Thermodynamics of 4,4 '-stilbenedicarboxylic acid monolayer self-assembly at the nonanoic acid-graphite interface

A direct calorimetric measurement of the overall enthalpy change associated with self-assembly of organic monolayers at the liquid–solid interface is for most systems of interest practically impossible. In previous work we proposed an adapted Born–Haber cycle for an indirect assessment of the overall enthalpy change by using terephthalic acid monolayers at the nonanoic acid–graphite interface as a model system. To this end, the sublimation enthalpy, dissolution enthalpy, the monolayer binding enthalpy in vacuum, and a dewetting enthalpy are combined to yield the total enthalpy change. In the present study the Born–Haber cycle is applied to 4,40 -stilbenedicarboxylic acid monolayers. A detailed comparison of these two aromatic dicarboxylic acids is used to evaluate and quantify the contribution of the organic backbone for stabilization of the monolayer at the nonanoic acid–graphite interface

Loss of the miR379-410 cluster in mice leads to alterations in social and anxiety-related behaviours

microRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a group of small non-coding RNAs that down regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The paternally imprinted placental mammal-specific miR379-410 cluster hosts 38 miRNAs. In the last decade, several members of the cluster have been shown to regulate synapse development and plasticity in mammals. Further, they have been implicated in a variety of diseases, including neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the potential involvement of these miRNAs in the control of complex behaviour in mammals, such as sociability, remains largely unknown. This is an important issue since aberrant synaptic dysfunction is thought to underlie neurodevelopmental diseases, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction as well as restricted repetitive behaviour. This study aimed at the characterization of a constitutive knock-out (ko) mouse model that carries a deletion of the miR379-410 cluster. Extensive behavioural assays across the animals’ lifespan and cellular examinations of structural and functional properties of synapses were performed. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing of adult miR379-410 ko hippocampi allowed the validation of potential direct target candidates of the miRNA cluster by using molecular and biochemical approaches. Mice deficient for the miR379-410 cluster displayed an anti-autistic-like phenotype, consisting of hypersocial behaviour, increased ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and reduced repetitive behaviour in the absence of cognitive impairments. Further, miR379-410 ko mice presented an anxiety phenotype over the lifespan. Along with the behavioural phenotype, miR379-410 ko mice showed increased excitatory synaptic transmission and spine density accompanied by an elevated expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor complex components in the hippocampus. Several of these components, identified by transcriptome profiling (Cnih2, Src, Prr7 and Dlgap3) could be validated as direct miR379-410 target genes. Taken together, the data obtained in this thesis describe for the first time a negative regulatory role of the miR379-410 cluster in social behaviour and the control of genes associated with excitatory synaptic function. Thus, interfering with miRNAs from the miR379-410 cluster could represent in the future a promising strategy for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social dysfunction, such as ASD

From Au-Thiolate Chains to Thioether Sierpiński Triangles: The Versatile Surface Chemistry of 1,3,5-Tris(4-Mercaptophenyl)Benzene on Au(111)

Self-assembly of 1,3,5-tris(4-mercaptophenyl)benzene (TMB) – a three-fold symmetric, thiol functionalized aromatic molecule – was studied on Au(111) with the aim to realize extended Au-thiolate linked molecular architectures. The focus lay on resolving thermally activated structural and chemical changes by a combination of microscopy and spectroscopy. Thereby Scanning Tunneling Microscopy provided submolecularly resolved structural information, while the chemical state of sulfur was assessed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Directly after room temperature deposition only less well ordered structures were observed. Mild annealing promoted the first structural transition into ordered molecular chains, partly organized in homochiral molecular braids. Further annealing led to self-similar Sierpiński triangles, while annealing at even higher temperatures again resulted in mostly disordered structures. Both the irregular aggregates observed at room temperature and the chains were identified as metal-organic assemblies, whereby two out of the three intermolecular binding motifs are energetically equivalent according to Density Functional Theory simulations. The emergence of Sierpiński triangles is driven by a chemical transformation, i.e. the conversion of coordinative Au-thiolate to covalent thioether linkages, and can be further understood by Monte Carlo simulations. The great structural variance of TMB on Au(111) can on one hand be explained by the energetic equivalence of two binding motifs. On the other hand, the unexpected chemical transition even enhances the structural variance and results in thiol-derived covalent molecular architectures

Was sind eigentlich Green Skills? Der Klimawandel und seine Qualifikationsanforderungen

Politik und Wirtschaft sind sich einig: Um dem Klimawandel etwas entgegensetzen zu können, ist ein tiefgreifender Strukturwandel notwendig, der vor allem neue Qualifikationsanforderungen an die Beschäftigten stellt. Mangels einer allgemeingültigen Definition von Green Skills ist vielen der angesprochenen Beschäftigten nicht klar, was das konkret bedeutet. Dieser Aufsatz versucht darzulegen, was unter dem Begriff Green Skills zu verstehen ist, warum in diesem Kontext teils in Vergessenheit geratene Lehrberufe großes Zukunftspotenzial aufweisen und warum sowohl Jugendliche ohne höhere Bildungsabschlüsse als auch Frauen attraktive Zielgruppen für etwaige Förderinitiativen von Politik und Wirtschaft sind. In der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung und Kommunikation von grünen Qualifizierungsprofilen werden allzu oft die falschen Bilder suggeriert! Green Jobs gibt es auf allen Qualifikationsebenen - vom Lehrabschluss in Elektrotechnik bis zum:zur Diplomingenieur:in in Umwelttechnik. Frauen müssen noch intensiver adressiert und für technische Ausbildungen begeistert werden.Politics and economics are in agreement: In order to counteract climate change, a profound structural transformation is necessary, demanding new qualification requirements from the workforce. Due to the lack of a universally accepted definition of "Green Skills", many of the affected employees fail to have a clear idea of what this means in concrete terms. This essay attempts to clarify the significance of the term "Green Skills", the reason why certain forgotten trades have significant future potential in this context, and why both individuals without higher educational qualifications and women are attractive target groups for potential support initiatives from politics and economics. Unclear or wrong images are often used regarding the public perception and communication of green qualification profiles! "Green jobs" exist at all qualification levels - from a vocational degree in electrical engineering to a diploma in environmental engineering. Women need to be addressed more intensively and encouraged to pursue technical education

Experimental Archaeology

This paper aims to present and discuss ongoing activities that combine Experimental Archaeology and Ethnoarchaeology developed in the scope of a master's degree, a post-doctoral and other research projects at the University of Vigo (Galicia, Spain), in collaboration with regional open-air museums and educational centres. Actions have focused on teaching about material properties and transformations, as well as on the design and application of experimental protocols, specially focused on archaeometallurgy. Within this framework, we have promoted the interest of archaeology students in this subject, and other specialised members of the public. As a result, a richer transfer of acquired knowledge from academia to the more general public has been reached.publishersversionpublishe

Land application of sewage effluent for Missouri water resources conservation and pollution control

The overall objectives of this study are twofold: 1) to demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of land treatment system to renovate lagoon effluent quality in Missouri and elsewhere in the Midwest; and 2) to conduct a comprehensive and systematic study to develop pertinent design and operating parameters that can be successfully used by other communities in the region. The report described herein represents the results that is necesssary before further development can be initiated. These results are: 1) community background survey; 2) current and proposed waste management methods; and 3) existing surface and subsurface water qualities at application site. Emphasis of the discussion is placed on the technical data which have a direct bearing on the future evaluation of the water quality improvement as a result of land application.Project # G-852 Agreement # 14-08-000

Broken symmetry and the variation of critical properties in the phase behaviour of supramolecular rhombus tilings

The degree of randomness, or partial order, present in two-dimensional supramolecular arrays of isophthalate tetracarboxylic acids is shown to vary due to subtle chemical changes such as the choice of solvent or small differences in molecular dimensions. This variation may be quantified using an order parameter and reveals a novel phase behaviour including random tiling with varying critical properties as well as ordered phases dominated by either parallel or non-parallel alignment of neighbouring molecules, consistent with long-standing theoretical studies. The balance between order and randomness is driven by small differences in the intermolecular interaction energies, which we show, using numerical simulations, can be related to the measured order parameter. Significant variations occur even when the energy difference is much less than the thermal energy highlighting the delicate balance between entropic and energetic effects in complex self-assembly processes

Machbarkeitsstudie zur Implementierung von zielgrupenspezifischen Bewegungsangeboten bei Diabetes mellitus ins Gesundheitssystem

Die dramatische Zunahme an Zivilisationserkrankungen ist nahezu ausschließlich auf einen modernen Lebensstil zurück zu führen. Fehlernährung und Bewegungsmangel sind kausale Ursachen für die hohe Prävalenz von Diabetes mellitus. Das Projekt „Aktiv–Bewegt: zielgruppenspezifische Bewegungsangebote bei Diabetes mellitus“ sollte klären, ob leitliniengerecht Bewegungsprogramme von den Betroffenen angenommen werden. Nach der Erstinformation in der Diabetesschulung durch einen niedergelassenen Arzt oder eine Spezialambulanz konnten Diabetikerinnen und Diabetiker über einen Zeitraum von 8 Wochen an einem kostenlosen zielgruppenspezifischen Bewegungsangebot teilnehmen. Das Programm wurde 2-mal pro Woche angeboten und setzten sich aus Kraft-, Ausdauer- und Koordinationstraining zusammen. Nach den 8 Wochen sollten die Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer befähigt werden, selbstständig das Programm weiterzuführen, bzw. konnten sie allgemeine Angebote der regionalen Sportvereine nutzen oder jahresbegleitende zielgruppenspezifische Angebote in Anspruch nehmen. Eine Analyse in der Diabetesambulanz des AKH Wien ergab, dass sich knapp 50% der Betroffenen für zielgruppenspezifische Bewegungsangebote interessieren, und dass 24% aller Befragten auch tatsächlich an Programmen teilnahmen. Österreichweit wurden 330 Gruppen mit insgesamt 1.839 Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern gestartet. Das Ausmaß der körperlichen Aktivität für das Herzkreislauftraining konnte von 0,5 Stunden zu Beginn auf 0,9 Stunden (p=0,043) im 12 Monate Follow Up gesteigert werden. Im Krafttraining war für denselben Zeitraum eine Erhöhung von 0,4 auf 0,7 Stunden gegeben (p=0,043). Das wöchentliche Ausmaß an intensiver körperlicher Aktivität konnte von 798 MET-Minuten zu Beginn auf 1.218 MET-Minuten im 12 Monate Follow Up gesteigert werden. Insgesamt wurden während der 8-wöchigen Grundkurse mehr als 38.000 Trainingsstunden ohne Adverse Events durchgeführt. Auf Grund der Ergebnisse des Pilotprojektes arbeitet die SPORTUNION gegenwärtig mit der Sozialversicherungsanstalt der gewerblichen Wirtschaft an der strukturierten Einbindung von Vertragspartnern der SVA und der Aufnahme von zielgruppenspezifischen Bewegungsangeboten in die Routinebetreuung bei Diabetes mellitus.The increase in non-communicable-diseases is mainly influenced by modern lifestyle: a lack of physical activity and malnutrition is highly associated with the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. The pilot project “Aktiv–Bewegt: target group specific exercise courses (TGSEC) for people suffering from diabetes mellitus” should provide information, if exercise training according to the national guidelines is absorbed by people suffering from diabetes mellitus. People were mainly recruited through general practitioners and outpatient departments. Participation in exercise programs consisted of combined cardiovascular-, strength- and flexibility training was offered for an initial period of 8-weeks. Afterwards, people were encouraged to continue an exercise program by their own and alternatively could take part in general and specific exercise courses offered by regional sports clubs. An analysis realised at the outpatient department of the Medical University of Vienna showed, that nearly 50% of all questioned persons are interested in TGSEC – and in the end 24% already took part in the programs. All in all 1.839 participants started exercise programs in 330 groups. The weekly time spent with cardiovascular exercise could be increased from 0,5 hours (baseline) to 0,9 hours (12 month follow up; p=0,043). Strength training could be nearly doubled from 0,4 hours to 0,7 hours (p=0,001). Weekly time spend with vigorous physical activity rose from 798 MET-minutes to 1.218 MET-minutes. During the courses more than 38.000 exercise lessons were performed without adverse events. Due to these results SPORTUNION get in close touch with a national health care insurance institution

Nanopatterning of a Covalent Organic Framework Host-Guest System

We have used a boroxine-based COF as a template for C60-fullerene self-assembly on graphite. Local removal of the COF by STM based nanomanipulation creates nanocorrals that may host other species