Tagungsbericht: Dialogische Krimianalysen: Fachdidaktik und Literaturwissenschaft untersuchen aktuelle Kriminalliteratur aus Belgien und Frankreich

Bericht zur Tagung „Dialogische Krimianalysen: Fachdidaktik und Literaturwissenschaft untersuchen aktuelle Kriminalliteratur aus Belgien und Frankreich“, 15. und 16. Oktober 2015, Universität Paderbor

S100B is increased in Parkinson’s disease and ablation protects against MPTP-induced toxicity through the RAGE and TNF-α pathway

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Azathioprine favourably influences the course of malaria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Azathioprine triggers suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis, characterized by cell shrinkage and exposure of phosphatidylserine at the erythrocyte surface. Eryptosis may accelerate the clearance of <it>Plasmodium</it>-infected erythrocytes. The present study thus explored whether azathioprine influences eryptosis of <it>Plasmodium</it>-infected erythrocytes, development of parasitaemia and thus the course of malaria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Human erythrocytes were infected <it>in vitro </it>with <it>Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) </it>(strain BinH) in the absence and presence of azathioprine (0.001 – 10 μM), parasitaemia determined utilizing Syto16, phosphatidylserine exposure estimated from annexin V-binding and cell volume from forward scatter in FACS analysis. Mice were infected with <it>Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) </it>ANKA by injecting parasitized murine erythrocytes (1 × 10⁶) intraperitoneally. Where indicated azathioprine (5 mg/kg b.w.) was administered subcutaneously from the eighth day of infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>In vitro </it>infection of human erythrocytes with <it>P. falciparum </it>increased annexin V-binding and initially decreased forward scatter, effects significantly augmented by azathioprine. At higher concentrations azathioprine significantly decreased intraerythrocytic DNA/RNA content (≥ 1 μM) and <it>in vitro </it>parasitaemia (≥ 1 μM). Administration of azathioprine significantly decreased the parasitaemia of circulating erythrocytes and increased the survival of <it>P. berghei</it>-infected mice (from 0% to 77% 22 days after infection).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Azathioprine inhibits intraerythrocytic growth of <it>P. falciparum</it>, enhances suicidal death of infected erythrocytes, decreases parasitaemia and fosters host survival during malaria.</p

Workplace-Related Interpersonal Group Psychotherapy to Improve Life at Work in Individuals With Major Depressive Disorders: A Randomized Interventional Pilot Study

Individuals suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) often report workplace-related stress as the major cause of their disorder. Accordingly, workplace-related stress was established as a fifth psychosocial problem area of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (workplace-related Interpersonal Psychotherapy, W-IPT). The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of W-IPT on depressive symptoms and on workplace-related issues in individuals with MDD compared to a treatment-as-usual (TAU) condition.; A total of 27 individuals with MDD (mean age = 43 years, 48% males) were randomly assigned either to eight weekly group sessions of W-IPT or to the TAU condition. At baseline, 8 weeks later at the end of the intervention, and 20 weeks later at follow-up, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was conducted. In addition, the participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Work Ability Index (WAI), the Return to Work Attitude (RTW-SE), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).; Symptoms of depression in experts' ratings as well as in self-rated ratings decreased over time, but more so in the W-IPT condition compared to the TAU condition [experts rating: large effect size (; d; = 1.25) and self-assessment: large effect sizes (; d; = 0.94)]. The subjective ability to work (WAI) [medium effect size (; d; = 0.68)], self-efficacy to returning to work RTW-SE [medium effect size (; d; = 0.57)], and subjective symptoms of insomnia (ISI) [large effect size (; d; = 1.15)] increased over time, but again more so in the W-IPT condition compared to the TAU condition. The effects of the intervention remained stable from the end of the intervention to follow-up.; The pattern of results of this pilot study suggests that a newly established fifth IPT focus on workplace-related stress appeared to be particularly efficient in individuals with MDD due to work-related stress in reducing depressive symptoms and reducing sleep complaints as well as in improving occupational outcomes

