Pion-Nucleon Scattering in Kadyshevsky Formalism: II Baryon Exchange Sector

In this paper, which is the second part in a series of two, we construct tree level baryon exchange and resonance amplitudes for $\pi N$ / $MB$-scattering in the framework of the Kadyshevsky formalism. We use this formalism to formally implement absolute pair suppression, where we make use of the method of Takahashi and Umezawa. The resulting amplitudes are Lorentz invariant and causal. We continue studying the frame dependence of the Kadyshevsky integral equation using the method of Gross and Jackiw. The invariant amplitudes, including those for meson exchange, are linked to the phase-shifts using the partial wave basis.Comment: 49 page

Pion-Nucleon Scattering in Kadyshevsky Formalism and Higher Spin Field Quantization

This thesis contains two parts. The first part deals with pion-nucleon/meson-baryon scattering in the Kadyshevsky formalism. This formalism is introduced and discussed. Problems may arise when derivative couplings and/or higher spin fields are used, especially when compared to the results in the Feynman formalism: unwanted contact terms pop-up. These terms are cancelled using the Gross and Jackiw or Takahashi and Umezawa method. The final results in both formalisms are therefore equal, causal and covariant. Formal incorporation of pair suppression in the baryon exchange sector is achieved using a method based on the Takahashi and Umezawa method. For the resulting tree level amplitudes, we have shown, to our knowledge for the first time, that they are causal, covariant and n-independent. Moreover, the amplitudes are just a factor 1/2 of the usual Feynman expressions. The amplitudes contain only posititve energy initial and final states, although it should be mentioned that negative energy is present inside an amplitude via the Delta propagator. The second part of this thesis deals with higher spin field quantization in the framework of Dirac's Constraint analysis. A full constraint analysis and quantization procedure is presented for the free spin 1,3/2 and 2 case and for the situation where these fields are coupled to auxiliary fields. The constructed propagators in the former case are shown to be non-covariant, as is well-known. Therefore, auxiliary fields coupled to gauge conditions of the free case are introduced in the Lagrangian. Now, the resulting propagators are covariant.Comment: 189 page

Inaccuracy of routine susceptibility tests for detection of erythromycin resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

In The Netherlands, both an increase in and regional differences in erythromycin resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli have been reported. To determine the accuracy of routine tests for erythromycin resistance, 48 erythromycin-resistant isolates from various laboratories that participate in the Dutch surveillance of Campylobacter infections were reinvestigated. Initial susceptibility testing for erythromycin had been performed by disk diffusion in six and MIC-based methods in two laboratories. Reinvestigation was carried out using broth microdilution as a reference standard, as well as E-test and genetic resistance testing. Of 36 C. jejuni isolates reported by the initial laboratories as erythromycin-resistant, four (11%) and five (14%) were confirmed as erythromycin-resistant using broth microdilution according to CLSI and EUCAST resistance criteria, respectively. Erythromycin resistance was found in eight of 12 (67%) C. coli isolates according to both criteria. Results of E-tests were in accordance with these results in all isolates. Resistance-associated mutations in the 23S rRNA gene (A2059G and A2058T) were found in all isolates showing high-level resistance, whereas none were found in susceptible isolates. Routine determination of the erythromycin resistance of C. jejuni and C. coli shows unacceptable interlaboratory variation. In the absence of standardized protocols and interpretive criteria for disk diffusion, and while we await the development of easily applicable and reliable methods for molecular resistance testing, the use of broth microdilution remains the best method

Attitudes toward Abortion: A Comparative Analysis of Correlates for 1973 and 1975

This paper contains an analysis of both the level of support for abortion and the correlates of such support for both 1973 and 1975, as indicated by National Opinion Research Center data. In comparison to previous research, which focused primarily on bivariate analyses of demographic variables, we examine the role of demographic and other variables (such as work status, unemployment history, receipt of government aid, and belief in an afterlife) at both the bivariate and multivariate levels of analysis. The result indicates an abatement of the previously increasing level of support; this datum plus the increase in persons responding don\u27t know suggest the occurrence of a reappraisal of support for abortion. The bivariate analysis indicates that support is highest among those who: are white, never married, or higher socioeconomic status, with no religious affiliation, seldom attend church, live in the Northeast or West, or have lower exposure to children. Multivariate analysis indicates that religion and socioeconomic status are the most salient variables. A comparison between the 1973 and 1975 data indicate reduced support among men and increased support among women, reduced support among the never married, and increased support among blacks, Catholics, Southerners, and those with less than a high school education

Risk factors for indigenous Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli infections in The Netherlands: a case-control study

A case-control study comprising 1315 Campylobacter jejuni cases, 121 Campylobacter coli cases and 3409 frequency-matched controls was conducted in The Netherlands in 2002-2003. Risk factors for both C. jejuni and C. coli enteritis were consumption of undercooked meat and barbecued meat, ownership of cats and use of proton pump inhibitors. Consumption of chicken was a predominant risk factor for C. jejuni enteritis, but many additional risk factors were identified. Unique risk factors for C. coli infections were consumption of game and tripe, and swimming. Contact with farm animals and persons with gastroenteritis were predominant risk factors for C. jejuni enteritis in young children (0-4 years). Important risk factors for the elderly (>= 60 years) were eating in a restaurant, use of proton pump inhibitors and having a chronic intestinal illness. Consumption of chicken in spring, steak tartare in autumn and winter and barbecued meat in rural areas showed strong associations with C. jejuni infections. This study illustrates that important differences in risk factors exist for different Campylobacter spp. and these may differ dependent on age, season or degree of urbanization

Distinct enzymatic responses in mice exposed to a range of low doses of ozone.

Short-term exposure of mice to low O3 doses, as defined by the product of concentration and exposure time (ct), was observed to induce alterations in two enzyme systems: first, that leading to changes in hepatic reduced ascorbic acid (RAA) content, and second to changes in plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity. RAA alterations were noticed immediately, 30 min and 120 min after termination of the exposure period, whereas CPK showed alterations immediately and 15 min after termination of the exposure. Later determinations, i.e., 24 hr after O3 exposure for RAA and 30 min after 03 exposure for CPK, revealed no significant differences when compared to control animals. Although differences in sensitivity existed, the dose response curves for both systems were more or less similar, showing a short decrease for the initial very low O3 doses, followed by a profound rise and a gradual decrease to control levels for subsequent ct doses. Exceptions were the 30 min curve for RAA and the immediate curve for CPK in so far as that both showed an additional depression. Neither plasma histamine nor plasma lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH3) were observed to be altered by the range of O3 doses employed. These findings were explained on the basis of adaptation of the organism to a potentially noxious O3 stimulus by enhanced metabolic processes: a weak stimulus leading to only a small adjustment, and stronger stimuli to elevated enzyme activity as well. With increasing doses of O3 this elevation in enzyme activity was found to be gradually diminished, possibly due to a steadily growing demand, leaving the overshoot becoming continually smaller until a balanced state is achieved

Observation of the spin Peltier effect

We report the observation of the spin Peltier effect (SPE) in the ferrimagnetic insulator Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG), i.e. a heat current generated by a spin current flowing through a Platinum (Pt)|YIG interface. The effect can be explained by the spin torque that transforms the spin current in the Pt into a magnon current in the YIG. Via magnon-phonon interactions the magnetic fluctuations modulate the phonon temperature that is detected by a thermopile close to the interface. By finite-element modelling we verify the reciprocity between the spin Peltier and spin Seebeck effect. The observed strong coupling between thermal magnons and phonons in YIG is attractive for nanoscale cooling techniques.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 4 pages supplementary information, 4 supplementary figure