Radiation environment along the INTEGRAL orbit measured with the IREM monitor

The INTEGRAL Radiation Environment Monitor (IREM) is a payload supporting instrument on board the INTEGRAL satellite. The monitor continually measures electron and proton fluxes along the orbit and provides this information to the spacecraft on board data handler. The mission alert system broadcasts it to the payload instruments enabling them to react accordingly to the current radiation level. Additionally, the IREM conducts its autonomous research mapping the Earth radiation environment for the space weather program. Its scientific data are available for further analysis almost without delay.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A+A letter

Lymphadenektomie im Rahmen der radikalen Zystektomie: Aktueller Stand und Kontroversen

Zusammenfassung: Die pelvine Lymphadenektomie (LAD) ist ein entscheidender Bestandteil der radikalen Zystektomie bei muskelinvasiven Harnblasentumoren. Die optimale Ausdehnung der LAD, insbesondere die proximale Ausdehnung, wird weiterhin kontrovers diskutiert. Aufgrund der vorliegenden Mapping- sowie retrospektiven Studien scheint die ausgedehnte LAD bis zum oberen Drittel der iliakal kommunen Gefäße einen prognostischen wie auch therapeutischen Benefit mit sich zu bringen und sollte deshalb als Standard definiert werden. Dies gilt gleichermaßen für die offene wie auch für die minimal-invasive Chirurgie. Dabei ist die alleinige Lymphknoten- (LK-)Anzahl kein hinlängliches Qualitätskriterium für eine LAD, da die LK-Zahl zu sehr durch anatomische Variabilität, chirurgische Technik, Wahl des Templates, histopathologische Aufarbeitung etc. beeinflusst wird und daraus konsekutiv beträchtliche interinstitutionelle Unterschiede resultieren, welche keinen Vergleich zulassen. Die LK-Density wird als besserer prognostischer Faktor postuliert, wird aber in gleichem Ausmaß von denselben Faktoren beeinflusst. Hinsichtlich molekularer Diagnostik zur Verbesserung der Sensitivität des LK-Stagings ist weitere Forschungstätigkeit notwendig. Es wird sich zeigen, inwieweit die Ergebnisse der beiden groß angelegten prospektiv randomisierten Studien zur Klärung der optimalen Ausdehnung der LAD beitragen werde

Influence of the pre-treatment of glass substrates on Laser-Induced Backside Wet Etching using NIR Nanosecond-Pulses and Cu-based solutions

Laser induced backside wet etching (LIBWE) has shown to be a promising tool for the micro-structuring of transparent materials. Our group has investigated LIBWE using NIR ns-laser pulses and Cu-based absorber liquids. Focus of this paper is to investigate the influence of the pre-treatment of the transparent substrate on ablation. For this purpose experiments were done on untreated and silanized soda lime glass surfaces. Our results show that depending on the absorber liquid the silanization of the substrate either enhances or delays the ablation. Possible ablation models for the different experimental settings will be discussed

Laser-induced chemical liquid-phase deposition of copper on transparent substrates

Laser-induced chemical liquid phase deposition allows maskless manufacturing of metallic structures on the surface of dielectrics and is prospected to be a promising tool in the field of microelectronics and microfluidics. The aim of the work presented here is to combine this deposition method with a related micro-structuring method known as laser-induced backside wet etching. Fabricating both, microstructured surface structures and subsequent deposition of conducting patterns within the same setup would be an interesting tool for rapid prototyping.To demonstrate the functional principle of this combined approach conductive copper lines were deposited at the backside of both polished and structured soda lime glass substrates by using a focused, scanning ns-pulsed Ytterbium fiber laser at 532nm wavelength. The deposition process is initiated by a photo induced reaction of a CuSO4-based liquid precursor in contact with the backside of the substrate. The obtained metallic copper deposits are crystalline, stable under ambient conditions and have a conductivity in the same order of magnitude as bulk copper

Nonsolar astronomy with the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)

The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) is a NASA Small Explorer satellite designed to study hard x-ray and gamma-ray emission from solar flares. In addition, its high-resolution array of germanium detectors can see photons from high-energy sources throughout the Universe. Here we discuss the various algorithms necessary to extract spectra, lightcurves, and other information about cosmic gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, and other astrophysical phenomena using an unpointed, spinning array of detectors. We show some preliminary results and discuss our plans for future analyses. All RHESSI data are public, and scientists interested in participating should contact the principal author

