@phdthesis{Matzka2023,
  author    = {Matzka, Manuel},
  title     = {Differenzierte Analyse verschiedener leistungsdiagnostischer Untersuchungsmethoden zur Optimierung der Trainingsanalyse und -steuerung im Kanurennsport},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-30211},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-302116},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Kanurennsport ist in Deutschland eine der erfolgreichsten olympischen Sommersportarten und hat mit 12 potenziellen Goldmedaillenchancen eine hohe Bedeutung f{\"u}r den deutschen Spitzensport. In der nationalen als auch internationalen wissenschaftlichen Forschung ist Kanurennsport jedoch bis dato unzureichend untersucht. Dabei stellt Kanurennsport als eine der wenigen vorrangig durch die Oberk{\"o}rpermuskulatur angetriebenen Sportarten eine Besonderheit dar. Ein zentraler Forschungsschwerpunkt ist seit einigen Jahrzehnten die Erforschung der optimalen Verteilung der Trainingsintensit{\"a}t (engl. training intensity distribution; TID) f{\"u}r die Leistungsentwicklung von Ausdauerathlet:innen. H{\"a}ufig wird die Trainingsintensit{\"a}t hierzu in einem Drei-Zonen-Modell kategorisiert, bei dem Zone (Z) 1 einer Intensit{\"a}t unterhalb der aeroben Schwelle, Z2 der Intensit{\"a}t zwischen der aeroben und anaeroben Schwelle und Z3 Intensit{\"a}ten oberhalb der anaeroben Schwelle entspricht. Forschungsergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass sich die TID nicht nur in Abh{\"a}ngigkeit von Sportart, Belastungsform, Trainingsstatus und Saisonphase unterscheidet, sondern auch in Abh{\"a}ngigkeit von der eingesetzten Quantifizierungsmethode (z.B. Herzfrequenz, Geschwindigkeit, Wattleistung, etc.). F{\"u}r die Sportart Kanurennsport besteht bez{\"u}glich TID-Forschung großer Nachholbedarf, da bisherige Untersuchungen ausschließlich in Ausdauerportarten stattfanden, die haupts{\"a}chlich den Unterk{\"o}rper (z.B. Radfahren, Laufen) oder Oberund Unterk{\"o}rper (Schwimmen, Rudern) in die Vortriebsgenerierung einbinden. Bislang fehlen Informationen zu rein aus dem Oberk{\"o}rper angetriebenen Sportarten. Als Grundlage f{\"u}r die Bestimmung der Trainingsintensit{\"a}tszonen werden in Trainingspraxis und Forschung Stufentests zur Bestimmung der maximalen Sauerstoffaufnahme sowie der Leistung an der aeroben und anaeroben ventilatorisch- und/oder laktatbasierten Schwelle angewandt. Die Stufentest werden im Kanurennsport aktuell vorrangig mittels Labordiagnostik auf dem Kanu- Ergometer durchgef{\"u}hrt, da diese weniger stark durch die diversen Umwelteinfl{\"u}sse (Wind, Wellen, Temperatur, Str{\"o}mung, etc.) beeintr{\"a}chtigt wird. Jedoch gibt es Hinweise, dass die Belastung auf dem Ergometer biomechanisch und physiologisch von der auf dem Wasser im Kanurennsport abweicht, sodass deren Mehrwert f{\"u}r die Diagnostik und die Trainingsplanung in Frage zu stellen ist. Ziel der vorliegenden kumulativen Dissertation war es (1) zu untersuchen, inwiefern eine laborbasierte Leistungsdiagnostik einer feldbasierten im Kanurennsport entspricht (Studie 1) und daraufhin die Methoden der Leistungsdiagnostik f{\"u}r die Studien 2 und 3 zu w{\"a}hlen; und (2) erste wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse zur TID und deren Quantifizierungsmethodik in der Sportart Kanurennsport zu gewinnen (Studie 2 \& 3). Diese sollten dann mit dem Wissensstand aus Sportarten, die obere und untere Extremit{\"a}ten (z.B. Biathlon, Rudern) bzw. prim{\"a}r die unteren Extremit{\"a}ten (z.B. Radsport, Laufen) f{\"u}r den Vortrieb einsetzen, abgeglichen werden. Zusammenfassend konnte zun{\"a}chst in Studie 1 aufgrund von Unterschieden in der VO2, der Muskeloxygenierung im Musculus biceps brachii sowie im subjektiven Belastungsempfinden dargestellt werden, dass sich eine Belastung auf dem Wasser von der auf dem Ergometer unterscheidet und somit eine wasserbasierte Leistungsdiagnostik im Kanurennsport vorzuziehen ist. Die Ergebnisse aus den Studien 2 und 3 zeigten, dass die TID im Saisonverlauf variiert und im Mittel einen hohen Anteil (80-90\%) niedrigintensiven Trainings (Z1) aufwies, wobei in der Vorbereitungsphase eine pyramidale TID Struktur (Z1>Z2>Z3) und in der Wettkampfvorbereitung die Tendenz zu einer vermehrt polarisierten Struktur (Z1>Z3>Z2) gefunden wurde. Somit weisen die Ergebnisse trotz der physiologischen sowie biomechanischen Unterschiede zu Sportarten, die Oberbzw. Ober- und Unterk{\"o}rper bei der Vortriebsgenerierung einsetzen, eine vergleichbare TID Struktur im Kanurennsport auf. Es ist zu vermuten, dass der geringe Impact auf das Skelettmuskelsystem und die damit einhergehende M{\"o}glichkeit, sehr hohe Trainingsvolumen mit der vergleichsweise kleinen Oberk{\"o}rpermuskulatur zu verwirklichen, diese TID-Struktur bedingen. Zudem konnte dargestellt werden, dass die Wahl der Quantifizierungsmethode (extern vs. intern; basierend auf physiologischen Parametern vs. Wettkampftempo) die Darstellung der TID beeinflusst. F{\"u}r eine ad{\"a}quate Vergleichbarkeit und den gezielten Einsatz muss insofern in der Forschung wie auch in den Sportarten ein Konsens {\"u}ber die Wahl der Quantifizierungsmethode erarbeitet werden. Es scheint zudem empfehlenswert die TID-Quantifizierungsmethode anhand der Trainingsphase auszuw{\"a}hlen, wobei sich in der allgemeinen und spezifischen Vorbereitungsperiode vorzugsweise eine TID Quantifizierung nach physiologischen Kenngr{\"o}ßen empfiehlt. Hierbei erscheint ein Mix aus HF-basierter Analyse f{\"u}r Z1 sowie f{\"u}r l{\"a}ngere Belastungen in Z2 und geschwindigkeitsbasierter Analyse f{\"u}r Z3 sowie k{\"u}rzere Belastungen der Z2 zweckm{\"a}ßig. In der Wettkampfvorbereitung stellt sich dann zus{\"a}tzlich eine Zoneneinteilung basierend auf dem Wettkampftempo als sinnvoll dar. Aufgrund der starken intra- und interindividuellen Variation der TID ist der individuelle Mehrwert der auf dem Gruppenmittelwert basierenden Ergebnisse jedoch zu hinterfragen und weist auf den Bedarf nach einer individuelleren Betrachtung der TID und ihrer Effekte hin. Genauso stellt sich ein starker Einfluss der allgemeinen physischen Aktivit{\"a}t sowie psychischer Belastungen auf die TID und ihre Effekte dar, der wiederrum die Notwendigkeit eines holistischen Betrachtungsansatzes f{\"u}r zuk{\"u}nftige Forschung aufzeigt. Außerdem gibt es im Allgemeinen eine große Wissensl{\"u}cke in Bezug auf Athletinnen in der TIDForschung, weshalb die bisherigen Erkenntnisse f{\"u}r die Trainingsgestaltung weiblicher Athleten mit Vorsicht behandelt werden m{\"u}ssen.},
  subject      = {Kanurennsport},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{LyTung2017,
  author    = {Ly Tung, Nam},
  title     = {Toward an Intelligent Long-Term Assistance for People with Dementia In the Context of Navigation in Indoor Environments},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-155235},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Dementia is a complex neurodegenerative syndrome that by 2050 could affect about 135 Million people worldwide. People with dementia experience a progressive decline in their cognitive abilities and have serious problems coping with activities of daily living, including orientation and wayfinding tasks. They even experience difficulties in finding their way in a familiar environment. Being lost or fear of getting lost may consequently develop into other psychological deficits such as anxiety, suspicions, illusions, and aggression. Frequent results are social isolation and a reduced quality of life. Moreover, the lives of relatives and caregivers of people with dementia are also negatively affected. Regarding navigation and orientation, most existing approaches focus on outdoor environment and people with mild dementia, who have the capability to use mobile devices. However, Rasquin (2007) observe that even a device with three buttons may be too complicated for people with moderate to severe dementia. In addition, people who are living in care homes mainly perform indoor activities. Given this background, we decided to focus on designing a system for indoor environments for people with moderate to severe dementia, who are unable or reluctant to use smartphone technology. Adopting user-centered design approach, context and requirements of people with dementia were gathered as a first step to understand needs and difficulties (especially in spatial disorientation and wayfinding problems) experienced in