Die Positionierung der Nationalratskandidierenden 2007 : eine explorative Analyse der Antworten auf die Fragen der Online-Wahlhilfe smartvote

Die Studie präsentiert erste explorative Auswertungen zu den Antworten von über 2600 Kandidierenden im Rahmen der Nationalratswahlen 2007 auf den umfangreichen Fragenkatalog der Online-Wahlhilfeplattform « smartvote ». Untersucht wird, wie die Fragen von der Gesamtheit der Kandidierenden beantwortet wurden, welche Themen umstritten waren und wie sich die Kandidierenden von den Gewählten unterscheiden. Schwergewichtig beschäftigt sich die Analyse mit den Kandidierenden der vier grössten Parteien SVP, FDP, CVP und SP sowie der Grünen. Welche Positionen nehmen sie ein ? Wie geschlossen präsentieren sie sich in den einzelnen Fragen ? Wo bestehen grosse Gemeinsamkeiten, wo erheblicheUnterscheide und wie sind die Möglichkeiten der einzelnen Parteien einzuschätzen, sich politisch zu profilieren ? Schliesslich wird überprüft, wie gut die Kandidierenden zu ihrer eigenen Partei passen und welche Aussagen sich über die Zusammenhänge zwischen der Abweichung von der Parteilinie und der Herkunft von erhofften Panaschierstimmen machen lassen. Lors des élections au Conseil national en octobre 2007, plus de 2600 candidats ont répondu au questionnaire concernant l'outil de soutien au vote en ligne « smartvote ». Ce cahier de l'IDHEAP présente les résultats d'une première étude exploratoire, basée sur les réponses des candidats au questionnaire de « smartvote ». Les auteurs analysent les questions et les thèmes controversés. Ils se sont également intéressés aux différences de prises de position entre les élus et les candidats. L'accent est mis sur les candidats des grands partis, soit l'UDC, le PRD, le PDC, le PS et les Verts. Quelles sont leurs positions politiques ? Quelles sont les questions qui divisent les candidats d'un parti ? Sur quels sujets sont-ils du même avis ? Où se trouvent les points communs entre les différents partis ? Quels sont les blocs politiques qui se forment ? Sur quels thèmes les partis politiques peuvent-ils se profiler ? A l'aide d'une analyse multivariée, l'étude tente aussi d'établir si les candidats sont membres du parti politique qui représente le mieux leurs convictions. Le chapitre final discute l'influence du vote par panachage sur le positionnement politique des candidats.

Effects of enteral carbohydrates on de novo lipogenesis in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Conversion of glucose into lipid (de novo lipogenesis; DNL) is a possible fate of carbohydrate administered during nutritional support. It cannot be detected by conventional methods such as indirect calorimetry if it does not exceed lipid oxidation. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the effects of carbohydrate administered as part of continuous enteral nutrition in critically ill patients. DESIGN: This was a prospective, open study including 25 patients nonconsecutively admitted to a medicosurgical intensive care unit. Glucose metabolism and hepatic DNL were measured in the fasting state or after 3 d of continuous isoenergetic enteral feeding providing 28%, 53%, or 75% carbohydrate. RESULTS: DNL increased with increasing carbohydrate intake (f1.gif" BORDER="0"> +/- SEM: 7.5 +/- 1.2% with 28% carbohydrate, 9.2 +/- 1.5% with 53% carbohydrate, and 19.4 +/- 3.8% with 75% carbohydrate) and was nearly zero in a group of patients who had fasted for an average of 28 h (1.0 +/- 0.2%). In multiple regression analysis, DNL was correlated with carbohydrate intake, but not with body weight or plasma insulin concentrations. Endogenous glucose production, assessed with a dual-isotope technique, was not significantly different between the 3 groups of patients (13.7-15.3 micromol * kg(-1) * min(-1)), indicating impaired suppression by carbohydrate feeding. Gluconeogenesis was measured with [(13)C]bicarbonate, and increased as the carbohydrate intake increased (from 2.1 +/- 0.5 micromol * kg(-1) * min(-1) with 28% carbohydrate intake to 3.7 +/- 0.3 micromol * kg(-1) * min(-1) with 75% carbohydrate intake, P: < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Carbohydrate feeding fails to suppress endogenous glucose production and gluconeogenesis, but stimulates DNL in critically ill patients.

