Recent Results of Multimagnetical Simulations of the Ising Model

To investigate order-order interfaces, we perform multimagnetical Monte Carlo simulations of the $2D$ and $3D$ Ising model. Stringent tests of the numerical methods are performed by reproducing with high precision exact $2D$ results. In the physically more interesting $3D$ case we estimate the amplitude $F^s_0$ of the critical interfacial tension.Comment: talk presented at the workshop "Dynamics of First Order Phase Transitions", Juelich June 1-3; FSU-SCRI-92C-87 preprint; 7 pages; sorry no figures; needs vanilla.st

Correlation between the reliability of HEMT devices and that of a combined oscillator-amplifier

We evaluate an oscillator-amplifier MMIC submitted to high-temperature operating life time tests. To relate adequately these results with individual components’ results, it is important to realise that failure mechanisms in non-linear MMICs are governed by the maximally instantaneous voltages/currents and hence that comparisons should be conducted at equal instantaneous conditions

Interference in interacting quantum dots with spin

We study spectral and transport properties of interacting quantum dots with spin. Two particular model systems are investigated: Lateral multilevel and two parallel quantum dots. In both cases different paths through the system can give rise to interference. We demonstrate that this strengthens the multilevel Kondo effect for which a simple two-stage mechanism is proposed. In parallel dots we show under which conditions the peak of an interference-induced orbital Kondo effect can be split.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

ESTIMATION OF POTENTIAL RISK OF ACL RUPTURE IN FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A PREVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM

The purpose of this study was to make an estimation of the potential risk of ACL rupture in female soccer players by means of video based analysis and controlled by biome-chanical testing as well as to relate to effects by carrying out an 8 week specific training program. Results show that video based screening seems to be suitable in order to achieve a good estimation of the risk for ACL injuries without large expenditure. The per-formed ACL prevention training program shows a slight reduction of the potential risk of ACL rupture

Efficacy of oral citrate administration in primary hyperoxaluria

Urinary citrate is a potent inhibitor of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization, but oral citrate has rarely been used in patients with primary hyperoxaluria (PH). We studied the effect of sodium citrate administration (0.1-0.15 g/kg/day) on urinary citrate excretion and CaOx saturation in seven paediatric patients and the clinical response to long-term treatment (average 4 years) in five patients. Urinary citrate increased from 0.73 to 2.54 mmol/24h/l.73 m2 and urinary saturation for CaOx (calculated by equil 2) decreased from 11.41 to 6.79 (for both, p<0.02). Long-term administration of alkali citrate [0.15 g (0.5 mmol)/kg/day] resulted in stable or improved renal function in three and slow deterioration in two partially non-compliant patients. Alkali citrate is effective in patients with P

Chern-Simons term in the 4-dimensional SU(2) Higgs Model

Using Seiberg's definition for the geometric charge in SU(2) lattice gauge theory, we have managed to apply it also to the Chern-Simons term. We checked the periodic structure and determined the Chern-Simons density on small lattices $L^4$ and $L^3 \times 2,\, 4$ with L=4,\, 6,\mbox{ and }8 near the critical region in the SU(2) Higgs model. The data indicate that tunneling is increased at high temperature.Comment: 7 pages plus 4 PS figure

Optimisation and comparison of transient expression methods to express the green fluorescent protein in the obligate biotrophic oomycete Plasmopara viticola

Grape downy mildew is caused by Plasmopara viticola, an obligate biotrophic oomycete and a major pathogen of grapevine. Studying obligate biotrophic pathogens is difficult as they cannot grow without their host. We therefore attempted to develop a method where the pathogen could be visualized and quantified in planta without killing the host plant. To this end P. viticola was transformed with the marker gene gfp coding for the green fluorescent protein. Various transformation methods, namely electroporation, particle bombardment and transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens were applied. Although some methods yielded positive transformation events, no stable strain of P. viticola expressing gfp could be generated. Using the electroporation method, we obtained transient P. viticola transformants expressing gfp over 4 generations. In contrast, particle bombardment failed in transforming P. viticola. Transformation with A. tumefaciens had a low efficiency, only some structures were fluorescent and fluorescence was never observed in the subsequent generations.