708 research outputs found
Electron-positron bremsstrahlung and pair creation in very high magnetic fields
Cross-sections for Rutherford scattering, Coulomb bremsstrahlung and pair
creation, have been calculated at very high magnetic fields in order to
investigate the photo-production of protons at the polar caps of pulsars whose
spin is antiparallel with the polar magnetic flux density. The
Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect at very high magnetic fields is included in a
simple electron Green function.Comment: 10 pages; to be published in Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Societ
The XMM-LSS survey: the Class 1 cluster sample over the extended 11 deg and its spatial distribution
This paper presents 52 X-ray bright galaxy clusters selected within the 11
deg XMM-LSS survey. 51 of them have spectroscopic redshifts
(), one is identified at , and all together make
the high-purity "Class 1" (C1) cluster sample of the XMM-LSS, the highest
density sample of X-ray selected clusters with a monitored selection function.
Their X-ray fluxes, averaged gas temperatures (median keV),
luminosities (median ergs/s) and total mass
estimates (median ) are measured, adapting to
the specific signal-to-noise regime of XMM-LSS observations. The redshift
distribution of clusters shows a deficit of sources when compared to the
cosmological expectations, regardless of whether WMAP-9 or Planck-2013 CMB
parameters are assumed. This lack of sources is particularly noticeable at . However, after quantifying uncertainties due to small
number statistics and sample variance we are not able to put firm (i.e. ) constraints on the presence of a large void in the cluster
distribution. We work out alternative hypotheses and demonstrate that a
negative redshift evolution in the normalization of the relation
(with respect to a self-similar evolution) is a plausible explanation for the
observed deficit. We confirm this evolutionary trend by directly studying how
C1 clusters populate the space, properly accounting for selection
biases. We point out that a systematically evolving, unresolved, central
component in clusters and groups (AGN contamination or cool core) can impact
the classification as extended sources and be partly responsible for the
observed redshift distribution.[abridged]Comment: 33 pages, 21 figures, 3 tables ; accepted for publication in MNRA
Analysis and control of geometrically nonlinear responses of piezoelectric FG porous plates with graphene platelets reinforcement using B\'ezier extraction
In this study, we propose an effective numerical approach to analyse and
control geometrically nonlinear responses for the functionally graded (FG)
porous plates reinforced by graphene platelets (GPLs) integrated with
piezoelectric layers. The basis idea is to use isogeometric analysis (IGA)
based on the B\'ezier extraction and the -type higher-order shear
deformation theory (-HSDT). By applying the B\'ezier extraction, the
original Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) control meshes can be
transformed into the B\'ezier elements which allow us to inherit the standard
numerical procedure like the finite element method (FEM). The mechanical
displacement field is approximated based on the -HSDT whilst the electric
potential is assumed to be a linear function through the thickness of each
piezoelectric sublayer. The FG plate contains the internal pores and GPLs
dispersed in the metal matrix either uniformly or non-uniformly according to
various different patterns along the thickness of plate. In addition, to
control dynamic responses, two piezoelectric layers are perfectly bonded on the
top and bottom surfaces of the FG plate. The geometrically nonlinear equations
are solved by the Newton-Raphson iterative procedure and the Newmark's time
integration scheme. The influences of the porosity coefficients, weight
fractions of GPLs as well as the external electrical voltage on the
geometrically nonlinear behaviours of the plates with different porosity
distributions and GPL dispersion patterns are evidently investigated through
numerical examples. Then, a constant displacement and velocity feedback control
approaches are adopted to active control the geometrically nonlinear static as
well as the dynamic responses of the FG porous plates, where the effect of the
structural damping is considered, based on a closed-loop control with
piezoelectric sensors and actuators.Comment: 39 pages, 20 figure
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Responding to Vaccine Safety Signals during Pandemic Influenza: A Modeling Study
Background: Managing emerging vaccine safety signals during an influenza pandemic is challenging. Federal regulators must balance vaccine risks against benefits while maintaining public confidence in the public health system. Methods: We developed a multi-criteria decision analysis model to explore regulatory decision-making in the context of emerging vaccine safety signals during a pandemic. We simulated vaccine safety surveillance system capabilities and used an age-structured compartmental model to develop potential pandemic scenarios. We used an expert-derived multi-attribute utility function to evaluate potential regulatory responses by combining four outcome measures into a single measure of interest: 1) expected vaccination benefit from averted influenza; 2) expected vaccination risk from vaccine-associated febrile seizures; 3) expected vaccination risk from vaccine-associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome; and 4) expected change in vaccine-seeking behavior in future influenza seasons. Results: Over multiple scenarios, risk communication, with or without suspension of vaccination of high-risk persons, were the consistently preferred regulatory responses over no action or general suspension when safety signals were detected during a pandemic influenza. On average, the expert panel valued near-term vaccine-related outcomes relative to long-term projected outcomes by 3∶1. However, when decision-makers had minimal ability to influence near-term outcomes, the response was selected primarily by projected impacts on future vaccine-seeking behavior. Conclusions: The selected regulatory response depends on how quickly a vaccine safety signal is identified relative to the peak of the pandemic and the initiation of vaccination. Our analysis suggested two areas for future investment: efforts to improve the size and timeliness of the surveillance system and behavioral research to understand changes in vaccine-seeking behavior
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