@phdthesis{Kluepfel2024, author = {Kl{\"u}pfel, Marina Anna}, title = {Lagedarstellung und -Bewertung durch den Einsatz des Windm{\"u}hlenmodells - Einf{\"u}hrung und Nutzung im Rahmen der SARS-CoV-2 Pandemie}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36959}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369595}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Bei Großschadensereignissen oder Katastrophen arbeiten die Einsatzkr{\"a}fte verschiedener Organisationen und Krankenh{\"a}user zusammen, um die Schadenslage zu bew{\"a}ltigen. F{\"u}r die Koordinierung dieser Eins{\"a}tze ben{\"o}tigen die F{\"u}hrungskr{\"a}fte ein m{\"o}glichst genaues Bild der aktuellen Lage. Auch im Rahmen der SARS-CoV-2- Pandemie war eine {\"U}bersicht {\"u}ber die Versorgungslage der Krankenh{\"a}user erforderlich, um m{\"o}gliche lokale Ressourcenengp{\"a}sse fr{\"u}hzeitig zu erkennen und durch geeignete Maßnahmen zu beheben. Zu diesem Zweck wurde in Bayern im November 2021 das Windm{\"u}hlen-Modell eingef{\"u}hrt. Basierend auf einer Online-Plattform meldeten die zust{\"a}ndigen Bezirkskoordinierenden der bayerischen Regierungsbezirke t{\"a}glich die Versorgungslage ihrer Kliniken anhand der Komponenten Personal, Material und Raum. Außerdem gab es die M{\"o}glichkeit zur Dokumentation von Patientenverlegungen. Die {\"u}ber die Windm{\"u}hlen-Onlineplattform gesammelten Lagemeldungen und dokumentierten Verlegungen des Zeitraums von 21. November 2021 bis 20. Februar 2022 wurden in der vorliegenden Arbeit detailliert aufbereitet. Zus{\"a}tzlich wurden die erfassten Daten statistisch ausgewertet und mit den {\"o}rtlichen 7-Tage-Inzidenzwerten des SARS-CoV-2-Virus verglichen. Durch das Windm{\"u}hlen-Modell konnten Unterschiede in der Versorgungslage zwischen den Regierungsbezirken sehr effektiv sichtbar gemacht werden. Insgesamt waren Intensivstationen deutlich st{\"a}rker belastet als Normalstationen. Die Versorgungsqualit{\"a}t war in Covid-Bereichen st{\"a}rker beeintr{\"a}chtigt als auf Stationen ohne Covid-Patienten. Es konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass die Windm{\"u}hlen-Lagemeldungen nicht allein die regionalen Inzidenzwerte, sondern die tats{\"a}chliche Versorgungssituation vor Ort abbilden. Die dokumentierten Interhospitaltransfers erfolgten von Regionen mit hohen Inzidenzwerten und schlechter Ressourcenverf{\"u}gbarkeit in Bezirke mit weniger kritischer Versorgungslage. Damit konnten aus den Windm{\"u}hlen-Lagemeldungen auch konkrete Handlungskonsequenzen, wie strategische Patientenverlegungen, abgeleitet werden. Lagemeldungen sind wichtig f{\"u}r die abgestimmte Zusammenarbeit verschiedener Stellen bei der Bew{\"a}ltigung einer Krise. Die etablierten Systeme zur Lageerfassung sind meist quantitativ ausgelegt und nur wenig skalierbar. Die Anwendung in einem neuen Kontext erfordert oft zeitaufw{\"a}ndige Anpassungen. Im Gegensatz dazu bietet das Windm{\"u}hlen-Modell eine skalierbare, eher qualitativ ausgerichtete Lagedarstellung und ist aufgrund seines unkomplizierten Aufbaus innerhalb k{\"u}rzester Zeit f{\"u}r eine Nutzung in verschiedensten Schadenslagen adaptierbar.}, subject = {Katastrophenmedizin}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Starz2024, author = {Starz, Katharina Theresa}, title = {Das Sharenting in der Zivilrechtsdogmatik : zu den Grenzen elterlicher Dispositionsbefugnis {\"u}ber das Pers{\"o}nlichkeitsrecht des Kindes}, publisher = {Mohr Siebeck}, address = {T{\"u}bingen}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36966}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369667}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, pages = {256}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Im Zeitalter der sozialen Medien ist es f{\"u}r viele Eltern zur Gewohnheit geworden, nicht nur sich selbst, sondern auch das eigene Kind der Internetgemeinschaft zu pr{\"a}sentieren. Diese Praxis wird als "Sharenting" ("to share" + "parenting") bezeichnet. So kommt es, dass mittlerweile ein Großteil der Kinder bereits in sehr jungen Jahren einen - unfreiwilligen - digitalen Fußabdruck hinterl{\"a}sst. Der freiz{\"u}gige Umgang mit den Daten des Kindes bringt zahlreiche rechtliche Probleme mit sich, welche an den Schnittstellen des Rechts zum Schutz der Pers{\"o}nlichkeit, des Datenschutzrechts und des Familienrechts zu verorten sind. Am Beispiel der Plattformen Facebook, Instagram und WhatsApp lotet Katharina Theresa Starz die Grenzen des rechtlich Zul{\"a}ssigen aus und zeigt auf, welche Konsequenzen sich ergeben k{\"o}nnen, wenn ebendiese Grenzen von den Eltern {\"u}berschritten werden.}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{PaetzelgebDitter2024, author = {P{\"a}tzel [geb. Ditter], Katharina Sabine}, title = {Molekulare Charakterisierung eines Mitgliedes der TNF-Rezeptor-Superfamilie des Fuchsbandwurmes \(Echinococcus\) \(multilocularis\)}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36939}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369397}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die alveol{\"a}re Echinokokkose (AE), die durch den Fuchsbandwurm Echinococcus multilocularis verursacht wird, ist eine seltene jedoch schwere und oft t{\"o}dlich verlaufende Erkrankung. Aufgrund der sp{\"a}ten Diagnosestellung sind kurative Behandlungsmethoden h{\"a}ufig nicht durchf{\"u}hrbar und als einzige Behandlungsm{\"o}glichkeit bleibt eine lebenslange und nebenwirkungsreiche Therapie mit Benzimidazolen. Verbesserte Therapieoptionen durch die Entwicklung neuer Medikamente sind dringend notwendig. Hierf{\"u}r kann es hilfreich sein die Biologie des Fuchsbandwurmes und die Kommunikationswege zwischen Parasit und Wirt zu verstehen. Bereits in vorherigen Arbeiten als auch in dieser Arbeit erwiesen sich evolutionsgeschichtlich konservierte Signalwege als Kommunikationsweg zwischen dem Fuchsbandwurm und seinem Wirt von zentraler Rolle. Die Entschl{\"u}sselung des Echinococcus-Genoms gab Hinweise darauf, dass ein Mitglied der Tumornekrosefaktor-Rezeptor-Superfamilie, jedoch kein endogener TNF α {\"a}hnlicher Ligand im Genom kodiert wird. Ein Mitglied der TNFR-Superfamilie des Fuchsbandwurmes (EmTNFR) wurde in dieser Arbeit als membranst{\"a}ndiger Rezeptor mit einer intrazellul{\"a}ren Todesdom{\"a}ne (DD) und hoher {\"A}hnlichkeit zum humanen Typ 16 der TNF-Rezeptor-Superfamilie, auch 〖p75〗^NTR genannt, charakterisiert. Sowohl in bioinformatischen als auch in Sequenzanalysen wurden drei alternative Splicing-Formen von emtnfr (emtnfr, emtnfr-v2 und emtnfr-v3) nachgewiesen. emtnfr-v2 entsteht durch Alternatives Splicing und kodiert ein Protein, das keine intrazellul{\"a}re Todesdom{\"a}ne besitzt. emtnfr-v3 verwendet einen alternativen Transkriptionstart und wird von den letzten 3 Exons von emtnfr kodiert. emtnfr-v3, kodiert ein Protein ohne extrazellul{\"a}re Region, aber mit intrazellul{\"a}rer Todesdom{\"a}ne. Ein l{\"o}slicher TNF-Rezeptor konnte auf Proteinebene nicht nachgewiesen werden. Aufgrund von phylogenetischen Analysen und der Rezeptor-Struktur ist zu vermuten, dass EmTNFR ein p75NTR Homolog ist und damit der urspr{\"u}nglichen Form der TNF-Rezeptoren entspricht. Mitglieder eines intrazellul{\"a}ren TNF-Signalweges wurden in bioinformatischen Analysen beim Fuchsbandwurm E. multilocularis identifiziert. Expressionsuntersuchungen zeigten sowohl in Trankriptomdaten als auch auf Proteinebene eine starke Expression von EmTNFR in Prim{\"a}rzellen und im Metazestoden (MZ), dem pathogenen Stadium f{\"u}r den Zwischenwirt. Echinococcus-Stammzellkulturen zeigten nach RNA-Interferenz-basiertem Knockdown des EmTNFR-kodierenden Gens deutliche Entwicklungsdefekte. Des Weiteren zeigten Echinococcus-Stammzellkulturen nach einer Behandlung mit TNF-α, einem potentiellen Liganden des TNF-Rezeptors und einem zentralen Zytokin in der Immunabwehr des Zwischenwirtes, Entwicklungsfortschritte, wie eine verbesserte Bildung von MZ aus Stammzellen. Zus{\"a}tzlich wurde in whole-mount in situ Hybridisierungs-Versuchen eine ubiquit{\"a}re Expression von emtnfr in der Germinalschicht des MZ sowie eine Spezifit{\"a}t von emtnfr f{\"u}r den MZ, welcher urs{\"a}chlich f{\"u}r die AE ist, nachgewiesen. Somit scheinen sowohl EmTNFR als auch TNF-α eine wichtige Funktion bei der Entwicklung und Etablierung des Fuchsbandwurmes w{\"a}hrend der fr{\"u}hen Phase der Infektion des Zwischenwirtes zu haben. TNF-α k{\"o}nnte ein weiterer Faktor f{\"u}r den ausgepr{\"a}gten Organtropismus des Parasiten zur Leber sein, denn dort bestehen durch Kupfferzellen produzierte hohe lokale Konzentration von TNF-α. Zusammenfassend deuten die hier erarbeiteten Daten darauf hin, dass EmTNFR {\"u}ber die Bindung von Wirts-TNF-α bei der fr{\"u}hen Entwicklung des Echincoccus-Metazestoden eine Rolle spielt.}, subject = {Fuchsbandwurm}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Boenninger2024, author = {B{\"o}nninger, Solveig Eva}, title = {F{\"o}rderliche und hinderliche Faktoren im Trauerprozess von Nahestehenden eines*r Verstorbenen}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36431}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-364319}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Laut Statistischem Bundesamt (Destatis) starben allein im Jahr 2020 zirka 985.500 Menschen. Die h{\"a}ufigsten Todesursachen waren Herz-Kreislauf- und Krebs-Erkrankungen (vgl. Destatis 2020). Die meisten Menschen haben den Wunsch zuhause zu sterben, doch die Mehrheit stirbt in Krankenh{\"a}usern, Alten- und Pflegeheimen (vgl. DHPV 2017; Dasch et al. 2015). Der Tod eines nahestehenden Menschen kann bei Hinterbliebenen zu großen Belastungen, gesundheitlichen Problemen sowie einer gesteigerten Mortalit{\"a}t f{\"u}hren (vgl. Stroebe et al. 2007). Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, mit Hilfe von halbstandardisierten Interviews mit 30 Trauernden Faktoren herauszuarbeiten, die sich f{\"o}rderlich oder hinderlich auf den Trauerprozess auswirken k{\"o}nnen. Die Interviews wurden mit der Transkriptionssoftware f4transkript verschriftlicht und mittels qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring ausgewertet. Es entstand ein Kategoriensystem mit je vier Oberkategorien innerhalb der zwei Hauptkategorien, F{\"o}rderliche und Hinderliche Faktoren. Folgende Faktoren konnten identifiziert werden: F{\"o}rderliche Faktoren in der Oberkategorie Betreuung der erkrankten und trauernden Person sind eine gute Symptomkontrolle sowie der verst{\"a}ndnisvolle Umgang mit den Nahestehenden, w{\"a}hrend mangelhafte Kommunikation wiederum hinderlich f{\"u}r eine positive Trauerbew{\"a}ltigung ist. In der Oberkategorie Intrapersonale Faktoren sind die Antizipation des Todes sowie die Auseinandersetzung mit der Trauer f{\"o}rderlich, w{\"a}hrend negative Gef{\"u}hle (z.B. Schuldgef{\"u}hle, Hilfslosigkeit) sich in besagter Hinsicht hinderlich auswirken. In der Oberkategorie Beziehung zur verstorbenen Person k{\"o}nnen die optimale Nutzung der verbliebenen Zeit sowie der offene Umgang mit der Erkrankung f{\"o}rderliche Faktoren darstellen, w{\"a}hrend ein "schwieriger" Abschied sowie ungekl{\"a}rte Konflikte oder offene Fragen Hindernisse f{\"u}r den Trauerprozess sein k{\"o}nnen. In der Oberkategorie Soziales Umfeld sind die unaufgeforderte Unterst{\"u}tzung, die emotionale Begleitung sowie ein flexibler Arbeitgeber f{\"o}rderlich. Streitigkeiten innerhalb der Familie und Unverst{\"a}ndnis der Mitmenschen dagegen sind hinderlich. Eine gute und w{\"u}rdevolle Sterbebegleitung, wie sie in der Palliativmedizin in der Regel gew{\"a}hrleistet ist, ist von großer Bedeutung f{\"u}r einen gelingenden Trauerprozess. Daher sollte eine palliative Haltung disziplin{\"u}bergreifend vorangebracht und ausgebaut werden. In der Gesellschaft sollte Trauernden mehr Toleranz und Verst{\"a}ndnis entgegengebracht und offen mit dem Thema Tod und Sterben umgegangen werden.}, subject = {Trauer}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{vanDorp2024, author = {van Dorp, Joel}, title = {Site-specific biomolecule modification for directed surface attachment}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36953}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369536}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Site-directed bioorthogonal conjugation techniques have substantially advanced research in numerous areas. Their exceptional value reflects in the extent of applications, that have been realized with spacial-controlled bioorthogonal reactions. Specific labeling of surfaces, proteins, and other biomolecule allows for new generations of drug delivery, tracking, and analyzing systems. With the continuous advance and refinement of available methods, this field of research will become even more relevant in the time to come. Yet, as individual as the desired purpose is, as different can be the most suitable modification strategy. In this thesis, two different bioconjugation approaches, namely CuAAC and factor XIIIa mediated ligation, are used in distinct application fields, featuring eGFP as a model protein showcasing the advantages as well as the challenges of each technique. The introduction of a unique accessible functionality is the most critical feature of a site-specific reaction, and the first considerable hurdle to clear. While most surfaces, peptides, or small molecules might require less expenditure to modulate, equipping large biomolecules like proteins with additional traits requires careful consideration to preserve the molecule's stability and function. Therefore, the first section of this project comprises the engineering of eGFP via rational design. Initially, wild-type eGFP was subcloned, expressed, and characterized to serve as a reference value for the designed variants. Subsequently, eGFP was mutated and expressed to display a recognition site for factor XIIIa. Additionally, a second mutant harbored a TAG-codon to enable amber codon suppression and consequently the incorporation of the alkyne bearing unnatural amino acid Plk to support a CuAAC reaction. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to confirm that the fluorescent properties of all expressed muteins were identically equal to wild-type eGFP, which is a reliable marker for the intact barrel structure of the protein. Trypsin digestion and HPLC were deployed to confirm each protein variant's correct sequence and mass. The second part of this work focuses on the conjugation of cargo molecules deploying the chosen approaches. Solid-phase peptide synthesis was used to create a peptide that served as a lysine donor substrate in the crosslinking mechanism of FXIIIa. Additionally, the peptide was provided with a cysteine moiety to allow for highly flexible and simple loading of desired cargo molecules via conventional thiol-Michael addition, thus establishing an adaptive labeling platform. The effective ligation was critically reviewed and confirmed by monitoring the exact mass changes by HPLC. Protocols for attaching payloads such as biotin and PEG to the linker peptide were elaborated. While the biotin construct was successfully conjugated to the model protein, the eGFP-PEG linkage was not achieved judging by SDS-PAGE analysis. Furthermore, featuring isolated peptide sequences, the properties of the FXIIIa-mediated reaction were characterized in detail. Relative substrate turnover, saturation concentrations, by-product formation, and incubation time were comprehensively analyzed through HPLC to identify optimal reaction conditions. CuAAC was successfully used to label the Plk-eGFP mutein with Azide-biotin, demonstrated by western blot imaging. Within the last part of this study, the application of the conjugation systems was extended to different surfaces. As regular surfaces do not allow for immediate decoration, supplementary functionalization techniques like gold-thiol interaction and silanization on metal oxides were deployed. That way gold-segmented nanowires and Janus particles were loaded with enoxaparin and DNA, respectively. Nickel and cobalt nanowires were modified with silanes that served as linker molecules for subsequent small molecule attachment or PEGylation. Finally, the eGFP muteins were bound to a particle surface in a site-specific manner. Beads displaying amino groups were utilized to demonstrate the effective use of FXIIIa in surface modification. Moreover, the bead's functional moieties were converted to azides to enable CuAAC "Click Chemistry" and direct comparison. Each modification was analyzed and confirmed through fluorescence microscopy.}, subject = {Proteinglutamin-Glutamyltransferase }, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zimmermann2024, author = {Zimmermann, Sebastian Andres}, title = {Drug Monitoring of Kinase Inhibitors in the Context of Precision Medicine - Focus on Minimally Invasive Microsampling}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36955}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369550}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The aim of the present work was to improve drug monitoring in patients with various diseases in the context of precision medicine. This was pursued through the development and validation of mass spectrometric methods for determining the drug concentrations of kinase inhibitors and their clinical application. Besides conventional approaches to determine plasma level concentrations, the focus was also on alternative sampling techniques using volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS). A conventional LC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of cabozantinib in human EDTA plasma and validated according to the guidelines of the European and United States drug authorities (EMA, FDA). The method met the required criteria for linearity, accuracy and precision, selectivity, sensitivity, and stability of the analyte. Validation was also performed for dilution integrity, matrix effect, recovery, and carry-over, with results also in accordance with the requirements. The importance of monitoring the exposure of cabozantinib was demonstrated by a clinical case report of a 34-year-old female patient with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma who also required hemodialysis due to chronic kidney failure. Expected cabozantinib plasma concentrations were simulated for this off-label use based on a population pharmacokinetic model. It was shown that the steady state trough levels were much lower than expected but could not be explained by hemodialysis. Considering the critical condition and potential drug-drug interaction with metyrapone, a substance the patient had taken among several others during the observation period, individual pharmacokinetics could consequently not be estimated without drug monitoring. In addition, a VAMS method for simultaneous determination of ten kinase inhibitors from capillary blood was developed. This microsampling technique was mainly characterized by the collection of a defined volume of blood, which could be dried and subsequently analyzed. The guidelines for bioanalytical method validation of the EMA and FDA were also used for this evaluation. As the nature of dried blood samples differs from liquid matrices, further parameters were investigated. These include the investigation of the hematocrit effect, process efficiency, and various stability conditions, for example at increased storage temperatures. The validation showed that the developed method is suitable to analyze dried matrix samples accurate, precise, and selective for all analytes. Apart from the stability tests, all acceptance criteria were met. The decreased stability of two analytes was probably due to the reproducible but reduced recovery. In vitro studies provided results on the VAMS-to-plasma correlation to predict the analyte distribution between both matrices, at least in an exploratory manner. It revealed a heterogeneous picture of analytes with different VAMS-to-plasma distributions. Furthermore, the analysis of 24 patient samples indicated the applicability of at-home VAMS. Both should be confirmed later as part of the clinical validation. The clinical investigation of the VAMS method pursued two objectives. On the one hand, the simultaneous collection of VAMS and serum samples should enable a conversion of the determined concentrations and, on the other hand, the feasibility of autonomous microsampling at home should be examined more closely. For the former, it could be shown that different conversion methods are suitable for converting VAMS concentrations into serum levels. The type of conversion was secondary for the prediction. However, the previously defined criteria could not be fulfilled for all five kinase inhibitors investigated. The framework conditions of the study led to increased variability, especially for analytes with short half-life. A low and varying hematocrit, caused by the underlying disease, also made prediction difficult for a specific patient collective. For the second objective, investigating the feasibility of VAMS, different aspects were considered. It could be shown that the majority of patients support home-based microsampling. The acceptance is likely to increase even further when microsampling is no longer part of a non-interventional study, but participation is accompanied by targeted monitoring and subsequent adjustment of the therapy. The fact that additional training increases understanding of the correct sampling procedure is also a source of confidence. Demonstrated stability during storage under real-life conditions underlines the practicality of this sampling technique. Taken together, mass spectrometric methods for both plasma and VAMS could be developed and validated, and their clinical application could be successfully demonstrated. The availability of simple bioanalytical methods to determine kinase inhibitor exposure could improve access to prospective studies and thus facilitate the implementation of routine therapeutic drug monitoring.}, subject = {Arzneimittel{\"u}berwachung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Diehl2024, author = {Diehl, Janina Marie Christin}, title = {Ecology and evolution of symbiont management in ambrosia beetles}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32121}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-321213}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The relationship between a farmer and their cultivated crops in agriculture is multifaceted, with pathogens affecting both the farmer and crop, and weeds that take advantage of resources provided by farmers. For my doctoral thesis, I aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ecology and symbiosis of fungus farming ambrosia beetles. Through my research, I discovered that the microbial composition of fungus gardens, particularly the mutualists, is significantly influenced by the presence of both adults and larvae. The recognition of both beneficial and harmful symbionts is crucial for the success of ambrosia beetles, who respond differently depending on their life stage and the microbial species they encounter, which can contribute to the division of labour among family groups. The presence of antagonists and pathogens in the fungus garden depends on habitat and substrate quality, and beetle response to their introduction results in behavioural and developmental changes. Individual and social immunity measures, as well as changes in bacterial and fungal communities, were detected as a result of pathogen introduction. Additionally, the ability of ambrosia beetles to establish two nutritional fungal species depends on several factors. These insects must strike a balance between their essential functions and adapt to the constantly changing ecological and social conditions, which demonstrates their adaptive flexibility. However, interpreting data from laboratory studies should be approached with caution, as the natural environment allows for more flexibility and the potential for other beneficial symbionts to become more prominent if required. To aid in my research, I designed primers that use the 'fungal large subunit' (LSU) as genetic marker to identify and differentiate mutualistic and antagonistic fungi in X. saxesenii. The primers were able to distinguish closely related species of the Ophiostomataceae and other fungal symbionts. This allowed me to associate the abundance of key fungal taxa with factors such as the presence of beetles, the nest's age and condition, and the various developmental stages present. My primers are a valuable tool for understanding fungal communities, including their composition and the identification of previously unknown functional symbionts. However, some aspects should be approached with caution due to the exclusion of non-amplified taxa in the relative fungal community compositions.}, subject = {{\"O}kologie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{MathewSchmitt2024, author = {Mathew-Schmitt, Sanjana}, title = {Development of blood-brain barrier spheroid models based on human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and investigation of shear stress on hiPSC-derived brain capillary endothelial-like cells}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32247}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322475}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {A highly regulated microenvironment is essential in maintaining normal functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). The existence of a biological barrier, termed as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), at the blood to brain interface effectively allows for selective passage of substances and pathogens into the brain (Kadry, Noorani et al. 2020). The BBB chiefly serves in protecting the brain from extrinsic toxin entry and pathogen invasions. The BBB is formed mainly by brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) which are responsible for excluding ∼ 100\% of large-molecule neurotherapeutics and more than 98\% of all small-molecule drugs from entry into the brain. Minimal BBB transport of major potential CNS drugs allows for attenuated effective treatments for majority of CNS disorders (Appelt-Menzel, Oerter et al. 2020). Animals are generally used as model systems to study neurotherapeutic delivery into the brain, however due to species based disparity, experimental animal models lead to several false positive or false negative drug efficacy predictions thereby being unable to fully predict effects in humans (Ruck, Bittner et al. 2015). An example being that over the last two decades, much of the studies involving animals lead to high failure rates in drug development with ~ 97\% failure in cancers and ~ 99\% failure for Alzheimer´s disease (Pound 2020). Widespead failures in clinical trials associated with neurological disorders have resulted in questions on whether existing preclinical animal models are genuinely reflective of the human condition (Bhalerao, Sivandzade et al. 2020). Apart from high failure rates in humans, the costs for animal testings is extremely high. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), responsible for determining animal testing guidelines and methodology for government, industry, and independent laboratories the average cost of a single two-generation reproductive animal toxicity study worldwide is 318,295 € and for Europe alone is ~ 285,842 € (Van Norman 2019). Due to these reasons two separate movements exist within the scientific world, one being to improve animal research and the other to promote new approach methodologies with the European government setting 2025 - 2035 as a deadline for gradually disposing the use of animals in pharmaceutical testing (Pound 2020). The discovery of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology in 2006 (Takahashi and Yamanaka 2006, Takahashi, Tanabe et al. 2007) revolutionized the field of drug discovery in-vitro. HiPSCs can be differentiated into various tissue types that mimic disease phenotypes, thereby offering the possibility to deliver humanized in-vitro test systems. With respect to the BBB, several strategies to differentiate hiPSCs to BCECs (iBCECs) are reported over the years (Appelt-Menzel, Oerter et al. 2020). However, iBCECs are said to possess an epithelial or undifferentiated phenotype causing incongruity in BBB lineage specifications (Lippmann, 7 Azarin et al. 2020). Therefore, in order to identify a reliable differentiation strategy in deriving iBCECs possessing hallmark BBB characteristics, which can be used for downstream applications, the work in this thesis compared two methods, namely the co-differentiation (CD) and the directed differentiation (DD). Briefly, CD mimics a brain like niche environment for iBCEC specification (Lippmann, Al-Ahmad et al. 2014), while DD focuses on induction of the mesoderm followed by iBCEC specification (Qian, Maguire et al. 2017). The results obtained verified that while iBCECs derived via CD, in comparison to human BCEC cell line hCMEC/D3 showed the presence of epithelial transcripts such as E-Cadherin (CDH1), and gene level downregulation of endothelial specific platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and VE-cadherin (CDH5) but demonstrated higher barrier integrity. The CD strategy essentially presented iBCECs with a mean trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) of ~ 2000 - 2500 Ω*cm2 and low permeability coefficients (PC) of < 0.50 μm/min for small molecule transport of sodium fluorescein (NaF) and characteristic BCEC tight junction (TJ) protein expression of claudin-5 and occludin. Additionally, iBCECs derived via CD did not form tubes in response to angiogenic stimuli. DD on the other hand resulted in iBCECs with similar down regulations in PECAM-1 and CDH5 gene expression. They were additionally characterized by lower barrier integrity, measured by mean TEER of only ~ 250 - 450 Ω*cm2 and high PC of > 5 μm/min in small molecule transport of NaF. Although iBCECs derived via DD formed tubes in response to angiogenic stimuli, they did not show positive protein expression of characteristic BCEC TJs such as claudin-5 and occludin. These results led to the hypothesis that maturity and lineage specification of iBCECs could be improved by incorporating in-vivo like characteristics in-vitro, such as direct co-culture with neurovascular unit (NVU) cell types via spheroid formation and by induction of shear stress and fluid flow. In comparison to standard iBCEC transwell mono-cultures, BBB spheroids showed enhanced transcript expression of PECAM-1 and reduced expression of epithelial markers such as CDH1 and claudin-6 (CLDN6). BBB spheroids showed classical BCEC-like ultrastructure that was identified by TJ particles on the protoplasmic face (P-face) and exoplasmic face (E-face) of the plasma membrane. TJ strands were organized as particles and particle-free grooves on the E-face, while on the P-face, partly beaded particles and partly continuous strands were identified. BBB spheroids also showed positive protein expression of claudin-5, VE-cadherin, PECAM-1, glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and transferrin receptor-1 (Tfr-1). BBB spheroids demonstrated higher relative impedance percentages in comparison to spheroids without an iBCEC barrier. Barrier integrity assessments additionally corresponded with lower permeability to small molecule tracer NaF, with spheroids containing iBCECs showing higher relative fluorescence unit percentages (RFU\%) of ~ 90\% in apical compartments, compared to ~ 80\% in spheroids without iBCECs. In summary, direct cellular contacts in the complex spheroid model resulted in enhanced maturation of iBCECs. 