3,896 research outputs found
Bianchi Type I Cosmology in N=2, D=5 Supergravity
The dynamics and evolution of Bianchi type I space-times is considered in the
framework of the four-dimensional truncation of a reduced theory obtained from
the N=2,D=5 supergravity. The general solution of the gravitational field
equations can be represented in an exact parametric form. All solutions have a
singular behavior at the initial/final moment, except when the space-time
geometry reduces to the isotropic flat case. Generically the obtained
cosmological models describe an anisotropic, expanding or collapsing, singular
Universe with a non-inflationary evolution for all times.Comment: revised version to appear in PR
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - Diagnostic Challenges in the Emergency Room
Introdução - SÃndroma maligna dos neurolépticos (SMN) é um efeito secundário raro potencialmente fatal destes fármacos.
Relato de caso - Sexo masculino, 18 anos, encefalopatia não progressiva, atraso global do desenvolvimento, epilepsia, perturbação
do comportamento (medicada com haloperidol).
Iniciou febre elevada, desidratação, hematemeses e hematúria. Apresentava hipertermia, taquicardia, polipneia, tensão
arterial instável, hipertonia generalizada e deterioração da consciência. Laboratorialmente destacava-se neutrofilia,
trom bocitopénia, proteÃna C reactiva ligeiramente aumentada, elevação da creatina-cinase, alterações hepáticas e renais.
Sépsis e SMN foram hipóteses de diagnóstico. Apesar da suspensão do haloperidol e inÃcio da terapêutica de suporte, ocorreu
agravamento progressivo e óbito.
Conclusão – Os antipsicóticos são frequentemente utilizados no atraso do desenvolvimento com alterações do comportamento.
Os efeitos adversos graves exigem elevado grau de suspeição e inÃcio rápido de terapêutica
A Pure View of Ecumenical Modalities
Recent works about ecumenical systems, where connectives from classical and intuitionistic logics can co-exist in peace, warmed the discussion on proof systems for combining logics. This discussion has been extended to alethic modalities using Simpson’s meta-logical characterization: necessity is independent of the viewer, while possibility can be either intuitionistic or classical. In this work, we propose a pure, label free calculus for ecumenical modalities, nEK, where exactly one logical operator figures in introduction rules and every basic object of the calculus can be read as a formula in the language of the ecumenical modal logic EK. We prove that nEK is sound and complete w.r.t. the ecumenical birelational semantics and discuss fragments and extensions
Municipal financial vulnerability in pandemic crises: a framework for analysis
Purpose: This paper explores how global pandemic crises affect the financial vulnerability of municipalities. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is developed from the relevant literature an analytical framework to examine municipal financial vulnerability before a global pandemic crisis and in its immediate aftermath by mapping and systematizing its dimensions and sources. To illustrate how it can be used and evaluate its robustness and flexibility, such a tool was applied to Portugal and Italy, two countries that particularly suffered from the Covid-19 crisis. Findings: The application of the analytical framework has shown how financially vulnerable municipalities are to global pandemic crises. Financial vulnerability relates to issues ranging from institutional design to internal financial conditions and the perception of the capacity to cope with a crisis. Results further reveal that vulnerability has an inherent contingent nature in time and space and can lead to paradoxical outcomes. Research limitations/implications: This paper provides a tool that can be useful for both academic and public policy purposes, to further appreciate municipal financial vulnerability, especially during crises. Practical implications: Municipalities can use the framework to better manage their financial vulnerability, strengthening their anticipatory and copying capacities, while oversight authorities can use it to help municipalities become less financially vulnerable or, at least, more aware of their financial vulnerability. Originality/value: Municipal financial vulnerability to global shocks has not been explored extensively. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic is different from previous global crises as it affected society overnight with the implementation of lockdown and social distancing measures
Hamilton-Jacobi formalism for Linearized Gravity
In this work we study the theory of linearized gravity via the
Hamilton-Jacobi formalism. We make a brief review of this theory and its
Lagrangian description, as well as a review of the Hamilton-Jacobi approach for
singular systems. Then we apply this formalism to analyze the constraint
structure of the linearized gravity in instant and front-form dynamics.Comment: To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit
The Matsubara-Fradkin Thermodynamical Quantization of Podolsky Electrodynamics
In this work we apply the Matsubara-Fradkin formalism and the Nakanishi's
auxiliary field method to the quantization of the Podolsky electrodynamics in
thermodynamic equilibrium. This approach allows us to write consistently the
path integral representation for the partition function of gauge theories in a
simple manner. Furthermore, we find the Dyson-Schwinger-Fradkin equations and
the Ward-Fradkin-Takahashi identities for the Podolsky theory. We also write
the most general form for the polarization tensor in thermodynamic equilibrium.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review
Fuzzy Logic Controller Scheme for Floor Vibration Control
© 2015 Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences. The design of civil engineering floors is increasingly being governed by their vibration serviceability performance. This trend is the result of advancements in design technologies offering designers greater flexibilities in realising more lightweight, longer span and more open-plan layouts. These floors are prone to excitation from human activities. The present research work looks at analytical studies of active vibration control on a case study floor prototype that has been specifically designed to be representative of a real office floor structure. Specifically, it looks at tuning fuzzy control gains with the aim of adapting them to measured structural responses under human excitation. Vibration mitigation performances are compared with those of a general velocity feedback controller, and these are found to be identical in these sets of studies. It is also found that slightly less control force is required for the fuzzy controller scheme at moderate to low response levels and as a result of the adaptive gain, at very low responses the control force is close to zero, which is a desirable control feature. There is also saturation in the peak gain with the fuzzy controller scheme, with this gain tending towards the optimal feedback gain of the direct velocity feedback (DVF) at high response levels for this fuzzy design.The authors would like to acknowledge the financial
assistance provided by the UK Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through a
responsive mode grant (Ref. EP/H009825/1), a Platform
Grant (Ref. EP/G061130/2) and a Leadership Fellowship
Grant (Ref. EP/J004081/2). Also acknowledged are the
British Council (UK) through the Researcher Links
programme and Brazilian institutions CNPq and CAPES
financial support
Bianchi I Quantum cosmology in the Bergmann-Wagoner theory
The Wheeler-DeWitt equation is considered in the context of generalized
scalar-tensor theories of gravitation for Bianchi type I cosmology. Exact
solutions are found for two selfinteracting potentials and arbitary coupling
function. The WKB wavefunctions are obtained and a family of solutions
satisfying the Hawking-Page regularity conditions of wormholes are found.Comment: 12 pages, Latex fil
An analysis of cosmological perturbations in hydrodynamical and field representations
Density fluctuations of fluids with negative pressure exhibit decreasing time
behaviour in the long wavelength limit, but are strongly unstable in the small
wavelength limit when a hydrodynamical approach is used. On the other hand, the
corresponding gravitational waves are well behaved. We verify that the
instabilities present in density fluctuations are due essentially to the
hydrodynamical representation; if we turn to a field representation that lead
to the same background behaviour, the instabilities are no more present. In the
long wavelength limit, both approachs give the same results. We show also that
this inequivalence between background and perturbative level is a feature of
negative pressure fluid. When the fluid has positive pressure, the
hydrodynamical representation leads to the same behaviour as the field
representation both at the background and perturbative levels.Comment: Latex file, 18 page
Was the GLE on May 17, 2012 linked with the M5.1-class flare the first in the 24th solar cycle?
On May 17, 2012 an M5.1-class flare exploded from the sun. An O-type coronal
mass ejection (CME) was also associated with this flare. There was an instant
increase in proton flux with peak at MeV, leading to S2 solar
radiation storm level. In about 20 minutes after the X-ray emission, the solar
particles reached the Earth.It was the source of the first (since December
2006) ground level enhancement (GLE) of the current solar cycle 24. The GLE was
detected by neutron monitors (NM) and other ground based detectors. Here we
present an observation by the Tupi muon telescopes (Niteroi, Brazil, , , 3 m above sea level) of the enhancement of muons at ground
level associated with this M5.1-class solar flare. The Tupi telescopes
registered a muon excess over background in the 5-min binning time
profile. The Tupi signal is studied in correlation with data obtained by
space-borne detectors (GOES, ACE), ground based neutron monitors (Oulu) and air
shower detectors (the IceTop surface component of the IceCube neutrino
observatory). We also report the observation of the muon signal possibly
associated with the CME/sheath striking the Earth magnetosphere on May 20,
2012. We show that the observed temporal correlation of the muon excess
observed by the Tupi muon telescopes with solar transient events suggests a
real physical connection between them. Our observation indicates that
combination of two factors, the low energy threshold of the Tupi muon
telescopes and the location of the Tupi experiment in the South Atlantic
Anomaly region, can be favorable in the study and detection of the solar
transient events. Our experiment provides new data complementary to other
techniques (space and ground based) in the study of solar physics.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure
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