Numerical Investigations of Oscillons in 2 Dimensions

Oscillons, extremely long-living localized oscillations of a scalar field, are studied in theories with quartic and sine-Gordon potentials in two spatial dimensions. We present qualitative results concentrating largely on a study in frequency space via Fourier analysis of oscillations. Oscillations take place at a fundamental frequency just below the threshold for the production of radiation, with exponentially suppressed harmonics. The time evolution of the oscillation frequency points indirectly to a life time of at least 10 million oscillations. We study also elliptical perturbations of the oscillon, which are shown to decay. We finish by presenting results for boosted and collided oscillons, which point to a surprising persistence and soliton-like behaviour.Comment: Matches the published version (12 pages, 34 figures

Heavy Quark Parameters and Vcb from Spectral Moments in Semileptonic B Decays

We extract the heavy quark masses and non-perturbative parameters from the Delphi preliminary measurements of the first three moments of the charged lepton energy and hadronic mass distributions in semileptonic B decays, using a multi-parameter fit. We adopt two formalisms, one of which does not rely on a 1/mc expansion and makes use of running quark masses. The data are consistent and the level of accuracy of the experimental inputs largely determines the present sensitivity. The results allow to improve on the uncertainty in the extraction of Vcb.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure

SPh functionalized bridging-vinyliminium diiron and diruthenium complexes

The SPh functionalized vinyliminium complexes [Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(R′)Cβ(SPh)CαN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] [R = Xyl, R′ = Me, 2a; R = Me, R′ = Me, 2b; R = 4-C6H4OMe, R′ = Me, 2c; R = Xyl, R′ = CH2OH, 2d; R = Me, R′ = CH2OH, 2e; Xyl = 2,6-Me2C6H3] are generated in high yields by treatment of the corresponding vinyliminium complexes [Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(R′)Cβ(H)CαN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] (1a–e) with NaH in the presence of PhSSPh. Likewise, the diruthenium complex [Ru2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(Me)Cβ(SPh)CαN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] (2f) was obtained from the corresponding vinyliminium complex [Ru2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(Me)Cβ(H)CαN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] (1f). The synthesis of 2c is accompanied by the formation, in comparable amounts, of the aminocarbyne complex [Fe2{μ-CN(Me)(4-C6H4OMe)}(SPh)(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] (3). The molecular structures of 2d, 2e and 3 have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies

Assessment of goal-directed behavior and prospective memory in adult ADHD with an online 3D videogame simulating everyday tasks

The diagnosis of ADHD is based on real-life attentional-executive deficits, but they are harder to detect in adults than in children and objective quantitative measures reflecting these everyday problems are lacking. We developed an online version of EPELI 3D videogame for naturalistic and scalable assessment of goal-directed action and prospective memory in adult ADHD. In EPELI, participants perform instructed everyday chores in a virtual apartment from memory. Our pre-registered hypothesis predicted weaker EPELI performances in adult ADHD compared to controls. The sample comprised 112 adults with ADHD and 255 neurotypical controls comparable in age (mean 31, SD = 8 years), gender distribution (71% females) and educational level. Using web-browser, the participants performed EPELI and other cognitive tasks, including Conner’s Continuous Performance Test (CPT). They also filled out questionnaires probing everyday executive performance and kept a 5-day diary of everyday prospective memory errors. Self-reported strategy use in the EPELI game was also examined. The ADHD participants’ self-ratings indicated clearly more everyday executive problems than in the controls. Differences in the EPELI game were mostly seen in the ADHD participants’ higher rates of task-irrelevant actions. Gender differences and a group × gender interaction was found in the number of correctly performed tasks, indicating poorer performance particularly in ADHD males. Discriminant validity of EPELI was similar to CPT. Strategy use strongly predicted EPELI performance in both groups. The results demonstrate the feasibility of EPELI for online assessment and highlight the role of impulsivity as a distinctive everyday life problem in adult ADHD.</p

Bird Communities and Feeding Guilds From Three Land Use Types in Kerian River Basin, Perak

