CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF MOLDED FOOT ORTHOTICS USING FRONTAL PLANE GROUND REACTION FORCES

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Slow relaxation in weakly open vertex-splitting rational polygons

The problem of splitting effects by vertex angles is discussed for nonintegrable rational polygonal billiards. A statistical analysis of the decay dynamics in weakly open polygons is given through the orbit survival probability. Two distinct channels for the late-time relaxation of type 1/t^delta are established. The primary channel, associated with the universal relaxation of ''regular'' orbits, with delta = 1, is common for both the closed and open, chaotic and nonchaotic billiards. The secondary relaxation channel, with delta > 1, is originated from ''irregular'' orbits and is due to the rationality of vertices.Comment: Key words: Dynamics of systems of particles, control of chaos, channels of relaxation. 21 pages, 4 figure

The symmetry of the superconducting order parameter in PuCoGa5_5

The symmetry of the superconducting order parameter in single-crystalline PuCoGa$_5$ ($T_{\rm c} = 18.5$ K) is investigated via zero- and transverse- field muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR) measurements, probing the possible existence of orbital and/or spin moments (time reversal-symmetry violation TRV) associated with the superconducting phase and the in-plane magnetic-field penetration depth $\lambda(T)$ in the mixed state, respectively. We find no evidence for TRV, and show that the superfluid density, or alternatively, $\Delta\lambda(T) = \lambda(T) - \lambda(0)$, are $\propto T$ for $T/T_{\rm c} \leq 0.5$. Taken together these measurements are consistent with an even-parity (pseudo-spin singlet), d-wave pairing state.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Decay of Classical Chaotic Systems - the Case of the Bunimovich Stadium

The escape of an ensemble of particles from the Bunimovich stadium via a small hole has been studied numerically. The decay probability starts out exponentially but has an algebraic tail. The weight of the algebraic decay tends to zero for vanishing hole size. This behaviour is explained by the slow transport of the particles close to the marginally stable bouncing ball orbits. It is contrasted with the decay function of the corresponding quantum system.Comment: 16 pages, RevTex, 3 figures are available upon request from [email protected], to be published in Phys.Rev.

Shadowing in photo-production : role of in-medium hadrons

We study the effects of in-medium hadronic properties on shadowing in photon-nucleus interactions in Glauber model as well as in the multiple scattering approach. A reasonable agreement with the experimental data is obtained in a scenario of downward spectral shift of the hadrons. Shadowing is found to be insensitive to the broadening of the spectral functions. An impact parameter dependent analysis of shadowing might shed more light on the role of in-medium properties of hadrons.Comment: Title modified; version to appear in PRC, Rapid Communication

Conformal Mappings and Dispersionless Toda hierarchy

Let $\mathfrak{D}$ be the space consists of pairs $(f,g)$, where $f$ is a univalent function on the unit disc with $f(0)=0$, $g$ is a univalent function on the exterior of the unit disc with $g(\infty)=\infty$ and $f'(0)g'(\infty)=1$. In this article, we define the time variables $t_n, n\in \Z$, on $\mathfrak{D}$ which are holomorphic with respect to the natural complex structure on $\mathfrak{D}$ and can serve as local complex coordinates for $\mathfrak{D}$. We show that the evolutions of the pair $(f,g)$ with respect to these time coordinates are governed by the dispersionless Toda hierarchy flows. An explicit tau function is constructed for the dispersionless Toda hierarchy. By restricting $\mathfrak{D}$ to the subspace $\Sigma$ consists of pairs where $f(w)=1/\bar{g(1/\bar{w})}$, we obtain the integrable hierarchy of conformal mappings considered by Wiegmann and Zabrodin \cite{WZ}. Since every $C^1$ homeomorphism $\gamma$ of the unit circle corresponds uniquely to an element $(f,g)$ of $\mathfrak{D}$ under the conformal welding $\gamma=g^{-1}\circ f$, the space $\text{Homeo}_{C}(S^1)$ can be naturally identified as a subspace of $\mathfrak{D}$ characterized by $f(S^1)=g(S^1)$. We show that we can naturally define complexified vector fields \pa_n, n\in \Z on $\text{Homeo}_{C}(S^1)$ so that the evolutions of $(f,g)$ on $\text{Homeo}_{C}(S^1)$ with respect to \pa_n satisfy the dispersionless Toda hierarchy. Finally, we show that there is a similar integrable structure for the Riemann mappings $(f^{-1}, g^{-1})$. Moreover, in the latter case, the time variables are Fourier coefficients of $\gamma$ and $1/\gamma^{-1}$.Comment: 23 pages. This is to replace the previous preprint arXiv:0808.072

