34 research outputs found

    Towards charm physics with stabilised Wilson fermions

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    We report on a first study towards the use of stabilised Wilson fermions in heavy flavour physics. In particular, we are interested in fixing the charm quark mass via various physical observables and to inspect cut-off effects arising from different choices. This is done on large-volume OpenLat ensembles with periodic boundary conditions. Two different ways of fixing the charm quark mass are explored, namely using the mass of the DD- and ηc\eta_{\rm c}-meson as physical inputs. We furthermore give an update on our determination of the non-singlet axial current improvement coefficient cAc_{\rm A}.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, contribution to "The 40th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2023)

    Pharmacodynamic Effects of an Angiotensin II Receptor-Antagonist in Phase I—Comparison between Healthy Subjects and Patients with Hypertension

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    Biomarkers are increasingly used to provide decision making data early in phase I by showing Proof of Mechanism or Proof of Concept (PoM/PoC). For antihypertensive agents, the administration of multiple doses (md) to hypertensive patients is assumed to be necessary for an early go/no-go decision. We compared the effects of an Angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARA) on Plasma Renin and blood pressure (BP) following an oral single dose (sd) and once daily md for seven days to healthy volunteers and patients with essential hypertension (diastolic BP 95 mmHg to 114 mmHg; systolic BP 130 mmHg to 200 mmHg). Methods: 5–12 healthy male subjects/dose received 10 mg to 300 mg ARA sd and 50 to 300 mg md for 7 days; patients (9–10/dose) received 20 mg–400 mg ARA for 7 days. The studies were designed as randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, group comparison or crossover dose-escalation studies. Plasma Renin and BP were monitored up to 24 hours after dosing. Results: Plasma Renin showed a high interindividual variability in both healthy volunteers and patients. Healthy subjects showed a dose- and time-related increase in plasma Renin after sd from 40 mg to 300 mg and md of 50 mg to 300 mg (p < 0.05 for doses of 200 mg and 300 mg). In patients, increases in plasma Renin occurred at 8 hours and beyond starting at sd of 100 mg and md of 50 mg (p < 0.05 for the dose of 400 mg). While healthy volunteers showed no relevant decrease in BP, in hypertensive patients a reduction in BP in doses of 100 mg to 400 mg occurred (p < 0.05); effects were more pronounced after md compared to sd. Conclusion: Early PoM for an antihypertensive agent can be shown by use of laboratory biomarkers following sd to healthy subjects. PoC can be achieved after sd in hypertensive patients. Administration of sd to healthy volunteers is sufficient for an early go/no-decision

    International Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Responses

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    Chapter 01. Introduction Chapter 02. The Evolution of COVID-19 and Policy Responses of Korea: Adaptation and Learning Perspectives Chapter 03. Japan’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cautious and Self-restraint-based Approach Chapter 04. Thailand’s Response to COVID-19 Chapter 05. Beyond Regime Types: Local Governance, Bureaucratic Coordination, and COVID-19 Responses in Vietnam Chapter 06. Aotearoa New Zealand’s Policy Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic Chapter 07. COVID-19 Responses in Finland: Uneven, Fairly Effective, and Craving to Return to the Normal Chapter 08. Crisis Governance in a Multilevel System: German Public Administration Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic Chapter 09. Sweden and the COVID-19 Crisis Chapter 10. Science, Uncertainty, and Partisanship: The United States’ Response to COVID-19 Chapter 11. Summary and Discussions for Policy Implication

    K(2P)18.1 translates T cell receptor signals into thymic regulatory T cell development

