5,747 research outputs found
Generation of chirp-free picosecond pulses
The frequency spectrum of moderately chirped laser pulses depends upon the portion of the beam which is accepted by the spectrometer. Observation of the development of the chirp in a mode-locked pulse train allows to determine the small incipient chirp of early pulses. A product, bandwidth times pulse duration, of 0.47 ± 0.03 is consistently observed for single pulses switched from a passively mode-locked Nd-glass system
Embedded disks in Fornax dwarf ellipticals
We present photometric and kinematic evidence for the presence of stellar
disks, seen practically edge-on, in two Fornax dwarf galaxies, FCC204 (dS0(6))
and FCC288 (dS0(7)). This is the first time such structures have been
identified in Fornax dwarfs. FCC2088 has only a small bulge and a bright
flaring and slightly warped disk that can be traced out to 23" from the center
(2.05 kpc for H_0=75 km/s/Mpc). FCC204's disk can be traced out to 20" (1.78
kpc). This galaxy possesses a large bulge. These results can be compared to the
findings of Jerjen et al. (2000) and Barazza et al. (2002) who discovered
nucleated dEs with spiral and bar features in the Virgo Cluster.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&
A branch-point approximant for the equation of state of hard spheres
Using the first seven known virial coefficients and forcing it to possess two
branch-point singularities, a new equation of state for the hard-sphere fluid
is proposed. This equation of state predicts accurate values of the higher
virial coefficients, a radius of convergence smaller than the close-packing
value, and it is as accurate as the rescaled virial expansion and better than
the Pad\'e [3/3] equations of state. Consequences regarding the convergence
properties of the virial series and the use of similar equations of state for
hard-core fluids in dimensions are also pointed out.Comment: 6 pages, 4 tables, 3 figures; v2: enlarged version, extension to
other dimensionalities; v3: typos in references correcte
Combining astrometry with the light-time effect: The case of VW Cep, zeta Phe and HT Vir
Three eclipsing binary systems with astrometric orbit have been studied. For
a detailed analysis two circular-orbit binaries (VW Cep and HT Vir) and one
binary with an eccentric orbit (zeta Phe) have been chosen. Merging together
astrometry and the analysis of the times of minima, one is able to describe the
orbit of such a system completely. The O-C diagrams and the astrometric orbits
of the third bodies were analysed simultaneously for these three systems by the
least-squares method. The introduced algorithm is useful and powerful, but also
time consuming, due to many parameters which one is trying to derive. The new
orbits for the third bodies in these systems were found with periods 30, 221,
and 261 yr, and eccentricities 0.63, 0.37, and 0.64 for VW Cep, zeta Phe, and
HT Vir, respectively. Also an independent approach to compute the distances to
these systems was used. The use of this algorithm to VW Cep gave the distance
d=(27.90 +/- 0.29) pc, which is in excellent agreement with the previous
Hipparcos result.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, submitted to A
On the relation between virial coefficients and the close-packing of hard disks and hard spheres
The question of whether the known virial coefficients are enough to determine
the packing fraction at which the fluid equation of state of a
hard-sphere fluid diverges is addressed. It is found that the information
derived from the direct Pad\'e approximants to the compressibility factor
constructed with the virial coefficients is inconclusive. An alternative
approach is proposed which makes use of the same virial coefficients and of the
equation of state in a form where the packing fraction is explicitly given as a
function of the pressure. The results of this approach both for hard-disk and
hard-sphere fluids, which can straightforwardly accommodate higher virial
coefficients when available, lends support to the conjecture that
is equal to the maximum packing fraction corresponding to an ordered
crystalline structure.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures; v2: discussion about hard-square and
hard-hexagon systems on a lattice added; five new reference
Using formal methods to develop WS-BPEL applications
In recent years, WS-BPEL has become a de facto standard language for orchestration of Web Services. However, there are still some well-known difficulties that make programming
in WS-BPEL a tricky task. In this paper, we firstly point out major loose points of the WS-BPEL specification by means of many examples, some of which are also exploited
to test and compare the behaviour of three of the most known freely available WS-BPEL engines. We show that, as a matter of fact, these engines implement different
semantics, which undermines portability of WS-BPEL programs over different platforms. Then we introduce Blite, a prototypical orchestration language equipped with a formal
operational semantics, which is closely inspired by, but simpler than, WS-BPEL. Indeed, Blite is designed around some of WS-BPEL distinctive features like partner links, process termination, message correlation, long-running business transactions and compensation handlers. Finally, we present BliteC, a software tool supporting a rapid and easy development of WS-BPEL applications via translation of service orchestrations written in Blite into executable WS-BPEL programs. We illustrate our approach by means of a running example borrowed from the official specification of WS-BPEL
An integrated perspective linking physiological and psychological consequences of mild traumatic brain injury
Despite the often seemingly innocuous nature of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), its consequences can be devastating, comprising debilitating symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. Currently, it is still difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of adverse outcome after mTBI. In fact, extensive research suggests that the underlying etiology is multifactorial. In the acute and early sub-acute stages, the pathophysiology of mTBI is likely to be dominated by complex physiological alterations including cellular injury, inflammation, and the acute stress response, which could lead to neural network dysfunction. In this stage, patients often report symptoms such as fatigue, headache, unstable mood and poor concentration. When time passes, psychological processes, such as coping styles, personality and emotion regulation, become increasingly influential. Disadvantageous, maladaptive, psychological mechanisms likely result in chronic stress which facilitates the development of long-lasting symptoms, possibly via persistent neural network dysfunction. So far, a systemic understanding of the coupling between these physiological and psychological factors that in concert define outcome after mTBI is lacking. The purpose of this narrative review article is to address how psychophysiological interactions may lead to poor outcome after mTBI. In addition, a framework is presented that may serve as a template for future studies on this subject
Functional electrical stimulation for foot drop in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect on gait speed
Objective:
To review the efficacy of functional electrical stimulation (FES) used for foot drop in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) on gait speed in short and long walking performance tests.
Data sources:
Five databases (Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Pubmed) and reference lists were searched.
Study selection:
Studies of both observational and experimental design where gait speed data in pwMS could be extracted were included.
Data extraction:
Data were independently extracted and recorded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool.
Data synthesis:
Nineteen studies (described in 20 articles) recruiting 490 pwMS were identified and rated moderate or weak, with none gaining a strong rating. All studies rated weak for blinding. Initial and ongoing orthotic and therapeutic effects were assessed with regards to the impact of FES on gait speed in short and long walking tests. Meta-analyses of the short walk tests revealed a significant initial orthotic effect (t = 2.14, p = 0.016) with a mean increase in gait speed of 0.05 meters per second (m/s) and ongoing orthotic effect (t = 2.81, p = 0.003) with a mean increase of 0.08m/s. There were no initial or ongoing effect on gait speed in long walk tests and no therapeutic effect on gait speed in either short or long walk tests.
Conclusions:
FES used for foot drop has a positive initial and ongoing effect on gait speed in short walking tests. Further fully-powered randomized controlled trials comparing FES with alternative treatments are required
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