Reflection and Meta-Perspective as Necessary Components for the Competence of Map-Reading

Within the national educational standards of geography, the ability of reflection and of meta-perspective has a high significance. The competence to reflect is a skill that is called for development in almost every competence area. Against this background the contribution attempts to exemplify theoretical foundations and possible methodical approaches of a competence of reflection for map-reading. A map is being understood as a hybrid construction that combines textual and visual qualities. This in-between position and the comprehension of a map as a means of communication lead via a differentiation of the term map-reading to the competence of reflection, which is the ability and skill to read maps actively and appropriately. In order to achieve such a competence, methodical possibilities based on deconstruction and objective hermeneutics will be demonstrated. Moreover, the contribution provides an outlook of the ability of reflection within general competence models.Peer Reviewe

Total Muscle Area and Visceral Adipose Tissue Measurements for Frailty Assessment in TAVR Patients.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a treatment option for severe aortic valve stenosis. Pre-TAVR assessments, extending beyond anatomy, include evaluating frailty. Potential frailty parameters in pre-TAVR computed tomography (CT) scans are not fully explored but could contribute to a comprehensive frailty assessment. The primary objective was to investigate the impact of total muscle area (TMA) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as frailty parameters on 5-year all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVR. Methods: Between 01/2017 and 12/2018, consecutive TAVR patients undergoing CT scans enabling TMA and VAT measurements were included. Results: A total of 500 patients qualified for combined TMA and VAT analysis. Age was not associated with a higher risk of 5-year mortality (HR 1.02, 95% CI: 0.998-1.049; p = 0.069). Body surface area normalized TMA (nTMA) was significantly associated with 5-year, all-cause mortality (HR 0.927, 95% CI: 0.927-0.997; p = 0.033), while VAT had no effect (HR 1.002, 95% CI: 0.99-1.015; p = 0.7). The effect of nTMA on 5-year, all-cause mortality was gender dependent: the protective effect of higher nTMA was found in male patients (pinteraction: sex × nTMA = 0.007). Conclusions: Normalized total muscle area derived from a routine CT scan before transcatheter aortic valve replacement complements frailty assessment in patients undergoing TAVR

Streptococcus pneumoniae PBP2x mid-cell localization requires the C-terminal PASTA domains and is essential for cell shape maintenance

The transpeptidase activity of the essential penicillin-binding protein 2x (PBP2x) of Streptococcus pneumoniae is believed to be important for murein biosynthesis required for cell division. To study the molecular mechanism driving localization of PBP2x in live cells, we constructed a set of N-terminal GFP-PBP2x fusions under the control of a zinc-inducible promoter. The ectopic fusion protein localized at mid-cell. Cells showed no growth defects even in the absence of the genomic pbp2x, demonstrating that GFP-PBP2x is functional. Depletion of GFP-PBP2x resulted in severe morphological alterations, confirming the essentiality of PBP2x and demonstrating that PBP2x is required for cell division and not for cell elongation. A genetically or antibiotic inactivated GFP-PBP2x still localized at septal sites. Remarkably, the same was true for a GFP-PBP2x derivative containing a deletion of the central transpeptidase domain, although only in the absence of the protease/chaperone HtrA. Thus localization is independent of the catalytic transpeptidase domain but requires the C-terminal PASTA domains, identifying HtrA as targeting GFP-PBP2x derivatives. Finally, PBP2x was positioned at the septum similar to PBP1a and the PASTA domain containing StkP protein, confirming that PBP2x is a key element of the divisome complex

Total Muscle Area and Visceral Adipose Tissue Measurements for Frailty Assessment in TAVR Patients

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a treatment option for severe aortic valve stenosis. Pre-TAVR assessments, extending beyond anatomy, include evaluating frailty. Potential frailty parameters in pre-TAVR computed tomography (CT) scans are not fully explored but could contribute to a comprehensive frailty assessment. The primary objective was to investigate the impact of total muscle area (TMA) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as frailty parameters on 5-year all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVR. Methods: Between 01/2017 and 12/2018, consecutive TAVR patients undergoing CT scans enabling TMA and VAT measurements were included. Results: A total of 500 patients qualified for combined TMA and VAT analysis. Age was not associated with a higher risk of 5-year mortality (HR 1.02, 95% CI: 0.998–1.049; p = 0.069). Body surface area normalized TMA (nTMA) was significantly associated with 5-year, all-cause mortality (HR 0.927, 95% CI: 0.927–0.997; p = 0.033), while VAT had no effect (HR 1.002, 95% CI: 0.99–1.015; p = 0.7). The effect of nTMA on 5-year, all-cause mortality was gender dependent: the protective effect of higher nTMA was found in male patients (pinteraction: sex × nTMA = 0.007). Conclusions: Normalized total muscle area derived from a routine CT scan before transcatheter aortic valve replacement complements frailty assessment in patients undergoing TAVR

Ligands binding to the prion protein induce its proteolytic release with therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative proteinopathies

The prion protein (PrPC) is a central player in neurodegenerative diseases, such as prion diseases or Alzheimer’sdisease. In contrast to disease-promoting cell surface PrPC, extracellular fragments act neuroprotective by blockingneurotoxic disease-associated protein conformers. Fittingly, PrPC release by the metalloprotease ADAM10represents a protective mechanism. We used biochemical, cell biological, morphological, and structural methodsto investigate mechanisms stimulating this proteolytic shedding. Shed PrP negatively correlates with prion conversionand is markedly redistributed in murine brain in the presence of prion deposits or amyloid plaques, indicatinga sequestrating activity. PrP-directed ligands cause structural changes in PrPC and increased shedding in cellsand organotypic brain slice cultures. As an exception, some PrP-directed antibodies targeting repetitive epitopesdo not cause shedding but surface clustering, endocytosis, and degradation of PrPC. Both mechanisms may contributeto beneficial actions described for PrP-directed ligands and pave the way for new therapeutic strategiesagainst currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases