3,160 research outputs found
Finite volume corrections to pi-pi scattering
Lattice QCD studies of hadron-hadron interactions are performed by computing
the energy levels of the system in a finite box. The shifts in energy levels
proportional to inverse powers of the volume are related to scattering
parameters in a model independent way. In addition, there are non-universal
exponentially suppressed corrections that distort this relation. These terms
are proportional to exp(-m_pi L) and become relevant as the chiral limit is
approached. In this paper we report on a one-loop chiral perturbation theory
calculation of the leading exponential corrections in the case of I=2 pi-pi
scattering near threshold.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Version published in PR
Combining Search, Social Media, and Traditional Data Sources to Improve Influenza Surveillance
We present a machine learning-based methodology capable of providing
real-time ("nowcast") and forecast estimates of influenza activity in the US by
leveraging data from multiple data sources including: Google searches, Twitter
microblogs, nearly real-time hospital visit records, and data from a
participatory surveillance system. Our main contribution consists of combining
multiple influenza-like illnesses (ILI) activity estimates, generated
independently with each data source, into a single prediction of ILI utilizing
machine learning ensemble approaches. Our methodology exploits the information
in each data source and produces accurate weekly ILI predictions for up to four
weeks ahead of the release of CDC's ILI reports. We evaluate the predictive
ability of our ensemble approach during the 2013-2014 (retrospective) and
2014-2015 (live) flu seasons for each of the four weekly time horizons. Our
ensemble approach demonstrates several advantages: (1) our ensemble method's
predictions outperform every prediction using each data source independently,
(2) our methodology can produce predictions one week ahead of GFT's real-time
estimates with comparable accuracy, and (3) our two and three week forecast
estimates have comparable accuracy to real-time predictions using an
autoregressive model. Moreover, our results show that considerable insight is
gained from incorporating disparate data streams, in the form of social media
and crowd sourced data, into influenza predictions in all time horizon
The Scattering Theory of Oscillator Defects in an Optical Fiber
We examine harmonic oscillator defects coupled to a photon field in the
environs of an optical fiber. Using techniques borrowed or extended from the
theory of two dimensional quantum fields with boundaries and defects, we are
able to compute exactly a number of interesting quantities. We calculate the
scattering S-matrices (i.e. the reflection and transmission amplitudes) of the
photons off a single defect. We determine using techniques derived from
thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) the thermodynamic potentials of the
interacting photon-defect system. And we compute several correlators of
physical interest. We find the photon occupancy at finite temperature, the
spontaneous emission spectrum from the decay of an excited state, and the
correlation functions of the defect degrees of freedom. In an extension of the
single defect theory, we find the photonic band structure that arises from a
periodic array of harmonic oscillators. In another extension, we examine a
continuous array of defects and exactly derive its dispersion relation. With
some differences, the spectrum is similar to that found for EM wave propagation
in covalent crystals. We then add to this continuum theory isolated defects, so
as to obtain a more realistic model of defects embedded in a frequency
dependent dielectric medium. We do this both with a single isolated defect and
with an array of isolated defects, and so compute how the S-matrices and the
band structure change in a dynamic medium.Comment: 32 pages, TeX with harvmac macros, three postscript figure
QED for a Fibrillar Medium of Two-Level Atoms
We consider a fibrillar medium with a continuous distribution of two-level
atoms coupled to quantized electromagnetic fields. Perturbation theory is
developed based on the current algebra satisfied by the atomic operators. The
one-loop corrections to the dispersion relation for the polaritons and the
dielectric constant are computed. Renormalization group equations are derived
which demonstrate a screening of the two-level splitting at higher energies.
Our results are compared with known results in the slowly varying envelope and
rotating wave approximations. We also discuss the quantum sine-Gordon theory as
an approximate theory.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures, uses harvmac and epsf. In this revised version,
infra-red divergences are more properly handle
Probes of Lorentz Violation in Neutrino Propagation
It has been suggested that the interactions of energetic particles with the
foamy structure of space-time thought to be generated by quantum-gravitational
(QG) effects might violate Lorentz invariance, so that they do not propagate at
a universal speed of light. We consider the limits that may be set on a linear
or quadratic violation of Lorentz invariance in the propagation of energetic
neutrinos, v/c=[1 +- (E/M_\nuQG1)] or [1 +- (E/M_\nu QG2}^2], using data from
supernova explosions and the OPERA long-baseline neutrino experiment. Using the
SN1987a neutrino data from the Kamioka II, IMB and Baksan experiments, we set
the limits M_\nuQG1 > 2.7(2.5)x10^10 GeV for subluminal (superluminal)
propagation, respectively, and M_\nuQG2 >4.6(4.1)x10^4 GeV at the 95%
confidence level. A future galactic supernova at a distance of 10 kpc would
have sensitivity to M_\nuQG1 > 2(4)x10^11 GeV for subluminal (superluminal)
propagation, respectively, and M_\nuQG2 > 2(4)x10^5 GeV. With the current CNGS
extraction spill length of 10.5 micro seconds and with standard clock
synchronization techniques, the sensitivity of the OPERA experiment would reach
M_\nuQG1 ~ 7x10^5 GeV (M_\nuQG2 ~ 8x10^3 GeV) after 5 years of nominal running.
If the time structure of the SPS RF bunches within the extracted CNGS spills
could be exploited, these figures would be significantly improved to M_\nuQG1 ~
5x10^7 GeV (M_\nuQG2 ~ 4x10^4 GeV). These results can be improved further if
similar time resolution can be achieved with neutrino events occurring in the
rock upstream of the OPERA detector: we find potential sensitivities to
M_\nuQG1 ~ 4x10^8 GeV and M_\nuQG2 ~ 7x10^5 GeV.Comment: 33 pages, 22 figures, version accepted for publication in Physical
Review
Association of prenatal exposure to gestational diabetes with offspring body composition and regional body fat distribution
The aim of this cohort study was to compare body composition and regional body fat distribution between children exposed (GDM+) or unexposed (GDM−) in utero to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to investigate the association with the glycaemic and the insulin profile. Data from 56 GDM+ and 30 GDM− were analysed. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured. Total and regional body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Insulin, glucose and HbA1c were obtained from a fasting plasma sample, and the HOMA-IR index was calculated. anova was performed to compare adiposity measures between GDM+ and GDM−. Associations between the glycaemic and insulin profile and adiposity measures were studied using partial Pearson correlations. Mean age was 6.6 ± 2.3 years. Waist circumference, fat mass percentage, android fat mass, android fat mass percentage and android-to-gynoid fat mass ratio were higher among GDM+, and lean mass percentage was lower (P < 0.05). Among GDM+ children, body mass index (BMI) z score, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, android fat mass percentage and android-to-gynoid fat mass ratio were all positively correlated with HbA1C (r = 0.32–0.43, P < 0.05). Prenatal exposure to GDM is associated with increased total and abdominal adiposity. This increased adiposity observed among GDM+ children is associated with an altered glycaemic profile. This study is registered in the Clinical Trials.gov registry (NCT01340924).
What is already known about this subject?
• Although body mass index (BMI) is frequently used to assess children adiposity, other anthropometric measures may be better indicators of cardiometabolic risk.
• Few studies investigated others adiposity measures in children exposed to gestational diabetes.
What this study adds?
• In the current study, adiposity of children exposed to gestational diabetes is evaluated in a more complete and precise manner with assessment of body composition and fat distribution by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
• This study also investigates the association of those adiposity measures with children glycaemic and insulin profile
Towards the selection of a final set of trials for the 2012 ENP gray whale implementation review
At the March 2012 Intersessional meeting of the AWMP Working Group in La Jolla,CA, a set of trials was agreed upon for consideration as part of the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale Implementation Review. Since then, progress has been made on conditioning that set of trials. An assessment of the preliminary conditioning results is presented here, with a focus on five trials that were not able to mimic the available data as well as the remaining trials. If any of these five trials is to be dropped from further consideration, there must be unanimous agreement within the Working Group for such
The properties of SCUBA cores in the Perseus molecular cloud: the bias of clump-finding algorithms
We present a new analysis of the properties of star-forming cores in the
Perseus molecular cloud, identified in SCUBA 850 micron data. Our goal is to
determine which core properties can be robustly identified and which depend on
the extraction technique. Four regions in the cloud are examined: NGC1333,
IC348/HH211, L1448 and L1455. We identify clumps of dust emission using two
popular automated algorithms, CLFIND and GAUSSCLUMPS, finding 85 and 122 clumps
in total respectively. Some trends are true for both populations: clumps become
increasingly elongated over time and are consistent with constant surface
brightness objects, with an average brightness ~4 to 10 times larger than the
surrounding molecular cloud; the clump mass distribution (CMD) resembles the
stellar intial mass function, with a slope alpha = -2.0+/-0.1 for CLFIND and
alpha = -3.15+/-0.08 for GAUSSCLUMPS, which straddle the Salpeter value. The
mass at which the slope shallows (similar for both algorithms at M~6 Msun)
implies a star-forming efficiency of between 10 and 20 per cent. Other trends
reported elsewhere depend on the clump-finding technique: we find protostellar
clumps are both smaller (for GAUSSCLUMPS) and larger (for CLFIND) than their
starless counterparts; the functional form, best-fitting to the CMD, is
different for the two algorithms. The GAUSSCLUMPS CMD is best-fitted with a
log-normal distribution, whereas a broken power law is best for CLFIND; the
reported lack of massive starless cores in previous studies can be seen in the
CLFIND but not the GAUSSCLUMPS data. Our approach highlights similarities and
differences between the clump populations, illustrating the caution that must
be exercised when comparing results from different studies and interpreting the
properties of continuum cores.Comment: 19 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication by MNRA
Increased body fat mass explains the positive association between circulating estradiol and insulin resistance in postmenopausal women
The relationship between circulating estrogen levels and cardiometabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance is unclear in postmenopausal women. High estradiol (E2) levels have been reported to predict increased risk of type 2 diabetes in this population. We aimed to examine associations among estrogen levels, adiposity measurements, and cardiometabolic risk variables including insulin resistance in postmenopausal women. One hundred-one healthy participants (mean ± SD: age 57 ± 4 yr, BMI 27.9 ± 4.8 kg/m2) were included in the analysis. Fifteen plasma steroids or metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Body composition and fat distribution were determined with hydrostatic weighing and computed tomography, respectively. Blood lipids and circulating cytokines were also measured. Circulating E2 was positively correlated with all adiposity indexes (r = 0.62 to 0.42, P < 0.0001) except waist-to-hip ratio. E2 was positively correlated with VLDL-cholesterol, plasma-, VLDL-, and HDL-triglyceride levels (r = 0.31 to 0.24, P < 0.02) as well as with hs-CRP and IL-6 (r = 0.52 and 0.29, P < 0.005) and negatively with HDL-cholesterol, adiponectin, and insulin sensitivity (r = −0.36 to −0.20, P < 0.02). With adjustments for percent body fat, correlations between E2 and metabolic risk variables were no longer significant. Similar results were observed for circulating estrone (E1) and estrone-sulfate (E1-S) levels. In conclusion, circulating estrogen concentrations are proportional to adipose mass in postmenopausal women, although they remain in the low range. Insulin resistance as well as altered blood lipids and cytokines are observed when circulating estrogen levels are high within that range, but these differences are explained by concomitant variation in total adiposity
Postnatal prevention of childhood obesity in offspring prenatally exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus : where are we now?
Children exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in utero are at high risk of developing many health problems such as obesity. There is an urgent need to find new strategies to prevent obesity development among high-risk populations such as those children. Accordingly, the aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge on the postnatal prevention of childhood obesity in offspring born from mothers with GDM. Specifically, this review addresses the impact of breastfeeding, complementary feeding practices as well as dietary intake and physical activity during childhood on obesity risk of children exposed to GDM in utero. Furthermore, breast milk composition of diabetic mothers and its potential impact on growth is discussed. According to the available literature, breastfeeding may reduce obesity risk in children exposed to GDM in utero but a longer duration seems necessary to achieve its protective effect against obesity. Detailed analysis of breast milk composition of mothers with GDM will be necessary to fully understand the relationship between breastfeeding and obesity in this specific population. This review highlights the need for more studies addressing the impact of complementary feeding practices and lifestyle habits during childhood on obesity risk of children exposed to GDM in utero
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