Munigua-GIS 2020

Die GIS-gestützte Kartierung des Umlandes der römischen Stadt Munigua (Spanien) ist nun online verfügbar. Erstmals lässt sich die hohe Dichte an Fundplätzen im Umland der römischen Stadt erkennen. Munigua, das municipium flavium muniguense, ist seit 1956 Gegenstand intensiver Forschungen der Abteilung Madrid des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts. Im Rahmen jährlich stattfindender Grabungen und Prospektionen ist eine große Menge an Daten erfasst worden. Mit Hilfe eines Geoinformationssystems (GIS) lassen sich die gesammelten Daten nun kartographisch darstellen, verwalten und statistisch auswerten. Die Kombination epigraphischer und archäologischer Informationen ergibt das Bild einer vielfältigen und verzweigten Vernetzung, in das die Stadt und ihre Bewohner eingebunden waren. Der Katalog enthält alle Fundorte und sämtliche spezifisch verortete Funde unter besonderer Berücksichtigung römischer und spätantiker Chronologie, die im Einflussbereich Muniguas bekannt geworden sind. Die außergewöhnliche Dichte und beachtliche Menge der Daten – über 1965 einzelne Fundplätze wurden kartiert – sticht dabei nicht nur unter den Städten der Provinz Baetica hervor, sondern hat auch darüber hinaus Modellcharakter. Gegenstand des GIS-Projektes ist das Umfeld der Stadt Munigua in römischer Zeit, wobei die familiären Beziehungen der Bewohner der Stadt – der Muniguenser – den geographischen Rahmen abstecken. Inschriften belegen die Familien der Stadt bis Axati/Lora del Río im Osten, bis Carmo/Carmona im Süden und bis Italica/Santiponce im Westen. Nach Norden hin, wo die Sierra Morena eine natürliche Barriere bildet, scheint es hingegen kaum Beziehungen gegeben zu haben. Der Kartierung liegt ein Satz von 30 historischen, georeferenzierten Karten zu Grunde, deren älteste auf das Jahr 1739 zurückdatiert. Mit dem nun öffentlich zugänglichen GIS wird dem Interessierten wie dem Forscher ein Instrumentarium an die Hand gegeben, das zu weiteren Fragen und Einbindungen einlädt. Die GIS-Datenbank konnte dank Sondermitteln realisiert werden. Die Daten sind über den link https://geoserver. dainst.org/ allgemein zugänglich. Allein um die Informationen zur weiteren Verarbeitung herunterzuladen, ist eine Registrierung auf dem iDAI.geoservers notwendig (https://geoserver.dainst.org/account/signup/).The GIS-based mapping of the surrounding area of the Roman city of Munigua (Spain) is now available online. For the first time, the high density of find sites in the surrounding area of the Roman city can be identified. Munigua, the municipium flavium muniguense, has been the subject of intensive research by the Madrid Department of the German Archaeological Institute since 1956. A large amount of data has been collected in the course of annual excavations and prospections. With the help of a geographic information system (GIS), the collected data can now be presented cartographically, managed and statistically evaluated. The combination of epigraphic and archaeological information provides a picture of a diverse and ramified network in which the city and its inhabitants were integrated. The catalogue contains all sites and all specifically located finds, with special attention to Roman and Late Antique chronology, that have become known in Munigua's sphere of influence. The extraordinary density and considerable amount of data – over 1965 individual sites were mapped – not only stands out among the cities of the province of Baetica, but also serves as a model. The subject of the GIS project is the surroundings of the town of Munigua in Roman times, with the family relationships of the town's inhabitants – the Muniguensians – setting the geographical framework. Inscriptions attest to the families of the town as far east as Axati/Lora del Río, as far south as Carmo/Carmona and as far west as Italica/Santiponce. To the north, on the other hand, where the Sierra Morena forms a natural barrier, there seem to have been few relations. The mapping is based on a set of 30 historical, georeferenced maps, the oldest dating back to 1739. The GIS, which is now publicly accessible, provides both interested parties and researchers with a set of tools that invites further questions and integrations. The GIS database could be realized thanks to special funds. The data is generally accessible via the link https://geoserver.dainst.org/. Only to download the information for further processing a registration on the iDAI.geoservers is necessary (https://geoserver.dainst.org/account/signup/).La cartografía basada en el SIG del hinterland de la ciudad romana de Munigua (España) ya está disponible en línea. Por primera vez se puede percibir la alta densidad de ocupación del territorio en los alrededores de la ciudad romana. Munigua, el Municipium Flavium Muniguense, ha sido objeto de intensas investigaciones por parte del Departamento de Madrid del Instituto Arqueológico Alemán desde 1956. En el curso de las excavaciones y prospecciones anuales se ha recopilado una gran cantidad de datos. Con la ayuda de un sistema de información geográfica (SIG), éstos pueden ahora visualizarse cartográficamente, gestionarse y evaluarse estadísticamente. La combinación de información epigráfica y arqueológica transmite la imagen de una red diversa y ramificada en la que la ciudad y sus habitantes estaban involucrados. El catálogo contiene todos los sitios y todos los hallazgos específicamente localizados con especial consideración de la cronología romana y de la antigüedad tardía. La extraordinaria densidad y la considerable cantidad de datos – se cartografiaron más de 1965 sitios individuales – no sólo destaca entre las ciudades de la provincia de Bética, sino que también sirve como modelo más allá de la misma. El tema del proyecto del SIG es el entorno de la ciudad de Munigua en época romana, en la que las relaciones familiares de los habitantes de la ciudad– los Muniguenses – definen el marco geográfico. Las inscripciones documentan las relaciones de las familias de la ciudad hasta Axati/Lora del Río por el este, Carmo/Carmona por el sur e Italica/Santiponce por el oeste. Al norte, donde la Sierra Morena forma una barrera natural, parece que apenas hubo relaciones. El aparato cartográfico incluye – además del Mapa Topográfico Nacional y otros soportes como ortofotografías o imágenes LIDAR – un conjunto de 30 mapas históricos georreferenciados, el más antiguo de los cuales datade 1739. Con el SIG, que ya es de acceso público, se proporciona al interesado, así como al investigador, un conjunto de instrumentos que invita a formular más preguntas y a participar. La base de datos del SIG pudo realizarse gracias a fondos especiales. Los datos son generalmente accesibles a través del enlace https://geoserver.dainst.org/. Para descargar la información para su posterior procesamiento es necesario registrarse en el servidor iDAI. geoserver (https://geoserver.dainst.org/account/signup/)

On the State and Stability of Fuel Cell Catalyst Inks

Catalyst layers (CL), as an active component of the catalyst coated membrane (CCM), form the heart of the proton electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). For optimum performance of the fuel cell, obtaining suitable structural and functional characteristics for the CL is crucial. Direct tuning of the microstructure and morphology of the CL is non-trivial; hence catalyst inks as CL precursors need to be modulated, which are then applied onto a membrane to form the CCM. Obtaining favorable dispersion characteristics forms an important prerequisite in engineering catalyst inks for large scale manufacturing. In order to facilitate a knowledge-based approach for developing fuel cell inks, this work introduces new tools and methods to study both the dispersion state and stability characteristics, simultaneously. Catalyst inks were prepared using different processing methods, which include stirring and ultrasonication. The proposed tools are used to characterize and elucidate the effects of the processing method. Structural characterization of the dispersed particles and their assemblages was carried out by means of transmission electron microscopy. Analytical centrifugation (AC) was used to study the state and stability of the inks. Herein, we introduce new concepts, S score, and stability trajectory, for a time-resolved assessment of inks in their native state using AC. The findings were validated and rationalized using transmittograms as a direct visualization technique. The flowability of inks was investigated by rheological measurements. It was found that probe sonication only up to an optimum amplitude leads to a highly stable colloidal ink.</p

Soluble CD163 is not increased in visceral fat and steatotic liver and is even suppressed by free fatty acids in vitro

Visceral fat differs from subcutaneous fat by higher local inflammation and increased release of IL-6 and free fatty acids (FFA) which contribute to hepatic steatosis. IL-6 has been shown to upregulate the monocyte/macrophage specific receptor CD163 whose soluble form, sCD163, is increased in inflammatory diseases. Here, it was analyzed whether CD163 and sCD163 are differentially expressed in the human fat depots and fatty liver. CD163 mRNA and protein were similarly expressed in paired samples of human visceral and subcutaneous fat, and comparable levels in portal venous and systemic venous blood of liver-healthy controls indicate that release of sCD163 from visceral adipose tissue was not increased. CD163 was also similarly expressed in steatotic liver when compared to non-steatotic tissues and sCD163 was almost equal in the respective sera. Concentrations of sCD163 were not affected when passing the liver excluding substantial hepatic removal/release of this protein. A high concentration of IL-6 upregulated CD163 protein while physiological doses had no effect. However, sCD163 was not increased by any of the IL-6 doses tested. FFA even modestly decreased CD163 and sCD163. The anti-inflammatory mediators fenofibrate, pioglitazone, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) did not influence sCD163 levels while CD163 was reduced by EPA. These data suggest that in humans neither visceral fat nor fatty liver are major sources of sCD163