Object manufacture based on a memorized template: Goffin's cockatoos attend to different model features.

Although several nonhuman animals have the ability to recognize and match templates in computerized tasks, we know little about their ability to recall and then physically manufacture specific features of mental templates. Across three experiments, Goffin cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana), a species that can use tools in captivity, were exposed to two pre-made template objects, varying in either colour, size (long or short) or shape (I or L-shaped), where only one template was rewarded. Birds were then given the opportunity to manufacture versions of these objects themselves. We found that all birds carved paper strips from the same colour material as the rewarded template, and half were also able to match the size of a template (long and short). This occurred despite the template being absent at test and birds being rewarded at random. However, we found no evidence that cockatoos could carve L-shaped pieces after learning that L-shaped templates were rewarded, though their manufactured strips were wider than in previous tests. Overall, our results show that Goffin cockatoos possess the ability to physically adjust at least the size dimension of manufactured objects relative to a mental template. This ability has previously only been shown in New Caledonian crows, where template matching was suggested as a potential mechanism allowing for the cumulative cultural transmission of tool designs. Our results show that within avian tool users, the ability to recreate a physical template from memory does not seem to be restricted to species that have cumulative tool cultures.

An alternative splice process renders the MLL protein either into a transcriptional activator or repressor.

The biological process of differentiation - from a fertilized egg to a human being - is a consecutive mechanism that leads to the establishment of tissue-specific gene expression, but also to a coordinated shut-down of all those genes that are not necessary for a given cell type. This process is accompanied by posttranslational modifications of the chromatin (DNA methylation and covalent histone modifications), also termed the "epigenetic layer". All epigenetic processes are mediated by protein complexes that either mediate specific DNA methylation patterns, or modify nucleosomal proteins in a covalent fashion (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation and ubiquitinylation). One important player involved in epigenetics is the MLL protein which represents a histone H3 methyltransferase. The MLL gene gained much attention because of its frequent genetic rearrangements, thereby creating oncogenic MLL fusion genes that cause acute leukemia in pediatric and adult patients. This article is summarizing certain functional aspects about MLL, but is mainly emphasizing on an alternative splice event within the PHD domain. This changes the biological properties of the MLL protein, thereby influencing its ability of being either a transcriptional activator or repressor.

[Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis, Horton's arteritis): clinical characteristics and management]. / Morbus Horton (Arteriitis temporalis, Riesenzellarteriitis): Klinik, Diagnostik, Histologie, Therapie.

Giant cell arteritis can cause diagnostic difficulties due to its heterogeneous symptomatology. Characteristic ophthalmic and systemic symptoms of Horton's disease are discussed. The clinical course is described on the basis of typical patients, which shows that generic symptoms do not have to coexist. The Horton's arteritis potentially represents a systemic vasculitis that requires early diagnosis and treatment in order to avoid dramatic ophthalmic consequences, in worst cases blindness. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) represents the most important laboratory parameter. Although temporal artery biopsy remains the only confirmatory procedure for a definite diagnosis, imaging procedures such as sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound biomicroscopy are useful in supporting the clinical diagnosis. Highly dosed corticosteroid therapy should always be indicated when suspicious clinical symptoms are present, even without any dramatic laboratory parameter changes. Initial high dosages are indicated up to 1 gram daily depending on the severity of the disease. Subsequently a slow ESR titrated reduction of the dose is necessary under control of inflammation values, symptomatology and side effects. Occasionally a lifelong immunsuppressive therapy is indispensable. The long-term treatment should take place in close cooperation with the general practitioner, rheumatologist, neurologist and if necessary further specialists.

A fully integrated passive microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip for real-time electrochemical detection of ammonium: Sewage applications.

The present work reports on the development of a new generation of Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) to perform in-situ and real-time potentiometric measurements in flowing water. The device consisted of two differentiated parts: a poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic structure obtained by soft lithography and a fully integrated chemical sensing platform including four working microelectrodes, two reference microelectrodes and one counter microelectrode for detecting ammonium in a continuous mode. The performance of the device was evaluated following its potentiometric response when analyzing ammonium containing samples. As a key parameter, its time of response was compared to that of a commercially available electrical conductivity sensor used as reference sensor during tests in laboratory using flowing tap water and technical scale using flowing wastewater. As a result, the LOC showed a slope of 55 mV/decade, a limit of detection of 4·10-5 M and a time of full response between 10 and 12 s. It was demonstrated that the device can provide fast and reliable data at real time when immersed in a laminar flow of water. Moreover, the test of robustness showed that it was still functional after immersion in sewage for at least 15 min. Besides, the LOC reported here can be helpful for a wide variety of flowing-water applications such as aqua culture outlets control, in-situ and continuous analysis of rivers effluents and sea waters monitoring among others.

[Successful brachytherapy of a clinically unapparent ciliary body melanoma]. / Erfolgreiche Brachytherapie bei klinisch inapparentem Ziliarkörpermelanom.

We report on a typical case of a ciliary body melanoma in a 59-year-old female, which was only noticed due to nonspecific unilateral vision disorders and which could only be seen in maximal mydriasis via a gonioscopic three-mirror lens. We further discuss tumor monitoring via ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and execution and prognosis of Ru-106 brachytherapy.

[How invasive is the pelvic total lymphadenectomy in prostatic cancer?]. / Wie invasiv ist die pelvine en-bloc-Lymphadenektomie beim Prostatakarzinom?

It is referred to the importance of the pelvic lymphadenectomy for the estimation of the N-determination of the carcinoma of the prostate gland. The demonstration of intraoperative and immediately postoperative complication as well as the valuation of late complications and sequelae was for the first time performed on a larger series of patients. The avoidance of complication is shown and an outlook for further examinations is given.

Measurement of the pregnant cervix by transvaginal sonography: an interobserver study and new standards to improve the interobserver variability.

Transvaginal sonography has become an important tool for assessing the gravid cervix uteri, especially in patients at risk for cervical incompetence and preterm delivery. The purpose of our prospective study was to evaluate interobserver variability in measurements of the cervical length and, as a second step, improve the reproducibility and interobserver discrepancy by the introduction of quality control standards when producing and measuring the image of the cervix. Before the introduction of these standards we obtained 46 measurements and observed a mean cervical length (internal to external os) of 33.7 mm (range 26-52 mm) and an interobserver average discrepancy of 3.04 mm (range 0-6 mm). Later, measurements were obtained only when the following conditions were assured and visualized on the screen: (1) the internal os is either flat or is an isosceles triangle; (2) the whole length of the cervical canal can be observed; (3) a symmetric image of the external os can be obtained; and (4) the distance from the surface of the posterior lip to the cervical canal is equal to the distance from the anterior lip to the cervical canal. After the implementation of these quality control standards, 70 measurements were performed obtaining a mean length of 35.3 mm (range 27-51) and an average interobserver discrepancy of 1.24 mm (range 0-4). Thus the measurement error was significantly lower following introduction of quality control standards. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation dropped from 7.1% to 3.3% after the introduction of the guidelines. We believe that these guidelines could be helpful by making the measurements of the cervical length more accurate, reducing the interobserver variability, improving the reproducibility and promoting the role of transvaginal sonography in monitoring the incompetent cervix.