Stärke und Malto-Oligosaccharide in Möhrensorten aus ökologischer Züchtung

Until now starch and its metabolites malto-oligosaccharides have been overlooked as potentially important constituents of carbohydrates in carrots. A comparison of the organically bred cultivars Rodelika and Robila with the hybrid cultivars Maestro F1 and Starca F1 revealed that the content of malto-oligosaccharides in the organic cultivars (126 and 191 mg g-1 dry matter, respectively) surpassed the content in the two hybrid cultivars (86 and 89 mg g-1 dry matter, respectively), although the starch content was similar in all cultivars (between 50 and 70 mg g-1 dry matter). There were also cultivar differences in the pattern of glucose, fructose, and sucrose, however, the total amount of water-soluble carbohydrates (between 550 and 600 mg g-1 dry matter) was similar in each cultivar. Relatively high contents of starch and malto-oligosaccharides in carrot cultivars may be a key factor for their storage potential and quality

Threshold energy and impact ionization scattering rate calculations for strained silicon

In this work, a comprehensive method to obtain the impact ionization rate has been developed and applied to both strained and unstrained silicon. Special care was taken to find criteria which support the appropriateness of our choice of numerical methods, especially the integration method and the delta distribution approximation. The algorithm developed takes into account both efficiency and accuracy requirements. We investigate the impact of introducing stress on the impact ionization rate and observe that the impact ionization threshold is shifted to lower energies, but by a smaller amount than the band gap is lowered. This can be explained by the availability of fewer possibilities to satisfy both energy and momentum conservation conditions at the same tim

Qualität und Ertrag von Öko-Zwiebeln: Vergleich von Pflanzung und Direktsaat

Yield and quality (bulb size, sugar content and composition, pungency, initial sprout growth) of early and late transplanted and directly sown onions (cv. Sturon) were compared in field experiments (2009-2011) at different intensities of weeding (weed-free or mechanical weed control only). Early transplanting (weed-free) resulted in the highest yield and best quality performance, whereas late transplanting combined with mechanical weed control only (including harrowing weeds before transplanting onions) resulted in medium yield and quality, however, at a relatively low work-input. It is suggested that infection by powdery mildew was the key limiting factor in the development of yield and quality in late-transplanted and directly-sown onions

On a simple and accurate quantum correction for Monte Carlo simulation

We investigate a quantum-correction method for Monte Carlo device simulation. The method consists of reproducing quantum mechanical density-gradient simulation by classical drift-diffusion simulation with modified effective oxide thickness and work function and using these modifications subsequently in Monte Carlo simulation. This approach is found to be highly accurate and can be used fully automatically in a technology computer-aided design (TCAD) workbench project. As an example, the methodology is applied to the Monte Carlo simulation of the on-current scaling in p- and n-type MOSFETs corresponding to a 65 nm node technology. In particular, it turns out that considering only the total threshold voltage shift still involves a significant difference to a Monte Carlo simulation based on the combined correction of oxide thickness and work function. Ultimately, this quantum correction permits to consider surface scattering as a combination of specular and diffusive scattering where the conservation of energy and parallel wave vector in the specular part takes stress-induced band structure modifications and hence the corresponding surface mobility changes on a physical basis into accoun

Züchterische Verbesserung der sensorischen Qualität der Pastinake (Pastinaca sativa L.) im Praxisbetrieb

Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L.) is one of the few cultivated plants domesticated in Europe. The crop is underutilised and the number of available varieties is small in Central Europe. On-farm management of genetic resources can be an important means to increase infraspecific diversity, and to improve the quality of crops. In the present experiment quality-improvement by progeny selection on-farm was investigated. In a first step parsnips were selected for organoleptic quality by a technique that allows to harvest seeds from the plant tested. In a second step, progenies of positive- and negative-selected plants were compared with the original population. The experiment was carried out with the varieties Aromata (2006) and White King (2008) in biodynamic management. Organoleptic quality was determined according to a key developed for parsnip. Sugar contents were determined. Organoleptic selection significantly improved sweetness and flavour and can be recommended. However, selection was not efficient to improve texture

