Studying a relativistic field theory at finite chemical potential with the density matrix renormalization group

The density matrix renormalization group is applied to a relativistic complex scalar field at finite chemical potential. The two-point function and various bulk quantities are studied. It is seen that bulk quantities do not change with the chemical potential until it is larger than the minimum excitation energy. The technical limitations of the density matrix renormalization group for treating bosons in relativistic field theories are discussed. Applications to other relativistic models and to nontopological solitons are also suggested.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures; v2: title changed; references added, conclusions expanded, to be published in PR

Towards validation of a new computerised test of goal neglect: preliminary evidence from clinical and neuroimaging pilot studies

Objective: Goal neglect is a significant problem following brain injury, and is a target for rehabilitation. It is not yet known how neural activation might change to reflect rehabilitation gains. We developed a computerised multiple elements test (CMET), suitable for use in neuroimaging paradigms. Design: Pilot correlational study and event-related fMRI study. Methods: In Study 1, 18 adults with acquired brain injury were assessed using the CMET, other tests of goal neglect (Hotel Test; Modified Six Elements Test) and tests of reasoning. In Study 2, 12 healthy adults underwent fMRI, during which the CMET was administered under two conditions: self-generated switching and experimenter-prompted switching. Results: Among the clinical sample, CMET performance was positively correlated with both the Hotel Test (r = 0.675, p = 0.003) and the Modified Six Elements Test (r = 0.568, p = 0.014), but not with other clinical or demographic measures. In the healthy sample, fMRI demonstrated significant activation in rostro-lateral prefrontal cortex in the self-generated condition compared with the prompted condition (peak 40, 44, 4; ZE = 4.25, p(FWEcorr) = 0.026). Conclusions: These pilot studies provide preliminary evidence towards the validation of the CMET as a measure of goal neglect. Future studies will aim to further establish its psychometric properties, and determine optimum pre- and post-rehabilitation fMRI paradigms

"Clever dicks do it in a condom"

Teenagers need specific, direct and practical advice about why and how to use condoms, if they are to ever to accept them as a routine part of their sex lives. Nurses need to actively promote effective and consistent condom use, as an element of safer sex, among young people. Three indisputable facts about teenage sex are that: 1) Teenage sex has always happened 2) Numbers of teenage unplanned conceptions in the UK are going down since implementation of the current Teenage Pregnancy Strategy 3) Many unfortunate consequences of unprotected intercourse — such as infections, including HIV, and unplanned conceptions — are avoidable with correct and consistent use of condoms

Future directions: Collaborative learning and education for multi-professional practitioners?

Background: The theme of the 2014 Institute of Psychosexual Medicine (lPM) conference focused on future educational directions. Conference specifically considered the feasibility and potential desirability of widening IPM's hither-to medical education and qualification to registered nurses and physiotherapists'. Aim of the article: - To explore benefits for multi-professional psychosexual learning, in the context of wider debates regarding medical organisations sharing learning opportunities with post-qualified nurses. - To promote the need for cross-discipline development embedded within academic credit frameworks

Do safeguarding concerns deter young people’s access to condoms? Issues about integrating sexual health services online

Condoms have been distributed freely, and regionally across England, since the ‘Teenage Pregnancy Strategy’ (Social Inclusion Unit, 1999) which highlighted England as having one of the highest rates of unplanned teenage conceptions in Western Europe. With the aim of making more accessible contraception and sex safer resources and protecting against infections, young people can obtain free condoms through selected registration and distribution points (Evans, 2005; Hadley and Evans, 2013). In 2003, England and Wales founded the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) in response to high levels of Chlamydia trachomatis found in young people aged between 15 – 24 years (DH, 2012). Key messages for young people in the prevention of Chlamydia infection are: - Consistently use condoms during vaginal, anal or oral sex - Don’t share sex toys without washing them between use or covering with a fresh condom - Consistently use latex dams for cunnilingus (oral sex on a female) and oroanal sex (rimming) (NHS, 2013