Genetic variation in GIPR influences the glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose challenge.

Glucose levels 2 h after an oral glucose challenge are a clinical measure of glucose tolerance used in the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. We report a meta-analysis of nine genome-wide association studies (n = 15,234 nondiabetic individuals) and a follow-up of 29 independent loci (n = 6,958-30,620). We identify variants at the GIPR locus associated with 2-h glucose level (rs10423928, beta (s.e.m.) = 0.09 (0.01) mmol/l per A allele, P = 2.0 x 10(-15)). The GIPR A-allele carriers also showed decreased insulin secretion (n = 22,492; insulinogenic index, P = 1.0 x 10(-17); ratio of insulin to glucose area under the curve, P = 1.3 x 10(-16)) and diminished incretin effect (n = 804; P = 4.3 x 10(-4)). We also identified variants at ADCY5 (rs2877716, P = 4.2 x 10(-16)), VPS13C (rs17271305, P = 4.1 x 10(-8)), GCKR (rs1260326, P = 7.1 x 10(-11)) and TCF7L2 (rs7903146, P = 4.2 x 10(-10)) associated with 2-h glucose. Of the three newly implicated loci (GIPR, ADCY5 and VPS13C), only ADCY5 was found to be associated with type 2 diabetes in collaborating studies (n = 35,869 cases, 89,798 controls, OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.09-1.15, P = 4.8 x 10(-18)).

