3,630 research outputs found
Observational and theoretical studies of the evolving structure of baroclinic waves
Dynamical processes involved in comma cloud formation, and passive tracer evolution in a baroclinic wave are discussed. An analytical solution was obtained demonstrating the complex nongeostrophic flow pattern involved in the redistribution of low level constituents in a finite amplitude baroclinic wave, and in the formation of the typical humidity and cloud distributions in such a wave. Observational and theoretical studies of blocking weather patterns in middle latitude flows were studied. The differences in the energy and enstrophy cascades in blocking and nonblocking situations were shown. It was established that pronounced upscale flow of both of these quantities, from intermediate to planetary scales, occurs during blocking episodes. The upscale flux of enstrophy, in particular, suggests that the persistence of blocking periods may be due to reduced dissipation of the large scale circulation and therefore entail some above normal predictability
Families of Graphs with W_r({G},q) Functions That Are Nonanalytic at 1/q=0
Denoting as the chromatic polynomial for coloring an -vertex
graph with colors, and considering the limiting function , a fundamental question in graph theory is the
following: is analytic or not at the origin
of the plane? (where the complex generalization of is assumed). This
question is also relevant in statistical mechanics because
, where is the ground state entropy of the
-state Potts antiferromagnet on the lattice graph , and the
analyticity of at is necessary for the large- series
expansions of . Although is analytic at for many
, there are some for which it is not; for these, has no
large- series expansion. It is important to understand the reason for this
nonanalyticity. Here we give a general condition that determines whether or not
a particular is analytic at and explains the
nonanalyticity where it occurs. We also construct infinite families of graphs
with functions that are non-analytic at and investigate the
properties of these functions. Our results are consistent with the conjecture
that a sufficient condition for to be analytic at is
that is a regular lattice graph . (This is known not to be a
necessary condition).Comment: 22 pages, Revtex, 4 encapsulated postscript figures, to appear in
Phys. Rev.
Organisational interventions designed to reduce caesarean section rates: a systematic review protocol.
INTRODUCTION: There is a growing body of evidence to indicate that both primary and subsequent caesarean sections are associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity. Efforts to reduce the number of clinically unnecessary caesarean sections are urgently required. Our objective is to systematically review published evidence on the effectiveness of maternity service organisational interventions, such as models of maternity care, that aim to reduce caesarean section rates. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Databases will be searched, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, Maternity and Infant Care, EMBASE and SCOPUS. Search terms related to caesarean section and organisational intervention will be used. Research published before 1980 will be excluded and only randomised controlled trials, cluster-randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised controlled trials, controlled before and after studies and interrupted time series studies will be included. Data extraction and quality assessments will be undertaken by two authors. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required for this systematic review. The results of this study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication and presentation at professional conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016039458
Testing Linear-Invariant Non-Linear Properties
We consider the task of testing properties of Boolean functions that are
invariant under linear transformations of the Boolean cube. Previous work in
property testing, including the linearity test and the test for Reed-Muller
codes, has mostly focused on such tasks for linear properties. The one
exception is a test due to Green for "triangle freeness": a function
f:\cube^{n}\to\cube satisfies this property if do not all
equal 1, for any pair x,y\in\cube^{n}.
Here we extend this test to a more systematic study of testing for
linear-invariant non-linear properties. We consider properties that are
described by a single forbidden pattern (and its linear transformations), i.e.,
a property is given by points v_{1},...,v_{k}\in\cube^{k} and
f:\cube^{n}\to\cube satisfies the property that if for all linear maps
L:\cube^{k}\to\cube^{n} it is the case that do
not all equal 1. We show that this property is testable if the underlying
matroid specified by is a graphic matroid. This extends
Green's result to an infinite class of new properties.
Our techniques extend those of Green and in particular we establish a link
between the notion of "1-complexity linear systems" of Green and Tao, and
graphic matroids, to derive the results.Comment: This is the full version; conference version appeared in the
proceedings of STACS 200
The Kasteleyn model and a cellular automaton approach to traffic flow
We propose a bridge between the theory of exactly solvable models and the
investigation of traffic flow. By choosing the activities in an apropriate way
the dimer configurations of the Kasteleyn model on a hexagonal lattice can be
interpreted as space-time trajectories of cars. This then allows for a
calculation of the flow-density relationship (fundamental diagram). We further
introduce a closely-related cellular automaton model. This model can be viewed
as a variant of the Nagel-Schreckenberg model in which the cars do not have a
velocity memory. It is also exactly solvable and the fundamental diagram is
calculated.Comment: Latex, 13 pages including 3 ps-figure
Application of the Cluster Variation Method to Spin Ice Systems on the Pyrochlore Lattice
The cactus approximation in the cluster variation method is applied to the
spin ice system with nearest neighbor ferromagnetic coupling. The temperature
dependences of the entropy and the specific heat show qualitatively good
agreement with those observed by Monte Carlo simulations and experiments, and
the Pauling value is reproduced for the residual entropy. The analytic
expression of the q-dependent magnetic susceptibility is obtained, from which
the absence of magnetic phase transition is confirmed. The neutron scattering
pattern is also evaluated and found to be consistent with that obtained from
Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Exploring the properties of the phases of QCD matter - research opportunities and priorities for the next decade
This document provides a summary of the discussions during the recent joint
QCD Town Meeting at Temple University of the status of and future plans for the
research program of the relativistic heavy-ion community. A list of compelling
questions is formulated, and a number of recommendations outlining the greatest
research opportunities and detailing the research priorities of the heavy-ion
community, voted on and unanimously approved at the Town Meeting, are
presented. They are supported by a broad discussion of the underlying physics
and its relation to other subfields. Areas of overlapping interests with the
"QCD and Hadron Structure" ("cold QCD") subcommunity, in particular the
recommendation for the future construction of an Electron-Ion Collider, are
emphasized. The agenda of activities of the "hot QCD" subcommunity at the Town
Meeting is attached.Comment: 34 pages of text, 254 references,16 figure
Theory of tricriticality for miscut surfaces
We propose a theory for the observed tricriticality in the orientational
phase diagram of Si(113) misoriented towards [001]. The systems seems to be at
or close to a very special point for long range interactions.Comment: Revtex, 1 ps figur
Maternity service organisational interventions that aim to reduce caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analyses
Background
Caesarean sections (CSs) are associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity, yet rates continue to increase within most countries. Effective interventions are required to reduce the number of non-medically indicated CSs and improve outcomes for women and infants. This paper reports findings of a systematic review of literature related to maternity service organisational interventions that have a primary intention of improving CS rates.
Method
A three-phase search strategy was implemented to identify studies utilising organisational interventions to improve CS rates in maternity services. The database search (including Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Maternity and Infant Care, EMBASE and SCOPUS) was restricted to peer-reviewed journal articles published from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2017. Reference lists of relevant reviews and included studies were also searched. Primary outcomes were overall, planned, and unplanned CS rates. Secondary outcomes included a suite of birth outcomes. A series of meta-analyses were performed in RevMan, separated by type of organisational intervention and outcome of interest. Summary risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals were presented as the effect measure. Effect sizes were pooled using a random-effects model.
Results
Fifteen articles were included in the systematic review, nine of which were included in at least one meta-analysis. Results indicated that, compared with women allocated to usual care, women allocated to midwife-led models of care implemented across pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postnatal period were, on average, less likely to experience CS (overall) (average RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.96), planned CS (average RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.93), and episiotomy (average RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.95). Narratively, audit and feedback, and a hospital policy of mandatory second opinion for CS, were identified as interventions that have potential to reduce CS rates.
Conclusion
Maternity service leaders should consider the adoption of midwife-led models of care across the maternity episode within their organisations, particularly for women classified as low-risk. Additional studies are required that utilise either audit and feedback, or a hospital policy of mandatory second opinion for CS, to facilitate the quantification of intervention effects within future reviews
Ground State Entropy of Potts Antiferromagnets: Bounds, Series, and Monte Carlo Measurements
We report several results concerning , the
exponent of the ground state entropy of the Potts antiferromagnet on a lattice
. First, we improve our previous rigorous lower bound on for
the honeycomb (hc) lattice and find that it is extremely accurate; it agrees to
the first eleven terms with the large- series for . Second, we
investigate the heteropolygonal Archimedean lattice, derive a
rigorous lower bound, on , and calculate the large- series
for this function to where . Remarkably, these agree
exactly to all thirteen terms calculated. We also report Monte Carlo
measurements, and find that these are very close to our lower bound and series.
Third, we study the effect of non-nearest-neighbor couplings, focusing on the
square lattice with next-nearest-neighbor bonds.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, to appear in Phys. Rev.
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