QCD Effects in High Energy Processes

In this talk, some important QCD effects in Higgs physics, supersymmetry and top physics, as well as the factorization and resummation techniques in QCD are reviewed.Comment: LaTeX, 13 pages, uses ws-ijmpa.cls. Based on an invited talk at the International Conference on QCD and Hadronic Physics, Beijing, China, June 16--20, 2005. Minor change

The influence of knowledge-based HRM practices on productivity of knowledge workers: A Study on Malaysian universities

Knowledge workers have contributed significantly to the development of nations. There are various researches that extensively recognized the positive impact of knowledge-based HRM practices on knowledge worker's productivity. While there are studies regarding knowledge-based HRM practices across different countries and industries, however, there is dearth of research regarding the impact of knowledge-based HRM practices on universities' knowledge workers. Therefore, the aim of this current study was to fill up the gap by analysing the influence of various knowledge-based HRM practices on the productivity of knowledge workers in universities. This study investigated HRM practices namely knowledge-based recruiting practices, knowledge-based training and development practices, knowledge-based performance appraisal practices and knowledge-based compensation practices on the quality and quantity of the productivity of knowledge workers. Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, Expectancy Theory, and MacGregor's Theory X and Theory Y were used as underpinning theories to support the proposed conceptual model. Eight hypotheses were developed based on the proposed research model and standard instrument was used to obtain data. By employing non-probability sampling method, a total of 129 knowledge workers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur participated in survey. The data were collected at one point of time across the sample population. The data obtained were assessed using SPSS and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results revealed the positive and significant influence of knowledge-based recruiting practices and knowledge-based compensation practices on quality and quantity of knowledge workers' productivity. Knowledge-based training and development practices were found to have their positive and significant impact on quantity of knowledge workers' productivity but not on quality of knowledge workers' productivity. Additionally, knowledge-based performance appraisal was not found to have its positive as well as significant impact on quality and quantity of knowledge worker's productivity

Efficient Phase-Encoding Quantum Key Generation with Narrow-Band Single Photons

We propose an efficient phase-encoding quantum secret key generation scheme with heralded narrow-band single photons. The key information is carried by the phase modulation directly on the single-photon temporal waveform without using any passive beam splitters or optical switches. We show that, when the technique is applied to the conventional fiber-based phase-encoding BB84 and differential phase shift (DPS) quantum key distribution schemes, the key generation efficiencies can be improved by a factor of 2 and 3, respectively. For N(>3)-period DPS systems, the key generation efficiency can be improved by a factor of N. The technique is suitable for quantum memory-based long-distance fiber communication system.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Spurious Shell Closures in the Relativistic Mean Field Model

Following a systematic theoretical study of the ground-state properties of over 7000 nuclei from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line in the relativistic mean field model [Prog. Theor. Phys. 113 (2005) 785], which is in fair agreement with existing experimental data, we observe a few spurious shell closures, i.e. proton shell closures at Z=58 and Z=92. These spurious shell closures are found to persist in all the effective forces of the relativistic mean field model, e.g. TMA, NL3, PKDD and DD-ME2.Comment: 3 pages, to appear in Chinese Physics Letter

The Importance of Mindfulness in the Achievement of Optimal Functioning: Conceptualization for Research Development

The concept of ‘optimal functioning’ has emerged as a major line of research development in educational psychology. Optimal functioning, which reflects the paradigm of positive psychology, is concerned with a person’s achievement of maximization in his/her functioning, whether it is mental, cognitive, emotional, or social. This inquiry places strong emphasis on importance of flourishing, happiness, and the proactivity of human endeavors. An important question then for consideration, from this testament, is how researchers optimize the achievement of optimal functioning. We have recently made progress by focusing on empirical research development and methodological conceptualizations into the study of optimization. Our conceptualizations, collectively, contend that there are psychological, educational, and psychosocial variables that operate as sources of ‘energization’, which then stimulate the buoyancy of motivation, personal resolve, effective functioning, strength, and effort expenditure. Energization, in its totality, from our postulation, may then arouse, intensify, and sustain a person’s internal state of functioning. Our cross-institutional, cross-cultural research collaboration (e.g., Australia, Malaysia, and Taiwan), to date, has considered one notably construct that could serve as a source of internal energization for the achievement of functioning: mindfulness. We strongly believe that the totality of mindfulness, positive in nature, could play a central role in the psychological processes of human agency

Everolimus exhibits anti-tumorigenic activity in obesity-induced ovarian cancer

Everolimus inhibits mTOR kinase activity and its downstream targets by acting on mTORC1 and has anti-tumorigenic activity in ovarian cancer. Clinical and epidemiologic data find that obesity is associated with worse outcomes in ovarian cancer. In addition, obesity leads to hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway in epithelial tissues, suggesting that mTOR inhibitors may be a logical choice for treatment in obesity-driven cancers. However, it remains unclear if obesity impacts the effect of everolimus on tumor growth in ovarian cancer. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effects of everolimus on cytotoxicity, cell metabolism, apoptosis, cell cycle, cell stress and invasion in human ovarian cancer cells. A genetically engineered mouse model of serous ovarian cancer fed a high fat diet or low fat diet allowed further investigation into the inter-relationship between everolimus and obesity in vivo. Everolimus significantly inhibited cellular proliferation, induced cell cycle G1 arrest and apoptosis, reduced invasion and caused cellular stress via inhibition of mTOR pathways in vitro. Hypoglycemic conditions enhanced the sensitivity of cells to everolimus through the disruption of glycolysis. Moreover, everolimus was found to inhibit ovarian tumor growth in both obese and lean mice. This reduction coincided with a decrease in expression of Ki-67 and phosphorylated-S6, as well as an increase in cleaved caspase 3 and phosphorylated-AKT. Metabolite profiling revealed that everolimus was able to alter tumor metabolism through different metabolic pathways in the obese and lean mice. Our findings support that everolimus may be a promising therapeutic agent for obesity-driven ovarian cancers

Elevated adipogenesis of marrow mesenchymal stem cells during early steroid-associated osteonecrosis development

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increased bone marrow lipid deposition in steroid-associated osteonecrosis (ON) implies that abnormalities in fat metabolism play an important role in ON development. The increase in lipid deposition might be explained by elevated adipogenesis of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, it remains unclear whether there is a close association between elevated adipogenesis and steroid-associated ON development.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that there might be a close association between elevated adipogenesis and steroid-associated ON development.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>ON rabbit model was induced based on our established protocol. Dynamic-MRI was employed for local intra-osseous perfusion evaluation in bilateral femora. Two weeks after induction, bone marrow was harvested for evaluating the ability of adipogenic differentiation of marrow MSCs at both cellular and mRNA level involving adipogenesis-related gene peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 (PPARγ2). The bilateral femora were dissected for examining marrow lipid deposition by quantifying fat cell number, fat cell size, lipid deposition area and ON lesions. For investigating association among adipogenesis, lipid deposition and perfusion function with regard to ON occurrence, the rabbits were divided into ON⁺(with at least one ON lesion) group and ON^-(without ON lesion) group. For investigating association among adipogenesis, lipid deposition and perfusion function with regard to ON extension, the ON⁺rabbits were further divided into sub-single-lesion group (SON group: with one ON lesion) and sub-multiple-lesion group (MON group: with more than one ON lesion).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Local intra-osseous perfusion index was found lower in either ON⁺or MON group when compared to either ON^-or SON group, whereas the marrow fat cells number and area were much larger in either ON⁺or MON group as compared with ON^-and SON group. The adipogenic differentiation ability of MSCs and PPARγ2 expression in either ON⁺or MON group were elevated significantly as compared with either ON^-or SON group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings support our hypothesis that there is a close association between elevated adipogenesis and steroid-associated osteonecrosis development.</p

Predicting and enhancing students' positive emotions: An empirical study from a Taiwanese sociocultural context

Predicting and enhancing positive emotions, reflecting the tenets of positive psychology, is of considerable importance for educators. Positive emotions may consist of a person's indication of happiness, joy, and love. In school and university settings, as research has shown, positive emotions play a pivotal role in helping students adjust, make friends, and engage in proactive social relationships with others. It is imperative for us to consider the design and development of educational programs that could assist in the facilitation of positive emotions. The present study involved examination of an inquiry into the prediction of positive emotion of university students, via means of data drawn from Taiwan. The main question for consideration is to determine the extent to which both social (e.g., the social milieu) and personal (e.g., personal resolve) influences could predict positive emotions. Structural equation modelling yielded support for our proposed a priori model: (a) the direct predictive effects of the social milieu, personal resolve, relating to others, and academic liking experience, and (b) the potential mediating roles of relating to others, and academic liking experience. Overall, the concept of emotions plays a central role and is accounted for by different types of personal and social contextual influences