Director configuration in the twist-bend nematic phase of CB11CB

The director distribution in the nematic phases exhibited by the 100,1100-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-40-yl)undecane (CB11CB) liquid crystal has been studied in the bulk with the EPR spin probe technique. EPR spectra confirmed the presence of an higher temperature uniaxial nematic phase and of a lower temperature nematic phase in which the director distribution is not uniform. Spectra recorded in the lower temperature nematic phase were not fully compatible with theoretical EPR spectra calculated according to the recently proposed model for the twist-bend phase in which the local domain director twists around an axis with a fixed tilt angle, θ₀, but were well described by a “distributed-tilt” model in which the director has a relatively narrow distribution, centred at θ₀

Zusatzbeiträge in der Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung: Weiterentwicklungsoptionen und ihre finanziellen sowie allokativen Effekte

Zukünftig ist mit einem spürbaren Anstieg der Ausgaben der Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung (GKV) zu rechnen, dem ein entsprechender Einnahmeanstieg gegenüberstehen muss. Nach geltendem Recht werden dazu die bereits gesetzlich verankerten, aber derzeit noch nicht flächendeckend eingeführten, einkommensunabhängigen Zusatzbeiträge herangezogen, die sozial ausgeglichen werden. Dieser Beitrag untersucht zunächst die Auswirkungen dieser Regelung auf die Entwicklung der Einnahmen der GKV. Anschließend werden beispielhaft verschiedene Optionen zur Weiterentwicklung dieser Zusatzbeiträge hin zu einem einkommens-unabhängigen Arbeitnehmerbeitrag entwickelt und ihre die finanziellen Auswirkungen sowie ihre Wachstums- und Beschäftigungseffekte im Rahmen eines allgemeinen Gleichgewichtsmodells analysiert. Es zeigt sich, dass eine solche Weiterentwicklung mit positiven Wachstums- und Beschäftigungseffekten verbunden wäre, ohne dass die Belastung über das bereits jetzt festgelegte Maß hinaus ausgeweitet wird. Die Effekte sind umso größer, je früher die Umsetzung beginnt, je schneller sie abgeschlossen ist, je gedämpfter der Ausgabenanstieg verläuft und je stärker die Belastungsquote angehoben wird

Zur Vereinheitlichung des Rentenrechts

Mehr als 25 Jahre nach der Deutschen Einheit werden die Renten in Ost- und Westdeutschland noch immer auf Basis unterschiedlicher rentenrechtlicher Größen berechnet. Dies führt zu verschiedenen Ungleichbehandlungen und wird zunehmend als unangemessen angesehen. Alle Vorschläge zur Rechtsangleichung sind jedoch mit gewissen Nachteilen verbunden; es gibt keine Lösung, die alle Betroffenen gleichermaßen zufriedenstellen wird. Allerdings weist der Vorschlag, den der Sachverständigenrat in seinem Jahresgutachten 2008/09 skizziert hat, nach wie vor gegenüber den Alternativen erhebliche Vorzüge auf

On the structure of the Nx phase of symmetric dimers: inferences from NMR

NMR measurements on a selectively deuterated liquid crystal dimer CB-C9-CB, exhibiting two nematic phases, show that the molecules in the lower temperature nematic phase, NX, experience a chiral environment and are ordered about a uniformly oriented director throughout the macroscopic sample. The results are contrasted with previous interpretations that suggested a twist-bend spatial variation of the director. A structural picture is proposed wherein the molecules are packed into highly correlated chiral assemblies

NMR study of a bimesogenic liquid crystal with two nematic phases

Recent interest in bimesogenic liquid crystals showing two nematic phases has led us to investigate the nematic mean-field interactions in these nematic phases by using rigid solutes as probes. The nematic potential that is modelled by two independent Maier-Saupe terms is successful in fitting the observed dipolar couplings (order parameters) of para-, meta- and ortho-dichlorobenzene solutes in both the nematic phases of 39 wt% of 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) in α,ω-bis(4-4′-cyanobiphenyl)nonane (CB_C9_CB) to better than the 5% level. The derived liquid-crystal potential parameters G₁ and G₂ for each solute in the N and Ntb phases will be discussed. The most interesting observation is that G1 (associated with size and shape interactions) is almost constant in the Ntb phase, whereas G₂ (associated with longer-range electrostatic interactions) has large variation, even changing sign

