Untersuchung zur Sprachverständlichkeit bei Schulkindern unter Variation der tieffrequenten Nachhallzeit

Studien zum Einfluss von tieffrequentem Nachhall auf die Sprachverständlichkeit (SV) unter Anwendung von Hörversuchen sind wenige bekannt. Keine der genannten Studien bezieht Kinder als maßgebendes Auditorium in Bildungsstätten, und im Vergleich mit Erwachsenen stärker beeinflussten Gruppe, in die Hörversuche ein

Pressure control of nonferroelastic ferroelectric domains in ErMnO3

Mechanical pressure controls the structural, electric, and magnetic order in solid-state systems, allowing tailoring of their physical properties. A well-established example is ferroelastic ferroelectrics, where the coupling between pressure and the primary symmetry-breaking order parameter enables hysteretic switching of the strain state and ferroelectric domain engineering. Here, we study the pressure-driven response in a nonferroelastic ferroelectric, ErMnO3, where the classical stress–strain coupling is absent and the domain formation is governed by creation–annihilation processes of topological defects. By annealing ErMnO3 polycrystals under variable pressures in the MPa regime, we transform nonferroelastic vortex-like domains into stripe-like domains. The width of the stripe-like domains is determined by the applied pressure as we confirm by three-dimensional phase field simulations, showing that pressure leads to oriented layer-like periodic domains. Our work demonstrates the possibility to utilize mechanical pressure for domain engineering in nonferroelastic ferroelectrics, providing a lever to control their dielectric and piezoelectric responses

Design of a Trispecific Checkpoint Inhibitor and Natural Killer Cell Engager Based on a 2 + 1 Common Light Chain Antibody Architecture

Natural killer cell engagers gained enormous interest in recent years due to their potent anti-tumor activity and favorable safety profile. Simultaneously, chicken-derived antibodies entered clinical studies paving the way for avian-derived therapeutics. In this study, we describe the affinity maturation of a common light chain (cLC)-based, chickenderived antibody targeting EGFR, followed by utilization of the same light chain for the isolation of CD16a- and PD-L1-specific monoclonal antibodies. The resulting binders target their respective antigen with single-digit nanomolar affinity while blocking the ligand binding of all three respective receptors. Following library-based humanization, bispecific and trispecific variants in a standard 1 + 1 or a 2 + 1 common light chain format were generated, simultaneously targeting EGFR, CD16a, and PD-L1. The trispecific antibody mediated an elevated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in comparison to the EGFR×CD16a bispecific variant by effectively bridging EGFR/PD-L1 double-positive cancer cells with CD16a-positive effector cells. These findings represent, to our knowledge, the first detailed report on the generation of a trispecific 2 + 1 antibodies exhibiting a common light chain and illustrate synergistic effects of trispecific antigen binding. Overall, this generic procedure paves the way for the engineering of tri- and oligospecific therapeutic antibodies derived from avian immunizations

Impact of porcine cytomegalovirus on long-term orthotopic cardiac xenotransplant survival

Xenotransplantation using pig organs has achieved survival times up to 195 days in pig orthotopic heart transplantation into baboons. Here we demonstrate that in addition to an improved immunosuppressive regimen, non-ischaemic preservation with continuous perfusion and control of post-transplantation growth of the transplant, prevention of transmission of the porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) plays an important role in achieving long survival times. For the first time we demonstrate that PCMV transmission in orthotopic pig heart xenotransplantation was associated with a reduced survival time of the transplant and increased levels of IL-6 and TNF alpha were found in the transplanted baboon. Furthermore, high levels of tPA-PAI-1 complexes were found, suggesting a complete loss of the pro-fibrinolytic properties of the endothelial cells. These data show that PCMV has an important impact on transplant survival and call for elimination of PCMV from donor pigs

Seroepidemiological study on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Germany:

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has spread rapidly across Germany. Infections are likely to be under-recorded in the notification data from local health authorities on laboratory-confirmed cases since SARS-CoV-2 infections can proceed with few symptoms and then often remain undetected. Seroepidemiological studies allow the estimation of the proportion in the population that has been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (seroprevalence) as well as the extent of undetected infections. The ‘CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit’ study (RKI-SOEP study) collects biospecimens and interview data in a nationwide population sample drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). Participants are sent materials to self-collect a dry blood sample of capillary blood from their finger and a swab sample from their mouth and nose, as well as a questionnaire. The samples returned are tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and SARS-CoV-2 RNA to identify past or present infections. The methods applied enable the identification of SARS-CoV-2 infections, including those that previously went undetected. In addition, by linking the data collected with available SOEP data, the study has the potential to investigate social and health-related differences in infection status. Thus, the study contributes to an improved understanding of the extent of the epidemic in Germany, as well as identification of target groups for infection protection

