Landnutzungsdaten zur Modellierung Zellularer Mobilfunknetze: Der Integrative Einsatz digitaler Bildverarbeitungstechniken und Geographischer Informationssysteme zur Erfassung urbaner Strukturen

Zur effizienten Planung von zellularen Mobilfunknetzen ist es notwendig, die Funkwellenausbreitung in Computermodellen zu simulieren. Dazu benötigt man neben einem digitalen Höhenmodell auch digitale Daten über die Oberflächenbedeckung/Landnutzung, die einen möglichst aktuellen Stand ausweisen und von ihrer Auflösung her hinreichend genaue Informationen liefern. Die vorliegende Arbeit präsentiert eine Methode zur Detektion der benötigten Information aus Fernerkundungsdaten. Landnutzung setzt sich vor allem im urbanen Raum aus einer Mischung verschiedener Bodenbedeckungsformen zusammen. Eine multispektrale Klassifikation hochauflösender Fernerkundungsdaten alleine ist nicht ausreichend, da sie lediglich die Bodenbedeckung berücksichtigt. Eine Postklassifikation der Ergebnisse, die die räumliche Verteilung dieser Bedeckungen analysiert, erlaubt die geforderte Bestimmung der Landnutzung. Zusätzlich wird die Methode durch die Einbeziehung von texturaler Information erweitert. Als Alternative zum vorgestellten Verfahren wurden analoge Orthophotos visuell interpretiert und mit den automatisch klassifizierten Ergebnissen verglichen. (authors' abstract)Series: Discussion Papers of the Institute for Economic Geography and GIScienc

Further Sunyaev-Zel'dovich observations of two Planck ERCSC clusters with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager

We present follow-up observations of two galaxy clusters detected blindly via the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect and released in the Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue. We use the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager, a dual-array 14-18 GHz radio interferometer. After radio source subtraction, we find a SZ decrement of integrated flux density -1.08+/-0.10 mJy toward PLCKESZ G121.11+57.01, and improve the position measurement of the cluster, finding the centre to be RA 12 59 36.4, Dec +60 04 46.8, to an accuracy of 20 arcseconds. The region of PLCKESZ G115.71+17.52 contains strong extended emission, so we are unable to confirm the presence of this cluster via the SZ effect.Comment: 4 tables, 3 figures, revised after referee's comments and resubmitted to MNRA

Akten zur Auswärtigen Politik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 1985

1985 was a year of coming to terms with the past: while German President von Weizsäcker won international praise, the visit to a Nazi war cemetery by Chancellor Kohl and Ronald Reagan aroused indignation, especially in the United States. As Gorbachev came to power, American-Soviet relations were energized, culminating in a summit meeting in November

Targeted methods for epigenetic age predictions in mice

Age-associated DNA methylation reflects aspect of biological aging-therefore epigenetic clocks for mice can elucidate how the aging process in this model organism is affected by specific treatments or genetic background. Initially, age-predictors for mice were trained for genome-wide DNA methylation profiles and we have recently described a targeted assay based on pyrosequencing of DNA methylation at only three age-associated genomic regions. Here, we established alternative approaches using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and barcoded bisulfite amplicon sequencing (BBA-seq). At individual CG dinucleotides (CpGs) the correlation of DNA methylation with chronological age was slightly higher for pyrosequencing and ddPCR as compared to BBA-seq. On the other hand, BBA-seq revealed that neighboring CpGs tend to be stochastically modified at murine age-associated regions. Furthermore, the binary sequel of methylated and non-methylated CpGs in individual reads can be used for single-read predictions, which may reflect heterogeneity in epigenetic aging. In comparison to C57BL/6 mice the single-read age-predictions using BBA-seq were also accelerated in the shorter-lived DBA/2 mice, and in C57BL/6 mice with a lifespan quantitative trait locus of DBA/2 mice. Taken together, we describe alternative targeted methods for epigenetic age predictions that provide new perspectives for aging-intervention studies in mice

Einsatz von Instrumenten bei der klinischen Untersuchung in deutschen HNO-Abteilungen und Privatpraxen heutzutage

Background: The classical forehead reflector as traditionally used by ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians for the ENT examination is now iconic for doctors in general. It is unknown which instruments are currently used in Germany to clinically examine ENT patients. Therefore, this study aims to present results of a survey about commonly used instruments. Materials and methods: An evaluation of 321 questionnaires from ENT doctors working in general and university hospitals (172) and in private practices (149) was performed. Results: The ENT mirror examination is nowadays carried out with a self-illuminating headlamp with battery and/or light guide cable. Approximately 20% of respondents also use a forehead mirror. The microscope is used by 90% of doctors to examine the ears; a rigid endoscope was used in 53.3% to examine the larynx, epipharynx (41.1%), and the nose/sinuses (34.6%). Flexible endoscopes and otoscopes are used only rarely. Conclusion: The self-illuminating headlamp, which is more often wireless in eastern Germany, has largely replaced the classical forehead reflector, with which doctors younger than 40 years were no longer trained. At least some organs are also examined very regularly with the microscope or rigid endoscope. The flexible endoscope and otoscope are used much less frequently overall, mainly by younger physicians and ENT doctors working in hospitals. The diagnostic potential of flexible endoscopy may be compromised by the outpatient remuneration structures in Germany

Neural differentiation potential of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: misleading marker gene expression

Background: In contrast to pluripotent embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have been considered to be multipotent, being somewhat more restricted in their differentiation capacity and only giving rise to cell types related to their tissue of origin. Several studies, however, have reported that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are capable of transdifferentiating to neural cell types, effectively crossing normal lineage restriction boundaries. Such reports have been based on the detection of neural-related proteins by the differentiated MSCs. In order to assess the potential of human adult MSCs to undergo true differentiation to a neural lineage and to determine the degree of homogeneity between donor samples, we have used RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry to investigate the basal expression of a range of neural related mRNAs and proteins in populations of non-differentiated MSCs obtained from 4 donors. Results: The expression analysis revealed that several of the commonly used marker genes from other studies like nestin, Enolase2 and microtubule associated protein 1b (MAP1b) are already expressed by undifferentiated human MSCs. Furthermore, mRNA for some of the neural-related transcription factors, e.g. Engrailed-1 and Nurr1 were also strongly expressed. However, several other neural-related mRNAs (e.g. DRD2, enolase2, NFL and MBP) could be identified, but not in all donor samples. Similarly, synaptic vesicle-related mRNA, STX1A could only be detected in 2 of the 4 undifferentiated donor hMSC samples. More significantly, each donor sample revealed a unique expression pattern, demonstrating a significant variation of marker expression. Conclusion: The present study highlights the existence of an inter-donor variability of expression of neuralrelated markers in human MSC samples that has not previously been described. This donor-related heterogeneity might influence the reproducibility of transdifferentiation protocols as well as contributing to the ongoing controversy about differentiation capacities of MSCs. Therefore, further studies need to consider the differences between donor samples prior to any treatment as well as the possibility of harvesting donor cells that may be inappropriate for transplantation strategies