The design and investigation of nanocomposites containing dimeric nematogens and liquid crystal gold nanoparticles with plasmonic properties showing a nematic-nematic phase transition (Nᵤ-Nₓ/Ntb)

The construction of liquid crystal compositions consisting of the dimeric liquid crystal, CB_C9_CB (cyanobiphenyl dimer = 1",9"-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl)nonane), and the range of nematic systems is explored. The materials include a laterally functionalized monomer, which was used to construct a phase diagram with CB_C9_CB, as well as one laterally linked dimer liquid crystal material and two liquid crystal gold nanoparticle (LC-Au-NPs) systems. For the Au-NP-LCs, the NP diameters were varied between ~3.3 nm and 10 nm. Stable mixtures that exhibit a nematic-nematic phase transition are reported and were investigated by POM (polarizing optical microscopy), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and X-ray diffraction studies

Determined to die! Ability to act following multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head. The cook county office of medical examiner experience (2005-2012) and review of literature

Cases of multiple (considered 2+) self-inflicted gunshot wounds are a rarity and require careful examination of the scene of occurrence; thorough consideration of the decedent’s psychiatric, medical, and social histories; and accurate postmortem documentation of the gunshot wounds. We present a series of four cases of multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office between 2005 and 2012 including the first case report of suicide involving eight gunshot wounds to the head. In addition, a review of the literature concerning multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head is performed. The majority of reported cases document two gunshot entrance wound defects. Temporal regions are the most common affected regions (especially the right and left temples). Determining the capability to act following a gunshot wound to the head is necessary in crime scene reconstruction and in differentiation between homicide and suicide

Rentenpaket: Die Bundesregierung auf Irrwegen

Das Gesetz über Leistungsverbesserungen in der Gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung ist am 1.7.2014 in Kraft getreten. Zu einer Reduktion der Altersarmut - wie die Aussagen im Bundestagswahlkampf 2013 vermuten ließen - trägt zumindest die abschlagsfreie Rente mit 63 nicht bei. Die Autoren aus dem Sachverständigenrat Wirtschaft bewerten die einzelnen Maßnahmen des Gesetzes differenziert und befürchten hohe Mehrausgaben, die die Zukunftsfähigkeit des Rentensystems gefährden.In the summer of 2014 Germany will witness the most substantial expansion of pension expenditures since the 1950s. Yet, while this reform package was motivated mainly by the dismal prospect of rising old age poverty rates, it does little to alleviate this problem. On the contrary, its two central elements, an expansion of the pension claims of mothers whose children were born before 1992, and access to early retirement at age 63 for workers with a long insurance history, tend to benefi t rather privileged groups of the insured. These measures endanger the sustainability of the German pension system and will necessitate future generations to work even longer than would have been the case otherwise

Avidity of influenza-specific memory CD8+ T-cell populations decays over time compromising antiviral immunity

Decline of cell-mediated immunity is often attributed to decaying T-cell numbers and their distribution in peripheral organs. This study examined the hypothesis that qualitative as well as quantitative changes contribute to the declining efficacy of CD8+ T-cell memory. Using a model of influenza virus infection, where loss of protective CD8+ T-cell immunity was observed 6 months postinfection, we found no decline in antigen-specific T-cell numbers or migration to the site of secondary infection. There was, however, a large reduction in antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell degranulation, cytokine secretion, and polyfunctionality. A profound loss of high-avidity T cells over time indicated that failure to confer protective immunity resulted from the inferior functional capacity of remaining low avidity cells. These data imply that high-avidity central memory T cells wane with declining antigen levels, leaving lower avidity T cells with reduced functional capabilities