Unusual weak magnetic exchange in two different structure types: YbPt2_2Sn and YbPt2_2In

We present the structural, magnetic, thermodynamic, and transport properties of the two new compounds YbPt$_2$Sn and YbPt$_2$In. X-ray powder diffraction shows that they crystallize in different structure types, the hexagonal ZrPt$_2$Al and the cubic Heusler type, respectively. Despite quite different lattice types, both compounds present very similar magnetic properties: a stable trivalent Yb$^{3+}$, no evidence for a sizeable Kondo interaction, and very weak exchange interactions with a strength below 1K as deduced from specific heat $C(T)$. Broad anomalies in $C(T)$ suggest short range magnetic ordering at about 250mK and 180mK for YbPt$_2$Sn and YbPt$_2$In, respectively. The weak exchange and the low ordering temperature result in a large magnetocaloric effect as deduced from the magnetic field dependence of $C(T)$, making these compounds interesting candidates for magnetic cooling. In addition we found in YbPt$_2$In evidences for a charge density wave transition at about 290K. The occurrence of such transitions within several RET$_2$X compound series (RE = rare earth, T = noble metal, X = In, Sn) is analyzed.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

Ribotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Isolated from Surgical Intensive Care Patients

To elucidate the sources of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on a surgical intensive care unit, rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (ribotyping) was applied to analyze strains isolated during a 4-month prospective study. Samples included 1635 from 153 patients, 2463 from 97 staff members, and 581 from the environment. Only 18 patients were colonized. Isolation from their animate and inanimate environment was very low, with 3 and 2 samples, respectively, being positive. Samples from tap water were negative. Ribotyping could easily distinguish 16 different digest patterns with identical follow-up isolates of the same patient. Horizontal transmission occurred only twice. The discriminatory power of ribosomal DNA in differentiating strains was dependent on the restriction enzymes used; among eight different enzymes, PvuII was the most sensitive, producing 15 different patterns. Ribotyping showed high sensitivity in typing P. aeruginosa isolates and confirmed that colonization occurs from endogenous rather than from exogenous source

Overdamped sine-Gordon kink in a thermal bath

We study the sine-Gordon kink diffusion at finite temperature in the overdamped limit. By means of a general perturbative approach, we calculate the first- and second-order (in temperature) contributions to the diffusion coefficient. We compare our analytical predictions with numerical simulations. The good agreement allows us to conclude that, up to temperatures where kink-antikink nucleation processes cannot be neglected, a diffusion constant linear and quadratic in temperature gives a very accurate description of the diffusive motion of the kink. The quadratic temperature dependence is shown to stem from the interaction with the phonons. In addition, we calculate and compute the average value $$ of the wave function as a function of time and show that its width grows with $\sqrt{t}$. We discuss the interpretation of this finding and show that it arises from the dispersion of the kink center positions of individual realizations which all keep their width.Comment: REVTeX, 12 pages, 10 figures, to appear in Phys Rev

Random Field and Random Anisotropy Effects in Defect-Free Three-Dimensional XY Models

Monte Carlo simulations have been used to study a vortex-free XY ferromagnet with a random field or a random anisotropy on simple cubic lattices. In the random field case, which can be related to a charge-density wave pinned by random point defects, it is found that long-range order is destroyed even for weak randomness. In the random anisotropy case, which can be related to a randomly pinned spin-density wave, the long-range order is not destroyed and the correlation length is finite. In both cases there are many local minima of the free energy separated by high entropy barriers. Our results for the random field case are consistent with the existence of a Bragg glass phase of the type discussed by Emig, Bogner and Nattermann.Comment: 10 pages, including 2 figures, extensively revise

Synthesis of macrocyclic receptors with intrinsic fluorescence featuring quinizarin moieties

An unprecedented class of macrocycles with intrinsic fluorescence consisting of phenolic trimers and quinizarin is developed. Though they are lacking strong hydrogen bonds as observed in calixarenes, the two examples introduced here each adopt a vase-like conformation with all four aromatic units pointing in one direction (syn orientation). This “cone” conformation has been confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, molecular modeling, and X-ray crystallography. The laminar, electron-rich fluorophore as part of the macrocycle allows additional contacts to enclosed guest molecules

Space Division Multiplexing in Optical Fibres

Optical communications technology has made enormous and steady progress for several decades, providing the key resource in our increasingly information-driven society and economy. Much of this progress has been in finding innovative ways to increase the data carrying capacity of a single optical fibre. In this search, researchers have explored (and close to maximally exploited) every available degree of freedom, and even commercial systems now utilize multiplexing in time, wavelength, polarization, and phase to speed more information through the fibre infrastructure. Conspicuously, one potentially enormous source of improvement has however been left untapped in these systems: fibres can easily support hundreds of spatial modes, but today's commercial systems (single-mode or multi-mode) make no attempt to use these as parallel channels for independent signals.Comment: to appear in Nature Photonic

Synopsis of the pelidnotine scarabs (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Rutelini) and annotated catalog of the species and subspecies

The pelidnotine scarabs (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Rutelini) are a speciose, paraphyletic assemblage of beetles that includes spectacular metallic species (“jewel scarabs”) as well as species that are ecologically important as herbivores, pollinators, and bioindicators. These beetles suffer from a complicated nomenclatural history, due primarily to 20th century taxonomic and nomenclatural errors. We review the taxonomic history of the pelidnotine scarabs, present a provisional key to genera with overviews of all genera, and synthesize a catalog of all taxa with synonyms, distributional data, type specimen information, and 107 images of exemplar species. As a result of our research, the pelidnotine leaf chafers (a paraphyletic group) include 27 (26 extant and 1 extinct) genera and 420 valid species and subspecies (419 extant and 1 extinct). Our research makes biodiversity research on this group tractable and accessible, thus setting the stage for future studies that address evolutionary and ecological trends. Based on our research, 1 new species is described, 1 new generic synonym and 12 new species synonyms are proposed, 11 new lectotypes and 1 new neotype are designated, many new or revised nomenclatural combinations, and many unavailable names are presented. The following taxonomic changes are made: New generic synonym: The genus Heteropelidnota Ohaus, 1912 is a new junior synonym of Pelidnota MacLeay, 1819. New species synonyms: Plusiotis adelaida pavonacea Casey, 1915 is a syn. n. of Chrysina adelaida (Hope, 1841); Odontognathus gounellei Ohaus, 1908 is a revised synonym of Pelidnota ebenina (Blanchard, 1842); Pelidnota francoisgenieri Moore & Jameson, 2013 is a syn. n. of Pelidnota punctata (Linnaeus, 1758); Pelidnota genieri Soula, 2009 is a syn. n. of Pelidnota punctata (Linnaeus, 1758); Pelidnota lutea (Olivier, 1758) is a revised synonym of Pelidnota punctata (Linnaeus, 1758); Pelidnota (Pelidnota) texensis Casey, 1915 is a revised synonym of Pelidnota punctata (Linnaeus, 1758); Pelidnota (Strigidia) zikani (Ohaus, 1922) is a revised synonym of Pelidnota tibialis tibialis Burmeister, 1844; Pelidnota ludovici Ohaus, 1905 is a syn. n. of Pelidnota burmeisteri tricolor Nonfried, 1894; Rutela fulvipennis Germar, 1824 is syn. n. of Pelidnota cuprea (Germar, 1824); Pelidnota pulchella blanda Burmeister, 1844 is a syn. n. of Pelidnota pulchella pulchella (Kirby, 1819); Pelidnota pulchella scapularis Burmeister, 1844 is a syn. n. of Pelidnota pulchella pulchella (Kirby, 1819); Pelidnota xanthogramma Perty, 1830 is a syn. n. of Pelidnota pulchella pulchella (Kirby, 1819). New or revised statuses: Pelidnota fabricelavalettei Soula, 2009, revised status, is considered a species; Pelidnota rioensis Soula, 2009, stat. n., is considered a species; Pelidnota semiaurata semiaurata Burmeister, 1844, stat. rev., is considered a subspecies. New or comb. rev. and revised status: Plusiotis guaymi Curoe, 2001 is formally transferred to the genus Chrysina (C. guaymi (Curoe, 2001), comb. n.); Plusiotis transvolcanica Morón & Nogueira, 2016 is transferred to the genus Chrysina (C. transvolcanica (Morón & Nogueira, 2016), comb. n.). Heteropelidnota kuhnti Ohaus, 