Lösung der stationären Neutronentransportgleichung bei Kugelsymmetrie

Das in diesem Bericht behandelte Problem trat im Institut für Reaktorentwicklung der Kernforschungsanlage Jülich GmbH im Zusamnenhang mit der Entwicklung des Kugelhaufenreaktors auf. Da es sich hier um den Kugelhaufenreaktor handelt, wird im folgenden die kugelsymmetrische Form von (1.1) (vgl. (2.1)) mit der Randbedingung (1.2) behandelt und in eine Fredholmsche Integralgleichung zweiter Art transformiert. Es werden Existenzsätze, Eindeutigkeitssätze und ein Iterationsverfahren für die Lösung angegeben. Für den Fall der Abwärtsstreuung wird auch das diskretisierte Problem diskutiert. Hierfür wurden mehrere Beispiele gerechnet

Modellgestützte Politikberatung im Naturschutz: Zur „optimalen“ Flächennutzung in der Agrarlandschaft des Biosphärenreservates „Mittlere Elbe“

Using the example of the MAB Biosphere Preserve “Mittlere Elbeâ€, this article demonstrates how an “optimal†land-use pattern – a pattern aimed at combining ecological, economic and social objectives in an adequate way – can be determined. The focus is on the definition of alternative nature conservation approaches, the scenario technique, the definition of landscape functions, the utility analysis and the adaptive conjoint analysis. In addition, the authors demonstrate which quantitative methods can be used to obtain the information needed for utility and conjoint analyses on the ecological and economic effects of the conservation scenarios as well as on the weighting of the landscape functions, and how they can be integrated. Finally, it is shown that the conflict between ecological and economic objectives cannot only be reduced by a regional differentiation of the extent of resource protection – as shown in the literature –, but also by a spatial variation of the type of environment conservation.utility analysis, Conjoint analysis, riverside protection, nature conservation models, conservation scenarios, MAB Biophere Reserves, landscape function, optimal land use, Repertory Grid technique, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use,

Predicting Successful Pulmonary Vein Isolation In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation By Brain Natriuretic Peptide Plasma Levels

Background: Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation is a clinically established treatment by now while success rate varies between 60% and 85%. Interventional treatment of atrial fibrillation is still a challenging technique associated with a long procedure time and risk of major complications in up to 6 % of treated patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation concerning stable sinus rhythm after ablation.Methods: In 68 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and normal left ventricular ejection fraction, BNP was measured at baseline before pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). All patients received a 7-days-holter monitoring 3 months after radiofrequency (RF) ablation in order to detect recurrent AF episodes. Results: 48 patients with paroxysmal and 20 patients with persistent AF were enrolled. Baseline BNP was significantly higher in patients with persistent AF compared to patients with paroxysmal AF (145,5 pg/ml vs. 84,4 pg/ml; p<0,05). 3 months after PVI 38 patients (79,1%) with paroxysmal AF had a stable sinus rhythm documented on 7-days-holter monitoring, where as in 10 patients (20,9%) AF episodes were detected. Patients with a successful PVI showed significantly lower BNP plasma levels at baseline compared to patients with AF recurrrence (68,7 pg/ml vs. 144,1 pg/ml; p<0,05). In patients with persistent AF 55% (11 cases) had no recurrence of AF at 3 months 7-days holter and in 9 patients (45%) AF recurred. BNP plasma levels at baseline were lower in patients with stable sinusrhythm after 3 months compared to the group of recurrent AF (105,8 pg/ml vs. 193,3 pg/ml; p=0,11). Conclusion: Patients with AF and low preprocedural BNP plasma levels showed a better outcome after PVI. Thus BNP may be helpful in patient selection for a successful treatment of AF by PVI

Ökonomische Bewertung FFH-Maßnahmen - Ökonomische Bewertung von FFH-Maßnahmen zur Ermittlung wirtschaftlicher Nachteile landwirtschaftlicher Unternehmen Sachsens

Die Ingenieurgesellschaft entera wurde von der Sächsischen Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft mit der Bearbeitung des Forschungsvorhabens 'Ökonomische Bewertung von FFH-Maßnahmen zur Ermittlung wirtschaftlicher Nachteile landwirtschaftlicher Unternehmen Sachsens' (Forschungsnummer: 040525) beauftragt. Ziel des Vorhabens war eine ökonomische Bewertung von ausgewählten FFH-Maßnahmen in FFH-Gebieten Sachsens. Des Weiteren sollten wirtschaftliche Nachteile, die landwirtschaftlichen Unternehmen auf Grund von Bewirtschaftungsbeschränkungen im Zuge der Umsetzung der FFH-Richtlinie (RL 92/43/EWG) entstehen, unter Berücksichtigung möglicher Anpassungsstrategien auf einzelbetrieblicher Ebene ermittelt werden. Dieses schloss eine Betrachtung der Thematik 'Entwertung des Bodens' mit ein. Im vorliegenden Bericht werden die Ergebnisse der gesamtbetrieblichen Kalkulationen sowie die Auswertungen im Hinblick auf eine Entwertung des Bodens dargestellt. Die Ergebnisse der maßnahmenbezogenen ökonomischen Bewertung sind in einem separaten Band (Endbericht Teil 1 - Teilleistung A, behördeninternes Material) zusammengestellt

Comparing Immersive Virtual Reality and PowerPoint as Methods for Delivering Safety Training: Impacts on Risk Perception, Learning, and Decision Making

In two experimental studies, we compared safety training given via immersive virtual reality with safety training given via PowerPoint in their effects on risk perception, learning, and risky choices. In Study 1, we compared the two methods in a sample of apprentices (N = 53) and also investigated whether participants’ conscientiousness and locus of control moderated the effects of safety training. In Study 1, we found an effect of training method on the change in risk perception in terms of probability judgments and on risky decisions but not on learning. In Study 2 (N = 68), we sought to replicate Study 1 and also tested whether domain-specific risk attitudes affected risk perception and choice. Furthermore, long-term effects of safety training on information recall and risk perception after a 6-month interval were assessed. The effects found in Study 1 could not be replicated in Study 2. Neither study found an interaction between presentation medium and personality. We conclude that the costly procedure of immersive virtual reality (VR) does not seem justified for safety training because the less costly PowerPoint procedure with vivid film scenes did not fare significantly worse with respect to changes in risk perception, learning outcomes, or decision making

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Atrial Mechanics: Function, History, Novel Techniques, Advantages, and Pitfalls

Left atrial (LA) functional analysis has an established role in ass essing left ventricular diastolic function. The current standard echocardiographic parameters used to study left ventricular diastolic function include pulsed-wave Doppler mitral inflow analysis, tissue Doppler imaging measurements, and LA dimension estimation. However, the above-mentioned parameters do not directly quantify LA performance. Deformation studies using strain and strain-rate imaging to assess LA function were validated in previous research, but this technique is not currently used in routine clinical practice. This review discusses the history, importance, and pitfalls of strain technology for the analysis of LA mechanics

A Tapestry Of Educational Technology Women Leaders In Higher Education: A Qualitative Study

A qualitative study was used to understand the experiences of 12 women, leaders in Education Technology in higher education. Through interviews, women leaders described their environment as well as personal and behavioral aspects of their work. Findings revealed four threads of descriptive concepts including relationships, leadership, persistence, and advice. Relationships were from workplaces and professional networks. Leadership was defined by vision and teamwork. Persistence was addressed as either values-based or relationship-based. The fourth thread in the findings, advice, was divided into three sub-threads: education, family (both personal and work), and managing emotions. A qualitative approach was used to highlight interview responses to demonstrate the experiences of women leaders in Education Technology in Higher Education

The degree of microRNA-34b/c methylation in serum-circulating DNA is associated with malignant pleural mesothelioma

Objectives: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. microRNA-34b/c (miR-34b/c), which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of MPM, is frequently downregulated by DNA methylation in approximately 90% of MPM cases. In this study, we estimated the degree of miR-34b/c methylation in serum-circulating DNA using a digital methylation specific PCR assay (MSP). Materials and methods: A real-time MSP assay was performed using the SYBR Green method. The melting temperature (Tm) of each PCR product was examined using a melting curve analysis. For a digital MSP assay, 40 wells were analyzed per sample. A total of 110 serum samples from 48 MPM cases, 21 benign asbestos pleurisy (BAP) cases, and 41 healthy volunteers (HVs) were examined. Results: Positive range of Tm value for miR-34b/c methylation was defined as 77.71-78.79 degrees C which was the mean 3 standard deviations of 40 wells of a positive control. The number of miR-34b/c methylated wells was counted per sample according to this criterion. The number of miR-34b/c methylated wells in MPM cases was significantly higher than that in BAP cases (P = 0.03) or HVs (P < 0.001). Advanced MPM cases tended to have higher number of miR-34b/c methylated wells than early MPM cases. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that three number of miR-34b/c methylated wells per sample was the best cut-off of positivity of MPM with a 67% of sensitivity and a 77% specificity for prediction. The area under the ROC curve was 0.77. Conclusions: Our digital MSP assay can quantify miR-34b/c methylation in serum-circulating DNA. The degree of miR-34b/c methylation in serum-circulating DNA is associated with MPM, suggesting that this approach might be useful for the establishment of a new detection system for MPM