6,964 research outputs found

    Split degenerate states and stable p+ip phases from holography

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    In this paper, we investigate the p+iip superfluid phases in the complex vector field holographic p-wave model. We find that in the probe limit, the p+iip phase and the p-wave phase are equally stable, hence the p and iip orders can be mixed with an arbitrary ratio to form more general p+λi\lambda ip phases, which are also equally stable with the p-wave and p+iip phases. As a result, the system possesses a degenerate thermal state in the superfluid region. We further study the case with considering the back reaction on the metric, and find that the degenerate ground states will be separated into p-wave and p+iip phases, and the p-wave phase is more stable. Finally, due to the different critical temperature of the zeroth order phase transitions from p-wave and p+iip phases to the normal phase, there is a temperature region where the p+iip phase exists but the p-wave phase doesn't. In this region we find the stable p+iip phase for the first time.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures; typos correcte

    The Association Of Smoking And Body Mass Index With Quality Of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors

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    Objective: The associations of smoking and body mass index (BMI) with health-related quality of life (QoL) are not well understood among breast cancer survivors. We examined the QoL of breast cancer patients by smoking status and BMI (1) to determine if there are differences in physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores, (2) to evaluate whether there is an interaction between smoking and BMI on QoL, (3) to assess smoking pattern changes pre- and post-cancer diagnosis, and (4) to measure changes of physical and mental health by smoking status. Methods: In this study, we included 6,756 breast cancer patients from the SEER-MHOS linkage database (1998-2011) who were 65 to 95 years old (inclusive) and did not present with any other types of cancer. A multivariate linear regression model was used to measure differences in PCS and MCS scores in different smoking statuses and BMI categories. A subgroup analysis was performed among 604 patients who responded to surveys pre- and post-diagnosis. We evaluated the patients\u27 smoking behavior changes and assessed their mean PCS and MCS score changes by their smoking status. Results: After adjusting for patient demographics, cancer characteristics, and comorbidities, smoking was significantly associated with reduced PCS and MCS scores in breast cancer patients. Being underweight, overweight or obese was negatively correlated with physical health, while being underweight was significantly associated with a lower mental health score. There was no significant interaction between smoking and BMI on QoL. In our subgroup population, only about 26.2% of the smokers quit after breast cancer diagnosis. In the unadjusted analysis, patients who quit smoking after cancer diagnosis showed greater physical health deterioration but less mental health decline compared to patients who continued smoking after diagnosis, or who never smoked. Conclusions: Smoking and non-normal BMI were associated with poorer QoL, indicating the need to support breast cancer patients who wish to quit smoking and pursue a healthy BMI. The results also suggest that achieving a normal BMI may have greater impact on the mental health of underweight individuals than on those who are overweight or obese. Almost 73.8% of cancer patients did not quit smoking after their cancer diagnosis, indicating a need for encouraging smoking cessation among breast cancer survivors

    STUDIES RELEVANT TO THE DESIGN OF RELIABLE AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS

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    This dissertation describes three independent studies related to the design of reliable automotive electronics. The topics covered are: the estimation of the radiated emissions from power bus structures, EM propagation of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and examinations of corrosion-induced faults in a connector. The first chapter describes a method for estimating the maximum possible radiated emissions from a printed circuit board power bus. An analysis based on a lossy cavity model is performed to determine the maximum possible radiated field corresponding to a given power bus noise voltage. A closed-form expression relating the maximum power bus noise voltage to the radiation peaks is then derived. This expression is solved in reverse to determine the minimum power bus voltage necessary to generate a radiated field and can be applied to measured values of power bus noise voltage to determine whether radiation directly from the power bus is potentially the emissions source. The second chapter identifies transmission parameters from a rotating tire and the vehicle body\u27s effect on tire sensor transmission and propagation; relates these effects to receiver antenna packaging requirements; and then, based on these results, proposes the antenna design of employing car body as a part. In the new proposed TPMS design, a 20mm x 5mm loop antenna with a 40mm x 10mm slot beneath it is added to capture the surface currents of the car body and block the current path to increase the current density around the loop antenna. The simulation results show that this design exhibits a propagation factor 150 times larger than the traditional design. The third chapter investigates the effects of different contaminants (salt, oil, grease) on the shunt resistance between pins of a cable connector. The test results show that salt-induced corrosion and moisture may cause intermittent shunting resistances capable of affecting the normal operation of automotive systems. One important test result is that the induced shunting resistances are a nonlinear function of the applied voltage. An equivalent circuit based on measurements is developed to model the behavior of various salt-water/metal electrode interactions

    Dilemmatic Deliberations In Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling

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    My central claim in this paper is that Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling is governed by the basic aim to articulate a real dilemma, and to elicit its proper recognition as such. I begin by indicating how Kierkegaard’s works are shaped in general by this aim, and what the aim involves. I then show how the dilemmaticstructure of Fear and Trembling is obscured in a recent dispute between Michelle Kosch and John Lippitt regarding the basic aims and upshot of the book. Finally, I consider two critical questions: Why does Kierkegaard present his dilemmatic reasoning in the form of a “dialectical lyric”? And why does he write a book that aims only to articulate a dilemma, and not also to resolve it
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