The Carbon2Chem_® Laboratory in Oberhausen - A Workplace for Lab-Scale Setups within the Cross-Industrial Project

Within the Carbon2Chem® network, basic research is mandatory for a successful implementation and realization of sustainable technologies for CO2 emission reduction. For this purpose, the exchange of knowledge between the project partners in the individual subareas is as essential as obtaining precise data on the fundamental parameters on a laboratory scale in order to transfer them later to large-scale plants. Therefore, the Carbon2Chem® laboratory offers a platform to gain detailed insights into the individual sub-processes and to then apply these findings at the technical center in Duisburg

Improving parsing of spontaneous speech with the help of prosodic boundaries

Parsing can be improved in automatic speech understanding if prosodic boundary marking is taken into account, because syntactic boundaries are often marked by prosodic means. Because large databases are needed for the training of statistical models for prosodic boundaries, we developed a labeling scheme for syntactic-prosodic boundaries within the German VERBMOBIL project (automatic speech-to-speech translation). We compare the results of classifiers (multi-layer perceptrons and language models) trained on these syntactic-prosodic boundary labels with classifiers trained on perceptual-prosodic and purely syntactic labels. Recognition rates of up to 96% were achieved. The turns that we need to parse consist of 20 words on the average and frequently contain sequences of partial sentence equivalents due to restarts, ellipsis, etc. For this material, the boundary scores computed by our classifiers can successfully be integrated into the syntactic parsing of word graphs; currently, they improve the parse time by 92% and reduce the number of parse trees by 96%. This is achieved by introducing a special Prosodic Syntactic Clause Boundary symbol (PSCB) into our grammar and guiding the search for the best word chain with the prosodic boundary scores

Molecular serum signature of treatment resistant depression

Rationale: A substantial number of patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) do not respond to multiple trials of anti-depressants, develop a chronic course of disease and become treatment resistant. Most of the studies investigating molecular changes in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) have only examined a limited number of molecules and genes. Consequently, biomarkers associated with TRD are still lacking. Objectives: This study aimed to use recently advanced high-throughput proteomic platforms to identify peripheral biomarkers of TRD defined by two staging models, the Thase and Rush staging model (TRM) and the Maudsley Staging Model (MSM). Methods: Serum collected from an inpatient cohort of 65 individuals suffering from MDD was analysed using two different mass spectrometric-based platforms, label-free liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MSE) and selective reaction monitoring (SRM), as well as a multiplex bead based assay. Results: In the LC-MSE analysis, proteins involved in the acute phase response and complement activation and coagulation were significantly different between the staging groups in both models. In the multiplex bead-based assay analysis TNF-α levels (log(odds) = −4.95, p = 0.045) were significantly different in the TRM comparison. Using SRM, significant changes of three apolipoproteins A–I (β = 0.029, p = 0.035), M (β = −0.017, p = 0.009) and F (β = −0.031, p = 0.024) were associated with the TRM but not the MSM. Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggest that proteins, which are involved in immune and complement activation, may represent potential biomarkers that could be used by clinicians to identify high-risk patients. Nevertheless, given that the molecular changes between the staging groups were subtle, the results need to be interpreted cautiously

Mapping Tumor Spheroid Mechanics in Dependence of 3D Microenvironment Stiffness and Degradability by Brillouin Microscopy

Altered biophysical properties of cancer cells and of their microenvironment contribute to cancer progression. While the relationship between microenvironmental stiffness and cancer cell mechanical properties and responses has been previously studied using two-dimensional (2D) systems, much less is known about it in a physiologically more relevant 3D context and in particular for multicellular systems. To investigate the influence of microenvironment stiffness on tumor spheroid mechanics, we first generated MCF-7 tumor spheroids within matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-degradable 3D polyethylene glycol (PEG)-heparin hydrogels, where spheroids showed reduced growth in stiffer hydrogels. We then quantitatively mapped the mechanical properties of tumor spheroids in situ using Brillouin microscopy. Maps acquired for tumor spheroids grown within stiff hydrogels showed elevated Brillouin frequency shifts (hence increased longitudinal elastic moduli) with increasing hydrogel stiffness. Maps furthermore revealed spatial variations of the mechanical properties across the spheroids’ cross-sections. When hydrogel degradability was blocked, comparable Brillouin frequency shifts of the MCF-7 spheroids were found in both compliant and stiff hydrogels, along with similar levels of growth-induced compressive stress. Under low compressive stress, single cells or free multicellular aggregates showed consistently lower Brillouin frequency shifts compared to spheroids growing within hydrogels. Thus, the spheroids’ mechanical properties were modulated by matrix stiffness and degradability as well as multicellularity, and also to the associated level of compressive stress felt by tumor spheroids. Spheroids generated from a panel of invasive breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer cell lines within degradable stiff hydrogels, showed higher Brillouin frequency shifts and less cell invasion compared to those in compliant hydrogels. Taken together, our findings contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between cancer cells and microenvironment mechanics and degradability, which is relevant to better understand cancer progression

Promoter effect on the reduction behavior of wuestite-based catalysts for ammonia synthesis

Ammonia synthesis remains one of the most important catalytic processes since it enables efficient hydrogen storage and provides the basis for the production of fertilizers. Herein, complementary bulk and local analytical techniques were combined to investigate the effect of selected promoters (Al, K, Ca) on the reduction of wuestite into α-iron and their catalytic performance for ammonia synthesis. The use of promoters appears to have a positive effect on the wuestite-derived catalyst in ammonia synthesis. The promoters seemingly act as a binder for wuestite grains and impede the reduction and disproportionation events of wuestite precursors resulting in an increased catalytic performance. This effect is associated with an increase of surface area and mesoporosity. The study delivers new insights into the interplay of structure and promoters in wuestite-based catalysts

Cancer patients’ experiences of using an Interactive Health Communication Application (IHCA)

Interactive Health Communication Applications (IHCAs) are increasingly used in health care. Studies document that IHCAs provide patients with knowledge and social support, enhance self- efficacy and can improve behavioural and clinical outcomes. However, research exploring patients’ experiences of using IHCAs has been scarce. The aim of this study was to explore cancer patients’ perspectives and experiences related to the use of an IHCA called WebChoice in their homes. Qualitative interviews were conducted with infrequent, medium and frequent IHCA users—six women and four men with breast and prostate cancer. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed inspired by interactionistic perspectives. We found that some patients’ perceived WebChoice as a “friend,” others as a “stranger.” Access to WebChoice stimulated particularly high frequency users to position themselves as “information seeking agents,” assuming an active patient role. However, to position oneself as an “active patient” was ambiguous and emotional. Feelings of “calmness”, “normalization of symptoms”, feelings of “being part of a community”, feeling “upset” and “vulnerable”, as well as “feeling supported” were identified. Interaction with WebChoice implied for some users an increased focus on illness. Our findings indicate that the interaction between patients and an IHCA such as WebChoice occurs in a variety of ways, some of which are ambivalent or conflicting. Particularly for frequent and medium frequency users, it offers support, but may at the same time reinforce an element of uncertainty in their life. Such insights should be taken into consideration in the future development of IHCAs in healthcare in general and in particular for implementation into patients’ private sphere

The photospheric abundances of active binaries III. Abundance peculiarities at high activity level

We report the determination from high-resolution spectra of the atmospheric parameters and abundances of 13 chemical species (among which lithium) in 8 single-lined active binaries. These data are combined with our previous results for 6 other RS CVn systems to examine a possible relationship between the photospheric abundance patterns and the stellar activity level. The stars analyzed are generally found to exhibit peculiar abundance ratios compared to inactive, galactic disk stars of similar metallicities. We argue that this behaviour is unlikely an artefact of errors in the determination of the atmospheric parameters or non-standard mixing processes along the red giant branch, but diagnoses instead the combined action of various physical processes related to activity. The most promising candidates are cool spot groups covering a very substantial fraction of the stellar photosphere or NLTE effects arising from nonthermal excitation. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that more general shortcomings in our understanding of K-type stars (e.g. inadequacies in the atmospheric models) also play a significant role. Lastly, we call attention to the unreliability of the (V-R) and (V-I) colour indices as temperature indicators in chromospherically active stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 17 pages, 7 figures (6 in colour

How biological invasions affect animal behaviour: A global, cross-taxonomic analysis

In the Anthropocene, species are faced with drastic challenges due to rapid, human-induced changes, such as habitat destruction, pollution and biological invasions. In the case of invasions, native species may change their behaviour to minimize the impacts they sustain from invasive species, and invaders may also adapt to the conditions in their new environment in order to survive and establish self-sustaining populations. We aimed at giving an overview of which changes in behaviour are studied in invasions, and what is known about the types of behaviour that change, the underlying mechanisms and the speed of behavioural changes. Based on a review of the literature, we identified 191 studies and 360 records (some studies reported multiple records) documenting behavioural changes caused by biological invasions in native (236 records from 148 species) or invasive (124 records from 50 species) animal species. This global dataset, which we make openly available, is not restricted to particular taxonomic groups. We found a mild taxonomic bias in the literature towards mammals, birds and insects. In line with the enemy release hypothesis, native species changed their anti-predator behaviour more frequently than invasive species. Rates of behavioural change were evenly distributed across taxa, but not across the types of behaviour. Our findings may help to better understand the role of behaviour in biological invasions as well as temporal changes in both population densities and traits of invasive species, and of native species affected by them

The Inflammasome Drives GSDMD-Independent Secondary Pyroptosis and IL-1 Release in the Absence of Caspase-1 Protease Activity.

Inflammasomes activate the protease caspase-1, which cleaves interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 to generate the mature cytokines and controls their secretion and a form of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis. By generating mice expressing enzymatically inactive caspase-1 <sup>C284A</sup> , we provide genetic evidence that caspase-1 protease activity is required for canonical IL-1 secretion, pyroptosis, and inflammasome-mediated immunity. In caspase-1-deficient cells, caspase-8 can be activated at the inflammasome. Using mice either lacking the pyroptosis effector gasdermin D (GSDMD) or expressing caspase-1 <sup>C284A</sup> , we found that GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis prevented caspase-8 activation at the inflammasome. In the absence of GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis, the inflammasome engaged a delayed, alternative form of lytic cell death that was accompanied by the release of large amounts of mature IL-1 and contributed to host protection. Features of this cell death modality distinguished it from apoptosis, suggesting it may represent a distinct form of pro-inflammatory regulated necrosis