Bushs Absage an das Kioto-Protokoll - wird die EU Lokomotive der globalen Klimapolitik?

US-Präsident Bush hat Ende März dem weltweiten Klimaschutz-Protokoll eine Absage erteilt. Wie steht es danach um die Zukunft der internationalen Klimaschutzpolitik? --

ISM studies of GRB 030329 with high resolution spectroscopy

We present a series of early UVES/VLT high resolution spectra of the afterglow of GRB 030329 at redshift z=0.16867+-0.00001. In contrast to other spectra from this burst, both emission and absorption lines were detected. None of them showed any temporal evolution. From the emission lines, we determine the properties of the host galaxy which has a star formation rate (SFR) of 0.198 M_solar yr^-1 and a low metallicity of 1/7 Z_solar. Given the low total stellar host mass M_star=10^7.75+-0.15 M_solar and an absolute luminosity m_V=-16.37, we derive specific SFRs (SSFR) of log SFR/M = -8.5 yr^-1 and SFR/L = 14.1 M_solar yr^-1 L_*^-1. This fits well into the picture of GRB hosts as being low mass, low metallicity, actively star forming galaxies. The MgII and MgI absorption lines from the host show multiple narrow (Doppler width b=5-10 km/s) components spanning a range of v about 260 km/s, mainly blueshifted compared to the redshift from the emission lines. These components are likely probing outflowing material of the host galaxy, which could arise from former galactic superwinds, driven by supernovae from star forming regions. Similar features have been observed in QSO spectra. The outflowing material is mainly neutral with high column densities of log N(MgII)=14.0+-0.1 cm^-2 and log N(MgI)=12.3+-0.1 cm^-2.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Ap

Challenging complications of treatment – human herpes virus 6 encephalitis and pneumonitis in a patient undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation for relapsed Hodgkin's disease: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) occurs frequently in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and is associated with bone-marrow suppression, enteritis, pneumonitis, pericarditis and also encephalitis. After autologous stem cell transplantation or intensive polychemotherapy HHV-6 reactivation is rarely reported.</p> <p>Case report</p> <p>This case demonstrates a severe symptomatic HHV-6 infection with encephalitis and pneumonitis after autologous stem cell transplantation of a patient with relapsed Hodgkin's disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Careful diagnostic work up in patients with severe complications after autologous stem cell transplantation is mandatory to identify uncommon infections.</p

Intervening Metal Systems in GRB and QSO sight-lines: The Mgii and Civ Question

Prochter et al. 2006 recently found that the number density of strong intervening 0.5<z<2 MgII absorbers detected in gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow spectra is nearly 4 times larger than in QSO spectra. We have conducted a similar study using CIV absorbers. Our CIV sample, consisting of a total of 20 systems, is drawn from 3 high resolution and high to moderate S/N VLT/UVES spectra of 3 long-duration GRB afterglows, covering the redshift interval 1.6< z<3.1. The column density distribution and number density of this sample do not show any statistical difference with the same quantities measured in QSO spectra. We discuss several possibilities for the discrepancy between CIV and MgII absorbers and conclude that a higher dust extinction in the MgII QSO samples studied up to now would give the most straightforward solution. However, this effect is only important for the strong MgII absorbers. Regardless of the reasons for this discrepancy, this result confirms once more that GRBs can be used to detect a side of the universe that was unknown before, not necessarily connected with GRBs themselves, providing an alternative and fundamental investigative tool of the cosmic evolution of the universe.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, ApJ accepted, Revised after Referee Repor

Thymic Involution in Viable Motheaten (meυ) Mice is Associated with a Loss of Intrathymic Precursor Activity

Mice homozygous for the viable motheaten (meυ) allele manifest abnormalities in thymocytopoiesis, are severely immunodeficient, and develop autoimmune disorders early in life. Premature thymic involution occurs in meυ/meυ mice, and their bone marrow prothymocytes are unable to repopulate the thymus of adoptive recipients following intravenous (i.v.) transfer. However, analysis of thymocytopoiesis following intrathymic (i.t.) adoptive transfer of bone marrow from meυ/meυ mice demonstrates the presence of normal numbers of prothymocytes. To investigate intrathymic development in meυ/meυ mice, we determined intrathymic precursor cell number and activity. Dual labeling analyses showed that an involuted meυ/meυ thymus is relatively enriched (fivefold) in CD4– CD8– thymocytes (intrathymic precursor phenotype) compared with wild-type (+/+) thymus. However, thymocytes from meυ/meυ mice were deficient in precursor activity when adoptively transferred i.t. into irradiated recipients. Thymocytes recovered from the involuted thymus of aged or steroid-treated normal mice also displayed reduced precursor activity. However, the phenotypic profile of thymocyte subsets from steroid-treated mice was enriched in single positive cells (mature phenotype) and was distinctly different from the subset distribution of thymocytes in meυ/meυ and aged mice. These results suggest that intrathymic precursor activity in meυ/meυ mice is decreased, and may be reflective of decreased prothymocyte seeding to the thymus in vivo, In addition, the results suggest that the thymic involution in meυ/meυ mice is not due solely to effects of corticosteroids

Thymic involution in viable motheaten (me(v)) mice is associated with a loss of intrathymic precursor activity

Mice homozygous for the viable motheaten (me(v)) allele manifest abnormalities in thymocytopoiesis, are severely immunodeficient, and develop autoimmune disorders early in life. Premature thymic involution occurs in me(v)/me(v) mice, and their bone marrow prothymocytes are unable to repopulate the thymus of adoptive recipients following intravenous (i.v.) transfer. However, analysis of thymocytopoiesis following intrathymic (i.t.) adoptive transfer of bone marrow from me(v)/me(v) mice demonstrates the presence of normal numbers of prothymocytes. To investigate intrathymic development in me(v)/me(v) mice, we determined intrathymic precursor cell number and activity. Dual labeling analyses showed that an involuted me(v)/me(v) thymus is relatively enriched (fivefold) in CD4-CD8- thymocytes (intrathymic precursor phenotype) compared with wild-type (+/+) thymus. However, thymocytes from me(v)/me(v) mice were deficient in precursor activity when adoptively transferred i.t. into irradiated recipients. Thymocytes recovered from the involuted thymus of aged or steroid-treated normal mice also displayed reduced precursor activity. However, the phenotypic profile of thymocyte subsets from steroid-treated mice was enriched in single positive cells (mature phenotype) and was distinctly different from the subset distribution of thymocytes in me(v)/me(v) and aged mice. These results suggest that intrathymic precursor activity in me(v)/me(v) mice is decreased, and may be reflective of decreased prothymocyte seeding to the thymus in vivo. In addition, the results suggest that the thymic involution in me(v)/me(v) mice is not due solely to effects of corticosteroids

Implementing the Clean Development Mechanism in Vietnam: potential and limitations

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Vietnam is used way below its full potential. In spite of efforts to further CDM projects in the recent years, Vietnam still lags behind the comparable neighboring countries in term of registered CDM projects. Especially, though 2008 and 2009 have seen a fast growth in the pipeline in the country but only 14 projects were registered as at 2 December 2009. This development progress is low to the country's greater potential and makes it as a late starter on the global CDM rise when the window of opportunity created by the first Kyoto Protocol period has almost closed. This paper analyzes the barriers explaining this late start and slow catch-up. It suggests strategic policy recommendations which could increase the attractiveness of investment business in the context of climate change protection in Vietnam