System-size dependence of strangeness production in high-energy A+A collisions and percolation of strings

We argue that the shape of the system-size dependence of strangeness production in nucleus-nucleus collisions can be understood in a picture that is based on the formation of clusters of overlapping strings. A string percolation model combined with a statistical description of the hadronization yields a quantitative agreement with the data at sqrt s_NN = 17.3 GeV. The model is also applied to RHIC energies

Elektrochemische Untersuchungen zur Porosität von Nanoschichten auf Kohlenstoff-Basis

Die Porosität unterschiedlich hergestellter Schichten auf Kohlenstoff-Basis wurde mit Hilfe der Zyklovoltammetrie untersucht und verglichen. Die Bestimmung der Porosität erfolgte zunächst anhand der Auflösestromdichte des metallischen Substrats, auf dem die verschiedenen Schichtsysteme abgeschieden wurden. Dazu wurde das Schicht/Substrat-System einem für das Substrat Eisen korrosiven Medium ausgesetzt und der Substrat-Auflösestrom durch die Poren hindurch elektrochemisch gemessen. Als Beschichtungsverfahren kamen Aufdampfen mit anschließendem Ionenbeschuss, Plasma-aktivierte Chemische Gasphasenabscheidung sowie die Gasphasenpolymerisation zum Einsatz. Alle diese Prozesse fanden unter Vakuumbedingungen statt, bei niedrigen, substratschonenden Temperaturen. Die erhaltenen Schichten wurden mit Hilfe der Raman-Spektroskopie, Sekundärionen-Massenspektrometrie, Rasterelektronen-Mikroskopie und eines Profilometers in ihren Eigenschaften wie Zusammensetzung, Struktur und Dicke charakterisiert. Anhand der gemessenen Stromdichte-Potenzial-Kurven konnte der Einfluss verschiedener Herstellungsparameter auf die Schichtporosität untersucht werden. Dabei zeigte sich, dass sich die Porosität der meisten untersuchten Schichtsysteme mit zunehmender Schichtdicke verringert, oberhalb einer bestimmten Dicke aber wieder zunimmt, bedingt durch Rissbildung aufgrund von intrinsischem Stress. Nur bei den Polymerschichten aus Poly(para-xylylen) nimmt die Porosität mit zunehmender Schichtdicke stetig ab und es konnten schließlich porenfreie Polymerfilme ab einer Dicke von 700 nm erhalten werden. Des weiteren konnte anhand der in den Zyklovoltammogrammen beobachteten Potenzial-verschiebungen ein Modell entwickelt werden, welches die Verschiebungen erklärt und zudem weitere, komplementäre Informationen über die Gestalt der Poren in der Schicht liefern kann

Midpalatinale Sutur Expansion gemessen an Implantaten nach Björk

Es wurden Grafiken aus den Studien „Expansion of the midpalatal suture by removable plates, analysed by the implant method“ von Skieller (1964) und “Midpalatal suture expansion studied by the implant method over a seven-year period” von Krebs (1964) die im Rahmen der „Transactions of the European Orthodontic Society“ 1964 präsentiert wurden, ausgewertet und verglichen. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit zeigen sehr deutlich die Effektivität der Behandlung eines Kreuzbisses im Seitenzahngebiet durch kieferorthopädische Expansion des Oberkiefers. Es besteht kein Unterschied zwischen den untersuchten Behandlungsmethoden. Nicht nur im Seitenzahngebiet, sondern auch im skelettalen Bereich der Maxilla, ist ein Erfolg der Expansion messbar, der inital bei der RME größer ist als bei langsamer Expansion. Im weiteren Beobachtungsverlauf kommt es jedoch zu einer Annäherung der Ergebnisse, so dass nach diesem Ergebnissen keine der beiden Therapieformen der anderen überlegen ist

An investigation of minimisation criteria

Minimisation can be used within treatment trials to ensure that prognostic factors are evenly distributed between treatment groups. The technique is relatively straightforward to apply but does require running tallies of patient recruitments to be made and some simple calculations to be performed prior to each allocation. As computing facilities have become more widely available, minimisation has become a more feasible option for many. Although the technique has increased in popularity, the mode of application is often poorly reported and the choice of input parameters not justified in any logical way

An inflamed necrotic appendix epiploicum with immediate contact to a non-inflamed appendix vermiformis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of focal abdominal pain which, depending on its localisation, can mimic a variety of abdominal diseases. We describe a patient with an inflamed necrotic appendix epiploicum with immediate contact to a non-inflamed appendix vermiformis mimicking acute appendicitis. Considering the rare localization, this is the first report of this kind in the literature.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 50-year-old Caucasian man who presented with classic signs of acute appendicitis. On clinical exam, McBurney and Blumberg signs were positive. Additionally he had fever, leucocytosis (12/nl) and a slight increase in C-reactive protein (1 mg/dl). Based on the clinical presentation, the patient was taken to the operating room to perform an appendicectomy. Surprisingly, we found an inflamed necrotic appendix epiploicum, located immediately on a non-inflamed appendix vermiformis, which was ligated and excised.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case report demonstrates that epiploic appendagitis can mimic acute appendicitis on clinical exam and should be considered in the broad spectrum of abdominal disease presenting with right lower quadrant pain.</p

Multiscale simulation approach to predict the penetration depth of oil between chip and tool during orthogonal cutting of AISI 4140

Cooling lubricants in machining perform important tasks, from cooling and lubrication of the friction partners in contact to the removal of the separated chips. An essential, determining and largely unresolved question in relation to cooling lubricants in ma-chining is to what extent the coolant can get into the cutting zone. The aim of this paper is to address this question by using a multiscale approach to determine the penetration of the cooling lubricant gap. This is achieved by multiscale simulations by means of coupling the results of flow, structural and continuum mechanical simulations. Comparatively, the results of the simulated machining operation are compared with experimental orthogonal cutting tests of AISI 4140

Field-study science classrooms as positive and enjoyable learning environments

We investigated differences between field-study classrooms and traditional science classrooms in terms of the learning environment and students’ attitudes to science, as well as the differential effectiveness of field-study classrooms for students differing in sex and English proficiency. A modified version of selected scales from the What Is Happening In this Class? questionnaire was used to assess the learning environment, whereas students’ attitudes were assessed with a shortened version of a scale from the Test of Science Related Attitudes. A sample of 765 grade 5 students from 17 schools responded to the learning environment and attitude scales in terms of both their traditional science classrooms and classrooms at a field-study centre in Florida. Large effect sizes supported the effectiveness of the field-studies classroom in terms of both the learning environment and student attitudes. Relative to the home school science class, the field-study class was considerably more effective for students with limited English proficiency than for native English speakers

A Simple Artificial Life Model Explains Irrational Behavior in Human Decision-Making

Although praised for their rationality, humans often make poor decisions, even in simple situations. In the repeated binary choice experiment, an individual has to choose repeatedly between the same two alternatives, where a reward is assigned to one of them with fixed probability. The optimal strategy is to perseverate with choosing the alternative with the best expected return. Whereas many species perseverate, humans tend to match the frequencies of their choices to the frequencies of the alternatives, a sub-optimal strategy known as probability matching. Our goal was to find the primary cognitive constraints under which a set of simple evolutionary rules can lead to such contrasting behaviors. We simulated the evolution of artificial populations, wherein the fitness of each animat (artificial animal) depended on its ability to predict the next element of a sequence made up of a repeating binary string of varying size. When the string was short relative to the animats’ neural capacity, they could learn it and correctly predict the next element of the sequence. When it was long, they could not learn it, turning to the next best option: to perseverate. Animats from the last generation then performed the task of predicting the next element of a non-periodical binary sequence. We found that, whereas animats with smaller neural capacity kept perseverating with the best alternative as before, animats with larger neural capacity, which had previously been able to learn the pattern of repeating strings, adopted probability matching, being outperformed by the perseverating animats. Our results demonstrate how the ability to make predictions in an environment endowed with regular patterns may lead to probability matching under less structured conditions. They point to probability matching as a likely by-product of adaptive cognitive strategies that were crucial in human evolution, but may lead to sub-optimal performances in other environments

Higher Rates of Hemolysis Are Not Associated with Albuminuria in Jamaicans with Sickle Cell Disease

BACKGROUND: Albuminuria is a marker of glomerular damage in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). In this study, we sought to determine the possible predictors of albuminuria in the two more prevalent genotypes of SCD among the Jamaica Sickle Cell Cohort Study participants. METHODS: An age-matched cohort of 122 patients with HbSS or HbSC genotypes had measurements of their morning urine albumin concentration, blood pressure, body mass index, haematology and certain biochemistry parameters done. Associations of albuminuria with possible predictors including hematological parameters, reticulocyte counts, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were examined using multiple regression models. RESULTS: A total of 122 participants were recruited (mean age 28.6 years ±2.5 years; 85 HbSS, 37 HbSC). 25.9% with HbSS and 10.8% with HbSC disease had microalbuminuria (urine albumin/creatinine ratio  =  30-300 mg/g of creatinine) whereas 16.5% of HbSS and 2.7% of HbSC disease had macroalbuminuria (urine albumin/creatinine ratio>300 mg/g of creatinine). Mean arterial pressure, hemoglobin levels, serum creatinine, reticulocyte counts and white blood cell counts were statistically significant predictors of albuminuria in HbSS, whereas white blood cell counts and serum creatinine predicted albuminuria in HbSC disease. Both markers of chronic hemolysis, i.e. AST and LDH levels, showed no associations with albuminuria in either genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Renal disease, as evidenced by excretion of increased amounts of albumin in urine due to a glomerulopathy, is a common end-organ complication in SCD. It is shown to be more severe in those with HbSS disease than in HbSC disease. Rising blood pressure, lower hemoglobin levels and higher white blood cell counts are hints to the clinician of impending renal disease, whereas higher rates of hemolysis do not appear to play a role in this complication of SCD