The Cerenkov effect revisited: from swimming ducks to zero modes in gravitational analogs

We present an interdisciplinary review of the generalized Cerenkov emission of radiation from uniformly moving sources in the different contexts of classical electromagnetism, superfluid hydrodynamics, and classical hydrodynamics. The details of each specific physical systems enter our theory via the dispersion law of the excitations. A geometrical recipe to obtain the emission patterns in both real and wavevector space from the geometrical shape of the dispersion law is discussed and applied to a number of cases of current experimental interest. Some consequences of these emission processes onto the stability of condensed-matter analogs of gravitational systems are finally illustrated.Comment: Lecture Notes at the IX SIGRAV School on "Analogue Gravity" in Como, Italy from May 16th-21th, 201

The structure of PGC Morale Scale in American and Japanese aged: A further note

This study involves a further replication of cross-cultural comparison of the structure of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS). Using Japanese and American data sets, the present research replicates and extends the findings reported by Liang et al. (1987). In particular, the earlier findings that four PGCMS items behave differently in two cultures are replicated. The present study yields two additional observations. First, the invariance in the PGCMS can now be extended beyond the urban elderly residents studied by Liang et al. (1987) to the entire aged population in the U.S. and Japan. Second, this comparability is robust despite the elimination of correlated measurement errors from the earlier specifications and when several exogenous variables are controlled. Further, the impact of selected demographic variables on the PGCMS was evaluated. In addition, qualitative data from in-depth interviews provide further insights concerning the cultural differences in the expression of well-being.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42991/1/10823_2004_Article_BF00116576.pd

Use of alternative and complementary medicine in menopause

Objectives: To review the clinical evidence available for the treatment of menopausal symptoms with alternative and complementary medicine. Methods: The MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE and COCHRANE electronic databases for the years 1980–2002 were searched for articles concerning soy products, black cohosh, dong quai, acupuncture, ginseng and evening primrose oil. Studies pertaining to menopausal vasomotor symptoms, lipid profiles and bone mineral densities of postmenopausal women were included. The data from clinical trials were reviewed. Results: Soy isoflavones slightly decrease total cholesterol and LDL levels. The clinical significance of this small change is yet to be determined. The synthetic isoflavone derivative ipriflavone increases bone mineral density in healthy peri‐ and postmenopausal women with moderate bone mineral densities. Although earlier reports have claimed that soy is beneficial for the improvement of vasomotor symptoms, recent data do not support this claim. There are insufficient data on the other alternative therapies for treating menopausal symptoms at this time. Conclusion: Alternative and complementary medicine may play a role in the management of menopause, however, well‐designed large studies are still needed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135146/1/ijgo195.pd

Dual-baseline search for active-to-sterile neutrino oscillations in NOvA

We report a search for neutrino oscillations to sterile neutrinos under a model with three active and one sterile neutrinos (3 þ 1 model). This analysis uses the NOvA detectors exposed to the NuMI beam, running in neutrino mode. The data exposure, 13.6 × 1020 protons on target, doubles that previously analyzed by NOvA, and the analysis is the first to use νμ charged-current interactions in conjunction with neutralcurrent interactions. Neutrino samples in the near and far detectors are fitted simultaneously, enabling the search to be carried out over a Δm2 41 range extending 2 (3) orders of magnitude above (below) 1 eV2. NOvA finds no evidence for active-to-sterile neutrino oscillations under the 3 þ 1 model at 90% confidence level. New limits are reported in multiple regions of parameter space, excluding some regions currently allowed by IceCube at 90% confidence level. We additionally set the most stringent limits for anomalous ντ appearance for Δm2 41 ≤ 3 eV2

Tolerance of genetically characterized Folsomia candida strains to phenmedipham exposure

Abstract Background, Aims, and Scope The springtail Folsomia candida is a commonly used model species in ecotoxicological soil testing. The species reproduces parthenogenetically and, thus, laboratories use different clonal lineages. In this study, we investigated if genetic divergence between F. candida strains impacts the reaction to chemical stress and may thus affect the outcome of toxicity tests. Methods In two exposure assays (life-cycle reproduction test and avoidance behaviour test), three laboratory strains of F. candida from Portugal (PTG), Spain (SPN) and Denmark (DNK) were exposed to different concentrations of the reference chemical phenmedipham. Genetic divergence among strains was estimated based on mitochondrial COI sequence data. Results No significant differences between tolerance towards phenmedipham exposure were observed in a reproduction test. In contrast, one strain (SPN) showed a decreased susceptibility to phenmedipham compared to the other strains (PTG and DNK) in the avoidance assay. Discussion A phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial COI sequences revealed clear genetic differentiation between both ‘reaction types’. Thus, we found a potential lineage dependent stress reaction in avoidance behaviour towards the pesticide. Conclusions Our findings have implications for the comparability of test results among laboratories. Reproduction tests seem to be more robust towards interclonal genetic differentiation than avoidance tests. Recommendations and Perspectives We recommend the use of molecular tools for simple and cost effective genetic characterization of F. candida strains used in chemical avoidance tests. Closer investigations concerning the relation between genetic relatedness and chemical response will provide a more detailed and comprehensive picture on the role of intraspecific genetic differentiation in stress tolerance