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We present a torsion pendulum dual oscillator sensor designed toward the direct detection of Newtonian noise. We discuss the sensitivity limitations of the system, experimental performance characterization results, and prospectives to improve performance. The sensor is being developed to contribute to the mitigation of Newtonian noise impacts in the sensitivities of next generation terrestrial gravitational-wave detectors. 

We consider a linear Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou lattice with random spatially varying material coefficients. Using the methods of stochastic homogenization we show that solutions with long wave initial data converge in an appropriate sense to solutions of a wave equation. The convergence is strong and both almost sure and in expectation, but the rate is quite slow. The technique combines energy estimates with powerful classical results about random walks, specifically the law of the iterated logarithm.

 

The gut is a well-established route of infection and target for viral damage by SARSCoV-2. This is supported by the clinical observation that about half of COVID-19 patients exhibit gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. We asked whether the analysis of plasma could provide insight into gut barrier dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 infection. Plasma samples of COVID-19 patients (n=30) and healthy control (n=16) were collected during hospitalization. Plasma microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, metatranscriptomic analysis, and gut permeability markers including FABP-2, PGN and LPS in both patient cohorts. Almost 65% (9 out 14) COVID-19 patients showed abnormal presence of gut microbes in their bloodstream. Plasma samples contained predominately Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The abundance of gram-negative bacteria (Acinetobacter, Nitrospirillum, Cupriavidus, Pseudomonas, Aquabacterium, Burkholderia, Caballeronia, Parabhurkholderia, Bravibacterium, and Sphingomonas) was higher than the gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus and Lactobacillus) in COVID-19 subjects. The levels of plasma gut permeability markers FABP2 (1282±199.6 vs 838.1±91.33; p=0.0757), PGN (34.64±3.178 vs 17.53±2.12; p<0.0001), and LPS (405.5±48.37 vs 249.6±17.06; p=0.0049) were higher in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. These findings support that the intestine may represent a source for bacteremia and may contribute to worsening COVID-19 outcomes. Therapies targeting the gut and prevention of gut barrier defects may represent a strategy to improve outcomes in COVID19 patients.