Nutrient dynamics of 12 Sphagnum species during establishment on a rewetted bog

Peatland degradation through drainage and peat extraction have detrimental environmental and societal consequences. Rewetting is a mitigation option to restore lost ecosystem functions, such as carbon uptake, water retention, biodiversity and nutrient sequestration. Peat mosses (Sphagnum) are the most important peat-forming species in bogs. Most Sphagnum species occur in nutrient-poor habitats, however, high growth rates have been reported in artificial nutrient-rich conditions with optimal water supply. Here, we demonstrate the differences in nutrient dynamics of 12 Sphagnum species during their establishment in a one-year field experiment at a Sphagnum paludiculture area in NW Germany. The 12 species are categorized in three groups (slower, medium and fast-growing). Rapid establishment of the peat mosses is facilitated by constant and sufficient supply of nutrient-rich, low pH, and low alkalinity surface water. Our study shows that slower-growing species (S. papillosum, S. magellancium, S. fuscum, S. rubellum, S. austinii; often forming hummocks) displayed signs of nutrient imbalance. These species accumulated higher amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium in their capitula, and had an elevated stem N:K quotient (> 3). Additionally, this group sequestered less carbon and potassium per m² than the fast and medium growing species (S. denticulatum, S. fallax, S. riparium, S. fimbriatum, S. squarrosum, S. palustre, S. centrale). Lower lawn thickness may have amplified negative effects of flooding in slower-growing species. We conclude that nutrient dynamics and carbon/nutrient sequestration rates are species-specific. For optimal outcomes of bog restoration, generating ecosystem services or choosing suitable donor material for Sphagnum paludiculture, it is crucial to consider their compatibility with existing environmental conditions.

[Improved quality of stored packed red blood cells by mechanical rinsing]

BACKGROUND

The transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBC) is associated with various side effects, including storage damage to PRBCs. The cells change their structure, releasing potassium as well as lactate. Mechanical rinsing, available in many hospitals, is able to remove toxic substances and possibly minimizes the negative side effects of transfusion.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of our study was to improve the quality of PRBCs before transfusion. The effects of different washing solutions on PRBC quality were analyzed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This in vitro study compares 30 mechanically washed PRBCs. They were either processed with standard normal saline 0.9% (n = 15, N group) or a hemofiltration solution containing 4 mmol/l potassium (n = 15, HF group) by a mechanical rinsing device (Xtra, LivaNova, Munich, Germany). A subgroup analysis was performed based on the storage duration of the processed PRBCs (7, 14, 37 days). Samples were taken before washing (EKprä), immediately after washing (EKpost) and 10 h later (EKpost10h), after storage in the "wash medium" at room temperature. Concentrations of ATP (probability of survival in transfused erythrocytes), lactate, citrate and electrolytes (potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium) were tested.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Mechanical rinsing improves pretransfusion quality of PRBC. Washing with a hemofiltration solution results in a more physiological electrolyte composition. Even 10 h after mechanical rinsing with a hemofiltration solution, the quality of 37-day-old PRBC is comparable to young PRBC that have been stored for 7 days and have not been washed. Washing stored PRBC increases the ATP content, which subsequently leads to an increased probability of survival of red cells after transfusion.

Effects of different exercise intensity on bone mineral density in adults: a comparative systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The primary objective of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of differing exercise intensity on (areal) bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine and hip in adults by a comparative meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature according to the PRISMA statement included: (a) exercise trials, (b) with ≥two study arms that compared different exercise intensities, (c) intervention ≥6 months, (d) BMD assessments at lumbar spine (LS) or hip. Five electronic databases were scanned without language restrictions up to July 2021. The present analysis of exercise intensity was conducted as a mixed-effect meta-analysis and applied "type of exercise" and "study duration" as moderator in subgroup analyses. Outcome measures were standardized mean differences (SMD) for BMD changes at the LS, and hip.

RESULTS

Eleven exercise studies with 26 study arms were included. Although the effect of high-intensity exercise was more pronounced on LS-BMD (SMD: 0.19, 95%-CI: 0.61 to -0.23) and hip-ROI (0.17, 0.38 to -0.04), we did not observe significant differences between the groups (LS-BMD: p=0.373 and hip-BMD: p=0.109). We observed a substantial level of heterogeneity between the trials for LS- but not for hip-BMD. Applying "type of exercise" and "study duration" as moderators did not significantly modify the differences between low and high exercise intensity on BMD at LS or hip.

CONCLUSION

There is insufficient evidence for a superior effect of high-intensity exercise on areal BMD at lumbar spine and hip in people aged 50 years and older. Varying exercise intensity with periods of lower exercise intensity intermitted by higher intensity might be a promising option to address the issue of exercise intensities in intervention studies.

Field-effect silicon-plasmonic photodetector for coherent T-wave reception

Plasmonic internal photoemission detectors (PIPED) have recently been shown to combine compact footprint and high bandwidth with monolithic co-integration into silicon photonic circuits, thereby opening an attractive route towards optoelectronic generation and detection of waveforms in the sub-THz and THz frequency range, so-called T-waves. In this paper, we further expand the PIPED concept by introducing a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) interface with an additional gate electrode that allows to control the carrier dynamics in the device and the degree of internal photoemission at the metal-semiconductor interfaces. We experimentally study the behavior of dedicated field-effect (FE-)PIPED test structures and develop a physical understanding of the underlying principles. We find that the THz down-conversion efficiency of FE-PIPED can be significantly increased when applying a gate potential. Building upon the improved understanding of the device physics, we further perform simulations and show that the gate field increases the carrier density in the conductive channel below the gate oxide to the extent that the device dynamics are determined by ultra-fast dielectric relaxation rather than by the carrier transit time. In this regime, the bandwidth can be increased to more than 1 THz. We believe that our experiments open a new path towards understanding the principles of internal photoemission in plasmonic structures, leading to PIPED-based optoelectronic signal processing systems with unprecedented bandwidth and efficiency.

Measurement of the Charge-Averaged Elastic Lepton-Proton Scattering Cross Section by the OLYMPUS Experiment

We report the first measurement of the average of the electron-proton and positron-proton elastic scattering cross sections. This lepton charge-averaged cross section is insensitive to the leading effects of hard two-photon exchange, giving more robust access to the proton's electromagnetic form factors. The cross section was extracted from data taken by the OLYMPUS experiment at DESY, in which alternating stored electron and positron beams were scattered from a windowless gaseous hydrogen target. Elastic scattering events were identified from the coincident detection of the scattered lepton and recoil proton in a large-acceptance toroidal spectrometer. The luminosity was determined from the rates of Møller, Bhabha, and elastic scattering in forward electromagnetic calorimeters. The data provide some selectivity between existing form factor global fits and will provide valuable constraints to future fits.

Ruling out Color Transparency in Quasielastic ^{12}C(e,e^{'}p) up to Q^{2} of 14.2 (GeV/c)^{2}

Quasielastic ^{12}C(e,e^{'}p) scattering was measured at spacelike 4-momentum transfer squared Q^{2}=8, 9.4, 11.4, and 14.2  (GeV/c)^{2}, the highest ever achieved to date. Nuclear transparency for this reaction was extracted by comparing the measured yield to that expected from a plane-wave impulse approximation calculation without any final state interactions. The measured transparency was consistent with no Q^{2} dependence, up to proton momenta of 8.5  GeV/c, ruling out the quantum chromodynamics effect of color transparency at the measured Q^{2} scales in exclusive (e,e^{'}p) reactions. These results impose strict constraints on models of color transparency for protons.

Effects of dynamic resistance exercise on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis with special emphasis on exercise parameters

This systematic review and meta-analysis set out to determine the effect of dynamic resistance exercise (DRT) on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in postmenopausal women and derive evidence-based recommendations for optimized training protocols. A systematic review of the literature according to the PRISMA statement included (a) controlled trials, (b) of isolated DRT with at least one exercise and one control group, (c) with intervention durations ≥ 6 months, (d) aBMD assessments at lumbar spine or proximal femur, (e) in cohorts of postmenopausal women. We searched eight electronic databases up to March 2019 without language restrictions. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Standardized mean differences (SMD) for BMD changes at lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and total hip (TH) were defined as outcome measures. Moderators of the exercise effects, i.e., "intervention length," "type of DRT," "training frequency," "exercise intensity," and "exercise volume," were addressed by sub-group analyses. The study was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) under ID: CRD42018095097. Seventeen articles with 20 exercise and 18 control groups were eligible. SMD average is 0.54 (95% CI 0.22-0.87) for LS-BMD, 0.22 (0.07-0.38) for FN-BMD, and 0.48 (0.22-0.75) for TH-BMD changes (all p ≤ 0.015). While sub-group analysis for FN-BMD revealed no differences within categories of moderators, lower training frequency (< 2 sessions/week) resulted in significantly higher BMD changes at LS and TH compared to higher training frequency (≥ 2 sessions/week). Additionally, free weight training was significantly superior to DRT devices for improving TH-BMD. This work provided further evidence for significant, albeit only low-moderate, effects of DRT on LS-, FN-, and TH-BMD. Unfortunately, sub-analysis results did not allow meaningful exercise recommendations to be derived. This systematic review and meta-analysis observed a significant low-moderate effect of dynamic resistance exercise on bone mineral density changes in postmenopausal women. However, sub-group analyses focusing on exercise characteristics found no results that enable the derivation of meaningful exercise recommendations in the area of exercise and osteoporosis prevention or therapy.

Revealing Color Forces with Transverse Polarized Electron Scattering

The Spin Asymmetries of the Nucleon Experiment measured two double spin asymmetries using a polarized proton target and polarized electron beam at two beam energies, 4.7 and 5.9 GeV. A large-acceptance open-configuration detector package identified scattered electrons at 40° and covered a wide range in Bjorken x (0.3<x<0.8). Proportional to an average color Lorentz force, the twist-3 matrix element, d[over ˜]_{2}^{p}, was extracted from the measured asymmetries at Q^{2} values ranging from 2.0 to 6.0  GeV^{2}. The data display the opposite sign compared to most quark models, including the lattice QCD result, and an unexpected scale dependence. Furthermore, when combined with the neutron data in the same Q^{2} range the results suggest a flavor independent average color Lorentz force.

Effects of Footbaths with Mustard, Ginger, or Warm Water Only on Objective and Subjective Warmth Distribution in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the short-term thermogenic effects of footbaths with warm water alone (WA) versus when combined with medicinal powders.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial with cross-over.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

Seventeen healthy volunteers (mean age 22.1 years, SD = 2.4; 11 female) received three footbaths with WA or WA combined with mustard (MU) or ginger (GI) in a randomized order. Self-perceived warmth (Herdecke warmth perception questionnaire) and actual skin temperatures (thermography) were assessed before (t0), immediately after footbaths (t1), and 10 minutes later (t2). The primary outcome was perceived warmth in the feet. Secondary outcomes were warmth perception in the face, hands and overall, as well as actual skin temperature in the feet, face, and hands.

RESULTS

Perceived warmth at the feet (primary outcome) increased significantly (all p's < .001) for MU and GI at t1 as well as for GI at t2 when compared to t0 with high effect sizes. At t2, GI differed significantly from WA (p < .001) and MU (p = .048). With regards to the secondary measures of outcome, no significant effects were seen for perceived warmth at the face or hands. Overall warmth was significantly higher at t1 compared to t0 (p = .01). Thermography assessments of skin temperature at the feet at t1 increased after all conditions (p < .001). No effects were seen in the face. At the hands, temperature decreased at t1 (p = .02) and t2 compared to t0 (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

The present study provides preliminary evidence that mustard and ginger increase warmth perception at the feet more than warm water alone, with only the effects for GI enduring at the brief follow-up.

Exercise effects on bone mineral density in older men: a systematic review with special emphasis on study interventions

This systematic review detected only limited positive effects of exercise on bone mineral density in older men. Further, based on the present literature, we were unable to suggest dedicated exercise prescriptions for this male cohort that might differ from recommendations based on studies with postmenopausal women. The primary aim of this systematic review was to determine the effect of exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy older men. A systematic review of the literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement included only randomized or non-randomized controlled trials of exercise training ≥ 6 months with study groups of ≥ eight healthy men aged 50 years or older, not using bone-relevant pharmacological therapy, that determined BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, Science Direct, and Eric up to November 2016. Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale. We identified eight trials with 789 participants (PEDro-score, mean value 6 of 10) which satisfied our eligibility criteria. Studies vary considerably with respect to type and composition of exercise. Study interventions of six trials were considered to be appropriate for successfully addressing BMD in this cohort. Between-group differences were not or not consistently reported by three studies. Three studies reported significant exercise effects on BMD for proximal femur; one of them determined significant differences between the exercise groups. None of the exercise trials determined significant BMD effects at the lumbar spine. Based on the present studies, there is only limited evidence for a favorable effect of exercise on BMD in men. More well-designed and sophisticated studies on BMD in healthy older men have to address this topic. Further, there is a need to define intervention quality standards and implement a universal scoring system that allows this pivotal determinant to be addressed much more intensively.

Oxygenation and Lung Morphology in a Rabbit Pediatric ARDS- Model under High Peak Pressure Ventilation plus Nitric Oxide and Surfactant Compared with Veno-venous ECMO

The aim of the study is to investigate which of two treatment options of saline lavage induced ARDS in rabbits is better in terms of oxygenation and prevention of barotrauma: combined high peak pressure ventilation with surfactant administration and inhaled nitric oxide or veno-venous ECMO combined with low peak inspiratory pressure ventilation.

Materials and Methods

After saline lavage (10 cc/kg repeated as long as foamy retrieval was observed) two combined therapeutic strategies were examined: ventilation with high inspiratory pressures (35 cm H2O) with additional exogenous surfactant administration (100 mg/kg) and inhaled nitric oxide (10 PPM) (n=5, group 1) and low inspiratory pressure (20 cm H2O) ventilation under veno-venous ECMO support (n=5, group 2). The FiO2 was maintained at 1.0 in both groups. The paO2/FiO2 ratio was calculated in 30 minute intervals for 4 hours. After that the animals were sacrificed and the lungs examined macro- and microscopically. Aeration was described in a semiquantitative method using the alveolar expansion index. Oxygenation in group 1 was significantly better than in group 2, it increased significantly after surfactant but not after additional nitric oxide administration. However, the lungs in group 1 showed severe signs of baro/ergotrauma (Hyaline membranes, air leaks, infiltration of polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocytes and macrophages, break down of alveolar capillary membranes) after 4 hrs of combined therapy, whereas the lungs in group 2 appeared normal. Adding surfactant and NO to a high tidal volume ventilation improved oxygenation, but did not prevent baro/ergotrauma. Ventilation with low inspiratory pressures combined with ECMO caused little baro/ergotrauma but adequate oxygenation could not be achieved, probably due to anatomical features of the rabbit which do not allow appropriate blood flow within the ECMO-circuit.

Körperliches Training, Fraktur und Knochendichte

Ziel der Untersuchung war es, den Einfluss eines langjährigen körperlichen Trainings auf die Inzidenz klinischer Fraktu-ren zu erfassen.

137 frühpostmenopausale Frauen mit Osteopenie wurden 1998 in die EFOPS-Studie eingeschlossen. 86 Personen wählten den durchgängig überwachten Trainingsarm der Studie (TG), 51 traten der Kontrollgruppe (KG) bei. Primärer Endpunkt waren Frakturrate und -risiko von nied-rigtraumatischen klinischen Frakturen, se-kundärer Endpunkt die Knochendichte.

105 Teilnehmer mit ca. 1650 Teilnehmerjahren wurden in die 16-Jahres-Messung eingeschlossen. Frakturrisiko (Relatives Risiko: 0,51; 95%-Konfidenzintervall: 0,23–0,97) und -rate (0,42; 0,20–0,86) lagen in der Trainingsgruppe signifikant niedriger als in der Kontrollgruppe. In beiden Gruppen sank die Knochendichte an Lendenwirbelsäu-le (TG: –1,5 ± 5,0 % vs. KG: 5,8 ± 6,4 %) und Schenkelhals (TG: –6,5 ± 4,6 % vs. KG: 9,6 ± 5,0 %) signifikant ab, die Reduktion der KG lag jedoch für beide Regionen signifikant (p ≤ 0,001) höher.

Die vorliegende Untersuchung bestätigt mit ausreichender statistischer Power den frakturpräventiven Effekt eines langjährigen körperlichen Trainings bei motivierten, post-menopausalen Frauen mit einem bewusst sportlich aktiven Lebensstil.

Measurement of the Vector and Tensor Asymmetries at Large Missing Momentum in Quasielastic (e[over →],e^{'}p) Electron Scattering from Deuterium

We report the measurement of the beam-vector and tensor asymmetries A_{ed}^{V} and A_{d}^{T} in quasielastic (e[over →],e^{'}p) electrodisintegration of the deuteron at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Center up to missing momentum of 500  MeV/c. Data were collected simultaneously over a momentum transfer range 0.1<Q^{2}<0.5  (GeV/c)^{2} with the Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid using an internal deuterium gas target polarized sequentially in both vector and tensor states. The data are compared with calculations. The beam-vector asymmetry A_{ed}^{V} is found to be directly sensitive to the D-wave component of the deuteron and has a zero crossing at a missing momentum of about 320  MeV/c, as predicted. The tensor asymmetry A_{d}^{T} at large missing momentum is found to be dominated by the influence of the tensor force in the neutron-proton final-state interaction. The new data provide a strong constraint on theoretical models.

Hard Two-Photon Contribution to Elastic Lepton-Proton Scattering Determined by the OLYMPUS Experiment

The OLYMPUS Collaboration reports on a precision measurement of the positron-proton to electron-proton elastic cross section ratio, R_{2γ}, a direct measure of the contribution of hard two-photon exchange to the elastic cross section. In the OLYMPUS measurement, 2.01 GeV electron and positron beams were directed through a hydrogen gas target internal to the DORIS storage ring at DESY. A toroidal magnetic spectrometer instrumented with drift chambers and time-of-flight scintillators detected elastically scattered leptons in coincidence with recoiling protons over a scattering angle range of ≈20° to 80°. The relative luminosity between the two beam species was monitored using tracking telescopes of interleaved gas electron multiplier and multiwire proportional chamber detectors at 12°, as well as symmetric Møller or Bhabha calorimeters at 1.29°. A total integrated luminosity of 4.5  fb^{-1} was collected. In the extraction of R_{2γ}, radiative effects were taken into account using a Monte Carlo generator to simulate the convolutions of internal bremsstrahlung with experiment-specific conditions such as detector acceptance and reconstruction efficiency. The resulting values of R_{2γ}, presented here for a wide range of virtual photon polarization 0.456<ε<0.978, are smaller than some hadronic two-photon exchange calculations predict, but are in reasonable agreement with a subtracted dispersion model and a phenomenological fit to the form factor data.

