Remarks on composite integration methods for ordinary differential equations

Convergence theorems for cyclic methods have been proved in the case of globally Lipschitz-continuous right-hand-sidesg for the differential equationy′=g(t, y). In the present paper it is shown that this strong restriction can be omitted. Moreover, a new definition for consistency of cyclic methods is pressented. The consistency conditions are weaker than the classical ones in the case of real cyclic methods (m>1). This leadsbesides order-of-convergence-arguments — to an additional motivation for the construction of cyclic methods, since more coefficients will be available for fitting other purposes and more methods can be shown to be convergent. Examples are given.     

Open access uptake in Germany 2010–2018: adoption in a diverse research landscape

This study investigates the development of open access (OA) to journal articles from authors affiliated with German universities and non-university research institutions in the period 2010–2018. Beyond determining the overall share of openly available articles, a systematic classification of distinct categories of OA publishing allowed us to identify different patterns of adoption of OA. Taking into account the particularities of the German research landscape, variations in terms of productivity, OA uptake and approaches to OA are examined at the meso-level and possible explanations are discussed. The development of the OA uptake is analysed for the different research sectors in Germany (universities, non-university research institutes of the Helmholtz Association, Fraunhofer Society, Max Planck Society, Leibniz Association, and government research agencies). Combining several data sources (incl. Web of Science, Unpaywall, an authority file of standardised German affiliation information, the ISSN-Gold-OA 3.0 list, and OpenDOAR), the study confirms the growth of the OA share mirroring the international trend reported in related studies. We found that 45% of all considered articles during the observed period were openly available at the time of analysis. Our findings show that subject-specific repositories are the most prevalent type of OA. However, the percentages for publication in fully OA journals and OA via institutional repositories show similarly steep increases. Enabling data-driven decision-making regarding the implementation of OA in Germany at the institutional level, the results of this study furthermore can serve as a baseline to assess the impact recent transformative agreements with major publishers will likely have on scholarly communication.

     

Palladium-based plasmonic perfect absorber in the visible wavelength range and its application to hydrogen sensing

We report on the experimental realization of a palladium-based plasmonic perfect absorber at visible wavelengths and its application to hydrogen sensing. Our design exhibits a reflectance <0.5% and zero transmittance at 650 nm and the operation wavelength of the absorber can be tuned by varying its structural parameters. Exposure to hydrogen gas causes a rapid and reversible increase in reflectance on a time scale of seconds. This pronounced response introduces a novel optical hydrogen detection scheme with very high values of the relative intensity response.     

Infrared Filter Radiometers for Thermodynamic Temperature Determination below 660 °C

At the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), absolutely-calibrated filter radiometers based on silicon photodiodes are routinely used for thermodynamic temperature determinations of blackbodies in the range from the zinc fixed point (FP) (419 °C) up to 3,000 °C. To extend the temperature range down to the tin FP (232 °C), we have designed two new filter radiometers based on indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) photodiodes with center wavelengths at 1,300 nm and 1,550 nm. For the absolute calibration of the spectral irradiance responsivity of the new InGaAs filter radiometers, the spectral responsivity measurement in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral range has been significantly improved. With a newly developed tuneable laser and monochromator-based cryogenic radiometer facility, the relative standard uncertainty of the NIR spectral responsivity has been reduced from 0.17 % to about 0.03 %. By using the calibrated InGaAs filter radiometer in conjunction with the large-area double sodium heat pipe of the PTB, the first results for the difference between the thermodynamic temperature T and the ITS-90 temperature T ₉₀ in the temperature range from the zinc FP up to the aluminum FP (660 °C) are presented. The values for T – T ₉₀ determined with the new InGaAs filter radiometers are consistent within their relative standard uncertainty of about 30 mK at 419 °C to about 60 mK at 660 °C. References to commercial products are for identification purposes only and constitute neither endorsement nor representation that the item identified is the best available for the stated purpose.     

Prevention of bacterial endocarditis: recommendations by the American Heart Association

OBJECTIVE: To update recommendations issued by the American Heart Association last published in 1990 for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis in individuals at risk for this disease. PARTICIPANTS: An ad hoc writing group appointed by the American Heart Association for their expertise in endocarditis and treatment with liaison members representing the American Dental Association, the infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. EVIDENCE: The recommendations in this article reflect analyses of relevant literature regarding procedure-related endocarditis, in vitro susceptibility data of pathogens causing endocarditis, results of prophylactic studies in animal models of endocarditis and retrospective analyses of human endocarditis cases in terms of antibiotic prophylaxis usage patterns and apparent prophylaxis failures. MEDLINE database searches from 1936 through 1996 were done using root words endocarditis, bacteremia and antibiotic prophylaxis. Recommendations in this document fall into evidence level III of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force categories of evidence. CONSENSUS PROCESS: The recommendations were formulated by the writing group after specific therapeutic regimens were discussed. The consensus statement was subsequently reviewed by outside experts not affiliated with the writing group and by the Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee of the American Heart Association. These guidelines are meant to aid practitioners but are not intended as the standard of care or as a substitute for clinical judgment. CONCLUSIONS: Major changes in the updated recommendations include the following: (1) emphasis that most cases of endocarditis are not attributable to an invasive procedure; (2) cardiac conditions are stratified into high-, moderate- and negligible-risk categories based on potential outcome if endocarditis develops; (3) procedures that may cause bacteremia and for which prophylaxis is recommended are more clearly specified; (4) an algorithm was developed to more clearly define when prophylaxis is recommended for patients with mitral valve prolapse; (5) for oral or dental procedures the initial amoxicillin dose is reduced to 2 g, a follow-up antibiotic dose is no longer recommended, erythromycin is no longer recommended for penicillin-allergic individuals, but clindamycin and other alternatives are offered.     

Absolute Radiation Thermometry in the NIR

A near infrared (NIR) radiation thermometer (RT) for temperature measurements in the range from 773 K up to 1235 K was characterized and calibrated in terms of the “Mise en Pratique for the definition of the Kelvin” (MeP-K) by measuring its absolute spectral radiance responsivity. Using Planck’s law of thermal radiation allows the direct measurement of the thermodynamic temperature independently of any ITS-90 fixed-point. To determine the absolute spectral radiance responsivity of the radiation thermometer in the NIR spectral region, an existing PTB monochromator-based calibration setup was upgraded with a supercontinuum laser system (0.45 \(\upmu \hbox {m}\) to 2.4 \(\upmu \hbox {m}\)) resulting in a significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio. The RT was characterized with respect to its nonlinearity, size-of-source effect, distance effect, and the consistency of its individual temperature measuring ranges. To further improve the calibration setup, a new tool for the aperture alignment and distance measurement was developed. Furthermore, the diffraction correction as well as the impedance correction of the current-to-voltage converter is considered. The calibration scheme and the corresponding uncertainty budget of the absolute spectral responsivity are presented. A relative standard uncertainty of 0.1 % \((k=1)\) for the absolute spectral radiance responsivity was achieved. The absolute radiometric calibration was validated at four temperature values with respect to the ITS-90 via a variable temperature heatpipe blackbody (773 K ...1235 K) and at a gold fixed-point blackbody radiator (1337.33 K).     

Synthese von porösen Kohlenstoffmonolithen unter Verwendung von Porenbeton als Templat. Teil II: Untersuchungen mechanischer Eigenschaften

Monolithic forms are particularly suitable when using porous carbon materials in flow through apparatus. One method to synthesize these materials is the template‐assisted synthesis. Porous carbon monoliths have been prepared using porous concrete as a template. Systematic investigations of the mechanical stability have shown the potential of these materials for technical applications. It could be proven that the monoliths are stable against compressive stress and flow‐through of water, respectively.