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Abstract We investigate the radiative processes of accelerated entangled two-level systems. Using first-order perturbation theory, we evaluate transition rates of two entangled Unruh-DeWitt detectors rotating with the same angular velocity interacting with a massive scalar field. Decay processes for arbitrary radius, angular velocities, and energy gaps are analyzed. We discuss the mean-life of entangled states and entanglement harvesting and degradation.

We consider field theory formulation for directed polymers and interfaces in the presence of quenched disorder. We write a series representation for the averaged free energy, where all the integer moments of the partition function of the model contribute. The structure of field space is analysed for polymers and interfaces at finite temperature using the saddle-point equations derived from each integer moments of the partition function. For the case of an interface we obtain the wandering exponent ξ = ( 4 − d ) / 2 , also obtained by the conventional replica method for the replica symmetric scenario.

Using results of statistical field theory for systems with an anisotropic disorder, we present an analog model for Euclidean wormholes and topological fluctuation effects in a Riemannian space ℳ d . The contribution of wormholes and topological fluctuations to the Euclidean gravitational functional integral is modeled by quenched randomness defined in the ℝ d manifold. We obtain a disorder-averaged free energy by taking the average over all the realizations of the random fields. In the scenario of topology fluctuation, there appears a superposition of infinite branes that contribute to the physical quantities. All topology fluctuations can be understood as two distinct kinds of Euclidean wormholes: wormholes confined to one brane, and wormholes connecting different branes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of electrolyte solutions under pressure at a molecular level is a crucial issue in the fundamental science of understanding the nature of ion solvation and association and application fields, such as geological processes on the Earth, pressure-induced protein denaturation, and supercritical water technology. We report the structure of an aqueous 2 m (=mol kg−1) MgCl2 solution at pressures from 0.1 MPa to 4 GPa and temperatures from 300 to 500 K revealed by X-ray- and neutron-scattering measurements. The scattering data are analyzed by empirical potential structure refinement (EPSR) modeling to derive the pair distribution functions, coordination number distributions, angle distributions, and spatial density functions (3D structure) as a function of pressure and temperature. Mg2+ forms rigid solvation shells extended to the third shell; the first solvation shell of six-fold octahedral coordination with about six water molecules at 0 GPa transforms into about five water molecules and one Cl− due to the formation of the contact ion pairs in the GPa pressure range. The Cl− solvation shows a substantial pressure dependence; the coordination number of a water oxygen atom around Cl− increases from 8 at 0.1 MPa/300 K to 10 at 4 GPa/500 K. The solvent water transforms the tetrahedral network structure at 0.1 MPa/300 K to a densely packed structure in the GPa pressure range; the number of water oxygen atoms around a central water molecule gradually increases from 4.6 at 0.1 MPa/298 K to 8.4 at 4 GPa/500 K.

Abstract Background Aspiration pneumonia is a major complication that occurs in patients with severe cerebral palsy and is associated with their survival prognosis, necessitating appropriate assessment and response. We focused on swallowing frequency as an index of daily swallowing function due to the difficulty in evaluating the risk of pneumonia. The swallowing motion protects the airway by safely directing the food, saliva, and secretions accumulated in the pharynx into the esophagus to prevent aspiration and entry into the trachea. Thus, swallowing frequency may be correlated with the incidence of pneumonia. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between swallowing frequency and history of pneumonia in patients with severe cerebral palsy. Methods Fifty-seven patients with cerebral palsy were included in this study. Swallowing frequency was measured three times for each patient on separate days, and the reproducibility was examined by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient. Further, the relationship between swallowing frequency and history of pneumonia was investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results While swallowing frequency differed between participants, it was constant within individuals (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.941). Furthermore, the swallowing frequencies per hour were 12.2 ± 12.2 and 27.0 ± 20.4 in the patient groups with and without a history of pneumonia, respectively (P

Abstract Japanese pepper, Zanthoxylum piperitum, is native to Japan and has four well-known lineages (Asakura, Takahara, Budou, and Arima), which are named after their production area or morphology. Restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq) was used to analyse 93 accessions from various areas, including these four lineages. Single nucleotide variant analysis was used to classify the plants into eight groups: the Asakura and Arima lineages each had two groups, the Takahara and Budou lineages each had one group, and two additional groups were present. In one Asakura group and two Arima groups, the plants were present in agricultural fields and mountains, thus representing the early stage of domestication of the Japanese pepper. The second Asakura lineage group was closely related to plants present in various areas, and this represents the second stage of domestication of this plant because, after early domestication, genetically related lineages with desirable traits spread to the periphery. These results demonstrate that domestication of Japanese pepper is ongoing. In addition, this study shows that spineless plants are polyphyletic, despite the spineless lineage being considered a subspecies of Japanese pepper.

