Empirical Findings from an Ascending Stair Evacuation Exercise in a Subway Station

Crowd simulations have proven to be a valuable numerical tool for evacuation analysis. There is series of research and empirical evacuation studies for infrastructures and buildings. In contrast to research on evacuation via descending stairs, little attention has been given to ascending stairs, but they are an important criterion, especially in subway stations with high passenger frequencies. In this paper, we present the findings from an evacuation exercise in a subway station with long ascending stairs. The empirical findings showed an increasing walking time on the ascending stairs during evacuation. Also, the flow rate differs with higher flow rates at the beginning of the stairs and lower values at the end of the stairs. The mechanism behind these results has still to be investigated, but the findings already provide an interesting basis for modelling and validating evacuation simulations over long ascending stairs

Temporary ectropion therapy by adhesive taping: a case study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Various surgical procedures are available to correct paralytic ectropion, which are applied in irreversible facial paresis. Problems occur when facial paresis has an unclear prognosis, since surgery of the lower eyelid is usually irreversible. We propose a simple method to correct temporary ectropion in facial palsy by applying an adhesive strip.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>Ten patients with peripheral facial paresis and paralytic ectropion were treated with an adhesive strip to correct paralytic ectropion. We used "Steri-Strips" (45 × 6.0 mm), which were taped on the carefully cleaned skin of the lower eyelid and of the adjacent zygomatic region until the prognosis of the paresis was clarified. In addition to the examiner's evaluation of the lower lacrimal point in the lacrimal lake, subjective improvement of the symptoms was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 1–10).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>9 patients reported a clear improvement of the symptoms after adhesive taping. There was a clear regression of tearing (VAS (median) = 8; 1 = no improvement, 10 = very good improvement), the cosmetic impairment of the adhesive tape was low (VAS (median) = 2.5; 1 = no impairment, 10 = severe impairment) and most of the patients found the use of the adhesive strip helpful. There was slight reddening of the skin in one case and well tolerated by the facial skin in the other cases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The cause and location of facial nerve damage are decisive for the type of surgical therapy. In potentially reversible facial paresis, procedures should be used that are easily performed and above all reversible without complications. Until a reliable prognosis of the paresis can be made, adhesive taping is suited for the temporary treatment of paralytic ectropion. Adhesive taping is simple and can be performed by the patient.</p

MUG Mel3 Cell Lines Reflect Heterogeneity in Melanoma and Represent a Robust Model for Melanoma in Pregnancy

Melanomas are aggressive tumors with a high metastatic potential and an increasing incidence rate. They are known for their heterogeneity and propensity to easily develop therapy-resistance. Nowadays they are one of the most common cancers diagnosed during pregnancy. Due to the difficulty in balancing maternal needs and foetal safety, melanoma is challenging to treat. The aim of this study was to provide a potential model system for the study of melanoma in pregnancy and to illustrate melanoma heterogeneity. For this purpose, a pigmented and a non-pigmented section of a lymph node metastasis from a pregnant patient were cultured under different conditions and characterized in detail. All four culture conditions exhibited different phenotypic, genotypic as well as tumorigenic properties, and resulted in four newly established melanoma cell lines. To address treatment issues, especially in pregnant patients, the effect of synthetic human lactoferricin-derived peptides was tested successfully. These new BRAF-mutated MUG Mel3 cell lines represent a valuable model in melanoma heterogeneity and melanoma pregnancy research. Furthermore, treatment with anti-tumor peptides offers an alternative to conventionally used therapeutic options—especially during pregnancy

Structured inquiry-based learning: Drosophila GAL4 enhancer trap characterization in an undergraduate laboratory course.

We have developed and tested two linked but separable structured inquiry exercises using a set of Drosophila melanogaster GAL4 enhancer trap strains for an upper-level undergraduate laboratory methods course at Bucknell University. In the first, students learn to perform inverse PCR to identify the genomic location of the GAL4 insertion, using FlyBase to identify flanking sequences and the primary literature to synthesize current knowledge regarding the nearest gene. In the second, we cross each GAL4 strain to a UAS-CD8-GFP reporter strain, and students perform whole mount CNS dissection, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, and analysis of developmental expression patterns. We have found these exercises to be very effective in teaching the uses and limitations of PCR and antibody-based techniques as well as critical reading of the primary literature and scientific writing. Students appreciate the opportunity to apply what they learn by generating novel data of use to the wider research community

Development and evaluation of a lid implant for rehabilitation of the paralyzed eye in facial plasy

