CHEMOPÄVENTIVE EFFEKTE VON APFELPOLYPHENOLEN UND AUSGEWÄHLTEN METABOLITEN IN HUMANEN KOLONZELLEN UNTER BESONDERER BERÜCKSICHTIGUNG DER GSTT2

Der Verzehr von Obst und Gemüse erhöht die Aufnahme von bioaktiven Komponenten, denen ein krebsprotektives Potential zugeschrieben wird. Insbesondere die Polyphenole weisen chemopräventive Eigenschaften auf. Äpfel enthalten signifikante Gehalte an Polyphenolen und können damit als potentiell chemoprotektiv eingestuft werden. Den Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit bildete die Modulation von zellulären Entgiftungssystemen durch Apfelpolyphenole und ausgewählte Darmfermentationsprodukte in humanen Kolonzellen. Besondere Berücksichtigung fand dabei das Phase II-Enzym GSTT2. Der Einfluss von Apfelpolyphenolextrakten (AE), insbesondere auf die Expression von Biotransformationsgenen, wurde unter Verwendung zweier Array-Plattformen ermittelt. Real-time qRT-PCR-Analysen und Enzymaktivitätsmessungen wurden zur Verifizierung ausgewählter Ergebnisse genutzt. Die Beurteilung funktioneller Konsequenzen einer veränderten Genexpression von GSTT2 durch AE sowie vergleichend durch die mikrobiellen Polyphenolmetabolite 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylessigsäure (ES) und 3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-propionsäure (PS) erfolgte über die Bestimmung des Potentials zur Reduktion induzierter DNA-Schäden. Für eine bessere Anlehnung an die physiologische Situation im Dickdarm wurden zusätzlich Untersuchungen mit einer fermentierten Apfelsafttrubfraktion (FÜ Trub) sowie Fäzeswasser (FW)-Proben von humanen Probanden zweier Apfelsaftinterventionsstudien durchgeführt. AE steigerte in vitro signifikant die Expression sowie die Gesamtaktivität von Glutathion S-Transferasen und UDP-Glucuronosyltransferasen. Zudem reduzierte AE spezifisch Cumenhydroperoxid-induzierte DNA-Schäden, was auf eine gesteigerte GSTT2-Aktivität zurückgeführt werden kann. Diesbezüglich zeigten ES und PS vergleichbare Eigenschaften wie AE. Außerdem verminderten beide Metaboliten die Expression des proinflammatorischen Enzyms Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Sowohl die Untersuchungen mit dem FÜ Trub als auch mit den FW-Proben der Apfelsaftinterventionsstudien ergaben keine signifikanten Veränderungen der analysierten Einflussgrößen. Es konnte jedoch festgestellt werden, dass die FW adipöser Probanden gegenüber denen normalgewichtiger Gesunder wesentlich genotoxischer waren. Die nachgewiesene Steigerung von Detoxifizierungsenzymen, insbesondere der GSTT2, durch AE oder durch die mikrobiellen Abbauprodukte könnte die Kolonzellen vor genotoxischem Stress schützen und auf diese Weise Zellentartungen vorbeugen. Daneben stellen die Reduzierung der COX-2-Expression und die möglicherweise damit verbundene Verminderung COX-2-abhängiger, proinflammatorischer Prozesse ebenfalls einen Mechanismus der Primärprävention von Kolonkrebs durch Apfelinhaltsstoffe dar

Qualitative Abstraction and Inherent Uncertainty in Scene Recognition

The interpretation of scenes, e.g., in videos, is demanding at all levels. At the image processing level it is necessary to apply an "intelligent" segmentation and to determine the objects of interest. For the higher symbolic levels it is a challenging task to perform the transition between quantitative and qualitative data and to determine the relations between objects. Here we assume that the position of objects ("agents") in images and videos will already be determined as a minimal requirement for the further analysis. The interpretation of complex and dynamic scenes with embedded intentional agents is one of the most challenging tasks in current AI and imposes highly heterogeneous requirements. A key problem is the efficient and robust representation of uncertainty. We propose that uncertainty should be distinguished with respect to two different epistemological sources: (1) noisy sensor information and (2) ignorance. In this presentation we propose possible solutions to this class of problems. The use and evaluation of sensory information in the field of robotics shows impressive results especially in the fields of localization (e.g. MCL) and map building (e.g. SLAM) but also imposes serious problems on the successive higher levels of processing due to the probabilistic nature. In this presentation we propose that the use of (a) qualitative abstraction (classic approach) from quantitative to (at least partial) qualitative representations and (b) coherence-based perception validation based on Dempster-Shafer (DST) can help to reduce the problem significantly. The second important probability problem class that will be addressed is ignorance. In our presentation we will focus on reducing missing information by inference. We contrast/compare our experiences in an important field of scene interpretation namely plan and intention recognition. The first approach is based on a logical abductive approach and the second approach in contrast uses a probabilistic approach (Relational Hidden Markov Model (RHMM))

Local Positioning Systems in (Game) Sports

Position data of players and athletes are widely used in sports performance analysis for measuring the amounts of physical activities as well as for tactical assessments in game sports. However, positioning sensing systems are applied in sports as tools to gain objective information of sports behavior rather than as components of intelligent spaces (IS). The paper outlines the idea of IS for the sports context with special focus to game sports and how intelligent sports feedback systems can benefit from IS. Henceforth, the most common location sensing techniques used in sports and their practical application are reviewed, as location is among the most important enabling techniques for IS. Furthermore, the article exemplifies the idea of IS in sports on two applications

Affordances and limitations of electronic storybooks for young children's emergent literacy

AbstractStories presented on phones, tablets and e-readers now offer an alternative to print books. The fundamental challenge has become to specify when and for whom the manner in which children retain information from stories has been changed by electronic storybooks, for better and for worse. We review the effects of digitized presentations of narratives that include oral text as well as multimedia information sources (e.g., animations and other visual and sound effects, background music, hotspots, games, dictionaries) on children's emergent literacy. Research on preschool and kindergarten children has revealed both positive and negative effects of electronic stories conditional upon whether materials are consistent with the way that the human information processing system works. Adding certain information to electronic storybooks can facilitate multimedia learning, especially in children at-risk for language or reading difficulty. Animated pictures, sometimes enriched with music and sound, that match the simultaneously presented story text, can help integrate nonverbal information and language and thus promote storage of those in memory. On the other hand, stories enhanced with hypermedia interactive features like games and “hotspots” may lead to poor performance on tests of vocabulary and story comprehension. Using those features necessitates task switching, and like multitasking in general, seems to cause cognitive overload. However, in accordance with differential susceptibility theory, well-designed technology-enhanced books may be particularly suited to improve learning conditions for vulnerable children and turn putative risk groups into successful learners. This new line of research may have far-reaching consequences for the use of technology-enhanced materials in education

Balancing the highs and lows: Diagnostics, understanding and treatment of recurrence in older adults with bipolar disorder

The first aim of this thesis was to expand our knowledge on the diagnostics and assessment methods in OABD. With this aim, we first examined whether different depression scales can be harmonized in order to create larger datasets. Then, we examined the reliability and validity of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) for Older adults (FAST-O). Next, we compared cognitive functioning in OABD with cognitive functioning in late life depression and healthy controls. The second aim of our thesis was to create a greater understanding of the clinical phenotype in OABD and its mutual interactions. For this aim, we first examined the relationship between cognitive and social functioning in OABD. Thereafter, we studied the influence of social, psychological and cognitive factors on the clinical course in OABD. Next, we studied psychiatric symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak in OABD and at last, we studied the course of these psychiatric symptoms in OABD during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our third aim was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of new treatment approaches in OABD. We first examined a group intervention for mild cognitive impairment in OABD and thereafter we studied an intervention of group interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) for recurrent mood disorders. All in all, this thesis shows the population of OABD is a distinct and complex group. However, with the appropriate adjustments, currently existing diagnostic instruments and treatment strategies can be adapted in order to be used in the OABD group. There is still a lot unknown in the OABD group, but results show that progress can be gained in this field of research. Since OABD patients show great variability in clinical phenotype, it is always important to not blindly follow findings from treatment studies or guidelines and to try to never lose sight of the individual patient