@article{ŽutićMatosAbiagueScharfetal.2019, author = {Žutić, Igor and Matos-Abiague, Alex and Scharf, Benedikt and Dery, Hanan and Belashchenko, Kirill}, title = {Proximitized materials}, series = {Materials Today}, volume = {22}, journal = {Materials Today}, doi = {10.1016/j.mattod.2018.05.003}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-233972}, pages = {85-107}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Advances in scaling down heterostructures and having an improved interface quality together with atomically thin two-dimensional materials suggest a novel approach to systematically design materials. A given material can be transformed through proximity effects whereby it acquires properties of its neighbors, for example, becoming superconducting, magnetic, topologically nontrivial, or with an enhanced spin-orbit coupling. Such proximity effects not only complement the conventional methods of designing materials by doping or functionalization but also can overcome their various limitations. In proximitized materials, it is possible to realize properties that are not present in any constituent region of the considered heterostructure. While the focus is on magnetic and spin-orbit proximity effects with their applications in spintronics, the outlined principles also provide a broader framework for employing other proximity effects to tailor materials and realize novel phenomena.}, language = {en} } @article{FazziniLaminaFendtetal.2019, author = {Fazzini, Federica and Lamina, Claudia and Fendt, Liane and Schultheiss, Ulla T. and Kotsis, Fruzsina and Hicks, Andrew A. and Meiselbach, Heike and Weissensteiner, Hansi and Forer, Lukas and Krane, Vera and Eckardt, Kai-Uwe and K{\"o}ttgen, Anna and Kronenberg, Florian}, title = {Mitochondrial DNA copy number is associated with mortality and infections in a large cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease}, series = {Kidney International}, volume = {96}, journal = {Kidney International}, organization = {GCKD Investigators}, doi = {10.1016/j.kint.2019.04.021}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227662}, pages = {480-488}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Damage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with reduction in copy number has been proposed as a biomarker for mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased mortality and risk of cardiovascular disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we investigated the prognostic role of mtDNA copy number for cause-specific mortality in 4812 patients from the German Chronic Kidney Disease study, an ongoing prospective observational national cohort study of patients with CKD stage G3 and A1-3 or G1-2 with overt proteinuria (A3) at enrollment. MtDNA was quantified in whole blood using a plasmid-normalized PCR-based assay. At baseline, 1235 patients had prevalent cardiovascular disease. These patients had a significantly lower mtDNA copy number than patients without cardiovascular disease (fully-adjusted model: odds ratio 1.03, 95\% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05 per 10 mtDNA copies decrease). After four years of follow-up, we observed a significant inverse association between mtDNA copy number and all-cause mortality, adjusted for kidney function and cardiovascular disease risk factors (hazard ratio 1.37, 95\% CI 1.09-1.73 for quartile 1 compared to quartiles 2-4). When grouped by causes of death, estimates pointed in the same direction for all causes but in a fully-adjusted model decreased copy numbers were significantly lower only in infection-related death (hazard ratio 1.82, 95\% CI 1.08-3.08). A similar association was observed for hospitalizations due to infections in 644 patients (hazard ratio 1.19, 95\% CI 1.00-1.42 in the fully-adjusted model). Thus, our data support a role of mitochondrial dysfunction in increased cardiovascular disease and mortality risks as well as susceptibility to infections in patients with CKD.}, language = {en} } @article{McMasterHoefnerHrynevichetal.2019, author = {McMaster, Rebecca and Hoefner, Christiane and Hrynevich, Andrei and Blum, Carina and Wiesner, Miriam and Wittmann, Katharina and Dargaville, Tim R. and Bauer-Kreisel, Petra and Groll, J{\"u}rgen and Dalton, Paul D. and Blunk, Torsten}, title = {Tailored Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for the Generation of Sheet-Like Tissue Constructs from Multicellular Spheroids}, series = {Advanced Healthcare Materials}, volume = {8}, journal = {Advanced Healthcare Materials}, doi = {10.1002/adhm.201801326}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-223921}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an additive manufacturing technology that is recently used to fabricate voluminous scaffolds for biomedical applications. In this study, MEW is adapted for the seeding of multicellular spheroids, which permits the easy handling as a single sheet-like tissue-scaffold construct. Spheroids are made from adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs). Poly(ε-caprolactone) is processed via MEW into scaffolds with box-structured pores, readily tailorable to spheroid size, using 13-15 µm diameter fibers. Two 7-8 µm diameter "catching fibers" near the bottom of the scaffold are threaded through each pore (360 and 380 µm) to prevent loss of spheroids during seeding. Cell viability remains high during the two week culture period, while the differentiation of ASCs into the adipogenic lineage is induced. Subsequent sectioning and staining of the spheroid-scaffold construct can be readily performed and accumulated lipid droplets are observed, while upregulation of molecular markers associated with successful differentiation is demonstrated. Tailoring MEW scaffolds with pores allows the simultaneous seeding of high numbers of spheroids at a time into a construct that can be handled in culture and may be readily transferred to other sites for use as implants or tissue models.}, language = {en} } @article{HoeniglOraschFaserletal.2019, author = {Hoenigl, Martin and Orasch, Thomas and Faserl, Klaus and Prattes, Juergen and Loeffler, Juergen and Springer, Jan and Gsaller, Fabio and Reischies, Frederike and Duettmann, Wiebke and Raggam, Reinhard B. and Lindner, Herbert and Haas, Hubertus}, title = {Triacetylfusarinine C: A urine biomarker for diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis}, series = {Journal of Infection}, volume = {78}, journal = {Journal of Infection}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinf.2018.09.006}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-320939}, pages = {150-157}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Objectives Early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains challenging, with available diagnostics being limited by inadequate sensitivities and specificities. Triacetylfusarinine C, a fungal siderophore that has been shown to accumulate in urine in animal models, is a potential new biomarker for diagnosis of IA. Methods We developed a method allowing absolute and matrix-independent mass spectrometric quantification of TAFC. Urine TAFC, normalized to creatinine, was determined in 44 samples from 24 patients with underlying hematologic malignancies and probable, possible or no IA according to current EORTC/MSG criteria and compared to other established biomarkers measured in urine and same-day blood samples. Results TAFC/creatinine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio for probable versus no IA (cut-off ≥ 3) were 0.86, 0.88, 6.86, 0.16 per patient. Conclusion For the first time, we provide proof for the occurrence of TAFC in human urine. TAFC/creatinine index determination in urine showed promising results for diagnosis of IA offering the advantages of non-invasive sampling. Sensitivity and specificity were similar as reported for GM determination in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage, the gold standard mycological criterion for IA diagnosis.}, language = {en} } @article{TappenbeckSchroederNiebergallRothetal.2019, author = {Tappenbeck, Nils and Schr{\"o}der, Hannes M. and Niebergall-Roth, Elke and Hassinger, Fathema and Dehio, Ulf and Dieter, Kathrin and Kraft, Korinna and Kerstan, Andreas and Esterlechner, Jasmina and Frank, Natasha Y. and Scharffetter-Kochanek, Karin and Murphy, George F. and Orgill, Dennis P. and Beck, Joachim and Frank, Markus H. and Ganss, Christoph and Kluth, Mark A.}, title = {In vivo safety profile and biodistribution of GMP-manufactured human skin-derived ABCB5-positive mesenchymal stromal cells for use in clinical trials}, series = {Cytotherapy}, volume = {21}, journal = {Cytotherapy}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.12.005}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-240456}, pages = {546-560}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Background aims Human dermal ABCB5-expressing mesenchymal stromal cells (ABCB5+ MSCs) represent a promising candidate for stem cell-based therapy of various currently uncurable diseases in several fields of regenerative medicine. We have developed and validated a method to isolate, from human skin samples, and expand ABCB5+ MSCs that meet the guideline criteria of the International Society for Cellular Therapy. We are able to process these cells into a Good Manufacturing Practice-conforming, MSC-based advanced-therapy medicinal product. Methods To support the development of ABCB5+ MSCs for potential therapeutic topical, intramuscular and intravenous administration, we have tested our product in a series of Good Laboratory Practice-compliant nonclinical in-vivo studies addressing all relevant aspects of biosafety, including potential long-term persistence and proliferation, distribution to nontarget tissues, differentiation into undesired cell types, ectopic tissue formation, tumor formation and local tissue reaction. Results (i) Subcutaneous application of 1 × 107 ABCB5+ MSCs/animal and intravenous application of 2 × 106 ABCB5+ MSCs/animal, respectively, to immunocompromised mice did not result in safety-relevant biodistribution, persistence or proliferation of the cells; (ii) three monthly subcutaneous injections of ABCB5+ MSCs at doses ranging from 1 × 105 to 1 × 107 cells/animal and three biweekly intravenous injections of 2 × 106 ABCB5+ MSCs/animal, respectively, to immunocompromised mice were nontoxic and revealed no tumorigenic potential; and (iii) intramuscular injection of 5 × 106 ABCB5+ MSCs/animal to immunocompromised mice was locally well tolerated. Discussion The present preclinical in vivo data demonstrate the local and systemic safety and tolerability of a novel advanced-therapy medicinal product based on human skin-derived ABCB5+ MSCs.