The Large Hadron Electron Collider

An overview is given on key physics, detector and accelerator aspects of the LHeC, including its further development, with emphasis to its role as the cleanest microscope of parton dynamics and a precision Higgs facility.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Transnational Networks of Pork Production: Fragile Linkages between Germany and CEE Countries

The intention of this paper is to explore the internationalization efforts of German pork producers towards Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) with a special focus on recent dynamics, market development strategies and policy conditions. The added-value potentials offered by CEE countries have become increasingly lucrative for the German pork industry, particularly as the domestic market currently shows a certain degree of saturation in terms of consumption. The results of this study which is mainly based on qualitative interviews with selected pork producers from North-West Germany reveal that transnational pork production networks between Germany and CEE are shaped by a high degree of fragility and discontinuity. This is reflected not only by the fluctuating development of foreign trade in piglets, live hogs and pork products, but also by the uncertainty and hesitancy of the interviewed pork producers with regard to business operations in CEE markets. It will be shown that the policy conditions on the national level still have a clear impact on internationalization processes in the pork industry. The paper further illustrates that the configuration of transnational pork production networks can be explained, in part, by insights from the global production networks (GPN) and the agri-food geographies literature

In situ localization and discrimination of pathophysiological regions in traumatized skeletal muscle by imaging mass spectrometry

Zielsetzung: Verletzungen der Skelettmuskulatur sind sehr häufig, da sie nicht nur direkt aus einer Verletzung resultieren, sondern auch durch iatrogene Beschädigungen des Muskels während verschiedener operativer Eingriffe (z.B. Hüft- bzw. Knie-Ersatz- Operationen) hervorgerufen werden. Die begrenzte Regenerationsfähigkeit des verletzen Muskels schränkt die generelle Funktion des Gewebes ein und führt dadurch zu unbefriedigenden Heilungsergebnissen bei den betroffenen Patienten. Gegenwärtig gibt es keine Behandlungsansätze in der klinischen Anwendung, welche die Regeneration von kontraktilem Muskelgewebe ermöglichen. In Vorarbeiten konnten wir jedoch im Tiermodellen und im Menschen zeigen, dass Zell-basierte Strategien in der Lage sind die Regeneration von verletztem Skelettmuskel substantiell zu verbessern. Neben einem unvollständigen Verständnis der exakten Mechanismen durch welche die verwendeten Zellen die Muskelfunktion wiederherstellen, besteht ein Mangel an verlässlichen Markern zur akkuraten Unterscheidung der verschiedenen pathologischen Regionen innerhalb des verletzten Muskels. Solche Marker (Demonstratoren) sind eine der Schlüsselvoraussetzungen für die Weiterentwicklung, die Stratifizierung und für das Monitoring der Wirksamkeit unserer experimentellen Zell-basierten Therapien zur Verbesserung der Muskelheilung.Non-target–Proteomanalysen, wie beispielsweise 2D- Gelelektrophorese (2DE) oder Flüssigkeitschromatographie (LC) basierter Massenspektrometrie (MS), sind ein viel versprechender Ansatz zur Identifizierung von neuen therapeutischen Targets und Markern zur Charakterisierung von pathophysiologische Prozessen. Allerdings ermöglichen diese Methoden nicht die räumliche Unterscheidung der pathophysiologischen Regionen. Die in situ Analyse, mittels kombinierter non-target Proteomanalyse und bildgebender Massenspektrometrie, erscheint daher ein vielversprechender Ansatz für die Identifizierung neuer Marker für die Lokalisation der unterschiedlichen pathologischen Regionen in traumatisierten Skeletmuskulatur zu sein. Experimentelles Design: Mit Hilfe der (i) bildgebenden Massenspektrometrie auf Basis der Matrix-unterstützten Laser- Desorption/Ionisation (MALDI Imaging), zur direkten (in situ) Analyse von Proteinen/Peptiden im Gewebe, und (ii) komplementärer bottom-up Massenspektrometrie (LC-MS/MS) zur die Proteinidentifizierung, wurden die charakteristischen pathophysiologischen Veränderungen in Formalien-fixiertem und Paraffin eingebettetem verletzten Skelettmuskulatur untersucht (Tiermodel; Ratte). Identifizierte charakteristische Proteinmarker wurden anschließend mittels Immunhistologischer Färbung validiert. Ergebnisse: Alpha skeletal muscle actin (Acts) und Carbonic anhydrase 3 (Ca3) wurden als vielversprechende neue Biomarker für die Diskriminierung der pathophysiologischen Regionen, Trauma und Trauma umgebenden Gewebe, identifiziert und validiert.Purpose: Skeletal muscle injuries are extremely common, since they do not only result directly from an injury, but also from iatrogenic muscle damage enduring various surgical procedures (e.g. hip or knee replacement surgery). The limited regeneration of the injured skeletal muscle is clinically challenging, compromises the general tissue function and results in unsatisfying outcome for the affected patients. To date, no treatment approach exists in clinical use, which allows the regeneration of contractile muscle tissue. However, our previous work demonstrates that cell-based strategies are able to enhance the regeneration of skeletal muscle in animal models and humans. A part from an incomplete understanding of the exact mechanisms by which specific cells promote restoration of skeletal muscle function; there is a lack of reliable markers to discriminate accuraty the different pathophysiological regions within the injured muscle. Such markers are one key requirement for the further development, risk stratification, and the monitoring of efficacy of experimental cell-based therapies aiming to enhance muscle healing. Non-targeted proteome methodologies, such as gel- electrophoresis (2DE) or liquid chromatography (LC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS), are promising to reveal new pathophysiological-related markers and therapeutic targets. However these methodologies give little knowledge about the actual spatial distribution of pathophysiological changes. Therefore, in situ analysis, by using a combination of non-targeted proteomic approaches and imaging mass spectrometry, seems to be a promising approach to identify such novel markers for the localization of the different pathophysiological regions in traumatized skeletal muscle. Experimental design: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) for direct (in situ) peptide signature analysis and subsequent bottom-up mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to identify proteins, which describing the spatial characteristics of pathophysiological changes in injured rate skeletal muscle tissue. The results were validated by immunohistochemistry staining. Results: Alpha skeletal muscle actin (Acts) and carbonic anhydrase 3 (Ca3) were identified and validated as promising novel biomarkers to discriminate the primary trauma and trauma adjacent region within the muscle tissue.Conclusions and clinical relevance: This is the first study showing that tissue-based proteomic profiling by the non-target approaches MALDI-IMS and subsequent“bottom up” LC −MS/MS analysis is a suitable method to identify proteomic (bio) markers and to discriminate pathophysiological alterations between the primary trauma and trauma adjacent muscle. We propose that the presented workflow provides the basis for monitoring and stratification of (cell-based) therapeutic approaches aiming to improve muscle healing

