On the ergoregion instability in rotating gravastars

The ergoregion instability is known to affect very compact objects that rotate very rapidly and do not possess a horizon. We present here a detailed analysis on the relevance of the ergoregion instability for the viability of gravastars. Expanding on some recent results, we show that not all rotating gravastars are unstable. Rather, stable models can be constructed also with J/M^2 ~ 1, where J and M are the angular momentum and mass of the gravastar, respectively. The genesis of gravastars is still highly speculative and fundamentally unclear if not dubious. Yet, their existence cannot be ruled out by invoking the ergoregion instability. For the same reason, not all ultra-compact astrophysical objects rotating with J/M^2 <~ 1 are to be considered necessarily black holes.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

The acceptability, effectiveness, and durability of cognitive analytic therapy : Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Objectives This paper sought to conduct a meta‐analysis of the effectiveness and durability of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) and assess the acceptability of CAT in terms of dropout rates. Design Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods PROSPERO registration: CRD42018086009. Searches identified CAT treatment outcome studies eligible to be narratively synthesized. Pre–post/post‐follow‐up effect sizes (ESs) were extracted and synthesized in a random‐effects meta‐analysis. Variations in effect sizes were explored using moderator analyses. Dropout rates were extracted. Secondary analyses synthesized between‐group ES from trials of CAT. Results Twenty‐five studies providing pre–post CAT treatment outcomes were aggregated across three outcome comparisons of functioning, depression, and interpersonal problems. CAT produced large pre–post improvements in global functioning (ES = 0.86; 95% CI 0.71–1.01, N = 628), moderate‐to‐large improvements in interpersonal problems (ES = 0.74, 95% CI 0.51–0.97, N = 460), and large reductions in depression symptoms (ES = 1.05, 95% CI 0.80–1.29, N = 586). All these effects were maintained or improved upon at follow‐up. Limited moderators of CAT treatment effect were identified. CAT demonstrated small–moderate, significant post‐treatment benefits compared to comparators in nine clinical trials (ES = 0.36–0.53; N = 352). The average dropout rate for CAT was 16% (range 0–33%). Conclusions Patients with a range of presenting problems appear to experience durable improvements in their difficulties after undergoing CAT. Recommendations are provided to guide the further progression of the CAT outcome evidence base

Observation of quantum oscillations between a Josephson phase qubit and a microscopic resonator using fast readout

We have detected coherent quantum oscillations between Josephson phase qubits and microscopic critical-current fluctuators by implementing a new state readout technique that is an order of magnitude faster than previous methods. The period of the oscillations is consistent with the spectroscopic splittings observed in the qubit's resonant frequency. The results point to a possible mechanism for decoherence and reduced measurement fidelity in superconducting qubits and demonstrate the means to measure two-qubit interactions in the time domain

Observation of ferromagnetism above 900 K in Cr-GaN and Cr-AlN

We report the observation of ferromagnetism at over 900K in Cr-GaN and Cr-AlN thin films. The saturation magnetization moments in our best films of Cr-GaN and Cr-AlN at low temperatures are 0.42 and 0.6 u_B/Cr atom, respectively, indicating that 14% and 20%, of the Cr atoms, respectively, are magnetically active. While Cr-AlN is highly resistive, Cr-GaN exhibits thermally activated conduction that follows the exponential law expected for variable range hopping between localized states. Hall measurements on a Cr-GaN sample indicate a mobility of 0.06 cm^2/V.s, which falls in the range characteristic of hopping conduction, and a free carrier density (1.4E20/cm^3), which is similar in magnitude to the measured magnetically-active Cr concentration (4.9E19/cm^3). A large negative magnetoresistance is attributed to scattering from loose spins associated with non-ferromagnetic impurities. The results indicate that ferromagnetism in Cr-GaN and Cr-AlN can be attributed to the double exchange mechanism as a result of hopping between near-midgap substitutional Cr impurity bands.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, submitted to AP

Horizontal and vertical profiles of ozone, carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons and dimethyl sulphide near the Mace Head observatory, Ireland

International audienceThe distribution of trace gases upwind and above the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, Ireland has been determined using measurements made from aircraft. The observations indicate excellent agreement between most non-methane hydrocarbons, dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and ozone measured at the surface, at 390 m overhead and in upwind boundary layer regions of the coastal Atlantic. Vertical profiles above the observatory indicated that local convective events result in a marine influence being detected at 3 km and above. The observation of isoprene from maritime sources at these levels was indicative of very rapid uplift on the hour timescale. Measurements of trace gases were also made directly upwind of the observatory over coastal regions and as far as the deep open ocean beyond the continental shelf. A maximum of 240 pptV DMS was observed in the boundary layer near to the shelf region, declining to a concentration of around 40 pptV at the coastline. The upwelling of nutrient rich waters at the ocean shelf location may be a possible explanation for the high abundance of DMS in these regions. The observations suggest that this region, some 150?200 km from the observatory, would under these environmental conditions have a major influence in the determining the DMS observed on-shore. The spatial distribution of ethene within boundary layer over coastal and deep waters differed significantly from DMS with an almost uniform abundance over all ocean regions

Recent and future trends in synthetic greenhouse gas radiative forcing

Atmospheric measurements show that emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are now the primary drivers of the positive growth in synthetic greenhouse gas (SGHG) radiative forcing. We infer recent SGHG emissions and examine the impact of future emissions scenarios, with a particular focus on proposals to reduce HFC use under the Montreal Protocol. If these proposals are implemented, overall SGHG radiative forcing could peak at around 355 mW m[superscript −2] in 2020, before declining by approximately 26% by 2050, despite continued growth of fully fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions. Compared to “no HFC policy” projections, this amounts to a reduction in radiative forcing of between 50 and 240 mW m[superscript −2] by 2050 or a cumulative emissions saving equivalent to 0.5 to 2.8 years of CO2 emissions at current levels. However, more complete reporting of global HFC emissions is required, as less than half of global emissions are currently accounted for.Natural Environment Research Council (Great Britain) (Advanced Research Fellowship NE/I021365/1)United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Upper Atmospheric Research Program Grant NNX11AF17G)United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administratio

Piperacillin-Tazobactam versus Other Antibacterial Agents for Treatment of Bloodstream Infections Due to AmpC β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae

In vivo induction of AmpC beta-lactamases produces high-level resistance to many beta-lactam antibiotics in Enterobacteriaceae, often resulting in the need to use carbapenems or cefepime (FEP). The clinical effectiveness of piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP), a weak inducer of AmpC beta-lactamases, is poorly understood. Here, we conducted a case-control study of adult inpatients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to Enterobacter, Serratia, or Citrobacter species from 2009 to 2015 to assess outcomes following treatment with TZP compared to FEP or meropenem (MEM). We collected clinical data and screened all isolates for the presence of ampC alleles by PCR. Primary study outcomes were 30-day mortality and persistent bacteremia at \u3e/=72 h from the time of treatment initiation. Of 493 patients with bacteremia, 165 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 88 were treated with TZP and 77 with FEP or MEM. To minimize differences between covariates, we carried out propensity score matching, which yielded 41 matched pairs. Groups only differed by age, with patients in the TZP group significantly older (P = 0.012). There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality, persistent bacteremia, 7-day mortality, or treatment escalation between the two treatment groups, including in the propensity score-matched cohort. PCR amplification and sequencing of ampC genes revealed the presence of ampC in isolates with cefoxitin MICs below 16 mug/ml, in particular in Serratia spp., and demonstrated that these alleles were highly genetically diverse. Taken together, TZP may be a valuable treatment option for BSIs due to AmpC beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, diminishing the need for broader-spectrum agents. Future studies are needed to validate these findings

Decoherence in Josephson Qubits from Dielectric Loss

Dielectric loss from two-level states is shown to be a dominant decoherence source in superconducting quantum bits. Depending on the qubit design, dielectric loss from insulating materials or the tunnel junction can lead to short coherence times. We show that a variety of microwave and qubit measurements are well modeled by loss from resonant absorption of two-level defects. Our results demonstrate that this loss can be significantly reduced by using better dielectrics and fabricating junctions of small area $\lesssim 10 \mu \textrm{m}^2$. With a redesigned phase qubit employing low-loss dielectrics, the energy relaxation rate has been improved by a factor of 20, opening up the possibility of multi-qubit gates and algorithms.Comment: shortened version submitted to PR