Mixed Symmetry Solutions of Generalized Three-Particle Bargmann-Wigner Equations in the Strong-Coupling Limit

Starting from a nonlinear isospinor-spinor field equation, generalized three-particle Bargmann-Wigner equations are derived. In the strong-coupling limit, a special class of spin 1/2 bound-states are calculated. These solutions which are antisymmetric with respect to all indices, have mixed symmetries in isospin-superspin space and in spin orbit space. As a consequence of this mixed symmetry, we get three solution manifolds. In appendix \ref{b}, table 2, these solution manifolds are interpreted as the three generations of leptons and quarks. This interpretation will be justified in a forthcoming paper.Comment: 17 page

Capacity-achieving ensembles for the binary erasure channel with bounded complexity

We present two sequences of ensembles of non-systematic irregular repeat-accumulate codes which asymptotically (as their block length tends to infinity) achieve capacity on the binary erasure channel (BEC) with bounded complexity per information bit. This is in contrast to all previous constructions of capacity-achieving sequences of ensembles whose complexity grows at least like the log of the inverse of the gap (in rate) to capacity. The new bounded complexity result is achieved by puncturing bits, and allowing in this way a sufficient number of state nodes in the Tanner graph representing the codes. We also derive an information-theoretic lower bound on the decoding complexity of randomly punctured codes on graphs. The bound holds for every memoryless binary-input output-symmetric channel and is refined for the BEC.Comment: 47 pages, 9 figures. Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Information Theor

Inflammatory and angiogenic protein detection in the human vitreous : cytometric bead assay

Introduction. To evaluate clinical feasibility and reproducibility of cytometric bead assay (CBA) in nondiluted vitreous samples of patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods. Twelve patients from a single clinics day qualified for intravitreal injections (ARMD n = 6, DME n = 3, CRVO n = 3) and underwent a combination treatment including a single-site 23 gauge core vitrectomy which yielded a volume of 0.6 mL undiluted vitreous per patient. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor isoform A (VEGF-A), and monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were assessed directly from 0.3 mL at the same day (fresh samples). To assess the reproducibility 0.3 ml were frozen for 60 days at -80°, on which the CBA was repeated (frozen samples). Results. In the fresh samples IL-6 was highest in CRVO (median IL-6 55.8 pg/mL) > DME (50.6) > ARMD (3.1). Highest VEGF was measured in CRVO (447.4) > DME (3.9) > ARMD (2.0). MCP-1 was highest in CRVO (595.7) > AMD (530.8) > DME (178). The CBA reproducibility after frozen storage was examined to be most accurate for MCP1 (P = 0.91) > VEGF (P = 0.68) > IL-6 (P = 0.49). Conclusions. CBA is an innovative, fast determining, and reliable technology to analyze proteins in fluids, like the undiluted vitreous, which is important to better understand ocular pathophysiology and pharmacology. There is no influence of intermittent storage at -80° for the reproducibility of the CBA

Draft genome sequence of the globally distributed cockroach-infecting fungus herpomyces periplanetae strain D. Haelew. 1187d

Herpomyces periplanetae is an obligate biotroph of Periplaneta americana, the American cockroach. Its nearly cosmopolitan distribution is shaped by its globally invasive host and the international pet trade. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of H. periplanetae, based on a thallus from P. americana collected in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The metaphysics of Machian frame-dragging

The paper investigates the kind of dependence relation that best portrays Machian frame-dragging in general relativity. The question is tricky because frame-dragging relates local inertial frames to distant distributions of matter in a time-independent way, thus establishing some sort of non-local link between the two. For this reason, a plain causal interpretation of frame-dragging faces huge challenges. The paper will shed light on the issue by using a generalized structural equation model analysis in terms of manipulationist counterfactuals recently applied in the context of metaphysical enquiry by Schaffer (2016) and Wilson (2017). The verdict of the analysis will be that frame-dragging is best understood in terms of a novel type of dependence relation that is half-way between causation and grounding

Fedor Bucholtz, mycologist and his herbarium

Beginning shortly after the death of Fedor Bucholtz in 1924 correspondence was initiated by Roland Thaxter with Alexander Bucholz, mycologist Fedor Bucholtz’s son, concerning the purchase of his father’s herbarium and library. This began an exchange that lasted for six years and resulted in the purchase of the library and part of the herbarium of Fedor Bucholtz for the Farlow Reference Library and Herbarium of Cryptogamic Botany. About 5200 specimens and about 800 books and reprints were received. These purchases are documented through correspondence, which also throws light on the difficulties Bucholtz and his family endured in the wake of World War 1.

On Fast Linear Gravitational Dragging

A new formula is given for the fast linear gravitational dragging of the inertial frame within a rapidly accelerated spherical shell of deep potential. The shell is charged and is electrically accelerated by an electric field whose sources are included in the solution.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur