A demonstrator for the Micro-Vertex-Detector of the CBM experiment

CMOS sensors are the most promising candidates for the Micro-Vertex-Detector (MVD) of the CBM experiment at GSI, as they provide an unprecedented compromise between spatial resolution, low material budget, adequate radiation tolerance and readout speed. To study the integration of these sensors into a detector module, a so-called MVD-demonstrator has been developed. The demonstrator and its in-beam performance will be presented and discussed in this work

Liver resection or combined chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation improve survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/ Aims: To evaluate the long-term outcome of surgical and non-surgical local treatments of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We stratified a cohort of 278 HCC patients using six independent predictors of survival according to the Vienna survival model for HCC (VISUM- HCC). Results: Prior to therapy, 224 HCC patients presented with VISUM stage 1 (median survival 18 months) while 29 patients were classified as VISUM stage 2 (median survival 4 months) and 25 patients as VISUM stage 3 (median survival 3 months). A highly significant (p < 0.001) improved survival time was observed in VISUM stage 1 patients treated with liver resection ( n = 52; median survival 37 months) or chemoembolization (TACE) and subsequent radiofrequency ablation ( RFA) ( n = 44; median survival 45 months) as compared to patients receiving chemoembolization alone (n = 107; median survival 13 months) or patients treated by tamoxifen only (n = 21; median survival 6 months). Chemoembolization alone significantly (p <= 0.004) improved survival time in VISUM stage 1 - 2 patients but not (p = 0.341) in VISUM stage 3 patients in comparison to those treated by tamoxifen. Conclusion: Both liver resection or combined chemoembolization and RFA improve markedly the survival of patients with HCC

Status of the Micro Vertex Detector of the Compressed Baryonic Matter Experiment

The CBM experiment will investigate heavy-ion collisions at beam energies from 8 to 45 AGeV at the future accelerator facility FAIR. The goal of the experiment is to study the QCD phase diagram in the vincinity of the QCD critical point. To do so, CBM aims at measuring rare probes among them open charm. In order to identify those rare and short lived particles despite the rich combinatorial background generated in heavy ion collisions, a micro vertex detector (MVD) providing an unprecedented combination of high rate capability and radiation hardness, very light material budget and excellent granularity is required. In this work, we will discuss the concept of this detector and summarize the status of the R&D

Legacy effects of earthworms on soil microbial abundance, diversity, and community dynamics

The earthworm species Lumbricus terrestris L. feeds on plant litter mixed with surrounding soil. Here, we analyzed with a mesocosm approach and soil incubations how that activity and subsequent ageing of casts (feces) affects the abundance and diversity of the soil microbiome. Earthworms were fed either with straw of sainfoin (SA, Onobrychis viciifolia; C/N ratio 22) or winter wheat (WW, Triticum aestivum, C/N ratio 101). The gut transit increased the abundances of bacteria and fungi, but reduced archaea. As indicated at the DNA and RNA level, main beneficiaries of the facilitated access to nutrients were members of Bacteroidota, especially Flavobacteriales with an estimated generation time of only 2 h. While Alphaproteobacteria were reduced, Gammaproteobacteria also increased in abundance and activity. SA was more nutritious for L. terrestris, and supported a higher bacterial abundance, probably because more N was available for growth and denitrification. During cast ageing, prokaryotic community compositions became increasingly similar to bulk soil communities. However, they remained distinguishable even after 168 d, suggesting that effects can last beyond a vegetation period. Dry-wet conditions preserved these differences better than continuous moisture. During ageing, more complex prokaryotic networks were detected with WW and dry-wet conditions. Thus, N and water limitations appeared to enhance cooperation rather than competition between the prokaryotes. Overall, this study demonstrates that earthworm soil interactions strongly affect the diversity and temporal dynamics of the soil microbiome. Legacy effects of earthworm activities should thus be kept in mind when investigating the environmental variation of soil microbiomes

Entwicklung strukturell neuartiger Typ II FAS-Inhibitoren als Wirkstoffe gegen multiple Entwicklungsstadien von Apicomplexa und Entwicklung potenzieller Bid-Inhibitoren als Wirkstoffe gegen neuronalen Zelltod

Infektionen durch Apicomplexa zählen sowohl zu den häufigsten parasitären Erkrankungen als auch zu den häufigsten globalen Todesursachen des Menschen. Zu diesem Stamm gehören neben mehreren tausend weiteren Protozoen die Erreger der Malaria (Plasmodium spp.) und der Toxoplasmose (Toxoplasma gondii). Die Parasiten zeigen einen Generationswechsel mit komplexen asexuellen und sexuellen Entwicklungszyklen in verschiedenen Wirten. Inhibitoren der Fettsäuresynthese stellen hervorragende potenzielle Wirkstoffe gegen Infektionskrankheiten durch Apicomplexa dar: In diesen Organismen erfolgt die Synthese von Fettsäuren, wie in Pflanzen und Bakterien, durch separate Enzyme (Typ II FAS). Säugetiere verwenden dagegen zur Synthese von Fettsäuren ein großes, multifunktionales Enzym (Typ I FAS). Um einen derartigen Wirkstoff zu entwickeln, wurde zunächst ein Screening einer virtuellen Datenbank durchgeführt. Aus den Ergebnissen wurden acht strukturell heterogene potenzielle Inhibitoren ausgewählt und synthetisiert. Von diesen ist ein Salicylsäureamidderivat in niedriger mikromolarer Konzentration im zellbasierten Assay sowohl gegen intraerythrozytäre P. falciparum als auch gegen T. gondii Tachyzoiten wirksam. Im Folgenden gelang es, strukturbasiert Naphthoxyderivate mit einer verbesserten Wirkung sowohl gegen das Blut- als auch gegen das Leberstadium eines Malariaerregers zu entwickeln. Das aktivste Derivat ist sowohl im Blut- als auch im Wirkstadium in vitro dem in der Therapie etablierten Primaquin deutlich überlegen. Gleichzeitig eine dieser Verbindungen eine IC50 von unter 1 µM gegen T. gondii. Proliferation und Zelltod im Gewebe von Säugetieren sind gewöhnlich im Gleichgewicht. Der physiologische Zelltod von Neuronen tritt ausschließlich im Rahmen der pränatalen Entwicklung oder als pathologischer Prozess auf Grund von Krankheit auf. Programmierter neuronaler Zelltod wird mit dem pathologischen progredienten Verlust von Neuronen bei der Alzheimer-Krankheit, Parkinson und auch mit ischämischem oder traumatischem Insult in Verbindung gebracht. Der neuroprotektive Bid-Inhibitor BI-6C9 wurde von der Arbeitsgruppe von Maurizio Pellecchia entwickelt. Im Gegensatz zu den Ergebnissen aus in vitro Versuchen lässt sich jedoch in Tiermodellen für akute neuronale Schädigung kein protektiver Effekt für BI 6C9 messen. Um metabolisch labile Strukturelemente der Verbindung, die für die fehlende Wirkung von BI-6C9 in vivo verantwortlich sein können, zu substituieren, wurden strukturell heterogene kleine Moleküle entwickelt. Zunächst wurden Strukturelemente von BI-6c9 identifiziert, die für die pharmakologische Wirkung essenziell sind. Zusätzlich konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich einzelne, metabolisch labile Strukturelemente durch Bioisostere ersetzen lassen. Auf diese Weise wurden drei heterogene Substanzklassen mit neuroprotektiver Wirkung identifiziert. Eine dieser Verbindungen wurde zu einem Wirkstoff optimiert, der Ht-22 Zellen in niedriger mikromolarer Konzentration vor dem Zelltod schützt

Earthworm communities and their relation to above‐ground organic residues and water infiltration in perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) and annual silage maize (Zea mays) energy plants

Perennial energy cropping systems are hailed as a sustainable way of mitigating and potentially adapting to climate change. As a result of the absence of tillage, soils cropped with perennials like cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) promote abundant and functionally diverse earthworm communities. Hence, ecosystem service provision because of earthworm activity and functional redundancy, for example, litter decomposition, water infiltration and nutrient turnover, is considerably enhanced in perennial cropping systems. We studied the abundance and functional role of earthworms in non-tilled perennial systems and reduced-tilled annual systems to assess their relationship with the respective above-ground organic residues and their implications for the soil water dynamic. We sampled earthworms and simultaneously measured the saturated infiltration rate for two consecutive years in cup plant and maize (Zea mays) fields. Furthermore, we sampled above-ground litter each trimester in both systems and analysed the total C and N content and CN ratios. Our field investigations revealed significantly higher earthworm abundance, species diversity and richness in cup plant systems likely because of the absence of tillage and the formation of a litter layer. High abundances of juveniles in both maize and cup plant systems pointed to harsh habitat conditions likely because of temperature variations, waterlogging and bulk density. The respective field litter was of minor importance as a food source in both systems because of poor quality, but may positively affect the soil water balance in cup plant systems. Earthworm populations in maize may have been supported by organic fertilizer while earthworm populations in cup plants may have additionally benefitted from the extensive root network and a higher on-site plant diversity. Reduced tillage regimes in maize systems may have enhanced saturated infiltration rates. A direct link between earthworms and infiltration was not validated, but may not be excluded in the future, as earthworm populations may develop slowly because of adverse habitat conditions. Our results show that perennials support abundant and diverse earthworm populations and indicate the importance of functional redundancy and the diversity of food sources. The combination of both earthworm abundance and perennial cropping systems is capable of increasing on-site ecosystem stability and supporting adaptation to climate change by increasing functional redundancy and, ultimately, providing ecosystem services. The noticeable occurrence of the latter, however, may be delayed because of the slow establishment of earthworm communities and delayed build-up of ecosystems stability. Hence, a transitional phase is inevitable to reap the benefits of perennial energy cropping systems and must be accounted for

Microbial decay of wooden structures: actors, activities and means of protection

Wood decay fungi and bacteria play a crucial role in natural ecosystems, contributing to the decomposition of lignocellulosic materials and nutrient cycling. However, their activity poses significant challenges in timber durability, impacting industries reliant on wood as a construction material. This review examines the diversity of microorganisms damaging timber used indoors and outdoors. Additionally, traditional and advanced methods for microbial identification are discussed, with a focus on DNA-based, culture-independent sequencing methods whose importance has increased massively in recent years. It also provides an overview of the various options for wood protection, starting from wood protection by design, to chemical wood preservation and wood modification methods. This should illustrate how important it is to combine an ecological understanding of the decay organisms, precise identification and innovative wood protection methods in order to achieve a long-term and thus resource-saving use of wood