The German Constitutional Court’s decision about the European Central Bank’s OMT [Outright Monetary Transactions] mechanism: A masterpiece of judicial arrogance. European Policy Briefs No. 30, April 2014

The German Constitutional Court (BVG) recently referred different questions to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling. They concern the legality of the European Central Bank’s Outright Monetary Transaction mechanism created in 2012. Simultaneously, the German Court has threatened to disrupt the implementation of OTM in Germany if its very restrictive analysis is not validated by the European Court of Justice. This raises fundamental questions about the future efficiency of the ECB’s monetary policy, the damage to the independence of the ECB, the balance of power between judges and political organs in charge of economic policy, in Germany and in Europe, and finally the relationship between the BVG and other national or European courts

Above-ground biomass and productivity in a rain forest of eastern South America

Abstract: The dynamics of tropical forest woody plants was studied at the Nouragues Field Station, central French Guiana. Stem density, basal area, above-ground biomass and above-ground net primary productivity, including the contribution of litterfall, were estimated from two large permanent census plots of 12 and 10 ha, established on contrasting soil types, and censused twice, first in 1992¿1994, then again in 2000¿2002. Mean stem density was 512 stems ha¿1 and basal area, 30m2 ha¿1. Stem mortality rate ranged between 1.51% and 2.06% y¿1. In both plots, stem density decreased over the study period. Using a correlation between wood density and wood hardness directly measured by a Pilodyn wood tester,we found that the mean wood densitywas 0.63 g cm¿3, 12% smaller than the mean of wood density estimated from the literature values for the species occurring in our plot. Above-ground biomass ranged from 356 to 398Mgha¿1 (oven-dry mass), and it increased over the census period. Leaf biomass was 6.47Mg ha¿1. Our total estimate of aboveground net primary productivity was 8.81 MgC ha¿1 y¿1 (in carbon units), not accounting for loss to herbivory, branchfalls, or biogenic volatile organic compounds, whichmay altogether account for an additional 1MgC ha¿1 y¿1. Coarse wood productivity (stem growth plus recruitment) contributed to 4.16 MgC ha¿1 y¿1. Litterfall contributed to 4.65MgC ha¿1 y¿1 with 3.16 MgC ha¿1 y¿1 due to leaves, 1.10 MgC ha¿1 y¿1 to twigs, and 0.39MgC ha¿1 y¿1 to fruits and flowers. The increase in above-ground biomass for both trees and lianas is consistentwith the hypothesis of a shift in the functioning of Amazonian rain forests driven by environmental changes, although alternative hypotheses such as a recovery from past disturbances cannot be ruled out at our site, as suggested by the observed decrease in stem density. Key Words: above-ground biomass, carbon, French Guiana, net primary productivity, tropical fores

Logahedra: A new weakly relational domain

Weakly relational numeric domains express restricted classes of linear inequalities that strike a balance between what can be described and what can be efficiently computed. Popular weakly relational domains such as bounded differences and octagons have found application in model checking and abstract interpretation. This paper introduces logahedra, which are more expressiveness than octagons, but less expressive than arbitrary systems of two variable per inequality constraints. Logahedra allow coefficients of inequalities to be powers of two whilst retaining many of the desirable algorithmic properties of octagons

Understanding the nature of Ds(2317)D_s(2317) and Ds(2460)D_s(2460) through nonleptonic B Decays

We consider the nonleptonic B decays $B \to D^{(*)} D_s(2317)$ and $B \to D^{(*)} D_s(2460)$, involving the newly discovered $D_s(2317)$ and the $D_s(2460)$ states. We find that experiments indicate disagreement with model calculations of their properties and/or breakdown of the factorization assumption for these decays . We point out that decays involving $B_s$ mesons where the $D_s$ resonances can be produced via the weak decay of the $b$ quark can provide further information about the nature of these newly discovered states. We also propose a model to calculate the two body nonleptonic decays $B \to D^{(*)} D_s(2317)(D_s(2460))$, if the $D_s(2317)$ and $D_s(2460)$ are interpreted as $DK$ and $D^*K$ molecules.Comment: 14 pages LaTeX; additional reference, notational corrections and minor clarifications of tex

Kasner and Mixmaster behavior in universes with equation of state w \ge 1

We consider cosmological models with a scalar field with equation of state $w\ge 1$ that contract towards a big crunch singularity, as in recent cyclic and ekpyrotic scenarios. We show that chaotic mixmaster oscillations due to anisotropy and curvature are suppressed, and the contraction is described by a homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann equation if $w>1$. We generalize the results to theories where the scalar field couples to p-forms and show that there exists a finite value of $w$, depending on the p-forms, such that chaotic oscillations are suppressed. We show that $Z_2$ orbifold compactification also contributes to suppressing chaotic behavior. In particular, chaos is avoided in contracting heterotic M-theory models if $w>1$ at the crunch.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures, minor changes, references adde

Ultra-High-Resolution and K-Edge Imaging of Prosthetic Heart Valves With Spectral Photon-Counting CT:A Phantom Study

Background and Purpose: The contribution of cardiac computed tomography (CT) for the detection and characterization of prosthetic heart valve (PHV) complications is still limited due mainly to artifacts. Computed tomography systems equipped with photon-counting detectors (PCDs) have the potential to overcome these limitations. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare image quality of PHV with PCD-CT and dual-energy dual-layer CT (DEDL-CT). Materials and Methods: Two metallic and 3 biological PHVs were placed in a tube containing diluted iodinated contrast inside a thoracic phantom and scanned repeatedly at different angles on a DEDL-CT and PCD-CT. Two small lesions (∼2 mm thickness; containing muscle and fat, respectively) were attached to the structure of 4 valves, placed inside the thoracic phantom, with and without an extension ring, and scanned again. Acquisition parameters were matched for the 2 CT systems and used for all scans. Metallic valves were scanned again with parameters adapted for tungsten K-edge imaging. For all valves, different metallic parts were measured on conventional images to assess their thickness and blooming artifacts. In addition, 6 parallelepipeds per metallic valve were drawn, and all voxels with density &lt;3 times the standard deviation of the contrast media were recorded as an estimate of streak artifacts. For subjective analysis, 3 expert readers assessed conventional images of the valves, with and without lesions, and tungsten K-edge images. Conspicuity and sharpness of the different parts of the valve, the lesions, metallic, and blooming artifacts were scored on a 4-point scale. Measurements and scores were compared with the paired t test or Wilcoxon test. Results: The objective analysis showed that, with PCD-CT, valvular metallic structures were thinner and presented less blooming artifacts. Metallic artifacts were also reduced with PCD-CT (11 [interquartile (IQ) = 6] vs 40 [IQ = 13] % of voxels). Subjective analysis allowed noticing that some structures were visible or clearly visible only with PCD-CT. In addition, PCD-CT yielded better scores for the conspicuity and for the sharpness of all structures (all Ps &lt; 0.006), except for the conspicuity of the leaflets of the mechanical valves, which were well visible with either technique (4 [IQ = 3] for both). Both blooming and streak artifacts were reduced with PCD-CT (P ≤ 0.01). Overall, the use of PCD-CT resulted in better conspicuity and sharpness of the lesions compared with DEDL-CT (both Ps &lt; 0.02). In addition, only with PCD-CT some differences between the 2 lesions were detectable. Adding the extension ring resulted in reduced conspicuity and sharpness with DEDL-CT (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively) and only in reduced sharpness with PCD-CT (P = 0.04). Tungsten K-edge imaging allowed for the visualization of the only dense structure containing it, the leaflets, and it resulted in images judged having less blooming and metallic artifacts as compared with conventional PCD-CT images (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: With PCD-CT, objective and subjective image quality of metallic and biological PHVs is improved compared with DEDL-CT. Notwithstanding the improvements in image quality, millimetric lesions attached to the structure of the valves remain a challenge for PCD-CT. Tungsten K-edge imaging allows for even further reduction of artifacts.</p

Fifteen years of clinical liver transplantation

Liver transplantation in humans was first attempted more than 15 yr ago. The 1-yr survival has slowly improved until it has now reached about 50%. In our experience, 46 patients have lived for at least 1 yr, with the longest survival being 9 yr. The high acute mortality in early trials was due in many cases to technical and management errors and to the use of damaged organs. With elimination of such factors, survival increased. Further improvements will depend upon better immunosuppression. Orthotopic liver transplantation (liver replacement) is the preferred operation in most cases, but placement of an extra liver (auxiliary transplantation) may have a role under special circumstances. © 1979

Snacking on whole almonds for 6 weeks improves endothelial function and lowers LDL cholesterol but does not affect liver fat and other cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy adults: the ATTIS study, a randomized controlled trial

Background There is convincing evidence that daily whole almond consumption lowers blood LDL cholesterol concentrations, but effects on other cardiometabolic risk factors such as endothelial function and liver fat are still to be determined. Objectives We aimed to investigate whether isoenergetic substitution of whole almonds for control snacks with the macronutrient profile of average snack intakes, had any impact on markers of cardiometabolic health in adults aged 30–70 y at above-average risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods The study was a 6-wk randomized controlled, parallel-arm trial. Following a 2-wk run-in period consuming control snacks (mini-muffins), participants consumed either whole roasted almonds (n = 51) or control snacks (n = 56), providing 20% of daily estimated energy requirements. Endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation), liver fat (MRI/magnetic resonance spectroscopy), and secondary outcomes as markers of cardiometabolic disease risk were assessed at baseline and end point. Results Almonds, compared with control, increased endothelium-dependent vasodilation (mean difference 4.1%-units of measurement; 95% CI: 2.2, 5.9), but there were no differences in liver fat between groups. Plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations decreased in the almond group relative to control (mean difference −0.25 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.45, −0.04), but there were no group differences in triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, liver function enzymes, fetuin-A, body composition, pancreatic fat, intramyocellular lipids, fecal SCFAs, blood pressure, or 24-h heart rate variability. However, the long-phase heart rate variability parameter, very-low-frequency power, was increased during nighttime following the almond treatment compared with control (mean difference 337 ms2; 95% CI: 12, 661), indicating greater parasympathetic regulation. Conclusions Whole almonds consumed as snacks markedly improve endothelial function, in addition to lowering LDL cholesterol, in adults with above-average risk of CVD. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02907684

Ward Identities, B-> \rho Form Factors and |V_ub|

The exclusive FCNC beauty semileptonic decay B-> \rho is studied using Ward identities in a general vector meson dominance framework, predicting vector meson couplings involved. The long distance contributions are discussed which results to obtain form factors and |V_ub|. A detailed comparison is given with other approaches.Comment: 30 pages+four postscript figures, an Appendix adde