13CO 1-0 imaging of the Medusa merger, NGC4194

Studying molecular gas properties in merging galaxies gives important clues to the onset and evolution of interaction-triggered starbursts. The CO/13CO 1-0 line intensity ratio can be used as a tracer of how dynamics and star formation processes impact the gas properties. The Medusa (NGC~4194) merger is particularly interesting to study since its LFIR/LCO ratio rivals that of ultraluminous galaxies (ULIRGs), despite the comparatively modest luminosity, indicating an exceptionally high star formation efficiency (SFE) in the Medusa merger. Interferometric OVRO observations of CO and 13CO 1-0 in the Medusa show the CO/13CO intensity ratio increases from normal, quiescent values (7-10) in the outer parts (r>2 kpc) of the galaxy to high (16 to >40) values in the central (r<1 kpc) starburst region. In the centre there is an east-west gradient where the line ratio changes by more than a factor of three over 5" (945 pc). The integrated 13CO emission peaks in the north-western starburst region while the central CO emission is strongly associated with the prominent crossing dust-lane. We discuss the central east-west gradient in the context of gas properties in the starburst and the central dust lane. We suggest that the central gradient is mainly caused by diffuse gas in the dust lane. In this scenario, the actual molecular mass distribution is better traced by the 13CO 1-0 emission than the CO. The possibilities of temperature and abundance gradients are also discussed. We compare the central gas properties of the Medusa to those of other minor mergers and suggest that the extreme and transient phase of the Medusa star formation activity has similar traits to those of high-redshift galaxies.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

New perspectives for sampling: US and German developments and what comes next

The use of samples from sound recordings is establihsed parctice, however its legality in absence of a license is still unclear. Two appeals in the US and in germany might have shown the direction for future cases by permittng sampling in relatively narrowly described circumstances. This article discusses potential consequences from these recet judgments and their relavance for music samling as a cultural technique

Tierschutz und Nationalsozialismus:die Entstehung und die Auswirkungen des nationalsozialistischen Reichstierschutzgesetzes von 1933

Das nationalsozialistische Reichstierschutzgesetz muss als ein historischer Grenzfall angesehen werde: während es vom Standpunkt des Tierschutzes aus betrachtet, einen Fortschritt für die damalige Zeit darstellte, so ist der Tierschutzgedanke, der dem Gesetz zugrunde liegt, unabdingbarer Teil der nationalsozialistischen Weltanschauung. Der Übergang von Tier- zu Menschenversuchen im Dritten Reich ist also keine direkte Konsequenz des Reichstierschutzgesetzes, sondern vielmehr eine Folge einer Ideologie, die ihre Menschenverachtung auch durch eine Aufwertung von Tieren legitimierte

Mueller Matrix Microscopy for In Vivo Scar Tissue Diagnostics and Treatment Evaluation

Scars usually do not show strong contrast under standard skin examination relying on dermoscopes. They usually develop after skin injury when the body repairs the damaged tissue. In general, scars cause multiple types of distress such as movement restrictions, pain, itchiness and the psychological impact of the associated cosmetic disfigurement with no universally successful treatment option available at the moment. Scar treatment has significant economic impact as well. Mueller matrix polarimetry with integrated autofocus and automatic data registration can potentially improve scar assessment by the dermatologist and help to make the evaluation of the treatment outcome objective. Polarimetry can provide new physical parameters for an objective treatment evaluation. We show that Mueller matrix polarimetry can enable strong contrast for in vivo scar imaging. Additionally, our results indicate that the polarization stain images obtained form there could be a useful tool for dermatology. Furthermore, we demonstrate that polarimetry can be used to monitor wound healing, which may help prevent scarring altogether