bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transforming growth factor‐β stimulates Interleukin‐11 production by human periodontal ligament and gingival fibroblasts
Authors: Yashiro R. , Nagasawa T. , Kiji M. , Hormdee D. , Kobayashi H. , Koshy G. , Nitta H. , Ishikawa I.
Published: February 2006

Background: Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β is a potent multifunctional polypeptide, abundant in the bone matrix. Interleukin (IL)‐11 is a pleiotropic cytokine with effects on multiple cell types. The present study was performed to evaluate the regulatory effects of TGF‐β on IL‐11 production by human periodontal ligament cells (PDL) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF).

Material and Methods: The expression of TGF‐β receptor in PDL and HGF were observed using flow cytometry. PDL and HGF were stimulated with TGF‐β with or without protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors and activator. IL‐11, bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) and TGF‐β mRNA expression was quantified by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). IL‐11 production was measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: PDL and HGF expressed both TGF‐β receptor I and TGF‐β receptor II on the cell surfaces. IL‐11 mRNA expression and IL‐11 production were augmented by TGF‐β in both PDL and HGF, with higher values in PDL. PKC inhibitors partially suppressed TGF‐β‐induced IL‐11 production in PDL and HGF, whereas activator enhanced it. TGF‐β mRNA and BMP‐2 mRNA expression were up‐regulated by TGF‐β in PDL.

Conclusion: These results suggest that PDL produce IL‐11 in response to TGF‐β.
Is pre‐term labour associated with periodontitis in a Danish maternity ward?
Authors: Skuldbøl T. , Johansen K. H. , Dahlén G. , Stoltze K. , Holmstrup P.
Published: February 2006

Objectives: To reveal differences in periodontal status and presence of subgingival bacteria in a Scandinavian population of women with pre‐term birth compared with women who delivered at term.

Materials and Methods: Twenty‐one women with pre‐term labour (before week 35) and 33 women with term labour (between weeks 38 and 41) were included in this case–control study. Periodontal measurements included plaque index (PlI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Inter‐proximal distances from the cemento‐enamel junction (CEJ) to the marginal bone crest (MBC) were measured on bitewing radiographs. In 31 patients (16 cases and 15 controls) the subgingival plaque was analysed using “checkerboard” DNA–DNA hybridization.

Results: Differences between the two examined groups were found related to “Twin births” (p=0.0064) and “Smokers” (p=0.03). None of the periodontal measurements showed any association. Significant differences were found concerning presence of Tannerella forsythensis, Treponema denticola, Peptostreptococcus micros, Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus sanguis and Capnocytophaga ochracea but when defining sites with >105 bacteria as heavily colonized, no statistical difference was found between the two groups.

Conclusion: A relation between pre‐term birth and periodontitis was not revealed in the present study.
Towards an Eighteenth‐Century Transatlantic Critical Race Theory*
Authors: Hill Ruth
Published: February 2006

A critical race theory that examines Anglo and Hispanic contexts, and stretches from Western Europe to the Americas, remains a desideratum. However, by teaching and studying Anglo critical race theory alongside Hispanic critical race theory, critical race theorists of colonial and postcolonial situations would find their own assumptions and preconceptions challenged, and come to recognize differences among those situations. Spanish‐English dictionaries published before the nineteenth century provided a jumping‐off point for scholars and students interested in the pre‐history of race. John Stevens’New Spanish and English Dictionary (1706) and Pedro Pineda's largely derivative New Dictionary, Spanish and English (1740) are signal works that offer insights into the caste system in 18th‐century Spanish America. How the taxonomy of caste developed in Spain and Spanish America and how it was disseminated are questions that are rarely posed. Bilingual dictionaries no less than natural history and related discourses (alchemy, books of secrets, husbandry) will perhaps suggest some answers and at the same time encourage critical race theorists to study social hierarchy from a transatlantic perspective.
Testing Endothelial Function of Brachial and Cavernous Arteries in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Mazo Evsey , Gamidov Safar , Anranovich Stanislav , Iremashvili Vycheslav
Published: February 2006

Introduction

There is considerable clinical and scientific evidence that endothelial dysfunction may be an important clinical link connecting erectile dysfunction (ED) with cardiovascular diseases.

Aims

To modify the method of assessment of endothelial function of cavernosal arteries, to develop a new algorithm for evaluating its results, and to investigate the relationship between postocclusive changes in the diameter of brachial and cavernous arteries.

Methods

The study participants were 212 patients presenting to our department complaining of ED and 40 healthy volunteers without sexual problems, which formed the control group. All patients with ED underwent complex evaluation and ultrasound assessment of postocclusive changes in the diameter of cavernosal arteries modified by us and standard ultrasound assessment of endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery.

Main Outcome Measures

As the main outcome measure, the percent of increase of the cavernosal arteries diameter (PICAD) was recorded.

Results

In the patients with arteriogenic ED, PICAD values were significantly less than in other groups (P < 0.001 for pairs of comparison). At the same time there were no differences between the control group and groups of patients with psychogenic and organic nonarterial ED. The sensitivity and specificity of a PICAD value of 50% in diagnosis of arteriogenic ED were 100% and 98.2%, respectively. In all groups and in the entire sample of patients studied we did not find a correlation between PICAD and postocclusive changes in the diameter of brachial arteries.

