Nuclear Physics from lattice QCD at strong coupling

We study numerically the strong coupling limit of lattice QCD with one flavor of massless staggered quarks. We determine the complete phase diagram as a function of temperature and chemical potential, including a tricritical point. We clarify the nature of the low temperature dense phase, which is strongly bound nuclear matter. This strong binding is explained by the nuclear potential, which we measure. Finally, we determine, from this first-principle limiting case of QCD, the masses of atomic nuclei up to A=12 "carbon".Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; v2: references added, minor changes, published versio

The ethical challenge of Touraine's 'living together'

In Can We Live Together? Alain Touraine combines a consummate analysis of crucial social tensions in contemporary societies with a strong normative appeal for a new emancipatory 'Subject' capable of overcoming the twin threats of atomisation or authoritarianism. He calls for a move from 'politics to ethics' and then from ethics back to politics to enable the new Subject to make a reality out of the goals of democracy and solidarity. However, he has little to say about the nature of such an ethics. This article argues that this lacuna could usefully be filled by adopting a form of radical humanism found in the work of Erich Fromm. It defies convention in the social sciences by operating from an explicit view of the 'is' and the 'ought' of common human nature, specifying reason, love and productive work as the qualities to be realised if we are to move closer to human solidarity. Although there remain significant philosophical and political differences between the two positions, particularly on the role to be played by 'the nation', their juxtaposition opens new lines of inquiry in the field of cosmopolitan ethics

Psychometric evaluation of the German version of the dietary fat and free sugar-short questionnaire

Background: The Dietary Fat and Free Sugar-Short Questionnaire (DFS) is a cost- and time-efficient self-report screening instrument to estimate dietary intake of saturated fat and free sugar. To date, only the English version has been psychometrically evaluated. We assessed the psychometric characteristics of the German version of the DFS in individuals with normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Method: Sixty-five adult participants completed a German translation of the DFS and a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We correlated participants’ percentage of energy intake from saturated fat and free sugar from the FFQ with the DFS scores. To establish test-retest reliability, participants completed the DFS a second time. To investigate convergent validity, we correlated participants’ DFS scores with self-reported eating behavior and sensitivity to reward. Results: DFS scores correlated with percentage of energy from free sugar (rs = 0.443) and saturated fatty acids (rs =0.258) but not with non-target nutrients. The correlation between DFS scores and percentage energy from free sugar was not moderated by body mass index (BMI), whereas the correlation with percentage energy from saturated fat slightly decreased with BMI. Intra-class correlation as an indicator of test-retest reliability was 0.801. DFS scores correlated significantly with restraint of eating behavior (rs = –0.380) and feelings of hunger (rs = 0.275). Correlations of the DFS score with disinhibited eating and sensitivity to rewards failed to be significant. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the German version of the DFS might be a psychometrically sound self-report instrument to estimate saturated fat and free sugar intake of German adults

Removal of an Impaled Intraocular Hair Comb Following Self-inflicted Trauma

Ocular trauma is one of the most common and vision-threatening ophthalmic presentations with a wide spectrum of complications, such as bleeding, infection, vision loss, and enucleation. A 64-year-old-male presented to the emergency department (ED) with a self-inflicted orbital penetrating injury with a hair comb. Computed tomography showed the comb traversed the medial orbit inferior to the medial rectus but did not damage the optic nerve; there were no globe or orbital wall fractures. His ocular exam was significant for a right eye afferent pupillary defect and decreased visual acuity 20/800, consistent with optic neuropathy. Primary concerns were stabilizing and removing the foreign body without causing further damage in the setting of an uncooperative patient. The comb was removed with the aid of local and systemic analgesia using gentle traction and normal saline irrigation. The patient was admitted for systemic and topical antibiotics and showed improvement in visual acuity and resolution of his optic neuropathy. This case illustrates the importance of rapid ED assessment and management of complex penetrating ocular trauma. Examination should specifically look for signs of globe rupture and optic nerve injury. Expedited foreign body removal should be managed together with an ophthalmologist with procedural sedation and broad-spectrum antibiotics to avoid further visual and infectious complications

Comparison of different samples for the detection of MRSA in pigs

Sampling herds and animals for pathogens is vital for the control of these pathogens. It was the objective of this study to analyse published data on the sensitivity of different types of samples for the detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in individual animals and groups of animals in livestock species in the absence of a gold standard

Erfolgsfaktoren für regionale Vermarktungsprojekte im Ökologischen Landbau

Unter den vielen, in den letzten Jahren entstandenen regionalen Vermarktungskooperationen zwischen LandwirtInnenen bzw. zwischen LandwirtInnen sowie Verarbeitungs- und Vermarktungseinrichtungen sind einige sehr erfolgreiche Initiativen zu finden. In diesen Fällen ist von Interesse, welche Faktoren und Bedingungen es ermöglichen, dass ein derartiges Projekt „gelingt“ und über längere Zeitdauer bestehen bleibt

Antimicrobial coatings for implant surfaces

Body-foreign materials are used more and more frequently in our lives: joint implants (hips, knees, fingers, etc.), catheters, pacemakers, dental and aesthetic implants, etc. The increasing numbers of patients requiring such implants also raises the absolute numbers of implant-related infections. Thus, it is known that body-foreign materials are prone to bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation, either via bacterial debris on implant materials, infections during implantation or, later on, via haematogenous seeding. Biofilms, once formed, are impossible to treat with antibiotics, and the immune system response leads to implant loosening, requiring total replacement. The strategy is thus to prevent bacterial adhesion to implant materials' surfaces. Different strategies have been tested in this context and will be presented here, together with our own approach, using a combination of different anti-microbial compounds

Erfolgsfaktoren für regionale Vermarktungsprojekte im Ökologischen Landbau

Unter den vielen, in den letzten Jahren entstandenen regionalen Vermarktungskooperationen zwischen LandwirtInnen bzw. zwischen LandwirtInnen sowie Verarbeitungs- und Vermarktungseinrichtungen sind einige sehr erfolgreiche Initiativen zu finden. Welche Faktoren und Bedingungen es ermöglichen, dass ein derartiges Projekt „gelingt“ und über längere Zeitdauer bestehen bleibt, wurde im Rahmen eines Workshops in Kooperation der Institute für Ökologischen Landbau und Agrarökonomik mit StudentInnen sowie vier ExpertInnen aus der Praxis erarbeitet

Directional emission of light from a nano-optical Yagi-Uda antenna

The plasmon resonance of metal nanoparticles can enhance and direct light from optical emitters in much the same way that radio frequency (RF) antennas enhance and direct the emission from electrical circuits. In the RF regime, a typical antenna design for high directivity is the Yagi-Uda antenna, which basically consists of a one-dimensional array of antenna elements driven by a single feed element. Here, we present the experimental demonstration of directional light emission from a nano-optical Yagi-Uda antenna composed of an array of appropriately tuned gold nanorods. Our results indicate that nano-optical antenna arrays are a simple but efficient tool for the spatial control of light emission.Comment: 4 pages, including 4 figure