1,066 research outputs found
Shannon entropy and particle decays
We deploy Shannon's information entropy to the distribution of branching
fractions in a particle decay. This serves to quantify how important a given
new reported decay channel is, from the point of view of the information that
it adds to the already known ones. Because the entropy is additive, one can
subdivide the set of channels and discuss, for example, how much information
the discovery of a new decay branching would add; or subdivide the decay
distribution down to the level of individual quantum states (which can be
quickly counted by the phase space). We illustrate the concept with some
examples of experimentally known particle decay distributions.Comment: 12 pages, 18 plots; to appear in Nuclear Physics
AVOCADO: A Virtual Observatory Census to Address Dwarfs Origins
Dwarf galaxies are by far the most abundant of all galaxy types, yet their
properties are still poorly understood -especially due to the observational
challenge that their intrinsic faintness represents. AVOCADO aims at
establishing firm conclusions on their formation and evolution by constructing
a homogeneous, multiwavelength dataset for a statistically significant sample
of several thousand nearby dwarfs (-18 < Mi < -14). Using public data and
Virtual Observatory tools, we have built GALEX+SDSS+2MASS spectral energy
distributions that are fitted by a library of single stellar population models.
Star formation rates, stellar masses, ages and metallicities are further
complemented with structural parameters that can be used to classify them
morphologically. This unique dataset, coupled with a detailed characterization
of each dwar's environment, allows for a fully comprehensive investigation of
their origins and to track the (potential) evolutionary paths between the
different dwarf types.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of IAU Symposium 277,
"Tracing the Ancestry of Galaxies on the Land of our Ancestors", Carignan,
Freeman, and Combes, ed
Energy loss of protons and deuterons at low energies in Pd polycrystalline thin films
We have investigated experimentally and by computer simulations the energy loss distributions of low energy (E <10 keV) protons and deuterons transmitted through polycrystalline palladium thin flms. In contrast with previous experiments on various transition metals we find that the stopping power of Pd is proportional to the ion velocity. Data of protons and deuterons are coincident within the experimental uncertainties, showing the absence of an isotopic effect on the stopping power of Pd in this energy range. The experimental results were analyzed and compared with Monte Carlo computer simulations and previous theoretical models. The dference in the velocity dependence of the energy loss of hydrogen ions in Pd with respect to other transition metals (Cu, Ag and Au) is explained by a theoretical analysis based on the properties of the d-electron bands of those elements.Fil: Celedón, C.. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de EnergÃa Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de Investigación y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de FÃsica (Centro Atómico Bariloche); ArgentinaFil: Sanchez, Esteban Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de Investigación y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de FÃsica (Centro Atómico Bariloche); Argentina. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de EnergÃa Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, Mario Sergio Jesus. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de Investigación y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de FÃsica (Centro Atómico Bariloche); Argentina. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de EnergÃa Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; ArgentinaFil: Arista, Nestor Ricardo. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de Investigación y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de FÃsica (Centro Atómico Bariloche); Argentina. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica. Gerencia del Area de EnergÃa Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; ArgentinaFil: Uribe, J. D.. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa MarÃa. Departamento de FÃsica. Laboratorio de Colisiones Atómicas; ChileFil: Mery, M.. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa MarÃa. Departamento de FÃsica. Laboratorio de Colisiones Atómicas; ChileFil: Valdés, J. E.. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa MarÃa. Departamento de FÃsica. Laboratorio de Colisiones Atómicas; ChileFil: Vargas, P.. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa MarÃa. Departamento de FÃsica. Laboratorio de Colisiones Atómicas; Chil
Inflation and nonequilibrium renormalization group
We study de spectrum of primordial fluctuations and the scale dependence of
the inflaton spectral index due to self-interactions of the field. We compute
the spectrum of fluctuations by applying nonequilibrium renormalization group
techniques.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, submitted to J. Phys.
Carbon and Oxygen Galactic Gradients: Observational Values from HII Region Recombination Lines
We present results of deep echelle spectrophotometry of eight Galactic HII
regions located at Galactocentric distances between 6.3 and 10.4 kpc. The data
have been taken with the Very Large Telescope (VLT) Ultraviolet Echelle
Spectrograph (UVES) in the 3100 to 10360 A range. We have derived C++ and O++
abundances from recombination lines for all the objects, as well as O+
abundances from this kind of lines for three of the nebulae. The intensity of
recombination lines is almost independent of the assumed electron temperature
as well as of the possible presence of spatial temperature variations or
fluctuations inside the nebulae. These data allow the determination of the
gas-phase C and O abundance gradients of the Galactic disk, of paramount
importance for chemical evolution models. This is the first time the C gradient
is derived from such a large number of HII regions and for such a wide range of
Galactocentric distances. Abundance gradients are found of the form
log(O/H) = -0.0440.010 dex kpc^-1, log(C/H) =
-0.1030.018 dex kpc^-1, and log(C/O) = -0.0580.018 dex
kpc^-1.Comment: 13 pages, 2 tables, 2 figures. Published in ApJ Letters, 618, L9
Inflammatory biomarkers and brain health indicators in children with overweight and obesity: The ActiveBrains project
INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammation plays an important role on the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as on brain function and behaviour. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between inflammatory biomarkers and a wide range of brain health indicators (i.e., academic performance, executive function, behavioural and emotional functioning, and brain volume) in children with overweight/obesity.
METHODS: A total of 107 children (10.0 ± 1.1 years, 41% girls) from the ActiveBrains project were included in the analysis. Five inflammatory biomarkers were analysed in plasma: white blood cell (WBC) count, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Academic performance was assessed by Woodcock-Munoz Tests of Achievement. Executive function was assessed through the Design Fluency Test for cognitive flexibility, the Stroop test for cognitive inhibition, and the Delayed Non-Match-to-Sample task for working memory. Behavioural and emotional functioning was evaluated through the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) questionnaire. Total and regional brain volume was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.
RESULTS: IL-6 was inversely associated with adaptive skills (beta = -0.228; p = 0.030), while TNF-alpha was related to mathematics (beta = -0.198; p = 0.034). In addition, CRP was positively associated with externalizing (beta = 0.246; p = 0.046) and internalizing problems (beta = 0.234; p = 0.039), as well as the behavioural symptoms index (beta = 0.236; p = 0.047). However, these significant associations disappeared after multiple comparisons correction. Inflammatory biomarkers were not associated with executive function and total brain volumes. Regarding regional brain analyses, WBC was positively associated with gray matter volume in the left middle temporal gyrus (beta = 0.387; p < 0.001, k = 44), and CRP was positively associated with gray matter volume in the right superior temporal gyrus (beta = 0.439; p < 0.001, k = 29). Additionally, when adjusting by total brain volume, CRP was positively associated with gray matter volume in the right supplementary motor cortex (beta = 0.453; p < 0.001, k = 51). Moreover, both, IL-6 (beta = 0.366; p < 0.001, k = 81) and TNF-alpha (beta = 0.368; p < 0.001, k = 62) were positively associated with white matter volume around the right inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis, while CRP was inversely associated with white matter volume around the left superior frontal gyrus (beta = -0.482; p < 0.001, k = 82). After adjusting by total brain volume, CRP was also inversely associated with white matter volume in 3 additional clusters (beta ranging from -0.473 to -0.404; p < 0.001, k = 87).
CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation was slightly associated with brain health (i.e., academic performance, behavioural and emotional functioning and regional brain volume) in children with overweight or obesity. Further larger longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to elucidate the short-term and long-term effect of systemic low-grade inflammation on children's brain health
Use of an experimental model to evaluate infection resistance of meshes in abdominal wall surgery
Background: Staphylococcal species are the most common organisms causing prosthetic mesh infections, however, infections due to rapidly growing mycobacteria are increasing. This study evaluates the resistance of biomaterial for abdominal wall prostheses against the development of postoperative infection in a rat model. Material and methods: In 75 rats, we intramuscularly implanted three different types of prostheses: (1) low-density polypropylene monofilament mesh (PMM), (2) high-density PMM, and (3) a composite prosthesis composed of low-density PMM and a nonporous hydrophilic film. Meshes were inoculated with a suspension containing 108 colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Mycobacterium fortuitum, or Mycobacterium abscessus before wound closure. Animals were sacrificed on the eighth day postoperatively for clinical evaluation, and the implants were removed for bacteriologic analyses. Results: Prostheses infected with S aureus showed a higher bacterial viability, worse integration, and clinical outcome compared with infection by other bacteria. Composite prostheses showed a higher number of viable colonies of both M fortuitum and Staphylococcus spp., with poorer integration in host tissue. However, when the composite prosthesis was infected with M abscessus, a lower number of viable bacteria were isolated and a better integration was observed compared with infection by other bacteria. Conclusions: Considering M abscessus, a smaller collagen-free contact surface shows better resistance to infection, however, depending on the type of bacteria, prostheses with a large surface, and covered with collagen shows reduced resistance to infection, worse integration, and worse clinical outcome. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
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