High-spin structures of 88Kr and 89Rb: Evolution from collective to single-particle behaviors

The high-spin states of the two neutron-rich nuclei, 88Kr and 89R have been studied from the 18O + 208Pb fusion-fission reaction. Their level schemes were built from triple gamma-ray coincidence data and gamma-gamma angular correlations were analyzed in order to assign spin and parity values to most of the observed states. The two levels schemes evolve from collective structures to single-particle excitations as a function of the excitation energy. Comparison with results of shell-model calculations gives the specific proton and neutron configurations which are involved to generate the angular momentum along the yrast lines.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, Physical Review C (2013) in pres

Long term mortality and disability in Cryptococcal Meningitis: a systematic literature review.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the primary cause of meningitis in HIV-infected adults and an emerging disease in HIV-seronegative individuals. No literature review has studied the long-term outcome of CM. We performed a systematic review on the long-term (≥3 months) impact of CM (C. neoformans and C. gattii) on mortality and disability in HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected adults. Though the quality of current evidence is limited, the long-term impact of CM on survival and disability appears to be high. One-year mortality ranged from 13% in an Australian non-HIV C.gattii infected cohort to 78% in a Malawian HIV-infected cohort treated with fluconazole monotherapy. One-year impairment proportions among survivors ranged from 19% in an Australian C.gattii cohort to more than 70% in a Taiwanese non-HIV and HIV-infected cohorts. Ongoing early therapeutic interventions, early detection of impairments and access to rehabilitation services may significantly improve patients' survival and quality of life

Renormalization group and anomalous scaling in a simple model of passive scalar advection in compressible flow

Field theoretical renormalization group methods are applied to a simple model of a passive scalar quantity advected by the Gaussian non-solenoidal (``compressible'') velocity field with the covariance $\propto\delta(t-t')| x-x'|^{\epsilon}$. Convective range anomalous scaling for the structure functions and various pair correlators is established, and the corresponding anomalous exponents are calculated to the order $\epsilon^2$ of the $\epsilon$ expansion. These exponents are non-universal, as a result of the degeneracy of the RG fixed point. In contrast to the case of a purely solenoidal velocity field (Obukhov--Kraichnan model), the correlation functions in the case at hand exhibit nontrivial dependence on both the IR and UV characteristic scales, and the anomalous scaling appears already at the level of the pair correlator. The powers of the scalar field without derivatives, whose critical dimensions determine the anomalous exponents, exhibit multifractal behaviour. The exact solution for the pair correlator is obtained; it is in agreement with the result obtained within the $\epsilon$ expansion. The anomalous exponents for passively advected magnetic fields are also presented in the first order of the $\epsilon$ expansion.Comment: 31 pages, REVTEX file. More detailed discussion of the one-dimensional case and comparison to the previous paper [20] are given; references updated. Results and formulas unchange

Observing Brownian motion in vibration-fluidized granular matter

At the beginning of last century, Gerlach and Lehrer observed the rotational Brownian motion of a very fine wire immersed in an equilibrium environment, a gas. This simple experiment eventually permitted the full development of one of the most important ideas of equilibrium statistical mechanics: the very complicated many-particle problem of a large number of molecules colliding with the wire, can be represented by two macroscopic parameters only, namely viscosity and the temperature. Can this idea, mathematically developed in the so-called Langevin model and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem be used to describe systems that are far from equilibrium? Here we address the question and reproduce the Gerlach and Lehrer experiment in an archetype non-equilibrium system, by immersing a sensitive torsion oscillator in a granular system of millimetre-size grains, fluidized by strong external vibrations. The vibro-fluidized granular medium is a driven environment, with continuous injection and dissipation of energy, and the immersed oscillator can be seen as analogous to an elastically bound Brownian particle. We show, by measuring the noise and the susceptibility, that the experiment can be treated, in first approximation, with the same formalism as in the equilibrium case, giving experimental access to a ''granular viscosity'' and an ''effective temperature'', however anisotropic and inhomogeneous, and yielding the surprising result that the vibro-fluidized granular matter behaves as a ''thermal'' bath satisfying a fluctuation-dissipation relation

Systems thinking and CMM for continuous improvement in the construction industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a capability maturity model (CMM) developed to implement continuous improvement in small and medium scale construction companies (SMSCC) in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A multi-strategy approach involving qualitative studies of SMSCC in Nigeria was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively selected construction experts in Nigeria to identify variables essential for continuous improvement in SMSCC. Data collected were thematically analysed using NVIVO. Subsequently, a system thinking approach is employed to design and develop the CMM for implementing continuous improvement SMSCC, by exploring possible relationships between the variables established. Findings CMM provided a five-level approach for the inclusion of investigated variables such as team performance; culture; structure; post-project reviews, financial risk management, waste management policy and cost control. These variables are factors leading to continuous improvement in SMSCC, implementable within a six to seven and a half years’ timeline. Practical implications The system thinking model revealed cogent archetypes in the form of reinforcing loops that can be applied in developing the performance of SMSCC. Continuous improvement is feasible. However, it takes time to implement. Further longitudinal studies on the cost of implementing continuous improvement through CMM a knowledge transfer project can be initiated. Originality/value A methodical strategy for enhancing the effectiveness and operations of SMSCC in developing countries can be extracted from the causal loop diagram and the CMM

Influence of compressibility on scaling regimes of strongly anisotropic fully developed turbulence

Statistical model of strongly anisotropic fully developed turbulence of the weakly compressible fluid is considered by means of the field theoretic renormalization group. The corrections due to compressibility to the infrared form of the kinetic energy spectrum have been calculated in the leading order in Mach number expansion. Furthermore, in this approximation the validity of the Kolmogorov hypothesis on the independence of dissipation length of velocity correlation functions in the inertial range has been proved.Comment: REVTEX file with EPS figure

