Geographische Aufklärungsarbeit nach Naturkatastrophen: Das Tsunami Education Project (TEP) in Sri Lanka

After the Tsunami 2004 most of the rehabilitation activities were focused on the reconstruction of private houses, schools and hospitals, but the affected people in Sri Lanka were not only suffering the loss of their houses. The missing of a deeper geography education in Sri Lankan schools lead to the situation that along the coastal areas different rumours were spread about new tsunamis in the near future which caused an enormous fear among local communities that was slowing down the rehabilitation process. The TEP was one capacity building project within the relief activities. Geography workshops increased the basic knowledge about the reasons of earthquakes and tsunamis mainly for teachers along the affected coastal areas. Scientific knowlegde was used to decrease partly superstitious fear about the ocean and to act against frightening rumours. The didactical concept of the geography workshops was concentrated on the learners’ personal knowledge and experience. The TEP underlined the importance of didactical concepts in capacity building projects and pointed out the links between geography education and rehabilitation activities after natural disasters. Facing climate change, the importance of awareness projects with a geographical background will increase in the future especially in developing countries. The development of disaster preparedness strategies in these vulnerable countries will become an important topic and needs clear didactical concepts

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Glucosyl-3-Phosphoglycerate Synthase: Structure of a Key Enzyme in Methylglucose Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis

Tuberculosis constitutes today a serious threat to human health worldwide, aggravated by the increasing number of identified multi-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, its causative agent, as well as by the lack of development of novel mycobactericidal compounds for the last few decades. The increased resilience of this pathogen is due, to a great extent, to its complex, polysaccharide-rich, and unusually impermeable cell wall. The synthesis of this essential structure is still poorly understood despite the fact that enzymes involved in glycosidic bond synthesis represent more than 1% of all M. tuberculosis ORFs identified to date. One of them is GpgS, a retaining glycosyltransferase (GT) with low sequence homology to any other GTs of known structure, which has been identified in two species of mycobacteria and shown to be essential for the survival of M. tuberculosis. To further understand the biochemical properties of M. tuberculosis GpgS, we determined the three-dimensional structure of the apo enzyme, as well as of its ternary complex with UDP and 3-phosphoglycerate, by X-ray crystallography, to a resolution of 2.5 and 2.7 Å, respectively. GpgS, the first enzyme from the newly established GT-81 family to be structurally characterized, displays a dimeric architecture with an overall fold similar to that of other GT-A-type glycosyltransferases. These three-dimensional structures provide a molecular explanation for the enzyme's preference for UDP-containing donor substrates, as well as for its glucose versus mannose discrimination, and uncover the structural determinants for acceptor substrate selectivity. Glycosyltransferases constitute a growing family of enzymes for which structural and mechanistic data urges. The three-dimensional structures of M. tuberculosis GpgS now determined provide such data for a novel enzyme family, clearly establishing the molecular determinants for substrate recognition and catalysis, while providing an experimental scaffold for the structure-based rational design of specific inhibitors, which lay the foundation for the development of novel anti-tuberculosis therapies

Isolation, Cloning and Structural Characterisation of Boophilin, a Multifunctional Kunitz-Type Proteinase Inhibitor from the Cattle Tick

