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20 - Miocene to Pliocene Stratigraphy and Paleoecology of Galili, Ethiopia
- from Part III - Eastern and Central Africa
- Edited by Sally C. Reynolds, Bournemouth University, René Bobe, University of Oxford
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- African Paleoecology and Human Evolution
- Published online:
- 19 May 2022
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- 09 June 2022, pp 242-255
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Summary
The first paleontological surveys of the Mullu basin in the Somali Region (Figure 20.1A,B) were conducted by Yohannes Haile-Selassie and colleagues in 1997. They collected several isolated hominin teeth, preliminarily attributed to Australopithecus anamensis, and a few other large mammal remains in the Galili area in the southern Afar depression of Ethiopia (Haile-Selassie and Asfaw, 2000). Subsequently, between 2000 and 2009, the International Paleoanthropological Research Team consisting of Ethiopian, Austrian, American, Italian, and German anthropologists, paleontologists, and geologists recovered and catalogued more than 2000 vertebrate fossils from Galili sites (Figure 20.1C) during annual field seasons. Besides a number of fish, reptile, bird, and small mammal remains, a great variety of large mammal species, including primates, carnivores, proboscideans, perissodactyls, and artiodactyls have been found (Kullmer et al.
2367: Defining critical features of the immune microenvironment in melanoma using multiplex immunohistochemistry and spatial analysis
- Robyn Gartrell, Douglas Marks, Thomas Hart, Yan Lu, Ed Stack, Camden Esancy, Basil Horst, Yvonne Saenger, Camille Gerard, Dan Tong Jia, Paul Armenta, Daisuke Izaki, Kristen Beck
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 1 / Issue S1 / September 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 May 2018, pp. 62-63
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OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Precise biomarkers are urgently needed to characterize the tumor immune microenvironment in primary melanoma tumors both for prognostication and to predict the benefit of immuno-therapeutic intervention. The goal of this work is to define spatial relationships between CD8+ T cells, CD68+ macrophages and Sox10+ melanoma cells in order to define features correlating with prolonged survival METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Five micrometer slides from either the primary biopsy or subsequent wide local excision procedure were stained using Opal multiplex IHC for DAPI, CD3 (LN10, Leica), CD8 (4B11, Leica), CD68 (KP1, Biogenex), SOX10 (BC34, Biocare), HLA-DR (LN-3, Abcam), and Ki67 (MIB1, Abcam). Cell phenotypes within representative fields preselected by a trained dermato-pathologist and were visualized using the Mantra quantitative pathology workstation (PerkinElmer), and analysis of spatial distribution of CD3+ CD8+ cells analyzed using inForm® image analysis software (PerkinElmer), and Spotfire software (TIBCO). In order to test whether mIHC can better characterize the tumor immune microenvironment, we screened databases at the Herbert Irving Cancer Center (HICC) at Columbia University for stage II/III melanoma patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2012, with available FFPE of primary melanoma tissue and documented clinical follow-up. We identified a preliminary population of 57 patients to begin our analysis. Clinical follow-up was available on 35 patients of whom 21 patients were alive with no evidence of recurrence or died with no evidence of recurrence and 14 had died of melanoma. Twenty-four patients had more than 24 months of survival information available but no detailed clinical information to determine cause of death. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: First, we evaluated whether density of immune cells in tumor and stroma predicted prognosis in 35 patients with disease specific survival information. We find that high number of CD3+CD8+ cells in tumor correlates with Disease Specific Survival (DSS) (p=0.0323*) and CD3+CD8+ cells in stroma may also correlate with DSS (p=0.0671). This is consistent with what is known in the literature regarding tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). We also found that CD68+ cells in stroma predict poor prognosis (0.0259*). This is consist with the proposed deleterious role for macrophages in tumor progression. Next, using nearest neighbor analysis we examined the effect of HLA-DR and Ki67 expression on spatial distribution of CD3+CD8+ T cells. We find that CD8+ T cells are closer to myeloid (CD68+) cells expressing HLA-DR. This is consistent with the potential of HLA-DR expressing cells to present antigens to T cells, and suggests that T cells may preferentially interact with HLA-DR expressing myeloid cells. Conversely, we find that Ki67 expression on tumor (SOX10+) cells correlates with increased distance from CD3+CD8+ T cells relative to SOX10+Ki67-tumor cells. This finding is consistent with the observation that more advanced tumors with higher mitotic rates have decreased T cell infiltrates, and suggests that dividing melanoma cells are less likely to interact with T cells. In addition, we performed analysis to determine whether spatial relationships defined above impact prognosis. Clinical oncology follow-up was available on 35 of the 57 patients evaluated above. We compared proximity of CD3+CD8+ cells to both myeloid (CD68+) and tumor (SOX10+) cells in patients who recurred and those with no evidence of recurrence. We found that CD3+CD8+ cells in patients who had recurrence were closer to CD68+ HLA-DR− cells than in patients who had no recurrence (t-test, p=0.0377), this correlated with DSS (p=0.003). Conversely, distance from CD3+CD8+ to CD68+ HLA-DR+ in relationship to recurrence was not significant with a trend towards CD3+CD8+ T cells being closer in nonrecurrent patients (t-test, p=0.1362). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Consistent with the literature, we find that densities of CD8+ T cells correlates with favorable outcomes in early stage melanoma. We also find that density of CD68+ macrophages in stroma correlates with poor outcome. If proximity is a surrogate for interaction, these data indicate that dividing, Ki67+, melanoma cells interact less with CD8+ T cells than do Ki67+ melanoma cells. Further, HLA-DR expression on CD68+ infiltrating cells likely enhances their interaction with T cells. Interestingly, on further analysis, CD3+CD8+ cells were significantly closer to CD68+ HLA-DR− cells in patients who recurred, implying that interactions between these cell types may not be favorable. This analysis demonstrates that spatial analysis may be useful in predicting prognosis in early stage melanoma, and this is the first report of this type of analysis predicting outcomes in primary tumor specimens to our knowledge. Further staining and analysis of the complete patient cohort (n=120) is ongoing.
The medial forebrain bundle as a target for deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Volker A. Coenen, Thomas E. Schlaepfer, Peter Goll, Peter C. Reinacher, Ulrich Voderholzer, Ludger Tebartz van Elst, Horst Urbach, Tobias Freyer
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 22 / Issue 3 / June 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 June 2016, pp. 282-289
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising putative modality for the treatment of refractory psychiatric disorders such as major depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Several targets have been posited; however, a clear consensus on differential efficacy and possible modes of action remain unclear. DBS to the supero-lateral branch of the medial forebrain bundle (slMFB) has recently been introduced for major depression (MD). Due to our experience with slMFB stimulation for MD, and because OCD might be related to similar dysfunctions of the reward system, treatment with slMFB DBS seams meaningful. Here we describe our first 2 cases together with a hypothetical mode of action.
We describe diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fiber tractographically (FT)-assisted implantation of the bilateral DBS systems in 2 male patients. In a selected literature overview, we discuss the possible mode of action. Both patients were successfully implanted and stimulated. The follow-up time was 12 months. One patient showed a significant response (Yale–Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale [YBOCS] reduction by 35%); the other patient reached remission criteria 3 months after surgery (YBOCS<14) and showed mild OCD just above the remission criterion at 12 months follow-up.
While the hypermetabolism theory for OCD involves the cortico–striato–thalamo–cortical (CSTC) network, we think that there is clinical evidence that the reward system plays a crucial role. Our findings suggest an important role of this network in mechanisms of disease development and recovery. In this uncontrolled case series, continuous bilateral DBS to the slMFB led to clinically significant improvements of ratings of OCD severity. Ongoing research focuses on the role of the reward system in OCD, and its yet-underestimated role in this underlying neurobiology of the disease.
