University of Münster
Münstersches Informations und Archivsystem für Multimediale InhalteNot a member yet
10543 research outputs found
Sort by
Availability and type of energy regulate the global distribution of neritic carbonates
No full textThe study of carbonate rocks is primarily reliant on microfacies analysis, which is strongly based on the comparison with modern allochem assemblages. Despite the existence of several models aimed at comprehensively explaining, on the bases of abiotic factors, the distribution of carbonate-producing organisms, a global, quantitative and standardized overview of the composition of shallow-water carbonate sediments is still missing. Aiming to address this gap in knowledge, the current study provides a global database of the available quantitative data on neritic carbonate sediments. This is paired with satellite-based observations for the abiotic parameters. The results highlight a non-linear, multi-variable, dependence in the distribution of allochems and suggest that depth, temperature, and trophic state are, to a certain extent, interchangeable. The implication of which is a level of non-uniqueness for paleoenvironmental interpretation. The resulting distribution is rather continuous and stretches along an energy gradient. A gradient extending from solar energy, with autotrophs and symbiont-bearing organisms to chemical energy with heterotrophs. Further, quantitative data from modern oceans are still required to disentangle the remaining elements of uncertainty
Biophysical forces and intracellular restructuring during neutrophil extracellular trap formation
No full textNeutrophile extrazelluläre Fallen (NETs) sind Werkzeuge zur Infektionsbekämpfung, die aus dekondensiertem Chromatin, Histonen und antimikrobiellen Proteinen bestehen. Wenn sie dysreguliert sind, werden NETs mit Pathologien in Verbindung gebracht. Diese Regulierung ist nur unzureichend erforscht, so dass die Umstrukturierung der Zellzyklusmaschinerie während der NETose ein Ziel darstellt. Insbesondere wird Ki-67 wieder exprimiert. Durch Computermodellierung wurde Ki-67 als potenzielles Substrat für Peptidyl-Arginin-Deiminase 4 (PAD4) identifiziert. In primären menschlichen Neutrophilen wurden Ki-67 und PAD4 immunpräzipitiert und wiesen eine nanoskalige Nähe auf. Die NET-Bildung nahm in Depletionsmodellen zu, einschließlich Ki-67-Knockout-Mäusen, gehemmten menschlichen Neutrophilen und Knockdown von Zelllinien. Dies schloss eine erhöhte Citrullinierung von Histon H3 und Chromatin-Geschwindigkeit ein, was bedeutet, dass diese in Gegenwart von Ki-67 negativ reguliert werden.Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are tools to combat infection, composed of decondensed chromatin, histones, and antimicrobial proteins. When dysregulated, NETs are linked to pathologies. This regulation is poorly understood, and so the repurposing of cell cycle machinery during NETosis provides a target. Specifically, Ki-67 is re-expressed. Through computer modelling, Ki-67 was identified as a potential substrate for peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4). In primary human neutrophils, Ki-67 and PAD4 immunoprecipitated and showed nanoscale proximity. NET formation increased in depletion models, including Ki-67 knockout mice, inhibited human neutrophils, and cell line knockdown. This included increased citrullination of histone H3 and chromatin velocity, thus that these are negatively regulated in the presence of Ki-67
Characterization of the toolbox for selective biotinylation of Neurexin1α
No full textNeurexine erfüllen wichtige synaptische Funktionen und sind aufgrund von Genmutationen relevant für Betroffene von ASD oder Schizophrenie. Die Forschung wird erschwert durch wenige Moleküle pro Zelle und den Mangel an spezifischen Antikörpern, weshalb wir eine Streptavidin-basierte Methode testeten. Eine Biotinligase-exprimierende Mauslinie soll mit einer Linie gekreuzt werden, die Nrxn1a mit fusioniertem Avi-Tag exprimiert. Die Ligase biotinyliert das Avi-Tag, woran Fluorophor-gekoppeltes Streptavidin bindet. Zwei Ligase-Mauslinien - transgen und Knock-in - wurden charakterisiert, zeigten jedoch unerwartet astrozytäre statt neuronale Expression und sind so zum Kreuzen ungeeignet, könnten jedoch der Erforschung astrozytärer Nrxns dienen. Die Anwendung der Markierungsmethode auf Kulturneuronen ergab einen Erfolg bzgl. transfiziertem Nrxn1a-Avi. Auf endogenem Level fand keine Detektion statt, was vermutlich auf geringe Expression und hohe Hintergrundfluoreszenz zurückzuführen ist
