Improved Performance of Vanadium Flow Batteries by Bonded Graphite Felt Electrode-Bipolar Plate Assemblies

Under this research project two different bonding methods have been developed for fusion of graphite felt electrodes and bipolar plates. The graphite felt electrode and bipolar plate have been bonded through application of either an adhesive layer or thermal fusion. These bonded assemblies have been studied in a 2-cell vanadium redox flow battery stack at 5% felt compression. The obtained results have been compared to the performance of 2-cell stacks with unbonded graphite felt electrodes and bipolar plates at 20% and 5% felt compression

The integrin-linked kinase is required for chemokine-triggered high-affinity conformation of the neutrophil β2-integrin LFA-1

Abstract Neutrophil adhesion and extravasation into tissue at sites of injury or infection depend on binding of the integrin lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) to ICAM-1 expressed on activated endothelial cells. The activation-dependent conformational change of LFA-1 to the high-affinity conformation (H+) requires kindlin-3 binding to the β2-integrin cytoplasmic domain. Here we show that genetic deletion of the known kindlin interactor integrin-linked kinase (ILK) impaired neutrophil adhesion and extravasation in the cremaster muscle and in a clinically relevant model of renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Using in vitro microfluidic adhesion chambers and conformation-specific antibodies, we show that knockdown of ILK in HL-60 cells reduced the conformational change of β2-integrins to the H+ conformation. Mechanistically, we found that ILK was required for protein kinase C (PKC) membrane targeting and chemokine-induced upregulation of its kinase activity. Moreover, PKC-α deficiency also resulted in impaired leukocyte adhesion in bone marrow chimeric mice. Mass spectrometric and western blot analyses revealed stimulation- and ILK-dependent phosphorylation of kindlin-3 upon activation. In summary, our data indicate an important role of ILK in kindlin-3–dependent conformational activation of LFA-1.</jats:p

Copeptin in the diagnosis of vasopressin-dependent disorders of fluid homeostasis

Copeptin and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are derived from a common precursor molecule and have equimolar secretion and response to osmotic, haemodynamic and stress-related stimuli. Plasma concentrations of copeptin and AVP in relation to serum osmolality are highly correlated. The physiological functions of AVP with respect to homeostasis of fluid balance, vascular tonus and regulation of the endocrine stress response are well known, but the exact function of copeptin is undetermined. Quantification of AVP can be difficult, but copeptin is stable in plasma and can be easily measured with a sandwich immunoassay. For this reason, copeptin has emerged as a promising marker for the diagnosis of AVP-dependent fluid disorders. Copeptin measurements can enable differentiation between various conditions within the polyuria-polydipsia syndrome. In the absence of prior fluid deprivation, baseline copeptin levels <20 pmol/l identify patients with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Conversely, copeptin levels measured upon osmotic stimulation differentiate primary polydipsia from partial central diabetes insipidus. In patients with hyponatraemia, low levels of copeptin together with low urine osmolality identify patients with primary polydipsia, and the ratio of copeptin to urinary sodium can distinguish the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion from other AVP-dependent forms of hyponatraemia

Migration und Familie

Dieses Kapital widmet sich der Familie im Kontext von Migration, Integrationund Teilhabe. Es thematisiert nach einem Überblick zur Definition und Funktionvon Familie theoretische und empirische Befunde zur Rolle der Familie bei derMigrationsentscheidung und zur Familienmigration, zu den familialen Prozessender Partnerwahl und des generativen Verhaltens sowie zur Bedeutung der Familieim Integrations- und Minoritätskontext und geht dabei auch auf die transnationaleEinbettung von Familien mit Zuwanderungsgeschichte ei