The objectives of this study were to determine the current bird species present in the study areas and to analyze variation of feeding guilds in different habitat types. Point count and mist-netting methods were used for bird census in SF and OP, while only point count method was used in PF. Feeding guilds were determined for each species recorded. A total of 183 species representing 49 families were recorded at all study sites. Secondary forest scored 106 species, followed by PF with 70 species and OP with 58 species. The highest abundance of bird families observed in SF was Pycnonotidae (26.65%), Hemiprocnidae (19.77%) and Muscicapidae (7.10%); in OP, Pycnonotidae (21.59%), Muscicapidae (19.12%) and Sturnidae (17.95%); in PF, Ardeidae (29.09%), Sturnidae (10.15%) and Hirundinidae (7.86%). Alternative hypothesis established that the abundance of species is different across habitat types, F(2,105) = 99.83, p < 0.05. Eight feeding guilds were identified in paddy field and seven in both secondary forest and oil palm plantation. If forests were converted to OP feeding guild could possibly change with a decreased in insectivore, insectivore-frugivore, insectivore-nectarivore and frugivore species; and increased in carnivore, grainivore and omnivore species. If forests were converted to PF feeding guild could possibly change with a decreased in insectivore, insectivore-frugivore and frugivore species; and increased in carnivore, insectivorenectarivore, insectivore-grainivore, grainivore and omnivore species. Comparison between SF and OP with Mann-Whitney U-test showed significant differences in six feeding guilds, including insectivore, insectivore-frugivore, insectivore-nectarivore, frugivore, grainivore and omnivore. Comparison between SF and PF showed significant differences in five feeding guilds, comprising of carnivore, insectivore-grainivore, frugivore, grainivore and omnivore. Comparison between OP and PF showed all feeding guilds to be significantly different. Complex vegetation in forestoffers more niches, with higher plant and insect diversity to support more bird species. In contrast, PF, a temporary wetland, support predominantly various waterbirds and migratory species

Residual stress investigation on Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb samples produced by Electron Beam Melting process

Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (Ti-48-2-2) is an intermetallic alloy belonging to a family of gamma-TiAl intermetallic alloys that are attracting significant attention. Electron Beam Melting (EBM) process is today the only manufacturing process that allows effective production of parts made by these kinds of alloys. Proper process control avoids high temperatures in the surrounding areas that may generate significant residual stresses that could cause micro-cracks. In this paper, an investigation on the residual stress state on Ti-48-2-2 parts is carried out using the hole drilling method. In particular, the influence of EBM process parameters is evaluated in order to understand the effects of the residual stresses on part integrity

Detrimental Impact of Interferon-Based Regimens for Chronic Hepatitis C on Vitamin D/Parathyroid Hormone Homeostasis

Background: Both the anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D, an essential hormone of calcium homeostasis, have ample support in the literature. The high rates of vitamin D deficiency among patients with chronic hepatitis C are also well known. That supplementation with vitamin D may boost sustained viral response rates in vitamin D deficient, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients undergoing Interferon-alpha (IFN) treatment, on the other hand, is controversial. Surprisingly, studies considering in this latter setting what are the effects of IFN treatment (with or without vitamin D supplementation) on the other major regulator of mineral metabolism, i.e. the Parathyroid hormone (PTH), are lacking. Aim: Evaluate the impact of interferon-based treatment against HCV (±cholecalciferol supplementation) on vitamin D and PTH homeostasis. Methods: A series of 40 consecutive patients received pegylated IFN plus ribavirin to treat chronic hepatitis C. At the discretion of their physician, some of them (N. = 27) received vitamin D supplementation while others did not (N. = 13). All had measured plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and PTH concentrations at baseline, at completion of the 4th (TW4) and 12th treatment week (TW12) and at 24 weeks after the end of therapy (SVR24). Results: Plasma PTH concentration increased significantly from baseline during treatment, raising to 44.8 [30.7-57.2] pg/mL at TW4 (p=0.01), 47.0 [37.1-63.2] pg/mL at TW12 (p=0.006) to return to baseline levels in the follow-up (34.5 [27.6-43.0]; p=0.16). The proportion of patients who satisfied criteria for hyperparathyroidism was higher at TW12 (N=10, 25%) than at TW4 (N=6, 15%). There was no statistical correlation between vitamin D and PTH blood levels (ρ=-0.07; p=0.65). Conclusion: An increase in plasma PTH occurs systematically during IFN treatment of HCV patients and cannot be prevented by vitamin D supplementation

Do humans translate like machines?: Students' conceptualisations of human and machine translation

This paper explores how students conceptualise the processes involved in human translation (HT) and machine translation (MT), and how they describe the similarities and differences between them. The paperpresents the results of a survey involving university students (B.A. and M.A.) taking a course on translation who filled out an online questionnaire distributed in Finnish, Dutch and English. Our study finds that students often describe both HT and MT in similar terms, suggesting they do not sufficiently distinguish between them and do not fully understand how MT works. The current study suggests that training in Machine Translation Literacy may need to focus more on the conceptualisations involved and how conceptual and vernacular misconceptions may affect how translators understand human and machine translation.Descriptive and Comparative Linguistic