Casimir energy inside a triangle

For certain class of triangles (with angles proportional to \fr{\pi}{N}, $N\geq 3$) we formulate image method by making use of the group $G_N$ generated by reflections with respect to the three lines which form the triangle under consideration. We formulate the renormalization procedure by classification of subgroups of $G_N$ and corresponding fixed points in the triangle. We also calculate Casimir energy for such geometries, for scalar massless fields. More detailed calculation is given for odd $N$.Comment: Latex, 13 page

Taxonomy and structure of the Romanian personality lexicon

We identified 1746 personality-relevant trait-adjectives in a Romanian dictionary, of which 412 were classified as descriptors of dispositions by 10 judges. Self-ratings were collected from 515 participants on those 412 adjectives, and the ratings were factored using principal components analysis. Solutions with different numbers of factors were analysed. The two- and three-factor solutions, respectively, confirmed the Big Two and Big Three of personality traits. A five-factor solution reflected the Big Five model with a fifth factor emphasising Rebelliousness versus Conventionality. The five-factor solution was related to the International Personality Item Pool-Big Five scales, and the highest correlations were indeed between the corresponding factors and scales. A six-factor solution was indicative of the six-factor model as expressed in the HEXACO model, yet with a weak Honesty-Humility factor. Additional analysis with self-ratings from 218 participants on marker-scales for the six-factor solution and on the six scales of the HEXACO did not produce a clear one-to-one correspondence between the two sets of scales, confirming indeed that the six-factor model was only partially found

Early Diagnosis of Congenital Uterine Anomalies: Is the Three Dimensional Ultrasound Approach the Suitable Choice? 3D in Uterine Anomalies

Purposes: Congenital uterine anomalies (CUA) are benign conditions associated with relatively serious complications affecting the reproductive life. Due to their infrequency CUA are often misdiagnosed, exposing the patient to possible future complications. Case description: We report the cases of three women affected by an unknown CUA, which underwent three different diagnostic and surgical approaches. Conclusions: A correct and early diagnosis of CUA is mandatory to allow a correct clinical and therapeutic management. In our opinion we might avoid the use of MRI considered as the second line technique after 2D-US, keeping in mind that in CUA the diagnostic value of 3D-US has the same accuracy as MRI

Equation for the potential of an electron system with slowly varying density in the energy-functional formalism

A second-order differential equation is derived for the electric potential of an electron system with slowly varying density. It includes consistently the first-gradient corrections to both the kinetic energy and the exchange energy. In the regime of high density, the equation reduces to the one derived by Schwinger Phys. Rev. A 24 2353 (1981

Casimir Forces for Robin Scalar Field on Cylindrical Shell in de Sitter Space

The Casimir stress on a cylinderical shell in background of conformally flat space-time for massless scalar field is investigated. In the general case of Robin (mixed) boundary condition formulae are derived for the vacuum expectation values of the energy-momentum tensor and vacuum forces acting on boundaries. The special case of the dS bulk is considered then different cosmological constants are assumed for the space inside and outside of the shell to have general results applicable to the case of cylindrical domain wall formations in the early universe.Comment: 10 pages, no figur

Revisiting the five-facet structure of mindfulness

The current study aimed to replicate the development of the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in a sample of 399 undergraduate students. We factor analyzed the Mindful Attention and Awareness Questionnaire (MAAS), the Freiburg Mindfulness Scale, the Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire (SMQ), the Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale Revised (CAMS-R), and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS), but also extended the analysis by including a conceptually related measure, the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS), and a conceptually unrelated measure, the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS). Overall, we found a partial replication of the five-factor structure, with the exception of non-reacting and non-judging which formed a single factor. The PHLMS items loaded as expected with theoretically related factors, whereas the LMS items emerged as separate factor. Finally, we found a new factor that was mostly defined by negatively worded items indicating possible item wording artifacts within the FFMQ. Our conceptual validation study indicates that some facets of the FFMQ can be recovered, but item wording factors may threaten the stability of these facets. Additionally, measures such as the LMS appear to measure not only theoretically, but also empirically different constructs

Ethnic diversity outpatient clinic in paediatrics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The health status of chronic sick ethnic minority children in the Netherlands is unequal compared with indigenous Dutch children. In order to optimize the health care for these children a specific patient-oriented clinic in ethnic-cultural diversity: the Mosaic Outpatient Clinic (MOC) was integrated in the general Paediatric Outpatient Departments (POPD) of three hospitals in Amsterdam.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Feasibility of the MOC, factors influencing the health care process and encountered bottlenecks in health care were studied in ethnic minority children with asthma, diabetes type 1 or metabolic disease originating from Morocco, Turkey and Surinam. Feasibility was determined by the number of patients attended, support from the paediatric medical staff and willingness of the patients to participate. Influences on the health care process comprised parents' level of knowledge of disease, sense of disease severity, level of effort, linguistic skills, health literacy, adherence to treatment and encountered bottlenecks in the health care process. Moreover, the number of admissions and visits to the POPD in the years before, during and after the MOC were analysed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 2006 a total of 189 ethnic minority children were seen. Integration of the MOC within the general POPD of the hospital is feasible. The ability of the parents to speak and understand Dutch was found to be 58%, functional health literacy was 88%; sufficient knowledge of disease and sense of disease severity were 59% and 67%, respectively.</p> <p>The main bottlenecks in the healthcare process: poor knowledge of disease, limited sense of disease severity and low health literacy in the parents proved to be the best predictors for decreased adherence. After attending the MOC there was a decrease in the number of admissions and visits to the POPD for asthma while the number of visits increased in patients with diabetes and the amount of no-shows decreased in patients with a metabolic disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Integration of a MOC in the general POPD is feasible and appreciated by the parents, provides more insight in the problems ethnic minority children and their parents face and shows promising directions for optimizing adherence in these children.</p

Interplanar binding in graphite studied with the Englert-Schwinger equation

A model of a graphite crystal is used which consists of a set of parallel slabs of positive charge immersed in an electron sea. The density of electrons in the region between slabs is calculated from the Englert-Schwinger equation. That equation improves Thomas-Fermi theory by including exchange and inhomogeneity corrections to the kinetic energy. The results are in semiquantitative agreement with empirical data and are slightly better than previous calculations of the interplanar binding of graphite