Search

This tribute to her parents by one co-author (NDP) is the fruit of a more than a decade-long search by the senior author (FH) for the details of the lives of Bernhard and Gertraud (''Traute'') Düll. These pioneers studied how space/terrestrial weather may differentially influence human mortality from various causes, the 27-day mortality pattern being different whether death was from cardiac or respiratory disease, or from suicide. FH is the translator of personal information about her parents provided by NDP in German. Figuratively, he also attempts to ''translate'' the Dülls' contribution in the context of the literature that had appeared before their work and after their deaths. Although the Dülls published in a then leading journal, among others (and FH had re-analyzed some of their work in a medical journal), they were unknown to academies or libraries (where FH had inquired about them). The Dülls thoroughly assembled death certificates to offer the most powerful evidence for an effect of solar activity reflected in human mortality, as did others before them. They went several steps further than their predecessors, however. They were the first to show possibly differential effects of space and/or Earth weather with respect to suicide and other deaths associated with the nervous and sensory systems vs. death from cardiac or respiratory disease as well as overall death by differences in the phase of a common 27-day cycle characterizing these mortality patterns. Furthermore, Bernhard Düll developed tests of human visual and auditory reaction time to study effects of weather and solar activity, publishing a book (his professorial dissertation) on the topic. His unpublished finding of an increased incidence of airplane crashes in association with higher solar activity was validated after his death, among others, by Tatiana Zenchenko and A. M. Merzlyi.

Introduction Neuroimaging studies in stroke patients with hemiparesis have shown altered brain activation in the contralesional hemisphere including the primary motor cortex (M1), dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC) and anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS) already in the first week after stroke ( Rehme et al., 2011 ). The role of these regions for motor recovery is still under debate, with some studies suggesting a supportive influence ( Lotze et al., 2006 ) while other point to a maladaptive role ( Nowak et al., 2008 ). Especially functional reorganization in the early phase after stroke is not well understood, although this phase might be critical for non-invasive interventions aiming at supporting recovery of function ( Grefkes and Fink, 2016 ). We here used fMRI-guided online TMS applied over the contralesional M1, dPMC and aIPS of first-ever stroke patients with hand motor deficits in order to probe their role for movements of the paretic hand. Methods FMRI data were recorded from 13 patients 1–8 days after first-ever ischemic stroke and 14 age-matched healthy volunteers during index finger tapping in order to localize task-related activation in the contralesional hemisphere. Each subjects’ individual maxima in the contralesional M1, dPMC and aIPS were then used as targets to apply short trains of rTMS (10 Hz trains, 90% of rMT) time locked to task execution (online-TMS). Sham stimulation served as a control condition and was conducted at 90% of rMT, tilted over the parieto-occipital vertex in order to minimize interference with the motor system. Task performance was measured using a 3D motion analysis system. Imaging data were preprocessed and analyzed using SPM8 and the MarsBar toolbox. Results The severity of stroke as assessed by the NIHSS showed a positive correlation with the partients’ activation peaks in contralesional M1, indicating higher levels of activity in more affected patients. TMS application over the individual fMRI maxima led to differential effects on motor performance. In contralesional M1 and dPMC, TMS interference with local activity led to a normalization of kinematics in patients showing higher activation during paretic hand movements. This finding implies that early increases of neural activity in these regions after stroke rather represent a maladaptive process interfering with motor performance of the stroke-affected hand. In contrast, TMS-Effects with aIPS led to an increase of tapping amplitude and peak velocity across the patient group, thus normalizing performance. Conclusion The present study examined the role of contralesional M1, dPMC and aIPS activity for motor performance in early subacute stroke patients. While higher activation of M1 and dPMC in the first week after stroke were related to an improvement of motor fluency during online TMS interference, stimulation also of lower activation in contralesional aIPS led to a normalization of spatial aspects of motor performance. These findings suggest a disturbing influence of all examined regions on different features of movement kinematics already during the first days after stroke in mildly to moderately affected patients.

High temperature in situ resistivity measurement was carried out to monitor the resistivity change of the Pd wire when annealed in the temperature range of 250–400°C in flowing N 2 . In the range of 250–350°C, the resistivity change with time can be fitted well by a bulk-diffusion model with infinite-long cylinder geometry, the derived apparent diffusion coefficient versus temperature matches the Arrhenius plot well, and the apparent activation energy for this process was derived to be 1.3 eV. The tensile test showed that the mechanical properties of the Pd wire annealed at 300°C in flowing N 2 is better than those in air. The results disagree with the traditionally accepted conclusion: nitrogen is insoluble in the Pd below 1400°C (Hansen (1958) Constitution of Binary Alloys, McGraw-Hill, New York). Besides, the influence of superficial oxidation on the absorption and desorption behaviors of N atoms in Pd wire at different annealing temperatures (up to 400°C) was discussed in terms of the reversibility of resistivity change when the ambient atmosphere was changed between pure N 2 and air.

The effect of aging on the microstructure and shear strength of 62Sn36Pb2Ag/Ni-P/Cu and SnAg/Ni-P/Cu surface mount solder joints was investigated. An intermetallic (IMC) layer of Ni3Sn4 forms at the interface between both solders and the Ni-P barrier layer and it thickens with aging time, with a decrease in the thickness of remaining Ni-P layer. The SnAg solder joint initially has a greater shear force than that of SnPbAg, but it drops dramatically after 250 h aging, and fracture occurs at the Ni-P/Cu interface afterwards, although it initiates in the solder in the initial stage of aging. The fracture in SnAg solder joint may arise from the excessive depletion of Ni characterized by a rapid accumulation of P in the remaining Ni-P layer, which results in a poor adhesion between the Ni-P layer and the Cu substrate. However, for the SnPbAg solder joint, the shear force initially decreases rapidly then asymptotically approaches a minimum, and fracture occurs from inside solder toward the solder/Ni-P interface. SnPbAg solder joint keeps relatively higher shear strength compared to SnAg solder joint after long term aging even though it decreases with aging time.

Au/In isothermal solidification technique was evaluated as an alternative method for high performance die attachment. Bonding could be achieved at temperatures between 250°C ‐ 3008C for about five to ten seconds. The microstructures of the bonds were studied and their effects on the reliability analysed. The quality of the bonds depends very much on the surface waviness of the substrate. For high quality substrates, bonding was successfully achieved on 3mm × 3mm dies, which is almost one order of magnitude bigger than the die size achievable for Au/Si eutectic bonding, and the bonds show no obvious degradation after 2,800 cycles between –55°C to 125°C.

A gold-indium isothermal solidification technique has been developed for die bonding. Both silicon on silicon and silicon on alloy 42 (chip size 2 × 2 mm2) are investigated. For silicon on silicon, the bonding is performed at 200°C within 30 sec. The bonds can withstand 1,500 cycles of temperature cycle between −65°C and 150°C without any degradation. For silicon on alloy 42, the bonding is done at 250°C within 5 sec. The bonds can pass the shear strength test specified by MIL STD 883D, Method 2019.5. The reliability of the bonds is evaluated by thermal cycle testing. After 500 cycles between −65°C and 150°C, only slight degradation was observed.

Titanium silicide (TiSi X ) contacts sputter deposited onto p-type SiC-wafers carrying a 5μm thick nitrogen-doped n-type ( N D − N A =5 . 10 18 cm −3 ) epitaxial layer have been electrically characterized. While the as-deposited contacts have revealed rectifying behavior, the current–voltage characteristic has became ohmic after sample treatment by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) in argon at temperatures above or equal to 1000°C. To determine the specific contact resistance ρ C, the common linear transmission line model (TLM) has been used. However, the ρ c values measured with the TLM method may be subject to systematic errors because the TLM is based on a simplified model of the metal–semiconductor contact. To quantify these errors, three-dimensional finite element models of TLM-structures with various geometries have been studied with the FEM-software ANSYS®. By comparing the simulation results with experimental data, ρ c for annealed TiSi X contacts has been found to be ≤8·10 −6 Ω cm 2 . This agrees very well with the best results published in the literature (J. Crofton et al.; Phys. Stat. Sol. B202 (1997) 581–603). Secondary neutral mass spectrometry has been used to examine the reaction between TiSi X and SiC during RTA showing that for high temperature annealing (1180°C) the ternary phase Ti 3 SiC 2 is formed at the interface between a TiSi 2 overlayer and the SiC substrate.

The thermally activated reaction (90 seconds at temperatures from 800°C to if80°C) of thin Tisi x -films deposited on n-doped 6H-Silicon Carbide (SiC) by RF sputtering from a TiSi 2 compound target has been investigated by secondary neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS) The resulting depth distribution of Ti, Si and C are measured with the high frequency mode (HFM) of SNMS. The concentration depth profiles are discussed by means of the Ti-Si-C phase diagram. The depth dependent formation of different phases is derived from the corresponding elemental concentration ratios We found that after RTA (Rapid Thermal Annealing) treatments above 1000°C a TiSi 2 layer is formed. In addition, the ternary phase Ti 3 SiC 2 grows at the interface between the TiSi 2 layer and the SiC substrate. While samples annealed up to 800°C showed non-linear I-V-characteristics, they revealed ohmic behaviour after RTA-treatment above 1000°C with the specific contact resistance decreasing to ρ c =8.10 -6 Ωcm 2 after annealing at 1180°C.

Palladium (Pd) wire is a favourable metal for wire bonding electronic devices operating an enhanced temperatures. The bonding process was investigated and the significant process parameters were identified. Different parameter sets were worked out for various bonding machines. The separation of the wire after the bonding process was found to be decisive for the quality of the bond. Thermal ageing at enhanced temperatures (i.e. 300/spl deg/C for 1000 h) causes no degradation of the bonds.

The temperature dependence of Cu-NQR spectra was investigated at both Cu sites in several YBa2Cu3O7 samples. All lines exhibit a strong broadening. Furthermore, the NQR frequency at the Cu(1) site shows an anomaly around Tc which is most likely of dielectric origin.

Die Arbeitsbedingungen von Informatikerinnen und Informatikern lassen sich durchaus (anders) gestalten - namlich so, das beide Geschlechter auch eine verantwortungsvolle und qualifizierte Tatigkeit in diesem Berufsfeld mit Familie oder anderen Lebensinteressen vereinbaren konnen. Diese These unterstellt, das das gegenwartig nicht ausreichend moglich ist. Dabei scheinen die Bedingungen dazu gerade in der Informatik ‘eigentlich’ erfolgversprechender als in (anderen) Ingenieurberufen zu sein.

Diese Studie analysiert die flachenhafte Schwermetall- und Arsenbelastung in Metro Manila, einer der am starksten urbanisierten und industrialisierten Grosstadte Sudostasiens. Die Hohe toxischer Schwermetall- und Arsengehalte und die Belastungszentren sollten herausgearbeitet werden. Die Durchfuhrung der Untersuchung in Form eines Rasters sollte die Erkennung von Immissionszentren und u.U. sogar bei weiterer Datenauswertung das Erkennen einzelner Emittenten zulassen.

This study analysises the heavy metal and arsenic situation in the city of Metro Manila which is regarded as one of the most heavily urbanized and industrialized cities the southeast of Asia. Amount of harmful heavy metal and the centres of pollution should be ascertained. By undertaking this research in form of quadrats it should be possible to identify immission centres and under certain circumstances to single out emitters.

Doping of C60 fullerene with KTl1.5 results in superconductivity withTconset=17.6 K as shown by a dc magnetization measurement. Preliminary13C NMR studies on a doped and undoped sample are reported. Compared to original C60 the linewidth increases by a factor of 3, the resonance frequency is shifted by 42 ppm, and the relaxation rateT1−1 is an order of magnitude larger in the intercalated material at room temperature. Both observations support the picture of a metallic sample.

An extension of feasible direction methods is proposed permitting nonfeasible points to be used as starting points. The principle is described at a P1-method. Furthermore to reduce the computational effort a new “ϵ-technique” adapted t the given optimization problem is presented.

