Large-angle Polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation and Reionization

We discuss the effect of matter reionization on the large-angular-scale anisotropy and polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) in the standard CDM model. We separate three cases in which the anisotropy is induced by pure scalar, pure tensor, and mixed metric perturbations respectively. It is found that, if reionization occurs early enough, the polarization can reach a detectable level of sequentially $6\%$, $9\%$, and $6.5\%$ of the anisotropy. In general, a higher degree of polarization implies a dominant contribution from the tensor mode or reionization at high redshift. Since early reionization will suppress small-scale CMBR anisotropies and polarizations significantly, measuring the polarization on few degree scales can be a direct probe of the reionization history of the early universe.Comment: Changes in the revised version: 1. Below Eq. (2), we demonstrate the method of our numerical work, by adding the evolution equations for the Legendre coefficents for both the scalar and tensor mode pertubations. 2. Below Eq. (9), we added a paragraph on discussing the basis we employed in computing the polarization correlation function. 3. In Sec. 4, we have rewritten the first and second paragraphs, where we illustrate how to the explain the discrepancies with the previous wor

Specific IgE Response to Purified and Recombinant Allergens in Latex Allergy

Background In recent years, allergy to natural rubber latex has emerged as a major allergy among certain occupational groups and patients with underlying diseases. The sensitization and development of latex allergy has been attributed to exposure to products containing residual latex proteins. Although improved manufacturing procedures resulted in a considerable reduction of new cases, the potential risk for some patient groups is still great. In addition the prevalent cross-reactivity of latex proteins with other food allergens poses a major concern. A number of purified allergens and a few commercial kits are currently available, but no concerted effort was undertaken to evaluate them. Methods We studied 11 purified latex allergens, Hev b 1 to Hev b 10, and Hev b 13 along with several crude allergen extracts and two commercial ImmunoCAP assays to evaluate specific IgE antibody in the sera from latex allergic patients and controls. Health care workers and spina bifida patients with clinical symptoms of latex allergy, spina bifida patients without latex allergy, and non-atopic health care workers have been studied. Results The results suggest that Hev b 2, 5, 6, and 13 together identified over 80 percent health care workers with latex allergy, while Hev b 6 along with Hev b 1 or 3 detected specific IgE antibody in all sera studied from patients with spina bifida and latex allergy. The ImmunoCAP results using both Hev b 5 amplified and non-amplified closely agreed with the clinical diagnosis of latex allergy in health care workers and in spina bifida. Conclusion Although the purified allergens and crude extracts reacted diversely with IgE from different patient groups, the results indicated that use of certain combinations of purified recombinant antigens will be useful in commercial kits or in in-house assays for detecting specific IgE antibody in the sera. The results suggest that a combination of Hev b 2, 3, 5, 6, and 13 together detected specific IgE in 80% of the sera from latex allergic patients. Both ImmunoCAPs correctly identified over 95% of latex allergic patients, however, showed reactivity with a few normal control subject

Molecular profile of sensitization in subjects with short occupational exposure to latex

Objectives: We examined the prevalence of latex allergy in subjects with occupational exposure to latex allergens for less than 5 years, determining the disease spectrum in symptomatic workers. We identified the most frequent molecular allergens by Immuno- CAP (ICAP), correlating the findings with skin prick test (SPT) results. Material and Methods: Seven hundred twenty-three healthcare students using latex gloves on a regular basis were invited to participate in a baseline questionnaire screening. An ICAP serum test was performed only when a possible latex allergy was indicated by the questionnaire. Results: The total number of participants responding to the baseline survey was 619. Glove-related symptoms were indicated by 4% (N = 25) of the students. The most common symptom was contact dermatitis (N = 18, 72%). In 12 subjects, ICAP revealed a real sensitization to latex, with a recombinant latex allergen profile showing a high frequency for rHev b 6.01 specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) (N = 9, 67%). In these individuals, skin symptoms were more prevalent than other types (88%). Conclusions: The combined positivity for rHev b 6.01, rHev 8 and rHev b 5 determined by ICAP identified 92% of latex-allergic subjects with short-term exposure to latex

Hubbard Model with Luscher fermions

First applications of the new algorithm simulating dynamical fermions are reported. The method reproduces previous results obtained with different techniques.Comment: talk presented at the XII International Symposium LATTICE94, Bielefeld, Germany, September 1994, to appear in the Proceedings. 3 pages, LATEX, required Elsevier espcrc2.sty style file is attached at the end of this LATEX text. Postscript figures included in the latex document with the epsf facilit

BRS Cohomology of Zero Curvature Systems II. The Noncomplete Ladder Case

The Yang-Mills type theories and their BRS cohomology are analysed within the zero curvature formalism.Comment: 14 pages, latex, no figures, latex improve