392 research outputs found
Spatio-temporal Organization During Ventricular Fibrillation in the Human Heart
In this paper, we present a novel approach to quantify the spatio-temporal organization of electrical activation during human ventricular fibrillation (VF). We propose three different methods based on correlation analysis, graph theoretical measures and hierarchical clustering. Using the proposed approach, we quantified the level of spatio-temporal organization during three episodes of VF in ten patients, recorded using multi-electrode epicardial recordings with 30 s coronary perfusion, 150 s global myocardial ischaemia and 30 s reflow. Our findings show a steady decline in spatio-temporal organization from the onset of VF with coronary perfusion. We observed transient increases in spatio-temporal organization during global myocardial ischaemia. However, the decline in spatio-temporal organization continued during reflow. Our results were consistent across all patients, and were consistent with the numbers of phase singularities. Our findings show that the complex spatio-temporal patterns can be studied using complex network analysis
A rotating three component perfect fluid source and its junction with empty space-time
The Kerr solution for empty space-time is presented in an ellipsoidally
symmetric coordinate system and it is used to produce generalised ellipsoidal
metrics appropriate for the generation of rotating interior solutions of
Einstein's equations. It is shown that these solutions are the familiar static
perfect fluid cases commonly derived in curvature coordinates but now endowed
with rotation. The resulting solutions are also discussed in the context of
T-solutions of Einstein's equations and the vacuum T-solution outside a
rotating source is presented. The interior source for these solutions is shown
not to be a perfect fluid but rather an anisotropic three component perfect
fluid for which the energy momentum tensor is derived. The Schwarzschild
interior solution is given as an example of the approach.Comment: 14 page
Scaling predictions for radii of weakly bound triatomic molecules
The mean-square radii of the molecules He, HeLi,
HeLi and HeNa are calculated using a three-body model
with contact interactions. They are obtained from a universal scaling function
calculated within a renormalized scheme for three particles interacting through
pairwise Dirac-delta interaction. The root-mean-square distance between two
atoms of mass in a triatomic molecule are estimated to be of de order of
, where is the dimer and the
trimer binding energies, and is a constant (varying from
to ) that depends on the ratio between and . Considering
previous estimates for the trimer energies, we also predict the sizes of
Rubidium and Sodium trimers in atomic traps.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Macroscopic Quantum Fluctuations in the Josephson Dynamics of Two Weakly Linked Bose-Einstein Condensates
We study the quantum corrections to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for two
weakly linked Bose-Einstein condensates. The goals are: 1) to investigate
dynamical regimes at the borderline between the classical and quantum behaviour
of the bosonic field; 2) to search for new macroscopic quantum coherence
phenomena not observable with other superfluid/superconducting systems. Quantum
fluctuations renormalize the classical Josephson oscillation frequencies. Large
amplitude phase oscillations are modulated, exhibiting collapses and revivals.
We describe a new inter-well oscillation mode, with a vanishing (ensemble
averaged) mean value of the observables, but with oscillating mean square
fluctuations. Increasing the number of condensate atoms, we recover the
classical Gross-Pitaevskii (Josephson) dynamics, without invoking the
symmetry-breaking of the Gauge invariance.Comment: Submitte
Effects of active carbon pore size distributions on adsorption of toxic organic compounds
Life span and reproductive cost explain interspecific variation in the optimal onset of reproduction.
Fitness can be profoundly influenced by the age at first reproduction (AFR), but to date the AFR-fitness relationship only has been investigated intraspecifically. Here, we investigated the relationship between AFR and average lifetime reproductive success (LRS) across 34 bird species. We assessed differences in the deviation of the Optimal AFR (i.e., the species-specific AFR associated with the highest LRS) from the age at sexual maturity, considering potential effects of life history as well as social and ecological factors. Most individuals adopted the species-specific Optimal AFR and both the mean and Optimal AFR of species correlated positively with life span. Interspecific deviations of the Optimal AFR were associated with indices reflecting a change in LRS or survival as a function of AFR: a delayed AFR was beneficial in species where early AFR was associated with a decrease in subsequent survival or reproductive output. Overall, our results suggest that a delayed onset of reproduction beyond maturity is an optimal strategy explained by a long life span and costs of early reproduction. By providing the first empirical confirmations of key predictions of life-history theory across species, this study contributes to a better understanding of life-history evolution
The changing culture of silviculture
Changing climates are altering the structural and functional components of forest ecosystems at an unprecedented rate. Simultaneously, we are seeing a diversification of public expectations on the broader sustainable use of forest resources beyond timber production. As a result, the science and art of silviculture needs to adapt to these changing realities. In this piece, we argue that silviculturists are gradually shifting from the application of empirically derived silvicultural scenarios to new sets of approaches, methods and practices, a process that calls for broadening our conception of silviculture as a scientific discipline. We propose a holistic view of silviculture revolving around three key themes: observe, anticipate and adapt. In observe, we present how recent advances in remote sensing now enable silviculturists to observe forest structural, compositional and functional attributes in near-real-time, which in turn facilitates the deployment of efficient, targeted silvicultural measures in practice that are adapted to rapidly changing constraints. In anticipate, we highlight the importance of developing state-of-the-art models designed to take into account the effects of changing environmental conditions on forest growth and dynamics. In adapt, we discuss the need to provide spatially explicit guidance for the implementation of adaptive silvicultural actions that are efficient, cost-effective and socially acceptable. We conclude by presenting key steps towards the development of new tools and practical knowledge that will ensure meeting societal demands in rapidly changing environmental conditions. We classify these actions into three main categories: reexamining existing silvicultural trials to identify key stand attributes associated with the resistance and resilience of forests to multiple stressors, developing technological workflows and infrastructures to allow for continuous forest inventory updating frameworks, and implementing bold, innovative silvicultural trials in consultation with the relevant communities where a range of adaptive silvicultural strategies are tested. In this holistic perspective, silviculture can be defined as the science of observing forest condition and anticipating its development to apply tending and regeneration treatments adapted to a multiplicity of desired outcomes in rapidly changing realities
Level Set Method for the Evolution of Defect and Brane Networks
A theory for studying the dynamic scaling properties of branes and
relativistic topological defect networks is presented. The theory, based on a
relativistic version of the level set method, well-known in other contexts,
possesses self-similar ``scaling'' solutions, for which one can calculate many
quantities of interest. Here, the length and area densities of cosmic strings
and domain walls are calculated in Minkowski space, and radiation, matter, and
curvature-dominated FRW cosmologies with 2 and 3 space dimensions. The scaling
exponents agree the naive ones based on dimensional analysis, except for cosmic
strings in 3-dimensional Minkowski space, which are predicted to have a
logarithmic correction to the naive scaling form. The scaling amplitudes of the
length and area densities are a factor of approximately 2 lower than results
from numerical simulations of classical field theories. An expression for the
length density of strings in the condensed matter literature is corrected.Comment: 46pp LaTeX, revtex4(preprint), 1 eps figure, revised for publication.
Note title chang
Subaru Studies of the Cosmic Dawn
An overview on the current status of the census of the early universe
population is given. Observational surveys of high redshift objects provide
direct opportunities to study the early epoch of the Universe. The target
population included are Lyman Alpha Emitters (LAE), Lyman Break Galaxies (LBG),
gravitationally lensed galaxies, quasars and gamma-ray bursts (GRB). The basic
properties of these objects and the methods used to study them are reviewed.
The present paper highlights the fact that the Subaru Telescope group made
significant contributions in this field of science to elucidate the epoch of
the cosmic dawn and to improve the understanding of how and when infant
galaxies evolve into mature ones.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in the Proceedings of
the Japan Academy, Series
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