8 A bioreactor system was used to further assess the effect of shear stress. This system enabled inclusion of fluidic flow and shear stress conditions in addition to non-invasive barrier integrity measurements (Choi, Mathew et al. 2022). iBCECs were cultured for a total of seven days post differentiation (d17) within the bioreactor and barrier integrity was non-invasively monitored. Until d17 of long-term culture, TEER values of iBCECs steadily dropped from ~ 1800 Ω*cm2 ~ 400 Ω*cm2 under static conditions and from ~ 2500 Ω*cm2 to ~ 250 Ω*cm2 under dynamic conditions. Transcriptomic analyses, morphometric analyses and protein marker expression showed enhanced maturation of iBECs under long-term culture and dynamic flow. Importantly, on d10 claudin-5 was expressed mostly in the cytoplasm with only ~ 5\% iBCECs showing continuous staining at the cell borders. With increase in culture duration, iBCECs at d17 of static culture showed ~ 18\% of cells having continuous cell border expression, while dynamic conditions showed upto ~ 30\% of cells with continuous cell-cell border expression patterns. Similarly, ~ 33\% of cells showed cell-cell border expression of occludin on d10 with increases to ~ 55\% under d17 static and up to ~ 65\% under d17 dynamic conditions, thereby indicating iBCEC maturation. In conclusion, the data presented within this thesis demonstrates the maturation of iBCECs in BBB spheroids, obtained via direct cellular contacts and by the application of flow and shear stress. Both established novel models need to be further validated for pharmaceutical drug applications together with in-vitro-in-vivo correlations in order to exploit their full potential.}, subject = {Blut-Hirn-Schranke}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dietz2024, author = {Dietz, Maximilian}, title = {Synthese und Reaktivit{\"a}t neutraler Diboraarene}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32109}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-321098}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Darstellung und Reaktivit{\"a}t neutraler Diboraarene, wobei im ersten Teil die Synthese neuer Metallkomplexe eines cAAC-stabilisierten (cAAC = cyclisches Alkyl(amino)carben) 1,4-Diborabenzols sowie deren Folgereaktivit{\"a}t im Fokus steht. Im zweiten Abschnitt wird die Reaktivit{\"a}t des Diborabenzols und eines cAAC-stabilisierten 9,10-Diboraanthracens gegen{\"u}ber Hauptgruppenelementverbindungen untersucht und vergleichend gegen{\"u}bergestellt. Darauffolgend werden neben der Synthese neuer Metallkomplexe des Diboraanthracens auch weitere Reaktivit{\"a}tsuntersuchungen der Verbindung behandelt. Der letzte Teil der Arbeit befasst sich mit der Darstellung neuartiger neutraler und cAAC-stabilisierter Diboraacene {\"u}ber eine Modulation des π-Systems. Dabei wird der synthetische Zugang zu einem 1,4-Diboranaphthalin und einem 6,13-Diborapentacen erm{\"o}glicht und ausgew{\"a}hlte Reaktivit{\"a}ten beider Verbindungen demonstriert.}, subject = {Bor}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{RuppertgebRapp2024, author = {Ruppert [geb. Rapp], Elisabeth Marlene}, title = {Einfluss von sozialem Stress und 5-Htt-Genotyp: Quantitative Untersuchung der Morphologie von Neuronen der lateralen Amygdala und der CA3-Region des Hippocampus von M{\"a}usen der Serotonintransporter-Knockout-Linie}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36948}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369488}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {In dieser Arbeit wurde der Einfluss sozialer Stresserfahrung sowie des 5-Htt-Genotyps auf die neuronale Morphologie bestimmter Hirnregionen anhand eines Mausmodells untersucht. Es wurde in mit Golgi-Cox gef{\"a}rbten Gehirnen der 5-HTT-KO-Linie in der lateralen Amygdala (LA) die Apikal- und Basaldendriten pyramidenzell{\"a}hnlicher Neurone und die Apikaldendriten der Pyramidenzellen der Cornu ammonis (CA)3-Region des Hippocampus mithilfe des Neurolucidasystems rekonstruiert und die so gewonnenen Daten anschließend statistisch ausgewertet. Die erzielten Ergebnisse belegen, dass vor allem die Erfahrung von sozialem Verteidigungsstress aber auch der 5-Htt-Genotyp (WT, HET, KO) im Mausmodell signifikanten Einfluss auf die Morphologie der Neurone der LA und der CA3-Region besitzen. Um die in dieser Arbeit mit allen drei 5-Htt-Genotypen erzielten Ergebnisse der LA-Neurone besser mit den Ergebnissen von Nietzer und Bonn (nur WT, KO) vergleichen zu k{\"o}nnen (Nietzer et al., 2011), wurden die von mir erhobenen Daten nicht nur in einem 3er-Vergleich, sondern auch einem 2er-Vergleich (WT vs. KO) statistisch analysiert. Untersuchungen der LA-Neurone aller drei 5-Htt-Genotypen zeigen, dass sozialer Stress zu einer Zunahme der Komplexit{\"a}t der Dendritenb{\"a}ume durch l{\"a}ngere und auch st{\"a}rker verzweigte Dendriten vor allem in der Gruppe der WT-M{\"a}use f{\"u}hrt. HET- und KO-M{\"a}use zeigten keinen entsprechenden Stress-Effekt. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus zeigten sich deutliche Genotypeffekte. Unabh{\"a}ngig vom Stresserleben besitzen HET-M{\"a}use l{\"a}ngere Dendriten als WT-M{\"a}use sowie eine h{\"o}here Spinedichte als WT- und KO-M{\"a}use. Die Hypothese, die in der Arbeit von Nietzer et al. aufgestellt wurde, dass eine vollst{\"a}ndige 5-HTT-Defizienz zu mehr Spines f{\"u}hrt, ließ sich hier weder durch den 3er- noch durch den 2er-Vergleich replizieren. Die Pyramidenzellen der CA3-Region, die in dieser Studie zum ersten Mal analysiert wurden, zeigen in Bezug auf die durch den Stress ausgel{\"o}sten Ver{\"a}nderungen ein im Vergleich zu den LA-Neuronen entgegengesetzten Effekt. Der soziale Stress f{\"u}hrt hier zu einer Dendritenatrophie in der WT-Gruppe mit k{\"u}rzeren und weniger komplexen Dendriten. Außerdem f{\"u}hrte er zu einer geringeren Spinedichte bei den HET-M{\"a}usen. Es zeigten sich klare Genotypeffekte, unabh{\"a}ngig von der Stresserfahrung, mit einer reduzierten Spinedichte der KO-M{\"a}use gegen{\"u}ber den WT-M{\"a}usen und einer nur in den Kontrollen detektierten, reduzierten Spinedichte der KO-M{\"a}use im Vergleich zu den WT- und HET-M{\"a}usen. Sowohl in der LA als auch in der CA3-Region lassen sich Kompensationsmechanismen des 5-HTT-Defizits der HET-Tiere vermuten, {\"u}ber die die KO-Tiere nicht verf{\"u}gen. Die in LA und CA3 gezeigten gegens{\"a}tzlichen Auswirkungen des sozialen Stresses weisen auf die unterschiedlichen Funktionen dieser beiden Regionen im Furchtkreislauf und/oder bei der Verarbeitung von Stress hin. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus deutet diese Arbeit darauf hin, dass Arbeiten mit {\"a}hnlichen Untersuchungsmethoden und sogar gleichem Untersuchungsmaterial unterschiedliche Ergebnisse liefern k{\"o}nnen.}, subject = {Serotoninstoffwechsel}, language = {de} } @article{ElHelouBiegnerBodeetal.2019, author = {El-Helou, Sabine M. and Biegner, Anika-Kerstin and Bode, Sebastian and Ehl, Stephan R. and Heeg, Maximilian and Maccari, Maria E. and Ritterbusch, Henrike and Speckmann, Carsten and Rusch, Stephan and Scheible, Raphael and Warnatz, Klaus and Atschekzei, Faranaz and Beider, Renata and Ernst, Diana and Gerschmann, Stev and Jablonka, Alexandra and Mielke, Gudrun and Schmidt, Reinhold E. and Sch{\"u}rmann, Gesine and Sogkas, Georgios and Baumann, Ulrich H. and Klemann, Christian and Viemann, Dorothee and Bernuth, Horst von and Kr{\"u}ger, Renate and Hanitsch, Leif G. and Scheibenbogen, Carmen M. and Wittke, Kirsten and Albert, Michael H. and Eichinger, Anna and Hauck, Fabian and Klein, Christoph and Rack-Hoch, Anita and Sollinger, Franz M. and Avila, Anne and Borte, Michael and Borte, Stephan and Fasshauer, Maria and Hauenherm, Anja and Kellner, Nils and M{\"u}ller, Anna H. and {\"U}lzen, Anett and Bader, Peter and Bakhtiar, Shahrzad and Lee, Jae-Yun and Heß, Ursula and Schubert, Ralf and W{\"o}lke, Sandra and Zielen, Stefan and Ghosh, Sujal and Laws, Hans-Juergen and Neubert, Jennifer and Oommen, Prasad T. and H{\"o}nig, Manfred and Schulz, Ansgar and Steinmann, Sandra and Klaus, Schwarz and D{\"u}ckers, Gregor and Lamers, Beate and Langemeyer, Vanessa and Niehues, Tim and Shai, Sonu and Graf, Dagmar and M{\"u}glich, Carmen and Schmalzing, Marc T. and Schwaneck, Eva C. and Tony, Hans-Peter and Dirks, Johannes and Haase, Gabriele and Liese, Johannes G. and Morbach, Henner and Foell, Dirk and Hellige, Antje and Wittkowski, Helmut and Masjosthusmann, Katja and Mohr, Michael and Geberzahn, Linda and Hedrich, Christian M. and M{\"u}ller, Christiane and R{\"o}sen-Wolff, Angela and Roesler, Joachim and Zimmermann, Antje and Behrends, Uta and Rieber, Nikolaus and Schauer, Uwe and Handgretinger, Rupert and Holzer, Ursula and Henes, J{\"o}rg and Kanz, Lothar and Boesecke, Christoph and Rockstroh, J{\"u}rgen K. and Schwarze-Zander, Carolynne and Wasmuth, Jan-Christian and Dilloo, Dagmar and H{\"u}lsmann, Brigitte and Sch{\"o}nberger, Stefan and Schreiber, Stefan and Zeuner, Rainald and Ankermann, Tobias and Bismarck, Philipp von and Huppertz, Hans-Iko and Kaiser-Labusch, Petra and Greil, Johann and Jakoby, Donate and Kulozik, Andreas E. and Metzler, Markus and Naumann-Bartsch, Nora and Sobik, Bettina and Graf, Norbert and Heine, Sabine and Kobbe, Robin and Lehmberg, Kai and M{\"u}ller, Ingo and Herrmann, Friedrich and Horneff, Gerd and Klein, Ariane and Peitz, Joachim and Schmidt, Nadine and Bielack, Stefan and Groß-Wieltsch, Ute and Classen, Carl F. and Klasen, Jessica and Deutz, Peter and Kamitz, Dirk and Lassy, Lisa and Tenbrock, Klaus and Wagner, Norbert and Bernbeck, Benedikt and Brummel, Bastian and Lara-Villacanas, Eusebia and M{\"u}nstermann, Esther and Schneider, Dominik T. and Tietsch, Nadine and Westkemper, Marco and Weiß, Michael and Kramm, Christof and K{\"u}hnle, Ingrid and Kullmann, Silke and Girschick, Hermann and Specker, Christof and Vinnemeier-Laubenthal, Elisabeth and Haenicke, Henriette and Schulz, Claudia and Schweigerer, Lothar and M{\"u}ller, Thomas G. and Stiefel, Martina and Belohradsky, Bernd H. and Soetedjo, Veronika and Kindle, Gerhard and Grimbacher, Bodo}, title = {The German national registry of primary immunodeficiencies (2012-2017)}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2019.01272}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-226629}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Introduction: The German PID-NET registry was founded in 2009, serving as the first national registry of patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Germany. It is part of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) registry. The primary purpose of the registry is to gather data on the epidemiology, diagnostic delay, diagnosis, and treatment of PIDs. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data was collected from 2,453 patients from 36 German PID centres in an online registry. Data was analysed with the software Stata® and Excel. Results: The minimum prevalence of PID in Germany is 2.72 per 100,000 inhabitants. Among patients aged 1-25, there was a clear predominance of males. The median age of living patients ranged between 7 and 40 years, depending on the respective PID. Predominantly antibody disorders were the most prevalent group with 57\% of all 2,453 PID patients (including 728 CVID patients). A gene defect was identified in 36\% of patients. Familial cases were observed in 21\% of patients. The age of onset for presenting symptoms ranged from birth to late adulthood (range 0-88 years). Presenting symptoms comprised infections (74\%) and immune dysregulation (22\%). Ninety-three patients were diagnosed without prior clinical symptoms. Regarding the general and clinical diagnostic delay, no PID had undergone a slight decrease within the last decade. However, both, SCID and hyper IgE-syndrome showed a substantial improvement in shortening the time between onset of symptoms and genetic diagnosis. Regarding treatment, 49\% of all patients received immunoglobulin G (IgG) substitution (70\%-subcutaneous; 29\%-intravenous; 1\%-unknown). Three-hundred patients underwent at least one hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Five patients had gene therapy. Conclusion: The German PID-NET registry is a precious tool for physicians, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, politicians, and ultimately the patients, for whom the outcomes will eventually lead to a more timely diagnosis and better treatment.}, language = {en} } @article{DopplerBrockmannSedghietal.2018, author = {Doppler, Kathrin and Brockmann, Kathrin and Sedghi, Annahita and Wurster, Isabel and Volkmann, Jens and Oertel, Wolfgang H. and Sommer, Claudia}, title = {Dermal phospho-alpha-synuclein deposition in patients with Parkinson's disease and mutation of the glucocerebrosidase gene}, series = {Frontiers in Neurology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Neurology}, doi = {10.3389/fneur.2018.01094}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-222828}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Heterozygous mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA1) represent the most common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) and are histopathologically associated with a widespread load of alpha-synuclein in the brain. Therefore, PD patients with GBA1 mutations are a cohort of high interest for clinical trials on disease-modifying therapies targeting alpha-synuclein. There is evidence that detection of phospho-alpha-synuclein (p-syn) in dermal nerve fibers might be a biomarker for the histopathological identification of PD patients even at premotor or very early stages of disease. It is so far unknown whether dermal p-syn deposition can also be found in PD patients with GBA1 mutations and may serve as a biomarker for PD in these patients. Skin biopsies of 10 PD patients with different GBA1 mutations (six N3705, three E326K, one L444P) were analyzed by double-immunofluorescence labeling with anti-p-syn and anti-protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5, axonal marker) to detect intraaxonal p-syn deposition. Four biopsy sites (distal, proximal leg, paravertebral Th10, and C7) per patient were studied. P-syn was found in six patients (three N370S, three E326K). P-syn deposition was mainly detected in autonomic nerve fibers, but also in somatosensory fibers and was not restricted to a certain GBA1 mutation. In summary, dermal p-syn in PD patients with GBA1 mutations seems to offer a similar distribution and frequency as observed in patients without a known mutation. Skin biopsy may be suitable to study p-syn deposition in these patients or even to identify premotor patients with GBA1 mutations.}, language = {en} } @article{DopplerMeyerDovernetal.2019, author = {Doppler, Christopher E. J. and Meyer, Linda and Dovern, Anna and St{\"u}hmer-Beckh, Jaro and Weiss, Peter H. and Fink, Gereon R.}, title = {Differential impact of social and monetary reward on procedural learning and consolidation in aging and its structural correlates}, series = {Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience}, doi = {10.3389/fnagi.2019.00188}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-222394}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In young (n = 36, mean +/- SD: 24.8 +/- 4.5 years) and older (n = 34, mean +/- SD: 65.1 +/- 6.5 years) healthy participants, we employed a modified version of the Serial Reaction Time task to measure procedural learning (PL) and consolidation while providing monetary and social reward. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we additionally determined the structural correlates of reward-related motor performance (RMP) and PL. Monetary reward had a beneficial effect on PL in the older subjects only. In contrast, social reward significantly enhanced PL in the older and consolidation in the young participants. VBM analyses revealed that motor performance related to monetary reward was associated with larger grey matter volume (GMV) of the left striatum in the young, and motor performance related to social reward with larger GMV of the medial orbitofrontal cortex in the older group. The differential effects of social reward in young (improved consolidation) and both social and monetary rewards in older (enhanced PL) healthy subjects point to the potential of rewards for interventions targeting aging-associated motor decline or stroke-induced motor deficits.}, language = {en} } @article{CookGeierSchmidetal.2019, author = {Cook, Nigel and Geier, Andreas and Schmid, Andreas and Hirschfeld, Gideon and Kautz, Achim and Schattenberg, J{\"o}rn M. and Balp, Maria-Magdalena}, title = {The patient perspectives on future therapeutic options in NASH and patient needs}, series = {Frontiers in Medicine}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in Medicine}, doi = {10.3389/fmed.2019.00061}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-223268}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease with severe complications and without approved therapies. Currently, there is limited data on the overall burden of the disease for patients or on patient needs and preferences. This study investigates patient preferences in relation to potential future therapies for NASH. In addition, the factors that are relevant to patients and their importance in relation to future treatment options are explored. Method: Telephone in-depth interviews (TDIs) preceded an online 30-min quantitative survey. The online survey included (1) multiple choice questions (MCQs) on NASH diagnosis and disease background. (2) An exercise to determine patients' satisfaction levels with information provided at diagnosis, and to explore symptomatology in detail. (3) Exercises to evaluate potential new products and product attributes, including a "drag and drop" ranking exercise, and an adaptive choice-based conjoint exercise (ACBC). (4) The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which measures patients' health status. (5) Collection of socio-demographic data, and (6) Questions to measure patient satisfaction with the survey. Results: There were 166 patients included in this study from Canada [n = 36], Germany [n = 50], the UK [n = 30], and USA [n = 50]. Fifty seven percent of patients [n = 94] had had a liver biopsy for confirmation of NASH. Patients were often unable to link their symptoms to NASH or other conditions. ACBC results showed that efficacy, defined as "impact on liver status" was the single most important attribute of a potential future NASH therapy. Other attributes considered to have secondary importance included impact on weight, symptom control and the presence of side effects. The EQ-5D utility score was 0.81 and VAS = 67.2. Conclusion: "Impact on liver status" is the primary outcome sought. Patients demonstrate a general lack of understanding of their disease and appeared to be unfamiliar with longer-term consequences of NASH. It is necessary to improve patient understanding of NASH and its progressive nature, and there is a need for improving confirmatory diagnosis and monitoring.}, language = {en} } @article{ButtRaman2018, author = {Butt, Elke and Raman, Dayanidhi}, title = {New frontiers for the cytoskeletal protein LASP1}, series = {Frontiers in Oncology}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Oncology}, doi = {10.3389/fonc.2018.00391}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221975}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In the recent two decades, LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) has been developed from a simple actin-binding structural protein to a tumor biomarker and subsequently to a complex, nuclear transcriptional regulator. Starting with a brief historical perspective, this review will mainly compare and contrast LASP1 and LASP2 from the angle of the newest data and importantly, examine their role in transcriptional regulation. We will summarize the current knowledge through pictorial models and tables including the roles of different microRNAs in the differential regulation of LASP1 levels and patient outcome rather than specify in detail all tumor entities. Finally, the novel functional roles of LASP1 in secretion of vesicles, expression of matrix metalloproteinases and transcriptional regulation as well as the activation of survival and proliferation pathways in different cancer types are described.}, language = {en} } @article{AltieriDiDatoMartinietal.2019, author = {Altieri, Barbara and Di Dato, Carla and Martini, Chiara and Sciammarella, Concetta and Di Sarno, Antonella and Colao, Annamaria and Faggiano, Antongiulio}, title = {Bone Metastases in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: From Pathogenesis to Clinical Management}, series = {Cancers}, volume = {11}, journal = {Cancers}, doi = {10.3390/cancers11091332}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221079}, pages = {1-20}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Bone represents a common site of metastases for several solid tumors. However, the ability of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) to localize to bone has always been considered a rare and late event. Thanks to the improvement of therapeutic options, which results in longer survival, and of imaging techniques, particularly after the introduction of positron emission tomography (PET) with gallium peptides, the diagnosis of bone metastases (BMs) in NENs is increasing. The onset of BMs can be associated with severe skeletal complications that impair the patient's quality of life. Moreover, BMs negatively affect the prognosis of NEN patients, bringing out the lack of curative treatment options for advanced NENs. The current knowledge on BMs in gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) and bronchopulmonary (BP) NENs is still scant and is derived from a few retrospective studies and case reports. This review aims to perform a critical analysis of the evidence regarding the role of BMs in GEP- and BP-NENs, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlining the development of BMs, as well as clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of BMs, in an attempt to provide suggestions that can be used in clinical practice.}, language = {en} } @article{BurySoundararajanBhartietal.2018, author = {Bury, Susanne and Soundararajan, Manonmani and Bharti, Richa and von B{\"u}nau, Rudolf and F{\"o}rstner, Konrad U. and Oelschlaeger, Tobias A.}, title = {The probiotic escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 combats lambdoid bacteriophages stx and lambda}, series = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2018.00929}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221960}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Shiga toxin (Stx) producing E. coli (STEC) such as Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) are the major cause of foodborne illness in humans. In vitro studies showed the probiotic Escherichia coil strain Nissle 1917 (EcN) to efficiently inhibit the production of Stx. Life threatening EHEC strains as for example the serotype 0104:H4, responsible for the great outbreak in 2011 in Germany, evolutionary developed from certain E. coll strains which got infected by stx2-encoding lambdoid phages turning the E. coil into lysogenic and subsequently Stx producing strains. Since antibiotics induce stx genes and Stx production, EHEC infected persons are not recommended to be treated with antibiotics. Therefore, EcN might be an alternative medication. However, because even commensal E. coli strains might be converted into Stx-producers after becoming host to a stx encoding prophage, we tested EcN for stx-phage genome integration. Our experiments revealed the resistance of EcN toward not only stx-phages but also against lambda-phages. This resistance was not based on the lack of or by mutated phage receptors. Rather it involved the expression of a phage repressor (pr) gene of a defective prophage in EcN which was able to partially protect E. coli K-12 strain MG1655 against stx and lambda phage infection. Furthermore, we observed EcN to inactivate phages and thereby to protect E. coli K-12 strains against infection by stx- as well as lambda-phages. Inactivation of lambda-phages was due to binding of lambda-phages to LamB of EcN whereas inactivation of stx-phages was caused by a thermostable protein of EcN. These properties together with its ability to inhibit Stx production make EcN a good candidate for the prevention of illness caused by EHEC and probably for the treatment of already infected people.}, language = {en} } @article{BreitingerBahnassawyJanzenetal.2018, author = {Breitinger, Ulrike and Bahnassawy, Lamiaa M. and Janzen, Dieter and R{\"o}mer, Vera and Becker, Cord-Michael and Villmann, Carmen and Breitinger, Hans-Georg}, title = {PKA and PKC modulators affect ion channel function and internalization of recombinant alpha1 and alpha1-beta glycine receptors}, series = {Frontiers in Molecular Neurosience}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Molecular Neurosience}, doi = {10.3389/fnmol.2018.00154}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-220401}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are important mediators of fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system. Their function is controlled by multiple cellular mechanisms, including intracellular regulatory processes. Modulation of GlyR function by protein kinases has been reported for many cell types, involving different techniques, and often yielding contradictory results. Here, we studied the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) on glycine induced currents in HEK293 cells expressing human homomeric \(\alpha\)1 and heteromeric \(\alpha\)1-\(\beta\) GlyRs using whole-cell patch clamp techniques as well as internalization assays. In whole-cell patch-clamp measurements, modulators were applied in the intracellular buffer at concentrations between 0.1 \(\mu\)M and 0.5 \(\mu\)M. EC50 of glycine increased upon application of the protein kinase activators Forskolin and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) but decreased in the presence of the PKC inhibitor Staurosporine aglycon and the PKA inhibitor H-89. Desensitization of recombinant \(\alpha\)1 receptors was significantly increased in the presence of Forskolin. Staurosporine aglycon, on the other hand decreased desensitization of heteromeric \(\alpha\)1-\(\beta\) GlyRs. The time course of receptor activation was determined for homomeric \(\alpha\)1 receptors and revealed two simultaneous effects: cells showed a decrease of EC50 after 3-6 min of establishing whole-cell configuration. This effect was independent of protein kinase modulators. All modulators of PKA and PKC, however, produced an additional shift of EC50, which overlay and eventually exceeded the cells intrinsic variation of EC50. The effect of kinase activators was abolished if the corresponding inhibitors were co-applied, consistent with PKA and PKC directly mediating the modulation of GlyR function. Direct effects of PKA-and PKC-modulators on receptor expression on transfected HEK cells were monitored within 15 min of drug application, showing a significant increase of receptor internalization with PKA and PKC activators, while the corresponding inhibitors had no significant effect on receptor surface expression or internalization. Our results confirm the observation that phosphorylation via PKA and PKC has a direct effect on the GlyR ion channel complex and plays an important role in the fine-tuning of glycinergic signaling.}, language = {en} } @article{BolzoniEspostiMarcheseetal.2018, author = {Bolzoni, Francesco and Esposti, Roberto and Marchese, Silvia M. and Pozzi, Nicol{\´o} G. and Ramirez-Pasos, Uri E. and Isaias, Ioannis U. and Cavallari, Paolo}, title = {Disrupt of intra-limb APA pattern in parkinsonian patients performing index-finger flexion}, series = {Frontiers in Physiology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Physiology}, issn = {1664-042X}, doi = {10.3389/fphys.2018.01745}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369245}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Voluntary movements induce postural perturbations which are counteracted by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). These actions are known to build up long fixation chains toward available support points (inter-limb APAs), so as to grant whole body equilibrium. Moreover, recent studies highlighted that APAs also build-up short fixation chains, within the same limb where a distal segment is moved (intra-limb APAs), aimed at stabilizing the proximal segments. The neural structures generating intra-limb APAs still need investigations; the present study aims to compare focal movement kinematics and intra-limb APA latencies and pattern between healthy subjects and parkinsonian patients, assuming the latter as a model of basal ganglia dysfunction. Intra-limb APAs that stabilize the arm when the index-finger is briskly flexed were recorded in 13 parkinsonian patients and in 10 age-matched healthy subjects. Index-finger movement was smaller in parkinsonian patients vs. healthy subjects (p = 0.01) and more delayed with respect to the onset of the prime mover flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS, p < 0.0001). In agreement with the literature, in all healthy subjects the FDS activation was preceded by an inhibitory intra-limb APA in biceps brachii (BB) and anterior deltoid (AD), and almost simultaneous to an excitatory intra-limb APA in triceps brachii (TB). In parkinsonian patients, no significant differences were found for TB and AD intra-limb APA timings, however only four patients showed an inhibitory intra-limb APA in BB, while other four did not show any BB intra-limb APAs and five actually developed a BB excitation. The frequency of occurrence of normal sign, lacking, and inverted BB APAs was different in healthy vs. parkinsonian participants (p = 0.0016). The observed alterations in index-finger kinematics and intra-limb APA pattern in parkinsonian patients suggest that basal ganglia, in addition to shaping the focal movement, may also contribute to intra-limb APA control.