Barry Smith an sich

Festschrift in Honor of Barry Smith on the occasion of his 65th Birthday. Published as issue 4:4 of the journal Cosmos + Taxis: Studies in Emergent Order and Organization. Includes contributions by Wolfgang Grassl, Nicola Guarino, John T. Kearns, Rudolf Lüthe, Luc Schneider, Peter Simons, Wojciech Żełaniec, and Jan Woleński

The GRB 030328 host: another case of a blue starburst galaxy

We present for the first time the detection of the GRB 030328 host galaxy in four optical bands equivalent to UBRI. The host galaxy spectral energy distribution is consistent with a low extinction (E(B-V) < 0.21) starburst galaxy. The restframe B-band magnitude of the host is M_B ~ -20.4Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Il nuovo cimento (4th Workshop Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era, Rome, 18-22 October 2004

Confined photon modes with triangular symmetry in hexagonal microcavities in 2D photonic Crystals

We present theoretical and experimental studies of the size and thickness dependencies of the optical emission spectra from microcavities with hexagonal shape in films of two-dimensional photonic crystal. A semiclassical plane-wave model, which takes into account the electrodynamic properties of quasi-2D planar photonic microcavity, is developed to predict the eigenfrequencies of the confined photon modes as a function of both the hexagon-cavity size and the film thickness. Modes with two different symmetries, triangular and hexagonal, are critically analyzed. It is shown that the model of confined photon modes with triangular symmetry gives a better agreement between the predicted eigenmodes and the observed resonances.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Enhancement of the indistinguishability of single photon emitters coupled to photonic waveguides

One of the main steps towards large-scale quantum photonics consists of the integration of single photon sources (SPS) with photonic integrated circuits (PICs). For that purpose, the PICs should offer an efficient light coupling and a high preservation of the indistinguishability of photons. Therefore, optimization of the indistinguishability through waveguide design is especially relevant. In this work we have developed an analytical model to calculate the coupling and the indistinguishability of an ideal point-source quantum emitter coupled to a photonic waveguide depending on source orientation and position. The model has been numerically evaluated through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations showing consistent results. The maximum coupling is achieved when the emitter is embedded in the center of the waveguide but somewhat surprisingly the maximum indistinguishability appears when the emitter is placed at the edge of the waveguide where the electric field is stronger due to the surface discontinuity

Update on field use of the available drugs for the chemotherapy of human African trypanosomiasis

Despite the fact that eflornithine was considered as the safer drug to treat human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and has been freely available since 2001, the difficulties in logistics and cost burden associated with this drug meant that the toxic melarsoprol remained the drug of choice. The World Health Organization responded to the situation by designing a medical kit containing all the materials needed to use eflornithine, and by implementing a training and drugs distribution programme which has allowed a transition to this much safer treatment. The introduction of the combination of nifurtimox and eflornithine (NECT) has accelerated the shift from melarsoprol to the best treatment available, due to reduced dosage and treatment time for eflornithine that has significantly lessened the cost and improved the burden of logistics encountered during treatment and distribution. The decrease in the use of more dangerous but cheaper melarsoprol has meant a rise in the per patient cost of treating HAT. Although NECT is cheaper than eflornithine monotherapy, an unexpected consequence has been a continuing rise in the per patient cost of treating HAT. The ethical decision of shifting to the best available treatment imposes a financial burden on HAT control programmes that might render long-term application unsustainable. These factors call for continuing research to provide new safer and more effective drugs that are simple to administer and cheaper when compared to current drug

Mixing and transport of water in a karst catchment: a case study from precipitation via seepage to the spring

One of the best-known and largest karst areas in Germany, the Blautopf Catchment, offers unique access to waters of the unsaturated zone through a large cave system. It was investigated with stable isotopes (&lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;O/&lt;sup&gt;16&lt;/sup&gt;O and D/H ratios expressed in permille = &amp;permil;) in precipitation, seepage- and groundwater as tracers for water flow, mixing, and storage. The precipitation showed a distinct seasonality with &amp;delta;&lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;O values between &amp;minus;2.9 and &amp;minus;24.6&amp;permil; during summer and winter, respectively. However, the isotope signals in seepage water in the caves as well as the discharge were almost completely buffered and ranged around an average &amp;delta;&lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;O value of &amp;minus;10&amp;permil;. This value was also close to the long-term average value of local precipitation, &amp;minus;9.3&amp;permil;. The homogeneous isotopic composition of the Blautopf Spring was unexpected, as its highly variable discharge (0.3 to 32 m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; s&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;1&lt;/sup&gt;) is typical for a fast responsive karst system. These isotopic similarities could be explained by nearly complete mixing of the water already in the vadose zone. The data set therefore presents a case study to narrow down zones of mixing in karst catchments. It also confirms the minor role of the fast conduit system in the water balance of the Blautopf Catchment

Percepción de la demanda y necesidades de formación en salud mental de los médicos de atención primaria

