2,617 research outputs found
Vanishing Cosmological Constant in Modified Gauss-Bonnet Gravity with Conformal Anomaly
We consider dark energy cosmology in a de Sitter universe filled with quantum
conformal matter. Our model represents a Gauss-Bonnet model of gravity with
contributions from quantum effects. To the General Relativity action an
arbitrary function of the GB invariant, f(G), is added, and taking into account
quantum effects from matter the cosmological constant is studied. For the
considered model the conditions for a vanishing cosmological constant are
considered. Creation of a de Sitter universe by quantum effects in a GB
modified gravity is discussed.Comment: 8 pages latex, 1 figure. To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
Simulated Galactic methanol maser distribution to constrain Milky Way parameters
Using trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions of masers associated with
massive young stars, the Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy (BeSSeL) survey has
reported the most accurate values of the Galactic parameters so far. The
determination of these parameters with high accuracy has a widespread impact on
Galactic and extragalactic measurements. This research is aimed at establishing
the confidence with which such parameters can be determined. This is relevant
for the data published in the context of the BeSSeL survey collaboration, but
also for future observations, in particular from the Southern Hemisphere. In
addition, some astrophysical properties of the masers can be constrained,
notably the luminosity function. We have simulated the population of
maser-bearing young stars associated with Galactic spiral structure, generating
several samples and comparing them with the observed samples used in the BeSSeL
survey. Consequently, we checked the determination of Galactic parameters for
observational biases introduced by the sample selection. Galactic parameters
obtained by the BeSSeL survey do not seem to be biased by the sample selection
used. In fact, the published error estimates appear to be conservative for most
of the parameters. We show that future BeSSeL data and future observations with
Southern arrays will improve the Galactic parameters estimates and smoothly
reduce their mutual correlation. Moreover, by modeling future parallax data
with larger distance and, thus, greater relative uncertainties for a larger
numbers of sources, we found that parallax-distance biasing is an important
issue. Hence, using fractional parallax uncertainty in the weighting of the
motion data is imperative. Finally, the luminosity function for 6.7 GHz
methanol masers was determined, allowing us to estimate the number of Galactic
methanol masers.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. Language edition include
Testing collinear factorization and nuclear parton distributions with pA collisions at the LHC
Global perturbative QCD analyses, based on large data sets from
electron-proton and hadron collider experiments, provide tight constraints on
the parton distribution function (PDF) in the proton. The extension of these
analyses to nuclear parton distributions (nPDF) has attracted much interest in
recent years. nPDFs are needed as benchmarks for the characterization of hot
QCD matter in nucleus-nucleus collisions, and attract further interest since
they may show novel signatures of non- linear density-dependent QCD evolution.
However, it is not known from first principles whether the factorization of
long-range phenomena into process-independent parton distribution, which
underlies global PDF extractions for the proton, extends to nuclear effects. As
a consequence, assessing the reliability of nPDFs for benchmark calculations
goes beyond testing the numerical accuracy of their extraction and requires
phenomenological tests of the factorization assumption. Here we argue that a
proton-nucleus collision program at the LHC would provide a set of measurements
allowing for unprecedented tests of the factorization assumption underlying
global nPDF fits.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Tachyon fields with effects of quantum matter in an Anti-de Sitter Universe
We consider an Anti-de Sitter universe filled by quantum conformal matter
with the contribution from the usual tachyon and a perfect fluid. The model
represents the combination of a trace-anomaly annihilated and a tachyon driven
Anti-de Sitter universe. The influence exerted by the quantum effects and by
the tachyon on the AdS space is studied. The radius corresponding to this
universe is calculated and the effect of the tachyon potential is discussed, in
particular, concerning to the possibility to get an accelerated scale factor
for the proposed model (implying an accelerated expansion of the AdS type of
universe). Fulfillment of the cosmological energy conditions in the model is
also investigatedComment: 14 Latex pages, no figure
Exploring Commercial Counter-UAS Operations: A Case Study of the 2017 Dominican Republic Festival Presidente
The proliferation of commercial off-the-shelf unmanned aircraft technology has resulted in a growing number of illicit or hazardous UAS activities, highlighting the growing need for effective counter-UAS mitigations. The purpose of this exploratory research is to develop a better understanding of the existing tactics, techniques, procedures involved in counter-UAS operations. Using a critical paradigm approach, the authors conducted a qualitative, unstructured interview with counter-UAS professionals. The authors sought to identify mission planning considerations, counter-UAS engagement tasks, and unanticipated conditions associated with performing a commercial [non-military] counter-UAS mission. The authors codified 11 key mission planning tasks and a 22-step engagement process by which one organization effected counter-UAS operations at a contracted, international event. The authors conclude that the study’s findings underscore existing vulnerabilities to UAS threats and the accompanying need for additional research in this field of UAS security
Tentaculites dacrioconáridos en el Sinforma de Alcañices (prov. de Zamora)
[Resumen] El Sinforme de Alcañices es una estructura situada al NW. de la provincia de Zamora, la cual presenta una sucesiĂłn silĂşrico-devĂłnica datada mediante Graptolites y Conodontos. Las aportaciones de tipo paleontolĂłgico en esta sucesiĂłn han sido muy escasas hasta ahora y como consecuencia la edad de las capas más altas es mal conocida. La presencia de Conodontos indicaba la existencia de un DevĂłnico inferior que llegaba con ciertas dudas al Emsiense superior. El hallazgo de Tentaculites Dacrioconáridos permite demostrar que, al menos, la sucesiĂłn devĂłnica alcanzarĂa con toda claridad el Emsiense superior (Dalejiense)
Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and liver cirrhosis
Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a polypeptide hormone secreted
by multiple tissues in response to growth hormone (GH). It
is partly responsible for GH activity, and also has glucose-lowering
and anabolizing effects. Ninety percent of circulating IGF-I originates
in the liver and has autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine effects,
the latter on multiple tissues. Liver cirrhosis results in a progressive
decline of hepatic IGF-I output, and this factor may
become undetectable in advanced disease. Some cirrhosis complications,
mainly those nutritional and metabolic in nature (insuline
resistance, malnutrition, osteopenia, hypogonadism, intestinal disorders),
may be at least partly related to this IGF-I deficiency, since
some IGF-I effects represent a reverse image of cirrhosis complications.
Despite this, IGF-I replacement therapy has been never
suggested for cirrhosis. A number of experimental studies in cirrhotic
rats showed that therapy using low-dose recombinant IGF-I
exerts two types of effect on experimental cirrhosis: a) liver improvement
driven by improved hepatocellular function, portal hypertension,
and liver fibrosis; and b) cirrhosis-related extrahepatic disorder
improvement driven by improved food efficiency, muscle
mass, bone mass, gonadal function and structure, and intestinal
function and structure, with a normalization of sugar and amino
acid malabsorption, and improved intstinal barrier function, manifested
by reduced endotoxemia and bacterial translocation. Subsequently,
the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot
clinical trial in a small number of cirrhotic patients showed
increased serum albumin and improved energy metabolism as a
result of IGF-I use. Further clinical trials are needed to identify adequate
IGF-I doses, administration duration and frequency, and the
subgroup of cirrhotic patients who will benefit most from this replacement
therapy
Overview of the JET results in support to ITER
The 2014–2016 JET results are reviewed in the light of their significance for optimising
the ITER research plan for the active and non-active operation. More than 60 h of plasma
operation with ITER first wall materials successfully took place since its installation in
2011. New multi-machine scaling of the type I-ELM divertor energy flux density to ITER
is supported by first principle modelling. ITER relevant disruption experiments and first
principle modelling are reported with a set of three disruption mitigation valves mimicking
the ITER setup. Insights of the L–H power threshold in Deuterium and Hydrogen are given,
stressing the importance of the magnetic configurations and the recent measurements of
fine-scale structures in the edge radial electric. Dimensionless scans of the core and pedestal
confinement provide new information to elucidate the importance of the first wall material on
the fusion performance. H-mode plasmas at ITER triangularity (H = 1 at βN ~ 1.8 and n/nGW
~ 0.6) have been sustained at 2 MA during 5 s. The ITER neutronics codes have been validated
on high performance experiments. Prospects for the coming D–T campaign and 14 MeV
neutron calibration strategy are reviewed.European Commission (EUROfusion 633053
A Tale of Two Animats: What does it take to have goals?
What does it take for a system, biological or not, to have goals? Here, this
question is approached in the context of in silico artificial evolution. By
examining the informational and causal properties of artificial organisms
('animats') controlled by small, adaptive neural networks (Markov Brains), this
essay discusses necessary requirements for intrinsic information, autonomy, and
meaning. The focus lies on comparing two types of Markov Brains that evolved in
the same simple environment: one with purely feedforward connections between
its elements, the other with an integrated set of elements that causally
constrain each other. While both types of brains 'process' information about
their environment and are equally fit, only the integrated one forms a causally
autonomous entity above a background of external influences. This suggests that
to assess whether goals are meaningful for a system itself, it is important to
understand what the system is, rather than what it does.Comment: This article is a contribution to the FQXi 2016-2017 essay contest
"Wandering Towards a Goal
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