Magnetism and domain formation in SU(3)-symmetric multi-species Fermi mixtures

We study the phase diagram of an SU(3)-symmetric mixture of three-component ultracold fermions with attractive interactions in an optical lattice, including the additional effect on the mixture of an effective three-body constraint induced by three-body losses. We address the properties of the system in $D \geq 2$ by using dynamical mean-field theory and variational Monte Carlo techniques. The phase diagram of the model shows a strong interplay between magnetism and superfluidity. In the absence of the three-body constraint (no losses), the system undergoes a phase transition from a color superfluid phase to a trionic phase, which shows additional particle density modulations at half-filling. Away from the particle-hole symmetric point the color superfluid phase is always spontaneously magnetized, leading to the formation of different color superfluid domains in systems where the total number of particles of each species is conserved. This can be seen as the SU(3) symmetric realization of a more general tendency to phase-separation in three-component Fermi mixtures. The three-body constraint strongly disfavors the trionic phase, stabilizing a (fully magnetized) color superfluid also at strong coupling. With increasing temperature we observe a transition to a non-magnetized SU(3) Fermi liquid phase.Comment: 36 pages, 17 figures; Corrected typo

Detection of GRB signals with Fluorescence Detectors

Gamma Ray Bursts are being searched in many ground based experiments detecting the high energy component (GeV $\div$ TeV energy range) of the photon bursts. In this paper, Fluorescence Detectors are considered as possible candidate devices for these searches. It is shown that the GRB photons induce fluorescence emission of UV photons on a wide range of their spectrum. The induced fluorescence flux is dominated by GRB photons from 0.1 to about 100 MeV and, once the extinction through the atmosphere is taken into account, it is distributed over a wide angular region. This flux can be detected through a monitor of the diffuse photon flux, provided that its maximum value exceeds a threshold value, that is primarily determined by the sky brightness above the detector. The feasibility of this search and the expected rates are discussed on the basis of the current GRB observations and the existing fluorescence detectors.Comment: 16 pages 9 eps figure

Sniff test: does what we measure at the nose reflect what happens in the chest wall?

Nasal pressure measured during sniff (SNIP) is a technically simple voluntary test. Since the contraction of the diaphragm expands the abdomen, the volume variation during sniff manoeuvre should therefore be predominantly abdominal in order to be considered a specific index of diaphragm strength. We aimed to verify if and how SNIP varied according to thoraco-abdominal volume variations. We measured abdominal volume variations, using opto-electronic plethysmography, during quiet breathing (ABQB) and sniff manoeuvres (ABSN) in supine position on 30 patients (age: 42; FVC:47.5%; FEV1:30%) on the waiting list for lung transplant. SNIP was measured simultaneously with ABSN. 68 sniff were analysed and classified into 4 groups according to ABSN: 16 with thoracic paradox, 24 predominantly abdominal, 16 predominantly thoracic and 12 with abdominal paradox. By definition ABSN was different (p<0.001) among the 4 groups, whereas ABQB (~75%; p=0.373) and SNIP (~53 cmH2O, p= 0.792) were similar (figure 1). SNIP did not change with the different thoraco-abdominal strategies. The diaphragm was not weak and leaded inspiration, therefore ABSN varied because the patients misperformed the manoeuvre. In order to not misunderstand the clinical significance of a sniff test, care should be paid also in thoraco-abdominal movement because SNIP, per se, cannot differentiate between thoracic or diaphragmatic manoeuvre with the risk to lose its specificity

Limitations on the principle of stationary phase when it is applied to tunneling analysis

Using a recently developed procedure - multiple wave packet decomposition - here we study the phase time formulation for tunneling/reflecting particles colliding with a potential barrier. To partially overcome the analytical difficulties which frequently arise when the stationary phase method is employed for deriving phase (tunneling) time expressions, we present a theoretical exercise involving a symmetrical collision between two identical wave packets and an one-dimensional rectangular potential barrier. Summing the amplitudes of the reflected and transmitted waves - using a method we call multiple peak decomposition - is shown to allow reconstruction of the scattered wave packets in a way which allows the stationary phase principle to be recovered.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure

Optical Relative Calibration and Stability Monitoring for the Auger Fluorescence Detector

The stability of the fluorescence telescopes of the Pierre Auger Observatory is monitored with the optical relative calibration setup. Optical fibers distribute light pulses to three different diffuser groups within the optical system. The total charge per pulse is measured for each pixel and compared with reference calibration measurements. This allows monitoring the short and long term stability with respect of the relative timing between pixels and the relative gain for each pixel. The designs of the LED calibration unit (LCU) and of the Xenon flash lamp used for relative calibration, are described and their capabilities to monitor the stability of the telescope performances are studied. We report the analysis of relative calibration data recorded during 2004. Fluctuations in the relative calibration constants provide a measure of the stability of the FD.Comment: 4 pp. To appear in the proceedings of 29th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2005), Pune, India, 3-11 Aug 200

Strain development and damage accumulation under ion irradiation of polycrystalline Ge-Sb-Te alloys

The atomic displacement produced by ion irradiation with 150 keV Ar+ ions has been studied in Ge1Sb2Te4 and Ge2Sb2Te5. Electrical, optical and structural measurements have been employed to characterize the induced electrical and structural modifications. At low temperature the amorphization threshold, evaluated by in situ reflectivity measurements, is independent of the composition and the crystalline structure, and it is equal to 1 x 1013 cm-2. At room temperature, at which dynamic annealing can take place, Ge2Sb2Te5 and Ge1Sb2Te4 in the rocksalt phase exhibit the same amorphization threshold (3 x 1013 cm-2). In the trigonal structure, instead, a higher fluence is required to amorphize the Ge1Sb2Te4, compared to Ge2Sb2Te5. The observed differences between the two compositions can be explained considering the effect of dynamic annealing during ion irradiation of the trigonal phase, which is characterized by the presence of van der Waals gaps. These may act as a preferential sink for the diffusion of the displaced atoms and the filling of these gaps tunes the electronic and structural properties. Filling of about 30% of the gaps produces an electronic transition from metallic to insulating behavior. By further increasing the disorder and filling more than 70% of the gaps the films convert into the rocksalt phase

Pelvic arterial embolization for postpartum hemorrhage: long term results of a single center experience in 29,091 deliveries

Purpose of investigation: To evaluate the rate of all postpartum hemorrhages (PPHs) treated with uterine embolization in a third level delivery center. Materials and Methods: Since January 2008 to March 2014, 29,091 deliveries were registered in the present hospital in Bergamo, Italy. Among these deliveries, 2,002 cases (6.8%) of PPHs occurred. Seventy-three patients with severe obstetric hemorrhage underwent uterine artery embolization (UAE) (47 cases, 1.61/1,000 deliveries) or hysterectomy (26 cases, 0.89/1,000 deliveries). All identified cases were followed up by telephone on January 2015 in order to evaluate long term results. Results: Embolization was performed successfully in 45 patients (95.7%). Two women underwent total abdominal hysterectomy: one patient for uterine atony and one for adherent placenta. In the follow up all the women interviewed reported the return of their menstrual cycle and 95.2% of women reported regular cycles. Conclusions: Embolization showed a success rate of 95.7%. For this reason, in the authors’ opinion, it is the best choice as second line treatment of PPH, when patient is hemodynamically stable

PP020—Effects of aripiprazole and risperidone on ventricular repolarization in children and adolescents

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Post-graduate medical education in public health: The case of Italy and a call for action

Public health technical expertise is of crucial importance to inform decision makers\u2019 action in the field of health and its broader determinants. Improving education and training of public health professionals for both practice and research is the starting point to strengthen the role of public health so that current health challenges can be efficiently tackled. At the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) Deans\u2019 & Directors\u2019 2017 Annual Retreat, we presented the structure and management of public health training system in Italy, and we reported recent data on Italian public health specialists\u2019 educational experience, employment opportunities and job satisfaction. Public health training in Italy is implemented in the context of the post-graduate medical education residency programme in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, delivered by 34 University-based Schools of Public Health. We report relatively high employment rates across the county and wide spectrum of career opportunities for young public health specialists. However, job security is low and training expectations only partially met. We call upon other Schools of Public Health to scale up the survey within the broad ASPHER community in a shared and coordinated action of systematically collecting useful data that can inform the development of public health education and training models, their implementation and fruitful interaction with population health, health systems and services