dementia care facilities. Then, an "Implicit Interactive Intelligent (III) Environment" for people with dementia was proposed emphasizing implicit interaction and natural interface. The backbone of this III Environment is based on supporting orientation and navigation tasks with three systems: a Monitoring system, an intelligent system, and a guiding system. The monitoring system and intelligent system automatically detect and interpret the locations and activities performed by the users i.e. people with dementia. This approach (implicit input) reduces cognitive workload as well as physical workload on the user to provide input. The intelligent system is also aware of context, predicts next situations (location, activity), and decides when to provide an appropriate service to the users. The guiding system with intuitive and dynamic environmental cues (lighting with color) has the responsibility for guiding the users to the places they need to be. Overall, three types of a monitoring system with Ultra-Wideband and iBeacon technologies, different techniques and algorithms were implemented for different contexts of use. They showed a high user acceptance with a reasonable price as well as decent accuracy and precision. In the intelligent system, models were built to recognize the users' current activity, detect the erroneous activity, predict the next location and activity, and analyze the history data, detect issues, notify them and suggest solutions to caregivers via visualized web interfaces. About the guiding systems, five studies were conducted to test and evaluate the effect of lighting with color on people with dementia. The results were promising. Although several components of III Environment in general and three systems, in particular, are in place (implemented and tested separately), integrating them all together and employing this in the dementia context as a fully properly evaluation with formal stakeholders (people with dementia and caregivers) are needed for the future step.},
  language  = {en}
}
@unpublished{Dandekar2023,
  author    = {Dandekar, Thomas},
  title     = {A modified inflation cosmology relying on qubit-crystallization: rare qubit interactions trigger qubit ensemble growth and crystallization into "real" bit-ensembles and emergent time},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-32177},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-321777},
  pages     = {42},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {In a modified inflation scenario we replace the "big bang" by a condensation event in an eternal all-compassing big ocean of free qubits in our modified cosmology. Interactions of qubits in the qubit ocean are rare. If they happen, they provide a nucleus for a new universe as the qubits become decoherent and freeze-out into defined bit ensembles. Second, we replace inflation by a crystallization event triggered by the nucleus of interacting qubits to which rapidly more and more qubits attach (like in everyday crystal growth) - the crystal unit cell guarantees same symmetries everywhere. Hence, the textbook inflation scenario to explain the same laws of nature in our domain is replaced by the crystal unit cell of the crystal formed. We give here only the perspective or outline of this modified inflation theory, as the detailed mathematical physics behind this has still to be formulated and described. Interacting qubits solidify, quantum entropy decreases (but increases in the ocean around). The interacting qubits form a rapidly growing domain where the n**m states become separated ensemble states, rising long-range forces stop ultimately further growth. After that very early events, standard cosmology with the hot fireball model takes over. Our theory agrees well with lack of inflation traces in cosmic background measurements, but more importantly can explain well by such a type of cosmological crystallization instead of inflation the early creation of large-scale structure of voids and filaments, supercluster formation, galaxy formation, and the dominance of matter: no annihilation of antimatter necessary, rather the unit cell of our crystal universe has a matter handedness avoiding anti-matter. We prove a triggering of qubit interactions can only be 1,2,4 or 8-dimensional (agrees with E8 symmetry of our universe). Repulsive forces at ultrashort distances result from quantization, long-range forces limit crystal growth. Crystals come and go in the qubit ocean. This selects for the ability to lay seeds for new crystals, for self-organization and life-friendliness. The phase space of the crystal agrees with the standard model of the basic four forces for n quanta. It includes all possible ensemble combinations of their quantum states m, a total of n**m states. Neighbor states reach according to transition possibilities (S-matrix) with emergent time from entropic ensemble gradients. However, this means that in our four dimensions there is only one bit overlap to neighbor states left (almost solid, only below h dash liquidity left). However, the E8 symmetry of heterotic string theory has six rolled-up, small dimensions which help to keep the qubit crystal together and will never expand. Finally, we give first energy estimates for free qubits vs bound qubits, misplacements in the qubit crystal and entropy increase during qubit decoherence / crystal formation. Scalar fields for color interaction and gravity derive from the permeating qubit-interaction field in the crystal. Hence, vacuum energy gets low inside the qubit crystal. Condensed mathematics may advantageously help to model free (many states denote the same qubit) and bound qubits in phase space.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Fuchs2023,
  author    = {Fuchs, Manuela},
  title     = {Global discovery and functional characterization of Hfq-associated sRNA-target networks in \(C.\) \(difficile\)},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-34598},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-345982},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {In this work, dRNA-seq (differential RNA sequencing) and RNAtag-seq were applied to first define the global transcriptome architecture of C. difficile, followed by Hfq RIP-seq (RNA immunoprecipitation followed by RNA-seq) and RIL-seq (RNA interaction by ligation and sequencing) to characterize the Hfq-mediated sRNA interactome on a transcriptome-wide scale. These approaches resulted in the annotation of > 60 novel sRNAs. Notably, it not only revealed 50 Hfq-bound sRNAs, but also > 1000 mRNA-sRNA interactions, confirming Hfq as a global RNA matchmaker in C. difficile. Similar to its function in Gram-negative species, deletion of Hfq resulted in decreased sRNA half-lives, providing evidence that Hfq affects sRNA stability in C. difficile. Finally, several sRNAs and their function in various infection relevant conditions were characterized. The sRNA nc085 directly interacts with the two-component response regulator eutV, resulting in regulation of ethanolamine utilization, an abundant intestinal carbon and nitrogen source known to impact C. difficile pathogenicity. Meanwhile, SpoY and SpoX regulate translation of the master regulator of sporulation spo0A in vivo, thereby affecting sporulation initiation. Furthermore, SpoY and SpoX deletion significantly impacts C. difficile gut colonization and spore burden in a mouse model of C. difficile infection.},
  subject      = {Clostridium difficile},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Masota2023,
  author    = {Masota, Nelson Enos},
  title     = {The Search for Novel Effective Agents Against Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-30263},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-302632},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This thesis aimed at searching for new effective agents against Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae. This is necessitated by the urgent need for new and innovative antibacterial agents addressing the critical priority pathogens prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the available means for antibiotics discovery and development, nature has long remained a proven, innovative, and highly reliable gateway to successful antibacterial agents. Nevertheless, numerous challenges surrounding this valuable source of antibiotics among other drugs are limiting the complete realization of its potential. These include the availability of good quality data on the highly potential natural sources, limitations in methods to prepare and screen crude extracts, bottlenecks in reproducing biological potentials observed in natural sources, as well as hurdles in isolation, purification, and characterization of natural compounds with diverse structural complexities. Through an extensive review of the literature, it was possible to prepare libraries of plant species and phytochemicals with reported high potentials against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumnoniae. The libraries were profiled to highlight the existing patterns and relationships between the reported antibacterial activities and studied plants' families and parts, the type of the extracting solvent, as well as phytochemicals' classes, drug-likeness and selected parameters for enhanced accumulation within the Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, motivations, objectives, the role of traditional practices and other crucial experimental aspects in the screening of plant extracts for antibacterial activities were identified and discussed. Based on the implemented strict inclusion criteria, the created libraries grant speedy access to well-evaluated plant species and phytochemicals with potential antibacterial activities. This way, further studies in yet unexplored directions can be pursued from the indicated or related species and compounds. Moreover, the availability of compound libraries focusing on related bacterial species serves a great role in the ongoing efforts to develop the rules of antibiotics penetrability and accumulation, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria. Here, in addition to hunting for potential scaffolds from such libraries, detailed evaluations of large pool compounds with related antibacterial potential can grant a better understanding of structural features crucial for their penetration and accumulation. Based on the scarcity of compounds with broad structural diversity and activity against Gram-negative bacteria, the creation and updating of such libraries remain a laborious but important undertaking. A Pressurized Microwave Assisted Extraction (PMAE) method over a short duration and low-temperature conditions was developed and compared to the conventional cold maceration over a prolonged duration. This method aimed at addressing the key challenges associated with conventional extraction methods which require long extraction durations, and use more energy and solvents, in addition to larger quantities of plant materials. Furthermore, the method was intended to replace the common use of high temperatures in most of the current MAE applications. Interestingly, the yields of 16 of 18 plant samples under PMAE over 30 minutes were found to be within 91-139\% of those obtained from the 24h extraction by maceration. Additionally, different levels of selectivity were observed upon an analytical comparison of the extracts obtained from the two methods. Although each method indicated selective extraction of higher quantities or additional types of certain phytochemicals, a slightly larger number of additional compounds were observed under maceration. The use of this method allows efficient extraction of a large number of samples while sparing heat-sensitive compounds and minimizing chances for cross-reactions between phytochemicals. Moreover, findings from another investigation highlighted the low likelihood of reproducing antibacterial activities previously reported among various plant species, identified the key drivers of poor reproducibility, and proposed possible measures to mitigate the challenge. The majority of extracts showed no activities up to the highest tested concentration of 1024 µg/mL. In the case of identical plant species, some activities were observed only in 15\% of the extracts, in which the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were 4 - 16-fold higher than those in previous reports. Evaluation of related plant species indicated better outcomes, whereby about 18\% of the extracts showed activities in a range of 128-512 μg/mL, some of the activities being superior to those previously reported in related species. Furthermore, solubilizing plant crude extracts during the preparation of test solutions for Antibacterial Susceptibility Testing (AST) assays was outlined as a key challenge. In trying to address this challenge, some studies have used bacteria-toxic solvents or generally unacceptable concentrations of common solubilizing agents. Both approaches are liable to give false positive results. In line with this challenge, this study has underscored the suitability of acetone in the solubilization of crude plant extracts. Using acetone, better solubility profiles of crude plant extracts were observed compared to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at up to 10 \%v/v. Based on lacking toxicity against many bacteria species at up to 25 \%v/v, its use in the solubilization of poorly water-soluble extracts, particularly those from less polar solvents is advocated. In a subsequent study, four galloylglucoses were isolated from the leaves of Paeonia officinalis L., whereby the isolation of three of them from this source was reported for the first time. The isolation and characterization of these compounds were driven by the crucial need to continually fill the pre-clinical antibiotics pipeline using all available means. Application of the bioautography-guided isolation and a matrix of extractive, chromatographic, spectroscopic, and spectrometric techniques enabled the isolation of the compounds at high purity levels and the ascertainment of their chemical structures. Further, the compounds exhibited the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) in a range of 2-256 µg/mL against Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) strains of E. coli and K. pneumonia exhibiting diverse MDR phenotypes. In that, the antibacterial activities of three of the isolated compounds were reported for the first time. The observed in vitro activities of the compounds resonated with their in vivo potentials as determined using the Galleria mellonella larvae model. Additionally, the susceptibility of the MDR bacteria to the galloylglucoses was noted to vary depending on the nature of the resistance enzymes expressed by the MDR bacteria. In that, the bacteria expressing enzymes with higher content of aromatic amino acids and zero or positive net charges were generally more susceptible. Following these findings, a plausible hypothesis for the observed patterns was put forward. The generally challenging pharmacokinetic properties of galloylglucoses limit their further development into therapeutic agents. However, the compounds can replace or reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock keeping as well as in the treatment of septic wounds and topical or oral cavity infections, among other potential uses. Using nature-inspired approaches, a series of glucovanillin derivatives were prepared following feasible synthetic pathways which in most cases ensured good yields and high purity levels. Some of the prepared compounds showed MIC values in a range of 128 - 512 μg/mL against susceptible and MDR strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). These findings emphasize the previously reported essence of small molecular size, the presence of protonatable amino groups and halogen atoms, as well as an amphiphilic character, as crucial features for potential antibacterial agents. Due to the experienced limited success in the search for new antibacterial agents using purely synthetic means, pursuing semi-synthetic approaches as employed in this study are highly encouraged. This way, it is possible to explore broader chemical spaces around natural scaffolds while addressing their inherent limitations such as solubility, toxicity, and poor pharmacokinetic profiles.},
  subject      = {Enterobacteriaceae},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Baumann2023,
  author    = {Baumann, Juliane},
