HF oder UHF – Welche Frequenz darf es sein? : Vor- und Nachteile der gängigen RFID-Technologien

Die Frage nach der Funkfrequenz eines Radio-Frequency-Identification-Systems (RFIDSystems) ist in etwa wie die Frage nach der PS-Zahl eines Autos: Eigentlich keine primäre Kennzahl für den Anwender wie Höchstgeschwindigkeit oder Beschleunigungsverhalten, aber aufgrund ihrer technischen Bedeutung trotzdem maßgeblich. Ähnlich verhält es sich bei RFID: Zwar stehen eigentlich Eckdaten wie Reichweite, Speicherkapazität oder auch Kosten im Vordergrund. Doch die verwendete Frequenz ist so bedeutend für die Eigenschaften eines RFID-Systems, dass man auch als reiner Anwender kaum an der Frage »HF oder UHF?« vorbei kommt

Cardiovascular and metabolic determinants of quality of life in patients with cancer

AIMS: Maintaining quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer has gathered significant interest, but little is known about its major determinants. We sought to identify determinants of QoL in patients undergoing cancer treatment as well as in treatment-naïve patients about to commence such therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: QoL was assessed in 283 patients with cancer using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 questionnaire. All patients underwent a battery of tests including physical examination, resting electrocardiogram, hand grip strength, and biochemistry assessment. Using multivariable logistic regression, we found that age [odds ratio (OR) 0.954, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.916-0.994], resting heart rate (OR 1.036, 95% CI 1.004-1.068), hand grip strength (OR 0.932, 95% CI 0.878-0.990), and the presence of cachexia (OR 4.334, 95% CI 1.767-10.631) and dyspnoea (OR 3.725, 95% CI 1.540-9.010; all P < 0.05) remained independently predictive of reduced QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it may be reasonable to address circumstances that are affecting muscle mass, body weight, and heart rate to maintaining QoL; however, prospective studies to test these endpoints are required

Molecular mechanisms of antiangigenic activity of GBP-1 in endothelial cells

Das humane Guanylatbindungsprotein (GBP)-1 gehört zur Familie der großen GTPasen und wird durch die inflammatorischen Zytokine Interferon (IFN)-gamma, Interleukin (IL)-1 beta und Tumornekrosefaktor (TNF)-alpha in humanen Endothelzellen (EZ) induziert. GBP-1 besitzt zwei wichtige antiangiogene Eigenschaften. Es hemmt die Proliferation und Invasion von EZ. In dieser Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass GBP-1-exprimierende EZ in ihrer Fähigkeit zur Bildung stabiler Lamellipodien und zur Migration auf Fibronektin (FN)-beschichteten Oberflächen signifikant gehemmt sind. Bei dem Versuch den molekularen Mechanismus dieser inhibitorischen Effekte aufzuklären, konnte gezeigt werden, dass Integrin alpha 4 (ITGA4) sowohl auf RNA-Ebene, als auch auf Proteinebene in GBP-1-exprimierenden EZ hochreguliert war. Die Hemmung der Lamellipodienbildung und der Migration war abhängig von der Bindung zwischen ITGA4 und dessen Liganden FN. Die Expression von ITGA4 konnte auch durch die inflammatorischen Zytokine IL-1 beta und TNF-alpha in EZ induziert werden. Ein spezifisches Abschalten der GBP-1-Proteinsynthese mittels shRNA nach Induktion mit diesen Zytokinen verhinderte die Expression von ITGA4 und die Fähigkeit der EZ zur Bildung stabiler Lamellipodien und zur Migration konnte dadurch wieder hergestellt werden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit machen deutlich, dass GBP-1 hinreichend und notwendig ist, um die durch IL-1 beta- und TNF-alpha-induzierte Hemmung der endothelialen Lamellipodienbildung und der Migration von EZ aufgrund der Hochregulation von ITGA4 zu vermitteln. Die Migration von EZ ist ein wichtiger Teilprozess während der Angiogenese. Die hier gezeigten Resultate untermauern die Rolle von GBP-1 als regulatorisches Schlüsselprotein bei der antiangiogenen Antwort der EZ nach dessen Aktivierung durch inflammatorische Zytokine.Human guanylate binding protein (GBP)-1 belongs to the familiy of large GTPases and is induced in human endothelial cells (EC) by the inflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. GBP-1 exerts two important antiangiogenic activities in EC through inhibition of EC proliferation and invasiveness. In this study we detected that GBP-1-expressing cells show a significantly reduced spreading and migration on fibronectin (FN)-coated surfaces. Investigating possible molecular mechanisms of these inhibitory effects, we found that integrin alpha 4 (ITGA4) was consistently upregulated at both the RNA and protein level in GBP-1-expressing cell cultures. Inhibition of cell spreading and migration by GBP-1 was dependent on the binding of ITGA4 to its ligand FN. The inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha induced ITGA4 expression in EC and inhibited cell spreading on FN-matrices. A specific knockdown of GBP-1 by shRNA abrogated inflammatory cytokine induced ITGA4 expression and restored spreading and migration capabilities of the cells. These results indicate that GBP-1 is necessary and sufficient to mediate the inhibition of cell spreading and motility by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha through induction of ITGA4 expression. Endothelial cell migration is a key process during angiogenesis. These findings highlight the role of GBP-1 as a key regulatory protein of the antiangiogenic response of EC to inflammatory cytokines

The continuing spread of

Crayfish plague and introductions of non-indigenous freshwater crayfish species (NICS) have had major consequences for the survival of autochthonous crayfish populations in Europe. Beside habitat loss, the invasive signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus is currently responsible for the decline of indigenous crayfish species (ICS) in Carinthia (Austria). Here, we studied the distribution of P. leniusculus and native Astacus astacus and Austropotamobius torrentium in selected catchments to assess the ongoing colonisation with signal crayfish and to monitor the existence of ICS localities. Our results showed that P. leniusculus is widespread in Carinthia and many areas with native crayfish have disappeared within nine years. However, whereas populations of A. astacus became extinct in running waters, those of A. torrentium seemed to be more protected by occupying headwaters. In contrast to the ICS, P. leniusculus was found in a broad range of freshwater habitats and water quality conditions. We hypothesise that the fast expansion of P. leniusculus and the decline of ICS was caused by human-mediated stockings of NICS, followed by active signal crayfish invasions from established populations into new watercourses

Crayfish as trophic agents: Effect of Austropotamobius torrentium

Crayfish are among the largest and most threatened invertebrates in freshwater habitats. Due to their size, behaviour and feeding activity they may affect structure and function of aquatic ecosystems and their organisms. Despite their importance in many freshwaters and available information on their ecology for several species little is known about the European crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium. In order to evaluate the potential effects of indigenous crayfish presence on the structural and functional composition of the zoobenthic community, we measured population size and densities of three A. torrentium populations and compared macroinvertebrate assemblages and physicochemical parameters in three streams with and three without crayfish. The experimental setup considered crayfish effects at a large scale in defined reaches of pristine headwaters in association with the whole benthic fauna under natural conditions. Presence of A. torrentium significantly affected zoobenthic abundance, diversity and the relative proportions of functional feeding groups. In crayfish streams, especially Trichoptera and collector gatherers were more abundant and diverse, while sites without crayfish had significantly higher abundances and diversities of shredders and wood feeders. Our study provided strong evidence that the presence of the indigenous crayfish A. torrentium had important effects on the trophic cascades of headwater stream communities