Correlation between Tapping and Inserting of Pegs in Parkinson's Disease
- Thomas Müller, Sandra Schäfer, Wilfried Kuhn, Horst Przuntek
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- Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Volume 27 / Issue 4 / November 2000
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 December 2014, pp. 311-315
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Background:
Various investigators have developed complex quantitative instrumental procedures for objective assessment of parkinsonian motor impairment, since drawbacks of rating scales are interrater variability, subjective impression, and insensitivity to subtle modifications. Objectives: To determine whether performance of inserting of pegs and tapping (i) correlates with each other (ii) differentiates between parkinsonian subjects and healthy controls and (iii) reflects severity of Parkinson's disease (PD). Subjects and
Methods:In 157 previously untreated idiopathic parkinsonian patients and healthy controls, we measured (i) the total time taken to insert 25 pegs from a rack into a series of appropriate holes in a Purdue pegboard-like apparatus and (ii) the number of taps on a contact board with a contact pencil for a period of 32 seconds for assessment of fine motor skills.
Results:Results of both tests correlated with each other, differed between parkinsonian subjects and controls and reflected scored severity of PD. Better correlation with intensity of PD was noted with the Purdue pegboard-like task.
Conclusion:Both tapping and inserting of pegs represent useful tools for objective evaluation of severity of PD. Peg insertion correlated better with disease severity. Both approaches may be useful in future clinical studies.
Tapping and Peg Insertion after Levodopa Intake in Treated and de novo Parkinsonian Patients
- Thomas Müller, Sabiene Benz, Horst Przuntek
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- Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Volume 29 / Issue 1 / February 2002
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 December 2014, pp. 73-77
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Background:
Investigators use instrumental tasks for objective assessment of parkinsonian motor disability and its drug response. To date, such studies on treated parkinsonian patients have not addressed acute and long-term effects of dopaminergic drugs.
Objectives:To determine the impact of long-term dopaminergic therapy within a standardized levodopa challenge test design in combination with two repeatedly performed instrumental tasks, peg insertion and tapping, in previously treated and untreated parkinsonian patients.
Results:Tapping significantly deteriorated in previously untreated, but not in treated parkinsonian patients after levodopa intake. In contrast, motor symptoms and peg insertion significantly improved in both groups of parkinsonian patients. Results of both tests differed between parkinsonian patients and matched controls.
Conclusion:Worsening of cognitively less demanding tapping may result from upregulated presynaptic inhibitory feedback regulation, sedative effects of levodopa or dopamine overflow in untreated parkinsonian patients, who are sensitive to these effects in contrast to treated parkinsonian patients. Tapping is a task with autonomic repetitive performance and programming of standardised movements with a low need for cognitive effort. This autonomic functioning of attentional control and selective processing is intact in Parkinson's disease. Peg insertion depends on more complex movements and thus hypothetically on dopamine-associated cognitive processes. Therefore, impairment of peg insertion responded to dopaminergic stimulation in both groups of parkinsonian patients. Future studies on the efficacy of antiparkinsonian drugs, using instrumental tasks for objective assessment, should consider long-term impact of antiparkinsonian drug therapy and associated cognitive efforts.
Immunological and histochemical analyses of cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood from patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders
- Horst-G. Maxeiner, Markus Thomas Rojewski, Hayrettin Tumani, Sibylle Herzog, Dietmar Fuchs, Anita Schmitt, Michael Schmitt, Karl Bechter
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- Acta Neuropsychiatrica / Volume 21 / Issue S2 / June 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 24 June 2014, pp. 51-57
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Epidemiological, clinical and post mortem studies indicate that inflammatory and immune reactions are involved in the pathomechanisms of affective and schizophrenic spectrum disorders. However, in psychiatric patients, only sporadic investigation on immunochemistry has been performed and information about immunofunction derived by investigation of immunocompetent cells in the CSF is not available to date.
Here we present an interdisciplinary work of neurologists, psychiatrists and hemato-immunologists focusing on the immunology of psychiatric and neurological disorders. In a first study including 63 patients with therapy resistant affective and schizophrenic spectrum disorders we applied conventional, validated neurological CSF investigation such as analysis of albumin, IgG, IgA, IgM, oligoclonal IgG and specific antibodies, cell count and interpreted the data by Reibergrams.
