Influence of Fermi surface topology on the quasiparticle spectrum in the vortex state

We study the influence of Fermi surface topology on the quasiparticle density of states in the vortex state of type II superconductors. We observe that the field dependence and the shape of the momentum and spatially averaged density of states is affected significantly by the topology of the Fermi surface. We show that this behavior can be understood in terms of characteristic Fermi surface functions and that an important role is played by the number of points on the Fermi surface at which the Fermi velocity is directed parallel to the magnetic field. A critical comparison is made with a broadened BCS type density of states, that has been used frequently in analysis of tunneling data. We suggest a new formula as a replacement for the broadened BCS model for the special case of a cylindrical Fermi surface. We apply our results to the two gap superconductor MgB$_2$ and show that in this particular case the field dependence of the partial densities of states of the two gaps behaves very differently due to the different topologies of the corresponding Fermi surfaces, in qualitative agreement with recent tunneling experiments.Comment: 12 pages 12 figure

Coherence lengths and anisotropy in MgB2 superconductor

Field and temperature microwave measurements have been carried out on MgB2 thin film grown on Al2O3 substrate. The analysis reveals the mean field coherence length xi_{MF} in the mixed state and a temperature independent anisotropy ratio gamma_{MF} = xi_{MF}^{ab} / xi_{MF}^c approximately 2. At the superconducting transition, the scaling of the fluctuation conductivity yields the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length with a different anisotropy ratio gamma_{GL} = 2.8, also temperature independent.Comment: submitted to PR

Large time existence for 3D water-waves and asymptotics

We rigorously justify in 3D the main asymptotic models used in coastal oceanography, including: shallow-water equations, Boussinesq systems, Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) approximation, Green-Naghdi equations, Serre approximation and full-dispersion model. We first introduce a ``variable'' nondimensionalized version of the water-waves equations which vary from shallow to deep water, and which involves four dimensionless parameters. Using a nonlocal energy adapted to the equations, we can prove a well-posedness theorem, uniformly with respect to all the parameters. Its validity ranges therefore from shallow to deep-water, from small to large surface and bottom variations, and from fully to weakly transverse waves. The physical regimes corresponding to the aforementioned models can therefore be studied as particular cases; it turns out that the existence time and the energy bounds given by the theorem are always those needed to justify the asymptotic models. We can therefore derive and justify them in a systematic way.Comment: Revised version of arXiv:math.AP/0702015 (notations simplified and remarks added) To appear in Inventione

Stability of dark solitons in a Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in an optical lattice

We investigate the stability of dark solitons (DSs) in an effectively one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of the magnetic parabolic trap and an optical lattice (OL). The analysis is based on both the full Gross-Pitaevskii equation and its tight-binding approximation counterpart (discrete nonlinear Schr{\"o}dinger equation). We find that DSs are subject to weak instabilities with an onset of instability mainly governed by the period and amplitude of the OL. The instability, if present, sets in at large times and it is characterized by quasi-periodic oscillations of the DS about the minimum of the parabolic trap.Comment: Typo fixed in Eq. (1): cos^2 -> sin^

Frailty and health-related quality of life in older women with breast cancer

Purpose: In older women, breast cancer and its treatment can have profound impact on their physical, mental, and social health, especially in frail patients. This study evaluated the association between frailty and long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Methods: Using the Carolina Senior Registry (CSR), participants with breast cancer were contacted to complete a follow-up HRQOL questionnaire (median 4 years). Baseline Geriatric Assessment (GA) variables were used to calculate the Carolina Frailty Index (CFI) and categorize participants as robust, pre-frail, or frail. Outcomes included HRQOL domains of physical function, social roles, fatigue, depression, anxiety, pain, and sleep disturbance assessed using PROMIS® instruments. Regression modeling compared outcomes between frailty groups using adjusted mean differences (AMD). Results: Of 190 eligible patients, 63 completed follow-up HRQOL survey. Mean age was 70 years (range 65–86) and 91% were white. Based on the CFI, 49 (78%) patients were robust, 11 (18%) pre-frail, and 3 (5%) frail. After controlling for age and cancer stage, patients identified as pre-frail/frail reported worse physical function (AMD − 9.2, p < 0.001) and social roles (AMD − 7.2, p = 0.002) and more fatigue (AMD 7.6, p = 0.008), depression (AMD 5.6, p = 0.004), and sleep disturbance (AMD 6.9, p = 0.008) compared to robust patients at follow-up. Conclusions: Frailty in older women with breast cancer was associated with worse long-term HRQOL outcomes. Further research is needed to develop interventions for frail patients at-risk for reduced HRQOL

Fractal Nanotechnology

Self-similar patterns are frequently observed in Nature. Their reproduction is possible on a length scale 102–105 nm with lithographic methods, but seems impossible on the nanometer length scale. It is shown that this goal may be achieved via a multiplicative variant of the multi-spacer patterning technology, in this way permitting the controlled preparation of fractal surfaces

The COSINE-100 liquid scintillator veto system

This paper describes the liquid scintillator veto system for the COSINE-100 dark matter experiment and its performance. The COSINE-100 detector consists of eight NaI(Tl) crystals immersed in 2200 L of linear alkylbenzene-based liquid scintillator. The liquid scintillator tags between 65 and 75% of the internal 40K background in the 2–6 keV energy region. We also describe the background model for the liquid scintillator, which is primarily used to assess its energy calibration and threshold

Horizontal Branch Stars: The Interplay between Observations and Theory, and Insights into the Formation of the Galaxy

We review HB stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of globular clusters (GCs) in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude, with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC. A rediscussion of the second-parameter problem is presented. A technique is proposed to estimate the HB types of extragalactic GCs on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax measurements for the star RR Lyrae, is also revisited, giving a distance modulus to the LMC of (m-M)_0 = 18.44+/-0.11. RR Lyrae period change rates are studied. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of low-mass stars are investigated. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 56 pages, 22 figures. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Measurement of the cosmic muon annual and diurnal flux variation with the COSINE-100 detector

We report measurements of annual and diurnal modulations of the cosmic-ray muon rate in the Yangyang underground laboratory (Y2L) using 952 days of COSINE-100 data acquired between September 2016 and July 2019. A correlation of the muon rate with the atmospheric temperature is observed and its amplitude on the muon rate is determined. The effective atmospheric temperature and muon rate variations are positively correlated with a measured effective temperature coefficient of αT = 0.80 ± 0.11. This result is consistent with a model of meson production in the atmosphere. We also searched for a diurnal modulation in the underground muon rate by comparing one-hour intervals. No significant diurnal modulation of the muon rate was observed

Developing a multivariable prediction model for functional outcome after reperfusion therapy for acute ischaemic stroke: study protocol for the Targeting Optimal Thrombolysis Outcomes (TOTO) multicentre cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the only approved pharmacological reperfusion therapy for acute ischaemic stroke. Despite population benefit, IVT is not equally effective in all patients, nor is it without significant risk. Uncertain treatment outcome prediction complicates patient treatment selection. This study will develop and validate predictive algorithms for IVT response, using clinical, radiological and blood-based biomarker measures. A secondary objective is to develop predictive algorithms for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), which has been proven as an effective reperfusion therapy since study inception. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Targeting Optimal Thrombolysis Outcomes Study is a multicenter prospective cohort study of ischaemic stroke patients treated at participating Australian Stroke Centres with IVT and/or EVT. Patients undergo neuroimaging using multimodal CT or MRI at baseline with repeat neuroimaging 24 hours post-treatment. Baseline and follow-up blood samples are provided for research use. The primary outcome is good functional outcome at 90 days poststroke, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) Score of 0-2. Secondary outcomes are reperfusion, recanalisation, infarct core growth, change in stroke severity, poor functional outcome, excellent functional outcome and ordinal mRS at 90 days. Primary predictive models will be developed and validated in patients treated only with rt-PA. Models will be built using regression methods and include clinical variables, radiological measures from multimodal neuroimaging and blood-based biomarkers measured by mass spectrometry. Predictive accuracy will be quantified using c-statistics and R2. In secondary analyses, models will be developed in patients treated using EVT, with or without prior IVT, reflecting practice changes since original study design. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Patients, or relatives when patients could not consent, provide written informed consent to participate. This study received approval from the Hunter New England Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (reference 14/10/15/4.02). Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Elizabeth Holliday ... Marten Snel ... Simon Koblar ... Monica Hamilton-Bruce ... Timothy Kleinig ... Paul J Trim ... et al