294 research outputs found
(Costa) among turtles, beaches and oceans
No full textFigure 1. Lateral view of Stomatolepas praegustator Pilsbry (YPM IZ 47956), from inside the gullet of a loggerhead turtle, Wassaw Island, Georgia, USA. Diameter 7.36 mm.Published as part of Pinou, T., Lazo-Wasem, E.A., Dion, K. & Zardus, J.D., 2013, Six degrees of separation in barnacles? Assessing genetic variability in the sea-turtle epibiont Stomatolepas elegans (Costa) among turtles, beaches and oceans, pp. 2193-2212 in Journal of Natural History 47 (33-34) on page 2194, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.798701, http://zenodo.org/record/519753
Private health insurance in social health insurance countries: Market outcomes and policy implications
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Health Insurance Reform in the Netherlands
No full textKrankenversicherung, Reform, Gesundheitsreform, Niederlande, Health insurance, Reform, Health care reform, Netherlands
Acceptable costs and risk adjustment: policy choices and ethical trade-offs
No full textThe main objective of risk adjustment in systems of regulated competition on health insurance markets is the removal of incentives for undesirable risk selection. We introduce a simple conceptual framework to clarify how the definition of "acceptable costs" and the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate risk adjusters imply difficult ethical trade-offs between equity, avoidance of undesirable risk selection and cost-effectiveness. Focusing on the situation in Belgium, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands and Switzerland, we show how differences in the importance attached to solidarity and in the beliefs about market efficiency, have led to different decisions with respect to the definition of the basic benefits package, the choice of risk-adjusters, the possibilities of managed care, the degree of consumer choice and the relative importance of income-related financing sources in the overall system.
Atomic Force Microscopy of Nanoparticles and Biological Cells
No full textNanoparticles are of great interest in science and industrial application. The high surface to volume ratio offer very distinct physical properties compared to their corresponding bulk material. One of the most powerful tools to investigate nanoparticles and generally the nanoworld is the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). This instrument offers unique applications for the analysis of nanoparticles, from imaging to manipulation up to assignment of their intrinsic physical properties. It also enables to perform experiments in various environments from liquids to ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) and temperatures down to the low Kelvin regime. The following presented thesis is structured into three parts. In the first part, the retention properties of calcium fluoride (CaF2) nanoparticles on mica and human tooth substrate in liquid and at room temperature were discussed. These nanoparticles are promising candidates as additives in dental care products, which could serve as possible fluoride-container to prevent carries. The adhesion strength of as-synthesized calcium fluoride nanoparticles adsorbed on mica and on tooth enamel in liquid with Amplitude Modulation AFM (AM-AFM), depending on the substrate roughness and the chemical interplay between substrate and nanoparticles were investigated. By comparing the frequency distribution of the dissipated power of the tip to induce manipulation of the particles, showed that up to 10-times higher retention was observed for particles adsorbed on tooth enamel compared to mica. Although the enamel had an increased surface roughness compared to mica resulting in a decreased contact area of the particle with the substrate, more power was needed to dislocate the particles. We related this to the strong chemical interaction of the CaF2 nanoparticles with the tooth enamel. Further, we observed that particles with an ordered, smooth and plane surface structure show higher retention than rough and spherical ones. Thus, the nano-morphology of the particles was shown to strongly influence the mobility. The evidence that the interplay of calcium fluoride nanoparticles with the tooth enamel is so strong, makes calcium fluoride nanoparticles in respect to their adhesive strength on tooth enamel a promising candidate to be used in dental care products preventing teeth demineralization. In the second part, pathogen Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria were investigated under ambient conditions with AM-AFM. Treatment of these bacteria with the human antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) was found to inhibit the pathogenicity of these bacteria. The aim was to explore how the IgA affects the morphology of native bacteria and to show where and how this biomolecule can be found on the cell. Images of native and incubated bacteria revealed a much higher stability of the incubated bacteria against the drying procedure as part of the sample preparation. Less lesions of the bacteria body and a much more homogeneous body structure after treatment with the antibody were observed. The incubated bacteria also showed a higher degree in surface roughness after incubation, a clear indication that the antibody covers the bacteria body. The statistically evaluated values for the width and the height of the entire bacteria and the flagellum revealed a slightly lower thickness of the flagella. An indication where the antibody IgA exactly binds to the bacterium was obtained from AM-AFM images, where a high tendency of the amplitude to show bistability was observed. Each bistability event was interpreted as a result of the presence of the antibody. A high tendency of the amplitude to show bistable behaviour was seen on the bacteria body and on the whole flagella for IgA incubated bacteria. We showed that the IgA binds to the bacteria body and the flagellum, where the modification of the flagellum strongly could influence the mobility