Quantum dynamics of two bosons in an anharmonic trap: Collective vs internal excitations

This work deals with the effects of an anharmonic trap on an interacting two-boson system in one dimension. Our primary focus is on the role of the induced coupling between the center of mass and the relative motion as both anharmonicity and the (repulsive) interaction strength are varied. The ground state reveals a strong localization in the relative coordinate, counteracting the tendency to fragment for stronger repulsion. To explore the quantum dynamics, we study the system's response upon (i) exciting the harmonic ground state by continuously switching on an additional anharmonicity, and (ii) displacing the center of mass, this way triggering collective oscillations. The interplay between collective and internal dynamics materializes in the collapse of oscillations, which are explained in terms of few-mode models.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Customer Communication of Regional Quality Efforts: A Case From the Grain Sector

Usually, marketing communication efforts in the agrifood sector address the end consumers and concentrate on products that are processed and ready for consumption, thus quality efforts often concentrate on the final product. Moreover, there’s a widespread view that agricultural commodities like wheat aren’t suitable neither for product focused marketing nor branding. However, recent developments in the in agrifood sector challenge this view. The increasing use of biotechnology, the globalisation of markets and changing consumer demands for quality, food safety and process attributes require improved communication concepts and information sharing along whole production chains. This paper considers the development of a quality communication system to support a regional wheat brand and prerequisites for quality management efforts

Lorentz meets Fano spectral line shapes: A universal phase and its laser control

Symmetric Lorentzian and asymmetric Fano line shapes are fundamental spectroscopic signatures that quantify the structural and dynamical properties of nuclei, atoms, molecules, and solids. This study introduces a universal temporal-phase formalism, mapping the Fano asymmetry parameter q to a phase {\phi} of the time-dependent dipole-response function. The formalism is confirmed experimentally by laser-transforming Fano absorption lines of autoionizing helium into Lorentzian lines after attosecond-pulsed excitation. We also prove the inverse, the transformation of a naturally Lorentzian line into a Fano profile. A further application of this formalism amplifies resonantly interacting extreme-ultraviolet light by quantum-phase control. The quantum phase of excited states and its response to interactions can thus be extracted from line-shape analysis, with scientific applications in many branches of spectroscopy.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Qualitätskommunikation und Erfolgsfaktoren im Commodity-Marketing : Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten einer Getreidemarke mit regionaler Identität

In der Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft konzentrieren sich das Marketinginteresse und damit auch die Marketingforschung im Wesentlichen auf klassische Qualitätsprodukte wie Fleisch oder Bioprodukte sowie auf Nahrungsmittel zum unmittelbaren Konsum. Commodities wie Getreide dagegen entziehen sich nach verbreitetem Verständnis im Sektor den Möglichkeiten eines gezielten produktbezogenen Marketings. Diese Ansicht wird jedoch auf Grund verschiedener Entwicklungen herausgefordert. Die zunehmenden Anforderungen an Qualität und Lebensmittelsicherheit durch die Verbraucher haben Auswirkungen bis hin zur landwirtschaftlichen Produktion. Neue Möglichkeiten der vertikalen Zusammenarbeit in der Erfassung, Dokumentation, Darstellung und Kommunikation von Qualität sowie der nachvollziehbaren räumlichen Eingrenzung von Getreideherkünften eröffnen neue Formen eines Erfolg versprechenden Getreidemarketings mit regionalem Bezug. Die vorliegende Studie identifiziert und untersucht Erfolgsfaktoren für ein regionales Getreidemarketing auf der Grundlage einer stufenübergreifenden Qualitätssicherung. Der Untersuchungsansatz bezieht sich auf eine vertikale Qualitätskommunikation, die auf die Stufen Handel und Vermahlung fokussiert. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf der Kombination von Garantien durch die Anbieter, Nachvollziehbarkeit durch den Kunden und regionale Identifikation als Vertrauen stiftendes Element. Für die Entwicklung eines Qualitätskommunikationssystems zur Unterstützung von Qualitätsaussagen wird das Quality Function Deployment im Rahmen des Prototyping angewendet. Die untersuchten Erfolgsfaktoren werden darauf aufbauend unter anderem mit Hilfe von Geo-Informationen visualisiert und kommunizierbar. Die Kombination von Qualitätsdaten mit Geo-Informationen stellt einen Bezug zwischen Getreidequalität und Herkunftsregion her. Dieser Bezug unterstützt die Markenkommunikation zur Erzielung von Mehrwerten für die Systempartner. Die vorliegende Arbeit trägt zur Verbesserung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit von heimischen Weizen bei und leistet damit einen Beitrag für das Commodity-Marketing. Die Berücksichtung einer stufenübergreifenden Qualitätskommunikation, die sich auf Erfolgsfaktoren gründet, integriert dabei Elemente der Marketing-Kommunikation und des Qualitätsmanagements und rückt diese Führungsansätze näher zusammen.Quality Communication and Success Factors in Commodity Marketing – Development Possibilities for a Wheat Brand with Regional Identity In the agri-food sector marketing and marketing research focus mainly on classic quality products like meat or organic products and food products that are ready for consumption. There’s a wide spread view in the sector that commodities like grain are not suitable for specific product related marketing. But due to different developments, this view is increasingly challenged. Increasing levels of consumers’ requirements with respect to quality and food safety have an impact on whole production chains. New possibilities of vertical cooperation in data collection and documentation, the visualisation and communication of quality and a traceable location of wheat origin create new forms of success promising wheat marketing strategies based on regional identities. This research identifies and assesses success factors of regional wheat marketing based on supply chain spanning quality assurance schemes. The underlying approach aims at vertical quality communication focusing on wheat trade and milling. There are particular interests on a combination of guarantees given by suppliers, traceability for consumers and regional identification as a trust building means. The development of a quality communication system that supports quality statements is based on Quality Function Deployment and Prototyping. Success factors are subsequently supported with geo information in order to visualise them for communication. The combination of quality information and geo information creates a relation between wheat quality and region of origin. This relation supports marketing communication and value creation for participating companies. This research contributes to the improvement of competitiveness of local wheat. Hence, it makes a contribution to commodity marketing. Supply chain spanning quality communication based on success factors, integrates elements of marketing communication and quality management. This suggests that quality management and marketing management are closely linked together

Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2A (MEF2A) Defines Oxytocin-Induced Morphological Effects and Regulates Mitochondrial Function in Neurons

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is a well-described modulator of socio-emotional traits, such as anxiety, stress, social behavior, and pair bonding. However, when dysregulated, it is associated with adverse psychiatric traits, such as various aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this study, we identify the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) as the common link between OT and cellular changes symptomatic for ASD, encompassing neuronal morphology, connectivity, and mitochondrial function. We provide evidence for MEF2A as the decisive factor defining the cellular response to OT: while OT induces neurite retraction in MEF2A expressing neurons, OT causes neurite outgrowth in absence of MEF2A. A CRISPR-Cas-mediated knockout of MEF2A and retransfection of an active version or permanently inactive mutant, respectively, validated our findings. We also identified the phosphatase calcineurin as the main upstream regulator of OT-induced MEF2A signaling. Further, MEF2A signaling dampens mitochondrial functioning in neurons, as MEF2A knockout cells show increased maximal cellular respiration, spare respiratory capacity, and total cellular ATP. In summary, we reveal a central role for OT-induced MEF2A activity as major regulator of cellular morphology as well as neuronal connectivity and mitochondrial functioning, with broad implications for a potential treatment of disorders based on morphological alterations or mitochondrial dysfunction