Scaling Analysis and Application: Phase Diagram of Magnetic Nanorings and Elliptical Nanoparticles

The magnetic properties of single-domain nanoparticles with different geometric shapes, crystalline anisotropies and lattice structures are investigated. A recently proposed scaling approach is shown to be universal and in agreement with dimensional analysis coupled with an assumption of {\em incomplete} self-similarity. It is used to obtain phase diagrams of magnetic nanoparticles featuring three competing configurations: in-plane and out-of-plane ferromagnetism and vortex formation. The influence of the vortex core on the scaling behavior and phase diagram is analyzed. Three-dimensional phase diagrams are obtained for cylindrical nanorings, depending on their height, outer and inner radius. The triple points in these phase diagrams are shown to be in linear relationship with the inner radius of the ring. Elliptically shaped magnetic nanoparticles are also studied. A new parametrization for double vortex configurations is proposed, and regions in the phase diagram are identified where the double vortex is a stable ground state.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures; added references, and discussion, as suggested by referee

Holomorphic symplectic geometry: a problem list

A list of open problems on holomorphic symplectic, contact and Poisson manifolds

Measurement of the total cross section for e^+e^-→hadrons at √s=10.52 GeV

Using the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we have made a measurement of R≡σ(e^+e^-→hadrons)/σ(e^+e^-→μ^+μ^-)=3.56±0.01±0.07 at √s=10.52 GeV. This implies a value for the strong coupling constant of α_s(10.52 GeV)=0.20±0.01±0.06, or α_s(MZ)=0.13±0.005±0.03

Curve classes on irreducible holomorphic symplectic varieties

We prove that the integral Hodge conjecture holds for 1-cycles on irreducible holomorphic symplectic varieties of K3 type and of Generalized Kummer type. As an application, we give a new proof of the integral Hodge conjecture for cubic fourfolds.Comment: 15 page

942-42 Is Mitral Valve Prolapse with Significant Mitral Regurgitation a Different Condition from Uncomplicated Mitral Prolapse? Results of Family Studies

Mild instances of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) have been suggested to represent variants of normal, whereas individuals with complicated forms of MVP have a distinct medical condition. This hypothesis would predict different phenotypic features and patterns of inheritance in relatives of index cases with complicated or uncomplicated MVP. Accordingly, we performed clinical and echocardiographic assessment of 16 MVP patients with and 76 without moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR+and MR– probands) and 60 and 256, respectively, first-degree relatives (MR+ and MR– relatives). MR+ probands were older (p=0.01), more likely to be male (p=0.002), were more overweight (p=0.004) and had higher systolic blood pressures (p=0.05) and larger aortic roots (p=0.034) after the effects of age and body size were taken into account. MR+ and MR– relatives had similar prevalences (27 and 32%) and age distribution of MVP, but affected MR+ relatives were younger (expected because more children and fewer parents of MR+ probands could be evaluated). and more likely to be male. MR+ and MR- relatives were virtually identical in regard to body habitus, blood pressure, the prevalence of auscultatory findings, thoracic bony abnormalities and palpitations and all echo measurements including anterior mitral leaflet thickness. Four instances of significant MR and two MVP-related complications (infective endocarditis and transient ischemic attack) occurred in the 82 relatives of MR– probands as opposed to none among relatives of MR+ probands. In 20 families, one proband or relative with MVP had severe MR and at least one other with MVP (presumably due to the same gene) was free of MR or complications. Thus, MVP with severe MR does not represent a heritable phenotype and commonly coexists with mild forms of MVP in the same family, making their classification as separate conditions illogical and potentially misleading

The Unyvero P55 ‘sample-in, answer-out’ pneumonia assay: A performance evaluation

Background: O’Neill’s recent Review on Antimicrobial Resistance expressed the view that by 2020 high-income countries should make it mandatory to support antimicrobial prescribing with rapid diagnostic evidence whenever possible. Methods: Routine microbiology diagnosis of 95 respiratory specimens from patients with severe infection were compared with those generated by the Unyvero P55 test, which detects 20 pathogens and 19 antimicrobial resistance markers. Supplementary molecular testing for antimicrobial resistance genes, comprehensive culture methodology and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed. Results: Unyvero P55 produced 85 valid results, 67% of which were concordant with those from the routine laboratory. Unyvero P55 identified more potential pathogens per specimen than routine culture (1.34 vs. 0.47 per specimen). Independent verification using 16S rRNA sequencing and culture (n = 10) corroborated 58% of additional detections compared to routine microbiology. Overall the average sensitivity for organism detection by Unyvero P55 was 88.8% and specificity was 94.9%. While Unyvero P55 detected more antimicrobial resistance markers than routine culture, some instances of phenotypic resistance were missed. Conclusions: The Unyvero P55 is a rapid pathogen detection test for lower respiratory specimens, which identifies a larger number of pathogens than routine microbiology. The clinical significance of these additional organisms is yet to be determined. Further studies are required to determine the effect of the test in practise on antimicrobial prescribing and patient outcomes

Interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and preserving mudbrick architecture in regional and diachronic contexts

Mudbrick is a challenging material to interpret, maintain, and preserve in terms of planning and treatment decision-making – especially when recovered during archaeological excavation. Further challenges exist where mudbrick remains have been exposed and abandoned, as interactions with the environment (especially water and wind) introduce additional dissolution and damage of the resource. In this paper, we present multidisciplinary research focused on the interpretation and preservation of ancient and vernacular mudbrick architecture in the Marmara Lake Basin in western Turkey. Of interest is the preservation of mudbrick and stone foundations at Kaymakçı, a Middle to Late Bronze Age, ridge-top citadel. We demonstrate that utilizing multiples lines of evidence, including macromorphological, mineralogical, and chemical studies interpreted within the context of extant vernacular traditions in the region, produces a nuanced understanding of the archaeological evidence. Further, ethnographic and experimental archaeological research with local stakeholders allowed for the development of a robust template for testing and implementing sustainable site-preservation strategies for in situ architecture with immediate communities

Made from mud: functional categorization and analyses of Bronze Age earthen materials from Western Turkey

This contribution presents the results of a pilot study of earthen materials excavated at the Middle to Late Bronze Age site of Kaymakçı, located in western Anatolia. It argues that systematic collection and analysis of fragmentary and difficult-to-identify earthen materials is challenging, yet crucial. These materials inform on activities of which traces are preserved in the archaeological record but which have been largely under-researched. Flourishing studies on earthen findings foreground architectural materials, such as mudbrick, and well-preserved features and objects. However, earthen objects and architectural features were utilized more widely than in building architecture and only a small portion of excavated sites has good preservation. We, therefore, present the different categories of earthen materials discovered at Kaymakçı, specifically architecture, installations, and portable items. Our work demonstrates that by incorporating new knowledge of archaeological remains at the site and re-studying the earthen assemblage it is possible to gain a better understanding of the morphological, functional, and social aspects of this dataset

The gastrointestinal electrical mapping suite (GEMS): software for analyzing and visualizing high-resolution (multi-electrode) recordings in spatiotemporal detail

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal contractions are controlled by an underlying bioelectrical activity. High-resolution spatiotemporal electrical mapping has become an important advance for investigating gastrointestinal electrical behaviors in health and motility disorders. However, research progress has been constrained by the low efficiency of the data analysis tasks. This work introduces a new efficient software package: GEMS (Gastrointestinal Electrical Mapping Suite), for analyzing and visualizing high-resolution multi-electrode gastrointestinal mapping data in spatiotemporal detail. RESULTS: GEMS incorporates a number of new and previously validated automated analytical and visualization methods into a coherent framework coupled to an intuitive and user-friendly graphical user interface. GEMS is implemented using MATLAB®, which combines sophisticated mathematical operations and GUI compatibility. Recorded slow wave data can be filtered via a range of inbuilt techniques, efficiently analyzed via automated event-detection and cycle clustering algorithms, and high quality isochronal activation maps, velocity field maps, amplitude maps, frequency (time interval) maps and data animations can be rapidly generated. Normal and dysrhythmic activities can be analyzed, including initiation and conduction abnormalities. The software is distributed free to academics via a community user website and forum (http://sites.google.com/site/gimappingsuite). CONCLUSIONS: This software allows for the rapid analysis and generation of critical results from gastrointestinal high-resolution electrical mapping data, including quantitative analysis and graphical outputs for qualitative analysis. The software is designed to be used by non-experts in data and signal processing, and is intended to be used by clinical researchers as well as physiologists and bioengineers. The use and distribution of this software package will greatly accelerate efforts to improve the understanding of the causes and clinical consequences of gastrointestinal electrical disorders, through high-resolution electrical mapping