The C*-algebras of connected real two-step nilpotent Lie groups

Using the operator valued Fourier transform, the C*-algebras of connected real two-step nilpotent Lie groups are characterized as algebras of operator fields defined over their spectra. In particular, it is shown by explicit computations, that the Fourier transform of such C*-algebras fulfills the norm controlled dual limit property.Comment: 37 pages, submitted to "Revista Matem\'atica Complutense

Key Factors for Successful Implementation of a Sustainability Strategy

What are the key factors for a successful implementation of a sustainability strategy

Identifikation von Risikogruppen für myokardinfarktbedingte Letalität und nicht-leitliniengerechte Versorgung unter Patienten mit Nicht-ST-Streckenhebungs-Myokardinfarkt (NSTEMI) oder ST-Streckenhebungs-Myokardinfarkt (STEMI) in Bremen

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of death in Germany and other Western industrialized countries. In this study data of the Herz ART Bremen (Heart: AMI and regional TQM in Bremen) Study will be presented. The objective of this study was to identify risk groups among patients with NSTEMI or STEMI for mortality or suboptimal care. In addition, we wanted to identify approaches to optimise medical care of AMI patients. The quality of healthcare for patients with AMI in the city of Bremen was measured for all institutions who were involved in medical care (ambulance, hospitals, cardiac catheter laboratory) by means of standardized record sheets in a 6-month sample period in 2005. We used the Bremen Mortality Index (BreMI) to determine the 1-year mortality. In order to evaluate the treatment of AMI patients we followed the guidelines of the German Cardiac Society

Authenticity and provenance studies of copper-bearing andesines using Cu isotope ratios and element analysis by fs-LA-MC-ICPMS and ns-LA-ICPMS

Whereas colored andesine/labradorite had been thought unique to the North American continent, red andesine supposedly coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), Mongolia, and Tibet has been on the market for the last 10years. After red Mongolian andesine was proven to be Cu-diffused by heat treatment from colorless andesine starting material, efforts were taken to distinguish minerals sold as Tibetan and Mongolian andesine. Using nanosecond laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), the main and trace element composition of andesines from different origins was determined. Mexican, Oregon, and Asian samples were clearly distinguishable by their main element content (CaO, SiO2 Na2O, and K2O), whereas the composition of Mongolian, Tibetan, and DR Congo material was within the same range. Since the Li concentration was shown to be correlated with the Cu concentration, the formerly proposed differentiation by the Ba/Sr vs. Ba/Li ratio does not distinguish between samples from Tibet and Mongolia, but only between red and colorless material. Using femtosecond laser ablation multi-collector ICPMS in high-resolution mode, laboratory diffused samples showed variations up to 3‰ for 65Cu/63Cu within one mineral due to the diffusion process. Ar isotope ratio measurements proved that heat treatment will reduce the amount of radiogenic 40Ar in the samples significantly. Only low levels of radiogenic Ar were found in samples collected on-site in both mine locations in Tibet. Together with a high intra-sample variability of the Cu isotope ratio, andesine samples labeled as coming from Tibet are most probably Cu-diffused, using initially colorless Mongolian andesines as starting material. Therefore, at the moment, the only reliable source of colored andesine/labradorite remains the state of Oregon. Figure Cu diffusion can be used to turn a plain, colorless andesine into a red gemstone. Cu and Ar isotope ratios in combination with main and trace elemental analysis can appoint andesine to thrie origin in Oregon, Mexico and Asia. In this study, red andesines sold as coming from Tibet and Mongolia are revealed to be most probably Cu-diffusion treate

Histologische und molekulare Befunde bei 120 Patienten mit MALT-Lymphom des Magens nach Eradikation von Helicobacter pylori

In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Multicenterstudie vorgestellt. Es wurden 120 Patienten mit MALT-Lymphom des Magens im Stadium EI1 und dem Nachweis einer Infektion mit Helicobacter pylori eingeschlossen und nach einer HP-Eradikation im Median über einen Zeitraum von 85 Monaten nachbeobachtet. Es erfolgte eine Auswertung der Zusammenhänge zwischen histologischen, molekularen und klinischen Befunden. Die Patienten waren prospektiv auf definierte histologische Befunde sowie B-Zell-Klonalität und retrospektiv auf das Vorhandensein einer Translokation t(11;18) hin untersucht worden. Ein weiterer Fokus lag in der Darstellung des Verlaufs von Patienten mit einer sogenannten histologischen Resterkrankung. Eine vollständige makroskopische und histologische Remission der jeweils auf die Magenschleimhaut begrenzten MALT-Lymphome wurde in 80% der Fälle durch eine alleinige Eradikation des Helicobacter pylori erreicht. Wiederum 80% dieser Patienten wiesen über den gesamten Beobachtungszeitraum eine andauernde histologische Remission auf. Neben drei auch endokopisch sichtbaren Rezidiven wurde bei 16 Patienten eine histologische Resterkrankung feststellt. Bei diesen Patienten wurde eine „watch and wait“-Strategie mit regelmäßigen endoskopisch-bioptischen Kontrollen verfolgt. Bemerkenswerterweise erreichten alle 16 Patienten ohne weitere Therapie eine zweite komplette Remission. Daraus leitet sich die Empfehlung ab, bei dem Auftreten einer histologischen Resterkankung eine abwartende Haltung einzunehmen. Bei der in dieser Arbeit erstmalig durchgeführten detaillierten Auswertung histologischer Befunde nach Eradikation und deren Korrelation zu molekularen Befunden ließen sich folgende Aussagen ableiten: • Nach HP-Eradikation kann der Beobachtungszeitraum bis zum Erreichen einer kompletten histologischen Remission bis zu zwei Jahren betragen. • Die histologischen Regressionkriterien einer leeren oder fibrosierten Tunica propria sind prognostisch relevant. Ihr Nachweis in mehreren aufeinanderfolgenden Biopsien weist auf eine dauerhafte Tumorregression hin. • Das Auftreten von reaktiven Lymphozytenaggregaten ohne Lymphomnachweis geht nicht mit einem erhöhten Rezidivrisiko einher. Es sollte daher in solchen Fällen von der in der Literatur häufig verwendeten Bezeichnung „wahrscheinliche minimale Resterkrankung“ abgesehen werden. • Nach kompletter histologischer Remission können noch lymphomidentische monoklonale B-Zellen nachgewiesen werden. Der fortdauernde Nachweis dieser monoklonalen Zellen ist zwar mit dem statistisch erhöhten Risiko einer histologischen Resterkrankung oder eines späteren Rezidivs assoziiert, jedoch bleiben die meisten Patienten mit zum Teil jahrelanger B-Zell-Monoklonalität in vollständiger Remission. Somit ist die klinische Relevanz monoklonaler Banden in der PCR bei fehlenden histologischen Lymphomzeichen gering. Ein molekulares Follow up kann auch nach diesen Daten, die erstmals ein erhöhtes Rezidivrisiko für Patienten mit andauernder B-Zell-Monoklonalität zeigten, nicht für die Routinediagnostik empfohlen werden. • Mit einem ungünstigeren Krankheitsverlauf war ebenfalls der Nachweis einer Translokation t(11;18)(q21;q21) assoziiert. Doch auch hier befinden sich ein Teil der Patienten in andauernder kompletter Remission, sodass ein abwartendes Verhalten ebenso gerechtfertigt scheint. • Die auch als „präkanzeröse Läsionen“ beschriebenen histologischen Veränderungen „intestinale Metaplasie“ und „Mucosaatrophie“ waren in 30% der Probeentnahmen vorhanden und bildeten sich auch nach einer HP-Eradikation nicht mehr zurück. Zusammenfassend sei das hervorragende Ansprechen und der gutartige Verlauf der MALT-Lymphomerkrankung nach HP-Eradikation hervorgehoben

The C*-algebras of certain Lie groups

In this doctoral thesis, the C*-algebras of the connected real two-step nilpotent Lie groups and the Lie group SL(2,R) are characterized. Furthermore, as a preparation for an analysis of its C*-algebra, the topology of the spectrum of the semidirect product U(n) x H_n is described, where H_n denotes the Heisenberg Lie group and U(n) the unitary group acting by automorphisms on H_n. For the determination of the group C*-algebras, the operator valued Fourier transform is used in order to map the respective C*-algebra into the algebra of all bounded operator fields over its spectrum. One has to find the conditions that are satisfied by the image of this C*-algebra under the Fourier transform and the aim is to characterize it through these conditions. In the present thesis, it is proved that both the C*-algebras of the connected real two-step nilpotent Lie groups and the C*-algebra of SL(2,R) fulfill the same conditions, namely the “norm controlled dual limit” conditions. Thereby, these C*-algebras are described in this work and the “norm controlled dual limit” conditions are explicitly computed in both cases. The methods used for the two-step nilpotent Lie groups and the group SL(2,R) are completely different from each other. For the two-step nilpotent Lie groups, one regards their coadjoint orbits and uses the Kirillov theory, while for the group SL(2,R) one can accomplish the calculations more directly

In Contrast to Dietary Restriction, Application of Resveratrol in Mice Does not Alter Mouse Major Urinary Protein Expression

Resveratrol (RSV) supplementation in mice has been discussed as partly mimicking the beneficial effects of dietary restriction (DR). However, data on putative benefits from resveratrol application in mice and other model organisms including humans is contradictory. Mouse major urinary proteins (MUPs) are a family of proteins that are expressed in rodent liver and secreted via urine. Impacting (mating) behavior and pheromone communication, they are severely down-regulated upon DR. We carried out two studies in C57BL/6Rj mice where RSV was either supplemented via diet or injected intraperitoneally for 8 weeks. Contrary to -40% DR, RSV did not decrease total MUP protein expression or Mup (amongst others Mup3, Mup5, Mup6, Mup15, and Mup20) mRNA levels in mouse liver when compared to ad-libitum (AL)-fed controls. Since inhibitory glucocorticoid response elements can be found in Mup promoters, we also measured glucocorticoid receptor (GR) levels in nuclear hepatic extracts. Consistent with differential MUP expression, we observed more nuclear GR in DR mice than in RSV-supplemented and AL control mice with no difference between RSV and AL. These findings point to the notion that, in mice, RSV does not mimic DR in terms of differential MUP expression

Analytical evidence of amorphous microdomains within nitridosilicate and nitridoaluminosilicate single crystals

Single crystals of new nitridosilicates and nitridoaluminosilicates with excellent R values in X-ray investigations were analysed quantitatively using 30 to 60μm single-spot LA-ICP-MS. Significant discrepancies between expected and measured chemical composition could not be explained by the crystallographic data. High spatial resolution analysis using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA, 10μm) leads to the discovery of inhomogeneities in the crystalline material. The application of standard single-spot LA-ICP-MS with a spatial resolution of 30 to 60μm is not suitable for the analysis of these crystals as the existing inhomogeneities dominate and alter the determined concentrations. However, owing to the better detection capabilities, a scanning LA-ICP-MS procedure enables a more representative analysis of single crystals of Ca5Si2Al2N8 than single-spot LA-ICP-MS as a result of a larger sampling volume. It is highly likely that these impurities consist of amorphous, vitreous phases as powder diffraction X-ray data indicates the existence of a significant fraction of an X-ray amorphous material besides crystalline silicates. These microdomains contain less aluminium, silicon and calcium or are nearly free of aluminium, which explains the detected discrepancies in the chemical compositio

The funding of specialised paediatric palliative care in Switzerland: a conceptualisation and modified Delphi study on obstacles and priorities

BACKGROUND: Effective funding models are key for implementing and sustaining critical care delivery programmes such as specialised paediatric palliative care (SPPC). In Switzerland, funding concerns have frequently been raised as primary barriers to providing SPPC in dedicated settings. However, systematic evidence on existing models of funding as well as primary challenges faced by stakeholders remains scarce. AIMS: The present study’s first aim was to investigate and conceptualise the funding of hospital-based consultative SPPC programmes in Switzerland. Its second aim was to identify obstacles to and priorities for funding these programmes sustainably. METHODS: A 4-step process, including a document analysis, was used to conceptualise the funding of hospital-based consultative SPPC programmes in Switzerland. In consultation with a purposefully selected panel of experts in the subject, a 3-round modified Delphi study was conducted to identify funding-relevant obstacles and priorities regarding SPPC. RESULTS: Current funding of hospital-based consultative specialised paediatric palliative care programmes is complex and fragmented, combining funding from public, private and charitable sources. Overall, 21 experts participated in the first round of the modified Delphi study, 19 in round two and 15 in round three. They identified 23 obstacles and 29 priorities. Consensus (>70%) was obtained for 12 obstacles and 22 priorities. The highest level of consensus (>90%) was achieved for three priorities: the development of financing solutions to ensure long-term funding of SPPC programmes; the provision of funding and support for integrated palliative care; and sufficient reimbursement of inpatient service costs in the context of high-deficit palliative care patients. CONCLUSION: Decision- and policy-makers hoping to further develop and expand SPPC in Switzerland should be aware that current funding models are highly complex and that SPPC funding is impeded by many obstacles. Considering the steadily rising prevalence of children with life-limiting conditions and the proven benefits of SPPC, improvements in funding models are urgently needed to ensure that the needs of this highly vulnerable population are adequately met