Faster Sorting Networks for 1717, 1919 and 2020 Inputs

We present new parallel sorting networks for $17$ to $20$ inputs. For $17, 19,$ and $20$ inputs these new networks are faster (i.e., they require less computation steps) than the previously known best networks. Therefore, we improve upon the known upper bounds for minimal depth sorting networks on $17, 19,$ and $20$ channels. The networks were obtained using a combination of hand-crafted first layers and a SAT encoding of sorting networks

Mass and Width of the Rho Meson in a Nuclear Medium from Brown-Rho Scaling and QCD Sum Rules

We explore the range of values of the in-medium width of a $\rho$-meson at rest which is compatibale with the QCD sum rule approach in a nuclear medium assuming vector meson dominance and a Brown-Rho scaling law of the $\rho$-meson mass with the chiral condensate. The lower and upper bounds for the in-medium width are found to be strongly increasing with the decreasing mass of the $\rho$-meson (increasing nuclear density). We also study the bounds for the in-medium width in models not satisfying the Brown-Rho scaling law. It is shown that the in-medium width depends on how rapidly the mass decreases in comparison to the change of the quark condensate. The bounds for the in-medium width increase with density only if the relative change of the quark condensate is stronger than the relative decrease in mass. This is important for experimental tests of the Brown-Rho scaling paradigm and other dropping $\rho$-mass scenarios.Comment: Revised and extended version. In this version we also study the in-medium width for decreasing $\rho$-masses in models that do not satisfy the Brown-Rho scalin la

Centralised Labour Market Negotiations

This paper contributes to the analysis of central vs. decentral (firm-level) labour market negotiations. We argue that during negotiations on a central scale employers and employees plausibly take output market effects into account, while they behave competitively during firm-level negotiations. Assuming that in both cases the labour market conflict is settled efficiently according to the familiar Nash bargaining solution, we show that central negotiations lead to a lower employment level but to a higher wage rate, when compared with local labour market bargains. While this is an important theoretical result in its own, it has important effects for both empirical labour market research and labour market policies. Also, this result counters the critique that efficient negotiations result in employment levels exceeding the competitive level

Collision of Viscoelastic Spheres: Compact Expressions for the Coefficient of Normal Restitution

The coefficient of restitution of colliding viscoelastic spheres is analytically known as a complete series expansion in terms of the impact velocity where all (infinitely many) coefficients are known. While beeing analytically exact, this result is not suitable for applications in efficient event-driven Molecular Dynamics (eMD) or Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Based on the analytic result, here we derive expressions for the coefficient of restitution which allow for an application in efficient eMD and MC simulations of granular Systems.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The Structure of Firm-Specific Labour Unions

In this paper we investigate trade union formation. To this end we apply a model with two types of labour where both groups decide on whether they prefer to be represented by either two independent craft-specific (professional) labour unions or by a joint (encompassing) labour union. Applying the asymmetric Nash bargaining solution, we find that it is beneficial for at least one group of labourers to resist a unification and to form instead its own independent labour union - and in some cases even both groups are worse off under the umbrella of a joint union. Consequently, a joint union must be considered as a rather unstable institution. As a mirror image, profits are lower if the firm bargains with two independent craft unions. This explains why employers vehemently oppose recent split offs of some occupational groups from existing unions and from stipulated tariff unions

Sports anthropological investigation of male basketball players of different performance classes

The present study focused on somatotypical and sports anthropological differences in German basketball players of different position and performance classes. German basketball players (n=64) from Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia (the mean age 26.8±6.3 years) were divided by league affiliation in 3 pools (2./3. Division, 4./5. Division and 6./7. Division) and differentiated to their positions (center, winger, guards). They were measured according to the standardized guidelines of sports anthropology. The body height of the pool 1 guards averaged 187.2±5.3 cm, the body height of the center players 205.4±5.7 cm, and the body height of the wingers 191.5±4.7 cm (p<0.001 relative to the position, p<0.01 with respect to the performance level). Calipermetry showed a significantly higher percentage of the body fat of the lower divisions. In the top divisions, the body fat percentages were 13.2% for the guards, 20% for the centers and 18.3% for the wingers (p<0.001).The mean somatotypes were 4.0 – 4.4 – 2.8 for all the guards, 5.7 – 4.5 – 2.5 for all the center players and 4.5 – 4.5 – 2.6 for all the wingers.Today’s German basketball players are tall and leggy. The athletes of the middle and lower levels have a higher fat content. With respect to the playing position the guards are relatively smaller players with the lower percentage of body fat. The center players show the highest body weight and the body height dimensions, wherein the wingers are classified as player somatotypes therebetween

Die Interaktion zwischen p53 und p73 als molekulare Zielstruktur in der Tumortherapie

TP53 ist das in humanen Malignomen am häufigsten mutierte Tumorsuppressorgen (Kandoth et al. 2013). Mutationen des TP53-Gens führen meistens zur Expression von mutierten p53-Proteinen voller Länge, die neben einem Funktionsverlust durch onkogenes Potential charakterisiert sind (Oren & Rotter 2010). Dieses Potential wird unter anderem durch die Interaktion von MUTp53 mit dem Tumorsuppressor TAp73 vermittelt (Como et al. 1999). In Übereinstimmung mit der etablierten Datenlage wurde hier demonstriert, dass mutierte p53-Proteine das Transkriptionspotential von WTp53 und TAp73 hemmen. Durch die Substanz RETRA wird die Interaktion von TAp73 mit MUTp53 aufgehoben und TAp73 transkriptionell reaktiviert (Kravchenko et al. 2008). Bestätigend wurde in dieser Arbeit das durch strukturstabile und strukturinstabile p53-Mutanten gehemmte Transkriptionspotential von TAp73 durch RETRA wiederhergestellt. Darüber hinaus erhöhte RETRA das Transkriptionspotential von TAp73. Ob hierbei ein spezifischer Effekt von RETRA auf die Struktur des C-Terminus oder die transkriptionsinhibitorische Domäne von TAp73 ursächlich ist, bleibt zu klären. In der Behandlung einer heterogenen Auswahl von Tumorzelllinien mit RETRA wurden zum Teil ausgeprägte zytotoxische Effekte beobachtet. Die retrospektive Mutations- und Korrelationsanalyse der Ergebnisse ergab zunächst, dass die gemessene Zytotoxizität unabhängig von p53-Mutationsstatus und verschiedenen strukturbiologischen Eigenschaften von p53 war, die die Interaktion mit TAp73 beeinflussen. Die Auswirkungen von RETRA in den behandelten Tumorzelllinien waren dabei auch nicht von der mRNA-Expression der p73-Isoformen TAp73 und dNp73 abhängig. Dieses Ergebnis ist jedoch wegen der heterogenen Zusammensetzung des behandelten Zelllinienpanels und der begrenzten Aussagekraft der p73-Isoformenquantifizierung auf mRNA-Ebene kritisch zu bewerten. Die RETRABehandlung von Tumorzelllinien in Kombination mit dem Topoisomerase-II-Hemmer Etoposid verursachte in Tumorzelllinien unabhängig des p53-Mutationsstatus ausgeprägte additive zytotoxische Effekte. In MUTp53- und p53-negativen Zelllinien wurde zusätzlich ein deutlicher Wirksynergismus von RETRA und Etoposid gemessen. Das Fehlen eines zytotoxischen Stimulus hat somit möglicherweise zu einem unsystematischen Fehler in der Korrelationsanalyse geführt. Die erhobenen Ergebnisse bestätigen in ihrer Zusammenschau, dass RETRA das Transkriptionspotential von TAp73 wiederherstellen und seine tumorsuppressive Funktion aktivieren kann. Die gemessenen chemosensibilisierenden Eigenschaften qualifizieren RETRA als möglichen Kombinationspartner in der Therapie von malignen Tumoren mit konventionellen Chemotherapeutika. Es sind jedoch weitere Untersuchungen in vitro und in vivo nötig, um die Wirkungsweise von RETRA zu bestätigen. Der Einsatz von RETRA könnte dazu beitragen, therapeutisch nötige Dosierungen verwendeter Zytostatika zu reduzieren, um unerwünschte Arzneinebenwirkungen zu minimieren bzw. die Therapieintensität zu erhöhen. Da TAp73 in humanen Malignomen sehr selten mutiert ist, könnte RETRA zudem zur Überwindung MUTp53-bedingter Resistenz von Malignomen auf Radio- und Chemotherapie beitragen