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1. Successful invasion by nematode parasites is associated with several factors including egg hatching at the right time in their hosts. To determine a simple and appropriate medium for culture and egg hatching of the highly pathogenic species of theAcuariidaefamily,Cheilospirura hamulosawere cultured in three different media. In addition the viability ofC. hamulosaeggs was determined after storage in frozen infected gizzards. 2. Eggs removed from the uteri of the female worms in infected gizzards were pooled and washed in distilled water and screened under a stereo dissecting microscope. Eggs were counted and cultured in three different media, nutrient agar, normal saline 0.9% and Bearman, at room temperature. Additionally, 10 infected gizzards were kept at −20°C for 2 and 8 months. 3. After 4–5 d there had been no growth in the nutrient agar medium, whereas 11% of the cultured eggs in the Bearman medium contained larvae 2–3 d after culturing. In 0.9% normal saline medium the two polar knobs appeared on the two poles of the eggs at 2 d post cultivation, and 74% of the eggs contained a larva on the third day. Mature larvae gradually exited from the eggs. 4. Eggs collected from female worms in gizzards frozen at −20°C were cultured in the same three culture media at room temperature. Larvae were visible in the eggs after 2–3 d in the Bearman and 0.9% normal saline media and hatched thereafter. 5. The 0.9% normal saline medium is recommended for egg hatching and cultivation ofC. hamulosadue for simplicity, efficacy and cost effectiveness. Moreover, freezing of the infected gizzards at −20°C is proposed for long-term storage of the eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study loop-erased random walk (LERW) on the percolation cluster, with occupation probability p ≥ pc, in two and three dimensions. We find that the fractal dimensions of LERW, are close to normal LERW in a Euclidean lattice, for all p > pc. However, our results reveal that LERW on critical incipient percolation clusters is fractal with df = 1.217 ± 0.002 for d = 2 and 1.43 ± 0.02 for d = 3, independent of the coordination number of the lattice. These values are consistent with the known values for optimal path exponents in strongly disordered media. We investigate how the behavior of the LERWp, crosses over from Euclidean to fractal geometry by gradually decreasing the value of the parameter p from 1 to pc. For finite systems, two crossover exponents and a scaling relation can be derived. This work opens up a theoretical window regarding the diffusion process on fractal and random landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objectives of our research were to search for Leishmania species in rodents in Fars province, south of Iran, and to compare molecular with conventional methods for detecting these parasites. Methods: Rodents were captured using live traps and screened for Leishmania species using molecular and conventional methods, including the taking of smears from each ear. Nested PCR was employed to detect Leishmania in rodents by amplifying a region of the ribosomal RNA amplicon of Leishmania (ITS1- 5.8S rRNA-ITS2) that is species-specific by DNA sequence. Results: Totally, 122 rodents were captured. Leishmania parasites were detected using the nested PCR and three conventional methods (direct smear, NNN culture and Balb/C inoculation. 41 (33.6%) out of 122 rodents had Leishmania infections (34 Meriones lybicus and 7 M. persicus). All PCR products of the ITS-rDNA gene were sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that 28 out of 41 positive samples were Leishmania major. Thirteen sequences were unreadable and therefore not identified. Conclusion: At least two gerbil species common in Fars ZCL foci, M. lybicus and M. persicus, are acquiring infections of L. major and may be reservoir hosts of one predominant parasite haplotype. Most infections were detected molecularly not by conventional methods, because most rodents died in the traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Iran, three species of Leishmania have been incriminated as the causative agents of human leishmaniasis, Leishmania (L.) major, Leishmania tropica, and Leishmania infantum. Rhombomis opimus have been incriminated as a principal reservoirs of the parasitic protozoan Leishmania major, the causative agent of rural zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. Rodents captured and examined to find Leishmania species using conventional methods including direct impression smear and microscopic observation inoculation samples to Balb/c and culture in NNN medium. Also molecular method was employed to detect Leishmania in rodents by amplifying a region of the ribosomal RNA amplicon of Leishmania (ITS1-5.8S rRNA–ITS2) using Nested PCR. Leshmania species were specified by DNA sequences. 