Electroweak phase transition triggered by fermion sector

To realize first-order electroweak phase transition, it is necessary to generate a barrier in the thermal Higgs potential, which is usually triggered by scalar degree of freedom. We instead investigate phase transition patterns in pure fermion extensions of the standard model, and find that additional fermions with mass hierarchy and mixing could develop such a barrier and realize a strongly first-order phase transition in such models. In the Higgs potential with polynomial parametrization, the barrier can be generated in the following two patterns by fermionic reduction effects: (I) positive quadratic term, negative cubic term and positive quartic term or (II) positive quadratic term, negative quartic term and positive higher dimensional term, such as dimensional 6 operator.

A Low-Power Squaring Circuit with Regulated Output and Improved Settling Time in 180 nm CMOS for 3–5 GHz IR-UWB Applications

This paper demonstrates a low-power squaring circuit for 3–5 GHz non-coherent Impulse-Radio Ultra-Wideband (IR-UWB) receivers for Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) in a low-cost 180 nm CMOS technology. The squaring, which is the key element in typical IR-UWB receivers, is performed exploiting the non-linear transfer function of a MOS transistor. For a high gain at low power consumption the transistor is biased in the moderate inversion region, where the second-order derivative of the transconductance gm and, as a result, the quadratic term in the transfer function reaches a maximum. A control loop was implemented to set the dc output voltage to a defined value and thus to allow a comparison of the squarer output signal with a defined threshold voltage, which can easily be set and adjusted (e.g. by a DAC). To speed up the settling time of the output and hence to reach higher data rates, a novel slew-rate booster is implemented at the output. Thereby, the squarer is capable of data rates of up to 15.6 Mbit s−1, which is more than two times higher compared to the circuit without the slew-rate booster, while only consuming 72.4 µW in addition. In the extracted post-layout simulations the whole circuitry consumes 724 µA at a 1.8 V power supply, resulting in a power consumption of 1.3 mW.

U-Shaped Association Between Serum Uric Acid Level and Hypertensive Heart Failure: A Genetic Matching Case-Control Study

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic and lays an added burden on public healthcare. Previous studies indicated that high and low serum uric acid levels are associated with worse outcomes in many diseases. Reduced serum uric acid may not result in a better outcome.Methods: A comparative, matched cross-sectional study design was implemented. The matching variables were age, sex, BMI, BP, and histories of CKD, CVD, diabetes mellitus, stroke, hyperlipidemia. We reviewed the electronic medical records to identify patients diagnosed with hypertension or hypertensive heart failure (HHF) admitted to Beijing Hospital's cardiology department.Results: The median age of the two groups after matching are 71. There are 55.6% males in the hypertension group and 53.8% in the heart failure group. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that UA's quadratic term is significant (OR = 1.00, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.00; P = 0.03), which indicated a u-shaped relationship between hypertension and HHF. FBS (OR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.95, p = 0.07) and HDL (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.54, P = 0.05) were not significant but close.Conclusion: Our results supported that both low and high uric acid levels were predictive of hypertensive heart failure. Besides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting blood sugar were also associated with hypertensive heart failure. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was not associated with hypertensive heart failure.

Bedtime Salivary Cortisol and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults Living With Dementia

The dysregulation of cortisol has been associated with depressive symptoms in older adults. To date, no prospective longitudinal studies have examined whether salivary cortisol is a risk factor for depressive symptoms in persons living with dementia (PLWD). With a sample of 123 PLWD, baseline salivary cortisol was collected at awaking, 30 minutes after awaking, and bedtime. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and the four-week follow-up. Cortisol indicator were centered. Baseline bedtime cortisol level was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in a curvature style while controlling age, gender, and baseline depressive symptoms (𝛽=3.76 for linear term and 𝛽=-1.57 for quadratic term, both ps<0.04). No other baseline cortisol measures were significant prospective predictors. Our results suggest the bedtime cortisol was a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms in PLWD. These findings suggest that bedtime cortisol may play a role in the etiology of depressive symptoms in PLWD.