and hence the possibility of pathogenic E. coli bacteria to enter into blood circulated tissues to cause infections. The last part of the thesis was a combination between both previous questions. It combines nanoparticles and bacteria. The magnetic properties of one single magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) were investigated with AFM under UHV conditions at cryogenic temperatures. Magnetotactic bacteria have magnetosomes incorporated in their body. These magnetosomes consist of nanometer-sized iron oxide (magnetite) particles used for the bacteria to sense the earth magnetic field to find optimum living conditions. Biogenic produced iron oxide nanoparticles are interesting for various fields in science. We were able to position one single bacterium at the free end of sensitive tip-less cantilever with the help of a micro mechanical manipulator and performed dynamic cantilever magnetometry measurements. The data showed excellent agreement with the theoretical model. The magnetic moment of a single magnetosome chain fitted with the derived equation of a ferromagnetic rod, gave a value, which was in very good agreement with the values found in the literature. Compared to other studies, the cantilever magnetometry method also provided information about anisotropy constant (Keff) or the coercive field (Hc) of a single magentosome chain. This anisotropy constant was found to be higher than the first order magnetocrystalline constant for bulk magnetite. The anisotropy constant was found to be higher than the first order magnetocrystalline constant for bulk magnetite indicating that for an ensemble of nano-sized magnets the interparticle interaction is stronger than the intrinsic magnetic anisotropy behaviour of single domain particles. The coercive field value was found to be in very good agreement with the literature values for biogenic produced magnetite crystals. From the value of the anisotropy constant Keff and the coercive field Hc we concluded that the magnetic interaction between the single magnetite crystals dictate the magnetic properties of the magnetosome chain. Discrete steps in the f-H experiment were attributed to a change of the volume magnetization due to switching of magnetic single domains
Sensitizing antigen-specific CD8+ T cells for accelerated suicide causes immune incompetence
No full textDeath receptor–mediated activation-induced apoptosis of antigen-specific T cells is a major mechanism of peripheral tolerance induction and immune homeostasis. Failure to undergo activation-induced cell death (AICD) is an important underlying cause of many autoimmune diseases. Thus, enhancing the T cell’s own suicide mechanism may provide an efficient therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Bisindolylmaleimide VIII (Bis VIII), a PKC inhibitor, can sensitize T cells for death receptor–induced apoptosis and thus can inhibit the development of T cell–mediated autoimmune disease in vivo. In this study, we have analyzed the functional consequences of accelerated suicide for a protective CD8+ T cell–mediated immune response. Our data indicate that CD8+ T cells are sensitized by Bis VIII to AICD, both in vitro and in vivo. The sensitizing effect of Bis VIII appears to be mediated by specific downmodulation of the antiapoptotic molecule cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (cFLIPL). Importantly, Bis VIII administration during an acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection causes the depletion of virus-specific CD8+ T cells and subsequently impaired cytotoxicity and virus clearance. We conclude that resistance to death receptor–induced apoptosis is crucial for the efficient induction of a protective immune response, and that Bis VIII–based immunotherapies have to be applied under well-controlled conditions to avoid the induction of immune incompetence and the inability to respond to pathogen infection.publishe
Cost-effectiveness of 7-day-Holter monitoring alone or in combination with transthoracic echocardiography in patients with cerebral ischemia
No full textBackground and purpose Prolonged Holter monitoring of patients with cerebral ischemia increases the detection rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF); this leads to improved antithrombotic regimens aimed at preventing recurrent ischemic strokes. The aim of this study was to compare a 7-day-Holter monitoring (7-d-Holter) alone or in combination with prior selection via transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to a standard 24-h-Holter using a cost-utility analysis. Methods: Lifetime cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were estimated for a cohort of patients with acute cerebral ischemia and no contraindication to oral anticoagulation. A Markov model was developed to simulate the long-term course and progression of cerebral ischemia considering the different diagnostic algorithms (24-h-Holter, 7-d-Holter, 7-d-Holter after preselection by TTE). Clinical data for these algorithms were derived from the prospective observational Find-AF study (ISRCTN 46104198). Results: Predicted lifelong discounted costs were 33,837 € for patients diagnosed by the 7-d-Holter and 33,852 € by the standard 24-h-Holter. Cumulated QALYs were 3.868 for the 7-d-Holter compared to 3.844 for the 24-h-Holter. The 7-d-Holter dominated the 24-h-Holter in the base-case scenario and remained cost-effective in extensive sensitivity analysis of key input parameter with a maximum of 8,354 €/QALY gained. Preselecting patients for the 7-d-Holter had no positive effect on the cost-effectiveness. Conclusions: A 7-d-Holter to detect PAF in patients with cerebral ischemia is cost-effective. It increases the detection which leads to improved antithrombotic regimens; therefore, it avoids recurrent strokes, saves future costs, and decreases quality of life impairment. Preselecting patients by TTE does not improve cost-effectiveness.Version of Recor
Helobdella bowermani Moser, Fend, Richardson, Hammond, Lazo-Wasem, Govedich & Gullo, 2013, n. sp.
No full textHelobdella bowermani n. sp. Figures 1–3 Material examined. Holotype (USNM 1213041) Ball Bay (42 ° 24 ’ 21 ”N 122 ° 01’ 01”W) Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath County, Oregon on 30 May 2012. Paratypes (USNM 1213042) 8 specimens mid-trench (42 ° 23 ’ 05”N 121 ° 55 ’ 38 ’W), 6 November 2008, 4 whole mount slides (USNM 1225776–1225779); USNM 1213043 3 specimens Ball Bay (42 ° 24 ’ 21 ”N 122 ° 01’ 01”W) on 30 May 2012, 2 whole mount slides (USNM 1225780–1225781); USNM 1213044 9 specimens midtrench (42 ° 23 ’ 05”N 121 ° 55 ’ 38 ’W), 18 June 2008; USNM 1213045 2 specimens mid-trench (42 ° 23 ’ 05”N 121 ° 55 ’ 38 ’W), May 2008; USNM 1213046 8 specimens mid-north (42 ° 26 ’ 22 ”N 122 ° 00’ 40 ” W), 30 May 2012, 1 whole mount slide (USNM 1225782); USNM 1213047 3 specimens Modoc Rim (42 ° 24 ’ 37 ”N 121 ° 51 ’ 52 ”W), 18 June 2008; YPM IZ 67710 4 specimens mid-trench (42 ° 23 ’ 05”N 121 ° 55 ’ 38 ’W), 18 June 2008; Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath County, Oregon. Description. External morphology. Body lanceolate; length of preserved specimens 5.2–9.7 mm, mean ± SE 7.2 ± 0.2 mm (n= 38), width at widest point 1.7–4.5 mm, mean 3.0 ± 0.1 mm (n= 38). Dorsum pale yellow/buff with scattered chromatophores throughout the dorsal surface (Figs. 1 A–B). Pair of widely separated eye spots and pair of black longitudinal pigment lines extending posteriad from the eye spots for a few annuli. Small oval-shaped nuchal scute (occasionally triangular) on VIII, raised in preserved specimens (Figs. 1 A–B). Dorsal medial row of papillae with papillae on the a 1 (papilla small), a 2 (papilla large) and a 3 (papilla large) annulus (Figs. 1 A–B). Medial dorsal papillae row extends posteriad below the nuchal scute to a couple of annuli anteriad of the anus. Additional row of papillae at the extreme lateral margins on the a 2 (neural) annulus, giving the body a serrated or denticulate appearance (Figs. 1–2). Lateral papillae row begins as 2 papillae below the anus and extends anteriad. Anus located 1 annulus anteriad of the caudal sucker. Caudal sucker small to moderate size (half the diameter of mid-body, 0.7–1.3 mm in diameter, mean ± SE, 1.0 ± 0.0 (n= 38), with few black chromatophores and no papillae. Ventrum without papillae and unpigmented (Fig. 2). Male gonopore on annulus and female gonopore in furrow (1 ½ annuli between gonopores). Internal morphology. Digestive system: Proboscis pore at center of anterior sucker. Robust proboscis uniformly cylindrical and in membranous sheath. In the anterior third of body, salivary glands diffusely scattered on either side of the proboscis and salivary ductule bundles attaching at each side of the base of the proboscis (Figs. 3 A–B). Short, simple esophagus. Six pair of short, simple unlobed and unbranched crop ceca with no post ceca and four pair of intestinal ceca with the last pair reduced (Figs. 3 A–B). Rectum robust, pyriform and recurved in some specimens (Figs. 3 A–B). Reproductive system: Male atrium opening into paired falciform to luniform atrial cornuae that extend laterally and anteriorly into ejaculatory ducts without atrial loops (Figs. 3 A–B). Six pair of testisacs (Figs. 3 A–B). Female gonopore simple, opening to pair of simple, tubular ovisacs. Length of ovisacs dependent on the reproductive state of the leech. Taxonomic summary. Type locality. Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath County, Oregon. Type material. Holotype USNM 1213041, Paratypes USNM 1213042–1213048, USNM 1225776–1225782, and YPM IZ 67710. Etymology. Named to honor scientist and naturalist Jay Bowerman of the Sunriver Nature Center, Sunriver, Oregon. DNA analysis. Molecular characterization of 614 nucleotides of CO-I revealed differences of 0.0% to 0.2 % (0–1 nucleotide) among three specimens of Helobdella bowermani n. sp. (GenBank KF 683192 –KF 683194). Differences of 10.6 % to 10.8 % (65 to 66 nuceotides) were found between H. bowermani n. sp. and a specimen of Helobdella californica (GenBank HQ 686307) collected from San Francisco, California. Comparison of CO-I sequence data of three specimens of H. bowermani n. sp. revealed differences of 12.2 % to 13.7 % (75 to 84 nucleotides) among three specimens of Helobdella atli (GenBank HQ 179850 –HQ 179852), differences of 12.7 % to 13.2 % (78 to 81 nucleotides) among three specimens of Helobdella simplex (GenBank KF 683195 –KF 683197), differences of 14.5 % to 14.7 % (89 to 90 nucleotides) among two species of Helobdella modesta from Washington (GenBank HQ 179853 –HQ 179854), differences of 14.7 % to 14.8 % (90 to 91 nucleotides) from a specimen of H. modesta from Ohio (GenBank AF 329040), and differences of 14.7 % to 14.8 % (90 to 91 nucleotides) from a specimen of Helobdella stagnalis from the United Kingdom (GenBank AF 329041). A neighbor joining tree of Helobdella spp. based on CO-I sequence data is presented in Figure 4. Helobdella bowermani n. sp. formed a clade with H. californica, and a sister clade with Helobdella atli had modest support. The sister clade relationship of Helobdella simplex and Helobdella sorojchi had robust support. Figure legends: atrial cornuae (AC), crop ceca (CC), ejaculatory duct (ED), intestinal ceca (IC), proboscis (Pr), rectum (R), salivary cells (Sc), testisac (T 1 –T 6). Natural history. Helobdella bowermani n. sp. occurs abundantly in the fine sediment and was collected in the open water benthos with an Ekman grab and a 0.5 mm sieve bucket throughout Upper Klamath Lake. The reproductive period for Helobdella bowermani n. sp. was during spring with specimens brooding eggs and hatchlings in May and June, and a second reproductive period was observed in August and September. Remarks. Three nominal species of Helobdella with a nuchal scute occur in the United States: Helobdella modesta (Verrill 1872), Helobdella californica Kutschera 1988, and Helobdella bowermani n. sp. Whether a fourth species of Helobdella with a nuchal scute, Helobdella stagnalis (Linneaus 1758), occurs in the United States is in doubt. At one time, every specimen of Helobdella with a nuchal scute was identified as H. stagnalis, but differences in genetic distance prompted Siddall et al. (2005) to resurrect Helobdella modesta (Verrill 1872). In a molecular characterization of H. modesta from the type locality (New Haven, Connecticut), Moser et al. (2011) suggested H. stagnalis is a complex of cryptic species and additional species similar to H. stagnalis likely exist in the United States. Although H. bowermani n. sp. has a nuchal scute, its dorsal medial row of papillae and a 2 papillae on the lateral margins easily distinguish it from the non-papillated H. modesta and H. stagnalis. Helobdella californica, which formed a clade with H. bowermani n. sp., exhibited a 10.6 % to 10.8 % difference among COI sequence data. Both nuchal scute species occur in the western United States, but H. californica has a pair of longitudinal stripes, diverticulated crop ceca at the lateral ends and no papillae which differentiate it from H. bowermani n. sp. Helobdella californica is also only known from Golden Gate Park [Stow Lake (type locality), San Francisco Botanical Garden Gunnera Creek and Mallard Lake], San Francisco, California (Kutschera 1988; 2011). Helobdella bowermani n. sp. is morphologically similar to H. atli and H. simplex. All three species have a nuchal scute on VIII and dorsal-medial row of papillae. Comparison of H. bowermani COI sequence data with the other two species, revealed differences of 12.2 % to 13.7 % with H. atli and differences of 12.7 % to 13.2 % with H. simplex. There are also morphological differences between H. bowermani n. sp., H. atli and H. simplex. Helobdella simplex has a pale brownish coloration, a dorsal medial black line, 24 fine longitudinal lines, lateral extensions on every annulus, dorsal medial row of papillae with papillae of the same size on every annulus and it has a nuchal gland, but rarely nuchal scute (Moore 1911; Siddall & Borda 2004). Helobdella atli has a white or yellowish base color without any pigmentation, lateral extensions only on the a 2 and a 3 annuli, dorsal medial row of papillae with papillae only on the a 2 and a 3 annuli and a small triangular scute (Oceguera-Figueroa & Leon-Regagnon 2005). Helobdella bowermani n. sp. is differentiated from H. atli and H. simplex by its pale yellow/buff coloration with scattered chromatophore blotches throughout the dorsal surface, lateral extensions or papillae only on the a 2 annulus, dorsal medial row of papillae with small papilla on a 1 and larger papillae on a 2 and a 3, and a small oval scute (rarely triangular). Helobdella bowermani n. sp. is also ecologically distinct, occurring in the fine sediment of open water benthos of an eutrophic lake. Whereas, H. atli is attached underneath submerged rocks and on plants in a lake (Oceguera- Figueroa & Leon-Regagnon 2005) and H. simplex is attached on submerged substrata and aquatic vegetation in rivers, streams and lakes (Moore 1911; Siddall & Borda 2004; Gullo 1998; 2007; César et al. 2009).Published as part of Moser, William E., Fend, Steven V., Richardson, Dennis J., Hammond, Charlotte I., Lazo-Wasem, Eric A., Govedich, Fredric R. & Gullo, Bettina S., 2013, A new species of Helobdella (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae) from Oregon, USA, pp. 287-294 in Zootaxa 3718 (3) on pages 288-293, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3718.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/22237
Economic burden of patients with various etiologies of chronic systolic heart failure analyzed by resource use and costs
No full textFricções no cotidiano: a descontinuidade como proposição para um ensino da arte
No full textEsse trabalho traz inquietações acerca da arte e do ensino da arte destinado à formação de artista, evidenciando outros modos de operar o ensinar, ou seja, o ensinar a desfazer-se artista. Aponta o processo e as noções de arte e artista a partir de Lygia Clark, Hélio Oiticica, Cildo Meireles, Allan Kaprow, entre outros, a fim de tecer uma rede de pensamentos e obras que tensionam o fazer próprio da arte e a própria noção do que se entende por ser artista. Refere-se às concepções de ensino do autor belga Thierry de Duve e ao conceito de descontinuidade desenvolvido por José Luiz Kinceler. E a partir de ações de descontinuidade, propõe aos estudantes de arte que operam metodologia e processos colaborativos e relacionais.Palavras-chave: Ensino da arte; Descontinuidade; Des-artista; Processos colaborativos e relacionais.Everyday Frictions: discontinuity as a Proposition for Teaching ArtAbstract: This paper raises concerns about art and teaching art aimed at educating artists, highlighting other ways of operating teaching, that is, teaching to undo oneself as an artist. It points out the process and the notions of art and artist in Lygia Clark, Hélio Oiticica, Cildo Meireles, Allan Kaprow, among others, in order to weave a network of thoughts and works that tension the making of art and the very notion of what is meant by being an artist. The article discusses the teaching concepts of Belgian author Thierry de Duve and the concept of discontinuity developed by José Luiz Kinceler. Thus, discontinuity actions may be seen as a starting point for proposing, to art students, to operate by means of collaborative and relational processes and methodology. Keywords: Art teaching; Discontinuity; Un-artist; Collaborative and relational processes
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