36 research outputs found
Semipurity of tempered Deligne cohomology
In this paper we define the formal and tempered Deligne cohomology groups,
that are obtained by applying the Deligne complex functor to the complexes of
formal differential forms and tempered currents respectively. We then prove the
existence of a duality between them, a vanishing theorem for the former and a
semipurity property for the latter. The motivation of these results comes from
the study of covariant arithmetic Chow groups. The semi-purity property of
tempered Deligne cohomology implies, in particular, that several definitions of
covariant arithmetic Chow groups agree for projective arithmetic varieties
Chern-Weil and Hilbert-Samuel formulae for singular Hermitian line bundles
We show a Chern-Weil type statement and a Hilbert-Samuel formula for a large class of singular plurisubharmonic metrics on a line bundle over a smooth projective complex variety. For this we use the theory of b-divisors and the so-called multiplier ideal volume function. We apply our results to the line bundle of Siegel-Jacobi forms over the universal abelian variety endowed with its canonical invariant metric. This generalizes the results of [J. I. Burgos Gil et al., Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 427, 45--77 (2016; Zbl 1378.14027)] to higher degrees.Number theory, Algebra and Geometr
Phase diagram and critical properties in the Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model
We investigate the phase diagram of the so-called
Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model at finite temperature and nonzero chemical
potential with three quark flavours. Chiral and deconfinement phase transitions
are discussed, and the relevant order-like parameters are analyzed. The results
are compared with simple thermodynamic expectations and lattice data. A special
attention is payed to the critical end point: as the strength of the
flavour-mixing interaction becomes weaker, the critical end point moves to low
temperatures and can even disappear.Comment: Talk given at the 9th International Conference on Quark Confinement
and the Hadron Spectrum - QCHS IX, Madrid, Spain, 30 August - September 201
Correspondences in Arakelov geometry and applications to the case of Hecke operators on modular curves
In the context of arithmetic surfaces, Bost defined a generalized Arithmetic
Chow Group
(ACG) using the Sobolev space L^2_1. We study the behavior of these groups
under pull-back and push-forward and we prove a projection formula.
We use these results to define an action of the Hecke operators on the ACG of
modular curves and to show that they are self-adjoint with respect to the
arithmetic intersection product. The decomposition of the ACG in
eigencomponents which follows allows us to define new numerical invariants,
which are refined versions of the self-intersection of the dualizing sheaf.
Using the Gross-Zagier formula and a calculation due independently to Bost and
Kuehn we compute these invariants in terms of special values of L series. On
the other hand, we obtain a proof of the fact that Hecke correspondences acting
on the Jacobian of the modular curves are self-adjoint with respect to the
N\'eron-Tate height pairing.Comment: 38 pages. Minor correction
Bladder cancer index: cross-cultural adaptation into Spanish and psychometric evaluation
BACKGROUND: The Bladder Cancer Index (BCI) is so far the only instrument applicable across all bladder cancer patients, independent of tumor infiltration or treatment applied. We developed a Spanish version of the BCI, and assessed its acceptability and metric properties. METHODS: For the adaptation into Spanish we used the forward and back-translation method, expert panels, and cognitive debriefing patient interviews. For the assessment of metric properties we used data from 197 bladder cancer patients from a multi-center prospective study. The Spanish BCI and the SF-36 Health Survey were self-administered before and 12 months after treatment. Reliability was estimated by Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was assessed through the multi-trait multi-method matrix. The magnitude of change was quantified by effect sizes to assess responsiveness. RESULTS: Reliability coefficients ranged 0.75-0.97. The validity analysis confirmed moderate associations between the BCI function and bother subscales for urinary (r = 0.61) and bowel (r = 0.53) domains; conceptual independence among all BCI domains (r ≤ 0.3); and low correlation coefficients with the SF-36 scores, ranging 0.14-0.48. Among patients reporting global improvement at follow-up, pre-post treatment changes were statistically significant for the urinary domain and urinary bother subscale, with effect sizes of 0.38 and 0.53. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish BCI is well accepted, reliable, valid, responsive, and similar in performance compared to the original instrument. These findings support its use, both in Spanish and international studies, as a valuable and comprehensive tool for assessing quality of life across a wide range of bladder cancer patients
Mortality of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients in an Argentinean population: a study from the RelevarEM registry
We aimed to evaluate mortality and causes of death among Argentinean neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients and identify predictors of death. Retrospective study included 158 NMOSD patients and 11 (7%) patients died after 11 years of follow-up for a total exposure time of 53,345 days with an overall incidence density of 2.06 × 10.000 patients/day (95% CI 1.75-2.68). Extensive cervical myelitis with respiratory failure (45%) was the most frequent cause of death. Older age (HR = 2.05, p = 0.002) and higher disability score (HR = 2.30, p < 0.001) at disease onset were independent predictors of death. We found an 11-year mortality rate of 7% in Argentinean NMOSD patients
Assessment of the interaction of polycarboxylate superplasticizers in hydrated lime pastes modified with nanosilica or metakaolin as pozzolanic reactives
Assessing attacks and treatment response rates among adult patients with NMOSD and MOGAD: data from a nationwide registry in Argentina
We aimed to examine treatment interventions implemented in patients experiencing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) attacks (frequency, types, and response). METHODS: Retrospective study. Data on patient demographic, clinical and radiological findings, and administered treatments were collected. Remission status (complete [CR], partial [PR], no remission [NR]), based on changes in the EDSS score was evaluated before treatment, during attack, and at 6 months. CR was analyzed with a generalized estimating equations (GEEs) model. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients (120 NMOSD and 11 myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody-associated diseases [MOGAD]), experiencing 262 NMOSD-related attacks and receiving 270 treatments were included. High-dose steroids (81.4%) was the most frequent treatment followed by plasmapheresis (15.5%). CR from attacks was observed in 47% (105/223) of all treated patients. During the first attack, we observed CR:71.2%, PR:16.3% and NR:12.5% after the first course of treatment. For second, third, fourth, and fifth attacks, CR was observed in 31.1%, 10.7%, 27.3%, and 33.3%, respectively. Remission rates were higher for optic neuritis vs. myelitis (p < 0.001). Predictor of CR in multivariate GEE analysis was age in both NMOSD (OR = 2.27, p = 0.002) and MOGAD (OR = 1.53, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests individualization of treatment according to age and attack manifestation. The outcome of attacks was generally poor
Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Background
Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea.
Methods
We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates.
Findings
The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage.
Interpretation
By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health