"Judenaufnahmen fürs Archiv" : das dokumentarische Filmmaterial "Asien in Mitteleuropa", 1942

„Himmler betreibt augenblicklich die große Umsiedlung der Juden aus den deutschen Städten nach den östlichen Ghettos. Ich habe veranlasst, dass hier im großen Umfange Filmaufnahmen gemacht werden. Das Material werden wir für die spätere Erziehung unseres Volkes dringend brauchen.“ Das Interesse der Nationalsozialisten, Bildmaterial ihrer Opfer über die Zeit der Vertreibung und Vernichtung hinaus zu bewahren, ist ein Aspekt, der von der geschichtswissenschaftlichen Forschung bislang nur am Rande betrachtet worden ist. Die Existenz zahlreicher Bildquellen sowie Hinweise und Spuren bezüglich ihrer Produktion, Sammlung und Archivierung sprechen aber deutlich für verschiedene Projekte, in denen versucht wurde, von nationalsozialistischer Seite Material für eine spätere Verwendung zu schaffen. Anhand des „Jüdischen Zentralmuseum der SS in Prag“ wurde die Idee und Vorgehensweise, selektiv bestimmte Aspekte des jüdischen Lebens von Seiten der Nationalsozialisten zu archivieren, schon in einigen Untersuchungen sehr gut nachgezeichnet und bietet so Anstoß für weitere Forschungen in diese Richtung. In diesem Zusammenhang lassen sich auch einige Filmaufnahmen dokumentarischer Art einordnen, die eine ähnliche Tendenz aufweisen. Hauptsächlich handelt es sich dabei um Filmaufnahmen aus den Jahren 1941 und 1942 über die Umsiedlung der Juden in die polnischen Ghettos sowie um Aufnahmen aus den Ghettos, unter anderem im Warschauer Ghetto, in Dombrowa und Bendzin, sowie vermutlich in Lublin. Allen Aufnahmen ist bei näherer Betrachtung gemein, dass nicht willkürliche, sondern bewusst ausgewählte Motive aufgegriffen wurden, die stereotype Vor- und Darstellungen des europäischen Judentums transportieren. Vor dem Hintergrund großangelegter Bestrebungen des Propagandaministeriums, Dokumente für die Zukunft zu bewahren, erscheint es daher naheliegend, dass von offizieller Seite systematisch ein spezifisch verfasstes Repertoire an Bildmaterial über das europäische Judentum geschaffen werden sollte, auf das für eine zukünftige Propaganda hätte zurückgegriffen werden können. In der 1937 gegründeten „Kommission zur Bewahrung von Zeitdokumenten“ konkretisierte sich erstmals die Idee, bewusst Material zu produzieren. In seiner Rede anlässlich der Gründung der Kommission sah Propagandaminister Joseph Goebbels ihre Aufgaben darin: „…dass der menschliche Geist ohne weiteres in der Lage ist, Mittel und Wege zu finden, um diese Vorgänge nicht nur für den Tagesbedarf zu reproduzieren, sondern sie auch für eine weite Zukunft zu erhalten.“ Diese vorab geschaffene Deutung äußert sich in dem Filmmaterial durch die Visualisierung einer bestimmten konstruierten Repräsentationsform des europäischen Judentums. Dafür sollte ein bestimmtes „Bild des Judentums“ inszeniert, hier speziell im Medium Film gespeichert und somit für die Zukunft archiviert werden. Im Folgenden soll am Beispiel des im Warschauer Ghetto gedrehten Filmmaterials „Asien in Mitteleuropa“ (Archivtitel) diese Inszenierung nachgezeichnet werden. Nach einer kurzen Einordnung der vorhandenen Hinweise zum Produktionshintergrund soll anhand filmanalytischer Bezugspunkte, wie inhaltliche Leitlinie, Kameratechnik und Schnittfolge, aufgezeigt werden, auf welches „Bild des Juden“ in der Zukunft zurückgegriffen werden sollte und wie dieses Bild im Medium Film umgesetzt wurde.The interest of National Socialists to preserve film material of their victims beyond expulsion and elimination is an aspect which is only being looked at from a site perspective of historical science, even though a number of films and photos as well as indications and traces of their production, accumulation and archiving are existing. In the following article the form and intention of concerted made graphical material will be traced on the basis of the documentary film material “Asien in Mitteleuropa” which was recorded in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942

relationships and interdependencies

Behavioral and personality characteristics are factors that may jointly regulate body weight. This study explored the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and self-reported behavioral and personality measures. These measures included eating behavior (based on the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire; Stunkard and Messick, 1985), sensitivity to reward and punishment (based on the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) scales) (Carver and White, 1994) and self-reported impulsivity (based on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11; Patton et al., 1995). We found an inverted U-shaped relationship between restrained eating and BMI. This relationship was moderated by the level of disinhibited eating. Independent of eating behavior, BIS and BAS responsiveness were associated with BMI in a gender-specific manner with negative relationships for men and positive relationships for women. Together, eating behavior and BIS/BAS responsiveness accounted for a substantial proportion of BMI variance (men: ∼25%, women: ∼32%). A direct relationship between self-reported impulsivity and BMI was not observed. In summary, our results demonstrate a system of linear and non-linear relationships between the investigated factors and BMI. Moreover, body weight status was not only associated with eating behavior (cognitive restraint and disinhibition), but also with personality factors not inherently related to an eating context (BIS/BAS). Importantly, these relationships differ between men and women

Expression and processing of Plasmodium berghei SERA3 during liver stages

Cysteine proteases mediate liberation of Plasmodium berghei merozoites from infected hepatocytes. In an attempt to identify the responsible parasite proteases, we screened the genome of P. berghei for cysteine protease-encoding genes. RT-PCR analyses revealed that transcription of four out of five P. berghei serine repeat antigen (PbSERA) genes was strongly upregulated in late liver stages briefly before the parasitophorous vacuole membrane ruptured to release merozoites into the host cell cytoplasm, suggesting a role of PbSERA proteases in these processes. In order to characterize PbSERA3 processing, we raised an antiserum against a non-conserved region of the protein and generated a transgenic P. berghei strain expressing a TAP-tagged PbSERA3 under the control of the endogenous promoter. Immunofluorescence assays revealed that PbSERA3 leaks into the host cell cytoplasm during merozoite development, where it might contribute to host cell death or activate host cell proteases that execute cell death. Importantly, processed PbSERA3 has been detected by Western blot analysis in cell extracts of schizont-infected cells and merozoite-infected detached hepatic cells

Nutrient scoring for the DEGS1-FFQ – from food intake to nutrient intake

Background: While necessary for studying dietary decision-making or public health, estimates of nutrient supply based on self-reported food intake are barely accessible or fully lacking and remain a challenge in human research. In particular, detailed information on dietary fiber is limited. In this study we introduce an automated openly available approach to assess self-reported nutrient intake for research purposes for a popular, validated German food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Methods: To this end, we i) developed and shared a code for assessing nutrients (carbohydrates, fat, protein, sugar, fiber...) for 53 items of the quantitative, validated German DEGS1-FFQ questionnaire implementing expert-guided nutritional values of diverse sources with several raters. In a sample of individuals (nGUT-BRAIN = 61 (21 female) overweight, omnivorous), we ii) cross-validated nutrient intake of the last 7 days and the last 24 hours and iii) computed test-retest reliability across two timepoints. Further, iv) we report newly computed nutrient intake for two independent cross-sectional cohorts with continuous weight status and different dietary habits (nMensa= 134 (79 female, 1 diverse), nGREADT = 76 male). Exploratively, we correlated computed nutrient intake with v) anthropometric and vi) blood-based biomarkers. Results: In overweight adults (n= 61 (21 female), mean age 28.2±6.5 years, BMI 27.4±1.6 kg/m2) nutrient intakes were mostly normally distributed and within or surpassing recommended reference nutrient ranges for both last 7 days and last 24 hours. Reliability between last 7 days and 24 hours per visit was moderate (Pearson’s rall≥ 0.34, pall 0.40, pall 0.08, pall < 0.001). Associations of dietary components to anthropometric markers showed distinct sex differences, with overall higher intake by males compared to females and opposite associations of fiber intake and BMI in males compared to females. Links between nutrient intake relative to calorie intake and anthropometrics as well as serum markers remain inconclusive. Conclusion: We provide an openly available tool to systematically assess nutrient intake, including fiber, based on self-report by a common German FFQ. The computed nutrient scores resembled overall plausible and reliable measures of nutrient intake given the known limitations of FFQs regarding over- or underreporting. Our open code nutrient scoring can help to examine dietary intake in experimental studies, including dietary fiber and its subclasses, and can be readily adapted to other FFQs. Further validation of computed nutrients with biomarkers and nutrient-specific metabolites in serum, urine or feces will help to interpret self-reported dietary intake.Peer reviewe

Slave to habit?: obesity is associated with decreased behavioural sensitivity to reward devaluation.

