A planar calculus for infinite index subfactors

We develop an analog of Jones' planar calculus for II_1-factor bimodules with arbitrary left and right von Neumann dimension. We generalize to bimodules Burns' results on rotations and extremality for infinite index subfactors. These results are obtained without Jones' basic construction and the resulting Jones projections.Comment: 56 pages, many figure

Weak Riemannian manifolds from finite index subfactors

Let $N\subset M$ be a finite Jones' index inclusion of II$_1$ factors, and denote by $U_N\subset U_M$ their unitary groups. In this paper we study the homogeneous space $U_M/U_N$, which is a (infinite dimensional) differentiable manifold, diffeomorphic to the orbit $${\cal O}(p) =\{u p u^*: u\in U_M\}$$ of the Jones projection $p$ of the inclusion. We endow ${\cal O}(p)$ with a Riemannian metric, by means of the trace on each tangent space. These are pre-Hilbert spaces (the tangent spaces are not complete), therefore ${\cal O}(p)$ is a weak Riemannian manifold. We show that ${\cal O}(p)$ enjoys certain properties similar to classic Hilbert-Riemann manifolds. Among them, metric completeness of the geodesic distance, uniqueness of geodesics of the Levi-Civita connection as minimal curves, and partial results on the existence of minimal geodesics. For instance, around each point $p_1$ of ${\cal O}(p)$, there is a ball $\{q\in {\cal O}(p):\|q-p_1\|<r\}$ (of uniform radius $r$) of the usual norm of $M$, such that any point $p_2$ in the ball is joined to $p_1$ by a unique geodesic, which is shorter than any other piecewise smooth curve lying inside this ball. We also give an intrinsic (algebraic) characterization of the directions of degeneracy of the submanifold inclusion ${\cal O}(p)\subset {\cal P}(M_1)$, where the last set denotes the Grassmann manifold of the von Neumann algebra generated by $M$ and $p$.Comment: 19 page

Isotopic evidence for biogenic molecular hydrogen production in the Atlantic Ocean

Oceans are a net source of molecular hydrogen (H2) to the atmosphere. The production of marine H2 is assumed to be mainly biological by N2 fixation, but photochemical pathways are also discussed. We present measurements of mole fraction and isotopic composition of dissolved and atmospheric H2 from the southern and northern Atlantic between 2008 and 2010. In total almost 400 samples were taken during five cruises along a transect between Punta Arenas (Chile) and Bremerhaven (Germany), as well as at the coast of Mauretania. The isotopic source signatures of dissolved H2 extracted from surface water are highly deuterium-depleted and correlate negatively with temperature, showing δD values of (−629 ± 54) ‰ for water temperatures at (27 ± 3) °C and (−249 ± 88) ‰ below (19 ± 1) °C. The results for warmer water masses are consistent with biological production of H2. This is the first time that marine H2 excess has been directly attributed to biological production by isotope measurements. However, the isotope values obtained in the colder water masses indicate that beside possible biological production a significant different source should be considered. The atmospheric measurements show distinct differences between both hemispheres as well as between seasons. Results from the global chemistry transport model TM5 reproduce the measured H2 mole fractions and isotopic composition well. The climatological global oceanic emissions from the GEMS database are in line with our data and previously published flux calculations. The good agreement between measurements and model results demonstrates that both the magnitude and the isotopic signature of the main components of the marine H2 cycle are in general adequately represented in current atmospheric models despite a proposed source different from biological production or a substantial underestimation of nitrogen fixation by several authors

Microbiological Valorisation of Bio-composites Based on Polylactic Acid and Wood Fibres

The use of wood fibres for production of bio-based composites has attracted interest in various application sectors ranging from packaging to automotive components and in other high value applications. In the course of the present research activity, several bio-based composites were developed using wood fibres with a compostable polymeric matrix such as polylactic acid (PLA) and a flexible biodegradable polymer such as poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). The developed materials were used for the manufacture of several prototypes for food packaging (trays, boxes for refrigerated or frozen fish, egg box), agricultural applications (pots and yarns), automotive components (spoiler and seats) as well as containers for cosmetics and chemicals. Biodegradability and compostability are desired properties, allowing bio-recycling as end of life scenario, mainly for materials used in food packaging and agricultural applications. Thus, they may be recycled at the end of their life time service producing compost as a value-added by-product. Composting is the main option for bio-recycling but also other valuable pathways can be pursued. Because lignocellulose is one of the components of developed materials, several by-products such as enzymes, reducing sugars, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, organic acids, etc. may be obtained from the bio-composites produced. Alternatively, the bio-composites can be also used for the production of yeast biomass. This is important as another recyclability way of the new produced materials. In the present research the bio-composites produced were investigated as substrates for the production of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, a potential source of single-cell protein (SCP), β-carotene, and Rhodotorula sp. as potential source of food and feed grade colorant. This is another more valuable alternative to the composting considering also that composting cannot be used to dispose of large quantities of bio-plastics, and in the future it will become more and more important to find alternative routes of valorisation for bio-plastics disposal

Fragmentation studies of high energy ions using CR39 nuclear track detectors

We report on the measurements of the total charge changing fragmentation cross sections in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions using Fe, Si and Pb incident ions. Several stacks of CR39 nuclear track detectors with different target combinations were exposed at normal incidence to high energy accelerator beams to integrated densities of about 2000 ions/cm^2. The nuclear track detector foils were chemically etched, and ion tracks were measured using an automatic image analyzer system. The cross section determination is based on the charge identification of beam ions and their fragments and on the reconstruction of their path through the stacks.Comment: 5 pages, 4 EPS figures. Corrected Eq. 3 and Table 1. Presented at the 10th Inter. Symp. Radiat. Phys., Coimbra, Portugal, 17-22 Sept. 200

Fournier's gangrene: summary of 8 years of clinical experience

Catedra Chirugie nr.1 „N.Anestiadi”, USMF „Nicolae Testemiţanu”, Spitalul „Sf.Arhanghel Mihail”, Chişinau, Republica Moldova, Al XII-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” din Republica Moldova cu participare internațională 23-25 septembrie 2015Introducere: Gangrena Fournier este o fasciită necrozantă care implică zona genitală şi perineul, progresează spre coapse şi peretele abdominal prin trabeculele fasciale. Material şi metode: Experienţa noastră include opt pacienţi cu gangrena Fournier, trataţi pe parcursul anilor 2006-2014. Repartizarea după sex a fost: 5 femei şi 3 bărbaţi. În etiologia bolii putem evidenţia calea ano-rectală (2 cazuri), infecţia urogenitală (3 cazuri) şi infecţia pielii (3 cazuri). Diagnosticul a fost stabilit în baza tabloulului clinic şi examenului ultrasonor. Toţi pacienţii au beneficiat de debridare chirurgicală radicală imediată, necrozectomii seriate, antibioticoterapia combinată şi terapie intensivă. Numărul de operaţii seriate a variat de la 4 până la 13. Rezultate: În urma tratamentului efectuat am obţinut stoparea procesului de necroză la 7 pacienţi. Doi pacienţi au evoluat spre septicemie cu hemocultură pozitivă. La un pacient sa dezvoltat şocul toxico-infecţios. Analiza bacteriologică din plagă a determinat: Staphylococcus aureus (2 cazuri), Enterococcus faecium (un caz), Escherichia coli (2 cazuri), floră mixtă (3 cazuri). Mortalitatea a fost de 37,5%. Concluzii: Stabilirea precoce a diagnosticului şi debridarea primară imediată urmată de necrozectomii etapizate stau la baza evoluţiei favorabile a procesului necrotico-septic. Antibioticoterapia efectuată prin asocierea a 3 antibiotice cu diferit spectru de acţiune împiedică răspândirea procesului putrid şi generalizarea infecţiei. Mortalitatea înaltă în gangrena Fournier este dic tată de insuccesele terapiei intensive în stările septice avansate cu comorbidităţi severe, în pofida metodelor contemporane de tratament chirurgical.Introduction: Fournier's gangrene is a necrotizing fasciitis which involves the genitals regions and perineum, spreading to thighs and abdominal wall through fascial trabeculae. Material and methods: Our experience includes eight patients with Fournier's gangrene treated during 2006-2014. Distribution by gender: 5 women and 3 men. In the etiology of the disease we can highlight ano-rectal way (2 cases), urogenital infection (3 cases) and skin infection (3 cases). The diagnosis was based on clinical features and ultrasound exam. All patients underwent immediate radical surgical debridement, serial necrosectomy, combined antibiotic therapy and intensive care. Number of serial operations ranged from 4 to 13. Results: After the provided treatment we were able to stop the process of necrosis in 7 patients. Two patients progressed to sepsis with positive blood test. Toxico-infectious shock was present in one patient. Bacteriological analysis showed: Staphylococcus aureus (2 cases), Enterococcus faecium (one case), Escherichia coli (2 cases), and mixed flora (3 cases). Mortality was 37.5%. Conclusions: Early diagnosis establishment and immediate primary debridement followed by serial necrosectomy is the base of the favourable evolution of the necrotic septic process. Antibacterial therapy carried out by the association with 3 different action spectrum antibiotics prevent the spread of the putrid process and generalized of infection. High mortality in Fournier's gangrene is a consequence of failures in intensive care in advanced sepsis with severe comorbidities, in spite of the contemporary methods of the surgical treatment

thermodynamic properties of pb3u11o36

Abstract In order to progress in the development of Lead-cooled Fast Reactors, from the safety point of view it is essential to understand the chemical compatibility between liquid lead and uranium oxide. In the present work, entropy and heat capacity of Pb3U11O36, a possible ternary compound coming from fuel-coolant chemical interaction, were determined for the first time. Entropy at 298.15 K was obtained from low temperature heat capacity measurements using the Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) in the temperature range 2–300 K, while the high temperature heat capacity has been measured by a drop calorimeter from 373 K to 1200 K. The experimental thermodynamic properties were compared with the values computed by means of DFT-GGA simulations, obtaining a very good agreement

Lectures on BCOV holomorphic anomaly equations

The present article surveys some mathematical aspects of the BCOV holomorphic anomaly equations introduced by Bershadsky, Cecotti, Ooguri and Vafa. It grew from a series of lectures the authors gave at the Fields Institute in the Thematic Program of Calabi-Yau Varieties in the fall of 2013.Comment: reference added, typos correcte