Whole-body electromyostimulation to fight sarcopenic obesity in community-dwelling older women at risk. Resultsof the randomized controlled FORMOsA-sarcopenic obesity study

The effect of whole body-electromyostimulation in community-dwelling women ≥70 with sarcopenic obesity was heterogeneous, with high effects on muscle mass, moderate effects on functional parameters, and minor effects on fat mass. Further, we failed to determine a supportive effect of additional protein-enriched dietary supplementation in this albeit predominately well-nourished group.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) on sarcopenic obesity (SO) in community-dwelling women more than 70 years with sarcopenic obesity.

METHODS

Seventy-five community-dwelling women ≥70 years with SO were randomly allocated to either a WB-EMS-application with (WB-EMS &P; 24.9 ± 1.9 kg/m²) or without (WB-EMS; 25.2 ± 1.8 kg/m²) dietary supplementation (150 kcal/day, 56 % protein) or a non-training control group (CG; 24.7 ± 1.4 kg/m²). WB-EMS consisted of one weekly session of 20 min (85 Hz, 350 μs, 4 s of strain-4 s of rest) performed with moderate to high intensity. Primary study endpoint was the Sarcopenia Z-Score constituted by skeletal muscle mass index (SMI, as assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), grip strength, and gait speed, and secondary study endpoint was body fat (%).

RESULTS

Sarcopenia Z-score comparably increases in the WB-EMS and the WB-EMS&P-group (p ≤ .046). Both groups differ significantly (p ≤ .001) from the CG which deteriorated significantly (p = .006). Although body fat changes were most pronounced in the WB-EMS (-0.9 ± 2.1; p = .125) and WB-EMS&P (-1.4 ± 2.5; p = .028), reductions did not statistically differ (p = .746) from the CG (-0.8 ± 2.7; p = .179). Looking behind the covariates, the most prominent changes were determined for SMI, with a significant increase in both EMS-groups (2.0-2.5 %; p ≤ .003) and a decrease in the CG (-1.2 ± 3.1 %; p = .050) with significant between-group differences (p = .001).

CONCLUSION

WB-EMS is a safe and attractive method for increasing muscle mass and functional capacity in this cohort of women 70+ with SO; however, the effect on body fat is minor. Protein-enriched supplements did not increase effects of WB-EMS alone.

High speed plasmonic modulator array enabling dense optical interconnect solutions

Plasmonic modulators might pave the way for a new generation of compact low-power high-speed optoelectronic devices. We introduce an extremely compact transmitter based on plasmonic Mach-Zehnder modulators offering a capacity of 4 × 36 Gbit/s on a footprint that is only limited by the size of the high-speed contact pads. The transmitter array is contacted through a multicore fiber with a channel spacing of 50 μm.

Polarization Transfer in Wide-Angle Compton Scattering and Single-Pion Photoproduction from the Proton

Wide-angle exclusive Compton scattering and single-pion photoproduction from the proton have been investigated via measurement of the polarization transfer from a circularly polarized photon beam to the recoil proton. The wide-angle Compton scattering polarization transfer was analyzed at an incident photon energy of 3.7 GeV at a proton scattering angle of θ_{cm}^{p}=70°. The longitudinal transfer K_{LL}, measured to be 0.645±0.059±0.048, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic, has the same sign as predicted for the reaction mechanism in which the photon interacts with a single quark carrying the spin of the proton. However, the observed value is ~3 times larger than predicted by the generalized-parton-distribution-based calculations, which indicates a significant unknown contribution to the scattering amplitude.

Exercise and fractures in postmenopausal women. Final results of the controlled Erlangen Fitness and Osteoporosis Prevention Study (EFOPS)

The EFOPS trial clearly established the positive effect of long-term exercise on clinical low-trauma fractures in postmenopausal women at risk. Bearing in mind that the complex anti-fracture exercise protocols also affect a large variety of diseases of increased age, we strongly encourage older adults to perform multipurpose exercise programs.

INTRODUCTION

Physical exercise may be an efficient option for autonomous fracture prevention during increasing age. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of exercise on clinical overall fracture incidence and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly subjects at risk.

