Bounds on the derivatives of the Isgur-Wise function from sum rules in the heavy quark limit of QCD

Using the OPE and the trace formalism, we have obtained a number of sum rules in the heavy quark limit of QCD that include the sum over all excited states for any value $j^P$ of the light cloud. We show that these sum rules imply that the elastic Isgur-Wise function $\xi (w)$ is an alternate series in powers of $(w-1)$. Moreover, we obtain sum rules involving the derivatives of the elastic Isgur-Wise function $\xi (w)$ at zero recoil, that imply that the $n$-th derivative can be bounded by the $(n-1)$-th one. For the curvature $\sigma^2 = \xi''(1)$, this proves the already proposed bound $\sigma^2 \geq {5 \over 4} \rho^2$. Moreover, we obtain the absolute bound for the $n$-th derivative $(-1)^n \xi^{(n)}(1) \geq {(2n+1)!! \over 2^{2n}}$, that generalizes the results $\rho^2 \geq {3 \over 4}$ and $\sigma^2 \geq {15 \over 16}$.Comment: 9 pages, Late

Ercatons and Organic Programming: Say Good-Bye to Planned Economy

Organic programming (OP) is our proposed and already emerging programming model which overcomes some of the limitations of current practice in software development in general and of object-oriented programming (OOP) in particular. Ercatons provide an implementation of the model. In some respects, OP is less than a (new) programming language, in others, it is more. An "ercato machine" implements the ideas discussed and has been used to validate the concepts described here. Organic programming is centered around the concept of a true "Thing". A thing in an executing software system is bound to behave the way an autonomous object does in our real world, or like a cell does in an organism. Software objects do not. Therefore, traditional software systems must be planned while with OP, software systems grow. This fact is traced back to be the root why current software development often fails to meet our expectations when it comes to large-scale projects. OP should then be able to provide the means to make software development achieve what other engineering disciplines have achieved a long time ago: that project effort scales sub-linearly with size. With OP we introduce a new term because we hope that the approach we are pursuing is radical enough to justify this

Diabetes

Schon Jahre bevor der Hormonwirkstoff Insulin die Diabetestherapie Anfang der 1920er revolutionierte und das Leben abertausender Diabetiker weltweit von Grund auf verändern sollte, vertrat der renommierte US-amerikanische Diabetesspezialist Elliott Proctor Joslin (1869-1962) die Auffassung, dass ein diabetischer Patient seine eigene Krankenschwester, sein eigener Chemiker und der Assistent seines behandelnden Arztes sein solle. Eine bemerkenswerte Position zu einer Zeit, die gemeinhin als eine gilt, in der die Verwissenschaftlichungstendenzen einer ohnehin paternalistisch geprägten Medizin zu einer weitreichenden Marginalisierung von Patienten und Patientinnen geführt habe. Auf der Suche nach den Gründen dieser für die erste Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts ungewöhnlichen Interaktionspraxis zwischen Ärzten und Patienten leuchtet Oliver Falk in seinem Buch die Herausbildung und Konstituierung dieses kooperierenden, aktiven, sich selbst behandelnden Patient:innentypus aus, der lange vor organisierten Patientenbewegungen und »Citizen Science« konstitutiv für die moderne Diabetestherapie werden sollte. Dabei zeigt er detailliert den engen epistemologischen Zusammenhang zwischen therapeutischem Handeln und wissenschaftlichem Erkenntnisstreben auf und verdeutlicht, dass alltägliches therapeutisches Handeln nicht allein Resultat laborwissenschaftlicher und klinischer Forschungspraxis ist, sondern selbst zum Kern medizinisch-wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisprozesse gezählt werden muss

Containerisierung und container Orchestrierung als high-performance Infrastruktur für Simulationsexperimente

The execution of simulation experiments becomes increasingly resourceintensive, either due to the increasing scale and complexity of the simulation model or the nature of the experiment itself. Popular approaches, like simulation-based optimisation and data farming, require extensive computational resources. Therefore, an appropriate methodology is needed to distribute simulation workloads onto complex computing infrastructures efficiently. Containerisation and container orchestration are promising approaches toward this goal. This paper discusses the requirements needed to utilise containerisation for simulation, gives an example of a container-based computational infrastructure for experimentation, and shows how containerisation and container orchestration benefit simulation execution

Die Integrierte Ländliche Entwicklung in den Medien

Um die Medienberichterstattung zu den Förderprogrammen ILE und LEADER sowie den Wettbewerben »Unser Dorf hat Zukunft« und »Ländliches Bauen« zu evaluieren, wurden in einer Medienresonanzanalyse mehr als 7.500 redaktionelle Beiträge ausgewertet. Der Bericht dokumentiert die Ergebnisse und zeigt die Präsenz der Integrierten Ländlichen Entwicklung in den wichtigsten sächsischen Tageszeitungen auf. Auf Basis der Untersuchungsergebnisse und Handlungsempfehlungen können Kommunikationsinstrumente und -strategien der zuständigen Institutionen weiter optimiert werden

