766 research outputs found
Connecting female migrants to healthcare systems through smartphone apps:An asset-based design case study translating social capital of community organisations into sociotechnical systems
How to measure redshift-space distortions without sample variance
We show how to use multiple tracers of large-scale density with different
biases to measure the redshift-space distortion parameter
beta=f/b=(dlnD/dlna)/b (where D is the growth rate and a the expansion factor),
to a much better precision than one could achieve with a single tracer, to an
arbitrary precision in the low noise limit. In combination with the power
spectrum of the tracers this allows a much more precise measurement of the
bias-free velocity divergence power spectrum, f^2 P_m - in fact, in the low
noise limit f^2 P_m can be measured as well as would be possible if velocity
divergence was observed directly, with rms improvement factor ~[5.2(beta^2+2
beta+2)/beta^2]^0.5 (e.g., ~10 times better than a single tracer for beta=0.4).
This would allow a high precision determination of f D as a function of
redshift with an error as low as 0.1%. We find up to two orders of magnitude
improvement in Figure of Merit for the Dark Energy equation of state relative
to Stage II, a factor of several better than other proposed Stage IV Dark
Energy surveys. The ratio b_2/b_1 will be determined with an even greater
precision than beta, producing, when measured as a function of scale, an
exquisitely sensitive probe of the onset of non-linear bias. We also extend in
more detail previous work on the use of the same technique to measure
non-Gaussianity. Currently planned redshift surveys are typically designed with
signal to noise of unity on scales of interest, and are not optimized for this
technique. Our results suggest that this strategy may need to be revisited as
there are large gains to be achieved from surveys with higher number densities
of galaxies.Comment: 22 pages, 13 figure
Electronic localization at mesoscopic length scales: different definitions of localization and contact effects in a heuristic DNA model
In this work we investigate the electronic transport along model DNA
molecules using an effective tight-binding approach that includes the backbone
on site energies. The localization length and participation number are examined
as a function of system size, energy dependence, and the contact coupling
between the leads and the DNA molecule. On one hand, the transition from an
diffusive regime to a localized regime for short systems is identified,
suggesting the necessity of a further length scale revealing the system borders
sensibility. On the other hand, we show that the lenght localization and
participation number, do not depended of system size and contact coupling in
the thermodynamic limit. Finally we discuss possible length dependent origins
for the large discrepancies among experimental results for the electronic
transport in DNA sample
Early Intubation in Endovascular Therapy for Basilar Artery Occlusion:A Post Hoc Analysis of the BASICS Trial
BACKGROUND: The optimal anesthetic management for endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with posterior circulation stroke remains unclear. Our objective was to investigate the impact of early intubation in patients enrolled in the BASICS trial (Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study). METHODS: BASICS was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial that compared the efficacy of EVT compared with the best medical care alone in patients with basilar artery occlusion. In this post hoc analysis, early intubation within the first 24 hours of the estimated time of basilar artery occlusion was examined as an additional covariate using regression modeling. We estimated the adjusted relative risks (RRs) for favorable outcomes, defined as modified Rankin Scale scores of 0 to 3 at 90 days. An adjusted common odds ratio was estimated for a shift in the distribution of modified Rankin Scale scores at 90 days. RESULTS: Of 300 patients in BASICS, 289 patients were eligible for analysis (151 in the EVT group and 138 in the best medical care group). compared with medical care alone, EVT was related to a higher risk of early intubation (RR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.09â1.53]; P<0.01), and early intubation was negatively associated with favorable outcome (RR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.45â0.84]; P=0.002). Whereas there was no overall treatment effect of EVT on favorable outcome (RR, 1.22 [95% CI, 0.95â1.55]; P=0.121), EVT was associated with favorable outcome (RR, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.05â1.71]; P=0.018) and a shift toward lower modified Rankin Scale scores (adjusted common odds ratio, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.04â2.57]; P=0.033) if adjusted for early intubation. CONCLUSIONS: In this post hoc analysis of the neutral BASICS trial, early intubation was linked to unfavorable outcomes, which might mitigate a potential benefit from EVT by indirect effects due to an increased risk of early intubation. This relationship may be considered when assessing the efficacy of EVT in patients with basilar artery occlusion in future trials.</p
Imitating accelerated expansion of the Universe by matter inhomogeneities - corrections of some misunderstandings
A number of misunderstandings about modeling the apparent accelerated
expansion of the Universe, and about the `weak singularity' are clarified: 1.
Of the five definitions of the deceleration parameter given by Hirata and
Seljak (HS), only is a correct invariant measure of
acceleration/deceleration of expansion. The and are unrelated to
acceleration in an inhomogeneous model. 2. The averaging over directions
involved in the definition of does not correspond to what is done in
observational astronomy. 3. HS's equation (38) connecting to the flow
invariants gives self-contradictory results when applied at the centre of
symmetry of the Lema\^{\i}tre-Tolman (L-T) model. The intermediate equation
(31) that determines is correct, but approximate, so it cannot be used
for determining the sign of the deceleration parameter. Even so, at the centre
of symmetry of the L-T model, it puts no limitation on the sign of .
4. The `weak singularity' of Vanderveld {\it et al.} is a conical profile of
mass density at the centre - a perfectly acceptable configuration. 5. The
so-called `critical point' in the equations of the `inverse problem' for a
central observer in an L-T model is a manifestation of the apparent horizon - a
common property of the past light cones in zero-lambda L-T models, perfectly
manageable if the equations are correctly integrated.Comment: 15 pages. Completely rewritten to match the published version. We
added discussion of 2 key papers cited by VFW and identified more clearly the
assumptions, approximations and mistakes that led to certain misconceptions
Affective Man-Machine Interface: Unveiling human emotions through biosignals
As is known for centuries, humans exhibit an electrical profile. This profile is altered through various psychological and physiological processes, which can be measured through biosignals; e.g., electromyography (EMG) and electrodermal activity (EDA). These biosignals can reveal our emotions and, as such, can serve as an advanced man-machine interface (MMI) for empathic consumer products. However, such a MMI requires the correct classification of biosignals to emotion classes. This chapter starts with an introduction on biosignals for emotion detection. Next, a state-of-the-art review is presented on automatic emotion classification. Moreover, guidelines are presented for affective MMI. Subsequently, a research is presented that explores the use of EDA and three facial EMG signals to determine neutral, positive, negative, and mixed emotions, using recordings of 21 people. A range of techniques is tested, which resulted in a generic framework for automated emotion classification with up to 61.31% correct classification of the four emotion classes, without the need of personal profiles. Among various other directives for future research, the results emphasize the need for parallel processing of multiple biosignals
Intravenous Thrombolysis Before Endovascular Treatment in Posterior Circulation Occlusions:A MR CLEAN Registry Study
BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) before endovascular treatment (EVT) has been investigated in randomized trials and meta-analyses. These studies mainly concerned anterior circulation occlusions. We aimed to investigate clinical, technical, and safety outcomes of IVT before EVT in posterior circulation occlusions in a nationwide registry. METHODS: Patients were included from the MR CLEAN Registry (Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands), a nationwide, prospective, multicenter registry of patients with acute ischemic stroke due to a large intracranial vessel occlusion receiving EVT between 2014 and 2019. All patients with a posterior circulation occlusion were included. Primary outcome was a shift toward better functional outcome on the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores, 0â3), occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages, successful reperfusion (extended Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia âĽ2B), first-attempt successful reperfusion, and mortality at 90 days. Regression analyses with adjustments based on univariable analyses and literature were applied. RESULTS: A total of 248 patients were included, who received either IVT (n=125) or no IVT (n=123) before EVT. Results show no differences in a shift on the modified Rankin Scale (adjusted common odds ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.61â1.76]). Although symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages occurred more often in the IVT group (4.8% versus 2.4%), regression analysis did not show a significant difference (adjusted odds ratio, 1.65 [95% CI, 0.33â8.35]). Successful reperfusion, favorable functional outcome, first-attempt successful reperfusion, and mortality did not differ between patients treated with and without IVT. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant differences in clinical, technical, and safety outcomes between patients with a large vessel occlusion in the posterior circulation treated with or without IVT before EVT. Our results are in line with the literature on the anterior circulation. GRAPHIC ABSTRACT: A graphic abstract is available for this article.</p
Parton coalescence at RHIC
Using a covariant coalescence model, we study hadron production in
relativistic heavy ion collisions from both soft partons in the quark-gluon
plasma and hard partons in minijets. Including transverse flow of soft partons
and independent fragmentation of minijet partons, the model is able to describe
available experimental data on pion, kaon, and antiproton spectra. The
resulting antiproton to pion ratio is seen to increase at low transverse
momenta and reaches a value of about one at intermediate transverse momenta, as
observed in experimental data at RHIC. A similar dependence of the antikaon to
pion ratio on transverse momentum is obtained, but it reaches a smaller value
at intermediate transverse momenta. At high transverse momenta, the model
predicts that both the antiproton to pion and the antikaon to pion ratio
decrease and approach those given by the perturbative QCD. Both collective flow
effect and coalescence of minijet partons with partons in the quark-gluon
plasma affect significantly the spectra of hadrons with intermediate transverse
momenta. Elliptic flows of protons, Lambdas, and Omegas have also been
evaluated from partons with elliptic flows extracted from fitting measured pion
and kaon elliptic flows, and they are found to be consistent with available
experimental data.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure
Single Spin Asymmetry in Polarized Proton-Proton Elastic Scattering at GeV
We report a high precision measurement of the transverse single spin
asymmetry at the center of mass energy GeV in elastic
proton-proton scattering by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The was measured
in the four-momentum transfer squared range \GeVcSq, the region of a significant interference between the
electromagnetic and hadronic scattering amplitudes. The measured values of
and its -dependence are consistent with a vanishing hadronic spin-flip
amplitude, thus providing strong constraints on the ratio of the single
spin-flip to the non-flip amplitudes. Since the hadronic amplitude is dominated
by the Pomeron amplitude at this , we conclude that this measurement
addresses the question about the presence of a hadronic spin flip due to the
Pomeron exchange in polarized proton-proton elastic scattering.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure
Search for a W' boson decaying to a bottom quark and a top quark in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
Results are presented from a search for a W' boson using a dataset
corresponding to 5.0 inverse femtobarns of integrated luminosity collected
during 2011 by the CMS experiment at the LHC in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV.
The W' boson is modeled as a heavy W boson, but different scenarios for the
couplings to fermions are considered, involving both left-handed and
right-handed chiral projections of the fermions, as well as an arbitrary
mixture of the two. The search is performed in the decay channel W' to t b,
leading to a final state signature with a single lepton (e, mu), missing
transverse energy, and jets, at least one of which is tagged as a b-jet. A W'
boson that couples to fermions with the same coupling constant as the W, but to
the right-handed rather than left-handed chiral projections, is excluded for
masses below 1.85 TeV at the 95% confidence level. For the first time using LHC
data, constraints on the W' gauge coupling for a set of left- and right-handed
coupling combinations have been placed. These results represent a significant
improvement over previously published limits.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters B. Replaced with version publishe
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