The feasibility of wireless capsule endoscopy in detecting small intestinal pathology in children under the age of 8 years: a multicentre European study.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the feasibility and methodology to carry out wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in children <8 years to define small intestinal pathology. Design: Prospective European multicentre study with negative prior investigation. Patients and interventions: 83 children aged 1.5–7.9 years were recruited. Initially, all were offered “swallowing” (Group 1) for capsule introduction. If this failed endoscopic placement (Group 2) was used and the Roth net, Advance or custom-made introducers were compared. Outcome measures: Primary endpoint: to determine pathology; secondary endpoint: comparison of capsule introduction methods. Results: Capsule introduction: 20 (24%) children aged 4.0–7.9 years (mean, 6.9 years; 14 male) comprising Group 1 were older (p<0.025) than 63 (76%) aged 1.5–7.9 years (mean, 5.25 years; 30 male) forming Group 2. Complications: Roth net mucosal trauma in 50%; no others occurred. The available recording apparatus was inappropriate for those <3 years. Indications: gastrointestinal bleeding: n = 30 (16 positive findings: four ulcerative jejunitis, four polyps, two angiodysplasia, two blue rubber blebs, two Meckel’s diverticula, one anastomotic ulcer, one reduplication); suspected Crohn’s disease: n = 20 (11 had Crohn’s disease); abdominal pain: n = 12 (six positive findings: three Crohn’s disease, two lymphonodular hyperplasia, one blue rubber bleb); protein loss: n = 9 (four lymphangectasia); malabsorption: n = 12 (seven positive findings: six enteropathy, one ascaris). No abnormalities overall: 45%. Conclusion: WCE is feasible and safe down to the age of 1.5 years. 20 children >4 years swallowed the capsule. The Advance introducer proved superior for endoscopic placement. The pathologies encountered showed age specificity and, unlike in adolescents, obscure gastrointestinal bleeding was the commonest indication

Zytokinprofil bei Patienten mit nekrotisierender Fasziitis

Die nekrotisierende Fasziitis ist eine seltene, ungewöhnlich schwere Entzündung der Faszien und des Subkutangewebes. Ursache ist eine meist polymikrobielle Infektion. Schwierig ist eine frühzeitige Abgrenzung von der Zellulitis, einer subkutan begrenzten Phlegmone. Die Therapie der nekrotisierenden Fasziitis besteht in der frühen Einleitung aggressiver chirurgischer Maßnahmen zur Sanierung des betroffenen Gewebes mit wiederholten Debridements und intravenöser Gabe von Breitspektrum-Antibiotika. Wird die nekrotisierende Fasziitis nicht frühzeitig therapiert, so zeichnet sie sich durch eine hohe Mortalitätsrate von 30 bis 50 % aus. Mit Hilfe dieser Arbeit sollte die Frage beantwortet werden, ob die Messung von Serumzytokinen zu einer frühzeitigen Diagnosefindung und Abschätzung der Prognose bei nekrotisierender Fasziitis beitragen kann. Grundlage der vorliegenden Arbeit ist eine prospektive klinische Studie, in der über maximal 36 Stunden nach Aufnahme das Zytokinprofil mit Hilfe der Elektrochemilumineszenzmethode von Patienten mit Verdacht auf nekrotisierende Fasziitis bestimmt wurde. Bei fünfzehn von zwanzig Patienten wurde die Diagnose nekrotisierende Fasziitis bestätigt, fünf Patienten hatten eine Zellulitis und weitere fünf Patienten mit Myokardinfarkt wurden als Vergleichspatienten eingeschlossen. Bei den fünf Patienten mit tödlichem Ausgang der nekrotisierende Fasziitis waren im Vergleich zu den Überlebenden bei Aufnahme die Serumspiegel für Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-1-Rezeptorantagonist, Interleukin-18 und Interferon-γ, sowie die Anzahl der Blutleukozyten signifikant erhöht. Interleukin-1-Rezeptorantagonist und Leukozytenzahl waren ebenso höher als bei den Patienten mit Zellulitis. Für Interleukin-6 und Interleukin-8 wurden keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den Patientengruppen gesehen. Bei allen Patienten mit nekrotisierender Fasziitis korrelierten die Serumspiegel für die Zytokine der Interleukin-1-Familie – Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-1 Rezeptor-Antagonist und Interleukin-18 –positiv mit der Anzahl der Leukozyten bei Aufnahme. Darüber hinaus war bei Aufnahme die Infektion mit Staph. aureus in Patienten mit nekrotisierender Fasziitis mit erhöhten Werten für Interleukin-1β und Interleukin-18 assoziiert. Zusammenfassend ist festzustellen, dass erhöhte Serumspiegel von Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-18, Interferon-γ und insbesondere Interleukin-1-Rezeptor-Antagonist mit tödlichem Ausgang der nekrotisierenden Fasziitis assoziiert sind. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt Hinweise darauf, dass die Messung dieser Zytokine zu einer frühzeitigen Diagnosefindung und Abschätzung der Prognose bei nekrotisierender Fasziitis beitragen könnte und daraus resultierend durch frühzeitige Einleitung einer aggressiven Therapie zu einer Verbesserung der Überlebensrate führt. Da der Interleukin-1-Rezeptor-Antagonist sowohl eine Differenzierung zwischen den Überlebenden und den Verstorbenen mit nekrotisierender Fasziitis, wie auch eine Unterscheidung zwischen Zellulitis und nekrotisierender Fasziitis zulässt, sollte vor allem auf die Messung dieses Zytokins ein Hauptaugenmerk gelegt werden. Solange noch keine schnelle, zuverlässige Methode zur Messung von Interleukin-1 Rezeptor-Antagonist verfügbar ist, sollte eine ausgeprägte Leukozytose ohne Fieber bei entsprechender klinischer Symptomatik den Verdacht auf nekrotisierende Fasziitis lenken. In diesem Fall ist ein rasches operatives Vorgehen gerechtfertigt, um die Prognose des Patienten zu verbessern

