2,109 research outputs found
Cosmological evolution of thermal relic particles in gravity
By considering gravity models, the cosmic evolution is modified with
respect to the standard CDM scenario. In particular, the thermal
history of particles results modified. In this paper, we derive the evolution
of relics particles (WIMPs) assuming a reliable cosmological solution
and taking into account observational constraints. The connection to the PAMELA
experiment is also discussed. Results are consistent with constraints coming
from BICEP2 and PLANCK experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Average fractional polarization of extragalactic sources at Planck frequencies
Recent detailed simulations have shown that an insufficiently accurate
characterization of the contamination of unresolved polarized extragalactic
sources can seriously bias measurements of the primordial cosmic microwave
background (CMB) power spectrum if the tensor-to-scalar ratio as
predicted by models currently of special interest (e.g., Starobinsky's
and Higgs inflation). This has motivated a reanalysis of the median
polarization fraction of extragalactic sources (radio-loud AGNs and dusty
galaxies) using data from the \textit{Planck} polarization maps. Our approach,
exploiting the intensity distribution analysis, mitigates or overcomes the most
delicate aspects of earlier analyses based on stacking techniques. By means of
simulations, we have shown that the residual noise bias on the median
polarization fraction, , of extragalactic sources is
generally \simlt 0.1\%. For radio sources, we have found , with no significant dependence on either frequency or flux
density, in good agreement with the earlier estimate and with high-sensitivity
measurements in the frequency range 5--40\,GHz. No polarization signal is
detected in the case of dusty galaxies, implying 90\% confidence upper limits
of \Pi_{\rm dusty}\simlt 2.2\% at 353\,GHz and of \simlt 3.9\% at 217\,GHz.
The contamination of CMB polarization maps by unresolved point sources is
discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, 7 tables; revised version. In press on Astronomy
and Astrophysic
Directional pinning and anisotropy in YBa2Cu3O7-x with BaZrO3 nanorods: intrinsic and nanorods-induced anisotropy
We present a study of the anisotropic vortex parameters as obtained from
measurements of the microwave complex resistivity in the vortex state with a
tilted applied magnetic field in YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films with BaZrO3 nanorods.
We present the angular dependence of the vortex viscosity , the pinning
constant k_p and the upper limit for the creep factor \chi_M. We show that the
directional effect of the nanorods is absent in \eta, which is dictated by the
mass anisotropy \gamma. By contrast, pinning-mediated properties are strongly
affected by the nanorods. It is significant that the pinning and creep affected
by the nanorods is detectable also at our very high operating frequency, which
implies very short-range displacements of the vortices from their equilibrium
position.Comment: Proceedings of VORTEX VIII Conference, to be published in Physica
Strong reduction of field-dependent microwave surface resistance in YBaCuO with sub-micrometric BaZrO inclusions
We observe a strong reduction of the field induced thin film surface
resistance measured at high microwave frequency (47.7 GHz) in
YBaCuO thin films grown on SrTiO substrates, as a
consequence of the introduction of sub-micrometric BaZrO particles. The
field increase of the surface resistance is smaller by a factor of 3 in
the film with BaZrO inclusions, while the zero-field properties are not
much affected. Combining surface resistance and surface reactance data we
conclude (a) that BaZrO inclusions determine very deep and steep pinning
wells and (b) that the pinning changes nature with respect to the pure film.Comment: RevTeX; 4 pages, 3 figures; submitted to Applied Physics Letter
Reduction of the field-dependent microwave surface resistance in YBa_2Cu_3O_7 with sub-micrometric BaZrO_3 inclusions as a function of BaZrO_3 concentration
In order to study the vortex pinning determined by artificially introduced
pinning centers in the small-vortex displacement regime, we measured the
microwave surface impedance at 47.7 GHz in the mixed state of
YBaCuO thin films, where sub-micrometric BaZrO
particles have been incorporated. As a function of the BaZrO content, we
observe that the absolute losses slightly decrease up to a BaZrO content of
5%, and then increase. We found that the magnetic-field-induced losses behave
differently, in that they are not monotonic with increasing BaZrO
concentration: at small concentration (2.5%) the field-induced losses increase,
but large reduction of the losses themselves, by factors up to 3, is observed
upon further increasing the BaZrO concentration in the target up to 7%.
Using measurements of both surface resistance and surface reactance we estimate
vortex pinning-related parameters. We find that BaZrO inclusions introduce
deep and steep pinning wells. In particular, the minimum height of the energy
barrier for single vortices is raised. At larger BaZrO content (5% and 7%)
the phenomenon is at its maximum, but it is unclear whether it shows a
saturation or not, thus leaving room for further improvements.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
Anisotropy and directional pinning in YBaCuO with BaZrO3 nanorods
Measurements of anisotropic transport properties (dc and high-frequency
regime) of driven vortex matter in YBaCuO with elongated
strong-pinning sites (c-axis aligned, self-assembled BaZrO nanorods) are
used to demonstrate that the effective-mass angular scaling takes place only in
intrinsic physical quantities (flux-flow resistivity), and not in
pinning-related Labusch parameter and critical currents. Comparison of the
dynamics at different time scales shows evidence for a transition of the vortex
matter toward a Mott phase, driven by the presence of nanorods. The strong
pinning in dc arises partially from a dynamic effect.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication on Applied Physics
Letters. With respect to v1: changed title, slightly shortene
Strong Reduction of the Field-Dependent Microwave Surface Resistance in YBCO with BaZrO_3 Inclusions
We present measurements of the magnetic field dependent microwave surface
resistance in laser-ablated YBaCuO films on SrTiO
substrates. BaZrO crystallites were included in the films using composite
targets containing BaZrO inclusions with mean grain size smaller than 1
m. X-ray diffraction showed single epitaxial relationship between
BaZrO and YBaCuO. The effective surface resistance was
measured at 47.7 GHz for 6090 K and 00.8 T. The magnetic
field had a very different effect on pristine YBaCuO and
YBaCuO/BaZrO, while for 0 only a reduction of
in the YBaCuO/BaZrO film was observed,
consistent with dc measurements. At low enough , in moderate fields
YBaCuO/BaZrO exhibited an intrinsic thin film
resistance lower than the pure film. The results clearly indicate that
BaZrO inclusions determine a strong reduction of the field-dependent
surface resistance. From the analysis of the data in the framework of simple
models for the microwave surface impedance in the mixed state we argue that
BaZrO inclusions determine very steep pinning potentials.Comment: LaTeX, 6 pages, 4 figures, uses jpconf.cls and jpconf11.clo class
files, talk given at EUCAS 2007, submitted to J. Phys.: Conf. Serie
Cost of coexisting with a relict large carnivore population: Impact of apennine brown bears, 2005–2015
Human-carnivore conflicts are a major conservation issue. As bears are expanding their range in Europe’s human-modified landscapes, it is increasingly important to understand, prevent, and address human-bear conflicts and evaluate mitigation strategies in areas of historical coexis-tence. Based on verified claims, we assessed costs, patterns, and drivers of bear damages in the relict Apennine brown bear population in the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park (PNALM), central Italy. During 2005–2015, 203 ± 71 (SD) damage events were verified annually, equivalent to 75,987 ± 30,038 €/year paid for compensation. Most damages occurred in summer and fall, with livestock depredation, especially sheep and cattle calves, prevailing over other types of damages, with apiaries ranking second in costs of compensation. Transhumant livestock owners were less impacted than residential ones, and farms that adopted prevention measures loaned from the PNALM were less susceptible to bear damages. Livestock farms chronically damaged by bears represented 8 ± 3% of those annually impacted, corresponding to 24 ± 6% of compensation costs. Further improvements in the conflict mitigation policy adopted by the PNALM include integrated prevention, conditional compensation, and participatory processes. We discuss the implications of our study for Human-bear coexistence in broader contexts
Trial Watch: experimental TLR7/TLR8 agonists for oncological indications
Resiquimod (R848) and motolimod (VTX-2337) are second-generation experimental derivatives of imiquimod, an imidazoquinoline with immunostimulatory properties originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis and genital warts more than 20 years ago. Both resiquimod and motolimod operate as agonists of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and/or TLR8, in thus far delivering adjuvant-like signals to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In line with such an activity, these compounds are currently investigated as immunostimulatory agents for the treatment of various malignancies, especially in combination with peptide-based, dendritic cell-based, cancer cell lysate-based, or DNA-based vaccines. Here, we summarize preclinical and clinical evidence recently collected to support the development of resiquimod and motolimod and other TLR7/TLR8 agonists as anticancer agents
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