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Activation of Notch1 signaling in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) induces self-renewal and inhibits neurogenesis. Upon neuronal differentiation, NPCs overcome this inhibition, express proneural genes to induce Notch ligands, and activate Notch1 in neighboring NPCs. The molecular mechanism that coordinates Notch1 inactivation with initiation of neurogenesis remains elusive. Here, we provide evidence that Prox1, a transcription repressor and downstream target of proneural genes, counteracts Notch1 signaling via direct suppression of Notch1 gene expression. By expression studies in the developing spinal cord of chick and mouse embryo, we showed that Prox1 is limited to neuronal precursors residing between the Notch1+ NPCs and post-mitotic neurons. Physiological levels of Prox1 in this tissue are sufficient to allow binding at Notch1 promoter and they are critical for proper Notch1 transcriptional regulation in vivo. Gain-of-function studies in the chick neural tube and mouse NPCs suggest that Prox1-mediated suppression of Notch1 relieves its inhibition on neurogenesis and allows NPCs to exit the cell cycle and differentiate. Moreover, loss-of-function in the chick neural tube shows that Prox1 is necessary for suppression of Notch1 outside the ventricular zone, inhibition of active Notch signaling, down-regulation of NPC markers, and completion of neuronal differentiation program. Together these data suggest that Prox1 inhibits Notch1 gene expression to control the balance between NPC self-renewal and neuronal differentiation.
Objective: To summarise the benefits and harms of treatments for women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Data sources: Embase, Medline, AMED, BIOSIS, CCMed, CDMS, CDSR, CENTRAL, CINAHL, DARE, HTA, NHS EED, Heclinet, SciSearch, several publishers’ databases, and reference lists of relevant secondary literature up to October 2009. Review methods: Included studies were randomised controlled trials of specific treatment for gestational diabetes compared with usual care or "intensified" compared with "less intensified" specific treatment. Results: Five randomised controlled trials matched the inclusion criteria for specific versus usual treatment. All studies used a two step approach with a 50 g glucose challenge test or screening for risk factors, or both, and a subsequent 75 g or 100 g oral glucose tolerance test. Meta-analyses did not show significant differences for most single end points judged to be of direct clinical importance. In women specifically treated for gestational diabetes, shoulder dystocia was significantly less common (odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.21 to 0.75), and one randomised controlled trial reported a significant reduction of pre-eclampsia (2.5 v 5.5%, P=0.02). For the surrogate end point of large for gestational age infants, the odds ratio was 0.48 (0.38 to 0.62). In the 13 randomised controlled trials of different intensities of specific treatments, meta-analysis showed a significant reduction of shoulder dystocia in women with more intensive treatment (0.31, 0.14 to 0.70). Conclusions: Treatment for gestational diabetes, consisting of treatment to lower blood glucose concentration alone or with special obstetric care, seems to lower the risk for some perinatal complications. Decisions regarding treatment should take into account that the evidence of benefit is derived from trials for which women were selected with a two step strategy (glucose challenge test/screening for risk factors and oral glucose tolerance test).
Background: European robins, Erithacus rubecula, show two types of directional responses to the magnetic field: (1) compass orientation that is based on radical pair processes and lateralized in favor of the right eye and (2) so-called 'fixed direction' responses that originate in the magnetite-based receptors in the upper beak. Both responses are light-dependent. Lateralization of the 'fixed direction' responses would suggest an interaction between the two magnetoreception systems. Results: Robins were tested with either the right or the left eye covered or with both eyes uncovered for their orientation under different light conditions. With 502 nm turquoise light, the birds showed normal compass orientation, whereas they displayed an easterly 'fixed direction' response under a combination of 502 nm turquoise with 590 nm yellow light. Monocularly right-eyed birds with their left eye covered were oriented just as they were binocularly as controls: under turquoise in their northerly migratory direction, under turquoise-and-yellow towards east. The response of monocularly left-eyed birds differed: under turquoise light, they were disoriented, reflecting a lateralization of the magnetic compass system in favor of the right eye, whereas they continued to head eastward under turquoise-and-yellow light. Conclusion: 'Fixed direction' responses are not lateralized. Hence the interactions between the magnetite-receptors in the beak and the visual system do not seem to involve the magnetoreception system based on radical pair processes, but rather other, non-lateralized components of the visual system.
Vascularization of the vertebrate brain takes place during embryonic development from a preformed perineural vascular plexus. As a consequence of the intimate contact with neuroectodermal cells the vessels, which are entering the brain exclusively via sprouting angiogenesis, acquire and maintain unique barrier properties known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The endothelial BBB depends upon the close association of endothelial cells with pericytes, astrocytes, neurons and microglia, which are summarized in the term neuro-vascular unit. Although it is known since decades that the CNS tissue provides the cues for BBB induction and differentiation in endothelial cells, the molecular mechanism remained obscure. Only recently, the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and the Wnt7a/7b growth factors have been implicated in brain angiogenesis on the one hand and in BBB induction on the other. This breakthrough in understanding the differentiation of the brain vasculature prompted us to review these findings embedded in the emerging concepts of Wnt signaling in the vasculature. In particular, interactions with other pathways that are crucial for vascular development such as VEGF, Notch, angiopoietins and Sonic hedgehog are discussed. Finally, we considered the potential role of the Wnt pathway in vascular brain pathologies in which BBB function is hampered, as for example in glioma, stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
A comprehensive evaluation of seasonal backward trajectories initialized in the Northern Hemisphere lowermost stratosphere (LMS) has been performed to investigate the origin of air parcels and the main mechanisms determining characteristic structures in H2O and CO within the LMS. In particular we explain the fundamental role of the transit time since last tropopause crossing (tTST) for the chemical structure of the LMS as well as the feature of the extra-tropical tropopause transition layer (ExTL) as identified from CO profiles. The distribution of H2O in the background LMS above Θ=320 K and 340 K in northern winter and summer, respectively, is found to be governed mainly by the saturation mixing ratio, which in turn is determined by the Lagrangian Cold Point (LCP) encountered by each trajectory. Most of the backward trajectories from this region in the LMS experienced their LCP in the tropics and sub-tropics. The transit time since crossing the tropopause from the troposphere to the stratosphere (tTST) is independent of the H2O value of the air parcel. TST often occurs 20 days after trajectories have encountered their LCP. CO, on the other hand, depends strongly on tTST due to its finite lifetime. The ExTL as identified from CO measurements is then explained as a layer of air just above the tropopause, which on average encountered TST fairly recently.
