Conditional human VEGF‐mediated vascularization in chicken embryos using a novel temperature‐inducible gene regulation (TIGR) system

Advanced heterologous transcription control systems for adjusting desired transgene expression are essential for gene function assignments, drug discovery, manufacturing of difficult to produce protein pharmaceuticals and precise dosing of gene‐based therapeutic interventions. Conversion of the Streptomyces albus heat shock response regulator (RheA) into an artificial eukaryotic transcription factor resulted in a vertebrate thermosensor (CTA; cold‐inducible transactivator), which is able to adjust transcription initiation from chimeric target promoters (PCTA) in a low‐temperature‐ inducible manner. Evaluation of the temperature‐dependent CTA-PCTA interaction using a tailored ELISA‐like cell‐free assay correlated increased affinity of CTA for PCTA with temperature downshift. The temperature‐inducible gene regulation (TIGR) system enabled tight repression in the chicken bursal B‐cell line DT40 at 41°C as well as precise titration of model product proteins up to maximum expression at or below 37°C. Implantation of microencapsulated DT40 cells engineered for TIGR‐controlled expression of the human vascular endothelial growth factor A (hVEGF121) provided low‐temperature‐induced VEGF‐mediated vascularization in chicken embryo

Graphene ribbon growth on structured silicon carbide

Structured Silicon Carbide was proposed to be an ideal template for the production of arrays of edge specific graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), which could be used as a base material for graphene transistors. We prepared periodic arrays of nanoscaled stripe-mesas on SiC surfaces using electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. Subsequent epitaxial graphene growth by annealing is differentiated between the basal-plane mesas and the faceting stripe walls as monitored by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Microscopic low energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED) revealed that the graphene ribbons on the facetted mesa side walls grow in epitaxial relation to the basal-plane graphene with an armchair orientation at the facet edges. The ¼- band system of the ribbons exhibits linear bands with a Dirac like shape corresponding to monolayer graphene as identified by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES)

Volunteering in the care of people with severe mental illness: a systematic review

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Family involvement in the context of chronic diseases: The role of social support in treatment decision-making for surgical procedures

If medical decision-making about complex treatment options (such as surgical procedures) is challenging for patients, family members can provide them with advice and health information. Previous research about family involvement in health communication has largely focused on cancer patients. Thus, it lacks an examination of family involvement in surgery decision-making in the context of non-life-threatening chronic diseases like arthrosis. In particular, we focus on the role of social support for family involvement in these situations. Against this background, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with arthrosis patients and their family members (n = 32 patients; n = 8 relatives). To better understand family involvement in surgery decision-making, three research questions were analyzed: (1) What are the perceived characteristics of the arthroplasty decisional process? (2) Which patterns of family involvement exist with regard to social support? (3) What general circumstances are relevant for family involvement? Our results demonstrate that social support plays an important role in the patterns of family decision-making. Instrumental, emotional, and informational support can indirectly enhance family involvement in decision-making. In addition, relatives are also directly involved in decision-making processes and may instigate the decision. The type of family involvement is influenced by characteristics of the decision-making situation. In addition to personal factors and the relationship with the physician, which is perceived as less supportive, the need for familial decisional support intensifies.Besonders wenn medizinische Entscheidungen zu komplexen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten (wie operativen Eingriffen) von den Patienten als Herausforderung wahrgenommen werden, können Familienmitglieder sie mit Rat und Gesundheitsinformationen unterstützen. Die bisherige Forschung hat sich größtenteils auf die Beteiligung von Familienmitgliedern in der Gesundheitskommunikation bei Krebserkrankungen fokussiert. Daher mangelt es an Untersuchungen, die die Familienbeteiligung bei nicht-lebensbedrohlichen chronischen Krankheiten wie Arthrose betrachten. Wir fokussieren im Besonderen die Rolle der sozialen Unterstützung für die Beteiligung von Familienangehörigen in solchen Situationen. Vor diesem Hintergrund, haben wir qualitative Leitfadeninterviews mit Arthrose-Patienten und ihren Familienmitgliedern durchgeführt (n = 32 Patienten; n = 8 Angehörige). Um die Beteiligung von Angehörigen bei medizinischen Entscheidungen besser zu verstehen, wurden drei Fragestellungen analysiert: (1) Was sind die wahrgenommenen Eigenschaften der Entscheidungssituation für die Implantation einer Endoprothese? (2) Welche Muster der der familiären Beteiligung existieren hinsichtlich der sozialen Unterstützungsfunktionen? (3) Welche generellen Rahmenbedingungen sind relevant für die Beteiligung der Familienmitglieder? Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die soziale Unterstützung eine wichtige Rolle für die Beteiligung der Familienmitglieder an medizinischen Entscheidungen spielt. Instrumentelle, emotionale und informationelle Unterstützung können die Beteiligung indirekt erhöhen. Außerdem sind die Familienmitglieder auch direkt am Entscheidungsprozess beteiligt und initiieren die Entscheidungsfindung. Die Art der Beteiligung wird durch Merkmale der Entscheidungssituation beeinflusst. Neben Eigenschaften der Personen, spielt hierbei die Beziehung zum Arzt eine wichtige Rolle. Diese wird teilweise als wenig unterstützend wahrgenommen, was den Bedarf der Patienten an Unterstützung durch die Familienangehörigen erhöht

Trends in Automotive Battery Cell Design: A Statistical Analysis of Empirical Data

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have become the preferred power source for electric vehicles (EVs) due to their high energy density, low self-discharge rate, and long cycle life. Over the past decade, technological enhancements accompanied by massive cost reductions have enabled the growing market diffusion of EVs. This diffusion has resulted in customized and cost-effective Li-ion battery cell designs tailored to automotive requirements. This study describes design trends in Li-ion batteries from the pack to the electrode level based on empirical data, including pack energy, cell capacity, outer cell dimensions and formats, energy density, specific energy, and electrode properties, such as active material selection, porosities, and component thicknesses. Market share-weighted findings imply several trends, such as (1) increasing cell dimensions, with the longest cells reaching 500 mm (pouch) and almost 1000 mm (prismatic) in 2021, (2) increasing differentiation between either high-energy or low-cost cathode and anode materials, and (3) increasing cell energy, equivalent to gaining about 100% (energy density) and 70% (specific energy) compared to the 2010 and 2021 averages. Despite these improvements, this study finds that the widespread market diffusion of the latest cell technologies proceeds slower than industry announcements suggest and that several well-known, literature-proofed potentials are not yet fully exploited

Streptomyces‐derived quorum‐sensing systems engineered for adjustable transgene expression in mammalian cells and mice

Prokaryotic transcriptional regulatory elements have been adopted for controlled expression of cloned genes in mammalian cells and animals, the cornerstone for gene‐function correlations, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing as well as advanced gene therapy and tissue engineering. Many prokaryotes have evolved specific molecular communication systems known as quorum‐sensing to coordinate population‐wide responses to physiological and/or physicochemical signals. A generic bacterial quorum‐sensing system is based on a diffusible signal molecule that prevents binding of a repressor to corresponding operator sites thus resulting in derepression of a target regulon. In Streptomyces, a family of butyrolactones and their corresponding receptor proteins, serve as quorum‐sensing systems that control morphological development and antibiotic biosynthesis. Fusion of the Streptomyces coelicolor quorum‐sensing receptor (ScbR) to a eukaryotic transactivation domain (VP16) created a mammalian transactivator (SCA) which binds and adjusts transcription from chimeric promoters containing an SCA‐specific operator module (PSPA). Expression of erythropoietin or the human secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) by this quorum‐sensor‐regulated gene expression system (QuoRex) could be fine‐tuned by non‐toxic butyrolactones in a variety of mammalian cells including human primary and mouse embryonic stem cells. Following intraperitoneal implantation of microencapsulated Chinese hamster ovary cells transgenic for QuoRex‐controlled SEAP expression into mice, the serum levels of this model glycoprotein could be adjusted to desired concentrations using different butyrolactone dosing regime

European consensus conference on faecal microbiota transplantation in clinical practice

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an important therapeutic option for Clostridium difficile infection. Promising findings suggest that FMT may play a role also in the management of other disorders associated with the alteration of gut microbiota. Although the health community is assessing FMT with renewed interest and patients are becoming more aware, there are technical and logistical issues in establishing such a non-standardised treatment into the clinical practice with safety and proper governance. In view of this, an evidence-based recommendation is needed to drive the practical implementation of FMT. In this European Consensus Conference, 28 experts from 10 countries collaborated, in separate working groups and through an evidence-based process, to provide statements on the following key issues: FMT indications; donor selection; preparation of faecal material; clinical management and faecal delivery and basic requirements for implementing an FMT centre. Statements developed by each working group were evaluated and voted by all members, first through an electronic Delphi process, and then in a plenary consensus conference. The recommendations were released according to best available evidence, in order to act as guidance for physicians who plan to implement FMT, aiming at supporting the broad availability of the procedure, discussing other issues relevant to FMT and promoting future clinical research in the area of gut microbiota manipulation. This consensus report strongly recommends the implementation of FMT centres for the treatment of C. difficile infection as well as traces the guidelines of technicality, regulatory, administrative and laboratory requirements.Peer reviewe

Above‐ and belowground strategies of tropical montane tree species are coordinated and driven by small‐scale nitrogen availability

The question whether the strategies of above- and belowground plant organs are coordinated as predicted by the plant economics spectrum theory is still under debate. We aim to determine the leading dimensions of tree trait variation for above- and belowground functional traits, and test whether they represent spectra of adaptation along a soil fertility gradient in tropical Andean forests.We measured leaf, stem and fine root functional traits, and individual-level soil nutrient availability for 433 trees from 52 species at three elevations between 1000 and 3000 m a.s.l.We found close coordination between above– and belowground functional traits related to the trade-off between resource acquisition and conservation, whereas root diameter and specific root length formed an independent axis of covarying traits. The position of a tree species along the acquisition–conservation axis of the trait space was closely associated with local soil nitrogen, but not phosphorus, availability.Our results imply that above- and belowground plant functional traits determine at which edaphic microhabitats coexisting tree species can grow, which is potentially crucial for understanding community assembly in species-rich tropical montane forests