Referenzmodellierung für E-Government-Services

The realisation of E-Government Services in Switzerland makes only little progresS. Reasons are — on the one hand — the federal constitution of the Swiss Confederation. On the other hand, public administrations are concerned about the high initial effort and the corresponding financial investmentS. As a partner in the EU–funded project OntoGov the Swiss Federal Chancellery now takes over an active role in the configuration of E–Government services. With the OntoGov system reference process models are provided at various abstraction layerS. Public administrations can adapt these reference models to their specific needs and make them available for the citizenS. Decisions for designing and adapting reference processes are explicitly modelled using ontologies, making the decision process traceable. Thus, subsequent changes in the reference models can be transferred to all the depending models.     

Noniatrogenic esophageal trauma

Few guidelines are available with which to facilitate treatment in patients with noniatrogenic injuries of the esophagus. Early diagnosis and proper management are essential if a good outcome is to be expected. In an effort to define better the treatment of patients with penetrating and blunt injuries of the esophagus, we report our recent 5-year experience at an urban trauma center. From July 1988 to June 1993, nineteen patients with esophageal perforations from penetrating (18) and blunt (1) trauma were identified by our trauma registry. There was no mortality in this group of patients and morbidity was mostly due to associated injuries. Eleven cervical esophageal injuries were repaired. One cervical injury was treated by stopping oral intake and giving intravenous antibiotics. The neck was not drained in 10 of the surgical cases. In 1 patient a tracheoesophageal fistula developed, which later was repaired with a pectoralis muscle flap. Seven perforations were identified in the thoracic (2) and abdominal (5) portions of the esophagus. All were due to gunshot wounds. In 4 cases, a fundal wrap was used to reinforce the repairs. Postoperative contrast studies confirmed that all repairs were intact. We conclude that penetrating and blunt tears of the esophagus can be repaired safely with minimal mortality. Morbidity is usually from associated injuries such as to the spinal cord and trachea. When identified early, cervical esophageal injuries do not need to be drained routinely.     

Longitudinal outcomes in supported employment: A survival analysis.

Studied 90 consecutive job placements (46% minority) in a supported employment program for individuals with severe mental illness to examine employment longevity. Results indicate significant differences for long-term employment retention between minorities and nonminorities and among psychiatric diagnostic categories (i.e., schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, affective disorders, other personality disorders). The advantages of survival analysis methodology for studying employment retention data are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

P- and E-selectin mediate recruitment of T-helper-1 but not T-helper-2 cells into inflammed tissues

When activated, T helper cells differentiate into one of two subsets, Th1 and Th2, characterized by distinct profiles of cytokine production. Th1 cells activate pro-inflammatory effector mechanisms involved in protection and autoimmunity, whereas Th2 cells induce humoral and allergic responses and downregulate local inflammation. Apart from differences in the repertoire of cytokines, no phenotypic attributes are established that distinguish the two subsets. Here we show that Th1 cells, but not Th2 cells, are able to bind to P-selectin and E-selectin. Moreover, only Th1 cells can efficiently enter inflamed sites in Th1-dominated models, such as sensitized skin or arthritic joints, but not in a Th2-dominated allergic response. Immigration of Th1 cells into inflamed skin can be blocked by antibodies against P- and E-selectin. These results provide evidence for adhesion mechanisms to distinguish between the two T helper subsets and mediate their differential trafficking. They indicate that selective recruitment is an additional level of regulation for both effector function profile and character of a local immune response.     

The relationship between the electrocardiographic pattern with TIMI flow class and ejection fraction in patients with a first acute anterior wall myocardial infarction

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the value of the electrocardiogram in predicting the patency of the left anterior descending artery and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with a first acute anterior wall myocardial infarction at discharge from the coronary care unit. METHOD: We included 116 consecutive patients with an acute anterior myocardial infarction who had undergone coronary angiography and left ventriculography before discharge from the coronary care unit (7th to 10th day). The ST segment, either elevated or isoelectric (< 1 mm), and the T wave (positive or negative) in precordial leads V2-V4 were analysed and compared to the TIMI flow from each patient. RESULTS: Out of 69 patients with negative T waves, 38 (55%) had TIMI flow 3 compared with 20 (29%) and 11 (16%) with TIMI flow 2 and 0-1, respectively; and out of 47 patients with positive T waves seven (15%) had TIMI flow 3, 17 (36%) TIMI flow 2 and 23 (49%) TIMI flow 0-1 (P < 0.001). Out of 63 patients with an isoelectric ST segment, 35 (55%) had TIMI flow 3, 18 (29%) TIMI flow 2 and 10 (16%) TIMI flow 0-1, and out of 53 with ST segment elevation, 10 (19%) had TIMI flow 3, 19 (36%) TIMI flow 2 and 24 (45%) TIMI flow 0-1 (P < 0.001). When both parameters were analysed together, we found that in 46 patients with both isoelectric ST segments and negative T waves, 30 (65%) had TIMI flow 3 compared with two of 30 (7%) patients with ST segment elevation and positive T waves (P < 0.001). Patients with isoelectric ST segments had a better degree of left ventricular ejection fraction (57.8 +/- 14.1%) than patients with ST segment elevation (41.7 +/- 13%) (P < 0.001). Patients with positive and negative T waves had a similar left ventricular ejection fraction (49 +/- 18.1% vs 51 +/- 14%). CONCLUSION: We concluded that patients with a first acute anterior myocardial infarction and an electrocardiogram pattern of an isoelectric ST segment and a negative T wave have a higher incidence of a patent left anterior descending coronary artery than similar patients with ST segment elevation and a positive T wave. An isoelectric ST segment is also related to better left ventricular function.     