ResumenObjetivoConocer la opinión de los médicos de atención primaria (AP) sobre la demanda asistencial en salud mental (SM), sus necesidades de formación y sus actitudes ante dichos trastornos.DiseñoEstudio observacional transversal.EmplazamientoAtención primaria.ParticipantesLos sujetos de estudio fueron médicos de AP. De un total de 1.191 médicos de AP en Castilla-La Mancha se seleccionó a 301 mediante muestreo aleatorio estratificado.Mediciones principalesSe elaboró un cuestionario autorrellenable y se indentificaron las siguientes variables: características profesionales y sociodemográficas, demanda percibida de problemas de SM y dificultades percibidas en su resolución, formación en SM, conocimientos sobre recursos especializados y actitudes hacia dichos trastornos.ResultadosLa mayoría (63,5%, intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 57,6-69,4) consideró que los problemas mentales están relacionados con, al menos, el 20% de las consultas. Los problemas señalados como motivos de consulta muy frecuentes fueron: trastornos de ansiedad (75,9%), del estado de ánimo (73,5%) y somatomorfos (40,5%). La proporción que consideró suficiente el nivel de información sobre recursos especializados ascendió hasta el 63,6% (IC del 95%, 57,8-69,6). En cuanto a las actitudes, el 43,7% (IC del 95%, 37,7-49,8) opinó que los equipos de AP no pueden hacerse cargo de la demanda existente. Dicha opinión fue significativamente más frecuente en los médicos con más pacientes asignados, mayor presión asistencial, sin formación MIR, con menor demanda percibida, sin formación en SM y peor conocimiento de los recursos especializados.ConclusionesEn opinión de la mayoría de los médicos, los problemas mentales están relacionados con, al menos, una de cada 5 consultas. Una elevada proporción considera que los equipos de AP no pueden hacerse cargo de la demanda existente, sobre todo cuando la presión asistencia les elevada. La mayoría opina que debería haber mayor formación específica en SM y mayor coordinación con los servicios especializados.AbstractObjectiveTo know the opinion of the primary health care (PHC) physicians on the assistance demand in mental health (MH), their training necessities and their attitudes about this disorders.DesignObservational and transversal study.SettingPrimary care.ParticipantsThe subjects of the study were PHC physicians. From a total of 1191 PHC physicians in Castilla-La Mancha region, 301 were selected by random stratified sampling.Main measurementsA self-complimented questionnaire was elaborated, being identified the following variables: professional and sociodemographics characteristics, their perceived demands of MH problems, perceived difficulties in resolution, training in MH, knowledge about specialized resources and their attitudes about mental disorders.Results63.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 57.6-69.4) considered that the mental problems are related with, at least, 20% of the consultations. Very frequent consulted problems were: anxiety disorders (75.9%), affective disorders (73.5%), and somatoform disorders (40.5%). 63.6% (95% CI; 57.8-69.6) considered to have enough information about specialized resources. About attitudes, 43.7% (95% CI; 37.7-49.8) said the PHC physicians cannot be taken charge of the existent demand. This opinion as significantly more frequents in physicians with more patient assigned, more assistance pressure, without postgraduate assistance formation (Spanish MIR system), with less perceived demand, without training in MH and worse knowledge of the specialized resources.ConclusionsIn opinion of most of the physicians the mental disorders are related with, at least, 1 of each 5 consultations. A high proportion considers that the teams of PHC cannot be taken charge of the existent demand, mainly when it is high the assistance pressure.Most says that more specific training should exist in MH and more coordination with the specialized services

Storage and transport in cave seepage- and groundwater in a South German karst system

International audienceWe investigated one of the best-known and second largest karst areas in Germany (Blautopf Catchment) that offers a unique access waters of the unsaturated zone through a large cave system. As tracers for water flow and storage we measured stable isotopes (18O/16O and D/H ratios) in precipitation, seepage- and groundwater. The precipitation showed a distinct seasonal cycle with ?18O values between ?2.6 and ?22.6? during summer and winter, respectively. However, the isotope signals in seepage water in the caves as well as the discharge were completely buffered and ranged around an average ?18O value of ?10?. This value also matched the long-term average of the precipitation. In addition, the homogeneous isotopic composition of the Blautopf Spring was against expectation for its highly variable discharge (0.3 to 32 m3 s?1) that is typical for a fast responsive karst system. We explain the isotopic similarity between cave seepage and the Blautopf Spring (as an integral signal for groundwater) by nearly complete mixing of the water already in the vadose zone. The latter can be divided into the compartments soil, epikarst and rock matrix that all have good storage capacities and also allow diffusive exchange of solutes between mobile and less mobile matrix water. The above approach revealed new aspects about turnover and flow paths of the infiltrated water and thus helps to constrain the risk by pollution to the groundwater

Near-infrared follow-up to the May 2008 activation of SGR 1627-41

On 28 May 2008, the Swift satellite detected the first reactivation of SGR 1627-41 since its discovery in 1998. Following this event we began an observing campaign in near infrared wavelengths to search for a possible counterpart inside the error circle of this SGR, which is expected to show flaring activity simultaneous to the high energy flares or at least some variability as compared to the quiescent state. For the follow-up we used the 0.6m REM robotic telescope at La Silla Observatory, which allowed a fast response within 24 hours and, through director discretionary time, the 8.2m Very Large Telescope at Paranal Observatory. There, we observed with NACO to produce high angular resolution imaging with the aid of adaptive optics. These observations represent the fastest near infrared observations after an activation of this SGR and the deepest and highest spatial resolution observations of the Chandra error circle. 5 sources are detected in the immediate vicinity of the most precise X-ray localisation of this source. For 4 of them we do not detect variability, although the X-ray counterpart experimented a significant decay during our observation period. The 5th source is only detected in one epoch, where we have the best image quality, so no variability constrains can be imposed and remains as the only plausible counterpart. We can impose a limit of Ks > 21.6 magnitudes to any other counterpart candidate one week after the onset of the activity. Our adaptive optics imaging, with a resolution of 0.2" provides a reference frame for subsequent studies of future periods of activity.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&