Too Immature to Vote?

This article argues in favour of lowering the voting age to 16. First, it outlines a respect-based account of democracy where the right to vote is grounded in a respect for citizens’ autonomous capacities. It then outlines a normative account of autonomy, modelled on Rawls’s two moral powers, saying what criteria must be met for an individual to possess a (pro tanto) moral right to vote. Second, it engages with empirical psychology to show that by the age of 16 (if not earlier) individuals h

Resting respiratory tract dendritic cells preferentially stimulate T helper cell Type 2(Th2) responses and require obligatory cytokine signals for induction of Th1 immunity

Consistent with their role in host defense, mature dendritic cells (DCs) from central lymphoid organs preferentially prime for T helper cell type 1 (Th1)-polarized immunity. However, the “default” T helper response at mucosal surfaces demonstrates Th2 polarity, which is reflected in the cytokine profiles of activated T cells from mucosal lymph nodes. This study on rat respiratory tract DCs (RTDCs) provides an explanation for this paradox. We demonstrate that freshly isolated RTDCs are functionally immature as defined in vitro, being surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II lo, endocytosishi, and mixed lymphocyte reactionlo, and these cells produce mRNA encoding interleukin (IL)-10. After ovalbumin (OVA)-pulsing and adoptive transfer, freshly isolated RTDCs preferentially stimulated Th2-dependent OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 responses, and antigen-stimulated splenocytes from recipient animals produced IL-4 in vitro. However, preculture with granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor increased their in vivo IgG priming capacity by 2–3 logs, inducing production of both Th1- and Th2-dependent IgG subclasses and high levels of IFN-γ by antigen-stimulated splenocytes. Associated phenotypic changes included upregulation of surface MHC II and B7 expression and IL-12 p35 mRNA, and downregulation of endocytosis, MHC II processing– associated genes, and IL-10 mRNA expression. Full expression of IL-12 p40 required additional signals, such as tumor necrosis factor α or CD40 ligand. These results suggest that the observed Th2 polarity of the resting mucosal immune system may be an inherent property of the resident DC population, and furthermore that mobilization of Th1 immunity relies absolutely on the provision of appropriate microenvironmental costimuli

Structure of cellulose microfibrils in primary cell-walls from collenchyma

In the primary walls of growing plant cells, the glucose polymer cellulose is assembled into long microfibrils a few nanometers in diameter. The rigidity and orientation of these microfibrils control cell expansion; therefore, cellulose synthesis is a key factor in the growth and morphogenesis of plants. Celery (Apium graveolens) collenchyma is a useful model system for the study of primary wall microfibril structure because its microfibrils are oriented with unusual uniformity, facilitating spectroscopic and diffraction experiments. Using a combination of x-ray and neutron scattering methods with vibrational and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we show that celery collenchyma microfibrils were 2.9 to 3.0 nm in mean diameter, with a most probable structure containing 24 chains in cross section, arranged in eight hydrogen-bonded sheets of three chains, with extensive disorder in lateral packing, conformation, and hydrogen bonding. A similar 18-chain structure, and 24-chain structures of different shape, fitted the data less well. Conformational disorder was largely restricted to the surface chains, but disorder in chain packing was not. That is, in position and orientation, the surface chains conformed to the disordered lattice constituting the core of each microfibril. There was evidence that adjacent microfibrils were noncovalently aggregated together over part of their length, suggesting that the need to disrupt these aggregates might be a constraining factor in growth and in the hydrolysis of cellulose for biofuel production

Convective Vortices on Mars: A Reanalysis of Viking Lander 2 Meteorological Data, Sols 1-50

On 7th August 1976 the Viking 2 lander touched down at Utopia Planitia, Mars. We have reanalysed Viking lander 2 meteorological data, and it is the object of this research to give not only annual but diurnal statistics of convective vortex formation for the Viking 2 landing site

