Testing strong line metallicity diagnostics at z~2

High-z galaxy gas-phase metallicities are usually determined through observations of strong optical emission lines with calibrations tied to the local universe. Recent debate has questioned if these calibrations are valid in the high-z universe. We investigate this by analysing a sample of 16 galaxies at z~2 available in the literature, and for which the metallicity can be robustly determined using oxygen auroral lines. The sample spans a redshift range of 1.4 < z < 3.6, has metallicities of 7.4-8.4 in 12+log(O/H) and stellar masses 10^7.5-10^11 Msun. We test commonly used strong line diagnostics (R23, O3, O2, O32, N2, O3N2 and Ne3O2 ) as prescribed by four different sets of empirical calibrations, as well as one fully theoretical calibration. We find that none of the strong line diagnostics (or calibration set) tested perform consistently better than the others. Amongst the line ratios tested, R23 and O3 deliver the best results, with accuracies as good as 0.01-0.04 dex and dispersions of ~0.2 dex in two of the calibrations tested. Generally, line ratios involving nitrogen predict higher values of metallicity, while results with O32 and Ne3O2 show large dispersions. The theoretical calibration yields an accuracy of 0.06 dex, comparable to the best strong line methods. We conclude that, within the metallicity range tested in this work, the locally calibrated diagnostics can still be reliably applied at z~2.Comment: 12 pages, 8 Figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

On the orthogonalization of bred vectors

The key to the improvement of the quality of ensemble forecasts assessing the inherent flow uncertainties is the choice of the initial ensemble perturbations. To generate such perturbations, the breeding of growing modes approach has been used for the past two decades. Here, the fastest-growing error modes of the initial model state are estimated. However, the resulting bred vectors (BVs) mainly point in the phase space direction of the leading Lyapunov vector and therefore favor one direction of growing errors. To overcome this characteristic and obtain growing modes pointing to Lyapunov vectors different from the leading one, an orthogonalization implemented as a singular value decomposition based on the similarity between the BVs is applied. This transformation is similar to that used in the ensemble transform technique currently in operational use at NCEP but with certain differences in the metric used and in the implementation. In this study, results of this approach us! ing BVs generated in the Ensemble Forecasting System (EFS) based on the global numerical weather prediction model GME of the German Meteorological Service are presented. The gain in forecast performance achieved with the orthogonalized BV initialization is shown by using different probabilistic forecast scores evaluating ensemble reliability, variance, and resolution. For a 3-month period in summer 2007, the results are compared to forecasts generated with simple BV initializations of the same ensemble prediction system as well as operational ensemble forecasts from ECMWF and NCEP. The orthogonalization vastly improves the GME-EFS scores and makes them competitive with the two other centers

Angle-resolved photoemission from bromine chemisorbed on Ni(100)

Molecular bromine dissociatively adsorbs to form a chemisorbed overlayer on Ni(100). The bromine induced 4px,y and 4pz orbitals have been identified at Γ̅ with binding energies of 6.6 ± 0.2 eV and 5.3 ± 0.2 eV below the Fermi energy, respectively. The relative ionization cross-section variations of the two bromine levels 4px and 4pz are observed to differ with changing photon energy

Epitaxial growth of iron iodide films on Fe(l10)

The interaction of iodine vapor on an Fe(110) single crystal surface at room temperature has been investigated primarily through the use of LEED and UPS. Both a series of chemisorbed overlayers and an epitaxial iodide layer are observed. Iodide formation proceeds through an island growth mechanism with the iodide basal plane parallel to the Fe(110) surface. Evidence is presented that the defects introduced on the surface during argon ion sputtering may be important as nucleation sites for iodide growth. The results are compared with the results of previous studies

Epitaxial growth of iron iodide films on Fe(l10)

The interaction of iodine vapor on an Fe(110) single crystal surface at room temperature has been investigated primarily through the use of LEED and UPS. Both a series of chemisorbed overlayers and an epitaxial iodide layer are observed. Iodide formation proceeds through an island growth mechanism with the iodide basal plane parallel to the Fe(110) surface. Evidence is presented that the defects introduced on the surface during argon ion sputtering may be important as nucleation sites for iodide growth. The results are compared with the results of previous studies

Angle-resolved photoemission from bromine chemisorbed on Ni(100)

Molecular bromine dissociatively adsorbs to form a chemisorbed overlayer on Ni(100). The bromine induced 4px,y and 4pz orbitals have been identified at Γ̅ with binding energies of 6.6 ± 0.2 eV and 5.3 ± 0.2 eV below the Fermi energy, respectively. The relative ionization cross-section variations of the two bromine levels 4px and 4pz are observed to differ with changing photon energy

Rater agreement of visual lameness assessment in horses during lungeing

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Lungeing is an important part of lameness examinations as the circular path may accentuate low‐grade lameness. Movement asymmetries related to the circular path, to compensatory movements and to pain make the lameness evaluation complex. Scientific studies have shown high inter‐rater variation when assessing lameness during straight line movement. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to estimate inter‐ and intra‐rater agreement of equine veterinarians evaluating lameness from videos of sound and lame horses during lungeing and to investigate the influence of veterinarians’ experience and the objective degree of movement asymmetry on rater agreement. STUDY DESIGN: Cross‐sectional observational study. METHODS: Video recordings and quantitative gait analysis with inertial sensors were performed in 23 riding horses of various breeds. The horses were examined at trot on a straight line and during lungeing on soft or hard surfaces in both directions. One video sequence was recorded per condition and the horses were classified as forelimb lame, hindlimb lame or sound from objective straight line symmetry measurements. Equine veterinarians (n = 86), including 43 with >5 years of orthopaedic experience, participated in a web‐based survey and were asked to identify the lamest limb on 60 videos, including 10 repeats. The agreements between (inter‐rater) and within (intra‐rater) veterinarians were analysed with κ statistics (Fleiss, Cohen). RESULTS: Inter‐rater agreement κ was 0.31 (0.38/0.25 for experienced/less experienced) and higher for forelimb (0.33) than for hindlimb lameness (0.11) or soundness (0.08) evaluation. Median intra‐rater agreement κ was 0.57. CONCLUSIONS: Inter‐rater agreement was poor for less experienced raters, and for all raters when evaluating hindlimb lameness. Since identification of the lame limb/limbs is a prerequisite for successful diagnosis, treatment and recovery, the high inter‐rater variation when evaluating lameness on the lunge is likely to influence the accuracy and repeatability of lameness examinations and, indirectly, the efficacy of treatment

Head and pelvic movement asymmetries at trot in riding horses in training and perceived as free from lameness by the owner

Recent studies evaluating horses in training and considered free from lameness by their owners have identified a large proportion of horses with motion asymmetries. However the prevalence, type and magnitude of asymmetries when trotting in a straight line or on the lunge have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to objectively investigate the presence of motion asymmetries in riding horses in training by identifying the side and quantifying the degree and type (impact, pushoff) of forelimb and hind limb asymmetries found during straight line trot and on the lunge. In a cross-sectional study, vertical head and pelvic movement symmetry was measured in 222 Warmblood type riding horses, all without perceived performance issues and considered free from lameness by their owners. Body-mounted uni-axial accelerometers were used and differences between maximum and minimum head (HDmax, HDmin) and pelvic (PDmax, PDmin) vertical displacement between left and right forelimb and hind limb stances were calculated during straight line trot and on the lunge. Previously reported symmetry thresholds were used. The thresholds for symmetry were exceeded in 161 horses for at least one variable while trotting in a straight line, HDmin (n = 58, mean 14.3 mm, SD 7.1), HDmax (n = 41, mean 12.7 mm, SD 5.5), PDmax (n = 87, mean 6.5 mm, SD 3.10), PDmin (n = 79, mean 5.7 mm, SD 2.1). Contralateral and ipsilateral concurrent forelimb and hind limb asymmetries were detected in 41 and 49 horses, respectively. There was a linear association between the straight line PDmin values and the values on the lunge with the lame limb to the inside of the circle. A large proportion (72.5%) of horses in training which were perceived as free from lameness by their owner showed movement asymmetries above previously reported asymmetry thresholds during straight line trot. It is not known to what extent these asymmetries are related to pain or to mechanical abnormalities. Therefore, one of the most important questions that must be addressed is how objective asymmetry scores can be translated into pain, orthopedic abnormality, or any type of unsoundness

Radio holographic filtering, error estimation, and quality control of radio occultation data

Processing of radio occultation data requires filtering and quality control for the noise reduction and sorting out corrupted data samples. We introduce a radio holographic filtering algorithm based on the synthesis of canonical transform (CT2) and radio holographic focused synthesized aperture (RHFSA) methods. The field in the CT2-transformed space is divided by a reference signal to subtract the regular phase variation and to compress the spectrum. Next, it is convolved with a Gaussian filter window and multiplied by the reference signal to restore the phase variation. This algorithm is simple to implement, and it is numerically efficient. Numerical simulation of processing radio occultations with a realistic receiver noise indicates a good performance of the method. We introduce a new technique of the error estimation of retrieved bending angle profiles based on the width of the running spectra of the transformed wavefield multiplied with the reference signal. We describe a quality control method for the discrimination of corrupted samples in the L2 channel, which is most susceptible to signal tracking errors. We apply the quality control and error estimation techniques for the processing of data acquired by Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and perform a statistical comparison of CHAMP data with the analyses of the German Weather Service (DWD). The statistical analysis shows a good agreement between the CHAMP and DWD error estimates and the observed CHAMP–DWD differences. This corroborates the efficiency of the proposed quality control and error estimation techniques

Microscopic anatomy of the pulmonary vascular bed in the cat lung

The pulmonary microcirculation of the cat was analyzed by light and electron microscopy. In order to establish the precise structure and ultrastructure of the components of the vascular wall of each segment, special efforts were made to identify positively the pulmonary arterioles and venules by tracing their connection to small pulmonary arteries and veins, respectively. Also, the pulmonary arterioles and venules were studied with respect to their relationship to the alveolar capillary network via the precapillary sphincter areas and the postcapillary venules. It was confirmed that the small pulmonary arteries, arterioles, and precapillary sphincter areas are provided with smooth muscle cells which are present up to the point where the pulmonary capillaries branch out, although the number of smooth muscle cells decreases gradually toward the capillary bed. Cholinergic and noradrenergic nerves accompany all arterial segments. The capillary network described by many investigators in several mammalian species was studied only to the extent that a three-dimensional conceptualization could be obtained. With respect to the postcapillary venules and pulmonary venules, it was discovered that, in the cat lung, true smooth muscle cells, albeit widely scattered, are present in these segments of the pulmonary microcirculation. These smooth muscle cells display extensive areas of myoendothelial junctions. That is, the cell membranes of the endothelial cells and the smooth muscle cells make contact without an intervening basal lamina. Some myoendothelial junctions were identified also in the arterioles and precapillary sphincter areas. However, they were few in number and had points of only limited membrane contact. The functional implications of these findings are discussed in terms of possible regulatory influence on the pulmonary microcirculation and hypothetical role in the development of pulmonary hypertension.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22645/1/0000196.pd