796 research outputs found
On the noise-induced passage through an unstable periodic orbit II: General case
Consider a dynamical system given by a planar differential equation, which
exhibits an unstable periodic orbit surrounding a stable periodic orbit. It is
known that under random perturbations, the distribution of locations where the
system's first exit from the interior of the unstable orbit occurs, typically
displays the phenomenon of cycling: The distribution of first-exit locations is
translated along the unstable periodic orbit proportionally to the logarithm of
the noise intensity as the noise intensity goes to zero. We show that for a
large class of such systems, the cycling profile is given, up to a
model-dependent change of coordinates, by a universal function given by a
periodicised Gumbel distribution. Our techniques combine action-functional or
large-deviation results with properties of random Poincar\'e maps described by
continuous-space discrete-time Markov chains.Comment: 44 pages, 4 figure
The effect of classical noise on a quantum two-level system
We consider a quantum two-level system perturbed by classical noise. The
noise is implemented as a stationary diffusion process in the off-diagonal
matrix elements of the Hamiltonian, representing a transverse magnetic field.
We determine the invariant measure of the system and prove its uniqueness. In
the case of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck noise, we determine the speed of convergence to
the invariant measure. Finally, we determine an approximate one-dimensional
diffusion equation for the transition probabilities. The proofs use both
spectral-theoretic and probabilistic methods.Comment: 25 page
Transmembrane anion transport mediated by halogen-bond donors
In biology and chemistry, the transport of anions across lipid bilayer membranes is usually achieved by sophisticated supramolecular architectures. Significant size reduction of transporters is hampered by the intrinsically hydrophilic nature of typical anion-binding functionalities, hydrogen-bond donors or cations. To maximize the atom efficiency of anion transport, the hydrophobic nature, directionality, and strength of halogen bonds seem promising. Unlike the ubiquitous, structurally similar hydrogen bonds, halogen bonds have not been explored for anion transport. Here we report that transport across lipid bilayers can be achieved with small perfluorinated molecules that are equipped with strong halogen-bond donors. Transport is observed with trifluoroiodomethane (boiling point=â22 °C); that is, it acts as a 'single-carbon' transporter. Contrary to the destructive action of small-molecule detergents, transport with halogen bonds is leakage-free, cooperative, non-ohmic and highly selective, with anion/cation permeability ratios <37
Credit bureaus between risk-management, creditworthiness assessment and prudential supervision
"This text may be downloaded for personal research purposes only. Any additional reproduction for other purposes, whether in hard copy or electronically, requires the consent of the author. If cited or quoted, reference should be made to the full name of the author, the title, the working paper or other series, the year, and the publisher."This paper discusses the role and operations of consumer Credit Bureaus in the European Union in the context of the economic theories, policies and law within which they work. Across Europe there is no common practice of sharing the credit data of consumers which can be used for several purposes. Mostly, they are used by the lending industry as a practice of creditworthiness assessment or as a risk-management tool to underwrite borrowing decisions or price risk. However, the type, breath, and depth of information differ greatly from country to country. In some Member States, consumer data are part of a broader information centralisation system for the prudential supervision of banks and the financial system as a whole. Despite EU rules on credit to consumers for the creation of the internal market, the underlying consumer data infrastructure remains fragmented at national level, failing to achieve univocal, common, or defined policy objectives under a harmonised legal framework. Likewise, the establishment of the Banking Union and the prudential supervision of the Euro area demand standardisation and convergence of the data used to measure debt levels, arrears, and delinquencies. The many functions and usages of credit data suggest that the policy goals to be achieved should inform the legal and institutional framework of Credit Bureaus, as well as the design and use of the databases. This is also because fundamental rights and consumer protection concerns arise from the sharing of credit data and their expanding use
Measuring Gravito-magnetic Effects by Multi Ring-Laser Gyroscope
We propose an under-ground experiment to detect the general relativistic
effects due to the curvature of space-time around the Earth (de Sitter effect)
and to rotation of the planet (dragging of the inertial frames or
Lense-Thirring effect). It is based on the comparison between the IERS value of
the Earth rotation vector and corresponding measurements obtained by a
tri-axial laser detector of rotation. The proposed detector consists of six
large ring-lasers arranged along three orthogonal axes.
In about two years of data taking, the 1% sensitivity required for the
measurement of the Lense-Thirring drag can be reached with square rings of 6
side, assuming a shot noise limited sensitivity ().
The multi-gyros system, composed of rings whose planes are perpendicular to one
or the other of three orthogonal axes, can be built in several ways. Here, we
consider cubic and octahedron structures. The symmetries of the proposed
configurations provide mathematical relations that can be used to study the
stability of the scale factors, the relative orientations or the ring-laser
planes, very important to get rid of systematics in long-term measurements,
which are required in order to determine the relativistic effects.Comment: 24 pages, 26 Postscript figure
What matters more for South African householdsâ debt repayment difficulties?
