8,520 research outputs found
A model for a non-minimally coupled scalar field interacting with dark matter
In this work we investigate the evolution of a Universe consisted of a scalar
field, a dark matter field and non-interacting baryonic matter and radiation.
The scalar field, which plays the role of dark energy, is non-minimally coupled
to space-time curvature, and drives the Universe to a present accelerated
expansion. The non-relativistic dark matter field interacts directly with the
dark energy and has a pressure which follows from a thermodynamic theory. We
show that this model can reproduce the expected behavior of the density
parameters, deceleration parameter and luminosity distance.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Brazilian Journal of Physic
Maternal haemodynamic function differs in preâeclampsia when it is associated with a smallâforâgestationalâage newborn: a prospective cohort study
Objective
To describe maternal haemodynamic differences in gestational hypertension with smallâforâgestationalâage babies (HDP + SGA), gestational hypertension with appropriateâforâgestationalâage babies (HDPâonly) and control pregnancies.
Design
Prospective cohort study.
Setting
Tertiary Hospital, UK.
Population
Women with gestational hypertension and healthy pregnant women.
Methods
Maternal haemodynamic indices were measured using a nonâinvasive Ultrasound Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOMâ1AÂŽ) and corrected for gestational age and maternal characteristics using deviceâspecific reference ranges.
Main outcome measures
Maternal cardiac output, stroke volume, systemic vascular resistance.
Results
We included 114 HDP + SGA, 202 HDPâonly and 401 control pregnancies at 26â41 weeks of gestation. There was no significant difference in the mean arterial blood pressure (110 versus 107 mmHg, P = 0.445) between the two HDP groups at presentation. Pregnancies complicated by HDP + SGA had significantly lower median heart rate (76 versus 85 bpm versus 83 bpm), lower cardiac output (0.85 versus 0.98 versus 0.97 MoM) and higher systemic vascular resistance (1.4 versus 1.0 versus 1.2 MoM) compared with control and HDPâonly pregnancies, respectively (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Women with HDP + SGA present with more severe haemodynamic dysfunction than HDPâonly. Even HDPâonly pregnancies exhibit impaired haemodynamic indices compared with normal pregnancies, supporting a role of the maternal cardiovascular system in gestational hypertension irrespective of fetal size. Central haemodynamic changes may play a role in the pathogenesis of preâeclampsia and should be considered alongside placental aetiology
A Multicanonical Algorithm and the Surface Free Energy in SU(3) Pure Gauge Theory
We present a multicanonical algorithm for the SU(3) pure gauge theory at the
deconfinement phase transition. We measure the tunneling times for lattices of
size L^3x2 for L=8,10, and 12. In contrast to the canonical algorithm the
tunneling time increases only moderately with L. Finally, we determine the
interfacial free energy applying the multicanonical algorithm.Comment: 6 pages, HLRZ-92-3
Evidence for uteroplacental malperfusion in fetuses with major congenital heart defects.
AIMS: Fetuses affected by congenital heart defects (CHD) are considered to be at increased risk of fetal growth restriction and intrauterine demise. Whether these risks are a direct consequence of fetal CHD or a result of associated uteroplacental dysfunction is not evident from the data of recent studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of uteroplacental dysfunction reflected by abnormal uterine artery Doppler indices and reduced fetal growth in CHD pregnancies. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study including singleton pregnancies referred for detailed fetal cardiac assessment subsequently diagnosed with or without CHD. Mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler assessment at 20-24 weeks as well as third trimester fetal biometry and arterial Doppler pulsatility indices (PI) were performed. All fetal biometry were converted into centiles and Doppler values to multiples of median (MoM) to adjust for physiological changes with gestation. RESULTS: The study included 811 pregnancies including 153 cases where the fetus was diagnosed with CHD. Mid-pregnancy uterine artery PI was significantly higher in women with fetal CHD compared to controls (0.90MoM vs 0.83MoM; p = 0.006). In the third trimester, median centiles for fetal head circumference (45.4 vs 57.07; p<0.001), abdominal circumference (51.17 vs 55.71; p = 0.014), estimated fetal weight (33.6 vs 56.7; p<0.001) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR: 0.84MoM vs 0.95MoM; p<0.001) were significantly lower in fetuses with CHD compared to controls. The percentage of small for gestational age births <10th centile (24.0% vs 10.7%; <0.001) and low CPR <0.6MoM (11.7% vs 2.5%; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the fetal CHD cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-pregnancy uterine artery resistance is increased and subsequent fetal biometry reduced in pregnancies with CHD fetuses. These findings suggest that fetal CHD are associated with uteroplacental dysfunction, secondary to impaired maternal uteroplacental perfusion resulting in relative fetal hypoxaemia and reduced fetal growth
On the Symmetry of Universal Finite-Size Scaling Functions in Anisotropic Systems
In this work a symmetry of universal finite-size scaling functions under a
certain anisotropic scale transformation is postulated. This transformation
connects the properties of a finite two-dimensional system at criticality with
generalized aspect ratio to a system with . The symmetry
is formulated within a finite-size scaling theory, and expressions for several
universal amplitude ratios are derived. The predictions are confirmed within
the exactly solvable weakly anisotropic two-dimensional Ising model and are
checked within the two-dimensional dipolar in-plane Ising model using Monte
Carlo simulations. This model shows a strongly anisotropic phase transition
with different correlation length exponents parallel
and perpendicular to the spin axis.Comment: RevTeX4, 4 pages, 3 figure
The spectral dimension of random brushes
We consider a class of random graphs, called random brushes, which are
constructed by adding linear graphs of random lengths to the vertices of Z^d
viewed as a graph. We prove that for d=2 all random brushes have spectral
dimension d_s=2. For d=3 we have {5\over 2}\leq d_s\leq 3 and for d\geq 4 we
have 3\leq d_s\leq d.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur
Resistant starch-an adjunct to oral rehydration solution: not yet ready for prime time
This article does not have an abstract
Error estimation and reduction with cross correlations
Besides the well-known effect of autocorrelations in time series of Monte
Carlo simulation data resulting from the underlying Markov process, using the
same data pool for computing various estimates entails additional cross
correlations. This effect, if not properly taken into account, leads to
systematically wrong error estimates for combined quantities. Using a
straightforward recipe of data analysis employing the jackknife or similar
resampling techniques, such problems can be avoided. In addition, a covariance
analysis allows for the formulation of optimal estimators with often
significantly reduced variance as compared to more conventional averages.Comment: 16 pages, RevTEX4, 4 figures, 6 tables, published versio
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