The Centre for Advanced Laser Applications in Garching, Germany, is home to the ATLAS-3000 multi-petawatt laser, dedicated to research on laser particle acceleration and its applications. A control system based on Tango Controls is implemented for both the laser and four experimental areas. The device server approach features high modularity, which, in addition to the hardware control, enables a quick extension of the system and allows for automated data acquisition of the laser parameters and experimental data for each laser shot. In this paper we present an overview of our implementation of the control system, as well as our advances in terms of experimental operation, online supervision and data processing. We also give an outlook on advanced experimental supervision and online data evaluation – where the data can be processed in a pipeline – which is being developed on the basis of this infrastructure.

The article analyses the Epistle to the Galatians with regard to textual elements that can be related to language or political performances in the imperium Romanum. To this end, political interpretations in research are first presented and critically discussed: the alleged persecution in Gal 6.12; gods, elements and the calendar in Gal 4.8–10; and the νόμος as Roman law. In a second step, political models of language and thought from the Roman imperial period in the Epistle to the Galatians are considered: the ‘present evil age’ in Gal 1.4; the idea of a new world-view through the concepts of the ‘Gospel’ and the ‘Son of God’; the cross of Christ as a break from the world; the turn of the ages in Gal 4.1–7; the new community according to Gal 3.28. A conclusion summarises the resulting new world-view and its consequences.

We assessed infection prevention in Swiss hospitals via a national survey focusing on infection prevention practices prior to a large national infection prevention initiative. Of the 59 hospitals that responded (77%), 98% had infection prevention teams and 40% very good or excellent leadership support. However, a minority of hospitals used recommended infection prevention practices and surveillance systems regularly.

The essays in this theme section demonstrate clearly the diversity and complexity of a topic that seems negligible in practice but emerges as important upon further reflection—the incidentalness of things. In this brief afterword, we highlight three of the themes addressed by all or most of the contributions, which we suggest are of particular relevance when considering the place of the incidental in our archaeological engagements.

Archaeologists evince a strong tendency to impute significance to the material traces they study, a propensity that has been especially marked since the post-processual emphasis on meaning and that has taken on renewed vigour with the turn to materiality. But are there not situations in which things are rather incidental or insignificant? This set of essays emerged from a workshop held in Berlin in April 2018, in which a group of scholars was invited to discuss the place of the incidental in social life in general and in archaeology in particular. Rather than lengthy formal papers, we offer an introduction that presents a general set of reflections on the issue of the incidentalness of things, followed by essays that pursue particular directions raised by that introduction as well as our discussions in Berlin. It is our hope that these brief forays into a complex topic will stimulate further work on this subject.

Fatty acid transport protein 6 (FATP6) is primarily expressed in the heart and seems to be involved in cardiac fatty acid uptake. Therefore, we investigated whether a variation in the 5′-untranslated region of the FATP6 gene is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome and signs of myocardial alteration or heart failure. A total of 755 male participants from a Metabolic Intervention Cohort Kiel were genotyped for the FATP6–7T>A polymorphism (rs2526246) and phenotyped for features of the metabolic syndrome. Participants underwent a glucose tolerance test and the postprandial assessment of metabolic variables after a standardised mixed meal. Left ventricular heart function was evaluated in fifty-four participants. Fasting (P = 0·01) and postprandial (P = 0·02) TAG concentrations were significantly lower in AA homozygotes when compared with wild-type carriers. Homozygosity of allele A was associated with significantly lower postprandial insulin concentrations after a glucose load and significantly lower systolic (P = 0·01) and diastolic (P = 0·01) blood pressure values compared with wild-type carriers. Accordingly, left ventricular heart mass was significantly lower in twenty-seven AA homozygotes in comparison with twenty-seven TT homozygotes, matched for BMI (P = 0·04). In conclusion, the effects of the FATP6 polymorphism on TAG are mediated by affluent dietary fat. The FATP6–7T>A polymorphism may protect from traits of the metabolic syndrome and CVD.

MnO nanoparticles were surface modified using two different multifunctional polymers. By introducing a PEG group, the long term stability, MRI applicability and sterile filtration could be greatly improved. Furthermore, PEGylated MnO NPs were less toxic compared to non-PEGylated NPs. The results suggest that these nanoparticles are suitable for in vivo applications.

MnO nanoparticles (NPs) were surface functionalized by two different approaches, (1) using a dopamine-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (DA-PEG) ligand and (2) by encapsulation within a thin silica shell applying a novel approach. Both MnO@DA-PEG and MnO@SiO2 NPs exhibited excellent long-term stability in physiological solutions. In addition, the cytotoxic potential of both materials was comparatively low. Furthermore, owing to the magnetic properties of MnO NPs, both MnO@DA-PEG and MnO@SiO2 lead to a shortening of the longitudinal relaxation time T 1 in MRI. In comparison to the PEGylated MnO NPs, the presence of a thin silica shell led to a greater stability of the MnO core itself by preventing excessive Mn ion leaching into aqueous solution.

Anandamide is a bioactive lipid binding to cannabinoid receptors. A homeostatic role for anandamide has been suggested in schizophrenia. We investigated its role in initial prodromal states of psychosis. We measured the levels of anandamide and its structural analog oleoylethanolamide in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients in the initial prodromal state (n=27) alongside healthy volunteers (n=81) using high-performance liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometry. Cerebrospinal anandamide levels in patients were significantly elevated. Patients with lower levels showed a higher risk for transiting to psychosis earlier. This anandamidergic up-regulation in the initial prodromal course may suggest a protective role of the endocannabinoid system in early schizophrenia.

Initiation of pathways that lead to proliferation and chemoresistance by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is an important factor in cancer progression. Here, we show the response of human cancer cells to TLR signaling inevitably linked to tumor biology. The approach is based on tailored multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles equipped with pathogen-derived ligands (CpG) functioning as TLR agonists (molecular component) to investigate the impact of transcription factor immune activation on human cancer cells. Magnetic nanoparticles (MnO and bifunctional Au-MnO) particles were covalently coated with a multifunctional polymer, displaying no cytotoxicity, to being able to enter cells while carrying foreign DNA (unmethylated CpG) to recognize intracellular TLR 9. Both, the particle and the nucleic acid are tagged with fluorescent markers for simultaneous visualization inside the cell. Apart from optical imaging, the magnetism of the particles also allows magnetic resonance imaging of organisms.

Adiponectin is discussed to regulate energy balance and insulin sensitivity. Several studies indicated an association of fasting adiponectin with parameters of the metabolic syndrome. We investigated postprandial adiponectin release and its relation to traits of the metabolic syndrome. Serum adiponectin concentration after an oral glucose tolerance test and after ingestion of a standardised mixed, fat-containing meal in 110 male non-diabetic subjects was assessed. Fasting and postprandial adiponectin and the decrease of adiponectin were correlated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Subjects were genotyped for adiponectin − 11 388 G/A promoter single nucleotide polymorphism. Adiponectin slightly decreased after both test meals. A significant decrease was attained 5 and 6 h after the lipid load and 2 h after the glucose load. Particularly, the mixed meal postprandial adiponectin showed stronger correlations with most traits of the metabolic syndrome than fasting adiponectin: postprandial adiponectin with HDL (r 0·30) v. fasting adiponectin with HDL (r 0·23); with postprandial insulin (area under the curve): r − 0·20 v. r − 0·16; with fasting insulin: r 0·10 v. r 0·14; with BMI: r − 0·23 v. r − 0·20; with waist: r − 0·18 v. − 0·16; with systolic blood pressure: r − 0·14 v. r − 0·12; with diastolic blood pressure: r − 0·18 v. r − 0·15. In multivariate analysis, postprandial TAG were the only independent predictor of adiponectin. There was no significant association of adiponectin, NEFA and TAG with − 11 388 G/A adiponectin promoter polymorphism. Our findings favour the interpretation that postprandial adiponectin has the strongest and independent associations to postprandial TAG metabolism.

Various interpretations have been offered to identify the woman of Rev 12, attributed with the sun, the moon, and twelve stars: Mary, Israel, or the church, or a combination of the items church and eschatological Israel. My article tries first to detect tradition historically the semantics of the sign of the woman in labour and her newborn son and arrives at the conclusion that it represents a new eschatological beginning in Israel. Then a reader-oriented approach shows the possibility of a recipient familiar with the hellenistic constructions of society to view Rev 12 as a Christian myth, narrated with elements of well-known hellenistic myths, for example, that of Telephos or of Isis/Osiris. The comparison leads to the conclusion that Rev 12 functions to induce its readers to be aware of their own eschatological identity in contrast to the identity of their social environment and to engage consciously in a cultural conflict.

The PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism has been associated in several studies with a decreased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Weak hints are available about the influence of PPARγ Pro12Ala on postprandial metabolism. In 708 men, aged 45 to 65 years the PPARγ2 Pro12Ala genotypes were determined and postprandial TAG, insulin, glucose and NEFA after a standardized mixed fat meal and insulin and glucose after a glucose load (oral glucose tolerance test; OGTT) were assessed. Using the total sample, we did not find a significant impact of the genotype on the postprandial metabolism. In the subgroup with BMI < 30 kg/m2, fasting and postprandial TAG and insulin levels as well as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA) were significantly lower in the Ala12Ala group than in the Pro12Pro group after the mixed meal. In contrast, the groups did not differ in insulin levels and HOMA after the OGTT. To investigate if differences between a fat-containing meal and OGTT are caused by adiponectin, we examined a BMI- and age-matched subgroup. No differences were found between the genotypic groups. The effects of the PPARγ2 polymorphism on insulin sensitivity are mediated by affluent dietary fat. We did not find evidence that adiponectin as a fatty-acid-dependent adipocyte factor is a causative factor for this phenomenon.

