A 3+1 Decomposition of the Minimal Standard-Model Extension Gravitational Sector

The 3+1 (ADM) formulation of General Relativity is used in, for example, canonical quantum gravity and numerical relativity. Here we present a 3+1 decomposition of the minimal Standard-Model Extension gravity Lagrangian. By choosing the leaves of foliation to lie along a timelike vector field we write the theory in a form which will allow for comparison and matching to other gravity models.Comment: Presented at the Eighth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington, Indiana, May 12-16, 201

Generating functions for canonical systems of fermions

The method proposed by Pratt to derive recursion relations for systems of degenerate fermions [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4255 (2000), arXiv:nucl-th/9905055] relies on diagrammatic techniques. This efficient formalism assumes no explicit two-body interactions, makes possible the inclusion of conservation laws and requires low computational time. In this brief report, we show that such recursion relations can be obtained from generating functions, without any restriction as concerns the number of conservation laws (e.g. total energy or angular momentum).Comment: submitted to Physical Review

Scattering of Ultrasound (Including Rayleigh Waves) by Surface Roughness and by Single Surface Flaws. A Review of the Work Done at Paris 7 University

Since some years our team has worked on the characterization of rough surfaces from a study of the angular and frequency dependence of the backscattered intensity of ultrasonic waves. We shall discuss, in view of our experimental results, the different components of the signature of the surface profile which can be evaluated by these means: r.m.s. roughness h with a precision of the order of 1 μm in the range 6-100 μm influence of the autocorrelation distance L when present, surface periodicities with a precision which can be better than 1%. In the case of quasiperiodic surfaces, we shall present a comparison between the spectra theoretically predicted in the low-frequency approximation for various samples, and the ultrasonic spectra actually observed. Since 1977, we have also used Rayleigh waves to study surface properties and surface cracks in ceramics and metals and we shall give an introduction to the results obtained at the present time. This topic will be developed by B.R. Tittmann in a following paper

Lorentz-Violating Electrostatics and Magnetostatics

The static limit of Lorentz-violating electrodynamics in vacuum and in media is investigated. Features of the general solutions include the need for unconventional boundary conditions and the mixing of electrostatic and magnetostatic effects. Explicit solutions are provided for some simple cases. Electromagnetostatics experiments show promise for improving existing sensitivities to parity-odd coefficients for Lorentz violation in the photon sector.Comment: 9 page

Direct visualization of amlodipine intervention into living cells by means of fluorescence microscopy

Amlodipine, a unique long-lasting calcium channel antagonist and antihypertensive drug, has weak fluorescence in aqueous solutions. In the current paper, we show that direct visualization of amlodipine in live cells is possible due to the enhanced emission in cellular environment. We examined the impact of pH, polarity and viscosity of the environment as well as protein binding on the spectral properties of amlodipine in vitro, and used quantum chemical calculations for assessing the mechanism of fluorescence quenching in aqueous solutions. The confocal fluorescence microscopy shows that the drug readily penetrates the plasma membrane and accumulates in the intracellular vesicles. Visible emission and photostability of amlodipine allow confocal time-lapse imaging and the drug uptake monitoring

A Faraday Rotation Search for Magnetic Fields in Large Scale Structure

Faraday rotation of radio source polarization provides a measure of the integrated magnetic field along the observational lines of sight. We compare a new, large sample of Faraday rotation measures (RMs) of polarized extragalactic sources with galaxy counts in Hercules and Perseus-Pisces, two nearby superclusters. We find that the average of RMs in these two supercluster areas are larger than in control areas in the same galactic latitude range. This is the first RM detection of magnetic fields that pervade a supercluster volume, in which case the fields are at least partially coherent over several megaparsecs. Even the most conservative interpretation of our observations, according to which Milky Way RM variations mimic the background supercluster galaxy overdensities, puts constraints on the IGM magneto-ionic ``strength'' in these two superclusters. We obtain an approximate typical upper limit on the field strength of about 0.3 microGauss l/(500 kpc), when we combine our RM data with fiducial estimates of electron density from the environments of giant radio galaxies, and of the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM).Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, to appear in the Astrophysical Journa

Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of invasive versus conservative management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax

INTRODUCTION: Current management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is variable, with little evidence from randomised controlled trials to guide treatment. Guidelines emphasise intervention in many patients, which involves chest drain insertion, hospital admission and occasionally surgery. However, there is evidence that conservative management may be effective and safe, and it may also reduce the risk of recurrence. Significant questions remain regarding the optimal initial approach to the management of PSP