Alterskurven gegen Bodentiefe zeigen je nach langsamer Entstehung uber Pararendzinastadium oder schnellerem Tiefenwachstum des Epipedons unter eher anmoorigen Bedingungen flacher gestreckte oder steilere Gestalt mit eindeutiger Alterszunahme in die Tiefe. Dies und 291 14C-Daten mit Regressionen unterschiedlicher Steigungskoeffizienten X von Mollisolen zeigen, das Bioturbation nicht einer gleichmasigen Durchmischung der C-Atome unterschiedlichen Alters entspricht. Hochste X-Werte kennzeichnen steilste Alterszunahme in die Tiefe und schwachste Bioturbation. Alter/Profilmaximalalter gegen Tiefe aufgetragen ergibt eine Abbaubeziehung. Die steilen Regressionsgeraden stehen fur alteste C-Spezies und starksten Abbau des jungen Materials, die flachen fur langsamen Abbau. Vergleichende 14C-Alter von Kornfraktionen der Feuchttschernoseme „Asel” und „Sollingen” ergeben Altersmaxima im Mittel- und Feintonbereich. Korper-C schichtweise gesammelter Regenwurmer ist aus allen Tiefen rezent (> 100% NBS). Messungen zum Abbau in verschiedenen Bodentiefen zweier Feuchttschernoseme zeigen beim neutralen Ackerboden wie auch beim sauren Waldboden abnehmende CO2-Freisetzung aus Material wachsender Tiefe. Investigations regarding carbon dynamics and bioturbation in Mollisols Bioturbation in Mollisols (mollic horizons) is not really leading to a homogenisation of C-atoms of different 14C-ages. Age versus depth curves indicate rather flatly stretched or steeper shapes, dependent on either slow development via an extended pararendzina phase or faster growth of the mollic epipedon under more half bog like conditions. 291 14C-dates of Mollisols versus depth of soil result in one mutual and several individualized regression lines for the countries of origin with variable coefficients of X. Highest levels of X indicate steepest increase of age towards depth, i.e. weakest bioturbation in the sense of homogenization. When eliminating 16 sand covered Mollisol samples from Tunisia 275 dates remain, which, plotted as age/profile maximum age versus depth, produce regressions of the date collectives of different countries in relation to organic matter decomposition. The steepest regression line indicates maximization of old carbon species and most intensive decomposition of the young organic matter; the flat ones stand for slowed down decomposition. Comparative 14C-dates of texture fractions of the aquic Hapludolls „Asel” and „Sollingen” show age maxima in the middle clay and fine clay fractions. 14C-dating of the body – C of layerwise collected earthworms as well as of fillings of fossil rainworm or Citellus tracks reveal for the worm – C exclusively recent bomb – C (> 100% NBS) with youngest C species in the top soil and in the greatest depth of the soil profile. The fossil rainworm and Citellus track-fillings are above the measured total soil age. Studies of the decomposition of organic matter from different soil depth indicate in case of the almost neutral agricultural soil „Sollingen” expectedly lowest CO2-release from the organo-mineralically stabilized soil layer at maximum depth (in mgC/100 g soil as well as in mg C/g Corg). In case of the more acid forest soil „Asel” the same trend of diminishing CO2 release with depth prevails at normal soil-pH as well as under condition of uniformly adjusted pH to 7.5–8.3. The two deepest layers (80–100 cm) fall of the trend by higher rates of decomposition. The unfavorable ratio of organic C (0.139%) versus carbonate-C (1.54%) under synchroneous pH-increase is considered responsible.

378 Radiokohlenstoffdaten von Vertisolen werden gegen die Probentiefe aufgetragen. Die Steilheit der den verschiedenen Ursprungslandern zugeordneten Regressionslinien fur Bodenalter versus Tiefe ergibt eine inverse Beziehung zur Intensitat der Peloturbation. Die aussagefahigste Reihung entsteht bei Begrenzung auf 200 cm Tiefe, was den Schrumpfrisbereich umfast. Neben der datierungsbezogenen Alters-Tiefen Erfassung ergibt eine Alters/Profilmaximalalter versus Tiefen Darstellung zwischen dem Wert 0 (Uberwiegen von rezentem C und gehemmter Abbau) und dem Wert 1 (fast ausschlieslich alter C, demnach intensiver Abbau des nachfolgenden jungen C) wiederum uber die Regressionslinien eine Beziehung zur Abbauintensitat in den verschiedenen Vertisolherkunften. Fur zwei Vertisolstandorte der Gezira im Sudan wurde der Ablauf der Peloturbation durch 14C-Datierung und Δ13C-Messungen an Boden- und Pflanzenproben (Baumwolle mit Δ13C −26%o und Durra mit Δ13C −12%o) uberpruft. Die jungere Baumwollkultur verursacht eine oberflachennahe Δ13C-Abreicherung. Ein in der Tiefe ubereinstimmender Bruch im 14C-Altersverlauf und im Durra-gepragten Δ13C-Niveau zeigt die Grenze der Schrumpfristiefe und Durra-C-Mischzone durch Peloturbation an. C-14 dating and Δ13C measurements on Vertisols with emphasis to Gezira soils of the Sudan 378 radiocarbon dates, derived from Vertisols, are plotted against sample depth. The steepness of the regression lines, age versus depth for various countries of origin, reveals an invers relation to the intensity of peloturbation. Limiting to sample depth of 200 cm, which includes the cracking zone, gives the most reasonable order for samples of different origin. Besides of soil dating – related age versus depth graphs a presentation as age/profile maximum age versus depth will between the grade 0 (dominance of recent C and impeded decomposition) and the grade 1 (overwelmingly old C, therefore intensive decomposition of follow-up young C) create a relationship to intensity of decomposition for the Vertisols of different origin. For two Vertisol locations in the Gezira of the Sudan the process of peloturbation was tested and verified by 14C-dating and Δ13C tests of soil and plant samples (cotton with Δ13C −26%o and durra with Δ13C −12%o). The more recent cotton culture brought about a surface near Δ13C depletion. A discontinuity in 14C-age curve as well as in the durra related Δ13C level at the same soil depth indicates the boundary of cracking as well as of the mixing zone with durra-carbon in consequence of peloturbation.