Portal hypertension is defined as an increased pressure in the portal venous system and occurs as a major complication in chronic liver diseases. The pathological mechanism underlying the pathogenesis and development of portal hypertension has been extensively investigated. Vascular tone of portal vein smooth muscles (PVSMs) is regulated by the activities of several ion channels, including Ca2+-activated Cl− (ClCa) channels. TMEM16A is mainly responsible for ClCa channel conductance in vascular smooth muscle cells, including portal vein smooth muscle cells (PVSMCs). In the present study, the functional roles of TMEM16A channels were examined using two experimental portal hypertensive models, bile duct ligation (BDL) mice with cirrhotic portal hypertension and partial portal vein ligation (PPVL) mice with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Expression analyses revealed that the expression of TMEM16A was downregulated in BDL-PVSMs, but not in PPVL-PVSMs. Whole-cell ClCa currents were smaller in BDL-PVSMCs than in sham- and PPVL-PVSMCs. The amplitude of spontaneous contractions was smaller and the frequency was higher in BDL-PVSMs than in sham- and PPVL-PVSMs. Spontaneous contractions sensitive to a specific inhibitor of TMEM16A channels, T16Ainh-A01, were reduced in BDL-PVSMs. Furthermore, in normal PVSMs, the downregulation of TMEM16A expression was mimicked by the exposure to angiotensin II, but not to bilirubin. This study suggests that the activity of ClCa channels is attenuated by the downregulation of TMEM16A expression in PVSMCs associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension, which is partly mediated by increased angiotensin II in cirrhosis.

Abstract Background Detecting and addressing aspiration early in children with dysphagia, such as those with cerebral palsy, is important for preventing aspiration pneumonia. The current gold standards for assessing aspiration are swallowing function tests, such as fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and videofluorographic swallowing study; however, the relationship between aspiration of secretion vs aspiration of foodstuff and pulmonary injury is unclear. To clarify this relationship, we examined the correlations between pneumonia findings from chest computed tomography (CT) and the presence or absence of aspiration detected by FEES. Methods Eighty-five children (11 years 2 months ±7 years 2 months) underwent FEES and chest CT. Based on the FEES findings, the participants were divided into groups: with and without food aspiration, and with and without saliva aspiration. Correlations between chest CT findings of pneumonia and the presence or absence of each type of aspiration were then examined. Results No significant correlations were observed between food aspiration and chest CT findings of pneumonia, whereas saliva aspiration and chest CT findings of pneumonia were significantly correlated. In addition, saliva aspiration was significantly associated with bronchial wall thickening (p < 0.01) and atelectasis (p < 0.05). Conclusions Our findings in children suggest that: (1) the presence or absence of food aspiration detected by FEES evaluation has little correlation with pneumonia, and (2) the presence or absence of saliva aspiration may be an indicator of aspiration pneumonia risk.

The Japanese pepper (Zanthoxylum piperitum DC.) is an attractive plant that is highly palatable and benefits human health. There are several lineages of pepper plants in Japan. However, the classification of each lineage by analyzing its volatile compounds and studies on the effects of differences in volatile compounds on human flavor perception have not been performed in detail. Herein, we conducted gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of volatile compounds and sensory evaluation of flavor by an analytical panel using 10 commercially available dry powdered Japanese pepper products from different regions. GC and GC/MS analysis detected limonene, β-phellandrene, citronellal, and geranyl acetate as the major volatile compounds of Japanese peppers. The composition of volatile compounds showed different characteristics depending on the growing regions, and cluster analysis of composition classified the products into five groups. The sensory evaluation classified the products into four groups, and the results of both classifications were in good agreement. Our results provide an important basis for proposing cooking and utilization methods that take advantage of the unique characteristics of each lineage based on scientific evidence.