  title     = {Studies on the influence of mutations in the Myh9 gene on platelet function},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-28795},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287953},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The platelet cytoskeleton ensures normal size and discoid shape under resting conditions and undergoes immediate reorganization in response to changes in the extracellular environment through integrin-based adhesion sites, resulting in actomyosin-mediated contractile forces. Mutations in the contractile protein non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA display, among others, macrothrombocytopenia and a mild to moderate bleeding tendency in human patients. It is insufficiently understood which factors contribute to the hemostatic defect found in MYH9-related disease patients. Therefore, a better understanding of the underlying biophysical mechanisms in thrombus formation and stabilization is warranted. This thesis demonstrates that an amino acid exchange at the positions 702, 1424 and 1841 in the heavy chain of the contractile protein non-muscle myosin IIA, caused by heterozygous point mutations in the gene, resulted in macrothrombocytopenia and increased bleeding in mice, reflecting the clinical hallmark of the MYH9-related disease in human patients. Basic characterization of biological functions of Myh9 mutant platelets revealed overall normal surface glycoprotein expression and agonist-induced activation when compared to wildtype platelets. However, myosin light chain phosphorylation after thrombin-activation was reduced in mutant platelets, resulting in less contractile forces and a defect in clot retraction. Altered biophysical characteristics with lower adhesion and interaction forces of Myh9 mutant platelets led to reduced thrombus formation and stability. Platelets from patients with the respective mutations recapitulated the findings obtained with murine platelets, such as impaired thrombus formation and stiffness. Besides biological and biophysical characterization of mutant platelets from mice and men, treatment options were investigated to prevent increased bleeding caused by reduced platelet forces. The antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid was applied to stabilize less compact thrombi, which are presumably more vulnerable to fibrinolysis. The hemostatic function in Myh9 mutant mice was improved by interfering with the fibrinolytic system. These results show the beneficial effect of fibrin stabilization to reduce bleeding in MYH9-related disease.},
  subject      = {Thrombozyt},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Seeger2023,
  author    = {Seeger, Fabian Reinhard},
  title     = {Moderators of exposure-based treatment outcome in anxiety disorders: an fMRI approach},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21435},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-214356},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Even though exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) constitutes a first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, a substantial proportion of patients does not respond in a clinically significant manner. The identification of pre-treatment patient characteristics that are associated with treatment outcome might aid in improving response rates. Therefore, the present doctoral thesis aimed at investigating moderators of treatment outcome in anxiety disorders: first, we investigated the neural correlates of comorbidity among primary panic disorder/agoraphobia (PD/AG) and secondary social anxiety disorder (SAD) moderating treatment outcome towards exposure-based CBT. Second, pre-treatment functional resting-state connectivity signatures of treatment response in specific phobia were studied. Within the first study, we compared PD/AG patients with or without secondary SAD regarding their clinical and neurofunctional outcome towards a manualized CBT treatment focusing on PD/AG symptoms. Prior to treatment, PD/AG+SAD compared to PD/AG-SAD patients exhibited a specific neural signature within the temporal lobe, which was attenuated to the level of PD/AG-SAD patients afterwards. CBT was equally effective in both groups. Thus, comorbidity among those two anxiety disorders did not alter treatment outcome substantially. This might be due to the high overlap of shared pathophysiological features within both disorders. In the second study, we assessed pre-treatment functional resting-state connectivity within a sample of spider phobic patients that were treated with massed in virtuo exposure. We found responders already prior to treatment to be characterized by stronger inhibitory frontolimbic connectivity as well as heightened connectivity between the amygdala and regions related to the ventral visual stream. Furthermore, patients demonstrating high within-session extinction exhibited pronounced intrinsic prefrontal connectivity. Our results point to responders exhibiting a brain prepared for the mechanism of action of exposure. Taken together, results highlight the major impact of pre-treatment characteristics on treatment outcome. Both, PD/AG+SAD patients as well as responders within the SpiderVR study exhibited heightened activation or connectivity within the ventral visual pathway and the amygdala. Pronounced visual processing together with enhanced executive control and emotion regulation seem to constitute a fruitful soil for successful exposure. The results provide starting points for personalized treatment approaches in order to improve treatment success in the anxiety disorders. Future studies are needed to investigate the benefit of neuroscientifically informed CBT augmentation strategies such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.},
  subject      = {Angstst{\"o}rung},
  language  = {en}
}
@unpublished{Dandekar2023,
  author    = {Dandekar, Thomas},
  title     = {Protein folding and crystallization applied to qubit interactions and fundamental physics yields a modified inflation model for cosmology},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-34615},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-346156},
  pages     = {42},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Protein folding achieves a clear solution structure in a huge parameter space (the so-called protein folding problem). Proteins fold in water, and get by this a highly ordered structure. Finally, inside a protein crystal for structure resolution, you have everywhere the same symmetries as there is everywhere the same unit cell. We apply this to qubit interactions to do fundamental physics: in a modified cosmology, we replace the big bang by a condensation event in an eternal all-encompassing ocean of free qubits. Interactions of qubits in the qubit ocean are quite rare but provide a nucleus or seed for a new universe (domain) as the qubits become decoherent and freeze-out into defined bit ensembles. Second, we replace inflation by a crystallization event triggered by the nucleus of interacting qubits to which rapidly more and more qubits attach (like in everyday crystal growth). The crystal unit cell guarantees same symmetries everywhere inside the crystal. The textbook inflation scenario to explain the same laws of nature in our domain is replaced by the unit cell of the crystal formed. Interacting qubits solidify, quantum entropy decreases (but increases in the ocean around). In a modified inflation scenario, the interacting qubits form a rapidly growing domain where the n**m states become separated ensemble states, rising long-range forces stop ultimately further growth. Then standard cosmology with the hot fireball model takes over. Our theory agrees well with lack of inflation traces in cosmic background measurements. We explain by cosmological crystallization instead of inflation: early creation of large-scale structure of voids and filaments, supercluster formation, galaxy formation, and the dominance of matter: the unit cell of our crystal universe has a matter handedness avoiding anti-matter. We prove initiation of qubit interactions can only be 1,2,4 or 8-dimensional (agrees with E8 symmetry of our universe). Repulsive forces at ultrashort distances result from quantization, long-range forces limit crystal growth. Crystals come and go in the qubit ocean. This selects for the ability to lay seeds for new crystals, for self-organization and life-friendliness. The phase space of the crystal agrees with the standard model of the basic four forces for n quanta. It includes all possible ensemble combinations of their quantum states m, a total of n**m states. Neighbor states reach according to transition possibilities (S-matrix) with emergent time from entropic ensemble gradients. However, in our four dimensions there is only one bit overlap to neighbor states left (almost solid, only below Planck quantum there is liquidity left). The E8 symmetry of heterotic string theory has six curled-up, small dimensions which help to keep the qubit crystal together and will never expand. Mathematics focusses on the Hurwitz proof applied to qubit interaction, a toy model of qubit interaction and repulsive forces of qubits. Vacuum energy gets appropriate low inside the crystal. We give first energy estimates for free qubits vs bound qubits, misplacements in the qubit crystal and entropy increase during qubit decoherence / crystal formation. Scalar fields for color interaction/confinement and gravity are derived from the qubit-interaction field.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TshitengeTshitengeBruhnFeineisetal.2019,
