362 research outputs found
The Quest for Antiinflammatory and Immunomodulatory Strategies in Heart Failure
Intensive research over the last 3 decades has unequivocally demonstrated the relevance of inflammation in heart failure (HF). Despite our current and ever increasing knowledge about inflammation, the clinical success of antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory therapies in HF is still limited. This review outlines the complexity and diversity of inflammation, its reciprocal interaction with HF, and addresses future perspectives, calling for immunomodulatory therapies that are specific for factors that activate the immune system without the risk of nonspecific immune suppression
Resonance Effects in the Nonadiabatic Nonlinear Quantum Dimer
The quantum nonlinear dimer consisting of an electron shuttling between the
two sites and in weak interaction with vibrations, is studied numerically under
the application of a DC electric field. A field-induced resonance phenomenon
between the vibrations and the electronic oscillations is found to influence
the electronic transport greatly. For initially delocalization of the electron,
the resonance has the effect of a dramatic increase in the transport. Nonlinear
frequency mixing is identified as the main mechanism that influences transport.
A characterization of the frequency spectrum is also presented.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Tri-meson-mixing of -- and -- in the light-cone quark model
The radiative transition form factors of the pseudoscalar mesons {,
, } and the vector mesons {, , } are restudied
with -- and -- in tri-meson-mixing
pattern, which is described by tri-mixing matrices in the light-cone
constituent quark model. The experimental transition decay widths are better
reproduced with tri-meson-mixing than previous results in a two-mixing-angle
scenario of only two-meson - mixing and - mixing.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, final version to appear in EPJ
Signal of New Physics and Chemical Composition of Matter in Core Crossing Neutrinos
We consider non-standard matter effect in flavor conversion of neutrinos
crossing the core of the Earth. We show that oscillation of core crossing
neutrinos with E \gsim 0.5 GeV can be well described by a first order
perturbation theory. We show that due to non-standard matter effect varying
chemical composition in the Earth can modify the neutrino flavor conversion by
100%. Effects of CP violating phases in non-standard Neutral Current
interactions are emphasized in particular.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Young and Intermediate-age Distance Indicators
Distance measurements beyond geometrical and semi-geometrical methods, rely
mainly on standard candles. As the name suggests, these objects have known
luminosities by virtue of their intrinsic proprieties and play a major role in
our understanding of modern cosmology. The main caveats associated with
standard candles are their absolute calibration, contamination of the sample
from other sources and systematic uncertainties. The absolute calibration
mainly depends on their chemical composition and age. To understand the impact
of these effects on the distance scale, it is essential to develop methods
based on different sample of standard candles. Here we review the fundamental
properties of young and intermediate-age distance indicators such as Cepheids,
Mira variables and Red Clump stars and the recent developments in their
application as distance indicators.Comment: Review article, 63 pages (28 figures), Accepted for publication in
Space Science Reviews (Chapter 3 of a special collection resulting from the
May 2016 ISSI-BJ workshop on Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space
Age
Manifesto of computational social science
The increasing integration of technology into our lives has created unprecedented volumes of data on society's everyday behaviour. Such data opens up exciting new opportunities to work towards a quantitative understanding of our complex social systems, within the realms of a new discipline known as Computational Social Science. Against a background of financial crises, riots and international epidemics, the urgent need for a greater comprehension of the complexity of our interconnected global society and an ability to apply such insights in policy decisions is clear. This manifesto outlines the objectives of this new scientific direction, considering the challenges involved in it, and the extensive impact on science, technology and society that the success of this endeavour is likely to bring about.The publication of this work was partially supported by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement No. 284709, a Coordination and Support Action in the Information and Communication Technologies activity area (‘FuturICT’ FET Flagship Pilot Project). We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for the insightful comments.Publicad
Techniques for measuring aerosol attenuation using the Central Laser Facility at the Pierre Auger Observatory
The Pierre Auger Observatory in Malargüe, Argentina, is designed to study the properties of ultra-high energy cosmic rays with energies above 10(18) eV. It is a hybrid facility that employs a Fluorescence Detector to perform nearly calorimetric measurements of Extensive Air Shower energies. To obtain reliable calorimetric information from the FD, the atmospheric conditions at the observatory need to be continuously monitored during data acquisition. In particular, light attenuation due to aerosols is an important atmospheric correction. The aerosol concentration is highly variable, so that the aerosol attenuation needs to be evaluated hourly. We use light from the Central Laser Facility, located near the center of the observatory site, having an optical signature comparable to that of the highest energy showers detected by the FD. This paper presents two procedures developed to retrieve the aerosol attenuation of fluorescence light from CLF laser shots. Cross checks between the two methods demonstrate that results from both analyses are compatible, and that the uncertainties are well understood. The measurements of the aerosol attenuation provided by the two procedures are currently used at the Pierre Auger Observatory to reconstruct air shower data
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