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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
The short-chain fatty acid butyrate exerts a specific effect on VE-cadherin phosphorylation and alters the integrity of aortic endothelial cells
No full textShort-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate (BUT) largely influence vascular integrity and are closely associated with the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases. However, their impact on vascular endothelial cadherin (VEC), a major vascular adhesion and signaling molecule, is largely unknown. Here, we explored the effect of the SCFA BUT on the phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues of VEC (Y731, Y685, and Y658), which are reported to be critical for VEC regulation and vascular integrity. Moreover, we shed light on the signaling pathway engaged by BUT to affect the phosphorylation of VEC. Thereby, we used phospho-specific antibodies to evaluate the phosphorylation of VEC in response to the SCFA sodium butyrate in human aortic endothelial cells (HAOECs) and performed dextran assays to analyze the permeability of the EC monolayer. The role of c-Src and SCFA receptors FFAR2 and FFAR3 in the induction of VEC phosphorylation was analyzed using inhibitors and antagonists for c-Src family kinases and FFAR2/3, respectively, as well as by RNAi-mediated knockdown. Localization of VEC in response to BUT was assessed by fluorescence microscopy. BUT treatment of HAOEC resulted in the specific phosphorylation of Y731 at VEC with minor effects on Y685 and Y658. Thereby, BUT engages FFAR3, FFAR2, and c-Src kinase to induce phosphorylation of VEC. VEC phosphorylation correlated with enhanced endothelial permeability and c-Src-dependent remodeling of junctional VEC. Our data suggest that BUT, an SCFA and gut microbiota-derived metabolite, impacts vascular integrity by targeting VEC phosphorylation with potential impact on the pathophysiology and therapy of vascular diseases
The soft X-ray and XUV split-and-delay unit at beamlines FL23/24 at FLASH2
No full textA split-and-delay unit for the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray spectral regions has been built which enables time-resolved experiments at beamlines FL23 and FL24 at the Free-electron LASer in Hamburg (FLASH). Geometric wavefront splitting at a sharp edge of a beam splitting mirror is applied to split the incoming soft X-ray pulse into two beams. Ni and Pt coatings at grazing incidence angles have been chosen in order to cover the whole spectral range of FLASH2 and beyond, up to hν = 1800 eV. In the variable beam path with a grazing incidence angle of ϑd = 1.8°, the total transmission (T) ranges are of the order of 0.48 0.50 for 100 eV 0.06 for hν 0.61 with the Ni coating and T > 0.23 with a Pt coating is achieved. Soft X-ray pump/soft X-ray probe experiments are possible within a delay range of −5 ps < Δt < +18 ps with a nominal time resolution of tr = 66 as and a measured timing jitter of tj = 121 ± 2 as. First experiments with the split-and-delay unit determined the averaged coherence time of FLASH2 to be τc = 1.75 fs at λ = 8 nm, measured at a purposely reduced coherence of the free-electron laser
PIEZO1 channels in cutaneous free nerve endings: novel insights into itch-scratch-mechanisms
No full textSoftware im Zollrecht der Europäischen Union:Die zollwertrechtliche Behandlung von Software in der Europäischen Union unter Einbezug des Wirtschaftszollgedankens sowie des Welthandelsrechts
No full textVor dem Hintergrund international arbeitsteiliger Produktion und globaler Handelsbeziehungen finden die wenigsten Produktionsprozesse nur an einem Ort statt. Während Hardware meist in Niedriglohnländern gefertigt wird, erfolgt die Softwareentwicklung regelmäßig in Ländern mit hohem Lohnniveau. Dies wirft zentrale zollrechtliche Fragen auf, insbesondere zur Bestimmung des Zollwertes digitalisierter Waren, die nach ihrer Fertigung grenzüberschreitend verbracht werden. Ein wesentliches Problem ist, ob und inwieweit der Wert der installierten oder implementierten Software den Zollwert der Hardware beeinflusst.
Da das geltende Zollrecht weitgehend vor der Digitalisierung entwickelt wurde, ist es auf entsprechende Fragestellungen nicht ausgerichtet. Diese Dissertation analysiert die zollwertrechtliche Behandlung von Software in der Europäischen Union unter Berücksichtigung wirtschaftszollrechtlicher und welthandelsrechtlicher Aspekte
Supporting the differential diagnosis of connective tissue diseases with neurological involvement by blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow cytometry
No full textObjective: Neurological manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTD) are poorly understood and difficult to diagnose. We here aimed to address this shortcoming by studying immune cell compositions in CTD patients with and without neurological manifestation. Methods: Using flow cytometry, we retrospectively investigated paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples of 28 CTD patients without neurological manifestation, 38 CTD patients with neurological manifestation (N-CTD), 38 non-inflammatory controls, and 38 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a paradigmatic primary neuroinflammatory disease. Results: We detected an expansion of plasma cells in the blood of both N-CTD and CTD compared to non-inflammatory controls and MS. Blood plasma cells alone distinguished the clinically similar entities N-CTD and MS with high discriminatory performance (AUC: 0.81). Classical blood monocytes indicated higher disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Surprisingly, immune cells in the CSF did not differ significantly between N-CTD and CTD, while CD4+ T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were elevated in the blood of N-CTD compared to CTD. Several B cell-associated parameters partially overlapped in the CSF in MS and N-CTD. We built a machine learning model that distinguished N-CTD from MS with high discriminatory power using either blood or CSF.
Conclusion: We here find that blood flow cytometry alone surprisingly suffices to distinguish CTD with neurological manifestations from clinically similar entities, suggesting that a rapid blood test could support clinicians in the differential diagnosis of N-CTD
The association of executive functions and physical fitness with cognitive-motor multitasking in a street crossing scenario
No full textAge-related decline in cognitive-motor multitasking performance has been attributed to declines in executive functions and physical fitness (motor coordinative fitness and cardiovascular fitness). It has been suggested that those cognitive and physical resources strongly depend on lifestyle factors such as long-term regular physical activity and cognitive engagement. Although research suggests that there is covariation between components of executive functions and physical fitness, the interdependence between these components for cognitive-motor multitasking performance is not yet clear. The aim of the study was to examine the contribution and interrelationship between executive functions, motor coordinative fitness, and cardiovascular fitness on street crossing while multitasking. We used the more ecologically valid scenario to obtain results that might be directly transferable to daily life situation. Data from 50 healthy older adults (65–75 years, 17 females, recruited in two different cities in Germany) were analyzed. Participants’ executive functions (composite score including six tests), motor coordinative fitness (composite score including five tests), and cardiovascular fitness (spiroergometry), as well as their street crossing performance while multitasking were assessed. Street crossing was tested under single-task (crossing a two-line road), and multitask conditions (crossing a two-line road while typing numbers on a keypad as simulation of mobile phone use). Street crossing performance was assessed by use of cognitive outcomes (typing, crossing failures) and motor outcomes (stay time, crossing speed). Linear mixed-effects models showed beneficial main effects of executive functions for typing (p = 0.004) and crossing failures (p = 0.023), and a beneficial main effect of motor coordinative fitness for stay time (p = 0.043). Commonality analysis revealed that the proportion of variance commonly explained by executive functions, motor coordinative fitness, and cardiovascular fitness was small for all street crossing outcomes. For typing and crossing failures (cognitive outcomes), the results further showed a higher relative contribution of executive functions compared to motor coordinative fitness and cardiovascular fitness. For stay time (motor outcome), the results correspondingly revealed a higher relative contribution of motor coordinative fitness compared to executive functions and cardiovascular fitness. The findings suggest that during cognitive-motor multitasking in everyday life, task performance is determined by the components of executive functions and physical fitness related to the specific task demands. Since multitasking in everyday life includes cognitive and motor tasks, it seems to be important to maintain both executive functions and physical fitness for independent living up to old age
Right to the City
No full textHow is the right to the city relevant for health for all and how does it already unfold in concrete practices of urban grassroots movements? How do the diverse structures of health inequalities unfold on the urban scale? How do urban movements address these inequalities through collective action and political struggles? This polylogue presents insights from a roundtable discussion with critical urban scholars and health activists on health as right to the city. The discussion took place at the Radical Health Conference 2021 in Berlin. From the perspective of critical urban theory, Anke Strüver from the University of Graz explains the urban roots of health inequalities and their unequal embodiments. Vasilis Tsapas provides an activist account of how (health) inequalities are addressed in the everyday work of the Solidarity Clinic in Thessaloniki, a radical democratic and anti-hierarchical urban health collective. Andreas Exner as an activist scholar stresses the importance of radical democratic collaborations of right-to-the-city movements and grassroots health initiatives for health equality. Bettina Franke and Jonas Löwenberg from the community healthcare center Poliklinik Leipzig highlight the role of interdisciplinary work and the empowerment of local communities in approaching people’s health from the bottom-up. Following this, the Critical Urban Research Group Münster emphasizes the role of urban space as an important scale for collective transformations of structural health inequalities in the sense of health as a right to the city. The session was moderated by Richard Bůžek and organized by Critical Urban Research Group (Iris Dzudzek, Richard Bůžek, Susanne Hübl, Lisa Kamphaus) from the University of Münster
"Honnête homme" und "habitant du monde". Vom Absoluten zum Dezentralen
No full textDas Dokument untersucht den Wandel des Begriffs des honnête homme im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert in Frankreich. Ursprünglich verkörperte der honnête homme die Werte des höfischen Lebens, geprägt von Mäßigung, Höflichkeit und einem normgeleiteten Verhalten, das Überraschungen und Exzesse mied. Im Laufe der Zeit wird diese Figur jedoch kritisch hinterfragt, insbesondere in der Reiseliteratur. Hier wird das Reisen als Mittel zur Erweiterung des Horizonts und zur Überwindung der provinziellen Enge dargestellt. Die Reiseliteratur fördert eine Neugier auf das Unbekannte und Exotische und wertet die starren gesellschaftlichen Normen ab, die den honnête homme prägten
The Future Belongs to Internet Publications
No full textIn diesem Beitrag werden die wesentlichen Gründe für wissenschaftliche Publikationen behandelt und die diesbezüglichen Vorteile des Internets. Außerdem wird dargelegt, warum der Übergang zu (reinen) Internet-Publikationen so schwierig war und teilweise noch ist.This paper examines the main reasons for academic publications and the advantages of the internet in this regard. Furthermore, it argues why the transition to (mere) internet publications has been so difficult and partly still is