2,896 research outputs found
A projection specific logic to sampling visual inputs in mouse superior colliculus
Get PDFUsing sensory information to trigger different behaviors relies on circuits that pass through brain regions. The rules by which parallel inputs are routed to downstream targets are poorly understood. The superior colliculus mediates a set of innate behaviors, receiving input from >30 retinal ganglion cell types and projecting to behaviorally important targets including the pulvinar and parabigeminal nucleus. Combining transsynaptic circuit tracing with in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological recordings, we observed a projection-specific logic where each collicular output pathway sampled a distinct set of retinal inputs. Neurons projecting to the pulvinar or the parabigeminal nucleus showed strongly biased sampling from four cell types each, while six others innervated both pathways. The visual response properties of retinal ganglion cells correlated well with those of their disynaptic targets. These findings open the possibility that projection-specific sampling of retinal inputs forms a basis for the selective triggering of behaviors by the superior colliculus.sponsorship: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek G094616N Karl FarrowFP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions 631909 Karl FarrowH2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions [PEGASUS]2 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship 12S7917N Katja ReinhardChina Scholarship Council Chen Li (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek|G094616N, FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions|631909, H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions|12S7917N, China Scholarship Council)status: Publishe
Measuring Vulnerability to Poverty Using Long-Term Panel Data
No full textMeasuring Vulnerability to Poverty Using Long-Term Panel Data Author & abstract Download & other version 16 References 4 Citations Related works & more Corrections Author Listed: Katja Landau (Georg-August-University Göttingen) Stephan Klasen (Georg-August-University Göttingen) Walter Zucchini (Georg-August-University Göttingen) Registered: Stephan Klasen Abstract We investigate the accuracy of ex ante assessments of vulnerability to income poverty using cross-sectional data and panel data. We use long-term panel data from Germany and apply di fferent regression models, based on household covariates and previous-year equivalence income, to classify a household as vulnerable or not. Predictive performance is assessed using the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC), which takes account of false positive as well as true positive rates. Estimates based on cross-sectional data are much less accurate than those based on panel data, but for Germany, the accuracy of vulnerability predictions is limited even when panel data are used. In part this low accuracy is due to low poverty incidence and high mobility in and out of poverty
Resilience as a positive lever: An analysis of sensemaking and meaningful work in the context of organizational change
No full textAuthor Katja SchwarzMasterarbeit Johannes Kepler Universität Linz 2024Arbeit nach Ablauf der Sperre auf den öffentlichen PCs in den Bibliotheken der JKU+Medizin abrufba
Measuring Vulnerability to Poverty Using Long-Term Panel Data
No full textMeasuring Vulnerability to Poverty Using Long-Term Panel Data Author & abstract Download & other version 16 References 4 Citations Related works & more Corrections Author Listed: Katja Landau (Georg-August-University Göttingen) Stephan Klasen (Georg-August-University Göttingen) Walter Zucchini (Georg-August-University Göttingen) Registered: Stephan Klasen Abstract We investigate the accuracy of ex ante assessments of vulnerability to income poverty using cross-sectional data and panel data. We use long-term panel data from Germany and apply di fferent regression models, based on household covariates and previous-year equivalence income, to classify a household as vulnerable or not. Predictive performance is assessed using the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC), which takes account of false positive as well as true positive rates. Estimates based on cross-sectional data are much less accurate than those based on panel data, but for Germany, the accuracy of vulnerability predictions is limited even when panel data are used. In part this low accuracy is due to low poverty incidence and high mobility in and out of poverty
Resilience as a positive lever: An analysis of sensemaking and meaningful work in the context of organizational change
No full textAuthor Katja SchwarzMasterarbeit Johannes Kepler Universität Linz 2024Arbeit nach Ablauf der Sperre auf den öffentlichen PCs in den Bibliotheken der JKU+Medizin abrufba
Transmucosal nasal drug delivery : systemic bioavailability of nasally applied midazolam
Get PDFTransmucosal nasal drug delivery is a drug delivery option for challenging clinical situations where common drug administrations (e.g., intravenous, intramuscular, or oral) are inapplicable. For drugs with constricted oral bioavailability, due to degradation in the intestinal tract or hepatic first-pass metabolism, transmucosal nasal delivery is a convenient alternative to intravenous and intramuscular drug administration. The considerable blood flow, actually responsible for breath conditioning, benefits efficient systemic drug uptake and provides direct access to the systemic circulation for transmucosal absorbed drugs. Often, in nasal drug delivery the limited nasal capacity is disregarded and the instilled volumes exceed the limited capacity of the nose. Consequently, the administered preparations are partially swallowed and resulting pharmacokinetic characteristics refer to a combination of transmucosal nasal and gastrointestinal drug absorption. Due to low midazolam concentration, the commercially available preparations for intravenous administration (e.g. Dormicum , Roche) is inappropriate for transmucosal nasal midazolam delivery. For the optimization of transmucosal nasal midazolam delivery minimized administration volumes are essential to prevent swallowing of nasally administered preparations. Therefore, nasal preparations with enhanced midazolam concentrations need to be provided. In Project I different preparations for transmucosal nasal midazolam delivery were developed. The impact of vehicle and application modality on the pharmacokinetics of nasally applied midazolam was studied by administration of the developed preparations to healthy volunteers (Project II). The benefit of two nasal midazolam preparations for procedural anxiolysis in anxious patients undergoing MRI examinations was compared (Project III). Project I: Midazolam solubilization with RMβCD (randomized methylated-β-cyclodextrin, a cyclodextrin derivative) facilitated compounding of midazolam preparations adjusted to the limited volumetric capacity of the nose. RMβCD (added in equimolar or higher concentration to solubilize midazolam) reduced midazolam release in drug release studies with semi-permeable cellophane membranes (in vitro). Stability data affirmed shelf life of at leastmonths for RMβCD containing nasal midazolam preparations. Addition of chitosan hydrochloride (penetration enhancer) affected midazolam stability; therefore shelf life of the chitosan containing nasal midazolam preparation was reduced. The developed preparations for transmucosal nasal midazolam delivery were the basis to study the influence of the vehicle and the application modality on pharmacokinetics and systemic bioavailability of nasally applied midazolam (Project II).
Project II: Pharmacokinetic characteristics following nasal application of 1 mg midazolam
(Preparation 1, 2, and 3) and 3 mg midazolam (Preparation 4 and 5) were compared with
pharmacokinetic characteristics of 1 mg i.v. administered midazolam (Dormicum®, Roche). The
impact of RMbCD (solubilizer), chitosan hydrochloride (penetration enhancer) and the application
modality (one- versus two-sided nasal administration) was investigated in this open-label study with
healthy volunteers. Volunteers were asked to describe nasal midazolam administration and to
classify local irritation after nasal midazolam administration. Pharmacologic effects were assessed
by computer-controlled self-adjusting reaction time test (CRTT, recording reaction time and
interstimulus interval) and visual analog scale (VAS). Blood samples were serially obtained until
6 hours after midazolam administration. Serum concentrations of midazolam and two metabolites
(a-hydroxymidazolam and 4-hydroxymidazolam) were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass
spectrometry (LC-MS). Non-compartment and two-compartment pharmacokinetic modeling was
performed to estimate pharmacokinetic parameters. Bioequivalence testing was performed
according to the requirements of EMEA (European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal
Products).
Systemic bioavailability of nasally applied midazolam ranged from 78% (Preparation 5) to 93%
(Preparation 2), differences of bioavailability were not significant. After nasal administration of 1 mg
midazolam by Preparation 1, 2, and 3 mean Cmax was, 28.1 ± 9.1 mg/l, 30.1 ± 6.6 mg/l and
28.9 ± 5.4 mg/l, respectively. After nasal administration of 3 mg midazolam by Preparation 4 and 5
Cmax was, 72.6 ± 18.2 mg/l, and 82.2 ± 15.8 mg/l, respectively. Following nasal midazolam
administration tmax was between 7.1 ± 0.6 minutes (Preparation 5) and 11.7 ± 2.4 minutes
(Preparation 4). All tested nasal administration modalities to deliver 1 mg midazolam proved
bioequivalence. For Preparation 4 and Preparation 5 bioequivalence was not confirmed. The serum
concentration time profiles of the midazolam metabolites (a-hydroxymidazolam and 4-
hydroxymidazolam) demonstrated exclusive transmucosal absorption of nasally applied
midazolam. Swallowing of nasally delivered preparations was prevented and hepatic first-pass
effect successfully circumvented. Consequently, the assessed pharmacokinetic parameters
characterized pure transmucosal nasal midazolam delivery.