The Zero-Delay Wavenumber Spectrum Estimation for the Analysis of Array ECG Signals?An Alternative to Isopotential Mapping

The zero-delay wavenumber spectrum (ZDWS) estimation approach is proposed for the analysis of array ECG signals as an alternative to isopotential mapping (IM). The ZDWS approach is advantageous because the key parameters related to cardiac electrical activation can be easily identified in the frequency-wavenumber domain. The method explains the data as the sum of wide-band planewaves projected onto the array plane and provides an accurate estimate of their number and bearing. The slowness distribution of each of the planewaves is then obtained by estimating their temporal spectrum. Simulated data and experimental ECG data collected from a canine epicardial preparation during control and localized myocardial ischemic condition'are analyzed via the ZDWS and IM. It is demonstrated that the ZDWS methodology provides a means for an objective, robust, and repetitive characterization of the array data which can explain the modulation in the cardiac activation wavefront produced by an area of localized coronary artery occlusion.     

Dumbbells,Trikes and Quads: Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Nanoarchitectures Based on “Clicked” Gold Nanoparticles

The controlled assembly of gold nanoparticles in terms of the spatial arrangement and number of particles is essential for many future applications like electronic devices, sensors and labeling. Here an approach is presented to build up oligomers of mono functionalized gold nanoparticles by the use of 1,3‐bipolar azide alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry. The gold nanoparticles of 1.3 nm diameter are stabilized by one dendritic thioether ligand comprising an alkyne function. Together with di‐, tri‐ and tetra‐azide linker molecules the gold nanoparticle can be covalently coupled by a wet chemical protocol. The reaction is tracked with IR and UV–vis spectroscopy and the yielded organic‐inorganic hybrid structures are analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate the success of this click chemistry reaction statistical analysis of the formed oligomers is performed. The geometric and spatial arrangements of the found oligomers match perfectly the calculated values for the used linker molecules. Dimers, trimers and tetramers could be identified after the reaction with the corresponding linker molecule. The results of this model reaction suggest that the used click chemistry protocol is working well with mono functionalized gold nanoparticles.     

Identifying latent dynamic components in biological systems

In computational systems biology, the general aim is to derive regulatory models from multivariate readouts, thereby generating predictions for novel experiments. In the past, many such models have been formulated for different biological applications. The authors consider the scenario where a given model fails to predict a set of observations with acceptable accuracy and ask the question whether this is because of the model lacking important external regulations. Real‐world examples for such entities range from microRNAs to metabolic fluxes. To improve the prediction, they propose an algorithm to systematically extend the network by an additional latent dynamic variable which has an exogenous effect on the considered network. This variable''s time course and influence on the other species is estimated in a two‐step procedure involving spline approximation, maximum‐likelihood estimation and model selection. Simulation studies show that such a hidden influence can successfully be inferred. The method is also applied to a signalling pathway model where they analyse real data and obtain promising results. Furthermore, the technique can be employed to detect incomplete network structures.Inspec keywords: biology computing, RNA, splines (mathematics), maximum likelihood estimation, approximation theory, biochemistryOther keywords: latent dynamic components, biological systems, computational system biology, regulatory models, multivariate readouts, biological applications, external regulations, real‐world examples, microRNA, metabolic fluxes, latent dynamic variables, variable time course, two‐step procedure, spline approximation, maximum‐likelihood estimation, model selection, signalling pathway model, real data, incomplete network structures     

Epitaxially grown crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells reaching 16.5% efficiency with basic cell process

We report about the current performance of crystalline silicon thin-film (cSiTF) solar cells that are a very attractive alternative to conventional wafer-based silicon solar cells if sufficiently high cell efficiencies are achieved at acceptable cost of production. Applying a standard cell process (diffused POCl₃ emitter, front contacts by photolithography, no surface texture) to thin-films deposited with a lab-type reactor, specifically designed for high-throughput photovoltaic applications, on highly-doped Cz substrates we routinely obtain efficiencies above 16%. On 1 Ω cm FZ material substrates we reach efficiencies up to 18.0%, which is among the highest thin-film efficiencies ever reported. Additionally, a comparison to microelectronic-grade epitaxially grown cSiTF material underlines the excellent electrical quality of the epitaxial layers deposited.