Blood vessels form de novo through the tightly regulated programs of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Both processes are distinct but one of the steps they share is the formation of a central lumen, when groups of cells organized as vascular cords undergo complex changes to achieve a tube-like morphology. Recently, a protein termed epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) was described as a novel endothelial cell-derived factor involved in the regulation of the spatial arrangement of cells during vascular tube assembly. With its impact on tubulogenesis and vessel shape EGFL7 joined the large family of molecules governing blood vessel formation. Only recently, the molecular mechanisms underlying EGFL7's effects have been started to be elucidated and shaping of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as Notch signaling might very well play a role in mediating its biological effects. Further, findings in knock-out animal models suggest miR-126, a miRNA located within the egfl7 gene, has a major role in vessel development by promoting VEGF signaling, angiogenesis and vascular integrity. This review summarizes our current knowledge on EGFL7 and miR-126 and we will discuss the implications of both bioactive molecules for the formation of blood vessels.
A comprehensive evaluation of seasonal backward trajectories initialized in the northern hemisphere lowermost stratosphere (LMS) has been performed to investigate the factors that determine the temporal and spatial structure of troposphere-to-stratosphere-transport (TST) and it’s impact on the LMS. In particular we explain the fundamental role of the transit time since last TST (tTST) for the chemical composition of the LMS. According to our results the structure of the LMS can be characterized by a layer with tTST<40 days forming a narrow band around the local tropopause. This layer extends about 30K above the local dynamical tropopause, corresponding to the extratropical tropopause transition layer (ExTL) as identified by CO. The LMS beyond this layer shows a relatively well defined separation as marked by an aprupt transition to longer tTST indicating less frequent mixing and a smaller fraction of tropospheric air. Thus the LMS constitutes a region of two well defined regimes of tropospheric influence. These can be characterized mainly by different transport times from the troposphere and different fractions of tropospheric air. Carbon monoxide (CO) mirrors this structure of tTST due to it’s finite lifetime on the order of three months. Water vapour isopleths, on the other hand, do not uniquely indicate TST and are independent of tTST, but are determined by the Lagrangian Cold Point (LCP) of air parcels. Most of the backward trajectories from the LMS experienced their LCP in the tropics and sub-tropics, and TST often occurs 20 days after trajectories have encountered their LCP. Therefore, ExTL properties deduced from CO and H2O provide totally different informations on transport and particular TST for the LMS.
Dass unser Lebensstil und Konsum auf Dauer das Klima bedrohen, die Vielfalt der Arten reduzieren, das Trinkwasser immer knapper werden lassen, ist der Bevölkerung durchaus bewusst. Doch nur eine Minderheit ist bereit, im Alltag auf das Auto zu verzichten, für Urlaubsreisen nicht das Flugzeug zu benutzen, ökologische Lebensmittel zu kaufen oder beim Kauf von Möbeln auf das Zertifikat »nachhaltige Holzwirtschaft« zu setzen. Wie lässt sich der Widerspruch zwischenWissen um den eigenen Ressourcenverbrauch und Sorge um die Umwelt einerseits und wenig nachhaltigem Konsumverhalten andererseits erklären?
Wer nutzt den Online-Gebrauchtwarenmarkt? : Umweltorientierte, Prosumenten und andere User auf eBay
(2010)
This paper discusses the sustainability impact (contribution to sustainability, reduction of adverse environmental impacts) of online second-hand trading. A survey of eBay users shows that a relationship between the trading of used goods and the protection of natural resources is hardly realized. Secondly, the environmental motivation and the willingness to act in a sustainable manner differ widely between groups of consumers. Given these results from a user perspective, the paper tries to find some objective hints of online second-hand trading’s environmental impact. The greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the energy used for the trading transactions seem to be considerably lower than the emissions due to the (avoided) production of new goods. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations for second-hand trade and consumer policy. Information about the sustainability benefits of purchasing second-hand goods should be included in general consumer information, and arguments for changes in behavior should be targeted to different groups of consumers. Keywords: online marketplaces; online auctions; consumer; electronic commerce; used products; second-hand market; sustainable consumption
apl. Prof. Dr. Jörg W. Busch (Goethe Uni Frankfurt) hat bisher 2 Vorträge in Trebur gehalten. Der erste am 14. Oktober 2004 mit dem Titel "Trebur ein Königshof am Mittelrhein" und am 6. Oktober 2005 mit dem Titel "Die Pfalz Trebur unter Heinrich IV. vom Schauplatz großer Politik zum gemiedenen Ort" ...
In den Vorlesungen zur Gouvernementalität skizziert Foucault die Art und Weise, in der im modernen Staat «aus der Distanz» regiert wird. Diese wird im Artikel dargestellt, materialistisch «geerdet», und es werden hierauf aufbauend die Begriffe Risiko und Versicherheitlichung diskutiert. Die Tauglichkeit dieser Herangehensweise wird anhand der aktuellen Grenz- und Migrationspolitik der EU illustriert, und es werden die in diesem Kontext produzierten Räume skizziert.
