Integrability and cycles of deformed N=2 gauge theory

To analyse pure N=2 SU(2) gauge theory in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili (NS) limit (or deformed Seiberg-Witten (SW)), we use the Ordinary Differential Equation/Integrable Model (ODE/IM) correspondence, and in particular its (broken) discrete symmetry in its extended version with two singular irregular points. Actually, this symmetry appears to be ‘manifestation’ of the spontaneously broken Z2 R-symmetry of the original gauge problem and the two deformed SW one-cycle periods are simply connected to the Baxter's T and Q functions, respectively, of the Liouville conformal field theory at the self-dual point. The liaison is realised via a second order differential operator which is essentially the ‘quantum’ version of the square of the SW differential. Moreover, the constraints imposed by the broken Z2 R-symmetry acting on the moduli space (Bilal-Ferrari equations) seem to have their quantum counterpart in the TQ and the T periodicity relations, and integrability yields also a useful Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz (TBA) for the periods (Y(θ,±u) or their square roots, Q(θ,±u)). A latere, two efficient asymptotic expansion techniques are presented. Clearly, the whole construction is extendable to gauge theories with matter and/or higher rank groups

Cauchyness and convergence in fuzzy metric spaces

[EN] In this paper we survey some concepts of convergence and Cauchyness appeared separately in the context of fuzzy metric spaces in the sense of George and Veeramani. For each convergence (Cauchyness) concept we find a compatible Cauchyness (convergence) concept. We also study the relationship among them and the relationship with compactness and completeness (defined in a natural sense for each one of the Cauchy concepts). In particular, we prove that compactness implies p-completeness.Almanzor Sapena acknowledges the support of Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain under grant TEC2013-45492-R. Valentín Gregori acknowledges the support of Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain under grant MTM 2012-37894-C02-01.Gregori Gregori, V.; Miñana, J.; Morillas, S.; Sapena Piera, A. (2017). Cauchyness and convergence in fuzzy metric spaces. Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales Serie A Matemáticas. 111(1):25-37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13398-015-0272-0S25371111Alaca, C., Turkoglu, D., Yildiz, C.: Fixed points in intuitionistic fuzzy metric spaces. Chaos Solitons Fractals 29, 1073–1078 (2006)Edalat, A., Heckmann, R.: A computational model for metric spaces. Theor. Comput. Sci. 193, 53–73 (1998)Engelking, R.: General topology. PWN-Polish Sci. Publ, Warsawa (1977)Fang, J.X.: On fixed point theorems in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 46(1), 107–113 (1992)George, A., Veeramani, P.: On some results in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 64, 395–399 (1994)George, A., Veeramani, P.: Some theorems in fuzzy metric spaces. J. Fuzzy Math. 3, 933–940 (1995)George, A., Veeramani, P.: On some results of analysis for fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 90, 365–368 (1997)Grabiec, M.: Fixed points in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 27, 385–389 (1989)Gregori, V., Romaguera, S.: Some properties of fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 115, 485–489 (2000)Gregori, V., Romaguera, S.: On completion of fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 130, 399–404 (2002)Gregori, V., Romaguera, S.: Characterizing completable fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 144, 411–420 (2004)Gregori, V., López-Crevillén, A., Morillas, S., Sapena, A.: On convergence in fuzzy metric spaces. Topol. Appl. 156, 3002–3006 (2009)Gregori, V., Miñana, J.J.: Some concepts realted to continuity in fuzzy metric spaces. In: Proceedings of the conference in applied topology WiAT’13, pp. 85–91 (2013)Gregori, V., Miñana, J.-J., Sapena, A.: On Banach contraction principles in fuzzy metric spaces (2015, submitted)Gregori, V., Miñana, J.-J.: std-Convergence in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 267, 140–143 (2015)Gregori, V., Miñana, J.-J.: Strong convergence in fuzzy metric spaces Filomat (2015, accepted)Gregori, V., Miñana, J.-J., Morillas, S.: Some questions in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 204, 71–85 (2012)Gregori, V., Miñana, J.-J., Morillas, S.: A note on convergence in fuzzy metric spaces. Iran. J. Fuzzy Syst. 11(4), 75–85 (2014)Gregori, V., Morillas, S., Sapena, A.: On a class of completable fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 161, 2193–2205 (2010)Gregori, V., Morillas, S., Sapena, A.: Examples of fuzzy metric spaces and applications. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 170, 95–111 (2011)Kramosil, I., Michalek, J.: Fuzzy metric and statistical metric spaces. Kybernetika 11, 326–334 (1975)Mihet, D.: On fuzzy contractive mappings in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 158, 915–921 (2007)Mihet, D.: Fuzzy $$\varphi$$ φ -contractive mappings in non-Archimedean fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 159, 739–744 (2008)Mihet, D.: A Banach contraction theorem in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 144, 431–439 (2004)Mishra, S.N., Sharma, N., Singh, S.L.: Common fixed points of maps on fuzzy metric spaces Internat. J. Math. Math. Sci. 17(2), 253–258 (1994)Morillas, S., Sapena, A.: On Cauchy sequences in fuzzy metric spaces. In: Proceedings of the conference in applied topology (WiAT’13), pp. 101–108 (2013)Ricarte, L.A., Romaguera, S.: A domain-theoretic approach to fuzzy metric spaces. Topol. Appl. 163, 149–159 (2014)Sherwood, H.: On the completion of probabilistic metric spaces. Z.Wahrschein-lichkeitstheorie verw. Geb. 6, 62–64 (1966)Sherwood, H.: Complete Probabilistic Metric Spaces. Z. Wahrschein-lichkeitstheorie verw. Geb. 20, 117–128 (1971)Tirado, P.: On compactness and G-completeness in fuzzy metric spaces. Iran. J. Fuzzy Syst. 9(4), 151–158 (2012)Tirado, P.: Contraction mappings in fuzzy quasi-metric spaces and [0,1]-fuzzy posets. Fixed Point Theory 13(1), 273–283 (2012)Vasuki, R., Veeramani, P.: Fixed point theorems and Cauchy sequences in fuzzy metric spaces. Fuzzy Sets Syst. 135(3), 415–417 (2003)Veeramani, P.: Best approximation in fuzzy metric spaces. J. Fuzzy Math. 9, 75–80 (2001

