328 research outputs found
Der Patentlebenszyklus: Methodische L�sungsans�tze der externen Technologieanalyse
Die Technologielebenszyklusanalyse stellt ein geeignetes Instrument f�r die Absch�tzung der Chancen und Risiken innerhalb eines Technologiefeldes und die Ermittlung der Technologieattraktivit�t dar. Durch die Operationalisierung des Technologielebenszyklus als Anzahl der Patentanmeldungen oder Patenterteilungen ber der Zeit kann das Instrumentarium patentstatistischer Analysen eine verl�ssliche Grundlage f�r die externe Technologieanalyse bilden. Die zentrale Problemstellung in der Analysepraxis ist die Abgrenzung des Technologiefeldes, die die Anwendbarkeit der Patentlebenszyklusanalyse bisher einschr�nkt. Der vorliegende Beitrag verdeutlicht am Beispiel des Herzschrittmachers, wie die Abgrenzungsprobleme des Technologiefeldes und der Lebenszyklusphasen gel�st werden k�nnen. Summary: The technology life cycle analysis is an ideal method for estimating the opportunities and threats within a technology field and for determining the attractiveness of a technology. By defining the technology life cycle as the number of patent applications or patents granted over time, the patent analysis tool provides a reliable basis for the external technology forecasting. The main issue in practical analyses is the isolation of the technology field, which limits the way in which patent life cycle analysis can be applied. By discussing the example of the cardiac pacemaker, this paper explains the manner in which a technology field can be isolated and in which the life cycle phases can be identified.Technologielebenszyklus, Patentlebenszyklus, Technologielebenszyklusanalyse, Patentlebenszyklusanalyse, Technologiefeldabgrenzung, Patentanmeldungen, Patenterteilungen
Feature-based differentiation of malignant melanomas, lesions and healthy skin in multiphoton tomography skin images
Malignant melanoma is a very aggressive tumour with the ability to metastasize at an early stage. Therefore, early detection is of great importance. Multiphoton tomography is a new non-invasive examination method in the clinical diagnosis of skin alterations that can be used for such early diagnosis.In this paper, a method for automated evaluation of multiphoton images of the skin is presented.The following features at the cellular and subcellular level were extracted to differentiate between malignant melanomas, lesions, and healthy skin: cell symmetry, cell distance, cell density, cell and nucleus contrast, nucleus cell ratio, and homogeneity of cytoplasm. The extracted features formed the basis for the subsequent classification. Two feature sets wereused. The first feature set included all the above-mentioned features, while the second feature set included the significantly different features between the three classes resulting from a multivariate analysis of variance. The classification wasperformed by a Support Vector Machine, the k-Nearest Neighbour algorithm, and Ensemble Learning.The best classification results were obtained with the Support Vector Machine using the first feature set with an accuracy of 52 % and 79.6 % for malignant melanoma and healthy skin, respectively.Despite the small number of subjects investigated our results indicate that the proposed automatic method can differentiate malignant melanoma, lesions, and healthy skin. For future clinical application, an extended study with more multiphoton images is needed
MetalâOrganic Framework Co-MOF-74-Based HostâGuest Composites for Resistive Gas Sensing