1912 is transferred to the genus Pelidnota (P. kuhnti (Ohaus, 1912), comb. n.); Odontognathus riedeli Ohaus, 1905 is considered a subspecies of Pelidnota rubripennis Burmeister, 1844 (Pelidnota rubripennis riedeli (Ohaus, 1905), revised status and comb. rev.); Pelidnota (Strigidia) acutipennis (F. Bates, 1904) is transferred to the genus Sorocha (Sorocha acutipennis (F. Bates, 1904), comb. rev.); Pelidnota (Odontognathus) nadiae Martínez, 1978 is transferred to the genus Sorocha (Sorocha nadiae (Martínez, 1978), comb. rev.); Pelidnota (Ganonota) plicipennis Ohaus, 1934 is transferred to the genus Sorocha (Sorocha plicipennis (Ohaus, 1934), comb. rev.); Pelidnota similis Ohaus, 1908 is transferred to the genus Sorocha (Sorocha similis (Ohaus, 1908), comb. rev.); Pelidnota (Ganonota) yungana Ohaus, 1934 is transferred to Sorocha (Sorocha yungana (Ohaus, 1934), comb. rev.); Pelidnota malyi Soula, 2010: 58, revised status; Xenopelidnota anomala porioni Chalumeau, 1985, revised subspecies status. To stabilize the classification of the group, a neotype is designated for the following species: Pelidnota thiliezi Soula, 2009. Lectotypes are designated for the following names (given in their original combinations): Pelidnota brevicollis Casey, 1915, Pelidnota brevis Casey, 1915, Pelidnota debiliceps Casey, 1915, Pelidnota hudsonica Casey, 1915, Pelidnota oblonga Casey, 1915, Pelidnota pallidipes Casey, 1915, Pelidnota ponderella Casey, 1915, Pelidnota strenua Casey, 1915, Pelidnota tarsalis Casey, 1915, Pelidnota texensis Casey, 1915, and Scarabaeus punctatus Linnaeus, 1758. The following published infrasubspecific names are unavailable per ICZN Article 45.6.1: Pelidnota (Odontognathus) cuprea var. coerulea Ohaus, 1913; Pelidnota (Odontognathus) cuprea var. rufoviolacea Ohaus, 1913; Pelidnota (Odontognathus) cuprea var. nigrocoerulea Ohaus, 1913; Pelidnota pulchella var. fulvopunctata Ohaus, 1913; Pelidnota pulchella var. sellata Ohaus, 1913; Pelidnota pulchella var. reducta Ohaus, 1913; Pelidnota unicolor var. infuscata Ohaus, 1913. The following published species name is unavailable per ICZN Article 11.5: Neopatatra synonyma Moore & Jameson, 2013. The following published species name is unavailable per application of ICZN Article 16.1: Parhoplognathus rubripennis Soula, 2008. Synopsis of the pelidnotine scarabs (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Rutelini) 3 The following published species name is unavailable per application of ICZN Article 16.4.1: Strigidia testaceovirens argentinica Soula, 2006, Pelidnota (Strigidia) testaceovirens argentinica (Soula, 2006), and Pelidnota testaceovirens argentinica (Soula, 2006). The following published species names are unavailable per application of ICZN Article 16.4.2: Homonyx digennaroi Soula, 2010; Homonyx lecourti Soula, 2010; Homonyx mulliei Soula, 2010; Homonyx simoensi Soula, 2010; Homonyx wagneri Soula, 2010; Homonyx zovii Demez & Soula, 2011; Pelidnota arnaudi Soula, 2009; Pelidnota brusteli Soula, 2010; Pelidnota chalcothorax septentrionalis Soula, 2009; Pelidnota degallieri Soula, 2010; Pelidnota lavalettei Soula, 2008; Pelidnota lavalettei Soula, 2009; Pelidnota dieteri Soula, 2011; Strigidia gracilis decaensi Soula, 2008, Pelidnota (Strigidia) gracilis decaensi (Soula, 2008), and Pelidnota gracilis decaensi (Soula, 2008); Pelidnota halleri Demez & Soula, 2011; Pelidnota injantepalominoi Demez & Soula, 2011; Pelidnota kucerai Soula, 2009; Pelidnota malyi Soula, 2010: 36-37; Pelidnota mezai Soula, 2009; Pelidnota polita darienensis Soula, 2009; Pelidnota polita orozcoi Soula, 2009; Pelidnota polita pittieri Soula, 2009; Pelidnota punctulata decolombia Soula, 2009; Pelidnota punctulata venezolana Soula, 2009; Pelidnota raingeardi Soula, 2009; Pelidnota schneideri Soula, 2010; Pelidnota simoensi Soula, 2009; Pelidnota unicolor subandina Soula, 2009; Sorocha carloti Demez & Soula, 2011; Sorocha castroi Soula, 2008; Sorocha fravali Soula, 2011; Sorocha jeanmaurettei Demez & Soula, 2011; Sorocha yelamosi Soula, 2011; Xenopelidnota bolivari Soula, 2009; Xenopelidnota pittieri pittieri Soula, 2009. Due to unavailability of the name Pseudogeniates cordobaensis Soula 2009, we describe the species as intentionally new (Pseudogeniates cordobaensis Moore, Jameson, Garner, Audibert, Smith, and Seidel, sp. n.)

The Sexual Conduct of Women in the Federal Republic of Germany

The sexual conduct of women. Judgement on the social situation of women. Topics: 1. On the social situation (oral survey): preferred size of place of residence; psychological self-characterization; self-assessment of condition of health; use of medication; weight and height; smoking habits; drinking habits; attitude to political and social questions; leisure time budget and leisure behavior; employment of women (scale); characterization of child-raising style by parents; dominating parent in child-raising; most important socialization authority in parental home or foster home; father or mother as reference person; dominating parent in one´s family; television habits; attitude to fashion; length of marriage; judgement on the marriage in the course of time; judgement on one´s own marriage and number of marriages; importance of areas of life; size of circle of friends; satisfaction with size of circle of friends. 2. Sexual conduct (written survey): satisfaction with role as woman; most significant experiences in one´s memory; position in sibling sequence; conversation partner for sexual questions during developing years; judgement on one´s own sex education; openness of conversation in parental home; observing the sex life of parents; sex education authorities and age at the time; number, age and sex of one´s own extra-marital or pre-marital children; type of contraception practised currently; age at sexual maturity; irregularities in menstruation; number, age, status and time of getting to know first steady partner(s) with whom respondent had sexual intercourse; time interval between meeting and first sexual intercourse; significance of sexuality for respondent; personal age and age of partner at first sexual intercourse; age of second intimate partner; total number of intimate partners; length of first intimate relation; marriage with first intimate partner; characterization of first intimate partner; actual and desired frequency of sexual intercourse; situations that stimulate intimacy; initiator of intimacy; stimulating situations; type and extent of sexual practices; length of intimacy; secret sexual desires; experiencing orgasm; masturbation; petting; frequency of reading selected magazines; favorite name. Demography: age (classified); marital status; number of children; ages of children (classified); age and number of siblings; position in sibling sequence; religious denomination; religiousness; school education; occupational training; occupation; occupational position; employment; income; household income; household size; respondent is head of household; characteristics of head of household; local residency; city size; degree of urbanization; state; regional origins. Interviewer rating: day of interview.Das Sexualverhalten der Frau. Beurteilung der gesellschaftlichen Situation der Frau. Themen: 1.) Zur gesellschaftlichen Situation (mündliche Befragung): präferierte Wohnortgröße; psychologische Selbstcharakterisierung; Selbsteinschätzung des Gesundheitszustands; Medikamentenkonsum; Körpergewicht und Körpergröße; Rauchgewohnheiten; Trinkgewohnheiten; Einstellung zu politischen und gesellschaftlichen Fragen; Freizeitbudget und Freizeitverhalten; Berufstätigkeit von Frauen (Skala); Charakterisierung des Erziehungsstils durch die Eltern; dominierender Elternteil bei der Erziehung; wichtigste Sozialisationsinstanz im Elternhaus oder Heim; Vater oder Mutter als Bezugsperson; dominierender Elternteil in der Familie; Fernsehgewohnheiten; Einstellung zur Mode; Ehedauer; Beurteilung der Ehe im Zeitverlauf; Beurteilung der eigenen Ehe und Eheanzahl; Wichtigkeit der Lebensbereiche; Größe des Freundeskreises; Zufriedenheit mit der Größe des Bekanntenkreises. 2.) Sexualverhalten (schriftliche Befragung): Zufriedenheit mit der Rolle als Frau; bedeutendste Erlebnisse in der eigenen Erinnerung; Stellung in der Geschwisterreihe; Gesprächspartner für sexuelle Fragen während der Entwicklungsjahre; Beurteilung der eigenen Sexualerziehung; Gesprächsoffenheit im Elternhaus; Beobachtung des Sexuallebens der Eltern; sexuelle Aufklärungsinstanzen und damaliges Alter; Anzahl, Alter und Geschlecht der eigenen außerehelichen bzw. vorehelichen Kinder; Art der zur Zeit praktizierten Empfängnisverhütung; Alter bei Geschlechtsreife; Unregelmäßigkeiten bei der Menstruation; Anzahl, Alter, Status und Zeitpunkt des Kennenlernens des oder der ersten festen Partner(s), mit denen die Befragte Geschlechtsverkehr hat; Zeitraum zwischen Kennenlernen und erstem Geschlechtsverkehr; Bedeutung der Sexualität für die Befragte; eigenes Alter und Alter des Partners beim ersten Geschlechtsverkehr; Alter des zweiten Intimpartners; Gesamtzahl der Intimpartner; Dauer der ersten intimen Beziehung; Heirat des ersten Intimpartners; Charakterisierung des ersten Intimpartners; tatsächliche und gewünschte Häufigkeit von Geschlechtsverkehr; Situationen, die zum Intimverkehr anregten; Initiator zum Intimverkehr; Stimulierende Situationen; Art und Umfang sexueller Praktiken; Dauer des Intimverkehrs; geheime sexuelle Wünsche; Orgasmuserleben; Selbstbefriedigung; Petting; Lesehäufigkeit ausgewählter Zeitschriften; Lieblingsname. Demographie: Alter (klassiert); Familienstand; Kinderzahl; Alter der Kinder (klassiert); Alter und Anzahl der Geschwister; Stellung in der Geschwisterreihe; Konfession; Religiosität; Schulbildung; Berufsausbildung; Beruf; Berufliche Position; Berufstätigkeit; Einkommen; Haushaltseinkommen; Haushaltsgröße; Befragter ist Haushaltsvorstand; Charakteristika des Haushaltsvorstands; Ortsansässigkeit; Ortsgröße; Urbanisierungsgrad; Bundesland; Regionale Herkunft. Interviewerrating: Interviewtag

