Glueballs and the superfluid phase of Two-Color QCD

We present the first results on scalar glueballs in cold, dense matter using lattice simulations of two color QCD. The simulations are carried out on a $6^3 \times 12$ lattice and use a standard hybrid molecular dynamics algorithm for staggered fermions for two values of quark mass. The glueball correlators are evaluated via a multi-step smearing procedure. The amplitude of the glueball correlator peaks in correspondence with the zero temperature chiral transition, $\mu_c = m_\pi/2$, and the propagators change in a significant way in the superfluid phase, while the Polyakov loop is mearly insensitive to the transition. Standard analysis suggest that lowest mass in the $0^{++}$ gluonic channel decreases in the superfluid phase, but these observations need to be confirmed on larger and more elongated lattices These results indicate that a nonzero density induces nontrivial modifications of the gluonic medium.Comment: 26 pages, 13 figures; discussions and one figure added; to appear in EPJ

Smart supramolecular hydrogels based on PEI with pH and temperature responsive properties

Supramolecular chemistry has generated many self-assembled architectures through the elegant control of molecular interactions. Today, advanced supramolecular polymers, which form intermolecular non-covalent networks, are expected to be highly advantageous over traditional polymers because of their tunable and reversible behavior. In particular, supramolecular hydrogels are attractive materials because they can respond to a variety of stimuli, such as temperature or pH variations, which drive macro and microscopic changes of the molecular assembly. By taking advantage of these reversible properties, we show that supramolecular hydrogels obtained from polyethyleneimine (PEI) are able to entrap various biomolecules in large capacities, and afterwards they can release them without denaturation upon variations of temperature or pH

Open web-based learning environments and knowledge forums to support people with special needs

Internet technology and, in particular Web‐based services, have the potential to revolutionise approaches to learning. These new forms of learning could provide additional educational opportunities for people with special needs to support their social integration and integration into the knowledge‐based economy. This paper starts with a short presentation on open Web‐based learning environments and knowledge forums followed by a discussion of some recent results on e‐learning and special needs users. Two examples of learning portals for supporting e‐learning forums developed within the European projects, EURO H 2000 and a DAAD German‐Romanian cooperation, are given. Ways of including users with special needs in projects on the design of learning materials and environments are also discussed

Low ankle-brachial index predicts an adverse 1-year outcome after acute coronary and cerebrovascular events

Background: Low ankle-brachial Index (ABI) identifies patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease. The aim of this study was to correlate ABI value (normal or low) with 1-year clinical outcome in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndromes or cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: ABI was measured in consecutive patients hospitalized because of acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). An ABI lower than or equal to 0.90 was considered abnormal. The primary outcome of the study was the composite of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischemic stroke, and death from any cause during the year following the index event. Results: An abnormal ABI was found in 27.2% of 1003 patients with acute coronary syndromes, and in 33.5% of 755 patients with acute CVD. After a median follow-up of 372days, the frequency of the primary outcome was 10.8% (57/526) in patients with abnormal ABI and 5.9% (73/1232) in patients with normal ABI [odds ratio (OR) 1.96; 95% CI 1.36-2.81]. Death was more common in patients with abnormal ABI (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.31-3.22). Cardiovascular mortality accounted for 81.7% of overall mortality. ABI was predictive of adverse outcome after adjustment for vascular risk factors in the logistic regression analysis (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.24-3.01). The predictive value of ABI was mainly accounted for by patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndromes (adverse outcome: 12.8% in patients with abnormal ABI and 5.9% in patients with normal ABI, OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.47-3.76). Conclusions: An abnormal ABI can be found in one-third of patients hospitalized for acute coronary or cerebrovascular events and is a predictor of an adverse 1-year outcome. \ua9 2006 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis