Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm during Puerperium – Case Report and Review of Literature

Subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) due to true aneurysms of the Posterior Cerebral Artery (PCA) during puerperium in young and healthy females are extremely rare. We present the case of a 31-year old, healthy woman that experienced a spontaneous SAH due to a PCA aneurysm, arising from the P3 segment, 9 days post-delivery. The aneurysm was successfully treated via an endovascular approach and the patient recovered well. After 21 days she was discharged from hospital without neurological deficits. The clinical course is described in detail and illustrated with a computed tomography scan (CT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) pre – and post-embolization. The literature is reviewed and possible etiologies of the formation and rupture of the aneurysm are discussed

Vorwort zu Medienbildung und Medienkompetenz

Die Beiträge dieses Bandes gehen auf die Fachtagung der Sektion Medienpädagogik der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft (DGfE) zurück, welche im November 2010 an der Pädagogischen Hochschule Zürich stattfand. Die Tagung knüpfte an den Diskurs über Medienkompetenz – Medienbildung an, der zuvor vor allem in der Zeitschrift medien + erziehung geführt wurde. Die Gründe für diesen Diskurs sind vielschichtig und hängen u.a. mit der Akzentuierung unterschiedlicher theoretischer Begründungszusammenhänge, mit Weiterentwicklungen der Theoriebildung auf dem Hintergrund des rasanten medialen Wandels aber auch mit disziplinären Konstellationen bei dem Aufbau neuer BA- und MA-Studiengänge im Bereich Medienpädagogik und Medienbildung zusammen. Hier hat sich in den letzten Jahren Medienbildung auffällig in der Bezeichnung neuer Studiengänge etabliert

Reallocating Uncertainty in Incumbent Firms through Digital Platforms: The Case of Google’s Automotive Ecosystem Involvement

This research examines how incumbent firms decide on the degree of involvement of technology players in their digital strategies, by integrating insights from digital innovation and digital platform research. We conducted an embedded case study on the adoption of Google’s Android Automotive OS and Google Automotive Services by the automotive industry, using semi-structured interviews with industry experts and senior decision-makers. We build on affordance-actualization theory to develop a grounded model of uncertainty reallocation consisting of five aggregate dimensions: (1) external digital platform by tech firm, (2) incumbent firm and its goals, (3) uncertainty tradeoffs and affordance of reallocation, (4) strategic actions by incumbent firm, and (5) short- and long-term outcomes. Our results provide valuable insights into the selection of non-binary platform strategies and the effects of various levels of technology firm involvement. This addition to the knowledge base of the information systems discipline provides practical guidance for incumbent firms navigating digital transformation

Simulations of CMOS pixel sensors with a small collection electrode, improved for a faster charge collection and increased radiation tolerance

CMOS pixel sensors with a small collection electrode combine the advantages of a small sensor capacitance with the advantages of a fully monolithic design. The small sensor capacitance results in a large ratio of signal-to-noise and a low analogue power consumption, while the monolithic design reduces the material budget, cost and production effort. However, the low electric field in the pixel corners of such sensors results in an increased charge collection time, that makes a fully efficient operation after irradiation and a timing resolution in the order of nanoseconds challenging for pixel sizes larger than approximately forty micrometers. This paper presents the development of concepts of CMOS sensors with a small collection electrode to overcome these limitations, using three-dimensional Technology Computer Aided Design simulations. The studied design uses a 0.18 micrometer process implemented on a high-resistivity epitaxial layer.Comment: Proceedings of the PIXEL 2018 Worksho

Epigenetic chromatin modification by amber suppression technology

The genetic incorporation of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) into proteins by amber suppression technology provides unique avenues to study protein structure, function and interactions both in vitro and in living cells and organisms. This approach has been particularly useful for studying mechanisms of epigenetic chromatin regulation, since these extensively involve dynamic changes in structure, complex formation and posttranslational modifications that are difficult to access by traditional approaches. Here, we review recent achievements in this field, emphasizing UAAs that help to unravel protein-protein interactions in cells by photo-crosslinking or that allow the biosynthesis of proteins with defined posttranslational modifications for studying their function and turnover in vitro and in cells

Correlation of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Ileal Carcinoids, Lymph Nodes and Liver Metastasis with Prognosis and Survival