Erzählt wurde und wird überall. Erzählen ist eine Grundform unserer Wirklichkeitserfassung. Das Zentrum für Erzählforschung (ZEF) der Bergischen Universität ist deshalb interdisziplinär ausgerichtet. Drei Beispiele aus Kunstgeschichte, Journalismus und Rechtsprechung: Der Teppich von Bayeux (11. Jh.) benutzt bei seiner bildlichen Darstellung der Eroberung Englands durch den Normannen Wilhelm Abweichungen von der Chronologie, um die Sympathien der Betrachter zu lenken. Die pietätlose Hast des angelsächsischen Kontrahenten der Normannen, Harold, sich nach dem Tod seines Vorgängers krönen zu lassen, wird visuell durch die unmittelbare Konfrontation der Krönungsszene mit dem Bild des kranken Edward angezeigt. In solchen erzählerischen Kunstgriffen zeigt sich politische Wirkungsabsicht. Zweitens: Fußballspiele stellen den Live-Reporter vor große erzählerische Herausforderung. Er muss eine Geschichte erzählen, deren Ende er nicht kennt. Dafür verwendet er prospektiv Plotstrukturen, die dem disparaten Spielgeschehen Sinn verleihen, die aber auch gegebenenfalls ad hoc abweichendem Spielverlauf anzupassen sind. Drittens: Vor Gericht wird die Glaubhaftigkeit von Zeugenaussagen u. a. nach erzählerischen Kriterien wie Detaillierungsgrad und Inkontinenz beurteilt. Wer besser erzählt, gewinnt.
1987 überraschte der chinesische Künstler Xu Bing sein Pekinger Publikum mit einem Set von vier Büchern, die im Stil der kanonischen Bücher gestaltet waren und über tausendzweihundert chinesische Schriftzeichen enthielten. Obwohl auf den ersten Blick den alten chinesischen Zeichen täuschend ähnlich, unterschieden sie sich jedoch von ihnen in einigen wenigen Details, die entscheidend für das Verständnis waren. Xu Bings Idee bestand darin, einem alten Wörterbuch reale Zeichen zu entnehmen, sie in ihre Grundbestandteile zu zerlegen und sie wieder zusammensetzen, jedoch nicht so, wie sie vorher waren, sodass sie ihrer Bedeutung beraubt wurden. Angesichts dieser gekonnt inszenierten und verwirrenden Lektüreerfahrung stellt sich die Frage: Ist das überhaupt Literatur, wo es doch nichts zu lesen gibt? Diese Frage mag ungewöhnlich klingen und nicht wenige werden sie vielleicht sogar für falsch gestellt halten. Schließlich gilt Xu Bing als Künstler und nicht als Schriftsteller und seine ausgestellten Bücher sind in dem Ausstellungsraum eines Museums zu finden und nicht in einer Bibliothek. Und dennoch, so die Hypothese dieser Überlegungen, findet man in seinen Büchern etwas zur Darstellung gebracht, was nach Foucault so etwas ist wie der unsagbare Kern der Literatur. In Xu Bings Ausstellung geht es um die sichtbare Manifestation dessen, was Literatur im sprachontologischen Sinne begründet, um ihre Existenzbedingung: das Nichtsignifikative im Zeichen, das die Signifikation erst ermöglicht. In Analogie zu Blanchots Begriff "desoeuvrement" (vgl. Blanchot 1955, 48 f) könnte man von einer 'désignification' sprechen: Durch winzige Veränderungen am Gefüge der Striche wird dem Zeichen der Sinn entzogen. Doch wie lässt sich der Bezug dieses unlesbaren Buches, das aufgrund seiner Unlesbarkeit nur noch als Ausstellungsobjekt taugt, zum literarischen Buch herstellen?
Tracer measurements in the tropical tropopause layer during the AMMA/SCOUT-O3 aircraft campaign
(2010)
We present airborne in situ measurements made during the AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis)/SCOUT-O3 campaign between 31 July and 17 August 2006 on board the M55 Geophysica aircraft, based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. CO<sub>2</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O were measured with the High Altitude Gas Analyzer (HAGAR), CO was measured with the Cryogenically Operated Laser Diode (COLD) instrument, and O<sub>3</sub> with the Fast Ozone ANalyzer (FOZAN). We analyze the data obtained during five local flights to study the dominant transport processes controlling the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) above West-Africa: deep convection up to the level of main convective outflow, overshooting of deep convection, horizontal inmixing across the subtropical tropopause, and horizontal transport across the subtropical barrier. Except for the flight of 13 August, distinct minima in CO<sub>2</sub> indicate convective outflow of boundary layer air in the TTL. The CO<sub>2</sub> profiles show that the level of main convective outflow was mostly located between 350 and 360 K, and for 11 August reached up to 370 K. While the CO<sub>2</sub> minima indicate quite significant convective influence, the O<sub>3</sub> profiles suggest that the observed convective signatures were mostly not fresh, but of older origin. When compared with the mean O<sub>3</sub> profile measured during a previous campaign over Darwin in November 2005, the O<sub>3</sub> minimum at the main convective outflow level was less pronounced over Ouagadougou. Furthermore O<sub>3</sub> mixing ratios were much higher throughout the whole TTL and, unlike over Darwin, rarely showed low values observed in the regional boundary layer. Signatures of irreversible mixing following overshooting of convective air were scarce in the tracer data. Some small signatures indicative of this process were found in CO<sub>2</sub> profiles between 390 and 410 K during the flights of 4 and 8 August, and in CO data at 410 K on 7 August. However, the absence of expected corresponding signatures in other tracer data makes this evidence inconclusive, and overall there is little indication from the observations that overshooting convection has a profound impact on TTL composition during AMMA. We find the amount of photochemically aged air isentropically mixed into the TTL across the subtropical tropopause to be not significant. Using the N<sub>2</sub>O observations we estimate the fraction of aged extratropical stratospheric air in the TTL to be 0.0±0.1 up to 370 K during the local flights, increasing above this level to 0.2±0.15 at 390 K. The subtropical barrier, as indicated by the slope of the correlation between N<sub>2</sub>O and O<sub>3</sub> between 415 and 490 K, does not appear as a sharp border between the tropics and extratropics, but rather as a gradual transition region between 10 and 25° N latitude where isentropic mixing between these two regions may occur.
Ausgehend von der These, dass insbesondere psychologisierende Filmmusik oft in einer changierenden Bedeutungsbeziehung zur Szene und den Figuren steht und dass das Akzeptieren von Musiken als Darstellung der inneren Realität von Figuren auf einem Prozess der Synthese diverser Kontextinformationen beruht, wird ein Modell der Perspektivität der Filmmusik und ihrer damit einhergehenden semantischen Aufladung vorgeschlagen und an einem Beispiel durchgespielt.
'One Plus One' entstand während einer über mehrere Monate verteilten Aufnahmestudio-Session der Rolling Stones im Juni und August 1968 in den Olympic Studios in London. Die Band kam ohne Vorbereitung ins Studio und entwickelte den Song 'Sympathy for the Devil' improvisatorisch im Laufe der Sessions. Die Arbeit am Stück begann mit einem Liedtext von Sänger Mick Jagger unter dem Arbeitstitel 'The Devil Is My Name'. Jagger hatte diesen Text unter dem Eindruck des Romans 'Der Meister und Margarita' des russischen Schriftstellers Michail Bulgakov verfasst - ein Buch, das er von seiner Partnerin Marianne Faithfull erhalten hatte. In Bulgakovs Roman stattet der Teufel dem Moskau der 1930er Jahre einen Besuch ab, in dessen Verlauf er viele Menschen tötet oder in den Wahnsinn treibt. Der Film zeigt die Arbeit an dem Song, der auf einem treibenden Samba-Rhythmus aufruht, in den verschiedenen Entwicklungsstufen, in immer neuen Ansätzen, sich dem späteren Format annähernd. Der Song wurde 1968 auf dem Studioalbum 'Beggars Banquet' als erstes von zehn Liedern veröffentlicht.
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are now established as the preferred tool to inhibit gene function in mammalian cells yet trigger unintended gene silencing due to their inherent miRNA-like behavior. Such off-target effects are primarily mediated by the sequence-specific interaction between the siRNA seed regions (position 2–8 of either siRNA strand counting from the 5'-end) and complementary sequences in the 3'UTR of (off-) targets. It was previously shown that chemical modification of siRNAs can reduce off-targeting but only very few modifications have been tested leaving more to be identified. Here we developed a luciferase reporter-based assay suitable to monitor siRNA off-targeting in a high throughput manner using stable cell lines. We investigated the impact of chemically modifying single nucleotide positions within the siRNA seed on siRNA function and off-targeting using 10 different types of chemical modifications, three different target sequences and three siRNA concentrations. We found several differently modified siRNAs to exercise reduced off-targeting yet incorporation of the strongly destabilizing unlocked nucleic acid (UNA) modification into position 7 of the siRNA most potently reduced off-targeting for all tested sequences. Notably, such position-specific destabilization of siRNA–target interactions did not significantly reduce siRNA potency and is therefore well suited for future siRNA designs especially for applications in vivo where siRNA concentrations, expectedly, will be low.
Hrad Wartburg v Durynsku je jedním z nejvýznamnějších památníků německé kultury. Jeho jméno je spojeno s dějinami minnesangu stejně jako s historií německé reformace. Ve Wagnerově opeře 'Tannhäuser' se však tento hrad stává především symbolem, metaforou, za níţ se skrývá tradiční německá "Kultura" (tak jak ji definoval např. Thomas Mann ve svých 'Betrachtungen eines Unpolitischen'). Novější německé dějiny znají hned několik epoch, v nichţ hrály hodnoty reprezentované wagnerovským Wartburgem významnou roli – wilhelmovská "Druhá" stejně jako – ještě radikálněji – Hitlerova "Třetí říše". Cílem tohoto příspěvku je objasnit na příkladu německé literatury, jak "wartburské" tyto doby byly a jak reálné je zrcadlo, které Wagner se svým 'Tannhäuserem' nastavil (německému) světu.
In vielen Familien der Mittelschicht sind mittlerweile beide Ehepartner berufstätig. Das männliche Alleinverdiener-Modell verschwindet zwar nicht, aber nimmt ab. Die Arbeit zu Hause ist trotzdem noch ungleich verteilt und überwiegend Frauensache geblieben – wenn auch häufig unter neuen Vorzeichen: Oft übernehmen Migrantinnen, insbesondere aus Osteuropa, einen Teil der Care-Arbeit. Welche Konsequenzen hat dies für deren Familien?
We synthesised observations of total particle number (CN) concentration from 36 sites around the world. We found that annual mean CN concentrations are typically 300–2000 cm -3 in the marine boundary layer and free troposphere (FT) and 1000–10 000 cm -3 in the continental boundary layer (BL). Many sites exhibit pronounced seasonality with summer time concentrations a factor of 2–10 greater than wintertime concentrations. We used these CN observations to evaluate primary and secondary sources of particle number in a global aerosol microphysics model. We found that emissions of primary particles can reasonably reproduce the spatial pattern of observed CN concentration (R2=0.46) but fail to explain the observed seasonal cycle (R2=0.1). The modeled CN concentration in the FT was biased low (normalised mean bias, NMB=& -88%) unless a secondary source of particles was included, for example from binary homogeneous nucleation of sulfuric acid and water (NMB= -25%). Simulated CN concentrations in the continental BL were also biased low (NMB= -74%) unless the number emission of anthropogenic primary particles was increased or a mechanism that results in particle formation in the BL was included. We ran a number of simulations where we included an empirical BL nucleation mechanism either using the activation-type mechanism (nucleation rate, J, proportional to gas-phase sulfuric acid concentration to the power one) or kinetic-type mechanism (J proportional to sulfuric acid to the power two) with a range of nucleation coefficients. We found that the seasonal CN cycle observed at continental BL sites was better simulated by BL particle formation (R2=0.3) than by increasing the number emission from primary anthropogenic sources (R2=0.18). The nucleation constants that resulted in best overall match between model and observed CN concentrations were consistent with values derived in previous studies from detailed case studies at individual sites. In our model, kinetic and activation-type nucleation parameterizations gave similar agreement with observed monthly mean CN concentrations.
Introduction: Researchers experience increasing pressures to connect with bodies that finance their projects. In this climate, critical scholars face many obstacles as they seek to navigate the treacherous waters of securing external funds. To debate these challenges, the ACME Editorial Collective organized a panel for the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Las Vegas. This intervention represents a follow-up discussion and collective writing process among some of the panelists and members of the audience who attended the panel.
Below, we examine the neoliberalization of the current funding systems, discuss the implications for research practice, and make suggestions for critical engagement and transformation. Our suggestions, however, will not be easy to implement, as we can infer from the experience of the radical scholars of the post-1968 generation whose ascension into the upper echelons of North American and European university systems was also associated with the neoliberalization of the funding systems. This intervention represents a modest contribution in the tradition of critical research practice of creating the possibilities for progressive change.
Intracarotid administration of human bone marrow mononuclear cells in rat photothrombotic ischemia
(2010)
Background: Increasing evidence suggests that cell therapy improves functional recovery in experimental models of stroke and myocardial infarction. So far only small pilot trials tested the effects of cell therapy in stroke patients, whereas large clinical trials were conducted in patients with ischemic heart disease. To investigate the therapeutic benefit of cell therapy to improve the recovery after stroke, we determined the efficacy of bone marrow derived mononuclear cells, which were shown to improve the recovery in experimental and clinical acute myocardial infarction studies, in a rat stroke model. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive either five million human bone marrow mononuclear cells (hBMC) or placebo intraarterially 3 days after photothrombotic ischemia. For immunosuppression the animals received daily injections of cyclosporine throughout the experiment, commencing 24 hours before the cell transplantation. A battery of behavioural tests was performed before and up to 4 weeks after ischemia. Results: Body temperature and body weight revealed no difference between groups. Neurological deficits measured by the Rotarod test, the adhesive-removal test and the cylinder test were not improved by hBMC transplantation compared to placebo. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that hBMC do not improve functional recovery when transplanted intraaterially 3 days after the onset of focal cerebral ischemia. A possible reason for the failed neurological improvement after cell therapy might be the delayed treatment initiation compared to other experimental stroke studies that showed efficacy of bone marrow mononuclear cells.
In Auszügen rezipiert – Bemerkungen zu der Übersetzung von Max Frischs Tagebüchern ins Rumänische
(2010)
Romanian readers interested in Max Frisch’s literary diaries can find the Romanian translation of some heterogeneous notes or groups of notes, dispersed in different periodicals from 1972 to 2001, and the volume Journal (1984) including a selection of fragments from the diaries Tagebuch 1946-1949 and Tagebuch 1966-1971 translated by Corina Jiva. The present article emphasizes favorite as well as excluded thematic fields while making the selection and pinpoints the translator’s role as an authority endowed with preventive censorship.
Background: ClC-7 is a ubiquitous transporter which is broadly expressed in mammalian tissues. It is implied in the pathogenesis of lysosomal storage disease and osteopetrosis. Because of its endosomal/lysosomal localization it is still poorly characterized. Methodology/Principal Findings: An electrophysiological characterization of rat ClC-7 using solid-supported membrane-based electrophysiology is presented. The measured currents show the characteristics of ClC-7 and confirm its function as a Cl−/H+-antiporter. We have used rat ClC-7 in CHO cells as a model system to investigate the functionality and cellular localization of the wt transporter and its variant G213R ClC-7 which is the analogue of human G215R ClC-7 responsible for autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II. Our study shows that rat G213R ClC-7 is functional but has a localization defect in CHO cells which prevents it from being correctly targeted to the lysosomal membrane. The electrophysiological assay is tested as a tool for drug discovery. The assay is validated with a number of drug candidates. It is shown that ClC-7 is inhibited by DIDS, NPPB and NS5818 at micromolar concentrations. Conclusions/Significance: It is suggested that the scenario found in the CHO model system also applies to the human transporter and that mislocalization rather than impaired functionality of G215R ClC-7 is the primary cause of the related autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II. Furthermore, the robust solid-supported membrane-based electrophysiological assay is proposed for rapid screening for potential ClC-7 inhibitors which are discussed for treatment of osteoporosis.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coreceptor use and viral evolution were analyzed in blood samples from an HIV-1 infected patient undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Coreceptor use was predicted in silico from sequence data obtained from the third variable loop region of the viral envelope gene with two software tools. Viral diversity and evolution was evaluated on the same samples by Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. In addition, phenotypic analysis was done by comparison of viral growth in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in a CCR5 (R5)-deficient T-cell line which was controlled by a reporter assay confirming viral tropism. In silico coreceptor predictions did not match experimental determinations that showed a consistent R5 tropism. Anti-HIV directed antibodies could be detected before and after the SCT. These preexisting antibodies did not prevent viral rebound after the interruption of antiretroviral therapy during the SCT. Eventually, transplantation and readministration of anti-retroviral drugs lead to sustained increase in CD4 counts and decreased viral load to undetectable levels. Unexpectedly, viral diversity decreased after successful SCT. Our data evidence that only R5-tropic virus was found in the patient before and after transplantation. Therefore, blocking CCR5 receptor during stem cell transplantation might have had beneficial effects and this might apply to more patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, we revealed a scenario of HIV-1 dynamic different from the commonly described ones. Analysis of viral evolution shows the decrease of viral diversity even during episodes with bursts in viral load.
