10509 research outputs found
Sort by
Reduced Retinal Blood Vessel Densities Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Keratoconus Patients Are Negatively Correlated with Keratoconus Severity
No full textKeratoconus (KC) is the most common corneal ectasia. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a relatively new non-invasive imaging technique that allows the visualization and quantification of retinal and choriocapillary blood vessels. The aim of this study is to assess retinal and choriocapillary vessel density (VD) differences between KC patients and healthy controls and to investigate correlations between VD and KC severity. Fifty-two eyes were included in this exploratory study: twenty-six eyes from 26 KC patients and twenty-six eyes from 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All patients underwent Scheimpflug corneal topography with Pentacam, axis lengths measurement and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). The thinnest spot in corneal pachymetry, maximum K (Kmax) and KC severity indices from the Belin/Ambrósio enhanced ectasia display (BAD) were also assessed. There was a distinct reduction particularly in the retinal VD of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP). Correlation analyses showed strong and moderate negative correlations between the VD in the macular SCP and BAD KC scores and between the SCP VD and Kmax. There was no difference in retinal thickness between the KC and healthy controls. With this study, further evidence for altered VD measurements by OCT-A in KC patients is given. For the first time, we demonstrated negative correlations between BAD KC scores and retinal blood vessel alterations. A major limitation of the study is the relatively small sample size. Since an artefactual reduction of the quantitative OCT-A measurements due to irregular corneal topography in KC must be assumed, it remains to be investigated whether there are also actual changes in the retinal microcirculation in KC
Sepsis – Amoklauf im Körper:Interview mit Prof. Dr. Jan Rossaint
No full textEine Sepsis – umgangssprachlich auch Blutvergiftung genannt – gehört zu den gefährlichsten Krankheiten und ist die dritthäufigste Todesursache in Deutschland. Trotzdem sind vielen Menschen die Symptome unbekannt. "Die Krankheit wird unterschätzt. Bei anderen gesundheitlichen Gefahren wie einem Herzinfarkt ist die Gesellschaft deutlich besser informiert. Bei der Sepsis braucht es noch viel Aufklärungsarbeit", mahnt Prof. Dr. Jan Rossaint, Leiter der Forschungsgruppe "Organdysfunktion im Rahmen systemischer Inflammationssyndrome", im Podcast der Universität Münster anlässlich des Welt-Sepsis-Tages am 13. September 2023
Single particle localization and tracking resolves different Exo70 dynamics in non-polar cells and neurons
No full textDiese Dissertation untersucht die Dynamik von Exo70, einer entscheidenden Untereinheit des Exozyst-Komplexes, an der Plasmamembran mittels superauflösender Fluoreszenzbildgebung. Zunächst wird eine systematische Analyse der Lokalisierung und funktionellen Eigenschaften von Exo70 durchgeführt, wenn es entweder am N-Terminus oder am C-Terminus markiert ist. Durch Einzelpartikel-Verfolgung (SPT), Fluoreszenzlebensdauer-Bildgebung und Modellierung wird nachgewiesen, dass die Position des Tags die Funktion von Exo70 verändert. Anschließend wurde die regulatorische Rolle von TC10 auf die Dynamik von Exo70 untersucht, indem Exo70 gemeinsam mit TC10 und Mutanten von TC10 in nicht-polaren Zellen und Neuronen mittels SPT Quantifizierung exprimiert wurde. Diese Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die Funktionen von Exo70 zell- und kompartimentspezifisch sind. Schließlich werden die Interaktionen zwischen Exo70 und Sec3 mittels Zwei-Farben SPT und -Verfolgung sowie der Segmentierung der Spuren untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, dass nur Exo70 und nicht Sec3 als räumlicher Orientierungspunkt in HeLa-Zellen diente.This dissertation investigates the dynamics of Exo70, a crucial subunit of the exocyst complex, at the plasma membrane using super-resolution fluorescence imaging. At first, a systematic analysis of the localization and functional properties of Exo70 when either tagged at its N-terminus or C-terminus is explored. Through single particle tracking (SPT), fluorescence lifetime imaging and modelling, it is demonstrated that the position of the tag alters the function of Exo70. Next, the regulatory role of TC10 on Exo70 dynamics was studied by co-expressing Exo70 with TC10 and mutants of TC10 with Exo70 in non-polar cells and neurons using SPT quantification. These results showed that Exo70 functions are cell and compartment specific. Finally, the interactions between Exo70 and Sec3, are explored using two-color SPT
Structural analysis of petrochemical clusters in Germany: What can be learned for the transformation towards climateneutrality?
