Mean-Field Interacting Boson Random Point Fields in Weak Harmonic Traps

A model of the mean-field interacting boson gas trapped by a weak harmonic potential is considered by the \textit{boson random point fields} methods. We prove that in the Weak Harmonic Trap (WHT) limit there are two phases distinguished by the boson condensation and by a different behaviour of the local particle density. For chemical potentials less than a certain critical value, the resulting Random Point Field (RPF) coincides with the usual boson RPF, which corresponds to a non-interacting (ideal) boson gas. For the chemical potentials greater than the critical value, the boson RPF describes a divergent (local) density, which is due to \textit{localization} of the macroscopic number of condensed particles. Notice that it is this kind of transition that observed in experiments producing the Bose-Einstein Condensation in traps

Bounding sup-norms of cusp forms of large level

Let f be an $L^2$-normalized weight zero Hecke-Maass cusp form of square-free level N, character $\chi$ and Laplacian eigenvalue $\lambda\geq 1/4$. It is shown that $\| f \|_{\infty} \ll_{\lambda} N^{-1/37}$, from which the hybrid bound $\|f \|_{\infty} \ll \lambda^{1/4} (N\lambda)^{-\delta}$ (for some $\delta > 0$) is derived. The first bound holds also for $f = y^{k/2}F$ where F is a holomorphic cusp form of weight k with the implied constant now depending on k.Comment: version 3: substantially revised versio

Radiographic features of liver allograft rejection

The radiographic features of 19 transplanted patients with failure of the liver allograft were evaluated. These features were: poor filling, stretching, attenuation of intrahepatic biliary ducts documented by T-tube cholangiogram, attenuation of branches of the hepatic artery seen on angiogram as well as a decrease of blood flow through the liver seen on angiogram and nuclear medicine dynamic scintigram. These findings were secondary to swelling of the transplanted liver and were not specific for rejection; they may also be present in hepatic infarction or infection

Role of glucose and CcpA in capsule expression and virulence of Streptococcus suis

Streptococcus suis is one of the most important pathogens in pigs and is also an emerging zoonotic agent. After crossing the epithelial barrier, S. suis causes bacteraemia, resulting in meningitis, endocarditis and bronchopneumonia. Since the host environment seems to be an important regulatory component for virulence, we related expression of virulence determinants of S. suis to glucose availability during growth and to the sugar metabolism regulator catabolite control protein A (CcpA). We found that expression of the virulence-associated genes arcB, representing arcABC operon expression, cps2A, representing capsular locus expression, as well as sly, ofs, sao and epf, differed significantly between exponential and early stationary growth of a highly virulent serotype 2 strain. Deletion of ccpA altered the expression of the surface-associated virulence factors arcB, sao and eno, as well as the two currently proven virulence factors in pigs, ofs and cps2A, in early exponential growth. Global expression analysis using a cDNA expression array revealed 259 differentially expressed genes in early exponential growth, of which 141 were more highly expressed in the CcpA mutant strain 10¿ccpA and 118 were expressed to a lower extent. Interestingly, among the latter genes, 18 could be related to capsule and cell wall synthesis. Correspondingly, electron microscopy characterization of strain 10¿ccpA revealed a markedly reduced thickness of the capsule. This phenotype correlated with enhanced binding to porcine plasma proteins and a reduced resistance to killing by porcine neutrophils. Taken together, our data demonstrate that CcpA has a significant effect on the capsule synthesis and virulence properties of S. suis

Virulence properties and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting of Candida albicans isolates obtained from Monastir dental hospital, Tunisia

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization as well as studies on the virulence factors of Candida albicans isolates obtained from oral cavity of patients was carried out using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting and epithelial cells adherence assay, respectively. RAPD patterns revealed the presence of 13 C. albicans genotypes separated into two clusters at 75% ofsimilarity when they were combined. Results also showed the presence of haemolytic protease activity as virulence factors with 88% of the C. albicans strains been able to adhere to Caco-2 cells and only 64% to Hep-2. RAPD-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular tool used to differentiate the isolates into various genotypes based on their virulence properties.Key words: Candida albicans, stomatitis, random amplified polymorphic DNA, Hep-2, Caco-2 cells

On Heavy-Quark Free Energies, Entropies, Polyakov Loop, and AdS/QCD

In this paper we explore some of the features of a heavy quark-antiquark pair at finite temperature using a five-dimensional framework nowadays known as AdS/QCD. We shall show that the resulting behavior is consistent with our qualitative expectations of thermal gauge theory. Some of the results are in good agreement with the lattice data that provides additional evidence for the validity of the proposed model.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures; v2: comments added, misprints correcte

On the Relation Between Peak Luminosity and Parent Population of Type Ia Supernovae: A New Tool for Probing the Ages of Distant Galaxies

We study the properties of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) as functions of the radial distance from their host galaxy centers. Using a sample of 62 SNe Ia with reliable luminosity, reddening, and decline rate determinations, we find no significant radial gradients of SNe Ia peak absolute magnitudes or decline rates in elliptical+S0 galaxies, suggesting that the diversity of SN properties is not related to the metallicity of their progenitors. We do find that the range in brightness and light curve width of supernovae in spiral galaxies extends to brighter, broader values. These results are interpreted as support for an age, but not metallicity, related origin of the diversity in SNe Ia. If confirmed with a larger and more accurate sample of data, the age-luminosity relation would offer a new and powerful tool to probe the ages and age gradients of stellar populations in galaxies at redshift as high as $z\sim1-2$. The absence of significant radial gradients in the peak $\rm (B-V)_0$ and $\rm (V-I)_0$ colors of SNe Ia supports the redding correction method of Phillips et al (1999). We find no radial gradient in residuals from the SN Ia luminosity-width relation, suggesting that the relation is not affected by properties of the progenitor populations and supporting the reliability of cosmological results based upon the use of SNe Ia as distance indicators.Comment: 19 pages, incl. 3 tables & 3 figures; to appear in Nov 2000 issue of Ap

Chalk cliff retreat in East Sussex and Kent 1870s to 2001

The retreat of chalk cliffs fringing the eastern English Channel contributes shingle to the beaches which helps to protect the cliffs and slow down erosion. Conversely, cliff retreat endangers settlements and infrastructure on the clifftop. Rates of retreat have been calculated by a variety of methods over the past century, but no attempt has been made to provide a complete coverage that allows for a true comparison of retreat rates over the entire coastline. Using historic maps and recent orthophotos, cliff retreat rates have been calculated for consecutive 50 m sections of chalk cliff along the English side of the entire eastern English Channel for a period of 125 years. The chalk cliffs of East Sussex erode at an average rate of 0.25 - 0.3 m y−1 while those in Kent at a rate of 0.1 m y−1

Long-term and pathological outcomes of low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: implications for active surveillance

Purpose!#!The safety of active surveillance (AS) in favorable intermediate-risk (FIR) prostate cancer (PCa) remains uncertain. To provide guidance on clinical decision-making, we examined long-term and pathological outcomes of low-risk and intermediate-risk PCa patients after radical prostatectomy (RP).!##!Methods!#!The study involved 5693 patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2019 with low-risk, FIR, and unfavorable intermediate-risk (UIR) PCa (stratification according to the AUA guidelines) who underwent RP. Pathological outcomes were compared, and Kaplan-Meier analysis determined biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. Multiple Cox regression was used to simultaneously control for relevant confounders.!##!Results!#!Those at FIR had higher rates of upgrading and upstaging (12.8% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001; 19.8% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001) as well as pathological tumor and node stage (≥ pT3a: 18.8% vs. 11.6%, p < 0.001; pN1: 2.7% vs. 0.8%, p > 0.001) compared to patients at low risk. The 20-year BRFS was 69%, 65%, and 44% and the 20-year CSS was 98%, 95%, and 89% in low-risk, FIR, and UIR patients. On multiple Cox regression, FIR was not associated with a worse BRFS (HR 1.07, CI 0.87-1.32), UIR was associated with a worse BRFS (HR 1.49, CI 1.20-1.85).!##!Conclusion!#!Patients at FIR had only slightly worse pathological and long-term outcomes compared to patients at low risk, whereas the difference compared to patients at UIR was large. This emphasizes AS in these patients as a possible treatment strategy in well-counseled patients

No detrimental effect of a positive family history on postoperative upgrading and upstaging in men with low risk and favourable intermediate-risk prostate cancer: implications for active surveillance

Purpose!#!To assess whether a first-degree family history or a fatal family history of prostate cancer (PCa) are associated with postoperative upgrading and upstaging among men with low risk and favourable intermediate-risk (FIR) PCa and to provide guidance on clinical decision making for active surveillance (AS) in this patient population.!##!Methods!#!Participants in the German Familial Prostate Cancer database diagnosed from 1994 to 2019 with (1) low risk (clinical T1c-T2a, biopsy Gleason Grade Group (GGG) 1, PSA < 10 ng/ml), (2) Gleason 6 FIR (clinical T1c-T2a, GGG 1, PSA 10-20 ng/ml), and (3) Gleason 3 + 4 FIR (clinical T1c-T2a, GGG 2, PSA < 10 ng/ml) PCa who were subsequently treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) were analysed for upgrading, defined as postoperative GGG 3 tumour or upstaging, defined as pT3-pT4 or pN1 disease at RP. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether PCa family history was associated with postoperative upgrading or upstaging.!##!Results!#!Among 4091 men who underwent RP, mean age at surgery was 64.4 (SD 6.7) years, 24.7% reported a family history, and 3.4% a fatal family history. Neither family history nor fatal family history were associated with upgrading or upstaging at low risk, Gleason 6 FIR, and Gleason 3 + 4 FIR PCa patients.!##!Conclusion!#!Results from the current study indicated no detrimental effect of family history on postoperative upgrading or upstaging. Therefore, a positive family history or fatal family history of PCa in FIR PCa patients should not be a reason to refrain from AS in men otherwise suitable