The motivational value of food is lower during satiety compared to fasting. Dynamic changes in motivational value promote food seeking or meal cessation. In obesity this mechanism might be compromised since obese subjects ingest energy beyond homeostatic needs. Thus, lower adaptation of eating behaviour with respect to changes in motivational value might cause food overconsumption in obesity. To test this hypothesis, we implemented a selective satiation procedure to investigate the relationship between obesity and the size of the behavioural devaluation effect in humans. Lean to obese men (mean age 25.9, range 19–30 years; mean BMI 29.1, range 19.2–45.1 kg/m2) were trained on a free operant paradigm and learned to associate cues with the possibility to win different food rewards by pressing a button. After the initial training phase, one of the rewards was devalued by consumption. Response rates for and wanting of the different rewards were measured pre and post devaluation. Behavioural sensitivity to reward devaluation, measured as the magnitude of difference between pre and post responses, was regressed against BMI. Results indicate that (1) higher BMI compared to lower BMI in men led to an attenuated behavioural adjustment to reward devaluation, and (2) the decrease in motivational value was associated with the decrease in response rate between pre and post. Change in explicitly reported motivational value, however, was not affected by BMI. Thus, we conclude that high BMI in men is associated with lower behavioural adaptation with respect to changes in motivational value of food, possibly resulting in automatic overeating patterns that are hard to control in daily life

Intermittent compared to continuous real-time fMRI neurofeedback boosts control over amygdala activation

Real-time fMRI neurofeedback is a feasible tool to learn the volitional regulation of brain activity. So far, most studies provide continuous feedback information that is presented upon every volume acquisition. Although this maximizes the temporal resolution of feedback information, it may be accompanied by some disadvantages. Participants can be distracted from the regulation task due to (1) the intrinsic delay of the hemodynamic response and associated feedback and (2) limited cognitive resources available to simultaneously evaluate feedback information and stay engaged with the task. Here, we systematically investigate differences between groups presented with different variants of feedback (continuous vs. intermittent) and a control group receiving no feedback on their ability to regulate amygdala activity using positive memories and feelings. In contrast to the feedback groups, no learning effect was observed in the group without any feedback presentation. The group receiving intermittent feedback exhibited better amygdala regulation performance when compared with the group receiving continuous feedback. Behavioural measurements show that these effects were reflected in differences in task engagement. Overall, we not only demonstrate that the presentation of feedback is a prerequisite to learn volitional control of amygdala activity but also that intermittent feedback is superior to continuous feedback presentation

LERU Roadmap for Research Data

Achard P, Ayris P, Fdida S, et al. LERU Roadmap for Research Data. LERU Advice Paper. Vol 14. Leuven, Belgium: League of European Research Universities; 2013

Potential involvement of the bone marrow in experimental Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease

IntroductionGraves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by auto-antibodies against the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR). Overstimulation of the TSHR induces hyperthyroidism and thyroid eye disease (TED) as the most common extra thyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease. In TED, the TSHR cross talks with the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in orbital fibroblasts leading to inflammation, deposition of hyaluronan and adipogenesis. The bone marrow may play an important role in autoimmune diseases, but its role in Graves’ disease and TED is unknown. Here, we investigated whether induction of experimental Graves’ disease and accompanying TED involves bone marrow activation and whether interference with IGF-1R signaling prevents this activation.ResultsImmunization of mice with TSHR resulted in an increase the numbers of CD4-positive T-lymphocytes (p ≤0.0001), which was normalized by linsitinib (p = 0.0029), an increase of CD19-positive B-lymphocytes (p= 0.0018), which was unaffected by linsitinib and a decrease of GR1-positive cells (p= 0.0038), which was prevented by linsitinib (p= 0.0027). In addition, we observed an increase of Sca-1 positive hematopietic stem cells (p= 0.0007) and of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) (p ≤0.0001) after immunization with TSHR which was prevented by linsitinib (Sca-1: p= 0.0008, SDF-1: p ≤0.0001). TSHR-immunization also resulted in upregulation of CCL-5, IL-6 and osteopontin (all p ≤0.0001) and a concomitant decrease of the immune-inhibitory cytokines IL-10 (p= 0.0064) and PGE2 (p ≤0.0001) in the bone marrow (all p≤ 0.0001). Treatment with the IGF-1R antagonist linsitinib blocked these events (all p ≤0.0001). We further demonstrate a down-regulation of arginase-1 expression (p= 0.0005) in the bone marrow in TSHR immunized mice, with a concomitant increase of local arginine (p ≤0.0001). Linsitinib induces an upregulation of arginase-1 resulting in low arginase levels in the bone marrow. Reconstitution of arginine in bone marrow cells in vitro prevented immune-inhibition by linsitinib.ConclusionCollectively, these data indicate that the bone marrow is activated in experimental Graves’ disease and TED, which is prevented by linsitinib. Linsitinib-mediated immune-inhibition is mediated, at least in part, by arginase-1 up-regulation, consumption of arginine and thereby immune inhibition

Gut microbiome in BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice undergoing experimental thyroid autoimmunity associate with differences in immunological responses and thyroid function

Experimental models of hyperthyroid Graves’ disease (GD) and Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) are efficiently developed by genetic immunisation by electroporation with human thyrotropin hormone receptor (hTSHR) A-subunit plasmid in female BALB/c (H-2d) mice. We investigated susceptibility in C57BL/6 J (H-2b) animals to allow studies on disease mechanisms in transgenic and immune response gene knock-out mice. Higher numbers of female C57BL/6 J were positive for pathogenic thyroid stimulating antibodies, but induced hyperthyroidism remained at a low frequency compared to BALB/c animals. Assessment of hTSHR specific T cells showed reduced proliferation in C57BL/6 J animals accompanied with anti-inflammatory IL-10, with less pro-inflammatory IFN-γ compared to BALB/c. Whilst the orbital tissue from immune BALB/c mice showed inflammation and adipogenesis, in contrast C57BL/6 J animals showed normal pathology. We characterised the gut microbiota using 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to explore its possible pathogenic role in the model. Despite being housed under identical conditions, we observed significantly different organisation of the microbiota (beta-diversity) in the two strains. Taxonomic differences were also noted, with C57BL/6 J showing an enrichment of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) belonging to the Paludibacter and Allobaculum, followed by Limibacter, Anaerophaga and Ureaplasma genera. A higher number of genera significantly correlating with clinical features was observed in C57BL/6 J compared to BALB/c; for example, Limibacter OTUs correlated negatively with thyroid-stimulating antibodies in C57BL/6 J mice. Thus, our data suggest gut microbiota may play a pivotal immunomodulatory role that differentiates the thyroid function and orbital pathology outcome in these two inbred strains undergoing experimental GO

Linsitinib, an IGF-1R inhibitor, attenuates disease development and progression in a model of thyroid eye disease

IntroductionGraves’ disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder caused by autoantibodies against the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) leading to overstimulation of the thyroid gland. Thyroid eye disease (TED) is the most common extra thyroidal manifestation of GD. Therapeutic options to treat TED are very limited and novel treatments need to be developed. In the present study we investigated the effect of linsitinib, a dual small-molecule kinase inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and the Insulin receptor (IR) on the disease outcome of GD and TED.MethodsLinsitinib was administered orally for four weeks with therapy initiating in either the early (“active”) or the late (“chronic”) phases of the disease. In the thyroid and the orbit, autoimmune hyperthyroidism and orbitopathy were analyzed serologically (total anti-TSHR binding antibodies, stimulating anti TSHR antibodies, total T4 levels), immunohistochemically (H&amp;E-, CD3-, TNFa- and Sirius red staining) and with immunofluorescence (F4/80 staining). An MRI was performed to quantify in vivo tissue remodeling inside the orbit.ResultsLinsitinib prevented autoimmune hyperthyroidism in the early state of the disease, by reducing morphological changes indicative for hyperthyroidism and blocking T-cell infiltration, visualized by CD3 staining. In the late state of the disease linsitinib had its main effect in the orbit. Linsitinib reduced immune infiltration of T-cells (CD3 staining) and macrophages (F4/80 and TNFa staining) in the orbita in experimental GD suggesting an additional, direct effect of linsitinib on the autoimmune response. In addition, treatment with linsitinib normalized the amount of brown adipose tissue in both the early and late group. An in vivo MRI of the late group was performed and revealed a marked decrease of inflammation, visualized by 19F MR imaging, significant reduction of existing muscle edema and formation of brown adipose tissue.ConclusionHere, we demonstrate that linsitinib effectively prevents development and progression of thyroid eye disease in an experimental murine model for Graves’ disease. Linsitinib improved the total disease outcome, indicating the clinical significance of the findings and providing a path to therapeutic intervention of Graves’ Disease. Our data support the use of linsitinib as a novel treatment for thyroid eye disease