University of Graz

About: University of Graz is a education organization based out in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Quantum chromodynamics. The organization has 17934 authors who have published 37489 publications receiving 1110980 citations. The organization is also known as: Carolo Franciscea Graecensis & Karl Franzens Universität.

Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio: a novel marker for critical limb ischemia in peripheral arterial occlusive disease patients.

Abstract: Background Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) is an easily applicable blood test. An elevated PLR has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with different oncologic disorder. As platelets play a key role in atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis, we investigated PLR and its association with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and other vascular endpoints in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) patients. Methods and Findings We evaluated 2121 PAOD patients treated at our institution from 2005 to 2010. PLR was calculated and the cohort was categorized into tertiles according to the PLR. An optimal cut-off value for the continuous PLR was calculated by applying a receiver operating curve analysis to discriminate between CLI and non-CLI. In our cohort occurrence of CLI significantly increased with an increase in PLR. As an optimal cut-off value, a PLR of 150 was identified. Two groups were categorized, one containing 1228 patients (PLR≤150) and a second group with 893 patients (PLR>150). CLI was more frequent in PLR>150 patients (410(45.9%)) compared to PLR≤150 patients (270(22.0%)) (p 150 was associated with an OR of 1.9 (95%CI 1.7–2.1) for CLI even after adjustment for other well-established vascular risk factors. Conclusions An increased PLR is significantly associated with patients at high risk for CLI and other cardiovascular endpoints. The PLR is a broadly available and cheap marker, which could be used to highlight patients at high risk for vascular endpoints.

Solving the generalized indirect Fourier transformation (GIFT) by Boltzmann simplex simulated annealing (BSSA)

Abstract: The structure of colloidal particles can be studied with small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS). In the case of randomly oriented systems, the indirect Fourier transformation (IFT) is a well established technique for the calculation of model-free real-space information. Interaction leads to an overlap of inter- and intraparticle scattering effects, preventing most detailed interpretations. The recently developed generalized indirect Fourier transformation (GIFT) technique allows these effects to be separated by assuming various models for the interaction, i.e. the so-called structure factors. The different analytical behaviour of these structure factors from that of the form factors, describing the intraparticle scattering, allows this separation. The mean-deviation surface is defined by the quality of the fit for different parameter sets of the structure factor. Its global minimum represents the solution. The former non-linear least-squares approach has proved to be inefficient and not very reliable. In this paper, the incorporation of the completely different Boltzmann simplex simulated annealing (BSSA) algorithm for finding the global minimum of the hypersurface is presented. This new method increases not only the calculation speed but also the reliability of the evaluation.

First-principles studies of the structural and optical properties of crystalline poly( para -phenylene)

Abstract: We present first-principles local-density band structure calculations for one-dimensional and three-dimensional crystalline poly (para-phenylene) (PPP) using the full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave and the pseudopotential methods. Optimized structural parameters for PPP chains and for orthorhombic crystalline phases with space groups Pbam and Pnnm are determined. A torsion angle of 27\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} is predicted in PPP chains and 17\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the crystals. The dielectric tensor and the absorption coefficient are calculated. We find very good agreement with experimental data, indicating that the excitations are extended band states. The interchain coupling leads to energy band splittings of the order of 0.5 eV. It is shown that the energy gap can be varied over a wide energy range by relatively small structural modifications.