Search

Purpose The aim of this survey is to investigate T1DM patients’ expectations for and requirements of an ideal mobile self-management app with a special focus on functions for sports and exercise. Methods A total of 251 persons participated in the survey. After checking for completeness and plausibility, the answers of 167 patients diagnosed with T1DM (66% female, 34% male) were analyzed. Results The key features/aspects that were identified as being “rather important”/”very important” by more than 75% of respondents are: data security (96.4%), integration of further health data (e.g., heart rate, step count, calories) from other apps already installed on their smartphone (92.2%), automatic import of glucose data from other apps (91.6%), individual target setting (87.4%), warnings about abnormal glucose levels (82.6%), warnings about other abnormal health data (81.4%), diary function (80.8%), information on the training session after the workout (80.8%) and displaying/processing of further fitness variables (such as heart rate, step count, etc.) from other health-related wearable systems (77.8%). Conclusions This study identifies the most relevant features of an ideal self-management app with functions for sports and exercise targeted at patients with T1DM that should be considered in the development of such an app.

Regional climate change and anthropogenic activities are altering land-based freshwater runoff and nutrient loads to northern European shelf seas, which both leave their imprint on the hydrography and biogeochemistry of coastal ecosystems on annual to multi-decadal timescales. Long-term simulations forced by regional climate models have been proven as powerful tools to identify these impacts on the variability of the North Sea and Baltic Sea ecosystems. However, the simulations are prone to substantial biases concerning the land-sea coupling. Long-term river discharge forcing for regional ocean models usually needs to be compiled from different data sources and climatologies. Typically resulting in patchy, inconsistent datasets. Additionally, the contribution of smaller river catchments and day-to-day discharge variability is not adequately resolved. In this study, we used two novel high-resolution river runoff datasets to simulate 66-years ecosystem hindcasts with the 3D coupled physical-biogeochemical NPZD-model ECOSMO II, to study the role of river discharge forcing for the quality of the ecosystem simulation. The forcing datasets are based on consistent long-term reconstructions of the hydrological discharge model (HD) at 5 min. resolution and the mesoscale hydrological model (mHm) at 0.0625° resolution, both covering the entire northern European catchment region. We compare long-term seasonal and annual statistics of salinity, oxygen, inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus from the model simulations to those from a reference simulation with standard runoff, compiled from various data sources, and to those estimated from observations. Furthermore, potential bottom-up effects on lower-tropic-level dynamics are investigated, by comparatively analyzing long-term variability in phytoplankton biomass and primary production in model simulations forced by different runoff products.

Heart transplantation is the only cure for patients with terminal cardiac failure, but the supply of allogeneic donor organs falls far short of the clinical need1–3. Xenotransplantation of genetically modified pig hearts has been discussed as a potential alternative4. Genetically multi-modified pig hearts that lack galactose-α1,3-galactose epitopes (α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout) and express a human membrane cofactor protein (CD46) and human thrombomodulin have survived for up to 945 days after heterotopic abdominal transplantation in baboons5. This model demonstrated long-term acceptance of discordant xenografts with safe immunosuppression but did not predict their life-supporting function. Despite 25 years of extensive research, the maximum survival of a baboon after heart replacement with a porcine xenograft was only 57 days and this was achieved, to our knowledge, only once6. Here we show that α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout pig hearts that express human CD46 and thrombomodulin require non-ischaemic preservation with continuous perfusion and control of post-transplantation growth to ensure long-term orthotopic function of the xenograft in baboons, the most stringent preclinical xenotransplantation model. Consistent life-supporting function of xenografted hearts for up to 195 days is a milestone on the way to clinical cardiac xenotransplantation7.

In this Letter, Mayuko Kurome and Valeri Zakhartchenko have been added to the author list (affiliated with Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany). The author list and 'Author contributions' section have been corrected online; see accompanying Amendment.

