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Sustainable Use of PiWi Vine Leaves: Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Novel Vine-Leaf-Based Beverage within the Framework of the Circular Bioeconomy
No full textThis study investigates the ecological and economic performance of a novel, alcohol-free beverage derived from the leaves of fungus-resistant (PiWi) grapevines as part of a research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Using life cycle assessment (LCA) and
techno-economic analysis (TEA), the study evaluates both the environmental footprint and the production costs of the beverage across multiple production scenarios. The results indicate that the PiWi-based beverage shows clear ecological advantages compared to already available drinks such as teabased beverages, fermented lemonades, and alcohol-free wine, mainly due to lower pesticide use and energy demand. Economically, production is feasible within competitive cost ranges, especially when existing winery infrastructure is utilized
Teach the Unteachable with a Virtual Reality (VR) Brain Death Scenario – 800 Students and 3 Years of Experience
No full textIntroduction: Traditionally, clinical education has combined classroom theory with hospital-based practical experiences. Over the past 50 years, simulation-based training, particularly virtual reality (VR), has gained prominence for its flexibility and scalability. This article describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a VR-based brain death diagnostic training module at the University of Münster over a three-year period. Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed the VR scenario to simulate a realistic intensive care unit, in line with German guidelines for brain death diagnosis. The module includes a tutorial and a preparatory video podcast to accommodate varying levels of VR experience. The course maintained its former small-group format, integrating VR to replace a manikin-based brain death examination. A randomized pilot study compared the traditional and VR-based approaches. Results: Feedback from over 800 students indicated a strong preference for VR training, with a significant increase in perceived competence in brain death diagnosis. The VR module also increased the individual training time and provided more varied clinical scenarios than traditional methods. Continuous feedback led to iterative improvements, including reflex simulations and improved hardware management. Discussion: The VR-based training was well received, demonstrating its potential to revolutionize medical education by providing immersive, realistic simulations. Challenges such as initial hardware adaptation and high personnel costs were addressed through comprehensive tutorials and structural adjustments. The success of this module has led to the development of additional VR courses, optimizing the use of hardware and justifying the initial investment.
Conclusion: The integration of VR into medical education at the University of Münster has proven effective, enhancing student engagement and competence in brain death diagnosis. The positive outcomes suggest a promising future for VR in medical education, highlighting the importance of innovative tools in the preparation of future medical professionals. Efforts are continuing to broaden the application and accessibility of VR-based training
The impact of vasomotion on analysis of rodent fMRI data
No full textIntroduction: Small animal fMRI is an essential part of translational research in the cognitive neurosciences. Due to small dimensions and animal physiology preclinical fMRI is prone to artifacts that may lead to misinterpretation of the data. To reach unbiased translational conclusions, it is, therefore, crucial to identify potential sources of experimental noise and to develop correction methods for contributions that cannot be avoided such as physiological noise. Aim of this study was to assess origin and prevalence of hemodynamic oscillations (HDO) in preclinical fMRI in rat, as well as their impact on data analysis. Methods: Following the development of algorithms for HDO detection and suppression, HDO prevalence in fMRI measurements was investigated for different anesthetic regimens, comprising isoflurane and medetomidine, and for both gradient echo and spin echo fMRI sequences. In addition to assessing the effect of vasodilation on HDO, it was studied if HDO have a direct neuronal correlate using local field potential (LFP) recordings. Finally, the impact of HDO on analysis of fMRI data was assessed, studying both the impact on calculation of activation maps as well as the impact on brain network analysis. Overall, 303 fMRI measurements and 32 LFP recordings were performed in 71 rats.
Results: In total, 62% of the fMRI measurements showed HDO with a frequency of (0.20 ± 0.02) Hz. This frequent occurrence indicated that HDO cannot be generally neglected in fMRI experiments. Using the developed algorithms, HDO were detected with a specificity of 95%, and removed efficiently from the signal time courses. HDO occurred brain-wide under vasoconstrictive conditions in both small and large blood vessels. Vasodilation immediately interrupted HDO, which, however, returned within 1 h under vasoconstrictive conditions. No direct neuronal correlate of HDO was observed in LFP recordings. HDO significantly impacted analysis of fMRI data, leading to altered cluster sizes and F-values for activated voxels, as well as altered brain networks, when comparing data with and without HDO.
Discussion: We therefore conclude that HDO are caused by vasomotion under certain anesthetic conditions and should be corrected during fMRI data analysis to avoid bias
The power of a touch: Regular touchscreen training but not its termination affects hormones and behavior in mice
No full textTouchscreen-based procedures are increasingly used in experimental animal research. They not only represent a promising approach for translational research, but have also been highlighted as a powerful tool to reduce potential experimenter effects in animal studies. However, to prepare the animals for a touchscreen-based test, an often time-consuming training phase is required that has itself been shown to cause increased adrenocortical activity and anxiety-like behavior in mice. While these findings point at a potentially negative effect of touchscreen training at first glance, results have also been discussed in light of an enriching effect of touchscreen training. The aim of the present study was therefore to shed more light on recently reported touchscreen training effects, with a particular focus on the termination of the training routine. Specifically, we investigated whether the termination of regular touchscreen training could constitute a loss of enrichment for mice. Thus, we assessed fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs), exploratory-, anxiety-like and home cage behavior in touchscreen-trained mice in comparison to food restricted and ad libitum fed mice, as a restricted diet is an integral part of the training process. Furthermore, we compared these parameters between mice that were continuously trained and mice whose training was terminated 2 weeks earlier. Our results confirm previous findings showing that a mild food restriction increases the animals' exploratory behavior and shifts their activity rhythm. Moreover, touchscreen training was found to increase FCM levels and anxiety-like behavior of the mice. However, no effect of the termination of touchscreen training could be detected, a finding which contradicts the enrichment loss hypothesis. Therefore, we discuss two alternative explanations for the findings. Yet, the current state of knowledge is not sufficient to draw final conclusions at this stage. In compliance with the refinement endeavors for laboratory animals, further research should assess the severity of touchscreen procedures to ensure a responsible and well-founded use of animals for experimental purposes
Tolerance Induction in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation—A Brief Review of Preclinical Models
No full textPre-clinical studies are an obligatory tool to develop and translate novel therapeutic strategies into clinical practice. Acute and chronic rejection mediated by the recipient’s immune system remains an important limiting factor for the (long-term) survival of vascularized composite allografts (VCA). Furthermore, high intensity immunosuppressive (IS) protocols are needed to mitigate the immediate and long-term effects of rejection. These IS regiments can have significant side-effects such as predisposing transplant recipients to infections, organ dysfunction and malignancies. To overcome these problems, tolerance induction has been proposed as one strategy to reduce the intensity of IS protocols and to thereby mitigate long-term effects of allograft rejection. In this review article, we provide an overview about animal models and strategies that have been used to induce tolerance. The induction of donor-specific tolerance was achieved in preclinical animal models and clinical translation may help improve short and long-term outcomes in VCAs in the future
"Unerhörte Experten":Siegfried Lichtenstaedter || George Montandon. Sonden im Intellektuellen-Diskurs zu Bevölkerungstransfer und -austausch 1865–1944
No full textDiese Dissertation ist ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der historischen Dimensionen von Bevölkerungstransfer und -austausch in der Moderne. Im Gegensatz zu bisherigen Untersuchungen werden keine praktischen Fallbeispiele des 19. oder 20. Jahrhunderts in den Fokus gerückt, sondern mit Siegfried Lichtenstaedter und George Montandon erstmalig zwei zeitgenössische Publizisten, die früh und energisch für ethnisch homogene Nationalstaaten eintraten. Die Autoren dienen als Sonden, mit deren Hilfe ein Blick auf den zeitgenössischen Diskurs zu Austausch und Transfer geworfen wird. Zwischen Lichtenstaedter, dem deutschen Juden und einem Opfer des Holocaust, und Montandon, dem franko-schweizerischen Ethno-Rassisten, schärft sich der Blick auf eine politische Praxis, die zwischen vermeintlichem Friedensprojekt und nationalistischer Gewaltpolitik oszillieren konnte
Where Does Gaze Lead? Integrating Gaze and Motion for Enhanced 3D Pose Estimation
No full textUnderstanding and estimating body pose is becoming increasingly important for enhancing user experiences in Virtual Reality (VR). Eye gaze, in particular, plays a critical role in many VR and Augmented Reality (AR) applications. In this paper, we present GaMo, a novel dataset that integrates gaze data and human joint motion capture data during both inter-subject interactions and subjectenvironment engagements. This dataset provides a comprehensive foundation for advanced pose estimation, enabling the modeling of interactions between users and their surroundings. Based on this dataset, we present the PoseFusionNet model, composed of a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) module, and a Transformer Encoder module, focusing on the impact of gaze on body pose estimation. Our model utilizes data from a head-mounted display (HMD), left and right controllers, and 15 previous frames of gaze data to predict the current frame’s pose. Experimental results demonstrate that incorporating gaze data alongside detailed joint information significantly improves pose estimation accuracy
Antioxidants Hydroxytyrosol and Thioredoxin-Mimetic Peptide CB3 Protect Irradiated Normal Tissue Cells
No full textReducing side effects in non-cancerous tissue is a key aim of modern radiotherapy. Here, we assessed whether the use of the antioxidants hydroxytyrosol (HT) and thioredoxin-mimetic peptide CB3 (TMP) attenuated radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity in vitro. We used primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT) as normal tissue models. Cells were treated with HT and TMP 24 h or immediately prior to irradiation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed via luminescent- and fluorescence-based assays, migration was investigated using digital holographic microscopy, and clonogenic survival was quantified by colony formation assays. Angiogenesis and wound healing were evaluated via time-dependent microscopy. Secreted cytokines were validated in quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) studies. Treatment with HT or TMP was well tolerated by cells. The application of either antioxidant before irradiation resulted in reduced ROS formation and a distinct decrease in cytokines compared to similarly irradiated, but otherwise untreated, controls. Antioxidant treatment also increased post-radiogenic migration and angiogenesis while accelerating wound healing. HT or TMP treatment immediately before radiotherapy increased clonogenic survival after radiotherapy, while treatment 24 h before radiotherapy enhanced baseline proliferation. Both antioxidants may decrease radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity and deserve further pre-clinical investigation
Täuschen allein und in Teams
No full textThere is a reward for a project that can be increased through ability, effort, and cheating. This is analysed for one agent and a team of two. As an extension, a preference for honesty is added, which can prevent cheating but not without limit and not so easily in the team context.Es gibt für ein Projekt eine Belohnung, die durch Fähigkeit, Anstrengung und Betrug gesteigert werden kann. Dies wird für einen Agenten und ein Zweierteam analysiert. Als Erweiterung wird eine Präferenz für Ehrlichkeit hinzugefügt, die Betrug verhindern kann, aber nicht unbegrenzt und nicht so leicht im Teamkontext
DDX3Y is likely the key spermatogenic factor in the AZFa region that contributes to human non-obstructive azoospermia
No full textNon-obstructive azoospermia, the absence of sperm in the ejaculate due to disturbed spermatogenesis, represents the most severe form of male infertility. De novo microdeletions of the Y-chromosomal AZFa region are one of few well-established genetic causes for NOA and are routinely analysed in the diagnostic workup of affected men. So far, it is unclear which of the three genes located in the AZFa chromosomal region is indispensible for germ cell maturation. Here we present four different likely pathogenic loss-of-function variants in the AZFa gene 'DDX3Y' identified by analysing exome sequencing data of more than 1,600 infertile men. Three of the patients underwent testicular sperm extraction and revealed the typical AZFa testicular Sertoli cell-only phenotype. One of the variants was proven to be de novo. Consequently, 'DDX3Y' represents the AZFa key spermatogenic factor and screening for variants in 'DDX3Y' should be included in the diagnostic workflow