40 research outputs found
Intravascular Inflammation Triggers Intracerebral Activated Microglia and Contributes to Secondary Brain Injury After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (eSAH).
No full textActivation of innate immunity contributes to secondary brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (eSAH). Microglia accumulation and activation within the brain has recently been shown to induce neuronal cell death after eSAH. In isolated mouse brain capillaries after eSAH, we show a significantly increased gene expression for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and P-selectin. Hence, we hypothesized that extracerebral intravascular inflammatory processes might initiate the previously reported microglia accumulation within the brain tissue. We therefore induced eSAH in knockout mice for ICAM-1 (ICAM-1(-/-)) and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1(-/-)) to find a significant decrease in neutrophil-endothelial interaction within the first 7 days after the bleeding in a chronic cranial window model. This inhibition of neutrophil recruitment to the endothelium results in significantly ameliorated microglia accumulation and neuronal cell death in knockout animals in comparison to controls. Our results suggest an outside-in activation of the CNS innate immune system at the vessel/brain interface following eSAH. Microglia cells, as part of the brain's innate immune system, are triggered by an inflammatory reaction in the microvasculature after eSAH, thus contributing to neuronal cell death. This finding offers a whole range of new research targets, as well as possible therapy options for patients suffering from eSAH
En andra chans i livet - En kvalitativ intervjustudie om före detta kriminellas möjlighet till ett liv fritt från kriminalitet
No full textAuthor: Josephin Brecht Title: “A second chance in life” A qualitative study based on the former criminals’ perspective on their opportunity for a life free of criminality The aim of this study has been to examine what former criminals' experienced being the most successful factors when trying to leave behind a lifestyle of crimes. I also wanted to analyse how their opinion on the matter might affect their possibilities to live a life free from criminality. Research shows that people being in an active drug use is at a high risk of developing a criminal lifestyle. It also shows the importance of social support from family but also the society when it comes to acceptance and being able to get included into the society. The theoretical perspective that has been used in the study is the concept by Erving Goffman about Stigma and how that affects a person being stigmatized. A qualitative approach has been used and five semi-structured interviews with former criminals have been made. The interview participants were chosen through a targeted selection and they all had a past of being criminal. Through my study I found that to be able to change your life as a former criminal to no longer engage in criminal activities you need support from family, the support may be financial or just mentally. To be able to have a job is also beneficial when leaving criminality. Being able to provide for yourself is important both from an economical point of view but also for strengthening the individual and to feel included. The former criminals background plays a role to why someone becomes criminal, therefore a change of lifestyle and friends is a key component to keep away from a criminal lifestyle
Endotheliale Inflammation und Zusammenbruch der Bluthirnschranke nach experimentell induzierter Subarachnoidalblutung
No full textEine akute aneurysmatische Subarachnoidalblutung (aSAB) zählt zu den hämorrhagischen Schlaganfällen und beziffert eine jährliche Inzidenz von sechs bis elf von hunderttausend Menschen. Hauptgrund ist die Ruptur eines intrakraniellen Aneurysmas, gefolgt von einer Einblutung in den Subarachnoidalraum. Das durchschnittliche Alter bei aSAB-Patienten beträgt fünfundfünfzig Jahre und ist somit niedriger als bei Patienten mit einem ischämischen Schlaganfall. Diesbezüglich ist die sozioökonomische Belastung der aSAB vergleichsweise hoch.
Mehrere Studien haben gezeigt, dass eine aSAB zu einem Zusammenbruch der Bluthirnschranke (BHS) führt, wodurch ein vasogenes Hirnödem ausgelöst wird. An Patienten nach aSAB konnte außerdem gezeigt werden, dass IL6 im Serum und im Liquor erhöht war, wobei diese Patienten ein schlechteres Outcome aufzeigten. Die frühe Hirnschädigung nach aSAB beginnt bereits nach einem initialen intrazerebralen Druckanstieg, gefolgt von einem Abfall des zerebralen Perfusionsdrucks. Experimentelle Studien widmen sich daher den Mechanismen der frühen Hirnschädigung nach aSAB mit Fokus auf Störungen der mikrovaskulären Ebene und inflammatorischen Prozessen innerhalb ZNS nach aSAB. Die hier vorgelegte Arbeit konzentrierte sich auf die Rolle des Zytokins Interleukin-6 (IL6) und seine Effekte auf die BHS nach experimenteller Subarachnoidalblutung (eSAB) in Mäusen.
