1,582 research outputs found
Vortices in equilibrium scalar electrodynamics
Scalar electrodynamics can be used to investigate the formation of cosmic
strings in the early universe. We present the results of lattice Monte Carlo
simulations of an effective three-dimensional U(1)+Higgs theory that describes
the equilibrium properties of finite-temperature scalar electrodynamics near
the transition. A gauge-invariant criterion for the existence of a vortex is
used in measuring the properties of the vortex network in the equilibrium state
both in the Coulomb and in the Higgs phase of the system. The naive definition
of the vortex density becomes meaningless in the continuum limit and special
care is needed in extracting physical quantities. Numerical evidence for a
physical discontinuity in the vortex density is given.Comment: 4 pages. Talk given by A. Rajantie at PASCOS-98, March 199
Masses and Phase Structure in the Ginzburg-Landau Model
We study numerically the phase structure of the Ginzburg-Landau model, with
particular emphasis on mass measurements. There is no local gauge invariant
order parameter, but we find that there is a phase transition characterized by
a vanishing photon mass. For type I superconductors the transition is of 1st
order. For type II 1st order is excluded by susceptibility analysis, but the
photon correlation length suggests 2nd order critical behaviour with \nu ~ 1/2.
The scalar mass, in contrast, does not show clear critical behaviour in the
type II regime for V \to \infty, contrary to the conventional picture.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures. More data gathered, allowing more definite
conclusion
Extracting Urban Morphology for Atmospheric Modeling from Multispectral and SAR Satellite Imagery
This paper presents an approach designed to derive an urban morphology map from satellite data while aiming to minimize the cost of data and user interference. The approach will help to provide updates to the current morphological databases around the world. The proposed urban morphology maps consist of two layers: 1) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and 2) land cover map. Sentinel-2 data was used to create a land cover map, which was realized through image classification using optical range indices calculated from image data. For the purpose of atmospheric modeling, the most important classes are water and vegetation areas. The rest of the area includes bare soil and built-up areas among others, and they were merged into one class in the end. The classification result was validated with ground truth data collected both from field measurements and aerial imagery. The overall classification accuracy for the three classes is 91 %. TanDEM-X data was processed into two DEMs with different grid sizes using interferometric SAR processing. The resulting DEM has a RMSE of 3.2 meters compared to a high resolution DEM, which was estimated through 20 control points in flat areas. Comparing the derived DEM with the ground truth DEM from airborne LIDAR data, it can be seen that the street canyons, that are of high importance for urban atmospheric modeling are not detectable in the TanDEM-X DEM. However, the derived DEM is suitable for a class of urban atmospheric models. Based on the numerical modeling needs for regional atmospheric pollutant dispersion studies, the generated files enable the extraction of relevant parametrizations, such as Urban Canopy Parameters (UCP).Peer reviewe
Gravity-mode period spacings as seismic diagnostic for a sample of gamma Doradus stars from Kepler space photometry and high-resolution ground-based spectroscopy
Gamma Doradus stars (hereafter gamma Dor stars) are gravity-mode pulsators of
spectral type A or F. Such modes probe the deep stellar interior, offering a
detailed fingerprint of their structure. Four-year high-precision space-based
Kepler photometry of gamma Dor stars has become available, allowing us to study
these stars with unprecedented detail. We selected, analysed, and characterized
a sample of 67 gamma Dor stars for which we have Kepler observations available.
For all the targets in the sample we assembled high-resolution spectroscopy to
confirm their F-type nature. We found fourteen binaries, among which four
single-lined binaries, five double-lined binaries, two triple systems and three
binaries with no detected radial velocity variations. We estimated the orbital
parameters whenever possible. For the single stars and the single-lined
binaries, fundamental parameter values were determined from spectroscopy. We
searched for period spacing patterns in the photometric data and identified
this diagnostic for 50 of the stars in the sample, 46 of which are single stars
or single-lined binaries. We found a strong correlation between the
spectroscopic vsini and the period spacing values, confirming the influence of
rotation on gamma Dor-type pulsations as predicted by theory. We also found
relations between the dominant g-mode frequency, the longest pulsation period
detected in series of prograde modes, vsini, and log Teff.Comment: 61 pages, 61 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ
Physical activity and incidence of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Whether physical activity increases or decreases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between AF and extent of physical activity. We searched Medline and EMBASE in June 2014 for studies that reported on the associated risk of AF according to history of physical activity. Pooled risk ratios for AF were calculated using inverse variance random effects model, and heterogeneity assessed using I2. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the nature of the physical activity, and the quality of the studies. We identified 19 relevant studies with a total of over half a million participants (n = 511,503). The pooled analysis showed no association between intensive physical activity and AF (RR 1.00 95% CI 0.82–1.22, I2 = 73%, 8 studies, 152,925 participants) with no difference considering low and moderate to high risk of bias studies. Pooled analysis of studies reporting on increasing amount of time spent on physical activities did not show a significant association with AF (RR 0.95 95% CI 0.72–1.26, I2 = 84%, 4 studies, 112,784 participants). Studies of athletes or participants with a history of sports activity which were of poor methodology quality showed a borderline significant association with AF (pooled RR 1.98 95% CI 1.00–3.94, I2 = 59%, 6 studies, 1973 participants). In conclusion, we found no significant increase in AF with a higher level of physical activity. These findings support clinical guidelines encouraging patients to exercise as there is no evidence for harm associated with increased physical activity
Alternative splicing discriminates molecular subtypes and has prognostic impact in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Effect of alternative splicing (AS) on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pathogenesis and survival has not been systematically addressed. Here, we compared differentially expressed genes and exons in association with survival after chemoimmunotherapy, and between germinal center B-cell like (GCB) and activated B-cell like (ABC) DLBCLs. Genome-wide exon array-based screen was performed from samples of 38 clinically high-risk patients who were treated in a Nordic phase II study with dose-dense chemoimmunotherapy and central nervous system prophylaxis. The exon expression profile separated the patients according to molecular subgroups and survival better than the gene expression profile. Pathway analyses revealed enrichment of AS genes in inflammation and adhesion-related processes, and in signal transduction, such as phosphatidylinositol signaling system and adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporters. Altogether, 49% of AS-related exons were protein coding, and domain prediction showed 28% of such exons to include a functional domain, such as transmembrane helix domain or phosphorylation sites. Validation in an independent cohort of 92 DLBCL samples subjected to RNA-sequencing confirmed differential exon usage of selected genes and association of AS with molecular subtypes and survival. The results indicate that AS events are able to discriminate GCB and ABC DLBCLs and have prognostic impact in DLBCL.Peer reviewe
Statistical mechanics of vortices from field theory
We study with lattice Monte Carlo simulations the interactions and
macroscopic behaviour of a large number of vortices in the 3-dimensional U(1)
gauge+Higgs field theory, in an external magnetic field. We determine
non-perturbatively the (attractive or repelling) interaction energy between two
or more vortices, as well as the critical field strength H_c, the
thermodynamical discontinuities, and the surface tension related to the
boundary between the Meissner phase and the Coulomb phase in the type I region.
We also investigate the emergence of vortex lattice and vortex liquid phases in
the type II region. For the type I region the results obtained are in
qualitative agreement with mean field theory, except for small values of H_c,
while in the type II region there are significant discrepancies. These findings
are relevant for superconductors and some models of cosmic strings, as well as
for the electroweak phase transition in a magnetic field.Comment: 30 pages, 12 figures; references added, to appear in Nucl.Phys.
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