Background: One virulence property of Borrelia burgdorferi is its resistance to innate immunity, in particular to complement-mediated killing. Serum-resistant B. burgdorferi express up to five distinct complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins (CRASP) which interact with complement regulator factor H (CFH) and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL1) or factor H-related protein 1 (CFHR1). In the present study we elucidate the role of the infection-associated CRASP-3 and CRASP-5 protein to serve as ligands for additional complement regulatory proteins as well as for complement resistance of B. burgdorferi. Methodology/Principal Findings: To elucidate whether CRASP-5 and CRASP-3 interact with various human proteins, both borrelial proteins were immobilized on magnetic beads. Following incubation with human serum, bound proteins were eluted and separated by Glycine-SDS-PAGE. In addition to CFH and CFHR1, complement regulators CFHR2 and CFHR5 were identified as novel ligands for both borrelial proteins by employing MALDI-TOF. To further assess the contributions of CRASP-3 and CRASP-5 to complement resistance, a serum-sensitive B. garinii strain G1 which lacks all CFH-binding proteins was used as a valuable model for functional analyses. Both CRASPs expressed on the B. garinii outer surface bound CFH as well as CFHR1 and CFHR2 in ELISA. In contrast, live B. garinii bound CFHR1, CFHR2, and CFHR5 and only miniscute amounts of CFH as demonstrated by serum adsorption assays and FACS analyses. Further functional analysis revealed that upon NHS incubation, CRASP-3 or CRASP-5 expressing borreliae were killed by complement. Conclusions/Significance: In the absence of CFH and the presence of CFHR1, CFHR2 and CFHR5, assembly and integration of the membrane attack complex was not efficiently inhibited indicating that CFH in co-operation with CFHR1, CFHR2 and CFHR5 supports complement evasion of B. burgdorferi.
Der Silberreiher trat bis zum Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts
in Deutschland nur als Ausnahmeerscheinung auf, zählt
seither jedoch zu den regelmäßigen Gastvögeln im Winterhalbjahr.
Vereinzelt kommt es auch zu Übersommerungen.
Die Herkunft dieser Vögel ist weitgehend unbekannt.
Erstmals in Mitteleuropa konnte von uns ein
Silberreiher mit einem Satellitensender versehen und
von Februar 2007 bis zum Ende der Datenaufnahme
für diesen Bericht im April 2010 verfolgt werden. Der
Vogel überwinterte dreimal in Ostdeutschland und hielt
sich 2008 und 2009 während der Brutzeit sehr ortstreu
über mehrere Monate in der Ukraine auf. Diesen ortstreuen
Phasen zur Brutzeit folgten jeweils nachbrutzeitliche
Wanderungen über mehrere 100 km, die als Mauserzug
interpretiert werden. Erst im Laufe des Oktobers
fand der eigentliche Zug ins Überwinterungsgebiet
statt. Ringfunde aus der Zeit nach dem deutlichen Bestandsanstieg
in Deutschland geben außerdem erste Hinweise darauf, dass die im Nordosten Deutschlands
als Gastvögel auftretenden Silberreiher auch aus Westfrankreich
und Polen stammen können und dass zumindest
in Süddeutschland Vögel aus den traditionellen
ungarischen Brutgebieten auftreten.
Die Ermittlung von Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeiten und Reproduktionsdaten hat eine wachsende Bedeutung als Basis für Populationsmodelle gewonnen. Wir haben Beringungen und Rückmeldungen aus dem Datenbestand der Beringungszentrale Hiddensee und die Ergebnisse aus einer Farbberingungsstudie an 110 Rotkehlchen Erithacus rubecula benutzt, um mit dem Programm MARK für vier häufige Zugvogelarten Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeiten zu schätzen und die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen bei der Nutzung der Datenbank einer Beringungszentrale aufzuzeigen. Es wurden je nach Struktur der Daten entweder Cormack-Jolly-Seber-Modelle (CJS-Modelle) für Wiederfänge und Ringablesungen oder Modelle nach Burnham (1993) für kombinierte Daten aus Totfunden und Wiederfängen verwendet. Für drei Arten konnten wir so plausible Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeiten ermitteln, es gab aber deutliche Unterschiede in der Präzision je nach Vogelart sowie verwendeter Datengrundlage. Bei Fang-Wiederfang-Daten beeinflusste nicht zu modellierende Abwanderung die Ergebnisse für mindestens eine Altersklasse, d. h. wenigstens ein Parameter konnte nicht geschätzt werden. Zudem waren eine ausreichend hohe Wiederfundwahrscheinlichkeit sowie eine vollständige Meldung der Wiederfänge wichtige Voraussetzungen für zuverlässige Ergebnisse. Sie wurden hier durch eine Vorauswahl von Datensätzen aus Gebieten mit mehrjähriger intensiver Fangaktivität erreicht. Kombinierte Modelle aus Totfunden und Wiederfängen waren leichter auf den vollständigen Datenbestand der Beringungszentrale und für alle Altersklassen anwendbar. Bei auf dem Zug oder im Winterquartier stark bejagten Arten, für die genügend Totfunde vorliegen, wurden so brauchbare Ergebnisse erzielt. Daten aus dem Fang von Durchzüglern enthielten teilweise zu wenig verwertbare Rückmeldungen, auch wenn jährlich große Mengen von Vögeln beringt werden („Registrierfang“).
Vegetation und Management seltener Pflanzenarten im Küstengrünland einer dänischen Ostseeinsel
(2010)
Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt die Vegetation des Küstengrünlandes im Naturschutzgebiet „Vestamager“ (ca. 2000 ha) südlich von Kopenhagen sowie Vorkommen von Iris spuria, Selinum dubium und Cerastium subtetrandrum. Die mit diesen Arten verbundenen Pflanzengesellschaften und Standort - faktoren werden ermittelt, um das Management des Naturschutzgebietes zu verbessern. Auf der Grundlage von 73 Vegetationsaufnahmen werden mit TWINSPAN-Klassifikation und indirekter Gradientenanalyse (DCA) die Hauptvegetationseinheiten und wichtigsten Umweltgradienten bestimmt. Die Vegetationsentwicklung 2004–2008 wird in einer weiteren Ordination mit Hilfe historischer Aufnahmen untersucht. Die vegetationsbestimmenden Faktoren auf Vestamager sind Salinität, Feuchtigkeit und Beweidung. Magere, salzgeprägte Weidegesellschaften des Lolio-Cynosuretum sind häufig; innerhalb dieser Assoziation ist zwischen einer wechselfeuchten Ausbildung mit Molinion-Elementen und einer wechseltrockenen Ausbildung mit floristischen Beziehungen zum Mesobromium zu unterscheiden. Im Südwesten des Gebietes wird das Lolio-Cynosuretum mit steigender Salinität durch Salzrasen des Juncetum gerardii ersetzt. Innerhalb der Salzrasen ist auf Ameisenhaufen Salzpioniervegetation entwickelt. Der Übergangsbereich zum Hydrolitoral wird von Brackwasserröhrichten besiedelt. Auf feuchten bis nassen Standorten geht das Lolio-Cynosuretum in Flut- und Trittrasengesellschaften des Ranunculo repentis-Alopecuretum geniculati über. Bei schwacher Beweidung bilden sich Calamagrostis epigejos- Dominanzbestände aus. Iris spuria und Selinum dubium kommen mit je einer Population in der wechseltrockenen Ausprägung des Lolio-Cynosuretum juncetosum gerardii im nördlichen Teil des Gebietes vor. Kleinere Vorkommen von Selinum dubium finden sich auch in Flut- und Trittrasengesellschaften. Cerastium subtetrandrum kommt mit mehreren Kleinpopulationen in Salzpionierrasen auf Ameisenhaufen vor. Iris spuria reagiert empfindlich auf Beweidung und ist in den letzten Jahren deutlich zurückgegangen. Selinum dubium ist toleranter gegenüber Beweidung, und vegetative Individuen können auch auf beweideten Flächen überdauern. Cerastium subtetrandrum ist indirekt von Beweidung abhängig, da potentielle Standorte dieser Art durch Beweidung erhalten und gefördert werden. Intensivierte Beweidung sowie Entfernen von Gehölzen haben Hochgräser zurückgedrängt und Arten offener, salzgeprägter Weidelandschaften gefördert, jedoch ohne Erhöhung der floristischen Diversität. Der optimale Schutz der Zielarten kann nur durch kombinierte Nutzungskonzepte erreicht werden. Für eine langfristige Erhaltung von Iris spuria und Selinum dubium ist eine Reduzierung der Beweidung notwendig. Die Erhaltung von Cerastium subtetrandrum erfordert dagegen eine niedrige Vegetation mit relativ intensiver Beweidung. Eine stärkere Differenzierung der Beweidungsintensität würde alle drei Zielarten auf Vestamager fördern.
Blut-Untersuchungen ziehen sich wie ein roter Faden durch die verschiedenen Abteilungen des Frankfurter Instituts für Rechtsmedizin. Ob mit dem Skalpell, durch scharfsinnige Beobachtung oder Hightech-Laboranalytik: Spezialisierte Rechtsmediziner können einen Tathergang anhand von Blutspurenverteilungsmustern rekonstruieren, Toxikologen messen im Blut betäubende oder giftige Substanzen, Molekularbiologen ordnen Blutspuren über DNA-Profi le Personen zu und versuchen, mit molekulardiagnostischen Methoden unklare Todesursachen aufzuklären. Zwei konstruierte Todesfälle gewähren einen forensischen Blick auf das Blut.
Tagungsbericht zu 'Fusion Culture: Fashion beyond Orientalism and Occidentalism', Universität Potsdam, 5. bis 7. November 2009
Die von Gabriele Mentges (Dortmund) und Gertrud Lehnert (Potsdam) veranstaltete und von der Volkswagen Stiftung geförderte Tagung befasste sich mit dem Thema 'Orientalismus und Mode' zum einen unter historischen Aspekten, zum anderen unter gegenwärtigen Bedingungen, in denen von 'Orientalismus' kaum noch die Rede sein kann. Denn längst haben wechselseitige Bezüge Mode zu einer globalen Angelegenheit gemacht. Vernetzung, Vermischung, Globalisierung, aber auch neue Regionalisierung bestimmt (nicht erst seit) heute die Mode.
In contrast to the previous structure determinations of the title structure, (NH4)2[MoS4], the present determination at 173 K localized the positions of the H atoms. The title structure belongs to the beta-K2SO4 family and all the ions are located on crystallographic mirror planes. The ions are held together by N—H ... S hydrogen bonds (some of which are bifurcated), forming a three-dimensional network. One of the N atoms has nine contacts to the S atoms shorter than 4 Å, and the other has ten.
The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [K(C5HF6N2)(H2O)2]n, is composed of two 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolide anions, two potassium cations and four water molecules. The water molecules and 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolide anions act as bridges between the potassium cations. Each potassium cation is surrounded by four O atoms [K—O = 2.705 (3)–2.767 (3) Å] and four F atoms [K—F = 2.870 (7)–3.215 (13) Å]. The water molecules and the 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolide anions are connected by O—H ... N hydrogen bonds, forming layers in the ab plane. All –CF3 groups show rotational disorder between two orientations each.
The title compound, [Na(CF3O3S)(C12H24O6)], features a sodium cation that is coordinated by eight O atoms in an irregular hexagonal bipyramidal environment. The equatorial positions are occupied by the six O atoms of an 18-crown-6 ether ring. In the axial positions, there is one O atom of a trifluoromethanesulfonate anion and an ether O atom of a symmetry-equivalent crown ether ring. In this way, centrosymmetric dimers are formed.
The central structural element of the title compound, C24H29NO2, is a carbazole unit substituted with two acetyl residues and an octyl chain. The acetyl residues are nearly coplanar [dihedral angles = 5.37 (14) and 1.0 (3)°] with the carbazole unit which is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation for all non-H atoms = 0.025 Å). The octyl chain adopts an all-trans conformation. The crystal packing is stabilized by C—H ... O hydrogen bonds.
The dihydropyrimidine ring of the title compound, C13H15ClN2S, adopts an envelope conformation with five almost coplanar atoms (r.m.s. deviation = 0.054 Å) and the C atom bearing the two methyl substituents deviating from this plane by 0.441 (2) Å. The best plane through the five almost coplanar atoms forms a dihedral angle of 89.56 (5)° with the benzene ring. The crystal packing is characterized by centrosymmetric dimers connected by pairs of N—H ... S hydrogen bonds.
The title compound, [Tl4(C4H9O)4], featuring a (Tl—O)4 cube, crystallizes with a quarter-molecule (located on a special position of site symmetry An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc. Object name is e-66-m1621-efi1.jpg..) and a half-molecule (located on a special position of site symmetry 23.) in the asymmetric unit. The Tl—O bond distances range from 2.463 (12) to 2.506 (12) Å. All O—Tl—O bond angles are smaller than 90° whereas the Tl—O—Tl angles are wider than a rectangular angle.
Development of a Bioaerosol single particle detector (BIO IN) for the Fast Ice Nucleus CHamber FINCH
(2010)
In this work we present the setup and first tests of our new BIO IN detector. This detector was constructed to classify atmospheric ice nuclei (IN) for their biological content. It is designed to be coupled to the Fast Ice Nucleus CHamber FINCH. If one particle acts as an ice nucleus, it will be at least partly covered with ice at the end of the development section of the FINCH chamber. The device combines an auto-fluorescence detector and a circular depolarization detector for simultaneous detection of biological material and discrimination between water droplets, ice crystals and non activated large aerosol particles. The excitation of biological material with UV light and analysis of auto-fluorescence is a common principle used for flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, spectroscopy and imaging. The detection of auto-fluorescence of airborne single particles demands some more experimental effort. However, expensive commercial sensors are available for special purposes, e.g. size distribution measurements. But these sensors will not fit the specifications needed for the FINCH IN counter (e.g. high sample flow of up 10 LPM). The newly developed -low cost- BIO IN sensor uses a single high-power UV LED for the electronic excitation instead of much more expensive UV lasers. Other key advantages of the new sensor are the low weight, compact size, and the little effect on the aerosol sample, which allows it to be coupled with other instruments for further analysis. The instrument will be flown on one of the first missions of the new German research aircraft "HALO" (High Altitude and LOng range).
"You've heard of Oxford Circus, you've heard of Piccadilly Circus, and this is the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus" - als Rolling-Stones-Frontmann Mick Jagger diesen Satz am 11. Dezember 1968 gegen 14 Uhr in der Montur eines Zirkusdirektors in die Kameras der BBC spricht, ahnt er mit Sicherheit noch nicht, was insbesondere er in den folgenden Wochen für einen beispiellosen Zirkus rund um diese Fernsehaufzeichnung veranstalten wird. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt, da die Bänder für die Aufzeichnung des 'Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus' gestartet werden, glaubt Jagger wohl noch, dass die TV-Sendung ein entspanntes Aufeinandertreffen mit befreundeten Rock'n'Roll-Größen wird; er glaubt wohl noch, dass der Auftritt der Rolling Stones am Ende des Konzertes zum furiosen Abschluss wird und die Performances der übrigen Bands in den Schatten stellt; und vor allem glaubt er wohl noch, dass der 'Rock and Roll Circus' wenige Wochen nach der Aufzeichnung über die heimischen Fernseher Großbritanniens flimmert. 15 Stunden später denkt Jagger über all dies anders. Aber der Reihe nach.
Die US-amerikanische Alternative Rockband The Eels wurde 1995 durch den Songwriter Mark Oliver Everett gegründet, der der programmatische Kopf der Gruppe geblieben ist. Sie zeichnete sich von Beginn an durch eine ungewöhnliche Experimentierfreude aus, darum bemüht, immer neue unterschiedliche Klangspektren in der Musik der Band zu entfalten. Everett ist der einzige, der noch aus der Erstformation stammt; sämtliche anderen Mitglieder der Gruppe sind z.T. mehrfach ausgetauscht wurden.
Das Exil war sein Schicksal. Davon ist er zeit seines Lebens nicht losgekommen. Hans Sahl, aus Dresden gebürtig, gehörte zu jenen brillanten Intellektuellen, die bereits im geistigen Leben der Weimarer Republik eine Rolle spielten, vor den Nazis fliehen mußten und als ungeliebte Heimkehrer in der Bundesrepublik lange vergessen blieben. Erst in seinen letzten Lebensjahren, die der fast erblindete Autor in Tübingen verbrachte, wurde er mit Preisen überschüttet, wurden seine Gedichte und Romane neuaufgelegt. “Wir sind die Letzten“, hieß eine Gedichtsammlung, die 1941 erschien, in der sich dieser „Trödler des Unbegreiflichen“, wie er sich nannte, als Moralist und Wahrheitsfanatiker von hohen Graden zu erkennen gab.
Although autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have a substantial genetic basis, most of the known genetic risk has been traced to rare variants, principally copy number variants (CNVs). To identify common risk variation, the Autism Genome Project (AGP) Consortium genotyped 1558 rigorously defined ASD families for 1 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and analyzed these SNP genotypes for association with ASD. In one of four primary association analyses, the association signal for marker rs4141463, located within MACROD2, crossed the genome-wide association significance threshold of P < 5 × 10−8. When a smaller replication sample was analyzed, the risk allele at rs4141463 was again over-transmitted; yet, consistent with the winner's curse, its effect size in the replication sample was much smaller; and, for the combined samples, the association signal barely fell below the P < 5 × 10−8 threshold. Exploratory analyses of phenotypic subtypes yielded no significant associations after correction for multiple testing. They did, however, yield strong signals within several genes, KIAA0564, PLD5, POU6F2, ST8SIA2 and TAF1C.