Optimization of the indications for allogeneic stem cell transplantation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia based on interactive diagnostic strategies

The indications for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) represent a real challenge due to the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of the disorder. Therefore, an optimized indication for SCT in AML first requires the determination of the individual relapse risk based on diverse chromosomal and molecular prognosis-defining aberrations. A broad panel of diagnostic methods is needed to allow such subclassification and prognostic stratification: cytomorphology, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and immunophenotyping by multiparameter flow cytometry. These methods should not be seen as isolated techniques but as parts of an integral network with hierarchies and interactions. Examples for a poor risk constellation as a clear indication for allogeneic SCT are provided by anomalies of chromosome 7, complex aberrations, or FLT3-length mutations. In contrast, the favorable reciprocal translocations such as the t(15;17)/PML-RARA or t(8;21)/AML1-ETO are not indications for SCT in first remission due to the rather good prognosis after standard therapy. Further, the indication for SCT should include the results of minimal residual disease (MRD) diagnostics by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or flow cytometry. New aspects for a safe and fast risk stratification as basis for an optimized indication for SCT in AML might be provided by novel technologies such as microarray-based gene expression profiling. Keywords: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT), Indication, Cytogenetics, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR

Self-pulsation at 480 GHz from a two-color discrete mode laser diode

A discrete mode Fabry-Pérot laser is designed and fabricated to achieve two-color lasing. We demonstrate beating between the two laser modes and self-pulsation at 480 GHz

Organische Leuchtdioden mit Polymeranoden

In organischen Leuchtdioden (OLEDs) werden üblicherweise anorganische Materialien wie Indium-Zinn-Oxid (ITO) als transparente leitfähige Anoden verwendet. ITO besitzt allerdings eine geringe Austrittsarbeit und kann deshalb Löcher nicht effizient in organische Materialien injizieren. Weiterhin ist ITO eine Quelle von Indium- und Sauerstoff-Ionen, die in die organischen Materialien diffundieren und dort mit der Organik reagieren bzw. als effiziente Exzitonenvernichter agieren. Eine mögliche Alternative zu ITO sind hoch leitfähige Polymere wie PEDOT:PSS und Polyaniline. Diese Studie untersucht die physikalischen Aspekte von OLEDs mit elektrisch dotierten Ladungstransportschichten auf Polymeranoden. Hierbei werden pin-OLEDs auf ITO mit OLEDs auf Polymeranoden direkt verglichen und mit dem derzeitigen Stand der Technik diskutiert. Die Untersuchungen zeigen, daß OLEDs auf PEDOT:PSS Anoden eine höhere Effizienz erreichen als OLEDs auf ITO Anoden. Um die physikalischen Unterschiede von pin-OLEDs auf ITO und PEDOT:PSS Anoden zu untersuchen, werden optische Simulationen sowie Ultraviolett-Photoemissions-Spektroskopie (UPS) und Lebensdauermessungen durchgeführt. Die optischen Simulationen zeigen, daß die Polymeranoden durch ihren geringen Brechungsindex eine höhere Lichtauskopplungseffizienz besitzen als OLEDs mit einer ITO-Anode. Außerdem finden UPS-Messungen eine geringere Löcherinjektionsbarriere von PEDOT:PSS zu dotierten und undotierten Lochtransportschichten. Aus diesem Grund ist die Ladungsträgerinjektion an der Anoden-Organik-Grenzfläche effizienter, wenn eine PEDOT:PSS-Anode verwendet wird. Lebensdauermessungen von pin-OLEDs auf PEDOT:PSS-Anoden zeigen eine vergleichbare Lebensdauer zu OLEDs auf ITO-Anoden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchungen zeigen eindeutig, daß Polymeranoden das Potential besitzen, ITO als Anode zu ersetzen und zusätzlich die OLED-Effizienz zu erhöhen

Inverse scattering approach to multiwavelength Fabry-Pérot laser design

A class of multiwavelength Fabry-Pérot lasers is introduced where the spectrum is tailored through a patterning of the cavity effective index. The cavity geometry is obtained using an inverse scattering approach and can be designed such that the spacing of discrete Fabry-Pérot lasing modes is limited only by the bandwidth of the inverted gain medium. A specific two-color semiconductor laser with a mode spacing in the THz region is designed, and measurements are presented demonstrating the simultaneous oscillation of the two wavelengths. The nonperiodic effective index profile of the particular two-color device considered is shown to be related to a Moiré or superstructure grating

Rintelner Weserzölle 1571-1621 - Eine Studie zum norddeutschen Transithandel

Die Rintelner Weserzollregister stehen exemplarisch für den frühneuzeitlichen Wandel der Verwaltung zu einem Herrschaftsinstrument. Daraus resultierten Aktenberge gleichförmiger Quellen, die aufgrund ihrer Masse bisher kaum gesamtheitlich, sondern nur selektiv bearbeitet werden konnten. Diese Dissertation ist ein ausführlicher Kommentar zum Quellenwert von Flusszollregistern im 16. und 17. Jahrhundert. Anhand der Rintelner Wasserzollregister von 1571-1621 (siehe Datenedition auf MADATA) wird sowohl die innere und äußere Form von Zollregistern in den Blick genommen als auch deren geschichtswissenschaftliches Potential herausgestellt. Im Fokus der inhaltlichen Analyse stehen die Entwicklung des Handelsverkehrs und der Fahrfrequenzen, der Umgang mit Maßen und Währungen, das Warensortiment, die Beförderungsmittel sowie die Konstitution der zollzahlenden Personen. Die Darstellung der herrschaftlichen Einflüsse auf die Zollerhebung sorgt für eine historische und politische Einordnung der Register in die Überlieferungen des frühneuzeitlichen Finanzwesens. Diese Untersuchung versteht sich als exemplarische Bearbeitung frühneuzeitlicher serieller Massenquellen des Finanzwesens und formuliert bewusst Diskussionsgrundlagen für die zukünftige Erforschung und Methodik

Recombination processes in GaInAs/GaAs semiconductor quantum-well lasers

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Finding the Dynamics of an Integrable Quantum Many-Body System via Machine Learning

We study the dynamics of the Gaudin magnet ("central-spin model") using machine-learning methods. This model is of practical importance, e.g., for studying non-Markovian decoherence dynamics of a central spin interacting with a large bath of environmental spins and for studies of nonequilibrium superconductivity. The Gaudin magnet is also integrable, admitting many conserved quantities: For $N$ spins, the model Hamiltonian can be written as the sum of $N$ independent commuting operators. Despite this high degree of symmetry, a general closed-form analytic solution for the dynamics of this many-body problem remains elusive. Machine-learning methods may be well suited to exploiting the high degree of symmetry in integrable problems, even when an explicit analytic solution is not obvious. Motivated in part by this intuition, we use a neural-network representation (restricted Boltzmann machine) for each variational eigenstate of the model Hamiltonian. We then obtain accurate representations of the ground state and of the low-lying excited states of the Gaudin-magnet Hamiltonian through a variational Monte Carlo calculation. From the low-lying eigenstates, we find the non-perturbative dynamic transverse spin susceptibility, describing the linear response of a central spin to a time-varying transverse magnetic field in the presence of a spin bath. Having an efficient description of this susceptibility opens the door to improved characterization and quantum control procedures for qubits interacting with an environment of quantum two-level systems. These systems include electron-spin and hole-spin qubits interacting with environmental nuclear spins via hyperfine interactions or qubits with charge or flux degrees of freedom interacting with coherent charge or paramagnetic impurities.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figure

International orientation and export commitment in fast small and medium size firms internationalization: scales validation and implications for the Brazilian case

AbstractA set of changes in the competitive environment has recently provoked the emergence of a new kind of organization that has since its creation a meaningful share of its revenue being originated from international activities developed in more than one continent. Within this new reality, the internationalization of the firm in phases or according to its growth has resulted in it losing its capacity to explain this process with regard to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Thus, in this paper, the international orientation (IO) and export commitment (EC) constructs have been revised under a theoretical context of the fast internationalization of medium-sized companies, so as to identify scales that more accurately measure these dimensions in the Brazilian setting. After a literature review and an exploratory research, the IO and EC scales proposed by Knight and Cavusgil (2004) and Shamsuddoha and Ali (2006) were respectively applied to a sample of 398 small- and medium-sized exporting Brazilian companies. In spite of conjunction and situation differences inherent to the Brazilian companies, the selected scales presented high measuring reliability. Furthermore, the field research outcomes provide evidence for the existence of a phenomenon of fast internationalization in medium-sized companies in Brazil, as well as support some theoretical assumptions of other empirical investigations carried out with samples from developed countries

Orientação internacional e comprometimento exportador na rápida internacionalização de pequenas e médias empresas: validação de escalas e implicações para o caso brasileiro