Increasing demands in thefield of sensing, especially for gas detectionapplications, require new approaches to chemical sensors. Metalâorganic frameworks (MOFs) can play a decisive role owing to their outstanding performances regardinggas selectivity and sensitivity. The tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-infiltrated MOF, Co-MOF-74, has been prepared following the hostâguest concept and evaluated inresistive gas sensing. The Co-MOF-74-TTF crystal morphology has beencharacterized via X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, while thesuccessful incorporation of TTF into the MOF has been validated via X-rayphotoemission spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, UV/vis, infrared (IR), andRaman investigations. We demonstrate a reduced yet ample uptake of CO2in thepores of the new material by IR imaging and adsorption isotherms. Thenanocomposite Co-MOF-74-TTF exhibits an increased electrical conductivity incomparison to Co-MOF-74 which can be influenced by gas adsorption from asurrounding atmosphere. This effect could be used for gas sensing
Discovery of Sexual Dimorphisms in Metabolic and Genetic Biomarkers
Metabolomic profiling and the integration of whole-genome genetic association data has proven to be a powerful tool to comprehensively explore gene regulatory networks and to investigate the effects of genetic variation at the molecular level. Serum metabolite concentrations allow a direct readout of biological processes, and association of specific metabolomic signatures with complex diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders has been shown. There are well-known correlations between sex and the incidence, prevalence, age of onset, symptoms, and severity of a disease, as well as the reaction to drugs. However, most of the studies published so far did not consider the role of sexual dimorphism and did not analyse their data stratified by gender. This study investigated sex-specific differences of serum metabolite concentrations and their underlying genetic determination. For discovery and replication we used more than 3,300 independent individuals from KORA F3 and F4 with metabolite measurements of 131 metabolites, including amino acids, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, acylcarnitines, and C6-sugars. A linear regression approach revealed significant concentration differences between males and females for 102 out of 131 metabolites (p-values<3.8 x 10(-4); Bonferroni-corrected threshold). Sex-specific genome-wide association studies (GWAS) showed genome-wide significant differences in beta-estimates for SNPs in the CPS1 locus (carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1, significance level: p<3.8 x 10(-10); Bonferroni-corrected threshold) for glycine. We showed that the metabolite profiles of males and females are significantly different and, furthermore, that specific genetic variants in metabolism-related genes depict sexual dimorphism. Our study provides new important insights into sex-specific differences of cell regulatory processes and underscores that studies should consider sex-specific effects in design and interpretation
Transanal total mesorectal excision: how are we doing so far?
Aim This subgroup analysis of a prospective multicentre
cohort study aims to compare postoperative morbidity
between transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME)
and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LaTME).
Method The study was designed as a subgroup analysis
of a prospective multicentre cohort study. Patients
undergoing TaTME or LaTME for rectal cancer were
selected. All patients were followed up until the first
visit to the outpatient clinic after hospital discharge.
Postoperative complications were classified according to
the ClavienâDindo classification and the comprehensive
complication index (CCI). Propensity score matching
was performed.
Results In total, 220 patients were selected from the
overall prospective multicentre cohort study. After
propensity score matching, 48 patients from each group
were compared. The median tumour height for TaTME
was 10.0 cm (6.0â10.8) and for LaTME was 9.5 cm
(7.0â12.0) (P = 0.459). The duration of surgery and
anaesthesia were both significantly longer for TaTME
(221 vs 180 min, P < 0.001, and 264 vs 217 min,
P < 0.001). TaTME was not converted to laparotomy
whilst surgery in five patients undergoing LaTME was
converted to laparotomy (0.0% vs 10.4%, P = 0.056).
No statistically significant differences were observed for
ClavienâDindo classification, CCI, readmissions, reoperations and mortality.
