28,516 research outputs found
Access to unpublished protocols and statistical analysis plans of randomised trials
Background: Access to protocols and statistical analysis plans (SAPs) increases the transparency of randomised trial by allowing readers to identify and interpret unplanned changes to study methods, however they are often not made publicly available. We sought to determine how often study investigators would share unavailable documents upon request. Methods: We used trials from two previously identified cohorts (cohort 1: 101 trials published in high impact factor journals between January and April of 2018; cohort 2: 100 trials published in June 2018 in journals indexed in PubMed) to determine whether study investigators would share unavailable protocols/SAPs upon request. We emailed corresponding authors of trials with no publicly available protocol or SAP up to four times. Results: Overall, 96 of 201 trials (48%) across the two cohorts had no publicly available protocol or SAP (11/101 high-impact cohort, 85/100 PubMed cohort). In total, 8/96 authors (8%) shared some trial documentation (protocol only [n = 5]; protocol and SAP [n = 1]; excerpt from protocol [n = 1]; research ethics application form [n = 1]). We received protocols for 6/96 trials (6%), and a SAP for 1/96 trial (1%). Seventy-three authors (76%) did not respond, 7 authors responded (7%) but declined to share a protocol or SAP, and eight email addresses were invalid (8%). A total of 329 emails were sent (an average of 41 emails for every trial which sent documentation). After emailing authors, the total number of trials with an available protocol increased by only 3%, from 52% in to 55%. Conclusions: Most study investigators did not share their unpublished protocols or SAPs upon direct request. Alternative strategies are needed to increase transparency of randomised trials and ensure access to protocols and SAPs
Coexistence of Long-Range Magnetic Order and Superconductivity from Campbell Penetration Depth Measurements
Application of a tunnel-diode resonator (TDR) technique for studies of the
vortex response in magnetic superconductors is described. Operating at very
small excitation fields and sufficiently high frequency, TDR was used to probe
small-amplitude linear AC response in several types of single crystals where
long-range magnetic order coexists with bulk superconductivity. Full local -
moment ferromagnetism destroys superconductivity and can coexist with it only
in a narrow temperature range ( K). In contrast, weak ferromagnetic
as well as antiferromagnetic orders can coexist with bulk superconductivity and
may even lead to enhancements of vortex pinning. By analyzing the Campbell
penetration depth we find sharp increase of the true critical current in the
vicinity of the magnetic phase transitions. We conclude that critical magnetic
fluctuations are responsible for this enhancement
Focused laser Doppler velocimeter
A system for remotely measuring velocities present in discrete volumes of air is described. A CO2 laser beam is focused by a telescope at such a volume, a focal volume, and within the focusable range, near field, of the telescope. The back scatter, or reflected light, principally from the focal volume, passes back through the telescope and is frequency compared with the original frequency of the laser, and the difference frequency or frequencies represent particle velocities in that focal volume
Shot-noise-limited spin measurements in a pulsed molecular beam
Heavy diatomic molecules have been identified as good candidates for use in
electron electric dipole moment (eEDM) searches. Suitable molecular species can
be produced in pulsed beams, but with a total flux and/or temporal evolution
that varies significantly from pulse to pulse. These variations can degrade the
experimental sensitivity to changes in spin precession phase of an electri-
cally polarized state, which is the observable of interest for an eEDM
measurement. We present two methods for measurement of the phase that provide
immunity to beam temporal variations, and make it possible to reach
shot-noise-limited sensitivity. Each method employs rapid projection of the
spin state onto both components of an orthonormal basis. We demonstrate both
methods using the eEDM-sensitive H state of thorium monoxide (ThO), and use one
of them to measure the magnetic moment of this state with increased accuracy
relative to previous determinations.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure
NG7538 IRS1 N: modeling a circumstellar maser disk
We present an edge-on Keplerian disk model to explain the main component of
the 12.2 and 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission detected toward NGC7538-IRS1 N.
The brightness distribution and spectrum of the line of bright masers are
successfully modeled with high amplification of background radio continuum
emission along velocity coherent paths through a maser disk. The bend seen in
the position-velocity diagram is a characteristic signature of differentially
rotating disks. For a central mass of 30 solar masses, suggested by other
observations, our model fixes the masing disk to have inner and outer radii of
about 270 AU and 750 AU.Comment: To appear in The Proceedings of the 2004 European Workshop: "Dense
Molecular Gas around Protostars and in Galatic Nuclei", Eds. Y. Hagiwara,
W.A. Baan, H.J. van Langevelde, 2004, a special issue of ApSS, Kluwe
Performing a stellar autopsy using the radio-bright remnant of SN 1996cr
We present newly reduced archival radio observations of SN 1996cr in the Circinus Galaxy from the Australia Telescope Compact Array and the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope, and attempt to model its radio light curves using recent hydrodynamical simulations of the interaction between the supernova (SN) ejecta and the circumstellar material (CSM) at X-ray wavelengths. The radio data within the first 1000 d show clear signs of free–free absorption (FFA), which decreases gradually and is minimal above 1.4 GHz after day ∼3000. Constraints on the FFA optical depth provide estimates of the CSM free electron density, which allows insight into the ionization of SN 1996cr's CSM and offers a test on the density distribution adopted by the hydrodynamical simulation. The intrinsic spectral index of the radiation shows evidence for spectral flattening, which is characterized by α = 0.852 ± 0.002 at day 3000 and a decay rate of Δα = −0.014 ± 0.001 yr−1. The striking similarity in the spectral flattening of SN 1987A, SN 1993J and SN 1996cr suggests this may be a relatively common feature of SNe/CSM shocks. We adopt this spectral index variation to model the synchrotron radio emission of the shock, and consider several scalings that relate the parameters of the hydrodynamical simulation to the magnetic field and electron distribution. The simulated light curves match the large-scale features of the observed light curves, but fail to match certain tightly constraining sections. This suggests that simple energy density scalings may not be able to account for the complexities of the true physical processes at work, or alternatively, that the parameters of the simulation require modification in order to accurately represent the surroundings of SN 1996cr
An efficient algorithm for computing the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff series and some of its applications
We provide a new algorithm for generating the Baker--Campbell--Hausdorff
(BCH) series Z = \log(\e^X \e^Y) in an arbitrary generalized Hall basis of
the free Lie algebra generated by and . It is based
on the close relationship of with a Lie algebraic structure
of labeled rooted trees. With this algorithm, the computation of the BCH series
up to degree 20 (111013 independent elements in ) takes less
than 15 minutes on a personal computer and requires 1.5 GBytes of memory. We
also address the issue of the convergence of the series, providing an optimal
convergence domain when and are real or complex matrices.Comment: 30 page
Performing heritage: the use of live 'actors' in heritage presentations
This paper investigates the phenomenon of 'living history' presentations of heritage, using live 'actors' to portray historical characters. Its aim is to discuss these presentations in the context of what may be understood as 'heritage', and of the nature of 'performance'. Four case studies of heritage sites, each important as a tourist attraction, have been selected for detailed study, together with a number of other examples of heritage performance. It is clear from the empirical work that different performance strategies are employed within the heritage industry and by individual 'actors'. Most of the performers take part as a leisure activity, and many do not consider themselves to be 'performing' at all. The greatest concern of participants lies in the degree of authenticity of the performance. Through 'living history', the 'actors' are drawn into an experience of heritage which has real meaning for them, and which may contribute both to a sense of identity and to an enhanced understanding of society, past and present. The popularity of such presentations with visitors also indicates that similar benefits are perceived by the 'audience'
Variations on the Deuteron
We consider few problems which are related to the deuteron and have simple
analytical solution. Relation is found between the deuteron electric quadrupole
moment and the -scattering amplitude. The degree of circular polarization
of photons is calculated for the radiative capture of longitudinally polarized
thermal neutrons. The anapole, electric dipole and magnetic quadrupole moments
of the deuteron are calculated.Comment: 14 pages, late
The chiral Anomalous Hall effect in re-entrant AuFe alloys
The Hall effect has been studied in a series of AuFe samples in the
re-entrant concentration range, as well as in part of the spin glass range. An
anomalous Hall contribution linked to the tilting of the local spins can be
identified, confirming theoretical predictions of a novel topological Hall term
induced when chirality is present. This effect can be understood in terms of
Aharonov-Bohm-like intrinsic current loops arising from successive scatterings
by canted local spins. The experimental measurements indicate that the chiral
signal persists, meaning scattering within the nanoscopic loops remains
coherent, up to temperatures of the order of 150 K.Comment: 7 pages, 11 eps figures Published version. Minor change
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