}, language = {en} } @article{BohmannKurkaduMesnildeRochemontetal.2019, author = {Bohmann, Ferdinand O. and Kurka, Natalia and du Mesnil de Rochemont, Richard and Gruber, Katharina and Guenther, Joachim and Rostek, Peter and Rai, Heike and Zickler, Philipp and Ertl, Michael and Berlis, Ansgar and Poli, Sven and Mengel, Annerose and Ringleb, Peter and Nagel, Simon and Pfaff, Johannes and Wollenweber, Frank A. and Kellert, Lars and Herzberg, Moriz and Koehler, Luzie and Haeusler, Karl Georg and Alegiani, Anna and Schubert, Charlotte and Brekenfeld, Caspar and Doppler, Christopher E. J. and Onur, Oezguer A. and Kabbasch, Christoph and Manser, Tanja and Pfeilschifter, Waltraud}, title = {Simulation-based training of the rapid evaluation and management of acute stroke (STREAM) — a prospective single-arm multicenter trial}, series = {Frontiers in Neurology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Neurology}, issn = {1664-2295}, doi = {10.3389/fneur.2019.00969}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369239}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Introduction: Acute stroke care delivered by interdisciplinary teams is time-sensitive. Simulation-based team training is a promising tool to improve team performance in medical operations. It has the potential to improve process times, team communication, patient safety, and staff satisfaction. We aim to assess whether a multi-level approach consisting of a stringent workflow revision based on peer-to-peer review and 2-3 one-day in situ simulation trainings can improve acute stroke care processing times in high volume neurocenters within a 6 months period. Methods and Analysis: The trial is being carried out in a pre-test-post-test design at 7 tertiary care university hospital neurocenters in Germany. The intervention is directed at the interdisciplinary multiprofessional stroke teams. Before and after the intervention, process times of all direct-to-center stroke patients receiving IV thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular therapy (EVT) will be recorded. The primary outcome measure will be the "door-to-needle" time of all consecutive stroke patients directly admitted to the neurocenters who receive IVT. Secondary outcome measures will be intervention-related process times of the fraction of patients undergoing EVT and effects on team communication, perceived patient safety, and staff satisfaction via a staff questionnaire. Interventions: We are applying a multi-level intervention in cooperation with three "STREAM multipliers" from each center. First step is a central meeting of the multipliers at the sponsor's institution with the purposes of algorithm review in a peer-to-peer process that is recorded in a protocol and an introduction to the principles of simulation training and debriefing as well as crew resource management and team communication. Thereafter, the multipliers cooperate with the stroke team trainers from the sponsor's institution to plan and execute 2-3 one-day simulation courses in situ in the emergency department and CT room of the trial centers whereupon they receive teaching materials to perpetuate the trainings. Clinical Trial Registration: STREAM is a registered trial at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03228251.}, language = {en} } @article{BaurOttoStegeretal.2018, author = {Baur, Johannes and Otto, Christoph and Steger, Ulrich and Klein-Hessling, Stefan and Muhammad, Khalid and Pusch, Tobias and Murti, Krisna and Wismer, Rhoda and Germer, Christoph-Thomas and Klein, Ingo and M{\"u}ller, Nora and Serfling, Edgar and Avots, Andris}, title = {The transcription factor NFaTc1 supports the rejection of heterotopic heart allografts}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2018.01338}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221530}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The immune suppressants cyclosporin A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506) are used worldwide in transplantation medicine to suppress graft rejection. Both CsA and FK506 inhibit the phosphatase calcineurin (CN) whose activity controls the immune receptor-mediated activation of lymphocytes. Downstream targets of CN in lymphocytes are the nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFATs). We show here that the activity of NFATc1, the most prominent NFAT factor in activated lymphocytes supports the acute rejection of heterotopic heart allografts. While ablation of NFATc1 in T cells prevented graft rejection, ectopic expression of inducible NFATc1/αA isoform led to rejection of heart allografts in recipient mice. Acceptance of transplanted hearts in mice bearing NFATc1-deficient T cells was accompanied by a reduction in number and cytotoxicity of graft infiltrating cells. In CD8\(^+\) T cells, NFATc1 controls numerous intracellular signaling pathways that lead to the metabolic switch to aerobic glycolysis and the expression of numerous lymphokines, chemokines, and their receptors, including Cxcr3 that supports the rejection of allogeneic heart transplants. These findings favors NFATc1 as a molecular target for the development of new strategies to control the cytotoxicity of T cells upon organ transplantation.}, language = {en} } @article{BalasubramanianSkafHolzgrabeetal.2018, author = {Balasubramanian, Srikkanth and Skaf, Joseph and Holzgrabe, Ulrike and Bharti, Richa and F{\"o}rstner, Konrad U. and Ziebuhr, Wilma and Humeida, Ute H. and Abdelmohsen, Usama R. and Oelschlaeger, Tobias A.}, title = {A new bioactive compound from the marine sponge-derived Streptomyces sp. SBT348 inhibits staphylococcal growth and biofilm formation}, series = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2018.01473}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221408}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Staphylococcus epidermidis, the common inhabitant of human skin and mucosal surfaces has emerged as an important pathogen in patients carrying surgical implants and medical devices. Entering the body via surgical sites and colonizing the medical devices through formation of multi-layered biofilms leads to refractory and persistent device-related infections (DRIs). Staphylococci organized in biofilms are more tolerant to antibiotics and immune responses, and thus are difficult-to-treat. The consequent morbidity and mortality, and economic losses in health care systems has strongly necessitated the need for development of new anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm-based therapeutics. In this study, we describe the biological activity of a marine sponge-derived Streptomyces sp. SBT348 extract in restraining staphylococcal growth and biofilm formation on polystyrene, glass, medically relevant titan metal, and silicone surfaces. A bioassay-guided fractionation was performed to isolate the active compound (SKC3) from the crude SBT348 extract. Our results demonstrated that SKC3 effectively inhibits the growth (MIC: 31.25 \(\mu\)g/ml) and biofilm formation (sub-MIC range: 1.95-<31.25 \(\mu\)g/ml) of S. epidermidis RP62A in vitro. Chemical characterization of SKC3 by heat and enzyme treatments, and mass spectrometry (HRMS) revealed its heat-stable and non-proteinaceous nature, and high molecular weight (1258.3 Da). Cytotoxicity profiling of SKC3 in vitro on mouse fibroblast (NIH/3T3) and macrophage (J774.1) cell lines, and in vivo on the greater wax moth larvae Galleria mellonella revealed its non-toxic nature at the effective dose. Transcriptome analysis of SKC3 treated S. epidermidis RP62A has further unmasked its negative effect on central metabolism such as carbon flux as well as, amino acid, lipid, and energy metabolism. Taken together, these findings suggest a potential of SKC3 as a putative drug to prevent staphylococcal DRIs.}, language = {en} } @article{KrausBrinkSiegel2019, author = {Kraus, Amelie J. and Brink, Benedikt G. and Siegel, T. Nicolai}, title = {Efficient and specific oligo-based depletion of rRNA}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-48692-2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224829}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In most organisms, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) contributes to >85\% of total RNA. Thus, to obtain useful information from RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses at reasonable sequencing depth, typically, mature polyadenylated transcripts are enriched or rRNA molecules are depleted. Targeted depletion of rRNA is particularly useful when studying transcripts lacking a poly(A) tail, such as some non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), most bacterial RNAs and partially degraded or immature transcripts. While several commercially available kits allow effective rRNA depletion, their efficiency relies on a high degree of sequence homology between oligonucleotide probes and the target RNA. This restricts the use of such kits to a limited number of organisms with conserved rRNA sequences. In this study we describe the use of biotinylated oligos and streptavidin-coated paramagnetic beads for the efficient and specific depletion of trypanosomal rRNA. Our approach reduces the levels of the most abundant rRNA transcripts to less than 5\% with minimal off-target effects. By adjusting the sequence of the oligonucleotide probes, our approach can be used to deplete rRNAs or other abundant transcripts independent of species. Thus, our protocol provides a useful alternative for rRNA removal where enrichment of polyadenylated transcripts is not an option and commercial kits for rRNA are not available.}, language = {en} } @article{KotzRischArnoldetal.2019, author = {Kotz, Frederik and Risch, Patrick and Arnold, Karl and Sevim, Semih and Puigmart{\´i}-Luis, Josep and Quick, Alexander and Thiel, Michael and Hrynevich, Andrei and Dalton, Paul D. and Helmer, Dorothea and Rapp, Bastian E.}, title = {Fabrication of arbitrary three-dimensional suspended hollow microstructures in transparent fused silica glass}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {10}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-09497-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224787}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Fused silica glass is the preferred material for applications which require long-term chemical and mechanical stability as well as excellent optical properties. The manufacturing of complex hollow microstructures within transparent fused silica glass is of particular interest for, among others, the miniaturization of chemical synthesis towards more versatile, configurable and environmentally friendly flow-through chemistry as well as high-quality optical waveguides or capillaries. However, microstructuring of such complex three-dimensional structures in glass has proven evasive due to its high thermal and chemical stability as well as mechanical hardness. Here we present an approach for the generation of hollow microstructures in fused silica glass with high precision and freedom of three-dimensional designs. The process combines the concept of sacrificial template replication with a room-temperature molding process for fused silica glass. The fabricated glass chips are versatile tools for, among other, the advance of miniaturization in chemical synthesis on chip.}, language = {en} } @article{KnopSpilgiesRuflietal.2019, author = {Knop, Janin and Spilgies, Lisanne M. and Rufli, Stefanie and Reinhart, Ramona and Vasilikos, Lazaros and Yabal, Monica and Owsley, Erika and Jost, Philipp J. and Marsh, Rebecca A. and Wajant, Harald and Robinson, Mark D. and Kaufmann, Thomas and W. Wei-Lynn, Wong}, title = {TNFR2 induced priming of the inflammasome leads to a RIPK1-dependent cell death in the absence of XIAP}, series = {Cell Death \& Disease}, volume = {10}, journal = {Cell Death \& Disease}, doi = {10.1038/s41419-019-1938-x}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325946}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The pediatric immune deficiency X-linked proliferative disease-2 (XLP-2) is a unique disease, with patients presenting with either hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) or intestinal bowel disease (IBD). Interestingly, XLP-2 patients display high levels of IL-18 in the serum even while in stable condition, presumably through spontaneous inflammasome activation. Recent data suggests that LPS stimulation can trigger inflammasome activation through a TNFR2/TNF/TNFR1 mediated loop in xiap-/- macrophages. Yet, the direct role TNFR2-specific activation plays in the absence of XIAP is unknown. We found TNFR2-specific activation leads to cell death in xiap-/- myeloid cells, particularly in the absence of the RING domain. RIPK1 kinase activity downstream of TNFR2 resulted in a TNF/TNFR1 cell death, independent of necroptosis. TNFR2-specific activation leads to a similar inflammatory NF-kB driven transcriptional profile as TNFR1 activation with the exception of upregulation of NLRP3 and caspase-11. Activation and upregulation of the canonical inflammasome upon loss of XIAP was mediated by RIPK1 kinase activity and ROS production. While both the inhibition of RIPK1 kinase activity and ROS production reduced cell death, as well as release of IL-1β, the release of IL-18 was not reduced to basal levels. This study supports targeting TNFR2 specifically to reduce IL-18 release in XLP-2 patients and to reduce priming of the inflammasome components.}, language = {en} } @article{KnoedlerKoerferKunzmannetal.2018, author = {Kn{\"o}dler, Maren and K{\"o}rfer, Justus and Kunzmann, Volker and Trojan, J{\"o}rg and Daum, Severin and Schenk, Michael and Kullmann, Frank and Schroll, Sebastian and Behringer, Dirk and Stahl, Michael and Al-Batran, Salah-Eddin and Hacker, Ulrich and Ibach, Stefan and Lindhofer, Horst and Lordick, Florian}, title = {Randomised phase II trial to investigate catumaxomab (anti-EpCAM × anti-CD3) for treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with gastric cancer}, series = {British Journal of Cancer}, volume = {119}, journal = {British Journal of Cancer}, doi = {10.1038/s41416-018-0150-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325938}, pages = {296-302}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Background Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) represents an unfavourable prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer (GC). Intraperitoneal treatment with the bispecific and trifunctional antibody catumaxomab (EpCAM, CD3), in addition to systemic chemotherapy, could improve elimination of PC. Methods This prospective, randomised, phase II study investigated the efficacy of catumaxomab followed by chemotherapy (arm A, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, docetaxel, FLOT) or FLOT alone (arm B) in patients with GC and PC. Primary endpoint was the rate of macroscopic complete remission (mCR) of PC at the time of second diagnostic laparoscopy/laparotomy prior to optional surgery. Results Median follow-up was 52 months. Out of 35 patients screened, 15 were allocated to arm A and 16 to arm B. mCR rate was 27\% in arm A and 19\% in arm B (p = 0.69). Severe side effects associated with catumaxomab were nausea, infection, abdominal pain, and elevated liver enzymes. Median progression-free (6.7 vs. 5.4 months, p = 0.71) and overall survival (13.2 vs. 13.0 months, p = 0.97) were not significantly different in both treatment arms. Conclusions Addition of catumaxomab to systemic chemotherapy was feasible and tolerable in advanced GC. Although the primary endpoint could not be demonstrated, results are promising for future investigations integrating intraperitoneal immunotherapy into a multimodal treatment strategy.}, language = {en} } @article{KimAmoresKangetal.2019, author = {Kim, Bo-Mi and Amores, Angel and Kang, Seunghyun and Ahn, Do-Hwan and Kim, Jin-Hyoung and Kim, Il-Chan and Lee, Jun Hyuck and Lee, Sung Gu and Lee, Hyoungseok and Lee, Jungeun and Kim, Han-Woo and Desvignes, Thomas and Batzel, Peter and Sydes, Jason and Titus, Tom and Wilson, Catherine A. and Catchen, Julian M. and Warren, Wesley C. and Schartl, Manfred and Detrich, H. William III and Postlethwait, John H. and Park, Hyun}, title = {Antarctic blackfin icefish genome reveals adaptations to extreme environments}, series = {Nature Ecology \& Evolution}, volume = {3}, journal = {Nature Ecology \& Evolution}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-019-0812-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325811}, pages = {469-478}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Icefishes (suborder Notothenioidei; family Channichthyidae) are the only vertebrates that lack functional haemoglobin genes and red blood cells. Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly and linkage map for the Antarctic blackfin icefish Chaenocephalus aceratus, highlighting evolved genomic features for its unique physiology. Phylogenomic analysis revealed that Antarctic fish of the teleost suborder Notothenioidei, including icefishes, diverged from the stickleback lineage about 77 million years ago and subsequently evolved cold-adapted phenotypes as the Southern Ocean cooled to sub-zero temperatures. Our results show that genes involved in protection from ice damage, including genes encoding antifreeze glycoprotein and zona pellucida proteins, are highly expanded in the icefish genome. Furthermore, genes that encode enzymes that help to control cellular redox state, including members of the sod3 and nqo1 gene families, are expanded, probably as evolutionary adaptations to the relatively high concentration of oxygen dissolved in cold Antarctic waters. In contrast, some crucial regulators of circadian homeostasis (cry and per genes) are absent from the icefish genome, suggesting compromised control of biological rhythms in the polar light environment. The availability of the icefish genome sequence will accelerate our understanding of adaptation to extreme Antarctic environments.}, language = {en} } @article{KesslerFroemblingGrossetal.2018, author = {Kessler, Almuth F. and Fr{\"o}mbling, Greta E. and Gross, Franziska and Hahn, Mirja and Dzokou, Wilfrid and Ernestus, Ralf-Ingo and L{\"o}hr, Mario and Hagemann, Carsten}, title = {Effects of tumor treating fields (TTFields) on glioblastoma cells are augmented by mitotic checkpoint inhibition}, series = {Cell Death Discovery}, volume = {4}, journal = {Cell Death Discovery}, doi = {10.1038/s41420-018-0079-9}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325744}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Tumor treating fields (TTFields) are approved for glioblastoma (GBM) therapy. TTFields disrupt cell division by inhibiting spindle fiber formation. Spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) inhibition combined with antimitotic drugs synergistically decreases glioma cell growth in cell culture and mice. We hypothesized that SAC inhibition will increase TTFields efficacy. Human GBM cells (U-87 MG, GaMG) were treated with TTFields (200 kHz, 1.7 V/cm) and/or the SAC inhibitor MPS1-IN-3 (IN-3, 4 µM). Cells were counted after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment and at 24 and 72 h after end of treatment (EOT). Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, Annexin-V staining and TUNEL assay were used to detect alterations in cell cycle and apoptosis after 72 h of treatment. The TTFields/IN-3 combination decreased cell proliferation after 72 h compared to either treatment alone (-78.6\% vs. TTFields, P = 0.0337; -52.6\% vs. IN-3, P = 0.0205), and reduced the number of viable cells (62\% less than seeded). There was a significant cell cycle shift from G1 to G2/M phase (P < 0.0001). The apoptotic rate increased to 44\% (TTFields 14\%, P = 0.0002; IN-3 4\%, P < 0.0001). Cell growth recovered 24 h after EOT with TTFields and IN-3 alone, but the combination led to further decrease by 92\% at 72 h EOT if IN-3 treatment was continued (P = 0.0288). The combination of TTFields and SAC inhibition led to earlier and prolonged effects that significantly augmented the efficacy of TTFields and highlights a potential new targeted multimodal treatment for GBM.}, language = {en} } @article{KaestnerRichterUrbaniketal.2019, author = {K{\"a}stner, Niklas and Richter, S. Helene and Urbanik, Sarah and Kunert, Joachim and Waider, Jonas and Lesch, Klaus-Peter and Kaiser, Sylvia and Sachser, Norbert}, title = {Brain serotonin deficiency affects female aggression}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-37613-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325386}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The neurotransmitter serotonin plays a key role in the control of aggressive behaviour. While so far most studies have investigated variation in serotonin levels, a recently created tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) knockout mouse model allows studying effects of complete brain serotonin deficiency. First studies revealed increased aggressiveness in homozygous Tph2 knockout mice in the context of a resident-intruder paradigm. Focussing on females, this study aimed to elucidate effects of serotonin deficiency on aggressive and non-aggressive social behaviours not in a test situation but a natural setting. For this purpose, female Tph2 wildtype (n = 40) and homozygous knockout mice (n = 40) were housed with a same-sex conspecific of either the same or the other genotype in large terraria. The main findings were: knockout females displayed untypically high levels of aggressive behaviour even after several days of co-housing. Notably, in response to aggressive knockout partners, they showed increased levels of defensive behaviours. While most studies on aggression in rodents have focussed on males, this study suggests a significant involvement of serotonin also in the control of female aggression. Future research will show, whether the observed behavioural effects are directly caused by the lack of serotonin or by potential compensatory mechanisms.}, language = {en} } @article{JoosSaadatmandSchnabeletal.2018, author = {Joos, J. P. and Saadatmand, A. R. and Schnabel, C. and Viktorinov{\´a}, I. and Brand, T. and Kramer, M. and Nattel, S. and Dobrev, D. and Tomancak, P. and Backs, J. and Kleinbongard, P. and Heusch, G. and Lorenz, K. and Koch, E. and Weber, S. and El-Armouche, A.}, title = {Ectopic expression of S28A-mutated Histone H3 modulates longevity, stress resistance and cardiac function in Drosophila}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-21372-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-323637}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Histone H3 serine 28 (H3S28) phosphorylation and de-repression of polycomb repressive complex (PRC)-mediated gene regulation is linked to stress conditions in mitotic and post-mitotic cells. To better understand the role of H3S28 phosphorylation in vivo, we studied a Drosophila strain with ectopic expression of constitutively-activated H3S28A, which prevents PRC2 binding at H3S28, thus mimicking H3S28 phosphorylation. H3S28A mutants showed prolonged life span and improved resistance against starvation and paraquat-induced oxidative stress. Morphological and functional analysis of heart tubes revealed smaller luminal areas and thicker walls accompanied by moderately improved cardiac function after acute stress induction. Whole-exome deep gene-sequencing from isolated heart tubes revealed phenotype-corresponding changes in longevity-promoting and myotropic genes. We also found changes in genes controlling mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration. Analysis of mitochondrial respiration from whole flies revealed improved efficacy of ATP production with reduced electron transport-chain activity. Finally, we analyzed posttranslational modification of H3S28 in an experimental heart failure model and observed increased H3S28 phosphorylation levels in HF hearts. Our data establish a critical role of H3S28 phosphorylation in vivo for life span, stress resistance, cardiac and mitochondrial function in Drosophila. These findings may pave the way for H3S28 phosphorylation as a putative target to treat stress-related disorders such as heart failure.}, language = {en} } @article{IzquierdoKarolakPrabhakaranetal.2019, author = {Izquierdo, Manuel and Karolak, Michael and Prabhakaran, Dharmalingam and Boothroyd, Andrew T. and Scherz, Andreas O. and Lichtenstein, Alexander and Molodtsov, Serguei L.}, title = {Monitoring ultrafast metallization in LaCoO3 with femtosecond soft x-ray spectroscopy}, series = {Communications Physics}, volume = {2}, journal = {Communications Physics}, doi = {10.1038/s42005-019-0109-9}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-323265}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The study of ultrafast dynamics is a new tool to understand and control the properties of correlated oxides. By enhancing some properties and realizing new dynamically excited phrases, this tool has opened new routes for technological applications. LaCoO3 is one paradigmatic example where the strong electron, spin, and lattice coupling induced by electronic correlations results in a low-temperature spin transition and a high-temperature semiconductor-to-metal transition that is still not completely understood. Here, we monitor ultrafast metallization in LaCoO3 using time-resolved soft x-ray reflectivity experiments. While the process is entangled at the Co L3 edge, the time information of the different channels is decrypted at different resonant energies of the O K edge. Metallization is shown to occur via transient electronic, spin, and lattice separation. Our results agree with the thermodynamical model and demonstrate the potential of femtosecond soft x-ray experiments at the O K edge to understand correlated oxides.}, language = {en} } @article{HommersRichterYangetal.2018, author = {Hommers, L. G. and Richter, J. and Yang, Y. and Raab, A. and Baumann, C. and Lang, K. and Schiele, M. A. and Weber, H. and Wittmann, A. and Wolf, C. and Alpers, G. W. and Arolt, V. and Domschke, K. and Fehm, L. and Fydrich, T. and Gerlach, A. and Gloster, A. T. and Hamm, A. O. and Helbig-Lang, S. and Kircher, T. and Lang, T. and Pan{\´e}-Farr{\´e}, C. A. and Pauli, P. and Pfleiderer, B. and Reif, A. and Romanos, M. and Straube, B. and Str{\"o}hle, A. and Wittchen, H.-U. and Frantz, S. and Ertl, G. and Lohse, M. J. and Lueken, U. and Deckert, J.}, title = {A functional genetic variation of SLC6A2 repressor hsa-miR-579-3p upregulates sympathetic noradrenergic processes of fear and anxiety}, series = {Translational Psychiatry}, volume = {8}, journal = {Translational Psychiatry}, doi = {10.1038/s41398-018-0278-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322497}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Increased sympathetic noradrenergic signaling is crucially involved in fear and anxiety as defensive states. MicroRNAs regulate dynamic gene expression during synaptic plasticity and genetic variation of microRNAs modulating noradrenaline transporter gene (SLC6A2) expression may thus lead to altered central and peripheral processing of fear and anxiety. In silico prediction of microRNA regulation of SLC6A2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assays and identified hsa-miR-579-3p as a regulating microRNA. The minor (T)-allele of rs2910931 (MAFcases = 0.431, MAFcontrols = 0.368) upstream of MIR579 was associated with panic disorder in patients (pallelic = 0.004, ncases = 506, ncontrols = 506) and with higher trait anxiety in healthy individuals (pASI = 0.029, pACQ = 0.047, n = 3112). Compared to the major (A)-allele, increased promoter activity was observed in luciferase reporter assays in vitro suggesting more effective MIR579 expression and SLC6A2 repression in vivo (p = 0.041). Healthy individuals carrying at least one (T)-allele showed a brain activation pattern suggesting increased defensive responding and sympathetic noradrenergic activation in midbrain and limbic areas during the extinction of conditioned fear. Panic disorder patients carrying two (T)-alleles showed elevated heart rates in an anxiety-provoking behavioral avoidance test (F(2, 270) = 5.47, p = 0.005). Fine-tuning of noradrenaline homeostasis by a MIR579 genetic variation modulated central and peripheral sympathetic noradrenergic activation during fear processing and anxiety. This study opens new perspectives on the role of microRNAs in the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders, particularly their cardiovascular symptoms and comorbidities.}, language = {en} } @article{HolzingerSchneiderHoeflingetal.2019, author = {Holzinger, Steffen and Schneider, Christian and H{\"o}fling, Sven and Porte, Xavier and Reitzenstein, Stephan}, title = {Quantum-dot micropillar lasers subject to coherent time-delayed optical feedback from a short external cavity}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-36599-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322485}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We investigate the mode-switching dynamics of an electrically driven bimodal quantum-dot micropillar laser when subject to delayed coherent optical feedback from a short external cavity. We experimentally characterize how the external cavity length, being on the same order than the microlaser's coherence length, influences the spectral and dynamical properties of the micropillar laser. Moreover, we determine the relaxation oscillation frequency of the micropillar by superimposing optical pulse injection to a dc current. It is found that the optical pulse can be used to disturb the feedback-coupled laser within one roundtrip time in such a way that it reaches the same output power as if no feedback was present. Our results do not only expand the understanding of microlasers when subject to optical feedback from short external cavities, but pave the way towards tailoring the properties of this key nanophotonic system for studies in the quantum regime of self-feedback and its implementation to integrated photonic circuits.}, language = {en} } @article{HoltfrerichPfisterElGammaletal.2018, author = {Holtfrerich, Sarah K. C. and Pfister, Roland and El Gammal, Alexander T. and Bellon, Eugen and Diekhof, Esther K.}, title = {Endogenous testosterone and exogenous oxytocin influence the response to baby schema in the female brain}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-26020-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322285}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Nurturing behavior may be critically influenced by the interplay of different hormones. The neuropeptide oxytocin is known to promote maternal behavior and its reduction has been associated with postpartum depression risk and child neglect. Contrariwise, the observed decrease in testosterone level during early parenthood may benefit caretaking behavior, whereas increased testosterone may reduce attention to infants. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the interactive influence of testosterone and oxytocin on selective attention to and neural processing of the baby schema (BS). 57 nulliparous women performed a target detection task with human faces with varying degree of BS following double-blinded placebo-controlled oxytocin administration in a between-subjects design. Our results support the idea that oxytocin enhances attention to the BS. Oxytocin had a positive effect on activation of the inferior frontal junction during identification of infant targets with a high degree of BS that were presented among adult distractors. Further, activation of the putamen was positively correlated with selective attention to the BS, but only in women with high endogenous testosterone who received oxytocin. These findings provide initial evidence for the neural mechanism by which oxytocin may counteract the negative effects of testosterone in the modulation of nurturing behavior.}, language = {en} } @article{HoernesFaserlJuenetal.2018, author = {Hoernes, Thomas Philipp and Faserl, Klaus and Juen, Michael Andreas and Kremser, Johannes and Gasser, Catherina and Fuchs, Elisabeth and Shi, Xinying and Siewert, Aaron and Lindner, Herbert and Kreutz, Christoph and Micura, Ronald and Joseph, Simpson and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia and Westhof, Eric and H{\"u}ttenhofer, Alexander and Erlacher, Matthias David}, title = {Translation of non-standard codon nucleotides reveals minimal requirements for codon-anticodon interactions}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-07321-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-321067}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The precise interplay between the mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon is crucial for ensuring efficient and accurate translation by the ribosome. The insertion of RNA nucleobase derivatives in the mRNA allowed us to modulate the stability of the codon-anticodon interaction in the decoding site of bacterial and eukaryotic ribosomes, allowing an in-depth analysis of codon recognition. We found the hydrogen bond between the N1 of purines and the N3 of pyrimidines to be sufficient for decoding of the first two codon nucleotides, whereas adequate stacking between the RNA bases is critical at the wobble position. Inosine, found in eukaryotic mRNAs, is an important example of destabilization of the codon-anticodon interaction. Whereas single inosines are efficiently translated, multiple inosines, e.g., in the serotonin receptor 5-HT2C mRNA, inhibit translation. Thus, our results indicate that despite the robustness of the decoding process, its tolerance toward the weakening of codon-anticodon interactions is limited.}, language = {en} } @article{HobbsJaskaniecMcCarthyetal.2018, author = {Hobbs, Christopher and Jaskaniec, Sonia and McCarthy, Eoin K. and Downing, Clive and Opelt, Konrad and G{\"u}th, Konrad and Shmeliov, Aleksey and Mourad, Maurice C. D. and Mandel, Karl and Nicolosi, Valeria}, title = {Structural transformation of layered double hydroxides: an in situ TEM analysis}, series = {npj 2D Materials and Applications}, volume = {2}, journal = {npj 2D Materials and Applications}, doi = {10.1038/s41699-018-0048-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-320752}, year = {2018}, abstract = {A comprehensive nanoscale understanding of layered double hydroxide (LDH) thermal evolution is critical for their current and future applications as catalysts, flame retardants and oxygen evolution performers. In this report, we applied in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to extensively characterise the thermal progressions of nickel-iron containing (Ni-Fe) LDH nanomaterials. The combinative approach of TEM and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) yielded both a morphological and crystallographic understanding of such processes. As the Ni-Fe LDH nanomaterials are heated in situ, an amorphization occurred at 250 °C, followed by a transition to a heterogeneous structure of NiO particles embedded throughout a NiFe2O4 matrix at 850 °C, confirmed by high-resolution TEM and scanning TEM. Further electron microscopy characterisation methodologies of energy-filtered TEM were utilised to directly observe these mechanistic behaviours in real time, showing an evolution and nucleation to an array of spherical NiO nanoparticles on the platelet surfaces. The versatility of this characterisation approach was verified by the analogous behaviours of Ni-Fe LDH materials heated ex situ as well as parallel in situ TEM and SAED comparisons to that of an akin magnesium-aluminium containing (Mg-Al) LDH structure. The in situ TEM work hereby discussed allows for a state-of-the-art understanding of the Ni-Fe material thermal evolution. This is an important first, which reveals pivotal information, especially when considering LDH applications as catalysts and flame retardants.}, language = {en} } @article{HinesMaricHinesetal.2018, author = {Hines, Rochelle M. and Maric, Hans Michael and Hines, Dustin J. and Modgil, Amit and Panzanelli, Patrizia and Nakamura, Yasuko and Nathanson, Anna J. and Cross, Alan and Deeb, Tarek and Brandon, Nicholas J. and Davies, Paul and Fritschy, Jean-Marc and Schindelin, Hermann and Moss, Stephen J.}, title = {Developmental seizures and mortality result from reducing GABAA receptor α2-subunit interaction with collybistin}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-05481-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-320719}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Fast inhibitory synaptic transmission is mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) that are enriched at functionally diverse synapses via mechanisms that remain unclear. Using isothermal titration calorimetry and complementary methods we demonstrate an exclusive low micromolar binding of collybistin to the α2-subunit of GABAARs. To explore the biological relevance of collybistin-α2-subunit selectivity, we generate mice with a mutation in the α2-subunit-collybistin binding region (Gabra2-1). The mutation results in loss of a distinct subset of inhibitory synapses and decreased amplitude of inhibitory synaptic currents. Gabra2-1 mice have a striking phenotype characterized by increased susceptibility to seizures and early mortality. Surviving Gabra2-1 mice show anxiety and elevations in electroencephalogram δ power, which are ameliorated by treatment with the α2/α3-selective positive modulator, AZD7325. Taken together, our results demonstrate an α2-subunit selective binding of collybistin, which plays a key role in patterned brain activity, particularly during development.}, language = {en} } @article{HernandezJoseRamirezMinguillonetal.2018, author = {Hern{\´a}ndez, Gonzalo and Jos{\´e} Ram{\´i}rez, Mar{\´i}a and Minguill{\´o}n, Jordi and Quiles, Paco and Ruiz de Garibay, Gorka and Aza-Carmona, Miriam and Bogliolo, Massimo and Pujol, Roser and Prados-Carvajal, Rosario and Fern{\´a}ndez, Juana and Garc{\´i}a, Nadia and L{\´o}pez, Adri{\`a} and Guti{\´e}rrez-Enr{\´i}quez, Sara and Diez, Orland and Ben{\´i}tez, Javier and Salinas, M{\´o}nica and Teul{\´e}, Alex and Brunet, Joan and Radice, Paolo and Peterlongo, Paolo and Schindler, Detlev and Huertas, Pablo and Puente, Xose S. and L{\´a}zaro, Conxi and {\`A}ngel Pujana, Miquel and Surrall{\´e}s, Jordi}, title = {Decapping protein EDC4 regulates DNA repair and phenocopies BRCA1}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-03433-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319929}, year = {2018}, abstract = {BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor that regulates DNA repair by homologous recombination. Germline mutations in BRCA1 are associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer and BRCA1 deficient tumors are exquisitely sensitive to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. Therefore, uncovering additional components of this DNA repair pathway is of extreme importance for further understanding cancer development and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Here, we identify EDC4, a known component of processing-bodies and regulator of mRNA decapping, as a member of the BRCA1-BRIP1-TOPBP1 complex. EDC4 plays a key role in homologous recombination by stimulating end resection at double-strand breaks. EDC4 deficiency leads to genome instability and hypersensitivity to DNA interstrand cross-linking drugs and PARP inhibitors. Lack-of-function mutations in EDC4 were detected in BRCA1/2-mutation-negative breast cancer cases, suggesting a role in breast cancer susceptibility. Collectively, this study recognizes EDC4 with a dual role in decapping and DNA repair whose inactivation phenocopies BRCA1 deficiency.}, language = {en} } @article{HerbstSoberatsLeowanawatetal.2018, author = {Herbst, Stefanie and Soberats, Bartolome and Leowanawat, Pawaret and Stolte, Matthias and Lehmann, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Self-assembly of multi-stranded perylene dye J-aggregates in columnar liquid-crystalline phases}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-05018-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319914}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Many discoid dyes self-assemble into columnar liquid-crystalline (LC) phases with packing arrangements that are undesired for photonic applications due to H-type exciton coupling. Here, we report a series of crystalline and LC perylene bisimides (PBIs) self-assembling into single or multi-stranded (two, three, and four strands) aggregates with predominant J-type exciton coupling. These differences in the supramolecular packing and optical properties are achieved by molecular design variations of tetra-bay phenoxy-dendronized PBIs with two N-H groups at the imide positions. The self-assembly is driven by hydrogen bonding, slipped π-π stacking, nanosegregation, and steric requirements of the peripheral building blocks. We could determine the impact of the packing motifs on the spectroscopic properties and demonstrate different J- and H-type coupling contributions between the chromophores. Our findings on structure-property relationships and strong J-couplings in bulk LC materials open a new avenue in the molecular engineering of PBI J-aggregates with prospective applications in photonics.}, language = {en} } @article{HennrichRomanovHornetal.2018, author = {Hennrich, Marco L. and Romanov, Natalie and Horn, Patrick and Jaeger, Samira and Eckstein, Volker and Steeples, Violetta and Ye, Fei and Ding, Ximing and Poisa-Beiro, Laura and Mang, Ching Lai and Lang, Benjamin and Boultwood, Jacqueline and Luft, Thomas and Zaugg, Judith B. and Pellagatti, Andrea and Bork, Peer and Aloy, Patrick and Gavin, Anne-Claude and Ho, Anthony D.}, title = {Cell-specific proteome analyses of human bone marrow reveal molecular features of age-dependent functional decline}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-06353-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319877}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Diminishing potential to replace damaged tissues is a hallmark for ageing of somatic stem cells, but the mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we present proteome-wide atlases of age-associated alterations in human haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HPCs) and five other cell populations that constitute the bone marrow niche. For each, the abundance of a large fraction of the ~12,000 proteins identified is assessed in 59 human subjects from different ages. As the HPCs become older, pathways in central carbon metabolism exhibit features reminiscent of the Warburg effect, where glycolytic intermediates are rerouted towards anabolism. Simultaneously, altered abundance of early regulators of HPC differentiation reveals a reduced functionality and a bias towards myeloid differentiation. Ageing causes alterations in the bone marrow niche too, and diminishes the functionality of the pathways involved in HPC homing. The data represent a valuable resource for further analyses, and for validation of knowledge gained from animal models.}, language = {en} } @article{HeilSchreiberGoetzetal.2018, author = {Heil, Hannah S. and Schreiber, Benjamin and G{\"o}tz, Ralph and Emmerling, Monika and Dabauvalle, Marie-Christine and Krohne, Georg and H{\"o}fling, Sven and Kamp, Martin and Sauer, Markus and Heinze, Katrin G.}, title = {Sharpening emitter localization in front of a tuned mirror}, series = {Light: Science \& Applications}, volume = {7}, journal = {Light: Science \& Applications}, doi = {10.1038/s41377-018-0104-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228080}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) aims for maximized precision and a high signal-to-noise ratio1. Both features can be provided by placing the emitter in front of a metal-dielectric nanocoating that acts as a tuned mirror2,3,4. Here, we demonstrate that a higher photon yield at a lower background on biocompatible metal-dielectric nanocoatings substantially improves SMLM performance and increases the localization precision by up to a factor of two. The resolution improvement relies solely on easy-to-fabricate nanocoatings on standard glass coverslips and is spectrally and spatially tunable by the layer design and wavelength, as experimentally demonstrated for dual-color SMLM in cells.}, language = {en} } @article{HechtMeierZimmeretal.2018, author = {Hecht, Markus and Meier, Friedegund and Zimmer, Lisa and Polat, B{\"u}lent and Loquai, Carmen and Weishaupt, Carsten and Forschner, Andrea and Gutzmer, Ralf and Utikal, Jochen S. and Goldinger, Simone M. and Geier, Michael and Hassel, Jessica C. and Balermpas, Panagiotis and Kiecker, Felix and Rauschenberg, Ricarda and Dietrich, Ursula and Clemens, Patrick and Berking, Carola and Grabenbauer, Gerhard and Schadendorf, Dirk and Grabbe, Stephan and Schuler, Gerold and Fietkau, Rainer and Distel, Luitpold V. and Heinzerling, Lucie}, title = {Clinical outcome of concomitant vs interrupted BRAF inhibitor therapy during radiotherapy in melanoma patients}, series = {British Journal of Cancer}, volume = {118}, journal = {British Journal of Cancer}, doi = {10.1038/bjc.2017.489}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227970}, pages = {785-792}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Background: Concomitant radiation with BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) therapy may increase radiation-induced side effects but also potentially improve tumour control in melanoma patients. Methods: A total of 155 patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma from 17 European skin cancer centres were retrospectively analysed. Out of these, 87 patients received concomitant radiotherapy and BRAFi (59 vemurafenib, 28 dabrafenib), while in 68 patients BRAFi therapy was interrupted during radiation (51 vemurafenib, 17 dabrafenib). Overall survival was calculated from the first radiation (OSRT) and from start of BRAFi therapy (OSBRAFi). Results: The median duration of BRAFi treatment interruption prior to radiotherapy was 4 days and lasted for 17 days. Median OSRT and OSBRAFi in the entire cohort were 9.8 and 12.6 months in the interrupted group and 7.3 and 11.5 months in the concomitant group (P=0.075/P=0.217), respectively. Interrupted vemurafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 10.1 and 13.1 months, respectively, was superior to concomitant vemurafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 6.6 and 10.9 months (P=0.004/P=0.067). Interrupted dabrafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 7.7 and 9.8 months, respectively, did not differ from concomitant dabrafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 9.9 and 11.6 months (P=0.132/P=0.404). Median local control of the irradiated area did not differ in the interrupted and concomitant BRAFi treatment groups (P=0.619). Skin toxicity of grade ≥2 (CTCAE) was significantly increased in patients with concomitant vemurafenib compared to the group with treatment interruption (P=0.002). Conclusions: Interruption of vemurafenib treatment during radiation was associated with better survival and less toxicity compared to concomitant treatment. Due to lower number of patients, the relevance of treatment interruption in dabrafenib treated patients should be further investigated. The results of this analysis indicate that treatment with the BRAFi vemurafenib should be interrupted during radiotherapy. Prospective studies are desperately needed.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Nair2024, author = {Nair, Radhika Karal}, title = {Structural and biochemical characterization of USP28 inhibition by small molecule inhibitors}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-28174}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-281742}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Ubiquitination is an important post-translational modification that maintains cellular homeostasis by regulating various biological processes. Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are enzymes that reverse the ubiquitination process by catalyzing the removal of ubiquitin from a substrate. Abnormal expression or function of DUBs is often associated with the onset and progression of various diseases, including cancer. Ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs), which constitute the largest family of DUBs in humans, have become the center of interest as potential targets in cancer therapy as many of them display increased activity or are overexpressed in a range of malignant tumors or the tumor microenvironment. Two related members of the USP family, USP28 and USP25, share high sequence identities but play diverse biological roles. USP28 regulates cell proliferation, oncogenesis, DNA damage repair and apoptosis, whereas USP25 is involved in the anti-viral response, innate immunity and ER-associated degradation in addition to carcinogenesis. USP28 and USP25 also exhibit different oligomeric states - while USP28 is a constitutively active dimer, USP25 assumes an auto-inhibited tetrameric structure. The catalytic domains of both USP28 and USP25 comprise the canonical, globular USP-domain but contain an additional, extended insertion site called USP25/28 catalytic domain inserted domain (UCID) that mediates oligomerization of the proteins. Disruption of the USP25 tetramer leads to the formation of an activated dimeric protein. However, it is still not clear what triggers its activation. Due to their role in maintaining and stabilizing numerous oncoproteins, USP28 and USP25 have emerged as interesting candidates for anti-cancer therapy. Recent advances in small-molecular inhibitor development have led to the discovery of relatively potent inhibitors of USP28 and USP25. This thesis focuses on the structural elucidation of USP28 and the biochemical characterization of USP28/USP25, both in complex with representatives of three out of the eight compound classes reported as USP28/USP25-specific inhibitors. The crystal structures of USP28 in complex with the AZ compounds, Vismodegib and FT206 reveal that all three inhibitor classes bind into the same allosteric pocket distant from the catalytic center, located between the palm and the thumb subdomains (the S1-site). Intriguingly, this binding pocket is identical to the UCID-tip binding interface in the USP25 tetramer, rendering the protein in a locked, inactive conformation. Formation of the binding pocket in USP28 requires a shift in the helix α5, which induces conformational changes and local distortion of the binding channel that typically accommodates the C-terminal tail of Ubiquitin, thus preventing catalysis and abrogating USP28 activity. The key residues of the USP28-inhibitor binding pocket are highly conserved in USP25. Mutagenesis studies of these residues accompanied by biochemical and biophysical assays confirm the proposed mechanism of inhibition and similar binding to USP25. This work provides valuable insights into the inhibition mechanism of the small molecule compounds specifically for the DUBs USP28 and USP25. The USP28-inhibitor complex structures offer a framework to develop more specific and potent inhibitors.}, subject = {Unique Selling Proposition}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{GoettlergebLang2024, author = {G{\"o}ttler [geb. Lang], Anna}, title = {Auswirkung der bariatrischen Operation auf die Aktivit{\"a}t des autonomen Nervensystems im kardialen und peripheren Kompartiment}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36932}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369328}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die vorliegende Arbeit thematisiert die Aktivit{\"a}t des autonomen Nervensystems im Vergleich vor versus nach bariatrischer Operation bei ProbandInnen mit morbider Adipositas. Wir untersuchten, ob die Operation und der damit einhergehende Gewichtsverlust drei Monate nach dem bariatrischen Eingriff zu einer Ver{\"a}nderung der Aktivit{\"a}t des autonomen Nervensystems im thorakalen und im motorischen/peripheren Kompartiment f{\"u}hrt. Als Parameter dienen f{\"u}r das thorakale Kompartiment die Herzfrequenzvariabilit{\"a}t und f{\"u}r das periphere/motorische Kompartiment vaskul{\"a}re (lnRHI und AI) und sudomotorische (Schweißvolumen, Antwortlatenz) Parameter. Unsere Ergebnisse im thorakalen Kompartiment zeigen einen Anstieg der Herzfrequenzvariabilit{\"a}t 3 Monate nach bariatrischer Operation. Wir schließen uns daher der Hypothese an, die mit morbider Adipositas assoziierte Erh{\"o}hung der sympathischen Aktivit{\"a}t im thorakalen Kompartiment k{\"o}nne durch bariatrische Operationen reversibel sein. Im peripheren/motorischen Kompartiment k{\"o}nnen wir keine eindeutige Ver{\"a}nderung der Aktivit{\"a}t des autonomen Nervensystems vor versus nach bariatrischer Operation beobachten. Andere Studien konnten hierzu deutlichere Ergebnisse erheben, die ebenfalls eine erh{\"o}hte sympathische Aktivit{\"a}t im motorischen Kompartiment zeigten, welche nach bariatrischer Operation reversibel war. Insgesamt k{\"o}nnen wir die These einer autonomen Imbalance bei Adipositas sowie einer Verringerung der sympathischen Aktivit{\"a}t im thorakalen Kompartiment nach bariatrischer Operation unterst{\"u}tzen. Die Ver{\"a}nderungen im autonomen Nervensystem leisten m{\"o}glicherweise einen Beitrag zur Verbesserung der kardiovaskul{\"a}ren Gesundheit und der metabolischen Situation nach der bariatrischen Operation.}, subject = {Vegetatives Nervensystem}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{KanmegneTamga2024, author = {Kanmegne Tamga, Dan Emmanuel}, title = {Modelling Carbon Sequestration of Agroforestry Systems in West Africa using Remote Sensing}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36926}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369269}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The production of commodities such as cocoa, rubber, oil palm and cashew, is the main driver of deforestation in West Africa (WA). The practiced production systems correspond to a land managment approach referred to as agroforestry systems (AFS), which consist of managing trees and crops on the same unit of land.Because of the ubiquity of trees, AFS reported as viable solution for climate mitigation; the carbon sequestrated by the trees could be estimated with remote sensing (RS) data and methods and reported as emission reduction efforts. However, the diversity in AFS in relation to their composition, structure and spatial distribution makes it challenging for an accurate monitoring of carbon stocks using RS. Therefore, the aim of this research is to propose a RS-based approach for the estimation of carbon sequestration in AFS across the climatic regions of WA. The main objectives were to (i) provide an accurate classification map of AFS by modelling the spatial distribution of the classification error; (ii) estimate the carbon stock of AFS in the main climatic regions of WA using RS data; (iii) evaluate the dynamic of carbon stocks within AFS across WA. Three regions of interest (ROI) were defined in Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, one in each climatic region of WA namely the Guineo-Congolian, Guinean and Sudanian, and three field campaigns were carried out for data collection. The collected data consisted of reference points for image classification, biometric tree measurements (diameter, height, species) for biomass estimation. A total of 261 samples were collected in 12 AFS across WA. For the RS data, yearly composite images from Sentinel-1 and -2 (S1 and S2), ALOS-PALSAR and GEDI data were used. A supervised classification using random forest (RF) was implemented and the classification error was assessed using the Shannon entropy generated from the class probabilities. For carbon estimation, different RS data, machine learning algorithms and carbon reference sources were compared for the prediction of the aboveground biomass in AFS. The assessment of the carbon dynamic was carried between 2017 and 2021. An average carbon map was genrated and use as reference for the comparison of annual carbon estimations, using the standard deviation as threshold. As far as the results are concerned, the classification accuracy was higher than 0.9 in all the ROIs, and AFS were mainly represented by rubber (38.9\%), cocoa (36.4\%), palm (10.8\%) in the ROI-1, mango (15.2\%) and cashew (13.4\%) in ROI-2, shea tree (55.7\%) and African locust bean (28.1\%) in ROI-3. However, evidence of misclassification was found in cocoa, mango, and shea butter. The assessment of the classification error suggested that the error level was higher in the ROI-3 and ROI-1. The error generated from the entropy was able to reduced the level of misclassification by 63\% with 11\% of loss of information. Moreover, the approach was able to accuretely detect encroachement in protected areas. On carbon estimation, the highest prediction accuracy (R²>0.8) was obtained for a RF model using the combination of S1 and S2 and AGB derived from field measurements. Predictions from GEDI could only be used as reference in the ROI-1 but resulted in a prediction error was higher in cashew, mango, rubber and cocoa plantations, and the carbon stock level was higher in African locust bean (43.9 t/ha), shea butter (15 t/ha), cashew (13.8 t/ha), mango (12.8 t/ha), cocoa (7.51 t/ha) and rubber (7.33 t/ha). The analysis showed that carbon stock is determined mainly by the diameter (R²=0.45) and height (R²=0.13) of trees. It was found that crop plantations had the lowest biodiversity level, and no significant relationship was found between the considered biodiversity indices and carbon stock levels. The assessment of the spatial distribution of carbon sources and sinks showed that cashew plantations are carbon emitters due to firewood collection, while cocoa plantations showed the highest potential for carbon sequestration. The study revealed that Sentinel data could be used to support a RS-based approach for modelling carbon sequestration in AFS. Entropy could be used to map crop plantations and to monitor encroachment in protected areas. Moreover, field measurements with appropriate allometric models could ensure an accurate estimation of carbon stocks in AFS. Even though AFS in the Sudanian region had the highest carbon stocks level, there is a high potential to increase the carbon level in cocoa plantations by integrating and/or maintaining forest trees.}, subject = {Sequestrierung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Morabbian2024, author = {Morabbian, Jasamin}, title = {Etablierung von Stammzell-Sph{\"a}roiden mit inkorporierten Biokeramik-Partikeln zur F{\"o}rderung der osteogenen Differenzierung}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36925}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369256}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {In der vorliegenden Dissertationsarbeit wurden Sph{\"a}roide aus mesenchymalen Stammzellen aus dem Fettgewebe oder dem Knochenmark mittels der Micromold-Methode hergestellt. Den Sph{\"a}roiden wurden entweder Calciumphosphat- oder Calcium-Magnesium-Phosphat-Partikel hinzugef{\"u}gt. Zum einen sollte {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft werden, ob die Zugabe von Partikeln die osteogene Differenzierung der Sph{\"a}roide f{\"o}rdert und somit zur weiteren Entwicklung von k{\"o}rpereigenem Knochenersatzmaterial in der regenerativen Medizin beitr{\"a}gt. Zum anderen sollte festgestellt werden, ob eine der beiden Biokeramiken hinsichtlich der osteogenen Differenzierung {\"u}berlegen ist.}, subject = {Stammzelle}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Merscher2024, author = {Merscher, Alma-Sophia}, title = {To Fear or not to Fear: Unraveling the (Oculo)motor and Autonomic Components of Defensive States in Humans}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32791}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-327913}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Defensive behaviors in response to threats are key factors in maintaining mental and physical health, but their phenomenology remains poorly understood. Prior work reported an inhibition of oculomotor activity in response to avoidable threat in humans that reminded of freezing behaviors in rodents. This notion of a homology between defensive responding in rodents and humans was seconded by concomitant heart rate decrease and skin conductance increase. However, several aspects of this presumed defense state remained ambiguous. For example, it was unclear whether the observed oculomotor inhibition would 1) robustly occur during preparation for threat-avoidance irrespective of task demands, 2) reflect a threat-specific defensive state, 3) be related to an inhibition of somatomotor activity as both motion metrics have been discussed as indicators for freezing behaviors in humans, and 4) manifest in unconstrained settings. We thus embarked on a series of experiments to unravel the robustness, threat-specificity, and validity of previously observed (oculo)motor and autonomic dynamics upon avoidable threat in humans. We provided robust evidence for reduced gaze dispersion, significantly predicting the speed of subsequent motor reactions across a wide range of stimulus contexts. Along this gaze pattern, we found reductions in body movement and showed that the temporal profiles between gaze and body activity were positively related within individuals, suggesting that both metrics reflect the same construct. A simultaneous activation of the parasympathetic (i.e., heart rate deceleration) and sympathetic (i.e., increased skin conductance and pupil dilation) nervous system was present in both defensive and appetitive contexts, suggesting that these autonomic dynamics are not only sensitive to threat but reflecting a more general action-preparatory mechanism. We further gathered evidence for two previously proposed defensive states involving a decrease of (oculo)motor activity in a naturalistic, unconstrained virtual reality environment. Specifically, we observed a state consisting of a cessation of ongoing behaviors and orienting upon relatively distal, ambiguous threat (Attentive Immobility) while an entire immobilization and presumed allocation of attention to the threat stimulus became apparent upon approaching potential threat (Immobility under Attack). Taken together, we provided evidence for specific oculomotor and autonomic dynamics upon increasing levels of threat that may inspire future translational work in rodents and humans on shared mechanisms of threat processing, ultimately supporting the development of novel therapeutic approaches.}, subject = {Furcht}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Laqua2024, author = {Laqua, Caroline}, title = {Association of myocardial tissue characteristics and functional outcome in biopsy-verified myocarditis assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36390}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363903}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The relation between LV function and cardiac MRI tissue characteristics in separate myocardial segments and their change over time has yet to be explored in myocarditis. Thus, our research aimed to investigate possible associations between global and regional myocardial T1 and T2 times and peak strain in patients with suspected myocarditis. From 2012 to 2015, 129 patients with clinically suspected myocarditis of the prospective, observational MyoRacer-Trial underwent systematic biventricular EMB at baseline and cardiac MRI at baseline and after three months as a follow-up. We divided the LV myocardium into 17 segments and estimated the segmental myocardial strain using FT. We registered T1 and T2 maps to the cine sequences and transferred the segmentations used for FT to ensure conformity of the myocardial segments. Multi-level multivariable linear mixed effects regression was applied to investigate the relation of segmental myocardial strain to relaxation times and their respective change from baseline to follow-up. We found a significant improvement in myocardial peak strain from baseline to follow-up (p < 0.001; all p-values given for likelihood ratio tests) and significant associations between higher T1 and T2 times and lower segmental myocardial peak strain (p ranging from < 0.001 to 0.049). E.g., regression coefficient (Reg. coef.) for segmental radial peak strain in short axis view (SRPS_SAX) and T1 time: -1.9, 95\% CI (-2.6;-1.2) \%/100 ms, p < 0.001. A decrease in T1 and T2 times from baseline to follow-up was also significantly related to a recovery of segmental peak strains (p ranging from < 0.001 to 0.050). E.g., Reg. coef. for SRPS_SAX per ΔT1: -1.8, 95\% CI (-2.5;-1.0) \%/100 ms, p < 0.001. Moreover, the higher the baseline T1 time, the more substantial the functional recovery from baseline to follow-up (p ranging from 0.004 to 0.042, e.g., for SRPS_SAX: Reg. coef. 1.3, 95\% CI (0.4;2.1) \%/100 ms, p 0.004). We did not find an effect modification by the presence of myocarditis in the EMB (p > 0.1). Our cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses provide evidence of dose-dependent correlations between T1 and T2 relaxation times and myocardial peak strain in patients with clinical presentation of myocarditis, regardless of the EMB result. Thus, assessing strain values and mapping relaxation times helps estimate the functional prognosis in patients with clinically suspected myocarditis.}, subject = {Myokarditis}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hahn2024, author = {Hahn, Sarah}, title = {Investigating non-canonical, 5' UTR-dependent translation of MYC and its impact on colorectal cancer development}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36420}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-364202}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common tumour disease in Germany, with the sequential accumulation of certain mutations playing a decisive role in the transition from adenoma to carcinoma. In particular, deregulation of the Wnt signalling pathway and the associated deregulated expression of the MYC oncoprotein play a crucial role. Targeting MYC thus represents an important therapeutic approach in the treatment of tumours. Since direct inhibition of MYC is challenging, various approaches have been pursued to date to target MYC indirectly. The MYC 5' UTR contains an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), which has a particular role in the initiation of MYC translation, especially in multiple myeloma. As basis for this work, it was hypothesised on the basis of previous data that translation of MYC potentially occurs via its IRES in CRC as well. Based on this, two IRES inhibitors were tested for their potential to regulate MYC expression in CRC cells. In addition, alternative, 5' UTR-dependent translation of MYC and interacting factors were investigated. EIF3D was identified as a MYC 5' UTR binding protein which has the potential to regulate MYC expression in CRC. The results of this work suggest that there is a link between eIF3D and MYC expression/translation, rendering eIF3D a potential therapeutic target for MYC-driven CRCs.}, subject = {Myc}, language = {en} } @article{AllertFoersterSvenssonetal.2018, author = {Allert, Stefanie and F{\"o}rster, Toni M. and Svensson, Carl-Magnus and Richardson, Jonathan P. and Pawlik, Tony and Hebecker, Betty and Rudolphi, Sven and Juraschitz, Marc and Schaller, Martin and Blagojevic, Mariana and Morschh{\"a}user, Joachim and Figge, Marc Thilo and Jacobsen, Ilse D. and Naglik, Julian R. and Kasper, Lydia and Mogavero, Selene and Hube, Bernhard}, title = {\(Candida\) \(albicans\)-Induced Epithelial Damage Mediates Translocation through Intestinal Barriers}, series = {mBio}, volume = {9}, journal = {mBio}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1128/mBio.00915-18}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221084}, pages = {1-20}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Life-threatening systemic infections often occur due to the translocation of pathogens across the gut barrier and into the bloodstream. While the microbial and host mechanisms permitting bacterial gut translocation are well characterized, these mechanisms are still unclear for fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans, a leading cause of nosocomial fungal bloodstream infections. In this study, we dissected the cellular mechanisms of translocation of C. albicans across intestinal epithelia in vitro and identified fungal genes associated with this process. We show that fungal translocation is a dynamic process initiated by invasion and followed by cellular damage and loss of epithelial integrity. A screen of >2,000 C. albicans deletion mutants identified genes required for cellular damage of and translocation across enterocytes. Correlation analysis suggests that hypha formation, barrier damage above a minimum threshold level, and a decreased epithelial integrity are required for efficient fungal translocation. Translocation occurs predominantly via a transcellular route, which is associated with fungus-induced necrotic epithelial damage, but not apoptotic cell death. The cytolytic peptide toxin of C. albicans, candidalysin, was found to be essential for damage of enterocytes and was a key factor in subsequent fungal translocation, suggesting that transcellular translocation of C. albicans through intestinal layers is mediated by candidalysin. However, fungal invasion and low-level translocation can also occur via non-transcellular routes in a candidalysin-independent manner. This is the first study showing translocation of a human-pathogenic fungus across the intestinal barrier being mediated by a peptide toxin. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans, usually a harmless fungus colonizing human mucosae, can cause lethal bloodstream infections when it manages to translocate across the intestinal epithelium. This can result from antibiotic treatment, immune dysfunction, or intestinal damage (e.g., during surgery). However, fungal processes may also contribute. In this study, we investigated the translocation process of C. albicans using in vitro cell culture models. Translocation occurs as a stepwise process starting with invasion, followed by epithelial damage and loss of epithelial integrity. The ability to secrete candidalysin, a peptide toxin deriving from the hyphal protein Ece1, is key: C. albicans hyphae, secreting candidalysin, take advantage of a necrotic weakened epithelium to translocate through the intestinal layer.}, language = {en} } @article{GhoshHoenscheidDueckersetal.2017, author = {Ghosh, Sujal and H{\"o}nscheid, Andrea and D{\"u}ckers, Gregor and Ginzel, Sebastian and Gohlke, Holger and Gombert, Michael and Kempkes, Bettina and Klapper, Wolfram and Kuhlen, Michaela and Laws, Hans-J{\"u}rgen and Linka, Ren{\´e} Martin and Meisel, Roland and Mielke, Christian and Niehues, Tim and Schindler, Detlev and Schneider, Dominik and Schuster, Friedhelm R. and Speckmann, Carsten and Borkhardt, Arndt}, title = {Human RAD52 - a novel player in DNA repair in cancer and immunodeficiency}, series = {Haematologica}, volume = {102}, journal = {Haematologica}, number = {2}, doi = {10.3324/haematol.2016.155838}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-180862}, pages = {e69-e72}, year = {2017}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @article{HeWuD'Avinoetal.2018, author = {He, Tao and Wu, Yanfei and D'Avino, Gabriele and Schmidt, Elliot and Stolte, Matthias and Cornil, J{\´e}r{\^o}me and Beljonne, David and Ruden, P. Paul and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Frisbie, C. Daniel}, title = {Crystal step edges can trap electrons on the surfaces of n-type organic semiconductors}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-04479-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227957}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Understanding relationships between microstructure and electrical transport is an important goal for the materials science of organic semiconductors. Combining high-resolution surface potential mapping by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) with systematic field effect transport measurements, we show that step edges can trap electrons on the surfaces of single crystal organic semiconductors. n-type organic semiconductor crystals exhibiting positive step edge surface potentials display threshold voltages that increase and carrier mobilities that decrease with increasing step density, characteristic of trapping, whereas crystals that do not have positive step edge surface potentials do not have strongly step density dependent transport. A device model and microelectrostatics calculations suggest that trapping can be intrinsic to step edges for crystals of molecules with polar substituents. The results provide a unique example of a specific microstructure-charge trapping relationship and highlight the utility of surface potential imaging in combination with transport measurements as a productive strategy for uncovering microscopic structure-property relationships in organic semiconductors.}, language = {en} } @article{HeDiSanteLietal.2018, author = {He, Jiangang and Di Sante, Domenico and Li, Ronghan and Chen, Xing-Qiu and Rondinelli, James M. and Franchini, Cesare}, title = {Tunable metal-insulator transition, Rashba effect and Weyl Fermions in a relativistic charge-ordered ferroelectric oxide}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-017-02814-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227946}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Controllable metal-insulator transitions (MIT), Rashba-Dresselhaus (RD) spin splitting, and Weyl semimetals are promising schemes for realizing processing devices. Complex oxides are a desirable materials platform for such devices, as they host delicate and tunable charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedoms. Here, using first-principles calculations and symmetry analysis, we identify an electric-field tunable MIT, RD effect, and Weyl semimetal in a known, charge-ordered, and polar relativistic oxide Ag2BiO3 at room temperature. Remarkably, a centrosymmetric BiO6 octahedral-breathing distortion induces a sizable spontaneous ferroelectric polarization through Bi3+/Bi5+ charge disproportionation, which stabilizes simultaneously the insulating phase. The continuous attenuation of the Bi3+/Bi5+ disproportionation obtained by applying an external electric field reduces the band gap and RD spin splitting and drives the phase transition from a ferroelectric RD insulator to a paraelectric Dirac semimetal, through a topological Weyl semimetal intermediate state. These findings suggest that Ag2BiO3 is a promising material for spin-orbitonic applications.}, language = {en} } @article{HauerPoppTaheretal.2019, author = {Hauer, Nadine N. and Popp, Bernt and Taher, Leila and Vogl, Carina and Dhandapany, Perundurai S. and B{\"u}ttner, Christian and Uebe, Steffen and Sticht, Heinrich and Ferrazzi, Fulvia and Ekici, Arif B. and De Luca, Alessandro and Klinger, Patrizia and Kraus, Cornelia and Zweier, Christiane and Wiesener, Antje and Abou Jamra, Rami and Kunstmann, Erdmute and Rauch, Anita and Wieczorek, Dagmar and Jung, Anna-Marie and Rohrer, Tilman R. and Zenker, Martin and Doerr, Helmuth-Guenther and Reis, Andr{\´e} and Thiel, Christian T.}, title = {Evolutionary conserved networks of human height identify multiple Mendelian causes of short stature}, series = {European Journal of Human Genetics}, volume = {27}, journal = {European Journal of Human Genetics}, doi = {10.1038/s41431-019-0362-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227899}, pages = {1061-1071}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Height is a heritable and highly heterogeneous trait. Short stature affects 3\% of the population and in most cases is genetic in origin. After excluding known causes, 67\% of affected individuals remain without diagnosis. To identify novel candidate genes for short stature, we performed exome sequencing in 254 unrelated families with short stature of unknown cause and identified variants in 63 candidate genes in 92 (36\%) independent families. Based on systematic characterization of variants and functional analysis including expression in chondrocytes, we classified 13 genes as strong candidates. Whereas variants in at least two families were detected for all 13 candidates, two genes had variants in 6 (UBR4) and 8 (LAMA5) families, respectively. To facilitate their characterization, we established a clustered network of 1025 known growth and short stature genes, which yielded 29 significantly enriched clusters, including skeletal system development, appendage development, metabolic processes, and ciliopathy. Eleven of the candidate genes mapped to 21 of these clusters, including CPZ, EDEM3, FBRS, IFT81, KCND1, PLXNA3, RASA3, SLC7A8, UBR4, USP45, and ZFHX3. Fifty additional growth-related candidates we identified await confirmation in other affected families. Our study identifies Mendelian forms of growth retardation as an important component of idiopathic short stature.}, language = {en} } @article{HarnošCanizalJuraseketal.2019, author = {Harnoš, Jakub and Ca{\~n}izal, Maria Consuelo Alonso and Jur{\´a}sek, Miroslav and Kumar, Jitender and Holler, Cornelia and Schambony, Alexandra and Han{\´a}kov{\´a}, Kateřina and Bernat{\´i}k, Ondřej and Zdr{\´a}hal, Zbyn{\^e}k and G{\"o}m{\"o}ryov{\´a}, Krist{\´i}na and Gybeľ, Tom{\´a}š and Radaszkiewicz, Tomasz Witold and Kravec, Marek and Trant{\´i}rek, Luk{\´a}š and Ryneš, Jan and Dave, Zankruti and Fern{\´a}ndez-Llamazares, Ana Iris and V{\´a}cha, Robert and Tripsianes, Konstantinos and Hoffmann, Carsten and Bryja, V{\´i}tězslav}, title = {Dishevelled-3 conformation dynamics analyzed by FRET-based biosensors reveals a key role of casein kinase 1}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {10}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-09651-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227837}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Dishevelled (DVL) is the key component of the Wnt signaling pathway. Currently, DVL conformational dynamics under native conditions is unknown. To overcome this limitation, we develop the Fluorescein Arsenical Hairpin Binder- (FlAsH-) based FRET in vivo approach to study DVL conformation in living cells. Using this single-cell FRET approach, we demonstrate that (i) Wnt ligands induce open DVL conformation, (ii) DVL variants that are predominantly open, show more even subcellular localization and more efficient membrane recruitment by Frizzled (FZD) and (iii) Casein kinase 1 ɛ (CK1ɛ) has a key regulatory function in DVL conformational dynamics. In silico modeling and in vitro biophysical methods explain how CK1ɛ-specific phosphorylation events control DVL conformations via modulation of the PDZ domain and its interaction with DVL C-terminus. In summary, our study describes an experimental tool for DVL conformational sampling in living cells and elucidates the essential regulatory role of CK1ɛ in DVL conformational dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{GroebnerWorstWeischenfeldtetal.2018, author = {Gr{\"o}bner, Susanne N. and Worst, Barbara C. and Weischenfeldt, Joachim and Buchhalter, Ivo and Kleinheinz, Kortine and Rudneva, Vasilisa A. and Johann, Pascal D. and Balasubramanian, Gnana Prakash and Segura-Wang, Maia and Brabetz, Sebastian and Bender, Sebastian and Hutter, Barbara and Sturm, Dominik and Pfaff, Elke and H{\"u}bschmann, Daniel and Zipprich, Gideon and Heinold, Michael and Eils, J{\"u}rgen and Lawerenz, Christian and Erkek, Serap and Lambo, Sander and Waszak, Sebastian and Blattmann, Claudia and Borkhardt, Arndt and Kuhlen, Michaela and Eggert, Angelika and Fulda, Simone and Gessler, Manfred and Wegert, Jenny and Kappler, Roland and Baumhoer, Daniel and Stefan, Burdach and Kirschner-Schwabe, Renate and Kontny, Udo and Kulozik, Andreas E. and Lohmann, Dietmar and Hettmer, Simone and Eckert, Cornelia and Bielack, Stefan and Nathrath, Michaela and Niemeyer, Charlotte and Richter, G{\"u}nther H. and Schulte, Johannes and Siebert, Reiner and Westermann, Frank and Molenaar, Jan J. and Vassal, Gilles and Witt, Hendrik and Burkhardt, Birgit and Kratz, Christian P. and Witt, Olaf and van Tilburg, Cornelis M. and Kramm, Christof M. and Fleischhack, Gudrun and Dirksen, Uta and Rutkowski, Stefan and Fr{\"u}hwald, Michael and Hoff, Katja von and Wolf, Stephan and Klingebeil, Thomas and Koscielniak, Ewa and Landgraf, Pablo and Koster, Jan and Resnick, Adam C. and Zhang, Jinghui and Liu, Yanling and Zhou, Xin and Waanders, Angela J. and Zwijnenburg, Danny A. and Raman, Pichai and Brors, Benedikt and Weber, Ursula D. and Northcott, Paul A. and Pajtler, Kristian W. and Kool, Marcel and Piro, Rosario M. and Korbel, Jan O. and Schlesner, Matthias and Eils, Roland and Jones, David T. W. and Lichter, Peter and Chavez, Lukas and Zapatka, Marc and Pfister, Stefan M.}, title = {The landscape of genomic alterations across childhood cancers}, series = {Nature}, volume = {555}, journal = {Nature}, organization = {ICGC PedBrain-Seq Project, ICGC MMML-Seq Project,}, doi = {10.1038/nature25480}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229579}, pages = {321-327}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Pan-cancer analyses that examine commonalities and differences among various cancer types have emerged as a powerful way to obtain novel insights into cancer biology. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of genetic alterations in a pan-cancer cohort including 961 tumours from children, adolescents, and young adults, comprising 24 distinct molecular types of cancer. Using a standardized workflow, we identified marked differences in terms of mutation frequency and significantly mutated genes in comparison to previously analysed adult cancers. Genetic alterations in 149 putative cancer driver genes separate the tumours into two classes: small mutation and structural/copy-number variant (correlating with germline variants). Structural variants, hyperdiploidy, and chromothripsis are linked to TP53 mutation status and mutational signatures. Our data suggest that 7-8\% of the children in this cohort carry an unambiguous predisposing germline variant and that nearly 50\% of paediatric neoplasms harbour a potentially druggable event, which is highly relevant for the design of future clinical trials.}, language = {en} } @article{GottschalkRichterZiegleretal.2019, author = {Gottschalk, Michael G. and Richter, Jan and Ziegler, Christiane and Schiele, Miriam A. and Mann, Julia and Geiger, Maximilian J. and Schartner, Christoph and Homola, Gy{\"o}rgy A. and Alpers, Georg W. and B{\"u}chel, Christian and Fehm, Lydia and Fydrich, Thomas and Gerlach, Alexander L. and Gloster, Andrew T. and Helbig-Lang, Sylvia and Kalisch, Raffael and Kircher, Tilo and Lang, Thomas and Lonsdorf, Tina B. and Pan{\´e}-Farr{\´e}, Christiane A. and Str{\"o}hle, Andreas and Weber, Heike and Zwanzger, Peter and Arolt, Volker and Romanos, Marcel and Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich and Hamm, Alfons and Pauli, Paul and Reif, Andreas and Deckert, J{\"u}rgen and Neufang, Susanne and H{\"o}fler, Michael and Domschke, Katharina}, title = {Orexin in the anxiety spectrum: association of a HCRTR1 polymorphism with panic disorder/agoraphobia, CBT treatment response and fear-related intermediate phenotypes}, series = {Translational Psychiatry}, volume = {9}, journal = {Translational Psychiatry}, doi = {10.1038/s41398-019-0415-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227479}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Preclinical studies point to a pivotal role of the orexin 1 (OX1) receptor in arousal and fear learning and therefore suggest the HCRTR1 gene as a prime candidate in panic disorder (PD) with/without agoraphobia (AG), PD/AG treatment response, and PD/AG-related intermediate phenotypes. Here, a multilevel approach was applied to test the non-synonymous HCRTR1 C/T Ile408Val gene variant (rs2271933) for association with PD/AG in two independent case-control samples (total n = 613 cases, 1839 healthy subjects), as an outcome predictor of a six-weeks exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in PD/AG patients (n = 189), as well as with respect to agoraphobic cognitions (ACQ) (n = 483 patients, n = 2382 healthy subjects), fMRI alerting network activation in healthy subjects (n = 94), and a behavioral avoidance task in PD/AG pre- and post-CBT (n = 271). The HCRTR1 rs2271933 T allele was associated with PD/AG in both samples independently, and in their meta-analysis (p = 4.2 × 10-7), particularly in the female subsample (p = 9.8 × 10-9). T allele carriers displayed a significantly poorer CBT outcome (e.g., Hamilton anxiety rating scale: p = 7.5 × 10-4). The T allele count was linked to higher ACQ sores in PD/AG and healthy subjects, decreased inferior frontal gyrus and increased locus coeruleus activation in the alerting network. Finally, the T allele count was associated with increased pre-CBT exposure avoidance and autonomic arousal as well as decreased post-CBT improvement. In sum, the present results provide converging evidence for an involvement of HCRTR1 gene variation in the etiology of PD/AG and PD/AG-related traits as well as treatment response to CBT, supporting future therapeutic approaches targeting the orexin-related arousal system.}, language = {en} } @article{GotruvanGeffenNagyetal.2019, author = {Gotru, Sanjeev Kiran and van Geffen, Johanna P. and Nagy, Magdolna and Mammadova-Bach, Elmina and Eilenberger, Julia and Volz, Julia and Manukjan, Georgi and Schulze, Harald and Wagner, Leonard and Eber, Stefan and Schambeck, Christian and Deppermann, Carsten and Brouns, Sanne and Nurden, Paquita and Greinacher, Andreas and Sachs, Ulrich and Nieswandt, Bernhard and Hermanns, Heike M. and Heemskerk, Johan W. M. and Braun, Attila}, title = {Defective Zn2+ homeostasis in mouse and human platelets with α- and δ-storage pool diseases}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-44751-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227455}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Zinc (Zn2+) can modulate platelet and coagulation activation pathways, including fibrin formation. Here, we studied the (patho)physiological consequences of abnormal platelet Zn2+ storage and release. To visualize Zn2+ storage in human and mouse platelets, the Zn2+ specific fluorescent dye FluoZin3 was used. In resting platelets, the dye transiently accumulated into distinct cytosolic puncta, which were lost upon platelet activation. Platelets isolated from Unc13d-/- mice, characterized by combined defects of α/δ granular release, showed a markedly impaired Zn2+ release upon activation. Platelets from Nbeal2-/- mice mimicking Gray platelet syndrome (GPS), characterized by primarily loss of the α-granule content, had strongly reduced Zn2+ levels, which was also confirmed in primary megakaryocytes. In human platelets isolated from patients with GPS, Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) and Storage Pool Disease (SPD) altered Zn2+ homeostasis was detected. In turbidity and flow based assays, platelet-dependent fibrin formation was impaired in both Nbeal2-/- and Unc13d-/- mice, and the impairment could be partially restored by extracellular Zn2+. Altogether, we conclude that the release of ionic Zn2+ store from secretory granules upon platelet activation contributes to the procoagulant role of Zn2+ in platelet-dependent fibrin formation.}, language = {en} } @article{GoreLocatelliZugmaieretal.2018, author = {Gore, Lia and Locatelli, Franco and Zugmaier, Gerhard and Handgretinger, Rupert and O'Brien, Maureen M. and Bader, Peter and Bhojwani, Deepa and Schlegel, Paul-Gerhardt and Tuglus, Catherine A. and Stackelberg, Arend von}, title = {Survival after blinatumomab treatment in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia}, series = {Blood Cancer Journal}, volume = {8}, journal = {Blood Cancer Journal}, doi = {10.1038/s41408-018-0117-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-230726}, year = {2018}, abstract = {no abstract available}, language = {en} } @article{GilderWackKaubetal.2018, author = {Gilder, Stuart A. and Wack, Michael and Kaub, Leon and Roud, Sophie C. and Petersen, Nikolai and Heinsen, Helmut and Hillenbrand, Peter and Milz, Stefan and Schmitz, Chistoph}, title = {Distribution of magnetic remanence carriers in the human brain}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-29766-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-233035}, year = {2018}, abstract = {That the human brain contains magnetite is well established; however, its spatial distribution in the brain has remained unknown. We present room temperature, remanent magnetization measurements on 822 specimens from seven dissected whole human brains in order to systematically map concentrations of magnetic remanence carriers. Median saturation remanent magnetizations from the cerebellum were approximately twice as high as those from the cerebral cortex in all seven cases (statistically significantly distinct, p = 0.016). Brain stems were over two times higher in magnetization on average than the cerebral cortex. The ventral (lowermost) horizontal layer of the cerebral cortex was consistently more magnetic than the average cerebral cortex in each of the seven studied cases. Although exceptions existed, the reproducible magnetization patterns lead us to conclude that magnetite is preferentially partitioned in the human brain, specifically in the cerebellum and brain stem.}, language = {en} } @article{GiampaoloWojcikKleinHesslingetal.2019, author = {Giampaolo, Sabrina and W{\´o}jcik, Gabriela and Klein-Hessling, Stefan and Serfling, Edgar and Patra, Amiya K.}, title = {B cell development is critically dependent on NFATc1 activity}, series = {Cellular \& Molecular Immunology}, volume = {16}, journal = {Cellular \& Molecular Immunology}, doi = {10.1038/s41423-018-0052-9}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-233006}, pages = {508-520}, year = {2019}, abstract = {B cell development in bone marrow is a precisely regulated complex process. Through successive stages of differentiation, which are regulated by a multitude of signaling pathways and an array of lineage-specific transcription factors, the common lymphoid progenitors ultimately give rise to mature B cells. Similar to early thymocyte development in the thymus, early B cell development in bone marrow is critically dependent on IL-7 signaling. During this IL-7-dependent stage of differentiation, several transcription factors, such as E2A, EBF1, and Pax5, among others, play indispensable roles in B lineage specification and maintenance. Although recent studies have implicated several other transcription factors in B cell development, the role of NFATc1 in early B cell developmental stages is not known. Here, using multiple gene-manipulated mouse models and applying various experimental methods, we show that NFATc1 activity is vital for early B cell differentiation. Lack of NFATc1 activity in pro-B cells suppresses EBF1 expression, impairs immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, and thereby preBCR formation, resulting in defective B cell development. Overall, deficiency in NFATc1 activity arrested the pro-B cell transition to the pre-B cell stage, leading to severe B cell lymphopenia. Our findings suggest that, along with other transcription factors, NFATc1 is a critical component of the signaling mechanism that facilitates early B cell differentiation.