Ziel: Ziel dieser klinische, prospektiven Studie war es im Wesentlichen die Entwicklung der Aderhautdicke im Verlauf der Therapie mit Ranibizumab zu untersuchen. Durchführung: Dazu wurden die OCT-Aufnahmen von 38 Studienaugen ausgewertet. Die Messungen erfolgten zentral unter der Fovea centralis und im Abstand von jeweils 1mm temporal, nasal, superior und inferior. Weitergehend haben wir die zentrale Netzhautdicke im Verlauf, die Entwicklung des BCVA und das Auftreten von subretinaler Flüssigkeit untersucht. Ergebnisse: Verbesserung des BCVA um 0,17 logMAR, Reduktion der zentralen Netzhautdicke um 150 um, Reduktion der Aderhautdicke um 16 um. Zusammenfassung: Im Zuge der Therapie mit Ranibizumab in dieser Studie konnte eine leichte Reduktion der Aderhautdicke festgestellt werden., Objective: The aim of this clinical, prospective study was to investigate the development of the choroidal thickness in the course of therapy with ranibizumab. Conduct: For this purpose the OCT images of 38 study eyes were evaluated. The measurements were performed centrally under the fovea centralis and at a distance of 1 mm temporal, nasal, superior and inferior. We have further investigated the central retinal thickness in the course, the development of the BCVA and the occurrence of subretinal fluid. Results: Improvement of the BCVA by 0.17 logMAR, reduction of the central retinal thickness by 150 μm, reduction of the choroidal thickness by 16 μm. Summary: In the course of the therapy with ranibizumab in this study, a slight reduction of the choroidal thickness was observed.

Two novel double-alkyl functionalized imidazolium ionic liquid crystals have successfully been utilized to demonstrate the benefits of the liquid crystalline phase on the ssDSSC performance. In particular, a good balance between dye regeneration and hole transport is only realized in the liquid crystalline phase. Devices that employ a single component ionic liquid based electrolyte show a remarkably stable efficiency during 1000 h under outdoor operation temperature conditions and 1 sun illumination.

One factor limiting the performance of polymer-based bulk heterojunction solar cells is inefficient charge transport in the disordered donor/acceptor blends. The incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the active layer is considered as a promising concept to improve charge transport toward the electrodes. Whereas disordered ternary blends of polymer, fullerenes and CNTs, were already examined in the past, there is much less work on ordered vertically oriented arrays of nanotubes for solar cell applications. We focused on the fabrication of corresponding arrays with spatial dimensions that are suitable for application in polymer-based solar cells. We demonstrate in this contribution that CNTs can be grown on ITO covered glass at temperatures below 600 °C by static pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Using short growth times, we were able to obtain CNT arrays with a rather uniform length limited to about 200 nm. With a plasma-enhanced CVD process, we were also able to produce wall-like carbon na...

ZnO with its wide band gap (3.37 eV) emerged as a promising semiconductor material for applications in the fields of printable and flexible electronics such as field effect transistors, etc. The fact that contacts at particle/particle interfaces exert a limiting impact on device performances motivates research on aligning the electronic levels at particle/particle interfaces. To this end, we focus in the present study on the surface functionalization of ZnO nanorods by a series of C60 derivatives. The latter share in common (i) a phosphonic acid as an anchor to ZnO, (ii) an alkyl chain as a flexible spacer, and (iii) a C60 as the headgroup. To shed light onto the electronic interactions between ZnO and C60, we vary the alkyl chain length from n = 3 to n = 18. HRTEM and EELS prove the successful surface functionalization. Fundamental to this work are steady state absorption and photoluminescence measurements, which confirm the presence of appreciable electronic couplings between ZnO nanorods and C60. Espec...

