Aggregation of hybrid molecules and film formation of colloidal monolayers

A unique characteristic of soft matter is its ability to self-assemble into larger structures. Characterizing these structures is crucial for their applications. In the first part of this work, I investigated DNA-organic hybrid material by means of Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) and Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (FCCS). DNA-organic hybrid materials, a novel class of hybrid materials composed of synthetic macromolecules and oligodeoxynucleotide segmenta, are mostly amphiphilic and can self-assemble into supramolecular structures in aqueous solution. A hybrid material of a fluorophore, perylenediimide (PDI), and a DNA segment (DNA-PDI) has been developed in Prof. A. Hermann’s group (University of Groningen). This novel material has the ability to form aggregates through pi-pi stacking between planar PDIs and can be traced in solution due to the fluorescence of PDI. I have determined the diffusion coefficient of DNA-PDI conjugates in aqueous solution by means of FCS. In addition, I investigated whether such DNA-PDIs form aggregates with certain structure, for instance dimers. rnOnce the DNA hybrid material self-assemble into supermolecular structures for instance into micelles, the single molecules do not necessarily stay in one specific micelle. Actually, a single molecule may enter and leave micelles constantly. The average residence time of a single molecule in a certain micelle depends on the nature of the molecule. I have chosen DNA-b-polypropylene oxide (PPO) as model molecules and investigated the residence time of DNA-b-PPO molecules in their according micelles by means of FCCS.rnBesides the DNA hybrid materials, polymeric colloids can also form ordered structures once they are brought to an air/water interface. Here, hexagonally densely packed monolayers can be generated. These monolayers can be deposited onto different surfaces as coating layers. In the second part of this work, I investigated the mechanical properties of such colloidal monolayers using micromechanical cantilevers. When a coating layer is deposited on a cantilever, it can modify the elasticity of the cantilever. This variation can be reflected either by a deflection or by a resonance frequency shift of the cantilever. In turn, detecting these changes provides information about the mechanical properties of the coating layer. rnIn the second part of this work, polymeric colloidal monolayers were coated on a cantilever and homogenous polymer films of a few hundred nanometers in thickness were generated from these colloidal monolayers by thermal annealing or organic vapor annealing. Both the film formation process and the mechanical properties of these resulting homogenous films were investigated by means of cantilever. rnElastic property changes of the coating film, for example upon absorption of organic vapors, induce a deflection of the cantilever. This effect enables a cantilever to detect target molecules, when the cantilever is coated with an active layer with specific affinity to target molecules. In the last part of this thesis, I investigated the applicability of suitably functionalized micromechanical cantilevers as sensors. In particular, glucose sensitive polymer brushes were grafted on a cantilever and the deflection of this cantilever was measured during exposure to glucose solution. rn

Position paper on the management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension: joint recommendations by the European Society of Hypertension, by the European Respiratory Society and by the members of European COST (COoperation in Scientific and Technological research) ACTION B26 on obstructive sleep apnea

This article is aimed at addressing the current state of the art in epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic procedures and treatment options for appropriate management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in cardiovascular (particularly hypertensive) patients, as well as for the management of cardiovascular diseases (particularly arterial hypertension) in OSA patients. The present document is the result of the work done by a panel of experts participating in the European Union COST (COoperation in Scientific and Technological research) ACTION B26 on OSA, with the endorsement of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH). These recommendations are particularly aimed at reminding cardiovascular experts to consider the occurrence of sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with high blood pressure. They are at the same time aimed at reminding respiration experts to consider the occurrence of hypertension in patients with respiratory problems at night.

European guidelines on management of restless legs syndrome: report of a joint task force by the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the European Neurological Society and the European Sleep Research Society

Since the publication of the first European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) guidelines in 2005 on the management of restless legs syndrome (RLS; also known as Willis-Ekbom disease), there have been major therapeutic advances in the field. Furthermore, the management of RLS is now a part of routine neurological practice in Europe. New drugs have also become available, and further randomized controlled trials have been undertaken. These guidelines were undertaken by the EFNS in collaboration with the European Neurological Society and the European Sleep Research Society.

Civil Society and Political Parties in the Period of Transition

The major aim of Mr. Marada's project was to investigate the role of political parties on the one hand, and various institutional forms of civil society on the other, in the process of establishing mechanisms of political decision-making and policy-formation in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, after November 1989. Mr. Marada wanted to examine what consequences the interplay and tensions between political parties and institutions of civil society had on the status and practical understanding of citizenship and civil society. At the beginning of his research Mr. Marada found that, while the sphere of the political was relatively clearly defined, the phenomenon of civil society required a conceptual clarification. He devoted a great deal of time to analysing the emergence, development, and disintegration of Civic Forum as the major agent of the regime change and subsequent political reforms. Alongside this analysis is a commentary on Czech society in general, drawing on established research to show how, as yet, a kind of civic incompetence reigns within the country, and how this situation has its roots in the belief, promoted by politicians themselves, that politics is an activity for experts only. The final outcome of his research took the form of a series of articles, in English, totalling 40 pages.

Advancing the Goals of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Fields of Education, Participation of Civil Society and Sustainable Development

This is a contribution to an expert opinion to be submitted to Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity. It seeks to identify recommendations for action in the fields of education, participation of the civil society and sustainable development (under respectively Articles 10, 11 and 13 of the Convention), which are to be specifically targeted taking into account the changed and changing conditions of the digital networked environment.

Heralding a new society, and venerating the English King: Australische, neuseeländische und indische Soldaten in Gallipoli und an der Westfront

Der Erste Weltkrieg war – das hatten deutsche Militärs vor 1914 schon erwartet – von Beginn weg ein globaler Krieg. Grossbritannien und Frankreich setzten nämlich schon ab den ersten Monaten Truppen aus anderen Teilen der Welt auch in Europa ein. Dazu gehörten auch Soldaten aus Australien, Neuseeland und Indien. Teile letzterer kämpften schon im Herbst 1914 in Nordfrankreich und Belgien mit, andere waren ab April 1915 auf der türkischen Halbinsel Gallipoli aktiv. Dort kamen erstmals auch australische und neuseeländische Soldaten und Offiziere zum Einsatz. Ab 1916 wurden diese dann zu grossen Teilen an der Westfront verlegt, während die meisten indischen Verbände ab diesem Zeitpunkt im Nahen Osten zum Einsatz kamen. Der vorliegende Beitrag versucht auf der Grundlage von Selbstzeugnissen und Fremdbeschreibungen an exemplarischen Beispielen aufzuzeigen, wie es dazu kam, dass Soldaten und Offiziere aus Australien, Neuseeland und Indien in Gallipoli und an der Westfront zum Einsatz kamen, welches ihre Motivationen und Ziele waren, inwiefern sie sich dabei als Minderheit verstanden und welche Vorstellungen sie mit Blick auf ihre Rolle bzw. die Rolle ihrer Heimat nach dem Krieg hatten. Zum Schluss soll noch ein kurzer Blick auf die Bedeutsamkeit dieser Soldaten im Rahmen der nationalen und regionalen Erinnerungskultur in den drei Ländern geworfen werden.

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 625 - Unterlagen zu den Vorlesungen "Einführung der Philosophie", "Geschichte des Materialismus" und "Society and Value" (p. VIII 42a-VIII 43,1-2)

"Einführung in die Philosophie", Vorlesung, Wintersemester 1956/57, 1 Heft mit eigenhändigen Notizen, 16 Blatt, davon 4 leer, mit 1 zusätzlichem Blatt; "Geschichte des Materialismus (ausgewählte Kapitel)" (GS 13, S. 397-451), Vorlesung, Sommersemester 1957, 1. Max Horkheimer, eigene Notizen, 1 Heft ohne Einband, 16 Blatt und 3 zusätzliche Blätter, 2. Hilmar Tillack: Ausgearbeitete Nachschrift der Vorlesung Max Horkheimers, Typoskript, 46 Blatt; "Society and Value", Vorlesung Chicago 1957, Heft 1: eigene Notizen, 60 Blatt, davon 13 leer, und zusätzliche 6 Blätter; Heft 2: eigene Notizen, 45 Blatt, davon 30 leer, und zusätzlich 8 Blatt; darin auch enthält: Begriff der Seele seit Leibniz", Vorlesung, Sommersemester 1958;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 626 - Unterlagen zu den Vorlesungen "Society and Value" und "Die Idee der Freiheit" (p. VIII 43a-VIII 44,1-2)

"Society and Value", Vorlesung Chicago 1957, Heft 1: eigene Notizen, 60 Blatt, davon 13 leer, und zusätzlich 6 Blatt; Heft 2: eigene Notizen, 45 Blatt, davon 30 leer, und zusätzlich 8 Blätter. (Enthält auch: "Begriff der Seele seit Leibniz", Vorlesung Sommersemester 1958); "Die Idee der Freiheit" (GS 13, S. 452-514), Vorlesung Wintersemester 1957/58, eigene Notizen, 1 Heft, 45 Blatt, davon 23 leer, und zusätzlich 25 Blätter; Hilmar Tillack: Ausgearbeitete Nachschrift der Vorlesung Max Horkheimers, Typoskript, 58 Blatt;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 653 - Vorlesungen: "Eclipse of Reason"; "Society and Reason" (p. IX 36.6-12)

6. Vorlesungen 1. - 5. mit dem Titel "Society and Reason". a) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Randbemerkungen von Theodor W. Adorno, 139 Blatt b) Typoskript, 139 Blatt; 7. Teilstück, Typoskript mit eigenhändigen Korrekturen, 1 Blatt; 8. Eigenhändige Notizen, 4 Blatt; 9. Stichworte zu den Vorlesungen I-III. Typoskript mit eigenhändigen Ergänzungen, 2 Blatt a) Einladungskarte zur Vorlesungsreihe "Society and Reason". Als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 1 Blatt b) Gliederung. Typoskript, 1 Blatt; 10. "Über Probleme des wissenschaftlichen Stils". Reaktion auf ein Schriftstück (aus einem Brief an Friedrich Pollock). a) Typoskript, datiert: 28.11.1943, 3 Blatt b) Max Horkheimer: 1 Brief an Friedrich Pollock, ohne Ort, 28.11.1943, 5 Blatt; 11. Columbia University, New York: 1 Brief (Abschrift) an Max Horkheimer, New York, 5.3.1943, und Stichworte zu den Vorlesungen, 2 Blatt; 12. Zeitungsausschnitt, 1 Blatt.;