970 research outputs found
The need for structured thoracic robotic training: the perspective of an American Association for Thoracic Surgery surgical robotic fellow
Since the initial experiences with robotic platforms in
thoracic surgery (1), the number of procedures performed
with this technique have continued to increase (2). Not
only have newer trainees demonstrated interest in the field,
but former open and VATS surgeons have also become
aware of the advantages that the robotic platform provides
(1,3). However, although some authors have implemented
robotic thoracic surgery safely (4,5) others still consider it
inefficient, citing the increased operative time (related to
the learning curve), the initial instrument cost, and the lack
of appropriate directed training (3)
The arctic curve of the domain-wall six-vertex model
The problem of the form of the `arctic' curve of the six-vertex model with
domain wall boundary conditions in its disordered regime is addressed. It is
well-known that in the scaling limit the model exhibits phase-separation, with
regions of order and disorder sharply separated by a smooth curve, called the
arctic curve. To find this curve, we study a multiple integral representation
for the emptiness formation probability, a correlation function devised to
detect spatial transition from order to disorder. We conjecture that the arctic
curve, for arbitrary choice of the vertex weights, can be characterized by the
condition of condensation of almost all roots of the corresponding saddle-point
equations at the same, known, value. In explicit calculations we restrict to
the disordered regime for which we have been able to compute the scaling limit
of certain generating function entering the saddle-point equations. The arctic
curve is obtained in parametric form and appears to be a non-algebraic curve in
general; it turns into an algebraic one in the so-called root-of-unity cases.
The arctic curve is also discussed in application to the limit shape of
-enumerated (with ) large alternating sign matrices. In
particular, as the limit shape tends to a nontrivial limiting curve,
given by a relatively simple equation.Comment: 39 pages, 2 figures; minor correction
First LOFAR results on galaxy clusters
Deep radio observations of galaxy clusters have revealed the existence of
diffuse radio sources related to the presence of relativistic electrons and
weak magnetic fields in the intracluster volume. The role played by this
non-thermal intracluster component on the thermodynamical evolution of galaxy
clusters is debated, with important implications for cosmological and
astrophysical studies of the largest gravitationally bound structures of the
Universe. The low surface brightness and steep spectra of diffuse cluster radio
sources make them more easily detectable at low-frequencies. LOFAR is the first
instrument able to detect diffuse radio emission in hundreds of massive galaxy
clusters up to their formation epoch. We present the first observations of
clusters imaged by LOFAR and the huge perspectives opened by this instrument
for non-thermal cluster studies.Comment: Proceedings of the 2012 week of the French Society of Astronomy and
Astrophysics (SF2A) held in Nice, June 5th-8t
Guidelines for training in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)
These "Guidelines for training in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance" were developed by the Certification Committee of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) and approved by the SCMR Board of Trustees
Green manure in coffee systems in the region of Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais: characteristics and kinetics of carbon and nitrogen mineralization.
The use of green manure may contribute to reduce soil erosion and increase the soil organic matter content and N availability in coffee plantations in the Zona da Mata, State of Minas Gerais, in Southeastern Brazil. The potential of four legumes (A. pintoi, C. mucunoides, S. aterrimum and S. guianensis)to produce above-ground
biomass, accumulate nutrients and mineralize N was studied in two coffee plantations of subsistence farmers under different climate conditions. The biomass production of C. mucunoides was influenced by the shade of the coffee plantation.C. mucunoides tended to mineralize more N than the other legumes due to the low polyphenol content and polyphenol/N ratio. In the first year, the crop establishment of A. pintoi in the area took longer than of the other legumes, resulting in lower biomass production and N2 fixation. In the long term, cellulose was the main
factor controlling N mineralization. The biochemical characteristics, nutrient accumulation and biomass production of the legumes were greatly influenced by
the altitude and position of the area relative to the sun
Magnetic Fields, Relativistic Particles, and Shock Waves in Cluster Outskirts
It is only now, with low-frequency radio telescopes, long exposures with
high-resolution X-ray satellites and gamma-ray telescopes, that we are
beginning to learn about the physics in the periphery of galaxy clusters. In
the coming years, Sunyaev-Zeldovich telescopes are going to deliver further
great insights into the plasma physics of these special regions in the