Comparative Evaluation of Compression Testing Methods for Murine Lumbar Vertebral Bodies: Identifying Most Reliable and Reproducible Techniques for Assessing Compressive Strength
No full textThis study evaluates four compression testing methods to determine the most reliable and reproducible technique for assessing the compression strength of murine lumbar vertebral bodies. Twenty female C57BL/6 mice (12 weeks old) were randomized into four groups: Group 1, compression of the complete lumbar vertebral body (LVB) with dorsal spinal processes; Group 2, compression at the vertebral body surface; Group 3, compression at the vertebral body surface after vertebral arch resection; Group 4, resection of the vertebral arch with straightening of the intervertebral joint surface. A mono-axial static testing machine applied compression, measuring load to failure, stiffness, yield load, and elasticity modulus. Method 1 resulted in significantly higher load-to-failure and yield-to-failure (25.9 N compared to 18.2 N, and twice 12 N for Methods 2–4), with the least variation in relative values. Method 3 had increased stiffness and a significantly higher Young’s modulus (232 N/mm, in contrast to 101, 130, and 145 N/mm for Methods 1, 2, and 4, respectively) but yielded inconsistent results. Method 4 showed the greatest variability across specimens. Method 2 yields suitable data quality as well, albeit with a slightly higher variation, and is the recommended procedure if the spinal processes have to be excluded from the measurement. Based on these findings, Method 1 produced the most consistent and reproducible data and is recommended for future studies evaluating vertebral biomechanics in mice
Early Endosomes Act as Local Exocytosis Hubs to Repair Endothelial Membrane Damage
No full textThe plasma membrane of a cell is subject to stresses causing ruptures that must be repaired immediately to preserve membrane integrity and ensure cell survival. Yet, the spatio-temporal membrane dynamics at the wound site and the source of the membrane required for wound repair are poorly understood. Here, it is shown that early endosomes, previously only known to function in the uptake of extracellular material and its endocytic transport, are involved in plasma membrane repair in human endothelial cells. Using live-cell imaging and correlative light and electron microscopy, it is demonstrated that membrane injury triggers a previously unknown exocytosis of early endosomes that is induced by Ca2+ entering through the wound. This exocytosis is restricted to the vicinity of the wound site and mediated by the endosomal soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) VAMP2, which is crucial for efficient membrane repair. Thus, the newly identified Ca2+-evoked and localized exocytosis of early endosomes supplies the membrane material required for rapid resealing of a damaged plasma membrane, thereby providing the first line of defense against damage in mechanically challenged endothelial cells
A grammar of Muyu
No full textDiese Dissertation ist eine Grammatik des Muyu, einer Papua-Sprache aus West-Neuguinea im Osten Indonesiens. Sie wird von etwa 2000 Menschen in 22 Dörfern in der Regentschaft Boven Digoel und in Vororten mehrerer Küstenstädte gesprochen. Die Sprache gehört zur Familie der Ok-Sprachen der größeren Familie Trans-Neuguinea und ist stark gefährdet. Das vorliegende Werk ist die erste umfassende Grammatik zu Muyu. Sie basiert auf fast 11 Monaten intensiver Feldforschung, in denen ein Korpus von audiovisuellen Aufnahmen, Transkripten und Übersetzungen zusammengestellt wurde. Der Korpus ist die primäre Datenquelle für alle Analysen in dieser Arbeit.
Diese Studie deckt ein breites Spektrum an Themen ab, die in 12 Kapiteln beschrieben werden. Neben den Kapiteln über Phonologie, Verbmorphologie und Syntax einfacher und komplexer Sätze liegt ein besonderer Schwerpunkt auf komplexen Prädikaten. Die typologisch interessantesten Merkmale sind Verbalnumerus und die extensive Verwendung von Multi-Verb-Konstruktionen (MVCs). Die Wortklasse der Demonstrativa ist besonders reichhaltig und deckt einen weiten Bereich von Funktionen ab. Darüber hinaus finden wir viele typische Trans-Neuguinea-Merkmale: Genuskongruenz am Verb, Verbletztstellung im Satz, fehlende Nominalmorphologie, Switch-Referenz und Tail-Head-Linkage.
Der Anhang dieser Grammatik enthält zwei vollständig glossierte Texte und eine umfangreiche Wortliste (Muyu-Englisch) mit über 2500 Einträgen. Die Grammatik wird von einer frei zugänglichen Sammlung von Sprachmaterial begleitet, das im Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR) archiviert ist.This thesis is a grammar of Muyu, a Papuan language of Western New Guinea in the east of Indonesia. It is spoken by around 2000 people in 22 villages in the Boven Digoel regency and in suburbs of several coastal cities. The language belongs to the Ok language family of the Trans New Guinea phylum and is severly endangered. This work is the first comprehensive grammar on
Muyu. It is based on nearly 11 months of fieldwork during which a corpus of audio-visual recordings, transcripts and translations has been compiled. The corpus is the primary data source for all analyses in the thesis.
This study covers a wide range of topics that are described in 12 chapters. Beyond the expected chapters on phonology, verb morphology and clause syntax, the description has a special focus on complex predicates. Typologically, the most interesting features are verbal number and the extensive use of multi-verb constructions (MVCs). The word class of demonstratives is especially rich and covers a wide area of functions. Furthermore, we find many typical TNG features: gender agreement on the verb, verb-final clause syntax, a lack of nominal morphology, switch reference and tail-head linkage.
The appendix of this grammar includes two fully glossed texts and a large word list (Muyu-English) with over 2500 entries. The grammar is accompanied by an openly accessible collection of language material archived in the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR)
Retrospective Evaluation of GEC-ESTRO Constraints for Definitive Radiochemotherapy with Brachytherapy and Correlation with Oncologic Outcome in Cervical Cancer: A Monocenter Study
No full textBackground: This study aims to evaluate patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who underwent definitive radiochemotherapy, including brachytherapy, at the University Hospital of Muenster (UKM), focusing on target volume coverage, oncologic outcome parameters, and organs at risk (OAR) toxicities. Results are compared with the Gyn GEC-ESTRO (GGE) recommendations. Methods: Of a cohort of 48 patients, treated between 2013 and 2023, the physical radiation treatment planning with application of CT and MRI and oncologic follow-up data was analyzed. Target volume structures, comprising the high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV), intermediate-risk clinical target volume (IR-CTV), Point A, and corresponding EQD2(α/β=10) doses were determined. Endpoints included local tumor control, overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Total OAR (D2cc) EQD2(α/β=3) doses were correlated with adverse events defined by CTCAE v5.0 and LENT-SOMA criteria. Results: Median follow-up was 58.0 months (95% CI [27.6, 88.4]). FIGO stage I was present in 7 (15%) patients, II in 13 (27%), and III in 28 (58%) patients. A total of 38 (79%) patients showed a complete remission 3 months after treatment. The 5-year event-free rate was 67.4% (95% CI [49.3, 80.3]) for OS, 77.0% (95% CI [56.7, 88.6]) for RFS and 68.1% (95% CI [49.7, 80.9]) for PFS. Incomplete radiation treatment and advanced tumor stages led to worse outcomes. Meeting Point A GGE recommendations increased chances for complete remission and could decrease chances of an event occurring for OS, PFS, and RFS. Compliance with GGE recommendations lowered the chances of OAR toxicity occurring. Conclusions: MRI-based target volume definition for brachytherapy in cervical cancer may improve patients' OS, PFS, and RFS. Time-to-event endpoints are consistent with comparable studies, and adherence to current ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines is endorsed
The R package for DICOM to brain imaging data structure conversion