Effekt einer intensivmedizinischen Kapazitätserweiterung auf Auslastungsindikatoren

In der vorliegenden Studie wurde untersucht, ob sich die Erweiterung der Intensivbettenkapazität in einer „Entlastung“ der Intensivstationen äußert. Die Daten dreier operativer Intensivstationen des UKM wurden dazu ausgewertet, welche in ihrer Bettenkapazität von 22 auf 26 Betten um 18 % erweitert wurden. Nach Kapazitätserweiterung sank die durchschnittliche Behandlungsdauer (statistisch nicht signifikant) bei gleich bleibender Krankheitsschwere (SOFA, SAPS II) und bei zunehmendem Alter der Patienten (statistisch nicht signifikant). Der Pflegeaufwand, gemessen am TISS 28-Score, sank leicht, mit statistischer Signifikanz. Nach der Kapazitätserweiterung wurden mehr „Langlieger“ behandelt als vorher. Die Zahl der „Kurzlieger“ (< 48 h) war vergleichbar, was einem deutlichen Rückgang der Zahl der „Kurzlieger“ an der Gesamtpatientenzahl entspricht. Die Bettenbelegung sank nach der Erweiterung leicht. Das Angebot an intensivmedizinischen Behandlungskapazitäten schafft Nachfrage

Etablierung und Evaluation der kieferorthopädischen digitalen Falldokumentation in der Lehre als problembasiertes eLearningsystem (ePBL)

Ziel der Arbeit war es, das an der Poliklinik für Kieferorthopädie, Münster entwickelte, modifizierte POL-Konzept zu beschreiben, seine Eignung als didaktisches Werkzeug zu untersuchen und ein technisches Hilfsmittel in Form eines Softwareprogramms zur Gestaltung von Lehrmaterial zu entwickeln. Das modifizierte POL ist ein Konzept, welches in sich Eigenschaften des klassischen problemorientierten und des fallbasierten Lernens vereint. Es wurde an die curricularen, personellen und infrastrukturellen Gegebenheiten angepasst und bietet gegenüber den etablierten Formen von POL Vorteile. Eine über drei Semester hinweg durchgeführte Evaluierung durch Studierende zeigte eine deutliche Befürwortung des praktizierten Konzeptes, wobei im zweiten Behandlungskurses hinsichtlich einzelner Teilaspekte weniger Zustimmung festzustellen war. Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit entwickelte Softwareapplikation dient der Gestaltung elektronischen Lehrmaterials für die Durchführung der modifizierten POL-Seminare

Decreased Fibroblast and Increased Osteoblast Functions on Ionic Plasma Deposited Nanostructured Ti Coatings

Bioactive coatings are in high demand to control cellular functions for numerous medical devices. The objective of this in vitro study was to characterize for the first time fibroblast (fibrous scar tissue forming cells) adhesion and proliferation on an important polymeric biomaterial (silicone) coated with titanium using a novel ionic plasma deposition (IPD) process. Fibroblasts are one of the first anchorage-dependent cells to arrive at an implant surface during the wound healing process. Persistent excessive functions of fibroblasts have been linked to detrimental fibrous tissue formation which may cause implant failure. The IPD process creates a surface-engineered nanostructure (with features usually below 100 nm) by first using a vacuum to remove all contaminants, then guiding charged metallic ions or plasma to the surface of a medical device at ambient temperature. Results demonstrated that compared to currently used titanium and uncoated silicone, silicone coated with titanium using IPD significantly decreased fibroblast adhesion and proliferation. Results also showed competitively increased osteoblast (bone-forming cells) over fibroblast adhesion on silicone coated with titanium; in contrast, osteoblast adhesion was not competitively increased over fibroblast adhesion on uncoated silicone or titanium controls. In this manner, this study strongly suggests that IPD should be further studied for biomaterial applications in which fibrous tissue encapsulation is undesirable (such as for orthopedic implants, cardiovascular components, etc.)