2972 research outputs found
Sort by
„Landmann“ und Ziegeleibesitzer in der Wesermarsch – Johann Wohlers (1795-1875) und seine Familie
Get PDFRekonstruktion einer bäuerlichen Familiengeschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts in Norddeutschland anhand eines Archivbestandes und anderer Überlieferunge
Potential Pathogenic Impact of Cow’s Milk Consumption and Bovine Milk-Derived Exosomal MicroRNAs in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Get PDFEpidemiological evidence supports an association between cow’s milk consumption and the risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma worldwide. This narrative review intends to elucidate the potential impact of milk-related agents, predominantly milk-derived exosomes (MDEs) and their microRNAs (miRs) in lymphomagenesis. Upregulation of PI3K-AKT-mTORC1 signaling is a common feature of DLBCL. Increased expression of B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) and suppression of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (BLIMP1)/PR domain-containing protein 1 (PRDM1) are crucial pathological deviations in DLBCL. Translational evidence indicates that during the breastfeeding period, human MDE miRs support B cell proliferation via epigenetic upregulation of BCL6 (via miR-148a-3p-mediated suppression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and miR-155-5p/miR-29b-5p-mediated suppression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) and suppression of BLIMP1 (via MDE let-7-5p/miR-125b-5p-targeting of PRDM1). After weaning with the physiological termination of MDE miR signaling, the infant’s BCL6 expression and B cell proliferation declines, whereas BLIMP1-mediated B cell maturation for adequate own antibody production rises. Because human and bovine MDE miRs share identical nucleotide sequences, the consumption of pasteurized cow’s milk in adults with the continued transfer of bioactive bovine MDE miRs may de-differentiate B cells back to the neonatal “proliferation-dominated” B cell phenotype maintaining an increased BLC6/BLIMP1 ratio. Persistent milk-induced epigenetic dysregulation of BCL6 and BLIMP1 expression may thus represent a novel driving mechanism in B cell lymphomagenesis. Bovine MDEs and their miR cargo have to be considered potential pathogens that should be removed from the human food chain
Maize Grain Germination Is Accompanied by Acidification of the Environment
Get PDFSeed germination is a complex process involving several stages, starting with the imbibition of water and ending with the emergence of the radicle. In the current study, we address the observation of an unexpected pH shift during the imbibition of maize grains. We used direct pH measurements of soak water, the pH indicator methyl red, and anatomical analysis to shed light on the acidification associated with maize (Zea mays L.) germination, a largely overlooked phenomenon. Our work shows that acidification during imbibition of maize grains is a two-step process: (i) early, rapid acidification (pH values up to 4.4), in which protons stored in the (dead) pericarp/testa are mobilised and rapidly diffuse into the surrounding medium, and (ii) late, delayed acidification (pH values just below 6), starting hours after contact of grains with water, representing an active transport process caused by living cells of the seed. We discuss the physiological mechanisms and ecological relevance of environmental acidification during maize grain germination
Teledermatological Follow-Up Consultations in Individual Prevention of Occupational Dermatoses: A Monocentric Feasibility Study on Quality and Satisfaction by Patients and Physicians
No full textTeledermatology has become very popular, and not only due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Patients with occupational skin diseases (OSDs) could also benefit from teledermatology services as part of their follow-up care, but the opportunities and challenges for patients and dermatologists, especially regarding quality and satisfaction, need exploration. In this single-center feasibility study, 215 patients taking part in a tertiary prevention program for OSD were invited to participate. After obtaining consent, a follow-up video consultation appointment with the center’s dermatologists was made. Quality and satisfaction with the consultations were evaluated by fully standardized online questionnaires filled in by the patients and dermatologists. A total of 68 teledermatological follow-up consultations were conducted by 10 dermatologists on 42 patients. Half of the dermatologists (50.0%) and 87.6% of the patients were satisfied with the video consultations. However, the lack of physical examination seems to be a problem, especially from the physicians’ point of view (75.8%). A total of 66.1% of the dermatologists and 87.5% of the patients saw video consultations as useful supplements to face-to-face consultations. The results of our feasibility study indicate general satisfaction of patients and physicians with teledermatological sessions in occupational dermatology, especially as a useful supplement to face-to-face consultation
The reality of virtual reality
Get PDFVirtual reality (VR) has become a popular tool for investigating human behavior and brain functions. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether VR constitutes an actual form of reality or is more like an advanced simulation. Determining the nature of VR has been mostly achieved by self-reported presence measurements, defined as the feeling of being submerged in the experience. However, subjective measurements might be prone to bias and, most importantly, do not allow for a comparison with real-life experiences. Here, we show that real-life and VR height exposures using 3D-360° videos are mostly indistinguishable on a psychophysiological level (EEG and HRV), while both differ from a conventional 2D laboratory setting. Using a fire truck, three groups of participants experienced a real-life (N = 25), a virtual (N = 24), or a 2D laboratory (N = 25) height exposure. Behavioral and psychophysiological results suggest that identical exogenous and endogenous cognitive as well as emotional mechanisms are deployed to process the real-life and virtual experience. Specifically, alpha- and theta-band oscillations in line with heart rate variability, indexing vigilance, and anxiety were barely indistinguishable between those two conditions, while they differed significantly from the laboratory setup. Sensory processing, as reflected by beta-band oscillations, exhibits a different pattern for all conditions, indicating further room for improving VR on a haptic level. In conclusion, the study shows that contemporary photorealistic VR setups are technologically capable of mimicking reality, thus paving the way for the investigation of real-world cognitive and emotional processes under controlled laboratory conditions. For a video summary, see https://youtu.be/fPIrIajpfiA
Faroe Islands rephotography image registration dataset
Get PDFOver 200 georeferenced registered rephotographic compilations of the Faroe Islands are provided in this dataset. The position of each compilation is georeferenced and thus locatable on a map. Each compilation consists of a historical and a corresponding contemporary image showing the same scene. With steady object features, these two images of the same geolocation are aligned pixel accurately. In the summer of 2022, all contemporary images were photographed by A. Schaffland, while historical images were retrieved from the National Museum of Denmark collections. Images show Faroese landscape and cultural heritage sites, focusing on relevant areas when the historical images were taken, e.g., Kirkjubøur, Tórshavn, and Saksun. Historic images date from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. The historical images were taken by scientists, surveyors, archaeologists, and painters. All historical images are in the public domain, have no known rights, or are shared under a CC license. The contemporary images by A. Schaffland are released under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. The dataset is organized as a GIS project. Historic images, not already georeferenced, were referenced with street view services. All historical images were added to the GIS database, containing camera position, viewing direction, etc. Each compilation can be displayed as an arrow from the camera position along the view direction on a map. Contemporary images were registered to historical images using a specialized tool. None or only a suboptimal rephotograph could be taken for some historical images. These historical images are still added to the database together with all other original images, providing additional data for improvements in rephotography methods in the upcoming years. The resulting image pairs can be used in image registration, landscape change, urban development, and cultural heritage research. Further, the database can be used for public engagement in heritage and as a benchmark for further rephotography and time-series projects
An updated classification of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
No full textBased on recent achievements in phylogenetic studies of the Brassicaceae, a novel infrafamilial classification is proposed that includes major improvements at the subfamilial and supertribal levels. Herein, the family is subdivided into two subfamilies, Aethionemoideae (subfam. nov.) and Brassicoideae. The Brassicoideae, with 57 of the 58 tribes of Brassicaceae, are further partitioned into five supertribes, including the previously recognized Brassicodae and the newly established Arabodae, Camelinodae, Heliophilodae, and Hesperodae. Additional tribus-level contributions include descriptions of the newly recognized Arabidopsideae, Asperuginoideae, Hemilophieae, Schrenkielleae, and resurrection of the Chamireae and Subularieae. Further detailed comments on 17 tribes in need of clarifications are provided
Social media advertising for clinical studies: Ethical and data protection implications of online targeting
