PerSiVal: On-Body AR Visualization of Biomechanical Arm Simulations.

In this work, we explore different combinations of techniques for an interactive, on-body visualization in augmented reality (AR) of an upper arm muscle simulation model. In terms of data, we focus on a continuum-mechanical simulation model involving five different muscles of the human upper arm, with physiologically realistic geometry. In terms of use cases, we focus on the immersive illustration, education, and dissemination of such simulation models.

The Novel Synthetic Antibiotic BDTL049 Based on a Dendritic System Induces Lipid Domain Formation while Escaping the Cell Envelope Stress Resistance Determinants.

The threat of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is ever increasing and over the past-decades development of novel therapeutic counter measurements have virtually come to a halt. This circumstance calls for interdisciplinary approaches to design, evaluate and validate the mode of action of novel antibacterial compounds. Hereby, carbosilane dendritic systems that exhibit antimicrobial properties have the potential to serve as synthetic and rationally designed molecules for therapeutic use.

Synthesis and mechanism-of-action of a novel synthetic antibiotic based on a dendritic system with bow-tie topology.

Over the course of the last decades, the continuous exposure of bacteria to antibiotics-at least in parts due to misprescription, misuse, and misdosing-has led to the widespread development of antimicrobial resistances. This development poses a threat to the available medication in losing their effectiveness in treating bacterial infections. On the drug development side, only minor advances have been made to bring forward novel therapeutics.

Subcutaneous Drugs and Off-label Use in Hospice and Palliative Care: A Scoping Review.

Background: Subcutaneous drug administration is an interesting approach for symptom control in hospice and palliative care. However, most drugs have no marketing authorization for subcutaneous administration and are therefore used off-label. In order to meet the requirements of a safe and effective drug therapy, especially in highly vulnerable patients, it is essential to investigate the scope of evidence of these common practices.

Amphotericin B Specifically Induces the Two-Component System LnrJK: Development of a Novel Whole-Cell Biosensor for the Detection of Amphotericin-Like Polyenes.

The rise of drug-resistant fungal pathogens urges for the development of new tools for the discovery of novel antifungal compounds. Polyene antibiotics are potent agents against fungal infections in humans and animals. They inhibit the growth of fungal cells by binding to sterols in the cytoplasmic membrane that subsequently causes pore formation and eventually results in cell death.

The role of C-terminal extensions in controlling ECF σ factor activity in the widely conserved groups ECF41 and ECF42.

The activity of extracytoplasmic function σ-factors (ECFs) is typically regulated by anti-σ factors. In a number of highly abundant ECF groups, including ECF41 and ECF42, σ-factors contain fused C-terminal protein domains, which provide the necessary regulatory function instead. Here, we identified the contact interface between the C-terminal extension and the core σ-factor regions required for controlling ECF activity.

Extracytoplasmic Function σ Factors Can Be Implemented as Robust Heterologous Genetic Switches in Bacillus subtilis.

In bacteria, the promoter specificity of RNA polymerase is determined by interchangeable σ subunits. Extracytoplasmic function σ factors (ECFs) form the largest and most diverse family of alternative σ factors, and their suitability for constructing genetic switches and circuits was already demonstrated. However, a systematic study on how genetically determined perturbations affect the behavior of these switches is still lacking, which impairs our ability to predict their behavior in complex circuitry.

Modulation of extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor promoter selectivity by spacer region sequence.

The ability of bacteria to adapt to stress depends on the conditional expression of specific sets of genes. Bacillus subtilis encodes seven extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma (σ) factors that regulate functions important for survival under conditions eliciting cell envelope stress. Of these, four have been studied in detail: σM, σW, σX and σV.

The Bacillus BioBrick Box: generation and evaluation of essential genetic building blocks for standardized work with Bacillus subtilis.

Background: Standardized and well-characterized genetic building blocks are a prerequisite for the convenient and reproducible assembly of novel genetic modules and devices. While numerous standardized parts exist for Escherichia coli, such tools are still missing for the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. The goal of this study was to develop and thoroughly evaluate such a genetic toolbox.

Ray-based simulation of the propagation of light with different degrees of coherence through complex optical systems.

We show the functional extension of a standard ray tracer to be capable of tracing light fields of different degrees of coherence through complex optical systems. The light fields are represented by spherical waves. An approximate reconstruction of the optical field is possible at arbitrary positions in an optical system under investigation.

[Parents' attitudes towards childhood fever. A cross-sectional survey in the Lyon metropolitan area (202 cases)].

Introduction: The patient overload in pediatric healthcare facilities is caused in part by parents bringing their children in for consultations for fever. We conducted a survey in the Lyon metropolitan area to improve our understanding of parents' attitudes towards their children's fever.

Objective: To assess the frequency and characteristics of healthcare utilization and evaluate parents' knowledge and attitudes before consulting.

Polarization microscopy by use of digital holography: application to optical-fiber birefringence measurements.

We present a digital holographic microscope that permits one to image polarization state. This technique results from the coupling of digital holographic microscopy and polarization digital holography. The interference between two orthogonally polarized reference waves and the wave transmitted by a microscopic sample, magnified by a microscope objective, is recorded on a CCD camera.

An anti-MUC1 antibody-calicheamicin conjugate for treatment of solid tumors. Choice of linker and overcoming drug resistance.

The anti-MUC1 antibody, CTM01, has been chosen to target the potently cytotoxic calicheamicin antitumor antibiotics to solid tumors of epithelial origin that express this antigen. Earlier calicheamicin conjugates relied on the attachment of a hydrazide derivative to the oxidized carbohydrates that occur naturally on antibodies. This produced a "carbohydrate conjugate" capable of releasing active drug by hydrolysis in the lysosomes where the pH is low.

Hydrogen loading and UV-irradiation induced etch rate changes in phosphorus-doped fibers.

We show strong changes in chemical etching of phosphorus-doped fiber cores due to hydrogen loading and subsequent UV-irradiation using an atomic force microscope. The etch rate of the fiber core in a low concentration hydrofluoric acid solution (HF) is decreasing after hydrogen loading by as much as 30%. In contrast, UV-irradiation of the hydrogenated fiber increases the core etch rate to values of 27% above the etch rate of the pristine fiber.

The mode of mechanical integrin stressing controls intracellular signaling in osteoblasts.

Following the idea that integrin receptors function as mechanotransducers, we applied defined physical forces to integrins in osteoblastic cells using a magnetic drag force device to show how cells sense different modes of physical forces. Application of mechanical stress to the beta1-integrin subunit revealed that cyclic forces of 1 Hz were more effective to stimulate the cellular calcium response than continuous load. Cyclic forces also induced an enhanced cytoskeletal anchorage of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and increased activation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase.

What is the benefit of involuntary short-term psychiatric hospitalisation?

In Germany, psychiatric patients considered to be a danger to themselves or others may be detained involuntarily for 24 hours, after which the court must be consulted. Only Baden-Württemberg, of all the German states, allows for 72 hours confinement. In a study of 70 patients who were involuntarily hospitalized at a university hospital, it was found that when patients are subject to a 72 hour doctors' court hold, as compared to the 24 hour hold, the number of patients committed to treatment by the court was reduced by about 50%.

Cost of varicella in France: a study in day care centers.

To assess the cost of varicella in young children in France, a prospective study was done in day care centers. Children (1263), who were 3 months to 3 years old and attending day care, were followed over a varicella season. For every child who developed varicella (n = 200), detailed information was obtained by use of parental questionnaires.

Analysis of spatial distributions of cellular molecules during mechanical stressing of cell surface receptors using confocal microscopy.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy represents a suitable technique to study the localization of cellular components in three dimension. The authors used this technique to analyse cellular events related to mechanical stimulation of integrin receptors on the cell surface. By performing optical sections the distribution of integrin receptors on the apical surface of an osteoblastic cell was determined.

Mechanical stressing of integrin receptors induces enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoskeletally anchored proteins.

Physical forces play a fundamental role in the regulation of cell function in many tissues, but little is known about how cells are able to sense mechanical loads and realize signal transduction. Adhesion receptors like integrins are candidates for mechanotransducers. We used a magnetic drag force device to apply forces on integrin receptors in an osteoblastic cell line and studied the effect on tyrosine phosphorylation as a biochemical event in signal transduction.

[Clinical data on the diagnosis of colic in infants. Survey in 2,773 infants aged 15-119 days. Groupment des pédiatres de la région de Lyon (GPRL), le Groupment lyonnais de recherche en pédiatrie ambulatoire (GLYRPA), l'association des pédiatres de la région stéphanoise (APRS) et la Formation pédiatrique grenobloise (FPG)].

Background: Crying is called "Infantile colic" when such cries are numerous, paroxystic, difficult to comfort, and without an obvious cause.

Methodology: An information mailing on the study (named Encolie) and the associated methodology was distributed in April 1995 to 212 private practice pediatricians. They have included in the study all infants aged 15 to 119 days who were seen during consultation from June 12 to June 27.

Adhesiveness of the free surface of a human endometrial monolayer for trophoblast as related to actin cytoskeleton.

Adhesiveness of the apical (free) plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells for trophoblast is essential for the process of human embryo implantation. As epithelial cells are normally repellent, i.e.

[Clinical, pharmacokinetic and therapeutic study of amikacin with single daily dose and in combination in neutropenic children with fever].

Background: The efficacy of single daily dose of amikacin has been recently demonstrated in neutropenic children with fever.

Population And Methods: Eighteen children aged 1 to 15 years were included in the study. All patients were febrile and granulocytopenic and had indwelling intravenous catheter.

Stimulation of integrin receptors using a magnetic drag force device induces an intracellular free calcium response.

Mechanical loading of cells is of fundamental relevance in physiological processes and induces several functional responses in cells. Integrins, a family of adhesion receptors, which are responsible for the interaction with the extracellular matrix, may play a role in transmission of mechanical signals into cells. The osteogenic cell line U-2 OS expresses different integrin subunits which are uniformly distributed over the cell surface.