In Human Keratinocytes the Common Deletion Reflects Donor Variabilities Rather Than Chronologic Aging and can be Induced by Ultraviolet A Irradiation

Mitochondrial DNA mutations play a major role in human aging processes and degenerative diseases. The most frequently reported marker for mutations of the mitochondrial DNA in human skin is a 4977 bp large-scale deletion, called the Common Deletion. Although this deletion is rarely detectable and constitutes only one example of the multitude of about 50,000 known mutations in mitochondrial DNA, it can represent “the tip of the iceberg” of all types of mitochondrial DNA mutations. We established a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to detect the Common Deletion in vitro as well as in vivo/ex vivo. In contrast to previous studies, we were able to demonstrate that the Common Deletion is frequently abundant in keratinocytes isolated from various donors. Quantitative analysis of the mutation indicated interperson variations but obviously no relation to the donors' ages. Prolonged proliferation of keratinocytes led to a distinct reduction in the amount of the Common Deletion. Single ultraviolet A irradiation (12 J per cm2 and 15 J per cm2) neither in vitro nor in vivo increased the incidence of the mutation in keratinocytes, whereas repetitive irradiation resulted in a clear increase in vitro. Again, prolonged cultivation of these irradiated cells caused a significant reduction in the amounts of the deletion. In view of these results, the Common Deletion appears to be a useful marker rather for ultraviolet-A-induced alterations than for chronologic aging in human skin keratinocytes

Marked Mydriasis and Neuritis Nervi Optici Associated with Galactorrhea Following Citalopram Treatment: A Case Report and Discussion

We report the case of a 25-year-old women suffering from major depression who was treated with citalopram for several weeks with doses between 20 mg and 60 mg. She gradually developed marked mydriasis within 2 months after treatment and subsequently neuritis nervi optici. Moreover, abrupt galactorrhea occurred after 2 months of treatment. All neuro-ophthalmological, neurophysiological, clinical laboratory, and neuroradiological diagnostic efforts did not reveal an underlying organic pathophysiology. The ocular symptoms disappeared rapidly after the discontinuation of citalopram and pulse therapy with methyl-prednisolone. However, galactorrhea persisted for a few weeks necessitating treatment with bromocriptine

The taxonomist - an endangered race : a practical proposal for its survival

Background: Taxonomy or biological systematics is the basic scientific discipline of biology, postulating hypotheses of identity and relationships, on which all other natural sciences dealing with organisms relies. However, the scientific contributions of taxonomists have been largely neglected when using species names in scientific publications by not citing the authority on which they are based. Discussion: Consequences of this neglect is reduced recognition of the importance of taxonomy, which in turn results in diminished funding, lower interest from journals in publishing taxonomic research, and a reduced number of young scientists entering the field. This has lead to the so-called taxonomic impediment at a time when biodiversity studies are of critical importance. Here we emphasize a practical and obvious solution to this dilemma. We propose that whenever a species name is used, the author(s) of the species hypothesis be included and the original literature source cited, including taxonomic revisions and identification literature - nothing more than what is done for every other hypothesis or assumption included in a scientific publication. In addition, we postulate that journals primarily publishing taxonomic studies should be indexed in ISISM. Summary: The proposal outlined above would make visible the true contribution of taxonomists within the scientific community, and would provide a more accurate assessment for funding agencies impact and importance of taxonomy, and help in the recruitment of young scientists into the field, thus helping to alleviate the taxonomic impediment. In addition, it would also make much of the biological literature more robust by reducing or alleviating taxonomic uncertainty. Keywords: Taxonomy crisis; taxonomic impediment; impact factor; original species description; citation index; systematic

„Organigramm mit Gott“. Anregungen zu einer Organisationsanalyse mit einer positionsorientierten Aufstellung - Ein Fallbeispiel

Wir stellen hier anhand eines Beispiels eine Methode vor, die dem Soziodrama entlehnt ist, die Organisation fokussieren soll, dabei die (erzählten) Elemente der Organisation miteinander in Beziehung setzt und diese in phantasierte Dialoge umsetzt

How Will Hydroelectric Power Generation Develop under Climate Change Scenarios?

Climate change has a large impact on water resources and thus on hydropower. Hydroelectric power generation is closely linked to the regional hydrological situation of a watershed and reacts sensitively to changes in water quantity and seasonality. The development of hydroelectric power generation in the Upper Danube basin was modelled for two future decades, namely 2021-2030 and 2051-2060, using a special hydropower module coupled with the physically-based hydrological model PROMET. To cover a possible range of uncertainties, 16 climate scenarios were taken as meteorological drivers which were defined from different ensemble outputs of a stochastic climate generator, based on the IPCC-SRES-A1B emission scenario and four regional climate trends. Depending on the trends, the results show a slight to severe decline in hydroelectric power generation. Whilst the mean summer values indicate a decrease, the mean winter values display an increase. To show past and future regional differences within the Upper Danube basin, three hydropower plants at individual locations were selected. Inter-annual differences originate predominately from unequal contributions of the runoff compartments rain, snow-and ice-melt

Public-good experiments with large groups

Many of real-world public-goods are characterized by a marginal per capita return (MPCR) close to zero and have to be provided by large groups. Up until now, there is almost no evidence on how large groups facing a low MPCR behave in controlled public-good laboratory experiments involving financial incentives. Connecting four experimental laboratories located in four di¤erent German universities via Internet, we are able to run such experiments. In ad-dition to the group size (60 and 100 subjects), we vary the MPCR which is as small as 0:02 or 0:04. Our data reveal a strong MPCR effect, but almost no group-size e¤ect. Our data demonstrates that, even in large groups and for low MPCRs, considerable contributions to public goods can be expected. Interestingly, the contribution patterns observed in large and very small groups are very similar. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first one that includes large-group laboratory experiments with a small MPCR under conditions comparable to previous small-group standard public-good experiments