Universe. The last years have already shown tremendous progress with detections
of shocks, estimates of magnetic field strengths and constraints on the
particle acceleration efficiency. X-ray observations have revealed shock fronts
in cluster outskirts which have allowed inferences about the microphysical
structure of shocks fronts in such extreme environments. The best indications
for magnetic fields and relativistic particles in cluster outskirts come from
observations of so-called radio relics, which are megaparsec-sized regions of
radio emission from the edges of galaxy clusters. As these are difficult to
detect due to their low surface brightness, only few of these objects are
known. But they have provided unprecedented evidence for the acceleration of
relativistic particles at shock fronts and the existence of muG strength fields
as far out as the virial radius of clusters. In this review we summarise the
observational and theoretical state of our knowledge of magnetic fields,
relativistic particles and shocks in cluster outskirts.Comment: 34 pages, to be published in Space Science Review
Quasinormal modes for tensor and vector type perturbation of Gauss Bonnet black holes using third order WKB approach
We obtain the quasinormal modes for tensor perturbations of Gauss-Bonnet (GB)
black holes in dimensions and vector perturbations in
and 8 dimensions using third order WKB formalism. The tensor perturbation for
black holes in is not considered because of the fact that it is unstable
to tensor mode perturbations. In the case of uncharged GB black hole, for both
tensor and vector perturbations, the real part of the QN frequency increases as
the Gauss-Bonnet coupling () increases. The imaginary part first
decreases upto a certain value of and then increases with
for both tensor and vector perturbations. For larger values of , the
QN frequencies for vector perturbation differs slightly from the QN frequencies
for tensorial one. It has also been shown that as , the
quasinormal mode frequency for tensor and vector perturbation of the
Schwarzschild black hole can be obtained. We have also calculated the
quasinormal spectrum of the charged GB black hole for tensor perturbations.
Here we have found that the real oscillation frequency increases, while the
imaginary part of the frequency falls with the increase of the charge. We also
show that the quasinormal frequencies for scalar field perturbations and the
tensor gravitational perturbations do not match as was claimed in the
literature. The difference in the result increases if we increase the GB
coupling.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, change in title and abstract, new equations and
results added for QN frequencies for vector perturbations, new referencees
adde
Quasinormal modes from potentials surrounding the charged dilaton black hole
We clarify the purely imaginary quasinormal frequencies of a massless scalar
perturbation on the 3D charged-dilaton black holes. This case is quite
interesting because the potential-step appears outside the event horizon
similar to the case of the electromagnetic perturbations on the large
Schwarzschild-AdS black holes. It turns out that the potential-step type
provides the purely imaginary quasinormal frequencies, while the
potential-barrier type gives the complex quasinormal modes.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure
NMR and NQR Fluctuation Effects in Layered Superconductors
We study the effect of thermal fluctuations of the s-wave order parameter of
a quasi two dimensional superconductor on the nuclear spin relaxation rate near
the transition temperature Tc. We consider both the effects of the amplitude
fluctuations and the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase fluctuations
in weakly coupled layered superconductors. In the treatment of the amplitude
fluctuations we employ the Gaussian approximation and evaluate the longitudinal
relaxation rate 1/T1 for a clean s-wave superconductor, with and without pair
breaking effects, using the static pair fluctuation propagator D. The increase
in 1/T1 due to pair breaking in D is overcompensated by the decrease arising
from the single particle Green's functions. The result is a strong effect on
1/T1 for even a small amount of pair breaking. The phase fluctuations are
described in terms of dynamical BKT excitations in the form of pancake
vortex-antivortex (VA) pairs. We calculate the effect of the magnetic field
fluctuations caused by the translational motion of VA excitations on 1/T1 and
on the transverse relaxation rate 1/T2 on both sides of the BKT transitation
temperature T(BKT)<Tc. The results for the NQR relaxation rates depend strongly
on the diffusion constant that governs the motion of free and bound vortices as
well as the annihilation of VA pairs. We discuss the relaxation rates for real
multilayer systems where the diffusion constant can be small and thus increase
the lifetime of a VA pair, leading to an enhancement of the rates. We also
discuss in some detail the experimental feasibility of observing the effects of
amplitude fluctuations in layered s-wave superconductors such as the
dichalcogenides and the effects of phase fluctuations in s- or d-wave
superconductors such as the layered cuprates.Comment: 38 pages, 12 figure
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