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Ibegin by providing some background to conceptions of responsibility. I note the extent of disagreement in this area, the diverse and cross-cutting distinctions that are deployed, and the relative neglect of some important problems. These facts make it difficult to attribute responsibility for climate change, but so do some features of climate change itself which I go on to illuminate. Attributions of responsibility are often contested sites because such attributions are fundamentally pragmatic, mobilized in the service of a normative outlook. We should be pluralists about responsibility and shape whatever conceptions can help to explain, guide, and motivate our responses to climate change. I sketch one such notion, ‘intervention-responsibility’, and argue that it should be ascribed to international regimes and organizations, states and other jurisdictions, individuals, and firms. Each has different capacities and thus different intervention-responsibilities responsibilities, but these differences are not always mirrored in public discussion. In particular, the moral responsibility of firms has been greatly neglected.
Reading is not only "cold" information processing, but involves affective and aesthetic processes that go far beyond what current models of word recognition, sentence processing, or text comprehension can explain. To investigate such "hot" reading processes, standardized instruments that quantify both psycholinguistic and emotional variables at the sublexical, lexical, inter-, and supralexical levels (e.g., phonological iconicity, word valence, arousal-span, or passage suspense) are necessary. One such instrument, the Berlin Affective Word List (BAWL) has been used in over 50 published studies demonstrating effects of lexical emotional variables on all relevant processing levels (experiential, behavioral, neuronal). In this paper, we first present new data from several BAWL studies. Together, these studies examine various views on affective effects in reading arising from dimensional (e.g., valence) and discrete emotion features (e.g., happiness), or embodied cognition features like smelling. Second, we extend our investigation of the complex issue of affective word processing to words characterized by a mixture of affects. These words entail positive and negative valence, and/or features making them beautiful or ugly. Finally, we discuss tentative neurocognitive models of affective word processing in the light of the present results, raising new issues for future studies.
Background: In German breast cancer care, the S1-guidelines of the 1990s were substituted by national S3-guidelines in 2003. The application of guidelines became mandatory for certified breast cancer centers. The aim of the study was to assess guideline adherence according to time intervals and its impact on survival.
Methods: Women with primary breast cancer treated in three rural hospitals of one German geographical district were included. A cohort study design encompassed women from 1996–97 (N = 389) and from 2003–04 (N = 488). Quality indicators were defined along inpatient therapy sequences for each time interval and distinguished as guideline-adherent and guideline-divergent medical decisions. Based on all of the quality indicators, a binary overall adherence index was defined and served as a group indicator in multivariate Cox-regression models. A corrected group analysis estimated adjusted 5-year survival curves.
Results: From a total of 877 patients, 743 (85 %) and 504 (58 %) were included to assess 104 developed quality indicators and the resuming binary overall adherence index. The latter significantly increased from 13–15 % (1996–97) up to 33–35 % (2003–04). Within each time interval, no significant survival differences of guideline-adherent and -divergent treated patients were detected. Across time intervals and within the group of guideline-adherent treated patients only, survival increased but did not significantly differ between time intervals. Across time intervals and within the group of guideline-divergent treated patients only, survival increased and significantly differed between time intervals.
Conclusions: Infrastructural efforts contributed to the increase of process quality of the examined certified breast cancer center. Paradoxically, a systematic impact on 5-year survival has been observed for patients treated divergently from the guideline recommendations. This is an indicator for the appropriate application of guidelines. A maximization of guideline-based decisions instead of the ubiquitous demand of guideline adherence maximization is advocated.
Untreated periodontal disease may influence general health. However, how may a physician, who is not trained in periodontal probing, detect untreated periodontitis?
Activated matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-
8) in saliva correlates with periodontal probing parameters. Thus, sensitivity and specificity of a chair-side test for aMMP-8 to detect periodontitis were evaluated. Thirty cases [untreated chronic periodontitis (ChP); 15 generalized moderate and 15 generalized severe] and 30 controls [probing depths (PD) ≤3 mm, vertical probing attachment level (PAL-V) ≤2 mm at <30 % of sites) were examined periodontally (PD, PAL-V, bleeding on probing). Subsequently, the aMMP-8 test was performed. The test kit
becomes positive with ≥25 ng/ml aMMP-8 in the sample.
The aMMP-8 test was positive in 87 % of ChP and in 40 % of controls. That corresponds to a sensitivity of 87 % and a specificity of 60 %. The sensitivity to detect generalized severe ChP was 93 % (60 % specificity). Backward
stepwise logistic regression analysis to explain positive
aMMP-8 tests identified exclusively ChP with an odds of 9.8 (p < 0.001). Positive results of the aMMP-8 test significantly correlate with generalized ChP. The aMMP-8 test may be used by physicians to detect periodontitis in their patients.
The endocannabinoids (EC), their synthetizing and metabolizing enzymes, and the cannabinoid (CB) receptors comprise the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that has been detected by Yasuo et al. (2010) in rodent and human brain areas essential for circadian rhythmic control and hormone secretion. The EC are secreted in the pars tuberalis formation (PT) of the pituitary gland and unfold their effect as ligands on cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1) in the pars distalis (PD). The CB1 is mostly expressed on folliculo-stellate (fs) cells of the PD. The fs cells execute regulative and supportive functions to adjacent hormone-producing cells (Allaerts and Venkelecom, 2005; Mitsuishi et al., 2013). The lipid and calcium binding protein Annexin A1 (Anx A1) and the cell membrane permeable compound nitric oxide (NO) have been detected in the fs cells (Woods et al., 1990; Devnath and Inoue, 2008). There are published findings indicating strong influence of Anx A1 and NO on hormone production (Taylor et al. 1993; Venkelecom et al, 1997). The hypothesis of this study is that the EC influence hormonal secretion by acting upon CB1 receptors on fs cells and thus activating or inhibiting Anx A1 and NO that directly affect adjacent glandular cells.
Prevalently cell models were used to carry out the experimental work. The TtT/GF and Tpit/F1 cell lines represent the fs cells, the AtT20/D16v stand for the ACTH-producing corticotroph (C) cells, and GH4C1 for the PRL-producing lactotroph (L) cells. Whenever comparison with an integrity model was possible tissue from C3H mice was used. Chemoluminescent and photometrical detection, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), immunoblot (IB), immunocyto- and immunohisto-chemical analysis (ICC, IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), and (q) PCR methods were used as assaying tools to investigate CB1, Anx A1, the Anx A1 receptor - Fpr-rs1, NO, ACTH, and PRL.