Spectra of "Real-World" Graphs: Beyond the Semi-Circle Law

Many natural and social systems develop complex networks, that are usually modelled as random graphs. The eigenvalue spectrum of these graphs provides information about their structural properties. While the semi-circle law is known to describe the spectral density of uncorrelated random graphs, much less is known about the eigenvalues of real-world graphs, describing such complex systems as the Internet, metabolic pathways, networks of power stations, scientific collaborations or movie actors, which are inherently correlated and usually very sparse. An important limitation in addressing the spectra of these systems is that the numerical determination of the spectra for systems with more than a few thousand nodes is prohibitively time and memory consuming. Making use of recent advances in algorithms for spectral characterization, here we develop new methods to determine the eigenvalues of networks comparable in size to real systems, obtaining several surprising results on the spectra of adjacency matrices corresponding to models of real-world graphs. We find that when the number of links grows as the number of nodes, the spectral density of uncorrelated random graphs does not converge to the semi-circle law. Furthermore, the spectral densities of real-world graphs have specific features depending on the details of the corresponding models. In particular, scale-free graphs develop a triangle-like spectral density with a power law tail, while small-world graphs have a complex spectral density function consisting of several sharp peaks. These and further results indicate that the spectra of correlated graphs represent a practical tool for graph classification and can provide useful insight into the relevant structural properties of real networks.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures (corrected typos, added references) accepted for Phys. Rev.

Transition Form Factors between Pseudoscalar and Vector Mesons in Light-Front Dynamics

We study the transition form factors between pseudoscalar and vector mesons using a covariant fermion field theory model in $(3+1)$ dimensions. Performing the light-front calculation in the $q^+ =0$ frame in parallel with the manifestly covariant calculation, we note that the suspected nonvanishing zero-mode contribution to the light-front current $J^+$ does not exist in our analysis of transition form factors. We also perform the light-front calculation in a purely longitudinal $q^+ > 0$ frame and confirm that the form factors obtained directly from the timelike region are identical to the ones obtained by the analytic continuation from the spacelike region. Our results for the $B \to D^* l \nu_l$ decay process satisfy the constraints on the heavy-to-heavy semileptonic decays imposed by the flavor independence in the heavy quark limit.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figure

Tuning the cross-linking density and cross-linker in core cross-linked polymeric micelles and its effects on the particle stability in human blood plasma and mice

Core cross-linked polymeric micelles (CCPMs) are designed to improve the therapeutic profile of hydrophobic drugs, reduce or completely avoid protein corona formation, and offer prolonged circulation times, a prerequisite for passive or active targeting. In this study, we tuned the CCPM stability by using bifunctional or trifunctional cross-linkers and varying the cross-linkable polymer block length. For CCPMs, amphiphilic thiol-reactive polypept(o)ides of polysarcosine-block-poly(S-ethylsulfonyl-l-cysteine) [pSar-b-pCys(SO2Et)] were employed. While the pCys(SO2Et) chain lengths varied from Xn = 17 to 30, bivalent (derivatives of dihydrolipoic acid) and trivalent (sarcosine/cysteine pentapeptide) cross-linkers have been applied. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fraction (AF4) displayed the absence of aggregates in human plasma, yet for non-cross-linked PM and CCPMs cross-linked with dihydrolipoic acid at [pCys(SO2Et)]17, increasing the cross-linking density or the pCys(SO2Et) chain lengths led to stable CCPMs. Interestingly, circulation time and biodistribution in mice of non-cross-linked and bivalently cross-linked CCPMs are comparable, while the trivalent peptide cross-linkers enhance the circulation half-life from 11 to 19 h.Biopharmaceutic

Chronic hand eczema in Europe:Patient experiences and perspectives (CHEPEP) in qualitative interviews

Background: Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a very common skin disease among the European population. It causes itch and pain and, in more severe cases, seriously impairs hand functioning at work and in private life. Objectives: To explore perspectives of people with lived experience on CHE-related problems, wishes and goals. Methods: Following a qualitative approach, we conducted topic-guided interviews in five European countries and applied template analysis to identify recurrent themes among patients with CHE. Results: We interviewed 60 patients in seven outpatient dermatological and occupational medicine clinics in Croatia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Five main themes were identified: (1) knowledge about the disease and its course, (2) preventive behaviour, (3) hand eczema therapy, (4) impact on everyday life and (5) attitudes towards CHE and healthcare. Participants did not feel well informed about CHE, especially about causes, triggers and treatment options. Preventive measures were experienced as more or less effective but also cumbersome. Experiences with therapy were diverse. Treatment satisfaction depended on the results and on the perceived support from the treatment teams. Participants found it important to be taken seriously, to receive practical advice, to try out additional treatments or examinations, find new hope and have occupational perspectives. They wished that others could better understand the physical and emotional burden of CHE. Patient support groups were not mentioned. Participants found it important to learn to take care of themselves and accept life with CHE. Conclusions: Due to its annoying symptoms, high visibility and impaired functioning at work and in private life, CHE has a high emotional and social impact. Some people may require support to learn coping with CHE and its prevention. Patients wish for information about causes and triggers. They value physicians who listen to them and keep looking for solutions.</p