On the Representation Theory of Orthofermions and Orthosupersymmetric Realization of Parasupersymmetry and Fractional Supersymmetry

We construct a canonical irreducible representation for the orthofermion algebra of arbitrary order, and show that every representation decomposes into irreducible representations that are isomorphic to either the canonical representation or the trivial representation. We use these results to show that every orthosupersymmetric system of order $p$ has a parasupersymmetry of order $p$ and a fractional supersymmetry of order $p+1$.Comment: 13 pages, to appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Ge

Identifying Arkansas Food Desert Blocks Suitable for a Peer-to-Peer Modeled Food Redistribution Program

Abstract Nearly 10% of Americans reside in low-income urban food deserts which are low-income areas that lack access to affordable and nutritious foods. Food deserts in Arkansas contribute to a food insecurity rate above the national average, making it one of the most food insecure states in the country. Increased internet usage and consumer interest in sharing based companies contribute to the idea of a sharing, or peer-to-peer (P2P) style food redistribution program. The objective of this study is to identify which of the 186,211census blocks in the state of Arkansas are food deserts and best suited for and in the most need, based on an identified set of criteria, of a P2P food redistribution program. A multi-criteria decision analysis was conducted using population, internet access, vulnerable communities, and vehicle availability as criteria. Results suggest that based upon the close proximity of priority areas, transportation access, ethnic/racial diversity, and the number of possible collection locations, Pulaski County be targeted for a P2P food redistribution pilot program

Sudden To Adiabatic Transition in Beta Decay

We discuss effects in beta decays at very low beta energies, of the order of the kinetic energies of atomic electrons. As the beta energy is lowered the atomic response changes from sudden to adiabatic. As a consequence, the beta decay rate increases slightly and the ejection of atomic electrons (shake off) and subsequent production of X rays is turned off. We estimate the transition energy and the change in decay rate. The rate increase is largest in heavy atoms, which have a small Q value in their decay. The X ray switch-off is independent of Q value.Comment: 6 pages LaTe

Low efficacy of the combination artesunate plus amodiaquine for uncomplicated falciparum malaria among children under 5 years in Kailahun, Sierra Leone.

OBJECTIVE: In 2004, Sierra Leone adopted artesunate plus amodiaquine as first-line antimalarial treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of this combination in Kailahun, where a previous study had shown 70.2% efficacy of amodiaquine in monotherapy. METHODS: Method and outcome classification of the study complied with WHO guidelines. Children 6-59 months with uncomplicated malaria were followed-up for 28 days. PCR genotyping was used to distinguish recrudescence from reinfection. Reinfections were reclassified as cured. RESULTS: Of 172 children who were referred to the study clinic, 126 satisfied inclusion criteria and were enrolled. No early treatment failures were reported. The day 14, efficacy was 98.2% (95% CI: 93.8-99.8). Of 65 recurrent parasitaemias analysed by PCR, 17 were recrudescences. The PCR-adjusted day 28 efficacy was 84.5% (95% CI: 76.4-90.7). All true failures occurred in the last 8 days of follow-up. Of 110 children who completed the 28-day follow-up, 54 (49.1%) experienced a novel infection. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of this combination was disappointing. The high reinfection rate suggested little prophylactic effect. In Kailahun a more efficacious combination might be necessary in the future. The efficacy of AS + AQ needs to be monitored in Kailahun and in the other regions of Sierra Leone

The effect of vacuum polarisation on muon-proton scattering at small energies and angles

We give a compact expression for the unpolarised differential cross section for muon-proton scattering in the one photon exchange approximation. The effect of adding the vacuum polarisation amplitude to the no-spin-flip amplitude for one photon exchange is calculated at small energies and scattering angles and is found to be negligible for present experiments.Comment: 6 pages, one figur

Mechanically Compliant Grating Reflectors for Optomechanics

We demonstrate micromechanical reflectors with a reflectivity as large as 99.4% and a mechanical quality factor Q as large as 7.8*10^5 for optomechanical applications. The reflectors are silicon nitride membranes patterned with sub-wavelength grating structures, obviating the need for the many dielectric layers used in conventional mirrors. We have employed the reflectors in the construction of a Fabry-Perot cavity with a finesse as high as F=1200, and used the optical response to probe the mechanical properties of the membrane. By driving the cavity with light detuned to the high-frequency side of a cavity resonance, we create an optical antidamping force that causes the reflector to self-oscillate at 211 kHz

Excellent inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of microvascular tests using laser speckle contrast imaging.

Post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) and vasodilation induced by acetylcholine (ACh) iontophoresis are tests of endothelial function that can be studied with laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). LSCI has the advantage of having good temporal and spatial resolutions but can lead to a high amount of data when several minutes of recordings are needed. Parameters of PORH and ACh iontophoresis vasodilation are therefore often determined by several observers or by the same observer on different days. Nevertheless, inter- and intra-observer reproducibility for the determination of such parameters has not been studied yet. We analyzed inter-observer and intra-observer reproducibility of baseline, peak and plateau determination for the two microvascular tests. Ten recordings of both PORH and ACh iontophoresis have been analyzed by two blinded trained observers. For peak determination, inter-observer coefficient of variation (CV) was 4.7% and 3.0% for PORH and ACh respectively. Intra-observer reproducibility expressed in CV ranges from 2.4% to 5.4% for PORH-peak and ACh-peak. CVs for peak determination are better than for baseline or plateau determination for both microvascular tests. This suggests that when microvascular vasodilations are reported, the data segments measured have to be noted. Finally microvascular tests using LSCI have an excellent intra- and inter-observer reproducibility

Label-free detection of anticancer drug paclitaxel in living cells by confocal Raman microscopy

Confocal Raman microscopy, a non-invasive, label-free, and high spatial resolution imaging technique is employed to trace the anticancer drug paclitaxel in living Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cells. The Raman images were treated by K-mean cluster analysis to detect the drug in cells. Distribution of paclitaxel in cells is verified by calculating the correlation coefficient between the reference spectrum of the drug and the whole Raman image spectra. A time dependent gradual diffusion of paclitaxel all over the cell is observed suggesting a complementary picture of the pharmaceutical action of this drug based on rapid binding of free tubulin to crystallized paclitaxel. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4794871

Statistical Origin of Pseudo-Hermitian Supersymmetry and Pseudo-Hermitian Fermions

We show that the metric operator for a pseudo-supersymmetric Hamiltonian that has at least one negative real eigenvalue is necessarily indefinite. We introduce pseudo-Hermitian fermion (phermion) and abnormal phermion algebras and provide a pair of basic realizations of the algebra of N=2 pseudo-supersymmetric quantum mechanics in which pseudo-supersymmetry is identified with either a boson-phermion or a boson-abnormal-phermion exchange symmetry. We further establish the physical equivalence (non-equivalence) of phermions (abnormal phermions) with ordinary fermions, describe the underlying Lie algebras, and study multi-particle systems of abnormal phermions. The latter provides a certain bosonization of multi-fermion systems.Comment: 20 pages, to appear in J.Phys.