Synthesis of a smoothing bicubic spline for differentiating experimental data of nonparametric identification

Over the past two decades, so-called Voltaire series have been used to describe the dynamics of nonlinear systems in terms of input-output. Nonparametric identification of models using Voltaire series consists in constructing estimates for impulse transition functions (IPFs) depending on two or more arguments, which naturally makes identification algorithms much more complicated than in the one-dimensional case. So, in order to identify the two-dimensional IPF (corresponding to the quadratic term of the Voltaire series), it is necessary to calculate the second-order mixed derivatives of the output two-dimensional signal of the system, when a series of rectangular pulses of different amplitudes at different times are fed to its input. Everyone knows, the problem of differentiation is an ill-posed problem and one of the manifestations of incorrectness is poor resistance to errors in the initial data. It is proposed to use two-dimensional smoothing cubic (bicubic) spline (abbreviated SBS) to overcome this problem. The two tasks that constitute SBS synthesis: assignment and implementation of different types of boundary conditions at the border of the rectangular region where SBS is determined; optimal values estimation of two smoothing parameters due to the different “smoothness” of IPF for different two arguments. An acceptable solution to this synthesis problem is proposed in the paper. Our performed computational experiment showed the efficiency of the proposed algorithm for calculating second-order mixed derivative from noisy initial data.

Trajectory of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Malnourishment Predict Mortality and Kidney Failure in Older Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease

Objective: The trajectory patterns of estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) older adults with malnourishment and their association with subsequent patient outcomes have not been elucidated. We aimed to assess the eGFR trajectory patterns for predicting patient survival and kidney failure in the elderly without or with malnourishment.Materials and Methods: Based on a prospective longitudinal cohort, CKD patients aged 65 years or older were enrolled from 2001 to 2013. Among the 3,948 patients whose eGFR trajectory patterns were analyzed, 1,872 patients were stratified by the absence or presence of malnourishment, and 765 patients were identified and categorized as having malnourishment. Four eGFR trajectory patterns [gradual decline (T0), early non-decline and then persistent decline (T1), persistent increase (T2), and low baseline and then progressive increase (T3)] were classified by utilizing a linear mixed-effect model with a quadratic term in time. The malnourishment was defined as body mass index < 22 kg/m2, serum albumin < 3.0 mg/dL, or Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) < 98. This study assessed the effectiveness of eGFR trajectory patterns in a median follow-up of 2.27 years for predicting all-cause mortality and kidney failure.Results: The mean age was 76.9 ± 6.7 years, and a total of 82 (10.7%) patients with malnourishment and 57 (5.1%) patients without malnourishment died at the end of the study. Compared with the reference trajectory T0, the overall mortality of T1 was markedly reduced [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32–0.83]. In patients with trajectory, T3 was associated with a high risk for kidney failure (aHR = 5.68, 95% CI 3.12–10.4) compared with the reference, especially higher risk in the presence of malnourishment. Patients with high GNRI values were significantly associated with a lower risk of death and kidney failure, but patients with malnourishment and concomitant alcohol consumption had a higher risk of kidney failure.Conclusions: Low baseline eGFR and progressively increasing eGFR trajectory were high risks for kidney failure in CKD patients. These findings may be attributed to multimorbidity, malnourishment, and decompensation of renal function.

Indefinite Linear-Quadratic Stochastic Control Problem for Jump-Diffusion Models with Random Coefficients: A Completion of Squares Approach

In this paper, we study the indefinite linear-quadratic (LQ) stochastic optimal control problem for stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with jump diffusions and random coefficients driven by both the Brownian motion and the (compensated) Poisson process. In our problem setup, the coefficients in the SDE and the objective functional are allowed to be random, and the jump-diffusion part of the SDE depends on the state and control variables. Moreover, the cost parameters in the objective functional need not be (positive) definite matrices. Although the solution to this problem can also be obtained through the stochastic maximum principle or the dynamic programming principle, our approach is simple and direct. In particular, by using the Itô-Wentzell’s formula, together with the integro-type stochastic Riccati differential equation (ISRDE) and the backward SDE (BSDE) with jump diffusions, we obtain the equivalent objective functional that is quadratic in control u under the positive definiteness condition, where the approach is known as the completion of squares method. Then the explicit optimal solution, which is linear in state characterized by the ISRDE and the BSDE jump diffusions, and the associated optimal cost are derived by eliminating the quadratic term of u in the equivalent objective functional. We also verify the optimality of the proposed solution via the verification theorem, which requires solving the stochastic HJB equation, a class of stochastic partial differential equations with jump diffusions.

