Die Ursprünge der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. Wiedergründung – Umgründung – Neugründung

Nach Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs war die Zukunft der Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft mehr als ungewiss, was in erster Linie auf die Mitwirkung einer Vielzahl ihrer Wissenschaftler an Rüstungsforschung und NS-Verbrechen zurückzuführen war. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht zum einen, warum das Organisationsmodell der KWG in Gestalt der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft dennoch überlebte, zum anderen analysiert sie die Finanzierung und die Governance der MPG in der Gründungsphase. Von den Alliierten wollten Amerikaner, Sowjets und Franzosen die KWG zunächst als „Institution des Dritten Reichs“ auflösen. Dass die KWG dennoch als MPG weiterbestehen konnte, lag in erster Linie an der Unterstützung der Briten, die sich von deren Erhalt eine Beschleunigung des wirtschaftlichen Wiederaufbaus Westdeutschlands versprachen. Finanziell bedeutete die Gründung der MPG 1948 in Göttingen eine tiefe Zäsur, denn während die KWG noch zumeist mehr oder weniger paritätisch von Staat und Wirtschaft finanziert worden war, hing die MPG faktisch seit ihrer Gründung am Tropf der öffentlichen Hand. Das Königsteiner Abkommen von 1949 sicherte zum einen die Finanzierung der MPG durch die Ländergemeinschaft; zum anderen garantierte der im föderativen Aufbau der Bundesrepublik angelegte Konflikt zwischen den Ländern und dem Bund die weitgehende wissenschaftspolitische Unabhängigkeit der MPG von ihren Geldgebern. Demgegenüber zeichnete sich die Governance der MPG durch eine Mischung aus Kontinuität und Wandel aus. Zwar glich der satzungsmäßige Aufbau ihrer Leitungsstrukturen weitgehend denen der KWG, jedoch dominierten dort zunächst die Wissenschaftler. Allerdings setzte schon früh ein Roll-back ein, in dessen Zuge die Zahl der Vertreter aus Politik und Wirtschaft im Senat der MPG signifikant zunahm. Aufs Ganze gesehen, stärkte diese Entwicklung die Position der MPG in den Verhandlungen mit ihren Geldgebern

Translocacion de fotosintatos en sarmientos de la vid durante el periodo vegetativo

Translocation of photosynthate in grapevine shoots during the growth periodDuring 4 years, translocation of photosynthate was studied in shoots of three grape varieties supported with 3-wire trellis (2 m) andin five growth stages: pre-flowering, fruit set, prior to ripening, ripening and post-harvest. 14CO2 was applied on the middle leaf of the basal, middle or apical third of the shoot, respectively (volume 200 ml under a plastic bag, 300 ppm of 14CO2 of 3.7 x 106 Bq, 30 min, four shoots per variant). After 5 d, the radioactivity of the triturated tissues of the leaves of each third (excluding the treated leaf), of the clusters and of the growing tip was assayed in cpm/g in a Geiger Müller counter and dpm/mg of dry matter in a liquid scintillation counter. The maximum value of radioactivity within each shoot was taken as 100 % and all other data were related to it.Photosynthate produced in the basal third of the shoot is always translocated to the cluster. The apical third does not export photosynthate. The cluster becomes the principal sink for photosynthate produced in the middle third of the shoot after fruit set, during its most intensive growth

Minimal length scales for the existence of local temperature

We review a recent approach to determine the minimal spatial length scales on which local temperature exists. After mentioning an experiment where such considerations are of relevance, we first discuss the precise definition of the existence of local temperature and its physical relevance. The approach to calculate the length scales in question considers homogenous chains of particles with nearest neighbor interactions. The entire chain is assumed to be in a thermal equilibrium state and it is analyzed when such an equilibrium state at the same time exists for a local part of it. The result yields estimates for real materials, the liability of which is discussed in the sequel. We finally consider a possibility to detect the existence or non-existence of a local thermal state in experiment.Comment: review, 13 pages, 11 figure

Impactos en las propiedades del suelo de los bosques de pinabete en terrenos agrícolas abandonados

