Adjoints of elliptic cone operators

We study the adjointness problem for the closed extensions of a general b-elliptic operator A in x^{-\nu}Diff^m_b(M;E), \nu>0, initially defined as an unbounded operator A:C_c^\infty(M;E)\subset x^\mu L^2_b(M;E)\to x^\mu L^2_b(M;E), \mu \in \R. The case where A is a symmetric semibounded operator is of particular interest, and we give a complete description of the domain of the Friedrichs extension of such an operator.Comment: 40 pages, LaTeX, preliminary versio

Trace expansions for elliptic cone operators with stationary domains

We analyze the behavior of the trace of the resolvent of an elliptic cone differential operator as the spectral parameter tends to infinity. The resolvent splits into two components, one associated with the minimal extension of the operator, and another, of finite rank, depending on the particular choice of domain. We give a full asymptotic expansion of the first component and expand the component of finite rank in the case where the domain is stationary. The results make use, and develop further, our previous investigations on the analytic and geometric structure of the resolvent. The analysis of nonstationary domains, considerably more intricate, is pursued elsewhere.Comment: 27 pages. Minor corrections and change of titl

On the closure of elliptic wedge operators

We prove a semi-Fredholm theorem for the minimal extension of elliptic operators on manifolds with wedge singularities and give, under suitable assumptions, a full asymptotic expansion of the trace of the resolvent.Comment: 22 pages, improved expositio

Combining community-based research and local knowledge to confront asthma and subsistence-fishing hazards in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York.

Activists in the environmental justice movement are challenging expert-driven scientific research by taking the research process into their own hands and speaking for themselves by defining, analyzing, and prescribing solutions for the environmental health hazards confronting communities of the poor and people of color. I highlight the work of El Puente and The Watchperson Project--two community-based organizations in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, that have engaged in community-based participatory research (CBPR) to address asthma and risks from subsistence-fish diets. The CBPR process aims to engage community members as equal partners alongside scientists in problem definition, information collection, and data analysis--all geared toward locally relevant action for social change. In the first case I highlight how El Puente has organized residents to conduct a series of asthma health surveys and tapped into local knowledge of the Latino population to understand potential asthma triggers and to devise culturally relevant health interventions. In a second case I follow The Watchperson Project and their work surveying subsistence anglers and note how the community-gathered information contributed key data inputs for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Cumulative Exposure Project in the neighborhood. In each case I review the processes each organization used to conduct CBPR, some of their findings, and the local knowledge they gathered, all of which were crucial for understanding and addressing local environmental health issues. I conclude with some observations about the benefits and limits of CBPR for helping scientists and communities pursue environmental justice

A straightforward estimation of the maximum sunspot number for cycle 23

International audienceUsing the annual number of geomagnetically quiet days (aa after the solar minimum, this precursor method predicts that the maximum sunspot number for cycle 23 will be 140 ± 32, indicating that cycle 23 will be similar to cycles 21 and 22

All-optical PT\mathcal{PT}-symmetric amplitude to phase modulator

We study electromagnetic field propagation through a planar three-waveguide coupler with linear gain and loss, in a configuration that is the optical analog of a quantum $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric system, and provide its closed-form analytic propagator. At an specific propagation length, we show that the device provides all-optical amplitude to phase modulation with a $\pi$ modulation range, if an extra binary phase is allowed in the reference signal, as well as phase to amplitude modulation, with an amplitude modulation range that depends linearly on the gain-to-coupling ratio of the system.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Influence of MWCNT/surfactant dispersions on the mechanical properties of Portland cement pastes

This work studies the reinforcing effect of Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) on cement pastes. A 0.35% solid concentration of MWCNT in powder was dispersed in deionized water with sodium dodecyl sulfate (cationic surfactant), cetylpyridinium chloride (anionic surfactant) and triton X-100 (amphoteric surfactant) using an ultrasonic tip processor. Three concentrations of each surfactant (1mM, 10mM and 100mM) were tested, and all samples were sonicated until an adequate dispersion degree was obtained. Cement pastes with additions of carbon nanotubes of 0.15% by mass of cement were produced in two steps; first the dispersions of MWCNT were combined with the mixing water using an ultrasonic tip processor to guarantee homogeneity, and then cement was added and mixed until a homogeneous paste was obtained. Direct tensile strength, apparent density and open porosity of the pastes were measured after 7 days of curing. It was found that the MWCNT/surfactants dispersions decrease the mechanical properties of the cement based matrix due to an increased porosity caused by the presence of surfactants. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

A prospective observational study of mycophenolate mofetil treatment in progressive diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis of recent onset.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective observational study of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment in patients with diffuse progressive cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc) of recent onset. METHODS: Twenty-five previously untreated consecutive patients with recent-onset (\u3c 24 mo) diffuse progressive cutaneous SSc received MMF as the only disease-modifying therapy. Modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) and affected body surface area (BSA) were compared from initiation of MMF to study end. Pulmonary function tests performed at the same institution before therapy and at study end were available in 15 patients. Histopathology and real-time PCR assessment of fibrosis-related gene expression were performed before and after treatment in skin biopsies from 3 patients. RESULTS: At 18.2 ± 8.73 months of MMF therapy (median 2000 mg/day) the mRSS decreased from 24.56 ± 8.62 to 14.52 ± 10.9 (p = 0.0004) and the affected BSA from 36% ± 16% to 14% ± 13.3% (p = 0.00001). Pulmonary function tests remained stable from initiation of MMF to the end of the study. Skin histopathology showed a remarkable reduction in accumulation of fibrotic tissue. Real-time PCR of skin biopsies demonstrated a marked decrease in expression of fibrosis-related genes. CONCLUSION: Patients with diffuse progressive cutaneous SSc of recent onset treated with MMF experienced marked improvement in skin involvement and stabilization of pulmonary function. Skin biopsies from 3 patients demonstrated histopathological improvement and decreased expression of fibrosis-related genes