Supersolids in confined fermions on one-dimensional optical lattices

Using quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we show that density-density and pairing correlation functions of the one-dimensional attractive fermionic Hubbard model in a harmonic confinement potential are characterized by the anomalous dimension $K_\rho$ of a corresponding periodic system, and hence display quantum critical behavior. The corresponding fluctuations render the SU(2) symmetry breaking by the confining potential irrelevant, leading to structure form factors for both correlation functions that scale with the same exponent upon increasing the system size, thus giving rise to a (quasi)supersolid.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, published versio

Lateral and normal forces between patterned substrates induced by nematic fluctuations

We consider a nematic liquid crystal confined by two parallel flat substrates whose anchoring conditions vary periodically in one lateral direction. Within the Gaussian approximation, we study the effective forces between the patterned substrates induced by the thermal fluctuations of the nematic director. The shear force oscillates as function of the lateral shift between the patterns on the lower and the upper substrates. We compare the strength of this fluctuation-induced lateral force with the lateral van der Waals force arising from chemically structured adsorbed monolayers. The fluctuation-induced force in normal direction is either repulsive or attractive, depending on the model parameters.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

New Pharmacology Studies on the ISS

It is known that medications degrade over time and that extreme storage conditions will hasten their degradation. This is the basis of the HRP Risk of Ineffective or Toxic Medications Due to Long Term Storage. Gaps include questions about the effects of the spaceflight environment and about the potential for safe use of medications beyond their expiration dates. There are also open questions regarding effects of the spaceflight environment on human physiology and subsequent changes in how medications act on the body; these unanswered questions gave rise to the HRP Concern of Clinically Relevant Unpredicted Effects of Medication. Studies designed to address this Risk and Concern are described below

Validating Synthetic Health Datasets for Longitudinal Clustering

This paper appeared at the Australasian Workshop on Health Informatics and Knowledge Management (HIKM 2013), Adelaide, Australia. Conferences in Research and Practice in Information Technology (CRPIT), Vol.142. K. Gray and A. Koronios, Eds. Reproduction for academic, not-for profit purposes permitted provided this text is included.Clustering methods partition datasets into subgroups with some homogeneous properties, with information about the number and particular characteristics of each subgroup unknown a priori. The problem of predicting the number of clusters and quality of each cluster might be overcome by using cluster validation methods. This paper presents such an approach in-corporating quantitative methods for comparison be-tween original and synthetic versions of longitudinal health datasets. The use of the methods is demon-strated by using two different clustering algorithms, K-means and Latent Class Analysis, to perform clus-tering on synthetic data derived from the 45 and Up Study baseline data, from NSW in Australia

Constructing a Synthetic Longitudinal Health Dataset for Data Mining

Published version reproduced here with permission from the publisher.The traditional approach to epidemiological research is to analyse data in an explicit statistical fashion, attempting to answer a question or test a hypothesis. However, increasing experience in the application of data mining and exploratory data analysis methods suggests that valuable information can be obtained from large datasets using these less constrained approaches. Available data mining techniques, such as clustering, have mainly been applied to cross-sectional point-in-time data. However, health datasets often include repeated observations for individuals and so researchers are interested in following their health trajectories. This requires methods for analysis of multiple-points-over-time or longitudinal data. Here, we describe an approach to construct a synthetic longitudinal version of a major population health dataset in which clusters merge and split over time, to investigate the utility of clustering for discovering time sequence based patterns

An Improved Flexibility Formulation for Nonlinear Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Frames

In this paper the finite element flexibility-based formulation for a reinforced concrete frame element is discussed. The formulation takes account of material non-linearity on the basis of the onedimensional stress-strain relationships akin to the traditional fibre element. However, the fibres in this method are replaced by transverse integration points to improve the efficiency of the method. The compatibility of strain in each section is satisfied by adopting the Navier-Bernoulli hypothesis and effect of shear tractions on the nonlinear response of the material is neglected. Two different iterative solution strategies based on secant and tangent stiffness, consistent with the flexibility formulation are employed for solving the governing equation. The accuracy of assumptions and performance of the solution schemes are studied by a numerical example

Consistent Mass and Exact Displacement Shape Function for a Tapered Curved Frame Element

The principle of virtual force is employed to derive the exact shape function for a taperedcurved frame element in space and these shape functions ca n be employed to calculate the exact consistent mass and geometric stiffness matrixes for curved-tapered frame elements. The lack of any displacement shape function with exact fulfilment of equilibrium equations by an accurate force interpolation is the salient feature of this approach. The formulation adopts the linear elastic behaviour of the material and the strain compatibility is satisfied based on the Nevier-Bernoulli hypothesis. Shear deformations are considered and the Saint-Venat hypothesis for torsion is adopted. The efficiency and accuracy of the formulation are verified using some numerical examples

Development of subject specific finite element models of the mouse knee joint for preclinical applications

Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disabling disease worldwide. Preclinical studies on mice are commonly performed to test new interventions. Finite element (FE) models can be used to study joint mechanics, but usually simplified geometries are used. The aim of this project was to create a realistic subject specific FE model of the mouse knee joint for the assessment of joint mechanical properties. Four different FE models of a C57Bl/6 female mouse knee joint were created based on micro-computed tomography images of specimens stained with phosphotungstic acid in order to include different features: individual cartilage layers with meniscus, individual cartilage layers without meniscus, homogeneous cartilage layers with two different thickness values, and homogeneous cartilage with same thickness for both condyles. They were all analyzed under compressive displacement and the cartilage contact pressure was compared at 0.3 N reaction force. Peak contact pressure in the femur cartilage was 25% lower in the model with subject specific cartilage compared to the simpler model with homogeneous cartilage. A much more homogeneous pressure distribution across the joint was observed in the model with meniscus, with cartilage peak pressure 5–34% lower in the two condyles compared to that with individual cartilage layers. In conclusion, modeling the meniscus and individual cartilage was found to affect the pressure distribution in the mouse knee joint under compressive load and should be included in realistic models for assessing the effect of interventions preclinically

Analytic approximate solutions for unsteady boundary-layer flow and heat transfer due to a stretching sheet by homotopy analysis method

In this work, the homotopy analysis method is applied to study the unsteady boundary-layer flow and heat transfer due to a stretching sheet. The analytic solutions of the system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations are constructed in the series form. The convergence of the obtained series solutions is carefully analyzed. The velocity and temperature profiles are shown and the influence of non-dimensional parameter on the heat transfer is discussed in detail. The validity of our solutions is verified by the numerical results

Change in bone mineral density in post menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Low bone mass is a serious complication of post menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. We determined the Change in Bone Mineral Density in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out on consecutive postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis who were referred to the Azar 5th teaching hospital affiliated to Golestan University of Medical Sciences, North of Iran in 2009. The required data were gathered from the patients' medical records. The data were analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests. Results: We studied 98 postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. Mean number of years since menopause and mean duration of disease were 9.39 and 5.13 respectively. T Score mean in femoral neck and lumbar spines was -1.45±1.26 and -2.45±1.44 respectively. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck was 13.3. We have found a significant correlation between age, duration of disease, duration of menopause and bone mineral density (P-Value<0.01). Conlusion: Our results indicate a negative effect of age, number of years since menopause and duration of disease on bone mineral density. So, BMD should be measured in high risk women prior to the implementation of any treatment or prevention program