475 research outputs found

    Sub-Exponential Lower Bounds for Branch-and-Bound with General Disjunctions via Interpolation

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    This paper investigates linear programming based branch-and-bound using general disjunctions, also known as stabbing planes, for solving integer programs. We derive the first sub-exponential lower bound (in the encoding length LL of the integer program) for the size of a general branch-and-bound tree for a particular class of (compact) integer programs, namely 2Ω(L1/12ϵ)2^{\Omega(L^{1/12 -\epsilon})} for every ϵ>0\epsilon >0. This is achieved by showing that general branch-and-bound admits quasi-feasible monotone real interpolation, which allows us to utilize sub-exponential lower-bounds for monotone real circuits separating the so-called clique-coloring pair. One important ingredient of the proof is that for every general branch-and-bound tree proving integer-freeness of a product P×QP\times Q of two polytopes PP and QQ, there exists a closely related branch-and-bound tree for showing integer-freeness of PP or one showing integer-freeness of QQ. Moreover, we prove that monotone real circuits can perform binary search efficiently

    Surface barriers as dominant mechanism to transport limitations in hierarchically structured catalysts – Application to the zeolite-catalyzed alkylation of benzene with ethylene

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    The meso-macropore network of a hierarchically structured zeolite catalyst is numerically optimized to maximize the volume-integrated reaction yield in the ethylation of benzene to produce ethylbenzene over zeolite H-ZSM-5. A hierarchical approach is used at multiple length scales to determine the optimal pore network properties. The maximum volume-integrated reaction yield of the hierarchically structured zeolite catalyst containing meso- and macropores is nearly twice the yield of a zeolite pellet containing only macropores, at the same macroporosity. To bridge the gap between modeling and experiments, a series of physical mixtures of ZSM-5 crystals and mesoporous silica, containing different weight fractions of zeolite is synthesized and used in fixed bed reactor experiments to determine the optimal pellet structure to maximize the conversion of ethylene. Comparison with reactor simulations of the zeolite composites shows that the performance of the zeolite composites might be limited by surface barriers at the external surface of the zeolite crystals, rather than by diffusion limitations within the meso-macropore network of the pellets

    Unusual features of long-range density fluctuations in glass-forming organic liquids : a Rayleigh and Rayleigh-Brillouin light scattering in study

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    A new feature of glass-forming liquids, i.e., long-range density fluctuations of the order of 100 nm, has been extensively characterized by means of static light scattering, photon correlation spectroscopy and Rayleigh-Brillouin spectroscopy in orthoterphenyl (OTP) and 1,1-di(4'-methoxy-5' methyl-phenyl)-cyclohexane (BMMPC). These long-range density fluctuations result in the following unusual features observed in a light scattering experiment. which are not described by the existing theories: (i) strong q-dependent isotropic excess Rayleigh intensity, (ii) additional slow component in the polarized photon correlation function, and (iii) high Landau-Placzek ratio. These unusual features are equilibrium properties of the glass-forming liquids and depend only on temperature, provided that the sample has been equilibrated long enough. The temperature-dependent equilibration times were measured for BMMPC and are about 11 orders of magnitude longer than the a process. It was found that the glass-forming liquid OTP may occur in two states: with and without long-range density fluctuations (''clusters"). We have characterized the two states by static and dynamic light scattering in the temperature range from T-g to T-g + 200 K. The relaxation times of the a process as well as the parameters of the Brillouin line are identical in both OTP with and without clusters. The a process (density fluctuations) in OTP was characterized by measuring either the polarized (VV) or depolarized (VH) correlation function, which are practically identical and a-independent. This feature, which is commonly observed in glass-forming liquids, is not fully explained by the existing theories

    Realtime calibration of the A4 electromagnetic lead fluoride calorimeter

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    Sufficient energy resolution is the key issue for the calorimetry in particle and nuclear physics. The calorimeter of the A4 parity violation experiment at MAMI is a segmented calorimeter where the energy of an event is determined by summing the signals of neighbouring channels. In this case the precise matching of the individual modules is crucial to obtain a good energy resolution. We have developped a calibration procedure for our total absorbing electromagnetic calorimeter which consists of 1022 lead fluoride (PbF_2) crystals. This procedure reconstructs the the single-module contributions to the events by solving a linear system of equations, involving the inversion of a 1022 x 1022-matrix. The system has shown its functionality at beam energies between 300 and 1500 MeV and represents a new and fast method to keep the calorimeter permanently in a well-calibrated state

    Influence of smoking and obesity on alveolar-arterial gas pressure differences and dead space ventilation at rest and peak exercise in healthy men and women

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    SummaryBackground and aimsBesides exercise intolerance, the assessment of ventilatory and perfusion adequacy allows additional insights in the disease pathophysiology in many cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases. Valid measurements of dead space/tidal volume ratios (VD/VT), arterial (a′) – end-tidal (et) carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) pressure differences (p(a′-et)CO2) and (p(et-a′)O2), and alveolar (A)–a′ O2 pressure differences (p(A-a′)O2) require using blood samples in addition to gas exchange analyses on a breath-by-breath-basis. Smoking and nutritional status are also important factors in defining disorders. Using a large healthy population we considered the impact of these factors to develop useful prediction equations.Methods and resultsIncremental cycle exercise protocols were applied to apparently healthy volunteer adults who did not have structural heart disease or echocardiographic or lung function pathologies. Age, height, weight, and smoking were analysed for their influence on the target parameters in each gender. Reference values were determined by regression analyses. The final study sample consisted of 476 volunteers (190 female), aged 25–85 years. Smoking significantly influences p(A-a′)O2 and p(a′-et)CO2 at rest and peak exercise, and VD/VT during exercise. Obesity influences upper limits of VD/VT, p(a′-et)CO2 and p(et-a′)O2 at rest as well as p(A-a′)O2 and p(et-a′)O2 at exercise. Reference equations for never-smokers as well as for apparently healthy smokers considering influencing factors are given.ConclusionGender, age, height, weight, and smoking significantly influence gas exchange. Considering all of these factors this study provides a comprehensive set of reference equations derived from a large number of participants of a population-based study

    Measurement of the Transverse Beam Spin Asymmetry in Elastic Electron Proton Scattering and the Inelastic Contribution to the Imaginary Part of the Two-Photon Exchange Amplitude

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    We report on a measurement of the asymmetry in the scattering of transversely polarized electrons off unpolarized protons, A_\perp, at two Q2^2 values of \qsquaredaveragedlow (GeV/c)2^2 and \qsquaredaveragedhighII (GeV/c)2^2 and a scattering angle of 30<θe<4030^\circ < \theta_e < 40^\circ. The measured transverse asymmetries are A_{\perp}(Q2^2 = \qsquaredaveragedlow (GeV/c)2^2) = (\experimentalasymmetry alulowcorr ±\pm \statisticalerrorlowstat_{\rm stat} ±\pm \combinedsyspolerrorlowalucorsys_{\rm sys}) ×\times 106^{-6} and A_{\perp}(Q2^2 = \qsquaredaveragedhighII (GeV/c)2^2) = (\experimentalasymme tryaluhighcorr ±\pm \statisticalerrorhighstat_{\rm stat} ±\pm \combinedsyspolerrorhighalucorsys_{\rm sys}) ×\times 106^{-6}. The first errors denotes the statistical error and the second the systematic uncertainties. A_\perp arises from the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange amplitude and is zero in the one-photon exchange approximation. From comparison with theoretical estimates of A_\perp we conclude that π\piN-intermediate states give a substantial contribution to the imaginary part of the two-photon amplitude. The contribution from the ground state proton to the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange can be neglected. There is no obvious reason why this should be different for the real part of the two-photon amplitude, which enters into the radiative corrections for the Rosenbluth separation measurements of the electric form factor of the proton.Comment: 4 figures, submitted to PRL on Oct.

    Evidence for Strange Quark Contributions to the Nucleon's Form Factors at Q2Q^2 = 0.108 (GeV/c)2^2

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    We report on a measurement of the parity violating asymmetry in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons off unpolarized protons with the A4 apparatus at MAMI in Mainz at a four momentum transfer value of Q2Q^2 = \Qsquare (GeV/c)2^2 and at a forward electron scattering angle of 30<θe<40^\circ < \theta_e < 40^\circ. The measured asymmetry is ALR(ep)A_{LR}(\vec{e}p) = (\Aphys ±\pm \Deltastatstat_{stat} ±\pm \Deltasystsyst_{syst}) ×\times 106^{-6}. The expectation from the Standard Model assuming no strangeness contribution to the vector current is A0_0 = (\Azero ±\pm \DeltaAzero) ×\times 106^{-6}. We have improved the statistical accuracy by a factor of 3 as compared to our previous measurements at a higher Q2Q^2. We have extracted the strangeness contribution to the electromagnetic form factors from our data to be GEsG_E^s + \FakGMs GMsG_M^s = \GEsGMs ±\pm \DeltaGEsGMs at Q2Q^2 = \Qsquare (GeV/c)2^2. As in our previous measurement at higher momentum transfer for GEsG_E^s + 0.230 GMsG_M^s, we again find the value for GEsG_E^s + \FakGMs GMsG_M^s to be positive, this time at an improved significance level of 2 σ\sigma.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

    The impact of diabetes on multiple avoidable admissions: a cross-sectional study

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    Background Multiple admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) are responsible for an important proportion of health care expenditures. Diabetes is one of the conditions consensually classified as an ACSC being considered a major public health concern. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of diabetes on the occurrence of multiple admissions for ACSC. Methods We analysed inpatient data of all public Portuguese NHS hospitals from 2013 to 2015 on multiple admissions for ACSC among adults aged 18 or older. Multiple ACSC users were identified if they had two or more admissions for any ACSC during the period of analysis. Two logistic regression models were computed. A baseline model where a logistic regression was performed to assess the association between multiple admissions and the presence of diabetes, adjusting for age and sex. A full model to test if diabetes had no constant association with multiple admissions by any ACSC across age groups. Results Among 301,334 ACSC admissions, 144,209 (47.9%) were classified as multiple admissions and from those, 59,436 had diabetes diagnosis, which corresponded to 23,692 patients. Patients with diabetes were 1.49 times (p < 0,001) more likely to be admitted multiple times for any ACSC than patients without diabetes. Younger adults with diabetes (18–39 years old) were more likely to become multiple users. Conclusion Diabetes increases the risk of multiple admissions for ACSC, especially in younger adults. Diabetes presence is associated with a higher resource utilization, which highlights the need for the implementation of adequate management of chronic diseases policies.NOVASaudeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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