  author    = {Tshitenge Tshitenge, Dieudonn{\´e} and Bruhn, Torsten and Feineis, Doris and Mudogo, Virima and Kaiser, Marcel and Brun, Reto and Bringmann, Gerhard},
  title     = {An unusually broad series of seven cyclombandakamines, bridged dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from the Congolese liana Ancistrocladus ealaensis},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41598-019-46336-z.},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200759},
  pages     = {9812},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {A series of seven unusual dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids was isolated from the leaves of the tropical liana Ancistrocladus ealaensis J. L{\´e}onard, named cyclombandakamine A (1), 1-epi-cyclombandakamine A (2), and cyclombandakamines A3-7 (3-7). These alkaloids have a chemically thrilling structural array consisting of a twisted dihydrofuran-cyclohexenone-isochromene system. The 1′″-epimer of 4, cyclombandakamine A1 (8), had previously been discovered in an unidentified Ancistrocladus species related to A. ealaensis. Both lianas produce the potential parent precursor, mbandakamine A (9), but only A. ealaensis synthesizes the corresponding cyclized form, along with a broad series of slightly modified analogs. The challenging isolation required, besides multi-dimensional chromatography, the use of a pentafluorophenyl stationary phase. Featuring up to six stereocenters and two types of chiral axes, their structures were elucidated by means of 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, in combination with oxidative chemical degradation experiments as well as chiroptical (electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy) and quantum chemical calculations. Compared to the 'open-chain' parent compound 9, these dimers displayed rather moderate antiplasmodial activities.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hohner2018,
  author    = {Hohner, Matthias Markus},
  title     = {Risikostratifizierung kardialer Nebenwirkungen in der Psychopharmakotherapie \& Entwicklung und Validierung der Dried-Blood-Spot-Analytik f{\"u}r Clozapin und Quetiapin},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-169054},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {1 Verl{\"a}ngerung der kardialen Repolarisationsdauer unter psychiatrischer Medikation bei gleichzeitigem genetischen Basisrisiko Vielen Psychopharmaka wird eine repolarisationsverl{\"a}ngernde Wirkung zugeschrieben. Diese unerw{\"u}nschte Arzneimittelwirkung, erkennbar an einer Verl{\"a}ngerung des QT-Intervalls im Elektrokardiogramm, ist in den vergangenen Jahren, aufgrund des Zusammenhanges mit lebensbedrohlichen Torsades-de-Pointes-Tachyarrhythmien, in den Fokus der klinischen Forschung ger{\"u}ckt. Aufgrund dieser Nebenwirkung werden viele gut wirksame Arzneimittel einer erneuten eingehenden Nutzen-Risiko-Analyse unterzogen und in manchen F{\"a}llen f{\"u}hrte dies zu einer Limitierung der pharmakologischen M{\"o}glichkeiten. Als Hauptmechanismus f{\"u}r eine Psychopharmaka-induzierte QT-Zeit-Verl{\"a}ngerung gilt die Blockade von kardialen Kaliumkan{\"a}len. Aber auch genetische Ver{\"a}nderungen unterschiedlicher kardialer Ionenkan{\"a}le gelten als Risikofaktoren, ebenso wie Effekte anderer ionenabh{\"a}ngiger Signalwege. Da Patienten mit genetischer Pr{\"a}disposition ein defacto erh{\"o}htes Risiko f{\"u}r eine pharmakologisch induzierte QT-Zeit-Verl{\"a}ngerung aufweisen, spricht man von reduzierter Repolarisationsreserve, mit erh{\"o}htem Basislinienrisiko f{\"u}r kardiale Nebenwirkungen. Ziel war es, {\"u}ber einen additiven genetischen Risikoscore eine Quantifizierung individueller Vulnerabilit{\"a}t zu erreichen und zu zeigen, dass dieses Risiko durch die Kontrolle von Medikamenten-Serumspiegeln modulierbar sein kann. Aus einer prospektiven Studie, mit 2062 an endogener Psychose leidenden Patienten des Zentrums f{\"u}r Psychische Gesundheit des Universit{\"a}tsklinikums W{\"u}rzburg, wurden 392 Patienten (mittleres Alter bei Studieneinschluss 41,0 ± 15,0 Jahre, 36,2 \% Frauen) rekrutiert. Prim{\"a}res Einschlusskriterium f{\"u}r die angekn{\"u}pfte, retrospektive Studie war das Vorliegen einer Serumspiegelbestimmung der psychiatrischen Medikation binnen drei Tagen vor oder nach einer elektrokardiographischen Untersuchung (N = 392). Die den Einschlusskriterien entsprechenden 392 Patienten wurden daraufhin auf 62 Einzelpolymorphismen, die in Verbindung mit einer verl{\"a}ngerten QT-Zeit stehen, getestet und die Ergebnisse mit den patientenspezifischen Daten aus den elektrokardiographischen Untersuchungen korreliert. Des Weiteren wurden, basierend auf vier großen Publikationen des internationalen „Cardiac Safety Consortium" (77-79, 148), bekannte polygene Risikoscores, die diese Risikopolymorphismen enthalten, anhand des eigenen Patientenkollektivs berechnet und durch Korrelation mit der QT-Zeit {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft. Diese Scores funktionieren jeweils nach einem Additionsmodell, bei dem nach unterschiedlicher Gewichtung das individuelle Risiko, das durch das Vorhandensein eines bekannten Risikopolymorphismus quantifizierbar wird, zu einem Gesamtrisiko aufsummiert wird. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus ist das Patientenkollektiv auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Serumspiegel der psychiatrischen Medikation und der QT-Zeit gepr{\"u}ft worden. Dazu wurde das Gesamtkollektiv in medikamentenspezifische Subgruppen unterteilt (Amitriptylin (N = 106), Clomipramin (N = 48), Doxepin (N = 53), Mirtazapin (N = 45), Venlafaxin (N = 50), Aripiprazol (N = 56), Clozapin (N = 127), Haloperidol (N = 41), Olanzapin (N = 37), Perazin (N = 47), Quetiapin (N = 119) und Risperidon (N = 106)). Abschließend wurden die Subkollektive in einem kombinierten Rechenmodell daraufhin gepr{\"u}ft, ob Zusammenh{\"a}nge zwischen den genetischen Risikoscores nach Strauss et al. (148) mit dem jeweiligen Medikamenten-Serumspiegel auf die QT-Zeit bestehen. 13 der 62 untersuchten Einzelpolymorphismen zeigten einen signifikanten Zusammenhang mit einer verl{\"a}ngerten Repolarisationsdauer. Ebenfalls korrelieren polygene Risikoscores einer verl{\"a}ngerten kardialen Repolarisation und erkl{\"a}ren einen dabei signifikanten Anteil der Varianz. Die Ergebnisse der Literatur, bez{\"u}glich der Scores nach Pfeufer et al. (77) (R = 0,124, p = 0,014; N = 392), nach Noseworthy et al. (79) (R = 0,169; p = 0,001; N = 392), sowie nach Strauss et al. (148) (R = 0,199; p = 0,000; N = 392) konnten anhand des eigenen Kollektives reproduziert werden, wohingegen der Score von Newton-Cheh et al. (78) keinen signifikanten Zusammenhang mit der QT-Zeit zeigte (R = 0,029; p = 0,568; N = 392). In der Subgruppenanalyse konnte ein stark vom Serumspiegel abh{\"a}ngiger, verl{\"a}ngernder Effekt auf die QT-Zeit f{\"u}r die Arzneistoffe Amitriptylin, Nortriptylin, Clomipramin, und Haloperidol nachgewiesen werden. Die Analyse der mit Amitriptylin behandelten Patienten (N = 106) ergab f{\"u}r Nortriptylin (F (1,104) = 5.986; p = .016, R = .233), als auch f{\"u}r den Summenspiegel aus Amitriptylin und Nortriptylin (F (1,104) = 4.408, p = .038, R = .202) einen signifikanten, nach Cohen einen mittelstarken Zusammenhang mit der QT-Zeit. Starke Effekte auf die QT-Zeit wurden im Zusammenhang mit den Serumspiegeln der Medikamente Clomipramin (F (1,46) = 39.589, p < .001, R = .680, N = 48) und Haloperidol (F (1,39) = 12.672, p = .001, korrigiertes R2= .245, N = 41) errechnet. Ein kombiniertes Rechenmodell, das sowohl den Einfluss des jeweiligen Serumspiegels, als auch des genetischen Risikoscores nach Strauss et al. (148) ber{\"u}cksichtigte, erlaubte bei diesen Arzneistoffen eine signifikant h{\"o}here Varianzaufkl{\"a}rung der QT-Zeit, als die jeweiligen Effekte f{\"u}r sich genommen. Die QT-Zeit gilt als erwiesenermaßen genauso abh{\"a}ngig von der individuellen genetischen Ausstattung, wie auch von Serumspiegeln potentiell als QT-verl{\"a}ngernd eingestufter Medikamente. Diese Effekte scheinen additiv verkn{\"u}pfbar, so dass das von Roden et al. entwickelte Konzept der reduzierten Repolarisationsreserve (54) als best{\"a}tigt gelten darf. Die jeweiligen Einzeleffekte vom genetischen Risiko, sowie der Medikation haben zusammen einen gr{\"o}ßeren Einfluss auf die gemessenen QT-Zeit als f{\"u}r sich alleine genommen. Durch die Genetik l{\"a}sst sich somit tats{\"a}chlich eine grobe vorab-Risikoabsch{\"a}tzung treffen. Dies k{\"o}nnte nach sorgf{\"a}ltiger Nutzen-Risiko-Analyse durch Kontrollen des EKGs und des Serumspiegels moduliert werden und somit vielf{\"a}ltigere therapeutische M{\"o}glichkeiten erhalten. 