The ability of the corneal shape to adapt to acclimatisation with and without soft lenses during a change of altitude

Changes in corneal shape at altitude have not been the subject of research, but are relevant to mountaineers. Chapters 1 and 2 of this thesis review the literature of the anatomy and physiology of the cornea, and factors affecting corneal physiology. Among these factors, and of particular relevance to mountaineers, is that the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is reduced at high altitude and could contribute to corneal oedema and corneal shape change. When the cornea is subjected to reduced oxygen levels at low altitude there is no consensus as to the level of oxygen which leads to corneal oedema, but some researchers have found the critical oxygen level to be sufficiently high to lend support to the anecdotal reports from high altitude mountaineers that reduced visual acuity does occur at high altitudes (e.g. the summit of Mt. Everest), presumably as a result of corneal oedema. However, there are no reports in the literature that ascending to an altitude of 15 000 ft has any influence on visual acuity. It appears that light scatter induced by a possible oedematous reaction of the cornea to hypoxia at altitudes of up to 15 000 ft is not sufficient to have any influence on visual acuity. Other influential factors apart from low oxygen levels, such as low humidity, low temperature, and interactions between the meteorological factors described as weather, could also have an influence on corneal shape change. A low pressure chamber is an ideal instrument to test each influential factor while other factors are kept constant, however the weather can not be simulated unless experiments are carried out under the natural conditions experienced in the real world. The hypothesis to be tested in the experimental work described in this thesis is that “the cornea is able to adapt to changing conditions and exhibits no significant change in the corneal shape up to 16,400 ft.” Measurements were taken during a high-altitude trek in Nepal and the equipment used and its validation is described in Chapter 3 for measurements of air pressure, altitude, temperature, and humidity. Calibrations against a suitable gold standard and/or manufacturers’ tolerances were undertaken and found to be satisfactory for all instruments to be taken on the trek. A lack of repeatability and validity for the Tono-Pen® XL tonometer had to be accepted because, for safety reasons, IOP had to be measured from the sclera on the trek. There is evidence to suggest that the Tono-Pen manufacturer’s conversion table to convert from measurements taken from the sclera at the limbus rather than from the cornea may be inaccurate. Details are given of the method for measuring corneal shape using an Oculus keratographer, whose output was converted into combined variables consisting of Zemike polynomials and an ellipsoid. A residual rms value was generated from the Zemicke polynomials and was used to describe corneal shape change. Repeatability of the residual rms measurements was not as good as anticipated. However, it was comparable between the two keratographers tested and the variability was regarded as acceptable. The research detailed in this thesis investigates corneal shape change in 11 normal subjects, aged 35 to 54 years, over a period of four days at low altitude (Chapter 4) and in 9 normal subjects, aged 45 to 60 years, on a three week high-altitude trekking tour of Nepal, which reached an altitude of 16,400 feet (Chapter 6). In both studies, measurements were taken three times each day (morning, noon, and evening). Both samples included three subjects who wore soft contact lenses, to investigate if any aspect of corneal shape change was different among contact lens wearers. For all contact lens wearers, the