METHODS

In 1998 initially, 137 early-postmenopausal, osteopenic women living in Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, were included in the EFOPS trial. Subjects of the exercise group (EG; n = 86) conducted two supervised group and two home exercise sessions/week while the control group (CG; n = 51) was requested to maintain their physical activity. Primary study endpoints were clinical overall low-trauma fractures determined by questionnaires, structured interviews, and BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

In 2014, 105 subjects (EG: n = 59 vs. CG: n = 46) representing 1680 participant-years were included in the 16-year follow-up analysis. Risk ratio in the EG for overall low-trauma fractures was 0.51 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.23 to 0.97, p = .046), rate ratio was 0.42 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.86, p = .018). Based on comparable baseline values, lumbar spine (MV -1.5%, 95% CI -0.1 to -2.8 vs. -5.8%, -3.3 to -7.2%) and femoral neck (-6.5%, -5.2 to -7.7 vs. -9.6%, -8.2 to 11.1%) BMD decreased in both groups; however, the reduction was more pronounced in the CG (p ≤ .001).

CONCLUSION

This study clearly evidenced the high anti-fracture efficiency of multipurpose exercise programs. Considering furthermore the favorable effect of exercise on most other risk factors of increasing age, we strongly encourage older adults to perform multipurpose exercise programs.

Stereospecific induction of apoptosis in tumor cells via endogenous C16-ceramide and distinct transcripts

Concentration and distribution of individual endogenous ceramide species is crucial for apoptosis induction in response to various stimuli. Exogenous ceramide analogs induce apoptosis and can in turn modify the composition/concentrations of endogenous ceramide species and associated signaling. In this study, we show here that the elevation of endogenous C₁₆-ceramide levels is a common feature of several known apoptosis-inducing triggers like mmLDL, TNF-alpha, H₂O₂ and exogenous C₆-ceramide. Vice versa apoptosis requires elevation of endogenous C₁₆-ceramide levels in cells. Enantiomers of a synthetic ceramide analog HPL-1RS36N have been developed as probes and vary in their capacity to inducing apoptosis in macrophages and HT-29 cells. Apoptosis induction by the two synthetic ceramide analogs HPL-39N and HPL-1R36N correlates with generation of cellular C₁₆-ceramide concentration. In contrast to the S-enantiomer HPL-1S36N, the R-enantiomer HPL-1R36N shows significant effects on the expression of distinct genes known to be involved in cell cycle, cell growth and cell death (CXCL10, CCL5 and TNF-alpha), similarly on apoptosis induction. Enantioselective effects on transcription induced by metabolically stable synthetic probes provide clues on molecular mechanisms of ceramide-induced signaling, as well as leads for future anti-cancer agents.

Plasmonic-organic hybrid (POH) modulators for OOK and BPSK signaling at 40 Gbit/s

We report on high-speed plasmonic-organic hybrid Mach-Zehnder modulators comprising ultra-compact phase shifters with lengths as small as 19 µm. Choosing an optimum phase shifter length of 29 µm, we demonstrate 40 Gbit/s on-off keying (OOK) modulation with direct detection and a BER < 6 × 10(-4). Furthermore, we report on a 29 µm long binary-phase shift keying (BPSK) modulator and show that it operates error-free (BER < 1 × 10(-10)) at data rates up to 40 Gbit/s and with an energy consumption of 70 fJ/bit.

Shuttle suppression in room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries using ion selective polymer membranes

A sodiated Nafion-coating on a porous polypropylene backbone was used as a cation selective separator for room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries. The capacity of the cells after 20 cycles could be enhanced by 75% to 350 mA h g(sulfur)(-1) using the new separator.

