Geometry and material effects in Casimir physics - Scattering theory

We give a comprehensive presentation of methods for calculating the Casimir force to arbitrary accuracy, for any number of objects, arbitrary shapes, susceptibility functions, and separations. The technique is applicable to objects immersed in media other than vacuum, to nonzero temperatures, and to spatial arrangements in which one object is enclosed in another. Our method combines each object's classical electromagnetic scattering amplitude with universal translation matrices, which convert between the bases used to calculate scattering for each object, but are otherwise independent of the details of the individual objects. This approach, which combines methods of statistical physics and scattering theory, is well suited to analyze many diverse phenomena. We illustrate its power and versatility by a number of examples, which show how the interplay of geometry and material properties helps to understand and control Casimir forces. We also examine whether electrodynamic Casimir forces can lead to stable levitation. Neglecting permeabilities, we prove that any equilibrium position of objects subject to such forces is unstable if the permittivities of all objects are higher or lower than that of the enveloping medium; the former being the generic case for ordinary materials in vacuum.Comment: 44 pages, 11 figures, to appear in upcoming Lecture Notes in Physics volume in Casimir physic

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results

Svestka's Research: Then and Now

Zdenek Svestka's research work influenced many fields of solar physics, especially in the area of flare research. In this article I take five of the areas that particularly interested him and assess them in a "then and now" style. His insights in each case were quite sound, although of course in the modern era we have learned things that he could not readily have envisioned. His own views about his research life have been published recently in this journal, to which he contributed so much, and his memoir contains much additional scientific and personal information (Svestka, 2010).Comment: Invited review for "Solar and Stellar Flares," a conference in honour of Prof. Zden\v{e}k \v{S}vestka, Prague, June 23-27, 2014. This is a contribution to a Topical Issue in Solar Physics, based on the presentations at this meeting (Editors Lyndsay Fletcher and Petr Heinzel

Effects Of 1-mcp Onthe Post-harvest Quality Of The Orange Cv. Pera Stored Under Refrigeration

The aim of this work was to analyse the effects of 1-MCP upon the post-harvest quality of the orange cv. Pera stored for 45 days at a temperature of 7 °C. The fruit was divided into four treatments, and then submitted to the application of three concentrations of 1-methylciclopropene (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0μL.L-1) for a period of 12 hours. The fruitwas again then stored at a temperature of 7 °C. The rate of respiration was determined, together withcoloration of the epidermis, SS, TA, ratio, vitamin C, total carotenoids, phenolic compounds, total and reducing sugars, weight loss and juice yield. The data were submitted to analysis of variance (F-Test), and the averages were analysed by regression (P≤0.05). According to the results, it could be seen that higher doses of 1-MCP may have caused chemical stress to the orangesunder evaluation, being responsible for the increasein the rate of respiration. A change in coloration of the epidermis from green to yellow/orange was delayed by the application of 1-MCP; the application of 1-MCP did not cause any alteration to such chemical characteristics as SS, TA, ratio, carotenoids, phenolic compounds or sugars.47462463

Cost-effectiveness of healthy eating and/or physical activity promotion in pregnant women at increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

__Background:__ Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with perinatal health risks to both mother and offspring, and represents a large economic burden. The DALI study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial, undertaken to add to the knowledge base on the effectiveness of interventions for pregnant women at increased risk for GDM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the healthy eating and/or physical activity promotion intervention compared to usual care among pregnant women at increased risk of GDM from a societal perspective. __Methods:__ An economic evaluation was performed alongside a European multicenter-randomized controlled trial. A total of 435 pregnant women at increased risk of GDM in primary and secondary care settings in nine European countries, were recruited and randomly allocated to a healthy eating and physical activity promotion intervention (HE + PA intervention), a healthy eating promotion intervention (HE intervention), or a physical activity promotion intervention (PA intervention). Main outcome measures were gestational weight gain, fasting glucose, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quality adjusted life years (QALYs), and societal costs. __Results:__ Between-group total cost and effect differences were not significant, besides significantly less gestational weight gain in the HE + PA group compared with the usual care group at 35-37 weeks ( 2.3;95%CI:-3.7;-0.9). Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves indicated that the HE + PA intervention was the preferred intervention strategy. At 35-37 weeks, it depends on the decision-makers' willingness to pay per kilogram reduction in gestational weight gain whether the HE + PA intervention is cost-effective for gestational weight gain, whereas it was not cost-effective for fasting glucose and HOMA-IR. After delivery, the HE + PA intervention was cost-effective for QALYs, which was predominantly caused by

A First Search for coincident Gravitational Waves and High Energy Neutrinos using LIGO, Virgo and ANTARES data from 2007

We present the results of the first search for gravitational wave bursts associated with high energy neutrinos. Together, these messengers could reveal new, hidden sources that are not observed by conventional photon astronomy, particularly at high energy. Our search uses neutrinos detected by the underwater neutrino telescope ANTARES in its 5 line configuration during the period January - September 2007, which coincided with the fifth and first science runs of LIGO and Virgo, respectively. The LIGO-Virgo data were analysed for candidate gravitational-wave signals coincident in time and direction with the neutrino events. No significant coincident events were observed. We place limits on the density of joint high energy neutrino - gravitational wave emission events in the local universe, and compare them with densities of merger and core-collapse events.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, science summary page at http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S5LV_ANTARES/index.php. Public access area to figures, tables at https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=p120000

Quality Of Soy Bean Seeds Under Tillage With Differe Nt Amounts Of Waste Of Black Oats, Common Vetch And For Age Turnip

Adjusting the cover crop to the agricultural system is essential to reach success during a crop introduction, since this management can influence development, productivity and produced seeds quality. For the soybean cultivar CD 202, traditional, half, and double amounts of crop waste produced by black oats, and a consortium of black oat, common vetch and forage turnip, were evaluated. Tests comprised emergence (emergency speed index (ESI) and emergence rate (ER)), development, field productivity and quality of seeds (germination percentage, accelerated aging, purity, 100-seed weight, and water content). The experimental design was of split plots and the mean values were compared through the Scott-Knott test at a 5% significance level, totaling seven treatments with five replications each. No differences were found in germination percentage, water content, and final height of plants. Some treatments differed in germination and waste use increased ESI; ER was superior for black oats and the best productivity was found under double amount of straw, on both cover crops. The seed strength decreased the under consortium, as shown by accelerated aging under the consortium. The purity of seeds was lower for black oats, decreasing with the least amount of crop waste. The 100-seed weight was lower with the double amount in oats; however, under the consortium the use of cover crop increased their weight. Thus, these species can be a good alternatives for soybean rotation on winter.384292297Bortolini, M.F., Fortes, M.T., Efeitos alelopáticos sobre a germinação de sementes de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) (2005) Semina: Ciênc. Agr., 26, pp. 5-10(2009) Indicadores da Agropecuária. Ano XVIII, No 1. Compan Hia Nacional de Abastecimento, 64p. , CONAB, Brasília, Brazil(2009) Soja CD 202. Cooperativa Central de Pesquisa Agrícola, , www.coodetec.com.br/php/detalhes_cultivar.php?id=20, CIDADE?, Brazil, (Cons. 02/25/2009)Correia, N.M., Centurion, M.A.P.C., Alves, P.L.C.A., Inf luência de extratos aquosos de sorgo sobre a germinação e o desenvolvimento de plântulas de soja (2005) Ciênc. Rural, 35, pp. 498-503Edmond, J.B., Drapalla, W.J., The effects of temperature, sana and soil, and acetone on ger mination oj ok ra seed (1958) Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci., 71, pp. 428-443(2000) A Cultura da Soja No Brasil, , EMBRAPA SOJA, Londrina, Brazil. CD-ROM(2005) Tecnologia da Produção da Soja. Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária, 208p. , EMBRAPA SOJA, Londrina, Brazil(2008) Tecnologia de Produção de Soja. Região Central Do Brasil, 280p. , EMBRAPA SOJA, Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Embrapa Cerrados: Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste. Londrina, BrazilFerreira, D.F., (1999) Sisvar: Sistema de Análise de Variância Para Dados Balanceados, , DEX / UFLA: Lavras, Brazil(2009) Prognóstico da Produção Agrícola Nacional, , www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/agropecuaria/lspa/ lspa_200812-11.shtm, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, (Cons. 01/16/2009)Kubo, C.T., Produtividade de soja em plantio direto em sucessão ao trigo, aveia branca, aveia preta com e sem adubação nit rogenada (2007) Acta Sci. Agron., 29, pp. 235-240Lopes, R.A.P., Pin Heiro Neto, R., Braccini, A.L., Souza, E.G., Efeito de diferentes coberturas vegetais e sistemas de preparo do solo na produção da cultura da soja (2007) Acta Sci. Agron., 29, pp. 507-515Maguire, J.D., Seeds of germination- aid selection and evaluation seedling emergence and vigor (1962) Crop Sci., 2, pp. 176-177Marcos Filho, J., Teste de envelhecimento acelerado. Cap. 3. (1999) Seed Vigor: Concepts and Tests, pp. 1-24. , Krzyzanowski EFC, Vieira RD, Neto JBF (Eds.), Associação Brasileira de Tecnologia de Sementes. Londrina, Brazil. 218 ppMarcos Filho, J., Cicero, S.M., Silva, W.R., (1987) Avaliação da Qualidade de Sementes, 230p. , FEALQ. Piracicaba, BrazilMartins, G.I., (2006) Potencial Alelopático de Plantas de Cobertura Na Germinação de Sementes e Crescimento de Plântulas de Soja. Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, 42p. , Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná. Brazil(2009) Regras Para Análise de Sementes. 388 Mapa/ACS, 399p. , MAPA, Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Brasília, BrazilNedel, J.L., Fundamentos da qualidade de sementes (2003) Sementes: Fundamentos Científicos e Tecnológicos, pp. 95-138. , Peske ST, Rosenthal MD, Rota GR (Eds.), Universidade Federal de Pelotas. BrazilNóbrega, L.H.P., Germinação de sementes e crescimento de plântulas de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) sob cobertura vegetal (2009) Acta Sci. Agron., 31, pp. 461-465Nunes, U.R., Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de feijão em plantio direto sobre diferentes coberturas de plantas em Diamantina MG (2007) Ciênc. Agrotécn., 31, pp. 1737-1743Piccolo, G., (2008) Manejo de Coberturas Vegetais Na Cultura da Soja, 63p. , Thesis. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Unioeste. BrazilRice, E.L., (1974) Allelopathy, 333p. , Academic Press. New York, USA(2008) Área e Produção: Principais Culturas Do Paraná, , www.seab.pr.gov.br/, SEAB, Secretaria da Agricultura e do Abastecimento do Paraná. (Cons. 12/22/2008)Souza, C.M., Pires, F.R., (2002) Adubação Verde e Rotação de Culturas, 72p. , Universidade Federal de Viçosa. BrasilSouza Filho, A.P., Alves, S.M., Mecanismos de ação dos agentes alelopáticos (2002) Alelopatia. Princípios Básicos e Aspectos Gerais. Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, pp. 132-154. , Souza Filho AP, Alves SM (Eds.), Belém, BrasilTokura, L.K., Nóbrega, L.H.P., Alelopatia de cultivos de cobertura vegetal sobre plantas infestantes (2006) Acta Sci. Agron., 28, pp. 379-38

Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space Age: Secondary Distance Indicators

The formal division of the distance indicators into primary and secondary leads to difficulties in description of methods which can actually be used in two ways: with, and without the support of the other methods for scaling. Thus instead of concentrating on the scaling requirement we concentrate on all methods of distance determination to extragalactic sources which are designated, at least formally, to use for individual sources. Among those, the Supernovae Ia is clearly the leader due to its enormous success in determination of the expansion rate of the Universe. However, new methods are rapidly developing, and there is also a progress in more traditional methods. We give a general overview of the methods but we mostly concentrate on the most recent developments in each field, and future expectations. © 2018, The Author(s)

Assessing associations between the AURKAHMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 functional module and breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers

While interplay between BRCA1 and AURKA-RHAMM-TPX2-TUBG1 regulates mammary epithelial polarization, common genetic variation in HMMR (gene product RHAMM) may be associated with risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers. Following on these observations, we further assessed the link between the AURKA-HMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 functional module and risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers. Forty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 15,252 BRCA1 and 8,211 BRCA2 mutation carriers and subsequently analyzed using a retrospective likelihood appr

Global surveillance of cancer survival 1995-2009: analysis of individual data for 25,676,887 patients from 279 population-based registries in 67 countries (CONCORD-2)

BACKGROUND: Worldwide data for cancer survival are scarce. We aimed to initiate worldwide surveillance of cancer survival by central analysis of population-based registry data, as a metric of the effectiveness of health systems, and to inform global policy on cancer control. METHODS: Individual tumour records were submitted by 279 population-based cancer registries in 67 countries for 25·7 million adults (age 15-99 years) and 75,000 children (age 0-14 years) diagnosed with cancer during 1995-2009 and followed up to Dec 31, 2009, or later. We looked at cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum, liver, lung, breast (women), cervix, ovary, and prostate in adults, and adult and childhood leukaemia. Standardised quality control procedures were applied; errors were corrected by the registry concerned. We estimated 5-year net survival, adjusted for background mortality in every country or region by age (single year), sex, and calendar year, and by race or ethnic origin in some countries. Estimates were age-standardised with the International Cancer Survival Standard weights. FINDINGS: 5-year survival from colon, rectal, and breast cancers has increased steadily in most developed countries. For patients diagnosed during 2005-09, survival for colon and rectal cancer reached 60% or more in 22 countries around the world; for breast cancer, 5-year survival rose to 85% or higher in 17 countries worldwide. Liver and lung cancer remain lethal in all nations: for both cancers, 5-year survival is below 20% everywhere in Europe, in the range 15-19% in North America, and as low as 7-9% in Mongolia and Thailand. Striking rises in 5-year survival from prostate cancer have occurred in many countries: survival rose by 10-20% between 1995-99 and 2005-09 in 22 countries in South America, Asia, and Europe, but survival still varies widely around the world, from less than 60% in Bulgaria and Thailand to 95% or more in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the USA. For cervical cancer, national estimates of 5-year survival range from less than 50% to more than 70%; regional variations are much wider, and improvements between 1995-99 and 2005-09 have generally been slight. For women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005-09, 5-year survival was 40% or higher only in Ecuador, the USA, and 17 countries in Asia and Europe. 5-year survival for stomach cancer in 2005-09 was high (54-58%) in Japan and South Korea, compared with less than 40% in other countries. By contrast, 5-year survival from adult leukaemia in Japan and South Korea (18-23%) is lower than in most other countries. 5-year survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is less than 60% in several countries, but as high as 90% in Canada and four European countries, which suggests major deficiencies in the management of a largely curable disease. INTERPRETATION: International comparison of survival trends reveals very wide differences that are likely to be attributable to differences in access to early diagnosis and optimum treatment. Continuous worldwide surveillance of cancer survival should become an indispensable source of information for cancer patients and researchers and a stimulus for politicians to improve health policy and health-care systems