Studien zu einer Poetik des Engels

In dieser Thèse "Studien zu einer Poetik des Engels" wird anhand verschiedener Texte aus verschiedenen Epochen, jedoch mit Akzent auf der zweiten Hàlfte des 20. Jahrhunderts, dem Erscheinen von Engeln in literarischen Texten nachgegangen, mit besonderem Augenmerk auf der poetologischen Dimension, die mit der Darstellung von Engelfiguren zusammenhàngt, und mit besonderer Beriicksichtigung der Konsequenzen fur die Texte, in denen sie erscheinen.¦Literarische Texte bieten nàmlich einen geeigneten Immanenzort fur diese Art Epi-phanie an, eine Erscheinungsmoglichkeit fur Engel. Die Art und Weise, wie Dichterinnen und Dichter sie in ihren Texten erscheinen lassen, steht im Zentrum des Interesses dieser Studien. Wie verkorpern sich Engel in diesen Texten? Wie sprechen sie und wie kann mit ihnen und von ihnen gesprochen werden? Welche poetischen Funktionen ubernehmen diese Figuren, von denen die Dichter sprechen und die sie sprechen lassen? Welche poetischen Dynamiken entstehen in diesen Texten durch die Engelserscheinungen?¦Der Engel, der traditionell als Bote (gr. angelos), als Vermittler oder Obermittler gilt, hat im Medium Literatur (oder Text) selbst auch eine mediale Funktion inne, sodass Engel und Literatur einander widerspiegeln und Engeltexte zu Orten werden, an denen eine sprachliche und poetologische Auseinandersetzung stattfinden kann, die sowohl der Lite¬ratur (und auch etwa dem Erzàhler) als auch dem Engel inhàrent ist und es mit dem Ver- mittlungs(un)vermogen zu tun hat.¦In diesen Studien geht es darum, die produktive und dynamische Leistung des Engels (oder der Engel) im Schreib- und im Leseprozess zu erfahren und nachzuzeichnen. Durch ihre Pràsenz im Text bringen Engel einen Perspektivenwechsel ins Spiel, der die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Text pràgt und den Text selbst beeinflusst, sodass die Engel diese Texte zur Schreib- und Leseerfahrung werden lassen.¦Engelsdichtungen erweisen sich als durch und durch relational, sie involvieren den Dichter sowie auch den Leser, der ihnen - lesend - begegnet, und beeinflussen den ganzen Text und seine Dynamik, da diese Figuren unmoglich von ihm abstrahiert werden konnen. Engel erweisen sich auch als àusserst subversiv, wenn sie dem nicht entsprechen, was man von ihnen erwartet, wenn sie sich den geltenden (sozialen, politischen, aber auch - im Medium Literatur - sprachlichen oder dichterischen) Regeln widersetzen.¦In einem einleitenden Kapitel wird die Fragestellung skizziert und anhand vieler Textbeispiele verfeinert, sowie auch die Methode veranschaulicht. Darin werden Texte von Wallace Stevens (The Necessary Angel), Jean Paul (Der Tod eines Engels), Wim Wenders und Peter Handke (Himmel über Berlin) betrachtet, sowie auch etwa von Goethe, Morike, Andersen, Tolstoi (Der Engel Gottes oder Wovon die Menschen leben), Pseudo- Strieker (Der König im Bade), Baudelaire.¦Die weiteren Kapitel sind als Fallstudien zu verstehen und setzen sich mit einzelnen Texten auseinander, die von verschiedenen Autoren und zu verschiedenen Zeiten geschrieben wurden und sich von der Gattung und der Lange her stark unterscheiden:¦- "Zwischen Lichterscheinung und Holzfigur": Zu einem Tagebucheintrag von Franz Kafka (25. Juni 1914).¦- "Schweigende Boten": Zu Heinrich Bolls Roman Der Engel schwieg [1949-1951 niedergeschrieben, erst 1992 posthum erschienen).¦- "Ein subversiver Engel - wider Willen": Zu Fridrich Dürrenmatts Komödie Ein Engel kommt nach Babylon (1. Fassung 1954, 2. Fassung 1957, Neufassung 1980).¦- Zu drei Engel-Texten von Ilse Aichinger:¦- "Ein errungenes Weihnachten - im Spiel": Zum Romankapitel Das grosse Spiel (6. Kapitel aus dem Roman Die grössere Hoffnung, 1948),¦- "»Habt ihr den Engel gesehen?« - Wenn sich mit den Engeln auf einmal jeder Sinn entzieht": Zur Erzählung Engel in der Nacht (1949; aus dem Band Der Gefesselte),¦- "Ober Verwirrung hinweg - Zur subversiven Poetik eines Engels": Zur Erzâhlung Der Engel (1963; aus dem Band Eliza Eliza).¦Im Schlusskapitel, in dem vergleichende Beobachtungen zu diesen Texten und ihren Analysen, Hervorhebungen der Gemeinsamkeiten und entscheidende poetische Merkmale dieser Texte erwähnt werden, wird nicht das Ziel angestrebt, eine Synthese aus dieser Vielfältigkeit zu machen, die in den verschiedenen Kapiteln zum Vorschein kommt. Vielmehr wird gezeigt, wie fruchtbar die Auseinandersetzung mit Engeln in diesen Texten ist und wie diese Texte sich von ihrem 'Gegenstand' berühren lassen, je auf unterschiedliche Weise.

Association analyses of 249,796 individuals reveal 18 new loci associated with body mass index.

Obesity is globally prevalent and highly heritable, but its underlying genetic factors remain largely elusive. To identify genetic loci for obesity susceptibility, we examined associations between body mass index and ∼ 2.8 million SNPs in up to 123,865 individuals with targeted follow up of 42 SNPs in up to 125,931 additional individuals. We confirmed 14 known obesity susceptibility loci and identified 18 new loci associated with body mass index (P < 5 × 10⁻⁸), one of which includes a copy number variant near GPRC5B. Some loci (at MC4R, POMC, SH2B1 and BDNF) map near key hypothalamic regulators of energy balance, and one of these loci is near GIPR, an incretin receptor. Furthermore, genes in other newly associated loci may provide new insights into human body weight regulation.

Textural controls on induced polarization and permeability in granular media

The spatial resolution visualized with hydrological models and the conceptualized images of subsurface hydrological processes often exceed resolution of the data collected with classical instrumentation at the field scale. In recent years it was possible to increasingly diminish the inherent gap to information from point like field data through the application of hydrogeophysical methods at field-scale. With regards to all common geophysical exploration techniques, electric and electromagnetic methods have arguably to greatest sensitivity to hydrologically relevant parameters. Of particular interest in this context are induced polarisation (IP) measurements, which essentially constrain the capacity of a probed subsurface region to store an electrical charge. In the absence of metallic conductors the IP- response is largely driven by current conduction along the grain surfaces. This offers the perspective to link such measurements to the characteristics of the solid-fluid-interface and thus, at least in unconsolidated sediments, should allow for first-order estimates of the permeability structure.¦While the IP-effect is well explored through laboratory experiments and in part verified through field data for clay-rich environments, the applicability of IP-based characterizations to clay-poor aquifers is not clear. For example, polarization mechanisms like membrane polarization are not applicable in the rather wide pore-systems of clay free sands, and the direct transposition of Schwarz' theory relating polarization of spheres to the relaxation mechanism of polarized cells to complex natural sediments yields ambiguous results.¦In order to improve our understanding of the structural origins of IP-signals in such environments as well as their correlation with pertinent hydrological parameters, various laboratory measurements have been conducted. We consider saturated quartz samples with a grain size spectrum varying from fine sand to fine gravel, that is grain diameters between 0,09 and 5,6 mm, as well as corresponding pertinent mixtures which can be regarded as proxies for widespread alluvial deposits. The pore space characteristics are altered by changing (i) the grain size spectra, (ii) the degree of compaction, and (iii) the level of sorting. We then examined how these changes affect the SIP response, the hydraulic conductivity, and the specific surface area of the considered samples, while keeping any electrochemical variability during the measurements as small as possible. The results do not follow simple assumptions on relationships to single parameters such as grain size. It was found that the complexity of natural occurring media is not yet sufficiently represented when modelling IP. At the same time simple correlation to permeability was found to be strong and consistent. Hence, adaptations with the aim of better representing the geo-structure of natural porous media were applied to the simplified model space used in Schwarz' IP-effect-theory. The resulting semi- empiric relationship was found to more accurately predict the IP-effect and its relation to the parameters grain size and permeability. If combined with recent findings about the effect of pore fluid electrochemistry together with advanced complex resistivity tomography, these results will allow us to picture diverse aspects of the subsurface with relative certainty. Within the framework of single measurement campaigns, hydrologiste can than collect data with information about the geo-structure and geo-chemistry of the subsurface. However, additional research efforts will be necessary to further improve the understanding of the physical origins of IP-effect and minimize the potential for false interpretations.¦-¦Dans l'étude des processus et caractéristiques hydrologiques des subsurfaces, la résolution spatiale donnée par les modèles hydrologiques dépasse souvent la résolution des données du terrain récoltées avec des méthodes classiques d'hydrologie. Récemment il est possible de réduire de plus en plus cet divergence spatiale entre modèles numériques et données du terrain par l'utilisation de méthodes géophysiques, notamment celles géoélectriques. Parmi les méthodes électriques, la polarisation provoquée (PP) permet de représenter la capacité des roches poreuses et des sols à stocker une charge électrique. En l'absence des métaux dans le sous-sol, cet effet est largement influencé par des caractéristiques de surface des matériaux. En conséquence les mesures PP offrent une information des interfaces entre solides et fluides dans les matériaux poreux que nous pouvons lier à la perméabilité également dirigée par ces mêmes paramètres. L'effet de la polarisation provoquée à été étudié dans différentes études de laboratoire, ainsi que sur le terrain. A cause d'une faible capacité de polarisation des matériaux sableux, comparé aux argiles, leur caractérisation par l'effet-PP reste difficile a interpréter d'une manière cohérente pour les environnements hétérogènes.¦Pour améliorer les connaissances sur l'importance de la structure du sous-sol sableux envers l'effet PP et des paramètres hydrologiques, nous avons fait des mesures de laboratoire variées. En détail, nous avons considéré des échantillons sableux de quartz avec des distributions de taille de grain entre sables fins et graviers fins, en diamètre cela fait entre 0,09 et 5,6 mm. Les caractéristiques de l'espace poreux sont changées en modifiant (i) la distribution de taille des grains, (ii) le degré de compaction, et (iii) le niveau d'hétérogénéité dans la distribution de taille de grains. En suite nous étudions comment ces changements influencent l'effet-PP, la perméabilité et la surface spécifique des échantillons. Les paramètres électrochimiques sont gardés à un minimum pendant les mesures. Les résultats ne montrent pas de relation simple entre les paramètres pétro-physiques comme par exemples la taille des grains. La complexité des media naturels n'est pas encore suffisamment représenté par les modèles des processus PP. Néanmoins, la simple corrélation entre effet PP et perméabilité est fort et consistant. En conséquence la théorie de Schwarz sur l'effet-PP a été adapté de manière semi-empirique pour mieux pouvoir estimer la relation entre les résultats de l'effet-PP et les paramètres taille de graines et perméabilité. Nos résultats concernant l'influence de la texture des matériaux et celles de l'effet de l'électrochimie des fluides dans les pores, permettront de visualiser des divers aspects du sous-sol. Avec des telles mesures géo-électriques, les hydrologues peuvent collectionner des données contenant des informations sur la structure et la chimie des fluides des sous-sols. Néanmoins, plus de recherches sur les origines physiques de l'effet-PP sont nécessaires afin de minimiser le risque potentiel d'une mauvaise interprétation des données.

Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology

Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10(-8)), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ∼2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.

Rab3D is critical for secretory granule maturation in PC12 cells.

Neuropeptide- and hormone-containing secretory granules (SGs) are synthesized at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) as immature secretory granules (ISGs) and complete their maturation in the F-actin-rich cell cortex. This maturation process is characterized by acidification-dependent processing of cargo proteins, condensation of the SG matrix and removal of membrane and proteins not destined to mature secretory granules (MSGs). Here we addressed a potential role of Rab3 isoforms in these maturation steps by expressing their nucleotide-binding deficient mutants in PC12 cells. Our data show that the presence of Rab3D(N135I) decreases the restriction of maturing SGs to the F-actin-rich cell cortex, blocks the removal of the endoprotease furin from SGs and impedes the processing of the luminal SG protein secretogranin II. This strongly suggests that Rab3D is implicated in the subcellular localization and maturation of ISGs.

Premenopausal serum androgens and breast cancer risk: a nested case-control study.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Prospective epidemiologic studies have consistently shown that levels of circulating androgens in postmenopausal women are positively associated with breast cancer risk. However, data in premenopausal women are limited. METHODS: A case-control study nested within the New York University Women's Health Study was conducted. A total of 356 cases (276 invasive and 80 in situ) and 683 individually-matched controls were included. Matching variables included age and date, phase, and day of menstrual cycle at blood donation. Testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured using direct immunoassays. Free testosterone was calculated. RESULTS: Premenopausal serum testosterone and free testosterone concentrations were positively associated with breast cancer risk. In models adjusted for known risk factors of breast cancer, the odds ratios for increasing quintiles of testosterone were 1.0 (reference), 1.5 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9 to 2.3), 1.2 (95% CI, 0.7 to 1.9), 1.4 (95% CI, 0.9 to 2.3) and 1.8 (95% CI, 1.1 to 2.9; Ptrend = 0.04), and for free testosterone were 1.0 (reference), 1.2 (95% CI, 0.7 to 1.8), 1.5 (95% CI, 0.9 to 2.3), 1.5 (95% CI, 0.9 to 2.3), and 1.8 (95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8, Ptrend = 0.01). A marginally significant positive association was observed with androstenedione (P = 0.07), but no association with DHEAS or SHBG. Results were consistent in analyses stratified by tumor type (invasive, in situ), estrogen receptor status, age at blood donation, and menopausal status at diagnosis. Intra-class correlation coefficients for samples collected from 0.8 to 5.3 years apart (median 2 years) in 138 cases and 268 controls were greater than 0.7 for all biomarkers except for androstenedione (0.57 in controls). CONCLUSIONS: Premenopausal concentrations of testosterone and free testosterone are associated with breast cancer risk. Testosterone and free testosterone measurements are also highly reliable (that is, a single measurement is reflective of a woman's average level over time). Results from other prospective studies are consistent with our results. The impact of including testosterone or free testosterone in breast cancer risk prediction models for women between the ages of 40 and 50 years should be assessed. Improving risk prediction models for this age group could help decision making regarding both screening and chemoprevention of breast cancer.

Nano-particle vaccination combined with TLR-7 and -9 ligands triggers memory and effector CD8⁺ T-cell responses in melanoma patients.

Optimal vaccine strategies must be identified for improving T-cell vaccination against infectious and malignant diseases. MelQbG10 is a virus-like nano-particle loaded with A-type CpG-oligonucleotides (CpG-ODN) and coupled to peptide(16-35) derived from Melan-A/MART-1. In this phase IIa clinical study, four groups of stage III-IV melanoma patients were vaccinated with MelQbG10, given (i) with IFA (Montanide) s.c.; (ii) with IFA s.c. and topical Imiquimod; (iii) i.d. with topical Imiquimod; or (iv) as intralymph node injection. In total, 16/21 (76%) patients generated ex vivo detectable Melan-A/MART-1-specific T-cell responses. T-cell frequencies were significantly higher when IFA was used as adjuvant, resulting in detectable T-cell responses in all (11/11) patients, with predominant generation of effector-memory-phenotype cells. In turn, Imiquimod induced higher proportions of central-memory-phenotype cells and increased percentages of CD127(+) (IL-7R) T cells. Direct injection of MelQbG10 into lymph nodes resulted in lower T-cell frequencies, associated with lower proportions of memory and effector-phenotype T cells. Swelling of vaccine site draining lymph nodes, and increased glucose uptake at PET/CT was observed in 13/15 (87%) of evaluable patients, reflecting vaccine triggered immune reactions in lymph nodes. We conclude that the simultaneous use of both Imiquimod and CpG-ODN induced combined memory and effector CD8(+) T-cell responses.

Thermogenesis in obese women: effect of fructose vs. glucose added to a meal.

To assess the effect of a fructose meal on resting energy expenditure (EE), indirect calorimetry was used in 23 women (10 lean and 13 obese) for 30 min before and 6 h after the ingestion of a mixed meal containing 20% protein, 33% fat, and either 75 g glucose or 75 g fructose as carbohydrate source (47%). Expressed as a percentage of the energy content of the meal, the thermogenic response to the fructose meal was significantly greater (10.2 +/- 0.5%) than that of the glucose meal (8.4 +/- 0.4%, P less than 0.01). This difference was still apparent when the lean and obese women were considered separately. The mean respiratory quotient during the 6-h postprandial period was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) for the fructose (0.85 +/- 0.01) than for the glucose meal (0.83 +/- 0.01) in the combined subjects. In addition, cumulative carbohydrate oxidation was significantly greater after the fructose than after the glucose meal (51.1 +/- 2.3 vs. 40.9 +/- 2.0 g/6 h, respectively, P less than 0.01). Only small changes were observed in postprandial plasma levels of glucose and insulin after the fructose meal, but the plasma levels of lactate increased more with fructose than with the glucose meal. These results suggest that there might be some advantages (higher thermogenesis and carbohydrate oxidations) in using fructose as part of the carbohydrate source in diet of people with obesity and/or insulin resistance.