Associations between apolipoprotein E genotype and circulating F<Subscript>2</Subscript>-isoprostane levels in humans

Apolipoprotein E (apoE), an important determinant of plasma lipoprotein metabolism, has three common alleles (ε2, ε3, and ε4). Population studies have shown that the risk of diseases characterized by oxidative damage, such as coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, is significantly higher in ɛ4 carriers. We evaluated the association between apoE genotypes and plasma F₂-isoprostane levels, an index of lipid peroxidation, in humans. Two hundred seventy-four healthy subjects (104 males, 170 females; 46.9±13.0 yr; 200 whites, 74 blacks; 81 nonsmokers, 64 passive smokers, and 129 active smokers) recruited for a randomized clinical antioxidant intervention trial were included in this analysis. ApoE genotype was determined by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Free plasma F₂-isoprostane was measured by GC-MS. Genotype groups were compared using multiple regression analysis with adjustment for sex, age, race, smoking status, body mass index, plasma ascorbic acid, and β-carotene. Subjects with ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4 genotype (ε4-carriers) and with ε2/ε3 and ε3/ε3 (non-ε4-carriers) were pooled for analysis. In subjects with high cholesterol levels (total cholesterol above 200 mg/dl), plasma F₂-isoprostane levels were 29% higher in ε4 carriers than in non-ε4-carriers (P=0.0056). High-cholesterol subjects that are ε4 carriers have significantly higher levels of lipid peroxidation as assessed by circulating F₂-isoprostane levels.     

A contribution to the UV degradation of polyurethanes

The effects of the nature of the polyols used in polyurethane (PUR) synthesis on the structural transformations after ageing by UV irradiation has been studied. The investigations were performed on PUR prepared from polyester and polyether diol oligomers. The characterization of the samples before and after ageing in view of the structural changes, which influence the course of the photooxidative degradation and photocrosslinking as well as in view of changes of mechanical properties has been done. Comparative investigations were performed by spectroscopic and viscometric measurements. The results show pronounced heterogeneity of the degradative reactions, including the existence of crosslinking processes and producing thus very inhomogeneous polymeric material. The course and the intensity of photooxidative degradation of PUR differ together with changes of mechanical properties depending whether polyester or polyether polyol have been used. The processes of photooxidative degradation is less expressed in polyesterurethane then in polyurethane based on polyether, under the same conditions of experiments. Different structures of polyester diols caused the various ageing behaviour of PUR too.     

气候变化背景下流域生态需水预估−以好溪流域为例

为探究未来气候变化对流域生态需水量的影响,保障河流生态需水量,针对好溪流域进行生态需水量计算 及预测。基于好溪流域气象数据及下垫面条件建立流域生态需水模型,并根据 GF1-WFV 遥感影像数据订正后的 地表反射率和作物种植结构提升模型模拟精度。选择 CanESM2气候模式下的 RCP2.6、RCP4.5 和 RCP8.5 这 3 种 排放情景,建立气候变化背景下流域生态需水预测方法,计算现状年并预测未来年份的生态需水量及生态需水保 障程度。结果表明,基于光学遥感影像进行数据订正后,模型模拟精度有所提升,率定期的模型精度 R2从 0.80 提 升为 0.85,验证期的 R2从 0.75 提升至 0.78。应用提升精度后的模型进行生态需水预测,在 RCP2.6、RCP4.5 和 RCP8.5 情景下,2025—2100 年的年均生态需水分别增加了 0.27 亿、0.21 亿和 0.29 亿 m3,其中 RCP8.5 情景下生态 需水保障程度最高,RCP4.5 情景下生态需水保障程度最低。     

冲积河流推移质输沙最优河道形态影响因素理论分析

为从理论上确定水沙动力、阻力和边界条件对冲积河流推移质输沙最优河道形态和最小比降的影响,基于 水力半径分割方法将河床整体糙率划分为河岸糙率和河底糙率;采用河道形态自动调整变分方法,以等腰梯形为 河道过水断面,推导推移质输沙率与河道形态的关系,分析河岸与河底相对糙率、河岸坡角、流量、输沙率、中值 粒径和河底糙率对最优河道形态和最小比降的影响。结果表明：最优河道形态和最小比降随河岸与河底相对糙 率的增大而减小,随河岸坡角的增大而增大。流量或者河底糙率的增加将使最小比降减小,同时造成最优河道形 态趋向窄深。输沙率或者中值粒径的增加将使最小比降增大,但两者对最优河道形态演变的影响不同,输沙率增 大将使最优河道形态向宽浅发展,而中值粒径增加将使最优河道形态向窄深发展。     

水-能源-碳排放复杂关系研究进展及展望

系统梳理水-能-碳复杂关系的概念内涵,认为其本质是水资源、能源以及碳排放在整个产品生命周期过程 中的相互关系。回顾了复杂关系的近今进展,可将评估方法归纳为基于耦合关联视角的评估、基于整体协同视角 的评估、基于风险与韧性视角的评估以及基于土地利用视角的综合评估。在此基础上,建议未来应重点关注 4 个 前沿议题,即基于水-能-碳承载力的国土空间优化研究、水-能-碳视角下资源消耗与经济增长脱钩分析、水-能-碳 复杂关系确定性与不确定性量化分析以及水-能-碳工程措施助力“负排放”,旨在通过水-能-碳系统协同管理推动 绿色高质量发展。     

Conceptualization,measurement, and application of semantic transparency in visual notations

Numerous visual notations are present in technical and business domains. Notations have to be cognitively effective to ease the planning, documentation, and communication of the domains’ concepts. Semantic transparency (ST) is one of the elementary principles that influence notations’ cognitive effectiveness. However, the principle is criticized for not being well defined and challenges arise in the evaluations and applications of ST. Accordingly, this research’s objectives were to answer how the ST principle is defined, operationalized, and evaluated in present notations as well as applied in the design of new notations in ICT and related areas. To meet these objectives, a systematic literature review was conducted with 94 studies passing the selection process criteria. The results reject one of the three aspects, which define semantic transparency, namely “ST is achieved with the use of icons.” Besides, taxonomies of related concepts and research methods, evaluation metrics, and other findings from this study can help to conduct verifiable ST-related experiments and applications, consequently improving the visual vocabularies of notations and effectiveness of the resulting diagrams.

     

Der Umgang mit „second victims“ als organisationsethische Aufgabe

Background and purpose

Adverse events and medical errors can have severe consequences for patients (“first victims”), but also for the involved health care professionals (“second victims”). Don Berwick, former director of the Boston Institute for Healthcare Improvement (USA), highlighted the support for “second victims” as an “ethical issue”. But there is no clarity about what “ethical issue” implies. This article aims to clarify this question from the perspective of organizational ethics.

Method

Starting with data from the literature, challenges are described and evaluated from the perspective of organizational ethics.

Results

Evidence suggests that current approaches for supporting “second victims” are not sufficiently effective to help professionals to cope with the psychological consequences of adverse patient events and medical errors. This not only has negative consequences for the involved professionals, but can also put patient safety again at risk. In the light of these data, an organizational ethics approach is needed to comply with Don Berwick’s claim to consider the support of “second victims” as an “ethical issue”. This approach fosters the congruence of the organization’s values that are declared and those that are practiced. Its normative foundation is rooted in the organization’s duty of care both for the patients and for the employees.

Conclusions

Using organizational ethics it is possible to conceptualize and visualize the support for “second victims” as a binding component of the safety culture of the organization. It is translated into the organization’s obligation to raise the awareness for the phenomenon and to provide the resources necessary to deal effectively with it, e.?g., evidence-based ethical guidelines, standardized procedures, staff training, and low-threshold coaching programs.

     

PID auf Aneuploidie des Embryos?

Definition of problem

At least in some cases, testing for aneuploidy as part of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can be medically useful for pregnancy care. The current legal situation in Germany seems to not generally exclude PGD to detect a maldistribution of chromosomes in an embryo, but testing would require approval by a PGD ethics committee on a case-by-case basis and a well-reasoned application by the concerned woman. This article examines ethically and legally whether fundamental reasons prevent PGD commissions from admitting requests to perform aneuploidy tests as part of PGD.

Arguments

Three constellations – each with differing ethical implications – can be distinguished in which testing for aneuploidy could be considered or could occur: Testing for aneuploidy can (i) be the main reason for in vitro fertilization (IVF), which in itself is not medically indicated; (ii) IVF is done as infertility treatment in which case PGD and aneuploidy testing could be done additionally; or (iii) PGD with IVF is indicated in order to prevent a congenital disease or chromosomal aberration leading to a diagnosis of aneuploidy as an incidental or additional finding. Ethical arguments which could lead to a general rejection of aneuploidy testing are the prevention of discrimination against people with aneuploidy, as well as the protection of embryos. These concerns oppose constellation (i), but do not apply to (ii) and (iii). Yet there are at least three ethical arguments in favour of an admissibility of a request for aneuploidy testing: the “good practice” of IVF, the duty to the emerging child and the parent’s right to have a voice in the discussion.

Conclusion

Aneuploidy testing as part of PGD is not ruled out by legal or ethical reasons and should be openly discussed by the relevant German ethics commissions.

     

Tod des Körpers oder Tod der Person?

Definition of the problem

Within the current philosophical debate on the adequate definition of human death, death is defined either as the death of the body or the death of the person. However, the application of these notions leads to several practical conflicts, which can be seen first and foremost in the brain-death debate and the discussions on how to increase organ donation.

Arguments

The conflicts are based in both a dualistic and objectivistic notion of the human being which are implied in both definitions of death. In order to solve these conflicts, we are in need of a nondualistic concept of human being which at the same time enables us to elaborate a first- and second-person perspective on death. On the basis of Helmuth Plessner’s philosophical anthropology, such an integrative concept of death can be developed.

Conclusion

Following this concept, it seems reasonable to abandon the brain-death criterion as the criterion for human death and to fundamentally reform the current information campaigns for organ donation.