Density dependent strong coupling constant of QCD derived from compact star data

The present work is an endeavour to connect the properties of tiny nearly massless objects with those of some of the most massive ones, the compact stars. Since 1996 there is major influx of X-ray and $\gamma$ ray data from binary stars, one or both of which are compact objects that are difficult to explain as neutron stars since they contain a mass M in too small a radius R . The suggestion has been put forward that these are strange quark stars (SS) explainable in a simple model with chiral symmetry restoration (CSR) for the quarks and the M, R and other properties like QPOs (quasi periodic oscillations) in their X-ray power spectrum. It would be nice if this astrophysical data could shed some light on fundamental properties of quarks obeying QCD. One can relate the strong coupling constant of QCD, $\alpha_s$ to the quark mass through the Dyson-Schwinger gap equation using the real time formalism of Dolan and Jackiw. This enables us to obtain the density dependence of $\alpha_s$ from the simple CSR referred to above. This way fundamental physics, difficult to extract from other models like for example lattice QCD, can be constrained from present-day compact star data and may be put back to modelling the dense quark phase of early universe.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Pushing the Boundaries: What Youth Organizers at Boston\u27s Hyde Square Task Force Have to Teach Us About Civic Engagement

Across the United States, researchers and youth workers alike have identified an increasing number of civically engaged youth who are organizing to improve their communities and schools. By taking an action-oriented approach, these youth are speaking back to the notion that they are uninvolved in society. This interview-based study explores the meaning-making experiences of youth organizers at Boston’s Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) to better understand how they engage. Findings suggest that HSTF is engaging two broad groups of youth by focusing on both their personal development and their sense of community awareness. The study introduces an organizing model of youth engagement at the HSTF and calls on educators to consider organizing as an effective approach to civic engagement

150th Anniversary, Town of Raymond, Maine, 1803-1953

A brief history of the town of Raymond, Maine. Cover title = History of the Town of Raymond

Inactivation of Plasmodium falciparum in whole blood by riboflavin plus irradiation.

BACKGROUND: Malaria parasites are frequently transmitted by unscreened blood transfusions in Africa. Pathogen reduction methods in whole blood would thus greatly improve blood safety. We aimed to determine the efficacy of riboflavin plus irradiation for treatment of whole blood infected with Plasmodium falciparum. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood was inoculated with 10(4) or 10(5) parasites/mL and riboflavin treated with or without ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (40-160 J/mL red blood cells [mL(RBCs)]). Parasite genome integrity was assessed by quantitative amplification inhibition assays, and P. falciparum viability was monitored in vitro. RESULTS: Riboflavin alone did not affect parasite genome integrity or parasite viability. Application of UV after riboflavin treatment disrupted parasite genome integrity, reducing polymerase-dependent amplification by up to 2 logs (99%). At 80 J/mL(RBCs), riboflavin plus irradiation prevented recovery of viable parasites in vitro for 2 weeks, whereas untreated controls typically recovered to approximately 2% parasitemia after 4 days of in vitro culture. Exposure of blood to 160 J/mL(RBCs) was not associated with significant hemolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Riboflavin plus irradiation treatment of whole blood damages parasite genomes and drastically reduces P. falciparum viability in vitro. In the absence of suitable malaria screening assays, parasite inactivation should be investigated for prevention of transfusion-transmitted malaria in highly endemic areas

Static critical behavior of the ferromagnetic transition in LaMnO3.14 manganite

The ferromagnetic phase transition in LaMnO3.14 is investigated by measuring the dc magnetization as a function of magnetic field and temperature. Modified Arrott plot and Kouvel Fisher analysis yield estimates for the critical exponents beta, and gama, with values between that predicted for the Heisenberg model and mean field theory. At low fields we found an anomalous small value of beta, indicating that the critical behavior is influenced by the range of magnetic fields used.Comment: Presented at ICM 2000 conference. Accepted for publication at J. Magn. Magn. Mate

La causa parasitaria de la "seca" de los Quercus

La “Seca” de los Quercus es una enfermedad compleja que, en la península Ibérica, afecta principalmente a encinas y alcornoques, tanto a árboles agrupados como dispersos. La causa parasitaria más importante que contribuye al desarrollo de esta enfermedad es la actuación del hongo Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Este parásito primario habitante del suelo se detectó en España a finales de los años 80, estando en la actualidad muy presente en las comunidades autónomas de: Andalucía, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura y Madrid. En este artículo se explica de forma compresible los caracteres morfológicos del agente parasitario, su actividad como agente patógeno causal de la enfermedad y su dinámica (reproducción, conservación y dispersión).___________________________________The “Seca” (oak decline disease) of the Quercus trees is a complex disease that in the Iberian peninsula attack the holm oak and corck oak both in clusters and dispersed trees. The parasite cause more important that contributes to develop of these disease is the activity of the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. This pathogen is a primary parasite soil habitant and was detected in Spain at the end the 80’s. Current this pathogen is present in the Autonomic Comunities of Andalusian, , Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura and Madrid. In the text is indicate in understandable way the morpholgical characters of the parasite agent, its pathogen activity as well as its dynamic (reproduction, conservation and dispersion)

Self-titration by experienced e-cigarette users: blood nicotine delivery and subjective effects (Study Data)

This is a UK laboratory study of twelve experienced e-cigarette users (11 males; 1 female; note the female participant’s data was removed from all analyses in the published paper) to understand the effects of e-liquid nicotine concentration on puffing patterns, plasma nicotine levels and subjective effects. All participants completed two vaping sessions under low (6 mg/mL) and high (24 mg/mL) nicotine e-liquid concentrations in two separate (counterbalanced) sessions at the University of East London (UEL). The data include puffing patterns (puff number, puff duration, volume of e-liquid consumed), plasma nicotine levels, craving and withdrawal symptoms after 10, 30 and 60 minutes of ad libitum vaping and self-reported positive and negative effects at 60 minutes

An Irish Spiritual Pilgrimage and the Potential for Transformation

This paper discusses spiritual pilgrimage from a cultural-spiritual perspective on transformative learning, and analyzes the experiences of the three co-authors via an autoethnography methodology

The Fission Yeast S-Phase Cyclin Cig2 Can Drive Mitosis [preprint]

Commitment to mitosis is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the major B-type cyclin, Cdc13, is necessary and sufficient to drive mitotic entry. Furthermore, Cdc13 is also sufficient to drive S phase, demonstrating that a single cyclin can regulate alternating rounds of replication and mitosis and providing the foundation of the quantitative model of CDK function. It has been assumed that Cig2, a B-type cyclin expressed only during S-phase and incapable of driving mitosis in wild-type cells, was specialized for S-phase regulation. Here, we show that Cig2 is capable of driving mitosis. Cig2/CDK activity drives mitotic catastrophe -- lethal mitosis in inviably small cells -- in cells that lack CDK inhibition by tyrosine-phosphorylation. Moreover, Cig2/CDK can drive mitosis in the absence of Cdc13/CDK activity. These results demonstrate that in fission yeast, not only can the presumptive M-phase cyclin drive S phase, but the presumptive S-phase cyclin can drive M phase, further supporting the quantitative model of CDK function. Furthermore, these results provide an explanation, previously proposed on the basis of computation analyses, for the surprising observation that cells expressing a single-chain Cdc13-Cdc2 CDK do not require Y15 phosphorylation for viability. Their viability is due to the fact that in such cells, which lack Cig2/CDK complexes, Cdc13/CDK activity is unable to drive mitotic catastrophe