2,393 research outputs found
On the energy momentum dispersion in the lattice regularization
For a free scalar boson field and for U(1) gauge theory finite volume
(infrared) and other corrections to the energy-momentum dispersion in the
lattice regularization are investigated calculating energy eigenstates from the
fall off behavior of two-point correlation functions. For small lattices the
squared dispersion energy defined by is in both cases
negative ( is the Euclidean space-time dimension and the
energy of momentum eigenstates). Observation of has
been an accepted method to demonstrate the existence of a massless photon
() in 4D lattice gauge theory, which we supplement here by a study of
its finite size corrections. A surprise from the lattice regularization of the
free field is that infrared corrections do {\it not} eliminate a difference
between the groundstate energy and the mass parameter of the free
scalar lattice action. Instead, the relation is
derived independently of the spatial lattice size.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures. Parts of the paper have been rewritten and
expanded to clarify the result
Adaptive Refinements in BEM
Accuracy estimates and adaptive refinements is nowadays one of the main research topics in finite element computations [6,7,8, 9,11].Its extension to Boundary Elements has been tried as a means to better understand its capabilities as well as to impro ve its efficiency and its obvious advantages. The possibility of implementing adaptive techniques was shown [1,2] for h-conver gence and p-convergence respectively. Some posterior works [3,4 5,10] have shown the promising results that can be expected from those techniques. The main difficulty is associated to the reasonable establishment of “estimation” and “indication” factors related to the global and local errors in each refinement. Although some global measures have been used it is clear that the reduction in dimension intrinsic to boundary elements (3D→2D: 2D→1D) could allow a direct comparison among residuals using the graphic possibilities of modern computers and allowing a point-to-point comparison in place of the classical global approaches. Nevertheless an indicator generalizing the well known Peano’s one has been produced
Treatment Outcomes in Gram Negative Periprosthetic Joint Infection
Introduction: Outcomes associated with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) involving Gram negative (GN) organisms are poorly understood. While prevailing beliefs indicate that GN PJI cases have poorer prognoses than Gram positive (GP) cases, the current literature is sparse and inconsistent.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to systematically compare the treatment outcomes for GN PJI versus GP PJI.
Methods: A retrospective review of 1189 PJI cases between 2007 and 2017 was performed using an institutional PJI database. Treatment failure defined by the Delphi criteria was compared between cases with only GN organisms (n=45) and only GP organisms (n=663). Cox multivariate regression was used to predict time to failure.
Results: GN status did not have significantly higher rates of treatment failure compared to GP PJI (OR=1.021, p=.375) in the multivariate analysis. After sub-analysis of only two-stage exchange procedures, GN cases were significantly less likely to reach reimplantation than GP cases (OR=.182, p\u3c.0001). Patients with GN infections were older (p=.041) and had more comorbidities (p\u3c.0001) than GP patients.
Conclusions: While there was no observed difference in the overall Delphi failure rates between GN and GP PJI cases, GN patients were significantly less likely to reach reimplantation. We hypothesize this is largely a result of the GN patients being older and more comorbid hosts. This data increases insight into the risk factors and outcomes of GN PJI. Further research is needed to investigate the utility of alternate procedures to the two-stage exchange in older or immunocompromised patients
Methylphenidate Treatment in Children with Borderline IQ and Mental Retardation: Analysis of Three Aggregated Studies
Objective:
To determine response of low-IQ children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
symptoms to methylphenidate (MPH).
Methods:
An aggregated analysis was conducted in 90 children with low IQ who received the same dose
regimen of MPH in three independent, placebo-controlled studies. Active drug and placebo were given from
2 to 4 weeks each. Outcome measures included teacher and parent ratings on standardized behavior scales
(mean n = 84), performance on computer-controlled cognitive-motor tests (n = 62), and measures of
cardiovascular response (n = 85).
Results:
Both teachers and parents rated the children consistently as being improved on subscales assessing
attention, overactivity, and conduct problems. Some 44% of the subjects showed at least a 30% reduction
compared with placebo on teacher ratings. MPH improved accuracy on several cognitive tests, response
speed was increased on some, and seat activity declined for one of three tests; heart rate was mildly increased
(3.9 beats/minute) with MPH. Analyses of IQ and mental age as moderator variables suggested that lower
functional level (especially lower IQ) may be associated with a less favorable response to MPH.
Conclusions:
Children with low IQ and ADHD clearly respond to MPH, but their rate of beneficial response
appears to be well under that of normal-IQ children and more varied. Different attentional mechanisms may
moderate response to psychostimulants
Modulation by steroid hormones of a "sexy" acoustic signal in an Oscine species, the Common Canary Serinus canaria
The respective influence of testosterone and estradiol on the structure of the Common Canary Serinus canaria song was studied by experimentally controlling blood levels of steroid hormones in males and analyzing the consequent effects on acoustic parameters. A detailed acoustic analysis of the songs produced before and after hormonal manipulation revealed that testosterone and estradiol seem to control distinct song parameters independently. The presence of receptors for testosterone and estradiol in the brain neural pathway controlling song production strongly suggests that the observed effects are mediated by a steroid action at the neuronal level.<br>A influência da testosterona e do estradiol, respectivamente, na estrutura do canto do Canário-do-reino Serinus canaria foi estudada analisando o efeito da manipulação dos níveis sanguíneos de hormônios esteróides em machos nos parâmetros acústicos do canto. Uma analise detalhada dos cantos produzidos antes e depois da manipulação hormonal revelou que testosterona e estradiol parecem controlar independentemente parâmetros acústicos distintos. A presença de receptores para esses hormônios no circuito neuronal para controle da produção do canto sugere fortemente que os efeitos observados são mediados pela ação de esteróides a nivel neuronal
Excluding Electroweak Baryogenesis in the MSSM
In the context of the MSSM the Light Stop Scenario (LSS) is the only region
of parameter space that allows for successful Electroweak Baryogenesis (EWBG).
This possibility is very phenomenologically attractive, since it allows for the
direct production of light stops and could be tested at the LHC. The ATLAS and
CMS experiments have recently supplied tantalizing hints for a Higgs boson with
a mass of ~ 125 GeV. This Higgs mass severely restricts the parameter space of
the LSS, and we discuss the specific predictions made for EWBG in the MSSM.
Combining data from all the available ATLAS and CMS Higgs searches reveals a
tension with the predictions of EWBG even at this early stage. This allows us
to exclude EWBG in the MSSM at greater than (90) 95% confidence level in the
(non-)decoupling limit, by examining correlations between different Higgs decay
channels. We also examine the exclusion without the assumption of a ~ 125 GeV
Higgs. The Higgs searches are still highly constraining, excluding the entire
EWBG parameter space at greater than 90% CL except for a small window of m_h ~
117 - 119 GeV.Comment: 24 Pages, 4 Figures (v3: fixed typos, minor corrections, added
references
Long term time variability of cosmic rays and possible relevance to the development of life on Earth
An analysis is made of the manner in which the cosmic ray intensity at Earth
has varied over its existence and its possible relevance to both the origin and
the evolution of life. Much of the analysis relates to the 'high energy' cosmic
rays () and their variability due to the changing
proximity of the solar system to supernova remnants which are generally
believed to be responsible for most cosmic rays up to PeV energies. It is
pointed out that, on a statistical basis, there will have been considerable
variations in the likely 100 My between the Earth's biosphere reaching
reasonable stability and the onset of very elementary life. Interestingly,
there is the increasingly strong possibility that PeV cosmic rays are
responsible for the initiation of terrestrial lightning strokes and the
possibility arises of considerable increases in the frequency of lightnings and
thereby the formation of some of the complex molecules which are the 'building
blocks of life'. Attention is also given to the well known generation of the
oxides of nitrogen by lightning strokes which are poisonous to animal life but
helpful to plant growth; here, too, the violent swings of cosmic ray
intensities may have had relevance to evolutionary changes. A particular
variant of the cosmic ray acceleration model, put forward by us, predicts an
increase in lightning rate in the past and this has been sought in Korean
historical records. Finally, the time dependence of the overall cosmic ray
intensity, which manifests itself mainly at sub-10 GeV energies, has been
examined. The relevance of cosmic rays to the 'global electrical circuit'
points to the importance of this concept.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, accepted by 'Surveys in Geophysics
Spectroscopic variability of two Oe stars
The Oe stars HD45314 and HD60848 have recently been found to exhibit very
different X-ray properties: whilst HD60848 has an X-ray spectrum and emission
level typical of most OB stars, HD45314 features a much harder and brighter
X-ray emission, making it a so-called gamma Cas analogue. Monitoring the
optical spectra could provide hints towards the origin of these very different
behaviours. We analyse a large set of spectroscopic observations of HD45314 and
HD60848, extending over 20 years. We further attempt to fit the H-alpha line
profiles of both stars with a simple model of emission line formation in a
Keplerian disk. Strong variations in the strengths of the H-alpha, H-beta, and
He I 5876 emission lines are observed for both stars. In the case of HD60848,
we find a time lag between the variations in the equivalent widths of these
lines. The emission lines are double peaked with nearly identical strengths of
the violet and red peaks. The H-alpha profile of this star can be successfully
reproduced by our model of a disk seen under an inclination of 30 degrees. In
the case of HD45314, the emission lines are highly asymmetric and display
strong line profile variations. We find a major change in behaviour between the
2002 outburst and the one observed in 2013. This concerns both the relationship
between the equivalent widths of the various lines and their morphologies at
maximum strength (double-peaked in 2002 versus single-peaked in 2013). Our
simple disk model fails to reproduce the observed H-alpha line profiles of
HD45314. Our results further support the interpretation that Oe stars do have
decretion disks similar to those of Be stars. Whilst the emission lines of
HD60848 are explained by a disk with a Keplerian velocity field, the disk of
HD45314 seems to have a significantly more complex velocity field that could be
related to the phenomenon that produces its peculiar X-ray emission.Comment: Accepted for Publication in A&
Colored Resonant Signals at the LHC: Largest Rate and Simplest Topology
We study the colored resonance production at the LHC in a most general
approach. We classify the possible colored resonances based on group theory
decomposition, and construct their effective interactions with light partons.
The production cross section from annihilation of valence quarks or gluons may
be on the order of 400 - 1000 pb at LHC energies for a mass of 1 TeV with
nominal couplings, leading to the largest production rates for new physics at
the TeV scale, and simplest event topology with dijet final states. We apply
the new dijet data from the LHC experiments to put bounds on various possible
colored resonant states. The current bounds range from 0.9 to 2.7 TeV. The
formulation is readily applicable for future searches including other decay
modes.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures. References updated and additional K-factors
include
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