Inhibitors of coagulation factors from blood-feeding animals display a wide variety of structural motifs and inhibition mechanisms. We have isolated a novel inhibitor from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus, one of the most widespread parasites of farm animals. The inhibitor, which we have termed boophilin, has been cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Mature boophilin is composed of two canonical Kunitz-type domains, and inhibits not only the major procoagulant enzyme, thrombin, but in addition, and by contrast to all other previously characterised natural thrombin inhibitors, significantly interferes with the proteolytic activity of other serine proteinases such as trypsin and plasmin. The crystal structure of the bovine α-thrombin·boophilin complex, refined at 2.35 Å resolution reveals a non-canonical binding mode to the proteinase. The N-terminal region of the mature inhibitor, Q16-R17-N18, binds in a parallel manner across the active site of the proteinase, with the guanidinium group of R17 anchored in the S1 pocket, while the C-terminal Kunitz domain is negatively charged and docks into the basic exosite I of thrombin. This binding mode resembles the previously characterised thrombin inhibitor, ornithodorin which, unlike boophilin, is composed of two distorted Kunitz modules. Unexpectedly, both boophilin domains adopt markedly different orientations when compared to those of ornithodorin, in its complex with thrombin. The N-terminal boophilin domain rotates 9° and is displaced by 6 Å, while the C-terminal domain rotates almost 6° accompanied by a 3 Å displacement. The reactive-site loop of the N-terminal Kunitz domain of boophilin with its P1 residue, K31, is fully solvent exposed and could thus bind a second trypsin-like proteinase without sterical restraints. This finding explains the formation of a ternary thrombin·boophilin·trypsin complex, and suggests a mechanism for prothrombinase inhibition in vivo

Laserablation von Lungentumoren im ex-vivo isolierten Lungenperfusionsmodell

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden 32 humane Lungenresektate mit nicht-kleinzelligen Lungentumoren im isolierten humanen Lungenperfusionsmodell (IHLP) unter annähernd physiologischen Bedingungen perfundiert und ventiliert. Zehn Präparate dienten als Kontrollgruppe, an 11 Präparaten wurde eine Laserablation mit einer oder zwei Laserfasern durchgeführt und an weiteren 11 Präparaten eine Laserablation mit anschließender Instillation einer Doxorubicinlösung durchgeführt. Ein Ziel der Arbeit war die Analyse der Wärmeausbreitung während der Laserablation. Dazu wurden drei Thermosonden in definierten Abständen zu den Laserfasern positioniert und die Temperatur gemessen. Ein weiteres Ziel war die makroskopische Analyse der laserinduzierten Gewebeveränderungen und der Ausbreitung der Doxorubicinlösung. Zu diesem Zweck wurden die Präparate nach Beendigung der Versuche (Laserablation und weitere sechs Stunden Perfusion und Ventilation) entlang der Laserfaser aufgeschnitten und drei verschiedene Zonen der Gewebszerstörung (Höhle, Koagulationszone und Intermediärzone) ausgemessen sowie anhand der roten Verfärbung die Ausbreitung des Doxorubicins ermittelt. Anschließend wurden die Präparate mit HE-Färbung behandelt und mikroskopisch das Ausmaß der Gewebszerstörung bestimmt. Bei allen Versuchen wurden logarithmische Temperaturverläufe beobachtet. In den meisten Fällen wurde die Zieltemperatur von 80°C trotz einsetzender Karbonisation erreicht. Makroskopisch wurde eine Höhlenbildung mit umgebender Koagulationszone und angrenzender Intermediärzone gesehen. Die Koagulationszone war bei kleinen und mittleren Tumoren signifikant größer als bei großen Tumoren. Eine Korrelation zwischen dem Volumen der laserinduzierten Gewebszerstörung und der zugeführten Energie sowie der Dauer der Laserablation bestand nicht. Die Doxorubicinlösung diffundierte 1 - 2 mm in das umgebende Gewebe. Histologisch wurden Koagulationsnekrosen von durchschnittlich 1 mm um den induzierten Gewebedefekt (Höhle) herum beobachtet.In this dissertation 32 human resected lobes or lung with non-small-cell-lung-cancer were perfused and ventilated in the ex-vivo isolated lung perfusion model (IHLP) under approximately physiological conditions. Ten preparations served two laser fibers as control group, at 11 preparations a laser ablation with or were accomplished and at further 11 preparations a laser ablation with following Instillation a Hydroxyldaunorubicine (Doxorubicin®) accomplished. An objective of the dissertation was the analysis of the heat expansion during the laser ablation. In addition three thermocouples in defined distances were positioned to the laser fibers and the temperature was measured. A further objective was the macroscopic analysis of the laser-induced histological damages and the dissemination of the Hydroxyldaunorubicine. For this purpose the preparations were dissected after completion of the experiments (laser ablation and further six hours perfusion and ventilation) along the laser fiber and three different zones of the histological damages (cave, coagulation zone and intermediate zone) as well as determined on the basis the red discoloration the dissemination of the Hydroxyldaunorubicine was measured. Subsequently, the preparations were treated with hematoxylin and eosin stain (HE stain) and microscopically the dimension of the histological damages was determined. With all experiments logarithmic temperature gradients were observed. The objective temperature was in most cases achieved of 80°C despite using carbonisation. A cave formation with surrounding coagulation zone and adjacent intermediate zone was seen macroscopic. The coagulation zone was significantly larger in small and middle tumors than in large tumors. A correlation between the volume of the laser-induced histologival damage and the supplied energy as well as the duration of the laser ablation did not exist. The Hydroxyldaunorubicine diffused 1 - 2 mm into the surrounding tissue. Histologically coagulation necroses were observed of average 1 mm around the induced tissue defect (cave)

