33 research outputs found
Study of shock waves generation, hot electron production and role of parametric instabilities in an intensity regime relevant for the shock ignition
We present experimental results at intensities relevant to Shock Ignition
obtained at the sub-ns Prague Asterix Laser System in 2012 . We studied shock waves
produced by laser-matter interaction in presence of a pre-plasma. We used a first beam at
1ω (1315 nm) at 7 × 10 13 W/cm 2 to create a pre-plasma on the front side of the target and
a second at 3ω (438 nm) at ∼ 10 16 W/cm 2 to create the shock wave. Multilayer targets
composed of 25 (or 40 μm) of plastic (doped with Cl), 5 μm of Cu (for Kα diagnostics)
and 20 μm of Al for shock measurement were used. We used X-ray spectroscopy of Cl
to evaluate the plasma temperature, Kα imaging and spectroscopy to evaluate spatial and
spectral properties of the fast electrons and a streak camera for shock breakout measurements.
Parametric instabilities (Stimulated Raman Scattering, Stimulated Brillouin Scattering and
Two Plasmon Decay) were studied by collecting the back scattered light and analysing its
spectrum. Back scattered energy was measured with calorimeters. To evaluate the maximum
pressure reached in our experiment we performed hydro simulations with CHIC and DUED
codes. The maximum shock pressure generated in our experiment at the front side of the
target during laser-interaction is 90 Mbar. The conversion efficiency into hot electrons was
estimated to be of the order of ∼ 0.1% and their mean energy in the order ∼50 keV.
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distributio
Means and covariance functions for geostatistical compositional data: an axiomatic approach
This work focuses on the characterization of the central tendency of a sample
of compositional data. It provides new results about theoretical properties of
means and covariance functions for compositional data, with an axiomatic
perspective. Original results that shed new light on the geostatistical
modeling of compositional data are presented. As a first result, it is shown
that the weighted arithmetic mean is the only central tendency characteristic
satisfying a small set of axioms, namely continuity, reflexivity and marginal
stability. Moreover, this set of axioms also implies that the weights must be
identical for all parts of the composition. This result has deep consequences
on the spatial multivariate covariance modeling of compositional data. In a
geostatistical setting, it is shown as a second result that the proportional
model of covariance functions (i.e., the product of a covariance matrix and a
single correlation function) is the only model that provides identical kriging
weights for all components of the compositional data. As a consequence of these
two results, the proportional model of covariance function is the only
covariance model compatible with reflexivity and marginal stability
The relationships between exogenous and endogenous antioxidants with the lipid profile and oxidative damage in hemodialysis patients
Background: We sought to investigate the relationships among the plasma levels of carotenoids, tocopherols, endogenous antioxidants, oxidative damage and lipid profiles and their possible effects on the cardiovascular risk associated with hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: The study groups were divided into HD and healthy subjects. Plasma carotenoid, tocopherol and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), were measured by HPLC. Blood antioxidant enzymes, kidney function biomarkers and the lipid profiles were analyzed by spectrophotometric methods. Results: Plasma lycopene levels and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly decreased in HD patients compared with healthy subjects. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), creatinine, urea, MDA, GSH, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased in HD (p < 0.05). Lycopene levels were correlated with MDA (r = -0.50; p < 0.01), LDL-c (r = -0.38; p = 0.01) levels, the LDL-c/HDL-c index (r = -0.33; p = 0.03) and GPx activity (r = 0.30; p = 0.03). Regression models showed that lycopene levels were correlated with LDL-c (β estimated = -31.59; p = 0.04), while gender was correlated with the TC/HDL-c index and triglycerides. Age did not present a correlation with the parameters evaluated. GPx activity was negatively correlated with MDA levels and with the LDL-c/HDL-c and CT/HDL-c indexes. Conclusions: Lycopene may represent an additional factor that contributes to reduced lipid peroxidation and atherogenesis in hemodialysis patients
Medical Malpractice : How Legal Liability Affects Medical Decisions
In health care, overuse and underuse of medical treatments represent equally dangerous deviations from an optimal use equilibrium and arouses concerns about possible implications for patients\u2019 health, and for the healthcare system in terms of both costs and access to medical care. Medical liability plays a dominant role among the elements that can affect these deviations. Therefore, a remarkable economic literature studies how medical decisions are influenced by different levels of liability. In particular, identifying the relation between liability and treatments selection, as well as disentangling the effect of liability from other incentives that might be in place, is a task for sound empirical research. Several studies have already tried to tackle this issue, but much more needs to be done. In the present chapter, we offer an overview of the state of the art in the study of the relation between liability and treatments selection. First, we reason on the theoretical mechanisms underpinning the relationship under investigation by presenting the main empirical predictions of the related literature. Second, we provide a comprehensive summary of the existing empirical evidence and its main weaknesses. Finally, we conclude by offering guidelines for further research
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