@article{ZuritaSanchezHenkel2006, author = {Zurita-S{\´a}nchez, Jorge R. and Henkel, Carsten}, title = {Lossy electrical transmission lines: Thermal fluctuations and quantization}, issn = {1050-2947}, doi = {10.1103/Physreva.73.063825}, year = {2006}, abstract = {We present a theoretical framework for the analysis of the statistical properties of thermal fluctuations on a lossy transmission line. A quantization scheme of the electrical signals in the transmission line is formulated. We discuss two applications in detail. Noise spectra at finite temperature for voltage and current are shown to deviate significantly from the Johnson-Nyquist limit, and they depend on the position on the transmission line. We analyze the spontaneous emission, at low temperature, of a Rydberg atom and its resonant enhancement due to vacuum fluctuations in a capacitively coupled transmission line. The theory can also be applied to study the performance of microscale and nanoscale devices, including high-resolution sensors and quantum information processors}, language = {en} } @article{HerzschuhKuerschnerMischke2006, author = {Herzschuh, Ulrike and K{\"u}rschner, Harald and Mischke, Steffen}, title = {Temperature variability and vertical vegetation belt shifts during the last similar to 50,000 yr in the Qilian Mountains (NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau, China)}, issn = {0033-5894}, doi = {10.1016/j.yqres.2006.03.001}, year = {2006}, abstract = {A 13.94-m-long sediment core, collected from a medium-sized lake in the Qilian Mountains (NE Tibetan Plateau, China), was analysed palynologically at 81 horizons. The interpretation of indicator taxa yielded various vertical shifts of the vegetation belts. These palaeovegetation results have been checked with lake surface pollen spectra from 8 takes representing different altitudinal vegetation belts. Our main findings are the following: A short period of the late Marine Isotope Stage 3 (around similar to 46,000 yr ago) was characterized by interglacial temperature conditions with a tree line above its present-day altitude. During the LGM, the vicinity of the lake was not covered by ice but by sparse alpine vegetation and alpine deserts, indicating that the climate was colder by similar to 4-7 degrees C than today Markedly higher temperatures were inferred from higher arboreal pollen frequencies between similar to 13,000 and similar to 7000 yr ago with a Holocene temperature optimum and a maximal Picea-Betula mixed-forest expansion between similar to 9000 and similar to 7000 yr ago, when temperatures exceeded the present-day conditions by at least 1-2 degrees C. Alpine steppes and meadows and sub-alpine shrub vegetation dominated around the lake since the middle Holocene, suggesting that vegetation and climate conditions were exceptionally stable in comparison to previous periods.}, language = {en} } @article{LaubRothBuhmannetal.2006, author = {Laub, Julian and Roth, Volker and Buhmann, Joachim and M{\"u}ller, Klaus-Robert}, title = {On the information and representation of non-Euclidean pairwise data}, issn = {0031-3203}, doi = {10.1016/j.patcog.2006.04.016}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Two common data representations are mostly used in intelligent data analysis, namely the vectorial and the pairwise representation. Pairwise data which satisfy the restrictive conditions of Euclidean spaces can be faithfully translated into a Euclidean vectorial representation by embedding. Non-metric pairwise data with violations of symmetry, reflexivity or triangle inequality pose a substantial conceptual problem for pattern recognition since the amount of predictive structural information beyond what can be measured by embeddings is unclear. We show by systematic modeling of non-Euclidean pairwise data that there exists metric violations which can carry valuable problem specific information. Furthermore, Euclidean and non-metric data can be unified on the level of structural information contained in the data. Stable component analysis selects linear subspaces which are particularly insensitive to data fluctuations. Experimental results from different domains support our pattern recognition strategy.}, language = {en} } @article{WichmannDeanJeltsch2006, author = {Wichmann, Matthias and Dean, W. R. J. and Jeltsch, Florian}, title = {Predicting the breeding success of large raptors in arid southern Africa : a first assessment}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Raptors are often priorities for conservation efforts and breeding success is a target measure for assessing their conservation status. The breeding success of large raptors in and southern Africa is thought to be higher in years of high rainfall. While this correlation has been found in several studies, it has not yet been shown for data from a wider geographical area. In conservation research, it is important to explore the differences between spatially- separated populations to estimate and to compare their conservation status, and to deduce specific management strategies. Using a theoretical approach, we develop a simplistic model to explain the breeding success-rainfall relationship in large African raptors at larger spatial scales. Secondly, we validate this model and we show that the inclusion of field data leads to consistent predictions. In particular, we recommend that the average size of the 'effective territory' should be included in the relationship between annual rainfall and breeding success of raptors in and southern Africa. Accordingly, we suggest that breeding success is a function of precipitation and inter- nest distance. We present a new measure of territory quality depending on rainfall and territory size. We suggest that our model provides a useful first approach to assess breeding success in large raptors of and southern Africa. However, we strongly emphasise the need to gather more data to further verify our model. A general problem in conservation research is to compare the status of populations assessed in different study areas under changing environmental conditions. Our simplistic approach indicates that this problem can be overcome by using a weighted evaluation of a target measure (i.e. breeding success), taking regional differences into account}, language = {en} } @article{CramerEisert2006, author = {Cramer, Marcus and Eisert, Jens}, title = {Correlations, spectral gap and entanglement in harmonic quantum systems on generic lattices}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/8/5/071}, year = {2006}, abstract = {We investigate the relationship between the gap between the energy of the ground state and the first excited state and the decay of correlation functions in harmonic lattice systems. We prove that in gapped systems, the exponential decay of correlations follows for both the ground state and thermal states. Considering the converse direction, we show that an energy gap can follow from algebraic decay and always does for exponential decay. The underlying lattices are described as general graphs of not necessarily integer dimension, including translationally invariant instances of cubic lattices as special cases. Any local quadratic couplings in position and momentum coordinates are allowed for, leading to quasi-free ( Gaussian) ground states. We make use of methods of deriving bounds to matrix functions of banded matrices corresponding to local interactions on general graphs. Finally, we give an explicit entanglement-area relationship in terms of the energy gap for arbitrary, not necessarily contiguous regions on lattices characterized by general graphs}, language = {en} } @article{HarutjunjanSchulze2006, author = {Harutjunjan, Gohar and Schulze, Bert-Wolfgang}, title = {The relative index for corner singularities}, issn = {0378-620X}, doi = {10.1007/s00020-005-1367-3}, year = {2006}, abstract = {We study pseudo-differential operators on a cylinder R x B where B has conical singularities. Configurations of that kind are the local model of corner singularities with cross section B. Operators in our calculus are assumed to have symbols a which are meromorphic in the complex covariable with values in the algebra of all cone operators on B. We show an explicit formula for solutions of the homogeneous equation if a is independent of the axial variable t is an element of R. Each non-bijectivity point of the symbol in the complex plane corresponds to a finite-dimensional space of solutions. Moreover, we give a relative index formula}, language = {en} } @article{TronickeVillamorGreen2006, author = {Tronicke, Jens and Villamor, P and Green, Alan G.}, title = {Detailed shallow geometry and vertical displacement estimates of the Maleme Fault Zone, New Zealand, using 2D and 3D georadar}, year = {2006}, abstract = {In an attempt to map the shallow geometry of the Maleme Fault Zone (North Island, New Zealand) and estimate vertical displacements of selected fault strands, we have collected 2D and 3D georadar data using 100 MHz antennae. The 2D data consisted of three parallel georadar lines recorded perpendicular to the axis of the well-defined graben of the Maleme Fault Zone. These similar to 160 in long lines, which were 7.5 m apart, crossed several fault strands on either side of the graben axis. The processed georadar sections revealed two prominent parallel reflections that originated from the boundaries of Late Pleistocene lacustrine and tephra deposits. Distinct vertical offsets of these reflections allowed us to estimate displacernents at individual fault strands across the entire inner graben. The total displacements represented by these offsets was similar to 10-20\% greater than that inferred from geomorphological studies, thus demonstrating the limitations of surface observations for determining cumulative fault movements. The 3D georadar data set, recorded across an area of similar to 70x similar to 20 in to one side of the graben axis, provided key details on individual fault strands. For the 3D visualization of fault-related structures, various spatial attribute analyses based on the cosine of the instantaneous phase proved to be useful}, language = {en} } @article{KamjunkeBohnGrey2006, author = {Kamjunke, Norbert and Bohn, Christiane and Grey, John}, title = {Utilisation of dissolved organic carbon from different sources by pelagic bacteria in an acidic mining lake}, issn = {0003-9136}, doi = {10.1127/0003-9136/2006/0165-0355}, year = {2006}, abstract = {We compared growth rates and efficiencies of pelagic bacteria from an extremely acidic mining lake (pH 2.6, mean depth 4.6m) supplied with different sources of carbon: (1) excreted by phytoplankton, (2) derived from benthic algae, (3) entering the lake via ground water, and (4) leached from leaf litter. Bacteria exhibited high growth rate and efficiency on exudates of pelagic and benthic algae. In contrast, they showed a lower growth rate and efficiency with organic carbon from ground water, and grew at a very high rate but a very low efficiency on leaf leachate. Results from stable isotope analyses indicate a greater importance of benthic exudates and leaf leachate for bacteria in the epilimnion, and a higher impact of ground water sources in the hypolimnion. Given the magnitude of differential source inputs into the lake, we suggest that benthic primary production was the most important carbon source for pelagic bacteria. The benthic-pelagic coupling seems to be more relevant in this shallow acidic lake with low pelagic carbon dioxide concentrations than in neutral lakes}, language = {en} } @article{LeMouelNarteauGreffLefftzetal.2006, author = {Le Mouel, Jean-Louis and Narteau, Clement and Greff-Lefftz, Marianne and Holschneider, Matthias}, title = {Dissipation at the core-mantle boundary on a small-scale topography}, issn = {0148-0227}, doi = {10.1029/2005jb003846}, year = {2006}, abstract = {The parameters of the nutations are now known with a good accuracy, and the theory accounts for most of their values. Dissipative friction at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) and at the inner core boundary is an important ingredient of the theory. Up to now, viscous coupling at a smooth interface and electromagnetic coupling have been considered. In some cases they appear hardly strong enough to account for the observations. We advocate here that the CMB has a small- scale roughness and estimate the dissipation resulting from the interaction of the fluid core motion with this topography. We conclude that it might be significant}, language = {en} } @article{StrasserOstermeyer2006, author = {Strasser, A and Ostermeyer, Martin}, title = {Improving the brightness of side pumped power amplifiers by using core doped ceramic rods}, year = {2006}, abstract = {In side pumped laser head geometries good extraction of energy has to be weighted against diffraction effects of the amplified beam. Beam clipping at the aperture of laser rods can be avoided by using an undoped cladding around the doped core. The wings of e. g. Gaussian beams can be accommodated in the cladding. Phase distortion by the refractive index step of the rod can be compensated by a phase conjugating mirror in double pass configuration. In our proof of principle experiment the brightness of the beam from core doped amplifier rods was shown to be doubled compared to a conventional rod of the same outer diameter. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America}, language = {en} } @article{HlinakMuehleWerneretal.2006, author = {Hlinak, Andreas and M{\"u}hle, Ralf-Udo and Werner, Ortrud and Globig, Anja and Starick, Elke and Schirrmeier, Horst and Hoffmann, Bernd and Engelhardt, Andreas and H{\"u}bner, Dagmar and Conraths, Franz J. and Wallschl{\"a}ger, Hans-Dieter and Kruckenberg, Helmut and M{\"u}ller, Thomas}, title = {A virological survey in migrating waders and other waterfowl in one of the most important resting sites of Germany}, issn = {0931-1793}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Wild birds are considered a potential reservoir or a carrier of viral diseases and may therefore play a role in the epidemiology of economically important or zoonotic diseases. In 2001 and 2002, a survey with special emphasis oil virus isolation in migrating waders and some other birds were conducted. In one of the most important inland resting sites for migratory waterfowl, tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected from 465 waders representing 19 different species, and 165 other birds that were not captured on purpose. A total of 42 avian viruses were isolated, 34 of these were identified as paramyxoviruses (PMVs). The majority of isolates came from waders and wild ducks, and were characterized as PMV-1. In contrast, PMV-4 was found in wild ducks only, PMV-6 was mainly detected in wader species. Four avian influenza viruses (ATVs), belonging to H4 and H3 haemagglutinin subtype, were isolated from wild duck species. Furthermore, four reo-like viruses were isolated from one particular wader species for the first time. The majority of virus positive birds were < 1 year old and did not show any clinical symptoms. There was no evidence for the presence of West Nile virus in these birds. These results confirm that the restricted resting sites in Western Europe must be considered as important locations for the intra- and interspecies transmission of avian viruses}, language = {en} } @article{SiefertPeinke2006, author = {Siefert, Malte and Peinke, J}, title = {Joint multi-scale statistics of longitudinal and transversal increments in small-scale wake turbulence}, doi = {10.1080/14685240600677673}, year = {2006}, abstract = {We analyse the relationship of longitudinal and transversal increment statistics measured in isotropic small- scale turbulence. This is done by means of the theory of Markov processes leading to a phenomenological Fokker - Planck equation for the two increments from which a generalized K arm an equation is derived. We discuss in detail the analysis and show that the estimated equation can describe the statistics of the turbulent cascade. A remarkable result is that the main differences between longitudinal and transversal increments can be explained by a simple rescaling symmetry, namely the cascade speed of the transverse increments is 1.5 times faster than that of the longitudinal increments. Small differences can be found in the skewness and in a higher order intermittency term. The rescaling symmetry is compatible with the Kolmogorov constants and the K arm an equation and gives new insight into the use of extended self- similarity (ESS) for transverse increments. Based on the results we propose an extended self-similarity for the transverse increments (ESST)}, language = {en} } @article{SchulzeSeiler2006, author = {Schulze, Bert-Wolfgang and Seiler, J{\"o}rg}, title = {Edge operators with conditions of Toeplitz type}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Ellipticity of operators on a manifold with edges can be treated in the framework of a calculus of 2 X 2-block matrix operators with trace and potential operators on the edges. The picture is similar to the pseudodifferential analysis of boundary-value problems. The extra conditions satisfy an analogue of the Shapiro-Lopatinskij condition, provided a topological obstruction for the elliptic edge-degenerate operator in the upper left corner vanishes; this is an analogue of a condition of Atiyah and Bott in boundary-value problems. In general, however, we need global projection data, similarly to global boundary conditions, known for Dirac operators or other geometric operators. The present paper develops a new calculus with global projection data for operators on manifolds with edges. In particular, we show the Fredholm property in a suitable scale of spaces and construct parametrices within the calculus}, language = {en} } @article{HazanSennemaFaulkneretal.2006, author = {Hazan, Valerie and Sennema, Anke and Faulkner, Andrew and Ortega-Llebaria, Marta and Iba, Midori and Chung, Hyunsong}, title = {The use of visual cues in the perception of non-native consonant contrasts}, issn = {0001-4966}, doi = {10.1121/1.2166611}, year = {2006}, abstract = {This study assessed the extent to which second-language learners are sensitive to phonetic information contained in visual cues when identifying a non-native phonemic contrast. In experiment 1, Spanish and Japanese learners of English were tested on their perception of a labial/labiodental consonant contrast in audio (A), visual (V), and audio-visual (AV) modalities. Spanish students showed better performance overall, and much greater sensitivity to visual cues than Japanese students. Both learner groups achieved higher scores in the A V than in the A test condition, thus showing evidence of audio-visual benefit. Experiment 2 examined the perception of the less visually-salient /1/-/r/ contrast in Japanese and Korean learners of English. Korean learners obtained much higher scores in auditory and audio- visual conditions than in the visual condition, while Japanese learners generally performed poorly in both modalities. Neither. group showed evidence of audio-visual benefit. These results show the impact of the language background of the learner and visual salience of the contrast on the use of visual cues for a non-native contrast. Significant correlations between scores in the auditory and visual conditions suggest that increasing auditory proficiency in identifying a non-native contrast is linked with an increasing proficiency in using visual cues to the contrast.}, language = {en} } @article{EhrlenspielSternad2006, author = {Ehrlenspiel, Felix and Sternad, D}, title = {Not a joke : no choking under pressure in a ball bouncing task}, issn = {0895-2779}, year = {2006}, language = {en} } @article{HossnerEhrlenspiel2006, author = {Hossner, Ernst-Joachim and Ehrlenspiel, Felix}, title = {Paralysis by analysis and nodal-point motor control}, issn = {0895-2779}, year = {2006}, language = {en} } @article{YangMuellerNeheretal.2006, author = {Yang, Xiaohui and M{\"u}ller, David C. and Neher, Dieter and Meerholz, Klaus}, title = {Highly efficient polymeric electrophosphorescent diodes}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Polymeric electrophosphorescent LEDs with internal quantum efficiencies approaching unity have been fabricated. Such performance levels are previously unknown for OLEDs. The key to this success is redox chemically doped oxetane- crosslinkable hole-transporting layers with multilayer capability (see figure). They improve hole injection and act as electron-blocking layers, without the need to include exciton-or hole-blocking layers}, language = {en} } @article{JohanssonWulfetangePoreeetal.2006, author = {Johansson, Ingela and Wulfetange, Klaas and Poree, Fabien and Michard, Erwan and Gajdanowicz, Pawel and Lacombe, Benoit and Sentenac, Herve and Thibaud, Jean-Baptiste and M{\"u}ller-R{\"o}ber, Bernd and Blatt, Michael R. and Dreyer, Ingo}, title = {External K+ modulates the activity of the Arabidopsis potassium channel SKOR via an unusual mechanism}, issn = {0960-7412}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2006.02690.X}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Plant outward-rectifying K+ channels mediate K+ efflux from guard cells during stomatal closure and from root cells into the xylem for root-shoot allocation of potassium (K). Intriguingly, the gating of these channels depends on the extracellular K+ concentration, although the ions carrying the current are derived from inside the cell. This K+ dependence confers a sensitivity to the extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]) that ensures that the channels mediate K+ efflux only, regardless of the [K+] prevailing outside. We investigated the mechanism of K+-dependent gating of the K+ channel SKOR of Arabidopsis by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutations affecting the intrinsic K+ dependence of gating were found to cluster in the pore and within the sixth transmembrane helix (S6), identifying an 'S6 gating domain' deep within the membrane. Mapping the SKOR sequence to the crystal structure of the voltage-dependent K+ channel KvAP from Aeropyrum pernix suggested interaction between the S6 gating domain and the base of the pore helix, a prediction supported by mutations at this site. These results offer a unique insight into the molecular basis for a physiologically important K+-sensory process in plants}, language = {en} } @article{WaltherWesselMalbergetal.2006, author = {Walther, T and Wessel, Niels and Malberg, Hagen and Voss, Andreas and Stepan, H and Faber, R}, title = {A combined technique for predicting pre-eclampsia : concurrent measurement of uterine perfusion and analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Objective Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy with high morbidity and mortality and an incidence of 3-5\% in all pregnancies. Early prediction is still insufficient in clinical practice. Although most pre- eclamptic patients have pathological uterine perfusion in the second trimester, perfusion disturbance has a positive predictive accuracy (PPA) only of approximately 30\%. Methods Non-invasive continuous blood pressure recordings were taken simultaneously via a finger cuff for 30 min. Time series of systolic as well as diastolic beat-to-beat pressure values were extracted to analyse heart rate and blood pressure variability and baroreflex sensitivity in 102 second- trimester pregnancies, to assess predictability for pre-eclampsia (n = 16). All women underwent Doppler investigations of the uterine arteries. Results We identified a combination of three variability and baroreflex parameters to best predict pre-eclampsia several weeks before clinical manifestation. The discriminant function of these three parameters classified patients with later pre-eclampsia with a sensitivity of 87.5\%, a specificity of 83.7\%, and a PPA of 50.0\%. Combined with Doppler investigations of uterine arteries, PPA increased to 71.4\%. Conclusions This technique of incorporating one-stop clinical assessment of uterine perfusion and variability parameters in the second trimester produces the most effective prediction of pre-eclampsia to date}, language = {en} } @article{EwaldIgelHinzenetal.2006, author = {Ewald, Michael and Igel, Heiner and Hinzen, Klaus-G{\"u}nther and Scherbaum, Frank}, title = {Basin-related effects on ground motion for earthquake scenarios in the Lower Rhine Embayment}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.02909.x}, year = {2006}, abstract = {The deterministic calculation of earthquake scenarios using complete waveform modelling plays an increasingly important role in estimating shaking hazard in seismically active regions. Here we apply 3-D numerical modelling of seismic wave propagation to M 6+ earthquake scenarios in the area of the Lower Rhine Embayment, one of the seismically most active regions in central Europe. Using a 3-D basin model derived from geology, borehole information and seismic experiments, we aim at demonstrating the strong dependence of ground shaking on hypocentre location and basin structure. The simulations are carried out up to frequencies of ca. 1 Hz. As expected, the basin structure leads to strong lateral variations in peak ground motion, amplification and shaking duration. Depending on source-basin-receiver geometry, the effects correlate with basin depth and the slope of the basin flanks; yet, the basin also affects peak ground motion and estimated shaking hazard thereof outside the basin. Comparison with measured seismograms for one of the earthquakes shows that some of the main characteristics of the wave motion are reproduced. Cumulating the derived seismic intensities from the three modelled earthquake scenarios leads to a predominantly basin correlated intensity distribution for our study area}, language = {en} }