A new concept for the efficient synthesis of cationic dendrons, 4-tert-butyl-1-(3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)benzyl)pyridinium bromide (17), 1,1'-(5-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)-1,3-phenylene)bis(methylene)bis(4-tert-butylpyridinium) bromide (18), N1,N7-bis(3-(4-tert-butyl-pyridium-methyl)phenyl)-4-(3-(3-(4-tert-butyl-pyridinium-methyl)phenyl-amino)-3-oxopropyl)-4-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)heptanediamide tribromide (19), and N1,N7-bis(3,5-bis(4-tert-butyl-pyridium-methyl)phenyl)-4-(3-(3,5-bis(4-tert-butyl-pyridinium-methyl)phenylamino)-3-oxopropyl)-4-(3,4-dihydroxybenzamido)heptanediamide hexabromide (20), and their facile binding to zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures is introduced. Dendrons containing highly reactive benzylic bromides reacted readily with 4-tert-butyl-pyridine and resulted in cationic dendrons. Furthermore, these permanently positively charged dendrons were equipped with a catechol anchor group. This enabled ZnO surface functionalization by simple immersion. The adsorption of 17, 18, 19, and 20 on the colloidal nanoparticles was monitored by Langmuir isotherms. The highest obtained experimental loadings correspond to 99.5%, 98.6%, 99.1%, and 42.5% of the particle surface for 17, 18, 19, and 20, respectively. These results indicate insufficient adsorption of the largest molecule 20 leading to reduced colloidal stability of the nanoparticles, while an enhanced stability after grafting with 17, 18, and 19 was observed. Mesoporous films suitable for the use as electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared. Subsequently, the films were functionalized with 18, 19, or 20 and sensitized with zinc-5,15-bis-[2',6'-bis-{2'',2''-bis-(carboxy)-ethyl}-methyl-4'-tert-butyl-pheny]-10,20-bis-(4'-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin-octasodium-salt. UV-vis absorption spectra confirmed that 18, 19, and 20 are suitable for the stable electrostatic attachment of the dye. Current-voltage characteristics of complete cells demonstrated that increasing positive functionalization of the ZnO surface leads to decreased open circuit voltages (V(oc)). All V(oc) values were around 0.4 V with a maximum for the 18 functionalized ZnO film of 0.45 V. The maximum cell efficiency obtained (0.31%) is rather high, considering the narrow spectral absorption of the dye and the rather thin ZnO films used. Finally, incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) measurements confirmed photoinduced electron injection from the dye. These features are important assets for applications in particle technology and even facilitated advanced devices like a supramolecular DSSC complete with a subsequent layer of negatively charged porphyrins.

Novel types of binding motives have been investigated within the context of sensitizing ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells with metalloporphyrins. In particular, a complementary class of metalloporphyrin has been synthesized to probe the impact of a face-to-edge/orthogonal versus face-to-face/parallel orientation of the metalloporphyrin with respect to ZnO and has been compared to TiO(2)-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Our studies provide a deep and detailed understanding of the individual electron-transfer processes at the ZnO/metalloporphyrin interface, that is, electron injection, recombination, and dye regeneration, by means of steady-state and time-resolved techniques. Interestingly, we found that for our novel ZnO/metalloporphyrin systems, the injection efficiencies are close to unity, despite their long, nonconjugated anchoring group length.

Background As a step towards clinical cardiac xenotransplantation, our experimental heterotopic intrathoracic xenotransplantation model offers a beating and ejecting donor heart while retaining the recipient′s native organ as a backup in case of graft failure. Clinically applicable immunosuppressive regimens (IS) were investigated first, then treatments known to be effective in hypersensitized patients or those with recalcitrant rejection reactions. Methods Consecutive experiments were carried out between 2009 and 2013. Twenty-one genetically modified pigs (GGTA1-knockout/hCD46/± thrombomodulin, in one case HLA-E instead) were used as donors. In all experiments, two cycles of immunoabsorption reduced preformed antibodies. Recipient baboons were divided into two groups according to IS regimen: In group one (n = 10), pre-treatment started either one (anti-CD20) or four weeks (anti-CD20 plus the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib) prior to transplantation. The extended conventional (as for allotransplantation) immunosuppressive maintenance regimen included anti-thymocyte globuline, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, methylprednisolone and weekly anti-CD20. In group two (n = 11), myeloablative pre-treatment as in multiple myeloma patients (long and short regimens) was added to extended conventional IS; postoperative total thoracic and abdominal lymphoid irradiation (TLI; single dose of 600 cGY) was used to further reduce antibody-producing cells. Results In the perioperative course, the surgical technique was safely applied: 19 baboons were weaned off extracorporeal circulation and 17 extubated. Nine animals were lost in the early postoperative course due to causes unrelated to surgical technique or IS regimen. Excluding these early failures, median graft survival times of group 1 and 2 were 18.5 (12–50) days and 16 (7–35) days. Necropsy examination of group 1 donor organs revealed hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall in the six longer-lasting grafts; myocardial histology confirmed pre-clinical suspicion of humoral rejection, which was not inhibited by the extended conventional IS including intensified treatments, and signs of thrombotic microangiopathy. Grafts of group 2 presented with only mild-to-moderate features of humoral rejection and thrombotic microangiopathy, except in one case of delayed rejection on day 17. The other experiments in this group were terminated because of untreatable pulmonary oedema, recurring ventricular fibrillation, Aspergillus sepsis, as well as a combination of a large donor organ and late toxic side effects due to TLI. Conclusions Longer-term results were difficult to achieve in this model due to the IS regimens used. However, we conclude that heterotopic intrathoracic heart transplantation may be an option for clinical xenotransplantation.

Objectives: New immunologic approaches are needed to overcome xenogeneic rejection to make clinical cardiac xenotransplantation possible. Anti-CD40-antibody reduces the adaptive immune response by inhibiting costimulation between T-cells and antigen presenting cells respectively B-cells. We investigated the effect on different peripheral cell lines during the first five days after transplantation. Methods: Eight baboons underwent heterotopic thoracic cardiac xenotransplantation; double and triple (Gal-KO/hCD46/ ± hTM) transgenic pigs were used as donors. Treatment consisted of anti-CD20-antibody, MMF, tacrolimus, cyclophosphamide and ATG induction (dosage is listed in the table below). The last two animals additionally received the new anti-CD40-antibody (2C10R4). Lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and thrombocytes were measured daily. Results: The new therapeutic regimen used caused a clear decrease of neutrophils and lymphocytes compared with previous experiments. Additionally, the dose of cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus and MMF could be markedly reduced. This led to less side effects of the basic immunosuppression. No adverse effects of the new antibody, especially no thrombotic complications as described in other costimulation treatments occurred. Conclusions concerning graft survival are not possible at this point (one animal developed a pulmonary edema on day 13, one animal a sepsis on day 35; mean survival of previous animals was 18 days). Conclusions: We could demonstrate that costimulation blockade with anti-CD40-antibody was efficient and the basic immunosuppression could be reduced. As a result the new therapeutic regimen had less toxic side effects compared with our control.

Wurtzite ZnO hexagonal nanopyramids were successfully synthesized in the liquid phase from homogeneous methanolic solutions of zinc acetate and tetramethylammonium hydroxide at an excess of zinc ions. The formation and properties of the nanocrystals were examined as a function of synthesis conditions. No significant influence of the [Zn(2+)]/[OH(-)] ratio was noticed on the final particle size, in spite of increased amounts of OH(-) ions, which tend to accelerate the particle nucleation and growth. Nevertheless, the reactant concentration ratio influences the surface properties of the ZnO nanocrystals. Mesoporous ZnO films were prepared by doctor blading ethanolic pastes containing ZnO nanoparticles and ethyl cellulose onto FTO conductive glass substrate followed by calcination. Additionally, the influence of a plasticizer (triacetin)-used during the paste preparation-on the film quality was investigated. A higher content of ZnO nanoparticles and plasticizer in the pastes improved the film quality. Four different temperatures (i.e., 400, 425, 450, and 475 °C) were used for the film calcination and their influence on the structural properties of the films was characterized. In principle, increasing the calcination temperature goes hand in hand with an increase of particle size, as well as the pore diameter and reduction of the surface area. Suitable mesoporous films were employed as photoanodes in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In order to assess the effect of the varied parameters on complete DSSC devices-using cis-diisothiocyanato-bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylato) ruthenium(II)bis(tetrabutylammonium (N719) as a sensitizer-incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) and current voltage measurements were carried out. The IPCE measurements confirmed photoinduced electron injection from the dye, reaching IPCE values up to 76%. Furthermore, current-voltage characteristics of complete cells emphasized the importance of the proper preparation methods and temperatures. These features are important assets for the preparation of nanocrystalline ZnO based photoelectrodes and for improving the DSSC performance.

In this work the application of effervescent atomization to spray drying of food liquids like emulsions is explored. Therefore the influence of the atomization process on the breakup of oil drops inside the emulsion is investigated. It is expected that the oil drop size distribution of the emulsion is influenced by the stress inside the nozzle orifice and the following atomization. According to Grace the viscosity ratio between disperse and continuous phase is a crucial factor for drop breakup. A model oil-in-water emulsion was used. The viscosity of the continuous phase was adjusted by adding maltodextrin or gelatinized corn starch thus varying the viscosity ratio in the range between 15 and 0.1. The dry matter content and corresponding viscosity show only low influence on the spray drop size distribution. However, the atomized emulsions contain mostly smaller oil drops compared to the original emulsions. The influence of the atomization on the oil drop size distribution decrease with decreasing viscosity ratios. An influence of increasing stress due to increased atomization gas mass flow is present but less significant. The viscosity ratio thus allows controlling the influence of the atomization on the oil drop size distribution in the spray. The invariance of the spray drop size distribution on minor changes in fluid properties like viscosity is a favorable characteristic in food processing where such changes are common.

The heterotopic thoracic pig-to-baboon heart transplantation has been established by our group as a safe preclinical model. Since the recipient's own heart remains in place, it is possible to evaluate immunological reactions of various types and the symptoms of the thrombotic microangiopathy under working heart conditions. However, these experiments are complex and costly. In order to limit the number of transplants, we tested our multi-transgenic porcine donor hearts in an ex-vivo perfusion model first. Ex-vivo model: Both beating ventricles were perfused with heparinized freshly drawn human whole blood using a centrifugal pump and a membrane oxygenator. During 3 h of observation, cardiac function parameters were obtained continuously; specimens from the perfusate, coronary sinus blood, and myocardial biopsies were assessed. Various genetically modified porcine donor hearts were tested; we are currently evaluating the impact of human thrombomodulin on the porcine microcirculation; the efficacy of complement regulation is another work package. Pig-to-baboon heterotopic cardiac xenotransplantation: In our latest group, seven baboons received five double (Gal-KO/hCD46), and two triple (Gal-KO/hCD46/hTM resp./HLA-E) transgenic pig hearts. Our immunosuppressive regimen included preoperative anti-CD20-antibody, bortezomib, dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide; postoperatively, ATG, tacrolimus, MMF, anti-CD20-antibody, bortezomib and dexamethasone were administered. Total lymph node irradiation (6 Gy) was applied on postoperative day five. The triple transgenic hearts survived 35 and 37 days respectively. Both hearts maintained function throughout the experiment. Both recipients succumbed to fungal infections. Humoral rejection was seen only once. The next barrier appears to be the complex event of thrombotic microangiopathy that needs to be addressed with the additional expression of human thrombomodulin strategies.

We describe the functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with 4-(2-trimethylsilyl)ethynylaniline and the subsequent attachment of a zinc-phthalocyanine (ZnPc) derivative using the reliable Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The motivation of this study was the preparation of a nanotube-based platform which allows the facile fabrication of more complex functional nanometer-scale structures, such as a SWNT-ZnPc hybrid. The nanotube derivatives described here were fully characterized by a combination of analytical techniques such as Raman, absorption and emission spectroscopy, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy (AFM and SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The SWNT-ZnPc nanoconjugate was also investigated with a series of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy experiments, and a photoinduced communication between the two photoactive components (i.e., SWNT and ZnPc) was identified. Such beneficial features lead to monochromatic internal photoconversion efficiencies of 17.3% when the SWNT-ZnPc hybrid material was tested as photoactive material in an ITO photoanode.

Immunosuppression Using CD40 Costimulation Blockade in a Preclinical Cardiac Xenotransplantation Model J. Abicht ,1 T. Mayr,2 S. Guethoff,2 F. Werner,1 I. Lutzmann,2 M.C. Langenmayer,3 E. Wolf,4 D. Ayares,5 K. Reimann,6 B. Reichart,7 P. Brenner.2 1Department of Anaestesiology (LMU), Munich, Germany; 2Department of Cardiac Surgery (LMU), Munich, Germany; 3Department of Veterinary Pathology (LMU), Munich, Germany; 4Department of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology(LMU), Munich, Germany; 5Revivicor Inc., Blacksburg, VA; 6MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA; 7Walter-Brendel-Centre (LMU), Munich, Germany.

Charge carriers, that is, holes as well as trapped and “free” electrons were investigated by means of time resolved spectroscopy in anodic TiO2 nanotubes that were heat treated at different temperatures. The lifetimes of the charge carrier were compared with those generated in reference layers of Solaronix Ti-Nanoxide D and Degussa P25 nanoparticles. Remarkably long lived “free” electrons were only noted in the TiO2 nanotubes. These findings have significance in view of any photoelectrochemical applications of TiO2 nanotubes.