AT‐Specific DNA Binding of Binuclear Ruthenium Complexes at the Border of Threading Intercalation

The binuclear ruthenium complex [μ‐bidppz(phen)₄Ru₂]⁴⁺ has been extensively studied since the discovery of its unusual threading intercalation interaction with DNA, a binding mode with extremely slow binding and dissociation kinetics. The complex has been shown to be selective towards long stretches of alternating AT base pairs, which makes it interesting, for example, as a model compound for anti‐malaria drugs due to the high AT content of the genome of the malaria parasite P. falciparum. We have investigated the effect of bridging ligand structure on threading intercalation ability and found that length and rigidity as well as the size of the intercalated ring system are all factors that affect the rate and selectivity of the threading intercalation. In particular, we discovered a new DNA‐threading compound, [μ‐dppzip(phen)₄Ru₂]⁴⁺, which appears to be just at the border of being capable of threading intercalation and displays even greater selectivity for AT‐DNA than the parent compound, [μ‐bidppz(phen)₄Ru₂]⁴⁺.     

High average power large-pitch fiber amplifier with robust single-mode operation

Ytterbium-doped large-pitch fibers with very large mode areas are investigated in a high-power fiber amplifier configuration. An average output power of 294?W is demonstrated, while maintaining robust single-mode operation with a mode field diameter of 62?μm. Compared to previous active large-mode area designs, the threshold of mode instabilities is increased by a factor of about 3.     

High-speed modal decomposition of mode instabilities in high-power fiber lasers

A high-speed mode analysis technique is required to gain fundamental understanding of mode instabilities in high-power fiber laser systems. In this work a technique, purely based on the intensity profile of the beam, is demonstrated to be ideally suited to analyze fiber laser dynamics. This technique, together with a high-speed camera, has been applied to the study of the temporal dynamics of mode instabilities at high average powers with up to 20,000 frames per second. These measurements confirm that energy transfer between the fluctuating transversal modes takes place in millisecond-time-scale.     

Intravascular photoacoustic imaging of human coronary atherosclerosis

We demonstrate intravascular photoacoustic imaging of human coronary atherosclerotic plaque. The data was obtained from two fresh human coronary arteries ex vivo, showing different stages of disease. A 1.25?mm diameter intravascular imaging catheter was built, comprising an angle-polished optical fiber adjacent to a 30?MHz ultrasound transducer. Specific photoacoustic imaging of lipid content, a key factor in vulnerable plaques that may lead to myocardial infarction, is achieved by spectroscopic imaging at different wavelengths between 1180 and 1230?nm. Simultaneous imaging with intravascular ultrasound was performed.     

Non-universal shear viscosity from Einstein gravity

A very famous result of gauge/gravity duality is the universality of the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density in every field theory holographically dual to classical, two-derivative (Einstein) gravity. We present a way to obtain deviation from this universality by breaking the rotational symmetry spontaneously. In anisotropic fluids additional shear modes exist and their corresponding shear viscosities may be non-universal. We confirm this by explicitly calculating the shear viscosities in a transversely isotropic background, a p-wave superfluid, and study its critical behavior. This is a first decisive step towards further applications of gauge/gravity duality to physical systems.     

Continuum limit of overlap valence quarks on a twisted mass sea

We study a lattice QCD mixed action with overlap valence quarks on two flavours of Wilson maximally twisted mass sea quarks. Employing three different matching conditions to relate both actions to each other, we investigate the continuum limit by using three values of the lattice spacing ranging from a≈0.05 fm$a\approx 0.05\text{fm}$ to 0.08 fm$0.08\text{fm}$. A particular emphasis is put on the effect on physical observables of the topological zero modes appearing in the valence overlap operator. We estimate the region of parameter space where the contribution from these zero modes is sufficiently small such that their effects can be safely controlled and a restoration of unitarity of the mixed action in the continuum limit is reached.     

Adaptive nonparametric estimation for Lévy processes observed at low frequency

This article deals with adaptive nonparametric estimation for Lévy processes observed at low frequency. For general linear functionals of the Lévy measure, we construct kernel estimators, provide upper risk bounds and derive rates of convergence under regularity assumptions.     

Model reduction and dynamic iteration for coupled nonlinear systems

The dynamical behavior of coupled systems is determined by different interconnected subsystems that are usually governed by entirely different physical laws and often act in different time and space scales. We discuss the simulation of coupled nonlinear systems using dynamic iteration combined with model order reduction. We also study the convergence of this approach and derive error estimates for approximate solutions. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Development of m-plane GaN anisotropic film properties during MOVPE growth on LiAlO2 substrates

The anisotropic film properties of m-plane GaN deposited by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on LiAlO₂ substrates are investigated. To study the development of layer properties during epitaxy, the total film thickness is varied between 0.2 and 1.7 μm. A surface roughening is observed caused by the increased size of hillock-like features. Additionally, small steps which are perfectly aligned in (1 1 −2 0) planes appear for samples with a thickness of ∼0.5 μm and above. Simultaneously, the X-ray rocking curve (XRC) full width at half maximum (FWHM) values become strongly dependent on incident X-ray beam direction beyond this critical thickness. Anisotropic in-plane compressive strain is initially present and gradually relaxes mainly in the [1 1 −2 0] direction when growing thicker films. Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra are dominated by the GaN near-band-edge peak and show only weak signal related to basal plane stacking faults (BSF). The measured background electron concentration is reduced from ∼10²⁰ to ∼10¹⁹ cm⁻³ for film thicknesses of 0.2 μm and ∼1 μm while the electron mobilities rise from ∼20 to ∼130 cm²/V s. The mobilities are significantly higher in [0 0 0 1] direction which we explain by the presence of extended planar defects in the prismatic plane. Such defects are assumed to be also the cause for the observed surface steps and anisotropic XRC broadening.     

The European way to go: Virtual Central Laboratory

In clinical pharmaceutical trials often one central laboratory is used for the analysis of routine parameters, the so-called safety parameters. In many countries the heads of laboratory departments question the quality of such analysis in terms of quality of samples after transport, continuity of patient related medical laboratory information before, during and after the trial; turn around time; alerting procedures and consultancy to requesting physicians. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical industry prefers to work with central laboratories since they can claim certification or accreditation. Also the use of one set of reference values is an important issue, as well as electronic data transfer to the trial organizer's database. The concept of a Virtual Central Laboratory (VCL), initiated in the Netherlands, tries to solve this conflicting situation. In the concept, local hospital laboratories receive computer-assisted aid in the identification of patients, trials, visits and requests. The laboratory data are transformed using calibrator sets to produce a homogeneous data set across laboratories, resulting in one set of reference values. The data are electronically transferred to a central computer from which they are send in any desired format to the trial organizer's database. Participating laboratories are obliged to work towards accreditation. The VCL acts as a central counterpart for both the pharmaceutical industry and local laboratories. The concept offers advantages to the pharmaceutical industry, the investigator and local laboratories.