Are there localized saddles behind the heterogeneous dynamics of supercooled liquids?

We numerically study the interplay between heterogeneous dynamics and properties of negatively curved regions of the potential energy surface in a model glassy system. We find that the unstable modes of saddles and quasi-saddles undergo a localization transition close to the Mode-Coupling critical temperature. We also find evidence of a positive spatial correlation between clusters of particles having large displacements in the unstable modes and dynamical heterogeneities.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Europhys. Let

An ab initio theory of double odd-even mass differences in nuclei

Two aspects of the problem of evaluating double odd-even mass differences D_2 in semi-magic nuclei are studied related to existence of two components with different properties, a superfluid nuclear subsystem and a non-superfluid one. For the superfluid subsystem, the difference D_2 is approximately equal to 2\Delta, the gap \Delta being the solution of the gap equation. For the non-superfluid subsystem, D_2 is found by solving the equation for two-particle Green function for normal systems. Both equations under consideration contain the same effective pairing interaction. For the latter, the semi-microscopic model is used in which the main term calculated from the first principles is supplemented with a small phenomenological addendum containing one phenomenological parameter supposed to be universal for all medium and heavy atomic nuclei.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, Report at Nuclear Structure and Related Topics, Dubna, Russia, July 2 - July 7, 201

ATP-sensitive cation-channel in wheat (triticum durum Desf.): Identification and characterization of a plant mitochondrial channel by patch-clamp

Indirect evidence points to the presence of K + channels in plant mitochondria. In the present study, we report the results of the first patch clamp experiments on plant mitochondria. Single-channel recordings in 150 mM potassium gluconate have allowed the biophysical characterization of a channel with a conductance of 150 pS in the inner mitochondrial membrane of mitoplasts obtained from wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). The channel displayed sharp voltage sensitivity, permeability to potassium and cation selectivity. ATP in the mM concentration range completely abolished the activity. We discuss the possible molecular identity of the channel and its possible role in the defence mechanisms against oxidative stress in plants

Testing Mode-Coupling Theory for a Supercooled Binary Lennard-Jones Mixture II: Intermediate Scattering Function and Dynamic Susceptibility

We have performed a molecular dynamics computer simulation of a supercooled binary Lennard-Jones system in order to compare the dynamical behavior of this system with the predictions of the idealized version of mode-coupling theory (MCT). By scaling the time $t$ by the temperature dependent $\alpha$-relaxation time $\tau(T)$, we find that in the $\alpha$-relaxation regime $F(q,t)$ and $F_s(q,t)$, the coherent and incoherent intermediate scattering functions, for different temperatures each follows a $q$-dependent master curve as a function of scaled time. We show that during the early part of the $\alpha$-relaxation, which is equivalent to the late part of the $\beta$-relaxation, these master curves are well approximated by the master curve predicted by MCT for the $\beta$-relaxation. This part is also fitted well by a power-law, the so-called von Schweidler law. We show that the effective exponent $b'$ of this power-law depends on the wave vector $q$ if $q$ is varied over a large range. The early part of the $\beta$-relaxation regime does not show the critical decay predicted by MCT. The $q$-dependence of the nonergodicity parameter for $F_{s}(q,t)$ and $F(q,t)$ are in qualitative agreement with MCT. On the time scale of the late $\alpha$-relaxation the correlation functions show a Kohlrausch-Williams-Watt behavior (KWW). The KWW exponent $\beta$ is significantly different from the effective von Schweidler exponent $b'$. At low temperatures the $\alpha$-relaxation time $\tau(T)$ shows a power-law behavior with a critical temperature that is the same as the one found previously for the diffusion constant [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 73}, 1376 (1994)]. The critical exponent of this power-law and the von Schweidler exponent $b'$ fulfill the connection proposed by MCT between these two quantities. We also show that theComment: 28 Pages of REVTEX, Figures available from W. Ko

Prospect for Charge Current Neutrino Interactions Measurements at the CERN-PS

Tensions in several phenomenological models grew with experimental results on neutrino/antineutrino oscillations at Short-Baseline (SBL) and with the recent, carefully recomputed, antineutrino fluxes from nuclear reactors. At a refurbished SBL CERN-PS facility an experiment aimed to address the open issues has been proposed [1], based on the technology of imaging in ultra-pure cryogenic Liquid Argon (LAr). Motivated by this scenario a detailed study of the physics case was performed. We tackled specific physics models and we optimized the neutrino beam through a full simulation. Experimental aspects not fully covered by the LAr detection, i.e. the measurements of the lepton charge on event-by-event basis and their energy over a wide range, were also investigated. Indeed the muon leptons from Charged Current (CC) (anti-)neutrino interactions play an important role in disentangling different phenomenological scenarios provided their charge state is determined. Also, the study of muon appearance/disappearance can benefit of the large statistics of CC muon events from the primary neutrino beam. Results of our study are reported in detail in this proposal. We aim to design, construct and install two Spectrometers at "NEAR" and "FAR" sites of the SBL CERN-PS, compatible with the already proposed LAr detectors. Profiting of the large mass of the two Spectrometers their stand-alone performances have also been exploited.Comment: 70 pages, 38 figures. Proposal submitted to SPS-C, CER