Adherence in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients assessed with a validated Italian version of the 5-item compliance questionnaire for rheumatology

OBJECTIVES: The 5-item Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology (CQR5) proved reliability and validity in respect of identification of patients likely to be high adherers (HAs) to anti-rheumatic treatment, or low adherers (LAs), i.e. taking<80% of their medications correctly. The objective of the study was to validate an Italian version of CQR5 (I-CQR5) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to investigate factors associated with high adherence. METHODS: RA patients, undergoing treatment with ≥1 self-administered conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARD) or biological DMARD (bDMARD), were enrolled. The cross-cultural adaptation and validation of I-CQR5 followed standardised guidelines. I-CQR5 was completed by patients on one occasion. Data were subjected to factor analysis and Partial Credit model Parametrisation (PCM) to assess construct validity of I-CQR5. Analysis of factors associated with high adherence included demographic, social, clinical and treatment information. Factors achieving a p<0.10 in univariate analysis were included in multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Among 604 RA patients, 274 patients were included in the validation and 328 in the analysis of factors associated with adherence. Factor analysis and PCM confirmed the construct validity and consistency of I-CQR5. HAs were found to be 109 (35.2%) of the patients. bDMARD treatment and employment were found to be independently associated with high adherence: OR 2.88 (1.36-6.1), p=0.006 and OR 2.36 (1.21-4.62), p=0.012, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Only one-third of RA patients were HAs according to I-CQR5. bDMARDs and employment status increased by almost 3-fold the likelihood of being highly adherent to the anti-rheumatic treatment.Peer reviewe

Caregivers' and relatives' grief in intensive care unit: a literature review on nursing practices

Abstract Introduction The sudden and unexpected nature, which often characterizes death in intensive care, complicates the processing of the loss by relatives and caregivers increasing the risk of complicated grief (CG). Due to the high social impact and long-term consequences on the quality of life of relatives and caregivers, intensive care nurses should ensure evidence-based grief support interventions. This review aims to identify nursing interventions for the management of the bereavement of relatives and caregivers and to assess their effectiveness, relatives' and caregivers' satisfaction and prevention of CG. Methods Research was performed in CINAHL, PubMed, Psycinfo and Scopus databases with no limits on study design and publication timespan. The population included relatives or caregivers of patients died in intensive care unit. Results 14 studies met inclusion criteria. Two studies show that the communication of the bad news through dialogue between the team and relatives/caregivers can reduce, in the latter, the levels of anxiety and depression and the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder. The quality study by Kentish-Barnes et al. (2017) shows that subjects perceived support in receiving a letter of condolence, but the RCT of the same author concludes that those who received the letter were more exposed to the risk of CG. Four studies claim that follow-up meetings facilitate the process of adaptation to loss by providing relatives/caregivers the opportunity to clarify the circumstances of death. Finally, two studies report that the events of commemoration arouse positive emotions in family members. Conclusions The review process has identified only a small number of evidences on the effectiveness of nursing interventions, preventing the possibility of providing recommendations or guidelines. Further research is needed and it should consist of RCTs of high methodological quality. Key messages Due to the long-term consequences of the sudden death on the quality of life of relatives and caregivers, intensive care nurses should ensure evidence-based grief support interventions. The review process has identified only a small number of evidences on the effectiveness of nursing interventions, preventing the possibility of providing recommendations or guidelines

New findings of Pleistocene fossil turtles (Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae and Chelydridae) from Santa Elena Province, Ecuador

New Pleistocene fossilized turtle remains from five localities of western Ecuador (Santa Elena Province) are described here. All these shell (carapace and plastron) fossil remains come from the Tablazo Formation and belong to three different lineages of cryptodires ("hidden-necked" turtles). The most abundant remains belong to geoemydids, attributed here to the genus Rhinoclemmys (indeterminate species). Less abundant in occurrence are the kinosternidids, attributed to Kinosternon (indeterminate species), and the first fossil record of chelydrids, Chelydra (indeterminate species), in the entirety of Central and South America

Proton imaging of stochastic magnetic fields

Recent laser-plasma experiments report the existence of dynamically significant magnetic fields, whose statistical characterisation is essential for understanding the physical processes these experiments are attempting to investigate. In this paper, we show how a proton imaging diagnostic can be used to determine a range of relevant magnetic field statistics, including the magnetic-energy spectrum. To achieve this goal, we explore the properties of an analytic relation between a stochastic magnetic field and the image-flux distribution created upon imaging that field. We conclude that features of the beam's final image-flux distribution often display a universal character determined by a single, field-scale dependent parameter - the contrast parameter - which quantifies the relative size of the correlation length of the stochastic field, proton displacements due to magnetic deflections, and the image magnification. For stochastic magnetic fields, we establish the existence of four contrast regimes - linear, nonlinear injective, caustic and diffusive - under which proton-flux images relate to their parent fields in a qualitatively distinct manner. As a consequence, it is demonstrated that in the linear or nonlinear injective regimes, the path-integrated magnetic field experienced by the beam can be extracted uniquely, as can the magnetic-energy spectrum under a further statistical assumption of isotropy. This is no longer the case in the caustic or diffusive regimes. We also discuss complications to the contrast-regime characterisation arising for inhomogeneous, multi-scale stochastic fields, as well as limitations currently placed by experimental capabilities on extracting magnetic field statistics. The results presented in this paper provide a comprehensive description of proton images of stochastic magnetic fields, with applications for improved analysis of given proton-flux images.Comment: Main paper pp. 1-29; appendices pp. 30-84. 24 figures, 2 table

Seafood festivals for local development in Italy and Sweden

PurposeThe paper focusses on festivals taking place in coastal regions whose central element is seafood. The purpose is to analyse the role of seafood festivals as potential tourist attractions for local development. The decision to focus on coastal areas is based on a perceived knowledge gap regarding the interactions between different sectors of the sea economy.Design/methodology/approachQualitative exploratory case studies of seafood festivals in Italy and Sweden have been performed using an analytical model. The participatory observation methodology contributed to a better understanding of the phenomenon.FindingsThe analysis shows the close relationship between seafood and tourism, and although it takes variable forms, food is a fundamental lever for maritime and coastal tourism and local development. Findings suggest that local food events can help strengthening gastronomic identities, despite there is a different articulation between tradition and marketing in the two countries.Research limitations/implicationsSince this paper represents an exploratory study of five seafood festivals, research needs to be extended and replicated before any findings can be generalized. However, the model is flexible enough to be tested in different food events.Practical implicationsFood events represent a key instrument for the integration of territorial policies in which tourism and food products might be used as strategic instruments for the development of coastal areas.Originality/valueThis paper is a first attempt to analyse and compare seafood events, contributing to filling the gap in event literature referring to coastal areas. The model introduced can be used to determine the articulation of tradition-marketing in different food events

Wireless Content Caching for Small Cell and D2D Networks

The fifth generation wireless networks must provide fast and reliable connectivity while coping with the ongoing traffic growth. It is of paramount importance that the required resources, such as energy and bandwidth, do not scale with traffic. While the aggregate network traffic is growing at an unprecedented rate, users tend to request the same popular contents at different time instants. Therefore, caching the most popular contents at the network edge is a promising solution to reduce the traffic and the energy consumption over the backhaul links. In this paper, two scenarios are considered, where caching is performed either at a small base station, or directly at the user terminals, which communicate using Device-to-Device (D2D) communications. In both scenarios, joint design of the transmission and caching policies is studied when the user demands are known in advance. This joint design offers two different caching gains, namely, the pre-downloading and local caching gains. It is shown that the finite cache capacity limits the attainable gains, and creates an inherent tradeoff between the two types of gains. In this context, a continuous time optimization problem is formulated to determine the optimal transmission and caching policies that minimize a generic cost function, such as energy, bandwidth, or throughput. The jointly optimal solution is obtained by demonstrating that caching files at a constant rate is optimal, which allows reformulation of the problem as a finite-dimensional convex program. The numerical results show that the proposed joint transmission and caching policy dramatically reduces the total cost, which is particularised to the total energy consumption at the Macro Base Station (MBS), as well as to the total economical cost for the service provider, when users demand economical incentives for delivering content to other users over the D2D links