The GL-l.u.st.\ constant and asymmetry of the Kalton-Peck twisted sum in finite dimensions

We prove that the Kalton-Peck twisted sum $Z_2^n$ of $n$-dimensional Hilbert spaces has GL-l.u.st.\ constant of order $\log n$ and bounded GL constant. This is the first concrete example which shows different explicit orders of growth in the GL and GL-l.u.st.\ constants. We discuss also the asymmetry constants of $Z_2^n$

The Production of Hyaluronidase (Hyaluronate Lyase) by Corynebacterium Acnes

This paper presents evidence of the production of hyaluronidase by Corynebacterium acnes. In a study of seven random isolates of C. acnes from lesions of cystic acne and from normal skin, hyaluronidase activity ranged from less than one turbidity reducting unit (TRU) to 72 TRU per mg of extracellular protein. These findings raise the interesting possibility that C. acnes hyaluronidase may play a role in the development of acne by contributing to the inflammatory phase through an increased permeability of the follicular epithelium to free fatty acids and other irritants

Photoelectrochemical reduction of aqueous protons with a CuO|CuBi2O4 heterojunction under visible light irradiation.

A p-type heterojunction photoelectrode consisting of platinized CuBi2O4 layered on a CuO film was prepared. The CuO|CuBi2O4|Pt electrode photo-generates H2 in pH neutral aqueous solution during visible light irradiation and exhibits a substantially enhanced photocurrent compared to CuO|Pt and CuBi2O4|Pt electrodes. Reduced electron-hole recombination by the band offsets in the heterostructure is responsible for the improved photoelectrochemical performance of CuO|CuBi2O4 with a small band-gap of approximately 1.5 eV.The work at Cambridge was supported by the Christian Doppler Research Association (Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth and National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development), the OMV Group the EPSRC (EP/H00338X/2) and BBSRC (BB/K010220/1).This is the accepted manuscript version. The final published version is available from the RSC at http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2014/CP/C4CP03883E#!divAbstract

Sing to me, baby: Infants show neural tracking and rhythmic movements to live and dynamic maternal singing

Infant-directed singing has unique acoustic characteristics that may allow even very young infants to respond to the rhythms carried through the caregiver’s voice. The goal of this study was to examine neural and movement responses to live and dynamic maternal singing in 7-month-old infants and their relation to linguistic development. In total, 60 mother-infant dyads were observed during two singing conditions (playsong and lullaby). In Study 1 (n = 30), we measured infant EEG and used an encoding approach utilizing ridge regressions to measure neural tracking. In Study 2 (n =40), we coded infant rhythmic movements. In both studies, we assessed children’s vocabulary when they were 20 months old. In Study 1, we found above-threshold neural tracking of maternal singing, with superior tracking of lullabies than playsongs. We also found that the acoustic features of infant-directed singing modulated tracking. In Study 2, infants showed more rhythmic movement to playsongs than lullabies. Importantly, neural coordination (Study 1) and rhythmic movement (Study 2) to playsongs were positively related to infants’ expressive vocabulary at 20 months. These results highlight the importance of infants’ brain and movement coordination to their caregiver’s musical presentations, potentially as a function of musical variability

Die Strafbarkeit von Schein- und Umgehungshandlungen in der EG : ein rechtsvergleichender Beitrag zum strafrechtlichen Schutz der Finanzinteressen der EG

Die strafrechtliche Bekämpfung von Betrügereien zum Nachteil der Finanzinteressen der EG ist eng mit der Problematik von Schein- und Umgehungshandlungen verbunden. Spektakuläre Beispiele für die mißbräuchliche Ausnutzung von Regelungslücken in EG-Verordnungen lassen sich vor allem aus dem Bereich der europäischen Marktordnungen anführen. Die rechtliche Bewältigung solcher Fälle ist jedoch besonders schwierig, solange das EG-Recht keine einheitliche europäische Regelung der verwaltungsrechtlichen Problematik von Schein- und Umgehungshandlungen enthält. Darüber hinaus stößt die den Mitgliedstaaten obliegende strafrechtliche Erfassung von Schein- und Umgehungshandlungen auf rechtsstaatliche Bedenken, die sich insbesondere aus dem Gebot nullum crimen sine lege ergeben. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird rechtsvergleichend unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Steuer- und Subventionsstrafrechts in Deutschland, Frankreich und England untersucht, ob derartige Handlungen rechtlich und auch strafrechtlich erfaßt werden. Methodischer Ausgangspunkt für die Bewältigung der Umgehungsproblematik ist die Unterscheidung zwischen Normanwendung und Sachverhaltsbeurteilung. Dies ist auch für das Vorabentscheidungsverfahren vor dem EuGH von Bedeutung, da Fragen der Sachverhaltsbeurteilung nicht vorlagefähig sind. Gegenstand dieser Untersuchung ist die Frage, ob der Schutz der EG-Finanzinteressen vor Schein- und Umgehungshandlungen de lege lata hinreichend ist, oder wie er de lege ferenda verbessert werden kann

Harmonically confined, semiflexible polymer in a channel: response to a stretching force and spatial distribution of the endpoints

We consider an inextensible, semiflexible polymer or worm-like chain which is confined in the transverse direction by a parabolic potential and subject to a longitudinal force at the ends, so that the polymer is stretched out and backfolding is negligible. Simple analytic expressions for the partition function, valid in this regime, are obtained for chains of arbitrary length with a variety of boundary conditions at the ends. The spatial distribution of the end points or radial distribution function is also analyzed.Comment: 14 pages including figure

Photoreforming of lignocellulose into H2 using nano-engineered carbon nitride under benign conditions

Photoreforming of lignocellulose is a promising approach toward sustainable H2 generation, but this kinetically challenging reaction currently requires UV-absorbing or toxic light absorbers under harsh conditions. Here, we report a cyanamide-functionalized carbon nitride, NCNCNx, which shows enhanced performance upon ultra-sonication. This activated NCNCNx allows for the visible-light driven conversion of purified and raw lignocellulose samples into H2 in the presence of various proton reduction co-catalysts. The reported room-temperature photoreforming process operates under benign aqueous conditions (pH ~2-15) without the need for toxic components.Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs, the National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development, OM