TOWARDS SMART & RESILIENT URBAN SETTLEMENTS IN ASIA & THE PACIFIC A PRO - POOR PERSPECTIVE

Cities and tows are places with the highest population numbers and densities on the planet. They have been the centres of conglomeration, politic, culture, innovation and connectivity within the globalized world. Globally, cities consume more water, food, vast array of raw materials and consume up to 67% of all energy and contribute 71% of all greenhouse gas emissions. They also exhibit the contrast of poverty and wealth in close physical proximity, with slums located right next to the shining high-rises and gated elite communities. This continuous urbanization mainly swells the numbers of low-income households leading to what some experts have termed by “urbanization of poverty”. However, Cities and towns are also entities whose functioning mostly depends on higher order, interrelated systems. The dynamic nature of urban environments and bad inter-relationships between infrastructure, institutions and ecosystems can lead to cascading failures or “complex disasters”. This characteristic makes the urban areas different from surrounding countryside especially in vulnerabilities. The resilience here is defined as the ability to withstand, recover from and reorganize in response to crises to improve by strengthening “resilience characteristic” such as robustness, redundancy and resourcefulness and “resilience performance” such as risk reduction/preparation, response and recovery of various population groups and urban subsystems

High strain rate characteristics of rubber modified syntactic foams

This thesis deals with the characterization of hybrid syntactic foams under high strain rates (HSR) ranging from 450/s to 1000/s. The foams studied are comprised of epoxy resin matrix filled with 63% volume fraction glass microspheres and 2% volume fraction of ground rubber fragments. The focus of this study is to compare the strength, ultimate strain, and modulus of these composite materials at high strain rates and quasi-static conditions and to find out the effects of HSR on the failure mode and fracture behavior of these materials. Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus is used for the HSR testing. Foams of four different densities were fabricated by using four different microspheres in order to observe the density effect on the HSR properties. The microspheres have the same average outer diameter of 40 μm, but different wall thickness leading to a difference in their density. Rubber particles with an average size of 40 μm were also added in these four samples to study the effect of the rubber on their properties. Fracture surfaces were observed under a scanning electron microscope to understand the fracture behavior of these materials and the influence of the rubber particles. The peak stress was found to increase as the strain rate increased for all types of foam. For the hybrid foams fabricated with the lightest density (S22 and S32 types) microspheres with the 40 μm rubber particles the modulus values had an nearly constant value as the strain rate increased. For these foams, the fracture surfaces showed damage to the microspheres. The heavier density foams that used the S38 and K46 microspheres with the 40 μm rubber particles had an increasing modulus as the strain rate increased. The fracture surfaces showed failure of the epoxy matrix as the principal failure mode. A further two samples were fabricated that utilized rubber particles that were 75 μm in diameter. Compared to the smaller rubber particles in the same density of foam, the testing showed that the larger rubber particles resulted in a 20% increase in peak stress and the modulus increased

Evaluierung von Troponin I-, CK- MB- und Myoglobinassay am DPC IMMULITE 2500 Immunoanalyyer

