| 1. |
- Abat, E., et al.
(author)
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Study of the response of the ATLAS central calorimeter to pions of energies from 3 to 9 GeV
- 2009
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In: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5087 .- 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 607:2, s. 372-386
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A fully instrumented slice of the ATLAS central detector was exposed to test beams from the SPS (Super Proton Synchrotron) at CERN in 2004. in this paper, the response of the central calorimeters to pions with energies in the range between 3 and 9 GeV is presented. The linearity and the resolution of the combined calorimetry (electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters) was measured and compared to the prediction of a detector simulation program using the toolkit Geant 4. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Dimitrova, Marina, et al.
(author)
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Concealed by conspicuousness : distractive prey markings and backgrounds
- 2009
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In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 276:1163, s. 1905-1910
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High-contrast markings, called distractive or dazzle markings, have been suggested to draw and hold theattention of a viewer, thus hindering detection or recognition of revealing prey characteristics, such asthe body outline.We tested this hypothesis in a predation experiment with blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) andartificial prey. We also tested whether this idea can be extrapolated to the background appearanceand whether high-contrast markings in the background would improve prey concealment. We comparedsearch times for a high-contrast range prey (HC-P) and a low-contrast range prey (LC-P) in a high-contrastrange background (HC-B) and a low-contrast range background (LC-B). The HC-P was more difficult todetect in both backgrounds, although it did not match the LC-B. Also, both prey types were more difficultto find in the HC-B than in the LC-B, in spite of the mismatch of the LC-P. In addition, the HC-P wasmore difficult to detect, in both backgrounds, when compared with a generalist prey, not mismatchingeither background. Thus, we conclude that distractive prey pattern markings and selection of microhabitatswith distractive features may provide an effective way to improve camouflage. Importantly, high-contrastmarkings, both as part of the prey coloration and in the background, can indeed increase prey concealment.
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| 3. |
- Siegel, G., et al.
(author)
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Ginkgo biloba and its Influence on Nanoplaque Formation and Vascular Function
- 2008
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In: Diabetes stoffwechsel und herz. - 1861-7603. ; 17, s. S23-S35
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: In a pilot study, we demonstrated the beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on atherosclerotic nanoplaque formation and size, the oxLDL/LDL quotient and the lipoprotein(a) concentration, the increase in superoxide dismutase activity, as well as the cAMP and cGMP concentrations. Method: The measurable variables formerly used were supplemented by a biomarker spectrum, through which the latest parameter and markers of plaque stability and progression, oxidative stress, and inflammation could be determined. Results: In 11 patients with early-stage metabolic syndrome, atherosclerotic nanoplaque formation fell by 14.3 +/- 2.9 (p < 0.0077) and nanoplaque size by 23.4 +/- 3.7 % (p < 0.0004), respectively, after a two-month regime with Ginkgo biloba extract. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were upregulated by 19.6 +/- 10.0 % (p < 0.0785) and 11.6 +/- 2.3 % (p < 0.001), respectively. The quotient oxLDL/LDL fell by 21.0 +/- 4.3 % (p < 0.002), and lipoprotein(a) concentration by 26.3 t 4.8 % (p < 0.001). The concentrations of cAMP and cGMP were augmented by43.5 12.0% (p < 0.001)and 32.9 +/- 10.4% (p < 0.001), respectively. The serum Call concentration fell by 5.4 +/- 1.6 % (p < 0.0076). We could also show a favourable development of 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha), oxLDL/LDL, SOD, GPx, hsCRP MPO,TNF alpha, TGF beta(1), and MMP-9. Conclusion: Ginkgo with its pleiotropic effects should be assigned a fixed rank among the anti-ageing medical therapeutics.
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| 4. |
- Stobbe, Nina, et al.
(author)
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Chromaticity in the UV/blue range facilitates the search for achromatically background-matching prey in birds
- 2009
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In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8436 .- 1471-2970. ; 364:1516, s. 511-517
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A large variety of predatory species rely on their visual abilities to locate their prey. However, thesearch for prey may be hampered by prey camouflage. The most prominent example of concealingcoloration is background-matching prey coloration characterized by a strong visual resemblance ofprey to the background. Even though this principle of camouflage was recognized to efficiently workin predator avoidance a long time ago, the underlying mechanisms are not very well known. In thisstudy, we assessed whether blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) use chromatic cues in the search for prey.Weused two prey types that were achromatically identical but differed in chromatic properties in theUV/blue range and presented them on two achromatically identical backgrounds. The backgroundshad either the same chromatic properties as the prey items (matching combination) or differed intheir chromatic properties (mismatching combination). Our results show that birds use chromaticcues in the search for mismatching prey, whereupon chromatic contrast leads to a ‘pop-out’ of theprey item from the background. When prey was presented on a matching background, search timeswere significantly higher. Interestingly, search for more chromatic prey on the matching backgroundwas easier than search for less chromatic prey on the matching background. Our results indicate thatbirds use both achromatic and chromatic cues when searching for prey, and that the combination ofboth cues might be helpful in the search task.
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