Der Persönliche Referent des Oberbürgermeisters - ein attraktives Amt und Karrieresprungbrett zugleich?

Das Berufsbild des Persönlichen Referenten steht im Fokus der Arbeit und wird insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Attraktivität dieses Amtes und eine mögliche Nutzung als Karrieresprungbrett umfassend beleuchtet

Quenched Lewis Acidity : Studies on the Medium Dependent Fluorescence of Zinc(II) Complexes

Three new zinc(II) coordination units [Zn(1–3)] based on planar‐directing tetradentate Schiff base‐like ligands H(2)(1–3) were synthesized. Their solid‐state structures were investigated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction, showing the tendency to overcome the square‐planar coordination sphere by axial ligation. Affinity in solution towards axial ligation has been tested by extended spectroscopic studies, both in the absorption and emission mode. The electronic spectrum of the pyridine complex [Zn(1)(py)] has been characterized by MC‐PDFT to validate the results of extended TD‐DFT studies. Green emission of non‐emissive solutions of [Zn(1–3)] in chloroform could be switched on in the presence of potent Lewis‐bases. While interpretation in terms of an equilibrium of stacked/non‐fluorescent and destacked/fluorescent species is in line with precedents from literature, the sensitivity of [Zn(1–3)] was greatly reduced. Results of a computation‐based structure search allow to trace the hidden Lewis acidity of [Zn(1–3)] to a new stacking motif, resulting in a strongly enhanced stability of the dimers

Self-Assembled Fluorescent Block Copolymer Micelles with Responsive Emission

Responsive fluorescent materials offer a high potential for sensing and (bio‐)imaging applications. To investigate new concepts for such materials and to broaden their applicability, the previously reported non‐fluorescent zinc(II) complex [Zn(L)] that shows coordination‐induced turn‐on emission was encapsulated into a family of non‐fluorescent polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) diblock copolymer micelles leading to brightly emissive materials. Coordination‐induced turn‐on emission upon incorporation and ligation of the [Zn(L)] in the P4VP core outperform parent [Zn(L)] in pyridine solution with respect to lifetimes, quantum yields, and temperature resistance. The quantum yield can be easily tuned by tailoring the selectivity of the employed solvent or solvent mixture and, thus, the tendency of the PS‐b‐P4VP diblock copolymers to self‐assemble into micelles. A medium‐dependent off–on sensor upon micelle formation could be established by suppression of non‐micelle‐borne emission background pertinent to chloroform through controlled acidification indicating an additional pH‐dependent process

Power Training Improves the Sensorimotor Cortical Oscillations in Youth with Cerebral Palsy

Background: Our magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging studies have shown that youth with cerebral palsy (CP) demonstrate altered sensorimotor beta (18-24Hz) cortical oscillations when controlling their leg motor actions and these anomalous cortical oscillations are linked with the extent of their mobility impairments. Current therapeutic trends for improving mobility have shifted from strength training to high-velocity power training, which has shown improvements in isokinetic strength, power production and mobility of youth with CP. However, no studies have assessed whether these clinically relevant improvements are linked with changes in the sensorimotor cortical oscillations. The objective of this study was to utilize MEG brain imaging to examine the potential changes in sensorimotor cortical oscillations following power training. Methods: Youth with CP (N=11; Age=15.9 ±1.1yrs; GMFCS I-III) and neurotypical controls (NT) (N=16; Age=14.6 ±0.8yrs) were recruited to participate in this study. The youth with CP underwent 24 high-velocity leg press power training sessions that were performed on a Total Gym® sled. Pre-Post bilateral leg press 1-repetition maximum (1RM) and peak power production were used to assess the muscular performance changes. The 1-minute walk was used to assess mobility changes. During MEG recordings, participants used their right leg to complete a goal-directed isometric target-matching task. Advanced beamforming methods were subsequently used to image the strength of the sensorimotor beta oscillatory power. The NTs only underwent the baseline MEG assessment. Results: Youth with CP increased their 1RM (Pre=158.3 ±24.7kg, Post=247.5 ±41.5kg, p\u3c0.01), and peak power production (Pre=509.9 ±64.7W, Post=677.1 ±113.3W, p=0.04). Participants with CP also improved their 1-minute walk (Pre=77.4 ±9.2m, Post=80.8 ±8.4m, p = 0.02). The beta sensorimotor cortical oscillations in the leg region were stronger in the youth with CP prior to training compared with the NTs (CP=-25.9±1.8%; NT=-17.2±3.6%, p=0.04). However, the youth with CP had a reduction in the strength of the beta oscillations after undergoing the power training (pre=-25.9 ±1.8%, post=-14.8 ±3.6%, p=0.02), and the strength of the oscillations was not significantly different from the NTs after training (p=0.68). Lastly, the peak power production after training was tightly linked with the strength of the post-therapy sensorimotor cortical oscillations (r=0.79, p=0.03). Conclusion: Power training appears to improve the neural generators that control the leg motor actions, and these neuroplastic changes partly contribute to improvements in the peak power production of youth with CP. Potentially, power training might provide the key therapeutic ingredients for complementary muscular and neurological plastic change.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/chri_forum/1001/thumbnail.jp

Magnetic NiFe₂O₄ Nanoparticles Prepared via Non-Aqueous Microwave-Assisted Synthesis for Application in Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation

Phase‐pure spinel‐type magnetic nickel ferrite (NiFe(2)O(4)) nanocrystals in the size range of 4 to 11 nm were successfully synthesized by a fast and energy‐saving microwave‐assisted approach. Size and accessible surface areas can be tuned precisely by the reaction parameters. Our results highlight the correlation between size, degree of inversion, and magnetic characteristics of NiFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles, which enables fine‐tuning of these parameters for a particular application without changing the elemental composition. Moreover, the application potential of the synthesized powders for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media was demonstrated, showing that a low degree of inversion is beneficial for the overall performance. The most active sample reaches an overpotential of 380 mV for water oxidation at 10 mA cm(−2) and 38.8 mA cm(−2) at 1.7 V vs. RHE, combined with a low Tafel slope of 63 mV dec(−1)