Conditions for extreme sensitivity of protein diffusion in membranes to cell environments

We study protein diffusion in multicomponent lipid membranes close to a rigid substrate separated by a layer of viscous fluid. The large-distance, long-time asymptotics for Brownian motion are calculated using a nonlinear stochastic Navier-Stokes equation including the effect of friction with the substrate. The advective nonlinearity, neglected in previous treatments, gives only a small correction to the renormalized viscosity and diffusion coefficient at room temperature. We find, however, that in realistic multicomponent lipid mixtures, close to a critical point for phase separation, protein diffusion acquires a strong power-law dependence on temperature and the distance to the substrate $H$, making it much more sensitive to cell environment, unlike the logarithmic dependence on $H$ and very small thermal correction away from the critical point.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

Capture and Decay of Electroweak WIMPonium

The spectrum of Weakly-Interacting-Massive-Particle (WIMP) dark matter generically possesses bound states when the WIMP mass becomes sufficiently large relative to the mass of the electroweak gauge bosons. The presence of these bound states enhances the annihilation rate via resonances in the Sommerfeld enhancement, but they can also be produced directly with the emission of a low-energy photon. In this work we compute the rate for SU(2) triplet dark matter (the wino) to bind into WIMPonium -- which is possible via single-photon emission for wino masses above 5 TeV for relative velocity v < O(10^{-2}) -- and study the subsequent decays of these bound states. We present results with applications beyond the wino case, e.g. for dark matter inhabiting a nonabelian dark sector; these include analytic capture and transition rates for general dark sectors in the limit of vanishing force carrier mass, efficient numerical routines for calculating positive and negative-energy eigenstates of a Hamiltonian containing interactions with both massive and massless force carriers, and a study of the scaling of bound state formation in the short-range Hulthen potential. In the specific case of the wino, we find that the rate for bound state formation is suppressed relative to direct annihilation, and so provides only a small correction to the overall annihilation rate. The soft photons radiated by the capture process and by bound state transitions could permit measurement of the dark matter's quantum numbers; for wino-like dark matter, such photons are rare, but might be observable by a future ground-based gamma-ray telescope combining large effective area and a low energy threshold.Comment: 3rd version. An interference sign fixed and changes propagated through the paper. Topline qualitative conclusions unchange

Strain measurement at the knee ligament insertion sites

We describe the modification of an existing method of ligament strain measurement at the knee joint in detail. At ten fresh joint specimens we used that technique where strain gauges are attached to the ligamentous insertions and origins. We both improved the preparation of the attachment site and the application of the strain gauges. In a special apparatus the specimens were moved from 0degrees extension to 100degrees flexion while simulating muscle strength and axial force. Testing was performed at the posterior cruciate ligament with both intact and transsected anterior cruciate ligament. In contrast to other existing techniques it does not affect the motion of the joint or the integrity and the function of the ligaments. Unlike the original description of that method we could register a loading behaviour of the posterior cruciate ligament that is similar to those reported in the literature

Zugkraftmessungen beim knöchernen Segmenttransport – in vivo Untersuchungen am Menschen

Bone transport applying the principle of distraction osteogenesis makes it possible to reconstruct long bone defects caused by trauma or resection of bone tumors. The method employing a central cable, developed in Munich, is especially suitable for such applications. The main bone fragments are stabilized by an external fixateur, and bone transport is effected with a single central cable fixed to the tip of the segment, and driven by an external, programmable motor. In 15 patients the tractive forces during the entire bone transport were measured with a strain gauge incorporated within the cable. On the basis of the force profiles characteristics normal bone transport (forces between 150 - 250 N) can be distinguished from a critical transport (forces &gt; 250 N) with the risk of premature consolidation. There is some evidence that at a very high level of force, just before premature consolidation a very effective form of bone transport with good bone neoformation can be achieved. Transport systems employing a central cable allow this special form of distraction osteogenesis, since there is continuous force monitoring, and there is the option of employing the traction force as a control factor in a loop

Resummed Photon Spectra for WIMP Annihilation

We construct an effective field theory (EFT) description of the hard photon spectrum for heavy WIMP annihilation. This facilitates precision predictions relevant for line searches, and allows the incorporation of non-trivial energy resolution effects. Our framework combines techniques from non-relativistic EFTs and soft-collinear effective theory (SCET), as well as its multi-scale extensions that have been recently introduced for studying jet substructure. We find a number of interesting features, including the simultaneous presence of SCET$_{\text{I}}$ and SCET$_{\text{II}}$ modes, as well as collinear-soft modes at the electroweak scale. We derive a factorization formula that enables both the resummation of the leading large Sudakov double logarithms that appear in the perturbative spectrum, and the inclusion of Sommerfeld enhancement effects. Consistency of this factorization is demonstrated to leading logarithmic order through explicit calculation. Our final result contains both the exclusive and the inclusive limits, thereby providing a unifying description of these two previously-considered approximations. We estimate the impact on experimental sensitivity, focusing for concreteness on an SU(2)$_{W}$ triplet fermion dark matter - the pure wino - where the strongest constraints are due to a search for gamma-ray lines from the Galactic Center. We find numerically significant corrections compared to previous results, thereby highlighting the importance of accounting for the photon spectrum when interpreting data from current and future indirect detection experiments.Comment: 55+25 pages, 11+2 figures; v3, updated an expression in the appendix to make it applicable at higher order - no impact on the results in this wor

Zentrale Zugseilsysteme – vollautomatische, kontinuierliche Kallusdistraktion zur Behandlung langstreckiger Knochendefekte

Distraction osteogenesis involving bone transport enables the reconstruction of large bone defects. The main bone fragments are usually stablilised externally, an intermediate bone segment is separated and moved through the defect at a rate of about 1 mm/day. New high-quality bone is built up in the constantly enlarging osteotomy gap. A major problem associated with the method is the fact that the fixation pins are also moved over the same distance, and cut through the soft tissue, often resulting in painful pin tract infections and ugly scars. An automatic motorized bone transport system employing a single central cable now eliminates this problem. The system can be combined with any external fixateur, since the relevant implanted parts for bone transport are independent of the external stabilizer. The surgical procedure, which is easy on the patient, consists of bone segment separation, central cable fixation, and stabilisation of the main fragments, and requires the use of numerous special tools. The distraction itself results in significantly less soft tissue irritation and pain. Pin tract infections are rare, so that changeover to internal fixation after completion of bone transport carries little risk of infection. This article details the technical features of the stabilizing system and the transport and the control systems, and describes the clinical application in a patient

Banddehnungsmessung am Kniegelenk - Der Dehnungsmeßstreifen und seine Alternativen

Those techniques for measuring ligament tension at the knee joint that are most commonly cited and easiest to carry out are discussed, These include four techniques based on the use of strain gauges. Apart from the Omega transducer and the buckle transducer, there is also the tendon force transducer, and the application of strain gauges to the bony ligament insertion sites, Other indirect measuring methods considered are the mercury strain transducer and the Hall effect transducer. The parameter measured with all of these methods is fluctuating current or voltage, which is then correlated with ligament tension. Three direct measurements are also discussed: the separation distances of marked fibres of the ligaments, replacement of fibres by threads, and a load cell/bone plug construction. The measured value is equated with the effective change in ligament length

Systematic Improvement of Parton Showers with Effective Theory

We carry out a systematic classification and computation of next-to-leading order kinematic power corrections to the fully differential cross section in the parton shower. To do this we devise a map between ingredients in a parton shower and operators in a traditional effective field theory framework using a chain of soft-collinear effective theories. Our approach overcomes several difficulties including avoiding double counting and distinguishing approximations that are coordinate choices from true power corrections. Branching corrections can be classified as hard-scattering, that occur near the top of the shower, and jet-structure, that can occur at any point inside it. Hard-scattering corrections include matrix elements with additional hard partons, as well as power suppressed contributions to the branching for the leading jet. Jet-structure corrections require simultaneous consideration of potential 1 -> 2 and 1 -> 3 branchings. The interference structure induced by collinear terms with subleading powers remains localized in the shower.Comment: 54 pages, 24 figures, plus a few appendices. v2: included a parameter "eta" to account for energy loss, title improved, journal versio

Bio mit Gesicht - Erfolgschancen einer kundennahen und innovativen Marketingstrategie

Mangelndes Vertrauen in Bio-Produkte wirkt als eine zentrale Kaufbarriere. Mit der Marketingstrategie Bio mit Gesicht (BMG) soll die Anonymität von Produkten aufgehoben und Vertrauen geschaffen werden, indem die Erzeuger und Verarbeiter im Internet vorgestellt werden. Ziel des Projekts "Bio mit Gesicht – Erfolgschancen einer kundennahen und innovativen Marketingstrategie“ war es, die Markteinführung der Produktlinie BMG wissenschaftlich zu begleiten und praxisrelevante Aussagen über die Konzeption zukünftiger Marketingstrategien zu treffen. Dabei wurde im Rahmen einer quantitativen und einer qualitativen Studie untersucht, worauf das Vertrauen in Bio-Produkte grundsätzlich beruht und ob BMG geeignet ist, das Vertrauen in Bio-Produkte zu steigern. Die Studien zeigen, dass die Kennzeichnung von Bio-Lebensmitteln mit Bio-Labels eine zentrale Rolle dabei spielt, wie Konsumenten deren Vertrauenswürdigkeit beurteilen. Bio-Produkte, die ein Verbandslabel aufweisen, genießen das höchste Vertrauen, gefolgt von staatlichen Labels. Trotz seines geringen Bekanntheitsgrads wirkt auch das BMG-Logo vertrauensbildend. Offenbar erweckt bereits allein das signalgebende Wort „bio“ im Label Vertrauen. Auch schaffen Einkaufsstätten Vertrauen, die aus Sicht der Konsumenten Bio-Produkte aus Überzeugung verkaufen. Regionalität erhöht ebenfalls die Vertrauenswürdigkeit eines Bio-Produkts signifikant. Am höchsten ist das Vertrauen in Bio-Lebensmittel unter Konsumenten, die Bio-Lebensmittel überwiegend in Bio-Läden kaufen. Im Gegensatz zum BMG-Label steigert BMG als Rückverfolgbarkeitssystem via Internet das Vertrauen in Bio-Produkte derzeit kaum. Doch insbesondere durch die zunehmende Verbreitung von Smartphones und den damit verbundenen Vorteil, Produktinformationen noch vor dem Einkauf abrufen zu können, könnte die Bedeutung von BMG zukünftig steigern. Auch die wachsende Bedeutung von elektronischen Lesegeräten, mit denen sich Artikeldaten bereits während des Lebensmitteleinkaufs abrufen lassen, steigert das Potenzial von Rückverfolgbarkeitssystemen. Die Analyse der Zugriffszahlen zeigte zudem, dass in Zeiten eines Lebensmittelskandals (z.B. Dioxin in Eiern, EHEC) die Besucherzahlen auf der Internetseite von BMG deutlich steigen

Domain Growth Kinetics in a Cell-sized Liposome

We investigated the kinetics of domain growth on liposomes consisting of a ternary mixture (unsaturated phospholipid, saturated phospholipid, and cholesterol) by temperature jump. The domain growth process was monitored by fluorescence microscopy, where the growth was mediated by the fusion of domains through the collision. It was found that an average domain size r develops with time t as r ~ t^0.15, indicating that the power is around a half of the theoretical expectation deduced from a model of Brownian motion on a 2-dimensional membrane. We discuss the mechanism of the experimental scaling behavior by considering the elasticity of the membrane