Search

Conductive polymeric microneedle (MN) arrays as biointerface materials show promise for the minimally invasive monitoring of analytes in biodevices and wearables. There is increasing interest in microneedles as electrodes for biosensing, but efforts have been limited to metallic substrates, which lack biological stability and are associated with high manufacturing costs and laborious fabrication methods, which create translational barriers. In this work, additive manufacturing, which provides the user with design flexibility and upscale manufacturing, is employed to fabricate acrylic-based microneedle devices. These microneedle devices are used as platforms to produce intrinsically-conductive, polymer-based surfaces based on polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). These entirely polymer-based solid microneedle arrays act as dry conductive electrodes while omitting the requirement of a metallic seed layer. Two distinct coating methods of 3D-printed solid microneedles, in situ polymerization and drop casting, enable conductive functionality. The microneedle arrays penetrate ex vivo porcine skin grafts without compromising conductivity or microneedle morphology and demonstrate coating durability over multiple penetration cycles. The non-cytotoxic nature of the conductive microneedles is evaluated using human fibroblast cells. The proposed fabrication strategy offers a compelling approach to manufacturing polymer-based conductive microneedle surfaces that can be further exploited as platforms for biosensing.

Cooperative behaviour often co-occurs with the defence of key resources, typically in the form of a breeding site or territory communally exploited by a group of cooperating individuals. Nevertheless, not all animals that defend resources evolve advanced forms of cooperation and sociality—many non-cooperative species occupy resources that do not differ in obvious ways from those inhabited by cooperative species. A key question is thus whether cooperation confers more subtle benefits, for example by allowing access to higher quality resources through competitive exclusion of less social rivals. In other words, it is not clear whether defendable resources are a necessary precondition for sociality or whether they also contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of cooperative societies. Here, we highlight how advances in imaging technology, machine-learning, and environmental reconstruction enable the collection of behavioural and ecological data in unparalleled quantity and quality to address this question. These new techniques are especially suited to compare small-scale differences in resource use between cooperative and non-cooperative species that share a general habitat and have similar ecologies. The lamprologine cichlids of Lake Tanganyika are a prominent example of such a system and Michael Taborsky's pioneering work on this group has done much to promote these fishes as models of social evolution. We show that habitat features indicative of increased resource quality, namely increased stone cover, are indeed associated with the distribution of cooperative cichlids—at least where these resources are relatively scarce. We thus support a point Michael Taborsky made in 1981: the evolution of cooperative behaviour among cichlids is tied to their close association with a crucial resource, the substrate in which they hide and breed. In the future, the techniques we introduce here will allow to also investigate whether this substrate is indeed more than just the necessary precondition for cooperation among fishes; in addition, they will likely find application in a wide range of research fields interested in the interplay between biotic and abiotic environmental factors. published

Membrane proteins require lipid bilayers for function. While lipid compositions reach enormous complexities, high‐resolution structures are usually obtained in artificial detergents. To understand whether and how lipids guide membrane protein function, we use single‐molecule FRET to probe the dynamics of DtpA, a member of the proton‐coupled oligopeptide transporter (POT) family, in various lipid environments. We show that detergents trap DtpA in a dynamic ensemble with cytoplasmic opening. Only reconstitutions in more native environments restore cooperativity, allowing an opening to the extracellular side and a sampling of all relevant states. Bilayer compositions tune the abundance of these states. A novel state with an extreme cytoplasmic opening is accessible in bilayers with anionic head groups. Hence, chemical diversity of membranes translates into structural diversity, with the current POT structures only sampling a portion of the full structural space., Single‐molecule FRET experiments show that the structure of the peptide membrane transporter DtpA is tuned by membrane composition. Head‐group chemistry determines which of three alternative conformations dominates. An extreme cytoplasmic opening is observed with anionic head groups.

One of the primary functions of animal aggregations is defense against predators. Many social animals enjoy reduced predation risk as a result of grouping, and individuals within groups can benefit from information transferred by their group-mates about a potential predator. We present evidence that a tactile interaction behavior we term 'nudging' substantially modified group responses to a potential threat in a highly social catfish species, Corydoras aeneus. These catfish deployed nudges during flight responses, and these nudges were associated with a greater likelihood of group cohesion following a threat event. Increased nudging behavior resulted in longer flight responses. In addition, individuals that perceived the threat first were more likely to initiate nudges, implying that nudges could be used to alert group-mates to the presence of a threat. Taken together, our results suggest that tactile communication plays an important role in gaining anti-predator benefits from sociality in these fish.

he anomalous Hall effect (AHE) is a fundamental spintronic charge-to-charge-current conversion phenomenon and closely related to spin-to-charge-current conversion by the spin Hall effect. Future high-speed spintronic devices will crucially rely on such conversion phenomena at terahertz (THz) frequencies. Here, it is revealed that the AHE remains operative from DC up to 40 THz with a flat frequency response in thin films of three technologically relevant magnetic materials: DyCo5, Co32Fe68, and Gd27Fe73. The frequency-dependent conductivity-tensor elements ?xx and ?yx?are?measured, and good agreement with DC measurements is found. The experimental findings are fully consistent with ab initio calculations of ?yx for CoFe and highlight the role of the large Drude scattering rate (?100 THz) of metal thin films, which smears out any sharp spectral features of the THz AHE. Finally, it is found that the intrinsic contribution to the THz AHE dominates over the extrinsic mechanisms for the Co32Fe68 sample. The results imply that the AHE and related effects such as the spin Hall effect are highly promising ingredients of future THz spintronic devices reliably operating from DC to 40 THz and beyond.

One of the primary functions of animal aggregations is defense against predators. Many social animals enjoy reduced predation risk as a result of grouping, and individuals within groups can benefit from information transferred by their group-mates about a potential predator. We present evidence that a tactile interaction behavior we term ‘nudging’ substantially modified group responses to a potential threat in a highly social catfish species, Corydoras aeneus. These catfish deployed nudges during flight responses, and these nudges were associated with a greater likelihood of group cohesion following a threat event. Increased nudging behavior resulted in longer flight responses. In addition, individuals that perceived the threat first were more likely to initiate nudges, implying that nudges could be used to alert group-mates to the presence of a threat. Taken together, our results suggest that tactile communication plays an important role in gaining anti-predator benefits from sociality in these fish.

The first tetraacylstannanes Sn[(CO)R]4 (R=2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl (1 a) and 2,6‐dimethylphenyl (1 b)), a class of highly efficient Sn‐based photoinitiators, were synthesized. The formation of these derivatives was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray crystallography. The UV/Vis absorption spectra of 1 a, b reveal a significant redshift of the longest wavelength absorption compared to the corresponding germanium compounds. In contrast to the known toxicity of organotin derivatives, the AMES test and cytotoxicity studies reveal intriguing low toxicity. The excellent performance of 1 as photoinitiators is demonstrated by photobleaching (UV/Vis) and NMR/CIDNP investigations, as well as photo‐DSC studies.

To avoid infections and wound healing disorders, Triclosan coated sutures have been invented. Little is known of these sutures regarding their tensile properties. Three different Triclosan coated sutures (Vicryl 1 plus, PDS 0 plus, Monocryl 3-0 plus) were tested at several time points over 42 days regarding load to failure, strain, and stiffness compared to their non-coated versions (Vicryl 1, PDS 0, Monocryl 3-0). Four different measurement points were made. Suture loops were fixed in a material testing machine over two metal bars which were moved apart creating a stress to the fiber. Unpaired, two-tailed t-test were performed for each group (untreated and treated) while level of significance was defined at a level of p

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE) is a fundamental spintronic charge-to-charge-current conversion phenomenon and closely related to spin-to-charge-current conversion by the spin Hall effect. Future h ...

Summary 1. Many anti-predator benefits of group living are predicted to scale with prey density. Nevertheless, evidence for a general density-dependent increase of prey survival is scarce. A possible reason for this discrepancy is the reduction of costly anti-predator behaviour of prey with increasing density, which may offset density-dependent survival gains. Benefits of group living might hence accrue by saved investment into anti-predator behaviours rather than by increased survival rates. 2. Here, we experimentally presented predators in a colony of the cooperatively breeding cichlid fish Neolamprologus pulcher to study density dependence of their anti-predator defences. Predation is a driver of the formation and stability of breeding groups in this species, but potential benefits of coloniality are yet unclear. We hypothesised that increased density of breeding groups would either increase total anti-predator behaviour or allow individuals to reduce their anti-predator effort due to enhanced predator deterrence from neighbours. 3. Confirming predictions from the second hypothesis, our results show that focal groups invested less into anti-predator behaviour at higher densities, while neighbouring groups’ behaviour compensated for this reduced effort. This resulted in stable levels of anti-predator behaviours over the entire range of natural densities. Thus, aggregating in colonies allows these fish to save investment in anti-predator behaviour. 4. These results suggest that the formation of both breeding groups and colonies reflects adaptive responses to high predation pressure in this species. Two different levels of sociality seem to be favoured by the same selective force. 5. Our study provides experimental evidence in nature for an important benefit of coloniality that may explain the concomitant existence of different levels of sociality in many highly social taxa.