Pharmacologic preconditioning therapy prior to atrial septal defect closure in patients at high risk for acute pulmonary edema

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess whether transient atrial septal defect (ASD) occlusion and, if required, vasodilator therapy would improve the safety of percutaneous ASD closure in high-risk subsets. BACKGROUND: While percutaneous ASD closure is generally considered a low risk intervention, hypertensive and elderly patients may develop pulmonary edema following the procedure because of underlying left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients who underwent successful percutaneous ASD closures were enrolled into a single-center prospective registry. Patients with arterial hypertension and/or >60 years of age (n = 15) were considered at risk for periprocedural pulmonary edema. Those patients were tested for an increase of LV filling pressures during transient ASD occlusion and, if this was the case, treated according to a prespecified algorithm. Clinical and echocardiography data were collected in-hospital and at 6 months follow-up. RESULTS: Shunt size was comparable in high and standard-risk patients (Qp:Qs 2.1 ± 0.8 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7, P = 0.82). High-risk patients had more often pulmonary hypertension (58% vs. 14%, P < 0.05) and were more frequently symptomatic. Among them, 4/15 (27%) demonstrated a significant rise of left-sided filling pressures during transient ASD balloon occlusion and underwent pharmacologic preconditioning prior to ASD closure. None of them developed periprocedural pulmonary edema. At follow-up, patients were less symptomatic (Pre: NYHA II n = 15, NYHA III n = 9; Post: NYHA II n = 15, NYHA III n = 0; P = 0.02) and right ventricular size decreased from 23 ± 5 cm(2) to 17 ± 5 cm(2), P < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Transient ASD occlusion and, if required, pharmacologic preconditioning prior to percutaneous closure may prevent periprocedural pulmonary edema in high-risk patients