On the Mean-Field Limit of Bosons with Coulomb Two-Body Interaction

In the mean-field limit the dynamics of a quantum Bose gas is described by a Hartree equation. We present a simple method for proving the convergence of the microscopic quantum dynamics to the Hartree dynamics when the number of particles becomes large and the strength of the two-body potential tends to 0 like the inverse of the particle number. Our method is applicable for a class of singular interaction potentials including the Coulomb potential. We prove and state our main result for the Heisenberg- picture dynamics of "observables”, thus avoiding the use of coherent states. Our formulation shows that the mean-field limit is a "semi-classical” limi

Vergleichbarkeit von ergebnisorientiertem Pflegeassessment (ePA_AC) und Erweitertem Barthel Index (EBI)

Ziel: In der neurologischen Rehabilitationspflege der Schweiz kommt es, durch die Verwendung des EBI und des ePA_AC zur Erhebung der ATL’s beim Eintritt, zur Verlaufskontrolle und beim Austritt, zu erheblichen Doppelspurigkeiten, welche weder zeitlich noch inhaltlich sinnvoll erscheinen. Daher sollte mit dieser Untersuchung geprüft werden, ob sich der EBI Score aus dem ePA_AC, generieren lässt. Methode: In einer retrospektiven Studie wurden 220 anonymisierte Patientendaten zu ePA_AC und EBI beim Eintritt und beim Austritt untersucht. Zur Vorbereitung der statistischen Analyse wurde eine Itemanalyse und Reduktion der Anzahl Items durchgeführt und es wurden Konstrukte gebildet. Mit einer linearen Regressionsanalyse wurde geprüft, wie gut sich die Werte der Merkmale von ePA_AC durch die Werte der Merkmale von EBI vorhersagen lassen. Ergebnisse: Die Analyse zeigte, dass sich der EBI Score aus dem ePA_AC generieren lässt. In 9 von 10 Modellen, konnte die Varianz gut bis sehr gut erklärt werden. Die erklärte Varianz beim Messpunkt T0 lag zwischen 18,9% und 75,5%, beim Messpunkt T3 zwischen 14,1% und 84,6%. Die Effektstärken lagen zwischen 0,233 und 3,082 (Zeitpunkt T0) und zwischen 0,164 und 5,494 (Zeitpunkt T3). Das Modell mit dem Gesamtscore des ePA_AC (SPI) als abhängige Variable und dem Gesamtscore des EBI (Total EBI) als unabhängige Variable für den Zeitpunkt T0 war signifikant. Das Modell klärt 80,9% der Varianz. Das Modell für den Zeitpunkt T3 konnte nicht befriedigend geschätzt werden. Fazit: In der Praxis kann auf den EBI zugunsten des ePA_AC verzichtet werden. Allerdings kann der Selbstpflegeindex (SPI), generiert vom ePA_AC, nicht mit dem EBI Gesamtscore verglichen werden. Dies erfordert eine Berechnung mittels eines Algorithmus aus den 10 Konstrukten. Dies ist jedoch mit einem kleineren Aufwand verbunden als die Durchführung beider Instrumente bei den gleichen Patienten

Topological Field Theory Interpretation of String Topology

The string bracket introduced by Chas and Sullivan [math.GT/9911159] is reinterpreted from the point of view of topological field theories in the Batalin-Vilkovisky or BRST formalisms. Namely, topological action functionals for gauge fields (generalizing Chern-Simons and BF theories) are considered together with generalized Wilson loops. The latter generate a (Poisson or Gerstenhaber) algebra of functionals with values in the $S^1$-equivariant cohomology of the loop space of the manifold on which the theory is defined. It is proved that, in the case of $GL_n$ with standard representation, the (Poisson or BV) bracket of two generalized Wilson loops applied to two cycles is the same as the generalized Wilson loop applied to the string bracket of the cycles. Generalizations to other groups are briefly described.Comment: 27 pages, 2 figure

Treatment of Resistant Fever: New Method of Local Cerebral Cooling

Background: Fever in neurocritical care patients is common and has a negative impact on neurological outcome. The purpose of this prospective observational study was (1) to evaluate the practicability of cooling with newly developed neck pads in the daily setting of neurointensive care unit (NICU) patients and (2) to evaluate its effectiveness as a surrogate endpoint to indicate the feasibility of neck cooling as a new method for intractable fever. Methods: Nine patients with ten episodes of intractable fever and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were treated with one of two different shapes of specifically adapted cooling neck pads. Temperature values of the brain, blood, and urinary bladder were taken close meshed after application of the cooling neck pads up to hour8. Results: The brain, blood, and urinary bladder temperatures decreased significantly from hour0 to a minimum in hour5 (P<0.01). After hour5, instead of continuous cooling in all the patients, the temperature of all the three sites remounted. Conclusion: This study showed the practicability of local cooling for intractable fever using the newly developed neck pads in the daily setting of NICU patient

Mean-Field- and Classical Limit of Many-Body Schr\"odinger Dynamics for Bosons

We present a new proof of the convergence of the N-particle Schroedinger dynamics for bosons towards the dynamics generated by the Hartree equation in the mean-field limit. For a restricted class of two-body interactions, we obtain convergence estimates uniform in the Planck constant , up to an exponentially small remainder. For h=0, the classical dynamics in the mean-field limit is given by the Vlasov equation.Comment: Latex 2e, 18 page

On the Mean-Field Limit of Bosons with Coulomb Two-Body Interaction

In the mean-field limit the dynamics of a quantum Bose gas is described by a Hartree equation. We present a simple method for proving the convergence of the microscopic quantum dynamics to the Hartree dynamics when the number of particles becomes large and the strength of the two-body potential tends to 0 like the inverse of the particle number. Our method is applicable for a class of singular interaction potentials including the Coulomb potential. We prove and state our main result for the Heisenberg-picture dynamics of "observables", thus avoiding the use of coherent states. Our formulation shows that the mean-field limit is a "semi-classical" limit.Comment: Corrected typos and included an elementary proof of the Kato smoothing estimate (Lemma 6.1

The 1356 Basel earthquake: an interdisciplinary revision

Within historical times one of the most damaging events in intra-plate Europe was the 1356 Basel earthquake. Given its significance for assessing regional seismic hazard in central Europe, an interdisciplinary project was launched in 2005 to re-explore this event. Our effort aimed to incorporate techniques from history, seismology, archaeology, paleoseismology and engineering. New and reinterpreted historical data from Basel and its surroundings plus archaeological findings on buildings that survived the event and still exist enabled this macroseismic assessment. Palaeoseismological studies combined with historical evidence provided additional data. For the surrounding areas, archaeology offers sparse information on some castles and churches, sometimes supported by historical records. A contemporary source allows some reconstruction of the stronger fore- and aftershocks. This expanded information base improves our sense of the event's damage and consequences. For the city of Basel, the relatively abundant archaeological data allowed us to assess statistically the macroseismic intensity at IX, although the pattern of damage was scattered. Data points for the expected area of damage around Basel are not distributed regularly. The absence of historical and archaeological findings for southern Germany might be due to archival problems; future investigation may improve this situation. Our results confirm that the Basel earthquake was the most destructive known for central Europe. Intensities up to VIII are found within a radius of about 30 km. Analysing the macroseismic field confirms our former assessment of the event and shows an epicenter located about 10 km south of Basel. The most probable range for the moment magnitude Mw is between 6.7 and 7.

Metabolic Versatility and Antibacterial Metabolite Biosynthesis Are Distinguishing Genomic Features of the Fire Blight Antagonist Pantoea vagans C9-1

Smits THM, Rezzonico F, Kamber T, et al. Metabolic Versatility and Antibacterial Metabolite Biosynthesis Are Distinguishing Genomic Features of the Fire Blight Antagonist Pantoea vagans C9-1. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(7): e22247.Background: Pantoea vagans is a commercialized biological control agent used against the pome fruit bacterial disease fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora. Compared to other biocontrol agents, relatively little is currently known regarding Pantoea genetics. Better understanding of antagonist mechanisms of action and ecological fitness is critical to improving efficacy. Principal Findings: Genome analysis indicated two major factors contribute to biocontrol activity: competition for limiting substrates and antibacterial metabolite production. Pathways for utilization of a broad diversity of sugars and acquisition of iron were identified. Metabolism of sorbitol by P. vagans C9-1 may be a major metabolic feature in biocontrol of fire blight. Biosynthetic genes for the antibacterial peptide pantocin A were found on a chromosomal 28-kb genomic island, and for dapdiamide E on the plasmid pPag2. There was no evidence of potential virulence factors that could enable an animal or phytopathogenic lifestyle and no indication of any genetic-based biosafety risk in the antagonist. Conclusions: Identifying key determinants contributing to disease suppression allows the development of procedures to follow their expression in planta and the genome sequence contributes to rationale risk assessment regarding the use of the biocontrol strain in agricultural systems

Standards of care for CFTR variant-specific therapy (including modulators) for people with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has entered the era of variant-specific therapy, tailored to the genetic variants in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. CFTR modulators, the first variant-specific therapy available, have transformed the management of CF.The latest standards of care from the European CF Society (2018) did not include guidance on variant-specific therapy, as CFTR modulators were becoming established as a novel therapy. We have produced interim standards to guide healthcare professionals in the provision of variant-specific therapy for people with CF.Here we provide evidence-based guidance covering the spectrum of care, established using evidence from systematic reviews and expert opinion. Statements were reviewed by key stakeholders using Delphi methodology, with agreement (≥80%) achieved for all statements after one round of consultation. Issues around accessibility are discussed and there is clear consensus that all eligible people with CF should have access to variant-specific therapy