Introduction White matter hyperintensities (WHM) in cerebral MRI-scan have been suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis for geriatric LUTS. Aim of this study was to investigate this association in a geriatric cohort. Materials and Methods The VITA-study is a prospective, population-based study initiated 2000/2001. All inhabitants of a well-defined area in Vienna aged 75 years were recruited and underwent detailed regular visits including cerebral MRI-scans. Subcortical and periventricular WMHs were classified according to the Fazekas-classification. In 2010, all subjects alive were contacted to complete the Bristol LUTS questionnaire. Results Two hundred seventeen participants (75 men, 142 women), all 85 years old, entered this analysis. Urgency, frequency, and nocturia was present in 39 (50.7%), 53 (52%), and 55 (73.3%) men and 79 (55.6%), 81 (78.2%), and 68 (47.9%) women, respectively. OAB symptoms were seen in 55% of women and 50% of men. At baseline, WMH were present in 68.2% and this percentage increased to 85.7% at the most recent follow-up. Several symptoms were more prevalent in participants without WMH as compared to those with WMH, (urgency: 71% vs. 53%, P = 0.06, nocturia: 77% vs. 53%, P = 0.01: OAB-symptoms: 71% vs. 51%, P = 0.05. Only frequency was more prevalent in participants with WMH (77% vs. 68%, P = 0.27). In general, sub-categorization into periventricular and subcortical WMH confirmed these data. Furthermore the amount of WMH-burden did not correlate to LUT dysfunction. Conclusion This study failed to demonstrate a clear association between several aspects of LUTS and WMH in a rather healthy, population-based 85-year-old cohort. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:431–436, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background Enteral nutrition has been demonstrated to reduce ventilator days and the incidence of pneumonia, but the safest route for providing enteral nutrition to mechanically ventilated patients is unclear. Our objective was to determine if there is a difference between the incidences of microaspiration of gastric secretions in patients fed via a nasogastric tube vs a postpyloric tube while undergoing rotational therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Materials and methods Institutional review board approval was obtained for this prospective, randomized study. Patients were randomized to gastric or postpyloric enteral feedings. Daily tracheal secretion samples were collected, and we used an immunoassay to detect pepsin. Using the data for aspiration and tube type, a univariate unadjusted odds ratio was calculated to assess the risk of aspiration between the 2 tube types. An independent samples t test was used to analyze the hypothesis that microaspiration significantly affects lung recovery from ARDS. Results Of the 20 study patients, 9 (45%) received nasogastric feeds and 11 (55%) received postpyloric feeds. Western blot analysis for the presence of pepsin in each tracheal aspirate revealed microaspiration in 2 nasogastric (22%) and 2 (18%) postpyloric patients. The nasogastric tube provided a protective effect for aspirating with an odds ratio of .778 (95% confidence interval, .09-6.98). An independent samples t test was used and showed no significant change in PaO(2):FiO(2) ratio in the aspirating vs nonaspirating group (P = .552). Conclusion The results of this study indicate that enteral nutrition should not be delayed or stopped to position the tube in patients with ARDS on rotational therapy.

Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden grundlegende Aspekte fur die ganzheitliche Beurteilung der Verkehrsinfrastruktur erlautert. Abgeleitet von allgemeinen Gesichtspunkten, Besonderheiten und Zielen werden Zeitpunkte und Moglichkeiten einer Bewertung sowie Aspekte zur Auschreibung und Vergabe erlautert. Zusatzlich wird ein Vergleich zu bestehenden Bewertungssystemen im Hochbau und deren Randbedingungen gezogen und ein Uberblick uber derzeit laufende Forschungsvorhaben gegeben. Abschliesend werden besondere Fragestellungen bei der ganzheitlichen Beurteilung der Verkehrsinfrastruktur, z. B. Unscharfen im Betrachtungszeitraum, Bewertungsansatze fur “Risiken fur die lokale Umwelt” und ganzheitliche Burgerbeteiligung in fruhen Phasen mit Beispielen weiter ausgefuhrt. Holistic assessment of traffic infrastructure projects In the following paper basic aspects for a holistic assessment of traffic infrastructure projects are elucidated. Starting with general aspects, specific features and aims, the times and possibilities of a holistic assessment, as well as different aspects of an assessment concerning the placing are explained. In addition, a comparison between existing assessment systems in structural engineering and their boundary conditions is made. An overview of the current research projects follows. Special questions concerning the holistic assessment of traffic infrastructure, e.g. inexactness for a given period, assessment methods for “risks for the local environment”, and the holistic public participation, conclude this paper with examples.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol suggested to play a protective role against ageing and age-related diseases. We demonstrate that administering low-doses of resveratrol causes ROS accumulation and transcriptional changes in yeast cells and human adipocytes. These changes in gene expression depend on the oxidative transcription factor Yap1p. In particular, resveratrol induces expression of Yap1p gene targets, such as TRX2, TRR1 or AHP1, in a Yap1p-dependent mode. Under resveratrol treatment, Yap1p is phosphorylated and accumulated in the nucleus. Yap1p knockout causes resveratrol sensitivity, which totally depends on the presence of the C-terminal region of Yap1p. Thus, resveratrol may enhance cellular lifespan by hormetic ROS accumulation, which leads to strengthening the cells' antioxidant capacity.

Study Type – Symptom prevalence (prospective cohort) Level of Evidence 1b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms increase with age and have a considerable negative influence on quality of life. As a result of demographic changes the proportion of octogenarians will increase in the next decades substantially, yet the literature on urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms of the oldest old is scant. This population-based study of 85-year-old subjects sheds new light on this topic. OBJECTIVES • To assess prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract function in 85-year-old men and women. • Little is known on the prevalence of lower urinary tract dysfunction in this geriatric age group, which is now the fastest growing sector of the population worldwide. PATIENTS AND METHODS • The Vienna Trans-Danube Aging study (VITA) is a longitudinal, population-based study initiated in 2000 that included men/women aged 75 years living in a well-defined area in Vienna. • The main purpose of the VITA study was to identify risk factors for incident Alzheimer's disease. • All study participants alive in 2010 were contacted by mail to complete a detailed questionnaire on various aspects of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urinary incontinence (UI). RESULTS • The response rate was 68%, resulting in a total of 262 questionnaires available for analysis (men n= 96; women n= 166). All study participants were 85 years of age. • Urinary incontinence defined as any involuntary loss during the past 4 weeks was reported by 24% of men and 35% of women (P= 0.04). Stress UI was more frequent in women (39%) than in men (14%, P < 0.01), the difference for urge UI (women 35%, men 25%) was on the border of statistical significance (P= 0.05). Only four individuals (1.5%) needed permanent catheterization. • Urgency (women 56%, men 54%) and daytime frequency (women 70%, men 74%) were equally distributed (P > 0.05). Nocturia more often than twice was more prevalent in men (69%) than in women (49%) (P= 0.02). Overactive bladder, according to International Continence Society criteria, was present in 55% of women and 50% of men. • No difference regarding quality of life impairment as the result of LUTS and UI was noticed between sexes. A few co-morbidities were identified to correlate with UI and storage symptoms. CONCLUSIONS • These data provide insights into the prevalence and severity of LUTS and UI in individuals in their eighties, to our knowledge the largest population-based study in this age group. • Demographic changes in upcoming decades underline the importance of a thorough understanding of lower urinary tract dysfunction in a geriatric population.

We investigated the effect of the background electrolyte (BGE) anions on the electrophoretic mobilities of the cationic amino acids arginine and lysine and the polycationic peptides tetraarginine, tetralysine, nonaarginine, and nonalysine. BGEs composed of sodium chloride, sodium propane-1,3-disulfonate, and sodium sulfate were used. For the amino acids, determination of the limiting mobility by extrapolation, using the Onsager-Fuoss (OF) theory expression, yielded consistent estimates. For the peptides, however, the estimates of the limiting mobilities were found to spuriously depend on the BGE salt. This paradox was resolved using molecular modeling. Simulations, on all-atom as well as coarse-grained levels, show that significant counterion condensation, an effect not accounted for in OF theory, occurs for the tetra- and nonapeptides, even for low BGE concentrations. Including this effect in the quantitative estimation of the BGE effect on mobility removed the discrepancy between the estimated limiting mobilities in different salts. The counterion condensation was found to be mainly due to electrostatic interactions, with specific ion effects playing a secondary role. Therefore, the conclusions are likely to be generalizable to other analytes with a similar density of charged groups and OF theory is expected to fail in a predictable way for such analytes.