}, language = {en} } @article{WurmStarkZhuetal.2019, author = {Wurm, Michael and Stark, Thomas and Zhu, Xiao Xiang and Weigand, Matthias and Taubenb{\"o}ck, Hannes}, title = {Semantic segmentation of slums in satellite images using transfer learning on fully convolutional neural networks}, series = {ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing}, volume = {150}, journal = {ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing}, doi = {10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2019.02.006}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-233799}, pages = {59-69}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Unprecedented urbanization in particular in countries of the global south result in informal urban development processes, especially in mega cities. With an estimated 1 billion slum dwellers globally, the United Nations have made the fight against poverty the number one sustainable development goal. To provide better infrastructure and thus a better life to slum dwellers, detailed information on the spatial location and size of slums is of crucial importance. In the past, remote sensing has proven to be an extremely valuable and effective tool for mapping slums. The nature of used mapping approaches by machine learning, however, made it necessary to invest a lot of effort in training the models. Recent advances in deep learning allow for transferring trained fully convolutional networks (FCN) from one data set to another. Thus, in our study we aim at analyzing transfer learning capabilities of FCNs to slum mapping in various satellite images. A model trained on very high resolution optical satellite imagery from QuickBird is transferred to Sentinel-2 and TerraSAR-X data. While free-of-charge Sentinel-2 data is widely available, its comparably lower resolution makes slum mapping a challenging task. TerraSAR-X data on the other hand, has a higher resolution and is considered a powerful data source for intra-urban structure analysis. Due to the different image characteristics of SAR compared to optical data, however, transferring the model could not improve the performance of semantic segmentation but we observe very high accuracies for mapped slums in the optical data: QuickBird image obtains 86-88\% (positive prediction value and sensitivity) and a significant increase for Sentinel-2 applying transfer learning can be observed (from 38 to 55\% and from 79 to 85\% for PPV and sensitivity, respectively). Using transfer learning proofs extremely valuable in retrieving information on small-scaled urban structures such as slum patches even in satellite images of decametric resolution.}, language = {en} } @article{TruebeHertleinMrochenetal.2019, author = {Tr{\"u}be, Patricia and Hertlein, Tobias and Mrochen, Daniel M. and Schulz, Daniel and Jorde, Ilka and Krause, Bettina and Zeun, Julia and Fischer, Stefan and Wolf, Silver A. and Walther, Birgit and Semmler, Torsten and Br{\"o}ker, Barbara M. and Ulrich, Rainer G. and Ohlsen, Knut and Holtfreter, Silva}, title = {Bringing together what belongs together: Optimizing murine infection models by using mouse-adapted Staphylococcus aureus strains}, series = {International Journal of Medical Microbiology}, volume = {309}, journal = {International Journal of Medical Microbiology}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijmm.2018.10.007}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229081}, pages = {26-38}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is a leading cause of bacterial infection world-wide, and currently no vaccine is available for humans. Vaccine development relies heavily on clinically relevant infection models. However, the suitability of mice for S. aureus infection models has often been questioned, because experimental infection of mice with human-adapted S. aureus requires very high infection doses. Moreover, mice were not considered to be natural hosts of S. aureus. The latter has been disproven by our recent findings, showing that both laboratory mice, as well as wild small mammals including mice, voles, and shrews, are naturally colonized with S. aureus. Here, we investigated whether mouse-and vole-derived S. aureus strains show an enhanced virulence in mice as compared to the human-adapted strain Newman. Using a step-wise approach based on the bacterial genotype and in vitro assays for host adaptation, we selected the most promising candidates for murine infection models out of a total of 254 S. aureus isolates from laboratory mice as well as wild rodents and shrews. Four strains representing the clonal complexes (CC) 8, 49, and 88 (n = 2) were selected and compared to the human-adapted S. aureus strain Newman (CC8) in murine pneumonia and bacteremia models. Notably, a bank vole-derived CC49 strain, named DIP, was highly virulent in BALB/c mice in pneumonia and bacteremia models, whereas the other murine and vole strains showed virulence similar to or lower than that of Newman. At one tenth of the standard infection dose DIP induced disease severity, bacterial load and host cytokine and chemokine responses in the murine bacteremia model similar to that of Newman. In the pneumonia model, DIP was also more virulent than Newman but the effect was less pronounced. Whole genome sequencing data analysis identified a pore-forming toxin gene, lukF-PV(P83)/lukM, in DIP but not in the other tested S. aureus isolates. To conclude, the mouse-adapted S. aureus strain DIP allows a significant reduction of the inoculation dose in mice and is hence a promising tool to develop clinically more relevant infection models.}, language = {en} } @article{HeimannPenackHeinzetal.2019, author = {Heimann, Sebastian M. and Penack, Olaf and Heinz, Werner J. and Rachow, Tobias and Egerer, Gerlinde and Kessel, Johanna and Claßen, Annika Y. and Vehreschild, J{\"o}rg Janne}, title = {Intravenous and tablet formulation of posaconazole in antifungal therapy and prophylaxis: A retrospective, non-interventional, multicenter analysis of hematological patients treated in tertiary-care hospitals}, series = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases}, volume = {83}, journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2019.04.006}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319567}, pages = {130-138}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Objectives Novel formulations (gastro-resistant tablet and intravenous solution) of posaconazole (POS) have been approved in prophylaxis and therapy of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs). Study aim was to analyze treatment strategies and clinical effectiveness. Methods We set up a web-based registry on www.ClinicalSurveys.net for documentation of comprehensive data of patients who received novel POS formulations. Data analysis was split into two groups of patients who received novel POS formulations for antifungal prophylaxis (posaconazole prophylaxis group) and antifungal therapy (posaconazole therapy group), respectively. Results Overall, 180 patients (151 in the posaconazole prophylaxis group and 29 in the posaconazole therapy group) from six German tertiary care centers and hospitalized between 05/2014 - 03/2016 were observed. Median age was 58 years (range: 19 - 77 years) and the most common risk factor for IFD was chemotherapy (n = 136; 76\%). In the posaconazole prophylaxis group and posaconazole therapy group, median POS serum levels at steady-state were 1,068 μg/L (IQR 573-1,498 μg/L) and 904 μg/L (IQR 728-1,550 μg/L), respectively (P = 0.776). During antifungal prophylaxis with POS, nine (6\%) probable/proven fungal breakthroughs were reported and overall survival rate of hospitalization was 86\%. The median overall duration of POS therapy was 18 days (IQR: 7 - 23 days). Fourteen patients (48\%) had progressive IFD under POS therapy, of these five patients (36\%) died related to or likely related to IFD. Conclusions Our study demonstrates clinical effectiveness of antifungal prophylaxis with novel POS formulations. In patients treated for possible/probable/proven IFD, we observed considerable mortality in patients receiving salvage treatment and with infections due to rare fungal species.}, language = {en} } @article{DietzJohnsonMartinezMartinezetal.2019, author = {Dietz, Maximilian and Johnson, Alice and Mart{\´i}nez-Mart{\´i}nez, Antonio and Weller, Andrew S.}, title = {The [Rh(Xantphos)]+ catalyzed hydroboration of diphenylacetylene using trimethylamine-borane}, series = {Inorganica Chimica Acta}, volume = {491}, journal = {Inorganica Chimica Acta}, doi = {10.1016/j.ica.2019.03.032}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-225352}, pages = {9-13}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The rhodium(I) complex [Rh(κ3-P,O,P-Xantphos)(η2-PhC≡CPh)][BArF4] (ArF = 3,5-(CF3)2C6H4) is an effective catalyst for the cis-selective hydroboration of the alkyne diphenylacetylene using the amine-borane H3B·NMe3. Detailed mechanistic studies, that include initial rate measurements, full simulation of temporal profiles for a variety of catalyst and substrate concentrations, and speciation experiments, suggest a mechanism that involves initial coordination of alkyne and a saturation kinetics regime for amine-borane binding. The solid-state molecular structure of a model complex that probes the proposed resting state is also reported, [Rh(κ3-P,O,P-Xantphos)(NCMe)(η2-PhC≡CPh)][BArF4].}, language = {en} } @article{SeitzvanEngelsdorpLeonhardt2019, author = {Seitz, Nicola and vanEngelsdorp, Dennis and Leonhardt, Sara D.}, title = {Conserving bees in destroyed landscapes: The potentials of reclaimed sand mines}, series = {Global Ecology and Conservation}, volume = {19}, journal = {Global Ecology and Conservation}, doi = {10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00642}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-235877}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Sand mines represent anthropogenically impacted habitats found worldwide, which bear potential for bee conservation. Although floral resources can be limited at these habitats, vegetation free patches of open sandy soils and embankments may offer good nesting possibilities for sand restricted and other bees. We compared bee communities as found in three reclaimed sand mines and at adjacent roadside meadows in Maryland, USA, over two years. Both sand mines and roadsides hosted diverse bee communities with 111 and 88 bee species, respectively. Bee abundances as well as richness and Shannon diversity of bee species were higher in sand mines than at roadsides and negatively correlated with the percentage of vegetational ground cover. Species composition also differed significantly between habitats. Sand mines hosted a higher proportion of ground nesters, more uncommon and more 'sand loving' bees similar to natural sandy areas of Maryland. Despite the destruction of the original pre-mining habitat, sand mines thus appear to represent a unique habitat for wild bees, particularly when natural vegetation and open sand spots are encouraged. Considering habitat loss, the lack of natural disturbance regimes, and ongoing declines of wild bees, sand mines could add promising opportunities for bee conservation which has hitherto mainly focused on agricultural and urban habitats.}, language = {en} }