Polarisation rotation of slow light with orbital angular momentum in ultracold atomic gases

We consider the propagation of slow light with an orbital angular momentum (OAM) in a moving atomic medium. We have derived a general equation of motion and applied it in analysing propagation of slow light with an OAM in a rotating medium, such as a vortex lattice. We have shown that the OAM of slow light manifests itself in a rotation of the polarisation plane of linearly polarised light. To extract a pure rotational phase shift, we suggest to measure a difference in the angle of the polarisation plane rotation by two consecutive light beams with opposite OAM. The differential angle $\Delta\alpha_{\ell}$ is proportional to the rotation frequency of the medium $\omega_{\mathrm{rot}}$ and the winding number $\ell$ of light, and is inversely proportional to the group velocity of light. For slow light the angle $\Delta\alpha_{\ell}$ should be large enough to be detectable. The effect can be used as a tool for measuring the rotation frequency $\omega_{\mathrm{rot}}$ of the medium.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Evaluation of heat extraction through sapphire fibers for the GW observatory KAGRA

Currently, the Japanese gravitational wave laser interferometer KAGRA is under construction in the Kamioka mine. As one main feature, it will employ sapphire mirrors operated at a temperature of 20K to reduce the impact from thermal noise. To reduce seismic noise, the mirrors will also be suspended from multi-stage pendulums. Thus the heat load deposited in the mirrors by absorption of the circulating laser light as well as heat load from thermal radiation will need to be extracted through the last suspension stage. This stage will consist of four thin sapphire fibers with larger heads necessary to connect the fibers to both the mirror and the upper stage. In this paper, we discuss heat conductivity measurements on different fiber candidates. While all fibers had a diameter of 1.6mm, different surface treatments and approaches to attach the heads were analyzed. Our measurements show that fibers fulfilling the basic KAGRA heat conductivity requirement of $\kappa\geq$5000W/m/K at 20K are technologically feasible.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Formats of Winning Strategies for Six Types of Pushdown Games

The solution of parity games over pushdown graphs (Walukiewicz '96) was the first step towards an effective theory of infinite-state games. It was shown that winning strategies for pushdown games can be implemented again as pushdown automata. We continue this study and investigate the connection between game presentations and winning strategies in altogether six cases of game arenas, among them realtime pushdown systems, visibly pushdown systems, and counter systems. In four cases we show by a uniform proof method that we obtain strategies implementable by the same type of pushdown machine as given in the game arena. We prove that for the two remaining cases this correspondence fails. In the conclusion we address the question of an abstract criterion that explains the results

Immediate early protein of equid herpesvirus type 1 as a target for cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in the thoroughbred horse

Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) are associated with protective immunity against disease caused by equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). However, the EHV-1 target proteins for CTLs are poorly defined. This limits the development of vaccine candidates designed to stimulate strong CTL immunity. Here, classical CTL assays using lymphocytes from horses of three defined MHC class I types that experienced natural infection with EHV-1 and a modified vaccinia virus construct containing an EHV-1 gene encoding the immediate-early (IE) protein are reported. Horses homozygous for the equine leukocyte antigen (ELA)-A2 haplotype, but not the ELA-A5 haplotype, produced MHC-restricted CTL responses against the IE protein. Previously, horses homozygous for the ELA-A3 haplotype also mounted CTL responses against the IE protein. Both haplotypes are common in major horse breeds, including the Thoroughbred. Thus, the IE protein is an attractive candidate molecule for future studies of T-cell immunity to EHV-1 in the horse

Original biographies from the Dictionary of African Christian Biography

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. The editors are pleased to offer the first annual cumulative volume of the Journal of African Christian Biography, the monthly scholarly publication that was launched in June of 2016. Since then, the life stories of twelve individuals who played vital roles in and through their faith communities have been published online as free downloads. But it is important that a selection of DACB stories be more readily available to those without access to the internet. As I mentioned in the fall 2016 newsletter of the DACB, each issue of the journal is available in its e-journal, on-line version, where it is configured either as A4 or 8.5 x 11 format printable as booklets, ready for local printing and binding or stapling. Our intention is to make it easy for academics and church leaders in various parts of Africa to make print copies of the journal available to their students, colleagues or church members. And so it is with this cumulative volume.This issue focuses on: 1. "Walatta Petros and Hakalla Amale, Pious Women of Ethiopia," with commentary by Dr. Jonathan Bonk, Project Director. 2. Walatta Petros. 3. Hakalla Amale. 4. Bishop Josiah Kibira of Tanzania, Ecumenical Statesman. 5. Josiah Mutabuzi Isaya Kibira. 6. Josiah Kibira. 7. David Lonkibiri Windibiziri. 8. Abiodun Babatunde Lawrence. 9. Dominic Ignatius Ekandem. 10. William Wadé Harris, Prophet-Evangelist of West Africa: His Life, Message, Praxis, Heritage, and Legacy. 11. William Wadé Harris. 12. Michael Timneng and Jeremiah Chi Kangsen: Christianity Beyond the Missionary Presence in Cameroon. 13. Michael Timneng. 14. Jeremiah Chi Kangsen. 15. Rainisoalambo, Ravelonjanahary, and Volahavana Germaine (Nenilava): Revival Leaders of Madagascar. 16. Rainisoalambo. 17. Ravelonjanahary. 18. Volahavana Germaine (Nenilava). 19. Recent Print and Digital Resourcews Related to Christianity in Africa

Metabolically exaggerated cardiac reactions to acute psychological stress: The effects of resting blood pressure status and possible underlying mechanisms

The study aimed to: confirm that acute stress elicits metabolically exaggerated increases in cardiac activity; test whether individuals with elevated resting blood pressure show more exaggerated cardiac reactions to stress than those who are clearly normotensive; and explore the underlying mechanisms. Cardiovascular activity and oxygen consumption were measured pre-, during, and post- mental stress, and during graded submaximal cycling exercise in 11 young men with moderately elevated resting blood pressure and 11 normotensives. Stress provoked increases in cardiac output that were much greater than would be expected from contemporary levels of oxygen consumption. Exaggerated cardiac reactions were larger in the relatively elevated blood pressure group. They also had greater reductions in total peripheral resistance, but not heart rate variability, implying that their more exaggerated cardiac reactions reflected greater β-adrenergic activation

Re-theorising the core: a ‘globalized’ business elite in Santiago, Chile

World systems theory continues to be a widely adopted approach in theorisations of the contemporary world economy. An important epistemological component to world systems theory is the metaphor of core-periphery. Recent work within the approach has sought to transcend earlier criticisms of regional conceptions of cores, peripheries and semi-peripheries by an increasing sensitivity to local differences and an increasing emphasis on Wallerstein's original idea of core-periphery as process, operating at all scales in the contemporary world system. However, this paper argues that the core-periphery metaphor currently used by world systems theorists is founded around a restrictively narrow spatial epistemology. Such a narrow epistemology implements the core-periphery metaphor only as something which produces territorial outcomes in the physical world. This paper contends that recent work within the social services, concerned with the globalization debate and issues of spatial epistemology, should inform world systems theory in producing a reformulated spatial understanding of the core-periphery metaphor, embodying a wider conception of space to include abstract social spaces. This argument is developed in the notion that the world economy must also be understood as having a ‘social core’: a transnational diasporic business elite exercising decision-making power over the capitalist world system. The contention is grounded in the presentation of research into a case study of such a ‘globalized’ business elite in the capital city of Chile, Santiago

The stroke oxygen pilot study: a randomized control trial of the effects of routine oxygen supplementation early after acute stroke--effect on key outcomes at six months

Introduction: Post-stroke hypoxia is common, and may adversely affect outcome. We have recently shown that oxygen supplementation may improve early neurological recovery. Here, we report the six-month outcomes of this pilot study. Methods: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke were randomized within 24 h of admission to oxygen supplementation at 2 or 3 L/min for 72 h or to control treatment (room air). Outcomes (see below) were assessed by postal questionnaire at 6 months. Analysis was by intention-to-treat, and statistical significance was set at p#0.05. Results: Out of 301 patients randomized two refused/withdrew consent and 289 (148 in the oxygen and 141 in the control group) were included in the analysis: males 44%, 51%; mean (SD) age 73 (12), 71 (12); median (IQR) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 6 (3, 10), 5 (3, 10) for the two groups respectively. At six months 22 (15%) patients in the oxygen group and 20 (14%) in the control group had died; mean survival in both groups was 162 days (p= 0.99). Median (IQR) scores for the primary outcome, the modified Rankin Scale, were 3 (1, 5) and 3 (1, 4) for the oxygen and control groups respectively. The covariate-adjusted odds ratio was 1.04 (95% CI 0.67, 1.60), indicating that the odds of a lower (i.e. better) score were non-significantly higher in the oxygen group (p= 0.86). The mean differences in the ability to perform basic (Barthel Index) and extended activities of daily living (NEADL), and quality of life (EuroQol) were also non-significant. Conclusions: None of the key outcomes differed at 6 months between the groups. Although not statistically significant and generally of small magnitude, the effects were predominantly in favour of the oxygen group; a larger trial, powered to show differences in longer-term functional outcomes, is now on-going. Trial Registration: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN12362720; Eudract.ema.europa.eu 2004-001866-4

The Changing World of Financial Intermediaries and Related Institutions: Survey of Major Developments and Their Implications for Public Policy

Inflation, high and variable interest rates, and new electronic technology have had a profound impact on financial institutions throughout the world. This report surveys how the various kinds of financial institutions in the United States have been affected by these developments, how they have reacted, what major legislative action has been taken, and what policy issues remain