Modern, holistic concepts dealing with river/floodplain ecology recognize the key role of hydromorphological turnover processes for the development of distinct habitat patterns. Such patterns, in turn, are a vital basis for the extraordinary biodiversity of riverine systems. Natural braided/anabranched river systems in particular are characterised by high turnover rates; in the mid-term, however, they are thought to stay in dynamic equilibrium (shifting-mosaic steady-state) as long as the physical framework conditions remain unchanged. This study analyses both the historical composition and the spatio-temporal development of riverine habitats associated with an anabranched section of the Austrian Danube River. A habitat age model was used to analyse the age structure of the different habitat types. The results for the period 1812–1821 prior to channelization indicate that terrestrialization and habitat ageing were almost balanced with habitat regeneration and rejuvenation. Even though intensive morphological changes occurred, the Danube here largely persisted in dynamic equilibrium. The first channelization measures between 1821 and 1838, when 21% of the main channel banks were embanked, slightly promoted habitat regeneration. From 1859 onwards (80% embanked) until 1925, the natural habitat life time cycle was disrupted and the regenerating processes almost ceased. Altogether, human interferences led to a river landscape in a morphologically static state governed by significant terrestrialization (habitat succession) and habitat ageing. Without natural disturbances or, alternatively, targeted habitat management strategies, such an ecosystem soon lacks morphologically young habitats and adequate site conditions for a river/floodplain type-specific biocoenosis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Der herkommliche Stahlbetonbau wird durch ein neuartiges, innovatives Stahlbetondruckglied erweitert. Es kommt ein von der Annahutte entwickelter Gewindestahl SAS 670/800 bis Durchmesser 75 mm, mit Muffenverbindungen und Endankern zur Anwendung. Diese Druckglieder lassen sich mit Bewehrungsgehalten bis 20 % und kleinen Abmessungen wirtschaftlich in hoher Qualitat herstellen. Unter Berucksichtigung des Kriechens und Schwindens des Betons oder/und der Verwendung faserbewehrter duktiler Betone lassen sich diese hochfesten Betonstahle SAS 670/800, deren Quetschgrenze uber der Stauchungsgrenze ϵc2 liegt, voll ausnutzen. Dem stehen nach gultiger Norm eine Ausnutzung des Betonstahls BSt 500 mit ∼2 ‰, Durchmesser bis ≤ 40 mm und zulassige Bewehrungsgrade im Ubergreifungsbereich von max. 9% gegenuber. Im Teil I wird auf Grundlage des Eurocodes uber modifizierte Bemessungs- und Konstruktionskonzepte sowie durchgefuhrte Versuche berichtet. Im Teil II werden u. a. die Megastutzen des Opernturms Frankfurt vorgestellt, die mit diesem Konzept uber einer Zustimmung im Einzelfall ausgefuhrt wurden. Das System ist/wird derzeit in verschiedenen Landern, wie USA, Russland, Osterreich und Europa, allgemein bauaufsichtlich zugelassen. The New Reinforcement System; Compression Members With High Strength Reinforcement SAS 670/800 The conventional family of reinforced concrete constructions is being extended by a new and innovative concrete compression member. Threaded bars SAS 670/800 with a maximum diameter of 75 mm, developed by Annahutte, are implemented in combination with couplers and end anchors. These compression members can be manufactured economically in small dimensions and high quality with a percentage of reinforcement of up to 20%. Considering the concrete behaviour of creep and shrinkage or/and using ductile fibre reinforced concretes the high strength steel SAS 670/800, with a compressive strain beyond the compressive strain point ϵc2, can be fully utilised. The valid design code however only allows utilisation degrees of 2‰ for a reinforcing steel BSt 500, diameters up to 40 mm and a maximum percentage of reinforcement in lapped slices of 9%. Part I will be commenting on modified design and construction concepts based on the Euro Code fundamentals and on carried out tests. The mega columns of the Opernturm in Frankfurt which where accomplished using this concept in an approval of the individual case, will be presented, amongst others, in Part II. Currently this system is, or soon will be, generally approved in several countries such as the USA, Russia and Europe.