Ossianic Telegraphy: Bardic Networks and Imperial Relays

Relates James Macpherson\u27s Fragments of Ancient Poetry (1760) and other Ossianic poems to evolving Scottish networks of commerce and communication, especially commercial telegraphy and the postal system, and posits associations also with comments in Adam Smith\u27s Lectures on Jurisprudence and Theory of Moral Sentiments, to suggest that Macpherson\u27s remediation of oral poetry asserted ideas of authorial identity and readership as relays in a new imperial network

Topic Modeling and the Historical Geography of Scotland

Presents selected findings from a larger project using topic modeling for clusters of keywords from a defined corpus of 18th and 19th century Scottish topographical sources (including the Old and New Statistical Surveys), linked to GIS mapping, to explore such topics as Scottish industry, transport, antiquities, print culture, and religion, with 10 maps included in the article text

Introduction: Spatial Humanities and Scottish Studies

Introduces the 2016 SSL Symposium on Spatial Humanities and Scottish Studies, reviewing recent discussion on the spatial understanding of Scottish history and culture and providing extensive references to relevant geographical and digital humanities scholarship

Strong Λπ\Lambda \pi Phase Shifts for CP Violation in Weak Ξ→Λπ\Xi \rightarrow \Lambda \pi Decay

Strong interaction $\Lambda\pi$ phase shifts relevant for the weak nonleptonic decay $\Xi \rightarrow \Lambda \pi$ are calculated using baryon chiral perturbation theory. We find in leading order that the S-wave phase shift vanishes and the $J={1 \over 2}$ P-wave phase shift is $-1.7 ^{\rm o}$. The small phase shifts imply that CP violation in this decay will be difficult to observe. Our results follow from chiral $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R$ symmetry.Comment: 8 pages, uses phyzzx, 2 figures included as uuencoded file, CALT-68-1940 and CMU-HEP94-2

Light sigma-Meson Production in Excited Upsilon Decay Processes I: Analyses

We analyze the pi pi production amplitudes in the excited Upsilon decay processes, Upsilon(2S)-->Upsilon(1S)pi+pi-, Upsilon(3S)-->Upsilon(1S)pi+pi- and Upsilon(3S)-->Upsilon(2S)pi+pi-, and the pi pi and KKbar production amplitudes in the charmonium decay processes, psi(2S)-->J psi pi+pi- and J psi-->phi pi+pi-, phi K+K-. The amplitudes are parametrized by the sum of Breit-Wigner amplitudes for the sigma and the other relevant particles and of the direct 2pi-production amplitude, following the VMW method. All the pi pi (and KKbar) invariant mass spectra are reproduced well with the sigma Breit-Wigner amplitude by using the common parameters, m_sigma=526^(+48)_(-37) MeV and Gamma_sigma =301^(+145)_(-100) MeV, which is almost consistent with the values obtained in our previous phase shift analyses. This strongly suggests the existence of light sigma-meson.Comment: proc. of ``Possible Existence of sigma-Meson and Its Implication to Hadron Physics," YITP, Kyoto, June 12--14, 2000. 5 pages, uses ptptex.st

Multipole Amplitudes of Pion Photoproduction on Nucleons up to 2GeV within Dispersion Relations and Unitary Isobar Model

Two approaches for analysis of pion photo- and electroproduction on nucleons in the resonance energy region are checked at $Q^2=0$ using the results of GWU(VPI) partial-wave analysis of photoproduction data. The approaches are based on dispersion relations and unitary isobar model. Within dispersion relations good description of photoproduction multipoles is obtained up to $W=1.8 GeV$. Within unitary isobar model, modified with increasing energy by incorporation of Regge poles, and with unified Breit-Wigner parametrization of resonance contributions, good description of photoproduction multipoles is obtained up to $W=2 GeV$.Comment: 23 pages, LaTe

The Application of Half-Life in Clinical Decision Making: Comparison of the Pharmacokinetics of Extended-Release Topiramate (USL255) and Immediate-Release Topiramate

Objective: For extended-release drugs with multi-compartment kinetics, such as topiramate, effective half-life (t1/2eff) may be a more clinically relevant parameter than elimination half-life (t1/2z). Using topiramate as a real-life example, the objective was to compare these half-life values for immediate- and extended-release topiramate (TPM-IR and USL255, respectively) to understand how drug pharmacokinetics may impact drug dosing recommendations. Methods: The t1/2z and t1/2eff for USL255 and TPM-IR were compared using data from a phase I study (N = 36) of 200 mg USL255 administered once daily (QD) or TPM-IR twice daily (BID); effect of sampling duration on t1/2z was investigated. To further explore the relationship between half-life and dosing, steady-state PK was simulated for USL255 and TPM-IR. Results: As previously reported, mean t1/2z was similar between USL255 (80.2 h) and TPM-IR (82.8 h); TPM-IR t1/2z was ∼4 times longer than reported in the Topamax label (21 h). In contrast, USL255 displayed a 1.5 fold longer t1/2eff (55.7 vs 37.1 h for TPM-IR). When t1/2z was calculated from 48 to 336 h, values ranged from 28.8 to 82.8 h. Simulated steady-state PK profiles of USL255 QD exhibited reduced plasma fluctuations during a dosing interval vs TPM-IR QD or BID. Significance: As expected for the same moiety, t1/2z of USL255 and TPM-IR were similar; however, the longer t1/2eff for USL255 better approximates differences in recommend dosing (QD USL255 vs BID TPM-IR). Further, sampling duration impacted t1/2z, diminishing its predictive value for determining dose regimens; sampling-time differences may also explain t1/2z discrepancy between TPM-IR here versus Topamax label. As expected, steady-state simulations confirm that although TPM-IR has a long t1/2z, taking TPM-IR QD would lead to large plasma fluctuations. These data demonstrate that t1/2z may be less clinically meaningful than t1/2eff, and using t1/2z for some drugs may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding dosing regimens

Effects of adjunctive eslicarbazepine acetate on serum lipids in patients with partial-onset seizures: Impact of concomitant statins and enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) on lipid metabolism and to determine whether reduced statin exposure during ESL therapy has clinical consequences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We conducted a post-hoc analysis of pooled data for serum lipids (laboratory values) from three phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of adjunctive ESL therapy (400, 800, or 1200 mg once daily) in patients with treatment-refractory partial-onset seizures. Changes from baseline in serum lipid levels were analyzed according to use of statins and/or enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) during the baseline period. KEY FINDINGS: In total, 426 and 1021 placebo- and ESL-treated patients, respectively, were included in the analysis. With regard to the changes from baseline in serum concentrations, there were statistically significant differences between the placebo and ESL 1200 mg QD groups, for both total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), but the effect sizes were small (+4.1 mg/dL and +1.8 mg/dL, respectively). A small but significant difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; -5.0 mg/dL) was observed between the ESL 400 mg QD group and the placebo group. In patients not taking a concomitant EIAED, there were no changes with ESL 400 mg QD, but modest and statistically significant increases in cholesterol fractions (TC, LDL-C and HDL-C) with ESL 800 mg QD (/dL) and ESL 1200 mg QD (/dL). ESL had no consistent effect on lipids in patients taking a concomitant EIAED. In patients taking statins during baseline, there were no clinically relevant changes in serum lipids during use of ESL, although the subgroups were small. SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that ESL does not appear to have clinically significant effects on serum lipids, nor does the pharmacokinetic interaction between ESL and statins have an impact on serum lipid concentrations

Markers of bone and lipid metabolism with eslicarbazepine acetate monotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) monotherapy on markers of bone and lipid metabolism. METHODS: We conducted a post-hoc analysis of data pooled from two Phase III, dose-blind, conversion-to-ESL (1600 mg and 1200 mg) monotherapy studies in patients with focal seizures. Laboratory measurements included lipids (total cholesterol [TC]; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and triglycerides) and markers of bone metabolism (alkaline phosphatase; 25-hydroxyvitamin D; osteocalcin; and parathyroid hormone [PTH]); measurements were taken at baseline, Week 18, and Month 12, and analyzed according to enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) use at baseline (+EIAED and -EIAED subgroups). RESULTS: Data from 337 treatment-compliant patients were used for the Week 18 analyses (+EIAED subgroup, n = 119; -EIAED subgroup, n = 218); data from 161 treatment-compliant patients were used for the Month 12 analyses (+EIAED subgroup, n = 53; -EIAED subgroup, n = 108). At baseline, alkaline phosphatase and PTH concentrations were higher in the + EIAED versus -EIAED subgroup. Changes from baseline in markers of bone turnover were generally insignificant, except for some elevation in alkaline phosphatase in the -EIAED subgroup (18 weeks and 12 months) and osteocalcin in both subgroups (18 weeks only). Regarding lipids, TC and HDL-C concentrations were higher in the + EIAED versus -EIAED subgroup at baseline. Concentrations of markers of lipid metabolism fell in the + EIAED group and rose in the -EIAED group, reaching very similar values that were intermediate between the -EIAED and + EIAED baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this retrospective analysis, ESL seems to have had only a modest and primarily clinically insignificant impact on plasma lipids. More prospective data are needed to definitively ascertain the effects of ESL on bone metabolism

On nature of scalar a_0(980) and f_0(980)-mesons

It is presented a critical consideration of all unusual properties of the scalar a_0(980) and f_0(980)-mesons in the four-quark, two-quark and molecular models. The arguments are adduced that the four-quark model is more preferable. It is discussed the complex of experiments that could finally resolve this issue.Comment: 6 pages, LaTeX 2e, uses espcrc1.sty, Plenary Talk given at 8th International Conference on HADRON Spectroscopy (HADRON 99), Beijing, China, 24-28 August 199