Titelblatt, Zusammenfassung und Inhaltsverzeichnis Einleitung Eigene Arbeiten Diskussion und Ausblick Literatur AnhangZur Therapie des Lagophthalmus bei Fazialisparese kommen unterschiedliche Implantate zur Anwendung. Die Methode der Implantation von Goldgewichten, 1958 von Illig erstmals beschrieben, ist ein sehr etabliertes Verfahren. Die Vorteile des Verfahrens sind bei korrekter Durchführung ein vollständiger Lidschluss ohne Gesichtsfeldeinschränkung, die Operation ist technisch einfach, problemlos reversibel und kann bei Bedarf mit weiteren lidchirurgischen Korrekturen kombiniert werden. Damit eignet sich diese Methode nicht nur bei der irreversiblen, sondern auch bei der reversiblen Form der Fazialisparese. Postoperative Komplikationen bei Verwendung von Goldgewichten sind jedoch nicht ungewöhnlich und können eine Explantation erforderlich machen. Zur Reduktion postoperativer Komplikationen wurde vom Autor der Habilitationsschrift ein neues Lidimplantat entwickelt. Aufgrund sonographischer Untersuchungen des Oberlidtarsus ergab sich die Forderung nach einem flexiblen Design des Implantates. Sie führten zur Entwicklung einer flexiblen Platinkette. In mehreren klinischen Studien konnten die Vorteile der Platinkette herausgearbeitet werden. Neben der besseren Gewebeverträglichkeit von Platin im Vergleich zu Gold kann wegen der höheren Dichte von Platin eine Volumenreduktion von über 10% im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Goldimplantaten erzielt werden. Die flexible Gestaltung des Implantats gestattet eine optimale prätarsale Anpassung, was sonographische Untersuchungen bestätigen konnten, wobei die Flexibilität auch langfristig erhalten bleibt. Damit konnten die postoperativen Komplikationen erheblich reduziert und die Effektivität der Behandlungsmethode gesteigert werden. In weiteren Untersuchungen konnte das Indikationsspektrum zur Verwendung von Lidgewichten erweitert und die MRT- Tauglichkeit der unterschiedlichen Lidimplantate bei 1,5 und 3,0 Tesla-MRT- Systemen nachgewiesen werden.Various implants are used to treat lagophthalmos in facial paresis. First described by Illig in 1958, the implantation of gold weights has become an established procedure. The advantages include complete eyelid closure without visual field defects. The operation is streightforward, easily reversible and, if necessary, can be combined with other corrective eyelid procedures. Thus, this method is suitable for both irreversible and potentially reversible facial paralysis. Postoperative complications are, however, common and may require explantation. Thus, the author developed a new eyelid implant to reduce postoperative complications. The platinum chain was developed based on ultrasound examinations of the upper eyelid tarsus, which showed the need for a flexible design. The advantages of the platinum chain were demonstrated in several clinical studies. In addition to the better tissue tolerance of platinum compared to gold, a 10% volume reduction can be achieved over common gold implants due to the higher density of platinum. The flexibility of the implants allows an optimal pretarsal fitting, which was confirmed by ultrasound examinations showing the long-term preservation of flexibility. This considerably reduced postoperative complications and increased the effectivity of the treatment method. The indication spectrum for the application of eyelid weights was expanded in other studies, and the MRI suitability of the different eyelid implants was confirmed in 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla MRI systems

Effects of a Novel Probiotic Combination on Pathogenic Bacterial-Fungal Polymicrobial Biofilms

The effects of diversity of the gut microbiome on inflammation have centered mainly on bacterial flora. Recent research has implicated fungal species and their interactions with other organisms in the inflammatory process. New ways to restore microbial balance in the gut are being explored. Our goal was to identify beneficial probiotic strains that would antagonize these fungal and bacterial pathogens that are elevated in the inflamed gut, and which also have antibiofilm activity. Fungus-bacterium correlation analysis allowed us to identify candidate probiotic species that can antagonize microbial pathogens, which we subsequently incorporated into a novel probiotic formulation. Amylase, which is known to have some antibiofilm activity, was also added to the probiotic mixture. This novel probiotic may have utility for the management of inflammatory bowel diseases by disrupting polymicrobial biofilm formation.Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been implicated in inflammatory bowel diseases. We have shown that levels of Candida tropicalis, along with those of Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens, are significantly elevated in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Here, we evaluated the ability of a novel probiotic to prevent and treat polymicrobial biofilms (PMB) formed by C. tropicalis with E. coli and S. marcescens. Since Candida albicans has been reported to be elevated in CD patients, we investigated the interactions of C. albicans with these bacterial species in biofilm formation. We determined whether the interaction between Candida spp. and bacteria is specific by using Trichosporon inkin and Saccharomyces fibuligera as comparators. Additionally, the effects of probiotics on C. albicans germination and biofilm formation were determined. To determine the ability of the probiotic to prevent or treat mature biofilms, probiotic filtrate was added to the PMB at early (prevention) and mature (treatment) phases. Biofilm thickness and architecture were assessed by confocal scanning laser microscopy. The effects of the probiotic on germination were evaluated in the presence of serum. Exposure of C. tropicalis PMB to probiotic filtrate reduced biofilm matrix, decreased thickness, and inhibited hyphal formation. We showed that C. albicans or C. tropicalis formed significantly thicker PMB than control biofilms, indicating that this interaction is Candida specific. Treatment with probiotic filtrate inhibited C. albicans germination and prevented/treated C. albicans PMB. The designed probiotic may have utility in the management of biofilm-associated gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s and colorectal cancer

In silico identification software (ISIS): a machine learning approach to tandem mass spectral identification of lipids

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics has gained importance in the life sciences, yet it is not supported by software tools for high throughput identification of metabolites based on their fragmentation spectra. An algorithm (ISIS: in silico identification software) and its implementation are presented and show great promise in generating in silico spectra of lipids for the purpose of structural identification. Instead of using chemical reaction rate equations or rules-based fragmentation libraries, the algorithm uses machine learning to find accurate bond cleavage rates in a mass spectrometer employing collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry. A preliminary test of the algorithm with 45 lipids from a subset of lipid classes shows both high sensitivity and specificity