1,259 research outputs found
Power Spectrum of Velocity Fluctuations in the Universe
We investigate the power spectrum of velocity fluctuations in the universe,
, starting from four different measures of velocity: (1) the power
spectrum of velocity fluctuations from peculiar velocities of galaxies; (2) the
rms peculiar velocity of galaxy clusters; (3) the power spectrum of velocity
fluctuations from the power spectrum of density fluctuations in the galaxy
distribution; (4) and the bulk velocity from peculiar velocities of galaxies.
We show that measures (1) and (2) are not consistent with each other and either
the power spectrum from peculiar velocities of galaxies is overestimated or the
rms cluster peculiar velocity is underestimated. The amplitude of velocity
fluctuations derived from the galaxy distribution (measure 3) depends on the
parameter . We estimate the parameter on the basis of measures
(2) and (4). The power spectrum of velocity fluctuations from the galaxy
distribution in the Stromlo-APM redshift survey is consistent with the observed
rms cluster velocity and with the observed large-scale bulk flow when the
parameter is in the range 0.4-0.5. In this case the value of the
function at wavelength Mpc is km s
and the rms amplitude of the bulk flow at the radius Mpc is km s. The velocity dispersion of galaxy systems originates mostly
from the large-scale velocity fluctuations with wavelengths Mpc.Comment: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 493, in press: 23 pages, uses AAS Latex,
and 14 separate postscript figure
Contrasting alterations to synaptic and intrinsic properties in upper-cervical superficial dorsal horn neurons following acute neck muscle inflammation
Background:
Acute and chronic pain in axial structures, like the back and neck, are difficult to treat, and have incidence as high as 15%. Surprisingly, most preclinical work on pain mechanisms focuses on cutaneous structures in the limbs and animal models of axial pain are not widely available. Accordingly, we developed a mouse model of acute cervical muscle inflammation and assessed the functional properties of superficial dorsal horn (SDH) neurons.<p></p>
Results:
Male C57/Bl6 mice (P24-P40) were deeply anaesthetised (urethane 2.2?g/kg i.p) and the rectus capitis major muscle (RCM) injected with 40??l of 2% carrageenan. Sham animals received vehicle injection and controls remained anaesthetised for 2?hrs. Mice in each group were sacrificed at 2?hrs for analysis. c-Fos staining was used to determine the location of activated neurons. c-Fos labelling in carrageenan-injected mice was concentrated within ipsilateral (87% and 63% of labelled neurons in C1 and C2 segments, respectively) and contralateral laminae I - II with some expression in lateral lamina V. c-Fos expression remained below detectable levels in control and sham animals. In additional experiments, whole cell recordings were obtained from visualised SDH neurons in transverse slices in the ipsilateral C1 and C2 spinal segments. Resting membrane potential and input resistance were not altered. Mean spontaneous EPSC amplitude was reduced by ~20% in neurons from carrageenan-injected mice versus control and sham animals (20.63???1.05 vs. 24.64???0.91 and 25.87???1.32 pA, respectively). The amplitude (238???33 vs. 494???96 and 593???167 pA) and inactivation time constant (12.9???1.5 vs. 22.1???3.6 and 15.3???1.4?ms) of the rapid A type potassium current (IAr), the dominant subthreshold current in SDH neurons, were reduced in carrageenan-injected mice.<p></p>
Conclusions:
Excitatory synaptic drive onto, and important intrinsic properties (i.e., IAr) within SDH neurons are reduced two hours after acute muscle inflammation. We propose this time point represents an important transition period between peripheral and central sensitisation with reduced excitatory drive providing an initial neuroprotective mechanism during the early stages of the progression towards central sensitisation
A reminder of methylene blue\u27s effectiveness in treating vasoplegic syndrome after on-pump cardiac surgery
Measuring the galaxy power spectrum with future redshift surveys
Precision measurements of the galaxy power spectrum P(k) require a data
analysis pipeline that is both fast enough to be computationally feasible and
accurate enough to take full advantage of high-quality data. We present a
rigorous discussion of different methods of power spectrum estimation, with
emphasis on the traditional Fourier method, the linear (Karhunen-Loeve; KL),
and quadratic data compression schemes, showing in what approximations they
give the same result. To improve speed, we show how many of the advantages of
KL data compression and power spectrum estimation may be achieved with a
computationally faster quadratic method. To improve accuracy, we derive
analytic expressions for handling the integral constraint, since it is crucial
that finite volume effects are accurately corrected for on scales comparable to
the depth of the survey. We also show that for the KL and quadratic techniques,
multiple constraints can be included via simple matrix operations, thereby
rendering the results less sensitive to galactic extinction and mis-estimates
of the radial selection function. We present a data analysis pipeline that we
argue does justice to the increases in both quality and quantity of data that
upcoming redshift surveys will provide. It uses three analysis techniques in
conjunction: a traditional Fourier approach on small scales, a pixelized
quadratic matrix method on large scales and a pixelized KL eigenmode analysis
to probe anisotropic effects such as redshift-space distortions.Comment: Major revisions for clarity. Matches accepted ApJ version. 23 pages,
with 2 figs included. Color figure and links at
http://www.sns.ias.edu/~max/galpower.html (faster from the US), from
http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/~max/galpower.html (faster from Europe) or
from [email protected]
Prescribing by mental health nurses in acute general hospitals
This article will consider the role of mental health nurses (MHNs) working in a mental health liaison team (MHLT) as non-medical prescribers (NMPs) for inpatients in acute hospitals. The author has spent 10 years working as a mental health liaison nurse in acute hospitals, qualified as an NMP in 2014, and has seen how NMPs working in MHLTs can enhance care given to patients. MHLTs support and advise colleagues caring for patients with mental health problems in the acute general hospital environment, and ensure appropriate diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Consideration is given to the recent delivery of innovative services, such as rapid assessment interface and discharge (RAID), and how these services could be further strengthened by MHN NMPs, along with possible barriers and facilitators to the MHN NMP role in the acute hospital. The author believes NMP roles within MHLTs are essential to patients experiencing mental health problems in acute hospitals; these roles facilitate quick access to assessment, diagnosis and prescribing. </jats:p
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