Spin-orbit interaction in quantum dots in the presence of exchange correlations

We discuss the problem of spin-orbit interaction in a 2D chaotic or diffusive quantum dot in the presence of exchange correlations. Spin-orbit scattering breaks spin rotation invariance, and in the crossover regime between different symmetries of the spin-orbit coupling, the problem has no closed solution. A conventional choice of a many-particle basis in a numerical diagonalization is the set of Slater determinants built from the single-particle eigenstates of the one-body Hamiltonian (including the spin-orbit terms). We develop a different approach based on the use of a good-spin many-particle basis that is composed of the eigenstates of the universal Hamiltonian in the absence of spin-orbit scattering. We introduce a complete labelling of this good-spin basis and use angular momentum algebra to calculate in closed form the matrix elements of the spin-orbit interaction in this basis. Spin properties, such as the ground-state spin distribution and the spin excitation function, are easily calculated in this basis.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Polymorphisms in Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα) Gene in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

Proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to determine if polymorphisms in the TNFα gene are associated with AP. Two polymorphisms located in the promoter region (positions −308 and −238) in TNFα gene were determined using polymerase chain reaction- (PCR-) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods in 103 patients with AP and 92 healthy controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, BMI and smoking. The frequencies of TNFα polymorphisms were both similar in patients with mild or severe pancreatitis, so were in pancreatitis patients and in controls. We suggest that both SNPs of TNFα are not genetic risk factor for AP susceptibility (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.13−4.01 for TNFα−308 and OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75−1.77 for TNFα−238)

Criterion for polynomial solutions to a class of linear differential equation of second order

We consider the differential equations y''=\lambda_0(x)y'+s_0(x)y, where \lambda_0(x), s_0(x) are C^{\infty}-functions. We prove (i) if the differential equation, has a polynomial solution of degree n >0, then \delta_n=\lambda_n s_{n-1}-\lambda_{n-1}s_n=0, where \lambda_{n}= \lambda_{n-1}^\prime+s_{n-1}+\lambda_0\lambda_{n-1}\hbox{and}\quad s_{n}=s_{n-1}^\prime+s_0\lambda_{k-1},\quad n=1,2,.... Conversely (ii) if \lambda_n\lambda_{n-1}\ne 0 and \delta_n=0, then the differential equation has a polynomial solution of degree at most n. We show that the classical differential equations of Laguerre, Hermite, Legendre, Jacobi, Chebyshev (first and second kind), Gegenbauer, and the Hypergeometric type, etc, obey this criterion. Further, we find the polynomial solutions for the generalized Hermite, Laguerre, Legendre and Chebyshev differential equations.Comment: 12 page

Infrared renormalons and single meson production in proton-proton collisions

In this article, we investigate the contribution of the higher twist Feynman diagrams to the large-$p_T$ inclusive pion production cross section in proton-proton collisions and present the general formulae for the higher twist differential cross sections in the case of the running coupling and frozen coupling approaches. The structure of infrared renormalon singularities of the higher twist subprocess cross section and the resummed expression (the Borel sum) for it are found. We compared the resummed higher twist cross sections with the ones obtained in the framework of the frozen coupling approximation and leading twist cross section. We obtain, that ratio $R$ for all values of the transverse momentum $p_{T}$ of the pion identical equivalent to ratio $r$. It is shown that the resummed result depends on the choice of the meson wave functions used in calculation. Phenomenological effects of the obtained results are discussed.Comment: 28 pages, 13 figure

Matrix design of a novel ductile cast iron modified by W and Al: A comparison between thermodynamic modeling and experimental data

In high-temperature applications of ferrous materials, as in the case of exhaust manifolds, high thermal and mechanical stability are required. Stainless steels and Ni-resist alloys having austenitic matrices are good candidates to meet these requirements at elevated temperatures; however, they are expensive materials and present difficulties in casting. Ferritic ductile cast irons, like the commercial SiMo alloy, are comparatively cheaper materials with better castability but they cannot be used above approximately 800 °C. Thus, to meet the requirements with low-cost materials having improved high-temperature properties, new alloys must be developed by ferrite forming elements having the potential to increase equilibrium temperature. In this study, initially, a novel ductile cast iron matrix was designed using 1 W and 0-4 Al wt.-% and their phases stable at room temperature, transformation temperatures, solidification sequences and thermal expansivity values were determined using thermodynamic calculations with Thermo-Calc software. Computational studies revealed that (i) designed alloy matrices had graphite and M6C type carbides embedded in a ferritic matrix at room temperature as expected, (ii) A1 temperature increased as aluminum content increased. The obtained values were all above that of commercial SiMo alloy, (iii) the detrimental effect of increased aluminum addition on graphite content, and thermal expansivity was observed. Secondly, microstructural and thermal characterizations of cast alloys were performed for validation - the obtained data were in good agreement with the thermodynamic calculations

The Impact of Name-Matching and Blocking on Author Disambiguation

In this work, we address the problem of blocking in the context of author name disambiguation. We describe a framework that formalizes different ways of name-matching to determine which names could potentially refer to the same author. We focus on name variations that follow from specifying a name with different completeness (i.e. full first name or only initial). We extend this framework by a simple way to define traditional, new and custom blocking schemes. Then, we evaluate different old and new schemes in the Web of Science. In this context we define and compare a new type of blocking schemes. Based on these results, we discuss the question whether name-matching can be used in blocking evaluation as a replacement of annotated author identifiers. Finally, we argue that blocking can have a strong impact on the application and evaluation of author disambiguation

Peritoneal tuberculosis and granulomatous hepatitis secondary to treatment of bladder cancer with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin

Intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin is used as a treatment method in superficial bladder cancer. While it is generally well tolerated, serious side effects may develop. Granulomatous hepatitis cases have been previously reported; however, only one case with tuberculous peritonitis exists in the current literature. We hereby present two cases, one of which is the second tubercular peritonitis case following Bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatment to be reported, and the other a case with granulomatous hepatitis. Complete cure was achieved in both cases with specific therapy. In the patient who developed peritonitis, intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy was recommenced after antituberculosis treatment, and completed without further complications