Economic Recovery in the Euro Area and in Austria in a Dynamic Global Economic Environment

Economic Recovery in the Euro Area and in Austria in a Dynamic Global Economic EnvironmentEconomic Growth

Detection of Anomalous Microwave Emission in the Pleiades Reflection Nebula with WMAP and the COSMOSOMAS Experiment

We present evidence for anomalous microwave emission (AME) in the Pleiades reflection nebula, using data from the seven-year release of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and from the COSMOSOMAS experiment. The flux integrated in a 1-degree radius around R.A.=56.24^{\circ}, Dec.=23.78^{\circ} (J2000) is 2.15 +/- 0.12 Jy at 22.8 GHz, where AME is dominant. COSMOSOMAS data show no significant emission, but allow to set upper limits of 0.94 and 1.58 Jy (99.7% C.L.) respectively at 10.9 and 14.7 GHz, which are crucial to pin down the AME spectrum at these frequencies, and to discard any other emission mechanisms which could have an important contribution to the signal detected at 22.8 GHz. We estimate the expected level of free-free emission from an extinction-corrected H-alpha template, while the thermal dust emission is characterized from infrared DIRBE data and extrapolated to microwave frequencies. When we deduct the contribution from these two components at 22.8 GHz the residual flux, associated with AME, is 2.12 +/- 0.12 Jy (17.7-sigma). The spectral energy distribution from 10 to 60 GHz can be accurately fitted with a model of electric dipole emission from small spinning dust grains distributed in two separated phases of molecular and atomic gas, respectively. The dust emissivity, calculated by correlating the 22.8 GHz data with 100-micron data, is found to be 4.36+/-0.17 muK/MJy/sr, a value that is rather low compared with typical values in dust clouds. The physical properties of the Pleiades nebula indicate that this is indeed a much less opaque object than others were AME has usually been detected. This fact, together with the broad knowledge of the stellar content of this region, provides an excellent testbed for AME characterization in physical conditions different from those generally explored up to now.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 12 pages, 8 figure

Parametrizing Product Shape Manifolds by Composite Networks

Parametrizations of data manifolds in shape spaces can be computed using the rich toolbox of Riemannian geometry. This, however, often comes with high computational costs, which raises the question if one can learn an efficient neural network approximation. We show that this is indeed possible for shape spaces with a special product structure, namely those smoothly approximable by a direct sum of low-dimensional manifolds. Our proposed architecture leverages this structure by separately learning approximations for the low-dimensional factors and a subsequent combination. After developing the approach as a general framework, we apply it to a shape space of triangular surfaces. Here, typical examples of data manifolds are given through datasets of articulated models and can be factorized, for example, by a Sparse Principal Geodesic Analysis (SPGA). We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach with experiments on synthetic data as well as manifolds extracted from data via SPGA

H2O2-mediated modulation of cytosolic signaling and organelle function in rat hippocampus

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) released from (dys-)functioning mitochondria contribute to normal and pathophysiological cellular signaling by modulating cytosolic redox state and redox-sensitive proteins. To identify putative redox targets involved in such signaling, we exposed hippocampal neurons to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Redox-sensitive dyes indicated that externally applied H2O2 may oxidize intracellular targets in cell cultures and acute tissue slices. In cultured neurons, H2O2 (EC50 118 µM) induced an intracellular Ca2+ rise which could still be evoked upon Ca2+ withdrawal and mitochondrial uncoupling. It was, however, antagonized by thapsigargin, dantrolene, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, and high levels of ryanodine, which identifies the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as the intracellular Ca2+ store involved. Intracellular accumulation of endogenously generated H2O2—provoked by inhibiting glutathione peroxidase—also released Ca2+ from the ER, as did extracellular generation of superoxide. Phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated metabotropic signaling was depressed in the presence of H2O2, but cytosolic cyclic adenosine-5′-monophosphate (cAMP) levels were not affected. H2O2 (0.2–5 mM) moderately depolarized mitochondria, halted their intracellular trafficking in a Ca2+- and cAMP-independent manner, and directly oxidized cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2). In part, the mitochondrial depolarization reflects uptake of Ca2+ previously released from the ER. We conclude that H2O2 releases Ca2+ from the ER via both ryanodine and inositol trisphosphate receptors. Mitochondrial function is not markedly impaired even by millimolar concentrations of H2O2. Such modulation of Ca2+ signaling and organelle interaction by ROS affects the efficacy of PLC-mediated metabotropic signaling and may contribute to the adjustment of neuronal function to redox conditions and metabolic supply

Water Saving in Rice Production

<p>Single-channel plots show percent power changes relative to baseline as a function of time and frequency for the mean power difference between Punctual and Iterative trials. The data for a single channel (FC3) in which the effect was largest is shown in (a), and the time course of the effect in the 60–80 Hz frequency band is shown in (b). Absence of mean power differences between conditions in the horizontal eye channel is shown in (c). The topographic map (d) shows the mean power difference between Punctual and Iterative trials in the 60–80 Hz frequency band, in the 600–800 ms time interval relative to visual word onset (0 ms). Black circles represent electrodes belonging to a statistically significant cluster throughout the time interval of interest (600–800 ms).</p

Web-based audiovisual patient information system—a study of preoperative patient information in a neurosurgical department

Background: In the current climate of increasing awareness, patients are demanding more knowledge about forthcoming operations. The patient information accounts for a considerable part of the physician's daily clinical routine. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of the information is understood by the patient after solely verbal elucidation. To optimise information delivery, different auxiliary materials are used. Methods: In a prospective study, 52 consecutive stationary patients, scheduled for an elective lumbar disc operation were asked to use a web-based audiovisual patient information system. A combination of pictures, text, tone and video about the planned surgical intervention is installed on a tablet personal computer presented the day before surgery. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire. Results: Eighty-four percent of all participants found that the audiovisual patient information system lead to a better understanding of the forthcoming operation. Eighty-two percent found that the information system was a very helpful preparation before the pre-surgical interview with the surgeon. Ninety percent of all participants considered it meaningful to provide this kind of preoperative education also to patients planned to undergo other surgical interventions. Eighty-four percent were altogether "very content” with the audiovisual patient information system and 86% would recommend the system to others. Conclusions: This new approach of patient information had a positive impact on patient education as is evident from high satisfaction scores. Because patient satisfaction with the informed consent process and understanding of the presented information improved substantially, the audiovisual patient information system clearly benefits both surgeons and patient