56 research outputs found
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Barrier properties of GnP-PA-extruded films
It is generally known that significant improvements in the properties of nanocomposites can be achieved with graphene types currently commercially available. However, so far this is only possible on a laboratory scale. Thus, the aim of this study was to transfer results from laboratory scale experiments to industrial processes. Therefore, nanocomposites based on polyamide (PA) and graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) were prepared in order to produce membranes with improved gas barrier properties, which are characterized by reduced permeation rates of helium. First, nanocomposites were prepared with different amounts of commercial availably graphene nanoplatelets using a semi-industrial-scale compounder. Subsequently, films were produced by compression molding at different temperatures, as well as by flat film extrusion. The extruded films were annealed at different temperatures and durations. In order to investigate the effect of thermal treatment on barrier properties in correlation to thermal, structural, and morphological properties, the films were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), melt rheology measurements, and permeation measurements. In addition to structural characterization, mechanical properties were investigated. The results demonstrate that the permeation rate is strongly influenced by the processing conditions and the filler content. If the filler content is increased, the permeation rate is reduced. The annealing process can further enhance this effect
a versatile tool for the analysis and integrative visualization of DNA copy number variants
Background The analysis of DNA copy number variants (CNV) has increasing
impact in the field of genetic diagnostics and research. However, the
interpretation of CNV data derived from high resolution array CGH or NGS
platforms is complicated by the considerable variability of the human genome.
Therefore, tools for multidimensional data analysis and comparison of patient
cohorts are needed to assist in the discrimination of clinically relevant CNVs
from others. Results We developed GenomeCAT, a standalone Java application for
the analysis and integrative visualization of CNVs. GenomeCAT is composed of
three modules dedicated to the inspection of single cases, comparative
analysis of multidimensional data and group comparisons aiming at the
identification of recurrent aberrations in patients sharing the same
phenotype, respectively. Its flexible import options ease the comparative
analysis of own results derived from microarray or NGS platforms with data
from literature or public depositories. Multidimensional data obtained from
different experiment types can be merged into a common data matrix to enable
common visualization and analysis. All results are stored in the integrated
MySQL database, but can also be exported as tab delimited files for further
statistical calculations in external programs. Conclusions GenomeCAT offers a
broad spectrum of visualization and analysis tools that assist in the
evaluation of CNVs in the context of other experiment data and annotations.
The use of GenomeCAT does not require any specialized computer skills. The
various R packages implemented for data analysis are fully integrated into
GenomeCATs graphical user interface and the installation process is supported
by a wizard. The flexibility in terms of data import and export in combination
with the ability to create a common data matrix makes the program also well
suited as an interface between genomic data from heterogeneous sources and
external software tools. Due to the modular architecture the functionality of
GenomeCAT can be easily extended by further R packages or customized plug-ins
to meet future requirements
Left atrial diverticulum - An unexpected finding in routine transesophageal echocardiography
We report a 55-year-old male patient with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent routine transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) at our institution. In a mid-esophageal 125 degrees three-chamber angulation, a distinct thinning of the left atrial (LA) wall was observed, forming a 7 x 4 mm canal with only a small membrane separating the LA from the pericardial space. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed a small LA diverticulum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first manuscript describing detection of a small LA diverticulum via TOE
In(tra)-Action Review (IAR): COVID-19-Management an IGV-benannten FlughÀfen in Deutschland, September 2020 bis Mai 2021
Die MaĂnahmen zur EindĂ€mmung der COVID-19-Pandemie haben auch den Luftfahrtsektor stark beeinflusst und die zustĂ€ndigen Gesundheitsbehörden vor neue Herausforderungen gestellt. Unter FederfĂŒhrung des RKI wurde am 20.05.2021 ein In(tra)-Action Review durchgefĂŒhrt, um die COVID-19-BewĂ€ltigung an IGV-benannten FlughĂ€fen in Deutschland von September 2020 bis Mai 2021 zu analysieren und gemeinsam mit den teilnehmenden Vertreterinnen und Vertretern der Gesundheitsbehörden auf lokaler, Landes- und Bundesebene, der Sicherheitsbehörden sowie des Luftfahrtsektors Handlungsempfehlungen zu entwickeln.Peer Reviewe
Genetic Associations and Differential mRNA Expression Levels of Host Genes Suggest a Viral Trigger for Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus
The long search for the environmental trigger of the endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF,
fogo selvagem) has not yet resulted in any tangible findings. Here, we searched for genetic asso ciations and the differential expression of host genes involved in early viral infections and innate
antiviral defense. Genetic variants could alter the structure, expression sites, or levels of the gene
products, impacting their functions. By analyzing 3063 variants of 166 candidate genes in 227 EPF
patients and 194 controls, we found 12 variants within 11 genes associated with differential suscepti bility (p < 0.005) to EPF. The products of genes TRIM5, TPCN2, EIF4E, EIF4E3, NUP37, NUP50, NUP88,
TPR, USP15, IRF8, and JAK1 are involved in different mechanisms of viral control, for example, the
regulation of viral entry into the host cell or recognition of viral nucleic acids and proteins. Only two
of nine variants were also associated in an independent German cohort of sporadic PF (75 patients,
150 controls), aligning with our hypothesis that antiviral host genes play a major role in EPF due to a
specific virusâhuman interaction in the endemic region. Moreover, CCL5, P4HB, and APOBEC3G
mRNA levels were increased (p < 0.001) in CD4+ T lymphocytes of EPF patients. Because there is
limited or no evidence that these genes are involved in autoimmunity, their crucial role in antiviral responses and the associations that we observed support the hypothesis of a viral trigger for EPF,
presumably a still unnoticed flavivirus. This work opens new frontiers in searching for the trigger
of EPF, with the potential to advance translational research that aims for disease prevention and
treatment
Outcome Prediction in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane OxygenationâA Retrospective International Multicenter Study
The role of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (V-V ECMO) in
severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is still under debate and conclusive
data from large cohorts are scarce. Furthermore, criteria for the selection of patients that benefit most
from this highly invasive and resource-demanding therapy are yet to be defined. In this study, we
assess survival in an international multicenter cohort of COVID-19 patients treated with V-V ECMO
and evaluate the performance of several clinical scores to predict 30-day survival. Methods: This is
an investigator-initiated retrospective non-interventional international multicenter registry study
(NCT04405973, first registered 28 May 2020). In 127 patients treated with V-V ECMO at 15 centers in
Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, and the United States, we calculated the Sequential Organ
Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) Score, Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane
Oxygenation Survival Prediction (RESP) Score, Predicting Death for Severe ARDS on V-V ECMO
(PRESERVE) Score, and 30-day survival. Results: In our study cohort which enrolled 127 patients,
overall 30-day survival was 54%. Median SOFA, SAPS II, APACHE II, RESP, and PRESERVE were 9,
36, 17, 1, and 4, respectively. The prognostic accuracy for all these scores (area under the receiver
operating characteristicâAUROC) ranged between 0.548 and 0.605. Conclusions: The use of scores
for the prediction of mortality cannot be recommended for treatment decisions in severe COVID-19
ARDS undergoing V-V ECMO; nevertheless, scoring results below or above a specific cut-off value
may be considered as an additional tool in the evaluation of prognosis. Survival rates in this cohort of
COVID-19 patients treated with V-V ECMO were slightly lower than those reported in non-COVID-19
ARDS patients treated with V-V ECMO
DYX1C1 is required for axonemal dynein assembly and ciliary motility
DYX1C1 has been associated with dyslexia and neuronal migration in the developing neocortex. Unexpectedly, we found that deleting exons 2â4 of Dyx1c1 in mice caused a phenotype resembling primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a disorder characterized by chronic airway disease, laterality defects and male infertility. This phenotype was confirmed independently in mice with a Dyx1c1 c.T2A start-codon mutation recovered from an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen. Morpholinos targeting dyx1c1 in zebrafish also caused laterality and ciliary motility defects. In humans, we identified recessive loss-of-function DYX1C1 mutations in 12 individuals with PCD. Ultrastructural and immunofluorescence analyses of DYX1C1-mutant motile cilia in mice and humans showed disruptions of outer and inner dynein arms (ODAs and IDAs, respectively). DYX1C1 localizes to the cytoplasm of respiratory epithelial cells, its interactome is enriched for molecular chaperones, and it interacts with the cytoplasmic ODA and IDA assembly factor DNAAF2 (KTU). Thus, we propose that DYX1C1 is a newly identified dynein axonemal assembly factor (DNAAF4)
DroneNavigator: Using Leashed and Free-Floating Quadcopters to Navigate Visually Impaired Travelers.
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