Hidden Order in the Cuprates

We propose that the enigmatic pseudogap phase of cuprate superconductors is characterized by a hidden broken symmetry of d(x^2-y^2)-type. The transition to this state is rounded by disorder, but in the limit that the disorder is made sufficiently small, the pseudogap crossover should reveal itself to be such a transition. The ordered state breaks time-reversal, translational, and rotational symmetries, but it is invariant under the combination of any two. We discuss these ideas in the context of ten specific experimental properties of the cuprates, and make several predictions, including the existence of an as-yet undetected metal-metal transition under the superconducting dome.Comment: 12 pages of RevTeX, 9 eps figure

Therapeutic interception in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis to prevent clinically impactful disease

Multiple clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prevention have been completed. Here, we set out to report on the lessons learnt from these studies. Researchers who conducted RA prevention trials shared the background, rationale, approach and outcomes and evaluated the lessons learnt to inform the next generation of RA prevention trials. Individuals at risk of RA can be identified through population screening, referrals to musculoskeletal programmes and by recognition of arthralgia suspicious for RA. Clinical trials in individuals at risk for future clinical RA have demonstrated that limited courses of corticosteroids, atorvastatin and hydroxychloroquine do not alter incidence rates of clinical RA; however, rituximab delays clinical RA onset, and methotrexate has transient effects in individuals who are anticitrullinated protein antibody-positive with subclinical joint inflammation identified by imaging. Abatacept delays clinical RA onset but does not fully prevent onset of RA after treatment cessation. Additionally, subclinical joint inflammation and symptoms appear responsive to interventions such as methotrexate and abatacept. To advance prevention, next steps include building networks of individuals at risk for RA, to improve risk stratification for future RA and to understand the biological mechanisms of RA development, including potential endotypes of disease, which can be targeted for prevention, thus adopting a more precision-based approach. Future trials should focus on interceptions aimed at preventing clinical RA onset and which treat existing symptoms and imaging-defined subclinical inflammation. These trials may include advanced designs (eg, adaptive) and should be combined with mechanistic studies to further define pathophysiological drivers of disease development

Origins of the Ambient Solar Wind: Implications for Space Weather

The Sun's outer atmosphere is heated to temperatures of millions of degrees, and solar plasma flows out into interplanetary space at supersonic speeds. This paper reviews our current understanding of these interrelated problems: coronal heating and the acceleration of the ambient solar wind. We also discuss where the community stands in its ability to forecast how variations in the solar wind (i.e., fast and slow wind streams) impact the Earth. Although the last few decades have seen significant progress in observations and modeling, we still do not have a complete understanding of the relevant physical processes, nor do we have a quantitatively precise census of which coronal structures contribute to specific types of solar wind. Fast streams are known to be connected to the central regions of large coronal holes. Slow streams, however, appear to come from a wide range of sources, including streamers, pseudostreamers, coronal loops, active regions, and coronal hole boundaries. Complicating our understanding even more is the fact that processes such as turbulence, stream-stream interactions, and Coulomb collisions can make it difficult to unambiguously map a parcel measured at 1 AU back down to its coronal source. We also review recent progress -- in theoretical modeling, observational data analysis, and forecasting techniques that sit at the interface between data and theory -- that gives us hope that the above problems are indeed solvable.Comment: Accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews. Special issue connected with a 2016 ISSI workshop on "The Scientific Foundations of Space Weather." 44 pages, 9 figure

The PHENIX Experiment at RHIC

The physics emphases of the PHENIX collaboration and the design and current status of the PHENIX detector are discussed. The plan of the collaboration for making the most effective use of the available luminosity in the first years of RHIC operation is also presented.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Further details of the PHENIX physics program available at http://www.rhic.bnl.gov/phenix

Dynamic Assessment of Baroreflex Control of Heart Rate During Induction of Propofol Anesthesia Using a Point Process Method

In this article, we present a point process method to assess dynamic baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) by estimating the baroreflex gain as focal component of a simplified closed-loop model of the cardiovascular system. Specifically, an inverse Gaussian probability distribution is used to model the heartbeat interval, whereas the instantaneous mean is identified by linear and bilinear bivariate regressions on both the previous R−R intervals (RR) and blood pressure (BP) beat-to-beat measures. The instantaneous baroreflex gain is estimated as the feedback branch of the loop with a point-process filter, while the RRBP feedforward transfer function representing heart contractility and vasculature effects is simultaneously estimated by a recursive least-squares filter. These two closed-loop gains provide a direct assessment of baroreflex control of heart rate (HR). In addition, the dynamic coherence, cross bispectrum, and their power ratio can also be estimated. All statistical indices provide a valuable quantitative assessment of the interaction between heartbeat dynamics and hemodynamics. To illustrate the application, we have applied the proposed point process model to experimental recordings from 11 healthy subjects in order to monitor cardiovascular regulation under propofol anesthesia. We present quantitative results during transient periods, as well as statistical analyses on steady-state epochs before and after propofol administration. Our findings validate the ability of the algorithm to provide a reliable and fast-tracking assessment of BRS, and show a clear overall reduction in baroreflex gain from the baseline period to the start of propofol anesthesia, confirming that instantaneous evaluation of arterial baroreflex control of HR may yield important implications in clinical practice, particularly during anesthesia and in postoperative care.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-HL084502)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant K25-NS05758)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant DP2- OD006454)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant T32NS048005)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant T32NS048005)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-DA015644)Massachusetts General Hospital (Clinical Research Center, UL1 Grant RR025758

Therapeutic Impact of Cytoreductive Surgery and Irradiation of Posterior Fossa Ependymoma in the Molecular Era: A Retrospective Multicohort Analysis

Posterior fossa ependymoma comprises two distinct molecular variants termed EPN_PFA and EPN_PFB that have a distinct biology and natural history. The therapeutic value of cytoreductive surgery and radiation therapy for posterior fossa ependymoma after accounting for molecular subgroup is not known

DYNAMIC FRACTURE CHARACTERIZATION OF CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES

Une nouvelle procédure hybride, à la fois expérimentale et numérique a été utilisée pour caractériser la rupture dynamique de matériaux composites particules de TiB2 matrice SiC et SiCw/matrice Al2O3 à la température ambiante et 1200°C. La valeur de laténacité correspondant à l'initiation de la fissure, dans des conditions de chargement dynamique obtenue est supérieure à la ténacité statique K1c et décroit à 1200°C. Les réponses à la rupture dynamique des deux composites à matrice céramique ont été caractérisées par le facteur d'intensité de contrainte dynamique (SIF) en fonction des relations de vitesse de fissure . Des petites différences entre les réponses à la rupture dynamique à la température ambiante et à 1200°C ont été observées.A new hybrid experimental-numerical procedure was used to characterize the dynamic fracture of TiB2-particulate/SiC-matrix and Sicw/A12O3-matrix composites at room temperature and 1200°C. The dynamic fracture initiation toughness, KId, was found to be greater than the corresponding static fracture tousghness, KIC and decreased at 1200°C. The dynamic fracture responses of the two ceramic matrix composites were characterized by the dynamic stress intensity factor (SIF) versus crack velocity relations . Small differences between the dynamic fracture responses at room temperature and at 1200°C was observed