One-Step Recurrences for Stationary Random Fields on the Sphere

Recurrences for positive definite functions in terms of the space dimension have been used in several fields of applications. Such recurrences typically relate to properties of the system of special functions characterizing the geometry of the underlying space. In the case of the sphere ${\mathbb S}^{d-1} \subset {\mathbb R}^d$ the (strict) positive definiteness of the zonal function $f(\cos \theta)$ is determined by the signs of the coefficients in the expansion of $f$ in terms of the Gegenbauer polynomials $\{C^\lambda_n\}$, with $\lambda=(d-2)/2$. Recent results show that classical differentiation and integration applied to $f$ have positive definiteness preserving properties in this context. However, in these results the space dimension changes in steps of two. This paper develops operators for zonal functions on the sphere which preserve (strict) positive definiteness while moving up and down in the ladder of dimensions by steps of one. These fractional operators are constructed to act appropriately on the Gegenbauer polynomials $\{C^\lambda_n\}$

Out- versus in-plane magnetic anisotropy of free Fe and Co nanocrystals: tight-binding and first-principles studies

We report tight-binding (TB) and Density Function Theory (DFT) calculations of magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) of free Fe (body centerd cubic) and Co (face centered cubic) slabs and nanocrystals. The nanocrystals are truncated square pyramids which can be obtained experimentally by deposition of metal on a SrTiO$_3$(001) substrate. For both elements our local analysis shows that the total MAE of the nanocrystals is largely dominated by the contribution of (001) facets. However, while the easy axis of Fe(001) is out-of-plane, it is in-plane for Co(001). This has direct consequences on the magnetic reversal mechanism of the nanocrystals. Indeed, the very high uniaxial anisotropy of Fe nanocrystals makes them a much better potential candidate for magnetic storage devices.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Detecting transient gravitational waves in non-Gaussian noise with partially redundant analysis methods

There is a broad class of astrophysical sources that produce detectable, transient, gravitational waves. Some searches for transient gravitational waves are tailored to known features of these sources. Other searches make few assumptions about the sources. Typically events are observable with multiple search techniques. This work describes how to combine the results of searches that are not independent, treating each search as a classifier for a given event. This will be shown to improve the overall sensitivity to gravitational-wave events while directly addressing the problem of consistent interpretation of multiple trials.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome, Endothelial Function and Markers of Endothelialization. Changes after CPAP

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study tries to assess the endothelial function in vivo using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and several biomarkers of endothelium formation/restoration and damage in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome at baseline and after three months with CPAP therapy. DESIGN: Observational study, before and after CPAP therapy. SETTING AND PATIENTS: We studied 30 patients with apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) >15/h that were compared with themselves after three months of CPAP therapy. FMD was assessed non-invasively in vivo using the Laser-Doppler flowmetry. Circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) and microparticles (MPs) were measured as markers of endothelial damage and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was determined as a marker of endothelial restoration process. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: After three month with CPAP, FMD significantly increased (1072.26 ± 483.21 vs. 1604.38 ± 915.69 PU, p< 0.005) cf-DNA and MPs significantly decreased (187.93 ± 115.81 vs. 121.28 ± 78.98 pg/ml, p<0.01, and 69.60 ± 62.60 vs. 39.82 ± 22.14 U/μL, p<0.05, respectively) and VEGF levels increased (585.02 ± 246.06 vs. 641.11 ± 212.69 pg/ml, p<0.05). These changes were higher in patients with more severe disease. There was a relationship between markers of damage (r = -0.53, p<0.005) but not between markers of damage and restoration, thus suggesting that both types of markers should be measured together. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP therapy improves FMD. This improvement may be related to an increase of endothelial restoration process and a decrease of endothelial damage

Sensitivity analysis of surface ozone to modified initial and boundary conditions in both rural and industrial zones

International audienceA three-dimensional air quality model based on a set of chemical species mass conservation equations describes the time evolution of chemical species in the atmosphere. In order to solve this set of equations, proper choices of initial and boundary conditions are needed. Ideally, initial and boundary conditions should be determined on the basis of observations. However, since such high-resolution observations are generally not available, it becomes necessary to use other information sources to specify the initial and boundary values. The fact that both the initial and the boundary conditions are specified with some degree of presumption makes it important to evaluate their influence in the model results. In this paper we present a study of the impact of initial and boundary concentrations on the modelled surface ozone concentration over two environments: Huelva and Badajoz, an industrial and a rural zone, respectively. The impacts are analysed for the same meteorological period (10?15 August 2003)

Swallowing Activity Assessed by Ambulatory Impedance-pH Monitoring Predicts Awake and Asleep Periods at Night

Introduction: Voluntary muscle activity, including swallowing, decreases during the night. The association between nocturnal awakenings and swallowing activity is under-researched with limited information on the frequency of swallows during awake and asleep periods. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess nocturnal swallowing activity and identify a cut-off predicting awake and asleep periods. Methods: Patients undergoing impedance-pH monitoring as part of GERD work-up were asked to wear a wrist activity detecting device (Actigraph®) at night. Swallowing activity was quantified by analysing impedance changes in the proximal esophagus. Awake and asleep periods were determined using a validated scoring system (Sadeh algorithm). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses were performed to determine sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of swallowing frequency to identify awake and asleep periods. Results: Data from 76 patients (28male, 48 female; mean age 56±15years) were included in the analysis. The ROC analysis found that 0.33sw/min (i.e. one swallow every 3min) had the optimal sensitivity (78%) and specificity (76%) to differentiate awake from asleep periods. A swallowing frequency of 0.25sw/min (i.e. one swallow every 4min) was 93% sensitive and 57% specific to identify awake periods. A swallowing frequency of 1sw/min was 20% sensitive but 96% specific in identifying awake periods. Summary and Conclusion: Impedance-pH monitoring detects differences in swallowing activity during awake and asleep periods. Swallowing frequency noticed during ambulatory impedance-pH monitoring can predict the state of consciousness during nocturnal period

Likelihood-ratio ranking of gravitational-wave candidates in a non-Gaussian background

We describe a general approach to detection of transient gravitational-wave signals in the presence of non-Gaussian background noise. We prove that under quite general conditions, the ratio of the likelihood of observed data to contain a signal to the likelihood of it being a noise fluctuation provides optimal ranking for the candidate events found in an experiment. The likelihood-ratio ranking allows us to combine different kinds of data into a single analysis. We apply the general framework to the problem of unifying the results of independent experiments and the problem of accounting for non-Gaussian artifacts in the searches for gravitational waves from compact binary coalescence in LIGO data. We show analytically and confirm through simulations that in both cases the likelihood ratio statistic results in an improved analysis.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure