Single-Bottleneck Approximation for Driven Lattice Gases with Disorder and Open Boundary Conditions

We investigate the effects of disorder on driven lattice gases with open boundaries using the totally asymmetric simple exclusion process as a paradigmatic example. Disorder is realized by randomly distributed defect sites with reduced hopping rate. In contrast to equilibrium, even macroscopic quantities in disordered non-equilibrium systems depend sensitively on the defect sample. We study the current as function of the entry and exit rates and the realization of disorder and find that it is, in leading order, determined by the longest stretch of consecutive defect sites (single-bottleneck approximation, SBA). Using results from extreme value statistics the SBA allows to study ensembles with fixed defect density which gives accurate results, e.g. for the expectation value of the current. Corrections to SBA come from effective interactions of bottlenecks close to the longest one. Defects close to the boundaries can be described by effective boundary rates and lead to shifts of the phase transitions. Finally it is shown that the SBA also works for more complex models. As an example we discuss a model with internal states that has been proposed to describe transport of the kinesin KIF1A.Comment: submitted to J. Stat. Mec

Laseranwendung in der Augenheilkunde

Die Augenheilkunde stellt eine der medizinischen Fachdisziplinen dar, die Laserstrahlung schon sehr früh einsetzten und heute bei verschiedenen Erkrankungen anwenden. Zur Diagnostik und Therapie der Glaukome, bei Netzhauterkrankungen, aber auch zur Behandlung von Fehlsichtigkeiten werden verschiedene Lasertypen erfolgreich eingesetzt.Ophthalmology represents a medical field where laser technology was established very early and where lasers are nowadays frequently used. In the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, for treatment of retinal disorders as well as for refractive surgery different types of lasers are used

Experimental investigation of the elasticity of the human diaphragm

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures affect mainly the left side. In an experimental study in human corpses we examined the stretch behaviour of the left and right diaphragmatic halves.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a total of 8 male and 8 female corpses each diaphragmatic half was divided into 4 different segments. Each segments stretch behaviour was investigated. In steps of 2 N the stretch was increased up to 24 N.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the female the left diaphragm showed a stronger elasticity compared to the right. Additionally the left diaphragm in females showed a higher elasticity in comparison to the left in males. Traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures affect mostly the central tendineous part or the junction between tendineous and muscular part of the diaphragmatic muscle. Accordingly we found a lower elasticity in these parts compared with the other diaphragmatic segments.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary it can be said that albeit some restrictions we were able to determine the elasticity of different diaphragmatic segments quantitatively and reproduceably with our presented method. Thereby a comparison of results of different diaphragmatic segments as well as of both diaphragmatic halves and of both genders was possible</p

Základy půdní úrodnosti

Zvyšování půdní úrodnosti bylo pro průkopníky ekologického zemědělství základem veškerého jejich úsilí. Přesto zachování úrodné půdy mnohdy nebyla věnována dostatečná pozornost. Ekologické zemědělství je však na přirozené půdní úrodnosti závislé. Oslabená a poškozená půda nám nemůže poskytnout to, co od ní očekáváme. Udržet úrodnost půdy vyžaduje velkou péči. Předkládaná brožura ukazuje půdní úrodnost z různých úhlů pohledu. Naším záměrem však nebylo vytvořit obecně platný „návod k použití“. Informace mají být mnohem spíše podnětem k tomu, aby se o vztahu člověka k půdě smýšlelo jinak a aby se tento vztah utvářel ve prospěch budoucnosti

Framing the concept of satellite remote sensing essential biodiversity variables: challenges and future directions

