The effect of vildagliptin relative to sulphonylureas in Muslim patients with type 2 diabetes fasting during Ramadan: the VIRTUE study

PubMed Central

Al-Arouj, M; Hassoun, A A K; Medlej, R; Pathan, M F; Shaltout, I; Chawla, M S; Hristoskova, S; DiTommaso, S; Kadwa, M Y

2013-01-01

SUMMARY Aims To assess, in a real-world setting, the effect of vildagliptin compared with sulphonylurea (SU) treatment on hypoglycaemia in Muslim patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) fasting during Ramadan. Methods This multinational, non-interventional study, conducted in Asia and the Middle East, included Muslim adult patients with T2DM who received treatment with vildagliptin or SU as add-on to metformin or monotherapy. During a ∼16-week observation period, data were collected up to 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after Ramadan fasting. The primary study objective was to compare the proportion of patients with ≥ 1 hypoglycaemic event (HE) during fasting. Results Of > 1300 patients enrolled in the study, 684 were treated with vildagliptin and 631 with SUs. Significantly fewer patients experienced ≥ 1 HE with vildagliptin compared with those receiving SUs (5.4% vs. 19.8%, respectively; p < 0.001); no vildagliptin-treated patients reported a grade 2 HE, vs. 4 SU-treated patients (p = 0.053). Mean HbA1c changes from baseline were vildagliptin: –0.24%, SUs: +0.02% (p < 0.001). Mean body weight reductions from baseline were vildagliptin: –0.76 kg, SUs: –0.13 kg (p < 0.001). A higher proportion of SU-treated patients experienced adverse events (AEs) compared with vildagliptin (22.8% vs. 10.2%). This difference was driven by hypoglycaemia as the most common AE. Conclusions In this real-world study of fasting Muslim patients with T2DM, vildagliptin was associated with significantly fewer hypoglycaemic episodes compared with SU therapy. This outcome is particularly meaningful when viewed in the context of good glycaemic and weight control observed in vildagliptin-treated patients. Vildagliptin was well tolerated in this patient population. Linked Comment: Ahmed. Int J Clin Pract 2013; 67: 933–4. PMID:24001317

Does laser diode irradiation improve the degree of conversion of simplified dentin bonding systems?

PubMed

Brianezzi, Leticia Ferreira de Freitas; Maenosono, Rafael Massunari; Bim, Odair; Zabeu, Giovanna Speranza; Palma-Dibb, Regina Guenka; Ishikiriama, Sérgio Kiyoshi

2017-01-01

This study aimed to investigate the effect of laser diode irradiation on the degree of conversion (DC), water sorption (WS), and water solubility (WSB) of these bonding systems in an attempt to improve their physico-mechanical resistance. Two bonding agents were tested: a two-step total-etch system [Adper™ Single Bond 2, 3M ESPE (SB)] and a universal system [Adper™ Single Bond Universal, 3M ESPE (SU)]. Square-shaped specimens were prepared and assigned into 4 groups (n=5): SB and SU (control groups - no laser irradiation) and SB-L and SU-L [SB and SU laser (L) - irradiated groups]. DC was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance. Additional uncured resin samples (≈3.0 µL, n=5) of each adhesive were also scanned for final DC calculation. For WS/WSB tests, similar specimens (n=10) were prepared and measured by monitoring the mass changes after dehydration/water storage cycles. For both tests, adhesive fluids were dropped into standardized Teflon molds (6.0×6.0×1.0 mm), irradiated with a 970-nm laser diode, and then polymerized with an LED-curing unit (1 W/cm2). Laser irradiation immediately before photopolymerization increased the DC (%) of the tested adhesives: SB-L>SB>SU-L>SU. For WS/WSB (μg/mm3), only the dentin bonding system (DBS) was a significant factor (p<0.05): SB>SU. Irradiation with a laser diode improved the degree of conversion of all tested simplified dentin bonding systems, with no impact on water sorption and solubility.

A data-driven approach of load monitoring on laminated composite plates using support vector machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwon, Y. S.; Fekrmandi, H.

2018-03-01

In this study, the surface response to excitation method (SuRE) is investigated using a data-driven method for load monitoring on a laminated composite plate structure. The SuRE method is an emerging approach in ultrasonic wavebased structural health monitoring (SHM) field. In this method, a range of high-frequency, surface-guided waves are excited on the structure using piezoceramic elements. The waves propagate on the structure and interact with internal or surface damages. Initially, a baseline data of the intact structure is created by measuring the frequency transfer function between the excitation and sensing point. The integrity of structure is evaluated by monitoring changes in the frequency spectrums. The SuRE method has effectively been used for a variety of SHM applications including the detection of loose bolts, delamination in composite structures, internal corrosion in pipelines, and load and impact monitoring. Data obtained using the SuRE method was used for identifying the location of the applied load on a laminated composite plate using Support Vector Machine (SVM). A set of two piezoelectric elements were attached on the surface of the plate. A sweep excitation (150-250 kHz) generated surface-guided waves, and the transmitted waves were monitored at the sensory positions. The reference data set was measured simultaneously from the sensors. The plate was subjected to static loads while health monitoring data was being captured using the SuRE method. The confusion matrix indicated that the model classified correctly with up to 99.8% accuracy.

Does laser diode irradiation improve the degree of conversion of simplified dentin bonding systems?

PubMed Central

BRIANEZZI, Leticia Ferreira de Freitas; MAENOSONO, Rafael Massunari; BIM, Odair; ZABEU, Giovanna Speranza; PALMA-DIBB, Regina Guenka; ISHIKIRIAMA, Sérgio Kiyoshi

2017-01-01

Abstract Simplified dentin-bonding systems are clinically employed for most adhesive procedures, and they are prone to hydrolytic degradation. Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of laser diode irradiation on the degree of conversion (DC), water sorption (WS), and water solubility (WSB) of these bonding systems in an attempt to improve their physico-mechanical resistance. Material and Methods Two bonding agents were tested: a two-step total-etch system [Adper™ Single Bond 2, 3M ESPE (SB)] and a universal system [Adper™ Single Bond Universal, 3M ESPE (SU)]. Square-shaped specimens were prepared and assigned into 4 groups (n=5): SB and SU (control groups – no laser irradiation) and SB-L and SU-L [SB and SU laser (L) – irradiated groups]. DC was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance. Additional uncured resin samples (≈3.0 µL, n=5) of each adhesive were also scanned for final DC calculation. For WS/WSB tests, similar specimens (n=10) were prepared and measured by monitoring the mass changes after dehydration/water storage cycles. For both tests, adhesive fluids were dropped into standardized Teflon molds (6.0×6.0×1.0 mm), irradiated with a 970-nm laser diode, and then polymerized with an LED-curing unit (1 W/cm2). Results Laser irradiation immediately before photopolymerization increased the DC (%) of the tested adhesives: SB-L>SB>SU-L>SU. For WS/WSB (μg/mm3), only the dentin bonding system (DBS) was a significant factor (p<0.05): SB>SU. Conclusion Irradiation with a laser diode improved the degree of conversion of all tested simplified dentin bonding systems, with no impact on water sorption and solubility. PMID:28877276

Solid formulation of a supersaturable self-microemulsifying drug delivery system for valsartan with improved dissolution and bioavailability

PubMed Central

Yeom, Dong Woo; Chae, Bo Ram; Kim, Jin Han; Chae, Jun Soo; Shin, Dong Jun; Kim, Chang Hyun; Kim, Sung Rae; Choi, Ji Ho; Song, Seh Hyon; Oh, Dongho; Sohn, Se Il; Choi, Young Wook

2017-01-01

In order to improve the dissolution and oral bioavailability of valsartan (VST), and reduce the required volume for treatment, we previously formulated a supersaturable self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SuSMEDDS) composed of VST (80 mg), Capmul® MCM (13.2 mg), Tween® 80 (59.2 mg), Transcutol® P (59.2 mg), and Poloxamer 407 (13.2 mg). In the present study, by using Florite® PS-10 (119.1 mg) and Vivapur® 105 (105.6 mg) as solid carriers, VST-loaded solidified SuSMEDDS (S-SuSMEDDS) granules were successfully developed, which possessed good flow properties and rapid drug dissolution. By introducing croscarmellose sodium (31 mg) as a superdisintegrant, S-SuSMEDDS tablets were also successfully formulated, which showed fast disintegration and high dissolution efficiency. Preparation of granules and tablets was successfully optimized using D-optimal mixture design and 3-level factorial design, respectively, resulting in percentage prediction errors of <10%. In pharmacokinetic studies in rats, the relative bioavailability of the optimized granules was 107% and 222% of values obtained for SuSMEDDS and Diovan® powder, respectively. Therefore, we conclude that novel S-SuSMEDDS formulations offer great potential for developing solid dosage forms of a liquefied formulation such as SuSMEDDS, while improving oral absorption of drugs with poor water solubility. PMID:29212229

Solid formulation of a supersaturable self-microemulsifying drug delivery system for valsartan with improved dissolution and bioavailability.

PubMed

Yeom, Dong Woo; Chae, Bo Ram; Kim, Jin Han; Chae, Jun Soo; Shin, Dong Jun; Kim, Chang Hyun; Kim, Sung Rae; Choi, Ji Ho; Song, Seh Hyon; Oh, Dongho; Sohn, Se Il; Choi, Young Wook

2017-11-07

In order to improve the dissolution and oral bioavailability of valsartan (VST), and reduce the required volume for treatment, we previously formulated a supersaturable self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SuSMEDDS) composed of VST (80 mg), Capmul ® MCM (13.2 mg), Tween ® 80 (59.2 mg), Transcutol ® P (59.2 mg), and Poloxamer 407 (13.2 mg). In the present study, by using Florite ® PS-10 (119.1 mg) and Vivapur ® 105 (105.6 mg) as solid carriers, VST-loaded solidified SuSMEDDS (S-SuSMEDDS) granules were successfully developed, which possessed good flow properties and rapid drug dissolution. By introducing croscarmellose sodium (31 mg) as a superdisintegrant, S-SuSMEDDS tablets were also successfully formulated, which showed fast disintegration and high dissolution efficiency. Preparation of granules and tablets was successfully optimized using D-optimal mixture design and 3-level factorial design, respectively, resulting in percentage prediction errors of <10%. In pharmacokinetic studies in rats, the relative bioavailability of the optimized granules was 107% and 222% of values obtained for SuSMEDDS and Diovan ® powder, respectively. Therefore, we conclude that novel S-SuSMEDDS formulations offer great potential for developing solid dosage forms of a liquefied formulation such as SuSMEDDS, while improving oral absorption of drugs with poor water solubility.

Quantum mechanics on space with SU(2) fuzziness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatollahi, Amir H.; Shariati, Ahmad; Khorrami, Mohammad

2009-04-01

Quantum mechanics of models is considered which are constructed in spaces with Lie algebra type commutation relations between spatial coordinates. The case is specialized to that of the group SU(2), for which the formulation of the problem via the Euler parameterization is also presented. SU(2)-invariant systems are discussed, and the corresponding eigenvalue problem for the Hamiltonian is reduced to an ordinary differential equation, as is the case with such models on commutative spaces.

KGFR as a possible therapeutic target in middle ear cholesteatoma.

PubMed

Yamamoto-Fukuda, Tomomi; Akiyama, Naotaro; Shibata, Yasuaki; Takahashi, Haruo; Ikeda, Tohru; Kohno, Michiaki; Koji, Takehiko

2014-11-01

We demonstrated that repression of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) receptor (KGFR) could be a potentially useful strategy in the conservative treatment of middle ear cholesteatoma. Recently, the use of a selective inhibitor of the KGFR, SU5402, in an in vitro experiment resulted in the inhibition of the differentiation and proliferation of epithelial cells through KGF secretion by fibroblasts isolated from the cholesteatoma. In this study, we investigated the effects of the KGFR inhibitor during middle ear cholesteatoma formation in vivo. Based on the role of KGF in the development of cholesteatoma, Flag-hKGF cDNA driven by CMV14 promoter was transfected through electroporation into the external auditory canal of rats five times on every fourth day. Ears transfected with empty vector were used as controls. KGFR selective inhibitor (SU5402) or MEK inhibitor (PD0325901) was administered in the right ear of five rats after vector transfection. In the control, 2% DMSO in PBS was administered in the other ears after vector transfection. The use of a selective KGFR inhibitor, SU5402, completely prevented middle ear cholesteatoma formation in the rats.

Spinor matter fields in SL(2,C) gauge theories of gravity: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonowicz, Marek; Szczyrba, Wiktor

1985-06-01

We consider the SL(2,C)-covariant Lagrangian formulation of gravitational theories with the presence of spinor matter fields. The invariance properties of such theories give rise to the conservation laws (the contracted Bianchi identities) having in the presence of matter fields a more complicated form than those known in the literature previously. A general SL(2,C) gauge theory of gravity is cast into an SL(2,C)-covariant Hamiltonian formulation. Breaking the SL(2,C) symmetry of the system to the SU(2) symmetry, by introducing a spacelike slicing of spacetime, we get an SU(2)-covariant Hamiltonian picture. The qualitative analysis of SL(2,C) gauge theories of gravity in the SU(2)-covariant formulation enables us to define the dynamical symplectic variables and the gauge variables of the theory under consideration as well as to divide the set of field equations into the dynamical equations and the constraints. In the SU(2)-covariant Hamiltonian formulation the primary constraints, which are generic for first-order matter Lagrangians (Dirac, Weyl, Fierz-Pauli), can be reduced. The effective matter symplectic variables are given by SU(2)-spinor-valued half-forms on three-dimensional slices of spacetime. The coupled Einstein-Cartan-Dirac (Weyl, Fierz-Pauli) system is analyzed from the (3+1) point of view. This analysis is complete; the field equations of the Einstein-Cartan-Dirac theory split into 18 gravitational dynamical equations, 8 dynamical Dirac equations, and 7 first-class constraints. The system has 4+8=12 independent degrees of freedom in the phase space.

SU(N ) fermions in a one-dimensional harmonic trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laird, E. K.; Shi, Z.-Y.; Parish, M. M.; Levinsen, J.

2017-09-01

We conduct a theoretical study of SU (N ) fermions confined by a one-dimensional harmonic potential. First, we introduce a numerical approach for solving the trapped interacting few-body problem, by which one may obtain accurate energy spectra across the full range of interaction strengths. In the strong-coupling limit, we map the SU (N ) Hamiltonian to a spin-chain model. We then show that an existing, extremely accurate ansatz—derived for a Heisenberg SU(2) spin chain—is extendable to these N -component systems. Lastly, we consider balanced SU (N ) Fermi gases that have an equal number of particles in each spin state for N =2 ,3 ,4 . In the weak- and strong-coupling regimes, we find that the ground-state energies rapidly converge to their expected values in the thermodynamic limit with increasing atom number. This suggests that the many-body energetics of N -component fermions may be accurately inferred from the corresponding few-body systems of N distinguishable particles.

Application of a New Hybrid RANS/LES Modeling Paradigm to Compressible Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliver, Todd; Pederson, Clark; Haering, Sigfried; Moser, Robert

2017-11-01

It is well-known that traditional hybrid RANS/LES modeling approaches suffer from a number of deficiencies. These deficiencies often stem from overly simplistic blending strategies based on scalar measures of turbulence length scale and grid resolution and from use of isotropic subgrid models in LES regions. A recently developed hybrid modeling approach has shown promise in overcoming these deficiencies in incompressible flows [Haering, 2015]. In the approach, RANS/LES blending is accomplished using a hybridization parameter that is governed by an additional model transport equation and is driven to achieve equilibrium between the resolved and unresolved turbulence for the given grid. Further, the model uses an tensor eddy viscosity that is formulated to represent the effects of anisotropic grid resolution on subgrid quantities. In this work, this modeling approach is extended to compressible flows and implemented in the compressible flow solver SU2 (http://su2.stanford.edu/). We discuss both modeling and implementation challenges and show preliminary results for compressible flow test cases with smooth wall separation.

Dynamical recovery of SU(2) symmetry in the mass-quenched Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Liang; Fiete, Gregory A.

2018-02-01

We use nonequilibrium dynamical mean-field theory with iterative perturbation theory as an impurity solver to study the recovery of SU(2) symmetry in real time following a hopping integral parameter quench from a mass-imbalanced to a mass-balanced single-band Hubbard model at half filling. A dynamical order parameter γ (t ) is defined to characterize the evolution of the system towards SU(2) symmetry. By comparing the momentum-dependent occupation from an equilibrium calculation [with the SU(2) symmetric Hamiltonian after the quench at an effective temperature] with the data from our nonequilibrium calculation, we conclude that the SU(2) symmetry recovered state is a thermalized state. Further evidence from the evolution of the density of states supports this conclusion. We find the order parameter in the weak Coulomb interaction regime undergoes an approximate exponential decay. We numerically investigate the interplay of the relevant parameters (initial temperature, Coulomb interaction strength, initial mass-imbalance ratio) and their combined effect on the thermalization behavior. Finally, we study evolution of the order parameter as the hopping parameter is changed with either a linear ramp or a pulse. Our results can be useful in strategies to engineer the relaxation behavior of interacting quantum many-particle systems.

2+1 black hole with SU(2) hair (and the theory where it grows)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanelli, Jorge

2015-04-01

A black hole solution in three spacetime dimensions, endowed with an SU(2) charge is presented. The construction is based on two main features of three dimensions: i) AdS3 spacetime is locally Lorentz-flat, that is, it can be covered with a congruence of local inertial observers, just like flat Minkowski space; ii) The SO(2,1) and SU(2) groups are isomorphic, so that a flat connection of the first can be mapped to a flat connection of the second. The global nontrivial nature of the solution is a consequence of the topology produced by the identification in the covering space that gives rise to the 2+1 black hole. It can be seen that this solution belongs to the vacuum (matter-free) sector of a supersymmetric theory based on the Chern-Simons action for the su(1, 2|2) superalgebra. The action for this system matches that of graphene in the long wavelength limit near the Dirac point. The SU(2) gauge symmetry is interpreted as the freedom to choose locally the definition of spin quantization axis for the electrons.

Sulindac, 3,3'-diindolylmethane and curcumin reduce carcinogenesis in the Pirc rat, an Apc-driven model of colon carcinogenesis.

PubMed

Femia, Angelo Pietro; Soares, Paulo Victoria; Luceri, Cristina; Lodovici, Maura; Giannini, Augusto; Caderni, Giovanna

2015-09-03

Recently, we showed that Sulindac (SU; 320 ppm) reduces precancerous lesions in the colon of Pirc rats, mutated in the Apc gene. Surprisingly, previous data in Apc-mutated mice showed that SU, with reported efficacy in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), increases colon carcinogenesis. Therefore, we assessed the effect of SU 320 ppm in a long-term carcinogenesis experiment in Pirc rats. Moreover, since side effects of SU hamper its chronic use and a combination of drugs could be more effective and less toxic than single agents, we also studied whether two natural compounds, 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM; 250 ppm) and curcumin (CUR; 2000 ppm), with or without lower doses of SU could affect carcinogenesis Pirc rats were fed an AIN76 diet containing SU, DIM and CUR and sacrificed at 8 months of age to measure intestinal tumours. Apoptosis and proliferation in the normal colon mucosa, as well as gene expression profile were studied Colon tumours were significantly reduced by SU 320 ppm (62 % reduction over Controls), by DIM and CUR without or with SU 80 and 160 ppm (50, 53 and 58 % reduction, respectively) but not by SU 80 ppm alone. Total tumours (colon and small intestine) were reduced by SU (80 and 320 ppm) and by DIM and CUR. Apoptosis in the normal mucosa was significantly increased by SU 320 ppm, and slightly increased by DIM and CUR with or without SU. A slight reduction in Survivin-Birc5 expression was observed with all the treatments compared to Controls. Proliferative activity was not varied The results on SU reinforce the validity of Pirc rats to identify chemopreventive products. Moreover, the efficacy of the DIM and CUR combination to lower colon tumours, suggests an alternative strategy to be exploited in patients at risk.

2d affine XY-spin model/4d gauge theory duality and deconfinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anber, Mohamed M.; Poppitz, Erich; Ünsal, Mithat

2012-04-01

We introduce a duality between two-dimensional XY-spin models with symmetry-breaking perturbations and certain four-dimensional SU(2) and SU(2)/ {{Z}_2} gauge theories, compactified on a small spatial circle {{R}^{{^{{{1},{2}}}}}} × {{S}^{{^{{1}}}}} , and considered at temperatures near the deconfinement transition. In a Euclidean set up, the theory is defined on {{R}^{{^{{2}}}}} × {{T}^{{^{{2}}}}} . Similarly, thermal gauge theories of higher rank are dual to new families of "affine" XY-spin models with perturbations. For rank two, these are related to models used to describe the melting of a 2d crystal with a triangular lattice. The connection is made through a multi-component electric-magnetic Coulomb gas representation for both systems. Perturbations in the spin system map to topological defects in the gauge theory, such as monopole-instantons or magnetic bions, and the vortices in the spin system map to the electrically charged W-bosons in field theory (or vice versa, depending on the duality frame). The duality permits one to use the two-dimensional technology of spin systems to study the thermal deconfinement and discrete chiral transitions in four-dimensional SU( N c ) gauge theories with n f ≥1 adjoint Weyl fermions.

Wave fluctuations in the system with some Yang-Mills condensates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prokhorov, G., E-mail: zhoraprox@yandex.ru; Pasechnik, R., E-mail: Roman.Pasechnik@thep.lu.se; Vereshkov, G., E-mail: gveresh@gmail.com

2016-12-15

Self-consistent dynamics of non-homogeneous fluctuations and homogeneous and isotropic condensate of Yang–Mills fields was investigated in zero, linear and quasilinear approximations over the wave modes in the framework of N = 4 supersymmetric model in Hamilton gauge in quasiclassical theory. The models with SU(2), SU(3) and SU(4) gauge groups were considered. Particle production effect and effect of generation of longitudinal oscillations were obtained.

SU(4) Kondo effect in double quantum dots with ferromagnetic leads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weymann, Ireneusz; Chirla, Razvan; Trocha, Piotr; Moca, Cǎtǎlin Paşcu

2018-02-01

We investigate the spin-resolved transport properties, such as the linear conductance and the tunnel magnetoresistance, of a double quantum dot device attached to ferromagnetic leads and look for signatures of the SU (4 ) symmetry in the Kondo regime. We show that the transport behavior greatly depends on the magnetic configuration of the device, and the spin-SU(2) as well as the orbital and spin-SU(4) Kondo effects become generally suppressed when the magnetic configuration of the leads varies from the antiparallel to the parallel one. Furthermore, a finite spin polarization of the leads lifts the spin degeneracy and drives the system from the SU(4) to an orbital-SU(2) Kondo state. We analyze in detail the crossover and show that the Kondo temperature between the two fixed points has a nonmonotonic dependence on the degree of spin polarization of the leads. In terms of methods used, we characterize transport by using a combination of analytical and numerical renormalization group approaches.

Targeting SVCT for enhanced drug absorption: Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a novel vitamin C conjugated prodrug of saquinavir

PubMed Central

Luo, Shuanghui; Wang, Zhiying; Patel, Mitesh; Khurana, Varun; Zhu, Xiaodong; Pal, Dhananjay; Mitra, Ashim. K.

2015-01-01

In order to improve oral absorption, a novel prodrug of saquinavir (Saq), ascorbyl-succinic-saquinavir (AA-Su-Saq) targeting sodium dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT) was synthesized and evaluated. Aqueous solubility, stability and cytotoxicity were determined. Affinity of AA-Su-Saq towards effluxpump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and recognition of AA-Su-Saq by SVCT were studied. Transepithelial permeability across polarized MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells were determined. Metabolic stability of AA-Su-Saq in rat liver microsomes was investigated. AA-Su-Saq appears to be fairly stable in both DPBS and Caco-2 cells with half lives of 9.65 and 5.73 h, respectively. Uptake of [3H]Saquinavir accelerated by 2.7 and 1.9 fold in the presence of 50 μM Saq and AA-Su-Saq in MDCK-MDR1 cells. Cellular accumulation of [14C]AA diminished by about 50–70% relative to control in the presence of 200 μM AA-Su-Saq in MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells. Uptake of AA-Su-Saq was lowered by 27% and 34% in the presence of 5 mM AA in MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells, respectively. Absorptive permeability of AA-Su-Saq was elevated about 4-5 fold and efflux index reduced by about 13-15 fold across the polarized MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells. Absorptive permeability of AA-Su-Saq decreased 44% in the presence of 5 mM AA across MDCK-MDR1 cells. AA-Su-Saq was devoid of cytotoxicity over the concentration range studied. AA-Su-Saq significantly enhanced the metabolic stability but lowered the affinity towards CYP3A4. In conclusion, prodrug modification of Saq through conjugation to AA via a linker significantly raised the absorptive permeability and metabolic stability. Such modification also caused significant evading of P-gp mediated efflux and CYP3A4 mediated metabolism. SVCT targeted prodrug approach can be an attractive strategy to enhance the oral absorption and systemic bioavailability of anti-HIV protease inhibitors. PMID:21571053

Targeting SVCT for enhanced drug absorption: synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a novel vitamin C conjugated prodrug of saquinavir.

PubMed

Luo, Shuanghui; Wang, Zhiying; Patel, Mitesh; Khurana, Varun; Zhu, Xiaodong; Pal, Dhananjay; Mitra, Ashim K

2011-07-29

In order to improve oral absorption, a novel prodrug of saquinavir (Saq), ascorbyl-succinic-saquinavir (AA-Su-Saq) targeting sodium dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT) was synthesized and evaluated. Aqueous solubility, stability and cytotoxicity were determined. Affinity of AA-Su-Saq towards efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and recognition of AA-Su-Saq by SVCT were studied. Transepithelial permeability across polarized MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells were determined. Metabolic stability of AA-Su-Saq in rat liver microsomes was investigated. AA-Su-Saq appears to be fairly stable in both DPBS and Caco-2 cells with half lives of 9.65 and 5.73 h, respectively. Uptake of [(3)H]Saquinavir accelerated by 2.7 and 1.9 fold in the presence of 50 μM Saq and AA-Su-Saq in MDCK-MDR1 cells. Cellular accumulation of [(14)C]AA diminished by about 50-70% relative to control in the presence of 200 μM AA-Su-Saq in MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells. Uptake of AA-Su-Saq was lowered by 27% and 34% in the presence of 5mM AA in MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells, respectively. Absorptive permeability of AA-Su-Saq was elevated about 4-5 fold and efflux index reduced by about 13-15 fold across the polarized MDCK-MDR1 and Caco-2 cells. Absorptive permeability of AA-Su-Saq decreased 44% in the presence of 5mM AA across MDCK-MDR1 cells. AA-Su-Saq was devoid of cytotoxicity over the concentration range studied. AA-Su-Saq significantly enhanced the metabolic stability but lowered the affinity towards CYP3A4. In conclusion, prodrug modification of Saq through conjugation to AA via a linker significantly raised the absorptive permeability and metabolic stability. Such modification also caused significant evading of P-gp mediated efflux and CYP3A4 mediated metabolism. SVCT targeted prodrug approach can be an attractive strategy to enhance the oral absorption and systemic bioavailability of anti-HIV protease inhibitors. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Algebraic aspects of the driven dynamics in the density operator and correlation functions calculation for multi-level open quantum systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogolubov, Nikolai N.; Soldatov, Andrey V.

2017-12-01

Exact and approximate master equations were derived by the projection operator method for the reduced statistical operator of a multi-level quantum system with finite number N of quantum eigenstates interacting with arbitrary external classical fields and dissipative environment simultaneously. It was shown that the structure of these equations can be simplified significantly if the free Hamiltonian driven dynamics of an arbitrary quantum multi-level system under the influence of the external driving fields as well as its Markovian and non-Markovian evolution, stipulated by the interaction with the environment, are described in terms of the SU(N) algebra representation. As a consequence, efficient numerical methods can be developed and employed to analyze these master equations for real problems in various fields of theoretical and applied physics. It was also shown that literally the same master equations hold not only for the reduced density operator but also for arbitrary nonequilibrium multi-time correlation functions as well under the only assumption that the system and the environment are uncorrelated at some initial moment of time. A calculational scheme was proposed to account for these lost correlations in a regular perturbative way, thus providing additional computable terms to the correspondent master equations for the correlation functions.

Thermodynamics of one-dimensional SU(4) and SU(6) fermions with attractive interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffman, M. D.; Loheac, A. C.; Porter, W. J.; Drut, J. E.

2017-03-01

Motivated by advances in the manipulation and detection of ultracold atoms with multiple internal degrees of freedom, we present a finite-temperature lattice Monte Carlo calculation of the density and pressure equations of state, as well as Tan's contact, of attractively interacting SU(4)- and SU(6)-symmetric fermion systems in one spatial dimension. We also furnish a nonperturbative proof of a universal relation whereby quantities computable in the SU(2) case completely determine the virial coefficients of the SU(Nf) case. These one-dimensional systems are appealing because they can be experimentally realized in highly constrained traps and because of the dominant role played by correlations. The latter are typically nonperturbative and are crucial for understanding ground states and quantum phase transitions. While quantum fluctuations are typically overpowered by thermal ones in one and two dimensions at any finite temperature, we find that quantum effects do leave their imprint in thermodynamic quantities. Our calculations show that the additional degrees of freedom, relative to the SU(2) case, provide a dramatic enhancement of the density and pressure (in units of their noninteracting counterparts) in a wide region around vanishing β μ , where β is the inverse temperature and μ the chemical potential. As shown recently in experiments, the thermodynamics we explore here can be measured in a controlled and precise fashion in highly constrained traps and optical lattices. Our results are a prediction for such experiments in one dimension with atoms of high nuclear spin.

Secondary use of data from hospital electronic prescribing and pharmacy systems to support the quality and safety of antimicrobial use: a systematic review.

PubMed

Micallef, Christianne; Chaudhry, Navila T; Holmes, Alison H; Hopkins, Susan; Benn, Jonathan; Franklin, Bryony Dean

2017-07-01

Electronic prescribing (EP) and electronic hospital pharmacy (EHP) systems are increasingly common. A potential benefit is the extensive data in these systems that could be used to support antimicrobial stewardship, but there is little information on how such data are currently used to support the quality and safety of antimicrobial use. To summarize the literature on secondary use of data (SuD) from EP and EHP systems to support quality and safety of antimicrobial use, to describe any barriers to secondary use and to make recommendations for future work in this field. We conducted a systematic search within four databases; we included original research studies that were (1) based on SuD from hospital EP or EHP systems and (2) reported outcomes relating to quality and/or safety of antimicrobial use and/or qualitative findings relating to SuD in this context. Ninety-four full-text articles were obtained; 14 met our inclusion criteria. Only two described interventions based on SuD; seven described SuD to evaluate other antimicrobial stewardship interventions and five described descriptive or exploratory studies of potential applications of SuD. Types of data used were quantitative antibiotic usage data ( n  =   9 studies), dose administration data ( n  =   4) and user log data from an electronic dashboard ( n  = 1). Barriers included data access, data accuracy and completeness, and complexity when using data from multiple systems or hospital sites. The literature suggests that SuD from EP and EHP systems is potentially useful to support or evaluate antimicrobial stewardship activities; greater system functionality would help to realize these benefits. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Plant Expression of a Bacterial Cytochrome P450 That Catalyzes Activation of a Sulfonylurea Pro-Herbicide.

PubMed Central

O'Keefe, D. P.; Tepperman, J. M.; Dean, C.; Leto, K. J.; Erbes, D. L.; Odell, J. T.

1994-01-01

The Streptomyces griseolus gene encoding herbicide-metabolizing cytochrome P450SU1 (CYP105A1) was expressed in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Because this P450 can be reduced by plant chloroplast ferredoxin in vitro, chloroplast-targeted and nontargeted expression were compared. Whereas P450SU1 antigen was found in the transgenic plants regardless of the targeting, only those with chloroplast-directed enzyme performed P450SU1-mediated N-dealkylation of the sulfonylurea 2-methylethyl-2,3-dihydro-N-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)aminocarbonyl]-1, 2-benzoisothiazole- 7-sulfonamide-1,1-dioxide (R7402). Chloroplast targeting appears to be essential for the bacterial P450 to function in the plant. Because the R7402 metabolite has greater phytotoxicity than R7402 itself, plants bearing active P450SU1 are susceptible to injury from R7402 treatment that is harmless to plants without P450SU1. Thus, P450SU1 expression and R7402 treatment can be used as a negative selection system in plants. Furthermore, expression of P450SU1 from a tissue-specific promoter can sequester production of the phytotoxic R7402 metabolite to a single plant tissue. In tobacco expressing P450SU1 from a tapetum-specific promoter, treatment of immature flower buds with R7402 caused dramatically lowered pollen viability. Such treatment could be the basis for a chemical hybridizing agent. PMID:12232216

Entanglement properties of the two-dimensional SU(3) Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gauthé, Olivier; Poilblanc, Didier

2017-09-01

Two-dimensional (spin-2) Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) type valence bond solids on a square lattice are known to be symmetry-protected topological (SPT) gapped spin liquids [S. Takayoshi, P. Pujol, and A. Tanaka Phys. Rev. B 94, 235159 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.235159]. Using the projected entangled pair state framework, we extend the construction of the AKLT state to the case of SU(3 ) , relevant for cold atom systems. The entanglement spectrum is shown to be described by an alternating SU(3 ) chain of "quarks" and "antiquarks", subject to exponentially decaying (with distance) Heisenberg interactions, in close similarity with its SU(2 ) analog. We discuss the SPT feature of the state.

Optimized piranha etching process for SU8-based MEMS and MOEMS construction

PubMed Central

Holmes, Matthew; Keeley, Jared; Hurd, Katherine; Schmidt, Holger; Hawkins, Aaron

2011-01-01

We demonstrate the optimization of the concentration, temperature and cycling of a piranha (H2O2:H2SO4) mixture that produces high yields while quickly etching hollow structures made using a highly crosslinked SU8 polymer sacrificial core. The effects of the piranha mixture on the thickness, refractive index and roughness of common micro-electromechanical systems and micro-opto-electromechanical systems fabrication materials (SiN, SiO2 and Si) were determined. The effectiveness of the optimal piranha mixture was demonstrated in the construction of hollow anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides. PMID:21423840

Optimized piranha etching process for SU8-based MEMS and MOEMS construction.

PubMed

Holmes, Matthew; Keeley, Jared; Hurd, Katherine; Schmidt, Holger; Hawkins, Aaron

2010-11-01

We demonstrate the optimization of the concentration, temperature and cycling of a piranha (H(2)O(2):H(2)SO(4)) mixture that produces high yields while quickly etching hollow structures made using a highly crosslinked SU8 polymer sacrificial core. The effects of the piranha mixture on the thickness, refractive index and roughness of common micro-electromechanical systems and micro-opto-electromechanical systems fabrication materials (SiN, SiO(2) and Si) were determined. The effectiveness of the optimal piranha mixture was demonstrated in the construction of hollow anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides.

Optimized piranha etching process for SU8-based MEMS and MOEMS construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holmes, Matthew; Keeley, Jared; Hurd, Katherine; Schmidt, Holger; Hawkins, Aaron

2010-11-01

We demonstrate the optimization of the concentration, temperature and cycling of a piranha (H2O2:H2SO4) mixture that produces high yields while quickly etching hollow structures made using a highly crosslinked SU8 polymer sacrificial core. The effects of the piranha mixture on the thickness, refractive index and roughness of common micro-electromechanical systems and micro-opto-electromechanical systems fabrication materials (SiN, SiO2 and Si) were determined. The effectiveness of the optimal piranha mixture was demonstrated in the construction of hollow anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dou, Xu; Kotov, Valeri N.; Uchoa, Bruno

Quantum spin-orbital liquids are elusive strongly correlated states of matter that emerge from quantum frustration between spin and orbital degrees of freedom. A promising route towards the observation of those states is the creation of artificial Mott insulators where antiferromagnetic correlations between spins and orbitals can be designed. We show that Coulomb impurity lattices on the surface of gapped honeycomb substrates, such as graphene on SiC, can be used to simulate SU(4) symmetric spin-orbital lattice models. We exploit the property that massive Dirac fermions form mid-gap bound states with spin and valley degeneracies in the vicinity of a Coulomb impurity.more » Due to electronic repulsion, the antiferromagnetic correlations of the impurity lattice are driven by a super-exchange interaction with SU(4) symmetry, which emerges from the bound states degeneracy at quarter filling. We propose that quantum spin-orbital liquids can be engineered in artificially designed solid-state systems at vastly higher temperatures than achievable in optical lattices with cold atoms. Lastly, we discuss the experimental setup and possible scenarios for candidate quantum spin-liquids in Coulomb impurity lattices of various geometries.« less

Designing Quantum Spin-Orbital Liquids in Artificial Mott Insulators

PubMed Central

Dou, Xu; Kotov, Valeri N.; Uchoa, Bruno

2016-01-01

Quantum spin-orbital liquids are elusive strongly correlated states of matter that emerge from quantum frustration between spin and orbital degrees of freedom. A promising route towards the observation of those states is the creation of artificial Mott insulators where antiferromagnetic correlations between spins and orbitals can be designed. We show that Coulomb impurity lattices on the surface of gapped honeycomb substrates, such as graphene on SiC, can be used to simulate SU(4) symmetric spin-orbital lattice models. We exploit the property that massive Dirac fermions form mid-gap bound states with spin and valley degeneracies in the vicinity of a Coulomb impurity. Due to electronic repulsion, the antiferromagnetic correlations of the impurity lattice are driven by a super-exchange interaction with SU(4) symmetry, which emerges from the bound states degeneracy at quarter filling. We propose that quantum spin-orbital liquids can be engineered in artificially designed solid-state systems at vastly higher temperatures than achievable in optical lattices with cold atoms. We discuss the experimental setup and possible scenarios for candidate quantum spin-liquids in Coulomb impurity lattices of various geometries. PMID:27553516

Kibble-Zurek Scaling and String-Net Coarsening in Topologically Ordered Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khemani, Vedika; Chandran, Anushya; Burnell, F. J.; Sondhi, S. L.

2013-03-01

We consider the non-equilibrium dynamics of topologically ordered systems, such as spin liquids, driven across a continuous phase transition into proximate phases with no, or reduced, topological order. This dynamics exhibits scaling in the spirit of Kibble and Zurek but now without the presence of symmetry breaking and a local order parameter. The non-equilibrium dynamics near the critical point is universal in a particular scaling limit. The late stages of the process are seen to exhibit slow, quantum coarsening dynamics for the extended string-nets characterizing the topological phase, a potentially interesting signature of topological order. Certain gapped degrees of freedom that could potentially destroy coarsening are, at worst, dangerously irrelevant in the scaling limit. We also note a time dependent amplification of the energy splitting between topologically degenerate states on closed manifolds. We illustrate these phenomena in the context of particular phase transitions out of the abelian Z2 topologically ordered phase of the toric code, and the non-abelian SU(2)k ordered phases of the relevant Levin-Wen models. This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. NSF PHY11-25915 and DMR 10-06608.

A quantum retrograde canon: complete population inversion in n 2-state systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padan, Alon; Suchowski, Haim

2018-04-01

We present a novel approach for analytically reducing a family of time-dependent multi-state quantum control problems to two-state systems. The presented method translates between {SU}(2)× {SU}(2) related n 2-state systems and two-state systems, such that the former undergo complete population inversion (CPI) if and only if the latter reach specific states. For even n, the method translates any two-state CPI scheme to a family of CPI schemes in n 2-state systems. In particular, facilitating CPI in a four-state system via real time-dependent nearest-neighbors couplings is reduced to facilitating CPI in a two-level system. Furthermore, we show that the method can be used for operator control, and provide conditions for producing several universal gates for quantum computation as an example. In addition, we indicate a basis for utilizing the method in optimal control problems.

Study of. lambda. parameters and crossover phenomena in SU(N) x SU(N) sigma models in two dimensions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shigemitsu, J; Kogut, J B

1981-01-01

The spin system analogues of recent studies of the string tension and ..lambda.. parameters of SU(N) gauge theories in 4 dimensions are carried out for the SU(N) x SU(N) and O(N) models in 2 dimensions. The relations between the ..lambda.. parameters of both the Euclidean and Hamiltonian formulation of the lattice models and the ..lambda.. parameter of the continuum models are obtained. The one loop finite renormalization of the speed of light in the lattice Hamiltonian formulations of the O(N) and SU(N) x SU(N) models is calculated. Strong coupling calculations of the mass gaps of these spin models are donemore » for all N and the constants of proportionality between the gap and the ..lambda.. parameter of the continuum models are obtained. These results are contrasted with similar calculations for the SU(N) gauge models in 3+1 dimensions. Identifying suitable coupling constants for discussing the N ..-->.. infinity limits, the numerical results suggest that the crossover from weak to strong coupling in the lattice O(N) models becomes less abrupt as N increases while the crossover for the SU(N) x SU(N) models becomes more abrupt. The crossover in SU(N) gauge theories also becomes more abrupt with increasing N, however, at an even greater rate than in the SU(N) x SU(N) spin models.« less

Electromagnetic pulse-driven spin-dependent currents in semiconductor quantum rings.

PubMed

Zhu, Zhen-Gang; Berakdar, Jamal

2009-04-08

We investigate the non-equilibrium charge and spin-dependent currents in a quantum ring with a Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI) driven by two asymmetric picosecond electromagnetic pulses. The equilibrium persistent charge and persistent spin-dependent currents are investigated as well. It is shown that the dynamical charge and the dynamical spin-dependent currents vary smoothly with a static external magnetic flux and the SOI provides a SU(2) effective flux that changes the phases of the dynamic charge and the dynamic spin-dependent currents. The period of the oscillation of the total charge current with the delay time between the pulses is larger in a quantum ring with a larger radius. The parameters of the pulse fields control to a certain extent the total charge and the total spin-dependent currents. The calculations are applicable to nanometre rings fabricated in heterojunctions of III-V and II-VI semiconductors containing several hundreds of electrons.

The effect of damping on a quantum system containing a Kerr-like medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, A.-B. A.; Sebawe Abdalla, M.; Obada, A.-S. F.

2018-05-01

An analytical description is given for a model which represents the interaction between Su(1,1) and Su(2) quantum systems taking into account Su(1,1)-cavity damping and Kerr medium properties. The analytic solution for the master equation of the density matrix is obtained. The examination of the effects of the damping parameter as well as the Kerr-like medium features is performed. The atomic inversion is discussed where the revivals and collapses phenomenon is realized at the considered period of time. Our study is extended to include the degree of entanglement where the system shows partial entanglement in all cases, however, disentanglement is also observed. The death and rebirth is seen in the system provided one selects the suitable values of the parameters. The correlation function of the system shows non-classical as well as classical behavior.

Poisson structure on a space with linear SU(2) fuzziness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khorrami, Mohammad; Fatollahi, Amir H.; Shariati, Ahmad

2009-07-01

The Poisson structure is constructed for a model in which spatial coordinates of configuration space are noncommutative and satisfy the commutation relations of a Lie algebra. The case is specialized to that of the group SU(2), for which the counterpart of the angular momentum as well as the Euler parametrization of the phase space are introduced. SU(2)-invariant classical systems are discussed, and it is observed that the path of particle can be obtained by the solution of a first-order equation, as the case with such models on commutative spaces. The examples of free particle, rotationally invariant potentials, and specially the isotropic harmonic oscillator are investigated in more detail.

Phase space information in a non-linear quantum system containing a Kerr-like medium through Su(1, 1)-algebraic treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, Abdel-Baset A.

2018-05-01

Analytical description for a Su(2)-quantum system interacting with a damped Su(1, 1)-cavity, which is filled with a non-linear Kerr medium, is presented. The dynamics of non-classicality of Su(1, 1)-state is investigated via the negative part of the Wigner function. We show that the negative part depends on the unitary interaction and the Kerr-like medium and it can be disappeared by increasing the dissipation rate and the detuning parameter. The phase space information of the Husimi function and its Wehrl density is very sensitive not only to the coupling to the environment and the unitary interaction but also to the detuning as well as to the Kerr-like medium. The phase space information may be completely erased by increasing the coupling to the environment. The coherence loss of the Su(2)-state is investigated via the Husimi Wehrl entropy. If the effects of the detuning parameter or/and of the Kerr-like medium are combined with the damping effect, the damping effect of the coupling to the environment may be weaken, and the Wehrl entropy is delayed to reach its steady-state value. At the steady-state value, the phase space information and the coherence are quickly lost.

Unified gauge theories with right-handed currents and heavy fermions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mohapatra, R.N.

Gauge models with heavy fermions and right-handed currents are discussed based on the gauge groups SU(2)/subA/ x U(1) x SU(4) ', SU(2)/subA/ x SU(2)/subB/ x SU(4) ', and SU(4) x SU(4) ' and are constructed so as to lead to the $delta$I = 1/2 rule. SU(4) x SU(4) ' is advocated as the ultimate unifying gauge group of nature, and it is shown how at various stages of spontaneous breakdown both the SU(2)/subA/ x SU(2)/subB/ x SU(4) ' and SU(2)/subA/ x U(1) x SU(4) ' groups manifest themselves. It is also shown that CP violation takes an interesting complexion inmore » these models and leads to exactly the relations eta/sub +//sub -/ approx. = eta$sub 00$ in K/subL/ $Yields$ 2$pi$ decays. Furthermore, it is shown that the magnitude of CP violation is related to gauge interactions that violate the heavy quark degeneracy. (AIP)« less

Immune Responses to a Recombinant Glycoprotein E Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Adults Aged 50 Years or Older

PubMed Central

Cunningham, Anthony L; Heineman, Thomas C; Lal, Himal; Godeaux, Olivier; Chlibek, Roman; Hwang, Shinn-Jang; McElhaney, Janet E; Vesikari, Timo; Andrews, Charles; Choi, Won Suk; Esen, Meral; Ikematsu, Hideyuki; Choma, Martina Kovac; Pauksens, Karlis; Ravault, Stéphanie; Salaun, Bruno; Schwarz, Tino F; Smetana, Jan; Abeele, Carline Vanden; Van den Steen, Peter; Vastiau, Ilse; Weckx, Lily Yin; Levin, Myron J

2018-01-01

Abstract Background The herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su), consisting of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E (gE) and AS01B Adjuvant System, was highly efficacious in preventing herpes zoster in the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 trials. We present immunogenicity results from those trials. Methods Participants (ZOE-50: ≥50; ZOE-70: ≥70 years of age) received 2 doses of HZ/su or placebo, 2 months apart. Serum anti-gE antibodies and CD4 T cells expressing ≥2 of 4 activation markers assessed (CD42+) after stimulation with gE-peptides were measured in subcohorts for humoral (n = 3293) and cell-mediated (n = 466) immunogenicity. Results After vaccination, 97.8% of HZ/su and 2.0% of placebo recipients showed a humoral response. Geometric mean anti-gE antibody concentrations increased 39.1-fold and 8.3-fold over baseline in HZ/su recipients at 1 and 36 months post-dose 2, respectively. A gE-specific CD42+ T-cell response was shown in 93.3% of HZ/su and 0% of placebo recipients. Median CD42+ T-cell frequencies increased 24.6-fold (1 month) and 7.9-fold (36 months) over baseline in HZ/su recipients and remained ≥5.6-fold above baseline in all age groups at 36 months. The proportion of CD4 T cells expressing all 4 activation markers increased over time in all age groups. Conclusions Most HZ/su recipients developed robust immune responses persisting for 3 years following vaccination. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01165177; NCT01165229. PMID:29529222

Managing glycaemia in older people with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective, primary care-based cohort study, with economic assessment of patient outcomes.

PubMed

Gordon, Jason; McEwan, Phil; Evans, Marc; Puelles, Jorge; Sinclair, Alan

2017-05-01

To describe the relative health and economic outcomes associated with different second-line therapeutic approaches to manage glycaemia in older type 2 diabetes patients requiring escalation from metformin monotherapy. The Clinical Practice Research Datalink database was used to inform a retrospective observational cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin monotherapy requiring escalation (addition or switch) to a second-line oral regimen from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2014. Primary outcomes included time to first event (any event, myocardial infarction [MI], stroke, or composite of MI/stroke [major adverse cardiovascular event; MACE]) and total event rate. The health economic consequences associated with the choice of second-line treatment in older patients were assessed using the CORE Diabetes Model. A total of 10 484 patients were included; the majority escalated to second-line treatment with metformin + sulphonylurea (SU; 42%) or switched to SU monotherapy (28%). In multivariate adjusted analyses, total event rates for MACE with metformin + dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor were significantly lower than with metformin + SU (0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.98), driven by a lower MI rate in the metformin + DPP-4 inhibitor group (0.52, 95% CI 0.27-0.99). Economic analyses estimated that metformin + DPP-4 inhibitor treatment was associated with the largest gain in health benefit, and cost-effectiveness ratios were favourable (<£30 000 per quality-adjusted life-year) for all second-line treatment scenarios. With respect to treatment choice, data from the present study support the notion of prescribing beyond metformin + SU, as alternative regimens have been shown to be associated with reduced outcomes risk and value for money. © 2016 The Authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Weakly-interacting massive particles in non-supersymmetric SO(10) grand unified models

DOE PAGES

Nagata, Natsumi; Olive, Keith A.; Zheng, Jiaming

2015-10-28

Here, non-supersymmetric SO(10) grand unified theories provide a framework in which the stability of dark matter is explained while gauge coupling unification is realized. In this work, we systematically study this possibility by classifying weakly interacting dark matter candidates in terms of their quantum numbers of SU(2) L Ⓧ U(1) Y, B – L, and SU(2) R. We consider both scalar and fermion candidates. We show that the requirement of a sufficiently high unification scale to ensure a proton lifetime compatible with experimental constraints plays a strong role in selecting viable candidates. Among the scalar candidates originating from either amore » 16 or 144 of SO(10), only SU(2) L singlets with zero hypercharge or doublets with Y = 1/2 satisfy all constraints for SU(4) C Ⓧ SU(2) L Ⓧ SU(2) R and SU(3) C Ⓧ SU(2) L Ⓧ SU(2) R Ⓧ U(1) B–L intermediate scale gauge groups. Among fermion triplets with zero hypercharge, only a triplet in the 45 with intermediate group SU(4) C Ⓧ SU(2) L Ⓧ SU(2) R leads to solutions with M GUT > M int and a long proton lifetime. We find three models with weak doublets and Y = 1/2 as dark matter candidates for the SU(4) C Ⓧ SU(2) L Ⓧ SU(2) R and SU(4) C Ⓧ SU(2) L Ⓧ U(1) R intermediate scale gauge groups assuming a minimal Higgs content. We also discuss how these models may be tested at accelerators and in dark matter detection experiments.« less

Thermodynamic limit and boundary energy of the su(3) spin chain with non-diagonal boundary fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Fakai; Yang, Tao; Yang, Zhanying; Cao, Junpeng; Hao, Kun; Yang, Wen-Li

2017-02-01

We investigate the thermodynamic limit of the su (n)-invariant spin chain models with unparallel boundary fields. It is found that the contribution of the inhomogeneous term in the associated T-Q relation to the ground state energy does vanish in the thermodynamic limit. This fact allows us to calculate the boundary energy of the system. Taking the su (2) (or the XXX) spin chain and the su (3) spin chain as concrete examples, we have studied the corresponding boundary energies of the models. The method used in this paper can be generalized to study the thermodynamic properties and boundary energy of other high rank models with non-diagonal boundary fields.

An inductive narrow-pulse RFID telemetry system for gastric slow waves monitoring.

PubMed

Javan-Khoskholgh, Amir; Abukhalaf, Zaid; Ji Li; Miller, Larry S; Kiani, Mehdi; Farajidavar, Aydin

2016-08-01

We present a passive data telemetry system for real-time monitoring of gastric electrical activity of a living subject. The system is composed of three subsystems: an implantable unit (IU), a wearable unit (WU), and a stationary unit (SU). Data communication between the IU and WU is based on a radio-frequency identification (RFID) link operating at 13.56 MHz. Since wireless power transmission and reverse data telemetry system share the same inductive interface, a load shift keying (LSK)-based differential pulse position (DPP) coding data communication with only 6.25% duty cycle is developed to guarantee consistent wireless downlink power transmission and uplink high data transfer rate, simultaneously. The clock and data are encoded into one signal by an MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) at the IU side. This signal is sent to the WU through the inductive link, where decoded by an MSP432 MCU. Finally, the retrieved data at the WU are transmitted to the SU connected to a PC via a 2.4 GHz transceiver for real-time display and analysis. The results of the measurements on the implemented test bench, demonstrate IU-WU 125 kb/s and WU-SU 2 Mb/s data transmission rate with no observed mismatch, while the data stream was randomly generated, and matching between the transmitted data by the IU and received by the SU verified by a custom-made automated software.

Alternative [SU(3)]4 model of leptonic color and dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kownacki, Corey; Ma, Ernest; Pollard, Nicholas; Popov, Oleg; Zakeri, Mohammadreza

2018-03-01

The alternative [ SU (3) ] 4 model of leptonic color and dark matter is discussed. It unifies at MU ∼1014 GeV and has the low-energy subgroup SU(3)q × SU(2)l × SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)X with (u , h) R instead of (u , d) R as doublets under SU(2)R. It has the built-in global U (1) dark symmetry which is generalized B- L. In analogy to SU(3)q quark triplets, it has SU(2)l hemion doublets which have half-integral charges and are confined by SU(2)l gauge bosons (stickons). In analogy to quarkonia, their vector bound states (hemionia) are uniquely suited for exploration at a future e-e+ collider.

Designing Quantum Spin-Orbital Liquids in Artificial Mott Insulators

DOE PAGES

Dou, Xu; Kotov, Valeri N.; Uchoa, Bruno

2016-08-24

Quantum spin-orbital liquids are elusive strongly correlated states of matter that emerge from quantum frustration between spin and orbital degrees of freedom. A promising route towards the observation of those states is the creation of artificial Mott insulators where antiferromagnetic correlations between spins and orbitals can be designed. We show that Coulomb impurity lattices on the surface of gapped honeycomb substrates, such as graphene on SiC, can be used to simulate SU(4) symmetric spin-orbital lattice models. We exploit the property that massive Dirac fermions form mid-gap bound states with spin and valley degeneracies in the vicinity of a Coulomb impurity.more » Due to electronic repulsion, the antiferromagnetic correlations of the impurity lattice are driven by a super-exchange interaction with SU(4) symmetry, which emerges from the bound states degeneracy at quarter filling. We propose that quantum spin-orbital liquids can be engineered in artificially designed solid-state systems at vastly higher temperatures than achievable in optical lattices with cold atoms. Lastly, we discuss the experimental setup and possible scenarios for candidate quantum spin-liquids in Coulomb impurity lattices of various geometries.« less

Molecular characterization demonstrates that the Zea mays gene sugary2 codes for the starch synthase isoform SSIIa.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaoli; Colleoni, Christophe; Ratushna, Vlada; Sirghie-Colleoni, Mirella; James, Martha G; Myers, Alan M

2004-04-01

Mutations in the maize gene sugary2 ( su2 ) affect starch structure and its resultant physiochemical properties in useful ways, although the gene has not been characterized previously at the molecular level. This study tested the hypothesis that su2 codes for starch synthase IIa (SSIIa). Two independent mutations of the su2 locus, su2-2279 and su2-5178 , were identified in a Mutator -active maize population. The nucleotide sequence of the genomic locus that codes for SSIIa was compared between wild type plants and those homozygous for either novel mutation. Plants bearing su2-2279 invariably contained a Mutator transposon in exon 3 of the SSIIa gene, and su2-5178 mutants always contained a small retrotransposon-like insertion in exon 10. Six allelic su2 (-) mutations conditioned loss or reduction in abundance of the SSIIa protein detected by immunoblot. These data indicate that su2 codes for SSIIa and that deficiency in this isoform is ultimately responsible for the altered physiochemical properties of su2 (-) mutant starches. A specific starch synthase isoform among several identified in soluble endosperm extracts was absent in su2-2279 or su2-5178 mutants, indicating that SSIIa is active in the soluble phase during kernel development. The immediate structural effect of the su2 (-) mutations was shown to be increased abundance of short glucan chains in amylopectin and a proportional decrease in intermediate length chains, similar to the effects of SSII deficiency in other species.

Immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety of 2 doses of an adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine administered 2, 6 or 12 months apart in older adults: Results of a phase III, randomized, open-label, multicenter study.

PubMed

Lal, Himal; Poder, Airi; Campora, Laura; Geeraerts, Brecht; Oostvogels, Lidia; Vanden Abeele, Carline; Heineman, Thomas C

2018-01-02

In phase III trials, 2 doses of a herpes zoster (HZ) subunit vaccine (HZ/su; 50 µg varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E [gE] and AS01 B Adjuvant System) administered 2-months apart in older adults (≥50 and ≥70 years) demonstrated >90% efficacy in preventing HZ and had a clinically acceptable safety profile. Here we report immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety following administration of 2 HZ/su doses at intervals longer than 2 months. In this Phase III, open-label trial conducted in the US and Estonia, 354 adults ≥50 years were randomized 1:1:1 to receive 2 HZ/su doses 2, 6, or 12 months apart. gE-specific humoral immune responses were evaluated at pre-vaccination, 1 and 12 months post-dose 2. Co-primary objectives were to compare immune responses to HZ/su 1 month post-dose 2 when given 6-months or 12-months apart to those administered 2-months apart. For each participant, safety information was collected from dose 1 to 12 months post-dose 2. 346 participants completed the study and 343 were included in the according-to-protocol cohort for immunogenicity. One month post-dose 2, vaccine response rates were 96.5% (97.5% confidence interval [CI]: 90.4; 99.2) and 94.5% (97.5% CI: 87.6; 98.3) for the 0, 6- and 0, 12-month schedules, respectively, both schedules meeting the pre-defined criterion. Non-inferiority of anti-gE geometric mean concentrations was demonstrated for HZ/su administered on 0, 6-month compared to a 0, 2-month schedule; however, HZ/su administered on a 0, 12-month schedule did not meet the non-inferiority criterion. Injection site pain was the most commonly reported solicited adverse event (AE). 26 participants each reported at least 1 serious AE; none were assessed as related to vaccination. Immune responses to HZ/su administered at 0, 6-month were non-inferior to those elicited by a 0, 2-month schedule. HZ/su exhibited a clinically acceptable safety profile for all dosing intervals. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01751165). Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Phase I Study of SU5416, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR) in Refractory Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors

PubMed Central

Kieran, Mark W.; Supko, Jeffrey G.; Wallace, Dana; Fruscio, Robert; Poussaint, Tina Young; Phillips, Peter; Pollack, Ian; Packer, Roger; Boyett, James M.; Blaney, Susan; Prados, Michael; Geyer, Russ; Friedman, Henry; Goldman, Stewart; Kun, Larry E.; MacDonald, Tobey

2009-01-01

SU5416 is a novel small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the VEGF receptors 1 and 2. A phase I dose escalation study stratified by concurrent use (stratum II) or absence (Stratum I) of enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant drugs was undertaken to estimate the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and to describe the toxicity profile of SU5416 in pediatric patients with refractory brain tumors. Dose escalations were conducted independently for stratum I starting at 110mg/m2 while stratum II started at 48mg/m2. Thirty-three eligible patients were treated on stratum I (n=23) and stratum II (n=10). Tumor types included 23 glial tumors, 4 neural tumors, 4 ependymomas and 2 choroid plexus carcinomas. The MTD in Stratum I was initially estimated to be 110mg/m2. The protocol was amended to determine the MTD after excluding transient AST elevation. Re-estimation of the MTD began at the 145mg/m2 dose level but due to development of SU5416 being stopped by the sponsor, the trial was closed before completion. The most serious drug-related toxicities were grade 3 liver enzyme abnormalities, arthralgia and hallucinations. The plasma pharmacokinetics of SU5416 was not significantly affected by the concurrent administration of enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant drugs. Mean values of the total body clearance, apparent volume of distribution, and terminal phase half-life of SU5416 for the 19 patients in Stratum I were 26.1 ± 12.5 liter/h/m2, 41.9 ± 21.4 liter/m2, and 1.11 ± 0.41 h, respectively. The plasma pharmacokinetics of SU5416 in children was similar to previously reported findings in adult cancer patients. Prolonged disease stabilization was observed in 4 of 16 stratum 1 patients. PMID:19065567

Structural Health Monitoring for Heterogeneous Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-30

composites, The 2 present work concentrates on the applicability of the MPD teclmnique to extract some feature components of "multiple-harmonic...actuator and sensor transfer finctions, rcspectivcly. The parameter CaI) is thc attenuation coefficieint at excitation frequency (Q and RAS is the...an cquilatcral triangle with a spacing of v0- R, and thc angles (t’,B6,Y) equal ton’/ 3 . 8 ag ID Is 20 25 Fig 2: L.:+ Su,,su, .....g distributio. Fig

A consistent model for leptogenesis, dark matter and the IceCube signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiorentin, M. Re; Niro, V.; Fornengo, N.

2016-11-01

We discuss a left-right symmetric extension of the Standard Model in which the three additional right-handed neutrinos play a central role in explaining the baryon asymmetry of the Universe, the dark matter abundance and the ultra energetic signal detected by the IceCube experiment. The energy spectrum and neutrino flux measured by IceCube are ascribed to the decays of the lightest right-handed neutrino N 1, thus fixing its mass and lifetime, while the production of N 1 in the primordial thermal bath occurs via a freeze-in mechanism driven by the additional SU(2) R interactions. The constraints imposed by IceCube and the dark matter abundance allow nonetheless the heavier right-handed neutrinos to realize a standard type-I seesaw leptogenesis, with the B - L asymmetry dominantly produced by the next-to-lightest neutrino N 2. Further consequences and predictions of the model are that: the N 1 production implies a specific power-law relation between the reheating temperature of the Universe and the vacuum expectation value of the SU(2) R triplet; leptogenesis imposes a lower bound on the reheating temperature of the Universe at 7 × 109 GeV. Additionally, the model requires a vanishing absolute neutrino mass scale m 1 ≃ 0.

The effect of losses on the quantum-noise cancellation in the SU(1,1) interferometer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xin, Jun; Wang, Hailong; Jing, Jietai, E-mail: jtjing@phy.ecnu.edu.cn

Quantum-noise cancellation (QNC) is an effective method to control the noise of the quantum system, which reduces or even eliminates the noise of the quantum systems by utilizing destructive interference in the quantum system. However, QNC can be extremely dependent on the losses inside the system. In this letter, we experimentally and theoretically study how the losses can affect the QNC in the SU(1,1) interferometer. We find that losses in the different arms inside the SU(1,1) interferometer can have different effects on the QNC in the output fields from the SU(1,1) interferometer. And the QNC in the SU(1,1) interferometer canmore » almost be insensitive to the losses in some cases. Our findings may find its potential applications in the quantum noise control.« less

Self-assembly of thin, triangular prisms into open networks at a flat air-water interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solomon, Michael; Ferrar, Joseph; Bedi, Deshpreet; Zhou, Shangnan; Mao, Xiaoming

We observe capillary-driven binding between thin, equilateral triangle microprisms at a flat air-water interface. The triangles are fabricated from epoxy resin via SU-8 photolithography. For small thickness to length (T/L) ratios, two distinct pairwise particle-particle binding events occur with roughly equal frequency, and optical and environmental scanning electron microscopy (eSEM) demonstrate that these two distinct binding events are driven by the specific manner in which the interface is pinned to the particle surface. Additionally, particle bending is observed for the lowest T/L ratios, which leads to enhanced interface curvature and thus enhanced strength of capillary-driven attractions, and may also play a pivotal role in the dichotomy in particle-particle binding. Dichotomy in particle-particle binding is not observed at thicker T/L ratios, although capillary-driven binding still occurs. Ultimately, the particles self-assemble into space-spanning open networks, and the results suggest design parameters for the fabrication of building blocks of ordered open structures, such as the Kagome lattice.

Generalized spin-wave theory: Application to the bilinear-biquadratic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muniz, Rodrigo A.; Kato, Yasuyuki; Batista, Cristian D.

2014-08-01

We present a mathematical framework for the multi-boson approach that has been used several times for treating spin systems. We demonstrate that the multi-boson approach corresponds to a generalization of the traditional spin-wave theory from SU(2) to SU(N), where N is the number of states of the local degree of freedom. Low-energy excitations are waves of the local order parameter that fluctuates in the SU(N) space of unitary transformations of the local spin states, instead of the SU(2) space of local spin rotations. Since the generators of the SU(N) group can be represented as bilinear forms in N-flavored bosons, the low-energy modes of the generalized spin-wave theory (GSWT) are described with N-1 different bosons, which provide a more accurate description of low-energy excitations even for the usual ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases. The generalization enables the treatment of quantum spin systems whose ground states exhibit multipolar ordering as well as the detection of instabilities of magnetically ordered states (dipolar ordering) towards higher multipolar orderings. We illustrate the advantages of the GSWT by applying it to a bilinear-biquadratic model of arbitrary spin S on hypercubic lattices, and then analyzing the spectrum of dipolar phases in order to find their instabilities. In contrast to the known results for S=1 when the biquadratic term in the Hamiltonian is negative, we find that there is no nematic phase between the ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic orderings for S>1.

Resonant Interaction, Approximate Symmetry, and Electromagnetic Interaction (EMI) in Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chubb, Scott

2007-03-01

Only recently (talk by P.A. Mosier-Boss et al, in this session) has it become possible to trigger high energy particle emission and Excess Heat, on demand, in LENR involving PdD. Also, most nuclear physicists are bothered by the fact that the dominant reaction appears to be related to the least common deuteron(d) fusion reaction,d+d ->α+γ. A clear consensus about the underlying effect has also been illusive. One reason for this involves confusion about the approximate (SU2) symmetry: The fact that all d-d fusion reactions conserve isospin has been widely assumed to mean the dynamics is driven by the strong force interaction (SFI), NOT EMI. Thus, most nuclear physicists assume: 1. EMI is static; 2. Dominant reactions have smallest changes in incident kinetic energy (T); and (because of 2), d+d ->α+γ is suppressed. But this assumes a stronger form of SU2 symmetry than is present; d+d ->α+γ reactions are suppressed not because of large changes in T but because the interaction potential involves EMI, is dynamic (not static), the SFI is static, and because the two incident deuterons must have approximate Bose Exchange symmetry and vanishing spin. A generalization of this idea involves a resonant form of reaction, similar to the de-excitation of an atom. These and related (broken gauge) symmetry EMI effects on LENR are discussed.

Photo-driven nanoactuators based on carbon nanocoils and vanadium dioxide bimorphs.

PubMed

Ma, He; Zhang, Xinping; Cui, Ruixue; Liu, Feifei; Wang, Meng; Huang, Cuiying; Hou, Jiwei; Wang, Guang; Wei, Yang; Jiang, Kaili; Pan, Lujun; Liu, Kai

2018-06-06

Photo-driven actuators are highly desirable in various smart systems owing to the advantages of wireless control and possible actuation by solar energy. Miniaturization of photo-driven actuators is particularly essential in micro-robotics and micro-/nano-electro-mechanical systems. However, it remains a great challenge to build up nano-scale photo-driven actuators with competitive performance in amplitude, response speed, and lifetime. In this work, we developed photo-driven nanoactuators based on bimorph structures of vanadium dioxides (VO2) and carbon nanocoils (CNCs). Activated by the huge structural phase transition of VO2, the photo-driven VO2/CNC nanoactuators deliver a giant amplitude, a fast response up to 9400 Hz, and a long lifetime more than 10 000 000 actuation cycles. Both experimental and simulation results show that the helical structure of CNCs enables a low photo-driven threshold of VO2/CNC nanoactuators, which provides an effective method to construct photo-driven nanoactuators with low power consumption. Our photo-driven VO2/CNC nanoactuators would find potential applications in nano-scale electrical/optical switches and other smart devices.

[SU(2)]3 dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Ernest

2018-05-01

An extra SU(2)D gauge factor is added to the well-known left-right extension of the standard model (SM) of quarks and leptons. Under SU(2)L × SU(2)R × SU(2)D, two fermion bidoublets (2 , 1 , 2) and (1 , 2 , 2) are assumed. The resulting model has an automatic dark U (1) symmetry, in the same way that the SM has automatic baryon and lepton U (1) symmetries. Phenomenological implications are discussed, as well as the possible theoretical origins of this proposal.

Classical stability of M/sup p/qr, Q/sup p/qr, and N/sup p/qr in d = 11 supergravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yasuda, O.

1984-09-24

We investigate the classical stability of Freund-Rubin--type solutions M/sup p/qr (SU(3) x SU(2) x U(1)/SU(2) x U(1) x U(1)), Q/sup p/qr (SU(2) x SU(2) x SU(2)/U(1) x U(1)), and N/sup p/qr (SU(3) x U(1)/U(1) x U(1)) against relative dilatations between the coset directions. It is shown that M/sup p/qr is stable only for (98/243)< or =p/sup 2//q/sup 2/< or =(6358/ 4563), Q/sup p/qr is stable only for a certain region of p/sup 2//r/sup 2/ and q/sup 2//r/sup 2/, while N/sup p/qr is stable for any p/sup 2//q/sup 2/ against these small fluctuations.

Dark revelations of the [SU(3)]3 and [SU(3)]4 gauge extensions of the standard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kownacki, Corey; Ma, Ernest; Pollard, Nicholas; Popov, Oleg; Zakeri, Mohammadreza

2018-02-01

Two theoretically well-motivated gauge extensions of the standard model are SU(3)C × SU(3)L × SU(3)R and SU(3)q × SU(3)L × SU(3)l × SU(3)R, where SU(3)q is the same as SU(3)C and SU(3)l is its color leptonic counterpart. Each has three variations, according to how SU(3)R is broken. It is shown here for the first time that a built-in dark U(1)D gauge symmetry exists in all six versions. However, the corresponding symmetry breaking pattern does not reduce properly to that of the standard model, unless an additional Z2‧ symmetry is defined, so that U(1)D ×Z2‧ is broken to Z2 dark parity. The available dark matter candidates in each case include fermions, scalars, as well as vector gauge bosons. This work points to the possible unity of matter with dark matter, the origin of which may not be ad hoc.

'The surface management system' (SuMS) database: a surface-based database to aid cortical surface reconstruction, visualization and analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dickson, J.; Drury, H.; Van Essen, D. C.

2001-01-01

Surface reconstructions of the cerebral cortex are increasingly widely used in the analysis and visualization of cortical structure, function and connectivity. From a neuroinformatics perspective, dealing with surface-related data poses a number of challenges. These include the multiplicity of configurations in which surfaces are routinely viewed (e.g. inflated maps, spheres and flat maps), plus the diversity of experimental data that can be represented on any given surface. To address these challenges, we have developed a surface management system (SuMS) that allows automated storage and retrieval of complex surface-related datasets. SuMS provides a systematic framework for the classification, storage and retrieval of many types of surface-related data and associated volume data. Within this classification framework, it serves as a version-control system capable of handling large numbers of surface and volume datasets. With built-in database management system support, SuMS provides rapid search and retrieval capabilities across all the datasets, while also incorporating multiple security levels to regulate access. SuMS is implemented in Java and can be accessed via a Web interface (WebSuMS) or using downloaded client software. Thus, SuMS is well positioned to act as a multiplatform, multi-user 'surface request broker' for the neuroscience community.

Leptogenesis from Left-Handed Neutrino Production during Axion Inflation.

PubMed

Adshead, Peter; Sfakianakis, Evangelos I

2016-03-04

We propose that the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry can be naturally produced as a by-product of axion-driven slow-roll inflation by coupling the axion to standard model neutrinos. We assume that grand unified theory scale right-handed neutrinos are responsible for the masses of the standard model neutrinos and that the Higgs field is light during inflation and develops a Hubble-scale root-mean-square value. In this setup, the rolling axion generates a helicity asymmetry in standard model neutrinos. Following inflation, this helicity asymmetry becomes equal to a net lepton number as the Higgs condensate decays and is partially reprocessed by the SU(2)_{L} sphaleron into a net baryon number.

Runge-Lenz vector, accidental SU(2) symmetry, and unusual multiplets for motion on a cone

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Al-Hashimi, M.H.; Wiese, U.-J.

2008-01-15

We consider a particle moving on a cone and bound to its tip by 1/r or harmonic oscillator potentials. When the deficit angle of the cone divided by 2{pi} is a rational number, all bound classical orbits are closed. Correspondingly, the quantum system has accidental degeneracies in the discrete energy spectrum. An accidental SU(2) symmetry is generated by the rotations around the tip of the cone as well as by a Runge-Lenz vector. Remarkably, some of the corresponding multiplets have fractional 'spin' and unusual degeneracies.

Nonequilibrium Phase Transitions and a Nonequilibrium Critical Point from Anti-de Sitter Space and Conformal Field Theory Correspondence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Shin

2012-09-01

We find novel phase transitions and critical phenomena that occur only outside the linear-response regime of current-driven nonequilibrium states. We consider the strongly interacting (3+1)-dimensional N=4 large-Nc SU(Nc) supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with a single flavor of fundamental N=2 hypermultiplet as a microscopic theory. We compute its nonlinear nonballistic quark-charge conductivity by using the AdS/CFT correspondence. We find that the system exhibits a novel nonequilibrium first-order phase transition where the conductivity jumps and the sign of the differential conductivity flips at finite current density. A nonequilibrium critical point is discovered at the end point of the first-order regime. We propose a nonequilibrium steady-state analogue of thermodynamic potential in terms of the gravity-dual theory in order to define the transition point. Nonequilibrium analogues of critical exponents are proposed as well. The critical behavior of the conductivity is numerically confirmed on the basis of these proposals. The present work provides a new example of nonequilibrium phase transitions and nonequilibrium critical points.

Quantum spaces, central extensions of Lie groups and related quantum field theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poulain, Timothé; Wallet, Jean-Christophe

2018-02-01

Quantum spaces with su(2) noncommutativity can be modelled by using a family of SO(3)-equivariant differential *-representations. The quantization maps are determined from the combination of the Wigner theorem for SU(2) with the polar decomposition of the quantized plane waves. A tracial star-product, equivalent to the Kontsevich product for the Poisson manifold dual to su(2) is obtained from a subfamily of differential *-representations. Noncommutative (scalar) field theories free from UV/IR mixing and whose commutative limit coincides with the usual ϕ 4 theory on ℛ3 are presented. A generalization of the construction to semi-simple possibly non simply connected Lie groups based on their central extensions by suitable abelian Lie groups is discussed. Based on a talk presented by Poulain T at the XXVth International Conference on Integrable Systems and Quantum symmetries (ISQS-25), Prague, June 6-10 2017.

Projected Entangled Pair States with non-Abelian gauge symmetries: An SU(2) study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zohar, Erez, E-mail: erez.zohar@mpq.mpg.de; Wahl, Thorsten B.; Burrello, Michele, E-mail: michele.burrello@mpq.mpg.de

Over the last years, Projected Entangled Pair States have demonstrated great power for the study of many body systems, as they naturally describe ground states of gapped many body Hamiltonians, and suggest a constructive way to encode and classify their symmetries. The PEPS study is not only limited to global symmetries, but has also been extended and applied for local symmetries, allowing to use them for the description of states in lattice gauge theories. In this paper we discuss PEPS with a local, SU(2) gauge symmetry, and demonstrate the use of PEPS features and techniques for the study of amore » simple family of many body states with a non-Abelian gauge symmetry. We present, in particular, the construction of fermionic PEPS able to describe both two-color fermionic matter and the degrees of freedom of an SU(2) gauge field with a suitable truncation.« less

Effects of Residual Solvent Molecules Facilitating the Infiltration Synthesis of ZnO in a Nonreactive Polymer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ye, Xinyi; Kestell, John; Kisslinger, Kim

Infiltration synthesis, the atomic-layer-deposition-based organic–inorganic material hybridization technique that enables unique hybrid composites with improved material properties and inorganic nanostructures replicated from polymer templates, is shown to be driven by the binding reaction between reactive chemical groups of polymers and perfusing vapor-phase material precursors. Here in this paper, we discover that residual solvent molecules from polymer processing can react with infiltrating material precursors to enable the infiltration synthesis of metal oxides in a nonreactive polymer. The systematic study, which combines in situ quartz crystal microgravimetry, polarization-modulated infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, shows that the ZnOmore » infiltration synthesis in nominally nonreactive SU-8 polymer is mediated by residual processing solvent cyclopentanone, a cyclic ketone whose Lewis-basic terminal carbonyl group can react with the infiltrating Lewis-acidic Zn precursor diethylzinc (DEZ). In addition, we find favorable roles of residual epoxy rings in the SU-8 film in further assisting the infiltration synthesis of ZnO. Lastly, the discovered rationale not only improves the understanding of infiltration synthesis mechanism, but also potentially expands its application to more diverse polymer systems for the generation of unique functional organic–inorganic hybrids and inorganic nanostructures.« less

Effects of Residual Solvent Molecules Facilitating the Infiltration Synthesis of ZnO in a Nonreactive Polymer

DOE PAGES

Ye, Xinyi; Kestell, John; Kisslinger, Kim; ...

2017-05-04

Infiltration synthesis, the atomic-layer-deposition-based organic–inorganic material hybridization technique that enables unique hybrid composites with improved material properties and inorganic nanostructures replicated from polymer templates, is shown to be driven by the binding reaction between reactive chemical groups of polymers and perfusing vapor-phase material precursors. Here in this paper, we discover that residual solvent molecules from polymer processing can react with infiltrating material precursors to enable the infiltration synthesis of metal oxides in a nonreactive polymer. The systematic study, which combines in situ quartz crystal microgravimetry, polarization-modulated infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, shows that the ZnOmore » infiltration synthesis in nominally nonreactive SU-8 polymer is mediated by residual processing solvent cyclopentanone, a cyclic ketone whose Lewis-basic terminal carbonyl group can react with the infiltrating Lewis-acidic Zn precursor diethylzinc (DEZ). In addition, we find favorable roles of residual epoxy rings in the SU-8 film in further assisting the infiltration synthesis of ZnO. Lastly, the discovered rationale not only improves the understanding of infiltration synthesis mechanism, but also potentially expands its application to more diverse polymer systems for the generation of unique functional organic–inorganic hybrids and inorganic nanostructures.« less

Time-reversal-based SU(2)× Sn scalar invariants as (Lie Algebraic) group measures: a structured overview of generalised democratic-recoupled, uniform non-Abelian [ AX] n NMR spin systems, as abstract Sn⊃ Sn-1../U n⊃U n-1.. chain networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Temme, F. P.

2004-03-01

The physics of dual group scalar invariants (SIs) as (Lie algebraic) group measures (L-GMs) and its significance to non-Abelian NMR spin systems motivates this overview of uniform general-2 n [ AX] 2 n spin evolution, which represents an extensive addendum to Corio's earlier (essentially restricted) view of Abelian spin system SU(2)-based SI-cardinalities. The |D 0( U)|((⊗SU(2)) (2n))|SI| values in [J. Magn. Reson., 134 (1998) 131] arise from strictly linear recoupled time-reversal invariance (TRI) models. In contrast, here we discuss the physical significance of an alternative polyhedral combinatorics approach to democratic recoupling (DR), a property inherent in both the TRI and statistical sampling. Recognition of spin ensemble SIs as being L-GMs over isomorphic algebras is invaluable in many DR-based NMR problems. Various [ AX] n model spin systems, including the [ AX] 3bis odd-odd parity spin system, are examined as direct applications of these L-GM- and combinatorial-based SI ideas. Hence in place of | SI|=15 (implied by Corio's | D0|((⊗ SU(2)) 2 n) approach), the bis 3-fold spin system cardinality is seen now as constrained to a single invariant on an isomorphic product algebra under L-GMs, in accord with the subspectral analysis of Jones et al. [Canad. J. Chem., 43 (1965) 683]. The group projective ideas cited here for DR (as cf. to graph theoretic views) apply to highly degenerate non-Abelian problems. Over dual tensorial bases, they define models of spin dynamical evolution whose (SR) quasiparticle superboson carrier (sub)spaces are characterised by SIs acting as explicit auxiliary labels [Physica, A198 (1993) 245; J. Math. Chem., 31 (2002) 281]. A deeper S2n network-based view of spin-alone space developed in Balasubramanian's work [J. Chem. Phys., 78 (1983) 6358] is especially important, (e.g.) in the study of spin waves [J. Math. Chem., 31 (2002) 363]. Beyond the specific NMR SIs derived here, there are DR applications where a sporadic, still higher, 2 n-fold regular uniform spin ensemble exhibits a topological FG duality to some known modest | SI| (2 i<2 n) cardinality—in principle providing for the (sparce) existence of other | SI| (2 n) DR-based values.

Immunogenicity and Safety of an Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Subunit Vaccine Coadministered With Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Adults Aged 50 Years or Older.

PubMed

Schwarz, Tino F; Aggarwal, Naresh; Moeckesch, Beate; Schenkenberger, Isabelle; Claeys, Carine; Douha, Martine; Godeaux, Olivier; Grupping, Katrijn; Heineman, Thomas C; Fauqued, Marta Lopez; Oostvogels, Lidia; Van den Steen, Peter; Lal, Himal

2017-12-12

The immunogenicity and safety of an adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit (HZ/su) vaccine when coadministered with a quadrivalent seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4) was investigated in a phase 3, open-label, randomized clinical trial in adults aged ≥50 years. Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive either HZ/su (varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E; AS01B Adjuvant System) and IIV4 at day 0 followed by a second HZ/su dose at month 2 (coadministration group), or IIV4 at month 0 and HZ/su at months 2 and 4 (control group). The primary objectives were the HZ/su vaccine response rate in the coadministration group and the noninferiority of the antibody responses to HZ/su and IIV4 in the coadministration compared with the control group. Safety information was collected throughout the duration of the study. A total of 413 subjects were vaccinated in the coadministration group and 415 in the control group. The HZ/su vaccine response rate in the coadministration group was 95.8% (95% confidence interval, 93.3%-97.6%) and the anti-glycoprotein E GMCControl/Coadmin ratio was 1.08 (.97-1.20). The primary noninferiority objectives were met. No safety concerns were observed. No interference in the immune responses to either vaccine was observed when the vaccines were coadministered, and no safety concerns were identified. NCT01954251. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Self-duality of the compactified Ruijsenaars-Schneider system from quasi-Hamiltonian reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fehér, L.; Klimčík, C.

2012-07-01

The Delzant theorem of symplectic topology is used to derive the completely integrable compactified Ruijsenaars-Schneider IIIb system from a quasi-Hamiltonian reduction of the internally fused double SU(n)×SU(n). In particular, the reduced spectral functions depending respectively on the first and second SU(n) factor of the double engender two toric moment maps on the IIIb phase space CP(n-1) that play the roles of action-variables and particle-positions. A suitable central extension of the SL(2,Z) mapping class group of the torus with one boundary component is shown to act on the quasi-Hamiltonian double by automorphisms and, upon reduction, the standard generator S of the mapping class group is proved to descend to the Ruijsenaars self-duality symplectomorphism that exchanges the toric moment maps. We give also two new presentations of this duality map: one as the composition of two Delzant symplectomorphisms and the other as the composition of three Dehn twist symplectomorphisms realized by Goldman twist flows. Through the well-known relation between quasi-Hamiltonian manifolds and moduli spaces, our results rigorously establish the validity of the interpretation [going back to Gorsky and Nekrasov] of the IIIb system in terms of flat SU(n) connections on the one-holed torus.

Shock Wave Therapy Enhances Angiogenesis through VEGFR2 Activation and Recycling

PubMed Central

Huang, Tien-Hung; Sun, Cheuk-Kwan; Chen, Yi-Ling; Wang, Ching-Jen; Yin, Tsung-Cheng; Lee, Mel S; Yip, Hon-Kan

2016-01-01

Although low-energy shock wave (SW) is adopted to treat ischemic diseases because of its pro-angiogenic properties, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study is aimed at testing whether SW-induced angiogenesis may be through endothelial vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling and trafficking. Phosphorylation of VEGFR2- Akt-eNOS axis and production of nitric oxide (NO) were determined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with SW. Carotid artery in ob/ob mice was treated with SW before evaluation with sprouting assay. Critical limb ischemia was induced in ob/ob mice to evaluate blood flow recovery post-SW treatment. Tube formation and migration assays were also performed with/without SW treatment in the presence/absence of SU5416 (VEGFR2 kinase inhibitor) and siRNA-driven silencing of VEGFR2. Chloroquine was used for disrupting endosome, and Rab11a controlling slow endocytic recycling was silenced with siRNA in vitro. Following SW treatment, augmented ligand-independent phosphorylation in VEGFR2-Akt-eNOS axis and endogenous NO production, increased cellular migration and tube formation and elevated sprouting of carotid artery and blood flow in ischemic limb in ob/ob mice were noted. Moreover, SU5416 and VEGFR2 silencing both inhibited SW-induced angiogenesis. SW-induced angiogenesis, accompanied by increased VEGFR2 protein expression without transcriptional change, was suppressed by chloroquine and Rab11a silencing. We concluded that SW enhanced angiogenesis via ligand-independent activation of VEGFR2 and further prolonged angiogenesis through endosome-to-plasma membrane recycling in endothelial cells. PMID:27925633

"¡Cocinar Para Su Salud!" Development of a Culturally Based Nutrition Education Curriculum for Hispanic Breast Cancer Survivors Using a Theory-Driven Procedural Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aycinena, Ana Corina; Jennings, Kerri-Ann; Gaffney, Ann Ogden; Koch, Pamela A.; Contento, Isobel R.; Gonzalez, Monica; Guidon, Ela; Karmally, Wahida; Hershman, Dawn; Greenlee, Heather

2017-01-01

We developed a theory-based dietary change curriculum for Hispanic breast cancer survivors with the goal of testing the effects of the intervention on change in dietary intake of fruits/vegetables and fat in a randomized, clinical trial. Social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model were used as theoretical frameworks to structure…

SU-F-T-41: 3D MTP-TRUS for Prostate Implant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yan, P

Purpose: Prostate brachytherapy is an effective treatment for early prostate cancer. The current prostate implant is limited to using 2D transrectal ultrassound (TRUS) or machenical motor driven 2D array either in the end or on the side. Real-time 3D images can improve the accuracy of the guidance of prostate implant. The concept of our system is to allow realtime full visualization of the entire prostate with the multiple transverse scan. Methods: The prototype of 3D Multiple-Transverse-Plane Transrectal Ultrasound probe (MTP-TRUS) has been designed by us and manufactured by Blatek inc. It has 7 convex linear arrays and each array hasmore » 96 elements. It is connected to cQuest Fire bird research system (Cephasonics inc.) which is a flexible and configurable ultrasound-development platform. The size of cQuest Firebird system is compact and supports the real-time wireless image transferring. A relay based mux board is designed for the cQuest Firebird system to be able to connect 672 elements. Results: The center frequency of probe is 6MHz±10%. The diameter of probe is 3cm and the length is 20cm. The element pitch is 0.205 mm. Array focus is 30mm and spacing 1.6cm. The beam data for each array was measured and met our expectation. The interface board of MTP-TURS is made and able to connect to cQuest Firebird system. The image display interface is still under the development. Our real-time needle tracking algorithm will be implemented too. Conclusion: Our MTP-TRUS system for prostate implant will be able to acquire real-time 3D images of prostate and do the real-time needle segmentation and tracking. The system is compact and have wireless function.« less

The insulator protein Suppressor of Hairy-wing is an essential transcriptional repressor in the Drosophila ovary.

PubMed

Soshnev, Alexey A; Baxley, Ryan M; Manak, J Robert; Tan, Kai; Geyer, Pamela K

2013-09-01

Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] is a DNA-binding factor required for gypsy insulator function and female germline development in Drosophila. The insulator function of the gypsy retrotransposon depends on Su(Hw) binding to clustered Su(Hw) binding sites (SBSs) and recruitment of the insulator proteins Centrosomal Protein 190 kD (CP190) and Modifier of mdg4 67.2 kD (Mod67.2). By contrast, the Su(Hw) germline function involves binding to non-clustered SBSs and does not require CP190 or Mod67.2. Here, we identify Su(Hw) target genes, using genome-wide analyses in the ovary to uncover genes with an ovary-bound SBS that are misregulated upon Su(Hw) loss. Most Su(Hw) target genes demonstrate enriched expression in the wild-type CNS. Loss of Su(Hw) leads to increased expression of these CNS-enriched target genes in the ovary and other tissues, suggesting that Su(Hw) is a repressor of neural genes in non-neural tissues. Among the Su(Hw) target genes is RNA-binding protein 9 (Rbp9), a member of the ELAV/Hu gene family. Su(Hw) regulation of Rbp9 appears to be insulator independent, as Rbp9 expression is unchanged in a genetic background that compromises the functions of the CP190 and Mod67.2 insulator proteins, even though both localize to Rbp9 SBSs. Rbp9 misregulation is central to su(Hw)(-/-) sterility, as Rbp9(+/-), su(Hw)(-/-) females are fertile. Eggs produced by Rbp9(+/-), su(Hw)(-/-) females show patterning defects, revealing a somatic requirement for Su(Hw) in the ovary. Our studies demonstrate that Su(Hw) is a versatile transcriptional regulatory protein with an essential developmental function involving transcriptional repression.

Customer-Driven Reliability Models for Multistate Coherent Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

AENCYUSEONLY(Leae bank)2. RPO- COVERED 1 11992DISSERTATION 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Customer -Driven Reliability Models For Multistate Coherent...UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE CUSTOMER -DRIVEN RELIABILITY MODELS FOR MULTISTATE COHERENT SYSTEMS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY...BOEDIGHEIMER I Norman, Oklahoma Distribution/ Av~ilability Codes 1992 A vil andior Dist Special CUSTOMER -DRIVEN RELIABILITY MODELS FOR MULTISTATE

Magnetic expansion of Nekrasov theory: The SU(2) pure gauge theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

He Wei; Miao Yangang

It is recently claimed by Nekrasov and Shatashvili that the N=2 gauge theories in the {Omega} background with {epsilon}{sub 1}=({h_bar}/2{pi}), {epsilon}{sub 2}=0 are related to the quantization of certain algebraic integrable systems. We study the special case of SU(2) pure gauge theory; the corresponding integrable model is the A{sub 1} Toda model, which reduces to the sine-Gordon quantum mechanics problem. The quantum effects can be expressed as the WKB series written analytically in terms of hypergeometric functions. We obtain the magnetic and dyonic expansions of the Nekrasov theory by studying the property of hypergeometric functions in the magnetic and dyonicmore » regions on the moduli space. We also discuss the relation between the electric-magnetic duality of gauge theory and the action-action duality of the integrable system.« less

Sperm Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activity: A preliminary study of comparison of swim up and density gradient centrifugation methods for sperm preparation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lestari, Silvia W.; Larasati, Manggiasih D.; Asmarinah, Mansur, Indra G.

2018-02-01

As one of the treatment for infertility, the success rate of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is still relatively low. Several sperm preparation methods, swim-up (SU) and the density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) are frequently used to select for better sperm quality which also contribute to IUI failure. Sperm selection methods mainly separate the motile from the immotile sperm, eliminating the seminal plasma. The sperm motility involves the structure and function of sperm membrane in maintaining the balance of ion transport system which is regulated by the Na+, K+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase enzymes. This study aims to re-evaluate the efficiency of these methods in selecting for sperm before being used for IUI and based the evaluation on sperm Na+,K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities. Fourteen infertile men from couples who underwent IUI were involved in this study. The SU and DGC methods were used for the sperm preparation. Semen analysis was performed based on the reference value of World Health Organization (WHO) 2010. After isolating the membrane fraction of sperms, the Na+, K+-ATPase activity was defined as the difference in the released inorganic phosphate (Pi) with and without the existence of 10 mM ouabain in the reaction, while the Ca2+-ATPase was determined as the difference in Pi contents with and without the existence of 55 µm CaCl2. The prepared sperm demonstrated a higher percentage of motile sperm compared to sperm from the whole semen. Additionally, the percentage of motile sperm of post-DGC showed higher result than the sperm from post-SU. The velocity of sperm showed similar pattern with the percentage of motile sperm, in which the velocity of prepared sperm was higher than the sperm from whole semen. Furthermore, the sperm velocity of post-DGC was higher compared to the sperm from post-SU. The Na+, K+-ATPase activity of prepared sperm was higher compared to whole semen, whereas Na+, K+-ATPase activity in the post DGC was higher than post SU. The Ca2+-ATPase activity of prepared sperm was higher compared to whole semen, whereas Ca2+-ATPase activity in the post DGC was higher than post SU. The SU and the DGC methods were able to perform sperm selection by showing a high result of Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities, moreover DGC method selected the sperm with high activities of both the Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase better compared to SU method.

The acceptability, feasibility, and possible benefits of a neurobiologically-informed 5-day multifamily treatment for adults with anorexia nervosa.

PubMed

Wierenga, Christina E; Hill, Laura; Knatz Peck, Stephanie; McCray, Jason; Greathouse, Laura; Peterson, Danika; Scott, Amber; Eisler, Ivan; Kaye, Walter H

2018-05-02

Novel treatments for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) are lacking. Recent scientific advances have identified neurobiologically-driven temperament contributors to AN symptoms that may guide development of more effective treatments. This preliminary study evaluates the acceptability, feasibility and possible benefits of a multicenter open trial of an intensive 5-day neurobiologically-informed multifamily treatment for adults with AN and their supports (SU). The temperament-focused treatment combines psychoeducation of AN neurobiology and SU involvement to develop skills to manage traits contributing to disease chronicity. Fifty-four adults with AN and at least one SU (n = 73) received the 5-day treatment. Acceptability, feasibility, and attrition were measured post-treatment. Clinical outcome (BMI, eating disorder psychopathology, family function) was assessed post-treatment and at >3-month follow-up. The treatment had low attrition, with only one drop-out. Patients and SU rated the intervention as highly acceptable, and clinicians reported good feasibility. At post-treatment, patients demonstrated significantly increased BMI, reduced eating disorder psychopathology, and improved family function. Benefits were maintained in the 39 patients who completed follow-up assessment, with 62% reporting full or partial remission. Preliminary results are promising and suggest this novel treatment is feasible and acceptable. To establish treatment efficacy, fully-powered randomized controlled trials are necessary. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation and selection of refrigeration systems for lunar surface and space applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Copeland, R. J.; Blount, T. D.; Williams, J. L.

1971-01-01

Evaluated are the various refrigeration machines which could be used to provide heat rejection in environmental control systems for lunar surface and spacecraft applications, in order to select the best refrigeration machine for satisfying each individual application and the best refrigeration machine for satisfying all of the applications. The refrigeration machine considered include: (1) vapor comparison cycle (work-driven); (2) vapor adsorption cycle (heat-driven); (3) vapor absorption cycle (heat-driven); (4) thermoelectric (electrically-driven); (5) gas cycle (work driven); (6) steam-jet (heat-driven).

SU-E-T-598: Clinical Experience of Configuration, Commission and Implementation for SmartArc with MOSAIQ R&V System.

PubMed

Kong, X; Clausen, C; Wang, S

2012-06-01

Clinical experience for configuration, commission and implementation of SmartArc with MOSAIQ R&V system. SmartArc is Pinnacle's solution for VMAT. On July 2011 we updated to Pinnacle 9.0 and purchased SmartArc. A standalone Eclipse workstation has been used 3 years for VMAT planning. Our clinical setting: Mosaiq 2.2; Varian Trilogy driven by 4DiTC and Varian 21ex driven by sequencer. Some key physics parameters have been studied: machine dose rate; MLC leaf speed; Leaf motion per gantry rotation. Tabletop was created by user to improve the dose accuracy for planning. In-house sandwich phantom was used with MapCheck for planner dose verification. A PTW 0.6cc ion chamber was included for absolute dose comparison. A copy of current machine data with default highest dose rate is recommended. It is due to after 10th iteration of optimization, the default dose rate will kick in. 2.5cm/s is the constraint for Varian Millennium 120 MLC; a buffer zone of 10% is suggested to reduce the MLC error on treatment. 2.25cm/s is used in our configuration. This results in MLC interlock if not configured correct. Maximum leaf motion per gantry rotation of 0.46cm/degree has to be checked for planning with Mosaiq R&V. Otherwise, undeliverable plan will show up sometimes on 4DiTC.Tabletop was exported as a DICOM structure from Eclipse to Pinnacle; we created a ROI template based on the matched tabletop.QA using in-house phantom for different sites were tested. Results for both planner dose and absolute chamber measurement are satisfactory. Special attentions need to be paid for dose rate, MLC leaf speed, leaf motion per gantry rotation when configuring SmartArc. Varian 21ex is supported but is slow for clinical delivery. Users need to create your own tabletop to improve planning accuracy. Conventional commission procedures for RapidArc also apply for SmartArc. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Coupled-channel approach to strangeness S = -2 baryon-bayron interactions in lattice QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaki, Kenji; Aoki, Sinya; Doi, Takumi; Hatsuda, Tetsuo; Ikeda, Yoichi; Inoue, Takashi; Ishii, Noriyoshi; Murano, Keiko

2015-11-01

Baryon-baryon interactions with strangeness S=-2 with flavor SU(3) breaking are calculated for the first time by using the HAL QCD method extended to the coupled-channel system in lattice QCD. The potential matrices are extracted from the Nambu-Bethe-Salpeter wave functions obtained by the 2+1-flavor gauge configurations of the CP-PACS/JLQCD Collaborations with a physical volume of (1.93 fm)^3 and with m_{π }/m_K=0.96, 0.90, 0.86. The spatial structure and the quark mass dependence of the potential matrix in the baryon basis and in the SU(3) basis are investigated.

Overexpression of poplar xylem sucrose synthase in tobacco leads to a thickened cell wall and increased height.

PubMed

Wei, Zhigang; Qu, Zanshuang; Zhang, Lijie; Zhao, Shuanjing; Bi, Zhihong; Ji, Xiaohui; Wang, Xiaowen; Wei, Hairong

2015-01-01

Sucrose synthase (SuSy) is considered the first key enzyme for secondary growth because it is a highly regulated cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the reversible conversion of sucrose and UDP into UDP-glucose and fructose. Although SuSy enzymes preferentially functions in the direction of sucrose cleavage at most cellular condition, they also catalyze the synthetic reaction. We isolated a gene that encodes a SuSy from Populus simonii×Populus nigra and named it PsnSuSy2 because it shares high similarity to SuSy2 in Populus trichocarpa. RT-PCR revealed that PsnSuSy2 was highly expressed in xylem, but lowly expressed in young leaves. To characterize its functions in secondary growth, multiple tobacco overexpression transgenic lines of PnsSuSy2 were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The PsnSuSy2 expression levels and altered wood properties in stem segments from the different transgenic lines were carefully characterized. The results demonstrated that the levels of PsnSuSy2 enzyme activity, chlorophyll content, total soluble sugars, fructose and glucose increased significantly, while the sucrose level decreased significantly. Consequently, the cellulose content and fiber length increased, whereas the lignin content decreased, suggesting that PsnSuSy2 plays a significant role in cleaving sucrose into UDP-glucose and fructose to facilitate cellulose biosynthesis and that promotion of cellulose biosynthesis suppresses lignin biosynthesis. Additionally, the noticeable increase in the lodging resistance in transgenic tobacco stem suggested that the cell wall characteristics were altered by PsnSuSy2 overexpression. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to study the cell wall morphology of stem, and surprisingly, we found that the secondary cell wall was significantly thicker in transgenic tobacco. However, the thickened secondary cell wall did not negatively affect the height of the plants because the PsnSuSy2- overexpressing lines grew taller than the wildtype plants. This systematic analysis demonstrated that PsnSuSy2 plays an important role in cleaving sucrose coupled with cellulose biosynthesis in wood tissue.

Overexpression of Poplar Xylem Sucrose Synthase in Tobacco Leads to a Thickened Cell Wall and Increased Height

PubMed Central

Wei, Zhigang; Qu, Zanshuang; Zhang, Lijie; Zhao, Shuanjing; Bi, Zhihong; Ji, Xiaohui; Wang, Xiaowen; Wei, Hairong

2015-01-01

Sucrose synthase (SuSy) is considered the first key enzyme for secondary growth because it is a highly regulated cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the reversible conversion of sucrose and UDP into UDP-glucose and fructose. Although SuSy enzymes preferentially functions in the direction of sucrose cleavage at most cellular condition, they also catalyze the synthetic reaction. We isolated a gene that encodes a SuSy from Populus simonii×Populus nigra and named it PsnSuSy2 because it shares high similarity to SuSy2 in Populus trichocarpa. RT-PCR revealed that PsnSuSy2 was highly expressed in xylem, but lowly expressed in young leaves. To characterize its functions in secondary growth, multiple tobacco overexpression transgenic lines of PnsSuSy2 were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The PsnSuSy2 expression levels and altered wood properties in stem segments from the different transgenic lines were carefully characterized. The results demonstrated that the levels of PsnSuSy2 enzyme activity, chlorophyll content, total soluble sugars, fructose and glucose increased significantly, while the sucrose level decreased significantly. Consequently, the cellulose content and fiber length increased, whereas the lignin content decreased, suggesting that PsnSuSy2 plays a significant role in cleaving sucrose into UDP-glucose and fructose to facilitate cellulose biosynthesis and that promotion of cellulose biosynthesis suppresses lignin biosynthesis. Additionally, the noticeable increase in the lodging resistance in transgenic tobacco stem suggested that the cell wall characteristics were altered by PsnSuSy2 overexpression. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to study the cell wall morphology of stem, and surprisingly, we found that the secondary cell wall was significantly thicker in transgenic tobacco. However, the thickened secondary cell wall did not negatively affect the height of the plants because the PsnSuSy2- overexpressing lines grew taller than the wildtype plants. This systematic analysis demonstrated that PsnSuSy2 plays an important role in cleaving sucrose coupled with cellulose biosynthesis in wood tissue. PMID:25807295

Comparative preclinical evaluation of AS01 versus other Adjuvant Systems in a candidate herpes zoster glycoprotein E subunit vaccine.

PubMed

Fochesato, Michel; Dendouga, Najoua; Boxus, Mathieu

2016-08-02

The candidate vaccine HZ/su is being developed to prevent herpes-zoster disease (HZ). HZ occurrence is attributed to declines in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) specific T-cell immunity. HZ/su contains VZV antigen, gE, and Adjuvant System AS01 B (liposome-based formulation of MPL and QS-21). In clinical trials, AS01 B enhances CD4 + T-cell responses to gE. In clinical trials of other vaccines, Adjuvant Systems AS03 and AS04 also enhance antigen-specific CD4 + T-cell responses. Hence the purpose of this study was to evaluate gE formulated with AS01 B , AS01 E (50% less MPL and QS-21 than AS01 B ), AS03 or AS04 in C57BL6 mice primed with live-attenuated VZV. Four-weeks post-vaccination, the gE-specific CD4 + T-cell response to gE/AS01 B was 5.4, 2.8 and 2.2-fold greater than those to gE/AS03, gE/AS04 and gE/AS03, respectively (p<0.001). Therefore in the VZV-primed mouse model, CD4 + T-cell responses to gE appeared most enhanced by AS01 B , and adds further support for the use of AS01 B in the HZ/su formulation.

An open source, web based, simple solution for seismic data dissemination and collaborative research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diviacco, Paolo

2005-06-01

Collaborative research and data dissemination in the field of geophysical exploration need network tools that can access large amounts of data from anywhere using any PC or workstation. Simple solutions based on a combination of Open Source software can be developed to address such requests, exploiting the possibilities offered by the web technologies, and at the same time avoiding the costs and inflexibility of commercial systems. A viable solution consists of MySQL for data storage and retrieval, CWP/SU and GMT for data visualisation and a scripting layer driven by PHP that allows users to access the system via an Apache web server. In the light of the experience building the on-line archive of seismic data of the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), we describe the solutions and the methods adopted, with a view to stimulate both the attitude of network collaborative research of other institutions similar to ours, and the development of different applications.

SU(3)_C× SU(2)_L× U(1)_Y( × U(1)_X ) as a symmetry of division algebraic ladder operators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furey, C.

2018-05-01

We demonstrate a model which captures certain attractive features of SU(5) theory, while providing a possible escape from proton decay. In this paper we show how ladder operators arise from the division algebras R, C, H, and O. From the SU( n) symmetry of these ladder operators, we then demonstrate a model which has much structural similarity to Georgi and Glashow's SU(5) grand unified theory. However, in this case, the transitions leading to proton decay are expected to be blocked, given that they coincide with presumably forbidden transformations which would incorrectly mix distinct algebraic actions. As a result, we find that we are left with G_{sm} = SU(3)_C× SU(2)_L× U(1)_Y / Z_6. Finally, we point out that if U( n) ladder symmetries are used in place of SU( n), it may then be possible to find this same G_{sm}=SU(3)_C× SU(2)_L× U(1)_Y / Z_6, together with an extra U(1)_X symmetry, related to B-L.

Efficacy of the Herpes Zoster Subunit Vaccine in Adults 70 Years of Age or Older.

PubMed

Cunningham, Anthony L; Lal, Himal; Kovac, Martina; Chlibek, Roman; Hwang, Shinn-Jang; Díez-Domingo, Javier; Godeaux, Olivier; Levin, Myron J; McElhaney, Janet E; Puig-Barberà, Joan; Vanden Abeele, Carline; Vesikari, Timo; Watanabe, Daisuke; Zahaf, Toufik; Ahonen, Anitta; Athan, Eugene; Barba-Gomez, Jose F; Campora, Laura; de Looze, Ferdinandus; Downey, H Jackson; Ghesquiere, Wayne; Gorfinkel, Iris; Korhonen, Tiina; Leung, Edward; McNeil, Shelly A; Oostvogels, Lidia; Rombo, Lars; Smetana, Jan; Weckx, Lily; Yeo, Wilfred; Heineman, Thomas C

2016-09-15

A trial involving adults 50 years of age or older (ZOE-50) showed that the herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su) containing recombinant varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E and the AS01B adjuvant system was associated with a risk of herpes zoster that was 97.2% lower than that associated with placebo. A second trial was performed concurrently at the same sites and examined the safety and efficacy of HZ/su in adults 70 years of age or older (ZOE-70). This randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial was conducted in 18 countries and involved adults 70 years of age or older. Participants received two doses of HZ/su or placebo (assigned in a 1:1 ratio) administered intramuscularly 2 months apart. Vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia was assessed in participants from ZOE-70 and in participants pooled from ZOE-70 and ZOE-50. In ZOE-70, 13,900 participants who could be evaluated (mean age, 75.6 years) received either HZ/su (6950 participants) or placebo (6950 participants). During a mean follow-up period of 3.7 years, herpes zoster occurred in 23 HZ/su recipients and in 223 placebo recipients (0.9 vs. 9.2 per 1000 person-years). Vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster was 89.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.2 to 93.7; P<0.001) and was similar in participants 70 to 79 years of age (90.0%) and participants 80 years of age or older (89.1%). In pooled analyses of data from participants 70 years of age or older in ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 (16,596 participants), vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster was 91.3% (95% CI, 86.8 to 94.5; P<0.001), and vaccine efficacy against postherpetic neuralgia was 88.8% (95% CI, 68.7 to 97.1; P<0.001). Solicited reports of injection-site and systemic reactions within 7 days after injection were more frequent among HZ/su recipients than among placebo recipients (79.0% vs. 29.5%). Serious adverse events, potential immune-mediated diseases, and deaths occurred with similar frequencies in the two study groups. In our trial, HZ/su was found to reduce the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia among adults 70 years of age or older. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals; ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01165177 and NCT01165229 .).

Radiative breaking of the minimal supersymmetric left–right model

DOE PAGES

Okada, Nobuchika; Papapietro, Nathan

2016-03-03

We study a variation to the SUSY Left-Right symmetric model based on the gauge group SU(3) c×SU(2) L×SU(2) R×U(1) BL. Beyond the quark and lepton superfields we only introduce a second Higgs bidoublet to produce realistic fermion mass matrices. This model does not include any SU(2) R triplets. We also calculate renormalization group evolutions of soft SUSY parameters at the one-loop level down to low energy. We find that an SU(2) R slepton doublet acquires a negative mass squared at low energies, so that the breaking of SU(2) R×U(1) BL→U(1) Y is realized by a non-zero vacuum expectation value ofmore » a right-handed sneutrino. Small neutrino masses are produced through neutrino mixings with gauginos. We obtained mass limits on the SU(2) R×U(1) BL sector by direct search results at the LHC as well as lepton-gaugino mixing bounds from the LEP precision data.« less

Effects of grand unification interactions on weak symmetry breaking in supergravity theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moxhay, Peter; Yamamoto, Katsuji

Possible effects of grand unification interactions on SU(2) × U(1) breaking are investigated by explicitly considering a supersymmetric SU(5) model coupled to N = 1 supergravity. Some remarkable features concerning the effects of renormalization on the effective soft supersymmetry breaking terms of SU(5) in the GUT region MP - MG are clarified, which are relevant for determining the SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) theory below MG. In particular, the (mass) 2 of the Higgs doublets, g Hm g2and g overlineHm g2, might become significantly small at M G (g H ⋍ g overlineH ≈ 0.1) through the effect of SU(5) couplings such as overlineHø EH . Then, gH can rather easily become negative below MG, so as to realize SU(2) × U(1) breaking naturally even for the "diet" top quark case ( mt ≈ 40 GeV). On the other hand, if g H ⋍ g overlineH ⋍ 1 at M G by neglecting the grand unification interactions, some careful tuning of μ32/ mg2 is required with an accuracy ⪅10 -2 to achieve SU(2) × U(1) breaking with "diet" top quark, though a mass term μ 32( overlineHH) may be present.

Benchtop fabrication of microfluidic systems based on curable polymers with improved solvent compatibility.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Michinao; Langer, Robert; Kohane, Daniel S

2013-01-21

This paper describes a general scheme to fabricate microchannels from curable polymers on a laboratory benchtop. Using the scheme described here, benchtop fabrication of SU-8 microfluidic systems was demonstrated for the first time, and their compatibility with organic solvents was demonstrated. The fabrication process has three major stages: 1) transferring patterns of microchannels to polymer films by molding, 2) releasing the patterned film and creating inlets and outlets for fluids, and 3) sealing two films together to create a closed channel system. Addition of a PDMS slab supporting the polymer film provided structural integrity during and after fabrication, allowing manipulation of the polymer films without fracturing or deformation. SU-8 channels fabricated according to this scheme exhibited solvent compatibility against continuous exposure to acetone and ethylacetate, which are incompatible with native PDMS. Using the SU-8 channels, continuous generation of droplets of ethylacetate, and templated synthesis of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles, both with stable size, were demonstrated continuously over 24 h, and at intervals over 75 days.

Science-Driven Computing: NERSC's Plan for 2006-2010

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simon, Horst D.; Kramer, William T.C.; Bailey, David H.

NERSC has developed a five-year strategic plan focusing on three components: Science-Driven Systems, Science-Driven Services, and Science-Driven Analytics. (1) Science-Driven Systems: Balanced introduction of the best new technologies for complete computational systems--computing, storage, networking, visualization and analysis--coupled with the activities necessary to engage vendors in addressing the DOE computational science requirements in their future roadmaps. (2) Science-Driven Services: The entire range of support activities, from high-quality operations and user services to direct scientific support, that enable a broad range of scientists to effectively use NERSC systems in their research. NERSC will concentrate on resources needed to realize the promise ofmore » the new highly scalable architectures for scientific discovery in multidisciplinary computational science projects. (3) Science-Driven Analytics: The architectural and systems enhancements and services required to integrate NERSC's powerful computational and storage resources to provide scientists with new tools to effectively manipulate, visualize, and analyze the huge data sets derived from simulations and experiments.« less

Quantum critical spin-2 chain with emergent SU(3) symmetry.

PubMed

Chen, Pochung; Xue, Zhi-Long; McCulloch, I P; Chung, Ming-Chiang; Huang, Chao-Chun; Yip, S-K

2015-04-10

We study the quantum critical phase of an SU(2) symmetric spin-2 chain obtained from spin-2 bosons in a one-dimensional lattice. We obtain the scaling of the finite-size energies and entanglement entropy by exact diagonalization and density-matrix renormalization group methods. From the numerical results of the energy spectra, central charge, and scaling dimension we identify the conformal field theory describing the whole critical phase to be the SU(3)_{1} Wess-Zumino-Witten model. We find that, while the Hamiltonian is only SU(2) invariant, in this critical phase there is an emergent SU(3) symmetry in the thermodynamic limit.

Integrable deformations of the Gk1 ×Gk2 /Gk1+k2 coset CFTs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sfetsos, Konstantinos; Siampos, Konstantinos

2018-02-01

We study the effective action for the integrable λ-deformation of the Gk1 ×Gk2 /Gk1+k2 coset CFTs. For unequal levels theses models do not fall into the general discussion of λ-deformations of CFTs corresponding to symmetric spaces and have many attractive features. We show that the perturbation is driven by parafermion bilinears and we revisit the derivation of their algebra. We uncover a non-trivial symmetry of these models parametric space, which has not encountered before in the literature. Using field theoretical methods and the effective action we compute the exact in the deformation parameter β-function and explicitly demonstrate the existence of a fixed point in the IR corresponding to the Gk1-k2 ×Gk2 /Gk1 coset CFTs. The same result is verified using gravitational methods for G = SU (2). We examine various limiting cases previously considered in the literature and found agreement.

The ATLAS diboson resonance in non-supersymmetric SO(10)

DOE PAGES

Evans, Jason L.; Nagata, Natsumi; Olive, Keith A.; ...

2016-02-18

SO(10) grand uni cation accommodates intermediate gauge symmetries with which gauge coupling uni cation can be realized without supersymmetry. In this paper, we discuss the possibility that a new massive gauge boson associated with an intermediate gauge symmetry explains the excess observed in the diboson resonance search recently reported by the ATLAS experiment. The model we find has two intermediate symmetries, SU(4) C Ⓧ SU(2) L Ⓧ SU(2) R and SU(3) C Ⓧ SU(2) L Ⓧ SU(2)R Ⓧ U(1) B-L, where the latter gauge group is broken at the TeV scale. This model achieves gauge coupling uni cation with amore » uni cation scale su fficiently high to avoid proton decay. In addition, this model provides a good dark matter candidates, whose stability is guaranteed by a Z 2 symmetry present after the spontaneous breaking of the intermediate gauge symmetries. In addition, we discuss prospects for testing these models in the forthcoming LHC experiments and dark matter detection experiments.« less

Argyres-Douglas theories and S-duality

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buican, Matthew; Giacomelli, Simone; Nishinaka, Takahiro

We generalize S-duality to N=2 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) with Coulomb branch operators of non-integer scaling dimension. As simple examples, we find minimal generalizations of the S-dualities discovered in SU(2) gauge theory with four fundamental flavors by Seiberg and Witten and in SU(3) gauge theory with six fundamental flavors by Argyres and Seiberg. Our constructions start by weakly gauging diagonal SU(2) and SU(3) flavor symmetry subgroups of two copies of a particular rank-one Argyres-Douglas theory (along with sufficient numbers of hypermultiplets to guarantee conformality of the gauging). Here, as we explore the resulting conformal manifold of the SU(2) SCFT, wemore » find an action of S-duality on the parameters of the theory that is reminiscent of Spin(8) triality. On the other hand, as we explore the conformal manifold of the SU(3) theory, we find that an exotic rank-two SCFT emerges in a dual SU(2) description.« less

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase and Polyphenol Oxidase in the Tobacco Mutant Su/su and Three Green Revertant Plants 1

PubMed Central

Koivuniemi, Paul J.; Tolbert, N. E.; Carlson, Peter S.

1980-01-01

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) was crystallized from a heterozygous tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) aurea mutant (Su/su), its wild-type sibling (su/su), and green revertant plants regenerated from green spots found on leaves of haploid Su plants. No differences were found in the specific activity or kinetic parameters of this enzyme, when comparing Su/su and su/su plants of the same age, which had been grown under identical conditions. The enzyme crystallized from revertant plants was also identical to the enzyme from wild-type plants with the exception of one clone, designated R2. R2 has a chromosome number approximately double that of the wild-type (87.0 ± 11.1 versus 48). The enzyme from R2 had a lower Vmax for CO2, although the Km values were identical to those for the enzyme from the wild-type plant. The enzyme from all mutant plants had identical isoelectric points, identical molecular weight as demonstrated by migration on native and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels, and the same ratio of large to small subunits as the enzyme from the wild-type. The large subunit of the enzyme from tobacco leaves exhibited a different electrophoretic pattern than did the large subunit from spinach; there were two to three bands on SDS-polyacrylamide gels for the tobacco enzyme whereas the enzyme from spinach had only one species of large subunit. Total polyphenol oxidase activity was the same in leaves from the heterozygous mutant (Su/su) and wild-type (su/su) plants when correlated with developmental age as represented by morphology rather than by the chronological age of the plants. There was a marked increase in the soluble activity of this enzyme with increasing age of both plant types and also as a result of varying environmental conditions. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity correlated inversely with increases in the soluble activity of polyphenol oxidase in crude homogenates from which the carboxylase/oxygenase was crystallized over a generation of Su/su and su/su plants. Criteria are outlined for determining if differences in activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase are caused by an effect of polyphenol oxidase activity and/or by some other extrinsic parameter. PMID:16661290

Model with a gauged lepton flavor SU(2) symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiang, Cheng-Wei; Tsumura, Koji

2018-05-01

We propose a model having a gauged SU(2) symmetry associated with the second and third generations of leptons, dubbed SU(2) μτ , of which U{(1)}_{L_{μ }-L_{τ }} is an Abelian subgroup. In addition to the Standard Model fields, we introduce two types of scalar fields. One exotic scalar field is an SU(2) μτ doublet and SM singlet that develops a nonzero vacuum expectation value at presumably multi-TeV scale to completely break the SU(2) μτ symmetry, rendering three massive gauge bosons. At the same time, the other exotic scalar field, carrying electroweak as well as SU(2) μτ charges, is induced to have a nonzero vacuum expectation value as well and breaks mass degeneracy between the muon and tau. We examine how the new particles in the model contribute to the muon anomalous magnetic moment in the parameter space compliant with the Michel decays of tau.

Unitary irreducible representations of SL(2,C) in discrete and continuous SU(1,1) bases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Conrady, Florian; Hnybida, Jeff; Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

2011-01-15

We derive the matrix elements of generators of unitary irreducible representations of SL(2,C) with respect to basis states arising from a decomposition into irreducible representations of SU(1,1). This is done with regard to a discrete basis diagonalized by J{sup 3} and a continuous basis diagonalized by K{sup 1}, and for both the discrete and continuous series of SU(1,1). For completeness, we also treat the more conventional SU(2) decomposition as a fifth case. The derivation proceeds in a functional/differential framework and exploits the fact that state functions and differential operators have a similar structure in all five cases. The states aremore » defined explicitly and related to SU(1,1) and SU(2) matrix elements.« less

The Role of Magmatic Volatile Input, Near-surface Seawater Entrainment and Sulfide Deposition in Regulating Metal Concentrations Within Manus Basin Hydrothermal Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craddock, P. R.; Tivey, M. K.; Seewald, J. S.; Rouxel, O.; Bach, W.

2007-12-01

Analyses of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Co and Sb in vent fluid samples from four hydrothermal systems in the Manus back-arc basin, Papua New Guinea, were carried out by ICP-MS. Vienna Woods is located on the well- defined, basalt-dominated Manus Spreading Center, while the other systems are hosted in felsic volcanics on the Pual Ridge (PACMANUS), within a caldera (DESMOS), and on volcanic cones (SuSu Knolls). Metal concentrations were coupled with other fluid data (pH, SO4, Ca, H2S) to discriminate effects of deep- seated water-rock reaction and magmatic volatile input from near surface seawater entrainment, mixing, and consequent mineral precipitation and metal remobilization. Both magmatic volatile input (e.g. SO2, HCl, HF) and sulfide precipitation can increase fluid acidity and thus affect the aqueous mobility of metals. At Vienna Woods, 280°C end-member (Mg = 0) fluids have high pH (>4.2) and low metal contents (Fe <160 uM, Cu <10 uM, Zn <40 uM) relative to most mid-ocean ridge (MOR) vent fluids. The high pH and lack of evidence for magmatic volatile input are consistent with fluid compositions regulated by subsurface seawater- basalt/andesite reactions. Despite low aqueous Zn concentrations, Zn-rich (wurtzite-lined) chimneys are common at Vienna Woods active vents, reflecting deposition from fluids characterized by low Fe and Cu and high pH. At PACMANUS, black smoker fluids (T >300°C, pH ~ 2.7) are enriched in sulfide-forming metals by an order of magnitude relative to Vienna Woods fluids. Enrichments at PACMANUS reflect efficient leaching of metals at low pH, with the lower pH likely a result of input of magmatic volatiles. In addition, some vents fluids show clear evidence for seawater entrainment, subsurface precipitation of Cu-Fe-sulfides and preferential remobilization of Zn-sulfides (lower T, non-zero Mg, lower Fe, Cu, H2S and pH (2.3-2.4), but higher Zn, Pb, Cd and Ag, compared to black smokers). The higher metal concentrations and lower pH of fluids from PACMANUS versus Vienna Woods are reflected in chimney deposit compositions with Zn-poor sulfide linings composed of Cu-Fe-sulfides and As-Sb-sulfosalts in high T and lower T vents, respectively. At DESMOS caldera, fluid data suggest extensive magmatic volatile input (e.g. pH <1.5, elevated F and SO4) but lesser reaction with the basement felsic rocks (low Li, Rb, Mn). Sampled "acid-sulfate" fluids are low temperature (T ~180°C) with Mg >46 mM, and very high concentrations of some metals for these Mg concentrations (Fe >5 mM, Zn >50 - 400 uM). At SuSu Knolls, vent fluid compositions similar to those at both PACMANUS and DESMOS are observed. Smoker fluids have high but variable metal concentrations of similar magnitude to PACMANUS. Acid-sulfate fluids from North Su have low pH (<2), non-zero Mg (>40 mM), and high Fe and Zn concentrations, similar to DESMOS fluids. At SuSu Knolls, fluid compositions reflect either high temperature water-rock reaction (smoker fluids) or magmatic volatile input (acid-sulfate fluids). As at PACMANUS, chimney deposits that correspond to venting fluids are Cu-Fe-As-Sb-rich and Zn-poor, likely reflecting deposition from low pH, high Cu and Fe fluids.

The relative absorption cross-sections of photosystem I and photosystem II in chloroplasts from three types of Nicotiana tabacum.

PubMed

Melis, A; Thielen, A P

1980-02-08

In the present study we used three types of Nicotiana tabacum, cv John William's Broad Leaf (the wild type and two mutants, the yellow-green Su/su and the yellow Su/su var. Aurea) in order to correlat functional properties of Photosystem II and Photosystem I with the structural organization of their chloroplasts. The effective absorption cross-section of Photosystem II and Photosystem I centers was measured by means of the rate constant of their photoconversion under light-limiting conditions. In agreement with earlier results (Okabe, K., Schmid, G.H. and Straub, J. (1977) Plant Physiol. 60, 150--156) the photosynthetic unit size for both System II and System I in the two mutants was considerably smaller as compared to the wild type. We observed biphasic kinetics in the photoconversion of System II in all three types of N. tabacum. However, the photoconversion of System I occurred with monophasic and exponential kinetics. Under our experimental conditions, the effective cross-section of Photosystem I was comparable to that of the fast System II component (alpha centers). The relative amplitude of the slow System II component (beta centers) varied between 30% in the wild type to 70% in the Su/su var. Aurea mutant. The increased fraction of beta centers is correlated with the decreased fraction of appressed photosynthetic membranes in the chloroplasts of the two mutants. As a working hypothesis, it is suggested that beta centers are located on photosynthetic membranes directly exposed to the stroma medium.

Control of Neural Daughter Cell Proliferation by Multi-level Notch/Su(H)/E(spl)-HLH Signaling

PubMed Central

Bivik, Caroline; MacDonald, Ryan B.; Gunnar, Erika; Mazouni, Khalil; Schweisguth, Francois; Thor, Stefan

2016-01-01

The Notch pathway controls proliferation during development and in adulthood, and is frequently affected in many disorders. However, the genetic sensitivity and multi-layered transcriptional properties of the Notch pathway has made its molecular decoding challenging. Here, we address the complexity of Notch signaling with respect to proliferation, using the developing Drosophila CNS as model. We find that a Notch/Su(H)/E(spl)-HLH cascade specifically controls daughter, but not progenitor proliferation. Additionally, we find that different E(spl)-HLH genes are required in different neuroblast lineages. The Notch/Su(H)/E(spl)-HLH cascade alters daughter proliferation by regulating four key cell cycle factors: Cyclin E, String/Cdc25, E2f and Dacapo (mammalian p21CIP1/p27KIP1/p57Kip2). ChIP and DamID analysis of Su(H) and E(spl)-HLH indicates direct transcriptional regulation of the cell cycle genes, and of the Notch pathway itself. These results point to a multi-level signaling model and may help shed light on the dichotomous proliferative role of Notch signaling in many other systems. PMID:27070787

Entanglement in a model for Hawking radiation: An application of quadratic algebras

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bambah, Bindu A., E-mail: bbsp@uohyd.ernet.in; Mukku, C., E-mail: mukku@iiit.ac.in; Shreecharan, T., E-mail: shreecharan@gmail.com

2013-03-15

Quadratic polynomially deformed su(1,1) and su(2) algebras are utilized in model Hamiltonians to show how the gravitational system consisting of a black hole, infalling radiation and outgoing (Hawking) radiation can be solved exactly. The models allow us to study the long-time behaviour of the black hole and its outgoing modes. In particular, we calculate the bipartite entanglement entropies of subsystems consisting of (a) infalling plus outgoing modes and (b) black hole modes plus the infalling modes, using the Janus-faced nature of the model. The long-time behaviour also gives us glimpses of modifications in the character of Hawking radiation. Finally, wemore » study the phenomenon of superradiance in our model in analogy with atomic Dicke superradiance. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We examine a toy model for Hawking radiation with quantized black hole modes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We use quadratic polynomially deformed su(1,1) algebras to study its entanglement properties. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We study the 'Dicke Superradiance' in black hole radiation using quadratically deformed su(2) algebras. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We study the modification of the thermal character of Hawking radiation due to quantized black hole modes.« less

Glycaemic control, hypoglycaemia, and weight change with insulin glargine 300 U/mL versus insulin glargine 100 U/mL in Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes: a 12-month comparison by concomitant sulphonylurea and/or glinide use.

PubMed

Terauchi, Yasuo; Riddle, Matthew C; Hirose, Takahisa; Koyama, Masayoshi; Cheng, Xi; Takahashi, Yoshinori; Bolli, Geremia B

2018-06-11

To explore if clinical effects and hypoglycaemia risks associated with insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla-300) and 100 U/mL (Gla-100) differed by sulphonylurea and/or glinide (SU/G) treatment. This was a post hoc subgroup analysis of 12-month treatment data from EDITION JP 2 (randomised, open-label, phase 3 study of Japanese people with type 2 diabetes [T2DM] receiving once-daily Gla-300/Gla-100+oral antihyperglycaemic drugs). Participants previously receiving SU/G (+SU/G) were compared with those not taking SU/G (-SU/G). Endpoints included HbA 1c , hypoglycaemia and body weight. For +SU/G (n=152, 63%), HbA 1c was reduced from baseline to month 12 for Gla-300 (8.1 % to 7.6 %) and Gla-100 (8.2 % to 7.8 %). For -SU/G (n=89, 37%), reductions were 7.8 % to 7.4 %, and 7.9 % to 7.5 % for Gla-300 and Gla-100, respectively. A lower annualised rate of hypoglycaemia with Gla-300 versus Gla-100 was observed at night (00:00-05:59 h; p=0.0001) and any time of day (24 h; p=0.0015). Irrespective of the insulin used, the incidence and rate of confirmed (≤3.9 mmol/L [≤70 mg/dL]) or severe hypoglycaemia appeared higher in +SU/G versus -SU/G; overall, a reduced incidence of nocturnal hypoglycaemia, and rate of hypoglycaemia at any time, was observed in -SU/G versus +SU/G. In the -SU/G subgroup, weight gain differences were observed between Gla-300 and Gla-100 (p<0.0001). Participants with prior and continued SU/G use had similar therapeutic responses with basal insulin but greater risk of hypoglycaemia than those not using SU/G; hypoglycaemia risk was lower with Gla-300 than Gla-100 in both subgroups. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A Patient-level Analysis of Efficacy and Hypoglycaemia Outcomes Across Treat-to-target Trials with Insulin Glargine Added to Oral Antidiabetes Agents in People with Type 2 Diabetes

PubMed Central

DeVries, J Hans; Meneghini, Luigi; Barnett, Anthony H; Reid, Timothy; Dain, Marie-Paule; Vlajnic, Aleksandra; Traylor, Louise; Bergenstal, Richard M

2014-01-01

Abstract Background: A better understanding of hypoglycaemia risk when insulin is used in combination with one or more oral antidiabetes agents may assist in the treatment decision-making process for the clinician and address concerns regarding hypoglycaemia when initiating or intensifying insulin therapy. The objective of this study was to analyse efficacy and hypoglycaemia outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes receiving insulin glargine (IG) with metformin (MET), sulphonylurea (SU) or MET+SU. Methods: Patient-level data were pooled from 15 randomised, treat-to-target trials (fasting plasma glucose [FPG] targets <5.6 mmol/l) with a duration >24 weeks. Efficacy outcomes included glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), FPG and HbA1c target achievement. Overall hypoglycaemia events were assessed by a confirmed PG value of <3.9, <3.1 and <2.8 mmol/l or assistance required; daytime, nocturnal (00:01-05:59 AM); and severe (assistance required or with confirmed PG <2.0 mmol/l). Results: Overall, 2,837 IG patients were analysed, with either MET (634), SU (906) or MET+SU (1,297) as background oral antidiabetes agents. Endpoint HbA1c in IG+MET and IG+MET+SU-treated patients was significantly lower than in IG+SU-treated patients (adjusted difference -0.32 %; p=0.0001 and -0.33 %; p=0.0002, respectively). Fewer patients achieved endpoint HbA1c <7.0 % with IG+SU (32 %) versus IG+MET (57 %) or IG+MET+SU (49 %). IG+SU and IG+MET+SU led to significant increases in overall, daytime and nocturnal hypoglycaemia versus IG+MET; severe hypoglycaemia was rare. Weight gain was lowest in IG+MET patients (adjusted difference -1.51 kg versus IG+SU; p<0.0001; -0.78 kg versus IG+MET+SU; p=0.0037) despite higher insulin doses (0.51 U/kg versus 0.43 and 0.42 U/kg, respectively). Conclusions: Better glycaemic goal achievement and reduced risk of hypoglycaemia and weight gain were observed with IG+MET versus IG+SU and IG+MET+SU, albeit with an increased insulin dose requirement. PMID:29872460

Power Transfer in Physical Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaeck, Jack A.

1990-01-01

Explores the power transfer using (1) a simple electric circuit consisting of a power source with internal resistance; (2) two different mechanical systems (gravity driven and constant force driven); (3) ecological examples; and (4) a linear motor. (YP)

On Parametrization of the Linear GL(4,C) and Unitary SU(4) Groups in Terms of Dirac Matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Red'Kov, Victor M.; Bogush, Andrei A.; Tokarevskaya, Natalia G.

2008-02-01

Parametrization of 4 × 4-matrices G of the complex linear group GL(4,C) in terms of four complex 4-vector parameters (k,m,n,l) is investigated. Additional restrictions separating some subgroups of GL(4,C) are given explicitly. In the given parametrization, the problem of inverting any 4 × 4 matrix G is solved. Expression for determinant of any matrix G is found: det G = F(k,m,n,l). Unitarity conditions G+ = G-1 have been formulated in the form of non-linear cubic algebraic equations including complex conjugation. Several simplest solutions of these unitarity equations have been found: three 2-parametric subgroups G1, G2, G3 - each of subgroups consists of two commuting Abelian unitary groups; 4-parametric unitary subgroup consis! ting of a product of a 3-parametric group isomorphic SU(2) and 1-parametric Abelian group. The Dirac basis of generators Λk, being of Gell-Mann type, substantially differs from the basis λi used in the literature on SU(4) group, formulas relating them are found - they permit to separate SU(3) subgroup in SU(4). Special way to list 15 Dirac generators of GL(4,C) can be used {Λk} = {μiÅνjÅ(μiVνj = KÅL ÅM )}, which permit to factorize SU(4) transformations according to S = eiaμ eibνeikKeilLeimM, where two first factors commute with each other and are isomorphic to SU(2) group, the three last ones are 3-parametric groups, each of them consisting of three Abelian commuting unitary subgroups. Besides, the structure of fifteen Dirac matrices Λk permits to separate twenty 3-parametric subgroups in SU(4) isomorphic to SU(2); those subgroups might be used as bigger elementary blocks in constructing of a general transformation SU(4). It is shown how one can specify the present approach for the pseudounitary group SU(2,2) and SU(3,1).

A highly optimized vectorized code for Monte Carlo simulations of SU(3) lattice gauge theories

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barkai, D.; Moriarty, K. J. M.; Rebbi, C.

1984-01-01

New methods are introduced for improving the performance of the vectorized Monte Carlo SU(3) lattice gauge theory algorithm using the CDC CYBER 205. Structure, algorithm and programming considerations are discussed. The performance achieved for a 16(4) lattice on a 2-pipe system may be phrased in terms of the link update time or overall MFLOPS rates. For 32-bit arithmetic, it is 36.3 microsecond/link for 8 hits per iteration (40.9 microsecond for 10 hits) or 101.5 MFLOPS.

Multiconfigurational quantum propagation with trajectory-guided generalized coherent states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grigolo, Adriano, E-mail: agrigolo@ifi.unicamp.br; Aguiar, Marcus A. M. de, E-mail: aguiar@ifi.unicamp.br; Viscondi, Thiago F., E-mail: viscondi@if.usp.br

2016-03-07

A generalized version of the coupled coherent states method for coherent states of arbitrary Lie groups is developed. In contrast to the original formulation, which is restricted to frozen-Gaussian basis sets, the extended method is suitable for propagating quantum states of systems featuring diversified physical properties, such as spin degrees of freedom or particle indistinguishability. The approach is illustrated with simple models for interacting bosons trapped in double- and triple-well potentials, most adequately described in terms of SU(2) and SU(3) bosonic coherent states, respectively.

Functional renormalization group approach to SU(N ) Heisenberg models: Real-space renormalization group at arbitrary N

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buessen, Finn Lasse; Roscher, Dietrich; Diehl, Sebastian; Trebst, Simon

2018-02-01

The pseudofermion functional renormalization group (pf-FRG) is one of the few numerical approaches that has been demonstrated to quantitatively determine the ordering tendencies of frustrated quantum magnets in two and three spatial dimensions. The approach, however, relies on a number of presumptions and approximations, in particular the choice of pseudofermion decomposition and the truncation of an infinite number of flow equations to a finite set. Here we generalize the pf-FRG approach to SU (N )-spin systems with arbitrary N and demonstrate that the scheme becomes exact in the large-N limit. Numerically solving the generalized real-space renormalization group equations for arbitrary N , we can make a stringent connection between the physically most significant case of SU(2) spins and more accessible SU (N ) models. In a case study of the square-lattice SU (N ) Heisenberg antiferromagnet, we explicitly demonstrate that the generalized pf-FRG approach is capable of identifying the instability indicating the transition into a staggered flux spin liquid ground state in these models for large, but finite, values of N . In a companion paper [Roscher et al., Phys. Rev. B 97, 064416 (2018), 10.1103/PhysRevB.97.064416] we formulate a momentum-space pf-FRG approach for SU (N ) spin models that allows us to explicitly study the large-N limit and access the low-temperature spin liquid phase.

Prevalence of and risk factors for substance use among perinatally human immunodeficiency virus-infected and perinatally exposed but uninfected youth.

PubMed

Alperen, Julie; Brummel, Sean; Tassiopoulos, Katherine; Mellins, Claude A; Kacanek, Deborah; Smith, Renee; Seage, George R; Moscicki, Anna-Barbara

2014-03-01

This study examined risk factors associated with recent substance use (SU) among perinatally human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected (PHIV+) and perinatally exposed, uninfected (PHEU) youth and compared SU lifetime prevalence with the general population of United States (U.S.) adolescents. We conducted cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of 511 PHIV+ and PHEU youth (mean age at study entry, 13.2 years; 51% female; 69% PHIV+; and 72% African-American) enrolled in a U.S. multisite prospective cohort study between 2007 and 2009. Substance use data were collected by audio computer-assisted self-interview. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and Monitoring the Future data were used to compare SU lifetime prevalence with U.S. samples. Perinatal HIV infection was not a statistically significant risk factor for alcohol or marijuana use. Risk factors for alcohol use among PHIV+ youth included higher severity of emotional and conduct problems and alcohol and marijuana use in the home by the caregiver or others. Risk factors for marijuana use among PHIV+ youth included marijuana use in the home, higher severity of conduct problems, and stressful life events. Similar SU risk factors among PHEU youth included SU in the home and higher severity of conduct and emotional problems. Overall lifetime prevalence of SU by age was similar to that in national surveys. Although SU lifetime prevalence and risk factors for PHIV+ and PHEU adolescents were similar to national norms, the negative consequences are potentially greater for PHIV+ youth. Prevention efforts should begin before SU initiation and address the family and social environment and youth mental health status. Copyright © 2014 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Entanglement criteria via the uncertainty relations in su(2) and su(1,1) algebras: Detection of non-Gaussian entangled states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nha, Hyunchul; Kim, Jaewan

2006-07-01

We derive a class of inequalities, from the uncertainty relations of the su(1,1) and the su(2) algebra in conjunction with partial transposition, that must be satisfied by any separable two-mode states. These inequalities are presented in terms of the su(2) operators Jx=(a†b+ab†)/2 , Jy=(a†b-ab†)/2i , and the total photon number ⟨Na+Nb⟩ . They include as special cases the inequality derived by Hillery and Zubairy [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 050503 (2006)], and the one by Agarwal and Biswas [New J. Phys. 7, 211 (2005)]. In particular, optimization over the whole inequalities leads to the criterion obtained by Agarwal and Biswas. We show that this optimal criterion can detect entanglement for a broad class of non-Gaussian entangled states, i.e., the su(2) minimum-uncertainty states. Experimental schemes to test the optimal criterion are also discussed, especially the one using linear optical devices and photodetectors.

Substantial protection against MPTP-associated Parkinson's neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo by anti-cancer agent SU4312 via activation of MEF2D and inhibition of MAO-B.

PubMed

Guo, Baojian; Hu, Shengquan; Zheng, Chengyou; Wang, Hongyu; Luo, Fangcheng; Li, Haitao; Cui, Wei; Yang, Xifei; Cui, Guozhen; Mak, Shinghung; Choi, Tony Chung-Lit; Ma, Edmond Dik-Lung; Wang, Yuqiang; Lee, Simon Ming Yuen; Zhang, Zaijun; Han, Yifan

2017-11-01

We have previously demonstrated the unexpected neuroprotection of the anti-cancer agent SU4312 in cellular models associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the precise mechanisms underlying its neuroprotection are still unknown, and the effects of SU4312 on rodent models of PD have not been characterized. In the current study, we found that the protection of SU4312 against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP + )-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells was achieved through the activation of transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D), as evidenced by the fact that SU4312 stimulated myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcriptional activity and prevented the inhibition of MEF2D protein expression caused by MPP + , and that short hairpin RNA (ShRNA)-mediated knockdown of MEF2D significantly abolished the neuroprotection of SU4312. Additionally, Western blotting analysis revealed that SU4312 potentiated pro-survival PI3-K/Akt pathway to down-regulate MEF2D inhibitor glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3β). Furthermore, using the in vivo PD model of C57BL/6 mice insulted with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), we found that intragastrical administration of SU4312 (0.2 and 1 mg/kg) greatly ameliorated Parkinsonian motor defects, and restored protein levels of MEF2D, phosphorylated-Ser473-Akt and phosphorylated-Ser9-GSK3β. Meanwhile, SU4312 effectively reversed the decrease in protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurons, inhibited oxidative stress, maintained mitochondrial biogenesis and partially prevented the depletion of dopamine and its metabolites. Very encouragingly, SU4312 was able to selectively inhibit monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity both in vitro and in vivo, with an IC 50 value of 0.2 μM. These findings suggest that SU4312 provides therapeutic benefits in cellular and animal models of PD, possibly through multiple mechanisms including enhancement of MEF2D through the activation of PI3-K/Akt pathway, maintenance of mitochondrial biogenesis and inhibition of MAO-B activity. SU4312 thus may be an effective drug candidate for the prevention or even modification of the pathological processes of PD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Monte Carlo exploration of threefold base geometries for 4d F-theory vacua

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, Washington; Wang, Yi-Nan

2016-01-01

We use Monte Carlo methods to explore the set of toric threefold bases that support elliptic Calabi-Yau fourfolds for F-theory compactifications to four dimensions, and study the distribution of geometrically non-Higgsable gauge groups, matter, and quiver structure. We estimate the number of distinct threefold bases in the connected set studied to be ˜ 1048. The distribution of bases peaks around h 1,1 ˜ 82. All bases encountered after "thermalization" have some geometric non-Higgsable structure. We find that the number of non-Higgsable gauge group factors grows roughly linearly in h 1,1 of the threefold base. Typical bases have ˜ 6 isolated gauge factors as well as several larger connected clusters of gauge factors with jointly charged matter. Approximately 76% of the bases sampled contain connected two-factor gauge group products of the form SU(3) × SU(2), which may act as the non-Abelian part of the standard model gauge group. SU(3) × SU(2) is the third most common connected two-factor product group, following SU(2) × SU(2) and G 2 × SU(2), which arise more frequently.

A Monte Carlo exploration of threefold base geometries for 4d F-theory vacua

DOE PAGES

Taylor, Washington; Wang, Yi-Nan

2016-01-22

Here, we use Monte Carlo methods to explore the set of toric threefold bases that support elliptic Calabi-Yau fourfolds for F-theory compactifications to four dimensions, and study the distribution of geometrically non-Higgsable gauge groups, matter, and quiver structure. We estimate the number of distinct threefold bases in the connected set studied to be ~ 10 48. Moreover, the distribution of bases peaks around h 1,1 ~ 82. All bases encountered after "thermalization" have some geometric non-Higgsable structure. We also find that the number of non-Higgsable gauge group factors grows roughly linearly in h 1,1 of the threefold base. Typical basesmore » have ~ 6 isolated gauge factors as well as several larger connected clusters of gauge factors with jointly charged matter. Approximately 76% of the bases sampled contain connected two-factor gauge group products of the form SU(3) x SU(2), which may act as the non-Abelian part of the standard model gauge group. SU(3) x SU(2) is the third most common connected two-factor product group, following SU(2) x SU(2) and G2 x SU(2), which arise more frequently.« less

Minimal S U ( 3 ) × S U ( 3 ) symmetry breaking patterns

DOE PAGES

Bai, Yang; Dobrescu, Bogdan A.

2018-03-16

Here, we study the vacua of anmore » $$SU(3)\\times SU(3)$$-symmetric model with a bifundamental scalar. Structures of this type appear in various gauge theories such as the Renormalizable Coloron Model, which is an extension of QCD, or the Trinification extension of the electroweak group. In other contexts, such as chiral symmetry, $$SU(3)\\times SU(3)$$ is a global symmetry. As opposed to more general $$SU(N)\\times SU(N)$$ symmetric models, the $N=3$ case is special due to the presence of a trilinear scalar term in the potential. We find that the most general tree-level potential has only three types of minima: one that preserves the diagonal $SU(3)$ subgroup, one that is $$SU(2)\\times SU(2)\\times U(1)$$ symmetric, and a trivial one where the full symmetry remains unbroken. The phase diagram is complicated, with some regions where there is a unique minimum, and other regions where two minima coexist.« less

Minimal S U ( 3 ) × S U ( 3 ) symmetry breaking patterns

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bai, Yang; Dobrescu, Bogdan A.

Here, we study the vacua of anmore » $$SU(3)\\times SU(3)$$-symmetric model with a bifundamental scalar. Structures of this type appear in various gauge theories such as the Renormalizable Coloron Model, which is an extension of QCD, or the Trinification extension of the electroweak group. In other contexts, such as chiral symmetry, $$SU(3)\\times SU(3)$$ is a global symmetry. As opposed to more general $$SU(N)\\times SU(N)$$ symmetric models, the $N=3$ case is special due to the presence of a trilinear scalar term in the potential. We find that the most general tree-level potential has only three types of minima: one that preserves the diagonal $SU(3)$ subgroup, one that is $$SU(2)\\times SU(2)\\times U(1)$$ symmetric, and a trivial one where the full symmetry remains unbroken. The phase diagram is complicated, with some regions where there is a unique minimum, and other regions where two minima coexist.« less

Analysis of correlation functions in Toda theory and the Alday-Gaiotto-Tachikawa-Wyllard relation for SU(3) quiver

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kanno, Shoichi; Matsuo, Yutaka; Shiba, Shotaro

We give some evidences of the Alday-Gaiotto-Tachikawa-Wyllard relation between SU(3) quiver gauge theories and A{sub 2} Toda theory. In particular, we derive the explicit form of 5-point correlation functions in the lower orders and confirm the agreement with Nekrasov's partition function for SU(3)xSU(3) quiver gauge theory. The algorithm to derive the correlation functions can be applied to a general n-point function in A{sub 2} Toda theory, which will be useful to establish the relation for more generic quivers. Partial analysis is also given for the SU(3)xSU(2) case, and we comment on some technical issues that need clarification before establishing themore » relation.« less

A Novel High-Throughput 3D Screening System for EMT Inhibitors: A Pilot Screening Discovered the EMT Inhibitory Activity of CDK2 Inhibitor SU9516.

PubMed

Arai, Kazuya; Eguchi, Takanori; Rahman, M Mamunur; Sakamoto, Ruriko; Masuda, Norio; Nakatsura, Tetsuya; Calderwood, Stuart K; Kozaki, Ken-Ichi; Itoh, Manabu

2016-01-01

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial pathological event in cancer, particularly in tumor cell budding and metastasis. Therefore, control of EMT can represent a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer. Here, we introduce an innovative three-dimensional (3D) high-throughput screening (HTS) system that leads to an identification of EMT inhibitors. For the establishment of the novel 3D-HTS system, we chose NanoCulture Plates (NCP) that provided a gel-free micro-patterned scaffold for cells and were independent of other spheroid formation systems using soft-agar. In the NCP-based 3D cell culture system, A549 lung cancer cells migrated, gathered, and then formed multiple spheroids within 7 days. Live cell imaging experiments showed that an established EMT-inducer TGF-β promoted peripheral cells around the core of spheroids to acquire mesenchymal spindle shapes, loss of intercellular adhesion, and migration from the spheroids. Along with such morphological change, EMT-related gene expression signatures were altered, particularly alteration of mRNA levels of ECAD/CDH1, NCAD/CDH2, VIM and ZEB1/TCF8. These EMT-related phenotypic changes were blocked by SB431542, a TGF-βreceptor I (TGFβR1) inhibitor. Inside of the spheroids were highly hypoxic; in contrast, spheroid-derived peripheral migrating cells were normoxic, revealed by visualization and quantification using Hypoxia Probe. Thus, TGF-β-triggered EMT caused spheroid hypoplasia and loss of hypoxia. Spheroid EMT inhibitory (SEMTIN) activity of SB431542 was calculated from fluorescence intensities of the Hypoxia Probe, and then was utilized in a drug screening of EMT-inhibitory small molecule compounds. In a pilot screening, 9 of 1,330 compounds were above the thresholds of the SEMTIN activity and cell viability. Finally, two compounds SB-525334 and SU9516 showed SEMTIN activities in a dose dependent manner. SB-525334 was a known TGFβR1 inhibitor. SU9516 was a cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitor, which we showed also had an EMT-inhibitory activity. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of SB-525334 and SU9516 were 0.31 μM and 1.21 μM, respectively, while IC50 of SB431542 was 2.38 μM. Taken together, it was shown that this 3D NCP-based HTS system was useful for screening of EMT-regulatory drugs.

Predicting Mortality in African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor, Coronary Artery Calcium, and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein.

PubMed

Hayek, Salim S; Divers, Jasmin; Raad, Mohamad; Xu, Jianzhao; Bowden, Donald W; Tracy, Melissa; Reiser, Jochen; Freedman, Barry I

2018-05-01

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, outcomes in individual patients vary. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a bone marrow-derived signaling molecule associated with adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in many populations. We characterized the determinants of suPAR in African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus and assessed whether levels were useful for predicting mortality beyond clinical characteristics, coronary artery calcium (CAC), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). We measured plasma suPAR levels in 500 African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus enrolled in the African American-Diabetes Heart Study. We used Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for clinical characteristics, CAC, and hs-CRP to examine the association between suPAR and all-cause mortality. Last, we report the change in C-statistics comparing the additive values of suPAR, hs-CRP, and CAC to clinical models for prediction of mortality. The suPAR levels were independently associated with female sex, smoking, insulin use, decreased kidney function, albuminuria, and CAC. After a median 6.8-year follow-up, a total of 68 deaths (13.6%) were recorded. In a model incorporating suPAR, CAC, and hs-CRP, only suPAR was significantly associated with mortality (hazard ratio 2.66, 95% confidence interval 1.63-4.34). Addition of suPAR to a baseline clinical model significantly improved the C-statistic for all-cause death (Δ0.05, 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.10), whereas addition of CAC or hs-CRP did not. In African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus, suPAR was strongly associated with mortality and improved risk discrimination metrics beyond traditional risk factors, CAC and hs-CRP. Studies addressing the clinical usefulness of measuring suPAR concentrations are warranted. © 2018 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.

Staggered chiral perturbation theory in the two-flavor case

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Du Xining

2010-07-01

I study two-flavor staggered chiral perturbation theory in the light pseudoscalar sector. The pion mass and decay constant are calculated through next-to-leading order in the partially-quenched case. In the limit where the strange quark mass is large compared to the light quark masses and the taste splittings, I show that the SU(2) staggered chiral theory emerges from the SU(3) staggered chiral theory, as expected. Explicit relations between SU(2) and SU(3) low energy constants and taste-violating parameters are given. The results are useful for SU(2) chiral fits to asqtad data and allow one to incorporate effects from varying strange quark masses.

Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR(2)) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells: effects on signaling and cellular level.

PubMed

Kaufmann, Roland; Hascher, Alexander; Mussbach, Franziska; Henklein, Petra; Katenkamp, Kathrin; Westermann, Martin; Settmacher, Utz

2012-12-01

In this study, we demonstrate functional expression of the proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR(2)), a member of a G-protein receptor subfamily in primary cholangiocarcinoma (PCCA) cell cultures. Treatment of PCCA cells with the serine proteinase trypsin and the PAR(2)-selective activating peptide, furoyl-LIGRLO-NH(2), increased migration across a collagen membrane barrier. This effect was inhibited by a PAR(2)-selective pepducin antagonist peptide (P2pal-18S) and it was also blocked with the Met receptor tyrosine kinase (Met) inhibitors SU 11274 and PHA 665752, the MAPKinase inhibitors PD 98059 and SL 327, and the Stat3 inhibitor Stattic. The involvement of Met, p42/p44 MAPKinases and Stat3 in PAR(2)-mediated PCCA cell signaling was further supported by the findings that trypsin and the PAR(2)-selective agonist peptide, 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-NH(2), stimulated activating phosphorylation of these signaling molecules in cholangiocarcinoma cells. With our results, we provide a novel signal transduction module in cholangiocarcinoma cell migration involving PAR(2)-driven activation of Met, p42/p44 MAPKinases and Stat3.

Salud para su Corazón: a community-based Latino cardiovascular disease prevention and outreach model.

PubMed

Alcalay, R; Alvarado, M; Balcazar, H; Newman, E; Huerta, E

1999-10-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for Latinos living in the United States. This population is generally unaware of important lifestyle or behavioral changes that can prevent CVD. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) designed and implemented Salud para su Corazón (Health for Your Heart), a culturally appropriate, community-based, theory-driven intervention model. NHLBI's goals were: (1) to design an intervention model appropriate to Latino populations; (2) to pilot test the model in a specific community with the objectives of increasing awareness about heart disease, raising knowledge about CVD prevention, and promoting heart-healthy lifestyles; and (3) to disseminate the model and the materials developed to other communities with similar needs. An agency-community partnership, under the leadership of the Community Alliance for Heart Health, guided all stages of the community intervention project. The multimedia bilingual community intervention included television telenovela format public service announcements (PSAs), radio programs, brochures, recipe booklets, charlas, a promotores training manual, and motivational videos. An evaluation survey assessed the impact of the intervention. A pre-post intervention survey was conducted with more than 300 participants, and results showed that the respondents were substantially more aware of risk factors for CVD, and had greatly increased their knowledge of ways to prevent heart disease. Dissemination efforts have resulted in numerous requests by health organizations, universities, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) for educational materials and communication strategies produced by Salud para su Corazón. In addition, Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcast television network, is airing the initiative's PSAs. Also, training seminars for promotores are being conducted in different regions of the United States, and several locations are planning to replicate this study.

Lectures on Non-Abelian Bosonization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsvelik, A. M.

The following sections are included: * Introduction * Kac-Moody algebra * Conformal embedding. Sugawara Hamiltonian * SU(N)×SU(M) model * From the fermionic to WZNW model * The perturbed SUk(2) WZNW model * Correlation functions and Quasi Long Range order * Generalization from SU(2) to SU(N) * A model with Sp(2N) symmetry * Solution for the special case gcdw = gsc * Attraction in the orbital channel. Competing orders. Emergent integrability. ZN parafermions. * Parafermion zero modes * Conclusions and Acknowledgements * Appendix A. TBA equations for the Sp1(2N) model * Appendix B. Bosonization of of Z4 parafermions * References

Two-leg SU ( 2 n ) spin ladder: A low-energy effective field theory approach

DOE PAGES

Lecheminant, P.; Tsvelik, A. M.

2015-05-07

We present a field-theory analysis of a model of two SU( 2n)-invariant magnetic chains coupled by a generic interaction preserving time reversal and inversion symmetry. Contrary to the SU(2)-invariant case the zero-temperature phase diagram of such two-leg spin ladder does not contain topological phases. Thus, only generalized Valence Bond Solid phases are stabilized when n > 1 with different wave vectors and ground-state degeneracies. In particular, we find a phase which is made of a cluster of 2n spins put in an SU( 2n) singlet state. For n = 3, this cluster phase is relevant to ¹⁷³Yb ultracold atoms, withmore » an emergent SU(6) symmetry, loaded in a double-well optical lattice.« less

[Human body structure in Su Wen].

PubMed

Yang, Shizhe

2011-05-01

The ancient medical book Su Wen states that the human is a dual composition of physical and spiritual bodies. Thus, if only physical perspectives were applied to interpret its medical terms, confusion would result because of the misunderstanding of spiritual terms. The descriptions in Su Wen didn't show a complete anatomy system or at least at organ levels. The fragments of its context revealed proofs of gross anatomical studies with measurement in ancient China. Su Wen was not a special work for the circulatory route of the channels, so the anatomy terms used was simple. The anatomy position of the body couldn't be judged. The elementary superficial anatomy system formed, which can be traced from the superficial anatomy locations expounded in the book.

SU-E-T-502: Initial Results of a Comparison of Treatment Plans Produced From Automated Prioritized Planning Method and a Commercial Treatment Planning System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tiwari, P; Chen, Y; Hong, L

2015-06-15

Purpose We developed an automated treatment planning system based on a hierarchical goal programming approach. To demonstrate the feasibility of our method, we report the comparison of prostate treatment plans produced from the automated treatment planning system with those produced by a commercial treatment planning system. Methods In our approach, we prioritized the goals of the optimization, and solved one goal at a time. The purpose of prioritization is to ensure that higher priority dose-volume planning goals are not sacrificed to improve lower priority goals. The algorithm has four steps. The first step optimizes dose to the target structures, whilemore » sparing key sensitive organs from radiation. In the second step, the algorithm finds the best beamlet weight to reduce toxicity risks to normal tissue while holding the objective function achieved in the first step as a constraint, with a small amount of allowed slip. Likewise, the third and fourth steps introduce lower priority normal tissue goals and beam smoothing. We compared with prostate treatment plans from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center developed using Eclipse, with a prescription dose of 72 Gy. A combination of liear, quadratic, and gEUD objective functions were used with a modified open source solver code (IPOPT). Results Initial plan results on 3 different cases show that the automated planning system is capable of competing or improving on expert-driven eclipse plans. Compared to the Eclipse planning system, the automated system produced up to 26% less mean dose to rectum and 24% less mean dose to bladder while having the same D95 (after matching) to the target. Conclusion We have demonstrated that Pareto optimal treatment plans can be generated automatically without a trial-and-error process. The solver finds an optimal plan for the given patient, as opposed to database-driven approaches that set parameters based on geometry and population modeling.« less

Universal SU(2/1) and the Higgs and fermion masses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ne`eman, Y.

1992-12-31

We review the SU(2/1) internal supersymmetry suggested by D. Fairlie and the author in 1979. The initial apparent difficulties were resolved when, with J. Thierry-Mieg, we understood that the gauging of a supergroup implies taking the usual Yang-Mills-like Principal (Double) Fibre Bundle as a ``scaffold`` and using its Grassmann algebra as parameter manifold for the supergauge. SU(2/1) Universality fixes the masses of the Higgs scalar field and the ``top`` quark around 100--200 GeV, in the same region as the W and Z masses. A ``unified``` supergauge, enclosing SU(3)colour x SU(2) x U(l), predicts a fourth lepton generation in which themore » neutrino mass is of the same order.« less

Schwinger mechanism in the SU(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with an electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tavares, William R.; Avancini, Sidney S.

2018-05-01

In this work we study the electrized quark matter under finite temperature and density conditions in the context of the SU(2) and SU(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio models. To this end, we evaluate the effective quark masses and the Schwinger quark-antiquark pair production rate. For the SU(3) NJL model we incorporate in the Lagrangian the 't Hooft determinant and we present a set of analytical expressions more convenient for numerical evaluations. We predict a decrease of the pseudocritical electric field with the increase of the temperature for both models and a more prominent production rate for the SU(3) model when compared to the SU(2).

Volcanic and Hydrothermal Activity of the North Su Volcano: New Insights from Repeated Bathymetric Surveys and ROV Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thal, J.; Bach, W.; Tivey, M.; Yoerger, D.

2013-12-01

Bathymetric data from cruises in 2002, 2006, and 2011 were combined and compared to determine the evolution of volcanic activity, seafloor structures, erosional features and to identify and document the distribution of hydrothermal vents on North Su volcano, SuSu Knolls, eastern Manus Basin (Papua New Guinea). Geologic mapping based on ROV observations from 2006 (WHOI Jason-2) and 2011 (MARUM Quest-4000) combined with repeated bathymetric surveys from 2002 and 2011 are used to identify morphologic features on the slopes of North Su and to track temporal changes. ROV MARUM Quest-4000 bathymetry was used to develop a 10 m grid of the top of North Su to precisely depict recent changes. In 2006, the south slope of North Su was steeply sloped and featured numerous white smoker vents discharging acid sulfate waters. These vents were covered by several tens of meters of sand- to gravel-sized volcanic material in 2011. The growth of this new cone changed the bathymetry of the south flank of North Su up to ~50 m and emplaced ~0.014 km3 of clastic volcanic material. This material is primarily comprised of fractured altered dacite and massive fresh dacite as well as crystals of opx, cpx, olivine and plagioclase. There is no evidence for pyroclastic fragmentation, so we hypothesize that the fragmentation is likely related to hydrothermal explosions. Hydrothermal activity varies over a short (~50 m) lateral distance from 'flashing' black smokers to acidic white smoker vents. Within 2 weeks of observation time in 2011, the white smoker vents varied markedly in activity suggesting a highly episodic hydrothermal system. Based on ROV video recordings, we identified steeply sloping (up to 30°) slopes exposing pillars and walls of hydrothermal cemented volcaniclastic material representing former fluid upflow zones. These features show that hydrothermal activity has increased slope stability as hydrothermal cementation has prevented slope collapse. Additionally, in some places, hydrothermal crusts cover loose volcaniclastic material on the steep slopes and stabilize them.

Multi-pole orders and Kondo screening: Implications for quantum phase transitions in multipolar heavy-fermion systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Hsin-Hua; Nica, Emilian; Si, Qimiao

Motivated by the properties of the heavy-fermion Ce3Pd20Si6 compound which exhibits both antiferro-magnetic (AFM) and antiferro-quadrupolar (AFQ) orders, we study a simplified quantum non-linear sigma model for spin-1 systems, with generalized multi-pole Kondo couplings to conduction electrons. We first consider the case when an SU(3) symmetry relates the spin and quadrupolar channels. We then analyze the effect of breaking the SU(3) symmetry, so that the interaction parameters in the spin and quadrupolar sectors are no longer equivalent, and different stages of Kondo screenings are allowed. A renormalization group analysis is used to analyze the interplay between the Kondo effect and the AFM/AFQ orders. Our work paves the way for understanding the global phase diagram in settings beyond the prototypical spin-1/2 cases. We also discuss similar considerations in the non-Kramers systems such as the heavy fermion compound PrV2Al20

The structure and Gel'fand patterns inherent in the Heisenberg supergenerator algebra of dual Liouville-space ||kq{K-tilde.}(k1 - kn)[lambda- tilde],scriptn>> tensors and the Cayley algebra of scalar invariants over a (k1 - kn) field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Temme, F. P.

1991-06-01

For many-body spin cluster problems, dual-symmetry recoupled tensors over Liouville space provide suitable bases for a generalized torque formalism using the Sn-adapted density operator in which to discuss NMR and related techniques. The explicit structure of such tensors is considered in the context of the Cayley algebra of scalar invariants over a field, specified by the inner ki rank labels of the Tkq(kl-kn)s. The pertinence of both lexical combinatorial architectures over inner rank sets and SU2 propagative topologies in specifying the structure of dual recoupling tensors is considered in the context of the Sn partitional aspects of spin clusters. The form of Heisenberg superoperator generators whose algebra underlies the Gel'fand pattern algebra of SU(2) and SU(2)×Sn tensor bases over Liouville space is presented together with both the related s-boson algebras and a description of the associated {||2k 0>>} pattern sets of CF29H carrier space under the appropriate symmetry. These concepts are correlated with recent work on SU(2)×Sn induced symmetry hierarchies over Liouville spin space. The pertinence of this theoretical work to an understanding of multiquantum NMR in Liouville space formalisms is stressed in a discussion of the nature of pathways for intracluster J coupling, which also gives a valuable physical insight into the nature of coherence transfer in more general spin-1/2 systems.

Sonification of Kepler Field SU UMa Cataclysmic Variable Stars V344 Lyr and V1504 Cyg

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tutchton, Roxanne M.; Wood, Matt A.; Still, Martin D.; Howell, Steve B.; Cannizzo, John K.; Smale, Alan P.

2012-01-01

Sonification is the conversion of quantitative data into sound. In this work we explain the methods used in the sonification of light curves provided by the Kepler instrument from Q2 through Q6 for the cataclysmic variable systems V344 Lyr and V1504 Cyg . Both systems are SU UMa stars showing dwarf nova outbursts and superoutbursts as well as positive and negative superhumps. Focused sonifications were done from average pulse shapes of each superhump, and separate sonifications of the full, residual light curves were done for both stars. The audio of these data reflected distinct patterns within the evolutions of supercycles and superhumps that matched pervious observations and proved to be effective aids in data analysis.

Color fields of the static pentaquark system computed in SU(3) lattice QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardoso, Nuno; Bicudo, Pedro

2013-02-01

We compute the color fields of SU(3) lattice QCD created by static pentaquark systems, in a 243×48 lattice at β=6.2 corresponding to a lattice spacing a=0.07261(85)fm. We find that the pentaquark color fields are well described by a multi-Y-type shaped flux tube. The flux tube junction points are compatible with Fermat-Steiner points minimizing the total flux tube length. We also compare the pentaquark flux tube profile with the diquark-diantiquark central flux tube profile in the tetraquark and the quark-antiquark fundamental flux tube profile in the meson, and they match, thus showing that the pentaquark flux tubes are composed of fundamental flux tubes.

Characterization of wash-off from urban impervious surfaces and SuDS design criteria for source control under semi-arid conditions.

PubMed

Andrés-Doménech, Ignacio; Hernández-Crespo, Carmen; Martín, Miguel; Andrés-Valeri, Valerio C

2018-01-15

Knowledge about pollutant wash-off from urban impervious surfaces is a key feature for developing effective management strategies. Accordingly, further information is required about urban areas under semi-arid climate conditions at the sub-catchment scale. This is important for designing source control systems for pollution. In this study, a characterization of pollutant wash-off has been performed over sixteen months, at the sub-catchment scale for urban roads as impervious surfaces. The study was conducted in Valencia, Spain, a city with a Mediterranean climate. The results show high event mean concentrations for suspended solids (98mg/l), organic matter (142mgCOD/l, 25mgBOD 5 /l), nutrients (3.7mgTN/l, 0.4mgTP/l), and metals (0.23, 0.32, 0.62 and 0.17mg/l for Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively). The results of the runoff characterization highlight the need to control this pollution at its source, separately from wastewater because of their different characteristics. The wash-off, defined in terms of mobilized mass (g/m 2 ) fits well with both process-based and statistical models, with the runoff volume and rainfall depth being the main explanatory variables. Based on these results and using information collected from hydrographs and pollutographs, an approach for sizing sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), focusing on water quality and quantity variables, has been proposed. By setting a concentration-based target (TSS discharged to receiving waters <35mg/l), the results indicate that for a SuDS type detention basin (DB), an off-line configuration performs better than an on-line configuration. The resulting design criterion, expressed as SuDS volume per unit catchment area, assuming a DB type SuDS, varies between 7 and 10l/m 2 . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

String Scale Gauge Coupling Unification with Vector-Like Exotics and Noncanonical U(1)Y Normalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barger, V.; Jiang, Jing; Langacker, Paul; Li, Tianjun

We use a new approach to study string scale gauge coupling unification systematically, allowing both the possibility of noncanonical U(1)Y normalization and the existence of vector-like particles whose quantum numbers are the same as those of the Standard Model (SM) fermions and their Hermitian conjugates and the SM adjoint particles. We first give all the independent sets (Yi) of particles that can be employed to achieve SU(3)C and SU(2)L string scale gauge coupling unification and calculate their masses. Second, for a noncanonical U(1)Y normalization, we obtain string scale SU(3)C ×SU(2)L ×U(1)Y gauge coupling unification by choosing suitable U(1)Y normalizations for each of the Yi sets. Alternatively, for the canonical U(1)Y normalization, we achieve string scale gauge coupling unification by considering suitable combinations of the Yi sets or by introducing additional independent sets (Zi), that do not affect the SU(3)C ×SU(2)L unification at tree level, and then choosing suitable combinations, one from the Yi sets and one from the Zi sets. We also briefly discuss string scale gauge coupling unification in models with higher Kac-Moody levels for SU(2)L or SU(3)C.

4D printing of a self-morphing polymer driven by a swellable guest medium.

PubMed

Su, Jheng-Wun; Tao, Xiang; Deng, Heng; Zhang, Cheng; Jiang, Shan; Lin, Yuyi; Lin, Jian

2018-01-31

There is a significant need of advanced materials that can be fabricated into functional devices with defined three-dimensional (3D) structures for application in tissue engineering, flexible electronics, and soft robotics. This need motivates an emerging four-dimensional (4D) printing technology, by which printed 3D structures consisting of active materials can transform their configurations over time in response to stimuli. Despite the ubiquity of active materials in performing self-morphing processes, their potential for 4D printing has not been fully explored to date. In this study, we demonstrate 4D printing of a commercial polymer, SU-8, which has not been reported to date in this field. The working principle is based on a self-morphing process of the printed SU-8 structures through spatial control of the swelling medium inside the polymer matrix by a modified process. To understand the self-morphing behavior, fundamental studies on the effect of the geometries including contours and filling patterns were carried out. A soft electronic device as an actuator was demonstrated to realize an application of this programmable polymer using the 3D printing technology. These studies provide a new paradigm for application of SU-8 in 4D printing, paving a new route to the exploration of more potential candidates by this demonstrated strategy.

Event-Driven X-Ray CCD Detectors for High Energy Astrophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ricker, George R.

2004-01-01

A viewgraph presentation describing the Event-Driven X- Ray CCD (EDCCD) detector system for high energy astrophysics is presented. The topics include: 1) EDCCD: Description and Advantages; 2) Summary of Grant Activity Carried Out; and 3) EDCCD Test System.

Maximum Principle for General Controlled Systems Driven by Fractional Brownian Motions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han Yuecai; Hu Yaozhong; Song Jian, E-mail: jsong2@math.rutgers.edu

2013-04-15

We obtain a maximum principle for stochastic control problem of general controlled stochastic differential systems driven by fractional Brownian motions (of Hurst parameter H>1/2). This maximum principle specifies a system of equations that the optimal control must satisfy (necessary condition for the optimal control). This system of equations consists of a backward stochastic differential equation driven by both fractional Brownian motions and the corresponding underlying standard Brownian motions. In addition to this backward equation, the maximum principle also involves the Malliavin derivatives. Our approach is to use conditioning and Malliavin calculus. To arrive at our maximum principle we need tomore » develop some new results of stochastic analysis of the controlled systems driven by fractional Brownian motions via fractional calculus. Our approach of conditioning and Malliavin calculus is also applied to classical system driven by standard Brownian motions while the controller has only partial information. As a straightforward consequence, the classical maximum principle is also deduced in this more natural and simpler way.« less

Safety of High Speed Guided Ground Transportation Systems: Magnetic and Electric Field Testing of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) System. v. 2. appendices.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1993-06-01

The 51 appendices contain a detailed reporting of the magnetic field characteristics measured onboard the WMATA Metrorail and near associated facilities. The data have been consolidated and presented as efficiently as possible without resorting to su...

Itch/β-arrestin2-dependent non-proteolytic ubiquitylation of SuFu controls Hedgehog signalling and medulloblastoma tumorigenesis.

PubMed

Infante, Paola; Faedda, Roberta; Bernardi, Flavia; Bufalieri, Francesca; Lospinoso Severini, Ludovica; Alfonsi, Romina; Mazzà, Daniela; Siler, Mariangela; Coni, Sonia; Po, Agnese; Petroni, Marialaura; Ferretti, Elisabetta; Mori, Mattia; De Smaele, Enrico; Canettieri, Gianluca; Capalbo, Carlo; Maroder, Marella; Screpanti, Isabella; Kool, Marcel; Pfister, Stefan M; Guardavaccaro, Daniele; Gulino, Alberto; Di Marcotullio, Lucia

2018-03-07

Suppressor of Fused (SuFu), a tumour suppressor mutated in medulloblastoma, is a central player of Hh signalling, a pathway crucial for development and deregulated in cancer. Although the control of Gli transcription factors by SuFu is critical in Hh signalling, our understanding of the mechanism regulating this key event remains limited. Here, we show that the Itch/β-arrestin2 complex binds SuFu and induces its Lys63-linked polyubiquitylation without affecting its stability. This process increases the association of SuFu with Gli3, promoting the conversion of Gli3 into a repressor, which keeps Hh signalling off. Activation of Hh signalling antagonises the Itch-dependent polyubiquitylation of SuFu. Notably, different SuFu mutations occurring in medulloblastoma patients are insensitive to Itch activity, thus leading to deregulated Hh signalling and enhancing medulloblastoma cell growth. Our findings uncover mechanisms controlling the tumour suppressive functions of SuFu and reveal that their alterations are implicated in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis.

Application of polynomial su(1, 1) algebra to Pöschl-Teller potentials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Hong-Biao, E-mail: zhanghb017@nenu.edu.cn; Lu, Lu

2013-12-15

Two novel polynomial su(1, 1) algebras for the physical systems with the first and second Pöschl-Teller (PT) potentials are constructed, and their specific representations are presented. Meanwhile, these polynomial su(1, 1) algebras are used as an algebraic technique to solve eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonians associated with the first and second PT potentials. The algebraic approach explores an appropriate new pair of raising and lowing operators K-circumflex{sub ±} of polynomial su(1, 1) algebra as a pair of shift operators of our Hamiltonians. In addition, two usual su(1, 1) algebras associated with the first and second PT potentials are derivedmore » naturally from the polynomial su(1, 1) algebras built by us.« less

Investigation on the mechanism of nitrogen plasma modified PDMS bonding with SU-8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chengxin; Yuan, Yong J.

2016-02-01

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SU-8 are both widely used for microfluidic system. However, it is difficult to permanently seal SU-8 microfluidic channels using PDMS with conventional methods. Previous efforts of combining these two materials mainly employed oxygen plasma modified PDMS. The nitrogen plasma modification of PDMS bonding with SU-8 is rarely studied in recent years. In this work, the mechanism of nitrogen plasma modified PDMS bonding with SU-8 was investigated. The fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle of a water droplet were used to analyze the nitrogen plasma modified surface and the hydrophilic stability of PDMS samples. Pull-off tests were used for estimating the bonding effect of interface between nitrogen plasma modified PDMS and SU-8.

The shifted harmonic approximation and asymptotic SU(2) and SU(1,1) Clebsch-Gordan coefficients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowe, D. J.; de Guise, Hubert

2010-12-01

Clebsch-Gordan coefficients of SU(2) and SU(1,1) are defined as eigenfunctions of a linear operator acting on the tensor product of the Hilbert spaces for two irreps of these groups. The shifted harmonic approximation is then used to solve these equations in asymptotic limits in which these eigenfunctions approach harmonic oscillator wavefunctions and thereby derive asymptotic expressions for these Clebsch-Gordan coefficients.

Classical r matrix of the su(2 vertical bar 2) super Yang-Mills spin chain

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Torrielli, Alessandro

2007-05-15

In this note we straightforwardly derive and make use of the quantum R matrix for the su(2 vertical bar 2) super Yang-Mills spin chain in the manifest su(1 vertical bar 2)-invariant formulation, which solves the standard quantum Yang-Baxter equation, in order to obtain the correspondent (undressed) classical r matrix from the first order expansion in the 'deformation' parameter 2{pi}/{radical}({lambda}) and check that this last solves the standard classical Yang-Baxter equation. We analyze its bialgebra structure, its dependence on the spectral parameters, and its pole structure. We notice that it still preserves an su(1 vertical bar 2) subalgebra, thereby admitting anmore » expression in terms of a combination of projectors, which spans only a subspace of su(1 vertical bar 2)xsu(1 vertical bar 2). We study the residue at its simple pole at the origin and comment on the applicability of the classical Belavin-Drinfeld type of analysis.« less

Non-severe Hypoglycemia Risk Difference between Sulfonylurea and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2-I) as an Add-On to Metformin in Randomized Controlled Trials.

PubMed

Farahani, Pendar

2017-05-23

Non-severe hypoglycemia reduces well-being, lowers quality of life, reduces productivity and increases treatment costs. The non-severe hypoglycemia rate, attributable to sulfonylurea (SU) utilization compared with newer classes such as SGLT2-I, could be of clinical significance. To explore the non-severe hypoglycemia risk difference (RD) for SU use compared with SGLT2-I in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as an add on to metformin. A search was conducted for RCTs of SGLT2-I. PubMed database were utilized for this search. The search was limited to RCTs reported in English language for canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. SU dose comparison was utilized to convert the dose of SUs to glimepiride equivalent doses. Totally, 118 RCTs were reviewed; 6 articles had an arm for a SU as add on to metformin. Six articles belong to 3 RCTs, which reported results for 52 weeks and 104 weeks. Average non-severe hypoglycemia rate for SU arm was 30% (5.5%) [Mean (SD)] for 52 weeks and 35.6% (6.1%) for 104 weeks. RD for non-severe hypoglycemia events for SU compared to SGLT2-I was 26.7% (4.9%) for 52 weeks (p-value less than 0.001) and 30.6% (5.5%) for 104 weeks (p-value less than 0.001). There was a significant correlation between dose of SU and hypoglycemia rate (Pearson correlation 0.995; R-square 99%). This study illustrated that a large proportion of patients who had exposure to SU in RCTs of SGLT2-I experienced non-severe hypoglycemia compared to SGLT2-I. There was a close relation between SU dose and increased probability of non-severe hypoglycemia events. © 2017 Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology. All rights reserved.

Investigation of the recognition of an important uridine in an internal loop of a hairpin ribozyme prepared using post-synthetically modified oligonucleotides.

PubMed Central

Komatsu, Y; Kumagai, I; Ohtsuka, E

1999-01-01

We introduced 4-thio- ((4S)U), 2-thio- ((2S)U), 4- O -methyluridine ((4Me)U) and cytidine substitutions for U+2, which is an important base for cleavage in a substrate RNA. Oligonucleotides containing 4-thio- and 4- O -methyluridine were prepared by a new convenient post-synthetic modification method using a 4- O - p -nitrophenyl-uridine derivative. A hairpin ribozyme cleaved the substrate RNA with either C+2, (4S)U+2 or (4Me)U+2 at approximately 14-, 6- and 4-fold lower rates, respectively, than that of the natural substrate. In contrast, the substrate with a (2S)U+2 was cleaved with the same activity as the natural substrate. These results suggest that the O4 of U+2 is involved in hydrogen bonding at loop A, but the O2 of U+2 is not recognized by the active residues. Circular dichroism data of the ribozymes containing (4S)U+2 and (2S)U+2, as well as the susceptibility of the thiocarbonyl group to hydrogen peroxide, suggest that a conformational change of U+2 occurs during the domain docking in the cleavage reaction. We propose here the conformational change of U+2 from the ground state to the active molecule during the reaction. PMID:10536137

Comparing shut-down strategies for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyarce, Alejandro; Zakrisson, Erik; Ivity, Matthew; Lagergren, Carina; Ofstad, Axel Baumann; Bodén, Andreas; Lindbergh, Göran

2014-05-01

Application of system strategies for mitigating carbon corrosion of the catalyst support in proton exchange fuel cells (PEMFCs) is a requirement for PEMFC systems, especially in the case of systems for transport application undergoing thousands of start-ups and shut-downs (SU/SD) during its lifetime. This study compares several of the most common shut-down strategies for 1100 cycles SU/SD cycles at 70 °C and 80% RH using commercially available fuel cell components. Each cycle simulates a prolonged shut-down, i.e. finishing each cycle with air filled anode and cathode. Furthermore, all start-ups are unprotected, i.e. introducing the H2 rich gas into an air filled anode. Finally, each cycle also includes normal fuel cell operation at 0.5 A cm-2 using synthetic reformate/air. H2 purge of the cathode and O2 consumption using a load were found to be the most effective strategies. The degradation rate using the H2 purge strategy was 23 μV cycle-1 at 0.86 A cm-2 using H2 and air at the anode and cathode, respectively. This degradation rate may be regarded as a generally low value, especially considering that this value also includes the degradation rate caused by unprotected start-ups.

A remark on the phase transitions of modified action spin and gauge models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiberg, Nathan; Solomon, Sorin

1983-06-01

We consider the phase diagrams of modified action gauge and spin models and concentrate on their periphery - infinitely far from their origins (zero temperature - β-1 = 0). In this limit the exact positions of the phase transitions are found by looking for the global minimum of the single plaquette action (for a spin system - the single link energy). As the parameters of the model are varied, the position of such a global minimum is in general changed. When this changed is non-analytic, a phase transition takes place. The phase structure for finite β is clearly similar, but not identical to the infinite β one. We discuss several finite β corrections that should be applied to the exactly known infinite β picture. We confront our analysis for infinite β2 = ∑ iβ2i with the Monte Carlo simulations for two four-dimensional gauge systems: an SU(3) gauge model with action S=-Re∑ p( β1tr Up+ β2(tr Up) 2) and an SU(2) model with S=- Re Σ p[β 1{1}/{2}trU p+β 2( {1}/{2}trU p) 2+β 3( {1}/{2}trU p) 3] .

Role of Su(Hw) zinc finger 10 and interaction with CP190 and Mod(mdg4) proteins in recruiting the Su(Hw) complex to chromatin sites in Drosophila.

PubMed

Melnikova, Larisa; Kostyuchenko, Margarita; Parshikov, Alexander; Georgiev, Pavel; Golovnin, Anton

2018-01-01

Su(Hw) belongs to the class of proteins that organize chromosome architecture and boundaries/insulators between regulatory domains. This protein contains a cluster of 12 zinc finger domains most of which are responsible for binding to three different modules in the consensus site. Su(Hw) forms a complex with CP190 and Mod(mdg4)-67.2 proteins that binds to well-known Drosophila insulators. To understand how Su(Hw) performs its activities and binds to specific sites in chromatin, we have examined the previously described su(Hw)f mutation that disrupts the 10th zinc finger (ZF10) responsible for Su(Hw) binding to the upstream module. The results have shown that Su(Hw)f loses the ability to interact with CP190 in the absence of DNA. In contrast, complete deletion of ZF10 does not prevent the interaction between Su(Hw)Δ10 and CP190. Having studied insulator complex formation in different mutant backgrounds, we conclude that both association with CP190 and Mod(mdg4)-67.2 partners and proper organization of DNA binding site are essential for the efficient recruitment of the Su(Hw) complex to chromatin insulators.

Tunnel magnetoresistance and linear conductance of double quantum dots strongly coupled to ferromagnetic leads

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Weymann, Ireneusz, E-mail: weymann@amu.edu.pl

2015-05-07

We analyze the spin-dependent linear-response transport properties of double quantum dots strongly coupled to external ferromagnetic leads. By using the numerical renormalization group method, we determine the dependence of the linear conductance and tunnel magnetoresistance on the degree of spin polarization of the leads and the position of the double dot levels. We focus on the transport regime where the system exhibits the SU(4) Kondo effect. It is shown that the presence of ferromagnets generally leads the suppression of the linear conductance due to the presence of an exchange field. Moreover, the exchange field gives rise to a transition frommore » the SU(4) to the orbital SU(2) Kondo effect. We also analyze the dependence of the tunnel magnetoresistance on the double dot levels' positions and show that it exhibits a very nontrivial behavior.« less

¡Cocinar Para Su Salud! Development of a Culturally Based Nutrition Education Curriculum for Hispanic Breast Cancer Survivors Using a Theory-Driven Procedural Model.

PubMed

Aycinena, Ana Corina; Jennings, Kerri-Ann; Gaffney, Ann Ogden; Koch, Pamela A; Contento, Isobel R; Gonzalez, Monica; Guidon, Ela; Karmally, Wahida; Hershman, Dawn; Greenlee, Heather

2017-02-01

We developed a theory-based dietary change curriculum for Hispanic breast cancer survivors with the goal of testing the effects of the intervention on change in dietary intake of fruits/vegetables and fat in a randomized, clinical trial. Social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model were used as theoretical frameworks to structure curriculum components using the Nutrition Education DESIGN Procedure. Formative assessments were conducted to identify facilitators and barriers common to Hispanic women and test the degree of difficulty and appropriateness of program materials. Focus groups provided valuable insight and informed preimplementation modifications to the dietary program. The result was a systematically planned, evidence-based, culturally tailored dietary intervention for Hispanic breast cancer survivors, ¡Cocinar Para Su Salud! (Cook for Your Health!). The methodology described here may serve as a framework for the development of future dietary interventions among diverse and minority populations. Short- and long-term study results will be reported elsewhere.

[Six-month effectiveness and tolerability of pioglitazone in combination with sulfonylureas or metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus].

PubMed

Rodríguez, Angel; Reviriego, Jesús; Polavieja, Pepa; Mesa, Jordi

2008-11-29

Pioglitazone has been reported to improve common cardiovascular risk factors in addition to glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The changes in cardiovascular risk profile were evaluated comparatively in large cohorts either treated or not with pioglitazone-containing combinations in the current clinical setting within Spain. A nationwide prospective, controlled, observational cohort clinical study was performed in 2294 patients with T2DM who started, at the criterion of the treating physician, oral antihyperglycemic treatment with either pioglitazone plus a sulfonylurea (Pio+SU; n=851), pioglitazone plus metformin (Pio+Met; n=723) or a sulfonylurea plus metformin (SU+Met; n=720) due to inadequate control with previous therapy. Serum cholesterol, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure and certain anthropometric parameters were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased in average (mg/dl) 2.08 with Pio+SU, 2.06 with Pio+Met and 0.67 with SU+Met; while triglycerides decreased (mg/dl) 26.6, 30.6 and 17.6 in the same cohorts. Inter-group differences were significant (p<0.001 in both parameters). Total cholesterol decreased significantly more with SU+Met than in the pioglitazone cohorts. Mean fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1C reductions were significantly greater in the pioglitazone cohorts than in the SU+Met cohort: 27.74, 28.94 and 23.46 mg/dl (p=0.012); and 0.80, 0.87 and 0.71% (p=0.016) with Pio+SU, Pio+Met and SU+Met, respectively. Slight, but significant variations of body weight were also registered in the Pio+SU (+1.4 kg) and SU+Met (-0.7 kg) groups. Treatment with pioglitazone was associated with significant improvements of lipid and glycemic parameters that are linked to insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk in patients with T2DM in their routine clinical care. The non-randomised allocation of patients to treatments, inherent to its observational design, is an important limitation of the present study.

Degeneracy of vector-channel spatial correlators in high temperature QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rohrhofer, Christian; Aoki, Yasumichi; Cossu, Guido; Fukaya, Hidenori; Glozman, Leonid; Hashimoto, Shoji; Lang, Christian B.; Prelovsek, Sasa

2018-03-01

We study spatial isovector meson correlators in Nf = 2 QCD with dynamical domain-wall fermions on 323 × 8 lattices at temperatures up to 380 MeV with various quark masses. We measure the correlators of spin-one isovector operators including vector, axial-vector, tensor and axial-tensor. At temperatures above Tc we observe an approximate degeneracy of the correlators in these channels, which is unexpected because some of them are not related under SU(2)L×SU(2)R nor U(1)A symmetries. The observed approximate degeneracy suggests emergent SU(2)CS (chiral-spin) and SU(4) symmetries at high T.

Self-folding micropatterned polymeric containers.

PubMed

Azam, Anum; Laflin, Kate E; Jamal, Mustapha; Fernandes, Rohan; Gracias, David H

2011-02-01

We demonstrate self-folding of precisely patterned, optically transparent, all-polymeric containers and describe their utility in mammalian cell and microorganism encapsulation and culture. The polyhedral containers, with SU-8 faces and biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) hinges, spontaneously assembled on heating. Self-folding was driven by a minimization of surface area of the liquefying PCL hinges within lithographically patterned two-dimensional (2D) templates. The strategy allowed for the fabrication of containers with variable polyhedral shapes, sizes and precisely defined porosities in all three dimensions. We provide proof-of-concept for the use of these polymeric containers as encapsulants for beads, chemicals, mammalian cells and bacteria. We also compare accelerated hinge degradation rates in alkaline solutions of varying pH. These optically transparent containers resemble three-dimensional (3D) micro-Petri dishes and can be utilized to sustain, monitor and deliver living biological components.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: General approach to \\mathfrak {SU}(n) quasi-distribution functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klimov, Andrei B.; de Guise, Hubert

2010-10-01

We propose an operational form for the kernel of a mapping between an operator acting in a Hilbert space of a quantum system with an \\mathfrak {SU}(n) symmetry group and its symbol in the corresponding classical phase space. For symmetric irreps of \\mathfrak {SU}(n) , this mapping is bijective. We briefly discuss complications that will occur in the general case.

Implementing the SU(2) Symmetry for the DMRG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarez, Gonzalo

2010-03-01

In the Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) algorithm (White, 1992), Hamiltonian symmetries play an important role. Using symmetries, the matrix representation of the Hamiltonian can be blocked. Diagonalizing each matrix block is more efficient than diagonalizing the original matrix. This talk will explain how the DMRG++ codefootnotetextarXiv:0902.3185 or Computer Physics Communications 180 (2009) 1572-1578. has been extended to handle the non-local SU(2) symmetry in a model independent way. Improvements in CPU times compared to runs with only local symmetries will be discussed for typical tight-binding models of strongly correlated electronic systems. The computational bottleneck of the algorithm, and the use of shared memory parallelization will also be addressed. Finally, a roadmap for future work on DMRG++ will be presented.

SU(1,1)-type light-atom-correlated interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Hongmei; Li, Dong; Yuan, Chun-Hua; Chen, L. Q.; Ou, Z. Y.; Zhang, Weiping

2015-08-01

The quantum correlation of light and atomic collective excitation can be used to compose an SU(1,1)-type hybrid light-atom interferometer, where one arm in the optical SU(1,1) interferometer is replaced by the atomic collective excitation. The phase-sensing probes include not only the photon field but also the atomic collective excitation inside the interferometer. For a coherent squeezed state as the phase-sensing field, the phase sensitivity can approach the Heisenberg limit under the optimal conditions. We also study the effects of the loss of light field and the dephasing of atomic excitation on the phase sensitivity. This kind of active SU(1,1) interferometer can also be realized in other systems, such as circuit quantum electrodynamics in microwave systems, which provides a different method for basic measurement using the hybrid interferometers.

Quantum simulation. Spectroscopic observation of SU(N)-symmetric interactions in Sr orbital magnetism.

PubMed

Zhang, X; Bishof, M; Bromley, S L; Kraus, C V; Safronova, M S; Zoller, P; Rey, A M; Ye, J

2014-09-19

SU(N) symmetry can emerge in a quantum system with N single-particle spin states when spin is decoupled from interparticle interactions. Taking advantage of the high measurement precision offered by an ultrastable laser, we report a spectroscopic observation of SU(N ≤ 10) symmetry in (87)Sr. By encoding the electronic orbital degree of freedom in two clock states while keeping the system open to as many as 10 nuclear spin sublevels, we probed the non-equilibrium two-orbital SU(N) magnetism via Ramsey spectroscopy of atoms confined in an array of two-dimensional optical traps; we studied the spin-orbital quantum dynamics and determined the relevant interaction parameters. This study lays the groundwork for using alkaline-earth atoms as testbeds for important orbital models. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Evidence for the Critical Role of Sucrose Synthase for Anoxic Tolerance of Maize Roots using a Double Mutant

PubMed Central

Ricard, Bérénice; Toai, Tara Van; Chourey, Prem; Saglio, Pierre

1998-01-01

The induction of the sucrose synthase (SuSy) gene (SuSy) by low O2, low temperature, and limiting carbohydrate supply suggested a role in carbohydrate metabolism under stress conditions. The isolation of a maize (Zea mays L.) line mutant for the two known SuSy genes but functionally normal showed that SuSy activity might not be required for aerobic growth and allowed the possibility of investigating its importance during anaerobic stress. As assessed by root elongation after return to air, hypoxic pretreatment improved anoxic tolerance, in correlation with the number of SuSy genes and the level of SuSy expression. Furthermore, root death in double-mutant seedlings during anoxic incubation could be attributed to the impaired utilization of sucrose (Suc). Collectively, these data provide unequivocal evidence that Suc is the principal C source and that SuSy is the main enzyme active in Suc breakdown in roots of maize seedlings deprived of O2. In this situation, SuSy plays a critical role in anoxic tolerance. PMID:9536049

Dynamics of gas-driven eruptions: Experimental simulations using CO2-H2O-polymer system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Youxue; Sturtevant, B.; Stolper, E. M.

1997-02-01

We report exploratory experiments simulating gas-driven eruptions using the CO2-H2O system at room temperature as an analog of natural eruptive systems. The experimental apparatus consists of a test cell and a large tank. Initially, up to 1.0 wt% of CO2 is dissolved in liquid water under a pressure of up to 735 kPa in the test cell. The experiment is initiated by suddenly reducing the pressure of the test cell to a typical tank pressure of 10 kPa. The following are the main results: (1) The style of the process depends on the decompression ratio. There is a threshold decompression ratio above which rapid eruption occurs. (2) During rapid eruption, there is always fragmentation at the liquid-vapor interface. Fragmentation may also occur in the flow interior. (3) Initially, the top of the erupting column ascends at a constant acceleration (instead of constant velocity). (4) Average bubble radius grows as t2/3. (5) When viscosity is 20 times that of pure water or greater, a static foam may be stable after expansion to 97% vesicularity. The experiments provide several insights into natural gas-driven eruptions, including (1) the interplay between bubble growth and ascent of the erupting column must be considered for realistic modeling of bubble growth during gas-driven eruptions, (2) buoyant rise of the bubbly magma is not necessary during an explosive volcanic eruption, and (3) CO2-driven limnic eruptions can be explosive. The violence increases with the initial CO2 content dissolved in water.

SuML: A Survey Markup Language for Generalized Survey Encoding

PubMed Central

Barclay, MW; Lober, WB; Karras, BT

2002-01-01

There is a need in clinical and research settings for a sophisticated, generalized, web based survey tool that supports complex logic, separation of content and presentation, and computable guidelines. There are many commercial and open source survey packages available that provide simple logic; few provide sophistication beyond “goto” statements; none support the use of guidelines. These tools are driven by databases, static web pages, and structured documents using markup languages such as eXtensible Markup Language (XML). We propose a generalized, guideline aware language and an implementation architecture using open source standards.

Convexity of the entanglement entropy of SU(2N)-symmetric fermions with attractive interactions.

PubMed

Drut, Joaquín E; Porter, William J

2015-02-06

The positivity of the probability measure of attractively interacting systems of 2N-component fermions enables the derivation of an exact convexity property for the ground-state energy of such systems. Using analogous arguments, applied to path-integral expressions for the entanglement entropy derived recently, we prove nonperturbative analytic relations for the Rényi entropies of those systems. These relations are valid for all subsystem sizes, particle numbers, and dimensions, and in arbitrary external trapping potentials.

Families from supergroups and predictions for leptonic CP violation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barr, S. M.; Chen, Heng-Yu

2017-10-01

As was shown in 1984 by Caneschi, Farrar, and Schwimmer, decomposing representations of the supergroup SU( M | N ), can give interesting anomaly-free sets of fermion representations of SU( M ) × SU( N ) × U(1). It is shown here that such groups can be used to construct realistic grand unified models with non-abelian gauged family symmetries. A particularly simple three-family example based on SU(5) × SU(2) × U(1) is studied. The forms of the mass matrices, including that of the right-handed neutrinos, are determined in terms of SU(2) Clebsch coefficients; and the model is able to fit the lepton sector and predict the Dirac CP-violating phase of the neutrinos. Models of this type would have a rich phenomenology if part of the family symmetry is broken near the electroweak scale.

Energy Exchange in Driven Open Quantum Systems at Strong Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrega, Matteo; Solinas, Paolo; Sassetti, Maura; Weiss, Ulrich

2016-06-01

The time-dependent energy transfer in a driven quantum system strongly coupled to a heat bath is studied within an influence functional approach. Exact formal expressions for the statistics of energy dissipation into the different channels are derived. The general method is applied to the driven dissipative two-state system. It is shown that the energy flows obey a balance relation, and that, for strong coupling, the interaction may constitute the major dissipative channel. Results in analytic form are presented for the particular value K =1/2 of strong Ohmic dissipation. The energy flows show interesting behaviors including driving-induced coherences and quantum stochastic resonances. It is found that the general characteristics persists for K near 1/2 .

Progression to insulin for patients with diabetes mellitus on dual oral antidiabetic therapy using the US Department of Defense Database.

PubMed

Rascati, K; Richards, K; Lopez, D; Cheng, L-I; Wilson, J

2013-10-01

To compare 'progression to insulin' for three cohorts on oral antidiabetic medication combinations: metformin/sulphonylurea (Met/SU), metformin/thiazolidinedione (Met/TZD) and sulphonylurea/thiazolidinedione (SU/TZD). Retrospective cohort analysis design was used. The subjects were US nationwide members of military and their families. A total of 5608 patients who were on antidiabetic monotherapy for at least 1 year before adding a second agent to their medication regimen between October 2001 and September 2008 participated in this study. Mean age ranged from 64 to 71 years among the cohorts. Cox regression compared the progression to insulin, adjusting for demographics, months of follow-up and co-morbidities [measured with Chronic Disease Score (CDS)]. By the end of the 2- to 6-year follow-up period, 14.3% of the Met/TZD cohort, 23.6% of the Met/SU cohort and 28.2% of the SU/TZD cohort had insulin added to their regimen. Those in the Met/SU cohort had a 1.8 times higher probability of progression to insulin than those in the Met/TZD cohort [odds ratio (OR) = 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.51-2.14), and those in the SU/TZD cohort had a 2.5 times higher probability of progression to insulin than those in the Met/TZD cohort (OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 2.04-3.08). When sensitizers were paired (Met/TZD), a lower percentage of patients progressed to insulin during the study period, as opposed to patients who used a combination of a secretagogue with a sensitizer (SU/TZD or Met/SU). © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Supersymmetric solutions of the cosmological, gauged, ℂ magic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chimento, Samuele; Ortín, Tomás; Ruipérez, Alejandro

2018-05-01

We construct supersymmetric solutions of theories of gauged N = 1 , d = 5 supergravity coupled to vector multiplets with a U(1)R Abelian (Fayet-Iliopoulos) gauging and an independent SU(2) gauging associated to an SU(2) isometry group of the Real Special scalar manifold. These theories provide minimal supersymmetrizations of 5-dimensional SU(2) Einstein-Yang-Mills theories with negative cosmological constant. We consider a minimal model with these gauge groups and the "magic model" based on the Jordan algebra J 3 ℂ with gauge group SU(3) × U(1)R, which is a consistent truncation of maximal SO(6)-gauged supergravity in d = 5 and whose solutions can be embedded in Type IIB Superstring Theory. We find several solutions containing selfdual SU(2) instantons, some of which asymptote to AdS5 and some of which are very small, supersymmetric, deformations of AdS5. We also show how some of those solutions can be embedded in Romans' SU(2) × U(1)-gauged half-maximal supergravity, which was obtained by Lu, Pope and Tran by compactification of the Type IIB Superstring effective action. This provides another way of uplifting those solutions to 10 dimensions.

Generalizations of holographic renormalization group flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suh, Minwoo

The AdS/CFT correspondence conjectures the duality between type IIB supergravity on AdS5 × S5 and N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory. Mass deformations of N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory drive renormalization group (RG) flows. Holographic RG flows are described by domain wall solutions interpolating between AdS5 geometries at critical points of N = 8 gauged supergravity in five dimensions. In this thesis we study two directions of generalizations of holographic RG flows. First, motivated by the Janus solutions, we study holographic RG flows with dilaton and axion fields. To be specific, we consider the SU (3)-invariant flow with dilaton and axion fields, and discover the known supersymmetric Janus solution in five dimensions. Then, by employing the lift ansatz, we uplift the supersymmetric Janus solution of the SU(3)-invariant truncation with dilaton and axion fields to a solution of type IIB supergravity. We identify the uplifted solution to be one of the known supersymmetric Janus solution in type IIB supergravity. Furthermore, we consider the SU(2) × U(1)-invariant N = 2 and N = 1 supersymmetric flows with dilaton and axion fields. Second, motivated by the development in AdS/CMT, we study holographic RG flows with gauge fields. We consider the SU(3)-invariant flow with electric potentials or magnetic fields, and find first-order systems of flow equations for each case.

Efficient active waveguiding properties of Mo6 nano-cluster-doped polymer nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bigeon, J.; Huby, N.; Amela-Cortes, M.; Molard, Y.; Garreau, A.; Cordier, S.; Bêche, B.; Duvail, J.-L.

2016-06-01

We investigate 1D nanostructures based on a Mo6@SU8 hybrid nanocomposite in which photoluminescent Mo6 clusters are embedded in the photosensitive SU8 resist. Tens of micrometers long Mo6@SU8-based tubular nanostructures were fabricated by the wetting template method, enabling the control of the inner and outer diameter to about 190 nm and 240 nm respectively, as supported by structural and optical characterizations. The image plane optical study of these nanotubes under optical pumping highlights the efficient waveguiding phenomenon of the red luminescence emitted by the clusters. Moreover, the wave vector distribution in the Fourier plane determined by leakage radiation microscopy gives additional features of the emission and waveguiding. First, the anisotropic red luminescence of the whole system can be attributed to the guided mode along the nanotube. Then, a low-loss propagation behavior is evidenced in the Mo6@SU8-based nanotubes. This result contrasts with the weaker waveguiding signature in the case of UV210-based nanotubes embedding PFO (poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)). It is attributed to the strong reabsorption phenomenon, owing to overlapping between absorption and emission bands in the semi-conducting conjugated polymer PFO. These results make this Mo6@SU8 original class of nanocomposite a promising candidate as nanosources for submicronic photonic integration.

Efficient active waveguiding properties of Mo6 nano-cluster-doped polymer nanotubes.

PubMed

Bigeon, J; Huby, N; Amela-Cortes, M; Molard, Y; Garreau, A; Cordier, S; Bêche, B; Duvail, J-L

2016-06-24

We investigate 1D nanostructures based on a Mo6@SU8 hybrid nanocomposite in which photoluminescent Mo6 clusters are embedded in the photosensitive SU8 resist. Tens of micrometers long Mo6@SU8-based tubular nanostructures were fabricated by the wetting template method, enabling the control of the inner and outer diameter to about 190 nm and 240 nm respectively, as supported by structural and optical characterizations. The image plane optical study of these nanotubes under optical pumping highlights the efficient waveguiding phenomenon of the red luminescence emitted by the clusters. Moreover, the wave vector distribution in the Fourier plane determined by leakage radiation microscopy gives additional features of the emission and waveguiding. First, the anisotropic red luminescence of the whole system can be attributed to the guided mode along the nanotube. Then, a low-loss propagation behavior is evidenced in the Mo6@SU8-based nanotubes. This result contrasts with the weaker waveguiding signature in the case of UV210-based nanotubes embedding PFO (poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)). It is attributed to the strong reabsorption phenomenon, owing to overlapping between absorption and emission bands in the semi-conducting conjugated polymer PFO. These results make this Mo6@SU8 original class of nanocomposite a promising candidate as nanosources for submicronic photonic integration.

An electrochemical pumping system for on-chip gradient generation.

PubMed

Xie, Jun; Miao, Yunan; Shih, Jason; He, Qing; Liu, Jun; Tai, Yu-Chong; Lee, Terry D

2004-07-01

Within the context of microfluidic systems, it has been difficult to devise pumping systems that can deliver adequate flow rates at high pressure for applications such as HPLC. An on-chip electrochemical pumping system based on electrolysis that offers certain advantages over designs that utilize electroosmotic driven flow has been fabricated and tested. The pump was fabricated on both silicon and glass substrates using photolithography. The electrolysis electrodes were formed from either platinum or gold, and SU8, an epoxy-based photoresist, was used to form the pump chambers. A glass cover plate and a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) gasket were used to seal the chambers. Filling of the chambers was accomplished by using a syringe to inject liquid via filling ports, which were later sealed using a glass cover plate. The current supplied to the electrodes controlled the rate of gas formation and, thus, the resulting fluid flow rate. At low backpressures, flow rates >1 microL/min have been demonstrated using <1 mW of power. Pumping at backpressures as high as 200 psi have been demonstrated, with 20 nL/min having been observed using <4 mW. By integrating two electrochemical pumps with a polymer electrospray nozzle, we have confirmed the successful generation of a solvent gradient via a mass spectrometer.

Broken SU(3) x SU(3) x SU(3) x SU(3) Symmetry

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Freund, P. G. O.; Nambu, Y.

1964-10-01

We argue that the "Eight-fold Way" version of the SU(3) symmetry should be extended to a product of up to four separate and badly broken SU(3) groups, including the gamma{sub 5} type SU(3) symmetry. A hierarchy of subgroups (or subalgebras) are considered within this framework, and two candidates are found to be interesting in view of experimental evidence. Main features of the theory are: 1) the baryons belong to a nonet; 2) there is an octet of axial vector gauge mesons in addition to one or two octets of vector mesons; 3) pseudoscalar and scalar mesons exist as "incomplete" multiplets arising from spontaneous breakdown of symmetry.

Baryon-baryon interactions and spin-flavor symmetry from lattice quantum chromodynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wagman, Michael L.; Winter, Frank; Chang, Emmanuel

Lattice quantum chromodynamics is used to constrain the interactions of two octet baryons at the SU(3) flavor-symmetric point, with quark masses that are heavier than those in nature (equal to that of the physical strange quark mass and corresponding to a pion mass ofmore » $$\\approx 806~\\tt{MeV}$$). Specifically, the S-wave scattering phase shifts of two-baryon systems at low energies are obtained with the application of L\\"uscher's formalism, mapping the energy eigenvalues of two interacting baryons in a finite volume to the two-particle scattering amplitudes below the relevant inelastic thresholds. The values of the leading-order low-energy scattering parameters in the irreducible representations of SU(3) are consistent with an approximate SU(6) spin-flavor symmetry in the nuclear and hypernuclear forces that is predicted in the large-$$N_c$$ limit of QCD. The two distinct SU(6)-invariant interactions between two baryons are constrained at this value of the quark masses, and their values indicate an approximate accidental SU(16) symmetry. The SU(3) irreducible representations containing the $$NN~({^1}S_0)$$, $$NN~({^3}S_1)$$ and $$\\frac{1}{\\sqrt{2}}(\\Xi^0n+\\Xi^-p)~({^3}S_1)$$ channels unambiguously exhibit a single bound state, while the irreducible representation containing the $$\\Sigma^+ p~({^3}S_1)$$ channel exhibits a state that is consistent with either a bound state or a scattering state close to threshold. These results are in agreement with the previous conclusions of the NPLQCD collaboration regarding the existence of two-nucleon bound states at this value of the quark masses.« less

Baryon-baryon interactions and spin-flavor symmetry from lattice quantum chromodynamics

DOE PAGES

Wagman, Michael L.; Winter, Frank; Chang, Emmanuel; ...

2017-12-28

Lattice quantum chromodynamics is used to constrain the interactions of two octet baryons at the SU(3) flavor-symmetric point, with quark masses that are heavier than those in nature (equal to that of the physical strange quark mass and corresponding to a pion mass ofmore » $$\\approx 806~\\tt{MeV}$$). Specifically, the S-wave scattering phase shifts of two-baryon systems at low energies are obtained with the application of L\\"uscher's formalism, mapping the energy eigenvalues of two interacting baryons in a finite volume to the two-particle scattering amplitudes below the relevant inelastic thresholds. The values of the leading-order low-energy scattering parameters in the irreducible representations of SU(3) are consistent with an approximate SU(6) spin-flavor symmetry in the nuclear and hypernuclear forces that is predicted in the large-$$N_c$$ limit of QCD. The two distinct SU(6)-invariant interactions between two baryons are constrained at this value of the quark masses, and their values indicate an approximate accidental SU(16) symmetry. The SU(3) irreducible representations containing the $$NN~({^1}S_0)$$, $$NN~({^3}S_1)$$ and $$\\frac{1}{\\sqrt{2}}(\\Xi^0n+\\Xi^-p)~({^3}S_1)$$ channels unambiguously exhibit a single bound state, while the irreducible representation containing the $$\\Sigma^+ p~({^3}S_1)$$ channel exhibits a state that is consistent with either a bound state or a scattering state close to threshold. These results are in agreement with the previous conclusions of the NPLQCD collaboration regarding the existence of two-nucleon bound states at this value of the quark masses.« less

SU (N ) spin-wave theory: Application to spin-orbital Mott insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Zhao-Yang; Wang, Wei; Li, Jian-Xin

2018-05-01

We present the application of the SU (N ) spin-wave theory to spin-orbital Mott insulators whose ground states exhibit magnetic orders. When taking both spin and orbital degrees of freedom into account rather than projecting Hilbert space onto the Kramers doublet, which is the lowest spin-orbital locked energy levels, the SU (N ) spin-wave theory should take the place of the SU (2 ) one due to the inevitable spin-orbital multipole exchange interactions. To implement the application, we introduce an efficient general local mean-field method, which involves all local fluctuations, and develop the SU (N ) linear spin-wave theory. Our approach is tested firstly by calculating the multipolar spin-wave spectra of the SU (4 ) antiferromagnetic model. Then, we apply it to spin-orbital Mott insulators. It is revealed that the Hund's coupling would influence the effectiveness of the isospin-1 /2 picture when the spin-orbital coupling is not large enough. We further carry out the SU (N ) spin-wave calculations of two materials, α -RuCl3 and Sr2IrO4 , and find that the magnonic and spin-orbital excitations are consistent with experiments.

SU(2) with fundamental fermions and scalars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, Martin; Janowski, Tadeusz; Pica, Claudio; Toniato, Arianna

2018-03-01

We present preliminary results on the lattice simulation of an SU(2) gauge theory with two fermion flavors and one strongly interacting scalar field, all in the fundamental representation of SU(2). The motivation for this study comes from the recent proposal of "fundamental" partial compositeness models featuring strongly interacting scalar fields in addition to fermions. Here we describe the lattice setup for our study of this class of models and a first exploration of the lattice phase diagram. In particular we then investigate how the presence of a strongly coupled scalar field affects the properties of light meson resonances previously obtained for the SU(2) model. Preprint: CP3-Origins-2017-047 DNRF90

SU-E-T-182: Feasibility of Dose Painting by Numbers in Proton Therapy with Contour-Driven Plan Optimization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Montero, A Barragan; Differding, S; Lee, J

Purpose: The work aims to 1) prove the feasibility of dose painting by numbers (DPBN) in proton therapy with usual contour-driven plan optimization and 2) compare the achieved plan quality to that of rotational IMRT. Methods: For two patients with head and neck cancers, voxel-by-voxel prescription to the target volume (PTV-PET) was calculated from {sup 18} FDG-PET images and converted to contour-based prescription by defining several sub-contours. Treatments were planned with RayStation (RaySearch Laboratories, Sweden) and proton pencil beam scanning modality. In order to determine the optimal plan parameters to approach the DPBN prescription, the effect of the number ofmore » fields, number of sub-contours and use of range shifter were tested separately on each patient. The number of sub-contours were increased from 3 to 11 while the number of fields were set to 3, 5, 7 and 9. Treatment plans were also optimized on two rotational IMRT systems (TomoTherapy and Varian RapidArc) using previously published guidelines. Results: For both patients, more than 99% of the PTV-PET received at least 95% of the prescribed dose while less than 1% of the PTV-PET received more than 105%, which demonstrates the feasibility of the treatment. Neither the use of a range shifter nor the increase of the number of fields had a significant influence on PTV coverage. Plan quality increased when increasing number of fields up to 7 or 9 and slightly decreased for a bigger number of sub-contours. Good OAR sparing is achieved while keeping high plan quality. Finally, proton therapy achieved significantly better plan quality than rotational IMRT. Conclusion: Voxel-by-voxel prescriptions can be approximated accurately in proton therapy using a contour-driven optimization. Target coverage is nearly insensitive to the number of fields and the use of a range shifter. Finally, plan quality assessment confirmed the superiority of proton therapy compared to rotational IMRT.« less

Lattice study of planar equivalence: The quark condensate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Armoni, Adi; Lucini, Biagio; Patella, Agostino

2008-08-15

We study quenched SU(N) gauge theories with fermions in the two-index symmetric, antisymmetric and the adjoint representations. Our main motivation is to check whether at large number of colors those theories become nonperturbatively equivalent. We prove the equivalence assuming that the charge-conjugation symmetry is not broken in pure Yang-Mills theory. We then carry out a quenched lattice simulation of the quark condensate in the symmetric, antisymmetric and the adjoint representations for SU(2), SU(3), SU(4), SU(6), and SU(8). We show that the data support the equivalence and discuss the size of subleading corrections.

Research on Colorant Systems Whose Characteristics May Be Reversed

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-06-01

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NatioMl Technical Information Service AD-A024 083 RESEARCH ON COLORANT SYSTEMS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS MAY BE REVERSED...TR 75-61-CEMEL 2. SOVT ACCESSION NO «■ TITLE (on* SuMtl») RESEARCH ON COLORANT SYSTEMS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS MAY BE REVERSED T. AUTMONM...estigation of electrically operated color- ant systems by which the color of a surface could be changed in a controlled manner. Four basic

Spontaneous mirror left-right symmetry breaking for leptogenesis parametrized by Majorana neutrino mass matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Pei-Hong

2017-10-01

We introduce a mirror copy of the ordinary fermions and Higgs scalars for embedding the SU(2) L × U(1) Y electroweak gauge symmetry into an SU(2) L × SU(2) R × U(1) B-L left-right gauge symmetry. We then show the spontaneous left-right symmetry breaking can automatically break the parity symmetry motivated by solving the strong CP problem. Through the SU(2) R gauge interactions, a mirror Majorana neutrino can decay into a mirror charged lepton and two mirror quarks. Consequently we can obtain a lepton asymmetry stored in the mirror charged leptons. The Yukawa couplings of the mirror and ordinary charged fermions to a dark matter scalar then can transfer the mirror lepton asymmetry to an ordinary lepton asymmetry which provides a solution to the cosmic baryon asymmetry in association with the SU(2) L sphaleron processes. In this scenario, the baryon asymmetry can be well described by the neutrino mass matrix up to an overall factor.

U.S. Army Operation Enduring Freedom Deployment Injury Surveillance Summary 1 January-31 December 2013

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

American football (10%). [Note: These data are not shown in the figure.] Figure 6. Distribution of Leading Causes1 of Air-Evacuated Non-Battle...sion/Su- perficial Crush Burns Nerves Unspeci- fied System- wide & late effects Post- Concussive Total Percent Percent by Body Region Type 1 TBI 0 9...Burns Nerves Unspeci- fied System- wide & late effects Post- Concussive Total Percent Percent by Body Region Type 1 TBI 1 0 0 1 2.2 Type 2 TBI 0 1 1

Reducing democratic type II supergravity on SU(3) × SU(3) structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassani, Davide

2008-06-01

Type II supergravity on backgrounds admitting SU(3) × SU(3) structure and general fluxes is considered. Using the generalized geometry formalism, we study dimensional reductions leading to N = 2 gauged supergravity in four dimensions, possibly with tensor multiplets. In particular, a geometric formula for the full N = 2 scalar potential is given. Then we implement a truncation ansatz, and derive the complete N = 2 bosonic action. While the NSNS contribution is obtained via a direct dimensional reduction, the contribution of the RR sector is computed starting from the democratic formulation and demanding consistency with the reduced equations of motion.

Operations Charioteer, Musketeer, Touchstone, Cornerstone, Aqueduct, Sculpin and Julin. Tests Mill Yard, Diamond Beech, Mighty Oak, Middle Note Mission Ghost, Mission Cyber, Misty Echo, Disko Elm, Mineral Quarry, Distant Zenith, Diamond Fortune, and Hunters Trophy

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-05-01

2l.SU -Wf6e:uJfr-02tSU -V 69E ;W 9-2l IS« 0VS9 v 6se :w e"g(HSH ttWS:uJB-86SU ¥0l-8:uJ9"fr6SUOVW WW2 :lug-98SU U68l-:ujg-,£SSH — —VZL-VU61ZSU...and JAYCOR conducted infrared window material optical properties experiments; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) conducted 146 device

Lorentz covariance of loop quantum gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rovelli, Carlo; Speziale, Simone

2011-05-15

The kinematics of loop gravity can be given a manifestly Lorentz-covariant formulation: the conventional SU(2)-spin-network Hilbert space can be mapped to a space K of SL(2,C) functions, where Lorentz covariance is manifest. K can be described in terms of a certain subset of the projected spin networks studied by Livine, Alexandrov and Dupuis. It is formed by SL(2,C) functions completely determined by their restriction on SU(2). These are square-integrable in the SU(2) scalar product, but not in the SL(2,C) one. Thus, SU(2)-spin-network states can be represented by Lorentz-covariant SL(2,C) functions, as two-component photons can be described in the Lorentz-covariant Gupta-Bleulermore » formalism. As shown by Wolfgang Wieland in a related paper, this manifestly Lorentz-covariant formulation can also be directly obtained from canonical quantization. We show that the spinfoam dynamics of loop quantum gravity is locally SL(2,C)-invariant in the bulk, and yields states that are precisely in K on the boundary. This clarifies how the SL(2,C) spinfoam formalism yields an SU(2) theory on the boundary. These structures define a tidy Lorentz-covariant formalism for loop gravity.« less

Driven-dissipative quantum Monte Carlo method for open quantum systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagy, Alexandra; Savona, Vincenzo

2018-05-01

We develop a real-time full configuration-interaction quantum Monte Carlo approach to model driven-dissipative open quantum systems with Markovian system-bath coupling. The method enables stochastic sampling of the Liouville-von Neumann time evolution of the density matrix thanks to a massively parallel algorithm, thus providing estimates of observables on the nonequilibrium steady state. We present the underlying theory and introduce an initiator technique and importance sampling to reduce the statistical error. Finally, we demonstrate the efficiency of our approach by applying it to the driven-dissipative two-dimensional X Y Z spin-1/2 model on a lattice.

Expression of Sucrose Synthase Genes Involved in Enhanced Elongation of Pondweed (Potamogeton distinctus) Turions under Anoxia

PubMed Central

HARADA, TARO; SATOH, SHIGERU; YOSHIOKA, TOSHIHITO; ISHIZAWA, KIMIHARU

2005-01-01

• Background and Aims Overwintering buds (turions) of the monocot aquatic pondweed species (Potamogeton distinctus) are highly tolerant to anoxic stress. Sucrose metabolism accompanied by enhanced activity of sucrose synthase (SuSy) operates actively during anaerobic elongation of pondweed turions. The aim of this study is to isolate SuSy genes from the turions and to investigate their transcriptional changes in response to anoxia and other stimuli. • Methods SuSy genes were isolated from pondweed turions by PCR methods and transcript levels of SuSy genes were examined in response to anoxia, sugars and plant hormones. In addition, the effects of anoxia on SuSy activity were examined both in the soluble fraction and in the microsomal fraction. • Key Results cDNAs of two SuSy genes (PdSUS1 and PdSUS2) were cloned from pondweed turions. The levels of PdSUS1 transcripts increased under anoxia but did not with sugar treatments. Anoxia-stimulated elongation of turions was further enhanced by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and suppressed by treatments with sorbitol, 2-deoxyglucose (2-dGlc) and abscisic acid (ABA). The levels of PdSUS1 transcripts were increased by 2,4-D and decreased by sorbitol under anoxia. The levels of PdSUS2 transcripts were not significantly affected by anoxia and any other treatments. SuSy activity of turions under anoxia was enhanced in the soluble fraction, but not in the microsomal fraction. • Conclusions Up-regulation of PdSUS1 transcription under anoxia may not be attributed to sugar starvation under anoxia. A positive correlation between stem elongation and the level of PdSUS1 transcripts was observed in turions treated with anoxic conditions, 2,4-D and sorbitol. The increase in SuSy activity in the cytosol may contribute to sugar metabolism and sustain stem elongation under anoxia. PMID:16033779

A Comprehensive K2 and Ground-based Study of CRTS J035905.9+175034, an Eclipsing SU UMa System with a Large Mass Ratio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Littlefield, Colin; Garnavich, Peter; Kennedy, Mark; Szkody, Paula; Dai, Zhibin

2018-06-01

CRTS J035905.9+175034 is the first eclipsing SU UMa system for which a superoutburst has been observed by Kepler in the short-cadence mode. The light curve contains one superoutburst, eight normal outbursts (including a precursor to the superoutburst), and several minioutbursts that are present before—but not after—the superoutburst. The superoutburst began with a precursor normal outburst, and shortly after the peak of the precursor, the system developed large-amplitude superhumps that achieved their maximum amplitude after just three superhump cycles. The period excess of the initial superhump period relative to the orbital period implies a mass ratio of 0.281 ± 0.015, placing it marginally above most theoretical predictions of the highest-possible mass ratio for superhump formation. In addition, our analysis of the variations in eclipse width and depth, as well as the hot spot amplitudes, generally provides substantiation of the thermal-tidal instability model. The K2 data, in conjunction with our ground-based time-resolved spectroscopy and photometry from 2014 to 2016, allows us to determine many of the fundamental parameters of this system.

Study of a chemically amplified resist for X-ray lithography by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Tan, T L; Wong, D; Lee, P; Rawat, R S; Patran, A

2004-11-01

Future applications of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) require lithographic performance of very high aspect ratio. Chemically amplified resists (CARs) such as the negative tone commercial SU-8 provide critical advantages in sensitivity, resolution, and process efficiency in deep ultraviolet, electron-beam, and X-ray lithographies (XRLs), which result in a very high aspect ratio. In this investigation, an SU-8 resist was characterized and optimized for X-ray lithographic applications by studying the cross-linking process of the resist under different conditions of resist thickness and X-ray exposure dose. The exposure dose of soft X-ray (SXR) irradiation at the average weighted wavelength of 1.20 nm from a plasma focus device ranges from 100 to 1600 mJ/cm(2) on the resist surface. Resist thickness varies from 3.5 to 15 mum. The cross-linking process of the resist during post-exposure bake (PEB) was accurately monitored using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The infrared absorption peaks at 862, 914, 972, and 1128 cm(-1) in the spectrum of the SU-8 resist were found to be useful indicators for the completion of cross-linking in the resist. Results of the experiments showed that the cross-linking of SU-8 was optimized at the exposure dose of 800 mJ/cm(2) for resist thicknesses of 3.5, 9.5, and 15 microm. PEB temperature was set at 95 degrees C and time at 3 min. The resist thickness was measured using interference patterns in the FT-IR spectra of the resist. Test structures with an aspect ratio 3:1 on 10 microm thick SU-8 resist film were obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Rainfall-Runoff Simulations to Assess the Potential of SuDS for Mitigating Flooding in Highly Urbanized Catchments.

PubMed

Jato-Espino, Daniel; Charlesworth, Susanne M; Bayon, Joseba R; Warwick, Frank

2016-01-21

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) constitute an alternative to conventional drainage when managing stormwater in cities, reducing the impact of urbanization by decreasing the amount of runoff generated by a rainfall event. This paper shows the potential benefits of installing different types of SuDS in preventing flooding in comparison with the common urban drainage strategies consisting of sewer networks of manholes and pipes. The impact of these systems on urban water was studied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are useful tools when both delineating catchments and parameterizing the elements that define a stormwater drainage system. Taking these GIS-based data as inputs, a series of rainfall-runoff simulations were run in a real catchment located in the city of Donostia (Northern Spain) using stormwater computer models, in order to compare the flow rates and depths produced by a design storm before and after installing SuDS. The proposed methodology overcomes the lack of precision found in former GIS-based stormwater approaches when dealing with the modeling of highly urbanized catchments, while the results demonstrated the usefulness of these systems in reducing the volume of water generated after a rainfall event and their ability to prevent localized flooding and surcharges along the sewer network.

Rainfall–Runoff Simulations to Assess the Potential of SuDS for Mitigating Flooding in Highly Urbanized Catchments

PubMed Central

Jato-Espino, Daniel; Charlesworth, Susanne M.; Bayon, Joseba R.; Warwick, Frank

2016-01-01

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) constitute an alternative to conventional drainage when managing stormwater in cities, reducing the impact of urbanization by decreasing the amount of runoff generated by a rainfall event. This paper shows the potential benefits of installing different types of SuDS in preventing flooding in comparison with the common urban drainage strategies consisting of sewer networks of manholes and pipes. The impact of these systems on urban water was studied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are useful tools when both delineating catchments and parameterizing the elements that define a stormwater drainage system. Taking these GIS-based data as inputs, a series of rainfall–runoff simulations were run in a real catchment located in the city of Donostia (Northern Spain) using stormwater computer models, in order to compare the flow rates and depths produced by a design storm before and after installing SuDS. The proposed methodology overcomes the lack of precision found in former GIS-based stormwater approaches when dealing with the modeling of highly urbanized catchments, while the results demonstrated the usefulness of these systems in reducing the volume of water generated after a rainfall event and their ability to prevent localized flooding and surcharges along the sewer network. PMID:26805864

Etching-free patterning method for electrical characterization of atomically thin MoSe2 films grown by chemical vapor deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utama, M. Iqbal Bakti; Lu, Xin; Zhan, Da; Ha, Son Tung; Yuan, Yanwen; Shen, Zexiang; Xiong, Qihua

2014-10-01

Patterning two-dimensional materials into specific spatial arrangements and geometries is essential for both fundamental studies of materials and practical applications in electronics. However, the currently available patterning methods generally require etching steps that rely on complicated and expensive procedures. We report here a facile patterning method for atomically thin MoSe2 films using stripping with an SU-8 negative resist layer exposed to electron beam lithography. Additional steps of chemical and physical etching were not necessary in this SU-8 patterning method. The SU-8 patterning was used to define a ribbon channel from a field effect transistor of MoSe2 film, which was grown by chemical vapor deposition. The narrowing of the conduction channel area with SU-8 patterning was crucial in suppressing the leakage current within the device, thereby allowing a more accurate interpretation of the electrical characterization results from the sample. An electrical transport study, enabled by the SU-8 patterning, showed a variable range hopping behavior at high temperatures.Patterning two-dimensional materials into specific spatial arrangements and geometries is essential for both fundamental studies of materials and practical applications in electronics. However, the currently available patterning methods generally require etching steps that rely on complicated and expensive procedures. We report here a facile patterning method for atomically thin MoSe2 films using stripping with an SU-8 negative resist layer exposed to electron beam lithography. Additional steps of chemical and physical etching were not necessary in this SU-8 patterning method. The SU-8 patterning was used to define a ribbon channel from a field effect transistor of MoSe2 film, which was grown by chemical vapor deposition. The narrowing of the conduction channel area with SU-8 patterning was crucial in suppressing the leakage current within the device, thereby allowing a more accurate interpretation of the electrical characterization results from the sample. An electrical transport study, enabled by the SU-8 patterning, showed a variable range hopping behavior at high temperatures. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Further experiments on patterning and additional electrical characterizations data. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03817g

Insulation of Enhancer-Promoter Communication by a Gypsy Transposon Insert in the Drosophila cut Gene: Cooperation between Suppressor of Hairy-wing and Modifier of mdg4 Proteins

PubMed Central

Gause, Maria; Morcillo, Patrick; Dorsett, Dale

2001-01-01

The Drosophila mod(mdg4) gene products counteract heterochromatin-mediated silencing of the white gene and help activate genes of the bithorax complex. They also regulate the insulator activity of the gypsy transposon when gypsy inserts between an enhancer and promoter. The Su(Hw) protein is required for gypsy-mediated insulation, and the Mod(mdg4)-67.2 protein binds to Su(Hw). The aim of this study was to determine whether Mod(mdg4)-67.2 is a coinsulator that helps Su(Hw) block enhancers or a facilitator of activation that is inhibited by Su(Hw). Here we provide evidence that Mod(mdg4)-67.2 acts as a coinsulator by showing that some loss-of-function mod(mdg4) mutations decrease enhancer blocking by a gypsy insert in the cut gene. We find that the C terminus of Mod(mdg4)-67.2 binds in vitro to a region of Su(Hw) that is required for insulation, while the N terminus mediates self-association. The N terminus of Mod(mdg4)-67.2 also interacts with the Chip protein, which facilitates activation of cut. Mod(mdg4)-67.2 truncated in the C terminus interferes in a dominant-negative fashion with insulation in cut but does not significantly affect heterochromatin-mediated silencing of white. We infer that multiple contacts between Su(Hw) and a Mod(mdg4)-67.2 multimer are required for insulation. We theorize that Mod(mdg4)-67.2 usually aids gene activation but can also act as a coinsulator by helping Su(Hw) trap facilitators of activation, such as the Chip protein. PMID:11416154

Neutrino mixing in a left-right model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martins Simões, J. A.; Ponciano, J. A.

We study the mixing among different generations of massive neutrino fields in a

Non-Abelian sigma models from Yang-Mills theory compactified on a circle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanova, Tatiana A.; Lechtenfeld, Olaf; Popov, Alexander D.

2018-06-01

We consider SU(N) Yang-Mills theory on R 2 , 1 ×S1, where S1 is a spatial circle. In the infrared limit of a small-circle radius the Yang-Mills action reduces to the action of a sigma model on R 2 , 1 whose target space is a 2 (N - 1)-dimensional torus modulo the Weyl-group action. We argue that there is freedom in the choice of the framing of the gauge bundles, which leads to more general options. In particular, we show that this low-energy limit can give rise to a target space SU (N) ×SU (N) /ZN. The latter is the direct product of SU(N) and its Langlands dual SU (N) /ZN, and it contains the above-mentioned torus as its maximal Abelian subgroup. An analogous result is obtained for any non-Abelian gauge group.

Interleaved Training and Training-Based Transmission Design for Hybrid Massive Antenna Downlink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Cheng; Jing, Yindi; Huang, Yongming; Yang, Luxi

2018-06-01

In this paper, we study the beam-based training design jointly with the transmission design for hybrid massive antenna single-user (SU) and multiple-user (MU) systems where outage probability is adopted as the performance measure. For SU systems, we propose an interleaved training design to concatenate the feedback and training procedures, thus making the training length adaptive to the channel realization. Exact analytical expressions are derived for the average training length and the outage probability of the proposed interleaved training. For MU systems, we propose a joint design for the beam-based interleaved training, beam assignment, and MU data transmissions. Two solutions for the beam assignment are provided with different complexity-performance tradeoff. Analytical results and simulations show that for both SU and MU systems, the proposed joint training and transmission designs achieve the same outage performance as the traditional full-training scheme but with significant saving in the training overhead.

A feasibility study on biological nitrogen removal (BNR) via integrated thiosulfate-driven denitratation with anammox.

PubMed

Qian, Jin; Zhang, Mingkuan; Wu, Yaoguo; Niu, Juntao; Chang, Xing; Yao, Hairui; Hu, Sihai; Pei, Xiangjun

2018-06-12

To exploit the advantages of less electron donor consumptions in partial-denitrification (denitratation, NO 3 - → NO 2 - ) as well as less sludge production in autotrophic denitrification (AD) and anammox, a novel biological nitrogen removal (BNR) process through combined anammox and thiosulfate-driven denitratation was proposed here. In this study, the ratio of S 2 O 3 2- -S/NO 3 - -N and pH are confirmed to be two key factors affecting the thiosulfate-driven denitratation activity and nitrite accumulation. Simultaneous high denitratation activity and substantial nitrite accumulation were observed at initial S 2 O 3 2- -S/NO 3 - -N ratio of 1.5:1 and pH of 8.0. The optimal pH for the anammox reaction is determined to be 8.0. A sequential batch reactor (SBR) and an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor were established to proceed the anammox and the high-rate thiosulfate-driven denitratation, respectively. Under the ambient temperature of 35 °C, the total nitrogen removal efficiency and capacity are 73% and 0.35 kg N/day/m 3 in the anammox-SBR. At HRT of 30 min, the NO 3 - removal efficiency could achieve above 90% with the nitrate-to-nitrite transformation ratio of 0.8, implying the great potential to apply the thiosulfate-driven denitratation & anammox system for BNR with minimal sludge production. Without the occurrence of denitritation (NO 2 - → N 2 O → N 2 ), theoretically no N 2 O could be emitted from this BNR system. This study could shed light on how to operate a high rate BNR system targeting to electron donor and energy savings as well as biowastes minimization and greenhouse gas reductions. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Geologic History of Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, Reconstructed Using Seismic-Reflection Imaging and Sediment Core Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hougardy, Devin D.

The history of glacial Lake Agassiz is complex and has intrigued researchers for over a century. Over the course of its ˜5,000 year existence, the size, shape, and location of Lake Agassiz changed dramatically depending on the location of the southern margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS), the location and elevation of outflow channels, and differential isostatic rebound. Some of the best-preserved sequences of Lake Agassiz sediments are found in remnant lake basins where erosional processes are less pronounced than in adjacent higher-elevation regions. Lake of the Woods (LOTW), Minnesota, is among the largest of the Lake Agassiz remnant lakes and is an ideal location for Lake Agassiz sediment accumulation. High-resolution seismic-reflection (CHIRP) data collected from the southern basin of LOTW reveal up to 28 m of stratified lacustrine sediment deposited on top of glacial diamicton and bedrock. Five seismic units (SU A-E) were identified and described based on their reflection character, reflection configuration, and external geometries. Three prominent erosional unconformities (UNCF 1-3) underlie the upper three seismic units and indicate that deposition at LOTW was interrupted by a series of relatively large fluctuations in lake level. The lowermost unconformity (UNCF-1) truncates uniformly draped reflections within SU-B at the margins of the basin, where as much as four meters of sediment were eroded. The drop in lake level is interpreted to be contemporaneous with the onset of the low-stand Moorhead phase of Lake Agassiz identified from subaerial deposits in the Red River Valley, Rainy River basin, and Lake Winnipeg. A rise in lake level, indicated by onlapping reflections within SU-C onto UNCF-1, shifted the wave base outwards and as much as 11 m of sediment were deposited (SU-C) in the middle of the basin before a second drop, and subsequent rise, in lake level resulted in the formation of UNCF-2. Reflections in the lower part of SU-D onlap onto UNCF-2 only near the margins of the basin, suggesting that water occupied much of the middle of the southern basin after lake level drawdown. The reflection character and configuration of SU-C and SU-D are genetically different indicating that the depositional environment had changed following the formation of UNCF-2. Piston-type sediment cores collected from the southern basin of LOTW at depths that correspond to the middle of SU-D contain high amounts of organic material and charcoal fragments and sediment that are probably not related to Lake Agassiz. Instead, they were likely deposited during a transitional phase between when Lake Agassiz left the LOTW basin (UNCF-2) and inundation of LOTW from the northern basin due to differential isostatic rebound (UNCF-3). All sediment cores collected from the southern basin of LOTW record the uppermost unconformity, analogous in depth to UNCF-3 in the seismic images, which separates modern sediments from mid to late-Holocene sediments. The lithology of sediments below this unconformity varies across the basin from gray clay to laminated silt and clay. Radiocarbon ages from two peat layers immediately below the unconformity indicate that subaerial conditions had existed prior to the formation of UNCF-1, at about 7.75 ka cal BP. The timing correlates well with other lakes in the upper Midwest that record a prolonged dry climate during the mid-Holocene. UNCF-3 is planar and erosional across the entire survey area but erosion is greatest in the northern part of the basin as the result of a southward transgressing wave base driven by differential isostatic rebound. Deposition in the southern basin probably resumed around 3.3 ka cal BP, though no radiocarbon dates were collected directly above UNCF-3. The lithology of sediment above UNCF-3 is highly uniform across the basin and represents modern sedimentation. Late-Holocene sedimentation rates were calculated at about 0.9 mm year-1 and are roughly double the sedimentation rates in the NW Angle basin, suggesting that erosion of the southern shoreline contributes significantly to deposition in the southern basin.

Bond Capability of Universal Adhesive Systems to Dentin in Self-etch Mode after Short-term Storage and Cyclic Loading

PubMed Central

Costa, Daniele Morosini; Somacal, Deise Caren; Borges, Gilberto Antonio; Spohr, Ana Maria

2017-01-01

Objective: The aim was to evaluate, in vitro, the tensile bond strength to dentin of Scotchbond Universal (SU), All-Bond Universal (AU) and One Coat 7 Universal (OC7) adhesives applied in self-etch mode, after 24 h of storage and after 500,000 loading cycles, using Clearfil SE Bond (SE) as a control. Materials and Methods: The adhesives were applied on the dentin of bovine teeth, followed by the application of a composite resin. Thirty specimens were obtained for each adhesive. Half of the specimens were submitted to cyclic loading for 500,000 cycles. All specimens were submitted to a tensile bond strength test in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/minute. Results: According to two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α=5%), the interaction between the adhesive and cyclic loading factors was significant (p=0.001). The means followed by the same letter represent no significant difference in the bond strength (MPa) after 24 h: OC7=7.86A (±2.90), SU=6.78AB (±2.03), AU=5.61BC (±2.32), and SE=3.53C (±1.89). After cyclic loading, SE, SU and AU maintained bond strength comparable to 24 h period. There was a significant decrease only for OC7. Conclusion: SU, AU and OC7 had bond strength to dentin comparable to that of SE. Only OC7 had decreased bond strength to dentin after cyclic loading. PMID:28839476

Andy Walker | NREL

Science.gov Websites

efficiency and renewable energy projects. His patent on the Renewable Energy Optimization (REO) method of distribution function for time-series simulation Analytical and numerical optimization Project delivery with System Operations and Maintenance: 2nd Edition, 2016, NREL/Sandia/Sunspec Alliance SuNLaMP PV O&M

Electromagnetic Properties Analysis on Hybrid-driven System of Electromagnetic Motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jingbo; Han, Bingyuan; Bei, Shaoyi

2018-01-01

The hybrid-driven system made of permanent-and electromagnets applied in the electromagnetic motor was analyzed, equivalent magnetic circuit was used to establish the mathematical models of hybrid-driven system, based on the models of hybrid-driven system, the air gap flux, air-gap magnetic flux density, electromagnetic force was proposed. Taking the air-gap magnetic flux density and electromagnetic force as main research object, the hybrid-driven system was researched. Electromagnetic properties of hybrid-driven system with different working current modes is studied preliminary. The results shown that analysis based on hybrid-driven system can improve the air-gap magnetic flux density and electromagnetic force more effectively and can also guarantee the output stability, the effectiveness and feasibility of the hybrid-driven system are verified, which proved theoretical basis for the design of hybrid-driven system.

Surface modification of SU8 photoresist for shrinkage improvement in a monolithic MEMS microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, C. K.; Hong, Y. Z.

2007-02-01

The effect of O2 plasma treatment on the surface property of exposed and unexposed SU8 photoresist has been investigated for the fabrication of a monolithic MEMS microstructure. It can solve the non-uniformity problem of second resist coating on the SU8 with high intrinsic shrinkage after exposure and post-exposure baking (PEB) in the fabrication of the stacked polymer-metal or polymer-polymer structure, which was used in the application of microfluid, bio and chemistry. The thickness difference of untreated SU8 before PEB between the exposed and unexposed SU8 was about 0.3% while that after PEB increased to about 6%. It could result in large non-uniformity of about 18 µm thickness difference for the following second resist coating on the hydrophobic surface without plasma treatment. The surface property of SU8 in terms of the contact angle and surface energy can be adjusted by O2 plasma treatment for enhancing the coating uniformity of the following resist. The measured contact angles of the exposed and unexposed SU8 decrease with O2 plasma time, corresponding to the increased surface energy determined by the Lifshitz-van der Waals/Lewis acid-base approach. It displayed that the similar hydrophilic surface property can minimize the thickness difference of second resist coating on the first shrunken SU8. A monolithic nozzle plate with a physical resolution of 600 dpi in a single column was demonstrated for an inkjet application based on the improved uniformity.

Plasmid mediated antimicrobial resistance in Ontario isolates of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae.

PubMed Central

Gilbride, K A; Rosendal, S; Brunton, J L

1989-01-01

The genetic basis of antimicrobial resistance in Ontario isolates of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae was studied. Two Ontario isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae were found to be resistant to sulfonamides (Su), streptomycin (Sm) and ampicillin (Amp). Resistance to Su and Sm was specified by a 2.3 megadalton (Mdal) plasmid which appeared to be identical to pVM104, which has been described in isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae from South Dakota. Southern hybridization showed that the 2.3 Mdal Su Sm plasmid was highly related to those Hinc II fragments of RSF1010 known to carry the Su Sm genes, but was unrelated to the remainder of this Salmonella resistance plasmid. Resistance to Su and Amp was specified by a 3.5 Mdal plasmid and appeared identical to pVM105 previously reported. The beta-lactamase enzyme had an isoelectric point of approximately 9.0. Southern hybridization showed no relationship to the TEM beta-lactamase. A third isolate of A. pleuropneumoniae was found to be resistant to chloramphenicol (Cm), Su and Sm by virtue of a 3.0 Mdal plasmid which specified a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase. We conclude that resistance to Su, Sm, Amp and Cm is mediated by small plasmids in A. pleuropneumoniae. Although the Su and Sm resistance determinants are highly related to those found in Enterobacteriaceae, the plasmids themselves and the beta-lactamase determinant are different. Images Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. PMID:2914226

Optimal Control for Quantum Driving of Two-Level Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Xiao-Qiu

2018-01-01

In this paper, the optimal quantum control of two-level systems is studied by the decompositions of SU(2). Using the Pontryagin maximum principle, the minimum time of quantum control is analyzed in detail. The solution scheme of the optimal control function is given in the general case. Finally, two specific cases, which can be applied in many quantum systems, are used to illustrate the scheme, while the corresponding optimal control functions are obtained.

Manufacturing Methods and Technology Program Automatic In-Process Microcircuit Evaluation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-01

methods of controlling the AIME system are with the computer and associated inter- face (CPU control), and with controls located on the front panels...Sync and Blanking signals When the AIME system is being operated by the front panel controls , the computer does not influence the system operation. SU...the color video monitor display. The operator controls these parameters by 1) depressing the appropriate key on the keyboard, 2) observing on the

Lepton flavor violating decays of B and K mesons in models with extended gauge group

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fayyazuddin; Aslam, Muhammad Jamil; Lu, Cai-Dian

2018-05-01

Lepton flavor violating (LFV) decays are forbidden in the Standard Model (SM) and to explore them one has to go beyond it. The flavor changing neutral current induced lepton flavor conserving and LFV decays of K and B mesons is discussed in the gauge group G = SU(2)L × U(1)Y1 × SU(2)X. The lepto-quark Xμ±2/3 corresponding to gauge group SU(2)X allows the quark-lepton transitions and hence giving a framework to construct the effective Lagrangian for the LFV decays. The mass of lepto-quark mX provides a scale at which the gauge group G is broken to the SM gauge group. Using the most stringent experimental limit ℬ(KL0 → μ∓e±) < 1.7 × 10‑12, the upper bound on the effective coupling constant GX GF2 < 1.1 × 10‑10 is obtained for certain pairing of lepton and quark generations in the representation (2,2¯) of the group G. Later, the effective Lagrangian for the LFV meson decays for the gauge group G = [SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)Y1‧] × SU(2)X is constructed. Using ℬ(K‑→ π‑νν¯) = (1.7 ± 1.1) × 10‑10, the bound on the ratio of effective couplings is obtained to be GX GF2 < 10‑10. A number of decay modes are discussed which provide a promising area to test this model in the current and future particle physics experiments.

Susceptibility of gut indigenous lactic acid bacteria in BALB/c mice to oral administered Lactobacillus plantarum.

PubMed

Kuda, Takashi; Yokota, Yasushi; Haraguchi, Yutaka; Takahashi, Hajime; Kimura, Bon

2018-05-16

Cells of Lactobacillus plantarum strains AN1 and Tennozu-SU2 exert anti-inflammatory responses in ICR mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease and protective effects against S. Typhimurium infection in BALB/c mice, respectively. To clarify the existence of L. plantarum-susceptible gut indigenous bacteria, AN1 and Tennozu-SU2 cells were administered to BALB/c mice via drinking water. Gene amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA of caecal content revealed that the AN1 and Tennozu-SU2 cells affected the abundance of caecal indigenous lactobacilli, but the effect on the dominant Clostridiales and Bacteroidales was not clear. With Blood and Liver (BL) agar containing 5% v/v horse blood, six typical colonies from faecal samples were detected as the principal lactobacilli. Among them, two typical colonies were isolated and identified to be AN1 and Tennozu-SU2. Two and one typical colonies detected in all mice were identified to be L. reuteri and L. murinus, respectively. The other one was identified and estimated to be indigenous L. plantarum detected in the Tennozu-SU2 group.

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum Tennozu-SU2 on Salmonella Typhimurium Infection in Human Enterocyte-Like HT-29-Luc Cells and BALB/c Mice.

PubMed

Hirano, Shino; Yokota, Yasushi; Eda, Mika; Kuda, Takashi; Shikano, Ayane; Takahashi, Hajime; Kimura, Bon

2017-03-01

The probiotic properties and inhibitory effect on Salmonella Typhimurium adhesion on human enterocyte-like HT-29-Luc cells of three Lactobacillus plantarum strains isolated from fermented fish, beach sand and a coastal plant were determined. Compared with the type strain L. plantarum NBRC 15891 T , which was isolated from pickled cabbage, L. plantarum Tennozu-SU2 isolated from the acorn of a coastal tree showed high autoaggregation in de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) broth and an antagonistic effect against S. Typhimurium in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. Furthermore, heat-killed L. plantarum Tennozu-SU2 cells inhibited S. Typhimurium adhesion on HT-29-Luc cells. Both live and heat-killed L. plantarum Tennozu-SU2 cells showed an inhibitory effect on gut colonisation in BALB/c mice, as assessed by viable Salmonella count in faecal samples and by invasion into liver and spleen tissues. The properties shown in this study suggest that L. plantarum Tennozu-SU2 is useful as a starter and probiotic bacteria in functional food material.

A GIS-based methodology for selecting stormwater disconnection opportunities.

PubMed

Moore, S L; Stovin, V R; Wall, M; Ashley, R M

2012-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a geographic information system (GIS)-based decision support tool that assists the user to select not only areas where (retrofit) sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) could be implemented within a large catchment (>100 ha), but also to allow discrimination between suitable SuDS techniques based on their likely feasibility and effectiveness. The tool is applied to a case study catchment within London, UK, with the aim of increasing receiving water quality by reducing combined sewer overflow (CSO) spill frequency and volume. The key benefit of the tool presented is to allow rapid assessment of the retrofit SuDS potential of large catchments. It is not intended to replace detailed site investigations, but may help to direct attention to sites that have the greatest potential for retrofit SuDS implementation. Preliminary InfoWorks CS modelling of 'global disconnections' within the case study catchment, e.g. the removal of 50% of the total impervious area, showed that CSO spill volume could be reduced by 55 to 78% during a typical year. Using the disconnection hierarchy developed by the authors, the feasibility of retrofit SuDS deployment within the case study catchment is assessed, and the implications discussed.

Higgs compositeness in Sp(2N) gauge theories - Determining the low-energy constants with lattice calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, Ed; Ki Hong, Deog; Lee, Jong-Wan; David Lin, C.-J.; Lucini, Biagio; Piai, Maurizio; Vadacchino, Davide

2018-03-01

As a first step towards a quantitative understanding of the SU(4)/Sp(4) composite Higgs model through lattice calculations, we discuss the low energy effective field theory resulting from the SU(4) → Sp(4) global symmetry breaking pattern. We then consider an Sp(4) gauge theory with two Dirac fermion flavours in the fundamental representation on a lattice, which provides a concrete example of the microscopic realisation of the SU(4)/Sp(4) composite Higgs model. For this system, we outline a programme of numerical simulations aiming at the determination of the low-energy constants of the effective field theory and we test the method on the quenched theory. We also report early results from dynamical simulations, focussing on the phase structure of the lattice theory and a calculation of the lowest-lying meson spectrum at coarse lattice spacing. Combined contributions of B. Lucini (e-mail: b.lucini@swansea.ac.uk) and J.-W. Lee (e-mail: wlee823@pusan.ac.kr).

The best management of SuDS treatment trains: a holistic approach.

PubMed

Bastien, Nicolas; Arthur, Scott; Wallis, Stephen; Scholz, Miklas

2010-01-01

The use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) or Best Management Practice (BMP) is becoming increasingly common. However, rather than adopting the preferred "treatment train" implementation, many developments opt for end of pipe control ponds. This paper discusses the use of SuDS in series to form treatment trains and compares their potential performance and effectiveness with end of pipe solutions. Land-use, site and catchment characteristics have been used alongside up-to-date guidance, Infoworks CS and MUSIC to determine whole-life-costs, land-take, water quality and water quantity for different SuDS combinations. The results presented show that the use of a treatment train allows approaches differing from the traditional use of single SuDS, either source or "end of pipe", to be proposed to treat and attenuate runoff. The outcome is a more flexible solution where the footprint allocated to SuDS, costs and water quality can be managed differently to satisfy more efficiently the holistically stakeholders' objectives.

Treatment of type 2 diabetes with saxagliptin: a pharmacoeconomic evaluation in Argentina.

PubMed

Elgart, Jorge F; Caporale, Joaquin E; Gonzalez, Lorena; Aiello, Eleonora; Waschbusch, Maximiliano; Gagliardino, Juan J

2013-04-27

The increasing prevalence of diabetes and its inadequate management results in a heavy burden of the disease for the patients, the health and the productive system and the overall community. Consequently, it is necessary to have new effective drugs to treat people with diabetes to decrease such burden. DPP-4 inhibitors can help to cope with this demand, but its usage is challenged by its apparent high cost. The aim of the current study was to compare a simulated cost-effectiveness ratio of metformin (MET) plus one drug of the DPP-4 inhibitors family, saxagliptin (SAXA) or sulfonylurea (SU) treatment during a 20-year period, from the perspective of the social security system, in a cohort of people with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who did not attain glycosylated hemoglobin treatment target values only with MET. A discrete event simulation model (Cardiff diabetes model) based on UKPDS 68 was used to simulate disease progression and to estimate the economic and health treatment consequences in people with T2DM. The clinical efficacy parameters for SAXA administration were obtained from the literature; local standard costs were considered for drug acquisition, adverse events (AEs), and micro/macrovascular complications. Costs were expressed in US dollars (2009) with an annual 3.5% discount and a 20-year time horizon. The SAXA + MET treated group had a lower number of non-fatal events than the SU + MET treated group. The model also predicted a lower number of fatal macrovascular events for the SAXA + MET group (149.6 vs. 152.8). The total cost of the SAXA + MET cohort was 15% higher than that of the SU + MET cohort. Treatment with SAXA + MET resulted in a higher number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (9.54 vs. 9.32) and life-years gained (LYGs) (20.84 vs. 20.76) compared to those treated with SU + MET. The incremental cost per QALY and LYG gained was $7,374 and $20,490, respectively. According to the criteria proposed by the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, the use of the combination SAXA + MET is highly cost-effective in Argentina.

Treatment of type 2 diabetes with saxagliptin: a pharmacoeconomic evaluation in Argentina

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The increasing prevalence of diabetes and its inadequate management results in a heavy burden of the disease for the patients, the health and the productive system and the overall community. Consequently, it is necessary to have new effective drugs to treat people with diabetes to decrease such burden. DPP-4 inhibitors can help to cope with this demand, but its usage is challenged by its apparent high cost. The aim of the current study was to compare a simulated cost-effectiveness ratio of metformin (MET) plus one drug of the DPP-4 inhibitors family, saxagliptin (SAXA) or sulfonylurea (SU) treatment during a 20-year period, from the perspective of the social security system, in a cohort of people with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who did not attain glycosylated hemoglobin treatment target values only with MET. Methods A discrete event simulation model (Cardiff diabetes model) based on UKPDS 68 was used to simulate disease progression and to estimate the economic and health treatment consequences in people with T2DM. The clinical efficacy parameters for SAXA administration were obtained from the literature; local standard costs were considered for drug acquisition, adverse events (AEs), and micro/macrovascular complications. Costs were expressed in US dollars (2009) with an annual 3.5% discount and a 20-year time horizon. Results The SAXA + MET treated group had a lower number of non-fatal events than the SU + MET treated group. The model also predicted a lower number of fatal macrovascular events for the SAXA + MET group (149.6 vs. 152.8). The total cost of the SAXA + MET cohort was 15% higher than that of the SU + MET cohort. Treatment with SAXA + MET resulted in a higher number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (9.54 vs. 9.32) and life-years gained (LYGs) (20.84 vs. 20.76) compared to those treated with SU + MET. The incremental cost per QALY and LYG gained was $7,374 and $20,490, respectively. Conclusions According to the criteria proposed by the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, the use of the combination SAXA + MET is highly cost-effective in Argentina. PMID:23621944

Fabrication of optical fiber sensor based on double-layer SU-8 diaphragm and the partial discharge detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, Ya-na; Ni, Qing-yan; Ding, Ding; Chen, Na; Wang, Ting-yun

2015-01-01

In this paper, a partial discharge detection system is proposed using an optical fiber Fabry-Perot (FP) interferometric sensor, which is fabricated by photolithography. SU-8 photoresist is employed due to its low Young's modulus and potentially high sensitivity for ultrasound detection. The FP cavity is formed by coating the fiber end face with two layers of SU-8 so that the cavity can be controlled by the thickness of the middle layer of SU-8. Static pressure measurement experiments are done to estimate the sensing performance. The results show that the SU-8 based sensor has a sensitivity of 154.8 nm/kPa, which is much higher than that of silica based sensor under the same condition. Moreover, the sensor is demonstrated successfully to detect ultrasound from electrode discharge.

Associations Between Maltreatment History and Severity of Substance Use Behavior in Youth in Foster Care.

PubMed

Gabrielli, Joy; Jackson, Yo; Brown, Shaquanna

2016-09-22

Substance use (SU) in youth remains a significant public health concern and a risk factor for morbidity and mortality in adolescents. The present study offers examination of the association between severity and chronicity of maltreatment history and SU in youth in foster care. Two hundred and ten (48% female) foster youth with a mean age of 12.71 years (SD = 2.95 years) completed surveys using an audio-computer-assisted self-interview program. Results revealed 31% of participants reported past-year SU, and substance users had a mean CRAFFT score of 3.43 (SD = 1.90). Reported age of SU onset was 11.08 years (SD = 2.21 years). The SU measurement model demonstrated excellent fit in this sample. Accounting for both youth age and youth placement type, the structural model with maltreatment predicting SU severity demonstrated strong model fit with a significant path between maltreatment and SU. Youth in residential facilities and older youth had higher rates of use than those residing in traditional foster home environments and younger youth. Findings provide additional support for the link between maltreatment experiences and SU severity in foster youth and suggest the need for screening and intervention services appropriate for this high-risk population. © The Author(s) 2016.

Itinerant ferromagnetism in fermionic systems with SP (2 N) symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wang; Wu, Congjun

The Ginzburg-Landau free energy of systems with SP (2 N) symmetry describes a second order phase transition on the mean field level, since the Casimir invariants of the SP (2 N) group can be only of even order combinations of the generators of the SP (2 N) group. This is in contrast with systems having the SU (N) symmetry, where the allowance of cubic term generally makes the phase transition into first order. In this work, we consider the Hertz-Millis type itinerant ferromagnetism in an interacting fermionic system with SP (2 N) symmetry, where the ferromagnetic orders are enriched by the multi-component nature of the system. The quantum criticality is discussed near the second order phase transition point.

Spin Number Coherent States and the Problem of Two Coupled Oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ojeda-Guillén, D.; Mota, R. D.; Granados, V. D.

2015-07-01

From the definition of the standard Perelomov coherent states we introduce the Perelomov number coherent states for any su(2) Lie algebra. With the displacement operator we apply a similarity transformation to the su(2) generators and construct a new set of operators which also close the su(2) Lie algebra, being the Perelomov number coherent states the new basis for its unitary irreducible representation. We apply our results to obtain the energy spectrum, the eigenstates and the partition function of two coupled oscillators. We show that the eigenstates of two coupled oscillators are the SU(2) Perelomov number coherent states of the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator with an appropriate choice of the coherent state parameters. Supported by SNI-México, COFAA-IPN, EDD-IPN, EDI-IPN, SIP-IPN Project No. 20150935

Spatial correlations in driven-dissipative photonic lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biondi, Matteo; Lienhard, Saskia; Blatter, Gianni; Türeci, Hakan E.; Schmidt, Sebastian

2017-12-01

We study the nonequilibrium steady-state of interacting photons in cavity arrays as described by the driven-dissipative Bose–Hubbard and spin-1/2 XY model. For this purpose, we develop a self-consistent expansion in the inverse coordination number of the array (∼ 1/z) to solve the Lindblad master equation of these systems beyond the mean-field approximation. Our formalism is compared and benchmarked with exact numerical methods for small systems based on an exact diagonalization of the Liouvillian and a recently developed corner-space renormalization technique. We then apply this method to obtain insights beyond mean-field in two particular settings: (i) we show that the gas–liquid transition in the driven-dissipative Bose–Hubbard model is characterized by large density fluctuations and bunched photon statistics. (ii) We study the antibunching–bunching transition of the nearest-neighbor correlator in the driven-dissipative spin-1/2 XY model and provide a simple explanation of this phenomenon.

Optical lithography of three-dimensional magnetophotonic microdevices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Dam Thuy Trang; Del Guercio, Olivia; Au, Thi Huong; Trinh, Duc Thien; Mai, Nguyen Phuong Thao; Lai, Ngoc Diep

2018-04-01

We have recently demonstrated a simple and low-cost fabrication technique, called low one-photon absorption direct laser writing, to realize desired polymeric microstructures. We present the use of this technique for fabrication of three-dimensional magnetophotonic devices on a photocurable homogeneous nanocomposite consisting of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and a commercial SU8 photoresist. The fabricated magnetophotonic microstructures show strong response to an applied external magnetic field. Thus, various three-dimensional submicromechanical magnetophotonic devices, which can be mechanically driven by magnetic force, are designed and created. Potential applications of these devices are also discussed.

ℤ3 parafermionic chain emerging from Yang-Baxter equation.

PubMed

Yu, Li-Wei; Ge, Mo-Lin

2016-02-23

We construct the 1D ℤ3 parafermionic model based on the solution of Yang-Baxter equation and express the model by three types of fermions. It is shown that the ℤ3 parafermionic chain possesses both triple degenerate ground states and non-trivial topological winding number. Hence, the ℤ3 parafermionic model is a direct generalization of 1D ℤ2 Kitaev model. Both the ℤ2 and ℤ3 model can be obtained from Yang-Baxter equation. On the other hand, to show the algebra of parafermionic tripling intuitively, we define a new 3-body Hamiltonian H123 based on Yang-Baxter equation. Different from the Majorana doubling, the H123 holds triple degeneracy at each of energy levels. The triple degeneracy is protected by two symmetry operators of the system, ω-parity P [formula in text] and emergent parafermionic operator Γ, which are the generalizations of parity PM and emergent Majorana operator in Lee-Wilczek model, respectively. Both the ℤ3 parafermionic model and H123 can be viewed as SU(3) models in color space. In comparison with the Majorana models for SU(2), it turns out that the SU(3) models are truly the generalization of Majorana models resultant from Yang-Baxter equation.

Effect of Vildagliptin Versus Sulfonylurea in Muslim Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Fasting During Ramadan in Egypt: Results from VIRTUE Study.

PubMed

Khattab, Mohamed; Mahmoud, Khalifa; Shaltout, Inass

2016-09-01

Fasting in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with high risk of hypoglycemia. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of vildagliptin in T2DM patients fasting during Ramadan in a real-life setting in Egypt. In this 16-week prospective and noninterventional study, data were collected up to 6 weeks before and after Ramadan fasting. Patients who had received vildagliptin or sulfonylurea (SU) either as dual therapy with metformin or as monotherapy were enrolled into the study. Two hundred fifty four patients were enrolled in the study, out of which 246 [121 (97.6%) treated with vildagliptin and 125 (99.2%) with SU] were included in the safety analysis set. A significantly lower proportion of patients experienced ≥1 hypoglycemic event (HE) with vildagliptin as compared to those receiving SUs (1.7% vs. 19.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). No patient in either group reported a grade 2 HE. At week 16, mean change in HbA1c from baseline for vildagliptin and SU were -0.1% and +0.3%, respectively, with a between-treatment difference of -0.4% (p < 0.001). Mean change in body weight from baseline for vildagliptin and SU were -0.8 and -0.1 kg, with a between-treatment difference of -0.7 kg (p = 0.011). A higher proportion of SU-treated patients experienced adverse events compared to those treated with vildagliptin (23.2% vs. 5.8%, respectively), the primary reason being the high incidence of hypoglycemia in the SU group (n = 24, 19.2%). Treatment with vildagliptin was associated with lower incidence of hypoglycemia compared with SU and showed good glycemic and weight control in patients with T2DM fasting during Ramadan in a real-life setting in Egypt. Novartis Pharma AG.

Status Report on Scoping Reactor Physics and Sensitivity/Uncertainty Analysis of LR-0 Reactor Molten Salt Experiments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Nicholas R.; Mueller, Donald E.; Patton, Bruce W.

2016-08-31

Experiments are being planned at Research Centre Rež (RC Rež) to use the FLiBe (2 7LiF-BeF 2) salt from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) to perform reactor physics measurements in the LR-0 low power nuclear reactor. These experiments are intended to inform on neutron spectral effects and nuclear data uncertainties for advanced reactor systems utilizing FLiBe salt in a thermal neutron energy spectrum. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is performing sensitivity/uncertainty (S/U) analysis of these planned experiments as part of the ongoing collaboration between the United States and the Czech Republic on civilian nuclear energy research and development. Themore » objective of these analyses is to produce the sensitivity of neutron multiplication to cross section data on an energy-dependent basis for specific nuclides. This report provides a status update on the S/U analyses of critical experiments at the LR-0 Reactor relevant to fluoride salt-cooled high temperature reactor (FHR) and liquid-fueled molten salt reactor (MSR) concepts. The S/U analyses will be used to inform design of FLiBe-based experiments using the salt from MSRE.« less

The Disk Instability Model for SU UMa systems - a Comparison of the Thermal-Tidal Model and Plain Vanilla Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cannizzo, John K.

2017-01-01

We utilize the time dependent accretion disk model described by Ichikawa & Osaki (1992) to explore two basic ideas for the outbursts in the SU UMa systems, Osaki's Thermal-Tidal Model, and the basic accretion disk limit cycle model. We explore a range in possible input parameters and model assumptions to delineate under what conditions each model may be preferred.

Fate of hydrocarbon pollutants in source and non-source control sustainable drainage systems.

PubMed

Roinas, Georgios; Mant, Cath; Williams, John B

2014-01-01

Sustainable drainage (SuDs) is an established method for managing runoff from developments, and source control is part of accepted design philosophy. However, there are limited studies into the contribution source control makes to pollutant removal, especially for roads. This study examines organic pollutants, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in paired source and non-source control full-scale SuDs systems. Sites were selected to cover local roads, trunk roads and housing developments, with a range of SuDs, including porous asphalt, swales, detention basins and ponds. Soil and water samples were taken bi-monthly over 12 months to assess pollutant loads. Results show first flush patterns in storm events for solids, but not for TPH. The patterns of removal for specific PAHs were also different, reflecting varying physico-chemical properties. The potential of trunk roads for pollution was illustrated by peak runoff for TPH of > 17,000 μg/l. Overall there was no significant difference between pollutant loads from source and non-source control systems, but the dynamic nature of runoff means that longer-term data are required. The outcomes of this project will increase understanding of organic pollutants behaviour in SuDs. This will provide design guidance about the most appropriate systems for treating these pollutants.

Observation of two-orbital spin-exchange interactions with ultracold SU(N)-symmetric fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scazza, F.; Hofrichter, C.; Höfer, M.; de Groot, P. C.; Bloch, I.; Fölling, S.

2014-10-01

Spin-exchanging interactions govern the properties of strongly correlated electron systems such as many magnetic materials. When orbital degrees of freedom are present, spin exchange between different orbitals often dominates, leading to the Kondo effect, heavy fermion behaviour or magnetic ordering. Ultracold ytterbium or alkaline-earth ensembles have attracted much recent interest as model systems for these effects, with two (meta-) stable electronic configurations representing independent orbitals. We report the observation of spin-exchanging contact interactions in a two-orbital SU(N)-symmetric quantum gas realized with fermionic 173Yb. We find strong inter-orbital spin exchange by spectroscopic characterization of all interaction channels and demonstrate SU(N = 6) symmetry within our measurement precision. The spin-exchange process is also directly observed through the dynamic equilibration of spin imbalances between ensembles in separate orbitals. The realization of an SU(N)-symmetric two-orbital Hubbard Hamiltonian opens the route to quantum simulations with extended symmetries and with orbital magnetic interactions, such as the Kondo lattice model.

Bi-Directional Theta Modulation between the Septo-Hippocampal System and the Mammillary Area in Free-Moving Rats

PubMed Central

Ruan, Ming; Young, Calvin K.; McNaughton, Neil

2017-01-01

Hippocampal (HPC) theta oscillations have long been linked to various functions of the brain. Many cortical and subcortical areas that also exhibit theta oscillations have been linked to functional circuits with the hippocampus on the basis of coupled activities at theta frequencies. We examine, in freely moving rats, the characteristics of diencephalic theta local field potentials (LFPs) recorded in the supramammillary/mammillary (SuM/MM) areas that are bi-directionally connected to the HPC through the septal complex. Using partial directed coherence (PDC), we find support for previous suggestions that SuM modulates HPC theta at higher frequencies. We find weak separation of SuM and MM by dominant theta frequency recorded locally. Contrary to oscillatory cell activities under anesthesia where SuM is insensitive, but MM is sensitive to medial septal (MS) inactivation, theta LFPs persisted and became indistinguishable after MS-inactivation. However, MS-inactivation attenuated SuM/MM theta power, while increasing the frequency of SuM/MM theta. MS-inactivation also reduced root mean squared power in both HPC and SuM/MM equally, but reduced theta power differentially in the time domain. We provide converging evidence that SuM is preferentially involved in coding HPC theta at higher frequencies, and that the MS-HPC circuit normally imposes a frequency-limiting modulation over the SuM/MM area as suggested by cell-based recordings in anesthetized animals. In addition, we provide evidence that the postulated SuM-MS-HPC-MM circuit is under complex bi-directional control, rather than SuM and MM having roles as unidirectional relays in the network. PMID:28955209

The deconfining phase transition in and out of equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazavov, Oleksiy

Recent experiments carried out at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory provide strong evidence that a matter can be driven from a confined, low-temperature phase, observed in our every day world into a deconfined high-temperature phase of liberated quarks and gluons. The equilibrium and dynamical properties of the deconfining phase transition are thus of great theoretical interest, since they also provide an information about the first femtoseconds of the evolution of our Universe, when the hot primordial soup while cooling has undergone a chain of phase transitions. The aspects of the deconfining phase transition studied in this work include: the dynamics of the SU(3) gauge theory after the heating quench (which models rapid heating in the heavy-ion collisions), equilibrium properties of the phase transition in the SU(3) gauge theory with boundaries at low temperature (small volumes at RHIC suggest that boundary effects cannot be neglected and periodic boundary conditions normally used in lattice simulations do not correspond to the experimental situation), and a study of the order of the transition in U(1) gauge theory.

Pick_sw: a program for interactive picking of S-wave data, version 2.00

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ellefsen, Karl J.

2002-01-01

Program pick_sw is used to interactively pick travel times from S-wave data. It is assumed that the data are collected using 2 shots of opposite polarity at each shot location. The traces must be in either the SEG-2 format or the SU format. The program is written in the IDL and C programming languages, and the program is executed under the Windows operating system. (The program may also execute under other operating systems like UNIX if the C language functions are re-compiled).

hobo Induced rearrangements in the yellow locus influence the insulation effect of the gypsy su(Hw)-binding region in Drosophila melanogaster.

PubMed Central

Gause, M; Hovhannisyan, H; Kan, T; Kuhfittig, S; Mogila, V; Georgiev, P

1998-01-01

The su(Hw) protein is responsible for the insulation mediated by the su(Hw)-binding region present in the gypsy retrotransposon. In the y2 mutant, su(Hw) protein partially inhibits yellow transcription by repressing the function of transcriptional enhancers located distally from the yellow promoter with respect to gypsy. y2 mutation derivatives have been induced by the insertion of two hobo copies on the both sides of gypsy: into the yellow intron and into the 5' regulatory region upstream of the wing and body enhancers. The hobo elements have the same structure and orientation, opposite to the direction of yellow transcription. In the sequence context, where two copies of hobo are separated by the su(Hw)-binding region, hobo-dependent rearrangements are frequently associated with duplications of the region between the hobo elements. Duplication of the su(Hw)-binding region strongly inhibits the insulation of the yellow promoter separated from the body and wing enhancers by gypsy. These results provide a better insight into mechanisms by which the su(Hw)-binding region affects the enhancer function. PMID:9649529

Flavoured Dark Matter moving left

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blanke, Monika; Das, Satrajit; Kast, Simon

2018-02-01

We investigate the phenomenology of a simplified model of flavoured Dark Matter (DM), with a dark fermionic flavour triplet coupling to the left-handed SU(2) L quark doublets via a scalar mediator. The DM-quark coupling matrix is assumed to constitute the only new source of flavour and CP violation, following the hypothesis of Dark Minimal Flavour Violation. We analyse the constraints from LHC searches, from meson mixing data in the K, D, and B d,s meson systems, from thermal DM freeze-out, and from direct detection experiments. Our combined analysis shows that while the experimental constraints are similar to the DMFV models with DM coupling to right-handed quarks, the multitude of couplings between DM and the SM quark sector resulting from the SU(2) L structure implies a richer phenomenology and significantly alters the resulting impact on the viable parameter space.

A Review on Surface Stress-Based Miniaturized Piezoresistive SU-8 Polymeric Cantilever Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathew, Ribu; Ravi Sankar, A.

2018-06-01

In the last decade, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) SU-8 polymeric cantilevers with piezoresistive readout combined with the advances in molecular recognition techniques have found versatile applications, especially in the field of chemical and biological sensing. Compared to conventional solid-state semiconductor-based piezoresistive cantilever sensors, SU-8 polymeric cantilevers have advantages in terms of better sensitivity along with reduced material and fabrication cost. In recent times, numerous researchers have investigated their potential as a sensing platform due to high performance-to-cost ratio of SU-8 polymer-based cantilever sensors. In this article, we critically review the design, fabrication, and performance aspects of surface stress-based piezoresistive SU-8 polymeric cantilever sensors. The evolution of surface stress-based piezoresistive cantilever sensors from solid-state semiconductor materials to polymers, especially SU-8 polymer, is discussed in detail. Theoretical principles of surface stress generation and their application in cantilever sensing technology are also devised. Variants of SU-8 polymeric cantilevers with different composition of materials in cantilever stacks are explained. Furthermore, the interdependence of the material selection, geometrical design parameters, and fabrication process of piezoresistive SU-8 polymeric cantilever sensors and their cumulative impact on the sensor response are also explained in detail. In addition to the design-, fabrication-, and performance-related factors, this article also describes various challenges in engineering SU-8 polymeric cantilevers as a universal sensing platform such as temperature and moisture vulnerability. This review article would serve as a guideline for researchers to understand specifics and functionality of surface stress-based piezoresistive SU-8 cantilever sensors.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

Construction of novel shuttle expression vectors for gene expression in Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus.

PubMed

Shao, Huanhuan; Cao, Qinghua; Zhao, Hongyan; Tan, Xuemei; Feng, Hong

2015-01-01

A native plasmid (pSU01) was detected by genome sequencing of Bacillus subtilis strain S1-4. Two pSU01-based shuttle expression vectors pSU02-AP and pSU03-AP were constructed enabling stable replication in B. subtilis WB600. These vectors contained the reporter gene aprE, encoding an alkaline protease from Bacillus pumilus BA06. The expression vector pSU03-AP only possessed the minimal replication elements (rep, SSO, DSO) and exhibited more stability on structure, suggesting that the rest of the genes in pSU01 (ORF1, ORF2, mob, hsp) were unessential for the structural stability of plasmid in B. subtilis. In addition, recombinant production of the alkaline protease was achieved more efficiently with pSU03-AP whose copy number was estimated to be more than 100 per chromosome. Furthermore, pSU03-AP could also be used to transform and replicate in B. pumilus BA06 under selective pressure. In conclusion, pSU03-AP is expected to be a useful tool for gene expression in Bacillus subtilis and B. pumilus.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Quantum anomalies and linear response theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sela, Itamar; Aisenberg, James; Kottos, Tsampikos; Cohen, Doron

2010-08-01

The analysis of diffusive energy spreading in quantized chaotic driven systems leads to a universal paradigm for the emergence of a quantum anomaly. In the classical approximation, a driven chaotic system exhibits stochastic-like diffusion in energy space with a coefficient D that is proportional to the intensity ɛ2 of the driving. In the corresponding quantized problem the coherent transitions are characterized by a generalized Wigner time tɛ, and a self-generated (intrinsic) dephasing process leads to nonlinear dependence of D on ɛ2.

Highly selective transformation of ammonia nitrogen to N2 based on a novel solar-driven photoelectrocatalytic-chlorine radical reactions system.

PubMed

Ji, Youzhi; Bai, Jing; Li, Jinhua; Luo, Tao; Qiao, Li; Zeng, Qingyi; Zhou, Baoxue

2017-11-15

A highly selective method for transforming ammonia nitrogen to N 2 was proposed, based on a novel solar-driven photoelectrocatalytic-chlorine radical reactions (PEC-chlorine) system. The PEC-chlorine system was facilitated by a visible light response WO 3 nanoplate array (NPA) electrode in an ammonia solution containing chloride ions (Cl - ). Under illumination, photoholes from WO 3 promote the oxidation of Cl - to chlorine radical (Cl). This radical can selectively transform ammonia nitrogen to N 2 (79.9%) and NO 3 - (19.2%), similar to the breakpoint chlorination reaction. The ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency increased from 10.6% (PEC without Cl - ) to 99.9% with the PEC-chlorine system within 90 min operation, which can be attributed to the cyclic reactions between Cl - /Cl and the reaction intermediates (NH 2 , NHCl, etc.) that expand the degradation reactions from the surface of the electrodes to the whole solution system. Moreover, Cl is the main radical species contributing to the transformation of ammonia nitrogen to N 2 , which is confirmed by the tBuOH capture experiment. Compared to conventional breakpoint chlorination, the PEC-chlorine system is a more economical and efficient means for ammonia nitrogen degradation because of the fast removal rate, no additional chlorine cost, and its use of clean energy (since it is solar-driven). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coherent state constructions of bases for some physically relevant group chains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hecht, Karl T.

1995-01-01

Rotor coherent state constructions are given for the Wigner supermultiplet SU(4) contains SU(2)xSU(2) and for the special irreducible representations (N0) of the SO(5) contains SO(3) contains SO(2) group chain in exact parallel with the rotor coherent state construction for the SU(3) contains SO(3) contains SO(2) case given by Rowe, LeBlanc,, and Repka. Matrix elements of the coherent state realizations of the group generators are given in all cases by very simple expressions in terms of angular momentum Wigner coefficients involving intrinsic projection labels K. The K-matrix technique of vector coherent state theory is used to effectively elevate these K labels to the status of good quantum numbers. Analytic expressions are given for the (K K*)-matrices for many of the more important irreducible representations.

Efficacy of Sunitinib and Radiotherapy in Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoon, Sam S.; Stangenberg, Lars; Lee, Yoon-Jin

Purpose: Sunitinib (SU) is a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptors. The present study examined SU and radiotherapy (RT) in a genetically engineered mouse model of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Methods and Materials: Primary extremity STSs were generated in genetically engineered mice. The mice were randomized to treatment with SU, RT (10 Gy x 2), or both (SU+RT). Changes in the tumor vasculature before and after treatment were assessed in vivo using fluorescence-mediated tomography. The control and treated tumors were harvested and extensively analyzed. Results: The mean fluorescence in themore » tumors was not decreased by RT but decreased 38-44% in tumors treated with SU or SU+RT. The control tumors grew to a mean of 1378 mm{sup 3} after 12 days. SU alone or RT alone delayed tumor growth by 56% and 41%, respectively, but maximal growth inhibition (71%) was observed with the combination therapy. SU target effects were confirmed by loss of target receptor phosphorylation and alterations in SU-related gene expression. Cancer cell proliferation was decreased and apoptosis increased in the SU and RT groups, with a synergistic effect on apoptosis observed in the SU+RT group. RT had a minimal effect on the tumor microvessel density and endothelial cell-specific apoptosis, but SU alone or SU+RT decreased the microvessel density by >66% and induced significant endothelial cell apoptosis. Conclusion: SU inhibited STS growth by effects on both cancer cells and tumor vasculature. SU also augmented the efficacy of RT, suggesting that this combination strategy could improve local control of STS.« less

How State Education Agencies in the Northeast and Islands Region Support Data-Driven Decisionmaking in Districts and Schools. Issues & Answers. REL 2009-No. 072

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaPointe, Michelle A.; Brett, Jessica; Kagle, Melissa; Midouhas, Emily; Sanchez, Maria Teresa

2009-01-01

The report examines the initiatives of state education agencies in the Northeast and Islands Region to support data-driven decisionmaking in districts and schools and describes the service providers hired to support this work. Four components of data-driven decisionmaking initiatives are identified: (1) Centralized data system/warehouse; (2) Tools…

Serum urate levels and consumption of common beverages and alcohol among Chinese in Singapore.

PubMed

Teng, Gim Gee; Tan, Chuen Seng; Santosa, Amelia; Saag, Kenneth G; Yuan, Jian-Min; Koh, Woon-Puay

2013-09-01

Western studies suggest that beverages may affect serum urate (SU) levels, but data from Asian populations are scarce. We evaluated the associations between beverages and SU levels in Singaporean Chinese. The study population consisted of 483 subjects ages 45-74 years from the Singapore Chinese Health Study cohort, recruited between 1993 and 1998. Lifestyle factors, medical histories, and diet were collected through in-person interviews. SU levels and other biomarkers were measured from blood collected between 1994 and 1996. The mean age was 57.6 years and 44% were men. The geometric mean SU level was 321 μmoles/liter (range 157-719). Mean SU levels increased with alcohol consumption (P = 0.024 for trend). The mean SU level of daily alcohol drinkers was 42.6 μmoles/liter higher than that of nondrinkers. Similarly, increasing frequency of green tea intake was associated with rising SU levels. The highest mean SU level was observed in daily green tea drinkers (difference of 25.0 μmoles/liter) relative to nondrinkers (P = 0.009 for trend). Compared to nondrinkers, daily alcohol drinkers had an almost 5-fold increase in association with hyperuricemia (odds ratio [OR] 4.83, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.10-21.23), whereas daily green tea drinkers had a 2-fold increase in association with hyperuricemia (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.03-4.36). The present study did not show elevated levels of SU in individuals who consumed black tea, coffee, fruit juice, or soda. Alcohol consumption increases SU levels. The finding that daily drinking of green tea is associated with hyperuricemia needs validation in future studies. Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Rheumatology.

Minimal Window Duration for Accurate HRV Recording in Athletes.

PubMed

Bourdillon, Nicolas; Schmitt, Laurent; Yazdani, Sasan; Vesin, Jean-Marc; Millet, Grégoire P

2017-01-01

Heart rate variability (HRV) is non-invasive and commonly used for monitoring responses to training loads, fitness, or overreaching in athletes. Yet, the recording duration for a series of RR-intervals varies from 1 to 15 min in the literature. The aim of the present work was to assess the minimum record duration to obtain reliable HRV results. RR-intervals from 159 orthostatic tests (7 min supine, SU, followed by 6 min standing, ST) were analyzed. Reference windows were 4 min in SU (min 3-7) and 4 min in ST (min 9-13). Those windows were subsequently divided and the analyses were repeated on eight different fractioned windows: the first min (0-1), the second min (1-2), the third min (2-3), the fourth min (3-4), the first 2 min (0-2), the last 2 min (2-4), the first 3 min (0-3), and the last 3 min (1-4). Correlation and Bland & Altman statistical analyses were systematically performed. The analysis window could be shortened to 0-2 instead of 0-4 for RMSSD only, whereas the 4-min window was necessary for LF and total power. Since there is a need for 1 min of baseline to obtain a steady signal prior the analysis window, we conclude that studies relying on RMSSD may shorten the windows to 3 min (= 1+2) in SU or seated position only and to 6 min (= 1+2 min SU plus 1+2 min ST) if there is an orthostatic test. Studies relying on time- and frequency-domain parameters need a minimum of 5 min (= 1+4) min SU or seated position only but require 10 min (= 1+4 min SU plus 1+4 min ST) for the orthostatic test.

The Event Based Language and Its Multiple Processor Implementations.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

10 6.1 "Recursive" Linear Fibonacci ................................................ 105 6.2 The Readers Writers Problem...kinds. Examples of such systems are: C.mmp [Wu-72], Pluribus [He-73], Data Flow [ De -75], the boolean n-cube parallel machine [Su-77], and the MuNet [Wa...concurrency within programs; therefore, we hate concentrated on two types of systems which seem suitable: a processor network, and a data flow processor [ De -77

Graviweak Unification, Invisible Universe and Dark Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, C. R.; Laperashvili, L. V.; Tureanu, A.

2013-07-01

We consider a graviweak unification model with the assumption of the existence of a hidden (invisible) sector of our Universe, parallel to the visible world. This Hidden World (HW) is assumed to be a Mirror World (MW) with broken mirror parity. We start with a diffeomorphism invariant theory of a gauge field valued in a Lie algebra g, which is broken spontaneously to the direct sum of the space-time Lorentz algebra and the Yang-Mills algebra: ˜ {g} = {{su}}(2) (grav)L ⊕ {{su}}(2)L — in the ordinary world, and ˜ {g}' = {{su}}(2){' (grav)}R ⊕ {{su}}(2)'R — in the hidden world. Using an extension of the Plebanski action for general relativity, we recover the actions for gravity, SU(2) Yang-Mills and Higgs fields in both (visible and invisible) sectors of the Universe, and also the total action. After symmetry breaking, all physical constants, including the Newton's constants, cosmological constants, Yang-Mills couplings, and other parameters, are determined by a single parameter g present in the initial action, and by the Higgs VEVs. The dark energy problem of this model predicts a too large supersymmetric breaking scale (MSUSY 1010GeV), which is not within the reach of the LHC experiments.

ɛ '/ ɛ anomaly and neutron EDM in SU(2) L × SU(2) R × U(1) B- L model with charge symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haba, Naoyuki; Umeeda, Hiroyuki; Yamada, Toshifumi

2018-05-01

The Standard Model prediction for ɛ '/ ɛ based on recent lattice QCD results exhibits a tension with the experimental data. We solve this tension through W R + gauge boson exchange in the SU(2) L × SU(2) R × U(1) B- L model with `charge symmetry', whose theoretical motivation is to attribute the chiral structure of the Standard Model to the spontaneous breaking of SU(2) R × U(1) B- L gauge group and charge symmetry. We show that {M_W}{_R}<58 TeV is required to account for the ɛ' /ɛ anomaly in this model. Next, we make a prediction for the neutron EDM in the same model and study a correlation between ɛ ' /ɛ and the neutron EDM. We confirm that the model can solve the ɛ ' /ɛ anomaly without conflicting the current bound on the neutron EDM, and further reveal that almost all parameter regions in which the ɛ ' /ɛ anomaly is explained will be covered by future neutron EDM searches, which leads us to anticipate the discovery of the neutron EDM.

Immunogenicity and Safety of the HZ/su Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Subunit Vaccine in Adults Previously Vaccinated With a Live Attenuated Herpes Zoster Vaccine

PubMed Central

Grupping, Katrijn; Campora, Laura; Douha, Martine; Heineman, Thomas C; Klein, Nicola P; Lal, Himal; Peterson, James; Vastiau, Ilse; Oostvogels, Lidia

2017-01-01

Abstract Background Protection against herpes zoster (HZ) induced by the live attenuated zoster vaccine Zostavax (ZVL) wanes within 3–7 years. Revaccination may renew protection. We assessed whether (re)vaccination with the adjuvanted HZ subunit vaccine candidate (HZ/su) induced comparable immune responses in previous ZVL recipients and ZVL-naive individuals (HZ-NonVac). Methods In an open-label, multicenter study, adults ≥65 years of age, vaccinated with ZVL ≥5 years previously (HZ-PreVac), were matched to ZVL-naive adults (HZ-NonVac). Participants received 2 doses of HZ/su 2 months apart. The primary objective of noninferiority of the humoral immune response 1 month post–dose 2 was considered demonstrated if the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the adjusted anti–glycoprotein E geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratio of HZ-NonVac over HZ-PreVac was <1.5. HZ/su cellular immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety were also assessed. Results In 430 participants, humoral immune response to HZ/su was noninferior in HZ-PreVac compared with HZ-NonVac (adjusted GMC ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, .92–1.17]). Cellular immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety appeared to be comparable between groups. HZ/su was well-tolerated, with no safety concerns raised within 1 month post–dose 2. Conclusions HZ/su induces a strong immune response irrespective of prior vaccination with ZVL, and may be an attractive option to revaccinate prior ZVL recipients. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02581410. PMID:29029122

Systematic construction of spin liquids on the square lattice from tensor networks with SU(2) symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mambrini, Matthieu; Orús, Román; Poilblanc, Didier

2016-11-01

We elaborate a simple classification scheme of all rank-5 SU(2) spin rotational symmetric tensors according to (i) the onsite physical spin S , (ii) the local Hilbert space V⊗4 of the four virtual (composite) spins attached to each site, and (iii) the irreducible representations of the C4 v point group of the square lattice. We apply our scheme to draw a complete list of all SU(2)-symmetric translationally and rotationally invariant projected entangled pair states (PEPS) with bond dimension D ≤6 . All known SU(2)-symmetric PEPS on the square lattice are recovered and simple generalizations are provided in some cases. More generally, to each of our symmetry class can be associated a (D -1 )-dimensional manifold of spin liquids (potentially) preserving lattice symmetries and defined in terms of D -independent tensors of a given bond dimension D . In addition, generic (low-dimensional) families of PEPS explicitly breaking either (i) particular point-group lattice symmetries (lattice nematics) or (ii) time-reversal symmetry (chiral spin liquids) or (iii) SU(2) spin rotation symmetry down to U(1 ) (spin nematics or Néel antiferromagnets) can also be constructed. We apply this framework to search for new topological chiral spin liquids characterized by well-defined chiral edge modes, as revealed by their entanglement spectrum. In particular, we show how the symmetrization of a double-layer PEPS leads to a chiral topological state with a gapless edge described by a SU (2) 2 Wess-Zumino-Witten model.

Lattice spin models for non-Abelian chiral spin liquids

DOE PAGES

Lecheminant, P.; Tsvelik, A. M.

2017-04-26

Here, we suggest a class of two-dimensional lattice spin Hamiltonians describing non-Abelian SU(2) chiral spin liquids—spin analogs of fractional non-Abelian quantum Hall states—with gapped bulk and gapless chiral edge excitations described by the SU(2) n Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten conformal field theory. The models are constructed from an array of generalized spin-n/2 ladders with multi-spin-exchange interactions which are coupled by isolated spins. Such models allow a controllable analytic treatment starting from the one-dimensional limit and are characterized by a bulk gap and non-Abelian SU(2) n gapless edge excitations.

Fabrication and characterization of an SU-8 gripper actuated by a shape memory alloy thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roch, I.; Bidaud, Ph; Collard, D.; Buchaillot, L.

2003-03-01

In this paper, we present the fabrication process of a shape memory alloy (SMA) thin film in both monolithic and hybrid configurations. This provides an effective actuation part for a gripper made of SU-8 thick photoresist. We also extensively describe and discuss the assembly of the SMA thin film with the SU-8 mechanism. Measurements show that the SU-8 gripper is able to achieve an opening action of 500 mum in amplitude at a frequency of 1 Hz. Finite element model simulations indicate that a force of 50 mN, corresponding to 400 mum of opening amplitude, should be produced by the SMA actuator. Although the assembly of the TiNi SMA thin film with the SU-8 mechanism is demonstrated, the bond reliability needs further development in order to improve the thermal behavior of the interface. In this paper, we show that SU-8 is well suited as a structural material for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) applications. An attractive feature in the MEMS design is that the SMA generated force is well matched with the elastic properties of SU-8. From the application point of view, a SMA-actuated SU-8 high-aspect-ratio microgripper can serve as a secure means to transport microelectronics device, because it provides good grasping and safe insulation. This is also a preliminary result for the future development of biogrippers.

Group theoretical quantization of isotropic loop cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Livine, Etera R.; Martín-Benito, Mercedes

2012-06-01

We achieve a group theoretical quantization of the flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model coupled to a massless scalar field adopting the improved dynamics of loop quantum cosmology. Deparemetrizing the system using the scalar field as internal time, we first identify a complete set of phase space observables whose Poisson algebra is isomorphic to the su(1,1) Lie algebra. It is generated by the volume observable and the Hamiltonian. These observables describe faithfully the regularized phase space underlying the loop quantization: they account for the polymerization of the variable conjugate to the volume and for the existence of a kinematical nonvanishing minimum volume. Since the Hamiltonian is an element in the su(1,1) Lie algebra, the dynamics is now implemented as SU(1, 1) transformations. At the quantum level, the system is quantized as a timelike irreducible representation of the group SU(1, 1). These representations are labeled by a half-integer spin, which gives the minimal volume. They provide superselection sectors without quantization anomalies and no factor ordering ambiguity arises when representing the Hamiltonian. We then explicitly construct SU(1, 1) coherent states to study the quantum evolution. They not only provide semiclassical states but truly dynamical coherent states. Their use further clarifies the nature of the bounce that resolves the big bang singularity.

Light Driven CO2 Fixation by Using Cyanobacterial Photosystem I and NADPH-Dependent Formate Dehydrogenase

PubMed Central

Ihara, Masaki; Kawano, Yusuke; Urano, Miho; Okabe, Ayako

2013-01-01

The ultimate goal of this research is to construct a new direct CO2 fixation system using photosystems in living algae. Here, we report light-driven formate production from CO2 by using cyanobacterial photosystem I (PS I). Formate, a chemical hydrogen carrier and important industrial material, can be produced from CO2 by using the reducing power and the catalytic function of formate dehydrogenase (FDH). We created a bacterial FDH mutant that experimentally switched the cofactor specificity from NADH to NADPH, and combined it with an in vitro-reconstituted cyanobacterial light-driven NADPH production system consisting of PS I, ferredoxin (Fd), and ferredoxin-NADP+-reductase (FNR). Consequently, light-dependent formate production under a CO2 atmosphere was successfully achieved. In addition, we introduced the NADPH-dependent FDH mutant into heterocysts of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and demonstrated an increased formate concentration in the cells. These results provide a new possibility for photo-biological CO2 fixation. PMID:23936519

Light driven CO2 fixation by using cyanobacterial photosystem I and NADPH-dependent formate dehydrogenase.

PubMed

Ihara, Masaki; Kawano, Yusuke; Urano, Miho; Okabe, Ayako

2013-01-01

The ultimate goal of this research is to construct a new direct CO2 fixation system using photosystems in living algae. Here, we report light-driven formate production from CO2 by using cyanobacterial photosystem I (PS I). Formate, a chemical hydrogen carrier and important industrial material, can be produced from CO2 by using the reducing power and the catalytic function of formate dehydrogenase (FDH). We created a bacterial FDH mutant that experimentally switched the cofactor specificity from NADH to NADPH, and combined it with an in vitro-reconstituted cyanobacterial light-driven NADPH production system consisting of PS I, ferredoxin (Fd), and ferredoxin-NADP(+)-reductase (FNR). Consequently, light-dependent formate production under a CO2 atmosphere was successfully achieved. In addition, we introduced the NADPH-dependent FDH mutant into heterocysts of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and demonstrated an increased formate concentration in the cells. These results provide a new possibility for photo-biological CO2 fixation.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: NGC 752 Vilnius photometry (Bartasiute+, 2011)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartasiute, S.; Janusz, R.; Boyle, R. P.; Philip, A. G. D.

2015-03-01

The multicolor observations in eight intermediate-band filters of the Stromvil (Stromgren + Vilnius) system were obtained during two separate runs, on the nights 2007 November 2-8 (run "SQ") and six nights between 2008 October 28 and November 5 (run "SU"), using a 4K CCD camera on the 1.8m VATT telescope on Mt. Graham, Arizona. (2 data files).

JIL-1 and Su(var)3-7 Interact Genetically and Counteract Each Other's Effect on Position-Effect Variegation in Drosophila

PubMed Central

Deng, Huai; Cai, Weili; Wang, Chao; Lerach, Stephanie; Delattre, Marion; Girton, Jack; Johansen, Jørgen; Johansen, Kristen M.

2010-01-01

The essential JIL-1 histone H3S10 kinase is a key regulator of chromatin structure that functions to maintain euchromatic domains while counteracting heterochromatization and gene silencing. In the absence of the JIL-1 kinase, two of the major heterochromatin markers H3K9me2 and HP1a spread in tandem to ectopic locations on the chromosome arms. Here we address the role of the third major heterochromatin component, the zinc-finger protein Su(var)3-7. We show that the lethality but not the chromosome morphology defects associated with the null JIL-1 phenotype to a large degree can be rescued by reducing the dose of the Su(var)3-7 gene and that Su(var)3-7 and JIL-1 loss-of-function mutations have an antagonistic and counterbalancing effect on position-effect variegation (PEV). Furthermore, we show that in the absence of JIL-1 kinase activity, Su(var)3-7 gets redistributed and upregulated on the chromosome arms. Reducing the dose of the Su(var)3-7 gene dramatically decreases this redistribution; however, the spreading of H3K9me2 to the chromosome arms was unaffected, strongly indicating that ectopic Su(var)3-9 activity is not a direct cause of lethality. These observations suggest a model where Su(var)3-7 functions as an effector downstream of Su(var)3-9 and H3K9 dimethylation in heterochromatic spreading and gene silencing that is normally counteracted by JIL-1 kinase activity. PMID:20457875

Solutions of the Quantum Yang-Baxter Equations Associated with (1-3/2)-D Representations of SU(sub q) (2)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yijun, Huang; Guochen, Yu; Hong, Sun

1996-01-01

The solutions of the spectral independent QYBE associated with (1-3/2)-D representations of SU(sub q) (2) are derived, based on the weight conservation and extended Kauffman diagrammatic technique. It is found that there are nonstandard solutions.

Co-occurrence of antisocial behavior and substance use: testing for sex differences in the impact of older male friends, low parental knowledge and friends' delinquency.

PubMed

McAdams, Tom A; Salekin, Randall T; Marti, C Nathan; Lester, Whiney S; Barker, Edward D

2014-04-01

Delinquency and substance use (SU) are commonly comorbid during adolescence. In the present study we investigate this co-morbidity with 3 main objectives: 1. Evaluate reciprocal relationships between delinquency/SU across early adolescence. 2. Assess the impact of older male friends, low parental knowledge and friends' delinquency on subsequent development and inter-relationships of delinquency and SU. 3. Evaluate sex differences in these relationships. We applied cross-lagged structural equation models to the analysis of a longitudinal sample (n=3699). Findings demonstrated: (1) At ages 13-14 delinquency predicted SU more so than vice versa but effects became equal between ages 14 and 15. (2) Low parental knowledge and friends' delinquency predicted delinquency and SU. Older male friends predicted ASB. (3) Sex differences were present. For example, in the absence of antisocial friends low parent knowledge at age 12 indirectly predicted increased age 15 SU for girls more than boys. Copyright © 2014 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Black holes with su(N) gauge field hair and superconducting horizons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shepherd, Ben L.; Winstanley, Elizabeth

2017-01-01

We present new planar dyonic black hole solutions of the su(N) Einstein-Yang-Mills equations in asymptotically anti-de Sitter space-time, focussing on su(2) and su(3) gauge groups. The magnetic part of the gauge field forms a condensate close to the planar event horizon. We compare the free energy of a non-Abelian hairy black hole with that of an embedded Reissner-Nordström-anti-de Sitter (RN-AdS) black hole having the same Hawking temperature and electric charge. We find that the hairy black holes have lower free energy. We present evidence that there is a phase transition at a critical temperature, above which the only solutions are embedded RN-AdS black holes. At the critical temperature, an RN-AdS black hole can decay into a hairy black hole, and it is thermodynamically favourable to do so. Working in the probe limit, we compute the frequency-dependent conductivity, and find that enlarging the gauge group from su(2) to su(3) eliminates a divergence in the conductivity at nonzero frequency.

Asymptotic symmetries of colored gravity in three dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joung, Euihun; Kim, Jaewon; Kim, Jihun; Rey, Soo-Jong

2018-03-01

Three-dimensional colored gravity refers to nonabelian isospin extension of Einstein gravity. We investigate the asymptotic symmetry algebra of the SU( N)-colored gravity in (2+1)-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime. Formulated by the Chern-Simons theory with SU( N, N) × SU( N, N) gauge group, the theory contains graviton, SU( N) Chern-Simons gauge fields and massless spin-two multiplets in the SU( N) adjoint representation, thus extending diffeomorphism to colored, nonabelian counterpart. We identify the asymptotic symmetry as Poisson algebra of generators associated with the residual global symmetries of the nonabelian diffeomorphism set by appropriately chosen boundary conditions. The resulting asymptotic symmetry algebra is a nonlinear extension of \\widehat{su(N)} Kac-Moody algebra, supplemented by additional generators corresponding to the massless spin-two adjoint matter fields.

Promotores As Advocates for Community Improvement: Experiences of the Western States REACH Su Comunidad Consortium.

PubMed

Kutcher, Rachel; Moore-Monroy, Martha; Bello, Elizur; Doyle, Seth; Ibarra, Jorge; Kunz, Susan; Munoz, Rocio; Patton-Lopez, Megan; Sharkey, Joseph R; Wilger, Susan; Alfero, Charlie

2015-01-01

The REACH Su Comunidad Consortium worked with 10 communities to address disparities in access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities among Hispanic populations through policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies. Community health workers took leadership roles in the implementation of PSE strategies in partnership with local multisector coalitions. This article describes the role of community health workers in PSE change, the technical and professional development support provided to the REACH Su Comunidad Communities, and highlights professional development needs of community health workers engaging in PSE strategies.

System and method for embedding emotion in logic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curtis, Steven A. (Inventor)

2012-01-01

A system, method, and computer readable-media for creating a stable synthetic neural system. The method includes training an intellectual choice-driven synthetic neural system (SNS), training an emotional rule-driven SNS by generating emotions from rules, incorporating the rule-driven SNS into the choice-driven SNS through an evolvable interface, and balancing the emotional SNS and the intellectual SNS to achieve stability in a nontrivial autonomous environment with a Stability Algorithm for Neural Entities (SANE). Generating emotions from rules can include coding the rules into the rule-driven SNS in a self-consistent way. Training the emotional rule-driven SNS can occur during a training stage in parallel with training the choice-driven SNS. The training stage can include a self assessment loop which measures performance characteristics of the rule-driven SNS against core genetic code. The method uses a stability threshold to measure stability of the incorporated rule-driven SNS and choice-driven SNS using SANE.

Maltreatment, Coping, and Substance Use in Youth in Foster Care: Examination of Moderation Models.

PubMed

Gabrielli, Joy; Jackson, Yo; Huffhines, Lindsay; Stone, Katie

2018-05-01

Child maltreatment is associated with negative outcomes such as substance use (SU). This study tested relations among maltreatment history, coping behavior, and SU behavior in youth residing in foster care. Participants were 210 youth ( M age = 12.71 years; SD = 2.95) in foster care who completed self-report measures through an audio computer-assisted self-interview program. Using a structural equation modeling framework and latent measurement constructs, positive associations were identified between maltreatment at baseline and coping behavior outcomes as well as SU behavior outcome approximately 4.5 months later. Specifically, greater severity and chronicity of maltreatment was associated with greater SU behavior as well as indirect action, prosocial, and asocial coping behavior. Maltreatment was not significantly related to direct action coping behavior. In moderation tests, only asocial coping provided a significant interaction effect for SU behavior outcomes; SU behavior did not moderate pathways between maltreatment and coping behavior. For youth in foster care, the coping approach may be varied and relate differentially to SU behavior outcomes, with asocial approaches to coping acting as a buffer for the maltreatment/SU relation. Additionally, SU remains an important target for intervention and prevention in youth residing in foster care.

Low scale composite Higgs model and 1.8 ˜2 TeV diboson excess

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bian, Ligong; Liu, Da; Shu, Jing

2018-04-01

We consider a simple solution to explain the recent diboson excess observed by ATLAS and CMS Collaborations in models with custodial symmetry SU(2)L × SU(2)R → SU(2)c. The SU(2)L triplet vector boson ρ with mass range of 1.8 ˜ 2 TeV would be produced through the Drell-Yan process with sizable diboson decay branching to account for the excess. The other SU(2)L × SU(2)R bidoublet axial vector boson a would cancel all deviations of electroweak obervables induced by ρ even if the SM fermions mix with some heavy vector-like (composite) fermions which couple to ρ (“nonuniversally partially composite”), therefore allows arbitrary couplings between each SM fermion and ρ. We present our model in the “General Composite Higgs” framework with SO(5) × U(1)X → SO(4) × U(1)X breaking at scale f and demand the first Weinberg sum rule and positive gauge boson form factors as the theoretical constraints. We find that our model can fit the diboson excess very well if the left-handed SM light quarks, charged leptons and tops have zero, zero/moderately small and moderate/large composite components for reasonable values of gρ and f. The correlation between tree level S parameter and the h → Zγ suggest a large a contribution to h → Zγ and it is indeed a 𝒪(1) effect in our parameter space which provides a strong hint for our scenario if this diboson excess is confirmed by the 13 ˜ 14 TeV LHC Run II.

Functional reconstitution of an ATP-driven Ca sup 2+ -transport system from the plasma membrane of Commelina communis L

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Graef, P.; Weiler, E.W.

1990-10-01

The protein(s) that constitute(s) the ATP-driven Ca{sup 2+}-translocator of plasma membrane enriched vesicles obtained by aqueous two-phase partitioning from leaves of Commelina communis L. has/have been solubilized and reincorporated into tightly sealed liposomes. The reconstituted Ca{sup 2+}-transport system was studied using ATP-driven {sup 45}Ca{sup 2+} import into the proteoliposomes as a measure of activity. The detergent, 3- ((3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio) -1-propane-sulfonate proved to be the most suitable and was used at 10 millimolar concentration, i.e. just above its critical micellar concentration. The presence of additional phospholipid and ATP improved the solubilization and/or reconstitution. The characteristics of the reconstituted system were similarmore » to those of the plasma membrane-bound activity, including the apparent K{sub m} for Ca{sup 2+} inhibition by relatively high levels of vanadate and lacking response to added calmodulin. The reconstituted transport system was very strongly inhibited by erythrosine B and had a low apparent K{sub m} for ATP levels of the Ca{sup 2+}-ionophore A 23187 instantaneously discharged 90% of the Ca{sup 2+} associated with the vesicles, proving that it had been accumulated in the intravesicular volume in soluble, freely exchangeable form. Ca{sup 2+}-transport in the reconstituted system was thus primary active, through a Ca{sup 2+}-translocating ATPase.« less

Near-infrared light controlled photocatalytic activity of carbon quantum dots for highly selective oxidation reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Haitao; Liu, Ruihua; Lian, Suoyuan; Liu, Yang; Huang, Hui; Kang, Zhenhui

2013-03-01

Selective oxidation of alcohols is a fundamental and significant transformation for the large-scale production of fine chemicals, UV and visible light driven photocatalytic systems for alcohol oxidation have been developed, however, the long wavelength near infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) light have not yet fully utilized by the present photocatalytic systems. Herein, we reported carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can function as an effective near infrared (NIR) light driven photocatalyst for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Based on the NIR light driven photo-induced electron transfer property and its photocatalytic activity for H2O2 decomposition, this metal-free catalyst could realize the transformation from benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with high selectivity (100%) and conversion (92%) under NIR light irradiation. HO&z.rad; is the main active oxygen specie in benzyl alcohol selective oxidative reaction confirmed by terephthalic acid photoluminescence probing assay (TA-PL), selecting toluene as the substrate. Such metal-free photocatalytic system also selectively converts other alcohol substrates to their corresponding aldehydes with high conversion, demonstrating a potential application of accessing traditional alcohol oxidation chemistry.Selective oxidation of alcohols is a fundamental and significant transformation for the large-scale production of fine chemicals, UV and visible light driven photocatalytic systems for alcohol oxidation have been developed, however, the long wavelength near infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) light have not yet fully utilized by the present photocatalytic systems. Herein, we reported carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can function as an effective near infrared (NIR) light driven photocatalyst for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Based on the NIR light driven photo-induced electron transfer property and its photocatalytic activity for H2O2 decomposition, this metal-free catalyst could realize the transformation from benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with high selectivity (100%) and conversion (92%) under NIR light irradiation. HO&z.rad; is the main active oxygen specie in benzyl alcohol selective oxidative reaction confirmed by terephthalic acid photoluminescence probing assay (TA-PL), selecting toluene as the substrate. Such metal-free photocatalytic system also selectively converts other alcohol substrates to their corresponding aldehydes with high conversion, demonstrating a potential application of accessing traditional alcohol oxidation chemistry. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr00092c

Phylogenetics and evolution of Su(var)3-9 SET genes in land plants: rapid diversification in structure and function.

PubMed

Zhu, Xinyu; Ma, Hong; Chen, Zhiduan

2011-03-09

Plants contain numerous Su(var)3-9 homologues (SUVH) and related (SUVR) genes, some of which await functional characterization. Although there have been studies on the evolution of plant Su(var)3-9 SET genes, a systematic evolutionary study including major land plant groups has not been reported. Large-scale phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses can help to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and contribute to improve genome annotation. Putative orthologs of plant Su(var)3-9 SET protein sequences were retrieved from major representatives of land plants. A novel clustering that included most members analyzed, henceforth referred to as core Su(var)3-9 homologues and related (cSUVHR) gene clade, was identified as well as all orthologous groups previously identified. Our analysis showed that plant Su(var)3-9 SET proteins possessed a variety of domain organizations, and can be classified into five types and ten subtypes. Plant Su(var)3-9 SET genes also exhibit a wide range of gene structures among different paralogs within a family, even in the regions encoding conserved PreSET and SET domains. We also found that the majority of SUVH members were intronless and formed three subclades within the SUVH clade. A detailed phylogenetic analysis of the plant Su(var)3-9 SET genes was performed. A novel deep phylogenetic relationship including most plant Su(var)3-9 SET genes was identified. Additional domains such as SAR, ZnF_C2H2 and WIYLD were early integrated into primordial PreSET/SET/PostSET domain organization. At least three classes of gene structures had been formed before the divergence of Physcomitrella patens (moss) from other land plants. One or multiple retroposition events might have occurred among SUVH genes with the donor genes leading to the V-2 orthologous group. The structural differences among evolutionary groups of plant Su(var)3-9 SET genes with different functions were described, contributing to the design of further experimental studies.

The longitudinal association between substance use and delinquency among high-risk youth.

PubMed

D'Amico, Elizabeth J; Edelen, Maria Orlando; Miles, Jeremy N V; Morral, Andrew R

2008-01-11

Over the past two decades, studies have provided evidence for the strong link between substance use (SU) and delinquency among adolescents. However, the dynamics of this relationship and its temporal ordering remain unclear. The current study used four waves of data collected from high-risk youth over a 12-month period to examine the temporal association between SU and delinquency. Youth (n=449) were recruited from the Los Angeles juvenile probation system. The majority of the sample was male (87%), with 43% Hispanic, 16% White, 15% African American, and 26% of participants describing themselves as some other ethnicity. We estimated a series of cross-lagged path models using maximum likelihood estimation and controlled for gender, age, ethnicity, and time spent in a controlled environment during the study period. We estimated models examining the cross-lagged association between SU and drug-related crime, interpersonal crime, and property crime. The temporal relationship between SU and delinquency was similar across the three types of crime, thus we estimated a fourth model examining the relationship between SU and a latent delinquency variable indicated by the three crime scales. Findings indicated that the relationship between SU and delinquency was reciprocal at each time point, suggesting that the reciprocal effects of SU and delinquency appear to be fairly stable over time.

Dysfunction of Bovine Endogenous Retrovirus K2 Envelope Glycoprotein Is Related to Unsuccessful Intracellular Trafficking

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are the remnants of retroviral infection of ancestral germ cells. Mutations introduced into ERVs halt the production of infectious agents, but their effects on the function of retroviral proteins are not fully understood. Retroviral envelope glycoproteins (Envs) are utilized in membrane fusion during viral entry, and we recently identified intact coding sequences for bovine endogenous retrovirus K1 (BERV-K1) and BERV-K2 Envs. Amino acid sequences of BERV-K1 Env (also called Fematrin-1) and BERV-K2 Env are similar, and both viruses are classified in the genus Betaretrovirus. While Fematrin-1 plays an important role in cell-to-cell fusion in bovine placenta, the BERV-K2 envelope gene is marginally expressed in vivo, and its recombinant Env protein is defective in membrane fusion due to inefficient cleavage of surface (SU) and transmembrane subunits. Here, we conducted chimeric analyses of Fematrin-1 and BERV-K2 Envs and revealed that defective maturation of BERV-K2 Env contributed to failed intracellular trafficking. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis suggested that in contrast to Fematrin-1 Env, BERV-K2 Env could not be transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the trans-Golgi network, where cellular proteases required for processing retroviral Envs are localized. We also identified that one of the responsive regions of this phenomenon resided within a 65-amino-acid region of BERV-K2 SU. This is the first report to identify that retroviral Env SU is involved in the regulation of intracellular trafficking, and it may help to elucidate the maturation process of Fematrin-1 and other related Envs. IMPORTANCE Retroviruses utilize envelope glycoproteins (Envs) to enter host target cells. Mature retroviral Env is a heterodimer, which consists of surface (SU) and transmembrane (TM) subunits that are generated by the cleavage of an Env precursor protein in the trans-Golgi network. SU and TM mediate the recognition of the entry receptor and virus-host membrane fusion, respectively. However, unexplained issues remain for the maturation process of retroviral Env. We previously reported that bovine endogenous retrovirus K2 (BERV-K2) Env lost fusogenicity due to a defect in the cleavage of SU and TM. In this study, we identified that mutations residing in BERV-K2 SU disturbed intracellular trafficking of BERV-K2 Env and resulted its inefficient cleavage. Because SU is not known to play an important role in this process, our study may provide novel insights into the maturation mechanism of retroviral Envs. PMID:24696495

Wave Function and Emergent SU(2) Symmetry in the νT=1 Quantum Hall Bilayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lian, Biao; Zhang, Shou-Cheng

2018-02-01

We propose a trial wave function for the quantum Hall bilayer system of total filling factor νT=1 at a layer distance d to magnetic length ℓ ratio d /ℓ=κc 1≈1.1 , where the lowest charged excitation is known to have a level crossing. The wave function has two-particle correlations, which fit well with those in previous numerical studies, and can be viewed as a Bose-Einstein condensate of free excitons formed by composite bosons and anticomposite bosons in different layers. We show the free nature of these excitons indicating an emergent SU(2) symmetry for the composite bosons at d /ℓ=κc 1, which leads to the level crossing in low-lying charged excitations. We further show the overlap between the trial wave function, and the ground state of a small size exact diagonalization is peaked near d /ℓ=κc 1, which supports our theory.

Classification of standard-like heterotic-string vacua

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faraggi, Alon E.; Rizos, John; Sonmez, Hasan

2018-02-01

We extend the free fermionic classification methodology to the class of standard-like heterotic-string vacua, in which the SO (10) GUT symmetry is broken at the string level to SU (3) × SU (2) × U(1) 2. The space of GGSO free phase configurations in this case is vastly enlarged compared to the corresponding SO (6) × SO (4) and SU (5) × U (1) vacua. Extracting substantial numbers of phenomenologically viable models therefore requires a modification of the classification methods. This is achieved by identifying conditions on the GGSO projection coefficients, which are satisfied at the SO (10) level by random phase configurations, and that lead to three generation models with the SO (10) symmetry broken to the SU (3) × SU (2) × U(1) 2 subgroup. Around each of these fertile SO (10) configurations, we perform a complete classification of standard-like models, by adding the SO (10) symmetry breaking basis vectors, and scanning all the associated GGSO phases. Following this methodology we are able to generate some 107 three generation Standard-like Models. We present the results of the classification and one exemplary model with distinct phenomenological properties, compared to previous SLM constructions.

Using an SU-8 photoresist structure and cytochrome C thin film sensing material for a microbolometer.

PubMed

Lai, Jian-Lun; Liao, Chien-Jen; Su, Guo-Dung John

2012-11-27

There are two critical parameters for microbolometers: the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the sensing material, and the thermal conductance of the insulation structure. Cytochrome c protein, having a high TCR, is a good candidate for infrared detection. We can use SU-8 photoresist for the thermal insulation structure, given its low thermal conductance. In this study, we designed a platform structure based on a SU-8 photoresist. We fabricated an infrared sensing pixel and recorded a high TCR for this new structure. The SU-8 photoresist insulation structure was fabricated using the exposure dose method. We experimentally demonstrated high values of TCR from 22%/K to 25.7%/K, and the measured noise was 1.2 × 10(-8) V2/Hz at 60 Hz. When the bias current was 2 μA, the calculated voltage responsivity was 1.16 × 10(5) V/W. This study presents a new kind of microbolometer based on cytochrome c protein on top of an SU-8 photoresist platform that does not require expensive vacuum deposition equipment.

Using an SU-8 Photoresist Structure and Cytochrome C Thin Film Sensing Material for a Microbolometer

PubMed Central

Lai, Jian-Lun; Liao, Chien-Jen; Su, Guo-Dung John

2012-01-01

There are two critical parameters for microbolometers: the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the sensing material, and the thermal conductance of the insulation structure. Cytochrome c protein, having a high TCR, is a good candidate for infrared detection. We can use SU-8 photoresist for the thermal insulation structure, given its low thermal conductance. In this study, we designed a platform structure based on a SU-8 photoresist. We fabricated an infrared sensing pixel and recorded a high TCR for this new structure. The SU-8 photoresist insulation structure was fabricated using the exposure dose method. We experimentally demonstrated high values of TCR from 22%/K to 25.7%/K, and the measured noise was 1.2 × 10−8 V2/Hz at 60 Hz. When the bias current was 2 μA, the calculated voltage responsivity was 1.16 × 105 V/W. This study presents a new kind of microbolometer based on cytochrome c protein on top of an SU-8 photoresist platform that does not require expensive vacuum deposition equipment. PMID:23443384

Etching-free patterning method for electrical characterization of atomically thin MoSe2 films grown by chemical vapor deposition.

PubMed

Utama, M Iqbal Bakti; Lu, Xin; Zhan, Da; Ha, Son Tung; Yuan, Yanwen; Shen, Zexiang; Xiong, Qihua

2014-11-07

Patterning two-dimensional materials into specific spatial arrangements and geometries is essential for both fundamental studies of materials and practical applications in electronics. However, the currently available patterning methods generally require etching steps that rely on complicated and expensive procedures. We report here a facile patterning method for atomically thin MoSe2 films using stripping with an SU-8 negative resist layer exposed to electron beam lithography. Additional steps of chemical and physical etching were not necessary in this SU-8 patterning method. The SU-8 patterning was used to define a ribbon channel from a field effect transistor of MoSe2 film, which was grown by chemical vapor deposition. The narrowing of the conduction channel area with SU-8 patterning was crucial in suppressing the leakage current within the device, thereby allowing a more accurate interpretation of the electrical characterization results from the sample. An electrical transport study, enabled by the SU-8 patterning, showed a variable range hopping behavior at high temperatures.

Long-Term Treatment with Egg Oral Immunotherapy Enhances Sustained Unresponsiveness That Persists After Cessation of Therapy

PubMed Central

Jones, Stacie M.; Burks, A. Wesley; Keet, Corinne; Vickery, Brian P.; Scurlock, Amy M.; Wood, Robert A.; Liu, Andrew H.; Sicherer, Scott H.; Henning, Alice K.; Lindblad, Robert W.; Dawson, Peter; Berin, Cecilia; Fleischer, David M.; Leung, Donald Y. M.; Plaut, Marshall; Sampson, Hugh A.

2016-01-01

Background We previously reported results of a randomized, placebo-controlled study of egg oral immunotherapy (eOIT), in which 27.5% of subjects achieved sustained unresponsiveness (SU) after 2 years. Here we report results of treatment through 4 years and long-term follow-up. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eOIT in participants treated up to 4 years. Methods Egg-allergic children (5–18 y/o) received eOIT (n=40) for up to 4 years or placebo (n=15) ≤1 year. The key outcome was the percentage of subjects achieving SU by Year 4. Safety and immunologic assessments were performed, and long-term follow-up questionnaires were administered after study conclusion (LFQ-1) and 1 year later (LFQ-2). Results Of 40 eOIT-treated subjects, 20/40 (50.0%) demonstrated SU by Year 4. For those subjects still dosing during Years 3–4, mild symptoms were present in 12/22 (54.5%) subjects. At the time of LFQ, more eOIT subjects [LFQ-1 23/34 (68%); LFQ-2 21/33 (64%)] were consuming unbaked and baked egg vs. placebos [LFQ-1 2/11(18%), p=0.006; LFQ-2 3/12 (25%), p=0.04]. Of subjects achieving SU, 18/20 (90%) completed the LFQ with 18/18 (100%) reporting consumption of all forms of egg. When compared to subjects not achieving SU, subjects achieving SU had higher IgG4 values (p=0.001) and lower egg skin prick test scores (p=0.0002) over time and a lower median baseline ratio of egg-specific IgE to total IgE (1.1% vs. 2.7%, p=0.04). Conclusions SU following egg OIT is enhanced with longer duration of therapy, and increases the likelihood of tolerating unbaked egg in the diet. PMID:26924470

Potential of biogenic hydrogen production for hydrogen driven remediation strategies in marine environments.

PubMed

Hosseinkhani, Baharak; Hennebel, Tom; Boon, Nico

2014-09-25

Fermentative production of bio-hydrogen (bio-H2) from organic residues has emerged as a promising alternative for providing the required electron source for hydrogen driven remediation strategies. Unlike the widely used production of H2 by bacteria in fresh water systems, few reports are available regarding the generation of biogenic H2 and optimisation processes in marine systems. The present research aims to optimise the capability of an indigenous marine bacterium for the production of bio-H2 in marine environments and subsequently develop this process for hydrogen driven remediation strategies. Fermentative conversion of organics in marine media to H2 using a marine isolate, Pseudoalteromonas sp. BH11, was determined. A Taguchi design of experimental methodology was employed to evaluate the optimal nutritional composition in batch tests to improve bio-H2 yields. Further optimisation experiments showed that alginate-immobilised bacterial cells were able to produce bio-H2 at the same rate as suspended cells over a period of several weeks. Finally, bio-H2 was used as electron donor to successfully dehalogenate trichloroethylene (TCE) using biogenic palladium nanoparticles as a catalyst. Fermentative production of bio-H2 can be a promising technique for concomitant generation of an electron source for hydrogen driven remediation strategies and treatment of organic residue in marine ecosystems. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Immunogenicity and Safety of the HZ/su Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Subunit Vaccine in Adults Previously Vaccinated With a Live Attenuated Herpes Zoster Vaccine.

PubMed

Grupping, Katrijn; Campora, Laura; Douha, Martine; Heineman, Thomas C; Klein, Nicola P; Lal, Himal; Peterson, James; Vastiau, Ilse; Oostvogels, Lidia

2017-12-12

Protection against herpes zoster (HZ) induced by the live attenuated zoster vaccine Zostavax (ZVL) wanes within 3-7 years. Revaccination may renew protection. We assessed whether (re)vaccination with the adjuvanted HZ subunit vaccine candidate (HZ/su) induced comparable immune responses in previous ZVL recipients and ZVL-naive individuals (HZ-NonVac). In an open-label, multicenter study, adults ≥65 years of age, vaccinated with ZVL ≥5 years previously (HZ-PreVac), were matched to ZVL-naive adults (HZ-NonVac). Participants received 2 doses of HZ/su 2 months apart. The primary objective of noninferiority of the humoral immune response 1 month post-dose 2 was considered demonstrated if the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the adjusted anti-glycoprotein E geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratio of HZ-NonVac over HZ-PreVac was <1.5. HZ/su cellular immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety were also assessed. In 430 participants, humoral immune response to HZ/su was noninferior in HZ-PreVac compared with HZ-NonVac (adjusted GMC ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, .92-1.17]). Cellular immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety appeared to be comparable between groups. HZ/su was well-tolerated, with no safety concerns raised within 1 month post-dose 2. HZ/su induces a strong immune response irrespective of prior vaccination with ZVL, and may be an attractive option to revaccinate prior ZVL recipients. NCT02581410. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Stability analysis of compactifications of D = 11 supergravity with SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Page, Don N.; Pope, C. N.

1984-09-01

We show that the Mpqr Freund-Rubin compactification of eleven-dimensional supergravity is classically stable if and only if 7/2761/2 < -p/q- < 17/117(66)1/2. Permanent address: Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom.

SU-F-J-41: Experimental Validation of a Cascaded Linear System Model for MVCBCT with a Multi-Layer EPID

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Y; Rottmann, J; Myronakis, M

2016-06-15

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate the use of a cascaded linear system model for MV cone-beam CT (CBCT) using a multi-layer (MLI) electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and provide experimental insight into image formation. A validated 3D model provides insight into salient factors affecting reconstructed image quality, allowing potential for optimizing detector design for CBCT applications. Methods: A cascaded linear system model was developed to investigate the potential improvement in reconstructed image quality for MV CBCT using an MLI EPID. Inputs to the three-dimensional (3D) model include projection space MTF and NPS. Experimental validation was performedmore » on a prototype MLI detector installed on the portal imaging arm of a Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy system. CBCT scans of up to 898 projections over 360 degrees were acquired at exposures of 16 and 64 MU. Image volumes were reconstructed using a Feldkamp-type (FDK) filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithm. Flat field images and scans of a Catphan model 604 phantom were acquired. The effect of 2×2 and 4×4 detector binning was also examined. Results: Using projection flat fields as an input, examination of the modeled and measured NPS in the axial plane exhibits good agreement. Binning projection images was shown to improve axial slice SDNR by a factor of approximately 1.4. This improvement is largely driven by a decrease in image noise of roughly 20%. However, this effect is accompanied by a subsequent loss in image resolution. Conclusion: The measured axial NPS shows good agreement with the theoretical calculation using a linear system model. Binning of projection images improves SNR of large objects on the Catphan phantom by decreasing noise. Specific imaging tasks will dictate the implementation image binning to two-dimensional projection images. The project was partially supported by a grant from Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and grant No. R01CA188446-01 from the National Cancer Institute.« less

Topological charge and cooling scales in pure SU(2) lattice gauge theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berg, Bernd A.; Clarke, David A.

2018-03-01

Using Monte Carlo simulations with overrelaxation, we have equilibrated lattices up to β =2.928 , size 6 04, for pure SU(2) lattice gauge theory with the Wilson action. We calculate topological charges with the standard cooling method and find that they become more reliable with increasing β values and lattice sizes. Continuum limit estimates of the topological susceptibility χ are obtained of which we favor χ1 /4/Tc=0.643 (12 ) , where Tc is the SU(2) deconfinement temperature. Differences between cooling length scales in different topological sectors turn out to be too small to be detectable within our statistical errors.

SMD-based numerical stochastic perturbation theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalla Brida, Mattia; Lüscher, Martin

2017-05-01

The viability of a variant of numerical stochastic perturbation theory, where the Langevin equation is replaced by the SMD algorithm, is examined. In particular, the convergence of the process to a unique stationary state is rigorously established and the use of higher-order symplectic integration schemes is shown to be highly profitable in this context. For illustration, the gradient-flow coupling in finite volume with Schrödinger functional boundary conditions is computed to two-loop (i.e. NNL) order in the SU(3) gauge theory. The scaling behaviour of the algorithm turns out to be rather favourable in this case, which allows the computations to be driven close to the continuum limit.

Agency responses to a system-driven implementation of multiple evidence-based practices in children's mental health services.

PubMed

Regan, Jennifer; Lau, Anna S; Barnett, Miya; Stadnick, Nicole; Hamilton, Alison; Pesanti, Keri; Bando, Lillian; Brookman-Frazee, Lauren

2017-09-19

Large mental health systems are increasingly using fiscal policies to encourage the implementation of multiple evidence-based practices (EBPs). Although many implementation strategies have been identified, little is known about the types and impacts of strategies that are used by organizations within implementation as usual. This study examined organizational-level responses to a fiscally-driven, rapid, and large scale EBP implementation in children's mental health within the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Qualitative methods using the principles of grounded theory were used to characterize the responses of 83 community-based agencies to the implementation effort using documentation from site visits conducted 2 years post reform. Findings indicated that agencies perceived the rapid system-driven implementation to have both positive and negative organizational impacts. Identified challenges were primarily related to system implementation requirements rather than to characteristics of specific EBPs. Agencies employed a variety of implementation strategies in response to the system-driven implementation, with agency size associated with implementation strategies used. Moderate- and large-sized agencies were more likely than small agencies to have employed systematic strategies at multiple levels (i.e., organization, therapist, client) to support implementation. These findings are among the first to characterize organizational variability in response to system-driven implementation and suggest ways that implementation interventions might be tailored by organizational characteristics.

Low energy, left-right symmetry restoration in SO(N) GUTS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holman, R.

1982-01-01

A general n step symmetry breaking pattern of SO(4K+2) down to SU sub C (3)xSU sub L (2)xU sub Y (1), which uses regular subgroups only, does not allow low energy left right symmetry restoration. In these theories, the smallest mass scale at which such restoration is possible is approximately one billion GeV as in the SO(10) case. The unification mass in SO(4K+2) GUTS must be at least as large as that in SU(5). These results assumed standard values of the Weinberg angle and strong coupling constant.

Laser ignition of an experimental combustion chamber with a multi-injector configuration at low pressure conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Börner, Michael; Manfletti, Chiara; Kroupa, Gerhard; Oschwald, Michael

2017-09-01

In search of reliable and light-weight ignition systems for re-ignitable upper stage engines, a laser ignition system was adapted and tested on an experimental combustion chamber for propellant injection into low combustion chamber pressures at 50-80 mbar. The injector head pattern consisted of five coaxial injector elements. Both, laser-ablation-driven ignition and laser-plasma-driven ignition were tested for the propellant combination liquid oxygen and gaseous hydrogen. The 122 test runs demonstrated the reliability of the ignition system for different ignition configurations and negligible degradation due to testing. For the laser-plasma-driven scheme, minimum laser pulse energies needed for 100% ignition probability were found to decrease when increasing the distance of the ignition location from the injector faceplate with a minimum of 2.6 mJ. For laser-ablation-driven ignition, the minimum pulse energy was found to be independent of the ablation material tested and was about 1.7 mJ. The ignition process was characterized using both high-speed Schlieren and OH* emission diagnostics. Based on these findings and on the increased fiber-based pulse transport capabilities recently published, new ignition system configurations for space propulsion systems relying on fiber-based pulse delivery are formulated. If the laser ignition system delivers enough pulse energy, the laser-plasma-driven configuration represents the more versatile configuration. If the laser ignition pulse power is limited, the application of laser-ablation-driven ignition is an option to realize ignition, but implies restrictions concerning the location of ignition.

Contribution of reactive oxygen species to the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension

PubMed Central

Naik, Jay S.; Weise-Cross, Laura; Detweiler, Neil D.; Herbert, Lindsay M.; Yellowhair, Tracylyn R.; Resta, Thomas C.

2017-01-01

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is associated with a decreased antioxidant capacity. However, neither the contribution of reactive oxygen species to pulmonary vasoconstrictor sensitivity, nor the therapeutic efficacy of antioxidant strategies in this setting are known. We hypothesized that reactive oxygen species play a central role in mediating both vasoconstrictor and arterial remodeling components of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. We examined the effect of the chemical antioxidant, TEMPOL, on right ventricular systolic pressure, vascular remodeling, and enhanced vasoconstrictor reactivity in both chronic hypoxia and hypoxia/SU5416 rat models of pulmonary hypertension. SU5416 is a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor antagonist and the combination of chronic hypoxia/SU5416 produces a model of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension with vascular plexiform lesions/fibrosis that is not present with chronic hypoxia alone. The major findings from this study are: 1) compared to hypoxia alone, hypoxia/SU5416 exposure caused more severe pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, adventitial lesion formation, and greater vasoconstrictor sensitivity through a superoxide and Rho kinase-dependent Ca2+ sensitization mechanism. 2) Chronic hypoxia increased medial muscularization and superoxide levels, however there was no effect of SU5416 to augment these responses. 3) Treatment with TEMPOL decreased right ventricular systolic pressure in both hypoxia and hypoxia/SU5416 groups. 4) This effect of TEMPOL was associated with normalization of vasoconstrictor responses, but not arterial remodeling. Rather, medial hypertrophy and adventitial fibrotic lesion formation were more pronounced following chronic TEMPOL treatment in hypoxia/SU5416 rats. Our findings support a major role for reactive oxygen species in mediating enhanced vasoconstrictor reactivity and pulmonary hypertension in both chronic hypoxia and hypoxia/SU5416 rat models, despite a paradoxical effect of antioxidant therapy to exacerbate arterial remodeling in animals with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in the hypoxia/SU5416 model. PMID:28666030

[Effects of functional interactions between nonhomologous insulators Wari and Su(Hw)].

PubMed

Erokhin, M M; Georgiev, P G; Chetverina, D A

2010-01-01

Insulators are regulatory DNA elements restricting gene activation by enhancers. Interactions between insulators can lead to both insulation and activation of promoters by enhancers. In this work, we analyzed the effects of interaction of two Drosophila insulators, Wari and Su(Hw). The functional interaction between these insulators was found to enhance the activity of the Su(Hw) insulator only, but not of the Wari insulator. This suggests that the formation of a chromatin loop between interacting insulators is not a key factor for enhancement of insulation, which is in disagreement with the main idea of structural models. In addition, the effect of interaction between Wari and Su(Hw) depends on a distance between them and on the position in the system relative to other regulatory elements.

Immunosensing by luminescence reduction in surface-modified microstructured SU-8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eravuchira, Pinkie Jacob; Baranowska, Malgorzata; Eckstein, Chris; Díaz, Francesc; Llobet, Eduard; Marsal, Lluis F.; Ferré-Borrull, Josep

2017-01-01

SU-8, an epoxy based negative photoresist is extensively used as a structural material for the fabrication of microelectro-mechanical systems and in microelectronics technology. However, the possible applications of SU-8 for biosensing have not been explored much, mainly because of the photoluminescence SU-8 possesses in the near-UV and visible wavelength ranges which hinders fluorescent labelling of biorecognition events. In this study we demonstrate that photoluminescence of SU-8 can be employed itself as a sensing transduction parameter to produce a tool for immunosensing: the photoluminescence shows a systematic reduction upon modification of its surface chemistry, and in particular upon attachment of an antigen-antibody (aIgG-IgG) pair. We investigate the relation of the amount of reduction of photoluminescence on planar and microstructured surfaces, and we show that microstructuring leads to a higher reduction than a planar surface. Furthermore, we evaluated the dependence of photoluminescence reduction as a function of analyte concentration to prove that this magnitude can be applied to immunosensing.

Operational Design: Distilling Clarity from Complexity for Decisive Action

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

forces came within six miles of Richmond, the Chickahominy River overflowed its banks and split the Union forces before they could attack. The...key vulnerabilities. The system, controlled by four sector operation centers, consisted of a number of diverse radar systems with limited repair...ec tio n Su st ai nm en t Interdiction Package C4 IIS R Co m ba t Po w er Fo rc e Pr ot ec tio n Su st ai nm en t Maneuver Package C4

High Performance Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) for Space Energy Storage Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Valdez, Thomas I.; Billings, Keith J.; Kisor, Adam; Bennett, William R.; Jakupca, Ian J.; Burke, Kenneth; Hoberecht, Mark A.

2012-01-01

Regenerative fuel cells provide a pathway to energy storage system development that are game changers for NASA missions. The fuel cell/ electrolysis MEA performance requirements 0.92 V/ 1.44 V at 200 mA/cm2 can be met. Fuel Cell MEAs have been incorporated into advanced NFT stacks. Electrolyzer stack development in progress. Fuel Cell MEA performance is a strong function of membrane selection, membrane selection will be driven by durability requirements. Electrolyzer MEA performance is catalysts driven, catalyst selection will be driven by durability requirements. Round Trip Efficiency, based on a cell performance, is approximately 65%.

General U(1)×U(1) F-theory compactifications and beyond: geometry of unHiggsings and novel matter structure

DOE PAGES

Cvetic, Mirjam; Klevers, Denis; Piragua, Hernan; ...

2015-11-30

We construct the general form of an F-theory compactification with two U(1) factors based on a general elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau manifold with Mordell-Weil group of rank two. This construction produces broad classes of models with diverse matter spectra, including many that are not realized in earlier F-theory constructions with U(1)×U(1) gauge symmetry. Generic U(1)×U(1) models can be related to a Higgsed non-Abelian model with gauge group SU(2)×SU(2)×SU(3), SU(2) 3×SU(3), or a subgroup thereof. The nonlocal horizontal divisors of the Mordell-Weil group are replaced with local vertical divisors associated with the Cartan generators of non-Abelian gauge groups from Kodaira singularities. Wemore » give a global resolution of codimension two singularities of the Abelian model; we identify the full anomaly free matter content, and match it to the unHiggsed non-Abelian model. The non-Abelian Weierstrass model exhibits a new algebraic description of the singularities in the fibration that results in the first explicit construction of matter in the symmetric representation of SU(3). This matter is realized on double point singularities of the discriminant locus. In conclusion, the construction suggests a generalization to U(1) k factors with k > 2, which can be studied by Higgsing theories with larger non-Abelian gauge groups.« less

46 CFR 169.623 - Power-driven steering systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Power-driven steering systems. 169.623 Section 169.623 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) NAUTICAL SCHOOLS SAILING SCHOOL VESSELS Machinery and Electrical Steering Systems § 169.623 Power-driven steering systems. (a) Power-driven steering...

46 CFR 169.623 - Power-driven steering systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Power-driven steering systems. 169.623 Section 169.623 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) NAUTICAL SCHOOLS SAILING SCHOOL VESSELS Machinery and Electrical Steering Systems § 169.623 Power-driven steering systems. (a) Power-driven steering...

Role of different types of subsystems in a doubly driven Λ system in 87Rb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandey, Kanhaiya

2013-04-01

The well-known Λ system using two ground-state hyperfine levels, Fg=1 and Fg=2 of 5S1/2, and one hyperfine level, Fe=2 of excited state of 5P3/2 of 87Rb, has been recently studied using two counterpropagating control lasers [Sapam Ranjita Chanu, Kanhaiya Pandey, and Vasant Natarajan, Europhys. Lett.EULEEJ0295-507510.1209/0295-5075/98/44009 98, 44009 (2012)]. The experiment shows conversion of electromagnetically induced transparency into electromagnetically induced absorption because the doubly driven Λ system forms various subsystems. We here present a detailed theoretical study of the different possible subsystems created by this configuration. We also explore the possibility of tuning the strength of individual subsystems by changing the polarization of the control lasers.

A numerical algorithm for the explicit calculation of SU(N) and SL(N,C) Clebsch-Gordan coefficients

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alex, Arne; Delft, Jan von; Kalus, Matthias

2011-02-15

We present an algorithm for the explicit numerical calculation of SU(N) and SL(N,C) Clebsch-Gordan coefficients, based on the Gelfand-Tsetlin pattern calculus. Our algorithm is well suited for numerical implementation; we include a computer code in an appendix. Our exposition presumes only familiarity with the representation theory of SU(2).

Topcolor Assisted Technicolor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, Christopher T.

We discuss a class of dynamical models in which top condensation occurs at the weak scale, giving rise to the large top quark mass and other phenomena. This typically requires a color embedding, SU(3)C → SU(3)1×SU(3)2, ergo "Topcolor." Topcolor suggests a novel route to technicolor models in which sequential quarks condense under the Topcolor interaction to break electroweak symmetries.

Role of quantum fluctuations on spin liquids and ordered phases in the Heisenberg model on the honeycomb lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merino, Jaime; Ralko, Arnaud

2018-05-01

Motivated by the rich physics of honeycomb magnetic materials, we obtain the phase diagram and analyze magnetic properties of the spin-1 /2 and spin-1 J1-J2-J3 Heisenberg model on the honeycomb lattice. Based on the SU(2) and SU(3) symmetry representations of the Schwinger boson approach, which treats disordered spin liquids and magnetically ordered phases on an equal footing, we obtain the complete phase diagrams in the (J2,J3) plane. This is achieved using a fully unrestricted approach which does not assume any pre-defined Ansätze. For S =1 /2 , we find a quantum spin liquid (QSL) stabilized between the Néel, spiral, and collinear antiferromagnetic phases in agreement with previous theoretical work. However, by increasing S from 1 /2 to 1, the QSL is quickly destroyed due to the weakening of quantum fluctuations indicating that the model already behaves as a quasiclassical system. The dynamical structure factors and temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility are obtained in order to characterize all phases in the phase diagrams. Moreover, motivated by the relevance of the single-ion anisotropy, D , to various S =1 honeycomb compounds, we have analyzed the destruction of magnetic order based on an SU(3) representation of the Schwinger bosons. Our analysis provides a unified understanding of the magnetic properties of honeycomb materials realizing the J1-J2-J3 Heisenberg model from the strong quantum spin regime at S =1 /2 to the S =1 case. Neutron scattering and magnetic susceptibility experiments can be used to test the destruction of the QSL phase when replacing S =1 /2 by S =1 localized moments in certain honeycomb compounds.

A new costing model in hospital management: time-driven activity-based costing system.

PubMed

Öker, Figen; Özyapıcı, Hasan

2013-01-01

Traditional cost systems cause cost distortions because they cannot meet the requirements of today's businesses. Therefore, a new and more effective cost system is needed. Consequently, time-driven activity-based costing system has emerged. The unit cost of supplying capacity and the time needed to perform an activity are the only 2 factors considered by the system. Furthermore, this system determines unused capacity by considering practical capacity. The purpose of this article is to emphasize the efficiency of the time-driven activity-based costing system and to display how it can be applied in a health care institution. A case study was conducted in a private hospital in Cyprus. Interviews and direct observations were used to collect the data. The case study revealed that the cost of unused capacity is allocated to both open and laparoscopic (closed) surgeries. Thus, by using the time-driven activity-based costing system, managers should eliminate the cost of unused capacity so as to obtain better results. Based on the results of the study, hospital management is better able to understand the costs of different surgeries. In addition, managers can easily notice the cost of unused capacity and decide how many employees to be dismissed or directed to other productive areas.

A new universal simplified adhesive: 6-month clinical evaluation.

PubMed

Mena-Serrano, Alexandra; Kose, Carlos; De Paula, Eloisa Andrade; Tay, Lidia Yileng; Reis, Alessandra; Loguercio, Alessandro D; Perdigão, Jorge

2013-02-01

Multimode adhesives, which can be used as etch-and-rinse or as self-etch adhesives, have been recently introduced without clinical data to back their use. To evaluate the 6-month clinical performance of Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (SU; 3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) in noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) using two evaluation criteria. Thirty-nine patients participated in this study. Two hundred restorations were assigned to four groups: SU-TEm: etch-and-rinse + moist dentin; SU-TEd: etch-and-rinse + dry dentin; SU-SEet: selective enamel etching; and SU-SE: self-etch. The composite resin Filtek Supreme Ultra (3M ESPE) was placed incrementally. The restorations were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months using both the World Dental Federation (FDI) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. Statistical analyses were performed with Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance by rank and McNemar test for significance in each pair (α = 0.05). Only four restorations (SU-SE: 3 and SU-TEm: 1) were lost after 6 months (p > 0.05 for either criteria). Marginal discoloration occurred in one restoration in the SU-SE group (p > 0.05 for either criteria). Only 2/200 restorations were scored as bravo for marginal adaptation using the USPHS criteria (one for SU-SE and one for SU-SEet, p > 0.05). However, when using the FDI criteria, the percentage of bravo scores for marginal adaptation at 6 months were 32%, 36%, 42%, and 46% for groups SU-TEm, SU-TEd, SU-SEet, and SU-SE, respectively (p > 0.05). The clinical behavior of the multimode adhesive does not depend on the bonding strategy at 6 months. The FDI evaluation criteria are more sensitive than the USPHS criteria. At 6 months, the clinical behavior of the new multimode adhesive Scotchbond Universal was found to be reliable when used in noncarious cervical lesions and may not depend on the bonding strategy employed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A framework to support decision making in the selection of sustainable drainage system design alternatives.

PubMed

Wang, Mingming; Sweetapple, Chris; Fu, Guangtao; Farmani, Raziyeh; Butler, David

2017-10-01

This paper presents a new framework for decision making in sustainable drainage system (SuDS) scheme design. It integrates resilience, hydraulic performance, pollution control, rainwater usage, energy analysis, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs, and has 12 indicators. The multi-criteria analysis methods of entropy weight and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) were selected to support SuDS scheme selection. The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated with a SuDS case in China. Indicators used include flood volume, flood duration, a hydraulic performance indicator, cost and resilience. Resilience is an important design consideration, and it supports scheme selection in the case study. The proposed framework will help a decision maker to choose an appropriate design scheme for implementation without subjectivity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Minimal Window Duration for Accurate HRV Recording in Athletes

PubMed Central

Bourdillon, Nicolas; Schmitt, Laurent; Yazdani, Sasan; Vesin, Jean-Marc; Millet, Grégoire P.

2017-01-01

Heart rate variability (HRV) is non-invasive and commonly used for monitoring responses to training loads, fitness, or overreaching in athletes. Yet, the recording duration for a series of RR-intervals varies from 1 to 15 min in the literature. The aim of the present work was to assess the minimum record duration to obtain reliable HRV results. RR-intervals from 159 orthostatic tests (7 min supine, SU, followed by 6 min standing, ST) were analyzed. Reference windows were 4 min in SU (min 3–7) and 4 min in ST (min 9–13). Those windows were subsequently divided and the analyses were repeated on eight different fractioned windows: the first min (0–1), the second min (1–2), the third min (2–3), the fourth min (3–4), the first 2 min (0–2), the last 2 min (2–4), the first 3 min (0–3), and the last 3 min (1–4). Correlation and Bland & Altman statistical analyses were systematically performed. The analysis window could be shortened to 0–2 instead of 0–4 for RMSSD only, whereas the 4-min window was necessary for LF and total power. Since there is a need for 1 min of baseline to obtain a steady signal prior the analysis window, we conclude that studies relying on RMSSD may shorten the windows to 3 min (= 1+2) in SU or seated position only and to 6 min (= 1+2 min SU plus 1+2 min ST) if there is an orthostatic test. Studies relying on time- and frequency-domain parameters need a minimum of 5 min (= 1+4) min SU or seated position only but require 10 min (= 1+4 min SU plus 1+4 min ST) for the orthostatic test. PMID:28848382

Cost-Effectiveness of Dapagliflozin as Add-On to Metformin for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Greece.

PubMed

Tzanetakos, Charalampos; Tentolouris, Nicholas; Kourlaba, Georgia; Maniadakis, Nikos

2016-08-01

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic progressive disease that has been spread worldwide over the past three decades and associated with increased morbidity and mortality resulting in considerable socioeconomic implications for national healthcare systems. Effective management of disease is highly needed ensuring patients receive the best possible care within the available budget. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, compared with a sulfonylurea (SU) or a dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i), when added to metformin, in T2DM patients inadequately controlled on metformin alone in Greece. The published and validated Cardiff diabetes model, a lifetime micro-simulation model, was adapted to a Greek healthcare setting to determine the incidence of micro- and macro-vascular complications and diabetes-specific and all-cause mortality. Clinical, cost, and utility data were retrieved from literature and assigned to model parameters to calculate total quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and total costs as well as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). The analysis was conducted from the perspective of a third-party payer in Greece. Uncertainty surrounding important model parameters was explored with univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA). Over a patient's lifetime, dapagliflozin was associated with 0.48 and 0.04 incremental QALYs compared with SU and DPP-4i, respectively, at additional costs of €5142 and €756, respectively. The corresponding ICERs were €10,623 and €17,695 per QALY gained versus the treatment with SU and DPP-4i, respectively. Results were robust across various univariate and scenario analyses. At the defined willingness-to-pay threshold of €34,000 per QALY gained, PSA estimated that treatment with dapagliflozin had a 100 % and 79.7 % probability of being cost-effective relative to the SU and DPP-4i treatments. Dapagliflozin in combination with metformin was shown to be a cost-effective treatment alternative for patients with T2DM whose metformin regimen does not provide sufficient glycemic control in a Greek healthcare setting.

Ontology-driven data integration and visualization for exploring regional geologic time and paleontological information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chengbin; Ma, Xiaogang; Chen, Jianguo

2018-06-01

Initiatives of open data promote the online publication and sharing of large amounts of geologic data. How to retrieve information and discover knowledge from the big data is an ongoing challenge. In this paper, we developed an ontology-driven data integration and visualization pilot system for exploring information of regional geologic time, paleontology, and fundamental geology. The pilot system (http://www2.cs.uidaho.edu/%7Emax/gts/)

Variable speed gas engine-driven air compressor system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, J. R.; Ruggles, A. E.; Chen, T. N.; Gehret, J.

1992-11-01

Tecogen Inc. and Ingersoll-Rand Co. as a subcontractor have designed a nominal 150-hp gas engine-driven air compressor utilizing the TECODRIVE 8000 engine and the Ingersoll-Rand 178.5-mm twin screw compressor. Phase 1 included the system engineering and design, economic and applications studies, and a draft commercialization plan. Phase 2 included controls development, laboratory prototype construction, and performance testing. The testing conducted verified that the compressor meets all design specifications.

On the rates of type Ia supernovae originating from white dwarf collisions in quadruple star systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamers, Adrian S.

2018-04-01

We consider the evolution of stellar hierarchical quadruple systems in the 2+2 (two binaries orbiting each other's barycentre) and 3+1 (triple orbited by a fourth star) configurations. In our simulations, we take into account the effects of secular dynamical evolution, stellar evolution, tidal evolution and encounters with passing stars. We focus on type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) driven by collisions of carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs). Such collisions can arise from several channels: (1) collisions due to extremely high eccentricities induced by secular evolution, (2) collisions following a dynamical instability of the system, and (3) collisions driven by semisecular evolution. The systems considered here have initially wide inner orbits, with initial semilatus recti larger than 12 {au}, implying no interaction if the orbits were isolated. However, taking into account dynamical evolution, we find that ≈0.4 (≈0.6) of 2+2 (3+1) systems interact. In particular, Roche Lobe overflow can be triggered possibly in highly eccentric orbits, dynamical instability can ensue due to mass-loss-driven orbital expansion or secular evolution, or a semisecular regime can be entered. We compute the delay-time distributions (DTDs) of collision-induced SNe Ia, and find that they are flatter compared to the observed DTD. Moreover, our combined SNe Ia rates are (3.7± 0.7) × 10^{-6} M_⊙^{-1} and (1.3± 0.2) × 10^{-6} M_⊙^{-1} for 2+2 and 3+1 systems, respectively, three orders of magnitude lower compared to the observed rate, of order 10^{-3} M_⊙^{-1}. The low rates can be ascribed to interactions before the stars evolve to CO WDs. However, our results are lower limits given that we considered a subset of quadruple systems.

On the rates of Type Ia supernovae originating from white dwarf collisions in quadruple star systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamers, Adrian S.

2018-07-01

We consider the evolution of stellar hierarchical quadruple systems in the 2+2 (two binaries orbiting each other's barycentre) and 3+1 (triple orbited by a fourth star) configurations. In our simulations, we take into account the effects of secular dynamical evolution, stellar evolution, tidal evolution, and encounters with passing stars. We focus on Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) driven by collisions of carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs). Such collisions can arise from several channels: (1) collisions due to extremely high eccentricities induced by secular evolution, (2) collisions following a dynamical instability of the system, and (3) collisions driven by semisecular evolution. The systems considered here have initially wide inner orbits, with initial semilatus recti larger than 12 au, implying no interaction if the orbits were isolated. However, taking into account dynamical evolution, we find that ≈0.4 (≈0.6) of 2+2 (3+1) systems interact. In particular, Roche lobe overflow can be triggered possibly in highly eccentric orbits, dynamical instability can ensue due to mass-loss-driven orbital expansion or secular evolution, or a semisecular regime can be entered. We compute the delay-time distributions (DTDs) of collision-induced SNe Ia, and find that they are flatter compared to the observed DTD. Moreover, our combined SNe Ia rates are (3.7± 0.7) × 10^{-6} M_{⊙}^{-1} and (1.3± 0.2) × 10^{-6} M_{⊙}^{-1} for 2+2 and 3+1 systems, respectively, three orders of magnitude lower compared to the observed rate, of the order of 10^{-3} M_{⊙}^{-1}. The low rates can be ascribed to interactions before the stars evolve to CO WDs. However, our results are lower limits given that we considered a subset of quadruple systems.

What is special about the group of the standard model?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nielsen, H. B.; Brene, N.

1989-06-01

The standard model is based on the algebra of U 1×SU 2×SU 3. The systematics of charges of the fundamental fermions seems to suggest the importance of a particular group having this algebra, viz. S(U 2×U 3). This group is distinguished from all other connected compact non semisimple groups with dimensionality up to 12 by a characteristic property: it is very “skew”. By this we mean that the group has relatively few “generalised outer automorphisms”. One may speculate about physical reasons for this fact.

Standard Model parton distributions at very high energies

DOE PAGES

Bauer, Christian W.; Ferland, Nicolas; Webber, Bryan R.

2017-08-09

We compute the leading-order evolution of parton distribution functions for all the Standard Model fermions and bosons up to energy scales far above the electroweak scale, where electroweak symmetry is restored. Our results include the 52 PDFs of the unpolarized proton, evolving according to the SU(3), SU(2), U(1), mixed SU(2)×U(1) and Yukawa interactions. We illustrate the numerical effects on parton distributions at large energies, and show that this can lead to important corrections to parton luminosities at a future 100 TeV collider.

Standard Model parton distributions at very high energies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bauer, Christian W.; Ferland, Nicolas; Webber, Bryan R.

We compute the leading-order evolution of parton distribution functions for all the Standard Model fermions and bosons up to energy scales far above the electroweak scale, where electroweak symmetry is restored. Our results include the 52 PDFs of the unpolarized proton, evolving according to the SU(3), SU(2), U(1), mixed SU(2)×U(1) and Yukawa interactions. We illustrate the numerical effects on parton distributions at large energies, and show that this can lead to important corrections to parton luminosities at a future 100 TeV collider.

Visible-Light-Driven Oxidation of Organic Substrates with Dioxygen Mediated by a [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) /Laccase System.

PubMed

Schneider, Ludovic; Mekmouche, Yasmina; Rousselot-Pailley, Pierre; Simaan, A Jalila; Robert, Viviane; Réglier, Marius; Aukauloo, Ally; Tron, Thierry

2015-09-21

Oxidation reactions are highly important chemical transformations that still require harsh reaction conditions and stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants that are often toxic. To circumvent these issues, olefins oxidation is achieved in mild conditions upon irradiation of an aqueous solution of the complex [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) and the enzyme laccase. Epoxide formation is coupled to the light-driven reduction of O2 by [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) /laccase system. The reactivity can be explained by dioxygen acting both as an oxidative agent and as renewable electron acceptor, avoiding the use of a sacrificial electron acceptor. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Photochemical mechanisms of light-triggered release from nanocarriers

PubMed Central

Fomina, Nadezda; Sankaranarayanan, Jagadis; Almutairi, Adah

2012-01-01

Over the last three decades, a handful of photochemical mechanisms have been applied to a large number of nanoscale assemblies that encapsulate a payload to afford spatio-temporal and remote control over activity of the encapsulated payload. Many of these systems are designed with an eye towards biomedical applications, as spatio-temporal and remote control of bioactivity would advance research and clinical practice. This review covers five underlying photochemical mechanisms that govern the activity of the majority of photoresponsive nanocarriers: 1. photo driven isomerization and oxidation, 2. surface plasmon absorption and photothermal effects, 3. photo driven hydrophobicity changes, 4. photo driven polymer backbone fragmentation and 5. photo driven de-crosslinking. The ways in which these mechanisms have been incorporated into nanocarriers and how they affect release is detailed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each system. PMID:22386560

Early postnatal development of electrophysiological and histological properties of sensory sural nerves in male rats that were maternally deprived and artificially reared: Role of tactile stimulation.

PubMed

Zempoalteca, Rene; Porras, Mercedes G; Moreno-Pérez, Suelem; Ramirez-Funez, Gabriela; Aguirre-Benítez, Elsa L; González Del Pliego, Margarita; Mariscal-Tovar, Silvia; Mendoza-Garrido, Maria E; Hoffman, Kurt Leroy; Jiménez-Estrada, Ismael; Melo, Angel I

2018-04-01

Early adverse experiences disrupt brain development and behavior, but little is known about how such experiences impact on the development of the peripheral nervous system. Recently, we found alterations in the electrophysiological and histological characteristics of the sensory sural (SU) nerve in maternally deprived, artificially reared (AR) adult male rats, as compared with maternally reared (MR) control rats. In the present study, our aim was to characterize the ontogeny of these alterations. Thus, male pups of four postnatal days (PND) were (1) AR group, (2) AR and received daily tactile stimulation to the body and anogenital region (AR-Tactile group); or (3) reared by their mother (MR group). At PND 7, 14, or 21, electrophysiological properties and histological characteristics of the SU nerves were assessed. At PND 7, the electrophysiological properties and most histological parameters of the SU nerve did not differ among MR, AR, and AR-Tactile groups. By contrast, at PND 14 and/or 21, the SU nerve of AR rats showed a lower CAP amplitude and area, and a significant reduction in myelin area and myelin thickness, which were accompanied by a reduction in axon area (day 21 only) compared to the nerves of MR rats. Tactile stimulation (AR-Tactile group) partially prevented most of these alterations. These results suggest that sensory cues from the mother and/or littermates during the first 7-14 PND are relevant for the proper development and function of the adult SU nerve. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 351-362, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

High Efficiency Coupling of Optical Fibres with SU8 Micro-droplet Using Laser Welding Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yardi, Seema; Gupta, Ankur; Sundriyal, Poonam; Bhatt, Geeta; Kant, Rishi; Boolchandani, D.; Bhattacharya, Shantanu

2016-09-01

Apart from micro- structure fabrication, ablation, lithography etc., lasers find a lot of utility in various areas like precision joining, device fabrication, local heat delivery for surface texturing and local change of microstructure fabrication of standalone optical micro-devices (like microspheres, micro-prisms, micro-scale ring resonators, optical switches etc). There is a wide utility of such systems in chemical/ biochemical diagnostics and also communications where the standalone optical devices exist at a commercial scale but chip based devices with printed optics are necessary due to coupling issues between printed structures and external optics. This paper demonstrates a novel fabrication strategy used to join standalone optical fibres to microchip based printed optics using a simple SU8 drop. The fabrication process is deployed for fiber to fiber optical coupling and coupling between fiber and printed SU-8 waveguides. A CO2 laser is used to locally heat the coupling made up of SU8 material. Optimization of various dimensional parameters using design of experiments (DOE) on the bonded assembly has been performed as a function of laser power, speed, cycle control, spot size so on so forth. Exclusive optical [RF] modelling has been performed to estimate the transmissibility of the optical fibers bonded to each other on a surface with SU8. Our studies indicate the formation of a Whispering gallery mode (WGM) across the micro-droplet leading to high transmissibility of the signal. Through this work we have thus been able to develop a method of fabrication for optical coupling of standalone fibers or coupling of on-chip optics with off-chip illumination/detection.