}, language = {en} } @article{FranchiniJonesXiongetal.2018, author = {Franchini, Paolo and Jones, Julia C. and Xiong, Peiwen and Kneitz, Susanne and Gompert, Zachariah and Warren, Wesley C. and Walter, Ronald B. and Meyer, Axel and Schartl, Manfred}, title = {Long-term experimental hybridisation results in the evolution of a new sex chromosome in swordtail fish}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-07648-2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228396}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The remarkable diversity of sex determination mechanisms known in fish may be fuelled by exceptionally high rates of sex chromosome turnovers or transitions. However, the evolutionary causes and genomic mechanisms underlying this variation and instability are yet to be understood. Here we report on an over 30-year evolutionary experiment in which we tested the genomic consequences of hybridisation and selection between two Xiphophorus fish species with different sex chromosome systems. We find that introgression and imposing selection for pigmentation phenotypes results in the retention of an unexpectedly large maternally derived genomic region. During the hybridisation process, the sex-determining region of the X chromosome from one parental species was translocated to an autosome in the hybrids leading to the evolution of a new sex chromosome. Our results highlight the complexity of factors contributing to patterns observed in hybrid genomes, and we experimentally demonstrate that hybridisation can catalyze rapid evolution of a new sex chromosome.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bredemeyer2024, author = {Bredemeyer, Cynthia Natascha}, title = {Akademisierung und Professionalisierung der Zahnheilkunde, insbesondere der Zahnchirurgie, in W{\"u}rzburg und Unterfranken im 19. Jahrhundert}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36387}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363878}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Akademisierung und Professionalisierung der Zahnheilkunde, insbesondere der Zahnchirurgie, in W{\"u}rzburg und Unterfranken im 19. Jahrhundert. Dies wurde insbesondere anhand des zahnchirurgischen Teils der Lehrchirurgischen Instrumentensammlung der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg bzw. des Juliusspitals erforscht. Der zahnchirurgische Teil der Instrumentensammlung war bisher noch nicht erforscht worden und besteht aktuell aus 34+1 Instrumenten, die f{\"u}r diese Arbeit komplett katalogisiert wurden. F{\"u}r die Entwicklung der Instrumente im Verlauf des 19. Jahrhunderts wurde die Provenienz der Teilsammlung ergr{\"u}ndet und diese in den Kontext der Akademisierungsbewegung des 19. Jahrhunderts eingeordnet. Die Forschung wurde anhand der tats{\"a}chlich in der Praxis t{\"a}tigen und nach und nach akademisch ausgebildeten Personen nachvollzogen. Hierzu wurden neben den Instrumenten als Quelle die Adressb{\"u}cher der Stadt W{\"u}rzburg und die Matrikel-, Personal- und Vorlesungsverzeichnisse der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg des gesamten 19. Jahrhunderts systematisch durchgearbeitet. Außerdem wurden Lehrb{\"u}cher aus dem nichtakademischen zahnchirurigischen Bereich (Bader) mit denen aus dem sich beginnenden akademischen Bereich analysiert. Anhand dieser Forschungsarbeit konnte dargelegt werden, dass die Zahnchirurgie sich analog zur Chiurgie aus dem handwerklichen Bereich abgekoppelt und nach und nach auf verschiedenen Stufen akademisiert hat. Die Zahnchirurgie hat sich "von unten nach oben" durch das Bestreben nichtakademisch ausgebildeter Menschen akademisiert.}, subject = {Zahnchirurgie}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Heimberger2024, author = {Heimberger, Kevin}, title = {Regulation pathways of c-MYC under glutamine-starving conditions in colon carcinoma cells}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36331}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363316}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Colon carcinomas (CRC) are statistically among the most fatal cancer types and hence one of the top reasons for premature mortality in the developed world. CRC cells are characterized by high proliferation rates caused by deregulation of gene transcription of proto-oncogenes and general chromosomal instability. On macroscopic level, CRC cells show a strongly altered nutrient and energy metabolism. This work presents research to understand general links between the metabolism and transcription alteration. Mainly focussing on glutamine dependency, shown in colon carcinoma cells and expression pathways of the pro-proliferation protein c-MYC. Previous studies showed that a depletion of glutamine in the cultivation medium of colon carcinoma cell lines caused a proliferation arrest and a strong decrease of overall c-MYC levels. Re-addition of glutamine quickly replenished c-MYC levels through an unknown mechanism. Several proteins altering this regulation mechanism were identified and proposed as possible starting point for further in detail studies to unveil the precise biochemical pathway controlling c-MYC translation repression and reactivation in a rapid manner. On a transcriptional level the formation of RNA:DNA hybrids, so called R-loops, was observed under glutamine depleted conditions. The introduction and overexpression of RNaseH1, a R-loop degrading enzyme, in combination with an ectopically expressed c-MYC variant, independent of cellular regulation mechanisms by deleting the regulatory 3'-UTR of the c-MYC gene, lead to a high rate of apoptotic cells in culture. Expression of a functionally inactive variant of RNaseH1 abolished this effect. This indicates a regulatory function of R-loops formed during glutamine starvation in the presence of c-MYC protein in a cell. Degradation of R-loops and high c-MYC levels in this stress condition had no imminent effect on the cell cycle progression is CRC cells but disturbed the nucleotide metabolism. Nucleotide triphosphates were strongly reduced in comparison to starving cells without R-loop degradation and proliferating cells. This study proposes a model of a terminal cycle of transcription termination, unregulated initiation and elongation of transcription leading to a depletion of energy resources of cells. This could finally lead to high apoptosis of the cells. Sequencing experiments to determine a coinciding of termination sites and R-loop formation sides failed so far but show a starting point for further studies in this essential survival mechanism involving R-loop formation and c-MYC downregulation.}, subject = {Myc}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Beudert2024, author = {Beudert, Matthias}, title = {Bioinspired Modification and Functionalization of Hydrogels for Applications in Biomedicine}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32288}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322887}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Over the years, hydrogels have been developed and used for a huge variety of different applications ranging from drug delivery devices to medical products. In this thesis, a poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (POx) / poly(2-n-propyl-2-oxazine) (POzi) bioink was modified and analyzed for the use in biofabrication and targeted drug delivery. In addition, the protein fibrinogen (Fbg) was genetically modified for an increased stability towards plasmin degradation for its use as wound sealant. In Chapter 1, a thermogelling, printable POx/POzi-based hydrogel was modified with furan and maleimide moieties in the hydrophilic polymer backbone facilitating post-printing maturation of the constructs via Diels-Alder chemistry. The modification enabled long-term stability of the hydrogel scaffolds in aqueous solutions which is necessary for applications in biofabrication or tissue engineering. Furthermore, we incorporated RGD-peptides into the hydrogel which led to cell adhesion and elongated morphology of fibroblast cells seeded on top of the scaffolds. Additional printing experiments demonstrate that the presented POx/POzi system is a promising platform for the use as a bioink in biofabrication. Chapter 2 highlights the versatility of the POx/POzi hydrogels by adapting the system to a use in targeted drug delivery. We used a bioinspired approach for a bioorthogonal conjugation of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) to the polymer using an omega-chain-end dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) modification and a matrix metalloprotease-sensitive peptide linker. This approach enabled a bioresponsive release of IGF-I from hydrogels as well as spatial control over the protein distribution in 3D printed constructs which makes the system a candidate for the use in personalized medicine. Chapter 3 gives a general overview over the necessity of wound sealants and the current generations of fibrin sealants on the market including advantages and challenges. Furthermore, it highlights trends and potential new strategies to tackle current problems and broadens the toolbox for future generations of fibrin sealants. Chapter 4 applies the concepts of recombinant protein expression and molecular engineering to a novel generation of fibrin sealants. In a proof-of-concept study, we developed a new recombinant fibrinogen (rFbg) expression protocol and a Fbg mutant that is less susceptible to plasmin degradation. Targeted lysine of plasmin cleavage sites in Fbg were exchanged with alanine or histidine in different parts of the molecule. The protein was recombinantly produced and restricted plasmin digest was analyzed using high resolution mass spectrometry. In addition to that, we developed a novel time resolved screening protocol for the detection of new potential plasmin cleavage sites for further amino acid exchanges in the fibrin sealant.}, subject = {Hydrogel}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Endres2024, author = {Endres, Erik}, title = {Kovalente Inhibitoren: Modellierung und Design}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35933}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-359330}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Kovalente Inhibition stellt einen effektiven Weg dar, die Verweildauer des Liganden innerhalb einer Bindetasche zu erh{\"o}hen. In dieser Arbeit wurden theoretische Methoden angewendet, um die Reaktivit{\"a}t und den nichtkovalenten Zustand vor der Reaktion zu modellieren. Im Rahmen einer Fallstudie zu Cathepsin K wurden nichtkovalente Modelle von kovalenten Inhibitoren generiert. F{\"u}r verschiedene Komplexe aus Cathepsin K und einem kovalent gebundenem Liganden wurde der Zustand vor der Reaktion modelliert und dessen Stabilit{\"a}t im Rahmen einer klassischen MD-Simulation {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft. Die Stabilit{\"a}t des Warheads in der Bindetasche hing haupts{\"a}chlich vom gew{\"a}hlten Protonierungszustand der katalytischen Aminos{\"a}uren ab. F{\"u}r eine Reihe von Inhibitoren der ChlaDUB1 wurde ein Protokoll aus quantenmechanischen Rechnungen genutzt, um die Reaktivit{\"a}t verschiedener Warheads abzusch{\"a}tzen. Die erhaltenen Aktivierungsenergien korrelierten mit experimentell bestimmten Raten zur Inaktivierung des Enzyms. Im Rahmen eines Wirkstoffdesign-Projektes zur Deubiquitinase USP28 wurden von unpublizierten Kristallstrukturen ausgehend erste Docking-Experimente durchgef{\"u}hrt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass ein literaturbekannter Inhibitor von USP28 mit einem Warhead so modifiziert werden kann, dass die reaktive Einheit in direkter Nachbarschaft zu einem Cystein positioniert wird. F{\"u}r diese Warheads wurden ebenfalls quantenmechanische Rechnungen zur Bestimmung der Aktivierungsenergie durchgef{\"u}hrt. Um besser nachvollziehen zu k{\"o}nnen, warum bei einem Photoswitch-Inhibitor der Butyrylcholin-Esterase der cis-Zustand des Molek{\"u}ls besser inhibiert als der trans-Zustand, wurde eine Docking-Studie des Zustandes vor der Reaktion durchgef{\"u}hrt. Es konnte ein qualitatives Modell aufgestellt werden, das zeigt, dass der trans-Zustand aufgrund seiner l{\"a}ngeren Form mit wichtigen Aminos{\"a}uren am Eingang der Bindungstasche kollidiert.}, subject = {Molekulardynamik}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Zhao2024, author = {Zhao, Suting}, title = {Symmetry Resolution of Entanglement in Holography}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36385}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363854}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This thesis investigates the charged moments and the symmetry-resolved entanglement entropy in the context of the AdS3/CFT2 duality. In the first part, I focus on the holographic U(1) Chern-Simons-Einstein gravity, a toy model of AdS3/CFT2 with U(1) Kac-Moody symmetry. I start with the vacuum background with a single entangling interval. I show that, apart from a partition function in the grand canonical ensemble, the charged moments can also be interpreted as the two-point function of vertex operators on the replica surface. For the holographic description, I propose a duality between the bulk U(1) Wilson line and the boundary vertex operators. I verify this duality by deriving the effective action for the Chern-Simons fields and comparing the result with the vertex correlator. In the twist field approach, I show that the charged moments are given by the correlation function of the charged twist operators and the additional background operators. To solve the correlation functions involved, I prove the factorization of the U(1) extended conformal block into a U(1) block and a Virasoro block. The general expression for the U(1) block is derived by directly summing over the current descendant states, and the result shows that it takes an identical form as the vertex correlators. This leads to the conclusion that the disjoint Wilson lines compute the neutral U(1) block. The final result for the symmetry-resolved entanglement entropy shows that it is always charge-independent in this model. In the second part, I study charged moments in higher spin holography, where the boundary theory is a CFT with W3 symmetry. I define the notion of the higher spin charged moments by introducing a spin-3 modular charge operator. Restricting to the vacuum background with a single entangling interval, I employ the grand canonical ensemble interpretation and calculate the charged moments via the known higher spin black hole solution. On the CFT side, I perform a perturbative expansion for the higher spin charged moments in terms of the connected correlation functions of the spin-3 modular charge operators. Using the recursion relation for the correlation functions of the W3 currents, I evaluate the charged moments up to the quartic order of the chemical potential. The final expression matches with the holographic result. My results both for U(1) Chern-Simons Einstein gravity and W3 higher spin gravity constitute novel checks of the AdS3/CFT2 correspondence.}, subject = {AdS-CFT-Korrespondenz}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dietrich2024, author = {Dietrich, Oliver}, title = {Integrating single-cell multi-omics to decipher host-pathogen interactions}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36013}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-360138}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Interactions between host and pathogen determine the development, progression and outcomes of disease. Medicine benefits from better descriptions of these interactions through increased precision of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Single-cell genomics is a disruptive technology revolutionizing science by increasing the resolution with which we study diseases. Cell type specific changes in abundance or gene expression are now routinely investigated in diseases. Meanwhile, detecting cellular phenotypes across diseases can connect scientific fields and fuel discovery. Insights acquired through systematic analysis of high resolution data will soon be translated into clinical practice and improve decision making. Therefore, the continued use of single-cell technologies and their application towards clinical samples will improve molecular interpretation, patient stratification, and the prediction of outcomes. In the past years, I was fortunate to participate in interdisciplinary research groups bridging biology, clinical research and data science. I was able to contribute to diverse projects through computational analysis and biological interpretation of sequencing data. Together, we were able to discover cellular phenotypes that influence disease progression and outcomes as well as the response to treatment. Here, I will present four studies that I have conducted in my PhD. First, we performed a case study of relapse from cell-based immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma. We identified genomic deletion of the epitope as mechanism of immune escape and implicate heterozygosity or monosomy of the genomic locus at baseline as a potential risk factor. Second, we investigated the pathomechanisms of severe COVID-19 at the earliest stage of the COVID- 19 pandemic in Germany in March 2020. We discovered that profibrotic macrophages and lung fibrosis can be caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Third, we used a mouse model of chronic infection with Staphylococcus aureus that causes Osteomyelitis similar to the human disease. We were able to identify dysregulated immunometabolism associated with the generation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Fourth, we investigated Salmonella infection of the human small intestine in an in vitro model and describe features of pathogen invasion and host response. Overall, I have been able to successfully employ single-cell sequencing to discover important aspects of diseases ranging from development to treatment and outcome. I analyzed samples from the clinics, human donors, mouse models and organoid models to investigate different aspects of diseases and managed to integrate data across sample types, technologies and diseases. Based on successful studies, we increased our efforts to combine data from multiple sources to build comprehensive references for the integration of large collections of clinical samples. Our findings exemplify how single-cell sequencing can improve clinical research and highlights the potential of mechanistic discoveries to drive precision medicine.}, subject = {Einzelzellanalyse}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Papay2024, author = {Papay, Marion}, title = {Notwendigkeit der pr{\"a}operativen Reposition von distalen, nach dorsal dislozierten Radiusfrakturen bei bestehender Operationsindikation im Hinblick auf das Schmerzniveau sowie postoperative Ergebnisse}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36388}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363882}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die distale Radiusfraktur geh{\"o}rt zu den h{\"a}ufigsten Frakturen in Deutschland mit einem Inzidenzanstieg im Alter unter Betonung des weiblichen Geschlechts. Dabei zeigt sich ein zunehmender Trend in Richtung operative Versorgung, allen voran die Versorgung mittels winkelstabiler Plattensysteme. Instabile, distale Radiusfrakturen werden dabei vor geplanter operativer Versorgung im Rahmen der Initialbehandlung {\"u}blicherweise geschlossen reponiert und im Gipsverband retiniert. Ziel der vorliegenden monozentrischen, prospektiv randomisierten Studie mit zwei Studiengruppen war es herauszufinden, ob sich das Unterlassen der Reposition vor geplanter Operation nachteilig auf das Schmerzniveau in der pr{\"a}operativen Phase auswirkt und ob sich durch die Dislokation Nachteile in Bezug auf den Nervus medianus im Sinne eines Traktionsschadens sowie bez{\"u}glich des klinisch-radiologischen Ausheilungsergebnisses zeigen. Die Studie zeigte, dass das Schmerzempfinden w{\"a}hrend der pr{\"a}operativen Gipsbehandlung unabh{\"a}ngig von einer vorherigen Reposition war. F{\"u}r den prim{\"a}ren Endpunkt an Tag 1 nach der Akutbehandlung konnte statistisch signifikante Nichtunterlegenheit der Gruppe ohne Reposition gegen{\"u}ber der Gruppe mit Reposition nachgewiesen werden. Gleiches galt f{\"u}r Tag 2, sowohl f{\"u}r die absoluten Schmerzniveaus als auch f{\"u}r die Schmerzlinderung. Das Unterlassen der Reposition hatte zudem keine nachteiligen Effekte auf den Nervus medianus. Gleiches zeigte sich f{\"u}r das klinische und radiologische Ausheilungsergebnis. F{\"u}r die funktionellen DASH- und Krimmer-Scores konnte ein Jahr postoperativ ebenfalls statistisch signifikante Nichtunterlegenheit der Gruppe ohne Reposition nachgewiesen werden. Diese Erkenntnisse best{\"a}tigen die in der Literatur vorhandenen Ergebnisse verschiedener Studien dahingehend, dass das Unterlassen der Reposition keine nachteiligen Effekte auf das postoperative Outcome hat. Einige Studien verdeutlichen zudem, dass es nach Reposition, insbesondere bei Vorliegen gewisser Risiko- und Instabilit{\"a}tsfaktoren, ohnehin zur sekund{\"a}ren Dislokation kommt, sodass die generelle Notwendigkeit der Reposition vor Gipsanlage sowohl vor einer operativen als auch vor einer konservativen Weiterbehandlung angezweifelt werden muss.}, subject = {distale Radiusfraktur}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Aroko2024, author = {Aroko, Erick Onyango}, title = {Trans-regulation of \(Trypanosoma\) \(brucei\) variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) mRNA and structural analysis of a \(Trypanosoma\) \(vivax\) VSG using X-ray crystallography}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-24177}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-241773}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {African trypanosomes are unicellular parasites that cause nagana and sleeping sickness in livestock and man, respectively. The major pathogens for the animal disease include Trypanosoma vivax, T. congolense, and T. brucei brucei, whereas T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense are responsible for human infections. Given that the bloodstream form (BSF) of African trypanosomes is exclusively extracellular, its cell surface forms a critical boundary with the host environment. The cell surface of the BSF African trypanosomes is covered by a dense coat of immunogenic variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs). This surface protein acts as an impenetrable shield that protects the cells from host immune factors and is also involved in antibody clearance and antigenic variation, which collectively ensure that the parasite stays ahead of the host immune system. Gene expression in T. brucei is markedly different from other eukaryotes: most genes are transcribed as long polycistronic units, processed by trans-splicing a 39-nucleotide mini exon at the 5′ and polyadenylation at the 3′ ends of individual genes to generate the mature mRNA. Therefore, gene expression in T. brucei is regulated post-transcriptionally, mainly by the action of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and conserved elements in the 3′ untranslated regions (UTR) of transcripts. The expression of VSGs is highly regulated, and only a single VSG gene is expressed at a time from one of the ~15 subtelomeric domains termed bloodstream expression sites (BES). When cells are engineered to simultaneously express two VSGs, the total VSG mRNA do not exceed the wild type amounts. This suggests that a robust VSG mRNA balancing mechanism exists in T. brucei. The present study uses inducible and constitutive expression of ectopic VSG genes to show that the endogenous VSG mRNA is regulated only if the second VSG is properly targeted to the ER. Additionally, the endogenous VSG mRNA response is triggered when high amounts of the GFP reporter with a VSG 3′UTR is targeted to the ER. Further evidence that non-VSG ER import signals can efficiently target VSGs to the ER is presented. This study suggests that a robust trans-regulation of the VSG mRNA is elicited at the ER through a feedback loop to keep the VSG transcripts in check and avoid overshooting the secretory pathway capacity. Further, it was shown that induction of expression of the T. vivax VSG ILDat1.2 in T. brucei causes a dual cell cycle arrest, with concomitant upregulation of the protein associated with differentiation (PAD1) expression. It could be shown that T. vivax VSG ILDat1.2 can only be sufficiently expressed in T. brucei after replacing its native GPI signal peptide with that of a T. brucei VSG. Taken together, these data indicate that inefficient VSG GPI anchoring and expression of low levels of the VSG protein can trigger differentiation from slender BSF to stumpy forms. However, a second T. vivax VSG, ILDat2.1, is not expressed in T. brucei even after similar modifications to its GPI signals. An X-ray crystallography approach was utilized to solve the N-terminal domain (NTD) structure of VSG ILDat1.2. This is first structure of a non-T. brucei VSG, and the first of a surface protein of T. vivax to be solved. VSG ILDat1.2 NTD maintains the three-helical bundle scaffold conserved in T. brucei surface proteins. However, it is likely that there are variations in the architecture of the membrane proximal region of the ILDat1.2 NTD and its CTD from T. brucei VSGs. The tractable T. brucei system is presented as a model that can be used to study surface proteins of related trypanosome species, thus creating avenues for further characterization of trypanosome surface coats.}, subject = {Trypanosoma vivax}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Abelein2024, author = {Abelein, Christian Karl}, title = {„Ich habe mich so daran gew{\"o}hnt, daß ich beinahe nie dichte ohne zugleich zu singen!" - Der Briefwechsel zwischen August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798-1874) und Hans Michael Schletterer (1824-1893) als Dokument einer konstruktiven Zusammenarbeit zwischen Dichter und Komponist im 19. Jahrhundert.}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36386}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363862}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die von Friedhelm Brusniak und Ulrich Konrad betreute und angenommene Dissertation nimmt den Briefwechsel zwischen August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben und dem j{\"u}ngeren Augsburger Kapellmeister und Komponisten Hans Michael Schletterer in den Jahren 1862 bis 1873 in den Blick und dokumentiert dabei Hoffmanns Einfluss auf den Entstehungsprozess der Vertonungen seiner Lieder, besonders seiner Kinderlieder. Die Arbeit beleuchtet zudem den Erfahrungsschatz, den sich der ‚Dichter-S{\"a}nger' Hoffmann von Fallersleben auch durch die Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Musikern seiner Zeit, vorrangig Ludwig Christian Erk (1807-1883) und Ernst Heinrich Leopold Richter (1805-1876), erworben hatte. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus werden in der Korrespondenz Themen des gesellschaftlichen und politischen Lebens, der privaten und beruflichen Situation beider wie auch Hoffmanns Rolle als v{\"a}terlicher Berater Schletterers ber{\"u}hrt. Die Arbeit darf als neuer substantieller Beitrag der Hoffmann-Forschung und der interdisziplin{\"a}ren Liedforschung angesehen werden, der insbesondere der Kinderliedforschung neue Impulse verleiht.}, subject = {Hoffmann von Fallersleben, August Heinrich}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Yu2024, author = {Yu, Yanying}, title = {Applied machine learning for the analysis of CRISPR-Cas systems}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32021}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-320219}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Among the defense strategies developed in microbes over millions of years, the innate adaptive CRISPR-Cas immune systems have spread across most of bacteria and archaea. The flexibility, simplicity, and specificity of CRISPR-Cas systems have laid the foundation for CRISPR-based genetic tools. Yet, the efficient administration of CRISPR-based tools demands rational designs to maximize the on-target efficiency and off-target specificity. Specifically, the selection of guide RNAs (gRNAs), which play a crucial role in the target recognition of CRISPR-Cas systems, is non-trivial. Despite the fact that the emerging machine learning techniques provide a solution to aid in gRNA design with prediction algorithms, design rules for many CRISPR-Cas systems are ill-defined, hindering their broader applications. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), an alternative gene silencing technique using a catalytically dead Cas protein to interfere with transcription, is a leading technique in bacteria for functional interrogation, pathway manipulation, and genome-wide screens. Although the application is promising, it also is hindered by under-investigated design rules. Therefore, in this work, I develop a state-of-art predictive machine learning model for guide silencing efficiency in bacteria leveraging the advantages of feature engineering, data integration, interpretable AI, and automated machine learning. I first systematically investigate the influential factors that attribute to the extent of depletion in multiple CRISPRi genome-wide essentiality screens in Escherichia coli and demonstrate the surprising dominant contribution of gene-specific effects, such as gene expression level. These observations allowed me to segregate the confounding gene-specific effects using a mixed-effect random forest (MERF) model to provide a better estimate of guide efficiency, together with the improvement led by integrating multiple screens. The MERF model outperformed existing tools in an independent high-throughput saturating screen. I next interpret the predictive model to extract the design rules for robust gene silencing, such as the preference for cytosine and disfavoring for guanine and thymine within and around the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence. I further incorporated the MERF model in a web-based tool that is freely accessible at www.ciao.helmholtz-hiri.de. When comparing the MERF model with existing tools, the performance of the alternative gRNA design tool optimized for CRISPRi in eukaryotes when applied to bacteria was far from satisfying, questioning the robustness of prediction algorithms across organisms. In addition, the CRISPR-Cas systems exhibit diverse mechanisms albeit with some similarities. The captured predictive patterns from one dataset thereby are at risk of poor generalization when applied across organisms and CRISPR-Cas techniques. To fill the gap, the machine learning approach I present here for CRISPRi could serve as a blueprint for the effective development of prediction algorithms for specific organisms or CRISPR-Cas systems of interest. The explicit workflow includes three principle steps: 1) accommodating the feature set for the CRISPR-Cas system or technique; 2) optimizing a machine learning model using automated machine learning; 3) explaining the model using interpretable AI. To illustrate the applicability of the workflow and diversity of results when applied across different bacteria and CRISPR-Cas systems, I have applied this workflow to analyze three distinct CRISPR-Cas genome-wide screens. From the CRISPR base editor essentiality screen in E. coli, I have determined the PAM preference and sequence context in the editing window for efficient editing, such as A at the 2nd position of PAM, A/TT/TG downstream of PAM, and TC at the 4th to 5th position of gRNAs. From the CRISPR-Cas13a screen in E. coli, in addition to the strong correlation with the guide depletion, the target expression level is the strongest predictor in the model, supporting it as a main determinant of the activation of Cas13-induced immunity and better characterizing the CRISPR-Cas13 system. From the CRISPR-Cas12a screen in Klebsiella pneumoniae, I have extracted the design rules for robust antimicrobial activity across K. pneumoniae strains and provided a predictive algorithm for gRNA design, facilitating CRISPR-Cas12a as an alternative technique to tackle antibiotic resistance. Overall, this thesis presents an accurate prediction algorithm for CRISPRi guide efficiency in bacteria, providing insights into the determinants of efficient silencing and guide designs. The systematic exploration has led to a robust machine learning approach for effective model development in other bacteria and CRISPR-Cas systems. Applying the approach in the analysis of independent CRISPR-Cas screens not only sheds light on the design rules but also the mechanisms of the CRISPR-Cas systems. Together, I demonstrate that applied machine learning paves the way to a deeper understanding and a broader application of CRISPR-Cas systems.}, subject = {Maschinelles Lernen}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{KuklovskyformerFinke2024, author = {Kuklovsky [former Finke], Valerie}, title = {Are some bees smarter than others? An examination of consistent individual differences in the cognitive abilities of honey bees}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32301}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-323012}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Cognition refers to the ability to of animals to acquire, process, store and use vital information from the environment. Cognitive processes are necessary to predict the future and reduce the uncertainty of the ever-changing environment. Classically, research on animal cognition focuses on decisive cognitive tests to determine the capacity of a species by the testing the ability of a few individuals. This approach views variability between these tested key individuals as unwanted noise and is thus often neglected. However, inter-individual variability provides important insights to behavioral plasticity, cognitive specialization and brain modularity. Honey bees Apis mellifera are a robust and traditional model for the study of learning, memory and cognition due to their impressive capabilities and rich behavioral repertoire. In this thesis I have applied a novel view on the learning abilities of honey bees by looking explicitly at individual differences in a variety of learning tasks. Are some individual bees consistently smarter than some of her sisters? If so, will a smart individual always perform good independent of the time, the context and the cognitive requirements or do bees show distinct isolated 'cognitive modules'? My thesis presents the first comprehensive investigation of consistent individual differences in the cognitive abilities of honey bees. To speak of an individual as behaving consistently, a crucial step is to test the individual multiple times to examine the repeatability of a behavior. I show that free-flying bees remain consistent in a visual discrimination task for three consecutive days. Successively, I explored individual consistency in cognitive proficiency across tasks involving different sensory modalities, contexts and cognitive requirements. I found that free-flying bees show a cognitive specialization between visual and olfactory learning but remained consistent across a simple discrimination task and a complex concept learning task. I wished to further explore individual consistency with respect to tasks of different cognitive complexity, a question that has never been tackled before in an insect. I thus performed a series of four experiments using either visual or olfactory stimuli and a different training context (free-flying and restrained) and tested bees in a discrimination task, reversal learning and negative patterning. Intriguingly, across all these experiments I evidenced the same results: The bees' performances were consistent across the discrimination task and reversal learning and negative patterning respectively. No association was evidenced between reversal learning and negative patterning. After establishing the existence of consistent individual differences in the cognitive proficiency of honey bees I wished to determine factors which could underlie these differences. Since genetic components are known to underlie inter-individual variability in learning abilities, I studied the effects of genetics on consistency in cognitive proficiency by contrasting bees originating from either from a hive with a single patriline (low genetic diversity) or with multiple patrilines (high genetic diversity). These two groups of bees showed differences in the patterns of individually correlated performances, indicating a genetic component accounts for consistent cognitive individuality. Another major factor underlying variability in learning performances is the individual responsiveness to sucrose solution and to visual stimuli, as evidenced by many studies on restrained bees showing a positive correlation between responsiveness to task relevant stimuli and learning performances. I thus tested whether these relationships between sucrose/visual responsiveness and learning performances are applicable for free-flying bees. Free-flying bees were again subjected to reversal learning and negative patterning and subsequently tested in the laboratory for their responsiveness to sucrose and to light. There was no evidence of a positive relationship between sucrose/visual responsiveness and neither performances of free-flying bees in an elemental discrimination, reversal learning and negative patterning. These findings indicate that relationships established between responsiveness to task relevant stimuli and learning proficiency established in the laboratory with restrained bees might not hold true for a completely different behavioral context i.e. for free-flying bees in their natural environment. These results show that the honey bee is an excellent insect model to study consistency in cognitive proficiency and to identify the underlying factors. I mainly discuss the results with respect to the question of brain modularity in insects and the adaptive significance of individuality in cognitive abilities for honey bee colonies. I also provide a proposition of research questions which tie in this theme of consistent cognitive proficiency and could provide fruitful areas for future research.}, subject = {Lernen}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dalkmann2024, author = {Dalkmann, Theresa}, title = {Evaluierung prognostischer und pr{\"a}diktiver Biomarker beim neoadjuvant vorbehandelten Rektumkarzinom}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36336}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363368}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Fragestellung. Osteopontin (OPN) kann im Blut nachgewiesen werden und wird bei vielen Tumorentit{\"a}ten exprimiert, wie auch der Tyrosinkinaserezeptor c-Met und sein Ligand, das Zytokin Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF). In der vorliegenden Arbeit untersuchten wir die prognostische und pr{\"a}diktive Wertigkeit der Plasmakonzentrationen von OPN, c-Met und HGF bei Patienten mit lokal fortgeschrittenem Rektumkarzinom (LARC). Methodik. Das Plasma von 63 Patienten mit LARC wurde untersucht. Die Blutentnahmen (EDTA-Plasma) erfolgten vor Therapiebeginn sowie im Verlauf. Die Plasmaspiegel von OPN, c-Met und HGF wurden mittels Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay analysiert. Die Konzentrationen wurden auf eine Korrelation mit den klinischen Parametern untersucht. Ergebnisse. 68 Patienten wurden neoadjuvant mit einer Radiochemotherapie behandelt, 63 Blutproben wurden untersucht. Initial befanden sich nach UICC 14 Patienten in Stadium II, 47 in Stadium III und 7 in Stadium IV. Das mediane Follow-Up betrug 29,87 Monate. 20 der 68 Patienten (29,4 \%) verstarben, 19 entwickelten Fernmetastasen. OPN korrelierte signifikant mit dem {\"U}berleben (p=0,001). OPN-Werte korrelierten mit dem pT-Stadium (R:0,445 p=0,018) und dem pUICC-Stadium (R:0,412 p=0,018), sowie mit dem Auftreten von Fernmetastasen (R:0,271 p=0,031). Eine Korrelation zwischen OPN und dem Therapieansprechen konnte gezeigt werden: pathologisch komplette Remission (pCR) (R:0,379 p=0,001), NAR-Score (R:0,373 p=0,015), TRG (R:0,380 p=0,020). Die logistische Regressionsanalyse ergab eine Pr{\"a}diktivit{\"a}t OPNs f{\"u}r pCR (OR:0,990 p=0,009), NAR-Score (OR:1,008 p=0,007), TRG (OR:0,459 p=0,008). C-Met und HGF korrelierten nicht mit dem {\"U}berleben. F{\"u}r c-Met und HGF ergab sich keine Korrelation zu initialen klinischen Daten und Therapieansprechen. Die logistische Regression ergab keinen pr{\"a}diktiven Wert. Schlussfolgerung. Die Plasmakonzentration von OPN besitzt prognostische und pr{\"a}diktive Wertigkeit beim LARC. Die Konzentrationen von c-Met und HGF sind nicht prognostisch f{\"u}r das {\"U}berleben oder pr{\"a}diktiv f{\"u}r das Therapieansprechen.}, subject = {Biomarker}, language = {de} } @article{SchwabMeeuwsenEhlickeetal.2017, author = {Schwab, Andrea and Meeuwsen, Annick and Ehlicke, Franziska and Hansmann, Jan and Mulder, Lars and Smits, Anthal and Walles, Heike and Kock, Linda}, title = {Ex vivo culture platform for assessment of cartilage repair treatment strategies}, series = {ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentation}, volume = {34}, journal = {ALTEX - Alternatives to animal experimentation}, number = {2}, doi = {10.14573/altex.1607111}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-181665}, pages = {267-277}, year = {2017}, abstract = {There is a great need for valuable ex vivo models that allow for assessment of cartilage repair strategies to reduce the high number of animal experiments. In this paper we present three studies with our novel ex vivo osteochondral culture platform. It consists of two separated media compartments for cartilage and bone, which better represents the in vivo situation and enables supply of factors pecific to the different needs of bone and cartilage. We investigated whether separation of the cartilage and bone compartments and/or culture media results in the maintenance of viability, structural and functional properties of cartilage tissue. Next, we valuated for how long we can preserve cartilage matrix stability of osteochondral explants during long-term culture over 84 days. Finally, we determined the optimal defect size that does not show spontaneous self-healing in this culture system. It was demonstrated that separated compartments for cartilage and bone in combination with tissue-specific medium allow for long-term culture of osteochondral explants while maintaining cartilage viability, atrix tissue content, structure and mechanical properties for at least 56 days. Furthermore, we could create critical size cartilage defects of different sizes in the model. The osteochondral model represents a valuable preclinical ex vivo tool for studying clinically relevant cartilage therapies, such as cartilage biomaterials, for their regenerative potential, for evaluation of drug and cell therapies, or to study mechanisms of cartilage regeneration. It will undoubtedly reduce the number of animals needed for in vivotesting.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Djakowski2024, author = {Djakowski, Paul}, title = {Schulische politische Bildung in Deutschland und Polen. Eine kompetenzbasierte komparative Analyse der Leitf{\"a}cher f{\"u}r politische Bildung anhand von Stundentafeln und Curricula allgemeinbildender staatlicher Schulformen der Primarstufe sowie der Sekundarstufen I und II im Schuljahr 2019/20}, publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press}, address = {W{\"u}rzburg}, isbn = {978-3-95826-230-0}, doi = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-231-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-326799}, school = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press}, pages = {XXI, 593}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Politische Bildung {\"u}bt nicht nur einen großen Einfluss auf die zuk{\"u}nftige Konstellation des politischen Systems aus, sondern beeinflusst ebenfalls das soziale Miteinander pr{\"a}gend. Damit werden entscheidende Weichen f{\"u}r die Entwicklung der Gesellschaft, der Nation und des Staates gestellt. Im Zuge dieses Prozesses durchl{\"a}uft jeder junge B{\"u}rger einen politischen Bildungsweg an Schulen. Die Vorgaben dar{\"u}ber, wie schulische politische Bildung auszusehen hat und welche Kompetenzen Sch{\"u}ler in diesem Zusammenhang erwerben sollen, geben die Kultus- bzw. Bildungsministerien in Curricula vor, verbindlich f{\"u}r alle Lehrer. Durch eine komparative Analyse der Curricula kann damit eindeutig die staatlich vorgegebene politische, gesellschaftliche und soziale Richtung festgestellt werden, die junge Menschen einschlagen sollen. Welche edukativen Ziele der politischen Bildung werden verfolgt? Was sollen Sch{\"u}ler lernen, um mit diesen Kompetenzen die Zukunft ihres Kollektivs zu gestalten? Wo liegen die Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede zweier Staaten, in unserem Fall Deutschlands und Polens, im Hinblick auf die schulische politische Bildung? Beantwortet werden diese Fragestellungen durch das Anwenden zweier Methoden der qualitativen Sozialforschung, der komparativen Inhaltsanalyse, zum einen der strukturierenden zum anderen der induktiven. Davor erfolgt eine komparativ quantitative Untersuchung, die den Umfang der Unterrichtszeit in den Leitf{\"a}chern f{\"u}r politische Bildung in allen Bundesl{\"a}ndern und in Polen vergleicht, was einer empirischen Totalerhebung der komplex umfangreichen Daten entspricht. Die quantitativen Forschungsergebnisse zeigen deutliche Differenzen zwischen Deutschland und Polen, in einem der beiden Staaten wird signifikant mehr Zeit f{\"u}r politische Bildung im Leitfach dieser Disziplin investiert als im anderen. Anhand der qualitativen Daten ist zu erkennen, dass einerseits eine gemeinsame Grundbasis von Kompetenzen der politischen Bildung zwischen Deutschland und Polen besteht. Anderseits stechen in beiden L{\"a}ndern eindeutige Unterschiede hervor, deren Ursprung zum einen historische Erfahrungen der Nationen und Staaten abbildet, zum anderen aktuell gegens{\"a}tzliche politische Interessen untermauert.}, subject = {Politische Bildung}, language = {de} } @article{LetunicKhedkarBork2021, author = {Letunic, Ivica and Khedkar, Supriya and Bork, Peer}, title = {SMART: recent updates, new developments and status in 2020}, series = {Nucleic Acids Research}, volume = {49}, journal = {Nucleic Acids Research}, number = {D1}, doi = {10.1093/nar/gkaa937}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363816}, pages = {D458-D460}, year = {2021}, abstract = {SMART (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool) is a web resource (https://smart.embl.de) for the identification and annotation of protein domains and the analysis of protein domain architectures. SMART version 9 contains manually curatedmodels formore than 1300 protein domains, with a topical set of 68 new models added since our last update article (1). All the new models are for diverse recombinase families and subfamilies and as a set they provide a comprehensive overview of mobile element recombinases namely transposase, integrase, relaxase, resolvase, cas1 casposase and Xer like cellular recombinase. Further updates include the synchronization of the underlying protein databases with UniProt (2), Ensembl (3) and STRING (4), greatly increasing the total number of annotated domains and other protein features available in architecture analysis mode. Furthermore, SMART's vector-based protein display engine has been extended and updated to use the latest web technologies and the domain architecture analysis components have been optimized to handle the increased number of protein features available.}, language = {en} } @article{GerlichAndreicaKueffneretal.2020, author = {Gerlich, C. and Andreica, I. and K{\"u}ffner, R. and Krause, D. and Lakomek, H. J. and Reusch, A. and Braun, J.}, title = {Evaluation einer Basisschulung f{\"u}r Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis}, series = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Rheumatologie}, volume = {79}, journal = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Rheumatologie}, doi = {10.1007/s00393-020-00769-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-280359}, pages = {737-748}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Hintergrund Ein neues Rahmenkonzept hat die flexible Ableitung und Nutzung von rheumatologischen Schulungsprogrammen f{\"u}r unterschiedliche Versorgungsbereiche erm{\"o}glicht. Auf dieser Grundlage wurde eine 5‑st{\"u}ndige Basisschulung f{\"u}r Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis (RA) entwickelt, es wurden rheumatologische Fach{\"a}rzte und Psychologen trainiert, und dann wurde die Wirksamkeit nach dem Wirkmodell der Patientenschulung evaluiert. Methoden Mit dem Studiendesign einer extern randomisierten Wartekontrollgruppenstudie mit 3 Messzeitpunkten wurde gepr{\"u}ft, wie sich die 5‑st{\"u}ndige Basisschulung auf das Erkrankungs- und Behandlungswissen sowie auf die Gesundheitskompetenz von RA-Patienten (n = 249) auswirkt. Weitere Fragen betrafen Einstellungsparameter, Kommunikationskompetenz, Erkrankungsauswirkungen und die Zufriedenheit mit der Schulung. Die Auswertungen erfolgten auf Intention-to-treat-Basis mit Kovarianzanalysen f{\"u}r die Hauptzielgr{\"o}ßen unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung des Ausgangswertes. Ergebnisse Die Analysen zeigen, dass die Basisschulung RA wirksam ist. Noch 3 Monate nach der Schulung verf{\"u}gten die Schulungsteilnehmer {\"u}ber mehr Wissen und Gesundheitskompetenz als die Wartekontrollgruppe mit kleinem bis mittelgroßem Effekt (d = 0,37 bzw. 0,38). In den Nebenzielgr{\"o}ßen zeigten sich mit Ausnahme der Krankheitskommunikation keine weiteren Schulungseffekte. Diskussion Die Basisschulung bietet eine gute Grundlage, auf der weitere Interventionen zur Verbesserung von Einstellungs- und Erkrankungsparametern aufbauen k{\"o}nnen. Sie eignet sich damit als zentraler Baustein f{\"u}r die rheumatologische Versorgung auf verschiedenen Ebenen.}, language = {de} } @article{LandmannBreilHuesteggeetal.2024, author = {Landmann, Eva and Breil, Christina and Huestegge, Lynn and B{\"o}ckler, Anne}, title = {The semantics of gaze in person perception: a novel qualitative-quantitative approach}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {14}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {1}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-024-51331-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-361413}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Interpreting gaze behavior is essential in evaluating interaction partners, yet the 'semantics of gaze' in dynamic interactions are still poorly understood. We aimed to comprehensively investigate effects of gaze behavior patterns in different conversation contexts, using a two-step, qualitative-quantitative procedure. Participants watched video clips of single persons listening to autobiographic narrations by another (invisible) person. The listener's gaze behavior was manipulated in terms of gaze direction, frequency and direction of gaze shifts, and blink frequency; emotional context was manipulated through the valence of the narration (neutral/negative). In Experiment 1 (qualitative-exploratory), participants freely described which states and traits they attributed to the listener in each condition, allowing us to identify relevant aspects of person perception and to construct distinct rating scales that were implemented in Experiment 2 (quantitative-confirmatory). Results revealed systematic and differential meanings ascribed to the listener's gaze behavior. For example, rapid blinking and fast gaze shifts were rated more negatively (e.g., restless and unnatural) than slower gaze behavior; downward gaze was evaluated more favorably (e.g., empathetic) than other gaze aversion types, especially in the emotionally negative context. Overall, our study contributes to a more systematic understanding of flexible gaze semantics in social interaction.}, language = {en} } @article{DenkSchmidtSchurretal.2021, author = {Denk, S. and Schmidt, S. and Schurr, Y. and Schwarz, G. and Schote, F. and Diefenbacher, M. and Armendariz, C. and Dejure, F. and Eilers, M. and Wiegering, Armin}, title = {CIP2A regulates MYC translation (via its 5′UTR) in colorectal cancer}, series = {International Journal of Colorectal Disease}, volume = {36}, journal = {International Journal of Colorectal Disease}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1007/s00384-020-03772-y}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-280092}, pages = {911-918}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Deregulated expression of MYC is a driver of colorectal carcinogenesis, suggesting that decreasing MYC expression may have significant therapeutic value. CIP2A is an oncogenic factor that regulates MYC expression. CIP2A is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC), and its expression levels are an independent marker for long-term outcome of CRC. Previous studies suggested that CIP2A controls MYC protein expression on a post-transcriptional level. Methods To determine the mechanism by which CIP2A regulates MYC in CRC, we dissected MYC translation and stability dependent on CIP2A in CRC cell lines. Results Knockdown of CIP2A reduced MYC protein levels without influencing MYC stability in CRC cell lines. Interfering with proteasomal degradation of MYC by usage of FBXW7-deficient cells or treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 did not rescue the effect of CIP2A depletion on MYC protein levels. Whereas CIP2A knockdown had marginal influence on global protein synthesis, we could demonstrate that, by using different reporter constructs and cells expressing MYC mRNA with or without flanking UTR, CIP2A regulates MYC translation. This interaction is mainly conducted by the MYC 5′UTR. Conclusions Thus, instead of targeting MYC protein stability as reported for other tissue types before, CIP2A specifically regulates MYC mRNA translation in CRC but has only slight effects on global mRNA translation. In conclusion, we propose as novel mechanism that CIP2A regulates MYC on a translational level rather than affecting MYC protein stability in CRC.}, language = {en} } @misc{BaurRamserKelleretal.2021, author = {Baur, Johannes and Ramser, Michaela and Keller, Nicola and Muysoms, Filip and D{\"o}rfer, J{\"o}rg and Wiegering, Armin and Eisner, Lukas and Dietz, Ulrich A.}, title = {Erratum to: Robotic hernia repair II. English version Robotic primary ventral and incisional hernia repair (rv-TAPP and r-Rives or r-TARUP). Video report and results of a series of 118 patients}, series = {Der Chirurg}, volume = {92}, journal = {Der Chirurg}, number = {SUPPL 1}, doi = {10.1007/s00104-021-01563-x}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-326357}, pages = {S27}, year = {2021}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @article{ReddersenGuellmarTonndorfMartinietal.2021, author = {Reddersen, Kirsten and G{\"u}llmar, Andr{\´e} and Tonndorf-Martini, Silke and Sigusch, Bernd W. and Ewald, Andrea and Dauben, Thomas J. and Martin, Karin and Wiegand, Cornelia}, title = {Critical parameters in cultivation of experimental biofilms using the example of Pseudomonas fluorescens}, series = {Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine}, volume = {32}, journal = {Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine}, number = {9}, issn = {0957-4530}, doi = {10.1007/s10856-021-06568-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-309911}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Formation and treatment of biofilms present a great challenge for health care and industry. About 80\% of human infections are associated with biofilms including biomaterial centered infections, like infections of prosthetic heart valves, central venous catheters, or urinary catheters. Additionally, biofilms can cause food and drinking water contamination. Biofilm research focusses on application of experimental biofilm models to study initial adherence processes, to optimize physico-chemical properties of medical materials for reducing interactions between materials and bacteria, and to investigate biofilm treatment under controlled conditions. Exploring new antimicrobial strategies plays a key role in a variety of scientific disciplines, like medical material research, anti-infectious research, plant engineering, or wastewater treatment. Although a variety of biofilm models exist, there is a lack of standardization for experimental protocols, and designing experimental setups remains a challenge. In this study, a number of experimental parameters critical for material research have been tested that influence formation and stability of an experimental biofilm using the non-pathogenic model strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens. These parameters include experimental time frame, nutrient supply, inoculum concentration, static and dynamic cultivation conditions, material properties, and sample treatment during staining for visualization of the biofilm. It was shown, that all tested parameters critically influence the experimental biofilm formation process. The results obtained in this study shall support material researchers in designing experimental biofilm setups.}, language = {en} } @article{GlinzŠleichrtKytyřetal.2021, author = {Glinz, Jonathan and Šleichrt, Jan and Kyt{\´y}ř, Daniel and Ayalur-Karunakaran, Santhosh and Zabler, Simon and Kastner, Johann and Senck, Sascha}, title = {Phase-contrast and dark-field imaging for the inspection of resin-rich areas and fiber orientation in non-crimp vacuum infusion carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers}, series = {Journal of Materials Science}, volume = {56}, journal = {Journal of Materials Science}, number = {16}, doi = {10.1007/s10853-021-05907-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-351581}, pages = {9712-9727}, year = {2021}, abstract = {In this work, we present a multimodal approach to three-dimensionally quantify and visualize fiber orientation and resin-rich areas in carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers manufactured by vacuum infusion. Three complementary image modalities were acquired by Talbot-Lau grating interferometer (TLGI) X-ray microcomputed tomography (XCT). Compared to absorption contrast (AC), TLGI-XCT provides enhanced contrast between polymer matrix and carbon fibers at lower spatial resolutions in the form of differential phase contrast (DPC) and dark-field contrast (DFC). Consequently, relatively thin layers of resin, effectively indiscernible from image noise in AC data, are distinguishable. In addition to the assessment of fiber orientation, the combination of DPC and DFC facilitates the quantification of resin-rich areas, e.g., in gaps between fiber layers or at binder yarn collimation sites. We found that resin-rich areas between fiber layers are predominantly developed in regions characterized by a pronounced curvature. In contrast, in-layer resin-rich areas are mainly caused by the collimation of fibers by binder yarn. Furthermore, void volume around two adjacent 90°-oriented fiber layers is increased by roughly 20\% compared to a random distribution over the whole specimen.}, language = {en} } @article{GreefrathSillerKlocketal.2022, author = {Greefrath, Gilbert and Siller, Hans-Stefan and Klock, Heiner and Wess, Raphael}, title = {Pre-service secondary teachers' pedagogical content knowledge for the teaching of mathematical modelling}, series = {Educational Studies in Mathematics}, volume = {109}, journal = {Educational Studies in Mathematics}, number = {2}, issn = {0013-1954}, doi = {10.1007/s10649-021-10038-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-308259}, pages = {383-407}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The article deals with the pedagogical content knowledge of mathematical modelling as part of the professional competence of pre-service teachers. With the help of a test developed for this purpose from a conceptual model, we examine whether this pedagogical content knowledge can be promoted in its different facets—especially knowledge about modelling tasks and about interventions—by suitable university seminars. For this purpose, the test was administered to three groups in a seminar for the teaching of mathematical modelling: (1) to those respondents who created their own modelling tasks for use with students, (2) to those trained to intervene in mathematical modelling processes, and (3) participating students who are not required to address mathematical modelling. The findings of the study—based on variance analysis—indicate that certain facets (knowledge of modelling tasks, modelling processes, and interventions) have increased significantly in both experimental groups but to varying degrees. By contrast, pre-service teachers in the control group demonstrated no significant change to their level of pedagogical content knowledge.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hartmann2024, author = {Hartmann, Oliver}, title = {Development of somatic modified mouse models of Non-Small cell lung cancer}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36340}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363401}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {In 2020, cancer was the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths. Lung cancer was the most common cancer, with 2.21 million cases per year in both sexes. This non-homogeneous disease is further subdivided into small cell lung cancer (SCLC, 15\%) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, 85\%). By 2023, the American Cancer Society estimates that NSCLC will account for 13\% of all new cancer cases and 21\% of all estimated cancer deaths. In recent years, the treatment of patients with NSCLC has improved with the development of new therapeutic interventions and the advent of targeted and personalised therapies. However, these advances have only marginally improved the five-year survival rate, which remains alarmingly low for patients with NSCLC. This observation highlights the importance of having more appropriate experimental and preclinical models to recapitulate, identify and test novel susceptibilities in NSCLC. In recent years, the Trp53fl/fl KRaslsl-G12D/wt mouse model developed by Tuveson, Jacks and Berns has been the main in vivo model used to study NSCLC. This model mimics ADC and SCC to a certain extent. However, it is limited in its ability to reflect the genetic complexity of NSCLC. In this work, we use CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing with targeted mutagenesis and gene deletions to recapitulate the conditional model. By comparing the Trp53fl/fl KRaslsl- G12D/wt with the CRISPR-mediated Trp53mut KRasG12D, we demonstrated that both showed no differences in histopathological features, morphology, and marker expression. Furthermore, next-generation sequencing revealed a very high similarity in their transcriptional profile. Adeno-associated virus-mediated tumour induction and the modular design of the viral vector allow us to introduce additional mutations in a timely manner. CRISPR-mediated mutation of commonly mutated tumour suppressors in NSCLC reliably recapitulated the phenotypes described in patients in the animal model. Lastly, the dual viral approach could induce the formation of lung tumours not only in constitutive Cas9 expressing animals, but also in wildtype animals. Thus, the implementation of CRISPR genome editing can rapidly advance the repertoire of in vivo models for NSCLC research. Furthermore, it can reduce the necessity of extensive breeding.}, subject = {CRISPR/Cas-Methode}, language = {en} } @misc{KanzowLechner2021, author = {Kanzow, Christian and Lechner, Theresa}, title = {Correction to: Globalized inexact proximal Newton-type methods for nonconvex composite functions}, series = {Computational Optimization and Applications}, volume = {80}, journal = {Computational Optimization and Applications}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1007/s10589-021-00302-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-348858}, pages = {679-680}, year = {2021}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @article{KanzowLechner2021, author = {Kanzow, Christian and Lechner, Theresa}, title = {Globalized inexact proximal Newton-type methods for nonconvex composite functions}, series = {Computational Optimization and Applications}, volume = {78}, journal = {Computational Optimization and Applications}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1007/s10589-020-00243-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-283715}, pages = {377-410}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Optimization problems with composite functions consist of an objective function which is the sum of a smooth and a (convex) nonsmooth term. This particular structure is exploited by the class of proximal gradient methods and some of their generalizations like proximal Newton and quasi-Newton methods. The current literature on these classes of methods almost exclusively considers the case where also the smooth term is convex. Here we present a globalized proximal Newton-type method which allows the smooth term to be nonconvex. The method is shown to have nice global and local convergence properties, and some numerical results indicate that this method is very promising also from a practical point of view.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schwenkert2024, author = {Schwenkert, Marc}, title = {Zwei Burschenschafter als B{\"u}rgermeister im Dritten Reich. Theo Memmel in W{\"u}rzburg und Paul May in Halle im Vergleich.}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36096}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-360966}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {In der Dissertation „Zwei Burschenschafter als B{\"u}rgermeister im Dritten Reich. Theo Memmel in W{\"u}rzburg und Paul May in Halle im Vergleich." steht die Untersuchung der Lebenswege der beiden Wahlbeamten Dr. Paul May und Theodor Memmel anhand ihrer Biographien im Fokus. May glitt dank seiner sich stetig erweiternden Fachkenntnisse sowie seiner Anpassungsf{\"a}higkeit durchweg in Leistungspositionen problemlos durch vier politische Systeme - vom Kaiserreich bis zur DDR. Seiner b{\"u}rgerlichen politischen Ausrichtung blieb er hierbei stets treu. Memmel hingegen machte bedingt durch seine an-dere und gravierendere Weltkriegserfahrung einen Prozess vom politisch des-interessierten Front- und Freikorpsk{\"a}mpfer {\"u}ber die Bayerische Volkspartei hin zum {\"u}berzeugten Nationalsozialisten. Nach dem Untergang des Dritten Reichs stand er vor dem Nichts, sowohl in beruflicher als auch in politischer Hinsicht. In seiner Studentenverbindung fand er jedoch einen Raum, in dem er sich engagieren und Anerkennung finden konnte. Da May und Memmel durch ihre gemeinsame studentische Korporation gleich sozialisiert wurden und sie sich auf unterschiedliche Weise wie ein ro-ter Faden durch ihr Leben zog, erfuhr diese ebenfalls eine Untersuchung. Hierbei ergab sich, dass die Wandlung von der toleranten Progressverbindung Adelphia zur pflichtschlagenden Burschenschaft in der Deutschen Burschen-schaft im Jahr 1933 keinen pl{\"o}tzlichen Bruch darstellte, sondern vielmehr die Folge einer langj{\"a}hrigen Entwicklung war, wobei der Erste Weltkrieg als be-sonders einschneidender Faktor zu bewerten ist. Am letztendlichen Art- und Dachverbandswechsel hatte auch Memmel einen entscheidenden Anteil. Dass nach der Umwandlung der waffenstudentischen Verbindungen in NS-Kameradschaften diese (auch Adelphia) w{\"a}hrend des Zweiten Weltkriegs teil-weise in W{\"u}rzburg im Verborgenen wiedererstehen konnten, hing auch mit der Patronage durch Memmel und sein imposantes Netzwerk zusammen. Den dritten Untersuchungskomplex dieser Arbeit bildet die kommunale Entwicklung von Groß- und Gauhauptst{\"a}dten im Dritten Reich, da sowohl W{\"u}rzburg als auch Halle eine solche verk{\"o}rperten. Ein Vergleich mit anderen St{\"a}dten unter denselben Voraussetzungen l{\"a}sst darauf schließen: Wer 1933/34 Oberb{\"u}rgermeister einer Groß- und Gauhauptstadt wurde, verdank-te dies nicht seiner Qualifikation. Die Nationalsozialisten, die dieses Amt er-hielten, bem{\"u}hten sich noch nicht einmal darum, es zu bekommen. Vielmehr stellten sie einen Kompromiss aus den jeweiligen lokalen Macht- und Interes-senskonstellationen dar. Eine Ausnahme hiervon bilden nur die wenigen St{\"a}dte, in denen bereits vor 1933 ein NSDAP-Angeh{\"o}riger als Stadtoberhaupt kandidiert hatte. Der Status der Gauhauptstadt f{\"u}hrte f{\"u}r die jeweiligen Oberb{\"u}rgermeister zu einem ganz besonderen Unterstellungsverh{\"a}ltnis, das sich als zweiseitiges Schwert entpuppte: Einerseits erhielt ihre Kommune spezielle F{\"o}rderung, andererseits standen sie unter einem hohem Erwar-tungsdruck, der sich vielerorts in einem schlechten Verh{\"a}ltnis von Oberb{\"u}r-germeister und Gauleiter manifestierte. Das Oberb{\"u}rgermeisteramt im Drit-ten Reich stellte aus beruflicher Sicht einen doppelten Bruch mit der Zeit vor 1933 dar: Zum einen konnte man ohne die bis dahin {\"u}blichen Qualifikationen zum Wahlbeamten einer Großstadt aufsteigen, andererseits bedeutete dies auch gleichzeitig das Karriereende.}, subject = {Geschichte}, language = {de} } @article{KosmalaGruschwitzVeldhoenetal.2020, author = {Kosmala, Aleksander and Gruschwitz, Philipp and Veldhoen, Simon and Weng, Andreas Max and Krauss, Bernhard and Bley, Thorsten Alexander and Petritsch, Bernhard}, title = {Dual-energy CT angiography in suspected pulmonary embolism: influence of injection protocols on image quality and perfused blood volume}, series = {The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging}, volume = {36}, journal = {The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging}, number = {10}, issn = {1569-5794}, doi = {10.1007/s10554-020-01911-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-314739}, pages = {2051-2059}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Abstract To compare intravenous contrast material (CM) injection protocols for dual-energy CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism with regard to image quality and pulmonary perfused blood volume (PBV) values. A total of 198 studies performed with four CM injection protocols varying in CM volume and iodine delivery rates (IDR) were retrospectively included: (A) 60 ml at 5 ml/s (IDR = 1.75gI/s), (B) 50 ml at 5 ml/s (IDR = 1.75gI/s), (C) 50 ml at 4 ml/s (IDR = 1.40gI/s), (D) 40 ml at 3 ml/s (IDR = 1.05gI/s). Image quality and PBV values at different resolution settings were compared. Pulmonary arterial tract attenuation was highest for protocol A (397 ± 110 HU; p vs. B = 0.13; vs. C = 0.02; vs. D < 0.001). CTPA image quality of protocol A was rated superior compared to protocols B and D by reader 1 (p = 0.01; < 0.001), and superior to protocols B, C and D by reader 2 (p < 0.001; 0.02; < 0.001). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in CTPA quality ratings. Subjective iodine map ratings did not vary significantly between protocols A, B, and C. Both readers rated protocol D inferior to all other protocols (p < 0.05). PBV values did not vary significantly between protocols A and B at resolution settings of 1, 4 and 10 (p = 0.10; 0.10; 0.09), while otherwise PBV values displayed a decreasing trend from protocol A to D (p < 0.05). Higher CM volume and IDR are associated with superior CTPA and iodine map quality and higher absolute PBV values.}, language = {en} } @misc{KosmalaGruschwitzVeldhoenetal.2022, author = {Kosmala, Aleksander and Gruschwitz, Philipp and Veldhoen, Simon and Weng, Andreas Max and Krauss, Bernhard and Bley, Thorsten Alexander and Petritsch, Bernhard}, title = {Correction to: Dual-energy CT angiography in suspected pulmonary embolism: infuence of injection protocols on image quality and perfused blood volume}, series = {The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging}, volume = {38}, journal = {The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1007/s10554-021-02439-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-350830}, pages = {707}, year = {2022}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @article{MerzenichBaakenSchmidtetal.2022, author = {Merzenich, Hiltrud and Baaken, Dan and Schmidt, Marcus and Bekes, Inga and Schwentner, Lukas and Janni, Wolfgang and Woeckel, Achim and Bartkowiak, Detlef and Wiegel, Thomas and Blettner, Maria and Wollschl{\"a}ger, Daniel and Schmidberger, Heinz}, title = {Cardiac late effects after modern 3D-conformal radiotherapy in breast cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study in Germany (ESCaRa)}, series = {Breast Cancer Research and Treatment}, volume = {191}, journal = {Breast Cancer Research and Treatment}, number = {1}, issn = {0167-6806}, doi = {10.1007/s10549-021-06412-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-308606}, pages = {147-157}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Purpose Radiotherapy (RT) was identified as a risk factor for long-term cardiac effects in breast cancer patients treated until the 1990s. However, modern techniques reduce radiation exposure of the heart, but some exposure remains unavoidable. In a retrospective cohort study, we investigated cardiac mortality and morbidity of breast cancer survivors treated with recent RT in Germany. Methods A total of 11,982 breast cancer patients treated between 1998 and 2008 were included. A mortality follow-up was conducted until 06/2018. In order to assess cardiac morbidity occurring after breast cancer treatment, a questionnaire was sent out in 2014 and 2019. The effect of breast cancer laterality on cardiac mortality and morbidity was investigated as a proxy for radiation exposure. We used Cox Proportional Hazards regression analysis, taking potential confounders into account. Results After a median follow-up time of 11.1 years, there was no significant association of tumor laterality with cardiac mortality in irradiated patients (hazard ratio (HR) for left-sided versus right-sided tumor 1.09; 95\% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-1.41). Furthermore, tumor laterality was not identified as a significant risk factor for cardiac morbidity (HR = 1.05; 95\%CI 0.88-1.25). Conclusions Even though RT for left-sided breast cancer on average incurs higher radiation dose to the heart than RT for right-sided tumors, we found no evidence that laterality is a strong risk factor for cardiac disease after contemporary RT. However, larger sample sizes, longer follow-up, detailed information on individual risk factors and heart dose are needed to assess clinically manifest late effects of current cancer therapy.}, language = {en} } @article{LoosKraussLyonsetal.2021, author = {Loos, Jacqueline and Krauss, Jochen and Lyons, Ashley and F{\"o}st, Stephanie and Ohlendorf, Constanze and Racky, Severin and R{\"o}der, Marina and Hudel, Lennart and Herfert, Volker and Tscharntke, Teja}, title = {Local and landscape responses of biodiversity in calcareous grasslands}, series = {Biodiversity and Conservation}, volume = {30}, journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation}, number = {8-9}, issn = {0960-3115}, doi = {10.1007/s10531-021-02201-y}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-308595}, pages = {2415-2432}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Across Europe, calcareous grasslands become increasingly fragmented and their quality deteriorates through abandonment and land use intensification, both affecting biodiversity. Here, we investigated local and landscape effects on diversity patterns of several taxonomic groups in a landscape of highly fragmented calcareous grassland remnants. We surveyed 31 grassland fragments near G{\"o}ttingen, Germany, in spring and summer 2017 for vascular plants, butterflies and birds, with sampling effort adapted to fragment area. Through regression modelling, we tested relationships between species richness and fragment size (from 314 to 51,395 m\(^2\)), successional stage, habitat connectivity and the per cent cover of arable land in the landscape at several radii. We detected 283 plant species, 53 butterfly species and 70 bird species. Of these, 59 plant species, 19 butterfly species and 9 bird species were grassland specialists. Larger fragments supported twice the species richness of plants than small ones, and hosted more species of butterflies, but not of birds. Larger grassland fragments contained more grassland specialist plants, but not butterfly or bird specialists. Increasing amounts of arable land in the landscape from 20 to 90\% was related to the loss of a third of species of plants, and less so, of butterflies, but not of birds. Per cent cover of arable land negatively correlated to richness of grassland specialist plants and butterflies, but positively to grassland specialist birds. We found no effect by successional stages and habitat connectivity. Our multi-taxa approach highlights the need for conservation management at the local scale, complemented by measures at the landscape scale.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Birke2024, author = {Birke, Claudius B.}, title = {Low Mach and Well-Balanced Numerical Methods for Compressible Euler and Ideal MHD Equations with Gravity}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36330}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-363303}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Physical regimes characterized by low Mach numbers and steep stratifications pose severe challenges to standard finite volume methods. We present three new methods specifically designed to navigate these challenges by being both low Mach compliant and well-balanced. These properties are crucial for numerical methods to efficiently and accurately compute solutions in the regimes considered. First, we concentrate on the construction of an approximate Riemann solver within Godunov-type finite volume methods. A new relaxation system gives rise to a two-speed relaxation solver for the Euler equations with gravity. Derived from fundamental mathematical principles, this solver reduces the artificial dissipation in the subsonic regime and preserves hydrostatic equilibria. The solver is particularly stable as it satisfies a discrete entropy inequality, preserves positivity of density and internal energy, and suppresses checkerboard modes. The second scheme is designed to solve the equations of ideal MHD and combines different approaches. In order to deal with low Mach numbers, it makes use of a low-dissipation version of the HLLD solver and a partially implicit time discretization to relax the CFL time step constraint. A Deviation Well-Balancing method is employed to preserve a priori known magnetohydrostatic equilibria and thereby reduces the magnitude of spatial discretization errors in strongly stratified setups. The third scheme relies on an IMEX approach based on a splitting of the MHD equations. The slow scale part of the system is discretized by a time-explicit Godunov-type method, whereas the fast scale part is discretized implicitly by central finite differences. Numerical dissipation terms and CFL time step restriction of the method depend solely on the slow waves of the explicit part, making the method particularly suited for subsonic regimes. Deviation Well-Balancing ensures the preservation of a priori known magnetohydrostatic equilibria. The three schemes are applied to various numerical experiments for the compressible Euler and ideal MHD equations, demonstrating their ability to accurately simulate flows in regimes with low Mach numbers and strong stratification even on coarse grids.}, subject = {Magnetohydrodynamik}, language = {en} } @misc{HaufNiedingSeger2021, author = {Hauf, Juliane E. K. and Nieding, Gerhild and Seger, Benedikt T.}, title = {Correction to: The development of dynamic perceptual simulations during sentence comprehension}, series = {Cognitive Processing}, volume = {22}, journal = {Cognitive Processing}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1007/s10339-021-01027-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-352611}, pages = {731}, year = {2021}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @article{HaufNiedingSeger2020, author = {Hauf, Juliane E. K. and Nieding, Gerhild and Seger, Benedikt T.}, title = {The development of dynamic perceptual simulations during sentence comprehension}, series = {Cognitive Processing}, volume = {21}, journal = {Cognitive Processing}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1007/s10339-020-00959-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-283665}, pages = {197-208}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Based on an embodied account of language comprehension, this study investigated the dynamic characteristics of children and adults' perceptual simulations during sentence comprehension, using a novel paradigm to assess the perceptual simulation of objects moving up and down a vertical axis. The participants comprised adults (N = 40) and 6-, 8-, and 10-year-old children (N = 116). After listening in experimental trials to sentences implying that objects moved upward or downward, the participants were shown pictures and had to decide as quickly as possible whether the objects depicted had been mentioned in the sentences. The target pictures moved either up or down and then stopped in the middle of the screen. All age groups' reaction times were found to be shorter when the objects moved in the directions that the sentences implied. Age exerted no developmental effect on reaction times. The findings suggest that dynamic perceptual simulations are fundamental to language comprehension in text recipients aged 6 and older.}, language = {en} } @article{DippellEspositoWaldmann2022, author = {Dippell, Marvin and Esposito, Chiara and Waldmann, Stefan}, title = {Deformation and Hochschild cohomology of coisotropic algebras}, series = {Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicata}, volume = {201}, journal = {Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicata}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1007/s10231-021-01158-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-329069}, pages = {1295-1323}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Coisotropic algebras consist of triples of algebras for which a reduction can be defined and unify in a very algebraic fashion coisotropic reduction in several settings. In this paper, we study the theory of (formal) deformation of coisotropic algebras showing that deformations are governed by suitable coisotropic DGLAs. We define a deformation functor and prove that it commutes with reduction. Finally, we study the obstructions to existence and uniqueness of coisotropic algebras and present some geometric examples.}, language = {en} } @article{EckertBohnSpaethe2022, author = {Eckert, Johanna and Bohn, Manuel and Spaethe, Johannes}, title = {Does quantity matter to a stingless bee?}, series = {Animal Cognition}, volume = {25}, journal = {Animal Cognition}, number = {3}, issn = {1435-9448}, doi = {10.1007/s10071-021-01581-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-307696}, pages = {617-629}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Quantitative information is omnipresent in the world and a wide range of species has been shown to use quantities to optimize their decisions. While most studies have focused on vertebrates, a growing body of research demonstrates that also insects such as honeybees possess basic quantitative abilities that might aid them in finding profitable flower patches. However, it remains unclear if for insects, quantity is a salient feature relative to other stimulus dimensions, or if it is only used as a "last resort" strategy in case other stimulus dimensions are inconclusive. Here, we tested the stingless bee Trigona fuscipennis, a species representative of a vastly understudied group of tropical pollinators, in a quantity discrimination task. In four experiments, we trained wild, free-flying bees on stimuli that depicted either one or four elements. Subsequently, bees were confronted with a choice between stimuli that matched the training stimulus either in terms of quantity or another stimulus dimension. We found that bees were able to discriminate between the two quantities, but performance differed depending on which quantity was rewarded. Furthermore, quantity was more salient than was shape. However, quantity did not measurably influence the bees' decisions when contrasted with color or surface area. Our results demonstrate that just as honeybees, small-brained stingless bees also possess basic quantitative abilities. Moreover, invertebrate pollinators seem to utilize quantity not only as "last resort" but as a salient stimulus dimension. Our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on quantitative cognition in invertebrate species and adds to our understanding of the evolution of numerical cognition.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Krings2024, author = {Krings, Moritz}, title = {Universit{\"a}re Psychiatrie um 1900 : Die Anfangsjahre der psychiatrischen Klinik in W{\"u}rzburg}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36140}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-361407}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts standen sich in Deutschland zwei verschiedene Arten psychiatrischer Institutionen gegen{\"u}ber, die Anstaltspsychiatrien auf der einen, die universit{\"a}ren psychiatrischen Kliniken auf der anderen Seite. Die psychiatriehistorische Forschung widmete sich {\"u}berwiegend psychiatrischen Anstalten w{\"a}hrend Kliniken hier unterrepr{\"a}sentiert sind. Die vorliegende Arbeit m{\"o}chte zur historischen Kenntnis universit{\"a}rer psychiatrischer Einrichtungen beitragen. Hierzu werden die Charakteristika einer psychiatrischen Klinik um 1900 anhand des Beispiels der psychiatrischen Klinik der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg betrachtet. Der Fokus liegt hierbei neben Lage und Aufbau der Klinik sowie deren Personal auf den drei Bereichen Patient*innen, Forschung und Lehre.}, subject = {Julius-Maximilians-Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, language = {de} } @article{OhlmannBoemickeBehnischetal.2022, author = {Ohlmann, Brigitte and B{\"o}micke, Wolfgang and Behnisch, Rouven and Rammelsberg, Peter and Schmitter, Marc}, title = {Variability of sleep bruxism — findings from consecutive nights of monitoring}, series = {Clinical Oral Investigations}, volume = {26}, journal = {Clinical Oral Investigations}, number = {4}, issn = {1436-3771}, doi = {10.1007/s00784-021-04314-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-307645}, pages = {3459-3466}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Objectives To determine sleep bruxism (SB) behavior during five consecutive nights and to identify correlations between SB episodes per hour (SB index) and sleep-time masseter-muscle activity (sMMA). Material and methods Thirty-one participants were included in the study. Of these, 10 were classified as sleep bruxers (group SB-1) and nine as non-sleep bruxers (group non-SB). The bruxism status of these 19 patients was identified by means of questionnaires, an assessment of clinical symptoms, and electromyographic/electrocardiographic data (Bruxoff® device). The remaining 12 participants were also identified as bruxers, but based exclusively on data from the Bruxoff device (group SB-2). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and Spearman's correlation to assess the relationship between the SB index and sMMA. Results Participants in group SB-1 showed an overall mean SB index of 3.1 ± 1.6 and a mean total sMMA per night of 62.9 ± 38.3. Participants in group SB-2 had an overall mean SB index of 2.7 ± 1.5 and a mean total sMMA of 56.0 ± 29.3. In the non-SB group, participants showed an overall mean SB index of 0.8 ± 0.5 and a mean total sMMA of 56.8 ± 30.3. Spearman's correlation yielded values of - 0.27 to 0.71 for the correlation between sMMA and SB index. Conclusions The data revealed variable SB activity and the absence of a reliable correlation between sMMA and the SB index. Clinical relevance The high variation in SB activity and lack of correlation between sMMA and the SB index should be considered when diagnosing SB. Trial registration Clinical Trials [NIH], clinical trial no. NCT03039985.}, language = {en} } @article{RighessoTerekhovGoetzetal.2021, author = {Righesso, L. A. R. and Terekhov, M. and G{\"o}tz, H. and Ackermann, M. and Emrich, T. and Schreiber, L. M. and M{\"u}ller, W. E. G. and Jung, J. and Rojas, J. P. and Al-Nawas, B.}, title = {Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring neovascularization during bone regeneration — a randomized in vivo study in rabbits}, series = {Clinical Oral Investigations}, volume = {25}, journal = {Clinical Oral Investigations}, number = {10}, issn = {1432-6981}, doi = {10.1007/s00784-021-03889-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-307614}, pages = {5843-5854}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Objectives Micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) and histology, the current gold standard methods for assessing the formation of new bone and blood vessels, are invasive and/or destructive. With that in mind, a more conservative tool, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), was tested for its accuracy and reproducibility in monitoring neovascularization during bone regeneration. Additionally, the suitability of blood perfusion as a surrogate of the efficacy of osteoplastic materials was evaluated. Materials and methods Sixteen rabbits were used and equally divided into four groups, according to the time of euthanasia (2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks after surgery). The animals were submitted to two 8-mm craniotomies that were filled with blood or autogenous bone. Neovascularization was assessed in vivo through DCE-MRI, and bone regeneration, ex vivo, through μ-CT and histology. Results The defects could be consistently identified, and their blood perfusion measured through DCE-MRI, there being statistically significant differences within the blood clot group between 3 and 6 weeks (p = 0.029), and between the former and autogenous bone at six weeks (p = 0.017). Nonetheless, no significant correlations between DCE-MRI findings on neovascularization and μ-CT (r =-0.101, 95\% CI [-0.445; 0.268]) or histology (r = 0.305, 95\% CI [-0.133; 0.644]) findings on bone regeneration were observed. Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that DCE-MRI can be used to monitor neovascularization but contradict the premise that it could predict bone regeneration as well.}, language = {en} }