Boron Isotope Fractionation in Bell Pepper

Various plant compartments of a single bell pepper plant were studied to verify the variability of boron isotope composition in plants and to identify possible intra-plant isotope fractionation. Boron mass fractions varied from 9.8 mg/kg in the fruits to 70.0 mg/kg in the leaves. Boron (B) isotope ratios reported as δ11B ranged from -11.0‰ to +16.0‰ (U ≤ 1.9‰, k=2) and showed a distinct trend to heavier δ11B values the higher the plant compartments were located in the plant. A fractionation of Δ11Bleaf-roots = 27‰ existed in the studied bell pepper plant, which represents about 1/3 of the overall natural boron isotope variation (ca. 80‰). Two simultaneous operating processes are a possible explanation for the observed systematic intra-plant δ11B variation: 1) B is fixed in cell walls in its tetrahedral form (borate), which preferentially incorporates the light B isotope and the remaining xylem sap gets enriched in the heavy B isotope and 2) certain transporter preferentially transport the trigonal 11B-enriched boric acid molecule and thereby the heavy 11B towards young plant compartments which were situated distal of the roots and typically high in the plant. Consequently, an enrichment of the heavy 11B isotope in the upper young plant parts located at the top of the plant could explain the observed isotope systematic. The identification and understanding of the processes generating systematic intra-plant δ11B variations will potentially enable the use of B isotope for plant metabolism studies

Tracing the dynamic life story of a Bronze Age Female

YesAncient human mobility at the individual level is conventionally studied by the diverse application of suitable techniques (e.g. aDNA, radiogenic strontium isotopes, as well as oxygen and lead isotopes) to either hard and/or soft tissues. However, the limited preservation of coexisting hard and soft human tissues hampers the possibilities of investigating high-resolution diachronic mobility periods in the life of a single individual. Here, we present the results of a multidisciplinary study of an exceptionally well preserved circa 3.400-year old Danish Bronze Age female find, known as the Egtved Girl. We applied biomolecular, biochemical and geochemical analyses to reconstruct her mobility and diet. We demonstrate that she originated from a place outside present day Denmark (the island of Bornholm excluded), and that she travelled back and forth over large distances during the final months of her life, while consuming a terrestrial diet with intervals of reduced protein intake. We also provide evidence that all her garments were made of non-locally produced wool. Our study advocates the huge potential of combining biomolecular and biogeochemical provenance tracer analyses to hard and soft tissues of a single ancient individual for the reconstruction of high-resolution human mobility.The Danish National Research Foundation; The Carlsberg Foundation, L'Oreal Denmark-UNESCO; The ERC agreement no. 26944

Isotopendiskriminierungen bei der Nitrifikation und Denitrifikation; Grundlagen und Anwendungen der Herkunfts-Zuordnung von Nitrat und Distickstoffmonoxid

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: DW 3213 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Sur la formation de HCN aux dépens de NH3 et du charbon de bois, de même aux dépens de la di et triméthylamine

Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Influence of the tourniquet on bloodloss in primary total knee arthroplasty

Die Implantation von Knieendoprothesen (K-TEP) gehört zu einer der am häufigsten durchgeführten Operationen. Aufgrund kontroverser Diskussionen existiert bis zum heutigen Zeitpunkt keine einheitliche Empfehlung für die Verwendung einer Blutsperre. Widersprüchliche Studienergebnisse bestehen zu deren Auswirkung auf den Blutverlust. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war den Einfluss der Blutsperren-Anwendung auf den Blutverlust zu ermitteln. Weiterhin sollte die Auswirkung auf postoperative Schmerzen, Schwellung und Bewegungsausmaß untersucht werden. 80 Patienten wurden in diese prospektiven Studie eingeschlossen und randomisiert zu zwei Gruppen mit jeweils 40 Probanden zugeteilt (n = 40 mit Blutsperre, n = 40 ohne Blutsperre). Eine Selektion der Patienten hinsichtlich Alter, Geschlecht oder Body Mass Index erfolgte nicht. Jedem Patienten wurde eine zementierte K-TEP über einen medialen Mini-Midvastus Zugang implantiert. Alle Eingriffe wurden in der gleichen Klinik von einem Operateur durchgeführt. In den Fällen mit Anwendung der Blutsperre wurde diese vor dem Eingriff angelegt, ab dem Hautschnitt ein konstanter Manschettendruck von 350 mmHg angewandt. Die Deflation erfolgte nach dem Wundverschluss. Zur Bestimmung des perioperativen Blutverlusts wurde der Gesamtblutverlust kalkuliert, welcher auch den versteckten Blutverlust mit einbezieht. Unter Verwendung des Hämatokritwertes von präoperativ und vom 1. postoperativen Tag wurde der perioperative Blutverlust mit Hilfe der Formel nach Bourke und Smith berechnet, welche den Blutverlust unter isovolämischer Hämodilution berücksichtigt. Das Ausgangsblutvolumen des Patienten wurde nach der Formel von Nadler et al ermittelt. In der Studiengruppe, welche mit Blutsperre operiert wurde, konnte ein signifikant höherer Gesamtblutverlust berechnet werden: (p = 0,0125), Blutverlust ohne Blutsperre 0,75 l (0,24 l 2,0 l), mit Anwendung der Blutsperre 0,91 l (0,27 l 1,5 l). Zudem gaben die Patienten in dieser Gruppe signifikant stärkere postoperative Schmerzen in Ruhe (p = 0,0002) und Belastung (p = 0,0033) an. Jedoch zeigte sich bei Operation mit Blutsperre eine signifikant tiefere Zementeindringtiefe in das Knochenlager (p = 0,004); eine kumulative Eindringtiefe ohne Blutsperre 12,8 mm (8 mm – 19 mm), mit Blutsperre 14,2 mm (9 mm – 18 mm). Die Operationszeit, das postoperative Bewegungsausmaß und die Schwellung der operierten Extremität differierte zwischen den Untersuchungsgruppen nicht signifikant. Es lässt sich konstatieren, dass die Anwendung der Blutsperre zwar einen größeren Blutverlust und stärkere postoperative Schmerzen verursacht, jedoch zu einer verbesserten Zementierqualität führt. Allerdings werden in vorhergehenden Arbeiten weitere Nebenwirkungen wie Wundheilungsstörung oder thrombembolische Ereignisse beschrieben. Um eine eindeutige Empfehlung zu geben sind weitere prospektive Studien notwendig um den Langzeiteffekt zu untersuchen. Bis dahin sollte der Operateur in Hinblick auf die individuellen Komorbiditäten des Patienten entscheiden ob eine Blutsperre bei Implantation der Knieendoprothese zur Anwendung kommt.Implantation of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most frequently applied surgeries in Germany. Due to controversial discussions no guideline about the use of a tourniquet exists. Recent studies have shown contradictory results about the influence on blood loss. Object of the study was whether the use of the tourniquet leads to higher blood loss than operating without tourniquet. Furthermore it`s influence on postoperative pain, swelling, stiffness and cement mantle thickness was to examine. 80 probands were enrolled in this prospective, randomised trail and assigned to two groups with each 40 patients (n = 40, with tourniquet; n = 40, without tourniquet). No selection was made regarding to age, sex and body-mass-index. Every patient received a cemented, posterior-stabilised TKA, using a medial mini-midvastus approach. All operations took place in the same hospital, performed by a single senior surgeon. In cases where the pneumatic tourniquet was used, it was applied before operation and inflated to 350 mmHg before skin incision and deflated after skin closure. To determine the perioperative blood loss, overall blood loss was calculated, taking into account obvious and hidden blood loss. Using the haematocrit from preoperative and first postoperative day, blood loss was calculated applying the formula by Bourke and Smith, respecting isovolumetric haemodilution. Initial blood volume of the patient was measured according to the formula by Nadler et al. Calculated blood loss was significantly higher in the study-group operated with tourniquet (p = 0,0125): blood loss without tourniquet 0,75 l (0,24 l 2,0 l), with tourniquet: 0,91 l (0,27 l 1,5 l). In addition, by using a tourniquet during operation the patients complained about higher postoperative pain levels during rest (p = 0,0002) and mobilisation (p = 0,0033). However tourniquet apply resulted in a significant increased cement mantle thickness at the tibial component (p = 0,004): cumulative cement penetration without tourniquet 12,8 mm (8 mm – 19 mm); with tourniquet 14,2 cm (9 mm 18mm). There was no significant difference in the length of operation, the postoperative range of motion and swelling of the limb between the two study groups. In conclusion the application of the tourniquet in TKA causes a major perioperative calculated blood loss and postoperative pain levels but increases the tibial cementmantle thickness. Nevertheless recent studies mentioned additional side effects like wound healing issues or thrombembolic complications

Evolution in Times of Revolution: Darwinism, Nature, and Society in the Soviet Union

Darwinism, the Soviet Union claimed, had found its second home in revolutionary Russia. While the Tsarist government viewed Darwinism with trepidation and suspected it of being linked to atheism and revolution, the Bolshevik revolutionaries embraced it for these very reasons. Despite this accepted narrative, the story of evolutionary theory in Russia and the Soviet Union is more complex. First, not all supporters of Darwin in pre-revolutionary Russia were materialists. Second, Darwinism posed vexing problems to Bolsheviks: although they considered Darwinism a cornerstone of their materialistic, scientific, and revolutionary worldview, this dissertation argues that Soviet scientists and ideologues struggled to reconcile Darwin’s gradualist theory of evolution that decentered humankind with their Marxist theory of revolution. This tension between evolution and revolution is apparent from the history of the Moscow State Darwin Museum, an educational and research institution founded in late Imperial Russia in 1907, which is the setting of this dissertation. Based on archival research conducted in Russia, Germany, and the US, this study analyzes the conflicted history of Darwinism in twentieth-century Russia and the Soviet Union, spanning both sides of the revolutionary divide of 1917. The Darwin Museum as a hub of Darwin-inspired research and dedicated to popularizing evolutionary theory both shaped and reflected the engagement with the British naturalist and his theory in Imperial and Soviet Russia. Its history underscores how much richer the Soviet reception of Darwin was than the well-studied case of Lysenko’s “creative Darwinism.” From comparative psychology to cryptozoological research on the Yeti, the scientists, environmentalists, artists, and popularizers of science linked to the museum puzzled over the conundrum evolutionary theory posed in the political and ideological context of revolutionary Russia. In the end, researchers invoked Darwin but diverged from key aspects of his theory. They criticized the notion that evolution develops gradually, rather than in leaps or revolutions, and they argued that homo sapiens as a species capable of wielding tools and transforming the environment is qualitatively different from other beings. Yet culture in the Soviet Union was not monolithic. Parallel to advancing an anthropocentric worldview during Stalinism that aligned with the Bolsheviks’ aspirations of mastering nature, the Darwin Museum was a center of environmental activism. As seen through the research conducted under the aegis of the Darwin Museum, this dissertation argues for the complexity of the Soviet scientific and theoretical debate on the relationship between humanity and the natural world, which informed the interaction with the environment. In sum, the Darwin Museum with its long history functioned as a key site for research, for shaping future generations of biologists and nature protectionists, and for negotiating the close but conflicted relationship between evolutionary theory and Bolshevik revolutionary ideology

Sur la formation de HCN aux dépens de NH3 et du charbon de bois, de même aux dépens de la di et triméthylamine

Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe