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.

DNA/RNA Helicase Gene Mutations in a Form of Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS4)

Abstract: Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS4) is a rare autosomal dominant form of juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) characterized by distal muscle weakness and atrophy, normal sensation, and pyramidal signs. Individuals affected with ALS4 usually have an onset of symptoms at age Senataxin gene ( SETX ). The SETX gene encodes a novel 302.8-kD protein. Although its function remains unknown, SETX contains a DNA/RNA helicase domain with strong homology to human RENT1 and IGHMBP2, two genes encoding proteins known to have roles in RNA processing. These observations of ALS4 suggest that mutations in SETX may cause neuronal degeneration through dysfunction of the helicase activity or other steps in RNA processing.

Regional climate modeling on European scales: a joint standard evaluation of the EURO-CORDEX RCM ensemble

Abstract: . EURO-CORDEX is an international climate downscaling initiative that aims to provide high-resolution climate scenarios for Europe. Here an evaluation of the ERA-Interim-driven EURO-CORDEX regional climate model (RCM) ensemble is presented. The study documents the performance of the individual models in representing the basic spatiotemporal patterns of the European climate for the period 1989–2008. Model evaluation focuses on near-surface air temperature and precipitation, and uses the E-OBS data set as observational reference. The ensemble consists of 17 simulations carried out by seven different models at grid resolutions of 12 km (nine experiments) and 50 km (eight experiments). Several performance metrics computed from monthly and seasonal mean values are used to assess model performance over eight subdomains of the European continent. Results are compared to those for the ERA40-driven ENSEMBLES simulations. The analysis confirms the ability of RCMs to capture the basic features of the European climate, including its variability in space and time. But it also identifies nonnegligible deficiencies of the simulations for selected metrics, regions and seasons. Seasonally and regionally averaged temperature biases are mostly smaller than 1.5 °C, while precipitation biases are typically located in the ±40% range. Some bias characteristics, such as a predominant cold and wet bias in most seasons and over most parts of Europe and a warm and dry summer bias over southern and southeastern Europe reflect common model biases. For seasonal mean quantities averaged over large European subdomains, no clear benefit of an increased spatial resolution (12 vs. 50 km) can be identified. The bias ranges of the EURO-CORDEX ensemble mostly correspond to those of the ENSEMBLES simulations, but some improvements in model performance can be identified (e.g., a less pronounced southern European warm summer bias). The temperature bias spread across different configurations of one individual model can be of a similar magnitude as the spread across different models, demonstrating a strong influence of the specific choices in physical parameterizations and experimental setup on model performance. Based on a number of simply reproducible metrics, the present study quantifies the currently achievable accuracy of RCMs used for regional climate simulations over Europe and provides a quality standard for future model developments.

An Observational Overview of Solar Flares

Abstract: We present an overview of solar flares and associated phenomena, drawing upon a wide range of observational data primarily from the RHESSI era Following an introductory discussion and overview of the status of observational capabilities, the article is split into topical sections which deal with different areas of flare phenomena (footpoints and ribbons, coronal sources, relationship to coronal mass ejections) and their interconnections We also discuss flare soft X-ray spectroscopy and the energetics of the process The emphasis is to describe the observations from multiple points of view, while bearing in mind the models that link them to each other and to theory The present theoretical and observational understanding of solar flares is far from complete, so we conclude with a brief discussion of models, and a list of missing but important observations

Briefe an die Redaktion

Abstract: Das nach dem ,,International Symposium on Osteoporosis\" von Aalborg/D/inemark ver6ffentlichte ,,Consensus Statement\" [2] wurde in Klin. Wochenschr. (1988) 66:1044-1046 von R. Ziegler besprochen. Zu diesem niRzlichen und im wesentlichen ausgewogenen Kommentar m6chte ich mir zwei Bemerkungen erlauben: 1. Es gilt erst zu beweisen, ob: ,,Die giinstigen Effekte einer •strogen-Monotherapie auf den Lipidhaushalt . . , durch die gegenl/iufige Wirkung der Gestagene ... aufgehoben\" werden, wenn anstelle der bis vor kurzem verwendeten Progestagene die der letzten Generation zum Einsatz kommen, was sehr zu empfehlen w/ire. 2. Das summarische Urteil von Ziegler: ,,Anabolika ... (wiirden) ... nach fibereinstimmender Auffassung zur Zeit keinen festen Platz bei der Osteoporosetherapie besitzen\" bedarf einer Erg/inzung. Im ,,Consensus Statement\" wird den anabolen Steroiden best/itigt, dab sic zur Vorbeugung und Behandlung der Osteoporose beim Hypogonadismus des Mannes, m6glicherweise bei einigen speziellen Osteoporoseformen (z.B. GlukokortikoidOsteoporose) indiziert sind und dab sie ,,bei Frauen mit Osteoporose die Knochenmasse vermehren k6nnen.\" Ihrer Anwendung sttinden indes wegen Nebenwirkungen (Virilisierung, atherogene Effekte, Leberfunktionsst6rungen, eventuelle Entwicklung von Lebertumoren) ernste Bedenken im Wege. DaB es sich bei dieser Aussage um eine ungerechtfertigte und undifferenzierte ~berbewertung yon Nebenwirkungen speziell der parenteral wirksamen 17[3-Ester yon Steroiden handelt, wurde bereits eindriicklich dargelegt [5, 8]. Noch bedeutsamer als die Relativierung der Nebenwirkungen sind die Befunde mehrerer Forschergruppen, die eine Wirksamkeit der Anabolika bei Osteoporose und die relative Ungef/ihrlichkeit der Nandrolonester eindeutig demonstriert haben [1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9]. Nach ihren Beobachtungen empfiehlt sich also die priifende Verwendung yon Anabolika bei der Behandlung der Osteoporose, zumal nur dutch weitere Erfahrungen der endgiiltige Platz dieser offensichtlich erfolgversprechenden Arzneimittel in der Osteoporosetherapie gefunden werden kann.