Neue Wege der Kooperation: Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg in einer gemeinsamen Wirtschaftsregion.

Wirtschaftsraum; Regionalpolitik; Regionale Konzentration; Kooperation; Wirtschaftsstruktur; Hamburg (Region); Schleswig-Holstein;

BAFF is produced by astrocytes and up-regulated in multiple sclerosis lesions and primary central nervous system lymphoma

We report that B cell–activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family (BAFF) is expressed in the normal human brain at ∼10% of that in lymphatic tissues (tonsils and adenoids) and is produced by astrocytes. BAFF was regularly detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in brain tissue lysates and in normal spinal fluid, and in astrocytes by double fluorescence microscopy. Cultured human astrocytes secreted functionally active BAFF after stimulation with interferon-γ and TNF-α via a furin-like protease-dependent pathway. BAFF secretion per cell was manifold higher in activated astrocytes than in monocytes and macrophages. We studied brain lesions with B cell components, and found that in multiple sclerosis plaques, BAFF expression was strongly up-regulated to levels observed in lymphatic tissues. BAFF was localized in astrocytes close to BAFF-R–expressing immune cells. BAFF receptors were strongly expressed in situ in primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas. This paper identifies astrocytes as a nonimmune source of BAFF. CNS-produced BAFF may support B cell survival in inflammatory diseases and primary B cell lymphoma

Typification of <em>Heliotropium</em> and <em>Tournefortia</em> (Heliotropiaceae) species described by Ruiz and Pavón

Lectotypes are designated here for 14 names proposed by Ruiz and Pavón in <em>“Flora peruviana, et chilensis”</em> (1799) that were either described or are currently recognized as members of the genera <em>Heliotropium</em> or <em>Tournefortia</em> (Heliotropiaceae): <em>Heliotropium corymbosum, H. incanum, H. lanceolatum, H. microcalyx, H. microstachyum, H. oppositifolium, H. pilosum, H. synzystachyum, Lithospermum aggregatum, Tournefortia angustiflora, T. longifolia, T. polystachya, T. undulata, T. virgata</em>. Currently accepted names and comments on typifications and taxonomic affinities are also provided.<br><br>Se designan lectotipos de 14 nombres propuestos por Ruiz y Pavón en <em>“Flora peruviana et chilensis”</em> (1799) que son actualmente reconocidos, o fueron descritos, dentro de los géneros <em>Heliotropium</em> o <em>Tournefortia</em> (Heliotropiaceae): <em>Heliotropium corymbosum, H. incanum, H. lanceolatum, H. microcalyx, H. microstachyum, H. oppositifolium, H. pilosum, H. synzystachyum, Lithospermum aggregatum, Tournefortia angustiflora, T. longifolia, T. polystachya, T. undulata, T. virgata</em>. Se incluyen los nombres actualmente aceptados y comentarios sobre su tipificación y afinidades taxonómicas

The Process Chain for Peptidomic Biomarker Discovery

Over the last few years the interest in diagnostic markers for specific diseases has increased continuously. It is expected that they not only improve a patient's medical treatment but also contribute to accelerating the process of drug development. This demand for new biomarkers is caused by a lack of specific and sensitive diagnosis in many diseases. Moreover, diseases usually occur in different types or stages which may need different diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Their differentiation has to be considered in clinical studies as well. Therefore, it is important to translate a macroscopic pathological or physiological finding into a microscopic view of molecular processes and vice versa, though it is a difficult and tedious task. Peptides play a central role in many physiological processes and are of importance in several areas of drug research. Exploration of endogenous peptides in biologically relevant sources may directly lead to new drug substances, serve as key information on a new target and can as well result in relevant biomarker candidates. A comprehensive analysis of peptides and small proteins of a biological system corresponding to the respective genomic information (peptidomics®methods) was a missing link in proteomics. A new peptidomic technology platform addressing peptides was recently presented, developed by adaptation of the striving proteomic technologies. Here, concepts of using peptidomics technologies for biomarker discovery are presented and illustrated with examples. It is discussed how the biological hypothesis and sample quality determine the result of the study. A detailed study design, appropriate choice and application of technology as well as thorough data interpretation can lead to significant results which have to be interpreted in the context of the underlying disease. The identified biomarker candidates will be characterised in validation studies before use. This approach for discovery of peptide biomarkes has potential for improving clinical studies

Crystal structures of fac-Ir(ppy)₃ and emission properties under ambient conditions and at high pressure

Solution and refinement of the crystal structure of fac-Ir(ppy)₃ is severely hampered by systematic twinning and pseudo-symmetry. fac-Ir(ppy)₃ crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P3⁻ as has been deduced from single-crystal structure refinement and investigations of the second harmonic generation (SHG) of fac-Ir(ppy)₃ powder as compared to two standard materials. The topology of the molecular packing of fac-Ir(ppy)₃ is identical to the packing observed for [Ru(bpy)₃]0, however, the site symmetry of all Ir(ppy)₃ molecules is necessarily lowered from D₃ to C₃. Packing motifs with intermolecular “π-π interactions” of T-shaped and “shifted π stack” geometry are realized. The systematic twinning leads to the occurrence of crystalline domains with rigorously alternating chirality within the bulk of the domains but with homochiral fac-Ir(ppy)₃ contacts at the domain interfaces. These differences in packing motifs are displayed in the emission spectra and in the high-pressure-induced shifts of the emission. The emission maximum of the bulk material at 18 350 cm⁻¹ (545 nm) and of the domain interfaces at 19 700 cm⁻¹ (507 nm) experience for p < 25 kbar and T = 295 K red shifts of Δν/Δp = -(12 ± 2) cm⁻¹/kbar, and -(22 ± 4) cm⁻¹/kbar, respectively

Electronic and crystallographic structure, hard x-ray photoemission, and mechanical and transport properties of the half-metallic Heusler compound Co2MnGe

This work reports on the electronic and crystalline structure and the mechanical, magnetic, and transport properties of the polycrystalline Heusler compound Co2MnGe. The crystalline structure was examined in detail by extended x-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy and anomalous x-ray diffraction. The compound exhibits a well-ordered L21 structure as is typical for Heusler compounds with 2:1:1 stoichiometry. The low-temperature magnetic moment agrees well with the Slater-Pauling rule and indicates a half-metallic ferromagnetic state of the compound, as is predicted by ab initio calculations. Transport measurements and hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were performed to explain the electronic structure of the compound. The obtained valence band spectra exhibit small energy shifts that are the result of the photoexcitation process, whereas electron-electron correlation in the ground state is negligible. The vibration and mechanical properties of the compound were calculated. The observed hardness values are consistent to a covalent-like bonding of Co2MnGe