Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Michael Schröder

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Schröder.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Enantiomerically pure isophorone diamine [3-(aminomethyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine]: a chiral 1,4-diamine building block made available on large scale.

Isophorone diamine [IPDA, 3-(aminomethyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine] is a chiral non-C2-symmetric 1,4-diamine which is produced industrially on large scale as the mixture of all four stereoisomers (cis/trans ca. 3:1). Starting from this industrial bulk product, the preparation of the bis-tosyl, bis-Fmoc, bis-Boc and bis-Z derivatives of cis-IPDA, the preparation of the pure cis enantiomers by HPLC on chiral stationary phase, and the assignment of absolute configurations to the isolated enantiomers are described. We furthermore report an efficient method for the optical resolution of IPDA by salt formation with dibenzoyl tartaric acid. The latter method conveniently affords enantiomerically pure cis-IPDA in 100 g quantities. A number of salen ligands have been prepared from this enantiomerically pure 1,4-diamine and fully characterized. The nickel complex of one of the salen ligands was prepared and analyzed by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of the Ni4L4 complex illustrates the pronounced preference of cis-IPDA for adopting the chair conformation in which both the amino- and the aminomethyl substituents occupy equatorial positions. As a consequence, the two salicylidene imine moieties of one ligand molecule do not converge on one metal ion, but act as bridging ligands between two nickel ions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Classifying EEG and ECoG signals without subject training for fast BCI implementation: comparison of nonparalyzed and completely paralyzed subjects.

We summarize results from a series of related studies that aim to develop a motor-imagery-based brain-computer interface using a single recording session of electroencephalogram (EEG) or electrocorticogram (ECoG) signals for each subject. We apply the same experimental and analytical methods to 11 nonparalysed subjects (eight EEG, three ECoG), and to five paralyzed subjects (four EEG, one ECoG) who had been unable to communicate for some time. While it was relatively easy to obtain classifiable signals quickly from most of the nonparalyzed subjects, it proved impossible to classify the signals obtained from the paralyzed patients by the same methods. This highlights the fact that though certain BCI paradigms may work well with healthy subjects, this does not necessarily indicate success with the target user group. We outline possible reasons for this failure to transfer.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

The BCI competition. III: Validating alternative approaches to actual BCI problems.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that allows its users to control external devices with brain activity. Although the proof-of-concept was given decades ago, the reliable translation of user intent into device control commands is still a major challenge. Success requires the effective interaction of two adaptive controllers: the user's brain, which produces brain activity that encodes intent, and the BCI system, which translates that activity into device control commands. In order to facilitate this interaction, many laboratories are exploring a variety of signal analysis techniques to improve the adaptation of the BCI system to the user. In the literature, many machine learning and pattern classification algorithms have been reported to give impressive results when applied to BCI data in offline analyses. However, it is more difficult to evaluate their relative value for actual online use. BCI data competitions have been organized to provide objective formal evaluations of alternative methods. Prompted by the great interest in the first two BCI Competitions, we organized the third BCI Competition to address several of the most difficult and important analysis problems in BCI research. The paper describes the data sets that were provided to the competitors and gives an overview of the results.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Functional analysis of the pyrimidine de novo synthesis pathway in solanaceous species.

Pyrimidines are particularly important in dividing tissues as building blocks for nucleic acids, but they are equally important for many biochemical processes, including sucrose and cell wall polysaccharide metabolism. In recent years, the molecular organization of nucleotide biosynthesis in plants has been analyzed. Here, we present a functional analysis of the pyrimidine de novo synthesis pathway. Each step in the pathway was investigated using transgenic plants with reduced expression of the corresponding gene to identify controlling steps and gain insights into the phenotypic and metabolic consequences. Inhibition of expression of 80% based on steady-state mRNA level did not lead to visible phenotypes. Stepwise reduction of protein abundance of Asp transcarbamoylase or dihydro orotase resulted in a corresponding inhibition of growth. This was not accompanied by pleiotropic effects or by changes in the developmental program. A more detailed metabolite analysis revealed slightly different responses in roots and shoots of plants with decreased abundance of proteins involved in pyrimidine de novo synthesis. Whereas in leaves the nucleotide and amino acid levels were changed only in the very strong inhibited plants, the roots show a transient increase of these metabolites in intermediate plants followed by a decrease in the strong inhibited plants. Growth analysis revealed that elongation rates and number of organs per plant were reduced, without large changes in the average cell size. It is concluded that reduced pyrimidine de novo synthesis is compensated for by reduction in growth rates, and the remaining nucleotide pools are sufficient for running basic metabolic processes.

Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase↗
PubMed2004

Bilateral thalamic gray matter changes in patients with restless legs syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder of a primary unpleasant sensation with an urge to move the legs occurring at rest. The etiology of idiopathic RLS is unknown and structural cerebral abnormalities have so far not been detected. We studied 51 right-handed patients with an idiopathic restless legs syndrome in two independent samples (Regensburg RLS-group: n = 28, Munich RLS-group: n = 23) and compared them to 51 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. High-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of each subject was obtained and analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to detect regionally specific differences in gray matter between patients and controls. Conjunction analysis was used to combine results from both centers. In patients with idiopathic RLS, both study centers observed independently a bilateral gray matter increase in the pulvinar. In the conjunction analysis including all patients and controls from both study centers, a significant gray matter increase in the pulvinar bilaterally (right: x = 16, y = -21, z = 12, Z = 4.57; left: x = -16, y = -24, z = 12, Z = 4.10) was present. This is the first demonstration of structural changes in the brain of patients with idiopathic RLS. These changes in thalamic structures are either involved in the pathogenesis of RLS or may reflect a consequence of chronic increase in afferent input of behaviorally relevant information.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Enantioselective synthesis of DIANANE, a novel C2-symmetric chiral diamine for asymmetric catalysis.

DIANANE (endo,endo-2,5-diaminonorbornane) is a novel chiral C(2)-symmetric diamine, based on the rigid bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane scaffold. Schiff-base ligands derived from DIANANE have already found use in asymmetric catalysis, e.g., in the highly enantioselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction. We herein describe a practical synthesis of enantiomerically pure DIANANE, starting from norbornadiene in four steps: (i) Pd-MOP catalyzed Hayashi-hydrosilylation/Tamao-Fleming oxidation, (ii) oxidation to norbornane-2,5-dione, (iii) endo-selective reductive amination with benzylamine, and (iv) hydrogenolytic debenzylation. None of the steps involves chromatographic purification. For the Tamao-Fleming oxidation, the use of hydrogen peroxide in the form of its urea clathrate instead of aqueous solution proved beneficial. By the above sequence, enantiomerically pure (ee >or=99%) DIANANE was obtained from norbornadiene in 40-50% overall yield. The relative and absolute configuration of DIANANE was confirmed by X-ray crystallography of the DIANANE bis-tosylamide, and of its bis-camphorsulfonamide. Furthermore, the synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the Schiff-base ligand derived from DIANANE and 3,5-di-tert-butyl salicylic aldehyde are reported.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

The BCI Competition 2003: progress and perspectives in detection and discrimination of EEG single trials.

Interest in developing a new method of man-to-machine communication--a brain-computer interface (BCI)--has grown steadily over the past few decades. BCIs create a new communication channel between the brain and an output device by bypassing conventional motor output pathways of nerves and muscles. These systems use signals recorded from the scalp, the surface of the cortex, or from inside the brain to enable users to control a variety of applications including simple word-processing software and orthotics. BCI technology could therefore provide a new communication and control option for individuals who cannot otherwise express their wishes to the outside world. Signal processing and classification methods are essential tools in the development of improved BCI technology. We organized the BCI Competition 2003 to evaluate the current state of the art of these tools. Four laboratories well versed in EEG-based BCI research provided six data sets in a documented format. We made these data sets (i.e., labeled training sets and unlabeled test sets) and their descriptions available on the Internet. The goal in the competition was to maximize the performance measure for the test labels. Researchers worldwide tested their algorithms and competed for the best classification results. This paper describes the six data sets and the results and function of the most successful algorithms.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Support vector channel selection in BCI.

Designing a brain computer interface (BCI) system one can choose from a variety of features that may be useful for classifying brain activity during a mental task. For the special case of classifying electroencephalogram (EEG) signals we propose the usage of the state of the art feature selection algorithms Recursive Feature Elimination and Zero-Norm Optimization which are based on the training of support vector machines (SVM). These algorithms can provide more accurate solutions than standard filter methods for feature selection. We adapt the methods for the purpose of selecting EEG channels. For a motor imagery paradigm we show that the number of used channels can be reduced significantly without increasing the classification error. The resulting best channels agree well with the expected underlying cortical activity patterns during the mental tasks. Furthermore we show how time dependent task specific information can be visualized.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

Eigenregions for image classification.

For certain databases and classification tasks, analyzing images based region features instead of image features results in more accurate classifications. We introduce eigenregions, which are geometrical features that encompass area, location, and shape properties of an image region, even if the region is spatially incoherent. Eigenregions are calculated using principal component analysis (PCA). On a database of 77,000 different regions obtained through the segmentation of 13,500 real-scene photographic images taken by nonprofessionals, eigenregions improved the detection of localized image classes by a noticeable amount. Additionally, eigenregions allow us to prove that the largest variance in natural image region geometry is due to its area and not to shape or position.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Molecular analysis of de novo pyrimidine synthesis in solanaceous species.

The de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides in plants has been analysed on a molecular level with special focus on cDNA cloning and structure analysis of all genes involved and their expression pattern during development. The exhaustive cloning of all cDNAs resulted from screening with heterologous cDNAs or by using complementation strategies with Escherichia coli mutants and subsequent enzyme activity measurements. Southern hybridization and comparison with the Arabidopsis genome reveals plant specific aspects and a simple genomic organization of pyrimidine synthesis in plants, which is superimposed by the postulated, complex subcellular compartmentalization. Northern hybridization evinces coordinated expression of all genes under developmental control during tobacco leaf growth.

Arabidopsis↗