No full textSocial media advertising has revolutionised the advertising world by providing data-driven targeting methods. One area where social media advertising is just gaining a foothold is in the recruitment of clinical study participants. Here, as everywhere, social media advertising promises more yield per money spent because the technology can better reach highly specialised groups. In this article, we point out severe societal risks posed by advertising for clinical studies on social media. We show that social media advertising for clinical studies in many cases violates the privacy of individual users (R1), creates collective privacy risks by helping platform companies train predictive models of medical information that can be applied to all their users (R2), exploits the weaknesses of existing guidelines in (biomedical) research ethics (R3) and is detrimental to the quality of (biomedical) research (R4). We argue that the well-intentioned promises, which are often associated with the use of social media advertising for clinical studies, are untenable from a balanced point of view. Consequently, we call for updates of research ethics guidelines and better regulation of Big Data and inferential analytics. We conclude that social media advertising – especially with vulnerable patient populations – is not suitable as a recruitment tool for clinical studies as long as the processing of (even anonymised) social media usage data and the training of predictive models by data analytics and artificial intelligence companies is not sufficiently regulated
Rasse/race
Get PDFBraucht moderne Rassismusforschung das Konzept ‚Rasse‘ – gerade auch mit Blick auf die (deutsche) Migrationsgeschichte? Folgender Beitrag bejaht diese Frage, allerdings unter der Bedingung, dass der semantische Unterschied zwischen race als einem sozialen, historisch gemachten und sich wandelnden Konstrukt und „Rasse“ als (gedachter) natürlicher Kategorie klar umrissen wird. Das Analysekonzept race erfasst jene rassistischen Wissensbestände und Praktiken, die in einer sich als homogene Herkunfts-Einheit verstehenden Gesellschaft aus Migrant:innen ungleichwertige Andere machen. Im post-kolonialen, post-nationalsozialistischen und post-„rassischen“ Deutschland wirkten diese Wissensbestände und Praktiken subkutan und wurden durch andere Wissensordnungen erklärt. Das trug dazu bei, aus der vermeintlichen Absenz des „Rasse“-Begriffs die Absenz dieses historischen Großphänomens zu postulieren
The Relationship Between Innovation Capabilities, Information Management, and HIT Quality in Healthcare Organizations: Development of a Sociotechnical Model
Get PDFBackground: Healthcare organizations are critical for translating health information technology (HIT) based innovation into clinical care support. Despite their importance, very few reliable accounts exist about organizational facilitators, not only for the adoption of HIT systems but also for the systems’ quality (i.e., HIT quality). However, it can be assumed that an organizational climate that embraces innovation and reflects the ability to innovate, i.e., organizational innovation capabilities, together with professional information management practices, may act as essential facilitators of HIT quality. Yet, there is no coherent conceptualization and corresponding measurement frameworks of both organizational innovation capabilities as well as of professional information management and no evidence on how they affect HIT quality. Addressing this issue also requires taking external influences, such as the legal-financial environment, into account, as prior research has pointed to their integral role in promoting the uptake of HIT in healthcare organizations.
Objective: The primary aim of this thesis is twofold: First, to find out what constitutes both innovation capabilities and professional information management and to develop corresponding measurement models. Second, to research the relationship between innovation capabilities, the professionalism of information management, and indicators of HIT quality – specifically the HIT workflow support and its perceived quality – in light of different legal-financial environments.
Methods: Quantitative data from representatives of hospitals (CIOs and clinical directors) in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland were collected across four separate surveys and used to develop a sociotechnical model that interlinks all relevant constructs. The model development spans five publications. Throughout these publications, the central constructs were developed iteratively using factor analytic techniques and their interrelationships tested using various regression techniques. The final model was established by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Results: Various insights on the constituents of organizational innovation capabilities and information management as well as on their association to HIT quality were yielded across the publications, culminating in the proposal of the so-called IQHIT model in the last publication. Most importantly, the results confirmed a strong link between the innovation capabilities on different organizational levels and HIT quality. Specifically, the top management team’s and the IT department’s innovation capabilities positively influenced the degree of HIT workflow support and the perceived HIT quality. This effect was entirely mediated by the professionalism of information management. Moreover, the legal-financial environment showed to affect both the organizations’ innovation capabilities as well as several measures of HIT quality across publications.
Conclusions: The results should encourage executives and decision-makers to realize the significant impact their organizations can exert on the level of HIT quality and thus to take agency in shaping the digital transformation in healthcare. They may do so by aiming to facilitate an organizational climate that encourages innovation and by establishing professional information management activities. Nevertheless, further studies to validate and extend the findings are warranted and the IQHIT model provides various access points to do so