Soliton solutions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili II equation

We study a general class of line-soliton solutions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili II (KPII) equation by investigating the Wronskian form of its tau-function. We show that, in addition to previously known line-soliton solutions, this class also contains a large variety of new multi-soliton solutions, many of which exhibit nontrivial spatial interaction patterns. We also show that, in general, such solutions consist of unequal numbers of incoming and outgoing line solitons. From the asymptotic analysis of the tau-function, we explicitly characterize the incoming and outgoing line-solitons of this class of solutions. We illustrate these results by discussing several examples.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figure

Inflated Applicants: Attribution Errors in Performance Evaluation by Professionals

When explaining others' behaviors, achievements, and failures, it is common for people to attribute too much influence to disposition and too little influence to structural and situational factors. We examine whether this tendency leads even experienced professionals to make systematic mistakes in their selection decisions, favoring alumni from academic institutions with high grade distributions and employees from forgiving business environments. We find that candidates benefiting from favorable situations are more likely to be admitted and promoted than their equivalently skilled peers. The results suggest that decision-makers take high nominal performance as evidence of high ability and do not discount it by the ease with which it was achieved. These results clarify our understanding of the correspondence bias using evidence from both archival studies and experiments with experienced professionals. We discuss implications for both admissions and personnel selection practices

Privacy and ethical challenges of the Amelogenin sex test in forensic paternity/kinship analysis: Insights from a 13-year case history

The Amelogenin sex test included in forensic DNA typing kits has the potential to identify congenital conditions such as differences/disorders of sex development (DSD). It can also reveal mismatches between genotypic sex and gender marker in identity documents of transgender persons who obtained legal gender recognition. In a 13-year case history of paternity/kinship tests, involving n = 962 females and n = 1001 males, two mismatches between Amelogenin sex test (male) and gender marker (female), and three cases of chromosomal DSD (Klinefelter syndrome) were observed. The concrete risk of observing Amelogenin anomalies, their potential causes, and the context in which they occur (forensic, i.e. non-medical) mean that laboratory operators are called to strike a complex balance between privacy interests and individual health rights when providing preliminary information and reporting Amelogenin incidental findings. This case history argues for the need of a more responsible approach towards the Amelogenin sex test in the forensic community

DESMODIUM GANGETICUM ROOT AQUEOUS EXTRACT MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF NI NANOPARTICLE AND ITS BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION

Objective: A novel, eco-friendly method of Nickel nanoparticles synthesis using aqueous extract of Desmodium gangeticum root (DG) has been reported in this study.Methods: Novel approach on synthesis of Ni nanoparticles using NiCl2 as precursor and aqueous extract of Desmodium gangeticum root as the reducing agent. Nanoparticles were characterized for its average size, morphology, functional moieties and thermal stability by UV-Visible spectrophotometry, X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) respectively. Cytotoxicity was also determined against LLC PK1 cell lines using LDH assay.Results: Less aggregate spherical shaped and mono-dispersed nanoparticles were synthesised whose size ranges from 20-30 nm in diameter. Nanoparticles were exhibit face centre cubic crystalline phase with an average size of ~23 nm which was obtained from XRD spectral pattern. Strong interaction between Desmodium gangeticum and nanoparticles was shown in TGA-thermogram. The reducing potential and total phenolic content of Ni nanoparticles was found to be same as that of Desmodium gangeticum. All the results were expressed as mean±SD of n = 4-6 independent assays, p<0.05, whose data were analysed using ANOVA.Conclusion: Biological activity of the nanoparticles and its toxicity was assessed and found to possess the good antioxidant and reduction potential with significant antibacterial activity and were nontoxic.Â

PHYSIOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND BIOVALUATION OF TiO2 NANOCRYSTALS SYNTHESIZED BY CHEMICAL AND GREEN ROUTE

Objectives: In this present work, we have compared titanium dioxide nanocrystals synthesized by both chemical method and biological method from Titanium tetra isopropoxide as precursor. The biological method was performed by using the aqueous root extract of Desmodium gangeticum and further they were characterized and checked for their biological activities. Methods: The TiO2 nanocrystals were characterized by UV-Visible spectrophotometer for its maximum SPR peak, X-ray diffractometry for its crystalline size and shape, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for functional entity identification and Zeta potential for its colloidal stability. Antioxidant assay and antimicrobial test were performed to evaluate its biological behaviour. Results: The nanocrystals synthesized by biological method were found to have higher antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity and phenolic content than the chemically synthesized ones. Evaluation of toxicity in cell line LLC-PK1 suggests that TiO2nanocrystals synthesized by green route is less toxic. Conclusion: Green synthesized TiO2 nanocrystals were seen to have less toxicity than the chemical method in showing their biocompatibility nature which can be applied in the field of medical science

Privileged burial in the Pava Pieve (Siena, 8th century AD)

During the 6th archaeological excavation campaign performed at the «Pieve di Pava» (San Giovanni d’Asso, Siena, Italy) in the summer of 2009, a stone-lined burial of a high-status single individual (US 2378) was discovered, covered by a monolithic slab and placed in front of the altar. The tomb is about 160 cm long, 40 cm wide and over 70 cm deep. The skeletal remains of a young male (18-20 years), not in anatomical connection, were found on the floor of the tomb. 14C dating revealed a period between 650 and 688 AD. Stable isotope analysis (18O, 13C, 15N) attested that he was a member of the local community, with a diet quite rich in animal proteins. We are in presence of the secondary burial of an eminent personage, perhaps a saint, likely to have been transported to the church in a sack of perishable material, possibly textile, which caused their alignment along a curved line, as clearly demonstrated by the circular delimitation of the bones. The body was probably used for the re-consecration of the church, following the restoration works of the 8th century. The paleopathological study diagnosed a case of acromesomelic dysplasia, a congenital anomaly with disproportionate limbs: short, enlarged distal segments (radius-ulna and tibia), almost normal proximal segments (humerus and femur), short stature of about 150 cm, and bilateral fibular agenesis. Tibiae malformation and fibulae agenesis led to bilateral talipes valgus, with major walking problems. Extensive enthesopathies in the upper limbs indicate the use of crutches

Paleopathological study of Mammuthus meridionalis of Madonna della Strada (L’Aquila)

A skeleton of a male, 50-55 years old Mammuthus meridionalis, dated to the Pleistocene and conserved at the Spanish Fort in L’Aquila (Italy), showed a broken left tusk, in association with the presence of a deep (15x20 cm) bone erosion, involving the dental alveolus and the premaxillary bone, in close proximity to the maxillary sinus and the nasal cavity. During gross examination, small samples from three representative areas of the eroded bone were obtained. Thin sections were made and the specimens were examined under plane and polarized light, using a high resolution microscope with an incorporated digital camera. Microscopical study revealed the intra vitam origin of the lesions, characterized by the presence of woven bone fibers, typical of the early phases of bone remodeling, and lamellar bone with dilated and remodeled Haversian systems. The gross and histological findings were consistent with an osteomyelitis with bone sequestration, caused by a localized blunt trauma or, more likely, resulting from an ascending, post-traumatic chronic pulpitis, due to the tusk fracture occurred during an accident or interspecies fights. The histological exam excluded the involvement of granulomatous inflammation (e.g. tuberculosis) or neoplasia. A disease process of at least several months in duration may be hypothesized, as suggested by the histologically visible bone remodeling. A long survival of the animal after tusk loss may also be supposed, since alteration of masticatory function with altered molar teeth consumption and postural changes (i.e. atlantoaxial fusion), resulting from asymmetric weight distribution, were observed. In this study, the application of (paleo)histological techniques proved to be fundamental in order to establish the nature of bone lesions detected on archeological samples, also providing a good case for studying skull trauma and shedding light on the life history of these large mammals

B_{s,d} -> l^+ l^- and K_L -> l^+ l^- in SUSY models with non-minimal sources of flavour mixing

We present a general analysis of B_{s,d}-> l^+ l^- and K_L -> l^+ l^- decays in supersymmetric models with non-minimal sources of flavour mixing. In spite of the existing constraints on off-diagonal squark mass terms, these modes could still receive sizeable corrections, mainly because of Higgs-mediated FCNCs arising at large tan(beta). The severe limits on scenarios with large tan(beta) and non-negligible {tilde d}^i_{R(L)}-{d-tilde}^j_{R(L)} mixing imposed by the present experimental bounds on these modes and Delta B=2 observables are discussed in detail. In particular, we show that scalar-current contributions to K_L -> l^+ l^- and B-{bar B} mixing set non-trivial constraints on the possibility that B_s -> l^+ l^- and B_d -> l^+ l^- receive large corrections.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures (v2: minor changes, published version

Protective role of dehydroascorbate in rat liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays an important role in liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Thus, enhancing the liver antioxidant capacity could be a promising therapeutic strategy. Ascorbate (AA) is considered the perfect antioxidant, but its therapeutic efficacy is greatly limited by its slow achievement of high intracellular levels. This might be circumvented by administering dehydroascorbate (DHA), which presents a several-fold greater uptake than AA, and undergoes rapid intracellular reduction to AA. Thus, our aim was to assess the protective role of DHA in liver I/R injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats (200-300 g bw) were pretreated iv with different doses of AA or DHA 20 min before liver ischemia, followed by 6 h reperfusion. Liver damage was assessed by biochemical and morphological indices. RESULTS: DHA pretreatment induced a rapid increase in liver ascorbate levels, significantly higher than findings for AA, without any significant reduction in glutathione levels. Liver damage during I/R in controls showed significant increases in serum transaminases and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances with alterations of liver morphology. DHA administration induced a clear, significant protection against I/R injury, whereas liver damage was only moderately prevented by AA. CONCLUSIONS: DHA might represent a simple, effective therapeutic option to prevent liver damage associated with ischemia/reperfusion