Influence of 68Ga-DOTATOC on sparing of normal tissue for radiation therapy of skull base meningioma: differential impact of photon and proton radiotherapy

Background: To evaluate the impact of 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET on treatment planning and sparing of normal tissue in the treatment of skull base meningioma with advanced photons and protons. Methods: From the institutional database consisting of 507 skull base meningiomas 10 patients were chosen randomly for the present analysis. Target volume definition was performed based on CT and MRI only, as well as with additional 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET. Treatment plans were performed for Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and proton therapy using active raster scanning on both target volumes. We calculated doses to relevant organs at risk (OAR), conformity indices as well as differences in normal tissue sparing between both radiation modalities based on CT/MRI planning as well as CT/MRI/PET planning. Results: For photon treatment plans, PET-based treatment plans showed a reduction of brain stem Dmax and Dmedian for different levels of total dose. At the optic chiasm, use of 68Ga-DOTATOC significantly reduces Dmax; moreover, the Dmedian is reduced in most cases, too. For both right and left optic nerve, reduction of dose by addition of 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET is minimal and depends on the anatomical location of the meningioma. In protons, the impact of 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET is minimal compared to photons. Conclusion: Addition of 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET information into treatment planning for skull base meningiomas has a significant impact on target volumes. In most cases, PET-planning leads to significant reductions of the treatment volumes. Subsequently, reduced doses are applied to OAR. Using protons, the benefit of additional PET is smaller since target coverage is more conformal and dose to OAR is already reduced compared to photons. Therefore, PET-imaging has the greatest margin of benefit in advanced photon techniques, and combination of PET-planning and high-precision treatment leads to comparable treatment plans as with protons

Fossilized anuran soft tissues reveal a new taphonomic model for the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte, Germany

The Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) is famous for reports of three dimensionally preserved soft tissues with sub-cellular detail. The proposed mode of preservation, direct replication in silica, is not known in other fossils and has not been verified using modern approaches. Here, we investigated the taphonomy of the Geiseltal anurans using diverse microbeam imaging and chemical analytical techniques. Our analyses confirm the preservation of soft tissues in all body regions but fail to yield evidence for silicified soft tissues. Instead, the anuran soft tissues are preserved as two layers that differ in microstructure and composition. Layer 1 comprises sulfur-rich carbonaceous microbodies interpreted as melanosomes. Layer 2 comprises the mid-dermal Eberth-Katschenko layer, preserved in calcium phosphate. In addition, patches of original aragonite crystals define the former position of the endolymphatic sac. The primary modes of soft tissue preservation are therefore sulfurization of melanosomes and phosphatization of more labile soft tissues, i.e., skin. This is consistent with the taphonomy of vertebrates in many other Konservat-Lagerstätten. These findings emphasize an emerging model for pervasive preservation of vertebrate soft tissues via melanosome films, particularly in stagnation-type deposits, with phosphatization of more labile tissues where tissue biochemistry is favorable

Analyzing pathogenic (double-stranded (ds) DNA-specific) plasma cells via immunofluorescence microscopy

Introduction While protective plasma cells (PCs) are an important part of the individual’s immune defense, autoreactive plasma cells such as dsDNA-specific plasma cells contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the research on dsDNA-specific plasma cells was restricted to the ELISpot technique, with its limitations, as no other attempt for identification of dsDNA-reactive plasma cells had been successful. Methods With improved fluorochrome labeling of dsDNA, removal of DNA aggregates, and enhanced blocking of unspecific binding, we were able to specifically detect dsDNA-reactive plasma cells by immunofluorescence microscopy. Results Via this novel technique we were able to distinguish short-lived (SLPCs) and long-lived (LLPCs) autoreactive plasma cells, discriminate dsDNA-specific plasma cells according to their immunoglobulin class (IgG, IgM, and IgA) and investigate autoreactive (dsDNA) and vaccine- induced ovalbumin (Ova) plasma cells in parallel. Conclusions The detection of autoreactive dsDNA-specific plasma cells via immunofluorescence microscopy allows specific studies on pathogenic and protective plasma cell subsets and their niches, detailed evaluation of therapeutic treatments and therefore offers new possibilities for basic and clinical research

Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is in most transplant regions a contraindication for liver transplantation, even ruling out an active waiting list registration. However, recent studies showed that well-selected patients after a neo-adjuvant treatment benefit from liver transplantation with good long-term outcomes. The role of living donor liver transplantation is unclear for this indication. The current study focuses on LDLT for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma