210 research outputs found
Using Scalars to Probe Theories of Low Scale Quantum Gravity
Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos and Dvali have recently suggested that gravity may
become strong at energies near 1 TeV which would remove the hierarchy problem.
Such a scenario can be tested at present and future colliders since the
exchange of towers of Kaluza-Klein gravitons leads to a set of new dimension-8
operators that can play important phenomenological roles. In this paper we
examine how the production of pairs of scalars at , and
hadron colliders can be used to further probe the effects of graviton tower
exchange. In particular we examine the tree-level production of pairs of
identical Higgs fields which occurs only at the loop level in both the Standard
Model and its extension to the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Cross
sections for such processes are found to be potentially large at the LHC and
the next generation of linear colliders. For the case the role
of polarization in improving sensitivity to graviton exchange is emphasized.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figures, latex, remarks added to tex
Who Will Show? Predicting Missed Visits Among Patients in Routine HIV Primary Care in the United States
Missed HIV medical visits predict poor clinical outcomes. We sought to identify patients at high risk of missing visits. We analyzed 2002â2014 data from six large US HIV clinics. At each visit, we predicted the likelihood of missing the next scheduled visit using demographic, clinical, and patient-reported psychosocial variables. Overall, 10,374 participants contributed 105,628 HIV visits. For 17% of visits, the next scheduled appointment was missed. The strongest predictor of a future missed visit was past-year missed visits. A model with only this predictor had area under the receiver operator curve = 0.65; defining âhigh riskâ as those with any past-year missed visits had 73% sensitivity and 51% specificity in correctly identifying a future missed visit. Inclusion of other clinical and psychosocial predictors only slightly improved performance. Past visit attendance can identify those at increased risk for future missed visits, allowing for proactive allocation of resources to those at greatest risk
Towards a Realistic Neutron Star Binary Inspiral: Initial Data and Multiple Orbit Evolution in Full General Relativity
This paper reports on our effort in modeling realistic astrophysical neutron
star binaries in general relativity. We analyze under what conditions the
conformally flat quasiequilibrium (CFQE) approach can generate
``astrophysically relevant'' initial data, by developing an analysis that
determines the violation of the CFQE approximation in the evolution of the
binary described by the full Einstein theory. We show that the CFQE assumptions
significantly violate the Einstein field equations for corotating neutron stars
at orbital separations nearly double that of the innermost stable circular
orbit (ISCO) separation, thus calling into question the astrophysical relevance
of the ISCO determined in the CFQE approach. With the need to start numerical
simulations at large orbital separation in mind, we push for stable and long
term integrations of the full Einstein equations for the binary neutron star
system. We demonstrate the stability of our numerical treatment and analyze the
stringent requirements on resolution and size of the computational domain for
an accurate simulation of the system.Comment: 22 pages, 18 figures, accepted to Phys. Rev.
Bianchi Type V Viscous Fluid Cosmological Models in Presence of Decaying Vacuum Energy
Bianchi type V viscous fluid cosmological model for barotropic fluid
distribution with varying cosmological term is investigated. We have
examined a cosmological scenario proposing a variation law for Hubble parameter
in the background of homogeneous, anisotropic Bianchi type V space-time.
The model isotropizes asymptotically and the presence of shear viscosity
accelerates the isotropization. The model describes a unified expansion history
of the universe indicating initial decelerating expansion and late time
accelerating phase. Cosmological consequences of the model are also discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Dynamic Evolution Model of Isothermal Voids and Shocks
We explore self-similar hydrodynamic evolution of central voids embedded in
an isothermal gas of spherical symmetry under the self-gravity. More
specifically, we study voids expanding at constant radial speeds in an
isothermal gas and construct all types of possible void solutions without or
with shocks in surrounding envelopes. We examine properties of void boundaries
and outer envelopes. Voids without shocks are all bounded by overdense shells
and either inflows or outflows in the outer envelope may occur. These
solutions, referred to as type void solutions, are further
divided into subtypes and
according to their characteristic behaviours across the sonic critical line
(SCL). Void solutions with shocks in envelopes are referred to as type
voids and can have both dense and quasi-smooth edges.
Asymptotically, outflows, breezes, inflows, accretions and static outer
envelopes may all surround such type voids. Both cases of
constant and varying temperatures across isothermal shock fronts are analyzed;
they are referred to as types and
void shock solutions. We apply the `phase net matching procedure' to construct
various self-similar void solutions. We also present analysis on void
generation mechanisms and describe several astrophysical applications. By
including self-gravity, gas pressure and shocks, our isothermal self-similar
void (ISSV) model is adaptable to various astrophysical systems such as
planetary nebulae, hot bubbles and superbubbles in the interstellar medium as
well as supernova remnants.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figuers, accepted by ApS
Large Extra Dimensions and Decaying KK Recurrences
We suggest the possibility that in ADD type brane-world scenarios, the higher
KK excitations of the graviton may decay to lower ones owing to a breakdown of
the conservation of extra dimensional ``momenta'' and study its implications
for astrophysics and cosmology. We give an explicit realization of this idea
with a bulk scalar field , whose nonzero KK modes acquire vacuum
expectation values. This scenario helps to avoid constraints on large extra
dimensions that come from gamma ray flux bounds in the direction of nearby
supernovae as well as those coming from diffuse cosmological gamma ray
background. It also relaxes the very stringent limits on reheat temperature of
the universe in ADD models.Comment: 16 pages, late
Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use Disorders Among HIV Care Enrollees in the United States
Prior efforts to estimate U.S. prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in HIV care have been undermined by caveats common to single-site trials. The current work reports on a cohort of 10,652 HIV-positive adults linked to care at seven sites, with available patient data including geography, demography, and risk factor indices, and with substance-specific SUDs identified via self-report instruments with validated diagnostic thresholds. Generalized estimating equations also tested patient indices as SUD predictors. Findings were: (1) a 48 % SUD prevalence rate (between-site range of 21â71 %), with 20 % of the sample evidencing polysubstance use disorder; (2) substance-specific SUD rates of 31 % for marijuana, 19 % alcohol, 13 % methamphetamine, 11 % cocaine, and 4 % opiate; and (3) emergence of younger age and male gender as robust SUD predictors. Findings suggest high rates at which SUDs occur among patients at these urban HIV care sites, detail substance-specific SUD rates, and identify at-risk patient subgroups
Influence of Substance Use Disorders on 2-Year HIV Care Retention in the United States
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are thought to predict care discontinuity, though magnitude and substance-specific variance of effects are unclear. This report of analytic work undertaken with a multi-regional American cohort of 9153 care enrollees addresses these gaps. Care retention was computed from 24-month post-linkage clinic visit documentation, with SUD cases identified from patient-report screening instruments. Two generalized estimating equations tested binary and hierarchial SUD predictors of retention, and potential effect modification by patient age-group, sex, and care site. Findings demonstrate: (1) detrimental SUD effect, equivalent to a nine percentage-point decrease in retention, with independent effects of age-group and care site; (2) substance-specific effect of marijuana UD associated with lower retention; and (3) age-modification of each effect on care discontinuity, with SUDs serving as a risk factor among 18â29 year-olds and protective factor among 60+ year-olds. Collective findings document patient attributes as influences that place particular subgroups at-risk to discontinue care
Prospects for Constraining Cosmology with the Extragalactic Cosmic Microwave Background Temperature
Observers have demonstrated that it is now feasible to measure the cosmic
microwave background (CMB) temperature at high redshifts. We explore the
possible constraints on cosmology which might ultimately be derived from such
measurements. Besides providing a consistency check on standard and alternative
cosmologies, possibilities include: constraints on the inhomogeneity and
anisotropy of the universe at intermediate redshift ; an
independent probe of peculiar motions with respect to the Hubble flow; and
constraining the epoch of reionization. We argue that the best possibility is
as a probe of peculiar motions. We show, however, that the current measurement
uncertainty (K) in the local present absolute CMB
temperature imposes intrinsic limits on the use of such CMB temperature
measurements as a cosmological probe. At best, anisotropies at intermediate
redshift could only be constrained at a level of and peculiar
motions could only be determined to an uncertainty of km
s. If the high CMB temperature can only be measured with a precision
comparable to the uncertainty of the local interstellar CMB temperature, then
peculiar motions could be determined to an uncertainty of .Comment: 8 pages 2 Figures, PRD Submitte
Risk factors for atrial fibrillation in a multicenter United States clinical cohort of people with HIV infection
To assess atrial fibrillation risk factors in people with HIV, we identified incident atrial fibrillation in a large clinical cohort of people receiving care. Compared with 970 controls without atrial fibrillation, the 97 with adjudicated incident atrial fibrillation were older, less likely Hispanic, and had more coronary disease, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In multivariable analysis, nonuse of antiretroviral therapy and prescription of antiretroviral regimens with multiple core agents were associated with increased atrial fibrillation risk
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