Confinement from new global defect structures

We investigate confinement from new global defect structures in three spatial dimensions. The global defects arise in models described by a single real scalar field, governed by special scalar potentials. They appear as electrically, magnetically or dyonically charged structures. We show that they induce confinement, when they are solutions of effective QCD-like field theories in which the vacua are regarded as color dielectric media with an anti-screening property. As expected, in three spatial dimensions the monopole-like global defects generate the Coulomb potential as part of several confining potentials.Comment: RevTex4, 7 pages, 1 figure. Version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.

Unsupervised Monitoring System for Predictive Maintenance of High Voltage Apparatus

The online monitoring of a high voltage apparatus is a crucial aspect for a predictive maintenanceprogram. Partialdischarges(PDs)phenomenaaffecttheinsulationsystemofanelectrical machine and\u2014in the long term\u2014can lead to a breakdown, with a consequent, signi\ufb01cant economic loss; wind turbines provide an excellent example. Embedded solutions are therefore required to monitor the insulation status. The paper presents an online system that adopts unsupervised methodologies for assessing the condition of the monitored machine in real time. The monitoring process does not rely on any prior knowledge about the apparatus; nonetheless, the method can identify the relevant drifts in the machine status. In addition, the system is speci\ufb01cally designed to run on low-cost embedded devices

Planck intermediate results X : Physics of the hot gas in the Coma cluster

Peer reviewe

Planck Intermediate Results II: Comparison of Sunyaev–Zeldovich measurements from Planck and from the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager for 11 galaxy clusters

A comparison is presented of Sunyaev–Zeldovich measurements for 11 galaxy clusters as obtained by Planck and by the ground-based interferom- eter, the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager. Assuming a universal spherically-symmetric Generalised Navarro, Frenk & White (GNFW) model for the cluster gas pressure profile, we jointly constrain the integrated Compton-Y parameter (Y500) and the scale radius (θ500) of each cluster. Our resulting constraints in the Y500 − θ500 2D parameter space derived from the two instruments overlap significantly for eight of the clusters, although, overall, there is a tendency for AMI to find the Sunyaev–Zeldovich signal to be smaller in angular size and fainter than Planck. Significant discrepancies exist for the three remaining clusters in the sample, namely A1413, A1914, and the newly-discovered Planck cluster PLCKESZ G139.59+24.18. The robustness of the analysis of both the Planck and AMI data is demonstrated through the use of detailed simulations, which also discount confusion from residual point (radio) sources and from diffuse astrophysical foregrounds as possible explanations for the discrepancies found. For a subset of our cluster sample, we have investigated the dependence of our results on the assumed pressure profile by repeating the analysis adopting the best-fitting GNFW profile shape which best matches X-ray observations. Adopting the best-fitting profile shape from the X-ray data does not, in general, resolve the discrepancies found in this subset of five clusters. Though based on a small sample, our results suggest that the adopted GNFW model may not be sufficiently flexible to describe clusters universally

The ALICE Transition Radiation Detector: Construction, operation, and performance

The Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) was designed and built to enhance the capabilities of the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). While aimed at providing electron identification and triggering, the TRD also contributes significantly to the track reconstruction and calibration in the central barrel of ALICE. In this paper the design, construction, operation, and performance of this detector are discussed. A pion rejection factor of up to 410 is achieved at a momentum of 1 GeV/c in p-Pb collisions and the resolution at high transverse momentum improves by about 40% when including the TRD information in track reconstruction. The triggering capability is demonstrated both for jet, light nuclei, and electron selection. (c) 2017 CERN for the benefit of the Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Association of early postresuscitation hypotension with survival to discharge after targeted temperature management for pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