THE EARLY-MIDDLE PALEOZOIC VOLCANISM AND GEODYNAMIC EVOLUTION OF THE HERLEN MASSIF, CENTRAL PART OF THE CAOB: CONSTRAINS FROM GEOCHEMISTRY, U-PB GEOCHRONOLOGY, LU-HF AND RB-SR ISOTOPES OF VOLCANIC ROCKS

Mongolia lies in the central part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt [Mossakovsky et al., 1994; Zorin, 1999; Jahn, 2004; Khain et al., 2003; Badarch et al., 2002; Windley et al., 2007; Zhang et al, 2008], or Altaids [Şengör et al., 1993; Şengör, Natal’in, 1996; Wilhem et al., 2012], which is fringed by the Siberian craton in the north and by the Tarim and Sino-Korean Cratons in the south. According to the recent tectonic subdivision, the territory of Mongolia is subdivided into Northern and Southern domains which are separated by the so called Mid Mongolian Tectonic Line [Tomurtogoo, 2012]. The Herlen Massif is one of the important tectonic units of the South Mongolian domain in the Argun-Idermeg super terrane extending through the territories of Russia and China [Parfenov et al., 2009; Tomurtogoo, 2014b]. The Herlen massif, also known as Herlen superterrane [Tomurtogoo, 2012] or Idermeg terrane [Tomurtogoo, 2014a] is composed of Ereendavaa, Undur-Khaan, Idermeg and Gobian Altay-Baruun Urt terranes converged at the end of the Cambrianbeginning of the Ordovician [Badarch et al., 2002; Tomurtogoo, 2014b].Mongolia lies in the central part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt [Mossakovsky et al., 1994; Zorin, 1999; Jahn, 2004; Khain et al., 2003; Badarch et al., 2002; Windley et al., 2007; Zhang et al, 2008], or Altaids [Şengör et al., 1993; Şengör, Natal’in, 1996; Wilhem et al., 2012], which is fringed by the Siberian craton in the north and by the Tarim and Sino-Korean Cratons in the south. According to the recent tectonic subdivision, the territory of Mongolia is subdivided into Northern and Southern domains which are separated by the so called Mid Mongolian Tectonic Line [Tomurtogoo, 2012]. The Herlen Massif is one of the important tectonic units of the South Mongolian domain in the Argun-Idermeg super terrane extending through the territories of Russia and China [Parfenov et al., 2009; Tomurtogoo, 2014b]. The Herlen massif, also known as Herlen superterrane [Tomurtogoo, 2012] or Idermeg terrane [Tomurtogoo, 2014a] is composed of Ereendavaa, Undur-Khaan, Idermeg and Gobian Altay-Baruun Urt terranes converged at the end of the Cambrianbeginning of the Ordovician [Badarch et al., 2002; Tomurtogoo, 2014b]

Use of postmenopausal hormone therapy and risk of Alzheimer's disease in Finland: nationwide case-control study

OBJECTIVESTo compare the use of hormone therapy between Finnish postmenopausal women with and without a diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease.DESIGNNationwide case-control study.SETTINGFinnish national population and drug register, between 1999 and 2013.PARTICIPANTSAll postmenopausal women (n= 84 739) in Finland who, between 1999 and 2013, received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease from a neurologist or geriatrician, and who were identified from a national drug register. Control women without a diagnosis (n= 84 739), matched by age and hospital district, were traced from the Finnish national population register.INTERVENTIONSData on hormone therapy use were obtained from the Finnish national drug reimbursement register.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESOdds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for Alzheimer's disease, calculated with conditional logistic regression analysis.RESULTSIn 83 688 (98.8%) women, a diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease was made at the age of 60 years or older, and 47 239 (55.7%) women had been over 80 years of age at diagnosis. Use of systemic hormone therapy was associated with a 9-17% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. The risk of the disease did not differ significantly between users of estradiol only (odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.14) and those of oestrogen-progestogen (1.17, 1.13 to 1.21). The risk increases in users of oestrogen-progestogen therapy were not related to different progestogens (noreth isterone acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, or other progestogens); but in women younger than 60 at hormone therapy initiation, these risk increases were associated with hormone therapy exposure over 10 years. Furthermore, the age at initiation of systemic hormone therapy was not a decisive determinant for the increase in risk of Alzheimer's disease. The exclusive use of vaginal estradiol did not affect the risk of the disease (0.99, 0.96 to 1.01).CONCLUSIONSLong term use of systemic hormone therapy might be accompanied with an overall increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, which is not related to the type of progestogen or the age at initiation of systemic hormone therapy. By contrast, use of vaginal estradiol shows no such risk. Even though the absolute risk increase for Alzheimer's disease is small, our data should be implemented into information for present and future users of hormone therapy

10He low-lying states structure uncovered by correlations

The 0+ ground state of the 10He nucleus produced in the 3H(8He,p)10He reaction was found at about $2.1\pm0.2$ MeV (\Gamma ~ 2 MeV) above the three-body 8He+n+n breakup threshold. Angular correlations observed for 10He decay products show prominent interference patterns allowing to draw conclusions about the structure of low-energy excited states. We interpret the observed correlations as a coherent superposition of the broad 1- state having a maximum at energy 4-6 MeV and the 2+ state above 6 MeV, setting both on top of the 0+ state "tail". This anomalous level ordering indicates that the breakdown of the N=8 shell known in 12Be thus extends also to the 10He system.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Six topics on inscribable polytopes

Inscribability of polytopes is a classic subject but also a lively research area nowadays. We illustrate this with a selection of well-known results and recent developments on six particular topics related to inscribable polytopes. Along the way we collect a list of (new and old) open questions.Comment: 11 page