Unparticle effects in rare (t -> c g g) decay

Rare (t -> c g g) decay can only appear at loop level in the Standard Model (SM), and naturally they are strongly suppressed. These flavor changing decays induced by the mediation of spin-0 and spin-2 unparticles, can appear at tree level in unparticle physics. In this work the virtual effects of unparticle physics in the flavor-changing (t -> c g g) decay is studied. Using the SM result for the branching ratio of the (t -> c g g) decay, the parameter space of d_U and Lambda_U, where the branching ratio of this decay exceeds the one predicted by the SM, is obtained. Measurement of the branching ratio larger than 10^(-9) can give valuable information for establishing unparticle physics.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX formatte

Calculation of the B_{c}leptonic decay constant using the shifted N-expansion method

We give a review and present a comprehensive calculation for the leptonic constant B_{c} of the low-lying pseudoscalar and vector states of B_{c}-meson in the framework of static and QCD-motivated nonrelativistic potential models taking into account the one-loop and two-loop QCD corrections in the short distance coefficient that governs the leptonic constant of $B_{c}$ quarkonium system. Further, we use the scaling relation to predict the leptonic constant of the nS-states of the (b_bar)c system. Our results are compared with other models to gauge the reliability of the predictions and point out differences.Comment: 26 page

Being tolerated and being discriminated against:Links to psychological well-being through threatened social identity needs

We investigated whether and how the experience of being tolerated and of being discriminated against are associated with psychological well‐being in three correlational studies among three stigmatized groups in Turkey (LGBTI group members, people with disabilities, and ethnic Kurds, total N = 862). Perceived threat to social identity needs (esteem, meaning, belonging, efficacy, and continuity) was examined as a mediator in these associations. Structural equation models showed evidence for the detrimental role of both toleration and discrimination experiences on positive and negative psychological well‐being through higher levels of threatened social identity needs. A mini‐meta analysis showed small to moderate effect sizes and toleration was associated with lower positive well‐being through threatened needs among all three stigmatized groups

SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE, FOLATE, VITAMIN B12 LEVELS AND OXIDATIVE LIPID AND PROTEIN DAMAGE MARKERS IN DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS. THE EFFECT OF SERTRALINE TREATMENT

Previous studies have supported an association between low levels folate, vitamin B12 levels and elevated homocysteine levels as possible predictors of depression. Hyperhomocysteinemia induces free radical production, leading to alteration of oxidative lipid and protein modifications. Vitamin supplementation or antidepressants may reduce risk factors underlying depression. The aims of this study were to determine serum levels of protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 in depressive patients and to compare them with healthy controls; and to investigate the effects of sertraline (50 mg/day) treatment during 45 days. 23 depressed patients and 23 healthy controls participated in this study. Serum protein carbonylation was determined by spectrophotometric measurement of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrason formation. Malondialdehyde levels were determined by spectrophotometric measurement of colour which was the reaction between thiobarbituric acid and malonclialdehyde. Serum homocysteine levels were measured by HPLC, and vitamin B12 and folate levels - by radioimmunoassay. There was no remarkable difference in protein carbonylation, malondialdehyde formation, homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels between healthy control group and depressed patients. Sertraline treatment caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels. The findings suggest that sertraline treatment caused decreasing in oxidative stress by lowering lipid peroxidation in depressed patients

Evolving ischaemic cortical vasculopathy in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: report of three cases

22nd Meeting of the European-Neurological-Society -- JUN 09-12, 2012 -- Prague, CZECH REPUBLICWOS: 000306083200454…European Neurol So

A new ethanol biosensor based on polyfluorene-g-poly(ethylene glycol) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Functionalization of the conjugated polymers has gained considerable interest in the biomedical engineering and biosensing applications as distinct properties can be imparted to the corresponding pristine analogues. In the present work, we report a novel sensing platform for the quantification of ethanol through a macromolecular design involving polyfluorene-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PF-g-PEG) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). First, poly(ethylene glycol) with fluorene functionality (PEG-FL) was synthesized with a one-step procedure and characterized. The nanotube modified electrodes were then used as working electrodes for the electropolymerization of PEG-FL macromonomer to form PF-g-PEG films on the electrode surface. Finally, alcohol oxidase enzyme was immobilized on the modified surfaces. Similar devices without MWCNTs or PF-g-PEG were prepared and compared. Sensor properties for selective ethanol detection were investigated and it was found that PF-g-PEG modified MWCNTs exhibited the highest sensing ability. The potential practical application of the fabricated biosensor is demonstrated in alcoholic drinks for the analysis of ethanol contents

QoS-based mobility system for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles wireless networks

In the era of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) several kinds of applications were born to make use of these autonomous vehicles, from surveillance to emergency management, from entertainment to package delivery. All these systems are based on the autonomous capability of the unmanned vehicles. The common factor of such systems is the use of an ad-hoc wireless network that enables the communication among the vehicles. However, guaranteeing an effective level of Quality-of-Service in the UAVs wireless network is hard to reach because of the unpredictable nature of such a system. Multiple solutions have emerged to address this problem, like enhanced communication protocols or mobility control systems that exploit the autonomous mobility of such vehicles. Nevertheless, none of those solutions have real affect on the end-to-end QoS performance. This paper aims to address the issue of guaranteeing the wireless network connectivity while providing Quality-of-Service at network layer, i.e., the proposed system will dynamically adapt its topology in order to increase the end-to-end network performance by using nature-inspired algorithm