In a second study, we applied the highly sensitive and specific multicolour flowcytometry of paired samples of CSF and peripheral blood cells to characterize the immunostatus of psychiatric and neurological patients. We demonstrate that flowcytometry technology constitutes an appropriate method to investigate subsets of lymphocytes even with low CSF cell numbers, and therefore as a promising diagnostic tool for routine purposes in the differential diagnosis of psychiatric diseases. Furthermore, knowledge of the frequencies of T cell subsets such as the T regulatory cell type might open new avenues to models of psychiatric and neurological diseases as well as diagnostic and monitoring implications.
Measurements of the budgets of the subgrid-scale stress and temperature flux in a convective atmospheric surface layer
- Khuong X. Nguyen, Thomas W. Horst, Steven P. Oncley, Chenning Tong
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- Journal of Fluid Mechanics / Volume 729 / 25 August 2013
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 24 July 2013, pp. 388-422
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The dynamics of the subgrid-scale (SGS) stress and scalar flux in the convective atmospheric surface layer are studied through the budgets of the SGS turbulence kinetic energy (TKE), the SGS stress and the SGS temperature flux using field measurements from the Advection Horizontal Array Turbulence Study (AHATS). The array technique, which employs sensor arrays to perform filter operations to obtain the SGS velocity and temperature, is extended to include pressure sensors to measure the fluctuating pressure, enabling separation of the resolvable- and subgrid-scale pressure, and therefore for the first time allowing for measurement of the pressure covariance terms and the full SGS budgets. The non-dimensional forms of the SGS budget terms are obtained as functions of the stability parameter $z/ L$ and the ratio of the wavelength of the spectral peak of the vertical velocity to the filter width, ${\Lambda }_{w} / {\Delta }_{f} $. The results show that the SGS TKE budget is a balance among the production, transport and dissipation. The SGS shear stress budget and the SGS temperature flux budgets are dominated by the production and pressure destruction, with the latter causing return to isotropy. The budgets of the SGS normal stress components are more complex. Most notably the pressure–strain-rate correlation includes two competing processes, return to isotropy and generation of anisotropy, the latter due to ground blockage of the large convective eddies. For neutral surface layers, return to isotropy dominates. For unstable surface layers return to isotropy dominates for small filter widths, whereas for large filter widths the ground blockage effect dominates, resulting in strong anisotropy. The results in the present study, particularly for the pressure–strain-rate correlation, have strong implications for modelling the SGS stress and flux using their transport equations in the convective atmospheric boundary layer.
2.1 - Pre-industrial Charcoal Production in Southern Brandenburg and its Impact on the Environment
- Edited by Sjoerd J. Kluiving, Erika Guttmann-Bond
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- Landscape Archaeology between Art and Science
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 21 January 2021
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- 05 July 2012, pp 167-178
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Summary
ABSTRACT
Due to modern lignite mining in southern Brandenburg and northern Saxony (East Germany), entire landscapes are being destroyed. In the area of the lignite extraction, the BLDAM (Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Landesmuseum) concurrently carries out largescale archaeological surveys and excavations to study and document evidence of past land use by prehistoric and historic cultures. On the area of the Jänschwalder Heide (Lower Lusatia, southern Brandenburg) one of the largest archaeologically investigated charcoal production areas in Germany was discovered, demonstrating the great intensity of energy production in historical times. The charcoal was probably used in the nearby ironworks of Peitz, where bog iron ore was smelted since 1567. Meanwhile, remnants of more than 400 charcoal hearths are excavated. To charge those piles, large areas had to be cleared, which certainly had major consequences for the environment and the character of the landscape. At least for a while, the vegetation was completely absent on the deforested areas, which were used as farmland although the soils are very sandy and poor in nutrients. Wind-blown sediments covering the charcoal pile relicts prove that clearing and agricultural use has induced aeolian soil erosion and the remobilisation of Quaternary sands.
One of the main aims of the ongoing investigation is to build up a chronological framework of the former charcoal production. These findings have to be correlated with the major phases of the landscape dynamics, which are documented by the relicts of soil erosive landforms, human-induced aeolian sediments, and buried soils.
KEYWORDS
lignite mining, charcoal burning, Lower Lusatia, land-use history, anthropogenic impact
INTRODUCTION
Opencast lignite mining results in the total destruction of cultural landscapes and even small towns. Therefore, over the past years systematic archaeological research has been carried out in the opencast pits in Lower Lusatia (southern Brandenburg, Germany), prescribed by the regulations of the Brandenburgisches Denkmalschutzgesetz (BbgDschG). For the opencast pit Jänschwalde, it is expected that during the year 2010, an area of approximately 200 ha will be utilised (4 km length of the opencast pit and 500 m width of the excavated stripe). However, the large-scale impact of lignite extraction offers the opportunity for archaeologists to study landscape and settlement history as a whole instead of recording single findings and find spots.
Chapter 11 - Policy, Financing and Implementation
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- By Catherine Mitchell, Janet L. Sawin, Govind R. Pokharel, Daniel Kammen, Zhongying Wang, Solomone Fifita, Mark Jaccard, Ole Langniss, Hugo Lucas, Alain Nadai, Ramiro Trujillo Blanco, Eric Usher, Aviel Verbruggen, Rolf Wüstenhagen, Kaoru Yamaguchi, Douglas Arent, Greg Arrowsmith, Morgan Bazilian, Lori Bird, Thomas Boermans, Alex Bowen, Sylvia Breukers, Thomas Bruckner, Sebastian Busch, Elisabeth Clemens, Peter Connor, Felix Creutzig, Peter Droege, Karin Ericsson, Chris Greacen, Renata Grisoli, Erik Haites, Kirsty Hamilton, Jochen Harnisch, Cameron Hepburn, Suzanne Hunt, Matthias Kalkuhl, Heleen de Koninck, Patrick Lamers, Birger Madsen, Gregory Nemet, Lars J. Nilsson, Supachai Panitchpakdi, David Popp, Anis Radzi, Gustav Resch, Sven Schimschar, Kristin Seyboth, Sergio Trindade, Bernhard Truffer, Sarah Truitt, Dan van der Horst, Saskia Vermeylen, Charles Wilson, Ryan Wiser, David de Jager, Antonina Ivanova Boncheva
- Edited by Ottmar Edenhofer, Ramón Pichs-Madruga, Youba Sokona, Kristin Seyboth, Susanne Kadner, Timm Zwickel, Patrick Eickemeier, Gerrit Hansen, Steffen Schlömer, Christoph von Stechow, Patrick Matschoss
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- Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation
- Published online:
- 05 December 2011
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- 21 November 2011, pp 865-950
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Summary
Executive Summary
Renewable energy can provide a host of benefits to society. In addition to the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, governments have enacted renewable energy (RE) policies to meet a number of objectives including the creation of local environmental and health benefits; facilitation of energy access, particularly for rural areas; advancement of energy security goals by diversifying the portfolio of energy technologies and resources; and improving social and economic development through potential employment opportunities. Energy access and social and economic development have been the primary drivers in developing countries whereas ensuring a secure energy supply and environmental concerns have been most important in developed countries.
An increasing number and variety of RE policies–motivated by a variety of factors–have driven substantial growth of RE technologies in recent years. Government policies have played a crucial role in accelerating the deployment of RE technologies. At the same time, not all RE policies have proven effective and efficient in rapidly or substantially increasing RE deployment. The focus of policies is broadening from a concentration almost entirely on RE electricity to include RE heating and cooling and transportation.
RE policies have promoted an increase in RE capacity installations by helping to overcome various barriers. Barriers specific to RE policymaking (e.g., a lack of information and awareness), to implementation (e.g., a lack of an educated and trained workforce to match developing RE technologies) and to financing (e.g., market failures) may further impede deployment of RE.
Ready-meal consumption: associations with weight status and cooking skills
- Klazine van der Horst, Thomas A Brunner, Michael Siegrist
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- Journal:
- Public Health Nutrition / Volume 14 / Issue 2 / February 2011
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 06 October 2010, pp. 239-245
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Objective
The ready-meal market has grown considerably in recent years. At the same time, a degradation of traditional cooking skills has been observed. Ready meals are often rich in energy, fat and sugar and lack vegetables; however, studies investigating associations between ready-meal consumption, overweight and cooking skills are lacking. The present study examines whether demographic factors, overweight, beliefs about the nutritional value and taste of ready meals and cooking skills are associated with ready-meal consumption.
DesignCross-sectional survey.
SettingReady-meal consumption, weight status, cooking skills, beliefs about the taste and nutritional value of ready meals and demographic variables were assessed with self-administered questionnaires. Data were analysed with one-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis.
SubjectsA total of 1017 adults from the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
ResultsMen reported being more positive about ready meals and having fewer cooking skills compared with women. Overweight adults (BMI > 25 kg/m2) were more positive about nutrients and vitamins in ready meals compared with normal-weight adults. Ready-meal consumption was associated with cooking skills (β = −0·192), age (β =− 0·228), overweight (β = 0·129), nutritional value (β = −0·131), taste (β = −0·126), working status (β = 0·096) and gender (β = 0·084).
ConclusionsCooking skills were identified as a strong predictor of ready-meal consumption. The importance of cooking skills as a barrier to healthy eating should be explored, as it is plausible that cooking skills will further decrease in the future. Next, the study provided evidence for an association between ready-meal consumption and overweight. Further research should examine the importance of ready meals for the overweight epidemic.
A simple staining method for observation of germinated Striga seeds
- Shusheng Long, Venasius Lendzemo, Thomas W. Kuyper, Zhengsheng Kang, Horst Vierheilig, Siegrid Steinkellner
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- Seed Science Research / Volume 18 / Issue 2 / June 2008
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 June 2008, pp. 125-129
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In vitro techniques are essential for Striga research and the development of appropriate control methods. In the laboratory, pre-screening of non-host or false-host plants of Striga for trap cropping or the screening of hosts for resistance involves visual evaluation of Striga seed germination that may be stimulated by plant parts or root exudates. This technique is presently laborious because the small Striga radicles are colourless. A number of solutions were evaluated to visualize the radicles of Striga hermonthica to obtain a reliable, simple and fast staining method yielding good contrast for visual observation, with readily available, inexpensive and minimally toxic dyes and staining solutions. The inks Brilliant Blue (Pelikan), Blue (Geha) and Brilliant Green (Pelikan), in either vinegar or lactic acid, produced radicles with excellent contrast, whereas radicles stained with Brilliant Red (Pelikan), Black (Sheaffer), Brilliant Black (Pelikan) gave good contrast. Striga radicles stained with Aniline Blue in vinegar or lactic acid, or Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250 in lactic acid, showed excellent contrast. Radicles stained with Ink Black (Sheaffer), Cotton Brown, or Rubin S in either vinegar or lactic acid also showed good contrast. With water as the diluent, only Lactophenol Blue showed excellent contrast. For health, safety and environmental concerns, availability and staining time, Blue ink in household vinegar (5% acetic acid) appears to be an excellent dye for Striga radicles and could be used in routine Striga germination assays.
Patterns of subjective memory impairment in the elderly: association with memory performance
- FRANK JESSEN, BIRGITT WIESE, GABRIELA CVETANOVSKA, ANGELA FUCHS, HANNA KADUSZKIEWICZ, HEIKE KÖLSCH, TOBIAS LUCK, EDELGARD MÖSCH, MICHAEL PENTZEK, STEFFI G. RIEDEL-HELLER, JOCHEN WERLE, SIEGFRIED WEYERER, THOMAS ZIMMERMANN, WOLFGANG MAIER, HORST BICKEL
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 37 / Issue 12 / December 2007
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 July 2007, pp. 1753-1762
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Background
The association of subjective memory impairment (SMI) with cognitive performance in healthy elderly subjects is poor because of confounds such as depression. However, SMI is also a predictor for future dementia. Thus, there is a need to identify subtypes of SMI that are particularly related to inferior memory performance and may represent at-risk stages for cognitive decline.
MethodA total of 2389 unimpaired subjects were recruited from the German Study on Ageing, Cognition and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe), as part of the German Competence Network on Dementia. Clusters of SMI according to patterns of response to SMI questions were identified. Gender, age, depressive symptoms, apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype, delayed recall and verbal fluency were included in a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis to identify discriminators between the clusters.
ResultsWe identified three clusters. Cluster 1 contained subjects without memory complaints. Cluster 2 contained subjects with general memory complaints, but mainly without memory complaints on individual tasks of daily living. Cluster 3 contained subjects with general memory complaints and complaints on individual tasks of daily living. Depressive symptoms, as the first-level discriminator, distinguished between clusters 1 and 2 versus cluster 3. In subjects with only a few depressive symptoms, delayed recall discriminated between cluster 1 versus clusters 2 and 3.
ConclusionsIn SMI subjects with only a minor number of depressive symptoms, memory complaints are associated with delayed recall. As delayed recall is a sensitive predictor for future cognitive decline, SMI may be the first manifestation of future dementia in elderly subjects without depression.
CoPt3 nanoparticles adsorbed on SiO2: a GISAXS and SEM study
- Jan I. Flege, Thomas Schmidt, Gabriela Alexe, Torben Clausen, Sigrid Bernstorff, Igor Randjelovic, Vesna Aleksandrovic, Andreas Kornowski, Horst Weller, Jens Falta
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- Journal:
- MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive / Volume 840 / 2004
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 February 2011, Q6.10
- Print publication:
- 2004
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Ultra-thin CoPt3 nanoparticle films have been prepared on SiO2 surfaces using a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition technique. The structural properties of the overlayers have been investigated by grazing-incidence small-angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the first time. Self-assembly of the nanoparticles is found and with GISAXS an average particle-particle distance of (8.23 ± 0.06) nm is determined, in good agreement with the SEM results. A particle correlation length of (22.3 ± 1.2) nm was derived which is shown to be independent of the surface coverage. The latter quantity may be controlled by choice of a suitable retraction speed during the LB step.
The Economy of Dürrnberg-Bei-Hallein: An Iron Age Salt-mining Centre in the Austrian Alps
- Thomas Stöllner, Horst Aspöck, Nicole Boenke, Claus Dobiat, Hans-Jürgen Gawlick, Willy Groenman-van Waateringe, Walter Irlinger, Katharina von Kurzynski, Richard Lein, Wolfgang Lobisser, Klaus Löcker, Vincent Megaw, Ruth Megaw, Graham Morgan, Erich Pucher, Trivun Sormaz
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- Journal:
- The Antiquaries Journal / Volume 83 / September 2003
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 April 2011, pp. 123-194
- Print publication:
- September 2003
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For the first time in English, we present a summary of the international programme of excavation work carried out between 1990 and 2001 in and around the Iron Age salt-mining complex of the Diirrnberg region, south of Salzburg. First we describe the results of excavation in the prehistoric adits, and of work to locate and survey associated settlements. This is followed by a series of specialist reports embracing floral and faunal remains, palaeodiet and parasitology, leather and woodworking and other crafts. The evidence suggests that a complex inter-relationship existed between the Diirrnberg and other communities in the Alpine foreland. It is assumed that the Diirrnberg was under the control of an elite – perhaps a local dynasty whose wealth is reflected in the graves.
Structure of subfilter-scale fluxes in the atmospheric surface layer with application to large-eddy simulation modelling
- PETER P. SULLIVAN, THOMAS W. HORST, DONALD H. LENSCHOW, CHIN-HOH MOENG, JEFFREY C. WEIL
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- Journal:
- Journal of Fluid Mechanics / Volume 482 / 10 May 2003
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 13 May 2003, pp. 101-139
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In the atmospheric surface layer, the wavelength of the peak in the vertical velocity spectrum $\Lambda_w$ decreases with increasing stable stratification and proximity to the surface and this dependence constrains our ability to perform high-Reynolds-number large-eddy simulation (LES). Near the ground, the LES filter cutoff $\Delta_f$ is comparable to or larger than $\Lambda_w$ and as a result the subfilter-scale (SFS) fluxes in LES are always significant and their contribution to the total flux grows with increasing stability.
