Structural determinants in the bulk heterojunction

A multiscale approach is used to characterize essential morphological features of the bulk heterojunction

Development of a flow cytometric bead immunoassay and its assessment as a possible aid to potency evaluation of enterotoxaemia vaccines

Enterotoxaemia, an economically important disease of sheep, goats and calves, is caused by systemic effects of the epsilon toxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium perfringens type D. The only practical means of controlling the occurrence of enterotoxaemia is to immunise animals by vaccination. The vaccine is prepared by deriving a toxoid from the bacterial culture filtrate and the potency of the vaccine is tested with the in vivo mouse neutralisation test (MNT). Due to ethical, economic and technical reasons, alternative in vitro assays are needed. In this study an indirect cytometric bead immunoassay (I-CBA) was developed for use in vaccine potency testing and the results were compared with those obtained using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) and the MNT. Sera were collected from guinea pigs immunised with three different production batches of enterotoxaemia vaccine and the levels of anti-epsilon toxin antibodies were determined. Although the intra- and inter-assay variability was satisfactory, epsilon antitoxin levels determined by both the I-ELISA and indirect cytometric bead immunoassay (I-CBA) tests were higher than those of the MNT assay. In contrast to the MNT, all of the serum samples were identified as having antitoxin levels above the required minimum (not less than 5 U/mL). These results indicate that the respective in vitro tests in their current formats are not yet suitable alternatives to the in vivo MNT. The growing demand for a more humane, costeffective and efficient method for testing the potency of enterotoxaemia vaccines, however, provides a strong impetus for further optimisation and standardisation of the I-CBA assay but further analytical research is required.Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP)http://www.jsava.co.zaam201

A Sensor-Driven Visit Detection System in Older Adults Homes: Towards Digital Late-Life Depression Marker Extraction

Modern sensor technology is increasingly used in older adults to not only provide additional safety but also to monitor health status, often by means of sensor derived digital measures or biomarkers. Social isolation is a known risk factor for late-life depression, and a potential component of social-isolation is the lack of home visits. Therefore, home visits may serve as a digital measure for social isolation and late-life depression. Late-life depression is a common mental and emotional disorder in the growing population of older adults. The disorder, if untreated, can significantly decrease quality of life and, amongst other effects, leads to increased mortality. Late-life depression often goes undiagnosed due to associated stigma and the incorrect assumption that it is a normal part of ageing. In this work, we propose a visit detection system that generalizes well to previously unseen apartments - which may differ largely in layout, sensor placement, and size from apartments found in the semi-annotated training dataset. We find that by using a self-training-based domain adaptation strategy, a robust system to extract home visit information can be built (ROC AUC=0.773). We further show that the resulting visit information correlates well with the common geriatric depression scale screening tool (=-0.87, p=0.001), providing further support for the idea of utilizing the extracted information as a potential digital measure or even as a digital biomarker to monitor the risk of late-life depression

Regulation of Connective Tissue Growth Factor Expression Influences the Cell Viability In Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) induces extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and contractility in human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells. Both processes are involved in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma. To date, little is known about regulation and function of CTGF expression in the trabecular meshwork (TM). Therefore, we analysed the effects of different aqueous humour proteins and stressors on CTGF expression in HTM cells. HTM cells from three different donors were treated with endothelin-1, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, angiotensin-II, H2O2 and heat shock and were analysed by immunohistochemistry, real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting. Viability after H2O2 treatment was measured in CTGF silenced HTM-N cells and their controls. Latrunculin A reduced expression of CTGF by about 50% compared to untreated HTM cells, whereas endothelin-1, IGF-1, angiotensin-II, heat shock and oxidative stress led to a significant increase. Silencing of CTGF resulted in a delayed expression of αB-crystallin and in reduced cell viability in comparison to the controls after oxidative stress. Conversely, CTGF treatment led to a higher cell viability rate after H2O2 treatment. CTGF expression is induced by factors that have been linked to glaucoma. An increased level of CTGF appears to protect TM cells against damage induced by stress. The beneficial effect of CTGF for viability of TM cells is likely associated with the effects on increased ECM synthesis and higher contractility of the TM, thereby contributing to reduced aqueous humour outflow facility causing increased intraocular pressure

Der Norden holt auf: Gründung und Anfänge der Universität Rostock im Spiegel ihrer Quellen

Aus Anlass des 600. Jubiläums der Entstehung der Alma Mater Rostochiensis wurde in deren "Schatzkammer" als Teil des Universitätsarchivs mit einer Ausstellung gezeigt, wie der Norden zu Beginn des 15. Jahrhunderts im Bildungsbereich aufholte. ... Die vorliegende Publikation erscheint begleitend zu den Ausstellungen im Jubiläumsjahr 2019 und verbindet allgemeine und spezifische Texte zur frühen Universitätsgeschichte mit Abbildungen, die ungewöhnliche Ein- und Ausblicke auf und in deren Quellen ermöglichen

Identification of compounds responsible for the anthelmintic effects of chicory (Cichorium intybus) by molecular networking and bio-guided fractionation

[EN] Increasing resistance towards anthelmintic drugs has necessitated the search for alternative treatments for the control of gastrointestinal nematode parasites. Animals fed on chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), a temperate (pasture) crop, have reduced parasite burdens, hence making C. intybus a potentially useful source for novel anthelmintic compounds or a diet-based preventive/therapeutic option. Here, we utilized in vitro bioassays with the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum and molecular networking techniques with five chicory cultivars to identify putative active compounds. Network analysis predicted sesquiterpene lactones (SL) as the most likely group of anthelmintic compounds. Further bioassay-guided fractionation supported these predictions, and isolation of pure compounds demonstrated that the SL 8-deoxylactucin (8-DOL) is the compound most strongly associated with anti-parasitic activity. Furthermore, we showed that 8-DOL acts in a synergistic combination with other SL to exert the anti-parasitic effects. Finally, we established that chicory-derived extracts also showed activity against two ruminant nematodes (Teladorsagia circumcincta and Cooperia oncophora) in in vitro assays. Collectively, our results confirm the anti-parasitic activity of chicory against a range of nematodes, and pave the way for targeted extraction of active compounds or selective breeding of specific cultivars to optimize its future use in human and veterinary medicineSIWe are very grateful for the guidance and support by Dr. Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen and Christopher Phippen, Technical University of Denmark, Natural product discovery, and the laboratory assistance of Mette Schjelde, University of Copenhagen. This work was funded by the Danish Council for Independent Research (Grant DFF–6111-00394). Fractionation and purification of compounds were further supported by the Green Development and Demonstration Program (GUDP) (Project No. 34009-17-1220). MPE was supported by CONICYT Chile (FONDECYT Postdoctorado #3170875

Medical Device Development for Children and Young People—Reviewing the Challenges and Opportunities

Development of specific medical devices (MDs) is required to meet the healthcare needs of children and young people (CYP). In this context, MD development should address changes in growth and psychosocial maturation, physiology, and pathophysiology, and avoid inappropriate repurposing of adult technologies. Underpinning the development of MD for CYP is the need to ensure MD safety and effectiveness through pediatric MD-specific regulations. Contrary to current perceptions of limited market potential, the global pediatric healthcare market is expected to generate around USD 15,984 million by 2025. There are 1.8 billion young people in the world today; 40% of the global population is under 24, creating significant future healthcare market opportunities. This review highlights a number of technology areas that have led to successful pediatric MD, including 3D printing, advanced materials, drug delivery, and diagnostic imaging. To ensure the targeted development of MD for CYP, collaboration across multiple professional disciplines is required, facilitated by a platform to foster collaboration and drive innovation. The European Pediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (EPTRI) will be established as the European platform to support collaboration, including the life sciences industrial sector, to identify unmet needs in child health and support the development, adoption, and commercialization of pediatric MDs