Nucleon Tensor Charge from Exclusive πo\pi^o Electroproduction

Exclusive $\pi^o$ electroproduction from nucleons is suggested for extracting the tensor charge and other quantities related to transversity from experimental data. This process isolates C-parity odd and chiral odd combinations of t-channel exchange quantum numbers. In a hadronic picture it connects the meson production amplitudes to C-odd Regge exchanges with final state interactions. In a description based on partonic degrees of freedom, the helicity structure for this C-odd process relates to the quark helicity flip, or chiral odd generalized parton distributions. This differs markedly from deeply virtual Compton scattering, and both vector meson and charged $\pi$ electroproduction, where the axial charge can enter the amplitudes. Contrarily the tensor charge enters the $\pi^o$ process. The connection through the helicity description of the process to both the partonic and hadronic perspectives is studied and exploited in model calculations to indicate how the tensor charge and other transversity parameters can be related to cross section and spin asymmetry measurements over a broad range of kinematics.Comment: 40 pages, 14 figures Revised text clarifying main points, fixing typos, adding reference

Diptheria vaccine awareness survey among the general populace of Kaduna State

Aim: The aim of the study is to find the knowledge of Kaduna state populace on diphtheria vaccine which is the most effective way of tackling the disease as the Diphtheria antitoxin is not readily available for use in the country. Method: A survey conducted with a designed questionnaire at a confidence level of 95%, confidence interval of 12.5 showed Kaduna State populace’s responses on diphtheria, its vaccine and booster doses, the questionnaire was self administered and responses were collated using simple descriptive statistics. Results: A total number of 64 people responded; majority (37 of 64) were from the child bearing age fifty six, 56(88%), fifty nine, 59 (92%) were vaccinated against diphtheria but only eighteen, 18 (28%) knew about its booster doses. Twenty eight, 28 (45%) took their children for vaccine but only fourteen, 14 (11%) ever took them to receive the booster dose from among the respondents. Conclusion: Kaduna state residents have generally inconsequential awareness on diphtheria, its prevention and management. Key words: Diphtheria toxin; Diphtheria toxoid; Vaccine; Knowledge; Populac

Voltage Stability Analysis of Grid-Connected Wind Farms with FACTS: Static and Dynamic Analysis

Recently, analysis of some major blackouts and failures of power system shows that voltage instability problem has been one of the main reasons of these disturbances and networks collapse. In this paper, a systematic approach to voltage stability analysis using various techniques for the IEEE 14-bus case study, is presented. Static analysis is used to analyze the voltage stability of the system under study, whilst the dynamic analysis is used to evaluate the performance of compensators. The static techniques used are Power Flow, V–P curve analysis, and Q–V modal analysis. In this study, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission system (FACTS) devices- namely, Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOMs) and Static Var Compensators (SVCs) - are used as reactive power compensators, taking into account maintaining the violated voltage magnitudes of the weak buses within the acceptable limits defined in ANSI C84.1. Simulation results validate that both the STATCOMs and the SVCs can be effectively used to enhance the static voltage stability and increasing network loadability margin. Additionally, based on the dynamic analysis results, it has been shown that STATCOMs have superior performance, in dynamic voltage stability enhancement, compared to SVCs

"Test me and treat me" - attitudes to vitamin D deficiency and supplementation: a qualitative study

© 2015 BMJ Open, "Test me and treat me"-attitudes to vitamin D deficiency and supplementation: a qualitative study. This manuscript version is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Acute Burkitt\u27s Leukemia: Case Report and Literature Review

The occurrence of leukemia in Burkitt\u27s lymphoma, with or without visceral or nodal tumefaction is uncommon, and its initial presentation as leukemia is even more unusual. Because it has a poor chemotherapeutic response and a grave prognosis, it is important to recognize this unusual leukemia correctly. Our report describes the clinical and pathologic findings of Burkitt\u27s lymphoma cell leukemia in a five-year-old white boy who presented with abdominal distension, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. Blood examination revealed normocytic normochromic anemia, erythroblastosis, slight leukocytosis, and the presence of numerous (24%) blasts. A diagnosis of Burkitt\u27s lymphoma was established on the basis of morphologic, cytochemical, and immunologic studies performed on the blasts. When the chemotherapy protocol for the lymphoma was administered, the patient responded well initially but suffered uric acid nephropathy, which was successfully treated. However, within two weeks he had a rapid relapse of leukemia and died four months after admission

Primary radiotherapy in progressive optic nerve sheath meningiomas: a long-term follow-up study

Background/aims: To report the outcome of primary radiotherapy in patients with progressive optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM). Methods: The clinical records of all patients were reviewed in a retrospective, observational, multicentre study. Results: Thirty-four consecutive patients were included. Twenty-six women and eight men received conventional or stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy, and were followed for a median 58 (range 51–156) months. Fourteen eyes (41%) showed improved visual acuity of at least two lines on the Snellen chart. In 17 (50%) eyes, the vision stabilised, while deterioration was noted in three eyes (9%). The visual outcome was not associated with age at the time of radiotherapy (p=0.83), sex (p=0.43), visual acuity at the time of presentation (p=0.22) or type of radiotherapy (p=0.35). Optic disc swelling was associated with improved visual acuity (p<0.01) and 4/11 patients with optic atrophy also showed improvement. Long-term complications were dry eyes in five patients, cataracts in three, and mild radiation retinopathy in four. Conclusion: Primary radiotherapy for patients with ONSM is associated with long-term improvement of visual acuity and few adverse effects.Peerooz Saeed, Leo Blank, Dinesh Selva, John G. Wolbers, Peter J.C.M. Nowak, Ronald B. Geskus, Ezekiel Weis, Maarten P. Mourits, Jack Rootma

Stacked optical antennas for plasmon propagation in a 5 nm-confined cavity

The sub-wavelength concentration and propagation of electromagnetic energy are two complementary aspects of plasmonics that are not necessarily co-present in a single nanosystem. Here we exploit the strong nanofocusing properties of stacked optical antennas in order to highly concentrate the electromagnetic energy into a 5 nm metal-insulator-metal (MIM) cavity and convert free radiation into guided modes. The proposed nano-architecture combines the concentration properties of optical nanoantennas with the propagation capability of MIM systems, paving the way to highly miniaturized on-chip plasmonic waveguiding