Purpose: Ileal carcinoids are gut epithelial tumors originating from serotonin-containing enterochromaffin (EC) cells. Therapeutic options for effectively inhibiting the growth and spread of metastatic carcinoids are still limited. We aimed to identify the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) during tumor development and metastasis. Patients and Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from surgically treated patients. Expression of the EC-cell marker, vesicular monoamine transporter-1 (VMAT-1), was used to verify ileal carcinoids. We investigated the differential expression of MMP-2, 7, 9, 11, and 13 and their endogenous inhibitors (TIMP-1, 2, and 3) by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in 25 primary tumors, their corresponding lymph node metastases and/or liver metastases and matched normal mucosa. Results: Significantly increased expression of VMAT-1, MMP-2, MMP-11, TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 was determined by quantitative RT-PCR in EC-cell carcinoids compared to normal intestinal mucosa (p < 0.05). In contrast, MMP-2 and MMP-9 as well as TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 expression in primary tumors of patients with liver metastases (M1) was significantly lower than in patients lacking liver metastases (M0). EC-cell tumors were significantly larger in the M1 group of tumors, while VMAT-1 expression was significantly decreased. We found an inverse correlation between tumor size and prognosis. Univariate analysis further revealed that decreased expression of VMAT-1, MMP-2 and TIMP-3 in primary tumors was significantly associated with a reduced survival time of the patients. Conclusion: Our data reveal that MMP-2 and TIMP-3 expression together with VMAT-1 expression are of potential prognostic and clinical value in ileal carcinoids. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base

Increasing Value for Money in Higher Education Development Cooperation A German Perspective Based on Project Coordinators’ Experiences

The concept value for money, usually defined as the three E’s (economy, efficiency and effectiveness), does not fully apply to projects in development cooperation. The paper on hand argues that the concept should not be perceived as economic benefit in monetary terms only. It encourages a qualitative approach defining value for money as a long-term effect of a project that can be reached by only a little more input of resources than usually available for development cooperation projects. Thus, the concept of value for money is closely connected to that of sustainability of a project. Recent studies show that German-African development cooperation in the field of higher education not always can live up to the expectations concerning sustainability (DAAD 2013 / Hansert et al. 2012). Based on the authors’ experiences with development projects aiming at higher education quality, this article critically reflects on development cooperation in higher education and identifies prerequisites which could foster a beneficial use of (monetary and non-monetary) input in development cooperation projects. As will be shown, critical evaluative thinking, joint project planning, realistic expectations and the acknowledgement of intercultural differences can be key to successful project work in development cooperation and thus can help to increase the value for money and sustainability alike. Keywords: higher education management, quality assurance, project management, international cooperation, development cooperatio

The evolution of the histone methyltransferase gene Su(var)3-9 in metazoans includes a fusion with and a re-fission from a functionally unrelated gene

BACKGROUND: In eukaryotes, histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation is a common mechanism involved in gene silencing and the establishment of heterochromatin. The loci of the major heterochromatic H3K9 methyltransferase Su(var)3-9 and the functionally unrelated γ subunit of the translation initiation factor eIF2 are fused in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we examined the phylogenetic distribution of this unusual gene fusion and the molecular evolution of the H3K9 HMTase Su(var)3-9. RESULTS: We show that the gene fusion had taken place in the ancestral line of winged insects and silverfishs (Dicondylia) about 400 million years ago. We cloned Su(var)3-9 genes from a collembolan and a spider where both genes ancestrally exist as independent transcription units. In contrast, we found a Su(var)3-9-specific exon inside the conserved intron position 81-1 of the eIF2γ gene structure in species of eight different insect orders. Intriguinly, in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, we detected only sequence remains of this Su(var)3-9 exon in the eIF2γ intron, along with an eIF2γ-independent Su(var)3-9 gene. This reveals an evolutionary re-fission of both genes in aphids. Su(var)3-9 chromo domains are similar to HP1 chromo domains, which points to a potential binding activity to methylated K9 of histone H3. SET domain comparisons suggest a weaker methyltransferase activity of Su(var)3-9 in comparison to other H3K9 HMTases. Astonishingly, 11 of 19 previously described, deleterious amino acid substitutions found in Drosophila Su(var)3-9 are seemingly compensable through accompanying substitutions during evolution. CONCLUSION: Examination of the Su(var)3-9 evolution revealed strong evidence for the establishment of the Su(var)3-9/eIF2γ gene fusion in an ancestor of dicondylic insects and a re-fission of this fusion during the evolution of aphids. Our comparison of 65 selected chromo domains and 93 selected SET domains from Su(var)3-9 and related proteins offers functional predictions concerning both domains in Su(var)3-9 proteins

Living benthic foraminifera in methane- and sulfide-enriched sediments at cold seeps and hydrothermal vents

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Living benthic foraminiferal assemblages of a transect in the Rockall Trough (NE Atlantic)

Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the captain and the crew of the RRS Discovery cruise DY051 for their work and ship time. Many thanks go to C. Baal for his support with the SEM. Funding Information: This study was undertaken with financial support from the NERC grant ( NE/I023465/1 ) to U. Witte.Peer reviewedPublisher PD