Complex Time Solutions with Nontrivial Topology and Multi Particle Scattering in Yang-Mills Theory

A classical solution to the Yang-Mills theory is given a new semiclassical interpretation in terms of particle scattering. It solves the complex time boundary value problem, which arises in the semiclassical approximation to a multi particle transition probability in the one-instanton sector at fixed energy. The imaginary part of the action of the solution on the complex time contour and its topological charge obey the same relation as the self-dual Euclidean configurations. Hence the solution is relevant for the problem of tunneling with fermion number violation in the electroweak theory. It describes transitions from an initial state with a smaller number of particles to a final state with a larger number of particles. The implications of these results for multi particle production in the electroweak theory are also discussed.Comment: 10 pgs. (LaTeX), JHU-TIPAC-93001

The additional value of patient-reported health status in predicting 1-year mortality after invasive coronary procedures: A report from the Euro Heart Survey on Coronary Revascularisation

Objective: Self-perceived health status may be helpful in identifying patients at high risk for adverse outcomes. The Euro Heart Survey on Coronary Revascularization (EHS-CR) provided an opportunity to explore whether impaired health status was a predictor of 1-year mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing angiographic procedures. Methods: Data from the EHS-CR that included 5619 patients from 31 member countries of the European Society of Cardiology were used. Inclusion criteria for the current study were completion of a self-report measure of health status, the EuroQol Questionnaire (EQ-5D) at discharge and information on 1-year follow-up, resulting in a study population of 3786 patients. Results: The 1-year mortality was 3.2% (n = 120). Survivors reported fewer problems on the five dimensions of the EQ-5D as compared with non-survivors. A broad range of potential confounders were adjusted for, which reached a p<0.10 in the unadjusted analyses. In the adjusted analyses, problems with self-care (OR 3.45; 95% CI 2.14 to 5.59) and a low rating (≤ 60) on health status (OR 2.41; 95% CI 1.47 to 3.94) were the most powerful independent predictors of mortality, among the 22 clinical variables included in the analysis. Furthermore, patients who reported no problems on all five dimensions had significantly lower 1-year mortality rates (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.81). Conclusions: This analysis shows that impaired health status is associated with a 2-3-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with CAD, independent of other conventional risk factors. These results highlight the importance of including patients' subjective experience of their own health status in the evaluation strategy to optimise risk stratification and management in clinical practice

Electrochemical formation and investigation of a self-assembled [60]fullerene monolayer.

The formation and characterisation of a C(60) monolayer at the electrode|electrolyte interface has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, potential step chronoamperometry and ac voltammetry. The presence of the monolayer is evidenced by the presence of a very sharp peak P in the voltammogram, attributed to the faradaic phase formation of an ordered monolayer, and of a reduction post peak Q associated with the reduction of adsorbed species. The chronoamperograms exhibit a well-defined maximum, characteristic of a nucleation and growth mechanism. By comparison with existing models of phase transitions, a progressive polynucleation and growth mechanism is demonstrated. The monolayer is proposed to consist of a 2D fulleride salt. It is suggested that the formation of the monolayer can take place for a broad range of solution compositions, but requires an atomically smooth substrate such as mercury

Mitigation of soft storey failures of RC structures under earthquake by encased steel profiles

peer reviewe

Voltammetry Involving Amalgam Formation and Anodic Stripping in Weakly Supported Media: Theory and Experiment

The voltammetric behavior of the Tl(I)/Tl(Hg) redox couple at a small mercury hemisphere (45 -m radius) is theoretically and experimentally investigated in the presence of various concentrations of supporting electrolyte, covering the range between "self-supported" (no electrolyte) to "fully supported" (very large excess of supporting electrolyte). A theoretical model is described, implementing the Nernst-Planck-Poisson equations, to account for both diffusional and migrational contributions to the mass transport, as well as for the potential distribution in solution. The model accurately reproduces the experimental results and then is used to predict the cathodic and anodic peak potentials and intensities for a wide range of supporting conditions, potential sweep rates, and electrode sizes. The influence of diffusion (linear vs spherical, semi-infinite vs finite), electrode size, and potential drop in solution are discussed in light of the theoretical and experimental results. © 2010 American Chemical Society

Two INnovations for Earthquake Resistant Design: The INERD Project.

The project develops two innovations. The first innovation promotes a construction measure by which the "soft storey" mechanism is obviated in the lower storeys of reinforced concrete (R.C.) frames by encasing steel profiles in R.C. columns in order to provide them with a basic reliable shear, bending and compression resistance. Tests are performed and comparison of the behaviour of reference reinforced concrete and composite specimens made. Several parameters are studied: axial load, length of anchorage, stiffeners in the panel zone, weak and strong axis bending, configurations with and without infills. The study defines design rules for steel profiles to be encased in ductile R.C. columns, formulas for the behaviour of local strut and tie mechanism in presence of infills and formulas for the calculation of the shear resistance of a composite beam-to-column panel zone in configurations without infills. The second innovation consists in using dissipative connections for diagonals of frames with concentric bracings. Two types of connections are studied: the “pin” connections, made of bent rounded or rectangular bars, and “U-device” connection, made of plates bent in U. Their behaviour is studied experimentally on connections and on complete bracings. Design rules are defined, especially for the pin connection, and fatigue curves obtained. The applicability and interest are set forward by numerical studies and comparative design of structures with classical and with dissipative connections. The innovation demonstrates a higher capacity to dissipate energy. It can be translated into higher behaviour factor q

Behaviour of single-sided composite joints at room temperature and in case of fire after an earthquake

peer reviewedIn 2003, a European research program entitled “PRECIOUS - Prefabricated composite beam-to-concrete filled tube or partially reinforced-concrete-encased column connections for severe seismic and fire loadings” and funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) was initiated for three years (Bursi et al, 2008). The objective of this project was to develop fundamental data, design guidelines and prequalification tools for two types of composite beam-to-column joints able to ensure a suitable behaviour during an earthquake and its eventual subsequent fire. At the University of Liege, as part of this project, analytical and numerical investigations were conducted mainly on single-sided beam-to-column composite joints at room and at elevated temperatures. The present paper summarizes the activities developed within this project and presents the main achievements