Den Tsunami verstehen

Die Arbeit nimmt Bezug auf die Diskussion über die Bedeutung von Katastrophenvorsorge in der deutschen humanitären Hilfe und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit vor und nach katastrophalen Naturereignissen. Im Mittelpunkt steht die Frage, ob und wie geographische Bildungsarbeit gesellschaftliche Vulnerabilität in weniger entwickelten Ländern im Hinblick auf Naturgefahren verringern kann, mit welchen Herausforderungen sie konfrontiert sein kann und welche Verantwortung humanitäre und entwicklungspolitische Akteure hier in Zukunft wahrnehmen können. Mit dem TEP als deutsches Hilfsprojekt in Sri Lanka nach dem Tsunami 2004 wird ein Fallbeispiel für geographische Bildungsarbeit in seiner Konzeption, Durchführung und Didaktik analysiert. Diese Analyse umfasst standardisierte Befragungen ausgewählter Zielgruppen in Sri Lanka, leitfadenorientierte Expertengespräche in Sri Lanka und Deutschland sowie eine umfassende Literatur- und Internetrecherche zu den Aktionsbereichen der Katastrophenvorsorge

Soil-water retention of highly expansive clay stabilized with a bio-polymer

The unpredictable expansiveness of clayey soils due to the change of water content can be responsible for significant pathologies on civil infrastructure. This behaviour depends mainly on the physical and chemical characteristics of the clayey soil and the stress-suction state of the soil. Extensive research has been carried out to control the swelling potential of clayey soils with traditional inorganic additives such as lime and cement. However, the use of these stabilizers presents adverse implications in terms of cost and environmental impact. Bio-products and waste by-products are an environmentally friendly alternative for geotechnical soil stabilization. In this article, we assess the effect of lignin on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of highly expansive clay. The research focuses on the behaviour upon wetting and the soil-water retention properties of clay and lignin-treated clay with different percentages. Suction measurements were made by using the filter paper technique. Particular emphasis on the mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis of the untreated and treated CR-Clay is done. Results of CR-Clay with lignin-based stabilizer show significant reduction of swelling upon wetting for the higher percentage of addition. Increase of the aggregation is observed with the growth of lignin percentage. An analysis of the soil-water retention properties with the van-Genutchen model is presented

Additives based on vegetable biomass to improve the stabilisation of expansive clay soil

