University of Duisburg-Essen

About: University of Duisburg-Essen is a education organization based out in Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 16072 authors who have published 39972 publications receiving 1109199 citations.

Formation of a ZnO Overlayer in Industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalysts Induced by Strong Metal–Support Interactions

Abstract: In industrially relevant Cu/ZnO/Al2 O3 catalysts for methanol synthesis, the strong metal support interaction between Cu and ZnO is known to play a key role. Here we report a detailed chemical transmission electron microscopy study on the nanostructural consequences of the strong metal support interaction in an activated high-performance catalyst. For the first time, clear evidence for the formation of metastable "graphite-like" ZnO layers during reductive activation is provided. The description of this metastable layer might contribute to the understanding of synergistic effects between the components of the Cu/ZnO/Al2 O3 catalysts.

Specifying Computer-Supported Collaboration Scripts

Abstract: Collaboration scripts are activity programs which aim to foster collaborative learning by structuring interaction between learners. Computer-supported collaboration scripts generally suffer from the problem of being restrained to a specific learning platform and learning context. A standardization of collaboration scripts first requires a specification of collaboration scripts that integrates multiple perspectives from computer science, education and psychology. So far, only few and limited attempts at such specifications have been made. This paper aims to consolidate and expand these approaches in light of recent findings and to propose a generic framework for the specification of collaboration scripts. The framework enables a description of collaboration scripts using a small number of components (participants, activities, roles, resources and groups) and mechanisms (task distribution, group formation and sequencing). (http://www.springerlink.com/content/6286w8235q818664/)

High-Density Lipoproteins and Their Constituent, Sphingosine-1-Phosphate, Directly Protect the Heart Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury In Vivo via the S1P3 Lysophospholipid Receptor

Abstract: Background— All treatments of acute myocardial infarction are aimed at rapid revascularization of the occluded vessel; however, no clinical strategies are currently available to protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury after restitution of blood flow. We hypothesized that some of the cholesterol transport–independent biological properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) implied in atheroprotection may also be beneficial in settings of acute myocardial reperfusion injury. Methods and Results— In an in vivo mouse model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, we observed that HDL and its sphingolipid component, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), dramatically attenuated infarction size by ≈20% and 40%, respectively. The underlying mechanism was an inhibition of inflammatory neutrophil recruitment and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the infarcted area. In vitro, HDL and S1P potently suppressed leukocyte adhesion to activated endothelium under flow and protected rat neonatal cardiomyocytes against apoptosis. In ...

First-line Therapy with Coagulation Factor Concentrates Combined with Point-of-Care Coagulation Testing Is Associated with Decreased Allogeneic Blood Transfusion in Cardiovascular Surgery A Retrospective, Single-center Cohort Study

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Blood transfusion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We developed and implemented an algorithm for coagulation management in cardiovascular surgery based on first-line administration of coagulation factor concentrates combined with point-of-care thromboelastometry/impedance aggregometry. METHODS In a retrospective cohort study including 3,865 patients, we analyzed the incidence of intraoperative allogeneic blood transfusions (primary endpoints) before and after algorithm implementation. RESULTS Following algorithm implementation, the incidence of any allogeneic blood transfusion (52.5 vs. 42.2%; P < 0.0001), packed red blood cells (49.7 vs. 40.4%; P < 0.0001), and fresh frozen plasma (19.4 vs. 1.1%; P < 0.0001) decreased, whereas platelet transfusion increased (10.1 vs. 13.0%; P = 0.0041). Yearly transfusion of packed red blood cells (3,276 vs. 2,959 units; P < 0.0001) and fresh frozen plasma (1986 vs. 102 units; P < 0.0001) decreased, as did the median number of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma per patient. The incidence of fibrinogen concentrate (3.73 vs. 10.01%; P < 0.0001) and prothrombin complex concentrate administration (4.42 vs. 8.9%; P < 0.0001) increased, as did their amount administered per year (179 vs. 702 g; P = 0.0008 and 162 × 10³ U vs. 388 × 10³ U; P = 0.0184, respectively). Despite a switch from aprotinin to tranexamic acid, an increase in use of dual antiplatelet therapy (2.7 vs. 13.7%; P < 0.0001), patients' age, proportion of females, emergency cases, and more complex surgery, the incidence of massive transfusion [(≥10 units packed red blood cells), (2.5 vs. 1.26%; P = 0.0057)] and unplanned reexploration (4.19 vs. 2.24%; P = 0.0007) decreased. Composite thrombotic/thromboembolic events (3.19 vs. 1.77%; P = 0.0115) decreased, but in-hospital mortality did not change (5.24 vs. 5.22%; P = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS First-line administration of coagulation factor concentrates combined with point-of-care testing was associated with decreased incidence of blood transfusion and thrombotic/thromboembolic events.

Clinical features and virological analysis of a case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection

Abstract: Summary Background The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus involved in cases and case clusters of severe acute respiratory infection in the Arabian Peninsula, T unisia, Morocco, France, Italy, Germany, and the UK. We provide a full description of a fatal case of MERS-CoV infection and associated phylogenetic analyses. Methods We report data for a patient who was admitted to the Klinikum Schwabing (Munich, Germany) for severe acute respiratory infection. We did diagnostic RT -PCR and indirect immunofl uorescence. From time of diagnosis, respiratory, faecal, and urine samples were obtained for virus quantifi cation. We constructed a maximum likelihood tree of the fi ve available complete MERS-CoV genomes.