Novel facultative Methylocella strains are active methane consumers at terrestrial natural gas seeps

Natural gas seeps contribute to global climate change by releasing substantial amounts of the potent greenhouse gas methane and other climate-active gases including ethane and propane to the atmosphere. However, methanotrophs, bacteria capable of utilising methane as the sole source of carbon and energy, play a significant role in reducing the emissions of methane from many environments. Methylocella-like facultative methanotrophs are a unique group of bacteria that grow on other components of natural gas (i.e. ethane and propane) in addition to methane but a little is known about the distribution and activity of Methylocella in the environment. The purposes of this study were to identify bacteria involved in cycling methane emitted from natural gas seeps and, most importantly, to investigate if Methylocella-like facultative methanotrophs were active utilisers of natural gas at seep sites

SIVagm Infection in Wild African Green Monkeys from South Africa: Epidemiology, Natural History, and Evolutionary Considerations

Pathogenesis studies of SIV infection have not been performed to date in wild monkeys due to difficulty in collecting and storing samples on site and the lack of analytical reagents covering the extensive SIV diversity. We performed a large scale study of molecular epidemiology and natural history of SIVagm infection in 225 free-ranging AGMs from multiple locations in South Africa. SIV prevalence (established by sequencing pol, env, and gag) varied dramatically between infant/juvenile (7%) and adult animals (68%) (p<0.0001), and between adult females (78%) and males (57%). Phylogenetic analyses revealed an extensive genetic diversity, including frequent recombination events. Some AGMs harbored epidemiologically linked viruses. Viruses infecting AGMs in the Free State, which are separated from those on the coastal side by the Drakensberg Mountains, formed a separate cluster in the phylogenetic trees; this observation supports a long standing presence of SIV in AGMs, at least from the time of their speciation to their Plio-Pleistocene migration. Specific primers/probes were synthesized based on the pol sequence data and viral loads (VLs) were quantified. VLs were of 104-106 RNA copies/ml, in the range of those observed in experimentally-infected monkeys, validating the experimental approaches in natural hosts. VLs were significantly higher (107-108 RNA copies/ml) in 10 AGMs diagnosed as acutely infected based on SIV seronegativity (Fiebig II), which suggests a very active transmission of SIVagm in the wild. Neither cytokine levels (as biomarkers of immune activation) nor sCD14 levels (a biomarker of microbial translocation) were different between SIV-infected and SIV-uninfected monkeys. This complex algorithm combining sequencing and phylogeny, VL quantification, serology, and testing of surrogate markers of microbial translocation and immune activation permits a systematic investigation of the epidemiology, viral diversity and natural history of SIV infection in wild African natural hosts. © 2013 Ma et al

Seroepidemiologische Studie zur bundesweiten Verbreitung von SARS-CoV-2 in Deutschland: Studienprotokoll von CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit (RKI-SOEP-Studie)

Das Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 hat sich in kurzer Zeit bundesweit ausgebreitet. In den Meldedaten der Gesundheitsämter zu laborbestätigten Infektionsfällen ist von einer Untererfassung des Infektionsgeschehens auszugehen, da Infektionen häufig unentdeckt bleiben, zum Beispiel weil sie symptomarm verlaufen. In seroepidemiologischen Studien kann der Bevölkerungsanteil mit durchgemachter SARS-CoV-2-Infektion (Seroprävalenz) wie auch der Umfang unentdeckter Infektionen abgeschätzt werden. In der Studie CORONA-MONITORING bundesweit (RKI-SOEP-Studie) werden Bioproben und Befragungsdaten in einer deutschlandweiten Bevölkerungsstichprobe des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) erhoben. Den Teilnehmenden werden Materialien zur selbstständigen Gewinnung einer Trockenblutprobe aus Kapillarblut des Fingers und einer Abstrichprobe aus Mund und Nase sowie ein Fragebogen postalisch zugesendet. Die zurückgesendeten Proben werden auf SARS-CoV-2-IgG-Antikörper und SARS-CoV-2-RNA zur Identifikation einer durchgemachten oder aktuellen Infektion untersucht. Die eingesetzten Methoden ermöglichen es, auch solche SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen zu erkennen, die bislang unentdeckt blieben. Durch die Verknüpfung mit bereits vorhandenen SOEP-Daten hat die Studie das Potenzial, auch soziale und gesundheitsbezogene Unterschiede im Infektionsstatus zu untersuchen. So kann die Studie zu einem verbesserten Verständnis des Ausmaßes der Epidemie in Deutschland wie auch zur Identifikation von Zielgruppen für den Infektionsschutz beitragen