CB1 was detected on the fs, C, and L cell models. The presence of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH, an EC degrading enzyme) was confirmed in the fs cells. Incubations of the fs cells with CB1 agonists (2-AG, AEA, WIN) and antagonist (otenabant) were performed and resulting increase of Anx A1, and inhibition of NO were detected. Anx A1 binding sites, known as formyl peptide like receptor – related sequence 1 (Fpr-rs1) were identified on the C and L cells. The hormone-producing cells were treated with a 2-AG, Anx A1, and NO and the resulting changes in the levels of ACTH and PRL were detected. Anx A1 acted stimulatory on ACTH in the C AtT20/D16v cell and inhibitory on PRL in the L GH4C1 cell. NO inhibited both ACTH and PRL release. Additional analysis of the levels of expression of mRNA for Anx A1 and Fpr-rs1 in murine PD tissue demonstrated that while the expression of the first was not influenced by time, the expression of the latter was activated during the subjective day.
The here presented study shows that EC influence the ACTH release stimulatory through activating Anx A1 and inhibiting NO. As for PRL, the EC unfold an inhibition through activating Anx A1, and stimulation through inhibiting NO. A clear regulatory linkeage between the EC and ACTH and PRL control is revealed, involving the fs cells with possible time-dependence.
Spätestens seit die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) ihr Ankaufprogramm für Wertpapiere bekannt gegeben hat, ist die Diskussion über die Wirksamkeit dieser Maßnahmen auch in Europa angekommen. Wegen der besonderen institutionellen Umstände des Euroraums – Kauf von Anleihen der einzelnen Nationalstaaten und des Verbots der monetären Finanzierung – reichen die möglichen Nebenwirkungen hierzulande über den rein geldpolitischen Horizont hinaus.
The richest compilation to date of essays in the political theory of European integration has just landed with a thud, and is bound to reverberate for some time in the sleek corridors of Brussels and the wood-paneled seminar rooms of Bruges. Edited by Kochenov, de Búrca, and Williams, Europe’s Justice Deficit? is more than an attempt to initiate a discussion about the questions of justice prompted by European integration. With thirty contributions by leading scholars of law, history, political science and philosophy, not much worth noting on this seemingly boundless subject is left unsaid. ...
The decay behavior of low-lying dipole states in 140Ce was investigated exploiting the γ3-setup at the HIγS facility using quasi-monochromatic photon beams. Branching ratios of individual excited states as well as average branching ratios to low-lying states have been extracted using γ – γ coincidence measurements. The comparison of the average branching ratios to QPM calculations shows a remarkable agreement between experiment and theory in the energy range from 5.0 to 8.5 MeV.
We provide a comprehensive classification of the proteoglycan gene families and respective protein cores. This updated nomenclature is based on three criteria: Cellular and subcellular location, overall gene/protein homology, and the utilization of specific protein modules within their respective protein cores. These three signatures were utilized to design four major classes of proteoglycans with distinct forms and functions: the intracellular, cell-surface, pericellular and extracellular proteoglycans. The proposed nomenclature encompasses forty-three distinct proteoglycan-encoding genes and many alternatively-spliced variants. The biological functions of these four proteoglycan families are critically assessed in development, cancer and angiogenesis, and in various acquired and genetic diseases where their expression is aberrant.
The dynamics of strange vector meson resonances (K* and K̄*) is investigated within the Parton-Hadron-String Dynamics (PHSD) transport approach. We present the time evolution of the production of K*− resonances from the QGP phase by quark fusion as well as from hadronic sources. We also give a brief overview of the modification of the K* through Kπ decay and K*N interaction in a hot and dense nuclear medium.
There are strong indications that particles containing secondary organic aerosol (SOA) exhibit amorphous solid or semi-solid phase states in the atmosphere. This may facilitate deposition ice nucleation and thus influence cirrus cloud properties. However, experimental ice nucleation studies of biogenic SOA are scarce. Here, we investigated the ice nucleation ability of viscous SOA particles.
The SOA particles were produced from the ozone initiated oxidation of α-pinene in an aerosol chamber at temperatures in the range from −38 to −10 ◦C at 5–15 % relative humidity with respect to water to ensure their formation in a highly viscous phase state, i.e. semi-solid or glassy. The ice nucleation ability of SOA particles with different sizes was investigated with a new continuous flow diffusion chamber. For the first time, we observed heterogeneous ice nucleation of viscous α-pinene SOA in the deposition mode for ice saturation ratios between 1.3 and 1.4 significantly below the homogeneous freezing limit. The maximum frozen fractions found at temperatures between −36.5 and −38.3 °C ranged from 6 to 20 % and did not depend on the particle surface area. Global modelling of monoterpene SOA particles suggests that viscous biogenic SOA particles are indeed present in regions where cirrus cloud formation takes place. Hence, they could make up an important contribution to the global ice nuclei (IN) budget.
The banking system is highly interconnected and these connections can be conveniently represented as an interbank network. This survey presents a systematic overview of the recent advances in the theoretical literature on interbank networks. We assess our current understanding of the structure of interbank networks, of how network characteristics affect contagion in the banking system and of how banks form connections when faced with the possibility of contagion and systemic risk. In particular, we highlight how the theoretical literature on interbank networks offers a coherent way of studying interconnections, contagion processes and systemic risk, while emphasizing at the same time the challenges that must be addressed before general results on the link between the structure of the interbank network and financial stability can be established. The survey concludes with a discussion of the policy relevance of interbank network models with a special focus on macroprudential policies and monetary policy.
Untersucht wird aus verfassungsrechtlicher und kriminal-politischer Sicht, ob auch in Deutschland das Tragen einer Vollverschleierung (Burka, Niqab u.ä.) im öffentlichen Raum mit strafrechtlichen Mitteln verboten werden könnte. Obwohl derartige Praktiken mit dem Grundsatz der Geschlechtergleichheit und den Grundlagen einer offenen Bürgergesellschaft kollidieren, spricht sich die Verf. im Ergebnis gegen ein strafrechtliches Verbot aus.
La distinzione fra apollineo e dionisiaco è ritornata di moda grazie a Friedrich Nietzsche, che se ne è servito nella sua famosa opera La nascita della tragedia dallo spirito della musica. Questo scritto, tuttavia, non persegue affatto l’intento di contribuire a comprendere questi concetti, ma si serve di questa distinzione per spiegare due aspetti di colonialismo d’insediamento in forma di stato, con particolare riferimento all’esempio dell’Africa Sud Occidentale e della sua capitale Windhoek. Come è noto, Apollo veniva considerato il Dio del sole e della ragione, mentre Dionisio era visto come il Dio dell’ebbrezza e dell’estasi. Nel presente contesto, l’apollineo rappresenta il sogno utopico di potere di stato coloniale, comportante il diritto assoluto all’uso della forza, a giudicare, a proteggere ed a praticare una politica attentamente pianificata, mentre il dionisiaco rappresenta, grosso modo, la mentalità pionieristica dei coloni e le loro tendenze anomiche, derivanti alla fin fine dall’illegittimità incontrastata dell’intero progetto coloniale. Nello stesso tempo questo scritto si avvale di un altro contrasto: giorno e notte. È usato in senso metaforico – ma non esclusivamente. E mentre il primo rispecchia “il regno della luce”, basato sul potere dello stato e su una vita pubblica che evidenzia le caratteristiche di società civile, la seconda rappresenta la fase del giorno in cui la notte scende ed il controllo da parte dello stato viene a cessare del tutto, mentre la «vita coloniale sotterranea» si risveglia.
