FADS Gene Cluster Polymorphisms: Important Modulators of Fatty Acid Levels and Their Impact on Atopic Diseases

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) play an important role in several physiological processes and their concentration in phospholipids has been associated with several complex diseases, such as atopic disease. The level and composition of LC-PUFAs in the human body is highly dependent on their intake in the diet or on the intake of fatty acid precursors, which are endogenously elongated and desaturated to physiologically active LC-PUFAs. The most important enzymes in this reaction cascade are the Delta(5) and Delta(6) desaturase. Several studies in the last few years have revealed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 2 desaturase encoding genes (FADS1 and FADS2) are highly associated with the concentration of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, showing that beside nutrition, genetic factors also play an important role in the regulation of LC-PUFAs. This review focuses on current knowledge of the impact of genetic polymorphisms on LC-PUFA metabolism and on their potential role in the development of atopic diseases. Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base

Spin correlation functions in random-exchange s=1/2 XXZ chains

The decay of (disorder-averaged) static spin correlation functions at T=0 for the one-dimensional spin-1/2 XXZ antiferromagnet with uniform longitudinal coupling $J\Delta$ and random transverse coupling $J\lambda_i$ is investigated by numerical calculations for ensembles of finite chains. At $\Delta=0$ (XX model) the calculation is based on the Jordan-Wigner mapping to free lattice fermions for chains with up to N=100 sites. At $\Delta \neq 0$ Lanczos diagonalizations are carried out for chains with up to N=22 sites. The longitudinal correlation function is found to exhibit a power-law decay with an exponent that varies with $\Delta$ and, for nonzero $\Delta$, also with the width of the $\lambda_i$-distribution. The results for the transverse correlation function show a crossover from power-law decay to exponential decay as the exchange disorder is turned on.Comment: RevTex manuscript (7 pages), 4 postscript figure

Temporal Changes in Total Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels in East German Children and the Effect of Potential Predictors

Background: Elevated total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are a prominent feature of allergic and parasitic diseases. An epidemiologic study was conducted in East German children to describe trends in the development of total serum IgE levels and analyze the impact of potential determinants. Methods: The study consisted of three cross-sectional surveys in 1992-1993, 1995-1996 and 1998-1999 and was conducted in three areas of the former German Democratic Republic. In total, 8,051 questionnaires were completed by the parents of children aged 5-14 years, supplying information on allergic symptoms and potential risk factors. A total of 5,918 measurements of total serum IgE and specific IgE to 5 common aeroallergens were available from 4,353 schoolchildren. Generalized estimating equations were applied to data from all children and stratified for atopic and nonatopic children to identify trends and estimate the effect of potential determinants on total IgE. Results: Total serum IgE levels decreased significantly with a linear trend in East German schoolchildren between 1992 and 1999, the effect being stronger in nonatopic children. The following factors were associated with lower total serum IgE levels: female gender, living in a household with fewer than 4 people, no history of helminth infestation, younger age group (5-7 years), no parental allergy and high socioeconomic status. No association was seen for `smoking at home' and close contact to pets. Conclusion: Total serum IgE declined parallel to helminth infestation; however, the latter explained the decrease only in part. Furthermore, total IgE developed in an opposite direction to specific IgE, indicating that it has determinants other than allergic sensitization. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base

Import pathways of precursor proteins into mitochondria

The precursor of porin, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, competes for the import of precursors destined for the three other mitochondrial compartments, including the Fe/S protein of the bc1- complex (intermembrane space), the ADP/ATP carrier (inner membrane), subunit 9 of the F0-ATPase (inner membrane), and subunit beta of the F1- ATPase (matrix). Competition occurs at the level of a common site at which precursors are inserted into the outer membrane. Protease- sensitive binding sites, which act before the common insertion site, appear to be responsible for the specificity and selectivity of mitochondrial protein uptake. We suggest that distinct receptor proteins on the mitochondrial surface specifically recognize precursor proteins and transfer them to a general insertion protein component (GIP) in the outer membrane. Beyond GIP, the import pathways diverge, either to the outer membrane or to translocation contact-sites, and then subsequently to the other mitochondrial compartments

