274 research outputs found
The holographic induced gravity model with a Ricci dark energy: smoothing the little rip and big rip through Gauss-Bonnet effects?
We present an holographic brane-world model of the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati
(DGP) scenario with and without a Gauss-Bonnet term (GB) in the bulk. We show
that an holographic dark energy component with the Ricci scale as the infra-red
cutoff can describe the late-time acceleration of the universe. In addition, we
show that the dimensionless holographic parameter is very important in
characterising the DGP branches, and in determining the behaviour of the Ricci
dark energy as well as the asymptotic behaviour of the brane. On the one hand,
in the DGP scenario the Ricci dark energy will exhibit a phantom-like behaviour
with no big rip if the holographic parameter is strictly larger than 1/2. For
smaller values, the brane hits a big rip or a little rip. On the other hand, we
have shown that the introduction of the GB term avoids the big rip and little
rip singularities on both branches but cannot avoid the appearance of a big
freeze singularity for some values of the holographic parameter on the normal
branch, however, these values are very unlikely because they lead to a very
negative equation of state at the present and therefore we can speak in
practice of singularity avoidance. At this regard, the equation of state
parameter of the Ricci dark energy plays a crucial role, even more important
than the GB parameter, in rejecting the parameter space where future
singularities appear.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures. RevTex4-1. Comments and references added.
Version accepted in PR
A Three-Dimensional TLM Simulation Method for Thermal Effect in PV-Solar Cells
Temperature rising is a negative factor in almost all systems. It could cause by self heating or ambient temperature. In solar photovoltaic cells this temperature rising affects on the behavior of cells. The ability of a PV module to withstand the effects of periodic hot-spot heating that occurs when cells are operated under reverse biased conditions is closely related to the properties of the cell semi-conductor material. In addition, the thermal effect also influences the estimation of the maximum power point (MPP) and electrical parameters for the PV modules, such as maximum output power, maximum conversion efficiency, internal efficiency, reliability, and lifetime. The cells junction temperature is a critical parameter that significantly affects the electrical characteristics of PV modules. For practical applications of PV modules, it is very important to accurately estimate the junction temperature of PV modules and analyze the thermal characteristics of the PV modules. Once the temperature variation is taken into account, we can then acquire a more accurate MPP for the PV modules, and the maximum utilization efficiency of the PV modules can also be further achieved. In this paper, the three-Dimensional Transmission Line Matrix (3D-TLM) method was used to map the surface temperature distribution of solar cells while in the reverse bias mode. It was observed that some cells exhibited an inhomogeneity of the surface temperature resulting in localized heating (hot-spot). This hot-spot heating causes irreversible destruction of the solar cell structure. Hot spots can have a deleterious impact on the total solar modules if individual solar cells are heated. So, the results show clearly that the solar cells are capable of self-generating considerable amounts of heat that should be dissipated very quickly to increase PV module's lifetime
CORRODED GAS PIPELINE REMAINING LIFE UNDER VARIABLE OPERATING PRESSURE
Gas pipelines are subjected to mechanical and chemical stresses which lead to failures of various types such as corrosion, cracking, deformation and rupture. Corrosion damage to pipelines has become a growing concern in the gas industry. Corrosion defects in the form of pitting caused by the corrosion phenomenon cause high concentrations of stresses and plastic strains thus reducing the strength of the pipe by threatening its structural integrity. Indeed, the internal operating pressure is variable and can generate the phenomenon of fatigue, which is dangerous, given its insidious nature, causing damage to the corroded zone for stress levels well below the yield stress of the material. The standards used in the framework of the rehabilitation of corroded pipes allow the determination of their burst pressure but not their remaining life. To address this issue, we have developed a model based on damage mechanics to predict the remaining life of a pipe in the presence of an external corrosion defec
Cosmic acceleration in Lovelock quantum gravity
This paper introduces novel solutions for inflation and late-time cosmic
acceleration within the framework of quantum Lovelock gravity, utilizing
Friedmann equations. Furthermore, we demonstrate the hypergeometric states of
cosmic acceleration through the Schr\"{o}dinger stationary equation. A physical
interpretation is proposed, whereby the rescaled Lovelock couplings represent a
topological mass that characterizes the Lovelock branch. This research holds
the potential for an extension into the quantum description. Predictions for
the spectral tilt and tensor-to-scalar ratio are depicted through plotted
curves. By utilizing the rescaled Hubble parameter, the spectral index is
determined in terms of the number of e-folds.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure
Implications of the NANOGrav results for primordial black holes and Hubble tension
The purpose of this work is to investigate the formation and evaporation of
the primordial black holes in the inflationary scenarios. Thermodynamic
parameters such as mass, temperature and entropy are expressed in terms of
NANOGrav frequency. By numerical calculations we show that the constraint on
the mass range is well confirmed. We discuss the relation
between the redshift and the probability for gravitational wave source
populations. A new parameter associated with the frequency and Hubble rate is
presented, by which for the spectral index and the Hubble
constant , the effective Hubble constant
is calculated to be which is
compatible with the observational data. We make a comparison between the Hubble
