Noncommutative RdR^d via closed star product

We consider linear star products on $R^d$ of Lie algebra type. First we derive the closed formula for the polydifferential representation of the corresponding Lie algebra generators. Using this representation we define the Weyl star product on the dual of the Lie algebra. Then we construct a gauge operator relating the Weyl star product with the one which is closed with respect to some trace functional, $Tr( f\star g)= Tr( f\cdot g)$. We introduce the derivative operator on the algebra of the closed star product and show that the corresponding Leibnitz rule holds true up to a total derivative. As a particular example we study the space $R^3_\theta$ with $\mathfrak{su}(2)$ type noncommutativity and show that in this case the closed star product is the one obtained from the Duflo quantization map. As a result a Laplacian can be defined such that its commutative limit reproduces the ordinary commutative one. The deformed Leibnitz rule is applied to scalar field theory to derive conservation laws and the corresponding noncommutative currents.Comment: published versio

Conformal Truncation of Chern-Simons Theory at Large NfN_f

We set up and analyze the lightcone Hamiltonian for an abelian Chern-Simons field coupled to $N_f$ fermions in the limit of large $N_f$ using conformal truncation, i.e. with a truncated space of states corresponding to primary operators with dimension below a maximum cutoff $\Delta_{\rm max}$. In both the Chern-Simons theory, and in the $O(N)$ model at infinite $N$, we compute the current spectral functions analytically as a function of $\Delta_{\rm max}$ and reproduce previous results in the limit that the truncation $\Delta_{\rm max}$ is taken to $\infty$. Along the way, we determine how to preserve gauge invariance and how to choose an optimal discrete basis for the momenta of states in the truncation space.Comment: 32+25 pages, 8 figures. v2: updated ref

The Indirect Search for Dark Matter from the centre of the Galaxy with the Fermi LAT

Dark matter (DM) constitutes around a 25% of the Universe, while baryons only a 4%. DM can be reasonably assumed to be made of particles, and many theories (Super-symmetry, Universal Extra Dimensions, etc.) predict Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) as natural DM candidates at the weak scale. Self-annihilation (or decay) of WIMPs might produce secondary gamma-rays, via hadronization or as final state radiation. Since its launch in the 2008, the Large Area Telescope on-board of the Fermi gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the largest amount of gamma-rays to date, in the 20MeV 300GeV energy range, allowing to perform a very sensitive indirect experimental search for DM (by means of high-energy gamma-rays). DM forms large gravitationally bounded structures, the halos, which can host entire galaxies, such as the Milky Way. The DM distribution in the central part of the halos is not experimentally know, despite a very large density enhancement might be present. As secondary gamma rays production is very sensitive to WIMP density, a very effective search can be performed from the regions where the largest density is expected. Therefore the information provided by the DM halo N-body simulations are crucial. The largest gamma-ray signal from DM annihilation is expected from the centre of the Galaxy. In the same region a large gamma-ray background is produced by bright discrete sources and the cosmic-rays interacting with the interstellar gas and the photons fields. Here we report an update of the indirect search for DM from the Galactic Center (GC).Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Invited talk presented at the Workshop "SciNeGHE 2010", September 8-10, 2010, Trieste, Italy. To appear in Il Nuovo Cimento C - Colloquia on physic

Sun-photometric measurements of atmospheric turbidity variations caused by the Pinatubo aerosol cloud in the Himalayan region during the summer periods of 1991 and 1992

Measurements of direct solar irradiance were taken episodically on two days of September 1990 and regularly in the summer periods from July to October 1991 and from mid-July to mid-August 1992 at the Pyramid Laboratory (5050 m a.m.s.l.) situated at the foot of Mt. Everest (Nepal), using two examples of the Volz multispectral sunphotometer, model A. These sun-photometric measurements were analysed in terms of the Bouguer-Lambert-Beer law in order to determine the values of aerosol optical thickness at the three sun-photometric window-wavelengths. Examining these spectral series in terms of the well-known Ångström formula, the best-fit values of turbidity parameters a and b were calculated with great accuracy. From the measurements taken in September 1990, we found values of the aerosol optical thickness in good agreement with the mean values of the background aerosol optical depth measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory (Hawaii) during the four-year period from 1988 to 1991. The spectral values of the aerosol optical thickness determined during the summer of 1991 show that the mean daily values of parameter b increased abruptly from about 0.06 to more than 0.16 from July 26 to 28, 1991, and then varied between 0.09 and 0.16 during the rest of the measurement period. Simultaneously, parameter a was found to decrease from more than 1.25 to 0.39 towards the end of July and to vary between 0.40 and 0.78 during September. These large variations of both atmospheric turbidity parameters have been attributed to the growth of the aerosol particles and to the consequent changes in the size distribution curve of the Pinatubo aerosol particles. Analysing the variations of the stratospheric aerosol optical depth in terms of particle polydispersions consisting of a linear combination of a background aerosol monomodal model and a bimodal model representing the Pinatubo fresh aerosol particle size distribution, the vertical mass loading of stratospheric aerosol particles was estimated to vary between 0.037 and 0.047 g m22 from July 24 to 27 and to increase to values ranging between 0.048 and 0.074 g m22 during the rest of summer 1991, presenting a mean value of (0.063 6 0.009) g m22 for the two-month period. The measurements taken in summer 1992 show that parameter b ranged between 0.08 and 0.12, while parameter a was found to vary between 0.23 and 0.73. The stratospheric aerosol depth values were analysed through a best-fit procedure based on a linear combination of a background model of small aerosol particles and a trimodal model consisting of aged volcanic aerosol particles. Following this procedure, the vertical mass loading of Pinatubo aerosol particles was found to vary between 0.043 and 0.057 g m22 during summer 1992, the mean value being evaluated as equal to (0.047 6 0.004) g m22

Probability representation in quantum field theory

The recently proposed probability representation of quantum mechanics is generalized to quantum field theory. We introduce a probability distribution functional for field configurations and find an evolution equation for such a distribution. The connection to the time-dependent generating functional of Green's functions is elucidated and the classical limit is discussed

Impact of communicative and informative strategies on influenza vaccination adherence and absenteeism from work of health care professionals working at the university hospital of palermo, Italy: A quasi-experimental field trial on twelve influenza seasons

Every year, about 20% of health care workers (HCWs) acquire influenza, continuing to work and encouraging virus spreading. Influenza vaccination coverage rates and absenteeism from work among HCWs of the University Hospital (UH) of Palermo were analyzed before and after the implementation of several initiatives in order to increase HCWs’ awareness about influenza vaccination. Vaccines administration within hospital units, dedicated web pages on social media and on the UH of Palermo institutional web site, and mandatory compilation of a dissent form for those HCWs who refused vaccination were carried out during the last four influenza seasons. After the introduction of these strategies, influenza vaccination coverage went up from 5.2% (2014/2015 season) to 37.2% (2018/2019 season) (p<0.001), and mean age of vaccinated HCWs significantly decreased from 48.1 years (95% CI: 45.7–50.5) to 35.9 years (95% CI: 35.0–36.8). A reduction of working days lost due to acute sickness among HCWs of the UH of Palermo was observed. Fear of adverse reactions and not considering themselves as a high-risk group for contracting influenza were the main reasons reported by HCWs that refused vaccination. Strategies undertaken at the UH of Palermo allowed a significant increase in vaccination adherence and a significant reduction of absenteeism from work

On The Origin Of The Gamma Rays From The Galactic Center

The region surrounding the center of the Milky Way is both astrophysically rich and complex, and is predicted to contain very high densities of dark matter. Utilizing three years of data from the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope (and the recently available Pass 7 ultraclean event class), we study the morphology and spectrum of the gamma ray emission from this region and find evidence of a spatially extended component which peaks at energies between 300 MeV and 10 GeV. We compare our results to those reported by other groups and find good agreement. The extended emission could potentially originate from either the annihilations of dark matter particles in the inner galaxy, or from the collisions of high energy protons that are accelerated by the Milky Way's supermassive black hole with gas. If interpreted as dark matter annihilation products, the emission spectrum favors dark matter particles with a mass in the range of 7-12 GeV (if annihilating dominantly to leptons) or 25-45 GeV (if annihilating dominantly to hadronic final states). The intensity of the emission corresponds to a dark matter annihilation cross section consistent with that required to generate the observed cosmological abundance in the early universe (sigma v ~ 3 x 10^-26 cm^3/s). We also present conservative limits on the dark matter annihilation cross section which are at least as stringent as those derived from other observations.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure

Gauge and Poincare' Invariant Regularization and Hopf Symmetries

We consider the regularization of a gauge quantum field theory following a modification of the Polchinski proof based on the introduction of a cutoff function. We work with a Poincare' invariant deformation of the ordinary point-wise product of fields introduced by Ardalan, Arfaei, Ghasemkhani and Sadooghi, and show that it yields, through a limiting procedure of the cutoff functions, to a regularized theory, preserving all symmetries at every stage. The new gauge symmetry yields a new Hopf algebra with deformed co-structures, which is inequivalent to the standard one.Comment: Revised version. 14 pages. Incorrect statements eliminate

Imperforate hymen causing congenital hydrometrocolpos.

A 3-day-old girl in good health was referred to our department for the evaluation of an abdominal mass detected at birth. Prenatal ultrasound (US) examinations had shown no anomaly. US examination revealed the presence of a hypoechoic and corpusculated cystic formation of about 8 × 5 × 4 cm located in the mid region of the abdomen. The uterus was not visible and the kidneys were normal with no sign of hydronephrosis. The ovaries were normal. Physical examination confirmed US findings revealing the presence of a curved membrane which covered the vaginal opening. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed to have hydrometrocolpos. Hymenectomy was performed and about 100 ml of milky fluid was subsequently removed by aspiration. The patient presented no other congenital anomalies and US follow-up showed a normal structure of the uterus