We performed temperature-dependent studies on pentacene thin film transistors (TFTs) with and without encapsulation. The capping layer is realized either by a sputtering layer of aluminum oxide (AlOx.) or, alternatively, by a polymeric layer of poly-para-xylylene (PPX). A field-effect can be demonstrated for both capping materials up to temperatures of about 140 – 170 °C, which is about 50 °C above the desorption point of uncapped pentacene thin films on SiO2 substrates. Complementary studies by thermal desorption spectroscopy and temperature dependent x-ray diffraction show that the organic layer remains crystalline on the substrate far above the electrical breakdown temperature of the encapsulated device.

Das von Paulus in Phil 1.23 angesprochene ‘mit Christus Sein’ beschreibt eine unmittelbar postmortale, jenseitige Christusgemeinschaft, die im Vergleich mit sonstigen Aussagen des Paulus zur Totenerweckung erst bei der endzeitlichen Parusie Christi auffällig wird. Daraus ergibt sich die Frage, auf welchem religionsgeschichtlichen Hintergrund Paulus bzw. seine Leserinnen und Leser diese Vorstellung erfassen konnten. Die hellenistische Literatur bietet dabei lediglich Sprachparallelen (abwägender Vergleich von Leben und Tod) sowie gewisse formale (Synkrisis) und inhaltliche (Suizid-Diskussion der Antike) Analogien; es bleiben weite Differenzen bestehen. Ertragreicher erweist sich die Suche in Texten des Frühjudentums, deren Aussagen sich in drei Theorien bündeln lassen: Das Vorbild der Märtyrer bzw. der ‘Gerechten’ als sogleich mit dem Tod zu Gott erhobenen Gruppen wird verschiedentlich in der Forschung vertreten, eine Orientierung an den Vätern Israels wird als Alternative dazu im vorliegenden Aufsatz neu entwickelt, so dass die Denkmöglichkeit der paulinischen Aussage plausibel gemacht werden kann. Dies mündet in eine pragmatische Analyse der spezifischen Aussagegestalt von Phil 1.18b–26, die den Text hinsichtlich einer potentiellen und intendierten Wirkung auf die Adressatinnen und Adressaten deutet.

Seit Adolf von Harnack wird die Bedeutung der von Paulus verwendeten Begrifflichkeit des ‘Sich-Mühens’ in weitgehend unspezifischer Weise als Missionsarbeit und Wirken innerhalb der Gemeinde verstanden, doch läßt sich dies für die vier in Röm 16.6, 12 genannten Frauen präzisieren. Im Blick auf weitere Verwendungen des Verbs κoπιαω an textpragmatisch verwandten Stellen der Paulusbriefe (1 Kor 16.15–18; 1 Thess 5.12–13a) läßt sich als Denotation der Terminologie in Röm 16.6, 12 eine in der römischen Gemeinde praktizierte charismatische Leitungsfunktion von Frauen wahrscheinlich machen. Zugleich mit dieser Beobachtung wird ausschnitthaft der Prozeß der Entwicklung genuin paulinischer Gemeindesprache zur Bezeichnung typischer Sozialstrukturen innerhalb der Gemeinden erkennbar.

This paper presents the dynamic injury tolerances for the female humerus and forearm derived from dynamic 3-point bending tests using 22 female cadaver upper extremities. Twelve female humeri were tested at an average strain rate of 3.7±1.3%/s. The strain rates were chosen to be representative of those observed during upper extremity interaction with frontal and side airbags. The average moment to failure when mass scaled for the 5th centile female was 128±19 Nm. Using data from the in situ strain gauges during the drop tests and geometric properties obtained from pretest CT scans, an average dynamic elastic modulus for the female humerus was found to be 24.4±3.9 GPa. The injury tolerance for the forearm was determined from 10 female forearms tested at an average strain rate of 3.94±2.0%/s. Using 3 matched forearm pairs, it was determined that the forearm is 21% stronger in the supinated position (92±5 Nm) versus the pronated position (75±7 Nm). Two distinct fracture patterns were seen for the pronated and supinated groups. In the supinated position the average difference in fracture time between the radius and ulna was a negligible 0.4±0.3 ms. However, the pronated tests yielded an average difference in fracture time of 3.6±1.2 ms, with the ulna breaking before the radius in every test. This trend implies that in the pronated position, the ulna and radius are loaded independently, while in the supinated position the ulna and radius are loaded together as a combined structure. To produce a conservative injury criterion, a total of 7 female forearms were tested in the pronated position, which resulted in the forearm injury criterion of 58±12 Nm when scaled for the 5th centile female. It is anticipated that these data will provide injury reference values for the female forearm during driver air bag loading, and the female humerus during side air bag loading.