2,579 research outputs found
On hyperovals of polar spaces
We derive lower and upper bounds for the size of a hyperoval of a finite polar space of rank 3. We give a computer-free proof for the uniqueness, up to isomorphism, of the hyperoval of size 126 of H(5, 4) and prove that the near hexagon E-3 has up to isomorphism a unique full embedding into the dual polar space DH(5, 4)
Cerebrospinal Fluid Sex Steroid Hormones in Bacterial Meningitis
Unfavorable outcome in bacterial meningitis is related to excessive inflammation and higher inflammatory markers have been reported in female than in male patients. Sex steroid hormones have immunomodulatory properties and can be found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); however, their actions have not been studied in bacterial meningitis. We investigated the association between CSF sex steroid hormone levels and inflammatory parameters, disease severity, and outcome in pneumococcal meningitis. We identified adults with culture-proven pneumococcal meningitis in a prospective cohort study (2006-2014). We measured estradiol and testosterone in CSF using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Hormone levels were compared according to outcome, which was graded using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (a score of 5 indicating favorable, 1-4 unfavorable outcome). Correlation analysis was used to measure the association between hormone levels and inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and complement factors as well as severity of illness, as measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale and the Dutch Meningitis Risk Score. We included 60 patients: 20 men, 20 premenopausal (50 years) women. Twenty-one (35%) patients had an unfavorable outcome and 11 (18%) died. Cases with an unfavorable outcome exhibited higher estradiol (median 14.0 vs 5.0 pmol/L, P = .04) and lower SHBG (0.40 vs 1.0 nmol/L, P = .03) levels compared with those with a favorable outcome. Estradiol was positively correlated with C-reactive protein (R = 0.42, P = .001), CSF protein (R = 0.33, P = .01), and proinflammatory cytokine levels. CSF concentrations of the sex steroid hormone estradiol were associated with outcome and CSF inflammation. Understanding the dose and time-dependent interaction between sex steroid hormones and the inflammatory response in bacterial meningitis represents an important and understudied topic.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Localization of quasiparticles in a disordered vortex
We study the diffusive motion of low-energy normal quasiparticles along the
core of a single vortex in a dirty, type-II, s-wave superconductor. The physics
of this system is argued to be described by a one-dimensional supersymmetric
nonlinear sigma model, which differs from the sigma models known for disordered
metallic wires. For an isolated vortex and quasiparticle energies less than the
Thouless energy, we recover the spectral correlations that are predicted by
random matrix theory for the universality class C. We then consider the
transport problem of transmission of quasiparticles through a vortex connected
to particle reservoirs at both ends. The transmittance at zero energy exhibits
a weak localization correction reminiscent of quasi-one-dimensional metallic
systems with symmetry index beta = 1. Weak localization disappears with
increasing energy over a scale set by the Thouless energy. This crossover
should be observable in measurements of the longitudinal heat conductivity of
an ensemble of vortices under mesoscopic conditions. In the regime of strong
localization, the localization length is shown to decrease by a factor of 8 as
the quasiparticle energy goes to zero.Comment: 38 pages, LaTeX2e + epsf, 4 eps figures, one reference adde
Rectified voltage induced by a microwave field in a confined two-dimensional electron gas with a mesoscopic static vortex
We investigate the effect of a microwave field on a confined two dimensional
electron gas which contains an insulating region comparable to the Fermi
wavelength. The insulating region causes the electron wave function to vanish
in that region. We describe the insulating region as a static vortex. The
vortex carries a flux which is determined by vanishing of the charge density of
the electronic fluid due to the insulating region. The sign of the vorticity
for a hole is opposite to the vorticity for adding additional electrons. The
vorticity gives rise to non-commuting kinetic momenta. The two dimensional
electron gas is described as fluid with a density which obeys the Fermi-Dirac
statistics. The presence of the confinement potential gives rise to vanishing
kinetic momenta in the vicinity of the classical turning points. As a result,
the Cartesian coordinate do not commute and gives rise to a Hall current which
in the presence of a modified Fermi-Surface caused by the microwave field
results in a rectified voltage. Using a Bosonized formulation of the two
dimensional gas in the presence of insulating regions allows us to compute the
rectified current. The proposed theory may explain the experimental results
recently reported by J. Zhang et al.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure
Local Shearing Force Measurement during Frictional Sliding Using Fluorogenic Mechanophores
[Image: see text] When two macroscopic objects touch, the real contact typically consists of multiple surface asperities that are deformed under the pressure that holds the objects together. Application of a shear force makes the objects slide along each other, breaking the initial contacts. To investigate how the microscopic shear force at the asperity level evolves during the transition from static to dynamic friction, we apply a fluorogenic mechanophore to visualize and quantify the local interfacial shear force. When a contact is broken, the shear force is released and the molecules return to their dark state, allowing us to dynamically observe the evolution of the shear force at the sliding contacts. We find that the macroscopic coefficient of friction describes the microscopic friction well, and that slip propagates from the edge toward the center of the macroscopic contact area before sliding occurs. This allows for a local understanding of how surfaces start to slide
Spontaneous Emission in Chaotic Cavities
The spontaneous emission rate \Gamma of a two-level atom inside a chaotic
cavity fluctuates strongly from one point to another because of fluctuations in
the local density of modes. For a cavity with perfectly conducting walls and an
opening containing N wavechannels, the distribution of \Gamma is given by
P(\Gamma) \propto \Gamma^{N/2-1}(\Gamma+\Gamma_0)^{-N-1}, where \Gamma_0 is the
free-space rate. For small N the most probable value of \Gamma is much smaller
than the mean value \Gamma_0.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 1 figur
Analysis of multivariate stochastic signals sampled by on-line particle analyzers: Application to the quantitative assessment of occupational exposure to NOAA in multisource industrial scenarios (MSIS)
In multisource industrial scenarios (MSIS) coexist NOAA generating activities with other productive sources of airborne particles, such as parallel processes of manufacturing or electrical and diesel machinery. A distinctive characteristic of MSIS is the spatially complex distribution of aerosol sources, as well as their potential differences in dynamics, due to the feasibility of multi-task configuration at a given time. Thus, the background signal is expected to challenge the aerosol analyzers at a probably wide range of concentrations and size distributions, depending of the multisource configuration at a given time. Monitoring and prediction by using statistical analysis of time series captured by on-line particle analyzersin industrial scenarios, have been proven to be feasible in predicting PNC evolution provided a given quality of net signals (difference between signal at source and background). However the analysis and modelling of non-consistent time series, influenced by low levels of SNR (Signal-Noise Ratio) could build a misleading basis for decision making. In this context, this work explores the use of stochastic models based on ARIMA methodology to monitor and predict exposure values (PNC). The study was carried out in a MSIS where an case study focused on the manufacture of perforated tablets of nano-TiO2 by cold pressing was performed.Research carried out by projects SCAFFOLD and EHS Advance were made possible thanks to
funding from European Commission through FP7 (GA 319092) and Basque Country Government
through ETORTEK Programme
From principles to practice in paying for nature
Payments for Environmental Services (PES) constitute an innovative economic intervention to counteract the global loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. In theory, some appealing features should enable PES to perform well in achieving conservation and welfare goals. In practice, outcomes depend on the interplay between context, design and implementation. Inspecting a new global dataset, we find that some PES design principles pre-identified in the social-science literature as desirable, such as spatial targeting and payment differentiation, are only partially being applied in practice. More importantly, the PES-defining principle of conditionality-monitoring compliance and sanctioning detected non-compliance-is seldom being implemented. Administrative ease, multiple non-environmental side objectives and social equity concerns may jointly help explain the reluctance to adopt more sophisticated, theoretically informed practices. However, by taking simplifying shortcuts in design and implementation, PES programmes may become less environmentally effective and efficient as economic incentives, thus underperforming their conservation potential. © 2018 The Author(s).This work resulted from workshops held at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (Bilbao) in 2015. We appreciate the assistance provided by C. Caro with the maps, and funding from CGIAR’s Forest, Trees and Agroforestry programme, the European Commission (SINCERE, H2020 GA 773702), the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, the Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche. S.E. is the recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship in Environmental Economics. U.P. acknowledges research grants PI_2015_1_103 from the Education Department of the Basque Government and CSO2015-71243-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivenes
From principles to practice in paying for nature
Payments for Environmental Services (PES) constitute an innovative economic intervention to counteract the global loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. In theory, some appealing features should enable PES to perform well in achieving conservation and welfare goals. In practice, outcomes depend on the interplay between context, design and implementation. Inspecting a new global dataset, we find that some PES design principles pre-identified in the social-science literature as desirable, such as spatial targeting and payment differentiation, are only partially being applied in practice. More importantly, the PES-defining principle of conditionality-monitoring compliance and sanctioning detected non-compliance-is seldom being implemented. Administrative ease, multiple non-environmental side objectives and social equity concerns may jointly help explain the reluctance to adopt more sophisticated, theoretically informed practices. However, by taking simplifying shortcuts in design and implementation, PES programmes may become less environmentally effective and efficient as economic incentives, thus underperforming their conservation potential. © 2018 The Author(s).This work resulted from workshops held at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (Bilbao) in 2015. We appreciate the assistance provided by C. Caro with the maps, and funding from CGIAR’s Forest, Trees and Agroforestry programme, the European Commission (SINCERE, H2020 GA 773702), the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, the Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche. S.E. is the recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship in Environmental Economics. U.P. acknowledges research grants PI_2015_1_103 from the Education Department of the Basque Government and CSO2015-71243-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivenes
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