tension and the primordial perturbations and the expression of the mass loss
rate, chemical potential and central charge needed to describe the Hawking
evaporation will be established
Serial Morphological and Functional Assessment of Drug-Eluting Balloon for In-Stent Restenotic Lesions Mechanisms of Action Evaluated With Angiography, Optical Coherence Tomography, and Fractional Flow Reserve
ObjectivesThis study sought to elucidate the underlying mechanism through which drug-eluting balloons (DEB) restore coronary blood flow, by assessing the coronary vessel before, immediately after, and at 6-month follow-up with angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fractional flow reserve (FFR).BackgroundIn-stent restenosis (ISR) treatment remains challenging. Drug-eluting balloons have been shown to be a valid treatment option in several studies. These studies focused on efficiency of the device, whereas the mechanisms of action of DEB in ISR treatment have not been investigated.MethodsIn this prospective, single-center observational study, patients with ISR were treated with a second-generation DEB. Serial angiographic, OCT, and FFR measurements were performed before and after the procedure, as well as at 6-month follow-up.ResultsTwenty-five patients were assigned to DEB treatment, with an angiographic and device success of 100% and 92%, respectively. Late luminal loss was 0.01 ± 0.43 mm. Median percent changes [interquartile range] between pre-and post-procedure, and post-procedure and follow-up were, respectively: lumen volume 75.1% increase [43.7 to 115.0], and 8% increase [−14.0 to 25.8]; stent volume 23.7% increase [15.5 to 40.0], and −1.2% decrease [−6.9 to 5.9]; and neointimal volume −14.4% decrease [−29.2 to −9.5], and −15.8% decrease [−38.1 to 28.3]. The FFR gradient along the treated stent (difference in FFR between the distal and the proximal stent edge) was 0.37 ± 0.18 pre-procedure, 0.06 ± 0.04 post-procedure, and 0.05 ± 0.05 at follow-up. In all post-procedural OCT images, intrastent dissections were seen, which were sealed at follow-up OCT.ConclusionsDEB restore coronary blood flow by means of a short-term mechanical effect, causing an increase in lumen and stent volumes and compression of neointimal hyperplasia (with intra-stent dissections). Due to the local drug effect, patency persists and may even improve at follow-up, with further increase in lumen volume, decrease in neointimal volume, and complete sealing of neointimal dissections
Patterns of practice of regional nodal irradiation in breast cancer: results of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) NOdal Radiotherapy (NORA) survey†
Predicting breast cancer outcome based on SLN node status without ALND is currently an area of uncertainty in SLN+ patients. These uncertainties influence the decision-making of adjuvant nodal irradiation. The NORA Survey was designed to examine the patterns of RNI practice in Europe to provide a basis for designing future trials in areas of equipoise in clinical decision-making concerning RN
Production and purification of xylooligosaccharides from oil palm empty fruit bunch fibre by a non-isothermal process
Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fibre, a by-product generated from non-woody, tropical perennial oil palm crop was evaluated for xylooligosaccharides (XOS) production. Samples of OPEFB fibre were subjected to non-isothermal autohydrolysis treatment using a temperature range from 150 to 220 ºC. The highest XOS concentration, 17.6 g/L which relayed from solubilisation of 63 g/100 g xylan was achieved at 210 ºC and there was a minimum amount of xylose and furfural being
produced. The chromatographic purification which was undertaken to purify the oligosaccharide-rich liquor resulted in a product with 74–78% purity, of which 83–85% was XOS with degree of polymerisation (DP) between 5 and 40
Multiple CDM cosmology with string landscape features and future singularities
Multiple CDM cosmology is studied in a way that is formally a
classical analog of the Casimir effect. Such cosmology corresponds to a
time-dependent dark fluid model or, alternatively, to its scalar field
presentation, and it motivated by the string landscape picture. The future
evolution of the several dark energy models constructed within the scheme is
carefully investigated. It turns out to be almost always possible to choose the
parameters in the models so that they match the most recent and accurate
astronomical values. To this end, several universes are presented which mimick
(multiple) CDM cosmology but exhibit Little Rip, asymptotically de
Sitter, or Type I, II, III, and IV finite-time singularity behavior in the far
future, with disintegration of all bound objects in the cases of Big Rip,
Little Rip and Pseudo-Rip cosmologies.Comment: LaTeX 11 pages, 10 figure
Long-term complications and side effects after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: an update
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an effective therapy for various malignant and non-malignant diseases. Many patients have now been followed for two or three decades posttransplant and are presumed to be cured. With the tremendous advances achieved in terms of supportive care, it is reasonable to expect outcomes to improve steadily and consequently increasing numbers of transplant survivors will be facing life after the initial transplant experience. Although long-term allo-HSCT survivors generally enjoy good health, for many others, cure or control of the underlying disease is not accompanied by full restoration of health. The burden of long-term morbidity borne by allo-HSCT survivors is substantial, and long-term follow-up of patients who received allo-HSCT is now widely recommended. Immediate survival is no longer the sole concern after allo-HSCT. The goals should also include complete recovery of the overall health status with normal physical and psychological functioning. Long-term side effects after allo-HSCT include non-malignant organ or tissue dysfunction, changes in quality of life, infections related to abnormal immune reconstitution and secondary cancers. Many of these can be attributed to the deleterious effects of chronic graft-versus-host disease. The aims of this review are to provide an update on the recent research evidence in the field
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