In view of the great importance of determination of hydrogen peroxide in many scientific fields and industrial applications and the attractive operational simplicity of potentiometric approach for the enzymatic assay, the kinetics of horseradish peroxidase–catalyzed electrochemical assay of H2O2 was studied in this work at 25°C. All kinetic characteristics were determined by the double reciprocal Lineweaver–Burk and (primary and secondary) double reciprocal Hanes–Woolf plots. The results confirmed that the reaction follows a ping–pong mechanism. The Michaelis–Menten constants for H2O2 and 4‐fluorophenol were KmH2O2 = 0.081 ± 0.001 mM and K4‐FPm = 0.185 ± 0.002 mM, respectively. The maximum rate was also estimated to be Vmax  = 0.182 ± 0.002 mM min−1 (at 25 ± 0.05°C). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 699–704, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of shaking table tests were conducted using a specimen that consisted of a superstructure, incorporating a friction device and a sway-rocking mechanism under the superstructure to determine the optimal damper slip force of a passive vibration control system considering the effects of sway-rocking motion. The adopted simple friction device, composed of rubber bands and stainless steel plates, allowed the magnitude of the slip force to be easily set. The optimal slip force of the friction device, which minimizes the peak and root-mean-square response of the superstructure subjected to earthquakes, was determined from the shaking table tests. Based on the results, the optimal slip force of the friction device was found to vary according to the input level of the ground motions and the sway-rocking conditions. The obtained results suggest that the effect of sway-rocking motion should be considered in the design of passive control structures and the determination of their optimal damper slip force.

Restaurant is one of the businesses that support tourism development. Restaurants nowadays don’t only provide food, but also the service and atmosphere to their customers. The purpose of this study is to discover the aspects defining restaurant atmosphere and the implications of restaurant atmosphere to other particular aspects related to restaurant business. This article is written based on a study conducted through a literature review. Through the examination, it is found that the atmosphere of a restaurant is one important aspect and can be considered as a competitive advantage as well as one of the determinants of customer satisfaction.

We consider field theory formulation for directed polymers and interfaces in the presence of quenched disorder. We write a series representation for the averaged free energy, where all the integer moments of the partition function of the model contribute. The structure of field space is analysed for polymers and interfaces at finite temperature using the saddle-point equations derived from each integer moments of the partition function. For the case of an interface we obtain the wandering exponent ξ = (4 − d) / 2 , also obtained by the conventional replica method for the replica symmetric scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, there is no pharmaceutical intervention to treat or delay pathological cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Multidomain lifestyle interventions are increasingly being studied as a non-pharmacological solution to enhance cognitive reserve, maintain cognition, and reduce the risk of or delay ADRD. Review of completed and prospective face-to-face (FTF) and digital multidomain interventions provides an opportunity to compare studies and informs future interventions and study design. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, clinicaltrials.gov and NIH RePORTER) were searched for multidomain lifestyle programs. Studies were included if the program (1) included a control group, (2) included at least 3 interventions, (3) were at least 6 months in duration, and (4) included measurement of cognitive performance as an outcome. Results: In total, 17 multidomain lifestyle programs aimed at enhancing cognitive reserve and reducing risk of ADRD were found. Thirteen programs are FTF in intervention delivery, with 3 FTF programs replicating the FINGER protocol as part of the World Wide Fingers Consortium. Four programs are delivered digitally (website, Web application, or mobile app). Program characteristics (e.g., target population, duration, frequency, outcomes, and availability) and results of completed and prospective studies are reviewed and discussed. Conclusion: This review updates and discusses completed and current multidomain lifestyle interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive reserve and reducing risk of ADRD. A growing number of international studies are investigating the efficacy and utility of these programs in both FTF and digital contexts. While a diversity of study designs and interventions exist, FTF and digital programs that build upon the foundational work of the FINGER protocol have significant potential to enhance cognitive reserve and reduce risk of ADRD.

Object of this research is Agrowisata Buana Amertha Sari, Bali. Limitation on this study is marketing mix, especially on product and promotion. Coffee is the main comodity in Agrowisata Buana Amertha Sari, while promotion is conducted through words of mouth method and in cooperation with local guides. Agrowisata Buana Amertha Sari uses website to promote its products. Within this research, it is expected the use of social media Facebook and Twitter could make contribution in boosting the recognition to global customers. This research is qualitative using interview and observation at one time in May 2013.

Customers satisfaction to service and or tangible products provide by coffee shop could be a distinctive phenomenon to a company. To give in-depth insight for this issue, the study and SERVQUAL approach was valued to help Spinelli Coffee to give their best service. Using interview and questtionaire, it is hoped to bridge customers needs to providers. In a hope of customers expectation and perceive synchronization onto the service. Result of innovative output such as on-line feedback from customers to the company to acknowledge market demand was an intetion from this study.