Although satellite-based variables have for long been expected to be key components to a unified and global biodiversity monitoring strategy, a definitive and agreed list of these variables still remains elusive. The growth of interest in biodiversity variables observable from space has been partly underpinned by the development of the essential biodiversity variable (EBV) framework by the Group on Earth Observations – Biodiversity Observation Network, which itself was guided by the process of identifying essential climate variables. This contribution aims to advance the development of a global biodiversity monitoring strategy by updating the previously published definition of EBV, providing a definition of satellite remote sensing (SRS) EBVs and introducing a set of principles that are believed to be necessary if ecologists and space agencies are to agree on a list of EBVs that can be routinely monitored from space. Progress toward the identification of SRS-EBVs will require a clear understanding of what makes a biodiversity variable essential, as well as agreement on who the users of the SRS-EBVs are. Technological and algorithmic developments are rapidly expanding the set of opportunities for SRS in monitoring biodiversity, and so the list of SRS-EBVs is likely to evolve over time. This means that a clear and common platform for data providers, ecologists, environmental managers, policy makers and remote sensing experts to interact and share ideas needs to be identified to support long-term coordinated actions

Genomic CDKN2A/2B deletions in adult Ph+ ALL are adverse despite allogeneic stem cell transplantation

We investigated the role of copy number alterations to refine risk stratification in adult Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph)+ ALL treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (aSCT). 97 Ph+ ALL patients (median age 41 years, range 18-64 years) within the prospective multicenter GMALL studies 06/99 (n=8) and 07/2003 (n=89) were analysed. All patients received TKI and aSCT in first complete remission (CR1). Copy number analysis was performed with SNP arrays and validated by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). The frequencies of recurrently deleted genes were: IKZF1, 76%, CDKN2A/2B, 45%, PAX5, 43%, BTG1, 18%, EBF1, 13%, ETV6, 5%, RB, 14%. In univariate analyses, the presence of CDKN2A/2B deletions had a negative impact on all endpoints: overall survival (p=0.023), disease free survival (p=0.012) and remission duration (p=0.036). The negative predictive value of CDKN2A/2B deletions was retained in multivariable analysis along with other factors such as timing of TKI therapy, intensity of conditioning, achieving remission after induction phase I and BTG1 deletions. We therefore conclude that acquired genomic CDKN2A/2B deletions identify a subgroup of Ph+ ALL patients, who have an inferior prognosis despite aSCT in CR1. Their poor outcome was attributable primarily to a high relapse rate after aSCT

Photonic and QCD radiative corrections to Higgs-boson production in mu+ mu- --> f fbar

The photonic and QCD radiative corrections at next-to-leading order are calculated for fermion-pair production at muon colliders, maintaining the full mass dependence and helicity information of the muons and the produced fermions. Higher-order effects of initial-state radiation are included at the leading logarithmic level. In the calculation particular attention is paid to the issue of gauge invariance in the vicinity of resonances. The most important corrections are presented in analytical form. The detailed numerical discussion concentrates on the corrections to the (s-channel) Higgs-boson resonances in the Standard Model and its minimal supersymmetric extension. The results show that photonic initial- and QCD final-state corrections are very important in a precision study of Higgs resonances, but that (photonic) initial-final interferences are widely suppressed and only modify the non-resonant background.Comment: 39 pages, latex, 19 postscript file

Über eine Klasse polynomialer Scharen selbstadjungierter Operatoren im Hilbertraum

HEK293A cells expressing either mouse MOG (mMOG) or rat MOG (rMOG) C terminally tagged with EGFP. (DOCX 2792 kb

Genome-wide association studies of autoimmune vitiligo identify 23 new risk loci and highlight key pathways and regulatory variants

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which depigmented skin results from the destruction of melanocytes1, with epidemiological association with other autoimmune diseases2. In previous linkage and genome-wide association studies (GWAS1 and GWAS2), we identified 27 vitiligo susceptibility loci in patients of European ancestry. We carried out a third GWAS (GWAS3) in European-ancestry subjects, with augmented GWAS1 and GWAS2 controls, genome-wide imputation, and meta-analysis of all three GWAS, followed by an independent replication. The combined analyses, with 4,680 cases and 39,586 controls, identified 23 new significantly associated loci and 7 suggestive loci. Most encode immune and apoptotic regulators, with some also associated with other autoimmune diseases, as well as several melanocyte regulators. Bioinformatic analyses indicate a predominance of causal regulatory variation, some of which corresponds to expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) at these loci. Together, the identified genes provide a framework for the genetic architecture and pathobiology of vitiligo, highlight relationships with other autoimmune diseases and melanoma, and offer potential targets for treatment