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die IMMULITE 2500 Troponin I-, Myoglobin- und CK-MB- Assays evaluiert. Diese Chemilumineszenz- Assays arbeiten nach dem nicht- kompetitiven Sandwich- Prinzip. Ein Problem bei der Bestimmung der kardialen Marker ist die Standardisierung der Tests. Durch eine Studie aus dem Jahr 2004 zur Standardisierung von Myoglobin- Immunoassays konnte eine Basis zur Entwicklung einer Referenzmethode geschaffen werden. Mit der Entwicklung eines CK-MB Standards, dem lyophilisierten rekombinanten CKMB2 (lyophilisiertes rCKMB2) konnte die systematische Messabweichung zwischen den einzelnen Messmethoden von 40% auf 12% reduziert werden. Für cTnI wurde festgelegt, dass die Antikörper an die stabile Region (Epitop 30-110) des N- terminalen Endes binden sollen. Das Subkomitee der “American Association for Clinical Chemistry” (AACC) hat in Kollaboration mit der “National Institute of Standards and Technology” (NIST) ein primäres Referenzmaterial (SRM2921) entwickelt. Aber auch das SRM2921 ist noch nicht für eine Standardisierung und damit für die Vergleichbarkeit der einzelnen Methoden untereinander ausreichend. Die Entwicklung eines geeigneten Standards wird also noch weiter gehen. Die neue diagnostische Entscheidungsgrenze für das Troponin I ist als das 99. Perzentil einer gesunden Referenzpopulation definiert, sofern bei diesem Wert im Rahmen der totalen Präzisionsbestimmung ein Variationskoeffizient (VK) <10% vorliegt. Da es bisher jedoch keinen Hersteller gibt, der diesen Anforderungen gerecht wird, soll der Cut-Off Wert dort liegen, wo ein VK = 10% so nah wie möglich bei der 99. Perzentile besteht. Die analytische Evaluierung des IMMULITE 2500 Troponin I- Assays ergab VK zwischen 5,0% und 10,3% (0,8 - 93,4 ng/ml) für die Inter-Assay-Präzision bzw. 3,3% bis 5,3% (0,8 – 90,9 ng/ml) für die Intra-Assay-Präzision. Für Myoglobin wurden VKs für die Inter-Assay-Präzision zwischen 3,9% und 6,8% (9,6 – 578,8 ng/ml) und für CK-MB zwischen 4,1% und 9,1% (4,1- 416,7 ng/ml). Bei der Intra- Assay-Präzision ergaben sich folgende Ergebnisse: Myoglobin 1,9% bis 3,4% (11,7 – 620,0 ng/ml) und CK-MB 3,8% bis 5,8% (4,7 – 412,3 ng/ml). Bei der Bestimmung der Verdünnungslinearität ergab sich für Troponin bei der ersten Verdünnungsreihe ein VK von 1,5% und bei der zweiten von 5,1%. Für Myoglobin für die erste 3,9% und 5,0% für die zweite. Bei CK-MB liegt der Wert für die erste Versuchsreihe bei 4,6% und bei der zweiten bei 4,3%. Hohe Konzentrationen der einzelnen Parameter wurden abwechselnd mit niedrigen Konzentrationen gemessen. Es wurde bei allen drei Parametern kein Anstieg der niedrig konzentrierten Probe gemessen und somit der Nachweis erbracht, dass keine Verschleppung durch das Gerät erfolgt. Der Methodenvergleich für den Troponin-I-Assay wurde an drei verschiedenen Geräten durchgeführt. Der Messbereich lag zwischen 0,2 ng/ml und 97,2 ng/ml. Im Vergleich mit dem IMMULITE Turbo liegt der Korrelationskoeffizient bei R= 0,9988 und im Vergleich mit dem ADVIA Centaur bei R= 0,9948. Nach der Auswertung nach Bland- Altman misst der IMMULITE 2500 im Vergleich zum IMMULITE Turbo eher niedriger, die mittlere Differenz (Bias) liegt bei – 1,1 ng/ml und im Vergleich zum ADVIA Centaur eher höher, der Bias liegt bei 4,1ng/ml. Der Methodenvergleich für den Myoglobin- Assay und den CK-MB-Assay wurde mit dem ADVIA Centaur durchgeführt. Hier zeigte sich eine sehr gute Vergleichbarkeit der Methoden mit R= 0,999 bei Myoglobin und R= 0,9991 bei CK-MB. Für die Auswertung nach Bland- Altman zeigt sich, dass der IMMULITE 2500 bei Myoglobin immer niedriger misst, der Bias ist ins Negative verschoben bei – 44,4 ng/ml und bei CK-MB immer höher misst, der Bias liegt bei 22,2 ng/ml. Weiterhin zeigt sich ein proportionaler Fehler. Für den Troponin I- Assay wurde die Stabilität bei verschiedenen Lagerungsbedingungen (über Nacht bei Raumtemperatur und über Nacht bei ca. 6° C) über einen Zeitraum von 24 Stunden gemessen. Es zeigte sich keine relevante Änderung der Ergebnisse. Insgesamt zeigen die untersuchten Assays der kardialen Marker am IMMULITE 2500 eine hohe Präzision und Verdünnungslinearität, keine Probenverschleppung und sind mit den bisherigen auf dem Markt befindlichen Methoden vergleichbar. Durch die schnelle und präzise Analytik sind sie für den Gebrauch in der täglichen Routine und speziell für Notfälle sehr gut einsetzbar

Generation of a Highly Active Folding Enzyme by Combining a Parvulin-Type Prolyl Isomerase from SurA with an Unrelated Chaperone Domain

AbstractParvulins are small prolyl isomerases and serve as catalytic domains of folding enzymes. SurA (survival protein A) from the periplasm of Escherichia coli consists of an inactive (Par1) and an active (Par2) parvulin domain as well as a chaperone domain. In the absence of the chaperone domain, the folding activity of Par2 is virtually abolished. We created a chimeric protein by inserting the chaperone domain of SlyD, an unrelated folding enzyme from the FKBP family, into a loop of the isolated Par2 domain of SurA. This increased its folding activity 450-fold to a value higher than the activity of SurA, in which Par2 is linked with its natural chaperone domain. In the presence of both the natural and the foreign chaperone domain, the folding activity of Par2 was 1500-fold increased. Related and unrelated chaperone domains thus are similarly efficient in enhancing the folding activity of the prolyl isomerase Par2. A sequence analysis of various chaperone domains suggests that clusters of exposed methionine residues in mobile chain regions might be important for a generic interaction with unfolded protein chains. This binding is highly dynamic to allow frequent transfer of folding protein chains between chaperone and catalytic domains

Specific lid-base contacts in the 26s proteasome control the conformational switching required for substrate degradation.

The 26S proteasome is essential for proteostasis and the regulation of vital processes through ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitinated substrates. To accomplish the multi-step degradation process, the proteasomes regulatory particle, consisting of lid and base subcomplexes, undergoes major conformational changes whose origin is unknown. Investigating the Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteasome, we found that peripheral interactions between the lid subunit Rpn5 and the base AAA+ ATPase ring are important for stabilizing the substrate-engagement-competent state and coordinating the conformational switch to processing states upon substrate engagement. Disrupting these interactions perturbs the conformational equilibrium and interferes with degradation initiation, while later processing steps remain unaffected. Similar defects in early degradation steps are observed when eliminating hydrolysis in the ATPase subunit Rpt6, whose nucleotide state seems to control proteasome conformational transitions. These results provide important insight into interaction networks that coordinate conformational changes with various stages of degradation, and how modulators of conformational equilibria may influence substrate turnover

Phylogeny and nomenclature of the genus Talaromyces and taxa accommodated in Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium

The taxonomic history of anamorphic species attributed to Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium is reviewed, along with evidence supporting their relationship with teleomorphic species classified in Talaromyces. To supplement previous conclusions based on ITS, SSU and/or LSU sequencing that Talaromyces and subgenus Biverticillium comprise a monophyletic group that is distinct from Penicillium at the generic level, the phylogenetic relationships of these two groups with other genera of Trichocomaceae was further studied by sequencing a part of the RPB1 (RNA polymerase II largest subunit) gene. Talaromyces species and most species of Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium sensu Pitt reside in a monophyletic clade distant from species of other subgenera of Penicillium. For detailed phylogenetic analysis of species relationships, the ITS region (incl. 5.8S nrDNA) was sequenced for the available type strains and/or representative isolates of Talaromyces and related biverticillate anamorphic species. Extrolite profiles were compiled for all type strains and many supplementary cultures. All evidence supports our conclusions that Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium is distinct from other subgenera in Penicillium and should be taxonomically unified with the Talaromyces species that reside in the same clade. Following the concepts of nomenclatural priority and single name nomenclature, we transfer all accepted species of Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium to Talaromyces. A holomorphic generic diagnosis for the expanded concept of Talaromyces, including teleomorph and anamorph characters, is provided. A list of accepted Talaromyces names and newly combined Penicillium names is given. Species of biotechnological and medical importance, such as P. funiculosum and P. marneffei, are now combined in Talaromyces. Excluded species and taxa that need further taxonomic study are discussed. An appendix lists other generic names, usually considered synonyms of Penicillium sensu lato that were considered prior to our adoption of the name Talaromyces

Phylogeny of Penicillium and the segregation of Trichocomaceae into three families

Species of Trichocomaceae occur commonly and are important to both industry and medicine. They are associated with food spoilage and mycotoxin production and can occur in the indoor environment, causing health hazards by the formation of β-glucans, mycotoxins and surface proteins. Some species are opportunistic pathogens, while others are exploited in biotechnology for the production of enzymes, antibiotics and other products. Penicillium belongs phylogenetically to Trichocomaceae and more than 250 species are currently accepted in this genus. In this study, we investigated the relationship of Penicillium to other genera of Trichocomaceae and studied in detail the phylogeny of the genus itself. In order to study these relationships, partial RPB1, RPB2 (RNA polymerase II genes), Tsr1 (putative ribosome biogenesis protein) and Cct8 (putative chaperonin complex component TCP-1) gene sequences were obtained. The Trichocomaceae are divided in three separate families: Aspergillaceae, Thermoascaceae and Trichocomaceae. The Aspergillaceae are characterised by the formation flask-shaped or cylindrical phialides, asci produced inside cleistothecia or surrounded by Hülle cells and mainly ascospores with a furrow or slit, while the Trichocomaceae are defined by the formation of lanceolate phialides, asci borne within a tuft or layer of loose hyphae and ascospores lacking a slit. Thermoascus and Paecilomyces, both members of Thermoascaceae, also form ascospores lacking a furrow or slit, but are differentiated from Trichocomaceae by the production of asci from croziers and their thermotolerant or thermophilic nature. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Penicillium is polyphyletic. The genus is re-defined and a monophyletic genus for both anamorphs and teleomorphs is created (Penicillium sensu stricto). The genera Thysanophora, Eupenicillium, Chromocleista, Hemicarpenteles and Torulomyces belong in Penicillium s. str. and new combinations for the species belonging to these genera are proposed. Analysis of Penicillium below genus rank revealed the presence of 25 clades. A new classification system including both anamorph and teleomorph species is proposed and these 25 clades are treated here as sections. An overview of species belonging to each section is presented

Acute Pain and a Motivational Pathway in Adult Rats: Influence of Early Life Pain Experience

The importance of neonatal experience upon behaviour in later life is increasingly recognised. The overlap between pain and reward pathways led us to hypothesise that neonatal pain experience influences reward-related pathways and behaviours in adulthood