Conclusion The study showed that TaTME is a safe
and feasible approach for rectal cancer resection. This
new technique obtained similar postoperative morbidity
to LaTME
C-reactive protein (CRP) trajectory as a predictor of anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer resection: A multicentre cohort study
Peptide microarray based analysis of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 identifies unique epitopes with potential for diagnostic test development
Humoral immunity to the Severe Adult Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus (CoV)â2 is not fully understood yet but is a crucial factor of immune protection. The possibility of antibody crossâreactivity between SARSâCoVâ2 and other human coronaviruses (HCoVs) would have important implications for immune protection but also for the development of specific diagnostic ELISA tests. Using peptide microarrays, n = 24 patient samples and n = 12 control samples were screened for antibodies against the entire SARSâCoVâ2 proteome as well as the Spike (S), Nucleocapsid (N), VME1 (V), R1ab, and Protein 3a (AP3A) of the HCoV strains SARS, MERS, OC43 and 229E. While widespread crossâreactivity was revealed across several immunodominant regions of S and N, IgG binding to several SARSâCoVâ2âderived peptides provided statistically significant discrimination between COVIDâ19 patients and controls. Selected target peptides may serve as capture antigens for future, highly COVIDâ19âspecific diagnostic antibody tests
Early detection of duodenal cancer by upper gastrointestinal-endoscopy in Lynch syndrome
Small bowel cancer (SBC) is the malignancy with the highest standardized incidence ratio in Lynch syndrome (LS) patients. Of all SBCs, about 50% are duodenal cancers (DCs), therefore being accessible by esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) for surveillance. We asked whether early detection of DC is possible for LS patients undergoing surveillance by EGD and if surveillance should be limited to specific subgroups. Data for LS patients with DC were retrieved from the registry of the German Consortium for Familial Intestinal Cancer. Patients undergoing active surveillance by EGDs (surveillance group) were compared to those who did not (nonsurveillance group) regarding tumor stage at diagnosis. Union for International Cancer Control stages I-IIA were defined as early stage disease and IIB-IV as advanced stage disease. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test. Among 2015 patients with pathogenic variants in any mismatch-repair-gene, 47 patients with 49 DCs were identified. In 10% of cases, patients were under 35âyears at diagnosis; family and personal tumor history did not correlate with DC diagnosis. Pathogenic germline variants in MSH6, PMS2 or EPCAM were present in 10% of patients. Statistical analysis could be performed on 13 DC patients in the surveillance group and 14 in the nonsurveillance group. Early detection was possible for 71% of patients in the surveillance group and 29% of patients in the nonsurveillance group (P = .021). Early detection of DC by EGD in LS patients is feasible regardless of family history, mutational status and should start no later than 25âyears of age
Value of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for gastric cancer surveillance in patients with Lynch syndrome
In our study, we evaluated the effectiveness of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy as an instrument for early gastric cancer (GC) detection in Lynch syndrome (LS) patients by analyzing data from the registry of the German Consortium for Familial Intestinal Cancer. In a prospective, multicenter cohort study, 1128 out of 2009 registered individuals with confirmed LS underwent 5176 upper GI endoscopies. Compliance was good since 77.6% of upper GI endoscopies were completed within the recommended interval of 1 to 3âyears. Forty-nine GC events were observed in 47 patients. MLH1 (n = 21) and MSH2 (n = 24) mutations were the most prevalent. GCs in patients undergoing regular surveillance were diagnosed significantly more often in an early-stage disease (UICC I) than GCs detected through symptoms (83% vs 25%; P = .0231). Thirty-two (68%) patients had a negative family history of GC. The median age at diagnosis was 51âyears (range 28-66). Of all GC patients, 13 were diagnosed at an age younger than 45. Our study supports the recommendation of regular upper GI endoscopy surveillance for LS patients beginning no later than at the age of 30.
What's new?
Risk of gastric cancer (GC) is significantly increased among patients with Lynch syndrome (LS). GC screening in LS patients, however, is fraught with uncertainty, particularly regarding the use of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The authors of this study investigated the use of EGD for regular GC surveillance in a German cohort of LS patients. Regular surveillance by EGD resulted in more frequent diagnosis and significant down-staging of GC, relative to detection via symptoms alone. In most cases, family history of GC was negative. This study supports recommendations for regular gastroscopic surveillance in LS patients starting by age 30
Momentum Entanglement for Atom Interferometry
Compared to light interferometers, the flux in cold-atom interferometers is low and the associated shot noise is large. Sensitivities beyond these limitations require the preparation of entangled atoms in different momentum modes. Here, we demonstrate a source of entangled atoms that is compatible with state-of-the-art interferometers. Entanglement is transferred from the spin degree of freedom of a Bose-Einstein condensate to well-separated momentum modes, witnessed by a squeezing parameter of -3.1 (8) dB. Entanglement-enhanced atom interferometers promise unprecedented sensitivities for quantum gradiometers or gravitational wave detectors
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