Magnetic Component of Quark-Gluon Plasma

We describe recent developments of the "magnetic scenario" of sQGP. We show that at $T=(0.8-1.3)T_c$ there is a dense plasma of monopoles, capable of supporting metastable flux tubes. Their existence allows to quantitatively explained the non-trivial $T$-dependence of the static $\bar Q Q$ potential energy calculated on the lattice. By molecular dynamics simulation we derived transport properties (shear viscosity and diffusion constant) and showed that the best liquid is given by most symmetric plasma, with 50%-50% of electric and magnetic charges. The results are close to those of the ``perfect liquid'' observed at RHIC.Comment: Contribution to the 20th International Conference on Nucleus Nucleus Collisions (Quark Matter 2008

Two-dimensional gases of generalized statistics in a uniform magnetic field

We study the low temperature properties of two-dimensional ideal gases of generalized statistics in a uniform magnetic field. The generalized statistics considered here are the parafermion statistics and the exclusion statistics. Similarity in the behaviours of the parafermion gas of finite order $p$ and the gas with exclusion coefficient $g=1/p$ at very low temperatures is noted. These two systems become exactly equivalent at $T=0$. Qumtum Hall effect with these particles as charge carriers is briefly discussed.Comment: Latex file, 14 pages, 5 figures available on reques

Ageing and Temperature Influence on Polarization/Depolarization Current Behaviour of Paper Immersed in Natural Ester

Transformers play an important role in providing a reliable and efficient electricity supply and are one of the most critical equipments in electric power transmission and distribution systems. The most commonly used liquid in power transformers is mineral oil due to its low price and good properties. However the performance of mineral oil starts to be limited due to environmental consideration [1]. Natural ester insulating fluid offers fire safety, environment and insulation aging advantages over mineral oil and are found to be suitable for the use in transformer insulation system [1]. However, transformer owners require to assess the status of the cellulose insulation in transformer non-destructively. Polarization/depolarization Current (PDC) measurement [2] is one of the non-destructive techniques which have been used to achieve this aim. At the present, there are few publications about the PDC behaviour of natural ester-paper insulation, though the natural ester becomes more widely used in transformers. In this paper, the influence of ageing and temperature on the PDC behaviour of the paper immersed in natural ester and mineral oil were compared. Results show PDC technique can be used to assess the aging condition of the natural-ester paper insulation. The ageing and temperature have similar influence on the PDC behaviour of the paper immersed in natural ester and in mineral oil. The depolarization current of paper immersed in natural ester is lower than that immersed in mineral oil at the same test temperature. The depolarization current of the paper immersed in natural ester and mineral oil increase with the aging time increased. Therefore, the depolarization current can be used to indicate the aging status of natural ester-paper insulation

Some Issues in a Gauge Model of Unparticles

We address in a recent gauge model of unparticles the issues that are important for consistency of a gauge theory, i.e., unitarity and Ward identity of physical amplitudes. We find that non-integrable singularities arise in physical quantities like cross section and decay rate from gauge interactions of unparticles. We also show that Ward identity is violated due to the lack of a dispersion relation for charged unparticles although the Ward-Takahashi identity for general Green functions is incorporated in the model. A previous observation that the unparticle's (with scaling dimension d) contribution to the gauge boson self-energy is a factor (2-d) of the particle's has been extended to the Green function of triple gauge bosons. This (2-d) rule may be generally true for any point Green functions of gauge bosons. This implies that the model would be trivial even as one that mimics certain dynamical effects on gauge bosons in which unparticles serve as an interpolating field.Comment: v1:16 pages, 3 figures. v2: some clarifications made and presentation improved, calculation and conclusion not modified; refs added and updated. Version to appear in EPJ

Positive selection determines T cell receptor V beta 14 gene usage by CD8+ T cells.

We report here a mAb, 14-2, reactive with TCRs that include V beta 14. The frequency of V beta 14+ T cells varies with CD4 and CD8 subset and is controlled by the H-2 genes. Thus CD8+ T cells from H-2b mice include approximately 2.3% V beta 14+ T cells while CD8+ T cells from mice expressing K kappa include greater than 8% V beta 14+ T cells. In all strains examined, 7-8% of CD4+ T cells express V beta 14. The frequent usage of V beta 14 in CD8+ T cells of K kappa-expressing mice is a result of preferential positive selection of V beta 14+ CD8+ T cells as demonstrated by analysis of radiation chimeras. These studies demonstrate that H-2-dependent positive selection occurs in unmanipulated mice. Furthermore, the results imply that positive selection, and possibly H-2 restriction, can be strongly influenced by a V beta domain, with some independence from the beta-junctional sequence and alpha chain

Users’ Continued Usage of Online Healthcare Virtual Communities: An Empirical Investigation in the Context of HIV Support Communities

This study uses data from an online HIV/AIDS health support virtual community to examine whether users’ emotional states and the social support they receive influence their continued usage. We adopt grief theory to conceptualize the negative emotions that people living with HIV/AIDS could experience. Linguistic analysis is used to measure the emotional states of the users and the informational and emotional support that they receive. Results show that users showing a higher level of disbelief and yearning are more likely to leave the community while those with a high level of anger and depression are more likely to stay on. Users who receive more informational support are more likely to leave once they have obtained the information they sought, but those who receive more emotional support are more likely to stay on. The findings of this study can help us better understand users’ support seeking behavior in online support VCs

Secukinumab in the treatment of psoriasis: patient selection and perspectives.

Secukinumab is a human monoclonal antibody targeting IL-17A that has been approved for three indications: moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. In Phase III clinical trials for each of these three indications, secukinumab has proven to be both highly efficacious and well-tolerated. However, several biologic medications are currently approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and many demonstrate excellent efficacy and safety. Due to this wide selection, it is often unclear how to choose biologics for specific patients. Important considerations in biologic selection include clinical efficacy, safety, cost, convenience, onset of action, and management of comorbid disease. This article aims to outline the key considerations in patient selection for the treatment of plaque psoriasis with secukinumab