Knowledge and information awareness for initiating transactive memory system processes of computer-supported collaborating ad hoc groups

This paper presents an innovative approach for initiating processes of a transactive memory system in newly formed groups of experts collaborating computer-supported in a complex problem-solving task. Our empirical study compared 15 experimental and 15 control groups, each consisting of triads. In the experimental condition, the triads were provided with a tool for fostering knowledge and information awareness, that is, being informed about the knowledge and the underlying information of the collaboration partners in form of digital concept maps. In the control condition, the groups had no access to this tool. Results confirmed the potential of the tool to initiate processes of a transactive memory system: shared agreement of the knowledge of the other group members’ knowledge proved to influence group performance positively. In addition, previous findings of the tool’s potential to establish knowledge and information awareness and to augment group performance could be replicated. However, the postulated mediating effect of processes of a transactive memory system concerning the impact of knowledge and information awareness on group performance did not reach statistical significance. Aspects for future studies and implications of these findings regarding their practical implementation, for example, in teams of organizations, are discussed.     

Endogenous Modulation of Extracellular Matrix Collagen during Scar Formation after Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction is remains the leading cause of death in developed countries. Recent data show that the composition of the extracellular matrix might differ despite similar heart function and infarction sizes. Because collagen is the main component of the extracellular matrix, we hypothesized that changes in inflammatory cell recruitment influence the synthesis of different collagen subtypes in myofibroblasts, thus changing the composition of the scar. We found that neutrophils sustain the proliferation of fibroblasts, remodeling, differentiation, migration and inflammation, predominantly by IL-1 and PPARγ pathways (n = 3). They also significantly inhibit the mRNA expression of fibrillar collagen, maintaining a reduced stiffness in isolated myofibroblasts (n = 4–5). Reducing the neutrophil infiltration in CCR1^−/− resulted in increased mRNA expression of collagen 11, moderate expression of collagen 19 and low expression of collagen 13 and 26 in the scar 4 weeks post infarction compared with other groups (n = 3). Mononuclear cells increased the synthesis of all collagen subtypes and upregulated the NF-kB, angiotensin II and PPARδ pathways (n = 3). They increased the synthesis of collagen subtypes 1, 3, 5, 16 and 23 but reduced the expression of collagens 5 and 16 (n = 3). CCR2^−/− scar tissue showed higher levels of collagen 13 (n = 3), in association with a significant reduction in stiffness (n = 4–5). Upregulation of the inflammation-related genes in myofibroblasts mostly modulated the fibrillar collagen subtypes, with less effect on the FACIT, network-forming and globular subtypes (n = 3). The upregulation of proliferation and differentiation genes in myofibroblasts seemed to be associated only with the fibrillar collagen subtype, whereas angiogenesis-related genes are associated with fibrillar, network-forming and multiplexin subtypes. In conclusion, although we intend for our findings to deepen the understanding of the mechanism of healing after myocardial infarction and scar formation, the process of collagen synthesis is highly complex, and further intensive investigation is needed to put together all the missing puzzle pieces in this still incipient knowledge process.     

Impact of Spatially Heterogeneous Trop-2 Expression on Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral cancer often presents with aggressive behavior and a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. For oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the most frequent histological subtype, therapy strategies include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and EGFR inhibitors. Recently, a Trop-2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) has been approved in the United States of America for the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer. However, this ADC has also been tested in other solid tumors including head & neck squamous cell carcinoma. The prognostic impact of Trop-2 has already been reported for several cancers. We studied the prognostic influence of Trop-2 protein expression on OSCC patients’ survival. The cohort comprised n = 229 OSCC patients with available archived tumor tissue and corresponding non-neoplastic oral mucosa tissue. Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated Trop-2 expression in both the central and peripheral regions of each tumor and in corresponding non-neoplastic oral mucosa. In patients suffering from OSCC with combined high central and low peripheral Trop-2 expression, five-year overall survival (OS) was 41.2%, whereas 55.6% of OSCC patients who presented lower central and/or higher peripheral tumoral Trop-2 expression were alive after five years (p = 0.075). In multivariate Cox regression, the expression pattern of high central tumoral and lower peripheral Trop-2 expression was significantly correlated with impaired OS (HR = 1.802, 95%-CI: 1.134–2.864; p = 0.013) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.633, 95%-CI: 1.042–2.560; p = 0.033), respectively, when adjusting for co-variables. Hence, Trop-2 may serve as an independent prognostic biomarker in OSCC. In subsequent studies, the pathophysiological meaning of downregulated Trop-2 expression in the OSCC periphery has to be analyzed.     

Metall-Recycling mittels Biohydrometallurgie

Biohydrometallurgy as a section of hydrometallurgy uses specific metabolic capabilities of microorganisms for metal extraction. Biomining is the application of bioleaching for metal extraction from sulfide ores. For recycling, i.e., metal extraction from waste and industrial residues, there are no biohydrometallurgical technologies yet, but promising laboratory studies on metal extraction from solids. In this review article, these are summarized, and perspectives are shown.     

A developmental stage-specific histone H1 homolog of Coxiella burnetii

Two DNA-binding proteins have been detected in Coxiella burnetii by southwestern (DNA-protein) blotting. One of these, termed Hq1, is enriched in the small cell variant stage of the developmental cycle and displays compositional and primary amino acid sequence similarities to eukaryotic histone H1. C. burnetii appears to be another example of an intracellular parasite with morphologically distinct developmental forms whose nucleoid structure may be controlled by histone H1 homologs.     

Cardiac- versus diaphragm-based respiratory navigation for proton spectroscopy of the heart

Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine - To study inter-individual differences of the relation between diaphragm and heart motion, the objective of the present study was to...     

Einfluss der elastischen Nachgiebigkeit auf die Kraft beim tauchenden Kegelradschleifen

Forschung im Ingenieurwesen - Aufgrund steigender Anforderungen an den Wirkungsgrad und die Geräuschanregung von Zahnradgetrieben ist die Hartbearbeitung von Zahnrädern für viele...