Schnellschaltende Aktoren für adaptive Sicherheitssysteme im Kraftfahrzeugbau

Der Einsatz von adaptiv arbeitenden Sicherheitssystemen im Kraftfahrzeugbereich wird ständig zunehmen. Im vorliegenden Projekt soll ein einfach arbeitendes und schnellschaltendendes Aktorprinzip mit Hilfe des Einsatzes von Formgedächtniselementen realisiert werden. Ein solch kostengünstiges und sehr sicher arbeitendes System wird nicht nur vorhandene teure und aufwendige Systeme ersetzen können, sondern es wird auch durch die hohe Integrierbarkeit und günstige Recyclebarkeit den Einsatz von Aktoren im Kraftfahrzeugbereich erhöhen. Gegenstand dieses Projektes ist die werkstoffkundliche Entwicklung eines adaptiven Sicherheitssystems mit Formgedächtnislegierungen zum Einsatz in Kraftfahrzeugen. Durch die spontane Umwandlung der FGL beim Überschreiten einer kritischen Temperatur, können sehr schnell und funktionssicher Linearbewegungen ausgeführt werden. Das Problem der Langzeitstabilität des Formgedächtniseffektes soll in diesem Forschungsvorhaben betrachtet werden. Hierzu werden durch Auslagerungsversuche sowohl die Auswirkungen von Ausscheidungen, als auch die metallkundlichen Hintergründe für die Entstehung der Ausscheidungen betrachtet. Durch die Kenntnis der ablaufenden Vorgänge sollte es möglich sein Legierungen einzusetzen, welche die erforderliche Langzeitstabilität aufweisen. In einem weiteren Projektschritt sollen Schnellerwärmungssysteme entwickelt und erprobt werden, die es ermöglichen mit dem vorhandenen Bordstromnetz eine schnellstmögliche und sichere Erwärmung der FG-Elemente zu gewährleisten

Laying off or Not? the Influence of Framing and Economics Education

This paper provides a critical re-examination of Rubinstein's survey (Rubinstein; Economic Journal 2006), in which he questions the way economics is taught. The observations obtained in our new survey cast some doubts on the original findings, and, in particular, question Rubinstein's conjecture that our students' views on economic issues are influenced by the way we teach economics.

Food Intake, Diet Quality and Behavioral Problems in Children: Results from the GINI-plus/LISA-plus Studies

Background/Aims: To assess the association between food intake and diet quality and behavioral problems at the 10-year follow-up of the two population-based birth cohorts of the studies German Infant Nutritional Intervention and `Influences of lifestyle-related factors on the immune system and the development of allergies in childhood'. Methods: Cross-sectional data on food intake over the past year were collected by a parent-reported food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was based on reference values of food amounts of the optimized mixed diet. Behavioral problems were assessed by a parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Relationships between food category intake, diet quality and behavior problems were examined using multivariable regression modeling adjusted for gender, sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, physical exercise, television viewing/PC use and total energy intake. A total of 3,361 children with complete data were analyzed. Results: Children with increased intake of confectionery had increased odds of having emotional symptoms {[}adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.32] compared to children with low intake. A higher diet quality score was associated with lower likelihood of emotional symptoms (ORadj 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.98). The un-adjusted significant relationship between diet quality and hyperactivity/inattention was attenuated by adjusting for several confounders to an ORadj of 0.92 (95% CI 0.82-1.03). Conclusions: Increased consumption of high-sugar products and lower diet quality are associated with a higher likelihood of emotional symptoms in children. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Asymmetric saccade reaction times to smooth pursuit

Before initiating a saccade to a moving target, the brain must take into account the target’s eccentricity as well as its movement direction and speed. We tested how the kinematic characteristics of the target influence the time course of this oculomotor response. Participants performed a step-ramp task in which the target object stepped from a central to an eccentric position and moved at constant velocity either to the fixation position (foveopetal) or further to the periphery (foveofugal). The step size and target speed were varied. Of particular interest were trials that exhibited an initial saccade prior to a smooth pursuit eye movement. Measured saccade reaction times were longer in the foveopetal than in the foveofugal condition. In the foveopetal (but not the foveofugal) condition, the occurrence of an initial saccade, its reaction time as well as the strength of the pre-saccadic pursuit response depended on both the target’s speed and the step size. A common explanation for these results may be found in the neural mechanisms that select between oculomotor response alternatives, i.e., a saccadic or smooth response