@phdthesis{NghengwaAche2019,
  author    = {Nghengwa Ache, Patience},
  title     = {Waste Management As a Correlate of Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Example of Imo State, Nigeria},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19224},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192240},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Summary Introduction. Rapid and uncontrolled industrialisation and urbanisation in most developing countries are resulting in land, air and water pollution at rates that the natural environment cannot fully renew. These contemporary environmental issues have attracted local, national and international attention. The problem of urban garbage management is associated with rapid population growth in developing countries. These are pertinent environmental crises of sustainability and sanitation in Sub-Saharan Africa and other Third World countries. Despite efforts of the various tiers of government (the case of Nigeria with three tiers: Federal, State and Local governments) in managing solid waste in urban centres, it is still overflowing open dumpsites, litters streets and encroaches into water bodies. These affect the quality of urban living conditions and the natural environment. Sub-Saharan and other developing countries are experiencing an upsurge in the accumulation and the diversity of waste including E-waste, waste agricultural biomass and waste plastics. The need for effective, sustainable and efficient management of waste through the application of 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) is an essential element for promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production. This study examined waste management in Imo State, Nigeria as an aspect correlated to the sustainability of its environment. Materials and methods. To analyse waste management as a correlate of environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa, Imo State, in eastern Nigeria was chosen as a study area. Issues about waste handling and its impact on the environment in Imo have been reported since its creation in 1976; passing through the State with the cleanest State capital in 1980 to a 'dunghill' in 2013 and a 'garbage capital' on October 1, 2016. Within this State, three study sites were selected - Owerri metropolis (the State capital) Orlu and Okigwe towns. At these sites, households, commercial areas, accommodation and recreational establishments and schools, as well as dumpsites were investigated to ascertain the composition, quantity, distribution, handling patterns of waste in relation to the sustainability of the State's environment. This was done conveniently but randomly through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and non-participant observation; these were all heralded by a detailed deskwork. Data were entered using Microsoft Office Excel and were explored and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences - SPSS. Data were made essentially of categorical variables and were analysed using descriptive statistics. The association between categorical variables was measured using Cramer's V the Chi-Square that makes the power and the reliability of the test. Cramer's V is a measure of association tests directly integrated with cross-tabulation. The Chi-Square test of equal proportions was used to compare proportions for significant differences at 0.05 levels. The statistical package - the Epi Info 6.04d was also used since a contingency table had to be created from several sub-outputs and determine the extent of association between the row and column categories. The scale variable 'quantity of waste generated' was described using measures of central tendency. It was screened for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests for normality; in all context, the normality assumption was violated (P<0.05). Five null hypotheses were tested using Logistic Regression model. The explanatory power of individual conceptual component was calculated using the Cox \& Snell R2 and that of individual indicators was also appraised using the Likelihood Ratio test. In the context of this work, the significance of the variability explained by the model (baseline model) was appraised using the Omnibus Tests of Model Coefficients, the magnitude of this variability explained by the model using the Cox \& Snell R2 and the effects of individual predictors using the Likelihood Ratio test. Qualitatively, data from open-ended items, observations and interviews were analysed using the process of thematic analysis whereby concepts or ideas were grouped under umbrella terms or keywords. The results were presented using tables, charts, graphs, photos and maps. Findings and discussions. The total findings and analyses indicated that proper waste handling in Imo State, Nigeria has a positive impact on the environment. This was assessed by the community's awareness of waste management via sources like the radio and the TV, their education on waste management and schools' integration of environmental education in their program. Although most community members perceived the State's environment as compared to it about 10 years' back has worsened, where they were conscious of proper waste handling measures, the environment was described to be better. This influence of environmental awareness and education on environmental sustainability appraised using Logistic Regression Model, portrayed a significant variability (Omnibus Tests of Model Coefficients: χ2=42.742; P=0.014), inferring that environmental awareness and education significantly predict environmental sustainability. The findings also revealed that organic waste generation spearheaded amongst other waste types like paper, plastic, E-waste, metal, textile and glass. While waste pickers always sorted paper, plastics, aluminium and metal, some of them also sorted out textile and glass. Statistically (P<0.05), in situations where waste was least generated (i.e., 1-2kg per day), community members maintained that the environmental quality was better in comparison to 10 years' back. Waste items like broken glass and textile as well as the remains of E-waste after the extraction of copper and brass were not sorted for and these contributed more to environmental degradation. Similarly, the influence of wealth on environmental sustainability was appraised using Logistic Regression Model including development index related indicators like education, occupation, income and the ability to pay for waste disposal. Harmonising the outcome, farmers, who were mostly the least educated claimed to notice more environmental improvement. In addition, those who did not agree to pay for waste disposal who were mostly those with low income (less than 200,000 Naira, i.e. about 620 Euros monthly) perceived environmental improvement more than those with income above 200,000 Naira. This irony can be attributed to the fact that those with low educational backing lack the capacity to appreciate environmental sustainability pointers well as compared to those with a broader educational background with critical thinking. The employment and poverty reduction opportunities pertaining to waste management on environmental sustainability was appraised using qualitative thematic analysis. All community members involved in sorting, buying and selling of waste items had no second job. They attested that the money earned from their activities sustained their livelihood and families. Some expressed love for the job, especially as they were their own masters. Waste picking and trading in waste items are offering employment opportunities to many communities around the world. For instance, in the waste recycling, waste composting, waste-to-energy plants and die Stadtreiniger in W{\"u}rzburg city. The workers in these enterprises have jobs as a result of waste. Waste disposal influence on environmental sustainability was appraised using the Binary Logistic Regression Model and the variability explained by the model was significant. The validity was also supported by the Wald statistics (P<0.05), which indicates the effect of the predictors is significant. Environmental sustainability was greatly reliant on indicators like the frequency at which community members emptied their waste containers; how/where waste is disposed of, availability of disposal site or public bin near the house, etc. Imolites who asserted to have public waste bins or disposal sites near their houses maintained that the quality of the State's environment had worsened as such containers/disposal sites were always stinking as well as had animals and smoke around them. Imolites around disposal sites complained of traits like diarrhoea, catarrh, insect bites, malaria, smoke and polluted air. Conclusions. The liaison between poor waste management strategies and the sustainability of the Imo State environment was considered likely as statistically significant ineffectiveness, lack of awareness, poverty, insufficient and unrealistic waste management measures were found in this study area. In these situations, the environment was said to have not improved. Such inadequacies in the handling of generated waste did not only expose the citizenry to health dangers but also gave rise to streets and roads characterized by filth and many unattended disposal sites unleashing horrible odour to the environment and attracting wild animals. This situation is not only prevalent in Imo State, Nigeria but in many Sub-Saharan cities. Future Perspectives. To improve the environment in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is imperative to practice an inclusive and integrated sustainable waste management system. The waste quantity in this region is fast growing, especially food/organic waste. The region should aim at waste management laws and waste reduction strategies, which will help save and produce more food that it really needs. Waste management should be dissociated from epidemic outbreaks like cholera, typhoid, Lassa fever and malaria, whose vectors thrive in filthy environments. Water channels and water bodies should not be waste disposal channels or waste disposal sites.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kass2019,
  author    = {Kaß, Christina},
  title     = {Unnecessary Alarms in Driving: The Impact of Discrepancies between Human and Machine Situation Awareness on Drivers' Perception and Behaviour},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19252},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192520},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Forward Collision Alarms (FCA) intend to signal hazardous traffic situations and the need for an immediate corrective driver response. However, data of naturalistic driving studies revealed that approximately the half of all alarms activated by conventional FCA systems represented unnecessary alarms. In these situations, the alarm activation was correct according to the implemented algorithm, whereas the alarms led to no or only minimal driver responses. Psychological research can make an important contribution to understand drivers' needs when interacting with driver assistance systems. The overarching objective of this thesis was to gain a systematic understanding of psychological factors and processes that influence drivers' perceived need for assistance in potential collision situations. To elucidate under which conditions drivers perceive alarms as unnecessary, a theoretical framework of drivers' subjective alarm evaluation was developed. A further goal was to investigate the impact of unnecessary alarms on drivers' responses and acceptance. Four driving simulator studies were carried out to examine the outlined research questions. In line with the hypotheses derived from the theoretical framework, the results suggest that drivers' perceived need for assistance is determined by their retrospective subjective hazard perception. While predictions of conventional FCA systems are exclusively based on physical measurements resulting in a time to collision, human drivers additionally consider their own manoeuvre intentions and those attributed to other road users to anticipate the further course of a potentially critical situation. When drivers anticipate a dissolving outcome of a potential conflict, they perceive the situation as less hazardous than the system. Based on this discrepancy, the system would activate an alarm, while drivers' perceived need for assistance is low. To sum up, the described factors and processes cause drivers to perceive certain alarms as unnecessary. Although drivers accept unnecessary alarms less than useful alarms, unnecessary alarms do not reduce their overall system acceptance. While unnecessary alarms cause moderate driver responses in the short term, the intensity of responses decrease with multiple exposures to unnecessary alarms. However, overall, effects of unnecessary alarms on drivers' alarm responses and acceptance seem to be rather uncritical. This thesis provides insights into human factors that explain when FCAs are perceived as unnecessary. These factors might contribute to design FCA systems tailored to drivers' needs.},
  subject      = {Fahrerassistenzsystem},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Mohammadi2019,
  author    = {Mohammadi, Milad},
  title     = {Role of oxidized phospholipids in inflammatory pain},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19240},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192402},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Introduction: During inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as Hydrogen peroxide accumulate at the inflammation site and by oxidizing lipids, they produce metabolites such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs). Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) are ligand gated ion channels that are expressed on nociceptors and their activation elicits pain. Hydrogen peroxide and 4-HNE are endogenous ligands for TRPA1 and their role in inflammatory pain conditions has been shown. OxPLs play a major pro-inflammatory role in many pathologies including atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis. E06/T15 is a mouse IgM mAb that specifically binds oxidized phosphatidylcholine. D-4F is an apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide with a very high affinity for OxPLs and possess anti-inflammatory properties. E06 mAb and D-4F peptide protect against OxPLs-induced damage in atherosclerosis in vivo. Methods: To investigate the role of ROS and their metabolites in inflammatory pain, I utilized a combination of diverse and complex behavioral pain measurements and binding assays. I examined E06 mAb and D-4F as local treatment options for hypersensitivity evoked by endogenous and exogenous activators of TRPA1 and TRPV1 as well as in inflammatory and OxPL-induced pain models in vivo. 4-HNE, hydrogen peroxide as ROS source and mustard oil (AITC) were used to activate TRPA1, while capsaicin was used to activate TRPV1. Results: Intraplantar injection of oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (OxPAPC) into rats' hind paw elicited thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity. Genetic and pharmacological evidence in vivo confirmed the role of TRPA1 in OxPLs-induced hypersensitivity. OxPLs formation increased in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflamed rats' paw. E06 mAb and D-4F prevented OxPAPC-induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity (hyperalgesia) as well as CFA-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Also, all irritants induced thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity as well as affective-emotional responses and spontaneous nocifensive behaviors. E06 mAb blocked prolonged mechanical hypersensitivity by all but hydrogen peroxide. In parallel, D-4F prevented mechanical hypersensitivity induced by all irritants as well as thermal hypersensitivity induced by capsaicin and 4-HNE. In addition, competitive binding assays showed that all TRPA1/V1 agonists induced prolonged formation of OxPLs in the paw tissue explaining the anti-nociceptive properties of E06 mAb and D-4F. Finally, the potential of gait analysis as a readout for non-provoked pain behavioral measurements were examined. Conclusion and implications: OxPLs were characterized as novel targets in inflammatory pain. Treatment with the monoclonal antibody E06 or apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide D-4F are suggested as potential inflammatory pain medications. OxPLs' role in neuropathic pain is yet to be investigated.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Frank2019,
  author    = {Frank, Johanna},
  title     = {Untersuchung der Kleinfaserpathologie beim Fibromyalgie-Syndrom},
  publisher = {Annals of Neurology, The Journal of Rheumatology},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19265},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192653},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Die Studienergebnisse st{\"u}tzen das Konzept, dass das periphere Nervensystem zu Schmerzen beim Fibromyalgie-Syndrom (FMS) beitr{\"a}gt. An der Neurologischen Universit{\"a}tsklinik W{\"u}rzburg wurden 53 FMS Patientinnen und 35 gesunde Kontrollen rekrutiert, ausf{\"u}hrlich anamnestiziert inklusive spezieller Schmerzfrageb{\"o}gen, neurologisch und mittels spezieller Tests auf eine St{\"o}rung der kleinkalibrigen A-delta- und C-Nervenfasern untersucht. Hierzu geh{\"o}rte eine quantitative sensorische Testung mit Pleasant touch Untersuchung und die schmerz-assoziierten elektrisch-evoziierten Potentiale f{\"u}r die Kleinfaserfunktion und die corneale confocale Mikroskopie, sowie die Analyse von Hautstanbiopsien f{\"u}r die Kleinfasermorphologie. Im Unterschied zu gesunden Kontrollen wiesen die FMS Patientinnen eine Reduktion, als auch eine Funktions{\"a}nderung der kleinkalibrigen Nervenfasern auf. Des Weiteren konnten wir aus der heterogenen Patientenpopulation anhand von unterschiedlichen Nervenfaserdichten der Haut eine Subgruppe mit generalisierter Reduktion der Hautinnervation identifizieren, die besonders schwer betroffen ist. Diese Subgruppenanalysen k{\"o}nnen k{\"u}nftig von großer Bedeutung f{\"u}r die Therapiewahl sein.},
  subject      = {Fibromyalgie},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{vonEhrlichTreuenstaett2019,
  author    = {von Ehrlich-Treuenst{\"a}tt, Viktor Heinrich},
  title     = {Die Einfl{\"u}sse des Ionenkanals Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 4 (TRPC4) auf die Kalzium-Hom{\"o}ostase in Kardiomyozyten},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20276},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202763},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Kationenkan{\"a}le der Canonical Transient Receptor (TRPC)-Familie spielen eine wichtige Rolle in der pathologischen Herzhypertrophie. Neben anderen Isoformen besitzt TRPC4 die Potenz, den strukturellen und funktionellen Umbau des Herzens im Rahmen der pathologischen Hypertrophie {\"u}ber Ca2+-Transienten zu best{\"a}rken. TRPC4-Kan{\"a}le sind nicht-selektive Kationenkan{\"a}le, die f{\"u}r Na+ und Ca2+ durchl{\"a}ssig sind. Sie setzen sich in der Plasmamembran zu Homo- oder Heterotetrameren zusammen. Die TRPC4-Kanalaktivit{\"a}t wird durch die Stimulation von Gq-Protein-gekoppelten Rezeptoren (GPCR) reguliert und f{\"u}hrt zu einem Ca2+-Einstrom, der f{\"u}r die Aktivierung von Calcineurin und des nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) notwendig ist. Eine weitere Aktivierungsform l{\"a}sst sich {\"u}ber die Entleerung von intrazellul{\"a}ren Ca2+-Speichern (SOCE) aus dem Sarkoplasmatischen Retikulum (SR) nachweisen. Die funktionelle Wirkung des TRPC4 ist von der Expression der beiden Splice-Varianten TRPC4α und TRPC4β abh{\"a}ngig. Um diese funktionelle Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Splice-Variante C4β genauer zu charakterisieren, wurden in der vorliegenden Studie zytosolische Ca2+-Signale und deren Aktivierungsmechanismen analysiert. F{\"u}r die Untersuchungen wurden neonatale Rattenkardiomyozyten (NRC) verwendet, die mit adenoviralen Vektoren infiziert wurden und TRPC4beta (Ad-TRPC4β), TRPC4alpha (Ad-TRPC4α) und beta-Galaktosidase (Ad-ßgal) als Kontrolle exprimierten. Es erfolgte eine Auswertung der Ca2+-Transienten, in der gezeigt werden konnte, dass TRPC4β den Ca2+-Einstrom in schlagenden Kardiomyozyten beeinflusst. Dies machte sich in einer erh{\"o}hten Ca2+-Amplitude unter basalen Bedingungen bemerkbar. Ebenfalls konnte deutlich gemacht werden, dass eine Ca2+-Entleerung des SR TRPC4β als sogenannten SOC (speicher-regulierten Kanal, store-operated channel) aktiviert. Außerdem reagierten TRPC4β-infizierte NRCs mit einem gesteigerten Ca2+-Maximalspitzenwert (peak) unter Stimulation mit dem GPCR-Agonisten Angiotensin II. Die Amplitude der Ca2+-Transienten bei {\"U}berexpression von Ad-TRPC4β war im Vergleich zur Ad-ßgal-Kontrollgruppe deutlich gesteigert. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus war der Abfall der Ca2+-Transienten der TRPC4β-exprimierenden Zellen beschleunigt. Dies l{\"a}sst einen kompensatorischen Mechanismus vermuten, mit dem Ziel, einer Ca2+-{\"U}berladung der Zelle durch den TRPC4β-induzierten Ca2+-Einstrom entgegenzuwirken. In zus{\"a}tzlichen Experimenten zeigte sich TRPC4β ebenfalls deutlich sensitiver gegen{\"u}ber der Angiotensin II-Stimulation als TRPC4α. Weiterf{\"u}hrende Untersuchungen ließen erkennen, dass TRPC4β, im Gegensatz zu anderen TRPC-Isoformen, keinen pro-hypertrophen, sondern vielmehr einen pro-apoptotischen Einfluss auf Kardiomyozyten aus{\"u}bt. Zusammenfassend zeigt die vorliegende Studie, dass eine erh{\"o}hte Aktivit{\"a}t der Splice-Variante TRPC4β mit kritischen Ver{\"a}nderungen zytosolischer Ca2+-Signale verbunden ist und somit ein entscheidender Faktor f{\"u}r die Entstehung und Progression kardialer Pathologien sein k{\"o}nnte.},
  subject      = {Herzhypertrophie},
  language  = {de}
}