TY - JOUR A1 - van der Valk, Ralf J. P. A1 - Kreiner-Moller, Eskil A1 - Kooijman, Marjolein N. A1 - Guxens, Monica A1 - Stergiakouli, Evangelia A1 - Saaf, Annika A1 - Bradfield, Jonathan P. A1 - Geller, Frank A1 - Hayes, M. Geoffrey A1 - Cousminer, Diana L. A1 - Koerner, Antje A1 - Thiering, Elisabeth A1 - Curtin, John A. A1 - Myhre, Ronny A1 - Huikari, Ville A1 - Joro, Raimo A1 - Kerkhof, Marjan A1 - Warrington, Nicole M. A1 - Pitkanen, Niina A1 - Ntalla, Ioanna A1 - Horikoshi, Momoko A1 - Veijola, Riitta A1 - Freathy, Rachel M. A1 - Teo, Yik-Ying A1 - Barton, Sheila J. A1 - Evans, David M. A1 - Kemp, John P. A1 - St Pourcain, Beate A1 - Ring, Susan M. A1 - Smith, George Davey A1 - Bergstrom, Anna A1 - Kull, Inger A1 - Hakonarson, Hakon A1 - Mentch, Frank D. A1 - Bisgaard, Hans A1 - Chawes, Bo Lund Krogsgaard A1 - Stokholm, Jakob A1 - Waage, Johannes A1 - Eriksen, Patrick A1 - Sevelsted, Astrid A1 - Melbye, Mads A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M. A1 - Medina-Gomez, Carolina A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - de Jongste, Johan C. A1 - Taal, H. Rob A1 - Uitterlinden, Andre G. A1 - Armstrong, Loren L. A1 - Eriksson, Johan A1 - Palotie, Aarno A1 - Bustamante, Mariona A1 - Estivill, Xavier A1 - Gonzalez, Juan R. A1 - Llop, Sabrina A1 - Kiess, Wieland A1 - Mahajan, Anubha A1 - Flexeder, Claudia A1 - Tiesler, Carla M. T. A1 - Murray, Clare S. A1 - Simpson, Angela A1 - Magnus, Per A1 - Sengpiel, Verena A1 - Hartikainen, Anna-Liisa A1 - Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, Sirkka A1 - Lewin, Alexandra A1 - Alves, Alexessander Da Silva Couto A1 - Blakemore, Alexandra I. F. A1 - Buxton, Jessica L. A1 - Kaakinen, Marika A1 - Rodriguez, Alina A1 - Sebert, Sylvain A1 - Vaarasmaki, Marja A1 - Lakka, Timo A1 - Lindi, Virpi A1 - Gehring, Ulrike A1 - Postma, Dirkje S. A1 - Ang, Wei A1 - Newnham, John P. A1 - Lyytikainen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Pahkala, Katja A1 - Raitakari, Olli T. A1 - Panoutsopoulou, Kalliope A1 - Zeggini, Eleftheria A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I. A1 - Groen-Blokhuis, Maria A1 - Ilonen, Jorma A1 - Franke, Lude A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel N. A1 - Pers, Tune H. A1 - Liang, Liming A1 - Huang, Jinyan A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Knip, Mikael A1 - Saw, Seang-Mei A1 - Holloway, John W. A1 - Melen, Erik A1 - Grant, Struan F. A. A1 - Feenstra, Bjarke A1 - Lowe, William L. A1 - Widen, Elisabeth A1 - Sergeyev, Elena A1 - Grallert, Harald A1 - Custovic, Adnan A1 - Jacobsson, Bo A1 - Jarvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Atalay, Mustafa A1 - Koppelman, Gerard H. A1 - Pennell, Craig E. A1 - Niinikoski, Harri A1 - Dedoussis, George V. A1 - Mccarthy, Mark I. A1 - Frayling, Timothy M. A1 - Sunyer, Jordi A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J. A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Bonnelykke, Klaus A1 - Jaddoe, Vincent W. V. T1 - A novel common variant in DCST2 is associated with length in early life and height in adulthood JF - Human molecular genetics N2 - Common genetic variants have been identified for adult height, but not much is known about the genetics of skeletal growth in early life. To identify common genetic variants that influence fetal skeletal growth, we meta-analyzed 22 genome-wide association studies (Stage 1; N = 28 459). We identified seven independent top single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (P < 1 x 10(-6)) for birth length, of which three were novel and four were in or near loci known to be associated with adult height (LCORL, PTCH1, GPR126 and HMGA2). The three novel SNPs were followed-up in nine replication studies (Stage 2; N = 11 995), with rs905938 in DC-STAMP domain containing 2 (DCST2) genome-wide significantly associated with birth length in a joint analysis (Stages 1 + 2; beta = 0.046, SE = 0.008, P = 2.46 x 10(-8), explained variance = 0.05%). Rs905938 was also associated with infant length (N = 28 228; P = 5.54 x 10(-4)) and adult height (N = 127 513; P = 1.45 x 10(-5)). DCST2 is a DC-STAMP-like protein family member and DC-STAMP is an osteoclast cell-fusion regulator. Polygenic scores based on 180 SNPs previously associated with human adult stature explained 0.13% of variance in birth length. The same SNPs explained 2.95% of the variance of infant length. Of the 180 known adult height loci, 11 were genome-wide significantly associated with infant length (SF3B4, LCORL, SPAG17, C6orf173, PTCH1, GDF5, ZNFX1, HHIP, ACAN, HLA locus and HMGA2). This study highlights that common variation in DCST2 influences variation in early growth and adult height. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddu510 SN - 0964-6906 SN - 1460-2083 VL - 24 IS - 4 SP - 1155 EP - 1168 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Neuschäfer-Rube, Frank A1 - Oppermann, Martin A1 - Möller, Ulrike A1 - Böer, Ulrike A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul T1 - Agonist-induced phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinases of the EP4 receptor carboxyl-terminal domain in an EP3/EP4 prostaglandin E(2) receptor hybrid N2 - Prostaglandin E(2) receptors (EP-Rs) belong to the family of heterotrimeric G protein-coupled ectoreceptors with seven transmembrane domains. They can be subdivided into four subtypes according to their ligand-binding and G protein-coupling specificity: EP1 couple to G(q), EP2 and EP4 to G(s), and EP3 to G(i). The EP4-R, in contrast to the EP3beta-R, shows rapid agonist-induced desensitization. The agonist-induced desensitization depends on the presence of the EP4-R carboxyl-terminal domain, which also confers desensitization in a G(i)-coupled rEP3hEP4 carboxyl-terminal domain receptor hybrid (rEP3hEP4-Ct-R). To elucidate the possible mechanism of this desensitization, in vivo phosphorylation stimulated by activators of second messenger kinases, by prostaglandin E(2), or by the EP3-R agonist M&B28767 was investigated in COS-7 cells expressing FLAG-epitope-tagged rat EP3beta-R (rEP3beta-R), hEP4-R, or rEP3hEP4- Ct-R. Stimulation of protein kinase C with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate led to a slight phosphorylation of the FLAG- rEP3beta-R but to a strong phosphorylation of the FLAG-hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R, which was suppressed by the protein kinase A and protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine. Prostaglandin E(2) stimulated phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R in its carboxyl-terminal receptor domain. The EP3-R agonist M&B28767 induced a time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation of the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R but not of the FLAG-rEP3beta-R. Agonist-induced phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R were not inhibited by staurosporine, which implies a role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) in agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation. Overexpression of GRKs in FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R- expressing COS-7 cells augmented the M&B28767-induced receptor phosphorylation and receptor sequestration. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal hEP4-R domain possibly by GRKs but not by second messenger kinases may be involved in rapid agonist-induced desensitization of the hEP4-R and the rEP3hEP4-Ct-R. Y1 - 1999 SN - 1521-0111 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Drygala, Frank A1 - Werner, Ulrike A1 - Zoller, Hinrich T1 - Diet composition of the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in north-east Germany JF - Hystrix : the Italian journal of mammalogy N2 - Invasive alien species pose a great threat to the integrity of natural communities by competition with and predation on native species. In Germany the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) occupy a similar ecological niche. Therefore, the aim of our study was to discover the extent of exploitative diet competition between these two generalist carnivores. Carcasses of red foxes (n=256) and raccoon dogs (n=253) were collected throughout Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania (north-east Germany) and stomachs contains were analysed. Frequency of occurrence and biomass share indicate that both canids are omnivorous and pursue opportunistic feeding strategies. Small mammals and edible plant material were the most important food resources for red foxes and raccoon dogs. Nonetheless, interspecies differences were recorded for edible plant material, small mammals and insects. While red foxes mostly feed on voles, raccoon dogs consumed mice and shrews as often as voles. Only raccoon dogs preyed on amphibians. There were no differences in carrion consumption, both species scavenged on wild boar and we found clear competition for carrion year-round. Moreover, there was evidence that two red foxes foraged on raccoon dogs and vice versa. The mean annual interspecies diet overlap index was relatively high. The diets determined for raccoon dogs and red foxes were quite similar and a similar food niche breadth was recorded. However, only minor competition is assumed to take place since differences in feeding habits do exist. KW - Nyctereutes procyonoides KW - Vulpes vulpes KW - invasive species KW - diet competition KW - feeding strategies Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix.-24.2-8867 SN - 0394-1914 SN - 1825-5272 VL - 24 IS - 2 SP - 190 EP - 194 PB - Associazione Teriologica Romana CY - Roma ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - Radtke, Julia A1 - Nienstedt, Julie Cläre A1 - Pötter-Nerger, Monika A1 - Schönwald, Beate A1 - Buhmann, Carsten A1 - Gerloff, Christian A1 - Niessen, Almut A1 - Flügel, Till A1 - Koseki, Jana-Christiane A1 - Pflug, Christina T1 - Dysphagia screening in Parkinson's Disease BT - a diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study investigating the applicability of the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) JF - Neurogastroenterology and motility N2 - Background Simple water-swallowing screening tools are not predictive of aspiration and dysphagia in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of a multi-texture screening tool, the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) to identify aspiration and dysphagia/penetration in PD patients compared to flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Methods Swallowing function was evaluated in 51 PD participants in clinical 'on-medication' state with the GUSS and a FEES examination according to standardized protocols. Inter-rater reliability and convergent validity were determined and GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations were compared. Key Results Inter-rater reliability of GUSS ratings was high (r(s) = 0.8; p < 0.001). Aspiration was identified by the GUSS with a sensitivity of 50%, and specificity of 51.35% (PPV 28%, NPV 73%, LR+ 1.03, LR- 0.97), dysphagia/penetration was identified with 72.97% sensitivity and 35.71% specificity (PPV 75%, NPV 33.33%, LR+ 1.14, LR- 0.76). Agreement between GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations was low (r(s) = 0.12, p = 0.42) with consistent NPO (Nil per Os) allocation by GUSS and FEES in only one participant. Conclusions and Inferences The multi-texture screening tool GUSS in its current form, although applicable with good inter-rater reliability, does not detect aspiration in PD patients with acceptable accuracy. Modifications of the GUSS parameters "coughing," "voice change" and "delayed swallowing" might enhance validity. The GUSS' diet recommendations overestimate the need for oral intake restriction in PD patients and should be verified by instrumental swallowing examination. KW - aspiration KW - dysphagia KW - FEES KW - Gugging Swallowing Screen KW - Parkinson' s disease Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.14034 SN - 1350-1925 SN - 1365-2982 VL - 33 IS - 5 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - GEN A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - Radtke, Julia A1 - Nienstedt, Julie Cläre A1 - Pötter-Nerger, Monika A1 - Schönwald, Beate A1 - Buhmann, Carsten A1 - Gerloff, Christian A1 - Niessen, Almut A1 - Flügel, Till A1 - Koseki, Jana-Christiane A1 - Pflug, Christina T1 - Dysphagia screening in Parkinson's Disease BT - a diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study investigating the applicability of the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Background Simple water-swallowing screening tools are not predictive of aspiration and dysphagia in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of a multi-texture screening tool, the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) to identify aspiration and dysphagia/penetration in PD patients compared to flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Methods Swallowing function was evaluated in 51 PD participants in clinical 'on-medication' state with the GUSS and a FEES examination according to standardized protocols. Inter-rater reliability and convergent validity were determined and GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations were compared. Key Results Inter-rater reliability of GUSS ratings was high (r(s) = 0.8; p < 0.001). Aspiration was identified by the GUSS with a sensitivity of 50%, and specificity of 51.35% (PPV 28%, NPV 73%, LR+ 1.03, LR- 0.97), dysphagia/penetration was identified with 72.97% sensitivity and 35.71% specificity (PPV 75%, NPV 33.33%, LR+ 1.14, LR- 0.76). Agreement between GUSS- and FEES-based diet recommendations was low (r(s) = 0.12, p = 0.42) with consistent NPO (Nil per Os) allocation by GUSS and FEES in only one participant. Conclusions and Inferences The multi-texture screening tool GUSS in its current form, although applicable with good inter-rater reliability, does not detect aspiration in PD patients with acceptable accuracy. Modifications of the GUSS parameters "coughing," "voice change" and "delayed swallowing" might enhance validity. The GUSS' diet recommendations overestimate the need for oral intake restriction in PD patients and should be verified by instrumental swallowing examination. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe - 854 KW - aspiration KW - dysphagia KW - FEES KW - Gugging Swallowing Screen KW - Parkinson' s disease Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-569625 SN - 1866-8364 IS - 5 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - Frank, Katrin A1 - Zimmermann, Heinrich T1 - Effects of Respiratory Therapy (bagging) on Respiratory Function, Swallowing Frequency and Vigilance in Tracheotomized Patients in Early Neurorehabilitation JF - Pneumologie : Zeitschrift für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin N2 - Objective: Tracheotomized patients often suffer from impairments in mucociliary clearance and limited capacities for active expectoration of secretions. We investigated the effects of a specific respiratory intervention method (bagging) for tracheotomized patients on respiratory parameters (pO(2), pCO(2), SpO(2), respiratory rates), swallowing frequency, vigilance and secretion viscosity. Methods: The bagging method supports enforced mobilization and expectoration of secretions by application of a series of manual hyperinflations with a resuscitation bag during active inspiration and manual cough support on the chest. 30 tracheotomized neurological patients participated in a multiple-baseline study including a three-weeks intervention period and a follow-up measurement three weeks after termination of the treatment. Results: Most outcome parameters improved significantly during the intervention period: pO(2) (p<.01), SpO(2) (p<.01), respiratory rates (p<.01), swallowing rates (p<.01), and vigilance scores (p<.01). The quality of bronchial secretions improved in all participants. All effects were sustained up to the follow-up measurements. Conclusion: This preliminary data indicates positive effects for a respiratory intervention method (bagging) on respiratory function and additional respiration-related functions in tracheotomized neurological patients. This easy-to-learn and inexpensive method might expand the range of treatment options for tracheotomized and non-responsive patients. Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1392359 SN - 0934-8387 SN - 1438-8790 VL - 69 IS - 7 SP - 394 EP - 399 PB - Thieme CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Neuschäfer-Rube, Frank A1 - Engemaier, Eva A1 - Koch, Sina A1 - Böer, Ulrike A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul T1 - Identification by site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids contributing to ligand-binding specificity or signal transduction properties of the human FP prostanoid receptor N2 - Prostanoid receptors belong to the class of heptahelical plasma membrane receptors. For the five prostanoids, eight receptor subtypes have been identified. They display an overall sequence similarity of roughly 30%. Based on sequence comparison, single amino acids in different subtypes of different species have previously been identified by site-directed mutagenesis or in hybrid receptors that appear to be essential for ligand binding or G-protein coupling. Based on this information, a series of mutants of the human FP receptor was generated and characterized in ligand- binding and second-messenger-formation studies. It was found that mutation of His-81 to Ala in transmembrane domain 2 and of Arg-291 to Leu in transmembrane domain 7, which are putative interaction partners for the prostanoid's carboxyl group, abolished ligand binding. Mutants in which Ser-263 in transmembrane domain 6 or Asp-300 in transmembrane domain 7 had been replaced by Ala or Gln, respectively, no longer discriminated between prostaglandins PGF(2alpha) and PGD(2). Thus distortion of the topology of transmembrane domains 6 and 7 appears to interfere with the cyclopentane ring selectivity of the receptor. PGF(2alpha)-induced inositol formation was strongly reduced in the mutant Asp-300Gln, inferring a role for this residue in agonist-induced G-protein activation. Y1 - 2003 UR - http://www.biochemj.org/bj/371/0443/bj3710443.htm ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - van den Engel-Hoek, Lenie A1 - Nogueira, Dalia A1 - Schindler, Antonio A1 - Adams, Sasha A1 - Curry, Morgan A1 - Huckabee, Maggie-Lee T1 - International standardisation of the test of masticating and swallowing solids in children JF - Journal of oral rehabilitation N2 - The Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS) is a validated assessment tool measuring the efficiency of solid bolus intake by four quantitative parameters: discrete bites, masticatory cycles, swallows and time to ingest a single cracker. A normative database for adults (20-80+ years) has previously been established. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability and reliability of the TOMASS in children and adolescents (TOMASS-C) and to establish the normative database for this younger population. We collected data from 638 participants (male: 311, female: 327) in five age groups (4-18 years) with five different but very similar test crackers in four countries. Significant effects of bolus type (cracker), age group and gender on the TOMASS parameters were identified, requiring stratification of the TOMASS-C database by these variables. Intra-rater reliability was excellent (ICC > 0.94) for all parameters; inter-rater reliability was moderate for "number of swallows" (ICC = 0.54), good for "bites" (ICC = 0.78) and "time" (ICC = 0.82), and excellent for "masticatory cycles" (ICC = 0.96). The "Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids in Children (TOMASS-C)" was identified to be a reliable diagnostic tool for the comprehensive measurement of discrete oral stage components of solid bolus ingestion, standardised by a large normative database that covers age groups from preschoolers to young adults. While differences between gender groups were less pronounced than in the adult population, previous results relating to changes in masticatory and swallowing as a function of age are confirmed by our data. KW - mastication KW - normative data KW - reliability KW - solid bolus KW - swallowing Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.12728 SN - 0305-182X SN - 1365-2842 VL - 46 IS - 2 SP - 161 EP - 169 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Opitz, Stephan A1 - Wünnemann, Bernd A1 - Aichner, Bernhard A1 - Dietze, Elisabeth A1 - Hartmann, Kai A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike A1 - IJmker, Janneke A1 - Lehmkuhl, Frank A1 - Li, Shijie A1 - Mischke, Steffen A1 - Plotzki, Anna A1 - Stauch, Georg A1 - Diekmann, Bernhard T1 - Late Glacial and Holocene development of Lake Donggi Cona, north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, inferred from sedimentological analysis JF - Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences N2 - Sediments of Lake Donggi Cona on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau were studied to infer changes in the lacustrine depositional environment, related to climatic and non-climatic changes during the last 19 kyr. The lake today fills a 30x8 km big and 95 m deep tectonic basin, associated with the Kunlun Fault. The study was conducted on a sediment-core transect through the lake basin, in order to gain a complete picture of spatio-temporal environmental change. The recovered sediments are partly finely laminated and are composed of calcareous muds with variable amounts of carbonate micrite, organic matter, detrital silt and clay. On the basis of sedimentological, geochemical, and mineralogical data up to five lithological units (LU) can be distinguished that document distinct stages in the development of the lake system. The onset of the lowermost LU with lacustrine muds above basal sands indicates that lake level was at least 39 m below the present level and started to rise after 19 ka, possibly in response to regional deglaciation. At this time, the lacustrine environment was characterized by detrital sediment influx and the deposition of siliciclastic sediment. In two sediment cores, upward grain-size coarsening documents a lake-level fall after 13 cal ka BP, possibly associated with the late-glacial Younger Dryas stadial. From 11.5 to 4.3 cal ka BP, grain-size fining in sediment cores from the profundal coring sites and the onset of lacustrine deposition at a litoral core site (2 m water depth) in a recent marginal bay of Donggi Cona document lake-level rise during the early to mid-Holocene to at least modern level. In addition, high biological productivity and pronounced precipitation of carbonate micrites are consistent with warm and moist climate conditions related to an enhanced influence of summer monsoon. At 4.3 cal ka BP the lake system shifted from an aragonite- to a calcite-dominated system, indicating a change towards a fully open hydrological lake system. The younger clay-rich sediments are moreover non-laminated and lack any diagenetic sulphides, pointing to fully ventilated conditions, and the prevailing absence of lake stratification. This turning point in lake history could imply either a threshold response to insolation-forced climate cooling or a response to a non-climatic trigger, such as an erosional event or a tectonic pulse that induced a strong earthquake, which is difficult to decide from our data base. KW - China KW - Monsoon KW - Paleolimnology KW - Multi-site study KW - Aragonite KW - XRF KW - XRD KW - Sedimentology Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.04.013 SN - 0031-0182 VL - 337 IS - 23 SP - 159 EP - 176 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schirrmeister, Lutz A1 - Meyer, Hanno A1 - Andreev, Andrei A1 - Wetterich, Sebastian A1 - Kienast, Frank A1 - Bobrov, Anatoly A1 - Fuchs, Margret A1 - Sierralta, Melanie A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike T1 - Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental records from the Chatanika River valley near Fairbanks (Alaska) JF - Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal N2 - Perennially-frozen deposits are considered as excellent paleoenvironmental archives similar to lacustrine, deep marine, and glacier records because of the long-term and good preservation of fossil records under stable permafrost conditions. A permafrost tunnel in the Vault Creek Valley (Chatanika River Valley, near Fairbanks) exposes a sequence of frozen deposits and ground ice that provides a comprehensive set of proxies to reconstruct the late Quaternary environmental history of Interior Alaska. The multi-proxy approach includes different dating techniques (radiocarbon-accelerator mass spectrometry [AMS C-14], optically stimulated luminescence [OSL], thorium/uranium radioisotope disequilibria [Th-230/U]), as well as methods of sedimentology, paleoecology, hydrochemistry, and stable isotope geochemistry of ground ice. The studied sequence consists of 36-m-thick late Quaternary deposits above schistose bedrock. Main portions of the sequence accumulated during the early and middle Wisconsin periods. The lowermost unit A consists of about 9-m-thick ice-bonded fluvial gravels with sand and peat lenses. A late Sangamon (MIS 5a) age of unit A is assumed. Spruce forest with birch, larch, and some shrubby alder dominated the vegetation. High presence of Sphagnum spores and Cyperaceae pollen points to mires in the Vault Creek Valley. The overlying unit B consists of 10-m-thick alternating fluvial gravels, loess-like silt, and sand layers, penetrated by small ice wedges. OSL dates support a stadial early Wisconsin (MIS 4) age of unit B. Pollen and plant macrofossil data point to spruce forests with some birch interspersed with wetlands around the site. The following unit C is composed of 15-m-thick ice-rich loess-like and organic-rich silt with fossil bones and large ice wedges. Unit C formed during the interstadial mid-Wisconsin (MIS 3) and stadial late Wisconsin (MIS 2) as indicated by radiocarbon ages. Post-depositional slope processes significantly deformed both, ground ice and sediments of unit C. Pollen data show that spruce forests and wetlands dominated the area. The macrofossil remains of Picea, Larix, and Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia also prove the existence of boreal coniferous forests during the mid-Wisconsin interstadial, which were replaced by treeless tundra-steppe vegetation during the late Wisconsin stadial. Unit C is discordantly overlain by the 2-m-thick late Holocene deposits of unit D. The pollen record of unit D indicates boreal forest vegetation similar to the modern one. The permafrost record from the Vault Creek tunnel reflects more than 90 ka of periglacial landscape dynamics triggered by fluvial and eolian accumulation, and formation of ice-wedge polygons and post depositional deformation by slope processes. The record represents a typical Wisconsin valley-bottom facies in Central Alaska. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KW - Permafrost KW - Interior Alaska KW - Loess KW - Cryolithology KW - Geochronology KW - Paleoecology KW - Landscape dynamics Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.02.009 SN - 0277-3791 VL - 147 SP - 259 EP - 278 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mueller-Nordhorn, Jacqueline A1 - Muckelbauer, Rebecca A1 - Englert, Heike A1 - Grittner, Ulrike A1 - Berger, Hendrike A1 - Sonntag, Frank A1 - Völler, Heinz A1 - Prugger, Christof A1 - Wegscheider, Karl A1 - Katus, Hugo A. A1 - Willich, Stefan N. T1 - Longitudinal association between body mass index and health-related quality of life JF - PLoS one N2 - Objective: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important outcome in individuals with a high risk for cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the association of HRQoL and body mass index (BMI) as an indicator for obesity. Design: Secondary longitudinal analysis of the ORBITAL study, an intervention study which included high-risk cardiovascular primary care patients with hypercholesterolemia and an indication for statin therapy. Methods: HRQoL was determined with the generic Short Form (SF)-12 health status instrument. Body weight and height were assessed at baseline and at months 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36. We used a linear and a linear mixed-effects regression model to investigate the association between BMI and SF-12 summary scores at baseline as well as between change in BMI and SF-12 summary scores over 3 years. We adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, and in the longitudinal analysis also for the study arm and its interaction term with time. Results: Of the 7640 participants who completed the baseline questionnaire, 6726 participants (mean age: 61 years) were analyzed. The baseline BMI was inversely associated with physical and mental SF-12 summary scores (beta [95% CI] per 1 kg/ m(2) : -0.36 [-0.41; -0.30] and -0.05 [-0.11; -0.00], respectively). A significant association between the change in BMI and physical SF-12 summary scores over time was only present in women (-0.18 [-0.27; -0.09]) and only in obese participants (-0.19 [-0.29; -0.10]). A change in BMI was directly associated with mental SF-12 summary scores (0.12 [0.06; 0.19]) in the total population. Conclusion: Increases in BMI were associated with decreases in physical HRQoL, particularly in obese individuals and in women. In contrast, the mental HRQoL seemed to increase with increasing BMI over time. Thus, body weight management with respect to the HRQoL should be evaluated differentially by sex and body weight status. Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093071 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 9 IS - 3 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gaeckle, Maren A1 - Domahs, Frank A1 - Kartmann, Angelika A1 - Tomandl, Bernd A1 - Frank, Ulrike T1 - Predictors of Penetration-Aspiration in Parkinson’s Disease Patients With Dysphagia BT - a retrospective analysis JF - Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology N2 - Methods: The data of 89 PD patients with dysphagia who underwent routinely conducted videofluoroscopic studies of swallowing (VFSS) were included in this retrospective study. The occurrence of penetration-aspiration was defined as scores >= 3 on the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS). Four commonly reported signs of dysphagia in PD patients were evaluated as possible predictors. Furthermore, the relationships between the occurrence of penetration-aspiration and liquid bolus volume as well as clinical severity of PD (modified Hoehn and Yahr scale) were examined. Results: Logistic regression showed that a delayed initiation of the pharyngeal swallow (odds ratio [OR] = 7.47, P = .008) and a reduced hyolaryngeal excursion (OR = 5.13, P = .012) were predictors of penetration-aspiration. Moreover, there was a strong, positive correlation between increasing liquid bolus volume and penetration-aspiration (gamma = 0.71, P < .001). No correlation was found between severity of PD and penetration-aspiration (gamma = 0.077, P = .783). Conclusion: Results of the present study allow for a better understanding of penetration-aspiration risk in PD patients. They are useful for treatment planning in order to improve safe oral intake and adequate nutrition. KW - pneumonia KW - videofluoroscopy Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/0003489419841398 SN - 0003-4894 SN - 1943-572X VL - 128 IS - 8 SP - 728 EP - 735 PB - Sage Publ. CY - Thousand Oaks ER - TY - GEN A1 - Embs, Frank A1 - Funhoff, Dirk A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Licht, Ulrike A1 - Ohst, Holger A1 - Prass, Werner A1 - Ringsdorf, Helmut A1 - Wegner, Gerhard A1 - Wehrmann, Rolf T1 - Preformed polymers for Langmuir-Blodgett films- molecular concepts N2 - The use of preformed polymers for the preparation of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) multilayers is reviewed. Principles for polymer self-organization are outlined and the appropriate molecular designs are discussed. Recent developments in the different classes of polymers for LB multilayers are presented, and their outstanding properties highlighted. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - paper 081 KW - Amphiphilic Polymers KW - Rod-like Polymers KW - LCPs KW - Stability of LB Films Y1 - 1991 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17196 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Böer, Ulrike A1 - Neuschäfer-Rube, Frank A1 - Möller, Ulrike A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul T1 - Requirement of N-glycosylation of the prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3beta for correct sorting to the plasma membrane but not for correct folding N2 - Eight heptahelical receptors have been characterized for prostaglandin (PG) D(2), PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), prostacyclin and thromboxane A(2). They share a sequence identity of 40%. All of them have potential N-glycosylation sites. The current study analysed the role of the two N-glycosylation sites in the rat EP3beta-subtype PGE(2) receptor