Recientemente, un conjunto de cambios en el ambiente competitivo mundial hizo aparecer un nuevo tipo de organización en que, desde su creación, una parte significativa de la facturación proviene de actividades internacionales llevadas a cabo en más de un continente. En este contexto, el proceso de internacionalización de empresas por etapas y de carácter incremental perdió su poder explicativo en el caso de estas nuevas pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYME). Así, en el presente estudio se repasaron los conceptos de orientación internacional (OI) y de compromiso con la exportación (CE), dentro del campo teórico de la rápida internacionalización de PYME, para identificar escalas que mejor cotejasen estas dimensiones en el contexto brasileño. Después del análisis de la literatura y un estudio exploratorio, las escalas de OI y CE propuestas por Knight y Cayusgil (2004) y Shamsuddoha y Ali (2006), respectivamente, fueron aplicadas a una muestra de 398 empresas brasileñas exportadoras pequeñas y medianas. A pesar de las diferencias coyunturales y situacionales inherentes a las empresas brasileñas, las escalas seleccionadas presentaron elevada fiabilidad de medición. Los resultados del estudio de campo aportan evidencias de la existencia del fenómeno de la rápida internacionalización de PYME en Brasil, así como refuerzan algunos presupuestos teóricos de otros estudios empíricos realizados con muestras de PYME en países desarrollados.A set of changes in the competitive environment has recently provoked the emergence of a new kind of organization that has since its creation a meaningful share of its revenue being originated from international activities developed in more than one continent. Within this new reality, the internationalization of the firm in phases or according to its growth has resulted in it losing its capacity to explain this process with regard to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Thus, in this paper, the international orientation (IO) and export commitment (EC) constructs have been revised under a theoretical context of the fast internationalization of medium-sized companies, so as to identify scales that more accurately measure these dimensions in the Brazilian setting. After a literature review and an exploratory research, the IO and EC scales proposed by Knight and Cavusgil (2004) and Shamsuddoha and Ali (2006) were respectively applied to a sample of 398 small- and medium-sized exporting Brazilian companies. In spite of conjunction and situation differences inherent to the Brazilian companies, the selected scales presented high measuring reliability. Furthermore, the field research outcomes provide evidence for the existence of a phenomenon of fast internationalization in medium-sized companies in Brazil, as well as support some theoretical assumptions of other empirical investigations carried out with samples from developed countries.Recentemente, um conjunto de mudanças no ambiente competitivo mundial trouxe à tona um novo tipo de organização em que, desde sua criação, uma parcela significativa de seu faturamento provém de atividades internacionais desenvolvidas em mais de um continente. Nesse contexto, o processo de internacionalização de empresas por estágios e de caráter incremental perdeu seu poder explicativo no caso dessas novas pequenas e médias empresas (PME). Assim, o presente estudo revisou os construtos da orientação internacional (OI) e de comprometimento com a exportação (CE), dentro do campo teórico da rápida internacionalização de PMEs, para identificar escalas que melhor aferissem essas dimensões no contexto brasileiro. Após a revisão de literatura e uma pesquisa exploratória, as escalas de OI e CE propostas por Knight e Cavusgil (2004) e Shamsuddoha e Ali (2006), respectivamente, foram aplicadas em uma amostra de 398 empresas brasileiras exportadoras de pequeno e médio porte. Apesar das diferenças conjunturais e situacionais inerentes às empresas brasileiras, as escalas selecionadas apresentaram elevada confiabilidade de mensuração. Ainda, os resultados da pesquisa de campo trazem evidências da existência do fenômeno da rápida internacionalização de PMEs no Brasil, bem como reforçam alguns pressupostos teóricos de outras investigações empíricas feitas com amostras de PMEs em países desenvolvidos

Movement Sonification: Effects on Motor Learning beyond Rhythmic Adjustments

Motor learning is based on motor perception and emergent perceptual-motor representations. A lot of behavioral research is related to single perceptual modalities, but during last two decades the contribution of multimodal perception on motor behavior was discovered more and more. A growing number of studies indicate an enhanced impact of multimodal stimuli on motor perception, motor control and motor learning in terms of better precision and higher reliability of the related actions. Behavioral research is supported by neurophysiological data, revealing that multisensory integration supports motor control and learning. But the overwhelming part of both research lines is dedicated to basic research. Besides research in the domains of music, dance and motor rehabilitation there is nearly no evidence about enhanced effectiveness of multisensory information on learning of gross motor skills. To reduce this gap movement sonification is used here in applied research on motor learning in sports.Based on the current knowledge on the multimodal organization of the perceptual system we generate additional real-time movement information being suitable for integration with perceptual feedback streams of visual and proprioceptive modality. With ongoing training synchronously processed auditory information should be initially integrated into the emerging internal models, enhancing the efficacy of motor learning. This is achieved by a direct mapping of kinematic and dynamic motion parameters to electronic sounds, resulting in continuous auditory and convergent audiovisual or audio-proprioceptive stimulus arrays. In sharp contrast to other approaches using acoustic information as error feedback in motor learning settings we try to generate additional movement information suitable for acceleration and enhancement of adequate sensorimotor representations and processible below the level of consciousness. In the experimental setting participants were asked to learn a closed motor skill (technique acquisition of indoor rowing). One group was treated with visual information and two groups with audiovisual information (sonification vs. natural sounds). For all three groups learning became evident and remained stable. Participants treated with additional movement sonification showed better performance compared to both other groups. Results indicate that movement sonification enhances motor learning of a complex gross motor skill – even exceeding usually expected acoustic rhythmical effects on motor learning