Root patterns and energy spectra of quantum integrable systems without U(1) symmetry: the antiperiodic XXZ spin chain

Finding out root patterns of quantum integrable models is an important step to study their physical properties in the thermodynamic limit. Especially for models without U(1) symmetry, their spectra are usually given by inhomogeneous T − Q relations and the Bethe root patterns are still unclear. In this paper with the antiperiodic XXZ spin chain as an example, an analytic method to derive both the Bethe root patterns and the transfer-matrix root patterns in the thermodynamic limit is proposed. Based on them the ground state energy and elementary excitations in the gapped regime are derived. The present method provides an universal procedure to compute physical properties of quantum integrable models in the thermodynamic limit.

Recovery of Mycobacteria from Heavily Contaminated Environmental Matrices

For epidemiology studies, a decontamination method using a solution containing 4.0% NaOH and 0.5% tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TDAB) represents a relatively simple and universal procedure for processing heavily microbially contaminated matrices together with increase of mycobacteria yield and elimination of gross contamination. A contamination rate only averaging 7.3% (2.4% in Cluster S; 6.9%% in Cluster R and 12.6%% in Cluster E) was found in 787 examined environmental samples. Mycobacteria were cultured from 28.5% of 274 soil and water sediments samples (Cluster S), 60.2% of 251 samples of raw and processed peat and other horticultural substrates (Cluster R), and 29.4% of 262 faecal samples along with other samples of animal origin (Cluster E). A total of 38 species of slow and rapidly growing mycobacteria were isolated. M. avium ssp. hominissuis, M. fortuitum, and M. malmoense were the species most often isolated. The parameters for the quantitative detection of mycobacteria by PCR can be significantly refined by treating the sample suspension before DNA isolation with PMA (propidium monoazide) solution. This effectively eliminates DNA residue from both dead mycobacterial cells and potentially interfering DNA segments present from other microbial flora. In terms of human exposure risk assessment, the potential exposure to live non-tuberculous mycobacteria can be more accurately determined.

Preamble

1. In 2004, the American Law Institute (ALI) and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) adopted the ALI/UNIDROIT Principles of Transnational Civil Procedure.1 They were intended to help reduce the impact of differences between legal systems in lawsuits involving transnational commercial transactions. Their purpose was to propose a model of universal procedure that followed the essential elements of due process of law. They were accompanied by a set of “Rules of Transnational Civil Procedure”, which were not formally adopted by either UNIDROIT or the ALI but constituted a model implementation of the Principles, providing greater detail and illustrating how the Principles could be implemented in procedural rules. The Rules were to be considered either for adoption “or for further adaptation in various legal systems”, and along with the Principles could be considered as “a model for reform in domestic legislation”....

Neonatal Screening Program of Congenital Hypothyroidism: How Can We (Still) Improve?

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has severe and irreversible neurological consequences for the child if treatment is not readily initiated, which justifies fast diagnosis. Screening of CH is a universal procedure well established in Portugal. It is based on measuring the pituitary thyroid stimulating hormone. The physiology of maturation of the pituitary-thyroid axis is incomplete at delivery in preterm and very-low birth weight babies (VLBW), which raises concerns with respect to the standard timing of CH diagnosis.The Portuguese Neonatal Screening Program recommends testing preterm/VLBW babies at three time points. The purpose of this study was to assess compliance of these guidelines.Methods: Questionnaires were sent to neonatal care units (NCU) and to general practitioner community health units in two time periods.Results: All NCU have written guidelines and the great majority follows the recommendations. Few NCU still postpone the first collection for newborns with protein intake restrictions, some retest new-borns in special circumstances, and a great number still use iodine disinfectants.Conclusions: This study shows that performing the metabolic screening is a well standardized procedure that can still be improved: not delaying the first collection, retesting sick and medicated babies, and avoiding iodine disinfectants.

Efficient modelling of flexible cable-pulley systems

This article proposes a universal procedure for efficiently modelling the flexible behaviour of pre-stressed cables, guided by multiple pulleys. Such cable-pulley systems usually connect various structural components, which often feature additional flexibility. One concern in holistic system analyses is to correctly describe the elasticity of the entire assembly for one particular spatial configuration. This can be achieved in terms of a linear stiffness matrix that accounts for the kinematics of the assembly. In this article, parametric stiffness matrices for arbitrary cable-pulley arrangements are derived. A reduction scheme is used to facilitate the integration of the derived stiffness matrix into superordinate finite element models. The method is validated with a non-linear finite element model and applied to a complex hoisting cable system connecting multiple large steel structures.

Bacterial Microbiota Isolated from Cysts of Globodera rostochiensis (Nematoda: Heteroderidae)

The potato cyst nematode (PCN) Globodera rostochiensis is a plant parasite of potato classified into a group of quarantine organisms causing high economic losses worldwide. Due to the long persistence of the parasite in soil, cysts harbor numerous bacteria whose presence can lead to cyst death and population decline. The cysts of G. rostochiensis found in two potato fields were used as a source of bacteria. The universal procedure was applied to extract DNA from bacteria which was then sequenced with 16S primers. The aims of the study were to identify bacterial microbiota associated with the PCN populations and to infer their phylogenetic relationships based on the maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogeny of the 16S sequences. In addition, the impact of the most significant climate and edaphic factors on bacterial diversity were evaluated. Regarding the higher taxonomy, our results indicate that the prevalent bacterial classes were Bacilli, Actinobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analyses clustered Brevibacterium frigoritolerans within the family Bacillaceae, confirming its recent reclassification. Long-term climate factors, such as air temperature, insolation hours, humidity and precipitation, as well as the content of soil organic matter, affected the bacterial diversity. The ability of cyst nematodes to persist in soil for a long time qualifies them as a significant natural source to explore the soil bacterial microbiota.

Practical Methods to Improve Client Compliance in General Medicine

There is a gap between theoretical knowledge about strategies and the techniques or methods to apply in the practice of the consultation to improve compliance. Within the framework of these strategies, a number of techniques to be used in certain situations can be cited: 1) Assessing readiness to change, importance and confidence; 2) Instruments for decision support; 3) Technique of the "pros and cons"; 4) Auto-monitoring techniques; 5) Technique of "information exchange"; 6) Feedback technique; 7) Brainstorming; 8) The “typical day”; and 9) Practical reminder systems for taking medication. A certain technique is not a universal procedure, but it is usually refined by trial and error, based on past experiences, and their choice and design are the responsibility of the general practitioner.

Successful Transcatheter PDA Device Closure in an Adult with Retrograde Wiring and Antegrade Snaring Approach

Patent ductus arteriosus accounts for 5 – 10% of all congenital heart disease in children. Currently, transcatheter closure is standard of care. Device closure in PDA is usually done by an antegrade technique where PDA is crossed from the PA side. In some patients, this universal procedure may not be successful due to anatomical differences. In such patients, the retrograde technique with retrograde wiring and antegrade snaring approach followed by PDA device closure may be used successfully to close PDA. We report such a case of difficult PDA device closure where the antegrade technique was not successful and PDA device closure was completed by retrograde approach.

Development of Technology for High-Power Industry Converters

The power stable of the converters is actually coming from some milliwatts (as in a cellphone) to dozens of megawatts in an HVDC gearbox body. Along with "classic" electronic devices, power streams, as well as current, are actually utilized to hold relevant information, whereas along with power electronic devices, they lug power. This inverter may magnify source of power like gas- mobiles, little wind turbines, as well as photo-voltaic assortments (i.e. it agrees with for circulated power treatments). The principles of resources and also changes are actually described and also categorized. Coming from the general regulations of resource propinquities, a universal procedure of power converter formation exists.