Universal spectral statistics in Wigner-Dyson, chiral and Andreev star graphs I: construction and numerical results

In a series of two papers we investigate the universal spectral statistics of chaotic quantum systems in the ten known symmetry classes of quantum mechanics. In this first paper we focus on the construction of appropriate ensembles of star graphs in the ten symmetry classes. A generalization of the Bohigas-Giannoni-Schmit conjecture is given that covers all these symmetry classes. The conjecture is supported by numerical results that demonstrate the fidelity of the spectral statistics of star graphs to the corresponding Gaussian random-matrix theories.Comment: 15 page

Prevalence and Predictor of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mothers of 0 to 6 months Infants from Pastoralists and Hunters’ Community in Tanzania; A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Initiating breastfeeding during the first hour after birth and continuing breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months prevents childhood infections such as diarrhoea. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life of the baby is recognised globally as the best and the most effective intervention to ensure the survival of babies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EBF and its predictors among mothers of 0 to 6 months infants from pastoralists and hunters’ community in Manyara region-Tanzania. Methods: This was a community-based analytical cross-sectional study that involved 342 mothers of 0 to 6 months infants who were randomly selected through 4 stage multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using an intervieweradministered questionnaire. Collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Binary Logistic Regression analysis was used to establish factors associated with EBF practices. Results: The prevalence of EBF among postnatal women from hunters and pastoralists societies was 47.1% at 95% CI=41.7%-52.5%. After adjusted for confounders, the predictors of EBF practice were age of infants (0-1 months, AOR= 2.838 at 95% CI = 1.326-6.075, p=.007), age of mothers (26-35 years, AOR=1.851 at 95% CI= 1.059-3.234, p=.031), Level of education of infants’ mothers (primary education, AOR= 2.374 at 95% CI= 1.321-4.265, p=.004) and knowledge on exclusive breast feeding, AOR=2.51 at 95% CI= 1.435-4.393, p=.001. Conclusion: Majority of mothers from pastoralists’ and hunters’ societies were not practising EBF. Predictors of EBF practice were; the age of infants, maternal age, level of education of the mother and knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding. Poor EBF practice was mainly contributed to low level of knowledge about the EBF. The low level of knowledge could have been contributed by poor access to maternal services. Nature of living (lack of permanent settlement) of the study population could have contributed to low access to maternal  services. An innovative interventional study is highly recommended to come up with strategies that will improve knowledge on EBF and practice of EB

QED from six-dimensional vortex and gauge anomalies

Starting from an anomaly-free Abelian Higgs model coupled to gravity in a 6-dimensional space-time we construct an effective four-dimensional theory of charged fermions interacting with U(1) Abelian gauge field and gravity, both localised near the core of a Nielsen-Olesen vortex configuration. We show that an anomaly free theory in 6-dimensions can give rise to an anomalous theory in D=4, which suggests a possibility of consistent regularisation of abelian anomalous chiral gauge theories in four dimensions. We also show that the spectrum of charged bulk fermions has a mass gap.Comment: Latex, 19 page

Effect of Neem Kernel Cake Powder (NKCP) on Fusarium Wilt of Tomato when Used as Soil Amendment

A study was conducted to investigate effect of Neem Kernel Cake Powder (NKCP) at 1.75, 3.5 and 7g rates on development of tomato Fusarium wilt in 1997 at the National Horticultural Research Center, Thika, Kenya. Inoculum density of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) was two 14mm - diameter disks per planting hole taken from 10 day old cultures growing on PDA. Plant performance was based on shoot height and weight; stem diameter; number and weight of tomato fruits. Disease assessment was based on wilt index of shoots and length of discolouration of vascular tissues. Performance of plants grown in NKCP amended and non-amended soils was significantly (p=0.05) different (33.3 - 93.3%). Disease severity based on the wilt index (0.53-2.87) and length of discoloured vascular tissues (7.4cm - 25.62cm) differed significantly (p=0.05) among treatments

A Retrospective Study of Acute Poisoning in Children under 5 Years Old Admitted to Alexandria Poison Center in Egypt

Abstract Childhood poisoning represents a major public health preventable problem worldwide. It has been identified that unintentional poisoning is the most common circumstances of poisoning in young children. Various drugs and chemical compounds have been implicated such as kerosene being the most common household agent. Aim: The current study aimed to retrospectively study acute poisoning in children less than 5 years old admitted to Alexandria Poison Center (APC) at Alexandria Main University hospital as regards; pattern of childhood poisoning (incidence and prevalence), risk factors related to poisoning accidents and the outcome. Subjects and Methods: All patients aged less than 5 years with acute poisoning admitted to Alexandria Poison Center at Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, during the period of 8 months started from 1st January to 31st August 2012 were included in the study. Results: This retrospective study involved 620 intoxicated children which represented 20.7% of total poisoning cases admitted to APC at that period of time. The incidence of poisoning was found to be highest in children aged between 3 to 5 years old and constituted 49.1% and 39.6% of males and females respectively. The mode of poisoning was found to be accidental with no reported cases of neither homicidal nor suicidal poisonings. The most common agent of toxicity in children was found to be kerosene, followed by chlorine and cholinesterase inhibitor insecticide. The outcome of most of cases (84.5%) was recovery and discharge, with 10.5% being admitted to (Intensive Care Unit) ICU and 5% mortality rate. Conclusion: Risk factors for unintentional poisoning in children involve accessibility to hazardous chemicals and medicines caused by unsafe storage, aggressive child's behavior, unsafe storage of kerosene oil and petrol, low socioeconomic status as well as low educational level of the mother

What support do frontline workers want? A qualitative study of health and social care workers' experiences and views of psychosocial support during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on the mental health and wellbeing of frontline health and social care workers. The need to support frontline staff has been recognised. However, there is to date little research specifically on how best to support the mental health needs of frontline workers, and none on their own experiences and views about what might be most helpful. Aims: We set out to redress this research gap by qualitatively exploring UK frontline health and social care workers’ own experiences and views of psychosocial support during the pandemic. Method: Frontline health and social care workers were recruited purposively through social media and by snowball sampling via healthcare colleagues. Workers who volunteered to take part in the study were interviewed remotely following a semi-structured interview guide. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed by the research team following the principles of Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results: We conducted 25 interviews with frontline workers from a variety of professional groups working in health and social care settings across the UK. Themes derived from our analysis showed that workers’ experiences and views about psychosocial support were complex. Peer support was many workers’ first line of support but could also be experienced as a burden. Workers were ambivalent about support shown by organisations, media and the public. Whilst workers valued psychological support services, there were many disparities in provision and barriers to access. Conclusions: The results of this study show that frontline health and social care workers are likely to need a flexible system of support including peer, organisational and professional support. More research is needed to fully unpack the structural, systemic and individual barriers to accessing psychosocial support. Greater collaboration, consultation and co-production of support services and their evaluation is warranted

On some new warped brane world solutions in higher dimensions

We present new solutions of higher dimensional Einstein's equations with a cosmological constant that localize gravity on branes which are transverse to Ricci-flat manifolds or to homogeneous spaces with topologically non-trivial solutions of gauge field equations. These solutions are relevant for the localization of chiral fermions on a brane. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V

Replica Limit of the Toda Lattice Equation

In a recent breakthrough Kanzieper showed that it is possible to obtain exact nonperturbative Random Matrix results from the replica limit of the corresponding Painlev\'e equation. In this article we analyze the replica limit of the Toda lattice equation and obtain exact expressions for the resolvent of the chiral Unitary Ensemble both in the quenched limit and in the presence of additional massive flavors. This derivation explains in a natural way the appearance of both compact and noncompact integrals, the hallmark of the supersymmetric method, in the replica limit of the expression for the resolvent. We also show that the supersymmetric partition function and the partition function with fermionic replicas are related through the Toda lattice equation.Comment: 4 pages, latex. One reference added. Discussion of GUE now in the main text. Note added. Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Seismic risk in the city of Al Hoceima (north of Morocco) using the vulnerability index method, applied in Risk-UE project

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2566-8Al Hoceima is one of the most seismic active regions in north of Morocco. It is demonstrated by the large seismic episodes reported in seismic catalogs and research studies. However, seismic risk is relatively high due to vulnerable buildings that are either old or don’t respect seismic standards. Our aim is to present a study about seismic risk and seismic scenarios for the city of Al Hoceima. The seismic vulnerability of the existing residential buildings was evaluated using the vulnerability index method (Risk-UE). It was chosen to be adapted and applied to the Moroccan constructions for its practicality and simple methodology. A visual inspection of 1102 buildings was carried out to assess the vulnerability factors. As for seismic hazard, it was evaluated in terms of macroseismic intensity for two scenarios (a deterministic and probabilistic scenario). The maps of seismic risk are represented by direct damage on buildings, damage to population and economic cost. According to the results, the main vulnerability index of the city is equal to 0.49 and the seismic risk is estimated as Slight (main damage grade equal to 0.9 for the deterministic scenario and 0.7 for the probabilistic scenario). However, Moderate to heavy damage is expected in areas located in the newer extensions, in both the east and west of the city. Important economic losses and damage to the population are expected in these areas as well. The maps elaborated can be a potential guide to the decision making in the field of seismic risk prevention and mitigation strategies in Al Hoceima.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Effectiveness, acceptability and potential harms of peer support for self-harm in non-clinical settings: systematic review

BACKGROUND: Many people who have self-harmed prefer informal sources of support or support from those with lived experience. However, little is known about whether peer support improves outcomes for people who have self-harmed or about the risks of peer support interventions in non-clinical settings. AIMS: The aims of this review were to examine the effectiveness, acceptability and potential risks of peer support for self-harm, and how these risks might be mitigated. METHOD: We searched bibliographic databases and grey literature for papers published since 2000. We included peer support for self-harm that occurred in voluntary-sector organisations providing one-to-one or group support, or via moderated online peer support forums. RESULTS: Eight of the ten papers included focused on peer support that was delivered through online media. No study compared peer support with other treatments or a control group, so limited conclusions could be made about its effectiveness. Peer support for self-harm was found to be acceptable and was viewed as having a range of benefits including a sense of community, empowerment, and access to information and support. The most commonly perceived risk associated with peer support was the potential for triggering self-harm. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted a range of benefits of being part of a group with very specific shared experiences. Mitigations for potential risks include organisations using professional facilitators for groups, trigger warnings for online forums, and providing regular supervision and training so that peers are prepared and feel confident to support vulnerable people while maintaining their own emotional health