No abstract

Given a real number $\beta > 1$, we construct a simple purely infinite $C^*$-algebra ${\cal O}_{\beta}$ as a $C^*$-algebra arising from the $\beta$-subshift in the symbolic dynamics. The $C^*$-algebras $\{{\cal O}_{\beta} \}_{1<\beta \in {\Bbb R}}$ interpolate between the Cuntz algebras $\{{\cal O}_n\}_{1 < n \in {\Bbb N}}$. The K-groups for the $C^*$-algebras ${\cal O}_{\beta}$, $1 < \beta \in {\Bbb R}$, are computed so that they are completely classified up to isomorphism. We prove that the KMS-state for the gauge action on ${\cal O}_{\beta}$ is unique at the inverse temperature $\log \beta$, which is the topological entropy for the $\beta$-shift. Moreover, ${\cal O}_{\beta}$ is realized to be a universal $C^*$-algebra generated by $n-1=[\beta]$ isometries and one partial isometry with mutually orthogonal ranges and a certain relation coming from the sequence of $\beta$-expansion of $1$.

Fifty-four untreated, mildly hypertensive men whose daily alcohol consumption was £28 ml ethanol and who drank at least 4 times per week took part in a randomized, controlled crossover trial. The purpose of the trial was to test the effects of alcohol reduction on blood pressure. After a 2-week familiarization period, the participants were assigned to either a reduced alcohol drinking group or a usual drinking group for 3 weeks (experimental period 1). The situation was then reversed for the next 3 weeks (experimental period 2). The participants were requested to limit their daily alcohol consumption to zero or reduce it as much as possible for the reduced alcohol consumption period. The self-reported alcohol consumption was 56.1 ±3.6 (SEM) ml/day during the usual alcohol drinking period and 26.1 ±3.0 ml/day during the period of reduced alcohol consumption. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the intervention group were found by analysis of variance to be significantly lower (2.6-4.8 and 2.2-3.0 mm Hg, respectively) than those in the control group during experimental period 2 for systolic blood pressure and experimental period 1 for diastolic blood pressure. Significant (3.6 mm Hg) and nonsignificant (1.9 mm Hg) decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, were observed. The method of Hills and Armitage was used, reducing ethanol in daily alcohol consumption by 28 ml. The lowering effect of reduced alcohol consumption on blood pressure was independent of changes in salt consumption, which were estimated by 24-hour urine collection and body weight. It was concluded that a reduction in daily alcohol drinking of ethanol from 56 ml to half that amount was feasible and effective in lowering blood pressure for nontreated mildly hypertensive patients who regularly consume alcohol. 15 The association seems to be one of cause and effect since it persists even after many confounding factors are taken into consideration. 1.6.9.11-13 Several controlled trials for hypertensive patients receiving medication and for normotensive subjects found support for the observation that alcohol has a pressor effect and that a reduction in alcohol consumption lowers blood pressure.16 " 23 However, it still remains to be seen whether a reduction in daily alcohol consumption in mildly hypertensive pa- tients who are not taking medication but who have alcohol-drinking habits is an effective means to decrease blood pressure. Accordingly, we carried out a randomized, crossover controlled study to further test the effects on blood pressure of a reduction in daily alcohol consumption in untreated, mildly hypertensive, male office workers. MethodsMale volunteers, aged 30-59 years, were recruited from their workplace by public health nurses. The volunteers were civil servants with systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressures >90 mm Hg, or both, as measured during annual health check-ups. These volunteers also consumed alcohol daily and thus were classified as having drinking habits.Volunteers whose systo...

No abstract

Liquid crystal “Blue Phases” (BP) have evolved, in the last years, from a scientific curiosity to emerging materials for new photonic and display applications. They possess attractive features over standard nematic liquid crystals, like submillisecond switching times and polarization- independent optical response. However, BPs still present a number of technical issues that prevent their use in practical applications: their phases are only found in limited temperature ranges, thus requiring stabilization of the layers; stabilized BP layers are inhomogeneous and not uniformly oriented, which worsen the optical performance of the devices. It would be essential for practical uses to obtain perfectly aligned and oriented monodomain BP layers, where the alignment and orientation of the cubic lattice are organized in a single 3D structure. In this work we have obtained virtually perfect monodomain BP layers and used them in devices for polarization independent phase modulation. We demonstrate that, under applied voltage, well aligned and oriented layers generate smoother and higher values of the phase shift than inhomogeneous layers, while preserving polarization independency. All BP devices were successfully stabilized in BPI phase, maintaining the layer monodomain homogeneity at room temperature, covering the entire area of the devices with a unique BP phase.