123 research outputs found
EU-Projekt : europäische Autofahrer und Verkehrssicherheit ; Befragungsergebnisse im Zeitvergleich
No full textDer Autor berichtet über den Stand und erste Auswertungen zum EU-Projekt "Soziale Einstellungen zum Straßenverkehrsrisiko in Europa" ("SARTRE 2"). Hierbei handelt es sich um eine Wiederholungsbefragung von Autofahrern in fast allen Ländern der EU und einigen weiteren Ländern.The author reports on the status of and the initial evaluations from the EU project "Social Attitudes on Road Traffic Risks in Europe" ("SARTRE 2"). This project consists of the repeat polling of car drivers in practically all the countries in the EU as well as in a number of other countries
Evidence of viral adaptation to HLA class I-restricted immune pressure in chronic hepatitis C virus infection
No full textCellular immune responses are an important correlate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection outcome. These responses are governed by the host's human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, and HLA-restricted viral escape mutants are a critical aspect of this host-virus interaction. We examined the driving forces of HCV evolution by characterizing the in vivo selective pressure(s) exerted on single amino acid residues within nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) by the HLA types present in two host populations. Associations between polymorphisms within NS3 and HLA class I alleles were assessed in 118 individuals from Western Australia and Switzerland with chronic hepatitis C infection, of whom 82 (69%) were coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus. The levels and locations of amino acid polymorphisms exhibited within NS3 were remarkably similar between the two cohorts and revealed regions under functional constraint and selective pressures. We identified specific HCV mutations within and flanking published epitopes with the correct HLA restriction and predicted escaped amino acid. Additional HLA-restricted mutations were identified that mark putative epitopes targeted by cell-mediated immune responses. This analysis of host-virus interaction reveals evidence of HCV adaptation to HLA class I-restricted immune pressure and identifies in vivo targets of cellular immune responses at the population level
Constrained pattern of viral evolution in acute and early HCV infection limits viral plasticity
No full textCellular immune responses during acute Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection are a known correlate of infection outcome. Viral adaptation to these responses via mutation(s) within CD8+ T-cell epitopes allows these viruses to subvert host immune control. This study examined HCV evolution in 21 HCV genotype 1-infected subjects to characterise the level of viral adaptation during acute and early HCV infection. Of the total mutations observed 25% were within described CD8+ T-cell epitopes or at viral adaptation sites. Most mutations were maintained into the chronic phase of HCV infection (75%). The lack of reversion of adaptations and high proportion of silent substitutions suggests that HCV has structural and functional limitations that constrain evolution. These results were compared to the pattern of viral evolution observed in 98 subjects during a similar phase in HIV infection from a previous study. In contrast to HCV, evolution during acute HIV infection is marked by high levels of amino acid change relative to silent substitutions, including a higher proportion of adaptations, likely reflecting strong and continued CD8+ T-cell pressure combined with greater plasticity of the virus. Understanding viral escape dynamics for these two viruses is important for effective T cell vaccine design
Exploiting knowledge of immune selection in HIV-1 to detect HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses
No full textSince HLA-restricted cytotoxic T-cell responses select specific polymorphisms in HIV-1 sequences and HLA diversity is relatively static in human populations, we investigated the use of peptide epitopes based on sites of HLA-associated adaptation in HIV-1 sequences to stimulate and detect T-cell responses ex vivo. These "HLA-optimised" peptides captured more HIV-1 Nef-specific responses compared with overlapping peptides of a single consensus sequence, in interferon-γ enzyme linked immunospot assays. Sites of immune selection can reveal more immunogenic epitopes in HLA-diverse populations and offer insights into the nature of HLA-epitope targeting, which could be applied in vaccine design
Energetische Sanierung von Gebäuden – Beispielhafte Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse aus Demonstrationsprojekten des Nichtwohnungsbaus
No full textDie Energie-Zielwerte für Demonstrationsvorhaben aus dem BMWi-Förderkonzept EnOB, Forschung für Energie optimiertes Bauen, unterschreiten die Primärenergie-Anforderungen für Nichtwohngebäude im Neubaubereich (EnBAU) und für Sanierungen im Gebäudebestand (EnSan) um mindestens 50%. Diese Anforderungen stehen seit dem Inkrafttreten der EnEV 2007 in Verbindung mit dem Nachweisverfahren der DIN V 18599, das den Nutz-/ End- und Primärenergieaufwand für Heizung, Kühlung, Lüftung, Trinkwarmwasser und Beleuchtung mitberücksichtigt.
Im Rahmen der EnOB-Begleitforschung unter Beteiligung der Universität Wuppertal, Universität Dresden und dem Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) wurden dazu 8 Demoprojekte aus den Forschungsfeldern EnSan (5) und EnBau (3) mit der Software EnEV+, Version 2.4.4 der ennovatis GmbH berechnet (Ausnahme: Das Projekt Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg wurde extern mit der Software 5S AG berechnet)
Full-length characterization of hepatitis C virus subtype 3a reveals novel hypervariable regions under positive selection during acute infection.
No full textHepatitis C virus subtype 3a is a highly prevalent and globally distributed strain that is often associated with infection via injection drug use. This subtype exhibits particular phenotypic characteristics. In spite of this, detailed genetic analysis of this subtype has rarely been performed. We performed full-length viral sequence analysis in 18 patients with chronic HCV subtype 3a infection and assessed genomic viral variability in comparison to other HCV subtypes. Two novel regions of intragenotypic hypervariability within the envelope protein E2, of HCV genotype 3a, were identified. We named these regions HVR495 and HVR575. They consisted of flanking conserved hydrophobic amino acids and central variable residues. A 5-amino-acid insertion found only in genotype 3a and a putative glycosylation site is contained within HVR575. Evolutionary analysis of E2 showed that positively selected sites within genotype 3a infection were largely restricted to HVR1, HVR495, and HVR575. Further analysis of clonal viral populations within single hosts showed that viral variation within HVR495 and HVR575 were subject to intrahost positive selecting forces. Longitudinal analysis of four patients with acute HCV subtype 3a infection sampled at multiple time points showed that positively selected mutations within HVR495 and HVR575 arose early during primary infection. HVR495 and HVR575 were not present in HCV subtypes 1a, 1b, 2a, or 6a. Some variability that was not subject to positive selection was present in subtype 4a HVR575. Further defining the functional significance of these regions may have important implications for genotype 3a E2 virus-receptor interactions and for vaccine studies that aim to induce cross-reactive anti-E2 antibodies
Thermal performance of a naturally ventilated building using a combined algorithm of probabilistic occupant behaviour and deterministic heat and mass balance models
No full textThis study explores the role of occupant behaviour in relation to natural ventilation and its effects on summer thermal performance of naturally ventillated buildings. We develop a behavioural algorithm (the Yun algorithm) representing probablistic occupant behaviour and implement this within a dynamic energy simulation tool. A core of this algorithm is the use of Markov chain and Monte Carlo methods in order to integrate probablistic window use models into dynamic energy simulation procedures. The comparison between predicted and monitored window use patterns shows good agreement. Performance of the Yn algorithm is demonstrated for active, medium and passive window users and a range of office constructions. Results indicate, for example, that in some cases, the temperature of an office occupied by the active window user in summer is up to 2.6ºC lower than that for the passive window user. A comparison is made with results from an alernative bahavioural algorithm developed by Humphreys [H.B. Rijal, P. Tuohy, M.A. Humphreys, J.F. Nicol, A. Samual, J. Clarke, Using results from field surveys to predict the effect of open windows on thermal comfort and energy use in buildings, Energy and Buildings 39(7)(2007) 823-836.]. In general, the two algorithms lead to similar predictions, but the results suggest that the Yun algorithm better reflects the observed time of day effects on window use (i.e. the increased probability of action on arrival)
Energy efficient office buildings with passive cooling – Results and experiences from a research and demonstration programme
No full textTo gain access to the energy use in office build-ings, the German Federal Ministry for Economy 1995 launched an intensive research and dem-onstration programme. In advance of the 2002 EU energy performance directive a limited pri-mary energy coefficient of about 100 kWhm-2a-1 as a goal for the complete building services technology was postulated (HVAC + lighting). Further condition was that active cooling be avoided. Techniques like natural or mechanical night ventilation or heat removal by slap cooling with vertical ground pipes were applied as well as earth-to-air heat exchangers in the ventilation system. An accompanying research was estab-lished to keep track of the results and lessons learned from about 22 demonstration buildings realized and monitored until end of 2004. As one outcome this paper summarizes the energy performance of a selection of characteristic buildings together with an overview on the summer thermal comfort situations achieved. 1
Limited overlap in HLA-associated viral diversity between hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 and 3
No full textNo abstract availabl
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