Neither RMbCD (equimolar to midazolam) nor application modality (one- or two-sided) changed
absorption kinetics of nasally administered midazolam, whereas chitosan hydrochloride promoted
absorption of nasally applied midazolam. Significant higher midazolam serum concentrations were
achieved faster. The outcome of the pharmacokinetic study emphasizes the decisive role of
minimized nasal application volume to prevent swallowing of nasally applied preparations and to
provide for exclusive transmucosal midazolam absorption.
Project III: In this randomized multicenter trial with 110 anxious and/or claustrophobic patients
undergoing MRI examinations, two nasal preparations for low-dose midazolam delivery,
Midazolam MD Nasal Spray 5 mg/ml (MD) and Midazolam UD Nasal Spray 1 mg (UD), were
compared. Nasal administration of 1 mg or 2 mg midazolam was provided before MRI examination.
Within both groups anxiety reduction was significant, but there was no difference in anxiety
reduction between the MD and UD group. Local irritation following administration of UD nasal spray
was slightly more intense than local irritation after administration of MD nasal spray.
Nasal delivery of low-dose midazolam is a safe therapy to provide procedural anxiolysis in patients
undergoing MRI examinations. The two compared low-dose midazolam preparations for
transmucosal nasal delivery of midazolam proved therapeutic equivalence. Hence, anxious and/or
claustrophobic patients equally benefit from procedural anxiolysis during MRI examinations
following administration of low-dose midazolam by MD nasal spray or UD nasal spray. Concerning
convenient handling, administration to laying patients, and hygienic aspects the new midazolam
nasal spray (UD) is superior to the commonly used midazolam multidose nasal spray (MD).
Overall, the presented nasal preparations facilitated characterization of exclusive transmucosal
nasal absorbed midazolam. In vivo neither RMbCD (equimolar to midazolam) nor administration
modality changed the pharmacokinetic profile of nasally applied midazolam. Chitosan
hydrochloride promoted nasal midazolam absorption but clinical relevance (e.g., for the treatment
of status epilepticus) is to be verified in further clinical investigations. High systemic bioavailability
of nasally applied midazolam demonstrated the veritable potential of transmucosal nasal drug
delivery as alternative to invasive drug administration
Li-ioniakkujen positiivielektrodimateriaalien elinikä ja kierrätys
No full textDefence is held on 8.4.2022 12:00 – 15:00
https://aalto.zoom.us/j/61927475307Li-ion batteries are a primary power source for portable consumer electronics, such as mobile phones and laptops. In addition, they power electric vehicles (EVs) and can be used as a stationary energy storage for renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. Lately, the demand for Li-ion batteries has increased rapidly due to the electrification of transportation, and this has induced challenges related to the sustainability of material production. In this thesis, two major factors in improving the sustainability of Li-ion battery positive electrode materials, cycle life and recycling, are investigated. The thesis focuses on understanding, how dopants or impurities affect the positive electrode materials at the different stages of their life from synthesis to recycling.
First, adding Mg doping to LiCoO2 in different synthesis stages was investigated. Adding the doping in lithiation step was observed to enhance even Mg distribution to the particles and to improve the morphology, which reduced the increase in the charge transfer resistance and led to the improved cycle life. Precursor doping, on the other hand, induced Mg distribution on the particle surface and decreased the stacking order in the crystal, which decreased the cycle life. Li excess in the samples was observed to decrease the rate capability of all the materials regardless the doping stage but not affect the cyclability of lithiation-doped LiCoO2. In addition to doping with a single element, dual doping of LiCoO2 with Mg and Ti was investigated and compared to the Li excess. The Mg-Ti doping was observed to improve the electrochemical performance of LiCoO2 by enhancing the electric conductivity and suppressing the increase of the charge transfer resistance. Li excess was observed to decrease the cycle life in the voltage range of 3.0–4.2 V.
The demand for Li-ion battery raw materials is rapidly increasing alongside the amount of generated waste batteries. In the state-of-art battery recycling processes, all battery parts are recycled at the same process, which leads to impurity metals mixing with the electrode materials. To understand the effect of the metal impurities on the recycling, Li-ion battery waste was recycled using a hydrometallurgical method, and the regenerated chemicals were used in the synthesis of LiCoO2 whose electrochemical performance was then investigated. Cu was observed to be a main impurity in the process, and it decreased the initial capacity of the synthesized materials. However, the regenerated LiCoO2s decreased the increase in impedance, which led to improvements in the rate capability and cycle life.
Alternative methods for the state-of-art recycling methods were discussed as well. In this work, a new method to regenerate spent Li-ion battery positive electrode by electrochemical re-lithiation without removing the active material from the current collector was investigated. The effect of doping on the reusability was investigated as well, and Mg-Ti doping was observed to enhance it. The regenerated materials had a slightly poorer cyclability compared to the fresh materials, which was attributed to the decline in the stacking order and the increase in impedance.Li-ioniakku on yleisin kannettavassa elektroniikassa, kuten matkapuhelimissa ja kannettavissa tietokoneissa, käytetty akkutyyppi. Lisäksi niitä käytetään energialähteenä sähköajoneuvoissa sekä uusiutuvien energialähteiden, kuten aurinko- ja tuulivoiman, energiavarastoina. Liikenteen sähköistyessä viime aikoina Li-ioniakkujen kysyntä on kasvanut voimakkaasti, mikä on johtanut haasteisiin materiaalien kestävässä tuottamisessa. Tässä työssä tutkitaan kahta Li-ioniakkujen positiivielektrodimateriaalien kestävään tuottamiseen liittyvää tekijää: materiaalien elinikää ja kierrätettävyyttä. Työssä pyritään erityisesti ymmärtämään, miten seostusaineet tai epäpuhtaudet vaikuttavat positiivielektrodimateriaaleihin niiden eri elämänvaiheissa synteesistä kierrätykseen.
Ensimmäiseksi työssä tutkittiin Mg-seostuksen lisäämistä LiCoO2:iin eri synteesivaiheissa. Seostuksen lisäämisen litiointivaiheessa huomattiin edistävän Mg:n jakautumista partikkeleihin tasaisesti sekä parantavan morfologiaa, mikä vähensi materiaalien varauksensiirtovastuksen kasvua ja pidensi elinikää. Prekursorin seostaminen sen sijaan johti Mg:n kerääntymiseen partikkelien pinnoille ja heikensi kiteiden järjestäytyneisyyttä, mikä lyhensi materiaalin elinikää. Näytteiden ylilitioinnin huomattiin heikentävän kaikkien materiaalien suorituskykyä seostuksen lisäämisvaiheesta riippumatta, mutta se ei vaikuttanut litiointivaiheessa seostettujen LiCoO2:n elinikään. Yhden seostusaineen lisäksi työssä tutkittiin myös LiCoO2:n kaksoisseostusta ja sitä verrattiin ylilitiointiin. Mg-Ti-seostuksen huomattiin parantavan LiCoO2:n sähkökemiallista suorituskykyä niin että sähkönjohtavuus lisääntyi ja varauksensiirtovastuksen kasvu pieneni. Ylilitiointi lyhensi elinikää, kun materiaalia ikäännytettiin 3.0–4.2 V jänniteikkunassa.