Dual-layer electrode-driven liquid crystal lens with electrically tunable focal length and focal plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y. A.; Lin, C. F.; Lin, J. P.; Zeng, X. Y.; Yan, Q.; Zhou, X. T.; Guo, T. L.

2018-04-01

Electric-field-driven liquid crystal (ELC) lens with tunable focal length and their depth of field has been extensively applied in 3D display and imaging systems. In this work, a dual-layer electrode-driven liquid crystal (DELC) lens with electrically tunable focal length and controllable focal plane is demonstrated. ITO-SiO2-AZO electrodes with the dual-layer staggered structure on the top substrate are used as driven electrodes within a LC cell, which permits the establishment of an alternative controllability. The focal length of the DELC lens can be adjusted from 1.41 cm to 0.29 cm when the operating voltage changes from 15 V to 40 V. Furthermore, the focal plane of the DELC lens can selectively move by changing the driving method of the applied voltage to the next driven electrodes. This work demonstrates that the DELC lens has potential applications in imaging systems because of electrically tunable focal length and controllable focal plane.

Age at the time of sulfonylurea initiation influences treatment outcomes in KCNJ11-related neonatal diabetes.

PubMed

Thurber, Brian W; Carmody, David; Tadie, Elizabeth C; Pastore, Ashley N; Dickens, Jazzmyne T; Wroblewski, Kristen E; Naylor, Rochelle N; Philipson, Louis H; Greeley, Siri Atma W

2015-07-01

Individuals with heterozygous activating mutations of the KCNJ11 gene encoding a subunit of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) can usually be treated with oral sulfonylurea (SU) pills in lieu of insulin injections. The aim of this study was to test our hypothesis that younger age at the time of initiation of SU therapy is correlated with lower required doses of SU therapy, shorter transition time and decreased likelihood of requiring additional diabetes medications. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data on 58 individuals with neonatal diabetes due to KCNJ11 mutations identified through the University of Chicago Monogenic Diabetes Registry ( http://monogenicdiabetes.uchicago.edu/registry ). We assessed the influence of age at initiation of SU therapy on treatment outcomes. HbA1c fell from an average of 8.5% (69 mmol/mol) before transition to 6.2% (44 mmol/mol) after SU therapy (p < 0.001). Age of initiation of SU correlated with the dose (mg kg(-1) day(-1)) of SU required at follow-up (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Similar associations were observed across mutation subtypes. Ten participants required additional glucose-lowering medications and all had initiated SU at age 13 years or older. No serious adverse events were reported. Earlier age at initiation of SU treatment is associated with improved response to SU therapy. Declining sensitivity to SU may be due to loss of beta cell mass over time in those treated with insulin. Our data support the need for early genetic diagnosis and appropriate personalised treatment in all cases of neonatal diabetes.

Nonperturbative β function of eight-flavor SU(3) gauge theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasenfratz, Anna; Schaich, David; Veernala, Aarti

2015-06-01

We present a new lattice study of the discrete β function for SU(3) gauge theory with N f = 8 massless flavors of fermions in the fundamental representation. Using the gradient flow running coupling, and comparing two different nHYP-smeared staggered lattice actions, we calculate the 8-flavor step-scaling function at significantly stronger couplings than were previously accessible. Our continuum-extrapolated results for the discrete β function show no sign of an IR fixed point up to couplings of g 2 ≈ 14. At the same time, we find that the gradient flow coupling runs much more slowly than predicted by two-loop perturbation theory, reinforcing previous indications that the 8-flavor system possesses nontrivial strongly coupled IR dynamics with relevance to BSM phenomenology.

Deformed supersymmetric quantum mechanics with spin variables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedoruk, Sergey; Ivanov, Evgeny; Sidorov, Stepan

2018-01-01

We quantize the one-particle model of the SU(2|1) supersymmetric multiparticle mechanics with the additional semi-dynamical spin degrees of freedom. We find the relevant energy spectrum and the full set of physical states as functions of the mass-dimension deformation parameter m and SU(2) spin q\\in (Z_{>0,}1/2+Z_{≥0}) . It is found that the states at the fixed energy level form irreducible multiplets of the supergroup SU(2|1). Also, the hidden superconformal symmetry OSp(4|2) of the model is revealed in the classical and quantum cases. We calculate the OSp(4|2) Casimir operators and demonstrate that the full set of the physical states belonging to different energy levels at fixed q are unified into an irreducible OSp(4|2) multiplet.

UTC(SU) and EOP(SU) - the only legal reference frames of Russian Federation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koshelyaevsky, Nikolay B.; Blinov, Igor Yu; Pasynok, Sergey L.

2015-08-01

There are two legal time reference frames in Russian Federation. UTC(SU) deals with atomic time and play a role of reference for legal timing through the whole country. The other one, EOP(SU), deals with Earth's orientation parameters and provides the official EOP data for scientific, technical and metrological applications in Russia.The atomic time is based on two essential hardware components: primary Cs fountain standards and ensemble of continuously operating H-masers as a time unit/time scale keeper. Basing on H-maser intercomparison system data, regular H-maser frequency calibration against Cs standards and time algorithm autonomous TA(SU) time scale is maintained by the Main Metrological Center. Since 2013 time unit in TA(SU) is the second (SU) reproduced independently by VNIIFTRI Cs primary standards in accordance to it’s definition in the SI. UTC(SU) is relied on TA(SU) and steering to UTC basing on TWSTFT/GNSS time link data. As a result TA(SU) stability level relative to TT considerably exceeds 1×10-15 for sample time one month and more, RMS[UTC-UTC(SU)] ≤ 3 ns for the period of 2013-2015. UTC(SU) is broadcasted by different national means such as specialized radio and TV stations, NTP servers and GLONASS. Signals of Russian radio stations contains DUT1 and dUT1 values at 0.1s and 0.02s resolution respectively.The definitive EOP(SU) are calculated by the Main Metrological Center basing on composition of the eight independent individual EOP data streams delivered by four Russian analysis centers: VNIIFTRI, Institute of Applied Astronomy, Information-Analytical Center of Russian Space Agency and Analysis Center of Russian Space Agency. The accuracy of ultra-rapid EOP values for 2014 is estimated ≤ 0.0006" for polar motion, ≤ 70 microseconds for UT1-UTC and ≤ 0.0003" for celestial pole offsets respectively.The other VNIIFTRI EOP activities can be grouped in three basic directions:- arrangement and carrying out GNSS and SLR observations at five institutes- processing GNSS, SLR and VLBI observation data for EOP evaluation- combination of GLONASS satellites orbit/clocks.The paper will deliver more detailed and particular information on Russian legal reference frames.

Lifting SU(2) spin networks to projected spin networks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dupuis, Maiete; Livine, Etera R.

2010-09-15

Projected spin network states are the canonical basis of quantum states of geometry for the recent EPRL-FK spinfoam models for quantum gravity introduced by Engle-Pereira-Rovelli-Livine and Freidel-Krasnov. They are functionals of both the Lorentz connection and the time-normal field. We analyze in detail the map from these projected spin networks to the standard SU(2) spin networks of loop quantum gravity. We show that this map is not one to one and that the corresponding ambiguity is parameterized by the Immirzi parameter. We conclude with a comparison of the scalar products between projected spin networks and SU(2) spin network states.

Monolithic coupling of a SU8 waveguide to a silicon photodiode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nathan, M.; Levy, O.; Goldfarb, I.; Ruzin, A.

2003-12-01

We present quantitative results of light coupling from SU8 waveguides into silicon p-n photodiodes in monolithically integrated structures. Multimode, 12 μm thick, and 20 μm wide SU8 waveguides were fabricated to overlap 40×180 μm2 photodiodes, with three different waveguide-photodiode overlap lengths. The attenuation due to leaky-mode coupling in the overlap area was then calculated from photocurrent measurements. The overlap attenuation ranged from a minimum of 2.2 dB per mm overlap length to a maximum of about 3 dB/mm, comparing favorably with reported nonpolymeric waveguide-Si photodiode attenuations.

Dynamical time-reversal symmetry breaking and photo-induced chiral spin liquids in frustrated Mott insulators

DOE PAGES

Claassen, Martin; Jiang, Hong -Chen; Moritz, Brian; ...

2017-10-30

The search for quantum spin liquids in frustrated quantum magnets recently has enjoyed a surge of interest, with various candidate materials under intense scrutiny. However, an experimental confirmation of a gapped topological spin liquid remains an open question. Here, we show that circularly polarized light can provide a knob to drive frustrated Mott insulators into a chiral spin liquid, realizing an elusive quantum spin liquid with topological order. We find that the dynamics of a driven Kagome Mott insulator is well-captured by an effective Floquet spin model, with heating strongly suppressed, inducing a scalar spin chirality S i · (Smore » j × S k) term which dynamically breaks time-reversal while preserving SU(2) spin symmetry. We fingerprint the transient phase diagram and find a stable photo-induced chiral spin liquid near the equilibrium state. Furthermore, the results presented suggest employing dynamical symmetry breaking to engineer quantum spin liquids and access elusive phase transitions that are not readily accessible in equilibrium.« less

Dysfunction of bovine endogenous retrovirus K2 envelope glycoprotein is related to unsuccessful intracellular trafficking.

PubMed

Nakaya, Yuki; Miyazawa, Takayuki

2014-06-01

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are the remnants of retroviral infection of ancestral germ cells. Mutations introduced into ERVs halt the production of infectious agents, but their effects on the function of retroviral proteins are not fully understood. Retroviral envelope glycoproteins (Envs) are utilized in membrane fusion during viral entry, and we recently identified intact coding sequences for bovine endogenous retrovirus K1 (BERV-K1) and BERV-K2 Envs. Amino acid sequences of BERV-K1 Env (also called Fematrin-1) and BERV-K2 Env are similar, and both viruses are classified in the genus Betaretrovirus. While Fematrin-1 plays an important role in cell-to-cell fusion in bovine placenta, the BERV-K2 envelope gene is marginally expressed in vivo, and its recombinant Env protein is defective in membrane fusion due to inefficient cleavage of surface (SU) and transmembrane subunits. Here, we conducted chimeric analyses of Fematrin-1 and BERV-K2 Envs and revealed that defective maturation of BERV-K2 Env contributed to failed intracellular trafficking. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis suggested that in contrast to Fematrin-1 Env, BERV-K2 Env could not be transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the trans-Golgi network, where cellular proteases required for processing retroviral Envs are localized. We also identified that one of the responsive regions of this phenomenon resided within a 65-amino-acid region of BERV-K2 SU. This is the first report to identify that retroviral Env SU is involved in the regulation of intracellular trafficking, and it may help to elucidate the maturation process of Fematrin-1 and other related Envs. Retroviruses utilize envelope glycoproteins (Envs) to enter host target cells. Mature retroviral Env is a heterodimer, which consists of surface (SU) and transmembrane (TM) subunits that are generated by the cleavage of an Env precursor protein in the trans-Golgi network. SU and TM mediate the recognition of the entry receptor and virus-host membrane fusion, respectively. However, unexplained issues remain for the maturation process of retroviral Env. We previously reported that bovine endogenous retrovirus K2 (BERV-K2) Env lost fusogenicity due to a defect in the cleavage of SU and TM. In this study, we identified that mutations residing in BERV-K2 SU disturbed intracellular trafficking of BERV-K2 Env and resulted its inefficient cleavage. Because SU is not known to play an important role in this process, our study may provide novel insights into the maturation mechanism of retroviral Envs. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Quantity of sucrose alters the tissue pattern and time course of insulin resistance in young rats.

PubMed

Pagliassotti, M J; Prach, P A

1995-09-01

To determine the effects of the amount of sucrose in the diet on insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism, euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps were performed on male Wistar rats after one of the following dietary treatments (n = 6-8/treatment): 1) high-starch diet (68% of total energy) for 8 wk (ST8), 16 wk (ST16), or 30 wk (ST30); 2) high-sucrose diet (68% of total energy) for 8 wk (SU8), 16 wk (SU16), or 30 wk (SU30); or 3) low-sucrose diet (18% of total energy) for 8 wk (SUL8), 16 wk (SUL16), or 30 wk (SUL30). Body weights were similar in starch- and sucrose-fed rats at 8 wk (502 +/- 9 g), 16 wk (563 +/- 10 g), and 30 wk (607 +/- 26 g). The glucose infusion rate (mumol.g-1.min-1) required to maintain similar glycemia during clamps was 73.1 +/- 8.8 in ST8, 29.7 +/- 4.9 in SU8 (P < 0.05 vs. ST8 and SUL8), and 76.4 +/- 8.2 in SUL8; 69.9 +/- 8.1 in ST16, 35.1 +/- 5.1 in SU16 (P < 0.05 vs. ST16 and SUL16), and 63.2 +/- 6.5 in SUL16; and 65.4 +/- 7.7 in ST30, 26.0 +/- 5.3 (P < 0.05 vs. ST30), and 36.3 +/- 6.0 in SUL30 (P < 0.05 vs. ST30). Impaired suppression of hepatic glucose production accounted for 43, 39, and 34% of the decrease in the glucose infusion rate in SU8 compared with ST8, SU16 compared with ST16, and SU30 compared with ST30, respectively, but 78% in SUL30 compared with ST30. These results suggest that both high- and low-sucrose diets can produce insulin resistance in young rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Complete cobalt recovery from lithium cobalt oxide in self-driven microbial fuel cell - Microbial electrolysis cell systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Liping; Yao, Binglin; Wu, Dan; Quan, Xie

2014-08-01

Complete cobalt recovery from lithium cobalt oxide requires to firstly leach cobalt from particles LiCoO2 and then recover cobalt from aqueous Co(II). A self-driven microbial fuel cell (MFC)-microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) system can completely carry out these two processes, in which Co(II) is firstly released from particles LiCoO2 on the cathodes of MFCs and then reduced on the cathodes of MECs which are powered by the cobalt leaching MFCs. A cobalt leaching rate of 46 ± 2 mg L-1 h-1 with yield of 1.5 ± 0.1 g Co g-1 COD (MFCs) and a Co(II) reduction rate of 7 ± 0 mg L-1 h-1 with yield of 0.8 ± 0.0 g Co g-1 COD (MECs), as well as a overall system cobalt yield of 0.15 ± 0.01 g Co g-1 Co can be achieved in this self-driven MFC-MEC system. Coulombic efficiencies reach 41 ± 1% (anodic MFCs), 75 ± 0% (anodic MECs), 100 ± 2% (cathodic MFCs), and 29 ± 1% (cathodic MECs) whereas overall system efficiency averages 34 ± 1%. These results provide a new process of linking MFCs to MECs for complete recovery of cobalt and recycle of spent lithium ion batteries with no external energy consumption.

High-dimensional atom localization via spontaneously generated coherence in a microwave-driven atomic system.

PubMed

Wang, Zhiping; Chen, Jinyu; Yu, Benli

2017-02-20

We investigate the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) atom localization behaviors via spontaneously generated coherence in a microwave-driven four-level atomic system. Owing to the space-dependent atom-field interaction, it is found that the detecting probability and precision of 2D and 3D atom localization behaviors can be significantly improved via adjusting the system parameters, the phase, amplitude, and initial population distribution. Interestingly, the atom can be localized in volumes that are substantially smaller than a cubic optical wavelength. Our scheme opens a promising way to achieve high-precision and high-efficiency atom localization, which provides some potential applications in high-dimensional atom nanolithography.

Axisymmetric Strain Path Tests on Nellis Baseline Sand

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-09-01

tested to determine their grain-size distributions, specific gravities , and Atterberg limits. The results of these tests are su-Arized in Table 2.1...plastic limits, plasticity index, and specific gravity . All four batches of NB sand were classified by the Unified Soil Classi- fication System...those contaminated by oil due to membrane leakage. Based on these data and a specific gravity of 2.62, values of dry density, void ratio, degree of

Could soluble urokinase plasminogen receptor (suPAR) be used as a diagnostic biomarker for ventilator-associated pneumonia?

PubMed

Sunnetcioglu, Aysel; Sunnetcioglu, Mahmut; Adıyaman, Fırat; Binici, Irfan; Soyoral, Lokman

2017-11-01

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a biomarker that is increasingly used for evaluation of systemic inflammation. This study was performed to investigate whether suPAR may possess a diagnostic value in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This clinical study was performed in the anesthesia intensive care units (ICUs) of our university. In addition to descriptive data, WBC, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and suPAR prior to and after development of VAP were noted and compared in 31 patients (22 men, 9 women) diagnosed with VAP (Study Group) and 19 patients without VAP (Control Group) in ICU (14 men, 5 women). The suPAR (P = 0.023), CRP (P = 0.037), WBCs (P = 0.024) in patients with VAP were significantly higher than patients without VAP. There was no remarkable difference in terms of WBCs (P = 0.052) and suPAR levels (P = 0.616) between groups on the first day of connection to mechanical ventilator. The suPAR and CRP levels in patients with VAP were significantly higher than prior to development of VAP (P = 0.001 for both). Area under curve value after diagnosis of pneumonia was found 0.248 (P = 0.002). To conclude, our results suggest that suPAR can be a useful diagnostic biomarker in patients with VAP. However, clinical trials on larger series are warranted to explore the clinical significance more accurately. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Haplotype analysis of sucrose synthase gene family in three Saccharum species

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Sugarcane is an economically important crop contributing about 80% and 40% to the world sugar and ethanol production, respectively. The complicated genetics consequential to its complex polyploid genome, however, have impeded efforts to improve sugar yield and related important agronomic traits. Modern sugarcane cultivars are complex hybrids derived mainly from crosses among its progenitor species, S. officinarum and S. spontanuem, and to a lesser degree, S. robustom. Atypical of higher plants, sugarcane stores its photoassimilates as sucrose rather than as starch in its parenchymous stalk cells. In the sugar biosynthesis pathway, sucrose synthase (SuSy, UDP-glucose: D-fructose 2-a-D-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.13) is a key enzyme in the regulation of sucrose accumulation and partitioning by catalyzing the reversible conversion of sucrose and UDP into UDP-glucose and fructose. However, little is known about the sugarcane SuSy gene family members and hence no definitive studies have been reported regarding allelic diversity of SuSy gene families in Saccharum species. Results We identified and characterized a total of five sucrose synthase genes in the three sugarcane progenitor species through gene annotation and PCR haplotype analysis by analyzing 70 to 119 PCR fragments amplified from intron-containing target regions. We detected all but one (i.e. ScSuSy5) of ScSuSy transcripts in five tissue types of three Saccharum species. The average SNP frequency was one SNP per 108 bp, 81 bp, and 72 bp in S. officinarum, S. robustom, and S. spontanuem respectively. The average shared SNP is 15 between S. officinarum and S. robustom, 7 between S. officinarum and S. spontanuem , and 11 between S. robustom and S. spontanuem. We identified 27, 35, and 32 haplotypes from the five ScSuSy genes in S. officinarum, S. robustom, and S. spontanuem respectively. Also, 12, 11, and 9 protein sequences were translated from the haplotypes in S. officinarum, S. robustom, S. spontanuem, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed three separate clusters composed of SbSuSy1 and SbSuSy2, SbSuSy3 and SbSuSy5, and SbSuSy4. Conclusions The five members of the SuSy gene family evolved before the divergence of the genera in the tribe Andropogoneae at least 12 MYA. Each ScSuSy gene showed at least one non-synonymous substitution in SNP haplotypes. The SNP frequency is the lowest in S. officinarum, intermediate in S. robustum, and the highest in S. spontaneum, which may reflect the timing of the two rounds of whole genome duplication in these octoploids. The higher rate of shared SNP frequency between S. officinarum and S. robustum than between S. officinarum and in S. spontaneum confirmed that the speciation event separating S. officinarum and S. robustum occurred after their common ancestor diverged from S. spontaneum. The SNP and haplotype frequencies in three Saccharum species provide fundamental information for designing strategies to sequence these autopolyploid genomes. PMID:23663250

Haplotype analysis of sucrose synthase gene family in three Saccharum species.

PubMed

Zhang, Jisen; Arro, Jie; Chen, Youqiang; Ming, Ray

2013-05-10

Sugarcane is an economically important crop contributing about 80% and 40% to the world sugar and ethanol production, respectively. The complicated genetics consequential to its complex polyploid genome, however, have impeded efforts to improve sugar yield and related important agronomic traits. Modern sugarcane cultivars are complex hybrids derived mainly from crosses among its progenitor species, S. officinarum and S. spontanuem, and to a lesser degree, S. robustom. Atypical of higher plants, sugarcane stores its photoassimilates as sucrose rather than as starch in its parenchymous stalk cells. In the sugar biosynthesis pathway, sucrose synthase (SuSy, UDP-glucose: D-fructose 2-a-D-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.13) is a key enzyme in the regulation of sucrose accumulation and partitioning by catalyzing the reversible conversion of sucrose and UDP into UDP-glucose and fructose. However, little is known about the sugarcane SuSy gene family members and hence no definitive studies have been reported regarding allelic diversity of SuSy gene families in Saccharum species. We identified and characterized a total of five sucrose synthase genes in the three sugarcane progenitor species through gene annotation and PCR haplotype analysis by analyzing 70 to 119 PCR fragments amplified from intron-containing target regions. We detected all but one (i.e. ScSuSy5) of ScSuSy transcripts in five tissue types of three Saccharum species. The average SNP frequency was one SNP per 108 bp, 81 bp, and 72 bp in S. officinarum, S. robustom, and S. spontanuem respectively. The average shared SNP is 15 between S. officinarum and S. robustom, 7 between S. officinarum and S. spontanuem , and 11 between S. robustom and S. spontanuem. We identified 27, 35, and 32 haplotypes from the five ScSuSy genes in S. officinarum, S. robustom, and S. spontanuem respectively. Also, 12, 11, and 9 protein sequences were translated from the haplotypes in S. officinarum, S. robustom, S. spontanuem, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed three separate clusters composed of SbSuSy1 and SbSuSy2, SbSuSy3 and SbSuSy5, and SbSuSy4. The five members of the SuSy gene family evolved before the divergence of the genera in the tribe Andropogoneae at least 12 MYA. Each ScSuSy gene showed at least one non-synonymous substitution in SNP haplotypes. The SNP frequency is the lowest in S. officinarum, intermediate in S. robustum, and the highest in S. spontaneum, which may reflect the timing of the two rounds of whole genome duplication in these octoploids. The higher rate of shared SNP frequency between S. officinarum and S. robustum than between S. officinarum and in S. spontaneum confirmed that the speciation event separating S. officinarum and S. robustum occurred after their common ancestor diverged from S. spontaneum. The SNP and haplotype frequencies in three Saccharum species provide fundamental information for designing strategies to sequence these autopolyploid genomes.

Investigating the Influence of Magmatic Volatile Input and Seawater Entrainment on Vent Deposit Morphology and Composition in Manus Basin (Back-arc) Hydrothermal Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tivey, M.; Bach, W.; Tivey, M.; Seewald, J.; Craddock, P.; Rouxel, O.; Yoerger, D.; Yeats, C.; McConachy, T.; Quigley, M.; Vanko, D.

2006-12-01

In August 2006, hydrothermal activity within the eastern Manus Basin north of Papua New Guinea was investigated using a combination of mapping (SeaBeam from the R/V Melville, near-bottom multi-beam sonar and magnetometer from AUV ABE and ROV Jason-2) and sampling (fluids and solids using ROV Jason-2). Objectives included identifying tectonic/geologic settings, examining interactions of seawater with felsic rocks that constitute the high silica end-member in the range of basement compositions, determining the extent of volatile magmatic inputs into these systems, and examining the evolution of hydrothermal activity through time. At the PACMANUS (Papua New Guinea Australia Canada Manus) area five previously discovered vent fields were mapped and sampled, and a new very active field, Fenway, was located south of the Satanic Mills field. The core of the Fenway field is a 40 m diameter two-tiered mound. A large black smoker complex venting boiling (356C, 172 bar) fluids forms the upper tier, with the lower tier composed of sulfide debris, massive anhydrite-sulfide deposits, and anhydrite sand. At the DESMOS Caldera hyaloclastites and extensive patches of bleached and stained substrate were mapped and sampled, as were diffuse (72C) and focused (119C) acidic fluids with a pH (25C) of 1.0; no sulfide deposits were observed in the area. At the North Su vent field within the SuSu Knolls area even lower pH fluids were sampled (see Seewald et al., this session). Hydrothermal activity includes venting of white sulfur-rich fluids through cracks and sediments, formation of native sulfur flanges, diffuse venting through spires, and black smoker activity (324C). Anhydrite cement is also present. The abundance of massive anhydrite at Fenway and presence of anhydrite cement at North Su is consistent with significant local entrainment and heating of seawater. The extremely low pH (less than 2) of some vent fluids supports previous hypotheses that fluids in this area contain significant input of magmatic volatiles (e.g., Gamo et al. 1997, Geology 25). During the cruise, 104 black, gray, and clear fluids were sampled using gas-tight and major samplers, and 198 vent sulfide deposit, 83 altered substrate, and 43 fresh lava samples were recovered. Geophysical maps and geochemical data for solids and fluids will be used to determine the styles of mixing and reaction occurring beneath the vent fields, estimate subsurface mineral deposition, and investigate the extent to which input of magmatic fluids is occurring within each system.

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor level is an independent predictor of the presence and severity of coronary artery disease and of future adverse events.

PubMed

Eapen, Danny J; Manocha, Pankaj; Ghasemzadeh, Nima; Ghasemzedah, Nima; Patel, Riyaz S; Al Kassem, Hatem; Hammadah, Muhammad; Veledar, Emir; Le, Ngoc-Anh; Pielak, Tomasz; Thorball, Christian W; Velegraki, Aristea; Kremastinos, Dimitrios T; Lerakis, Stamatios; Sperling, Laurence; Quyyumi, Arshed A

2014-10-23

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an emerging inflammatory and immune biomarker. Whether suPAR level predicts the presence and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and of incident death and myocardial infarction (MI) in subjects with suspected CAD, is unknown. We measured plasma suPAR levels in 3367 subjects (67% with CAD) recruited in the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank and followed them for adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes of death and MI over a mean 2.1±1.1 years. Presence of angiographic CAD (≥50% stenosis in ≥1 coronary artery) and its severity were quantitated using the Gensini score. Cox's proportional hazard survival and discrimination analyses were performed with models adjusted for established CV risk factors and C-reactive protein levels. Elevated suPAR levels were independently associated with the presence of CAD (P<0.0001) and its severity (P<0.0001). A plasma suPAR level ≥3.5 ng/mL (cutoff by Youden's index) predicted future risk of MI (hazard ratio [HR]=3.2; P<0.0001), cardiac death (HR=2.62; P<0.0001), and the combined endpoint of death and MI (HR=1.9; P<0.0001), even after adjustment of covariates. The C-statistic for a model based on traditional risk factors was improved from 0.72 to 0.74 (P=0.008) with the addition of suPAR. Elevated levels of plasma suPAR are associated with the presence and severity of CAD and are independent predictors of death and MI in patients with suspected or known CAD. © 2014 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Level Is an Independent Predictor of the Presence and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease and of Future Adverse Events

PubMed Central

Eapen, Danny J.; Manocha, Pankaj; Ghasemzedah, Nima; Patel, Riyaz S.; Al Kassem, Hatem; Hammadah, Muhammad; Veledar, Emir; Le, Ngoc‐Anh; Pielak, Tomasz; Thorball, Christian W.; Velegraki, Aristea; Kremastinos, Dimitrios T.; Lerakis, Stamatios; Sperling, Laurence; Quyyumi, Arshed A.

2014-01-01

Introduction Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an emerging inflammatory and immune biomarker. Whether suPAR level predicts the presence and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and of incident death and myocardial infarction (MI) in subjects with suspected CAD, is unknown. Methods and Results We measured plasma suPAR levels in 3367 subjects (67% with CAD) recruited in the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank and followed them for adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes of death and MI over a mean 2.1±1.1 years. Presence of angiographic CAD (≥50% stenosis in ≥1 coronary artery) and its severity were quantitated using the Gensini score. Cox's proportional hazard survival and discrimination analyses were performed with models adjusted for established CV risk factors and C‐reactive protein levels. Elevated suPAR levels were independently associated with the presence of CAD (P<0.0001) and its severity (P<0.0001). A plasma suPAR level ≥3.5 ng/mL (cutoff by Youden's index) predicted future risk of MI (hazard ratio [HR]=3.2; P<0.0001), cardiac death (HR=2.62; P<0.0001), and the combined endpoint of death and MI (HR=1.9; P<0.0001), even after adjustment of covariates. The C‐statistic for a model based on traditional risk factors was improved from 0.72 to 0.74 (P=0.008) with the addition of suPAR. Conclusion Elevated levels of plasma suPAR are associated with the presence and severity of CAD and are independent predictors of death and MI in patients with suspected or known CAD. PMID:25341887

Varifocal MOEMS fiber scanner for confocal endomicroscopy.

PubMed

Meinert, Tobias; Weber, Niklas; Zappe, Hans; Seifert, Andreas

2014-12-15

Based on an advanced silicon optical bench technology with integrated MOEMS (Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical-System) components, a piezo-driven fiber scanner for confocal microscopy has been developed. This highly-miniaturized technology allows integration into an endoscope with a total outer probe diameter of 2.5 mm. The system features a hydraulically-driven varifocal lens providing axial confocal scanning without any translational movement of components. The demonstrated resolutions are 1.7 μm laterally and 19 μm axially.

Left-invariant Einstein metrics on S3 ×S3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belgun, Florin; Cortés, Vicente; Haupt, Alexander S.; Lindemann, David

2018-06-01

The classification of homogeneous compact Einstein manifolds in dimension six is an open problem. We consider the remaining open case, namely left-invariant Einstein metrics g on G = SU(2) × SU(2) =S3 ×S3. Einstein metrics are critical points of the total scalar curvature functional for fixed volume. The scalar curvature S of a left-invariant metric g is constant and can be expressed as a rational function in the parameters determining the metric. The critical points of S, subject to the volume constraint, are given by the zero locus of a system of polynomials in the parameters. In general, however, the determination of the zero locus is apparently out of reach. Instead, we consider the case where the isotropy group K of g in the group of motions is non-trivial. When K ≇Z2 we prove that the Einstein metrics on G are given by (up to homothety) either the standard metric or the nearly Kähler metric, based on representation-theoretic arguments and computer algebra. For the remaining case K ≅Z2 we present partial results.

Influence of fracture network physical properties on stability criteria of density-driven flow in a dual-porosity system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassanzadeh, H.; Jafari Raad, S. M.

2017-12-01

Linear stability analysis is conducted to study the onset of buoyancy-driven convection involved in solubility trapping of CO2 into deep fractured aquifers. In this study, the effect of fracture network physical properties on the stability criteria in a brine-rich fractured porous layer is investigated using dual porosity concept for both single and variable matrix block size distributions. Linear stability analysis results show that both fracture interporosity flow and fracture storativity factors play an important role in the stability behavior of the system. It is shown that a diffusive boundary layer under the gravity field in a fractured rock with lower fracture storativity and/or higher fracture interporosity flow coefficient is more stable. We present scaling relations that relate the onset of convective instability in fractured aquifers. These findings improve our understanding of buoyancy driven flow in fractured aquifers and are particularly important in estimation of potential storage capacity, risk assessment, and storage sites characterization and screening.Keywords: CO2 sequestration; fractured rock; buoyancy-driven convection; stability analysis

The SU(2) action-angle variables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ellinas, Demosthenes

1993-01-01

Operator angle-action variables are studied in the frame of the SU(2) algebra, and their eigenstates and coherent states are discussed. The quantum mechanical addition of action-angle variables is shown to lead to a noncommutative Hopf algebra. The group contraction is used to make the connection with the harmonic oscillator.

An almost trivial gauge theory in the limit of infinite gauge coupling constant.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaptanoglu, S.

A local SU(2) gauge theory with one multiplet of scalars in the adjoint representation is considered. In the limit of infinite gauge coupling constant Yang-Mills fields become auxiliary and the action possesses a larger invariance than the usual gauge invariance; hence, the system develops a richer structure of constraints. The constraint analysis is carried out.

The algebra of supertraces for 2+1 super de Sitter gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Urrutia, L. F.; Waelbroeck, H.; Zertuche, F.

1993-01-01

The algebra of the observables for 2+1 super de Sitter gravity, for one genus of the spatial surface is calculated. The algebra turns out to be an infinite Lie algebra subject to non-linear constraints. The constraints are solved explicitly in terms of five independent complex supertraces. These variables are the true degrees of freedom of the system and their quantized algebra generates a new structure which is referred to as a 'central extension' of the quantum algebra SU(2)q.

Interaction of laser beams with magnetized substance in a strong magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuzenov, V. V.

2018-03-01

Laser-driven magneto-inertial fusion assumed plasma and magnetic flux compression by quasisymmetric laser-driven implosion of magnetized target. We develop a 2D radiation magnetohydrodynamic code and a formulation for the one-fluid two-temperature equations for simulating compressible non-equilibrium magnetized target plasma. Laser system with pulse radiation with 10 ns duration is considered for numerical experiments. A numerical study of a scheme of magnetized laser-driven implosion in the external magnetic field is carried out.

Regulation of bacteria population behaviors by AI-2 "consumer cells" and "supplier cells".

PubMed

Quan, Yufen; Meng, Fankang; Ma, Xinyu; Song, Xinhao; Liu, Xiao; Gao, Weixia; Dang, Yulei; Meng, Yao; Cao, Mingfeng; Song, Cunjiang

2017-09-19

Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is a universal signal molecule and enables an individual bacteria to communicate with each other and ultimately control behaviors of the population. Harnessing the character of AI-2, two kinds of AI-2 "controller cells" ("consumer cells" and "supplier cells") were designed to "reprogram" the behaviors of entire population. For the consumer cells, genes associated with the uptake and processing of AI-2, which includes LsrACDB, LsrFG, LsrK, were overexpressed in varying combinations. Four consumer cell strains were constructed: Escherichia coli MG1655 pLsrACDB (NK-C1), MG1655 pLsrACDBK (NK-C2), MG1655 pLsrACDBFG (NK-C3) and MG1655 pLsrACDBFGK (NK-C4). The key enzymes responsible for production of AI-2, LuxS and Mtn, were also overexpressed, yielding strains MG1655 pLuxS (NK-SU1), and MG1655 pLuxS-Mtn (NK-SU2). All the consumer cells could decrease the environmental AI-2 concentration. NK-C2 and NK-C4 were most effective in AI-2 uptake and inhibited biofilm formation. While suppliers can increase the environmental AI-2 concentration and NK-SU2 was most effective in supplying AI-2 and facilitated biofilm formation. Further, reporter strain, MG1655 pLGFP was constructed. The expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in reporter cells was initiated and guided by AI-2. Mixture of consumer cells and reporter cells suggest that consumer cells can decrease the AI-2 concentration. And the supplier cells were co-cultured with reporter cells, indicating that supplier cells can provide more AI-2 compared to the control. The consumer cells and supplier cells could be used to regulate environmental AI-2 concentration and the biofilm formation. They can also modulate the AI-2 concentration when they were co-cultured with reporter cells. It can be envisioned that this system will become useful tools in synthetic biology and researching new antimicrobials.

Simultaneous Transformation of Commingled Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, and 1,4-Dioxane by a Microbially Driven Fenton Reaction in Batch Liquid Cultures.

PubMed

Sekar, Ramanan; Taillefert, Martial; DiChristina, Thomas J

2016-11-01

Improper disposal of 1,4-dioxane and the chlorinated organic solvents trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene [PCE]) has resulted in widespread contamination of soil and groundwater. In the present study, a previously designed microbially driven Fenton reaction system was reconfigured to generate hydroxyl (HO˙) radicals for simultaneous transformation of source zone levels of single, binary, and ternary mixtures of TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane. The reconfigured Fenton reaction system was driven by fed batch cultures of the Fe(III)-reducing facultative anaerobe Shewanella oneidensis amended with lactate, Fe(III), and contaminants and exposed to alternating anaerobic and aerobic conditions. To avoid contaminant loss due to volatility, the Fe(II)-generating, hydrogen peroxide-generating, and contaminant transformation phases of the microbially driven Fenton reaction system were separated. The reconfigured Fenton reaction system transformed TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane either as single contaminants or as binary and ternary mixtures. In the presence of equimolar concentrations of PCE and TCE, the ratio of the experimentally derived rates of PCE and TCE transformation was nearly identical to the ratio of the corresponding HO˙ radical reaction rate constants. The reconfigured Fenton reaction system may be applied as an ex situ platform for simultaneous degradation of commingled TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane and provides valuable information for future development of in situ remediation technologies. A microbially driven Fenton reaction system [driven by the Fe(III)-reducing facultative anaerobe S. oneidensis] was reconfigured to transform source zone levels of TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane as single contaminants or as binary and ternary mixtures. The microbially driven Fenton reaction may thus be applied as an ex situ platform for simultaneous degradation of at least three (and potentially more) commingled contaminants. Additional targets for ex situ and in situ degradation by the microbially driven Fenton reaction developed in the present study include multiple combinations of environmental contaminants susceptible to attack by Fenton reaction-generated HO˙ radicals, including commingled plumes of 1,4-dioxane, pentachlorophenol (PCP), PCE, TCE, 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCA), and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS). Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Simultaneous Transformation of Commingled Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, and 1,4-Dioxane by a Microbially Driven Fenton Reaction in Batch Liquid Cultures

PubMed Central

Sekar, Ramanan; Taillefert, Martial

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Improper disposal of 1,4-dioxane and the chlorinated organic solvents trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene [PCE]) has resulted in widespread contamination of soil and groundwater. In the present study, a previously designed microbially driven Fenton reaction system was reconfigured to generate hydroxyl (HO˙) radicals for simultaneous transformation of source zone levels of single, binary, and ternary mixtures of TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane. The reconfigured Fenton reaction system was driven by fed batch cultures of the Fe(III)-reducing facultative anaerobe Shewanella oneidensis amended with lactate, Fe(III), and contaminants and exposed to alternating anaerobic and aerobic conditions. To avoid contaminant loss due to volatility, the Fe(II)-generating, hydrogen peroxide-generating, and contaminant transformation phases of the microbially driven Fenton reaction system were separated. The reconfigured Fenton reaction system transformed TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane either as single contaminants or as binary and ternary mixtures. In the presence of equimolar concentrations of PCE and TCE, the ratio of the experimentally derived rates of PCE and TCE transformation was nearly identical to the ratio of the corresponding HO˙ radical reaction rate constants. The reconfigured Fenton reaction system may be applied as an ex situ platform for simultaneous degradation of commingled TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane and provides valuable information for future development of in situ remediation technologies. IMPORTANCE A microbially driven Fenton reaction system [driven by the Fe(III)-reducing facultative anaerobe S. oneidensis] was reconfigured to transform source zone levels of TCE, PCE, and 1,4-dioxane as single contaminants or as binary and ternary mixtures. The microbially driven Fenton reaction may thus be applied as an ex situ platform for simultaneous degradation of at least three (and potentially more) commingled contaminants. Additional targets for ex situ and in situ degradation by the microbially driven Fenton reaction developed in the present study include multiple combinations of environmental contaminants susceptible to attack by Fenton reaction-generated HO˙ radicals, including commingled plumes of 1,4-dioxane, pentachlorophenol (PCP), PCE, TCE, 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCA), and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS). PMID:27542932

Improved control strategy for wind-powered refrigerated storage of apples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baldwin, J.D.C.; Vaughan, D.H.

1981-01-01

A refrigerated apple storage facility was constructed at the VPI and SU Horticultural Research Farm in Blacksburg, Virginia and began operation in March 1978. The system included a 10-kW electric wind generator, electrical battery storage, thermal (ice) storage, and auxiliary power. The need for an improved control system for the VPI and SU system was determined from tests on the individual components and in situ performance tests. The results of these tests formed the basis for an improved control strategy to improve the utilization of available wind energy and reduce the need for auxiliary power while maintaining an adequate applemore » storage environment.« less

A Study of Underwater Sound Ray Tracing Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-09-01

SRER ,LB,SV,SVU2,SVU,SU2,SU4,GI,G PIE = 3.14159265359D0 77 lEST = 0 MI = M C DISTRIBUTE THE K SOURCES EQUALLY AROUND THE CIRCLE COUNTER C CLOCKWISE...C(I) - TI-R(I TIMER(I = TIMCO) - T(5) HER(IW HC(I - Hl ZER(IW ZC(I - ZI SR = DSQRT(HI**2 + WA - Zl)**2) SRER = DSQRT(HC(I)**2 + (A2 - Zl)**2) - SR 50

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Nicholas R.; Powers, Jeffrey J.; Mueller, Don

In September 2016, reactor physics measurements were conducted at Research Centre Rez (RC Rez) using the FLiBe (2 7LiF + BeF 2) salt from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) in the LR-0 low power nuclear reactor. These experiments were intended to inform on neutron spectral effects and nuclear data uncertainties for advanced reactor systems using FLiBe salt in a thermal neutron energy spectrum. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in collaboration with RC Rez, performed sensitivity/uncertainty (S/U) analyses of these experiments as part of the ongoing collaboration between the United States and the Czech Republic on civilian nuclear energy researchmore » and development. The objectives of these analyses were (1) to identify potential sources of bias in fluoride salt-cooled and salt-fueled reactor simulations resulting from cross section uncertainties, and (2) to produce the sensitivity of neutron multiplication to cross section data on an energy-dependent basis for specific nuclides. This report provides a final report on the S/U analyses of critical experiments at the LR-0 Reactor relevant to fluoride salt-cooled high temperature reactor (FHR) and liquid-fueled molten salt reactor (MSR) concepts. In the future, these S/U analyses could be used to inform the design of additional FLiBe-based experiments using the salt from MSRE. The key finding of this work is that, for both solid and liquid fueled fluoride salt reactors, radiative capture in 7Li is the most significant contributor to potential bias in neutronics calculations within the FLiBe salt.« less

Development of simulation approach for two-dimensional chiral molecular self-assembly driven by hydrogen bond at the liquid/solid interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Yuan; Yao, Man; Hao, Ce; Wan, Lijun; Wang, Yunhe; Chen, Ting; Wang, Dong; Wang, Xudong; Chen, Yonggang

2017-09-01

Two-dimensional (2D) chiral self-assembly system of 5-(benzyloxy)-isophthalic acid derivative/(S)-(+)-2-octanol/highly oriented pyrolytic graphite was studied. A combined density functional theory/molecular mechanics/molecular dynamics (DFT/MM/MD) approach for system of 2D chiral molecular self-assembly driven by hydrogen bond at the liquid/solid interface was thus proposed. Structural models of the chiral assembly were built on the basis of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images and simplified for DFT geometry optimization. Merck Molecular Force Field (MMFF) was singled out as the suitable force field by comparing the optimized configurations of MM and DFT. MM and MD simulations for hexagonal unit model which better represented the 2D assemble network were then preformed with MMFF. The adhesion energy, evolution of self-assembly process and characteristic parameters of hydrogen bond were obtained and analyzed. According to the above simulation, the stabilities of the clockwise and counterclockwise enantiomorphous networks were evaluated. The calculational results were supported by STM observations and the feasibility of the simulation method was confirmed by two other systems in the presence of chiral co-absorbers (R)-(-)-2-octanol and achiral co-absorbers 1-octanol. This theoretical simulation method assesses the stability trend of 2D enantiomorphous assemblies with atomic scale and can be applied to the similar hydrogen bond driven 2D chirality of molecular self-assembly system.

Nonthermal Radiation Processes in Interplanetary Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chian, A. C. L.

1990-11-01

RESUMEN. En la interacci6n de haces de electrones energeticos con plasmas interplanetarios, se excitan ondas intensas de Langmuir debido a inestabilidad del haz de plasma. Las ondas Langmuir a su vez interaccio nan con fluctuaciones de densidad de baja frecuencia para producir radiaciones. Si la longitud de las ondas de Langmujr exceden las condicio nes del umbral, se puede efectuar la conversi5n de modo no lineal a on- das electromagneticas a traves de inestabilidades parametricas. As se puede excitar en un plasma inestabilidades parametricas electromagneticas impulsadas por ondas intensas de Langmuir: (1) inestabilidades de decaimiento/fusi5n electromagnetica impulsadas por una bomba de Lang- muir que viaja; (2) inestabilidades dobles electromagneticas de decai- miento/fusi5n impulsadas por dos bombas de Langrnuir directamente opues- tas; y (3) inestabilidades de dos corrientes oscilatorias electromagne- ticas impulsadas por dos bombas de Langmuir de corrientes contrarias. Se concluye que las inestabilidades parametricas electromagneticas in- ducidas por las ondas de Langmuir son las fuentes posibles de radiacio- nes no termicas en plasmas interplanetarios. ABSTRACT: Nonthermal radio emissions near the local electron plasma frequency have been detected in various regions of interplanetary plasmas: solar wind, upstream of planetary bow shock, and heliopause. Energetic electron beams accelerated by solar flares, planetary bow shocks, and the terminal shock of heliosphere provide the energy source for these radio emissions. Thus, it is expected that similar nonthermal radiation processes may be responsible for the generation of these radio emissions. As energetic electron beams interact with interplanetary plasmas, intense Langmuir waves are excited due to a beam-plasma instability. The Langmuir waves then interact with low-frequency density fluctuations to produce radiations near the local electron plasma frequency. If Langmuir waves are of sufficiently large amplitude to exceed the thresfiold conditions, nonlinear mode conversion electromagnetic waves can be effected through parametric instabilities. A number of electromagnetic parametric instabilities driven by intense Langmuir waves can be excited in a plasma: (1) electromagnetic decay/fusion instabilities driven by a traveling Langmuir pump; (2) double electromagnetic decay/fusion instabilities driven by two oppositely directed Langmuir pumps; and (3) electromagnetic oscillating two-stream instabilities driven by two counterstreaming Langmuir pumps. It is concluded that the electromagnetic parametric instabilities induced by Langmuir waves are likely sources of nonthermal radiations in interplanetary plasmas. Keq ( : INTERPLANETARY MEDIUM - PLASMAS

A two-step sealing-and-reinforcement SU8 bonding paradigm for the fabrication of shallow microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehboudi, Aryan; Yeom, Junghoon

2018-03-01

Adhesive bonding is a key technique to create microfluidic devices when two separate substrates are used to form microchannels. Among many adhesives explored in microchannel fabrication, SU8 has been widely used as an adhesive layer for sealing the microchannel sidewalls. The majority of the available SU8-based bonding methods, however, suffer from the difficulties associated with sealing of two important types of the microchannel architecture: (1) shallow microchannels with small patterns on a large area, and (2) microchannels with ultra-low aspect ratios (e.g. 6 mm in width and 2~μ m in height). In this paper, a new bonding paradigm based upon the low-temperature and low-pressure SU8 bonding, consisting of two steps of sealing using a thin-SU8-coated PET film and bonding reinforcement using a SU8-coated glass slide, is proposed to resolve the aforementioned difficulties. Since it does not need complicated instruments such as a wafer bonding machine and a lamination device, the developed bonding paradigm is convenient and economical. We successfully demonstrate the compatibility of the proposed bonding paradigm with the two microchannel fabrication approaches based on the glass wet etching and the SU8 photo-lithography, where small microchannels with the innermost surfaces fully made of SU8 are obtained. A theoretical model is employed to better investigate the flow characteristics and the structural behavior of the microchannel including the PET film deformation, strain and von Mises stress distributions, bonding strength, etc. Moreover, we demonstrate the fabrication of the multi-height deep-shallow microchannel sidewalls and their sealing using the SU8-coated PET film. Finally, as a proof-of-concept device, a microfluidic filter consisting of the double-height deep-shallow microchannel is fabricated for separation of 3 µm and 10 µm particles.

Minimal unitary representation of SO∗(8)=SO(6,2) and its SU(2) deformations as massless 6D conformal fields and their supersymmetric extensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernando, Sudarshan; Günaydin, Murat

2010-12-01

We study the minimal unitary representation (minrep) of SO(6,2) over an Hilbert space of functions of five variables, obtained by quantizing its quasiconformal realization. The minrep of SO(6,2), which coincides with the minrep of SO(8) similarly constructed, corresponds to a massless conformal scalar field in six spacetime dimensions. There exists a family of "deformations" of the minrep of SO(8) labeled by the spin t of an SU(2 subgroup of the little group SO(4) of lightlike vectors. These deformations labeled by t are positive energy unitary irreducible representations of SO(8) that describe massless conformal fields in six dimensions. The SU(2 spin t is the six-dimensional counterpart of U(1) deformations of the minrep of 4D conformal group SU(2,2) labeled by helicity. We also construct the supersymmetric extensions of the minimal unitary representation of SO(8) to minimal unitary representations of OSp(8|2N) that describe massless six-dimensional conformal supermultiplets. The minimal unitary supermultiplet of OSp(8|4) is the massless supermultiplet of (2,0) conformal field theory that is believed to be dual to M-theory on AdS×S.

Minimal non-abelian supersymmetric Twin Higgs

DOE PAGES

Badziak, Marcin; Harigaya, Keisuke

2017-10-17

We propose a minimal supersymmetric Twin Higgs model that can accommodate tuning of the electroweak scale for heavy stops better than 10% with high mediation scales of supersymmetry breaking. A crucial ingredient of this model is a new SU(2) X gauge symmetry which provides a D-term potential that generates a large SU(4) invariant coupling for the Higgs sector and only small set of particles charged under SU(2) X , which allows the model to be perturbative around the Planck scale. The new gauge interaction drives the top yukawa coupling small at higher energy scales, which also reduces the tuning.

Search for the right-handed W R boson and a heavy neutrino at the Large Hadron Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasnikov, N. V.; Matveev, V. A.

2014-12-01

We present a brief review of the SU c ( 3)⊗SU L ( 2)⊗SU R ( 2)⊗U( 1) left-right symmetric gauge model. We discuss a possibility of detecting the right-handed W R boson and a heavy neutrino in pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. We present restrictions on the masses of the W R boson and the heavy neutrino obtained using the analysis of experimental data from the CMS and ATLAS detectors with a total energy of colliding protons of 7-8 TeV.

Management of cardiovascular risk factors with pioglitazone combination therapies in type 2 diabetes: an observational cohort study

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is strongly associated with cardiovascular risk and requires medications that improve glycemic control and other cardiovascular risk factors. The authors aimed to assess the relative effectiveness of pioglitazone (Pio), metformin (Met) and any sulfonylurea (SU) combinations in non-insulin-treated T2D patients who were failing previous hypoglycemic therapy. Methods Over a 1-year period, two multicenter, open-labeled, controlled, 1-year, prospective, observational studies evaluated patients with T2D (n = 4585) from routine clinical practice in Spain and Greece with the same protocol. Patients were eligible if they had been prescribed Pio + SU, Pio + Met or SU + Met serving as a control cohort, once they had failed with previous therapy. Anthropometric measurements, lipid and glycemic profiles, blood pressure, and the proportions of patients at microvascular and macrovascular risk were assessed. Results All study treatment combinations rendered progressive 6-month and 12-month lipid, glycemic, and blood pressure improvements. Pio combinations, especially Pio + Met, were associated with increases in HDL-cholesterol and decreases in triglycerides and in the atherogenic index of plasma. The proportion of patients at high risk decreased after 12 months in all study cohorts. Minor weight changes (gain or loss) and no treatment-related fractures occurred during the study. The safety profile was good and proved similar among treatments, except for more hypoglycemic episodes in patients receiving SU and for the occurrence of edema in patients using Pio combinations. Serious cardiovascular events were rarely reported. Conclusions In patients with T2D failing prior hypoglycemic therapies, Pio combinations with SU or Met (especially Pio + Met) improved blood lipid and glycemic profiles, decreasing the proportion of patients with a high microvascular or macrovascular risk. The combination of Pio with SU or Met may therefore be recommended for T2D second-line therapy in the routine clinical practice, particularly in patients with dyslipidemia. PMID:21314919

A Liquid Optical Phase Shifter with an Embedded Electrowetting Actuator

PubMed Central

Ashtiani, Alireza Ousati; Jiang, Hongrui

2017-01-01

We demonstrate an electrowetting-based liquid optical phase shifter. The phase shifter consists of two immiscible liquid layers with different refractive indices. Sandwiched between the two liquids is a rigid membrane that moves freely along the optical axis and supported by a compliant surround. When applied with a pressure, the thicknesses of both liquid layers change, which induces a difference in optical path, resulting in a phase shift. A miniaturized electrowetting-based actuator is used to produce hydraulic pressure. A multi-layered SU8 bonded structure was fabricated. A phase shift of 171° was observed when the device was incorporated in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and driven with 100 V. PMID:29038640

Sneutrino driven GUT inflation in supergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalo, Tomás E.; Heurtier, Lucien; Moursy, Ahmad

2017-06-01

In this paper, we embed the model of flipped GUT sneutrino inflation — in a flipped SU(5) or SO(10) set up — developed by Ellis et al. in a supergravity framework. The GUT symmetry is broken by a waterfall which could happen at early or late stage of the inflationary period. The full field dynamics is thus studied in detail and these two main inflationary configurations are exposed, whose cosmological predictions are both in agreement with recent astrophysical measurements. The model has an interesting feature where the inflaton has natural decay channels to the MSSM particles allowed by the GUT gauge symmetry. Hence it can account for the reheating after the inflationary epoch.

The opinion of Turkish cardiologists on current malpractice system and an alternative patient compensation system proposal: PCS study group.

PubMed

Olcay, Ayhan; Emren, Sadık Volkan; Babür Güler, Gamze; Güler, Ekrem; Ertunç, Vedat; Berilgen, Rida; Aslan, Abdullah; Şimşek, Ersin Çağrı; Gölcük, Şükriye Ebru; Yalın, Kıvanç

2017-10-01

Cardiologists participate in the diagnosis and interventional treatment of numerous high-risk patients. The goal of this study was to investigate how the current malpractice system in Turkey influences cardiologists' diagnostic and interventional behavior and to obtain their opinions about an alternative patient compensation system. The present cross-sectional study assessed the practice of defensive medicine among cardiologists who are actively working in various types of workplace within the Turkish healthcare system. A 24-item questionnaire was distributed to cardiology residents, specialists, and academics in Turkey in print format, by electronic mail, or via cell phone message. A total of 253 cardiologists responded to the survey. Among them, 29 (11.6%) had been sued for malpractice claims in the past. Of the cardiologists who had been sued, 2 (6.9%) had been ordered to pay financial compensation, and 1 (3.4%) was given a sentence of imprisonment due to negligence. In all, 132 (52.8%) of the surveyed cardiologists reported that they had changed their practices due to fear of litigation, and 232 (92.8%) reported that they would prefer the new proposed patient compensation system to the current malpractice system. Among the cardiologists surveyed, 78.8% indicated that malpractice fear had affected their decision-making with regard to requesting computed tomography angiography or thallium scintigraphy, 71.6% for coronary angiography, 20% for stent implantation, and 83.2% for avoiding treating high-risk patients. The results of this survey demonstrated that cardiologists may request unnecessary tests and perform unneeded interventions due to the fear of malpractice litigation fear. Many also avoid high-risk patients and interventions. The majority indicated that they would prefer the proposed alternative patient compensation system to the current malpractice system.

Light-Driven Polymeric Bimorph Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adamovsky, Gregory; Sarkisov, Sergey S.; Curley, Michael J.

2009-01-01

Light-driven polymeric bimorph actuators are being developed as alternatives to prior electrically and optically driven actuators in advanced, highly miniaturized devices and systems exemplified by microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), micro-electro-optical-mechanical systems (MEOMS), and sensor and actuator arrays in smart structures. These light-driven polymeric bimorph actuators are intended to satisfy a need for actuators that (1) in comparison with the prior actuators, are simpler and less power-hungry; (2) can be driven by low-power visible or mid-infrared light delivered through conventional optic fibers; and (3) are suitable for integration with optical sensors and multiple actuators of the same or different type. The immediate predecessors of the present light-driven polymeric bimorph actuators are bimorph actuators that exploit a photorestrictive effect in lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics. The disadvantages of the PLZT-based actuators are that (1) it is difficult to shape the PLZT ceramics, which are hard and brittle; (2) for actuation, it is necessary to use ultraviolet light (wavelengths < 380 nm), which must be generated by use of high-power, high-pressure arc lamps or lasers; (3) it is difficult to deliver sufficient ultraviolet light through conventional optical fibers because of significant losses in the fibers; (4) the response times of the PLZT actuators are of the order of several seconds unacceptably long for typical applications; and (5) the maximum mechanical displacements of the PLZT-based actuators are limited to those characterized by low strains beyond which PLZT ceramics disintegrate because of their brittleness. The basic element of a light-driven bimorph actuator of the present developmental type is a cantilever beam comprising two layers, at least one of which is a polymer that exhibits a photomechanical effect (see figure). The dominant mechanism of the photomechanical effect is a photothermal one: absorption of light energy causes heating, which, in turn, causes thermal expansion.

Dolan Grady relations and noncommutative quasi-exactly solvable systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klishevich, Sergey M.; Plyushchay, Mikhail S.

2003-11-01

We investigate a U(1) gauge invariant quantum mechanical system on a 2D noncommutative space with coordinates generating a generalized deformed oscillator algebra. The Hamiltonian is taken as a quadratic form in gauge covariant derivatives obeying the nonlinear Dolan-Grady relations. This restricts the structure function of the deformed oscillator algebra to a quadratic polynomial. The cases when the coordinates form the {\\mathfrak{su}}(2) and {\\mathfrak{sl}}(2,{\\bb {R}}) algebras are investigated in detail. Reducing the Hamiltonian to 1D finite-difference quasi-exactly solvable operators, we demonstrate partial algebraization of the spectrum of the corresponding systems on the fuzzy sphere and noncommutative hyperbolic plane. A completely covariant method based on the notion of intrinsic algebra is proposed to deal with the spectral problem of such systems.

Release Notes for Whisper-1.1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Forrest B.; Rising, Michael Evan; Alwin, Jennifer Louise

Whisper is a statistical analysis package developed in 2014 to support nuclear criticality safety (NCS) validation [1-3]. It uses the sensitivity profile data for an application as computed by MCNP6 [4-6] along with covariance files [7,8] for the nuclear data to determine a baseline upper-subcritical-limit (USL) for the application. Whisper version 1.0 was first developed and used at LANL in 2014 [3]. During 2015-2016, Whisper was updated to version 1.1 [9] and is to be included with the upcoming release of MCNP6.2. This document describes the Whisper-1.1 package that will be included with the MCNP6.2 release during 2017. Specific detailsmore » are provided on the computer systems supported, the software quality assurance (SQA) procedures, installation, and testing. This document does not address other important topics, such as the importance of sensitivity-uncertainty (SU) methods to NCS validation, the theory underlying SU methodology, tutorials on the usage of MCNP-Whisper, practical approaches to using SU methodology to support and extend traditional validation, etc. There are over 50 documents included with Whisper-1.1 and available in the MCNP Reference Collection on the MCNP website (mcnp.lanl.gov) that address all of those topics and more. In this document, however, a complete bibliography of relevant MCNP-Whisper references is provided.« less

The emergence of collective phenomena in systems with random interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abramkina, Volha

Emergent phenomena are one of the most profound topics in modern science, addressing the ways that collectivities and complex patterns appear due to multiplicity of components and simple interactions. Ensembles of random Hamiltonians allow one to explore emergent phenomena in a statistical way. In this work we adopt a shell model approach with a two-body interaction Hamiltonian. The sets of the two-body interaction strengths are selected at random, resulting in the two-body random ensemble (TBRE). Symmetries such as angular momentum, isospin, and parity entangled with complex many-body dynamics result in surprising order discovered in the spectrum of low-lying excitations. The statistical patterns exhibited in the TBRE are remarkably similar to those observed in real nuclei. Signs of almost every collective feature seen in nuclei, namely, pairing superconductivity, deformation, and vibration, have been observed in random ensembles [3, 4, 5, 6]. In what follows a systematic investigation of nuclear shape collectivities in random ensembles is conducted. The development of the mean field, its geometry, multipole collectivities and their dependence on the underlying two-body interaction are explored. Apart from the role of static symmetries such as SU(2) angular momentum and isospin groups, the emergence of dynamical symmetries including the seniority SU(2), rotational symmetry, as well as the Elliot SU(3) is shown to be an important precursor for the existence of geometric collectivities.

sdg interacting-boson model in the SU(3) scheme and its application to 168Er

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshinaga, N.; Akiyama, Y.; Arima, A.

1988-07-01

The sdg interacting-boson model is presented in the SU(3) tensor formalism. The interactions are decomposed according to their SU(3) tensor character. The existence of the SU(3)-seniority preserving operator is found to be important. The model is applied to 168Er. Energy levels and electromagnetic transitions are calculated. This model is shown to solve the problem of anharmonicity regarding the excitation energy of the first Kπ=4+ band relative to that of the first Kπ=2+ one. E4 transitions are calculated to give different predictions from those by the quasiparticle-phonon nuclear model.

Floquet prethermalization and regimes of heating in a periodically driven, interacting quantum system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weidinger, Simon A.; Knap, Michael

2017-04-01

We study the regimes of heating in the periodically driven O(N)-model, which is a well established model for interacting quantum many-body systems. By computing the absorbed energy with a non-equilibrium Keldysh Green’s function approach, we establish three dynamical regimes: at short times a single-particle dominated regime, at intermediate times a stable Floquet prethermal regime in which the system ceases to absorb, and at parametrically late times a thermalizing regime. Our simulations suggest that in the thermalizing regime the absorbed energy grows algebraically in time with an exponent that approaches the universal value of 1/2, and is thus significantly slower than linear Joule heating. Our results demonstrate the parametric stability of prethermal states in a many-body system driven at frequencies that are comparable to its microscopic scales. This paves the way for realizing exotic quantum phases, such as time crystals or interacting topological phases, in the prethermal regime of interacting Floquet systems.

Precise-spike-driven synaptic plasticity: learning hetero-association of spatiotemporal spike patterns.

PubMed

Yu, Qiang; Tang, Huajin; Tan, Kay Chen; Li, Haizhou

2013-01-01

A new learning rule (Precise-Spike-Driven (PSD) Synaptic Plasticity) is proposed for processing and memorizing spatiotemporal patterns. PSD is a supervised learning rule that is analytically derived from the traditional Widrow-Hoff rule and can be used to train neurons to associate an input spatiotemporal spike pattern with a desired spike train. Synaptic adaptation is driven by the error between the desired and the actual output spikes, with positive errors causing long-term potentiation and negative errors causing long-term depression. The amount of modification is proportional to an eligibility trace that is triggered by afferent spikes. The PSD rule is both computationally efficient and biologically plausible. The properties of this learning rule are investigated extensively through experimental simulations, including its learning performance, its generality to different neuron models, its robustness against noisy conditions, its memory capacity, and the effects of its learning parameters. Experimental results show that the PSD rule is capable of spatiotemporal pattern classification, and can even outperform a well studied benchmark algorithm with the proposed relative confidence criterion. The PSD rule is further validated on a practical example of an optical character recognition problem. The results again show that it can achieve a good recognition performance with a proper encoding. Finally, a detailed discussion is provided about the PSD rule and several related algorithms including tempotron, SPAN, Chronotron and ReSuMe.

Precise-Spike-Driven Synaptic Plasticity: Learning Hetero-Association of Spatiotemporal Spike Patterns

PubMed Central

Yu, Qiang; Tang, Huajin; Tan, Kay Chen; Li, Haizhou

2013-01-01

A new learning rule (Precise-Spike-Driven (PSD) Synaptic Plasticity) is proposed for processing and memorizing spatiotemporal patterns. PSD is a supervised learning rule that is analytically derived from the traditional Widrow-Hoff rule and can be used to train neurons to associate an input spatiotemporal spike pattern with a desired spike train. Synaptic adaptation is driven by the error between the desired and the actual output spikes, with positive errors causing long-term potentiation and negative errors causing long-term depression. The amount of modification is proportional to an eligibility trace that is triggered by afferent spikes. The PSD rule is both computationally efficient and biologically plausible. The properties of this learning rule are investigated extensively through experimental simulations, including its learning performance, its generality to different neuron models, its robustness against noisy conditions, its memory capacity, and the effects of its learning parameters. Experimental results show that the PSD rule is capable of spatiotemporal pattern classification, and can even outperform a well studied benchmark algorithm with the proposed relative confidence criterion. The PSD rule is further validated on a practical example of an optical character recognition problem. The results again show that it can achieve a good recognition performance with a proper encoding. Finally, a detailed discussion is provided about the PSD rule and several related algorithms including tempotron, SPAN, Chronotron and ReSuMe. PMID:24223789

Multiphase groundwater flow near cooling plutons

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hayba, D.O.; Ingebritsen, S.E.

1997-01-01

We investigate groundwater flow near cooling plutons with a computer program that can model multiphase flow, temperatures up to 1200??C, thermal pressurization, and temperature-dependent rock properties. A series of experiments examines the effects of host-rock permeability, size and depth of pluton emplacement, single versus multiple intrusions, the influence of a caprock, and the impact of topographically driven groundwater flow. We also reproduce and evaluate some of the pioneering numerical experiments on flow around plutons. Host-rock permeability is the principal factor influencing fluid circulation and heat transfer in hydrothermal systems. The hottest and most steam-rich systems develop where permeability is of the order of 10-15 m2. Temperatures and life spans of systems decrease with increasing permeability. Conduction-dominated systems, in which permeabilities are ???10-16m2, persist longer but exhibit relatively modest increases in near-surface temperatures relative to ambient conditions. Pluton size, emplacement depth, and initial thermal conditions have less influence on hydrothermal circulation patterns but affect the extent of boiling and duration of hydrothermal systems. Topographically driven groundwater flow can significantly alter hydrothermal circulation; however, a low-permeability caprock effectively decouples the topographically and density-driven systems and stabilizes the mixing interface between them thereby defining a likely ore-forming environment.

A Highly Selective and Robust Co(II)-Based Homogeneous Catalyst for Reduction of CO2 to CO in CH3CN/H2O Solution Driven by Visible Light.

PubMed

Ouyang, Ting; Hou, Cheng; Wang, Jia-Wei; Liu, Wen-Ju; Zhong, Di-Chang; Ke, Zhuo-Feng; Lu, Tong-Bu

2017-07-03

Visible-light driven reduction of CO 2 into chemical fuels has attracted enormous interest in the production of sustainable energy and reversal of the global warming trend. The main challenge in this field is the development of efficient, selective, and economic photocatalysts. Herein, we report a Co(II)-based homogeneous catalyst, [Co(NTB)CH 3 CN](ClO 4 ) 2 (1, NTB = tris(benzimidazolyl-2-methyl)amine), which shows high selectivity and stability for the catalytic reduction of CO 2 to CO in a water-containing system driven by visible light, with turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) values of 1179 and 0.032 s -1 , respectively, and selectivity to CO of 97%. The high catalytic activity of 1 for photochemical CO 2 -to-CO conversion is supported by the results of electrochemical investigations and DFT calculations.

There aren't Non-Standard Solutions for the Braid Group Representations of the QYBE Associated with 10-D Representations of SU(4)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yijun, Huang; Guochen, Yu; Hong, Sun

1996-01-01

It is well known that the quantum Yang-Baxter equations (QYBE) play an important role in various theoretical and mathematical physics, such as completely integrable system in (1 + 1)-dimensions, exactly solvable models in statistical mechanics, the quantum inverse scattering method and the conformal field theories in 2-dimensions. Recently, much remarkable progress has been made in constructing the solutions of the QYBE associated with the representations of lie algebras. It is shown that for some cases except the standard solutions, there also exist new solutions, but the others have not non-standard solutions. In this paper by employing the weight conservation and the diagrammatic techniques we show that the solution associated with the 10-D representations of SU (4) are standard alone.

Wave Function and Emergent SU(2) Symmetry in the ν_{T}=1 Quantum Hall Bilayer.

PubMed

Lian, Biao; Zhang, Shou-Cheng

2018-02-16

We propose a trial wave function for the quantum Hall bilayer system of total filling factor ν_{T}=1 at a layer distance d to magnetic length ℓ ratio d/ℓ=κ_{c1}≈1.1, where the lowest charged excitation is known to have a level crossing. The wave function has two-particle correlations, which fit well with those in previous numerical studies, and can be viewed as a Bose-Einstein condensate of free excitons formed by composite bosons and anticomposite bosons in different layers. We show the free nature of these excitons indicating an emergent SU(2) symmetry for the composite bosons at d/ℓ=κ_{c1}, which leads to the level crossing in low-lying charged excitations. We further show the overlap between the trial wave function, and the ground state of a small size exact diagonalization is peaked near d/ℓ=κ_{c1}, which supports our theory.

Studying the Perturbed Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten SU(2) k Theory Using the Truncated Conformal Spectrum Approach

DOE PAGES

Konik, R. M.; Palmai, T.; Takacs, G.; ...

2015-08-24

We study the SU(2) k Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten (WZNW) theory perturbed by the trace of the primary field in the adjoint representation, a theory governing the low-energy behaviour of a class of strongly correlated electronic systems. While the model is non-integrable, its dynamics can be investigated using the numerical technique of the truncated conformal spectrum approach combined with numerical and analytical renormalization groups (TCSA+RG). The numerical results so obtained provide support for a semiclassical analysis valid at k » 1. Namely, we find that the low energy behavior is sensitive to the sign of the coupling constant, λ. Moreover for λ >more » 0 this behavior depends on whether k is even or odd. With k even, we find definitive evidence that the model at low energies is equivalent to the massive O(3) sigma model. For k odd, the numerical evidence is more equivocal, but we find indications that the low energy effective theory is critical.« less

Improving acoustic streaming effects in fluidic systems by matching SU-8 and polydimethylsiloxane layers.

PubMed

Catarino, S O; Minas, G; Miranda, J M

2016-07-01

This paper reports the use of acoustic waves for promoting and improving streaming in tridimensional polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cuvettes of 15mm width×14mm height×2.5mm thickness. The acoustic waves are generated by a 28μm thick poly(vinylidene fluoride) - PVDF - piezoelectric transducer in its β phase, actuated at its resonance frequency: 40MHz. The acoustic transmission properties of two materials - SU-8 and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) - were numerically compared. It was concluded that PDMS inhibits, while SU-8 allows, the transmission of the acoustic waves to the propagation medium. Therefore, by simulating the acoustic transmission properties of different materials, it is possible to preview the acoustic behavior in the fluidic system, which allows the optimization of the best layout design, saving costs and time. This work also presents a comparison between numerical and experimental results of acoustic streaming obtained with that β-PVDF transducer in the movement and in the formation of fluid recirculation in tridimensional closed domains. Differences between the numerical and experimental results are credited to the high sensitivity of acoustic streaming to the experimental conditions and to limitations of the numerical method. The reported study contributes for the improvement of simulation models that can be extremely useful for predicting the acoustic effects of new materials in fluidic devices, as well as for optimizing the transducers and matching layers positioning in a fluidic structure. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preliminary study of a gas burner-driven and ground-coupled heat pump system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsu, P.F.

1995-12-31

To address the concerns for higher energy efficiency and the immediate phase out of the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a new gas burner-driven, ground-coupled heat pump (GBGCHP) system is proposed for study. The new system is energy efficient and pose no environmental problem. There are three unique features in the proposed system: (1) a patented gas burner-driven compressor with a floating diaphragm piston-cylinder for energy efficiency and accommodating variable load, (2) the ground coupled water-to-air heat exchangers for high coefficient of performance (COPs), and (3) the new refrigerants based on fluoroiodocarbons (FICS) with very little ozone depletion and global warming potential. Amore » preliminary analysis of a prototype heat pump with 3 ton (10.55 kW) heating capacity is presented. The thermodynamics analysis of the system shows that the steady state COP rating higher than 7 is possible with the system operating in heating mode. Additional research work for the GBGCHP system, especially the FICs` thermodynamic properties in the superheated region, is also described.« less

A study on various methods of supplying propellant to an orbit insertion rocket engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boretz, J. E.; Huniu, S.; Thompson, M.; Pagani, M.; Paulsen, B.; Lewis, J.; Paul, D.

1980-01-01

Various types of pumps and pump drives were evaluated to determine the lightest weight system for supplying propellants to a planetary orbit insertion rocket engine. From these analyses four candidate propellant feed systems were identified. Systems Nos. 1 and 2 were both battery powered (lithium-thionyl-chloride or silver-zinc) motor driven pumps. System 3 was a monopropellant gas generator powered turbopump. System 4 was a bipropellant gas generator powered turbopump. Parameters considered were pump break horsepower, weight, reliability, transient response and system stability. Figures of merit were established and the ranking of the candidate systems was determined. Conceptual designs were prepared for typical motor driven pumps and turbopump configurations for a 1000 lbf thrust rocket engine.

Long-term immunogenicity and safety of an investigational herpes zoster subunit vaccine in older adults.

PubMed

Chlibek, Roman; Pauksens, Karlis; Rombo, Lars; van Rijckevorsel, Gini; Richardus, Jan H; Plassmann, Georg; Schwarz, Tino F; Catteau, Grégory; Lal, Himal; Heineman, Thomas C

2016-02-03

An investigational subunit vaccine containing the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein E (gE) and the AS01B adjuvant system is being evaluated for the prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) in older adults. A phase II trial evaluating different formulations of this vaccine (containing 25μg, 50μg, or 100μg gE) was conducted in adults ≥60 years of age and showed that all formulations elicited robust cellular and humoral immune responses for up to 3 years after vaccination. In this follow-up study in subjects who received two doses of the 50μg gE/AS01B formulation (HZ/su), we assessed the persistence of the immune responses for up to 6 years after vaccination. This phase II, open-label, multicenter, single-group trial conducted in the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands followed 129 subjects who had received two doses (2 months apart) of HZ/su during the initial trial. Vaccine-induced immune responses (frequencies of gE-specific CD4(+) T cells expressing ≥2 activation markers and serum anti-gE antibody concentrations) were evaluated at 48, 60, and 72 months after the first HZ/su dose. Six years after vaccination with HZ/su, gE-specific cell-mediated immune responses and anti-gE antibody concentrations had decreased by 20-25% from month 36, but remained higher than the prevaccination values. At month 72, the gE-specific cell-mediated immune response was 3.8 times higher than the prevaccination value (477.3 vs. 119.4 activated gE-specific CD4(+) T cells per 10(6) cells), and the anti-gE antibody concentration was 7.3 times higher than the prevaccination value (8159.0 vs. 1121.3mIU/mL). No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported between months 36 and 72. gE-specific cellular and humoral immune responses persisted for 6 years after two-dose vaccination with HZ/su in healthy older adults. No safety concerns were identified. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

A study of the application of permeable pavements as a sustainable technique for the mitigation of soil sealing in cities: A case study in the south of Spain.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Rojas, M I; Huertas-Fernández, F; Moreno, B; Martínez, G; Grindlay, A L

2018-01-01

The use of 'Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems' (SuDS) has become a more sustainable alternative for managing stormwater, greatly reducing the effects of soil sealing. However, the lack of monitored projects is a barrier to their implementation, as the companies which manage sewer systems cannot quantify the impact and cost-efficiency of SuDS. This paper presents a project developed in the south of Spain, in which the hydrological performance of 3 types of permeable pavements has been analyzed. The efficiencies obtained (over 70%), are higher than or similar to the efficiencies of vegetated SuDS, demonstrating the capacity of these pavements for delaying catchment area response and slow flow velocities, reducing the operating costs of sewer systems and the flood risk, while also ensuring service conditions for cities and safety for pedestrian and vehicular circulation. This pilot site has generated results which are sufficiently consistent so as to be representative, and serve as a reference for other cities with a similar climate. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Critical slowing down in driven-dissipative Bose-Hubbard lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vicentini, Filippo; Minganti, Fabrizio; Rota, Riccardo; Orso, Giuliano; Ciuti, Cristiano

2018-01-01

We explore theoretically the dynamical properties of a first-order dissipative phase transition in coherently driven Bose-Hubbard systems, describing, e.g., lattices of coupled nonlinear optical cavities. Via stochastic trajectory calculations based on the truncated Wigner approximation, we investigate the dynamical behavior as a function of system size for one-dimensional (1D) and 2D square lattices in the regime where mean-field theory predicts nonlinear bistability. We show that a critical slowing down emerges for increasing number of sites in 2D square lattices, while it is absent in 1D arrays. We characterize the peculiar properties of the collective phases in the critical region.

Super-resolution and ultra-sensitivity of angular rotation measurement based on SU(1,1) interferometers using homodyne detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jun; Li, Shitao; Wei, Dong; Gao, Hong; Li, Fuli

2018-02-01

We theoretically explore the angular rotation measurement sensitivity of SU(1,1) interferometers with a coherent beam and a vacuum beam input by using orbital angular momentum (OAM). Compared with the OAM in an SU(2) interferometer, the SU(1,1) interferometer employing homodyne detection can further surpass the angular rotation shot noise limit \\tfrac{1}{2l\\sqrt{N}} and improve the resolution and sensitivity of angular rotation measurement. Two models are considered, one is that OAM is carried by a probe beam and the other one is a pump beam with the OAM. The sensitivity can be improved by higher OAM and nonlinear process with a large gain. The resolution can be enhanced in the case that the pump beam has OAM. Moreover, we present a brief discussion on the variation of resolution and sensitivity in the presence of photon loss.

Ultrasonography shows disappearance of monosodium urate crystal deposition on hyaline cartilage after sustained normouricemia is achieved.

PubMed

Thiele, Ralf G; Schlesinger, Naomi

2010-02-01

This study aimed at determining whether lowering serum urate (SU) to less than 6 mg/dl in patients with gout affects ultrasonographic findings. Seven joints in five patients with monosodium urate (MSU) crystal proven gout and hyperuricemia were examined over time with serial ultrasonography. Four of the five patients were treated with urate lowering drugs (ULDs) (allopurinol, n = 3; probenecid, n = 1). One patient was treated with colchicine alone. Attention was given to changes in a hyperechoic, irregular coating of the hyaline cartilage in the examined joints (double contour sign or "urate icing"). This coating was considered to represent precipitate of MSU crystals. Index joints included metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (n = 2), knee joints (n = 3), and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints (n = 2). The interval between baseline and follow-up images ranged from 7 to 18 months. Serial SU levels were obtained during the follow-up period. During the follow-up period, three patients treated with ULD (allopurinol, n = 2; probenecid, n = 1) achieved a SU level of <6 mg/dl. In two patients, SU levels remained above 6 mg/dl (treated with allopurinol, n = 1; treated with colchicine, n = 1). At baseline, the double contour sign was seen in all patients. In those patients who achieved SU levels of <6 ml/dl, this sign had disappeared at follow-up. Disappearance of the double contour sign was seen in two knee joints, two first MTP joints, and one MCP joint. In contrast, disappearance of the double contour sign was not seen in patients who maintained a SU level > or =7 mg/dl. In one patient treated with allopurinol, SU levels improved from 13 to 7 mg/dl during the follow-up period. Decrease, but not resolution of the hyperechoic coating was seen in this patient. In the patient treated with colchicine alone, SU levels remained >8 mg/dl, and no sonographic change was observed. In our patients, sonographic signs of deposition of MSU crystals on the surface of hyaline cartilage disappeared completely if sustained normouricemia was achieved. This is the first report showing that characteristic sonographic changes are influenced by ULDs once SU levels remain < or =6 mg/dl for 7 months or more. Sonographic changes of gout correlate with SU levels and may be a non-invasive means to track changes in the uric acid pool. Larger prospective studies are needed to further assess these potentially important findings.

Comparison of air-driven vs electric torque control motors on canal centering ability by ProTaper NiTi rotary instruments.

PubMed

Zarei, Mina; Javidi, Maryam; Erfanian, Mahdi; Lomee, Mahdi; Afkhami, Farzaneh

2013-01-01

Cleaning and shaping is one of the most important phases in root canal therapy. Various rotary NiTi systems minimize accidents and facilitate the shaping process. Todays NiTi files are used with air-driven and electric handpieces. This study compared the canal centering after instrumentation using the ProTaper system using Endo IT, electric torque-control motor, and NSK air-driven handpiece. This ex vivo randomized controlled trial study involved 26 mesial mandibular root canals with 10 to 35° curvature. The roots were randomly divided into 2 groups of 13 canals each. The roots were mounted in an endodontic cube with acrylic resin, sectioned horizontally at 2, 6 and 10 mm from the apex and then reassembled. The canals were instrumented according to the manufacturer's instructions using ProTaper rotary files and electric torque-control motors (group 1) or air-driven handpieces (group 2). Photographs of the cross-sections included shots before and after instrumentation, and image analysis was performed using Photoshop software. The centering ability and canal transportation was also evaluated. Repeated measurement and independent t-test provided statistical analysis of canal transportation. The comparison of the rate of transportation toward internal or external walls between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.62). Comparison of the rate of transportation of sections within one group was not significant (p = 0.28). Use of rotary NiTi file with either electric torquecontrol motor or air-driven handpiece had no effect on canal centering. NiTi rotary instruments can be used with air-driven motors without any considerable changes in root canal anatomy, however it needs the clinician to be expert.

Data-driven methods towards learning the highly nonlinear inverse kinematics of tendon-driven surgical manipulators.

PubMed

Xu, Wenjun; Chen, Jie; Lau, Henry Y K; Ren, Hongliang

2017-09-01

Accurate motion control of flexible surgical manipulators is crucial in tissue manipulation tasks. The tendon-driven serpentine manipulator (TSM) is one of the most widely adopted flexible mechanisms in minimally invasive surgery because of its enhanced maneuverability in torturous environments. TSM, however, exhibits high nonlinearities and conventional analytical kinematics model is insufficient to achieve high accuracy. To account for the system nonlinearities, we applied a data driven approach to encode the system inverse kinematics. Three regression methods: extreme learning machine (ELM), Gaussian mixture regression (GMR) and K-nearest neighbors regression (KNNR) were implemented to learn a nonlinear mapping from the robot 3D position states to the control inputs. The performance of the three algorithms was evaluated both in simulation and physical trajectory tracking experiments. KNNR performed the best in the tracking experiments, with the lowest RMSE of 2.1275 mm. The proposed inverse kinematics learning methods provide an alternative and efficient way to accurately model the tendon driven flexible manipulator. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of cubic Dresselhaus interaction on the longitudinal optical conductivity of a spin-orbit coupled system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cruz, Elmer; López-Bastidas, Catalina; Maytorena, Jesús A.

2018-03-01

We investigate the effect of the oft-neglected cubic terms of the Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling on the longitudinal current response of a two-dimensional electron gas with both Rashba and linear Dresselhaus interactions. For a quantum well grown in the [001] direction, the changes caused by these nonlinear-in-momentum terms on the absorption spectrum become more notable under SU(2) symmetry conditions, when the Rashba and linear Dresselhaus coupling strengths are tuned to be equal. The longitudinal optical response no longer vanishes then and shows a strong dependence on the direction of the externally applied electric field, giving a signature of the relative size of several spin-orbit contributions. This anisotropic response arises from the nonisotropic splitting of the spin states induced by the interplay of Rashba and Dresselhaus couplings. However, the presence of cubic terms introduces characteristic spectral features and can modify the overall shape of the spectra for some values of the relative sizes of the spin-orbit parameters. We compare this behavior to the case of a sample with [110] crystal orientation which, under conditions of spin-preserving symmetry, has a collinear spin-orbit vector field that leads to vanishing conductivity, even in the presence of cubic terms. In addition to the control through the driven frequency or electrical gating, such a directional aspect of the current response suggests new ways of manipulation and supports the use of interband optics as a sensitive probe of spin-orbit mechanisms in semiconductor spintronics.

The interaction of Dirac particles with non-abelian gauge fields and gravity - bound states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finster, Felix; Smoller, Joel; Yau, Shing-Tung

2000-09-01

We consider a spherically symmetric, static system of a Dirac particle interacting with classical gravity and an SU(2) Yang-Mills field. The corresponding Einstein-Dirac-Yang-Mills equations are derived. Using numerical methods, we find different types of soliton-like solutions of these equations and discuss their properties. Some of these solutions are stable even for arbitrarily weak gravitational coupling.

The Cosinusoidal Gravitational Potential, a Unique Alternative to Newton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlett, D. F.

1997-04-01

Recently Bartlett & Su have shown that there are only three central potentials that allow a uniqueness theorem. (D.F. Bartlett & Y. Su, Am J. Phys. 62, 683 (1994)) Two of these, the newtonian and Yukawa, are familiar. The third, e^± ikr/r has hardly been studied at all. I consider the potential GM cos(kr)/r as an alternative to dark matter. The universal wavelength λ = 2π/k = 1800 lt-yrs comes from the only thoroughly catalogued system of galactic shells, those around the elliptical, NGC 3923. This λ is confirmed by the location of the gravitationally lensed images in the Einstein Cross. The potential can also explain several features of our Galaxy. The central bar is related dynamically to the spiral arms and, surprisingly, to the distant dwarf spheroidals. The radial oscillations of the potential provide the strong galactic tidal force that may be required to nudge distant comets into the inner solar system. The large, periodic oscillation of the sun within this radial pocket gives a unique mechanism for exposing the solar system to a periodic tidal force. The period of this oscillation and the period of cratering and mass extinctions agree, within errors.

Completely explosive ultracompact high-voltage nanosecond pulse-generating system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shkuratov, Sergey I.; Talantsev, Evgueni F.; Baird, Jason; Rose, Millard F.; Shotts, Zachary; Altgilbers, Larry L.; Stults, Allen H.

2006-04-01

A conventional pulsed power technology has been combined with an explosive pulsed power technology to produce an autonomous high-voltage power supply. The power supply contained an explosive-driven high-voltage primary power source and a power-conditioning stage. The ultracompact explosive-driven primary power source was based on the physical effect of shock-wave depolarization of high-energy Pb (Zr52Ti48)O3 ferroelectric material. The volume of the energy-carrying ferroelectric elements in the shock-wave ferroelectric generators (SWFEGs) varied from 1.2 to 2.6cm3. The power-conditioning stage was based on the spiral vector inversion generator (VIG). The SWFEG-VIG system demonstrated successful operation and good performance. The amplitude of the output voltage pulse of the SWFEG-VIG system exceeded 90kV, with a rise time of 5.2ns.

Establishing non-Abelian topological order in Gutzwiller-projected Chern insulators via entanglement entropy and modular S-matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yi; Vishwanath, Ashvin

2013-04-01

We use entanglement entropy signatures to establish non-Abelian topological order in projected Chern-insulator wave functions. The simplest instance is obtained by Gutzwiller projecting a filled band with Chern number C=2, whose wave function may also be viewed as the square of the Slater determinant of a band insulator. We demonstrate that this wave function is captured by the SU(2)2 Chern-Simons theory coupled to fermions. This is established most persuasively by calculating the modular S-matrix from the candidate ground-state wave functions, following a recent entanglement-entropy-based approach. This directly demonstrates the peculiar non-Abelian braiding statistics of Majorana fermion quasiparticles in this state. We also provide microscopic evidence for the field theoretic generalization, that the Nth power of a Chern number C Slater determinant realizes the topological order of the SU(N)C Chern-Simons theory coupled to fermions, by studying the SU(2)3 (Read-Rezayi-type state) and the SU(3)2 wave functions. An advantage of our projected Chern-insulator wave functions is the relative ease with which physical properties, such as entanglement entropy and modular S-matrix, can be numerically calculated using Monte Carlo techniques.

Random SU(2) invariant tensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Youning; Han, Muxin; Ruan, Dong; Zeng, Bei

2018-04-01

SU(2) invariant tensors are states in the (local) SU(2) tensor product representation but invariant under the global group action. They are of importance in the study of loop quantum gravity. A random tensor is an ensemble of tensor states. An average over the ensemble is carried out when computing any physical quantities. The random tensor exhibits a phenomenon known as ‘concentration of measure’, which states that for any bipartition the average value of entanglement entropy of its reduced density matrix is asymptotically the maximal possible as the local dimensions go to infinity. We show that this phenomenon is also true when the average is over the SU(2) invariant subspace instead of the entire space for rank-n tensors in general. It is shown in our earlier work Li et al (2017 New J. Phys. 19 063029) that the subleading correction of the entanglement entropy has a mild logarithmic divergence when n  =  4. In this paper, we show that for n  >  4 the subleading correction is not divergent but a finite number. In some special situation, the number could be even smaller than 1/2, which is the subleading correction of random state over the entire Hilbert space of tensors.

[Experimental study of glioma stem cell-mediated immune tolerance in tumor microenvironment].

PubMed

Xie, T; Ma, J W; Liu, B; Dong, J; Huang, Q

2017-11-23

Objective: To investigate the tumor microenvironment of immune tolerance induced by glioma stem cells (GSC). Methods: Human GSC SU3 cells transfected with red fluorescent protein (SU3-RFP) gene were implanted into the brain, subcutis (armpit and foot), liver and abdominal cavity of transgenic green fluorescence protein (GFP) nude mice to establish RFP(+) /GFP(+) dual fluorescence solid tumor model. The re-cultured cells derived from implanted tumor tissues, SU3-RFP cells co-cultured with peritoneal fluid of transgenic GFP nude mice and malignant ascites of tumor-bearing mice were observed by fluorescence microscopy and real-time video image tracing to analyze the microenvironment of immune tolerance mediated by RFP(+) /GFP(+) implanted tumor. Results: Dual fluorescence labeled frozen section showed that all of cells in the tumor microenvironment were GFP(+) , while the pressed tissue-patch showed that the tumor blood vessels exhibited a RFP(+) /GFP(+) double-positioning yellow. In the GFP single fluorescence labeled tumor tissue, all of cells in the microenvironment were green, including tumor edge, necrotic foci and blood vessel. Among them, CD68(+) , F4/80(+) , CD11c(+) , CD11b(+) and CD80(+) cells were observed. In the dual fluorescence labeled co-cultured cells, the phagocytosis and fusion between green host cells and red tumor cells were also observed, and these fusion cells might transfer to the malignant dendritic cells and macrophages. Conclusions: The tumor microenvironment of immune tolerance induced by GSC is not affected by the tissue types of tumor-inoculated sites, and the immune tolerance mediated by inflammatory cells is associated with the inducible malignant transformation, which may be driven by cell fusion.

A determination of the absolute radiant energy of a Robertson-Berger meter sunburn unit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeLuisi, John J.; Harris, Joyce M.

Data from a Robertson-Berger (RB) sunburn meter were compared with concurrent measurements obtained with an ultraviolet double monochromator (DM), and the absolute energy of one sunburn unit measured by the RB-meter was determined. It was found that at a solar zenith angle of 30° one sunburn unit (SU) is equivalent to 35 ± 4 mJ cm -2, and at a solar zenith angle of 69°, one SU is equivalent to 20 ± 2 mJ cm -2 (relative to a wavelength of 297 nm), where the rate of change is non-linear. The deviation is due to the different response functions of the RB-meter and the DM system used to simulate the response of human skin to the incident u.v. solar spectrum. The average growth rate of the deviation with increasing solar zenith angle was found to be 1.2% per degree between solar zenith angles 30 and 50° and 2.3% per degree between solar zenith angles 50 and 70°. The deviations of response with solar zenith angle were found to be consistent with reported RB-meter characteristics.

Enhanced photoelectrochemical activity in all-oxide heterojunction devices based on correlated "metallic" oxides.

PubMed

Apgar, Brent A; Lee, Sungki; Schroeder, Lauren E; Martin, Lane W

2013-11-20

n-n Schottky, n-n ohmic, and p-n Schottky heterojunctions based on TiO2 /correlated "metallic" oxide couples exhibit strong solar-light absorption driven by the unique electronic structure of the "metallic" oxides. Photovoltaic and photocatalytic responses are driven by hot electron injection from the "metallic" oxide into the TiO2 , enabling new modalities of operation for energy systems. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Interaction between src family kinases and rho-kinase in agonist-induced Ca2+-sensitization of rat pulmonary artery.

PubMed

Knock, Greg A; Shaifta, Yasin; Snetkov, Vladimir A; Vowles, Benjamin; Drndarski, Svetlana; Ward, Jeremy P T; Aaronson, Philip I

2008-02-01

We investigated the role of src family kinases (srcFK) in agonist-mediated Ca2+-sensitization in pulmonary artery and whether this involves interaction with the rho/rho-kinase pathway. Intra-pulmonary arteries (IPAs) and cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) were obtained from rat. Expression of srcFK was determined at the mRNA and protein levels. Ca2+-sensitization was induced by prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha)) in alpha-toxin-permeabilized IPAs. Phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit of myosin phosphatase (MYPT-1) and of myosin light-chain-20 (MLC20) and translocation of rho-kinase in response to PGF(2 alpha) were also determined. Nine srcFK were expressed at the mRNA level, including src, fyn, and yes, and PGF(2 alpha) enhanced phosphorylation of three srcFK proteins at tyr-416. In alpha-toxin-permeabilized IPAs, PGF(2 alpha) enhanced the Ca2+-induced contraction (pCa 6.9) approximately three-fold. This enhancement was inhibited by the srcFK blockers SU6656 and PP2 and by the rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632. Y27632, but not SU6656 or PP2, also inhibited the underlying pCa 6.9 contraction. PGF(2 alpha) enhanced phosphorylation of MYPT-1 at thr-697 and thr-855 and of MLC20 at ser-19. This enhancement, but not the underlying basal phosphorylation, was inhibited by SU6656. Y27632 suppressed both basal and PGF(2 alpha)-mediated phosphorylation. The effects of SU6656 and Y27632, on both contraction and MYPT-1 and MLC20 phosphorylation, were not additive. PGF(2 alpha) triggered translocation of rho-kinase in PASMC, and this was inhibited by SU6656. srcFK are activated by PGF(2 alpha) in the rat pulmonary artery and may contribute to Ca2+-sensitization and contraction via rho-kinase translocation and phosphorylation of MYPT-1.

Interaction between src family kinases and rho-kinase in agonist-induced Ca2+-sensitization of rat pulmonary artery

PubMed Central

Knock, Greg A.; Shaifta, Yasin; Snetkov, Vladimir A.; Vowles, Benjamin; Drndarski, Svetlana; Ward, Jeremy P.T.; Aaronson, Philip I.

2008-01-01

Abstract Aims We investigated the role of src family kinases (srcFK) in agonist-mediated Ca2+-sensitization in pulmonary artery and whether this involves interaction with the rho/rho-kinase pathway. Methods and results Intra-pulmonary arteries (IPAs) and cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) were obtained from rat. Expression of srcFK was determined at the mRNA and protein levels. Ca2+-sensitization was induced by prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) in α-toxin-permeabilized IPAs. Phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit of myosin phosphatase (MYPT-1) and of myosin light-chain-20 (MLC20) and translocation of rho-kinase in response to PGF2α were also determined. Nine srcFK were expressed at the mRNA level, including src, fyn, and yes, and PGF2α enhanced phosphorylation of three srcFK proteins at tyr-416. In α-toxin-permeabilized IPAs, PGF2α enhanced the Ca2+-induced contraction (pCa 6.9) approximately three-fold. This enhancement was inhibited by the srcFK blockers SU6656 and PP2 and by the rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632. Y27632, but not SU6656 or PP2, also inhibited the underlying pCa 6.9 contraction. PGF2α enhanced phosphorylation of MYPT-1 at thr-697 and thr-855 and of MLC20 at ser-19. This enhancement, but not the underlying basal phosphorylation, was inhibited by SU6656. Y27632 suppressed both basal and PGF2α-mediated phosphorylation. The effects of SU6656 and Y27632, on both contraction and MYPT-1 and MLC20 phosphorylation, were not additive. PGF2α triggered translocation of rho-kinase in PASMC, and this was inhibited by SU6656. Conclusions srcFK are activated by PGF2α in the rat pulmonary artery and may contribute to Ca2+-sensitization and contraction via rho-kinase translocation and phosphorylation of MYPT-1. PMID:18032393

Bicarbonate-dependent, carbonate radical anion-driven tocopherol-mediated human LDL peroxidation: an in vitro and in vivo study.

PubMed

Lapenna, Domenico; Ciofani, Giuliano; Cuccurullo, Chiara; Neri, Matteo; Giamberardino, Maria Adele; Cuccurullo, Franco

2012-11-01

We have here investigated possible occurrence of bicarbonate-dependent, carbonate radical anion (CO(3)(•-))-driven tocopherol-mediated human LDL peroxidation (TMP) in vitro and in vivo. CO(3)(•-), generated in vitro by the SOD1/H(2)O(2)/bicarbonate system, readily promoted TMP, which was dependent on α-tocopherol and bicarbonate concentrations, and was inhibited by the CO(3)(•-) scavenger ethanol; moreover, TMP induced in vitro by the SOD1/H(2)O(2)/bicarbonate system occurred in the presence of α-tocopherol that typically underwent slow oxidative consumption. In the in vivo clinical setting, we showed that, compared to controls, hypertensive patients with diuretic-induced metabolic alkalosis and heightened blood bicarbonate concentration had lipid hydroperoxide burden and decreased α-tocopherol content in the LDL fraction, with direct significant correlation between the LDL levels of α-tocopherol and those of lipid hydroperoxides; remarkably, after resolution of metabolic alkalosis, together with normalization of blood bicarbonate concentration, the LDL content of lipid hydroperoxides was decreased and that of α-tocopherol augmented significantly. These findings suggest bicarbonate-dependent, CO(3)(•-)-driven LDL TMP in vivo. In conclusion, the present study highlights the occurrence of bicarbonate-dependent, CO(3)(•-)-driven human LDL TMP, the role of which in pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis warrants, however, further investigation.

[Adaptive process in Vietnamese military pilots during the flights on modern Russian aircraft].

PubMed

Ushakov, I V; Pham Xuan, Nihn; Bukhtiaiarov, I V; Ushakov, B N

2013-04-01

Study on health status of 156 Vietnamese military pilots on Russian modern jet planes (Su-22, Su-27, Su-30, MiG-21B). The results showed that unprofitable factors in working environment (acceleration, radiation, high temperature, humidity, noise) have an impact on the health of pilots during the flight, leading to deterioration of professional health and physiological functions (cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous system) and obesity of pilots after 35 years old. Basing on the studies, we suggested some measures for health protecting, safety of flight and prolonging flight-activity of pilots (training in decompression chamber, vestibular training) and balance in food ration for prevention of professional diseases.

Differentially photo-crosslinked polymers enable self-assembling microfluidics

PubMed Central

Jamal, Mustapha; Zarafshar, Aasiyeh M.; Gracias, David H.

2012-01-01

An important feature of naturally self-assembled systems such as leaves and tissues is that they are curved and have embedded fluidic channels that enable the transport of nutrients to, or removal of waste from, specific three-dimensional (3D) regions. Here, we report the self-assembly of photopatterned polymers, and consequently microfluidic devices, into curved geometries. We discovered that differentially photo-crosslinked SU-8 films spontaneously and reversibly curved upon film de-solvation and re-solvation. Photolithographic patterning of the SU-8 films enabled the self-assembly of cylinders, cubes, and bidirectionally folded sheets. We integrated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels with these SU-8 films to self-assemble curved microfluidic networks. PMID:22068594

AIDS is an exception to bus system's offer of lower fares.

PubMed

1997-05-02

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the Metro Link bus system in Rock Island, IL on behalf of [name removed]. The suit claims that the bus system explicitly excludes people with AIDS from a reduced-rate fare program for riders with disabilities. Currently, Metro Link offers a discount to senior citizens or people with disabilities who have documentation. The application for the discount specifically rules out people whose sole disability is AIDS. [Name removed] asked Metro Link to eliminate the exclusion. When the request was refused, the ACLU sued, alleging a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and [name removed]'s constitutional right to equal protection under the law.

EXACT S-MATRICES FOR AdS3/CFT2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Changrim; Bombardelli, Diego

2013-12-01

We propose exact S-matrices for the AdS3/CFT2 duality between type IIB strings on AdS3×S3×M4 with M4 = S3×S1 or T4 and the corresponding two-dimensional conformal field theories. We fix the two-particle S-matrices on the basis of the symmetries su(1|1) and su(1|1)×su(1|1). A crucial justification comes from the derivation of the all-loop Bethe ansatz matching exactly the recent conjecture proposed by Babichenko et al. [J. High Energy Phys.1003, 058 (2010), arXiv:0912.1723 [hep-th

Lagrangian Form of the Self-Dual Equations for SU(N) Gauge Fields on Four-Dimensional Euclidean Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Boyu; Song, Xingchang

1998-04-01

By compactifying the four-dimensional Euclidean space into S2 × S2 manifold and introducing two topological relevant Wess-Zumino terms to Hn ≡ SL(n,c)/SU(n) nonlinear sigma model, we construct a Lagrangian form for SU(n) self-dual Yang-Mills field, from which the self-dual equations follow as the Euler-Lagrange equations. The project supported in part by the NSF Contract No. PHY-81-09110-A-01. One of the authors (X.C. SONG) was supported by a Fung King-Hey Fellowship through the Committee for Educational Exchange with China

[NiFeSe]-hydrogenase chemistry.

PubMed

Wombwell, Claire; Caputo, Christine A; Reisner, Erwin

2015-11-17

The development of technology for the inexpensive generation of the renewable energy vector H2 through water splitting is of immediate economic, ecological, and humanitarian interest. Recent interest in hydrogenases has been fueled by their exceptionally high catalytic rates for H2 production at a marginal overpotential, which is presently only matched by the nonscalable noble metal platinum. The mechanistic understanding of hydrogenase function guides the design of synthetic catalysts, and selection of a suitable hydrogenase enables direct applications in electro- and photocatalysis. [FeFe]-hydrogenases display excellent H2 evolution activity, but they are irreversibly damaged upon exposure to O2, which currently prevents their use in full water splitting systems. O2-tolerant [NiFe]-hydrogenases are known, but they are typically strongly biased toward H2 oxidation, while H2 production by [NiFe]-hydrogenases is often product (H2) inhibited. [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases are a subclass of [NiFe]-hydrogenases with a selenocysteine residue coordinated to the active site nickel center in place of a cysteine. They exhibit a combination of unique properties that are highly advantageous for applications in water splitting compared with other hydrogenases. They display a high H2 evolution rate with marginal inhibition by H2 and tolerance to O2. [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases are therefore one of the most active molecular H2 evolution catalysts applicable in water splitting. Herein, we summarize our recent progress in exploring the unique chemistry of [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases through biomimetic model chemistry and the chemistry with [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases in semiartificial photosynthetic systems. We gain perspective from the structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of the [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases and compare them with the chemistry of synthetic models of this hydrogenase active site. Our synthetic models give insight into the effects on the electronic properties and reactivity of the active site upon the introduction of selenium. We have utilized the exceptional properties of the [NiFeSe]-hydrogenase from Desulfomicrobium baculatum in a number of photocatalytic H2 production schemes, which are benchmark systems in terms of single site activity, tolerance toward O2, and in vitro water splitting with biological molecules. Each system comprises a light-harvesting component, which allows for light-driven electron transfer to the hydrogenase in order for it to catalyze H2 production. A system with [NiFeSe]-hydrogenase on a dye-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticle gives an enzyme-semiconductor hybrid for visible light-driven generation of H2 with an enzyme-based turnover frequency of 50 s(-1). A stable and inexpensive polymeric carbon nitride as a photosensitizer in combination with the [NiFeSe]-hydrogenase shows good activity for more than 2 days. Light-driven H2 evolution with the enzyme and an organic dye under high O2 levels demonstrates the excellent robustness and feasibility of water splitting with a hydrogenase-based scheme. This has led, most recently, to the development of a light-driven full water splitting system with a [NiFeSe]-hydrogenase wired to the water oxidation enzyme photosystem II in a photoelectrochemical cell. In contrast to the other systems, this photoelectrochemical system does not rely on a sacrificial electron donor and allowed us to establish the long sought after light-driven water splitting with an isolated hydrogenase.

An algebraic cluster model based on the harmonic oscillator basis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levai, Geza; Cseh, J.

1995-01-01

We discuss the semimicroscopic algebraic cluster model introduced recently, in which the internal structure of the nuclear clusters is described by the harmonic oscillator shell model, while their relative motion is accounted for by the Vibron model. The algebraic formulation of the model makes extensive use of techniques associated with harmonic oscillators and their symmetry group, SU(3). The model is applied to some cluster systems and is found to reproduce important characteristics of nuclei in the sd-shell region. An approximate SU(3) dynamical symmetry is also found to hold for the C-12 + C-12 system.

Quantum phases of a three-level matter-radiation interaction model using SU(3) coherent states with different cooperation numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quezada, L. F.; Nahmad-Achar, E.

2018-06-01

We use coherent states as trial states for a variational approach to study a system of a finite number of three-level atoms interacting in a dipolar approximation with a one-mode electromagnetic field. The atoms are treated as semidistinguishable using different cooperation numbers and representations of SU(3). We focus our analysis on the quantum phases of the system as well as the behavior of the most relevant observables near the phase transitions. The results are computed for all three possible configurations (Ξ , Λ , and V ) of the three-level atoms.

Averaging in SU(2) open quantum random walk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clement, Ampadu

2014-03-01

We study the average position and the symmetry of the distribution in the SU(2) open quantum random walk (OQRW). We show that the average position in the central limit theorem (CLT) is non-uniform compared with the average position in the non-CLT. The symmetry of distribution is shown to be even in the CLT.

Polar-direct-drive experiments with contoured-shell targets on OMEGA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marshall, F. J.; Radha, P. B.; Bonino, M. J.

Polar-driven direct-drive experiments recently performed on the OMEGA Laser System have demonstrated the efficacy of using a target with a contoured shell with varying thickness to improve the symmetry and fusion performance of the implosion. The polar-driven contoured-shell implosions have substantially reduced low mode perturbations compared to polar-driven spherical-shell implosions as diagnosed by x-ray radiographs up to shell stagnation. As a result, fusion yields were increased by more than a factor of ~2 without increasing the energy of the laser by the use of contoured shells.

Polar-direct-drive experiments with contoured-shell targets on OMEGA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marshall, F. J.; Radha, P. B.; Bonino, M. J.

Polar-driven direct-drive experiments recently performed on the OMEGA Laser System have demonstrated the efficacy of using a target with a contoured shell with varying thickness to improve the symmetry and fusion performance of the implosion. The polar-driven contoured-shell implosions have substantially reduced low mode perturbations compared to polar-driven spherical-shell implosions as diagnosed by x-ray radiographs up to shell stagnation. Fusion yields were increased by more than a factor of ∼2 without increasing the energy of the laser by the use of contoured shells.

Polar-direct-drive experiments with contoured-shell targets on OMEGA

DOE PAGES

Marshall, F. J.; Radha, P. B.; Bonino, M. J.; ...

2016-01-28

Polar-driven direct-drive experiments recently performed on the OMEGA Laser System have demonstrated the efficacy of using a target with a contoured shell with varying thickness to improve the symmetry and fusion performance of the implosion. The polar-driven contoured-shell implosions have substantially reduced low mode perturbations compared to polar-driven spherical-shell implosions as diagnosed by x-ray radiographs up to shell stagnation. As a result, fusion yields were increased by more than a factor of ~2 without increasing the energy of the laser by the use of contoured shells.

Matrix product states for su(2) invariant quantum spin chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadourian, Rubina; Fledderjohann, Andreas; Klümper, Andreas

2016-08-01

A systematic and compact treatment of arbitrary su(2) invariant spin-s quantum chains with nearest-neighbour interactions is presented. The ground-state is derived in terms of matrix product states (MPS). The fundamental MPS calculations consist of taking products of basic tensors of rank 3 and contractions thereof. The algebraic su(2) calculations are carried out completely by making use of Wigner calculus. As an example of application, the spin-1 bilinear-biquadratic quantum chain is investigated. Various physical quantities are calculated with high numerical accuracy of up to 8 digits. We obtain explicit results for the ground-state energy, entanglement entropy, singlet operator correlations and the string order parameter. We find an interesting crossover phenomenon in the correlation lengths.

1-Bromoethene-1-sulfonyl fluoride (BESF) is another good connective hub for SuFEx click chemistry.

PubMed

Smedley, Christopher J; Giel, Marie-Claire; Molino, Andrew; Barrow, Andrew S; Wilson, David J D; Moses, John E

2018-05-25

We demonstrate 1,2-dibromoethane-1-sulfonyl fluoride (DESF) as a bench-stable and readily accessible precursor to the robust SuFEx connector, 1-bromoethene-1-sulfonyl fluoride (BESF). The in situ generation of BESF from DESF opens up several new reaction profiles, including application in the syntheses of unprecedented 3-substituted isoxazole-5-sulfonyl fluorides, 1-substituted-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-sulfonyl fluorides, 2-amino-1-bromoethane-1-sulfonyl fluorides and 4-bromo-β-sultams in good to excellent yields. These new modules comprise a pendant sulfonyl fluoride handle, which further undergoes facile and selective SuFEx reactions with a selection of aryl silyl ethers to generate stable and useful sulfonate connections.

Bases for qudits from a nonstandard approach to SU(2)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kibler, M. R., E-mail: kibler@ipnl.in2p3.fr

2011-06-15

Bases of finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces (in dimension d) of relevance for quantum information and quantum computation are constructed from angular momentum theory and su(2) Lie algebraic methods. We report on a formula for deriving in one step the (1 + p)p qupits (i.e., qudits with d = p a prime integer) of a complete set of 1 + p mutually unbiased bases in C{sup p}. Repeated application of the formula can be used for generating mutually unbiased bases in C{sup d} with d = p{sup e} (e {>=} 2) a power of a prime integer. A connection between mutually unbiasedmore » bases and the unitary group SU(d) is briefly discussed in the case d = p{sup e}.« less

Effect of claw disorders on milk production, fertility, and longevity, and their economic impact in Spanish Holstein cows.

PubMed

Charfeddine, N; Pérez-Cabal, M A

2017-01-01

The aims of this study were (1) to estimate the phenotypic association between different degrees of severity of claw disorders and production, fertility performance, and longevity in Spanish dairy cattle, and (2) to quantify its economic impact at the animal and herd level. In this study, claw data comprised 108,468 trimmings collected between 2012 and 2014 by 25 trimmers from 804 Holstein dairy herds. The claw disorders considered were the 3 most frequent disorders in Spanish dairy herds: dermatitis (DE), sole ulcer (SU), and white line disease (WL). The presence of SU or WL was associated with a significant decrease in milk production and was more important in cows in second or later lactations. A severe lesion of SU or WL lead to twice the milk losses associated with a mild lesion, ranging from 1.47 to 2.66kg/d of energy-corrected milk. The presence of SU or WL during the early lactation period was associated with more days open, fewer inseminations to get pregnant, and longer calving to first service interval (4.83 and 8.0 d longer due to mild and severe lesions of SU, respectively, and 4.94 and 17.43 d longer due to mild and severe lesions of WL, respectively). The occurrence of a case of SU or WL in first lactation had a significant effect on longevity, with severe lesions reducing up to 71 d of productive life. The cost of a mild lesion ranged from $53 to $232 per affected cow and year, whereas the cost of a severe lesion ranged from $402 to $622 per affected cow and year. The annual costs per cow for DE, SU, and WL were $10.80, $50.9, and $43.2, respectively. An average herd with 64 cows had an extra expenditure of $691/yr due to DE, $3,256/yr due to SU, and $2,765/year due to WL. Milk losses, longer calving intervals, and premature culling contributed to more than half of the costs. Therefore, providing this information to farmers could help decide on strategies to reduce the incidence of claw disorders on the farm. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Use of geological mapping tools to improve the hydraulic performance of SuDS.

PubMed

Bockhorn, Britta; Klint, Knud Erik Strøyberg; Jensen, Marina Bergen; Møller, Ingelise

2015-01-01

Most cities in Denmark are situated on low permeable clay rich deposits. These sediments are of glacial origin and range among the most heterogeneous, with hydraulic conductivities spanning several orders of magnitude. This heterogeneity has obvious consequences for the sizing of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS). We have tested methods to reveal geological heterogeneity at field scale to identify the most suitable sites for the placement of infiltration elements and to minimize their required size. We assessed the geological heterogeneity of a clay till plain in Eastern Jutland, Denmark measuring the shallow subsurface resistivity with a geoelectrical multi-electrode system. To confirm the resistivity data we conducted a spear auger mapping. The exposed sediments ranged from clay tills over sandy clay tills to sandy tills and correspond well to the geoelectrical data. To verify the value of geological information for placement of infiltration elements we carried out a number of infiltration tests on geologically different areas across the field, and we observed infiltration rates two times higher in the sandy till area than in the clay till area, thus demonstrating that the hydraulic performance of SuDS can be increased considerably and oversizing avoided if field geological heterogeneity is revealed before placing SuDS.

Modelling a demand driven biogas system for production of electricity at peak demand and for production of biomethane at other times.

PubMed

O'Shea, R; Wall, D; Murphy, J D

2016-09-01

Four feedstocks were assessed for use in a demand driven biogas system. Biomethane potential (BMP) assays were conducted for grass silage, food waste, Laminaria digitata and dairy cow slurry. Semi-continuous trials were undertaken for all feedstocks, assessing biogas and biomethane production. Three kinetic models of the semi-continuous trials were compared. A first order model most accurately correlated with gas production in the pulse fed semi-continuous system. This model was developed for production of electricity on demand, and biomethane upgrading. The model examined a theoretical grass silage digester that would produce 435kWe in a continuous fed system. Adaptation to demand driven biogas required 187min to produce sufficient methane to run a 2MWe combined heat and power (CHP) unit for 60min. The upgrading system was dispatched 71min following CHP shutdown. Of the biogas produced 21% was used in the CHP and 79% was used in the upgrading system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Large-area landslide susceptibility with optimized slope-units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvioli, Massimiliano; Marchesini, Ivan; Reichenbach, Paola; Rossi, Mauro; Ardizzone, Francesca; Fiorucci, Federica; Guzzetti, Fausto

2017-04-01

A Slope-Unit (SU) is a type of morphological terrain unit bounded by drainage and divide lines that maximize the within-unit homogeneity and the between-unit heterogeneity across distinct physical and geographical boundaries [1]. Compared to other terrain subdivisions, SU are morphological terrain unit well related to the natural (i.e., geological, geomorphological, hydrological) processes that shape and characterize natural slopes. This makes SU easily recognizable in the field or in topographic base maps, and well suited for environmental and geomorphological analysis, in particular for landslide susceptibility (LS) modelling. An optimal subdivision of an area into a set of SU depends on multiple factors: size and complexity of the study area, quality and resolution of the available terrain elevation data, purpose of the terrain subdivision, scale and resolution of the phenomena for which SU are delineated. We use the recently developed r.slopeunits software [2,3] for the automatic, parametric delineation of SU within the open source GRASS GIS based on terrain elevation data and a small number of user-defined parameters. The software provides subdivisions consisting of SU with different shapes and sizes, as a function of the input parameters. In this work, we describe a procedure for the optimal selection of the user parameters through the production of a large number of realizations of the LS model. We tested the software and the optimization procedure in a 2,000 km2 area in Umbria, Central Italy. For LS zonation we adopt a logistic regression model implemented in an well-known software [4,5], using about 50 independent variables. To select the optimal SU partition for LS zonation, we want to define a metric which is able to quantify simultaneously: (i) slope-unit internal homogeneity (ii) slope-unit external heterogeneity (iii) landslide susceptibility model performance. To this end, we define a comprehensive objective function S, as the product of three normalized objective functions dealing with the points (i)-(ii)-(iii) independently. We use an intra-segment variance function V, the Moran's autocorrelation index I and the AUCROC function R arising from the application of the logistic regression model. Maximization of the objective function S = f(I,V,R) as a function of the r.slopeunits input parameters provides an objective and reproducible way to select the optimal parameter combination for a proper SU subdivision for LS modelling. We further perform an analysis of the statistical significance of the LS models as a function of the r.slopeunits input parameters, focusing on the degree of coarseness of each subdivision. We find that the LRM, when applied to subdivisions with large average SU size, has a very poor statistical significance, resulting in only few (5%, typically lithological) variables being used in the regression due to the large heterogeneity of all variables within each unit, while up to 35% of the variables are used when SU are very small. This behavior was largely expected and provides further evidence that an objective method to select SU size is highly desirable. [1] Guzzetti, F. et al., Geomorphology 31, (1999) 181-216 [2] Alvioli, M. et al., Geoscientific Model Development 9 (2016), 3975-3991 [3] http://geomorphology.irpi.cnr.it/tools/slope-units [4] Rossi, M. et al., Geomorphology 114, (2010) 129-142 [5] Rossi, M. and Reichenbach, P., Geoscientific Model Development 9 (2016), 3533-3543

Achieving Simultaneous CO2 and H2 S Conversion via a Coupled Solar-Driven Electrochemical Approach on Non-Precious-Metal Catalysts.

PubMed

Ma, Weiguang; Wang, Hong; Yu, Wei; Wang, Xiaomei; Xu, Zhiqiang; Zong, Xu; Li, Can

2018-03-19

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) are generally concomitant with methane (CH 4 ) in natural gas and traditionally deemed useless or even harmful. Developing strategies that can simultaneously convert both CO 2 and H 2 S into value-added products is attractive; however it has not received enough attention. A solar-driven electrochemical process is demonstrated using graphene-encapsulated zinc oxide catalyst for CO 2 reduction and graphene catalyst for H 2 S oxidation mediated by EDTA-Fe 2+ /EDTA-Fe 3+ redox couples. The as-prepared solar-driven electrochemical system can realize the simultaneous conversion of CO 2 and H 2 S into carbon monoxide and elemental sulfur at near neutral conditions with high stability and selectivity. This conceptually provides an alternative avenue for the purification of natural gas with added economic and environmental benefits. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Diagnostic value of decoy receptor 3 combined with procalcitonin and soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor for sepsis.

PubMed

Zhao, Jing-Jing; Lou, Xiao-Li; Chen, Hong-Wei; Zhu, Feng-Ting; Hou, Yan-Qiang

2018-01-01

The levels of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), soluble urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and procalcitonin (PCT) are significantly increased in sepsis. We investigated the diagnostic value of DcR3 combined with suPAR and PCT in sepsis. Patients with sepsis, non-infectious systemic inflammatory response comprehensive syndrome (SIRS) and healthy controls were recruited according to the diagnostic standard. We measured DcR3, suPAR, PCT, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and the diagnostic value was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. In our analysis, serum DcR3, suPAR and PCT levels of the sepsis group were significantly higher than those of the SIRS and control groups. However, IL-6, CRP and WBC showed no significant difference between the SIRS group and the sepsis group. The serum DcR3 level was positively correlated with the serum suPAR level ( r  = 0.37, p  = 0.0022) and PCT level ( r  = 0.37, p  = 0.0021). Using DcR3, suPAR and PCT to distinguish SIRS from sepsis, the area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.892, 0.778 and 0.692. When DcR3, suPAR and PCT combined were used for diagnosis of sepsis, the AUC was 0.933, at a cut-off point of 0.342. This combination improved the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of sepsis, suggesting that use of the combination of three indexes enhanced the efficiency of sepsis diagnosis.

A Balancing Act.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bilal, Dania; Barry, Jeff; Penniman, W. David

1999-01-01

Reviews automated-systems activities in libraries during the past year and profiles major vendors. Topics include new partnership arrangements driven by competition; library-systems revenues; Y2K issues; Windows-based interfaces; consulting; outsourcing; development trends; global system sales; and sales by type of library. (LRW)

Apical extrusion of intracanal bacteria following use of two engine-driven instrumentation techniques.

PubMed

Er, K; Sümer, Z; Akpinar, K E

2005-12-01

To evaluate the number of bacteria extruded apically from extracted teeth ex vivo after canal instrumentation using the two engine-driven techniques utilizing nickel-titanium instruments (ProTaper and System GT). Forty extracted single-rooted human mandibular premolar teeth were used. Access cavities were prepared and root canals were then contaminated with a suspension of Enterococcus faecalis and dried. The contaminated roots were divided into two experimental groups of 15 teeth each and one control group of 10 teeth. Group 1, ProTaper group: the root canals were instrumented using ProTaper instruments. Group 2, System GT group: the root canals were instrumented using System GT instruments. Group 3, control group: no instrumentation was attempted. Bacteria extruded from the apical foramen during instrumentation were collected into vials. The microbiological samples from the vials were incubated in culture media for 24 h. Colonies of bacteria were counted and the results were given as number of colony-forming units. The data obtained were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney U-tests, with alpha = 0.05 as the level for statistical significance. There was no significant difference as to the number of extruded bacteria between the ProTaper and System GT engine-driven systems (P > 0.05). Both engine-driven nickel-titanium systems extruded bacteria through the apical foramen.

Order of multiphoton excitation of sulfonium photo-acid generators used in photoresists based on SU-8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Henry E.; Diaz, Carlos; Padilla, Gabriel; Hernandez, Florencio E.; Kuebler, Stephen M.

2017-06-01

Multiphoton lithography (MPL), Z-scan spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations were employed to investigate the order of multiphoton excitation that occurs when femtosecond laser pulses are used to excite two sulfonium photo-acid generators (PAGs) commonly used in photoresists based on the cross-linkable epoxide SU-8. The mole-fractions of the mono- and bis-sulfonium forms of these PAGs were determined for the commercially available photoresist SU-8 2075 and for the PAGs alone from a separate source. Both were found to contain similar fractions of the mono- and bis-forms, with the mono form present in the majority. Reichert's method was used to determine the solvatochromic strength of the SU-8 matrix, so that results obtained for the PAGs in SU-8 and in solution could be reliably compared. The PAGs were found to exhibit a minimal solvatochromic shift for a series of solvents that span across the solvatochromic strength of SU-8 itself. Sub-micron-sized features were fabricated in SU-8 2075 by MPL using amplified and continuous-wave mode-locked laser pulses. Analysis of the features as a function of average laser power, scan speed, and excitation wavelength shows that the PAGs can be activated by both two- and three-photon absorption (2PA and 3PA). Which activation mode dominates depends principally upon the excitation wavelength because the average laser powers that can be used with the photoresist are limited by practical considerations. The power must be high enough to effect sufficient cross-linking, yet not so high as to exceed the damage threshold of the material. When the laser pulses have a duration on the order of 100 fs, 3PA dominates at wavelengths near 800 nm, whereas 2PA becomes dominant at wavelengths below 700 nm. These findings are corroborated by open-aperture Z-scan measurements and quantum chemical calculations of the cross-sections for 2PA and 3PA as a function of wavelength.

Single residues in the surface subunits of oncogenic sheep retrovirus envelopes distinguish receptor-mediated triggering for fusion at low pH and infection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cote, Marceline; Zheng, Yi-Min; Albritton, Lorraine M.

2011-12-20

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV) are two closely related oncogenic retroviruses that share the same cellular receptor yet exhibit distinct fusogenicity and infectivity. Here, we find that the low fusogenicity of ENTV envelope protein (Env) is not because of receptor binding, but lies in its intrinsic insensitivity to receptor-mediated triggering for fusion at low pH. Distinct from JSRV, shedding of ENTV surface (SU) subunit into culture medium was not enhanced by a soluble form of receptor, Hyal2 (sHyal2), and sHyal2 was unable to effectively inactivate the ENTV pseudovirions. Remarkably, replacing either of the two aminomore » acid residues, N191 or S195, located in the ENTV SU with the corresponding JSRV residues, H191 or G195, markedly increased the Env-mediated membrane fusion activity and infection. Reciprocal amino acid substitutions also partly switched the sensitivities of ENTV and JSRV pseudovirions to sHyal2-mediated SU shedding and inactivation. While N191 is responsible for an extra N-linked glycosylation of ENTV SU relative to that of JSRV, S195 possibly forms a hydrogen bond with a surrounding amino acid residue. Molecular modeling of the pre-fusion structure of JSRV Env predicts that the segment of SU that contains H191 to G195 contacts the fusion peptide and suggests that the H191N and G195S changes seen in ENTV may stabilize its pre-fusion structure against receptor priming and therefore modulate fusion activation by Hyal2. In summary, our study reveals critical determinants in the SU subunits of JSRV and ENTV Env proteins that likely regulate their local structures and thereby differential receptor-mediated fusion activation at low pH, and these findings explain, at least in part, their distinct viral infectivity.« less

Antibacterial Effects of Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Its Derivatives on Staphylococcus aureus

PubMed Central

Oyama, Kentaro; Kawada-Matsuo, Miki; Oogai, Yuichi; Hayashi, Tetsuya; Nakamura, Norifumi; Komatsuzawa, Hitoshi

2016-01-01

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen in humans and causes serious problems due to antibiotic resistance. We investigated the antimicrobial effect of glycyrrhetinic acid (GRA) and its derivatives against 50 clinical S. aureus strains, including 18 methicillin-resistant strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of GRA, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, disodium succinoyl glycyrrhetinate (GR-SU), stearyl glycyrrhetinate and glycyrrhetinyl stearate were evaluated against various S. aureus strains. Additionally, we investigated the bactericidal effects of GRA and GR-SU against two specific S. aureus strains. DNA microarray analysis was also performed to clarify the mechanism underlying the antibacterial activity of GR-SU. We detected the antimicrobial activities of five agents against S. aureus strains. GRA and GR-SU showed strong antibacterial activities compared to the other three agents tested. At a higher concentration (above 2x MIC), GRA and GR-SU showed bactericidal activity, whereas at a concentration of 1x MIC, they showed a bacteriostatic effect. Additionally, GRA and GR-SU exhibited a synergistic effect with gentamicin. The expression of a large number of genes (including transporters) and metabolic factors (carbohydrates and amino acids) was altered by the addition of GR-SU, suggesting that the inhibition of these metabolic processes may influence the degree of the requirement for carbohydrates or amino acids. In fact, the requirement for carbohydrates or amino acids was increased in the presence of either GRA or GR-SU. GRA and GR-SU exhibited strong antibacterial activity against several S. aureus strains, including MRSA. This activity may be partly due to the inhibition of several pathways involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. PMID:27820854

Efficacy of an adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine in older adults.

PubMed

Lal, Himal; Cunningham, Anthony L; Godeaux, Olivier; Chlibek, Roman; Diez-Domingo, Javier; Hwang, Shinn-Jang; Levin, Myron J; McElhaney, Janet E; Poder, Airi; Puig-Barberà, Joan; Vesikari, Timo; Watanabe, Daisuke; Weckx, Lily; Zahaf, Toufik; Heineman, Thomas C

2015-05-28

In previous phase 1-2 clinical trials involving older adults, a subunit vaccine containing varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E and the AS01B adjuvant system (called HZ/su) had a clinically acceptable safety profile and elicited a robust immune response. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study in 18 countries to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HZ/su in older adults (≥50 years of age), stratified according to age group (50 to 59, 60 to 69, and ≥70 years). Participants received two intramuscular doses of the vaccine or placebo 2 months apart. The primary objective was to assess the efficacy of the vaccine, as compared with placebo, in reducing the risk of herpes zoster in older adults. A total of 15,411 participants who could be evaluated received either the vaccine (7698 participants) or placebo (7713 participants). During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, herpes zoster was confirmed in 6 participants in the vaccine group and in 210 participants in the placebo group (incidence rate, 0.3 vs. 9.1 per 1000 person-years) in the modified vaccinated cohort. Overall vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster was 97.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 93.7 to 99.0; P<0.001). Vaccine efficacy was between 96.6% and 97.9% for all age groups. Solicited reports of injection-site and systemic reactions within 7 days after vaccination were more frequent in the vaccine group. There were solicited or unsolicited reports of grade 3 symptoms in 17.0% of vaccine recipients and 3.2% of placebo recipients. The proportions of participants who had serious adverse events or potential immune-mediated diseases or who died were similar in the two groups. The HZ/su vaccine significantly reduced the risk of herpes zoster in adults who were 50 years of age or older. Vaccine efficacy in adults who were 70 years of age or older was similar to that in the other two age groups. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals; ZOE-50 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01165177.).

Magic bases, metric ansaetze and generalized graph theories in the Virasoro master equation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Halpern, M.B.; Obers, N.A.

1991-11-15

The authors define a class of magic Lie group bases in which the Virasoro master equation admits a class of simple metric ansaetze (g{sub metric}), whose structure is visible in the high-level expansion. When a magic basis is real on compact g, the corresponding g{sub metric} is a large system of unitary, generically irrational conformal field theories. Examples in this class include the graph-theory ansatz SO(n){sub diag} in the Cartesian basis of So(n) and the ansatz SU(n){sub metric} in the Pauli-like basis of SU(n). A new phenomenon is observed in the high-level comparison of SU(n){sub metric}: Due to the trigonometricmore » structure constants of the Pauli-like basis, irrational central charge is clearly visible at finite order of the expansion. They also define the sine-area graphs of SU(n), which label the conformal field theories of SU(n){sub metric} and note that, in a similar fashion, each magic basis of g defines a generalize graph theory on g which labels the conformal field theories of g{sub metric}.« less

A Genetic Analysis of the Suppressor 2 of Zeste Complex of Drosophila Melanogaster

PubMed Central

Wu, C. T.; Howe, M.

1995-01-01

The zeste(1) (z(1)) mutation of Drosophila melanogaster produces a mutant yellow eye color instead of the wild-type red. Genetic and molecular data suggest that z(1) achieves this change by altering expression of the wild-type white gene in a manner that exhibits transvection effects. There exist suppressor and enhancer mutations that modify the z(1) eye color, and this paper summarizes our studies of those belonging to the Suppressor 2 of zeste complex [Su(z)2-C]. The Su(z)2-C consists of at least three subregions called Psc (Posterior sex combs), Su(z)2 and Su(z)2D (Distal). The products of these subregions are proposed to act at the level of chromatin. Complementation analyses predict that the products are functionally similar and interacting. The alleles of Psc define two overlapping phenotypic classes, the hopeful and hapless. The distinctions between these two classes and the intragenic complementation seen among some of the Psc alleles are consistent with a multidomain structure for the product of Psc. Psc is a member of the homeotic Polycomb group of genes. A general discussion of the Polycomb and trithorax group of genes, position-effect variegation, transvection, chromosome pairing and chromatin structure is presented. PMID:7635282

Laws of trigonometry on SU(3)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aslaksen, H.

1988-01-01

In this paper we will study triangles in SU(3). The orbit space of congruence classes of triangles in SU(3) has dimension 8. Each corner is made up of a pair of tangent vectors (X,Y), and we consider the 8 functions trX{sup 2}, i trX{sup 3}, trY{sup 2}, i trY{sup 3}, trXY, i trY{sup 2}Y, i trXY{sup 2}, trX{sup 2}Y{sup 2} which are invariant under the full isometry group of SU(3). We show that these 8 corner invariants determine the isometry class of the triangle. We give relations (laws of trigonometry) between the invariants at the different corners, enabling us tomore » determine the invariants at the remaining corners, including the values of the remaining side and angles, if we know one set of corner invariants. The invariants that only depend on one tangent vector we will call side invariants, while those that depend on two tangent vectors will be called angular invariants. For each triangle we then have 6 side invariants and 12 angular invariants. Hence we need 18 {minus} 8 = 10 laws of trigonometry. The basic tool for deriving these laws is a formula expressing tr(exp X exp Y) in terms of the corner invariants.« less

Oxidative degradation and toxicity reduction of trichloroethylene (TCE) in water using TiO2/solar light: comparative study of TiO2 slurry and immobilized systems.

PubMed

Cho, Il-Hyoung; Park, Jae-Hong; Kim, Young-Gyu

2005-01-01

A solar-driven, photocatalyzed degradation system using TiO2 slurry and immobilized systems was constructed and applied to the degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated water using TiO2 with solar light. The experiments were carried out under constant weather conditions on a sunny day. Solar photocatalytic treatment efficiency of the solar light/TiO2 slurry system was compared with that of the solar light/TiO2 immobilized system. The operation of the solar light/TiO2 slurry and immobilized systems showed 100% (TiO2 slurry system), 80% (TiO2 immobilized system) degradation of the TCE after 6 h, with a chloride production yield of approximately 89% (TiO2 slurry system), 72% (TiO2 immobilized system). The oxidants such as H2O2 and S2O8(2-) in the TiO2 slurry and immobilized systems increased TCE degradation rate by suppressing the electron/hole recombination process. The degradation rate and relative toxicity reduction of TCE followed the order of solar light/TiO2 slurry + S2O8(2-) > solar light/TiO2 slurry + H2O2 > solar light/TiO2 immobilized + S2O8(2-) > solar light/TiO2 slurry > solar light/TiO2 immobilized + H2O2 > solar light/TiO2 immobilized. Finally, following to the toxicity result, the acute toxicity was reduced by below toxicity endpoint (EC50 concentration) following the treatment. It means that many of the metabolites of TCE reduction are less toxic to Vibrio fischeri than the parent compound. Based on these results, TCE can be efficiently and safely treated in a solar-driven, photocatalyzed degradation system.

34. SAR2, WATERDRIVEN EXCITERS. SCE negative no. 10329, November 1, ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

34. SAR-2, WATER-DRIVEN EXCITERS. SCE negative no. 10329, November 1, 1923. Photograph by G. Haven Bishop. - Santa Ana River Hydroelectric System, SAR-2 Powerhouse, Redlands, San Bernardino County, CA

Universal quantum computation with metaplectic anyons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cui, Shawn X., E-mail: xingshan@math.ucsb.edu; Wang, Zhenghan, E-mail: zhenghwa@math.ucsb.edu, E-mail: zhenghwa@microsoft.com; Microsoft Research Station Q, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106

2015-03-15

We show that braidings of the metaplectic anyons X{sub ϵ} in SO(3){sub 2} = SU(2){sub 4} with their total charge equal to the metaplectic mode Y supplemented with projective measurements of the total charge of two metaplectic anyons are universal for quantum computation. We conjecture that similar universal anyonic computing models can be constructed for all metaplectic anyon systems SO(p){sub 2} for any odd prime p ≥ 5. In order to prove universality, we find new conceptually appealing universal gate sets for qutrits and qupits.

Novel Non-Intrusive Trans-Dermal Remote Wireless Micro-Fluidic Monitoring System Applied to Continuous Glucose and Lactate Assays for Casualty Care and Combat Readiness Assessment

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-09-01

identification of the lettered features. 2.2 BFIT Sampling Chip The BFIT sampling chip is a flexible patch-like chip with a multilayer polymeric metal...PPy) and glucose oxidase (GOD). The BFIT fabrication process uses SU8 as a principal structural material consisting of five steps (Figure 2). This...process is a subset of an earlier technology developed for the polymer material PDMS.11,12,13,14,15 The first step was the deposition of a Teflon

Comparison of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid Molecular Weights and Homologies of Plasmids Conferring Linked Resistance to Streptomycin and Sulfonamides

PubMed Central

Barth, Peter T.; Grinter, Nigel J.

1974-01-01

Bacterial strains showing linked resistance to streptomycin (Sm) and sulfonamides (Su) were chosen representing a wide taxonomic and geographical range. Their SmSu resistances were transferred to Escherichia coli K-12 and then plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated by ethidium bromide CsCl centrifugation. The plasmid DNA was examined by electron microscopy and analyzed by sedimentation through 5 to 20% neutral sucrose gradients. Plasmid DNA from strains having transmissible SmSu resistance consisted of two or three molecular species, one of which had a molecular mass of about 5.7 Mdal (106 daltons), the others varying between 20 to 60 Mdal. By using transformation or F′ mobilization, we isolated the SmSu-resistance determinant from any fellow resident plasmids in each strain and again isolated the plasmid DNA. Cosedimentation of each of these with a differently labeled reference plasmid DNA (R300B) showed 9 out of 12 of the plasmids to have a molecular mass not significantly different from the reference (5.7 Mdal); two others were 6.3 and 9.2 Mdal, but PB165 consisted of three plasmids of 7.4, 14.7, and 21.4 Mdal. Three separate isolations of the SmSu determinant from PB165 gave the same three plasmids, which we conclude may be monomer, dimer, and trimer, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridizations at 75 C demonstrated 80 to 93% homology between reference R300B DNA and each isolated SmSu plasmid DNA, except for the 9.2-Mdal plasmid which had 45% homology and PB165 which had 35%. All the SmSu plasmids were present as multiple copies (about 10) per chromosome. The conjugative plasmid of R300 (present as 1.3 copies per chromosome) has been shown to have negligible effect on the number of copies of its accompanying SmSu plasmid R300B. We conclude that the SmSu plasmids are closely related and probably have a common evolutionary origin. Images PMID:4616941

Performance of small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of central Mexico during the dry season under traditional feeding strategies.

PubMed

Martínez-García, Carlos Galdino; Rayas-Amor, Adolfo Armando; Anaya-Ortega, Juan Pablo; Martínez-Castañeda, Francisco Ernesto; Espinoza-Ortega, Angélica; Prospero-Bernal, Fernando; Arriaga-Jordán, Carlos Manuel

2015-02-01

In Mexico, small-scale dairy systems (SSDS) represent over 78 % of dairy farms and contribute with 37 % of national milk production; however, they face high feeding costs. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of SSDS during the dry season in terms of milk yields, milk composition and feeding costs under traditional feeding strategies, to identify areas of opportunity for improving their profitability. The information was collected from 22 SSDS every month during dry season. Feeds were classified in quality forages (QF), supplements (SU) and straws (ST). Two factors were identified: factor 1-a positive relationship among QF, SU, milk yield and ration cost and factor 2-represented straw usage. Four feeding strategies were identified: (1) low-cost feeding strategy; (2) home-grown feeding strategy; (3) high-cost feeding strategy; and (4) straw-based feeding strategy. There were differences (P < 0.001) among feeding strategies for QF, SU, ST, total dry matter offered (TDMO), ration cost (RC), external inputs, home-grown inputs and milk yield. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences among feeding strategies for fat and protein contents in milk. It is concluded that to improve performance and profitability and enhance sustainability in SSDS, farmers should base feeding strategies on home-grown quality forages, as it was the case in group 2 which showed lower feeding cost and better milk yield. It is also recommended to increase the inclusion of quality forages like grazing pastures and maize silages during the dry season and to avoid the inclusion of straws.

Cost-effectiveness of the Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Subunit Vaccine in Older Adults.

PubMed

Le, Phuc; Rothberg, Michael B

2018-02-01

The live attenuated herpes zoster vaccine (ZVL) is recommended for immunocompetent adults 60 years or older, but the efficacy wanes with age and over time. A new adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su) has higher efficacy but might be more expensive. The choice of vaccines depends on their relative values. To assess the cost-effectiveness of HZ/su. Markov decision model with transition probabilities based on the US medical literature. Participants were immunocompetent adults 60 years or older. Data were derived from participant groups ranging in number from less than 100 to more than 30 000 depending on the variable assessed. The study dates were July 1 to 31, 2017. No vaccination, ZVL (single dose), and HZ/su (2-dose series) vaccine administered at different ages. Total costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated. Based on randomized clinical trial data, at a price of $280 per series ($140 per dose), HZ/su was more effective and less expensive than ZVL at all ages. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios compared with no vaccination ranged from $20 038 to $30 084 per QALY, depending on vaccination age. The finding was insensitive to variations in most model inputs other than the vaccine price and certain combinations of low adherence rate with a second dose and low efficacy of a single dose of HZ/su. At the current ZVL price ($213 per dose), HZ/su had lower overall costs than ZVL up to a price of $350 per 2-dose series. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, HZ/su had 73% probability of being cost-effective for 60-year-olds at $50 000 per QALY. Under conservative assumptions, at a price of $280 per series ($140 per dose), HZ/su would cost less than ZVL and has a high probability of offering good value.

Bond strength of primer/cement systems to zirconia subjected to artificial aging.

PubMed

Zhao, Li; Jian, Yu-Tao; Wang, Xiao-Dong; Zhao, Ke

2016-11-01

Creating reliable and durable adhesion to the nonactive zirconia surface is difficult and has limited zirconia use. The introduction of functional monomers such as 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) appears to have enhanced bond strength to zirconia. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the long-term bond strength of several MDP-containing primer/cement systems to zirconia. Zirconia blocks were divided into 6 groups (n=24) according to the 3 primers/cements to be bonded, as follows: Scotchbond Universal/RelyX Ultimate (SU/RU; consisting of MDP-containing primer/MDP-free cement); Clearfil ceramic primer/Panavia F (CCP/PAN; consisting ofMDP-containing/MDP-containing); and Z-Prime Plus/Duo-Link (ZP/DUO; consisting ofMDP-containing/MDP-free), which were compared with 3 nonprimed groups, RU, PAN, and DUO. After bonding, each group was further divided into 3 subgroups (n=8) according to the level of aging: 24-hour storage in water at 37°C (24H); 30-day storage at 37°C (30D); and 30-day storage at 37°C followed by 3000 thermal cycles (30D/TC). After aging, a shear bond strength test and failure mode analysis were performed. The data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA (α=.05). After aging, nearly all primer/cement groups presented significantly higher bond strength than the related nonprimed groups for each level of aging (P<.05), except for CCP/PAN versus PAN with 24H (P=.741). SU/RU had the highest bond strength among the groups for all treatments (P<.05), except for CCP/PAN versus SU/RU with 30D/TC (P=.171). Among the nonprimed groups, only RU went through 30D/TC without premature debonding. With 24H and 30D, the failure modes in SU/RU and CCP/PAN were purely mixed, whereas those in the other groups were mainly adhesive, except for RU. The superiority of the initial bond strength in SU/RU may result from some functional components other than MDP. The presence of MDP in the cement did not appear to have a positive effect on long-term bond strength to zirconia. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The construction of ``realistic'' four-dimensional strings through orbifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Font, A.; Ibáñez, L. E.; Quevedo, F.; Sierra, A.

1990-02-01

We discuss the construction of "realistic" lower rank 4-dimensional strings, through symmetric orbifolds with background fields. We present Z 3 three-generation SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) models as well as models incorporating a left-right SU(2) L × SU(2) R × U(1) B-L symmetry in which proton stability is automatically guaranteed. Conformal field theory selection rules are used to find the flat directions to all orders which lead to these low-rank models and to study the relevant Yukawa couplings. A hierarchical structure of quark-lepton masses appears naturally in some models. We also present a detailed study of the structure of the Z 3 × Z 3 orbifold including the generalized GSO projection, the effect of discrete torsion and the conformal field theory Yukawa coupling selection rules. All these points are illustrated with a three-generation Z 3 × Z 3 model. We have made an effort to write a self-contained presentation in order to make this material available to non-string experts interested in the phenomenological aspects of this theory.

