Die internationale Vernetzung des Finanzplatzes Zürich

Für den Erfolg eines Finanzplatzes ist die Vernetzung mit anderen Finanzplätzen ein wichtiger Erfolgsfaktor. Dieser Artikel untersucht die internationale Vernetzung des Finanzplatzes Zürich. Zu diesem Zweck wird eine Netzwerkanalyse durchgeführt, die auf den Beteiligungen von international tätigen Bankkonzernen basiert. Die vorliegende Studie kommt zum Schluss, dass der Finanzplatz Zürich zu den am stärksten vernetzten Finanzplätzen weltweit zählt (22. Rang bei der gesamten Konnektivität). Die Untersuchung zeigt zudem, dass die vom Finanzplatz Zürich ausgehende Kontrolle beachtlich ist (4. Rang bei der dominierenden Konnektivität). Das stimmt mit der Tatsache überein, dass viele global tätige Bankkonzerne ihren Hauptsitz in Zürich haben (5. Rang bei der Bedeutung der Hauptsitze). Da viele ausländische Banken in Zürich mit Filialen vertreten sind, gibt eine auf Beteiligungen basierende Netzwerkanalyse nur ein partielles Bild der Vernetzung des Finanzplatzes. Es wird deshalb eine zusätzliche Untersuchung zur Rolle der Filialen durchgeführt. Es zeigt sich erneut, dass der Finanzplatz Zürich mit den grossen Finanzzentren wie New York und London stark vernetzt ist. Daneben finden sich vor allem auf asiatischen Finanzplätzen wie Hongkong oder Singapur viele Filialen von Schweizer Banken. Hier werden offensichtlich von den Schweizer Vermögensverwaltern die Weichen für die Zukunft gestellt

Enhanced production of indole-3-acetic acid by a genetically modified strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 affects root growth of cucumber, but does not improve protection of the plant against Pythium root rot

The biocontrol strain CHA0 of Pseudomonas fluorescens produces small amounts of indole-3-acetic acid via the tryptophan side chain oxidase and the tryptophan transaminase pathways. A recombinant plasmid (pME3468) expressing the tryptophan monooxygenase pathway was introduced into strain CHA0; this resulted in elevated synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid in vitro, especially after addition of l-tryptophan. In natural soil, strain CHA0/pME3468 increased fresh root weight of cucumber by 17-36%, compared to the effect of strain CHA0; root colonization was about 106 cells per g of root. However, both strains gave similar protection of cucumber against Pythium ultimum. In autoclaved soil, at 6×107 cells per g of root, strain CHA0 stimulated growth of roots and shoots, whereas strain CHA0/pME3468 caused root stunting and strong reduction of plant weight. These results are in agreement with the known effects of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid on plant roots and suggest that in the system examined, indole-3-acetic acid does not contribute to the biocontrol properties of strain CHA

Analyzing the Psychological and Social Contents of Evidence—Experimental Comparison between Guessing, Naturalistic Observation, and Systematic Analysis

To improve inferences about psychological and social evidence contained in pictures and texts, a five-step algorithm—Systematic Analysis (SA)—was devised. It combines basic principles of interpretation in forensic science, providing a comprehensive record of signs of evidence. Criminal justice professionals evaluated the usefulness of SA. Effects of applying SA were tested experimentally with 41 subjects, compared to 39 subjects observing naturally (naturalistic observation) and 47 subjects guessing intuitively intuitive guessing group. After being trained in SA, prosecutors and police detectives (N = 217) attributed it a good usefulness for criminal investigation. Subjects (graduate students) using SA found significantly more details about four test cases than those observing naturally (Cohen’s d = 0.58). Subjects who learned SA well abducted significantly better hypotheses than those who observed naturally or who guessed intuitively. Internal validity of SA was a = 0.74. Applying SA improved observation significantly and reduced confirmation bias

The addition of a sagittal image fusion improves the prostate cancer detection in a sensor-based MRI /ultrasound fusion guided targeted biopsy

Background To explore the diagnostic benefit of an additional image fusion of the sagittal plane in addition to the standard axial image fusion, using a sensor-based MRI/US fusion platform. Methods During July 2013 and September 2015, 251 patients with at least one suspicious lesion on mpMRI (rated by PI- RADS) were included into the analysis. All patients underwent MRI/US targeted biopsy (TB) in combination with a 10 core systematic prostate biopsy (SB). All biopsies were performed on a sensor-based fusion system. Group A included 162 men who received TB by an axial MRI/US image fusion. Group B comprised 89 men in whom the TB was performed with an additional sagittal image fusion. Results The median age in group A was 67 years (IQR 61–72) and in group B 68 years (IQR 60–71). The median PSA level in group A was 8.10 ng/ml (IQR 6.05–14) and in group B 8.59 ng/ml (IQR 5.65–12.32). In group A the proportion of patients with a suspicious digital rectal examination (DRE) (14 vs. 29%, p = 0.007) and the proportion of primary biopsies (33 vs 46%, p = 0.046) were significantly lower. The rate of PI-RADS 3 lesions were overrepresented in group A compared to group B (19 vs. 9%; p = 0.044). Classified according to PI-RADS 3, 4 and 5, the detection rates of TB were 42, 48, 75% in group A and 25, 74, 90% in group B. The rate of PCa with a Gleason score ≥7 missed by TB was 33% (18 cases) in group A and 9% (5 cases) in group B; p-value 0.072. An explorative multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that PI-RADS, a suspicious DRE and performing an additional sagittal image fusion were significant predictors for PCa detection in TB. 9 PCa were only detected by TB with sagittal fusion (sTB) and sTB identified 10 additional clinically significant PCa (Gleason ≥7). Conclusion Performing an additional sagittal image fusion besides the standard axial fusion appears to improve the accuracy of the sensor-based MRI/US fusion platform

Generalization of the Luttinger Theorem for Fermionic Ladder Systems

We apply a generalized version of the Lieb-Schultz-Mattis Theorem to fermionic ladder systems to show the existence of a low-lying excited state (except for some special fillings). This can be regarded as a non-perturbative proof for the conservation under interaction of the sum of the Fermi wave vectors of the individual channels, corresponding to a generalized version of the Luttinger Theorem to fermionic ladder systems. We conclude by noticing that the Lieb-Schultz-Mattis Theorem is not applicable in this form to show the existence of low-lying excitations in the limit that the number of legs goes to infinity, e.g. in the limit of a 2D plane.Comment: RevTex, 4 pages with 4 eps figure

Staging clavicular development on MRI : pitfalls and suggestions for age estimation

Background MRI of the clavicle's sternal end has been studied for age estimation. Several pitfalls have been noted, but how they affect age estimation performance remains unclear. Purpose/Hypothesis To further study these pitfalls and to make suggestions for a proper use of clavicle MRI for forensic age estimation. Our hypotheses were that age estimation would benefit from 1) discarding stages 1 and 4/5; 2) including advanced substages 3aa, 3ab, and 3ac; 3) taking both clavicles into account; and 4) excluding morphological variants. Study Type Prospective cross-sectional. Population Healthy Caucasian volunteers between 11 and 30 years old (524; 277 females, 247 males). Field Strength/Sequence 3T, T-1-weighted gradient echo volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) MR-sequence. Assessment Four observers applied the most elaborate staging technique for long bone development that has been described in the current literature (including stages, substages, and advanced substages). One of the observers repeated a random selection of the assessments in 110 participants after a 2-week interval. Furthermore, all observers documented morphological variants. Statistical Tests Weighted kappa quantified reproducibility of staging. Bayes' rule was applied for age estimation with a continuation ratio model for the distribution of the stages. According to the hypotheses, different models were tested. Mean absolute error (MAE) differences between models were compared, as were MAEs between cases with and without morphological variants. Results Weighted kappa equaled 0.82 for intraobserver and ranged between 0.60 and 0.64 for interobserver agreement. Stages 1 and 4/5 were allocated interchangeably in 4.3% (54/1258). Age increased steadily in advanced substages of stage 3, but improvement in age estimation was not significant (right P = 0.596; left P = 0.313). The model that included both clavicles and discarded stages 1 and 4/5 yielded an MAE of 1.97 years, a root mean squared error of 2.60 years, and 69% correctly classified minors. Morphological variants rendered significantly higher MAEs (right 3.84 years, P = 0.015; left 2.93 years, P = 0.022). Data Conclusion Our results confirmed hypotheses 3) and 4), while hypotheses 1) and 2) remain to be investigated in larger studies. Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019