Modelling the energy gap in transition metal/aluminium bilayers"

We present an application of the generalised proximity effect theory.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, presented at workshop on low temperature superconducting electronics at the University of Twente, The Netherland

Measurement of electron screening in muonic lead

Energies of the transitions between high-lying (n≥6) states of muonic lead were accurately determined. The results are interpreted as a ∼2% test of the electron screening. The agreement between experiment and theory is good if it is assumed that the refilling of the electron K shell is fast. The present results furthermore severely restrict possible ionization of the electron L shell

Aortic calcification and femoral bone density are independently associated with left ventricular mass in patients with chronic kidney disease

Background Vascular calcification and reduced bone density are prevalent in chronic kidney disease and linked to increased cardiovascular risk. The mechanism is unknown. We assessed the relationship between vascular calcification, femoral bone density and left ventricular mass in patients with stage 3 non-diabetic chronic kidney disease in a cross-sectional observational study. Methodology and Principal Findings A total of 120 patients were recruited (54% male, mean age 55±14 years, mean glomerular filtration rate 50±13 ml/min/1.73 m2). Abdominal aortic calcification was assessed using lateral lumbar spine radiography and was present in 48%. Mean femoral Z-score measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was 0.60±1.06. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine left ventricular mass. One patient had left ventricular hypertrophy. Subjects with aortic calcification had higher left ventricular mass compared to those without (56±16 vs. 48±12 g/m2, P = 0.002), as did patients with femoral Z-scores below zero (56±15 vs. 49±13 g/m2, P = 0.01). In univariate analysis presence of aortic calcification correlated with left ventricular mass (r = 0.32, P = 0.001); mean femoral Z-score inversely correlated with left ventricular mass (r = −0.28, P = 0.004). In a multivariate regression model that included presence of aortic calcification, mean femoral Z-score, gender and 24-hour systolic blood pressure, 46% of the variability in left ventricular mass was explained (P<0.001). Conclusions In patients with stage 3 non-diabetic chronic kidney disease, lower mean femoral Z-score and presence of aortic calcification are independently associated with increased left ventricular mass. Further research exploring the pathophysiology that underlies these relationships is warranted

IN VIVO and IN VITRO 27AI NMR studies of aluminium(III) chelates of triazacyclononane polycarboxylate ligands

The metallic radioisotope of a known radiopharmaceutical chelate, 67Ga(NOTA) (NOTA=1,4,7-triazacyclonane-1,4,7-triacetic acid), used for tumor detection, was substituted by the chemically similar but non radioactive aluminum ion. Our aim was to detect and evaluate the in vivo behavior of the chelate. For this purpose, Al(NOTA) and the related chelate Al(NODASA) (NODASA=1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1-succinic acid-4,7-diacetic acid) were studied using in vitro and in vivo 27Al NMR spectroscopy in rats. Both chelates showed high stability towards acid catalyzed dissociation and their 27Al NMR resonances are characteristic of highly symmetrical species, with chemical shifts within the range for octahedral or pseudo-octahedral geometries. The thermodynamic stability constant of the novel chelate Al(NODASA) was estimated using 27Al NMR. The obtained value suggested that the chelate does not undergo in vivo demetalation by transferrin. The in vivo spectroscopic studies and the analysis of blood and urine samples for Al(III) concentrations indicated that the chelates remain intact under physiological conditions and that they are mainly eliminated from the body through the kidneys.Swiss National Science Foundation. NOVARTIS

Motion of vortices implies chaos in Bohmian mechanics

Bohmian mechanics is a causal interpretation of quantum mechanics in which particles describe trajectories guided by the wave function. The dynamics in the vicinity of nodes of the wave function, usually called vortices, is regular if they are at rest. However, vortices generically move during time evolution of the system. We show that this movement is the origin of chaotic behavior of quantum trajectories. As an example, our general result is illustrated numerically in the two-dimensional isotropic harmonic oscillator.Comment: 7 pages 5 figure