Stochastic Loewner evolution in multiply connected domains

We construct radial stochastic Loewner evolution in multiply connected domains, choosing the unit disk with concentric circular slits as a family of standard domains. The natural driving function or input is a diffusion on the associated Teichm\"uller space. The diffusion stops when it reaches the boundary of the Teichm\"uller space. We show that for this driving function the family of random growing compacts has a phase transition for $\kappa=4$ and $\kappa=8$, and that it satisfies locality for $\kappa=6$.Comment: Corrected version, references adde

The Correlator Toolbox, Metrics and Moduli

We discuss the possible set of operators from various boundary conformal field theories to build meaningful correlators that lead via a Loewner type procedure to generalisations of SLE($\kappa,\rho$). We also highlight the necessity of moduli for a consistent kinematic description of these more general stochastic processes. As an illustration we give a geometric derivation of $\text{SLE}(\kappa,\rho)$ in terms of conformally invariant random growing compact subsets of polygons. The parameters $\rho_j$ are related to the exterior angles of the polygons. We also show that $\text{SLE}(\kappa,\rho)$ can be generated by a Brownian motion in a gravitational background, where the metric and the Brownian motion are coupled. The metric is obtained as the pull-back of the Euclidean metric of a fluctuating polygon.Comment: 3 figure

Metal ion-N7 coordination in a ribozyme branch domain by NMR

The N7 of purine nucleotides presents one of the most dominant metal ion binding sites in nucleic acids. However, the interactions between kinetically labile metal ions like Mg2+ and these nitrogen atoms are inherently difficult to observe in large RNAs. Rather than using the insensitive direct N-15 detection, here we have used (2)J-H-1,N-15]-HSQC (Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence) NMR experiments as a fast and efficient method to specifically observe and characterize such interactions within larger RNA constructs. Using the 27 nucleotides long branch domain of the yeast-mitochondrial group II intron ribozyme Sc.ai5 gamma as an example, we show that direct N7 coordination of a Mg2+ ion takes place in a tetraloop nucleotide. A second Mg2+ ion, located in the major groove at the catalytic branch site, coordinates mainly in an outer-sphere fashion to the highly conserved flanking GU wobble pairs but not to N7 of the sandwiched branch adenosine. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

SAURON's Challenge for the Major Merger Scenario of Elliptical Galaxy Formation

The intrinsic anisotropy delta and flattening epsilon of simulated merger remnants is compared with elliptical galaxies that have been observed by the SAURON collaboration, and that were analysed using axisymmetric Schwarzschild models. Collisionless binary mergers of stellar disks and disk mergers with an additional isothermal gas component, neglecting star formation cannot reproduce the observed trend delta = 0.55 epsilon (SAURON relationship). An excellent fit of the SAURON relationship for flattened ellipticals with epsilon >= 0.25 is however found for merger simulations of disks with gas fractions >= 20%, including star formation and stellar energy feedback. Massive black hole feedback does not strongly affect this result. Subsequent dry merging of merger remnants however does not generate the slowly-rotating SAURON ellipticals which are characterized by low ellipticities epsilon < 0.25 and low anisotropies. This indicates that at least some ellipticals on the red galaxy sequence did not form by binary mergers of disks or early-type galaxies. We show that stellar spheroids resulting from multiple, hierarchical mergers of star-bursting subunits in a cosmological context are in excellent agreement with the low ellipticities and anisotropies of the slowly rotating SAURON ellipticals and their observed trend of delta with epsilon. The numerical simulations indicate that the SAURON relation might be a result of strong violent relaxation and phase mixing of multiple, kinematically cold stellar subunits with the angular momentum of the system determining its location on the relation.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Ap

Parallelization of chip-based fluorescence immuno-assays with quantum-dot labelled beads

This paper presents an optical concept for the read-out of a parallel, bead-based fluorescence immunoassay conducted on a lab-on-a-disk platform. The reusable part of the modular setup comprises a detection unit featuring a single LED as light source, two emission-filters, and a color CCD-camera as standard components together with a spinning drive as actuation unit. The miniaturized lab-on-a-disk is devised as a disposable. In the read-out process of the parallel assay, beads are first identified by the color of incorporated quantum dots (QDs). Next, the reaction-specific fluorescence signal is quantified with FluoSpheres-labeled detection anti-bodies. To enable a fast and automated read-out, suitable algorithms have been implemented in this work. Based on this concept, we successfully demonstrated a Hepatitis-A assay on our disk-based lab-on-a-chip

Forest Focus Monitoring Database System - Executive Summary Report 2005 Level II Data

Forest Focus (Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003) is a Community scheme for harmonized, broad-based, comprehensive and long-term monitoring of European forest ecosystems. Under this scheme the monitoring of air pollution effects on forests is carried out by participating countries on the basis of the systematic network of observation points (Level I) and of the network of observation plots for intensive and continuous monitoring (Level II). According to Article 15(1) of the Forest Focus Regulation Member States shall annually, through the designated authorities and agencies, forward to the Commission geo-referenced data gathered under the scheme, together with a report on them by means of computer telecommunications and/or electronic technology. For managing the data JRC has implemented a Forest Focus Monitoring Database System. This Executive Report presents the results obtained from all processing stages (data reception, validation checks ¿ compliance, conformity, uniformity) for submitted data referring to the monitoring year 2005. This report presents the results at the end of the processing phase after data have been re-submitted in 2006 and 2007. It presents in addition a brief comment on the data status for each NFC, for the reporting year, with respect to the parameter assessed and including analyses of spatial variability of data and temporal trends of parameters.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

The AGASA/SUGAR Anisotropies and TeV Gamma Rays from the Galactic Center: A Possible Signature of Extremely High-energy Neutrons

Recent analysis of data sets from two extensive air shower cosmic ray detectors shows tantalizing evidence of an anisotropic overabundance of cosmic rays towards the Galactic Center (GC) that ``turns on'' around $10^{18}$ eV. We demonstrate that the anisotropy could be due to neutrons created at the Galactic Center through charge-exchange in proton-proton collisions, where the incident, high energy protons obey an $\sim E^{-2}$ power law associated with acceleration at a strong shock. We show that the normalization supplied by the gamma-ray signal from EGRET GC source 3EG J1746-2851 -- ascribed to pp induced neutral pion decay at GeV energies -- together with a very reasonable spectral index of 2.2, predicts a neutron flux at $\sim 10^{18}$ eV fully consistent with the extremely high energy cosmic ray data. Likewise, the normalization supplied by the very recent GC data from the HESS air-Cerenkov telescope at \~TeV energies is almost equally-well compatible with the $\sim 10^{18}$ eV cosmic ray data. Interestingly, however, the EGRET and HESS data appear to be themselves incompatible. We consider the implications of this discrepancy. We discuss why the Galactic Center environment can allow diffusive shock acceleration at strong shocks up to energies approaching the ankle in the cosmic ray spectrum. Finally, we argue that the shock acceleration may be occuring in the shell of Sagittarius A East, an unusual supernova remnant located very close to the Galactic Center. If this connection between the anisotropy and Sagittarius A East could be firmly established it would be the first direct evidence for a particular Galactic source of cosmic rays up to energies near the ankle.Comment: 57 pages, 2 figure

Forest Focus Monitoring Database System - Executive Summary Report 2003 Level II Data

This Executive Report presents the results obtained from all processing stages (data reception, validation checks ¿ compliance, conformity, uniformity) for submitted data referring to the monitoring year 2003. This report presents the results at the end of the processing phase after data have been re-submitted in 2007. It presents in addition a brief comment on the data status for each NFC, for the reporting year, with respect to the parameter assessed and including analyses of spatial variability of data and temporal trends of parameters.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard