Wertekonflikte in der Nutzung sozialer Medien zur Vernetzung ungebundener HelferInnen in Krisensituationen – Ein Value-Sensitive Design Ansatz

Bereits während des Hochwassers in Mitteleuropa 2013 und der Flüchtlingskrise in Europa ab 2015 wurde deutlich, dass freiwillige HelferInnen die Bewältigung von Krisensituationen unterstützen. Durch die vermehrte Koordination der Helfenden, auch unter Einsatz sozialer Medien, kommt es zunehmend zu Konflikten zwischen den teilweise kollidierenden Erwartungshaltungen periodisierter Werte der eingebundenen Akteure. Die Entwicklung von Kollaborationswerkzeugen mit Hilfe der Methode des Value-Sensitive Designs kann bereits im Vorfeld solche Konflikte aufzeigen und gezielt verhindern oder moderieren. Dazu wurde in einer Fallstudie anhand des Hochwassers 2013 induktiv abgeleitet, welche Werte und Erwartungen die unterschiedlichen Stakeholder haben, und welche Konflikte sich daraus im Hinblick auf die Anforderungen ergeben. Diese Studie zeigt insbesondere die Konfliktpotenziale für freiwillige HelferInnen in sozialen Medien in Bezug auf den Schutz der Privatsphäre und vor Diskriminierung auf und leistet damit einen Beitrag für die Konflikt-Optimierung und Akzeptanzsteigerung des Einsatzes sozialer Medien im Katastrophenschutz

Potentiale von IKT beim Ausfall kritischer Infrastrukturen: Erwartungen, Informationsgewinnung und Mediennutzung der Zivilbevölkerung in Deutschland

In der Sicherheits- und Krisenforschung stehen bislang primär Fragen der Vulnerabilität, Stärkung von Resilienz und Erhaltung bzw. Wiederherstellung kritischer Infrastrukturen (KRITIS) im Mittelpunkt; zunehmend wird auch die Bedeutung von Sozialen Medien und Krisen-Apps erkannt. Inwiefern ist die Zivilbevölkerung in Deutschland aber auf das Eintreten einer Krise tatsächlich vorbereitet? Welche Informations- und Kommunikationstechniken (IKT) werden im Alltag und bei einem potentiellen Infrastrukturausfall genutzt? Unser Beitrag stellt die Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Umfrage mit 1024 Teilnehmern in Deutschland vor, die belegen, dass Gefahrenbewusstsein, Vorbereitung, effektives Krisenmanagement und Verbreitung von Krisen-Apps in Deutschland noch relativ gering sind, während traditionelle Kommunikations- und Informationskanäle sowie informelle Informationsnetzwerke bevorzugt werden. Die Ergebnisse stellen weiterhin die beträchtlichen Unterstützungspotentiale von IKT in derartigen Krisensituationen heraus, die zur Erhöhung des Risikobewusstseins, der Erleichterung des Informationstransfers und der Verbesserung der Kommunikation zwischen Zivilbevölkerung, KRITIS-Betreibern und Behörden und Organisationen mit Sicherheitsaufgaben (BOS) entscheidend beitragen können

Potentiale von IKT beim Ausfall kritischer Infrastrukturen: Erwartungen, Informationsgewinnung und Mediennutzung der Zivilbevölkerung in Deutschland

In der Sicherheits- und Krisenforschung stehen bislang primär Fragen der Vulnerabilität, Stärkung von Resilienz und Erhaltung bzw. Wiederherstellung kritischer Infrastrukturen (KRITIS) im Mittelpunkt; zunehmend wird auch die Bedeutung von Sozialen Medien und Krisen-Apps erkannt. Inwiefern ist die Zivilbevölkerung in Deutschland aber auf das Eintreten einer Krise tatsächlich vorbereitet? Welche Informations- und Kommunikationstechniken (IKT) werden im Alltag und bei einem potentiellen Infrastrukturausfall genutzt? Unser Beitrag stellt die Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Umfrage mit 1024 Teilnehmern in Deutschland vor, die belegen, dass Gefahrenbewusstsein, Vorbereitung, effektives Krisenmanagement und Verbreitung von Krisen-Apps in Deutschland noch relativ gering sind, während traditionelle Kommunikations- und Informationskanäle sowie informelle Informationsnetzwerke bevorzugt werden. Die Ergebnisse stellen weiterhin die beträchtlichen Unterstützungspotentiale von IKT in derartigen Krisensituationen heraus, die zur Erhöhung des Risikobewusstseins, der Erleichterung des Informationstransfers und der Verbesserung der Kommunikation zwischen Zivilbevölkerung, KRITIS-Betreibern und Behörden und Organisationen mit Sicherheitsaufgaben (BOS) entscheidend beitragen können

Reaction Rates Uncertainties and the Production of F19 in AGB Stars

We present nucleosynthesis calculations and the resulting 19F stellar yields for a large set of models with different masses and metallicity. We find that the production of fluorine depends on the temperature of the convective pulses, the amount of primary 12C mixed into the envelope by third dredge up and the extent of the partial mixing zone. Then we perform a detailed analysis of the reaction rates involved in the production of 19F and the effects of their uncertainties. We find that the major uncertainties are associated with the 14C(alpha,gamma)18O and the 19F(alpha,p)22Ne reaction rates. For these two reactions we present new estimates of the rates and their uncertainties. The importance of the partial mixing zone is reduced when using our estimate for the 14C(alpha,gamma)18O rate. Taking into account both the uncertainties related to the partial mixing zone and those related to nuclear reactions, the highest values of 19F enhancements observed in AGB stars are not matched by the models. This is a problem that will have to be revised by providing a better understanding of the formation and nucleosynthesis in the partial mixing zone, also in relation to reducing the uncertainties of the 14C(alpha,gamma)18O reaction rate. At the same time the possible effect of Cool Bottom Processing at the base of the convective envelope should be included in the computation of AGB nucleosynthesis. This process could in principle help matching the highest 19F abundances observed by decreasing the C/O ratio at the surface of the star, while leaving the 19F abundance unchanged.Comment: 40 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication on the Astrophysical Journa

Identification of a humanized mouse model for functional testing of immune-mediated biomaterial foreign body response.