This paper investigates the effect of different bio-based additives on the expansiveness of an Argentinian natural clayey soil (CR-clay). CR-clay was characterised to determine (a) the Atterberg parameters and other index properties, (b) the particle size distribution by laser diffraction, (c) the specific surface area (Se) and cationic exchange capacity by the methylene blue method, (d) the mineralogy by using X-ray diffraction, (e) the functional groups by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and (f) the free swelling and swelling pressure by using an odometer. Starches from potato, cassava, corn and rice flour; seeds and derivatives from flax, sunflower and quinoa; kraft lignin; and lignosulfonates were evaluated as soil stabilisation additives on the basis of measurements of Atterberg parameters. Reductions in the soil plasticity index (PI) between 10 and 60% were generally observed. Lignins exhibited a very good balance between the ability to improve soil stabilisation, low costs, environment-friendliness and availability. In particular, kraft lignin showed high performance as a CR-clay stabiliser with a PI reduction of 46%. The stabilisation mechanism of lignin and CR-clay blends was investigated using Z potential and FTIR. Based on the experimental results, lignins constitute promising alternatives to the additives used as stabilisers of expansive soils, particularly for reducing free-swell and swelling pressure.Fil: Orlandi, Sandra Graciela. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "san Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingenieria - Sede Comodoro. Departamento de Electronica.; ArgentinaFil: Taverna, María Eugenia. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Francisco. Departamento de Ingeniería Electromecánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Villada Villada, Yurany Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Piqué, Teresa María. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Laskowski, Cecilia Belén. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "san Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingenieria - Sede Comodoro. Departamento de Electronica.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Nicolau, Veronica Viviana. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional San Francisco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Estenoz, Diana Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Manzanal, Diego. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "san Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingenieria - Sede Comodoro. Departamento de Electronica.; Argentina. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Españ

Évaluations Repères 2022 de début de CP et de CE1: des résultats comparables à ceux de 2021, à l’exception d’une baisse en français en CE1

À la rentrée 2022, l’ensemble des élèves de CP et de CE1 a été évalué en français et en mathématiques après une année scolaire 2021-2022 encore perturbée par la crise sanitaire.En début de CP, en français comme en mathématiques, les résultats sont stables et comparables à ceux de 2021. Les exercices les moins réussis sont « comprendre des mots à l’oral » et « résoudre des problèmes ».En début de CE1, en français, les résultats sont stables ou en baisse, en particulier pour les exercices « écrire des mots » et « lire à voix haute des mots ». Les exercices de fluence demeurent les moins bien réussis. En mathématiques, les évolutions des résultats sont plus diverses. Les élèves restent en difficulté face à la résolution de problèmes et aucalcul en ligne.En CP, on observe une légère réduction des écarts entre les élèves scolarisés hors éducation prioritaire (HEP) et ceux en éducation prioritaire (EP), mais la baisse est marquée entre les élèves scolarisés hors éducation prioritaire et ceux en éducation prioritaire REP+.En CE1, ces écarts varient peu, sauf en mathématiques, entre les élèves scolarisés hors éducation prioritaire et ceux en éducation prioritaire REP+ où on observe une baisse.En mathématiques, comme les années précédentes, les performances des élèves selon le sexe se renversent à l’entrée en CE1. En effet, les garçons y présentent de meilleures performances que les filles, à l’inverse du début de CP

Crystal structure of a novel cysteinless plant Kunitz-type protease inhibitor

Bauhinia bauhinioides Cruzipain Inhibitor (BbCI) is a cysteine protease inhibitor highly homologous to plant Kunitz-type inhibitors. However, in contrast to classical Kunitz family inhibitors it lacks cysteine residues and therefore disulfide bridges. BbCI is also distinct in the ability to inactivate enzymes belonging to two different classes, cysteine and serine proteases. Besides inhibiting the cysteine protease cruzipain, BbCI also inhibits cathepsin L and the serine proteases HNE (human neutrophil elastase) and PPE (porcine pancreatic elastase). Monoclinic crystals of the recombinant inhibitor that diffract to 1.7 Å resolution were obtained using hanging drop method by vapor diffusion at 18 °C. The refined structure shows the conservative [beta]-trefoil fold features of the Kunitz inhibitors. In BbCI, one of the two characteristic S-S bonds is replaced by the water-mediated interaction between Tyr125 and Gly132. In this work we explore the structural differences between Kunitz-type inhibitors and analyze the essential interactions that maintain the protein structural stability preserving its biological function.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WBK-4P48623-2/1/e9495eee44144f4581cfeca1164b43f