Boknis Eck Time Series Station (SW Baltic Sea): Measurements from 1957 to 2010

Salinity, temperature, and O2 have been recorded on a monthly basis at the Boknis Eck Time Series Station (BE; Eckernförde Bay, SW Baltic Sea) since April 1957 with only two major breaks (1976-78 and 1983-1985). Chlorophyll a measurements started in 1960 and nutrient data (NO2-, NO3-, NH4+, PO4 3-, SiO4 2-) are available since March 1979. Here we present a short introduction to the long-term trends observed at BE and selected results of ongoing projects covering different topics from the surface microlayer and the water column to the sediments at BE. On the basis of a preliminary analysis of the long-term records of surface water temperature, oxygen in 25m, and dissolved nutrients we conclude that BE is affected by both regional processes and global processes detectable as eutrophication and warming of the surface water, respectively. The number of events with extremely depleted O2 concentrations (hypoxia/anoxia) in the bottom layer has been increasing during the last 25 years. Moreover, BE is site of signifi cant emissions of climate relevant trace gases such as methane

2017 American Brachytherapy Society’s Annual Meeting Report

The American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) and its membership seeks to benefit patients by promoting the highest possible standard for brachytherapy practice, support health care professionals through the encouragement of state of the art technology and education, promote clinical and laboratory research, and advocate for the socioeconomic aspects of brachytherapy. The 2017 ABS Annual Meeting took place is Boston, Massachusetts, United States from April 20–22, 2017. The theme “The Value of Brachytherapy in Multidisciplinary Cancer Care” drew a multitude of national and international speakers to present data and debate clinical indications, advancements in practice and the value of brachytherapy. With a focus on the advancement of brachytherapy for prostate cancer and the socioeconomic benefits of brachytherapy, the globally focused program hosted 93 speakers, 506 attendees, and exhibitors from 15 countries and featured 251 abstracts for presentation and display. The ABS Annual Meeting left attendees with initial data on timely and relevant topics such as outcomes following brachytherapy for recurrent prostate cancer following external beam radiotherapy, findings of prototype algorithms capable of rapidly generating prostate brachytherapy pre-operative treatment plans and results on the socioeconomic disparities impacting the utilization of brachytherapy for common malignancies. These novel findings, among many other thoughtful and thought-provoking presentations, gave meeting attendees knowledge of the current state of brachytherapy and future directions of the specialty

Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal

a long-term study

Die Mortalität von nierentransplantierten Patienten auf Intensivstation (ITS) gilt im Vergleich zum Durchschnitt als signifikant erhöht. Wenig ist über die Langzeitmortalität bekannt. Es existieren keine Studien über den Zusammenhang von immunsuppressiver Therapie auf ITS und langfristiger Mortalität, Abstoßungen und Transplantatversagen. Es wird die These vertreten, dass eine reduzierte immunsuppressive Therapie auf Intensivstation langfristig nicht zu einem signifikanten Anstieg von Abstoßungen, Transplantatversagen sowie erhöhter Mortalität führt. Diese retrospektive Studie schloss Empfänger von Nierentransplantaten ein, die zwischen 2003 und 2013 auf einer ITS betreut wurden. Ausgeschlossen wurden Patienten, die nicht mehr über ein funktionierendes Transplantat verfügten und bei denen der Abstand zwischen Transplantation und ITS-Aufenthalt weniger als 30 Tage betrug. Patientencharakteristika, klinische Parameter und die Mortalität wurden erfasst und ausgewertet. Insgesamt erfüllten 140 Patienten die Einschlusskriterien. Die gesamtstationäre Mortalitätsrate betrug 9%, die neunzigtägige 12% und die fünfjährige 39%. Die Inzidenz von Transplantatversagen betrug 24%. Akutes Nierenversagen verschlechterte die Prognose signifikant. ITS Severits Scores waren signifikante Prädiktionsfaktoren für die Langzeitmortalität. Während des ITS-Aufenthalts erhielten 58 Patienten eine immunsuppressive Therapie mit einem Medikament (mono-IS) und 82 Patienten mit mindestens zwei Medikamenten (multi-IS). Abgesehen vom höheren Alter der mono-IS Patienten unterschieden sich beide Gruppen in ihren Charakteristika nicht signifikant voneinander. Mono-IS Patienten hatten wesentlich höhere Severity Scores, doch trotzdem resultierte dies nicht in einer höheren fünfjährigen Mortalitätsrate (P= 0,771). Ferner gab es keinen signifikanten Unterschied bei de novo donor-spezifischen HLA- Antikörpern (P= 1,000), Abstoßungen (P= 0,762) sowie dem Kreatinin nach einem (P= 0,322) und fünf Jahren nach der ITS-Entlassung (P= 0,935) Die Mortalitätsrate auf der ITS war geringer als in vergleichbaren Arbeiten. Die Langzeitüberlebensrate betrug >60%. Eine Reduktion der Immunsuppressiva bei schwer kranken nierentransplantierten Patienten auf der ITS könnte Komplikationen vermeiden, ohne dass dies ein signifikant höheres Risiko für Abstoßungen und Transplantatversagen nach sich zieht.The hospital mortality rate of renal transplant patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) is considered to be significantly higher compared to general ICU patients. Data concerning the long term outcomes of these patients is lacking. Furthermore, little data exists to guide the management of immunosuppression (IS) in critically ill patients on ICU. The author hypothesizes that a reduced IS on ICU will not lead to significantly increased long-term mortality, rejections and transplant failure. This 10 year single center retrospective study included all renal transplant recipients with persistent graft function admitted to ICU between 2003 and 2013. Patients transplanted less than 30 days prior to ICU admission as well as readmissions were excluded from the study. Patient characteristics, clinical parameters and mortality were assessed and analyzed. 140 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The in-hospital mortality rate was 9%, the 90-day mortality was 12%, 5-year mortality 39%. The incidence of kidney graft loss censored for death was 24%. Acute kidney injury depending on severity deteriorates the outcome significantly. The ICU severity scores remained significantly predictive for the long-term mortalitys. During ICU stay 58 patients received reduced immunosuppression as a monotherapy (mono IS), 82 patients received IS therapy with multiple agents (multiple IS). The baseline characteristics of the two groups did not differ significantly. Patients who had to monotherapy reduced immunosuppressive therapy during ICU had significantly higher severity of illness scores than patients who received IS with multiple agents. Nevertheless 5-year mortality was not significantly different (both groups 39%, log rank P= 0.771). Between the groups (mono IS vs. multiple IS) there was no significant difference in the occurrence of de novo donor-specific HLA- antibodies (P= 1.000), rejections (P= 0.762), creatinine 1 year post ICU (P= 0.322) and 5 year post ICU (P= 0.935). The mortality rates were lower than previously described. The long-term survival (5-years) was >60% in this study. Besides, reduction of immunosuppression in critically ill renal transplant patients on ICU may reduce complications without resulting in a significantly higher risk of sensitization, rejections and graft failures

Caffeic Acid Derivatives from Eupatorium perfoliatum L.

From the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of a methanol/water extract of the herb Eupatorium perfoliatum L. (Asteraceae) six caffeic acid derivatives have been isolated and identified by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic data. Besides the common quinic acid derivatives 5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), 3-caffeoylquinic acid (neochlorogenic acid) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, three up to now unknown depsides of caffeic acid with glucaric acid have been isolated: 2,5-dicaffeoylglucaric acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylglucaric acid, and 2,4- or 3,5-dicaffeoylglucaric acid

Salix daphnoides: A Screening for Oligomeric and Polymeric Proanthocyanidins

In the present study, a qualitative analysis of proanthocyanidins (PAs) from an aqueous-methanolic extract of Salix daphnoides VILL. bark is described. Procyanidin B1 (1), B2 (2), B3 (3), B4 (4), C1 (5), epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-catechin (6) and epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-catechin (7) have been isolated by a combination of different chromatographic separations on Sephadex® LH-20-, MCI®-, Diol-and RP-18-phases. Mass spectrometry, 1D- and 2D-NMR, circular dichroism and polarimetry were used for their structure elucidation and verification by comparison with the literature. Additionally, two fractions of very polar flavan-3-ols were compared: “regular” polymeric PAs received at the very end of the Sephadex® LH-20 chromatography showing no mobility on silica TLC and “unusual” PAs with the same RF-value but already eluting together with flavonoids in the Sephadex® LH-20 system. These “unusual” PAs were subsequently enriched by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). 13C-NMR, polarimetry, thiolysis, acid hydrolysis and phloroglucinol degradation were used to characterize both fractions. Differences in the composition of different flavan-3-ol units and the middle chain length were observed