fit and comfort of the lenses were checked during an examination of both the anterior and posterior eye. For the low altitude study (Chapter 4) descriptive statistics reveal a slight tendency for residual rms values to be higher in the small sample of contact lens wearers. No significant corneal shape change with time of day was detected for either the non contact lens wearer category (p = 0.808) or for the contact lens wearer category (p = 0.210). No significant change in corneal shape was found over four days for either the non contact lens wearer category (p = 0.62, p = 0.32, p = 0.11) or for the contact lens wearer category (p = 0.11, p = 0.09, p = 0.35) for morning, noon or evening tests respectively. Chapter 5 describes the complex logistics of the trek, which was organised by the author to allow the battery of tests to be completed at high altitude. In the high altitude study (Chapter 6), residual rms values were analysed with the data categorised according to 5 altitude levels (altitude samples). Descriptive statistics generally show higher sample mean residual rms values at high altitude, greater maximum residual rms values at high altitude, and greater residual rms values in the contact lens wearers. There are statistically significant increases in residual rms values with altitude, identified by ANOVA testing, for both non contact lens wearers (p = 0.0061) and contact lens wearers (p = 0.0002) for their evening tests. The low altitude reference sample l(up to 3,280ft) had a statistically significantly lower mean residual rms value than samples 2 (3,280 to 6,560ft) and 5 (above 13,120 ft) for both contact lens wearers and non wearers, and sample 1 mean was also statistically significantly lower than sample 4 (9,840ft to 13,120ft) for the non wearers. The meteorological data revealed a very stable weather situation throughout the entire testing phase of the trek. For each eye tested there was very little or no evidence for any linear association between residual rms and humidity (rmean = 0.24), air pressure (rmean = 0.18), temperature (rmean = 0.20), or altitude (rmean = 0.19). Transient retinal vasculature changes occurred in two subjects. The degree of contact lens movement increased for all three subjects during the trek. The z-value, the distance between the highest and deepest point of the corneal shape described by the Zemike coefficients, was analysed at both low and high altitude for each subject. There is a tendency for the mean z-values for contact lens wearers to be higher than those of the non contact lens wearers at both low and high altitude. The findings from this study suggest that contact lens wear causes an increase in z-values irrespective of altitude. There is also a tendency for a greater range of z-values to be found in contact lens wearers. The risk of contact lens wear inducing irritations rises dramatically when movement of the contact lens is influenced by a very variable z-value. This elevated range of z-values at high altitude should undoubtedly be taken into consideration during lens fitting for mountaineers who wish to ascend to high altitudes. The conclusions of this thesis should be interpreted with caution, due to the small samples; however the hypothesis is rejected for the evening measurements. The corneal shape changes detailed in this thesis are likely to be the result of a combination of a reduced oxygen partial pressure at high altitudes, possibly exacerbated by fatigue, and, for contact lens wearers, the effects of the contact lens on the cornea. Unfortunately, there was limited time available to complete the battery of tests at altitude and limited electrical power on the trek. These factors limited the number and range of tests that could be carried out, and as a result no measurements of visual function with altitude were included in the study