Light-cone distribution amplitudes of octet baryons from lattice QCD

We present lattice QCD results for the wave function normalization constants and the first moments of the distribution amplitudes for the lowest-lying baryon octet. The analysis is based on a large number of $N_f=2+1$ ensembles comprising multiple trajectories in the quark mass plane including physical pion (and kaon) masses, large volumes, and, most importantly, five different lattice spacings down to $a=0.039\,\mathrm{fm}$. This allows us to perform a controlled extrapolation to the continuum and infinite volume limits by a simultaneous fit to all available data. We demonstrate that the formerly observed violation of flavor symmetry breaking constraints can, indeed, be attributed to discretization effects that vanish in the continuum limit

Experimental operation of a solar-driven climate system with thermal energy storages using mixed-integer nonlinear model predictive control

This work presents the results of experimental operation of a solar-driven climate system using mixed-integer nonlinear model predictive control (MPC). The system is installed in a university building and consists of two solar thermal collector fields, an adsorption cooling machine with different operation modes, a stratified hot water storage with multiple inlets and outlets as well as a cold water storage. The system and the applied modeling approach is described and a parallelized algorithm for mixed-integer nonlinear MPC and a corresponding implementation for the system are presented. Finally, we show and discuss the results of experimental operation of the system and highlight the advantages of the mixed-integer nonlinear MPC application

Human Dermis Harbors Distinct Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Subsets

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are found in a variety of adult tissues including human dermis. These MSCs are morphologically similar to bone marrow–derived MSCs, but are of unclear phenotype. To shed light on the characteristics of human dermal MSCs, this study was designed to identify and isolate dermal MSCs by a specific marker expression profile, and subsequently rate their mesenchymal differentiation potential. Immunohistochemical staining showed that MSC markers CD73/CD90/CD105, as well as CD271 and SSEA-4, are expressed on dermal cells in situ. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a phenotype similar to bone marrow–derived MSCs. Human dermal cells isolated by plastic adherence had a lower differentiation capacity as compared with bone marrow–derived MSCs. To distinguish dermal MSCs from differentiated fibroblasts, we immunoselected CD271+ and SSEA-4+ cells from adherent dermal cells and investigated their mesenchymal differentiation capacity. This revealed that cells with increased adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic potential were enriched in the dermal CD271+ population. The differentiation potential of dermal SSEA-4+ cells, in contrast, appeared to be limited to adipogenesis. These results indicate that specific cell populations with variable mesenchymal differentiation potential can be isolated from human dermis. Moreover, we identified three different subsets of dermal mesenchymal progenitor cells

Evaluation of early-phase [F-18]-florbetaben PET acquisition in clinical routine cases

Objectives: In recent years several [F-18]-labelled amyloid PET tracers have been developed and have obtained clinical approval. There is accumulating evidence that early (post injection) acquisitionswith these tracers are equally informative as conventional blood flow andmetabolismstudies for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, but there have been few side-by-side studies. Therefore, we investigated the performance of early acquisitions of [F-18]florbetaben (FBB) PET compared to [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET in a clinical setting. Methods: All subjects were recruited with clinical suspicion of dementia due to neurodegenerative disease. FDG PET was undertaken by conventional methods, and amyloid PET was performed with FBB, with early recordings for the initial 10 min (early-phase FBB), and late recordings at 90-110 min p.i. (late-phase FBB). Regional SUVR with cerebellar and globalmean normalization were calculated for early-phase FBB and FDG PET. Pearson correlation coefficients between FDG and early-phase FBB were calculated for predefined cortical brain regions. Furthermore, a visual interpretation of disease pattern using 3-dimensional stereotactic surface projections (3DSSP) was performed, with assessment of intra-reader agreement. Results: Among a total of 33 patients (mean age 67.5 +/- 11.0 years) included in the study, 18 were visually rated amyloid-positive, and 15 amyloid-negative based on late-phase FBB scans. Correlation coefficients for earlyphase FBB vs. FDG scans displayed excellent agreement in all target brain regions for global mean normalization. Cerebellar normalization gave strong, but significantly lower correlations. 3D representations of early-phase FBB visually resembled the corresponding FDG PET images, irrespective of the amyloid-status of the late FBB scans. Conclusions: Early-phase FBB acquisitions correlate on a relative quantitative and visual level with FDG PET scans, irrespective of the amyloid plaque density assessed in late FBB imaging. Thus, early-phase FBB uptake depicts a metabolism-like image, suggesting it as a valid surrogatemarker for synaptic dysfunction, which could ultimately circumvent the need for additional FDG PET investigation in diagnosis of dementia. (C) 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc

Lattice results for the longitudinal spin structure and color forces on quarks in a nucleon

Using lattice QCD, we calculate the twist-2 contribution a2 to the third Mellin moment of the spin structure functions g1 and g2 in the nucleon. In addition we evaluate the twist-3 contribution d2. Our computations make use of Nf=2+1 gauge field ensembles generated by the Coordinated Lattice Simulations effort. Neglecting quark-line disconnected contributions we obtain as our best estimates a(p)2=0.069(17), d(p)2=0.0105(68) and a(n)2=0.0068(88), d(n)2=−0.0009(70) for the proton and the neutron, respectively, where we use the normalizations given in Eqs. (58) and (59). While the a2 results have been converted to the ¯¯¯¯¯¯MS scheme using three-loop perturbation theory, the numbers for d2 are given in the regularization independent momentum subtraction scheme, i.e., the conversion has been performed only in tree-level perturbation theory. The d2 results can be interpreted as corresponding to a transverse color Lorentz force on a quark in a transversely polarized proton of size F(u)=116(61) and F(d)=−38(66)  MeV/fm for u and d quarks, respectively. The error estimates quoted include statistical and systematic uncertainties added in quadrature