No full textThe BIDSconvertR package is the first R-based tool for organizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research data in accordance with the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) specification. Key features are the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) to NIfTI (Neuroimaging Informatics Technology Initiative) and NIfTI to BIDS conversion, the implementation of the BIDS Validator and a MRI data viewer to efficiently manage MRI neuroimaging data sets. The BIDSconvertR offers an interactive user dialogue and a graphical user interface. BIDS validation is facilitated by color-coding of the BIDS sequence-IDs. Data cleaning is simplified by the option of using regular expressions. The BIDSconvertR contributes to the growing efforts to improve reproducibility in neuroimaging research by facilitating researchers to share and organize data in a standardized and transparent manner
Simple Avoidance of Lost Votes by Electoral Thresholds
No full textProzent-Hürden führen normalerweise dazu, dass Stimmen verfallen, was der Gleichheit der Wahl widerspricht und die Chancen kleinerer sowie neuer Parteien mindert. Es gibt mehrere mögliche Auswege, z. B. durch Präferenzwahl. Noch einfacher ist es, wenn jede Partei angibt, an welche andere Partei ihre Stimmen gehen sollen, falls sie selbst an der Prozent-Hürde scheitert.Electoral thresholds usually cause votes to lapse, which contradicts the equality of votes and reduces the chances of smaller and new parties. There are several possible ways out, e.g. by preferential voting. An even easier solution is that each party specifies which other party should get its votes if it fails to meet the electoral threshold
Factors Influencing Telemedicine Adoption Among Health Care Professionals: Qualitative Interview Study
No full textBackground: Telemedicine is transforming health care by enabling remote diagnosis, consultation, and treatment. Despite rapid adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine uptake among health care professionals (HCPs) remains inconsistent due to perceived risks and lack of tailored policies. Existing studies focus on patient perspectives or general adoption factors, neglecting the complex interplay of contextual variables and trust constructs influencing HCPs' telemedicine adoption. This gap highlights the need for a framework integrating risks, benefits, and trust in telemedicine adoption, while addressing health care’s unique dynamics.
Objective: This study aimed to adapt and extend the extended valence framework (EVF) to telemedicine, deconstructing factors driving adoption from an HCP perspective. Specifically, it investigated the nuanced roles of perceived risks, benefits, and trust referents (eg, technology, treatment, technology provider, and patient) in shaping behavioral intentions, while integrating contextual factors.
Methods: We used a qualitative research design involving semistructured interviews with 14 HCPs experienced in offering video consultations. The interview data were analyzed with deductive and inductive coding based on the EVF. Two coders conducted the coding process independently, achieving an intercoder reliability of 86.14%. The qualitative content analysis aimed to uncover the nuanced perspectives of HCPs, identifying key risk and benefit dimensions and trust referents relevant to telemedicine adoption.
Results: The study reveals the complex considerations HCPs have when adopting telemedicine. Perceived risks were multidimensional, including performance risks such as treatment limitations (mentioned by 7/14, 50% of the participants) and reliance on technical proficiency of patients (5/14, 36%), privacy risks related to data security (10/14, 71%), and time and financial risks associated with training (7/14, 50%) and equipment costs (4/14, 29%). Perceived benefits encompassed convenience through reduced travel time (5/14, 36%), improved care quality due to higher accessibility (8/14, 57%), and operational efficiency (7/14, 50%). Trust referents played a pivotal role; trust in technology was linked to functionality (6/14, 43%) and reliability (5/14, 36%), while trust in treatment depended on effective collaboration (9/14, 64%). Transparency emerged as a critical antecedent of trust across different referents, comprising disclosure, clarity, and accuracy. In addition, the study highlighted the importance of context-specific variables such as symptom characteristics (10/14, 71%) and prior professional experience with telemedicine (11/14, 79%).
Conclusions: This study expands the EVF for telemedicine, providing a framework integrating multidimensional risks, benefits, trust, and contextual factors. It advances theory by decomposing trust referents and transparency into actionable subdimensions and emphasizing context-specific variables. Practically, the findings guide stakeholders: policy makers should prioritize transparent regulations and data security, health care organizations should provide training and support for HCPs, and technology developers must design telemedicine solutions aligning with trust and usability needs. This understanding equips health care to address barriers, optimize adoption, and leverage telemedicine’s potential for sustainable clinical integration