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Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and the risk of periodontitis
No full textAim: To investigate the effect of genetically proxied inhibition of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) on the risk of periodontitis. Materials and methods: Genetic instruments were selected from the vicinity of TNFR superfamily member 1A (TNFRSF1A) gene (chromosome 12; base pairs 6,437,923–6,451,280 as per GRCh37 assembly) based on their association with C-reactive protein (N= 575,531). Summary statistics of these variants were obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 17,353 periodontitis cases and 28,210 controls to estimate the effect of TNFR1 inhibition on periodontitis using a fixed-effects inverse method. Results: Considering rs1800693 as an instrument, we found no effect of TNFR1 inhibition on periodontitis risk (Odds ratio (OR) scaled per standard deviation increment in CRP: 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38;6.46). Similar results were derived from a secondary analysis that used three variants (rs767455, rs4149570, and rs4149577) to index TNFR1 inhibition. Conclusions: We found no evidence of a potential efficacy of TNFR1 inhibition on periodontitis risk
Konzert e-Moll für Traversflöte, zwei Violinen und Basso continuo (D-RH Ms 689)
No full textKaum etwas ist über den um die Mitte des 18. Jahrhunderts als Flötist und Komponist wirkenden Johann Scherer bekannt. Im "Répertoire International des Sources Musicales" sind gut 50 Werke Scherers - zumeist Flötenkonzerte und Flötenduette - nachgewiesen. Bemerkenswert dabei ist, dass der weitaus größte Teil dieser Musikhandschriften heute in Bibliotheken in Dänemark und Schweden aufbewahrt werden, was ein Wirken Scherers im dänisch-schwedischen Kulturraum denkbar erscheinen lässt. Immerhin fünf Flötenkonzerte Scherers haben sich in der Fürstlich zu Bentheim-Tecklenburgischen Musikbibliothek Rheda erhalten, von denen das vorliegende e-Moll-Konzert nur noch in einem weiteren Exemplar in Stockholm überliefert ist. Im 1750 für die Musikbibliothek Rheda angelegten "Catalogus musicus" wird dieses Konzert im Primärbestand geführt; es ist also mit Sicherheit spätestes 1750 komponiert worden und auf heute unbekanntem Weg in den Musikalienbestand der reichsgräflichen Residenz in Rheda gelangt
Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy of Feldspars From the Bühl Basalt (Northern Hesse, Germany) Formed Under Reducing Conditions as Terrestrial Analogue of Mercury for MERTIS
No full textThe MErcury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer instrument onboard the BepiColombo spacecraft is designed to investigate Mercury’s surface in the mid-infrared (mid-IR). Based on MESSENGER data and modeling, Mercury is thought to be evolved under highly reducing conditions (e.g., McCubbin et al., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JE005367; Namur & Charlier, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2860). The modeling also indicates that Mercury's surface is rich in feldspar. However, it is unknown if reducing conditions during the emplacement of volcanic melts have an influence on the IR properties of feldspars. Therefore, we investigated basaltic samples from the Bühl quarry in northern Hesse, Germany, that evolved under reducing conditions in the mid-IR and compared the spectra with samples that experienced more oxidizing conditions during their formation. The Bühl samples are feldspar-rich and contain metallic iron in some areas. Our investigations show that there are no differences between feldspars that formed under different oxidizing conditions. All spectral properties could be explained by well-known factors that affect mid-IR spectra of silicates
Predicting object properties based on movement kinematics
No full textIn order to grasp and transport an object, grip and load forces must be scaled according to the object’s properties (such as weight). To select the appropriate grip and load forces, the object weight is estimated based on experience or, in the case of robots, usually by use of image recognition. We propose a new approach that makes a robot’s weight estimation less dependent on prior learning and, thereby, allows it to successfully grasp a wider variety of objects. This study evaluates whether it is feasible to predict an object’s weight class in a replacement task based on the time series of upper body angles of the active arm or on object velocity profiles. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate how prediction accuracy is affected by (i) the length of the time series and (ii) different cross-validation (CV) procedures. To this end, we recorded and analyzed the movement kinematics of 12 participants during a replacement task. The participants' kinematics were recorded by an optical motion tracking system while transporting an object, 80 times in total from varying starting positions to a predefined end position on a table. The object’s weight was modified (made lighter and heavier) without changing the object’s visual appearance. Throughout the experiment, the object’s weight (light/heavy) was randomly changed without the participant’s knowledge. To predict the object’s weight class, we used a discrete cosine transform to smooth and compress the time series and a support vector machine for supervised learning from the achieved discrete cosine transform parameters. Results showed good prediction accuracy (up to 95%, depending on the CV procedure and the length of the time series). Even at the beginning of a movement (after only 300 ms), we were able to predict the object weight reliably (within a classification rate of 88-94%)
Prevalence and clinical impact of CD56 and T-cell marker expression in acute myeloid leukaemia: A single-centre retrospective analysis
No full textFlow cytometry-based immunophenotyping is a mainstay of diagnostics in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Aberrant CD56 and T-cell antigen expression is observed in a fraction subset of AML cases, but the clinical relevance remains incompletely understood. Here, we retrospectively investigated the association of CD56 and T-cell marker expression with disease-specific characteristics and outcome of 324 AML patients who received intensive induction therapy at our centre between 2011 and 2019. We found that CD2 expression was associated with abnormal non-complex karyotype, 'NPM1' wild-type status and TP53 mutation. CD2 also correlated with a lower complete remission (CR) rate (47.8% vs. 71.6%, p = 0.03). CyTdT and CD2 were associated with inferior 3-year event-free-survival (EFS) (5.3% vs. 33.5%, p = 0.003 and 17.4% vs. 33.1%, p = 0.02, respectively). CyTdT expression was also correlated with inferior relapse-free survival (27.3% vs. 48.8%, p = 0.04). In multivariable analyses CD2 positivity was an independent adverse factor for EFS (HR 1.72, p = 0.03). These results indicate a biological relevance of aberrant T-cell marker expression in AML and provide a rationale to further characterise the molecular origin in T-lineage-associated AML
Psychological well-being as a motive for and result of post-bariatric body contouring procedures
No full textObjective: This study investigates whether psychological well-being in post-bariatric patients seeking body contouring procedures differs from those who do not seek body contouring procedures, those who have already undergone body contouring procedures, and those who are unsure about body contouring procedures. Methods: An anonymous, nonrandomized, cross-sectional survey study was designed. Psychological well-being of four groups of post-bariatric-patients (undergone body contouring procedures, seeking body contouring procedures, not seeking body contouring procedures, unsure about body contouring procedures) were compared. Results: A total of 345 patients were included in this study. No significant difference between patients seeking body contouring procedures and those not seeking body contouring procedures was found with regard to depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and body image. Patients who had already undergone body contouring procedures scored lower on depressive symptoms (p = 0.035) and reported feeling more attractive (p < 0.001) and less insecure (p = 0.030) than patients who had not yet undergone body contouring procedures but sought it. Satisfaction with the result of the body contouring procedures was associated with lower depression levels (p < 0.001), higher self-esteem (p < 0.001) and a more positive body-image (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms or low self-esteem are not motivational factors for post-bariatric patients to seek body contouring procedures. Body contouring procedures are associated with improvement in psychological well-being in post-bariatric patients. Patients' satisfaction with the result of the body contouring procedures is significantly associated with positive psychological well-being
Light conditions influence optic nerve OCT angiography parameter in healthy subjects with neutral pupils
