755 research outputs found
Constraints on the sound speed of dark energy
We have studied constraints on the equation of state, , and speed of
sound, c_s, of the dark energy from a joint analysis of data from the cosmic
microwave background, large scale structure and type-Ia supernovae. We find
that current observations have no significant sensitivity to c_s. However,
there is a slight difference between models in which there are no dark energy
perturbations and models in which dark energy behaves as a fluid. Assuming that
there are no dark energy perturbations shifts the allowed region for to
slightly higher values. At present models with and without dark energy
perturbations provide roughly equally good fits to observations, but the
difference is potentially important for future parameter estimations. Finally,
we have also performed error forecasts for future measurements of c_s.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, Revte
Observational constraints on low redshift evolution of dark energy: How consistent are different observations?
The dark energy component of the universe is often interpreted either in
terms of a cosmological constant or as a scalar field. A generic feature of the
scalar field models is that the equation of state parameter w= P/rho for the
dark energy need not satisfy w=-1 and, in general, it can be a function of
time. Using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method we perform a critical analysis
of the cosmological parameter space, allowing for a varying w. We use
constraints on w(z) from the observations of high redshift supernovae (SN), the
WMAP observations of CMB anisotropies and abundance of rich clusters of
galaxies. For models with a constant w, the LCDM model is allowed with a
probability of about 6% by the SN observations while it is allowed with a
probability of 98.9% by WMAP observations. The LCDM model is allowed even
within the context of models with variable w: WMAP observations allow it with a
probability of 99.1% whereas SN data allows it with 23% probability. The SN
data, on its own, favors phantom like equation of state (w<-1) and high values
for Omega_NR. It does not distinguish between constant w (with w<-1) models and
those with varying w(z) in a statistically significant manner. The SN data
allows a very wide range for variation of dark energy density, e.g., a
variation by factor ten in the dark energy density between z=0 and z=1 is
allowed at 95% confidence level. WMAP observations provide a better constraint
and the corresponding allowed variation is less than a factor of three.
Allowing for variation in w has an impact on the values for other cosmological
parameters in that the allowed range often becomes larger. (Abridged)Comment: 21 pages, PRD format (Revtex 4), postscript figures. minor
corrections to improve clarity; references, acknowledgement adde
Late acceleration and crossing in induced gravity
We study the cosmological evolution on a brane with induced gravity within a
bulk with arbitrary matter content. We consider a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker
brane, invariantly characterized by a six-dimensional group of isometries. We
derive the effective Friedmann and Raychaudhuri equations. We show that the
Hubble expansion rate on the brane depends on the covariantly defined
integrated mass in the bulk, which determines the energy density of the
generalized dark radiation. The Friedmann equation has two branches,
distinguished by the two possible values of the parameter \ex=\pm 1. The
branch with \ex=1 is characterized by an effective cosmological constant and
accelerated expansion for low energy densities. Another remarkable feature is
that the contribution from the generalized dark radiation appears with a
negative sign. As a result, the presence of the bulk corresponds to an
effective negative energy density on the brane, without violation of the weak
energy condition. The transition from a period of domination of the matter
energy density by non-relativistic brane matter to domination by the
generalized dark radiation corresponds to a crossing of the phantom divide
.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, RevTex 4.0; (v2) new references are added, minor
corrections and expanded discussion; (v3) additional comments at the end of
section III, minor corrections and several new references are added, to match
published version in Phys. Rev.
On the determination of the deceleration parameter from Supernovae data
Supernovae searches have shown that a simple matter-dominated and
decelerating universe should be ruled out. However a determination of the
present deceleration parameter through a simple kinematical description
is not exempt of possible drawbacks. We show that, with a time dependent
equation of state for the dark energy, a bias is present for : models
which are very far from the so-called Concordance Model can be accommodated by
the data and a simple kinematical analysis can lead to wrong conclusions. We
present a quantitative treatment of this bias and we present our conclusions
when a possible dynamical dark energy is taken into account.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitte
Studies on the Antioxidant Properties of Various extracts of Hippophae rhamnoide
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) a spiny shrub native to Ladakh Region of Jammu and Kashmir, have been found to posses so many medicinal properties from times immoral. From this point of view the antioxidant property of the plant fruit extracts have been analysed by DPPH method. Various plant extracts viz, fruit, leaf and root have been analysed for the antioxidant power determination in which fruit extracts showed highest free radical scavenging activity followed by leaf and root extracts. Among the solvents which have been used, more polar solvents showed highest antioxidant activity than the less polar solvent extracts. The IC50 value of various plant extracts as determined have been found to be 40 for DCM extract of fruit, 38 for Methanolic extract of fruit and 30 for the water extract of fruit. Similarly the leaf extracts posses IC50 value as 51, 47 and 37 respectively for DCM, Methanol and Water extracts. The IC50 values of various root extracts have been found to be 53, 50 and 48 respectively for DCM, Methanol and Water
Peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis in older adults: the Rancho Bernardo Study
We examined the association between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and bone health in 1,332 adults. We found a weak association between PAD and osteoporosis and bone loss only in women, but the association was not independent of age. PAD was not associated with fractures in this community-based population.
Increased rates of osteoporosis have been reported in patients with cardiovascular disease, suggesting a link between osteoporosis and atherosclerosis.
We examined the association between PAD and bone health in 1,332 adults who attended a research visit in 1992–1996, when the ankle–brachial index (ABI), bone mineral density (BMD), and spine X-rays were obtained. A total of 837 participants attended a follow-up visit in 1997–2000.
PAD defined by an ABI ≤ 0.90 was present in 15.4% of the women and 13.3% of the men. Prevalence of osteoporosis was significantly higher in women with PAD compared to women without PAD (p < 0.05). During an average 4-year follow-up, women with PAD had a significantly higher rate of bone loss than women without PAD (p = 0.05). The associations were no longer significant after age adjustment. In men, PAD was not associated with osteoporosis, but men with PAD had lower BMD at the femoral neck than men without PAD (p = 0.03). PAD was not associated with osteoporotic fractures in either sex.
We found a weak and age-dependent association between PAD and osteoporosis in women but not men. PAD was not associated with fractures in this community-based population
Equation of state description of the dark energy transition between quintessence and phantom regimes
The dark energy crossing of the cosmological constant boundary (the
transition between the quintessence and phantom regimes) is described in terms
of the implicitly defined dark energy equation of state. The generalizations of
the models explicitly constructed to exhibit the crossing provide the insight
into the cancellation mechanism which makes the transition possible.Comment: 3 pages, talk given at TAUP200
Analytical results for string propagation near a Kaluza-Klein black hole
This brief report presents analytical solutions to the equations of motion of
a null string. The background spacetime is a magnetically charged Kaluza-Klein
black hole. The string coordinates are expanded with the world-sheet velocity
of light as an expansion parameter. It is shown that the zeroth order solutions
can be expressed in terms of elementary functions in an appropriate large
distance approximation. In addition, a class of exact solutions corresponding
to the Pollard-Gross-Perry-Sorkin monopole case is also obtained.Comment: Revtex, 9 pages including two postscript figures, More detailed
discussion and new references adde
Quantum phantom cosmology
We apply the formalism of quantum cosmology to models containing a phantom
field. Three models are discussed explicitly: a toy model, a model with an
exponential phantom potential, and a model with phantom field accompanied by a
negative cosmological constant. In all these cases we calculate the classical
trajectories in configuration space and give solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt
equation in quantum cosmology. In the cases of the toy model and the model with
exponential potential we are able to solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation exactly.
For comparison, we also give the corresponding solutions for an ordinary scalar
field. We discuss in particular the behaviour of wave packets in
minisuperspace. For the phantom field these packets disperse in the region that
corresponds to the Big Rip singularity. This thus constitutes a genuine quantum
region at large scales, described by a regular solution of the Wheeler-DeWitt
equation. For the ordinary scalar field, the Big-Bang singularity is avoided.
Some remarks on the arrow of time in phantom models as well as on the relation
of phantom models to loop quantum cosmology are given.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figure
Observational constraints on the dark energy density evolution
We constrain the evolution of the dark energy density from Cosmic Microwave
Background, Large Scale Structure and Supernovae Ia measurements. While
Supernovae Ia are most sensitive to the equation of state of dark energy
today, the Cosmic Microwave Background and Large Scale Structure data best
constrains the dark energy evolution at earlier times. For the parametrization
used in our models, we find and the dark energy fraction at very
high redshift at 95 per cent confidence level.Comment: 5 pages, 10 figure
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