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    It remains largely unclear how thymocytes translate relative differences in T cell receptor (TCR) signal strength into distinct developmental programs that drive the cell fate decisions towards conventional (Tconv) or regulatory T cells (Treg). Following TCR activation, intracellular calcium (Ca2+) is the most important second messenger, for which the potassium channel K(2P)18.1 is a relevant regulator. Here, we identify K(2P)18.1 as a central translator of the TCR signal into the thymus-derived Treg (tTreg) selection process. TCR signal was coupled to NF-kappa B-mediated K(2P)18.1 upregulation in tTreg progenitors. K(2P)18.1 provided the driving force for sustained Ca2+ influx that facilitated NF-kappa B- and NFAT-dependent expression of FoxP3, the master transcription factor for Treg development and function. Loss of K(2P)18.1 ion-current function induced a mild lymphoproliferative phenotype in mice, with reduced Treg numbers that led to aggravated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, while a gain-of-function mutation in K(2P)18.1 resulted in increased Treg numbers in mice. Our findings in human thymus, recent thymic emigrants and multiple sclerosis patients with a dominant-negative missense K(2P)18.1 variant that is associated with poor clinical outcomes indicate that K(2P)18.1 also plays a role in human Treg development. Pharmacological modulation of K(2P)18.1 specifically modulated Treg numbers in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we identified nitroxoline as a K(2P)18.1 activator that led to rapid and reversible Treg increase in patients with urinary tract infections. Conclusively, our findings reveal how K(2P)18.1 translates TCR signals into thymic T cell fate decisions and Treg development, and provide a basis for the therapeutic utilization of Treg in several human disorders.Peer reviewe

    25th annual computational neuroscience meeting: CNS-2016

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    The same neuron may play different functional roles in the neural circuits to which it belongs. For example, neurons in the Tritonia pedal ganglia may participate in variable phases of the swim motor rhythms [1]. While such neuronal functional variability is likely to play a major role the delivery of the functionality of neural systems, it is difficult to study it in most nervous systems. We work on the pyloric rhythm network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) [2]. Typically network models of the STG treat neurons of the same functional type as a single model neuron (e.g. PD neurons), assuming the same conductance parameters for these neurons and implying their synchronous firing [3, 4]. However, simultaneous recording of PD neurons shows differences between the timings of spikes of these neurons. This may indicate functional variability of these neurons. Here we modelled separately the two PD neurons of the STG in a multi-neuron model of the pyloric network. Our neuron models comply with known correlations between conductance parameters of ionic currents. Our results reproduce the experimental finding of increasing spike time distance between spikes originating from the two model PD neurons during their synchronised burst phase. The PD neuron with the larger calcium conductance generates its spikes before the other PD neuron. Larger potassium conductance values in the follower neuron imply longer delays between spikes, see Fig. 17.Neuromodulators change the conductance parameters of neurons and maintain the ratios of these parameters [5]. Our results show that such changes may shift the individual contribution of two PD neurons to the PD-phase of the pyloric rhythm altering their functionality within this rhythm. Our work paves the way towards an accessible experimental and computational framework for the analysis of the mechanisms and impact of functional variability of neurons within the neural circuits to which they belong

    E-Learning-Übungen auf Lernplattformen

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    Sauer J. E-Learning-Übungen auf Lernplattformen. In: Kuhlmann P, Horstmann H, eds. Wortschatz und Grammatik üben. Didaktische Kriterien und Praxisbeispiele für den Lateinunterricht. Göttingen: Vandenhoek &amp; Ruprecht; 2018: 118-124

    Process optimization of mixed flow dryers for drying agricultural crops

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    Dächerschachttrockner kommen meist dann zum Einsatz, wenn große Mengen an Getreide, Mais und Sojabohnen haltbar gemacht werden müssen. Obwohl der Prozess der konvektiven Trocknung bereits umfangreich untersucht wurde und Stand der Technik bei der thermischen Getreidekonservierung ist, bestehen noch immer Wissenslücken in der Beschreibung des Gesamtprozesses und vor allem ein großes Optimierungspotenzial in der konstruktiven Gestaltung der zur Trocknung verwendeten Apparate. Durch verfahrenstechnische Analyse und Entwicklung des Trocknungsapparates können erhebliche Fortschritte in der Prozess- und Produktqualität bei der Getreidetrocknung erzielt werden. Dazu ist es notwendig, das Wissen über den Dächerschachttrockner durch Untersuchung der Teilprozesse der Partikelbewegung, Luftströmung sowie der Wärme- und Stoffübertragung zu erweitern. Basierend auf experimentellen und numerischen Untersuchungen dieser Prozesse mittels diskreter Partikelmodellierung und numerischer Strömungssimulation wurden verschiedene, innovative Trocknerkonfigurationen entwickelt. Diese führen zu einer Homogenisierung der Trocknungsbedingungen, zu einer besseren Ausnutzung des Trocknungspotenzials der Luft und damit zu höheren Trocknungseffizienz
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