On Love-type waves in a finitely deformed magnetoelastic layered half-space

In this paper, the propagation of Love-type waves in a homogeneously and finitely deformed layered half-space of an incompressible non-conducting magnetoelastic material in the presence of an initial uniform magnetic field is analyzed. The equations and boundary conditions governing linearized incremental motions superimposed on an underlying deformation and magnetic field for a magnetoelastic material are summarized and then specialized to a form appropriate for the study of Love-type waves in a layered half-space. The wave propagation problem is then analyzed for different directions of the initial magnetic field for two different magnetoelastic energy functions, which are generalizations of the standard neo-Hookean and Mooney–Rivlin elasticity models. The resulting wave speed characteristics in general depend significantly on the initial magnetic field as well as on the initial finite deformation, and the results are illustrated graphically for different combinations of these parameters. In the absence of a layer, shear horizontal surface waves do not exist in a purely elastic material, but the presence of a magnetic field normal to the sagittal plane makes such waves possible, these being analogous to Bleustein–Gulyaev waves in piezoelectric materials. Such waves are discussed briefly at the end of the paper

Health economic implications of irbesartan plus conventional antihypertensive medications versus conventional blood pressure control alone in patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and renal disease in Switzerland.

The aim of this health economic modelling study was to investigate the effect of irbesartan combined with conventional antihypertensive medications compared to conventional antihypertensive therapy alone on the progression of nephropathy in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria in a Swiss setting. In simulated patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes, treatment of microalbuminuria with irbesartan 300 mg daily plus conventional antihypertensive medications was compared to a control regimen (conventional medications excluding angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, other angiotensin-2-receptor antagonist and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers). Progression from microalbuminuria to nephropathy, doubling of serum creatinine, ESRD, and all-cause mortality was simulated over a 25-year time horizon using a published Markov model adapted to a Swiss setting. Transition probabilities were based on the Irbesartan in Reduction of Microalbuminuria-2 Study, Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial and other sources. Costs and clinical outcomes were discounted at 5% annually according to Swiss guidelines, and a third party payer perspective was taken. Treatment with irbesartan was projected to improve mean life expectancy by 0.57 years compared to conventional antihypertension treatment (undiscounted 1.22 years). Irbesartan treatment was associated with cost savings of CHF 21,488 per patient over the 25-year time horizon. Sensitivity analysis showed that irbesartan therapy remained dominant to conventional antihypertension treatment over a range of plausible assumptions. Addition of irbesartan to conventional antihypertension therapy was projected to improve life expectancy and reduce costs in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria in a Swiss setting

A Conformal Field Theory for Eternal Inflation

We study a statistical model defined by a conformally invariant distribution of overlapping spheres in arbitrary dimension d. The model arises as the asymptotic distribution of cosmic bubbles in d+1 dimensional de Sitter space, and also as the asymptotic distribution of bubble collisions with the domain wall of a fiducial "observation bubble" in d+2 dimensional de Sitter space. In this note we calculate the 2-,3-, and 4-point correlation functions of exponentials of the "bubble number operator" analytically in d=2. We find that these correlators, when carefully defined, are free of infrared divergences, covariant under the global conformal group, charge conserving, and transform with positive conformal dimensions that are related in a novel way to the charge. Although by themselves these operators probably do not define a full-fledged conformal field theory, one can use the partition function on a sphere to compute an approximate central charge in the 2D case. The theory in any dimension has a noninteracting limit when the nucleation rate of the bubbles in the bulk is very large. The theory in two dimensions is related to some models of continuum percolation, but it is conformal for all values of the tunneling rate.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figure

Higher Dimensional Dark Energy Investigation with Variable Λ\Lambda and GG

Time variable $\Lambda$ and $G$ are studied here under a phenomenological model of $\Lambda$ through an ($n+2$) dimensional analysis. The relation of Zeldovich (1968) $|\Lambda| = 8\pi G^2m_p^6/h^4$ between $\Lambda$ and $G$ is employed here, where $m_p$ is the proton mass and $h$ is Planck's constant. In the present investigation some key issues of modern cosmology, viz. the age problem, the amount of variation of $G$ and the nature of expansion of the Universe have been addressed.Comment: 7 Latex pages with few change

Spin-Orbit Splitting in Non-Relativistic and Relativistic Self-Consistent Models

The splitting of single-particle energies between spin-orbit partners in nuclei is examined in the framework of different self-consistent approachs, non-relativistic as well as relativistic. Analytical expressions of spin-orbit potentials are given for various cases. Proton spin-orbit splittings are calculated along some isotopic chains (O, Ca, Sn) and they are compared with existing data. It is found that the isotopic dependence of the relativistic mean field predictions is similar to that of some Skyrme forces while the relativistic Hartree-Fock approach leads to a very different dependence due to the strong non-locality.Comment: 12 pages, RevTeX, 4 new figs.in .zip format, unchanged conclusions, Phys. ReV.

Magnetic enhancement of Co0.2_{0.2}Zn0.8_{0.8}Fe2_2O4_4 spinel oxide by mechanical milling

We report the magnetic properties of mechanically milled Co$_{0.2}$Zn$_{0.8}$Fe$_2$O$_4$ spinel oxide. After 24 hours milling of the bulk sample, the XRD spectra show nanostructure with average particle size $\approx$ 20 nm. The as milled sample shows an enhancement in magnetization and ordering temperature compared to the bulk sample. If the as milled sample is annealed at different temperatures for the same duration, recrystallization process occurs and approaches to the bulk structure on increasing the annealing temperatures. The magnetization of the annealed samples first increases and then decreases. At higher annealing temperature ($\sim$ 1000$^{0}$C) the system shows two coexisting magnetic phases {\it i.e.}, spin glass state and ferrimagnetic state, similar to the as prepared bulk sample. The room temperature M\"{o}ssbauer spectra of the as milled sample, annealed at 300$^{0}$C for different durations (upto 575 hours), suggest that the observed change in magnetic behaviour is strongly related with cations redistribution between tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (O) sites in the spinel structure. Apart from the cation redistribution, we suggest that the enhancement of magnetization and ordering temperature is related with the reduction of B site spin canting and increase of strain induced anisotropic energy during mechanical milling.Comment: 14 pages LaTeX, 10 ps figure

Parity Violating Measurements of Neutron Densities

Parity violating electron nucleus scattering is a clean and powerful tool for measuring the spatial distributions of neutrons in nuclei with unprecedented accuracy. Parity violation arises from the interference of electromagnetic and weak neutral amplitudes, and the $Z^0$ of the Standard Model couples primarily to neutrons at low $Q^2$. The data can be interpreted with as much confidence as electromagnetic scattering. After briefly reviewing the present theoretical and experimental knowledge of neutron densities, we discuss possible parity violation measurements, their theoretical interpretation, and applications. The experiments are feasible at existing facilities. We show that theoretical corrections are either small or well understood, which makes the interpretation clean. The quantitative relationship to atomic parity nonconservation observables is examined, and we show that the electron scattering asymmetries can be directly applied to atomic PNC because the observables have approximately the same dependence on nuclear shape.Comment: 38 pages, 7 ps figures, very minor changes, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Uncovering the treatable burden of severe aortic stenosis in the UK

Objective: To estimate the population prevalence and treatable burden of severe aortic stenosis (AS) in the UK. Methods: We adapted a contemporary model of the population profile of symptomatic and asymptomatic severe AS in Europe and North America to estimate the number of people aged ≥55 years in the UK who might benefit from surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Results: With a point prevalence of 1.48%, we estimate that 291 448 men and women aged ≥55 years in the UK had severe AS in 2019. Of these, 68.3% (199 059, 95% CI 1 77 201 to 221 355 people) would have been symptomatic and, therefore, more readily treated according to their surgical risk profile; the remaining 31.7% of cases (92 389, 95% CI 70 093 to 144 247) being asymptomatic. Based on historical patterns of intervention, 58.4% (116 251, 95% CI 106 895 to 1 25 606) of the 199 059 symptomatic cases would qualify for SAVR, with 7208 (95% CI 7091 to 7234) being assessed as being in a high, preoperative surgical risk category. Among the remaining 41.6% (82 809, 95% CI 73 453 to 92 164) of cases potentially unsuitable for SAVR, an estimated 61.7% (51 093, 95% CI 34 780 to 67 655) might be suitable for TAVI. We estimate that 172 859 out of 291 448 prevalent cases of severe AS (59.3%) will subsequently die within 5 years without proactive management. Conclusions: These data suggest a high burden of severe AS in the UK requiring surgical or transcatheter intervention that challenges the ongoing capacity of the National Health Service to meet the needs of those affected

The association of AGTR2 polymorphisms with preeclampsia and uterine artery bilateral notching is modulated by maternal BMI

On behalf of the SCOPE consortiumIntroductionThis study aimed to determine the association of AGTR1 and AGTR2 polymorphisms with preeclampsia and whether these are affected by environmental factors and fetal sex.MethodsOverall 3234 healthy nulliparous women, their partners and babies were recruited prospectively to the SCOPE study in Adelaide and Auckland. Data analyses were confined to 2121 Caucasian parent-infant trios, among whom 123 had preeclamptic pregnancies. 1185 uncomplicated pregnancies served as controls. DNA was extracted from buffy coats and genotyped by utilizing the Sequenom MassARRAY system. Doppler sonography on the uterine arteries was performed at 20 weeks' gestation.ResultsFour polymorphisms in AGTR1 and AGTR2 genes, including AGTR1 A1166C, AGTR2 C4599A, AGTR2 A1675G and AGTR2 T1134C, were selected and significant associations were predominately observed for AGTR2 C4599A. When the cohort was stratified by maternal BMI, in women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2), the AGTR2 C4599A AA genotype in mothers and neonates was associated with an increased risk for preeclampsia compared with the CC genotype [adjusted OR 2.1 (95% CI 1.0-4.2) and adjusted OR 3.0 (95% CI 1.4-6.4), respectively]. In the same subset of women, paternal AGTR2 C4599A A allele was associated with an increased risk for preeclampsia and uterine artery bilateral notching at 20 weeks' gestation compared with the C allele [adjusted OR 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.3) and adjusted OR 2.1 (95% CI 1.3-3.4), respectively].ConclusionAGTR2 C4599A in mothers, fathers and babies was associated with preeclampsia and this association was only apparent in pregnancies in which the women had a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2), suggesting a gene-environment interaction.A. Zhou, G.A. Dekker, E.R. Lumbers, S.Y. Lee, S.D. Thompson, L.M.E. McCowan, C.T. Robert