Functionality and Cell Senescence of CD4/ CD8-Selected CD20 CAR T Cells Manufactured Using the Automated CliniMACS Prodigy® Platform

Clinical studies using autologous CAR T cells have achieved spectacular remissions in refractory CD19+ B cell leukaemia, however some of the patient treatments with CAR T cells failed. Beside the heterogeneity of leukaemia, the distribution and senescence of the autologous cells from heavily pretreated patients might be further reasons for this. We performed six consecutive large-scale manufacturing processes for CD20 CAR T cells from healthy donor leukapheresis using the automated CliniMACS Prodigy® platform. Starting with a CD4/CD8-positive selection, a high purity of a median of 97% T cells with a median 65-fold cell expansion was achieved. Interestingly, the transduction rate was significantly higher for CD4+ compared to CD8+ T cells and reached in a median of 23%. CD20 CAR T cells showed a good specific IFN-γ secretion after cocultivation with CD20+ target cells which correlated with good cytotoxic activity. Most importantly, 3 out of 5 CAR T cell products showed an increase in telomere length during the manufacturing process, while telomere length remained consistent in one and decreased in another process. In conclusion, this shows for the first time that beside heterogeneity among healthy donors, CAR T cell products also differ regarding cell senescence, even for cells manufactured in a standardised automated process

Sustainable Insights 2015: Band 1 der Schriftenreihe "Ressourceneffizienz und Nachhaltigkeit im Bergischen Städtedreieck"

Sustainable Insights 2015 - Kongress für Studierende und Werkstatt für verantwortungsvolles Wirtschaften 2015 Wie integrieren Unternehmen Nachhaltigkeitskonzepte in ihre Geschäftspolitik und wie realistisch ist die Umsetzung im Betriebsalltag? Wie bewerten Studierende verschiedener Fachrichtungen Strategien für eine bessere Ressourceneffizienz? Welche Lösungen erarbeiten sie gemeinsam mit Unternehmen? Zwei Tage Nachhaltigkeit im Praxistest – bei Sustainable Insights lernten über 100 Studierende, Young Professionals und Auszubildende aus ganz Deutschland engagierte Unternehmen kennen und entwickelten in Case Studies selbst eigene und praxisnahe Ideen. Diese Publikation dokumentiert den Kongress. Sustainable Insights fand 2015 zum ersten Mal statt, eine Wiederholung ist geplant. Veranstaltet wurde Sustainable Insights von der Neuen Effizienz und dem Team von Prof. Dr. Christine Volkmann, Inhaberin des UNESCOLehrstuhls für Entrepreneurship und Interkulturelles Management an der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal und Vorsitzende des Jackstädtzentrums für Unternehmertums- und Innovationsforschung. Schriftenreihe „Ressourceneffizienz und Nachhaltigkeit im Bergischen Städtedreieck“ Die Schriftenreihe, herausgegeben von der Neuen Effizienz, ist die Plattform für Forschung, Projekte und Veranstaltungen zu Nachhaltigkeit und Ressourceneffizienz im Bergischen Städtedreieck. Sie richtet sich an Wissenschaftler und Studierende, Unternehmer und Experten sowie die interessierte Öffentlichkeit. Die Schriftenreihe ist über den Hochschulschriftenserver der Bergischen Universität sowie www.neue-effizienz.de digital frei verfügbar („Open Access“)

Spin-dependent transport in nanocomposite C:Co films

The magneto-transport properties of nanocomposite C:Co (15 and 40 at.% Co) thin films are investigated. The films were grown by ion beam co-sputtering on thermally oxidized silicon substrates in the temperature range from 200 to 500 degC. Two major effects are reported: (i) a large anomalous Hall effect amounting to 2 \mu ohm cm, and (ii) a negative magnetoresistance. Both the field-dependent resistivity and Hall resistivity curves coincide with the rescaled magnetization curves, a finding that is consistent with spin-dependent transport. These findings suggest that C:Co nanocomposites are promising candidates for carbon-based Hall sensors and spintronic devices.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure

Hochwasser und Sturzfluten an Flüssen in Deutschland

Flusshochwasser werden in lokale und plotzliche Sturzfluten und in Hochwasser an groseren Flussen unterschieden. Fur verschiedene Hochwasserindikatoren und Flusseinzugsgebiete ergeben sich erhebliche Unterschiede, wobei sowohl uberwiegend aus Regen als auch uberwiegend aus Schmelzwasser gespeiste Hochwasserereignisse betrachtet werden. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit finden Hochwasserereignisse an Rhein, Elbe, Weser und Ems sowie die Entwicklung von Sturzfluten infolge von Extremniederschlagen kurzer Dauer, wobei die Beobachtungen und Trends zu Modellierungsergebnissen in Beziehung gesetzt werden. Auch die Notwendigkeit von Anpassungsmasnahmen aufgrund uberwiegend positiver Trends wird diskutiert