Preformed metal crowns for decayed primary molar teeth

BackgroundPreformed metal crowns (PMCs) are recommended by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) for restoring badly broken down primary molar teeth. However, few dental practitioners adopt this technique in clinical practice, citing cost and clinical difficulty as reasons for this. Whilst there is a subjective impression by clinical academics that PMCs provide a more durable restoration than filling materials, there appears to be little evidence within the literature to support this.ObjectivesThe primary aim of this systematic review was to compare clinical outcomes for primary molar teeth restored using PMCs compared to those restored with filling materials.Search methodsThe literature was searched using: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2005, Issue 3); MEDLINE (1966 to August 2005); EMBASE (1980 to August 2005); System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE) (1976 to August 2005). Relevant publications' reference lists were reviewed for relevant articles. The most recent search was carried out on 24 August 2005.Selection criteriaRandomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effectiveness of PMCs compared with filling materials or where there had been no treatment in children with untreated tooth decay in one or more primary molar teeth.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently assessed the title and abstracts for each article from the search results to decide whether it was likely to be relevant. Full papers were obtained for relevant articles and all three review authors studied these.Main resultsForty‐seven records were retrieved by the search strategies of which some were duplicates. Of these, 14 studies were scrutinised. No studies met the inclusion criteria and six studies were excluded from the review as they were either retrospective in design or reported as prospective outcomes but not randomised. No data were available for extraction and analysis and therefore, no conclusion could be made as to whether PMCs were more successful than filling materials for restoring primary molar teeth.Authors' conclusionsNo RCTs were available for appraisal. Whilst this technique is recommended by the BSPD for use in clinical practice, the evidence to support this is not strong, consisting mainly of case reports and uncontrolled studies. It is important that the absence of evidence for PMCs is not misinterpreted as evidence for their lack of efficacy.There is a strong need for prospective RCTs comparing PMCs and fillings for managing decayed primary molar teeth. The lower levels of evidence that have been produced, however, have strength in that the clinical outcomes are consistently in favour of PMCs, despite many of the studies placing PMCs on the most damaged of the pair of teeth being analysed

Tethering Viral Restriction to Signal Transduction

Tetherin serves as an innate sensor of viral infection in addition to its role in inhibiting virus release from infected cells. In this issue, Galão et al. (2014) provide important insights into the mechanism of virus-induced signal transduction by tetherin

Meeting the Diverse Needs of the Poor

Forums such as this develop our understanding of current efforts to bring about positive change for America\u27s poor. The Journal\u27s compilation and dissemination of important, thoughtful essays on poverty is laudable. The one thing that is clear about the poor and the homeless is that their problems are multi-faceted. No one theory or group can provide all the solutions. People are poor and homeless for a wide variety of reasons, and they need different kinds of help. Providing more income assistance will not cure poverty, and providing more housing will not remedy homelessness. Neither the public nor the private sector can find solutions without the cooperation of each other. Since the sources of poverty and homelessness are varied, the poor and the homeless have needs that are personal to each individual or family. Basic needs are food, shelter and clothing. Some need medical care, mental health counseling and medication, legal aid, benefits counseling, job training, job and housing placement assistance, alcohol and other drug abuse counseling, literacy and other education assistance, day care and a wide variety of other social services. The obligation to provide for all of these needs is not simply based on charity or government largess. The obligation is a matter of justice, remembering that justice is not simply treating everyone equally, but treating everyone according to their needs. You will see in the pages that follow that much research focuses upon poverty and its consequences. After reading the following papers, one could understandably conclude that because the needs of the poor are so complex, poverty is an intractable social condition about which little can be done. Hopefully the solutions and proposals offered in the following articles will elicit debate and criticism and, ultimately, positive action. Many people who abhor injustices such as homelessness or poverty may sincerely disagree about practical approaches to achieve justice. Although the following papers present divergent views, the changes they propose in social welfare policy merit consideration. It would be a shame if some of the innovative proposals contained in this issue of the Journal go unused because poverty seems implacable

Enabling Assurance in the MBSE Environment

A number of specific benefits that fit within the hallmarks of effective development are realized with implementation of model-based approaches to systems and assurance. Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) enabled by standardized modeling languages (e.g., SysML) is at the core. These benefits in the context of spaceflight system challenges can include: Improved management of complex development, Reduced risk in the development process, Improved cost management, Improved design decisions. With appropriate modeling techniques the assurance community can improve early oversight and insight into project development. NASA has shown the basic constructs of SysML in an MBSE environment offer several key advantages, within a Model Based Mission Assurance (MBMA) initiative