Country-of-origin labelling in the globalizing agrifood industry – the example of pork ‘made in Germany’

The provenance of food has without any doubt become more important in recent years which is not least reflected in the commercial launch of relevant labels. Especially in the era of an increasingly globalizing agrifood sector, the emphasis on country-of-origin effects could appear as an additional selling point. This is also true for the pork industry which will be shown by using the example of pork ‘made in Germany’. Therefore, the current export success of German pork is obviously a result of positive quality features which are (subjectively) derived from the national provenance. The growing demand for ‘quality pork made in Germany’ in several East Asian markets, which are particularly important due to remarkable value-added potentials, has led pork producers to highlight the ‘benefits’ of German origin and to accordingly shape their upstream supply relations. As a result of this, pig fattening farmers who import their pigs from Denmark or the Netherlands are excluded from these production lines. The emphasis on country-of-origin effects is thus accompanied by modifications of the spatial organization of production networks

Non destructive determination of beam emittance for low energy ion beams using CCD camera measurements

The determination of the beam emittance using conventional destructive methods suffers from two main disadvantages. The interaction between the ion beam and the measurement device produces a high amount of secondary particles. Those particles interact with the beam and can change the transport properties of the accelerator. Particularly in the low energy section of high current accelerators like proposed for IFMIF, heavy ion inertial fusion devices (HIDIF) and spallation sources (ESS, SNS) the power deposited on the emittance measurement device can lead to extensive heat on the detector itself and can destruct or at least dejust the device (slit or grit for example). CCD camera measurements of the incident light emitted from interaction of beam ions with residual gas are commonly used for determination of the beam emittance. Fast data acquisition and high time resolution are additional features of such a method. Therefore a matrix formalism is used to derive the emittance from the measured profile of the beam [1,2] which does not take space charge effects and emittance growth into account. A new method to derive the phase space distribution of the beam from a single CCD camera image using statistical numerical methods will be presented together with measurements. The results will be compared with measurements gained from a conventional Allison type (slit-slit) emittance measurement device

