Dirac-harmonic maps from index theory

We prove existence results for Dirac-harmonic maps using index theoretical tools. They are mainly interesting if the source manifold has dimension 1 or 2 modulo 8. Our solutions are uncoupled in the sense that the underlying map between the source and target manifolds is a harmonic map.Comment: 26 pages, no figur

On the SigmaN cusp in the pp -> pK+Lambda reaction

Measurements of the $pp \to pK^+\Lambda$ reaction at $T_p$ = 2.28 GeV have been carried out at COSY-TOF. In addition to the $\Lambda p$ FSI and $N^*$ resonance excitation effects a pronounced narrow structure is observed in the Dalitz plot and in its projection on the $p\Lambda$-invariant mass. The structure appears at the $pp \to$N$K^+\Sigma$ threshold and is interpreted as $\Sigma$N cusp effect. The observed width of 20 MeV/$c^2$ is substantially broader than anticipated from previous inclusive measurements. Angular distributions of this cusp structure are shown to be dissimilar to those in the residual $pK^+\Lambda$ channel, but similar to those observed in the $pK^+\Sigma^0$ channel

Susceptibility to chronic mucus hypersecretion, a genome wide association study

Background: Chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) is associated with an increased frequency of respiratory infections, excess lung function decline, and increased hospitalisation and mortality rates in the general population. It is associated with smoking, but it is unknown why only a minority of smokers develops CMH. A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is a predisposing genetic constitution. Therefore, we performed a genome wide association (GWA) study of CMH in Caucasian populations. Methods: GWA analysis was performed in the NELSON-study using the Illumina 610 array, followed by replication and meta-analysis in 11 additional cohorts. In total 2,704 subjects with, and 7,624 subjects without CMH were included, all current or former heavy smokers (≥20 pack-years). Additional studies were performed to test the functional relevance of the most significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Results: A strong association with CMH, consistent across all cohorts, was observed with rs6577641 (p = 4.25x10-6, OR = 1.17), located in intron 9 of the special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 locus (SATB1) on chromosome 3. The risk allele (G) was associated with higher mRNA expression of SATB1 (4.3x10 -9) in lung tissue. Presence of CMH was associated with increased SATB1 mRNA expression in bronchial biopsies from COPD patients. SATB1 expression was induced during differentiation of primary human bronchial epithelial cells in culture. Conclusions: Our findings, that SNP rs6577641 is associated with CMH in multiple cohorts and is a cis-eQTL for SATB1, together with our additional observation that SATB1 expression increases during epithelial differentiation provide suggestive evidence that SATB1 is a gene that affects CMH

The use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement and systemic antibiotic prophylactic use in 2,971,357 primary total knee arthroplasties from 2010 to 2020: an international register-based observational study among countries in Africa, Europe, North America, and Oceania

Background and purpose - Antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) and systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) have been used to reduce periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) rates. We investigated the use of ALBC and SAP in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Patients and methods - This observational study is based on 2,971,357 primary TKAs reported in 2010-2020 to national/regional joint arthroplasty registries in Australia, Den-mark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA. Aggregate-level data on trends and types of bone cement, antibiotic agents, and doses and duration of SAP used was extracted from participating registries.Results - ALBC was used in 77% of the TKAs with variation ranging from 100% in Norway to 31% in the USA. Palacos R+G was the most common (62%) ALBC type used. The primary antibiotic used in ALBC was gentamicin (94%). Use of ALBC in combination with SAP was common prac-tice (77%). Cefazolin was the most common (32%) SAP agent. The doses and duration of SAP used varied from one single preoperative dosage as standard practice in Bolzano, Italy (98%) to 1-day 4 doses in Norway (83% of the 40,709 TKAs reported to the Norwegian arthroplasty register). Conclusion - The proportion of ALBC usage in pri-mary TKA varies internationally, with gentamicin being the most common antibiotic. ALBC in combination with SAP was common practice, with cefazolin the most common SAP agent. The type of ALBC and type, dose, and duration of SAP varied among participating countries.Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Rehabilitatio

Calibration of the LIGO gravitational wave detectors in the fifth science run

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a network of three detectors built to detect local perturbations in the space–time metric from astrophysical sources. These detectors, two in Hanford, WA and one in Livingston, LA, are power-recycled Fabry-Perot Michelson interferometers. In their fifth science run (S5), between November 2005 and October 2007, these detectors accumulated one year of triple coincident data while operating at their designed sensitivity. In this paper, we describe the calibration of the instruments in the S5 data set, including measurement techniques and uncertainty estimation.United States. National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationCarnegie TrustLeverhulme TrustDavid & Lucile Packard FoundationResearch CorporationAlfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Automaattisen itsepuhdistuvan suodattimen soveltuvuus autonrunkojen pintakäsittelylaitoksen liuosten suodatukseen

Auton runkojen pintakäsittelylaitoksessa käsittelyliuoksia puhdistetaan jatkuvasti kierrättämällä useiden puhdistusyksiköiden läpi. Yksi keskeisistä puhdistuslaitteista on pussisuodatinyksikkö. Pussisuodattimien käyttökustannukset ovat suhteellisen korkeat, jonka takia kyseiset suodattimet olisi pyrittävä korvaamaan uudella puhdistusmenetelmällä. Tämän diplomityön tavoite oli tutkia erään uuden menetelmän, automaattisen itsepuhdistuvan suodattimen soveltuvuutta. Työssä tutkittiin sekä laitteen toiminnallista soveltuvuutta että kannattavuutta. Kokeet suoritettiin useissa esikäsittely-yksiköissä käyttäen siirrettävää testilaitetta. Prosessimuuttujat valittiin siten, että saatavat tulokset olisivat sovellettavissa myös koskemaan suuren mittakaavan suodattimen toimintaa. Suodattimen puhdistus tapahtui siten että jo suodatettu liuos imettiin takaisin suodatinkankaan läpi ja jätevesi poistettiin poistolinjan kautta. Suodatinkankaan puhdistuksen käynnistykseen käytettiin kahta menetelmää. Ensimmäisessä menetelmässä puhdistus tapahtui, kun paine-ero suodatinkankaan läpi ylitti ennalta määritellyn arvon. Toisessa menetelmässä puhdistukset suoritettiin tasaisin väliajoin. Kokeet toivat selkeästi esiin ongelmia koskien itsepuhdistuvan suodattimen toimintaa kyseisessä ympäristössä. Pääsyy ongelmiin oli se, että käsittelykemikaalit muodostavat sakkautumia, jotka pystyvät tukkimaan suodattimen huokoset ja jotka eivät ole helposti puhdistuksen aikana poistettavissa. Mitä korkeammaksi suodattimen kuormitus ennen puhdistusta kasvaa, sitä lyhyemmäksi jää suodattimen mahdollinen toiminta-aika. Tämän vuoksi puhdistuksien käynnistämiseen ei voida käyttää paine-eroon perustuvaa menetelmää. Kun puhdistukset suoritettiin useammin ja tasaisin väliajoin, suodatin pystyi normaaleissa prosessiolosuhteissa toimimaan tarpeeksi pitkään uppopuhdistus ja aktivointi - yksiköissä. Kuitenkin kun suodatuksen tehokkuus ja kannattavuus otettiin lisäksi huomioon, osoittautui, ettei itsepuhdistuva suodatin voi tarjota vaihtoehtoa pussisuodatinyksiköille yhdessäkään niistä prosessiyksiköistä, joissa tutkimukset suoritettiin