Conclusion

The method of ultrasound assessment of postocclusive changes in the diameter of cavernosal arteries is reliable and a highly informative tool for diagnosis of arteriogenic ED. It cannot be substituted by techni-cally simpler method of ultrasound examination of brachial arteries, while results of the latter could help to define the necessity of performing an examination of cavernous arteries.
The Breakdown of Preformed Advanced Glycation End Products Reverses Erectile Dysfunction in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats: Preventive Versus Curative Treatment
Authors: Usta Mustafa F. , Kendirci Muammer , Gur Serap , Foxwell Neale A. , Bivalacqua Trinity J. , Cellek Selim , Hellstrom Wayne J.G.
Published: February 2006

Objectives

Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) has been linked to many of the complications of diabetes mellitus, including erectile dysfunction (ED). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that inhibitors of AGE formation, such as aminoguanidine, can prevent ED in diabetic animals. However, it is unknown whether late administration of a putative cross-link breaker, ALT-711, can reverse diabetic ED. We therefore compared ALT-711 and aminoguanidine in their ability to reverse ED in diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: (i) age-matched controls; (ii) streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (60 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injection); (iii) STZ diabetic rats treated with ALT-711 (3 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal injection); and (iv) STZ diabetic rats treated with aminoguanidine (1 gm/L in drinking water) during the final 6 weeks of 12 weeks of induced diabetes. At the end of 12 weeks, erectile response to cavernous nerve stimulation (CNS) was determined. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) contents were measured in all penises, and AGE levels were determined both in penile tissues and in serum samples.

Results

Erectile responses to CNS and penile nNOS protein content were significantly reduced, while AGE levels were elevated in the penises and serum of untreated diabetic animals. Treatment with ALT-711, but not with aminoguanidine, reversed ED and nNOS depletion and reduced serum and penile tissue AGE levels.

Conclusions

These results suggest that cross-link breakers, such as ALT-711, are the optimal therapeutic approach, compared with treatment with inhibitors of AGE formation, in the reversal of diabetes-related ED.
Sexual Counseling Improved Erectile Rehabilitation After Non-Nerve-Sparing Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy or Cystectomy—Results of a Randomized Prospective Study
Authors: Titta Matteo , Tavolini Ivan Matteo , Moro Fabrizio Dal , Cisternino Antonio , Bassi Pierfrancesco
Published: February 2006

Aim

The efficacy of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-intracavernous injection (ICI) therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED) after non-nerve-sparing (NNS) radical pelvic surgery depends on patient compliance. The purpose of this study was to verify the utility of sexual counseling in ICI in terms of treatment efficacy, compliance, and dropout rate.

Methods

In this prospective randomized study, 57 patients with ED after NNS radical prostatectomy or cystectomy were divided: 29 patients (group SC+) were treated with sexual counseling and PGE1-ICI therapy; the others 28 (group SC–) were treated with only ICI. At the start of the study all patients were administered the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire and ICI training test; follow-up (at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months) was achieved by home Sildenafil test and ambulatory IIEF test; sexual counseling was provided only to group SC+.

Results

The mean IIEF score at the end of study was 26.5 (SC+) vs. 24.3 (SC–) (P < 0.05); eight patients (SC+, 27.5%) became responders to home Sildenafil vs. five (SC–, 17.8%) (P < 0.05); no dropout cases occurred (SC+) vs. eight (SC–, 28.5%) (P < 0.05). Moreover, we recorded best IIEF scores in group SC+ in sexual satisfaction (P < 0.05), sexual desire (P < 0.05), orgasmic function, and general satisfaction. Mean PGE1 doses were better in group SC+ (P < 0.05). ICI-oriented sexual counseling was utilized to motivate couples, to improve sexual intercourses, to correct mistakes in ICI administration. At the end of follow-up 21 patients (SC+) declared themselves satisfied vs. 12 (SC–).

Conclusions

ICI-oriented sexual counseling in ICI increased the efficacy of treatment, the compliance, and Sildenafil responders rate, decreased the dropout rate.
Timing of Dose Relative to Sexual Intercourse Attempt in Previous Sildenafil Citrate Users Treated with Tadalafil
Authors: Glina Sidney , Sotomayor Mariano , Gatchalian Eduardo , Yaman Onder , Dyachkova Yulia , Markey Caroline , Kopernicky Vladimir
Published: February 2006

Objectives

Tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, has an extended period of effectiveness, up to 36 hours, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Changes in behavior of long-term sildenafil users were evaluated by assessing time of dose relative to sexual intercourse attempts during treatment with sildenafil and tadalafil.

Materials and Methods

This open-label study was conducted in men with ED and a history of ≥6-week prior sildenafil use in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Patients continued sildenafil treatment for 4 weeks, then switched to tadalafil for 8 weeks. Timing of sexual intercourse attempt relative to dose was assessed through patient diaries for the final 4 weeks of each treatment period. Patients continued their treatment of choice in an extension period.

Results

A total of 2,760 men (mean age 54.4 years) with a median duration of prior sildenafil use of 474 days were enrolled. Significant increases in median time from dose to intercourse attempt were observed when changing treatment from sildenafil citrate (1.21 hours) to tadalafil (3.25 hours; P < 0.001). Fifty-nine percent of intercourse attempts were within 4 hours of dosing when patients were treated with tadalafil (88% with sildenafil). The proportion of intercourse attempts per patient made >4 hours after dose was considerably higher during the tadalafil than during the sildenafil assessment period. Similar daily cycles of frequency of dosing and intercourse attempts were observed in all study periods and were characterized by a small peak in the morning and a large peak in the evening. When changing treatment to tadalafil, patients administered the drug earlier in the day and over a broader period of time.