36 (38.3%) of R. opimus were Leishmania positive using at least one conventional methods. Many more ITS-rDNA fragments were amplified from R. opimus but only 65 out of 74 PCR products contained enough DNA for direct sequencing or readable sequences. The PCR assays detected in Iranian R. opimus not only Leishmania major in 59 (79.7%) rodents but also Leishmania turanica in 6 (8.1%) rodents, another parasite of the great gerbil. These parasites were found in Turkemen Sahara, North East of Iran, in a focus of rural (ZCL). L. major and L. turanica in R. opimus firmly identified from Turkemen Sahara. Nine rodents with Leishmania infections unidentified which some were unreadable sequences, these could be mixed infections of L. major, L. turanica, Leishmania gerbilli sensu lato and Leishmania close to L. gerbilli or a related species reported in sandflies previously from this location. The haplotypes of L. major and L. turanica were found to be identical to that of isolates of L. major and L. turanica from Iran and in GenBank elsewhere. R. opimus is probably the key reservoir in this ZCL focus because of its abundance and its infection rates with both L. major and L. turanica. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This parasite is the only nematode with the ability to multiply in its host's body via autoinfection transmission. Larvae detection in feces is difficult partly because of low egg production and also irregular larvae excretion in feces. Serologic tests (ELISA, IFA) are also diagnostic, however Strongyloides stercoralis antigens are not available as a diagnostic tool. In the present study, we analyzed filariform larva (L3) proteins of Strongyloides stercoralis by the immunoblot technique. Materials and methods: Stool samples were examined by direct smear, formalin-ether and agar plate method to identify infected patients. Sera were also obtained and stored at -20°C. Infective larvae were then obtained by agar plate culture, which was incubated for 6-7days at 25ºC, then frozen at -70°C. Finally, larvae were suspended at a concentration level of 12000 in 250ml PBS, containing protease inhibitors and then were sonicated. Protein level was measured by Bradford method. Proteins of Strongyloides stercoralis filariform larvae were separated by SDS-PAGE, blotted onto nitrocellulose paper. Western blot analysis of these antigens was achieved using infected human sera (0.1, 0.01, 0.001 dilution) with strongyloidiasis, toxocariasis, hydatidosis, amebiasis and normal human serum as control. Results: Four immunodominant proteins (23, 28, 30, 41 kDa) were recognized with strongyloidiasis sera in 0.1 diluted serum. None of the proteins reacted to normal human and amebiasis serum, but some showed reaction with serum of hydatidosis and toxocariasis. Having increased the level of serum dilution, only 41 kDa protein was recognized by strongyloidiasis sera. Other serums did not represent any reaction to the parasite's proteins. Therefore, the 41 kDa protein presents as the most important immunodominant protein in this study. Conclusion: The identification of immunodominant proteins adapted to the physiological and genetic conditions of the host is an appropriate diagnostic approach, which could be associated with improved sensitivity and specificity of serologic tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We intend to propose an experimental sketch to detect gravitational waves (GW) directly, using an cold electronic plasma in a long pipe. By considering an cold electronic plasma in a long pipe, the Maxwell equations in 3+1 formalism will be invoked to relate gravitational waves to the perturbations of plasma particles. It will be shown that the impact of GW on cold electronic plasma causes disturbances on the paths of the electrons. Those electrons that absorb energy from GW will pass through the potential barrier at the end of the pipe. Therefore, crossing of some electrons over the barrier will imply the existence of the GW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel coated graphite electrode (CGE) for the determination of quinoline yellow (QY), an artificial food colorant, was evaluated based on the use of tetraphenylphosponium-QY ion-pair complex as the electroactive substance. The electrode revealed linear emf-pQY response over wide concentration ranges (1.0 × 10-1 ∼ 5.0 × 10-5 M) with a slope -30.1 ± 0.2 mV decade-1 and a limit of detection of 4.0 × 10-5 M. The electrode showed good stability, reproducibility and fast response (<5 s). It can be used in wide pH range (4.7-10.7) and was successfully applied to determination of quinoline yellow in artificial mixtures and commercial soft drinks. The results obtained with the electrode were in good agreement with the value obtained by using HPLC measurements, as an official method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was shown that quantum metric fluctuations smear out the singularities of Green functions on the light cone (Ford, ), but it does not remove other ultraviolet divergences of the quantum field theory (QFT). We have proved that quantization in indefinite metric, i.e. QFT in Krein space, removes all divergences of the theory except light cone singularity (Gazeau, et al., Class. Quantum Gravity, 17:1415, , ; Takook, Int. J. Mod. Phys. E, 11:509, , ). In this paper, by considering the QFT in Krein space and the quantum metric fluctuations, it is shown that all divergences can be removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was shown that N=1 super-symmetry algebra can be constructed in de Sitter space (Pahlavan et al. in Phys Lett. B 627:217–223, ), through calculation of charge conjugation in the ambient space notation (Moradi et al. in Phys. Lett. B 613:74, ; Phys. Lett. B 658:284, ). Calculation of N=2 super-symmetry algebra constitutes the main frame of this paper. N=2 super-symmetry algebra was presented in Pilch et al. (Commun. Math. Phys. 98:105, ). In this paper, we obtain an alternative N=2 super-symmetry algebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power spectrum of scalar field and space-time metric perturbations produced in the process of inflation of universe, have been presented in this paper by an alternative approach to field quantization namely, Krein space quantization (Gazeau et al. in Class. Quantum Gravity 17:1415, 2000; Takook in Int. J. Mod. Phys. E 11:509, 2002; Rouhani and Takook in ). Auxiliary negative norm states, the modes of which do not interact with the physical world, have been utilized in this method. Presence of negative norm states play the role of an automatic renormalization device for the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Perturbation of logarithmic conformal field theories using Zamolodchikov''s method is investigated. We derive conditions for the perturbing operator, such that the perturbed model be integrable. We also consider an example where an integrable model arises out of perturbation of the logarithmic conformal field theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recalling the universal covering group of de Sitter universe, the transformation properties of the spinor fields and , in the ambient space notation, are presented in this Letter. The charge conjugation symmetry of the de Sitter spinor field is then discussed in the above notation. Using this spinor field and charge conjugation, de Sitter supersymmetry algebra in the ambient space notation has been established. It is shown that a novel de Sitter superalgebra can be attained by the use of spinor field and charge conjugation in the ambient space notation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Quantization of spinor and vector free fields in four-dimensional de Sitter spacetime, in the ambient space notation, has been studied in the previous works. Various two-point functions for the above fields are presented in this paper. The interaction between the spinor field and the vector field is then studied by the Abelian gauge theory. The U(1) gauge invariant spinor field equation is obtained in a coordinate independent way notation and their corresponding conserved currents are computed. The solution of the field equation is obtained by the use of the perturbation method in terms of the Green's function. The null curvature limit is discussed in the final stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Discrete symmetries, parity, time reversal, antipodal, and charge conjugation transformations for spinor field in de Sitter space, are presented in the ambient space notation, i.e., in a coordinate independent way. The PT and PCT transformations are also discussed in this notation. The five-current density is studied and their transformation under the discrete symmetries is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Correlation functions of logarithmic conformal field theory is investigated using the ADS/CFT correspondence and a novel method based on nilpotent weights and ‘superfields’. Adding an specific form of interaction, we introduce a perturbative method to calculate the correlation functions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We obtain an exact analytical expression for magnetoresistance using noncommutative geometry and quantum groups. Then we will show that there is a deep relationship between magnetoresistance and the quantum group suq(2), from which we understand the quantum interpretation of the quantum corrections to the conductivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We use the correspondence between scalar field theory on AdS and induced conformal field theory on its boundary to calculate correlation functions of logarithmic conformal field theory in arbitrary dimensions. Our calculations utilize the newly proposed method of nilpotent weights. We derive expressions for the four point function assuming a generic interaction term. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reviews the history of the conformal extension of Galilean symmetry, now called Schrödinger symmetry. In the physics literature, its discovery is commonly attributed to Jackiw, Niederer and Hagen (1972). However, Schrödinger symmetry has a much older ancestry: the associated conserved quantities were known to Jacobi in 1842/43 and its Euclidean counterpart was discovered by Sophus Lie in 1881 in his studies of the heat equation. A convenient way to study Schrödinger symmetry is provided by a non-relativistic Kaluza-Klein-type “Bargmann” framework, first proposed by Eisenhart (1929), but then forgotten and re-discovered by Duval et al. only in 1984. Representations of Schrödinger symmetry differ by the value z = 2 of the dynamical exponent from the value z = 1 found in representations of relativistic conformal invariance. For generic values of z, whole families of new algebras exist, which for z = 2 / ℓ include the ℓ -conformal Galilean algebras. We also review the non-relativistic limit of conformal algebras and that this limit leads to the 1-conformal Galilean algebra and not to the Schrödinger algebra. The latter can be recovered in the Bargmann framework through reduction. A distinctive feature of Galilean and Schrödinger symmetries are the Bargmann super-selection rules, algebraically related to a central extension. An empirical consequence of this was known as “mass conservation” already to Lavoisier. As an illustration of these concepts, some applications to physical ageing in simple model systems are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most challenging cancers among women which is considered one of the most lethal cancers to this date. From the time that cancer has been discovered, finding the best therapeutic method is still an ongoing process. As a novel therapeutic method, nanomedicine has brought a vast number of materials that could versatilely be used as a drug carrier. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel black pomegranate peel extract loaded with chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles to treat breast cancer cells. Results: The morphology and size distribution of the nanoparticles studied by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, scanning, and transitional electron microscopy showed the spherical shape of the nanoparticles and their promising size range. Studies by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, and zeta sizer confirmed the synthesis, substantial crystallinity, magnetic potential of the nanoparticles, and their satisfactory stability. The DPPH assay revealed that the obtained black pomegranate peel extract has 60% free radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxicity studies by MTT and LDH assay carried out on NIH/3T3, MBA-MB-231, and 4T1 cells confirmed that the magnetic nanoparticles had no significant cytotoxicity on the cells. However, the drug-loaded nanoparticles could significantly eradicate cancerous cells which had more efficiency comparing to free drug. Furthermore, free drug and drug-loaded nanoparticles had no toxic effect on normal cells. Conclusion: Owing to the results achieved from this study, the novel drug-loaded nanoparticles are compatible to be used for breast cancer treatment and could potentially be used for further in vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young people (YP) in southern Africa are at substantial risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite the epidemiological and biological link between STIs and HIV transmission and acquisition, infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) remain widely undiagnosed. Syndromic STI management is the standard of care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite a high prevalence of asymptomatic infections. We conducted an observational study to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and cost of a STI test-and-treat service for YP in Cape Town. Methods: YP attending a mobile clinic (MC) and a youth centre clinic (YC) were offered STI screening. Urine testing for CT and NG using a 90-min molecular point-of-care (POC) test on the GeneXpert platform was conducted and treatment provided. Data were collated on demographics, sexual behaviour, presence of symptoms, uptake of same-day treatment, prevalence of CT/NG, and service acceptability. Results: Three hundred sixty six participants were enrolled (median age 20, 83% female).57% (209/366) of participants tested positive for either CT (126/366, 34%) or NG (57/366, 16%) or co-infection (26/366, 7%). Clinical symptoms were a poor predictor of GeneXpert diagnosed CT or NG, with a sensitivity of 46.8% and 54.0% for CT and NG respectively. Although half of participants initially chose to receive same day results and treatment, only a third waited for results on the day. The majority of participants (91%) rated the service highly via a post-visit acceptability questionnaire. Conclusion: Curable STIs are highly prevalent in this population. STI screening using POC testing was feasible and acceptability was high. The study provides further impetus for moving policy beyond syndromic management of STIs in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of Krein space quantization to the linear gravity in de Sitter space-time have constructed on Gupta-Bleuler vacuum state, resulting in removal of infrared divergence and preserving de Sitter covariant. By pursuing this path, the non uniqueness of vacuum expectation value of the product of field operators in curved space-time disappears as well. Then the vacuum expectation value of the product of field operators can be defined properly and uniquely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) to investigate the growth of palladium colloids over the surface of thin films of WO 3 /glass. The film is prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) at different temperatures. A PdCl 2 (aq) droplet is injected on the surface and in the presence of steam hydrogen the droplet is dried through a reduction reaction process. Two distinct aggregation regimes of palladium colloids are observed over the substrates. We argue that the change in aggregation dynamics emerges when the measured water drop Contact Angel (CA) for the WO 3 /glass thin films passes a certain threshold value, namely CA ≈ 46°, where a crossover in kinetic aggregation of palladium colloids occurs. Our results suggest that the mass fractal dimension of palladium aggregates follows a power-law behavior. The fractal dimension ( D f ) in the fast aggregation regime, where the measured CA values vary from 27° up to 46° according to different substrate deposition temperatures, is D f = 1.75(± 0.02) – the value of D f is in excellent agreement with kinetic aggregation of other colloidal systems in fast aggregation regime. Whereas for the slow aggregation regime, with CA = 58°, the fractal dimension changes abruptly to D f = 1.92(± 0.03). We have also used a modified Box-Counting method to calculate fractal dimension of gray-level images and observe that the crossover at around CA ≈ 46° remains unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avalanche frontiers in Abelian sandpile model (ASM) are random simple curves whose continuum limit is known to be a Schramm-Loewner evolution with diffusivity parameter K = 2. In this paper we consider the dissipative ASM and study the statistics of the avalanche and wave frontiers for various rates of dissipation. We examine the scaling behavior of a number of functions, such as the correlation length, the exponent of distribution function of loop lengths, and the gyration radius defined for waves and avalanches. We find that they do scale with the rate of dissipation. Two significant length scales are observed. For length scales much smaller than the correlation length, these curves show properties close to the critical curves, and the corresponding diffusivity parameter is nearly the same as the critical limit. We interpret this as the ultraviolet limit where K = 2 corresponding to c = --2. For length scales much larger than the correlation length, we find that the avalanche frontiers tend to self-avoiding walk, and the corresponding driving function is proportional to the Brownian motion with the diffusivity parameter K = 8/3 corresponding to a field theory with c = 0. We interpret this to be the infrared limit of the theory or at least a crossover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE) is a stochastic process that helps classify critical statistical models using one real parameter κ. Numerical study of SLE often involves curves that start and end on the real axis. To reduce numerical errors in studying the critical curves which start from the real axis and end on it, we have used hydrodynamically normalized SLE(κ, &rgr;) which is a stochastic differential equation governing such curves. In this paper, we directly verify this hypothesis and numerically apply this formalism to the domain wall curves of the Abelian sandpile model (κ = 2) and critical percolation (κ = 6). We observe that this method is more reliable than previously used methods in the literature for analyzing interface loops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the first-passage-time processes of the anomalous diffusion on the self-similar curves in two dimensions. The scaling properties of the mean-square displacement and mean first passage time of the fractional Brownian motion and subordinated walk on the different fractal curves (loop-erased random walk, harmonic explorer, and percolation front) are derived. We also define natural parametrized subordinated Schramm-Loewner evolution (NS-SLE) as a mathematical tool that can model diffusion on fractal curves. The scaling properties of the mean-square displacement and mean first passage time for NS-SLE are obtained by numerical means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of novel naphthalimide dyes with amino and acetylamino functional groups were synthesized through imidation, reduction and acetylation reactions on 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride. The synthesized dyes were characterized by DSC, TLC (R f values), FTIR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, UV–visible and Fluorometery. Molar extinction coefficients and wavelength maxima were obtained by examining dye solutions in DMF and THF. The results demonstrated that the synthesized dyes have wavelength maxima ranging from 372 to 433nm in DMF and 370 to 419nm in THF and molar extinction coefficients 1.1×104–1.9×104 lmol−1 cm−1 in DMF and 0.84×104–1.4×104 lmol−1 cm−1 in THF. The absorption spectra of dyes showed that grafting N-substituted naphthalimides does not affect their color whilst the type of substitutions in C-4 position of naphthalimide very effectively changes the color. The fluorescency of these dyes was evaluated and their Stokes shift values were determined as DMF and THF solutions. The results demonstrated that all dyes had fluorescence properties and Stokes shift values were between 4000 and 6600cm−1 in DMF and 3880cm−1 and 6400cm−1 in THF. Measuring of quantum yields of dyes showed that dyes containing N-ester group had the highest and dyes containing 4-acetylamino group had the lowest quantum yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proceed to the quantization of the massless vector field in the de Sitter (dS) space. This work is the natural continuation of a previous article devoted to the quantization of the dS massive vector field [J. P. Gazeau and M. V. Takook, J. Math. Phys. 41, 5920 (2000); T. Garidi et al., ibid. 43, 6379 (2002).] The term “massless” is used by reference to conformal invariance and propagation on the dS lightcone whereas “massive” refers to those dS fields which unambiguously contract to Minkowskian massive fields at zero curvature. Due to the combined occurrences of gauge invariance and indefinite metric, the covariant quantization of the massless vector field requires an indecomposable representation of the de Sitter group. We work with the gauge fixing corresponding to the simplest Gupta–Bleuler structure. The field operator is defined with the help of coordinate-independent de Sitter waves (the modes). The latter are simple to manipulate and most adapted to group theoretical approaches. The physical states characterized by the divergencelessness condition are, for instance, easy to identify. The whole construction is based on analyticity requirements in the complexified pseudo-Riemannian manifold for the modes and the two-point function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An explicit calculation of Casimir effect through an alternative approach of field quantization [J.P. Gazeau, J. Renaud, M.V. Takook, Class. Quantum. Grav. 17 (2000) 1415, gr-qc/9904023; M.V. Takook, Int. J. Mod. Phys. E 11 (2002) 509, gr-qc/0006019], has been presented in this Letter. In this method, the auxiliary negative norm states have been utilized, the modes of which do not interact with the physical states or real physical world. Naturally these modes cannot be affected by the physical boundary conditions. Presence of negative norm states play the role of an automatic renormalization device for the theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We consider the Coulomb gas model on the upper half-plane with different boundary conditions, namely, Dirichlet, Neumann and mixed. We relate this model to SLE() theories. We derive a set of conditions connecting the total charge of the Coulomb gas, the boundary charges, the parameters κ and ρ. Also we study a free fermion theory in presence of a boundary and show with the same methods that it would lead to logarithmic boundary changing operators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we derive the scaling fields in conformal field theory associated with weakly allowed clusters in Abelian sandpile model and show a direct relation between the two models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Formal Loewner evolution is connected to conformal field theory. In this Letter we introduce an extension of Loewner evolution, which consists of two coupled equations and connect the martingales of these equations to the null vectors of logarithmic conformal field theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We show that logarithmic conformal field theories may be derived using nilpotent scale transformation. Using such nilpotent weights we derive properties of LCFT's, such as two and three point correlation functions solely from symmetry arguments. Singular vectors and the Kac determinant may also be obtained using these nilpotent variables, hence the structure of the four point functions can also be derived. This leads to non homogeneous hypergeometric functions. Also we consider LCFT's near a boundary. Constructing "superfields" using a nilpotent variable, we show that the superfield of conformal weight zero, composed of the identity and the pseudo identity is related to a superfield of conformal dimension two, which comprises of energy momentum tensor and its logarithmic partner. This device also allows us to derive the operator product expansion for logarithmic operators. Finally we discuss the AdS/LCFT correspondence and derive some correlation functions and a BRST symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the --> f (T , T) --> --> gravity model in the presence of bulk viscosity by the flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker metric. The field equation is obtained by teleparallel gravity with a tetrad field. The universe components are considered matter and dark energy, with the dark energy component associated with viscous --> f (T , T) --> --> gravity. After calculating the Friedmann equations, we obtain the energy density, pressure, and equation of state of dark energy in terms of the redshift parameter. Afterward, we plot the corresponding cosmological parameters versus the redshift parameter and examine the accelerated expansion of the universe. In the end, we explore the system stability using a function called the speed sound parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that in the continuum limit watersheds dividing drainage basins are Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE) curves, being described by one single parameter κ. Several numerical evaluations are applied to ascertain this. All calculations are consistent with SLEκ, with κ=1.734 ± 0.005, being the only known physical example of an SLE with κ < 2. This lies outside the well-known duality conjecture, bringing up new questions regarding the existence and reversibility of dual models. Furthermore, it constitutes a strong indication for conformal invariance in random landscapes and suggests that watersheds likely correspond to a logarithmic conformal field theory with a central charge c ≈ -7/2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents the availability, enrollment, premiums, and cost sharing for high-deductible health plans that are offered with a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or are health savings account (HSA)-qualified plans. Almost 4 percent of employers that offer health benefits offer one of these arrangements in 2005, covering about 2.4 million workers. Deductibles, as expected, are relatively high, averaging $1,870 for single coverage and $3,686 for family coverage in high-deductible health plans with an HRA and $1,901 for single coverage and $4,070 for family coverage in HSA-qualified high-deductible health plans. One in three employers offering a high-deductible health plan that is HSA-qualified do not contribute to HSAs established by their workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]