Tidal wave in 102Pd: Rotating condensate of up to seven d-bosons

The yrast states of even even vibrational and transitional nuclei are inter- preted as a rotating condensate of interacting d-bosons and the corresponding semi-classical tidal wave concept. A simple experimental manifestation of the anharmonicity caused by the boson interaction is found. The interpretation is substantiated by calculations based on the Collective Model and the Cranking Model.Comment: Proceedings of CGS1

Equilibrium properties of the lattice system with SALR interaction potential on a square lattice: quasi-chemical approximation versus Monte Carlo simulation

The lattice system with competing interactions that models biological objects (colloids, ensembles of protein molecules, etc.) is considered. This system is the lattice fluid on a square lattice with attractive interaction between nearest neighbours and repulsive interaction between next-next-nearest neighbours. The geometric order parameter is introduced for describing the ordered phases in this system. The critical value of the order parameter is estimated and the phase diagram of the system is constructed. The simple quasi-chemical approximation (QChA) is proposed for the system under consideration. The data of Monte Carlo simulation of equilibrium properties of the model are compared with the results of QChA. It is shown that QChA provides reasonable semiquantitative results for the systems studied and can be used as the basis for next order approximations.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

Spontaneous polarisation of the neutral interface for valence asymmetric coulombic systems

In this paper, we discuss the phenomenon of a spontaneous polarisation of a neutral hard planar interface for valence asymmetric coulombic systems. Within a field theoretical description, we account for the existence of non trivial charge density and electric potential profiles. The analysis of the phenomenon shows that the effect is related to combinatorics in relation with the existence of the two independent species cations and anions. This simple and basic feature is related to the quantum mechanical properties of the system. The theoretical results are compared with numerical simulations data and are shown to be in very good agreement, which a fortiori justifies our physical interpretation.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure

Assessment of poststress left ventricular ejection fraction by gated SPECT: comparison with equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography

PURPOSE: We compared left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction obtained by gated SPECT with that obtained by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: Within 1 week, 514 subjects with suspected or known coronary artery disease underwent same-day stress-rest (99m)Tc-sestamibi gated SPECT and radionuclide angiocardiography. For both studies, data were acquired 30 min after completion of exercise and after 3 h rest. RESULTS: In the overall study population, a good correlation between ejection fraction measured by gated SPECT and by radionuclide angiocardiography was observed at rest (r=0.82, p<0.0001) and after stress (r=0.83, p<0.0001). In Bland-Altman analysis, the mean differences in ejection fraction (radionuclide angiocardiography minus gated SPECT) were -0.6% at rest and 1.7% after stress. In subjects with normal perfusion (n=362), a good correlation between ejection fraction measured by gated SPECT and by radionuclide angiocardiography was observed at rest (r=0.72, p<0.0001) and after stress (r=0.70, p<0.0001) and the mean differences in ejection fraction were -0.9% at rest and 1.4% after stress. Also in patients with abnormal perfusion (n=152), a good correlation between the two techniques was observed both at rest (r=0.89, p<0.0001) and after stress (r=0.90, p<0.0001) and the mean differences in ejection fraction were 0.1% at rest and 2.5% after stress. CONCLUSION: In a large study population, a good agreement was observed in the evaluation of LV ejection fraction between gated SPECT and radionuclide angiocardiography. However, in patients with perfusion abnormalities, a slight underestimation in poststress LV ejection fraction was observed using gated SPECT as compared to equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography

Small fragments sodium sulfated hyaluronate, more than hyaluronic acid, reduces LPS-induced cytokine/chemokine levels in HaCaT cells

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear non-sulphated glycosaminoglycan, used in dermatology as a biomaterial for bioengineering purposes, temporary dermal filler, stimulation of wound healing as well as drug vehicle in topical formulations. In addition to the well-characterized structural properties, extensive research on HA has revealed a range of vastly immunemodulatory effects, dependent on its size. In this in vitro study we investigated the ability of HA-S3, a small fragment HA (MW, molecular weight: 68 kDa) with degree of sulphatation of 3 and of HA fraction (MW:210 kDa) to reduce the bacterial induced inflammatory response in spontaneous immortalized keratinocytes. To this purpose, HaCaT cells were treated for 24 hours with 25 µg/ml of E. Coli derived bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in absence or presence of small fragment HA-S3 or HA. Cell viability was thereafter assessed using trypan blue stain and interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations were determined in cell supernatants by single enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that cell viability was not affected either by HA-S3 or HA which in turn were able to reduce LPS-induced mortality. HA and especially HA-S3 were able to significantly reduce LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our observation might suggest new perspectives in the development of HA-S3 containing topical products able to modulate cutaneous inflammatory response

From <i>extractive</i> to <i>transformative</i> industries:paths for linkages and diversification for resource-driven development

While conventional wisdom has placed the focus of the mining and oil and gas sectors on the fact of extraction, a prolific line of the debate on these industries is shifting towards the extent to which resources, as initial assets, can be transformed into broader-based development by promoting cross-sectoral linkages and diversification. This paper provides an overview of the Special Issue of Mineral Economics “Can Mining be a Catalyst for Diversifying Economies”, exploring trends and suggesting challenges for concepts and practice in these industries. It points to the Post-2015 Development Agenda as an opportunity of a transformational role for the mining industry

Consequences of wall stiffness for a beta-soft potential

Modifications of the infinite square well E(5) and X(5) descriptions of transitional nuclear structure are considered. The eigenproblem for a potential with linear sloped walls is solved. The consequences of the introduction of sloped walls and of a quadratic transition operator are investigated.Comment: RevTeX 4, 8 pages, as published in Phys. Rev.

A formally exact field theory for classical systems at equilibrium

We propose a formally exact statistical field theory for describing classical fluids with ingredients similar to those introduced in quantum field theory. We consider the following essential and related problems : i) how to find the correct field functional (Hamiltonian) which determines the partition function, ii) how to introduce in a field theory the equivalent of the indiscernibility of particles, iii) how to test the validity of this approach. We can use a simple Hamiltonian in which a local functional transposes, in terms of fields, the equivalent of the indiscernibility of particles. The diagrammatic expansion and the renormalization of this term is presented. This corresponds to a non standard problem in Feynman expansion and requires a careful investigation. Then a non-local term associated with an interaction pair potential is introduced in the Hamiltonian. It has been shown that there exists a mapping between this approach and the standard statistical mechanics given in terms of Mayer function expansion. We show on three properties (the chemical potential, the so-called contact theorem and the interfacial properties) that in the field theory the correlations are shifted on non usual quantities. Some perspectives of the theory are given.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figure

The Modulatory Effect of Ellagic Acid and Rosmarinic Acid on Ultraviolet-B-Induced Cytokine/Chemokine Gene Expression in Skin Keratinocyte (HaCaT) Cells

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) induces an increase in multiple cutaneous inflammatory mediators. Ellagic acid (EA) and rosmarinic acid (RA) are natural anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory compounds found in many plants, fruits, and nuts. We assessed the ability of EA and RA to modulate IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1, and TNF-α gene expression in HaCaT cells after UVB irradiation. Cells were treated with UVB (100 mJ/cm(2)) and simultaneously with EA (5 μM in 0.1% DMSO) or RA (2.7 μM in 0.5% DMSO). Moreover, these substances were added to the UVB-irradiated cells 1 h or 6 h before harvesting, depending on the established UVB-induced cytokine expression peak. Cytokine gene expression was examined using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. RA produced a significant reduction in UVB-induced expression of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and TNF-α when applied at the same time as irradiation. EA showed milder effects compared with RA, except for TNF-α. Both substances decreased IL-6 expression, also when applied 5 h after irradiation, and always produced a significant increase in UVB-induced IL-10 expression. Our findings suggest that EA and RA are able to prevent and/or limit the UVB-induced inflammatory cascade, through a reduction in proinflammatory mediators and the enhancement of IL-10, with its protective function