for protein folding and sorting. The N-glycosylation consensus sequences were eliminated by site-directed mutagenesis and receptors expressed in HEK-293 cells. Both potential N-glycosylation sites were used. Their joint elimination resulted in the synthesis of a receptor protein with full binding competence, biological activity and no reduction of affinity; however, the half-life of the non-glycosylated receptor was slightly reduced. Ligand binding to intact stably transfected cells and confocal laser microscopic immunocytochemistry showed that the glycosylated receptor was correctly inserted into the plasma membrane to a much larger extent than the non-glycosylated receptor, which tended to accumulate in the perinuclear zone of the endoplasmic reticulum. Inhibition of N-glycosylation with tunicamycin resulted in a similar perinuclear distribution of the wild-type receptor. Therefore, glycosylation of the EP3beta receptor seems not to be necessary for correct folding of the receptor protein but for the efficient transport of the receptor protein to the plasma membrane. This contrasts with a previous finding which described a reduction of the affinity for PGE(2) of the EP3alpha receptor by elimination of the distal glycosylation site when the receptor protein was expressed in insect cells. Y1 - 2000 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Frombach, Janna A1 - Rancan, Fiorenza A1 - Fleige, Emanuel A1 - Haag, Rainer A1 - Schumacher, Frank A1 - Kleuser, Burkhard A1 - Yamamoto, Kenji A1 - Rühl, Eckart A1 - Blume-Peytavi, Ulrike A1 - Vogt, Annika T1 - Skin penetration and dexamethasone release from polymer nanoparticles in ex vivo human skin T2 - The journal of investigative dermatology Y1 - 2015 SN - 0022-202X SN - 1523-1747 VL - 135 SP - S52 EP - S52 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gervais, Frank A1 - Siedel, Ulrike A1 - Heilmann, Britta A1 - Weithoff, Guntram A1 - Heisig-Gunkel, Gabriele A1 - Nicklisch, Andreas T1 - Small-scale vertical distribution of phytoplankton, nutrients and sulphide below the oxicline of a mesotrophic lake N2 - A characteristic vertical sequence of phytoplankton populations was observed below the metalimnetic oxycline of a stratified, mesotrophic lake. Ceratium spp., Closterium acutum and Aphanizomenon flos- aquae were present in the epilimnion but had distinct population maxima in the microaerobic chemocline. Below these populations, Cryptomonas phaseolus, Planktothrix clathrata, Pseudanabaena catenata and Limnothrix sp. followed each other in the transition zone between the chemocline and the sulphide-containing hypolimnion. The dominating populations of P. clathrata and P. catenata caused a deep chlorophyll maximum. Phytoplankton structure was determined by the vertical gradients of sulphide and light. Compared with the epilimnion, nutrient availability was not fundamentally better below the oxycline but the algae might have benefited from reduced grazing pressure in their habitat. Y1 - 2003 UR - http://plankt.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/25/3/273 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Neuschäfer-Rube, Frank A1 - Möller, Ulrike A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul T1 - Structure of the 5'-flanking region of the rat prostaglandin f(2alpha) receptor N2 - Prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)), modulates hepatocyte functions via a heptahelical G(q)-coupled PGF(2alpha)-receptor (FP-R) which in liver is expressed exclusively in hepatocytes. The aim of the present study was to isolate the 5'-flanking region of the rat FP-R gene and to elucidate its basal and IL-6-modulated transcription control function in rat hepatocytes. The 5'-non-translated region of the rat hepatocyte FP-R mRNA differed from the corresponding region in rat fetal astrocyte or corpus luteum. It was encoded by exons 1a and 2 which were separated by a 1. 4 kb intron containing the exons 1b and 1c coding for the 5'-untranslated region of rat fetal astrocyte and corpus luteum FP-R mRNA, respectively. The transcription initiation site in hepatocytes was localized 263 bp upstream of the start ATG by 5'-RACE. A DNA-fragment covering the 5'-flanking region of the rFP-R gene from - 1 of the transcription initiation site to -2590 bp was cloned and sequenced. Its 3'-two thirds had a 65% sequence identity to the mouse FP-R promoter however no homology to the bovine FP-R promoter. In the overlapping sequence most of the putative transcription factor binding sites were conserved between mouse and rat. The rat promoter contained no classical TATA- or CAAT-boxes but putative binding sites for the transcription factors C/EBP, GATA-1, HNF-1, HNF-3beta, SP-1, and USF. Luciferase reporter gene constructs containing portions of the 5'-flanking region were transfected into rat hepatocytes. Luciferase expression ranked -181 >/= -608 < -1418 > -1821 >/= -2590. The strongest transcriptional activity was conferred by the region between -608 and -1418 containing a cluster of potential HNF-1 and HNF-3beta binding sites that might allow the exclusive expression of FP-R mRNA in hepatocytes. The amount of FP-R mRNA and the luciferase expression under control of the -2590 promoter fragment were reduced by IL-6 in hepatocytes. Copyright 2000 Academic Press. Y1 - 2000 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schlickewei, Ole A1 - Nienstedt, Julie Cläre A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - Fründt, Odette A1 - Pötter-Nerger, Monika A1 - Gerloff, Christian A1 - Buhmann, Carsten A1 - Müller, Frank A1 - Lezius, Susanne A1 - Koseki, Jana-Christiane A1 - Pflug, Christina T1 - The ability of the eating assessment tool‑10 to detect penetration and aspiration in Parkinson’s disease JF - European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology and head & neck N2 - Purpose: Dysphagia is common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and often leads to pneumonia, malnutrition, and reduced quality of life. This study investigates the ability of the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), an established, easy self-administered screening tool, to detect aspiration in PD patients. This study aims to validate the ability of the EAT-10 to detect FEES-proven aspiration in patients with PD. Methods: In a controlled prospective cross-sectional study, a total of 50 PD patients completed the EAT-10 and, subsequently, were examined by Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) to determine the swallowing status. The results were rated through the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) and data were analyzed retrospectively. Results: PAS and EAT-10 did not correlate significantly. Selected items of the EAT-10 could not predict aspiration or residues. 19 (38%) out of 50 patients with either penetration or aspiration were not detected by the EAT-10. The diagnostic accuracy was established at only a sufficient level (AUC 0.65). An optimal cut-off value of >= 6 presented a sensitivity of 58% and specificity of 82%. Conclusions: The EAT-10 is not suited for the detection of penetration and aspiration in PD patients. Therefore, it cannot be used as a screening method in this patient population. There is still a need for a valid, simple, and efficient screening tool to assist physicians in their daily diagnostics and to avoid clinical complications. KW - Parkinson's disease KW - dysphagia KW - questionnaire KW - screening Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06377-x SN - 0937-4477 SN - 1434-4726 VL - 278 IS - 5 SP - 1661 EP - 1668 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Huckabee, Maggie-Lee A1 - McIntosh, Theresa A1 - Fuller, Laura A1 - Curry, Morgan A1 - Thomas, Paige A1 - Walshe, Margaret A1 - McCague, Ellen A1 - Battel, Irene A1 - Nogueira, Dalia A1 - Frank, Ulrike A1 - van den Engel-Hoek, Lenie A1 - Sella-Weiss, Oshrat T1 - The test of masticating and swallowing solids (TOMASS) BT - reliability, validity and international normative data JF - International Journal of language & communicaton disorders N2 - BackgroundClinical swallowing assessment is largely limited to qualitative assessment of behavioural observations. There are limited quantitative data that can be compared with a healthy population for identification of impairment. The Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS) was developed as a quantitative assessment of solid bolus ingestion. AimsThis research programme investigated test development indices and established normative data for the TOMASS to support translation to clinical dysphagia assessment. Conclusions & ImplicationsThe TOMASS is presented as a valid, reliable and broadly normed clinical assessment of solid bolus ingestion. Clinical application may help identify dysphagic patients at bedside and provide a non-invasive, but sensitive, measure of functional change in swallowing. KW - deglutition KW - assessment KW - mastication KW - swallowing KW - timed KW - solid Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12332 SN - 1368-2822 SN - 1460-6984 VL - 53 IS - 1 SP - 144 EP - 156 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - GEN A1 - Tian, Fang A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike A1 - Mischke, Steffen A1 - Schlütz, Frank T1 - What drives the recent intensified vegetation degradation in Mongolia BT - Climate change or human activity? T2 - The Holocene N2 - This study examines the course and driving forces of recent vegetation change in the Mongolian steppe. A sediment core covering the last 55years from a small closed-basin lake in central Mongolia was analyzed for its multi-proxy record at annual resolution. Pollen analysis shows that highest abundances of planted Poaceae and highest vegetation diversity occurred during 1977-1992, reflecting agricultural development in the lake area. A decrease in diversity and an increase in Artemisia abundance after 1992 indicate enhanced vegetation degradation in recent times, most probably because of overgrazing and farmland abandonment. Human impact is the main factor for the vegetation degradation within the past decades as revealed by a series of redundancy analyses, while climate change and soil erosion play subordinate roles. High Pediastrum (a green algae) influx, high atomic total organic carbon/total nitrogen (TOC/TN) ratios, abundant coarse detrital grains, and the decrease of C-13(org) and N-15 since about 1977 but particularly after 1992 indicate that abundant terrestrial organic matter and nutrients were transported into the lake and caused lake eutrophication, presumably because of intensified land use. Thus, we infer that the transition to a market economy in Mongolia since the early 1990s not only caused dramatic vegetation degradation but also affected the lake ecosystem through anthropogenic changes in the catchment area. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 418 KW - central Mongolia KW - grain size KW - human impact KW - lake eutrophication KW - pollen KW - vegetation degradation Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-404201 ER -