed investigation on morphology and histology of this species in order to reassess the unexpected molecular systematic placement. Character tracing analyses revealed similarities with both acteonoidean families implying an intermediate position of this species which might be assigned to a separate family in the future. Furthermore, the common features of Acteonidae and Rictaxis (massive shell, small foot, anterior mantle cavity opening, and absence of oral gland) are possibly plesiomorphic for the whole Acteonoidea. In summary, the results of the present thesis provide valuable novel insights into the phylogeny and evolution of the Opisthobranchia by employing state-of-the-art approaches of molecular systematics and evolutionary reconstruction. Thus, diverse hypotheses on opisthobranch phylogeny and evolution were either supported or rejected as well as novel hypotheses proposed which offer the basis for further research on these extraordinary gastropods.
The comparison of persons is pervasive in social judgement and human decision making and yet its neural substrate is poorly explored. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging we investigated the brain activities of participants comparing other persons with each other (other vs. other comparison - OOC) and with themselves (self vs. other comparison - SOC) as regards psychological (intelligence) and physical (height) characteristics. We found that the comparison of these two person characteristics differ in their neural activation patterns in the OOC as well as in the SOC with higher activity increases for intelligence than height comparison in several areas in medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex suggesting that their activation scales with the demand on person comparison. The person comparison network strikingly overlaps the one commonly described for the classic theory of mind tasks. We interpret this overlap as indicating perspective taking common to person comparison and theory of mind. Furthermore, we suggest that the neural differences between the SOC and the OOC especially in the dorsal part of the medial frontal cortex rely on the different degree of the self involved in the two types of comparisons. The results additionally suggest that the decision directions of self-relevant comparisons, especially in the intelligence comparison of the SOC, resulted in differences in the activation of the medial frontal cortex, which also relies on differences in the reward anticipation and self-relatedness of these decisions.
Feral cats (Felis catus), introduced into Australia with European settlers in the 19th century, colonized the entire Australian continent in less than 100 years, including the Australian arid zone which covers more than 70% of the continent. Feral cats are responsible for the decline and extinction of a number of native species and the failure of a number of reintroduction attempts, especially in the arid zone. Many ecological studies on feral cats have been conducted on home range size and movement patterns in different environments, abundance and diet, with the aim of gaining a better understanding about their successful invasion of the Australian continent. There are no physiological studies on the feral cat to date. However, there is evidence that there is a strong interrelation between physiology and abiotic factors such as climate. Thus, distribution, habitat, and dispersal of species can not fully be understood without background knowledge of physiology. This PhD aims to contribute to a better understanding of three physiological parameters: metabolism, body mass and body temperature patterns. These parameters may possibly identify physiological adaptation to different climate zones, seasonal conditions and island isolation.
Until now, the NW Indian Ocean was sparsely covered with coral proxy records, and records from the Maldives Archipelago do not exist. The first such coral proxy record from the central Maldives is presented in this study. It originates from a massive Porites lutea (Quoy and Gaimard, 1833) colony that was sampled March 2007 in the lagoon of Rasdhoo Atoll (4°N/ 73°W), which is located in the central Maldives. The record spans a period of 90 yrs and reaches back to 1917 AD with monthly to bimonthly resolution. This study investigates temporal variations of the skeletal stable oxygen (delta18O) and carbon (delta13C) isotopes, the strontium-to-calcium (Sr/Ca), and the annual extension-rates, and their relationship to historical climate variations 1917-2007. Annual extension-rates show an increase over the 20th century, and are correlated with instrumental sea surface temperatures (SST). The interannual variation of the extension-rates within 2.5-4 years is driven by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The amount of skeletal extension during the summer months is triggered by variations in the strength of the SW monsoon. Interannual and decadal variability in monsoon current activity (18-19 yrs) and rainfall over India are an expression of the summer monsoon strength. This is the reason why a statistical link between coral extension-rates and precipitation over India can be established. This implies that annual extension-rates in corals can be used as a new proxy for Indian monsoon variability on decadal resolution. The delta18O record exhibits the 20th century warming trend that is influenced by the effect of monsoon-induced cooling. delta18O also reveals interannual ENSO triggered variability, which is due to ENSO-forced variations in SST and sea surface salinity (SSS). A decadal variation at 12-14 yrs cannot be linked to SST variations in the NW Indian Ocean, but with decadal variations of SSS. They could be caused by ENSO- forced variations of the monsoon currents during the mature phase of ENSO teleconnections in the Indian Ocean in boreal winter. The Sr/Ca record does not indicate a significant warming, in spite of the observed SST rise at the sampling site. Changes in seawater Sr/Ca cannot be excluded. Nevertheless, interannual ENSO forcing is still evident. Evidence for the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is found during 1917-1955. Afterwards, the Sr/Ca data indicate the disappearance of PDO forcing. By the combination of Sr/Ca and delta18O it is possible to detect ~80% of historical El Niño and La Niña events at the sample site. This study confirms the notion that interannual to multi-decadal climate fluctuations in the Pacific play a crucial role for climate variability in the Indian Ocean.
In this thesis, we study the properties of excitations in the systems of interacting fermions. These excitations can be bosonic such as collective modes which we handle in the first part of this thesis or fermionic like quasi particles and quasi holes. One of the important points, to investigate the excitations is their damping which corresponds to their life-time in the system. This thesis consists of two parts, where in both parts, we use the field-theoretical methods to examine the problem.