University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

About: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg is a education organization based out in Erlangen, Bayern, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Immune system. The organization has 42405 authors who have published 85600 publications receiving 2663922 citations.

3D echocardiography: a review of the current status and future directions.

Abstract: Ultrasound technology has improved markedly in the past 10 to 15 years, prompting echocardiographers to extend its use in studying cardiac structure and function. New ultrasound equipment and techniques offer superior image quality, greater accuracy, and expanding capabilities. As a result, more and improved imaging modalities are available for evaluating cardiac anatomy, ventricular function, blood flow velocity, and valvular diseases. Threedimensional (3D) echocardiography offers the ability to improve and expand the diagnostic capabilities of cardiac ultrasound. However, as with any emerging technology, the enthusiasm to embrace a new technique must be tempered by a critical appraisal of the evidence supporting its use. It is essential to assess the limitations as well as the unique capabilities it provides. Cardiac imaging should be safe, accurate, versatile, comprehensive, and cost-effective, while providing important clinical information. Criteria for appropriate utilization should be based on current evidence and updated as new information becomes available. To justify the use of a new 3D modality, its unique contribution to clinical practice must be critically analyzed. In this article we review the status of 3D echocardiography, examine the evidence for its use in various clinical situations, and propose guidelines for appropriate application of this technique based on available evidence.

Incentives in Web Studies: Methodological Issues and a Review

Abstract: Two meta-analyses review the effectiveness of incentives in Web studies. The first analysis summarizes 32 experiments on the impact of material incentives on response. It is based on a sample of 212,810 people. A significant effect (odds ratio = 1.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.13—1.25) is revealed, indicating that incentives motivate people to start a Web survey. The second analysis comprises 26 experiments on the impact of incentives on retention and is based on a sample of 7,073 people. It yields a significant effect (odds ratio = 1.27; 95% confidence interval: 1.12—1.44), indicating that once people have accessed a survey for whatever reasons, they are more likely to finish if an incentive is offered. The established incentive effects are stable across various study characteristics. Conclusions did not appear to be due to publication bias.

Singlet fission in pentacene dimers

Abstract: Singlet fission (SF) has the potential to supersede the traditional solar energy conversion scheme by means of boosting the photon-to-current conversion efficiencies beyond the 30% Shockley–Queisser limit. Here, we show unambiguous and compelling evidence for unprecedented intramolecular SF within regioisomeric pentacene dimers in room-temperature solutions, with observed triplet quantum yields reaching as high as 156 ± 5%. Whereas previous studies have shown that the collision of a photoexcited chromophore with a ground-state chromophore can give rise to SF, here we demonstrate that the proximity and sufficient coupling through bond or space in pentacene dimers is enough to induce intramolecular SF where two triplets are generated on one molecule.

Quantum information processing and communication: strategic report on current status, visions and goals for research in Europe

Abstract: We present an excerpt of the document "Quantum Information Processing and Communication: Strategic report on current status, visions and goals for research in Europe", which has been recently published in electronic form at the website of FET (the Future and Emerging Technologies Unit of the Directorate General Information Society of the European Commission, http://www.cordis.lu/ist/fet/qipc-sr.htm). This document has been elaborated, following a former suggestion by FET, by a committee of QIPC scientists to provide input towards the European Commission for the preparation of the Seventh Framework Program. Besides being a document addressed to policy makers and funding agencies (both at the European and national level), the document contains a detailed scientific assessment of the state-of-the-art, main research goals, challenges, strengths, weaknesses, visions and perspectives of all the most relevant QIPC sub-fields, that we report here.

Targeting immune cell circuits and trafficking in inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by uncontrolled activation of intestinal immune cells in a genetically susceptible host. Due to the progressive and destructive nature of the inflammatory process in IBD, complications such as fibrosis, stenosis or cancer are frequently observed, which highlights the need for effective anti-inflammatory therapy. Studies have identified altered trafficking of immune cells and pathogenic immune cell circuits as crucial drivers of mucosal inflammation and tissue destruction in IBD. A defective gut barrier and microbial dysbiosis induce such accumulation and local activation of immune cells, which results in a pro-inflammatory cytokine loop that overrides anti-inflammatory signals and causes chronic intestinal inflammation. This Review discusses pathogenic cytokine responses of immune cells as well as immune cell trafficking as a rational basis for new translational therapies in IBD.