Glassy timescale divergence and anomalous coarsening in a kinetically constrained spin chain

We analyse the out of equilibrium behavior of an Ising spin chain with an asymmetric kinetic constraint after a quench to a low temperature T. In the limit T\to 0, we provide an exact solution of the resulting coarsening process. The equilibration time exhibits a `glassy' divergence \teq=\exp(const/T^2) (popular as an alternative to the Vogel-Fulcher law), while the average domain length grows with a temperature dependent exponent, \dbar ~ t^{T\ln 2}. We show that the equilibration time \teq also sets the timescale for the linear response of the system at low temperatures.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, includes two eps figures. Proof of energy barrier hierarchy added. Version to be published in Phys Rev Let

The Australia Telescope Large Area Survey: Spectroscopic catalogue and radio luminosity functions

The Australia Telescope Large Area Survey (ATLAS) has surveyed 7 square degrees of sky around the Chandra Deep Field South and the European Large Area ISO Survey-South 1 fields at 1.4 GHz. ATLAS aims to reach a uniform sensitivity of 10 μJy beam−1 rms over the entire region with first data release currently reaching ∼ 30 μJy beam−1 rms. Here we present 466 new spectroscopic redshifts for radio sources in ATLAS as part of our optical follow-up programme. Of the 466 radio sources with new spectroscopic redshifts, 142 have star-forming optical spectra, 282 show evidence for active galactic nuclei (AGN) in their optical spectra, 10 have stellar spectra and 32 have spectra revealing redshifts, but with insufficient features to classify. We compare our spectroscopic classifications with two mid-infrared diagnostics and find them to be in broad agreement. We also construct the radio luminosity function for star-forming galaxies to z = 0.5 and for AGN to z = 0.8. The radio luminosity function for star-forming galaxies appears to be in good agreement with previous studies. The radio luminosity function for AGN appears higher than previous studies of the local AGN radio luminosity function. We explore the possibility of evolution, cosmic variance and classification techniques affecting the AGN radio luminosity function. ATLAS is a pathfinder for the forthcoming Evolution Map of the Universe (EMU) survey and the data presented in this paper will be used to guide EMU's survey design and early science papers

Strategien und Technologien einer pluralistischen Fern- und Nahwärmeversorgung in einem liberalisierten Energiemarkt unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung und regenerativer Energien : Kurztitel: Pluralistische Wärmeversorgung ; AGFW-Hauptstudie - erster Bearbeitungsabschnitt. Band 1, Grundlagen der Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung, Zertifizierungsverfahren und Fördermodelle

Die im vorliegenden Band 1 vorgestellten Ergebnisse sollen der Begleitung der anstehenden KWK-Gesetzgebung in technischer und wirtschaftlicher Hinsicht dienen. Das derzeitige KWK-(Vorschalt-)Gesetz, welches durch ein neues mit klareren Kriterien verbundenes Gesetz ersetzt werden soll, ist in mehrfacher Hinsicht problematisch, da es Regelungen zum Auffangen von Stranded Investments mit Regelungen zur Förderung von KWK vermischt, keine klare Definition von KWK enthält, industrielle KWK ausgegrenzt und durch die intransparente Förderstruktur das Mittelaufkommen und die Mittelverwendung nicht nachvollziehbar macht. Ein KWK-Ausbau wird sich in der gegenwärtigen Situation des Strommarktes nur auf der Basis einer Förderung entwickeln können (vgl. Vorstudie). Obwohl neue KWK-Anlagen im Vergleich zu neuen Anlagen der ungekoppelten Erzeugung unter Vollkostenbedingungen meist günstiger abschneiden, benötigen sie vor dem Hintergrund des aktuell auf dem Niveau kurzfristiger Grenzkosten geführten Preiskampfes zusätzliche Deckungsbeiträge. Die Analyse der Vielzahl vorgeschlagener Zertifizierungskriterien hat ergeben, dass definierter KWK-Strom eine geeignete Messgröße darstellt. Ausführliche Analysen zeigen, dass die Bestimmung dieses Stromanteils mit Hilfe einer einmaligen Anlagenzertifizierung relativ unproblematisch ist. Eine weitere Differenzierung des so definierten KWK-Stroms, z. B. hinsichtlich der CO2-Effizienz, birgt dagegen die Gefahr so krasser Fördergegensätze zwischen alten und neuen Anlagen sowie zwischen gas- und kohlegefeuerten Anlagen, dass dadurch vorhandene, für zukünftige Anwendungen prädestinierte Standorte verloren gehen könnten und die sinnvolle Auskopplung großer Wärmemengen aus Steinkohlekraftwerken unterbleibt. Die Bewertung verschiedener Fördermodelle ergibt kein eindeutiges Bild, welches Fördermodell zu bevorzugen wäre. Andererseits zeigt sich, dass sich aus allen Bausteinen von Förderinstrumenten ein sinnvolles Instrumentenmix konstruieren lässt

MMP19 Is Essential for T Cell Development and T Cell-Mediated Cutaneous Immune Responses

Matrix metalloproteinase-19 (MMP19) affects cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration in vitro but its physiological role in vivo is poorly understood. To determine the function of MMP19, we generated mice deficient for MMP19 by disrupting the catalytic domain of mmp19 gene. Although MMP19-deficient mice do not show overt developmental and morphological abnormalities they display a distinct physiological phenotype. In a model of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) MMP19-deficient mice showed impaired T cell-mediated immune reaction that was characterized by limited influx of inflammatory cells, low proliferation of keratinocytes, and reduced number of activated CD8+ T cells in draining lymph nodes. In the inflamed tissue, the low number of CD8+ T cells in MMP19-deficient mice correlated with low amounts of proinflammatory cytokines, especially lymphotactin and interferon-inducible T cell α chemoattractant (I-TAC). Further analyses showed that T cell populations in the blood of immature, unsensitized mice were diminished and that this alteration originated from an altered maturation of thymocytes. In the thymus, thymocytes exhibited low proliferation rates and the number of CD4+CD8+ double-positive cells was remarkably augmented. Based on the phenotype of MMP19-deficient mice we propose that MMP19 is an important factor in cutaneous immune responses and influences the development of T cells

Peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and infants: NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe: A prospective European multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about current clinical practice concerning peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and small infants. Guidelines suggest transfusions based on haemoglobin thresholds ranging from 8.5 to 12 g dl-1, distinguishing between children from birth to day 7 (week 1), from day 8 to day 14 (week 2) or from day 15 (≥week 3) onwards. OBJECTIVE: To observe peri-operative red blood cell transfusion practice according to guidelines in relation to patient outcome. DESIGN: A multicentre observational study. SETTING: The NEonate-Children sTudy of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE) trial recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. PATIENTS: The data included 5609 patients undergoing 6542 procedures. Inclusion criteria was a peri-operative red blood cell transfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the haemoglobin level triggering a transfusion for neonates in week 1, week 2 and week 3. Secondary endpoints were transfusion volumes, 'delta haemoglobin' (preprocedure - transfusion-triggering) and 30-day and 90-day morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Peri-operative red blood cell transfusions were recorded during 447 procedures (6.9%). The median haemoglobin levels triggering a transfusion were 9.6 [IQR 8.7 to 10.9] g dl-1 for neonates in week 1, 9.6 [7.7 to 10.4] g dl-1 in week 2 and 8.0 [7.3 to 9.0] g dl-1 in week 3. The median transfusion volume was 17.1 [11.1 to 26.4] ml kg-1 with a median delta haemoglobin of 1.8 [0.0 to 3.6] g dl-1. Thirty-day morbidity was 47.8% with an overall mortality of 11.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate lower transfusion-triggering haemoglobin thresholds in clinical practice than suggested by current guidelines. The high morbidity and mortality of this NECTARINE sub-cohort calls for investigative action and evidence-based guidelines addressing peri-operative red blood cell transfusions strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02350348

Australia

Australia, known officially as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a geographically large country comprising six states and two territories (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory), as well as numerous outlying islands. Australia’s capital city is Canberra, and its political system is a combination of a constitutional monarchy and a federal parliamentary democracy. As of 2012, Australia has a population of approximately 22.7 million people who come from a rich variety of ethnic backgrounds

U.S. Department of State

The U.S. Department of State is the federal executive department responsible for U.S. foreign relations and international affairs. Its two principal responsibilities are to develop and implement U.S. foreign policy objectives abroad as well as advise the president on foreign policy matters. During times of war or in situations that might lead to war, the State Department is tasked with exploring all diplomatic options and foreign policy implications. This entry reviews the history of the State Department from its inception to the present day

Cardiovascular disease in long-term survivors of pediatric Hodgkin's disease

Treatment of pediatric Hodgkin's disease is largely a success story enabling investigators to explore the late of effects of cancer treatment in long-term survivors. Since mediastinal irradiation is an important component in the management of pediatric Hodgkin's disease, there are potentially significant long-term effects on the cardiovascular system. These are frequently associated with radiation therapy, both with and without chemotherapy. This review article explores the effect of such therapy on the pericardium, myocardium, coronary arteries, branch pulmonary arteries, conduction system as well as the valves. Although early and late effects are identified, their significance remains somewhat unclear. The most severe changes are most often associated with outdated treatment techniques