While the increased access to consumer credit has helped many families improve their welfare, the rising repayment burdens upon a background of chronically law savings rate have generated concerns that South African families are becoming ever more financially fragile and less able to meet their consumer debt repayment obligations. Using data from the Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS), this paper investigates whether consumer debt repayment problems are better explained by excessive spending which leaves households financial overstretched or by negative income shocks. The results indicate that households are significantly more likely to be delinquent on their financial obligations when they suffer negative events beyond their control rather than due to the size of the expenditure burden. This suggests that some consumers will experience repayment problems even when they borrow within their means. Thus regulatory efforts to improve mechanisms for debt relief might be more meaningful than restrictions on lending
Prototype ATLAS IBL Modules using the FE-I4A Front-End Readout Chip
The ATLAS Collaboration will upgrade its semiconductor pixel tracking
detector with a new Insertable B-layer (IBL) between the existing pixel
detector and the vacuum pipe of the Large Hadron Collider. The extreme
operating conditions at this location have necessitated the development of new
radiation hard pixel sensor technologies and a new front-end readout chip,
called the FE-I4. Planar pixel sensors and 3D pixel sensors have been
investigated to equip this new pixel layer, and prototype modules using the
FE-I4A have been fabricated and characterized using 120 GeV pions at the CERN
SPS and 4 GeV positrons at DESY, before and after module irradiation. Beam test
results are presented, including charge collection efficiency, tracking
efficiency and charge sharing.Comment: 45 pages, 30 figures, submitted to JINS
Drugs in early clinical development for the treatment of osteosarcoma
Introduction: Osteosarcomas are the main malignant primary bone tumours found in children
and young adults. Conventional treatment is based on diagnosis and resection surgery,
combined with polychemotherapy. This is a protocol that was established in the 1970s.
Unfortunately, this therapeutic approach has reached a plateau of efficacy and the patient
survival rate has not improved in the last four decades. New therapeutic approaches are thus
required to improve the prognosis for osteosarcoma patients.
Areas covered: From the databases available and published scientific literature, the present
review gives an overview of the drugs currently in early clinical development for the
treatment of osteosarcoma. For each drug, a short description is given of the relevant
scientific data supporting its development.
Expert opinion: Multidrug targeted approaches are set to emerge, given the heterogeneity of
osteosarcoma subtypes and the multitude of therapeutic responses. The key role played by the
microenvironment in the disease increases the number of therapeutic targets (such as
macrophages or osteoclasts), as well as the master proteins that control cell proliferation or
cell death. Ongoing phase I/II trials are important steps, not only for identifying new therapies
with greater safety and efficacy, but also for better defining the role played by the
microenvironment in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma
The Influence of Multilevel Spinal Deformity Surgery on the EuroQol 5 Dimensions' (EQ-5D) Questionnaire and Residential Status in the Elderly: A Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Study
STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, international prospective study.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the clinical outcome up to 2Â years after multi-level spinal deformity surgery in the elderly by reporting the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of EuroQol 5-dimensions (EQ-5D), EQ-VAS, and residential status.
METHODS: As an ancillary study of 219 patients â„60Â years with spinal deformity undergoing primary instrumented fusion surgery of â„5 levels, this study focuses on EQ-5D (3-L) as the primary outcome and EQ-VAS and residential status as secondary outcomes. Data on EQ-5D were compared between pre-operatively and postoperatively at 10Â weeks, 12Â months, and 24Â months. An anchor-based approach was used to calculate the MCID.
RESULTS: The EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS, respectively, improved significantly at each time point compared to pre-operatively (from .53 (SD .21) and 55.6 (SD 23.0) pre-operatively to .64 (SD .18) and 65.8 (SD 18.7) at 10 weeks, .74 (SD .18) and 72.7 (SD 18.1) at 12Â months, and .73 (SD .20) and 70.4 (SD 20.4) at 24Â months). 217 (99.1%) patients lived at home pre-operatively, while 186 (88.6%), 184 (98.4%), and 172 (100%) did so at 10Â weeks, 12Â months, and 24Â months, respectively. Our calculated MCID for the EQ-5D index at 1Â year was .22 (95% CI .15-.29).
CONCLUSIONS: The EQ-5D index significantly increased at each time point over 24Â months after â„5 level spinal deformity surgery in elderly patients. The MCID of the EQ-5D-3Â L was .22. Patients living at home pre-operatively can expect to be able to live at home 2Â years postoperatively
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