Conclusion

Following the dosing instructions reflecting tadalafil's extended period of effectiveness, men with a history of established sildenafil use changed their dose-attempt behavior when treated with tadalafil.
The Effect of Diabetes Mellitus Treatment and Good Glycemic Control on the Erectile Function in Men with Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Erectile Dysfunction: A Pilot Study
Authors: Yaman Onder , Akand Murat , Gursoy Alptekin , Erdogan Murat Faik , Anafarta Kadri
Published: February 2006

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, efficacy and/or long-term satisfaction with most of those ED treatment options have been suboptimal.

Aim

In this study we try to evaluate the effect of aggressive treatment and DM regulation on the erectile function in men with DM-induced ED (DMED).

Methods

Eight type 1 and 17 type 2 diabetic subjects were included into the study. All patients had a measurement of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and completed three sessions of consecutive nights using the RigiScan Plus monitoring device before and after blood sugar control. Also International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire scores were obtained before and after blood sugar control.

Results

Significant improvement was noted in FPG and HbA1c levels throughout the treatment period (P < 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in both IIEF scores and nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) parameters after the DM regulation (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

We suggest that there are probably other factors than aggressive treatment and DM regulation for treating DMED, and probably we must consider preventive strategies with pharmacological agents to prevent progressive decrease in erectile function in diabetic patients.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHANGES OF OLIVE OIL AND SELECTED VEGETABLE OILS DURING FRYING
Authors: CHATZILAZAROU ARHONTOULA , GORTZI OLGA , LALAS STAVROS , ZOIDIS EVANGELOS , TSAKNIS JOHN
Published: February 2006

The performance of olive oil during intermittent frying of potato slices and cod fillets was compared to those of selected vegetable oils (corn, olive‐residue and 50/50 mixture of olive and corn oils) using conditions resembling those used in home food preparations. The main scope of this study was to decide what is the best substitute for olive oil in home frying applications. Free fatty acid content, peroxide value, polar compounds, color and viscosity were increased, whereas iodine value, polyunsaturated fatty acids content and tocopherol concentration decreased. The organoleptic quality of potato slices and cod fillets fried in all oils was determined. Significant differences in the physicochemical changes were observed. The analytical and sensory data showed that the lowest deterioration occurred in olive oil and the highest in corn oil. The 50/50 (w/w) olive/corn oil mixture proved to be a good substitute for olive oil in domestic frying applications.
POSITIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF FATTY ACIDS IN EGG YOLK LIPIDS
Authors: SCHREINER MATTHIAS , MOREIRA RENATA G. , HULAN HOWARD W.
Published: February 2006

Numerous methods for the assessment of the positional distribution of fatty acids (FAs) in triacylglycerols (TGs) and phospholipids (PLs) have been described in the literature. Most of them employ enzymatic reactions or chiral separation by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Compared with most other food lipids, egg lipid has a rather unique composition, containing high amounts of TG as well as PL organized in lipoproteins. In this study, we demonstrate that the classical approach employing pancreatic lipase and phospholipase A2 is suitable for application to egg lipids. By using this method, the total distribution of FAs among the single positions of the main lipid classes in egg lipids can be measured in a rather straightforward way. Problems regarding accuracy, especially for the determination of minor and polyunsaturated fatty acids, are discussed. The presented method gave satisfactory results even for polyunsaturates such as docosahexaenoic acid down to amounts of 1% in a specific position.
EFFECTS OF ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS ON CRUDE PALM OLEIN BY LIPASE FROM CANDIDA RUGOSA
Authors: YOU L.L. , BAHARIN B.S.
Published: February 2006

The effects of enzymatic hydrolysis on crude palm olein (CPOlein) by lipase from Candida rugosa were investigated. Reaction variables, namely water content, reaction temperature and enzyme concentration on hydrolysis of CPOlein were examined. Comparison was also made between CPOlein and hydrolyzed crude palm olein (HCPOlein) for melting point, percentage of free fatty acids (FFA) and viscosity. The optimum conditions for the production of hydrolyzed oil or FFA‐rich oil in enzymatic hydrolysis of CPOlein were reaction temperature of 50C, 1% (w/w) lipase from C. rugosa and 50% (w/w) water content. FFA in CPOlein increased to 97.9% after the hydrolysis process, which showed an increase of 61 folds. The differences in viscosity between the CPOlein and HCPOlein at different temperatures were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The slip melting point of CPOlein was 17C. After hydrolysis, the melting point for CPOlein increased by 160%, reaching 44.4C.
CHANGES IN OLIVE OIL QUALITY OF CHÉTOUI VARIETY ACCORDING TO ORIGIN OF PLANTATION
Authors: TEMIME SONIA BEN , WAEL TAAMALLI , BECHIR BACCOURI , LEILA ABAZA , DOUJA DAOUD , MOKHTAR ZARROUK
Published: February 2006

Chétoui is the second main olive variety cultivated in the north of Tunisia and shows a high capacity of adaptation to various pedoclimatic conditions. The aim of this work was to study changes in oil composition of such variety according to origin of plantation. Thus, olives at the same stage of maturation were harvested from seven regions in the north of the country for oil extraction and analysis. Three consecutive crops from years 2000, 2001 and 2002 were considered. The analytical parameters studied were fatty acid composition, triacylglycerol molecular species and amounts of polyphenols and o‐diphenols. The results showed considerable variability in oil composition because of the effect of cultivar–environment interaction.
CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACIDS AND TRANS‐FATTY ACIDS IN SMALL RUMINANT MILK AND MEAT LIPIDS
Authors: LEE JUNG HOON , KANNAN GOVIND , KOUAKOU BROU
Published: February 2006

Proximate composition and fatty‐acid profile including conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) were determined in milk and longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of small ruminants. Milk from crossbred (Dorset × Suffolk) ewes contained significantly higher levels of protein, fat and ash than those from Nubian goats. In LD muscles, the ash content in Boer goats was significantly higher than in crossbred lambs. Levels of vaccenic acid were not different in the LD muscles from the two different species or in the milk samples .The CLA cis‐9, trans‐11 was not different in milk from the two species, whereas it was higher (P < 0.05) in the LD muscles from goats compared with those from lambs. CLA trans‐10, cis‐12 in caprine milk was lower (P < 0.05) than that in ovine milk, but no differences were found in the LD muscles from the two species. Findings indicated that goat meat might provide healthier fatty‐acid profiles than lamb.
Equivariant Universal Coefficient and Künneth Spectral Sequences
Authors: Lewis L. Gaunce , Mandell Michael A.
Published: February 2006

This paper constructs hyper‐homology spectral sequences of Z‐graded and ROG‐graded Mackey functors that compute Ext and Tor over G‐equivariant S‐algebras A∞ ring spectra) for finite groups G. These specialize to universal coefficient and Künneth spectral sequences. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 55N91 (primary), 55P43, 55U20, 55U25 (secondary).
First Order Semi‐Local Invariants of Stable Maps of 3‐Manifolds into the Plane
Authors: Yamamoto Minoru
Published: February 2006

In the late 1980s, Vassiliev introduced new graded numerical invariants of knots, which are now called Vassiliev invariants or finite‐type invariants. Since he made this definition, many people have been trying to construct Vassiliev type invariants for various mapping spaces. In the early 1990s, Arnold and Goryunov introduced the notion of first order (local) invariants of stable maps. In this paper, we define and study first order semi‐local invariants of stable maps and those of stable fold maps of a closed orientable 3‐dimensional manifold into the plane. We show that there are essentially eight first order semi‐local invariants. For a stable map, one of them is a constant invariant, six of them count the number of singular fibers of a given type which appear discretely (there are exactly six types of such singular fibers), and the last one is the Euler characteristic of the Stein factorization of this stable map. Besides these invariants, for stable fold maps, the Bennequin invariant of the singular value set corresponding to definite fold points is also a first order semi‐local invariant. Our study of unstable fold maps with codimension 1 provides invariants for the connected components of the set of all fold maps. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 57R45 (primary), 32S20, 58K15 (secondary).
Computing Twisted Signatures and L‐Classes of Non‐Witt Spaces
Authors: Banagl Markus
Published: February 2006

In previous joint work with Cappell and Shaneson, we have established an Atiyah–Lusztig–Meyer‐type multiplicative characteristic class formula for the twisted signature and, more generally, the twisted L‐class, of a stratified Witt space. The present paper shows that these formulae hold even when the stratified space does not satisfy the Witt condition. It constitutes one of the first applications of signature homology. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 57R20, 55N33
A Vector Field Approach to Mapping Class Actions
Authors: Gardiner F. P. , Lakic N.
Published: February 2006

We present a vector field method for showing that certain subgroups of the mapping class group Γ of a Riemann surface of infinite topological type act properly discontinuously. We apply the method to the group of homotopy classes of quasiconformal self‐maps of the complement Ω of a Cantor set in C. When the Cantor set has bounded geometric type, we show that Γ(Ω) acts on the Teichmüller space T(Ω) properly discontinuously. Also, we apply the same method to show that the pure mapping class group Γ0 Ω ∪ ∞ acts properly discontinuously on TΩ ∪ ∞. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 30F60 (primary), 32G15, 30C70, 30C75 (secondary).
Grassmannians and Cluster Algebras
Authors: Scott Joshua S.
Published: February 2006

This paper follows the program of study initiated by S. Fomin and A. Zelevinsky, and demonstrates that the homogeneous coordinate ring of the Grassmannian G(k, n) is a cluster algebra of geometric type. Those Grassmannians that are of finite cluster type are identified and their cluster variables are interpreted geometrically in terms of configurations of points in C P2. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 22E46, 05Exx.
Disintegration‐of‐measure techniques for commuting multivariable weighted shifts
Authors: Curto Raúl E. , Yoon Jasang
Published: February 2006

We employ techniques from the theory of disintegration of measures to study the Lifting Problem for commuting n‐tuples of subnormal weighted shifts. We obtain a new necessary condition for the existence of a lifting, and generate new pathology associated with bringing together the Berger measures associated to each individual weighted shift. For subnormal 2‐variable weighted shifts, we then find the precise relation between the Berger measure of the pair and the Berger measures of the shifts associated to horizontal rows and vertical columns of weights. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 47B20, 47B37, 47A13, 28A50 (primary), 44A60, 47‐04, 47A20 (secondary).
Powers from Products of Consecutive Terms in Arithmetic Progression
Authors: Bennett M. A. , Bruin N. , Györy K. , Hajdu L.
Published: February 2006

We show that if k is a positive integer, then there are, under certain technical hypotheses, only finitely many coprime positive k‐term arithmetic progressions whose product is a perfect power. If 4 ⩽ k ⩽ 11, we obtain the more precise conclusion that there are, in fact, no such progressions. Our proofs exploit the modularity of Galois representations corresponding to certain Frey curves, together with a variety of results, classical and modern, on solvability of ternary Diophantine equations. As a straightforward corollary of our work, we sharpen and generalize a theorem of Sander on rational points on superelliptic curves. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 11D61, 11B25
DISCOVERY OF THE "DEVIL'S FLOWER" IN A CHARGE-ORDERING SYSTEM — SYNCHROTRON X-RAY DIFFRACTION STUDY OF NaV2O5
Authors: OHWADA KENJI , FUJII YASUHIKO , NAKAO HIRONORI , MURAKAMI YOUICHI , ISOBE MASAHIKO , UEDA YUTAKA
Published: February 2006

