The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between nicotine and alcohol dependence, depressive, anxiety and somatoform disorders with self-rated general health (GH). A cohort study of a random sample of the non-institutionalised general population aged 18–64 with a participation rate of 70.2% was carried out in a German area (n = 4075 at baseline). A follow-up of tobacco smokers or heavy drinkers (n = 1083, 79.4% of those who had given consent to be followed-up) was conducted 30 months after baseline measurement. The assessments included self-ratings of GH and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) diagnoses based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The results show that nicotine dependence, anxiety disorders and somatoform disorders moderately predicted self-rated GH at follow-up (general linear model, R2 = 0.12). We conclude that psychiatric disorders may contribute to the prediction of a low self-rated GH.

The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) focuses on the drilling of two deep ice cores, the first at Dome C and the second at Kohnen station (75°00’ S, 0°04’ E) in Dronning Maud Land (DML). This paper deals with stable-isotope records from ice cores drilled in DML. In the first season, the deep EPICA DML core reached a depth of 450 m, recovering ice approximately 7000 years old. Generally, the δ18O record indicates a stable Holocene climate and shows low variability. However, during the last 4000 years (based on a preliminary time-scale) the δ18O values decrease continuously by about 0.6%, and the deuterium excess values increase by about 0.5%. The correlation between δ18O and the deuterium excess d is investigated for a 50m long core section and the near-surface snow. High-pass filtered profiles are positively correlated, whereas the correlation between low-pass filtered profiles is negative. A post-depositional effect due to diffusion processes can be seen in a sub-annually resolved profile from snow-pit samples. Changes in the seasonality of the evolution of the snow cover and the consequences for stable-isotope content are demonstrated with data from ice core B31.

The paper presents first results from the upper 54m of a 723.91m ice core drilled on Akademii Nauk ice cap, Severnaya Zemlya, Eurasian Arctic, in 1999– 2001, supplemented by data from shallow ice cores. the glacier’s peculiarity is the infiltration and refreezing of meltwater, which changes the original isotopic and chemical signals. Therefore, stratigraphical observations in these ice cores are more difficult than in those from central Greenland or Antarctica. However, the 1963 maximum of artificial radioactivity from atmospheric nuclear tests is clearly detectable in the deep ice core, and the δ18O profile of a 12.82 m shallow core shows annual variations. Consequently, at least for the upper part of the main core, an almost seasonal time resolution of palaeoclimate record could be expected. the Chernobyl layer is detected by increased 137Cs activity at depths of 11.81–12.51m related to the AD 2000 surface. the resulting mean annual net mass balance is 53±2 g cm–2 a–1. Data from dielectric profiling of the main core show considerable peaks in conductivity; one of them is interpreted as a volcano event. According to the resulting chronology, this part of the core represents approximately the last 100 years.

Four firn cores were retrieved in 2007 at two ridges in the area of the Ekström Ice Shelf, Dronning Maud Land, coastal East Antarctica, in order to investigate the recent regional climate variability and the potential for future extraction of an intermediate-depth core. Stable water-isotope analysis, tritium content and electrical conductivity were used to date the cores. For the period 1981–2006 a strong and significant correlation between the stable-isotope composition of firn cores in the hinterland and mean monthly air temperatures at Neumayer station was (r = 0.54−0.71). No atmospheric warming or cooling trend is inferred from our stable-isotope data for the period 1962–2006. The stable-isotope record of the ice/firn cores could expand well beyond the meteorological record of the region. No significant temporal variation of accumulation rates was detected. However, decreasing accumulation rates were found from coast to hinterland, as well as from east (Halvfarryggen) to west (Søråsen). The deuterium excess (d) exhibits similar differences (higher d at Søråsen, lower d at Halvfarryggen), with a weak negative temporal trend on Halvfarryggen (0.04‰ a−1), probably implying increasing oceanic input. We conclude that Halvfarryggen acts as a natural barrier for moisture-carrying air masses circulating in the region from east to west.

This paper presents an assessment of the surplus grass production in the Region of Southern Denmark, and the perspectives of utilizing it in local biogas production. Grass production represents a significant role in the Danish agricultural sector. However, statistical data show an excess production of averagely 12% in the period 2006–2012. Based on spatial analyses and statistical data, the geographical distribution of grass production and consumption was estimated and mapped for the Region of Southern Denmark. An excess production of grass was estimated for several of the municipalities in the Region of Southern Denmark, but the excess production was found to be quite sensitive to the management practice of the grass fields and the productivity of the grass. The yields of excess grass estimated in the sensitive and conservative scenario were found to be sufficient to serve a sole co-substrate in 2–8 biogas plants using animal manure as primary feedstock. The yields in the intensive scenario were assessed to be sufficient to serve a sole co-substrate in 8–16 biogas plants. Alternatively, at least 31% of the regionally produced maize which is exported to the biogas sector could annually be substituted by methane produced from the production of excess grass. The intensive scenario was estimated to have significantly higher grass yields than the sensitive and conservative scenario. The environmental impacts of intensified agricultural management should, however, be assessed carefully in order to ensure that the ecosystems are not increasingly being burdened. The potential of utilizing residual grass for energy production in the region or as an alternative to the maize exported to Northern Germany, was concluded to seem as a promising possibility for a sustainable development of the regional biogas sector. Furthermore, it could provide incentives for establishing new biogas plants in the region and thereby increase the share of manure being digested anaerobically, which could help extrapolate the environmental and climate related benefits documented for the use of digested animal manure as fertilizer on agricultural land.

LiFe1/3Mn1/3Co1/3PO4 (LFMC) has been synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique. During the crystal growth, two evolutionary routes coexist and compete with each other after the nuclei have been stably formed. One of them is the continuous growth of single particles and the other one is agglomeration. The size and morphology of the products are determined by the interplay of the two competing routes. The growth morphology is quantitatively analyzed from first principle calculations. A phase diagram is constructed, which guides to control the morphology by adjusting CM and pH. Static magnetic properties imply long range antiferromagnetic order below TN = 39 K and a paramagnetic Curie–Weiss-like behavior with θ = 75 K and peff = 5.51 μB at high temperatures. Cyclic voltammetry shows two distinct peaks corresponding to the Fe2+/Fe3+ and Co2+/Co3+ redox couples, respectively, whereas the Mn2+/Mn3+ redox couple is not observed due to its sluggish kinetics induced by the Jahn–Teller effect of Mn3+.

Recent studies by a number of research groups have shown that the structure of epitaxial BiFeO3 (BFO) films changes drastically as a function of substrate-induced biaxial compression, with the crystal structure changing from one being nearly rhombohedral (R-like) to one being nearly tetragonal (T-like), where the “T-like” structure is characterized by a highly enhanced c/a ratio of out-of-plane c to in-plane a lattice parameters. In this work, we show that the critical compressive strain σc necessary to induce this transition can be reduced significantly by substituting 10% Ba for Bi [Bi0.9Ba0.1FeO3−δ (BBFO)] and that the “T-like” phase in both BBFO and BFO is stable up to the decomposition temperatures of the films in air. Furthermore, our results show that the BBFO solid solution shows clear ferromagnetic properties in contrast to its undoped BFO counterpart.

An accumulation terrace close to the El'gygytgyn Impact Crater in northeastern Siberia contains stratigraphic and periglacial evidence of the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic history and permafrost dynamics during late Quaternary time. A succession of paleo active-layer deposits that mirror environmental changes records periods favorable for the establishment and growth of ice-wedge polygonal networks and sediment variations. These two elements of the periglacial landscape serve as complementary paleoenvironmental archives that can be traced back to ∼ 14,000 cal yr BP. The slope sediments and the ground ice contained therein have prominent relative maxima and minima in properties (grain size, total organic content, oxygen isotopes). They document a regional early Holocene thermal maximum at about 9000 cal yr BP, followed by a transition to slightly cooler conditions, and a subsequent transition to slightly warmer conditions after about 4000 cal yr BP. Results from sedimentary analysis resemble morphological and geochemical (oxygen and hydrogen isotopes) results from ice wedge studies, in which successive generations of ice-wedge polygonal networks record warmer winters in late Holocene time. Moreover, peaks of light soluble cation contents and quartz-grain surface textures reveal distinct traces of cryogenic weathering. We propose a conclusive sedimentation model illustrating terrace formation in a permafrost terrain.

El propósito de este estudio era explorar las relaciones entre la dependencia de nicotina y alcohol y los trastornos depresivos, de ansiedad y somatomorfos y la autoevaluación de la salud general (SG). Se llevó a cabo un estudio de cohorte de una muestra aleatoria de la población general no institucionalizada de 18-64 años de edad con una tasa de participación del 70,2% en un área alemana (n = 4.075 en la línea de base). Se realizó un seguimiento de los fumadores y los grandes bebedores (n = 1.083, 79,4% de los que habían dado su consentimiento para recibir seguimiento) 30 meses después de la medición de línea de base. Las evaluaciones incluían autoevaluaciones de la SG y diagnósticos del Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico (DSM-IV) basados en la Entrevista Diagnóstica Internacional Compuesta. Los resultados muestran que la dependencia de la nicotina, los trastornos de ansiedad y los trastornos somatomorfos predecían moderadamente la autoevaluación de la SG en el seguimiento (modelo lineal general, R2= 0,12). Concluimos que los trastornos psiquiátricos pueden contribuir a la predictión de una autoevaluación baja de la SG.

Background: We reviewed our 12-year experience with staged reconstruction for hypoplasia of the left heart, examining the results of each surgical step and the impact of the year of the Norwood operation on survival. We compared survival of patients with hypoplasia of the left heart subsequent to completion of the Fontan circulation to survival of patients with a dominant left ventricle undergoing a Fontan procedure. Patients: Between 1989 and 2001, we performed a first stage procedure in 89 patients. Their median age was 9 days, with a range from 2 to 140 days, and the median weight was 3.4 kg, with a range from 2.4 to 5.4 kg. Results: Survival at 1, 4, and 10 years was 55%, 49%, and 49%, respectively. We experienced 23 early deaths (26%), and 12 deaths between the stages of the Norwood cascade. Of our patients, 42 underwent the second stage, and 30 the third stage. Prior to the first stage, symptoms of necrotising enterocolitis, and of obstructed pulmonary venous return, influenced survival significantly. The latter was eliminated as risk factor when surgery was performed within the first week of life. During the later part of our experience, survival at the first stage operation improved significantly, with survival at 3 years increasing from 42% to 75% for the patients at standard-risk (p = 0.017), and from 17% to 42% for those deemed to be at high-risk (p = 0.1). No deaths occurred in 23 patients older than 3 years of age, all of whom had proceeded through the third stage. After completion of the Fontan circulation, the survival of the patients with hypoplasia of the left heart at 4 years was comparable to the survival of patients undergoing the Fontan procedure with a dominant left ventricle (88% versus 90%, p = 0.8). Conclusions: Early and intermediate survival has improved significantly over the period of 12 years. Late death has been uncommon, and none of our patients are listed for cardiac transplantation.

A novel patterning technique for high-resolution full-color OLED-displays will be discussed. Currently applied production systems for OLED-displays incorporate a shadow masking system for patterning of single red, green and blue pixels. Due to its limited scalability, alternative techniques, which can be applied to larger substrate sizes, have to be developed. One approach can be the laser induced local transfer of organic materials.

An infrared absorbing substrate (target) is coated with either a red, green or blue light-emitting organic material and placed in a short distance (below 50 νm) of the OLED-substrate onto which the organic material is to be patterned. The laser beam is deflected by a scanner onto the target in single lines. If the scanning speed and the laser power are adjusted properly, the target locally heats up to a temperature at which the organic material sublimes and condenses on the opposing OLED-substrate. By repeating this process for each colour red, green and blue stripes can be deposited. Line widths below 70 νm have been achieved.