Dynamical simulation of DCC formation in Bjorken rods

Using a semi-classical treatment of the linear sigma model, we simulate the dynamical evolution of an initially hot cylindrical rod endowed with a longitudinal Bjorken scaling expansion (a ``Bjorken rod''). The field equation is propagated until full decoupling has occurred and the asymptotic many-body state of free pions is then obtained by a suitable Fourier decomposition of the field and a subsequent stochastic determination of the number of quanta in each elementary mode. The resulting transverse pion spectrum exhibits visible enhancements below 200 MeV due to the parametric amplification caused by the oscillatory relaxation of the chiral order parameter. Ensembles of such final states are subjected to various event-by-event analyses. The factorial moments of the multiplicity distribution suggest that the soft pions are non-statistical. Furthermore, their emission patterns exhibit azimuthal correlations that have a bearing on the domain size in the source. Finally, the distribution of the neutral pion fraction shows a significant broadening for the soft pions which grows steadily as the number of azimuthal segments is increased. All of these features are indicative of disoriented chiral condensates and it may be interesting to apply similar analyses to actual data from high-energy nuclear collision experiments.Comment: 38 pages total, incl 26 ps figures ([email protected]

What is the role of public feeder markets in developing technology-based small firms? An exploration of the motivations for listing on AIM since the GFC

In the aftermath of the 2007 global financial crisis (GFC) stock markets experienced sharp decline in listings and marked reduction in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). This paper explores the factors determining UK technology based small firm (TBSF) listings on the UK Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and whether this market has a role to play in their future development. A case study approach is used to contrast the experiences of five recent AIM listed TBSFs with five TBSFs approaching private equity investment exit that are considering an IPO. The paper concludes that macro market conditions, rather than managerial resource base or AIM market structural factors were most influential in TBSF pecking order preferences to undertake IPOs. From a resource based management perspective lifelong entrepreneurs were more likely than serial entrepreneurs to favour an IPO exit, as it supported their aims to continue to manage and grow UK-based companies. Additionally, with a more buoyant and sustainable AIM market TBSF investors are more likely to choose IPOs. To conclude, AIM played an important role in listed UK TBSF development. A more buoyant AIM could ease the UK finance escalator’s flow, facilitating more rapid UK TBSF growth

A Clinical Study of Quazepam in Hospitalized Patients with Insomnia

The efficacy of quazepam (Sch-16134) 15 mg capsules as a hypnotic has been compared with that of placebo in a 9-day study, using a parallel-group design. The physician's global evaluation numerically favoured quazepam 63% (nineteen of thirty) over placebo 50% (fifteen of thirty). Furthermore, it demonstrated greater improvement in Hypnotic Activity Index and Sleep Quality Index from baseline scores, and caused no adverse reactions. </jats:p

A worldwide survey to assess the current approach to the treatment of patients with cancer and venous thromboembolism

Introduction: Since the results of the CLOT trial were published in 2003, low-molecular-weight heparin (LWMH) has been recommended as the preferred anticoagulant treatment over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer. However, there is uncertainty about the duration and dose of LMWH treatment. We assessed the current practice of anticoagulant treatment of patients with cancer and VTE in various countries. Methods: An electronic survey tool was used to build a survey containing 49 questions on different aspects of the treatment of patients with cancer and VTE, and personal links were sent to both thrombosis and non-thrombosis specialists. Results: For this analysis, 123 completed surveys were available, which represented 53% of all invitations to date. Respondent's specialties varied from haematology (26%), oncology (17%), haemato-oncology (4.1%), pulmonology (14%), general internal medicine (13%), surgery (4.9%) and other (1.6%). The majority (85%) of respondents generally use LMWH for longterm anticoagulant treatment. The application of LMWH is significantly higher (p=0.031) among European respondents (69/75; 92%) compared to respondents from the United States or Canada (30/40, 75%). Of all specialists who give LMWH for long-term treatment, 55% use fully therapeutic doses, while the remainder chooses for a dose reduction after a certain period of time. When continuing anticoagulants after the long-term treatment period, 45% of respondents prefer LMWH, 9.0% VKA, while the others choose per individual patient for either LMWH or VKA. In patients on LMWH who develop recurrent VTE during treatment, 42% of the respondents continue LWMH with a higher dose, 8.2% give double therapy with LMWH and VKA and 30% would insert a vena caval filter. Discussion: In this pre-final assessment, we observed a relatively high observance rate of the guidelines, with respect to the type of anticoagulant used for the long-term treatment of VTE in cancer patients. In contrast, the dose of LMWH and the continuation of treatment after 6 months are examples of areas in which heterogeneous responses may reflect the limited available clinical evidence. Interestingly, a lower percentage of the specialists in the US routinely use LMWH in patients with cancer compared to European specialists

Host Galaxy Properties and Offset Distributions of Fast Radio Bursts: Implications for Their Progenitors

We present observations and detailed characterizations of five new host galaxies of fast radio bursts (FRBs) discovered with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and localized to ≲1″. Combining these galaxies with FRB hosts from the literature, we introduce criteria based on the probability of chance coincidence to define a subsample of 10 highly confident associations (at z = 0.03-0.52), 3 of which correspond to known repeating FRBs. Overall, the FRB-host galaxies exhibit a broad, continuous range of color (M u - M r = 0.9-2.0), stellar mass (M ∗ = 108 - 6 × 1010 M o˙), and star formation rate (SFR = 0.05-10 M o˙ yr-1) spanning the full parameter space occupied by z 99% c.l.). We measure a median offset of 3.3 kpc from the FRB to the estimated center of the host galaxies and compare the host-burst offset distribution and other properties with the distributions of long- and short-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs and SGRBs), core-collapse supernovae (CC-SNe), and SNe Ia. This analysis rules out galaxies hosting LGRBs (faint, star-forming galaxies) as common hosts for FRBs (>95% c.l.). Other transient channels (SGRBs, CC-, and SNe Ia) have host-galaxy properties and offsets consistent with the FRB distributions. All of the data and derived quantities are made publicly available on a dedicated website and repository