Forest floor is considered a major feature distinguishing forest from agricultural soils. Forest floor develops as forest stands grow and is composed of more or less altered plant-tissue biomass accumulated on the soil surface. Our study’s aim was to find whether properties of both the organic layers and mineral soil differ according to the land-use history of the sites compared. Each site included an afforested area of immature 50-year-old spruce forest (AFF) on formerly agricultural land plus an adjacent area of old-growth 100-year-old spruce stand (FOR). The localities are situated at altitudes ranging between 600 and 850 metres above sea level. From the results of our study it can be concluded that both forest floor and mineral soil had higher pH and Ca concentration at formerly agricultural sites. C/N ratio is significantly lower in afforested soil. First-generation humus was significantly higher in phosphorus.El piso forestal es considerado una de las principales características distintivas de los suelos forestales frente a los agrícolas. El piso forestal se desarrolla según crecen las masas forestales y se compone de tejidos de vegetales de la biomasa más o menos alterados acumulados en la superficie del suelo. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar si las propiedades de las capas orgánicas y minerales del suelo difieren de acuerdo a la historia del uso del suelo de los sitios. Cada sitio incluye un área reforestada de bosque de pinabete inmaduro de 50 años de edad (AFF) en antiguo terreno agrícola, más un área adyacente madura de pinabete de 100 años de edad. Las localidades se encuentran en altitudes que oscilan entre 600 y 850 metros sobre el nivel del mar. De los resultados de nuestro estudio se puede concluir que tanto el suelo del bosque como el suelo mineral tenían un pH más alto y mayor concentración de Ca en los sitios agrícolas abandonados. La relación C/N es significativamente menor en los suelos reforestados. La primera generación de humus presentó un significativamente mayor contenido en fósforo

High-order Dy multipole motifs observed in DyB2C2 with resonant soft x-ray Bragg diffraction

Resonant soft x-ray Bragg diffraction at the Dy M4,5 edges has been exploited to study Dy multipole motifs in DyB2C2. Our results are explained introducing the intra-atomic quadrupolar interaction between the core 3d and valence 4f shell. This allows us to determine for the first time higher order multipole moments of dysprosium $4f$ electrons and to draw their precise charge density. The Dy hexadecapole and hexacontatetrapole moment have been estimated at -20% and +30% of the quadrupolar moment, respectively. No evidence for the lock-in of the orbitals at T_N has been observed, in contrast to earlier suggestions. The multipolar interaction and the structural transition cooperate along c but they compete in the basal plane explaining the canted structure along [110].Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Vrednovanje superčistih čelika prema kemijskom sastavu

Realization of products in power engineering represents the verification and optimization of steel making technology of 2,8NiCrMoV and 3,5NiCrMoV types intended for forgings of the gas turbine shaft and compressor disk. The minimum content of tramp and trace elements is requested, especially phosphorus, sulphur, copper, antimony, arsenic and tin. Silicon, manganese and aluminium are considered as undesirable elements.Realizacija proizvoda u energetskom inženjerstvu predstavlja optimalizaciju tehnologije proizvodnje čelika tipa 2,8NiCrMoV i 3,5NiCrMoV namijenjenim kovanju osovine plinske turbine i diska kompresora. Zahtijeva se minimalni sadržaj pratećih elemenata i oligoelemenata, naročito fosfora, sumpora, bakra, antimona, arsena i kositra. Silicij, magnezij i aluminij se smatraju nepoželjnim elementima

Possible expression of functional glutamate transporters in the rat testis

Neither expression nor functionality is clear in peripheral tissues with the molecular machineries required for excitatory neurotransmitter signaling by L-glutamate (Glu) in the central nervous system, while a recent study has shown that several Glu receptors are functionally expressed in the rat testis. This fact prompted us to explore the possible functional expression in the rat testis of the Glu transporters usually responsible for the regulation of extracellular Glu concentrations in the brain. RT-PCR revealed the expression, in the rat testis, of mRNA for five different subtypes of Glu transporters, in addition to that for particular subtypes of ionotropic and metabotropic Glu receptors. Glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) was different in the brain from that in the testis in terms of molecular sizes on Northern and Western blot analyses. In situ hybridization as well as immunohistochemical analysis showed localized expression of glutamate aspartate transporter at interstitial spaces and GLT-1 at elongated spermatids in the rat testis respectively. The expression of mRNA was localized for excitatory amino acid transporter-5 at the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubule in the rat testis. [3H]Glu was accumulated in testicular crude mitochondrial fractions in a temperature-and sodium-dependent saturable manner with pharmacological profiles similar to those shown in brain crude mitochondrial fractions. These results suggested that particular subtypes of central Glu transporters for the regulation of extracellular Glu concentrations in the rat testis could be constitutively and functionally expressed. © 2004 Society for Endocrinology

A meta-analysis and real-world cohort study on the sex-related differences in efficacy and safety of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background & Aims Sex-related differences in the immune pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly related to oestrogen-dependent secretion of pro-tumourigenic cytokines, are well-known. Whether sex influences the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy is not known. Methods We performed a restricted maximum likelihood random effects meta-analysis of five phase III trials that evaluated immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in advanced HCC and reported overall survival (OS) hazard ratios (HRs) stratified by sex to evaluate sex-related differences in OS. In a real-world cohort of 840 patients with HCC from 22 centres included between 2018 and 2023, we directly compared the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab + bevacizumab (A+B) between sexes. Radiological response was reported according to RECIST v1.1. Uni- and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed for OS and progression-free survival (PFS). Results In the meta-analysis, immunotherapy was associated with a significant OS benefit only in male (pooled HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.73–0.86) but not in female (pooled HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.70–1.03) patients with HCC. When directly comparing model estimates, no differences in the treatment effect between sexes were observed. Among 840 patients, 677 (81%) were male (mean age 66 ± 11 years), and 163 (19%) were female (mean age 67 ± 12 years). Type and severity of adverse events were similar between the two groups. OS and PFS were comparable between males and females upon uni- and multivariable analyses (aHR for OS and PFS: 0.79, 95% CI 0.59–1.04; 1.02, 95% CI 0.80–1.30, respectively). Objective response rates (24%/22%) and disease control rates (59%/59%) were also similar between sexes. Conclusion Female phase III trial participants experienced smaller OS benefit following ICI therapy for advanced HCC, while outcomes following A+B treatment were comparable between sexes in a large real-world database. Based on the ambiguous sex-related differences in survival observed here, further investigation of sex-specific clinical and biologic determinants of responsiveness and survival following ICIs are warranted.Peer ReviewedArticle signat per 48 autors/es: Lorenz Balcar, Bernhard Scheiner, ∙Claudia Angela Maria Fulgenzi, Antonio D’Alessio, Katharina Pomej, Marta Bofill Roig, Elias Laurin Meyer, Jaekyung Che, Naoshi Nishida, Pei-Chang Lee, Linda Wu, Celina Ang, Anja Krall, Anwaar Saeed, Bernardo Stefanini, Antonella Cammarota, Tiziana Pressiani, Yehia I, Abugabal, Shadi Chamseddine, Brooke Wietharn, Alessandro Parisi, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Samuel Phen, Caterina Vivaldi, Francesca Salani, Gianluca Masi, Dominik Bettinger, Arndt Vogel, Johann von Felden, Kornelius Schulze, Marianna Silletta, Michael Trauner, Adel Samson, Henning Wege, Fabio Piscaglia, Peter R. Galle, Rudolf Stauber, Masatoshi Kudo, Amit G. Singal, Aleena Itani, Susanna V. Ulahannan, Neehar D. Parikh, Alessio Cortellini, Ahmed Kaseb, Lorenza Rimassa, Hong Jae Chon, David J. Pinato, Matthias PinterPostprint (published version

Could ethanol-induced alterations in the expression of glutamate transporters in testes contribute to the effect of paternal drinking on the risk of abnormalities in the offspring?

It has been known that a preconception paternal alcoholism impacts adversely on the offspring but the mechanism of the effect is uncertain. Several findings suggest that there are signalling systems in testis that are analogous to those known to be altered by alcoholism in brain. We propose that chronic alcohol affects these systems in a manner similar to that in brain. Specifically, we hypothesise that excessive alcohol may disturb glutamatergic-like signalling in testis by increasing expression of the glutamate transporter GLAST (EAAT1). We discuss ways how to test the hypothesis as well as potential significance of some of the tests as tools in the diagnostics of chronic alcoholism

Cardiac Glycosides Ouabain and Digoxin Interfere with the Regulation of Glutamate Transporter GLAST in Astrocytes Cultured from Neonatal Rat Brain

Glutamate transport (GluT) in brain is mediated chiefly by two transporters GLT and GLAST, both driven by ionic gradients generated by (Na+, K+)-dependent ATPase (Na+/K+-ATPase). GLAST is located in astrocytes and its function is regulated by translocations from cytoplasm to plasma membrane in the presence of GluT substrates. The phenomenon is blocked by a naturally occurring toxin rottlerin. We have recently suggested that rottlerin acts by inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase. We now report that Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitors digoxin and ouabain also blocked the redistribution of GLAST in cultured astrocytes, however, neither of the compounds caused detectable inhibition of ATPase activity in cell-free astrocyte homogenates (rottlerin inhibited app. 80% of Pi production from ATP in the astrocyte homogenates, IC50 = 25 μM). Therefore, while we may not have established a direct link between GLAST regulation and Na+/K+-ATPase activity we have shown that both ouabain and digoxin can interfere with GluT transport and therefore should be considered potentially neurotoxic