Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters for clinically healthy donkeys and mules (insulin, triglycerides, glucose, fructosamines, and ɣ‐GT)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is the most prevalent endocrine disease in horses. Although donkeys and mules may also be affected, only a few data have been published. Reference values for diagnostic parameters, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are especially scarce or even lacking. Therefore, in the present study, available data from the literature have been verified and completed to facilitate a reliable diagnosis. Clinical inspections and haematological and biochemical examinations were carried out four times in a three‐month interval (February to November) in 44 donkeys and 31 mules. Data from clinically healthy animals were used as an orientation. Plasma ACTH concentrations showed seasonal changes in both animal groups. However, it was generally higher in donkeys than mules. Although blood glucose (EDTA plasma) showed no difference between groups, serum insulin concentrations were consistently higher in donkeys. Serum fructosamine levels were slightly higher in mules, whereas, in some cases, serum triglyceride levels were considerably higher in donkeys. Serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase showed a striking peak in mules in August, whereas the remaining gamma‐glutamyltransferase values were lower compared to donkeys. By comparing donkeys and mules, the present work reveals differences in various blood parameters which should be considered for diagnoses and future studies

Form factors of twist fields in the lattice Dirac theory

We study U(1) twist fields in a two-dimensional lattice theory of massive Dirac fermions. Factorized formulas for finite-lattice form factors of these fields are derived using elliptic parametrization of the spectral curve of the model, elliptic determinant identities and theta functional interpolation. We also investigate the thermodynamic and the infinite-volume scaling limit, where the corresponding expressions reduce to form factors of the exponential fields of the sine-Gordon model at the free-fermion point.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure

Minimal Unitary Models and The Closed SU(2)-q Invariant Spin Chain

We consider the Hamiltonian of the closed $SU(2)_{q}$ invariant chain. We project a particular class of statistical models belonging to the unitary minimal series. A particular model corresponds to a particular value of the coupling constant. The operator content is derived. This class of models has charge-dependent boundary conditions. In simple cases (Ising, 3-state Potts) corresponding Hamiltonians are constructed. These are non-local as the original spin chain.Comment: 19 pages, latex, no figure

Multi-particle structure in the Z_n-chiral Potts models

We calculate the lowest translationally invariant levels of the Z_3- and Z_4-symmetrical chiral Potts quantum chains, using numerical diagonalization of the hamiltonian for N <= 12 and N <= 10 sites, respectively, and extrapolating N to infinity. In the high-temperature massive phase we find that the pattern of the low-lying zero momentum levels can be explained assuming the existence of n-1 particles carrying Z_n-charges Q = 1, ... , n-1 (mass m_Q), and their scattering states. In the superintegrable case the masses of the n-1 particles become proportional to their respective charges: m_Q = Q m_1. Exponential convergence in N is observed for the single particle gaps, while power convergence is seen for the scattering levels. We also verify that qualitatively the same pattern appears for the self-dual and integrable cases. For general Z_n we show that the energy-momentum relations of the particles show a parity non-conservation asymmetry which for very high temperatures is exclusive due to the presence of a macroscopic momentum P_m=(1-2Q/n)/\phi, where \phi is the chiral angle and Q is the Z_n-charge of the respective particle.Comment: 22 pages (LaTeX) plus 5 figures (included as PostScript), BONN-HE-92-3

Factorized finite-size Ising model spin matrix elements from Separation of Variables

Using the Sklyanin-Kharchev-Lebedev method of Separation of Variables adapted to the cyclic Baxter--Bazhanov--Stroganov or $\tau^{(2)}$-model, we derive factorized formulae for general finite-size Ising model spin matrix elements, proving a recent conjecture by Bugrij and Lisovyy

Time resolved emission spectroscopy of poly(2,5-dicyano-p-phenylene-vinylene) films

