Konventionalisierungsfalle? was tun?

Der Öko-Landbau schrieb in den letzten Jahren Erfolgsgeschichte: Der Biosektor und seine Akteure scheinen in ihren Strukturen, Funktions- und Handlungsweisen der konventionellen Landwirtschaft immer ähnlicher zu werden. Während die einen Werte- und Sinnverlust beklagen, begrüßen die anderen Wachstum und öffentliche Anerkennung. Maßnahmen zur Überwindung dieses Spannungsfeldes wurden im März 2005 auf der Wissenschaftstagung zum Ökologischen Landbau im Rahmen eines Symposiums erörtert

Probing the time dependence of dark energy

A new method to investigate a possible time-dependence of the dark energy equation of state $w$ is proposed. We apply this methodology to two of the most recent data sets of type Ia supernova (Union2 and SDSS) and the baryon acoustic oscillation peak at $z = 0.35$. For some combinations of these data, we show that there is a clear departure from the standard $\Lambda$CDM model at intermediary redshifts, although a non-evolving dark energy component ($dw/dz = 0$) cannot be ruled out by these data. The approach developed here may be useful to probe a possible evolving dark energy component when applied to upcoming observational data.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, LaTe

Dysfunctional attitudes scale perfectionism: a predictor and partial mediator of acute treatment outcome among clinically depressed adolescents.

The effect of perfectionism on acute treatment outcomes was explored in a randomized controlled trial of 439 clinically depressed adolescents (12-17 years of age) enrolled in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) who received cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), fluoxetine, a combination of CBT and FLX, or pill placebo. Measures included the Children\u27s Depression Rating Scale-Revised, the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Grades 7-9, and the perfectionism subscale from the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). Predictor results indicate that adolescents with higher versus lower DAS perfectionism scores at baseline, regardless of treatment, continued to demonstrate elevated depression scores across the acute treatment period. In the case of suicidality, DAS perfectionism impeded improvement. Treatment outcomes were partially mediated by the change in DAS perfectionism across the 12-week period

The Holographic Model of Dark Energy and Thermodynamics of Non-Flat Accelerated Expanding Universe

Motivated by recent results on non-vanishing spatial curvature \cite{curve} we employ the holographic model of dark energy to investigate the validity of first and second laws of thermodynamics in non-flat (closed) universe enclosed by apparent horizon $R_A$ and the event horizon measured from the sphere of horizon named $L$. We show that for the apparent horizon the first law is roughly respected for different epochs while the second laws of thermodynamics is respected while for $L$ as the system's IR cut-off first law is broken down and second law is respected for special range of deceleration parameter. It is also shown that at late-time universe $L$ is equal to $R_A$ and the thermodynamic laws are hold, when the universe has non-vanishing curvature. Defining the fluid temperature to be proportional to horizon temperature the range for coefficient of proportionality is obtained provided that the generalized second law of thermodynamics is hold.Comment: 12 pages, no figure, abstract and text extended, references added, accepted for publication in JCA

A pilot study of atomoxetine in young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of atomoxetine during acute treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 5 and 6 year olds. METHOD: Twenty two children (male n = 19, 86%) with ADHD were treated with atomoxetine for 8 weeks in a three-site, open-label pilot study. Dosing was flexible, with titration to a maximum of 1.8 mg/kg per day. Parent education on behavior management was provided as part of each pharmacotherapy visit. RESULTS: Subjects demonstrated a mean decrease of 20.68 points (SD = 12.80, p \u3c 0.001)) on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-IV-RS) total score, 10.18 (SD = 7.48, p \u3c 0.001) on the inattentive subscale and 10.50 (SD = 7.04, p \u3c 0.001) on the hyperactive/impulsive subscale. Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) was improved in 82% of the children (95% CI, 66-98%) and Children\u27s Global Assessment (CGAS) scores improved 18.91 points on average (SD = 12.20, p \u3c 0.001). The mean final dose of atomoxetine was 1.25 mg/kg per day (SD = 0.35 mg/kg per day). Mood lability was the most commonly reported adverse event (n = 12, 54.5%). Eleven subjects (50%) reported decreased appetite and a mean weight loss of 1.04 kg (SD = 0.80 kg) (p \u3c 0.001) was observed for the group. Vital sign changes were mild and not clinically significant. There were no discontinuations due to adverse events or lack of efficacy. CONCLUSION: Atomoxetine was generally effective for reducing core ADHD symptoms in the 5 and 6 year olds in this open-label study

Interacting holographic dark energy model and generalized second law of thermodynamics in non-flat universe

In the present paper we consider the interacting holographic model of dark energy to investigate the validity of the generalized second laws of thermodynamics in non-flat (closed) universe enclosed by the event horizon measured from the sphere of the horizon named $L$. We show that for $L$ as the system's IR cut-off the generalized second law is respected for the special range of the deceleration parameter.Comment: 11 pages, no figure

Combinatorial inkjet printing for compositional tuning of metal halide perovskite thin films

To accelerate the materials discovery and development process for a sustainable technology advancement it is imperative to explore and develop combined high throughput material synthesis and analysis workflows. In this work, we investigate a method of combinatorial inkjet printing to tune the composition of the inorganic cesium lead mixed halide perovskite solid solution, CsPb BrxI1 amp; 8722;x 3. The compositional variation is achieved by simultaneous printing of different precursor inks with multiple printheads and controlled by varying the number of droplets printed by each printhead throughout the sample. The droplet placement is optimised through an algorithm that allows maximum mixing of the combined inks. The local compositional homogeneity of thin film samples was investigated as a function of the printing resolution by micrometer resolution X ray fluorescence and synchrotron based grazing incidence wide angle X ray scattering. We show that a combinatorial library of ten compositions between CsPbI3 and CsPbBr2I, printed using the developed algorithm, is locally homogeneous for the optimised printing parameters. An implementation of the algorithm in the high level programming language Python is provided for easy use in other system

Weak lensing, dark matter and dark energy

Weak gravitational lensing is rapidly becoming one of the principal probes of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. In this brief review we outline how weak lensing helps determine the structure of dark matter halos, measure the expansion rate of the universe, and distinguish between modified gravity and dark energy explanations for the acceleration of the universe. We also discuss requirements on the control of systematic errors so that the systematics do not appreciably degrade the power of weak lensing as a cosmological probe.Comment: Invited review article for the GRG special issue on gravitational lensing (P. Jetzer, Y. Mellier and V. Perlick Eds.). V3: subsection on three-point function and some references added. Matches the published versio

Observational Bounds on Cosmic Doomsday

Recently it was found, in a broad class of models, that the dark energy density may change its sign during the evolution of the universe. This may lead to a global collapse of the universe within the time t_c ~ 10^{10}-10^{11} years. Our goal is to find what bounds on the future lifetime of the universe can be placed by the next generation of cosmological observations. As an example, we investigate the simplest model of dark energy with a linear potential V(\phi) =V_0(1+\alpha\phi). This model can describe the present stage of acceleration of the universe if \alpha is small enough. However, eventually the field \phi rolls down, V(\phi) becomes negative, and the universe collapses. The existing observational data indicate that the universe described by this model will collapse not earlier than t_c > 10 billion years from the present moment. We show that the data from SNAP and Planck satellites may extend the bound on the "doomsday" time to t_c > 40 billion years at the 95% confidence level.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, revtex