Hyperconvexe puntverzamelingen

Der Begriff "uberkonvex" wurde in die Mathematik eingefuhrt von Herrn A. E. MAYER und zwar durch dessen in der "Mathematisehen Zeitsehrift" erschienenen Aufsatz: "Eine Ueberkonvexitat". Diese Arbeit hat mich zum Sehreiben meiner Dissertation veranlaszt. Zuvor gebe ich eine kurze Ubersicht der MAYERschen Arbeit. ... Zie: Einleitun

Improved Synthesis of C2-Symmetrical Pyridinediols and Synthesis of Cs-Symmetrical Pyridinediols

Base-induced reaction of 2,6-dimethylpyridine (2,6-lutidine) (1) with two equivalents of various ketones has been reported to provide C2-symmetrical pyridine diols 3. Closer examination reveals that competitive di-addition to a single methyl group can occur providing Cs-symmetrical pyridine diols 7. By varying the lithiation times, the formation of this side product could be maximized or minimized on the basis of a mechanistic proposal for the competing pathways. The formation of the Cs-diol 7 could be excluded completely by using potassium diisopropylamide as base; high yields of C2-symmetrical pyridine diols 3 are obtained. Regioselective additions of 1 to (R)-fenchone and (-)-menthone were also achieved.

Enhanced Humoral Immune Response After COVID-19 Vaccination in Elderly Kidney Transplant Recipients on Everolimus Versus Mycophenolate Mofetil-containing Immunosuppressive Regimens

BACKGROUND: Elderly kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) represent almost one third of the total kidney transplant population. These patients have a very high coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related mortality, whereas their response to COVID-19 vaccination is impaired. Finding ways to improve the COVID-19 vaccination response in this vulnerable population is of uttermost importance. METHODS: In the OPTIMIZE trial, we randomly assign elderly KTRs to an immunosuppressive regimen with standard-exposure calcineurin inhibitor (CNI), mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone or an adapted regimen with low dose CNI, everolimus, and prednisolone. In this substudy, we measured the humoral response after 2 (N = 32) and 3 (N = 22) COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations and the cellular response (N = 15) after 2 vaccinations. RESULTS: . The seroconversion rates of elderly KTRs on a standard immunosuppressive regimen were only 13% and 38% after 2 and 3 vaccinations, respectively, whereas the response rates of KTRs on the everolimus regimen were significantly higher at 56% (P = 0.009) and 100% (P = 0.006). Levels of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaVirus 2 IgG antibodies were significantly higher at both time points in the everolimus group (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001). There were no differences in cellular response after vaccination. CONCLUSION: . An immunosuppressive regimen without mycophenolate mofetil, a lower CNI dose, and usage of everolimus is associated with a higher humoral response rate after COVID-19 vaccination in elderly KTRs after transplantation. This encouraging finding should be investigated in larger cohorts, including transplant recipients of all ages

An enhanced switching policy for buck-derived multi-level switching power amplifiers

This work proposes a switching policy for multi-level fullbridge switching power converters and analyses their performance by driving them with a multi-level PWM modulation, targeting highefficiency power amplifiers. Unlike conventional policies, which generate the output voltage levels only from the values of the supply voltages, this enhanced policy also uses the values of the voltage difference between supply voltages to generate additional output voltage levels, therefore maximising the number of output voltage levels for a given set of supply voltages and connection switches. Simulation results show that, when tracking a band-limited signal, the proposed switching policy can reduce the power of the high-frequency spectral content from 21% to 11% by upgrading a 5-level amplifier to a 7-level amplifier without adding supply voltages or connection switches.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Cognitive functioning in glioblastoma patients during radiotherapy and temozolomide treatment: initial findings

The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive functioning in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients during treatment with radiotherapy (RT) plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ). Cognitive assessment took place following surgery, but prior to the start of RT (baseline), after 6 weeks of RT and concomitant TMZ (1st follow-up), and after three cycles of adjuvant TMZ (2nd follow-up). Standardized cognitive summary measures and delta scores for six cognitive domains were calculated at the individual level. Cognitive functioning of progression-free GBM patients was compared to that of matched healthy controls. Analyses were performed on a group of 13 GBM patients that were progression-free during follow-up. The results showed that the majority of patients had deficits in multiple cognitive domains at baseline. Between baseline and 1st follow-up, four patients improved in one cognitive domain, four patients deteriorated in one domain, one patient improved in one domain and deteriorated in another, and four patients remained stable in all six domains. Between 1st and 2nd follow-up, the majority of patients (11) remained stable in all six cognitive domains, whereas one patient declined in one domain, and one patient showed a deterioration in two domains. Overall, between baseline and 2nd follow-up, three patients improved in one cognitive domain, two patients deteriorated in two domains, one patient improved in one domain and deteriorated in another, and seven patients remained stable in all six cognitive domains. In conclusion, preceding treatment, the majority of GBM patients show clear-cut deficits in cognitive functioning. In the course of the first 6 months of their disease, however, progression-free GBM patients undergoing radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide treatment do not deteriorate in cognitive functioning