Sentences with doubly center-embedded relative clauses in which a verb phrase (VP) is missing are sometimes perceived as grammatical, thus giving rise to an illusion of grammaticality. In this paper, we provide a new account of why missing-VP sentences, which are both complex and ungrammatical, lead to an illusion of grammaticality, the so-called missing-VP effect. We propose that the missing-VP effect in particular, and processing difficulties with multiply center-embedded clauses more generally, are best understood as resulting from interference during cue-based retrieval. When processing a sentence with double center-embedding, a retrieval error due to interference can cause the verb of an embedded clause to be erroneously attached into a higher clause. This can lead to an illusion of grammaticality in the case of missing-VP sentences and to processing complexity in the case of complete sentences with double center-embedding. Evidence for an interference account of the missing-VP effect comes from experiments that have investigated the missing-VP effect in German using a speeded grammaticality judgments procedure. We review this evidence and then present two new experiments that show that the missing-VP effect can be found in German also with less restricting procedures. One experiment was a questionnaire study which required grammaticality judgments from participants without imposing any time constraints. The second experiment used a self-paced reading procedure and did not require any judgments. Both experiments confirm the prior findings of missing-VP effects in German and also show that the missing-VP effect is subject to a primacy effect as known from the memory literature. Based on this evidence, we argue that an account of missing-VP effects in terms of interference during cue-based retrieval is superior to accounts in terms of limited memory resources or in terms of experience with embedded structures.
Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) require the right composition of microRNAs (miR) for proper life-long balanced blood regeneration. Here we show a regulatory circuit that prevents excessive HSC self-renewal by upregulation of miR-193b upon self-renewal promoting thrombopoietin (TPO)-MPL-STAT5 signalling. In turn, miR-193b restricts cytokine signalling, by targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase c-KIT. We generated a miR-193b knockout mouse model to unravel the physiological function of miR-193b in haematopoiesis. MiR-193b−/− mice show a selective gradual enrichment of functional HSCs, which are fully competent in multilineage blood reconstitution upon transplantation. The absence of miR-193b causes an accelerated expansion of HSCs, without altering cell cycle or survival, but by decelerating differentiation. Conversely, ectopic miR-193b expression restricts long-term repopulating HSC expansion and blood reconstitution. MiR-193b-deficient haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells exhibit increased basal and cytokine-induced STAT5 and AKT signalling. This STAT5-induced microRNA provides a negative feedback for excessive signalling to restrict uncontrolled HSC expansion.
Interleukin (IL)-22 is a STAT3-activating cytokine displaying characteristic AU-rich elements (ARE) in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of its mRNA. This architecture suggests gene regulation by modulation of mRNA stability. Since related cytokines undergo post-transcriptional regulation by ARE-binding tristetraprolin (TTP), the role of this destabilizing protein in IL-22 production was investigated. Herein, we demonstrate that TTP-deficient mice display augmented serum IL-22. Likewise, IL-22 mRNA was enhanced in TTP-deficient splenocytes and isolated primary T cells. A pivotal role for TTP is underscored by an extended IL-22 mRNA half-life detectable in TTP-deficient T cells. Luciferase-reporter assays performed in human Jurkat T cells proved the destabilizing potential of the human IL-22-3'-UTR. Furthermore, overexpression of TTP in HEK293 cells substantially decreased luciferase activity directed by the IL-22-3'-UTR. Transcript destabilization by TTP was nullified upon cellular activation by TPA/A23187, an effect dependent on MEK1/2 activity. Accordingly, IL-22 mRNA half-life as determined in TPA/A23187-stimulated Jurkat T cells decreased under the influence of the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. Altogether, data indicate that TTP directly controls IL-22 production, a process counteracted by MEK1/2. The TTP-dependent regulatory pathway described herein likely contributes to the role of IL-22 in inflammation and cancer and may evolve as novel target for pharmacological IL-22 modulation.
We have analyzed the distribution of mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) complex proteins and mitochondrial intermembrane space bridging complex (MIB) proteins over (sub)complexes and over species. The MICOS proteins are associated with the formation and maintenance of mitochondrial cristae. Indeed, the presence of MICOS genes in genomes correlates well with the presence of cristae: all cristae containing species have at least one MICOS gene and cristae-less species have none. Mic10 is the most widespread MICOS gene, while Mic60 appears be the oldest one, as it originates in the ancestors of mitochondria, the proteobacteria. In proteobacteria the gene occurs in clusters with genes involved in heme synthesis while the protein has been observed in intracellular membranes of the alphaproteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. In contrast, Mic23 and Mic27 appear to be the youngest MICOS proteins, as they only occur in opisthokonts. The remaining MICOS proteins, Mic10, Mic19, Mic25 and Mic12, the latter we show to be orthologous to human C19orf70/QIL1, trace back to the root of the eukaryotes. Of the remaining MIB proteins, also DNAJC11 shows a high correlation with the presence of cristae. In mitochondrial protein complexome profiles, the MIB complex occurs as a defined complex and as separate subcomplexes, potentially reflecting various assembly stages. We find three main forms of the complex: A) The MICOS complex, containing all the MICOS proteins, B) a membrane bridging subcomplex, containing in addition SAMM50, MTX2 and the previously uncharacterized MTX3, and C) the complete MIB complex containing in addition DNAJC11 and MTX1.
Dies ist der zweite Artikel unseres Blogfokus „Salafismus in Deutschland“.
Manchmal lohnt sich ein Blick über den Zaun. Wie halten es andere EU-Staaten mit dem Salafismus, was wissen sie über Anhängerzahlen oder über die Ausbreitung des Phänomens und nicht zuletzt, wie schätzen sie die Gefahren ein, die insbesondere mit Blick auf dschihadistischen Terrorismus vom Salafismus ausgehen? Eine derartige vergleichende europäische Perspektive steht noch aus, ist aber unabdingbar, würde sie doch auf „blinde Flecken“, Fragestellungen und Sichtweisen, die noch zu wenig Berücksichtigung finden, verweisen. Und vielleicht erhöht sie auch den akademischen und politischen Austausch, der gerade bei transnationalen Phänomenen wie Salafismus oder Dschihadismus wichtig erscheint. In jedem Fall bewahrt sie vor einem „methodologischen Nationalismus“....
Debates about climate-induced migratory movements – and their possible links to instability and conflict – along with the discussion on migration flows across the Mediterranean Sea frequently highlight the West African Sahel as a region of concern. However, findings from recent empirical research on Sahelian regions in Mali and Senegal suggest no evidence for increasing population movements towards Europe as a direct result of environmental stress and climate change. It is the patterns of migration that are changing and not so much the volume. A closer look at the social-ecological conditions of migration in the Sahel allows for an alternative characterization of the problem dynamics. It reveals a rich and comprehensive picture of mobility and the importance of climate and environment in this respect, and identifies starting points for policy options.
Kaisers neue Kleider: Anmerkungen zur Kritik der Hochschullehre im "akademischen Kapitalismus"
(2015)
An dieser Stelle beschrieb Stefan Müller kürzlich Drei Vorschläge für eine Verbesserung der Lehre an deutschen Universitäten. Er reagierte damit auf Vorwürfe des finnischen Studenten Juuso Nisula, der unter dem Titel Acht Gründe, nie wieder in Deutschland zu studieren seinem Unmut über das intransparente und austauschhinderliche Studienklima an der Universität Köln massenmedientauglich Luft verschafft hatte – einer Universität übrigens, die ihrerseits auf Nisula reagierte, wenngleich so allgemein, wie man es auch von den standardisierten PR-Abteilungen größerer Unternehmen gewohnt ist: Mit herablassender Freundlichkeit pusten sie berechtige Verbraucherbeschwerden in den Wind und flaggen lieber ihre austauschbaren Imagesätzchen aus.
The growth of aerosol due to the aqueous phase oxidation of sulfur dioxide by ozone was measured in laboratory-generated clouds created in the Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets (CLOUD) chamber at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Experiments were performed at 10 and −10 °C, on acidic (sulfuric acid) and on partially to fully neutralised (ammonium sulfate) seed aerosol. Clouds were generated by performing an adiabatic expansion – pressurising the chamber to 220 hPa above atmospheric pressure, and then rapidly releasing the excess pressure, resulting in a cooling, condensation of water on the aerosol and a cloud lifetime of approximately 6 min. A model was developed to compare the observed aerosol growth with that predicted using oxidation rate constants previously measured in bulk solutions. The model captured the measured aerosol growth very well for experiments performed at 10 and −10 °C, indicating that, in contrast to some previous studies, the oxidation rates of SO2 in a dispersed aqueous system can be well represented by using accepted rate constants, based on bulk measurements. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first laboratory-based measurements of aqueous phase oxidation in a dispersed, super-cooled population of droplets. The measurements are therefore important in confirming that the extrapolation of currently accepted reaction rate constants to temperatures below 0 °C is correct.
It is now accepted that heart failure (HF) is a complex multifunctional disease rather than simply a hemodynamic dysfunction. Despite its complexity, stressed cardiomyocytes often follow conserved patterns of structural remodelling in order to adapt, survive, and regenerate. When cardiac adaptations cannot cope with mechanical, ischemic, and metabolic loads efficiently or become chronically activated, as, for example, after infection, then the ongoing structural remodelling and dedifferentiation often lead to compromised pump function and patient death. It is, therefore, of major importance to understand key events in the progression from a compensatory left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction to a decompensatory LV systolic dysfunction and HF. To achieve this, various animal models in combination with an “omics” toolbox can be used. These approaches will ultimately lead to the identification of an arsenal of biomarkers and therapeutic targets which have the potential to shape the medicine of the future.
»Ein gigantischer Ort des Aufbruchs« : Trendforscher Matthias Horx über seine Zeit an der Goethe-Uni
(2015)
Matthias Horx (Jg. 1955) hat von 1973 bis 1980 an der Goethe-Universität studiert, das Studium aber dann abgebrochen. Heute gilt er als einer der bekanntesten und gefragtesten Trend- und Zukunftsforscher Deutschlands. Im Interview mit dem UniReport redet er über seine Erinnerungen an die Zeit an der Goethe-Universität, über Bildung und Wissen in Zukunft und ob er es heute bereut, niemals sein Studium abgeschlossen zu haben.
A new global synthesis and biomization of long (> 40 kyr) pollen-data records is presented, and used with simulations from the HadCM3 and FAMOUS climate models to analyse the dynamics of the global terrestrial biosphere and carbon storage over the last glacial–interglacial cycle. Global modelled (BIOME4) biome distributions over time generally agree well with those inferred from pollen data. The two climate models show good agreement in global net primary productivity (NPP). NPP is strongly influenced by atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations through CO2 fertilization. The combined effects of modelled changes in vegetation and (via a simple model) soil carbon result in a global terrestrial carbon storage at the Last Glacial Maximum that is 210–470 Pg C less than in pre-industrial time. Without the contribution from exposed glacial continental shelves the reduction would be larger, 330–960 Pg C. Other intervals of low terrestrial carbon storage include stadial intervals at 108 and 85 kaBP, and between 60 and 65 kaBP during Marine Isotope Stage 4. Terrestrial carbon storage, determined by the balance of global NPP and decomposition, influences the stable carbon isotope composition (δ 13C) of seawater because terrestrial organic carbon is depleted in 13C. Using a simple carbon-isotope mass balance equation we find agreement in trends between modelled ocean δ 13C based on modelled land carbon storage, and palaeo-archives of ocean δ 13C, confirming that terrestrial carbon storage variations may be important drivers of ocean δ 13 C changes.
Embora a ideia de “patologias sociais” ou “enfermidades” de uma sociedade inteira tenha sido bastante comum desde o Segundo Discurso de Rousseau, e especialmente proeminente dentro da tradição da teoria crítica, não está claro a quem exatamente se referea proposição de ter adoecido. Será apenas um número suficiente de pessoas individuais, será o coletivo entendido como um macro-sujeito, ou é a “sociedade” em si que foi acometida por uma desorganização específica de suas instituições sociais, afetando sua eficiência funcional de tal forma que se pode falar de uma “doença” especificamente social? Para todas as três atribuições, ou seja, as pessoas individualmente com suas doenças, a coletividade com a sua síndrome clínica particular, ou a própria sociedade como adoecida, podem ser encontrados casos na literatura correspondente. A fim de encontrar uma saída para essas perplexidades conceituais que estão no cerne dessa maneira de falar, abordo as propostas teóricas de Alexander Mitscherlich e Sigmund Freud, ambos defensores de um conceito específico de “patologias sociais” ou “enfermidades” baseado em ideias psicanalíticas. O resultado da minha reconstrução crítica será que somente uma compreensão da sociedade como uma entidade orgânica permite um uso não redutor da ideia de “patologias sociais”.
Die Seismizität des nördlichen Oberrheingrabens (ORG) ist aufgrund seines Potentials für die geothermische Nutzung und der damit möglicherweise verbundenen seismischen Risiken von allgemeinem Interesse. Detaillierte Kenntnisse der natürlichen Seismizität erlauben Rückschlüsse auf aktive Störungszonen und Spannungsverhältnisse im Untergrund. Sie liefert außerdem wichtige Hintergrundinformationen für die Abschätzung einer möglichen induzierten Seismizität. Untersuchungen zur Charakterisierung der natürlichen Seismizität, des Spannungsfeldes und der seismischen Gefährdung des nördlichen ORG sind Hauptbestandteil dieser Arbeit, die innerhalb des BMU/BMWi-Projektes SiMoN (Seismisches Monitoring im Zusammenhang mit der geothermischen Nutzung des Nördlichen Oberrheingrabens) entstanden ist. Aufzeichnungen eines Netzwerkes aus 13 seismischen Stationen dienen als Datengrundlage zur Charakterisierung der Seismizität innerhalb eines etwa 50 x 60 km2 großen Areals im dichtbesiedelten Rhein-Main Gebiet. Untersuchungen der Rauschbedingungen zur Bewertung der Eignung der Stationsorte für das Aufzeichnen der natürlichen Seismizität lieferten bei den Stationen auf felsigem Untergrund sehr gute spektrale Eigenschaften, während alle Stationen im Sediment des ORG deutlich höhere Rauschanteile aufzeigten. Anhand systematischer Messungen in flachen Bohrlöchern konnten laterale und vertikale Variationen des seismischen Rauschens beschrieben werden und dadurch eine Verbesserung der Detektionsschwelle beobachtet werden.
Es werden die Ergebnisse des seismischen Monitorings für den Zeitraum November 2010 bis Dezember 2014 dargestellt. Die Detektionsschwelle für das Netzwerk liegt bei einer Lokalmagnitude von etwa 0,5, die Vollständigkeitsmagnitude beträgt Mc = 1,2. Seit Beginn der Datenaufzeichnung konnten 243 Erdbeben im unmittelbaren Bereich des Stations-netzwerkes mit Magnituden im Bereich zwischen ML = -0,5 und ML = 4,2 lokalisiert werden. Die Epizentren liegen hauptsächlich entlang der östlichen Grabenschulter und im Graben; entlang der westlichen Grabenschulter ist die seismische Aktivität deutlich geringer. Eine weitere aktive Region konnte entlang der südlichen Ausläufer des Taunus im Nordwesten des Untersuchungsgebietes identifiziert werden. Die Seismizität erstreckt sich bis in eine Tiefe von 24 km mit einem Maximum der hypozentralen Tiefenverteilung im Bereich von 12-18 km. Im Graben ist die Seismizität dabei auf die tiefere Kruste im Bereich von 9-24 km beschränkt. Das Fehlen von seismischer Aktivität in der oberen Kruste bis ca. 9 km Tiefe im Graben könnte auf eine aseismische Deformation in diesem Tiefenbereich hindeuten. Seit Mai 2014 konnte südöstlich von Darmstadt bei der Ortschaft Ober-Ramstadt zum ersten Mal seit fast 150 Jahren eine Schwarmbebenaktivität im Bereich des nördlichen ORG registriert werden. Die Hypozentren sind in zwei Cluster unterteilt, die räumlich voneinander getrennt sind und unterschiedliche Aktivitätsraten aufweisen. Die Herdtiefen liegen im Bereich von 1-8 km.
Zusätzlich zu den Daten des SiMoN Netzwerkes wurden Aufzeichnungen der regionalen Erdbebendienste in Herdflächenanalysen für insgesamt 58 Erdbeben einbezogen. Die Herdflächenlösungen weisen überwiegend Blattverschiebungen (Strike-slip-Mechanismen) auf. Auf- und Abschiebungen spielen nur eine untergeordnete Rolle. Die berechneten Herdmechanismen bestätigen, dass sich das Spannungsfeld des nördlichen ORG transtensional verhält, im Vergleich zu früheren Studien konnte jedoch eine deutlich ausgeprägte Blattverschiebungskomponente identifiziert werden. Zur Bestimmung der Hauptspannungsachsen wurde eine Inversion der Herdflächenlösungen durchgeführt und die Richtung der maximalen horizontalen Spannung, welche hauptsächlich in N135°E orientiert ist, bestimmt.
Aufbauend auf den neu gewonnen Erkenntnissen zur natürlichen Seismizität und zum Spannungsfeld des nördlichen ORG wurde eine probabilistische seismische Gefährdungsanalyse durchgeführt. Um Unsicherheiten in den seismischen Quellregion-modellen zu berücksichtigen, wurden sechs unterschiedliche Modelle entwickelt. Für jede Quellregion wurden spezifische Parameter bestimmt. Ihre Unsicherheiten werden in einem logischen Baum behandelt. Auf der Grundlage eines neu zusammengestellten Momentmagnituden-basierten Erdbebenkatalogs wurden die Magnitudenhäufigkeits-parameter bestimmt. Unter Berücksichtigung des tektonischen Regimes in jeder Quelle wurden unterschiedliche Dämpfungsrelationen der Bodenbeschleunigung verwendet. Zur Quantifizierung der maximal zu erwartenden Magnitude in jeder Quelle wurden Wahrscheinlichkeitsdichtefunktionen berechnet. Die Resultate der Gefährdungsanalyse werden in Form von Karten der Spektralbodenbeschleunigungen und Spitzenboden-beschleunigungen für Wiederkehrperioden von 475 und 2475 Jahren und Antwortbeschleunigungsspektren dargestellt. Im Vergleich zu früheren Studien konnte eine erhöhte seismische Gefährdung für den nördlichen ORG festgestellt werden.
The activation and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are critical key steps in inflammation. PMN-mediated inflammation is limited by anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving mechanisms, including specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPM). We examined the effects of 15-epi-LXA4 on inflammation and the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandins, leukotriene B4 and various hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and SPM, in an oxazolone (OXA)-induced hypersensitivity model for dermal inflammation. 15-epi-LXA4 (100 μM, 5 μL subcutaneously injected) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced inflammation in skin, 24 hours after the OXA challenge, as compared to skin treated with vehicle. No significant influence on the biosynthesis of prostaglandins or leukotriene B4 was observed, whereas the level of 15S-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the skin areas treated with 15-epi-LXA4. In spite of the use of a fully validated analytical procedure, no SPM were detected in the biological samples. To investigate the reason for the lack of analytical signal, we tried to mimic the production of SPM (lipoxins, resolvins, maresin and protectin) by injecting them subcutaneously into the skin of mice and studying the in vivo availability and distribution of the compounds. All analytes showed very little lateral distribution in skin tissue and their levels were markedly decreased (> 95%) 2 hours after injection. However, docosahexaenoic acid derivatives were biologically more stable than SPM derived from arachidonic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid.
Dies ist der elfte Artikel unseres Blogfokus „Salafismus in Deutschland“.
Mehrere Attentäter von Paris sollen sich über die griechische Insel Leros als Flüchtlinge getarnt nach Europa eingeschmuggelt haben. Nicht nur auf den sozialen Netzwerken wird deshalb Hetze gegen Flüchtlinge betrieben, von der Häufung von verbalen und tätlichen Übergriffen ganz zu schweigen. Auch auf den höchsten politischen Ebenen werden zunehmend schrille Stimmen laut....
