Functional Schroedinger Equation for Fermions in External Gauge Fields

We discuss the functional Schroedinger picture for fermions in external fields for both stationary and time-dependent problems. We give formal results for the ground state and the solution of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation for QED in arbitrary dimensions, while more explicit results are obtained in two dimensions. For both the massless and massive Schwinger model we give an explicit expression for the ground state functional as well as for the expectation values of energy, electric and axial charge. We also give the corresponding results for non-abelian fields. We solve the functional Schroedinger equation for a constant external field in four dimensions and obtain the amount of particle creation. We solve the Schroedinger equation for arbitrary external fields for massless QED in two dimensions and make a careful discussionof the anomalous particle creation rate. Finally, we discuss some subtleties connected with the interpretation of the quantized Gauss constraint.Comment: 44 pages, LaTex File, preprint Freiburg THEP-94/2 and ETH-TH/93-17, hep-th/9306161, corrected version (in particular the particle production

Determination of Temperature-Dependent Elastic Constants of Steel AISI 4140 by Use of In Situ X-ray Dilatometry Experiments

In situ dilatometry experiments using high energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction in transmission mode were carried out at the high energy material science beamline P07@PETRAIII atDESY (Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron) for the tempering steel AISI 4140 at defined mechanical loading. The focus of this study was on the initial tempering state ( f errite) and the hardened state (martensite). Lattice strains were calculated from the 2D diffraction data for different hkl planes and from those temperature-dependent lattice plane specific diffraction elastic constants (DECs) were determined. The resulting coupling terms allow for precise stress analysis for typical hypoeutectoid steels using diffraction data during heat treatment processes, that is, for in situ diffraction studies during thermal exposure. In addition, by averaging hkl specific Young's moduli and Poisson ratios macroscopic temperature-dependent elastic constants were determined. In conclusion a novel approach for the determination of phase-specific temperature-dependent DECs was suggested using diffraction based dilatometry that provides more reliable data in comparison to conventional experimental procedures. Moreover, the averaging of lattice plane specific results from in situ diffraction analysis supply robust temperature-dependent macroscopic elastic constants for martensite and ferrite as input data for heat treatment process simulations

The photosensor protein Ppr of Rhodocista centenaria is linked to the chemotaxis signalling pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Rhodocista centenaria </it>is a phototrophic α-proteobacterium exhibiting a phototactic behaviour visible as colony movement on agar plates directed to red light. As many phototrophic purple bacteria <it>R. centenaria </it>possesses a soluble photoactive yellow protein (Pyp). It exists as a long fusion protein, designated Ppr, consisting of three domains, the Pyp domain, a putative bilin binding domain (Bbd) and a histidine kinase domain (Pph). The Ppr protein is involved in the regulation of polyketide synthesis but it is still unclear, how this is connected to phototaxis and chemotaxis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To elucidate the possible role of Ppr and Pph in the chemotactic network we studied the interaction with chemotactic proteins <it>in vitro </it>as well as <it>in vivo</it>. Matrix-assisted coelution experiments were performed to study the possible communication of the different putative binding partners. The kinase domain of the Ppr protein was found to interact with the chemotactic linker protein CheW. The formation of this complex was clearly ATP-dependent. Further results indicated that the Pph histidine kinase domain and CheW may form a complex with the chemotactic kinase CheAY suggesting a role of Ppr in the chemotaxis signalling pathway. In addition, when Ppr or Pph were expressed in <it>Escherichia coli</it>, the chemotactic response of the cells was dramatically affected.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The Ppr protein of <it>Rhodocista centenaria </it>directly interacts with the chemotactic protein CheW. This suggests a role of the Ppr protein in the regulation of the chemotactic response in addition to its role in chalcone synthesis.</p

Die österreichischen Länder und die europäische Integration = Los estados federales austríacos y la integración europea

El artículo describe los fundamentos de derecho y la práctica de la cooperación transfronteriza e interregional de los landers austríacos, así como la colaboración de los landers en la política europea austríaca. Una particularidad representa la co-financiación de los landers (cerca del 18,3%) y de los municipios (cerca del 20,6%) a la cuota que paga Austria como miembro de la Unión Europea. A continuación, se describen las importantes exigencias de los landers en las Conferencias Intergubernamentales de 1996 y 2000, así como la organización jurídica de la República Austríaca. El Tratado de Niza indica que sobre la cuestión de petición de una distribución competencial, ha concluido con un resultado exitoso el lobby interregional de las regiones fuertes (Petición de los landers austríacos desde 1996).Austriako landerren mugaz gaindiko eta eskualdeen arteko kooperazioaren praktika eta zuzenbideoinarriak deskribatzen ditu artikulu honek, bai eta landerren arteko lankidetza ere Austriaren politika europarraren alorrean. Austriak badu bereizgarri bat: Europako Batasuneko kide gisa ordaintzen duen kuotaren kofinantzazioa, landerrek %18,3 inguru eta udalek %20,6 inguru ordaintzen baitute. Ondoren, landerrek 1996 eta 2000ko Gobernuarteko Konferentzietan bideraturiko eskakizun garrantzitsuak eta Austriako Errepublikaren antolaketa juridikoa azaltzen dira. Aginpide-banaketaren eskaerari buruzko arazoaz Nizako Itunak aditzera ematen duenez, eskualde indartsuen arteko lobby-a (Austriako landerrek 1996tik eginiko eskaera) arrakastatsu gertatu da.L'article décrit les fondements de droit et la pratique de la coopération transfrontalière et inter régionale des landers autrichiens, ainsi que la collaboration des landers dans la politique européenne autrichienne. Une particularité représente la co-financiation des landers (près de 18,3%) et des municipalités (près de 20,6%) à la contribution que paie l'Autriche comme membre de l'Union Européenne. Ensuite, on décrit les importantes exigences des landers dans les Conférences Intergouvernementales de 1996 et 2000, ainsi que l'organisation juridique de la République Autrichienne. Le Traité de Nice indique que, concernant la question d'une demande d'une distribution de compétence, le dit Traité a conclu avec succès le lobby interrégional des régions fortes (Pétition des landers autrichiens depuis 1996).This article describes the bases of law and practice of transborder and interregional co-operation of the Austrian länder, as well as the collaboration of the länder in Austrian European policy. One special particularity is the co-financing of the länder (about 18,3%) and of the municipalities (about 20,6%) of the quota that Austria pays as a member of the European Union. In this text, the author describes the important requirements of the länder in the Intergovernmental Conferences of 1996 and 2000, as well as the legal organisation of the Austrian Republic. The Treaty of Nice indicates that on the issue of the petition for a distribution of responsibilities, the conference concluded successfully as a result of the interregional lobby of the strong regions (Petition of the Austrian länder - 1996)

A New species of long-eared bat (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Sardinia (Italy)

We describe a new species of long eared bat, genus Plecotus, from the island of Sardinia (Italy). The new species is clearly distinguishable from other European Plecotus species by its mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (4.1–9.6 % sequence divergence) as well as by a unique combination of morphological characters such as brownish colour of dorsal pelage, a relatively large thumb and thumb claw, an almost cylindrical form of the penis and the characteristic shape of the baculum. The most important morphological diagnostic characters is a relatively long (≥18mm) and wide (≥6mm) tragus. The new species is currently known from three localities on Sardinia. In addition to the new species we discovered a lineage of P. auritus, which is substantially differentiated from continental P. auritus at subspecific level (1.2–2.7 % of sequence divergence of the 16S rRNA gene). The existence of these two endemic bat taxa on Sardinia highlights the island’s importance in the conservation of the European bat community