No full textThe petrochemical industry is among the most relevant sectors from an economic, energetic and climate policy perspective. In Western Europe, production occurs in local chemical parks that form strongly connected and densely integrated regional clusters. This paper analyzes the structural characteristics of the petrochemical system in Germany and investigates three particularly distinct clusters regarding their challenges and chances for a transition towards climate-neutrality. For this, feedstock and energy supply, product portfolios and process integration as well as existing transformation activities are examined. We find that depending on their distinct network characteristics and location, unique and complex strategies are to be mastered for every cluster. Despite the many activities underway, none of them seems to have a strategic network to co-create a tailored defossilization strategy for the cluster – which is the core recommendation of this paper to develop
The characteristic time scale of cultural evolution
No full textNumerous researchers from various disciplines have explored commonalities and divergences in the evolution of complex social formations. Here, we explore whether there is a “characteristic” time course for the evolution of social complexity in a handful of different geographic areas. Data from the Seshat: Global History Databank is shifted so that the overlapping time series can be fitted to a single logistic regression model for all 23 geographic areas under consideration. The resulting regression shows convincing out-of-sample predictions, and its period of extensive growth in social complexity can be identified via bootstrapping as a time interval of roughly 2,500 years. To analyze the endogenous growth of social complexity, each time series is restricted to a central time interval without major disruptions in cultural or institutional continuity, and both approaches result in a similar logistic regression curve. Our results suggest that these different areas have indeed experienced a similar course in the their evolution of social complexity, but that this is a lengthy process involving both internal developments and external influences
The Struggle Is Relative: A Comparative Processing Perspective on Academic Self-Concept and Student Mental Health
No full textAcademic self-concept (ASC) is a prominent predictor of educational achievement and student mental health. Although it is widely accepted that ASC is fundamentally comparative, little is known about different comparison types driving students’ ASC construal and its impact on mental health. Therefore, we examined whether self-evaluations relative to criteria-based, social, temporal, dimensional, and counterfactual comparison standards represent independent factors that contribute to general ASC. Next, we assessed the association of general ASC and its comparison-based facets with achievement emotions and psychopathology. University students (N=348) completed an online survey of general ASC as well as subordinate comparison-based ASC facets, positive and negative achievement emotions, psychological distress, and symptoms of student burnout. We further assessed comparison frequency, student task values, and achievement levels. Factor analysis indicated that criteria-based, social, temporal, dimensional, and counterfactual standards reflect mainly distinct yet correlated comparison domains. General ASC construal was most strongly based on the criteria-based and social facets. Favourable general ASC predicted lower learning-related anxiety, psychological distress, and student burnout. Largely similar correlations emerged for all comparison-based ASC facets, whereby the criteria-based and social facets were particularly strong predictors of learning-related anxiety. Our findings support the view that ASC construal relies on comparisons with multiple standards. Criteria-based and social comparisons were particularly dominant and may be the main drivers of learning-related anxiety. Carefully designed follow-up studies with longitudinal designs and interventions are warranted
Ungewollt kinderlos – ein Massenphänomen:Interview mit Prof. Dr. Frank Tüttelmann
No full textEtwa jedes siebte Paar in Deutschland ist ungewollt kinderlos. Tendenz steigend – ungewollte Kinderlosigkeit ist ein Massenphänomen. Die Ursachen dafür sind vielfältig und etwa gleich häufig beim Mann und bei der Frau zu finden. Im Podcast erklärt Prof. Dr. Frank Tüttelmann vom Institut für Reproduktionsgenetik die vielfältigen Gründe, die vom Lebensstil über das Alter bis hin zu organischen oder hormonellen Problemen reichen. Frank Tüttelmann forscht zu den genetischen Ursachen von Unfruchtbarkeit und hat die deutschlandweit erste Professur auf diesem Fachgebiet inne. "Mit unserer Arbeit wollen wir den betroffenen Männern und Frauen eine deutlich breitere Auswertung ihrer Gene anbieten. Unser Ziel ist es, herauszufinden, welche Rolle Abweichungen bei den Genen für die ungewollte Kinderlosigkeit spielen.
Universitäres Sammlungsmanagement. Ein Werkstattbericht:Follow-up: DACH-Austausch zu digitalen Infrastrukturen
No full textNach der Auftaktveranstaltung "Alles unter einem Dach" im Jahr 2021 wurde ein produktiver Austausch über digitale Infrastrukturen für Universitätssammlungen gestartet. Weiter ging es unter dem Titel „Zeig mir Deine Datenbank“ mit einer Reihe großzügiger Einblicke zur jeweils verwendeten Software und den Erfahrungen an verschiedenen Standorten. In Gesprächen, online und bei Sammlungstreffen wurde seither stetig Interesse an dieser Form des Austauschs bekundet. Aus diesem Grunde wurde 2024 ein Follow-up ins Leben gerufen, um zu besprechen, was aus den vorgestellten Projekten wurde und wie wir die Reihe fortsetzen können.
Wie bereits bei der Auftaktveranstaltung 2021(https://sammeln.hypotheses.org/3395) stellt die Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Münster im September 2024 unter dem Titel "Universitäres Sammlungsmanagement. Ein Werkstattbericht" ihre Fortschritte und den aktuellen Stand des Sammlungsmanagements an der Universität Münster der Community vor
Unsung Heroes of Mission Bible Translation in ColonialWest Africa: Ludwig Adzaklo of the Bremen Mission in German Togoland
No full textThe Africanisation of Christianity in Africa is closely linked to the availability of the Bible in African mother tongues. However, mission-led Bible translation in Africa in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was not solely the work of European missionary linguists. Africans, such as Ludwig Adzaklo of the Bremen Mission, played essential roles in this process. Nevertheless, African translators like him were considered as mere Sprachgehilfe (language assistants) to the missionaries and not as co-translators. After a postcolonial analysis of archival data on the translation of the Old Testament into Ewe by Ludwig Adzaklo and Jakob Spieth, this study argues that Adzaklo was not just Spieth's Sprachgehilfe but a co-translator on the project. Being referred to as Spieth's Sprachgehilfe was a colonial-missionary label that denied Adzaklo's agency in mission-led Bible translation in Africa. Therefore, the study suggests that Adzaklo should be viewed as an early Ewe mother-tongue Bible translator in the history of West African Christianity
Self-Organization of Micro- and Nanosystems in the Form of Patterns
No full textIn this work, the peculiarities of self-organization of patterned micro- and nanosystems under near-equilibrium condensation conditions were consistently considered. The criteria for stationarity of near-equilibrium condensation were introduced, and interrelations between the condensate local growth kinetics and the corresponding local technological parameters were described. Dissipative self-organization of small supersaturations in physically and chemically active medium-condensate systems were compared. The effectiveness of the unification of dissipative self-organization of small supersaturations and conservative self-organization of patterned micro- and nanosystems formation
was shown, which forms the basis of a new concept of complete self-organized systems