Um die Induktion einer eSAB an der Maus auslösen zu können, wurde die Methode der Fadenperforationstechnik angewandt. Die darauffolgenden Experimente dienten der Analyse der BHS-Eigenschaften, wobei sich nach eSAB ein deutlicher BHS-Zusammenbruch über den gesamten zeitlichen Verlauf der Experimente zeigte. Als molekulares Korrelat für den Untergang der BHS konnte die zwei wichtigsten tight junction (TJ) Moleküle Claudin-5 (Cld5) und Occludin (Ocld) identifiziert werden. Zeitgleich wurde eine Überexpression essenzieller Zytokine beobachtet. Insbesondere IL6 zeigte zu allen Zeitpunkten eine deutliche Hochregulierung an isolierten Gehirnkapillaren nach eSAB. Somit wurde nachgewiesen, dass IL6 endothelzellspezifisch in Vesikeln isolierter Gehirnkapillaren nach eSAB angereichert wird. Weiterführende In-vitro-Versuche ergaben einen deutlichen Verlust des transendothelialen Widerstandes in der cEND-Zellkultur, nachdem die Zellen mit dem rekombinanten IL6 (rIL6) behandelt wurden. Auch In vitro war ein Untergang von Cld5 und Ocld zu beobachten.
Zusammenfassend zeigt diese Arbeit erstmalig die Expression von IL6 im zerebralen Endothel nach eSAB, was zeitgleich mit einem BHS-Zusammenbruch korrelierte. Abschließend soll die Rolle von IL6 in Bezug auf die frühe Hirnschädigung nach aSAB diskutiert und der Frage nachgegangen werden, ob ein Knockout von IL6 oder die externe Blockade von IL6 und seinem Rezeptor einen signifikanten Effekt auf den Pathomechanismus nach aSAB aufweist.Acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a type of hemorrhagic stroke with an annual incidence of six to eleven out of a hundred thousand people. The main cause of an aSAH is a rupture of an intracranial aneurysm, which is followed by a bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The average age in aSAH patients is fifty-five years old, which is much younger than the average age of patients with ischemic stroke. Therefore, the socio-economic impact of aSAH is comparatively high.
Numerous studies have shown, that aSAH leads to a breakdown of the blood brain barrier (BBB), causing a vasogenic brain edema. Patients with aSAH also show an increase in IL6 in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in worse outcomes for aSAH patients. Early brain injury after aSAH occurs after an initial increase in intracerebral pressure, followed by a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure. Therefore, current experimental studies are devoted to mechanisms of early brain damage, investigating microvascular changes and BBB breakdown with a focus on CNS inflammation after aSAH. The following work examines interleukin-6 (IL6) and its effects on the BBB after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (eSAH) in mice.
In order to induce eSAH in mice, the filament perforation method was used. The subsequent experiments were performed to analyze BBB properties, showing a BBB breakdown over the course of the experiment. The decline of the most important tight junction (TJ) molecules Claudin-5 (Cld5) and Occludin (Ocld) caused a BBB collapse. Moreover, the overexpression of crucial cytokines was observed, while IL6 in particular was increased in isolated brain capillaries after eSAH, showing enriched expression in endothelial cells. Further in-vitro experiments revealed a significant loss of transendothelial resistance in the cEND cell culture after the cells were treated with the recombinant IL6 (rIL6). Finally, the gene expression of Cld5 and Ocld was also decreased in vitro.
In summary, this work shows for the first time that IL6 is expressed in the BBB after eSAH, correlating with a BBB breakdown. The role of IL6 in relation to early brain injury after aSAH will be discussed, focusing on the effect of a knockout and an external blockade of IL6 towards the pathomechanism after aSAH
Towards Digital Growth-independent Societies
No full textGrowth-independent areas are a prerequisite in enabling the environmental policies needed to prevent environmental depletion. Yet, digitalisation is reshaping our economy in a way that could both hamper and benefit growth-independent areas
Race empowerment and the Establishment of African-American owned banks in the South,1888 - 1910, 2009
No full textThis study examined the role of black-owned banks in facilitating economic emancipation for African Americans in the South from 1888 to 1910. The concept of a separate, but equal America legalized by the United States Supreme court in 1896, Plessy v. Ferguson provided the impetus for a separate economy in the South. As a result, commercial and savings banks emerged as institutions for the economic liberation of African Americans. A case study investigating the efforts of three banks in contributing to the economic development of the African-American community during this era was conducted. The study examined race and empowerment and the role of banks in accommodating thrift, wealth accumulation and investing human and financial capital. The findings determined that commercial and savings banks formed the cornerstone of economic liberation and emancipation for African Americans in the Jim Crow South from 1888 to 1910. It concludes that bank founders embodied a Black Nationalist ideology of self-determination, race pride and economic cooperation when creating these institutions
Red list and checklist of the lichenicolous fungi
No full textDerzeit sind aus Berlin 23 lichenicole Pilzarten bekannt. Davon werden lediglich zwei ausgestorbene Arten in die Rote Liste aufgenommen. Neun Arten (39,1 %) gelten als ungefährdet. Für die Einschätzung von 12 Arten (52,2 %) sind die Daten unzureichend. Besonders die ungenügende historische Erfassung der lichenicolen Pilze macht eine Einschätzung der Gefährdung schwierig.Currently, 23 species of lichenicolous fungi are known from Berlin. The Red List contains only two extinct or at least possibly extinct species. Nine species (39.1 %) are classified as not threatened. For 12 species (52.2 %) data are not sufficient. Especially the scarcity of historical records makes an assessment difficult
Red list and checklist of the lichens
No full textDerzeit sind aus Berlin 315 Flechtensippen (310 Arten, 3 Unterarten, eine Varietät und eine Form) bekannt. Davon werden 112 (35,6 %) in die Rote Liste aufgenommen. 59 Taxa gelten als ausgestorben oder verschollen, 47 sind bestandsgefährdet und 6 Arten sind sehr selten. Der Vergleich mit der Vorgängerliste (Otte 2005) zeigt, dass sich bei 44 Taxa die Kategorie verändert hat, 21 Taxa erhielten einen geringeren Gefährdungsgrad, 23 einen höheren.Currently, 315 lichen taxa (310 species, 3 subspecies, 1 variety and 1 forma) are known from Berlin. The Red List contains 112 (35.6 %) of them. 59 taxa are extinct or missing, 47 are endangered and 6 species are extremely rare. Compared to the last Red List (Otte 2005) the categories of 44 taxa have changed. 21 taxa are classified into a lower category of threat, 23 taxa into a higher category
Thermal analysis of laser additive manufacturing of aluminium alloys: Experiment and simulation
No full textChanges in Nature Conservation-Relevant Public Participation Processes Through Digitalization: The Case of Germany
No full textThe literature shows that limited research has been conducted on the changes induced by digital means in public participation processes on plans whose implementation could have an impact on nature conservation and landscape development. To contribute to closing this research gap, 15 expert interviews were conducted to shed light on the use of digital tools in public participation processes in Germany. The analysis examined potential changes in the quantity and diversity of participants, timing and duration of involvement, tone and content, and the influence of participation on decision-making. The experts’ experiences vary widely, and knowledge must still be consolidated. The findings suggest that using digital instruments can increase the number of participants and the variety of social groups they represent. Other factors, such as personal interest and implications or potential for conflict, are more crucial to participating. However, digital tools allow for easier participation at various stages of participation if all necessary information is provided online. The tone of the discussion appears to be significantly influenced by the specific digital tool used for participation; for example, a plenary video session may unfold in an orderly manner, but the concurrent chat discussion can become chaotic or even insulting without strict facilitation. Digital tools might increase public interest in planning processes and lead to a higher relevance of citizens’ opinions in decision-making. However, this does not necessarily impact its outcome, as various opinions can neutralize each other. Observing this development more intensively seems necessary to take advantage of opportunities and counteract digitalization risks. Nonetheless, it can be concluded that digital formats cannot and should not replace analog forms of participation; rather, both should be combined in hybrid forms
Sustainability challenges of Artificial Intelligence and Policy Implications
No full textAutomated decision-making based on Artificial Intelligence is associated with growing expectations and is to contribute to sustainable development goals. Which opportunities and risks for the environment, economy and society are associated with Artificial Intelligence-based applications and how can they be governed