We review recent synchrotron diffraction studies of Na V 2 O 5. The resonant X-ray scattering performed on a monoclinically-split single domain of Na V 2 O 5 shows a critically enhanced contrast between V 4+ and V 5+ ions. The results has led us to the unequivocal conclusion of the charge-order pattern of low-temperature phase of Na V 2 O 5 below T c =35 K. In spite of the possible four types of configuration of the zig-zag-type charge-order patterns in the ab-plane (A, A′, B and B′), the stacking sequence along the c-axis is determined as the AAA′A′ type by comparison with model calculations. By assigning the A and A′ configurations to Ising spins ↑ and ↓, one can reasonably explain the previously discovered "devil's staircase"-type behavior with respect to the modulation of layer-stacking sequences at high pressures and low temperatures, which clearly resembles the global phase diagram theoretically predicted by the ANNNI model, called "devil's flower". This is the first case that the devil's flower appears in such a charge-ordering system, where charge-order patterns are regarded as Ising spins.
AN OPEN QUESTION: ARE TOPOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS HELPFUL IN SETTING INITIAL CONDITIONS FOR TRANSPORT PROBLEMS IN CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS?
Authors: BECKWITH A. W.
Published: February 2006

The tunneling Hamiltonian is a proven method to treat particle tunneling between different states represented as wavefunctions in many-body physics. Our problem is how to apply a wave functionals formulation of tunneling Hamiltonians to a driven sine-Gordon system. We apply a generalization of the tunneling Hamiltonian to charge density wave (CDW) transport problems in which we consider tunneling between states that are wave functionals of a scalar quantum field ϕ. We present derived I–E curves that match Zenier curves used to fit data experimentally with wave functionals congruent with the false vacuum hypothesis. The open question is whether the coefficients picked in both the wave functionals and the magnitude of the coefficients of the driven sine Gordon physical system should be picked by topological charge arguments that in principle appear to assign values that have a tie in with the false vacuum hypothesis first presented by Sidney Coleman.
RELATIVITY AND THE SPEED OF LIGHT – A 100 YEAR OLD MISUNDERSTANDING
Authors: ŚWIATECKI W. J.
Published: February 2006

I point out a conceptual misunderstanding in the exposition of relativity, namely the mistaken belief that light has something to do with the essence of relativity. This misunderstanding can be clarified by stressing that the content of Special Relativity is simply that "we live in a Minkowski spacetime", together with a thought experiment that illustrates how one could discover this fact without ever mentioning even the existence of light. I also note a recently uncovered implication of living in Minkowski spacetime, namely the Copenhagen reinterpretation of Quantum Mechanics, developed in the past decade.
GSI EXPERIMENTS ON SYNTHESIS AND NUCLEAR STRUCTURE INVESTIGATIONS OF HEAVIEST NUCLEI
Authors: HEßBERGER F. P.
Published: February 2006

The method of 'cold' fusion reactions has been applied successfully to synthesize isotopes of elements up to Z =113. However, the cross sections were found to decrease nearly exponential with increasing atomic number.

The production of isotopes up to Z =118 using 48 Ca - projectiles and actinide targets was claimed from experiments performed at the Dubna Gasfilled Separator (DGFRS). Attempts to confirm the results from one of the used reactions (48 Ca + 238 U ) have been performed at other laboratories. The results of the different experiments are compared.

In order to increase our knowledge on the structure of heaviest nuclei an experimental program on α - γ - decay spectroscopy of transfermium isotopes was started at SHIP, GSI. Results on trends in single particle levels in odd mass einsteinium isotopes as well as on the identification of a (possible) K -isomer in 252 No will be presented.
FISSION BARRIERS OF SUPERHEAVY NUCLEI IN THE SKYRME-HARTREE-FOCK MODEL
Authors: STASZCZAK ANDRZEJ , DOBACZEWSKI JACEK , NAZAREWICZ WITOLD
Published: February 2006

Constrained Skyrme-Hartree-Fock calculations of static fission barriers are performed for even-even elements with Z = 100÷110 as well as for superheavy N=184 isotones. In our study we use the Skyrme parametrization SLy4 and a seniority pairing force treated in the BCS approximation. The computations are carried out applying a code that makes it possible to break all self-consistent symmetries of the nuclear mean field, including axial symmetry and reflection symmetry. The influence of reflection-asymmetric and triaxial degrees of freedom on fission barriers are discussed.
ROLE OF THE NUCLEAR SHELL STRUCTURE AND ORIENTATION ANGLES OF DEFORMED REACTANTS IN COMPLETE FUSION
Authors: NASIROV A. K. , ARITOMO Y. , FUKUSHIMA A. , OHTA M. , WADA T. , GIARDINA G. , MANDAGLIO G. , MUMINOV A. , UTAMURATOV R. K.
Published: February 2006

The dependence of the capture and fusion excitation functions on the nuclear shell structure and initial orientation angles of the symmetry axis of the deformed projectile- and target-nucleus are explored by the dynamical model based on the dinuclear system concept and Langevin calculations. The fusion cross sections for 16 O +238 U and 60 Ni +154 Sm reactions obtained by averaging of the results for the all orientation angles are in good agreement with the experimental data. The capture and fusion cross sections for the 16 O +238 U reaction are nearly the same while those are different for the 60 Ni +154 Sm reaction due to presence of the hindrance to fusion as quasifission. The largest of the fusion cross section for the orientation angles of the reactants in the range 60° < αi < 90° (A) in comparison with that for angles 0° < αi < 30° (B) was explained by the increase of the quasifission contribution in the last case (B). The physical reason of this phenomenon is connected by the largest of the intrinsic fusion barrier B* fus in case (B) than that for the case (A). The observed difference between the excitation functions of evaporation residues for the 86 Kr +130 Xe and 124 Sn +92 Zr reactions is explained by the difference between the B* fus values which depend on the nuclear shell corrections.
SKYRME-HARTREE-FOCK AND HARTREE-FOCK-BOGOLYUBOV CALCULATIONS FOR NUCLEI WITH TETRAHEDRAL DEFORMATION
Authors: OLBRATOWSKI P. , DOBACZEWSKI J. , POWAŁOWSKI P. , SADZIAK M. , ZBERECKI K.
Published: February 2006

Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov solutions corresponding to the tetrahedral deformation are found in six tetrahedrally doubly-magic nuclei. Values of the β32 deformation, depths of the tetrahedral minima, and their energies relative to the co-existing quadrupole minima are determined for several versions of the Skyrme force. Reduction of the tetrahedral deformation energies by pairing correlations is quantitatively analysed. In light nuclei, shallow tetrahedral minima are found to be the lowest in energy, while in heavy nuclei, the minima are deeper but appear at a few MeV of excitation.
SELF-CONSISTENT DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTIVE EXCITATIONS IN THE UNITARY CORRELATION OPERATOR METHOD
Authors: PAAR N. , PAPAKONSTANTINOU P. , ROTH R. , HERGERT H.
Published: February 2006

The fully self-consistent Random Phase Approximation (RPA) is constructed within the Unitary Correlation Operator Method (UCOM), which describes the dominant interaction-induced short-range central and tensor correlations by a unitary transformation. Based on the correlated Argonne V18 interaction, the RPA is employed in studies of multipole response in closed-shell nuclei across the nuclide chart. The UCOM-RPA results in a collective character of giant resonances, and it describes rather well the properties of isoscalar giant monopole resonances. However, the excitation energies of isovector giant dipole resonances and isoscalar giant quadrupole resonances are overestimated due to the missing long-range correlations and three-body contributions.
BAYESIAN METHODS IN THE EVALUATION OF SCATTERING DATA
Authors: KRAPPE H. J.
Published: February 2006

It is shown how a priori information can be introduced in an optimal way to extract optical-model parameters in a model-independent way from incomplete elastic scattering data.
SPINODAL INSTABILITIES OF HOT AND DILUTE NUCLEAR DROPLET – ISOVECTOR EFFECTS
Authors: ROZMEJ PIOTR , NÖRENBERG WOLFGANG , PAPP GABOR
Published: February 2006

The paper describes an extension of the model treating dissipative collective motion of hot and dilute nuclear droplets on two-fluid case. The previous results obtained for adiabatic isoscalar modes1 and those for dissipative isoscalar modes2 are generalized. The present formulation includes isovector modes on the same footing as isoscalar ones and allows to estimate the effect of isovector modes on the spinodal decomposition of infinite nuclear matter and finite nuclear droplets at their expansion phase.
ONE-PROTON AND TWO-PROTON RADIOACTIVITY OF THE (21+) ISOMER IN 94Ag
Authors: ROECKL ERNST
Published: February 2006

The properties observed for the one-proton and two-proton radioactivity of the (21+) isomer in 94 Ag are briefly summarized. The occurrence of both types of radioactivity from one and the same nuclear state is a unique phenomenon on the entire chart of nuclides. In particular, the first observation of energy correlations for two-proton radioactivity is discussed in comparison with predictions obtained from of a three-body breakup model. On the basis of this comparison it is tentatively suggested that the two protons are emitted simultaneously either from one of the poles or from opposite poles of a strongly deformed nucleus. Future experimental and theoretical studies are sketched which may help to explain this puzzling result.
COLLECTIVE QUADRUPOLE EXCITATIONS WITHIN A SELF-CONSISTENT APPROACH
Authors: PRÓCHNIAK L.
Published: February 2006

Low energy quadrupole collective excitations are investigated using a model based on the Adiabatic Time Dependent HFB theory. Distinctive feature of proposed method is an extension of the collective space by adding variables referring to pairing degrees of freedom. In the microscopic part of the model effective Skyrme interaction and constant G pairing force are employed. Calculated energy levels and B(E2) transition probabilities in the 128 Xe nucleus are compared with the experimental data.
COMPARISON AND TESTING OF METHODS FOR E1 STRENGTH CALCULATIONS
Authors: PLUJKO V. A. , KADENKO I. M. , BEZSHYYKO O. A. , GOLINKA-BEZSHYYKO L. O. , DAVIDOVSKAYA O. I.
Published: February 2006

Extensive comparisons of E1 strength calculations within framework of the various methods are performed in atomic nuclei near beta-stability line. Photoabsorption cross-sections are calculated and compared with experimental data to test radiative strength function models.
CALCULATIONS OF FUSION-EVAPORATION CROSS SECTIONS IN THE 48Ca + 206Pband48Ca + 208Pb REACTIONS
Authors: SIWEK-WILCZYŃSKA K. , SKWIRA-CHALOT I. , WILCZYŃSKI J.
Published: February 2006

By using a unique set of experimental data on (1n, 2n, 3n and 4n) fusion-evaporation cross sections for 48 Ca + 206 Pb and 48 Ca + 208 Pb reactions, measured by Oganessian et al., we have tested the conventional Bohr-Wheeler description of the competition between evaporation and fission in these reactions. Level densities in both, the equilibrium and saddle-point configurations were calculated using the Reisdorf-Ignatyuk prescription. Strutinsky shell corrections of Möller et al. were used for the equilibrium, and zero shell corrections were assumed for the saddle-point configuration. The model does not contain adjustable parameters.
DYNAMICAL FISSION IN THE Sn + Ni INTERACTION AT 35A MeV
Authors: RUSSOTTO P. , PIASECKI E. , AMORINI F. , ANZALONE A. , AUDITORE L. , BARAN V. , BERCEANU I. , BLICHARSKA J. , BRZYCHCZYK J. , BORDERIE B. , BOUGAULT R. , BRUNO M. , CARDELLA G. , CAVALLARO S. , CONIGLIONE R. , CHATTERJEE M. B. , CHBIHI A. , COLONNA M. , D'AGOSTINO M. , DAYRAS R. , DE FILIPPO E. , DI TORO M. , FRANKLAND J. , GALICHET E. , GAWLIKOWICZ W. , GERACI E. , GIUSTOLISI F. , GRZESZCZUK A. , GUAZZONI P. , GUINET D. , IACONO-MANNO M. , KOWALSKI S. , LA GUIDARA E. , LANZALONE G. , LANZANÒ G. , MAIOLINO C. , MAJKA Z. , LE NEINDRE N. , PAGANO A. , PAPA M. , PETROVICI M. , PIRRONE S. , PŁANETA R. , POLITI G. , POP A. , PORTO F. , RIVET M. F. , ROSATO E. , RIZZO F. , RUSSO S. , SASSI M. , SCHMIDT K. , SIWEK-WILCZYŃSKA K. , SKWIRA I. , SPERDUTO M. L. , SOCHOCKA A. , ŚWIDERSKI Ł. , TRIFIRÒ A. , TRIMARCHI M. , VANNINI G. , VIGILANTE M. , WIELECZKO J. P. , WILCZYŃSKI J. , ZETTA L. , ZIPPER W.
Published: February 2006

Using the 4π CHIMERA detector system we have observed a dynamical, non-equilibrated fission of projectile-like fragments as well as an equilibrated fission component in collisions 124Sn + 64Ni and 112Sn + 58Ni at 35A MeV. The velocity and angular distributions of projectile-like fission fragments were analyzed. The contribution of the "dynamical fission" component is larger in the neutron rich 124Sn + 64Ni system than in the neutron poor 112Sn + 58Ni one.
FISSION DYNAMICS IN THE FOUR-DIMENSIONAL DEFORMATION SPACE
Authors: POMORSKI KRZYSZTOF , BARTEL JOHANN
Published: February 2006

A four-dimensional deformation space adapted to describe the fission dynamics of hot, rotating nuclei is proposed. The deformation coordinates consisting of the elongation, neck formation, left-right asymmetry and nonaxiality result in fission barriers much lower and thiner than those obtained in the spherical-harmonics expansion using the same number of deformation parameters.
TIME-OF-ARRIVAL OPERATOR WITHIN SPACE-TIME APPROACH TO QUANTUM MECHANICS
Authors: DȨBICKI M. , GÓŹDŹ A.
Published: February 2006

In this paper we consider the time as a dynamical variable. In particular we apply the time operator to an example of the particle arrival problem within two-dimensional space–time.
MAJORANA NEUTRINO MAGNETIC MOMENTS
Authors: GÓŹDŹ MAREK , KAMIŃSKI WIESŁAW A. , ŠIMKOVIC FEDOR
Published: February 2006

The presence of trilinear R-parity violating interactions in the MSSM lagrangian leads to existence of quark–squark and lepton–slepton loops which generate mass of the neutrino. By introducing interaction with an external photon the magnetic moment is obtained. We derive bounds on that quantity being around one order of magnitude stronger than those present in the literature.
SUPERHEAVY NUCLEI IN DIFFERENT PAIRING MODELS
Authors: BARAN ANDRZEJ , ŁOJEWSKI ZDZISŁAW , SIEJA KAMILA
Published: February 2006

Pairing plays an important role in both mean-field and macroscopic-microscopic description of the fission process. We discuss two kinds of pairing models: monopole (g = const ) and state dependent (δ-type force). As is known the BCS theory leads to the particle number symmetry braking. To restore the symmetry one uses a projection methods (projection before- or after variation) or one solves the Lipkin-Nogami equations. We apply all these methods in the case of monopole pairing. Fission barriers, inertia parameters and spontaneous fission half-lives are studied in the case of Z = 112 isotopes.
SINGLE-PARTICLE EFFECTS IN DECAY CHAINS OF ODD-A SUPERHEAVY NUCLEI
Authors: PARKHOMENKO A. , SOBICZEWSKI A.
Published: February 2006

Alpha-decay chain of 271 Ds (271110) is described theoretically. Transition energies [Formula: see text] and half-lives Tα are analyzed. The energies [Formula: see text] are described within a macroscopic-microscopic approach. Single-particle excitations of the nuclei are treated in the one-quasiparticle approximation. The half-lives Tα are described by a simple 3-parameter phenomenological formula expressing them as functions of [Formula: see text]. A good agreement with measured values is obtained. Average of the absolute values of the discrepancies for [Formula: see text] is 0.17 MeV. The half-lives Tα are reproduced within a factor of 3.8, on the average. No free parameters are used in the description.
VARIATIONAL MULTIPARTICLE-MULTIHOLE MIXING WITH THE D1S GOGNY FORCE
Authors: PILLET N. , BERGER J.-F. , GIROD M. , CAURIER E.
Published: February 2006

Applying a variational multiparticle-multihole mixing method whose purpose is to include correlations beyond mean field in an unified way without particle number and Pauli violations, we investigate ground state properties of 22O nucleus, in the case of pairing-type correlations. The same interaction is used for the mean field and the residual part of the hamiltonian, namely, the density-dependent D1S Gogny force.
ROTATION OF TETRAHEDRAL NUCLEI IN THE CRANKING MODEL
Authors: SCHUNCK N. , OLBRATOWSKI P. , DUDEK J. , DOBACZEWSKI J.
Published: February 2006

The three-dimensional cranking model is used to investigate the microscopic aspects of the rotation of nuclei with the tetrahedral symmetry. Two classes of rotation axes are studied corresponding to two different discrete symmetries of the rotating hamiltonian. Self-consistent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations show that the tetrahedral minimum remains remarkably stable until the first single-particle crossing.
TOY MODEL OF FISSION WITHIN THE PROJECTION EVOLUTION APPROACH
Authors: GÓŹDŹ A. , STEFAŃSKA K.
Published: February 2006

The toy model of "fission" shows the way how to get the temporal characteristics of the fission process within the projection evolution approach.
SELFCONSISTENT CALCULATION OF INTRINSIC PROPERTIES OF SUPER-HEAVY NUCLEI WITH THE GOGNY FORCE
Authors: WARDA M. , EGIDO J. L. , ROBLEDO L. M.
Published: February 2006

A systematic study of the intrinsic deformation parameters of 150 super-heavy nuclei in the region 150 ≤ N ≤ 190, 100 ≤ Z ≤ 126 has been done within the framework of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory with the Gogny force. We find a stronger dependence of the βn parameters and the pairing energies with the neutron number than with the proton number. The proton pairing energies are on the average much larger than the neutron ones. Large octupole deformations are predicted for N = 188, 190 nuclei.
NEUTRINO PROPAGATION IN HOT NUCLEAR MATTER AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO THE SUPERNOVAE EXPLOSION
Authors: WLAZŁOWSKI G.
Published: February 2006

The neutrino propagation in asymmetric nuclear matter is studied in the framework of the linear response method. The medium effects are treated in the Hartree-Fock approach with an effective Skyrme interaction. The neutrino opacity for the nuclear matter has been calculated in a wide range of densities and temperatures.
CONTINUUM COUPLING CORRECTION TO THE CLOSED QUANTUM SYSTEM EIGENVALUES
Authors: OKOŁOWICZ J. , PŁOSZAJCZAK M.
Published: February 2006

We study the continuum coupling correction to the eigenvalues of closed quantum systems in the rigorously solvable limit of the shell model embedded in the continuum.
SPIN DENSITIES AND CURRENTS IN THE ROUTHIAN APPROXIMATION
Authors: BARTEL JOHANN , BENCHEIKH KAMEL , QUENTIN PHILIPPE
Published: February 2006

The structure of spin densities and the associated spin-current densities, induced by the coupling of external vector fields to the orbital and spin degrees of freedom, is studied within the framework of the Extended Thomas-Fermi method, a semiclassical version of the density-functional theory. A special emphasis is put on the rotational case where our approach amounts to perform a semiclassical approximation of the so-called generalized Routhian approach.
Reduced Cardiocirculatory Complications With Unrestrictive Visiting Policy in an Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Fumagalli Stefano , Boncinelli Lorenzo , Lo Nostro Antonella , Valoti Paolo , Baldereschi Giorgio , Di Bari Mauro , Ungar Andrea , Baldasseroni Samuele , Geppetti Pierangelo , Masotti Giulio , Pini Riccardo , Marchionni Niccolò
Published: February 2006

Background—

Observational studies suggest that open visiting policies are preferred by most patients and visitors in intensive care units (ICUs), but no randomized trial has compared the safety and health outcomes of unrestrictive (UVP) and restrictive (RVP) visiting policies. The aim of this pilot, randomized trial was to compare the complications associated with UVP (single visitor with frequency and duration chosen by patient) and RVP (single visitor for 30 minutes twice a day).

Methods and Results—

Two-month sequences of the 2 visiting policies were randomly alternated for 2 years in a 6-bed ICU, with 226 patients enrolled (RVP/UVP, n=115/111). Environmental microbial contamination, septic and cardiovascular complications, emotional profile, and stress hormones response were systematically assessed. Patients admitted during the randomly scheduled periods of UVP received more frequent (3.2±0.2 versus 2.0±0.0 visits per day, mean±SEM) and longer (2.6±0.2 versus 1.0±0.0 h/d) visits (
P
<0.001 for both comparisons). Despite significantly higher environmental microbial contamination during the UVP periods, septic complications were similar in the 2 periods. The risk of cardiocirculatory complications was 2-fold (odds ratio 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.5;
P
=0.03) in the RVP periods, which were also associated with a nonsignificantly higher mortality rate (5.2% versus 1.8%;
P
=0.28). The UVP was associated with a greater reduction in anxiety score and a significantly lower increase in thyroid stimulating hormone from admission to discharge.

Conclusions—

Despite greater environmental microbial contamination, liberalizing visiting hours in ICUs does not increase septic complications, whereas it might reduce cardiovascular complications, possibly through reduced anxiety and more favorable hormonal profile.