1,047 research outputs found
Ground state of a large number of particles on a frozen topography
Problems consisting in finding the ground state of particles interacting with
a given potential constrained to move on a particular geometry are surprisingly
difficult. Explicit solutions have been found for small numbers of particles by
the use of numerical methods in some particular cases such as particles on a
sphere and to a much lesser extent on a torus. In this paper we propose a
general solution to the problem in the opposite limit of a very large number of
particles M by expressing the energy as an expansion in M whose coefficients
can be minimized by a geometrical ansatz. The solution is remarkably universal
with respect to the geometry and the interaction potential. Explicit solutions
for the sphere and the torus are provided. The paper concludes with several
predictions that could be verified by further theoretical or numerical work.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, LaTeX fil
On a possible photon origin of the most-energetic AGASA events
In this work the ultra high energy cosmic ray events recorded by the AGASA
experiment are analysed. With detailed simulations of the extensive air showers
initiated by photons, the probabilities are determined of the photonic origin
of the 6 AGASA events for which the muon densities were measured and the
reconstructed energies exceeded 10^20 eV. On this basis a new, preliminary
upper limit on the photon fraction in cosmic rays above 10^20 eV is derived and
compared to the predictions of exemplary top-down cosmic-ray origin models.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables; presented at XIII ISVHECRI, Pylos,
Greec
Prognostic Value of the De Ritis Ratio for Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Undergoing [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 Radioligand Therapy
The De Ritis ratio (=aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase) has shown prognostic value in different cancer types. This is the first such analysis in prostate cancer patients undergoing radioligand therapy (RLT) with [Lu-177]Lu-PSMA-617. This retrospective monocentric analysis included 91 patients with a median of 3 RLT cycles (range 1-6) and median cumulative activity of 17.3 GBq. Univariable Cox regression regarding overall survival (OS) included age, different types of previous treatment, metastatic patterns and different laboratory parameters before RLT. Based on multivariable Cox regression, a prognostic score was derived. Seventy-two patients (79%) died (median follow-up in survivors: 19.8 months). A higher number of previous chemotherapy lines, the presence of liver metastases, brain metastases, a higher tumor load on PSMA-PET, a higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, lower red blood cell count, lower hemoglobin, higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and higher De Ritis ratio were associated with shorter OS (each p < 0.05). In multivariable Cox, a higher number of chemotherapy lines (range, 0-2; p = 0.036), brain metastases (p < 0.001), higher PSA (p = 0.004) and higher De Ritis ratio before RLT (hazard ratio, 1.27 per unit increase; p = 0.023) remained significant. This prognostic score separated five groups with a significantly different median OS ranging from 4.9 to 28.1 months (log-rank test, p < 0.001). If validated independently, the De Ritis ratio could enhance multifactorial models for OS after RLT
Crystalline Order on a Sphere and the Generalized Thomson Problem
We attack generalized Thomson problems with a continuum formalism which
exploits a universal long range interaction between defects depending on the
Young modulus of the underlying lattice. Our predictions for the ground state
energy agree with simulations of long range power law interactions of the form
1/r^{gamma} (0 < gamma < 2) to four significant digits. The regime of grain
boundaries is studied in the context of tilted crystalline order and the
generality of our approach is illustrated with new results for square tilings
on the sphere.Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figures Fig. 2 revised, improved Fig. 3, reference
typo fixe
Effectiveness of TBE vaccination in southern Germany and Latvia
Funding Information: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsBackground: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vaccine-preventable disease which may cause long-term sequelae and even death. The data on the long-term effectiveness of TBE vaccines are limited. Additionally, the vaccination schedule is complex which in part contributes towards sub-optimal uptake in TBE-endemic areas. The current ecological study measures vaccine effectiveness (VE) in two European countries. Methods: TBE VE was measured from 2007 to 2018 in Latvia and Southern German states by age group, vaccination history, and schedule compliance. TBE cases and vaccination history were obtained from the public health agencies for Latvia and the southern German federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg. Cases were “within schedule” if a TBE infection was diagnosed within the time interval preceding the next scheduled dose and “outside schedule” if the diagnosis occurred after the next scheduled dose. Vaccine uptake was estimated via representative nationwide surveys. Results: VE after 2, 3, and ≥4 doses was high in both countries at 97.2%, 95.0%, and 95.4% for southern Germany, and 98.1%, 99.4%, and 98.8% for Latvia while within- schedule, and only showed marginal differences outside schedule at 90.6%, 89.9%, and 95.6% for southern Germany, and 97.4%, 98.4%, and 99.0% for Latvia regardless of age groups. Conclusions: In both countries, VE after two and three primary doses within-schedule was very high in all age groups. Once receiving booster doses, high VE continued to be observed even in persons with extended intervals since the last dose received, suggesting that longer and more flexible booster intervals may be considered for sustainable long-term protection.publishersversionPeer reviewe
Simulation of Ultra-High Energy Photon Propagation in the Geomagnetic Field
The identification of primary photons or specifying stringent limits on the
photon flux is of major importance for understanding the origin of ultra-high
energy (UHE) cosmic rays. We present a new Monte Carlo program allowing
detailed studies of conversion and cascading of UHE photons in the geomagnetic
field. The program named PRESHOWER can be used both as an independent tool or
together with a shower simulation code. With the stand-alone version of the
code it is possible to investigate various properties of the particle cascade
induced by UHE photons interacting in the Earth's magnetic field before
entering the Earth's atmosphere. Combining this program with an extensive air
shower simulation code such as CORSIKA offers the possibility of investigating
signatures of photon-initiated showers. In particular, features can be studied
that help to discern such showers from the ones induced by hadrons. As an
illustration, calculations for the conditions of the southern part of the
Pierre Auger Observatory are presented.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figures, added references in introduction, corrected
energy in row 1 of Table 3, extended caption of Table
Characteristics of geomagnetic cascading of ultra-high energy photons at the southern and northern sites of the Pierre Auger Observatory
Cosmic-ray photons above 10^19 eV can convert in the geomagnetic field and
initiate a preshower, i.e. a particle cascade before entering the atmosphere.
We compare the preshower characteristics at the southern and northern sites of
the Pierre Auger Observatory. In addition to a shift of the preshower patterns
on the sky due to the different pointing of the local magnetic field vectors,
the fact that the northern Auger site is closer to the geomagnetic pole results
in a different energy dependence of the preshower effect: photon conversion can
start at smaller energies, but large conversion probabilitites (>90%) are
reached for the whole sky at higher energies compared to the southern Auger
site. We show how the complementary preshower features at the two sites can be
used to search for ultra-high energy photons among cosmic rays. In particular,
the different preshower characteristics at the northern Auger site may provide
an elegant and unambiguous confirmation if a photon signal is detected at the
southern site.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures, minor changes, conclusions unchanged, Appendix
A replaced, accepted by Astroparticle Physic
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