859 research outputs found
Density-clustering of continuous gravitational wave candidates from large surveys
Searches for continuous gravitational waves target nearly monochromaticgravitational wave emission from e.g. non-axysmmetric fast-spinning neutronstars. Broad surveys often require to explicitly search for a very large numberof different waveforms, easily exceeding templates. In suchcases, for practical reasons, only the top, say , results aresaved and followed-up through a hierarchy of stages. Most of these candidatesare not completely independent of neighbouring ones, but arise due to somecommon cause: a fluctuation, a signal or a disturbance. By judiciouslyclustering together candidates stemming from the same root cause, thesubsequent follow-ups become more effective. A number of clustering algorithmshave been employed in past searches based on iteratively finding symmetric andcompact over-densities around candidates with high detection statistic values.The new clustering method presented in this paper is a significant improvementover previous methods: it is agnostic about the shape of the over-densities, isvery efficient and it is effective: at a very high detection efficiency, it hasa noise rejection of , is capable of clustering two orders ofmagnitude more candidates than attainable before and, at fixed sensitivity itenables more than a factor of 30 faster follow-ups. We also demonstrate how tooptimally choose the clustering parameters.<br
Recent advances in drug discovery for diabetic kidney disease
Introduction: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and 40% of patients with diabetes develop DKD. Although some pathophysiological mechanisms and drug targets of DKD have been described, the effectiveness or clinical usefulness of such treatment has not been well validated. Therefore, searching for new targets and potential therapeutic candidates has become an emerging research area. Areas covered: The pathophysiological mechanisms, new drug targets and potential therapeutic compounds for DKD are addressed in this review. Expert opinion: Although preclinical and clinical evidence has shown some positive results for controlling DKD progression, treatment regimens have not been well developed to reduce the mortality in patients with DKD globally. Therefore, the discovery of new therapeutic targets and effective target-based drugs to achieve better and safe treatment are urgently required. Preclinical screening and clinical trials for such drugs are needed
Effect on gastric function and symptoms of drinking wine, black tea, or schnapps with a Swiss cheese fondue: randomised controlled crossover trial
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of drinking white wine or black tea with Swiss cheese fondue followed by a shot of cherry schnapps on gastric emptying, appetite, and abdominal symptoms.
DESIGN: Randomised controlled crossover study.
PARTICIPANTS: 20 healthy adults (14 men) aged 23-58.
INTERVENTIONS: Cheese fondue (3260 kJ, 32% fat) labelled with 150 mg sodium (13)Carbon-octanoate was consumed with 300 ml of white wine (13%, 40 g alcohol) or black tea in randomised order, followed by 20 ml schnapps (40%, 8 g alcohol) or water in randomised order.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative percentage dose of (13)C substrate recovered over four hours (higher values indicate faster gastric emptying) and appetite and dyspeptic symptoms (visual analogue scales).
RESULTS: Gastric emptying was significantly faster when fondue was consumed with tea or water than with wine or schnapps (cumulative percentage dose of (13)C recovered 18.1%, 95% confidence interval 15.2% to 20.9% v 7.4%, 4.6% to 10.3%; P<0.001). An inverse dose-response relation between alcohol intake and gastric emptying was evident. Appetite was similar with consumption of wine or tea (difference 0.11, -0.12 to 0.34; P=0.35), but reduced if both wine and schnapps were consumed (difference -0.40, -0.01 to -0.79; P<0.046). No difference in dyspeptic symptoms was present.
CONCLUSIONS: Gastric emptying after a Swiss cheese fondue is noticeably slower and appetite suppressed if consumed with higher doses of alcohol. This effect was not associated with dyspeptic symptoms.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00943696
Magnetoresistance of a two-dimensional electron gas with spatially periodic lateral modulations: Exact consequences of Boltzmann's equation
On the basis of Boltzmann's equation, and including anisotropic scattering in
the collision operator, we investigate the effect of one-dimensional
superlattices on two-dimensional electron systems. In addition to superlattices
defined by static electric and magnetic fields, we consider mobility
superlattices describing a spatially modulated density of scattering centers.
We prove that magnetic and electric superlattices in -direction affect only
the resistivity component if the mobility is homogeneous, whereas a
mobility lattice in -direction in the absence of electric and magnetic
modulations affects only . Solving Boltzmann's equation numerically,
we calculate the positive magnetoresistance in weak magnetic fields and the
Weiss oscillations in stronger fields within a unified approach.Comment: submitted to PR
Hemispheric and large-scale land surface air temperature variations: An extensive revision and an update to 2010
Living with a diagnosis of behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia: The personâs experience.
YesResearch investigating behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia has concentrated on identifying and quantifying peopleâs difficulties; yet few studies have considered how people with behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia make sense of their difficulties. Five participants were interviewed and interpretive phenomenological analysis used to analyse the data. Two superordinate themes emerged: âBewildermentâ and âRelationships with othersâ. âBewildermentâ reflected the feelings of the participants from the start of their dementia, and was divided into two main themes (1) âAwareness of change: Whatâs the problem? and (2) Threats to self: This is not me. The superordinate theme, âRelationships with othersâ, reflected difficulties with social relationships and comprised two main themes (1) âFamily and friends: Things havenât changed⊠but do I say anything wrong?â and (2) Coping with threats to self: Blame others or just avoid them. The themes were discussed in relation to literature evaluating the difficulties associated with behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia together with implications for clinical practice
Weiss Oscillations in Surface Acoustic Wave Propagation
The interaction of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) with a a two-dimensional
electron gas in a periodic electric potential and a classical magnetic field is
considered. We calculate the attenuation of the SAW and its velocity change and
show that these quantities exhibit Weiss oscillations.Comment: 4 pages REVTEX, 2 figures included as eps file
Guiding center picture of magnetoresistance oscillations in rectangular superlattices
We calculate the magneto-resistivities of a two-dimensional electron gas
subjected to a lateral superlattice (LSL) of rectangular symmetry within the
guiding-center picture, which approximates the classical electron motion as a
rapid cyclotron motion around a slowly drifting guiding center. We explicitly
evaluate the velocity auto-correlation function along the trajectories of the
guiding centers, which are equipotentials of a magnetic-field dependent
effective LSL potential. The existence of closed equipotentials may lead to a
suppression of the commensurability oscillations, if the mean free path and the
LSL modulation potential are large enough. We present numerical and analytical
results for this suppression, which allow, in contrast to previous quantum
arguments, a classical explanation of similar suppression effects observed
experimentally on square-symmetric LSL. Furthermore, for rectangular LSLs of
lower symmetry they lead us to predict a strongly anisotropic resistance
tensor, with high- and low-resistance directions which can be interchanged by
tuning the externally applied magnetic field.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure
Planar cyclotron motion in unidirectional superlattices defined by strong magnetic and electric fields: Traces of classical orbits in the energy spectrum
We compare the quantum and the classical description of the two-dimensional
motion of electrons subjected to a perpendicular magnetic field and a
one-dimensional lateral superlattice defined by spatially periodic magnetic and
electric fields of large amplitudes. We explain in detail the complicated
energy spectra, consisting of superimposed branches of strong and of weak
dispersion, by the correspondence between the respective eigenstates and the
``channeled'' and ``drifting'' orbits of the classical description.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, to appear in Physical Review
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