Biomedical devices comprise a major component of modern medicine, however immune-mediated fibrosis and rejection can limit their function over time. Here, we describe a humanized mouse model that recapitulates fibrosis following biomaterial implantation. Cellular and cytokine responses to multiple biomaterials were evaluated across different implant sites. Human innate immune macrophages were verified as essential to biomaterial rejection in this model and were capable of cross-talk with mouse fibroblasts for collagen matrix deposition. Cytokine and cytokine receptor array analysis confirmed core signaling in the fibrotic cascade. Foreign body giant cell formation, often unobserved in mice, was also prominent. Last, high-resolution microscopy coupled with multiplexed antibody capture digital profiling analysis supplied spatial resolution of rejection responses. This model enables the study of human immune cell-mediated fibrosis and interactions with implanted biomaterials and devices

Efeitos do armazenamento sobre o potencial germinativo de sementes de Jurubeba / Storage effects on the germination potential of Jurubeba seeds

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a germinação de sementes de três variedades de jurubeba (Solanum paniculatum L.) recém-colhidas, após o período de armazenamento e após o período de armazenamento sob efeito do ácido giberélico (GA3). O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos (três variedades de jurubeba) com cinco repetições cada. A variável estudada foi porcentagem de germinação de sementes recém-colhidas, sementes armazenadas pelo período de cinquenta dias e sementes armazenadas pelo período de cinquenta dias tratadas com GA3 na concentração de 100 ppm, pelo período de 12h. Sementes foram semeadas em substratos comercial Holanda Garden® sendo acondicionadas em casa de vegetação pelo período de 40 dias, sendo a primeira contagem aos 19 dias e a última aos 34 dias. As sementes recém-colhidas apresentaram bons índices de germinação, enquanto que as sementes armazenadas não tratadas apresentaram germinação nula em todos os tratamentos, no entanto, quando estas sementes armazenadas foram tratadas com GA3apresentaram germinação, o que demonstra que este regulador vegetal estimulou a hidrólise dos tecidos de reserva das sementes. Conclui-se que o armazenamento das sementes Jurubeba influenciou significativamente em seu vigor, o que, consequentemente, proporcionou a redução em seu potencial germinativo, sendo que foi constatado que o GA3 pode ser empregado para atenuar os efeitos do armazenamento. 

Direct evidence for cancer-cell-autonomous extracellular protein catabolism in pancreatic tumors

Mammalian tissues rely on a variety of nutrients to support their physiological functions. It is known that altered metabolism is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer, but which nutrients support the inappropriate growth of intact malignant tumors is incompletely understood. Amino acids are essential nutrients for many cancer cells that can be obtained through the scavenging and catabolism of extracellular protein via macropinocytosis. In particular, macropinocytosis can be a nutrient source for pancreatic cancer cells, but it is not fully understood how the tumor environment influences metabolic phenotypes and whether macropinocytosis supports the maintenance of amino acid levels within pancreatic tumors. Here we utilize miniaturized plasma exchange to deliver labeled albumin to tissues in live mice, and we demonstrate that breakdown of albumin contributes to the supply of free amino acids in pancreatic tumors. We also deliver albumin directly into tumors using an implantable microdevice, which was adapted and modified from ref. 9. Following implantation, we directly observe protein catabolism and macropinocytosis in situ by pancreatic cancer cells, but not by adjacent, non-cancerous pancreatic tissue. In addition, we find that intratumoral inhibition of macropinocytosis decreases amino acid levels. Taken together, these data suggest that pancreatic cancer cells consume extracellular protein, including albumin, and that this consumption serves as an important source of amino acids for pancreatic cancer cells in vivo.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant T32GM007287)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant F30CA183474)National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (Award T32GM007753)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant P30CA1405141)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01CA168653

Probing conformational states of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase by fragment screening

The first crystal structure is reported of a glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase in the apo state without flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor bound. Additional structures with small molecules complexed in the catalytic active site were obtained by fragment-based screening

The MOBI-Kids Study Protocol: Challenges in Assessing Childhood and Adolescent Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from Wireless Telecommunication Technologies and Possible Association with Brain Tumor Risk

The rapid increase in mobile phone use in young people has generated concern about possible health effects of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF). MOBI-Kids, a multinational case-control study, investigates the potential effects of childhood and adolescent exposure to EMF from mobile communications technologies on brain tumor risk in 14 countries. The study, which aims to include approximately 1,000 brain tumor cases aged 10-24 years and two individually matched controls for each case, follows a common protocol and builds upon the methodological experience of the INTERPHONE study. The design and conduct of a study on EMF exposure and brain tumor risk in young people in a large number of countries is complex and poses methodological challenges. This manuscript discusses the design of MOBI-Kids and describes the challenges and approaches chosen to address them, including: (1) the choice of controls operated for suspected appendicitis, to reduce potential selection bias related to low response rates among population controls; (2) investigating a young study population spanning a relatively wide age range; (3) conducting a large, multinational epidemiological study, while adhering to increasingly stricter ethics requirements; (4) investigating a rare and potentially fatal disease; and (5) assessing exposure to EMF from communication technologies. Our experience in thus far developing and implementing the study protocol indicates that MOBI-Kids is feasible and will generate results that will contribute to the understanding of potential brain tumor risks associated with use of mobile phones and other wireless communications technologies among young people