No full textOptical coherence tomography angiography measurements are influenced by a range of environmental factors as blood pressure and physical fitness. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of light and dark exposure in eyes with neutral and mydriatic pupils on vessel density in the macular and optic nerve head regions, as measured using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). 55 eyes of 55 healthy volunteers (28 patients with neutral pupils; 27.18 ± 4.33 years) were examined using a high-speed and high-resolution spectral-domain OCT XR Avanti system with a split-spectrum amplitude de-correlation angiography algorithm. OCTA imaging was performed after dark adaptation and after exposure to light. The vessel density data of the superficial and deep retinal macular and optic nerve head region OCT-angiogram were analyzed for these two light conditions. Through Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, the p- value was adapted from 0.05 to 0.017. In eyes with neutral pupils, a significant increase was found in the capillary region of the optic nerve head region (p = 0.002), comparing dark- and light-adaptation. In the macular region of eyes with neutral (p = 0.718) and mydriatic pupils (p = 0.043), no significant differences were observed, as were any in the optic nerve head region of the mydriatic eyes (p = 0.797). This observation suggests that light conditions could be a possible factor influencing OCTA measurements. After dark exposure, vessel density data were significantly different between eyes with neutral and mydriatic pupils (nerve head region: p < 0.0001, superficial macula: p < 0.0001, deep macula: p = 0.0025). These data warn for the effect of mydriatic drops on vessel density measurements
Psychometric properties and normative values of the revised demoralization scale (DS-II) in a representative sample of the German general population
No full textBackground: Demoralization is a clinically relevant syndrome in chronic diseases. The demoralization scale (DS-II) was recently developed as an economic screening tool in clinical populations. Main aim of this study was to provide normative data of DS-II scores in the general population. Methods: We developed a new German version, the DS-II Münster, and tested internal consistency as well as the previously proposed two-factor structure with confirmatory factor analyses. The DS-II was applied in a household survey of the general population. Associations between DS-II scores and age, gender and other sociodemographic variables were explored. Results: The final sample consisted of N = 2471 participants (mean age = 49.8 years, range: 18–96; 50.1% men, 49.8% women). The DS-II Münster showed nearly excellent internal consistency. The model fit indices of the two-factor structure were not superior to those of the one-factor model. Mean scores of the DS-II were as follows. Total score: M = 3.76 (SD = 5.56), Meaning and Purpose subscale: M = 1.65 (SD = 2.77), Distress and Coping Ability subscale: M = 2.11 (SD = 3.02). DS-II scores were increased in women with an effect size of Cohen’s d = 0.19. An age-related increase was specifically found for the Meaning and Purpose subscale (d = 0.21).
Conclusions: The study provides normative values of the DS-II with respect to age and gender in the general population to facilitate interpretation of DS-II scores in clinical samples. A DS-II total score > 5 is suggested as a cut-off value. The findings further our understanding of significant symptom burden that was previously suggested in young patients with cancer
Rapid and reversible optical switching of cell membrane area by an amphiphilic azobenzene
No full textCellular membrane area is a key parameter for any living cell that is tightly regulated to avoid membrane damage. Changes in area-to-volume ratio are known to be critical for cell shape, but are mostly investigated by changing the cell volume via osmotic shocks. In turn, many important questions relating to cellular shape, membrane tension homeostasis and local membrane area cannot be easily addressed because experimental tools for controlled modulation of cell membrane area are lacking. Here we show that photoswitching an amphiphilic azobenzene can trigger its intercalation into the plasma membrane of various mammalian cells ranging from erythrocytes to myoblasts and cancer cells. The photoisomerization leads to a rapid (250-500 ms) and highly reversible membrane area change (ca 2 % for erythrocytes) that triggers a dramatic shape modulation of living cells
Experiences of a University Professor from One Year of the Corona Pandemic
No full textDie Auswirkungen der Corona-Pandemie bzw. der mit ihr verbundenen Maßnahmen auf die Lehre, Forschung, Selbstverwaltung und Work-Life-Balance eines Hochschullehrers werden dargestellt und mit weiterführenden Überlegungen verbunden.The effects of the corona pandemic and the associated measures on teaching, research, selfadministration and work-life balance of a university professor are presented and combined with further considerations