A quadratic viscous fluid law for ice deduced from Steinemann's uni-axial compression and torsion experiments

The response of ice to applied stress on ice-sheet flow timescales is commonly described by a non-linear incompressible viscous fluid, for which the deviatoric stress has a quadratic relation in the strain rate with two response coefficient functions depending on two principal strain-rate invariants I2 and I3. Commonly, a coaxial (linear) relation between the deviatoric stress and strain rate, with dependence on one strain-rate invariant I2 in a stress formulation, equivalently dependence on one deviatoric stress invariant in a strain-rate formulation, is adopted. Glen's uni-axial stress experiments determined such a coaxial law for a strain-rate formulation. The criterion for both uni-axial and shear data to determine the same relation is determined. Here, we apply Steinemann's uni-axial stress and torsion data to determine the two stress response coefficients in a quadratic relation with dependence on a single invariant I2. There is a non-negligible quadratic term for some ranges of I2; that is, a coaxial relation with dependence on one invariant is not valid. The data does not, however, rule out a coaxial relation with dependence on two invariants.

Deriving Economic Values for Female Reproductive Traits in Lifetime Carcass Production of Japanese Black Cows Using Deterministic Profit Function

Improving reproductive efficiency is required to strengthen the production base of high-quality Wagyu beef in Japan. We developed a deterministic profit function (P) for lifetime carcass production of Japanese Black cows to calculate economic values (EVs) for representative female reproductive and carcass traits. The total calving number per cow was expressed using the age at first calving (AFC) and calving interval (CI). Revenues and costs were calculated from calf market price (CaP) and carcass unit price (CUP). A cubic regression equation was developed with CaP as the response variable and calf market weight as the explanatory variable. A multiple linear regression equation was developed with CUP as the response variable and five carcass traits as explanatory variables. EVs were calculated using the first-order partial derivatives of P. The first-order partial derivative of CI was a function of CI with the quadratic term of CI in the denominator. Values of EVs for AFC and CI were negative, suggesting that earlier AFC and shorter CI increase the lifetime profit of Japanese Black cows through producing higher numbers of feeder cattle per cow. However, this might bring benefit to only calf-producing farmers. The results would contribute to achieving sustainable high-quality Wagyu beef production.

Multi-Objective Optimization of Nano-Silica Modified Cement-Based Materials Mixed With Supplementary Cementitious Materials Based on Response Surface Method

This paper investigates the effect of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) on the fresh and mechanical properties of nano-silica modified cement-based materials (NSMCBM) based on the response surface method (RSM). Fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), and silica fume (SF) were selected and the Box-Behnken design (BBD) method was used to design mix proportion. Besides, the quadratic term model was used to describe the relationship between independent variables and responses including fluidity, yield stress, plastic viscosity, thixotropy, and 3, 7, 28, and 56 d compressive strength. Based on the quadratic term model, the response surface of each response was drawn to understand the influence of SCMs. Results showed that FA had significant effect on fluidity and thixotropy while three kinds of SCMs had extremely significant effect on plastic viscosity. Response surface plot showed that NS could increase the plastic viscosity of NSMCBM to 1.445 Pa•s (M16). However, the addition of FA and GGBFS decreased the plastic viscosity to 0.9 Pa•s, which was comparable with the reference sample (M17). Such value was 37.7% lower than that of M16. Meanwhile, NS complemented the reduction of compressive strength caused by SCMs. Thus, the synergy effect of SCMs and NS could improve both fresh and mechanical properties. At last, multi-objective optimization was utilized to optimize the proportion of SCMs considering the interaction between SCMs to achieve desirable parameters.