We present the application of time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) for the analysis of halocarbons in the atmosphere after cryogenic sample preconcentration and gas chromatographic separation. For the described field of application, the quadrupole mass spectrometer (QP MS) is a state-of-the-art detector. This work aims at comparing two commercially available instruments, a QP MS and a TOF MS, with respect to mass resolution, mass accuracy, stability of the mass axis and instrument sensitivity, detector sensitivity, measurement precision and detector linearity. Both mass spectrometers are operated on the same gas chromatographic system by splitting the column effluent to both detectors. The QP MS had to be operated in optimised single ion monitoring (SIM) mode to achieve a sensitivity which could compete with the TOF MS. The TOF MS provided full mass range information in any acquired mass spectrum without losing sensitivity. Whilst the QP MS showed the performance already achieved in earlier tests, the sensitivity of the TOF MS was on average higher than that of the QP MS in the "operational" SIM mode by a factor of up to 3, reaching detection limits of less than 0.2 pg. Measurement precision determined for the whole analytical system was up to 0.2% depending on substance and sampled volume. The TOF MS instrument used for this study displayed significant non-linearities of up to 10% for two-thirds of all analysed substances.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde ein Flugzeitmassenspektrometer (TOF-MS) für die Messung von halogenierten Spurengasen charakterisiert und das verwendete analytische System optimiert. Ein TOF-MS hat den Vorteil, dass es die volle Masseninformation aufzeichnet. Dadurch ist es möglich, auch im Nachhinein Substanzen zu identifizieren und retrospektiv auszuwerten. Eine retrospektive Auswertung kann helfen, Auswirkungen auf die Atmosphäre besser abschätzen zu können. Aus diesem Grund wurde mit Hilfe des TOF-MS ein digitales Datenarchiv durch regelmäßige Messungen von Luftproben, die am Taunus Observatorium auf dem Kleinen Feldberg genommen wurden, initialisiert. Durch die Wahl des Taunus Observatoriums werden in unmittelbarer Nähe des industriellen Ballungsraums Rhein-Main auf der Nordhemisphäre Luftproben genommen, wodurch die Wahrscheinlichkeit erhöht wird, unbekannte Substanzen in erhöhter Konzentration zu messen.
Bevor das TOF-MS jedoch für die Initialisierung des Datenarchivs verwendet werden konnte, wurde es charakterisiert und mit einem, für die Analyse von halogenierten Kohlenwasserstoffen etablierten QP-MS verglichen. Um beide Detektoren vergleichen zu können, erfolgte die Probenaufgabe, Probenaufkonzentrierung und die Separation der Probe im Gaschromatographen innerhalb eines gemeinsamen Systems. Nach der Separation im GC teilt sich der Trägergasfluss auf. Die Charakterisierung des TOF-MS und der Vergleich mit dem QP-MS umfasst die Auswertung der Daten, die Messpräzision, die Linearität, die Sensitivität der Detektoren, die Massenauflösung und die Massenachsenbestimmungsgenauigkeit.
Hinsichtlich der Messpräzision liegen beide Massenspektrometer, wie ermittelt auf dem selben Niveau, wodurch sie auch sehr geringe Variabilitäten in den Mischungsverhältnissen von halogenierten Kohlenwasserstoffen aufzeichnen können.
Die Linearität der Detektoren ist substanzspezifisch. Während das QP-MS in Übereinstimmung mit bereits literaturbekannter Eigenschaft, einen sehr großen linearen Bereich aufweist, zeigt das hier verwendete TOF-MS für 2/3 aller ausgewerteter Substanzen starke substanz- und fragmentabhängig Nichtlinearitäten. Das nichtlineare Verhalten des Detektors des TOF-MS zeigt sich auch bei den Messvergleichen, wobei jedoch nur signifikante Abweichungen bei sehr hohen und sehr niedrig gemessenen Mischungsverhältnissen beobachtet wurden. Diese starke Nichtlinearität stellt eine große Einschränkung für eine retrospektive Auswertung unbekannter Substanzen dar, da deren Verlauf nur qualitativ nicht aber quantitativ dargestellt werden kann.
Die Massenauflösung liegt beim TOF-MS bei 1000 mit einer Massenachsenbestimmungsgenauigkeit zwischen 50-170~ppm, wodurch es dem QP-MS, welches nur Einheitsauflösung vorweist, weit überlegen ist. Mit dieser Auflösung und Massenachsenbestimmungsgenauigkeit ist das TOF-MS in der Lage einen halogenierten von einem nichthalogenierten Kohlenwasserstoff quantitativ zu trennen.
Zum Vergleich der Sensitivität der beiden Massenspektrometer wurde das QP-MS in drei verschiedenen Modi betrieben: Zum einen dem SCAN-Modus, dem operationalen SIM-Modus, welcher im regulärem Messbetrieb verwendet wird und mehrere Ionen pro Zeitfenster misst, und dem optimierten SIM-Modus, welcher nur ein Ion der jeweiligen Substanz misst. Das TOF-MS hat die gleiche Sensitivität wie das QP-MS im optimierten SIM-Modus. Das TOF-MS hat eine um den Faktor 3 höhere Sensitivität als das QP-MS im operationalen SIM-Modus und eine um den Faktor 12 höhere Sensitivität als das QP-MS im SCAN-Modus bei den betrachteten Substanzen.
Die Initialisierung des digitalen Datenarchivs wurde im Oktober 2013 mit der Probennahme am Taunus Observatorium begonnen, wobei in der vorliegenden Arbeit der Zeitraum von einem Jahr betrachtet wurde. Es wurden Identifizierungen aus regulären Proben der Taunus Observatoriums-Zeitreihe durchgeführt und so die Substanzen HFC-32, HFC-245fa,HCFC-133a und HFO-1234yf gefunden. Zusätzlich stellte Martin Vollmer (Eidgenössische Material und Prüfgesellschaft) zwei Gasmischungen zu Verfügung für die Identifikation von noch nicht am System vermessenen Substanzen. Somit konnte die Vielfalt an diesem System vermessener Substanzen von 40 auf insgesamt 64 Substanzen erweitert werden.
Von den neu identifizierten Substanzen wurden HFC-227ea, HFC-236fa, HFC-32, HCFO-1233zd, HFO-1234zd, HFO-1234yf, HFC-245fa, HCFC-31, HFC-133a, Isofluran und HFC-112 in der Taunus Observatoriums-Zeitreihe gefunden und rückwirkend aufgearbeitet.
Durch die retrospektive Auswertung ist das TOF-MS für seine charakterisierte Anwendung zum Einsatz gekommen.
Novel therapies for lung cancer are being explored nowadays with local therapies being the tip of the arrow. Intratumoral chemotherapy administration and local microwave ablation have been investigated in several studies. It has been previously proposed that lipiodol has the ability to modify the microenvironment matrix. In our current study we investigated this theory in BALBC mice. In total 160 BALBC mice were divided in eight groups: a) control, b) cisplatin, c) microwave, d) microwave and lipiodol, e) cisplatin and lipiodol, f) microwave and cisplatin, g) lipiodol and h) lipiodol, cisplatin and microwave. Lewis lung carcinoma cell lines (106) were injected into the right back leg of each mouse. After the 8th day, when the tumor volume was about 100mm3 the therapy application was initiated, once per week for four weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed for each tumor when a mouse died or when sacrificed if they were still alive by the end of the experiment (8-Canal multifunctional spool; NORAS MRI products, Gmbh, Germany). Imaging and survival revealed efficient tumor apoptosis for the groups b,c,d,e and f. However; severe toxicity was observed in group h and no follow up was available for this group after the second week of therapy administration. Lipiodol in its current form does assist in a more efficient way the distribution of cisplatin, as the microwave apoptotic effect. Future modification of lipiodol might provide a more efficient method of therapy enhancement. Combination of drug and microwave ablation is possible and has an efficient apoptotic effect.
Tracheomalacia or tracheobronchomalacia (TM or TBM) is a common problem especially for elderly patients often unfit for surgical techniques. Several surgical or minimally invasive techniques have already been described. Stenting is one option but in general long-time stenting is accompanied by a high complication rate. Stent removal is more difficult in case of self-expandable nitinol stents or metallic stents in general in comparison to silicone stents. The main disadvantage of silicone stents in comparison to uncovered metallic stents is migration and plugging. We compared the operation time and in particular the duration of a sufficient Dumon stent fixation with different techniques in a patient with severe posttracheotomy TM and strongly reduced mobility of the vocal cords due to Parkinson’s disease. The combined approach with simultaneous Dumon stenting and endoluminal transtracheal externalized suture under cone-beam computer tomography guidance with the Berci needle was by far the fastest approach compared to a (not performed) surgical intervention, or even purely endoluminal suturing through the rigid bronchoscope. The duration of the endoluminal transtracheal externalized suture was between 5 minutes and 9 minutes with the Berci needle; the pure endoluminal approach needed 51 minutes. The alternative of tracheobronchoplasty was refused by the patient. In general, 180 minutes for this surgical approach is calculated. The costs of the different approaches are supposed to vary widely due to the fact that in Germany 1 minute in an operation room costs on average approximately 50–60€ inclusive of taxes. In our own hospital (tertiary level), it is nearly 30€ per minute in an operation room for a surgical approach. Calculating an additional 15 minutes for patient preparation and transfer to wake-up room, therefore a total duration inside the investigation room of 30 minutes, the cost per flexible bronchoscopy is per minute on average less than 6€. Although the Dumon stenting requires a set-up with more expensive anesthesiology accompaniment, which takes longer than a flexible investigation estimated at 1 hour in an operation room, still without calculation of the costs of the materials and specialized staff that the surgical approach would consume at least 3,000€ more than a minimally invasive approach performed with the Berci needle. This difference is due to the longer time of the surgical intervention which is calculated at approximately 180 minutes in comparison to the achieved non-surgical approach of 60 minutes in the operation suite.
Globale Finanzplätze im Vergleich : Frankfurt und Sydney zwischen Global City und lokaler Variation
(2015)
Frankfurt und Sydney sind international bedeutende Knotenpunkte des Global- Cities-Netzwerks. Als transnationale Finanzzentren erreichen sie im Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) ähnliche Platzierungen. Populäre Rankings wie der GFCI entfalten ihre Wirkungsmacht in einem politischen Diskurs, der die Konkurrenz von Finanzzentren in einem hierarchischen Städtenetzwerk betont und so die Orientierung an den Champions der Finanzmetropolen forciert. Der hier vorgenommene kontrastive Vergleich Frankfurts und Sydneys zeigt hingegen, dass die stark von Globalisierungs- und Finanzialisierungstendenzen beeinflussten Städte sich nicht einfach einem Idealtypus von Global Cities angleichen. Vielmehr sorgt die Einbettung in unterschiedliche Entwicklungslinien – im Falle Frankfurts in die Tradition einer koordinierten Marktwirtschaft, im Falle Sydneys in die Tradition einer liberalen Marktwirtschaft – für die Ausbildung von Finanzsystemen mit unterschiedlichem Charakter und unterschiedlicher Reichweite. So weist der Finanzplatz Frankfurt im Vergleich mit Sydney eine starke globale Vernetzung auf, wenngleich die Merkmale der koordinierten Marktwirtschaft - geringere Börsenkapitalisierung der Unternehmen, einer primär kreditbasierten Unternehmensfinanzierung und geringere Finanzmarktorientierung der Bevölkerung nachwirken. Demgegenüber profitiert der Finanzstandort Sydney von einer durchwegs finanzialisierten Ökonomie, was sich in der Finanzmarktorientierung von Unternehmen und jener der allgemeinen Bevölkerung ausdrückt, weist aber eine stärkere Binnenorientierung, also die Fokussierung auf den nationalen Markt auf.
Background and aims: Individualization of treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C showed benefit in controlled trials and was implemented in treatment guidelines to increase response rates and to reduce side effects and costs. However, it is unknown whether individualization was adopted in routine daily practice and whether it translated into improved outcomes.
Methods: From a large noninterventional cohort study, clinical and virologic response data of 10,262 HCV patients who received peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin between 2003-2007 and 2008-2011 were analyzed. To account for treatment individualization, a matched-pair analysis (2,997 matched pairs) was performed. Variation in treatment duration and dosing of ribavirin were analyzed as indicators for individualization.
Results: Sustained virological response (SVR) rates were similar between 2003-2007 and 2008-2011 (62.0% vs. 63.7%). Patients with comorbidities were more abundant in the later period, (44.3% vs. 57.1%). The subsequent matched-pair analysis demonstrated higher SVR rates in the 2008-2011 period (64.3%) than in the 2003-2007 period (61.2%, p=0.008). More patients received abbreviated or extended treatment regimens in the later than the earlier period as an indicator of treatment individualization. To the same end, ribavirin doses were higher in the later period (12.6 versus 11.6 mg/kg/day). Factors independently associated with SVR included HCV genotype, low baseline viral load, younger age, route of infection, absence of concomitant diseases, lower APRI score, normal gamma-GT, higher ribavirin doses, no substitution for drug abuse, treatment duration, and treatment in the 2008-2011 period.
Conclusions: Treatment individualization with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin was implemented in daily routine between 2003-2007 and 2008-2011, SVR rates improved in the same period. These findings may be most relevant in resource-limited settings.
Conventional treatments for mood disorders primarily focus on reducing negative affect, but little on enhancing positive affect. Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is a traditional meditation practice directly oriented toward enhancing unconditional and positive emotional states of kindness towards oneself and others. We report here two independent and uncontrolled studies carried out at different centers, one in Boston, USA (n = 10), and one in Frankfurt, Germany (n = 8), to examine the potential therapeutic utility of a brief LKM group intervention for symptoms of dysthymia and depression. Results at both centers suggest that LKM was associated with large-sized effects on self-reported symptoms of depression (d = 3.33 and 1.90), negative affect (d = 1.98 and 0.92), and positive affect (d = 1.63 and 0.94). Large effects were also found for clinician-reported changes in depression, rumination and specific positive emotions, and moderate effects for changes in adaptive emotion regulation strategies. The qualitative data analyses provide additional support for the potential clinical utility of the intervention. This proof-of-concept evaluation of LKM as a clinical strategy warrants further investigation.
Am vergangenen Freitag stimmte der Bundestag mit deutlicher Mehrheit für einen Einsatz der Bundeswehr im Kampf gegen den sogenannten Islamischen Staat. Bereits am Donnerstag veröffentlichten die Fachschaften der Friedens- und Konfliktforschungs-Studiengänge in Frankfurt, Magdeburg, Marburg und Tübingen eine Stellungnahme in der sie erläutern, weshalb ein überstürztes Eingreifen in Syrien falsch sei. Inzwischen wird die Erklärung auch von anderen Studierenden, Lehrenden sowie Professorinnen und Professoren der Friedens- und Konfliktforschung unterstützt. Hier die Kernpunkte deS Statements:...
Seit einem Jahr ist im Umfeld der Vereinten Nationen immer wieder von einem „Human Rights Up Front Aktionsplan“ zu hören. Erst kürzlich forderte Generalsekretär Ban Ki-moon die Mitgliedstaaten in einer Ansprache zu den Prioritäten der UN 2015 auf den Aktionsplan zu unterstützen. Doch was ist das für eine Initiative und welche Resultate hat sie bislang hervorgebracht? Diesen Fragen geht dieser Beitrag auf den Grund.
Ein Crosspost aus dem äußerst lesenswerten neuen Blog der Friedensakademie Rheinland-Pfalz friedensakademie-blog.eu/ zur aktuellen Lage in Libyen: Dort droht die internationale Staatengemeinschaft vier Jahre nach der Intervention in ihrer Verantwortung zur Prävention eines weiteren Blutvergießens zu scheitern. Mein Originalbeitrag beim Friedensakademie-Blog erschien am 6. Februar 2015.
Some are arguing that the the Responsibility to Protect, an international norm that aims to prevent mass atrocities, was faltering, because of its abuse in Libya and its non-application in Syria. However, Gregor Hofmann argues in this cross-post from the ICRtoP-Blog that the critics' interpretation was limiting R2P to its interventionist aspects. If one looks at the whole set of norms that is included in R2P, it becomes apparent that R2P is under pressure, but not yet death...
Völkermord an den Armeniern: diplomatische Rücksichtnahme darf Anerkennung nicht im Weg stehen
(2015)
In ihrem Gastbeitrag fordern Matthias Winkler und Timo Leimeister von Genocide Alert, dass Deutschland, trotz möglicher diplomatischer Verstimmungen, nicht davor zurückschrecken sollte, den Völkermord an den Armeniern von 1915 als solchen ausdrücklich zu benennen. Vor einem Jahrhundert wurden weite Teile des armenischen Volkes im Osmanischen Reich in einem Völkermord ausgelöscht. Das Deutsche Reich war ein enger Verbündeter der damaligen osmanischen Regierung und stellte die Bündnispolitik über das Überleben der Armenier. Durch ein Eingeständnis auch der eigenen historischen Verantwortung an den Geschehnissen kann die Bundesrepublik im Gegenteil den Vertretern einer Aussöhnung in der Türkei den Rücken stärken...
Auch wenn seit George W. Bushs „War on Terror“ die Bekämpfung von Terrorismus nicht mehr ohne fragwürdigen Beigeschmack mit dem Begriff des „Krieges“ bezeichnet werden kann, erlebt eine derartige Rhetorik zusammen mit dem Aufstieg des Islamischen Staates ein neues Revival. Während zunächst Papst Franziskus von einem „Dritten Weltkrieg“ sprach, assistierten nach den jüngsten Anschlägen in Frankreich und Sousse auch deutsche Medien bei der Konstruktion solch umfassender Bedrohungsszenarien. Selbst der Präsident des Bundesamtes für Verfassungsschutz, Hans-Georg Maaßen, sieht mittlerweile einen „terroristischen Weltkrieg“ ausgebrochen. Lässt man einmal die zahlreichen Gründe beiseite, warum eine derartige Bezeichnung im besten Fall falsch und im schlimmsten Fall kontraproduktiv ist 1, so kann man derlei Aussagen als Ausdruck einer Gefahrenwahrnehmung interpretieren, aus der nicht zuletzt eine gefühlte Hilflosigkeit angesichts der terroristischen Bedrohung von immer mehr Lebensbereichen spricht. Auf Flugreisen, auf dem Weg zur Arbeit, bei der Arbeit, bei Sportveranstaltungen: die Orte gefühlter Sicherheit werden zunehmend weniger. Und nun ist selbst ein Strandurlaub nicht mehr frei vom Risiko, einen gewaltsamen Tod zu sterben...
Stimulation of a principal whisker yields sparse action potential (AP) spiking in layer 2/3 (L2/3) pyramidal neurons in a cortical column of rat barrel cortex. The low AP rates in pyramidal neurons could be explained by activation of interneurons in L2/3 providing inhibition onto L2/3 pyramidal neurons. L2/3 interneurons classified as local inhibitors based on their axonal projection in the same column were reported to receive strong excitatory input from spiny neurons in L4, which are also the main source of the excitatory input to L2/3 pyramidal neurons. Here, we investigated the remaining synaptic connection in this intracolumnar microcircuit. We found strong and reliable inhibitory synaptic transmission between intracolumnar L2/3 local-inhibitor-to-L2/3 pyramidal neuron pairs [inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) amplitude -0.88 ± 0.67 mV]. On average, 6.2 ± 2 synaptic contacts were made by L2/3 local inhibitors onto L2/3 pyramidal neurons at 107 ± 64 µm path distance from the pyramidal neuron soma, thus overlapping with the distribution of synaptic contacts from L4 spiny neurons onto L2/3 pyramidal neurons (67 ± 34 µm). Finally, using compartmental simulations, we determined the synaptic conductance per synaptic contact to be 0.77 ± 0.4 nS. We conclude that the synaptic circuit from L4 to L2/3 can provide efficient shunting inhibition that is temporally and spatially aligned with the excitatory input from L4 to L2/3.
Our paper evaluates recent regulatory proposals mandating the deferral of bonus payments and claw-back clauses in the financial sector. We study a broadly applicable principal agent setting, in which the agent exerts effort for an immediately observable task (acquisition) and a task for which information is only gradually available over time (diligence). Optimal compensation contracts trade off the cost and benefit of delay resulting from agent impatience and the informational gain. Mandatory deferral may increase or decrease equilibrium diligence depending on the importance of the acquisition task. We provide concrete conditions on economic primitives that make mandatory deferral socially (un)desirable.