We use the three-dimensional turbulence data collected during the Horizontal Array Turbulence Study (HATS) field program to construct SFS fluxes and variances that are modelled in LES codes. Detailed analysis of the measured SFS motions shows that the ratio $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f$ contains the essential information about stratification, vertical distance above the surface, and filter size, and this ratio allows us to connect measurements of SFS variables with LES applications. We find that the SFS fluxes and variances collapse reasonably well for atmospheric conditions and filter widths in the range $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f = [0.2,15]$. The SFS variances are anisotropic and the SFS energy is non-inertial, exhibiting a strong dependence on the stratification, large-scale shear, and proximity to the surface. SFS flux decomposition into modified-Leonard, cross-, and Reynolds terms illustrates that these terms are of comparable magnitude and scale content at large $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f$. As $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f \rightarrow 0$, the SFS flux approaches the-ensemble-average flux and is dominated by the Reynolds term. Backscatter of energy from the SFS motions to the resolved fields is small in the bulk of the surface layer, less than 20% for $\Lambda_w/\Delta_{f} < 2$.
A priori testing of typical SFS models using the HATS dataset shows that the turbulent kinetic energy and Smagorinsky model coefficients $C_k$ and $C_s$ depend on $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f$ and are smaller than theoretical estimates based on the assumption of a sharp spectral cutoff filter in the inertial range. $C_k$ and $C_s$ approach zero for small $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f$. Much higher correlations between measured and modelled SFS fluxes are obtained with a mixed SFS model that explicitly includes the modified-Leonard term. The eddy-viscosity model coefficients still retain a significant dependence on $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f$ with the mixed model. A dissipation model of the form $\epsilon = C_\epsilon E_s^{3/2}/\Delta_f$ is not universal across the range of $\Lambda_w/\Delta_f$ typical of atmospheric LES applications. The inclusion of a shear-stability-dependent length scale (Canuto & Cheng 1997) captures a large fraction of the variation in the eddy-viscosity and dissipation model coefficients.
Orientation-Dependence of Low Temperature Epitaxial Silicon Growth
- Thomas A. Wagner, Lars Oberbeck, Melanie Nerding, Horst P. Strunk, Ralf B. Bergmann
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- Journal:
- MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive / Volume 664 / 2001
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 17 March 2011, A22.3
- Print publication:
- 2001
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- Article
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Electronic properties of thin epitaxial silicon films deposited at temperatures below 650°C by means of ion-assisted deposition strongly depend on substrate orientation as well as on deposition temperature: In (100)-oriented epitaxial films we find a low density of structural defects, and the minority carrier diffusion length is only limited by the presence of point defects or point defect complexes. These investigations also show an improvement of the electronic quality with increasing deposition temperature. Epitaxy on non-(100)-oriented substrates results in a significantly higher density of structural defects. The electronic properties of films deposited on stable flat surfaces, such as (111)- and (113)-oriented substrates are inferior as compared to (100)-oriented films, but are still superior to those of films deposited on faceted surfaces, as shown by light beam induced current and electron back-scattering diffraction measurements of polycrystalline thin films.
Discussion
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- By Grant B. Taplin, International Monetary Fund, Thomas Horst, Harvard University, Norman C. Miller, University of Pittsburgh, Lawrence B. Krause, The Brookings Institution
- Edited by Peter B. Kenen
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- Book:
- International Trade and Finance
- Published online:
- 05 November 2011
- Print publication:
- 30 January 1976, pp 363-376
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Summary
PRICES, INCOMES, AND FOREIGN TRADE: A COMMENT
My comments will focus on Magee's paper and, in particular, on areas that Magee points out explicitly or in passing as needing further research. In general, his suggestions can be summarized as a need for more complete models. I agree with him. However, I should like to elaborate on a few of his points as well as raise some others, all within the context of world trade modeling. In addition to their usefulness in forecasting, we are interested in world trade models in order to investigate questions such as the effect on trade balances – and some day, on the balance of payments – of domestic and international price changes, income developments, and exchange-rate adjustments.
One area that could profit from further theoretical and empirical research is the import behavior of less developed countries, mentioned by Magee in footnote 1. In world trade models, these countries are often treated as one or a small number of groups, frequently by continent. In some empirical work, foreign exchange availability is used as a proxy for economic activity for imports by less developed countries. In other instances, foreign exchange availability has a different meaning. Rhomberg-Boissonneault (1964) treated all less developed countries as one group (that group also included Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) and set the value of their imports as equal to current foreign-exchange earnings, specifically exports plus net capital inflows less changes in reserves.