Transmutations and spectral parameter power series in eigenvalue problems

We give an overview of recent developments in Sturm-Liouville theory concerning operators of transmutation (transformation) and spectral parameter power series (SPPS). The possibility to write down the dispersion (characteristic) equations corresponding to a variety of spectral problems related to Sturm-Liouville equations in an analytic form is an attractive feature of the SPPS method. It is based on a computation of certain systems of recursive integrals. Considered as families of functions these systems are complete in the $L_{2}$-space and result to be the images of the nonnegative integer powers of the independent variable under the action of a corresponding transmutation operator. This recently revealed property of the Delsarte transmutations opens the way to apply the transmutation operator even when its integral kernel is unknown and gives the possibility to obtain further interesting properties concerning the Darboux transformed Schr\"{o}dinger operators. We introduce the systems of recursive integrals and the SPPS approach, explain some of its applications to spectral problems with numerical illustrations, give the definition and basic properties of transmutation operators, introduce a parametrized family of transmutation operators, study their mapping properties and construct the transmutation operators for Darboux transformed Schr\"{o}dinger operators.Comment: 30 pages, 4 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1111.444

Pattern selection in the absolutely unstable regime as a nonlinear eigenvalue problem: Taylor vortices in axial flow

A unique pattern selection in the absolutely unstable regime of a driven, nonlinear, open-flow system is analyzed: The spatiotemporal structures of rotationally symmetric vortices that propagate downstream in the annulus of the rotating Taylor-Couette system due to an externally imposed axial through-flow are investigated for two different axial boundary conditions at the in- and outlet. Unlike the stationary patterns in systems without through-flow the spatiotemporal structures of propagating vortices are independent of parameter history, initial conditions, and system's length. They do, however, depend on the axial boundary conditions, the driving rate of the inner cylinder and the through-flow rate. Our analysis of the amplitude equation shows that the pattern selection can be described by a nonlinear eigenvalue problem with the frequency being the eigenvalue. Approaching the border between absolute and convective instability the eigenvalue problem becomes effectively linear and the selection mechanism approaches that one of linear front propagation. PACS:47.54.+r,47.20.Ky,47.32.-y,47.20.FtComment: 15 pages (LateX-file), 8 figures (Postscript

Equivalences between localisations of categories provided by replacements

We give a characterisation of functors whose induced functor on the level of localisations is an equivalence and where the isomorphism inverse is induced by some kind of replacements such as projective resolutions or cofibrant replacements

Linguistic expert creation in online health practices

In this chapter, we explore how the construction of an expert identity varies across online e-health settings with different socio-technological features. Our methodology is qualitative in nature and draws on insights from discourse analysis, in particular positioning theory. Results show that four aspects of creating expertise are vital: the embeddedness of the posi-tioning strategies in the online health context, the interplay between these strategies within each setting, the interactivity of the medium, and the fact that not only professionals, but also clients and laypeople construct their expertise. The results reveal that previously found strategies to create expertise (e.g., using jargon or showing empathy) could be confirmed in our corpus, and that the interplay of several strategies is in fact needed to create credible and trustworthy expert identities for all participants involved. This interplay varies accord-ing to the practice

Transmutations for Darboux transformed operators with applications

We solve the following problem. Given a continuous complex-valued potential q_1 defined on a segment [-a,a] and let q_2 be the potential of a Darboux transformed Schr\"odinger operator. Suppose a transmutation operator T_1 for the potential q_1 is known such that the corresponding Schr\"odinger operator is transmuted into the operator of second derivative. Find an analogous transmutation operator T_2 for the potential q_2. It is well known that the transmutation operators can be realized in the form of Volterra integral operators with continuously differentiable kernels. Given a kernel K_1 of the transmutation operator T_1 we find the kernel K_2 of T_2 in a closed form in terms of K_1. As a corollary interesting commutation relations between T_1 and T_2 are obtained which then are used in order to construct the transmutation operator for the one-dimensional Dirac system with a scalar potential

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients

Investigation of the drag reducing effect of hydrophobized sand on cylinders

Superhydrophobic surfaces show strong potential for drag reducing applications. If such a surface supports a Cassie-Baxter state with low solid surface fraction and when immersed it retains a plastron air layer, large slip can occur across its surface as well as a consequent reduction in drag. In this work we report a facile method for creating hydrophobic cylinders and hydrophobic flat surfaces with varying surface roughness able to support a Cassie-Baxter state. Cylinders of 12mm diameter were coated in hydrophobized sand with grain sizes in the ranges of 50-100, 212-300, 425-600 and 600-710 mu m to produce the varying degrees of roughness. A laser Doppler anemometer was used to measure the velocity profile of the water across their wake in a large water circulating flow chamber. The hydrophobic cylinders in the Cassie-Baxter state show drag reductions of up to 28% compared to the same sample in the Wenzel state for flows with Reynolds numbers of 10000 to 40000. These drag reduction results, in combination with confocal microscopy images of the plastron air layer and feature height, show that the thickness of the plastron and the protrusion height of the features combine to give a drag reduction or drag increase depending on the ratio of the two