SOCTESQA - Solid Oxide Cell and Stack Testing, Safety and Quality Assurance

Many research facilities and industrial companies worldwide are engaged in the development and the improvement of solid oxide fuel cells/stacks (SOFC) and also of solid oxide electrolysis cells/stacks (SOEC). However, the successful application of fuel and electrolysis cells/stacks in real world conditions requires reliable assessment, testing and prediction of performance and durability. Therefore the EU-project SOCTESQA will start at the beginning of May with the aim to develop uniform and industry wide test procedures and protocols for SOC cell/stack assembly. The paper presents the main objectives, the project consortium, the structure, the work packages and the workflow plan of the project. The project builds on experiences gained in the FCTESTNET, FCTESQA series of projects taking up the methodology developed there. It will address new application fields which are based on the operation of the SOFC cell/stack assembly in the fuel cell and in the electrolysis mode, e.g. stationary SOFC μ-CHP, mobile SOFC APU and SOFC/SOEC power-to-gas systems. The test procedures will include current-voltage curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and long term tests both under steady state and dynamic operating conditions. The project partners are from different countries in Europe: French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Joint Research Centre – European Commission (JRC) from Belgium, European Institute for Energy Research (EIFER) from Germany and German Aerospace Center (DLR). All of them have long-term experience in the development, testing and harmonization of solid oxide cells/stacks. The project will have a clear structure based on an initial definition phase, the development of generic test modules, the corresponding experimental validation phases and the review of the test procedures. Several of these validation loops will result at the end of the project in final test modules, which will be confirmed by round robin tests. Moreover, the project will address safety aspects, liaise with standardization organizations and establish contact with industrial practice. This collaborative project will essentially help to accelerate the development and the market penetration of hydrogen and fuel cell (H2&FC) energy systems in Europe

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of SOFC and SOEC stacks

The successful development of the solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cell technology requires high quality, reliable and reproducible test results which enable the proper understanding of the corresponding electrochemical processes. Especially the different resistances, the overvoltages under electrical current and the degradation mechanisms in the stacks are not well understood. In this context, temperature and fuel gas composition gradients along the cell area and along the height of the stack play an important role under operation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a very useful tool in order to close this knowledge gap. Therefore, the paper focuses on the improvement of the understanding of the electrochemical behavior of SOC stack repeat units with focus on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Both, the fuel cell (SOFC) and the electrolysis (SOEC) operation are addressed. The corresponding results have been obtained within the European funded project “SOCTESQA” (Solid oxide cell and stack testing and quality assurance). The relevant issues and parameters which influence the quality of the EIS spectra are outlined. Moreover, the results of the spectra are discussed in terms of reproducibility among different test methods. This includes the validation of the low frequency impedances with the area specific resistances of the current-voltage curves. Both operating modes (SOFC and SOEC) are compared to each other. Additionally, the high frequency impedances are validated with high current interrupt (HCI) measurements. The results obtained by fitting of the spectra with an equivalent circuit are compared with theoretical calculations

D.3.1 Test Matrix Document

The present document defines the test matrix, i.e. a list of test modules relevant for different applications. According to the project objectives the applications are SOFC (stationary and mobile), SOEC (H2- production) and combined SOFC/SOEC (electricity storage via H2). These test modules can be combined to form test programs in order to realize application-oriented testing. This test matrix has been created based on a brief review of results from the precedent project - FCTESQA dealing with cell/stack/system testing procedures for three types of fuel cells (PEMFC, SOFC and MCFC) and the on-going project STACKTEST dealing with testing procedures for PEMFC stacks. Industrial stake holders who are developing SOFC/SOEC products have been contacted to gather information regarding the required operation modes during the lifecycle of the product for each application. Feedbacks from industrial stake holders have also been integrated

Loss of SATB2 Occurs More Frequently Than CDX2 Loss in Colorectal Carcinoma and Identifies Particularly Aggressive Cancers in High-Risk Subgroups

BACKGROUND Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB2) has emerged as an alternative immunohistochemical marker to CDX2 for colorectal differentiation. However, the distribution and prognostic relevance of SATB2 expression in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) have to be further elucidated. METHODS SATB2 expression was analysed in 1039 CRCs and correlated with clinicopathological and morphological factors, CDX2 expression as well as survival parameters within the overall cohort and in clinicopathological subgroups. RESULTS SATB2 loss was a strong prognosticator in univariate analyses of the overall cohort (p \textless 0.001 for all survival comparisons) and in numerous subcohorts including high-risk scenarios (UICC stage III/high tumour budding). SATB2 retained its prognostic relevance in multivariate analyses of these high-risk scenarios (e.g., UICC stage III: DSS: p = 0.007, HR: 1.95), but not in the overall cohort (DSS: p = 0.1, HR: 1.25). SATB2 loss was more frequent than CDX2 loss (22.2% vs. 10.2%, p \textless 0.001) and of higher prognostic relevance with only moderate overlap between SATB2/CDX2 expression groups. CONCLUSIONS SATB2 loss is able to identify especially aggressive CRCs in high-risk subgroups. While SATB2 is the prognostically superior immunohistochemical parameter compared to CDX2 in univariate analyses, it appears to be the less sensitive marker for colorectal differentiation as it is lost more frequently