© 2017 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. IMPORTANCE Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurs in more than 6000 children each year in the United States, with survival rates of less than 10% and severe neurologic morbidity in many survivors. Post-cardiac arrest hypotension can occur, but its frequency and association with survival have not been well described duringtargeted temperature management. OBJECTIVE To determine whether hypotension is associated with survival to discharge in children and adolescents after resuscitation from OHCA. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This post hoc secondary analysis of the Therapeutic Hypothermia After Pediatric Cardiac Arrest (THAPCA) trial included 292 pediatric patients older than 48 hours and younger than 18 years treated in 36 pediatric intensive care units from September 1,2009, through December 31,2012. Participants underwent therapeutic hypothermia (33.0°C) vs therapeutic normothermia (36.8°C) for 48 hours. All participants had hourly systolic blood pressure measurements documented during the initial 6 hours of temperature intervention. Hourly blood pressures beginning at the time of temperature intervention (time 0) were normalized for age, sex, and height. Early hypotension was defined as a systolic blood pressure less than the fifth percentile during the first 6 hours after temperature intervention. With use of forward stepwise logistic regression, covariates of interest (age, sex, initial cardiac rhythm, any preexisting condition, estimated duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR], primary cause of cardiac arrest, temperature intervention group, night or weekend cardiac arrest, witnessed status, and bystander CPR) were evaluated in the final model. Data were analyzed from February 5,2016, through June 13,2017. EXPOSURES Hypotension. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURE Survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS Of 292children (194 boys [66.4%] and 98 girls [33.6%]; medianage, 23.0 months [interquartile range, 5.0-105.0 months]), 78 (26.7%) had at least 1 episode of early hypotension. No difference was observed between the therapeutic hypothermia and therapeutic normothermia groups in the prevalence of hypotension during induction and maintenance (73 of 153 [47.7%] vs 72 of 139 [51.8%]; P = .50) orre warming (35 of 118 [29.7%] vs 19 of 95 [20.0%]; P = .10) during the first 72 hours. Participants who had early hypotension were less likely to survive to hospital discharge (20 of 78 [25.6%] vs 93 of 214 [43.5%]; adjusted odds ratio, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.20-0.74). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this post hoc secondary analysis of the THAPCA trial, 26.7% of participants had hypotension within 6 hours after temperature intervention. Early post-cardiac arrest hypotension was associated with lower odds of discharge survival, even after adjusting for covariates of interest

Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF Versus AFB Smear and Culture to Identify Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Patients With Suspected Tuberculosis From Low and Higher Prevalence Settings

Background. The Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) assay is a rapid nucleic acid amplification test widely used in settings of high tuberculosis prevalence to detect tuberculosis as well as rpoB mutations associated with rifampin resistance. Data are needed on the diagnostic performance of Xpert in lower-prevalence settings to inform appropriate use for both tuberculosis detection and the need for respiratory isolation. Methods. Xpert was compared to 2 sputum samples, each evaluated with acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and mycobacterial culture using liquid and solid culture media, from participants with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis from the United States, Brazil, and South Africa. Results. Of 992 participants enrolled with evaluable results, 22% had culture-confirmed tuberculosis. In 638 (64%) US participants, 1 Xpert result demonstrated sensitivity of 85.2% (96.7% in participants with AFB smear-positive [AFB+] sputum, 59.3% with AFB smear-negative [AFB–] sputum), specificity of 99.2%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.6%, and positive predictive value of 94.9%. Results did not differ between higher- and low-prevalence settings. A second Xpert assay increased overall sensitivity to 91.1% (100% if AFB+, 71.4% if AFB–), with specificity of 98.9%. In US participants, a single negative Xpert result predicted the absence of AFB+/culture-positive tuberculosis with an NPV of 99.7%; NPV of 2 Xpert assays was 100%, suggesting a role in removing patients from airborne infection isolation. Xpert detected tuberculosis DNA and mutations associated with rifampin resistance in 5 of 7 participants with rifampin-resistant, culture-positive tuberculosis. Specificity for rifampin resistance was 99.5% and NPV was 98.9%. Conclusions. In the United States, Xpert testing performed comparably to 2 higher-tuberculosis-prevalence settings. These data support the use of Xpert in the initial evaluation of tuberculosis suspects and in algorithms assessing need for respiratory isolation

Advanced Virgo Plus. Future perspectives

While completing the commissioning phase to prepare the Virgo interferometer for the next joint Observation Run (O4), the Virgo collaboration is also finalizing the design of the next upgrades to the detector to be employed in the following Observation Run (O5). The major upgrade will concern decreasing the thermal noise limit, which will imply using very large test masses and increased laser beam size. But this will not be the only upgrade to be implemented in the break between the O4 and O5 observation runs to increase the Virgo detector strain sensitivity. The paper will cover the challenges linked to this upgrade and implications on the detector’s reach and observational potential, reflecting the talk given at 12th Cosmic Ray International Seminar - CRIS 2022 held in September 2022 in Napoli