Time-resolved investigation of the compensation process of pulsed ion beams

A LEBT system consisting of an ion source, two solenoids, and a diagnostic section has been set up to investigate the space charge compensation process due to residual gas ionization [1] and to study experimentally the rise of compensation. To gain the radial beam potential distribution time resolved measurements of the residual gas ion energy distribution were carried out using a Hughes Rojanski analyzer [2,3]. To measure the radial density profile of the ion beam a CCD-camera performed time resolved measurements, which allow an estimation the rise time of compensation. Further the dynamic effect of the space charge compensation on the beam transport was shown. A numerical simulation under assumption of selfconsistent states [4] of the beam plasma has been used to determine plasma parameters such as the radial density profile and the temperature of the electrons. The acquired data show that the theoretical estimated rise time of space charge compensation neglecting electron losses is shorter than the build up time determined experimentally. An interpretation of the achieved results is given

Influence of space charge fluctuations on the low energy beam transport of high current ion beams

For future high current ion accelerators like SNS, ESS or IFMIF the beam behaviour in low energy beam transport sections is dominated by space charge forces. Therefore space charge fluctuations (e. g. source noise) can drastically influence the beam transport properties of the low energy beam transport section. Losses of beam ions and emittance growth are the most severe problems. For electrostatic transport systems either a LEBT design has to be found which is insensitive to variations of the space charge or the origin of the fluctuations has to be eliminated. For space charge compensated transport as proposed for ESS and IFMIF the situation is different: No major influence on beam transport is expected for fluctuations below a cut-off frequency given by the production rate of the compensation particles. Above this frequency the fluctuations can not be compensated by particle production alone, but redistributions of the compensation particles helps to compensate the influence of the fluctuations. Above a second cut-off frequency given by the density and the temperature of the compensation particles their redistribution is too slow to reduce the influence of the space charge fluctuations. Transport simulations for the IFMIF injector including space charge fluctuations will be presented together with a determination of the cut-off frequencies. The results will be compared with measurements of the rise time of space charge compensation

Study of space charge compensated LEBT for ESS

To fulfil the requirements of ESS on beam transmission and emittance growth a detailed knowledge of the physics of beam formation as well as the interaction of the H- with the residual gas is substantial. Space charge compensated beam transport using solenoids for ion optics is in favour for the Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) between ion source and the first RFQ. Space charge compensation reduces the electrical self fields and beam radii and therefore emittance growth due to aberrations and redistribution. Transport of H- near the ion source is negatively influenced by the dipole fields required for beam extraction and e--dumping and the high gas pressure. The destruction of the rotational symmetry together with the space charge forces causes emittance growth and particle losses within the extraction system. High residual gas pressure near the extractor together with the high cross section for stripping will influence the transmission as well as space charge compensation. Therefore a detailed knowledge of the interaction of the residual gas with the beam and the influence of the external fields on the distribution of the compensation particles is necessary to reduce particle losses and emittance growth. Preliminary experiments using positive hydrogen ions for reference already show the influence of dipole fields on beam emittance. First measurements with H- confirm these results. Additional information on the interactions of the residual gas with the beam ions have been gained from the measurements using the momentum and energy analyser

Investigation of the focus shift due to compensation process for low energy ion beam transport

In magnetic Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) sections space charge compensation helps to enhance the transportable beam current and to reduce emittance growth due to space charge forces. For pulsed beams the time neccesary to establish space charge compensation is of great interest for beam transport. Particularly with regard to beam injection into the first accelerator section (e.g. RFQ) investigation of effects on shift of the beam focus due to space charge compensation are very important. The achieved results helps to obviate a mismatch into the first RFQ. To investigate the space charge compensation due to residual gas ionization, time resolved measurements using pulsed ion beams were performed at the LEBT system at the IAP and at the CEA-Saclay injektion line. A residual gas ion energy analyser (RGIA) equiped with a channeltron was used to measure the potential destribution as a function of time to estimate the rise time of compensation. For time resolved measurements (delta t min=50ns) of the radial density profile of the ion beam a CCD-camera was applied. The measured data were used in a numerical simulation of selfconsistant eqilibrium states of the beam plasma [1] to determine plasma parameters such as the density, the temperature, the kinetic and potential energy of the compensation electrons as a function of time. Measurements were done using focused proton beams (10keV, 2mA at IAP and 92keV, 62mA at CEA-Saclay) to get a better understanding of the influence of the compensation process. An interpretation of the acquired data and the achieved results will be presented

Simulating and optimizing electrical current flow and neuronal activation in retinal implants

© 2018 Dr Timothy Bede Esler[Abstract Withheld