Metallic, magnetic and molecular nanocontacts

Scanning tunnelling microscopy and break-junction experiments realize metallic and molecular nanocontacts that act as ideal one-dimensional channels between macroscopic electrodes. Emergent nanoscale phenomena typical of these systems encompass structural, mechanical, electronic, transport, and magnetic properties. This Review focuses on the theoretical explanation of some of these properties obtained with the help of first-principles methods. By tracing parallel theoretical and experimental developments from the discovery of nanowire formation and conductance quantization in gold nanowires to recent observations of emergent magnetism and Kondo correlations, we exemplify the main concepts and ingredients needed to bring together ab initio calculations and physical observations. It can be anticipated that diode, sensor, spin-valve and spin-filter functionalities relevant for spintronics and molecular electronics applications will benefit from the physical understanding thus obtained

Ephedrine therapy in eight patients with congenital myasthenic syndrome due to DOK7 mutations

a b s t r a c t In congenital myasthenic syndrome with DOK7 mutations ephedrine was reported to be beneficial in single patients. We carried out a small, open and prospective cohort study in eight European patients manifesting from birth to 12 years. Five patients showed limb-girdle and facial weakness, three a floppy infant syndrome with bulbar symptoms and/or respiratory distress. Ephedrine was started with 25 mg/ day and slowly increased to 75-100 mg/day. Within weeks after starting therapy an improvement was observed in all patients and clinical follow-up disclosed positive effects more pronounced on proximal muscle weakness and strength using MRC scale. Effects on facial weakness were less pronounced. Vital capacity measurements and repetitive stimulation tests did not improve in the same way as clinical symptoms did. These investigations are appropriate to confirm the diagnosis in case of pathological results, but they might not be appropriate means to monitor patients under ephedrine therapy

Volcanic tremor and magma flow

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has signed a series of agreements on bilateral cooperation in scientific research and technological development with a considerable number of countries around the world.Among these are Third World countries in the developing stage or on the threshold of industrialization. The general goals of the national German research and technology policy are also applicable to these governmentalagreements. Bilateral cooperation is aimed at to contribute to the broadening of scientific knowledge, to safeguard natural resources and the environment, and to improve the living and working conditions of the populationthrough an increase of the economic strength and of the competitiveness on the international markets. Through the strengthening of the scientifictechnological infrastructure as a prerequisite for industrialization, throughthe joint implementation of projects, and through the exchange of scientists and engineers a contribution to solve the most urgent problems in the partner countries can be achieved, helping thus to narrow the technological gap existing between the developed and the developing world. On March 20, 1979, a governmental agreement on cooperation in scientific research and technological development with the Republic of Indonesia was signed. On the German side, the responsible Federal Ministry for Research and Technology has entrusted the Forschungszentrum Jülich through its International Bureau with the organisation and coordination of this cooperation.Funds are put at the disposal of the International Bureau to at least partially help financing these bilateral efforts. Among the manifold contacts established in the past decade to strengthen the bilateral links between the Republic of Indonesia and the Federal Republic of Germany the partnership between the Laboratory of Geophysics, Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta and the Institute of Geophysics, University of Stuttgart play an outstanding role. The scientific results of 10 years of fruitful cooperation investigating the volcanological activities of Mount Merapi in Central Java are documented in the presented book and compared with Mount Etna in Sicily, another major volcano in the world. The expectation on both sides is great that these results go beyond the mere scientific merits and will also yield ways and means to work out methods of predicting the volcano's activities for the benefit and safety of the numerous population living nearby. Bilateral cooperation has sometimes to surmount difficulties which do not necessarily occur on the national level. These difficulties have to do with the cultural and ethnic differences into which the partners are embedded, [...