Dodecaboratclusterhaltige Membranen für Brennstoffzellen

In this work it was to be shown whether dodecaborate cluster-containing polymers can have possible applications as polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cells. There are two possibilities to prepare membranes containing dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate (2-). On the one hand by polymerization of boron cluster-containing monomers to linear, branched or cross-linked polymers. Or on the other hand by substitution of existing membranes such as Nafion with the B12-cluster. It was possible to synthesize a variety of monomers with a [B12H11]2- moiety, which some could be polymerized successfully. Radical homo-, co- and photo polymerizations were not successful with boron cluster monomers. Only the photo polymerization of the acrylic acid derivative in the NMR experiment was successful, which might be due to the used Spot Lamps. Cationic polymerizations were also not successful. Also hydrosilylations were no suitable polymerizations for boron cluster-containing monomers. Polycondensation reactions with B12H11 monomers were promising. The reaction of dihydroxybenzylammonioundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate with decafluorobiphenyl showed no starting material in the MS, instead it shows a triply negatively charged peak with a yet unknown structure. With the ring-opening metathesis polymerization bis-norbornene derivatives of the dodecaborate cluster could not be polymerized. However, the mono norbornene derivatives of B12H12(2-) formed insoluble swelling polymers in the homo- and copolymerization with dicyclopentadiene and Grubbs 2nd Generation catalysts. Another method to produce a boron cluster-containing polymer is the substitution of Nafion with the boron cluster. From the obtained polymers, films can be produced, which, however, have no better thermal stability than the pure Nafion membrane. However, investigations whether they are suitable as a membrane material must still be carried out

Attachment and Self-Esteem as Predictors of Anxiety and Depression in Adults with Divorced Parents

Research within the parental divorce literature shows that adults who have experienced parental divorce experience higher levels of anxiety and depression. Attempts have been made to identify specific mediating factors associated with anxiety and depression and mixed findings have been reported. This study investigated whether attachment and self-esteem predicted anxiety and depression in an attempt to clarify the role of these factors in the complicated mechanisms associated with the relationship between parental divorce and anxiety and depression. A cross-sectional, between-subjects, survey design was used to assess levels of anxiety and depression (HADS), attachment to significant others (ECR), and self-esteem (RSES) in 329 participants. Significant differences were found in individuals whose parents were divorced, as they showed higher levels of anxiety, depression and avoidance-related attachment, and lower levels of self-esteem when compared to those whose parents’ marriage remained intact. Self-esteem was found to be a unique predictor of anxiety and depression in participants with divorced parents, but attachment to a romantic partner, mother and father was not. Identifying self-esteem as a predictor of anxiety and depression following divorce, provides an opportunity for practitioners to utilise interventions to sustain and build self-esteem around the time parental divorce occurs, as a way to reduce the developmental change that leads to anxiety and depression in the long-term

3D modeling of a part of the building of SPŠ stavební Brno

Diplomová práce se zabývá tvorbou 3D modelu z dat získaných metodou laserového skenování. První část práce se zabývá teoretickými základy informačního modelování budov a metody laserového skenování. Zbytek práce popisuje podrobný postup od sběru dat po tvorbu tohoto modelu. Nejvíce prostoru je zde věnováno práci v programovém prostředí Revit.The thesis deals with the creation of a 3D model from data collected by laser scanning. The first part deals with the theoretical foundations of buildings information modeling and method of laser scanning. The rest of the work describes the detailed process from data collection to the creation of the model. Most of the space is devoted to work in the Revit software environment.

Structure and dynamics of the lipid modifications of a transmembrane α-helical peptide determined by 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy

AbstractThe fusion of biological membranes is mediated by integral membrane proteins with α-helical transmembrane segments. Additionally, those proteins are often modified by the covalent attachment of hydrocarbon chains. Previously, a series of de novo designed α-helical peptides with mixed Leu/Val sequences was presented, mimicking fusiogenically active transmembrane segments in model membranes (Hofmann et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101 (2004) 14776–14781). From this series, we have investigated the peptide LV16 (KKKW LVLV LVLV LVLV LVLV KKK), which was synthesized featuring either a free N-terminus or a saturated N-acylation of 2, 8, 12, or 16 carbons. We used 2H and 31P NMR spectroscopy to investigate the structure and dynamics of those peptide lipid modifications in POPC and DLPC bilayers and compared them to the hydrocarbon chains of the surrounding membrane. Except for the C2 chain, all peptide acyl chains were found to insert well into the membrane. This can be explained by the high local lipid concentrations the N-terminal lipid chains experience. Further, the insertion of these peptides did not influence the membrane structure and dynamics as seen from the 2H and 31P NMR data. In spite of the fact that the longer acyl chains insert into the membrane, they do not adapt their lengths to the thickness of the bilayer. Even the C16 lipid chain on the peptide, which could match the length of the POPC palmitoyl chain, exhibited lower order parameters in the upper chain, which get closer and finally reach similar values in the lower chain region. 2H NMR square law plots reveal motions of slightly larger amplitudes for the peptide lipid chains compared to the surrounding phospholipids. In spite of the significantly different chain lengths of the acylations, the fraction of gauche defects in the inserted chains is constant

Qualitätssicherungsverfahren, Prozess- und Ergebnisqualität an Schulen in Berlin und Brandenburg

Im Mittelpunkt des Berichts des Instituts für Schulqualität der Länder Berlin und Brandenburg (ISQ) stehen die Eckpunkte der Bildungssysteme, wichtige Faktoren der Qualitätssicherung von schulischen Prozessen sowie zentrale Bildungsergebnisse im Verlauf der Schülerkarriere in Berlin und Brandenburg. Dabei präsentiert der Schulqualitätsbericht für Berlin und Brandenburg eine problemorientierte Analyse der Bildungssituation in der Region. Problemorientierung heißt, zentrale Entwicklungen im Bildungswesen für Politik und Öffentlichkeit erkennbar zu machen und möglichen Handlungsbedarf aufzuzeigen, ohne jedoch Wertungen vorzunehmen oder politische Empfehlungen abzugeben. Der vorliegende Bericht verfolgt dasselbe Ziel wie seine Vorgänger (wenn auch in thematisch engerem Rahmen): In der Zusammenstellung relevanter und empirisch gesicherter Daten und Informationen soll ein Beitrag geleistet werden, Diskussionen und Entscheidungen im Bildungsbereich durch die Bereitstellung von (zusätzlichen) Fakten anzureichern

New fossil cichlid from the middle Miocene of East Africa revealed as oldest known member of the Oreochromini

A new genus and species of fossil cichlid fishes of middle Miocene age (12.5 Ma) is described from the Ngorora fish Lagerstatte (Tugen Hills, Kenya) in the East African Rift Valley. Parsimony analysis of morphological characters using published phylogenetic frameworks for extant cichlids combined with the application of a comprehensive best-fit approach based on morphology was employed to place the new fossil taxon in the phylogenetic context of the African cichlids. The data reveal that the fossil specimens can be assigned to the tribe Oreochromini within the haplotilapiines. +Oreochromimos kabchorensis gen. et sp. nov. shows a mosaic set of characters bearing many similarities to the almost pan-African Oreochromis and the East African lake-endemic Alcolapia. As the striking diversity of present-day African cichlids, with 1100 recognised species, has remained largely invisible in the fossil record, the material described here adds significantly to our knowledge of the Miocene diversity of the group. It effectively doubles the age of a fossil calibration point, which has hitherto been used to calibrate divergence times of the East African cichlids in molecular phylogenetic investigations. Furthermore, the comparative dataset derived from extant cichlids presented here will greatly facilitate the classification of fossil cichlids in future studies

Synergistic Biophysical Techniques Reveal Structural Mechanisms of Engineered Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides in Lipid Model Membranes

In the quest for new antibiotics, two novel engineered cationic antimicrobial peptides (eCAPs) have been rationally designed. WLBU2 and D8 (all 8 valines are the d-enantiomer) efficiently kill both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, but WLBU2 is toxic and D8 nontoxic to eukaryotic cells. We explore protein secondary structure, location of peptides in six lipid model membranes, changes in membrane structure and pore evidence. We suggest that protein secondary structure is not a critical determinant of bactericidal activity, but that membrane thinning and dual location of WLBU2 and D8 in the membrane headgroup and hydrocarbon region may be important. While neither peptide thins the Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide outer membrane model, both locate deep into its hydrocarbon region where they are primed for self-promoted uptake into the periplasm. The partially α-helical secondary structure of WLBU2 in a red blood cell (RBC) membrane model containing 50 % cholesterol, could play a role in destabilizing this RBC membrane model causing pore formation that is not observed with the D8 random coil, which correlates with RBC hemolysis caused by WLBU2 but not by D8.Fil: Heinrich, Frank. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Salyapongse, Aria. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Kumagai, Akari. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Dupuy, Fernando Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Shukla, Karpur. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Penk, Anja. Universitat Leipzig; AlemaniaFil: Huster, Daniel. Universitat Leipzig; AlemaniaFil: Ernst, Robert K.. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Pavlova, Anna. Georgia Institute Of Techology. School Of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Estados UnidosFil: Gumbart, James C.. Georgia Institute Of Techology. School Of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Estados UnidosFil: Deslouches, Berthony. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Di, Y. Peter. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Tristram-Nagle, Stephanie. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados Unido