Spatially partitioned embedded Runge-Kutta Methods

We study spatially partitioned embedded Runge–Kutta (SPERK) schemes for partial differential equations (PDEs), in which each of the component schemes is applied over a different part of the spatial domain. Such methods may be convenient for problems in which the smoothness of the solution or the magnitudes of the PDE coefficients vary strongly in space. We focus on embedded partitioned methods as they offer greater efficiency and avoid the order reduction that may occur in non-embedded schemes. We demonstrate that the lack of conservation in partitioned schemes can lead to non-physical effects and propose conservative additive schemes based on partitioning the fluxes rather than the ordinary differential equations. A variety of SPERK schemes are presented, including an embedded pair suitable for the time evolution of fifth-order weighted non-oscillatory (WENO) spatial discretizations. Numerical experiments are provided to support the theory

Microbial Load of Some Medicinal Plants Sold in Some Local Markets in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Purpose: To evaluate the microbial load on 17 randomly selected plant samples from 60 ethnobotanically collected medicinal plants from five local markets in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Method: The pour plate method was used to cultivate serially diluted portions of the medicinal plant samples investigated. Enumeration of bacteria was carried out on nutrient agar (NA) while that of fungi was effected on Sabouraud agar (SA). Results: The identified microbial isolates include 12 bacterial and 6 fungal genera. The mean heterotrophic bacteria counts of the different herbal samples ranged from 1.3 × 105 cfu/g (Cnestis ferruginea) to 6.7 × 106 cfu/g (Daniellia oliveri), while total fungal propagule counts ranged from 0.0 × 101 cfu/g (Terminalia superba, Cola gigantea, Rauwolfia vomitoria, Zingiber officinale and Argemone mexicana) to 7.1 × 106 cfu/g (Nesogordonia papaverifera). The synopsis and frequency (prevalence rate) of microbial species isolation showed that Bacillus spp. (82.4 %) and Mucor spp. (47.1 %) had the highest prevalence rates among bacteria and fungi, respectively. Conclusion: The findings from this study emphasized the need for constant quality assessment of herbal drugs on sale in order to ensure the production of therapeutic products suitable for human consumption.Keywords: Microbial load; Medicinal plants; Local markets; Abeokuta; Nigeri

Human papillomavirus E2 regulates SRSF3 (SRp20) to promote capsid protein expression in infected differentiated keratinocytes

The human papillomavirus (HPV) life cycle is tightly linked to differentiation of the infected epithelial cell suggesting a sophisticated interplay between host cell metabolism and virus replication. Previously we demonstrated in differentiated keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo that HPV16 infection caused increased levels of the cellular SR splicing factors (SRSFs) SRSF1 (ASF/SF2), SRSF2 (SC35) and SRSF3 (SRp20). Moreover, the viral E2 transcription and replication factor that is expressed at high levels in differentiating keratinocytes could bind and control activity of the SRSF1 gene promoter. Here we reveal that E2 proteins of HPV16 and HPV31 control expression of SRSFs 1, 2 and 3 in a differentiation-dependent manner. E2 has the greatest trans-activation effect on expression of SRSF3. siRNA depletion experiments in two different models of the HPV16 life cycle (W12E and NIKS16) and one model of the HPV31 life cycle (CIN612-9E) revealed that only SRSF3 contributed significantly to regulation of late events in the virus life cycle. Increased levels of SRSF3 are required for L1 mRNA and capsid protein expression. Capsid protein expression was regulated specifically by SRSF3 and appeared independent of other SRSFs. Taken together these data suggest a significant role of the HPV E2 protein in regulating late events in the HPV life cycle through transcriptional regulation of SRSF3 expression. IMPORTANCE Human papillomavirus replication is accomplished in concert with differentiation of the infected epithelium. Virus capsid protein expression is confined to the upper epithelial layers so as to avoid immune detection. In this study we demonstrate that the viral E2 transcription factor activates the promoter of the cellular SRSF3 RNA processing factor. SRSF3 is required for expression of the E4̂L1 mRNA and so controls expression of the HPV L1 capsid protein. Thus we reveal a new dimension of virus-host interaction crucial for production of infectious virus. SRSF proteins are known drug targets. Therefore, this study provides an excellent basis for developing strategies to regulate capsid protein production in the infected epithelium and production of new virions

Numerical Tests of the Chiral Luttinger Liquid Theory for Fractional Hall Edges

We report on microscopic numerical studies which support the chiral Luttinger liquid theory of the fractional Hall edge proposed by Wen. Our calculations are based in part on newly proposed and accurate many-body trial wavefunctions for the low-energy edge excitations of fractional incompressible states.Comment: 12 pages + 1 figure, Revte

Exact spin dynamics of the 1/r^2 supersymmetric t-J model in a magnetic field

The dynamical spin structure factor S^{zz}(Q,omega) in the small momentum region is derived analytically for the one-dimensional supersymmetric t-J model with 1/r^2 interaction. Strong spin-charge separation is found in the spin dynamics. The structure factor S^{zz}(Q,omega) with a given spin polarization does not depend on the electron density in the small momentum region. In the thermodynamic limit, only two spinons and one antispinon (magnon) contribute to S^{zz}(Q,omega). These results are derived via solution of the SU(2,1) Sutherland model in the strong coupling limit.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in J.Phys.

Observability of counterpropagating modes at fractional-quantum-Hall edges

When the bulk filling factor is equal to 1 - 1/m with m odd, at least one counterpropagating chiral collective mode occurs simultaneously with magnetoplasmons at the edge of fractional-quantum-Hall samples. Initial experimental searches for an additional mode were unsuccessful. In this paper, we address conditions under which its observation should be expected in experiments where the electronic system is excited and probed by capacitive coupling. We derive realistic expressions for the velocity of the slow counterpropagating mode, starting from a microscopic calculation which is simplified by a Landau-Silin-like separation between long-range Hartree and residual interactions. The microscopic calculation determines the stiffness of the edge to long-wavelength neutral excitations, which fixes the slow-mode velocity, and the effective width of the edge region, which influences the magnetoplasmon dispersion.Comment: 18 pages, RevTex, 6 figures, final version to be published in Physical Review

Strong Correlation to Weak Correlation Phase Transition in Bilayer Quantum Hall Systems

At small layer separations, the ground state of a nu=1 bilayer quantum Hall system exhibits spontaneous interlayer phase coherence and has a charged-excitation gap E_g. The evolution of this state with increasing layer separation d has been a matter of controversy. In this letter we report on small system exact diagonalization calculations which suggest that a single phase transition, likely of first order, separates coherent incompressible (E_g >0) states with strong interlayer correlations from incoherent compressible states with weak interlayer correlations. We find a dependence of the phase boundary on d and interlayer tunneling amplitude that is in very good agreement with recent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures included, version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Superanalogs of the Calogero operators and Jack polynomials

A depending on a complex parameter $k$ superanalog ${\mathcal S}{\mathcal L}$ of Calogero operator is constructed; it is related with the root system of the Lie superalgebra ${\mathfrak{gl}}(n|m)$. For $m=0$ we obtain the usual Calogero operator; for $m=1$ we obtain, up to a change of indeterminates and parameter $k$ the operator constructed by Veselov, Chalykh and Feigin [2,3]. For $k=1, \frac12$ the operator ${\mathcal S}{\mathcal L}$ is the radial part of the 2nd order Laplace operator for the symmetric superspaces corresponding to pairs $(GL(V)\times GL(V), GL(V))$ and $(GL(V), OSp(V))$, respectively. We will show that for the generic $m$ and $n$ the superanalogs of the Jack polynomials constructed by Kerov, Okunkov and Olshanskii [5] are eigenfunctions of ${\mathcal S}{\mathcal L}$; for $k=1, \frac12$ they coinside with the spherical functions corresponding to the above mentioned symmetric superspaces. We also study the inner product induced by Berezin's integral on these superspaces

Long-term weight loss maintenance and management following a VLCD: a 3-year outcome.

Background: Effective weight loss treatment is important as obesity has severe health and socioeconomic repercussions. Emerging evidence suggests that rapid initial weight loss results in better long-term weight loss maintenance. This remains controversial and contradicts current recommendations for slower weight loss. Aim: To determine the effect of a very low calorie diet (VLCD) with group-based behaviour therapy on weight loss and long-term weight management by means of a retrospective database analysis. Methods: Data for this retrospective analysis included participants who embarked on the LighterLife Total VLCD programme between 2007 and 2010, and whose weights at baseline and at least 12 months were available (n = 5965). Results: Data were available for 5965 individuals at 1 year, 2044 at 2 years and 580 at 3 years. At baseline, the majority of individuals were Caucasian (n = 5155), female (n = 5419), ≥ 40 years old (n = 4272), 49% were within the body mass index (BMI) range of 30-35 kg/m2 while 51% had a BMI > 35 kg/m2. The average initial weight of the whole cohort was 99.1 kg (SD 16.6). Initial weight and BMI at entry onto programme, as well as numbers of weeks of weight loss were all significantly associated with weight loss achieved on the first weight loss attempt. Weight lost during the initial weight loss phase was the only factor, which was significantly associated with percentage weight loss maintenance for years 1, 2, and 3. Conclusion: The findings of this retrospective analysis suggest that provided a longer term weight loss management programme is adhered to, large amounts of initial weight loss can result in important longer term weight loss maintenance in motivated individuals

Inter-band magnetoplasmons in mono- and bi-layer graphene

Collective excitations spectrum of Dirac electrons in mono and bilayer graphene in the presence of a uniform magnetic field is investigated. Analytical results for inter-Landau band plasmon spectrum within the self-consistent-field approach are obtained. SdH type oscillations that are a monotonic function of the magnetic field are observed in the plasmon spectrum of both mono- and bi-layer graphene systems. The results presented are also compared with those obtained in conventional 2DEG. The chiral nature of the quasiparticles in mono and bilayer graphene system results in the observation of $\pi$ and $2\pi$ Berry's phase in the SdH- type oscillations in the plasmon spectrum.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure