bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequential fatigue progressively alters lower extremity biomechanics
Authors: Cortes N , Greska E , Kollock R , Onate J
Published: March 2011

Background

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has been reported to occur during the later stages of a game, when fatigue is most likely present. Few studies have focused on progressive changes that occur throughout fatiguing.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a sequential fatigue protocol on lower extremity biomechanics while performing a sidestep cutting task (SS).

Design

Quasi-experimental.

Setting

Laboratory.

Participants

18 female collegiate soccer players (age=19.2±0.9 years, mass=61.6±5.1 kg, height=1.66±0.5 m) free of injury volunteered for participation.

Interventions

Lower extremity biomechanics was assessed during the SS task using 3-D motion capture. Participants alternated between a fatigue set of; three squats, agility (5–10–5), three vertical jumps, step-ups, and two unanticipated SS trials. The cycle was repeated until fatigue was attained.

Main outcome measurements

Dependent variables included: hip and knee flexion and abduction angles and moments, measured at initial contact and peak stance (PS). Repeated measure ANOVA's with three levels were conducted to assess differences between pre-fatigue, 50% and 100% of fatigue. Alpha level was set at 0.05.

Results

There was a significant decrease in knee flexion between pre (−17±5°), 50% (−16±6°), and 100% of fatigue (−14±4°),p=0.004; and hip flexion at pre (45.4±10.9°), 50% (46.2±11.2°), and 100% of fatigue (40.9±11.3°),p=0.004. A noticeable decreased was also observed for hip abduction at initial contact between pre (−13.8±6.6°), 50% (−9.1±6.5°), and 100% of fatigue (−7.8±6.5°), as well as for hip adduction moment (Pre:0.14±0.13 Nm/kgm, 50%:0.08±0.13 Nm/kgm, and 100%:0.08±0.13 Nm/kg, p=0.007). Further, similar decreases were observed at PS for knee flexion (Pre: 52.9±5.6°, 50%:−56.1±7.2°, and 100%:−50.5±7.1°,p=0.001), and hip adduction moment (Pre:0.72±0.31 Nm/kgm, 50%:0.59±0.33 Nm/kgm, and 100%:0.39±0.29 Nm/kgm, p=0.003).

Conclusion

The detrimental effects of fatigue on lower extremity biomechanics are visible at 50% of the participants' maximum fatigue, and become more marked when attaining 100%, with a decrease in hip and knee sagittal and frontal mechanics. ACL injury prevention programs should emphasise feedback throughout an entire practice, not only during warm-up.
Clinical patterns and injury exposure rates in elite road cycling are changing over the last decade
Authors: Barrios C , de Bernardo N , Vera P , Laíz C , Hadala M
Published: March 2011

Background

The latest bicycle technical advances and the new training protocols might have an incidence of injury occurrence in professional cycling.

Objective

To analyze changes in injury incidence of a group of elite cyclist in active and compare the injury rates with those reported for an historical group (HG).

Design

Epidemiologic retrospective study based on clinical oriented interviews.

Setting

Clinical survey of all traumatic and overuse injuries occurred in male elite cyclists engaged in three professional teams.

Participants

The HG consisted in 65 professional road cyclists surveyed from 1983 to 1995. Mean age, 25 years (range 21 32). The current series (CS) included 51 elite cyclists with a mean age of 27 (19–36). The CS was studied from 2003 to 2009.

Main outcome measures

Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and the Ekstrand 3 point scale for absence from sports activity. Injury exposure rates: injuries per racer, per year and per 1000 km of both competing and training.

Results

Traumatic injuries increased from 38.4% to 48.6%. However, AIS severe lesions decrease from 51.2% to 8%. Tendinopaties were the most common overuse injuries in the HG (41.5%). Contrary, 56.6% of overuse injuries were due to muscular lesions in the CS group. In HG cyclists, the injury rates for traumatic injuries were 0.54 per racer, 0.11 per year, and 0.003 per 1000 km of training and competition. The rates for overuse injury were 0.86 per racer, 0.17 per year, and 0.005 per 1000 km. In CS cyclists, injury rates for traumatic injuries were found to be higher: 0.98 per racer, 0.24 per year, 0.007 per 1.000 km. Overuse injury rates were 1.04 per racer, 0.26 per year, and 0.009 per 1.000 km.

Conclusion

Professional cyclists still in active are exposed to a double risk of traumatic injuries than those competing in the 80's and 90's. Exposure to overuse remains almost equal, but with a complete different clinical pattern imposed by the high incidence of muscular injuries.
Magnitude and economic burden of sports and physical activity-related injuries in dutch 10–12 year old children
Authors: van Mechelen W , Collard D C M , Chinapaw M , Verhagen E A L M
Published: March 2011

Background

The several health benefits of regular physical activity (PA) in children are well known. Participation in PA, however, also increases the risk of adverse effects, such as injuries. However, reliable descriptive data on PA injuries in younger children is lacking.

Objective

Describe the incidence, severity and cost of injuries resulting from physical education (PE), sports and leisure time PA in 10–12 year old children.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Primary schools.

Participants

995 children aged 10–12 years.

Interventions

Weekly exposure to sports, PE and leisure time PA was estimated for each participant during the 2006–2007 school year. An injury was recorded if it caused the child to at least stop the current activity. The parents of the injured child reported all associated direct and indirect costs in a cost diary.

Main outcome measures

Injury incidence density (ID) and related costs.

Results

A total of 119 injuries were reported by 104 children, resulting in an overall injury ID of 0.48 per 1000 h of exposure (95% CI 0.38 to 0.57). ID was lowest for leisure time PA, followed by PE and sports, respectively. Overall for girls (ID 0.60; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.75) a higher injury ID was reported than for boys (ID 0.37; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.48). The mean direct and indirect costs were, respectively, 131€ (SD 213€) and 57€ (SD 159€). The highest costs were found for upper extremity injuries, as in general these were the more severe injuries.

Conclusion

PA-related injuries are common in children and result in high associated costs. Girls require special attention as they seem to be at higher injury risk. Even so intervention programmes that prevent upper extremity injuries will have the greatest short-term impact for public health.
Comparative analysis of knee valgus in athletes during takeoff and landing
Authors: Mendonça L D , Bittencourt N F N , Signorini L , Leite M N F , Silva A A , Fonseca S T
Published: March 2011

Background

The knee malalignment is a risk factor of injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament tear. Most studies that analyses the knee valgus in jump tasks, investigates only this pattern at landing. It would be interesting to study the knee valgus at takeoff, because at this specific moment the active components of the movement are the primary injury contributors.

Objective

to compare the frontal plane knee angle (FPKA) during takeoff and landing at countermovement jump in athletes.

Design

Observational cross sectional.

Setting

Volleyball and basketball players were evaluated at Minas Tennis Club and at Sports Prevention and Rehabilitation Laboratory (CENESP-UFMG).

Participants

101 athletes, mean age 15.88 (0.35) years were included in this study. All participants were healthy, with no current complaints of lower limb injury or pain and no history of lower limbs previous surgery.

Assessment of risk factors

High-FPKA. Reflexive markers were located in ASIS, femoral condyles and in a middle point of the medial and lateral maleolus.

Main outcome measurements

The FPKA was determined in SIMI motion 2D software.

Results

The mean angle during takeoff was 3.020 and 3.13 0 for dominant and non-dominant leg. For landing, it was 2840 and 2210 respectively. There was no significant statistical differences between the two means on both legs (p=0.73 dominant leg and p=0.13 non-dominant leg). Meanwhile, the variance was greater in the impulsion analysis (37.2 right leg and 48.3 left leg) compared to landing (24.4 and 29.8 respectively).

Conclusion

The analysis of FPKA during takeoff provides data about the active contribution of certain variables in knee injuries and must be better understood. Differences between the FPKA during takeoff and landing were not found in this study, although in the first movement there was a major variance. This inconsistency may demand a more thorough investigation.
PHOTONIC CRYSTAL ASSISTED 90° WAVEGUIDE BEND
Authors: SAMI SÖZÜER H. , DUYGU ŞENGÜN H.
Published: March 2011

The 90° waveguide bend is an important component of optical circuit applications. We propose several models for such a bend, some of them assisted by a two-dimensional photonic crystal with a bandgap in the desired range of operating frequencies. We show that a photonic crystal assisted bend reduces bending loss by several orders of magnitude for transverse electric modes.
THE EQUIVALENCE PROBLEM OVER FINITE RINGS
Authors: SZABÓ CSABA , VÉRTESI VERA
Published: March 2011

We investigate the computational complexity of deciding whether or not a given polynomial, presented as the sum of monomials, is identically 0 over a ring. It is proved that if the factor by the Jacobson-radical is not commutative, then the problem is coNP-complete.
ROOT SEMIGROUPS IN REDUCTIVE MONOIDS
Authors: PUTCHA MOHAN S.
Published: March 2011

It is well known that in a reductive group, the Borel subgroup is a product of the maximal torus and the one-dimensional positive root subgroups. The purpose of this paper is to find an analog of this result for reductive monoids. Via a study of reductive monoids of semisimple rank 1, we introduce the concept of root semigroups. By analyzing the associated root elements in the Renner monoid, we show that the closure of the Borel subgroup is generated by the maximal torus and positive root semigroups. Along the way we generalize the Jordan decomposition of algebraic groups to reductive monoids.
REIDEMEISTER SPECTRUM FOR METABELIAN GROUPS OF THE FORM Qn ⋊ ℤ AND ℤ[1/p]n ⋊ ℤ, p PRIME
Authors: FEL'SHTYN ALEXANDER , GONÇALVES DACIBERG L.
Published: March 2011

In this paper, we study the Reidemeister spectrum for metabelian groups of the form ℚn ⋊ ℤ and ℤ[1/p]n ⋊ ℤ. Particular attention is given to the R∞-property of a subfamily of these groups.
ALGEBRO-GEOMETRIC INVARIANTS OF GROUPS (THE DIMENSION SEQUENCE OF A REPRESENTATION VARIETY)
Authors: LIRIANO S. , MAJEWICZ S.
Published: March 2011

If G is a finitely generated group and A is an algebraic group, then RA(G) = Hom (G, A) is an algebraic variety. Define the "dimension sequence" of G over A as Pd(RA(G)) = (Nd(RA(G)), …, N0(RA(G))), where Ni(RA(G)) is the number of irreducible components of RA(G) of dimension i (0 ≤ i ≤ d) and d = Dim (RA(G)). We use this invariant in the study of groups and deduce various results. For instance, we prove the following:

Theorem A.Let w be a nontrivial word in the commutator subgroup ofFn = 〈x1, …, xn〉, and letG = 〈x1, …, xn; w = 1〉. IfRSL(2, ℂ)(G)is an irreducible variety andV-1 = {ρ | ρ ∈ RSL(2, ℂ)(Fn), ρ(w) = -I} ≠ ∅, thenPd(RSL(2, ℂ)(G)) ≠ Pd(RPSL(2, ℂ)(G)).

Theorem B.Let w be a nontrivial word in the free group on{x1, …, xn}with even exponent sum on each generator and exponent sum not equal to zero on at least one generator. SupposeG = 〈x1, …, xn; w = 1〉. IfRSL(2, ℂ)(G)is an irreducible variety, thenPd(RSL(2, ℂ)(G)) ≠ Pd(RPSL(2, ℂ)(G)).

We also show that if G = 〈x1, . ., xn, y; W = yp〉, where p ≥ 1 and W is a word in Fn = 〈x1, …, xn〉, and A = PSL(2, ℂ), then Dim (RA(G)) = Max {3n, Dim (RA(G′)) +2 } ≤ 3n + 1 for G′ = 〈x1, …, xn; W = 1〉.

Another one of our results is that if G is a torus knot group with presentation 〈x, y; xp = yt〉 then Pd(RSL(2, ℂ)(G))≠Pd(RPSL(2, ℂ)(G)).
FINITE INDEX SUBGROUPS OF FULLY RESIDUALLY FREE GROUPS
Authors: NIKOLAEV ANDREY V. , SERBIN DENIS E.
Published: March 2011

Using graph-theoretic techniques for f.g. subgroups of Fℤ[t]we provide a criterion for a f.g. subgroup of a f.g. fully residually free group to be of finite index. Moreover, we show that this criterion can be checked effectively. As an application we obtain an analogue of Greenberg–Stallings Theorem for f.g. fully residually free groups, and prove that a f.g. nonabelian subgroup of a f.g. fully residually free group is of finite index in its normalizer and commensurator.
ON NIL n-INJECTIVE RINGS
Authors: ZHAO Y. E. , DU X. N.
Published: March 2011

In this paper, the definition of right nil n-injective ring is given, it is a generalization of nil injective rings. The aim of this paper is to investigate properties of nil n-injective rings. Various results are developed, many extending known results.
HOPF ALGEBRAS OF DIAGRAMS
Authors: DUCHAMP G. H. E. , LUQUE J.-G. , NOVELLI J.-C. , TOLLU C. , TOUMAZET F.
Published: March 2011

We investigate several generalizations of the Hopf algebra MQSym whose constructions come from labelings of special diagrams in bijection with packed matrices. Their products come either from the Hopf algebras WSym or WQSym, respectively built on integer set partitions and set compositions. Realizations on bi-word are exhibited, and it is shown how these algebras fit into a commutative diagram. Hopf deformations and dendriform structures are also considered for some algebras in the picture.
ON ISOMORPHISM CRITERIA FOR LEIBNIZ CENTRAL EXTENSIONS OF A LINEAR DEFORMATION OF μn
Authors: RAKHIMOV ISAMIDDIN S. , HASSAN MUNTHER A.
Published: March 2011

This paper deals with the classification problems of Leibniz central extensions of linear deformations of a Lie algebra. It is known that any n-dimensional filiform Lie algebra can be represented as a linear deformation of n-dimensional filiform Lie algebra μn given by the brackets [ei, e0] = ei+1, i = 0,1,…,n - 2, in a basis {e0, e1,…,en - 1}. In this paper we consider a linear deformation of μn and its Leibniz central extensions. The resulting algebras are Leibniz algebras, this class is denoted here by Ced (μn). We choose an appropriate basis of Ced (μn) and give general isomorphism criteria. By using the isomorphism criteria, one can classify the class Ced (μn) for any fixed n. Two relevant maple programs are provided.
IRREDUCIBILITY IN THE SET OF NUMERICAL SEMIGROUPS WITH FIXED MULTIPLICITY
Authors: BLANCO V. , ROSALES J. C.
Published: March 2011

In this paper we introduce the notion of m-irreducibility that extends the standard concept of irreducibility of a numerical semigroup when the multiplicity is fixed. We analyze the structure of the set of m-irreducible numerical semigroups, we give some properties of these numerical semigroups and we present algorithms to compute the decomposition of a numerical semigroup with multiplicity m into m-irreducible numerical semigroups.
UNCOUNTABLY MANY DUALISABLE ALGEBRAS
Authors: PITKETHLY JANE G.
Published: March 2011

Fix a finite set M with at least three elements. We find uncountably many different clones on M, each of which is the clone of term functions of a strongly dualisable algebra. This provides a solution to the Finite Type Problem of natural duality theory: there are finite algebras that are dualisable but not via a structure of finite type.
ON INVOLUTIONS OF THE SYMMETRIC GROUP AND CONGRUENCE B-ORBITS OF ANTI-SYMMETRIC MATRICES
Authors: CHERNIAVSKY YONAH
Published: March 2011

We present the poset of Borel congruence classes of anti-symmetric matrices ordered by containment of closures. We show that there exists a bijection between the set of these classes and the set of involutions of the symmetric group. We give two formulas for the rank function of this poset.
BOOLEAN FACTOR CONGRUENCES AND PROPERTY (*)
Authors: SÁNCHEZ TERRAF PEDRO
Published: March 2011

A variety [Formula: see text] has Boolean factor congruences (BFC) if the set of factor congruences of any algebra in [Formula: see text] is a distributive sublattice of its congruence lattice; this property holds in rings with unit and in every variety which has a semilattice operation. BFC has a prominent role in the study of uniqueness of direct product representations of algebras, since it is a strengthening of the refinement property.

We provide an explicit Mal'cev condition for BFC. With the aid of this condition, it is shown that BFC is equivalent to a variant of the definability property (*), an open problem in Willard's work[9].
THE GAUSS–LEGENDRE SKY PIXELIZATION FOR THE CMB POLARIZATION (GLESP-POL) ERRORS DUE TO PIXELIZATION OF THE CMB SKY
Authors: DOROSHKEVICH ANDREI G. , VERKHODANOV OLEG V. , NASELSKY PAVEL D. , KIM JAISEUNG , NOVIKOV DMITRY I. , TURCHANINOV VIKTOR I. , NOVIKOV IGOR D. , CHIANG LUNG-YIH , HANSEN MARTIN
Published: March 2011

We present the development of the method for numerical analysis of polarization in the Gauss–Legendre sky pixelization (GLESP) scheme for CMB maps. This incorporation of the polarization transforms in the pixelization scheme GLESP completes the creation of our new method for numerical analysis of CMB maps. A comparison of GLESP and HEALPix calculations is done.
TOPOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF BLACK HOLES: GENERIC MAXWELL SET AND CREASE SET OF A HORIZON
Authors: SIINO MASARU , KOIKE TATSUHIKO
Published: March 2011

The crease set of an event horizon or a Cauchy horizon is an important object which determines the qualitative properties of the horizon. In particular, it determines the possible topologies of the spatial sections of the horizon. By Fermat's principle in geometric optics, we relate the crease set and the Maxwell set of a smooth function in the context of singularity theory. We thereby give a classification of generic topological structures of the Maxwell sets and the generic topologies of the spatial section of the horizon.
DYNAMICAL STABILITY OF STRANGE QUARK STARS
Authors: NEGI P. S.
Published: March 2011

The necessary and sufficient condition for dynamical stability is worked out for the sequences of relativistic star models which correspond to the well-defined and causal values of adiabatic sound speed, [Formula: see text], at the center. On the basis of the conditions obtained in this study, we show that the mass–radius (M-R) relation corresponding to the MIT bag models of strange quark matter (SQM) and the models obtained by Dey et al. [Phys. Lett. B438 (1998) 123] does not provide the necessary and sufficient condition for dynamical stability for the equilibrium configurations. These findings will remain unaltered and can be extended to any other sequence of pure SQM. This study explicitly shows that though SQM may exist in the state of zero pressure and temperature, the models of pure strange quark "stars" cannot exist in the state of hydrostatic equilibrium. This study can affect the results which are claiming that various objects, like RX J1856.5-3754, SAX J1808.4-3658, 4U 1728-34 and PSR 0943+10, represent strange stars.
SYMMETRY VS. CHAOS IN COLLECTIVE DYNAMICS
Authors: CEJNAR P. , MACEK M. , STRÁNSKÝ P.
Published: March 2011

Models of nuclear collective dynamics are used to study the interplay of order (approximate dynamical symmetry) and chaos in general physical systems. We report on some recent results obtained within the interacting boson model and the geometric model.
PARITY EFFECTS IN NUCLEAR COLLECTIVE AND SINGLE PARTICLE MOTION
Authors: MINKOV N. , DRENSKA S. , STRECKER M. , SCHEID W.
Published: March 2011

Effects of the parity-mixed single-particle (s.p.) state on the collective properties of odd nuclei with reflection-asymmetric degrees of freedom are studied. The Coriolis strength and the average s.p. parity in the nuclei 219 Ra , 225 Ra , 225 Th and 241 Cm are examined in dependence on axial quadrupole and octupole deformation parameters β2 and β3 within a reflection-asymmetric deformed shell model. The obtained behaviour of the Coriolis decoupling factor in the (β2, β3)-plane is compared with values fitted in a collective quadrupole-octupole model, which allows one to determine physically reasonable deformation regions for the considered nuclei. The study provides a relation between deformation parameters, Coriolis interaction strength and the structure of collective spectra in odd-mass nuclei with quadrupole-octupole deformations.
MODERN APPLICATIONS OF COVARIANT DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY
Authors: RING P. , ABUSARA H. , AFANASJEV A.V. , LALAZISSIS G.A. , NIKŠIĆ T. , VRETENAR D.
Published: March 2011

Modern applications of Covariant Density Functional Theory (CDFT) are discussed. First we show a systematic investigation of fission barriers in actinide nuclei within constraint relativistic mean field theory allowing for triaxial deformations. In the second part we discuss a microscopic theory of quantum phase transitions (QPT) based on the relativistic generator coordinate method.
REGULARIZATION OF MULTI-REFERENCE ENERGY DENSITY FUNCTIONAL CALCULATIONS
Authors: BENDER M. , DUGUET T. , HEENEN P.-H. , LACROIX D.
Published: March 2011

We report the first application of a recently proposed regularization procedure for multi-reference energy density functionals, which removes spurious divergent or non-continuous contributions to the binding energy, to a general configuration mixing. As an example, we present a calculation that corresponds to the particle-number and angular momentum projection of axially symmetric time-reversal invariant quasiparticle vacua of different quadrupole deformation for the nucleus 18 O . The SIII parameterization of the Skyrme energy functional is used.
ON THE BREAKING AND RESTORATION OF SYMMETRIES WITHIN THE NUCLEAR ENERGY DENSITY FUNCTIONAL FORMALISM
Authors: DUGUET T. , SADOUDI J.
Published: March 2011

We review the notion of symmetry breaking and restoration within the frame of nuclear energy density functional methods. We focus on key differences between wave-function-and energy-functional-based methods. In particular, we point to difficulties encountered within the energy functional framework and discuss new potential constraints on the underlying energy density functional that could make the restoration of broken symmetries better formulated within such a formalism. We refer to Ref.1 for details.
EFFECTS OF PAIRING CORRELATIONS ON THE ISOSPIN-SYMMETRY-BREAKING CORRECTION TO SUPER-ALLOWED 0+ → 0+ FERMI TRANSITIONS WITHIN THE HIGHER TAMM–DANCOFF APPROACH
Authors: LE BLOAS JULIEN , BONNEAU LUDOVIC , QUENTIN PHILIPPE , BARTEL JOHANN
Published: March 2011

Super-allowed 0+ → 0+ Fermi transitions provide a test at low energy of the Standard Model of elementary interactions. The isospin-symmetry breaking due to the electromagnetic interaction at a nuclear level is a fundamental theoretical tool for the understanding of weak processes beyond the Standard Model. Within the Higher Tamm–Dancoff description of correlated nuclear states, we calculate the isospin-symmetry breaking correction δc to the Fermi transition matrix element. A sensitivity study on the T = 0 pairing correlations is carried out and some tests of model ingredients are performed. The obtained correction is of the order of 0.15~0.2% for plausible strengths in the T = 1 and T = 0 channels of the residual interaction. This is expected to constitute a lower bound.
SKYRME–HARTREE–FOCK DESCRIPTION OF THE DIPOLE STRENGTH IN NEUTRON-RICH TIN ISOTOPES
Authors: KVASIL J. , NESTERENKO V.O. , KLEINIG W. , BOŽÍK D. , REINHARD P.-G.
Published: March 2011

Low-energy E1 strength in neutron-rich 132-164 Sn isotopes is analyzed in the framework of the Skyrme random phase approximation (RPA) with different Skyrme forces. A double folding procedure is applied to take into account the energy-dependent width effects beyond RPA. All the considered Skyrme forces indicate a soft prolate deformation in the open shell isotopes 142-164 Sn . The integrated E1 strength in the energy region of the pygmy resonance grows with the neutron number. The influence of deformation on the integrated strength near the particle emission thresholds (which is of a keen astrophysical interest) is strictly suppressed by the mutual compensation effect for the branches of the giant dipole resonance. The results obtained are in a good agreement with the previous findings of the relativistic mean field model.
THE INTERNAL EXCITATION OF THE GAS OF INDEPENDENT PARTICLES IN A TIME DEPENDENT POTENTIAL
Authors: BLOCKI J. P. , MAGNER A. G. , YATSYSHYN I. S.
Published: March 2011

The order-to-chaos transition in the dynamics of independent classical and quantum gas of particles was studied by means of the computer simulations within the nuclear model based on the time-dependent mean-field approach. The excitation of the classical gas for containers whose surfaces are rippled according to Legendre polynomials P2, P3 is followed for twenty periods of oscillations. For different vibration frequencies of small amplitude vibrations of such a container near the spherical equilibrium shape we obtained for the classical gas much smaller excitation energies than those predicted by the wall formula. With increasing equilibrium deformation they become significantly larger and for P3 vibrations they are close to the wall formula limit. Notable shell effects were found in the excitation energies of the quantum gas in the Woods-Saxon potential with the corresponding relatively sharp (diffuseness equals to 0.1 fm) moving surfaces for small-amplitude slow vibrations.
CHIRALITY IN ATOMIC NUCLEUS
Authors: MENG JIE
Published: March 2011

The theoretical and experimental progress following the prediction of the chirality in nuclear physics in 1997 is reviewed. Possible existence of M χ D in 105 Rh is discussed.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO-QUASIPARTICLE CHIRAL BANDS
Authors: SHIRINDA OBED , LAWRIE ELENA
Published: March 2011

The two-quasiparticle-plus-triaxial-rotor model was applied to study chiral configurations in the 100, 130 and 190 mass regions. It was shown that in order for a degeneracy in the two-quasiparticle partner bands to occur, one needs mutually orthogonal angular momenta of the odd proton, odd neutron and the collective rotation. The staggering in the B(M1) reduced transition probabilities as an indication of strongly broken symmetry was studied too.
ELECTROMAGNETIC STRENGTH IN HEAVY NUCLEI – EXPERIMENTS AND A GLOBAL FIT
Authors: BEYER R. , BIRGERSSON E. , JUNGHANS A. R. , MASSARCZYK R. , SCHRAMM G. , SCHWENGNER R. , GROSSE E.
Published: March 2011

A global parameterization is presented for the electromagnetic strength in heavy nuclei which gives a rather good fit to respective data in nuclei with mass numbers A between 50 and 240. It relies on a Lorentzian description of the isovector giant dipole resonance and it needs only a very small number of parameters to describe the electric dipole strength down to low excitation energy of importance for radiative capture processes. The resonance energies are chosen to be in accordance to liquid drop model parameters adjusted to ground state masses and to rotation invariant determinations of ground state deformation and triaxiality. By a straightforward use of this information a surprisingly smooth variation of the GDR width with A and Z is found and a full agreement to the predictions of the electromagnetic sum rule is assured. Predictions for radiative neutron capture cross sections compare well to respective data, when the proposed photon strength function is combined with standard prescriptions for the level density in the product nuclei.
NUCLEAR-STRUCTURE EFFECTS ON DOUBLE BETA DECAYS TO 0+ STATES IN 76Ge
Authors: SUHONEN JOUNI
Published: March 2011

Neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay of 76 Ge to the ground state and first excited 0+ state in 76 Se is discussed in terms of the associated nuclear matrix elements. The effects arizing from the size of the single-particle model space and the occupancies of the individual orbits are discussed in the framework of the (higher) quasiparticle random-phase approximation with effective, G -matrix-derived nuclear forces. It is found that the orbital occupancies play a role for the size of the nuclear matrix element. Contrary to the ground-state transition the transition to the first excited 0+ state does not depend sensitively on the size of the model space.
NEW STRUCTURES IN 178HF AND COULOMB EXCITATION OF ISOMERS
Authors: HAYES A.B. , CLINE D. , WU C. Y. , HURST A.M. , CARPENTER M.P. , GREENE J.P. , JANSSENS R.V.F. , LAURITSEN T. , SEWERYNIAK D. , ZHU S. , KARAMIAN S.A. , WALKER P.M. , SWAN T.P.D. , RIGBY S.V. , CULLEN D.M. , LUMLEY N.M. , MASON P. , CARROLL J.J. , DETWILER B. , HARLE T. , MILLS I. , TREES G.
Published: March 2011

A 985 MeV 178 Hf beam was Coulomb excited by a 208 Pb target at the ATLAS accelerator of Argonne National Laboratory. Gammasphere and the CHICO particle detector recorded particle-γ coincidence data. The aim was to populate and determine the mechanism of previously observed Coulomb excitation of the Kπ = 6+ (t1/2 = 77 ns ), 8- (4 s ) and 16+ (31 y ) isomer bands. New rotational bands were identified including an aligned band which appears to mix with the ground-state band (GSB) and the γ-vibrational band above ~ 12 ħ of angular momentum. Newly observed γ-decay transitions into the three isomer bands may elucidate the K-mixing which allows Coulomb excitation of these isomer bands, but direct decays from the GSB into the 16+ isomer band have not yet been confirmed.
SENSITIVITY OF THE NUCLEAR COLLECTIVITY TO THE PAIRING STRENGTH IN 150Nd
Authors: LI Z.P. , XIANG J. , YAO J.M. , CHEN H. , MENG J.
Published: March 2011

The sensitivity of the nuclear collectivity to the pairing strength in 150 Nd has been investigated in a collective Hamiltonian based on the relativistic point-coupling energy functional with the delta-pairing force. With the increasing pairing strength, the potential energy curve becomes shallower and softer, and the inertia parameters will be reduced rapidly. Correspondingly, the excited energies increase parabolically, but the characteristic collective observables, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] transition decrease linearly.
TETRAHEDRAL SYMMETRY IN NUCLEI: NEW PREDICTIONS BASED ON THE COLLECTIVE MODEL
Authors: DOBROWOLSKI A. , GÓŹDŹ A. , MAZUREK K. , DUDEK J.
Published: March 2011

We apply the standard collective nuclear Hamiltonian derived in the literature with the help of the Adiabatic Time Dependent Hartree-Fock (ATDHF) theory. We use a schematic two-dimensional collective space spanned by the axial-quadrupole (α20) vs. tetrahedral (α32) deformations together with the potential energy surfaces calculated microscopically. We illustrate and discuss the collective-model solutions suggesting that the tetrahedral-symmetry nuclei may generate sizeable quadrupole transitions: this result is in contrast to the previous expectations and/or predictions.
ISOTOPIC EFFECTS IN EMISSION OF INTERMEDIATE MASS FRAGMENTS IN THE 124Sn + 64Ni REACTION AT 35 MeV/NUCLEON
Authors:   for REVERSE-ISOSPIN Collaboration, SKWIRA-CHALOT I. , CAP T. , SIWEK-WILCZYŃSKA K. , WILCZYŃSKI J.
Published: March 2011

We present results of a new analysis of the experiment carried out by the REVERSE-ISOSPIN collaboration on the 124 Sn + 64 Ni reaction at the bombarding energy of 35 MeV/nucleon. The mass numbers of the intermediate mass fragments (isotopes of Be , B and C ) could be resolved in this experiment. Angular distributions of the neck fragmentation products in the rest frame of the primary projectile-like fragment were studied. The angular dependence of the isotopic ratios of the intermediate mass fragments proves the effect of neutron enrichment of the neck region.
THE TETRAHEDRAL–OCTAHEDRAL BASES FOR THE GENERALIZED ROTOR
Authors: GÓŹDŹ A. , SZULERECKA A. , DOBROWOLSKI A.
Published: March 2011

The rotational basis for irreducible representations of the point groups T d, O and O h for nuclear angular momenta J = 0, 1…, 5 is constructed.
ISOSPIN SYMMETRY BREAKING AND BRANCHING RATIO IN THE DEUTERON REACTIONS AT VERY LOW ENERGIES
Authors: KILIÇ A.I. , CZERSKI K. , HEIDE P. , HUKE A. , RUPRECHT G. , TARGOSZ-ŚLȨCZKA N.
Published: March 2011

The target-material dependence of the neutron-proton branching ratio and breaking of the isospin symmetry in the the 2H(d, n)3He and 2H(d, p)3H reactions at very low deuteron energies have been investigated. Angular distributions and total cross sections of the proton and neutron mirror channels have been measured for nuclear reactions taking place in different metallic environments. For Sr , Li , Na targets, we have found a first evidence for an alteration of the neutron-proton branching ratio and angular anisotropy of the neutron channel. We discuss various theoretical approaches explaining isospin mixing effects both in gas and metallic target experiments including a deuteron polarization in the crystal lattice. Direct reaction contribution has been calculated within the zero range distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA).
EFFECT OF LEWIS ACID CATALYSTS ON THE POSITIONAL SELECTIVITY OF THE ELECTROPHILIC AROMATIC SUBSTITUTION ON α-SUBSTITUTED THIOPHENES: A CONCEPTUAL DFT INVESTIGATION
Authors: GHOMRI AMINA , MEKELLECHE SIDI MOHAMED
Published: March 2011

The α′/β regioselectivity of the electrophilic aromatic substitution of some thiophene α-substituted derivatives ( R = CHO, COMe or CO2Me ), catalyzed and not catalyzed by the Lewis acid, AlCl3 , has been investigated by means of the local nucleophilicity index, recently proposed by Pérez et al. [J Mol Struct: Theochem895: 86, 2009]. The quantum chemistry calculations, carried out at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory, show that the α′-substitution is preferred in absence of the catalyst, while the β-substitution is more favored in the presence of the catalyst. The theoretical results, predicted using DFT-based reactivity indices, are in good agreement with the experimental outcomes.
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY STUDY ON THE SINGLE-WALL BORON NITRIDE NANOTUBE, WITH VARIOUS LENGTHS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL FIELD
Authors: FARMANZADEH DAVOOD , GHAZANFARY SAMEREH
Published: March 2011

Theoretical investigation of the electric responses of the (4,0) zigzag model of single-walled boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) with lengths 10, 12, 14 and 16 Å, has been performed with density functional theory calculation by considering the influence from the external electric field (EF) with strengths 0–1.6 × 10-2 a.u. using B3LYP/6-31G* method. Results show that in both cases, with increase in the length of BNNT and the EF strength, there is a decrease the HOMO-LUMO gap (HLG) values and increase in the electric dipole moment. Natural bond orbital (NBO) atomic charge analysis shows that increasing the EF intensity increases separation of the positive and the negative center of electric charges of BNNT molecule. Results of this study demonstrate that the molecular scale device formed by BNNTs can be significantly influenced by the length of the BNNT itself and the external EF intensity.
CAPACITIES AND DISPLACEMENT ENERGY IN CONTACT HOFER GEOMETRY
Authors: PITIŞ GHEORGHE
Published: March 2011

A contact version of a Laudenbach's engulfing theorem is proved. Some properties of the notions of contact displacement energy and contact Hofer–Zehnder capacities are presented and, under the condition of existence of a modified action selector on a contact manifold, we can prove some inequalities involving these invariants. These inequalities are similar to the ones obtained by Frauenfelder, Ginzburg and Schlenk, in the symplectic case.
A LINEAR CONNECTION FOR BOTH SUB-RIEMANNIAN GEOMETRY AND NONHOLONOMIC MECHANICS (I)
Authors: BEJANCU AUREL
Published: March 2011

We study the geometry of a sub-Riemannian manifold (M, HM, VM, g), where HM and VM are the horizontal and vertical distribution respectively, and g is a Riemannian extension of the Riemannian metric on HM. First, without the assumption that HM and VM are orthogonal, we construct a sub- Riemannian connection ▽ on HM and prove some Bianchi identities for ▽. Then, we introduce the horizontal sectional curvature, prove a Schur theorem for sub-Riemannian geometry and find a class of sub-Riemannian manifolds of constant horizontal curvature. Finally, we define the horizontal Ricci tensor and scalar curvature, and some sub-Riemannian differential operators (gradient, divergence, Laplacian), extending some results from geometry to the sub-Riemannian setting.
CLASSES OF GRADIENT RICCI SOLITONS
Authors: BERCU GABRIEL , POSTOLACHE MIHAI
Published: March 2011

We introduce a study of Riemannian manifold M = ℝ2 endowed with a metric of diagonal type of the form [Formula: see text], where g is a positive function, of C∞-class, depending on the variable x2 only. We emphasize the role of metric [Formula: see text] in determining manifolds having negative, null or positive sectional curvature. Within this framework, we find a wide class of gradient Ricci solitons (see, Theorems 4 and 7) and specialize these results to discuss some 2D and 4D case studies. The present study can be thought as a natural continuation of those included in monograph [22] by Constantin Udrişte, and to those in the research article [12] by Richard S. Hamilton (the result in Proposition 8 is precisely the famous "Hamilton cigar" in polar coordinates).
THE CARTAN FORM FOR CONSTRAINED LAGRANGIAN SYSTEMS AND THE NONHOLONOMIC NOETHER THEOREM
Authors: CRAMPIN M. , MESTDAG T.
Published: March 2011

This paper deals with conservation laws for mechanical systems with nonholonomic constraints. It uses a Lagrangian formulation of nonholonomic systems and a Cartan form approach. We present what we believe to be the most general relations between symmetries and first integrals. We discuss the so-called nonholonomic Noether theorem in terms of our formalism, and we give applications to Riemannian submanifolds, to Lagrangians of mechanical type, and to the determination of quadratic first integrals.
Effects of Magnetic Field and an Endoscope on Peristaltic Motion
Authors: Rathod V. P. , Asha S. K.
Published: March 2011

The Problem of peristaltic transport of a magnetic fluid with variable viscosity through the gap between coaxial tubes where the outer tube is nonuniform with sinusoidal wave traveling down its wall and the inner tube is rigid. The relation between the pressure gradient and friction force on the inner and outer tubes is obtained in terms of magnetic and viscosity parameter. The numerical solutions of pressure gradient, outer friction and inner friction force, and flow rate are shown graphically.
Electrical Response of Cement-Based Piezoelectric Ceramic Composites under Mechanical Loadings
Authors: Dong Biqin , Xing Feng , Li Zongjin
Published: March 2011

Electrical responses of cement-based piezoelectric ceramic composites under mechanical loadings are studied. A simple high order model is presented to explain the nonlinear phenomena, which is found in the electrical response of the composites under large mechanical loadings. For general situation, this nonlinear piezoelectric effect is quite small, and the composite is suitable for dynamic mechanical sensor as holding high static stability. The experimental results are consistent with the relationship quite well. The study shows that cement-based piezoelectric composite is suitable for potential application as dynamic mechanical sensor with excellent dynamic response and high static stability.
Dejian Mind‐Body Intervention Improves the Cognitive Functions of a Child with Autism
Authors: Chan Agnes S. , Sze Sophia L. , Cheung Mei-Chun , Han Yvonne M. Y. , Leung Winnie W. M. , Shi Dejian
Published: March 2011

There has been increasing empirical evidence for the enhancing effects of Dejian Mind‐Body Intervention (DMBI), a traditional Chinese Shaolin healing approach, on human frontal brain activity/functions, including patients with autism who are well documented to have frontal lobe problems. This study aims to compare the effects of DMBI with a conventional behavioural/cognitive intervention (CI) on enhancing the executive functions and memory of a nine‐year‐old boy with low‐functioning autism (KY) and to explore possible underlying neural mechanism using EEG theta cordance. At post‐one‐month DMBI, KY′s inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and memory functioning have significantly improved from “severely‐to‐moderately impaired” to “within‐normal” range. This improvement was not observed from previous 12‐month CI. Furthermore, KY showed increased cordance gradually extending from the anterior to the posterior brain region, suggesting possible neural mechanism underlying his cognitive improvement. These findings have implicated potential applicability of DMBI as a rehabilitation program for patients with severe frontal lobe and/or memory disorders.
Strong Convergence Theorems of the Ishikawa Process with Errors for Strictly Pseudocontractive Mapping of Browder-Petryshyn Type in Banach Spaces
Authors: Tang Yu-Chao , Cai Yong , Liu Li-Wei
Published: March 2011

We prove several strong convergence theorems for the Ishikawa iterative sequence with errors to a fixed point of strictly pseudocontractive mapping of Browder-Petryshyn type in Banach spaces and give sufficient and necessary conditions for the convergence of the scheme to a fixed point of the mapping. The results presented in this work give an affirmative answer to the open question raised by Zeng et al. 2006, and generalize the corresponding result of Zeng et al. 2006, Osilike and Udomene 2001, and others.
A Micro Polymerase Chain Reaction Module for Integrated and Portable DNA Analysis Systems
Authors: Morganti Elisa , Collini Cristian , Potrich Cristina , Ress Cristina , Adami Andrea , Lorenzelli Leandro , Pederzolli Cecilia
Published: March 2011

This work deals with the design, fabrication, and thermal characterization of a disposable miniaturized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) module that will be integrated in a portable and fast DNA analysis system. It is composed of two independent parts: a silicon substrate with embedded heater and thermometers and a PDMS (PolyDiMethylSiloxane) chamber reactor as disposable element; the contact between the two parts is assured by a mechanical clamping obtained using a Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC). This PLCC is also useful, avoid the PCR mix evaporation during the thermal cycles. Finite Element Analysis was used to evaluate the thermal requirements of the device. The thermal behaviour of the device was characterized revealing that the temperature can be controlled with a precision of ±0.5°C. Different concentrations of carbon nanopowder were mixed to the PDMS curing agent in order to increase the PDMS thermal conductivity and so the temperature control accuracy.
Minithoracoscopy: A Complementary Technique for Medical Thoracoscopy
Authors: Tassi Gian Franco , Marchetti Gian Pietro , Pinelli Valentina
Published: March 2011

Minithoracoscopy, currently defined as thoracoscopy with instruments of a diameter between 2 and 5 mm, is part of the general evolution of endoscopy towards mini-invasiveness. Its most relevant indications in the field of medical thoracoscopy are small effusions, pleural effusions in patients with narrow intercostal spaces and suspected tuberculous pleurisy in areas of low incidence of tuberculosis. In general, it increases the versatility of medical thoracoscopy.
Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Towards Outpatient Treatment and Abandoning Chest Tube Drainage
Authors: Janssen Julius , Cardillo Giuseppe
Published: March 2011

The initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax is not standardized throughout the world. Although aspiration is less painful and requires less hospitalization than chest tube drainage does, the latter is still frequently used as the initial treatment. After a recurrence or failure of aspiration, chest tube drainage, again, is often the procedure of choice although VATS or thoracoscopy and talc poudrage have been proven to be much more effective. For the surgical treatment of recurrent pneumothorax, the role of routine resection of blebs and nonruptured bullae still needs to be assessed. Pleurodesis (chemical or mechanical) should be the standard treatment in a surgical procedure.
Increase in Ceramide Level after Application of Various Sizes of Sphingomyelin Liposomes to a Cultured Human Skin Model
Authors: Tokudome Y. , Jinno M. , Todo H. , Kon T. , Sugibayashi K. , Hashimoto F.
Published: March 2011

Sphingomyelin-based liposomes (SPM-L) that were sized (or not) by extrusion through a filter with pores of 100, 200, or 400 nm were applied to a three-dimensional cultured human skin model in order to evaluate which size of SPM-L was most effective at increasing its ceramide level. The diameters of the SPM-L in PBS were 102.7, 181.0, 224.0, and 380.1 nm. The diameters of the liposomes in the culture medium were 117.5, 199.2, 242.1, and 749.8 nm. The diameter of the small liposomes (<200 nm in diameter) did not change much, at least for 7 days. SPM-L in saline or culture medium were applied to the basal layer side or stratum corneum side of the cultured skin model, and ceramide II, III, V, and VI were then extracted from it. The extracted ceramide molecules were separated by HPTLC, and the concentration of each type of ceramide was quantified using a densitometer. When the small SPM-L (110 or 190 nm in diameter) were applied to the basal layer side, the levels of ceramide III and V were increased. When they were applied to the stratum corneum side, the levels of ceramide II, III, V, and VI were significantly increased compared to those of the PBS group, especially after the application of the small SPM-L (110 nm in diameter). Thus, the application of small SPM-L was useful for increasing the ceramide II, III, V, and VI levels of a cultured human skin model.
International Child Sex Tourism: Enhancing the Legal Response in South East Asia
Authors: Johnson Afrooz Kaviani
Published: March 2011

South East Asia has earned the dubious reputation of being the world's prime child sex tourism destination. While a number of commentators have analysed extra-territorial legislation in the home countries of travelling child sex off enders, this article assesses the laws in the South East Asian destination countries in order to stimulate debate and action on much-needed reform. Unfortunately, few provisions in national legislation specifically address child sex tourism as a distinct form of sexual exploitation. To enhance the legal response to this abhorrent crime, it is recommended that national legislation directly address child sex tourism. Further, given the transnational nature of the crime, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) should urgently adopt a multinational approach that synchronises national legislation and complies with, or exceeds, the minimum standards prescribed by international law.
Children's rights in and out of the womb
Authors: Montgomery Heather , Cornock Marc
Published: March 2011

This article looks at the extent to which children's rights are applicable to the unborn. It focuses on England and Wales but also uses law and practice in other countries for comparative purposes. From the dual perspectives of the law and the anthropology/sociology of childhood, the authors examine how the unborn are constructed in law and culture and what this says about the boundaries between life and non-life, child and foetus, person and non-person. They also discuss the reluctance that many who work in childhood studies, and on children's rights, have shown in discussing the controversial question of when childhood begins. The article then examines differing ideas about when children are granted social and legal personhood and the various and often-contradictory positions taken by the law, parents, health care professionals and in more general debates.