602 research outputs found
Letter from S. C. Grun to P. M. Colson
No full textLetter from S. C. Grun to P. M. Colson. The one-page handwritten note is dated 18 May 1907
Trattamento con Fenossi-Metil-Penicillina Potassio nel suino con infezione da Streptococcus suis Tipo 2.
No full textConstructional design of echinoid endoskeleton: main structural components and their potential for biomimetic applications
No full textThe endoskeleton of echinoderms (Deuterostomia: Echinodermata) is of mesodermal origin and consists of cells, organic components, as well as an inorganic mineral matrix. The echinoderm skeleton forms a complex lattice-system, which represents a model structure for naturally inspired engineering in terms of construction, mechanical behaviour and functional design. The sea urchin (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) endoskeleton consists of three main structural components: test, dental apparatus and accessory appendages. Although, all parts of the echinoid skeleton consist of the same basic material, their microstructure displays a great potential in meeting several mechanical needs according to a direct and clear structure-function relationship. This versatility has allowed the echinoid skeleton to adapt to different activities such as structural support, defence, feeding, burrowing and cleaning. Although, constrained by energy and resource efficiency, many of the structures found in the echinoid skeleton are optimized in terms of functional performances. Therefore, these structures can be used as role models for bio-inspired solutions in various industrial sectors such as building constructions, robotics, biomedical and material engineering. The present review provides an overview of previous mechanical and biomimetic research on the echinoid endoskeleton, describing the current state of knowledge and providing a reference for future studies
Assessment of potential advantages of relevant ions for particle therapy: A model based study
No full textPurpose: Different ion types offer different physical and biological advantages for therapeutic applications. The purpose of this work is to assess the advantages of the most commonly used ions in particle therapy, i.e., carbon (12C), helium (4He), and protons (1H) for different treatment scenarios. Methods: A treatment planning analysis based on idealized target geometries was performed using the treatment planning software TRiP98. For the prediction of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) that is required for biological optimization in treatment planning the local effect model (LEM IV) was used. To compare the three ion types, the peak-to-entrance ratio (PER) was determined for the physical dose (PERPHYS), the RBE (PERRBE), and the RBE-weighted dose (PERBIO) resulting for different dose-levels, field configurations, and tissue types. Further, the dose contribution to artificial organs at risk (OAR) was assessed and a comparison of the dose distribution for the different ion types was performed for a patient with chordoma of the skull base. Results: The study showed that the advantages of the ions depend on the physical and biological properties and the interplay of both. In the case of protons, the consideration of a variable RBE instead of the clinically applied generic RBE of 1.1 indicates an advantage in terms of an increased PERRBE for the analyzed configurations. Due to the fact that protons show a somewhat better PERPHYS compared to helium and carbon ions whereas helium shows a higher PERRBE compared to protons, both protons and helium ions show a similar RBE-weighted dose distribution. Carbon ions show the largest variation of the PERRBE with tissue type and a benefit for radioresistant tumor types due to their higher LET. Furthermore, in the case of a two-field irradiation, an additional gain in terms of PERBIO is observed when using an orthogonal field configuration for carbon ions as compared to opposing fields. In contrast, for protons, the PERBIO is almost independent on the field configuration. Concerning the artificial lateral OAR, the volume receiving 20% of the prescribed RBE-weighted dose (V20) was reduced by over 35% using helium ions and by over 40% using carbon ions compared to protons. The analysis of the patient plan showed that protons, helium, and carbon ions are similar in terms of target coverage whereas the dose to the surrounding tissue is increasing from carbon ions toward protons. The mean dose to the brain stem can be reduced by more than 55% when using helium ions and by further 25% when using carbon ions instead of protons. Conclusions: The comparison of the PERRBE and PERPHYS of the three ion types suggests a strong dependence of the advantages of the three ions on the dose-level, tissue type, and field configuration. In terms of conformity, i.e., dose to the normal tissue, a clear gain is expected using carbon or helium ions compared to protons
Physical and biological factors determining the effective proton range
No full textPurpose: Proton radiotherapy is rapidly becoming a standard treatment option for cancer. However, even though experimental data show an increase of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) with depth, particularly at the distal end of the treatment field, a generic RBE of 1.1 is currently used in proton radiotherapy. This discrepancy might affect the effective penetration depth of the proton beam and thus the dose to the surrounding tissue and organs at risk. The purpose of this study was thus to analyze the impact of a tissue and dose dependent RBE of protons on the effective range of the proton beam in comparison to the range based on a generic RBE of 1.1. Methods: Factors influencing the biologically effective proton range were systematically analyzed by means of treatment planning studies using the Local Effect Model (LEM IV) and the treatment planning software TRiP98. Special emphasis was put on the comparison of passive and active range modulation techniques. Results: Beam energy, tissue type, and dose level significantly affected the biological extension of the treatment field at the distal edge. Up to 4 mm increased penetration depth as compared to the depth based on a constant RBE of 1.1. The extension of the biologically effective range strongly depends on the initial proton energy used for the most distal layer of the field and correlates with the width of the distal penumbra. Thus, the range extension, in general, was more pronounced for passive as compared to active range modulation systems, whereas the maximum RBE was higher for active systems. Conclusions: The analysis showed that the physical characteristics of the proton beam in terms of the width of the distal penumbra have a great impact on the RBE gradient and thus also the biologically effective penetration depth of the beam. © 2013 American Association of Physicists in Medicine
LTER_Polana-Hukavsky_grun temperature precipitation 2011-2017
No full textTemperature (daily average) and precipitation (daily sum) from site LTER_EU_005 Polana Biosphere Reserve (Hukavsky grun) for period 2011-2017. Data are from meadow inside mixed beech forest from at altitude 840 m
Mastogloia smithii var lacustris Grun.: A Structural Engineer of Calcareous Mats in Karstic Subtropical Wetlands
No full textMastogloia smithii var. lacustris Grun. is the dominant diatom in periphyton mats of the calcareous, freshwater to brackish wetlands of Caribbean coasts. Despite oligotrophy, frequent desiccation, high irradiance and temperatures, and occasional fire, periphyton communities in these wetlands can produce over 2000 g m-2 of organic biomass, prompting studies that examine stress resistance and maintenance of algal mats under extreme conditions. The diatom flora inhabiting periphyton mats from over 500 sites in the Florida Everglades and similar wetlands in Belize, Jamaica and Mexico was examined, and M. smithii var. lacustris was a persistent component, present in 97% of samples and comprising up to 80% of a diverse diatom assemblage. Valves at various stages of division were observed encased in extracellular polysaccharide that exceeded the cell volume; SEM observations confirm issuance from mantle pores resulting in suspension of the cell in a matrix dominated by cyanobacterial filaments. Using corresponding biophysical data from the collection sites, we define the optima for M. smithii var. lacustris along salinity, pH, phosphorus, and water depth gradients. Experiments revealed a collapse of M. smithii var. lacustris populations in the presence of above-ambient phosphorus concentrations and a rapid resurgence upon reflooding of desiccated mats. This widespread diatom taxon appears to play a critical role similar to that of cyanobacteria in microbial mats, and its disappearance in the presence of enrichment threatens biodiversity and the natural function in these systems that are increasingly influenced by urbanizatio
Meteoroids - A potential hazard for interplanetary and earth-orbiting spacecraft
No full textLandgraf M, Jehn R, Flury W, Dikarev V, Grun E. Meteoroids - A potential hazard for interplanetary and earth-orbiting spacecraft. ESA BULLETIN-EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY. 2003;(113):58-61
Bhimamycin A similar to E and bhimanone: Isolation, structure elucidation and biological activity of novel quinone antibiotics from a terrestrial streptomycete
No full textFrom the ethyl acetate extract of a terrestrial Streptomycete isolate, five new quinone antibiotics, bhimamycin A (2a), B (2b), C (3c), D (5a), E (7) and the new tetralone bhimanone (8) were isolated together with the known microbial products chrysophanol (1a), aloesaponarin II (1b), 3,8-dihydroxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (1c), adenosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, phenylacetamide, and 2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol. The structures of these natural products were deduced from the spectral data and confirmed by comparison with related compounds from the literature and by synthesis
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