Semi-Exclusive Production of Photons at HERA

We study the feasibility of measuring semi-exclusive photon production \gamma + p \to \gamma + Y at HERA. The cross section of photons produced at large transverse momenta, recoiling off an inclusive system Y of limited mass, can without photon isolation cuts be simply expressed in terms of hard pQCD subprocesses and standard target parton distributions. With the help of event generators we identify the kinematic region where quark and gluon fragmentation processes can be neglected. The cross section in this semi-exclusive region is large enough to be measured with an upgraded HERA luminosity of L = 100/pb. The subprocesses of lowest order in \alpha_s are suppressed at low recoil masses M_Y, compared to higher order gluon exchange, i.e. BFKL contributions. The distinct M_Y-dependence makes it possible to determine experimentally the kinematic range where the higher order processes dominate.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J. C, minor stylistic changes, references update

Physical activity and prevalence and incidence of mental disorders in adolescents and young adults

ABSTRACT Background Although positive effects of physical activity on mental health indicators have been reported, the relationship between physical activity and the development of specific mental disorders is unclear. Method A cross-sectional (12-month) and prospective-longitudinal epidemiological study over 4 years in a community cohort of 2548 individuals, aged 14-24 years at outset of the study. Physical activity and mental disorders were assessed by the DSM-IV Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) with an embedded physical activity module. Multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for age, gender and educational status were used to determine the cross-sectional and prospective associations of mental disorders and physical activity. Results Cross-sectionally, regular physical activity was associated with a decreased prevalence of any and co-morbid mental disorder, due to lower rates of substance use disorders, anxiety disorders and dysthymia. Prospectively, subjects with regular physical activity had a substantially lower overall incidence of any and co-morbid mental disorder, and also a lower incidence of anxiety, somatoform and dysthymic disorder. By contrast, the incidence of bipolar disorder was increased among those with regular physical activity at baseline. In terms of the population attributable fraction (PAF), the potential for preventive effects of physical activity was considerably higher for men than for women. Conclusions Regular physical activity is associated with a substantially reduced risk for some, but not all, mental disorders and also seems to reduce the degree of co-morbidity. Further examination of the evidently complex mechanisms and pathways underlying these associations might reveal promising new research targets and procedures for targeted preventio

Double spin asymmetry A_{LT} in direct photon production

We study the longitudinal-transverse double spin asymmetry $A_{LT}$ for direct photon production in nucleon-nucleon scattering by using the collinear twist-3 approach. This asymmetry, which, for instance, could be measured at RHIC, contains a complete set of collinear twist-3 correlation functions in a transversely polarized nucleon.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Kooperationsstudiengänge

Der Think-Tank befasste sich mit den Herausforderungen für Organisation, Technik und Recht rund um Kooperationen im Bereich von Studium und Lehre der baden-württembergischen Hochschulen. Zwischen den Hochschulen existieren Kooperationen, die sich durch unterschiedliche Formen und Grade der Zusammenarbeit, aber auch teilweise durch unterschiedliche rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen ausweisen. In diesem Whitepaper wird das Gesamtthema Kooperationsstudiengänge beleuchtet. Die Betrachtung geht über die Studiengänge im engeren Sinn hinaus und schließt Kooperationsformen, die auf dem Austausch einzelner Module basieren, mit ein. Zur weiteren Erschließung der Thematik erfolgt eine Strukturierung des Themas und daraus abgeleitete Vorschläge für erste konkrete Handlungsfelder. Es werden Querbezüge zur Initiative „Europäische Universitäten“ hergestellt sowie eine Übersicht der verschiedenen Aktivitäten präsentiert. Außerdem werden Querbezüge zu Projekten, die Themen im Zusammenhang mit Kooperationen erschließen oder bereits erschlossen haben, geschaffen. Neben konkreten Handlungsempfehlungen werden Themenfelder, die über diesen Think-Tank hinausgehen und eine intensivere Betrachtung benötigen, identifiziert

National registry for patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Germany (ReCoVery): a valuable mean to gain rapid and reliable knowledge of the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with IRD

Objectives: Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be at risk to develop a severe course of COVID-19. The influence of immunomodulating drugs on the course of COVID-19 is unknown. To gather knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with IRD, we established a registry shortly after the beginning of the pandemic in Germany. Methods Using an online questionnaire (www.COVID19-rheuma.de.), a nationwide database was launched on 30 March 2020, with appropriate ethical and data protection approval to collect data of patients with IRD infected with SARS-CoV-2. In this registry, key clinical and epidemiological parameters-for example, diagnosis of IRD, antirheumatic therapies, comorbidities and course of the infection-are documented. Results Until 25 April 2020, data from 104 patients with IRD infected with SARS-CoV-2 were reported (40 males;63 females;1 diverse). Most of them (45%) were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, 59% had one or more comorbidities and 42% were treated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Hospitalisation was reported in 32% of the patients. Two-thirds of the patients already recovered. Unfortunately, 6 patients had a fatal course. Conclusions: In a short time, a national registry for SARS-CoV2-infected patients with IRD was established. Within 4 weeks, 104 cases were documented. The registry enables to generate data rapidly in this emerging situation and to gain a better understanding of the course of SARS-CoV2-infection in patients with IRD, with a distinct focus on their immunomodulatory therapies. This knowledge is valuable for timely information of physicians and patients with IRD, and shall also serve for the development of guidance for the management of patients with IRD during this pandemic

A Central Clearing Clinic to Provide Mental Health Services for Refugees in Germany

Objective: To determine migration related distress pattern in refugees and feasibility of a de novo established, central low-threshold outpatient clinic serving more than 80,000 newly arrived refugees in the metropole of Berlin. Methods: In an observational cohort study the relative prevalence of major psychiatric disorders by age, place of living within berlin, language and region of origin were assessed in a refugee cohort from 63 nationalities speaking 36 languages. Findings: Within 18 months, a total of 3,096 cases with a mean age of 29.7 years (11.7) have been referred from all 12 districts and 165 of 182 subdistricts of Berlin to the CCC. 33.7% of the patients were female. The three most frequent diagnoses were unipolar depression (40.4%), posttraumatic stress disorder (24.3%), and adjustment disorder (19.6%). Conclusion: The present data gives insight into the distribution of mental disorders in a large sample of refugees and provides evidence that a CCC is an effective service to quickly and broadly provide psychiatric consultations and thus to overcome classical barriers refugees usually experience in the host communities. In Berlin, Germany, and Europe treatment resources for this population should focus on stress and trauma related disorders