Incommensurability in an exactly-soluble quantal and classical model for a kicked rotator

The Hamiltonian H = 2πp + V(θ) Σ^∞_−∞ δ(t − n)(0 θ < 2π) is solved exactly, classically and quantally; the so lutions depend strongly on . There is no classical chaos and the phase cylinder p, θ is filled with invariant curves, which are finite loops around the cylinder if is sufficiently irrational and are translates of the infinitely long p axis if is rational. Quantal quasi-energy states correspond exactly to these invariant curves: localized in p and extended in θ if is sufficiently irrational, and extended in p and localized in θ if is rational. For a classical or quantal initial pure-momentum state, the energy at time t = n grows as n² if is rational (resonance) and remains bounded if is sufficiently irrational (non-resonance). If is very nearly rational (marginal resonance), the energy may grow as n^λ where λ is expressed in terms of exponents describing the irrationality of and the continuity class of V(θ). If the value of is uncertain, ensemble-averaging over shows that the energy grows ultimately as n, i.e. diffusively, as though under random impulses.     

Evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of voice therapy using transnasal flexible laryngoscopy: a randomized controlled trial

Transnasal flexible laryngoscopy (TFL) is an examination of laryngeal anatomy and physiology using continuous light. TFL is being used increasingly by voice pathologists in treatment but with little scientific evidence to support it. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of TFL as a therapeutic tool. The study used a prospective randomized controlled trial. Fifty dysphonic subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to either a traditional treatment group or a TFL-assisted treatment group. The effectiveness of voice therapy in both treatment groups was measured with a package of voice outcome measures. Subjects in both treatment groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements after voice therapy (perceptual auditory rating of voice quality measurement p < 0.01; instrumental electroglottographic measurement p < 0.01; patient questionnaire measurement p < 0.01). The time taken to complete treatment in both groups was recorded. The average (median) time taken to complete voice therapy in the TFL-assisted treatment group was 2 hours less than in the traditional treatment group (p < 0.01). Voice therapy with TFL as a therapy tool was effective and more efficient than traditional voice therapy.     

Assessing outcomes for dysphonic patients

This study was designed to evaluate a disease-specific outcome measure for patients with selected voice disorders and to relate this instrument to a standardized quality of life measurement. In addition, the study attempts to document the degree of handicap for dysphonia patients globally, between different vocal pathologies, and in comparison to other chronic diseases. In this prospective, observational study, 260 adult patients evaluated for alterations of voice completed a general quality of life measure (the Medical Outcomes Trust Short Form 36-Item[SF-36]) and a voice-specific instrument (Voice Handicap Index [VHI]) pretreatment.

The highest correlation was between the social functioning score of the SF-36and the total score of the VHI and the physical, emotional, and functional subscales (p < 0.001) of the VHI. Significant correlation was also obtained for the SF-36 domains mental health (p < 0.01), general health (p < 0.01), and role functioning emotional (p < 0.017) with the three VHI domains and the total VHI score. Patients had significantly lower scores than the general U.S. population in five of the eight domains of SF-36. Patients with vocal fold paralysis had the highest level of pretreatment disability as measured on both the VHI and SF-36 among voice patients. The patients with dysphonia had a lower level of physical functioning than the patients with chronic sinusitis (p < 0.01), reflecting a greater handicap. In addition, the dysphonia group had lower levels of social functioning than the angina (p < 0.01) and sciatica (p < 0.01) groups and a lower score for mental health than the angina group (p < 0.01).

The SF-36 correlates with the VHI in the domains of social functioning,mental health, and role functioning emotional. The baseline handicap for voice disorders represents a significant disability even in comparison to conditions such as angina pectoris, sciatica, and chronic sinusitis.     

π-electroproduction on hydrogen near threshold at four-momentum transfers of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 GeV

The reaction e + p → e + π⁰ + p was measured near the one pion threshold, detecting the final electron and proton in coincidence for values of q² = 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 GeV². The slope of the cross section at threshold is determined. The data are compared with those of the e + p → e + π⁺ + n reaction, measured simultaneously, and with the results of pseudovector Born approximation and with dispersion theoretical calculations.     

Intersecting M-branes

We present the magnetic duals of Güven's electric-type solutions of D = 11 supergravity preserving 1/4 or 1/8 of the D = 11 supersymmetry. We interpret the electric solutions as n orthogonal intersecting membranes and the magnetic solutions as n orthogonal intersecting 5-branes, with n = 2, 3; these cases obey the general rule that p-branes can self-intersect on (p − 2)-branes. On reduction to D = 4 these solutions become electric or magnetic dilaton black holes with dilaton coupling constant a = 1 (for n = 2) or (for n = 3). We also discuss the reduction to D = 10.     

Morphometry in temporal lobe epilepsy

We demonstrate a method for quantitating changes in volume and morphology of the temporal lobe in epilepsy. The temporal lobes of 10 neurologically normal subjects and six subjects with well defined left-sided mesial temporal epilepsy were studied. From high resolution T₁-weighted magnetic resonance images, the grey and white matter were manually segmented over a predetermined extent. The volumes of the grey and white matter were determined. Using the segmented images, the grey matter/CSF surface and the white matter/grey matter surface were reconstructed, allowing estimates of the surface area and calculation of indices of curvature for the two surfaces. The index of curvature was calculated for each vertex of a polygonal mesh that was fitted to the surfaces. An index of grey matter thickness (grey matter volume/white matter surface area) was also calculated. There was a significant bilateral decrease in the total volume (p < .01), grey matter volume (p < .001) and grey matter thickness index (p < .05) in epileptic subjects. In addition, there was a bilateral decrease in white matter surface area (p < .05) and a small left-sided decrease in white matter volume (p < .05) in epileptic subjects. The average distributions of indices of curvature for both surfaces differed significantly (p < .05) between normal and epileptic subjects. In the grey matter/CSF surface of normal subjects, a large peak corresponding to surface concavity was present. The amplitude of this peak was significantly lower in epileptic subjects (p < .05 for the right hemisphere; p < .001 for the left hemisphere).     

A study of T1-weighted 31phosphorus MR-spectroscopy from patients with focal and diffuse liver disease.

³¹P-MR-Spectroscopy was performed in 28 patients with focal (n = 23) and diffuse (n = 5) liver disease and in 18 healthy volunteers. The spectra were obtained with a whole body scanner operating at 1.5 T by using a surface coil. To get T₁-weighted ³¹P-spectra a short TR of 600 msec was taken, because T₁-weighted spectra of focal liver disease were more significantly different from spectra from healthy volunteers than density weighted ones. The VOI from patients with focal superficial alterations showed a mean volume of 172 ml, with diffuse liver disease 196 ml, and from volunteers 158 ml. Focal tumors filled up the VOI on an average of 70%. This investigation demonstrated that PME/β-ATP- and PDE/β-ATP-ratios were sensitive indicators for focal liver disease. As a result of this study we could establish a significant increase of PME/β-ATP- (0.75 ± 0.30) and PDE/β-ATP-ratios (1.68 ± 0.62) in patients with superficial focal liver metastases (n = 19) compared to the control group (PME/β-ATP: 0.49 ± 0.17, PDE/β-ATP: 1.24 ± 0.24; t-test: p < 0.02). Patients with a hemangioma (n = 1), liver infarction (n = 1), empyema of gallbladder (n = 1) and a hepatic involvement by a malignant lymphoma (n = 1) showed a similar increase of PME/β-ATP and/or PDE/β-ATP. Up to now spectral changes seemed to be non-specific. The ratios of ³¹P metabolites of the cirrhoses (n = 4) and the fatty liver (n = 1) did not show any characteristic changes versus the volunteers.     

Projective and affine connections on S and integrable systems

It is known that the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation is a geodesic flow of an L² metric on the Bott–Virasoro group. This can also be interpreted as a flow on the space of projective connections on S¹. The space of differential operators Δ⁽ⁿ⁾=∂ⁿ+u₂∂ⁿ⁻²++u_n form the space of extended or generalized projective connections. If a projective connection is factorizable Δ⁽ⁿ⁾=(∂−((n+1)/2−1)p₁)(∂+(n−1)/2p_n) with respect to quasi primary fields p_i’s, then these fields satisfy ∑_i=1ⁿ((n+1)/2−i)p_i=0. In this paper we discuss the factorization of projective connection in terms of affine connections. It is shown that the Burgers equation and derivative non-linear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation or the Kaup–Newell equation is the Euler–Arnold flow on the space of affine connections.     

Probability of a ductile fracture

The present paper studies ductile fracture by a random fractal and calculates the fracture probability q of a ductile fracture. The fracture probability q is sensitive to the number n (microvoid size) and the probability p of forming microvoids. There are two critical probabilities p_c1 and p_c2. When pp_c2 = 1-1/n², the fracture probability q is 100%, the ductile fracture occurs with probability 1; when p_c2 > p>p_c1, there is a positive probability q (1>q>0), the fracture probability q increases with increasing probability p and/or decreasing number n; when p<p_c1, the fracture probability q is zero (in fact less than 0.00001), the fracture does not occur. The critical probabilities p_c1 and p_c2 increase with increasing n. When 1-1/n²>p>1-1/n, though a ductile fracture does not occur, there is at least a macrovoid which passes through the transverse plane of the specimen.     

The ChatterVox™ Portable Voice Amplifier: A Means to Vibration Dose Reduction?

By speaking loudly for extended periods, teachers are vulnerable to laryngeal and voice changes associated with vocal fold “vibration overdose.” Voice clinicians frequently recommend voice amplification ostensibly designed to reduce vibration dose and improve voice. However, there are few data regarding the degree of vocal loudness attenuation achieved by specific amplification devices. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effectiveness of the ChatterVox™ Portable Voice Amplification System (Siemens Hearing Instruments) for reducing the sound pressure level (SPL) of a speaker's voice during a simulated classroom lecture. Ten participants were instructed to continuously read one of two phonetically balanced passages while amplified and unamplified. Voice intensity measurements were obtained at three inches from the mouth (i.e., mouth level) and at the back of a classroom in both amplified and unamplified conditions. When amplified with the ChatterVox™, speakers experienced an average decrease in vocal intensity at mouth-level of 6.03 dB SPL (p < 0.002). Furthermore, an average increase of 2.55 dB SPL (p < 0.038) at the back of the classroom was observed. Collectively, these results indicate that the ChatterVox™ amplification device reduced the speaker's vocal intensity level at the microphone, while it augmented the voice heard at the back of the classroom. By inference, this degree of vocal attenuation at mouth level should contribute to a desirable reduction in vibration dose, thus lowering the risk of vibration overdose.     

The two-point correlation function of the one-dimensional matrix model

Following Kostov and Ben-Menahem, we calculate the two-puncture correlation function for the one-dimensional matrix model. We find that it depends on the details of discretization for all momenta p. Its only universal features are its vanishing as p → 0 and the appearance of double poles at |p| = n/√′, N = 1,2,…. We show how to derive these double poles in the conformal gauge treatment of Liouville gravity.     

Experimental observation of a copious yield of electrons with small transverse momenta in pp collisions at high energies

Inclusive electron and positron emission have been observed for θ_cm = 30° and S = 2800 GeV² at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR). Over the transverse momentum interval 0.2 GeV/c < p_T < 1.5 GeV/c, electrons and positrons, which are equal in number within the experimental accuracies, appear to grow with respect to other particles (pions) approximately like 1/p_T. We are unable to explain their number and p_T-dependence in terms of “conventional” mechanisms.     

Remarks on stochastic non-linear birth and death models

The first part of this paper is an attempt to formulate and motivate additional work on the important problem of obtaining global bounds applicable to the controlled truncation of the paper relates specifically to the linear birth, quadratic death model. Asymptotic results are given for the first finite difference ΔT_m where T_m is the exactly known mean time to extinction starting from state m (m= 0,1,…). These results are in terms of the environmental carrying capacity n^* taken to be large. For m near zero ΔT_me^n*/(n^*)²; whereas, for m near n^*ΔT_m ≈ (π/2)^1/2/(n^*)^3/2. This indicates the vastly different time scales in those two regions of state space - with considerably slower action near extinction than near n^*.     

The reactions pp→pΛK and pp→pΣK near their thresholds

The reactions pp→pΛK⁺ and pp→pΣ⁰K⁺ are studied near their thresholds. The strangeness production process is described by the π- and K exchange mechanisms. Effects from the final state interaction in the hyperon-nucleon system are taken into account rigorously. The Λ production turns out to be dominated by K exchange whereas K- as well as π exchange play an important role for the Σ⁰ case. It is shown that the experimentally observed strong suppression of Σ⁰ production compared to Λ production at the same excess energy can be explained by a destructive interference between π and K exchange in the reaction pp→pΣ⁰K⁺. Implications of such an interference on the reaction pp→nΣ⁺K⁺ are pointed out.     

Description peculiarities of viscous and elastic properties of dense molecular liquids on the basis of the model of Lennard-Jones (n−6) fluid

Results previously obtained in molecular dynamics experiment with Lennard-Jones (n−6) (L-J (n−6)) fluid were applied for the determination of viscous and elastic properties of real molecular fluids (shear viscosity coefficient and pressure). Parameters σ and of real liquids (liquid hydrocarbons) were determined by fitting p–ρ–T data of model fluids to experimental p–ρ–T data of real liquids. Using the data obtained in that way, parameters σ and viscous and elastic characteristics of real liquids were determined. The comparison of experimental and calculated viscous and elastic characteristics revealed lesser dependence of viscous properties from n in comparison with elastic properties.     

Frequency and effects of teachers'' voice problems

This study compared the frequency and effects of voice symptomsin teachers to a group of individuals employed in other occupations. Teachers were more likely to report having a voice problem (15 vs. 6%), having 10 specific voice symptoms, and having 5 symptoms of physical discomfort. They averaged almost 2 symptoms compared with none for nonteachers. Likewise, teachers were more likely to perceive that a voice problem would adversely affect their future career options, had done so in the past, and was limiting their current job performance. Over 20% of teachers but none of the nonteachers had missed any days of work due to a voice problem. These findings suggest that teaching is a high-risk occupation for voice disorders and that this health problem may have significant work-related and economic effects.     

Pre-equilibrium decay in the exciton model

A new closed-form formulation of the statistical exciton model which gives results very similar to the total pre-equilibrium spectrum obtained by solving a set of Boltzmann-like master equations that describe the nuclear equilibration process, is suggested. The effect of including the loss of strength from each exciton state of a composite nucleus due to the transitions of Δn = 0 (Δp = Δh = 0) in both the master equations and closed-form formalisms is discussed.     

Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonance in thin metal films

The velocities of electrons contained in a thin slab are quantized because the component of momentum transverse to the slab faces is quantized. For a free electron gas the transverse velocity is given by |v_H| = l(/m) (π/d) where l = 1, 2, 3, …. If a magnetic field is applied normal to the slab, the wave number and frequency dependent conductivity consists of a series of resonant terms. The resonances occur at the Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonance frequencies |ω_c| = ω ± p(/m) (π/d)² where l = 1, 2, 3, …. It is shown that these resonances in the conductivity result in an absorption in pure thin films at low temperatures which is periodic in magnetic field. The semi-classical expression for the absorption is in substantial agreement with the corresponding quantum calculation, and has the virtue that it may be readily extended to non-spherical Fermi surfaces.     

Magnetic moment of the Δ (1232) resonance

The reaction γp → π^°γ′p has been measured with the TAPS BaF₂ calorimeter at the Mainz Microtron accelerator facility MAMI for energies between √2 = 1221–1331 MeV. Cross sections differential in angle and energy have been determined for the photon γ′ in three bins of the excitation energy. This reaction channel provides access to the magnetic dipole moment of the Δ⁺(1232) resonance and, for the first time, a value of μ_Δ+ = (2.7^+1.0_−1.3(stat) ± 1.5(syst) ± (theor)) π_N has been extracted.     

Absorption cross sections for antiprotons on carbon, aluminum and copper at 485 and 597 MeV/c

Absorption cross sections for antiprotons on C, Al and Cu have been measured by a transmission method at 485 and 597 MeV/c. Nuclei are shown to be black to antiprotons at these momenta. Using the available data up to 280 GeV/c, the momentum dependence of the absorption cross sections is investigated. Empirically, a simple expression σ_abs = γ(p/p₀)^−β, with β and γ constants and p₀ = 1 GeV/c, gives a good account of the data in a remarkably wide momentum range, 0.5–280 GeV/c.