A measurable force driven by an excitonic condensate

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Free energy signatures related to the measurement of an emergent force (approximate to 10(-9)N) due to the exciton condensate (EC) in Double Quantum Wells are predicted and experiments are proposed to measure the effects. The EC-force is attractive and reminiscent of the Casimir force between two perfect metallic plates, but also distinctively different from it by its driving mechanism and dependence on the parameters of the condensate. The proposed experiments are based on a recent experimental work on a driven micromechanical oscillator. Conclusive observations of EC in recent experiments also provide a strong promise for the observation of the EC-force. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC

Robust ground state and artificial gauge in DQW exciton condensates under weak magnetic field

Cataloged from PDF version of article.An exciton condensate is a vast playground in studying a number of symmetries that are of high interest in the recent developments in topological condensed matter physics. In double quantum wells (DQWs) they pose highly nonconventional properties due to the pairing of non-identical fermions with a spin dependent order parameter. Here, we demonstrate a new feature in these systems: the robustness of the ground state to weak external magnetic field and the appearance of the artificial spinor gauge fields beyond a critical field strength where negative energy pair-breaking quasi particle excitations, i.e. de-excitation pockets (DX-pockets), are created in certain k regions. The DX-pockets are the Kramers symmetry broken analogs of the negative energy pockets examined in the 1960s by Sarma. They respect a disk or a shell-topology in k-space or a mixture between them depending on the magnetic field strength and the electron-hole density mismatch. The Berry connection between the artificial spinor gauge field and the TKNN number is made. This field describes a collection of pure spin vortices in real space when the magnetic field has only inplane components. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Entropy-Functional-Based Online Adaptive Decision Fusion Framework with Application to Wildfire Detection in Video

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In this paper, an entropy-functional-based online adaptive decision fusion (EADF) framework is developed for image analysis and computer vision applications. In this framework, it is assumed that the compound algorithm consists of several subalgorithms, each of which yields its own decision as a real number centered around zero, representing the confidence level of that particular subalgorithm. Decision values are linearly combined with weights that are updated online according to an active fusion method based on performing entropic projections onto convex sets describing subalgorithms. It is assumed that there is an oracle, who is usually a human operator, providing feedback to the decision fusion method. A video-based wildfire detection system was developed to evaluate the performance of the decision fusion algorithm. In this case, image data arrive sequentially, and the oracle is the security guard of the forest lookout tower, verifying the decision of the combined algorithm. The simulation results are presented

Does preventive single dose of intravenous dexketoprofen reduce pain and swelling after orthognathic surgery? A prospective, randomized, double blind clinical trial

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single-dose intravenous dexketoprofen administration for preventive analgesia on postoperative pain and reducing swelling in double jaw surgery. The authors designed a prospective, randomized, and double-blind cohort study. Patients who have Class III malocclusion were randomly divided in two groups. 50 mg intravenous dexketoprofen trometamol were administrated 30 minutes before incision in treatment group, while intravenous sterile saline was administrated 30 minutes before incision in placebo group. The primary predictor variable was treatment group. Primary outcomes were pain, swelling and 24-hour opioid intake. Patient- controlled analgesia with tramadol was given for management of postoperative pain. Other variables were demographic and operation related parameters. Visual analogue scale was used to evaluate postoperative pain. 3dMD Face System (3dMD, USA) was used to measure postoperative swelling. Data were analysed using two independent samples t test and Mann Whitney U test. The study sample was composed of 30 patients with a mean age of 20,63 years and 21 were female. Preemptive dexketoprofen administration decreased postoperative tramadol consumption by 25.9% compared to placebo group, and there was a statistically significant decrease in VAS scores (p0,05). Preventive administration of intravenous dexketoprofen provides adequate analgesic effect in the postoperative 24-hour period and reduces opioid consumption in orthognathic surgery

Ethical issues and attitude in the Turkish banking sector

This study concentrates on the ethical issues and conditions prevailing in the Turkish banking environment. A selfadministered mail survey was conducted with 554 top bank managers in Turkey. Scenarios that were developed after a pilot study were factor analyzed. The objective of the study was to identify ethics related organizational, cognitive and affective dimensions that are likely to affect perceptions of bank managers in interpreting the eight factors and the remaining four scenarios. The findings indicate a consensus on ethical sensitivity among the Turkish bank managers. The Banks Association of Turkey has a code of ethics that favorably influences the banks, and the regulatory agency (BRSA) is perceived to enhance the ethical values in the sector. An optimistic view maybe to interpret the ethical banking climate as a desirable after effect of the banking crisis and the regulatory intervention. This development may indicate a deterrence-based shift to a more virtuous Turkish banking sector

The Relationships of Leptin, Adiponectin Levels and Paraoxonase Activity with Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Females Treated with Psychiatric Drugs

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate serum leptin, adiponectin and paraoxonase1 levels in adult females receiving pharmacotherapy for various psychiatric disorders. METHODS: The study group consisted of 32 obese females (mean age 40.53 ± 11.00 years, mean body mass index 35.44 ± 5.33 kg/m²) who were receiving treatment for psychiatric disorders, and the control group included 22 obese females (mean age 35.95 ± 9.16 years, mean body mass index 30.78 ± 3.33 kg/m²) who were free of psychiatric disorders. Analyses were performed using a bioelectrical impedance device. Fasting blood samples were obtained for complete blood count and various biochemical tests, including determination of leptin, adiponectin and paraoxonase1 activity. RESULTS: Body mass index, waist and hip circumference, body fat percentage, fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assesment of insulin resistance, alanine transaminase, aspartate tarnsaminase, and leptin levels were significantly higher in the study group than in controls. Although body weight was positively correlated with leptin levels in both groups, body weight was negatively correlated with adiponectin levels in the control group and positively correlated with adiponectin levels in the study group. In the study group, body mass index and hip circumference correlated positively with leptin levels, hip circumference correlated positively with adiponectin levels, and waist to hip ratio correlated positively with paraoxonase levels. In the control group, body mass index as well as waist and hip circumferences were positively correlated with leptin levels. Weight, body mass index, and hip circumference were also negatively correlated with the adiponectin/leptin ratio in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study indicates a higher risk for obesity-related disorders, particularly metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, in patients treated with psychiatric drugs

Video fire detection - Review

Cataloged from PDF version of article.This is a review article describing the recent developments in Video based Fire Detection (VFD). Video surveillance cameras and computer vision methods are widely used in many security applications. It is also possible to use security cameras and special purpose infrared surveillance cameras for fire detection. This requires intelligent video processing techniques for detection and analysis of uncontrolled fire behavior. VFD may help reduce the detection time compared to the currently available sensors in both indoors and outdoors because cameras can monitor “volumes” and do not have transport delay that the traditional “point” sensors suffer from. It is possible to cover an area of 100 km2 using a single pan-tiltzoom camera placed on a hilltop for wildfire detection. Another benefit of the VFD systems is that they can provide crucial information about the size and growth of the fire, direction of smoke propagation. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserve