Fundamental Aspects of Ceria Supported Au Catalysts Probed by In Situ/Operando Spectroscopy and TAP Reactor Studies

The discovery of the activity of dispersed gold nanoparticles three decades ago paved the way for a new era in catalysis. The unusual behavior of these catalysts sparked many questions about their working mechanism. In particular, Au/CeO2 proved to be an efficient catalyst in several reactions such as CO oxidation, water gas shift, and CO2 reduction. Here, by employing findings from operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the near and extended Au and Ce LIII energy edges, we focus on the fundamental aspects of highly active Au/CeO2 catalysts, mainly in the CO oxidation for understanding their complex structure-reactivity relationship. These results were combined with findings from in situ diffuse reflectance FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, highlighting the changes of adlayer and ceria defects. For a comprehensive understanding, the spectroscopic findings will be supplemented by results of the dynamics of O2 activation obtained from Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP). Merging these results illuminates the complex relationship among the oxidation state, size of the Au nanoparticles, the redox properties of CeO2 support, and the dynamics of O2 activation

Evaluation des Bereichs Forschung und Entwicklung im Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau

In 2010, the BLE commissioned an evaluation of the Federal Organic Farming Scheme (BÖL), running since 2001. This paper reports on the approach taken in the evaluation of its research component, selected findings, and recommendations. An impact model of the BÖL scheme was developed to analyse how the various measures could contribute to the scheme’s overall aims and objectives. Data from the BLE research project database were analysed to assess the distribution of resources over time by topic and by research provider. At project level, a random selection of 83 projects was reviewed by external experts, including both scientists and other stakeholders to assess their quality and relevance. An online survey of 104 project leaders and interviews with 30 sector stakeholders and 12 BLE employees were carried out and the theme identification and project selection processes were analysed to evaluate whether the programme management contribute was in line with programme goals. The overall conclusions of the evaluation were then reviewed by external experts. The evaluation concludes that financed projects resulted in a compendium of easily accessible results. The research is relevant to the sector and this is one of the greatest strengths of the programme. However, the consistently high allocation of resources to crops and soil themes is noted as a weakness. A more strategic approach to the identification of research targets and to the development of impact from research outputs with appropriate measures at both programme and project level is recommended

Evaluation des Bereichs Forschung und Entwicklung im Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau

Im Jahr 2010 wurde von der BLE eine Evaluation des seit 2001 bestehenden Bundesprogramms Ökologischer Landbau (BÖL) in Auftrag gegeben. Ziel der 2010 gestarteten Evaluation zum FuE-Bereich war es, die Relevanz der Forschung, ihre Wirksamkeit sowie die Effizienz des Mitteleinsatzes zu prüfen, zu bewerten und Empfehlungen zur Optimierung zu unterbreiten. Den Rahmen lieferten eine Analyse der Maßnahmen und Ziele des BÖL und ein daraus entwickeltes Wirkungsmodell. Neben einer Auswertung von Programmdaten der BLE wurden rund 80 Projekte durch externe Wissenschaftler und Praktiker begutachet, eine Online-Befragung von Projektleitern und Interviews mit Sektorakteuren, Mitarbeitern der BLE und externen Gutachtern durchgeführt. Die Evaluation kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass aus insgesamt mehr als 500 Einzelprojekten ein umfangreiches Kompendium an leicht zugänglichen Ergebnissen entstanden ist, dessen Relevanz für den Sektor eine der größten Stärken des Programms darstellt. Aufgrund der Analyse der Prozesse von Themenfindung und Projektauswahl wird empfohlen mit Blick in die Zukunft eine klare Programmstrategie explizit darzustellen und auf Programm- als auch auf Projektebene konsequent entsprechende Maßnahmen einzusetzen

The Evaluation of the German Programme for Organic Food and Farming Research: Results and pointers for the future

In 2001, the German Federal Government established the Federal Scheme for Organic Agriculture (BÖL). The goal was to improve the professionalism of organic farming in Germany; to support sustained growth in production of organic food; and to stimulate a corresponding growth in the market for organic food. The paper presents results of an evaluation carried out by an international team in 2012. Our evaluation focused in particular on all research initiated and completed in period 2003 to 2010. The overall aim of the evaluation was to assess the relevance and impact of the research in relation to the BÖL’s goals, the effectiveness of the deployment of the research funding resources, and the efficiency of programme management. Recommendations relate to continuation of this research programme and how an extended programme might be improved. These are relevant to other applied research programmes targeted at the development of specific sectors

Normalized indices derived from visceral adipose mass assessed by MRI and their correlation with markers for insulin resistance and prediabetes

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR), prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, VAT volume alone might not be the best marker for insulin resistance and prediabetes or diabetes, as a given VAT volume may differently impact on these metabolic traits based on body height, gender, age and ethnicity. In a cohort of 1295 subjects from the Tübingen Diabetes Family Study (TDFS) and in 9978 subjects from the UK Biobank (UKBB), undergoing magnetic resonance imaging for quantification of VAT volume, total adipose tissue (TAT, in the TDFS), total abdominal adipose tissue (TAAT) in the UKBB, and total lean tissue (TLT), VAT volume and several VAT-indices were investigated for their relationships with insulin resistance and glycemic traits. VAT-related indices were calculated by correcting for body height (VAT/m: VAT/body height; VAT/m²: VAT/(body height)², and VAT/m³: VAT/(body height)³), TAT (%VAT), TLT (VAT/TLT) and weight (VAT/WEI), with closest equivalents used within the UKBB dataset. Prognostic values of VAT and VAT-related indices for insulin sensitivity, HbA1c levels and prediabetes/diabetes were analyzed for males and females. Males had higher VAT volume and VAT-related indices than females in both cohorts (p < 0.0001) and VAT volume has shown to be a stronger determinant for insulin sensitivity than anthropometric variables. Among the parameters uncorrected VAT and derived indices, VAT/m³ most strongly correlated negatively with insulin sensitivity and positively with HbA1c levels and prediabetes/diabetes in the TDFS (R² = 0.375/0.305 for females/males for insulin sensitivity, 0.178/0.148 for HbA1c levels vs. – e.g. – 0.355/0.293 and 0.144/0.133 for VAT, respectively) and positively with HbA1c (R² = 0.046/0.042) in the UKBB for females and males. Furthermore, VAT/m³ was found to be a significantly better determinant of insulin resistance or prediabetes than uncorrected VAT volume (p < 0.001/0.019 for females/males regarding insulin sensitivity, p < 0.001/< 0.001 for females/males regarding HbA1c). Evaluation of several indices derived from VAT volume identified VAT/m³ to most strongly correlate with insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Thus, VAT/m³ appears to provide better indications of metabolic characteristics (insulin sensitivity and pre-diabetes/diabetes) than VAT volume alone

Characterisation of MS phenotypes across the age span using a novel data set integrating 34 clinical trials (NO.MS cohort): age is a key contributor to presentation

Background: The Oxford Big Data Institute, multiple sclerosis (MS) physicians and Novartis aim to address unresolved questions in MS with a novel comprehensive clinical trial data set. Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the Novartis–Oxford MS (NO.MS) data set and to explore the relationships between age, disease activity and disease worsening across MS phenotypes. Methods: We report key characteristics of NO.MS. We modelled MS lesion formation, relapse frequency, brain volume change and disability worsening cross-sectionally, as a function of patients’ baseline age, using phase III study data (≈8000 patients). Results: NO.MS contains data of ≈35,000 patients (>200,000 brain images from ≈10,000 patients), with >10 years follow-up. (1) Focal disease activity is highest in paediatric patients and decreases with age, (2) brain volume loss is similar across age and phenotypes and (3) the youngest patients have the lowest likelihood (<25%) of disability worsening over 2 years while risk is higher (25%–75%) in older, disabled or progressive MS patients. Young patients benefit most from treatment. Conclusion: NO.MS will illuminate questions related to MS characterisation, progression and prognosis. Age modulates relapse frequency and, thus, the phenotypic presentation of MS. Disease worsening across all phenotypes is mediated by age and appears to some extent be independent from new focal inflammatory activity

Zur generalpräventiven Abschreckungswirkung des Strafrechts: Befunde einer Metaanalyse

'Vielfach wird angenommen, dass Strafdrohungen potentielle Täter von der Tatbegehung abschrecken. Die Richtigkeit dieser Theorie wird jedoch bezweifelt. Zahlreiche empirische Untersuchungen haben unterschiedliche Ergebnisse erzielt. In dem vorliegenden Artikel wird eine Metaanalyse beschrieben, die versucht, die Gründe für die unterschiedlichen Befunde zu ermitteln. Erste Auswertungen deuten darauf hin, dass die Untersuchungsmethoden die Ergebnisse beeinflussen und eine mögliche Abschreckungswirkung des Strafrechts nur mit einem differenzierten Modell angemessen erfasst werden kann.' (Autorenreferat)'It is supposed that threats of punishment deter potential criminals from committing crimes. The correctness of this theory is, however, questionable. Numerous empirical investigations have come to different results. In this article a meta-analysis is described which tries to find out the reasons for the different results. First evaluations indicate that the methods of research have an influence on the results and that a possible deterring effect of the penal law can only be covered reasonably with a very differentiating model.' (author's abstract)

The central black hole mass of the high-sigma but low-bulge-luminosity lenticular galaxy NGC 1332

The masses of the most massive supermassive black holes (SMBHs) predicted by the M_BH-sigma and M_BH-luminosity relations appear to be in conflict. Which of the two relations is the more fundamental one remains an open question. NGC 1332 is an excellent example that represents the regime of conflict. It is a massive lenticular galaxy which has a bulge with a high velocity dispersion sigma of ~320 km/s; bulge--disc decomposition suggests that only 44% of the total light comes from the bulge. The M_BH-sigma and the M_BH-luminosity predictions for the central black hole mass of NGC 1332 differ by almost an order of magnitude. We present a stellar dynamical measurement of the SMBH mass using an axisymmetric orbit superposition method. Our SINFONI integral-field unit (IFU) observations of NGC 1332 resolve the SMBH's sphere of influence which has a diameter of ~0.76 arcsec. The sigma inside 0.2 arcsec reaches ~400 km/s. The IFU data allow us to increase the statistical significance of our results by modelling each of the four quadrants separately. We measure a SMBH mass of (1.45 \pm 0.20) x 10^9 M_sun with a bulge mass-to-light ratio of 7.08 \pm 0.39 in the R-band. With this mass, the SMBH of NGC 1332 is offset from the M_BH-luminosity relation by a full order of magnitude but is consistent with the M_BH-sigma relation.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Overcoming hypoxia-induced tumor radioresistance in non-small cell lung cancer by targeting DNA-dependent protein kinase in combination with carbon ion irradiation

Background: Hypoxia-induced radioresistance constitutes a major obstacle for a curative treatment of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of photon and carbon ion irradiation in combination with inhibitors of DNA-Damage Response (DDR) on tumor cell radiosensitivity under hypoxic conditions. Methods: Human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) models, A549 and H1437, were irradiated with dose series of photon and carbon ions under hypoxia (1% O2) vs. normoxic conditions (21% O2). Clonogenic survival was studied after dual combinations of radiotherapy with inhibitors of DNA-dependent Protein Kinase (DNAPKi, M3814) and ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATMi). Results: The OER at 30% survival for photon irradiation of A549 cells was 1.4. The maximal oxygen effect measured as survival ratio was 2.34 at 8 Gy photon irradiation of A549 cells. In contrast, no significant oxygen effect was found after carbon ion irradiation. Accordingly, the relative effect of 6 Gy carbon ions was determined as 3.8 under normoxia and. 4.11 under hypoxia. ATM and DNA-PK inhibitors dose dependently sensitized tumor cells for both radiation qualities. For 100 nM DNAPKi the survival ratio at 4 Gy more than doubled from 1.59 under normoxia to 3.3 under hypoxia revealing a strong radiosensitizing effect under hypoxic conditions. In contrast, this ratio only moderately increased after photon irradiation and ATMi under hypoxia. The most effective treatment was combined carbon ion irradiation and DNA damage repair inhibition. Conclusions: Carbon ions efficiently eradicate hypoxic tumor cells. Both, ATMi and DNAPKi elicit radiosensitizing effects. DNAPKi preferentially sensitizes hypoxic cells to radiotherapy