Untersuchungen zur Rekonstruktion des Partialdruckes von Kohlendioxid anhand von Coccolithophoridenblüten im Nordatlantik: Biomarker Alkenone und deren Kohlenstoffisotopie

The dissertation deals with methodological and field studies of alkenones and their carbon isotopes in the North Atlantic (Madeira Basin). The methodological studies focussed on comparison of measurements with gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. It was possible to separate and detect three C37-, five C38- und five C39-alkenones with a single measurement, even at low concentrations. A goal of the field studies was to determine the original carbon isotope values in alkenones at the time of synthesis during blooms of coccolithophorids. 1)Modifications of this primary delta13C- alkenones-values in the water column were followed up to the sediment traps at 2,000 m and 3,050 m. 2)The values of the underlying sediments were considered. The controversial use of the delta13C-alkenones-values for paleoreconstruction of the partial pressure of carbondioxid was critically examined. Parallel behaviour in the development of temperature and delta13C-alkenones-values were observed for all measured alkenones. Dependencies of different delta13C- alkenones-indices of the temperature were establishe

A transposon-based activation-tagging population in Arabidopsis thaliana (TAMARA) and its application in the identification of dominant developmental and metabolic mutations

AbstractA population of 9471 stable activation-tagged lines was generated by transposable element mediated activation tagging mutagenesis in Arabidopsis (TAMARA) using the maize En/Spm transposon system. Based on DNA gel blot and flanking sequence analysis, this population contains approximately 6000 independent transposon insertions. A greenhouse-based screen identified six dominant or semi-dominant activation tagged mutants with obvious developmental alterations, among these a new pistillata mutant allele. In addition, a subset of 1500 lines was screened by a HPLC based high-throughput method for dominant activation tagged mutants with enhanced contents of phenolic compounds. One dominant activation tagged mutant (hpc1-1D) was isolated showing accumulation of a particular compound due to the upregulation of an R2R3-MYB transcription factor

Measuring attitudes, behaviours, and influences in inner city victims of interpersonal violence (VIVs) - a Swiss emergency room pilot study

Background Switzerland is confronted with the problem of interpersonal violence. Violence is in the increase and the potential for aggression seems to be rising. Observations by hospitals discern an appalling increase of the severity of the injuries. The aim of this study is to collect accurate information about the social environment, the motivation and possible reasons for violence. We also intend to investigate whether sociocultural, or ethnic differences among male victims exist. Materials and methods For the first time in Switzerland, this survey employed a validated questionnaire from the division of violence prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. The first part of the questionnaire addressed social and demographic factors which could influence the risk of violence: age, gender, duration of stay in Switzerland, nationality and educational level. Beside these social structural factors, the questionnaire included questions on experience of violent offences in the past, information about the most recent violent offence and intra and interpersonal facts. The questionnaire itself consists of 27 questions, translated into German and French. In a pilot study, the questionnaire was checked with adolescents for feasibility and comprehensibility. Results 69 male VIVs were interviewed at two hospitals in the Canton of Bern. Most of the adolescents emphasised that weapons were not used during their confrontations. It is astonishing that all of the young men considered themselves to be victims. Most of the brawls were incited after an exchange of verbal abuse and provocations with unfamiliar individuals. The rivals could neither be classified with the help of ethnic categories nor identifiable groups of the youth scenes. The incidents took place in scenes, where violence was more likely to happen. Interestingly and contrary to a general perception the offenders are well integrated into sport and leisure clubs. A further surprising result of our research is that the attitude towards religion differs between young men with experience of violence and non-violent men. Discussion Youth violence is a health issue, which concerns us globally. The human and economic toll of violence on victims and offenders, their families, and on society in general is high. The economic costs associated with violence-related illness and disability is estimated to be millions of Swiss francs each year. Physicians and psychologists are compelled to identify the factors, which cause young people to be violent, to find out which interventions prove to be successful, and to design effective prevention programs. The identification of effective programs depends on the availability of reliable and valid measures to assess changes in violence-related attitudes. In our efforts to create healthier communities, we need to investigate; document and do research on the causes and circumstances of youth violence

A pilot survey about waste management in European hospitals: Focusing on electrical and electronic equipment

Aim: Waste, including waste from electrical and electronic equipment, has been increasing for many years. This pilot study aims to describe hospital waste management in three European countries (including collection, disposal and recycling). Subject: and methods The survey was carried out in eight hospitals, two in Rome (Italy), three in Dresden (Germany) and three in Belgrade (Serbia). A questionnaire was used to gain more knowledge about hospital waste management, especially regarding electrical and electronic equipment. Results: The survey results show that treatment of electrical and electronic equipment is a difficult and expensive task in all studied hospitals and countries. Only one half of the hospitals have a standardised procedure for waste treatment. While one eighth has a procedure for some equipment, 37.5% do not have one; and whereas one quarter do not have an office of waste management, a waste register is available in 62.5% of the hospitals. Conclusion: Either waste management procedures differ between the eight studied hospitals and countries, or there is no (prescribed) waste management procedure at all. With regard to the two facts, common regulations are necessary to manage waste disposal and treatment in European countries and hospitals. © Springer-Verlag 2011

Implant of flexible probes - Supplemental

<p>long term functional and reliable coupling between neural tissue and implanted microelectrodes is the key issue in acquiring neural electrophysiological signals or therapeutically excite neural tissue. The currently often used rigid micro-electrodes are thought to cause a severe foreign body reaction resulting in a thick glial scar and consequently a poor tissue-electrode coupling in the chronic phase. We hypothesize, that this adverse effect might be remedied by probes compliant to the soft brain tissue, i.e. replacing rigid electrodes by flexible ones. Unfortunately, this flexibility comes at the price of a low buckling force, which makes targeted low trauma implantation very challenging. In this study, we demonstrate an adaptable and simple method to implant extremely flexible microprobes even to deep areas of rat’s brain. Successful implantation of flexible probes is achieved by rod supported stereotactic insertion fostered by a hydrogel cushion on the exposed skull. We were thus able to reliably implant very flexible micro-probes in a high number of rats as deep as the rodent's subthalamic nucleus. This work describes in detail the procedures and steps needed for minimal invasive, but reliable implantation of flexible probes. Supplemental video material is available.</p