Bounding Anomalous Gauge-Boson Couplings

In this version we have corrected some minor errors in the tables, corrected typos, and added a reference. We have also updated our comparison with earlier workers. Figures are now included as uuencoded compressed tar files.Comment: 32 page

Disposable versus reusable ureteroscopes. A prospective multicenter randomized comparison

Introduction: To compare reusable and disposable flexible ureteroscopes in terms of efficacy and safety for patients undergoing RIRS, with specific reference to post-operative complications and infection rates. Materials and methods: Patients with a renal stone eligible for RIRS were enrolled in this multicenter, randomized, clinical trial study. Patients were randomized into two groups: group A (90 patients) underwent RIRS with a reusable flexible ureteroscope and group B (90 patients) were treated with a disposable one. Results: The patients’ demographics, stones features and preoperative urine cultures were comparable between the groups. The SFRs were not significantly different (86,6% and 90,0% for group A and group B respectively, p = 0.11) and the mean cost for each procedure was comparable (2321 € in group A vs 2543 € in group B, p = 0.09). However, the days of hospitalization and of antibiotic therapy were higher in group A (p ≤ 0.05). The overall complication rate in group A was 8.8% whilst in group B it was 3.3% (p ≤ 0.05); in particular, group A exhibited a greater number of major complications (Clavien score IIIa-V). The overall postoperative infections rate was 16.6% in group A and 3.3% in group B (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, none of the patients in group B developed urosepsis or had a positive blood culture, while 3 patients in group A did (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of disposable ureteroscopes is characterized by significantly lower post-operative complications and infection rates, while having comparable costs and SFRs vis à vis reusable ureteroscopes

Ejaculation-sparing thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ES-ThuLEP): outcomes on a large cohort

Purpose: To assess the effects of a new ejaculation-sparing thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ES-ThuLEP) technique on sexual functions and micturition, in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to evaluate how the surgical technique of ES-ThuLEP can lead to ejaculation preservation. Methods: A prospective study was carried out between January 2015 and January 2018 on patients with surgical indication for BPH, who wished to preserve ejaculation. The patients were treated with ES-ThuLEP and were evaluated before and 3 and 6 months after surgery. Three validated questionnaires (ICIQ-MLUTSsex, IIEF-5 and IPSS) were used to assess changes in ejaculation, erectile function and urinary symptoms. Uroflowmetry (Qmax and Qavg), post-void residual volume and voided volume were also evaluated, to assess micturition improvement. Patients with moderate to severe erectile dysfunction were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student\u2019s t test, Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Two hundred and eighty three patients were enrolled. Ejaculation was spared in 203 and 219 patients at 3 and 6 months after surgery. No significant differences were observed between erectile function before and after surgery: baseline IIEF-5 = 16.2 \ub1 4.47 vs 16.7 \ub1 2.9 (p = 0.419) and 17.7 \ub1 3.2 (p = 0.410) at 3 and 6 months. Significant improvement in urinary symptoms was achieved: baseline IPSS = 19.4 \ub1 7.24 vs 5.8 \ub1 4.3 (p = 0.032) and 3.9 \ub1 4.1 (p = 0.029) at 3 and 6 months. Conclusion: ES-ThuLEP effectively preserved ejaculation in over two thirds of the patients without compromising micturition improvement or erectile function. ES-ThuLEP could be a valid treatment option for BPH in young and sexually active men

SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk from asymptomatic carriers: Results from a mass screening programme in Luxembourg.

BACKGROUND: To accompany the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown measures, Luxembourg implemented a mass screening (MS) programme. The first phase coincided with an early summer epidemic wave in 2020. METHODS: rRT-PCR-based screening for SARS-CoV-2 was performed by pooling of samples. The infrastructure allowed the testing of the entire resident and cross-border worker populations. The strategy relied on social connectivity within different activity sectors. Invitation frequencies were tactically increased in sectors and regions with higher prevalence. The results were analysed alongside contact tracing data. FINDINGS: The voluntary programme covered 49% of the resident and 22% of the cross-border worker populations. It identified 850 index cases with an additional 249 cases from contact tracing. Over-representation was observed in the services, hospitality and construction sectors alongside regional differences. Asymptomatic cases had a significant but lower secondary attack rate when compared to symptomatic individuals. Based on simulations using an agent-based SEIR model, the total number of expected cases would have been 42·9% (90% CI [-0·3, 96·7]) higher without MS. Mandatory participation would have resulted in a further difference of 39·7% [19·6, 59·2]. INTERPRETATION: Strategic and tactical MS allows the suppression of epidemic dynamics. Asymptomatic carriers represent a significant risk for transmission. Containment of future outbreaks will depend on early testing in sectors and regions. Higher participation rates must be assured through targeted incentivisation and recurrent invitation. FUNDING: This project was funded by the Luxembourg Ministries of Higher Education and Research, and Health