Untersuchung der Periodic Limb Movement Disorder mittels Transkranieller Magnetstimulation

Um Einblick in die pathophysiologischen Mechanismen der Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) zu erhalten, untersuchten wir 9 schwer betroffene PLMD Patienten mittels Transkranieller Magnetstimultion (TMS). In die Studie wurde ebenfalls eine Kontrollgruppe von 9 gesunden Probanden eingebracht (nach Geschlecht und Alter gematcht). Unser Arbeitshypothese war die Untersuchung zentral inhibitorischer Systeme als Ursache der PLMD. Die Messung gliederte sich in zwei Teile, die Elektrostimulation und die TMS jeweils am linken M. tibialis anterior (TA) und am linken M. abductor minimi (ADM) morgens und abends. In der Patientengruppe erfolgte eine weitere Messung nach Standardtherapie mit zwei Tabletten Madopar 125 T. Hauptzielparameter war dabei die Silent Period (SP) gemessen am TA abends, sekundäre Zielparameter die SP am TA morgens sowie die SP am ADM morgens und abends. Des Weiteren die Exzitatorische Schwelle (ES), die Inhibitorische Schwelle (IS) und die Zentrale Leitungszeit (ZL) am TA und ADM morgens und abends. Zusammenfassend konnten keine statistisch signifikanten Veränderungen der SP der PLMD-Patienten festgestellt werden. Dies lässt die Vermutung zu, dass zentral inhibitorische Mechanismen nicht der ursächliche pathophysiologische Mechanismus der PLMD dar stellen

SS Ari: a shallow-contact close binary system

Two CCD epochs of light minimum and a complete R light curve of SS Ari are presented. The light curve obtained in 2007 was analyzed with the 2003 version of the W-D code. It is shown that SS Ari is a shallow contact binary system with a mass ratio $q=3.25$ and a degree of contact factor f=9.4(\pm0.8%). A period investigation based on all available data shows that there may exist two distinct solutions about the assumed third body. One, assuming eccentric orbit of the third body and constant orbital period of the eclipsing pair results in a massive third body with $M_3=1.73M_{\odot}$ and P_3=87.0$yr. On the contrary, assuming continuous period changes of the eclipsing pair the orbital period of tertiary is 37.75yr and its mass is about$0.278M_{\odot}$. Both of the cases suggest the presence of an unseen third component in the system.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures and 5 table

Heavy ion collisions: Correlations and Fluctuations in particle production

Correlations and fluctuations (the latter are directly related to the 2-particle correlations) is one of the important directions in analysis of heavy ion collisions. At the current stage of RHIC exploration, when the details matter, basically any physics question is addressed with help of correlation techniques. In this talk I start with a general introduction to the correlation and fluctuation formalism and discuss weak and strong sides of different type of observables. In more detail, I discuss the two-particle $p_t$ correlations/\mpt fluctuations. In spite of not observing any dramatic changes in the event-by-event fluctuations with energy, which would indicate a possible phase transition, such correlations measurements remain an interesting and important subject, bringing valuable information. Lastly, I show how radial flow can generate characteristic azimuthal, transverse momentum and rapidity correlations, which could qualitatively explain many of recently observed phenomena in nuclear collisions.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures. Invited talk at 5th International Conference on Physics and Astrophysics of Quark Gluon Plasma, February 8-12, 2005, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, Indi

Traces of Thermalization from Transverse Momentum Fluctuations in Nuclear Collisions

Scattering of particles produced in Au+Au collisions at RHIC can wrestle the system into a state near local thermal equilibrium. I illustrate how measurements of the centrality dependence of the mean transverse momentum and its fluctuations can exhibit this thermalization.Comment: 4 pages, 2 eps figures, final version to appear in PR

PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF PHYCOBILIPROTEINS

Native PEC from the cyanobacterium, Mastigocladus laminosus, and its isolated α-subunit show photoreversibly photochromic reactions with difference-maxima around 502 and 570 nm in the spectral region of the α-84 phycoviolobilin chromophore. (b) Native PEC and its β-subunit show little if any reversible photochemistry in the 600–620 nm region, where the phycocyanobilin chromophores on the β-subunit absorb maximally, (c) Reversible photochemistry is retained in ureadenatured PEC at pH = 7.0 or pH ≤ 3. The difference maxima are shifted to 510 and 600 nm, and the amplitudes are decreased. An irreversible absorbance increase occurs around 670 nm (pH ≤ 3). (d) The amplitude of the reversible photoreaction difference spectrum is maximum in the presence of 4–5 M urea or 1 M KSCN, conditions known to dissociate phycobiliprotein aggregates into monomers. At the same time, the phycocyanobilin chromophore(s) are bleached irreversibly, (e) The amplitude becomes very small in high aggregates, e.g. in phycobilisomes. (f) In a reciprocal manner, the phototransformation of native PEC leads to a reversible shift of its aggregation equilibrium between trimer and monomer. The latter is favored by orange, the former by green light, (g) It is concluded that the phycoviolobilin chromophore of PEC is responsible for reversible photochemistry in PEC, and that there is not only an influence of aggregation state on photochemistry, but also vice versa an effect of the status of the chromophore on aggregation state. This could constitute a primary signal in the putative function as sensory pigment, either directly, or indirectly via the release of other polypeptides, via photodynamic effects, or the like

Low‐Temperature Heat Capacities and Thermodynamic Functions of Some Palladium and Platinum Group Chalcogenides. II. Dichalcogenides; PtS2, PtTe2, and PdTe2

Heat capacities of platinum disulfide, platinum ditelluride, and palladium ditelluride were measured in the range 5° to 350°K. They show the normal sigmoidal temperature dependence with no evidence of transitions or other anomalies. The derived heat capacity equations were integrated. Values of Cp, S°—S0°, H°—H0°, and —(F°—H0°)/T are tabulated for selected temperatures. At 298.15°K the entropies are 17.85 cal gfw—1 °K—1 for PtS2, 28.92 cal gfw—1 °K—1 for PtTe2 and 30.25 cal gfw—1 °K—1 for PdTe2. Thermodynamic values have been estimated for other dichalcogenides and related chalcogenides of the platinum group metals.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69847/2/JCPSA6-35-5-1670-1.pd

Distribution and consequences of VKORC1 polymorphisms in Germany

Runge, M., Von Keyserlingk, M., Braune, S., Freise, J., Eiler, T., Plenge-Bönig, A., Becker, D., Pelz, H.-J., Esther, A., Rost, S., Müller, C.R

Implementation of groundwater protection measures, particularly resource directed measures in South Africa: a review paper

This review paper on groundwater protection measures in South Africa focuses on the actual implementation of groundwater protection measures, in particular, the resource-directed measures (RDM) as described in Chapter 3 of the National Water Act (NWA). Significant catchment-wide implementation of RDM has taken place in a phased manner throughout various catchments since 2012. By 2015, approximately R380 million had been expended on the catchment-wide implementation of the water resource protection measures over a period of 15 years. Considerable effort went into refining the RDM methodology, taking into account the groundwater component of the overall resource. In this paper, we contend that RDM, in its present form, will not make a significant contribution to groundwater resource protection and security in the country. This is a major concern because the Groundwater Strategy of the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation (DHSWS) had declared the protection of groundwater as a national priority. This paper also examines institutional and governance arrangements (or lack thereof) as well as providing recommendations to support the effective implementation of groundwater protection provisions as prescribed by South Africa’s water legislation