Films of poly (2,5-dicyano-p-phenylene vinylene), DCNPPV, were obtained by electrochemical synthesis over gold thin layer (20 nm) transparent electrode deposited on a glass plate. The DCNPPV films of 4 µm thickness were produced by electropolymerization process of &#945;,&#945;,&#945;',&#945;'-tetrabromo-2-5-dicyano-p-xilene at different applied potentials (-0.15, -0.25, -0.40, -0.60, -0.80, and -1.0 V) using 0.1 mol L-1 of tetraethylammonium bromide in acetonitrile as the supporting electrolyte. The emission decays have three exponential components: a fast component in the picosecond range (200-400 ps), and two other of about one and five nanoseconds at 293 K. The fluorescence quenching process seems to occur by exciton trapping in a low-energy site and quenching by residual bromine monomer attached at the end of the polymer chain. However, the electrochemical synthesis generates entrapped bromide or ion pairs during the growth step of the film which also contributes to the deactivation. The change of the electrolyte from bromide to perchlorate reduces significantly this additional quenching effect by allowing ion exchange of formed bromide with the nonquenching perchloride anion.Filmes finos de poli(2,5-diciano-p-fenileno vinileno), DCNPPV, foram produzidos por síntese eletroquímica com variação do potencial aplicado de-0,15 até-1,0 V, e depositados sobre camada fina de ouro sobre vidro. A cinética de estado excitado destes materiais foi investigada por medidas de decaimentos de fluorescência. Os filmes apresentam decaimentos com três componentes, uma rápida da ordem de 200-400 picossegundos, e outra duas componentes de aproximadamente um e cinco nanossegundos, na temperatura de 293 K. O decaimento de fluorescência ocorre pela desativação em sítios de baixa energia na cadeia polimérica conjugada e por supressão do estado excitado por monômeros bromados terminais da cadeia e íons brometo aprisionados durante o crescimento eletroquímico do filme. A mudança do ânion do eletrólito suporte de brometo para perclorato reduziu de modo significativo essa contribuição de supressão do estado excitado como resultado da troca iônica por uma espécie não supressora.FAPESPCNP

Finite-Size Scaling and Universality in the Spin 1 Quantum XY Chain

The spin-1 XY chain in a transverse field is studied using finite-size scaling. The ground state phase diagram displays a paramagnetic, an ordered ferromagnetic and an ordered oscillatory phase. The paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition line belongs to the universality class of the 2D Ising model. Along this line, universality is confirmed for the finite-size scaling functions of several correlation lengths and for the conformal operator content.Comment: Latex 8 pages, 2 uucompressed figure

Integration of Expert Systems and Neural Networks for the Control of Fermentation Processes

Expert systems and neural networks are new tools for the control of fermentation processes. With expert systems the fermentation plant and the process itself is modelled via a generalized, qualitative system description based on the experience of human experts. On the other hand neural networks and interpolating associative memories can learn the process behaviour directly by process observation. The paper at hand reports, how both control techniques can be combined for purposes like process supervision, modelling and optimization of biological plants

Mechanistic Investigation of Granular Base and Subbase Materials A Saskatchewan Case Study

ABSTRACT Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation commonly specify three types of subbase course and three types of base course materials for conventional road building. These specifications are primarily based on grain size and were developed years ago at a time of lower variation in pit run quality. Today, Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation are experiencing reduced pit run availability and increased variability in pit run quality, especially with respect to fines content. This is resulting in higher pit wastage and with the increased opportunity for undesirable material, there is a higher risk for varied performance in the field. At the same time, traffic loadings have exceeded the original safety margin incorporated into the empirical based granular specifications used today. This study investigated a mechanistic characterization protocol of typical Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation specified granular materials to quantify any significant difference that exist may in the mechanistic behaviour as a function of fines content, moisture content and cement modification. Samples were characterized using unconfined compressive strength and dynamic frequency sweep analysis to characterize the relative elastic and inelastic bulk behaviour of the various granular materials. Based on the findings of this research, significant variability in the mechanical behaviour of typical Saskatchewan specified granular materials was observed across varied fines content and cement treatment under typical Saskatchewan field state conditions

Random Matrix Theory and higher genus integrability: the quantum chiral Potts model

We perform a Random Matrix Theory (RMT) analysis of the quantum four-state chiral Potts chain for different sizes of the chain up to size L=8. Our analysis gives clear evidence of a Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble statistics, suggesting the existence of a generalized time-reversal invariance. Furthermore a change from the (generic) GOE distribution to a Poisson distribution occurs when the integrability conditions are met. The chiral Potts model is known to correspond to a (star-triangle) integrability associated with curves of genus higher than zero or one. Therefore, the RMT analysis can also be seen as a detector of ``higher genus integrability''.Comment: 23 pages and 10 figure