105 research outputs found
T and CPT Symmetries in Entangled Neutral Meson Systems
Genuine tests of an asymmetry under T and/or CPT transformations imply the
interchange between in-states and out-states. I explain a methodology to
perform model-indepedent separate measurements of the three CP, T and CPT
symmetry violations for transitions involving the decay of the neutral meson
systems in B- and {\Phi}-factories. It makes use of the quantum-mechanical
entanglement only, for which the individual state of each neutral meson is not
defined before the decay of its orthogonal partner. The final proof of the
independence of the three asymmetries is that no other theoretical ingredient
is involved and that the event sample corresponding to each case is different
from the other two. The experimental analysis for the measurements of these
three asymmetries as function of the time interval {\Delta}t > 0 between the
first and second decays is discussed, as well as the significance of the
expected results. In particular, one may advance a first observation of true,
direct, evidence of Time-Reserval-Violation in B-factories by many standard
deviations from zero, without any reference to, and independent of,
CP-Violation. In some quantum gravity framework the CPT-transformation is
ill-defined, so there is a resulting loss of particle-antiparticle identity.
This mechanism induces a breaking of the EPR correlation in the entanglement
imposed by Bose statistics to the neutral meson system, the so-called
{\omega}-effect. I present results and prospects for the {\omega}-parameter in
the correlated neutral meson-antimeson states.Comment: Proc. DISCRETE 2010, Symposium on Prospects in the Physics of
Discrete Symmetries, December 2010, Rom
In What To Invest After Surviving – The Investment Structure of Growing SMEs
The main goal of the article is to present the research testing a model of investment
structure in different phases of SMEs’ growth. The author assumed that the share and
structure of investments vary in accordance with the stage of the company’s growth,
and it is possible to describe the path which SMEs follow in their development. In
the study based on organizations’ growth models, demand for particular resources
in subsequent growth stages is presented. The model and investments structure is
verified on a sample of 286 SMEs.Głównym celem artykułu jest przedstawienie wyników badań ukierunkowanych na
weryfikacjÄ™ modelu teoretycznego opisujÄ…cego strukturÄ™ inwestycji rozwojowych
małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw. Zgodnie z przyjętymi przez autora założeniami,
struktura inwestycji różni się w zależności od fazy rozwoju MSP, a właściwie ulokowanie
inwestycji wspiera rozwój i umożliwia osiągnięcie lepszych efektów biznesowych.
W artykule analizie poddano główne modele rozwoju organizacji, co
umożliwiło wskazanie zasobów mających kluczowe znaczenie na poszczególnych etapach
rozwoju przedsiębiorstwa. Opracowany model został zweryfikowany na podstawie
wyników badań przeprowadzonych wśród 286 MSP
Time Reversal Violation from the entangled B0-antiB0 system
We discuss the concepts and methodology to implement an experiment probing
directly Time Reversal (T) non-invariance, without any experimental connection
to CP violation, by the exchange of "in" and "out" states. The idea relies on
the B0-antiB0 entanglement and decay time information available at B factories.
The flavor or CP tag of the state of the still living neutral meson by the
first decay of its orthogonal partner overcomes the problem of irreversibility
for unstable systems, which prevents direct tests of T with incoherent particle
states. T violation in the time evolution between the two decays means
experimentally a difference between the intensities for the time-ordered (l^+
X, J/psi K_S) and (J/psi K_L, l^- X) decays, and three other independent
asymmetries. The proposed strategy has been applied to simulated data samples
of similar size and features to those currently available, from which we
estimate the significance of the expected discovery to reach many standard
deviations.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, 6 table
Massive-Field Approach to the Scalar Self Force in Curved Spacetime
We derive a new regularization method for the calculation of the (massless)
scalar self force in curved spacetime. In this method, the scalar self force is
expressed in terms of the difference between two retarded scalar fields: the
massless scalar field, and an auxiliary massive scalar field. This field
difference combined with a certain limiting process gives the expression for
the scalar self-force. This expression provides a new self force calculation
method.Comment: 23 pages, few modification
Effect of the metabolic syndrome on male reproductive function: a case-controlled pilot study
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of various risk factors. This
study aimed to investigate the effect of MetS on testosterone and progesterone,
and semen parameters, in a case-controlled pilot study. Male patients (n = 54)
had body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure recorded.
Blood was analysed for HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. Saliva was
assayed for free testosterone and free progesterone. Ejaculates were analysed for
volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, vitality, mitochondrial
membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation and leucocyte concentration.
Participants were divided into the control group (n = 28) and the
MetS group (n = 26). Differences were found between the groups for body
mass index, WHR, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides
and glucose. The MetS group showed significant reductions in sperm
concentration (P = 0.0026), total sperm count (P = 0.0034), total motility
(P = 0.0291), sperm vitality (P = 0.002), MMP (P = 0.0039), free testosterone
(P = 0.0093) and free progesterone (P = 0.0130), while values for DNA fragmentation
increased (P = 0.0287). Results indicate that patients with MetS
have compromised sperm parameters in the absence of leucocytospermia. A
reduction in free progesterone suggests that steroidogenesis cascades may be
compromised. It is hypothesised that a systemic pro-inflammatory state with
oxidative stress associated with MetS may provide a novel explanation.Web of Scienc
Hybrid Erythrocyte Liposomes: Functionalized Red Blood Cell Membranes for Molecule Encapsulation
The modification of erythrocyte membrane properties provides a new tool towards improved drug delivery and biomedical applications. The fabrication of hybrid erythrocyte liposomes is presented by doping red blood cell membranes with synthetic lipid molecules of different classes (PC, PS, PG) and different degrees of saturation (14:0, 16:0-18:1). The respective solubility limits are determined, and material properties of the hybrid liposomes are studied by a combination of X-ray diffraction, epi-fluorescent microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, UV-vis spectroscopy, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Membrane thickness and lipid orientation can be tuned through the addition of phosphatidylcholine lipids. The hybrid membranes can be fluorescently labelled by incorporating Texas-red DHPE, and their charge modified by incorporating phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol. By using fluorescein labeled dextran as an example, it is demonstrated that small molecules can be encapsulated into these hybrid liposomes
HIV Incidence and Risk Factors for Acquisition in HIV Discordant Couples in Masaka, Uganda: An HIV Vaccine Preparedness Study
To determine the incidence of and risk factors for HIV acquisition in a cohort of HIV-uninfected partners from HIV discordant couples in Masaka, Uganda, and to establish its suitability for HIV vaccine trials.HIV-uninfected adults living in HIV discordant couple relationships were enrolled and followed for 2 years. Interviews, medical investigations, HIV counseling and testing, syphilis and urine pregnancy (women) tests were performed at quarterly visits. Sexual risk behaviour data were collected every 6 months.495 participants were enrolled, of whom 34 seroconverted during 786.6 person-years of observation (PYO). The overall HIV incidence rate [95% confidence interval (CI)] was 4.3 [3.1-6]; and 4.3 [2.8-6.4] and 4.4 [2.5-8] per 100 PYO in men and women respectively. Independent baseline predictors for HIV acquisition were young age [18-24 (aRR = 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.8) and 25-34 (aRR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-5.8) years]; alcohol use (aRR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6); and reported genital discharge (aRR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.6-7.2) in the past year. Condom use frequency in the year preceding enrolment was predictive of a reduced risk of HIV acquisition [sometimes (aRR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8); always (aRR = 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.9)]. In the follow-up risk analysis, young age [18-24 (aRR = 6.2, 95% CI 2.2-17.3) and 25-34 (aRR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-5.0) years], reported genital discharge (aRR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.5), serological syphilis (aRR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3-7.7) and the partner being ART naïve (aRR = 4.8, 95% CI 1.4-16.0) were independently associated with HIV acquisition. There were no seroconversions among participants who reported consistent condom use during the study.The study has identified important risk factors for HIV acquisition among HIV discordant couples. HIV-uninfected partners in discordant couples may be a suitable population for HIV vaccine efficacy trials. However, recent confirmation that ART reduces heterosexual HIV transmission may make it unfeasible to conduct HIV prevention trials in this population
Impacts of predicted climate change on recruitment at the geographical limits of Scots pine
Ongoing changes in global climate are having a significant impact on the distribution of plant species, with effects particularly evident at range limits. We assessed the capacity of Pinus sylvestris L. populations at northernmost and southernmost limits of the distribution to cope with projected changes in climate. We investigated responses including seed germination and early seedling growth and survival, using seeds from northernmost (Kevo, Finland) and southernmost (Granada, Spain) populations. Seeds were grown under current climate conditions in each area and under temperatures increased by 5 °C, with changes in precipitation of +30% or -30% with reference to current values at northern and southern limits, respectively, in a fully factorial controlled-conditions experimental design. Increased temperatures reduced germination time and enhanced biomass gain at both range edges but reduced survival at the southern range edge. Higher precipitation also increased survival and biomass but only under a southern climate. Seeds from the southern origin emerged faster, produced bigger seedlings, allocated higher biomass to roots, and survived better than northern ones. These results indicate that recruitment will be reduced at the southernmost range of the species, whereas it will be enhanced at the northern limit, and that the southern seed sources are better adapted to survive under drier conditions. However, future climate will impose a trade-off between seedling growth and survival probabilities. At the southern range edge, higher growth may render individuals more susceptible to mortality where greater aboveground biomass results in greater water loss through evapotranspiration
Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial
Background
Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy
Functions of long non-coding RNAs in human disease and their conservation in Drosophila development
Genomic analysis has found that the transcriptome in both humans and Drosophila melanogaster features large numbers of long non-coding RNA transcripts (lncRNAs). This recently discovered class of RNAs regulates gene expression in diverse ways and has been involved in a large variety of important biological functions. Importantly, an increasing number of lncRNAs have also been associated with a range of human diseases, including cancer. Comparative analyses of their functions among these organisms suggest that some of their modes of action appear to be conserved. This highlights the importance of model organisms such as Drosophila, which shares many gene regulatory networks with humans, in understanding lncRNA function and its possible impact in human health. This review discusses some known functions and mechanisms of action of lncRNAs and their implication in human diseases, together with their functional conservation and relevance in Drosophila development
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