Li-ioniakkujen raaka-aineiden kysyntä ja akkujätteen määrä kasvaa jyrkästi. Nykyisissä akkukierrätysmenetelmissä kaikki akun osat kierrätetään samassa prosessissa, mikä johtaa elektrodimateriaalien ja epäpuhtausmetallien sekoittumiseen. Metalliepäpuhtauksien kierrätykseen vaikuttavien seikkojen ymmärtämiseksi Li-ioniakkujäte kierrätettiin tässä työssä käyttäen hydrometallurgista kierrätysmenetelmää, ja talteen kerätyt materiaalit käytettiin LiCoO2:n syntetisoimiseen, jonka sähkökemiallista toimintaa tutkittiin. Prosessin pääepäpuhtauden huomattiin olevan Cu, joka laski syntetisoitujen materiaalien alkukapasiteettia. Uudelleensyntetisoidut LiCoO2:t kuitenkin myös laskivat impedanssin kasvua, mikä johti suorituskyvyn ja eliniän paranemiseen.
Vaihtoehtoisia menetelmiä nykyisille kierrätysmenetelmille käsiteltiin myös. Työssä tutkittiin uutta tapaa elvyttää käytettyjä positiivielektrodeja Li-ioniakusta uudelleenlitioimalla ne sähkökemiallisesti ilman aktiivisen materiaalin irrottamista virrankerääjästä. Seostuksen vaikutusta uudelleenkäytettävyyteen tutkittiin myös, ja Mg-Ti-seostuksen huomattiin parantavan sitä. Elvytettyjen materiaalien elinikä oli hieman huonompi kuin tuoreiden materiaalien, minkä pääteltiin johtuvan rakenteen järjestäytyneisyyden heikkenemisestä ja impedanssin kasvusta
Stochastic Mortality, Macroeconomic Risks, and Life Insurer Solvency
Get PDFMotivated by a recent demographic study establishing a link between macroeconomic fluctuations and the mortality index kt in the Lee-Carter model, we assess the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations on the solvency of a life insurance company. Liabilities in our stochastic simulation framework are driven by a GDP-linked variant of the Lee-Carter mortality model. Furthermore, interest rates and stock prices are allowed to react to changes in GDP, which itself is modeled as a stochastic process. Our results show that insolvency probabilities are significantly higher when the reaction of mortality rates to changes in GDP is incorporated.Life insurance, asset-liability management, stochastic mortality, Lee-Carter model, business cycle
"Meghillàt Estèr". Toward a Transcultural Concept of Religion in Katja Petrowskaja\u27s Novel Vielleicht Esther
No full textIl presente contributo intende rileggere il romanzo Vielleicht Esther (2014) di Katja Petrowskaja proponendo come chiave di lettura la Meghillàt Estèr della Bibbia ebraica. Si vuole dimostrare come, attraverso questo implicito ma preciso riferimento intertestuale, l’autrice affronti nel romanzo anche una riflessione su una possibile transreligione capace di rispecchiare il contesto transculturale contemporaneo.This contribution analyzes Katja Petrowskaja’s novel Vielleicht Esther (2014) by proposing the Megillàt Estèr from the Hebrew Bible as a key interpretative lens. The aim is to demonstrate how, through this subtle yet deliberate intertextual reference, the author weaves into the novel a reflection on the notion of a transreligion, one that resonates with and articulates the complexities of our contemporary transcultural landscape
Swift/XRT follow-up observation on IGR J17177-3656 at soft X-rays
No full textAuthors: - S. Zhang, Y. P. Chen, J. Li, J. M. Wang, S. N. Zhang, D. F. Torres, D. Hadasch, N. Rea, C. Sanchez-Fernandez, E. Kuulkers, M. Cadolle Bel, P. Kretschmar, C. Ferrigno, E. Bozzo, I. Caballero, J. Rodriguez, V. Beckmann, P. Jonker, L. Kuiper, Katja Pottschmidt, S. Migliari, F. Capitanio, L. Natalucci, M. Del Santo, K. Watanabe, R. Wijnands, S. P. Drave, P. R. Hartog, I. Kreykenbohm, G. Puehlhofer, V. Sguera, A. Frankowskihttps://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=322
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