The elementary excitations of the exactly solvable Russian doll BCS model of superconductivity

The recently proposed Russian doll BCS model provides a simple example of a many body system whose renormalization group analysis reveals the existence of limit cycles in the running coupling constants of the model. The model was first studied using RG, mean field and numerical methods showing the Russian doll scaling of the spectrum, E(n) ~ E0 exp(-l n}, where l is the RG period. In this paper we use the recently discovered exact solution of this model to study the low energy spectrum. We find that, in addition to the standard quasiparticles, the electrons can bind into Cooper pairs that are different from those forming the condensate and with higher energy. These excited Cooper pairs can be described by a quantum number Q which appears in the Bethe ansatz equation and has a RG interpretation.Comment: 36 pages, 12 figure

Contribution of brain or biological reserve and cognitive or neural reserve to outcome after TBI: a meta-analysis (prior to 2015)

Brain/biological (BR) and cognitive/neural reserve (CR) have increasingly been used to explain some of the variability that occurs as a consequence of normal ageing and neurological injuries or disease. However, research evaluating the impact of reserve on outcomes after adult traumatic brain injury (TBI) has yet to be quantitatively reviewed. This meta-analysis consolidated data from 90 studies (published prior to 2015) that either examined the relationship between measures of BR (genetics, age, sex) or CR (education, premorbid IQ) and outcomes after TBI or compared the outcomes of groups with high and low reserve. The evidence for genetic sources of reserve was limited and often contrary to prediction. APOE ∈4 status has been studied most, but did not have a consistent or sizeable impact on outcomes. The majority of studies found that younger age was associated with better outcomes, however most failed to adjust for normal age-related changes in cognitive performance that are independent of a TBI. This finding was reversed (older adults had better outcomes) in the small number of studies that provided age-adjusted scores; although it remains unclear whether differences in the cause and severity of injuries that are sustained by younger and older adults contributed to this finding. Despite being more likely to sustain a TBI, males have comparable outcomes to females. Overall, as is the case in the general population, higher levels of education and pre-morbid IQ are both associated with better outcomes.Jane L. Mathias, Patricia Wheato

The cross-sectional GRAS sample: A comprehensive phenotypical data collection of schizophrenic patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schizophrenia is the collective term for an exclusively clinically diagnosed, heterogeneous group of mental disorders with still obscure biological roots. Based on the assumption that valuable information about relevant genetic and environmental disease mechanisms can be obtained by association studies on patient cohorts of ≥ 1000 patients, if performed on detailed clinical datasets and quantifiable biological readouts, we generated a new schizophrenia data base, the GRAS (Göttingen Research Association for Schizophrenia) data collection. GRAS is the necessary ground to study genetic causes of the schizophrenic phenotype in a 'phenotype-based genetic association study' (PGAS). This approach is different from and complementary to the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on schizophrenia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For this purpose, 1085 patients were recruited between 2005 and 2010 by an invariable team of traveling investigators in a cross-sectional field study that comprised 23 German psychiatric hospitals. Additionally, chart records and discharge letters of all patients were collected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The corresponding dataset extracted and presented in form of an overview here, comprises biographic information, disease history, medication including side effects, and results of comprehensive cross-sectional psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurological examinations. With >3000 data points per schizophrenic subject, this data base of living patients, who are also accessible for follow-up studies, provides a wide-ranging and standardized phenotype characterization of as yet unprecedented detail.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The GRAS data base will serve as prerequisite for PGAS, a novel approach to better understanding 'the schizophrenias' through exploring the contribution of genetic variation to the schizophrenic phenotypes.</p

Regulation of hormonal control, cell reprogramming, and patterning during de novo root organogenesis

Body regeneration through formation of new organs is a major question in developmental biology. We investigated de novo root formation using whole leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Our results show that local cytokinin biosynthesis and auxin biosynthesis in the leaf blade followed by auxin long-distance transport to the petiole leads to proliferation of J0121-marked xylem-associated tissues and others through signaling of INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID INDUCIBLE28 (IAA28), CRANE (IAA18), WOODEN LEG, and ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS1 (ARR1), ARR10, and ARR12. Vasculature proliferation also involves the cell cycle regulator KIP-RELATED PROTEIN2 and ABERRANT LATERAL ROOT FORMATION4, resulting in a mass of cells with rooting competence that resembles callus formation. Endogenous callus formation precedes specification of postembryonic root founder cells, from which roots are initiated through the activity of SHORT-ROOT, PLETHORA1 (PLT1), and PLT2. Primordia initiation is blocked in shr plt1 plt2 mutant. Stem cell regulators SCHIZORIZA, JACKDAW, BLUEJAY, and SCARECROW also participate in root initiation and are required to pattern the new organ, as mutants show disorganized and reduced number of layers and tissue initials resulting in reduced rooting. Our work provides an organ regeneration model through de novo root formation, stating key stages and the primary pathways involved

Ensemble Kalman methods for inverse problems

The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) was introduced by Evensen in 1994 (Evensen 1994 J. Geophys. Res. 99 10143–62) as a novel method for data assimilation: state estimation for noisily observed time-dependent problems. Since that time it has had enormous impact in many application domains because of its robustness and ease of implementation, and numerical evidence of its accuracy. In this paper we propose the application of an iterative ensemble Kalman method for the solution of a wide class of inverse problems. In this context we show that the estimate of the unknown function that we obtain with the ensemble Kalman method lies in a subspace $\mathcal {A}$ spanned by the initial ensemble. Hence the resulting error may be bounded above by the error found from the best approximation in this subspace. We provide numerical experiments which compare the error incurred by the ensemble Kalman method for inverse problems with the error of the best approximation in $\mathcal {A}$, and with variants on traditional least-squares approaches, restricted to the subspace $\mathcal {A}$. In so doing we demonstrate that the ensemble Kalman method for inverse problems provides a derivative-free optimization method with comparable accuracy to that achieved by traditional least-squares approaches. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that the accuracy is of the same order of magnitude as that achieved by the best approximation. Three examples are used to demonstrate these assertions: inversion of a compact linear operator; inversion of piezometric head to determine hydraulic conductivity in a Darcy model of groundwater flow; and inversion of Eulerian velocity measurements at positive times to determine the initial condition in an incompressible fluid

Yleiset alueet kiinteistöjärjestelmässä

Thesis of this master's thesis is public areas in cadastral system. This paper explores the legislative history of formation of public areas. This research emphasizes the active legislation's means of implementing the public areas in a municipality. Land ownership is addressed from the perspective of public areas. A process chart and work instructions illustrating the formation of public areas has been put together at the City Survey Department of city of Vantaa. As a part of this master's thesis the process chart and the related work instructions were brought up to date. Another objective of this work is to develop alternative work methods concerning the formation of public areas. A proposal including a single land surveyor taking the responsibility of the forming of public areas at a time is made on the paper. This responsibility could last for one year at a time for an example. The benefits of the described system would involve that the forming of public areas would be constant throughout the year, and the amount of public areas formed per year would be maximized. An alternative method would be to continue as is, with a yearly goal of public areas formed set for every surveyor. As a part of this master's thesis the persons responsible for real estate formation in Helsinki and Espoo were interviewed and inquiries were sent to 30 municipalities. Work methods concerning the formation of public areas and the problems related to them were examined in the municipalities with the help of the inquiries. Different systems used in the municipalities are introduced based on the results of the interviews and the inquiries.Diplomityön aiheena ovat yleiset alueet kiinteistöjärjestelmässä. Työssä käydään läpi yleisten alueiden muodostumisen lainsäädännön historiaa, mutta tutkimus painottuu voimassa olevan lainsäädännön keinoihin, joita kunnassa käytetään yleisten alueiden toteuttamiseen. Maanomistusta käsitellään yleisten alueiden näkökulmasta. Vantaan kaupungin mittausosastolla on laadittu prosessikaavio sekä työohjeet yleisen alueen lohkomiseen. Osana tätä työtä prosessikaavio ajantasaistettiin sekä siihen liittyviä työohjeita päivitettiin. Tavoitteena on myös kehittää vaihtoehtoisia työtapoja yleisten alueiden lohkomisiin. Työssä esitetään työtapa, jossa yksi Vantaan kaupungin mittausosaston toimitusinsinööreistä vuorollaan vastaisi vuorollaan yleisten alueiden lohkomisista. Vuoro olisi vaihtuva esimerkiksi vuoden valein. Järjestelmän etuna on, että yleisiä alueita tulee lohkotuksi tasaisesti koko vuoden ajan ja toimitusmäärät saataisiin optimoitua mahdollisimman suureksi. Toinen vaihtoehto on jatkaa nykyisellä menettelyllä, jossa jokaiselle toimitusinsinöörille asetetaan vuosittaiset kappalemäärätavoitteet yleisten alueiden toimituksiin. Työtä varten haastateltiin Helsingin ja Espoon kiinteistönmuodostuksesta vastaavia henkilöitä ja lähetettiin kysely 30 kuntaan. Kyselyn avulla selvitettiin yleisten alueiden lohkomisten työtapoja ja yleisten alueiden toimituksiin liittyviä ongelmia muissa kunnissa. Haastatteluiden ja kyselyjen tulosten perusteella esitetään yleisten alueiden lohkomisissa käytettyjä kuntien erilaisia käytäntöjä

Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): A bottom-up and One Health approach

Background: Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach. Objectives: To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet. Methods: The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Results: EARS-Vet plans to monitor AMR in six animal species [cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens), turkeys, cats and dogs], for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Molecular data detecting the presence of ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and methicillin resistance shall be collected too. Conclusions: A preliminary EARS-Vet scope was defined, with the potential to fill important AMR monitoring gaps in the animal sector in Europe. It should be reviewed and expanded as the epidemiology of AMR changes, more countries participate and national monitoring capacities improve