A Geological Report on Several Localities of Madison County, Montana

The area selected for study comprises four different districts situated in Madison County, each of them showing typical geologic features: the South Boulder District, the Montana type section of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks , the Mayflower District with the famous Mayflower mine, the Renova Hot Springs District as an excellent area for studying structural features, and the Silver Star Mining District with its contact metamorphic ore deposits

Untersuchungen über das Vorkommen verschiedener Meligethes-Arten auf Raps.

Es wurde nachgewiesen, daß M. aeneus F. und M. viridescens F. nicht mehr als die einzigen "Glanzkäfer", die den Raps besiedeln, gelten können. Für das deutsche Anbaugebiet ohne Bayern wurden 7 verschiedene Meligethes-Arten festgestellt. Dazu kommen für Bayern nach Bollow noch 3 Arten, so daß bisher für 10 Meligethes-Arten die Möglichkeit der Rapsbesiedelung sichergestellt ist. Bedeutung gewinnen allerdings nur: M. aeneus F., M. viridescens F. und M. coracinus Strm. In Bayern kommen dazu noch M. coeruleovirens Foerst. und M. lumbaris Strm. Die übrigen Arten sind vermutlich nur Zufallsgäste. - Der Anteil von M. aeneus sinkt während der Blütezeit des Rapses zugunsten von M. viridescens und M. coracinus ab, in Mecklenburg überwiegt zu dieser Zeit M. viridescens sogar bei weitem. Auf verhältnismäßig engem Raum konnten zum gleichen Zeitpunkt erhebliche Unterschiede in der prozentualen Zusammensetzung der Population festgestellt werden, die vielleicht auf Klima- und Boden-Unterschiede zurückzuführen sind. Über die Bedeutung der einzelnen Arten als Schädlinge des Rapses läßt sich zur Zeit noch nichts aussagen.Es wurde nachgewiesen, daß M. aeneus F. und M. viridescens F. nicht mehr als die einzigen "Glanzkäfer", die den Raps besiedeln, gelten können. Für das deutsche Anbaugebiet ohne Bayern wurden 7 verschiedene Meligethes-Arten festgestellt. Dazu kommen für Bayern nach Bollow noch 3 Arten, so daß bisher für 10 Meligethes-Arten die Möglichkeit der Rapsbesiedelung sichergestellt ist. Bedeutung gewinnen allerdings nur: M. aeneus F., M. viridescens F. und M. coracinus Strm. In Bayern kommen dazu noch M. coeruleovirens Foerst. und M. lumbaris Strm. Die übrigen Arten sind vermutlich nur Zufallsgäste. - Der Anteil von M. aeneus sinkt während der Blütezeit des Rapses zugunsten von M. viridescens und M. coracinus ab, in Mecklenburg überwiegt zu dieser Zeit M. viridescens sogar bei weitem. Auf verhältnismäßig engem Raum konnten zum gleichen Zeitpunkt erhebliche Unterschiede in der prozentualen Zusammensetzung der Population festgestellt werden, die vielleicht auf Klima- und Boden-Unterschiede zurückzuführen sind. Über die Bedeutung der einzelnen Arten als Schädlinge des Rapses läßt sich zur Zeit noch nichts aussagen

Suppression of spin-exchange relaxation in tilted magnetic fields within the geophysical range

We present a detailed experimental and theoretical study on the relaxation of spin coherence due to the spin-exchange mechanism arising in the electronic ground states of alkali-metal vapor atoms. As opposed to the well-explored formation of a stretched state in a longitudinal geometry (magnetic field parallel to the laser propagation direction) we employ adapted hyperfine-selective optical pumping in order to suppress spin-exchange relaxation. By comparing measurements of the intrinsic relaxation rate of the spin coherence in the ground state of cesium atoms with detailed density-matrix simulations we show that the relaxation due to spin-exchange collisions can be reduced substantially even in a tilted magnetic field of geomagnetic strength, the major application case of scalar magnetic surveying. This explains the observed striking improvement in sensitivity and further deepens the understanding of the light- narrowed Mx magnetometer, which was presented recently. Additionally, new avenues for investigating the dynamics in alkali-metal atoms governed by the spin-exchange interaction and interacting with arbitrary external fields open up

Down-regulation of the pro-apoptotic XIAP associated factor-1 (XAF1) during progression of clear-cell renal cancer

BACKGROUND: Decreased expression of the interferon-stimulated, putative tumour suppressor gene XAF1 has been shown to play a role during the onset, progression and treatment failure in various malignancies. However, little is yet known about its potential implication in the tumour biology of clear-cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC). METHODS: This study assessed the expression of XAF1 protein in tumour tissue obtained from 291 ccRCC patients and 68 normal renal tissue samples, utilizing immunohistochemistry on a tissue-micro-array. XAF1 expression was correlated to clinico-pathological tumour features and prognosis. RESULTS: Nuclear XAF1 expression was commonly detected in normal renal- (94.1%) and ccRCC (91.8%) samples, without significant differences of expression levels. Low XAF1 expression in ccRCC tissue, however, was associated with progression of tumour stage (p = 0.040) and grade (p < 0.001). Low XAF1 tumour levels were also prognostic of significantly shortened overall survival times in univariate analysis (p = 0.018), but did not provide independent prognostic information. CONCLUSION: These data suggest down-regulation of XAF1 expression to be implicated in ccRCC progression and implies that its re-induction may provide a therapeutic approach. Although the prognostic value of XAF1 in ccRCC appears to be limited, its predictive value remains to be determined, especially in patients with metastatic disease undergoing novel combination therapies of targeted agents with Interferon-alpha

an evaluation of data sources to determine the number of people living with HIV who are receiving antiretroviral therapy in Germany

Background This study aimed to determine the number of people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2006 and 2013 in Germany by using the available numbers of antiretroviral drug prescriptions and treatment data from the ClinSurv HIV cohort (CSH). Methods The CSH is a multi-centre, open, long-term observational cohort study with an average number of 10.400 patients in the study period 2006–2013. ART has been documented on average for 86% of those CSH patients and medication history is well documented in the CSH. The antiretroviral prescription data (APD) are reported by billing centres for pharmacies covering >99% of nationwide pharmacy sales of all individuals with statutory health insurance (SHI) in Germany (~85%). Exactly one thiacytidine-containing medication (TCM) with either emtricitabine or lamivudine is present in all antiretroviral fixed-dose combinations (FDCs). Thus, each daily dose of TCM documented in the APD is presumed to be representative of one person per day receiving ART. The proportion of non-TCM regimen days in the CSH was used to determine the corresponding number of individuals in the APD. Results The proportion of CSH patients receiving TCMs increased continuously over time (from 85% to 93%; 2006–2013). In contrast, treatment interruptions declined remarkably (from 11% to 2%; 2006–2013). The total number of HIV-infected people with ART experience in Germany increased from 31,500 (95% CI 31,000-32,000) individuals to 54,000 (95% CI 53,000-55,500) over the observation period (including 16.3% without SHI and persons who had interrupted ART). An average increase of approximately 2,900 persons receiving ART was observed annually in Germany. Conclusions A substantial increase in the number of people receiving ART was observed from 2006 to 2013 in Germany. Currently, the majority (93%) of antiretroviral regimens in the CSH included TCMs with ongoing use of FDCs. Based on these results, the future number of people receiving ART could be estimated by exclusively using TCM prescriptions, assuming that treatment guidelines will not change with respect to TCM use in ART regimens

Periostin is up-regulated in high grade and high stage prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Expression of periostin is an indicator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer but a detailed analysis of periostin expression in prostate cancer has not been conducted so far. METHODS: Here, we evaluated periostin expression in prostate cancer cells and peritumoural stroma immunohistochemically in two independent prostate cancer cohorts, including a training cohort (n = 93) and a test cohort (n = 325). Metastatic prostate cancers (n = 20), hormone refractory prostate cancers (n = 19) and benign prostatic tissues (n = 38) were also analyzed. RESULTS: In total, strong epithelial periostin expression was detectable in 142 of 418 (34.0%) of prostate carcinomas and in 11 of 38 benign prostate glands (28.9%). Increased periostin expression in carcinoma cells was significantly associated with high Gleason score (p < 0.01) and advanced tumour stage (p < 0.05) in the test cohort. Whereas periostin expression was weak or absent in the stroma around normal prostate glands, strong periostin expression in tumour stroma was found in most primary and metastatic prostate cancers. High stromal periostin expression was associated with higher Gleason scores (p < 0.001). There was a relationship between stromal periostin expression and shortened PSA relapse free survival times in the training cohort (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that periostin up-regulation is related to increased tumour aggressiveness in prostate cancer and might be a promising target for therapeutical interventions in primary and metastatic prostate cancer

Regional spread of HIV-1 M subtype B in middle-aged patients by random env-C2V4 region sequencing

A transmission cluster of HIV-1 M:B was identified in 11 patients with a median age of 52 (range 26–65) in North-East Germany by C2V4 region sequencing of the env gene of HIV-1, who—except of one—were not aware of any risky behaviour. The 10 male and 1 female patients deteriorated immunologically, according to their information made available, within 4 years after a putative HIV acquisition. Nucleic acid sequence analysis showed a R5 virus in all patients and in 7 of 11 a crown motif of the V3 loop, GPGSALFTT, which is found rarely. Analysis of formation of this cluster showed that there is still a huge discrepancy between awareness and behaviour regarding HIV transmission in middle-aged patients, and that a local outbreak can be detected by nucleic acid analysis of the hypervariable env region

Calculation of Direct Antiretroviral Treatment Costs and Potential Cost Savings by Using Generics in the German HIV ClinSurv Cohort

BACKGROUND/AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to determine the cost impacts of antiretroviral drugs by analysing a long-term follow-up of direct costs for combined antiretroviral therapy, cART, -regimens in the nationwide long-term observational multi-centre German HIV ClinSurv Cohort. The second aim was to develop potential cost saving strategies by modelling different treatment scenarios. Antiretroviral regimens (ART) from 10,190 HIV-infected patients from 11 participating ClinSurv study centres have been investigated since 1996. Biannual data cART-initiation, cART-changes, surrogate markers, clinical events and the Centre of Disease Control- (CDC)-stage of HIV disease are reported. Treatment duration was calculated on a daily basis via the documented dates for the beginning and end of each antiretroviral drug treatment. Prices were calculated for each individual regimen based on actual office sales prices of the branded pharmaceuticals distributed by the license holder including German taxes. During the 13-year follow-up period, 21,387,427 treatment days were covered. Cumulative direct costs for antiretroviral drugs of €812,877,356 were determined according to an average of €42.08 per day (€7.52 to € 217.70). Since cART is widely used in Germany, the costs for an entire regimen increased by 13.5%. Regimens are more expensive in the advanced stages of HIV disease. The potential for cost savings was calculated using non-nucleotide-reverse-transcriptase-inhibitor, NNRTI, more frequently instead of ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor, PI/r, in first line therapy. This calculation revealed cumulative savings of 10.9% to 19.8% of daily treatment costs (50% and 90% substitution of PI/r, respectively). Substituting certain branded drugs by generic drugs showed potential cost savings of between 1.6% and 31.8%. Analysis of the data of this nationwide study reflects disease-specific health services research and will give insights into the cost impacts of antiretroviral therapy, and might allow a more rational allocation of resources within the German health care system

Grundwasser - Altlasten aktuell

Neun Fachbeiträge dokumentieren die Ergebnisse der aktuellen Projekt- und Forschungsarbeit des Landesamtes im Bereich Grundwasser und Altlasten. Themen sind u. a. diffuse Schwermetallbelastungen in 10 Grundwasserkörpern, die nach Wasserrahmenrichtlinie im schlechten chemischen Zustand ausgewiesen wurden, die Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in von Punktquellen beeinflussten Grundwasserkörpern und die bisherigen Ergebnisse des internationalen Projektes SHARP. Weitere Beiträge befassen sich mit dem Bearbeitungsstand und dem Handlungsbedarf der im Sächsischen Altlastenkataster (SALKA) erfassten Flächen, dem Gefährdungspotenzial von Gärtnereien und den altlastenbezogenen Bewertungs- und Analyseempfehlungen für kurzkettige Alkylphenole