63 research outputs found
Multi-dimensional classical and quantum cosmology: Exact solutions, signature transition and stabilization
We study the classical and quantum cosmology of a -dimensional
spacetime minimally coupled to a scalar field and present exact solutions for
the resulting field equations for the case where the universe is spatially
flat. These solutions exhibit signature transition from a Euclidean to a
Lorentzian domain and lead to stabilization of the internal space, in contrast
to the solutions which do not undergo signature transition. The corresponding
quantum cosmology is described by the Wheeler-DeWitt equation which has exact
solutions in the mini-superspace, resulting in wavefunctions peaking around the
classical paths. Such solutions admit parametrizations corresponding to metric
solutions of the field equations that admit signature transition.Comment: 15 pages, two figures, to appear in JHE
A four-dimensional {\Lambda}CDM-type cosmological model induced from higher dimensions using a kinematical constraint
A class of cosmological solutions of higher dimensional Einstein field
equations with the energy-momentum tensor of a homogeneous, isotropic fluid as
the source are considered with an anisotropic metric that includes the direct
sum of a 3-dimensional (physical, flat) external space metric and an
n-dimensional (compact, flat) internal space metric. A simple kinematical
constraint is postulated that correlates the expansion rates of the external
and internal spaces in terms of a real parameter {\lambda}. A specific solution
for which both the external and internal spaces expand at different rates is
given analytically for n=3. Assuming that the internal dimensions were at
Planck length scales when the external space starts with a Big Bang (t=0), they
expand only 1.49 times and stay at Planck length scales even in the present age
of the universe (13.7 Gyr). The effective four dimensional universe would
exhibit a behavior consistent with our current understanding of the observed
universe. It would start in a stiff fluid dominated phase and evolve through
radiation dominated and pressureless matter dominated phases, eventually going
into a de Sitter phase at late times.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures; matches the version published in General
Relativity and Gravitatio
Square Root Actions, Metric Signature, and the Path-Integral of Quantum Gravity
We consider quantization of the Baierlein-Sharp-Wheeler form of the
gravitational action, in which the lapse function is determined from the
Hamiltonian constraint. This action has a square root form, analogous to the
actions of the relativistic particle and Nambu string. We argue that
path-integral quantization of the gravitational action should be based on a
path integrand rather than the familiar Feynman expression
, and that unitarity requires integration over manifolds of both
Euclidean and Lorentzian signature. We discuss the relation of this path
integral to our previous considerations regarding the problem of time, and
extend our approach to include fermions.Comment: 32 pages, latex. The revision is a more general treatment of the
regulator. Local constraints are now derived from a requirement of regulator
independenc
Bending AdS Waves with New Massive Gravity
We study AdS-waves in the three-dimensional new theory of massive gravity
recently proposed by Bergshoeff, Hohm, and Townsend. The general configuration
of this type is derived and shown to exhibit different branches, with different
asymptotic behaviors. In particular, for the special fine tuning
, solutions with logarithmic fall-off arise, while in the
range , spacetimes with Schrodinger isometry group are admitted
as solutions. Solutions that are asymptotically AdS, both for
Brown-Henneaux and for the weakened boundary conditions, are also identified.
The metric function that characterizes the profile of the AdS-wave behaves as a
massive excitation on the spacetime, with an effective mass given by
. For the critical value , the value of
the effective mass precisely saturates the Breitenlohner-Freedman bound for the
AdS space where the wave is propagating on. The analogies with the AdS-wave
solutions of topologically massive gravity are also discussed. Besides, we
consider the coupling of both massive deformations to Einstein gravity and find
the exact configurations for the complete theory, discussing all the different
branches exhaustively. One of the effects of introducing the Chern-Simons
gravitational term is that of breaking the degeneracy in the effective mass of
the generic modes of pure New Massive Gravity, producing a fine structure due
to parity violation. Another effect is that the zoo of exact logarithmic
specimens becomes considerably enlarged.Comment: 9 pages. Minor typos correcte
Cosmological perturbations and classical change of signature
Cosmological perturbations on a manifold admitting signature change are
studied. The background solution consists in a Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-
Walker (FLRW) Universe filled by a constant scalar field playing the role of a
cosmological constant. It is shown that no regular solution exist satisfying
the junction conditions at the surface of change. The comparison with similar
studies in quantum cosmology is made.Comment: 35 pages, latex, 2 figures available at [email protected], to
appear in Physical Review
Co-infection and ICU-acquired infection in COIVD-19 ICU patients: a secondary analysis of the UNITE-COVID data set
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented major challenges for critical care facilities worldwide. Infections which develop alongside or subsequent to viral pneumonitis are a challenge under sporadic and pandemic conditions; however, data have suggested that patterns of these differ between COVID-19 and other viral pneumonitides. This secondary analysis aimed to explore patterns of co-infection and intensive care unit-acquired infections (ICU-AI) and the relationship to use of corticosteroids in a large, international cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients.Methods: This is a multicenter, international, observational study, including adult patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to ICUs at the peak of wave one of COVID-19 (February 15th to May 15th, 2020). Data collected included investigator-assessed co-infection at ICU admission, infection acquired in ICU, infection with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) and antibiotic use. Frequencies were compared by Pearson's Chi-squared and continuous variables by Mann-Whitney U test. Propensity score matching for variables associated with ICU-acquired infection was undertaken using R library MatchIT using the "full" matching method.Results: Data were available from 4994 patients. Bacterial co-infection at admission was detected in 716 patients (14%), whilst 85% of patients received antibiotics at that stage. ICU-AI developed in 2715 (54%). The most common ICU-AI was bacterial pneumonia (44% of infections), whilst 9% of patients developed fungal pneumonia; 25% of infections involved MDRO. Patients developing infections in ICU had greater antimicrobial exposure than those without such infections. Incident density (ICU-AI per 1000 ICU days) was in considerable excess of reports from pre-pandemic surveillance. Corticosteroid use was heterogenous between ICUs. In univariate analysis, 58% of patients receiving corticosteroids and 43% of those not receiving steroids developed ICU-AI. Adjusting for potential confounders in the propensity-matched cohort, 71% of patients receiving corticosteroids developed ICU-AI vs 52% of those not receiving corticosteroids. Duration of corticosteroid therapy was also associated with development of ICU-AI and infection with an MDRO.Conclusions: In patients with severe COVID-19 in the first wave, co-infection at admission to ICU was relatively rare but antibiotic use was in substantial excess to that indication. ICU-AI were common and were significantly associated with use of corticosteroids
Clinical and organizational factors associated with mortality during the peak of first COVID-19 wave: the global UNITE-COVID study
Purpose: To accommodate the unprecedented number of critically ill patients with pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) expansion of the capacity of intensive care unit (ICU) to clinical areas not previously used for critical care was necessary. We describe the global burden of COVID-19 admissions and the clinical and organizational characteristics associated with outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods: Multicenter, international, point prevalence study, including adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. Results: 4994 patients from 280 ICUs in 46 countries were included. Included ICUs increased their total capacity from 4931 to 7630 beds, deploying personnel from other areas. Overall, 1986 (39.8%) patients were admitted to surge capacity beds. Invasive ventilation at admission was present in 2325 (46.5%) patients and was required during ICU stay in 85.8% of patients. 60-day mortality was 33.9% (IQR across units: 20%–50%) and ICU mortality 32.7%. Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and acute kidney injury (AKI) were associated with increased mortality. These associations were also confirmed specifically in mechanically ventilated patients. Admission to surge capacity beds was not associated with mortality, even after controlling for other factors. Conclusions: ICUs responded to the increase in COVID-19 patients by increasing bed availability and staff, admitting up to 40% of patients in surge capacity beds. Although mortality in this population was high, admission to a surge capacity bed was not associated with increased mortality. Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and AKI were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality
Supplement: "Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914" (2016, ApJL, 826, L13)
This Supplement provides supporting material for Abbott et al. (2016a). We briefly summarize past electromagnetic (EM) follow-up efforts as well as the organization and policy of the current EM follow-up program. We compare the four probability sky maps produced for the gravitational-wave transient GW150914, and provide additional details of the EM follow-up observations that were performed in the different bands
Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914
A gravitational-wave (GW) transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on 2015 September 14. The event, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the GW data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the GW sky localization coverage, the timeline, and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic (EM) signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the EM data and results of the EM follow-up campaign are being disseminated in papers by the individual teams
Multimessenger Search for Sources of Gravitational Waves and High-Energy Neutrinos: Results for Initial LIGO-Virgo and IceCube
We report the results of a multimessenger search for coincident signals from
the LIGO and Virgo gravitational-wave observatories and the partially completed
IceCube high-energy neutrino detector, including periods of joint operation
between 2007-2010. These include parts of the 2005-2007 run and the 2009-2010
run for LIGO-Virgo, and IceCube's observation periods with 22, 59 and 79
strings. We find no significant coincident events, and use the search results
to derive upper limits on the rate of joint sources for a range of source
emission parameters. For the optimistic assumption of gravitational-wave
emission energy of \,Mc at \,Hz with \,ms duration, and high-energy neutrino emission of \,erg
comparable to the isotropic gamma-ray energy of gamma-ray bursts, we limit the
source rate below \,Mpcyr. We also examine
how combining information from gravitational waves and neutrinos will aid
discovery in the advanced gravitational-wave detector era
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