A low-energy compatible SU(4)-type model for vector leptoquarks of mass ≤ 1 TeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blumhofer, A.; Lampe, B.

1999-02-01

The Standard Model is extended by a SU(2)_L singlet of vector leptoquarks. An additional SU(4) gauge symmetry between right-handed up quarks and right-handed leptons is introduced to render the model renormalizable. The arrangement is made in such a way that no conflict with low energy restrictions is encountered. The SU(2)_L singlet mediates interactions between the right-handed leptons and up type quarks for which only moderate low energy restrictions M_{LQ}/g_{LQ} > few hundred GeV exist. However, it is not a candidate to explain the anomalous HERA data at large Q^2 because theoretical reasons imply that g_{LQ} ≥ g_s which would give a much stronger anomalous HERA effect. We furthermore argue that the inequality g_{LQ} ≥ g_s is a general feature of consistent vector leptoquark models. Although our model is not relevant for HERA, it is interesting per se as a description of leptoquarks of mass ≤ 1 TeV consistent with all low-energy requirements.

Accommodation Responds to Optical Vergence and Not Defocus Blur Alone.

PubMed

Del Águila-Carrasco, Antonio J; Marín-Franch, Iván; Bernal-Molina, Paula; Esteve-Taboada, José J; Kruger, Philip B; Montés-Micó, Robert; López-Gil, Norberto

2017-03-01

To determine whether changes in wavefront spherical curvature (optical vergence) are a directional cue for accommodation. Nine subjects participated in this experiment. The accommodation response to a monochromatic target was measured continuously with a custom-made adaptive optics system while astigmatism and higher-order aberrations were corrected in real time. There were two experimental open-loop conditions: vergence-driven condition, where the deformable mirror provided sinusoidal changes in defocus at the retina between -1 and +1 diopters (D) at 0.2 Hz; and blur-driven condition, in which the level of defocus at the retina was always 0 D, but a sinusoidal defocus blur between -1 and +1 D at 0.2 Hz was simulated in the target. Right before the beginning of each trial, the target was moved to an accommodative demand of 2 D. Eight out of nine subjects showed sinusoidal responses for the vergence-driven condition but not for the blur-driven condition. Their average (±SD) gain for the vergence-driven condition was 0.50 (±0.28). For the blur-driven condition, average gain was much smaller at 0.07 (±0.03). The ninth subject showed little to no response for both conditions, with average gain <0.08. Vergence-driven condition gain was significantly different from blur-driven condition gain (P = 0.004). Accommodation responds to optical vergence, even without feedback, and not to changes in defocus blur alone. These results suggest the presence of a retinal mechanism that provides a directional cue for accommodation from optical vergence.

The Feasibility of Applying AC Driven Low-Temperature Plasma for Multi-Cycle Detonation Initiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Dianfeng

2016-11-01

Ignition is a key system in pulse detonation engines (PDE). As advanced ignition methods, nanosecond pulse discharge low-temperature plasma ignition is used in some combustion systems, and continuous alternating current (AC) driven low-temperature plasma using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is used for the combustion assistant. However, continuous AC driven plasmas cannot be used for ignition in pulse detonation engines. In this paper, experimental and numerical studies of pneumatic valve PDE using an AC driven low-temperature plasma igniter were described. The pneumatic valve was jointly designed with the low-temperature plasma igniter, and the numerical simulation of the cold-state flow field in the pneumatic valve showed that a complex flow in the discharge area, along with low speed, was beneficial for successful ignition. In the experiments ethylene was used as the fuel and air as oxidizing agent, ignition by an AC driven low-temperature plasma achieved multi-cycle intermittent detonation combustion on a PDE, the working frequency of the PDE reached 15 Hz and the peak pressure of the detonation wave was approximately 2.0 MPa. The experimental verifications of the feasibility in PDE ignition expanded the application field of AC driven low-temperature plasma. supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51176001)

Hadronic Transitions from Upsilon (2S) to Upsilon (1s) and Upsilon Dipion Transitions at Energies Near the Upsilon (4S)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotoy, Sergei Anatolievich

This dissertation consists of two closely related analyses, both of which were performed using data collected with the CLEO II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring. In the first analysis, using the world largest data sample of Υ(2 S) events, we have investigated the hadronic transitions between the Υ(2S) and the Υ(1S), i.e. decays of the Υ(2S) into the Υ(1S), plus a pair of pions ( p+p- or p0p0 ), a single η or a single p0 . The dipion transitions U(2S)-->U( 1S)pp were studied most closely, by using two different techniques: ``exclusive'' and ``inclusive''. In these measurements we determine the U(2S)-->U( 1S)pp branching ratios, and, by combining the exclusive and inclusive results, we derive the Υ(1S), leptonic branching ratios Bee and Bmm . Parameters of the ππ system in the dipion transitions (dipion invariant mass spectra, angular distributions) were analyzed and found to be consistent with current theoretical models. Lastly, we searched for the η and single π0 transitions and obtained upper limits on the branching ratios B(U(2S) -->U(1S)h ) and B(U(2S) -->U(1S)p 0) . In the second analysis, the data collected at the center of mass energies near the Υ(4S) were used to search for the dipion transition between pairs of Υ resonances. As a result of this search, we established upper limits on the branching ratios of the dipion transitions post='par'>p+p- and U(4S)-->U( 1S)p+p- , and measured the cross-sections for the radiative production of Υ(3 S) and Υ(2S) resonances e+e--->U(nS) g at the center of mass energies of Ecm = 10.58 GeV and Ecm = 10.52 GeV.

2.0 to 2.4 micron spectroscopy of T Tauri stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamann, F.; Simon, M.; Ridgway, S. T.

1988-03-01

Velocity-resolved 2.0-2.5-micron observations of the T Tau stars T, DF, DG, DK, HL, and RY Tau, SU Aur, and GW Ori are presented. For each of these stars except SU Aur, the Brackett gamma line was detected in emission with line widths inthe range of about 130-230 km/s. The Brackett gamma line profile of SU Aur is complex, having components of both emission and absorption. The first measurement of CO band-head emission in DG Tau is reported, and it is shown that published radio continuum fluxes of young stars far exceed what could be produced in an envelope ionized by only the stellar photospheric Lyman continuum. The excess of radio emission is found to be much greater in low-luminosity sources (e.g., the T Tau stars).

EAST Organizes Drosophila Insulator Proteins in the Interchromosomal Nuclear Compartment and Modulates CP190 Binding to Chromatin

PubMed Central

Golovnin, Anton; Melnikova, Larisa; Shapovalov, Igor; Kostyuchenko, Margarita; Georgiev, Pavel

2015-01-01

Recent data suggest that insulators organize chromatin architecture in the nucleus. The best studied Drosophila insulator proteins, dCTCF (a homolog of the vertebrate insulator protein CTCF) and Su(Hw), are DNA-binding zinc finger proteins. Different isoforms of the BTB-containing protein Mod(mdg4) interact with Su(Hw) and dCTCF. The CP190 protein is a cofactor for the dCTCF and Su(Hw) insulators. CP190 is required for the functional activity of insulator proteins and is involved in the aggregation of the insulator proteins into specific structures named nuclear speckles. Here, we have shown that the nuclear distribution of CP190 is dependent on the level of EAST protein, an essential component of the interchromatin compartment. EAST interacts with CP190 and Mod(mdg4)-67.2 proteins in vitro and in vivo. Over-expression of EAST in S2 cells leads to an extrusion of the CP190 from the insulator bodies containing Su(Hw), Mod(mdg4)-67.2, and dCTCF. In consistent with the role of the insulator bodies in assembly of protein complexes, EAST over-expression led to a striking decrease of the CP190 binding with the dCTCF and Su(Hw) dependent insulators and promoters. These results suggest that EAST is involved in the regulation of CP190 nuclear localization. PMID:26489095

Observable phase factors and symmetry of electric and magnetic charges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsu, J. P.

1978-01-01

The observable phase factor is taken as a basic concept for the description of electromagnetism. Generalization of this concept to SU(2) and SU(2) x U(1) groups is carried out in such a way that the monopoles with quantized charges appear naturally and that the symmetry between the electric and magnetic phenomena is preserved. Some physical implications are discussed.

Combining data from high-energy pp-reactions and neutrinoless double-beta decay: Limits on the mass of the right-handed boson

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Civitarese, Osvaldo; Suhonen, Jouni; Zuber, Kai

2016-10-01

From the recently established lower-limits on the nonobservability of the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge (GERDA collaboration) and 136Xe (EXO-200 and KamLAND-Zen collaborations), combined with the ATLAS and CMS data, we extract limits for the left-right (LR) mixing angle, ζ, of the SU(2)L ×SU(2)R electroweak Hamiltonian. For the theoretical analysis, which is a model dependent, we have adopted a minimal extension of the Standard Model (SM) of Electroweak Interactions belonging to the SU(2)L ×SU(2)R representation. The nuclear-structure input of the analysis consists of a set of matrix elements and phase-space factors, and the experimental lower-limits for the half-lives. The other input are the ATLAS and CMS cross-section measurements of the pp-collisions into two-jets and two-leptons, performed at the large hadron collider (LHC). Our analysis yields the limit ζ < 10-3 for MR > 3TeV, by combining the model-dependent limits extracted from the double-beta-decay measurements and those extracted from the results of the CMS and ATLAS measurements.

Higgs-like boson at 750 GeV and genesis of baryons

DOE PAGES

Davoudiasl, Hooman; Giardino, Pier Paolo; Zhang, Cen

2016-07-06

Here, we propose that the diphoton excess at 750 GeV reported by ATLAS and CMS is due to the decay of an exo-Higgs scalar η associated with the breaking of a new SU(2) e symmetry, dubbed exo-spin. New fermions, exo-quarks and exo-leptons, get TeV-scale masses through Yukawa couplings with η and generate its couplings to gluons and photons at one loop. Furthermore, the matter content of our model yields a B-L anomaly under SU(2) e, whose breaking we assume entails a first-order phase transition. A nontrivial B-L asymmetry may therefore be generated in the early Universe, potentially providing a baryogenesismore » mechanism through the Standard Model (SM) sphaleron processes. The spontaneous breaking of SU(2) e can, in principle, directly lead to electroweak symmetry breaking, thereby accounting for the proximity of the mass scales of the SM Higgs and the exo-Higgs. This model can be distinguished from those comprising a singlet scalar and vector fermions by the discovery of TeV scale exo-vector bosons, corresponding to the broken SU(2) e generators, at the LHC.« less

Higgs-like boson at 750 GeV and genesis of baryons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davoudiasl, Hooman; Giardino, Pier Paolo; Zhang, Cen

Here, we propose that the diphoton excess at 750 GeV reported by ATLAS and CMS is due to the decay of an exo-Higgs scalar η associated with the breaking of a new SU(2) e symmetry, dubbed exo-spin. New fermions, exo-quarks and exo-leptons, get TeV-scale masses through Yukawa couplings with η and generate its couplings to gluons and photons at one loop. Furthermore, the matter content of our model yields a B-L anomaly under SU(2) e, whose breaking we assume entails a first-order phase transition. A nontrivial B-L asymmetry may therefore be generated in the early Universe, potentially providing a baryogenesismore » mechanism through the Standard Model (SM) sphaleron processes. The spontaneous breaking of SU(2) e can, in principle, directly lead to electroweak symmetry breaking, thereby accounting for the proximity of the mass scales of the SM Higgs and the exo-Higgs. This model can be distinguished from those comprising a singlet scalar and vector fermions by the discovery of TeV scale exo-vector bosons, corresponding to the broken SU(2) e generators, at the LHC.« less

Hidden local symmetry and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamawaki, Koichi

Gerry Brown was a godfather of our hidden local symmetry (HLS) for the vector meson from the birth of the theory throughout his life. The HLS is originated from very nature of the nonlinear realization of the symmetry G based on the manifold G/H, and thus is universal to any physics based on the nonlinear realization. Here, I focus on the Higgs Lagrangian of the Standard Model (SM), which is shown to be equivalent to the nonlinear sigma model based on G/H = SU(2)L ×SU(2)R/SU(2)V with additional symmetry, the nonlinearly-realized scale symmetry. Then, the SM does have a dynamical gauge boson of the SU(2)V HLS, “SM ρ meson”, in addition to the Higgs as a pseudo-dilaton as well as the NG bosons to be absorbed in to the W and Z. Based on the recent work done with Matsuzaki and Ohki, I discuss a novel possibility that the SM ρ meson acquires kinetic term by the SM dynamics itself, which then stabilizes the skyrmion dormant in the SM as a viable candidate for the dark matter, what we call “dark SM skyrmion (DSMS)”.

From bosonic topological transition to symmetric fermion mass generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Yi-Zhuang; He, Yin-Chen; Vishwanath, Ashvin; Xu, Cenke

2018-03-01

A bosonic topological transition (BTT) is a quantum critical point between the bosonic symmetry-protected topological phase and the trivial phase. In this work, we investigate such a transition in a (2+1)-dimensional lattice model with the maximal microscopic symmetry: an internal SO (4 ) symmetry. We derive a description for this transition in terms of compact quantum electrodynamics (QED) with four fermion flavors (Nf=4 ). Within a systematic renormalization group analysis, we identify the critical point with the desired O (4 ) emergent symmetry and all expected deformations. By lowering the microscopic symmetry, we recover the previous Nf=2 noncompact QED description of the BTT. Finally, by merging two BTTs we recover a previously discussed theory of symmetric mass generation, as an SU (2 ) quantum chromodynamics-Higgs theory with Nf=4 flavors of SU (2 ) fundamental fermions and one SU (2 ) fundamental Higgs boson. This provides a consistency check on both theories.

Modeling the Thermosphere as a Driven-Dissipative Thermodynamic System

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

8 Figure 2: Illustration of the geocentric solar magnetospheric coordinate system............15 Figure 3: Diagram of the...magnetic field in the z direction, Bz and the length of time Bz is in the negative z direction. The z direction is defined by Geocentric Solar...Magnetospheric (GSM) coordinates shown in Figure 2. Figure 2: Illustration of the geocentric solar magnetospheric (GSM) coordinate system. The origin is

Grape hexokinases are involved in the expression regulation of sucrose synthase- and cell wall invertase-encoding genes by glucose and ABA.

PubMed

Wang, Xiu-Qin; Zheng, Li-Li; Lin, Hao; Yu, Fei; Sun, Li-Hui; Li, Li-Mei

2017-05-01

Hexokinase (HXK, EC 2.7.1.1) is a multifunctional protein that both is involved in catalyzing the first step of glycolysis and plays an important role in sugar signaling. However, the supporting genetic evidence on hexokinases (CsHXKs) from grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) berries has been lacking. Here, to investigate the role of CsHXK isoforms as glucose (Glc) and abscisic acid (ABA) sensors, we cloned two hexokinase isozymes, CsHXK1 and CsHXK2 with highly conserved genomic structure of nine exons and eight introns. We also found adenosine phosphate binding, substrate recognition and connection sites in their putative proteins. During grape berry development, the expression profiles of two CsHXK isoforms, sucrose synthases (SuSys) and cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes increased concomitantly with high levels of endogenous Glc and ABA. Furthermore, we showed that in wild type grape berry calli (WT), glucose repressed the expression levels of sucrose synthase (SuSy) and cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, while ABA increased their expression levels. ABA could not only effectively improve the expression levels of SuSy and CWINV, but also block the repression induced by glucose on the expression of both genes. However, after silencing CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 in grape calli, SuSy and CWINV expression were enhanced, and the expressions of the two genes are insensitive in response to Glc treatment. Interestingly, exogenous ABA alone could not or less increase SuSy and CWINV expression in silencing CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 grape calli compared to WT. Meantime, ABA could not block the repression induced by glucose on the expression of SuSy and CWINV in CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 mutants. Therefore, Glc signal transduction depends on the regulation of CsHXK1 or CsHXK2. ABA signal was also disturbed by CsHXK1 or CsHXK2 silencing. The present results provide new insights into the regulatory role of Glc and ABA on the enzymes related to sugar metabolism in grape berry.

Clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving everolimus or temsirolimus after sunitinib

PubMed Central

Iacovelli, Roberto; Cartenì, Giacomo; Milella, Michele; Berardi, Rossana; Di Lorenzo, Giuseppe; Verzoni, Elena; Rizzo, Mimma; Santoni, Matteo; Procopio, Giuseppe

2014-01-01

Introduction: There are little data on the clinical activity of temsirolimus (TM) and everolimus (EV) when used as second-line therapy after sunitinib (SU) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Methods: Patients with mRCC treated with EV or TM after SU were included in this retrospective analysis. Progression-free survival (PFS), time to sequence failure (TTSF) from the start of SU to disease progression with EV/TM and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and compared across groups using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to investigate predictors of TTSF and OS. Results: In total, 89 patients (median age 60.0 years) were included. At baseline 43% were classified as MSKCC good-risk, 43% as intermediate-risk and 14% as poor-risk. Median OS was 36.3 months and median TTSF was 17.2 months. Sixty-five patients received SU-EV and 24 patients SU-TM. Median PFS after the second-line treatment was 4.3 months in the EV group and 3.5 months in the TM group (p = 0.63). Median TTSF was 17.0 and 18.9 months (p = 0.32) and the OS was 35.8 and 38.3 months (p = 0.73) with SU-EV and SU-TM, respectively. The prognostic role of initial MSKCC was confirmed by multivariable analysis (hazard ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.08–2.85. p = 0.023). Conclusions: This study did not show significant differences in terms of disease control and OS between EV and TM in the second-line setting. EV remains the preferred mTOR inhibitor for the treatment of mRCC patients resistant to prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. PMID:24678349

Evaluation of calving seasons and marketing strategies in Northern Great Plains beef enterprises. II. Retained ownership systems.

PubMed

Reisenauer Leesburg, V L; Tess, M W; Griffith, D

2007-09-01

Two bioeconomic computer models were used to evaluate calving seasons in combination with calf marketing strategies for a range-based cow-calf enterprise in the Northern Great Plains. Calving seasons studied were spring (SP, calving beginning March 15 and weaning October 31), spring with calf mortality increased by 5% (SP-IM), summer (SU, calving beginning May 15 and weaning December 31), summer with early weaning (SU-EW, calving beginning May 15 and weaning October 31), and fall (FA, calving beginning August 15 and weaning February 1). Marketing scenarios for steer calves and nonreplacement heifer calves were as follows: sold after weaning (WS), backgrounded in Montana and sold as feeder cattle (WBS), backgrounded in Montana and then fed to slaughter BW in Nebraska (WBFS), and shipped to Nebraska at weaning and fed to slaughter BW (WFS). Quarterly inflation-adjusted cattle and feedstuff prices were representative of the 1990s cattle cycle. Cumulative gross margin (CGM), the sum of ranch gross margin and net return from retained ownership was used to compare systems. At the peak of the cattle cycle, all forms of retained ownership (WBS, WBFS, WFS) were profitable for all calving seasons, but during the descending phase, only WBS increased CGM markedly over WS for SU-EW. At the cycle valley, retained ownership was not profitable for SP and SP-IM, whereas WBFS and WFS were profitable for SU and SU-EW, and all forms of retained ownership were profitable for FA. During the ascending phase, retained ownership was profitable for all calving season-marketing combinations. Systems with the greatest CGM at each phase of the cattle cycle were FA-WFS, SP-WBS, FA-WFS, and FA-WFS at the peak, descending, valley, and ascending phases, respectively. In beef enterprises representative of the Northern Great Plains, with a restricted grazing season and limited access to low-cost, good-quality grazeable forage, no single calving season and no single combination of calving season and calf marketing is expected to be superior throughout the cattle cycle. Fall calving systems most often benefit from retained ownership through slaughter.

Hydrogen-driven asymmetric reduction of hydroxyacetone to (R)-1,2-propanediol by Ralstonia eutropha transformant expressing alcohol dehydrogenase from Kluyveromyces lactis.

PubMed

Oda, Takahiro; Oda, Koji; Yamamoto, Hiroaki; Matsuyama, Akinobu; Ishii, Masaharu; Igarashi, Yasuo; Nishihara, Hirofumi

2013-01-10

Conversion of industrial processes to more nature-friendly modes is a crucial subject for achieving sustainable development. Utilization of hydrogen-oxidation reactions by hydrogenase as a driving force of bioprocess reaction can be an environmentally ideal method because the reaction creates no pollutants. We expressed NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Kluyveromyces lactis in a hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium: Ralstonia eutropha. This is the first report of hydrogen-driven in vivo coupling reaction of the alcohol dehydrogenase and indigenous soluble NAD-reducing hydrogenase. Asymmetric reduction of hydroxyacetone to (R)-1,2-propanediol, which is a commercial building block for antibacterial agents, was performed using the transformant as the microbial cell catalyst. The two enzymes coupled in vitro in vials without a marked decrease of reactivity during the 20 hr reaction because of the hydrogenase reaction, which generates no by-product that affects enzymes. Alcohol dehydrogenase was expressed functionally in R. eutropha in an activity level equivalent to that of indigenous NAD-reducing hydrogenase under the hydrogenase promoter. The hydrogen-driven in vivo coupling reaction proceeded only by the transformant cell without exogenous addition of a cofactor. The decrease of reaction velocity at higher concentration of hydroxyacetone was markedly reduced by application of an in vivo coupling system. Production of (R)-1,2-propanediol (99.8% e.e.) reached 67.7 g/l in 76 hr with almost a constant rate using a jar fermenter. The reaction velocity under 10% PH2 was almost equivalent to that under 100% hydrogen, indicating the availability of crude hydrogen gas from various sources. The in vivo coupling system enabled cell-recycling as catalysts. Asymmetric reduction of hydroxyacetone by a coupling reaction of the two enzymes continued in both in vitro and in vivo systems in the presence of hydrogen. The in vivo reaction system using R. eutropha transformant expressing heterologous alcohol dehydrogenase showed advantages for practical usage relative to the in vitro coupling system. The results suggest a hopeful perspective of the hydrogen-driven bioprocess as an environmentally outstanding method to achieve industrial green innovation. Hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria can be useful hosts for the development of hydrogen-driven microbial cell factories.

Carbon Dots as Versatile Photosensitizers for Solar-Driven Catalysis with Redox Enzymes.

PubMed

Hutton, Georgina A M; Reuillard, Bertrand; Martindale, Benjamin C M; Caputo, Christine A; Lockwood, Colin W J; Butt, Julea N; Reisner, Erwin

2016-12-28

Light-driven enzymatic catalysis is enabled by the productive coupling of a protein to a photosensitizer. Photosensitizers used in such hybrid systems are typically costly, toxic, and/or fragile, with limited chemical versatility. Carbon dots (CDs) are low-cost, nanosized light-harvesters that are attractive photosensitizers for biological systems as they are water-soluble, photostable, nontoxic, and their surface chemistry can be easily modified. We demonstrate here that CDs act as excellent light-absorbers in two semibiological photosynthetic systems utilizing either a fumarate reductase (FccA) for the solar-driven hydrogenation of fumarate to succinate or a hydrogenase (H 2 ase) for reduction of protons to H 2 . The tunable surface chemistry of the CDs was exploited to synthesize positively charged ammonium-terminated CDs (CD-NHMe 2 + ), which were capable of transferring photoexcited electrons directly to the negatively charged enzymes with high efficiency and stability. Enzyme-based turnover numbers of 6000 mol succinate (mol FccA) -1 and 43,000 mol H 2 (mol H 2 ase) -1 were reached after 24 h. Negatively charged carboxylate-terminated CDs (CD-CO 2 - ) displayed little or no activity, and the electrostatic interactions at the CD-enzyme interface were determined to be essential to the high photocatalytic activity observed with CD-NHMe 2 + . The modular surface chemistry of CDs together with their photostability and aqueous solubility make CDs versatile photosensitizers for redox enzymes with great scope for their utilization in photobiocatalysis.

Advantages of unity with SU(4)-color: Reflections through neutrino oscillations, baryogenesis and proton decay

DOE PAGES

Pati, Jogesh C.

2017-03-24

As a tribute to Abdus Salam, I recall the initiation in 1972-73 of the idea of grand unification based on the view that lepton number is the fourth color. Motivated by aesthetic demands, these attempts led to the suggestion that the existing SU (2) x U (1) symmetry be extended minimally to the quark-lepton and left-right symmetric non-Abelian gauge structure G (2,2,4) = SU (2) L x SU (2) R x SU (4)-color. This served to unify members of a family within a single L-R self-conjugate multiplet. It also explained: the quantization of electric charge, the co-existence of quarks andmore » leptons, and that of their three basic forces $-$ weak, electromagnetic, and strong $-$ while providing the appealing possibility that nature is fundamentally left-right symmetric (parity-conserving). The minimal extension of the symmetry G (2,2,4) to a simple group is given by the attractive symmetry SO (10) that came a year later. The advantages of the core symmetry G (2,2,4), including those listed above (which are of course retained by SO (10) as well), are noted. These include the introductions of: (i) the right-handed neutrino as a compelling member of each family, (ii) (B-L) as a local symmetry, and (iii) the mass relation m (ν τ) Dirac = m top (M GUT). These three features, all arising due to SU(4)-color, as well as the gauge coupling uni cation scale (identi ed with the (B-L)- breaking scale), are crucially needed to understand the tiny mass-scales of the neutrino oscillations within the seesaw mechanism, and to implement successfully the mechanism of baryogenesis via leptogenesis. Implications of a well-motivated class of models based on supersymmetric SO(10) or a string-unified G(2, 2, 4) symmetry in 4D for (a) gauge coupling uni cation, (b) fermion masses and mixings, (c) neutrino osillations, (d) baryogenesis via leptogenesis, and last but not least (e) proton decay are presented. Recent works on the latter providing upper limits on proton lifetimes suggest that the potential for discovery of proton decay in the next-generation detectors would be high.« less

Global SO(3) x SO(3) x U(1) symmetry of the Hubbard model on bipartite lattices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carmelo, J.M.P., E-mail: carmelo@fisica.uminho.p; Ostlund, Stellan; Sampaio, M.J.

2010-08-15

In this paper the global symmetry of the Hubbard model on a bipartite lattice is found to be larger than SO(4). The model is one of the most studied many-particle quantum problems, yet except in one dimension it has no exact solution, so that there remain many open questions about its properties. Symmetry plays an important role in physics and often can be used to extract useful information on unsolved non-perturbative quantum problems. Specifically, here it is found that for on-site interaction U {ne} 0 the local SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1) gauge symmetry of the Hubbard model on amore » bipartite lattice with N{sub a}{sup D} sites and vanishing transfer integral t = 0 can be lifted to a global [SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1)]/Z{sub 2}{sup 2} = SO(3) x SO(3) x U(1) symmetry in the presence of the kinetic-energy hopping term of the Hamiltonian with t > 0. (Examples of a bipartite lattice are the D-dimensional cubic lattices of lattice constant a and edge length L = N{sub a}a for which D = 1, 2, 3,... in the number N{sub a}{sup D} of sites.) The generator of the new found hidden independent charge global U(1) symmetry, which is not related to the ordinary U(1) gauge subgroup of electromagnetism, is one half the rotated-electron number of singly occupied sites operator. Although addition of chemical-potential and magnetic-field operator terms to the model Hamiltonian lowers its symmetry, such terms commute with it. Therefore, its 4{sup N}{sub a}{sup D} energy eigenstates refer to representations of the new found global [SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1)]/Z{sub 2}{sup 2} = SO(3) x SO(3) x U(1) symmetry. Consistently, we find that for the Hubbard model on a bipartite lattice the number of independent representations of the group SO(3) x SO(3) x U(1) equals the Hilbert-space dimension 4{sup N}{sub a}{sup D}. It is confirmed elsewhere that the new found symmetry has important physical consequences.« less

Design, economic and system considerations of large wind-driven generators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jorgensen, G. E.; Lotker, M.; Meier, R. C.; Brierley, D.

1976-01-01

The increased search for alternative energy sources has lead to renewed interest and studies of large wind-driven generators. This paper presents the results and considerations of such an investigation. The paper emphasizes the concept selection of wind-driven generators, system optimization, control system design, safety aspects, economic viability on electric utility systems and potential electric system interfacing problems.

Interdependence of the Electricity Generation System and the Natural Gas System and Implications for Energy Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-15

rates, but conservatively, two weeks to several months), firm delivery contracts (which are based on the capacity of the transmission pipelines and...gas is not guaranteed as it is not part of the capacity planning process). 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 D ur at io n of st or ag e su pp...military installations. For example, Tinker AFB, Robins AFB, and MCAGCC Twentynine Palms all have natural gas-fired generation or cogeneration on site

Optical sensor in planar configuration based on multimode interference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blahut, Marek

2017-08-01

In the paper a numerical analysis of optical sensors based on multimode interference in planar one-dimensional step-index configuration is presented. The structure consists in single-mode input and output waveguides and multimode waveguide which guide only few modes. Material parameters discussed refer to a SU8 polymer waveguide on SiO2 substrate. The optical system described will be designed to the analysis of biological substances.

Exchange-driven growth.

PubMed

Ben-Naim, E; Krapivsky, P L

2003-09-01

We study a class of growth processes in which clusters evolve via exchange of particles. We show that depending on the rate of exchange there are three possibilities: (I) Growth-clusters grow indefinitely, (II) gelation-all mass is transformed into an infinite gel in a finite time, and (III) instant gelation. In regimes I and II, the cluster size distribution attains a self-similar form. The large size tail of the scaling distribution is Phi(x) approximately exp(-x(2-nu)), where nu is a homogeneity degree of the rate of exchange. At the borderline case nu=2, the distribution exhibits a generic algebraic tail, Phi(x) approximately x(-5). In regime III, the gel nucleates immediately and consumes the entire system. For finite systems, the gelation time vanishes logarithmically, T approximately [lnN](-(nu-2)), in the large system size limit N--> infinity. The theory is applied to coarsening in the infinite range Ising-Kawasaki model and in electrostatically driven granular layers.

Classical strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma. VII. Energy loss

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Sungtae; Zahed, Ismail

2010-12-01

We use linear response analysis and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem to derive the energy loss of a heavy quark in the SU(2) classical Coulomb plasma in terms of the l=1 monopole and nonstatic structure factor. The result is valid for all Coulomb couplings Γ=V/K, the ratio of the mean potential to kinetic energy. We use the Liouville equation in the collisionless limit to assess the SU(2) nonstatic structure factor. We find the energy loss to be strongly dependent on Γ. In the liquid phase with Γ≈4, the energy loss is mostly metallic and soundless with neither a Cerenkov nor a Mach cone. Our analytical results compare favorably with the SU(2) molecular dynamics simulations at large momentum and for heavy quark masses.

Renormalization of a tensorial field theory on the homogeneous space SU(2)/U(1)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lahoche, Vincent; Oriti, Daniele

2017-01-01

We study the renormalization of a general field theory on the homogeneous space (SU(2)/ ≤ft. U(1)\\right){{}× d} with tensorial interaction and gauge invariance under the diagonal action of SU(2). We derive the power counting for arbitrary d. For the case d  =  4, we prove perturbative renormalizability to all orders via multi-scale analysis, study both the renormalized and effective perturbation series, and establish the asymptotic freedom of the model. We also outline a general power counting for the homogeneous space {{≤ft(SO(D)/SO(D-1)\\right)}× d} , of direct interest for quantum gravity models in arbitrary dimension, and point out the obstructions to the direct generalization of our results to these cases.

A Study of Black and White Men With a Family History of Prostate Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-03-01

l4lbTyp)___ (QO l4lbAge)___ TIPO DE CANCER: 1 COLON 3 SENO 4 CERVIZ 5 PULMONES 6 OVARIOS 7 ENDOMIETPJO V OTRO W DK X RF Q014_lc Su hermana es... 1 su...diagnosticada? (QOl4 -2aAge) - (QOl4-2bAge)____ TIPO DE CANCER: 1 COLON 3 SENO 4 CERVJZ 5 PULMONES 6 OVARIOS 7 ENDOMIETRIO V OTRO W DK X RF QO142c Su...6_aTyp)___ (QO l6laAge)____ (QOl6_lbTyp)___ (QO l6lbAge)___ TWPO DE CANCER: 1 COLON 3 SENO 4 CERVIZ 5 PULMONES 6 OVARIOS 7 ENDOM[ETPJO V OTRO W DK X RF

Recent progress of the Laser-driven Ion-beam Trace Probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Xiaoyi; Xiao, Chijie; Chen, Yihang; Xu, Tianchao; Yu, Yi; Xu, Min; Wang, Long; Lin, Chen; Wang, Xiaogang

2017-10-01

The Laser-driven Ion-beam Trace Probe (LITP) is a new method to diagnose the poloidal magnetic field and radial electric field in tokamaks. Recently significant progresses have been made as follows. 1) The experimental system has been set up on the PKU Plasma Test (PPT) linear device and begun to validate the principle of LITP, including the ion source, the ion detector and the poloidal magnetic field cable. Preliminary experimental results matched the theoretical prediction well. 2) The reconstruction principle has been improved including the nonlinear effect. 3) Tomography methods have been applied in the reconstruction codes. Now the laser-driven ion-beam accelerator has been setup on the PPT device, and further test of LITP will start soon. After that a prototype of LITP system will be designed and setup on the HL-2A tokamak device. This work was supported by the CHINA MOST under 2012YQ030142, ITER-CHINA program 2015GB120001 and National Natural Science Foundation of China under 11575014 and 11375053.

The dark side of flipped trinification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, P. V.; Huong, D. T.; Queiroz, Farinaldo S.; Valle, José W. F.; Vaquera-Araujo, C. A.

2018-04-01

We propose a model which unifies the Left-Right symmetry with the SU(3) L gauge group, called flipped trinification, and based on the SU(3) C ⊗ SU(3) L ⊗ SU(3) R ⊗ U(1) X gauge group. The model inherits the interesting features of both symmetries while elegantly explaining the origin of the matter parity, W P = (-1)3( B- L)+2 s , and dark matter stability. We develop the details of the spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism in the model, determining the relevant mass eigenstates, and showing how neutrino masses are easily generated via the seesaw mechanism. Moreover, we introduce viable dark matter candidates, encompassing a fermion, scalar and possibly vector fields, leading to a potentially novel dark matter phenomenology.

Pairing Symmetry Transitions in the Even-Denominator FQHE System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nomura, Kentaro; Yoshioka, Daijiro

2001-12-01

Transitions from a paired quantum Hall state to another quantum Hall state in bilayer systems are discussed in the framework of the edge theory. Starting from the edge theory for the Haldane Rezayi state, it is shown that the charging effect of a bilayer system which breaks the SU(2) symmetry of the pseudospin shifts the central charge and the conformal dimensions of the fermionic fields which describe the pseudospin sector in the edge theory. This corresponds to the transition from the Haldane Rezayi state to Halperin's 331 state, or from a singlet d-wave to a triplet p-wave ABM type paired state in the composite fermion picture. Considering interlayer tunneling, the tunneling rate-capacitance phase diagram for the ν=5/2 paired bilayer system is discussed.

Deformed twistors and higher spin conformal (super-)algebras in four dimensions

DOE PAGES

Govil, Karan; Gunaydin, Murat

2015-03-05

Massless conformal scalar field in d = 4 corresponds to the minimal unitary representation (minrep) of the conformal group SU(2, 2) which admits a one-parameter family of deformations that describe massless fields of arbitrary helicity. The minrep and its deformations were obtained by quantization of the nonlinear realization of SU(2, 2) as a quasiconformal group in arXiv:0908.3624. We show that the generators of SU(2,2) for these unitary irreducible representations can be written as bilinears of deformed twistorial oscillators which transform nonlinearly under the Lorentz group and apply them to define and study higher spin algebras and superalgebras in AdS 5.more » The higher spin (HS) algebra of Fradkin-Vasiliev type in AdS 5 is simply the enveloping algebra of SU(2, 2) quotiented by a two-sided ideal (Joseph ideal) which annihilates the minrep. We show that the Joseph ideal vanishes identically for the quasiconformal realization of the minrep and its enveloping algebra leads directly to the HS algebra in AdS 5. Furthermore, the enveloping algebras of the deformations of the minrep define a one parameter family of HS algebras in AdS 5 for which certain 4d covariant deformations of the Joseph ideal vanish identically. These results extend to superconformal algebras SU(2, 2|N) and we find a one parameter family of HS superalgebras as enveloping algebras of the minimal unitary supermultiplet and its deformations. Our results suggest the existence of a family of (supersymmetric) HS theories in AdS 5 which are dual to free (super)conformal field theories (CFTs) or to interacting but integrable (supersymmetric) CFTs in 4d. We also discuss the corresponding picture in HS algebras in AdS 4 where the corresponding 3d conformal group Sp(4,R) admits only two massless representations (minreps), namely the scalar and spinor singletons.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Govil, Karan; Gunaydin, Murat

Massless conformal scalar field in d = 4 corresponds to the minimal unitary representation (minrep) of the conformal group SU(2, 2) which admits a one-parameter family of deformations that describe massless fields of arbitrary helicity. The minrep and its deformations were obtained by quantization of the nonlinear realization of SU(2, 2) as a quasiconformal group in arXiv:0908.3624. We show that the generators of SU(2,2) for these unitary irreducible representations can be written as bilinears of deformed twistorial oscillators which transform nonlinearly under the Lorentz group and apply them to define and study higher spin algebras and superalgebras in AdS 5.more » The higher spin (HS) algebra of Fradkin-Vasiliev type in AdS 5 is simply the enveloping algebra of SU(2, 2) quotiented by a two-sided ideal (Joseph ideal) which annihilates the minrep. We show that the Joseph ideal vanishes identically for the quasiconformal realization of the minrep and its enveloping algebra leads directly to the HS algebra in AdS 5. Furthermore, the enveloping algebras of the deformations of the minrep define a one parameter family of HS algebras in AdS 5 for which certain 4d covariant deformations of the Joseph ideal vanish identically. These results extend to superconformal algebras SU(2, 2|N) and we find a one parameter family of HS superalgebras as enveloping algebras of the minimal unitary supermultiplet and its deformations. Our results suggest the existence of a family of (supersymmetric) HS theories in AdS 5 which are dual to free (super)conformal field theories (CFTs) or to interacting but integrable (supersymmetric) CFTs in 4d. We also discuss the corresponding picture in HS algebras in AdS 4 where the corresponding 3d conformal group Sp(4,R) admits only two massless representations (minreps), namely the scalar and spinor singletons.« less

Bottom-up approaches to strengthening child protection systems: Placing children, families, and communities at the center.

PubMed

Wessells, Michael G

2015-05-01

Efforts to strengthen national child protection systems have frequently taken a top-down approach of imposing formal, government-managed services. Such expert-driven approaches are often characterized by low use of formal services and the misalignment of the nonformal and formal aspects of the child protection system. This article examines an alternative approach of community-driven, bottom-up work that enables nonformal-formal collaboration and alignment, greater use of formal services, internally driven social change, and high levels of community ownership. The dominant approach of reliance on expert-driven Child Welfare Committees produces low levels of community ownership. Using an approach developed and tested in rural Sierra Leone, community-driven action, including collaboration and linkages with the formal system, promoted the use of formal services and achieved increased ownership, effectiveness, and sustainability of the system. The field needs less reliance on expert-driven approaches and much wider use of slower, community-driven, bottom-up approaches to child protection. Copyright © 2015 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Current fluctuations in periodically driven systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barato, Andre C.; Chetrite, Raphael

2018-05-01

Small nonequelibrium systems driven by an external periodic protocol can be described by Markov processes with time-periodic transition rates. In general, current fluctuations in such small systems are large and may play a crucial role. We develop a theoretical formalism to evaluate the rate of such large deviations in periodically driven systems. We show that the scaled cumulant generating function that characterizes current fluctuations is given by a maximal Floquet exponent. Comparing deterministic protocols with stochastic protocols, we show that, with respect to large deviations, systems driven by a stochastic protocol with an infinitely large number of jumps are equivalent to systems driven by deterministic protocols. Our results are illustrated with three case studies: a two-state model for a heat engine, a three-state model for a molecular pump, and a biased random walk with a time-periodic affinity.

Cleaning capacity promoted by motor-driven or manual instrumentation using ProTaper Universal system: Histological analysis.

PubMed

da Frota, Matheus Franco; Filho, Idomeo Bonetti; Berbert, Fábio Luiz Camargo Villela; Sponchiado, Emilio Carlos; Marques, André Augusto Franco; Garcia, Lucas da Fonseca Roberti

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the cleaning capacity of the Protaper system using motor-driven or manual instrumentation. Ten mandibular molars were randomly separated into 2 groups (n = 5) according to the type of instrumentation performed, as follows: Group 1 - instrumentation with rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) files using ProTaper Universal System (Dentsply/Maillefer); and, Group 2 - instrumentation with Ni-Ti hand files using ProTaper Universal (Dentsply-Maillefer). Afterwards, the teeth were sectioned transversely and submitted to histotechnical processing to obtain histological sections for microscopic evaluation. The images were analyzed by the Corel Photo-Paint X5 program (Corel Corporation) using an integration grid superimposed on the image. Statistical analysis (U-Mann-Whitney - P < 0.05) demonstrated that G1 presented higher cleaning capacity when compared to G2. The rotary technique presented better cleaning results in the apical third of the root canal system when compared to the manual technique.

Multicomponent Supramolecular Systems: Self-Organization in Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly

PubMed Central

Zheng, Yao-Rong; Yang, Hai-Bo; Ghosh, Koushik; Zhao, Liang; Stang, Peter J.

2009-01-01

The self-organization of multicomponent supramolecular systems involving a variety of two-dimensional (2-D) polygons and three-dimensional (3-D) cages is presented. Nine self-organizing systems, SS1–SS9, have been studied. Each involving the simultaneous mixing of organoplatinum acceptors and pyridyl donors of varying geometry and their selective self-assembly into three to four specific 2-D (rectangular, triangular, and rhomboid) and/or 3-D (triangular prism and distorted and nondistorted trigonal bipyramidal) supramolecules. The formation of these discrete structures is characterized using NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In all cases, the self-organization process is directed by: (1) the geometric information encoded within the molecular subunits and (2) a thermodynamically driven dynamic self-correction process. The result is the selective self-assembly of multiple discrete products from a randomly formed complex. The influence of key experimental variables – temperature and solvent – on the self-correction process and the fidelity of the resulting self-organization systems is also described. PMID:19544512

Pronuclear formation by ICSI using chemically activated ovine oocytes and zona pellucida bound sperm.

PubMed

Hernández-Pichardo, J E; Ducolomb, Y; Romo, S; Kjelland, M E; Fierro, R; Casillas, F; Betancourt, M

2016-01-01

In order to improve ICSI, appropiate sperm selection and oocyte activation is necessary. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficiency of fertilization using ICSI with chemically activated ovine oocytes and sperm selected by swim up (SU) or swim up + zona pellucida (SU + ZP) binding. Experiment 1, 4-20 replicates with total 821 in vitro matured oocytes were chemically activated with ethanol, calcium ionophore or ionomycin, to determine oocyte activation (precense of one PN). Treatments showed similar results (54, 47, 42 %, respectively) but statistically differents ( P  < 0.05) than mechanical activated oocytes in sham, ICSI and sham injection (13, 25, 32 %, respectively) (10-17 replicates; n  = 429). Experiment 2: Twelve ejaculates and 28 straws of semen were used (11-19 replicates). Sperm were selected by SU in BSA-TCM 199-H medium. A total of 2,294 fresh sperm and 2,760 from frozen-thawed semen were analyzed after SU or SU + ZP binding. Fresh sperm selected by SU showed acrosome reaction (AR) of 59 %, the sperm selected by SU + ZP binding increased AR to 91 %. In comparison, the AR of frozen-thawed sperm using SU or SU + ZP binding was 77 and 86 %, respectively ( P  < 0.05). Experiment 3: fertilization in 200 mechanical activativated oocytes (17 replicates) was 4 %, but fertilization increased in ethanol activated oocytes after ICSI (12-28 %) (5-6 replicates). When fresh sperm only selected by SU were injected to 123 oocytes, a fertilization rate (28 %) was achieved; in sperm selected by SU + ZP was 25 % (73 oocytes). In comparison, in frozen-thawed sperm selected by SU, fertilization was 13 % (70 oocytes), whereas sperm from SU + ZP binding displayed 12 % (51 oocytes) ( P  > 0.05). Chemical activation induces higher ovine oocyte activation than mechanical activation. Ethanol slightly displays higher oocyte activation than calcium ionophore and ionomicine. Sperm selection with SU + ZP increased AR/A and AR/D rates in comparison with SU in fresh and frozen-thawed sperm. According to this, in terms of fertilization rates, chemical activation after ICSI increased oocyte PN formation compared to mechanical activation. Also, fresh sperm treated with SU and SU + ZP were significantly different than frozen-thawed sperm, but between sperm treatments no significant differences were obtained.

Single-user MIMO versus multi-user MIMO in distributed antenna systems with limited feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwarz, Stefan; Heath, Robert W.; Rupp, Markus

2013-12-01

This article investigates the performance of cellular networks employing distributed antennas in addition to the central antennas of the base station. Distributed antennas are likely to be implemented using remote radio units, which is enabled by a low latency and high bandwidth dedicated link to the base station. This facilitates coherent transmission from potentially all available antennas at the same time. Such distributed antenna system (DAS) is an effective way to deal with path loss and large-scale fading in cellular systems. DAS can apply precoding across multiple transmission points to implement single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) transmission. The throughput performance of various SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO transmission strategies is investigated in this article, employing a Long-Term evolution (LTE) standard compliant simulation framework. The previously theoretically established cell-capacity improvement of MU-MIMO in comparison to SU-MIMO in DASs is confirmed under the practical constraints imposed by the LTE standard, even under the assumption of imperfect channel state information (CSI) at the base station. Because practical systems will use quantized feedback, the performance of different CSI feedback algorithms for DASs is investigated. It is shown that significant gains in the CSI quantization accuracy and in the throughput of especially MU-MIMO systems can be achieved with relatively simple quantization codebook constructions that exploit the available temporal correlation and channel gain differences.

Proposal of laser-driven automobile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yabe, Takashi; Oozono, Hirokazu; Taniguchi, Kazumoto; Ohkubo, Tomomasa; Miyazaki, Sho; Uchida, Shigeaki; Baasandash, Choijil

2004-09-01

We propose an automobile driven by piston motion, which is driven by water-laser coupling. The automobile can load a solar-pumped fiber laser or can be driven by ground-based lasers. The vehicle is much useful for the use in other planet in which usual combustion engine cannot be used. The piston is in a closed system and then the water will not be exhausted into vacuum. In the preliminary experiment, we succeeded to drive the cylindrical piston of 0.2g (6mm in diameter) on top of water placed inside the acrylic pipe of 8 mm in inner diameter and the laser is incident from the bottom and focused onto the upper part of water by the lens (f=8mm) attached to the bottom edge.

Coordinated NuSTAR and Swift observations of SU Lyncis: a hard X-ray bright symbiotic star with weak optical signatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopes de Oliveira, Raimundo; Mukai, Koji; Luna, Gerardo Juan Manuel; Sokoloski, Jennifer; Nelson, Thomas; Lucy, Adrian B.

2018-01-01

The variable M giant SU Lyncis was recently identified as the optical counterpart of a hard, thermal X-ray source. Also considering the fact that the star displays weak high-excitation emission, it was classified as a symbiotic system purely powered by accretion without accompanying nuclear fusion. This discovery revealed the existence of a subclass of symbiotics which is "invisible" to optical surveys and thus underestimated since these surveys favour the identification of systems with more intense emission lines that arise when shell-burning is present. At the same time, this discovery opens up a new window to investigate accretion and evolution of symbiotic systems. Here we report on the X-ray and UV properties of SU Lyncis derived from simultaneous NuSTAR and Swift observations. The investigation is focused on the strong photometric variability in UV and on the X-ray spectral characterization, which is associated with a hot thermal plasma with sub-solar abundance and suffering the effects of a relatively dense local absorber. The results are discussed in the context of the accretion geometry and mass of the white dwarf, and the imposed limits to the reflection fraction.

Fixed-wing Aircraft Combat Survivability Analysis for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

H V ul ne ra bi lit y, P K │ H Ti m e Figure 2-2: One vs. One Kill Chain (Single Shot), taken from [6...ENGAGEMENT ENDGAME VULNERABILITY (2) (0) (3) (4) (5) (1) P S S P K │ SS Su sc ep tib ili ty , P H V ul ne ra bi lit y, P K │ H Ti m e Figure 2-3...Evaluation M &S Modeling and Simulation MANPADS Man Portable Air Defense Systems MDS Mission Design Series NMC Non-Mission Capable xii

Vaccine profile of herpes zoster (HZ/su) subunit vaccine.

PubMed

Cunningham, Anthony L; Heineman, Thomas

2017-07-01

Herpes zoster (HZ) causes an often severe and painful rash in older people and may be complicated by prolonged pain (postherpetic neuralgia; PHN) and by dissemination in immune-compromised patients. HZ results from reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, often associated with age-related or other causes of decreased T cell immunity. A live attenuated vaccine boosts this immunity and provides partial protection against HZ, but this decreases with age and declines over 8 years. Areas covered: A new HZ subunit (HZ/su) vaccine combines a key surface VZV glycoprotein (E) with a T cell-boosting adjuvant system (AS01 B ) and is administered by two intramuscular injections two months apart. Expert commentary: HZ/su showed excellent efficacy of ~90% in immunocompetent adults ≥50 and ≥70 years of age, respectively, in the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 phase III controlled trials. Efficacy was unaffected by advancing age and persisted for >3 years. Approximately 9.5% of subjects had severe, but transient (1-2 days) injection site pain, swelling or redness. Compliance with both vaccine doses was high (95%). The vaccine will have a major impact on HZ management. Phase I-II trials showed safety and immunogenicity in severely immunocompromised patients. Phase III trial results are expected soon.

SU(2) Yang-Mills solitons in R2 gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perapechka, I.; Shnir, Ya.

2018-05-01

We construct new family of spherically symmetric regular solutions of SU (2) Yang-Mills theory coupled to pure R2 gravity. The particle-like field configurations possess non-integer non-Abelian magnetic charge. A discussion of the main properties of the solutions and their differences from the usual Bartnik-McKinnon solitons in the asymptotically flat case is presented. It is shown that there is continuous family of linearly stable non-trivial solutions in which the gauge field has no nodes.

Mass gap in the weak coupling limit of (2 +1 )-dimensional SU(2) lattice gauge theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anishetty, Ramesh; Sreeraj, T. P.

2018-04-01

We develop the dual description of (2 +1 )-dimensional SU(2) lattice gauge theory as interacting "Abelian-like" electric loops by using Schwinger bosons. "Point splitting" of the lattice enables us to construct explicit Hilbert space for the gauge invariant theory which in turn makes dynamics more transparent. Using path integral representation in phase space, the interacting closed loop dynamics is analyzed in the weak coupling limit to get the mass gap.

Evaluation in the Design of Complex Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ho, Li-An; Schwen, Thomas M.

2006-01-01

We identify literature that argues the process of creating knowledge-based system is often imbalanced. In most knowledge-based systems, development is often technology-driven instead of requirement-driven. Therefore, we argue designers must recognize that evaluation is a critical link in the application of requirement-driven development models…

Multifunctional benefits of SuDS: techno-economic evaluation of decentralised solutions for urban water management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mijic, Ana; Ossa-Moreno, Juan; Smith, Karl M.

2016-04-01

The increased frequency of extreme weather events associated with climate change poses a significant threat to the integrity and function of critical urban infrastructure - rail, road, telecommunications, power and water supply/sewerage networks. A key threat within the United Kingdom (UK) is the increased risk of pluvial flooding; the conventional approach of channeling runoff to an outfall has proven to be unsustainable during severe storm events. Green infrastructure, in the form of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS), has been proposed as a means of minimising the risk of pluvial flooding. However, despite their technical performance, SuDS uptake in the UK has not reached its full capacity yet, mostly due to reasons that go beyong the engineering realm. This work investigated the strategic role of SuDS retrofit in managing environmental risks to urban infrastructure in London at a catchment level, through an economic appraisal of multifunctional benefits. It was found that by including the multifunctional benefits of SuDS, the economic feasibility of the project improves considerably. The case study has also shown a mechanism towards achieving wider-scale SuDS retrofit, whereby the investments are split amongst multiple stakeholder groups by highlighting the additional benefits each group derives. Groups include water utilities and their users, local government and critical infrastructure owners. Finally, limitations to the existing cost-benefit methdology in the UK were identified, and recommendations made regarding incentives and governmental regulations to enhance the uptake of SuDS in London. The proposed methodology provides compelling and robust, cost-benefit based evidence of SUDS' effectiveness within the flood risk management planning framework, but also with regard to the additional benefits of Nature Based Solutions in urban environments.

Treatment of heavy metals by iron oxide coated and natural gravel media in Sustainable urban Drainage Systems.

PubMed

Norris, M J; Pulford, I D; Haynes, H; Dorea, C C; Phoenix, V R

2013-01-01

Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) filter drains are simple, low-cost systems utilized as a first defence to treat road runoff by employing biogeochemical processes to reduce pollutants. However, the mechanisms involved in pollution attenuation are poorly understood. This work aims to develop a better understanding of these mechanisms to facilitate improved SuDS design. Since heavy metals are a large fraction of pollution in road runoff, this study aimed to enhance heavy metal removal of filter drain gravel with an iron oxide mineral amendment to increase surface area for heavy metal scavenging. Experiments showed that amendment-coated and uncoated (control) gravel removed similar quantities of heavy metals. Moreover, when normalized to surface area, iron oxide coated gravels (IOCGs) showed poorer metal removal capacities than uncoated gravel. Inspection of the uncoated microgabbro gravel indicated that clay particulates on the surface (a natural product of weathering of this material) augmented heavy metal removal, generating metal sequestration capacities that were competitive compared with IOCGs. Furthermore, when the weathered surface was scrubbed and removed, metal removal capacities were reduced by 20%. When compared with other lithologies, adsorption of heavy metals by microgabbro was 10-70% higher, indicating that both the lithology of the gravel, and the presence of a weathered surface, considerably influence its ability to immobilize heavy metals. These results contradict previous assumptions which suggest that gravel lithology is not a significant factor in SuDS design. Based upon these results, weathered microgabbro is suggested to be an ideal lithology for use in SuDS.

Discovering the impact of preceding units' characteristics on the wait time of cardiac surgery unit from statistic data.

PubMed

Liu, Jiming; Tao, Li; Xiao, Bo

2011-01-01

Prior research shows that clinical demand and supplier capacity significantly affect the throughput and the wait time within an isolated unit. However, it is doubtful whether characteristics (i.e., demand, capacity, throughput, and wait time) of one unit would affect the wait time of subsequent units on the patient flow process. Focusing on cardiac care, this paper aims to examine the impact of characteristics of the catheterization unit (CU) on the wait time of cardiac surgery unit (SU). This study integrates published data from several sources on characteristics of the CU and SU units in 11 hospitals in Ontario, Canada between 2005 and 2008. It proposes a two-layer wait time model (with each layer representing one unit) to examine the impact of CU's characteristics on the wait time of SU and test the hypotheses using the Partial Least Squares-based Structural Equation Modeling analysis tool. Results show that: (i) wait time of CU has a direct positive impact on wait time of SU (β = 0.330, p < 0.01); (ii) capacity of CU has a direct positive impact on demand of SU (β = 0.644, p < 0.01); (iii) within each unit, there exist significant relationships among different characteristics (except for the effect of throughput on wait time in SU). Characteristics of CU have direct and indirect impacts on wait time of SU. Specifically, demand and wait time of preceding unit are good predictors for wait time of subsequent units. This suggests that considering such cross-unit effects is necessary when alleviating wait time in a health care system. Further, different patient risk profiles may affect wait time in different ways (e.g., positive or negative effects) within SU. This implies that the wait time management should carefully consider the relationship between priority triage and risk stratification, especially for cardiac surgery.

Microvascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Vildagliptin vs. Sulfonylurea: A Retrospective Study Using German Electronic Medical Records.

PubMed

Kolaczynski, Wlodzimierz M; Hankins, Matthew; Ong, Siew H; Richter, Hartmut; Clemens, Andreas; Toussi, Massoud

2016-09-01

Preliminary data suggest that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may reduce microvascular events, but there is a little evidence to support this from adequate real-world studies. This study aimed to compare microvascular outcomes between patients-prescribed vildagliptin and those prescribed sulfonylurea (SU). This retrospective cohort study was conducted on a large sample from the German electronic medical records database IMS Lifelink Disease Analyzer. We used propensity score-matched samples of patients prescribed either vildagliptin or SU. Exposure was defined as therapy (SU or vildagliptin); primary outcomes were a diagnosis of retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, or diabetic foot ulcer over the observation period in patients with no previous record of these outcomes. Secondary outcome was a composite of any primary outcome occurring in the observation period. In total, 16,321 patients prescribed SU and 4481 prescribed vildagliptin met the inclusion criteria. After propensity score matching, each sample comprised 3015 patients. Mean age was 63.7/64.6 years for SU/vildagliptin, respectively, with mean disease duration of 3.2/3.1 years, and mean treatment duration of 2.5/2.3 years. Treatment with vildagliptin was associated with a significant lower incidence of retinopathy [odds ratio (OR) = 0.55, P = 0.0004], neuropathy (OR 0.71, P = 0.0001), and composite outcome (OR 0.70, P < 0.0001). Incidences of nephropathy and diabetic foot ulcer were lower for vildagliptin, but not significantly so (OR 0.90, P = 0.3920; OR 0.76, P = 0.0742, respectively). There were no significant differences in incident rate ratios (all P > 0.05). Treatment with vildagliptin was associated with a reduced incidence of microvascular complications, especially neuropathy and retinopathy, compared to treatment with SU in this clinical practice setting. Novartis Pharma AG.

Inter- and Intrafractional Positional Uncertainties in Pediatric Radiotherapy Patients With Brain and Head and Neck Tumors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beltran, Chris, E-mail: chris.beltran@stjude.or; Krasin, Matthew J.; Merchant, Thomas E.

2011-03-15

Purpose: To estimate radiation therapy planning margins based on inter- and intrafractional uncertainty for pediatric brain and head and neck tumor patients at different imaging frequencies. Methods: Pediatric patients with brain (n = 83) and head and neck (n = 17) tumors (median age = 7.2 years) were enrolled on an internal review board-approved localization protocol and stratified according to treatment position and use of anesthesia. Megavoltage cone-beam CT (CBCT) was performed before each treatment and after every other treatment. The pretreatment offsets were used to calculate the interfractional setup uncertainty (SU), and posttreatment offsets were used to calculate themore » intrafractional residual uncertainty (RU). The SU and RU are the patient-related components of the setup margin (SM), which is part of the planning target volume (PTV). SU data was used to simulate four intervention strategies using different imaging frequencies and thresholds. Results: The SM based on all patients treated on this study was 2.1 mm (SU = 0.9 mm, RU = 1.9 mm) and varied according to treatment position (supine = 1.8 mm, prone = 2.6 mm) and use of anesthesia (with = 1.7 mm, without = 2.5 mm) because of differences in the RU. The average SU for a 2-mm threshold based on no imaging, once per week imaging, initial five images, and daily imaging was 3.6, 2.1, 2.2, and 0.9 mm, respectively. Conclusion: On the basis of this study, the SM component of the PTV may be reduced to 2 mm for daily CBCT compared with 3.5 mm for weekly CBCT. Considering patients who undergo daily pretreatment CBCT, the SM is larger for those treated in the prone position or smaller for those treated under anesthesia because of differences in the RU.« less

Cumulative childhood risk is associated with a new measure of chronic inflammation in adulthood.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Line Jee Hartmann; Moffitt, Terrie E; Eugen-Olsen, Jesper; Belsky, Daniel W; Danese, Andrea; Harrington, HonaLee; Houts, Renate M; Poulton, Richie; Sugden, Karen; Williams, Benjamin; Caspi, Avshalom

2018-05-09

Childhood risk factors are associated with elevated inflammatory biomarkers in adulthood, but it is unknown whether these risk factors are associated with increased adult levels of the chronic inflammation marker soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). We aimed to test the hypothesis that childhood exposure to risk factors for adult disease is associated with elevated suPAR in adulthood and to compare suPAR with the oft-reported inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP). Prospective study of a population-representative 1972-1973 birth cohort; the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study observed participants to age 38 years. Main childhood predictors were poor health, socioeconomic disadvantage, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), low IQ, and poor self-control. Main adult outcomes were adulthood inflammation measured as suPAR and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP). Participants with available plasma samples at age 38 were included (N = 837, 50.5% male). suPAR (mean 2.40 ng/ml; SD 0.91) was positively correlated with hsCRP (r 0.15, p < .001). After controlling for sex, body mass index (BMI), and smoking, children who experienced more ACEs, lower IQ, or had poorer self-control showed elevated adult suPAR. When the five childhood risks were aggregated into a Cumulative Childhood Risk index, and controlling for sex, BMI, and smoking, Cumulative Childhood Risk was associated with higher suPAR (b 0.10; SE 0.03; p = .002). Cumulative Childhood Risk predicted elevated suPAR, after controlling for hsCRP (b 0.18; SE 0.03; p < .001). Exposure to more childhood risk factors was associated with higher suPAR levels, independent of CRP. suPAR is a useful addition to studies connecting childhood risk to adult inflammatory burden. © 2018 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

2016 System Summary of University Work Plans. Revised

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Board of Governors, State University System of Florida, 2016

2016-01-01

The State University System of Florida has developed three tools that aid in guiding the System's future: (1) The Board of Governors' 2025 System Strategic Plan is driven by goals and associated metrics that stake out where the System is headed; (2) The Board's Annual Accountability Report provides yearly tracking for how the System is progressing…

Exceptionally High Efficient Co-Co2P@N, P-Codoped Carbon Hybrid Catalyst for Visible Light-Driven CO2-to-CO Conversion.

PubMed

Fu, Wen Gan

2018-05-02

Artificial photosynthesis has attracted wide attention, particularly the development of efficient solar light-driven methods to reduce CO2 to form energy-rich carbon-based products. Because CO2 reduction is an uphill process with a large energy barrier, suitable catalysts are necessary to achieve this transformation. In addition, CO2 adsorption on a catalyst and proton transfer to CO2 are two important factors for the conversion reaction，and catalysts with high surface area and more active sites are required to improve the efficiency of CO2 reduction. Here, we report a visible light-driven system for CO2-to-CO conversion that consists of a heterogeneous hybrid catalyst of Co and Co2P nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanolayers codoped with N and P (Co-Co2P@NPC) and a homogeneous Ru(II)-based complex photosensitizer. The average generation rate of CO of the system was up to 35,000 μmol h-1 g-1 with selectivity of 79.1% in 3 h. Linear CO production at an exceptionally high rate of 63,000 μmol h-1 g-1 was observed in the first hour of reaction. Inspired by this highly active catalyst, we also synthesized Co@NC and Co2P@NPC materials and explored their structure, morphology, and catalytic properties for CO2 photoreduction. The results showed that the nanoparticle size, partially adsorbed H2O molecules on the catalyst surface, and the hybrid nature of the systems influenced their photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Coherent States for the Two-Dimensional Dirac-Moshinsky Oscillator Coupled to an External Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ojeda-Guillén, D.; Mota, R. D.; Granados, V. D.

2015-03-01

We show that the (2+1)-dimensional Dirac-Moshinsky oscillator coupled to an external magnetic field can be treated algebraically with the SU(1,1) group theory and its group basis. We use the su(1,1) irreducible representation theory to find the energy spectrum and the eigenfunctions. Also, with the su(1,1) group basis we construct the relativistic coherent states in a closed form for this problem. Supported by SNI-México, COFAA-IPN, EDI-IPN, EDD-IPN, SIP-IPN project number 20140598

A systems immunology approach identifies the collective impact of 5 miRs in Th2 inflammation.

PubMed

Kılıç, Ayşe; Santolini, Marc; Nakano, Taiji; Schiller, Matthias; Teranishi, Mizue; Gellert, Pascal; Ponomareva, Yuliya; Braun, Thomas; Uchida, Shizuka; Weiss, Scott T; Sharma, Amitabh; Renz, Harald

2018-06-07

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease dominated by a CD4+ T helper 2 (Th2) cell signature. The immune response amplifies in self-enforcing loops, promoting Th2-driven cellular immunity and leaving the host unable to terminate inflammation. Posttranscriptional mechanisms, including microRNAs (miRs), are pivotal in maintaining immune homeostasis. Since an altered expression of various miRs has been associated with T cell-driven diseases, including asthma, we hypothesized that miRs control mechanisms ensuring Th2 stability and maintenance in the lung. We isolated murine CD4+ Th2 cells from allergic inflamed lungs and profiled gene and miR expression. Instead of focusing on the magnitude of miR differential expression, here we addressed the secondary consequences for the set of molecular interactions in the cell, the interactome. We developed the Impact of Differential Expression Across Layers, a network-based algorithm to prioritize disease-relevant miRs based on the central role of their targets in the molecular interactome. This method identified 5 Th2-related miRs (mir27b, mir206, mir106b, mir203, and mir23b) whose antagonization led to a sharp reduction of the Th2 phenotype. Overall, a systems biology tool was developed and validated, highlighting the role of miRs in Th2-driven immune response. This result offers potentially novel approaches for therapeutic interventions.

A Flavorful Factoring of the Strong CP Problem

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Agrawal, Prateek; Howe, Kiel

Motivated by the intimate connection between the strong CP problem and the flavor structure of the Standard Model, we present a flavor model that revives and extends the classicmore » $${m_u=0}$$ solution to the strong CP problem. QCD is embedded into a $$SU(3)_1\\times SU(3)_2 \\times SU(3)_3$$ gauge group, with each generation of quarks charged under the respective $SU(3)$. The non-zero value of the up-quark Yukawa coupling (along with the strange quark and bottom-quark Yukawas) is generated by contributions from small instantons at a new scale $$M \\gg \\Lambda_{QCD}$$. The Higgsing of $$SU(3)^3\\to SU(3)_c$$ allows dimension-5 operators that generate the Standard Model flavor structure and can be completed in a simple renormalizable theory. The smallness of the third generation mixing angles can naturally emerge in this picture, and is connected to the smallness of threshold corrections to $$\\bar\\theta$$. Remarkably, $$\\bar\\theta$$ is essentially fixed by the measured quark masses and mixings, and is estimated to be close to the current experimental bound and well within reach of the next generation of neutron and proton EDM experiments.« less

Low frequency driven electromagnetic energy harvester for self-powered system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Byung-Chul; Ataur Rahman, Md; Hyun, Seung-Ho; Chung, Gwiy-Sang

2012-12-01

This paper describes a low frequency driven electromagnetic energy harvester (EMEH) for a self-powered system. The EMEH consists of two thin flame resistant (FR-4) springs, NdFeB permanent magnets, and a copper coil. The FR-4 spring was fabricated by a desk computer numerical control (CNC) 3D modeling machine. The two FR-4 springs were used at the top and bottom sides of the device to reduce the stress on the springs and to achieve linear movement of the moving magnet. The finite element method (FEM) is used to investigate the mechanical properties of the system. The proposed EMEH can generate up to 1.52 mW at a resonance frequency of 16 Hz with an acceleration of 0.2 g (g = 9.8 m s-2) and a superior normalized power density (NPD) of 1.07 mW cm-3 g2. The EMEH attached to the engine of an automobile produced 2.4 mW of power, showing the viability of practical applications.

Unconventional States of Matter with Cold Atoms and Dipolar Molecules

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-08-20

ferromagnetic state. For alkaline-earth fermions, the large SU(2N) symmetry greatly enhances quantum spin fluctuations, which give rises to novel...both bosons and fermions, novel quantum magnetism with large spin SU(2N) al- kaline fermions, novel topological states with synthetic gauge fields...presented in Sect. 1.1. The study of novel quantum magnetism with large spin alkaline earth atoms is presented in Sect. 1.2. In Sect. 1.3, we present our

Smart sign enhancement, phase 2 : final report, September 2007.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-09-01

An on line ordering system, called Smart Sign Ordering System (SSOS), was : developed by The University of Akron for Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) : in 2004. Driven by the demand of managing planning, fabrication, packaging and : delivery,...

Influence of an oxygen-inhibited layer on enamel bonding of dental adhesive systems: surface free-energy perspectives.

PubMed

Ueta, Hirofumi; Tsujimoto, Akimasa; Barkmeier, Wayne W; Oouchi, Hajime; Sai, Keiichi; Takamizawa, Toshiki; Latta, Mark A; Miyazaki, Masashi

2016-02-01

The influence of an oxygen-inhibited layer (OIL) on the shear bond strength (SBS) to enamel and surface free-energy (SFE) of adhesive systems was investigated. The adhesive systems tested were Scotchbond Multipurpose (SM), Clearfil SE Bond (CS), and Scotchbond Universal (SU). Resin composite was bonded to bovine enamel surfaces to determine the SBS, with and without an OIL, of adhesives. The SFE of cured adhesives with and without an OIL were determined by measuring the contact angles of three test liquids. There were no significant differences in the mean SBS of SM and CS specimens with or without an OIL; however, the mean SBS of SU specimens with an OIL was significantly higher than that of SU specimens without an OIL. For all three systems, the mean total SFE (γS), polarity force (γSp), and hydrogen bonding force (γSh) values of cured adhesives with an OIL were significantly higher than those of cured adhesives without an OIL. The results of this study indicate that the presence of an OIL promotes higher SBS of a single-step self-etch adhesive system, but not of a three-step or a two-step self-etch primer system. The SFE values of cured adhesives with an OIL were significantly higher than those without an OIL. The SFE characteristics of the OIL of adhesives differed depending on the type of adhesive. © 2015 Eur J Oral Sci.

Rotational stability of a long field-reversed configuration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barnes, D. C., E-mail: coronadocon@msn.com; Steinhauer, L. C.

2014-02-15

Rotationally driven modes of long systems with dominantly axial magnetic field are considered. We apply the incompressible model and order axial wavenumber small. A recently developed gyro-viscous model is incorporated. A one-dimensional equilibrium is assumed, but radial profiles are arbitrary. The dominant toroidal (azimuthal) mode numbers ℓ=1 and ℓ=2 modes are examined for a variety of non-reversed (B) and reversed profiles. Previous results for both systems with rigid rotor equilibria are reproduced. New results are obtained by incorporation of finite axial wavenumber and by relaxing the assumption of rigid electron and ion rotation. It is shown that the frequently troublesomemore » ℓ=2 field reversed configuration (FRC) mode is not strongly affected by ion kinetic effects (in contrast to non-reversed cases) and is likely stabilized experimentally only by finite length effects. It is also shown that the ℓ=1 wobble mode has a complicated behavior and is affected by a variety of configuration and profile effects. The rotationally driven ℓ=1 wobble is completely stabilized by strong rotational shear, which is anticipated to be active in high performance FRC experiments. Thus, observed wobble modes in these systems are likely not driven by rotation alone.« less