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) deficiency: the spectrum of presenting manifestations beyond hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) deficiency caused by mutations in BIRC4 was initially described in patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP) who had no mutations in SH2D1A. In the initial reports, EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was the predominant clinical phenotype. Among 25 symptomatic patients diagnosed with XIAP deficiency, we identified 17 patients who initially presented with manifestations other than HLH. These included Crohn-like bowel disease (n=6), severe infectious mononucleosis (n=4), isolated splenomegaly (n=3), uveitis (n=1), periodic fever (n=1), fistulating skin abscesses (n=1) and severe Giardia enteritis (n=1). Subsequent manifestations included celiac-like disease, antibody deficiency, splenomegaly and partial HLH. Screening by flow cytometry identified 14 of 17 patients in our cohort. However, neither genotype nor protein expression nor results from cell death studies were clearly associated with the clinical phenotype. Only mutation analysis can reliably identify affected patients. XIAP deficiency must be considered in a wide range of clinical presentations.

Precise measurement of deuteron tensor analyzing powers with BLAST

We report a precision measurement of the deuteron tensor analyzing powers T(20) and T(21) at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Center. Data were collected simultaneously over a momentum transfer range Q=2.15-4.50 fm(-1) with the Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid using a highly polarized deuterium internal gas target. The data are in excellent agreement with calculations in a framework of effective field theory. The deuteron charge monopole and quadrupole form factors G(C) and G(Q) were separated with improved precision, and the location of the first node of G(C) was confirmed at Q=4.19±0.05 fm(-1). The new data provide a strong constraint on theoretical models in a momentum transfer range covering the minimum of T(20) and the first node of G(C).

[Lidocaine patch for therapy of neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain. A clinical case series of 87 patients]

BACKGROUND

Topical lidocaine patches (LP) reduce pain in postherpetic neuralgia and other forms of focal neuropathy. The aim of this study was to determine clinical predictors of therapeutic success.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The medical histories of 87 patients with neuropathic (NS) and non-neuropathic pain (NNS) who had received LP as an add-on to their established pain medication were retrospectively analyzed. The variables assessed were gender, age, analgesic co-medication, pain localization, adverse effects and presence of dynamic allodynia. The impact of these variables on the clinical pain-relieving effect (scored on a 5-point scale) was investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 24 out of 28 patients with manifest allodynia scored the therapy with LP as beneficial, patients without allodynia (n=59, 67.8%) profited significantly less frequently with only 39% (p<0.001). The probability of profiting from LP therapy in the presence of allodynia was found to be about tenfold higher compared to patients without allodynia (odds ratio 9.14). Of the 87 patients investigated 48 were female (55.2%). Allodynia was considerably more frequent in women (39.6%) compared to men (23.1%) but this was insignificant. Of the female patients 62.5% responded to LP treatment, compared to only 43.6% of men. In more than 60% of cases rated as very good pain relief allodynia was manifest and in non-responders only in less than 10%. The variables age, pain localization and analgesic co-medication were not related with the success of therapy.

DISCUSSION

Patients with manifest allodynia profited significantly more frequently from LP therapy and were less frequently non-responders. Female patients showed therapeutic success more often together with a higher rate of allodynia.

CONCLUSIONS

In the presence of allodynia, in especially of neuropathic origin, LP seems to be an effective and save option for add-on therapy, this being independent from pain localization and age. Gender specific effects however need more systematic investigation.

Search for effects beyond the born approximation in polarization transfer observables in e(over→)p elastic scattering

Intensive theoretical and experimental efforts over the past decade have aimed at explaining the discrepancy between data for the proton electric to magnetic form factor ratio, G(E)/G(M), obtained separately from cross section and polarization transfer measurements. One possible explanation for this difference is a two-photon-exchange contribution. In an effort to search for effects beyond the one-photon-exchange or Born approximation, we report measurements of polarization transfer observables in the elastic H(e[over →],e(')p[over →]) reaction for three different beam energies at a Q(2)=2.5  GeV(2), spanning a wide range of the kinematic parameter ε. The ratio R, which equals μ(p)G(E)/G(M) in the Born approximation, is found to be independent of ε at the 1.5% level. The ε dependence of the longitudinal polarization transfer component P(ℓ) shows an enhancement of (2.3±0.6)% relative to the Born approximation at large ε.