2 Entwicklung und Validierung einer Dried-Blood-Spot-Methode zum therapeutischen Drug Monitoring von Clozapin und Quetiapin Die Technik der Extraktion und Analyse von Stoffen aus getrocknetem Blut ist bereits seit den 1960er Jahren bekannt, wurde bis zur j{\"u}ngeren Vergangenheit aber eher zu diagnostischen Zwecken angewendet. Durch Fortschritte in der Analytik im Sinne ausgefeilterer Chromatographie und sensitiverer Detektion wurde das Verfahren der Dried-Blood-Spot-Analytik auch f{\"u}r die Spiegelbestimmung von Arzneistoffen interessant. So wurden auch im Bereich des Therapeutischen Drug Monitorings bereits Methoden, beispielsweise f{\"u}r Antibiotika, Antiepileptika, Virostatika und in j{\"u}ngerer Zeit auch Antidiabetika publiziert. Die Vorteile in der Probenhandhabung und durch geringeren Aufwand bei der Blutentnahme sowie geringeres Probenentnahmevolumen werden durch weitere Fortschritte im Bereich der Analytik vordergr{\"u}ndiger. Ziel war es, ein Extraktionsverfahren zu entwickeln und zu validieren, dass die gemeinsame Quantifizierung der h{\"a}ufig verabreichten Antipsychotika Clozapin und Quetiapin aus einem einzelnen getrockneten Blutstropfen erm{\"o}glicht. Die Extraktion mit einer Mischung aus 99 \% Acetonitril und 1 \% 1 M Salzs{\"a}ure und anschließender HPLC-Analyse mit S{\"a}ulenschaltung und photometrischer Detektion wurde nach den Richtlinien der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r toxikologische und forensische Chemie (GTFCh) (146) validiert. Sie entsprach s{\"a}mtlichen Anforderungen bez{\"u}glich Linearit{\"a}t, Bestimmungsgrenze, Stabilit{\"a}t, Genauigkeit, Extraktionsausbeute und Robustheit. Somit gilt diese Methode in der Praxis als anwendbar und d{\"u}rfte, nach {\"U}berpr{\"u}fung der therapeutischen Bereiche f{\"u}r kapillares Vollblut im Vergleich zu den bereits definierten Bereichen f{\"u}r ven{\"o}se entnommene Serumproben, Eingang in die klinische Praxis finden.},
  subject      = {Pharmakotherapie},
  language  = {de}
}
@misc{Gamaleldin2021,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Gamaleldin, Mariam},
  title     = {Non-canonical Signaling of μ-opioid Receptors},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-24032},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-240327},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {According to the "canonical" paradigm of GPCR signaling, agonist-bound GPCRs only signal to the downstream adenylyl cyclase enzyme when they are seated at the plasma membrane. Upon prolonged binding of an agonist, receptor internalization usually takes place, leading to the termination of this downstream signaling pathway and activation of alternative ones. However, a set of recent studies have shown that at least some GPCRs (e.g. thyroid stimulating hormone receptor) continue signaling to adenylyl cyclase after internalization. In this study, I aimed to investigate canonical signaling by internalized μ opioid receptors (MORs), which are Gi-coupled receptors, using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensor for cyclic AMP (cAMP) known as Epac1-camps. My results show that the cyclic AMP inhibition signal induced by the binding of DAMGO, a MOR agonist, persists after agonist washout. We hypothesized that this persistent signal might come from internalized DAMGO-bound receptors located in the endosomal compartment. To test this hypothesis, I used dynasore and Dyngo 4a, two dynamin inhibitors that are known to prevent clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Interestingly, dynasore but not Dyngo 4a pretreatment largely blunted the response to MOR activation as well as to adenylyl cyclase activation with Forskolin (FSK). In addition, DAMGO-induced cAMP signal remained persistent even in the presence of 30 M Dyngo 4a. These results might point to a complex interplay between clathrin-mediated internalization and MOR signaling. Further experiments are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the persistent MOR signaling and to fully clarify whether MORs are capable of Gi signaling in the endosomal compartment.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Baier2018,
  author    = {Baier, Pablo A.},
  title     = {Simulator for Minimally Invasive Vascular Interventions: Hardware and Software},
  isbn      = {978-3-945459-22-5},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-16119},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-161190},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  pages     = {118},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {A complete simulation system is proposed that can be used as an educational tool by physicians in training basic skills of Minimally Invasive Vascular Interventions. In the first part, a surface model is developed to assemble arteries having a planar segmentation. It is based on Sweep Surfaces and can be extended to T- and Y-like bifurcations. A continuous force vector field is described, representing the interaction between the catheter and the surface. The computation time of the force field is almost unaffected when the resolution of the artery is increased. The mechanical properties of arteries play an essential role in the study of the circulatory system dynamics, which has been becoming increasingly important in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In Virtual Reality Simulators, it is crucial to have a tissue model that responds in real time. In this work, the arteries are discretized by a two dimensional mesh and the nodes are connected by three kinds of linear springs. Three tissue layers (Intima, Media, Adventitia) are considered and, starting from the stretch-energy density, some of the elasticity tensor components are calculated. The physical model linearizes and homogenizes the material response, but it still contemplates the geometric nonlinearity. In general, if the arterial stretch varies by 1\% or less, then the agreement between the linear and nonlinear models is trustworthy. In the last part, the physical model of the wire proposed by Konings is improved. As a result, a simpler and more stable method is obtained to calculate the equilibrium configuration of the wire. In addition, a geometrical method is developed to perform relaxations. It is particularly useful when the wire is hindered in the physical method because of the boundary conditions. The physical and the geometrical methods are merged, resulting in efficient relaxations. Tests show that the shape of the virtual wire agrees with the experiment. The proposed algorithm allows real-time executions and the hardware to assemble the simulator has a low cost.},
  subject      = {Computersimulation},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Bolze2018,
  author    = {Bolze, Tom},
  title     = {Photodynamics of a fluorescent tetrazolium salt and shaping of femtosecond Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes in time and space},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160902},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {This thesis will outline studies performed on the fluorescence dynamics of phenyl-benzo- [c]-tetrazolo-cinnolium chloride (PTC) in alcoholic solutions with varying viscosity using time-resolved fluoro-spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, the properties of femtosecond Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) laser pulses will be investigated with respect to their temporal and spatial features and an approach will be developed to measure and control the spatial intensity distribution on the time scale of the pulse. Tetrazolium salts are widely used in biological assays for their low oxidation and reduction thresholds and spectroscopic properties. However, a neglected feature in these applications is the advantage that detection of emitted light has over the determination of the absorbance. To corroborate this, PTC as one of the few known fluorescent tetrazolium salts was investigated with regard to its luminescent features. Steady-state spectroscopy revealed how PTC can be formed by a photoreaction from 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and how the fluorescence quantum yield behaved in alcoholic solvents with different viscosity. In the same array of solvents time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) measurements were performed and the fluorescence decay was investigated. Global analysis of the results revealed different dynamics in the different solvents, but although the main emission constant did change with the solvent, taking the fluorescence quantum yield into consideration resulted in an independence of the radiative rate from the solvent. The non-radiative rate, however, was highly solvent dependent and responsible for the observed solvent-related changes in the fluorescence dynamics. Further studies with the increased time resolution of femtosecond fluorescence upconversion revealed an independence of the main emission constant from the excitation energy, however the dynamics of the cooling processes prior to emission were prolonged for higher excitation energy. This led to a conceivable photoreaction scheme with one emissive state with a competing non-radiative relaxation channel, that may involve an intermediate state. LG laser beams and their properties have seen a lot of scientific attention over the past two decades. Also in the context of new techniques pushing the limit of technology further to explore new phenomena, it is essential to understand the features of this beam class and check the consistency of the findings with theoretical knowledge. The mode conversion of a Hermite-Gaussian (HG) mode into a LG mode with the help of a spiral phase plate (SPP) was investigated with respect to its space-time characteristics. It was found that femtosecond LG and HG pulses of a given temporal duration share the same spectrum and can be characterized using the same well-established methods. The mode conversion proved to only produce the desired LG mode with its characteristic orbital angular momentum (OAM), that is conserved after frequency doubling the pulse. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that temporal shaping of the HG pulse does not alter the result of its mode-conversion, as three completely different temporal pulse shapes produced the same LG mode. Further attention was given to the sum frequency generation of fs LG beams and dynamics of the interference of a HG and a LG pulse. It was found that if both are chirped with inverse signs the spatial intensity distribution does rotate around the beam axis on the time scale of the pulse. A strategy was found that would enable a measurement of these dynamics by upconversion of the interference with a third gate pulse. The results of which are discussed theoretically and an approach of an experimental realization had been made. The simulated findings had only been reproduced to a limited extend due to experimental limitations, especially the interferometric stability of the setup.},
  subject      = {Tetrazoliumsalze},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Bittorf2021,
  author    = {Bittorf, Patrick},
  title     = {Entwicklung, Herstellung und pr{\"a}klinisches Studienprogramm f{\"u}r ein Arzneimittel f{\"u}r neuartige Therapien zur Behandlung der schweren Form der H{\"a}mophilie A},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-23185},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-231858},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Bevor ein zellbasiertes GTMP erstmalig beim Menschen angewendet werden kann, m{\"u}ssen verschiedene notwendige nicht-klinische Studien durchgef{\"u}hrt werden. Wichtig ist hier u.a. die Untersuchung der Biodistribution im Tiermodel. Diese umfasst die Verteilung, das Engraftment, die Persistenz, die Eliminierung und gegebenenfalls die Expansion der humanen Zellen in verschiedenen Organen, meistens im Mausmodel. Deshalb wurde eine qPCR-basierte Analysenmethode entwickelt, mit der humane genomische DNA innerhalb von muriner genomischer DNA bestimmt werden kann, und entsprechend den regulatorischen Richtlinien der European Medicines Agency und des International Council for Harmonisation validiert. Anschließend wurde diese Methode innerhalb einer pr{\"a}klinischen worst-case Szenario Biodistributionsstudie angewendet. Das Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung des Biodistributionsprofils von genetisch modifizierten Blood Outgrowth Endothelial Cells von H{\"a}mophilie A Patienten 24 Stunden und sieben Tage nach intraven{\"o}ser Applikation einer Dosis von 2x106 Zellen. Die Isolation, genetische Modifikation und die Expansion der Zellen sollte entsprechend den Richtlinien der Guten Herstellungspraxis durchgef{\"u}hrt werden. Hierbei ist die Auswahl und Anwendung geeigneter und essentieller Rohstoffe wichtig. Gleichermaßen ist die Durchf{\"u}hrung einer definierten Qualit{\"a}tskontrollstrategie notwendig und die Patientenzellen sollten nur innerhalb von nicht-klinischen Studien eingesetzt werden, wenn alle Akzeptanzkriterien erf{\"u}llt wurden. Die Validierung der qPCR-Methode zeigte eine hohe Genauigkeit, Pr{\"a}zision und Linearit{\"a}t innerhalb des Konzentrationsintervalls von 1:1x103 bis 1:1x106 humanen zu murinen Genomen. Bei Anwendung dieser Methode f{\"u}r die Biodistributionsstudie konnten nach 24 Stunden humane Genome in vier der acht untersuchten Mausorgane bestimmt werden. Nach sieben Tagen konnten in keinem der acht Organe humane Genome nachgewiesen werden...},
  subject      = {Arzneimittel},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Upcin2022,
  author    = {Upcin, Berin},
  title     = {Contribution of vascular adventitia-resident progenitor cells to new vessel formation in \(ex\) \(vivo\) 3D models},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-25507},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-255070},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Ongoing research to fight cancer, one of the dominant diseases of the 21st century has led to big progress especially when it comes to understanding the tumor growth and metastasis. This includes the discovery of the molecular mechanisms of tumor vascularization, which is critically required for establishment of tumor metastasis. Formation of new blood vessels is the first step in tumor vascularization. Therefore, understanding the molecular and cellular basis of tumor vascularization attracted a significant effort studying in biomedical research. The blood vessels for supplying tumor can be formed by sprouting from pre-existing vessels, a process called angiogenesis, or by vasculogenesis, that is de novo formation of blood vessels from not fully differentiated progenitor cell populations. Vasculogenic endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can either be activated from populations in the bone marrow reaching the pathological region via the circulation or they can be recruited from local reservoirs. Neovessel formation influences tumor progression, hence therapeutic response model systems of angiogenesis/vasculogenesis are necessary to study the underlying mechanisms. Although, initially the research in this area focused more on angiogenesis, it is now well understood that both angiogenesis and postnatal vasculogenesis contribute to neovessel formation in adult under both most pathological as well as physiological conditions. Studies in the last two decades demonstrate that in addition to the intimal layer of fully differentiated mature endothelial cells (ECs) and various smaller supplying vessels (vasa vasorum) that can serve as a source for new vessels by angiogenesis, especially the adventitia of large and medium size blood vessels harbors various vascular wall-resident stem and progenitor cells (VW-SPCs) populations that serve as a source for new vessels by postnatal vasculogenesis. However, little is known about the potential role of VW-SPCs in tumor vascularization. To this end, the present work started first to establish a modified aortic ring assay (ARA) using mouse aorta in order to study the contribution of vascular adventitia-resident VW-SPCs to neovascularization in general and in presence of tumor cells. ARA is already established an ex vivo model for neovascularization allows to study the morphogenetic events of complex new vessel formation that includes all layers of mature blood vessels, a significant advantage over the assays that employ monolayer endothelial cell cultures. Moreover, in contrast to assays employing endothelial cells monocultures, both angiogenic and vasculogenic events take place during new vessel formation in ARA although the exact contribution of these two processes to new vessel formation cannot be easily distinguished in conventional ARA. Thus, in this study, a modified protocol for the ARA (mdARA) was established by either removing or keeping the aortic adventitia in place. The mdARA allows to distinguish the role of VW-SPCs from those of other aortic layers. The present data show that angiogenic sprouting from mature aortic endothelium was markedly delayed when the adventitial layer was removed. Furthermore, the network between the capillary-like sprouts was significantly reduced in absence of aortic adventitia. Moreover, the stabilization of new sprouts by assembling the NG2+ pericyte-like cells that enwrapped the endothelial sprouts from the outside was improved when the adventitial layer remained in place. Next, mimicking the tumor-vessel adventitia-interaction, multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) and aortic rings (ARs) with or without adventitia of C57BL/6-Tg (UBC-GFP) mice were confronted within the collagen gel and cultured ex vivo. This 3D model enabled analysis of the mobilization, migration and capillary-like sprouts formation by VW-SPCs within tumor-vessel wall-interface in comparison to tumor-free side of the ARs. Interestingly, while MCTS preferred the uptake of single vascular adventitia-derived cells, neural spheroids were directly penetrated by capillary-like structures that were sprouted from the aortic adventitia. In summary, the model established in this work allows to study new vessel formation by both postnatal vasculogenesis and angiogenesis under same conditions. It can be applied in various mouse models including reporter mouse models, e.g. Cxcr1 CreER+/mTmG+/- mice, in which GFP-marked macrophages of the vessel wall were directly observed as they mobilized from their niche and migrated into collagen gel. Another benefit of the model is that it can be used for testing different factors such as small molecules, growth factors, cytokines, and drugs with both pro- and anti-angiogenic/vasculogenic effects.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Rademaker2020,
  author    = {Rademaker, Manuel Elias},
  title     = {Composite-based Structural Equation Modeling},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21593},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-215935},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Structural equation modeling (SEM) has been used and developed for decades across various domains and research fields such as, among others, psychology, sociology, and business research. Although no unique definition exists, SEM is best understood as the entirety of a set of related theories, mathematical models, methods, algorithms, and terminologies related to analyzing the relationships between theoretical entities -- so-called concepts --, their statistical representations -- referred to as constructs --, and observables -- usually called indicators, items or manifest variables. This thesis is concerned with aspects of a particular strain of research within SEM -- namely, composite-based SEM. Composite-based SEM is defined as SEM involving linear compounds, i.e., linear combinations of observables when estimating parameters of interest. The content of the thesis is based on a working paper (Chapter 2), a published refereed journal article (Chapter 3), a working paper that is, at the time of submission of this thesis, under review for publication (Chapter 4), and a steadily growing documentation that I am writing for the R package cSEM (Chapter 5). The cSEM package -- written by myself and my former colleague at the University of Wuerzburg, Florian Schuberth -- provides functions to estimate, analyze, assess, and test nonlinear, hierarchical and multigroup structural equation models using composite-based approaches and procedures. In Chapter 1, I briefly discuss some of the key SEM terminology. Chapter 2 is based on a working paper to be submitted to the Journal of Business Research titled "Assessing overall model fit of composite models in structural equation modeling". The article is concerned with the topic of overall model fit assessment of the composite model. Three main contributions to the literature are made. First, we discuss the concept of model fit in SEM in general and composite-based SEM in particular. Second, we review common fit indices and explain if and how they can be applied to assess composite models. Third, we show that, if used for overall model fit assessment, the root mean square outer residual covariance (RMS_theta) is identical to another well-known index called the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR). Chapter 3 is based on a journal article published in Internet Research called "Measurement error correlation within blocks of indicators in consistent partial least squares: Issues and remedies". The article enhances consistent partial least squares (PLSc) to yield consistent parameter estimates for population models whose indicator blocks contain a subset of correlated measurement errors. This is achieved by modifying the correction for attenuation as originally applied by PLSc to include a priori assumptions on the structure of the measurement error correlations within blocks of indicators. To assess the efficacy of the modification, a Monte Carlo simulation is conducted. The paper is joint work with Florian Schuberth and Theo Dijkstra. Chapter 4 is based on a journal article under review for publication in Industrial Management \& Data Systems called "Estimating and testing second-order constructs using PLS-PM: the case of composites of composites". The purpose of this article is threefold: (i) evaluate and compare common approaches to estimate models containing second-order constructs modeled as composites of composites, (ii) provide and statistically assess a two-step testing procedure to test the overall model fit of such models, and (iii) formulate recommendation for practitioners based on our findings. Moreover, a Monte Carlo simulation to compare the approaches in terms of Fisher consistency, estimated bias, and RMSE is conducted. The paper is joint work with Florian Schuberth and J{\"o}rg Henseler.},
  subject      = {trukturgleichungsmodell},
  language  = {en}
}
@techreport{ConradMorperBuschNetzbandetal.2019,
  type      = {Working Paper},
  author    = {Conrad, Christopher and Morper-Busch, Lucia and Netzband, Maik and Teucher, Mike and Sch{\"o}nbrodt-Stitt, Sarah and Schorcht, Gunther and Dukhovny, Viktor},
  title     = {WUEMoCA Water Use Efficiency Monitor in Central Asia Informed Decision-Making in Land and Water Resources Management},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19193},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-191934},
  pages     = {1-12},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {WUEMoCA is an operational scientific webmapping tool for the regional monitoring of land and water use efficiency in the irrigated croplands of the transboundary Aral Sea Basin that is shared by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. Satellite data on land use, crop pro-duction and water consumption is integrated with hydrological and economic information to provide of a set indicators. The tool is useful for large-scale decisions on water distribution or land use, and may be seen as demonstrator for numerous applications in practice, that require independent area-wide spatial information.},
  subject      = {Zentralasien},
  language  = {en}
}